NEW YORK (AP) — A giant schnauzer named Monty has won the top prize at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show. Monty bested six other finalists to take best in show Tuesday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden. The award is considered the most prestigious prize in the U.S. dog show world. Each dog is judged according to how closely it matches the ideal for its breed. Winners get a trophy, ribbons and bragging rights, but no cash prize.… Continue Reading
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina general manager Michael Lombardi says everything the Tar Heels do under new coach Bill Belichick “is predicated on building a pro team.” Lombardi held a news conference Tuesday to discuss the Tar Heels’ most recent batch of signees and the work so far in Belichick’s brief tenure. The school hired Belichick in December for his first college-coaching job. Belichick led the NFL’s New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles as a head coach. Lombardi said the recruiting pitch to players includes having “the greatest coach in the history of football” to go with “a great university.”… Continue Reading
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles’ ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn’t even close. DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise’s second Super Bowl championship. Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push, and Vic Fangio’s defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn’t need much from Saquon Barkley. With Donald Trump becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet.… Continue Reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Irv Gotti, a music mogul who founded Murder Inc. Records and was behind major hip-hop and R&B artists such as Ashanti and Ja Rule, has died. He was 54. Def Jam Recordings announced Gotti’s death in a statement late Wednesday night. Def Jam was the parent company of Murder Inc. It did not give a cause of death. Gotti, whose real name is Irving Lorenzo, founded Murder Inc. with his brother in the late 1990s. The label gained worldwide prominence through platinum-selling artists Ashanti and Ja Rule. Gotti had also worked with artists DMX, Fat Joe and Jay-Z, among other huge names in the genre.… Continue Reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Beyoncé has won album of the year at the The 67th Grammy Awards, delivering her the show’s top honor. The ceremony was transformed by the Los Angeles area wildfires but put a spotlight on the city’s resiliency. The telecast began with a powerful opening performance of Randy Newman’s “I Love L.A.” by Dawes — whose members were directly affected by the Eaton fire — backed by John Legend, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, Brittany Howard and St. Vincent. The Weeknd ended his Grammys boycott with a surprise performance of two new songs. Kendrick Lamar won song and record of the year for “Not Like Us.” Chappell Roan was named best new artist.… Continue Reading