Tiger Woods announces that he will play golf in The Masters on April 8.

Here is Tiger Woods Statement to the media: 

“The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I’m ready to start my season at Augusta.

The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it’s been a while since I last played.

I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment. Although I’m returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life.

When I finally got into a position to think about competitive golf again, it became apparent to me that the Masters would be the earliest I could play. I called both Joe Lewis and Arnold Palmer and expressed my regrets for not attending the Tavistock Cup and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. I again want to thank them both for their support and their understanding. Those are fantastic tournaments and I look forward to competing in them again.

I would also like to thank the Augusta National members and staff for their support. I have deep appreciation for everything that they do to create a wonderful event for the benefit of the game.”

Tiger will draw a huge viewing audience making this a huge economic boost for the world of golf. All eyes will be on The Masters and Tiger Wood’s performance on April 8.

Merlin Olsen dies of cancer at age 69

Merlin Olsen, NFL Hall of Famer tackle, died early Thursday at a hospital in Duarte, Calif. He was 69.

Olsen’s brother Orrin, announced his death and said he had been treated for mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer. Olsen was also a longtime color commentator for NBC’s pro football and Rose Bowl telecasts, working along side Dick Enberg.

Olsen also acted on television in NBC’s “Little House on the Prairie” and in his own series, “Father Murphy.”

NFL star, Deacon Jones, told The Los Angeles Times in 1985:

“Merlin had superhuman strength. If I was beating my man inside, he’d hold him up and free me to make the tackle. If he had to make an adjustment to sacrifice his life and limb, he would make it. A lot of the plays I made were because he or the others would make the sacrifice.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement after the passing of Olsen on Thursday.

Goodell said:

“Merlin was a larger-than-life person, literally and figuratively, and leaves an enormously positive legacy.”

Our thoughts and condolences go out to Merlin’s family.

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Erin tweeted:

“For my first tweet, I thought I would show a shot of my first real bruise from practice with Maks! Having fun!!” Scroll down to see a picture of the bruise.

We look forward to watching Erin Andrews perform this season on Dancing With the Stars and are rooting her on. She is a beautiful and talented woman.

Buzz Aldrin, Erin Andrews and Evan Lysacek are on the next season of "Dancing With the Stars."

Jake Pavelka, The Bachelor, was announced last as the suprise contestant to appear on DWTS. There will be eleven contestants this year, far less than last year.

Erin Andrews, 31, has some dancing experience, having been on the Dazzlers, the University of Florida’s dance team that performs at basketball games.

The stars and the professional dancer pairings were announced on Good Morning America this morning.

• Buzz Aldrin, astronaut, is paired with Ashley Costa
• Erin Andrews, ESPN Host, is paired with Maksim Chmerkovsky
• Pamela Anderson, actress and TV personality, is paired with Damian Whitewood
• Shannen Doherty, actress, is paired with Mark Ballas
• Kate Gosselin, reality TV personality, is paired with Louis Van Amstel
• Evan Lysacek, Olympic figure skating champion, is paired with Anna Trebunskaya
• Niecy Nash, comedienne and host, is paired with Louis Van Amstel
• Jake Pavelka, The Bachelor 2010, is paired with Chelsie Hightower
• Nicole Scherzinger, former Pussycat Doll, is paired with Derek Hough
• Chad Ochocinco, NFL star, is paired with Cheryl Burke
• Aiden Turner, soap star, is paired with Edyta Sliwinska

The pros will begin training their celebrity partners as the teams prepare to hit the dance floor on the “Dancing With the Stars” two-hour season premiere on Monday, March 22 at 8 p.m. ET.

Apolo Anton Ohno wins 7th Olympic medal in Vancouver breaking Bonnie Blairs record.

Ohno, who is already a successful motivational speaker, may very well walk away from Vancouver with millions of dollars worth of new endorsement deals. He already endorses luxury Omega watches, and since his record breaking win in Vancouver Saturday night, other sponsors are sure to follow soon. Alaska Airlines, which is Ohno’s biggest sponsor, painted his image on a Boeing 737.

Apolo Ohno was already well know even before Vancouver. He was a gold medal winner from the last two Winter Olympics and became a media sensation when he won the Mirror Ball trophy  on “Dancing with the Stars.”

Other US Olympic gold medal winners, Lindsey Vonn and snowboarder Shaun White, have turned their their victories into mainstream commercial success.

“I am deeply sorry for irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in,” he said. “I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish… how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and my children.”

Elin did not appear in the room with Woods. With his mother in the room, Woods said he “brought this shame on myself.”

“I am so sorry,” he said. “I have a lot to atone for.”

Woods also addressed the night of the November accident where the media speculated that Elin had hit him with a golf club. “Elin never hit me that night, or any other night,” Woods firmly stated. “There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage.”

Woods also admitted he had been in in-patient treatment since December, and had “a long way to go.”

“It’s hard to admit that I need help,” he said. “But I do.”

Woods did not say whether he and his wife would stay together, saying that she told him his deeds, not words, would decide that.

Woods said that he will return to golf but he does not “know when that day will be.” He also criticized the media for intruding in the lives of his wife, children and mother. “Please leave my wife and kids alone,” he asked of the media.

When Woods finished speaking, Tim Finchem, PGA Tour commissioner, said that Woods was going back to sex addiction therapy.

Lindsey Vonn wins gold medal for United States in downhill in Vancouver Olympics

Vonn, who has been plagued with a bruised right shin, seemed to have no problem racing down Franz’s Downhill in 1 minute, 44.19 seconds taking her to a gold medal victory for the United States.

“This is everything I’ve wanted and hoped for,” an emotional Vonn said.

Mancuso finished 0.56 seconds behind Vonn, and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria took the bronze medal, 1.46 seconds back.

“She had the weight of the world on her,” said Thomas Vonn, Lindsey’s husband and personal coach. “People were basically hanging the medal around her neck before the start. That’s incredibly hard to deal with.”

“It was one of the most clutch runs I’ve ever seen,” Thomas Vonn said.

Lindsey Vonn is now considered the favorite to win the super-combined race which is scheduled for Thursday.

Photo by Chris Helgren / Reuters

Freestyle skier, Hannah Kearney, wins the gold for the United States in Sunday’s competition at the Vancouver Olympics. She claims the honor of being the first American to win the gold. Kearney, who hails from Vermont. won a dramatic victory over Canada’s Jenn Heil.

“I heard the crowd. I heard Jenn’s score, and I knew I’d have to have the run of my life,” she said. “I’m glad she scored a good run because it means more to me to come out on top.”

“I couldn’t even imagine the pressure on Jenn. You could almost feel it. I know Canada hasn’t won a gold medal on their home turf, but I have a feeling they’ll do it these Games,” Kearney said. “But I’m pleased that I could stop that for now.”

If you would like to find out how to hire Hannah Kearney for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Hannah Kearney booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for Olympic athletes, sports stars and celebrities. Call 800.966.1380

When I think of the Winter Olympics, I think of Dorothy Hamill and  Peggy Fleming’s gold medal figure skating performances, speed skater Dan Janzen deciding to race despite his sister’s losing battle with leukemia earlier that day, and the U.S. men’s hockey team led by Mike Eruzione defeating the mighty Russians in 1980 in what is still considered the greatest upset in Olympic history.

So who will become immortalized in American Olympics history? Here are a few Olympians to keep an eye on…

Lindsey Vonn – Vonn, the most successful American woman skier in World Cup history, will be favored in three events – Downhill, Super-G and Combined. She is the first American woman to win back-to-back overall World Cup championships and a Super G Title, and she has also won back-to-back downhill championships.

Lindsey Vonn is this years Olympic medal hopeful for downhill skiing and Super G

Apolo Anton Ohno -  Ohno has a chance to become the most celebrated American speed skater in Olympics history. He’s already won five medals (two gold, one silver, two bronze) and should add to that in Vancouver. He’s currently tied with Olympic legend Eric Heiden for most career medals by an American male. He has been the reigning United States champion since 2001 and has won the men’s national title a total of 12 times.

Already a 5 time Olympic medal winner in speed racing, Ohno is an odds on favorite to win.

Lindsey Jacobellis – Who can forget Jacobellis at the 2006 Winter Games? With a big lead and gold medal in-site, Jacobellis inexplicably fell as she neared the finish line and settled with the sliver. She’s dominated the women’s snowboard cross scene and should get redemption in Vancouver. She was the winner of the 2009 Snowboard Cross World Cup as well as the 2009 Winter X Games.

Lindsey Jacobellis dominates the women’s snowboard cross scene and is favored to win gold.

Steven Holcomb – The U.S. hasn’t won a gold medal in the four-man bobsled since 1948, but that might change this year. Holcomb’s “Night Train” bobsled team comes into Vancouver as the favorites. His team leads the current World Cup standings and are the reigning World Champions.

Steven Holcomb and his “Night Train” bobsled team comes into Vancouver as the favorites.

Rachael Flatt – Flatt won the gold medal at the recently completed U.S. Figure Skating Championships and appears to be peaking at the right time. She had previously won the silver medal at both the 2008 & 2009 Championships and was the 2008 World Junior Champion.

Rachel Flatt is America's favorite to win a medal in figure skating at Vancouver in 2010

If you would like to find out how to hire Olympic athletes for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event,  request Olympic medal winners such as Dorothy Hamill, Peggy Fleming, Apolo Anton Ohno, Lindsey Vonn booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top booking agent for Olympic athletes,  sports stars and celebrities. For more information call 800.966.1380

Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are Inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame 2010.

I’m especially happy for Floyd Little, who was up until this weekend the most deserving running back not in the Hall of Fame. Little was the first running back to win a NFL rushing title on a last-place team. He earned five Pro Bowl berths and was a versatile all-purpose player with more than 12,000 yards.

Floyd Little is Inducted into NFL Hall of Fame along with Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith

I actually have a personal connection to Little. He was the first professional athlete I ever met. He lived next door to my uncle, and one year when my family came out to Denver to go skiing, my uncle took me next door to meet him. This was during the peak of his career and he was larger-than-life to a 10 year old. I remember holding his trophies and getting his autograph. He’s an extremely nice man….

Of course, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are going to grab most of the spotlight and deservingly so.

Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards and a league-leading 155 rushing touchdowns. He was named NFL MVP in 1993, MVP of Super Bowl XXVII and to the 1990’s NFL All-Decade Team. Only Hall of Famer Jim Brown won more rushing titles than Smith.

Rice holds many of the NFL’s receiving records, including marks for single season, career and Super Bowl. He caught 1,549 passes for 22,895 yards and 208 touchdowns. He played in four Super Bowls and was named MVP of Super Bowl XXIII. He had at least 1,000 yards receiving for 11 consecutive seasons and was a 13-time Pro Bowler.

John Randle was one of the most dominating players during his 14 years in the league with the Minnesota Vikings and Seattle Seahawks. He tallied more sacks (137.5) than any other player who primarily played defensive tackle. Only Reggie White (10) had more consecutive seasons with at least 10 sacks than Randle (8).

Russ Grimm was a member of the famed Washington Redskins “Hogs” offensive line. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980’s.

Rickey Jackson was a six-time Pro Bowl linebacker for the Saints and San Francisco 49ers. He  had 128 sacks and 28 fumble recoveries, which ranks second all-time.

Dick LeBeau was a skilled cornerback for the Detroit Lions. His 62 interceptions at the time of retirement ranked second all-time and today ranks eighth overall.

Each year, there are a couple of players left out who deserve to be in the Hall. Among those not inducted this year include Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Shannon Sharpe. The official induction will take place in Canton, Ohio, on August 7.

If you would like to find out how to hire NFL Hall of Famers for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith,  Floyd Little  or Shannon Sharpe booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for  sports stars and celebrities. For more information call 800.966.1380