Michael Jackson

Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009), known as the "King of Pop", was an American musician and one of the most commercially successful entertainers of all time. His unique contributions to music and dance, along with a highly publicized personal life, made him a prominent figure in popular culture for four decades.

He started a solo career in 1971, having made his debut in 1964 as a member of The Jackson 5. His 1982 album Thriller remains the best-selling album of all time, with four others — Off the Wall (1979), Bad (1987), Dangerous (1991), and HIStory (1995) — among the best selling. He popularized several intricate dance moves, such as the robot and the moonwalk. He is widely credited with having transformed the music video from a promotional tool into an art form, with videos for his songs "Billie Jean", "Beat It" and "Thriller" making him the first African American artist to amass a strong crossover following on MTV, and has influenced scores of music artists.

Twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his other achievements feature multiple Guinness World Records — including the "Most Successful Entertainer of All Time" — 13 Grammy Awards, 17 number one singles (including the four as a member of the Jackson 5), and estimated sales between 350 million and 750 million records worldwide.^[2] He was also a notable philanthropist and humanitarian who donated and raised million of dollars through support of 39 charities and his own Heal the World Foundation.

Jackson's personal life generated controversy for years. His changing appearance was noticed from the late 1970s and early 1980s, with changes to the shape of his nose and to the color of his skin drawing media publicity. He was accused in 1993 of child sexual abuse, although no charges were brought. He married twice, first in 1994 and again in 1996, and brought up three children, one born to a surrogate mother. In 2005, he was tried and acquitted of child molestation allegations. While preparing for the This Is It concert tour in 2009, Jackson died at the age of 50 in Los Angeles, California, after suffering from cardiac arrest. His memorial service was broadcasted live around the world.

Seve Ballesteros targets 2010 Royal Trophy

Seve Ballesteros is aiming to captain Europe in next year’s Royal Trophy matchplay tournament against Asia.

Ballesteros missed the 2009 event after undergoing surgery to treat a brain tumor.

The dates for the 2010 event were finalized Wednesday. It will be held at the Amata Spring Country Club in Thailand from Jan. 8-10.

“I sincerely hope to captain the European team at the next editions of the Royal Trophy,” Ballesteros said in a statement. “Europe and Asia coming together for the Royal Trophy is very significant and this is a competition that means a lot to me.”

Europe won the 2006 and 2007 events.

Catriona Matthew & Giulia Sergas share lead

Catriona Matthew picked up five strokes to par in a brilliant three-hole stretch Friday in the Women’s British Open.

Playing 10 weeks after having her second child, the Scot followed an eagle on the par-5 11th with a hole-in-one on the 12th and added a birdie on the par-4 13th.

She finished with a 5-under 67 for a share of the second-round lead with Giulia Sergas at 3-under 141. Sergas also shot a 67.

“On 11, I hit a perfect drive,” Matthew said. “I had 218 to the hole and hit a good rescue to probably 6 feet and holed that. Then 12, I had 152 maybe to the hole and just hit a normal 8-iron that was looking good the whole way.”

The 39-year-old Matthew is playing her second tournament since giving birth to daughter Sophie in May.

“The birth was slightly easier this time than the first time around,” Matthew said. “It doesn’t take you too long to get back into it.”

After a par on 14, she added birdies on 15, 16 and 18 and bogeyed 17 for a course-record 7-under 30 on the back nine. She played in much calmer conditions than she faced Thursday in an opening 74 at Royal Lytham and St. Annes.

“It was certainly easier than yesterday,” Matthew said. “This was one of my best nines. It may have been easier but you still have to make shots.”

Sergas had five back-nine birdies in her bogey-free round.

“I like them. They have personality,” the Italian said about links courses. “They are not boring, but you have to accept the bad bounces. You have to play them aggressively. If you don’t, they will eat you up.”

Yuko Mitsuka (71) was a stroke back at 2 under, Song-Hee Kim (73) was 1 under, and Yani Tseng (70), Christina Kim (71) and Kyeong Bae (71) were even par.

Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa was 8 over after a 77. “At least I played the back nine in level par. I can take that into tomorrow,” Ochoa said.

Cristie Kerr jarred her wrist playing out of a divot at the sixth and went for treatment after her round of 71. She was 3 over.

“Two rounds in the 60s and who knows,” she said.

Paula Creamer (74) was 4 over, and Michelle Wie (75) was another stroke back.

“They were two completely different days with the wind,” Creamer said. “I never got off to the right start with my putter and it seemed like the hole was this small. It was blowing, then it would stop, then it was really windy. It was all over the place.”

Wie made a double bogey on the final hole after taking two shots to get out of a fairway bunker.

“I thought I could get it out, but the lip was higher than I realized,” Wie said. “I missed so many birdie putts of around 9 feet.”

Wie found a few bunkers, just as she did in her opening round.

“There are so many of them out there, you’re bound to be in some of them,” she said.