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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Tebow wants Jesus to congratulate him
Tony Parker gets own cartoon in France
Sharapova rolls into semifinals;WIMBLEDON
For exactly one hour of excellence Tuesday, the fifth-seeded Sharapova played - and sounded - exactly the way she did when she was a teenager, when it seemed nothing could stop her.
Those powerful-as-ever groundstrokes cut through the grass, landing right where she wanted. Those solid-as-ever service returns flummoxed her opponent. And those loud-as-ever shrieks bounced around Centre Court, its retractable roof shut to keep out the rain.
Simply put, Sharapova dominated 24th-seeded Dominika Cibulkova 6-1, 6-1 to reach the semifinals at Wimbledon for the first time since 2006 - back in the days before she needed surgery to repair her right shoulder and dealt with doubts about the future of her career.
''I would have loved for it not to have taken that long, but I'm not complaining,'' said Sharapova, who won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2004, then added a U.S. Open title in 2006 and an Australian Open crown in 2008. ''It's the road that you sometimes have to take. It's not always straight; there are a lot of zigzags.
''I've worked really hard to get to this stage, but I'm not saying this is where I want to end. I want to keep going.''
A day after the Williams sisters and top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki were sent home, the three women responsible for those upsets all lost.
Cibulkova, who ousted Wozniacki, held serve to open her match against Sharapova, then dropped the next eight games in a row; ninth-seeded Marion Bartoli, who eliminated Serena Williams, faded down the stretch and was defeated 6-4, 6-7 (4-7), 6-1 by Sabine Lisicki; and 32nd-seeded Tsvetana Piron-kova, who defeated Venus Williams for the second consecutive year, was eliminated 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-2 by eighth-seeded Petra Kvitova.
In the semifinals Thursday, Sharapova will face Lisicki and Kvitova will take on fourth-seeded Victoria Azarenka, who reached her first Grand Slam semifinal with a 6-3, 6-1 rout of Tamira Paszek.
''Looking at the rankings, everybody says, 'You should have been already in the semifinals,' '' Azarenka said. ''It was a great win for me.''
On the men's side, top-seeded Rafael Nadal learned his left foot - which he feared he had broken during his fourth-round match Monday against Juan Martin del Potro - isn't injured, and he said he will be ready to go against 10th-seeded Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals today.
The other men's quarters feature second-seeded Novak Djokovic against 18-year-old Bernard Tomic, third-seeded Roger Federer against 12th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and fourth-seeded Andy Murray against Feliciano Lopez.
AP
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Rutgers WR already adds name to 2012 NFL Draft
Sanu has been the athlete, go to offensive player and primary receiver for a college football offense that, to be honest, stunk last year. At 6'2 220 pounds, Sanu believes that he is what the professional NFL scouts are looking for next year in a wide-receiver already. Here are his stats from last season along with a confirmation e-mail response by Sanu from a Mock Draft website:
It's possible," Sanu told (the website) in an email about going pro after the season.
Last season, Sanu had 44 receptions for 418 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He also ran the ball 59 times for 309 yards and four more scores. Toward the end of the season, as Rutgers faltered, Sanu appeared to slow down.Tony Pauline, from SI.com, has him ...
Boston Celtics Rajon Rondo Is Nike?s Newest Addition To Their Stable
Rajon Rondo is officially becoming a super star in this league. Rondo finally has an endorsement deal for a sneaker. Nike has inked the Celtics point guard to endorse their new Zoom Hyperfuse shoe. Rondo has an ad for this sneaker on his Facebook page if anyone is interested in checking the first ad out.
��������������� The sneakers look pretty sharp. The shoe also claims to be light weight and strong. The shoes also add stability and support to prevent ankle injuries. At least that is what Rondo and Nike are claiming. The bottom line is the kicks are nice and if half as good as advertised will help keep Rondo?s problematic ankles healthy. If they do keep his ankles healthy for a full season, Celtics Nation will be happy and great full to Nike. If all it took was stronger shoes, I will be pissed that the Cletics did not give him a pair of sneakers like these before the season. �Stay tuned for more information on Rondo ads. Remember Go Green Or Go Home!!!!!!!!...
Sunderland signs England under-21 striker Wickham
Wickham had been linked with a move to English giants Liverpool or Arsenal but signed a four-year deal with Sunderland.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce says ''a number of top sides have been chasing Connor for some time now, so naturally we are absolutely delighted he has chosen to come to Sunderland.''
The transfer fee could eventually rise to 12 million pounds ($19.2 million).
Sunderland has been short of attacking options since selling England international Darren Bent to Aston Villa for a reported 18 million pounds (then $29 million) in January.
Fickell, players set move on at Ohio State
Four weeks after Tressel left the program, it seems Fickell's players have done just that.
''Losing coach Tress is absolutely huge for us, but you have to move on,'' junior defensive lineman John Simon said. ''We've been doing that pretty well so far, and coach Fick is leading the way and doing an awesome job.''
Simon, along with some teammates, addressed the media Tuesday on campus, as the program continues to pick up the pieces with camp on the horizon.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
2011 NBA Draft: List of Notable College Stars Who Went Undrafted
MLB: For Phillies, Beating Red Sox or Yankees Must Be Ultimate Goal
Tonight is the first game of a three-game series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox. As the Phils and the Sox are the two teams that many folks have been forecasting as potential World Series rivals since spring training, this matchup is a highly anticipated one.
Particularly for the Phillies, is it also a vitally important one. It is no secret that, despite something of an offensive resurgence these past few weeks, the Phillies, as a whole, have been struggling at the plate all season. While their phenomenal starting rotation and, surprisingly, a quite good bullpen have allowed the team to win enough games to lay claim to the best record in the MLB, many commentators and baseball fans alike have questioned the Phillies’ ability to match-up against top-level teams like the Red Sox and the Yankees down the road if they do not start producing more runs.
Sure, with their stacked pitching staff, the Phillies can dominate the National League, where their closest thing to a threat is likely going to be the Braves, who, despite having a solid squad, are not really an elite ball club.
But dominating the National League can no longer be enough for Philadelphia. They have done it for the last three seasons, and it still has not convinced the baseball elitists that they deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as teams like the Yankees and the Sox. In order to put the naysayers to rest, in order to really cement themselves as an eternal baseball dynasty, this Phillies team must take down one of the giants of the AL East.
And no, the Rays do not count.
They came close to reaching this plateau two years ago when they faced the Yankees in the 2009 World Series. Had the Phillies won that matchup, their place in baseball history would have been firmly established. Having lost, they left the door cracked open to criticisms about whether or not their 2008 World Series victory was anything more than a fluke, a lucky break because the American League happened to be going through a relatively weak year where the Yankees were rebuilding and the Red Sox collapsed.
Like it or not, in our time, the Red Sox and the Yankees are indisputably regarded as the top two baseball organizations out there, by wide margins. If Ruben Amaro and his club want to be seen as worthy to stand among them, they must first prove they are able to take them on toe-to-toe and win. To be the best, as they say, you must beat the best.
So this week’s matchup is about more for the Phillies than just keeping their best-in-the-MLB record. It is about showing that they are more that just big fish in the small-pond National League, but proving that they can hang in the big-pond AL, too. There can be no excuses—yes, the Phillies are playing without Oswalt and some of their bullpen guys, but the Red Sox are operating minus Daisuke Matsuzaka, Clay Buchholz and Carl Crawford. It is the best pitching staff in the league—the Phillies, with a 3.05 ERA—versus the best offense (the Red Sox lead the majors with a .277 average). It is a clean, fair fight for bragging rights between what are likely the two best teams in baseball.
And for the Phillies, it is also a chance to close that cracked door on the doubters just a little more until they get their chance to slam it shut this October.
John Calipari signs multi-year contract extension
Monday, June 27, 2011
Big East MVP Kemba Walker to the Bobcats
 | Check out the Charlotte Bobcats ninth pick in the 2011 NBA Draft Kemba Walker as he greets commissioner David Stern. Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 37760   112 ratings |
| Time: 00:52 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ8TcRenx-E&feature=youtube_gdata
Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick Named 20th Best Player in NFL
Vick ranks fifth among quarterbacks and first among players on the Eagles.
Last season, Vick resurrected his career by throwing for 21 touchdowns and just six interceptions, rushing for 676 yards and nine scores, and leading the Eagles to a division title. He earned NFL Comeback Player of the Year honors.
He was signed to the exclusive franchise tender following the season and will enter the 2011 season as a starting quarterback in the NFL in week one for the first time since the 2006 season, when he was with the Atlanta Falcons.
NFL Free Agency: Oakland Raiders Not in Play for a Top Offensive Lineman?
As we inch closer and closer to the NFL lockout's resolution, many are voicing their opinion as to which way the Oakland Raiders should go in free agency.
Most of these opinions share one common theme: The Raiders must sign a top-tier offensive lineman, preferably an offensive tackle.
I have no problem with that theory. The Raiders had one of the worst offensive lines in 2010, and definitely could use a solid, high-profile lineman.
My message to the Raider Nation is: do not get your hopes up.
Listen, I understand the need to improve the line. I understand that we need a beast blocking edge rushers.
However, I have serious doubts as to Oakland's ability and desire to lock up a top-five free agent lineman.
This class isn't weak; guys like Tyson Clabo and Jared Gaither will be free on the market. However, those men will surely be cashing in on big contracts.
Can the Raiders afford to break the bank on a free agent?
They have already committed an awful lot of cash to their own players, and could be over the cap if dead money is included in the new CBA.
Even if we get past the money obstacle, I have my doubts that owner Al Davis would even be up for signing a lineman to a big deal.
Mr. Davis does not believe in paying his linemen the big bucks—he likes his guys gritty and underrated. If you're hoping for the Raiders to make a run at Clabo, they'll surely have to overpay for his services in a bidding war. I'm not so sure that's Oakland's taste.
Another fact supporting this theory: Mr. Davis has guys on the line right now whom he favors.
Clearly Stefen Wisniewski is an Al pick. Barksdale—an Al pick. Bruce Campbell—all Mr. Al Davis. Daniel Loper was given a significant raise that points to him becoming a starter in 2011.
Jared Veldheer, the much-discussed left tackle, seems to be in Mr. Davis' favor as well. He drafted Veldheer and allowed the youngster to start at left tackle in his rookie year.
My point is that Al likes homegrown football players.
I'm just saying, Raider Nation: Don't get disappointed if we fail to reel in Clabo, Gaither or anyone else you may have on your mind.
I think it's much more likely that we sign a veteran like Matt Light.
Visit Raiders Post for news, notes and opinion.
Are the Knicks eyeing Kwame Brown?
The newest rumor surrounding the Knicks in the young NBA off-season is that team president James Dolan has made the decision to pursue free-agents willing to sign a one-year deal and pass on becoming a bidder in the bigger-name big men this summer including Dallas’ Tyson Chandler, the Los Angeles Clippers’ DeAndre Jordan and Memphis’ Marc Gasol.
One of the guys fitting this profile is NBA journeyman, and the former No. 1 overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft, Kwame Brown. Over the course of his eight-year NBA career, Brown has never lived up to the hype proceeding him, averaging only 6.8 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. Brown also averages 1.3 turnovers per game over his career and shoots a lowly 57.8% from the foul line.
...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/are_the_knicks_eyeing_kwame_brown/5248120
Sunday, June 26, 2011
New York Giants: 7 Most Probable Future Hall of Famers Currently on Roster
Harry Carson. Frank Gifford. Rosey Brown. Lawrence Taylor. Just a few names of New York Giants players that will stand the test of time. If you ask pretty much any Giants fan, they will know these names.
Who on this current team, if anyone, has a chance to join their brothers in blue and be enshrined in the NFL Hall of Fame?
The list of players with a real chance right now is short, but for most of these guys, they are just a small step away from greatness.
Tim Howard Upset with Ceremony, Not Game
"CONCACAF should be ashamed of themselves," Howard said. "I think it was a [expletive] disgrace that the entire postmatch ceremony was in Spanish. You can bet your ass that if we were in Mexico City, it wouldn't be all in English."But that's not why we lost the game. They've got some special players who put us in some bad situations." Asked about it afterward, he said: "It never ceases to amaze me all that stuff."Ben Spencer, a spokesman for CONCACAF, declined to comment about the situation. (From ESPN L.A.) This was not any shot towards the pro-Mexico crowd at the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles Saturday night. He p...
Big Baby supports sports shrinks
Celtics forward Big Baby Davis says he uses a shrink and that it's extremely helpful. He recommends all athletes use one to help them out.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Kyrie Irving Nervous Before 1st Pick Announced
 | Check out this up close look at the first overall selection in the 2011 NBA draft Kyrie Irving as he makes the walk through the draft room. Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 40686 369 ratings |
| Time: 04:57 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhYSf-d8kB0&feature=youtube_gdata
2011 NHL Draft Results: Recap of Round 6 of the NHL Draft
Rolling right along, the sixth round of the 2011 NHL Draft has just finished.
The sixth round was the round of the goaltenders, with seven goaltenders taken this round.
The goaltenders taken were Jason Kasdorf by the Winnipeg Jets, Stephen Michalek by the Minnesota Wild, Matt Mahalak by the Carolina Hurricanes, Laurent Brossoit by the Calgary Flames, Nathan Lieuwen by the Buffalo Sabres, Adam Wilcox by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Lars Volden by the Boston Bruins.
Goaltenders still available are Matt McNeely and Michael Morrison, among others.
NHL Draft 2011: Chicago Blackhawks Must Now Follow Up on Bold Opening Moves
The Chicago Blackhawks will be welcoming first-round picks Mark McNeill and Phillip Danault to the organization, but most of the buzz Friday night at the NHL entry draft centered on Stan Bowman taking a chisel to last season's roster.
A pair of deals made during Friday's action has seen the departure of Troy Brouwer and Brian Campbell. Bouwer's rights were dealt to Washington for the 26th pick, which the Blackhawks used to select Danault. Campbell was convinced to waive his no-trade clause so he could be traded to Florida for winger Rostislav Olesz.
Bowman has shaken things up and will be putting his stamp on the 'Hawks roster if his opening moves are any indication. The task ahead is bringing in the correct pieces.
Bowman got a first-rounder for Brouwer, who I can only believe was going to wind up costing more than Bowman wished to pay. He also managed to shed the one contract Chicago had that was thought to be unmovable in Campbell's deal.
Right now, I'm excited to see what follows picking up substantial cap space. However, Chicago's needs haven't changed. In fact, Brouwer's physical play and willingness to get to the front of the goal will now have to be replaced as well.
Olesz, who is signed for three more seasons at at cap hit of $3.125 million, is merely the price of doing business with Dale Tallon, who gets the player he signed for the 'Hawks three years ago. Olesz does not fill any needs for the 'Hawks, as he is neither a prolific scorer or a big hitter.
The next step is finding a place to send Olesz. Hopefully he doesn't hang around long in Chicago. If Bowman thinks he's picked up part of the solution at forward, I would be shocked.
Campbell's departure may be felt on the ice, as his plus-28 rating led the team and his return from a preseason knee injury turned the defense around last season. Chris Campoli may see his negotiating stance improve, as someone needs to play Campbell's minutes.
Niklas Hjalmarsson will likely miss his blue line partner, but moving Campbell's huge salary probably means Hjalmarsson and his $3.5 million hit will remain in Chicago. Now Bowman needs a rugged defender to pair with Nick Leddy. With Campbell gone, a guy like Brian Connelly may be re-signed and given a look in camp.
Replacing Brouwer from within the organization is not feasible, so Bowman will have to take the cap savings he created and pick up a reliable power forward, along with a center in addition to another defenseman.
Bowman should now have no excuse for not bringing in some veteran grit to the fourth line. John Madden is apparently Chicago's for the taking if they choose to bring him back. All indications are that he'd play at a discount to be in an Indian head sweater.
Is Bowman interested, or does he have loftier aspirations?
Bowman has certainly made good on his vow to make changes in the Blackhawks lineup. Whether he makes additional trades during the draft's second day or stands pat, Chicago's GM looks like he has a plan to shape the 'Hawks roster.
Let's see how the plan unfolds.
Friday, June 24, 2011
NBA Draft 2011: Why the Charlotte Bobcats Failed in This Year's Draft
The Bobcats had two top-10 picks in this years draft. They started with one, and traded up for another. The problem is neither of the picks really addresses a need.
With the No. 7 pick, they got Bismack Biyombo. Biyombo is a player that has huge potential defensively and as a rebounder. The problem is, they just invested big time in a player that plays a similar style. A frontcourt consisting of Tyrus Thomas and Bismack Biyombo isn't going to scare anyone offensively.
Those two could form a dominant defensive combo, but if they plan on starting these two players together at some point in the future, I don't see how it works. It's hard to make a deep playoff run without any reliable low post scoring, and the Bobcats don't have any of that.
With the No. 9 pick, the Bobcats took Kemba Walker which honestly doesn't make sense to me. They really needed a small forward in this draft and with Singleton and Kawhi Leonard still available Kemba probably wasn't a great pick.
The Bobcats two best players are arguably their point guard, DJ Augustin and their shooting guard Gerald Henderson. Kemba Walker is a combo guard, he can play both point guard and shooting guard. Although he's talented, Kemba doesn't make sense here because the Bobcats' best players play Walker's position.
A small forward would have made much more sense for the Bobcats, especially since they just traded Stephen Jackson. There were so many better options available for the Bobcats at No. 9, I just don't understand the pick.
It seems like the Bobcats took on a Timberwolves like mentality in this draft, acquiring pieces instead of trying to build a team. We'll see how it works out, but I think the Bobcats could have improved a lot more than they did. If Kemba's a star, it's a great draft, but if not, this draft has to be considered a failure by the Bobcats.
Wheldon to test 2012 IndyCar prototype chassis
Project manager Tony Cotman made the announcement Thursday.
Wheldon and Herta, former teammates on Michael Andretti's team, paired up again for one race in May and wound up winning the season's biggest title when race leader JR Hildebrand made a rookie mistake. Hildebrand went too high through the final turn of the last lap, and Wheldon passed Hildebrand's crashed car on the front straightaway to win his second 500 crown.
The new chassis is scheduled to debut next season.
Testing will take place in August and September. Teams are scheduled to get their new equipment by Dec. 15.
Top 10 Dunks of the 2011 Finals
 | Check out the top ten dunks of the 2011 NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Miami Heat. Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 79413 577 ratings |
| Time: 02:47 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tJhqw7Gj8Y&feature=youtube_gdata
Thursday, June 23, 2011
NBA Draft 2011 Diary: Kemba Walker Is Becoming Story of Night
NBA Draft 2011 Diary: Kemba Walker Is Becoming Story of Night
Fourteen minutes until draft time. Denny's just showed a horrifying sandwich that made the KFC Double Down look like a Subway Veggie Delight. Even sadder, for midwesterners like myself, they named it the Midwest-meat-and-potatoes sandwich. Classy.
Jay Bilas has revealed Kemba Walker as his No. 4 available. The plotlines are already building for Walker to be snubbed past the first 10 picks, the awkward green room shots followed by Bilas giving a furious rant at the cameras the way he does when a team is omitted from the NCAA Tournament field.
Eight minutes left. Rachel Nichols at Knicks headquarters (can we have an open discussion about how secretly attractive Nichols is by the way?). Knicks do not want to trade up to get Jimmer. That's code for, well we actually don't have anyone left to shop around. Landry Fields for Jimmer? Doubtful.
Second storyline brewing, what will Donnie Walsh do in his final act of Knicks GM? Why not throw them the ultimate eff-you and select VCU's Javier Rodriguez with pick No. 17. Or will it be the softer, wait-why-did-we-fire-you pick that involves trading up, landing the best player available and clearing out $10 million of cap space in the process.
Things are getting exciting.
2011 NBA Draft Grades: Grading the Teams and Picks of the NBA Draft
The overwhelming consensus on the 2011 NBA Draft is that the talent level is shallow at best. Of course, the years to come will decide that, but with so many unknown players in this draft, it's hard to tell one 18-year-old European player apart from another.
What we do know is that Kyrie Irving will be selected No. 1 overall and Derrick Williams will be selected No. 2, barring something out of this world happening. However, it would be hard to say for sure that both of those players will be All-Stars one day.
Though the talent level is low, what will make this draft exciting is everything around it.
The player draft order after the second pick is still up in the air. Just ask ESPN analyst Chad Ford, who seems utterly confused in his latest mock drafts.
The behind-the-scenes deals and the possibility of blockbuster trades will bring a great deal of suspense to the NBA Draft.
It's hard to tell whether this is ESPN creating false hype or not, but several high-profile players have been involved in trade rumors over the past 24 hours.
The players mentioned include Tony Parker, Andre Iguodala, Lamar Odom, Monta Ellis and Pau Gasol. Teams like the Spurs and Lakers are rumored to be trying to move up into the top ten.
While this draft may not be as stocked with overwhelming talent as some in the past, everything involved may make this quite a suspenseful evening for the both the teams and players around the league.
Kerr back at scene of '10 LPGA Championship dominance;Champ puts focus on this year's event
Reminiscent of what Rory McIlroy just did to Congressional Country Club in his record-setting U.S. Open triumph, Cristie Kerr was her own show in winning the 2010 LPGA Championship. With rounds of 68-66-69-66, she left the field behind and finished at 19 under to win by a record 12 shots .
A year later, Kerr's masterpiece remains the talk of the tournament: "I remember we were all playing for second," Stacy Lewis said.
"I don't remember much. I was so far behind," Suzann Pettersen said.
As for Kerr, ranked No. 2 in the world, she'd rather talk about this year. Obviously, she has fond memories of last year, a lasting memory no one can ever take away from her, she said, but this is a new year.
"I'm not 12 shots ahead of the field starting out this week," she said Wednesday after finishing preparations for the year's second major championship. "So starting from the first tee (today), it's go time.
"I'm in a good place with my game. Because I won by 12, I'm not putting pressure on myself. I'm going to try and have the same mind-set like I did last year and take every day as it comes."
While Kerr hasn't won since the LPGA Championship, she rolls into today's start off three consecutive runner-up finishes, increasing her total in that department to 20 to go with 14 career victories.
"I've played a lot of good golf since then," Kerr said. "I've been close to winning again and just need a little bit of luck. If you're finishing second every week, there is a lot going right for you. I've always been an optimist, so if I keep putting myself in that position it's going to happen.
"A lot of things are working."
Especially her irons. Kerr put Callaway's Diablo Forged irons in her bag for a May round at Augusta National. They haven't left.
"My misses have been a lot better," she said. "Golf is a game of misses, and if you can get it on the green instead of missing the green or missing it in the right spot, it's a whole different game. I've been putting well and just got to get those putts on Sunday to drop for me. And that stuff is going to add up. I have been doing that for the last month. It's just that one extra putt that drops, or that one shot, or somebody doesn't get up and down or whatever. I'm very close."
Why Derrick Williams Should Go #1?It?s Science Baby (Dickie V voice)
Click here to view the embedded video.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
NBA Draft Rumors: Spurs Dangling Tony Parker to Trade Up For ? Whom?
The Spurs are supposedly considering trading Tony Parker to Toronto or Sacramento, in exchange for the 5th or 7th pick in the draft. But who are they targeting that high?
Phillies Eighth Inning Against the Cardinals One to Remember
The Philadelphia Phillies beat the St. Louis Cardinals 10-2 last night.
Although Roy Halladay still could not notch his tenth win, that was not the real story.
Although the Cardinals are still adjusting to life without Albert Pujolz, their superstar first baseman, that was not the real story.
And though it seemed like just another night when the Phillies offense couldn't get anything going, in the end, that wasn't the real story, either.
The real story of last night's win was the eighth inning. Since we don't see innings like that very often, it's worth a second look. And it's a tale best told by the numbers.
9 Let's start with an easy one. The number of runs the Phillies scored in the eighth. They had more runs in this one inning than they have scored in the last three games combined.
43 That's the number of minutes this crazy inning lasted. The game was moving along at a brisk clip and the Phillies bats were making yet another pitcher look like a Cy Young candidate until the eighth.
6 The number of Phillies batters that reached base without a hit. Cardinals pitching gave up four walks and two hit batters (usually more than enough for an entire game) in just this one inning.
14 The Phillies sent 14 men to the plate in the inning.
5 Cardinals manager Tony LaRussa used five (count 'em five!) relievers in this one inning. It's worth mentioning that the inning took off when LaRussa opted to bring in a right-handed pitcher to face lefty Ryan Howard, an unusual move to say the least.
64 The Cardinals pitchers threw a whopping 64 pitches in the frame, which is often enough to get through six or seven innings!
4 The number of hits the Cardinals got off Halladay in a sub-par performance for him. (The Phillies had five hits in the eighth inning alone!)
15 The number of times cameras cut to close-up shots of a frustrated Tony LaRussa in the Cardinals dugout.
4 1/2 The Phillies ended the night 4 1/2 games ahead of the Braves in the NL East.
So there you have it. A tale told by the numbers. And this is one story with a happy ending, at least for the Phillies.
QPR?s Adel Taarabt confirms, ?I had contact with Arsenal and Chelsea?
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Li Na beats Kudryavtseva in 1st round of Wimbledon
The third-seeded Li broke serve four times Tuesday en route to a routine win over the No. 72-ranked Kudryavtseva.
Li became the first Chinese player to win a Grand Slam singles title when she beat Francesca Schiavone in the French Open final this month. She is trying to become the seventh woman to achieve a French Open-Wimbledon double in the Open era.
Late caution changes race strategy
Hamlin endured a spirited challenge from Matt Kenseth on the final couple of laps to win the Heluva Good! Sour Cream Dips 400. Hamlin led eight laps to take the win.
The Joe Gibbs Racing driver took his first lead on a final pit stop, holding it on the restart with five laps to go. Kenseth, Carl Edwards, Paul Menard and Kyle Busch were quickly in the mix as well.
The group was battling after Hendrick Motorsports' Dale Earnhardt Jr. hit the wall, bringing out the caution with less than 10 laps remaining - and changing the complexion of the race.
On the restart with 27 laps to go, drivers had shuffled position quickly in a tight battle for the lead. With the laps winding down, and fuel mileage possibly coming into play, a variety of strategies were at play. All, though, were trying to get to the front.
Edwards took the lead after a four-wide showdown with Hamlin chasing closely. They took over a battle that had belonged to their teammates for much of the race. Others began fuel conservation at various points in that late run, with even Hamlin and Edwards keeping an eye on their own mileage.
Then came the caution -- and the leaders pitted. And Hamlin took the lead.
Until the restart with 27 to go, the race had seen a different pack battling for the lead.
Up to that point, Busch was the only driver who could break the Ford hold at the track.
Greg Biffle and Kenseth battled for the top spot for much of the race, with Busch crashing the party in a latter segment. The trio combined to lead 144 laps in the outing.
Teams pushed the fuel window, with Kasey Kahne running out prior to his final pit stop with 45 to go, then having difficulty getting restarted in his stall. He finally got it running and raced back onto the track, ending his chance at a solid day.
The caution came out on Lap 158 as Juan Pablo Montoya also ran out of gas in the turn and was slammed into by Andy Lally, spinning near the pit-road entrance. That came in the middle of green-flag pit stops, which caused Biffle to be down a lap but he earned the free pass on the caution. Kenseth had also already pitted, but was on the lead lap. He came in on lap 161 and topped off with fuel.
Kenseth had earlier fuel issues as well, but his came when his team didn't get enough into the car on the first stop. The team then had a lug nut fall off, which slowed a subsequent stop. Yet Kenseth and company kept battling among the leaders.
Penske Racing's Kurt Busch started from the pole position, but couldn't maintain the top spot throughout the race. He continually worked with his team on changes, but late in the race was clearly displeased with his car. He would settle for 11th.
A week after seriously cutting into Edwards' points lead, Jimmie Johnson's effort was hampered early when he spun off Turn 2. Although he avoided damage, he did find himself a lap down in the early going. He earned the free pass on the next caution but a lengthy stop to work on the car left him two laps down in the early segment of the race.
Recent race winner Brad Keselowski endured a rough race. First he tagged the wall after cutting a tire, bringing out the caution on Lap 83. Then on his pit stop on Lap 126, he slid through his stall and had to be pushed back into position.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/late_caution_changes_race_strategy/5128246
Monday, June 20, 2011
Brown offers his services to Wolves
Kurt Rambis is technically still the coach of the Minnesota Timberwolves. That little bit of knowledge didn't matter to Larry Brown as he offered up his coaching services to the Wolves.
2011 NBA Mock Draft: Detroit Pistons Need to Decide Which Route to Take
The Detroit Pistons are in an interesting position. While they have plenty of options at number eight, this also represents a problem in that they have plenty of holes to fill.
Obviously small forwards Tracy McGrady and Tayshaun Prince are not likely to be returning, and if the team can get out from under shooting guard Rip Hamilton?s huge contract, they would be more than willing to do so.
However, most analysts and fans alike agree that their biggest needs are point guard and the front court.
The name that seems to be gaining steam in Detroit is Bismack Biyombo. The product of Congo is likened to Pistons great Ben Wallace, which is stoking the belief in a potential Pistons renaissance of sorts.
That being said, there are questions about the rawness of his game and whether or not he really is as young as he claims to be.
The smart money is still that Detroit will target point guard Kemba Walker with their first pick. Walker
represents what the Pistons sorely need. He is tough, quick, and a strong leader that is capable of solving their point guard woes for the next decade.
The real question is what Sacramento will do at number seven. They also need a point guard, and while rumor has it that they like Jimmer Fredette, they could stand between Detroit and their future.
For more 2011 NBA Draft coverage, stay tuned to Bleacher Report for updated NBA mock drafts, B/R's Big Board of Recruits, NBA Draft rumors, NBA Draft results and draft grades.
2011 NBA Finals Game 6 Mini Movie
 | Take a special look at Game 6 of the 2011 NBA Finals as the Dallas Mavericks defeat the Miami Heat to win their first NBA Championship in franchise history. Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 316707 3297 ratings |
| Time: 06:56 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwZXZcyr460&feature=youtube_gdata
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Five Questions Facing The Big 12 in 2011
What's going on with Texas? Can Oklahoma Win the BCS Title? How good will Oklahoma State fare without Holgorsen?
Source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/06/17/five-questions-facing-the-big-12-in-2011/
Sylvain Marveaux Disgusted At Failed Medical Rumors
Li begins long march to freedom
But the 29 year-old is not the archetypal Chinese sports star. For a start, she hardly ventures back to her home country. "If I go back into my house, I will never get out again," she says, only half-joking. "Right now I couldn't imagine what would happen if I go back. After Paris, I stayed in Europe. I know if I went back to China people would be crazy. If I don't do well at Wimbledon, maybe they will forget me."
In China, sports stars are, like almost everything else, effectively considered the property of the state. Until she quit the national tennis programme in 2008, Li had to hand over almost two-thirds of her winnings to the government (the figure now is roughly 10 per cent).
It is this system - along with the suffocating expectation of a huge public - that the fiercely independent Li has subtly sought to evade. She is about as rebellious a sports star as China has ever produced, from the rose tattoo on her chest to firing her husband as coach and appointing the Dane Michael Mortensen.
Her first grand slam title may prove to be a tipping point. Flushed with confidence and experience, Li's sense of individuality is now higher than ever. You sense that after a decade of carrying the torch for Chinese tennis, the responsibility of being flag-bearer for an entire nation is beginning to weary her.
If she wins Wimbledon, it will be depicted as a triumph for China, but ironically it may also accelerate Li's own process of self-liberation.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/li_begins_long_march_to_freedom/5123407
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Weekly Top Five: LeBron, DeShawn, Kate Upton and Hockey!
Kate Upton went to a baseball game and had a birthday. That's obviously one of the top sports stories of the week. Also: LeBron, Dirk and Lord Stanley's Riots.
Source: http://thebiglead.com/index.php/2011/06/17/weekly-top-five-lebron-deshawn-kate-upton-hockey/
Bartoli beats Stosur in Eastbourne semis
She will face fifth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova, who advanced when unseeded Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia retired with an abdominal injury with Kvitova leading 7-6 (9), 4-2.
The semifinals were postponed on Friday because of rain. Organizers planned to play both the semifinals and finals on Saturday.
Bartoli was playing her fifth straight Eastbourne semifinal but had never before progressed to the final.
She broke to lead 2-0 when Stosur netted a forehand and fought off a break point in the next game.
Bartoli broke again to lead 2-1 in the second set when Stosur made another forehand error and then dominated with her more aggressive play and fewer unforced errors.
Hantuchova led 3-0 after breaking in the second game, but Kvitova broke back in the fifth game and Hantuchova received treatment when leading 4-3.
She held a set point at 6-5 in the tiebreaker before Kvitova edged through on her fourth set point. The Czech broke to lead 2-0 before Hantuchova retired four games later.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Brewers RHP Marcum leaves game with hip injury
The right-hander threw 44 pitches in the first inning of the Brewers' 10-4 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Friday night. He was replaced at the start of the bottom of the second by Marco Estrada. It was announced late in the game that Marcum had a strained left hip flexor.
Manager Ron Roenicke said Marcum, 7-2 with a 2.85 ERA, told him the hip hurt. Marcum tried to stretch it after the top of the first. He left the game after allowing two runs and four hits, with one strikeout, one walk and a wild pitch. He also allowed a leadoff homer to Jacoby Ellsbury.
Eskridge leaves Minnesota football team
Eskridge rushed for 698 yards and seven touchdowns last year for the Golden Gophers. Kill says he felt it was in Eskridge's best interests to leave the program before his senior season.
Kill also announced Friday that tight end Tiree Eure (ty-ree YUR'-ee) was leaving the program because ''it just didn't work out.''
Kill also announced the additions of receiver Malcolm Moulton and quarterback Dexter Foreman.
Moulton is a transfer from Fort Scott Community College in Kansas and Foreman played at Manvel High School in Texas last season.
Jagr Talking to NHL Teams Again
Here's the story:
Former NHL scoring leader and league MVP Jaromir Jagr wants to return to North America, and Detroit is his preferred destination.The Red Wings are exploring the possibility of signing the 39-year-old forward who has spent the past three seasons playing in Russia, Booth Newspapers has learned.The Red Wings didn?t call Jagr. His agent, Petr Svoboda, called them. But Red Wings general manager Ken Holland has had several conversations with Svoboda, and coa...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nhl/article_external/jagr_talking_to_nhl_teams_again/5085319
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Dwight Howard to workout with Rondo & Doc?
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/dwight_howard_to_workout_with_rondo_doc/5086975
Wimbledon: Sania-Elena seeded fourth, Paes-Bhupathi third
Sania and Elena, who joined forces earlier this year, reached the final of the French Open this month.
In the men's doubles, India's multiple Grand Slam winners Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi are seeded third.
Rohan Bopanna and Pakistan's Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi, who won their second ATP title together at Halle last week, have been given the fourth billing.
No Indian is seeded in the singles.
In the men's singles, World No.1 and defending champion Rafael Nadal heads the seeding, which is decided by the ATP Tour rankings and performance on grass courts. Serbia's Novak Djokovic, whose 41-match winning streak was ended by Swiss Roger Federer at Roland Garros in Paris, is the second seed.
Federer, a six times champion, has been seeded third.
The seeding order in women's singles follows the WTA ranking list. The only changes this year are Serena Williams and Venus Williams of the US moving to No.8 and No.24.
"It reflects the balance between their proven records and also their lack of competitive play in the past 12 months," said Wimbledon referee Andrew Jarrett.
The William sisters have made come-back from injury at Eastbourne this week. Venus was sidelined by hip and abdominal problems since the Australian Open in January, while defending champion Serena had not played since defeating Zvonareva to win her fourth Wimbledon title after suffering an off-court foot injury last July and then potentially life-threatening blood clots in each lung earlier this year.
The draw has Denmark's world number one Caroline Wozniacki as the top seed.
Belgium's Kim Clijsters is seeded second and Vera Zvonareva third. The French Open champion Li Na has been seeded fourth. Published by HT Syndication with permission from Indo-Asian News Service. For any query with respect to this article or any other content requirement, please contact Editor at htsyndication@hindustantimes.com
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Frazar wins 1st PGA Tour title in 355th try.
That's the difference a PGA Tour win makes.
Frazar beat Robert Karlsson with a par on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff Sunday at the St. Jude Classic, earning a win in his355th tour event when the Swede pushed a par-saving putt 3 feet pastthe hole. This win means Frazar will be playing in Maui in January and Augusta at the Masters for the first time in his career.
"This probably is going to change my life," Frazar said. "It's notgoing to change my wife or my kids, but it's probably going to change my life and the fact that I'll be 40 in July. This will take me to 42 or 43."
Frazar, playing on tour this year with a major medical exemption, had his plans all set to end his playing career and go to work in theindustry. He was tired of being away from his family too much and trying to play through a variety of injuries that required separate surgeries on his hip and shoulder last summer.
Memphis was just his fourth cut he's made in 10 events this year, though he just qualified for the upcoming U.S. Open at Congressional.His wife and three children were traveling Sunday when he won, and he hadn't talked to them before he met with reporters after the trophypresentation.
The man who might've been previously known best as Justin Leonard's college roommate at Texas also picked up the biggest paycheck of his career, taking home $1,008,000.
"It just shows you how sometimes when you let your guard down or let your expectations soften, you can free yourself up," Frazar said.
Frazar didn't realize he'd won until Karlsson's putt finally stopped without a miraculous turn back into the hole. From then on, he called it a whirlwind. All that talk about acting as if you've been there before doesn't work for someone who'd never won before.
"I don't know if I'm supposed to keep the seersucker jacket. I don't know if I'm supposed to carry the trophy. You don't know who you're supposed to talk to. I felt bad. I didn't thank the sponsors. I didn't thank FedEx. I didn't thank the volunteers. I was not quite sure really what was happening right then," Frazar said.
"The only tournament that I won in Q-school, you walked in, signedyour card in the scoring trailer, and they gave you a pat on the back, 'Good job.' You walked out the door. There was nobody there."
Karlsson led after the second and third rounds, and he has shot below par on his past eight rounds here. Now the Swede has lost in a playoff at the TPC Southwind course for a second straight year, though he said he couldn't have done much more in what he called a great match.
"He played great, and I played good as well," Karlsson said. "It'sone of those days where I think most of us had a lot of fun out there. Congratulate him on a great win. He played great in the last roundafter sort of being injured and stuff like that. He played really well."
Camilo Villegas (64) tied for third with Tim Herron, Ryuji Imada, Charles Howell and Retief Goosen. Lee Westwood, the 2010 champion here, tied for 11th. Frazar missed a chance to win on the 72nd hole whenhe made his first bogey of the day. He shot a 3-under 67 to match Karlsson (68) at 13 under. He became the seventh first-time winner on tour this year and the first to win his first title in Memphis since Dicky Pride in 1994.-
Shock As Sunderland Put Up Asamoah Gyan For Sale
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce is ready to sell star striker Asamoah Gyan ? after the Ghanaian hit man?s name was circulated to clubs yesterday.
According to a report in the Daily Mirror, an email was sent out to England?s top clubs over the availability of the in-form attacker.
Sunderland are seeking to sell their most expensive player to enable them buy many players ahead of next season.
Gyan could be sold in the summer to raise money for more new players ? even after the departure of Jordan Henderson to Liverpool in a �20 million deal.
Sunderland set to land Gardner, Gibson, Ngog and more in massive summer shake-up
Gyan?s availability was flashed to leading Premier League clubs ? and outfits abroad ? as the surprise player in a list of ?for sale? talent sent out by an agent close to the club.
The Ghanaian striker?s availability could interest clubs i...
NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Players the GS Warriors Must Avoid in Monta Ellis Tade
Although new Golden State Warriors head coach Mark Jackson has publicly stated that he wants star guard Monta Ellis on his team, that statement could mean a number of things.
It could mean that he does, indeed, want Ellis and backcourt-mate Stephen Curry to lead his team for the near future.
It could also mean that his years in the media have taught Jackson the finer points of public relations. It could be that he understands the worst-case scenario to begin his coaching career is to have a chasm between he and his star player.
It might even mean that Jackson is ready and willing to move Ellis but has not heard the right player's name come up in any potential deal. He may feel that any public support from his front office will only drive up the price for Ellis.
Any trade involving Ellis—or Curry, for that matter—will be nothing short of a monumental gamble for owner Joe Lacob and his ever-changing front office partners.
If the team opts to cash in on their guard's value—a figure that is truly difficult to gauge—a trade for any of the players on this list could prove disastrous to Lacob and Co.'s reputation as well as to their franchise.
Kerr: Lebron is Pippen, not Jordan
This coming only weeks after Scottie Pippen himself called Lebron "the greatest player to ever play the game" and Michael Jordan "the greatest scorer in NBA history." Steve Kerr said on Monday that it is wrong to compare Miami Heat star LeBron James to Michael Jordan. "(Lebron's) a great talent and a great player but you can see his flaws as a basketball player. He doesn't have an offensive game that he can rely on: no l...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/kerr_lebron_is_pippen_not_jordan/5034592
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
edwards' big lead in points shrinks to 6
Edwards shed his helmet and took a turn in the broadcast booth when his No. 99 Ford was forced out with a broken valve in his engine. He returned for one final lap and a 37th-place finish in Sunday's race.
His Sprint Cup points lead was sliced from 40 to six over five-time champion Jimmie Johnson. That's not a huge deal because the points are reset once the Chase for the championship starts.
"What good is the points lead if you don't use it?" Edwards said. "We are using it today and we're going to need every bit we can to get out of here with the lead today."
His race ended before 60 laps were up, forcing him to put the No. 99 in reverse over a chuck of pit road before bringing it back to the garage. Edwards joined TNT in the broadcast booth, cracked jokes, and showed off a broken part.
"We were running really well and I was babying the engine a little bit and not shifting too much," Edwards said. "It's just one of those things. Sometimes things break."
harvick, busch again get hotheaded
Kevin Harvick and Kyle Busch might have a few more rounds left in their feud.
Harvick and Busch were fined $25,000 apiece, and NASCAR put them on probation for their actions on pit road at Darlington. They were summoned separately to the NASCAR hauler for a meeting with top officials and told to play nice.
They needed another scolding at Pocono.
It started early when they were fighting for position on the track. Harvick forced Busch down the track and NASCAR quickly radioed to each crew for the drivers to cool it.
"There were a couple of times where I just had to back off and wait and get back to him and try and pass him again," Busch said. "Maybe it shows his character and who he is and how he feels he needs to race on the racetrack. It's not my fight. He's trying to turn it into one."
Probation ended at Pocono. Watch out for some possible fireworks next week at Michigan.
earnhardt adds tohis winless streak
Dale Earnhardt Jr. stretched his winless streak to 107 races. His streak of solid races in a bounce-back season is also intact.
Earnhardt finished sixth at Pocono Raceway on Sunday. He was second last week at Kansas and seventh the race before that at Charlotte. He's third in the points standings.
"I'm really happy to be running well and being up front," Earnhardt said. "It's surely a difference from the last couple of years, so I feel fortunate and feel lucky to be able to compete."
Maybe his win comes next week at Michigan. His last Cup victory came there on June 15, 2008.
- The Associated Press
Kyle Busch's team penalized for Pocono violations
Gibbs Racing team, with driver Kyle Busch, in the Sprint Cup Series for rules
infractions discovered during Sunday's post-race inspection at Pocono Raceway.
Race officials found the left-front end of Busch's Toyota did not meet the
minimum height requirement. It was 1/16th of an inch too low. Busch finished
third in the 500-mile race at Pocono.
Crew chief Dave Rogers has been fined $25,000, while Busch and team owner Joe
Gibbs have been docked six points each in the championship standings.
Officials from JGR accepted the penalty.
"We brought the No.18 car back to our race shop and have identified the
problem, which caused us to measure low during the post-race inspection
process in Pocono yesterday afternoon," the team said in a statement. "We have
made NASCAR aware of our findings, and we accept the penalty they have issued
today."
Busch remains fifth in the rankings, but now trails leader Carl Edwards by 31
points.
NFL Trade Speculation: What's the Value of Kevin Kolb & Top 5 Available Vets?
The long delay in the 2011 NFL offseason might have made some forget about a few players on the trade block. Don't think for a second, though, that any NFL team in need of one of these players has forgotten about them.
The power of a trade isn't to be understated. One trade won't turn a franchise around, but it could certainly get the ball rolling in the right direction if the timing, the player, and the price are right.
The only question is, what's the value on these guys? How much will a team have to part with in order to enlist the services of the player they're after?
Let's take a look at some of the top veterans available by trade, and what their value would be in a trade.
Erik Frenz is the co-host of the PatsPropaganda and Frenz podcast. Follow Erik on Twitter @erikfrenz.
Monday, June 13, 2011
WWE All Stars: Roddy Piper Defeats the Miz
Roddy Piper vs. The Miz
Piper slugs away and locks on the sleeper right away but Miz drives him into the corner and hammers away. Miz takes offense to Riley's aggressive refereeing and a brawl breaks out so Piper quickly rolls up the Miz from behind and Riley fast counts him.
Winner: Roddy Piper
-Obviously a DUD, at least they kept it short.