Issue Date: November 30, 2003
Will tennis prodigy Andy Roddick match or surpass Tiger Woods in terms of fan popularity, commercial endorsements and tournament winnings?
C. Smith, New York City
Not anytime soon, says sports business writer Darren Rovell, of ESPN.com. Roddick, 21, has 11 singles titles, two doubles titles and one Grand Slam win (at this year's U.S. Open) -- great for the short time he's been playing. But he'll have to remain a consistent winner to match Woods' 52 career titles and eight major championships. Woods, 27, had $41 million in tournament winnings through 2002; Roddick's take was $4 million. As for popularity, "America likes winners," Rovell says, and winnings play directly into bankability. "Companies are willing to spend more if you win more." Roddick's deal with Reebok hasn't done as much to raise his profile as Nike's golf brand has for Woods. But a Roddick-centered reality show, now in development, just might.
Martin Sheen, America's favorite TV president, is on probation until next summer, thanks to his 64th arrest -- this time for protesting at California's Vandenberg Air Force Base. "I'm having to play it very carefully," says the West Winger, while assuring us he'll be back at it soon. Activism is a big part of who Sheen, 63, is. He's supporting Howard Dean for president and worked for the "No on the Recall" campaign in the California election that made Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger governor. Removing Gray Davis, Sheen says, is "a case of a man being lifted from office because his image wasn't sexy." Sheen doesn't know Schwarzenegger but adores his wife, Maria Shriver. "I didn't get into the mix about Arnold because I didn't want to offend the Kennedy family," he says. "I've said that the only guy in our profession who was really qualified was Rob Reiner, and Rob would not run because there was no [budget] surplus. With no surplus, you just slash and burn. That's the only thing you can do."
I've heard that a fifth "Batman" movie is in the works. Who will play the Caped Crusader?
Jonathan Mejia, Palmdale, Calif.
That would be "American Psycho" lead Christian Bale, 29. The new "Batman" flick's director, Christopher Nolan ("Memento"), has said he chose Bale because the actor has "exactly the balance of darkness and light that we were looking for." At press time, no other cast members had been announced, but producers are thinking of the movie as a summer 2005 release. Bale becomes fourth in the line of most recent Batmen, following Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer and George Clooney.
There's not one episode of NBC's 1960s-themed "American Dreams" from which Jonathan Adams, 36, hasn't learned a thing or two. "Some things that happened during that time are just incredible," he says, "like the [August 1963] March on Washington." The moon landing, on July 20, 1969, is for Adams -- now married and the father of two little girls -- the most memorable moment of the decade. "It was my [second] birthday. I clearly remember watching those images for the first time, because my father was so excited." As Henry Walker on "Dreams," Adams tries to teach teenage son Sam the importance of the civil rights movement. But there are days at work where the struggles of the past leave Adams with real pain in the present. "If something really horrible is happening on the show, I have to work all these emotions out in my head. It's hard not to allow those to color your day."
Is it true that Harrison Ford will star in a fourth Indiana Jones movie?
Catherine Sullivan, Chicago
It's true; filming is planned for next summer. Ford, 61, has signed on, Sean Connery is expected to reappear as Indy's father, and Steven Spielberg will again direct. Everyone's aiming for a movie in theaters by Fourth of July weekend, 2005.
What does the "S" in actress S. Epatha Merkerson's name stand for?
Darrell Brock, Meridian, Ind.
She deflects the question with "It means 'sweet,' " but the bottom line is "I don't tell," says the actress, who answers to Epatha [ee-PAY-thuh]. Merkerson, 51, is best known for playing Lt. Anita Van Buren on "Law & Order" for the past 11 years. When the show is on hiatus, she lines up stage and film projects. Merkerson was just seen in Radio; in March, she'll appear in "Jersey Girl", the second Jennifer Lopez-Ben Affleck collaboration.
You've written about Rudi Bakhtiar's professional credentials. How about some personal info on the beautiful "CNN Headline News" anchor? Is she single?
Kenneth Bowman, Marion, Va.
Yes, but she's a busy single woman who likes to hang out with friends in Atlanta pubs or travel to places she's never seen: "It's a good way to grow." Whitewater rafting, horseback riding, scuba diving and rock climbing are just a few of the activities that have helped Bakhtiar, 37, relax before returning to cover more "heartbreaking" stories. "I remember when I was in Rwanda talking to a woman whose son was slaughtered right in front of her," she says. "I couldn't even understand her language, but I swear my whole body was shaking. With the hand gestures, I could see it all."
Contributing: Bridget Byrne, Tameka L. Hicks, Evelyn Poitevent, Andrew Smith, Frappa Stout, Paul Tokarz
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BIRTHDAYS
November 30: Clay Aiken, 25; Ben Stiller, 38; Billy Idol, 48; Dick Clark, 74
December 1: Bette Midler, 58; Richard Pryor, 63; Woody Allen, 68
December 2: Britney Spears, 22; Nelly Furtado, 25; Lucy Liu, 35
December 3: Brendan Fraser, 35; Julianne Moore, 43; Ozzy Osbourne, 55
December 4: Tyra Banks, 30; Jay-Z, 33; Marisa Tomei, 39; Jeff Bridges, 54
December 5: Frankie Muniz, 18
December 6: Janine Turner, 41
 Ask Lorrie Lynch a question about a celeb!
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