Congratulations to Rafael Nadal and Venus Williams, who both won Wimbledon.

Nadal, who hails from Spain, beat Roger Federer in five sets for the title; he is widely known as one of the best clay court players in the world.

Venus Williams later beat her sister Serena for her fifth Wimbledon title; she is now the top-ranked female player in the world, according to the Women’s Tennis Association.

Celebrity divorces have been making headlines lately, and the ladies are discussing the hot topic of relationships in the public eye.

Christie Brinkley and Peter Cook have been commanding attention, as some of the more scandalous aspects of their relationship have been made public in their ongoing battle for custody of their children. Apparently Cook has engaged in some questionable sexual activities, including pursuing a relationship with an 18-year-old woman, which some feel has made him a target for media scrutiny.

New York Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez is also in the midst of a sloppy divorce; he and his wife have both been romantically linked to other celebrities, including Madonna and Lenny Kravitz. The rumors, which have been vigorously denied by some parties, are causing the rift between them to grow deeper and more gossip-worthy.

Whoopi feels that people should be honest in their reasons for wanting to leave a relationship, and should avoid using the media to attempt to manipulate their partner into a settlement. Sherri, meanwhile, thinks that the children are the people who truly suffer in such tumultuous times.

Celebrity couple Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have been expecting a child; earlier today, the two welcomed a baby girl named Sunday Rose Kidman Urban.

Sunday Rose is the first child for the couple, although Kidman has two adopted children already with her former spouse, Tom Cruise.

Presumptive Republican nominee John McCain shared his love of the band, ABBA; he says that although ABBA has enjoyed unparalleled success, people still view their fans as tasteless.

Former President Bill Clinton is still focused on making his mark in the 2008 presidential election. Although his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton, lost the race for the Democratic Party nomination, Bill is eager to get a Democrat in the White House this November.

Clinton has thrown his support behind Senator Barack Obama; some suspect that the move may be a ploy to bolster Hillary’s bid for the vice-presidential spot. Others wonder whether Bill’s involvement will hurt Obama’s odds, since he was perceived as a distraction during his wife’s campaign.

Radio personality Don Imus doesn’t seem to be able to stay out of trouble when discussing race.

After a 2007 faux pas, in which he insulted members of the Rutgers University basketball team, Imus’ media credibility plummeted; Imus has refueled that particular fire and re-established himself as a commentator who cannot see past race when discussing the legal troubles of Adam “Pacman” Jones.

Jones, a professional football player, was suspended for the entire 2007 NFL season for his involvement in an altercation in Las Vegas, which left one man paralyzed. Imus seemed unable to resist ascribing Jones’ difficulties to the fact that he is black; the host later referred to the incident a misunderstanding.

Michelle Obama’s appearance on The View last Wednesday is still at hot topic this week. Several media outlets, including the New York Times, report that Mrs. Obama appears more personable and friendly after co-hosting the show.

The dress she wore has also become the must-have item of the political season, as stores are rapidly selling out of the black-and-white floral ensemble from White House, Black Market.

Sherri co-hosted the Daytime Emmy Awards with Cameron Mathison last Friday night.

The View lost to Ellen DeGeneres in the Outstanding Talk Show Host category; The View also lost to Rachael Ray in the Outstanding Talk Show/Entertainment category.

Ray and DeGeneres took home the top honors, but daytime host Regis Philbin was recognized as well. Philbin received this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the show.

The debate about whether one’s sexuality is an inborn trait, or whether it can be influenced by external environmental factors, has raged on for decades. Recently, however, scientists conducted a study which they feel proves that sexuality is not a choice.

Apparently, the research compared the brains of heterosexual and homosexual men and women, as seen through MRI scans. The brain activation patterns that emerged suggested that people are, in fact, born gay or straight.

The proliferation of dog-friendly places is making some uncomfortable; canine friends are now welcome in shopping malls, airplanes, and even at church.

The New York Post reported that the Church of the Holy Trinity on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has a faithful pup following; though it may seem strange to some, church members don’t seem to mind.

As Joy says, if all dogs go to heaven, they have to go to church first!

Intimacy among chimps may be similar to relationship strategies among humans; for this reason, scientists have studied the primates and have reported two particularly interesting findings.

Chimpanzees, known for their proximity to humans, have social soothing systems, such as hugging and kissing, which have been shown to reduce the effects of stress on an individual. The findings suggest that chimps can demonstrate empathy in a manner similar to humans, especially human children.

When it comes to sex, chimpanzee research has shown another interesting behavior. Female chimps can apparently use mating calls advantageously, depending on the social situation at hand. Females tend to emit more calls when high-ranking males are present, while remaining silent when other females are near. This behavior attracts the healthiest male, while making paternity unclear; it also keeps other females in the dark about individual activities.

The incident reminded Joy of a campaign rally for Hillary Clinton, where two male audience members were removed for chanting “Iron my shirt,” implying that Senator Clinton did not belong in the White House because of her gender.

Do couples need to get married to complete their relationships? A story presented on Good Morning America suggests that brides who have been left at the altar report mixed feelings about marriage.

While some people who maintain long-term relationships without marriage (as Joy has for the past 26  years) feel that they can enjoy the same level of commitment as people who do opt to be wed, Elisabeth and Sherri pointed out some practical considerations that may influence one’s decision.

For those whose weddings are religious ceremonies, the practice represents a commitment of faith, which Sherri says is more valuable than a piece of paper. Married couples enjoy spousal privilege in litigation; further, a spouse to whom money is bequeathed after a partner’s death is not subject to estate tax, as children are.

Some states have laws permitting common-law marriage, in which a couple is considered married after living together and performing the actions characteristic of married couples, despite not being united legally.

Elisabeth will appear on Hannity & Colmes on FOX News, while Joy is scheduled to speak on Larry King Live, which airs on CNN.

The View asks you to assist the Red Cross in helping those who have been affected by recent flooding. You can donate your old and unused goods to your local Red Cross chapter; call or visit their website for more information.

Congratulations to the Boston Celtics, who became NBA champions last night after defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in Boston.

In addition to the best record in the league this season, the Celtics now have their first championship trophy since 1986. Although the team had a number of standout performances, Paul Pierce was named the most valuable player of the playoff series, in which he averaged nearly 20 points per game.

Mrs. Obama admitted that she did not want her husband to enter the ugly business of politics initially, but changed her opinion once she considered the kind of life and leadership she wants for her family and fellow citizens.

Should Senator Obama win the presidential election, the Obama daughters, Sasha and Malia, would become the youngest children in the White House since the Kennedy administration. Still, Mrs. Obama says that her girls keep her grounded, as she sees her primary role as a parent, not a politician.

The family-oriented nature of the Obama campaign was bolstered by Barack Obama’s Father’s Day speech, in which he called on fathers to take responsibility for their families and children. Although he cited larger societal factors that contribute to parental absences, Obama also called on individuals to be accountable to their loved ones.

Michelle Obama, wife of presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama, co-hosted The View this morning.

The discussion began with questions about an infamous sound bite that detractors claim demonstrated a lack of commitment to the United States. Mrs. Obama reaffirmed her pride in the country, saying that her story, which includes her family’s ability to send her to Princeton, would not be possible elsewhere. She says that she has anewfound pride in the political process, which is due to an increase in engagement across demographics.

Obama did acknowledge the need for politicians to be cognizant of speaking in public in this media age; she says that she takes cues from First Lady Laura Bush, who she describes as a calm and rational figure, who never adds fuel to a fire.

Be sure to watch The View tomorrow, June 18, as Michelle Obama joins the ladies in co-hosting the entire show.

In April, Cindy McCain helped co-host the show; Michelle Obama will follow her this week as the second time the wife of a presidential hopeful shares the stage on The View. Viewers can anticipate answers to questions about her husband’s political stances and plans, as well as insights into her life as the candidate’s spouse.

Former cyclist Lance Armstrong appeared on today’s show, to the delight of much of the studio audience. Armstrong talked about spending Father’s Day with his three children, but the champion athlete declined to elaborate on his relationship with actress Kate Hudson, though the two were reportedly seen together on the holiday.

Armstrong, who was diagnosed with metastatic testicular cancer in 1996, is also known for his Livestrong foundation. Livestrong originally started as a forum for people with cancer to discuss diagnoses and care; the website has now expanded to encompass general health care questions, even for people who do not have cancer. The goal of the redesigned wellness site is to provide useful and accurate information for people who want to make their lives healthier overall.