Thousands attend Sean Taylor's funeral

MIAMI - Thousands of people attended the funeral of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor on Monday morning.

The service, held at an arena on the campus of Florida International University, took place one week after Taylor was fatally shot during a break-in at his home. He died early the following morning at the age of 24.

Taylor's casket was surrounded by large bouquets of flowers and was placed in front of a large video screen which showed highlights from his playing career. Part of the bouquet was arranged in the design of a No. 21, Taylor's jersey number.

Several speakers addressed the crowd of mourners, including NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, Redskins running back Clinton Portis and Reverend Jesse Jackson.

"The NFL is proud of Sean Taylor, not just of his Pro Bowl ability," Goodell said. "He loved football, and football loved him back.

"But more important is what he was as a man and what he was becoming as a man, for lots of people here today - fans, family, admirers. He made an impact on all of us."

Taylor was the first player drafted together by Gibbs and Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, who also was in attendance.

"Over the four years, the thing that excited me most - it was about Sean's life," Gibbs said. "It was not about football. (It) was the maturing process in his life."

Portis, also a teammate of Taylor's at the University of Miami, donned large sunglasses and spoke of the Pro Bowl safety's ferocity and talent on the field.

"There's nobody who played in the NFL with more heart than Sean," Portis said. "If there was anything that made me more motivated to play football, it was seeing Sean hitting someone, knowing Sean was on our team.

"I don't fear much. But if I was on the opposing team, I would fear Sean's No. 21."

After telling the mourners to stand and applaud Taylor, Jackson spoke about violence in America and the growing problems regarding the availability of guns.

"Sean was a safety, a tackle of last resort," Jackson said. "He stood between the other team and a touchdown. If we learn from his death, we've saved many a touchdown."

Former Redskins linebacker Lavar Arrington, current Miami coach Randy Shannon, agent Drew Rosenhaus and various family members and friends also spoke at the service.

http://www.nationalpost.com/sports/story.html?id=141629

Colts: Freeney is lost for the season

Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney will have season-ending surgery on his left foot but is expected to be fully recovered for the 2008 season, the team announced early this afternoon.

The team's career sack leader with 60 in six seasons, Freeney suffered the injury on a spin move late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 23-21 loss at San Diego.
The condition is what's known as a Lisfranc injury, which is damage to the middle part of the foot. It's similar to what former Colts receiver Brandon Stokley suffered in December 2002. It took Stokley approximately nine months to fully recover.

Today's release about Freeney said, “We have been told by the doctors to anticipate a full and complete recovery in time for the 2008 season."

Freeney was placed on injured reserve, making him the third defensive starter to be lost for the season. Strong-side linebacker Rob Morris suffered a season-ending leg injury in Week 4 and defensive tackle Anthony “Booger” McFarland blew out a knee in preseason.

The Colts claimed 12th-year veteran Simeon Rice off waivers Monday, and coach Tony Dungy said Rice would play at right end, Freeney’s position.

The team also placed substitute linebacker Victor Worsley on the injured-reserve list, signed defensive back/returner T.J. Rushing and Devin Aromashodu to the active roster, and signed linebacker Brandon Archer to the practice squad.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071114/SPORTS03/71114042/1069/SPORTS0601

Jennifer Love Hewitt Bikini Pictures Spark Outrage from Star Over 'Fat' Comments

Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt is slamming back against comments made in the media about her weight after photos of the star in a bikini were splashed across the Internet. Hewitt, who recently became engaged Scottish actor Ross McCall, issued a statement to the press saying: "like all women out there should, I love my body… being a size 0 doesn’t make you beautiful".

Photos of the Ghost Whisperer star frolicking on the beach in a bikini surfaced this past week on the Web, prompting a slew of nasty comments about the actress' body on blogs and gossip web sites. TMZ.com, one of the most popular celebrity gossip sites on the Net, posted an unflattering shot of the actress with a nasty play on words referring to her starring role in I Know What You Did Last Summer: "We know what you ate this summer, Love—everything!"

Bloggers and gossip columnists all over the web had opinions to air about Jennifer Love Hewitt and her bikini-clad form. Normally most celebrities tend to let such things slide by, refusing to engage in a flame war over comments on their personal lives or appearance. Hewitt, on the other hand, decided to come out swinging.

In a scathing post on her web site blog, the Party of Five hearthrob issued a statement in response to the media frenzy over her bikini pics. "Like all women out there should, I love my body, I know what I look like, and so do my friends and family," she says. "I've sat by in silence for a long time now about the way women's bodies are constantly scrutinized"

Hewitt claims her decision to face the negative comments made about her appearance were prompted by her concern for young women who might be hurt by such portrayals of female celebrities in the media. "To set the record straight," she stated on her blog, "I'm not upset for me, but for all of the girls out there that are struggling with their body image."

"A size 2 is not fat! Nor will it ever be. And being a size 0 doesn't make you beautiful. …To all girls with butts, boobs, hips and a waist," Hewitt says, "put on a bikini—put it on and stay strong."

http://www.gaywired.com/NewsArticle.cfm?Section=66&id=17419&CFID=13124945&CFTOKEN=42994633