The following stories are brought to you by the fine folks on the News4 assignment desk.
GIL APOLOGIZES VIA OP-ED IN POST
The Post suggested on Dec. 31 that I send a message to young fans "about guns being neither glamorous nor desirable." I am grateful for the opportunity to do something good in the face of the very bad situation I created.
I have done a number of things wrong recently. I violated D.C. gun laws and the NBA's ban on firearms on league property, and I damaged the image of the NBA and its players. I reacted badly to the aftermath and made fun of inaccurate media reports, which looked as though I was making light of a serious situation. And I gave Commissioner David Stern good reason to suspend me from the game, which put my teammates in a tough position and let down our fans and Mrs. Irene Pollin, the widow of longtime Wizards owner Abe Pollin. (Washington Post)
TEN TERRIBLE SUPER BOWL COMMERCIALS
Ah, Super Bowl night: when America sits attentively for commercials, just to get its collective judgment on. Isn't it the best?
Sometimes, not so much. For every belching Budweiser frog, there's at least 10 others that leave us scratching our heads, disappointed, or just plain turned off.
A clown drinking beer through its bottom? Unsubscribe! (NBC Washington)
BRANSON SHOWS OFF 'UNDERWATER PLANE'
Billionaire Sir Richard Branson may already own an airline, a record label, a mobile phone company, several luxury restaurants and a Caribbean island. But today the entrepreneur unveiled his latest toy - an underwater plane.
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
The £415,000 prototype submersible is called the Necker Nymph and can dive to depths of up to 130ft. Sir Richard hopes to one day explore depths of 35,000ft - which is far more than the height of Mount Everest. (Daily Mail)
FIRE IN HOUSTON BLAMED ON INFLATABLE GORILLA
Fire department officials said an out-of-control inflatable gorilla was blamed for a rooftop blaze at a Houston shopping center. No injuries were reported in the fire early Thursday. The remnants of the inflatable gorilla were seen at the site.
District Chief Fred Hooker said some type of a "blowup doll" was on the roof, the item deflated and landed on some lights, leading to the fire. (MSNBC)
