AP, LOS ANGELES: Prison officials won't allow music producer and convicted murderer Phil Spector to attend a civil trial in which he is trying to recoup $1 million paid to celebrity attorney Robert Shapiro, a lawyer told a judge on Friday.
Spector will still be a star witness in the case but will instead appear via a videotaped deposition.
His attorney Michael Dempsey said he expects the footage to be shown near the conclusion of Spector's civil case claiming breach of contract against Shapiro.
Dempsey said at a pretrial hearing that he was advised by prison officials that his client would not be moved for the trial scheduled to begin March 7.
Spector was convicted of the second-degree murder of actress Lana Clarkson and is serving a sentence of 19 years to life at Corcoran State Prison.
He has battled Shapiro for years, contending the lawyer took advantage of him after he was arrested in 2003. Shapiro represented Spector for a year, securing his release on bail.
Shapiro's attorneys deny any wrongdoing and say the producer knew he was paying to have exclusive rights to the lawyer who also helped defend O.J. Simpson at his murder trial.
Lawyer Joel Klevens, who represents Shapiro, argued that it was essential to have Spector in court to cross-examine him.
The producer's deposition is several years old and will have to be edited to exclude issues that won't be presented to the jury.
Superior Court Judge Malcolm said he had a similar problem when handling a case involving rapper Dr. Dre and producer Suge Knight, who was jailed at the time.
"It was impossible," Mackey said about efforts to have Knight attend the proceedings.
The trial will include testimony by other high-profile attorneys about the propriety of the agreement between Spector and Shapiro.
Among those expected to testify is Leslie Abramson, who also defended Spector before resigning.
Spector is known for his work with musicians such as The Beatles, The Righteous Brothers and The Ronettes.
License body waives music charge for royal wedding
Reuters, LONDON: Royal revelers at street parties will be able to listen to their top tunes for free when Prince William weds Kate Middleton on April 29, after the PRS group waived charges normally levied on the public use of music.
PRS for Music, which ensures that songwriters, composers and music publishers are paid when their music is played, performed or reproduced, announced the waiver on Friday.
"We want to help the nation enjoy this special event and not have to worry about getting a License for this one-off period," said Keith Gilbert, director of public performance sales.
The License waiver comes into effect between April 22 and May 6, 2011, and applies to not-for-profit events organized by unpaid volunteers where less than 300 people are present.
Britain has a tradition of holding street parties to mark major royal events.
PRS for Music, which ensures that songwriters, composers and music publishers are paid when their music is played, performed or reproduced, announced the waiver on Friday.
"We want to help the nation enjoy this special event and not have to worry about getting a License for this one-off period," said Keith Gilbert, director of public performance sales.
The License waiver comes into effect between April 22 and May 6, 2011, and applies to not-for-profit events organized by unpaid volunteers where less than 300 people are present.
Britain has a tradition of holding street parties to mark major royal events.
Oscar producers promise Shrek, sun, short speeches
AP, LOS ANGELES: A giant green ogre will be part of Sunday's Academy Awards.
Oscar producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer said Friday that awards for animated feature and animated short will be presented at the kingdom of Far Far Away from "Shrek," which won the inaugural animated-feature Oscar 10 years ago.
The telecast will use technology to take viewers to various destinations during the show that help create context for the awards being presented, producers said.
They also revealed that the first two awards of the night, and the first two to be presented in one of these settings, will be art direction and cinematography.
Cohen said he personally called each of the nominees in those two categories to warn them their awards were up first, and to encourage them to craft meaningful acceptance speeches free of long lists of names.
"The idea was to encourage them to give short, moving, funny, beautiful speeches, since they would be the first speeches the whole world hears," he said.
Academy president Tom Sherak said producers have taken steps to ensure no winner will read a list on stage.
"They have done away with the metal detectors, and they are going to have paper detectors," he joked. "So before (winners) come up, they're going to walk through a scan that will make sure they have no paper in their pockets."
The president also promised that it wouldn't rain on Oscar Sunday. He said he made a special arrangement after producers invited him to appear on the show.
"That night, I went to sleep, and I looked up at the ceiling, and I said to my mother and father, 'Get everybody ready, I'm speaking on the show,'" he said. "They wouldn't dare let it rain."
Oscar producers Bruce Cohen and Don Mischer said Friday that awards for animated feature and animated short will be presented at the kingdom of Far Far Away from "Shrek," which won the inaugural animated-feature Oscar 10 years ago.
The telecast will use technology to take viewers to various destinations during the show that help create context for the awards being presented, producers said.
They also revealed that the first two awards of the night, and the first two to be presented in one of these settings, will be art direction and cinematography.
Cohen said he personally called each of the nominees in those two categories to warn them their awards were up first, and to encourage them to craft meaningful acceptance speeches free of long lists of names.
"The idea was to encourage them to give short, moving, funny, beautiful speeches, since they would be the first speeches the whole world hears," he said.
Academy president Tom Sherak said producers have taken steps to ensure no winner will read a list on stage.
"They have done away with the metal detectors, and they are going to have paper detectors," he joked. "So before (winners) come up, they're going to walk through a scan that will make sure they have no paper in their pockets."
The president also promised that it wouldn't rain on Oscar Sunday. He said he made a special arrangement after producers invited him to appear on the show.
"That night, I went to sleep, and I looked up at the ceiling, and I said to my mother and father, 'Get everybody ready, I'm speaking on the show,'" he said. "They wouldn't dare let it rain."
The bumpy budget road to Oscars glory
AFP, HOLLYWOOD: Winning an Oscar will taste even sweeter for some films up for Hollywood's highest honors Sunday -- many less commercial movies struggle to get financed, and will savor success all the more intensely.
"Investing in independent films are financially very speculative, and generally anybody with a modicum of sanity stays away from them," said Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, producer of "The Kids are All Right."
The lesbian parenting film is on the 10-strong shortlist for best picture Oscar -- at least half of which, including frontrunner "The King's Speech," had to battle financially just to get off the ground.
The British historical drama, in the running for 12 Oscars, only made it because the powerful Weinstein brothers took a shine to the film's screenplay, about the stammering George VI.
The same goes for boxing movie "The Fighter," which was saved when mini-major Relativity Media put $25 million on the table after the initial investor Paramount pulled out, as did many of the original actors.
Films like Facebook movie "The Social Network" -- vying to edge out frontrunner "The King's Speech" at the Academy Awards -- were always expected to be box office hits, but for others prospects were less clear.
"The financing of 'Kids' was a long and winding road. Over the years studio divisions were interested, but ultimately none of them would greenlight the movie," recalled Levy-Hinte.
"In 2005 we entered preproduction only to have our financing evaporate. Ultimately, we brought in Celine Rattray who worked with us to bring in UGC-PH, Gilbert Films, and a dozen other equity investors to finance the movie."
The producer acknowledged that without the major league cast -- Julianne Moore, Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo -- the film could never have been financed.
"Without a first rate and recognizable cast there would be no possibility of financing the film, and even after we assembled our incomparable cast, we were only able to raise about 5 million dollars," he added.
In the end they had to make the movie in 23 days.
"At this breakneck schedule .. we had to greatly simplify the production of the film. The performances were never compromised, but we did not have the luxury of creating a more elevated, cinematic approach to the film," he said.
"We are looking forward to the next film where I anticipate more ample resources."
Meanwhile, "Black Swan," the disturbing ballet thriller for which Natalie Portman is tipped to win best actress Oscar, faced a similarly bumpy path when trying to get off the ground.
"We thought that we had a deal with somebody and they fell out at the last minute," said producer Mike Medavoy, recalling how investors Cross Creek came in the last minute.
"As usual in this kind of movie, it's really hard to put the financing together."
Even having director Darren Aronofsky -- who made the Oscar-nominated "The Wrestler" with Mickey Rourke in 2008 -- did not especially help.
"Nobody could have said that Aronofsky was about to do a movie that has done over 205 million dollars at this moment. Nobody in his right mind would have said that," said Medavoy.
He said films with medium-sized budgets -- around $20 millions -- "are always more difficult, because there is so much money to be spent on advertising and marketing.
"It's usually ten times the amount that you spend on making the movie. You really have to thread the needle. In this case, 'Black Swan' is a perfect example of a movie that threads the needle," he added.
Levy-Hinte lamented: "Every year it seems that financing is getting more difficult, and 'Kids' was by far the most difficult film that I have tried to finance.
"My hope is that we have reached the low point and the next one will be easier. That said I am not interested in making formulaic films that fit into the financiers preconceptions, and thus it probably will never be that easy."
Medavoy added: "I'm on my 214th movie and it's always difficult. There's always been a balance between the business and the artistic part of it.
"I'm never surprised in this business. It has always been difficult. If you look at almost every film that has won the Academy award, whether it's 'Amadeus,' 'Platoon,' 'Rocky,' 'Cuckoo's Nest,' they are all difficult films."
"Investing in independent films are financially very speculative, and generally anybody with a modicum of sanity stays away from them," said Jeffrey Levy-Hinte, producer of "The Kids are All Right."
The lesbian parenting film is on the 10-strong shortlist for best picture Oscar -- at least half of which, including frontrunner "The King's Speech," had to battle financially just to get off the ground.
The British historical drama, in the running for 12 Oscars, only made it because the powerful Weinstein brothers took a shine to the film's screenplay, about the stammering George VI.
The same goes for boxing movie "The Fighter," which was saved when mini-major Relativity Media put $25 million on the table after the initial investor Paramount pulled out, as did many of the original actors.
Films like Facebook movie "The Social Network" -- vying to edge out frontrunner "The King's Speech" at the Academy Awards -- were always expected to be box office hits, but for others prospects were less clear.
"The financing of 'Kids' was a long and winding road. Over the years studio divisions were interested, but ultimately none of them would greenlight the movie," recalled Levy-Hinte.
"In 2005 we entered preproduction only to have our financing evaporate. Ultimately, we brought in Celine Rattray who worked with us to bring in UGC-PH, Gilbert Films, and a dozen other equity investors to finance the movie."
The producer acknowledged that without the major league cast -- Julianne Moore, Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo -- the film could never have been financed.
"Without a first rate and recognizable cast there would be no possibility of financing the film, and even after we assembled our incomparable cast, we were only able to raise about 5 million dollars," he added.
In the end they had to make the movie in 23 days.
"At this breakneck schedule .. we had to greatly simplify the production of the film. The performances were never compromised, but we did not have the luxury of creating a more elevated, cinematic approach to the film," he said.
"We are looking forward to the next film where I anticipate more ample resources."
Meanwhile, "Black Swan," the disturbing ballet thriller for which Natalie Portman is tipped to win best actress Oscar, faced a similarly bumpy path when trying to get off the ground.
"We thought that we had a deal with somebody and they fell out at the last minute," said producer Mike Medavoy, recalling how investors Cross Creek came in the last minute.
"As usual in this kind of movie, it's really hard to put the financing together."
Even having director Darren Aronofsky -- who made the Oscar-nominated "The Wrestler" with Mickey Rourke in 2008 -- did not especially help.
"Nobody could have said that Aronofsky was about to do a movie that has done over 205 million dollars at this moment. Nobody in his right mind would have said that," said Medavoy.
He said films with medium-sized budgets -- around $20 millions -- "are always more difficult, because there is so much money to be spent on advertising and marketing.
"It's usually ten times the amount that you spend on making the movie. You really have to thread the needle. In this case, 'Black Swan' is a perfect example of a movie that threads the needle," he added.
Levy-Hinte lamented: "Every year it seems that financing is getting more difficult, and 'Kids' was by far the most difficult film that I have tried to finance.
"My hope is that we have reached the low point and the next one will be easier. That said I am not interested in making formulaic films that fit into the financiers preconceptions, and thus it probably will never be that easy."
Medavoy added: "I'm on my 214th movie and it's always difficult. There's always been a balance between the business and the artistic part of it.
"I'm never surprised in this business. It has always been difficult. If you look at almost every film that has won the Academy award, whether it's 'Amadeus,' 'Platoon,' 'Rocky,' 'Cuckoo's Nest,' they are all difficult films."
Kelsey Grammer marries for fourth time - on Broadway
Reuters, NEW YORK: Former "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer married his fourth wife, Kayte Walsh, on Friday in a colorful ceremony at a Broadway theater where his new bride arrived wearing a white robe.
Grammer, 56, exchanged vows with British flight attendant Walsh on the stage at The Longacre Theater on Broadway, where he has just finished a Tony-nominated run in the musical, "La Cage Aux Folles."
A video on TMZ.com and pictures on various celebrity websites showed the couple arriving for their reception at The Plaza Hotel with Walsh dressed in a white, lace, sleeveless wedding gown.
A spokesman for Grammer said the pair were married "at a private ceremony for family and friends."
People magazine reported that Grammer's former "Frasier" co-star David Hyde Pierce and actor Alan Arkin were in attendance. The New York Post said Grammer and Walsh were married by Terry Lavell, who plays a drag queen in "La Cage" and is licensed to officiate weddings.
Grammer, an Emmy winner, rose to fame playing psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the sitcoms "Cheers" and "Frasier," which aired from 1993 to 2004. His career includes TV shows, movies and numerous stage roles.
He finalized his divorce with third wife, Camille Donatacci Grammer, just two weeks ago. They broke up in 2010 when Grammer began seeing Walsh, 29, who in October suffered a miscarriage with her and Grammer's baby. She is the daughter of former English soccer player Alan Walsh.
Grammer, 56, exchanged vows with British flight attendant Walsh on the stage at The Longacre Theater on Broadway, where he has just finished a Tony-nominated run in the musical, "La Cage Aux Folles."
A video on TMZ.com and pictures on various celebrity websites showed the couple arriving for their reception at The Plaza Hotel with Walsh dressed in a white, lace, sleeveless wedding gown.
A spokesman for Grammer said the pair were married "at a private ceremony for family and friends."
People magazine reported that Grammer's former "Frasier" co-star David Hyde Pierce and actor Alan Arkin were in attendance. The New York Post said Grammer and Walsh were married by Terry Lavell, who plays a drag queen in "La Cage" and is licensed to officiate weddings.
Grammer, an Emmy winner, rose to fame playing psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane in the sitcoms "Cheers" and "Frasier," which aired from 1993 to 2004. His career includes TV shows, movies and numerous stage roles.
He finalized his divorce with third wife, Camille Donatacci Grammer, just two weeks ago. They broke up in 2010 when Grammer began seeing Walsh, 29, who in October suffered a miscarriage with her and Grammer's baby. She is the daughter of former English soccer player Alan Walsh.
Charlie Sheen's rants put his career in doubt
Reuters, LOS ANGELES: Hollywood appeared to be distancing itself from "Two and a Half Men" star Charlie Sheen Friday after days of erratic behavior and insults put the future of his top-rated TV comedy in jeopardy.
Sheen, on vacation in the Bahamas after a month of "rehab" at his Los Angeles home, sent off more angry messages to the U.S. media Friday insisting he was sober but calling his bosses "Nazis," "hypocrites" and "clowns" for pulling the plug on his CBS TV show for the remainder of this season.
Speculation was rife about the long term future of "Two and a Half Men" -- or at least Sheen's lead role in it as a womanizing bachelor.
Some TV writers wondered if the 45 year-old actor committed "career suicide" with his expletive-filled attacks on the show's producer and co-creator. Dozens of fans slammed Sheen on Twitter and the Internet and hoped the show would go on next season without him. But whether it will was anybody's guess.
"CBS and makers Warner Bros Television may very well decide to call it a day on 'Two and a Half Men' because the hassle is not worth it," said Michael Schneider of TV Guide Magazine.
TV industry sources said a deal was already in place for a 9th season of the comedy, but they declined to speculate whether Sheen would be in it.
"Two and a Half Men" has been a major cash cow for CBS and Warner Bros Television, pulling in millions of dollars in advertising revenue and syndication deals.
But a CBS executive said the decision to cancel the remaining eight shows of the season would have "no material impact in the short term on a company the size of CBS."
Barclays Capital said that the network's Monday night line-up might suffer in the ratings, but "the financial impact to CBS will be difficult to quantify in the short-term."
"Two and a Half Men," now in its 8th season, gets about 15 million weekly viewers. But repeat telecasts bring a robust 10 million -- higher than many other TV shows -- and healthy ad revenue for the network, industry sources said.
Schneider said that with eight seasons of "Men" under their belts, the TV show would continue to do well in syndication for Warner Bros. The Hollywood Reporter estimated Warner Bros makes up to $250 million in domestic syndication deals on the show.
But it is also costly to make. Sheen is the highest paid actor on U.S. television with a reported annual salary of $27.5 million. Neither he nor the rest of the cast and crew will be paid for the eight lost episodes.
If "Two and a Half Men," does not continue, there were questions in Hollywood about how much damage Sheen had done to his career. Before the sitcom made it to TV in 2003, Sheen had starred in dozens of movies including "Platoon," "Wall Street" and the "Major League" baseball movies.
He had been in line to make a third "Major League" film, but producer James G. Robinson told TMZ.com Friday he would not risk using Sheen if he doesn't clean up his act.
"When an actor doesn't show up for work, you can lose half a million dollars a day paying the 250 other people there for the shoot and the costs for the set," Robinson said Friday.
Cable channel HBO tersely refuted claims by Sheen that he was in talks for a new program of his own that would land him a whopping $5 million an episode.
Sheen was persuaded to seek help in January after a cocaine-fueled 36-hour party, months of rabble rousing with porn stars and a conviction for assaulting his now ex-wife.
Friday, he was compared in U.S. media to fallen actor Mel Gibson and starlet Lindsay Lohan, whose careers have tumbled in recent years as each battled substance abuse.
Schneider said he doubted Sheen's Hollywood career was over, but added; "It will require him really cleaning up and doing a little bit of a mea culpa tour.
"But this is Hollywood. Everyone can reinvent themselves."
Sheen, on vacation in the Bahamas after a month of "rehab" at his Los Angeles home, sent off more angry messages to the U.S. media Friday insisting he was sober but calling his bosses "Nazis," "hypocrites" and "clowns" for pulling the plug on his CBS TV show for the remainder of this season.
Speculation was rife about the long term future of "Two and a Half Men" -- or at least Sheen's lead role in it as a womanizing bachelor.
Some TV writers wondered if the 45 year-old actor committed "career suicide" with his expletive-filled attacks on the show's producer and co-creator. Dozens of fans slammed Sheen on Twitter and the Internet and hoped the show would go on next season without him. But whether it will was anybody's guess.
"CBS and makers Warner Bros Television may very well decide to call it a day on 'Two and a Half Men' because the hassle is not worth it," said Michael Schneider of TV Guide Magazine.
TV industry sources said a deal was already in place for a 9th season of the comedy, but they declined to speculate whether Sheen would be in it.
"Two and a Half Men" has been a major cash cow for CBS and Warner Bros Television, pulling in millions of dollars in advertising revenue and syndication deals.
But a CBS executive said the decision to cancel the remaining eight shows of the season would have "no material impact in the short term on a company the size of CBS."
Barclays Capital said that the network's Monday night line-up might suffer in the ratings, but "the financial impact to CBS will be difficult to quantify in the short-term."
"Two and a Half Men," now in its 8th season, gets about 15 million weekly viewers. But repeat telecasts bring a robust 10 million -- higher than many other TV shows -- and healthy ad revenue for the network, industry sources said.
Schneider said that with eight seasons of "Men" under their belts, the TV show would continue to do well in syndication for Warner Bros. The Hollywood Reporter estimated Warner Bros makes up to $250 million in domestic syndication deals on the show.
But it is also costly to make. Sheen is the highest paid actor on U.S. television with a reported annual salary of $27.5 million. Neither he nor the rest of the cast and crew will be paid for the eight lost episodes.
If "Two and a Half Men," does not continue, there were questions in Hollywood about how much damage Sheen had done to his career. Before the sitcom made it to TV in 2003, Sheen had starred in dozens of movies including "Platoon," "Wall Street" and the "Major League" baseball movies.
He had been in line to make a third "Major League" film, but producer James G. Robinson told TMZ.com Friday he would not risk using Sheen if he doesn't clean up his act.
"When an actor doesn't show up for work, you can lose half a million dollars a day paying the 250 other people there for the shoot and the costs for the set," Robinson said Friday.
Cable channel HBO tersely refuted claims by Sheen that he was in talks for a new program of his own that would land him a whopping $5 million an episode.
Sheen was persuaded to seek help in January after a cocaine-fueled 36-hour party, months of rabble rousing with porn stars and a conviction for assaulting his now ex-wife.
Friday, he was compared in U.S. media to fallen actor Mel Gibson and starlet Lindsay Lohan, whose careers have tumbled in recent years as each battled substance abuse.
Schneider said he doubted Sheen's Hollywood career was over, but added; "It will require him really cleaning up and doing a little bit of a mea culpa tour.
"But this is Hollywood. Everyone can reinvent themselves."
Coastal Carolina reported basketball allegations
AP, COLUMBIA, S.C: Coastal Carolina reported violations regarding its men's basketball team to the NCAA last summer.
A statement from the university to The Associated Press on Friday said the allegations were brought to the school's attention before the season began and President David DeCenzo ordered them turned over to the NCAA.
The New York Times reported the focus of the NCAA's investigation is possible illegal benefits that former player Marcus Macellari said were given to other players.
Coastal Carolina's leading scorer, Desmond Holloway, was indefinitely suspended this month while the NCAA looked into his eligibility. The Chanticleers (25-4) close the regular season at Charleston Southern on Saturday.
A statement from the university to The Associated Press on Friday said the allegations were brought to the school's attention before the season began and President David DeCenzo ordered them turned over to the NCAA.
The New York Times reported the focus of the NCAA's investigation is possible illegal benefits that former player Marcus Macellari said were given to other players.
Coastal Carolina's leading scorer, Desmond Holloway, was indefinitely suspended this month while the NCAA looked into his eligibility. The Chanticleers (25-4) close the regular season at Charleston Southern on Saturday.
Pitt releases Graham's first schedule
AP, PITTSBURGH: The Pitt Panthers will play eight home games in coach Todd Graham's first season, including a date with Notre Dame on Sept. 24.
Pitt, also in non-conference play, will travel to Iowa on Sept. 17, and welcome Utah to Heinz Field on Oct. 15.
The Graham era begins Sept. 3 at home vs. Buffalo, and will feature seven Big East games. They will play at Rutgers, Louisville and West Virginia in conference play. And they will play host to South Florida, UConn, Cincinnati and Syracuse in Pittsburgh.
"This is a very challenging schedule," Graham said, "but also a schedule that will provide us with great opportunity to achieve special things."
Pitt went 8-5 (5-2 Big East) last season under former coach Dave Wannstedt.
Pitt, also in non-conference play, will travel to Iowa on Sept. 17, and welcome Utah to Heinz Field on Oct. 15.
The Graham era begins Sept. 3 at home vs. Buffalo, and will feature seven Big East games. They will play at Rutgers, Louisville and West Virginia in conference play. And they will play host to South Florida, UConn, Cincinnati and Syracuse in Pittsburgh.
"This is a very challenging schedule," Graham said, "but also a schedule that will provide us with great opportunity to achieve special things."
Pitt went 8-5 (5-2 Big East) last season under former coach Dave Wannstedt.
St. Joseph's center Todd O'Brien rejoins Hawks
AP, PHILADELPHIA: Saint Joseph's center Todd O'Brien has joined the team following the completion of the university's judicial process.
O'Brien had been sitting out because of a failure to comply with the university's community standards. He joined the Hawks for Friday's practice. O'Brien averaged 1.2 points for the Hawks.
Coach Phil Martelli called it a school issue that he was made aware of last week, and has otherwise declined comment.
O'Brien had been sitting out because of a failure to comply with the university's community standards. He joined the Hawks for Friday's practice. O'Brien averaged 1.2 points for the Hawks.
Coach Phil Martelli called it a school issue that he was made aware of last week, and has otherwise declined comment.
The Other Georgetown: Hoyas women want own trophy
AP, WASHINGTON: There are more than 100 trophies, plaques, statues and other mementos won by various Georgetown sports teams in the John Thompson Lobby at McDonough Memorial Gymnasium, including awards earned by the baseball, soccer, golf, track and field and cross-country teams.
And, of course, rows upon rows are dedicated to men's basketball, including nets that have been cut down after the biggest wins, most of them overseen by the longtime Hall of Fame coach whose name is part of a mural near the lobby's ceiling.
Not a single item in any of the trophy cases was won by the women's basketball team.
"I've got two more years. We're going to get something in there," sophomore Sugar Rodgers said. "Even if I've got to put one of my trophies in there."
It still might be news to some people, but, yes, Georgetown has a women's basketball team. They play in 2,000-seat McDonough, not the 20,000-seat Verizon Center that hosts the men's games. They're a casual, accessible bunch who sit for interviews perched on an equipment room window, unlike the formal settings preferred by the "Hoya paranoia" men.
"It was bad to be a coach and work just as hard every day and have somebody say, 'You play at Georgetown? I didn't know they had a women's team,'" coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "Now all of the air is absolutely sucked out of you."
The identity crisis is on the wane. A year ago, the Hoyas broke into The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 1993 and for only the second time in school history. Now they are a mainstay in the polls, sitting at No. 18 this week with a 21-7 record heading into Saturday's home game against No. 1 Connecticut.
"Now we don't get the question: 'You've got women's basketball at Georgetown?'" Williams-Flournoy said. "Now they ask you, 'Hey, where are you ranked?' 'What's your record?' 'We saw you on TV last night.'"
Senior Monica McNutt said she was sheepish to even admit she played for the women's team when she was a freshman.
"Some of the dissension I remember my freshman year has been weeded out," McNutt said. "Women's basketball at Georgetown is now relevant."
The turnabout can be summed up in two words: speed and Sugar.
"My first three years, we were boring," Williams-Flournoy said. "They were boring to me. Let's walk the ball up the court. Let's set up the offense. Oh, my God, it's so boring."
After scratching out a WNIT bid in 2009, Williams-Flournoy called together her assistants and said that's not the way she ever envisioned coaching. The style was going to change. Press full-court, half-court. Pressure for 40 minutes. Run in transition the whole game. Enough of the set plays: If the players work hard on defense, then everybody gets the green light on offense. She got advice from Thompson, who told her to expect balls to go flying into the stands — because playing fast is hard.
"It's great when it works. It is awful when it's not," McNutt said. "High-risk, high-reward."
It's entertaining but maddening at the same time. When the Hoyas beat then-No. 8 West Virginia last month, the teams combined for more turnovers (51) than made field goals (40).
To make it work, Williams-Flournoy had to have athletes. It's a scheme that works only if everyone is in tiptop shape. The prize recruit is Rodgers, who has been called Sugar practically since birth and was a very good golfer by the time she was 12 before discovering her talent for basketball.
Rodgers played in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia for Williams-Flournoy's brother and renowned AAU coach Boo Williams and would have her game critiqued by the person she lovingly calls "Momma Boo" — Terri and Boo's mother. With that kind of comfort level, it was an easy choice to spurn the offers from more established women's programs and head to Georgetown.
Rodgers was a five-time Big East rookie of the week last season and has been conference player of the week twice this season. She's the type of star who can draw bigger crowds to McDonough and, perhaps one day, get the women a game at the Verizon Center as part of a doubleheader with the men.
Should that ever happen, it would be easier for Williams-Flournoy and the current men's coach, John Thompson III, to exchange pregame best wishes. The two coaches were hired in the same year — 2004 — and they often text each other to offer congratulations or compare notes. Williams-Flournoy even runs one backdoor play Thompson taught her from his Princeton offense, a rare crossover between their two distinct styles of play.
"JT3 is a great coach. I would be absolutely stupid not to be able to sit down and talk with him, not to be able to go over stuff with him," Williams-Flournoy said.
The payoff will come on the day the women have something to put in one of those trophy cases.
"We're the hidden treasure, right?" McNutt said. "Now, to our credit, you step inside our gym, you have our banner, when we returned to the (NCAA) tournament last year. It's a little lonely over there, but it's there. ... Achieving something is one thing, but maintaining that success is a whole 'nother thing. Going forward, that's going to be the trick to this program."
And, of course, rows upon rows are dedicated to men's basketball, including nets that have been cut down after the biggest wins, most of them overseen by the longtime Hall of Fame coach whose name is part of a mural near the lobby's ceiling.
Not a single item in any of the trophy cases was won by the women's basketball team.
"I've got two more years. We're going to get something in there," sophomore Sugar Rodgers said. "Even if I've got to put one of my trophies in there."
It still might be news to some people, but, yes, Georgetown has a women's basketball team. They play in 2,000-seat McDonough, not the 20,000-seat Verizon Center that hosts the men's games. They're a casual, accessible bunch who sit for interviews perched on an equipment room window, unlike the formal settings preferred by the "Hoya paranoia" men.
"It was bad to be a coach and work just as hard every day and have somebody say, 'You play at Georgetown? I didn't know they had a women's team,'" coach Terri Williams-Flournoy said. "Now all of the air is absolutely sucked out of you."
The identity crisis is on the wane. A year ago, the Hoyas broke into The Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 1993 and for only the second time in school history. Now they are a mainstay in the polls, sitting at No. 18 this week with a 21-7 record heading into Saturday's home game against No. 1 Connecticut.
"Now we don't get the question: 'You've got women's basketball at Georgetown?'" Williams-Flournoy said. "Now they ask you, 'Hey, where are you ranked?' 'What's your record?' 'We saw you on TV last night.'"
Senior Monica McNutt said she was sheepish to even admit she played for the women's team when she was a freshman.
"Some of the dissension I remember my freshman year has been weeded out," McNutt said. "Women's basketball at Georgetown is now relevant."
The turnabout can be summed up in two words: speed and Sugar.
"My first three years, we were boring," Williams-Flournoy said. "They were boring to me. Let's walk the ball up the court. Let's set up the offense. Oh, my God, it's so boring."
After scratching out a WNIT bid in 2009, Williams-Flournoy called together her assistants and said that's not the way she ever envisioned coaching. The style was going to change. Press full-court, half-court. Pressure for 40 minutes. Run in transition the whole game. Enough of the set plays: If the players work hard on defense, then everybody gets the green light on offense. She got advice from Thompson, who told her to expect balls to go flying into the stands — because playing fast is hard.
"It's great when it works. It is awful when it's not," McNutt said. "High-risk, high-reward."
It's entertaining but maddening at the same time. When the Hoyas beat then-No. 8 West Virginia last month, the teams combined for more turnovers (51) than made field goals (40).
To make it work, Williams-Flournoy had to have athletes. It's a scheme that works only if everyone is in tiptop shape. The prize recruit is Rodgers, who has been called Sugar practically since birth and was a very good golfer by the time she was 12 before discovering her talent for basketball.
Rodgers played in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia for Williams-Flournoy's brother and renowned AAU coach Boo Williams and would have her game critiqued by the person she lovingly calls "Momma Boo" — Terri and Boo's mother. With that kind of comfort level, it was an easy choice to spurn the offers from more established women's programs and head to Georgetown.
Rodgers was a five-time Big East rookie of the week last season and has been conference player of the week twice this season. She's the type of star who can draw bigger crowds to McDonough and, perhaps one day, get the women a game at the Verizon Center as part of a doubleheader with the men.
Should that ever happen, it would be easier for Williams-Flournoy and the current men's coach, John Thompson III, to exchange pregame best wishes. The two coaches were hired in the same year — 2004 — and they often text each other to offer congratulations or compare notes. Williams-Flournoy even runs one backdoor play Thompson taught her from his Princeton offense, a rare crossover between their two distinct styles of play.
"JT3 is a great coach. I would be absolutely stupid not to be able to sit down and talk with him, not to be able to go over stuff with him," Williams-Flournoy said.
The payoff will come on the day the women have something to put in one of those trophy cases.
"We're the hidden treasure, right?" McNutt said. "Now, to our credit, you step inside our gym, you have our banner, when we returned to the (NCAA) tournament last year. It's a little lonely over there, but it's there. ... Achieving something is one thing, but maintaining that success is a whole 'nother thing. Going forward, that's going to be the trick to this program."
SEC champion to be crowned in Atlanta through 2017
AP, ATLANTA: The Southeastern Conference has agreed to keep its football championship game at the Georgia Dome through the 2017 season.
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced the deal Friday, adding two years to the existing five-year contract.
The game was held for two years in Birmingham, Ala., before moving to Atlanta since 1994. All but one of the games held at the 70,000-seat Georgia Dome has been a sellout, and the last five conference champions have gone on to win the national title.
The NFL Atlanta Falcons are working to build a new outdoor stadium near the Georgia Dome, but officials have stressed that the indoor facility must remain open to host events such as the SEC championship and basketball's Final Four.
SEC Commissioner Mike Slive announced the deal Friday, adding two years to the existing five-year contract.
The game was held for two years in Birmingham, Ala., before moving to Atlanta since 1994. All but one of the games held at the 70,000-seat Georgia Dome has been a sellout, and the last five conference champions have gone on to win the national title.
The NFL Atlanta Falcons are working to build a new outdoor stadium near the Georgia Dome, but officials have stressed that the indoor facility must remain open to host events such as the SEC championship and basketball's Final Four.
Florida paying nearly $3M to assistant coaches
AP, GAINESVILLE, Fla: Florida is spending more on assistants than it is on first-year head coach Will Muschamp.
The Gators have committed $2.93 million to Muschamp's nine-man coaching staff in 2011, according to contracts released Friday.
Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis signed a three-year deal worth $2.495 million. He will earn $765,000 in 2011, then $865,000 the next two years. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn signed a two-year deal worth $1 million. He will get $490,000 in 2011, then $510,000 the following year.
Muschamp agreed to a five-year deal worth $13.5 million, or $2.7 million annually. He assembled a staff with lots of NFL experience. He also paid them accordingly.
The staff will make about $300,000 more than last year's assistants.
Nonetheless, the Gators are actually saving money since former coach Urban Meyer was making $4 million annually.
Aside from Muschamp's two coordinators, assistant salaries range from $190,000 to $290,000, based on experience.
Tight ends coach Derek Lewis, defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Aubrey Hill all signed one-year deals. Lewis will earn $190,000. Robinson and Hill will make $230,000 each.
Defensive line coach Bryant Young signed a two-year deal worth $230,000 annually. Offensive line coach Frank Verducci signed a two-year deal worth $290,000 annually.
Linebacker coach/special teams coordinator D.J. Durkin and running backs coach Brian White, both retained from Meyer's staff, are making $265,000 and $240,000, respectively. Durkin received a $25,000 raise. Durkin and White are in the final year of two-year contracts signed under Meyer.
Muschamp grew up in Gainesville, played at Georgia and coached at Auburn, LSU and with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. He jumped at a chance to return to Florida and the Southeastern Conference, even though it meant leaving his head coach-in-waiting spot at Texas.
A defensive guru whose units were among the best in the nation during his time at LSU and Auburn, Muschamp surrounded himself with experienced assistants, some guys with NFL ties and others with working knowledge about Florida's traditions and ways.
The staff will get its first on-field work during spring practice, which begins March 16.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects staff total to $2.93 million and Weis' deal to $2.495 million)
The Gators have committed $2.93 million to Muschamp's nine-man coaching staff in 2011, according to contracts released Friday.
Offensive coordinator Charlie Weis signed a three-year deal worth $2.495 million. He will earn $765,000 in 2011, then $865,000 the next two years. Defensive coordinator Dan Quinn signed a two-year deal worth $1 million. He will get $490,000 in 2011, then $510,000 the following year.
Muschamp agreed to a five-year deal worth $13.5 million, or $2.7 million annually. He assembled a staff with lots of NFL experience. He also paid them accordingly.
The staff will make about $300,000 more than last year's assistants.
Nonetheless, the Gators are actually saving money since former coach Urban Meyer was making $4 million annually.
Aside from Muschamp's two coordinators, assistant salaries range from $190,000 to $290,000, based on experience.
Tight ends coach Derek Lewis, defensive backs coach Travaris Robinson and receivers coach/recruiting coordinator Aubrey Hill all signed one-year deals. Lewis will earn $190,000. Robinson and Hill will make $230,000 each.
Defensive line coach Bryant Young signed a two-year deal worth $230,000 annually. Offensive line coach Frank Verducci signed a two-year deal worth $290,000 annually.
Linebacker coach/special teams coordinator D.J. Durkin and running backs coach Brian White, both retained from Meyer's staff, are making $265,000 and $240,000, respectively. Durkin received a $25,000 raise. Durkin and White are in the final year of two-year contracts signed under Meyer.
Muschamp grew up in Gainesville, played at Georgia and coached at Auburn, LSU and with the NFL's Miami Dolphins. He jumped at a chance to return to Florida and the Southeastern Conference, even though it meant leaving his head coach-in-waiting spot at Texas.
A defensive guru whose units were among the best in the nation during his time at LSU and Auburn, Muschamp surrounded himself with experienced assistants, some guys with NFL ties and others with working knowledge about Florida's traditions and ways.
The staff will get its first on-field work during spring practice, which begins March 16.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects staff total to $2.93 million and Weis' deal to $2.495 million)
Calhoun on violations: 'Buck stops with me'
AP, Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun took responsibility Friday for recruiting violations committed under his watch, apologizing to the university and his current players in a lengthy statement issued by his representative.
Calhoun acknowledged his staff made mistakes but declined to address the specific findings or sanctions released by the NCAA earlier this week. UConn was spared a postseason ban, but Calhoun was cited for failure to create an atmosphere of compliance within the program.
"As the leader of the Connecticut basketball program and an ambassador of the university, the buck stops with me. No qualifications, no exceptions," Calhoun said in the statement. "I fully acknowledge that we, as a staff, made mistakes and would like to apologize."
Along with three years' probation, the school also received scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions, and is forced to dissociate with a booster not named in the NCAA's report. The school will not be able to accept financial contributions, recruiting assistance or provide that individual with any benefits or privileges.
Calhoun, who has turned UConn into one of the nation's most successful programs, was also given a three-game suspension he will serve at the start of the 2011-12 Big East season.
His lawyer, Scott Tompsett, said Calhoun has not decided whether he will appeal.
"Throughout my 39-year career, my intentions have been, and will continue to be, on doing things the right way," Calhoun said, "in full compliance with the rules of my profession, and more importantly, with a moral and ethical standard that has been at the center of who I strive to be as a person. I remain committed to doing my job with integrity."
This was the first time the program had received a letter from the NCAA accusing the school of major violations. UConn will be on probation from Feb. 22, 2011, through Feb. 21, 2014.
The NCAA and the school had been investigating the program since shortly after a report by Yahoo! Sports in March 2009 that former team manager Josh Nochimson helped guide recruit Nate Miles to Connecticut, giving him lodging, transportation, meals and representation.
As a former team manager, Nochimson was considered a representative of UConn's athletic interests by the NCAA and prohibited from giving Miles anything of value.
The school said it found the basketball staff exchanged more than 1,400 calls and 1,100 text messages with Nochimson between June 2005 and December 2008. Members of the coaching staff also provided 32 impermissible complimentary tickets to individuals responsible for teaching or directing activities with prospective student-athletes.
Miles was expelled from UConn in October 2008 without ever playing for the Huskies, while Nochimson was attempting to become an NBA agent.
Calhoun said he regretted the attention the sanctions have placed on his current team, which has lost five of its last eight games. The 14th-ranked Huskies (20-7, 8-7) lost 74-67 in overtime to Marquette on Thursday night to fall into a tie for ninth in the Big East; the top eight schools get a bye during the conference tournament starting March 8 in New York City.
Calhoun missed the game to be with his family in New Hampshire following the death of his sister-in-law on Monday. Associate head coach George Blaney replaced him on the bench.
The 68-year-old Calhoun plans to be back with the Huskies for their game against Cincinnati on Sunday. They finish the regular season against West Virginia on Wednesday and ninth-ranked Notre Dame next Saturday, before opening the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.
"My personal feelings about this situation and the NCAA's findings will remain private and I will not have any further public comment on this matter," Calhoun said. "I am energized and excited about the remainder of the regular season and what the postseason may hold, and our program remains committed to making UConn and all associated with it proud of what we do."
Calhoun acknowledged his staff made mistakes but declined to address the specific findings or sanctions released by the NCAA earlier this week. UConn was spared a postseason ban, but Calhoun was cited for failure to create an atmosphere of compliance within the program.
"As the leader of the Connecticut basketball program and an ambassador of the university, the buck stops with me. No qualifications, no exceptions," Calhoun said in the statement. "I fully acknowledge that we, as a staff, made mistakes and would like to apologize."
Along with three years' probation, the school also received scholarship reductions for three academic years, recruiting restrictions, and is forced to dissociate with a booster not named in the NCAA's report. The school will not be able to accept financial contributions, recruiting assistance or provide that individual with any benefits or privileges.
Calhoun, who has turned UConn into one of the nation's most successful programs, was also given a three-game suspension he will serve at the start of the 2011-12 Big East season.
His lawyer, Scott Tompsett, said Calhoun has not decided whether he will appeal.
"Throughout my 39-year career, my intentions have been, and will continue to be, on doing things the right way," Calhoun said, "in full compliance with the rules of my profession, and more importantly, with a moral and ethical standard that has been at the center of who I strive to be as a person. I remain committed to doing my job with integrity."
This was the first time the program had received a letter from the NCAA accusing the school of major violations. UConn will be on probation from Feb. 22, 2011, through Feb. 21, 2014.
The NCAA and the school had been investigating the program since shortly after a report by Yahoo! Sports in March 2009 that former team manager Josh Nochimson helped guide recruit Nate Miles to Connecticut, giving him lodging, transportation, meals and representation.
As a former team manager, Nochimson was considered a representative of UConn's athletic interests by the NCAA and prohibited from giving Miles anything of value.
The school said it found the basketball staff exchanged more than 1,400 calls and 1,100 text messages with Nochimson between June 2005 and December 2008. Members of the coaching staff also provided 32 impermissible complimentary tickets to individuals responsible for teaching or directing activities with prospective student-athletes.
Miles was expelled from UConn in October 2008 without ever playing for the Huskies, while Nochimson was attempting to become an NBA agent.
Calhoun said he regretted the attention the sanctions have placed on his current team, which has lost five of its last eight games. The 14th-ranked Huskies (20-7, 8-7) lost 74-67 in overtime to Marquette on Thursday night to fall into a tie for ninth in the Big East; the top eight schools get a bye during the conference tournament starting March 8 in New York City.
Calhoun missed the game to be with his family in New Hampshire following the death of his sister-in-law on Monday. Associate head coach George Blaney replaced him on the bench.
The 68-year-old Calhoun plans to be back with the Huskies for their game against Cincinnati on Sunday. They finish the regular season against West Virginia on Wednesday and ninth-ranked Notre Dame next Saturday, before opening the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden.
"My personal feelings about this situation and the NCAA's findings will remain private and I will not have any further public comment on this matter," Calhoun said. "I am energized and excited about the remainder of the regular season and what the postseason may hold, and our program remains committed to making UConn and all associated with it proud of what we do."
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