Tomlinson happy to be healthy and running around again

October 11th, 2009 McCain says Palin remains strong force in the GOPWASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain says Sarah Palin remains a formidable force in the Republican Party despite widespread criticisms of his 2008 running mate.

September 20th, 2009 Obama says NKorean leader seems 'pretty healthy'WASHINGTON — The leader of reclusive North Korea is "pretty healthy and in control" of the impoverished communist country. That's the assessment President Barack Obama says he got from Bill Clinton after the former president returned to the U.S.

September 17th, 2009 First lady speaks and shops at farmers marketWASHINGTON — First lady Michelle Obama bought cheese, fingerling potatoes, eggs, black kale and other items Thursday at the launch of a new farmers market blocks from the White House. Before shopping, Mrs.

August 24th, 2009 Obamas' Filipina chef at home with healthy waysMANILA, Philippines — For the White House chef, serving homegrown vegetables straight from the garden is just like preparing food in her native Philippines — healthy and simple. Filipino-American Cristeta Pasia-Comerford, the first woman and first minority to serve as the executive chef in the White House, credited the first lady for making sure her family eats steamed, organic vegetables from the garden Michelle Obama planted in April.

July 20th, 2009 NJ gov. candidate picks sheriff as running mateTRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has picked a fellow lawyer for his running mate.

June 17th, 2009 American engineers win Spanish prizeMADRID — Two American engineers who were instrumental in developing e-mail and mobile phones on Wednesday won one of Spain's prestigious Prince of Asturias awards for revolutionizing the way people communicate. Award organizers said the 2009 Prince of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research went to Raymond Tomlinson and Martin Cooper, noting that their respective work in developing e-mail and cell phone systems in the 1970s was "among the greatest technological innovations of our time." Cooper, 80, invented the first handheld mobile telephone in 1973, while 68-year-old Tomlinson's programming and development of the "at" symbol revolutionized the system of electronic messages.

May 17th, 2009 LONDON - Ace striker Cristiano Ronaldo has given Spanish giant Real Madrid the biggest hint yet that he is staying at Manchester United. As he revelled in United's record-equalling 18th title celebrations, Ronaldo insisted: "This is a family club and I am really, really happy here." The Spanish giants' prospective president Florentino Perez says he is willing to offer 90 million pound for Ronaldo and will tempt the player with a five-year deal worth 135 million pound, The Sun reported.

May 14th, 2009 Wanda Sykes and wife welcome twinsLOS ANGELES — Wanda Sykes and wife Alex are the parents of twins. Sykes' publicist, Danica Smith, says the babies, daughter Olivia Lou and son Lucas Claude, were born April 27.

April 29th, 2009 Sproles signs rich 1-year deal with ChargersSAN DIEGO — Chargers running back Darren Sproles on Tuesday signed the $6,621,000 million contract he was tendered as the team's franchise player. Sproles had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent before the Chargers tagged him as their franchise player.

April 29th, 2009 Happy the hippo leaving DC for Milwaukee, femalesWASHINGTON — Happy the hippo could soon be a lot happier. The National Zoo's solitary male Nile hippopotamus is heading to the Milwaukee County Zoo, where his new home will include a pool, a sandy beach and two potential girlfriends, Puddles and Patty.

April 23rd, 2009 Mel Kiper's NFL draft hits and missesA small sampling of some hits and misses for Mel Kiper Jr., who began analyzing college football players and NFL drafts in the 1970s and made his ESPN draft-day debut in 1984: —Kiper rated Purdue QB Jeff George as the 84th-best player in the 1990 draft; George was chosen No. 1 overall by Indianapolis; he went 46-78 as a starter plus a 1-2 playoff record, in 12 seasons with five NFL teams.

April 8th, 2009 LONDON - Coleen Rooney has confirmed that she's pregnant and is sure her football ace hubby Wayne would make a great dad. The 23-year-old, who tied the knot with the Manchester United striker in June last year, revealed the couple's first baby was due in October.

March 30th, 2009 LONDON - Inter-Milan football team coach Jose Mourinho has said that he would be more than happy to takeover coaching and managerial duties at Manchester United once present incumbent Alex Ferguson decides to call it a day. Speculation is mounting that Fergie will retire from football at the end of next season if he leads the club to an historic 19th league championship.

March 19th, 2009 MELBOURNE - Aussie tennis player Mark Philippoussis' ex-girlfriend, model Siobhan Parekh, is feeling happy and positive two months after their break-up. Parekh has relocated to Sydney after ending her 11-month relationship with Philippoussis, who is alleged to have cheated on her, and she has moved into a Bondi apartment.

February 28th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has scratched Tamil Nadu team Happy Entertainment from the second division of the I-League that starts Saturday after rejecting its request for a name change. Happy Entertainment, which was in Group C of the second division I-League, at the last moment wanted its name changed to Happy Entertainment Netaji Sports Club.