Matthew Simmons/WireImage, Paul Fenton-KPA/ZUMA Press

Yesterday, the Internet was buzzi that Paula Abdul didn’t approve of American Idol’s decision to hire a fourth judge, songwriter Kara DioGuardi.

But judging from the A.I. queen’s conversation with Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM show today, it seems as though Paula couldn’t be more thrilled to have her pal Kara—whose career she claims to have launched—join her, Simon and Randy at the judges’ table.

Paula tells Ryan she met Kara outside a restaurant in New York when Kara was a Billboard magazine employee with songwriting dreams. After meeting her that day, Paula convinced Idol’s newbie judge to drop everything and move to L.A. with her.

Says Paula: “[Kara] was my roommate! And I took her all around the world with me and introduced her to wonderful people…She stayed in Sweden and wrote with these people and got started living her dream.”

Not only does Paula sound enthusiastic about Kara in general, but when Ryan asked her where Kara will sit at the judges’ table, Paula said, “I dunno. Hopefully next to me.” But in case that proves distracting, Paula continues, “we’ll probably be separated by Simon or something.”

When in doubt, always blame the British guy.

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MEXICO CITY — Honorary President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Juan Antonio Samaranch said that the 29th Olympic Games of Beijing was the best one of his life.

International Olympic Committee honorary president Juan Antonio Samaranch attends the men’s basketball gold medal match Spain against The US of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 24, 2008 at the Olympic basketball Arena in Beijing. [Agencies]

“I have attended many Olympic Games since Helsinki 1952, Finland and the ones of Beijing 2008 have been the best I have ever seen,” Samaranch said as quoted by Mexican daily El Sol de Mexico on Monday.Successful Olympic Games need three things: good organization and facilities, a good local sports delegation, and people’s enthusiasm, and China fulfilled all of them, Samaranch said.

China achieved “good organization and facilities and it has presented to the world the best stadium and swimming pool of the world,” Samaranch said.

“China achieved very good results. They are the first at the gold medal table,” Samaranch said.

 

And the enthusiasm of the Chinese people was seen runescape gold on the thousands volunteers who participated during Beijing 2008.

Samaranch also said that the Olympic Games of London 2012 will be different, they “will have their own personality”, so there is not a point to compare London 2012 with Beijing 2008.wow gold

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Liu Xiang, who captured gold in the 110-meter hurdles in Athens, battled a hamstring injury this spring and hasn’t run a race since May.

He became more than the Olympic 110-meter hurdles champion; he instantly was transformed into a megastar in China, on par with his Shanghai buddy, NBA star Yao Ming. In the intervening time he has become a ubiquitous pitchman in his home country and the face of the 2008 Games.

Liu may have more pressure than any athlete in Beijing. He’s China’s best hope for gold in track and field, but he’s also a symbol of hope that China can compete with the best of the West in sports beyond the country’s magnificent seven — table tennis, diving, gymnastics, badminton, judo, shooting and weightlifting.

“Liu is our honor,” Chinese sports official Gu Yaoming says.

Just to add to the difficulty, he hasn’t raced since May because of an injury to the hamstring muscle in his right, trail leg.

“I wouldn’t want to be in his position,” says David Oliver, the U.S. Olympic trials champ in the 110 hurdles.

“I hope he’s happy,” says Cathy Freeman, who won the gold medal in the 400 meters in her native Australia at the 2000 Sydney Games.

Not everyone feels such sympathy.

“He’s got his gold medal,” says Terrence Trammell of the USA, a two-time silver medalist in the event and one of Liu’s top competitors in Beijing.maple story mesos

If anyone can empathize with Liu’s plight, it’s Freeman, Australia’s biggest hope for a track gold eight years ago.

“When I consider the pressure, expectations and the attention that surrounded me at the time, I honestly feel quite unwell,” she wrote on her website (www.catherinefreemanfoundation.com). “I’m so glad I didn’t realise the intense public and media interest surrounding me back then, as I fear I may have buckled under the massive weight if I had been aware.”age of conan gold

Freeman carried the hopes of 20 million countrymen; Liu has 1.3 billion counting on him.

“They all expect him to get a gold medal. That’s huge pressure on him,” Chinese national team coach Feng Shuyong told The Associated Press in May during Liu’s visit to New York.

Keeping Liu shielded

Chinese authorities have done their best to shield Liu, a multimillionaire who splits time between college dorm-like accommodations at training centers in Beijing and Shanghai. He didn’t attend the opening ceremonies and isn’t expected into the athletes’ village until just before his event. The heats begin Monday; the final is Thursday.

“Liu has had intensive training these days to compensate for what he lost due to the shortage of competitions before the Olympics,” said his coach, Sun Haiping, in a post on wow gold the Chinese track and field federation website. “His injuries have been cured and no longer affect his normal training.”

When sound, the 6-2, 170-pounder is formidable. His 12.91 in Athens was a world record, and he lowered it to 12.88 in 2006. He’s tough in big meets, second at the ‘05 worlds and the winner in ‘07.

“I don’t know what makes me so fast and successful,” Liu says. “I know when I see a hurdle in front of me, I just attack it.”silkroad gold

His start is unremarkable, but he’s considered the best finisher and possibly the best technician in the event. “He’s run down people running 12.95,” Oliver says. “The races he loses, he always hits that last hurdle. When he clears it, it’s over.”

Tough competition

Liu was replaced as world recordholder this year by Dayron Robles of Cuba, who ran 12.87 in June and since has run 12.88 and 12.91.

“I always said he was the best 110 hurdler in the world ever since I saw him first run in 2006,” says Oliver, who beat Robles, 21, before the world record. “He’s got the size (6-3½), seven steps to the first hurdle, then his lead leg is superfast and active. He keeps his trail leg tight.”

Robles, Oliver and Trammell add to the challenges facing Liu.

“The only competitor in my mind is myself,” Liu said in May in New York, where he withdrew from the Reebok Grand Prix because of the hamstring problem.

Asked if he consulted a sports psychologist, he replied: “I feel like I’m learning from everyday life. I feel like I’m my best therapist.”

That’s what Freeman was. Maybe Liu is following her example of forming her own cocoon that shielded her from the pressure. “I was so happy running,” she said by phone from Sydney. “I dreamt of a gold medal. It was an immeasurable love that I had for what I did and for who I am. That was the only thing that mattered.”

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Liu Xiang’s truncated hurdles race Monday shattered a billion dreams and stunned 91,000 pairs of eyes in the Bird’s Nest. Twenty-four hours later, however, China is already moving on.

 

Many of Liu’s Chinese fans today united in support of a fallen hero, a stark contrast to Monday’s refrain of “regret” and tears for Liu’s failed gold medal attempt.

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping set the tone by sending a message to the General Administration of Sport, stating, “People will understand that Liu quit because of injury.”

Xi hoped that Liu would “put things behind him.”

Bloggers and bulletin board users offered a ceaseless stream of consoling messages for Liu.

“I hope Liu Xiang can come back quickly,” sword of the new world vis one post read. “I will still be his fan.”

“Bless Liu! He is still the hero of our nation!” declared another. age of conan gold

In an online poll by the China Daily, fans were asked, “How do you feel about Liu Xiang’s abrupt withdrawal from the 110-meter hurdles with an injury?” silkroad gold

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Are there any superlatives left to describe Michael Phelps?

A year ago, somebody asked the question: “Who is the greatest swimmer of all time?” This was after the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. We created a swimming index: a mathematical, yet still debatable, system of calculating swimming greatness.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Michael Phelps won an unprecedented eight gold medals in a single Games in Beijing.

Phelps, the freakishly perfectly built swimmer from Baltimore, won’t be relinquishing his top spot — at least not for a long time. Some believe that won’t change in our lifetime, especially after he bettered Mark Spitz’s record of seven golds in one Olympics.

Even Spitz, who won seven Olympic gold medals and set as many world records 36 years ago at the 1972 Games in Munich, has been awed.

“It goes to show you that not only is this guy the greatest swimmer of all time and the greatest Olympian of all time, he’s maybe the greatest athlete of all time,” Spitz told The Associated Press after Phelps matched his 7-for-7 Olympic gold medal record. “He’s the greatest racer who ever walked the planet.”

If Spitz can say that, then we figure there’s no doubt that Phelps is No. 1.

According to our calculations, Phelps has trounced the rankings, earning a whopping 286 points. That’s 119.5 points more than the 166.5 earned by Spitz. And we might have to update these numbers again in four years should Phelps continue his march through the record books at the 2012 Olympics in London.

Just to get an idea of how impressive Phelps has been in Beijing, consider this: He racked up 92.5 points just in these Games alone. Those points buy ffxi gil include five individual Olympic gold medals (50 points), three Olympic relay golds (7.5 points) and world records in four individual events (200 free, 200 IM, 400 IM and 200 fly for 35 points).

Some other interesting updates to our list: Aaron Peirsol jumped from No. 8 to No. 4 after capturing a gold medal in the 100 backstroke and a silver in the 200 backstroke. He now has three individual Olympic golds and two silvers in individual events. Australia’s Michael Klim dropped from No. 5 to No. 6; but with no individual Olympic gold medals, lord of the ring gold we’ve bounced him from the Top 10. Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima, the first man to win the 100 breast and 200 breast in successive Olympics, is new to the list, just ahead of Matt Biondi, who won eight Olympic medals (five in Seoul).

Of course, the main story is Phelps, the man who’s been quite lonely at the top. maplestory meso

“The great ones, Jordan, Woods, Montana, seem to not only win, but win in the most dramatic fashion, blending excellence with great theater,” NBC’s Bob Costas told the U.S. audience this weekend. “Add Michael Phelps to the list.”age of conan gold

It’s one of the few lists in which he seems to have company.

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Aug. 18 —- On a day when Michael Phelps won his record eighth gold medal of the Beijing Olympics, China claimed another eight titles for a Games-leading total of 35, its best performance in history.

With one week left of competition, the host nation has already surpassed its haul of 32 gold medals in Athens in 2004. China’s eight golds in 37 medal events yesterday was the best single-day showing of the Games.

“For China, teams are strong; whereas for the U.S.A.,individuals are strong,” Chinese table tennis coach Shi Zhihao said. The U.S. “managed to have one athlete win eight, it took the entire Chinese team to win eight.”

Phelps eclipsed the single-Games record of seven gold medals he shared with fellow American swimmer Mark Spitz by helping the U.S. win the men’s 400-meter medley relay in world record time. That victory capped nine days of swimming competition that produced 25 world records.

Phelps reached two gold medal pinnacles in Beijing, surpassing the previous career record of nine and the 1972 performance of Spitz, which many Olympic historians considered the ultimate individual Olympic achievement. Phelps now has 14 career gold medals.

“I literally wanted to do something that no one’s ever done before in this sport,” Phelps told reporters. “Without the help of my teammates it wouldn’t have been possible. We all came together as one unit.”

Pool Dominance

American swimmers won a meet-high total of 31 medals in Beijing, including 12 golds.

The U.S. team has 19 total golds and holds a 65-61 lead over China in total medals.

Qiu Jian claimed yesterday’s first gold medal for the hosts by winning the men’s 50-meter rifle three-position event after a final-shot mistake by U.S. shooter Matt Emmons. China won its first rowing gold in history in the women’s quadruple sculls and added victories in men’s gymnastics, women’s wrestling, badminton, table tennis and diving.

Britain claimed two gold medals in sailing, one in rowing and one in cycling to boost its total to 11, two more than for the entire 2004 Games. The 2012 host is third in gold medals.

“This feeling is truly amazing, and it’s a massive relief,” British sailor Ben Ainslie said after winning the Finn class for his third gold medal in as many Games. “I could open the champagne right now.”

Nadal’s Gold

Rafael Nadal gave Spain its second gold by beating Fernando Gonzalez of Chile in the men’s singles tennis final.

Venus and Serena Williams won the women’s doubles title for the U.S. and Elena Dementieva took the gold as Russian women won all three singles medals.

A day after Jamaica’s Usain Bolt won the men’s 100 meters in a world record time of 9.69 seconds, Shelly-Ann Fraser led a Jamaican sweep in the women’s 100. Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart shared the silver.

The International Association of Athletics Federations rejected a U.S. protest over the result after U.S. runner Torri Edwards said she false-started and expected to be called back.

Constantina Tomescu of Romania won the women’s marathon to become the oldest Olympic champion of the event at 38.

Slovenia and Cameroon collected their first golds of the Games at the Bird’s Nest stadium yesterday as Slovenia’s Primoz Kozmus won the men’s hammer throw and Cameroon’s Francoise Mbango Etone successfully defended her women’s triple jump title.

Gulnara Galkina-Samitova of Russia took more than three seconds off her own world record in winning the women’s 3,000 steeplechase and Kenenisa Bekele led an Ethiopian 1-2 finish in the men’s 10,000 meters.

History Maker

At the Water Cube yesterday, Phelps earned his place in history after Dara Torres of the U.S. and Grant Hackett of Australia were denied spots in the Olympic record book.

Germany’s Britta Steffen won the women’s 50-meter freestyle, edging Torres by .01 second to prevent the 41-year- old American from becoming the oldest swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal.

“I gave it my best shot and I’m thinking maybe I shouldn’t have filed my nails,” said Torres, the oldest medalist in Olympic swimming history.

Steffen added to the gold she won in the 100 freestyle two days ago. Torres, the first swimmer to compete in five Olympics, later added a second silver medal in the women’s 400 medley relay won by Australia. It was her third silver in Beijing and her 12th career medal.

Hackett came up short in his attempt to become the first man to win the same event in three straight Olympics, finishing second to Tunisia’s Oussama Mellouli in the 1,500 freestyle.

In the final race of the swimming competition, Phelps took over the third butterfly leg with the U.S. in third place and put the team ahead before Jason Lezak secured the victory. The U.S. has won the race every time it’s entered the event since 1960.

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U.S. President George Bush is stressing the importance of continued American ties with China, saying while there are disagreements, there are also important areas where the two countries can work together. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports he spoke on the final day of his stay at the Beijing Summer Olympics.

U.S. President George W. Bush waves a flag with first lady Laura Bush as U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the men’s 200 meter freestyle semi-finals at the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing, China, 10 Aug 2008
Mr. Bush spent his last hours in Beijing watching swimming and baseball, and reflecting on his visit to the Chinese capital.

During an interview with America’s NBC television network, he talked about the changes that have taken place in China since the 1970’s when his father was a top U.S. diplomatic in Beijing. And he offered some advice for his successor: move quickly to build a cooperative but candid relationship with Chinese leaders.

“It’s really important for future Presidents to understand the relationship between China and the region, and it’s important to make sure that America is engaged with China - even though we may have some disagreements,” he said.

Mr. Bush said he brought up areas of disagreement during his talks in Beijing with Chinese President Hu Jintao. But he also stressed that by working together on sensitive international issues, the United States and China can make a big difference.

“I think you ought to look at the relationship as one of constructive engagement where you can find common areas, like North Korea and Iran, but also be in a position where they respect you enough to listen to your views on religious freedom and political liberty,” Mr. Bush said.

During his stay in China, President Bush attended Sunday worship services at a state-registered church, rather than a so-called “underground” church, which operates without government approval. He defended his decision to pray there, saying it gave him a venue to make an important point.buy ffxi gil

“It gave me a chance to say to the Chinese people, religion won’t hurt you, you ought to welcome religious people,” he said. “And it gave me a chance to say to the government, why don’t you register the underground churches and give them a chance to runescape gold flourish?”

Mr. Bush said he came to Beijing to cheer on the American Olympic team, but also to show his respect for the Chinese people. He said China is a big, important nation, and in order to find common ground and overcome disagreements, it is necessary for the United States and China to respect each other.

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U.S. President George Bush is stressing the importance of continued American ties with China, saying while there are disagreements, there are also important areas where the two countries can work together. VOA White House correspondent Paula Wolfson reports he spoke on the final day of his stay at the Beijing Summer Olympics.

U.S. President George W. Bush waves a flag with first lady Laura Bush as U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps competes in the men’s 200 meter freestyle semi-finals at the 2008 Summer Olympic games in Beijing, China, 10 Aug 2008
Mr. Bush spent his last hours in Beijing watching swimming and baseball, and reflecting on his visit to the Chinese capital.

During an interview with America’s NBC television network, he talked about the changes that have taken place in China since the 1970’s when his father was a top U.S. diplomatic in Beijing. And he offered some advice for his successor: move quickly to build a cooperative but candid relationship with Chinese leaders.

“It’s really important for future Presidents to understand the relationship between China and the region, and it’s important to make sure that America is engaged with China - even though we may have some disagreements,” he said.

Mr. Bush said he brought up areas of disagreement during his talks in Beijing with Chinese President Hu Jintao. But he also stressed that by working together on sensitive international issues, the United States and China can make a big difference.

“I think you ought to look at the relationship as one of constructive engagement where you can find common areas, like North Korea and Iran, but also be in a position where they respect you enough to listen to your views on religious freedom and political liberty,” Mr. Bush said.

During his stay in China, President Bush attended Sunday worship services at a state-registered church, rather than a so-called “underground” church, which operates without government approval. He defended his decision to pray there, saying it gave him a venue to make an important point.

“It gave me a chance to say to the Chinese people, religion won’t hurt you, you ought to welcome religious people,” he said. “And it gave me a chance to say to the government, why don’t you register the underground churches and give them a chance to flourish?”

Mr. Bush said he came to Beijing to cheer on the American Olympic team, but also to show his respect for the Chinese people. He said China is a big, important nation, and in order to find common ground and overcome disagreements, it is necessary for the United States and China to respect each other.

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One epic journey is over. Michael Phelps, the American, is the most successful Olympic athlete ever. With five golds here at the Water Cube so far, after victories in the 200 metres butterfly and the 4 x 200 metres freestyle with US teammates, Superfish now has a career 11 gold medals to his name, two more than Paavo Nurmi, the Finnish athlete, Soviet woman gymnast Larysa Latynina, and American icons Mark Spitz and Carl Lewis. Time to rocket off into orbit on his epic journey number two: Phelps is two targets shy of equalling Spitz’s record of seven titles at one Games. That will not be quite Game Over: he want to win an eighth gold on Sunday morning with his US medley relay teammates.

The USA freestyle relay was the 16th world record at the Water Cube over five days of racing. Half-way through the Olympic programme, the tally of world records broken since the launch of the Speedo LZR Racer suit in February this year is 67, a world-record in itself. The previous record for global standards set in one year was 61, back in 1976. The current year count includes short-course standards. Even if you take those away, 47 long-course records have tumbled this year and the 1976 record could come under threat by Sunday morning. There are then five months of the year left. The 1976 surge came down to two factors: the use of goggles (swimmers could see where they were going) and doping, as the German democratic Republic set about rewriting the women’s record books on a diet of Oral Turinabol, an anabolic steroid.

For Phelps, records are part of the measure of his worth too. so, far, he has set a world record in every final he has won. Just like Spitz. In the butterfly it was 1:52.03, in the 4 x 200m freestyle relay it was 6:58.56. In the 200 metres butterfly, Phelps’s rivals were nearer than he is used too: silver went to Laszlo Cseh of Hungary in 1:52.70 and bronze to Takeshi Matsuda of Japan in 1:52.97.

Before Beijing, only Phelps had cracked 1:54. Now three are below 1:53 and four others in the final swam inside 1:55. Phelps might have gone inside 1:52 had he not proved that things can go wrong even for the greatest of greats: his goggles filled up with water. “I couldn’t see anything for the last 100, my goggles pretty much filled up with water, it just kept getting worse and worse through the race and I was having trouble seeing the walls to be honest. But it’s fine, I wanted to break the record. I wanted to go 1:51 or better but for the circumstances, I guess it’s not too bad.”

The session started with a world record of 47.20 for European champion Alain Bernard of France in the first semi-final of the 100 metres freestyle. Less than five minutes later, Eamon Sullivan, the Australian, who claimed the global standard from Bernard on Monday by leading off the the Australian sprint relay in 47.24, snatched the record back in 47.05. It was as if Sullivan was returning a thrusting blade to Bernard: take that, that’s sprinting. More than 20lbs lighter than the Frenchman Sullivan appears to surf at the the surface, arms high wheeling.

In the second final, Federica Pellegrini, the Italian, showed that she had learned her lesson well. Having made the mistake of making a slow start in the 400m free final and paying the price in a race won by Britain’s Rebecca Adlington, Pellegrini attacked the 200 metres freestyle final as though she were the advertising face of Vesuvius. Out in 55.92, 1.12sec inside world-record pace, the Italian kept up the pressure on the third length as Sara Isakovic of Slovenia, Katie Hoff, the American and China’s Jiaying Pang made their move. Out of the turn, the Italian sensed that Isakovic was coming back at her big time. But determination made her dig deeper. The result, a world record of 1:54.82, with Isakovic on 1:54.97 and Pang taking bronze in 1:55.02.

Stephanie Rice of Australia added to the bull run on records with a 2:08.45 global standard to take her second gold medal of the Games, 0.14sec ahead of Zimbabwe’s Kirsty Coventry.

At half-way through the programme here at the Water Cube, it was time for Britain to reflect on its place in a world that never sleeps in terms of progress: 17 British records have tumbled but in many cases those have left the national team no closer to the podium than it has been for the past few years.

In the 200m butterfly semi-finals, Jemma Lowe learned a valuable lesson in pacing on the journey to London 2012. She turned at half-way on world record pace, at 59.97, and was still leading with 15m to go. It was then time to pay the price for that blistering start and in the closing metres she was overhauled by two rivals, her 2:07.87 finish keeping her out of the final by 0.14sec. “I went out hard and gave it my best shot which was the plan but found it difficult to carry it through. I paid for the early pace but I knew it would take a fast time to make the final.” Lowe has much to look forward to: she will race in a medley relay on Sunday that has every chance of reaching the podium, before the journey to London 2012 continues. Her teammate Ellen Gandy finished 15th in 2:10.60.

In the 200m breaststroke semi-finals, defending champion Kosuke Kitajima of Japan set an Olympic record of 2:08.61. Only 2.66sec back was Britain’s Kristopher Gilchrist in a British record of 2:10.27. But 11 men swam in the middle of those times. “I felt really good this morning so I’m disappointed. I wasn’t able to go one step further and make the final. I had nothing left at the end but I could have increased my stroke rate over the last 50m for a sub 2:10.00 time,” said Gilchrist. “It’s been an interesting experience and I’ve learnt a lot but now I’ll go back home, sit with my coach and figure how I can drop my times further. This event has moved on so much and I want to be a part of it.”

Understanding is one thing, doing is another. Two years ago, Caitlin McClatchey was a Commonwealth champion in the 200m freestyle. Last year, she watched a new generation take the event on with the first sub 1min 56sec efforts. Since then bodysuit technology has driven a fresh assault on standards in the pool. In the 200m freestyle final of women take the In the 200m freestyle final, McClatchey finished sixth in 1:57.65, 2.6sec away from the podium and slower than the time in which she claimed the Commonwealth crown in 2006. She will need much more than that if Britain is to have a hope of reaching the podium in the 4×200m freestyle tomorrow.

The session closed with a British record of 7:05.92 for David Carry, Andrew Hunter, Robbie Renwick and Ross Davenport in the 4×200m freestyle. “The plan was to swim as fast as possible which we did and we’ve managed to raise our game again which is good. We have been on a fantastic journey over the past few years and it’s been a privilege to work with these guys,” said Carry. Davenport added: “We thought we could do it [win a medal], we believed we could do so it’s a bit devastating but we have lowered the GB record here by something like 6 seconds and we are a young team.”

Breaking records by 6sec is almost irrelevant in these waters. The fact is that a year ago, before the launch of the latest generation of bodysuits, Britain set a national record of 7:11 and the USA a world record of 7:03. Then, the gulf between those teams was 8.04sec. Now it is 8.60sec. In a technology-charged era, the gap is the better measure of progress than records.

200m butterfly: 1. Michael Phelps (USA) 1:52.03 (WR); 2. Laszlo Cseh (HUN) 1:52.70; 3. Takeshi Matsuda (JPN) 1:52.97; 4. Moss Burmester (NZL) 1:54.35; 4. Wu Peng (CHN) 1:54.35; 6. Pawel Korzeniowski (POL) 1:54.60; 7. Kaio Almeida (BRA) 1:54.71; 8. Nikolay Skvortsov (RUS) 1:55.14.

4×200m freestyle relay: 1. USA 6:58.56 (WR); 2. Russia 7:03.70; 3. Australia 7:04.98; 4. Italy 7:05.35; 5. Canada 7:05.77; 6. Great Britain 7:05.92; 7. Japan 7:10.31; 8. South Africa 7:13.02.

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Def Jam Recordings co-founder Russell Simmons has told 1Xtra News that the death of comedian and actor Bernie Mac has “saddened” him and said he was an inspiration to everyone.

The 50-year-old star of films like Ocean’s Eleven died in hospital on Saturday in Chicago.

Russell Simmons helped break Bernie Mac on America’s mainstream comedy circuit, including him on his legendary Def Comedy Jam in 1992.

The TV series, which is still running, also launched the careers of other African-American stand-up comedians like Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker and Chris Rock.

Russell Simmons said he was gutted to hear Bernie Mac had died: “He is a person who is exactly the same age as I am and he was full of life.

“He is a guy who inspires us and makes us laugh and the next thing you know he is gone. So it was very sad for me.”

Comedy roots

Before taking part in 1992’s Def Comedy Jam, Bernie Mac had been a stand-up comedian in Chicago.

Russell Simmons said he stood out from the crowd because had “a style of his own and represented a kind of an attitude which came from the streets of America.”

There were many people who followed him, who were inspired by him and borrowed his style and attitude

Russell Simmons pays tribute to Bernie Mac

He added: “He represented a kind of hood attitude and cultural phenomenon that was underexploited in America but had great potential.

“He was always honest and that honesty was what he exuded and what made him so great.”

Bernie Mac got his big film break in rapper Ice Cube’s 1995 film, Friday.

The movie also starred fellow comedian Chris Tucker and Russell Simmons says, on stage, Bernie Mac was in the same league.

He said: “I remember when comedians, in advance of his performance, were booed off and the first thing that came out of his mouth as soon as he looked at the audience was, ‘I’m not scared of you mother******s.’

“He coined that phrase then and it became one of his top calling cards for his whole life.

“There were still moments when we thought he might say the wrong thing but there were still moments when we were on the edge of our seat not knowing what he was going to say next.”

Hollywood success

After Friday, Bernie Mac appeared in a string of hit films like Ocean’s Eleven, Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle and Guess Who with Ashton Kutcher.

He also toured America with The Original Kings of Comedy in 2000 and starred in his own sitcom, The Bernie Mac Show.

Bernie Mac appeared in Oceans Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen
Despite all his success, Russell Simmons says he remained “a very sweet person”.

“Everyone who knew him was touched by him. He was generous.

“He had a very, very, very beautiful spirit. He seemed very connected.

“For that we’re all going to miss him even more than his comedy.

“He was an individual. There were many people who followed him, who were inspired by him and borrowed his style and attitude.

“He was a trailblazer and a leader and a sweetheart.”

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