Tyler Perry as Madea- Go See This Weekend Support, Support

Reunited, Bryant and O’Neal Are Dynamic

PHOENIX — For one evening, Shaquille O’Neal, the N.B.A.’s reigning clown prince, provided a vivid reminder of his unique place in the basketball universe.O’Neal and Kobe Bryant, former teammates and rivals with the Los Angeles Lakers, were briefly reunited Sunday evening, leading the West to a 146-119 victory over the East in the N.B.A. All-Star Game.

They laughed and passed, danced and dunked, and emerged as the co-most valuable players. Bryant provided the most points (27), while O’Neal provided the most mirth. Afterward, they embraced and then playfully tugged at the M.V.P. trophy, as if they were old childhood friends and not onetime sparring partners.

Kenseth rallies in the rain, soaks in first Daytona 500 win

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — After an offseason marred by news of crewmembers being laid off, sponsorships shrinking and teams folding, NASCAR tried kicking off its 2009 story line with a splash of celebrity mega-wattage. Tom Cruise. Gene Hackman. Keith Urban.

In a Daytona 500 preceded by movie star cameos and containing a few Hollywood-style plot twists, NASCAR's most unassuming champion stole the show on the sport's grandest stage Sunday.

Kenseth, a soft-spoken and stoic native of tiny Cambridge, Wis., who often shuns rather than seeks the spotlight, scored the biggest victory of his Sprint Cup career, passing Elliott Sadler shortly before the skies opened at Daytona International Speedway.

Alex Rodriguez jokes about his steroid situation???

Alex Rodriguez's campaign for forgiveness could have begun Friday night. He stood before the most forgiving audience he could get in CORAL GABLES, Fla. - one that greeted him with a standing ovation - but he made no apology to his fans for cheating them and the game by taking steroids.

For the most part, really, he just made jokes. He began his first public appearance since the mea culpa by pointing out the huge media horde and saying, "I want to welcome my friends in the back. We travel together. Just like a family - a dysfunctional family."

Then he began his remarks by saying, "As you all know it's been a very quiet week for me, so it's really nice to get out on a Friday night."

As could be expected, many who attended saw only the best in A-Rod, who grew up in Miami but did not attend the university, opting to sign with the Mariners out of high school.

"After all the stress he's been under, I thought he was nothing but a class act," said Gerry Gonzalez, who has a son on the UM team.

"I thought he wouldn't touch the topic, but it was nice that he made light of it after a week like this," said John Routh, who was the team mascot for 11 years. "I think he might have said more to a group like us if there weren't so many media here."