Prosecutor Appeals After Judge Drops Rape Charges Against Liberian Over Lack of Interpreter

The prosecutor in the case of a Liberian native charged with repeatedly raping and molesting a 7-year-old girl said Monday that he is filing an appeal of a controversial judge's ruling that dismissed all charges because an interpreter who spoke the suspect's rare West African dialect could not be found.

Montgomery County State's Attorney John McCarthy called the ruling last Tuesday by Judge Katherine Savage "improper," adding that his office has "requested that an appeal be taken to reverse the court's order."...More?

WWE® Treats Fans To Free Month Of 24/7 On Demand

World Wrestling Entertainment® is giving away a free month of its subscription video-on-demand service, WWE 24/7™ On Demand, to celebrate the crowning of WWE’s Biggest Fan. The “Are You WWE’s Biggest Fan?” contest is being held this summer by WWE, Ziddio.com and cable affiliates across the country. The contest has exceeded all expectations -- receiving 642 individual submissions and more than 342,000 video views to date.

The free offer will take place during the month of September, and will be available to new subscribers of WWE 24/7 On Demand. WWE will be showing the Biggest Fan finalist videos, as well as special footage from a red carpet event taking place in New York City during SummerSlam® weekend in August, at which WWE’s Biggest Fan will be declared. The new content comes in addition to an already extensive library found on the SVOD service, now available to more than 75 percent of VOD enabled subscribers nationwide....More?

UFC Working on ESPN TV Deal

From Multichannel News:

...Spike may not be the only cable network offering UFC content. The organization is in discussions with HBO, and has had preliminary discussions with ESPN, about securing a distribution deal for additional live events and other UFC content, according to executives from both networks...More?

Violent sport making belated debut on film

Ultimate fighting? Now that's a late hit.

Hollywood is so behind the curve on cultural trends that most fads are over before the movie biz can figure out how to exploit them. So I shouldn't have been shocked to discover that someone is only now -- after Ultimate Fighting Championship has become a huge ratings champ on Spike TV, made the cover of Sports Illustrated and been mocked by the Onion and "The Daily Show" -- making a film about the wild 'n' woolly sport that has gained a chokehold on the elusive 18-to-34 male demographic.

The picture, called "Redbelt," was shooting in Los Angeles last month...More?

Triple H on the Cover of WWE Magazine

Triple H will be on the cover of the new issue of WWE magazine dressed like The Terminator.

Triple H's Return Confirmed for SummerSlam

JR stated at the Great American Bash that Triple H will return on August 26th at SummerSlam.

Lance Storm's Response to Marc Mero

...The comment that Marc made that got under my skin was his response to Glen Beck, when he asked what Marc was on when he was in WWE (actually Beck kept calling him Mike, but I’ll let that slide). Marc responded (I don’t have an exact quote but this should be damn close). “Mainly pain killers, because you had to, to make all the towns and deal with the punishment you inflicted on your body.” BULLSHIT!!!!! “Had to” is a F---ing excuse used all the time by guys on drugs. Marc also talked about taking steroids because he “HAD” to, to compete and get a job. Well you know what Marc, I didn’t f---ing have to. I didn’t take Steroids, or pain pills to work. EVER!!!! I respect the fact that you are trying to do a good thing here but you are doing your cause a disservice by not admitting you were part of the damn problem. You are spewing the same bullshit excuses that the boys have been spewing for years, and it is this cop out bullshit excuse of “HAVING” to do it to deal with pain or get ahead, that perpetuates the very drug problems you are trying to stop...More?

Pound echoes Player's doping claim

The head of WADA has supported Gary Player's claims that some golfers take drugs and has criticized the PGA Tour for refusing to acknowledge there may be a problem.

Player said just before the start of the British Open at Carnoustie that he knew of at least one player who took a performance-enhancing substance, and Dick Pound thinks his comments are valid.

"That is certainly my suspicion, and Gary Player says he knows, so that's fairly powerful medicine from somebody who has only the integrity of the game at heart," Pound told BBC radio on Sunday...More?

Chyna on Nancy Grace

Joanie Laurer (better known as Chyna) will be appearing on the Nancy Grace show on CNN Headline News this Tuesday. The network has been advertising 8 and 10p.m Eastern Time. By the sounds of it the show has already been taped. Chyna will be speak out on drug use and deaths in the wrestling industry. However keep one thing in mind. Chyna has been out of the wrestling business for 5 years and in 5 years many things could change. Nancy Grace needs to smarten up and realize that Chyna has been spending most of her 5 years away from wrestling embarrassing herself on media appearances including the Howard Stern Show. Chyna is reportedly on the path of self destruction and has no self control. She is a "prime candidate" to one day be another addition to Marc Mero's list so to speak. If she ends up on this list Mero will for sure blame wrestling.

source: wrestlezone.com

Google's View of D.C. Melds New and Sharp, Old and Fuzzy

As you take a bird's-eye tour of downtown Washington, compliments of Google Maps' updated satellite feature, you hit a haze over the Mall.

read more | digg story

FOXSports.com looks at head injuries and Chris Benoit; comparisons to NHL

FOXSports.com has an article asking why more focus isn't on head injuries possibly contributing to Chris Benoit's double murder and suicide. The article points to research done on former NFL players by a brain research group that former WWE wrestler Christopher Nowinski is working with. The author says the focus is on steroids and other chemicals possibly altering Benoit's brain function, but those diving headbutts from the top rope could have just as much of an effect.

From the article: "In the non-hockey world, the spotlight has been on pro wrestler Chris Benoit and his murder/suicide incident, and while many media pundits are quick to point out things like steroid abuse, painkiller addiction, and other chemical factors, most are overlooking the role that cumulative damaging effects of concussions could have played."

The article brings up the usual points about former NFL player Andre Waters having the brain of an 85-year old man with Alzheimers after years of physical punishment in football. From the article: "It's not just getting your bell rung, and it's not just a few weeks of headaches. In severe cases, there's depression, anxiety, sleepwalking, memory loss, loss of cognitive functions, violence, even suicide. Since leaving the WWE due to severe concussion problems, Nowinski's turned his own suffering into a crusade for concussion awareness in sports."...More?

Triple H Return Info (Possible Spoiler)

From a WWE cable affiliate site:

Event Description: WWE heads to New York City for the Biggest Party of the Summer. Watch what happens when Jackass invades SummerSlam to challenge the Samoan Bulldozer, Umaga. Don’t miss John Cena, Batista, Lashley, Edge, Rey Mysterio and the return of Triple H as WWE presents SummerSlam on Sunday, August 26th, live at 8PM ET/5PM PT, only on Pay-Per-View. A World Wrestling Entertainment Production. Check out wwe.com for more details. Event Location: Continental Arena, East Rutherford, NJ