Congrats To Jessica Sanchez

San Diego's Jessica Sanchez American Idol 2012 Runner Up
Photo By: Mark Davis/Getty Images

Tonight, San Diego native Jessica Sanchez became the runner up for Season 11 of American Idol .  Many thought with her mesmerizing voice she would be a shoe in to win, but the winner Philip Phillips won with a record setting 132 million votes.

Even though she came in second, you can rest assured she will be just as successful as if she had won seeing that her voice has been shared with the world.

Hats Off to Jessica Sanchez because honestly second or even third place isn't bad out of the millions that try out every year.

DJ Khaled - Take It To The Head feat Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj & Lil Wayne

Finally, one of my favorite songs this year has dropped the visuals to go along with the track.  DJ Khaled's Take It To The Head features Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne.  

If you pay close attention, you may realize that the video is set in a VERY familiar place.  My first thought was, "Um, I've been there before." 

Tiesto @ Intervention Hard Rock Hotel San Diego

Intervention Summer Pool parties at San Diego's Hard Rock Hotel usually bring the hottest world Class DJ's. This past Sunday was business as usual as Tiesto stopped by for a DJ set.  No big deal right?

Check out the rest of the photos from Intervention Here.

Nicki Minaj - Right By My Side Feat Chris Brown (Official Video)

Today Nicki Minaj released the visuals for Right By My Side featuring Chris Brown in which Nas plays the leading man in the story-line.

I actually like this song which happens to be one of my favorites on her latest album. I definitely prefer Nicki singing more so than Roman's crazy, deranged high-pitched rapping.

Calvin Harris - Let's Go Feat Ne-Yo (Official Video)

Calvin Harris just keeps dropping bombs.  This time is no different with his latest visuals for Let's Go featuring Ne-Yo.

This song comes just in time for summer to give you a reason to get up, get out and do something.  Whenever you need motivation to do something, let Calvin Harris and Ne-Yo take you where you need to go.  Its now or never.

DJ Quik @ Mynt Thursdays

Recently DJ Quik touched down in San Diego for a live performance at Mynt Thursdays.  Quik rocked the crowd by DJing, performing and sharing champagne with the people.  The essence of a true artist and performer, it was an honor to photograph this living legend.

I've been fortunate enough to photograph some wonderful artists, but shooting DJ Quik was an awesome experience.  This man has worked with damn near every urban artist in the industry so working with him was like working with the other artists including 2Pac and Easy-E meaning I could feel their spirits.

His set included taking it back to the old school as well as bringing the crowd current with some fresh Young Jeezy tracks.  With a talented, timeless artist such as DJ Quik, the phrase Real Recognize Real is an understatement.

More photos courtesy of afterdarc.net FB Page.

RIP Junior Seau

The San Diego Community has lost a great hero and my condolences and prayers go out to his family and friends.  After photographing so many of his wonderful charitable and “fun-filled” events, I’m shocked, saddened and devastated by this tragedy.  I am honored to have been a photographer for such a great human being… RIP Junior…

Rihanna - Where Have You Been (Official Video)

#Finally, all Dance Crews can unite.

Shock G @ Mynt Thursdays

Shock G recently stopped by Hard Rock Hotel for a live performance at Mynt Thursdays.

The Digital Underground co-founder kept it funky for the crowd and eventually made his way to the bar to share some shots with the people.  Check out the rest of the photos courtesy of afterdarc.net's FB page.

Perfection! Baylor 40-0

Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images

By John Altavilla, Tribune Newspapers

DENVER – Notre Dame and Baylor used the same prod to propel themselves through the season.

Their meeting Tuesday for the NCAA Division I women’s basketball championship at the Pepsi Center was a crusade, each team intent on righting past wrongs: Notre Dame’s loss in last year’s title game, Baylor’s elimination in last season’s Elite Eight.

Texas A&M, the defending national champion, left them both in a bad mood last season. So each program embraced slogans dealing with their unfinished business.

But there would be just one campaign celebrated in a mile-high shower of confetti. And the first piece should have dropped on the head of the game’s tallest figure, Baylor’s 6-foot-8 center, Brittney Griner, who was named the Final Four's most outstanding player.

She was the one, a presence as well as the punctuation mark, who blocked the light at the end of Notre Dame’s tunnel.

Led by Griner, who scored 26 points, with 13 rebounds and five blocks, and coaxed on by an energized coach, Kim Mulkey, Baylor defeated Notre Dame 80-61 to win its second national championship.

In the process, Baylor completes the first 40-0 season in the history of the sport. That’s finished business, a good year’s work.

The Irish (35-4), the Big East’s regulars-season champion, were led by junior guard Skylar Diggins, who had 20 points. But no one in green could rebound with the Lady Bears, who had a 46-27 advantage. And that was crushing to the Irish, who are 0-3 in national championship games since 2001.

The Irish lost to Baylor by 13 points in Waco, Texas on Nov. 20, perhaps the worst game they played this season. It was a performance fraught with bad shooting and a critical rebounding deficit fueled by the Baylor posts, Griner and Destiny Williams, who combined for 47 points (32 from Griner), 27 rebounds and five of Griner’s 201 regular-season blocks.

The Irish hoped their experience, accentuated by the grit of fifth-year players Devereaux Peters and Brittany Mallory, plus the magic of Diggins and Natalie Novosel, would be able to make up the difference.

It wasn’t enough. Notre Dame, which led 9-8 in the opening minutes, fought back from a 14-point, first-half deficit with 6:53 to play. They were within three, 42-39, with 15:27 to play, relying primarily on guile.

But there simply wasn’t anything they could do to compensate for what nature gave Griner - and Griner gave Baylor.

Copyright © 2012, Chicago Tribune