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Season 21 of “Top Chef” premieres on Wednesday, March 20, with 15 brand new, talented cheftestants competing in Wisconsin for the title and the grand prize of $250,000, a feature in Food and Wine Magazine and an appearance at the 41st annual Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. Scroll down to learn about all of this year’s competitors.

There are big changes this season. First and foremost, longtime host Padma Lakshmi has stepped down from the cooking competition and has been replaced by season 10 “Top Chef” champion Kristen Kish. But judges Gail Simmons and Tom Colicchio are back. Over the course of the season they will be joined by judging and dining panelists who include Dane Baldwin, Charlie Berens, Ryan Braun, Paul Bartolotta, Dominique Crenn, Curtis Duffy, Clea Duvall, Andrew Kroeger, Emeril Lagasse, Hunter Lewis, Bricia Lopez, Tory Miller, Itaru Nagano, Carrie Nahabedian, Joe Papach, Shaina Papach, Justin Pichetrungsi, Sofia Roe, Sean Sherman,...

Some of biggest stars in the world -- from Adam Sandler to Jamie Foxx to Baker Mayfield -- came out to Malibu to play in a celeb softball game Sunday to raise a ton of money for a great cause.  It was all for the California Strong charity ... created by Mlb stars Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun, Mike Moustakas and NFL star Jared Goff to help out people affected by the CA wildfires and the shooting at the Borderline Bar.

Alex Rodriguez not only feels the Mlb is singling him out ... he feels "persecuted" in the Ped scandal -- and plans to Sue if the league doesn't Completely recant ... TMZ has learned.Sources directly connected to A-Rod tell us he's prepared to march into Federal court next month ... unless the 211-game suspension the Mlb slapped him with last week isn't entirely lifted.The reason for A-Rod's bold demand -- A-Rod sources familiar with the investigation...

The controversial baseball star was finally handed his punishment for using performance enhancing drugs — he’ll be kept off the field through 2014. However, Alex plans to appeal the ruling. Should he?

Major League Baseball finally handed down their suspension to Alex Rodriguez, banning him for a total of 211 games! Yet, Alex is determined to fight his suspension in order to save his reputation.

Alex Rodriguez To Appeal Suspension — Baseball Player Out Through 2014

Since he is allowed to play during the appeal process, Alex made his return to the field on August 5 and said he was playing to “prove to the Yankees and fans that I still have a shot to play the game at a high level. And I will do my best. I am fighting for my life. If I don’t defend myself, no one will.”

He added, “I am thrilled and humbled to put on this uniform again.

You’re outta here, A-Rod! The controversial baseball star finally heard his penalty for using performance enhancing drugs, and it looks like he’ll be kept off the field for a long, long time.

Don’t expect to see Alex Rodriguez hit a home run for a very long time. After a long wait, Major League Baseball finally handed down their suspension to the oft-publicized baseball player, banning him from the game for…

Alex Rodriguez: Mlb Hands Down Harsh Suspension

A total of 211 games! In an announcement on August 5, the Mlb announced that A-Rod would be suspended for the rest of the 2013 season, and the entire 2014 season.

The baseball players’ union reportedly tried to appeal the massive suspension, but were told that there would be no more negotiations, according to Espn.

It’s hard to tell how Alex is going to feel about this penalty. On one hand, he’s...

Aaron Rodgers -- NFL star and habitual bet weaseler-outer -- has Lost another major wager after famously betting his salary that Ryan Braun was Ped-free ... but he probably won't pay up, 'cause that would be wayyyyyy out of character. You may remember back in February, the Green Bay Qb went to Twitter to defend his friend Braun against widespread allegations the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder was juicing. One fan challenged Rodgers, saying, “you really believe he...

Ryan Braun -- the 2011 National League Mvp -- has been suspended without pay for the rest of the season amid allegations he was using performance enhancing drugs. Mlb Commissioner Bud Selig made the announcement ... saying the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder violated the league's policy on substance abuse. Fyi -- the allegations came to light after authorities raided the Biogenesis clinic in Florida and discovered records linking Braun -- and a host of other Mlb stars -- to Ped purchases.

The whistleblower who claims to have proof Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun and other baseball players took steroids ... has been threatened and hounded so much ... he's being forced into hiding, TMZ has learned.According to sources connected to Major League Baseball's steroid investigation ... Porter Fischer has been under constant pressure for more than six months from private investigators -- hired by players, he believes -- attempting to get their hands on his records from the now infamous Biogenesis clinic in Miami.

Alex Rodriguez' career could hang in the balance of a 7-figure check -- because sources tell TMZ, the whistleblower who allegedly has proof A-Rod and other players bought steroids wants at least a million bucks for his info.As TMZ first reported, Porter Fischer -- an ex-employee at the Biogenesis clinic in Miami -- scheduled a sit down with Mlb investigators in Miami ... which went down on Tuesday.Fischer's attorney tells TMZ, his client discussed...

Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun's ears should be burning -- baseball investigators are about to sit down with the whistleblower who claims he can prove they purchased performance enhancing drugs from a Miami clinic ... TMZ has learned.Sources with direct knowledge of Major League Baseball's investigation tell us Mlb officials will be meeting with Porter Fischer in Florida this week ... and he's expected to reveal his detailed records from the Biogenesis clinic.Fischer is...

Major League Baseball is coming out swinging against several players it believes may have used performance-enhancing drugs. According to Espn, New York Yankee Alex Rodriguez and Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun are among more than 20 players who could potentially be facing long-term suspensions. According to the report, the Mlb is close to working out a deal with Anthony Bosch, the owner of a now-defunct anti-aging clinic in Miami, to talk about providing PEDs to his clients, which allegedly include the likes of Rodriguez and Braun. Both athletes have denied using performance-enhancing drugs, Of course, athletes from a wide range of sports have found themselves marred in controversy over the years dating as far...

Is Yankee star and Hollywood heartthrob Alex Rodriquez in hot water? The slugger (a.k.a. A-Rod) - who's been romantically linked in the past to Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson and Madonna - is among the names of more than 20 players connected to a Miami anti-aging clinic, Biogenesis of America, whose owner has agreed to speak to Major League Baseball about the distribution of performance-enhancing drugs to its players, according to reports. "The clinic's owner, Tony Bosch, is now cooperating with the Mlb investigation," Espn reported late Tuesday.A-Rod, Milwaukee Brewer Ryan Braun, Texas Ranger Nelson Cruz and Toronto Blue...

How, you ask, did Katie Couric -- who now hosts a daytime syndicated talk show targeted at women -- snag the first on-camera interview with Manti Te'o?  The answer is Matthew Hiltzik.Hiltzik is a high-powered publicist who specializes in crisis management.  He reps both Katie and Manti, but his client roster is chock-full of big celebs, including Alec Baldwin, Glenn Beck, Mlb superstar Ryan Braun, Internet mogul Sean Parker, Univision's Raul De Molina, and some Canadian named Justin Bieber.

Baseball’s best head to Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City for the 2012 Mlb All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 10, at 7:30pm Et on Fox. In the American League, top vote getters included Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre, Josh Hamilton, Derek Jeter, Mike Napoli and David Ortiz. For the National League, fans cast ballots for the likes of Joey Votto, Dan Uggla, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Braun. All-Star Game Mvp Fielder, then with the Milwaukee Brewers, helped the Nl win its second straight Midsummer Classic last year with a three-run homer in the 4th inning. Fox’s Joe Buck and Tim McCarver call [...]...

The 2012 Mlb Home Run Derby takes place at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Monday, July 9, as part of Major League Baseball’s All-Star festivities. While many of the game’s best power hitters to skip the event — Josh Hamilton, Adam Dunn, Ryan Braun, Edwin Encarnacion, Curtis Granderson and David Ortiz are among the home run leaders not participating — there should still be plenty of souvenirs launched into the seats and plenty of annoying “Back! Back! Back!” calls from Espn’s Chris Berman. The New York Yankees’ Robinson Cano won the derby last year, hitting a final-round record 12 [...]...

For the second consecutive year, Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista will start the All-Star Game for the American League, receiving 4,971,155 votes. The former Silver Slugger leads the league in homeruns (26), is second is second in Rbi (63) and is fourth in runs scored (56). Bautista is the lone Blue Jay heading to the All-Star game, for third time in three years.

The 83rd Mid-Season Classic unveiled its rosters earlier today, and it included a whole lot of Yankees, Rangers, Cardinals and Giants. You can check out the full list below.

The 2012 All-Star Game will be held at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on July 10.

Here are the roster cards for both teams:

American League roster Starters C Mike Napoli, Tex 1B Prince Fielder, Det 2B Robinson Cano, Nyy 3B Adrian Beltre, Tex SS Derek Jeter, Nyy Of Josh Hamilton, Tex Of Curtis Granderson, Nyy Of Jose Bautista, Tor Dh David Ortiz, Bos Pitchers Rhp Ryan Cook,...

Among the first to wish Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun well after Braun won his appeal of a failed drug test: friend, former Brewers teammate and new Detroit Tiger Prince Fielder. Speaking from his first full-squad workout with the team that signed him this past offseason, Fielder said he hadn't spoken with Braun about the test controversy and potential 50-game suspension Braun faced but suggested the more games Braun can play this year, the better....Read more...

Mlb superstar Ryan Braun -- the 2011 National League Mvp -- says he will not hide from allegations he used performance-enhancing drugs ... telling TMZ, "My day will come."TMZ broke the story ... Mlb sources say Braun's dirty test was caused by medication for a private medical issue. Braun arrived at Lax yesterday -- and when we asked about the situation ... the Milwaukee Brewers star told us, "I can't get into it man ... trust me, I want to ... my day will come.

Ryan Braun's positive test for banned substances was caused by medication he's taking for a private medical issue -- Not performance enhancing drugs ... this according to sources directly connected with Major League Baseball. We're told the reigning National League Mvp is adamant he has not taken drugs or steroids of any kind. One source simply told us ... "The medication contained banned substances resulting in the positive test."  We're also told prior to taking the dirty test,...

Los Angeles Dodgers star Matt Kemp has Ryan Braun's back -- claiming the reigning National League Mvp shouldn't be branded as a cheater ... despite reports he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Kemp -- who finished 2nd to Braun in the Mvp voting this year -- was at The Grove in L.A. last night when we asked about the allegations surrounding Braun.  Kemp told us, "Nobody's proven anything man ... we don't know anything."He added,...

Newly-voted National League Mvp Ryan Braun from the Milwaukee Brewers has tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs -- but the baseball star is challenging the accusations.According to multiple reports, Braun was tested during the playoffs this year -- and the test showed his system contained elevated levels of testosterone.28-year-old Braun is fighting the results, telling the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, he's the victim of "highly unusual circumstances" -- adding, "This is all B.S. I am completely innocent.

Paris Hilton 's ex-bf Doug Reinhardt recently celebrated his 26th birthday -- and one of the party guests was Jasmine Waltz , the girl who's been linked to David Arquette since his split from Courteney Cox . Other celeb guests at the bash included " The Hills " co-star Brody Jenner , Stacy Keibler , and Milwaukee Brewers Ryan Braun and Randy Wolf . Sources tell TooFab the party was wild -- with a 10ft ice luge, photo booth, psychic, palm reader and a Yogen Fruz smoothie bar. Though Jasmine and Doug used to date, he was spotted getting cozy with " Make It or Break It " actress Cassie Scerbo . Check out more party pics! Read more...

With the Home Run Derby and the Celebrity Softball Challenge out of the way, there is only one thing left to do, and that's play the 2010 Major League Baseball All Star Game. The match-up between the best players from the American League and the elite athletes from the National League is always an entertaining outing, and probably the best and liveliest all star game in any major sport. Perhaps that is because there is actually something at stake: The winning league gets home field advantage during the World Series in October.

The National League has gone winless in its last 13 tries (they have gone 0-12-1 in that span), but this year's squad might be the one to push them over the top. The main reason is because of their pitching, as the National League features sharp hurlers like Ubaldo Jimenez, Tim Lincecum, Tim Hudson, Roy Halladay and Yovani Gallardo...

We thought we'd try something different around here by turning our discerning queer eye towards the sports world, so in last Thursday's The Week in Sports we sifted through hundreds of wire photos looking for the most arresting images of male athleticism produced that week from around the world.

We thought it would probably be a one-off, our own gay Sports Illustrated special edition, but you guys clearly like your male athletes (both obscure and famous) and asked for more. You even suggested some of your favorite sports stars and requested photos of them.

We really did look for the names (and teams) you mentioned, but the caveat is photos have to come from the past week in order to appear in this feature, thus we couldn't go back and, say, get a hot photo of Gabe Kapler or Ryan Braun from last year. Much as we'd like to — those guys are smokin'!