People news 9/2/03

Brosnan caught in Internet name game

GENEVA -- An alleged "cybersquatter" proved no match for James Bond star Pierce Brosnan, who won control of the Internet name www.pierce brosnan. com in a ruling by a United Nations panel.

Arbitrators ordered transfer of the domain name to the Irish actor, who had complained that it was being used illegally.

The ruling said the registered owner of the name -- Alberta Hot Rods, of Alberta, Canada -- had no rights or interests in the name and was using it in bad faith.

Brosnan's lawyers told the panel that the domain linked to another Web site that they said carries advertising but no information about Brosnan.

The owner of the site did not file a defense.

Anyone can register a domain name for a few dollars, which has led so-called "cybersquatters" to file for famous names to make a fast buck from those who want the names.

Brosnan's lawyers said Alberta Hot Rods is linked to Jeff Burgar, whom they described as a "notorious cybersquatter."

The U.N. panel said Burgar or linked companies have previously been ordered to hand over domain names to celebrities including actors Kevin Spacey and Pamela Anderson, "Jurassic Park" author Michael Crichton and singer Celine Dion.

The U.N. arbitration system allows those who think they have the right to a domain to get it back without having to fight a costly legal battle or pay a lot of money.

Harley bash ends with big-name entertainment

MILWAUKEE -- Harley-Davidson Inc. topped off its 100th birthday celebration with a concert featuring country star Tim McGraw, rocker Kid Rock and pop star Elton John.

McGraw rode onto the stage Sunday on a Harley motorcycle and went straight into a set. Kid Rock later joined him in a song and did more songs with McGraw's band.

After McGraw completed the set, a large gospel choir filled the stage and sang as dozens of spotlights swirled their beams over the audience, forming a cone or wheel shape.

John later took his seat at the piano, getting a mixed reaction from the biker crowd.

Evelyn Hickey, of Austin, Texas, said she likes John but didn't think it was the best choice for the Harley event. She and her group were leaving after his first song rather than waiting for a closing fireworks show.

"We all just are tired," she said. "It's been a long day."

The thousands of fans of the Milwaukee-based motorcycle maker spent Labor Day weekend taking in everything Harley -- including motorcycle exhibits, memorabilia sales and a 10,000-motorcycle parade.

As the show began, fireworks shot from the sides of the stage. Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd welcomed the crowd and the Doobie Brothers opened the concert.

"We're a biker band. We believe that riding can set you free," said Pat Simmons, of the Doobies.

Photo of smooching pop stars draws outcry

ATLANTA -- A small front-page photo of Britney Spears and Madonna sharing an open-mouth kiss at the MTV Video Music Awards caused the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to apologize to readers in Monday's papers.

The picture, not much bigger than a postage stamp, was near the top of Friday's front page on the morning after the televised show. A larger version of the picture was in the paper's Living section.

The kiss picture elicited a deluge of complaints to the newspaper. In Monday's editions, managing editor Hank Klibanoff apologized, saying the picture should have been inside but not on the front page.

Klibanoff compared the picture to graphic images from the war in Iraq.

"We ran images we otherwise might not have run. But that was war, and war was news. The photo we ran Friday was neither, and I wish I had limited its display," Klibanoff wrote in a response to letters on the opinions page.

Charity paint ball tourney stars Shatner

NEW MILFORD, Pa. -- Daring to go where few actors have gone before, William Shatner headlined a paint ball tournament to raise money for an annual show for disabled children.

"Well, why not paint ball?" Shatner said at the contest that drew at least 2,000 participants. "This is fun, so people will come, and it's for charity."

Shatner, 72, who starred as Captain Kirk in the "Star Trek" TV series and films, said proceeds of Sunday's tournament will go toward his Hollywood Charity Horse Show, an annual event.

J.J. Brookshire, the organizer of the event and a longtime friend of Shatner's, said the actor was introduced to paint ball before a similar event last year.

"He played a few times before the actual event," Brookshire said. "But once he started, we had to make him stop playing."-- From wire reports

Mayor's daughter competes in horse show

BRIDGEHAMPTON, N.Y. -- New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg traveled to the eastern end of Long Island to watch his daughter compete in the main event of a major equestrian competition.

Georgina Bloomberg failed to place Sunday in the top 15 of 29 horse riders at the Grand Prix of the weeklong Hampton Classic Horse Show.

The mayor's 20-year-old daughter was aboard Riviera, one of six horses she brought to the competition.

The mayor watched the competition from inside a V.I.P. tent, where guests at his table included actress Lorraine Bracco of "The Sopranos" and model Christie Brinkley.

Bloomberg noted his daughter was one of the youngest riders in the competition and said he was proud of her simply for qualifying for the Grand Prix.

"I came here knowing two things," he said. "She'll try as hard as she can and she'll come out with a smile on her face. She's turned out to be a great kid."

Georgina Bloomberg, who will enter New York University this fall as a freshman, is one of Bloomberg's two daughters. The other, 23-year-old Emma, works at City Hall.

Columbia pilot commemorated by Nevada school

HENDERSON, Nev. -- The father of late astronaut William McCool surveyed the crowd gathered at Lamping Elementary School, taking in their youthful exuberance and dreams of the future.

"If you have the drive, the heart, you can do it," Barry McCool told the students during an assembly Friday.

McCool, a retired U.S. Navy pilot who lives in Las Vegas, answered a variety of questions from the students, including what astronauts eat, how they sleep and what it's like to be weightless.

The school is planning to name a new science center after McCool's son, who was one of seven astronauts who died Feb. 1 when the space shuttle Columbia exploded during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. Willie McCool, 42, was the shuttle's pilot.

"To have Willie's name associated with it is a tremendous honor for us," his father said.

McCool urged students to follow their dreams and to pay attention to their teachers, especially in math and science. The country needs a new generation of astronauts, he said.

"And that's what you all can be," he told the children. "The next generation of heroes."

Country star Anderson recovers from heart attack

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Country musician John Anderson was recovering from surgery after suffering a heart attack at a Charleston hotel over the weekend.

He was hospitalized in stable condition Monday, said publicist Jim Della Croce.

Anderson, 48, was to perform at the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta on Saturday night but was taken to the hospital that afternoon.

"The production group told me he tried to leave the hospital twice because he'd never missed a show before," said the festival's director, M. Sharon King.

Anderson had been having chest pains, said Della Croce. The singer had an angioplasty and a stent was placed in his heart during surgery, Della Croce said.

"He's in good spirits," the publicist said. "He's expected to be released later in the week."

Anderson's 1983 hit "Swingin"' -- the largest-selling country single in Warner Bros. history -- was named best single of the year by the Country Music Association. His album "Seminole Wind" went double platinum in 1992.

In 1993, Anderson, who lives in Smithville, Tenn., won an Academy of Country Music Career Achievement award.

Anderson's touring schedule is suspended for the time being. Della Croce said an announcement about future performance dates will be made mid-week.

-- From wire reports