Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Muhammad chooses UCLA, is it the shoes?
2012 NBA Mock Draft: Best Options for Teams with Multiple First-Round Picks
What could be better than having a first-round pick in the exceptionally deep 2012 NBA Draft?
How about two?
Six teams are fortunate enough to find themselves with such riches on their hands this year. That's no guarantee of future success, of course, though it's certainly cause for added optimism in these six sports cities.
1. New Orleans Hornets: Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
The Hornets were already slated for a dramatic draft with their own pick in the lottery and that of the Minnesota Timberwolves coming by way of the Chris Paul trade.
But thanks to the bounce of a few ping pong balls, New Orleans' date with destiny has the potential to be a transformative one with the presumed addition of Anthony Davis. The National Player of the Year was a defensive dynamo at Kentucky and is actually far more skilled offensively than he had the opportunity to show during his time in Lexington.
A classic late bloomer, Davis is already a phenomenal player but still has more upside than you could shake a stick at. An inside-out pairing of Davis and a healthy Eric Gordon could propel the Hornets back to respectability in short order.
2. Charlotte Bobcats: Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
The Bobcats have too many needs to count, hence their abysmal 7-59 record this past season.
But scoring was a massive problem for Charlotte, and Bradley Beal has the skill, shooting ability and sheer athleticism to put the ball in the basket in bunches.
3. Washington Wizards: Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
MKG is still rather rough around the edges as a prospect, but his upside and intangibles are strong enough to suggest that he'll be a special player before long. He brings the sort of winning mindset that the Wizards need in the post-JaVale/Swaggy P era, and should serve as a superb running-mate for John Wall on the wing.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Harrison Barnes, SF, North Carolina
The wing is the thing for the Cavaliers, who were dropped from third to fourth on account of New Orleans' momentous move up in the lottery. They were already thin at shooting guard and small forward with Anthony Parker and Alonzo Gee, and will be even more so with those two off to free agency.
Harrison Barnes should be able to fill one of those two, regardless. He may not be the transcendent talent that he was once touted as, but that doesn't mean he won't still be a solid NBA player, if not better. Barnes can shoot, he can defend, he's fairly athletic and he has a good head on his shoulders.
What's more, he also happens to be close with Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving from their days playing against each other on the AAU circuit and on Tobacco Road. Think they'd make a nice pairing on the fastbreak?
5. Sacramento Kings: Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas
The Kings could gamble on a boom-or-bust guy like Andre Drummond here.
But seeing as how they already have one headcase (DeMarcus Cousins) at center, they'll opt instead for Thomas Robinson, a relatively late bloomer who happens to be a productive and explosive athlete in his own right. He'll give the Kings some leeway to do fiddle with Jason Thompson.
6. Portland Trail Blazers (via Nets): Andre Drummond, C, Connecticut
It's painful to project Portland picking another big man this high in the draft, especially one who's as risky as Andre Drummond seems to be.
But Drummond's issues have nothing to do with injuries. His biggest issue appears to be one of consistency, whether he'll put in the work and bring the effort needed to maximize his potential on a nightly basis.
Then again, it's tough to fault Drummond too much for his perceived troubles at UConn given how tumultuous the situation was in Storrs this past year.
All told, a 6'11", 275-pound behemoth with surprising skill and an intimidating defensive presence may be too much for the Blazers to pass up, even with Greg Oden still so visible in the rear view.
7. Golden State Warriors: Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
Adding an undersized power forward like Jared Sullinger may create something of a redundancy on the Warriors' roster with David Lee already getting paid the big bucks and all.
But Golden State could sorely use some low-post scoring, especially if they're ever going to convert to the half-court, defensive-minded style that head coach Mark Jackson seems to covet.
Not that Sullinger is in any way a defensive dynamo, though his potential as "Kevin Love Light" is enticing nonetheless. Like the Timberwolves' All-Star, Sullinger is a load down low with an adept understanding of how to throw around his weight and a developing ability to operate from the perimeter.
8. Toronto Raptors: Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
Per Doug Smith of The Toronto Star, the Raptors might opt to move this pick amidst the excitement of luring 2011 draftee Jonas Valanciunas to the Canadian metropolis.
In the meantime, they could use a perimeter scorer, and Jeremy Lamb is precisely that.
9. Detroit Pistons: John Henson, PF, North Carolina
Yin, meet Yang.
Greg Monroe, meet John Henson.
The ACC Defensive Player of the Year should serve as a solid, shot-blocking complement to Monroe in Detroit and can hit the occasional mid-range jumper to boot. Henson's still rail-thin at 6'10", 210 pounds, but he should grow into his lengthy frame in due time.
10. New Orleans Hornets: Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
The Hornets would earn an A+++ for their draft efforts if they're able to pick up Anthony Davis, the top overall player, and Damian Lillard, the top point guard available.
The Weber state product isn't a pure point guard like UNC's Kendall Marshall, though his ball-handling skills and outside shooting ability should fit in well next to Davis and Eric Gordon.
And if Gordon, a restricted free agent, should opt for a massive offer sheet with, say, his hometown Indiana Pacers, then Lillard could easily slide into a role as a more dedicated scoring guard.
11. Portland Trail Blazers: Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina
With their frontline problems addressed, the Blazers turn their attention to the backcourt, from which Raymond Felton, Jamal Crawford and Jonny Flynn are likely to escape via free agency.
Point guard, then, will be a priority for Portland, and there's none purer at the position in this draft than Kendall Marshall. The North Carolina star averaged 9.7 assists as a sophomore—an impressive number coming out of the collegiate ranks—and brings with him the sort of ball-handling ability, creativity and vision that most teams crave up top.
And, at 6'4", Marshall has superb size for a floor general, albeit with only average athleticism and an outside shot that could stand to improve.
12. Milwaukee Bucks: Perry Jones III, PF, Baylor
PJ3 won't add much pure mass to a Bucks front court that lost Andrew Bogut to a trade and will see off Ersan Ilyasova in free agency.
But at this point in the draft, the Baylor product is far too talented to pass up, even if he might bottom out as the next Anthony Randolph.
13. Phoenix Suns: Austin Rivers, SG, Duke
Austin Rivers has the attitude, the fearlessness and the soft shooting stroke to be a star in the NBA. The son of Boston Celtics head coach Doc Rivers would be an excellent option at shooting guard if Steve Nash and Aaron Brooks return to Phoenix next season, and he can handle the ball well enough to fill in at point guard if they don't.
14. Houston Rockets: Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina
The Rockets should be solid at pretty much every spot except center next season, unless general manager Daryl Morey is actually content to start Samuel Dalembert there.
The availability of a skilled, athletic big man like Tyler Zeller should change his thinking.
15. Philadelphia 76ers: Arnett Moultrie, PF, Mississippi State
Picking Arnett Moultrie over someone like Terrence Jones here would signal that the Sixers are drafting for need instead of going with the best player available.
But they could use some size, length and athleticism up front, and Moultrie just so happens to be one of the best rebounders in this draft class.
16. Houston Rockets: Terrence Jones, PF, Kentucky
Houston should have solid depth at just about every position at this point, leaving the front office free to "gamble" on the most gifted kid left on the board.
In this case, that means Terrence Jones, who ironically enough would be left to fight for playing time with Patrick Patterson, his power-forward predecessor at Kentucky.
17. Dallas Mavericks: Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
The Mavs will have many needs to fill, though none more than at guard, assuming Jason Kidd retires and the team decides to part ways with Jason Terry.
Dion Waiters would be a terrific value pick here, with a frame and an attack-first game that remind many of a young Dwyane Wade.
18. Minnesota Timberwolves: Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
GM David Kahn's plug-and-play draft-day philosophy, along with the potential departure of Martell Webster and the heretofore failure of Wesley Johnson, make Terrence Ross an excellent fit in Minnesota. His jump shot is NBA-ready and comes equipped with the size and athleticism to grow into a bona fide star on the perimeter.
19. Orlando Magic: Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
Meyers Leonard is no Dwight Howard, to say the least.
But even Superman was a project early on, like Leonard currently is. The Magic could do worse to start their next rebuilding endeavor than with another long, athletic big man.
20. Denver Nuggets: Moe Harkless, SF, St. John's
The Nuggets have the depth and flexibility to take whichever talent falls into their laps. At this point, that means Moe Harkless, an athletic wing with a knack for scoring and an ever-improving perimeter shot.
21. Boston Celtics: Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
The direction of the Celtics' offseason will likely depend on whether or not Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen return for another go-round.
In any case, the C's could use some size up front, and while still rather raw, Fab Melo is big enough to take up space in the middle, at the very least.
22. Boston Celtics (via Clippers): Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
The C's swung and missed on David West in free agency back in December. Andrew Nicholson's size and shooting ability have cast him as something of a clone of the current Indiana Pacers player, which could make him attractive to GM Danny Ainge.
That's assuming, of course, that Ainge doesn't pull another draft-day trade stunt, for better (Jeff Green for Ray Allen, 2007) or worse (MarShon Brooks for JaJuan Johnson, 2011).
23. Atlanta Hawks: Jeffery Taylor, SF, Vanderbilt
It's strange to think, but the Hawks actually have holes to fill on the wing. They should like Jeffery Taylor's leaping ability, shutdown defense and much-improved shooting stroke.
24. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Lakers): Quincy Miller, SF, Baylor
The wing is still the thing for the Cavs. They can afford to gamble on Quincy Miller here, hoping that his poor play as a freshman had more to do with inconsistent playing time in a crowded frontcourt and the lingering effects of an ACL injury. There's no doubting Miller's talent, though, and if he comes around, he could be an absolute steal for Cleveland's young core.
25. Memphis Grizzlies: Evan Fournier, SF, Poitiers (France)
A lack of glaring needs and impending salary cap concerns put the Grizzlies in position to draft-and-stash an international prospect, and Evan Fournier is the best of the bunch in that regard.
26. Indiana Pacers: Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky
The Pacers can go a number of different directions here, but Marquis Teague makes the most sense. He's a Naptown native at a position of need (point guard) who could free the Pacers to let George Hill walk and spend their money on someone else (i.e. Eric Gordon).
27. Miami Heat: Draymond Green, PF, Michigan State
The Heat need role players and, as a jack-of-all-trades-type forward, Draymond Green is capable of occupying more than one. His passing ability in the post and natural-born leadership would make him a welcome addition to Miami's second unit, as well.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Royce White, PF, Iowa State
Royce White is about as big a boom-or-bust prospect as you'll find in this year's draft, albeit on account of his at-times-crippling anxiety issues. The Thunder have the roster flexibility to take a chance on him at this point in the draft, though, and may come to relish his point-forward skills as a more gifted Jeff Green.
29. Chicago Bulls: Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky
Shooting and balhandling have long been paramount for the Bulls, but will be even more important now that Derrick Rose will be out for an extended period of time. They'd do just as well to flip a coin between Doron Lamb and Vandy's John Jenkins at this point.
30. Golden State Warriors (via Spurs): Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
Without a small forward worth taking at this point in the draft, the Dubs opt instead to buy up some insurance for Andrew Bogut in the form of Vandy's Festus Ezeli.
Serena Williams cries between sets during loss to Virginie Razzano (Video)
As you can see from the video above that Busted Racquet shared with us, Williams never seemed right during the match. As she waited for Rozzano to return for the deciding set, she was seen crying and talking to herself. At that point it was clear that her focus was all wrong and she would not be able to battle back to take the match.
To make matters even more strange, Williams was a perfect 17-0 on clay this season prior to the loss. She was also a perfect 46-0 in first-round major matches. On the other hand, Rozzano has never advanced beyond the third round at any major event. As we have learned from incidents like this one and this one, Serena is a very emotional person. Her actions on Tuesday took that to an entirely new level.
Kubel on paternity leave, Pollock recalled
Kubel, 30, returned to Phoenix Wednesday morning for the birth of his second child, Heidi Evelyn, at 11:56 a.m. By rule, he will miss a minimum of one day and a maximum of three.
Pollock, 24, was hitting .354 with nine doubles and 13 RBI in 22 games with Reno. He batted .229 (11 for 48) with two doubles, one home run and four RBI with the D-backs from April 18 to May 18.
Roger Federer Breaks a Record
Tennis star Roger Federer won his 233rd match at a Grand Slam tournament, matching the Open era record set by Jimmy Connors, and he couldn?t even remember whom he had beaten to get that first�victory. ?Well, I should (know), shouldn?t I?? Federer said after defeating Tobias Kamke of Germany 6-2, 7-5, 6-3 Monday in the first round of the French Open. ?I know it was in Australia, but I can?t remember who I was�playing.? He was then reminded that it was Michael Chang ? That?s a whole lot of tennis for one man to play?and he?s still going strong. -TO
Will Smith Plays with Roger Federer
Roger Federer Surrounded by Ball Girls
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/roger_federer_breaks_a_record/10894058
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Martin Truex Jr. FedEx 400 Preview
Truex on Dover: ?I always look forward to Dover no matter what the situation. Aside from on the track stuff, it?s just fun to go up there. I?ve got a lot of friends and family that come to that race and that makes it extra special for me no matter what.
?I feel like Dover is probably the next track where we have a real shot to get back to victory lane. We did the tire test there a few months ago and had a really fast car there too. I always look forward to Dover but defini...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/martin_truex_jr_fedex_400_preview/10903940
Cars sent flying in scary Indy 500 crash
France vs. Serbia: Live Stream, Start Time, Predictions and More
Coming off four straight losses, the Serbian national team faces another tough challenge in the form of France. The French have tallied 19 consecutive wins dating back to September 2010, and have showed noted improvement under the leadership of Laurent Blanc.
Under the new head coach, France will look to sharpen its game after struggling to beat Iceland in a recent match. Blanc has been praised for the changes he has made in the team and the ensuing results—including victories over Brazil, Germany and England, as well as the United States—in the last year.
Where: Stade Auguste Delaune, Reims
When: May 31, 2012 – 3:00 p.m. EDT
Livestream: ESPN3
Recent History
France and Serbia met in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, a match that France won 2-1. Striker Thierry Henry netted one of the two goals, with the other courtesy of Nicolas Anelka. It should be noted that this match took place before Blanc assumed head coaching duties. Les Bleus have lost only once under Blanc—in his first game as coach—to Belarus. Since that loss, France has run off 19 straight victories.
Serbia has been blanked in three of their last five matchups, including losses to Honduras, Mexico and Spain. The team has been in limbo lately, with recently appointed manager Sinisa Mihajlovic cutting star midfielder Adem Ljajic after he refused to sing the national anthem before an eventual defeat at the hands of Spain. Ljajic, who players club football for Fiorentina, has been suspended by the team and will not be a factor in this matchup.
Prior to this run-in, former Fiorentina boss Delio Rossi punched Ljajic in the face after he mocked him by clapping enthusiastically when the Italian chose to substitute him. Delio Rossi was dismissed following this incident.
Can Serbia Score?
The Serbian national team has scored only 23 international goals, and six of those came from captain Branislov Ivanovic. Going up against France, a team that has allowed just five goals in their last eight matches, does not help those odds.
Serbia has won just one of their last six international matches, giving France the opportunity to run their streak to an impressive 20 straight on Wednesday afternoon.
Prediction: France wins 3-0
These two teams are at opposite ends of the spectrum heading into today's matchup. France is riding the high of an impressive winning streak under new head coach Laurent Blanc, while Serbia is struggling with internal conflicts and a lack of offense as of late. All signs point to the French streak reaching 20 today.
Edsall asks for patience from Terp fans, media
The falling out included a prominent sports columnist calling for Edsalls termination. But Edsall isnt reading what John Feinstein writes, or what many callers on radio shows in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore areas are saying, nor does he give a shake about what the Internet message board hounds are barking.
The Terrapins went from 9-4 under former coach Ralph Freidgen in 2010 to 2-10 and a laughingstock under Edsall last fall. A whopping 24 players have transferred already, including quarterback Danny O'Brien, who may end up starting this fall at Wisconsin because he fits into the loophole that allows transfers to play immediately if theyve graduated.
Edsall says the program is headed in right direction and that the program is better off having players that want to be there. This spring he said the team bought into what the coaching staff was teaching. All things considered, thats progress.
I dont worry about the players who arent here, Edsall said when asked about no longer having OBrien. All I worry about is (quarterbacks) C.J. Brown and Caleb Rowe and what theyre going to do for us. Everybody here is all in and just looking forward to continuing the work to progress with these young men.
With that, Edsall said the Terrapins achieved their goals in spring practice and have bounced into the offseason as hed hoped.
We had basically five objectives that we wanted to work to get better at during spring, said Edsall, who spent 12 years running the show at Connecticut before taking over at Maryland. Number one was to make sure that everybody was all in with what we were doing. I think weve accomplished that. The attitude, the effort, the enthusiasm was there this spring. It was fun to be on the practice field and around the guys.
You just dont hear coaches singling out how much they enjoyed their players in the manner Edsall did. It was as if to say he didnt enjoy them previously, which was probably mutual.
In Edsalls defense, though, he had 2.5 hours a week less of practice time than other ACC teams because Freidgen was cited by the NCAA of practicing too long. Having so much time cut out of a work week is bad enough for a coach with tenure at a school, but it can slow the building process with a brand new regime at the helm.
But considering the degree in which Maryland most often lost -- to Temple by 31 points, allowed 56 to Clemson at home, and lost additional games by 25, 11, 18, 24, and 21 points -- its hard to point to a shortage in practice time as the main reason. The issues were deep and obvious enough to nationally renowned columnist John Feinstein that he called for the firing of Edsall on Nov. 27.
In his Washington Post column, Feinstein wrote: How about re-evaluating yourself? Does a career record of 76-80 make you exempt from that? Does the fact that your failure ruined the last college football memories of your senior class something Edsall never brings up bother you at all?
No. Nothing bothers Edsall. Hes never wrong. He coached well; his players played bad. And wore caps backwards too often. The media was unfair. And hes just like (owner) Bob Kraft and the Patriots.
Feinsteins corner has no stand on Edsalls job status as of now. But Edsall does have a lot of fans and media to win back. The Terps arent projected to make much of an improvement this coming season, so Edsall needs patience from everyone around him, not to mention some understanding.
When you go through change and a transition, being in this as long as I have, it does not happen overnight... he said. Its not basketball. You cant change with one guy.
No, Edsall definitely cant do it alone.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Cars sent flying in scary Indy 500 crash
Golfer hits 315-yard tee shot, breaks club
Granderson, Swisher collide in outfield
Top 10 Plays of the Week!
 | Check out the ten best plays from a week full of playoff action from coast to coast as future hall of famers, rising stars and our league MVP all continue their pursuit of the 2012 NBA championship! | From: NBA Views: 45006   369 ratings |
| Time: 02:33 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JAHGBTXPgfo&feature=youtube_gdata
Kings captain Brown leads LA to Stanley Cup final
The Kings captain prefers showing to telling, and his playoff performance has shown he's good enough to lead the Kings toward their first title.
Brown's hard-hitting, high-scoring leadership has been the biggest revelation of the postseason for the eighth-seeded Kings. But his quantum leap forward began during the regular season. Brown's run of stellar play began right after he became prominently featured in trade-deadline rumors.
Brown is the postseason's third-leading scorer and one of its biggest hitters, too. Critics call him dirty, but his teammates say he's brilliant at toeing the line of legality.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Florida Gators Add Damontre Harris; Billy Donovan Snags South Carolina Transfer
In desperate need of big man help wherever they can get it, Harris is a get of the biggest kind for Donovan and Florida. Despite a track record of bringing in great big men over his time in Gainesville and then leading a number of them to the NBA, Donovan has had trouble convincing taller players to play for the Gators in recent years. Not including the 6?9? Walter Pitchford (who has since transferred), Florida hasn?t added anyone over 6?6? since the 2010 recruiting class. To say Harris made a decision important not only for him, but for the Gators would be an understatement.
Although we w...
England Can Surpise All This Summer If They Are Disciplined
While Roy Hodgson's squad selection caused a stir—particularly with his favour for many of the same players who let him down during his Liverpool tenure—with the correct mentality and structure, England can surprise all and finally bring home some pride and possibly some silverware.
The English media have been clamouring for a style beyond the capabilities of the current England players for a few years now, and this has rubbed off onto the fans. After having to watch the fluid and quite simply beautiful football provided by the embarrassment of riches that Spain have at their disposal, it is understandable for people to want it to see it closer to home.
However, it is more than just a coaching style. It is also the Spaniards' culture, their climate and their way of life that encourages such style.
It is a fair accusation to accuse England of becoming "Americanised" in their desire for result—quick and fast. Yet this very desire for results is what hinders the potential for improvement from a grassroots level.
Moving on to the current squad and their chances—as previously mentioned, expectation is at a low. There is no fanfare, no releasing for a song singing of the imminent victory.
These factors may appear minimal, but they certainly help lift the pressure that many England sides have experienced. The England squad itself contains more physicality over finesse and discipline over creativity, but these are the features of a "true" English side.
Chelsea, no matter how fortuitous, have shown the way once again, accepting that the opposition will retain more of the possession, that they have the ability to cut open defences and that they may be more technically gifted. There are no delusions of grandeur. This—while it may not provide the beauty the media has created a demand for—can provide results.
England proved it against Spain in the friendly. It was not pretty, but it was effective, much like Chelsea's second leg at Barcelona.
Sitting deeper, playing as a tight unit, with strength, height, power and pure rugged English determination though the middle, with the pace of Walcott, Young, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Johnson and Cole in the wider positions to counterattack, is the way for English success.
Andy Carroll has had a torrid season at Liverpool, yet there isn't a defender in the competition who will enjoy playing against him. Set pieces have always been a strength on English sides, and they carry much importance again, with Terry, Carroll, Cahill and Gerrard all providing aerial threats.
There is a recipe for success among the England squad, and no matter how unfancied, Roy Hodgson is the perfect chef for the job.
Sepp Blatter and his suspect friends may well be completely against any form of English success, supported by his desire to remove penalties after Chelsea disobeyed his footballing ideologies by winning the Champions League against all odds.
But while England's style may not win many fans, it would certainly provide millions who feel they have earned it after thousands of miles of travelling with the entertainment required if it results in victory.
Dwyane Wade's Pink Pants
 | After last nights win over the Pacers, Dwyane was wearing some bold pink pants as he and LeBron did the post-game press conference. | From: NBA Views: 71242 619 ratings |
| Time: 00:24 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWCDT4AMbBA&feature=youtube_gdata
Danica's 600 part of learning process
She dealt with nearly brushing the wall and fought to match the pace of the leaders throughout the 600. In the end, she finished 30th, five laps off the pace.
After the race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the longest of her career and one which came a day after she raced 300 miles at the track in the Nationwide Series, finishing 13th, Patrick summarized her race.
"We had a lot of green-flag running, and for me as a driver in general in NASCAR, but especially as a new driver in the Cup series, that hurts me," Patrick said. "Those long runs hurt me. I'm just not great at making the best out of a car that's not perfect, and those long runs really show that. But that's what you get in Cup. You get a lot of green-flag running and I've got to learn how to deal with that.
"But that's just the nature of where I'm at on the learning curve at this point in time. We brought the GoDaddy car home and one of the goals was to finish. I would have liked to have been a little faster overall, but I think there were some times in there when it was decent. It was kind of like Darlington (where) there was a certain run or two that felt really good and everything else, you're just kind of like 'let's work on this and let's work on that.'"
After being questioned all week about the impact the longer race could have, Patrick found that there really wasn't that much different for her.
Making only her third Cup start, after finishes of 38th at the Daytona 500 and 31st at the Southern 500 in the first two outings, and in the midst of her first full season of Nationwide competition, Patrick still is learning.
Perhaps she learned that a 600-mile race isn't as intimidating as it might sound.
"You don't really notice that extra 100 miles," she said, adding with a laugh, "you just notice that you're going five or six hundred miles. Actually I feel better getting out of the car right now than did even in the Nationwide race yesterday. The sun goes down and it cools off and it feels really good. And I feel good."
She says that she came close to hitting the wall, but didn't. Her car did have some damage, though, after contact from Regan Smith midway through the race.
Still, Patrick seemed to take it all in stride and just view this race as yet another opportunity to learn as she continues to break into NASCAR's top tier.
"I just missed the wall," Patrick said. "One time I got hit in (Turns) 3 and 4 and got pretty close to the wall but missed it. Another time I was just working with the high line because I just took it as time that I'm not running great, so like, let's just take this time where I'm not running hard for position to explore and work on the high line. It just seemed like I worked on the high line at probably the wrong time for the car because that was pretty loose on that run. When I went back down to the bottom after getting loose in (Turns) 1 and 2, I realized how loose I really was.
"It was probably not the right time. But it was still good experience for me and that's what this is all about. When Tony (Stewart) picked the schedule, it was to pick the most difficult races of the year, and this one definitely has a lot of attrition and the track changes a lot and you've got to keep up with that."
Patrick's cars are prepared by Stewart-Haas Racing, a team that struggled throughout Sunday night. Stewart didn't have a great night, spinning on pit road after contact with Brad Keselowski when he already was a little off the pace, and finished 25th. Teammate Ryan Newman finished 14th.
Website says Danica Patrick wins Indy 500, but she's not taking part
It's a storyline IndyCar racing could only dream of, but someone needs to edit their headlines a bit more carefully. Not only has the Indy 500 yet to conclude, but Patrick isn't even taking part. She's racing in NASCAR's Coca Cola 600 on Sunday. Try wrapping your brain around that one.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Dwight Howard is not coming to the Lakers
Donovan hat trick leads US past Scotland 5-1
Donovan scored in the third minute, then added a pair of second-half goals in his first game with the national squad following an eight-month absence due to injuries and commitments to his Major League Soccer team, the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Donovan also set an American mark with his 125th international cap - one more than defender Jeff Agoos.
Michael Bradley scored on a 30-yard (meter) shot in the 10th minute and Jermaine Jones got his second international goal in the second half.
Donovan hat trick leads US past Scotland 5-1
Donovan scored in the third minute, then added a pair of second-half goals in his first game with the national squad following an eight-month absence due to injuries and commitments to his Major League Soccer team, the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Donovan also set an American mark with his 125th international cap - one more than defender Jeff Agoos.
Michael Bradley scored on a 30-yard (meter) shot in the 10th minute and Jermaine Jones got his second international goal in the second half.
Coulter primed for Nationwide debut
Coulter, 21, will make his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in Saturday's History 300 (ABC, 2:30 p.m. ET) at Charlotte Motor Speedway, joining a roster of budding young talent climbing the racing ladder for Richard Childress Racing.
Coulter explained to the media Thursday how reassuring it was to have Childress, winner of multiple NASCAR titles as a car owner, on the other side of the headset as he cuts his teeth in stock-car racing. That's when Austin Dillon, Childress' grandson and Nationwide rookie of the year candidate, chimed in.
"Joey forgot to tell you how many times he's been called Austin, or Ty (Dillon) or Elliott (Sadler)," Austin Dillon said. "My grandfather came on and called me Elliott last week...
UFC 146 Results: What We Learned from Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva
At UFC 146, Cain Velasquez wanted to make a statement. He wrote it in blood.
In the co-main event of UFC 146, the former heavyweight champ scored a quick takedown and then used his elbow to open a gushing facial cut on Antonio Silva that occluded Silva's vision. Velasquez mercilessly pounded the wounded area and ultimately notched a dominant first-round TKO victory in Las Vegas, Nev.
What We'll Remember from This Fight
The way Silva's blood was squirting over the canvas like that. Good God! And the way Velasquez brutally—but rightly—exploited the cut, pouring on the ground-and-pound pressure to force the stoppage.
What We Learned About Cain Velasquez
Velasquez (10-1) gets a lot of credit for having great speed and cardio and a great all-around game. But I think his power gets overlooked. He overpowered the larger "Bigfoot" Silva tonight.
What We Learned About Antonio Silva
He's tough. Silva (16-4) had a chance to hit the ejector button when referee Josh Rosenthal called timeout to have a doctor check the cut. The doctor asked Silva if he could see. He likely couldn't, but chose to continue anyway. For that, he deserves credit.
What's Next for Cain Velasquez
Cain Velasquez probably deserves another shot at the strap. Just not quite yet. After tonight, it seems he might be a mismatch for Frank Mir. The winner between Mike Russow and Fabricio Werdum could be another option.
What's Next for Antonio Silva
Silva is still a good heavyweight, and no one can take away his win over Fedor Emelianenko, but it probably makes sense to pull him out of the contender crucible, at least temporarily, and figure out where he slots in within this division. A healthy Gabriel Gonzaga would provide a stiff test. So would Stefan Struve.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Dan Mullen plays Zeppelin on piano
Rory McIlroy misses Wentworth cut
The U.S. Open champion made seven bogeys and two double bogeys in a 7-over 79 to finish 9 over - a massive 21 strokes behind James Morrison, whose superb 64 gave him a four-shot lead on Donald (68) and first-round co-leader David Drysdale (70).
McIlroy's hopes had evaporated by the midway point in his second round, when he endured a disastrous spell of seven dropped shots in six holes from No. 8 to No. 13. He looked sullen and his shoulders dropped as he walked along the fairways contemplating a second straight missed cut, having succumbed to the same fate at The Players Championship in Florida two weeks ago...
It revived memories of his infamous meltdowns at last year's Masters and at the 2010 British Open, when he shot 80 both times. It was the first time in more than two years that McIlroy has failed to make the weekend at two consecutive tournaments, giving the second-ranked Donald a great opportunity to replace him as No. 1.
''I might have taken my eye of the ball a little bit,'' McIlroy said. ''Maybe just haven't practiced as hard as I might have been.
''It's a week I'd like to forget.''
Only 13 players in the 150-man field have returned scores higher than McIlroy in this tournament. With a quarter of the field yet to finish, the cut is projected at 1 over and No. 3-ranked Lee Westwood is on that mark after a 75.
Morrison, who played cricket for England at youth-team level, had four birdies in the five holes around the turn to put him in the lead. Morrison holed an eagle putt at the par-5 last, for the second day running, to put even more distance between his rivals.
''Definitely one of the best rounds I've ever had and probably one of the easiest, funnily enough,'' said Morrison, who lives a few miles away from Wentworth. ''It felt easy. I wish golf was like that every day.''
McIlroy tossed a club to the ground in despair on Thursday - which could result in a fine - after opening with a 2-over 74. But he said his game was in decent shape, pledging to turn things around on a West Course where he's struggled in recent years.
That turnaround didn't materialize.
''It's something about the middle of this golf course I can't get to grips with,'' said McIlroy, who knew his round was in jeopardy when he bogeyed No. 10 for the second straight day. ''I knew it was going to have to do something special to make the cut then.''
Peter Lawrie of Ireland (71), who shared the overnight lead with Drysdale on 6 under, and Alvaro Quiros of Spain (70) were five shots back. Tenth-ranked Justin Rose shot a 71.
Donald, the reigning champion, must finish eighth on his own or higher to leapfrog his Ryder Cup teammate.
The Englishman delivered a dominant putting performance to shoot a second straight 68 and move up the leaderboard at the West Course.
''I'm feeling strong on the greens,'' Donald said. ''Every time I've had opportunities, I'm seeing the line and got the speed down and making some good putts.''
Morrison's only previous tournament win came at the Madeira Islands Open in 2010. A second victory would be a great way to sign off for a break ahead of the birth of his first child next month.as failed to make the weekend at two consecutive tournaments, giving the second-ranked Donald a great opportunity to replace McIlroy as No. 1.
Donald, the reigning champion, must finish eighth on his own or higher to leapfrog his Ryder Cup teammate.
He will have much loftier ambitions than that, though.
The Englishman delivered a dominant putting performance to shoot a second straight 4-under 68 and move up the leaderboard at the West Course.
''I'm feeling strong on the greens,'' Donald said. ''Every time I've had opportunities, I'm seeing the line and got the speed down and making some good putts.''
Morrison, who played cricket for England at youth-team level, has already picked up twice the number of shots Donald did to win the event last year.
Four birdies in five holes around the turn McIlroy struggled so badly on left Morrison clear in front and he holed an eagle putt at the par-5 last, for the second day running, to put even more distance to his rivals.
''Definitely one of the best rounds I've ever had and probably one of the easiest, funnily enough,'' said Morrison, who lives a few miles away from Wentworth. ''It felt easy. I wish golf was like that every day.''
Morrison's only previous tournament win came at the Madeira Islands Open in 2010. A second victory would be a great way to sign off for a couple of weeks for a planned break ahead of the birth of his first child next month.
Peter Lawrie of Ireland (71), who shared the overnight lead with Drysdale on 6 under, and Alvaro Quiros of Spain (70) are also in the hunt five shots back. Tenth-ranked Justin Rose shot a 71 alongside Donald and is in a large group six shots off the pace.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/rory_mcilroy_misses_wentworth_cut/10874213
SEC Baseball Tournament 2012: Underdogs Will Win Semifinals Games
Mississippi State and Vanderbilt are going to complete their postseason run with wins against higher-ranked opponents today, and they will meet in the 2012 SEC Baseball Tournament Final.
Baseball is one of a few sports where winning during the regular season doesn't mean squat once the postseason begins, and there isn't any clearer example than what's been going on at during this tournament.
LSU and South Carolina dominated the SEC West and SEC East during the regular season, but in the end they were overcome by teams who got hot at the right time—something we see in baseball time and time again.
We all saw Moneyball, right? The regular season is ultimately determined by a broad scope of statistics that can be more-or-less predicted, but the postseason is completely unpredictable.
Getting hot when the postseason arrives is the only thing that matters—especially in this case—considering that 10 out of the 12 teams in the conference get into the postseason tournament.
So, it's no surprise to me that the hottest teams in the SEC conference are Mississippi State and Vanderbilt, although to be fair, only the Bulldogs can truly claim Cinderella's shoe.
Mississippi State (7) will face Kentucky (4), a team they must be getting tired of looking at after the two sides have competed against one another five times in the last 10 days. Kentucky beat the Bulldogs earlier in this tournament due to a strong pitching performance by Jerad Grundy, but after winning two games against LSU it's hard to bet against Mississippi State.
Vanderbilt (5) takes on Florida (3) 30 minutes after the first game is completed. They are undefeated so far in this tournament and have already dispatched the Gators once before. Mr. Commodore won't be denied, and this team will ride their hot streak to the championship round.
Both underdogs will prove that the only thing that matters in college baseball is getting hot at the right time.
Dufner confident in game heading to Colonial
Dufner isn't the only player feeling good about his game heading into the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.
Hunter Mahan is No. 2 behind Dufner in the FedEx Cup standings and the only other two-time winner this season. The past two Colonial champs, Zach Johnson and David Toms, also are playing in the event that opens Thursday.
Johnson has made the cut in all 12 of his tournaments this year, though his last win came two years when he set a tournament-record at 21-under 259 at Colonial. The 45-year-old Toms, coming off a 15th-place tie at Quail Hollow and a 10th-place tie in The Players Championship, got his only victory since 2005 last year at Hogan's Alley.
Allen Iverson Wants to Play
 | ESPN's Lisa Salters sits down with Allen Iverson to chat about a comeback to basketball. | From: NBA Views: 50354 407 ratings |
| Time: 00:38 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6XNRExa-tI&feature=youtube_gdata
Friday, May 25, 2012
Jeff Van Gundy slams Magic CEO?
The ESPN analyst and former NBA coach tore into Magic CEO Alex Martins, who on Monday fired Stan Van Gundy as coach after a tumultuous season in which he clashed publicly with superstar center Dwight Howard.
Martins complimented Stan Van Gundy while announcing the firing, calling him the best coach he had been around and saying Monday was "the most difficult day" of his career.
Even those positive comments angered Jeff Van Gundy, who dismissed them as having come from a man who "knows nothing about basketball."
"Listen, all you have done in your 25 years in the business is release press releases and run the business side. You don't know if a ball is blown up or stuffed," Van Gundy told ESPN Radio.
"He doesn't know one thing about basketball. So please, hold off your comments on my brother's expertise."
Most believed Van Gundy's dismissal was all but assured after he told reporters in early April that someone in the Magic front office informed him that Howard had asked for him to be fired.
Howard has disputed the accusation, while Martins said Monday that the three-time Defensive Player of the Year never made such a request.
"To try to make everyone believe that Dwight Howard didn't have a part in this is absurd," said Jeff Van Gundy.
"Just say, 'we fired this guy because we feel this is our best chance to keep Dwight Howard. Dwight Howard and I decided to fire him.' To do anything else is playing a game of semantics."
He also claimed Martins was "unprofessional" for waiting until his older brother left the Magic offices Monday before calling him on the phone to tell him he was being fired.
Stan Van Gundy went 259-135 in his five seasons with the Magic, never failing to reach the postseason.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/jeff_van_gundy_slams_magic_ceo/10875929
Phoenix Coyotes let frustration damper the end to an outstanding season.
First off, and this has nothing to do with the players, throwing trash on the ice during the handshake line is pretty much a bush league move. I get that fans were ticked about Dustin Brown's hit on Michael Rozival the shift before Dustin Penner's game winning overtime goal. In an extremely r...
Dan Mullen plays Zeppelin on piano
NFL Training Camp Battles That Could Surprise
The end of May is truly the holiday season for football fans, as the 2012 season officially begins with organized team activities (OTAs), which is a politically correct term for offseason practice.
Coaches believe that OTAs are a great opportunity for young players to stake their claim into earning a starting position. It’s important for them to show development at their position.
Here are training camp battles that could surprise you:
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1195849-nfl-training-camp-battles-that-could-surprise
Thursday, May 24, 2012
NBA Nightly Highlights: May 21st
 | Check out the Celtics big win in game 5 and the Thunder`s close out of the Lakers from Monday night. Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 42544 220 ratings |
| Time: 01:03 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmLxoZposwQ&feature=youtube_gdata
Philadelphia Phillies storyline: Chase?s on 1st?
isportswebChase Utley will travel with the Philadelphia Phillies on the road trip before he competes at first-stop Clearwater. �What happens at 2nd base when he returns? �How often will Chase be stationed at 1st? Where does Freddy Galvis fit in?
TAL'S HANDY CAPS
CAP-SIZE HINDSIGHT
Penthouse Occupancy�for the 5-2 outcome: �1
The Chrystal Champagne Toast�is a salute to�Jake Diekman.
He has calmed down after his walking-on-air first outing, and his rushing-his-pitches second attempt.
Hunter Tracks Down The 5th-Inning Out
Hunter Pence entered the Leather Warehouse with a sliding-and-tumbling catch into foul territory in the 5th.
The House Of The Rising Son elevates Diekman for punching out all 4 left-handed sticks in the 7th and 8th over 1.2 innings. This is his 3rd standout showing in 4 tries, as he is settling into NL life.
The Whitehouse was alerted in the 8th for the 1st MLB homerun by Erik Kratz, who is here with Jimmy Rol...
The Heat run wild in game 5!
 | Check out some of the highlights from this physical matchup between the Heat and Pacers as they battled it out in Miami in game 5 of their heavily contested playoff series with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade coming up with several spectacular plays! Visit www.nba.com for more highlights. | From: NBA Views: 25472 235 ratings |
| Time: 00:43 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHVrUe1Hdsg&feature=youtube_gdata
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Michigan Football 2012 schedule update
Michigan football in conjunction with ABC announced on Tuesday ( May 22) the kickoff times for the September 1st Cowboys Classic contest against Alabama and the November 24th contest at Ohio State. The season opener against the defending national champs will kickoff at 8pm (EST) and be televised on ABC. The Game against the Buckeyes will feature the rivalry’s traditional noon kickoff and be televised on ABC.
The schedule that Brady Hoke will navigate Team 133 through is a difficult one. It begins some 1,200 miles away from the Big House in Arlington, Texas and will conclude in Columbus, Ohio. In between, Denard Robinson and his Michigan Football teammates will travel to South Bend for their annual grudge match with the Fighting Irish. They will also look to end 4 years of misery when they play host to Michigan State on October 20th.
Michigan’s game against Alabama is one of 3 games scheduled for primetime this season. When the Wo...
Donald eyeing No. 1 spot at Wentworth again
In 2011, it was Lee Westwood who Donald dislodged to take the No. 1 spot after winning a playoff against his English compatriot. This time he has another Ryder Cup colleague in his sights: U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy, Donald and Westwood are the star attractions at the ?4.5 million event, the ''major'' of the European Tour on a West Course that severely penalizes the most minor of errors.
Retief Goosen and Ian Poulter have had particularly strong opinions on the tough nature of the course as has three-time major winner Padraig Harrington, who disliked the Wentworth putting surfaces so much that he has stayed away from the event some years.
''I had been calling for the change of the greens and they have designed 18 tournament greens - they're certainly tough,'' Harrington said. ''Initially, they hadn't settled but as a championship golf course, it is now as tough as you could get.''
The halfway cut was 6 over par last year, which McIlroy only just made weeks before he grabbed his first grand-slam win at Congressional. Only 12 players finished better than level par.
Els helped toughen up the course two years ago and further changes have been made since last year, with No. 12 reverting to a par 5 and the fringe rough around the final green making it less likely that balls will spin into the water.
''Hopefully we'll have more smiling faces from the players this year,'' Els said Tuesday. ''You make changes on a great course like the West Course, people are going to not like it.
''That's part of what we do as designers, but we've passed that bridge.''
Donald is one of the few players to have mastered the venue of late, having finished second in 2010 and going one better 12 months later after Westwood - then the top-ranked player - found that water hazard at the famous 18th in the first playoff hole.
The 34-year-old Donald lost his No. 1 ranking to McIlroy in April, a month after losing it to the Northern Irishman for the first time after 40 weeks at the top, and has one win to his name in 2012 - the Transitions Championship.
Donald doesn't have to win at Wentworth to return to No. 1. If he finishes second, McIlroy would have to win to stay top and if McIlroy misses the cut, Donald can go above him by finishing eighth or better.
The flagship tournament will also have a massive bearing on Europe's Ryder Cup standings, four months ahead of the match against the United States at Medinah near Chicago.
Given the prize money and ranking points on offer, a successful week for a player in and around the top 10 on either the European Points List or World Points List - the two criteria for automatic qualification for the team - could give him a major boost to make Jose Maria Olazabal's lineup.
Nicolas Colsaerts of Belgium is one of the players in contention and he heads to Virginia Water, just outside London, having crept into the current overall top 10 thanks to his victory at the World Match Play Championship in Spain on Sunday.
''It's always been a dream of mine as a kid to play (the Ryder Cup) but there's a long way to go, so I don't want to make any plans or anything,'' he said.
Former Masters champion Mike Weir of Canada has withdrawn from the field after injuring his lower back in the first round of the Byron Nelson last week and Simon Dyson, who was third here last year, is out with a hip complaint. But fellow Englishman Paul Casey - the 2009 winner - should be fit to start after missing the World Match Play with a shoulder problem.
Harrington, who is without a title in nearly four years, is now No. 95 in the rankings and is staring at the prospect of dropping outside the top 100 for the first time in 13 years. Such is the Irishman's form that he is likely to need a wildcard pick for the second straight time to make Europe's team for the Ryder Cup.
Viso's team hit with fine for rule violation
E.J. Viso's team with KV Racing Technology was the latest to get hit, drawing a $25,000 fine for violating a rule regarding brakes during a post-qualifying inspection. Viso's team also was fined $15,000 on Sunday for additional violations involving brakes and other technical issues during a pre-qualifying inspection.
The announcement came Tuesday, two days after the series doled out $275,000 in fines for a variety of technical violations - ranging from the use of improper cooling equipment to improper weight distribution in the cars.
Viso qualified for the nine-driver pole shootout Saturday after posting a four-lap qualifying average of 224.422, but did not make a full attempt during the shootout and will start ninth in Sunday's race.
Celtics "Flexing" Celebration
 | The Boston Celtics players like to do this move, "flexing," whenever one of their teammates makes a great play. | From: NBA Views: 47461  623 ratings |
| Time: 00:30 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVxQ0L-EQ1Q&feature=youtube_gdata