DeSoto schools select HOBY leaders

OLIVE BRANCH - Center Hill High School sophomore Chelsea Dilliard will be among thousands of students across the U.S. to represent her school as one of tomorrow’s leaders at the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership seminar this spring.

Dilliard, daughter of Johnny and Amy Dilliard of Olive Branch, was among a pool of about 25 sophomores at her school nominated for the honor by teachers and staff.
“I think she is an outstanding young lady,” said CHHS counselor Nancy Josey. “She has upstanding character and is well-respected by her peers and teachers. She will be a great representative for our school.”

CHHS principal George Loper agrees.

“She is a wonderful student and serves as a good role model for others,” he said. “I wish I had 1,130 other students here at Center Hill High School just like her.”

The HOBY Leadership seminars bring together a select group of high school sophomores from public and private high schools throughout each state in the nation to interact with groups of distinguished leaders in business, government, education and other sectors to discuss present and future issues.

Dilliard said she is excited about the opportunity.

“This is the first time I have been selected for something of this enormity,” she said. “I’m excited. It’s truly an honor.”

Dilliard, along with other DeSoto County School District HOBY representatives including sophomores Hayden Davis of Lewisburg High, Lauren Hamm of DeSoto Central High, and Mary Myers of Horn Lake High as well as others throughout the state, will attend the HOBY Leadership seminar at Millsaps College in Jackson May 29-31.

Olive Branch, Hernando, and Southaven high schools are still accepting nominations for their HOBY representatives.

Christian Bale says rant 'inexcusable'

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Christian Bale says he acted like a "punk" and that his profane tongue-lashing on the set of "Terminator Salvation" was inexcusable.

In Friday remarks on a Los Angeles morning radio show, Bale said he never intended to get physical with cinematographer Shane Hurlbut. He also said he was likely channeling too much of his character, John Conner.

Bale also told the "Kevin and Bean" show on KROQ 106.7 that he and Hurlbut reconciled and worked together for another month following the tirade.

The outburst, which occurred last year on the set in New Mexico, was posted this week on the celebrity gossip site TMZ. It has become an Internet sensation, inspiring a music remix, spoofs, and punch lines for the "Kevin and Bean" show.

A-Rod reportedly tested positive for steroids

NEW YORK (AP) — As Barry Bonds prepares to defend his name, the slugger who may eventually surpass him as the all-time home run leader has become ensnared by the Steroids Era: Alex Rodriguez.

Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids during his MVP season with Texas in 2003, Sports Illustrated reported on its Web site Saturday.

The New York Yankees star has long denied using performance-enhancing drugs. He declined to discuss the tests when approached by SI on Thursday at a gym in Miami.

"You'll have to talk to the union," he said.

Major League Baseball and the players' union issued statements Saturday, refusing to confirm or deny the report, citing player confidentiality.

An e-mail from The Associated Press to Rodriguez's agent, Scott Boras, was not immediately returned. The Yankees and Rangers declined comment.

The SI revelations come at a time when baseball's focus on drugs has concerned Bonds and the legal maneuvering leading to the start of his trial March 2. The government is trying to prove Bonds lied when he told a grand jury he never knowingly took performance-enhancing drugs.

Phelps suspended for 3 months for pot photo

Michael Phelps' return to competition for the first time since the Beijing Olympics is on hold. The swimming superstar has been suspended for three months and had his training stipend revoked by USA Swimming.

It's the latest complication for the 23-year-old Olympic great since a photo surfaced showing him inhaling from a marijuana pipe at the University of South Carolina last fall.

He also lost a high-profile sponsor Thursday when Kellogg Co. said it wouldn't renew its deal with Phelps that expires later this month.

Phelps recently resumed serious training in his hometown of Baltimore with the goal of qualifying for this summer's world championships in Rome. But the suspension will cut into his racing schedule.

"This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero," the Colorado Springs, Colo.-based national governing body said in a statement.

"Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust."

Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing and returned to America as one of the world's most acclaimed athletes. He made headlines of a different kind, however, in the wake of the photo, published Sunday by News of the World, a British tabloid.