'French Connection' star Rick Martin dies at 59

Rick Martin, who comprised one-third of the famed "French Connection" line for the Buffalo Sabres in the 1970s, died Sunday at age 59.

According to the New York State Police, Martin died in a one-car crash in the Buffalo suburb of Clarence. A report in the Buffalo News said Martin suffered a heart attack while driving.

"We lost a heck of a good guy," Sabres coach Lindy Ruff, a former teammate of Martin's, said during a news conference before Sunday's game against the Ottawa Senators. "It's a tough one to take."

A moment was silence was held prior to the opening faceoff at HSBC Arena, where Martin's No. 7 jersey hangs from the rafters.

Martin was one of the Sabres' first draft picks, taken No. 5 in 1971, and scored 44 goals in his first season, a rookie record at the time. He went on to team with Gilbert Perreault and Rene Robert on the high-scoring line that helped lead the Sabres to the Stanley Cup Final in 1975, only their fifth season of existence.

Martin scored a career-high 52 goals in 1973-74 and matched that again to go with a career-high 95 points the following season. He added 7 goals and 15 points in 17 playoff games as the Sabres fell to the Flyers in the Final.

For his career, Martin totaled 384 goals and 701 points in 685 regular-season games with the Sabres and Kings. He added 24 goals and 53 points in 63 playoff games.

Martin was among the welcoming party last month when Terry Pegula assumed ownership of the Sabres.

A statement released by the team read: "The Buffalo Sabres are saddened to announce the passing of Buffalo Sabres Hall of Famer and member of the famed French Connection, Rick Martin. Rick was not only one of the greatest players in franchise history, he was a great friend to the Sabres organization and the entire community. The thoughts and prayers of the entire Sabres organization go out to his wife Mikey and their two sons, Corey and Josh."

Peter King's Hearings Hurt Our Troops

Quick question - which U.S. President was the first to hold Ramadan itfar dinners at the White House, celebrating the breaking of the fast with Muslims? Hint: That same President visited Mosques more than once during his administration.

Many FOX News viewers may assume that it's President Obama. But, it was actually George W. Bush.

It's no secret that VoteVets.org had a number of issues with President Bush, most notably his decision to go to war in Iraq, and how he waged the war. However, one thing he understood, and often got right, was sending signals to reassure the Muslim world that the United States held no animus towards Islam, both in words and deeds.

I thought of President Bush as the debate heated up over Rep. Peter King's hearings today on Islam in America.

Rep. King is doing our troops no favors, as he specifically targets Muslims, and only Muslims, in his hearings on domestic terrorism. A key part of the work of our troops abroad is winning the hearts and minds of the people in any country we operate, and as of right now, most of them are Muslims. When they hear that the American government considers Islam a threat, and is investigating American Muslims, it only bolsters the message of al Qaeda and other terrorist groups that we are in a war with Islam.

Every wrong signal can be exploited, as we are in this important fight, and we must be extra-vigilant in ensuring that nothing we do aids the underlying message of our enemies, as they seek to recruit. Some signals, of course, are out of our control, like rumors that a soldier used the Quran as toilet paper at Guantanamo. But those things make it even more important that those in power do everything they can to combat the notion that we target this one religion. Peter King's hearings do just the opposite.

Now, there is no doubt that extremists who pervert the message of Islam present a threat to our security, and we need to continue to keep on top of them. Those who are protesting Peter King's hearings aren't saying we should be naïve about the threats we face - and any argument to the contrary is laughable. But, those extremists who are Muslim are not the only home-grown terrorists. In fact, just the other day, police in Washington State arrested a White Supremacist they suspect is behind the plot to set off a bomb at a Martin Luther King Day parade. I would say that plot was extremism and terrorism.

If Representative King was truly concerned about the threat of domestic terrorism, his hearings would cast a wide net, and examine every threat, regardless of heritage or religion. That would not only help us better understand threats within the United States, but would also make clear to the larger world that we do not target Muslims because of their religion.

But Congressman King doesn't seem interested in that - this is a political show to play to the fringe base, not a real attempt to better our security. And, unfortunately, it comes at the expense of our troops fighting overseas, who can't afford to have news of "a US lawmaker's anti-Islam hearings" floating around the population with whom they're trying to work.

World Cup 2011 Live: India vs Netherlands Live Streaming, Score, Highlights

The news from the 25th match of the World Cup Cricket 2011 between India vs Netherlands on March 9, 2011 is that Indian pace bowler Ashish Nehra will play in this match, while Netherlands has won the toss and decided to bat first at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi. See live score.

In a jam-packed stadium of 42,000 spectators, Indian captain MS Dhoni said after the toss that even he would have liked to bat first had he won the toss, the pitch will behave slowly as the day progresses and batting would be a bit difficult. Follow ball-by-ball Commentary.

ESPN-STAR Cricket TV channel will telecast the match live in India. Click to Watch live streaming.

The final eleven players have been declared, the teams are as follows.

India : Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Piyush Chawla, Munaf Patel.

Netherlands : RN ten Doeschate, AN Kervezee, B Zuiderent, TN de Grooth, ES Szwarczynski, W Barresi, TLW Cooper, PW Borren*, BP Kruger, Mudassar Bukhari, PM Seelaar.

India has played two World Cup matches at this venue, winning one and loosing one.

Noy to PMA graduates: Shun gold's temptations

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City, Philippines – Mincing no words against corruption in the military, President Aquino yesterday urged the graduates of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) to turn away from “gold’s temptations” and become saviors of the poor from the quagmire of poverty.

Aquino addressed the 196 graduates of PMA Class 2011 “Laon-Alab,” enjoining them to resist temptations of wealth and live up to the ideals of the academy and the military as an institution.

“I hope you can say ‘no’ when somebody dumps a truckload of money in front of you. Live up to the ideals of the PMA. You are not here to get rich,” Aquino told the newly commissioned officers in Filipino.

Aquino also assured the graduates that the government is looking at the welfare of the troops while being tough against corruption in the military and those responsible.

Alluding to two former military budget comptrollers accused of massive corruption, Aquino said some officers openly enjoyed lavish lifestyles, splurging on foreign trips with their wives.

“We’ll have these robbers and their cohorts pay for their crimes. Wala tayong sasantuhin (Nobody will be spared),” he said.

Class valedictorian Navy Ensign Angelo Parras said he could not promise his “mistahs” (classmates) will tread the ideal path.

“I wish those ideals would be with us when we leave Borromeo Field and the PMA. Everyone (of us) has his (or her) own thinking... though we will try our best to attain the ideals of P-Noy (Aquino),” Parras said.

Amid the “pabaon” scandals rocking the military organization, Parras expressed his support for the AFP and the PMA.

“We should not destroy the (military) institution because of one man. There are thousands of heroes graduating from the PMA,” Parras said.

Parras led the graduates in promising to serve and protect the people amid the controversies in the military.

Aquino told the graduates that they would be walking into the “realities of poverty and injustice (in the country).”

“As you walk out from the PMA, you will face a different kind of war. The measure of your heroism will not be on how you will fire your guns but how you measure up to your oath and conduct to the people. Your power comes from the Filipino people,” Aquino said.

Aquino handed over to Parras the Presidential Saber for topping the Laon Alab (Lakas Tipon Alagad ng Bayan) Class 2011.

The town of Apalit in Pampanga has already prepared a welcome for Parras, according to town Mayor Jun Tetangco.

“Apalit has many PMA graduates, but it’s the first time that one topped the class and outdoing 195 others in his graduating class,” Tetangco said.

Pampanga Gov. Lilia Pineda said the provincial government is also set to cite Parras for topping the PMA class.

Aquino led the commissioning of the 196 graduates as second lieutenants and ensigns of the AFP. Parras, for his part, has opted to join the Philippine Navy.

Cadets 1st Class John Gregor Guiang, 21, of Zamboanga del Norte, and Jason Cortes Luna, 23, of Enrile, Cagayan, ranked second and third, respectively.

Of the 196 graduates, 22 are female. Of the number, 105 will join the Army, 51 will go to the Navy and 40 will join the Air Force.

The other top graduates were Aljan Cabriga Dino of Naic, Cavite; Rigor Narag Pamittan of Tuguegarao City, Cagayan; Janice Baniaga Matbagan of Baguio City; Bobby Gabayno of Cainta, Rizal; Ramon Kristofer Ganab Engay of Tuao, Cagayan; Norman Avila Carual of Tabaco City, Albay, and Jason Fabros Parinas of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija.

This year’s graduating class is the youngest in the last five years with their median ages between 20 and 22.

At least 10 from the class were aged 20 and would need to sign a waiver to serve as officers in the military because AFP requires its members to be at least 21 years old. -With Delon Porcalla, Ding Cervantes

'Saturday Night Live' review: Miley Cyrus and a show better than 'pretty cool': It was pretty funny!

Miley Cyrus’ distinctive speech pattern — a Nashville twang bouncing against glottal stops — is both distracting and distinctive, which makes her comparatively easy to imitate, if you have that kind of talent, and Vanessa Bayer does. She’s spent this SNL season making her “Miley Cyrus Show” sketches little critiques of show-biz unctuousness, exaggerating Miley’s penchant for hype (“Purty cooool!”) and dad Billy Ray’s coattail-riding of his daughter’s fame (Jason Sudeikis plays him as a shameless shill).

Saturday Night Live waited until midnight to unveil its latest “Miley Cyrus Show” sketch, which turned out to have a clever idea: Bayer was Miley, as usual, while the week’s host, Miley Cyrus, portrayed Justin Bieber in her best impersonation of the night. Cyrus had Bieber’s trying-too-hard hiphop mannerisms down cold.

SNL commenced with — duh — “Duh! Winning! with Charlie Sheen,” with Bill Hader doing a good Sheen impersonation, hosting the week’s biggest losers, including Christina Aguilera (Abby Elliott), John Galliano (an excellent Taran Killam), Lindsay Lohan (Cyrus sounding like Cyrus), and Fred Armisen’s Muammar Gaddafi. (Told ya SNL would conflate Sheen with Gaddafi.)

A particularly strong “Weekend Update” did better with its Sheen jokes, offering the winners and losers in that guy’s scandals. Denise Richards was a winner, said Seth Meyers, for getting out early, “like someone who’d sold her house in 2007.” A loser: tigers and their blood (“Why is he dragging us into this?”). It was followed by a superb up-yours to the religious protesters at a military funeral whose right to be heinous was upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this week. Sudekis played Satan, relishing what he’d do when these homophobic zealots landed in Hell… and added a nice kicker about working on the upcoming season of Entourage.

Feeling her oats, the 18 year-old Cyrus ridiculed her Hannah Montana fame-vehicle in a sketch about the “Disney Channel Acting School,” with Kenan Thompson accompanying her as Raven-Symone. It was nicely done, with lessons in speaking too loudly and dressing too loudly.

There were a few duds, of course, such as Wiig and Cyrus in a “Rockabilly Lady Party” fake ad, but the majority of the material this week was, at the very least, goofy fun, such as the charmingly wacky French-people-dancing moment. (Again, congrats to Killam, who stuffed his face with a lot of French bread while wiggling around.)

Cyrus fared best in the moments when she was required to sing, whether it was her cute opening “I’m Sorry That I’m Not Perfect” specialty number to her showing-closing tune, playing a disgusted cruise-ship singer, crooning about how everybody on a cruise ship seemed “gross” to her.

Musical guest the Strokes sounded very Strokes-like; by this time, they’re almost Ramones-ish in their assiduous adherence to formula, and of their two performances, I liked “Under Cover of Darkness” the best.

Cram session: Culinary students no strangers to hard work

Chef Harvey Knight shows his Cocoa High culinary arts students much more than just how to cook.

Knight established a career in fine dining before taking the position in 2003. He worked as an apprentice in the American Culinary Federation, then as a sous chef, considered the kitchen's second in command, and later as an executive chef.

"This is a career and technical education class. The first year covers all the basics of cooking. They also learn the practical application of dining room set up and breakdown, buffet, menu planning and how to set a table properly," Knight said.

The idea is to prepare students to work in the industry, including the chance to earn industry certification. Out his 120 students, about 25 are seeking certification, Knight said.

Brevard Public Schools has other culinary programs at Titusville High, Bayside High and Melbourne High.

"It's preparing them for a career in the hospitality industry, not just culinary," Knight said.

QUESTION: Has the industry been impacted by the downturn in the economy?

ANSWER: Even in a recession people still have to eat. I tell my students you'll never have a problem finding work in this type of field because people will always get hungry. There are so many opportunities.

Q: Is it hard to teach students in a short period of time?

A: This is a 47-minute class so it's incredibly difficult to take a first-year student and really saturate them in what they need to know to keep them interested. But the good thing is, they can come back and the second year they can have two hours and we can actually create wedding cakes.

Q: Can you tell whether a student has a flair for it?

A: Yes. It's real hard to teach work ethic. It's usually better instilled by their family and parents. I can definitely tell when a student has the ability to take their role seriously and put 110 percent into everything they do. Especially around food, it's easy to tell. You put your emotions into the cooking and it comes out in the taste. That's why I teach them how to make bread from scratch. You go home when you have a bad day and you want to feel better, go home and make a loaf of bread. It'll make you feel like a million bucks.

Q: What is the most important thing you teach?

A: I think the most valuable thing is to never stop learning.

Q: What is your favorite part of your job?

A: I think after we give an event and they realize how wonderful the food was. The night is over and it was a huge success. Just the look on their faces.

Wolves get involved in the Melodrama, acquire Randolph for Brewer

That three-way Carmelo Anthony trade involving the Timberwolves isn't official yet as I write this late Monday night, but it soon will be.

Expect the necessary trade calls with the league to come Tuesday morning, after which the Wolves will announce they have traded Corey Brewer to the Knicks for forward Anthony Randolph, Eddy Curry's expiring contract and $3 million cash.

There's no -- I repeat NO -- first-round pick included by the Wolves in this deal, which David Kahn made clear when he called that ESPN from a couple weeks ago (Brewer and a No. 1 for Randolph) "overstated."

And Curry's presence is meaningless.

In fact, you can bet he'll never arrive in Minnesota.

The Wolves will waive him asap and use that $3 million -- plus the swap on Brewer's contract for Randolph's -- and come out even after paying off the rest Curry's contract.

So the deal here is Brewer for Randolph.

Why?

Size and length, once again.

I'm sure Kent Youngblood -- he's covering Tuesday's game at Milwaukee for me -- will ask Kurt Rambis about this, but whether Rambis says so or not, I'm guessing Rambis sees a good bit of Lamar Odom in Randolph.

Both are skilled 6-10 players who can handle and pass the ball.

There's no question Randolph is skilled, freakishly athletic and thrives in an open-court game.

He's also got a 7-foot-3 wingspan.

But two teams that run and play no defense -- the Warriors and Knicks -- now have both given up on him before his 22nd birthday, which doesn't come until July.

So there's questions about his motor and, even though he has the instincts and physical gifts to be a fine shot blocker, questions about his defense.

He fits one of what the Wolves' brass feels are their needs: A long, athletic player to come off the bench when Darko comes out of the game.

By giving up Brewer and not one of the Wolves' extra first-round draft picks, the Wolves say goodbye to a player they likely concluded will never shoot or handle the ball well enough to be an impact player out on the wing, where you win with skilled players.

They also almost certainly concluded he's not as good a defensive player as most Wolves fans think he is, particularly in dependability (gambles too much) and off the ball.

He is headed toward restricted free agency this summer, too, after the team chose not to negotiate a contract extension with him last fall.

I asked Anthony Tolliver after practice today: Who is skinnier, Randolph or Brewer and he chose Brewer in a landslide.

Tolliver also wondered how Randolph -- the two were teammates at Golden State, although Randolph was injured while Tolliver was there -- will fit the triangle offense and said he's more suited for an open-court game.

Here's one of the many YouTube mixes featuring Randolph in the NBA.

In those highlights, he looks like a guy who can run the floor and oop Ricky Rubio's alleys, if Rubio ever arrives here.

This deal also has nothing to do with salary-cap maneuvering or saving money. They had the salary cap space to absorb Curry's contract and did so at no cost to them.

This trade now also gives the Wolves three lefties: Mike Beasley, Darko and now Randolph.

Kent should have more here on the blog Tuesday after the Wolves officially announce the deal.

The trade comes a few days before Thursday's trade deadline and it repeats history a bit: Remember, the Wolves dealt with the Knicks at last season's trade deadline for a player (Darko) also buried on their bench like Randolph has been.

The Wolves continued to work late Monday night to get a bit more out of the deal. We'll see Tuesday if they were able to get another piece out of the trade.

Also....about Tuesday's game:

* Beasley says his ankle is better after resting it over All-Star weekend and he plans to play against the Bucks.

* Don't expect Flynn (sore groin) to play either Tuesday at Milwaukee or Wednesday at home.

* Webster is questionable for Tuesday because hi

NBA Celebrity Game 2011 Roster: NBA Legends, Justin Bieber, and Everyone Else

No matter how hard you try, you will never be able to conjure up a more pointless sporting event that the NBA Celebrity All-Star Game.

"Oh, come on, Rymer! It's all in good fun!"

For you, maybe. But not for me. After all, I have to write about the damn thing.

Oh well. Now that I've laid that little guilt trip on you, it has become apparent that quite a few people are hitting Google in search of the cast of characters at tonight's event.

Allow me to clear the air.

There were several NBA legends on hand, namely Magic Johnson, Scottie Pippen, Bill Walton, A.C. Green, B.J. Armstrong, Chris Mullen, and Jalen Rose. Also joining in the fun were WNBA stars Swin Cash and Tamika Catchings.

And then there were the celebrities. I suspect you don't need me to tell you that Justin Bieber was there, but he was. And wouldn't you know it, he was named the game's MVP too.

Joining Bieber on the celebrity front were Common (rapper/actor), Ty Burrell (actor), Rob Kardashian (?), Zach Levi (actor), Jason Alexander (actor), and Lil' Romeo (rapper?).

Speaking of Common, the poor guy got his ankles broken by Bieber, who baffled him with a sick crossover.

Managing the teams were Jimmy Kimmel and Bill Simmons (you know him as "The Sports Guy"). Magic coached Kimmel's team, and Walton coached Simmons' team.

That about does it for now. We're still awaiting word about whether or not any real celebrities will be playing in next year's game.

Asked & Answered | Charlotte Dellal (Interview)

Nothing seems to faze her. Charlotte Dellal, the soul behind the soles of Charlotte Olympia, is in the middle of Fashion Week and her second pregnancy. She’s been traveling from London to New York and back to present her fall 2011 collection. Next up: Los Angeles for Coachella and, later this month, the premiere of charlotteolympia.com, her e-commerce site. Dellal is one-part Brazilian, one-part English and a total riot. She spoke with The Moment at the shoe salon at Bergdorf Goodman to reveal how she makes it all happen.
DESCRIPTION
Q.

Is this the first department-store retailer in the United States to sell your shoes?
A.

Yes, I’ve been waiting for BG, as it’s where I’ve always wanted to sell. Everyone said Bergdorf Goodman because when I came here I loved the feel of it. I didn’t go to anyone else.

The collection was inspired by Rio and a photo of your mother, the Brazilian model Andrea Della, dressed as Carmen Miranda. Where did that come from? I always have a pinup in each season and this season it is Carmen Miranda. My mother is from Rio, and I grew up in Rio visiting family, but I couldn’t do one collection on it so this is just a taste of Rio. I love that country — it’s just so big.

What textures and fabrics are in the fall collection?
Always leopard print and I could do a whole collection inspired by gothic architecture, but lots of velvet, paisley print, tapestry and funny accessories on the shoes.

What type of funny accessories?
I have a character on my shoes. Arlena Marshall from Dame Agatha Christie’s works. She was my starting point and pinup for this collection. She’s a fabulous heroine.

What are your plans after New York Fashion Week?
I’m going to Coachella and Los Angeles for the first time — I’m hoping to see Cold War Kids and Tiny Temper, and the sunshine. I haven’t seen the sun in almost a year. You can draw inspiration from anything. No matter where I go, I always keep that in mind.

Have you seen any street style or fashionable New Yorkers?
To be honest, I haven’t been out and about but I love seeing all the older ladies with their hats and their long furs and fur hats. It’s fantastic.

You recently introduced a bridal collection after getting married to Maxim Crewe. Are there plans to start a girl’s line of shoes if you have a daughter?
I already have a boy, so if I have a girl, I’d definitely do mini-me shoes.

'Threat Level Midnight' Do the Scarn

So how did you feel about "The Office" devoting at least half of an episode to scenes from Michael's 11-years-in-the-making movie? Fun or fluff? A great callback or a waste of time? Or some combination of all that?

I'm starting off with so many questions because we're not sure either. "Threat Level Midnight" -- the episode, not the movie within the episode -- had moments that were a huge amount of fun, both inside Michael's labor of love and in people's reaction to it. But it also felt a little bit clip-showy: The callbacks to Season 2's "The Client," where we first learned of the film's existence, and characters gone by were nice for fans, but as a way of building to the show's emotional centerpiece, it certainly took the long way 'round.

Let's start with the fun stuff, though: "Threat Level Midnight," the movie, is every bit as "Mystery Science Theater 3000"-level amateurish as you might expect. There have been some revisions to the script since "The Client" -- Agent Michael Scarn's wife Catherine Zeta-Jones is now dead, incompetent sidekick Samuel/Dwigt is now robot butler Samuel -- but the hash of movie clichés (Bond-like villain! Wise old mentor! Training montage!) as filtered through the mind of Michael Scott and shot with all the care of a home video came out about the way most of us probably envisioned.

The movie itself was mostly just lame (save for the amazing "Do the Scarn" dance scene and Toby getting his head blown off), but as with "MST3K," the fun came in the commentary underneath. Writer B.J. Novak and director Tucker Gates very deftly cut in a bunch of talking heads about the filming, including catching up with Jan ("He finished his movie? Wow ... that's great. Good for him") and Karen, whose one line that we saw was "Ever bang an entire bachelorette party?" and whose response to hearing about the finished product was "Why are you singling my line out, like a million years later?"

But Michael's most important audience -- Holly, who has no other connection to "Threat Level Midnight" -- is nonplussed, which in the past would have sent Michael into a fit. It's a sign of how much he loves Holly that he does more of a quiet seethe at first, and then remembers to apologize and say "I love you" after sniping at her a few minutes later. I've always been a fan of Michael's personal growth moments, and him coming around to seeing his opus for the unintentional parody it is -- and maybe realizing a little bit that he can make his mark without becoming a famous entertainer -- was a nice way to end.

It just felt as though the episode took its sweet time to get to that moment. As we saw more and more of "TLM," and Holly looked increasingly uncomfortable, it became clear that we were building to some sort of spat between her and Michael. The present-day meat of the story took a back seat to a trip down memory lane, even if that trip was fairly enjoyable.

Your mileage may vary on that, of course. But to have a fairly significant beat between Michael and Holly play such an obvious second fiddle to the movie screening was a little out of balance.

5 Browns Dad Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Famous Daughters

UPDATE: Keith Brown has just pleaded guilty today to sexually abusing his daughters when they were children. The 5 Browns patriarch is facing 10 years to life on a sodomy charge and up to 15 years for two counts of sexual abuse. Sentencing is set for March 31, however, in a deal worked out with District Attorney David Sturgill, the sentences are expected to run concurrently.

"He's probably looking at 12 to 13 years," Sturgill tells E! News but adds that "it could potentially result in a life sentence. There's no ceiling in how much time he could do."

________

Big Love this is not. More like Sick Love...

RELATED: Andy Dick Arrested for Sexual Abuse

The father of Utah's classical piano-playing sibling sensations the 5 Browns has been charged with sexually abused three of his daughters.

Court records reveal that Salt Lake City prosecutors filed charges on Feb. 10 against Keith Brown for allegedly sodomizing and sexually abusing three individuals. Although the state withheld the names given the victim's minor status at the times the crimes were committed, Brown's daughters have stepped forward with the gut-churning claims.

Desirae, 32, Deondra, 30, and Melody, 26, issued a joint statement revealing the secret the Mormon family has kept all these years—that their father abused them when they were kids.

"We can confirm that Keith Brown has been charged with sexual abuse involving his daughters," wrote Kimball Thomson, a spokesman for The 5 Browns, in a statement first published by the Salt Lake City Tribune.

An insider close to the family told the newspaper that the sisters decided to go public with the horrifying revelations and are cooperating with authorities after learning that their dad planned to return to managing up-and-coming child musicians.

According to the Salt Lake City District Attorney's Office, the 55-year-old Brown faces one count of first-degree felony sodomy upon a child and two counts of second-degree felony sexual abuse of a child. The alleged abuse took place with a child under the age of 14 between November 1990 and October 1992 and also involved a minor between March 1997 and March 1998.

Just four days after learning of the charges, Brown and his wife were hospitalized following a single-car crash, when the Porsche he was driving plunged 300 feet off a canyon embankment into a creek. Brown was reportedly speeding as the couple returned from a Valentine's Day dinner at a ski resort, and both are listed in serious condition.

A police investigation into the abuse allegations remains ongoing. Brown is scheduled to make his first court appearance later today.

Meanwhile, the 5 Browns have no intention of giving up their day jobs.

"One of the greatest sources of joy and satisfaction in each of their lives is the opportunity to share their favorite music together—and with fellow music lovers throughout the world," added Thomson in the statement. "The 5 Browns wish to thank their friends and supporters for their concern and prayers on their behalf during this trying time."

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