RTC Director – Page 908 – Radio Turks & Caicos

Stanford holds off Wisconsin 20-14 in Rose Bowl

Shayne Skov and Zach Ertz believe every game in Stanford's improbable football renaissance led the Cardinal to midfield at the Rose Bowl.

That's where Usua Amanam made the interception that stopped Wisconsin's final drive with 2:30 to play in a grind-it-out game. That's where Kevin Hogan grinned broadly as he took the final snap on Stanford's first Rose Bowl victory in 40 years.

And it's the spot where the once-struggling team from a school better known for brains than brawn raised the West Coast's most coveted trophy after a 20-14 victory over the Badgers on Tuesday night.

"There's a sense of accomplishment, because we got somewhere we hadn't been yet," said Skov, who made eight tackles while leading Stanford's second-half shutout. "If you looked at our goals at the beginning of the season, this was on top of the list, and we got it done. We're extremely satisfied."

Stepfan Taylor rushed for 89 yards and an early touchdown, while Hogan passed for 123 yards, but Stanford (12-2) won the 99th Rose Bowl with a shutdown effort by its defense. Although Stanford didn't score many style points against the Badgers, the Cardinal could celebrate because they didn't let Wisconsin score any points at all after halftime, holding the Badgers to 82 yards.

After winning the Orange Bowl two years ago and losing the Fiesta Bowl in overtime last season, Stanford earned its first conference title and its first trip to the Granddaddy of Them All in 13 years, which is what most Pac-12 players really want.

"We've been in BCS games the past two years, but neither of those mean as much as this one did," said Ertz, the tight end who had three catches for 61 yards. "This is the one we play for every year. It shows Stanford is here to stay."

The Cardinal finished with 12 victories for just the second time in school history - and the second time in the last three years during this surge begun by Andrew Luck and coach Jim Harbaugh. Many Pac-12 observers expected a sharp decline at Stanford this season, but coach David Shaw and Hogan achieved something even Harbaugh and Luck couldn't manage.

"We knew this was going to be a battle, and we wouldn't expect it any other way," Shaw said. "We know it's going to be tight, it's going to be close, and we're going to find a way to win. That's the way it's been all year."

Stanford clamped down on the Big Ten champion Badgers (8-6), who lost the Rose Bowl in heartbreaking fashion for the third consecutive season. Montee Ball rushed for 100 yards and his FBS-record 83rd touchdown, but Wisconsin managed only four first downs in that scoreless second half.

With impressive defense of its own, Wisconsin still stayed in position for an upset in the one-game return of Hall of Fame coach Barry Alvarez, who was back on the Badgers' sideline in his red sweater-vest seven years after hanging up his whistle.

"This group of kids has been through a lot, and they competed extremely hard against a very high-quality team," said Alvarez, who nearly pulled off a stunner while bridging the gap between coaches Bret Bielema and Gary Andersen. "We've played three very good football games (at the Rose Bowl). These guys played hard. In fact, most people would like to get here once. But we just didn't get it done."

Kelsey Young took his only carry 16 yards for a score on Stanford's opening possession, and Taylor scored on the second drive after a big catch by Ertz. Wisconsin kept the Cardinal out of the end zone for the final 51 minutes, holding them to three points in the second half, but Stanford's defense didn't need any more help in the Cardinal's eighth straight victory.

When Bielema abruptly left Wisconsin for Arkansas after winning the Big Ten title game, Alvarez agreed to coach his fourth Rose Bowl before handing off his program to Andersen, who met with Alvarez on the field before the game. But the Badgers' third consecutive January in Pasadena ended in much the same way as the last two: With the offense failing to get the late score the Badgers desperately needed.

"This stings just as much, because we fell extremely short when we had the opportunity to win," Ball said. "We had numerous opportunities to capitalize on big plays, and we fell short. ... This is not the way we want to be remembered. Speaking for the entire senior group, this is not the way we wanted to go out."

Curt Phillips went 10 for 16 for 83 yards passing and that crucial interception for Wisconsin, doing more with 64 yards on the ground. Jordan Fredrick caught his first career TD pass right before halftime, but no Badgers receiver had more than Jared Abbrederis' three catches.

And though Ball became the first player to score touchdowns in three Rose Bowls, the powerful back fell short of Ron Dayne's career Rose Bowl rushing record, swarmed under by waves of tacklers from one of the toughest defenses in the nation - a defense that shut down the top-ranked Ducks in mid-November to pave Stanford's path to Pasadena.

"They're a good football team, but we have a very good defense," Ertz said. "They stopped Oregon when no one said it could be done. That shows the unity we have on this team. We're never going to quit."

Wisconsin was the first five-loss team to make it to Pasadena, losing three overtime games and making the Big Ten title game only because Ohio State and Penn State were ineligible. The Badgers then steamrolled Nebraska to become the first Big Ten team in three straight Rose Bowls since Michigan in the late 1970s.

With the Rose Bowl filled with fans wearing the schools' near-identical cardinal-and-white gear, Stanford went up 14-0 on Taylor's 3-yard TD run just 8 1/2 minutes in. Wisconsin briefly got rolling behind Ball, who rushed for 296 yards in his first two Rose Bowls.

Stanford stopped James White inside the 1 on fourth down early in the second quarter after a touchdown run by Ball was wiped out by a holding penalty, but Ball scored on the next drive. The Badgers then mounted an 85-yard drive in the waning 2 1/2 minutes of the first half, with Phillips' 38-yard run setting up Fredrick's short TD catch to trim Stanford's halftime lead to 17-14.

After halftime adjustments, both defenses dominated the scoreless third quarter, allowing just three combined first downs.

Wisconsin's personal foul on a fair-catch punt return finally sparked the Cardinal early in the fourth quarter. Stanford got inside the Wisconsin 5 before stalling, and Jordan Williamson's short field goal put the Cardinal up by six points with 4:23 to go.

The Badgers got to midfield, but Phillips threw behind Jacob Pedersen, and Amanam easily made the pick.

"I just happened to be at the right place at the right time," Amanam said. "We were able to kind of seal the game on that one."

Source-AP

by RTC Director

WI, Bolt propel region into global spotlight

West Indies rescaled the pinnacle of world cricket for the first time in eight years while sprint superstar Usain Bolt laid claim to legend status by once again attaining the dizzying heights of global stardom, to headline a remarkable year in Caribbean sport in 2012.

The mercurial regional side captured the Twenty20 World Cup in Sri Lanka when they beat the hosts in a pulsating final, registering their first world title since they dramatically won the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy in England, and adding to the back-to-back 50-over World Cup triumphs of the 1970s.

For a side that had lurched from one defeat to another in a turbulent period, the victory was a welcome boost for Caribbean cricket and a much needed lift for devoted but success-starved fans.

Bolt, meanwhile, dominated the London Olympics, winning both the 100 and 200 metres to become the first ever athlete to successfully defend the titles at an Olympiad.

The 26-year-old Jamaican entered the Games with his title defence shrouded in doubt following defeats at the National Championships to training partner Yohan Blake, but delivered two spellbinding performances to write his name indelibly into the record books. His heroics earned him a second straight IAAF World Athlete-of-the-Year honour, and fourth overall.

Even prior to his meltdown at the National Championships, there had been widespread speculation over Bolt’s form following lacklustre outings in the IAAF Diamond League.

So when he arrived in London in late July, for the first time since the 2008 Beijing Games, pundits were already writing off the Jamaican’s chances of repeating as Olympic champion. He coasted through the preliminary rounds impressively but saved his best for the night of August 5 when he produced yet another astonishing world class display, storming to a new Olympic record of 9.63 seconds to beat nemesis Blake into second place.

Four days later, Bolt was the toast of Olympic Stadium yet again, this time as he clinched the 200 metres in a world-leading and season-best 19.32 seconds, once more forcing Blake into second place. With the victory, the prodigious Bolt carved out yet another place in history. Previously, eight men had achieved the Olympic sprint double but none had successfully defended. He was quick to label himself a living legend, a title he said he would deserve once he was able to repeat as double sprint champion.

Even more outstanding for Jamaica was the fact the country swept the podium spots, as new boy Warren Weir, another member of Bolt’s Racers Track Club, claimed bronze. Bolt was not yet finished, however. On the penultimate day of the Games, the long-striding genius covered himself in even more glory with his third gold medal, anchoring the sprint relay team of Nesta Carter, Michael Frater and Yohan Blake to a new world record of 36.84 seconds. The performance marked the first time in history a team had ever dipped below 37 seconds.

Trinidad and Tobago’s team of Keston Bledman, Marc Burns, Emmanuel Callender and Richard Thompson picked up bronze behind the Americans, an effort that typified the twin-island republic’s outstanding campaign in London that yielded a record four medals.

It was underscored by teenager Keshorn Walcott who upset his more experienced field and stunned the world by winning gold in the javelin with a throw of 84.58 metres, also on the penultimate day of competition in mid-August. There was no sign of what was to come when he qualified tenth with a measurement of 81.75 metres but once in the final, he took the lead with a special second round throw and no one could overhaul him.

With the victory, Walcott became the first athlete in 60 years from the Western Hemisphere to win gold in an Olympic javelin event and the first in 40 years to capture a medal. For T&T, it was only their second ever Olympic gold medal behind the legendary Hasely Crawford who won the 100m at the 1976 Montreal Games.

Little known Lalonde Gordon snatched bronze in the men’s 400 metres and then joined the team of Jarrin Solomon, Ade Alleyne-Forte and Deon Lendore to also hand T&T bronze in the distance relay.

A distinct Caribbean flavour was left all over the 400 metres as World champion Kirani James delivered Grenada’s first ever Olympic medal when he easily won the full lap. Entering the final as the strong favourite after former World and reigning Olympic champion American LaShawn Merritt pulled up with injury in the preliminary rounds, the 19-year-old James did not disappoint, clocking 43.94 seconds to dismiss his field. The time was not only a personal best but a new Caribbean record and it gave James the distinction of becoming the first non-American in the history of the event to break the 44-second barrier.

There was some disappointment on the women’s side, however, as only Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce could find the top of the podium. The pint-sized 25-year-old clocked 10.75 seconds to successfully defend her 100 metres title and come away with the only gold medal for the Caribbean. In the process, she became the first non-American and first woman in 16 years to defend an Olympic 100 metres title.

She returned later in the Games to win silver in the 200 metres and also with the sprint relay team of Sherone Simpson, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Kerron Stewart in a new national record of 41.41 seconds, as the Americans took gold.

The Games were not without controversy for the Caribbean, however. A sour note was struck before the showpiece had gotten underway properly when veteran St Kitts and Nevis sprinter Kim Collins and fellow national sprinter Tameka Williams were both expelled by their delegation.

While Collins was disciplined for breaking team rules, Williams was sent home after admitting to using a banned substance. Collins subsequently vowed never to compete for St Kitts again.

No such hullabaloo abounded at July’s World Junior Championships in Barcelona, where young Caribbean athletes—including Walcott—represented the region with distinction to grab 16 medals overall.

Walcott, uninhibited by any thoughts of an Olympic medal quest, threw 78.64 to win gold in what proved to be a fairytale year for the 19-year-old. Delano Williams of the Turks and Caicos snatched the men’s 200 metres and there were also triumphs for Jamaican Janieve Russell in the women’s 400m hurdles and her compatriot Fedrick Dacres in the men’s discus throw.

However, it was the exploits of Bahamian sprint queen Anthonique Strachan which set the Games alight. The loose-limbed 19-year-old pulled off the incredible sprint double of the 100 and 200 metres, becoming the first woman in 12 years to do so and announcing herself as the latest world class talent to emerge from the region.

She clocked a world junior leading time of 11.20 second to win the 100 metres and returned in the 200 metres with a new championship record time of 22.53.

Only three months earlier in April, Strachan had supplied the region with a foretaste of what was to come, when she blazed to the sprint double at the CARIFTA Games in Bermuda. She registered a third gold of the meet, anchoring the Bahamian sprint relay team of Devynne Charlton, Carmiesha Cox and Rashan Brown to victory.

Russell, Dacres and Williams were also victorious in their respective events.

Jamaica again dominated the junior Games with 78 medals overall but conceded precious territory to the quickly improving Bahamians, who won three of the four relays in the Under-20 category including both sprints.

With the excitement from the Olympics abated, the Caribbean’s return to the global spotlight was swift as West Indies came out of nowhere to win the Twenty20 World Cup in October.

Ironically, the triumph almost never was, as the regional side endured a luckless group stage before narrowly limping through to the second round. They piled up a competitive 191 in their opening game in Colombo but lost to Australia on the Duckworth/Lewis Method after rain ended the contest prematurely. Two days later against Ireland, rain reduced the match to 19 overs and then ensured a wash-out before West Indies could chase their target of 130. Both teams finished on a single point but the Windies advanced courtesy of a superior net run rate.

In the Super-Eight second round, West Indies continued to live a charmed life, defeating England, losing to Sri Lanka and then tying with New Zealand before emerging winners in a dramatic super over. They saved perhaps their best performance for the semifinals, conjuring up a fabulous all-round performance to crush Australia by 74 runs and snatch a place in the final.

The final epitomised West Indies’ run in the championship, as they hauled themselves back from the brink of defeat on more than one occasion to seal an emphatic victory. Winning the toss and batting, the innings was going nowhere until Marlon Samuels arrived to unleash a stunning 56-ball 78.

Even when he was dismissed at the start of the 18th over, the total was still insignificant but captain Darren Sammy flexed his muscles for an unbeaten 26 from 15 balls that got his side up to 137 for six.

Tillakaratne Dilshan fell cheaply in the second over but veterans Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene put the favoured Sri Lankans back on course for victory. Once they were separated, however, West Indies romped to an historic victory which breathed a new sense of purpose and direction into regional cricket.

West Indies Women were good enough to reach the semifinals of the tournament but a batting implosion saw them lose to Australia and miss out on a spot in the final.

The men’s triumph in many ways confirmed a resurgence that had begun at home against Australia earlier in the year in March, when the hosts held Australia to a 2-2 result in the five-match One-Day International series. Brushed aside by 64 runs in the first match of a tripleheader at Arnos Vale, West Indies rebounded to win the second game by five wickets before a sensational tie in the third game left the series open, heading into St Lucia.

A rare Kieron Pollard century fired West Indies to a 42-run victory in the fourth ODI and a 2-1 lead in the series but a 30-run defeat in the final game ended their hopes of a precious series win. The two sides subsequently split the two-match Twenty20 series but the ensuing three-Test rubber proved a mountain too tall to climb for West Indies and they lost 0-2 despite playing well in patches.

The subsequent tour of England, beginning in May, was a wretched one as the Caribbean side failed to win a single match, and were undermined by miserable early spring weather which disrupted their preparation and deflated their confidence.

It was hardly surprising, therefore, when they lost the opening Test at Lord’s by five wickets and then crashed to a nine-wicket defeat inside four days in the second Test at Nottingham to concede the series. The third Test at Birmingham was ravaged by rain and finished in a tame draw.

The limited overs series was much of the same, with England winning the first two ODIs and rain accounting for the third without a ball bowled. West Indies also lost the lone T20 International.

Despite the gloomy weather and results, there was one bright spot as West Indies fans celebrated the return of the previously exiled Jamaican opener Chris Gayle, after a deal was brokered by St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, to end the player’s 15-month standoff with the West Indies Cricket Board. The 32-year-old Gayle had not played for West Indies since the 2011 World Cup and had been repeatedly overlooked for selection because of highly controversial comments he made following the Asian showpiece. Refusing to apologise as asked to by the WICB, Gayle opted to ply his trade on the international T20 circuit.

Just when the saga seemed set to drag on, Gonsalves pulled the two factions together in a skilful act of diplomacy at a high level June meeting in St Vincent, to negotiate an end to the imbroglio. Also present was Gayle and his representative Michael Hall, along with Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer and WICB president Julian Hunte.

In the end, the way was paved for Gayle’s return, and he celebrated it with a half-century in the second ODI at the Oval in June. He then turned his wrath on the touring New Zealanders in the Caribbean in July and August, plundering three half-centuries and a century in the first four innings of the limited overs phase of the tour.

His form inspired a sweep of the two-match T20 series in Lauderhill, Florida—the first time matches in a West Indies bilateral series were played outside of the Caribbean—and also allowed the hosts to win the first two games of the five-match ODI series.

West Indies completed an easy 4-1 series win and also proceeded to sweep the two Test matches, the first in Antigua by nine wickets and the second inside four days by five wickets in Kingston.

The winning streak continued against Bangladesh in late November, as they beat the hosts in another two-Test series to record four consecutive wins on a trot in the game’s longest version, for the first time in 19 years.

While they surrendered the five-match one-day series, 3-2, the defeat was not enough to take the gloss off what had been a successful run for a side which had grown manifestly unaccustomed to winning.

There was no such success for the Young West Indies as they finished sixth at the ICC Under-19 World Cup played in Australia in August. They sailed through the preliminary round unbeaten to top Group C but fell to a bad defeat against New Zealand in the quarter-finals, to bow out of title contention. Another meltdown against England in the fifth place playoff left them without too much to boast about.

As usual, controversy was never far from regional cricket and it once again erupted in Guyana as the standoff between the government-run Interim Management Committee and the beleaguered Guyana Cricket Board intensified. In February, acting Chief Justice Ian Chang granted an injunction against the GCB executive members from functioning, following an application made by Attorney General Anil Nandlall. Subsequently, key GCB executives had their homes and offices searched by court order, prompting the resignation of beleaguered president Ramsay Ali. The move was frowned upon by the WICB and cricket’s world governing body, the International Cricket Council, both of whom condemned the action.

The WICB refused to recognise the IMC, led by legendary former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, and subsequently pulled all the scheduled first class matches from the Government-owned National Stadium at Providence.

Despite the conflict surrounding their cricket, Guyana managed to finish fourth in the first class championship, winning three matches and losing twice as they played all their games on the road. The effort secured them a spot in the semifinal where they were thrashed inside three days by eventual champions Jamaica.

Playing unbeaten throughout the tournament, the Jamaicans claimed an unprecedented fifth straight title by defeating Barbados by 139 runs in the final at Sabina Park in April, to make history. (CMC)

by RTC Director

Man.Utd 4-0 ove Wigan

Javier Hernandez and Robin van Persie scored twice as Premier League leaders Manchester United coasted past Wigan to preserve their seven-point advantage.

The Mexican striker side-footed the opener after Ali Al Habsi had parried Patrice Evra's shot into his path.

United went 2-0 up when Van Persie turned Ivan Ramis and curled a sublime shot into the far corner.

Hernandez lashed home Van Persie's deflected free-kick before the Dutchman turned in Danny Welbeck's low cross.

United's eighth win in nine league games maintained their grip on top spot in the table at the end of a busy Christmas schedule and provided a fitting way for manager Sir Alex Ferguson to celebrate turning 71 on New Year's Eve.

Wigan, in contrast, appear destined for their annual relegation fight after sliding to 17th place, just one point above the drop zone.

A lively start from United showed their determination to avoid a repeat of last April, when a shock 1-0 defeat at the DW Stadium contributed to them surrendering an eight-point lead to Manchester City in the title race and set Wigan on the road to safety.

The recalled Hernandez was a lively spearhead to United's attack and, after firing his first chance straight at Al Habsi from a narrow angle, he collected a Ryan Giggs pass and drilled into the net, only to be correctly denied by the linesman's flag.

Another sublime delivery from Giggs almost provided Hernandez with a tap-in, but the ball was expertly whipped away from his toes by Maynor Figueroa.

With United in the ascendancy, Al Habsi was the busiest man on the field, saving a free-kick from Van Persie and a deflected drive from Rafael.

But when a corner from the right was never properly cleared, United's pressure finally bore fruit.

Evra picked up Jonny Evans's pass and unleashed a powerful drive, which was pushed one-handed by Al Habsi into the path of Hernandez, who side-footed first time into the roof of the net.

Al Habsi could do nothing to prevent United's second goal, which was down to the individual brilliance of Van Persie.

United almost extended their lead shortly after the restart as Van Persie played Hernandez into space but the striker fired wastefully wide.

Wigan thought they had secured a lifeline when Arouna Kone turned in Franco Di Santo's low cross, but the Ivory Coast striker was ruled to have strayed a fraction offside.

United reacted to the scare with characteristic ruthlessness as Hernandez secured the points with his team's third goal. Van Persie's free-kick rebounded off the wall into the Mexican's path and was expertly drilled past Al Habsi.

A comfortable afternoon for United was complete when Van Persie capitalised on a horrible mix-up in the home side's defence to score his 19th goal of the season. ound by Hernandez inside the area, the former Arsenal striker left Ramis on the floor with a sharp turn and whipped a right-footed shot into the net.

by RTC Director

WICB,Hunte hails pivotal year

President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Julian Hunte has described 2012 as “a watershed year in West Indies cricket”.

Hunte said that West Indies cricket was better positioned for the rest of the decade on many fronts and pointed to what he termed as number of historic events in the year

“Most significant is that the West Indies team won the ICC World Twenty20 Tournament and are world champions again after a period of drought,” he said.

“We must recognise and hail the efforts of Darren Sammy and Ottis Gibson, along with team manager Richie Richardson and the senior players in particular.”

Hunte noted as accomplishments the partnerships and agreements the WICB was able to secure and finalise during the year.

He also touched on the launch of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), due to come on stream this year, and the securing of a major television rights deal with Dubai-based TAJ TV.

The WICB has also managed to increase the number of central retainer contracts from 15 to 20, while a large pool of regional players are set to start receiving regional retainer contracts from next year as part of the licensing agreement with sponsors Verus International for the CPL.

“Our women’s team continues to build from strength to strength and are now ready to move into the upper echelons of the women’s international rankings,” he continued.

“Stafanie Taylor was confirmed as the leading player in women’s cricket after she won the ICC Women’s Player-of-the-Year award and now stands alongside Anisa Mohammed, Shanel Daley, Merissa Aguileira and Deandra Dottin as some of the finest female cricketers in the world.”

The WICB president also boasted that the developmental programmes, ranging from the Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket to the Sagicor High Performance Centre, were also stronger.

“We have completed the full circle of the foundations of development, it is now for us to remain on course, put in the hard work and reap the rewards and benefits which will follow,” he said.

“We have seen players graduate to the international stage and proven themselves, and we continue to see a host of talent who are successful on the regional scene and who we are confident will step up when the opportunities are provided to them.” (CMC)

by RTC Director

Oscar nomination voting deadline extended

The deadline for voting for this year's Oscar nominations has been extended after some people experienced problems with a new online voting system.

Some of the academy's 6,000 members had reported trouble logging into the voting website, while others said they found it confusing.

Organisers said the deadline would be extended by 24 hours to 4 January.

It is the first time voting has been allowed online. It was previously conducted strictly via postal ballots.

However the new system still allows members to choose between voting electronically or sticking with the traditional method.

Trade newspaper The Hollywood Reporter spoke to around 10 academy members who reported either password issues or concerns the website could be hacked.

Documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, whose 2004 film Super Size Me was nominated for the best documentary Oscar, tweeted last week that he was not able to log on to vote electronically.

"The password they sent didn't work for my login - and they couldn't email me a new login, only snail mail," the director said.

It is thought the deadline extension will help members who return from their Christmas holidays this week and experience problems voting online.

The additional day would allow either new passwords to be emailed, or for paper ballots to be sent out and returned.

"By extending the voting deadline we are providing every opportunity available to make the transition to online balloting as smooth as possible," the academy's chief operating officer, Ric Robertson, said.

Nominations for this year's awards will be announced on 10 January - two weeks earlier than usual.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said the move would "provide members and the public a longer period of time to see the nominated films".

The winners will be named at a Los Angeles ceremony on 24 February.

by RTC Director

Blak Ryno Addresses Sting 2012 Incident

STING 2012 is dubbed as one of the "Greatest One Night Reggae Dancehall Shows on Earth" and over the years its been filled controversy, raw energy, on the spot creativity and the end of many artiste careers as well as the birth of others.

Dancehall Artiste Blak Ryno is no stranger to the show as he's not just only performed on several occasions but entertained fans who tuned in to watched online or those who went to see the show live. This year the artiste wasn't formally booked for the event but just as how over the years spontaneously artiste made surprise performances, the artiste was about to the same.

Blak Ryno who went on when Popcaan was on stage performing hoped to give his fans and those who may not be a well wisher a show/performance many have been wanting to witness since his departure from the controversial group Portmore Empire more popularly known as GAZA.

After he made his entrance on Stage to much surprise, the artiste long anticipated clash came to an abrupt end when Popcaan made a cowardly move and push him off stage. Blak Ryno who attempted to make a second entrance to settle all scores lyrically was stopped by security personnel.

by RTC Director

Aidonia Was Not Arrested After His Militant Sting Performance

Militantly clad in grey and black the lyrically potent lyricist Aidonia stepped out very confident at 7am belting crowd favourites which varied from "Nuh tek chat frm nuh bwoy", "Kush a kick inna mi Brain", "La La Land" to name a few .. He then tested the crowd paying homage to Bounty Killer who was absent from Stingthis year.

"Who respect Sizzla , Beenie, Vybz Kartel, Buju Banton..who respect Bounty Killa a him buss the most artiste, without Bounti you wouldn't have Movado you wouldn't ave Wayne Marshall ,Vybz Kartel and you wouldn't ave Aidonia... So you know if Bounty was here him woulda tell dem unu seh "From them dis wi nuh wah know how how" belted Aidonia. The crowd erupted thanking Aidonia for including the general Bounty Killer in his set.

The artiste then sparked the audience when he asked which song has been #1 in Jamaica for several weeks on the chart after which himself and his protege Deablo ignited the sting crowd of almost 40,000 when they dj'ed "Run Road". After which he asked the crowd again saying "who buss most artiste nuh Bounty suh this morning Aidonia ago buss a bad artiste Deablo spit for the ppl a Sting mek dem hear how you bad". Deablo then erupted the crowd in a freestyle setting allowing him some new fans as th crowd cheered him on line by line which was clad with
lyrics.

by RTC Director

Hip Hop Stars Jeezy, T.I.& Diddy Ring in the New Year

Young Jeezy brought in 2013 in style at the “Hennessy V.S New Years Eve Takeover” event at Compound in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tailored in a royal blue embroidered suit jacket and black slacks, Jeezy arrived in an all white Rolls Royce.

The rapper was joined by famed Atlanta Club promoter Alex Gidewon and a slew of ladies.

Jeezy was spotted standing on couches and smoking cigars as he mingled with some of Atlanta’s elite.

Simultaneously, fellow ATL representer, T.I., partied alongside his wife, Tiny, at the“Hennessy V.S New Years Eve Takeover” at LIV on Sunday in South Beach.

The self proclaimed “King of the South,” performed a medley of his hits for the crowd including the latest off his top selling album, Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head.

Tip was spotted posing for photos with celebrity friends, super producer Rico Love and DJ Clue.

After his performance, Tip hung out with his wife, Tiny, as well as his ATL co-star, actor Evan Ross.

Houston rapper Slim Thug was also in the building along with Kim Kardashian’s known good friend Jonathan Cheban.

Sean Combs Celebated New Years with his “Ciroc Vodka at Sea” bash on a yacht in St. Barths.

by RTC Director

Kim Kardashian Says She’s Ready For Family With Kanye West

Kim Kardashian has expressed great joy over the news that she and rapper Kanye West are expecting their first child.

Kim took to her blog today to confirm the news that she is with Kanye West’s baby.

According to Kim, the high-profile couple feels “blessed”and they hope to start a family together.

“It’s true!! Kanye and I are expecting a baby” Kim Kardashian stated. “We feel so blessed and lucky and wish that in addition to both of our families, his mom and my dad could be here to celebrate this special time with us. Looking forward to great new beginnings in 2013 and to starting a family.”

Along with the blog post, Kim posted a picture of her and Kanye snuggled up together backstage

by RTC Director

Rare version of Beatles album finally sells for £12,000

A rare copy of a Beatles LP signed by all four band members has finally been sold - for the sum rejected at auction in Sussex a few weeks earlier.

Chris Collins, from Eastbourne, and his sister, Liz Chambers, from Worthing, initially turned down a £12,000 bid for a copy of the album, Please Please Me.

They had hoped to get £15,000 for the LP, which was given to their late father during a drinking session.

But the siblings have now accepted £12,000 from private buyers.

The album was signed by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr after they used it as a drinks coaster during a card game in 1963.

Kept in drawer

Mr Collins had played it repeatedly until an expert revealed that because of its provenance - and the fact that it had the rarer black-and-gold label - it was worth a substantial amount.

The album went into Mr Collins's sock drawer until they finally put it up for sale, at Campbell's auction house in Worthing, just before Christmas.

It was withdrawn from sale after failing to reach its £15,000 reserve price, but auctioneer Paul Campbell said: "The record has now sold for a hammer price of £12,000, to a private buyer."

He said the vendors had decided to cut their losses and accept £12,000 following renewed interest from a Dutch Beatles enthusiast living in Worthing and his father.

The auction house even slashed its commission to enable the sale to go through.

"The sale came just too soon for these buyers, but they came back immediately after the sale and said they would have it," Mr Campbell added.

Please Please Me was The Beatles' first album, released in March 1963.

The earliest copies had black and gold labels and are more valuable than the subsequent versions, featuring black and yellow ones.

by RTC Director