Report: Vladimir Guerrero, Orioles Agree to 1-Year Deal

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Vladimir GuerreroThe seemingly inevitable has finally come to pass, as Vladimir Guerrero and the Orioles reportedly have agreed to a one-year contract.

The deal will pay Guerrero $8 million plus possible incentives and is pending a physical, reports Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.

Considering there were no other known suitors for the designated hitter and he doesn't exactly figure to be the piece that thrusts the Orioles over the top in the AL East, that price might seem a bit steep, but Baltimore has done its best this winter to put a much more palatable product on the field in 2011.

Guerrero, who turns 36 next week, bounced back from a rough 2009 with a fantastic season for the Rangers last year. He hit an even .300 with 29 homers, 115 RBI and an .841 OPS in the regular season but had a rough postseason, most notably his 1-for-14 showing in the World Series.

He'll bring an impact bat and plenty of know-how to an evolving Orioles team. The O's already have added Derrek Lee, Mark Reynolds and J.J. Hardy this winter, so Buck Showalter's lineup certainly will have a different look as Baltimore tries again for its first winning season since 1997.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/04/report-vladimir-guerrero-orioles-agree-to-1-year-deal/

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Justin Bieber Vintage Video: Pop Star Describes His Hometown

In 2009, Bieber talked to MTV News about moving from Canada to the big city of Atlanta.
By Jocelyn Vena


Justin Bieber in September 2009
Photo: MTV News

In "Never Say Never," fans are taken to Justin Bieber's hometown of Stratford, Ontario, a small town where street performers — like Bieber was several years ago — try to find their big break. Bieber was one of the lucky ones.

When he spoke to MTV News in 2009, shortly before he rocketed to pop superstardom, he opened up about transitioning from small-town life to life in a big city like Atlanta, where he moved with his mother after he was discovered by his manager, Scooter Braun, on the Internet.

"In my town, there were only 30,000 people, but in Atlanta, there are millions," he explained at the time, when he was gearing up to release his debut EP, My World. "And I don't know anybody [in Atlanta], but everybody knows everybody in my town in Canada. ... I didn't really get to travel before this whole experience, so that's a bonus."

At the time, he was also prepping work on his second single, a follow-up to the Web sensation "One Time." He hoped "One Less Lonely Girl," now a fan-favorite when he plays live, would send his fans a very special message. "I think it's important that these girls have something," he said. "So there can be one less lonely girl."

Bieber was quick to point out that his album wasn't all feel-good filler. "There are a lot of people, especially young artists, that are just, like, they make songs that are cookie-cutter — everything is perfect — and real-life things aren't perfect," he explained.

"There's a song on my album called 'Down to Earth' that is just, like, my relationship with my dad and how my mom and dad split up ... at a very young age," he continued. "So there's just a lot of stuff that they can relate to, and it's just going to be a lot of fun."

On Friday, Justin Bieber's 3-D documentary, "Never Say Never," opens. The film takes a look at how the teen star worked to hit it big. MTV News has been chatting with him along the way, from the time he first burst on the scene in 2009 until now, as he embarks on a huge 2011 that will include a tour and more new music.

For young Hollywood news, fashion and "Twilight" updates around the clock, visit HollywoodCrush.MTV.com.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657501/justin-bieber-hometown.jhtml

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Robert Plant And Alison Krauss Win Grammy Album Of The Year

Raising Sand, from Led Zeppelin vet and bluegrass superstar, wins five Grammys on Sunday night.
By James Montgomery with MTV News staff


Alison Krauss and Robert Plant accept the award for Album of the Year at the Grammy Awards on Sunday
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

"I'm bewildered," Robert Plant said onstage as he accepted the Grammy Album of the Year award with Alison Krauss on Sunday night. "In the old days we would have called this selling out, but it's a good way to spend a Sunday."

He was probably one of the few who were surprised, because Raising Sand, which won five trophies at Sunday night's show, is in many ways the perfect Grammy album. It features two respected veterans, a critically lauded producer, some sandpaper-and-velvet vocals and a baker's dozen of time-tested standards.

You're probably familiar with Robert Plant from his Led Zeppelin days, and you might be aware of producer T-Bone Burnett's work on the "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack (it won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2002). And if you don't know who Alison Krauss is, she possesses a haunting set of pipes and is one of the meanest fiddle players in the world. Oh, and she's won 21 Grammys, more than any other female artist and the seventh-most in history.

Really, she's the key to Sand's success, and not just because of her voice (or her fiddle playing). She and Plant first met in 2004, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame tribute to legendary bluesman Leadbelly, and the former Zeppelin man was amazed by her knowledge of American Roots music — so much so that they began kicking around the idea of recording an album together. Three years later, Sand was released.

And while Plant possesses the more famous voice, the album's finest moments radiate from Krauss. Whether she's getting bluesy on Little Milton's "Let Your Loss Be Your Lesson" or entwining with Plant's husky voice on songs like "Please Read the Letter" and Roly Salley's winsome "Killing the Blues," she more than carries her end of the bargain.

And perhaps that's also due to producer Burnett, who handpicked the 13 songs the duo cover on Sand. His arrangements are sparse — giving the two voices ample room to breathe — yet dense, warm and crackling at the same time. It's a testament to his work that he's often given just as much billing as Plant and Krauss on the project ... and it's certainly justified.

To date, Sand has sold more than 1 million copies, heaped tons of acclaim and actually earned a Grammy last year — "Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)" took home the award for Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.

One expert was surprised not by the album's success, but by the fact that it's actually quite a good album.

"At first, the album seemed like a vanity project. ... Two names, clearly a one-off record, didn't have to be any good, you know?" New York Times music critic Jon Caramanica said. "Led Zeppelin fans would buy it because of Robert Plant, Alison Krauss would get a check. But it actually turned out to be a really thoughtful, really good record. So when you combine all that with the fact that the Grammys love to lionize one of their own, I could really see it taking home some awards."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604582/plantkrauss-win-album-year-grammy.jhtml

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Justin Bieber Spits 'Won't Stop' Rap Live For MTV

Pop star says he wrote rhymes, which appear on Sean Kingston's new mixtape, King of Kingz.
By Jocelyn Vena, with reporting by Sway Calloway


Justin Bieber
Photo: Brian Phares/MTV News

Justin Bieber might be a teen singer, but he also has some rapping game. Last week, his lyrical skills were featured on the track "Won't Stop" off Sean Kingston's new mixtape, King of Kingz. On it, Bieber blasts those who might not believe in his staying power.

When he stopped by Friday to chat with MTV News, the pop star revealed that he was the one who penned those inspirational words: "It was a while ago. I did it in the studio. I wrote it though, just letting you guys know," he shared. "Probably all you haters saying, 'He didn't write that.' I wrote it."

He then spit the bars back to reporter Sway Calloway, without missing a beat, live in the MTV newsroom. "Yeah they talk, yeah they talk/ They don't walk the walk I walk/ I won't stop 'til I drop, until then I reach the top/ I'mma walk to where I need to be, walk the path of destiny/ Definitely been neglected but God is always testing me" he rapped. "Rest in peace to all the men that died who were protecting me/ People in this world just want to let it be/ John Lennon made it different/ Don't just let it be, set it free."

This isn't the first time Bieber has displayed his rap skills. He frequently raps Ludacris' verses when performing "Baby" live, and he released a rap track last year under the moniker Shawty Mane. "I just do it for fun. I just mess around. It's something I like to do," he explained.

In November, he told us, "You know, Justin Bieber is not a rapper, and it would just be lame if I came out rapping.

"It's lame anyway because I'm a pop singer, but I thought it was funny. I just did it as a joke. It wasn't like anything serious."

Would you like to hear more of Justin Bieber rapping? Tell us in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1657405/justin-bieber-sean-kingston.jhtml

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Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way' Lyrics Revealed

Perez Hilton posts lyrics from singer's upcoming single and says album of the same name will 'change culture.'
By Jocelyn Vena


Lady Gaga
Photo: Kevin Winter/ Getty Images

For fans looking for details on Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" single, out in two weeks, pal Perez Hilton gave the world a sneak peek of the tune's opening lyrics on Thursday (January 27).

Hilton posted these lyrics on his website: "Don't be a drag/ Just be a queen."

"I just posted a big surprise on my website!!!! " the gossip blogger tweeted after posting the line. "Oh, and if you're a @ladygaga fan, you REALLY wanna go to [my website] RIGHT NOW! #Leaking"

Later in the day, in another post, Hilton revealed more lyrics: "No matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgendered life/ I'm on the right track, baby, I was born to survive."

His post comes hours after Gaga herself teased that she was planning to gift her fans with some of the single's lyrics, tweeting, "#thankgod4gaga is trending!? More like #thankgod4monsters! Maybe I should leak the lyrics to Born This Way today, whatdya say #leakitgaga?"

She belted out a bit of the song at the VMAs back in September. Donning her now-infamous meat dress, she sang, "I'm beautiful in my way/ 'Cause God makes no mistakes/ I'm on the right track/ Baby, I was born this way."

In his post, Hilton also revealed that he's heard the song and the album and that all of Gaga's Little Monsters won't be disappointed. "Get ready world!!!! Here she comes!!!! We've heard the song and - it MORE than lives up to the hype!!!" he wrote. "We've been holding a big secret from you all, which is we've heard the whole album. We've been there every step of the way and.... This album is going to change culture! When we can say more, we will! For now.... Don't be a drag, just be a queen!!!"

Gaga got fans hyped for the May album release of the same name on Wednesday, when she thanked them for making the song title "Edge of Glory" a Twitter trend. "Ok. Firstly, yes I love Nutella (with Banana+Wonderbread) who doesn't?" she wrote. "Secondly, I can't believe Edge of Glory was trending, sneakymonsters! Thirdly, I need a beer with my name on it cause the last 72hrs gave me a creative hangover."

Are you excited for "Born This Way"? Let us know in the comments!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1656801/lady-gaga-born-this-way-lyrics.jhtml

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Coldplay, Led Zeppelin Album Covers Featured On New British Stamps

Album art from Pink Floyd, Blur and David Bowie also included.
By James Montgomery


Coldplay's new British stamps
Photo: Royal Mail

On Thursday (January 7), the U.K.'s Royal Mail unveiled a series of 10 new stamps, honoring the most iconic album covers of the past 40 years.

The albums featured in the new series are the Rolling Stones' Let It Bleed, Led Zeppelin's IV, David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, The Clash's London Calling, New Order's Power, Corruption and Lies, Primal Scream's Screamadelica, Pink Floyd's The Division Bell, Blur's Parklife and — the most recent album on to make the cut — Coldplay's A Rush of Blood to the Head.

Meant to honor "the most potent graphic images of modern times, many of which have provided a visual soundtrack to people's lives," the series is the end result of a lengthy research process by the Royal Mail, who looked through thousands of album covers by British artists before deciding on the final list. And, during a Wednesday night BBC Radio broadcast, it was revealed that the queen herself actually approved each design.

Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page — who helped design the cover for IV — was on hand to celebrate the release of the stamps and recalled the mysterious nature of the album's iconic imagery.

"Almost 40 years after the album came out, nobody knows the old man who featured on the cover, nor the artist who painted him," he said. "That sort of sums up what we wanted to achieve with the album cover, which has remained both anonymous and enigmatic at the same time."

Of course, any great honor is befitting of an equally great contest, so, on the same day the stamps were made available to the general public, Coldplay decided to give one of their Rush of Blood stamps away. In a message on their official site, the band held a contest to send one lucky fan "a letter using a Coldplay stamp, postmarked with today's issue date."

"We visited our local post office earlier today and bought some of the Coldplay stamps," the message read. "Very nice they are too."

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1629227/coldplay-led-zeppelin-album-covers-featured-on-new-british-stamps.jhtml

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Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview: PGA Party Continues

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Hunter MahanThe PGA Tour is enjoying a nice little run right now.

This week's Waste Management Phoenix Open could very well keep it going.

Two weeks ago the Bob Hope Classic produced a feel-good story: Venezuela native Jhonattan Vegas, who first learned the game hitting rocks, brought a big smile and excitement. It was followed by last week's popular win by Bubba Watson, in an exciting dual with Phil Mickelson.

Now, it's time to party.

The Waste Management Phoenix Open is loud, wacky and usually pretty interesting. The tournament traditionally draws the largest galleries in golf with a week-long attendance of some 500,000 attending what is called "a golf tournament wrapped in a social event."

Mickelson, No. 4, is the only player among the world's top 10 in the field, but other headliners will include Dustin Johnson, defending champ Hunter Mahan (pictured) and last week's Farmers Open winner Watson.



 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/02/waste-management-phoenix-open-preview-pga-party-continues/

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