SA surfer, Chris Bertish, wins Mavericks Big Wave Surf Compo
Seen here with Cape Town fan, Nisreen Gardner

Chris Bertish Wins Mavericks Big-Wave Surf Compo – We mention Chris Bertish quite a bit on these pages. Mainly because he is a 2oceanviber, and also because he rides waves like this, taken at Dungeons. Then you might also remember Chris was raising funds to get to California after being invited to surf in one of earth’s most respected big-wave competitions. Well he made is there, nearly died, and won the whole thing and $50,000. The airlines lost all his luggage so he used a borrowed board and a wetsuit as well. This man’s balls should be bronzed and put on a mantelpiece. [mavericks]

Giorgian Luger Dies From Crash At Olympics – Nodar Kumaritashvili, a Georgian luger, has died from one of the most horrible accidents imaginable just hours before the official start of the Olympics. Kumaritashvili lost control of his sled, went over a wall, and slammed into a metal support beam. Observers said his sled was traveling nearly 90 mph. [yahoo]

“My Sherona” Singer Dies – Doug Fieger, lead singer and guitarist of rock group The Knack, is dead at age 57. The Knack was most famous for the single “My Sherona,” which spent 6 weeks at the top of the charts in 1979 and became a requirement for bar bands everywhere. Fieger, best known as the founding vocalist-guitarist of the Knack, died this morning at home in Woodland Hills, Calif., after a six-year battle with cancer. He was 57. [freep]

Lindsay Lohan Screws Up Her Escort Job – Austrian billionaire Richard Lugner was set to pay Lindsay Lohan $150,000 for her to accompany him to yesterday’s Vienna Opera Ball, as Ivana Trump, Pam Anderson, Sophia Loren, Carmen Electra, Dita von Teese and Paris Hilton have done in the past. The fallen starlet, however, wanted the event rescheduled; wouldn’t vet her gown; then missed her private jet and refused to take a shared plane. [gawker]

Tiger Woods Gives Elin A Boat – The future of Tiger Woods’s marriage and career may be in question, but the embattled golf star will have something to look forward to in the coming weeks: A new, custom-designed sporting boat christened Solitude, designed for Elin. Aptly named for the embattled athlete who hasn’t been seen since fighting with wife Elin Nordegren on Thanksgiving night, the 61-foot boat may also serve as a peace offering. [people]

Blackberry Stops Bullet – In a display of possibly its most useful application, A woman’s BlackBerry cell phone saved her from serious harm after her boyfriend’s iPhone Gun App concealed handgun discharged inside a restaurant. The incident occurred in Montgomery County with this kind of shit happens the whole time. [daytondailynews]

Wall Street Helped Greece Hide Debt – Wall Street tactics akin to the ones that fostered subprime mortgages in America have worsened the financial crisis shaking Greece and undermining the euro by enabling European governments to hide their mounting debts. One deal created by Goldman Sachs helped obscure billions in debt from the budget overseers in Brussels. [nytimes]

Toyota Recall : Here Come The Lawsuits! – Toyota Motor Corp.’s massive recalls for acceleration and braking problems are creating a huge legal liability for the company — and Toyota owners may share in the pain. The Japanese automaker faces dozens of lawsuits over injuries and deaths attributed to safety problems, with many more suits expected. Lawyers and legal experts said the lawsuits could be particularly expensive for the automaker. [latimes]

The Great Tom Cruise Comeback – It’s been less than four years since Viacom chief Sumner Redstone famously called Tom Cruise “embarrassing,” labeled him as a turn-off for all women and accused him of costing Paramount “a lot of money.” He also refused to renew the star’s contract. What a difference a little career upswing makes. [thewrap]

Bacon or Beer Can? – Coincidentally, the UK Showbiz Guy mentioned this in December and now it’s come up again. You know how the Jamaican crew say the word “bacon?” It sounds like “beer can,” don’t you think? Well I’m telling it does. And I’ve found a website to prove it to you. [baconorbeercan]

Mandoza Injured In Car Accident – Kwaito artist Mandoza sustained head injuries when his car smashed into a palm tree in Weltevredenpark, west of Johannesburg on Sunday morning, paramedics said. ER24 spokesman Werner Vermaak said the man, whom was identified by witnesses as Mandoza, real name Mduduzi Tshabalala, smashed his Mini Cooper at 9.10am. Blind! [timeslive]

Postal Service Takes 24 Years To Deliver Bottle Of Champagne – After wrestling with the packaging and several layers of plastic foam, Frank Diorio opened it to discover a bottle of Martini & Rossi Asti Spumante from his father, Frank Sr., of Brookline – a nice gift, if a bit late, since Mr. Digorio’s 55th birthday was Nov. 17. No, make that really, really late: Mr. Digorio Sr. sent the package on Nov. 15, 1985! [postgazette]

[thanks brian]