 | Comedian Patrice O'Neal, a popular stand-up comic who often appeared on Comedy Central, died on Monday following complications from a stroke he suffered back in October. CBSNews.com's Ken Lombardi reports. | Views: 316      24 ratings |
| Time: 01:04 | More in News & Politics |
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Patrice O'Neal dead at 41
Comedian Patrice O'neal Dead At 41, Tributes Pour In
Comedian PATRICE O’NEAL, who appeared on the Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen, has died aged 41. The much-loved star suffered a stroke in late October, though the exact cause of death is currently unclear.
The news was confirmed by the Opie and Anthony radio show, on which O’Neal was a frequent guest. The station’s Twitter page read, “Yes it’s true that our pal Patrice O’Neal has passed away. The funniest and best thinker I’ve ever known PERIOD. Devastated”. A long-time fixture of the New York comedy scene, Patrice suffered from diabetes although it is not clear whether this played a role in the death. Comedian Jim Norton first revealed news of Patrice’s stroke around two months ago, saying on his radio show, “We don’t know how he is. We don’t know how he’s going to be.I didn’t want to do this by myself. I wish we had more news for you”. His last performance came on the acclaimed roast of Charlie Sheen and the former Two and a Half Men star paid tribute to his friend today, telling TMZ.com, “The world at large lost a brilliant man today.Patrice had that rare ‘light’ around him and inside of him..My tears today are for the tremendous loss to his true friends and loving family”.
As well as his stand-up comedy work, O’Neal also appeared on regular internet and podcast shows and voiced the character of Jeffron James in the best-selling video game Grand Theft Auto IV.
Jaguars Fired Jack Del Rio
 | Cris Carter talks to Mike and Mike about the Jaguars firing of Jack Del Rio. | Views: 270      5 ratings |
| Time: 04:09 | More in Sports |
Jack Del Rio Fired, Mel Tucker Interim Head Coach
Maurice Jones-Drew Reacts to Firing of Jack Del Rio
Zach Miller and Josh Scobee React to Firing of Jack Del Rio
Jaguars Players Discuss Moving Forward
Jaguars Coach Jack Del Rio Arriving for Work Monday Morning
Jaguars Head Coach Jack Del Rio Discusses David Garrard’s Release
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — In news that got pushed down in the headlines, the Jaguars need a new head coach.
Owner Wayne Weaver announced today the firing of Jack Del Rio after 8-plus years of “very average” teams.
Weaver admitted the timing of that announcement was “awkward” since it was overshadowed by his sale of the team, but said waiting any longer wouldn’t have been fair.
RELATED: Jaguars Sold
“We deserve better,” Weaver said of the team and the city.� “We’ve been very average over the last few years.”
He also said it would be “unfair to leave Jack (Del Rio) twisting in the wind.”
Del Rio led the Jaguars to the playoffs twice,�following the�2005 and 2007 seasons, and the team won one playoff game in his tenure.
Del Rio’s record in Jacksonville was 68-71 in the regular season, 1-2 in the post-season.
Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, whose defense ranks in the top 5 in the NFL, will take over as interim head coach for the final five games of the season.
Weaver was clear that Tucker is only an interim coach, though will have the opportunity to interview in an “extensive” search that will begin after the season for a full-time coach.
“This team is not far away from being a very competitive football team,” Weaver insisted, as he admitted that injuries this year and several first round draft busts in recent years have set the franchise back “years.”
Weaver also said rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert will be a very good team leader, but needs more weapons and time on the job to succeed.
Gabbert was drafted in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft, and was expected to develop behind David Garrard this season, but Garrard was released and Luke McCown was benched, thrusting Gabbert onto the field early in the season.
Tucker, speaking this afternoon, expressed his confidence in Gabbert as well.
“He’s the guy,” Tucker insisted, though he said he will continue to leave the offense to the offensive coaches.
“My expertise in in defense…I know good offense when I see it,” was his response to questions about the offense.
He looked back only briefly. “Jack Del Rio has done a great deal for me…I wish him nothing but the very best.”
Looking forward, Tucker said the job begins immediately as he decides what changes need to be made.
“We’ll do everything we possibly can to get the job done…What can we do to put these guys in the best position to play winning football.”
MORE: Coverage from our news partner the Times-Union
First Coast News
Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland marries boyfriend Justin Miller
Sugarland singer Jennifer Nettles has tied the knot with her entrepreneur boyfriend, Justin Miller.
The country star and her new husband were married Saturday near the Smoky Mountains in Tennesee, People reported.�
Nettles, 37, wore Alexander McQueen (a la Kate Middleton, now Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge) at an intimate chapel ceremony that included bandmate Kristian Bush. But the newlyweds will likely have to put their honeymoon plans on hold, as Sugarland will be performing at the Grammy Nomination Concert Live on Wednesday and and then hosting the CMA Country Christmas Special on Thursday.
Miller, a former model who appeared in the video for the band’s 2006 single “Want To” (watch it below) and attended the CMA Awards with Nettles earlier this month, have been dating for about two years. Nettles’ divorce from first husband Todd Van Sickle, a club owner, was final in March 2007.
But concerts, wedded bliss and thank-you cards aren’t the only items on this newlywed’s to-do list. Sugarland is facing a newly filed lawsuit over an Indiana State Fair stage collapse last August that left seven dead and more than 40 others injured.
The lawsuit, filed Nov. 23 on behalf of 44 survivors and the families of four of the people killed, alleges that Sugarland “had supervisory authority and discretion” over the stage size and lighting system, among other concert-related aspects. The lawsuit said the duo “failed or refused to cancel the Sugarland concert despite inclement weather.”
ALSO:
Country singer Chely Wright marries girlfriend Lauren Blitzer
Shania Twain falls, Sheryl Crow flashes her panties at CMT awards
Glen Campbell on Alzheimer’s disease: Needing the ones he loves, Lord
– Nardine Saad
twitter.com/NardineSaad
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Photo: Jennifer Nettles at the CMA Music Awards on Nov. 9. Credit: Harrison McClary / Reuters
NFL Top 100: Drew Brees #9
 | Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees was voted the 9th-best player of 2011 by his peers. He was presented by Jonathan Vilma and Sean Payton. Property of NFL Network | Views: 55249      162 ratings |
| Time: 07:23 | More in Sports |
Drew Brees and Saints blow out Giants, 49-24
(11-28) 21:33 PST New Orleans (AP) –
Drew Brees and the surging New Orleans Saints made everything look easy against the slumping Giants.
Brees passed for 363 yards and four touchdowns and ran for another score as New Orleans rolled to a 49-24 victory Monday night, extending New York’s losing skid to three games.
“There’s that confidence that players around him have, and obviously we have in him,” Saints coach Sean Payton said of Brees. “He made some fantastic throws tonight.”
Tight end Jimmy Graham had five catches for 84 yards, including touchdowns of 5 and 29 yards. Brees’ two other scoring strikes went to Lance Moore, who had five catches for 54 yards.
“Can’t say enough about our team. Our coaches, offense, defense � it was a great team win tonight in every aspect,” Brees said.
This was a game New York was desperate to win after losing its previous two to San Francisco and Philadelphia.
Instead, the Giants (6-5) dropped a game behind first-place Dallas in the NFC East and face the possibility of a four-game losing streak when they host the unbeaten Green Bay Packers next weekend.
The Saints (8-3), meanwhile, maintained a one-game lead over Atlanta in the NFC South.
They also padded their rushing stats with 205 yards on the ground, including touchdown runs of 12 yards by Pierre Thomas and 35 yards by rookie Mark Ingram.
“Our guys came out sharp,” Payton said. “We felt like this was going to be tough opponent coming in with two losses they had prior to our game. … We had the balance we were looking for. I thought we ran it well tonight.”
Marques Colston had three catches for 78 yards, all on the Saints’ 34-second, 88-yard touchdown drive late in the second quarter that gave New Orleans a 21-3 halftime lead. Colston’s longest reception went for 50 yards when he caught a pass along the left sideline, slipped a tackle and raced up field.
The Giants took a beating on the scoreboard and on the field. Defensive end Osi Umenyiora went out with a sprained ankle and receiver Hakeem Nicks was rocked on a vicious hit by Saints rookie safety Isa Abdul-Quddus.
Nicks stayed in the game despite bruised ribs.
New York already was missing two key players because of injuries: leading rusher Ahmad Bradshaw and wide receiver Mario Manningham.
Eli Manning completed 21 straight passes for the Giants � mostly after the outcome was decided. New York did not get into the end zone until Brandon Jacobs steamrolled safety Roman Harper on an 8-yard scoring run that made it 21-10 in the third quarter, but the Saints went right back down the field and scored on Brees’ 8-yard scramble.
After Giants running back Da’Rell Scott fumbled on his own 29, Brees connected with Graham, who rumbled down the left sideline and dove for the pylon for his second TD of the game, and his team-leading eighth receiving score of the season.
The Saints never trailed, striking first early in the second quarter on Brees’ 4-yard touchdown pass to Moore, who snagged a quick throw on the right side and dove to stretch the ball across the goal line before he was tackled.
The 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive included a 23-yard pass to Graham and a 23-yard run by Darren Sproles, and it was the first of three touchdown drives of more than 80 yards in the opening half.
Back home in the Big Easy, Manning passed for 406 yards. He also was intercepted by linebacker Will Herring in the end zone on the team’s first series.
The only scoring the Giants managed in the first half was Lawrence Tynes’ 42-yard field goal. Tynes also attempted a 61-yarder, which fell short, at the end of the half.
The Giants, who have been struggling to run the ball all season, gained only 73 yards on the ground.
Both teams missed scoring opportunities on their opening drives.
The Saints got close at the 18-yard line, but delay-of-game and offensive pass interference penalties moved them back before they attempted a fake field goal on fourth-and-11. Chase Daniel, the holder and backup quarterback, found Graham in the right flat, but Jason Pierre-Paul made an open-field tackle to stop Graham a yard short of a first down.
The Giants then marched to the Saints 18-yards line before Manning’s pass intended for tight end Jake Ballard was intercepted by Herring.
Manning completed his first four passes for 64 yards, including a 26-yarder to Ramses Barden, before his interception.
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