Paraguay vs Japan World Cup Highlights by Sports Betting: The 2010 World Cup round 16 soccer match between Paraguay and Japan was kicked off on yesterday, i.e. on June 29, 2010 at Loftus Versefeld Stadium, Pretoria. In this match, Paraguay defeated Japan by 5-3. With this win, Paraguay secured their berth in quarter finals.

Betting

This is the first time in Paraguay’s history that their reach to the quarter finals. Paraguay and Japan were 0-0 at the end of the match, but in order to select the quarter finals, an extra time allotted for them. In the extra time, Paraguay had taken the chance and defeated Japan. Paraguay’s Nestor Valdez did the best in the extra time.

Finally, Paraguay reached the quarter finals by defeating Japan with 5-3. In their quarter finals, Paraguay will play against Spain.

Source:footballgamblingfreaks

TORONTO - A magnitude-5.0 earthquake struck at the Ontario-Quebec border region of Canada on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, and homes and businesses were shaken from Canada’s capital in Ottawa on south to an arc of U.S. states.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

Morgan Moschetti, a seismologist with the USGS, said it was not unusual for an earthquake to be felt 300 miles (482 kilometers) from the epicenter and noted that the latest quake was felt in the U.S. from Chicago to Maine.

Other states that reported feeling tremors were Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey and New York.

The epicenter of the quake was in Quebec, about 23 miles (38 kilometers) north of Cumberland, Ontario, on the Ottawa River, the USGS said.

The agency said the quake occurred at a depth of about 12 miles (19.2 kilometers) at 1:45 p.m. EDT (1741 GMT). The agency initially said the quake had a 5.5 magnitude, but later reduced it to a magnitude-5.0.

The tremors, which lasted about 30 seconds, rattled buildings in Ottawa and Toronto, as well as government offices across the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec.

The Parliament building in Ottawa was evacuated, with workers sent home while the building was inspected. Workers also left buildings in Toronto.

The quake came just ahead of the weekend summit of G-20 and G-8 world leaders in Toronto and Huntsville, Ontario.

Melanie Lauzon, a Liberal member of Parliament, said her first thought was that Ottawa had been hit with “with a very large car bomb,” since the quake struck on the eve of the summits.

Conservative Senator Lowell Murray said the massive chandeliers of the upper chamber of Parliament began swaying during a mundane debate on energy issues.

“Initially we thought it might have been an airplane crashing into the building,” Murray said. “But we were standing around wondering what was going on. And I quickly realized it was an earthquake. And then everybody started shouting out, out, out.”

Residents of a number of states in the Midwest and Northeast reported feeling the earthquake.

In Ohio, people reported the sound of plaster cracking in Cleveland and buildings in Cincinnati gently swaying.

In Cleveland, James Haselden says his office in a renovated 19th century brick building swayed and he heard plastic cracking but saw no damage.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported on its website that the Canadian quake was felt by some residents in the western Pennsylvania area.

The quake also was felt in New Jersey, where the Bergen County administration building in Hackensack was evacuated after employees reported they felt a tremor.

Bergen County Police Lt. Christine Francois said numerous people in the Hackensack and Englewood areas called police to report earth tremors.

In Michigan, residents from suburban Detroit to Port Huron and Saginaw reported feeling the earthquake.

Detroit police spokeswoman Yvette Walker told The Associated Press that police personnel on the upper floors of the downtown headquarters building reported feeling the quake.

In New York state, people from Buffalo to Albany and north to Massena on the St. Lawrence River said pets were startled and plates rattled when the quake hit.

New York City officials said police received emergency calls came in from all over the city about shaking buildings, but there were no reports of damage.

David French, 53-year-old state worker from Cicero, New York, said he was at his computer inside his home near Syracuse when he felt his chair shake.

“I thought the chair was breaking or something,” he said. “I looked over and my filing cabinet was moving.”

The quake prompted several calls to state police in the Adirondacks area.

“A little shake, nothing too big,” is how Trooper Mark Revette described the temblor. “It happens. We get a couple of these a year.”

Kellie Tassone, 40, was at home on Oneida Lake in Cicero.

“My dog picked his head up just before it happened and kind of looked at me,” she said. Then the sliding door started to rattle “and the house was shaking.”

The USGS said the two largest quakes in western Quebec occurred in 1935 at magnitude-6.1 and in 1732 at a magnitude of 6.2, where it caused significant damage in Montreal.

The agency said earthquakes cause significant damage in the region about once a decade. Smaller earthquakes are felt three or four times a year.

From: Yahoo News

This article details longest tennis meet records. Records concerning the length of tennis matches can refer to either the length of time that a match takes up or the number of games that a tennis match lasts for. Many of the records have carried on affected by the introduction of the tiebreak in 1973 which has resulted in many formerly records not being broken.

Time

* Longest meet ever: The incomplete Wimbledon 2010 first round match between Nicolas Mahut and John Isner played on the 22nd, 23rd of June, 2010 and scheduled to continue on June 24th, was at 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7), 6-7(3), 59-59 in the fifth and final set, [1] after 9 hours and 58 minutes, when the game was suspended until a third day due to darkness.[2] The length (currently 7 hours and 6 minutes) and the large share of games (118 games) of the fifth set (at the end of the time day) is the longest set in history by both time and games; and the fifth set itself was longer as opposed to the first longest match at the end of the second day. With the scores connected at 59-59 and indistinct fading, the meet was suspended at 21:12 local time on the 23rd.
* Longest women’s match: In 1984, Vicki Nelson took 6 hours, 31 moments to defeat Jean Hepner 6-4, 7-6(11). The match featured a 29-minute, 643-shot rally, the longest in professional tennis history.

* Longest balance completed in a single day: The Nelson-Hepner match above remains the longest to be finished within a single day. The 2010 Mahut-Isner match was twice suspended by darkness and lasted 2 days (so far).
* Longest play in a single day: The above all 118 games of the fifth set of the 2010 Mahut-Isner match got played on its second day - 23rd of June and lasted 7hrs 06mins - a greater amount of as opposed to the entire Nelson-Hepner or any funny things match in tennis history.
* Longest doubles match: In a 2002 Davis Cup semifinal tie, Lucas Arnold/David Nalbandian defeated Yevgeny Kafelnikov/Marat Safin in 6 hours, 20 minutes 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 19-17.

Games

* Most games in match ever: The Wimbledon 2010 first-round match between Nicolas Mahut and John Isner (163+ games, in progress).
* Most games in a single day: The first 118 games of the fifth set of Mahut-Isner match, played on 23rd of June 2010.

* Most games in a singles match before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1969 at Wimbledon, Pancho Gonzales took 112 games to defeat Charlie Pasarell in the first round 22-24, 1-6, 16-14, 6-3, 11-9.

* Most games in a doubles equate before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In the American Zone Final of the 1973 Davis Cup, the United States team of Stan Smith and Erik Van Dillen took 122 games to defeat the Chile commission of Patricio Cornejo and Jaime Fillol 7-9, 37-39, 8-6, 6-1, 6-3.

* Most games in a doubles balance after the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 2007 at Wimbledon, the team of Marcelo Melo and André Sá took 102 games to defeat the team of Paul Hanley and Kevin Ullyett 5-7, 7-6(4), 4-6, 7-6(7), 28-26.[citation needed]

Australian Open
Men

* Longest singles match by tad played: In 2009, Rafael Nadal took 5 hours, 14 minutes to defeat Fernando Verdasco in the semifinals 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(2), 6-7(1), 6-4.

* Longest singles final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1927, Gerald Patterson took 71 games to defeat John Hawkes 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 18-16, 6-3.

* Longest singles match by number of games once the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 2003, Andy Roddick took 83 games to defeat Younes El Aynaoui in the quarterfinals 4-6, 7-6, 4-6, 6-4, 21-19. The fifth set is also the record for the longest set always played at the Australian Open.

Women

* Longest singles final by rate of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1956, Mary Carter Reitano took 33 games to defeat Thelma Coyne Long 3-6, 6-2, 9-7.

* Longest singles match by time played: In a 2010 first-round match, Barbora Záhlavová-Strýcová defeated Regina Kulikova 7-6(5), 6-7(10), 6-3 in a balance that lasted 4 hours, 19 minutes. This is also a record for all women’s Grand Slam happenings in the open era, and is claimed to be the second-longest women’s balance of all time.

Wimbledon

Men

The 2008 Wimbledon ultimate between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal lasted 4 hours 48 minutes and is, to date, the longest singles concluding by tiny bit played.

* Longest singles closing by period played: In 2008, Rafael Nadal took 4 hours, 48 minutes to defeat Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7.
* Longest singles final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1954, Jaroslav Drobný took 58 games to defeat Ken Rosewall 13-11, 4-6, 6-2, 9-7.
* Longest singles final by lot of games since the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 2009, Roger Federer took 77 games to defeat Andy Roddick 5-7, 7-6(6), 7-6(5), 3-6, 16-14.
* Longest singles equate by time played and number of games: The Wimbledon 2010 first round match between Nicolas Mahut and John Isner by now at 4-6, 6-3, 7-6, 6-7, 59-59 and 10 hours of play time (In Progress).

* Longest doubles match by sum of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1966, Nikki Pilic and Gene Scott took 98 games to defeat Cliff Richey and Torben Ulrich in the beforehand sweet 19-21, 12-10, 6-4, 4-6, 9-7.

* Longest doubles concluding by plethora of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1968, John Newcombe and Tony Roche took 70 games to defeat Ken Rosewall and Fred Stolle 3-6, 8-6, 5-7, 14-12, 6-3.

Women

* Longest singles final by long time played: In 2005, Venus Williams took 2 hours, 45 minutes to beat Lindsay Davenport 4-6, 7-6(4), 9-7.[10]
* Longest singles final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1970, Margaret Court took 46 games to defeat Billie Jean King 14-12, 11-9.

* Longest singles match by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1948, A. Weiwers took 54 games to defeat Rita Anderson in the second sweet 8-10, 14-12, 6-4.

* Longest doubles match by merde of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1933, Pat Brazier and Christabel Wheatcroft took 48 games to defeat Mildred Nonwiler and Betty Soames in the first round 11-9, 5-7, 9-7.

* Longest doubles finals by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker:
1. In 1933, Simone Mathieu and Elizabeth Ryan took 38 games to defeat Freda James and Billie Yorke 6-2, 9-11, 6-4.
2. In 1967, Billie Jean King and Rosemary Casals took 38 games to defeat Maria Bueno and Nancy Richey Gunter 9-11, 6-4, 6-2.

Mixed doubles

* Longest match by total amount of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1967, Ken Fletcher and Margaret Court took 56 games to defeat Alex Metreveli and Anna Dmitrieva in the quarterfinals 6-8, 7-5, 16-14.

* Longest final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1949, Eric Sturgess and Sheila Piercey Summers took 48 games to defeat John Bromwich and Louise Brough Clapp 9-7, 9-11, 7-5.

French Open
Men

* Longest match by time played: In 2004, Fabrice Santoro took 6 hours, 33 minutes to defeat Arnaud Clément 6-4, 6-3, 6-7(5), 3-6, 16-14.
* Longest match by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In a 1951 semifinal, Eric Sturgess took 76 games to defeat Ken McGregor 10-8, 7-9, 8-6, 5-7, 9-7.
* Longest match by number of games from the time the introduction of the tiebreaker:
1. In 1994, Ronald Agénor took 71 games to defeat David Prinosil in the second round 6-7(4), 6-7(2), 6-3, 6-4, 14-12.
2. In 2004, Santoro took 71 games to defeat Clément.
3. In 2010, Lukáš Lacko took 71 games to defeat Michael Yani in the first round with the screen of: 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4), 6-7(5), 12-10.
* Longest singles final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1927, René Lacoste took 61 games to defeat Bill Tilden 6-4, 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 11-9.
* Longest doubles finals by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker
1. In 1934, Jean Borotra and Jacques Brugnon took 63 games to defeat Jack Crawford and Vivian McGrath 11-9, 6-3, 2-6, 4-6, 9-7.
2. In 1971, Arthur Ashe and Marty Riessen took 63 games to defeat Tom Gorman and Stan Smith 6-8, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 11-9.

Women

* Longest match by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1972, Kerry Melville Reid took 56 games to defeat Pam Teeguarden in a third round match 9-7, 4-6, 16-14.
* Longest singles final by number of games before AND in the wake of the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 2001, Jennifer Capriati took 39 games to defeat Kim Clijsters 1-6, 6-4, 12-10.
* Longest doubles final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1955, Beverly Baker Fleitz and Darlene Hard took 50 games to defeat Shirley Brasher Bloomer and Patricia Ward Hales 7-5, 6-8, 13-11.

Mixed doubles

* Longest concluding by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1958, Nicola Pietrangeli and Shirley Brasher Bloomer took 38 games to defeat Robert Howe and Lorraine Coghlan Robinson 9-7, 6-8, 6-2.

US Open
Men

* Longest equate by phase played: In 1992, Stefan Edberg took 5 hours, 26 minutes to defeat Michael Chang 6-7(3), 7-5, 7-6(3), 5-7, 6-4 [12].
* Longest match by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker:
1. In 1966, Marcelo Lara and Joaquin Loyo-Mayo took 105 games to defeat Manuel Santana and L. Garcia in the third round 10-12, 24-22, 11-9, 3-6, 6-2.
2. In 1967, Cliff Drysdale and Ray Moore took 105 games to defeat Roy Emerson and Ron Barnes in the quarterfinals 29-31, 8-6, 3-6, 8-6, 6-2.
* Longest singles match by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1969, F.D. Robbins took 100 games to defeat Donald Dell in the first ass 22-20, 9-7, 6-8, 8-10, 6-4.
* Longest singles final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1949, Pancho Gonzales took 67 games to defeat Ted Schroeder 16-18, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4.
* Longest doubles closing by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1946, Gardnar Mulloy and William Talbert took 74 games to defeat F. Guernsey and Don McNeill 3-6, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 20-18.

Women

* Longest best-of-five-sets match by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1898 in the challenge round, Juliette Atkinson took 51 games to defeat Marion Jones 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.
* Longest doubles final by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1920, Eleanor Goss and Marion Zinderstein took 43 games to defeat Helen Baker and Eleanor “Teach” Tennant 13-11, 4-6, 6-3.

Mixed doubles

* Longest concluding by number of games before the introduction of the tiebreaker: In 1959, Neale Fraser and Margaret Osborne duPont took 48 games to defeat Bob Mark and Janet Hopps Adkisson 7-5, 13-15, 6-2.

Davis Cup

* Longest rubber by duration: It took 6 hours and 22 mins for John McEnroe (USA) to defeat Mats Wilander (SWE) in 1982.
* Longest rubber by high amount of games: In the doubles rubber of the 1973 American Zone Final between Chile and the USA, Americans Stan Smith and Erik Van Dillen beat Chileans Patricio Cornejo and Jaime Fillol 7-9, 37-39, 8-6, 6-1, 6-3 (122 games).
* Longest set by number of games: The second set of such a rubber was the longest by games in Davis Cup history, requiring 76 games. The Chileans won this set 39-37.

Just in time, England appeared at the World Cup.Jermain Defoe knocked in a goal for the revived Three Lions as they beat Slovenia 1-0 on Wednesday in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, advancing to the tournament’s second round.

It was a narrow but welcome escape for England, a pretournament prefered that was fighting off talk of internal strife after disappointing ties against the United States and Algeria.

The English needed a victory to move on, and properties got it, dictating the rate for much of the game. Now they’ll play Germany in the instant round.

“This team, this spirit, played up and tried together,” said England coach Fabio Capello. “I am really happy because I found the team I know. We now go forward. We can play against all the teams while the mind is now free.”

The victory gave England second place in Group C behind the United States, which beat Algeria 1-0. Slovenia entered the day the surprise leader in the group but finished with four points to five for the U.S. and England. The U.S. earned chiefly place based on tiebreakers.

Playing additional aggressively as opposed to they did in draws with the Americans and Algerians, the English went in the future when Defoe put in James Milner’s cross from 5 yards out amidst a right-footed shot.

“I’m lost for sayings to be honest,” Defoe said. “What a moment. Everyone was focused before the game. We are through, that’s the most important thing.”

England continued to dominate

after the goal, and Slovenia goalkeeper Samir Handanovic had to build two saves within a few moments of each other to stop shots from Defoe and Steven Gerrard.

Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Glen Johnson additionally had shots on goal.

At the end of the game, relieved England players - who had met amidst Caello to discuss how went wrong against Algeria - embraced in a group hug.

Germany 1, Ghana 0: Germany won. Ghana lost, then won.

Mesut Oezil scored on a left-footed blast from outside the community to give Germany a 1-0 victory within Ghana in Johannesburg and first place in Group D at the World Cup.

Still, Ghana had reason to party. Moments after the game was over, Ghana learned the present Australia had defeated Serbia 2-1, a result that meant Ghana took second place in the committe and also will be able to move on to the ass of 16.

“It was a very difficult match, but we fought, and it was enough to get us through,” said Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew. “We had opportunities, but the major thing is that we went through.”

Once the scoreboard flashed the Aussie final, Ghana players hugged every other, waved the country’s flag and ran to the corner at which their supporters got cheering and dancing.

The Germans, too, were saluting their fans and enjoying the moment.

“It was a tense game. We could undergo made larger number of out of our opportunities,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said. “We got not outstandingly precise up front. But I can’t blame my young players, there was a lot of pressure, we had to win.”

The heavily favored Germans had an mad loss to Serbia the current left them needing a victory to be assured of advancing. Ghana is the first of the six African teams in the tournament to force it to the knockout phase. It could also be the last. Only Ivory Coast continue to has a risk to gain the concluding 16.

Australia 2, Serbia 1: Tim Cahill and Brett Holman scored second-half goals in Nelspruit, South Africa, to make it easier for Australia beat Serbia in Group D of the World Cup. But both teams did not advance. Marko Pantelic scored for Serbia, which finished survive The Aussies got thre points, the same as Ghana, which got second place on goal differential (even to minus-3).

Scientific studies have examined the relationship between coffee consumption and an array of medical conditions. Findings have been contradictory as to whether coffee has any specific health benefits, and results are similarly conflicting regarding the potentially harmful effects of coffee consumption. Variations in findings, however, can be at least partially resolved by considering the method of preparation. Coffee prepared using paper filters removes oily components called diterpenes that are present in unfiltered coffee. Two types of diterpenes are present in coffee: kahweol and cafestol, both of which have been associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease via elevation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in blood.Metal filters, on the other hand, do not remove the oily components of coffee.

In addition to differences in methods of preparation, conflicting data regarding serving size could partially explain differences between beneficial/harmful effects of coffee consumption.
Top half of a naked man, with illustrations of internal organs superimposed. Lines from explanatory text point to portions of the body. Effects listed: blurred vision, dizziness, dryness of mouth, cold sweats, pallid skin, breath odor, troubled breathing, diarrhea, drowsiness, changes in hunger, thirst, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, hyperglycemia, muscle tremors, nausea, and increased urination.

Overview of the more common effects of caffeine,[84] a main active component of coffee

Coffee consumption has been shown to have minimal or no impact, positive or negative, on cancer development; however, researchers involved in an ongoing 22-year study by the Harvard School of Public Health state that “the overall balance of risks and benefits [of coffee consumption] are on the side of benefits.”[85] Other studies suggest coffee consumption reduces the risk of being affected by Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus type 2, cirrhosis of the liver,and gout. A longitudinal study in 2009 showed that those who consumed a moderate amount of coffee or tea (3–5 cups per day) at midlife were less likely to develop dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in late-life compared with those who drank little coffee or avoided it altogether.It increases the risk of acid reflux and associated diseases.Most of coffee’s beneficial effects against type 2 diabetes are not due to its caffeine content, as the positive effects of consumption are greater in those who drink decaffeinated coffee.[89] The presence of antioxidants in coffee has been shown to prevent free radicals from causing cell damage.

In a healthy liver, caffeine is mostly broken down by the hepatic microsomal enzymatic system. The resulting metabolites are mostly paraxanthines-theobromine and theophylline-and a small amount of unchanged caffeine is excreted by urine. Therefore, the metabolism of caffeine depends on the state of this enzymatic system of the liver. Elderly individuals with a depleted enzymatic system do not tolerate coffee with caffeine. They are recommended to take decaffeinated coffee, and this only if their stomach is healthy, because both decaffeinated coffee and coffee with caffeine cause heartburn. Moderate amounts of coffee (50–100 mg of caffeine or 5–10 g of coffee powder a day) are well tolerated by most elderly people. Excessive amounts of coffee, however, can, in many individuals, cause very unpleasant, exceptionally even life-threatening adverse effects.

Coffee consumption can lead to iron deficiency anemia in mothers and infants.Coffee also interferes with the absorption of supplemental iron.Interference with iron absorption is due to the polyphenols present in coffee. Although the inhibition of iron absorption can cause an iron deficiency, iron is considered a carcinogen in relation to the liver. Polyphenols contained in coffee are therefore associated with decreasing the risk of liver cancer development.

American scientist Yaser Dorri has suggested that the smell of coffee can restore appetite and refresh olfactory receptors. He suggests that people can regain their appetite after cooking by smelling coffee beans, and that this method can also be used for research animals.

Over 1,000 chemicals have been reported in roasted coffee; more than half of those tested (19/28) are rodent carcinogens.Coffee’s negative health effects are often blamed on its caffeine content. Research suggests that drinking caffeinated coffee can cause a temporary increase in the stiffening of arterial walls.[97] Caffeinated coffee is not recommended for everybody. It may aggravate preexisting conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease, migraines, arrhythmias, and cause sleep disturbances.

Coffee is no longer thought to be a risk factor for coronary heart disease.One study suggests that it may have a mixed effect on short-term memory, by improving it when the information to be recalled is related to the current train of thought but making it more difficult to recall unrelated information. Caffeine has been associated with its ability to act as an antidepressant. A review by de Paulis and Martin indicated a link between a decrease in suicide rates and coffee consumption, and suggested that the action of caffeine in blocking the inhibitory effects of adenosine on dopamine nerves in the brain reduced feelings of depression.A 1992 study concluded that about 10% of people with a moderate daily intake (235 mg per day) experienced increased depression and anxiety when caffeine was withdrawn,but a 2002 review of the literature criticised its methodology and concluded that “[t]he effects of caffeine withdrawal are still controversial.”About 15% of the U.S. general population report having stopped drinking coffee altogether, citing concern about health and unpleasant side effects of caffeine.

Linda McMahon, then-CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, announced her candidacy for U.S. Senator from Connecticut on September 16, 2009. On May 21, 2010, she became the presumptive nominee, winning a majority of support from the Connecticut Republican Party. She is running as a Republican, campaigning on promises of lower taxes, fiscal conservatism, and job creation.

McMahon has said she is willing to spend up to $50 million of her own money on the campaign. She has already spent $16 million on the campaign, funding her mail, radio, television, and Internet advertisements across Connecticut. She gained name recognition and poll numbers over her Republican opponents, namely Rob Simmons, who was the frontrunner before she entered the race. McMahon and Simmons had a bitter political rivalry from November 2009 to May 2010, marked by frequent negative campaigning.

McMahon’s major Republican rival, Rob Simmons, forced an August primary against her for the Republican nomination. He has since suspended his campaign. Peter Schiff collected petitions to gain placement on the primary ballot. The winner of the Republican primary will face Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General of Connecticut, as the Democratic opponent.

Background

In August 2009, a spokesperson for the WWE stated that McMahon had considered running as a Republican candidate in the Connecticut Senate race for the seat then held by Democrat Christopher Dodd. McMahon announced her candidacy on the morning of September 16, 2009. Her husband was to assume her duties as CEO at WWE effective immediately. Wrestling fans and political observers initially were incredulous,[2] some thinking the announcement was an on-screen publicity stunt”. As McMahon began airing television and radio advertisements touting her business credentials, it became clear that the campaign was a serious effort.
Before McMahon entered the Senate race, Rob Simmons was the Republican frontrunner

In September, when McMahon started her campaign, the field of Republican primary candidates were encouraged by news of slumping approval ratings for Christopher Dodd. Many had made attacks directly on Dodd, seizing popular sentiment against his “insider status” and “fiscal irresponsibility”. Connecticut voters stated that the economy and healthcare were their most pressing issues. Polls showed Rob Simmons as the favorite in the Republican field with a 30-40 point lead over other candidates.

Republican primary
2009

Linda McMahon ran a media campaign, launching statewide ads on radio, newspapers, mailing brochures, and Web ads targeting Connecticut voters

McMahon opened her campaign with a media campaign, spending large sums of money. She ran advertisements on network television across Connecticut, including Fairfield County, which is part of the New York City media market. She launched statewide radio ads, full-page ads in local newspapers, mailing brochures, and posted Web ads targeting Connecticut voters.McMahon also hired high-profile campaign staff. Her campaign spokesman, Ed Patru, had worked on John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign.Her campaign manager, former State Senator David Cappiello, receives a salary of roughly $280,000.

McMahon ran as an “outsider candidate”, criticizing the Senate for its connection to Wall Street and federal banking bailouts. Her campaign ads emphasized her distance from politics, stressing she was “not a career politician”. She criticized the current Senate for passing large bills in a perfunctory manner, particularly the $800 billion stimulus package.Her first televised political ad, “Perseverance”, touted her experience as a business leader, stating, “Thirty years ago, my husband and I started our business. It wasn’t always easy but we grew it into a publicly traded company that’s creating jobs here in Connecticut today.”[9] The advertisement, which made only quick mention of her husband, and did not include the name of her company,was parodied on YouTube with footage of McMahon in on-screen wrestling activities.

On October 23, 2009, McMahon aired a new campaign ad, entitled “Pat on the Back”, which criticized Christopher Dodd for colluding with President Obama during passage of the 2008 stimulus package.The advertisement’s air date coincided with a day of visit from Obama to the Dodd campaign team.The Journal-Inquirer, however, pointed out that while McMahon’s TV ads complained about corporate bailouts, the WWE had received tax credits from the State of Connecticut The Rob Simmons campaign claimed it was hypocritical, stating, “This Halloween, Mrs. McMahon may be masquerading as an opponent of government bailouts and stimulus packages for everyone else, but she is happy to take taxpayer dollars for her own personal benefit.”In response to her Republican rival Simmons and members of the Connecticut Democratic Party who called her a “hypocrite” for accepting the tax credits, she replied during a November 17, 2009 interview with The Day, “Tax credits are not bailouts, and anyone who doesn’t understand the difference doesn’t belong in Washington.”

YouTube incident

In October 2009, Democratic political operatives targeted YouTube videos of WWE to use in political ads. On October 16, Colleen Flanagan, a spokeswoman for Chris Dodd, posted controversial videos that showed the unsavory side of WWE on Talking Points Memo, a political news website. She said the programming showed “simulated rape, public sex and necrophilia” and McMahon should not be Senator because she “condones this type of behavior”. Hours later, YouTube removed the videos after contact from WWE. WWE had informed YouTube of copyrights associated with the footage, and told YouTube that they were violating laws by posting it.

The Connecticut Democratic Party filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission asking for an investigation into what happened with the controversial videos.[19] They argued that the WWE gave McMahon an unfair corporate contribution by removing the videos. The complaint claimed that of the “almost 500,000″ videos of WWE on YouTube, the three were removed selectively to help McMahon’s campaign.

outsider candidate in Republican Party

Sam Caligiuri dropped out of the U.S. Senate race in November 2009, leaving an intense rivalry between Simmons and McMahon

In October 2009, McMahon faced competition from Sam Caligiuri and Rob Simmons, two established politicians, who challenged her commitment to the Republican Party. Simmons and Caligiuri pointed out that she did not vote in several elections.[nb 1] and donated generously to Democrats during her years as a CEO.

Her political donations were criticized. Her campaign contributions included donations to Republicans and DLC-affiliated Democrats,including Sen. Joe Lieberman in 2006 and Rahm Emanuel from the period of 2002 to 2008. Since 1980, McMahon contributed twice as much to Republicans than to Democrats- ($70,700 to Republicans, $35,100 to Democrats, and $1,000 to independents). McMahon donated $10,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee on September 26, 2006, a contribution that helped Joe Courtney weeks before his win against Rob Simmons for the Second Congressional District.McMahon also donated to the Republican Majority for Choice in 2006,a political action committee favoring abortion and the “Big Tent” appeal of the GOP. This record has led conservative activists to label McMahon a RINO.

Linda made several political donations to Rahm Emanuel, Barack Obama’s chief-of-staff, between 2002 to 2008

McMahon’s donations to Rahm Emanuel’s Political Action Committee were especially unpopular among Republican voters. (Emanuel is disliked because he organized the Democratic shift in the House in 2006.and masterminded Barack Obama’s presidential win. Voters asked her about her donations to Emanuel, and she replied that they were not politically-motivated. She said she was a personal friend of Rahm’s brother, Ari Emanuel, who had represented WWE’s Hollywood presence since 1992. According to McMahon, in 2002, “He (Ari) called me one day and he said, my brother is running for Congress in Illinois. It happened to be Rahm. I didn’t know Rahm.” McMahon made more donations over the course of the next several years, including one check she wrote when Rahm Emanuel came to WWE headquarters to meet her. McMahon’s spokesperson clarified that McMahon didn’t know who Rahm Emanuel was in ‘02, but was aware of his status in ‘06.

An article in The New London Day on October 11 predicted that McMahon’s strong finances and on-screen advertising may not be enough to sway Republican voters:
” …The McMahon campaign needs to take down the advertising “air power” and hit the dusty trail of the state’s 169 towns if it expects to have a chance with Republican voters. ”

The New London Day also raised the possibility that McMahon would take a third party run for the Senate. It noted that WWE Board member Lowell Weicker had taken a similar path to the Connecticut governorship in 1990. Repeatedly, McMahon denied a possible Independent campaign during interviews.
Wrestling is put into the spotlight

In November 2009, former wrestler Billy Graham became an outspoken critic of McMahon’s campaign.
Billy Graham, a former wrestler, was an outspoken critic of McMahon’s campaign

He said the McMahons were hypocrites for “toning down” the violence and sexuality in pro wrestling after many years of showing adult themes.He launched Internet videos on WrestleView saying the WWE’s switch to PG was politically motivated: “…they (Linda and Vince) are doing it strictly to get Linda McMahon elected to Senator of Connecticut”, he stated in one video. Billy Graham contracted Hepatitis C from another wrestler’s blood during his time in WWE and required a life-saving liver transplant as a result.When speaking about Linda, he said:
” “She may look like a Sunday school teacher. Linda McMahon’s hands are as bloody as her husband’s because she is aware of every move in the ring. She has had no problem with grown men - myself included - cutting their head with a razor blade. All of a sudden, why aren’t these guys bleeding anymore? Because Linda is running for the Senate.” ”

Graham told reporters that he was furious about having no pension and no health care after his wrestling career with WWE.

McMahon’s campaign responded directly to the accusations by Billy Graham, saying he was a “self-confessed liar”. On November 12, The campaign sent a letter directly to WrestleView, where Billy Graham had posted Internet videos, attacking his credibility.The campaign circulated an apology letter Graham wrote to the company in 1996, saying “he has a habit of making false statements when he’s not on WWE’s payroll”. In the letter, Graham had admitted to making unjustified verbal attacks in the past following his termination in 1989.

Simmons courted Connecticut Tea Partiers during his campaign. His standing with them was hurt by his past support for cap and trade and card check.

McMahon-Simmons rivalry

McMahon and Simmons intensified the negative campaigning in November 2009, leading to a rivalry some sources described as “pugilistic” and “acrimonious”. In particular, McMahon made in-roads into the conservative voter bloc after portraying Simmons as a fraud to the Tea Party movement. Simmons had courted Tea Party conservatives during his campaign,[43] carrying a tea bag in his pocket during political events beginning in October.Simmons portrayed himself as the Tea Party candidate, and defended the Tea Party movement during interviews. In December, a Washington Times article suggested that Simmons’ appeals to conservatives were insincere, pointing to his past support for “cap and trade” and “card check”, two hot button issues for the Tea Party movement.Linda McMahon’s campaign seized this apparent flip-flop, sending mailings to Connecticut voters highlighting this issue. This hurt Simmons’ standing among conservatives and labor unions.

Rob Simmons circulated YouTube videos of Eugene, a mentally-challenged wrestler, in his negative campaigning against McMahon

Afterwards, the Simmons’ campaign focused many of its advertisements on McMahon and WWE in a negative light. In January 2010, after learning of McMahon’s donations to local Republican candidates, Simmons said she was trying to “buy the election”.[48] Simmons circulated YouTube videos of Eugene, a mentally-challenged wrestler, being humiliated in the ring. He claimed that McMahon and WWE was insensitive to the mentally-challenged. McMahon’s spokesman said the videos were “taken out of context and don’t tell the whole soap opera story line.”

Simmons’ campaign launched many negative ads portraying Linda McMahon and the WWE in a negative light,particularly over steroid abuse,premature wrestler deaths,and controversial wrestling storylines.

2010
Dodd declines; Blumenthal enters

After Chris Dodd announced his retirement, news media circuits took interest in the Connecticut Senate race.[56] The Connecticut Democratic Party held a press conference on January 7, the same day Dodd announced his retirement, to introduce Richard Blumenthal, the Attorney General of Connecticut, as a new Democratic candidate.During the conference, Democratic Party chairwoman Nancy DiNardo introduced Blumenthal, calling him “our future Senator”. Blumenthal spoke to the press, promising to run using “grass-roots tactics”; when he was questioned about McMahon’s strong campaign finances, he deflected the questions.

Rasmussen polling showed McMahon trailed Blumenthal 60-to-34% following his announcement.There was speculation on whether McMahon would drop out of the race, as Blumenthal had an approval rating of over 80% and near-unanimous support among Democrats.During a Today Show appearance, During a Today Show interview, McMahon admitted that the race against Blumenthal would be more challenging, but said she would continue her campaign.

Following Scott Brown’s election in Massachusetts, Republicans saw the win as a turning point in national politics.[62] Many considered the win to be a good sign for Republicans in other Northeast states. On January 21, both Rob Simmons and Linda McMahon praised Brown, seeking to gain support among Republicans nationally as the next “Scott Brown Republican”.Simmons hailed Brown at length for winning the 41st Republican seat, asking for $41 donations in recognition of this accomplishment.Linda McMahon answered this with a negative press release.In it, she argued that Simmons had a fiscally liberal record as U.S. Representative, pointing out his D-rating from the National Taxpayers Union.
McMahon takes the lead

On March 17, 2010, McMahon was declared the frontrunner in the Republican primary after winning a Quinnipiac University poll.In the poll, she received 44% of likely Republican votes, ahead of Rob Simmons. Her rise in the polls was attributed in large part to her heavy media presence.A polling director stated, “You can’t miss her television ads. They’re everywhere. She’s the only candidate for Senate that’s on TV right now.”Political research showed that McMahon had gained strong popularity with female voters,social conservativesand residents in Fairfield County.

1989 tip-off memo controversy

Articles published April 9, 2010, in The New London Day and Politico resurfaced Linda McMahon’s memo to Pat Patterson in 1989, raising questions of her connection to Dr. George Zahorian’s steroid trial. Her memo asked Patterson to have Zahorian fired and “clued in” to possible legal action from the Federal government. At the time of the memo, December 1, 1989,[74] the Federal investigation was still highly-classified. In fact, the FBI continued to make undercover purchases from Zahorian until May 27, 1990.

A WWE spokesman, Robert Zimmerman, responded to the articles, telling reporters that McMahon had done no wrongdoing. Zimmerman explained that the doctor was “clued in” so he would understand the reason why he was dismissed. He said McMahon learned of the investigation from Jack Krill, a company lawyer for Titan Sports, Inc. Krill, in turn, learned of the investigation directly from James West, the Federal prosecutor who was in charge of the case. According to the story, Jack Krill overheard West carelessly talking about the case at a social fundraising event.

James West told the press on April 11 that the story relayed by the WWE and Jack Krill were lies. He said he never divulged any information related to his investigation and denied attending the fundraising event. West said McMahon could not have learned about the investigation at the time of the memo, but may have learned about it prior to Zahorian’s arrest through her wrestlers.West said the only way McMahoon could have learned about the investigation was through wrestlers who received subpoenas to arrive at Federal court to answer questions related to their Fed-Ex activity with Zahorian.

The news damaged McMahon’s public image and campaign. The Norwich Bulletin said the memo and its implications raised a question of character, saying McMahon “owes” the public “a better explanation.” Her Republican rival, Rob Simmons, said the memo was a evidence she “engaged in a cover-up to undermine a criminal investigation.”
University of Connecticut registration drive

An article published in the Stamford Advocate raised attention to McMahon’s voter registration drive at the University of Connecticut, where college students would be paid a $5 bonus for each voter they registered as a Republican.The potential moral hazards that could arise in such a program raised negative connotations to ACORN’s 2008 controversy regarding invalid voter applications. Although the practice was not illegal, the bonus structure was removed from the drive.

McMahon retains lead

McMahon continued to outspend her opponents and remained the Republican frontrunner heading into the convention. The Simmons campaign could not fund TV ads and failed to gain significant traction in the final few weeks. On April 24, Simmons held a meeting with the editors of The New London Day saying McMahon’s finances were corrupting the political process: “If McMahon, with no political experience, who often did not bother to vote, whose company spread money to Democrats as well as Republicans, can defeat a former congressman, defense intelligence expert, party loyalist, and bronze star military veteran, then it’s all about the checkbook and nothing else.”

In the last few weeks before the convention, the viability of her chief rival, Rob Simmons, was in doubt by the media[86] and GOP circles.Nonetheless, three weeks from the convention, the Simmons campaign projected optimism,stating, “we have more endorsements than she does by a wide margin.”

New York Times Vietnam story

Richard Blumenthal, left, is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. During her campaign, McMahon capitalized on faulty statements he made about his Vietnam service

McMahon focused her attention towards Richard Blumenthal, the presumptive Democratic challenger in the few weeks before the convention. On May 12, she launched political TV ads on Blumenthal’s apparent flip-flop on PAC contributions.On May 17, a New York Times story revealed that Blumenthal had exaggerated and made false claims about his military service during Vietnam. Hours later, a McMahon supporter, Kevin Rennie, wrote a piece on his blog, saying the story was uncovered by the McMahon campaign. The McMahon campaign apparently had discovered Blumenthal’s Vietnam record through two months of “deep, persistent research”. The McMahon campaign posted the blog post by Rennie on its webpage on May 17, giving it responsibility for the story, but removed it on May 18. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, which supported Blumenthal politically and financially, was livid that the McMahon campaign was responsible.

On May 19, McMahon told reporters she was responsible for research leading to the New York Times story.McMahon’s campaign also posted a fuller version of a speech Blumenthal made on YouTube, one that showed Blumenthal clearly explaining his “Vietnam era” service early in his speech.The full video softens the blow dealt by his later “in Vietnam” gaffe shown later in the clip.Blumenthal’s campaign widely circulated the fuller video on the Internet to improve his image.

McMahon’s campaign spokesman, Ed Patru, later told reporters that the campaign strategically “put its fingerprints” on the New York Times Vietnam Story to impress Republican delegates before the convention. Republican nominating convention

McMahon, Schiff, and Rob Simmons competed for the Republican nomination at the party’s convention on May 21, 2010. The convention was restricted to 1,635 delegates from Connecticut, with the candidate who won the majority of delegate votes having the top slot with “endorsed by the state party” next to his or her name in the August primary.The Republican Primary will be in August 2010, open to Republican voters in Connecticut.[98] Beginning in January, Mahon’s campaign sent mail to Connecticut residents urging them to register for the primary, suggesting that she would run in the Republican primary even if she had not won the Republican nomination.

Her chief rival, Rob Simmons, said he would not “force a primary” if he did not win at the convention.His “all-or-nothing” strategy looked bleak after reports of a drop in fundraising.Political pundits began rumors that he was under pressure to drop out and run for his former Congressional seat, a rumor Simmons was asked about during an interview on February 1.[103] During the interview, he did not “rule out” the possibility,[103] and Simmons was visibly frustrated by the negative media publicity he received as a result.[104] Schiff has indicated that he will run in the Primary regardless of the results of the Republican Convention.

At the convention, McMahon won with 737 delegates pledging their support, while Simmons came in second with 632. Seven hundred and eight delegates were required to attain party endorsement.

State Republican Convention results (first round)[106]
Party Candidate Votes Percentage
Republican Linda McMahon* 737 51.76%
Republican Rob Simmons* 632 44.62%
Republican Peter Schiff 44 3.11%
Republican Vincent Forras 7 0.49%
Republican Ethan Book 0 0.00%
Totals 1,414 100.00%

* Denotes candidate met the minimum threshold of 15 percent to appear on the primary ballot
Simmons’ reaction

Simmons said he was deeply disappointed that he lost on the first round of voting. Despite his statements to the contrary throughout the campaign, Simmons stated after the convention that he would force a primary with McMahon.[106] Days later, on May 25, Simmons reversed himself, and announced that he was suspending his campaign, saying he could not compete financially with McMahon’s deep pockets.

On May 26, Simmons told The National Review that he did not think McMahon “can win at all”. He also said that if she were to ask for his help, he would say he was “preoccupied”.Simmons later told Politico that his statements were taken out of context and that he was “sorry”. Simmons said he did McMahon a favor by stopping his campaign, but he refused to endorse her. He said he would not call off the September primary because then his campaign staff would be out of work.

It has been reported that Simmons decided to suspend his campaign because if he had continued, he would have lost institutional support from the Connecticut Republican Party.

Rising criticism

In the week after her victory at the Republican Convention, McMahon fared poorly in political polls, trailing Blumenthal 56 to 31 percent.[112][113] In addition, McMahon suffered from a favorable/unfavorable rating of 32/39 percent, meaning more people saw her negatively than positively.This was a result, in large part, from “months of relentless criticism of professional wrestling from Simmons and some in the media”. When Rob Simmons lost the Convention, he was vocal in his frustration with McMahon, leading many of his hardcore backers to feel disgruntled at his loss, and hostile towards McMahon.It was reported that Blumenthal had gained his ground since the New York Times Vietnam story,leading the Cook Political Report to change their prediction on the race to Leans Democrat on June 1.McMahon’s poor performance against Blumenthal became common rhetoric among disgruntled Republicans who were inclined towards Rob Simmons. Some pundits claimed that Rob Simmons could have used his experience as a Vietnam veteran to successfully exploit Blumenthal’s statements on Vietnam politically.

On June 3, McMahon told BusinessWeek that she was skeptical about the long-term effects of steroids:
” “There’s some evidence sometimes of muscle disease, or cardiac disease, but it’s really hard to know because you didn’t know the condition of the performer’s heart, or whatever, prior to. So I still don’t think we know the long-term effects of steroids. They are continuing to study it more and more, but I don’t believe there are a lot of studies out there today that are conclusive.” ”

Her statement raised concerns over her commitment to patrolling steroid abuse in the wrestling industry. Her husband, Vince McMahon, had made similar statements during a Congressional hearing in 2009, saying the FDA had never established the medical risks of steroid use.Steroid use had been an ongoing source of controversy for her during the campaign, and this statement magnified the issue.

Activity in Republican primary

Peter Schiff, who failed to gain 15% of Republican support at the Republican Convention, collected petitions to challenge her in an August Primary

Negative sentiment towards McMahon helped bring about an active primary in the Republican Party. Simmons, who lost to McMahon at the convention, scaled back his campaign but continued to leave his name on the ballot so voters “could have another choice”. Some disgruntled Republican voters began to support Peter Schiff, who shared their resentment towards McMahon and the Republican Convention.Schiff had failed to reach 15% of Republican support at the Republican Convention, and won placement on the Republican primary by collecting petitions, making him the first statewide candidate in Connecticut history to successfully petition his way onto a ballot.

On June 8, McMahon released her own internal polling to discredit negative Rasmussen and Quinnipiac polls. She assured Republicans she was only 13 points behind Blumenthal.

McMahon family presence on campaign

Vince McMahon did not appear on the campaign trail with Linda for much of her campaign.

McMahon’s husband, Vince McMahon, had long been absent on the campaign trail, raising suspicions that Linda was purposely distancing him from her political campaign.In February 2010, Linda said Vince was too busy “running the company” as both Chairman and CEO to campaign with her, but said he may be involved “later down the road”.Several speculators predicted that if he campaigned with her, his direct association with controversial wrestling skits would be a “major liability” for the campaign.

McMahon’s son-in-law, WWE wrestler Triple H, gave an interview to the Wall Street Journal on March 12, 2010 where he said he has purposely kept an “arms length away from Linda” during her campaign to avoid giving her bad publicity. On March 14, 2010, a news story in The Stamford Advocate revealed that her husband, Vince McMahon, owns a 47-foot sports yacht called “the Sexy Bitch”,hurting her public image.Linda’s absence from the wrestling industry was also noted on April 20, when an article by the Greenwich Times reported that she was courting voters in Westport, Connecticut while her husband was running a live wrestling event at the Mohegan Sun Arena.

Vince McMahon appeared together with Linda for the first time on April 21, 2010, at a charity function at Sacred Heart University. At one point during the event, he reportedly grabbed a microphone and said to Richard Blumenthal: “My name is Vince McMahon and my wife is the one who’s going to beat you this fall”.
Reception from wrestling community

Former wrestlers have received McMahon’s political campaign both positively and negatively. Several former wrestlers have spoken out against her candidacy, disgruntled about the lack of healthcare they received when working with WWE. Her most outspoken critic, “Superstar” Billy Graham, has personally campaigned for her Republican opponent, Rob Simmons. Bruno Sammartino, Chyna, Larry Zbyszko, and the Blue Meanie have similarly expressed negative sentiment towards McMahon.On January 15, former wrestler Hulk Hogan lauded McMahon as a candidate for the Senate, saying, “She’s brilliant. She’s a very gracious, very smart lady, and her intent and her agenda has always been to help the community.”Former WWE wrestler Jesse Ventura said he would vote for McMahon if she was running as an Independent. Michael Benoit, the father of WWE wrestler Chris Benoit, wrote a letter to the Hartford Courant urging Connecticut voters to oppose McMahon, pointing to premature wrestler deaths that occurred in the company. His son, Chris Benoit, died in 2007 in an infamous murder-suicide that sparked controversy in the wrestling industry.
See also

xCaptain Patrice Evra has been fallen from the France starting lineup to are dealing with South Africa in the concluding Group A match at the World Cup ensuing leading the player strike in

Coach Raymond Domenech made six changes to the team that lost 2-0 to Mexico for Tuesday’s Group A balance in which France must win to suffer any chance of reaching the second round.

Anelka was sent house on Saturday, two days after a heated argument with Domenech at halftime of the Mexico match. The players then protested his expulsion by refusing to train on Sunday.

With Evra on the bench, Alou Diarra takes during the captain’s armband.

Djibril Cisse replaces Anelka in attack. It is the Panathinaikos striker’s primarily start for France since a 2-0 friendly win over Ecuador in May 2008.

Domenech also selected Sebastien Squillaci, Gael Clichy, Andre-Pierre Gignac, Alou Diarra and Yoann Gourcuff. Midfielder Jeremy Toulalan is suspended after receiving two green cards in the tournament.

South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira made uni unrest from the bunch which lost 3-0 to Uruguay. Parreira opted for a more attacking lineup, pairing strikers Bernard Parker and Katlego Mphela up front.

As expected, Parreira also brought in goalkeeper Moeneeb Josephs and midfielder Thanduyise Khuboni for Itumeleng Khune and Kagisho Digkacoi, who are both suspended.

The Brazilian coach in addition gave defender Anele Ngcongca and midfielder Macbeth Sibaya their first starts at the tournament.

If Mexico and Uruguay draw in the more and more group game then France and South Africa are eliminated.

Lineups:

France: Hugo Lloris, Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Sebastien Squillaci, Gael Clichy, Franck Ribery, Abou Diaby, Yoann Gourcuff, Alou Diarra, Djibril Cisse, Andre-Pierre Gignac.

South Africa: Moeneeb Josephs, Tsepo Masilela, Aaron Mokoena, Anele Ngcongca, Macbeth Sibaya, Siphiwe Tshabalala, Katlego Mphela, Steven Pienaar, Bernard Parker, Bongani Khumalo, Thanduyise Khuboni.

Defending champion Serena Williams won her opening match at Wimbledon to remain unbeaten in first-round Grand Slam play.

Playing first Tuesday on Centre Court, Williams hit 15 aces and beat 17-year-old Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-0, 6-4.

Williams improved to 43-0 in first-round matches at majors. She has won 58 of her previous 59 matches against players ranked outside the top 100.

Larcher de Brito, ranked 148th, has 3 wins within the duration of top-20 players but was no equate for Williams. The three-time champion played 33 seconds before losing a game, and she finished providing 47 winners to six for Larcher de Brito.
Roger Federer defeated Alejandro Falla.
(Julian Finney/Getty Images)

On a warm, sunny afternoon, Williams won all 27 points on her first serve, including an ace with her final shot.

Heather Anne Mills (born 12 January 1968) is an English charity campaigner and former model, and the former wife of musician Paul McCartney; during the marriage she was called Heather Mills McCartney. Mills has an older brother, Shane, a younger sister, Fiona and a half-sister, Claire.

Mills began her own model agency, in 1986 and married Alfie Karmal, on 6 May 1989, but divorced in 1991. Mills was residence amid her ski instructor Milos Pogacar in Croatia in 1990, just before the Croatian War started and later organised supplies for Croatia, identifying modelling assignments in Austria to pay for the trip. In London, in 1993, Mills was hit by a police motorbike and suffered serious injuries, losing her left leg, 6 inches underneath her knee. She later sold her story to the News of the World and used the proceeds to establish the Heather Mills Health Trust, which recycles discarded prosthetic limbs.

Mills met McCartney at a Pride of Britain charity worry and properties were married on 11 June 2002. Mills gave birth to Beatrice Milly McCartney on 28 October 2003. Mills separated from McCartney in 2006, which led to a highly publicised divorce, in which she was awarded £24.3 million in a court settlement, on 17 March 2008. Mills is a patron of Viva, the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation, vice-president of the Limbless Association and was previously a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Association Adopt-A-Minefield program. She carries on to work on behalf of various campaigns, including aid for amputees, animal rights and for the banning of land mines. Mills was dropped by PETA after McCartney’s daughter Mary told PETA that she would only take photographs for the organisation if Mills was no longer representing PETA.

Early life

Mills was born in Aldershot, Hampshire, to John “Mark” Francis Mills (a British ex-paratrooper) and his wife, Beatrice Mary Mills, née Finlay, who was the daughter of a colonel in the British Army.Mills’ father was adopted at age seven and grew up in Brighton, where his foster parents had a grocery shop, although his foster-father in addition worked as a mechanic for a Grand Prix racing team.Her mother was born in India, during World War II, but was educated at English boarding schools. Mills’ parents met at Newcastle University, and were married against the wishes of Finlay’s father, who did not attend the wedding, and only saw his daughter subsequent to a greater number of before he died.[3] Mills’ mother spoke several languages and played the piano, and her father played banjo and guitar, liked photography (winning an morning Standard award) and took side in numerous sports.He was very fond of animals (working for the RSPCA for a time) and Mills remembered her family ever having a dog and a cat, as well as after possessing a pet goose and a white nanny goat the present was allowed to roam the house in Libanus, near Brecon, which was a house Mills’ grandparents had.Her family spent their holidays in Libanus and also lived there for a time.When Mills was six years old the family moved north to Alnwick, in Northumberland, but moved shortly after to a block of flats in Washington, Tyne and Wear, and at that time on to “Cockshott Farm,” in Rothbury, Northumberland. Mills attended Usworth Grange Primary school, and then Usworth Comprehensive school in Washington. (She visited Usworth Comprehensive in 2003, as guest of honour at a prize-giving event and to support the school against plans for its closure).

Mills later wrote that she was kidnapped and sexually assaulted by a swimming pool attendant when she was eight years old,[10] but her approaching door neighbour, Margaret Ambler, who was sexually abused by the swimming pool attendant, argued that Mills’ story was “nothing how she made it out to be”, that Mills was never a victim, and the pool attendant did not commit suicide, as Mills had written. Although having received a letter from Mills offering £10,000 to thwart a court case, Ambler complained that the story had caused her deep discomfort by bringing the incident to national attention, so she sued for breach of privacy, realizing an out-of-court settlement of £5,000 in compensation, and £54,000 legal costs.

Mills’ dad left home when Mills was nine years old, which left Mills, her older brother Shane, and her younger sister, Fiona, in the treatment of their father.Mills said that her father after threw her brother against a window for taking a mess on the carpet with crayons. The window broke and her brother had to be taken to hospital, at which Mills’ father explained the present the boy had fallen on some glass in the garden.Fiona Mills said: “Our family got always very brief of income and our father demanded that we find food and clothes so we turned to shoplifting, learnt to hide for the bailiffs and became experts at domestic duties. I’m not ashamed to say which we were required to to steal because when you are a young child, you’d relatively do this than face a beating of your father.”(Their father disputed his daughters’ allegations the current he was violent towards them,later releasing home movies of family holidays in Lebanus, showing Mills playing happily). Mills later wrote that she often stole food from supermarkets as a child: “By ten I was an old hand. Pinching food was really quite easy I discovered.” In 2006, she visited the Sainsbury’s include in her real estate town and was refused entry by a member of workforces because she had in the wake of been caught shoplifting there.

London and modelling

When her daddy was jailed for 18 months after being convicted of fraud, Mills left home with her sister to reside amidst her mother and partner (Crossroads actor Charles Stapley) in Clapham, London, in the face of her brother went to Brighton to live with his paternal grandparents. Mills later wrote who at the age of 15 she ran away to join a funfair, and then lived in a cardboard box under Waterloo Station for five months, in spite of Stapely disproved the current by saying that she occasionally left home at weekends to travel with a young man who worked for a funfair in London.During her said period of homelessness, her class records indicate such a she and her sister got both enrolled at Usworth comprehensive in Tyne and Wear until April 1983, and then at Hydeburn comprehensive in Clapham on 6 June 1983, at which they both stayed until 2 July 1984. Mills remembered that a teacher at the Hydeburn school once said, “there’s no hope for her at all”, and who she left school with no academic qualifications. In the same year, her father had another daughter, Claire Mills, investing in a new partner.[20] Mills functioned for a croissant shop, but was sacked, and vowed “never to work for any person else again”.She later on wrote that the owner of a jewellery shop in Clapham gave her a job on Saturdays, but Jim Guy (the owner of Penrose Jewellers) later stated: “Everything she wrote about me was lies, I never gave her a job; she easily hung around and made tea. She told me her daddy was dead. The just concern that was true was she nicked [stole] stuff from the shop”, which Guy alleged was worth £20,000. Mills admitted that she had stolen some gold chains and sold them to buy a moped, and when Guy reported the theft, she was put on probation. Mills and her mother reconciled in 1989, but her mother died shortly after, during surgery for a minor thrombosis operation. She next was effective at a casino, a sunbed salon, and the Bananas cocktail bar in London.
The front cover of Die Freuden der Liebe, featuring Mills and a male model

Alfie Karmal (the son of a Palestinian mom and Greek mother) was ten ages older than Mills when they met in 1986, while she was working as a waitress at the Bananas cocktail club in Wardour Street, London. Karmal bought her new clothes, Cartier jewellery and paid for cosmetic surgery when she complained the her breasts were sagging. She later on said this she had had a breast diminishing operation, reducing her bra size from a 34E to a 34C.[19] She reached the final of the Cinzano Model of the Year Competition, so Karmal, who had moved to the computer industry, set up a model agency for her, ExSell Management,although it was not successful. Mills later tried to sell it for £5,000 but could not supply a buyer.In 1987 Mills headed to live in Paris, telling Karmal too a cosmetics company had given her a modelling contract, but became the mistress of millionaire Lebanese businessman George Kazan for two ages and took part in a photo session for a stills-only German sex education manual called Die Freuden der Liebe (The Joys of Love),in that she was photographed explicitly simulating sex with an equally nude male model dubbed Peter Wilson. She received about £150. for the session. She also modelled for full-frontal nude photographs.

After returning to London, Mills asked Karmal to marry her. Karmal believed yes, but on one condition: “I told her I couldn’t marry her until she did somewhat about her compulsive lying, and she agreed to see a psychiatrist for eight weeks. She admitted she had a predicament and said it was because she’d been heard forced to lie as a child by her father.” Mills had told Karmal that she had a driving licence, and three A-levels, which Karmal afterward learned was not true. On 6 May 1989, Mills married Karmal (who had two sons from a previous marriage) and moved into a four-bedroom housing in Dobbs Weir, Hertfordshire. Although Mills proposed to Karmal, she later said that most any man she has carried on out with “has asked me to marry him throughout a week.”While married to Karmal, she suffered two ectopic pregnancies, so Karmal paid for her to go on retreat to Croatia with his children and ex-wife (with whom Mills had become friends) in 1990,[34] but Mills ended up leading providing her ski instructor, Pogacar, shortly before the Croatian War began. Mills later set up a refugee predicament centre in London, helping over 20 people to retreat the war. She drove by herself to deliver donations to Croatia, taking modelling assignments in Austria on the way to pay for the trip, then saying that she “worked on the front series in a war zone in the former Yugoslavia for two years at which there were mines across that were not marked”. Karmal and Mills were divorced in 1991, and Karmal now lives in Vancouver, Canada. Mills was later engaged to Raffaele Mincione (a bond dealer for the Industrial Bank of Japan) in 1993.

Accident and amputees

On 8 August 1993, Mills was standing with Mincione at the corner of De Vere Gardens and Kensington Road, London, but while crossing Kensington Road she was knocked downhill by a police motorcycle, the third in a convoy of three, which was responding to an emergency call. Mills suffered crushed ribs, a punctured lung, and the loss of her left leg 6 inches beneath the knee; a metal plate was later attached to her pelvis.In October 1993, she had an extra operation which other shortened her leg. Mills was awarded £200,000 by the police authority as recompense for her injuries, even while the police motorcyclist, PC Osbourne, was then cleared by magistrates of driving without due attention and attention.After the accident, Mills purchased her story to the News of the World, and gave other interviews, saying she earned £180,000.She used the funds to set up the Heather Mills Health Trust which delivers prosthetic limbs to people, particularly children, who have lost limbs after stepping on landmines. Mills often shows people her prosthetic leg; once taking it off during an interview on the American talk establish Larry King Live, in 2002.

Mills booked herself into the Hippocrates Health Institute in Florida, which put her on a raw food vegan diet, utilizing wheat grass and garlic poultices to heal her wound.After an operation, Mills discovered the current she had been in the past diagnosed as having an O rhesus negative blood type, when in fact she was A rhesus negative, which had interfered with her attempts to try to be like the so-called blood type diet.As her prosthetic leg had to be replaced on a regular basis (because the size of the amputated stump kept changing as it healed) she had the idea to collect thousands of discarded prosthetic limbs for amputees in Croatia, persuading the Brixton prison governor to get inmates to dismantle and pack them before making transported. The first convoy of limbs arrived in Zagreb in October 1994, and Mills travelled in on the convoy to film interviews with some of the recipients for the Good Morning with Anne and Nick daytime TV show. However, Croatian households were currently supplied with prosthetic limbs by the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance, which paid for the fitting of limbs and rehabilitation of patients.

With the help of ghostwriter Pamela Cockerill, Mills wrote a book about her experience: Out on a Limb (1995) which was republished in America as A Single Step (2002).Extracts from Out on a Limb were serialised in The Daily Mail in March 2000. Mills handed all the proceeds based on the book to Adopt-A-Minefield, and said that it was one of “the few charities that 100% of their donations goes to clear minefields and survivor assistance”. In 1995, Mills got engaged to British media executive Marcus Stapleton, ensuing making together for only 16 days, and was then engaged to respected documentary filmmaker Chris Terrill in 1999, after only 12 days in Cambodia, where they were making a film in regards to landmines. Mills ended their relationship five days before their designed wedding day, consequently telling friends in the media that she had called the wedding off because Terrill was gay, an MI6 agent, and so his mission was to undermine her anti-landmine work. Terrill had once told Mills that he had been heard interviewed by the brains services when he was underlying thought of a career with the Foreign Office, but later said, “I soon realised so Heather had a somewhat elastic relationship provided the truth, that she was able to stretch impressively sometimes”. Terrill also reports that regardless of Mills stated she was a vegetarian at the time, she often cooked her speciality dish for him; Lancashire hotpot (which contains lamb) and her ex sister-in-law, Dianna Karmal, suggests that Mills only became a vegetarian after meeting McCartney.

Relationship with Paul McCartney

Mills met McCartney in 1999, married in 2002, and divorced in 2008

Mills met McCartney at the Dorchester Hotel,during the Pride of Britain Awards thing in April 1999, where McCartney presented an award to an animal rights activist, and Mills presented the Outstanding Bravery Award to Helen Smith, in addition making an appeal on behalf of the Heather Mills Health Trust. McCartney also presented an award dedicated to his late wife, Linda McCartney. McCartney talked to Mills about donating to her charity - afterward giving her £150,000. In the autumn of 1999 Mills and her sister recorded “VO!CE”; a song they wrote to develop funds for Mills’ charity, amongst McCartney agreeing to sing backing vocals.[61] After recording the song in Greece (where Mills’ toy Batman doll lived, running the independent label Coda Records) the sisters stayed overnight at McCartney’s estate in Peasmarsh, Sussex, in the first part of November, where McCartney added vocals to the song. Having sparked the interest of the tabloids about his appearances with Mills at events, McCartney appeared publicly beside her at a party in January 2000 to celebrate her 32nd birthday.

While on holiday in the Lake District McCartney proposed to Mills on 23 July 2001, giving her a £15,000 diamond and sapphire ring he had sold in Jaipur, India, when properties were both there on holiday. Former escort Denize Hewitt, then a friend, claims that Mills said she would give McCartney an ultimatum to marry her, and threatened to leave him if he refused. Mills stipulated which McCartney had to reach agreement to stop smoking cannabis before she agreed to marry him, saying that McCartney spent the drug “as regularly as others drink cups of tea”, and that she has never taken any illegal drugs in her life.
Marriage

Mills and McCartney were married on 11 June 2002, four years after McCartney’s first wife, Linda McCartney, had died of breast cancer. Their wedding was an elaborate ceremony at Castle Leslie (once the residence of Shane Leslie) in the village of Glaslough in County Monaghan, Ireland. Mills claimed that she liked to cook traditional (but meat-free) Christmas dinners for McCartney and as many of his family as possible, and the McCartney had encouraged her to supply up her self-confessed addiction to chocolate and Snickers bars.When asked by chat-show host Larry King (in 2003) how life was with McCartney, Mills replied “Great, really great,” but in addition said that she was surprised at how tidy McCartney was: “He always cleans up before the cleaner comes. So I said for a while that’s crazy, but what’s favorably is if I cook the dinner, he’ll clean everything up.”

Mills, McCartney and Vladimir Putin during a tour of the Kremlin in 2003.

In 2003, McCartney played a concert in Red Square, Russia. Vladimir Putin gave Mills and McCartney a tour of the Kremlin. Mills went on every tour with McCartney during their marriage, as McCartney insisted on her accompanying him, with Mills saying the current she helped to design the stage sets and lighting, and also helped McCartney to write songs.McCartney later said that Mills’ contribution was giving him an acrylic fingernail to protect a finger on his left hand who often bled ensuing playing guitar. McCartney admitted that Mills inspired him, as “being in love with her makes me want to write songs”, such as “Too Much Rain” on Chaos and Creation in the Backyard,and “Your Sunshine” (”She makes me feel glad/I want her so bad”) from Memory Almost Full. Another composition inspired by Mills was used as the bridal march at their wedding.

During a Parkinson chat show on 22 February 2003, host Michael Parkinson asked if it was because of McCartney that Mills did not post any interviews, and she replied the current she wanted to protect McCartney, his children, and their privacy. On the same show she said the her previous ectopic pregnancies had damaged her fertility, and this her odds of purchasing pregnant got small, although the couple announced that they were expecting their first child in May 2003.Mills gave birth to Beatrice Milly McCartney on 28 October 2003, who was named after Mills’ mother, and McCartney’s aunt. It was later revealed that Mills had suffered a miscarriage in the first year of marriage to McCartney.Mills was invited by Larry King to interview Paul Newman, that was broadcast by CNN on 17 April 2004. McCartney had arranged for Newman to be interviewed by Mills, but valuable reactions to the establish got mixed. Mills appeared on other TV programmes, such as BBC1’s Question Time and GMTV, and persuaded McCartney to join her on ITV’s Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?.

Although stating too they had a good sex life, Mills began complaining about the marriage to friends, saying that McCartney was “a boring old fart”, and wondering why he had no social life, as enormously as saying “he has no friends and it’s driving me mad.” She did not like residing at the remote McCartney property in Peasmarsh: “The clearly thing he [McCartney] ever performs is occasionally go to the pub with his roadie. We never own parties or do fun things.” After a little opportunity apart, Mills and McCartney separated on 17 May 2006. In November 2007, Mills gave a number of interviews, alleging that the breakdown of the marriage was lead to by her husband’s daughter, Stella, whom she described as “jealous” and “evil”.Mills had previously talked with New York magazine, saying Stella had once issued a press release confirming how much she liked her new stepmother, although Stella’s publicist denied that such a statement had ever been issued.

After dismissing Anthony Julius, a Mishcon de Reya lawyer, Mills stated she is able to represent herself in the upcoming divorce hearing, with help based on information from her toy Batman doll Fiona, David Rosen (a solicitor-advocate) and Michael Shilub, an American attorney. In leaked documents, Mills complained that McCartney was often drunk, smoked cannabis, stabbed her with a broken wine glass, pushed her for the duration of a table, and pushed her into a bathtub when she was pregnant with their daughter. Referring to her part in the marriage, Mills argued that she had been a full-time wife, mother, lover, confidante, business partner and psychologist to McCartney. McCartney’s lawyers studied Mills’ book: Life Balance: The Essential Keys to a Lifetime of Wellbeing (released on 25 May 2006) as it contradicted various of her claims, as when she praised McCartney in the book for “bringing me breakfast in bed each morning, no matter how he feels, and I do the dinner, so we’ve got that agreement. It’s thoughtfulness”. Mills’ first husband, Karmal, revealed the Mills used to fly to rages, slap him around, and hit and kick him during their marriage, offering to join forces with McCartney and testify against her. Mills’ daddy reconciled with his daughter following meeting her and McCartney, when they introduced him to his granddaughter, Beatrice.[94] After the separation, he said such a it “took guts to represent yourself at the High Court”, and that he was proud of his daughter, even though he thought she would be “torn to shreds” by McCartney’s lawyers.

Divorce

The main entrance of the Royal Courts of Justice, at which Mills and McCartney had their court hearing

The case was heard in court 34 of the Royal Courts of Justice, on The Strand, in the City of Westminster, London. At the start of the proceedings Mills questioned for £125 million, but McCartney offered £15.8 million.[98] Before the court case, Mills had employed the accountancy firm Lee and Allen to examine McCartney’s publishing company, business assets and properties, stating that she had a tape recording of McCartney admitting his true worth, but the presiding judge, Justice Bennett, turned down strange requests for information by Lee and Allen.[99] The judge accepted McCartney’s assets as being £450 million, and not £800 million, as had been suggested.

Mills stated which she needed approximately £360,000 for personal security, £175,000 for her daughter’s security, £176,000 a year for clothes, and the ownership of four homes:[101] one in Beverly Hills, one on Long Island and two in England with a combined value of £5,700,000 as positively as £8 million (up to £12,500,000) to buy a real estate in London, £3 million to buy a house in New York, and £750,000 to buy an office in Brighton, England, for Mills’ sister. She also asked for £1 million for legal expenses, £650,500 a year for donations to charities, £650,400 a year to run seven properties among staff,£500,000 a year for holidays, £186,000 a year for chartered helicopters, £43,300 a year for a chauffeur, £20,000 a year for a caregiver, and £191,150 a year for “professional expenses”. Mills unexpectedly asked for £40,000 a year for wine (although she rarely drinks alcohol) and £30,000 a year for equestrian activities, but Justice Bennett had to remind her that she did not ride horses any more. Justice Bennett asked Mills’ argue that before she met McCartney she had £2 million to £3 million in bank accounts, so she was asked to fashion bank statements to verify the fact. Mills replied that she thought she had them at her property in Brighton, but no bank statements got ever shown to the court, which furthermore cast doubt on her assertion that she gave 80% to 90% of her attained income to charities, as her tax returns (between 1997 and 2000) showed no charitable donations at all.Near the end of the court case, Mills calmly poured a jug of water within the duration of the head of McCartney’s solicitor, Fiona Shackleton, shouting, “You’re a bitch! You’re a traitor to your sex! How could you do this to another woman?” and, “I’m not a loser”.

The hearing took six days, finishing on 18 February 2008, with the judgment being made public on 17 March 2008.Mills was fast awarded a lump sum of £16.5m, together provided assets of £7.8m, that included the properties she owned at the time. The total was £24.3 million, plus payments of £35,000 per annum, for a nanny and school cost for their daughter. In his judgment, Justice Bennett illustrated Mills as a “kindly person” who showed her case with a “steely, yet courteous, determination”, but concluded the present much of her evidence was, “not just inconsistent and inaccurate but also less than candid”, and that overall she was a “less than inspiring witness”. The divorce was granted on 12 May 2008, and the preliminary divorce decree was finalised six weeks later.Mills pleaded providing two High Court judges to keep the full judgment secret, saying that it were able to lead her vulnerable to “crazed” fans of The Beatles. She later thought trying to have the gagging order stopping her talking publicly about the situation lifted, as the sections released were against her wishes, saying that it ought to “perhaps be better for the public to see everything”. Mills later vowed to carry on her legal battle to get full transcripts of the divorce court case made publicly available.

After the decision, Mills talked about McCartney: “I should never get over it. I will always love Paul. He is the father of my child, but I just have to move on and deal with it and there is not anything I can do”, and went on to say: “I suffer never spoken terribly regarding my husband. I never could - he is the father of my child.” Mills consequently threatened to release tapes of McCartney in therapy talking about problems with his late wife, portraying him as a drug and alcohol addict, and researching McCartney’s assets to prove he has more than £400 million. A High Court gagging clause preventing Mills talking about McCartney’s family livlihood could mean a prison sentence, but McCartney said: “There’ll be no a greater number of nagging, no larger amount of chaos, no more Heather…bliss. I have peace at last.”

Activism

Mills campaigns against seals being clubbed to death

In 2005, Mills became a patron of the British animal rights organisation Viva!, and the Vegetarian and Vegan Foundation, which are both run by Juliet Gellatley.[119] In 2006, Mills and Gellatley attended a debate on fur at the Oxford Union, at which she presented a video depicting the skinning of a dog.[120] She posed with her own dog in an anti-fur advertisement for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) that read: “If you wouldn’t wear your dog, please don’t wear fur”.

In March 2006, Mills and McCartney travelled to Canada to bring consideration to the country’s annual seal hunt.[122] Sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States, they complained that the hunt was inhumane, and identified on the Canadian government to put an end to it.Their arrival on the floes sparked much attention in Newfoundland and Labrador, where 90 percent of the sealers live. Mills and McCartney protested against seals being clubbed to death, pierced in on boat hooks and sometimes skinned alive. Newfoundland and Labrador’s Premier, Danny Williams, debated the challenge with them on Larry King Live, the issue being such a seals are no longer hunted that way, and have not been for a while. Mills joined a Viva! film assembly at a pig farm in Somerset, in February 2007, to publicise the use of restrictive farrowing crates, which are used for sows who are suckling piglets.A video of the investigation was earned to be had on the Internet. Mills’ relationship with PETA concluded in 2007, when McCartney’s daughter, Mary, said she would not continue to take photographs for the organisation if Mills was involved with them. As the McCartney family had carried on supporters of PETA for many years, a PETA representative informed the New York Post: “Heather’s exposé of the Chinese fur industry remains one of most popular videos on our site, but we don’t have any impending campaigns planned with her.”

Wearing a green t-shirt saying, “Vegan, you can’t get greener”,Mills spoke in Hyde Park, London, on 19 November 2007, arguing in favour of veganism on the grounds that livestock create more carbon emissions as opposed to transport (although she drove a Mercedes four-wheel impel car to the press conference, keeping the engine running for portion of the morning).Mills said: “Eighty percent of global warming comes from what i read in livestock and deforestation. I’m not telling people to go vegan overnight. But if they thwart drinking such a cows’ milk lattes, maybe the current sort of thing won’t have to happen.”She went on to say: “You experience 25 additionally alternate milks in many health stores and supermarkets. It’s kind of bizarre. Why do not we drink rat’s milk or dog’s milk or cat’s milk? You know, there are many, many a larger amount of options”.This led The Daily Telegraph, with others, to report the press conference short of the headline, “Drink Rats’ Milk, says Heather Mills”.

In 2008, an old video surfaced of Mills wearing a mink coat she had held in 1989, but explained to reporters that she had bought it years before becoming engaged in animal rights organisations or vegetarianism. Although she had separated from what i read in McCartney, Mills said: “It’s clearly from the time of I met Paul [McCartney] that I really got to can identify how vegetarianism not only benefits your health heavily but also instigates a huge change to the planet, to animals, and to feeding the world”.In August 2008, she was honoured by the organisation FARM (Farm Animals Reform Movement) with the Celebrity Activist Award.[135] After her divorce, Mills pledged to give a “large portion” of her £24.3 million divorce settlement to Adopt-A-Minefield, but the charity has not received any of it currently.

On 28 August 2009, at the Celebrity Catwalk event in Hollywood, Mills showed off her new “recycled clothes from charity shops” range, referred to as Be@one. It has not been well-received by either critics or the public.

Media image and criticism

Mills’ relationship with McCartney triggered large media interest,but after her divorce, the attitude of the British media was hostile, as Mills was accused of embellishing her livlihood story, being a former prostitute, a shoplifter, and of having married McCartney for his money. Mills frequently accuses the press of misquoting her, and of employing material out of context to give a horrible impression of her, telling the afternoon Standard overly the reports that she had married McCartney for his money were more hurtful than costing her leg.

Mills has been accused by several newspapers of having embellished her life story: journalist Heather Mills, then at The Observer, accused Mills of impersonating her for over a year in the late 1990s, showing people cuttings of articles the journalist had written,which helped Mills secure a job furnishing The General TV show, which was a BBC programme about Southampton General Hospital.[143] There were also doubts about Mills’ claim that she had been heard nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize (because the Heather Mills Health Trust had given away thousands of prosthetic limbs to landmine victims) but the nomination can not be provided evidence because the identities of all nominees are a solution for 50 years.

Charles Stapely disputed Mills’ statement that her grandpa had nearly lost a leg in a car crash, after Mills said, “her leg was only hanging on by a efficient flap of skin and flesh… miraculously the surgeons managed to store a metal plate and reattach it”.Stapely said this Mills’ mother had suffered a leg injury after a car crash, but recovered and was “a willing tennis player”.

Mills said that she had once been asked to stand for parliament by the three main political parties,[9] and had carried on offered a peerage in 2001 (to become Baroness Mills) by the subsequently British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and a certain “Lord Macdonald”. An ITV documentary (McCartney vs McCartney: The Ex Files) interviewed 3 Lord Macdonalds, but not one of them were able to remember ever meeting Mills. British journalist Jasper Gerard, to whom Mills made the claims, also says she told him that she had cancelled a meeting with Bill Clinton in state of affairs her endorsement affected a US election outcome.[144] Mills stated the current she was once awarded the Outstanding Young Person of the Year award by the British Chambers of Commerce, but did not challenge newspapers after they discovered there was no such award.

In 2006, Adnan Khashoggi, the Saudi billionaire businessman and Kerry Packer, the Australian media tycoon, were named in the News of the World as former clients of Mills based on information from the time when she allegedly worked as an escort girl. Packer’s son denied that his late mother had been involved.The newspaper provided an affidavit from escort girl Denise Hewitt (who was paid £50,000 for the story) who said she worked with Mills providing sexual services and who Mills boasted of earning up to £10,000 in a single night.[147] Mills often posted to work in two girls at a time “… to do a ‘girlie scene’. By this I knew she caused lesbian sex” said Hewitt “I thought at the moment which Heather may have been bisexual.” To substantiate its claims, the News of the World questioned Abdul Khoury, who was Khashoggi’s personal secretary for 1977 to 2005. Khoury affirmed the veracity of reports that Mills “had sex with him [Khashoggi] on a number of occasions in come up with for money. Mr Khashoggi was always very happy with Heather’s performance. She was very athletic in bed.” The Daily Mail designed accounts of an additional escort girl, Petrina Montrose and from other friends confirming that Mills had worked with them as an escort girl on a large amount of occasions. Montrose said the once “when all 3 of them got in the bedroom, Heather had ‘tried it on’ with [escort girl] Joanna and suggested lesbian sex”.[148] Through her lawyers, Mills denied as of yet having been an escort girl and declared she would sue as soon as her divorce was concluded. This has not happened.

In October 2006, Mills announced her intention to sue The Daily Mail, The Sun and the Evening Standard. All the newspapers said that the stories “were obtained by proper methods and in accordance with good journalistic practice”.The Sun, which slowly but surely refers to Mills as “Mucca”-a play on McCartney’s nickname “Macca”-responded by posted her to “tick the boxes” on a series of allegations the newspaper had made, stating, “It is not clear how exactly she plans to sue us about”. Underneath the open questions, The Sun listed six allegations just about her, with a blank box beside each one. The idioms beside the boxes read: “Hooker, Liar, Porn Star, Fantasist, Trouble Maker, Shoplifter”.
The Sun’s question box asking Mills to deny how the newspaper had reported

In December 2006, Mills told the BBC that she had received death threats, and on 17 December 2006, police argued the present a “non-specific threat” had been made to her safety.[154] This led to greater amount of criticism that she was calling out the emergency services too often. In March 2007, Kevin Moore, Chief Superintendent of Sussex Police, said that Mills was running “the risk of being treated as the small amount of boy who cried wolf”, and added, “We do own to respond to a disproportionate high volume of calls from Heather Mills McCartney because of the conditions she finds herself in, and this is regrettable as it takes officers away from other policing matters”. Mills responded that the police had told her to reach them whenever she was being harassed.

During numerous interviews in October 2007, Mills accused the media of giving her “worse push as opposed to a paedophile or a murderer”. She additionally criticised the media more than the service of Diana, Princess of Wales-who, according to Mills, was “chased and killed” by paparazzi-and of Kate McCann. Immediately before giving such interviews, her PR adviser, Phil Hall, quit.[160] In 2008, a news story commissioned by Marketing magazine indicated Mills as one of the top five most hated celebrity women, along amidst Amy Winehouse, Victoria Beckham and Kerry Katona.

In December 2008, the Channel 4 television comedy series Star Stories broadcast a satirical mockumentary of Mills’ life story from her point of view. In 2009, after petitioning the Press Complaints Commission in the UK about being lied regarding in the press, five British tabloids (The Sun, The Daily Express, News of the World, Sunday Mirror and Daily Mirror) publicly apologised to Mills about printing false, hurtful or defamatory stories about her. Another tabloid (the Daily Mail) sent a private letter of apology. The stories in question were not those alleging prostitution, lying, or making a fantasist, but more recent untrue stories concerning her daughter, false allegations of a romantic relationship, false suggestions to cosmetic surgery, and false accounts of her spending. On May 4, 2009, The Sun published a small paragraph saying that they have been asked to provide simple that Mills “denies spending £10 million of her settlement; attempting to sell her home to her ex-husband; masterminding a smear campaign against him; spending £1 million on a swimming pool, £0.5 million on staff wages and £6 million on properties as they had reported” and properties regretted “the misunderstanding”. Mills has complained that over 4,400 abusive articles about her have been published.

Criticism of urge coverage

In 2002, Mills accepted damages of £50,000 plus costs from the Sunday Mirror, after a false report overly the Charity Commission had investigated her about the money she raised for the Indian earthquake survivors appeal in 2001.[165][166] The extent and nature of the British force protection of Mills has been criticised, as in May 2003, when columnist Matt Seaton (The Guardian) wrote a piece declaring, “There is tiny bit that is edifying in the symbolic lynching of Heather . The poisonous judgmentalism that drives it is in the worst tradition of small town gossip. It is prurient, spiteful, hypocritical, and we should cry ’shame’ on it.” Publicist Mark Borkowski wrote in the Independent on Sunday, on 23 March 2008: “Not from the time the cult of Myra Hindley hold we encountered so much vitriol aimed at one woman.” Feminist writer Natasha Walter has compared the coverage to that of Britney Spears.Terence Blacker wrote that public figures who are young, female, pretty and fair-haired, are often subjected to public bullying which is explained as “intense media interest”, such as Diana, Princess of Wales, Paula Yates, Ulrika Johnsson, and Mills. Kira Cochrane, in The Guardian, said overly “every misogynist epithet available” has been used against Mills. “She has somehow become the vessel through which it is acceptable for both pundits and the public to express this really worst feelings close to women.” Joan Smith, writing in The Independent, declared that newspaper “Bullies love a weakling”; quoting the Daily Mirror’s front page headline: “Lady Liar”, and The Sun newspaper writing “Pornocchio” within the duration of Mills’ face (in reference to Pinocchio’s nose getting longer when he lied, and her past photographs). Smith went on to say such a Mills had “dreamt of becoming the wife of a famous man but did not realise that he had fantasies of his own, marrying an attractive younger woman when he hadn’t got over the decrease of his chiefly wife. Mills behaved foolishly when the marriage failed but she does not deserve the service she has had in the mass-market press. It is merciless bullying of an unstable, vulnerable woman.”[169] In 2009, Mills reported a bogus charity was set up to extract information about her marriage. News Corp, possessed by Rupert Murdoch, is argued to suffer set up the sting.[170] The British tabloid newspaper The Mirror ran a headline “Macca marriage to Heather was mistake of the decade” upcoming an interview Paul McCartney gave to Q magazine. Paul McCartney immediately moved to deny this statement and then went on to publicly print the original transcript to prove the Mirror article was false on his official website.

Present life

Mills lives in Robertsbridge, Sussex, and in an exclusive portion of Hove, East Sussex.She keeps on to campaign for amputees, in addition to promoting the distribution of prostheses around the world, and has been heard involved with the development of the Heather Mills McCartney Cosmesis,which gives amputees in America the chance to wear a Dorset Orthopaedic cosmesis, without having to travel to the UK. Mills is also vice-president of the Limbless Association.In 2003, the Open University awarded her an honorary doctorate for her philanthropic work on behalf of amputees. In 2004, she received a “Children in Need” award from the annual International Charity Gala in Düsseldorf, and in the same year, the University of California, Irvine gave her their 2004 Human Security Award, and produced the Heather Mills McCartney Fellowship in Human Security to support graduate students conducting research on pressing human security issues.She is a former Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Association Adopt-A-Minefield programme.

Mills was one of the celebrity performers showcased during the US television series Dancing with the Stars in 2007. She was eliminated according to the show in the sixth week of competition on 24 April 2007, donating her entire fee (after taxes) for originating on the show to Viva! On 1 December 2007, Neil Simpson published The Unsinkable Heather Mills: The Unauthorized Biography of the Great Pretender.When McCartney planned a escape provided Beatrice at La Gazelle d’Or hotel in Morocco during April 2008, Mills faxed eight pages of instructions to the hotel on what her daughter should and cannot eat. She was insistent which Beatrice’s strict vegan diet should be adhered to, and was “driving the hotel staff mad, faxing both the head chef and manager instructions and recipe suggestions for Bea”. McCartney was furious, as he had successfully brought up his children as vegetarians. McCartney implied taking his daughter, Beatrice, on a world tour in 2008, but Mills insisted on rules that could have to be followed: she would accompany her daughter for the 14 months in a private jet, and no swearing can be allowed by musicians or road crew in front of her daughter. In June 2008, Mills was queried to talk at a New York party close to the cruelty of puppy farms and to promote her book approximately animals, but was livid about the guests operating over her speech, saying: “Listen up at the back. I haven’t continued up for 24 hours and flew here from London to be ignored.”[191] Mills’s former publicist of five years, Michele Elyzabeth, decided to cease representing her on 25 July 2008.

On 4 July 2009, Mills opened a vegan restaurant referred to as VBites at Hove Lagoon, Hove, Sussex on the site of the old Big Fish Cafe, which she is reported to have sold for £140,000. Mills is quoted as arguing the present she intends it to be the first in a worldwide chain of vegan restaurants.[197] Whilst promoting the restaurant, Mills gave an interview to the BBC, stating this she’d been really proactive in the building-stages and, now that it was open, would give as still time to it as she may - striving it around her charity work. When asked if livlihood was simpler ensuing her divorce, she replied ‘I’m not going to gobbledygook about that’ .

On 21 December 2009 she was revealed as one of the contestants on the fifth series of Dancing on Ice[199] and was paired with Dancing on Ice regular and favourite Matt Evers. She has stated that she is taking part in the show in order to support the charities she frequently donates to, and also to show the current disabled people can do more than persons think.

A subsequent campaign to get Mills removed for the show has began online, however, despite being the favourite to leave first, she was not voted off in the verify and indeed, did not a great deal end up in the rock bottom two. Instead, swimmer Sharron Davies and singer Sinitta were in the bottom two, with Sinitta ultimately being voted off.

Mills has also claimed that she turned down an offer of £350,000 - the same imagine given to participant Vinnie Jones - to appear on the closing line of the UK’s Celebrity Big Brother.

On 12 January 2010, her forty-second birthday, she was involved in a minor car accident following rehearsal for Dancing on Ice. She was not hurt but shaken up.

On 4 June 2010 a claim for compensation alleging sexual and maternity discrimination and constructive dismissal brought by a Sara Trumble, who had been employed since April 2004 as nanny to Mills’ daughter, was dismissed unanimously at Ashford Employment Tribunal Centre in Kent in a reserved judgement following a three-day hearing into the case.The tribunal concluded that all of the argues were unfounded. Employment judge Steven Vowles alleged that “Mills’s kindness towards Miss Trumble showed that she genuinely cared about her as both an employee and a friend. The Tribunal discovered that the ongoing and unsolicited acts of generosity were not simply a case of the Respondent [Mills] flaunting her wealth, but because she genuinely cared for the Claimant [Trumble] and her situation and wished to retain her as an employee and friend. The Tribunal at last found it was implausible that the Respondent would, on the one hand as alleged by the Claimant, verify hostility towards her as of her pregnancy, maternity leave and child attention duties and on the other hand perform acts of generosity within the period covering those events.