Today's Outcome: December 2013

Tuesday, 31 December 2013

Auld Lang Syne lyrics: Ring in 2014 with the traditional song - WJLA

(WJLA) - The time is ticking down. 10...9...8...

The party is in full swing. 7...6...5...

You're about to ring in a new year and everyone is about to burst into song! 4...3...2...

You don't know the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne!

1! Happy new year!

Don't be left out in the cold this year, or worse yet, get caught mumbling incoherent lyrics to the song sang the world over to celebrate the end of one year and the beginning of another.

Auld Lang Syne is actually a 1788 Robert Burns poem put to song. Loosely translated to "old long since," the poem is meant to, of course, celebrate a new year.

Here's the full poem. Keep it around, lest you be the only one in the room not belting it out once midnight hits. Also, if you're in need of a place to go, we've got you covered. Have a happy and safe new year!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

The song is a bit different in the original Scots language, which was provided to us by Twitter follower Craig Cockburn.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind
Should auld acquaintaince be forgot
And auld lang syne.

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

And surely you'll be your pint stowp
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll drink a richt guid willy waught
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine,
But we've wandered monie a wearie fit'
Since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidled in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine
But seas a'tween us braid hae roared
Since auld lang syne

CHORUS

And here's a hand my trusty fere
And gie's a hand o' thine
And we'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Guardians of the Galaxy

Melissa Harris-Perry

2013

Billy Joel

Chinese New Year 2014

MSNBC's Melissa Harris-Perry apologizes after flap over Romney photo - NBCNews.com (blog)

By Tracy Connor, Staff Writer, NBC News

MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry apologized Tuesday for a segment in which panelists joked about a photo of Mitt Romney with his family, including an adopted black grandchild.

The program, which aired Sunday, drew criticism, and Harris-Perry said that while her intent was to celebrate diversity, the result was "offensive."

To read her full apology, click here.

Anderson Cooper

Chinese New Year 2014

Billy Joel

Jenny McCarthy

Ariana Grande

Our 5 Favorite New Year Quotes - Investorplace.com

With New Year’s only a few hours away, New Year quotes are sure to be popping up on Facebook (FB) and Twitter (TWTR).

Here are five inspirational New Year quotes that would make a good post or Tweet.

“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.”
“Laughter is timeless, imagination has no age, and dreams are forever.” — Walt Disney
“If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that.”
“The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective.” — G.K. Chesterton
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” — Mark Twain

To see more inspirational New Year quotes, click here.

Feel like spicing up your New Year’s celebration? Then check out these five strange New Year traditions from around the world.

The Newest Number One App On iPhone Is A Great Way To Recap Your 2013 In ... - Business Insider

Flipagram

Flipagram is a video app that is perfect for remembering some of the best moments of 2013. The app lets you create short videos comprised of pictures from Facebook, Instagram, and the photos stored on your phone.

The length of the videos can vary between 15 seconds and 30 seconds ,but you'll have the added benefit of being able to add music to spruce up the story you want to tell.

The app is available for free on iPhone and Android.

Match made in heaven? ESPN hires Tim Tebow for SEC Network - SI.com

ESPN has hired Tim Tebow to be a college football analyst on SEC Nation, which will debut on Aug. 28.

Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

ESPN's research department has pushed a singular mantra when it comes to college football: You can never have too much SEC. In similar fashion, the network has ridden news surrounding Tim Tebow with a Justin Bieber-like fervor. Now, these two forces have come together, and it should make for an interesting ride.

On Monday, ESPN announced that it had formally reached an agreement with Tebow to serve as a college football analyst for the upcoming SEC Network. The network said Tebow's primary role will be as an analyst for SEC Nation, a Saturday morning pregame show that will travel to different SEC campuses each week. In the months leading up to the launch of SEC Nation on Aug. 28, ESPN said Tebow will also contribute to a variety of ESPN platforms, including SportsCenter, ESPN Radio and the network's Heisman Trophy coverage. The former Florida quarterback will also be part of studio coverage for the new College Football Playoff, which goes into effect next season.

As far as continuing a professional playing career, Tebow reportedly has an out clause in his contract. (He signed a multi-year deal with ESPN.) Tebow will make his debut during coverage of the BCS title game on Jan. 6. He will appear several times throughout that day, including in the 9 a.m. ET edition of SportsCenter, College Football Live (3 p.m.) and College GameDay (7 p.m.).

"While I continue to pursue my dream of playing quarterback in the NFL, this is an amazing opportunity to be part of the unparalleled passion of college football and the SEC," Tebow said in a statement.

The initial question is how successful will Tebow be as an analyst. He is one of the most popular (and likeable) athletes in the country, and he'll no doubt work hard to learn the craft. He also loves college football; Tebow was known for watching college games in his hotel room on Saturdays before NFL action, as well as on plane rides. Still, his opinions on football have mostly been vanilla, at least as a player speaking with the press.

"He's obviously one of the most popular athletes in our country and he transcends sports," said a network executive who does not work for ESPN. "He has a devout following. I have never heard him lecture or sermonize, only speak in an interview-type setting. He didn't seem to have a commanding voice for broadcasting. Seemed smart and very likeable but religion appears to be an every moment part of his life. Could he speak about the games, players and coaches without invoking his faith? One of a few major questions he would have to answer."

Said USA Today's Lindsay Jones, who covered Tebow at Florida for the Palm Beach Post and with the Broncos for the Denver Post: "It absolutely makes sense in terms of his passion for college football because I found when he was just hanging out in the locker room, you could go up to him and talk about college football. You have seen the video of him giving speeches at churches and prisons, and when it is something that he is very passionate about, he can actually speak well on the subject. ... I will be interested to see how objective he can be when it comes to the rest of the SEC and how critical he will be because he is always so positive about everything. I want to see how he will be critiquing coaches and criticizing players, and how much he'll use his own experience there."

In an interview with SI.com two weeks ago, Stephanie Druley, ESPN's vice president of college networks, said that SEC Nation will travel to as many conference football sites as possible during the 2014 campaign. The show will debut in Columbia, S.C., for the South Carolina-Texas A&M matchup on the SEC Network on Aug. 28, the first game on the new network. Two days later, SEC Nation will broadcast from Auburn before the Auburn-Arkansas showdown. The network has not selected locations beyond that, but Tebow will clearly be the star attraction for a show that already has announced Joe Tessitore as its host and is expected to have ESPN Radio personality Paul Finebaum join the program as well. (Tebow, Tessitore and Finebaum are all represented by the same broadcast agent based out of CAA in Los Angeles.)

On Monday, ESPN declined to make an executive available to SI.com regarding Tebow's hire. ESPN will hold a conference call with Tebow and executives on Tuesday afternoon.

Druley told SI.com earlier this month that it was important to hire a former coach or player who competed in the SEC for SEC Nation. Tebow certainly fits the part. Druley said she favors four people on set and plans to hire an executive producer and line producer -- key production positions -- for the show over the next couple of months. The experienced Tessitore should be a big asset to Tebow as far as the mechanics of broadcasting are concerned.

"I want authentic and opinionated partners who will breathe it all in seven days a week," Tessitore told SI.com earlier this month. "I don't care if it's three or four on the set as much as I want the three or four who share my passion for covering the SEC. My vision is a group of great friends and colleagues who talk SEC football all week long -- laughing, debating and enjoying it all."

GALLERY: Classic photos of Tim Tebow through the years

Dwyane Wade on infant son: 'Blessing to the bloodline' - USA TODAY

Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade.(Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade addressed son fathered during breakup with now-fiancée Gabrielle Union
Wade said he has met son, who is about 1 month old, and will be involved in child's life
Wade has two older sons, Zaire and Zion, who were subject of his 2012 book, A Father First

Before the Miami Heat's Monday game against the Denver Nuggets, Dwyane Wade told news reporters about his infant son, fathered during a temporary breakup with actress and fiancée Gabrielle Union.

"I'm in the public eye, so obviously that's a part of it," Wade said. "It comes with the territory. But, it's kind of … as I've always done my whole life … is always focus on what's most important to me and my family, and that's being a great father. I've always tried to show my importance in my kids' lives and it doesn't change now.

"But, yeah, I had a time ... in our pain and our hurt, (but) a blessing came out of it in my life, having a son that was born healthy. So, I'm moving on."

HEAT: Reinvention leads this title chase

NBA: Best and worst free agent signings

Wade and Union became engaged Dec. 21 after a proposal assisted by Wade's two older sons, Zaire and Zion.

Wade said he has had the opportunity to see his new son, who is about 1 month old.

"You know me," Wade said. "I'm involved in my kids' lives. When my kids were living at home with me, or wasn't living at home with me, I tried to do everything I could to see them."

In 2012, Wade published a book called A Father First, which covered his commitment to fatherhood. He insisted that Monday's report doesn't change his message about the importance of being involved in the lives of his kids.

"It would compromise it if I wasn't a father first," Wade said. "I'm always going to be a father first. That doesn't change. If you decide to when you can be a father, that's when it compromises. But, like I said, this is something, obviously, private for my family that we will continue to deal with as a family but we have a blessing to the bloodline, to the Wade bloodline. And from that standpoint, it doesn't, to me, state anything differently from what I've always shown."

GALLERY: NBA dads and their children

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Monday, 30 December 2013

Wes Welker cleared to return - ESPN

Updated: December 30, 2013, 6:26 PM ET

By Jeff Legwold | ESPN.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos will have their full allotment of wide receivers when they open their postseason Jan. 12 in the AFC divisional round.

Broncos coach John Fox said Monday that Wes Welker, who has been recovering from a concussion, will play the next time Denver takes the field.

[+] Enlarge

Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/Getty ImagesThe Broncos' Wes Welker suffered two concussions over a four-week stretch starting in mid-November.

"He's been cleared to play," Fox said.

Welker, who suffered a concussion in the Broncos' win over the Tennessee Titans earlier this month, practiced on a limited basis last week but is expected to be a full participant when Denver returns to the practice field Thursday.

The veteran receiver did not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Oakland Raiders but made the trip with the team.

Welker, who finished with 73 catches for 778 yards and 10 touchdowns, missed the final three games of the regular season. He suffered a concussion just before halftime of the Broncos' Dec. 8 victory over the Titans. He also suffered a concussion Nov. 17 in a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

By clearing the league's concussion protocol, Welker has been declared symptom-free by the Broncos' medical staff as well as by an independent physician approved by both the NFL and the players' association.

Covered Broncos for nine years for Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News
Previously covered Steelers, Bills and Titans
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board
of Selectors since 1999

Happy New Year 2014

Kennedy Center Honors

New Orleans Saints

Kennedy Center Honors

Alamo Bowl

Wes Welker cleared to return - ESPN

Updated: December 30, 2013, 6:26 PM ET

By Jeff Legwold | ESPN.com

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- The Denver Broncos will have their full allotment of wide receivers when they open their postseason Jan. 12 in the AFC divisional round.

Broncos coach John Fox said Monday that Wes Welker, who has been recovering from a concussion, will play the next time Denver takes the field.

[+] Enlarge

Aaron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post/Getty ImagesThe Broncos' Wes Welker suffered two concussions over a four-week stretch starting in mid-November.

"He's been cleared to play," Fox said.

The veteran receiver did not play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Oakland Raiders but made the trip with the team.

Covered Broncos for nine years for Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News
Previously covered Steelers, Bills and Titans
Member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board
of Selectors since 1999

Hackers attack Dota 2 and League of Legends servers in quest for one game ... - VentureBeat

Hackers attack Dota 2 and League of Legends servers in quest for one game livestreamer

Twitch

Phantoml0rd talks live on Twitch about getting hacked.

Hackers apparently went after the servers of games that are being played by a particular Twitch livestream user named PhantomL0rd. Every time PhantomL0rd tried to play games like Dota 2, League of Legends, Club Penguin, and games hosted on publisher Blizzard’s Battle.net, the group known as DERP tried to take those servers down with distributed denial of service attacks.

Twitch

PhantomL0rd has been hacked.

The hacks have been taking place as PhantomL0rd tries to play and stream the games, according to reports on Reddit and PhantomL0rd’s own Twitch stream. PhantomL0rd’s livestream is a popular channel on Twitch, which broadcasts live game sessions to large audiences. A DDoS attack can take a game down by flooding it with traffic.

The DERP Twitter account didn’t offer an explanation for why it was attacking PhantomL0rd, but whenever the group tweeted that it had targeted a particular online game, PhantomL0rd reported that his game session had been knocked out.

At the moment, his League of Legends stream appears to be back up. Speaking on his Twitch channel, PhantomL0rd proclaimed, “First time I have ever been hacked. Everyone is trying to talk to me.”

Right now, the stream is drawing more than 118,000 viewers. Apparently, being hacked is still good for his traffic. A spokesman for Twitch said that the incident was isolated and wasn’t due to any security breach with Twitch.

[Update 5:11 pm PST: And PhantomL0rd posted on his channel, "Hold on.. cops called to my house." Maybe it's a prank. On Twitter and Facebook, PhantomL0rd said that he had an "automatic pointed at me" and that the "handcuffs hurt." ]

The video below shows the interaction between DERP and PhantomL0rd that preceded the attacks.

Mike Shanahan's final day at Redskins Park is symbolically bizarre - Washington Post

On his final day of work, Mike Shanahan pulled his black Audi onto the driveway at Redskins Park a little before 9 a.m. and sat in a jumbled mess. At the property’s entrance, a security gate blocked reporters’ cars from entering. As the vehicles formed a line, at the rear was Shanahan, delayed as he waited to go get fired.

This was how a bizarre day at the park began, and it was difficult not to tie the Redskins’ reputation into one symbolic series of hours. Across the NFL, teams parted ways with coaching staffs on what is annually known as “Black Monday,” the day after the regular season and a time of mass change. The Redskins were among those, firing Shanahan on Monday after four seasons — they completed a 3-13 year on Sunday afternoon in East Rutherford, N.J. — and later releasing a statement that named the eight assistants who would not be retained, rather than the ones who would.

“A great organization,” Shanahan said during a five-minute, unscripted statement after which he answered no questions. “This is the best, if you look at what the franchise has done.”

Team owner Daniel Snyder and General Manager Bruce Allen did the firing during a 9 a.m meeting, and the team ordered pre-emptive measures presumably meant to reduce unnecessary attention — but in the process attracted far more. Days like this reveal many NFL franchises’ undeniable, over-the-top silliness and protectiveness of information that, in reality, no one is even all that interested in.

Reporters, for instance, weren’t allowed to stand in the parking lot between the media building and the team facility after Snyder and Shanahan arrived. The team assigned two public-relations interns to patrol the area, assigning them walkie-talkies and instructions to keep doors and window shades closed. Reporters therefore watched and shot video through uncovered windows and slits between curtain and sill, and when one of the shades came detached from a doorway, a team employee tried to reattach it with several strips of Scotch tape.

Quarterback Robert Griffin III, who developed trust issues with Shanahan months ago, wouldn’t speak with reporters before walking with backup Kirk Cousins through the players’ lot. Griffin packed his SUV and left, though hours later the team put him on a conference call to recite a statement but take no questions.

“I just want to say that Coach Shanahan has taught me a lot in the last two years of being with him,” said Griffin, whom Shanahan deactivated for the final three games of the 2013 season. “I want to thank him for drafting me to the Washington Redskins and giving me the chance to live out my dreams.”

Another Shanahan draft pick, running back Alfred Morris, also declined to speak Monday morning, saying he needed to leave immediately if he was to make it to Chick-fil-A before it stopped serving breakfast. A few players took responsibility for the disappointing season, saying the losses were their fault, not that of the coaches — though Allen left little doubt how the front office felt.

“Four years ago,” the GM said, “we thought we did the right thing.”

There was no team meeting Monday, and Shanahan mostly said his goodbyes Saturday night, before the season’s final game. A night before the Redskins’ season-ending eighth consecutive loss to the New York Giants, Shanahan told players that he was pretty sure of his fate, asking them to continue working hard anyway.

Indeed, Allen said Monday afternoon that the decision had been “near 99 percent” a week earlier that Shanahan would be fired, following a home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Snyder, whose 14-year team ownership has been littered with days and seasons like this, didn’t address reporters Monday, only issuing a statement that began by saying that “Redskins fans deserve a better result.”

During Allen’s news conference, he answered questions diplomatically, though his answers should’ve generated no relief or optimism to Redskins fans, and referred to the team as one of the NFL’s “flagship franchises,” which he believed would attract many interested coaching candidates.

“This is the Washington Redskins,” he said of a team that hasn’t won the Super Bowl since after the 1991 season and has four playoff appearances and 136 losses since Snyder bought the team. Shanahan’s successor will also be the eighth coach, including interims, in Snyder’s 15 seasons of ownership.

As Allen’s conference was winding down, a television reporter with a history of asking confrontational questions raised his hand and was handed a microphone, at which point communications director Tony Wyllie signaled to end the meeting. The reporter, WUSA-TV’s Dave Owens, waved off the team employee trying to retrieve the microphone; Wyllie then walked over and, after a brief tug of war, pulled the microphone from Owens’s hand.

The hours passed, and the departing coaches packed their cars. Kyle Shanahan, who is Mike Shanahan’s son and is now the Redskins’ former offensive coordinator, shook hands in the parking lot with a group of familiar faces and returned to his office to gather the last of his things.

As Mike Shanahan prepared to leave, his Audi was moved to a curb near a side exit. Security guards patrolled the lot like Secret Service agents, presumably to prevent a reporters’ rush on Shanahan’s car — though, after his news conference, there was little interest in such an advance. As the guards waited, their eyes scanning the mostly empty lot, a team employee said the situation was no longer a PR issue; it was rather a security measure.

Shanahan eventually emerged, quietly getting into his car with no media ambush and no driveway gridlock, waving as he left Redskins Park — and all of its unpredictable appeal — one last time.

Hackers take down League of Legends, EA, and Blizzard temporarily - GameSpot

A hacker group going by the name DERP has taken responsibility for DDoS attacks earlier today against League of Legends, EA.com, Battle.net, and other gaming sites. The downtime for each site seemed to last no more than 10-15 minutes, but the real target of the attacks, according to a post on Reddit, was a Twitch streamer going by the alias Phantom Lord.

Reddit summarizes the situation as: "A group called DERP is apparently DDoSing League of Legends NA/EU/OCE servers. They also took down Dota 2, Club Penguin, Battle.net, EA.com. They are taking down whatever game Phantoml0rd is playing (or perhaps, trying to play rolf). Most recent event is Phantoml0rd playing on OCE with stream fans and they took it down. On behalf of the League of Legends situation, it seems like they are directly attacking Internap network, Riot's service provider."

According to his Twitch channel, PhantomLord is a "professional streamer" with over 350,000 followers. PhantomLord's stream is currently down, but according to his Facebook and Twitch chat, police were called to his home in response to a "hostage situation." PhantomLord wrote, "Just had an automatic pointed at me, put in hand cuffs, and sat in the back of a cop car as I watched as 6 policemen go through my whole house." He later posted that the situation had stabilized: "I'm good guys. More updates soon, promise."

The previously affected sites are all currently online and functioning normally, but we'll update this story with new details as they develop.

Dwyane Wade on infant son: 'Blessing to the bloodline' - USA TODAY

Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade.(Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports)

Story Highlights

Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade addressed son fathered during breakup with now-fiancée Gabrielle Union
Wade said he has met son, who is about 1 month old, and will be involved in child's life
Wade has two older sons, Zaire and Zion, who were subject of his 2012 book, A Father First

Before the Miami Heat's Monday game against the Denver Nuggets, Dwyane Wade told news reporters about his infant son, fathered during a temporary breakup with actress and fiancée Gabrielle Union.

"But, yeah, I had a time ... in our pain and our hurt, (but) a blessing came out of it in my life, having a son that was born healthy. So, I'm moving on."

HEAT: Reinvention leads this title chase

NBA: Best and worst free agent signings

Wade and Union became engaged Dec. 21 after a proposal assisted by Wade's two older sons, Zaire and Zion.

Wade said he has had the opportunity to see his new son, who is about 1 month old.

"You know me," Wade said. "I'm involved in my kids' lives. When my kids were living at home with me, or wasn't living at home with me, I tried to do everything I could to see them."

GALLERY: NBA dads and their children

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Chargers Edge Chiefs In OT To Reach Playoffs - ESPN

Chargers Edge Chiefs In OT To Reach Playoffs

Nick Novak's 36-yard field goal in overtime pushed the Chargers past the Chiefs and into the playoffs.

SAN DIEGO -- The San Diego Chargers must feel they're living charmed lives these days.

How else to explain that everything they needed to have happen -- and more -- fell into place to allow them to sneak into the playoffs for the first time in four years?

"It feels like this season is meant to be special," Pro Bowl safety Eric Weddle said after another epic, heart-stopping win against the Kansas City Chiefs, 27-24 in overtime on Sunday, gave the Chargers the AFC's final postseason spot. "Whether it happens or not, we'll read that story at the end. But we're in, and no one really thought that could happen."

More Chiefs-Chargers coverage

Teicher Coach Andy Reid rested as many of Kansas City's playmakers as possible, which was the right thing for the Chiefs to do, even though they finished the regular season on Sunday with an overtime loss to the Chargers. Story

A fake punt in overtime helped the Chargers rally past the Chiefs and into the playoffs for the first time since 2009, writes Eric D. Williams. Story

Nick Novak kicked a 36-yard field goal with 5:30 left in overtime to give San Diego its only lead of the day. The Chargers, who trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter, then held the Chiefs on downs to win it after they got into San Diego territory.

"We didn't play our best game, but teams that are playoff teams find a way to win when you don't play your best and that's what we did today," quarterback Philip Rivers said after the Chargers (9-7) won their fourth straight and for the fifth time in six games.

They'll play a wild-card game next Sunday at AFC North champion Cincinnati, the last team to beat them, 17-10 at San Diego on Dec. 1.

The Chargers have needed help from other teams for weeks. Everything worked out for them on Sunday, but not before the Chargers and their fans had to squirm a bit.

Miami and Baltimore both lost, meaning San Diego could clinch the No. 6 seed with a win or tie.

Surprisingly, the Chargers trailed by 10 points in the fourth quarter against a Chiefs team that already had clinched the AFC's No. 5 seed and rested 20 of 22 starters, including Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles and quarterback Alex Smith.

The Chargers kept getting new chances. After San Diego tied it by scoring 10 points on consecutive possessions, Kansas City's Ryan Succop was wide right on a potential game-winning, 41-yard field goal try with 4 seconds left in regulation.

A Late Charge

The Chargers are the sixth team under the current playoff format to make the playoffs after starting 5-7 or worse through their first 12 games.

	Start
2013 Chargers	5-7
2008 Chargers	4-8
2007 Redskins	5-7
1996 Jaguars	5-7
1995 Chargers	5-7
1990 Saints	5-7

-- ESPN Stats & Information

"It was just kind of like we got a new life," Rivers said. "It was like, all right, we just got a second chance, because it was over. We were maybe going to get a snap offensively."

The Chiefs called heads during the overtime coin toss, and it came up tails. The Chargers got the ball first and elected to receive. The drive was kept alive by a 2-yard gain by Weddle on a fake punt on fourth-and-2 from the Chargers 28.

"I just felt we could get 2 yards as a punt team with me running the ball and if we are going to go down let's go down doing what we do best and that is being aggressive and fighting to the end," Weddle said. "And we just got enough and I'm glad we got it."

By having to settle for the field goal, the Chargers gave Kansas City an opportunity.

Chase Daniel, starting for Smith, moved the Chiefs to a first-and-10 on the Chargers 36. But Knile Davis lost 5 yards, Daniel threw three straight incomplete passes and the game was over.

"What a wild ride, all 16 games and it comes down to the last game," Weddle said. "A lot of people had us out but we stuck together in the locker room. It's the best team, morale, togetherness, that I have ever been a part of.

"It didn't look great at times in that game and now we are in the tournament. We can't wait to go to Cincinnati."

The Chiefs (11-5) go into the playoffs having lost five of seven. They play Saturday at AFC South champion Indianapolis, which won 23-7 in Kansas City last week.

"I look at the positive of it," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said of resting most of his starters. "We got a lot of guys in to get practice with the game plan if we do meet up with San Diego again. And the guys came out and played. You get to see, from a depth perspective, that you've got some guys who can play and want to compete."

Said Davis: "We treated it just like any other game. It all comes down to us going out and doing our jobs. That was our mindset. We're hungry now."

San Diego also beat the Chiefs 41-38 at Kansas City on Nov. 24.

With the Chargers on the verge of an embarrassing collapse against a team with nothing to play for, Rivers threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Eddie Royal early in the fourth quarter and Novak kicked a 22-yard field goal to tie it with 3:21 left in regulation

The Chiefs led 21-14 at halftime, getting touchdown runs of 17 and 2 yards by Davis and a 2-yard pass from Daniel to Dexter McCluster following an interception by Rivers.

San Diego scored on Rivers' passes of 22 yards to Ladarius Green and 4 yards to Antonio Gates.

Game notes

San Diego's Ryan Mathews rushed 24 times for 144 yards, extending his career-best season total to 1,255. ... The Chargers allowed 143 yards rushing, with Davis getting 81 on 27 carries and Daniel 59 on seven carries.

Cavaliers lift suspension for Andrew Bynum, still excused from team - CBSSports.com

Andrew Bynum is on leave from the Cavaliers. (USATSI)

The Cavaliers announced Sunday that they have lifted the suspension of center Andrew Bynum, but he remains away from the team, excused from all basketball activities. The Cavaliers are reportedly seeking to trade Bynum and his $6 million guaranteed cap space before the January 7th deadline to guarantee his full $12 million in salary for this season. It's assumed if they cannot find a trade partner desperate enough to just wait until then that the team will waive Bynum, making him an unrestricted free agent.

Kareem calls out BynumNBA legend questions oft-injured big man's heart

The move to take him off of suspension helps to avoid any complications from the NBPA on his behalf, while allowing Bynum to do what he has done for a year and a half now: get paid to not play basketball. The Cavs suspended Bynum indefinitely Saturday for "conduct detrimental to the team" as reports surfaced that he simply does not have any interest in playing basketball any longer.

Bynum is averaging 8.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game for Cleveland this season.

Sunday, 29 December 2013

Kyle Orton throws interception in final minutes as Eagles beat Cowboys to win ... - New York Daily News

Tony Gutierrez/AP

Kyle Orton throws an interception with 1:43 remaining as the Cowboys fall short of winning the NFC East in Week 17 for the third straight year .

EAGLES 24, COWBOYS 22

ARLINGTON, Tex. — Sometimes, you really have to feel for the Cowboys.

On a night when they needed Kyle Orton to be Clint Longley, he ended up being . . . Tony Romo.

The backup quarterback threw the ball as well as Romo could have, he was comfortable in the offense. Like Romo, he made big plays, he provided leadership. But with a chance to finish what Romo — out due to back surgery — had started when he saved the season against the Redskins, Orton repeated

what Romo has done so many times. His late interception, his second of the game, allowed the Eagles to escape with a 24-22 win, another familiar futile finish to a third straight Cowboys season.

The Eagles (10-6) went from worst to first in the NFC East and will host the Saints at Lincoln Financial Saturday night. They sealed the deal when Brian Boykin came up with a ball that Orton threw behind Miles Austin at the Dallas 40 with 1:43 left and the game-winning field goal within sight. Like the Redskins and Giants before them the prior two years, they denied the Cowboys (8-8) the playoffs in a winner-take all game.

“Everybody puts in a lot throughout the season. This was my chance to contribute,” Orton said in front of his locker. “We had a chance to win the game. We had momentum and I’m disappointed.”

Orton, the man the Broncos benched for Tim Tebow in 2011, would have gone down in Cowboys’ lore had he pulled it off. He came close to tying the game with 3:50 left when he led the Cowboys 80 yards on six plays and, on fourth-and-8 from the Philly 30, threw a strike to Dez

Bryant on a slant pattern. Bryant broke away from safety Patrick Chung and took it the rest of the way. Bryant was also the target on the two-point conversion but was well-covered and

Orton’s pass fell short and incomplete.

When the Cowboys’ 32nd-ranked defense, which played one of its better game, forced a punt, Orton had another chance from the Dallas 32. The interception came on the first play.

PHOTOS: NFL PLAYOFFS SET AS CHARGERS BARELY MAKE AFC BRACKET, PACKERS THRILLER WINS NFC NORTH

“I just threw a bad pass,” said Orton, who finished 30-for-46 for 358 yards with a pair of TDs. “Miles ran a great route, same play we scored on before, went to Miles this time and just threw it behind him. The guy made a nice catch on the ball. I just missed it.

“Like I said, we hit it on the touchdown to Dez. But everybody fought hard and battled throughout the game. We missed a few opportunities throughout the game, interceptions, three turnovers and kicked some field goals when we had a chance to score touchowns. We moved the ball pretty well but didn’t cash in like we needed to.”

The Eagles never trailed in the game after scoring the first 10 points, helped by DeMarco Murray’s first lost fumble of the year on the Cowboys’ opening drive.

Nick Foles threw for a pair of first-half touchdowns and Bryce Brown scored what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on a 6-yard run with 6:09 left, extending the lead to 24-16.

Chip Kelly’s offense set a team record for yards and TDs in a season while LeSean McCoy set the Eagles’ single-season rushing record to become the first Eagle in 64 years to lead the league in rushing.

But at the end of the night, it almost seemed to be more about what the Cowboys weren’t able to do, as usual.

“I thought Kyle played really well,” said coach Jason Garrett. “Based on the whole body of work, I thought he did a heck of a job. He had a great week of practice. He was prepared, was confident, the guys responded to him and he made a ton of plays, over and over and over again. At the end, he gave us a hell of a chance to win this game.

“All in all, he handled the situation really well not having played all year long. That’s the kind of guy he is, that’s the kind of pro he is. We’re lucky to have him.”

Jerry Jones, who will likely bring Garrett back for another season, concurred, even if the frustration is building up.

“They never get easy to take,” the owner said. “I saw good things. I saw plus things out there with our team. I liked the way we competed against a good team with our backup quarterback stepping in and playing like a starter.”

In the end, that was the problem.

NFL Playoff Schedule: Chiefs-Colts will kick off Wild Card Weekend - CBS sports.com (blog)

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will host the 49ers on Sunday. (USATSI)

The NFL has announced the dates and times for this weekend's wild card games. The NFL postseason will kickoff in Indianapolis on Saturday with the AFC South champion Colts hosting the fifth-seeded Kansas City Chiefs.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos will be the last playoff team in action this postseason. After taking Wild Card Weekend off, the Broncos will open postseason play in Denver at 4:40 p.m. ET on Sunday, Jan. 12 in a game that will be televised on CBS.

Here's the complete wild-card schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 4

No. 5 Kansas City at No. 4 Indianapolis, 4:35 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: Colts 23, Chiefs 7 at Kansas City in Week 16.

No. 6 New Orleans at No. 3 Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: N/A

Sunday, Jan. 5

No. 6 San Diego at No. 3 Cincinnati, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

Regular season result: Bengals 17, Chargers 10 at San Diego in Week 13.

No. 5 San Francisco at No. 4 Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

Regular season result: 49ers 34, Packers 28 at San Francisco in Week 1.

Divisional Round Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 11

Green Bay/San Francisco/New Orleans at No. 1 Seattle, 4:35 p.m. ET (Fox)

Kansas City/Indianapolis/Cincinnati at No. 2 New England, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS)

Sunday, Jan. 12

Philadelphia/Green Bay/San Francisco at No. 2 Carolina, 1:05 p.m. ET (Fox)

San Diego/Indianapolis/Kansas City at No. 1 Denver, 4:40 p.m. ET (CBS)

Former F1 champion Michael Schumacher critically injured while skiing - Fox News

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is in critical condition after he suffered a head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps Sunday.

The hospital where he is being treated, The French Mountain Gendarmerie, said the 44-year-old arrived in a coma and underwent brain surgery after sustaining a serious head trauma.

The hospital said Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he had a hard fall at the Meribel resort. In a statement, the resort said Schumacher was conscious when rescuers arrived on the scene.

Additionally, orthopedic and trauma surgeon Gerard Saillant had traveled from Paris to the Grenoble hospital to examine Schumacher. German news agency dpa said it was Saillant who operated on Schumacher when he broke his leg during a crash at the Silverstone race course in 1999.

In an email to The Associated Press, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said the retired driver was on a private skiing trip and "fell on his head."

"We ask for understanding that we cannot give running updates on his condition. He wore a helmet and was not alone," Kehm said. Schumacher's 14-year-old son was skiing with his father when the accident happened, the resort said.

In addition to the crash at Silverstone, Schumacher was hurt seriously in a motorcycling accident in February 2009 in Spain when he suffered neck and spine injuries. He recovered sufficiently from those injuries to make a comeback in F1.

Schumacher retired in 2006 after winning five straight titles with Ferrari following two earlier ones with Benetton. He came back to the sport in 2010 and drove for three seasons for Mercedes without much success before retiring again last year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report

NFL Playoff Schedule: Chiefs-Colts will kick off Wild Card Weekend - CBS sports.com (blog)

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers will host the 49ers on Sunday. (USATSI)

Here's the complete wild-card schedule:

Saturday, Jan. 4

No. 5 Kansas City at No. 4 Indianapolis, 4:35 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: Colts 23, Chiefs 7 at Kansas City in Week 16.

No. 6 New Orleans at No. 3 Philadelphia, 8 p.m. ET (NBC)

Regular season result: N/A

Sunday, Jan. 5

No. 6 San Diego at No. 3 Cincinnati, 1:05 p.m. ET (CBS)

Regular season result: Bengals 17, Chargers 10 at San Diego in Week 13.

No. 5 San Francisco at No. 4 Green Bay, 4:30 p.m. ET (Fox)

Regular season result: 49ers 34, Packers 28 at San Francisco in Week 1.

Divisional Round Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 11

Green Bay/San Francisco/New Orleans at No. 1 Seattle, 4:35 p.m. ET (Fox)

Kansas City/Indianapolis/Cincinnati at No. 2 New England, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS)

Sunday, Jan. 12

Philadelphia/Green Bay/San Francisco at No. 2 Carolina, 1:05 p.m. ET (Fox)

San Diego/Indianapolis/Kansas City at No. 1 Denver, 4:40 p.m. ET (CBS)

Former F1 champion Michael Schumacher critically injured while skiing - Fox News

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher is in critical condition after he suffered a head injury in a skiing accident in the French Alps Sunday.

The hospital where he is being treated, The French Mountain Gendarmerie, said the 44-year-old arrived in a coma and underwent brain surgery after sustaining a serious head trauma.

The hospital said Schumacher was wearing a helmet when he had a hard fall at the Meribel resort. In a statement, the resort said Schumacher was conscious when rescuers arrived on the scene.

In an email to The Associated Press, Schumacher's manager Sabine Kehm said the retired driver was on a private skiing trip and "fell on his head."

The Associated Press contributed to this report

Robin Roberts reveals same-sex relationship - USA TODAY

Robin Roberts is reunited with her dog, KJ, on Dec. 29, 2012.(Photo: Robin Roberts/Facebook)

It's been a day of reflection for Robin Roberts.

And in a Facebook post looking back to one year ago today, when she "reached a critical milestone of 100 days post transplant," the Good Morning America anchor reveals she has a longtime girlfriend.

Roberts wrote today in the post that "at this moment I am at peace and filled with joy and gratitude," and thanked God, her doctors and nurses, her sister and family and her "long time girlfriend, Amber" for their support.

"I am grateful for my entire family, my long time girlfriend, Amber, and friends as we prepare to celebrate a glorious new year together," she wrote.

While Roberts, 53, did not give her girlfriend's last name, People identifies her as Amber Laign, a licensed massage therapist from the San Francisco Bay area who has a private practice specializing in patients recovering from injuries. She and Roberts have been together for 10 years after meeting through mutual friends.

The Facebook post also showed a photo of Roberts one year ago when she was reunited with her dog, KJ, after undergoing a bone marrow transplant she underwent in September 2012 to treat a blood and bone marrow disease. "Hard to believe this was 1 year ago today ... Reading this comforts me and I hope the same for you: "If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present."

Saturday, 28 December 2013

Garth Brooks on 2014 Plans: 'The Biggest Thing I've Ever Tried' - Taste of Country

Michael Loccisano, Getty Images

Garth Brooks has something under his cowboy hat and up his sleeve regarding new music in 2014. Exactly what he is planning remains a bit of a mystery, intentionally so. He did say that something he may do between now and fall 2014 is the biggest thing he’s ever attempted!

New music from the country star remains a bit of an iffy situation. One of the obstacles is the fact that he won’t budge on his position regarding iTunes. The digital service sells individual songs, while Brooks wants his albums sold as is, not in piecemeal fashion.

Since both sides are at a gentlemanly standoff, the fate of Brooks’ future music remains up in the air, for a multitude of reasons, with digital distribution being a key factor and something he wants to settle.

Brooks called new material from a “forthcoming era.” He didn’t say much else, other than to comment on his concerns over how to get music to people on a digital level.

He further explained, “Right now there are a lot of hurdles to climb, one of which is digital. We don’t have a digital partner right now. I’ll never have a digital partner in iTunes as long as they keep the same rules they have now. I respect them; they’re friends of mine. They show me respect. They make me believe they’re friends of mine. But if they’re not going to change their ways, I’m not going to change mine. We have to figure out how we get new music to the people.”

That’s the conundrum. Hopefully they can figure it out.

But that’s not all. About this big thing he wants to attempt? It’s shrouded in mystery.

A tour is planned for next fall, with the possibility of a new project happening before then. Brooks set the table, suggesting this other thing could be huge.

“There is something that could be happening between now and the tour that might be the biggest thing I’ve ever tried to take on,” he hinted. “I’m excited. If it comes to fruition, and it looks like it’s going to, it will be the biggest thing I’ve ever tried to attempt. I’m really excited about it. It’ll be done right, it’ll be done quality. I’m in love with the idea and we just have to see if it’s going to happen. We’ll know within the next four weeks or so.”

We’ll be waiting with bated breath to find out more about this biggest thing he’s ever attempted. It’s thrilling to wait and wonder.

Next: More on Garth Brooks' iTunes Position

Marvin Hamlisch

Doe B

Aaron Rodgers

Adore You Miley Cyrus

Buffalo Wild Wings

Rapper Doe B. Among 2 Killed in Ala. Shooting - ABC News

Police in Alabama are investigating the killings of rapper Doe B. and another person in a shooting Saturday that also wounded six others inside a bar and grill.

Police say the gunfire happened around 1 a.m. about a half-mile north of Alabama State University.

Police identified those killed as 21-year-old Kimberle Johnson and 22-year-old Glenn Thomas, both of Montgomery. They said Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene. Thomas — an up-and-coming rapper known as Doe B. — was taken to Baptist Medical Center South, where he was later pronounced dead.

DJ Frank White of Montgomery, who managed Doe B.'s career, said the shooting took place at Centennial Hill Bar & Grill in Montgomery and that Doe B. wasn't performing at the time.

White said the rapper had two young children and a third on the way.

Police said in a statement that officers found six other victims with gunshot wounds. They said all of them were taken to local hospitals for treatment. Lt. Regina Duckett told The Montgomery Advertiser that those people were listed in stable condition on Saturday morning.

No arrests had made by mid-day Saturday. Local media carried a statement by Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, who said the city had decided to shut down the club because it poses "an imminent threat to the public's safety."

Paul Walker Faked His Death: Awful Rumor Causes Uproar On Twitter - Hollywood Life

Splashnews

The rumors just keep coming. A new report surfaced that is causing quite the uproar on Twitter — that Paul faked his entire death, that the accident was all set up, and that his girlfriend was in on it all.

This is just getting sad. While the family of Paul Walker have been visibly and understandably broken up over the loss of their loved one, Nosinfo.com has created a “hoax” report, claiming it was all a set up.

Paul Walker Faked His Death — New Claim Upsets Fans

“Paul Walker didn’t die. Nor did Roger Rodas. They are both alive and well, and their relatives well know it,” the website reads under its headline “Paul Walker Girlfriend Busted On-Site Setting Up Fake Death.” Below, they have photos of people around a set-up fire at the same scene — whether or not it is the same day (or even the same location) is unknown as the photos are extremely blurry.

“It has already been established that the relatives of Paul Walker are involved in a cover-up, that is the cover-up of faking the actor’s death. It has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, here, that the accident is a fabrication and that there wasn’t any real car crash. Rather, what is seen is imagery of a man-made car fire and a car pre-placed in position to be incinerated: without either Walker or Rodas inside,” the site continued.

The site calls out his girlfriend, Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, for helping too. However, we know she was competeley distraught by the news.

“I got a phone call from him and he said it didn’t look good, that from the looks Paul and Roger didn’t make it. Paul’s girlfriend was standing next to me when I got the phone call,” Jim Thorp, eyewitness, told HollywoodLife.com exclusively. “When I told her what happened she fell, she collapsed.”

These reports, which are extremely insensitive to the family and friends of the late actor who have been beside themselves, are causing quite the reaction from fans on Twitter.

Fans React To Faked Death Hoax

Below are some of the upset reactions on Twitter:

Are you shocked by this report, HollywoodLifers?

– Emily Longeretta

More Paul Walker News:

Paul Walker: Family Fued Over $45 Million Fortune — Report
Paul Walker: New Battle Brewing Over His Death
Paul Walker: Vin Diesel Posts Sweet Final Pic From ‘Fast & Furious 7′

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Doe B

Adore You Miley Cyrus

Red Lobster

Garth Brooks

Buffalo Wild Wings

Paul Walker Faked His Death: Awful Rumor Causes Uproar On Twitter - Hollywood Life

Splashnews

The rumors just keep coming. A new report surfaced that is causing quite the uproar on Twitter — that Paul faked his entire death, that the accident was all set up, and that his girlfriend was in on it all.

Paul Walker Faked His Death — New Claim Upsets Fans

The site calls out his girlfriend, Jasmine Pilchard-Gosnell, for helping too. However, we know she was competeley distraught by the news.

These reports, which are extremely insensitive to the family and friends of the late actor who have been beside themselves, are causing quite the reaction from fans on Twitter.

Fans React To Faked Death Hoax

Below are some of the upset reactions on Twitter:

Are you shocked by this report, HollywoodLifers?

– Emily Longeretta

More Paul Walker News:

Paul Walker: Family Fued Over $45 Million Fortune — Report
Paul Walker: New Battle Brewing Over His Death
Paul Walker: Vin Diesel Posts Sweet Final Pic From ‘Fast & Furious 7′