Wooot!!! Congratulations goes out to the US Soccer Team today because they *just* defeated the Algerian Soccer Team by a score of 1-0 to advance to the second round of 2010 World Cup soccer tournament action. Team USA has advanced to the “sweet 16″ elimination round of the World Cup, winning their competitive group for the first time since 1930 … and it’s all thanks to LA Galaxy captain Landon Donovan who scored the winning goal in the 91st minute of play:

Landon Donovan scored in the first minute of stoppage time off a rebound, advancing the United States to the second round at the World Cup with a 1-0 win over Algeria. With the U.S. perhaps three minutes from elimination, Jozy Altidore was stopped on a breakaway by goalkeeper Rais Bolihi. Donovan hustled in and kicked in the rebound to win Group C Wednesday. After his U.S. record 44th international goal, Donovan joyously ran to the corner flag and his teammates ran down the touchline to mob him. Donovan was in tears when the game ended and the United States had moved into the second round. With just its fifth shutout in World Cup play, the United States (1-0-2) won a World Cup group for the first time since 1930 and will face the runner-up in Group D this weekend. England (1-0-2), which beat Slovenia moments earlier, also had five points but finished second because the U.S. scored four goals to two for the English. Slovenia (1-1-1) was third with four points, missing advancing because of Donovan’s heroics. and Algeria (0-2-1) was last with one. Until Donovan’s goal, it appeared the officiating would again be the focus. Clint Dempsey put the ball in the net in the 21st minute off the rebound of Herculez Gomez’s shot. But the goal was called offside, just as Maurice Edu’s late goal was disallowed against Slovenia last week, a score that would have given the Americans a victory. Replays appeared to show Dempsey was onside. Dempsey had another great chance in the 57th minute when Michael Bradley stole the ball and sent Altidore streaking down the right side. Altidore crossed, but Dempsey’s hit the goalpost. He shot wide on the rebound.

Boy, what I wouldn’t give for a vuvuzela right now. Oh what the hell, ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZ!!! Now y’all know I’m not a huge soccer fan but I have to be damn proud of Team USA for pulling out this literal last minute win. Now we advance to the next round of the World Cup … and they won their group for the first time in 70 years! Landon Donovan has proved to be the US’s #1 soccer stud … I think he should run for president ;) Congrats USA! Let’s take this thing all the way to the finals!!

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Jermaine Jackson and his son Jaafar were spotted making their grand arrival at Forest Lawn Cemetery here in SoCal yesterday — where the late King of Pop Michael Jackson has been laid to rest — to prepare for a nationwide interview with Larry King for broadcast on CNN for the 1 year anniversary this Friday June 25 of Michael Jackson‘s death. As you may recall, Jermaine sat down with Larry King for multiple interviews in the wake of MJ‘s death last year at the Neverland Ranch (MJ‘s former home) … it seems like the time has come, once again, for Jermaine to step back into the spotlight and bask in the glow of the media attention:

While I understand that there is much interest in securing high profile interviews to mark the anniversary of Michael Jackson‘s death, it just seems a bit disingenuous coming from the Jackson family. I absolutely believe they are hurting from MJ‘s loss but many of them seem all to eager to jump in front of the cameras to talk to anyone who will listen. We got mama Katherine Jackson peddling a book on one side and now Jermaine posing in front of MJ‘s grave on the other side … I guess this the way it’s gonna be on each and every anniversary of MJ‘s death. I really have no interest in hearing from Jermaine, to be honest … will YOU be tuning in?

[Photo credit: INFdaily]

Celebs and musicians gathered last night at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, TN to perform at a benefit concert called Nashville Rising: A Benefit Concert For Flood Recovery in order to raise much needed funds for the flood victims of Nashville. As you may know, torrential rains caused massive flooding in and around Nashville in early May which resulted in 22 deaths and over $2 billion in damage. Last night’s benefit concert was organized to raise money for the flood victims still dealing with the effects of last month’s flooding. Here are a couple photos of Sandra‘s appearance/performance last night:

Nashville Rising was as much a celebration of Music City as it was a flood-relief benefit concert. Star after star — including surprise visitor Sandra Bullock — professed their love and admiration for the city and its people, who have been praised for handling one of the state’s most destructive natural disasters with grace, dignity and charity. “Nashville will rise and that is why we have come together tonight,” said Faith Hill, who organized the benefit with husband Tim McGraw. “Musicians, football players, coaches, our elected officials, you in the audience, yes, we are all the same. We’re just neighbors who care and friends who want to make a difference.” It was a subdued night, but still filled with No. 1 hits and poignant songs played to a sold-out crowd at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, which housed as much cross-genre star power as the building’s seen. Musicians from the country, rock and Christian music scenes turned out with the aim of raising $2 million for The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. The flood, spurred by record rains across Tennessee on May 1 and 2, killed 22 people in the state and caused $2 billion in damage in Nashville’s Davidson County alone. The water forced thousands from their homes, struck some of the city’s biggest landmarks and destroyed the instruments and gear of scores of musicians. “It happened to our friends, our neighbors, our loved ones and our homes,” Hill told the crowd. “Everyone here knows someone affected by the flood.” Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood sang their hits, Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins praised the hillbillies of Tennessee, Lynyrd Skynyrd saluted its second home, Miranda Lambert rewarded fans with her two No. 1s, and Bullock even got in on the act. Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey and Dolly Parton taped video messages for the crowd. “Nashville Rising is just another way to say, `Love thy neighbor,’” Parton said … Bullock, who was in “The Blind Side” with McGraw, came on stage late in the show to introduce Hill. “So listen,” she told the crowd. “They say a community is only as strong as it’s weakest link, right? From the look of it, there are no weak links in this community.” Bullock said she told McGraw she could stage a wardrobe malfunction or a few comedic pieces for the crowd but soon realized she needed to do something more. “I’m going to contribute some music and I’m going to bring the house down and I’m going to do it Nashville style,” she said before strapping on an acoustic guitar and sitting in front of a microphone. “If I can have some quiet please,” she said. She pieced out the opening riff of “Smoke On The Water” to some of the night’s loudest cheers, before introducing Hill. “That’s good stuff isn’t it?” Hill said. “Sign that girl right away.” Hill then turned in one of the night’s best performances with a soaring vocal on “Stronger” and a rousing version of “Piece Of My Heart.” “How can I follow that?” McGraw asked before finishing off the evening with “Southern Voice” and “Live Like You Were Dying.”

Unfortch, it seems to me that coverage of the Nashville flood has been superseded by coverage of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill (at least here on the West Coast) but I love that the people of Nashville took matters in their own hands to orchestrate flood relief for those in need. I understand the Bridgestone Arena was sold out last night … meaning a lot of affected people will get the money they desperately need.

As the report above says, Sandra did perform a bit during last night’s Nashville Rising benefit concert. After the jump, check out a short video from her performance …