WORLD TOP SPORTS

Donald Trump boasted that the upcoming season of "The Celebrity Apprentice" is the best ever and promised the star power of its cast "blows `Dancing With the Stars' away."
Yes, it's a new cycle for the Trump-hosted competition show, which won't premiere until March 14 but threw an introductory news conference way back last October, with sworn-to-secrecy members of the media meeting the contenders.
Now NBC says it's time to unveil that roster of 14 participants, who will likely spur responses ranging from "Wow!" to "Huh?"
Maybe the most interesting participant is former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Vaulted to infamy by headlines and punch lines, he is charged with scheming to auction off President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat, campaign fundraising abuses and other offenses. He was removed from office last January, but has denied wrongdoing.
Maybe not so interesting: the comedian-actor Sinbad and Australian TV chef Curtis Stone.
"I'm certainly not a household name," said comedian-author Carol Leifer, but she sounded confident. "I'm not surprised that Joan Rivers won, because, as a standup comic, you're a one-man band — it makes you very prepared for stressful situations to be able to react to a lot of pressure. Humor is a weapon anywhere and everywhere!"
Former Poison vocalist Bret Michaels declared that, with a party-hearty rock singer's image, he would be assessed as the season's "super-underdog."
"But I've been my own boss since I've been 19 years old," said the 46-year-old former star of the "Rock of Love" reality show. "For better or worse, I've been on my own, I've learned to roll with the punches."
Then the pro wrestler-actor who calls himself Goldberg issued fair warning.
"I know I'm going to explode during this show at some point and say things I probably don't mean," he said. "I realize that about myself. I'm human and have flaws."
Baseball great Darryl Strawberry, rock-star wife and TV personality Sharon Osbourne, and Olympic gold-medal sprinter Michael Johnson will also be competing, along with singer Cyndi Lauper, actress Holly Robinson Peete and Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks.
As they spoke, the contestants were scheduled to begin taping "Celebrity Apprentice" the next day, and WWE wrestler-model Maria Kanellis was asked if they were already sizing up each other.
"Of course, we are!" she replied.
The celebrities won't be vying for a job with Trump, as in the old, civilian-cast "Apprentice," but instead will compete in business-oriented tasks around Manhattan to raise money for favorite charities.
"I live a fairly normal life. I'm a mom with two kids," said Olympic swimmer Summer Sanders, who is championing the Right to Play, an organization that uses sport and play to improve the lives of disadvantaged children. "But to have the opportunity to introduce my charity to the world is the reason I chose to do this."

"Celebrity Apprentice 3" executive producer and head honcho Donald Trump is claiming that this season's cast "blows 'Dancing With the Stars' away."
The celeb lineup, announced by NBC Monday, features baseball legend Darryl Strawberry, rockers Cyndi Lauper and Bret Michaels, Sharon Osbourne, former Olympians Michael Johnson and Summer Sanders, actress and author Holly Robinson Peete, wrestlers Goldberg and Maria Kanellis, comedians Carol Leifer and Sinbad, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, chef Curtis Stone and model Selita Ebanks.
The stars will compete in teams, men versus women, in business-centric tasks around New York City. All profits from the projects will be donated to charities of their choice.
"Celebrity Apprentice 3" will premiere March 14 at 9 p.m.
Blagojevich, who had hoped to appear on NBC's "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" but was replaced by his wife, Patti, after a federal judge would not let him leave the country, said he plans to use his "skill and know-how to get things accomplished" on the series.
Trump praised Blagojevich's "tremendous courage and guts" and predicted he may be one of the show's breakout stars.
Dots all ...
ABC's "Nightline" had its best fourth quarter in total viewers in six years, according to Nielsen Media Research. For the quarter, the late-night news magazine averaged 4 million viewers.
During the same quarter, CBS' "Late Show With David Letterman" averaged 4.22 million and NBC's "Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien" averaged 2.55 million. For "Tonight," it was the lowest fourth quarter since 1991. ...

Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich will be among stars taking on real estate mogul Donald Trump in the boardroom for the "Celebrity Apprentice" television program in March, NBC said on Monday.
Blagojevich, who was forced to resign and is awaiting trial in Chicago on charges of trying to sell President Barack Obama's former U.S. Senate seat, will face off against singer Cyndi Lauper, British TV reality judge Sharon Osbourne and 11 other celebrities in the third season of the show.
The Chicago judge handling the disgraced ex-governor's criminal case said in October that he was concerned Blagojevich might make comments on "Celebrity Apprentice" that could influence potential jurors or haunt him during the trial.
Blagojevich, who has pleaded innocent to all charges, has a tentative trial date of June 2010.
On the show's upcoming version, the celebrities will take part in business-oriented, women vs men tasks around New York, battling to avoid the famous words "You're fired!" from Trump and competing for charities close to their hearts.
Last year, Blagojevich was banned by a judge from traveling to Costa Rica to take part in another NBC reality show "I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!" because of potential flight risk. His wife Patti took his spot instead, saying she was doing it to earn money for her family.
Other celebrities competing on "Celebrity Apprentice," starting March 14 include former baseball player Darryl Strawberry, rock singer Bret Michaels of the band Poison, retired Olympic sprinter Michael Johnson, Victoria's Secret model Selita Ebanks and wrestler and model Maria Kanellis.