MELINDA DUCKETT LAWSUIT
Duckett suit heads to federal courtroom
TV host Nancy Grace and CNN requested the move outside the county. It will be heard in Ocala.Stephen Hudak Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted December 30, 2006
TAVARES -- A lawsuit accusing TV talk-show host Nancy Grace of pushing the mother of a missing toddler to suicide has been moved from Circuit Court in Lake County to federal court in Ocala.
Lawyers for Grace and Atlanta-based CNN, which airs her crime-of-the-day show on Headline News Network, sought the transfer to federal court because they are headquartered in different states.
The lawsuit involves a Sept. 7, fist-pounding interview of Melinda Duckett during which ex-prosecutor Grace grilled the young mother about her 2-year-old son's reported disappearance from her Leesburg apartment.
Duckett committed suicide at her grandparents' home in The Villages the next day.Last seen Aug. 27, Trenton Duckett remains missing despite ongoing investigations involving Leesburg police, Marion County deputy sheriffs, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the FBI.
The lawsuit, which alleges wrongful death and intentional infliction of emotional distress, was filed by South Florida lawyers on behalf of Melinda Duckett's estate and her adoptive parents, Beth and William (Jerry) Eubank of Lockport, N.Y.
It seeks unspecified punitive damages from the network and a court order to stop Grace's show from re-airing the interview with the young mother.
The Eubanks say Grace and her staff tricked Melinda Duckett into appearing on the show.Trenton's father, Joshua Duckett, who was estranged from his wife, also was named in the lawsuit, though he had filed a response in Circuit Court demanding that he be dropped from the case.
The Eubanks want a court-ordered accounting of the Trenton Duckett Family Charitable Trust Fund, which Joshua Duckett established to solicit donations to help him search for his missing son.
Their lawsuit said they "seek to ensure that any and all funds donated for locating [Trenton] are used for said purposes and not for any ill-conceived or improper purpose . . ."
The fund is run through helpfindtrenton.com.
Rules of civil procedure allow a federal court to take jurisdiction of a lawsuit filed in a state court when the opposing parties reside or are headquartered in different states.
The provision is rooted in fears that a state court might be biased in favor of the litigant from its own state.
When the Eubanks filed the lawsuit in Lake County, they were seeking damages "in excess of $15,000," a statutory threshold to have a dispute heard by a Circuit Court judge or jury.
CNN lawyers said in the federal-court filing that "it is facially apparent . . . that the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000," the statutory threshold to have a dispute decided by a federal court judge or jury.
Stephen Hudak can be reached at shudak@orlandosentinel.com
or 352-742-5930.
http://tinyurl.com/y7bmn4
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Duckett case on Maury Povich Show
***Updated 12/28/06***New New Article/ Joshua on Maury Povich
Joshua Duckett and His mother Carla appeard on the Maura Povich show today. Hopefully, this sent the story of Trenton to a whole different audience than Nancy Grace, since it is primetime during the daytime. Keep your fingers crossed! Joshua did mention that there was a new person of interest, but he did not elaborate. We don't know if it's Chen, the past POI we've heard about, or a new one. Let's pray they know more than we do and it's a new person of interest!
Also today, the Ocala.Com news posted a new article in their paper. There was no new news, but at least Trenton is still getting some sort of media attention. Article can be read here: http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061228/NEWS/212280362/1001/NEWS01
Everybody, remember to keep lighting your candles. Over Christmas, the amount got down really low, but we've decided to keep them lit until Trenton comes home. If you need to relight your candle, or light 100 of them, please go to: http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=td2
Joshua Duckett and His mother Carla appeard on the Maura Povich show today. Hopefully, this sent the story of Trenton to a whole different audience than Nancy Grace, since it is primetime during the daytime. Keep your fingers crossed! Joshua did mention that there was a new person of interest, but he did not elaborate. We don't know if it's Chen, the past POI we've heard about, or a new one. Let's pray they know more than we do and it's a new person of interest!
Also today, the Ocala.Com news posted a new article in their paper. There was no new news, but at least Trenton is still getting some sort of media attention. Article can be read here: http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061228/NEWS/212280362/1001/NEWS01
Everybody, remember to keep lighting your candles. Over Christmas, the amount got down really low, but we've decided to keep them lit until Trenton comes home. If you need to relight your candle, or light 100 of them, please go to: http://www.gratefulness.org/candles/candles.cfm?l=eng&gi=td2
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Kiefer: Men's Vogue
Kiefer Sutherland rides his horse, Yogi, across an open field at Ventura Farms in Thousand Oaks, California.
On the twenty-first of December Kiefer Sutherland turned 40, but he has already tried on many lives for size. He's had two families to support (three if you count the crew of his television show, 24). He has lived out of the back of a Mustang on the beach, and on a 900-acre ranch in Montana. He is a father and a grandfather. He's been a Brat Packer and a rodeo champion. He has been famously lucky and infamously unlucky in love. He has a film production unit and an indie record label. He's made nearly 50 movies, but has known what it is like to sit by a phone that does not ring. Jude Cole, his best friend and business partner in the record label, tells me that Sutherland will never mellow. "I always think of him as Keith Richards the actor," he says. "There are very few human beings who can stand the punishment of working and playing that hard and always come back for more, but Kiefer is one."
When I meet him at his home in Los Angeles, Sutherland himself smiles at the idea. He puts his multiple lives down to a certain impatience; perhaps it's genetic—something he inherited from his wayward father, Donald Sutherland, or his charismatic grandfather, Canada's first socialist premier, Tommy Douglas. "I was always anxious to get going," Sutherland says of his early years, which felt like "a life out of a Rod Stewart song" at times. "I got married at 19, had kids early. But after a while you realize growing up is a lifelong process. Am I grown up now in the sense I can get up early, take my kids to school, go to work, get home? Yes. But are there much larger questions that I haven't been able to find any good answers to: how to be in love, or how to be on my own for any real period of time. Yes, I'm still working on those. I think those questions always come back to how you feel about yourself. Some days I feel good. Some days I wish things were different."
Today, I guess, is a good day, not least in that it is a rare day away from the set of 24—a 10-month-a-year, 6-day-a-week, 12-hour-a-day commitment. With the air of a truanting schoolboy, Sutherland takes me from his spectacular warehouse of a home on the rundown fringes of L.A.'s Silver Lake district to his favorite local Italian restaurant. Over lunch he laughs easily, enjoys the low cadences of his voice as he talks, slips outside occasionally for a drag on a cigarette. By 40, we all have the face we deserve. Kiefer Sutherland's is tanned, bright-eyed, lean. He has lost the puppy fat of his early Stand By Me years, which gave him a louche quality. Instead, he looks like Jack Bauer, his alter ego on 24, might look if he ever got a few good nights' sleep.
Check out more of this article @
http://www.mensvogue.com/arts/feature/articles/2006/12/18/kiefer_sutherland?currentPage=1
Have you seen these kids?
Click on the link for article.
http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2006/12/27/news/news01.txt
http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/articles/2006/12/27/news/news01.txt
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Duckett Family Say They Hope For Christmas Miracle
Duckett Family Say They Hope For Christmas Miracle
POSTED: 9:15 am EST December 22, 2006
UPDATED: 10:21 am EST December 22, 2006
BUSHNELL, Fla. -- The family of Trenton Duckett is awaiting a Christmas miracle: the safe return of the toddler who disappeared from his mother's Leesburg home on Aug. 27.
Trenton Duckett's grandmother, Carla Massero, said she continues to await her grandson's return.
"We call it the Trenton bug tree. Ever since Trenton's come into the world and had Christmas, he's had his own tree every year, a live tree," Massero said.
All around the home there are signs of a regular family Christmas, but reality creeps in as Massero said she knows the holidays can't wipe away her fears.
"Not knowing where he's at, not knowing if he's being taken care of right because, as a mom, you know nobody can take care of your child like you can," Massero said.
Trenton's father, Joshua Duckett, showed us the toddler's room. It remains the same as when the boy disappeared. New clothes await his return. Duckett said the room will never change.
"It's just another page in the book. We're still moving forward and still staying hopeful, so there's no reason to change anything," Duckett said.
Trenton's high chair sits right next to the kitchen table as everyone hopes there's one more for dinner on Christmas Day.
The family said tips about Trenton's whereabouts continue to be received. Anyone with information that could help investigators can call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Kathy Marsh.
http://www.wesh.com/news/10590758/detail.html
POSTED: 9:15 am EST December 22, 2006
UPDATED: 10:21 am EST December 22, 2006
BUSHNELL, Fla. -- The family of Trenton Duckett is awaiting a Christmas miracle: the safe return of the toddler who disappeared from his mother's Leesburg home on Aug. 27.
Trenton Duckett's grandmother, Carla Massero, said she continues to await her grandson's return.
"We call it the Trenton bug tree. Ever since Trenton's come into the world and had Christmas, he's had his own tree every year, a live tree," Massero said.
All around the home there are signs of a regular family Christmas, but reality creeps in as Massero said she knows the holidays can't wipe away her fears.
"Not knowing where he's at, not knowing if he's being taken care of right because, as a mom, you know nobody can take care of your child like you can," Massero said.
Trenton's father, Joshua Duckett, showed us the toddler's room. It remains the same as when the boy disappeared. New clothes await his return. Duckett said the room will never change.
"It's just another page in the book. We're still moving forward and still staying hopeful, so there's no reason to change anything," Duckett said.
Trenton's high chair sits right next to the kitchen table as everyone hopes there's one more for dinner on Christmas Day.
The family said tips about Trenton's whereabouts continue to be received. Anyone with information that could help investigators can call Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS.
To comment on this story, send an e-mail to Kathy Marsh.
http://www.wesh.com/news/10590758/detail.html
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Naughty Christmas---thanx Lyn!
Christmas Tattoos!A woman goes into a tattoo parlour and tells the tattoo artist that she wants a tattoo of a turkey on her right thigh just below her bikini line.
She also wants him to put "Happy Thanksgiving" under the turkey.
So the guy does it and it comes out looking really good.
The woman then instructs him to put a Santa tattoo with "Merry Christmas" up on her left thigh.
So the guy does it and it comes out looking good, too.
As the woman is getting dressed to leave, the tattoo artist asks, "If you don't mind, could you tell me why you had me put such unusual tattoos on your thighs?"
She says "I'm sick and tired of my husband complaining all the time that there's nothing good to eat between Thanksgiving and Christmas!"
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Trenton Duckett sighting
Article published Dec 19, 2006
Sighting of Trenton in Texas turns up empty
Woman said she saw toddler at family park.
BY AUSTIN L. MILLERSTAR-BANNER
OCALA - Marion County sheriff's detectives working on the case of missing 2-year-old Trenton Duckett followed up on a tip about the toddler over the weekend. But the tip never panned out, officials said.
Detective Rhonda Stroup said they received a call from members of Team Duckett on Sunday, informing them the team had received a tip about a woman reportedly seeing Trenton with a young man in a family park in Fort Worth, Texas. The tipster gave Team Trenton a description of the vehicle the man was driving and the tag number. Stroup said they informed authorities in Fort Worth and asked them to verify the information.
Texas officials tracked down the man, believed to be in his 20s. At the home, the man was able to confirm that the child was not Trenton through a birth certificate and family photographs."It's encouraging to know that people are calling. Law enforcement is reacting to these calls," said Maj. Chris Blair of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Trenton has been missing from his mother's Leesburg apartment since Aug. 27. Melinda Duckett, Trenton's mother, committed suicide on Sept. 8.
Since the formation of a task force made up of several law enforcement agencies, Blair said Team Trenton has turned over roughly 20 tips.
Authorities said they have extended the time frame of the task force. Originally scheduled for 30 days, the task force won't conclude until all relevant telephone numbers from Melinda Duckett's cell phone have been analyzed, and people connected to those numbers have been interviewed.
"We won't stop until all the numbers of interest have been checked," said Blair.Neither Blair nor Maj. Steve Rockefeller of the Leesburg Police Department would say if Chai-Wen Chen, an assistant manager at a Belleview Rent-A-Center, has taken a polygraph test.
Authorities said Melinda Duckett called Chen Aug. 27 and the conversation lasted only a few minutes. Officials said Chen works across the street from where two Wendy's employees claimed to have seen Trenton on Aug. 27. A Rent-A-Center employee told the Star-Banner that Chen took a polygraph.
When Chen's name surfaced last month, Rockefeller said he was on a list to be polygraphed."We've had conversations," said Blair, who declined to say what they talked about.
Austin L. Miller may be reached at
austin.miller@starbanner.com .
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/NEWS/212190347/1001/NEWS01&source=RSS
Sighting of Trenton in Texas turns up empty
Woman said she saw toddler at family park.
BY AUSTIN L. MILLERSTAR-BANNER
OCALA - Marion County sheriff's detectives working on the case of missing 2-year-old Trenton Duckett followed up on a tip about the toddler over the weekend. But the tip never panned out, officials said.
Detective Rhonda Stroup said they received a call from members of Team Duckett on Sunday, informing them the team had received a tip about a woman reportedly seeing Trenton with a young man in a family park in Fort Worth, Texas. The tipster gave Team Trenton a description of the vehicle the man was driving and the tag number. Stroup said they informed authorities in Fort Worth and asked them to verify the information.
Texas officials tracked down the man, believed to be in his 20s. At the home, the man was able to confirm that the child was not Trenton through a birth certificate and family photographs."It's encouraging to know that people are calling. Law enforcement is reacting to these calls," said Maj. Chris Blair of the Marion County Sheriff's Office.
Trenton has been missing from his mother's Leesburg apartment since Aug. 27. Melinda Duckett, Trenton's mother, committed suicide on Sept. 8.
Since the formation of a task force made up of several law enforcement agencies, Blair said Team Trenton has turned over roughly 20 tips.
Authorities said they have extended the time frame of the task force. Originally scheduled for 30 days, the task force won't conclude until all relevant telephone numbers from Melinda Duckett's cell phone have been analyzed, and people connected to those numbers have been interviewed.
"We won't stop until all the numbers of interest have been checked," said Blair.Neither Blair nor Maj. Steve Rockefeller of the Leesburg Police Department would say if Chai-Wen Chen, an assistant manager at a Belleview Rent-A-Center, has taken a polygraph test.
Authorities said Melinda Duckett called Chen Aug. 27 and the conversation lasted only a few minutes. Officials said Chen works across the street from where two Wendy's employees claimed to have seen Trenton on Aug. 27. A Rent-A-Center employee told the Star-Banner that Chen took a polygraph.
When Chen's name surfaced last month, Rockefeller said he was on a list to be polygraphed."We've had conversations," said Blair, who declined to say what they talked about.
Austin L. Miller may be reached at
austin.miller@starbanner.com .
http://www.ocala.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061219/NEWS/212190347/1001/NEWS01&source=RSS
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
Sunny needed a laugh today
Teen age sex:
The mother of a 17-year-old girl was concerned that her daughter was having sex. Worried the girl might become pregnant and adversely impact the family's status, she consulted the family doctor. The doctor told her that teenagers today were very willful and any attempt to stop the girl would probably result in rebellion. He then told her to arrange for her daughter to be put on birth control and until then, talk to her and give her a box of condoms. Later that evening, as her daughter was preparing for a date, the woman told her about the situation and handed her a box of condoms. The girl burst out laughing and reached over to hug her mother saying: "Oh Mom! You don't have to worry about that! I'm dating Susan!"
___________________
Church:
A man went to church one day and afterward he stopped to shake the preacher's hand. He said , "Preacher, I'll tell you, that was a damned fine sermon. Damned good!" The preacher said, "Thank you sir, but I'd rather you didn't use profanity." The man said, "I was so damned impressed with that sermon I put five thousand dollars in the offering plate!" The preacher said, "No shit?"
___________________
Pancakes:
Brenda and Steve took their six-year-old son to the doctor. With some hesitation, they explained that although their little angel appeared to be in good health, they were concerned about his rather small penis. After examining the child, the doctor confidently declared, "Just feed him pancakes. That should solve the problem." The next morning when the boy arrived at breakfast, there was a large stack of warm pancakes in the middle of the table. "Gee, Mom," he exclaimed. "For me?" "Just take two," Brenda replied. "The rest are for your father."
The mother of a 17-year-old girl was concerned that her daughter was having sex. Worried the girl might become pregnant and adversely impact the family's status, she consulted the family doctor. The doctor told her that teenagers today were very willful and any attempt to stop the girl would probably result in rebellion. He then told her to arrange for her daughter to be put on birth control and until then, talk to her and give her a box of condoms. Later that evening, as her daughter was preparing for a date, the woman told her about the situation and handed her a box of condoms. The girl burst out laughing and reached over to hug her mother saying: "Oh Mom! You don't have to worry about that! I'm dating Susan!"
___________________
Church:
A man went to church one day and afterward he stopped to shake the preacher's hand. He said , "Preacher, I'll tell you, that was a damned fine sermon. Damned good!" The preacher said, "Thank you sir, but I'd rather you didn't use profanity." The man said, "I was so damned impressed with that sermon I put five thousand dollars in the offering plate!" The preacher said, "No shit?"
___________________
Pancakes:
Brenda and Steve took their six-year-old son to the doctor. With some hesitation, they explained that although their little angel appeared to be in good health, they were concerned about his rather small penis. After examining the child, the doctor confidently declared, "Just feed him pancakes. That should solve the problem." The next morning when the boy arrived at breakfast, there was a large stack of warm pancakes in the middle of the table. "Gee, Mom," he exclaimed. "For me?" "Just take two," Brenda replied. "The rest are for your father."
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Christmas trees vs. men!
Christmas Trees Vs. Men!WHY CHRISTMAS TREES ARE BETTER THAN MEN
1. A Christmas tree is always erect.
2. Even small ones give satisfaction.
3. A Christmas tree stays up for 12 days and nights.
4. A Christmas tree always looks good - even when it's lit.
5. A Christmas tree is always happy with its size.
6. A Christmas tree has cute balls.
7. A Christmas tree doesn't get mad if you break one of its balls.
8. You can throw a Christmas tree out when it wears out.
9. You don't have to put up with a Christmas tree all year.
10. You only have to feed/water it once a week.
11. It's always there to light up your life.
12. It gets turned on only when you want it turned on.
13. It always smells nice and doesn't pass gas.
14. If it needles you, you can toss it out.
15.It doesn't ask you to have little Christmas trees.
Post American Idol appearances
12/15/2006
Find Your Favorite American Idol
Friday December 15
UPDATE: Catch a re-broadcast of a performance and interview of Chris Daughtry at 10pm ET/PT on TV Guide Channel's 411 show.
Kellie Pickler performs her single "Red High Heels" on the Ellen Degeneres show. Check your local listings for time and channel.
George Huff performs tonight as part of Christmas on Main Street at the First Presbyterian Church, Salinas CA. Check here for more information. George will be backed by a full orchestra and band. $7 general/$3 for ages 12 and under.
Ace Young opens for Smashmouth at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL for the Mix 105.1 Merry Mixmas show, 8 PM. Tickets are $15. Find more information and tickets here.
Another Idol promoting an independent release is Jon Peter Lewis. He makes a return appearance to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. You can buy tickets on line here. His album "Stories From Hollywood is available at Amazon, iTunes and Rhapsody.
Chris Daughtry appears this week on the Southern Sports Awards. It will be televised on TV affiliates throughout the southern US this week. Here's a list of times and channels.
Bucky Covington is performing with the GAC Christmas Tour. Check the schedule for this week's dates.
Clay Aiken will perform at Eisenhower Hall at 8PM in West Point, NY. Buy Tickets
Jasmine Trias is having an 18 or over Event. Jasmine Trias and Kris Lawrence Live in Concert Jasmine will have a concert show with Kris Lawrence, Sway, and Mikey Bustos at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, CA.
Saturday December 16
UPDATE: Catch the re-broadcast of an interview and performance of Chris Daughtry on TV Guide Channel's 411 at 10pm ET/PT
Ace Young will be joining many others including Alice Cooper for Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding in Phoenix Arizona. It is the 6th anual night of comedy and music. All proceeds will go to Solid Rock Foundation and Arizona's Youth. Ticket information is available here, look at serving info.
George Huff will be performing at First Presbyterian Church in Salias, CA in the production of Christmas on Main Street.Clay Aiken will perform at Count Basie Theatre at 8Pm in Red Bank, New Jersey. Buy Tickets>
Jasmine Trias is involved in a benefit concert called "Have a Merry Majestic Christmas Show and a Video Sonic Happy New Year" presented by the Majesty Hospice and Video Sonic Lab. Jasmine, Kris Lawrence, Nikki Valdez, April Boy Regino, Stephanie Reese, Ding Dong Avanzado, Jesse Zaragoza, and Lani Misalucha will all be there at 9:00 p.m. at the Hilton Burbank Convention Center. This Christmas show will also "feature talented Majesty Hospice & Videosonic employees and church members of the Praise Christian Fellowship." "The proceeds of the show will benefit the community projects of the Praise Christian Fellowship through Majesty Foundation Inc." Get your tickets through these numbers: (323)-634-9907, (310)-261-4470, (310)-571-7264, (323)-708-6351, and (909)-226-3271. http://majestyfoundationinc.com
Josh Gracin is sure going to be busy from now through the next year. Tonight he will be at Palace of Auburn Hills in Aurburn Hills, Michigan. He along with Country Stars Big & Rich and many other performers will be having concert with procedes benifiting The Children’s Miracle Network and Beaumont Pediatric Services. The tickets are $30 & $50. If you would like to contribute above and beyond, you can purchase special $150 Gold Circle tickets and include a pre-concert reception.
December 17
UPDATE: BRAVO will re-air a show from 12/14/06 called A Clay Aiken Christmas. Clay Aiken sings classic Christmas songs from his Album "Merry Christmas With Love". The hour-long Clay AIken studio special, "A Clay Aiken Christmas," will feature Aiken and guest stars Barry Manilow, gospel singer Yolanda Adams and Megan Mullally. You can catch it at 12PM today.
George Huff will be performing his last show at the First Presbyterian Church in Salias, California.
December 18
UPDATE: Catch the re-broadcast of an interview and performance of Chris Daughtry on TV Guide Channel's 411 at 3pm ET/PT
Clay Aiken will be at Orchestra Hall at Max Fisher at 8PM in Detroit, Michigan. Buy Tickets
December 19
Clay Aiken will perform in Devos Hall at 8PM in Grand Rapids, MI. Buy Tickets
Jon Peter Lewis will be at Kilby Court in Salt Lake City, Utah at 9:45PM. Wow.. they party late there. Cost is $7 and it will be Acoustic.
December 21
Clay Aiken will be at the Moran Theatre at 8PM in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jasmine Trias will be at Costco in Oahu, Hawaii at 1PM.
December 22
In related news...Rocky Covington, twin brother to Bucky Covington, will be in Albemarle, NC at Pontiac Point.
Check out VH1's Classic special Decades Rock Live: Lynyrd Skynyrd today at 8pm EST and tomorrow at 4:30pm Est. Bo Bice performs with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., and 3 Doors Down.
Clay Aiken will be performing at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center at 8PM in Charolette, North Carolina. Buy Tickets
Tonight Jon Peter Lewis will be at The Dome in Bakersfield, California. All Ages!! Also Featuring local bands Rockville, Soulajar and The Blufs. For tickets you can link here or visit Stockdale Music, Front Porch Music or a Step Up Mensware in Bakersfield.
Katherine McPhee will be on the CBS Primetime Special: Home for the Holidays. Check local listings for times and channels.
December 23
At 8PM Clay Aiken will be at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, North Carolina. Buy Tickets
December 24
Jon Peter Lewis will be performing his latest original Christmas song, "California Christmas" during the six-hour, live broadcast of the 47th Annual L.A. Holiday Celebration. The show is an admission-free holiday gift to the people of Los Angeles. This KCET exclusive is performed before an audience of more than 6,000 in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center.
December 25
Ace Young will be at Walt Disney World for the Christmas Day Parade. WWD Christmas Day Parade celebrates it's 23rd year with co-hosts Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.
Also keep your eyes open for Mandissa at the Christams Day Parade. Check local listings and channels and tune in Christmas Morning.
December 31
Carrie Underwood will be here in Minnesota at Mystic Lake Casino. It appears as though the concert is already sold out, but through Ticketmaster there is an auction for a Premium Seats package for two in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd row.
FOX TV New Year's Eve Show Live in Time Square will feature Chris Daughtry performing "It's Not Over" December 31, 2006!!!
Find Your Favorite American Idol
Friday December 15
UPDATE: Catch a re-broadcast of a performance and interview of Chris Daughtry at 10pm ET/PT on TV Guide Channel's 411 show.
Kellie Pickler performs her single "Red High Heels" on the Ellen Degeneres show. Check your local listings for time and channel.
George Huff performs tonight as part of Christmas on Main Street at the First Presbyterian Church, Salinas CA. Check here for more information. George will be backed by a full orchestra and band. $7 general/$3 for ages 12 and under.
Ace Young opens for Smashmouth at the House of Blues in Orlando, FL for the Mix 105.1 Merry Mixmas show, 8 PM. Tickets are $15. Find more information and tickets here.
Another Idol promoting an independent release is Jon Peter Lewis. He makes a return appearance to the Viper Room in Los Angeles. You can buy tickets on line here. His album "Stories From Hollywood is available at Amazon, iTunes and Rhapsody.
Chris Daughtry appears this week on the Southern Sports Awards. It will be televised on TV affiliates throughout the southern US this week. Here's a list of times and channels.
Bucky Covington is performing with the GAC Christmas Tour. Check the schedule for this week's dates.
Clay Aiken will perform at Eisenhower Hall at 8PM in West Point, NY. Buy Tickets
Jasmine Trias is having an 18 or over Event. Jasmine Trias and Kris Lawrence Live in Concert Jasmine will have a concert show with Kris Lawrence, Sway, and Mikey Bustos at the Sycuan Resort & Casino in El Cajon, CA.
Saturday December 16
UPDATE: Catch the re-broadcast of an interview and performance of Chris Daughtry on TV Guide Channel's 411 at 10pm ET/PT
Ace Young will be joining many others including Alice Cooper for Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding in Phoenix Arizona. It is the 6th anual night of comedy and music. All proceeds will go to Solid Rock Foundation and Arizona's Youth. Ticket information is available here, look at serving info.
George Huff will be performing at First Presbyterian Church in Salias, CA in the production of Christmas on Main Street.Clay Aiken will perform at Count Basie Theatre at 8Pm in Red Bank, New Jersey. Buy Tickets>
Jasmine Trias is involved in a benefit concert called "Have a Merry Majestic Christmas Show and a Video Sonic Happy New Year" presented by the Majesty Hospice and Video Sonic Lab. Jasmine, Kris Lawrence, Nikki Valdez, April Boy Regino, Stephanie Reese, Ding Dong Avanzado, Jesse Zaragoza, and Lani Misalucha will all be there at 9:00 p.m. at the Hilton Burbank Convention Center. This Christmas show will also "feature talented Majesty Hospice & Videosonic employees and church members of the Praise Christian Fellowship." "The proceeds of the show will benefit the community projects of the Praise Christian Fellowship through Majesty Foundation Inc." Get your tickets through these numbers: (323)-634-9907, (310)-261-4470, (310)-571-7264, (323)-708-6351, and (909)-226-3271. http://majestyfoundationinc.com
Josh Gracin is sure going to be busy from now through the next year. Tonight he will be at Palace of Auburn Hills in Aurburn Hills, Michigan. He along with Country Stars Big & Rich and many other performers will be having concert with procedes benifiting The Children’s Miracle Network and Beaumont Pediatric Services. The tickets are $30 & $50. If you would like to contribute above and beyond, you can purchase special $150 Gold Circle tickets and include a pre-concert reception.
December 17
UPDATE: BRAVO will re-air a show from 12/14/06 called A Clay Aiken Christmas. Clay Aiken sings classic Christmas songs from his Album "Merry Christmas With Love". The hour-long Clay AIken studio special, "A Clay Aiken Christmas," will feature Aiken and guest stars Barry Manilow, gospel singer Yolanda Adams and Megan Mullally. You can catch it at 12PM today.
George Huff will be performing his last show at the First Presbyterian Church in Salias, California.
December 18
UPDATE: Catch the re-broadcast of an interview and performance of Chris Daughtry on TV Guide Channel's 411 at 3pm ET/PT
Clay Aiken will be at Orchestra Hall at Max Fisher at 8PM in Detroit, Michigan. Buy Tickets
December 19
Clay Aiken will perform in Devos Hall at 8PM in Grand Rapids, MI. Buy Tickets
Jon Peter Lewis will be at Kilby Court in Salt Lake City, Utah at 9:45PM. Wow.. they party late there. Cost is $7 and it will be Acoustic.
December 21
Clay Aiken will be at the Moran Theatre at 8PM in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jasmine Trias will be at Costco in Oahu, Hawaii at 1PM.
December 22
In related news...Rocky Covington, twin brother to Bucky Covington, will be in Albemarle, NC at Pontiac Point.
Check out VH1's Classic special Decades Rock Live: Lynyrd Skynyrd today at 8pm EST and tomorrow at 4:30pm Est. Bo Bice performs with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Hank Williams Jr., and 3 Doors Down.
Clay Aiken will be performing at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center at 8PM in Charolette, North Carolina. Buy Tickets
Tonight Jon Peter Lewis will be at The Dome in Bakersfield, California. All Ages!! Also Featuring local bands Rockville, Soulajar and The Blufs. For tickets you can link here or visit Stockdale Music, Front Porch Music or a Step Up Mensware in Bakersfield.
Katherine McPhee will be on the CBS Primetime Special: Home for the Holidays. Check local listings for times and channels.
December 23
At 8PM Clay Aiken will be at the War Memorial Auditorium in Greensboro, North Carolina. Buy Tickets
December 24
Jon Peter Lewis will be performing his latest original Christmas song, "California Christmas" during the six-hour, live broadcast of the 47th Annual L.A. Holiday Celebration. The show is an admission-free holiday gift to the people of Los Angeles. This KCET exclusive is performed before an audience of more than 6,000 in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion of the Music Center.
December 25
Ace Young will be at Walt Disney World for the Christmas Day Parade. WWD Christmas Day Parade celebrates it's 23rd year with co-hosts Regis Philbin, Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.
Also keep your eyes open for Mandissa at the Christams Day Parade. Check local listings and channels and tune in Christmas Morning.
December 31
Carrie Underwood will be here in Minnesota at Mystic Lake Casino. It appears as though the concert is already sold out, but through Ticketmaster there is an auction for a Premium Seats package for two in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd row.
FOX TV New Year's Eve Show Live in Time Square will feature Chris Daughtry performing "It's Not Over" December 31, 2006!!!
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Bar scene
A man walks into a bar (yeah yeah; that's how all the jokes start out). He sees a good looking, smartly dressed woman perched on a bar stool. He walks up behind her and says: "Hi there good looking, how's it going?"
She turns around, faces him, looks him straight in the eye and says: "Listen, I'll screw anybody, anytime, anywhere, your place, my place, it doesn't matter. I've been doing it ever since I got out of college. I just flat out love it." He says: "No kidding?, I'm a lawyer too! What firm are you with?"
She turns around, faces him, looks him straight in the eye and says: "Listen, I'll screw anybody, anytime, anywhere, your place, my place, it doesn't matter. I've been doing it ever since I got out of college. I just flat out love it." He says: "No kidding?, I'm a lawyer too! What firm are you with?"
Monday, December 11, 2006
To inform you...
To inform my online friends and fellow group members who have been subjected to the person who is sending out spam emails, linking many of us to "his" sites, and harassing you, I am NOT involved with this person in any fashion and neither is Nancy Grace. Please do not respond to "him" at all because "he" is looking for the attention and is trying to phish for your information. Just report all email from "him" to your internet service provider or "his", or send all emails to SpamCop. If you have any questions, just send me a comment.
Space Shuttle Discovery
Photographer George Bailey shares this spectacular picture he shot during last night's Space Shuttle launch.http://www.coasttocoastam.com/
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Daddy's little girl
Little Thelma comes home from first grade and tells her father that they
learned about the history of Valentine's Day. And, "Since Valentine's Day
is for a Christian saint and we're Jewish," she asks, "will God get mad at
me for giving someone a valentine?"
Thelma's father thinks a bit, then says "No, I don't think God would get
mad. Who do you want to give a valentine to?"
"Osama Bin Laden," she says.
"Why Osama Bin Laden," her father asks in shock?
"Well," she says, "I thought that if a little American Jewish girl could
have enough love to give Osama a valentine, he might start to think that
maybe we're not all bad, and maybe start loving people a little bit.
And if other kids saw what I did and then they sent valentines to
Osama, he'd love everyone a lot. And then he'd start going all over the
place tell everyone how much he loved them and how he didn't hate anyone
anymore.
"Her father's heart swells and he looks at his daughter with newfound
pride.
"Thelma, that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard."
"I know," Thelma says, "and once that gets him out in the open, the
Marines could blow the shit out of that son of a bitch."
learned about the history of Valentine's Day. And, "Since Valentine's Day
is for a Christian saint and we're Jewish," she asks, "will God get mad at
me for giving someone a valentine?"
Thelma's father thinks a bit, then says "No, I don't think God would get
mad. Who do you want to give a valentine to?"
"Osama Bin Laden," she says.
"Why Osama Bin Laden," her father asks in shock?
"Well," she says, "I thought that if a little American Jewish girl could
have enough love to give Osama a valentine, he might start to think that
maybe we're not all bad, and maybe start loving people a little bit.
And if other kids saw what I did and then they sent valentines to
Osama, he'd love everyone a lot. And then he'd start going all over the
place tell everyone how much he loved them and how he didn't hate anyone
anymore.
"Her father's heart swells and he looks at his daughter with newfound
pride.
"Thelma, that's the most wonderful thing I've ever heard."
"I know," Thelma says, "and once that gets him out in the open, the
Marines could blow the shit out of that son of a bitch."
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
My TV finds of the week.
From Zap2it.com
Highlight of the Week
TNT has a Christmas present for viewers. A special two-hour episode of "The Closer" airs Monday at 8 p.m. on TNT. In "Serving the King," Deputy Chief Johnson (the fabulous Kyra Sedgwick) investigates the death of a CIA agent. The second hour of the episode was directed by Sedgwick's husband, Kevin Bacon. (Tee hee hee, Sunny luvs her some Kevin!)
Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Johnson on "The Closer": To Sedgwick, I say thank you, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic female character. Brenda is full of idiosyncrasies. Her lilting Southern accent can move in for a laser-sharp attack in the interrogation room. She has a love/hate relationship with processed sugar. Sedgwick's trick is that she makes all these eccentricities, even the exaggerated Southern drawl, work.
24
Oh how I cannot wait for this little gem to begin! - Sunny
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer on "24": Sweetheart, listen to me: I'm going to go ahead and patch my list of top ten characters into your handheld. Don't let Karen Hayes see what I'm doing. Jack is "24." In what was arguably the show's best season, it truly was hard to pick a "24" character (especially when both Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart gave career-defining performances), but if I didn't believe Jack, I wouldn't believe the show.
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/zap-tvgal-120406-bestcharacters,0,6631895.story?coll=zap-tv-mainheadline
Highlight of the Week
TNT has a Christmas present for viewers. A special two-hour episode of "The Closer" airs Monday at 8 p.m. on TNT. In "Serving the King," Deputy Chief Johnson (the fabulous Kyra Sedgwick) investigates the death of a CIA agent. The second hour of the episode was directed by Sedgwick's husband, Kevin Bacon. (Tee hee hee, Sunny luvs her some Kevin!)
Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Johnson on "The Closer": To Sedgwick, I say thank you, thank you so much for creating such a fantastic female character. Brenda is full of idiosyncrasies. Her lilting Southern accent can move in for a laser-sharp attack in the interrogation room. She has a love/hate relationship with processed sugar. Sedgwick's trick is that she makes all these eccentricities, even the exaggerated Southern drawl, work.
24
Oh how I cannot wait for this little gem to begin! - Sunny
Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer on "24": Sweetheart, listen to me: I'm going to go ahead and patch my list of top ten characters into your handheld. Don't let Karen Hayes see what I'm doing. Jack is "24." In what was arguably the show's best season, it truly was hard to pick a "24" character (especially when both Gregory Itzin and Jean Smart gave career-defining performances), but if I didn't believe Jack, I wouldn't believe the show.
http://www.zap2it.com/tv/zap-tvgal-120406-bestcharacters,0,6631895.story?coll=zap-tv-mainheadline
Today's Gift, Passion.
Passion
"This week, I went scuba diving," a man told me. "Hadn't done it for years. I forgot how much doing something I love, even for one afternoon, can change my entire outlook on life."
It's easy to tell ourselves we can't have what we want and can't do what we want. And sometimes, we can't. But once in a while, even for an afternoon, it is helpful to treat yourself. How long has it been since you did something you loved?
Are you willing to be open to what excites and inspires you? If you can't do what you love, can you find passion in what you are doing?
"This week, I went scuba diving," a man told me. "Hadn't done it for years. I forgot how much doing something I love, even for one afternoon, can change my entire outlook on life."
It's easy to tell ourselves we can't have what we want and can't do what we want. And sometimes, we can't. But once in a while, even for an afternoon, it is helpful to treat yourself. How long has it been since you did something you loved?
Are you willing to be open to what excites and inspires you? If you can't do what you love, can you find passion in what you are doing?
Friday, December 01, 2006
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Family of missing boy's mother sues CNN, Nancy Grace
Family of missing boy's mother sues CNN, Nancy GracePOSTED: 7:05 p.m. EST, November 21, 2006
TAVARES, Florida (CNN) -- Relatives of a missing boy's mother who committed suicide after taping an interview for Headline News' "Nancy Grace" show sued CNN and Grace on Tuesday, claiming the former prosecutor's questioning of the woman contributed to her death.
The wrongful-death suit was filed in Lake County, Florida by Bethann and Jerry Eubank, the parents of Melinda Duckett and the representatives of her estate. It seeks unspecified damages and funeral costs.
Duckett committed suicide September 8 after taping a telephone interview for Grace's show. The suit claims that Duckett agreed to appear on the show after being promised her appearance might help find her 2-year-old son, Trenton Duckett.
Those promises were made by Headline News employees, the suit said, "knowing that they intended to surprise Melinda Duckett with accusations, questions and verbal assaults clearly intending to intimate that she murdered her child."
"We've alleged that Nancy Grace and her producers deliberately misrepresented the reasons for wanting Melinda on the show," Eubank family attorney Jay Paul Deratany said in a written statement.
"Within minutes of Melinda's phone interview, it became quite obvious that Nancy's questions weren't about finding Trenton at all, but rather about impliedly accusing Melinda of murdering her beloved son."
Headline News, CNN's sister network, issued a statement saying that while it does not comment on pending litigation, "We stand by Nancy Grace and fully support her, as we have from the beginning of this case."
Grace previously said in an interview with MSNBC that allegations she contributed to Duckett's death "are hateful, they are spiteful and they are also ridiculous."
On her show in September, Grace asked Duckett where she was on the day Trenton went missing. Duckett said she did not want those details to be made public.
"Why aren't you telling us and giving us a clear picture of where you were before your son was kidnapped?" Grace asked. Later, she told Duckett she was not divulging her whereabouts "for a reason."
"The spitfire questioning, fist-pounding and cross-examination tactics, all in hopes of obtaining a public confession, were despicable," said Eubank attorney Kara Skorupa.
Just hours before the interview was supposed to air, Duckett shot herself in a closet of her grandparents' home, the attorneys said.
"Even after learning of Melinda's death, CNN and the show's producers made the decision to air the interview between Melinda and Nancy Grace," Deratany said. "It was with complete disregard for the family and without their consent or authorization, which is morally repugnant."
"Three or four hours after Mindy had died, I was still in a state of shock," Jerry Eubank told CNN affiliates WESH and WPTV. "I'm watching this woman banging the table and screaming about 'Why aren't you telling us this, or that.' She was judge, jury and executioner."
The suit says Grace's actions have caused the Eubank family "severe emotional distress for which they have sought psychological counseling and continue to suffer from emotional and debilitating distress."
Melinda Duckett left behind a note that appeared to blame the public for her actions. "I do not bleed my emotions to the public and throughout this situation you did not understand that," the note said in part. It also said that Duckett loved Trenton "dearly, and he is all I was breathing for. He was and always will be my essence and as he grows, I want him to know that."
Based on those comments, Florida authorities said last week they believe Trenton may still be alive.
The suit filed Tuesday also names Joshua Duckett, Trenton's father, as a defendant and asks for an accounting of money in a fund he set up, with Grace's assistance.
"We are certainly not accusing Joshua Duckett ... of anything inappropriate at this point," Deratany said in a written statement. "But there has been a lot of money going into the account to help find Trenton, and the reward being offered seems small in comparison. Melinda's family simply wants to ensure that the money being donated by concerned citizens is being used solely for the purpose of finding Trenton."
Monday, November 20, 2006
THE BUCKEYES WIN
Okay, so the post below didn't happen, I'll post this now. Some Buckeye fan I am, I forgot to post this here. Well, a win is a win and we're going to the National Championship game on January 8, 2007. HOORAY HOORAY HOORAY!!!
(1) Ohio St. 42, (2) Michigan 39
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP Sports WriterNovember 18, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Troy Smith and his Ohio State teammates touched off a raucous celebration on the field, the national championship game squarely in their sights.
And when the No. 1 Buckeyes get to Arizona to play it, No. 2 Michigan might be waiting there for a rematch. Ohio State poured on all the offense it had Saturday, streaking into the title game with a dazzling 42-39 win. Though the Buckeyes scored more points in the first half than anyone pinned on Michigan in a whole game this year, the Wolverines stayed right on their heels.
And it appears that's where Michigan will stay in the championship picture -- at least for now.
"If this was boxing they'd definitely get a rematch," Ohio State defensive back Brandon Mitchell said.
Smith and the blazing Buckeyes put their speed on display with a barrage of big plays -- and they needed every one to beat an inspired Michigan team.
The "Game of the Century," the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in this storied rivalry, was played a day after the death of feisty former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. The teams couldn't have honored his memory with a better game, although it certainly wasn't the brand of football he and Woody Hayes coached when they battled for a decade.
"There were a lot of good playmakers out there today," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "It was a fast-break game the whole way."
The No. 1 Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0) have their first outright Big Ten title since 1984, but they might not have seen the last of Michigan (11-1, 7-1) this season. The Wolverines can still make it to the title game in Arizona if the Bowl Championship Series standings break their way.
"I guarantee if we play, it would be a whole different game," Michigan running back Mike Hart said. "We should have got them the first time around. We didn't. If it doesn't happen, that's our fault."
Two defenses that came in allowing 20 points per game combined were unable to stop each other's attack. It was the second highest-scoring game in the 103-game series, which dates to 1897; the most points scored was 86 in 1902, the fourth meeting, which Michigan won 86-0.
This one was surely more entertaining.
"The national championship was something aside, was something different from this," Smith said. "This is The Ohio State University-Michigan game. It's the biggest game in college football. And today the best team won."
Smith played a near perfect first half and finished 29-for-41 for 316 yards, a third straight magical performance against Michigan that might have just locked up the Heisman Trophy for the senior.
"I would think he clinched the Heisman Trophy, I don't think there'd be any question about that," Tressel said.
While Smith and the Buckeyes twice jumped out to 14-point leads, the Wolverines wouldn't stay down, led by Hart's 142 yards and three touchdowns.
When Smith tossed his fourth touchdown pass -- a 13-yarder to Brian Robiskie with 5:38 left on a drive aided by a Michigan roughing-the-passer penalty -- Ohio State was up 42-31, but the Buckeyes still couldn't rest.
Chad Henne connected with Tyler Ecker for a 16-yard TD and with Steve Breaston on a 2-point conversion to make it 42-39 with 2:16 to go. Michigan's onside kick was caught by Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr., maybe the biggest of the day for a guy who had eight reception for 104 yards, and all that was left was for Ohio State to run out the clock.
With 22 seconds left the Buckeyes sideline emptied onto the field, and the fans followed from the stands, joining in for a rousing rendition of the alma mater.
On Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz., Tressel's Buckeyes will play for the national championship for the second time since the 2002 season. Who they will play will be determined in the next two weeks.
Will it be USC? Florida? What about Notre Dame or Arkansas?
On Saturday, Michigan made quite a good case to be that team.
"Michigan's a great football team everyone saw that, they weren't going to give up because that's the way they're built," Tressel said.
Though that's probably little solace for Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, a Schembechler protege, who has now lost five of six to Tressel and Ohio State.
"We gave up too many big plays," said Carr, who bit his lip and held back tears during his postgame news conference. "Those are mistakes in a game like this, in any game, that will get you beat."
A video tribute to Schembechler, an Ohio State alum, was shown on the scoreboard before kickoff and the crowd of 105,708 responded with a respectful and loud ovation.
"Michigan has lost a coach and patriarch," the public-address announcer read. "The Big Ten has lost a legend and icon. Ohio State has lost an alumnus and friend."
"Win it for Bo!" read a sign held aloft by a Wolverines fan.
"It was definitely difficult for us," Henne said. "Coach Carr loves him dearly and so do we. .. It's sad to see him go. We dearly miss him. We tried to fight for him today."
Schembechler's death tempered some of the animosity that usually goes with this rivalry -- but not the intensity.
Hart plowed in from a yard out on third-and-goal on the second play of the fourth quarter to cut the Ohio State lead to 35-31 after Ohio State fumbled the ball away at its own 9 with a high snap.
Only the Buckeyes could stop the Buckeyes on this day. Ohio State turned the ball over three times, but gouged Michigan's defense -- a unit that was allowing 231 yards a game-- for 503 yards. Chris Wells had a 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Antonio Pittman broke one for 56 yards in the third to make it 35-24.
The anticipation for this showdown of unbeatens had been building for more than a month, when it became apparent that only a huge upset would keep the Big Ten rivals from entering the game with perfect records for first time since 1973.
For the Buckeyes, who've been No. 1 all season, it was the second time this season they beat the No. 2 team -- and with Smith leading the way. Smith has been the Heisman front-runner since September, when he led Ohio State to 24-7 victory at No. 2 Texas.
The offenses started fast, each scoring on its opening drive and doing it by going to the air. Mario Manningham, who missed three games with knee surgery, showed he was back in shape with three receptions for 58 yards that helped set up Hart's easy 1-yard TD run.
Smith responded by going 9-for-11 for 68 yards, capping the drive with a 1-yard TD pass to Roy Hall.
"I thought it would be a low-scoring game," said Michigan's star defensive end LaMarr Woodley, who couldn't add to his team-high 11 sacks. "It kind of shocked everybody."
Smith tacked on his second TD pass with a deep strike off play-action down the middle to Ginn from 39 yards out to make it 21-7. For a moment, it looked as if the Buckeyes were primed to pull away.
No way.
And now the question is: Should they play it again?
"That is really not up to us," Ginn said. "Today, it was just two really great teams giving it everything they could to win."
http://tinyurl.com/ycujaw
(1) Ohio St. 42, (2) Michigan 39
By RALPH D. RUSSO, AP Sports WriterNovember 18, 2006
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Troy Smith and his Ohio State teammates touched off a raucous celebration on the field, the national championship game squarely in their sights.
And when the No. 1 Buckeyes get to Arizona to play it, No. 2 Michigan might be waiting there for a rematch. Ohio State poured on all the offense it had Saturday, streaking into the title game with a dazzling 42-39 win. Though the Buckeyes scored more points in the first half than anyone pinned on Michigan in a whole game this year, the Wolverines stayed right on their heels.
And it appears that's where Michigan will stay in the championship picture -- at least for now.
"If this was boxing they'd definitely get a rematch," Ohio State defensive back Brandon Mitchell said.
Smith and the blazing Buckeyes put their speed on display with a barrage of big plays -- and they needed every one to beat an inspired Michigan team.
The "Game of the Century," the first 1 vs. 2 matchup in this storied rivalry, was played a day after the death of feisty former Michigan coach Bo Schembechler. The teams couldn't have honored his memory with a better game, although it certainly wasn't the brand of football he and Woody Hayes coached when they battled for a decade.
"There were a lot of good playmakers out there today," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "It was a fast-break game the whole way."
The No. 1 Buckeyes (12-0, 8-0) have their first outright Big Ten title since 1984, but they might not have seen the last of Michigan (11-1, 7-1) this season. The Wolverines can still make it to the title game in Arizona if the Bowl Championship Series standings break their way.
"I guarantee if we play, it would be a whole different game," Michigan running back Mike Hart said. "We should have got them the first time around. We didn't. If it doesn't happen, that's our fault."
Two defenses that came in allowing 20 points per game combined were unable to stop each other's attack. It was the second highest-scoring game in the 103-game series, which dates to 1897; the most points scored was 86 in 1902, the fourth meeting, which Michigan won 86-0.
This one was surely more entertaining.
"The national championship was something aside, was something different from this," Smith said. "This is The Ohio State University-Michigan game. It's the biggest game in college football. And today the best team won."
Smith played a near perfect first half and finished 29-for-41 for 316 yards, a third straight magical performance against Michigan that might have just locked up the Heisman Trophy for the senior.
"I would think he clinched the Heisman Trophy, I don't think there'd be any question about that," Tressel said.
While Smith and the Buckeyes twice jumped out to 14-point leads, the Wolverines wouldn't stay down, led by Hart's 142 yards and three touchdowns.
When Smith tossed his fourth touchdown pass -- a 13-yarder to Brian Robiskie with 5:38 left on a drive aided by a Michigan roughing-the-passer penalty -- Ohio State was up 42-31, but the Buckeyes still couldn't rest.
Chad Henne connected with Tyler Ecker for a 16-yard TD and with Steve Breaston on a 2-point conversion to make it 42-39 with 2:16 to go. Michigan's onside kick was caught by Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr., maybe the biggest of the day for a guy who had eight reception for 104 yards, and all that was left was for Ohio State to run out the clock.
With 22 seconds left the Buckeyes sideline emptied onto the field, and the fans followed from the stands, joining in for a rousing rendition of the alma mater.
On Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz., Tressel's Buckeyes will play for the national championship for the second time since the 2002 season. Who they will play will be determined in the next two weeks.
Will it be USC? Florida? What about Notre Dame or Arkansas?
On Saturday, Michigan made quite a good case to be that team.
"Michigan's a great football team everyone saw that, they weren't going to give up because that's the way they're built," Tressel said.
Though that's probably little solace for Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, a Schembechler protege, who has now lost five of six to Tressel and Ohio State.
"We gave up too many big plays," said Carr, who bit his lip and held back tears during his postgame news conference. "Those are mistakes in a game like this, in any game, that will get you beat."
A video tribute to Schembechler, an Ohio State alum, was shown on the scoreboard before kickoff and the crowd of 105,708 responded with a respectful and loud ovation.
"Michigan has lost a coach and patriarch," the public-address announcer read. "The Big Ten has lost a legend and icon. Ohio State has lost an alumnus and friend."
"Win it for Bo!" read a sign held aloft by a Wolverines fan.
"It was definitely difficult for us," Henne said. "Coach Carr loves him dearly and so do we. .. It's sad to see him go. We dearly miss him. We tried to fight for him today."
Schembechler's death tempered some of the animosity that usually goes with this rivalry -- but not the intensity.
Hart plowed in from a yard out on third-and-goal on the second play of the fourth quarter to cut the Ohio State lead to 35-31 after Ohio State fumbled the ball away at its own 9 with a high snap.
Only the Buckeyes could stop the Buckeyes on this day. Ohio State turned the ball over three times, but gouged Michigan's defense -- a unit that was allowing 231 yards a game-- for 503 yards. Chris Wells had a 52-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Antonio Pittman broke one for 56 yards in the third to make it 35-24.
The anticipation for this showdown of unbeatens had been building for more than a month, when it became apparent that only a huge upset would keep the Big Ten rivals from entering the game with perfect records for first time since 1973.
For the Buckeyes, who've been No. 1 all season, it was the second time this season they beat the No. 2 team -- and with Smith leading the way. Smith has been the Heisman front-runner since September, when he led Ohio State to 24-7 victory at No. 2 Texas.
The offenses started fast, each scoring on its opening drive and doing it by going to the air. Mario Manningham, who missed three games with knee surgery, showed he was back in shape with three receptions for 58 yards that helped set up Hart's easy 1-yard TD run.
Smith responded by going 9-for-11 for 68 yards, capping the drive with a 1-yard TD pass to Roy Hall.
"I thought it would be a low-scoring game," said Michigan's star defensive end LaMarr Woodley, who couldn't add to his team-high 11 sacks. "It kind of shocked everybody."
Smith tacked on his second TD pass with a deep strike off play-action down the middle to Ginn from 39 yards out to make it 21-7. For a moment, it looked as if the Buckeyes were primed to pull away.
No way.
And now the question is: Should they play it again?
"That is really not up to us," Ginn said. "Today, it was just two really great teams giving it everything they could to win."
http://tinyurl.com/ycujaw
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