Hightower Police Academy RIP

It’s pretty lousy when people from the Police Academy films start dying. Not only did they teach Cassandra from Wayne’s World how to speak English, but they also provided a whole bunch of puerile laughs for plebs like us.

And one of the main dudes in the film franchise – Bubba Smith, who played Hightower – has joined the choir invisible and left us all feeling really, really old.

Bubba (great name) was an American football star before finding fame in the movies, has died at the age of 66.

Bubba will be having a rather large coffin, coming in at an impressive 6ft 7in (or a whole 2 metres if you prefer). In his time as a football player, he won the ’71 Super Bowl with the Baltimore Colts before moving into acting.
While some will remember him in the defensive end of the Colts, Raiders or Oilers line-ups, the most of us will remember him as gentle giant, Moses Hightower.

Bubba started out with small gigs in shows like Wonder Woman, Taxi (greatest theme tune ever) and Charlie’s Angels before joining the recruits in the first Police Academy movie in 1984.

Hightower was a regular in the flicks, basically on-hand to be either too-big for cars, being a nice guy, wrestling animals or generally lifting up really heavy things which made people’s eyes continually pop-out in astonishment.

Basically, he was a cartoon hulk who did the same things over and over just like we all wanted.

Smith was found dead at his home in Los Angeles and the cause of death has not been confirmed. It isn’t suspicious so we don’t really need to know what happened.

In tribute, go to YouTube and watch the video where he drives an old Honda while getting his driving lessons. Absolutely splendid.

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The Milwaukee Brewers,Komatsu has the hitting genes

The Double-A Harrisburg Senators received their newest acquisition this week in center field prospect Erik Komatsu. The 5-foot-10, left-handed-hitter came over from the Milwaukee Brewers in the Jerry Hairston Jr. trade Saturday and made his debut last night.

Komatsu played for the Double-A Huntsville Stars under manager Mike Guerrero, who was impressed with the former Cal-State Fullerton player. Komatsu hit .294 with 19 doubles, one triple, six homers, 13 stolen bases and 40 RBIs with the Stars.

Guerrero said Komatsu also showed his defensive skills in center field with 93 games this season.

"He is a pretty good outfielder," Guerrero said. "Komatsu gets good jumps on balls and makes the routine plays. He can come from all angles. He goes back on the ball well."

Offensively, Guerrero said Komatsu is a line drive hitter who has displayed power at Double-A this season.

"He commands the strike zone well," Guerrero said. "He will surprise you and hit the ball out. Komatsu runs the bases well. He can be a sneaky base stealer. He has a tendency to fall in love with the long ball. But when he remains under control at the plate, he will hit the ball well to all fields."

Evidence of what Komatsu can do was on display in his Harrisburg debut last night. He went 2-for-4 with a stolen base.

Guerrero believes Komatsu displays good makeup and needs games just like any other prospect to refine his skills.

"(Komatsu) is a great kid and has a great attitude, (and) sometimes displays that California cool demeanor," the manager said. "Just like any other minor league player, Komatsu is trying to be more consistent in all areas. This is only his second full season. He is a pretty good player."

Guerrero said Komatsu has the ability to play all three outfield positions.

"He played center field well for us," Guerrero said. "He also played right field and left field for me."

Guerrero had Komatsu batting second or fifth in his lineup and feels Komatsu projects well to the next level.

"He has the hitting genes," Guerrero said. "Komatsu has good hand-eye coordination and was developed well at Fullerton. I think he will get an opportunity to play in the big leagues. He will get his chance one way or another."

http://www.masnsports.com/

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Caroline Wozniacki

Rory McIlroy has terminally split with his long-time girlfriend Holly Sweeney and embarked on a relationship with world tennis No 1 Caroline Wozniacki.

A statement released by the Co Down star's management company, International Sports Management, last night confirmed the end of the young golf star's relationship with his former childhood sweetheart.

It said: "Rory McIlroy's long-time relationship with Holly Sweeney came to an amicable end before the Open Championship."

Sources close to McIlroy confirmed last night that McIlroy has formed a close friendship with the 21-year-old Danish tennis star.

The young golfer, who is widely tipped to be the next Tiger Woods, made two visits to Wimbledon to watch tennis following his US Open triumph four weeks ago.

However, he is believed to have met Wozniacki at the World Heavyweight title boxing match between David Haye and Wladimir Klitschko in Hamburg on July 2.

The following day, Wozniacki wrote on her Twitter account: "Fantastic fight! Also met Rory McIlory, who was sitting just behind me:) Really down to earth great guy:)"

McIlroy has previously admitted that he made a mistake when he broke off his relationship with his childhood sweetheart at the start of the season to concentrate on his golf.

She was pictured at his side during homecoming celebrations following his triumphant win at the US Open this summer and has been the subject of much media coverage since his astonishing victory.

"I realised pretty quickly that I had made a mistake, and I had to do a lot of begging and grovelling to get her back," he said at the time. "She is fantastic."

The pair had been going steady since they were teenagers and she was also a shoulder to cry on at Augusta National in April, when McIlroy's management team flew her out for the final day of the Masters.

"She takes my mind off golf... and having her there made Sunday night a lot easier, having someone there you really know," he said in the aftermath of his traumatic loss in Augusta.

The couple lived together with their two dogs at McIlroy's 13-acre Co Down hideaway.

But speculation about his relationship with the young tennis star, labelled "a county club couple made in heaven" in one internet blog site, has been rife since the pair were spotted having an intimate dinner together at a London restaurant earlier this month.

Tongues were also set wagging by their followers on their mutual Twitter sites with a flirty exchange of tweets, including a cheeky birthday greeting McIlroy sent the tennis player on her 21st birthday last Monday, in which he tweeted: "You're getting old."

She replied: "At least now you will be able to buy me a drink in the US" and "Not only in Hamburg", a few hours later.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Indonesia Wins In Cage

  Opportunity for Indonesia to avenge the defeat of Malaysia in the final second-leg wide open. From the notes of the meeting, the teams 'Red White' appears superior when competing on home turf.

Indonesia's first defeat 0-3 in the final at the Bukit Jalil last week. Under these conditions, Irfan Bachdim et al. took the victory at least four goals in the final difference between the two that was held at Bung Karno Stadium, December 29, to embrace AFF Cup for the first time.

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The Amazing Race : Sancho Panza's master

 Doctors Nat and Kat are your "Amazing Race" Season 17 winners. They bested second place team Brook and Claire and third place team Thomas and Jill. Nat and Kat are the first all-female team to win "TAR" and nearly 50% of Zap2it voters picked them.

 At the start of the last leg, the pairs left within roughly 30 minutes of each other, so it really was anybody's game going into the final stretch. They flew to Los Angeles, more specifically the pier at Long Beach.

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Saina Nehwal wins Hong Kong Super Series

  India's Saina Nehwal won the Hong Kong Open Super Series badminton tournament beating China's Shixian Wang 2-1 in the women's singles final here Sunday.

  Second seeded Saina won 15-21 21-16 21-17 against third seeded Wang, an Asian Games gold medallist, in a match that lasted one hour and 11 minutes at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.

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William Larry Muschamp

 William Larry Muschamp (born August 3, 1971) is an American college football coach and former player. On December 11, 2010, it was officially announced that he had accepted the head coach position for the Florida Gators football team that represents the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Muschamp previously served as the defensive coordinator for the Auburn Tigers, LSU Tigers and Texas Longhorns.

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Urban Meyer Resigns at Florida

Urban Meyer is stepping down as Florida's football coach, sources told FanHouse.
Meyer, 46, also resigned last year before the Sugar Bowl, but then rejoined the team. He is retiring from coaching and the decision is not health related, sources told FanHouse.
The school has confirmed the move and a press conference will be held Wednesday night.

Florida is headed to the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla., on Jan. 1 to play Penn State where Meyer will coach his last game against Penn State's Joe Paterno.

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