MEAT LOAF has blasted the Australian Football League and blamed a hemorrhaging vocal cord on his "disastrous performance" at the 2011 AFL Grand Final. He was "widely panned for a shambolic pre-game set, where he seemed unable to sing in tune, at the MCG." His comments came as the AFL announced BRYAN ADAMS as the "headline act" for the 2015 Grand Final (HERALD SUN, 9/8). ... NBA Golden State Warriors guard STEPHEN CURRY "made his first visit to Japan on Friday." Curry, who was on the Under Armour Roadshow event along with UA Founder, Chair & CEO KEVIN PLANK, said, "This is my first time in Japan. I'm enjoying myself." While they were there to "promote their products, including the player's latest basketball shoes, Curry also held a basketball clinic for some boys and girls." Plank said that signing Curry two years ago was one of the "easiest decisions his company has made because of his value on and off the court" (JAPAN TIMES, 9/5). ... Three-time London Marathon winner PAULA RADCLIFFE "fiercely denied taking drugs during her career," insisting she has "never resorted to cheating in any form whatsoever" after she was implicated in a Parliamentary anti-doping enquiry on Tuesday. In a statement, which runs more than 1,700 words, she said, "I categorically deny that I have resorted to cheating in any form whatsoever at any time in my career, and am devastated that my name has even been linked to these wide-ranging accusations" (London TELEGRAPH, 9/8).
