OPRAH, RUSESABAGINA GET FREEDOM AWARDS

Oprah, Rusesabaginaget Freedom Awards
MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Oprah Winfrey and Paul Rusesabagina, whose heroism in the face of genocide inspired the film "Hotel Rwanda," have been honored with the National Civil Rights Museum's Freedom Awards.
Winfrey was recognized with the museum's national award for working to improve the lives of poor children in Africa and helping to create a U.S. database of convicted child abusers.
Rusesabagina, who received the international award, is credited with saving the lives of more than 1,200 people during the mid-'90s Rwandan genocide in which nearly 1 million people were killed.
Speaking to thousands of schoolchildren and others gathered at a local church Thursday, Winfrey praised the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks and other civil-rights leaders for paving the way for her success.
"Your crown has been paid for," she said. "Put it on your head and wear it."
Rusesabagina, who was portrayed by Oscar-nominated Don Cheadle in "Hotel Rwanda," was given a standing ovation when he told the crowd his name means "the one who disperses his enemies."
Golf Digest ranksHollywood's best
NEW YORK -- Dennis Quaid is the top golfer among the Hollywood set. Tea Leoni is the best among the women. Tom Cruise is awful at golf, but he tips the caddies well.
Such are the conclusions of Golf Digest, which ranks Hollywood's top 100 golfers in a December special edition, which hits newsstands Tuesday.
Quaid, a member of Bel-Air Country Club in Beverly Hills, usually stays at a home on a private course when he's on the road.
Quaid is followed in the top 10 by Thomas Gibson, Tom Dreesen, Matt Craven, Chris O'Donnell, Samuel L. Jackson, brother Randy Quaid, Craig T. Nelson, Mark Wahlberg and Hugh Grant.
Leoni tied for 34th with avid golfer Sylvester Stallone. "Desperate Housewives" star Teri Hatcher didn't make the list, but she has gotten a lesson from Tiger Woods.
CMT plans reality showon race for governor
AUSTIN, Texas -- Country Music Television will air a preview of a proposed reality show based on Kinky Friedman's independent run for Texas governor.
The music network will show two half-hour pilot episodes of "Go Kinky" on Wednesday. The episodes are set to premiere in early 2006 and could lead to a TV series.
Each show follows Friedman and his campaign across Texas as he attends Rotary Club lunches and campaign fund-raisers and makes trips to the barber.
The Texas author-musician is trying to get on the 2006 ballot for Texas governor as an independent. To do that, he will need to get 45,540 signatures between March 8 and May 11 from people who do not vote in any spring party primary or runoff.
Today's birthdays
Singer-songwriter Ike Turner is 74. Actress Elke Sommer is 65. Singer Art Garfunkel is 64. Actor-playwright Sam Shepard is 62. Singer Peter Noone is 58. Singer Bryan Adams is 46. Actress Tatum O'Neal is 42.