We already knew 8 of Barbara Walter’s picks for the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2010. Those 8 were:
Tonight, we found out the identity of the last two. One, I had correctly guessed to be Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. The other one, who was Barb’s pick for the most fascinating person of 2010, I believe took every one by surprise: General David Petraeus.
General Petraeus is a United States Army general who serves as the current Commander, International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan. He was appointed by President Barack Obama to replace former Gen. Stanley McChrystal as the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan.
Barbs explains General Petraeus is kind of a “rock star” in the military. Barb continued, “In life, it seems, there are people who break things and people who fix them. This man is a fixer. A lot depends on General Petraeus and his combination of humanity and strength.” It seems that in this war, it is a combination of compassion and firepower which is needed to combat the specific enemies facing the US in that terrain.
Petraeus believes in creating order by gaining the trust of the locals. In practice, this means constructing schools, teaching farmers new techniques, helping local businesses grow, bolstering the government to provide basic services to its own citizens, and maintaining peace to keep it from becoming a launching pad for terrorists.
Petraeus joins an eclectic and bizarre group for the title of “Most Fascinating Person,” as selected by Barb over the last 18 years of the list’s existence. Last year, first lady Michelle Obama was named the Most Fascinating person. In 2008, it was then President-elect Barack Obama. Past honorees include Laura Bush, J.K. Rowling, Nancy Pelosi, Paris Hilton, Camilla Parker Bowles, Lance Armstrong, Gen. Tommy Franks, Colin Powell, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Nelson Mandela and more. Yep, you read that correctly. The top honorees over the years have in fact included both Paris Hilton and Nelson Mandela. If that does not spell eclectic and bizarre, I don’t know what else would.
Here are some clips from tonight’s special:
Barbara Walters has released her 2010 list of The 10 Most Fascinating People of the Year. Some of the ones selected are obvious choices and some are just downright weird. Below is the full list, minus two mystery honorees which will only be revealed during Barb’s hour-long special which airs next week.
Betty White. Need I say why?
LeBron James may have broken the heart of every single Clevelander when he signed on to play basketball for the Miami Heat, but he somehow endeared his way on to Barb’s list.
Barbara’s ABC special airs Thursday, December 9 at 10PM.
Our friends at Newsy sent us this video discussing the list!
Celebrities love to send TwitPics of themselves and we love to see them! Here is a collection of some of my favorites celeb pics of the week.
Given that it was Halloween, there are some very interesting photos included indeed.
Come back every Friday for more of my favorites!
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Jake with Erin Andrews and Evan Lysacek
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| Kyle Massey, Kurt Warner, Rod Stewart |
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| DWTS Cast |
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| Mark and Corky Ballas |
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| Derek with Julianne Hough |
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| Ellen with Taylor Swift |
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| Maksim with Erin Andrews and Stacy Keibler |
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| Eliza and Rick Fox |
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| Gilles Marini, Emmitt Smith, Kelly Osbourne and Tom Bergeron |
Chili’s President, Wyman T. Roberts writes in his letter: “Steve Carell’s shameful display of selfishness and betrayal has shifted our ‘motivation’ to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels,” Roberts continued. “His heartless and callous actions will only fuel our constant search for freshness and flavor. This shocking act of disloyalty from our homegrown ‘funny man’ sends the exact opposite flavor of what we would want our children to taste. And ‘where’ we would want them to go out and eat.”
Oh LeBron James, what have you done?
People are really mad at you!
If I had not seen this for myself, I would not have believed that an owner of a major sports franchise would openly write this kind of letter (see below). However, this letter, in this exact font and format, was posted on Cleveland Cavaliers’ website by Dan Gilbert, majority owner of the Cavs. As I asked in a previous post, can someone please tell me what did LeBron James do so wrong to deserve such hatred?
Update: BREAKING NEWS: Apparently NBA Commissioner David Stern agrees with me! He has fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $100,000 on 7/12 for the letter published by Cavs owner. “I think that the remarks by Dan Gilbert, the owner of the Cavaliers, catalyzed as they may have been by hurt with respect to the manner and the fact, for himself or his team, and particularly for the people of Cleveland, though understandable were ill advised and imprudent,” Stern said, “And I have notified Cleveland that they will be fined $100,000 for those remarks under my power as commissioner.”
Dear Cleveland, All Of Northeast Ohio and Cleveland Cavaliers Supporters Wherever You May Be Tonight;
As you now know, our former hero, who grew up in the very region that he deserted this evening, is no longer a Cleveland Cavalier.
This was announced with a several day, narcissistic, self-promotional build-up culminating with a national TV special of his “decision” unlike anything ever “witnessed” in the history of sports and probably the history of entertainment.
Clearly, this is bitterly disappointing to all of us.
The good news is that the ownership team and the rest of the hard-working, loyal, and driven staff over here at your hometown Cavaliers have not betrayed you nor NEVER will betray you.
There is so much more to tell you about the events of the recent past and our more than exciting future. Over the next several days and weeks, we will be communicating much of that to you.
You simply don’t deserve this kind of cowardly betrayal.
You have given so much and deserve so much more.
In the meantime, I want to make one statement to you tonight:
“I PERSONALLY GUARANTEE THAT THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS WILL WIN AN NBA CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE THE SELF-TITLED FORMER ‘KING’ WINS ONE”
You can take it to the bank.
If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our “motivation” to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels.
Some people think they should go to heaven but NOT have to die to get there.
Sorry, but that’s simply not how it works.
This shocking act of disloyalty from our home grown “chosen one” sends the exact opposite lesson of what we would want our children to learn. And “who” we would want them to grow-up to become.
But the good news is that this heartless and callous action can only serve as the antidote to the so-called “curse” on Cleveland, Ohio.
The self-declared former “King” will be taking the “curse” with him down south. And until he does “right” by Cleveland and Ohio, James (and the town where he plays) will unfortunately own this dreaded spell and bad karma.
Just watch.
Sleep well, Cleveland.
Tomorrow is a new and much brighter day….
I PROMISE you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only:
DELIVERING YOU the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue…. 
Dan Gilbert
Majority Owner
Cleveland Cavaliers
John tries his hand at humor here. Got to love humor. Although, this isn’t even funny.
LOL. John Tweeted yesterday that he had a special announcement to make in an hour. And this video is his announcement:
I don’t watch the NBA, so I don’t get all the recent hatred for LeBron James. So what that this young man at 24 years old left Cleveland. I would too. Hell, I wouldn’t have lived there to begin with. Clevelanders should thank him for having stuck it out as long as he did not hate on him and burn his jerseys in the street for finally making a move. The right move.
I don’t know, Miami vs. Cleveland. For me, Miami wins, hands down. Maybe I am missing something, so, please fill me in someone.
All I know is that everyone now hates LeBron for either leaving Cleveland, not going to their city instead of Miami, or for putting on a narcissistic show of apocalyptic proportions on ESPN announcing his intention to go to Miami.
I did not watch the hour-long “Decision” on ESPN. But 10-12 million people did. So, why are we blaming LeBron for his “narcissism” when we feed into such behavior? Why watch and then hate? Give me a break. We get what we crave and we crave bad behavior just so we can bitch about it.
Also, didn’t LeBron take a pay cut to go to Miami? All in sacrifice to win a championship? Isn’t the NBA or any other professional sport about winning championships? Do not tell me that it’s about anything more lofty when we have free agency and players no longer have to be loyal to one team for their entire lives.
My east coast correspondent, Hayward Taylor found LeBron (above), now the newest member of the Miami Heat, as he exits the W Hotel in South Beach, Miami on his way to the Heat’s signing celebration party last night.
