Cameron Diaz marries musician Benji Madden at their Beverly Hills home

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Randee Dawn TODAY contributor

1 hour ago

There's something about Cameron Diaz, and we know what it is: As of Monday night, the "Bad Teacher," "Annie" and "Something About Mary" actress is now a married woman!

Diaz tied the knot with Madden Brothers guitarist-singer Benji Madden at an intimate ceremony in their Beverly Hills home, a rep confirmed to People. It's the first marriage for both Diaz, 42, and Madden, 35.

"We couldn't be happier to begin our new journey together surrounded by our closest family and friends," the newlyweds said in a statement to People.

The couple started dating last May, and were engaged a few days before Christmas.

Diaz wasn't the only star sparkling at the gala, which was held on under a large tent festooned with white flowers and lit by candles. Her approximately 90 guests included Reese Witherspoon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Nicole Richie and bridesmaid Drew Barrymore.

Diaz's nephew Sparrow served as ring bearer, and Madden's twin Joel (who co-founded the band Good Charlotte with his brother) also attended.

A source told People that Diaz kept the big event on the QT by telling everyone she was having a pre-Golden Globes party (the Globes air on Jan. 11).

Diaz, who was linked to Justin Timberlake, Jared Leto and Alex Rodriguez over the years, has been quoted as saying she never felt a need to rush into marriage. She told Stylist magazine in 2010, "I think the big misconception in our society is that we're supposed to meet [the one] when we're 18 and we're supposed to get married to them and love them for the rest of our lives. Bull----."

Congratulations to the couple!

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Source: http://www.today.com/popculture/cameron-diaz-marries-musician-benji-madden-their-beverly-hills-home-1D80406083

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Share �Kevin Durant high on the Dion Waiters...�

Late Monday night, a disappointed Thunder locker room was still in the process of digesting an ugly 117-91 loss to the Warriors.

But at the same time, players were also still gathering all the facts surrounding the three-team trade that netted Dion Waiters as their new teammate. The deal actually didnt become official until the game had actually started.

But the news had spread. And Kevin Durant the voice of the Thunder was peppered with questions about it. Here were his answers:

Kevin, your initial thoughts on Dion and the trade?

Im excited about bringing Dion aboard. A guy that has a lot of toughness. Being from the East Coast, I know a lot about Philadelphia, South Philly, where he comes from. Those guys are tough and they play with an edge. And thats what we need here.

Any kind of relationship with him prior to this?

Just knowing him from playing against him. Were gonna make him feel wanted. I dont think he felt that the last couple years. Hes gonna fit in well. Hes gonna get comfortable real quick. Its on the leaders Russell, myself, Nick to make him feel at home and feel special and let him play his game.

Can he be James Harden-like for you guys?

Im not saying hes James replacement, were far past that. But, yeah, he can play, can come off the bench for us and score and make plays. Hes a really good player, man. A lot of people take him for granted, I think. Because hes been around and you hear different things about him thats not true. But he can play basketball. So he just needs to come out here and be himself, be aggressive and make plays.

Have you reached out to him yet?

Nah, probably gonna talk to him later on after this. Its pretty late on the East Coast, but Ill probably shoot him a text soon.

Source: http://newsok.com/kevin-durant-high-on-the-dion-waiters-trade-were-gonna-make-him-feel-wanted/article/5382168

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Stuart Scott, Longtime ESPN Anchor, Dies At 49

Stuart Scott, one of the most recognizable anchors in 'Sportscenter' history, died of cancer at the age of 49, according to an ESPN press release. ESPN and everyone in the sports world have lost a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure in Stuart Scott, said ESPN president John Skipper in the statement.

Scott, who had two daughters, was known for his boisterous, high-energy delivery and catchphrases like "booyah!" and "cool as the other side of the pillow." He had been public about his long fight with the disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2007. He remained highly active throughout his treatment, using mixed martial arts training to counteract the effects of chemotherapy.

After news of Scott's death broke, ESPN ran a 15-minute tribute to him. Watch below:

MORE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) Stuart Scott, the longtime "SportsCenter" anchor and ESPN personality known for his enthusiasm and ubiquity, died Sunday. He was 49.

Scott had fought cancer since a diagnosis in late 2007, the network said, but remained dedicated to his craft even as he underwent chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

ESPN President John Skipper said in a statement that Scott was "a true friend and a uniquely inspirational figure" and that his "energetic and unwavering devotion to his family and to his work while fighting the battle of his life left us in awe, and he leaves a void that can never be replaced."

Scott accepted the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the ESPYs in July. During his speech, he told his teenage daughters: "Taelor and Sydni, I love you guys more than I will ever be able to express. You two are my heartbeat. I am standing on this stage here tonight because of you."

Born in Chicago, Scott attended high school in North Carolina. After graduating from the University of North Carolina in 1987, Scott worked at three TV stations in the southern U.S. before joining ESPN for the 1993 launch of its ESPN2 network. He often anchored the 11 p.m. "SportsCenter," where he would punctuate emphatic highlights with "Boo-ya!" or note a slick move as being "as cool as the other side of the pillow."

Scott went on to cover countless major events for the network, including the Super Bowl, NBA finals, World Series and NCAA Tournament. He also interviewed President Barack Obama, joining him for a televised game of one-on-one. In 2001, Scott returned to Chapel Hill as the university's commencement speaker.

Scott was first diagnosed with cancer in November 2007 after he had to leave the "Monday Night Football" game between Miami and Pittsburgh to have his appendix removed. Doctors discovered a tumor during surgery. He underwent chemotherapy again in 2011.

Scott made a point of continuing to live his life at work and outside of it.

"Who engages in mixed martial arts training in the midst of chemotherapy treatments?" Skipper said in ESPN's statement. "Who leaves a hospital procedure to return to the set?"

Scott is survived by his parents, O. Ray and Jacqueline Scott; siblings Stephen Scott, Synthia Kearney and Susan Scott; his daughters Taelor, 19, and Sydni, 15; and girlfriend Kristin Spodobalski.

As he accepted the award named for former N.C. State coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993, Scott noted: "When you die, that does not mean that you lose to cancer.

"You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and the manner in which you live," Scott said. "So live. Live. Fight like h**l."

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/04/stuart-scott-dead-dies_n_6412778.html

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Galavant series premiere recap: 'Pilot'

Spoiler alert: EW lovesGalavantso much so that multiple writers wanted to take a stab at recapping it. Which is why resident musical-philes Hillary Busis and Esther Zuckerman decided to do a tag-team discussion of the fluffy comedy's first episode.

HILLARY: Let's talk about a showThat takes place long agoA weirdo musical called GalavantThe jokes are kinda lameBut even all the sameI'm finding that I do like Galavant!

ESTHER: I didn't think I wouldBut maybe now I couldWant a second season of Galavant!Sometimes it sort of sucksIt won't make big big bucksBut there's a kind of charm to Galavant!

HILLARY:Let's back up.Galavant is about 60 percent Robin Hood: Men in Tights, 30 percent The Princess Bride, and 10 percent Smash, meaning it is basically the perfect television series (if you, like me, are... me).

ESTHER: I'd throw some Spamalot/Monty Python and the Holy Grail, and The Court Jesterinto the mix, too. (Literally, there's a rhyme in one song that's an exact replica of one in The Court Jester, a movie I have obviously watched way too much.)

HILLARY:The songs, by Tangled duo Glenn Slater and Alan Menken, are catchy (it's so hard to keep myself from writing the rest of this review as lyrics to the show's title tune); the jokes, as mentioned before, are silly and bawdy and often kind of quaintly terrible, in a very appealing way; the performers are clearly having a great time, particularly Timothy Omundson as wicked Prince Humperdicker, I mean, King Richardand smiley Luke Youngblood (a.k.a. MAGNITUDE) as the title character's loyal squire.

If you love musicals, especially the nudge-nudge wink-wink meta-sort that have become common on Broadway over the past few decades, you'll certainly be won over by this series'throwback charm and gentle fourth wall breaking. If you don't, well, why are you reading this recap to begin with?

I sense, though, that you may not benot quite as much of a Galavant cheerleader as me, Esther. How could that possibly be?

ESTHER:Perhaps because the showseems like a stew of medieval comedy classics with some network-TV-safe innuendo thrown in, I was predisposed to dislike it. But it did growon me over the first two episodes. The songs aren't particularly original or clever, but at least one is ridiculously catchythe "Galavant" refrain from the first number keepspopping into my head.

So let's meet Galavant, shall we? He'sa sexy dude hooking up with the pretty Madalena. It seems like true, "as you wish"-style love until Madalena is kidnapped by King d**k to be his bride. In the opening number, we see Galavant galloping off to rescue his maidenonly to learn that she doesn't really want to be rescued. (She'd rather have fame and fortune over the true love stuff.) Madalena kind of sucksbut we soon realize that Galavant sucks, too. Right?

HILLARY: If by "sucks" you mean "is basically a depressive, alcoholic Gaston gone to seed," then yes, I agreeGalavant himself "sucks."

After being spurned by his twue wuv, Gal retreats into a gross 13th-century man-cave, gains weight (supposedlythe show doesn't try too hard to make post-humiliation Joshua Sasse look any heavier or more unkempt), and spends his days gnawing on turkey legs and broodinguntil the beautiful Princess Isabella Maria Lucia Elizabeta of Valencia shows up to drop a quest right into his lap.

So Galavant itself will be a redemption story, along the same lines as, oh, a billion other TV shows and moviesbut the anachronism-filled medieval setting, PG-13-rated humor, and tunes help to keep it from feeling totally tired. Asdoes the pilot's big twist: The princess is actually in cahoots with Richard, who intends to lure Galavant to him so that he can kill the guy once and for all. Did you see that part coming?

ESTHER: I didn't, only because I maybe underestimated Galavant as a show. And the reveal is actually executed in a nicely subtle way, via flashbacks that graduallymake us realize Princess Isabella Maria Lucia Elizabeta is not exactly telling the truth to Galavant. This twistalso gives the princess a nice edge. (Though I have to say, Karen David's singing voice seems at the outset to be the weakest of the show's leadsbut that's another subject altogether.)

Everyone on this show is sort of a pleasant jerk, acting for his or her own self interestwhich brings me back to Madalena, who I think I'll like more and more for her wonderful bitchiness as the series continues. She leaves the king with blue b***s!

HILLARY: Totally! Whyis this showvillainizing a woman for going after what she wants? Maybe a medieval wench can have it all! (You know, a castle, a husband who dotes on her even though she's awful to him, and a hot little jester on the side).

Speaking of which: Jester Narrator definitely has the most accomplished voice we've heard so far, and I hope Galavant gives him plenty of occasions to show it off.

ESTHER: Yes! All for more of the Jester side piece. But leaving him aside for a moment, Timothy Omundson as King Richard is definitely the cast's standoutin the pilot, at least. He gets the other big production number in episode 1, a ditty about all the ways he wants to maim Galavant. There's dancing. It's delightful.

HILLARY: It isexcept part of me couldn't help wishing this show had been written in the '80s so that Tim Curry could've played this part.

ESTHER: Oh, fair. Or that John Cleese had just done it.

HILLARY: Which, really, is our way of pointing out that Galavantmay have the same basic problem plaguing several Disney properties lately(coughONCE UPON A TIMEcough)the bad guys are a lot more interesting and fun than the good guys, at least at this early juncture. Though maybe making Galavant a comeback kid instead of a handsome, cardboard hero will help temper that.

ESTHER: Yes, Galavant's drunken, wallow-y ways actually make him more appealing as a character, if not as a potential boyfriend. I hope his transformation back to his old self doesn't happen too quickly. Even though, alas, we've only got eight episodes of the show.

HILLARY: And another one to talk about tonight! So let's move on to Part 2 of Galavant: The Stamos-ing. First, though, I'd like to ask you to name your personal pick for thepilot episode's best-worst rhyming couplet. For me, it's a dead heat between "adventure/b**t-clencher" and "twist 'em/reproductive system."

ESTHER: Oh, "b**t-clencher" was definitely going to be there for me. "Pride/genocide..al war" is also notable.

HILLARY: Not to mention the "perfection/erection" fake-out. Somewhere, Mel Brooks is knitting his fingers together and smiling.

Source: http://tvrecaps.ew.com/recap/galavant-premiere/

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10 pictures of Chris Christie at Dallas Cowboys games (PHOTOS)

By now, it's no secret that Gov. Chris Christie's football heart bleeds Dallas Cowboys' silver and blue, instead of the more defensible Jets' green or Giants blue.

Unfortunately, that hasn't stopped fans of those teams from voicing their displeasure, nor has it quelled the criticism from Christie's fellow politicians. To these people, it's one thing for Christie to root for the Cowboys in the privacy of his living room, but bro-hugging with Jerry Jones in his owner's box? That's borderline trolling.

But despite Christie's occasionally antagonistic behavior towards fans of the Cowboys' NFC East rival Eagles and Giants (and vice versa), at least he wears his fandom on his sleeve and doesn't pander to his constituents by pretending to root for the home team. Well, at least most of the time.

Check out some photos of Christie attending Cowboys games.

10 pictures of Gov. Chris Christie at Dallas Cowboys games

Source: http://www.nj.com/giants/index.ssf/2015/01/10_pictures_of_chris_christie_at_dallas_cowboys_games_photos.html

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Mario Cuomo's Wake and Funeral to Be Held in Manhattan

New York will say farewell to the state's former three-term governor, Mario Cuomo, starting with his Manhattan wake.

Visitation is at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home on Madison Avenue, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Monday.

Cuomo's funeral is at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Ignatius Loyola Church on Park Avenue.

Cuomo, 82, died in his Manhattan home on Thursday evening, hours after his son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was inaugurated for a second term.

The governor spoke for the first time about his father's death publicly on Saturday, saying, "there is a hole in my heart that I fear is going to be there forever."

In the 1980s, the younger Cuomo ran some of his father's campaigns and was his adviser. The Democratic governor lost his bid for re-election to a fourth term in 1994 to Republican George Pataki.

Andrew Cuomo is postponing his state-of-the-state address until Jan. 21. It had been scheduled for Wednesday.

Exuberant and eloquent, Mario Cuomo's most memorable national moment came at the 1984 Democratic convention in San Francisco. Cuomo challenged Ronald Reagan's description of America as "a shining city on a hill" by delivering a keynote address titled "A Tale of Two Cities" ? about a country split between haves and have-nots.

Bill de Blasio used the same words when campaigning and winning New York City's mayoral race last year. The mayor said all flags in the city will be at half-staff in Cuomo's honor for 30 days.

Mario Cuomo's "tale of two cities" came from personal experience. He was the son of an Italian immigrant father who struggled to make ends meet. Cuomo, whom some called a Roman Catholic kid from Queens, never forgot his background.

He once called politics "an ugly business" and never ran for president, as some Democratic leaders pushed him to do in 1988 and 1992.

Tuesday's funeral will be open to family and friends and arrangements are being made for media wishing to attend.

Source: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mario-cuomos-wake-funeral-held-manhattan-27998564

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Armour: Adaptability has Andrew Luck on fast path to NFL immortality

USA TODAY Sports' Tom Pelissero breaks down what's ahead for the Colts in their looming matchup with the Broncos.

Video Transcript

Automatically Generated Transcript (may not be 100% accurate)

00:03 The colts are headed back in the AFC divisional playoffs 00:06 after Andrew Luck off balance touchdown pass and got in mind 00:10 create. Highlighted a 26 to ten win. Over the Cincinnati Bengals 00:15 on Sunday. In Indianapolis. Now we're going to get to find 00:20 out what their lot and his team are ready to take 00:23 out one of the AFC's elite. On a really big stage. 00:27 The beauty of the colts win was locked didn't have to 00:30 do it all himself though certainly he held up his end 00:33 completing 31 of 44 passes. For 376. Yards with Trent Richardson 00:39 yelled boom Herron ends early and chipped in. Both ran effectively 00:43 hearings fumbles notwithstanding. And the colts defense clamped down in the 00:48 second half. I get to Cincinnati offense that plainly wasn't itself 00:52 we AJ green sidelined. The other three teams still line in 00:57 the AF CR the past three conference champions Denver. Baltimore and 01:03 New England all veteran teams with veteran quarterbacks who have won 01:07 Super Bowls. The colts on the other hand still relying a 01:10 lot of a sending young players. In key positions. Nobody more 01:15 important than Andrew Locke who east tour in five so hard 01:18 his career against Peyton Manning Joseph Flacco and Tom Brady. Including 01:23 Owen to in the playoffs. The next stop for the colts 01:27 is Denver where the Broncos won the season opener back on 01:31 September 7. Kick off sit for 4:40 eastern next Sunday.

Jan 4, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) waves to the crowd as he leaves the field after the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium.(Photo: Thomas J. Russo, USA TODAY Sports)

INDIANAPOLIS Sure, Andrew Luck has a great arm. Can beat defenses with his feet, too.

What makes Luck great and will put him in the same category as Indianapolis Colts predecessor Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers sooner rather than later is his adaptability.

Lock up his No. 1 receiver and he'll find someone else. Sideline the Colts starting running back, and he'll feed whoever is behind him. Ask him to play behind an offensive line that has seen more changes than a model at a fashion show, and he'll shrug it off.

So long as there's someone who can hike him the ball and someone he can get it to, the Colts' Luck is all good.

"Every win is a definite team effort. But you've got a guy under center who can make plays, can make something out of nothing, takes what the defense gives him and he just kind of manages the game the way you need him to," offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo said.

"We're very happy to have him back there."

Granted, the Cincinnati Bengals imploded in the second half of the Colts' 26-10 victory in the AFC wild-card Sunday.

But that had as much to do with Luck as their own ineptitude.

Even with starting running back Trent Richardson sidelined after an illness forced him to miss practice and the Colts starting their 11th combination at offensive line, Indianapolis was the better team Sunday. But as has been the case other times this season, the Colts struggled in the red zone.

Indianapolis reached the Cincinnati 17-yard line or beyond three times in the first half, only to settle for a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Clinging to a 13-10 lead early in the third, Luck was flushed out of the pocket.

Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap was nipping at Luck's ankle, causing him to pitch forward. But as he was falling, Luck spotted Donte Moncrief downfield and let it fly.

Never mind that Cincinnati safety George Iloka was blanketing Moncrief. Or that the rookie is not the first, second or even third option in the Colts offense.

Luck saw an opening and took it.

"That one magical play to Moncrief was Andrew at his finest," Colts coach Chuck Pagano said. "He was a maestro back there."

Moncrief made the 36-yard catch at the very edge of the upper corner of the end zone for his fourth TD of the season, the Colts had an insurmountable lead and Luck had one more clip for his growing highlight reel.

"That changed the whole game for us because all we did (from there) was pin our ears back and just go," Colts defensive end Ricky Jean Francois said. "Anytime we give this guy good field position on that field, we need to sit back and eat some popcorn.

"It won't be shocking because we know he'll do it, but it'll just be a nice show to see."

The victory was Luck's second in the playoffs, evening his postseason record at 2-2 after just three seasons. Most quarterbacks would happily take those kind of numbers at this early stage in their careers.

But Luck isn't most quarterbacks.

Until he takes the Colts to the Super Bowl, or at least the AFC Championship, Luck will always be in the shadow of You-Know-Who. And, wouldn't you know it, the Colts will have to beat Manning and the Denver Broncos next Sunday to reach their first AFC title game since Manning was writing the record books in Indianapolis.

"Having a guy that's big and strong like Andrew and can create moving forward, looking at next week, he's going to have to do the same thing," Pagano said. "He's going to have to create some plays. He's going to have to move around and get some first downs with his legs and those type of things."

He'll also have to adapt, because that's what the great NFL quarterbacks do. And as Sunday's game showed, Luck is well on his way to being one of them.

PHOTOS: Best of NFL wild-card weekend

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Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/colts/2015/01/04/andrew-luck-indianapolis-colts-adaptability/21268431/

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