Photos Wallpapers Images Pictures 2009

{blackbabes} Photo: Vanessa Williams

2009-07-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

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{blackbabes} Carey: 'I let everyone down'

2009-07-09T09:47:00.001-07:00

Mariah Carey has appeared on TV to apologize again for her shaky performance at Michael Jackson's memorial service - because she feels she has "let everybody down".

The Hero hitmaker was the first singer to take the stage at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Tuesday as the city came to a standstill to officially mourn the King of Pop's sudden death.

Carey sang classic Jackson 5 hit I'll Be There at the service, but struggled to hit the notes and looked tearful throughout her set.

The star subsequently took to her Twitter.com page to apologize for the performance, insisting she battled to hold back her sobs after spotting Jackson's gold coffin below the stage.

And the singer is still wracked with guilt over her efforts - appearing on America's Today show on Wednesday to explain her disappointment at the way she sang.

She said, "I feel a little bit like I let everybody down, but I really did try and it was difficult."

However, Carey insists the embattled set showed just how much Jackson's passing had affected her.

She added, "But you know what I think? It was a true and honest emotional moment."

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{blackbabes} Caught in the Act!

2009-07-09T09:19:00.001-07:00

• When he isn't busy sucking blood, Robert Pattinson snacks on . . . dessert! The Twilight star ordered a cappuccino and a chocolate mousse at Martine's Fine Bakery Shoppe in Tuckahoe, N.Y., during a break from shooting his new film, Remember Me, in town. "He was a really nice guy," says an eyewitness. Even though everyone in the bakery noticed the heartthrob, onlookers gave him his privacy as he chowed down with crew members.

• Good pals Courteney Cox Arquette and Laura Dern, enjoying a quiet lunch with their kids at Le Pain Quotidien in Brentwood, Calif. Sipping an iced coffee from Starbucks and lunching on a sandwich, Cox Arquette talked enthusiastically but also doted on 5-year-old daughter Coco, while Dern – who hid out under a beige sun hat – encouraged her children – daughter Jaya, 4, and son Ellery, 7 – to eat. Both moms were in easygoing moods and frequently laughed throughout the meal.

• After biking around New York City with four friends, Leonardo DiCaprio pulled up to Solstice Sunglass Boutique in SoHo for a little shopping. The actor left the shop with five pairs of shades, including four different Marc by Marc Jacobs frames.

• Gerard Butler, kicking back with four buddies at the East Hampton, N.Y., eatery Nick & Toni's after 10 p.m. "They were quiet and kept to themselves," says a source. "There was no flirting or interacting with anyone."

• 2009 Wimbledon champ Serena Williams, getting her healthy food fix at The Pump Energy Food in New York City. The tennis star ordered a stack of the Protein Pancakes and one of the restaurant's signature energy shakes, the Darkberry, a combination of berries, nonfat frozen yogurt, cranberry juice and ice, before speeding off in her chauffeured car.

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{blackbabes} Back from Wimbledon, Venus Williams wows 'em in DC

2009-07-08T22:33:00.001-07:00

WASHINGTON (AP)—Three days after losing the Wimbledon final, Venus Williams sported the same look—the classy white dress and white visor.

Everything else was very different. This was World Team Tennis in a temporary stadium built on a parking lot in downtown D.C., not the hallowed grounds of the All England Club. This was doubling over in laughter when the coach of the other team threw the challenge flag, not the intensity of trying to win a Grand Slam against her sister.

For the second year in a row, the losing Williams sibling from the Wimbledon title match took just two days off before playing in the nation's capital. Last year, Serena Williams had to deal with a whirlwind travel schedule to fulfill her obligation with the Washington Kastles. This year, by coincidence, Venus' itinerary on Tuesday included a road appearance with her Philadelphia Freedoms against the Kastles.

"My prep every year for Team Tennis is Wimbledon," Venus said with a smile, "so I have the best preparation every year."

Although their teams were playing each other, anyone hoping for a quick Williams rematch was out of luck. The marquee players make only spot prescheduled appearances for their teams; Serena's only home match for the Kastles comes next week.

"I guess they take us one at a time," Venus Williams said when asked if she was pining for a rematch. "I'm sure we've have many more matches."

So the fans had to be content to watch Venus, ranked No. 3 in the world, play a set against 241st-ranked Olga Puchkova. Williams won 5-2, then teamed with Nathan Healey to win a mixed doubles set 5-3 and with Lisa Raymond to win the women's doubles 5-2. The Freedoms won the match 23-16, with Williams a standout not only because of her talent but also because she was the only player on her team not wearing Philadelphia's white-and-blue uniform.

"It's kind of a no-brainer to be here," Williams said. "I'm really enjoying myself because I'm trying to win for my team. … I guess I'm an old Team Tennis veteran now. I realize if I fumble a couple of times, they won't mind. They'll root me on the whole time."

Of course, the switch from Wimbledon to WTT meant adjusting to the league's unusual scoring rules. In the WTT, for example, every game is played to four points—with no ads.

Williams prefers it the other way.

"It's kind of interesting to see who will choke and who won't," she said. "I'm fine with the deuce."

Before taking the court, Williams participated in a clinic with 52 local kids and performed the usual glad-handing inside the hospitality tent, impressing everyone in her wake. During the match, she chatted with spectators during breaks, took part in an on-court interview with a young fan and smiled often throughout the evening, playing the part of star celebrity to a T.

"I would put her in the cornerback position," said local legend Darrell Green, who played that very position himself for 20 seasons with the Washington Redskins. "Because she's got to have that kind of footwork, that kind of movement. The other reason is that every time I line up on someone, I don't know where they're going. She doesn't know where the ball is going."

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{blackbabes} Celebs Tweet Final Respects to Michael Jackson

2009-07-08T18:08:00.001-07:00

So today was Michael Jackson's memorial. Pretty big, historical, epic moment, obviously. And pretty big, historical, epic moments don't go unnoticed by Twitter (unless you're a Hills castmember).

M.J.'s farewell dominated the entire Twitterverse and its trending topics all day as everyone paid tribute to the King of Pop and documented their reactions to everything from Al Sharpton's powerful speech to Paris Jackson's tearful words about her father.

Our favorite tweeting celebs, whether actually at the Staples Center or watching TV like the rest of us, made sure to share their thoughts on the Michael Jackson Memorial Experience 140 characters at a time...

Kim Kardashian: "Michael's children were so brave brave 2 stand there on stage & speak to the world about their father...I spoke at my dad's funeral & it was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I was shaking & crying & what Paris did was sooo soooo brave!"

Nick Cannon: "A day of mourning. Here in the Staples Center, God is absolutely present."

Ryan Seacrest: "This makes the world feel so small...everyone connected right now."

Sherri Shepherd: "Loved what Al Sharpton said to MJ's kids 'wasn't nothing strange about your daddy. It was strange what your daddy had to deal with.' Michael's kids needed to hear that said....'nothing strange about your daddy.'"

Serena Williams: "Today, we honor Michael Jackson for his love, music, & being a genius. I'm still shocked. Please, share your favorite songs. Thriller is great. Remember the Time is such a classic as well. Life is short, but his music will never die. MJ was subjected to harsh words, but I hope that people find understanding & stop judging."

Emmy Rossum: "Beautiful memorial. I cried when Paris spoke. I hope the family is able to grieve and their privacy will be respected during this time."

Paris Hilton: "In tears watching the MJ Memorial Service on TV, so touching. Everyone loves you Michael!"

Brandy: "Michael Jackson will forever inspire my soul and forever live in my heart. He is an angel that can now see his wings. R.I.P"

Nicky Hilton: "I was in awe of how respectful all of the media and fans were. I expected chaos. Despite what is shown on tv everyone was very gracious."

MC Hammer: "May the movement and message of The Dancer continue to move the Soul of the People to Joy, Peace, Restoration and Glory. God Bless MJ"

Kelly Osbourne: "MJ's children are so brave to stand up there and remember there father while the while the whole world is watching!"

Paula Abdul: "Remembering MJ and the true legend that he was and will live on to be..I'm taking some time to reflect today."

Larry King: "I was surprised MJ's body as there, but it was very touching. Al Sharpton gave such a commanding speech, so dramatic in tone & content. There was so much emotion when Usher & Brooke Shields took the stage. this has all been phenomenal but I hope the stories die down soon. Let's let him have some peace."

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{blackbabes} Sightings

2009-07-08T17:05:00.001-07:00

PHOTOGRAPHER Walter Iooss Jr. shooting three-time Wimbledon champion Serena Williams at the West Side Tennis Club in Forest Hills for an upcoming Procter & Gamble ad . . . MARY J. Blige moonwalking and performing other Michael Jackson moves with three friends at Pink Elephant . . . JANE Fonda and music producer Richard Perry "all over each other all night" at LA's Sunset Tower Bar while celebrating Robbie Robertson's birthday.

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{blackbabes} Tia Mowry on The Game's Possible Rescue: "The Show Would Be Taken to Another Level"

2009-07-08T16:55:00.000-07:00

Tia Mowry credits The Game's vocal fan base for the BET Network's interest in resurrecting the canceled CW series for a fourth season.

"I never fully appreciated how impressive the fans can be and are, until there were rumors swirling that the CW was going to take us off the air," Mowry said not long after TVGuide.com reported that BET is trying to obtain rights to the half-hour comedy. "I put it on my Twitter almost every other day, saying how the Game fans rock and rule."

The Game cast first learned of BET's interest in developing new episodes back in January, when the cabler acquired syndication rights. Once the show got canceled by the CW, Mowry says, "that buzz increased."

But as badly as BET wants to send The Game into overtime, the network must hammer out a mutually acceptable licensing fee with CBS Television Studios, which produces the series. "[BET chairman and CEO] Debra Lee is trying everything and anything to make this happen," says Mowry.

Should a deal get done, it'd be a win for all sides. "The Game gets higher ratings than [BET's] original programming," says Mowry, "and we've heard there would be a huge marketing campaign. So I personally believe the show would be taken to another level."

Yet The Game would remain true to its roots, despite an end-of-season experiment — a last-ditch appeal to the CW — in fashioning itself as an hour-long dramedy. "I could care less if it's an hour or a comedy," says Mowry, "as long as we got to have fun and be creative together."

Is there anything for fans to do as the network and studio's respective bean-counters haggle over the financials? Absolutely, says Mowry. "They can continue writing BET and writing CBS [Television Studios], and let everybody know how much you love this show.

"[Series creator] Mara [Brock Akil] and the cast, we want the show to live on," she adds, "and really, the fans do have a lot of power."

In the meantime, Mowry and her twin Tamera are readying to shoot the Lifetime movie The Wedding, which the sisters produced through their Twilight Productions company.

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{blackbabes} Serena, Safina to play Rogers Cup

2009-07-08T12:19:00.001-07:00

TORONTO -- Wimbledon champion Serena Williams of the U.S., and world No. 1 Dinara Safina of Russia will play in the Rogers Cup women's tennis tournament next month.

The player list for the Aug. 15-23 tournament Rexall Centre includes all top 25 players on the WTA Tour and 33 of the top 35.

It's a stellar field for the tournament, which has struggled in the past to attract the top-ranked players.

"A great amount of work and collaboration were needed by the players, the Tour and the tournaments to create a roadmap that has helped change our sport for the better, resulting in the top players competing in the best events such as Rogers Cup," tournament director Karl Hale said Tuesday in a release. "We made a commitment to our fans by remaining a Premier 5 event that included increasing our prize money by an additional US$660,000."

The total prize money for the women's singles event is US$2 million with the tournament champion receiving $350,000.

Aleksandra Wozniak of Blainville, Que., is ranked 22nd in the world and will earn a spot in the main draw, the first time since 1996 that a Canadian has been a direct entry into the main singles draw without being awarded a wild card.

Five former champions will be in the field: Dinara Safina (2008), Ana Ivanovic (2006), Kim Clijsters (2005), Amelie Mauresmo (2004, 2002) and Williams (2001).

Tennis Canada will announce the wild card selections at a later date.

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{blackbabes} Photo: Serena Williams

2009-07-06T20:21:00.001-07:00

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{blackbabes} Serena Williams jokes about grunting on Letterman

2009-07-06T17:20:00.001-07:00

NEW YORK (AP)—Serena Williams believes grunting may give players an edge—not that she's apologizing for the advantage.

Williams appeared on the "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS on Monday night, two days after beating her sister in the Wimbledon final then teaming with Venus to win the doubles title. Williams joked with Letterman about the cacophony some players make, which was the target of media criticism during Wimbledon.

Asked if the noise can be distracting to quieter opponents, Williams said, "I often wonder that."

"I'm thinking like we were playing just recently in the finals and Venus and I were grunting really loud in the doubles and the other girls weren't doing anything," she added. "And after the point, I was thinking, 'Wow, that was pretty loud. Was that distracting for them?"'

Williams said she was inspired by Monica Seles growing up.

"She's like the first person that I know that really used to grunt really loud and really hard, so that's kind of how I modeled my grunt after," Williams said. "Yeah, because you have to have role models when it comes to grunting."

She added that grunting "advanced in everything."

"Like if I play golf, I grunt," she said. "If I'm playing soccer and I kick the ball, I grunt."

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{blackbabes} Stars Align for Tomorrow's Michael Jackson Memorial

2009-07-06T17:00:00.001-07:00

While the drama regarding his estate, his children and the circumstances of his death aren't likely to rest for months to come, it's time for Michael Jackson himself to rest in peace.

Tuesday is the big day for both his private funeral and very public memorial event.

The star's close family members will gather at Forest Lawn Cemetery bright and early at 8 a.m., where they will say their final farewells to M.J.'s body.

Then, they'll make their way through traffic to the Staples Center for the 10 a.m. PT show.

Joe, Katherine, Jackie, Tito, Marlon, Jermaine, Randy, LaToya, Rebbie and Janet Jackson will all be there.

Debbie Rowe, however, will not. Her lawyers tell E! News that the mother of the star's two oldest children's "attendance would be an unnecessary distraction to an event that should focus exclusively on Michael's legacy" and that she "will continue to celebrate Michael's memory privately."

That said, some serious star power will be turning out in the King of Pop's honor…

E! News has confirmed that both Mariah Carey and Jennifer Hudson will be performing.

Kobe Bryant, Barry Gordy, Magic Johnson, John Mayer, Lionel Richie, Smokey Robinson, Brooke Shields, Usher and Stevie Wonder are also confirmed participants. Ditto for Rev. Al Sharpton, the Andrae Crouch Choir, Martin Luther King III, Bernice A. King and family friends Ron Boyd and Pastor Lucious Smith.

Whitney Houston and Beyonce Knowles are among the many unconfirmed A-listers preparing to attend.

And we'll be there. Watch the Michael Jackson Memorial live on either E! or E! Online, where we'll be streaming the entire event.

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{blackbabes} Who Will Perform at Michael Jackson's Memorial?

2009-07-06T16:57:00.001-07:00

Everyone from Mariah Carey to the surviving Jackson brothers are expected to perform in honor of the late King of Pop at the his memorial Tuesday at the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

On Monday, the Jackson family's publicists released a "preliminary and subject to change" list of participants, which included Carey and confirmed an earlier report from CNN that Jennifer Hudson would take the stage.

Other stars set to appear include:

• Brooke Shields
• Usher
• Stevie Wonder
• Magic Johnson
• Kobe Bryant
• Andrae Crouch Choir
• Berry Gordy
• Family friends Ron Boyd and Pastor Lucious Smith
• Shaheen Jafargholi of Britain's Got Talent
• Martin Luther King III
• Bernice A. King
• John Mayer
• Lionel Richie
• Smokey Robinson
• Rev. Al Sharpton

Sources confirm to PEOPLE that the dancers who were set to take the stage with Jackson on his London tour will also perform at the memorial.

Beyoncé and Whitney Houston are also said to be making appearances, but are not performing, according to Entertainment Tonight.

According to reports, the Jackson's will have their own private funeral at Forest Lawn Memorial in the Hollywood Hills Tuesday morning, prior to the public event. The Jackson family, along with Michael's three children, will remain by each other's side at both services, says a source. "The news is really setting in now as more family members pile into town," says a Jackson family insider.

Adds a family source, "Lots and lots of family" will be coming in for Tuesday's memorial. "We're talking about 300 cousins and 40 grandkids and great grandkids and some of the old acts the Jackson 5 used to perform with, like the Chi-Lites will be there."

"The plan is for everyone to be together," says the insider.

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{blackbabes} 'Lie to Me' keeps Mekhi Phifer, Jennifer Beals

2009-07-06T16:47:00.001-07:00

Two faces that popped up at the end of "Lie to Me's" first season will be sticking around for its second.

Mekhi Phifer will be a regular on the FOX series in the fall, while Jennifer Beals will continue her recurring role. Each actor appeared in two episodes toward the end of last season, including the finale.

Phifer plays FBI Agent Ben Reynolds, who serves as the bureau's point man when deception expert Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) and his team are called in to assist on cases. Beals plays Zoe Landau, a U.S. attorney who is also Cal's ex-wife.

"Lie to Me" is also getting some new blood behind the camera. "The Shield" creator Shawn Ryan, who consulted on the last few episodes of the first season, has come aboard as an executive producer and showrunner.

The show begins its second season on Monday, Sept. 28.

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{blackbabes} Mariah Carey to sing at memorial

2009-07-06T12:37:00.001-07:00

Mariah Carey will sing the Jackson 5's I'll Be There at Michael Jackson's memorial in Los Angeles on Tuesday, according to reports.

The pop superstar enjoyed success with the Berry Gordy-penned tune after she performed the song as part of her MTV Unplugged show in 1992.

Fans are waiting to hear if they've been lucky enough to land tickets for the memorial at the Staples Center as WENN went to press. More celebrities, including Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, Justin Timberlake and Usher, are reportedly set to perform at the event.

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{blackbabes} Couples Watch: Hilary Duff & Mike Comrie, Eric Dane & Rebecca Gayheart

2009-07-06T09:13:00.001-07:00

• Lovebirds Hilary Duff and Mike Comrie, celebrating a friend's birthday at LAVO Italian Restaurant inside Las Vegas's Palazzo Resort and Casino with a huge crew. After eating dinner (including giant Kobe meatballs), the group ventured to the upstairs nightclub where they wasted no time dancing to DJ Five's set. The group drank champagne – eight bottles of Cristal! – as the evening continued. The next day, Duff and Comrie hung at a poolside cabana at TAO Beach, enjoying their friends' company over lunch and drinks.

• Eric Dane and Rebecca Gayheart, walking along the Seine in Paris toward the Eiffel Tower. Along the way they stopped at the Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, where Gayheart posed playfully beside the outdoor statues. Next up on their Parisian walking tour, the two stopped by the Trocadero, snapped pictures of the Eiffel Tower and grabbed ice cream before heading to a shaded café for drinks.

• Tyra Banks and boyfriend John Utendahl, ordering steak and creamed spinach during dinner at STK Los Angeles. The couple was extremely friendly with their server and spent their meal deep in conversation, a fellow diner tells us.

• Ben Harper, accompanying wife Laura Dern for an afternoon trip to Nail Spa Lane on Santa Monica's Montana Avenue – with their daughter Jaya, 4, son Ellery, 7, and a nanny in tow. And Harper wasn't just sitting back: The musician picked out shades of polish for his daughter and wife (who opted for orange), and he playfully joked with the kids. Harper even took a seat in a massage chair beside Dern and chatted with her for a bit. Soon, Harper collected their kids and headed for home, leaving his wife to finish her pedicure (and relax) solo.

• Chelsea Handler, taking boyfriend Ted Harbert along as she picked out clothes at Beckley, an L.A. boutique. The E! host bought some jeans, before leaving to buy rugs at nearby Mansour.

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{blackbabes} Photo: Estelle

2009-07-05T22:10:00.001-07:00

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{blackbabes} Photos: En Vogue

2009-07-05T18:36:00.001-07:00

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{blackbabes} Serena curses missed chance at calendar slam

2009-07-05T13:27:00.000-07:00

LONDON, July 5 (Reuters) - Serena Williams said her delight at securing her third Wimbledon title had been tempered slightly by her regret at missing out on a rare calendar grand slam of the major titles.

A three-set defeat to eventual champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarters at Roland Garros, sandwiched between Australian Open and Wimbledon titles, scuppered her chances of joining Margaret Court, Maureen Connolly and Steffi Graf in the elite group of women to claim all four slams in a calendar year.

"I think this is the year I could have done it, I honestly had the biggest chance to win all four that I have ever had in my career," Serena told reporters.

"I really just screwed up, but I can't live in the past, even though I am always still thinking about my quarter-final match that I could have won."

Serena, who beat sister Venus for her third All England Club singles title on Saturday, will instead try and find consolation in a second non-calendar slam.

She completed the 'Serena Slam' in 2003 when victory in the Australian Open meant she was the holder of all four major titles having won the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open the previous year.

"My goal now is to keep winning, until I get to the French and then win the French and then I'll just have another Serena Slam," Serena adds.

Saturday's win was Serena's 11th grand slam victory and moved her into seventh place in the all-time singles leaders list behind childhood idol Billie-Jean King.

"To get to her level and have 12 would be even better. Well, that would be a great legacy."

The 27-year-old hopes to be around for a possible 2016 Chicago Olympics and add a first singles gold medal to her two doubles titles at Summer Games.

"I am praying that they (Chicago) get the Olympics because I think it would be really special to play there.

"I want to be out there and there is nothing like doing something you love so much. Maybe by then I will be on one leg and going for it," she said smiling.

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{blackbabes} Photos: Cassie, Tila Tequila, Mel B, Amber Rose

2009-07-04T20:55:00.001-07:00

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{blackbabes} Former MJ doc wrote phony prescriptions for Janet

2009-07-04T20:07:00.000-07:00

A former doctor and close confident of Michael Jackson has denied he recently provided the late star with medication - as it emerges he wrote fake prescriptions for the star's sister Janet Jackson.

Dr. Allen Metzger was Jackson's personal medic on his 1996 tour, and even filmed the star's nuptials to first wife Debbie Rowe.

But as America's Drug Enforcement Administration help the Los Angeles cops hunt down doctors who could have abused their position to help provide the Thriller hitmaker with prescriptions, Metzger's history of providing the superstar clan with drugs in fictitious names has come to light.

Speaking to TMZ.com, the physician admits he wrote a prescription for Janet Jackson in the name of her then chef Ricardo Macchi. The medication was for diuretics - used to help the patient pass water.

He also confesses to writing a prescription - in Macchi's name again - for a Hepatitis B injection for the Nasty singer, but insists it was a precautionary measure and the singer didn't have the virus at the time.

But Metzger soon came under scrutiny - when Macchi sued him over the fictitious notes, the doctor received a strongly-worded reprimand from the U.S. Medical Board in 2000 accusing him of "fraudulent medical practise" involving an "international entertainer".

Metzger is adamant he used Macchi's name to save Janet Jackson any embarrassment: "I had done this for Janet for her anonymity."

And the doctor has vehemently denied he was medically involved with Michael Jackson in recent years - but refuses to confirm if he provided the star with prescription drugs during his time as his personal physician.

He tells TMZ.com, "I am not at liberty to discuss Michael's medical care. I have not treated him for ages. I have not treated Michael Jackson for many years.

"I have nothing to do with this tragedy with Michael. I have not prescribed any medication in relation to what happened to him."

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{blackbabes} Serena still ranked No. 2 despite win

2009-07-04T20:03:00.001-07:00

WIMBLEDON, England -- Even with three of the last four Grand Slam titles in her possession, Serena Williams will stay behind No. 1 Dinara Safina when the WTA rankings are released Monday.

The second-ranked Williams beat older sister Venus in the Wimbledon final on Saturday, adding to the major championships she won at the U.S. Open in September and at the Australian Open in January. Still, Serena remains No. 2 in the rankings.

"My motivation is maybe just to win another Grand Slam and stay No. 2, I guess," she said after beating Venus 7-6 (3), 6-2 for her third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam championship overall. "I'd rather definitely be No. 2 and hold three Grand Slams in the past year than be No. 1 and not have any."

Safina rose to No. 1 in April. She lost to Serena in this year's Australian Open final, and then won titles in Rome and Madrid before falling to 0-3 in Grand Slam title matches by losing at that stage of the French Open last month. In the Wimbledon semifinals, the Russian was beaten 6-1, 6-0 by No. 3 Venus -- the most lopsided loss ever by a reigning No. 1 woman.

"Dinara did a great job to get to No. 1. She won Rome and Madrid," Serena said before rolling her eyes and laughing loudly.

Serena reached the quarter-finals at the French Open before losing to eventual champion Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Players get ranking points by winning tour-level matches and can be rewarded for entering more tournaments.

Both Williams sisters spent time at No. 1, each first reaching that spot in 2002, but they dropped down the rankings after reducing the amount of tournaments they play. Serena got back to No. 1 last year and briefly this year.

"For several years now, at least three or four years, I just really wanted to focus on tennis, and I've really been doing that. I feel like this is where I want to be, and this is my chance to capitalize on everything," Serena said. "I really enjoy it. I even started playing more doubles because I enjoy being out on the court so much. I think it's pretty much all paying off."

After Safina was routed by Venus at Wimbledon on Thursday, she defended the ranking system.

"Well, I've been in last four Grand Slams, I reach at least semifinal," Safina said. "I mean, they haven't been in the semifinal of the French Open. I think this is the result of how you play the whole year. It's not about one, two tournaments how you play. It's a result of tournament by tournament, day to day that you play."

Venus was asked about the rankings after beating Safina.

"I respect Dinara Safina immensely, and I think you should, too," she replied.

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{blackbabes} Sisters take Wimbledon doubles

2009-07-04T20:02:00.001-07:00

WIMBLEDON, England -- Serena Williams won a pair of Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon on Saturday, just like her sister Venus did last year.

Serena added the women's doubles title to her take at this year's tournament, teaming with big sister Venus to beat Rennae Stubbs and Samantha Stosur of Australia 7-6 (4), 6-4. It's their fourth Wimbledon title together, part of their haul of nine Grand Slam women's doubles championships.

"There's nothing like winning a title with your sister," said Serena, who has won 11 major singles titles. "It's really a good feeling."

Earlier Saturday on Centre Court, Serena beat Venus 7-6 (3), 6-2 in singles to win her third Wimbledon title -- she beat her older sister in each final.

A year ago, Venus beat Serena in the championship match to win her fifth Wimbledon singles title, and the pair then teamed up to win the doubles.

"One out of two's not bad," Venus said. "I really wanted to win the singles, but they're two separate events. If I won the singles and not the doubles, it's still not the same."

Against the Australians, the Williams sisters traded breaks in the first set, with Stosur and Stubbs taking a 2-1 lead off Serena's opening service game. But the Americans eventually broke back to 4-4 when Stosur put a backhand volley into the net.

In the tiebreaker, Venus put the sisters up a mini-break on the second point with a return of serve that Stubbs couldn't get back over.

"The ball clipped the tape, and therefore it went a little bit higher than it should have and it hit my frame and didn't quite get off the string," Stubbs said. "It was really unlucky."

The most entertaining point of the match came with Stubbs serving at 1-1 in the second set. Serena returned the serve, and Stubbs swung her racket behind her and hit the ball through her legs to get it back over.

"I do that because sometimes you have to do that," said Stubbs, who added that she makes that kind of shot all the time. "That's just experience and being an idiot on the court half the time."

As the point continued, Stosur stood at the net and battered back volley after volley as both Venus and Serena grunted and groaned while sending groundstrokes back over the net.

Stosur eventually won the point with a drop shot neither sister could get near, and the Australian took that game. But the sisters broke Stubbs to go up 4-3 in that set and kept control.

"I'm really excited to have doubles titles," Serena said. "I rack 'em up."

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{blackbabes} Photos: Serena & Venus Williams

2009-07-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

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{blackbabes} Photo: Beyonce

2009-07-04T11:19:00.001-07:00

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{blackbabes} Factbox: Wimbledon champion Serena Williams

2009-07-04T09:40:00.001-07:00

Factbox on American Serena Williams, who won her third Wimbledon title with a 7-6 6-2 win over her sister Venus on Saturday:

* Born in Saginaw, Michigan on September 26, 1981.

* Turned professional in September 1995.

11 GRAND SLAM SINGLES TITLES

* U.S. Open 1999, 2002, 2008; French Open 2002; Wimbledon 2002, 2003, 2009; Australian Open 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009.

* Williams is seventh on the list of leading women grand slam title leaders.

* Regained world number one ranking for the third time in her career after capturing the 2009 Australian Open title.

* Is one of only five women -- after Maureen Connolly, Margaret Court, Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf -- to hold all four grand slam titles at once. Dubs the non-calendar year achievement in 2002-2003 as the 'Serena Slam'. She beats sister Venus in each of the four finals.

OTHER CAREER MILESTONES

* Becomes lowest-ranked player in 1997 to defeat two Top 10 players in one tournament, beating number seven Mary Pierce and number four Monica Seles in Chicago after entering as a 304th-ranked wildcard.

* Wins 1999 Paris Indoors on same day that Venus triumphs at Oklahoma City. The Williamses become the first sisters in pro tennis history to win singles titles in the same week.

* Breaks into Top 10 for first time in April 1999, ranked ninth.

* Loses 2001 U.S. Open final to Venus. Flushing Meadows final is first meeting between sisters in a grand slam title match since Maud Watson beat Lilian at Wimbledon in 1884.

* Takes over from Venus as world number one in July 2002 after winning her first Wimbledon title.

* In 2007 becomes only the second unseeded woman to win the Australian Open crown in the professional era after Chris O'Neill achieved the feat in 1978. Ranked 81st in the world, she defeats top seed Maria Sharapova in the final.

PERSONAL HEARTACHE AND CONTROVERSIES

* Has boycotted high-profile Indian Wells since winning the title in 2001. Serena had to overcome a hostile crowd to beat Belgium's Kim Clijsters in the final, being continually jeered by fans who were upset that Venus had withdrawn from her semi-final against her younger sister two days earlier. Ever since, the siblings have had to quell speculation that the move was hatched by their father and coach, Richard, to give the win to Serena.

* Suffers loss of her sister Yetunde Price, who was killed in a shooting incident in Los Angeles in 2003.

* Loses controversial quarter-final to Jennifer Capriati at the 2004 U.S. Open where she was upset by a series of line calls which TV replays showed were wrong. Incident sets wheels in motion for instant replay technology to be introduced.

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