newsmakers
newsmakers
Wrestler ‘Macho Man’ dies in Fla. wreck
Randy “Macho Man” Savage, the professional wrestler known for his raspy voice, the sunglasses and bandanas he wore in the ring and the young woman named Miss Elizabeth who often accompanied him, died in a car crash Friday in Florida. He was 58.
A Florida Highway Patrol crash report said the former wrestler — whose legal name was Randy Mario Poffo — was driving a Jeep Wrangler when he lost control in Pinellas County around 9:25 a.m. The Jeep veered over the raised, concrete median divider, crossed over the eastbound lanes and crashed head-on into a tree.
Police said he may have suffered a “medical event” before the accident, but the report did not elaborate, and it said officials would need to perform an autopsy to know for sure.
The report said a woman in the vehicle, identified as Barbara L. Poffo, 56, suffered minor injuries. A statement from Stamford, Conn.-based World Wrestling Entertainment said the passenger was the wrestler’s wife. Both were wearing their seat belts, according to the police report.
Savage was a charismatic wrestler made famous for his “Macho Man” nickname and his “Oooh Yeah!” catchphrase. He was a champion in Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation and later Ted Turner’s now-defunct World Championship Wrestling.
Jude Law in spotlight in tabloid-spying case
LONDON
Actor Jude Law is taking a lead role in a court battle over the wide-ranging spying campaign mounted by a British tabloid newspaper. Law was one of many people reportedly targeted by the scandal-hungry News of The World, which listened in on voicemails to get its scoops.
Law was named Friday in one of four test cases to be considered by Justice Geoffrey Vos at Britain’s High Court next year. Vos says that the cases will help him set a range of damages to award people targeted by the News of The World — the biggest-selling Sunday tabloid newspaper — enabling other cases to be resolved without going to court.
The News of the World is facing about 20 lawsuits from alleged hacking victims, although more are expected.
Vatican slams sculpture of pope
ROME
The Vatican on Friday slammed a giant new modernist sculpture that portrays John Paul II, saying the bronze work outside Rome’s main train station doesn’t even look like the late pontiff. Commuters and tourists say the statue looks more like the late Italian dictator Benito Mussolini than the widely beloved pope.
The artist, Oliviero Rainaldi, depicts the pontiff as if he is opening his cloak to embrace the faithful.
But the Vatican says the effect is “of a mantle that almost looks like a sentry box, topped by a head of a pope, which comes off too roundish.”
Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno, asked by APTN in an exclusive interview in his office if the city might take down the statue, said public opinion would be considered.
Associated Press