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LAS VEGAS – IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon has been seriously injured after his car went sailing through the air during in a massive 15-car wreck early in Sunday’s Las Vegas Indy 300.
Indianapolis 500 winner Wheldon, in line to win $5 million had he won the race, was injured when he car flew over another on the Lap 12 wreck and apparently caught part of the catch fence just outside of Turn 2.
Paul Tracy, who was involved in the wreck, said a team of doctors was working on Wheldon, but there was no word of his injuries. A helicopter lifted off from the speedway, and an IndyCar official confirmed Wheldon was onboard.
Pippa Mann and J.R. Hildebrand also were transported to a hospital after complaining of dizziness.
The wreck left Townsend Bell upside down, smoldering cars strewn all over the track and debris nearly halfway up the straightaway of the 1.5-mile oval.
“Just a horrendous accident,” said Tracy, who was involved in the accident. “Lot of prayers right now for Dan, because it’s going to be a long recovery. They’re scrambling in there right now. There’s 20 doctors in there.
Wheldon had to start in the back of the field as part of the promotion and had quickly worked his way through the 34-car field before the big wreck.
“I’ve never seen such a mess in my entire career on the race track,” said Danica Patrick, in her final IndyCar race before heading to NASCAR. Really concerned about Dan right now.”
Wheldon was transported to a hospital in a helicopter after a crash early in Sunday’s Las Vegas Indy 300.
Drivers had been concerned about the high speeds on LVMS’ 1.5-mile oval after they reached nearly 225 mph during practice.
Their concerns became reality when contact on Turn 2 sent cars flying through the air, crashing into each other and into the outside wall and catch fence.
The wreck left Bell’s car upside down, smoldering cars strewn all over the track and debris scattered down the straightaway opposite the grandstand.
“I’ll tell you, I’ve never seen anything like it,” Ryan Briscoe said. “The debris we all had to drive through the lap later, it looked like a war scene from Terminator or something. I mean, there were just pieces of metal and car on fire in the middle of the track with no car attached to it and just debris everywhere. So it was scary, and your first thoughts are hoping that no one is hurt because there’s just stuff everywhere. Crazy.”
Wheldon bumped Alex Tagliani from his ride with Sam Schmidt Motorsports and raced two weeks ago at Kentucky as a warm-up for Las Vegas.
The accident also collected championship contender Will Power, who sat for a long time in his car in disbelief. Points-leader Dario Franchitti avoided it, and seemed stunned as he waited out the clean-up on pit road.
*It was just a few years ago that media outlets had a field day when shocking photos of a man dressed in drag–allegedly boxing great Oscar De La Hoya—ignited international headlines.
The photos depicted a man in a hotel room sparring in a fishnet body suit, women’s panties, high heels and a brunette wig. At the time, De La Hoya vehemently denied that it was him in the photos.
But in a recent interview with Spanish-language Univision television, De La Hoya—nicknamed “The Golden Boy” who reportedly generated more money than any other boxer in the history of the sport, an estimated $696 million–admitted that he did actually pose for the photos.
The photos caused a sensation in 2007, when De La Hoya’s lawyers did damage control by arguing that it was not the boxing great but a “bad Photoshop job.”
“His head is too small and it doesn’t even look like his body,” his handlers argued.
But during the Univision interview, De La Hoya said, “Let me tell you, it was me. I’m tired of lying, lying to people, lying to myself.”
De La Hoya said he was snorting cocaine and guzzling booze when the revealing photos were snapped.
At the time, the very married De La Hoya was having an affair with stripper Milana Dravnel, who sold the photos to the press. De La Hoya’s lawyers claimed that Dravnel was “out for money”.
Dravnel filed a federal lawsuit against De La Hoya, claiming that De La Hoya’s handlers coerced her into agreeing that the photos were manipulated. The lawsuit was settled out of court, but courthouse sources revealed that De La Hoya shelled out a whopping $20 million to make Dravnel “go away.”
De La Hoya allegedly also ordered Dravnel to return the heels, fishnet and lingerie he had posed in during the infamous photo shoot.
During the Univision interview, an emotional De La Hoya revealed that he had been battling alcohol and drugs for years. “My drug of choice was cocaine and alcohol. Cocaine was recent. I depended more on the alcohol than the cocaine.”
He also admitted that he had “cheated” on his wife of 10 years.
“We are obviously not talking Tiger Woods here, but I was unfaithful,” he admitted.
The boxer said he had contemplated suicide after hitting rock bottom with alcohol and drugs.
The boxing champ, who admitted said he had started drinking at the age of 9, revealed that he was deeply affected when his mom, Cecelia, passed away from breast cancer in 1990. He added that drugs and alcohol helped him escape the pain of his mother’s death. “It (drugs and alcohol) took me to a place where I felt safe, it took me to a place where I felt as if nobody can say anything to me, it took me to a place where I can just reach out and grab my mom,” he told the Mail Online.
Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders denied claims of divorceon his Twitter account after reports began to circulate that he was getting rid of his wife after 11 years of marriage.
He says he never filed divorce papers, however several sources are sticking to the story saying that it’s already been set to motion because he didn’t want his wife Pilar to become a reality TV star.
“Ladies and gentlemen I never address Ignorance but I must at this point. I’ve never filed 4 divorce and hadn’t made a statement to Any media,” he tweeted.
The two have actually had a reality show “Deion and Pilar: Prime Time Love” since 2008. And his wife has made appearances on several shows and other televised productions.
On the couple’s show, fans and viewers take part in the every day activities of the family of seven, which lives in the small town of Prosper, Tx.
The former NFL star is also a football analyst.
Boxing Legend Oscar De La Hoya is coming clean. After leaving rehab, he is telling all. De la Hoya has admitted the photos that came out of him dressed in women’s lingerie were him. The photos came out in 2007, and were released by an angry ex-girlfriend. De La Hoya says he took the photos under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. De La Hoya has been sober for the past three months.
We have a feeling that Kobe is gonna like this story … a lot. It’s come to light that the now retired Shaquille O’Neal violated his man card by doing some snitching on his then Miami Heat teammate, Dwyane Wade. Yep, while flirtin’ and frontin’ with noted Newsweek reporter Allison Samuels, Shaq let it be know that Wade was cheating on his girlfriend Gabrielle Union with another actress, Lauren London. It all went down in an email to Samuels who he was also hittin’ on: “I want you or Rihanna,” he told the reporter. But the thing is, Samuels was trying to hook O’Neal up with some ladies all along. Check out the email exchange between the two, originally posted by Miami New Times.
Samuels: Hi. Sesslielopez@gmail.com. [FYI, the email address bounces back]. Or I can give her your info? She’s not in the c ountry until Wed so maybe then is better because she hasn’t answered me about something else I asked her about. Also she asked about your personal life and I told her_whatever it is_-I’m sure you had it under control. Still waiting on Robinne’s response.
Shaq: Sesslie aintdat fine whts robins last name
Samuels: You are so wrong! Robinne Lee_she’s on Tyler Perry’s show sometimes. Do you know Lauren London_I don’t_but I know James Lassiter knows how to reach her. You ever dealt with her_is she cool? Sharon Leal??
Shaq: Loren is d wade’s girl im not wrong sesslie aint my type u r
Samuels: What about Gabrielle and Dwyane?
Shaq: He gottem all I want u or rihanna
Samuels: Rihanna is too young_19– she is just legal and you know I’m very chatty and you said you didn’t like that!!!!!
Shaq: Yeah but I told u had a crush on me and u wouldnt chat about us i kn o
Samuels: No_I’m chatty in a relationship_not to others. You just decided I had a crush on you huh?? When did you decide that?
So the email exchange basically details Shaq saying that Wade is cheating on Gabby with Lauren and that he wan ts Rihanna and Samuels, too … just in case you couldn’t read through the muckery. Like we said, we think Kobe’s somewhere grinning like Cheshire cat right about now. We’ll keep you updated on new developments.
SIDEBAR: Shaq grow the fuck up!! period! Don’t you have 6 kids.
A California federal judge has rejected NBA superstar Gilbert Arenas’ attempts to block VH1’s “Basketball Wives” and turned down a request to stop former fiancé Laura Govan from appearing on the show and mentioning his name, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Further, Shed Media, the producers of the show, have successfully convinced the judge to grant an anti-SLAPP motion that strikes all of Arenas’ claims as an impingement of free speech except for allegations of a publicity rights infringement. This means the judge dismisses the claim, but is allowing Arenas to file an amended complaint.
The Hollywood Reporter’s legal blogger Eriq Gardner writes: The just-released decision comes as a huge relief for VH1, which plans to debut the latest LA-based season of “Basketball Wives” on Monday. In recent months, the show has been hit with a number of lawsuits and legal warnings from various NBA players including Chris Bosh and Dwight Howard. Arenas’ lawsuit got the furthest, requiring Judge Dolly Gee to examine whether Govan’s association with a show titled “Basketball Wives” could establish a connection to Arenas’ likeness and trademark. The judge says yes – that it will be likely that Govan will discuss Arenas on the show and that the show’s raison d’etre is to spotlight female relationships with professional basketball players like Arenas. Even if the show is careful about overtly touting such a connection between Govan and Arenas, media outlets will spot it. According to the decision: “In an age of tabloid journalism and celebrity obsession, news outlets frequently uncover and publicize connections between celebrities. For example, in the run-up to the 2008 election, it was widely reported that then-Senator Obama was a distant relative of then-Vice President Cheney, though presumably neither individual sought to be associated with the other.” In sum, there’s no escaping the fact that Arenas becomes part of this show in some form.
However, mere appropriation of Arenas’ name and likeness doesn’t necessarily equate to misappropriation, writes the judge… “On the record currently before the Court, it appears that any references in BWLA to Arenas will be incidental to the show’s plot as a whole. At its core, the show is about the women who have or have had relationships with basketball players rather than the players themselves. Thus, the show appears to be transformative.” Further, the judge finds there’s also fair use to Arenas’ name because there’s a matter of public interest involved. Observers might find it odd that a silly VH1 reality TV show could qualify as such importance under the First Amendment, but Judge Gee clarifies: “Arenas suggests that any discussion of his family life is not sufficiently related to his celebrity to render BWLA’s use of his identity a matter of public concern. This contention is belied by the tens of thousands of Twitter users who follow Arenas as he tweets about a variety of mundane occurrences. “Judge Gee then goes on to note there’s little evidence of “actual malice,” thus ridding of the defamation claim, and that the show’s advertising doesn’t imply any endorsement on Arenas’ part, thus nixing the commercial misappropriation claim. As for Arenas’ trademark allegations, the judge finds there isn’t any likelihood that viewers will be confused. “Although Arenas’ marks are strong,” writes Judge Gee, “they are completely dissimilar to Shed Media’s title. No one would confuse Arenas with a basketball wife.” Arenas will be resigned to watching the show, and if he spots any gruesome misappropriation of his likeness, can refile an amended complaint in the next couple of weeks. But given the show will have come out and the judge’s stated conclusion he’s unlikely to prevail, we can say that Arenas has been soundly trounced on in court by the mother of his four children.
Kobe Bryant has been trying to keep a low profile during the off season and the NBA lockout, but his sloppy cheating keeps getting in the way.Bryant is currently being sued by an Ohio prostitute. She claims that she has been seeing him for years, and he promised to buy her a ring. Where is Bryant’s wife Vanessa you may ask? Why she’s playing the role of the quiet wife who will do anything for the right amount of diamonds and money.
Was it a political power grab or a fairer way to assure all citizens have equal representation?
Voting district boundaries are poised to be redrawn following a controversial decision in Nassau County on Tuesday, reports CBS 2’s Jennifer McLogan.
It was standing room only inside the Nassau Legislature as hundreds of workers came to rally for a new Nassau Coliseum hub — with questions about the $400 million bond referendum facing taxpayers — when suddenly there was an abrupt and unexpected schedule change.
Presiding Officer Peter Schmitt announced a vote on the controversial redistricting plan. Yet many who came to voice objections couldn’t get in due to the overflow Coliseum crowd.
“If you’re not here to discuss redistricting, we ask you to stand up and let those people come in because that’s the item that they’re now calling,” was the order from the Legislature.
When the 2010 census confirmed a population shift, Nassau’s Republican majority began remapping boundaries, resulting in sweeping changes through Hempstead, the North Shore, and the Five Towns.
Democrats argued it was hastily drawn and a political power grab.
“It’s a desperate chance to retain their majority and they control redistricting again next year,” Democratic Legislator David Denenberg said.
Those who did get to speak against let it all hang out.
“It’s completely racist. It’s wrong and everybody up there knows it,” one person said.
“We are taxpayers and we shouldn’t have to go through this abuse that we hear here,” another said.
“Why are they so fearful? Why are they insistent upon pushing it through now?” wondered another.
Republicans explained they are mandated to make changes — that this will give all residents a greater voice. They said they are trying to assure one person, one vote.
Is Shaquille O’Neal married? Did the former NBA Superstar marry a reality star without signing a prenup? According to published reports, Shaq, who is living with Nikki Alexander (a.k.a. Hoopz) married the former reality star without a prenup…. or lawyers…. or accountants! Is he crazy? O’Neal and Hoopz have been dating for a while. They got engaged, and she moved into his home. Hoopz was one of the stars of the VH1 reality show Flavor Of Love, and she won season one and went off with Flavor Flav. Well that didn’t last. After a series of soft porn jobs, she landed on her feet and hit the jackpot with O’Neal. O’Neal has just released a new book, Shaq Uncut: My Story, talking about his life and career. Shaq is in love. Apparently, he doesn’t care about her past or his wallet. Look for Hoopz to get pregnant soon.