Riggs skips opening night to be inspirational speaker

Riggs skips opening nightto be inspirational speaker
MILWAUKEE -- Maybe it was home-state spirit. The man whose rags-to-riches story is told in the movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" spent its opening night speaking at a company party in Wisconsin.
Michael Riggs, the CEO of JHT Holdings Inc., in Kenosha, said he arranged through a talent agency for Chris Gardner to be the inspirational speaker at the company's Christmas party on Dec. 15.
But with all the recent attention on Gardner and the new film starring Will Smith, Riggs doubted Gardner would make it, especially because the movie was premiering the same night.
He was wrong.
"He said, 'I could have been in Rome or with the world's biggest star, Will Smith. But I heard there was a company in Kenosha that had been doing great things, and I'd rather be here with fellow Wisconsinites,'" Riggs said.
Gardner, a Milwaukee native, was a homeless, single father in California before becoming a millionaire business executive -- the story told in the film based on his autobiography.
He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel his recent fame hasn't changed him much and that he still keeps his "day job" heading a Chicago-based brokerage firm.
Govinda puts acting first
MUMBAI, India -- Actor-turned-politician Govinda says reviving his movie career will take priority over his work as a lawmaker, but he will not quit politics entirely, a newspaper reported.
Govinda Ahuja, who is popularly known as Govinda, has acted in more than 115 movies since 1986. Two years ago he was elected to India's parliament representing the Congress Party.
Govinda, 48, told the Mumbai Mirror newspaper that his focus in the future will be the film industry.
He is hoping "Bhagam Bhag" or "Racing Around," which opened Friday, will return him to stardom. His last hit comedy was the 2001's "Kyunki Main Jhooth Nahi Bolta," or "Because I Don't Tell Lies."
Dethroned beauty queenis seeking a re-do
MIAMI -- The former Miss Nevada USA, dethroned over raunchy photos posted online, apologized Saturday as her attorney pleaded for the pageant queen to be given a second chance.
Katie Rees, who appeared in photos revealing a breast, exposing her thong underwear and kissing other young women at a party in Tampa, said her behavior was an "isolated incident."
Her attorney, Mario Torres of Tampa, asked that Miss Universe Organization co-owner Donald Trump grant Rees the same opportunity he gave Miss USA Tara Conner, who was allowed to keep her tiara after she tearfully admitted drinking as a minor at New York nightclubs. The Miss Universe Organization owns the Miss USA pageant and others.
A Miss Universe spokeswoman has said organization president Paula Shugart made the decision to strip Rees of her title and Trump supported it. First runner-up Helen Salas will assume the Miss Nevada title and compete at the next Miss USA pageant on March 23 in Los Angeles.
Rees and Conner are not the only pageant queens whose behavior has been questioned lately. On Wednesday, Mothers Against Drunk Driving announced it was severing ties with Miss Teen USA Katie Blair over news reports that the 18-year-old from Billings, Mont., had been spotted partying with Miss USA in New York clubs.
Today's birthdays
Singer Tony Martin is 93. Actor Dick Miller is 78. Actress Hanna Schygulla is 63. Rhythm-and-blues singer John Edwards (The Spinners) is 62. Actor Gary Sandy is 61. Singer Jimmy Buffett is 60. Football Hall-of-Famer Larry Csonka is 60. Country singer Barbara Mandrell is 58. Actress Sissy Spacek is 57. Actress CCH Pounder is 54. Singer Annie Lennox is 52. Reggae singer-musician Robin Campbell (UB40) is 52. Country singer Steve Wariner is 52. Singer Shane MacGowan (The Popes) is 49. Actress Klea Scott is 38. Rock musician Noel Hogan (The Cranberries) is 35. Singer Dido is 35. Rock singer Mac Powell (Third Day) is 34. Country singer Alecia Elliott is 24.
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