C[link]

Cactus League[link]

The group of teams that conduct their pre-season spring training exhibition games in Arizona where the cactus grows in abundance. See also Grapefruit League.

caddy[link]

A caddy's sole function is to come in as a substitute in the late innings of a lopsided game to act as a defensive replacement for an aging power hitter or to pinch run.

called shot[link]

A reference to Babe Ruth's Called Shot home run in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, held on October 1, 1932 at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

called up[link]

A Major League team may call up or promote a player from the minor leagues during the season to take a spot on its roster, often to replace a player who has been sent down to the minor leagues or else placed on the disabled list. Players who have been in the major leagues previously (and were sent down) may be said to be recalled rather than called up. After August 31st, several minor leaguers may be called up to take a spot on the expanded roster.

campaign[link]

A season. The "2006 campaign" is the 2006 Major League season. "Johan Santana has never had a losing record against the Tigers in a season, but he could have one in 2007 if he doesn't win this game. He's 1–2 with a 3.12 ERA against Detroit, after going 10–2 against them prior to this campaign."^[1]

can of corn[link]

A high, easy-to-catch, fly ball hit to the outfield. The phrase is said to have originated in the nineteenth-century and relates to an old-time grocer’s method of getting canned goods down from a high shelf. Using a stick with a hook on the end, a grocer could tip a can so that it would fall for an easy catch into his apron. One theory for use of corn as the canned good in the phrase is that a can of corn was considered the easiest "catch" as corn was the best selling vegetable in the store and so was heavily stocked on the lowest shelves. Another theory is that the corn refers to the practice in the very early days of baseball of calling the outfield the “corn field,” especially in early amateur baseball where the outfield may have been a farm field. Frequently used by Chicago White Sox broadcaster Ken "The Hawk" Harrelson. Also, a phrase used to refer to something that is not challenging. Informally, can of corn may be used as a phrase to describe mild excitement, personal acknowledgement or recognition of significance.

Captain Hook[link]

A manager who often takes a pitcher out of the game at the first sign of trouble. Sparky Anderson was perhaps the best example of a "Captain Hook" at the major league level. See hook.

carve up[link]

When a pitcher quickly dispatches a batter with three or four pitches that the batter only whiffs at, the pitcher may be said to have "carved up the batter" – like a chef carving up a turkey. Headline: "How Buehrle carved up Tampa Bay with just one 90-m.p.h. pitch".^[2]

cash in[link]

To knock in a runner who is already on base. "Lauren Rorebeck then cashed both runners in with a home run over the left field fence to tie the game at 7–7 with two innings to play".^[3]

catbird seat[link]

A desirable or auspicious situation. Popularized by Red Barber, longtime broadcaster for the Brooklyn Dodgers. James Thurber wrote in his short story of the same title: "[S]itting in the catbird seat" means sitting pretty, like a batter with three balls and no strikes on him. The catbird is said to seek out the highest point in a tree to sing his song, so someone in the catbird seat is high up.

catch up to a fastball[link]

As if a batter were running a footrace with a fastball, he's said to "catch up" to a fastball if his reaction time and bat speed are quick enough to hit a fastball by a power pitcher. "Our scouting reports indicate he can still hit and still catch up to a fastball. As long as he can catch up to a fastball, he's going to get the money."^[4]

[edit] catcher's interference

It is catcher's interference when the catcher physically hinders the batter's opportunity to swing at a pitch. In professional baseball, play continues and after continuous playing action ceases, the umpire calls time. The penalty is that the batter is awarded first base; any runner attempting to steal is awarded that base and all other runners advance only if forced. The manager of the offensive team has the option of keeping the result of the play. He will not be given the option by the umpires and must explicitly declare it before the play continues after awarding bases. The catcher is charged with an error. This is one of many types of interference call.

caught looking[link]

From Open-site.org: A term used when the third strike is called on a batter without the batter attempting to swing at the pitch.

caught napping[link]

A baserunner who is tagged out because he wasn't paying attention to what the defensive players were doing is "caught napping." Often this involves a pickoff play in which the infielder sneaks up behind the runner and takes a throw from the pitcher or, less often, the catcher.

cellar[link]

Last place, bottom of the standings. A team that spends too much time in last place, especially over a stretch of years, tends to acquire the unflattering title of cellar dweller. SYNONYM: basement.

cement mixer[link]

A baseball pitched with the intent to break out of the strike zone that fails to break and ends up hanging in the strike zone; an unintentional slow fastball with side spin resembling a fixed-axis spinning cement mixer, which does not translate.

the chair[link]

Specifically regarding a batter: A seat on the bench, as opposed to reaching base or remaining in the batter's box. As in, "throw him the chair." The expression is an encouragement to the pitcher to strike out the batter, sending him back to the dugout, thus "throwing him the chair" — forcing him to sit down.

challenge the hitter[link]

When a pitcher is aggressive and throws strikes, perhaps his best fastball, he may be said to "challenge the hitter." Akin to pounding the strike zone or attacking the strike zone. "Jared has outstanding stuff," Mee said. "The one thing I would like to see him do is throw more strikes and challenge the hitters. He has a lot of ability and when he is ahead in the count he's a very difficult guy to hit off of".^[5]

change the eye level[link]

A pitcher "changes the eye level" of a hitter by thowing pitches at different heights in the strike zone. This is intended to keep the hitter off-balance or uncomfortable, so that he can't easily line up the next pitch. "Changing the eye-level of a hitter is important because as you advance, it'll become more difficult for you to get a hitter to move his feet in the batters box – even by pitching inside – so the next option is to move the hitter's eyes".^[6]

changeup[link]

A changeup or a change is a pitch meant to look like a fastball - but with less velocity - short for change of pace. A variety of this pitch is the circle change, where a circle is formed using the thumb and index finger on the last third of a ball. This causes the ball to break inside and down to right-handed batter from a right-handed pitcher, frequently resulting in ground balls. Also, a straight change - made famous by Pedro Martínez - can be utilized. The grip requires all fingers to be used in holding the ball, resulting in more friction, thus slowing the ball down tremendously.

charging the mound[link]

• Charging the mound refers to a batter assaulting the pitcher after being hit by a pitch. The first incident of a professional charging the mound has not been identified but the practice certainly dates back to the game's early days. Charging the mound is often the precipitating cause of a bench-clearing brawl and will most likely result in the batter's ejection.

• In the famous Pine Tar Game, George Brett charged home plate to protest the umpire's ruling that his apparent 2-run home run was hit with an illegal bat. Brett was tossed from the game.

chase[link]

• To chase (or chase after) is to swing at a pitch well outside of the strike zone.
• A pitcher who is removed from the game by the manager because he gave up too many runs is said to have been "chased from the game" or "chased from the mound" by the opposing batters. "Pettitte was chased from the game in the seventh inning following an RBI single by Willy Taveras and a two-RBI triple by Kazuo Matsui."^[7]
• A player or coach who is ejected from the game by an umpire can be said to be chased. "Martin was tossed by umpire Lee Weyer in the fourth game of the 1976 Series, seven years after Weaver was chased by Shag Crawford in the fourth game in 1969."^[8]

chatter[link]

To verbally challenge or taunt to distract the opposing batter. Fans and players alike participate in chatter. "Heybattabattabatta" is an example of common baseball chatter.

cheap run[link]

A run that comes about from luck or with little effort by the offensive team. Headline: "A Cheap Run for the Rays." Story: "Carl Crawford got lucky with that blooper down the line; wasn't a bad pitch from Jamie Moyer.^[9]

check the runner[link]

When the pitcher looks in the direction of a runner on base and thereby causes him to not take as large of a lead as he would otherwise have taken.

checked swing[link]

A batter checks a swing by stopping it before the bat crosses the front of home plate. If he fails to stop it in time, the umpire will call a strike because he swung at the pitch. Often the umpire's view of the swing is obstructed. If the umpire calls the pitch a ball, a defensive player such as the catcher or pitcher can ask the home plate umpire to ask another umpire whether the batter swung at the pitch. In such a case, the home plate umpire always accepts the judgment of the other umpire.

cheddar[link]

See cheese.

cheese[link]

A fastball, particularly one that reaches the mid- to upper-90s in velocity. Also high cheese.

chin music[link]

A high and tight, up and in pitch meant to knock a batter back from home plate to avoid being hit on the chin. Also known as a brush-back or purpose pitch.

chinker[link]

A blooper; a dying quail; a bleeder.

chopper[link]

A chopper refers to a batted ball that immediately strikes the hardened area of dirt directly in front of home plate. This causes the ball to jump high into the infield air. Batters who are fast runners can convert such choppers into base hits. Also a batted ball that bounces several times before either being fielded by an infielder or reaching the outfield. Former Braves broadcaster Skip Caray often whimsically called bouncers to third base when Atlanta was on defence as "a chopper to Chipper" in reference to long-time Braves third baseman Chipper Jones.

choke up[link]

A batter "chokes up" by sliding his hands up from the knob end of the bat to give him more control over his bat. It reduces the power and increases the control. Prior to driving in the Series-winning hit with a bloop single in the 2001 World Series, Luis Gonzalez choked up on the bat. Thus he came through, and did not "choke" in the clutch.

chuck[link]

Throw. A pitcher is sometimes referred to as a chucker or someone who can really chuck the ball. In San Francisco, sometimes the fans are referred to as battery chuckers, referring to an incident a few years ago where many fans threw batteries onto the field.

circle[link]

The on-deck circle, officially known as the next batter's box.

circus catch[link]

An outstanding catch, usually when a fielder has to leave his feet or go through contortions to make, resembling a circus acrobat in the process.

clean hit[link]

When a batter hits a ball through the infield without it being touched by a fielder, he may be said to have a "clean hit." Similarly, if a batter hits a ball over an outfielder's head, he may have a "clean hit." "Tris truly loved to hit and would always get a thrill when getting a 'clean' hit that travelled over an outfielder's head."^[10]

clean inning[link]

When a team pitches and plays defense without mental or physical errors or allowing the other team to score runs or advance runners easily. "I want to see clean innings," Cooper said. "This is a time when we should be seeing them -- crisp, clean innings. Yet we're hitting guys that are trying to bunt, walking guys on four pitches. . . . This is not young kids doing this stuff. This is ridiculous. I don't care who it is. It shouldn't be happening. We've got to clean it up. I'd like to see some clean innings sooner or later. We should be throwing strike one, strike two, make some pitches. We're all over the place. We're not even close to the strike zone."^[11]

cleanup hitter[link]

The fourth batter in the lineup, usually a power hitter. The strategy is to get some runners on base for the cleanup hitter to drive home. In theory, if the first three batters of the game were to load the bases, the No. 4 hitter would ideally "clean up" the bases with a grand slam.

clear the bases[link]

A batter who drives home all the runners on base is said to "clear the bases." "Dikito's base-clearing triple sent the pro-Falcon crowd into a frenzy."^[12]

climbing the ladder[link]

A tactic where a pitcher delivers a succession of pitches out of the strike zone, each higher than the last, in an attempt to get the batter to swing at a pitch "in his eyes."

clinic[link]

A really long inning where a team gives up a lot of runs to the opposing team.

closer[link]

A relief pitcher who is consistently used to "close" or finish a game by getting the final outs. Closers are often among the most overpowering pitchers, and sometimes even the most erratic. Alternatively, they might specialize in a pitch that is difficult to hit, such as the splitter or the cut fastball.

clothesline[link]

See "throw a clothesline".

clubhouse[link]

A team's locker room, which may also include eating, entertainment, and workout facilities, especially at the highest professional level. The term "clubhouse" is also frequently used in the sports of golf and thoroughbred horse racing.

clutch[link]

Good performance under pressure when good performance really matters. May refer to such a situation (being in the clutch) or to a player (a good clutch hitter, or one who "can hit in the clutch"); or to specific hits ("that was a clutch hit"). Most baseball fans believe that clutch hitting exists, but there is significant disagreement among statheads whether clutch hitting is a specific skill a player can possess or instead just something that good hitters in general do. An old synonym for clutch is pinch, as in Christy Mathewson's book, Pitching in a Pinch.

cock-shot[link]

A belt-high, very hittable fastball, usually down the middle of the plate. As used by Bob McClure, current Red Sox Pitching Coach: "When you throw a cock-shot fastball just above the belt, right down the middle, you’re hoping they don’t swing. A lot of times, that gets hit out of the ballpark." ^[13]

collar[link]

Symbol of going hitless in a game, suggested by its resemblance to a zero, along with the implication of "choking"; to wear the collar: "If Wright doesn't get a hit here, he'll be wearing an 0 for 5 collar on the day." Also, to take the collar: "Cameron Maybin took the collar in his major league debut, striking out twice."^[14]

comebacker[link]

A ball batted directly back to the pitcher.

command[link]

The ability of a pitcher to throw a pitch where he intends to. More than just the ability to throw strikes, it is the ability to hit particular spots in or out of the strike zone. Also see location.

complete game[link]

A complete game (denoted by CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game himself, without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A complete game can be either a win or a loss. A complete game can be awarded to a pitcher even if he pitches less than (or more than) nine-innings, as long as he pitches the entire game.

contact hitter[link]

A hitter who does not strike out often. Thus, he's usually able to make contact with the ball and put it in play. This doesn't mean he's necessarily a pitty-patty slap hitter. He may hit for power, but typically with more doubles/triples instead of home runs. Pete Rose and Wade Boggs are both excellent examples of contact hitters.

contact pitcher[link]

See pitch to contact.

contact play[link]

When a runner at third base is instructed by a coach to attempt to score as soon as he hears the bat make contact with a pitch, not waiting to learn what kind of contact has been made (fair ball or fall ball, fly ball or ground ball). In such a case, the runner is told to "run on contact". This play would typically occur when the game is close or the bases are loaded. More generally, "Baserunners 'run on contact' when there are two outs, since there is nothing to lose if the ball is caught or the batter is thrown out".^[15]

control artist[link]

A pitcher who gives up very few bases on balls or has excellent command of his pitches. Also known as a control pitcher.

cookie[link]

A pitch that's easy to hit. "Conversely, in the case where the first pitch is a strike and the second pitch a ball, the second pitch may be the result of a pitcher missing his spot. The pitcher responds by throwing a cookie on the subsequent pitch in an attempt to regain his control".^[16]

corked bat[link]

A bat in which cork (or possibly rubber or some other elastic material) has been inserted into the core of the wooden barrel. Although modifying a bat in this way may help to increase bat speed or control by making the bat lighter, contrary to popular belief it does not impart more energy to the batted ball.^[17] A batter could achieve a similar effect by choking up on the bat or using a shorter bat. A player who is caught altering his bat illegally is subject to suspension or other penalties. The last such case in Major League Baseball involved the slugger Sammy Sosa.^[18]

[edit] corner outfielder

The left fielder and right fielder are corner outfielders.

cornerman[link]

A third baseman.

count[link]

The number of balls and strikes a batsman has in his current at bat. Usually announced as a pair of numbers, for instance "3–0" (pronounced "three and oh"), with the first number being the number of balls and the second being the number of strikes. A 3–2 count – one with the maximum number of balls and strikes in a given at bat – is referred to as a full count. A count of 1–1 or 2–2 is called even, although the pitcher is considered to have the advantage on a 2–2 pitch because he can still throw another ball without consequence, whereas another strike means the batter is out. A batter is said to be ahead in the count (and a pitcher behind in the count) if the count is 1–0, 2–0, 2–1, 3–0, or 3–1. A batter is said to be behind in the count (and a pitcher ahead in the count) if the count is 0–1, 0–2, or 1–2.

country mile[link]

"He hit the ball a country mile." He hit the ball a long way -- a long home run. Sometimes also used to describe outs: "He was out by a country mile" means the runner was nowhere close to being safe.

cousin[link]

A pitcher who is easy for a particular batter to hit.

covering a base[link]

• Part of the infielders' job is to cover bases. That is, they stand next to a base in anticipation of receiving the ball thrown from another fielder, so that they may make a play on an opposing baserunner who is approaching that base. On a force play or an appeal play, the fielder covering the base stands with one foot on that base when he catches the ball.
• When a fielder goes to make a play at a base that is not his position (usually because the fielder for that base is unavailable to catch the ball at that base because he is busy fielding the batted ball). A common example is when the first baseman fields a batted ground ball, but is too far from the base to put the runner out. The pitcher runs over to "cover" first base to take the throw from the first baseman (play would be scored as "31", meaning first baseman to pitcher).

crack of the bat[link]

The sound of the bat hitting the ball. The term is used in baseball to mean "immediately, without hesitation." For example, a baserunner may start running "on the crack of the bat," as opposed to waiting to see where the ball goes.

Outfielders often use the sound of bat-meeting-ball as a clue to how far a ball has been hit. As physicist Robert Adair has written,"When a baseball is hit straight at an outfielder he cannot quickly judge the angle of ascent and the distance the ball will travel. If he waits until the trajectory is well defined, he has waited too long and will not be able to reach otherwise catchable balls. If he starts quickly, but misjudges the ball such that his first step is wrong (in for a long fly or back for a short fly), the turn-around time sharply reduces his range and he will again miss catchable balls. To help his judgment, the experienced outfielder listens to the sound of the wooden bat hitting the ball. If he hears a 'crack' he runs out, if he hears a 'clunk' he runs in."^[19]

Similarly, with metal bats, the outfielders have to learn to distinguish a "ping" from a "plunk".

crackerbox[link]

A small baseball field considered to be friendly to power hitters and unfriendly to pitchers. A bandbox. (see: Baker Bowl)

crackerjack[link]

A player or team with power and exceptional skill.

crafty[link]

Another term for a control pitcher. Greg Maddux was a crafty pitcher.

crank[link]

To hit a ball for extra bases, typically a home run. "Jeter cranked a homer to left to make it 6–5."^[20] Also, a turn of the century (19th century) euphemism for baseball spectators, referring to the cranking of the turnstiles as they pass into the ballpark.

crawl back into the game[link]

• When one team is far behind the other, and it's about to be given up for dead, it may "crawl back into the game" by scoring a run or two and reviving hope that it might eventually bring off a victory. "The Red Sox crawled back into the game in the fourth inning, with four singles by Kevin Youkilis, David Ortiz, J. D. Drew and Álex González cutting the Toronto lead to one run."^[21] This phrase is used in other sports as well.

• Also creep back or crept back into the game.

crooked number[link]

A number other than a zero or a one, referring to the appearance of the actual number. A team which is able to score two or more runs in an inning is said to "hang a crooked number" on the scoreboard or on the pitcher.

creature[link]

A home run that is clearly going out as soon as it is hit. It is referred to in this manner because it is disturbing to the pitcher like some type of creature.

crossed up[link]

• When a catcher calls for the pitcher to throw one type of pitch (e.g., a fastball) but the pitcher throws another (e.g., a curveball), the catcher has been crossed up. This may lead to a passed ball, allowing a runner on base to advance. "Barrett's passed ball allowed the last of three runs to score in the fifth as the Reds increased their lead to 7–2. Williams' pitch crossed him up. 'I was looking for a sinker and it cut away from me,' Barrett said. 'I had a play at the plate, but my shin guard stuck in the grass. It was a frustrating day.'"^[22]
• When a batter has been set up to expect a certain type of pitch but instead receives a different one, he may be crossed up, perhaps leading to a weakly hit ball or a swing and a miss.

crosstown rivalry[link]

When two teams have their homes in the same metropolitan area. Examples include the Chicago White Sox (American League) and Chicago Cubs (National League), the Los Angeles Dodgers (National League) and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (American League).

crowd the hitter[link]

When a pitcher throws the ball toward the inside part of the plate, he may be trying to "crowd the hitter" by making it difficult for him to extend his arms and get a full swing at the pitch.

crowd the plate[link]

When a batter sets his stance extremely close to the plate, sometimes covering up part of the strike zone. This angers pitchers and, if done repeatedly, can lead to a brush-back pitch or even a beanball being thrown at the batter to clear the plate. "I am fully aware that when you crowd the plate, you're going to get a high heater."^[23]

crush the ball[link]

A batter who hits a ball extremely hard and far might be said to crush the ball, as if he had destroyed the baseball or at least changed its shape. Related expressions are crunched the ball or mashed the ball. Indeed, a slugger is sometimes described as a masher. Illustration: "Though the 25-year-old has impressed with two homers in five games, he's more of a pure hitter than a masher".

Other types of baseball destruction include knocking the stuffing out of the ball and knocking the horsehide [cover] off the ball.

cue the ball[link]

When a ball is hit off the end of the bat, the batter may be said to have "cued the ball" (as if he hit it with a pool cue). "Kendrick took third on a broken-bat ground-out and scored on a cued grounder to first base by Ryan Shealy. . . ."^[24]

cup of coffee[link]

A short time spent by a minor league player at the major league level. The idea is that the player was only there long enough to have a cup of coffee. It can also be used to describe a very brief stay (less than a season) with a major league club.

curtain call[link]

A player who has excited the fans because of a great play or hit may come back onto the field or out of the dugout to wave or tip his cap to the crowd. A term obviously derived from the theater.

curveball[link]

A pitch that curves or breaks from a straight or expected flight path toward home plate. Also called simply "a curve".

cut[link]

• A swing of the bat.
• To be removed from the roster or from the team.

[edit] cut fastball

A cut fastball or cutter is a fastball that has lateral movement. A "cut fastball" is similar to a slider that is more notable for its speed than its lateral movement.

cut down on his swing[link]

When a batter reduces the amplitude of his swing, either by choking up on the bat or just by starting his swing less far behind his head, he "cuts down on his swing," thereby helping him to get his bat around faster. Also "shorten his swing." "Guerrero swung so hard during an 0-for-5 night Tuesday he looked as if he might come right out of his spikes. So, Hatcher suggested Wednesday that Guerrero widen his stance slightly, a move that forces hitters to cut down on their swing a bit."^[25]

cut the ball off[link]

When a ball is hit in the gap between outfielders, a fielder often has to make a choice whether to run toward the fence to catch or retrieve the ball or to run toward the ball and try to field it before it gets by him and reaches the fence. In the latter case, he's said to "cut the ball off" because he's trying to shorten the path of the ball. "When Granderson drifted towards left-center field on Carlos Pena's fifth-inning line drive, he wasn't heading that direction to make a catch. He was preparing to field it on the bounce. "I was actually getting into position to cut the ball off," Granderson said after the Tigers' 11-7 loss to the Rays Monday afternoon. "I didn't think I was going to have a chance to catch it."^[26]

cut-off[link]

A defensive tactic where a fielder that moves into a position between the outfielder that has fielded the batted ball and the base where a play can be made. This fielder is said to "cut off" the throw or to be the "cut-off man". This tactic increases accuracy over long distances and shortens the time required to get a ball to a specific place. It also gives the cut-off man the choice of putting out a trailing runner trying to advance on the throw if he thinks it impossible to make the play at home. Missing the cut-off (man) is considered a mistake by an outfielder (though not scored as an error) because it may allow a runner to advance or to score.

cut-off man[link]

A fielder that "cuts off" a long throw to an important target. Often the shortstop, second baseman, or first baseman will be the "cut-off man" for a long throw from the outfield to third base or home plate. "Hit the cut-off man" is a common admonition from a coach.

cycle[link]

See hit for the cycle.

References[link]

Sharon Osbourne
Osbourne at the Concert Industry Consortium conference at the Century Plaza Hotel, Los Angeles, California, February 2007.
Born	Sharon Rachel Levy (1952-10-09) 9 October 1952 (age 59)[1] Brixton, South London, England[2]
Residence	Jordans, Buckinghamshire
Occupation	Media personality, music manager, businesswoman,[3] talk show host, author
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Ozzy Osbourne (m. 1982) «start: (1982-07-04)»"Marriage: Ozzy Osbourne to Sharon Osbourne" Location: (linkback:http://en-wiki.pop.wn.com/index.php/Sharon_Osbourne)
Children	Aimee Osbourne (born 1983) Kelly Osbourne (born 1984) Jack Osbourne (born 1985)
Parents	Don Arden Hope Shaw
Website
SharonOsbourne.com

Sharon Rachel Osbourne (née Arden, originally Levy; born 9 October 1952)^[2] is an English television host, author, music manager, businesswoman and promoter as well as the wife of heavy metal singer-songwriter Ozzy Osbourne.

She came into public prominence after appearing in The Osbournes, a reality television show that followed her family's daily routine. Osbourne later became a judge on the talent shows The X Factor and America's Got Talent. Her autobiography, Extreme, has sold in excess of two million copies.^[4]

After the success of The Osbournes and The X Factor, hosting her own chat shows and securing advertising contracts, Osbourne was ranked as the 25th richest woman in Britain on the 2009 Sunday Times Rich List.^[5] Sharon and husband, Ozzy Osbourne, are currently ranked as the 724th richest people in Britain with an estimated joint wealth of £110 million.^[6] Sharon Osbourne is credited with reviving her husband's heavy metal career by founding the summer Ozzfest tour.^[7] She currently lives in California and is one of five co-hosts of the daytime series, The Talk, where she discusses controversial topics and contemporary issues. The Talk premiered on 18 October 2010. BBC announced she is expected to host a syndicated daytime version Who Wants To Be A Millionaire in 2012.

Early life[link]

Osbourne was born Sharon Rachel Levy in Brixton, London,^[2] the daughter of music promoter and rock and roll entrepreneur Don Arden^[8] (born Harry Levy), and his wife Hope Shaw, an Irish Catholic.^[9] Osbourne is the wife and manager of Black Sabbath vocalist Ozzy Osbourne, and together they have three children, Aimee, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne. After colon cancer claimed Osbourne's friend, Reagan Erin Marcato, in July 2002, she told the BBC that she had adopted Marcato's 18-year-old son Robert,^[10] but she denied legally adopting him five years later when he was sent to live with his father after a nervous breakdown.^[11] Robert had been a school friend of Aimee and Kelly for six years.

Music manager[link]

Sharon met future husband Ozzy Osbourne at the age of 18 while working for her father, Don Arden, who managed Black Sabbath.^[7] When Ozzy was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, she took over his management from the Arden organisation^[7] and then started to date Ozzy.^[7] Sharon coordinated the recruitment of a technically gifted backing band (Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley, and Lee Kerslake) for the recording of The Blizzard of Ozz and, by engaging proven songwriters, helped Ozzy launch what became a highly successful solo career. It was rumoured that Sharon employed some of her father's tactics where one promoter was kneed in the groin after failing to produce due payments, and that she single-handedly ruined a company's computer system after they sold illegal merchandise.^[7]

Ozzfest[link]

A series of high selling albums and world tours followed through the 1980s, eventually bringing about Ozzy's popularity. In 1996, Sharon created the Ozzfest summer touring festival.^[7] It went on to become a regular rock occasion and celebrated a 10th anniversary in 2006. By 2007, the ticket prices had reached £76 ($150)^[12] and Osbourne announced that the tickets would be free to allow more people the opportunity to attend the concert. Ozzfest grossed $20 million each year^{[citation needed]}. Prior to the founding of Ozzfest, Sharon approached Lollapalooza, another rock festival, to request that Ozzy play at that year's festival, only to be rejected and told that Ozzy was "uncool" and too drugged up. It was then that she decided to launch her own festival.^[7] Controversy ensued when she pulled the plug on Iron Maiden's set three times in one performance. She also harassed the singer, Bruce Dickinson and threw eggs at the band.^[13]

Sharon Osbourne Management[link]

In light of her success managing Ozzy, Sharon branched out into managing other acts by creating Sharon Osbourne Management. The new company, with Sharon as its sole employee, managed artists such as Gary Moore, Motörhead, Lita Ford, The Smashing Pumpkins,^[7] and Coal Chamber. She co-managed a band called Cube, with Cud guitarist Mike Dunphy. Cube were signed to Polydor Records but had limited success. She has also turned down career guidance requests from Fred Durst, Guns N' Roses, and Courtney Love.^[7]

Television career[link]

[edit] The Osbournes

Osbourne gained celebrity status as one of the stars of MTV's reality show, The Osbournes, which followed her family's daily life and had a national audience. As the person who negotiated with MTV to screen the show, she is often credited with bringing about her husband's emergence from heavy metal icon into mainstream celebrity. The show began airing in early 2002, and when, in July 2002, Osbourne was diagnosed with cancer, she insisted that filming should continue. The final episode of the show aired in the US on 21 March 2005. MTV's British affiliate has been airing the show since 2003. The show brought MTV its highest ratings ever in both America and Britain.^[14]

The Osbournes' Beverly Hills home (made famous on the show) has since been sold and the Osbournes have taken up residence in another home in Beverly Hills. Her Beverly Hills home was later seen in The X Factor during series two. The show saw that Osbourne was responsible for the livelihood of 12 dogs and employs a dog walker named Cherie. From the mid 1990s until the end of The Osbournes in 2005, she was primarily based in Los Angeles with the rest of her family. Osbourne earned an estimated £11.5 million from The Osbournes.^[5]

[edit] The Sharon Osbourne Show (US version)

In 2003 Osbourne became the host of her own television talk show, The Sharon Osbourne Show, which was syndicated to various US channels and also shown in the UK on Sky One. The show was meant to be a reflection of her personality and home life – similar to her reality show but with the inclusion of guest interviews and performances. During the episodes, she conducted some of her interviews on a giant bed.

However, the ratings were never successful^[15] and critics panned her inability to perform the basic tasks required of a talk show host, such as reading cue cards and conducting interviews. The show was cancelled in early 2004 after one season.^[16]

[edit] The X Factor

Osbourne was a judge and mentor on the UK's The X Factor every year, from 2004 through to 2007. In the first series she mentored the 16–24s and chose Roberta Howett, Cassie Compton and Tabby Callaghan to represent her in the live rounds of the show. The best placed of these was Tabby, who finished third overall. The final was contested between Simon Cowell's act Steve Brookstein and Louis Walsh's act G4, with Steve winning. Osbourne's outburst against Steve on the night of the final is widely credited with helping him to win,^[17] although according to her autobiography he was well ahead at all stages of the voting.

In the second series she mentored the 25-and-overs, and selected Andy Abraham, Brenda Edwards, Chico Slimani and Maria Lawson to contest the final rounds. Andy Abraham finished in second place to Louis Walsh's act Shayne Ward. During this series, the judges were again required to bring the selected candidates to their homes. Osbourne chose her Beverly Hills home as a suitable location, which saw Osbourne inviting her neighbours and husband Ozzy Osbourne to attend live performances by the candidates. During Chico's performance, he jumped into her functioning fountain with a live microphone, and proceeded to splash water.

Osbourne also appeared in the spin-off show The X Factor: Battle of the Stars. She was not required to choose her celebrity singing contestants but was selected to manage the 16–24s which were made up of Nikki Sanderson, Matt Stevens and Michelle Marsh. During the show, with Osbourne being a close friend of Victoria Beckham, she engaged in a feud with contestant Rebecca Loos,^[18] due to her recent claim of having an affair with David Beckham.^[19] Osbourne insulted Loos after one of her performances saying, "You should try doing tomorrow's performance with your knickers on because it will help warm up your voice. You have a very bad vibe that comes from you."^[20] After the incident, it took a lot of persuading to convince Loos to stay in the competition after being publicly humiliated.

In series three of The X Factor in 2006, she was mentoring the 25-and-overs, and selected Ben Mills, Dionne Mitchell, Robert Allen and Kerry McGregor. Kerry and Dionne were voted out in a double elimination on 28 October, Robert was voted out on 18 November and Ben was voted out on 9 December, sending Osbourne out of the competition. During the filming of the third series, Osbourne lived at the Dorchester Hotel in central London.

Osbourne was criticised for her outbursts on the show, where before a live show in series three she reportedly spoke out against Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? presenter Chris Tarrant, who was in the show's audience prior to filming. Tarrant had made a joke about Ozzy Osbourne to which Sharon Osbourne took offence, but most of her outburst focused on criticising Tarrant's recent infidelity to his wife Ingrid from whom he was in the process of separating.^[21] It was rumoured that Simon Cowell, fellow judge and creator of the show, was displeased with her performance in series three, and was thinking of replacing her and Louis Walsh for the next series.^[22] However, it was confirmed that Osbourne had been contracted to return for the fourth series of the show.^[23]

She then appeared in the fourth series as of 18 August 2007 along with judges Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh and the new judge, Dannii Minogue.^[24] She mentored the girls category during the show and subsequently chose Alisha Bennett, Emily Nakanda and Kimberley Southwick to represent her in the live rounds of the competition.^[25] In the first week of the live finals on 20 October, two of Osbourne's acts were in the bottom two. Osbourne responded by saying "What I did was no good - and I think I'm going home now."^[26] and she refused to play a role in the decision about which act should be eliminated. Kimberley Southwick was then voted out by a majority of the other three judges,^[26] while Osbourne claimed that she was quitting the show.^[26] However on The Paul O'Grady Show aired on 23 October 2007 Osbourne confirmed she would return on the next episode and stated that it is part of her personality to say things in the heat of the moment and not to contrive anything that she says. Two weeks into the live shows, a number of happy slapping videos of Emily Nakanda appeared in the media, apparently showing her beating another teenage girl.^[27] This led to Nakanda being withdrawn from The X Factor due to the media attention the videos brought.^[28] On 17 November Alisha Bennett was voted out of the competition, leaving Osbourne with no acts half way through the competition.^[29]

On 6 June 2008 it was announced in a statement on behalf of Osbourne that she has decided to step down as an X Factor judge after four series on the show.^[30] The statement read "Sharon would like to thank the wonderful British public for their enormous support during what's been an exciting ride. She would also like to take this opportunity to thank Simon Cowell and ITV while wishing them all the best for the next series."^[31] A spokesman from ITV commented "She has been a tremendous judge and mentor on the programme, but we respect her wish to leave and wish her the very best."^[32] Osbourne was replaced by Cheryl Cole.

During an interview on Piers Morgan's Life Stories, broadcast on 22 February 2009, Osbourne admitted that the reason for her departure from The X Factor was her relationship with Dannii Minogue.^[33] She stated "I didn't enjoy working with her at all and didn't fancy the prospect of spending six months sitting next to her."^[34]

In September 2010 Osbourne made a return to The X Factor at the Judges' Houses round of series 7 where she assisted Louis Walsh pick the 3 contestants that will continue to the live rounds in the Over 28s category.^[35]

[edit] The Sharon Osbourne Show (ITV)

In 2006, UK TV network ITV commissioned a new Sharon Osbourne chat show, initially to be called Mrs Osbourne Presents, but eventually just named The Sharon Osbourne Show. Osbourne signed a deal with ITV for a reputed £2 million.^[36]

The show began on Tuesday 29 August 2006, and was scheduled to run for six weeks in the 5 pm weekday timeslot. The premiere episode proved a close competition as the show received 1.9 million viewers with 17% share – 400,000 viewers (and 3% share) ahead of Richard & Judy on Channel 4. Her second show attracted 2.1 million viewers.^[37]

However, ratings appeared to decrease after Channel 4 moved its game show Deal Or No Deal, hosted by Noel Edmonds, into the timeslot, with Sharon managing 1.2m viewers compared to Deal Or No Deal's 2.9m.^[38] Channel 4's The New Paul O'Grady Show returned on Monday 25 September 2006 with 2.3 million viewers compared to Osbourne's 1.6 million.

[edit] America's Got Talent

Osbourne joined the judging panel on the second season of America's Got Talent, along with Piers Morgan and David Hasselhoff, replacing the singer Brandy.^[39]

The season premiered in the United States on 5 June 2007. In her first episode, Osbourne came into a conflict with Piers Morgan when she felt he judged a child contestant too harshly. She threatened to leave the show in the middle of filming, saying "I didn’t sign up for this", but was talked out of it. The incident was shown on air.^[40] Osbourne has since stayed with the show for its third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seasons, and is now the show's longest serving judge.

[edit] Rock of Love: Charm School

Osbourne hosted the second season of Rock of Love: Charm School with co-hosts Riki Rachtman and Daniella Clarke on VH1. Sharon had a physical altercation on 13 December 2008 with contestant Megan Hauserman on the reunion special for the show after Megan made derogatory statements about Sharon's husband, Ozzy. Hauserman reportedly filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department^[41][42] and has since filed a lawsuit against Osbourne, claiming battery, negligence and infliction of emotional distress.^[43] In 2011 Osbourne reached an settlement with Hauserman.^[44]

[edit] Osbournes: Reloaded

In July 2008 Fox announced that the Osbourne family would be hosting a new variety show titled Osbournes: Reloaded (working title was Osbournes: Loud and Dangerous).^[45] The show started filming at CBS Studios in Hollywood in December 2008 before a live audience. The show premiered in March 2009.^[46] Fremantle Media North America is producing the show.^[47] The show was cancelled after its premiere episode.

[edit] The Talk

Sharon Osbourne cohosts The Talk, which is a talk show that premiered 18 October 2010. This decision came after CBS cancelled the soap opera As The World Turns. The show is similar to The View and seeks to address motherhood and other contemporary issues.^[48]

In July 2011 Osbourne and some of her fellow "The Talk" panelists were criticised for their conduct when discussing the story of Catherine Kieu. Osbourne described Kieu's cutting off of her husband's penis and then throwing it in the garbage disposal as "quite fabulous", also laughing about the crime along with a number of other panelists.^[49] On 19 July Osbourne discussed her behavior, stating "she was sorry she offended people" and that she "did not condone genital mutilation". However, the sincerity of this apology is debatable, as she was laughing during it.^[50]

In December 2011, Osbourne explained the untold story on the dismissals of her former co-hosts, Leah Remini and Holly Robinson Peete, from The Talk on an episode of The Howard Stern Show, stating: "Some people dont really know who they are. And you have to know who you are when you're in something like this. You can't pretend to be something you're not. You have to know your brand. You can't be all things to everyone." Additionally, Osbourne commented on the failure to let Remini and Peete know why they were let go, stating "Why should we call them to discuss?"^[51][52] In March 2012, a heavily publicized Twitter dispute ignited between Remini and Osbourne when Remini fired back at Osbourne for her comments on The Howard Stern Show. In response to questions from her Twitter followers, Remini tweeted: "Ask Sharon. She had us fired," and "Sharon made it happen and i guess ppl who still watch her make it happen? Sharon thought me and Holly were "Ghetto", (her words) we were not funny, awkward and didn't know ourselves... Haters Gon' Hate. True. But, Haters have the balls to say they "Hate"...not call themselves your friend. she had us fired all the while calling me and holly her friend. heartbreaking. Yes. she had us fired she told howard stern. explains why she never called us back." In response, Osbourne tweeted: "I had absolutely nothing to do with her departure from the show & have no idea why she continues to take to Twitter to spread this false gossip. Leah knows that I have never been in the position to hire or fire anyone on the show. That being said, my only wish is that Leah would just stop all this negative, unprofessional and childish behavior. It's been seven months...it's time to move on. Leah is a very talented actress and I only wish her happiness and success. I know that better things are to come if she can just get beyond this negativity." Remini tweeted back that she had no intention of keeping quiet and that Osbourne: "just wants publicity out of this. If someone wants me to stop, they should call a lawyer and tell them what I am NOT telling the truth about. We can go from there." In an additional tweet on the matter, Remini wrote: "I will not respond to Sharon BUT only to say this, IF she wanted to clear it up she has my number & has had ALL this time and didnt use it. Not even to say she was sorry. So to Sharon I say... Well done Sharon, you won. I will move on now as you suggested. And so should u. Be at Peace."^{[53][54][55][56][57]}

Media appearances[link]

On January 2003, Osbourne and the rest of her family hosted the 30th Annual American Music Awards.^[58][59] The night was marked with constant "bleeping" due to some of the lewd and raunchy remarks made by both Ozzy and Sharon. Additionally, the night was met with some controversy, as critics panned their hosting and presenter Patricia Heaton walked out midway in disgust.^[60]

In January 2005, she was contracted to feature in a television advertising campaign for UK supermarket chain, Asda and later in 2007, Osbourne became the new face of Galabingo when she was featured in television advertisements promoting the gambling website.^[61] She has co-hosted one of the Royal Variety Performances with Jonathan Ross. Osbourne appeared in Days of our Lives, It's a Boy Girl Thing and has also provided a voice for a character in Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties.^{[citation needed]}

On Friday 15 June 2007, Osbourne guest hosted The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins and Alan Carr. Osbourne also made a cameo appearance on 23 June 2007 in an episode of the science fiction series Doctor Who. The episode "The Sound of Drums" saw her appearing in a spoof party political broadcast, which featured testimonials from British celebrities such as Osbourne and the band McFly showing their support for Mr Saxon to become Prime Minister.^[62] Osbourne has appeared frequently on Children in Need in order to raise money for charity.^{[citation needed]}

On 20 February 2008, Sharon Osbourne co-hosted the 28th edition of the BRIT Awards at Earls Court in London, along with her husband and daughter Kelly.^[63] During the awards Sharon Osbourne caused controversy and sparked complaints by calling Vic Reeves, who was presenting one of the awards, a "piss head" and a "bastard" after he appeared to be drunk, although he claimed that he was having trouble reading the autocue.^[64] On 22 August 2008, Sharon Osbourne took part in the 2008 MediaGuardian Edinburgh International Television Festival in Scotland.^[65]

On 3 November 2009, Osbourne was in studio at Sirius/XM Satellite Radio's "The Opie & Anthony Show" where she caused some controversy by stating that Susan Boyle looked "like a slapped ass" and that God "hit her with the fucking ugly stick."^[66][67]

Also in 2009 Sharon had a brief cameo in the music video of Simple Plan's Save You as a cancer survivor.

On 14 March 2010, Osbourne started her run as one of 14 contestants on the ninth season of The Celebrity Apprentice.^{[citation needed]}. She placed 3rd on the show.

On 1 April 2010, Sharon Osbourne (along with Kelly Osbourne) joined Cyndi Lauper in the launch of her Give a Damn campaign to bring a wider awareness of discrimination of the GLBT community as part of her True Colors Fund. The campaign is to bring straight people to stand up with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered community and stop the discrimination. Other names included in the campaign are Whoopi Goldberg, Jason Mraz, Elton John, Judith Light, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Kardashian & Clay Aiken. Anna Paquin is also part of the campaign and came out as bisexual. This news clogged the Give A Damn website.^[68]

On 8 April 2010, Osbourne become one of the first three celebrities to be subjected to the British version of the American institution of a comedy roast, on Channel 4's A Comedy Roast.^{[citation needed]}

Osbourne is slated to star as a recurring voice role of Mama Hook in the animated television series Jake and the Never Land Pirates early 2012.

Autobiographies[link]

Sharon Osbourne's first autobiography, Extreme (co-authored by Penelope Dening), was published in October 2005 and tells of her difficult childhood growing up with her father, Don Arden, and also documents the highs and lows of her marriage to husband Ozzy Osbourne, shedding light on areas of her life previously not commented on. Domestic violence, drug abuse, alcoholism, affairs, bribery, colon cancer, robberies, a plane crash, therapy, and cosmetic surgery are also documented in the autobiography.

Published by Time WarnerBooks, it went straight to Number 1 on the Sunday Times Bestseller List (UK) where it remained for 15 weeks and sold over 621,000 copies in hardback, becoming the biggest-selling autobiography since British records began, beating the previous record set by David Beckham's autobiography by 100,000 copies.^[69] "Both the heroic vulgarity and the love are vividly captured in this pungent and distinctive autobiography," opined the Sunday Times, whilst the Irish Times considered it to be "truly unputdownable".

In March 2006 it won Biography of the Year at the British Book Awards. The autobiography has proceeded to sell in excess of two million copies which has become the most successful female autobiography ever.^[4]

In the follow-up to her award-winning bestseller Extreme, Survivor was released in the UK on 4 October 2007.

Awards and recognition[link]

• In 2002, Sharon Osbourne and husband Ozzy were invited to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner by Fox News Channel correspondent Greta Van Susteren for that year's event.
• Sharon Osbourne and Ozzy Osbourne were honoured for their contribution to the music industry at a ceremony in London when the couple won a Silver Clef award.^[70]
• Osbourne was voted "the most amazing woman of 2003", according to a poll published by Handbag.com, a website for women, taking almost a third of the votes cast. More than 7,000 votes were cast in a range of categories.^[71]
• During Osbourne's time battling cancer, she attended an award ceremony to collect a gong for the success of her family's television show The Osbournes. She attended the Creative Arts Emmys in Los Angeles with her daughter Kelly Osbourne, to receive the best reality television show award.^[72]
• In late 2004, Osbourne attended the Woman of the Year awards in London to collect an award that she had previously won at the 2002 event, but was not able to attend due to illness.
• Osbourne was voted Freemans Celebrity Mum of the Year in 2006, fending off competition from Jordan, Kate Moss and the Duchess of Cornwall.^[73]
• In 2006, Osbourne's autobiography won Biography of the year at the British Book Awards.^[74]
• There is a wax figure of Osbourne at Madame Tussauds.
• She is an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.^[75]

Personal life[link]

On the Sunday Times Rich List 2006, Osbourne was listed as the 44th richest woman in Britain and the 60th richest woman on the 2007 list. In the overall British list in 2006, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne appeared together as the 554th richest people with a combined wealth of £100 million.^[76] They are currently ranked as the 700th richest people in Britain maintaining the previous wealth estimate of £100 million.^[77]

Osbourne was quoted in The Guardian newspaper on 9 December 2006 as having sent her own excrement in Tiffany boxes on more than one occasion to people she felt had unreasonably criticised her or her family.^[78] When a journalist criticised Jack and Kelly, who were in their early teens, Osbourne sent a box of excrement with a note saying "I heard you've got an eating disorder. Eat this."^[78]

Osbourne has stated that the biggest mistake of her life was to have an abortion. By her account, pressure from others, principally her mother, influenced her decision at the young age of seventeen to pursue the procedure.^[79]

Parents[link]

Osbourne's father, Don Arden, was a rock and roll entrepreneur who managed Black Sabbath and sacked Ozzy Osbourne from the group. He resented his daughter for dating Ozzy and managing his career. While visiting her parents, her mother's dogs attacked her and it was some time before her mother appeared to call them off. She was pregnant at the time and subsequently lost the baby.^[80] She soon lost contact with her father and did not speak to him for 20 years.^[81]

She had a troubled life with her father who had robbed her, once tried to kill her, and also claimed to Ozzy Osbourne that Sharon tried to seduce him in an effort to turn Ozzy against her.^[9] Osbourne revealed she was surrounded by violence during her childhood and that it was a normal occurrence to see her father threatening someone, or brandishing a firearm.^[82] In an interview in 2001, she commented that her father has never seen her children and that "he never will".^[7] Osbourne had told her children that their grandfather was dead, but they unknowingly saw him for the first time when Osbourne was shouting abuse at him on a street in Los Angeles.^[4] When asked who she was shouting at, she replied Tony Curtis.^[9] They were reunited in 2001 and he then had a role in their reality show The Osbournes.^[81] In August 2004 Osbourne stated her father had Alzheimer's disease and she paid for his care in the last years of his life.^[9]

Osbourne's relationship with her mother was also damaged. Hope Arden was a cold woman who became even stranger after a serious car accident, something which Osbourne said "unhinged her". When Osbourne was informed of her mother's death, she said "Oh, what a shame" and simply put the phone down.^[9]

Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne

Marriage[link]

Sharon Osbourne (then Sharon Arden) met her future husband, Ozzy, at the age of 18 while working for her father, Don Arden, who was managing Black Sabbath at the time. When Ozzy was sacked from Black Sabbath in 1979, Sharon started to date him and took over his management as a solo artist. Three years later, Ozzy and Sharon were married in Maui, Hawaii, on 4 July 1982.

For years the Osbourne marriage was plagued by alcohol, drug use, and violence, with Sharon having even been arrested for driving while intoxicated.^[7] The couple used to physically fight regularly and, according to Sharon Osbourne, they would "beat".^[7] She has described herself as "a beaten woman" when she was at the hands of husband Ozzy where he once knocked out her front teeth.^[9] She once retaliated by throwing a full bottle of scotch at his head.^[9] The most notorious incident arose in August 1989 when Ozzy was arrested for attempted murder after he had returned from a peace festival in Moscow, Russia, and tried to strangle Sharon in a haze of alcohol and drugs.^[7] After the incident, he spent three months in rehabilitation as a result of his actions, after which time, Sharon Osbourne said she regained her strength in their relationship and did not press charges.^[83]

Health[link]

In 1999 Osbourne lost 100 pounds (45 kg) after lap-band surgery (adjustable gastric band).^[9] Osbourne commented that being large was an essential part of her persona when she worked for her father and that being larger made a more dramatic entrance.^[9] On 26 October 2006, she went on the Howard Stern Show and revealed that she gained 15 pounds in the last year, and that she will be having her plastic band removed.

In July 2002 Osbourne was diagnosed with colon cancer.^[83] Later, she announced her cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and was more serious than originally thought.^[84] She survived the disease against a 33% survival prognosis. Despite battling cancer, she insisted that the MTV cameras document her illness during the filming of the second season of The Osbournes. When Osbourne's hair fell out during her subsequent treatment, her wigs were custom made by Cher's wigmaker.^[9] Ozzy Osbourne admitted that he "fell apart" during her treatment and recovery,^[85] and it was revealed that her son, Jack Osbourne, tried to commit suicide because of his depression stemming from his mother's condition.^[86]

In August 2004, she founded the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program at Cedars Sinai Hospital. In addition, she was the honoured guest at the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation's 2003 Fall Gala,^[87] where she spoke of her struggle against cancer. Osbourne has lent her support to design limited edition T-shirts or vests for the 'Little Tee Campaign' for Breast Cancer Care which donates money for breast cancer research.^[87] In December 2004, Osbourne made a public announcement, stating that she was still battling bulimia.^[17]

She has freely admitted to having extensive cosmetic surgery. As well as documenting this in her autobiography, she appeared on Dr. Phil on 14 December 2006, and commented on everything that had been surgically changed on her body in order to improve her appearance. She stated that she had had a full rhytidectomy, abdominoplasty, mastopexy, as well as many other procedures, but commented that she would not have any surgery performed on her eyes or lips.^[88] She has admitted to spending £300,000 on plastic surgery.^[89]

Household incidents[link]

In 2004, Sharon Osbourne's home in Jordans, Buckinghamshire was burgled where a man stole gems worth £2 million. The burglar managed to get away with the gems despite being put in a headlock by Ozzy Osbourne. Items taken during the burglary included wedding rings, an engagement ring, pearl and diamond necklaces, a large 52 carat (10 g) sapphire ring and two pairs of diamond earrings. After the incident, Osbourne appeared on Crimewatch and offered a reward of £100,000 for the return of her valuable jewellery.^[90]

In March 2005, there was an incident in the Osbourne's mansion in Jordans, Buckinghamshire. Ozzy and Sharon were forced to flee their mansion when a blaze broke out as they slept. They were not injured but had to be treated for smoke inhalation.^[91] In 2006 another fire broke out at the Osbourne's mansion; however, none of the family was at home.^[92]

Controversy[link]

Iron Maiden[link]

At Iron Maiden's last Ozzfest performance, on 20 August 2005 at the Hyundai Pavilion at Glen Helen in San Bernardino, California, several negative events took place, allegedly the fault of Sharon Osbourne. Osbourne's actions were reportedly in retaliation to lead singer Bruce Dickinson slighting reality TV,^[93] with claims that this was an attack on Ozzy Osbourne himself.^[94]

During the first Iron Maiden song, several members of the front row of the crowd (reportedly a combination of Osbourne's entourage and a few members from other bands persuaded by Osbourne or her entourage) were reported to have bombarded the British metal band with eggs, bottle caps, and ice.^[94] Some reports also say that Sharon's daughter, Kelly, was throwing objects at the band. During three of Iron Maiden's songs, the P.A. system was switched off, cutting power to Dickinson's microphone and the band's instruments.^[94] In audio captured during the concert, it is reported that Dickinson can be heard accusing the festival's organizers of deliberately cutting off the band's power. Also unknown to Iron Maiden, played secretly through the PA at the very beginning and end of their set was a tape with the chant "Ozzy - Ozzy - Ozzy".^[95] On Iron Maiden’s departure, Ozzfest founder Sharon Osbourne did make a few statements on stage in front of the 40,000 people in attendance.^[94] She told the audience that while she "absolutely loved Iron Maiden," she thought lead singer Bruce Dickinson was a "prick"^[94] and had "disrespected Ozzfest since they began their stint with the tour." Her words were met with booing, and soon after she walked off the stage.^[96]

Iron Maiden's manager, Rod Smallwood, issued a statement shortly after the debacle condemning the attack on the band as "vile, dangerous, criminal and cowardly" as well as disrespectful to fans who had paid to see the band perform "a full unhindered performance.".^[95] Dickinson later denied making a personal attack on Ozzy Osbourne; "Did I have a go at Ozzy and Black Sabbath? No. Why would I? But I do find The Osbournes TV series loathsome, and the whole cult of reality TV celebrities disgusting."^[97]

The Smashing Pumpkins[link]

In 2000, Sharon Osbourne resigned from managing The Smashing Pumpkins by releasing an infamous memo which said, "It was with great pride and enthusiasm that I took on management of the Pumpkins back in October, but unfortunately I must resign today due to medical reasons... Billy Corgan was making me sick!!!" In an October 2008 interview Osbourne revealed that she had recently made up with Pumpkins' frontman Billy Corgan: "I saw him at the Scream Awards. We hadn't seen each other since that whole thing in Germany. The first time we ran into each other and we hugged and kissed and laughed. I was so glad."^[98]

Male genital mutilation[link]

In 2011, on the talk show The Talk, Sharon Osbourne called it "quite fabulous" and "hysterical"^[99] that Catherine Kieu Becker, according to her own statement: drugged her husband, tied him to a bed and cut off his penis, which she threw into a garbage disposal.^[100] Sharon Osbourne later tried to issue an apology, but could not maintain a straight face and started snickering, at which point Leah Remini intervened and said the ladies of The Talk do not condone cutting off a man's penis. Sharon Osbourne later managed to compose herself and finish her apology.^[101]

Popular culture[link]

Osbourne has been referred to many times in popular culture. The popular British comedy Dead Ringers, features and spoofs Osbourne (played by Jan Ravens) quite prominently alongside her husband (played by Jon Culshaw). She was also spoofed by impressionist Ronni Ancona on Alistair McGowan's Big Impression and was also featured in comedy 2DTV. On Saturday Night Live, Amy Poehler played her on "Celebrity Jeopardy!" skit on 14 May 2005. Sharon Osbourne also appeared in season nine of Celebrity Apprentice. On 16 May 2010, she was fired during the double elimination round.

References[link]