Bears coach Smith denies rift between Cutler and Urlacher

BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they’re simply not true.

Cablevision to spin off Madison Square Garden; reports 8 percent drop in 2Q net

Cablevision Systems Corp. said Thursday that its board has approved a plan to spin off as a separate company its Madison Square Garden business, owner of the New York Knicks, Rangers and the famed sports arena where they play.

Rocker Bob Seger joins Tiger Woods in popular pro-am duet at Buick Open

GRAND BLANC TOWNSHIP, MICH. — Rock star Bob Seger has played in front of thousands of people over his career but he was awfully nervous on Wednesday.

Madame Tussauds wax people: see them, hear them, feel them, above all take pictures with them

LOS ANGELES — The seriously starstruck can find their favorite celebrities in cement, in wax, in lights — and occasionally in the flesh — around this Hollywood Boulevard entertainment crossroads that is now home to Madame Tussauds’ newest wax museum.

Music Review: The Fiery Furnaces new CD is affable, but they’re too smart for their own good

The Fiery Furnaces, “I’m Going Away” (Thrill Jockey)

Sarkozy campaigned for health and then himself felt faint while jogging

PARIS — PARIS (AP) — French President Nicolas Sarkozy “felt faint” while jogging Sunday at a presidential residence outside the capital and was undergoing medical tests, the Elysee Palace announced and his chief of staff was quoted at saying. France’s main cable television channels flashed text reports of the president’s health across the bottom of their screens but live programming of the final leg of the Tour de France on the main TV channel was not interrupted.

Bring it on: Phelps jumped right in when given chance to face Shaq in the pool

ROME — Michael Phelps already took down Mark Spitz. The record-breaking Olympian can’t wait to take on Shaq.

Steelers’ Ben Roethlisberger relaxed at Shaq’s reality show taping in suburban Pittsburgh

AMBRIDGE, Pa. — Ben Roethlisberger enjoyed a warm reception from Pittsburgh Steelers fans in his first public appearance since being named in a civil lawsuit by a woman who alleges he sexually assaulted her.

Lance is back, and television ratings are up for the Tour de France in the United States

NEW YORK — Each morning of the Tour de France, an average of more than half a million Americans are tuning in to watch.

Football media choose TCU to win Mountain West Conference; defending champ Utah picked 3rd

HENDERSON, Nev. — TCU football coach Gary Patterson said Tuesday he was happy that college football media picked his Horned Frogs as the preseason favorite to win the 2009 Mountain West Conference.

ESPN reporter Erin Andrews surreptitiously videotaped nude in hotel, video posted on Web

HARTFORD, Conn. — ESPN reporter Erin Andrews was secretly videotaped in the nude while she was alone in a hotel room, and the video was posted on the Internet, her attorney said.

Singer Marc Anthony joins Gloria Estefan as newest Dolphins minority owner

NEW YORK — New Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross had to be loving the scene: the flashbulbs glittering, the passers-by straining to catch a glimpse, the questions asked and answered in Spanish.

Bruce Lee’s siblings authorize Chinese biographical films about late kung fu icon

HONG KONG — Bruce Lee’s older sister and younger brother have authorized a Chinese company to make a series of biographical films about the late kung fu icon, saying they want to produce a historically accurate account of their brother’s life.

Russia’s Natalia Ishchenko defends gold medal in synchronized solo tech at swimming worlds

ROME — Natalia Ishchenko of Russia successfully defended her gold medal in the solo tech event in synchronized swimming at the world championships Monday.

Competition aims to make Bruce Lee’s former home, now a love motel, into a museum

HONG KONG — The former home of Bruce Lee is now a love motel, renting rooms by the hour. But officials on Monday launched a design competition to turn it into a Hong Kong museum for the kung fu icon.

Woman learns dangers of celebrity golf; hit on head by ball, but she’s OK

STATELINE, Nev. — Sally Capehart learned first hand the dangers of attending a celebrity golf tournament. She was watching from about 10 yards left of the par-3, 17th green bordering Lake Tahoe on Sunday when the tee shot of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub hit her on top of her head.

Fuhr, Rhoden share second-round lead at Tahoe celebrity golf tournament

STATELINE, Nev. — NHL Hall of Famer Grant Fuhr had two eagles and seven-time champion Rick Rhoden birdied five of the last seven holes Saturday to tie for the second-round lead at the 20th annual American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe.

Romo says kids should play multiple sports, not just 1; golf makes him better QB

STATELINE, Nev. — Tony Romo played all kinds of sports as a child, especially basketball, and figures he never would have become the Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback if he had concentrated on just one sport as many youths do today.

Terrell Owens counting on TV series to show a side of him that’s closer to reality

BUFFALO, N.Y. — T.O. is the brash, mercurial athlete, a polarizing teammate for 13 NFL seasons. Terrell is the man, shy and sensitive by nature.

Jackie Chan: Co-star Jaden Smith’s kung fu skills put his own son to shame

Jackie Chan praises kung fu of Will Smith’s son

Miami Dolphins to make ‘major announcement’ about deal with Marc Anthony; details unclear

MIAMI — Marc Anthony is the latest celebrity musician to join forces with the Miami Dolphins.

Russell Crowe may reprise Jack Aubrey role in Master & Commander movie

LONDON — Russell Crowe is in the early stages of negotiations to reprise the role of Jack Aubrey as a British sea captain in a new movie version from the Master & Commander series of novels.

CBS shakes up Boston radio properties, creating all-sports station and moving WBCN to Internet

BOSTON — A major shakeup on the Boston radio dial is marking the end of an era for one of the nation’s first progressive rock stations, which helped launch U2 and other prominent artists.

Adam Scott goes back to the basics to emerge from mini-slump

TURNBERRY, Scotland — Adam Scott embraces his Australian golf heritage and the comparisons to major champions whom he would like to join someday, the sooner the better. This one, however, made him wince.

Lessons from mascot school: Stay mum, stay cool, stay away from obnoxious fans

When Jevin Fluegel took the job as his high school’s mascot, “Ty the Tiger,” he thought the gig would be all about generating school spirit and making people smile.

Tony Leung breaks left arm during training for biopic of Bruce Lee’s kung fu master

BEIJING — Cannes best actor winner Tony Leung Chiu-wai broke his left arm while sparring with martial arts instructors as he prepared to portray Bruce Lee’s kung fu master in a Wong Kar-wai movie, a publicist said Tuesday.

Jackie Chan, Will Smith’s son kick off ‘Karate Kid’ remake in Beijing

Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith start ‘Karate Kid’ remake

Back in the US, David Beckham responds to book criticism

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — David Beckham said Los Angeles Galaxy teammate Landon Donovan was “unprofessional” for speaking out without confronting him first.

Sheryl Crow to sing national anthem before All-Star game

NEW YORK — Pop star Sheryl Crow will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Tuesday night’s All-Star game in St. Louis.

Television networks across the dial united to show Michael Jackson memorial

NEW YORK — Queen Latifah called Michael Jackson “the biggest star on Earth,” and it was hard to argue when his memorial service united television networks as diverse as ABC, MTV, Fox News Channel, BET and ESPN News.

Michael Jackson’s international fans mourn idol as Los Angeles memorial begins

LONDON — Fans in Asia stayed up into the wee hours, bars across Europe held Michael Jackson theme nights and television stations from Sydney to Paris cleared their schedules Tuesday to broadcast the King of Pop’s star-studded memorial service live from Los Angeles.

Paris’s couture displays off to featherlight start, with sheer, lingerie-inspired show at Dior

PARIS — In these times heavy with financial worry, Paris’ winter 2010 haute couture displays got off to a light start Monday, with sheer fabrics taking center stage at Dior’s half-dressed display and at budding French labels Stephane Rolland and Alexis Mabille.

Tiger Woods’ win at AT&T National draws TV ratings more than 3 times higher than last year

NEW YORK — Tiger Woods’ win at the AT&T National drew an overnight rating more than three times higher than last year, when he was injured.

Football match competes with Obama-Medvedev news conference on Russian state TV

MOSCOW — Football or statesmanship?

Cardplayers, celebrities descend on Las Vegas as World Series of Poker main event begins

LAS VEGAS — Cardplayers, celebrities and amateurs with deep pockets are back in Las Vegas and hoping for a handsome score as the World Series of Poker main event begins.