Orlando Magic beat LeBron James and Cleveland Cavaliers to reach NBA Finals

They're back from the basketball dead.Fourteen long and frustrating years since making their first NBA Finals appearance — just six years removed from posting the league's worst record — the Orlando Magic are returning for a shot at the championship.The Magic earned a trip to face the Los Angeles Lakers for the title by winning the Eastern Conference finals, ousting the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-90 in Game 6 on Saturday night at Amway Arena.The NBA Finals opens in L.A. at"It would be so great to get a trophy for Rich," Magic President Bob Vander Weide said, speaking of team owner Rich DeVos, 82.Orlando made it to the title round in 1995, but was swept by the Houston Rockets in four games.The Magic were led by young superstar center Shaquille O'Neal back then.And their return to those glory days is fueled now by young superstar center Dwight Howard, who scored 40 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to spare the Magic from playing a Game 7 in Cleveland on Monday night.Two summers ago, Howard — the No. 1 draft pick in 2004 the Magic received after compiling a league-worst 21-61 record — predicted the Magic would win a title."Everybody laughed," Howard said. "I mean everyone."And last summer, when Howard joined Cavs megastar LeBron James and others on the gold-medal winning Olympic team, Howard was greeted with similar reactions when he talked up the Magic."They all said, 'Yeah, right, Dwight," he recalls.Dwight was right.The Magic rode Howard and super sub Mickael Pietrus' 14 points, hit timely 3-pointers and kept LeBron (25 points) from ruining their dream.So long LeBron, hello Kobe.The Magic closed out the Cavs 4-2 in the best-of-seven series, completing a remarkable playoff run along to reach L.A.After beating the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2, the Magic eliminated the defending champion Boston Celtics 4-3 and then sent home the Cavs —- who compiled the best regular-season record at 66-16.The Magic proved to be no mirage. Despite all their impressive handiwork, they likely will be underdogs against the Lakers, even though they swept L.A. this season for the first time in their 20-year franchise history.And there might be more good news for the Magic and their fans.They are encouraged by Nelson's rehabilitation so much that they will evaluate the possibility of the all-star playing if the club reaches the NBA Finals against the Lakers, the Sentinel has learned.Vander Weide said the team is exploring whether Nelson can return after undergoing shoulder surgery Feb. 19. He hasn't played since he was injured Feb. 3 against the Dallas Mavericks.Although Nelson wouldn't be in prime condition, Vander Weide said, "the chance to get an all-star point guard on the floor for 15 minutes a game…you'd have to look at that."The Magic had ruled him out for the season and the playoffs, and as late as a week and a half ago General Manager Otis Smith said there was no chance of Nelson making a return. "That was a week and a half ago," said Vander Weide, who said he wanted Nelson to take another MRI and consult with doctors.The Magic got the solid start they needed against the Cavs, and opened up an 18-point halftime lead.Three baskets by Rashard Lewis, a 3-pointer by super sub Mickael Pietrus and Howard's bucket gave the Magic a 44-31 advantage.They stretched it to 16 on point guard Rafer Alston's 3-pointer and rookie Courtney Lee's jumper handed theme a 58-40 lead as a stunned James sat below the basket, begging for a fall call to end the half.They controlled the game from then on, and the Cavs could come no closer than 11 in the second half as fans celebrated like it was 1995. Staples Center on Thursday night.

China’s Sun shining in Japanese basketball league

At 7-foot-9, it’s hard to overlook Chinese center Sun Mingming. The comparisons with NBA star Yao Ming(notes) are inevitable.
Able to dunk while barely leaving the ground, Sun just completed the most successful season of his pro career, helping the Hamamatsu Phoenix to a first-place finish in the Eastern Conference of Japan’s professional basketball league.
Sun Mingming (left) towers over an opposing player.
(AP photo)
“I just want to keep playing basketball,” the 25-year-old Sun said after the final game of the season. “Whether it’s here in Japan or in the United States, I hope to keep playing for at least 10 more years.”His size has led to the comparisons with his compatriot Yao of the Houston Rockets, but Sun’s lack of speed is considered by some experts as a barrier to a career in the NBA.
If he ever makes it to the NBA, Sun would be the tallest player in the league’s history, overtaking Manute Bol and Gheorghe Muresan, who both stood 7-foot-7. Yao, at 7-foot-6, is the tallest active NBA player.
“He’s a pretty good passer and a good shooter,” said former Cleveland Cavaliers scout Robert Pierce, who now coaches in Japan. “He’s so big that he could have a chance in the NBA but I think his size would be lessened because of the athletic ability and speed of NBA players.”
Sun was on a one-year contract with Hamamatsu and said he will weigh his options as he bids to take his game to the next level.
The Bayan, China, native went to the U.S. in 2005 to train for a possible career in the NBA and was declared eligible for the draft that year. But after a brief tryout with the Los Angeles Lakers, he was not selected.
The feedback then was that Sun lacked stamina and aggressiveness.
The news got worse for him that summer, although it perhaps explained a couple of his on-court deficiencies. Sun learned that he had a benign brain tumor pressing against his pituitary gland. The tumor was preventing the proper production of testosterone, decreasing his stamina and endurance.
The tumor was also causing an overproduction of growth hormone resulting in a condition known as ‘acromegaly’ that causes various parts of the body to sustain abnormal and unstoppable growth.
The tumor was successfully removed in September 2005. Despite being in his 20s, he’d grown four inches taller in the previous few years.
Since the surgery, Sun has been a well traveled journeyman. He played with several minor league basketball teams including the Dodge City Legends of the United States Basketball League, the Maryland Nighthawks of the American Basketball Association and the Grand Rapids Flight of the International Basketball League.
In 2007, Sun played for Mexican professional team Fuerza Regia before coming to Japan.
Sun played in 14 games for Grand Rapids and 25 games for Fuerza Regia so his 49 games this season is a big improvement.
Endurance is obviously becoming less of an issue.
Sun played in the all-star game in his first season in Japan and had 67 dunks in 49 games. He averaged 7.7 points and had 280 rebounds. In April, he had a season-high 19 points and 13 rebounds in 33 minutes against the Niigata Albirex BB.
Despite his improved play, Sun admits there are points to his game he needs to work on.
“We’re a pretty fast team and sometimes I have trouble getting back in the play,” said Sun, who started playing basketball when he was 15. “But I’ve been working on my conditioning and feel pretty good now.”
Playing against Sun can be a daunting task to many of his opponents.
“It’s surreal,” says 6-foot-8 forward Lynn Washington, a two-time MVP in Japan. “You can’t really do much because he’s so big. He just holds the ball up in the air and it looks like a tennis ball.”
Washington’s Osaka Evessa teammate Ryan Blackwell said playing against Sun generates some unique challenges.
“He changes the whole dynamic of your thinking when you’re in the game,” Blackwell said. “He doesn’t move as well laterally so it’s a lot easier to move around him than over him. There are times when he is really aggressive on the court but he needs to be that way more consistently.”
Sun’s resume even includes an appearance in the 2007 comedy Rush Hour 3 with Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan. After appearing in the fight scene, he said he’s more interested in basketball than Hollywood.
“I think I’ll stick to basketball for now,” Sun said. “I don’t want people to think I’m not totally focused on playing.”
For now, he plans to enjoy some home comforts for a while, returning to China to play in a tournament and catch up with family.
“I haven’t been home in almost two years,” Sun said. “I just want to go home and see my family.”

Americas' best cities for jobs, good salaries

Stable employment and new career opportunities give these cities an edge.
What a difference a year makes. Last summer, the energy and finance sectors of the economy seemed to be thriving, and manufacturing was going strong.
Today, many cities are relying on government programs, universities and stalwart industries, such as health care, to bolster employment in a weak economy. Those factors appeared frequently when we assembled candidates for our 2009 Best Cities list, which focuses on places that have stable employment plus the talent to create new, well-paying positions. A robust job market makes these cities safe havens during the recession and will give them a head start toward growth when the recovery takes off.
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When our numbers guru, Kevin Stolarick, evaluated U.S. cities for their growth potential, he looked not just at the overall number of jobs, but also at the quality of those positions and the ability of cities to hold on to them when the economy softens. Says Stolarick, who is research director at the Martin Prosperity Institute, a think tank that studies economic prosperity: "Although downturns are felt by everyone, our research has shown that the impact is less severe for those in the creative class -- people who are paid to think."
One key indicator of such heartiness is the presence of people who work in professional occupations, such as science, engineering, architecture and education. And given that many of you, our readers, work in such professions, these are places where you may find not only a job but also the company of people like yourselves.
We included the cities' greater metro areas because the suburbs and surrounding communities contribute to job stability. And big cities don't have a monopoly on vitality; this year we considered smaller metro areas as well.
Take a spin through our 2009 Best Cities to see which places have the right stuff in these tough times.
No. 1: Huntsville, Ala.Population: 378,057Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 39.7Cost-of-Living Index: 91 (100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $51,275Salary Growth (2004-2008): 9.7%
Huntsville isn't called Rocket City for nothing. This northern Alabama city represents critical mass for the nation's missile-defense and aerospace industries.
No. 2: Albuquerque, N.M.Population: 819,570Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 30Cost-of-Living Index: 98 (100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $45,634Salary Growth (2004-2008): 7.8%
The city and state crave high tech jobs, especially in the renewable-energy industry. Albuquerque is developing its film industry with the same zeal. Albuquerque also bills itself as a green city and, figuratively speaking, it is. The city requires everything from homes to commercial buildings to be energy-efficient.
No. 3: Washington, D.C.Population: 5,263,322Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 43.7Cost-of-Living Index: 138 (100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $81,163Salary Growth (2004-2008): 8.7%
For better or worse, the federal government is big and getting bigger. Uncle Sam fuels nearby companies in almost every sector, especially law firms, lobbyists, and aerospace and defense companies.
No. 4: Charlottesville, Va.Population:190,560Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 38.2Cost-of-Living Index: 106 (100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $53,076Salary Growth (2004-2008):4.8%
The home of Thomas Jefferson's university is an unexpected blend of Southern charm and liberal edge, with a strong business base. UVA provides Charlottesville with more than employment. The city is a two-hour drive from Washington, D.C., and three hours from Norfolk Naval Base. This proximity helped it draw the U.S. Army National Ground Intelligence Center, which employs 750 people in a variety of fields, including engineering and foreign affairs.
No. 5: Athens, Ga.Population: 183,351Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 32.2Cost-of-Living Index: 100 (100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $40,115Salary Growth (2004-2008): 9.3%
Nicknamed the Classic City for both its name and neoclassical architecture, Athens is anything but old-fashioned. The University of Georgia is in large part responsible for the city's energy. Athens also boasts a hub of regional medical services and has an unexpected manufacturing base. Hospitality is another driver of the economy and the only sector to have shown employment growth in 2009.
No. 6: Olympia, Wash.Population: 233,113Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.1Cost-of-Living Index: 105 (100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $55,129Salary Growth (2004-2008): 22%
Olympia is a cultural diamond in the rough of the Pacific Northwest. Mischaracterized sometimes as a sleepy government town, Washington's state capital enjoys a thriving visual and performing-arts scene. But its state government continues to be the keystone of the city's economy; it employs about half of the city's workforce. Education is another big driver of the city's growth and character.
No. 7: Madison, Wis.Population: 548,154Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 35.1Cost-of-Living Index: 100 (100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $58,090Salary Growth (2004-2008): 8.2%
You can't argue with Madison's numbers. It has a long track record of low unemployment, and its jobless rate is currently three percentage points below the national average. The city also wins for its low crime rate, first-rate public schools and a ready-made economy that feeds off its two largest assets: The University of Wisconsin and the state capital, comprising 20% of Madison's jobs. The other 80% come from its strong mix of tech and biotech firms.
No. 8: Austin, Tex.Population: 1,533,263Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 36.8Cost-of-Living Index: 94(100 being the national average)Median Household Income: $54,827Salary Growth (2004-2008): 7%
While most cities around the country posted job layoffs in the past year, Austin added 3,300 jobs, the biggest bump in the country. The increase covered a broad swath, from professional services, education and hospitality to health care and government. Gains in those sectors more than offset losses in manufacturing and IT -- though the unemployment rate in the area has crept up.
No. 9: Flagstaff, Ariz.Population: 126,087Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 28.8Cost-of-Living Index: 116 (100 being national average)Median Household Income: $48,171Salary Growth (2004-2008): 9.8%
Unlike the trains that regularly come through town, singing out reminders of Flagstaff's heritage, this city is far from predictable. You can feel its Old West charm through and through, but Flagstaff is infused with new energy -- both from its residents and college students and Northern Arizona University. The university adds jobs to the city's economy, plus arts and entertainment to its cultural scene.
No. 10: Raleigh, N.C.Population: 1,001,313Percentage of Workforce in Creative Class: 35.6Cost-of-Living Index: 100 (100 being national average)Median Household Income: $57,974Salary Growth (2004-2008): 5.7%
Raleigh has an enviable economic base, built on three universities -- UNC, Duke, and North Carolina State -- and Research Triangle Park, where employers in everything from biotech to computers still thrive. Although the local unemployment rate has doubled in the past year, to 8.6%, it's still lower than the 10.8% rate for the state as a whole.

Oldest insurgent force marches on

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) are celebrating their 45th anniversary, making them one of the oldest insurgent forces in the world - and, despite recent setbacks, still one of the strongest.
"The Farc are at their worst point in 45 years of fighting," said Alfredo Rangel, head of the Bogota think-tank Security and Democracy.
"Up until recently they had always been growing, in numbers and territory. Now they are being driven back, and their numbers are falling. They are in terminal decline."
Yet while the Tamil Tigers, one of the most brutal and innovative insurgencies, are crushed and the Nepalese Maoists opt for the political route (at least for the moment), the Farc remain committed to their increasingly improbable aim of overthrowing the state and imposing a socialist regime.
Its members are motivated neither by religion or ethnicity. The Farc are a throwback to the 1960s, when Cuban-inspired insurgent groups sprang up in South and then Central America.
Battered
And they are pretty much all that remain of those insurgencies that swept through Latin America.
They have recently taken a battering, reduced from almost 16,000 fighters in 2002 to half that today, with a record 3,000 deserting ranks in 2008.
Last year their founder and legendary leader, Manuel "Sureshot" Marulanda, died of a heart attack aged 78.
Two other members of the Farc's ruling body, the Secretariat, were killed, one in an aerial bombardment of a rebel camp in neighbouring Ecuador, another murdered by his own bodyguard, who cut off a hand to show the authorities and claim a reward.

Yet the Farc are far from defeated. They have new leaders, including a bespectacled and bearded anthropologist known by the alias Alfonso Cano, long the movement's ideologue, a committed Marxist Leninist and hardliner.
He has now established his control over the movement, since the death last March of Marulanda, and delivered his new strategy for the rebels, called Plan Rebirth.
The Farc have stepped up their campaign, with more attacks so far this year than any year since 2003.
And the rebels are trying to move away from their peasant roots and project themselves into Colombia's cities, aided by training from international groups like the Provisional IRA and the Basque separatist group Eta.
Cocaine
The Farc's communique celebrating their 45th anniversary was defiant and optimistic.
"The decisive stage of the fight for peace has begun," read the message posted on the internet. "We have sworn to win and win we will."
Much of the Farc's longevity, certainly since the mid-1980s, can be attributed to one thing: cocaine.
Whilst the Farc are ultra conservative in their doctrine and tactics, they have proven themselves to be adept businessmen, latching onto the drugs trade and taking their cut from all the links in the narcotics chain, from the coca fields up to the vacuum-packed bricks of cocaine that leave Colombia's shores at a rate of over 600 tonnes a year.
According to Roman Ortiz, security expert at the Ideas for Peace Foundation, the drugs trade has provided more than just overflowing coffers.
"The Farc have also inherited a support base from their involvement in the drugs trade," said Mr Ortiz. "They get support and recruits from the peasants who cultivate and harvest the drug crops."
Out of reach
The Farc have two other crucial advantages which they maximise: topography perfectly suited to guerrilla warfare, and long borders with nations not interested in, or unable to crack down on, rebel activity.
Colombia could not have been designed any better for an insurgent force. It has three mountains ranges that trisect the country and the lower levels are coated in dense jungle.
Like the Taliban in Pakistan and the Vietcong in Cambodia, the Farc use the border regions, mostly impenetrable jungle, to rest and recuperate, plan attacks and get supplies and weapons, all out of reach of the Colombian security forces.

Intelligence sources indicate that four members of the Secretariat now reside outside Colombia.
There have long been accusations, vehemently denied, that President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela sympathises with the Farc.
What is clear is that the Farc have camps on Venezuelan soil and many of their supplies come from here and from Ecuador.
The latter uses the US dollar as its currency, meaning that the dollars that come into rebel coffers from the US drugs market can be readily translated into food, medical supplies, uniforms and black-market arms and munitions.
"We have incontrovertible evidence that elements of the Venezuelan military not only turn a blind eye to Farc presence on their soil, but actively help them with weapons and logistics," said a senior intelligence figure in the Colombian defence ministry. "As long as this continues, our chances of a military victory are slim."
Leaner and meaner
Other borders are with Panama, which has no army; Peru, still unable to defeat the remnants of its own rebel force, the Shining Path; and Brazil, whose border sweeps into the Amazon basin, where visibility is reduced to a few metres amid the triple-canopy jungle.

And under orders to recruit quality not quantity, the Farc are becoming leaner and meaner.
The money from drugs continues, whereas the tax revenues the state needs to keep the US-backed military machine on the offensive are shrinking thanks to the world financial crisis.
President Alvaro Uribe, who may well stand for a third term in office, assuming he can change the constitution once again, has shown no desire to negotiate with the rebels, who killed his father in a botched kidnap attempt.
The Farc celebrate their 45th anniversary secure in the knowledge that it will not be their last.

Orlando Magic fans are very excited for their team

As Magic continues to have a success in the play off and one more victory away from the finals , the Magic fans are starting to believe that this is the time for Orlando Magic to win the NBA tittle. Two years ago no one ever think that Magic will be able to get on East Conference Final. Magic had a lot struggle in last last year play off. Many Analyst on NBA TV said that Magic was not a play off team that Magic will not be able to survive the First round or second round of play off. But , Magic came out and prove them wrong. The media did not stop underestimating Magic , All media were saying that Cleveland Cavaliers will sweep out Magic as we know now it did not happen , instead Orlando Magic was almost to sweep out Cleveland Cavaliers if it was not King James rescued Cleveland on game second. I think it is time that the media respects Orlando Magic because Magic has shown that they are better than Cleveland Cavaliers by taking the series in control against the team with the best record in this season.

Sotomayor's Judicial Record Could Be Battlefield for Critics, Advocates

In touting the resume of his Supreme Court nominee on Tuesday, President Obama held up Sonia Sotomayor's role in ending the 1994-95 Major League Baseball strike, during which she issued a court injunction against team owners.
"Some say that Judge Sotomayor saved baseball," Obama said Tuesday, joking that she acted with a "swiftness much appreciated by baseball fans everywhere."
But Sotomayor's role in saving America's pastime will likely be a minor point as Republicans begin to take a closer look at her two decades on the bench, examining her record for signs of imprudent judicial activism and liberal bias.
Already, a few Republicans have cast doubt on Sotomayor's objectivity. And her history of decisions and opinions surely will raise more questions.
Sotomayor, who would be the court's first Hispanic member and third woman -- and who has touted her race and gender as an asset -- frequently has argued in favor of minority plaintiffs and points of view.
Though Obama said he was looking for a nominee who demonstrates empathy and a "common touch," some critics have cautioned against such criteria in a high court justice and issued reminders that the law must come first.
Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, in a written statement, said Tuesday he's concerned Sotomayor has shown "personal bias based on ethnicity and gender."
"Judge Sotomayor will need to reassure the country that she will set aside her biases, uphold the rule of law and interpret the Constitution as written, not as she believes it should have been written," said Smith, who will have no vote in the matter, as the confirmation is a Senate matter.
Perhaps Sotomayor's most controversial decision was in Ricci v. DeStefano, in which she was part of a panel ruling against a group of white firefighters in New Haven, Conn. -- they objected after the city threw out the results of a promotion test because too many white firefighters, and not enough minority firefighters, scored high.
She and two other judges summarily dismissed the case without tackling the complex issues outlined in stacks of briefs and debated in extended oral arguments. Instead, the court issued an unsigned, one-paragraph opinion. Sotomayor's colleague, Judge Jose Cabranes, was so concerned that he wrote a lengthy dissent highlighting what many saw as an attempt to bury the case.
"This perfunctory disposition rests uneasily with the weighty issues presented by this appeal," he wrote.
The discrimination case was later kicked up to the Supreme Court, and a decision is expected by late June.
Sotomayor has a record of being rebuffed by the high court. Of the six decisions she was a part of that came before the high court, five were reversed. In the sixth, the court disagreed with Sotomayor's reasoning.
Senior administration officials said they have no concerns about the reversal rate or Sotomayor's position in the firefighter case. But that and other cases are now ripe for analysis.
-- In one case reversed by the Supreme Court, Sotomayor and the majority on the appeals court ruled that an inmate could sue a private corporation for injuries he suffered in a halfway house run by that company. Though the company operated the house on behalf of the Bureau of Prisons, Sotomayor argued that the company was not shielded from liability. The Supreme Court reversed the appeals court decision in 2001.
-- In another case, Sotomayor dissented in a 2006 opinion that rejected a challenge to a New York law denying convicted felons the right to vote. She argued in her own dissenting opinion that the state law "disqualifies a group of people from voting."
-- Sotomayor, in 2003, also wrote an opinion that reversed a district court decision that a Muslim inmate's rights were not violated when he was denied a holiday feast. Sotomayor argued that the inmate's First Amendment rights were violated because the feast was important to his religion.
-- In 1999, Sotomayor dissented in a decision to dismiss a case in which a black student claimed his school discriminated against him by transferring him mid-year from first grade to kindergarten. Sotomayor argued that the "lone black child" in the class was not given an "equal chance."
-- In 2007, Sotomayor wrote an opinion holding that the Environmental Protection Agency could not perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine the "best technology available." She wrote it could only consider cost as a factor in more limited ways. This decision, too, was overturned by the Supreme Court.
-- In 1993, Sotomayor threw out evidence obtained by police in a drug case, because a detective lied to obtain the search warrant -- prosecutors agreed to a plea bargain. However, during sentencing Sotomayor made controversial statements by criticizing the five-year mandatory sentence, calling it an "abomination" that the defendant did not deserve.
Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., later grilled her on this, suggesting it showed disrespect for the law, during her confirmation hearing a decade ago for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.
Sessions was one of 11 sitting Republican senators who voted against her at the time. Now the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sessions on Tuesday said Sotomayor would get a "fair and respectful hearing."
But he said some conservatives who voted against her a decade ago felt she had a "history of activism."
"I think she needs to address that," Sessions told FOX News. "I think she's entitled to a full and fair new evaluation."
Sessions also released a written statement saying the Senate must determine whether Sotomayor understands that the "proper role of a judge is to act as a neutral umpire of the law, calling balls and strikes fairly without regard to one's own personal preferences or political views."
Arguably, her public statements may stir more controversy than her judicial decisions.
A YouTube video of Sotomayor speaking at Duke University about what some interpreted as judicial activism drew early fire for the judge.
In the video, she said: "All of the legal defense funds out there, they're looking for people with court of appeals experience" because "the court of appeals is where policy is made."
She also once said, "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."
One administration official said critics who want to attack Sotomayor as a judicial activist must balance that against what the White House regards as a clear example of deferring to legal precedent -- in the New Haven firefighters case.
The official said Sotomayor merely followed Circuit Court precedent in that case, and exhibited judicial restraint.
Sotomayor's opinions also cannot be pigeonholed as exclusively liberal or conservative.
In 2002, she ruled against an abortion rights group that claimed the so-called "Mexico City Policy" -- which prohibited U.S. funding from going to foreign groups performing or supporting abortion services -- was a violation of the First Amendment and other rights.
The government is "free to favor the anti-abortion position over the pro-choice position," she held.
In another 2004 case, Sotomayor's opinion ruled in favor of anti-abortion protesters who claimed a town had improperly trained officers who allegedly used excessive force in arresting them. Plus she has sided against minority plaintiffs who brought discrimination cases to her court.
Sotomayor, speaking after Obama announced his decision to nominate her, said Tuesday that her underlying commitment is to the law.
"I firmly believe in the rule of law as the foundation for all of our basic rights," she said.
And she cited her personal story in her qualifications for the seat. She grew up in a Bronx housing project and lost her father at a young age. She later graduated from Princeton and Yale universities, earning her first appointment to the bench in 1992.
"This wealth of experiences, personal and professional, have helped me appreciate the variety of perspectives that present themselves in every case that I hear. It has helped me to understand, respect and respond to the concerns and arguments of all litigants who appear before me, as well as to the views of my colleagues on the bench," she said. "I strive never to forget the real world consequences of my decisions on individuals, businesses and government."
Supporters, including New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, touted her record and the fact that she would add diversity to the high court.
Schumer said Sotomayor is a "moderate" and that Obama "has not reached to the far left end of the spectrum" in his decision. He, too, cited her back-story as a qualification.
"It's a great New York story, and it's a great American story," Schumer said. "And she will give the courts a needed understanding of how ordinary Americans live."
A White House official said it's "absolutely essential" for the Senate to confirm Sotomayor before it adjourns for the summer recess on Aug. 10. Top administration officials predicted Sotomayor would "be very forthcoming" at her confirmation hearing.

Magic Ride 3-Point Barrage to Victory

ORLANDO -- There is a popular basketball game played at parks across the country called ‘Around the World.’ The goal of the game is to make a series of shots at various spots around the perimeter before any of your opponents do. For those playing at the ‘higher level,’ generally these shots are taken from behind the 3-point line. It looked like the Orlando Magic were playing an entertaining game of ‘Around the World’ in Game 4 as they set a franchise playoff record with 17 made 3-pointers to help them win a Game 4 thriller, 116-114, in overtime over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night at Amway Arena. They, as a result, took a commanding 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. Rafer Alston, who finished with a playoff career-best 26 points, buried six triples and Mickael Pietrus, who continues to be extraordinary during the 2009 playoffs, drilled five of them. Rashard Lewis, nonetheless, sank the most significant one when he drained a go-ahead catch-and-shoot 3-pointer with 4.1 seconds remaining in regulation. It had appeared to be Lewis’ second game-winning 3-ball of the series, but LeBron James connected on a pair of free throws in the final second to send the game into an extra session. Orlando, which is one triumph away from advancing to The Finals for the first time since 1995, also set a club postseason record for most 3-pointers attempted with 38. The Magic’s resourceful ball movement and execution allowed them to break down the Cavaliers’ defense for many good looks from downtown. “Hedo Turkoglu made some fantastic passes out of the double team, which frees us up,” said Alston, who shot 10-for-17 from the field. “We have the guys that are capable of making them and make a lot of them.” Nearly half of their shots came from beyond the arc. It was clearly a very different plan of attack from how they played in Game 3 when they attempted just 17 3-pointers. But it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Orlando took as many 3s as it did in Game 4. The Magic led the NBA in both 3-pointers made and attempted during the regular season, even setting a league record when they hit 23 of them against the Sacramento Kings in early January. “Their team as a whole from the 3-point line was huge,” Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown said. “And going in we knew that was a problem with that team because they are a good team from that line.” There is a familiar saying in basketball at any level that successful 3-point shooting teams tend to live and die by their craft. It’s always been debated whether teams that survive off their 3-point arsenal can be championship-caliber squads. So far during this season’s playoffs, the Magic have proven that they can be. At this point, nobody should be surprised if Dwight Howard, who exploded for 10 of his team-high 27 points in OT, or even Marcin Gortat starts draining 3s soon. When you talk about ‘magic,’ anything is possible!!

Under pressure, Howard punishes Cleveland

ORLANDO, Fla. – He had called out his coach, demanding he give him the ball, give him the right to carry the Orlando Magic through the playoffs, and now Dwight Howard(notes) was finally having to follow his own marching orders. Stan Van Gundy looked at Howard late Tuesday, the roar of the crowd falling upon them, and delivered a simple message to his franchise star.
Want the ball?
Go get it.
Howard walked back onto the court, and LeBron James(notes) and the Cleveland Cavaliers never had a chance. Dunk. Dunk. Layup. One possession after another, Howard punished the Cavaliers in overtime, bouncing them out his way, jamming the ball down upon their heads.

This is what superstars do. Howard wanted the pressure and he delivered, carrying his Magic to a 116-114 victory, giving them a 3-1 lead over King James and the Cavs in the Eastern Conference finals. One more win and Howard, not James, will be playing for an NBA title.
“He showed why he’s the most dominant player in the league,” Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu(notes) said.
This is what should have the Cavs worried, now and for the future. It wasn’t the Detroit Pistons or the Boston Celtics forever standing in their way of a championship. It was Howard, the 6-foot-11 giant with the comic-book nickname and cartoonish biceps. Once Howard grew into a dominating force, once Superman returned to Orlando, the entire NBA had reason to fear.
“He’s a beast down the middle,” James said.
The Cavaliers still have their own monster, and that’s why the East finals aren’t over yet. LeBron is putting on a series for the ages, scoring 44 more points on Tuesday to go along with the 49, 35 and 41 he hung up in the first three games. He’s capable of winning one more game, if not three, and he nearly won Game 4. After throwing in one 3-pointer while falling out of bounds, he then forced the Magic to gasp while his 35-foot heave at the buzzer glanced off the rim.
“When you’ve got a guy as great as him on the other side,” Van Gundy said, “you’re a long way from done.”
But Van Gundy also knows LeBron hasn’t scrambled the Magic’s defense the way Howard has that of the Cavs. When Mo Williams(notes), Ben Wallace(notes) and James all complained after Game 3 that the Cavs were giving Orlando too much respect, they meant Howard in particular. By doubling him, Orlando’s shooters could pick them apart.
So the Cavs laid off Howard to start Tuesday, and he made them pay, scoring 11 points in the first six minutes. They went back to double-teaming him for much of the next three quarters, and Howard scored just six more points before the start of overtime. Still, all the attention he drew freed the Magic shooters, most notably Rafer Alston(notes) and Mickael Pietrus(notes), who combined to make 11 3-pointers.
On one comical possession, Cavs guard Mo Williams turned his back on Alston to follow Courtney Lee(notes). With no other Cav within five feet of him, Alston buried yet another 3-pointer.
“We need one stop,” James said. “We haven’t got one stop to win a ballgame yet.”
James has realized he can’t beat Howard and these Magic alone. He received more support on Tuesday than he did in Game 3, but it still wasn’t enough. Williams made just two shots after halftime, falling flat, so far, on his “guarantee” that the Cavs would win the series.
In truth, Williams’ vow wasn’t as foolish as another declaration he made: “We’re the best team in basketball,” he said on three separate occasions Monday, as if repeating his words actually brought them any closer to the truth.
As Williams is fast learning, the Cavs’ 66 regular-season wins, much like his All-Star selection, don’t count for much in the playoffs. From Alston to Pietrus to Turkoglu to Rashard Lewis(notes), who buried another clutch 3-pointer at the end of regulation, the Magic have had one player after another step up and support Howard. All Williams has done is hurt the Cavs with both his shot and mouth.
“I thought about what he said, and I wanted to take it to him,” Alston said of Williams. “And he wasn’t the guy even guarding me.”
Howard, too, has chafed at the attention given to promoting a possible Finals showdown between LeBron and Kobe Bryant(notes). After Game 3, the most recent entry on Howard’s personal blog was headlined, “IT’S TOTALLY DISRESPECTFUL!!!!!!!!”
In Howard’s mind, the disrespect has also carried over to the court. In the third quarter, Cavs forward Anderson Varejao(notes) tried to pull Howard down by the neck as he drove to the rim. Howard still made the shot, and he turned and growled in Varejao’s direction. Referee Scott Foster hit Howard with a technical, his sixth of the playoffs. One more and he’ll have to serve a one-game suspension.
“I might have to really use some duct tape,” Howard said.
NBA commissioner David Stern has evidently forgotten that athletics do feature a little thing called emotion. These playoffs have been filled with far too many technicals and flagrant fouls, and now one of the game’s biggest stars is on the brink of suspension. If the league has any sense of justice, Howard’s tech will be rescinded.
Howard had further reason to be angry by the time OT arrived. James drew a blocking foul on Pietrus with half a second left in regulation that allowed the Cavs to tie the game. Howard failed to get a call on the ensuing possession when he went up to get a lob and became entangled with Varejao. Both calls were borderline and could have gone either way. All Howard knew was both went against the Magic.
“Are you kidding?” he shouted at a row of reporters after the fourth quarter. “If that was LeBron … “
Howard has battled for respect all season as he’s tried to transition from star to superstar. From the refs. From his coach. From his predecessor. When the Phoenix Suns visited here in March, Shaquille O’Neal(notes) mocked him by showing up to the arena wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the familiar “S” logo.
“We all know who the real [Superman] is,” O’Neal declared.
Shaq was sitting courtside on Tuesday for Howard’s latest heroic performance, and the irony wasn’t lost on either the Magic or the Cavs. The Cavaliers discussed trading for O’Neal at the deadline, in part, because they thought he could help them better match up with the Magic. Cleveland ultimately didn’t do the trade because the Suns wanted Wally Szczerbiak’s(notes) expiring contract instead of Wallace’s own cap-clogging deal. It seemed like the right decision at the time. The Cavs were rolling. Why risk messing with the team’s chemistry?
But now? On Tuesday, Cleveland could have used someone to keep a body on Howard. If the Cavs go on to lose to the Magic, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them re-explore a possible trade for Shaq, even if striking an agreement seems tougher with Szczerbiak’s contract off the books and Shaq and Wallace both in the final season of their deals.
So Shaq sat and watched as Howard dominated the same court he once owned. Before the start of overtime, Van Gundy told Howard he needed to be more aggressive. He needed to set tougher picks. He needed to roll to the basket harder.
There was a time when Van Gundy didn’t want Howard to have the ball in such moments. Howard didn’t even want it himself. He was too poor a foul shooter to be entrusted with that responsibility.
“I think earlier in my career, probably early this season … I probably would have shied away from touching the ball toward the end of the game,” Howard said.
Not on this night. He dunked over the Cavs. He made his free throws. He scored 10 of his 27 points in overtime. With the final seconds ticking off the clock, LeBron drove hard to the rim one final time. Howard leaped with him, unfurled his long arm and snuffed out the shot.
Once again, Dwight Howard stood in the way of King James and his Cavaliers. Like it or not, they’re getting used to the feeling.

NBA Playoffs | Kobe Bryant lifts Lakers to 2-1 series lead

DENVER — Kobe Bryant scored 41 points and Trevor Ariza made another important steal to help the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Denver Nuggets 103-97 Saturday, giving the Lakers a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference finals.
For the second time in three games, Ariza stole an inbounds pass in the final minute.
Ariza, whose steal of Anthony Carter's lob sealed the Lakers' victory in the series opener, sliced in front of Carmelo Anthony to swipe Kenyon Martin's inbounds pass with the Lakers clinging to a two-point lead with 36 seconds left.
Anthony fouled out to prevent the breakaway basket and Ariza sank both free throws for a 99-95 lead.
"It was kind of funny," Ariza said of the Game 3 steal. "It was pretty much the same thing, different players. But we got the steal. We got a win, that's the most important thing."
Bryant made four free throws in the final 22 seconds to seal the victory after sinking a three-pointer over J.R. Smith with 1:09 left to put Los Angeles ahead for good at 96-95.
"Kobe does that time and time and time and time and time again for game winners," teammate Lamar Odom said of Bryant's three-pointer. "It is routine — for him."
Pau Gasol added 20 points and 11 rebounds.
"I think Gasol was the key to them winning tonight," Anthony said.
Anthony scored 21 points on 4-for-13 shooting. The Lakers outshot the Nuggets, 45.8 percent to 39.3 percent.
Note
• Bryant and his wife are suing their ex-housekeeper, Maria Jimenez, accusing her of violating her contract by talking to media about the family's private affairs.
Jimenez initially sued the Bryants, contending they harassed and humiliated her. The countersuit was filed Friday in Orange County Superior Court and alleges Jimenez broke a confidentiality agreement she signed.

Who is the best in the NBA today?

Who is the best in the NBA today? Let’s keep it simple obviously it comes down to the month long highlight reel Kobe Bryant and of course The King, Lebron James. How could you say any different, it’s in the statistics. The only concern i have with Kobe is, has he committed to team ball or is this his last hope for another ring. Personally I am not the biggest Kobe fan but yes i do believe that he has gone from a one man sow performance to a true team player. Since the beginning of his career to present day he has gone not only from rookie to star but from selfish to selfless. An amazing but not surprising turn around in a shinning career of an NBA Allstar. All was well for kobe holding the title of the best in the NBA for nearly a decade, until a young force arose to become the NBA’s 1st overall draft pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. This kid has it all a scorer, passer, defender and a rebounder. Lebron James jumped into the NBA winning the NBA Rookie of the Year Award and just recently becoming the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.So who is the best player in the NBA today. Well, there’s many things to look at starting with statistics. Lebron has a Eastern Conference Title, an MVP Award and a Rookie of the Year Award. Kobe has three NBA Titles and MVP Award of his own. Now I know there are more awards that i should put down but there are a bit too many to list. Anyway, to continue on about the topic of this; I want to throw out the stats of the past and look at the players both individually. Now as I said before Kobe has turned into a fabulous team player but hasn’t completely been that way to where The King has throughout his very impressive career. Kobe has impressed me with the amount of team effort he has recently put into his game but that still doesn’t change the fact that he wasn’t always this way. Lebron started his career as a team player and continues to play that way. Nearly averaging a triple double throughout the 2008-2009 season, Lebron is now pressing for his first ring as well as bringing a title to Cleveland. Though I do believe that Kobe is one of the NBA’s most elite I do not believe that he is the NBA’s best player today. Now I do expect to hear a lot of responses saying that I am completely wrong and even people telling me that I’m a stupid a** for going against Kobe, but I would like to say that i give Kobe a whole lot of respect and I do believe with out a doubt that Kobe is arguably the best player ever. If you want to give me any feed back or comment on this article I’ll be more than pleased to answer them. Thank you for reading and i hope to gain a few permanent readers for future articles to come.

Magic, Nuggets getting little respect from national media

The Magic are playing the first 12 minutes as if it's an exhibition game, where guys can get a good sweat going and not worry about the actual game. But to paraphrase Allen Iverson, this ain't practiss!The Magic would be up 2-0 if the guys from O-town didn't come out for both games with a mood reflecting the blue on their jerseys. It's been downright depressing the way these guys have played in the first half, especially the first quarters.
They were down by 16 Wednesday night, and trailed by 23 in the first half Friday night before taking a two-point lead with a second left.Then LeBron happened. He saved this series for the Cavaliers.LeBron James' 3-point shot from the top of the key that gave Cleveland a 96-95 victory will be the defining play in this Eastern Conference finals series.If the Cavs go on to win the series, it's all about that shot.If the Magic rebound to take the series, it's about the resiliency of a team that got up off the canvas, much like a bloodied boxer, to win the fight. I'd humbly suggest that the Magic take a few smelling salts before the start of the next game."That won't happen in Orlando Sunday," Orlando reserve Mickael Pietrus said of Orlando's sluggish start. It mustn't. As furious as these rallies have been, the Magic can't keep spotting the Cavs all these points.They have the best record in the league.They have the best player in the league (so says the MVP trophy).And they have the resiliency of a team that wants another shot at the NBA Finals after losing in 2007.The Magic still have a perfect opportunity to blow up Cleveland's dream and the script that will play out if the James Gang goes Hollywood. That's what everybody wants, right?All this fixation on LeBron's Cavaliers and Kobe Bryant's Lakers works out fabulously for the Magic and Nuggets. It's much easier to play the "disrespect" card in sports, rather than to embrace the role of favorite son.It also plays right into Stan Van Gundy's wheelhouse. The Magic coach absolutely loves the perception that his team is a bunch of small-town bumpkins simply honored to be hanging out in the playoffs, as if the Magic stumbled upon them."I don't even think most of the nation even knows that we're in this series," Van Gundy said. "I think this is the Cleveland Cavaliers and the LeBron James series and who they're playing against is incidental."But just because most of the world wants us to "witness" doesn't mean we have to drink the marketing Kool-Aid. And there's plenty of that swishing around.Kobe and LeBron are certainly getting plenty of face time on ESPN, which premiered a one-hour special on Thursday called: Dream Season: 23 & 24. The press release says the documentary "focuses on Bryant's and James' pursuit of an NBA championship while forging a friendship reminiscent of past basketball rivals Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain, and Magic Johnson and Larry Bird."Nike is also rolling out ads featuring Jim Henson-like puppets of Kobe and LeBron."That was funny," Magic center Dwight Howard said before the game. "Oh, my God, yeah. That was good."Howard is jovial by nature, so he's not going to go grumpy-puss like Van Gundy. But for a team that won 59 games and just beat the reigning NBA champions, the Magic deserve more pub than an afterthought. They proved that again Friday."It's been like that most of the year," Howard said. "The only thing we can do is go out there and play. We have an opportunity just like they do to go out and win a championship."That opportunity took a punch in the gut Friday night.But it does prove that LeBron is up for the challenge that comes with all the hype.He's the real deal. I think the Magic are, too. But this game is played for 48 minutes, not 36.With more energy at the start, maybe the Magic won't need such a furious finish.

Orlando Magic Makes Superman Disappear--Again

According to his post-game mea culpa, Orlando Magic Coach Stan Van Gundy cost his team Game Two of the Eastern Conference Finals by not having the right defensive scheme on the floor to guard against LeBron James' "Are you kiddin' me?" buzzer-beating trey.
Is the coach being too harsh on himself again?
Nah, he really did screw up, and Stan is man enough to admit it.
Asked what he would have done differently, Van Gundy brushed off the question.
"I'm not going there," he said. "We might find ourselves in that situation again."
Really? OK, what could Van Gundy have done differently with his team up by two with one tick left on the clock against LeBron and his posse?
Elementary, my dear Watson. If you have the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year who goes by the name of "Superman," and he's able to jump tall buildings in a single bound, wouldn't you rather have him contest LeBron's shot? Van Gundy must have tossed and turned in bed second guessing himself for not giving Dwight Howard an opportunity to close the deal.Van Gundy had many other options, but he chose to keep them (Gortat, Battie and Lee) on the bench.
You could make the argument that Van Gundy and the Magic pulled a trick on themselves by making their All-Star big man disappear in the fourth quarter. After scoring 30 in Game One, Howard mustered just 10 Friday night as his coach and teammates forgot he existed in the final 12 minutes. No shots and few touches, if any, for D12 in the fourth. Inexcusable!
The Magic pulled the same disappearing act on Howard in losing Game Five against the Celtics during the semis. You'd think they'd learned their lesson. After losing that game against the Celtics, Howard publicly called out his coach for not making the right decisions.
No such outbursts from Superman this time. He didn't have to. Van Gundy had "oops" written all over his face during his post-game interview.
It is evident to some, Charles Barclay included and (for the record I have the Magic in six) that Orlando has the winning hand in this series. However, the Magic appear intent on making it harder on themselves by not playing with a full deck. You have the "Ace," don't keep it hidden up your sleeve!

FDLR PRESS RELEASE NR. 05/SE/CD/MAY/2009

The FDLR warn the Kigali regime against the preparations for massacres of innocent
civilians within Rwanda.
Reliable information in our possession indicate preparation of lists of young Hutu men and women
across the country by elements of the DMI (Directorate of Military Intelligence) with the intent to
wrongfully accuse them of collaborating with the FDLR within Rwanda.
The Democratic Liberation Forces of Rwanda (FDLR) remind the public that many people in
Rwanda have been arbitrarily arrested in recent months and imprisoned on false charges of
collaborating with the FDLR.
Under the pretext that there would be some infiltration of the FDLR into Rwanda, the Kigali regime
is planning repression of the population, mass arrests and killings on a large scale in order to even
more silence and terrorize conscientious objectors in Rwanda.
The FDLR urge the Rwandan regime to immediately stop these unjust arrests and its gruesome
repression and murder, to free all conscientious objectors it has imprisoned since 1994 and to open
without delay the political space to its opposition.
The FDLR request the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations Security Council
to seriously condemn these murderous manoeuvres of Kigali and to do everything possible to
prevent Rwanda and the African Great Lakes Region from falling again into fratricidal wars.
The FDLR condemn again and unequivocally the ongoing war in eastern DRC that the coalition of
the RPA/RDF and the FARDC has imposed on them, on the Congolese people of eastern DRC and
on Rwandan refugees.
The FDLR reiterate their commitment to peace and remain convinced that the Rwandan problem is
political and must be resolved politically through a frank and direct dialogue between the Kigali
regime and the FDLR.
Done in Paris on 20 May 2009
Callixte Mbarushimana
Executive Secretary of the FDLR
(Sé)

Rights body accuses DRC troops of war crimes

Human rights body accuses DRC troops of rape, other abuses* Urges U.N. to put pressure on Kabila * Congolese government rejects charges(Adds Congolese government reaction)By Frank NyakairuNAIROBI, May 19 (Reuters) - Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Democratic Republic of Congo's army on Tuesday of rape and other abuses against civilians that it said amounted to war crimes, but the government rejected the charges as "lies".Congolese soldiers and the U.N. peacekeeping force MONUC have been conducting joint operations in eastern Congo targeting Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) Hutu rebels including leaders of neighbouring Rwanda's 1994 genocide.But New York-based HRW said local troops were committing atrocities in the area's remote North Kivu province.It accused government soldiers of raping more than 143 women and girls since January -- more than half the total number of rape cases documented by HRW researchers in the country."The Congolese army is responsible for widespread and vicious abuses against its own people that amount to war crimes," Anneke Van Woudenberg, senior researcher in HRW's Africa Division, said in a statement."The government should take urgent action to end these abuses. A military operation that targets the very people the government claims to be protecting can only lead to disaster."The FDLR largely melted into the bush when the government, backed first by Rwanda's army and then by the United Nations, launched the offensive.But tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced during the operations and the FDLR have retaken much of the ground they initially lost. The FDLR have also been accused of atrocities.A government spokesman rejected the charges as lies."It is becoming ridiculous ... we are going to put an end to all these (accusations)," said Information Minister Lambert Mende."This is nearly word for word the statement of the FDLR. We now have proof that HRW works supports the FDLR. I think there will be consequences. But first the government will meet to decide what measures to take," he added, not elaborating.U.N. Security Council envoys flew to Goma in eastern Congo on Monday to bolster a U.N. drive to help resolve years of conflict in the region and ultimately allow the 17,000-strong U.N. force there to leave."Security Council members should tell President Joseph Kabila that U.N. peacekeepers cannot support military operations in which war crimes are being committed," Woudenberg said. (Additional reporting by Joe Bavier in Kinshasa, Editing by David Lewis, Daniel Wallis and Richard Balmforth)

Sri Lankan rebel leader 'is dead'

The leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels, Velupillai Prabhakaran, is dead, the Sri Lankan military has said.
The announcement on state television came shortly after the military said it had surrounded Prabhakaran in a tiny patch of jungle in the north-east.
The head of the Sri Lankan army Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka said the military had defeated the rebels and "liberated the entire country".
The claims cannot be verified as reporters are barred from the war zone.
"Today we finished the work handed to us by the president to liberate the country from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)," Gen Fonseka said in the broadcast.

He said troops were working to identify Prabhakaran's body from among the dead.
The BBC's Charles Haviland in Colombo: "The military say he was trying to escape in an ambulance"
Sri Lankan forces had routed the rebels in the past few weeks, over-running their territory and bringing the 26-year war to its conclusion.
The broadcast quoted military officials as saying Prabhakaran was killed along with two of his deputies.
It said Prabhakaran, his intelligence chief Pottu Amman and Soosai, the head of the rebels' naval wing, were shot dead in an ambush in the Mullivaikal district while trying to escape the war zone in an ambulance.
Earlier, at least three senior rebel leaders were killed, including Prabhakaran's eldest son, Charles Anthony, the military said.
State TV broadcast images of what it said was Charles Anthony's body.
Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara confirmed Prabhakaran's death, saying 250 Tamil Tigers were also killed overnight.
The government's information department also sent news of Prabhakaran's death by text message to mobile phones across the country.
In the past few days, the LTTE had been hemmed into a 300 sq metre (3,230 sq ft) patch of land - a tiny part of the 15,000 sq km territory they had controlled until recently.
The BBC's world affairs correspondent Adam Mynott says Prabhakaran was a shadowy figure, constantly under the threat of arrest or assassination.
He says he fashioned a ruthless and uncompromising fighting force, which assassinated several Sri Lankan political leaders and the former Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Ghandi.
Under Prabhakaran's leadership the LTTE was branded a terrorist organisation by many countries, and he was wanted by Interpol - the global police network - for murder, terrorism, organised crime and conspiracy.
Anger and jubilation
There is still widespread international concern about civilians who may have been caught up in the fighting.


Sources in the UN say significant numbers of civilians were still in the combat zone but the Sri Lankan government said all civilians had left.
There have been street celebrations in the capital, Colombo, but also an angry demonstration against Britain, with protestors accusing it of seeking to help the rebels by earlier calling for a ceasefire.
More than 1,000 Sri Lankans protested outside the British High Commission. Some protesters threw stones and burnt an effigy of UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
A High Commission spokesman said it was "an outrage" that the Sri Lankan authorities let the demonstration become so violent.
The Tigers had been fighting for a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka since the 1970s.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict and thousands displaced.

In Game 7, Celtics Run Out of Magic

BOSTON, May 17 -- It took six games, two fourth-quarter meltdowns, the star player publicly roasting the coach and a guarantee from a retired Hall of Fame center for the Orlando Magic to finally show what it had always believed: That it was a better team than the Boston Celtics. The Celtics served as the most difficult out, defending their championship nobly and putting aside their shortcomings in the absence of Kevin Garnett.
But as Game 7 played out -- as center Dwight Howard dunked and his teammates knocked down three-pointers -- the Magic's talent and depth finally catapulted it to a 101-82 victory at TD Banknorth Garden on Sunday and a trip to the Eastern Conference finals.
Orlando hasn't reached the Eastern Conference finals since 1996, when Shaquille O'Neal and Penny Hardaway were nearing a breakup and Howard was just 10 years old. Howard still considers himself an oversize kid and the day before the biggest game of his career, he joked that he was eating a bowl of Alphabet cereal, with the letters twice forming the word "dominate" on his spoon.
Howard wasn't dominant on both ends (12 points, 16 rebounds and five blocked shots), but he didn't have to be, with the Magic getting contributions from the 6-foot-10 forward tandem of Hedo Turkoglu (25 points) and Rashard Lewis (19 points), point guard Rafer Alston (15 points) and reserve Mickael Pietrus (17 points). He also provided the lighthearted tone afterward, when stated to Lewis in the locker room that "we're 2-0 after a player calls out the coach."
Howard had a postgame rant after a disappointing loss in Game 5 -- when the Magic blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead -- as he calmly ripped Coach Stan Van Gundy's scheme and demanded more touches. But while Howard's comments raised questions about Van Gundy's job security and could have easily caused the season to crumble, he responded with 23 points, 22 rebounds and 3 blocked shots to force one more game. Then, on Sunday, the Magic shot 62 percent from behind the three-point line (13 of 21) and also became the first team in 33 tries to defeat the Celtics in a best-of-seven series when trailing 3-2.
Afterward in the locker room, Van Gundy wrote "32-1" on the white erase board, but most of his players were too excited to notice.
"This is a huge win for our team and our organization," Van Gundy said. "I know they didn't have Kevin Garnett and the whole thing, but when you look at a team that's 32-0 when leading a series 3-2 and you come in and win by 19 points, that's a big win. I can't say I've ever had one that I've been happier about."
Now, the Magic will have a more difficult challenge in the next round against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have been the most unstoppable force this postseason, riding LeBron James to sweeps against Detroit and Atlanta, with eight wins decided by double digits.
"Some parting gift," Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said.
From the moment they raised championship banner No. 17 and Paul Pierce shed tears of joy as he held the Larry O'Brien Trophy on opening night, the Celtics were expected to face the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals.
But as the season played out, the Celtics became victims of attrition as they lost Garnett and his backup Leon Powe and were forced to rely heavily on a patchwork roster surrounding all-stars Ray Allen (23 points) and Paul Pierce (19 points). Rivers admitted that the team was still holding out hope that Garnett could've possibly returned from his right knee with a deep playoff run, but now the all-star forward will have surgery. "I'm very proud of my team," Rivers said. "I told them, this is one of my favorite groups as far as how far they got. A lot of reasons for them to give up -- you know with the Garnett and the Leon thing -- and they never did."
The Celtics had played in three Game 7s the past two seasons, defeating Atlanta and Cleveland in the first two rounds last year, and taking out Chicago in a grueling first-round series that featured seven overtimes. While Boston had the edge in experience, the Magic players were confident knowing that they lost two games in which they led late -- Glen Davis made a buzzer-beating jumper in Game 4 and the team blew a 14-point fourth-quarter lead in Game 5. Magic assistant coach Patrick Ewing even guaranteed a win on Friday on the John Thompson radio show. For once, Ewing was right.
"We won six out of seven games, if you ask me," reserve point guard Anthony Johnson said. "They made the game-winning shot. Then in the fourth, we up 10 and we just crumbled. Those are easily two wins. There is no reason this series should have even gone to a Game 7. But you've got to give them credit."

Obama faces down abortion heckles

President Barack Obama has been briefly heckled as he addressed students at the largest US Catholic university, amid a row over abortion rights.
Anti-abortion activists have protested against the president's visit to Notre Dame, in Indiana.
Protests and vigils have been held on and around campus, with several people arrested before Mr Obama's speech.
Mr Obama, who received an honorary degree, defended the right to abortion but said the procedure should be rare.
After entering the White House in January the president also quickly moved to reverse a Bush-era ban on embryonic stem-cell research, angering many social conservatives.
There are approximately 60 million Roman Catholics in the US, with almost half of them supporting abortion rights, research suggests. Some 42% believe abortion should be illegal.
'Inappropriate'
Wearing the blue robes of Notre Dame, Mr Obama was welcomed onto the stage with a lengthy ovation from students and staff.
Support for the president's visit was strong among those in the audience, who watched him receive an honorary degree before delivering the commencement, or graduation, address.
Let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions
US President Barack Obama
Stage set at Notre Dame
He was interrupted soon after beginning his speech, prompting a majority of those in the audience to cheer the president, who asked for calm and told listening graduates: "We don't do things the easy way."
The AFP news agency said four men heckled the president, shouting "abortion is murder" and "stop killing babies" before being escorted from the auditorium.
Mr Obama laid out his views on abortion in clear terms, describing it as "a heart-wrenching decision for any woman".
To sustained applause, he outlined steps he supported.
"Let's work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions by reducing unintended pregnancies, and making adoption more available, and providing care and support for for women who do carry their child to term," he said.
The decision to invite Mr Obama to Notre Dame, the largest Catholic university in the US, has been fiercely criticised.
Many activists and Church leaders have directed their ire at university authorities they accuse of betraying Catholic principles.
"It is clear that Notre Dame didn't understand what it means to be Catholic when they issued this invitation," said Cardinal Francis George, president of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Bishop John D'Arcy, of the diocese where Notre Dame is located, said he would boycott the graduation for the first time in his 24 years as bishop, the Chicago Tribune reported.
And conservative critics have described the awarding of an honorary degree as "inappropriate".
Avoiding caricatures
Addressing his critics indirectly, Mr Obama told academics and graduates at Notre Dame that he did not want the debate around abortion to go away.
Conceding that the views of opposing advocates were "irreconcilable", he said each side would continue to make its case with conviction.
CATHOLICS IN AMERICA
60 million Catholics in US
49% think abortion should be legal in most or all cases, against 42% who think it should be illegal
50% think it was right to invite Mr Obama to give the Notre Dame speech; 28% think it was wrong
"Surely we can do so without reducing those with differing views to caricature?" he asked.
A strong majority of students were reported to be in favour of the president's visit, but a petition containing some 360,000 names was delivered to the university as a mark of protest.
Overnight, students opposed to abortion rights attended an all-night prayer vigil to protest against Mr Obama's visit, and an estimated 200 people attended a prayer session at Alumni Hall Chapel.
More than 100 protesters gathered and 23 marched onto the campus on Saturday, the Associated Press reported. Police arrested 19 for trespassing, with four also charged with resisting police.
A university spokesman said none of those arrested were students, AP added.

Celtics don't take Game 7 home success for granted against Magic

The Boston Celtics are exactly where they want to be for Game 7 - home. Now they must keep Dwight Howard from getting to his favourite spots, right near the basket.
Defence will mean more than decibel level when the defending NBA champions try to control the Orlando Magic's powerful centre Sunday night.
The winner faces a huge challenge in the Eastern Conference finals - LeBron James and his playoff-perfect Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept their first two series.
The Celtics are in their second straight seven-gamer. They beat Chicago in the first series and bobbled themselves into the Game 7 against Orlando by blowing a 10-point, third-quarter lead and losing 83-75. Howard had 23 points and 22 rebounds Thursday night.
"Game 7 is the ultimate players' game. I've always thought that," said Boston coach Doc Rivers, who feels their will and execution mean more than coaching tips. "If you need a rah-rah speech for Game 7, your team's probably in a little trouble."
So he plans to forego any inspirational pre-game words. The fans will be loud enough.
But the Celtics don't want to hear about home-court advantage.
"You can't go into any situation thinking that you're comfortable at home," Ray Allen said. "You've got to play basketball and it starts with not getting too comfortable at home."
The Celtics beat Atlanta and Cleveland at home in Game 7 of the first two rounds last year. They did it again against the Bulls, a series in which four games reached overtime.
They're 17-3 in seventh games at home.
"You can't think about the aura of Boston while you're playing them," Magic guard Rafer Alston said, "but the days before, leading up to it, you have a thought in your mind about it. There's nothing bad about it. The history of that organization to me is fascinating, the fact that they consistently get it done in their building in decisive games."
The Celtics did lose the opener there when Howard had 22 rebounds. He was even more dominating in Game 6 in Orlando after he complained that he didn't get the ball enough.
So he got it himself with 10 offensive rebounds.
"His performance the other night was remarkable. His energy and intensity were off the charts," Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said. "His athleticism is so great when he's playing that hard, it's really, really difficult for people to keep up with him."
The Celtics must keep trying without Kevin Garnett, their defensive mainstay in the middle whose knee injury has kept him out of the playoffs.
Rivers said he won't change the way the Celtics defend Howard but they must do a better job of keeping dribblers from penetrating and drawing centre Kendrick Perkins away from Howard to help out.
The key is "to be physical with him, try to get him off the block as much as possible," Paul Pierce said. "Just limit his easy opportunities. You've got to keep him off the offensive rebound because he does a lot of damage there."
Brian Scalabrine is the only big substitute in Rivers' rotation, so starters Perkins and Glen Davis must avoid foul trouble.
Howard is hungry for his first trip to the conference finals.
"Just being dominant is going to be key for my team. That's the word of the week. Dominate!" he said with a laugh. "I woke up and ate some alphabet cereal and the first scoop I picked up was 'dominate.' So I stirred the bowl up, picked it up again, and it was 'dominate.' So I ate it."
The word for Allen is "shooting."
Against the Bulls, the veteran marksman hit a winning three-pointer with two seconds left in Game 2 and scored 51 points in Game 6. But in four of the games against the Magic - three of them losses - he's 10-for-47 from the field.
"Every shot that I put up there, it always looks good to me," Allen said. "You see the ball rattling around the rim and then sometimes it toilet bowls and goes down and sometimes it pops out and you just never know until that ball goes all the way through.
"So I'll be making sure that ball goes all the way through (Sunday)."
The Celtics say they're comfortable playing in a Game 7. The Magic say they won't feel added pressure.
"It doesn't worry me at all," Orlando's Rashard Lewis said. "We were facing elimination the other night."
It's been close all season between the two Eastern Conference powers. The Magic and Celtics split four games in the regular season.
"Obviously, it's the end of the road for one team, but ... you can only do what you're capable of doing," Allen said. "You've seen a team 10 times already that year so there's not too many surprises."