miami heat

Heat top Bulls 101-93, move 1 win away from finals

MIAMI (AP) — The first 48 minutes of Dwyane Wade's night were unremarkable.
The five minutes of overtime changed all that.
And Miami's Big Three is one win away from playing for the NBA's biggest prize.
LeBron James scored 35 points, Chris Bosh added 22 and Wade perked up to block as many shots — two — as Chicago made in overtime, as the Heat topped the Bulls 101-93 in a scintillating Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals on Tuesday night.
Miami will go for the clincher Thursday in Chicago, where the Heat can wrap up their first finals trip since 2006.
"It's one game away," James said. "We're not taking anything for granted."
Derrick Rose scored 23 points for the Bulls, who got 20 apiece from Luol Deng and Carlos Boozer. Chicago has lost three straight games for the first time this season, and afterward, the league's reigning MVP pointed the finger of blame at himself.
"It's not over," said Rose, who shot 8 of 27 and turned the ball over seven times.
Still, some doubt may be creeping in. Chicago had its chances, and knew it, but was unable to take advantage of a largely off night by Wade. Rose was guarded in the game's biggest minutes by James, and the MVP from 2009 and 2010 had the upper hand against this season's MVP.
"It's extremely hard," Rose acknowledged, "when a 6-8 guy can easily defend you."
The Heat were down by 11 early, led for only 4½ minutes in the third and fourth quarters, and had Wade stuck on eight points from late in the second until past the midpoint of overtime.
Somehow, it wasn't a problem.
A sleep-deprived Mike Miller — whose wife delivered a baby last week — scored 12 points and made plenty of key defensive plays to help Miami outscore Chicago by a whopping 36 points with him on the floor. Udonis Haslem missed all five of his shots, and he was still a plus-25 in his 33 minutes off the bench.
And the stars, well, were stars.
"We know offensively, at times, we have rough stretches," James said. "But we give ourselves chances to win every game because we defend."
James was 11 for 26 from the field and 13 of 13 — his best playoff showing ever — from the foul line. Bosh was aggressive again, making 10 of his 11 free throws. Miami made its last 24 straight from the stripe, and the defense was again the biggest key of all.
"Defense is the reason that we're here," Bosh said. "Defense is the reason that we win every game. And defense is the reason why we have a chance of winning Game 5."
From the Miami perspective, this game will be remembered for how the Heat rallied around Wade — then watched him save his best for last.
"We reminded him in one of the final huddles, this is his time," Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said.
The 2006 NBA finals MVP was in the arena late Monday night, trying to work on some things in one of his customary playoff-after-dark sessions.
Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. This seemed like it would be the latter.
Whatever answer he sought, he didn't find for much of Game 4. Wade made just 5 of 16 shots from the field, lacking his usual lift at the rim. He made a pair of free throws with 1:50 left in the first half for his seventh and eighth points, and didn't score again until overtime.
Better late than never.
"You could tell that neither team wanted to lose," Wade said. "Both teams were clawing. If you're a fan of the game, this was a great basketball game. ... This was will."
Chicago turned the ball over on consecutive possessions late in overtime, Wade turned the second of those into a layup with 1:01 left for a 95-89 lead, and the Heat soon knew they were one win away from the title round.
"Hey, they're a great team," Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau said. "They compete. They play hard. They play great defense ... and they made plays at the end."
The fourth quarter was pure theater, both teams clearly knowing — clearly relishing — the stakes.

youtube, Dancing With The Stars 2011 Season 12 Episode 2 - Part 1

youtube, Dancing With The Stars 2011 Season 12 Episode 2 - Part 1

youtube, Dancing With The Stars 2011 Season 12 Episode 2 - Part 1

youtube, Dancing With The Stars 2011 Season 12 Episode 2 - Part 1

Mega Millions Winning Numbers

Mega Millions Winning Numbers

The numbers in the Tuesday multi-state Mega Millions draw are 9, 12, 21, 42, 43 and the Mega number is 42.
The estimated jackpot is $26 million. If no tickets are sold with all six numbers, the jackpot for the next drawing, scheduled for Friday, would rise to $35 million, a California Lottery official said.
   The drawing was the third since the last time a ticket with all six numbers was sold.

 
The odds of matching all five numbers and the Mega number is 1 in 175,711,536, according to the Mega Millions website.
Source: Mega Millions Winning Numbers for Tuesday May 24 Released | NBC San Diego

Sara Evans

Sara Evans Performs ‘A Little Bit Stronger’ on ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Finale

Sara Evans returned to ‘Dancing with the Stars’ tonight and delivered a stirring performance of a very appropriate song, ‘A Little Bit Stronger,’ just before the season’s celebrity dancing winner was announced on the finale.

Evans, who appeared as a contestant on ‘DWTS’ in 2006 before family trouble forced her to withdraw early, seemed happy to be re-visiting her old stomping ground, and the track’s message of overcoming obstacles rang true both for herself and this season’s contestants.

Video footage of finalists Hines Ward, Kirstie Alley and Chelsea Kane learning how to dance over the season’s episodes aired on large video screens behind Evans. She planted herself center stage and focused on singing the track, which was the first single from her 2011 album ‘Stronger.’

Evans recently performed alongside country stars such as Keith Urban and Lady Antebellum as part of the ‘Music Builds: CMT Disaster Relief Concert.’

Sara Evans, A Little Bit Stronger, youtube

Sara Evans, A Little Bit Stronger, youtube

Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace Out As Host Of Syndicated Swift Justice
Broadcasting and Cable’s Paige Albiniak reports HLN’s Nancy Grace will be replaced as host of the syndicated Swift Justice, produced by CBS. According to the B&C story, Judge Jackie Glass will replace Grace, and production of the show will move to Los Angeles. “I am so proud of the work we have done on Swift Justice,” B&C quotes Grace. “Leaving such a successful show was a tough decision, but, with the increased requirements of the production’s relocation to Los Angeles, it became challenging to balance my most important job–mother to John David and Lucy–back home.”

Lauren Alaina Sings For Her Mother

Wins Over the Judges on 'American Idol'

Tampa, Florida - Storms swept through North Texas on Tuesday night, bringing rain, hail, high winds and unconfirmed reports of tornadoes.  The bad weather left DFW International Airport trying to get a handle on the cancellation of more flights.

Bad weather has caused the cancellation of more than 200 flights since Monday. American Airlines said it canceled 50 to 60 flights on Tuesday alone, which has impacted travelers trying to fly into Tampa International Airport.

Sabrina Haynes of Lakeland spent hours waiting by the phone for her niece to fly into TIA. Kinesha King left Lawton, Oklahoma to catch a flight out of DFW on Monday night.

Haynes says, "We were, like, talking back and forth because we were very concerned."

American Airlines has tried to make room on flights for those forced to spend the night unexpectedly in the airport or the Dallas/Ft. Worth area due to a canceled connecting flight on Monday.

King is five months pregnant and her aunt says she was forced to spend Monday night in the airport due to the bad weather. Her flight was canceled.

Haynes says she's disappointed in American Airlines. "I personally thought they should have done more about that than what they did because, I mean, she's young and she's pregnant. She had to sleep at the airport."

American Airlines said hail damaged some of their planes.

Bad weather in Dallas

Ft. Worth area affecting Tampa flights

Tampa, Florida - Storms swept through North Texas on Tuesday night, bringing rain, hail, high winds and unconfirmed reports of tornadoes.  The bad weather left DFW International Airport trying to get a handle on the cancellation of more flights.

Bad weather has caused the cancellation of more than 200 flights since Monday. American Airlines said it canceled 50 to 60 flights on Tuesday alone, which has impacted travelers trying to fly into Tampa International Airport.

Sabrina Haynes of Lakeland spent hours waiting by the phone for her niece to fly into TIA. Kinesha King left Lawton, Oklahoma to catch a flight out of DFW on Monday night.

Haynes says, "We were, like, talking back and forth because we were very concerned."

American Airlines has tried to make room on flights for those forced to spend the night unexpectedly in the airport or the Dallas/Ft. Worth area due to a canceled connecting flight on Monday.

King is five months pregnant and her aunt says she was forced to spend Monday night in the airport due to the bad weather. Her flight was canceled.

Haynes says she's disappointed in American Airlines. "I personally thought they should have done more about that than what they did because, I mean, she's young and she's pregnant. She had to sleep at the airport."

American Airlines said hail damaged some of their planes.

Dallas school, Dallas school board weighs superintendent plans

Dallas school, Dallas school board weighs superintendent plans

Dallas school trustees on Tuesday briefly discussed attributes they would like in an interim superintendent, with some emphasizing knowledge of Texas school finance and a familiarity with Dallas and its schools.
But much of the discussion centered on a request by trustee Carla Ranger that the board consider forgoing the traditional interim superintendent and instead run the district with an “administrative council” made up of top district administrators.

The council idea didn’t appear to have support from the majority of trustees, but the board will vote on the proposal next week. Ranger said using a council could save the district money by not having to hire someone.
Tuesday’s meeting was the first time trustees have met since Superintendent Michael Hinojosa announced last week that he is the sole finalist to lead the Cobb County School District in suburban Atlanta.
Hinojosa has said he plans to stay in Dallas through June, the month that trustees will approve an annual budget expected to come with deep cuts.
During the meeting, Ranger voiced concern that Hinojosa is still leading the district and asked trustees to consider placing him on paid administrative leave until June 30.
“I’m very concerned that we have the superintendent still on duty and still in charge at a time we are making some very critical decisions,” she said.
Hinojosa, who was at the meeting, didn’t seem fazed by Ranger’s request, which received no response from other board members.
Trustees talked of finding an interim superintendent who would hold the position from six months to a year.
“I see someone who knows Dallas, someone who knows our areas and our schools,” trustee Edwin Flores said.
He added that the district also needs someone familiar with dual language education and Texas school finance.
Part of Tuesday’s meeting was held behind closed doors.
“We’re discussing what we want to do and how to move on,” board president Adam Medrano said of the closed session.
He said the conversation included discussion of current top administrators in the district.
Trustee Lew Blackburn said trustees will bring lists Tuesday of possible candidates for the interim position, and they could interview candidates next week. He said he hopes to have someone named on June 3.
The Cobb County district is expected to name Hinojosa as the next superintendent after a required 14-day public comment period, which ends June 2.
Some Dallas trustees have voiced concern about the timing of the Cobb County offer as district administrators and trustees are making plans for deep cuts. DISD could lose about $120 million in state funding as legislators reduce education spending.
Trustee Mike Morath has said the budget issues call for a leader with an understanding of Texas school financing. He also believes the ideal candidate could be a recently retired Texas superintendent.
“You need a steward over the ship during this massive budget-reduction environment,” Morath said.
Trustee Eric Cowan said he would prefer that the interim superintendent not immediately change the way the district operates.
“I don’t see the interim as a visionary,” he said. “He needs to be a manager.”
An interim superintendent would have important duties the next few months as next year’s budget is implemented. Class sizes are likely to increase in some grades, and course offerings could be trimmed.
While trustees search for a new superintendent, Blackburn said, the district doesn’t need an interim superintendent who will “turn things upside down and start all over.”
“We need to keep us rolling and hopefully move upward and onwards,” he said.
Morath urged board members to come together to figure out what characteristics they want in the next superintendent. He said doing so would speed up the process.
“There are a lot of people in this town who believe that we couldn’t form a consensus to run out of a burning building,” he said.