Potito Starace of Italy defeated ninth-seeded Jeremy Chardy of France 6-3, 6-0 in the opening round of the Nastase Tiriac Trophy on Monday.
Seventh-seeded Lukasz Kubot of Poland saved nine of 10 break points in a 6-2, 6-3 win against Gabriel Moraru of Romania, and Matthias Bachinger of Germany served nine aces in rallying to beat Filippo Volandri of Italy 3-6, 6-1, 6-3.
Gilles Simon of France, the 2007 and 2008 winner, is the top-seeded player in the tournament. Defending champion Florian Mayer of Germany is seeded No. 2.
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Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Paterno family turns down stadium name offer
The family of Joe Paterno turned down an offer from Penn State, which wanted to rename Beaver... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Monday, April 23, 2012
Watson spoke to Bieber, girlfriend after Masters win
During an interview with Jason Kennedy of E! News prior to Tim Tebow’s charity golf tournament last weekend, Masters champion Bubba Watson revealed that following his dramatic playoff victory on Easter Sunday, the only person he talked to on the phone was none other than tween pop sensation, Justin Bieber. For real. “Justin Bieber is [...]
Boston Bruins: Patrice Bergeron a Selke Trophy Finalist; Should He Win It?
If Patrice Bergeron is one of the top two runners-up for the 2012 Frank J. Selke Trophy, Boston Bruins fans can only hope he does not lose to a Detroit Red Wing whose candidacy is needlessly helped by past success.
Boston captain Zdeno Chara―or, more accurately, his apologists―ought to know that feeling. As one of three Norris Trophy nominees in 2010-11, Chara lost to Detroit’s Nicklas Lidstrom, who collected the seventh top defenseman laurel of his career.
This despite the fact that Chara had a career-high, league-best plus-33 rating, whereas Lidstrom finished with a negative rating (minus-two) for the first and only time in 20 NHL seasons.
Let’s be honest, Lidstrom only beat Chara and Nashville’s Shea Weber because he had the otherworldly resume and reputation. There was that and the fact that he had tallied 62 points, the second-most among all NHL blueliners that year.
Funny, this author thought the Norris was bestowed annually upon the top defenseman of the year. Kind of thought that, accordingly, the nominees and eventual winner should be judged, first and foremost, by how they did their day job in their own zone within that particular season.
If there is any justice, that will not happen again. Detroit pivot Pavel Datsyuk, who joined Bergeron and St. Louis Blues’ forward David Backes as this year’s Selke finalists on Monday, should not be rewarded just for winning it three times before.
Likewise, the fact that Datsyuk (67 points) exceeded both Bergeron (64) and Backes (54) in terms of offensive output should have little, if any, bearing on the final ballot.
Just a reminder that the Selke is supposed to go to the league’s best defensive forward. By definition, the topmost emphasis should be placed on a forward’s defensive performance in even-strength action and on the penalty kill.
In that regard, come June 20, the Selke should be welcoming a first-time recipient in either Bergeron or Backes. This should be a two-man footrace determined by their respective teams’ defensive campaigns and their individual influence.
St. Louis finished seventh in NHL penalty killing with an 85.8 percent success rate. Bergeron’s Bruins placed No. 11 under that column at 83.5 percent. Detroit was tied with the Philadelphia Flyers for No. 17, having survived 81.8 percent of their infractions.
Bergeron and Backes each had a hand in three shorthanded goals for their respective teams. Datsyuk had zero despite collecting more points overall than either of his fellow finalists.
Backes and Bergeron are leaned upon more when their defensive side is most critically needed, namely when their team is shorthanded.
Over the 2011-12 regular season, Datsyuk placed second among Red Wings forwards in total ice time per night at 19:34. But Darren Helm, Drew Miller, Danny Cleary and Justin Abdelkader all saw more action on the penalty kill. They each saw an average of anywhere from 12 to 64 additional seconds of shorthanded action per night.
Backes, who had a plus-15 rating on the year and is the most physical of the three finalists, averaged 19:59 total ice time per game to lead all St. Louis forwards. But his average shorthanded ice time was exceeded by two other Blues forwards in T.J. Oshie and one-time Bruin Vladimir Sobotka.
Bergeron led all Bruins forwards in penalty-killing time with an average of 1:48 minutes per game as well as total ice time with a nightly median of 18:34.
And he not only led the league with a plus-36 rating, but also helped sophomore linemates Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin finish in the 30-range. And he did that while dealing with the first-, second- and fourth-most potent strike forces from Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Ottawa, respectively, more often than Backes had to.
In terms of defensive forwards, Bergeron was plainly the most reliable on a team that finished sixth in the league with 2.43 goals-against per night. Backes was virtually the same on a Blues team that led the NHL with only 1.89 opposing strikes per game.
But are the Bruins and Blues this defensively stingy because of Bergeron and Backes, respectively, or is it the other way around?
Well, Boston finished first or second in team defense each of the previous three seasons after Bergeron came back from his 2007-08 concussion. Backes stood alone last year with a plus-32 rating on a non-playoff team that finished in a tie for No. 17 and then helped them improve to regal status, downturn to plus-15 aside.
Safe to say that, in both cases, the team owes its success a little more to the individual than vice versa. Although, Backes’ defensive transcript grew less radiant this year even while the team has grown collectively stingier.
In the 2011-12 regular season, Oshie tied Backes’ plus-15 rating, while fellow Blues forwards David Perron and Alexander Steen eclipsed him at plus-19 and plus-24, respectively.
Assuming Datsyuk is this year’s decisive third-rate Selke candidate, as he should be, the size of the fish in Boston and St. Louis’ ponds could be the tiebreaker.
Bergeron is not only this year’s plus/minus leader among all NHL skaters, but of the three finalists, he is the only one to lead all forwards on his team in that category. Even while Boston finished behind St. Louis in even-strength and shorthanded defense, Bergeron is arguably owed a greater percentage of credit for his club’s success than Backes.
Rooney's father cleared after betting scam probe
The father of Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney will face no further action following his arrest as part of an investigation into betting irregularities.
Rooney's father was arrested with eight other men in October last year on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud after a police investigation into suspicious betting patterns at a Scottish Premier League match.
His solicitor, Anthony Barnfather, says in a statement released Monday that his client ''has always vigorously denied the allegations and maintained his innocence throughout the investigation.''
Richie Rooney, the England striker's uncle, was also arrested as part of the investigation, which focuses on Motherwell's home match against Hearts at Fir Park on Dec. 14.
Rooney's father was arrested with eight other men in October last year on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud after a police investigation into suspicious betting patterns at a Scottish Premier League match.
His solicitor, Anthony Barnfather, says in a statement released Monday that his client ''has always vigorously denied the allegations and maintained his innocence throughout the investigation.''
Richie Rooney, the England striker's uncle, was also arrested as part of the investigation, which focuses on Motherwell's home match against Hearts at Fir Park on Dec. 14.
Miley to start in place of Hudson against Philly
For a pair of teams struggling offensively, facing Cliff Lee and Daniel Hudson wasn't a best-case scenario.
It's entirely possible they'll have better luck against Kyle Kendrick and Wade Miley.
With the original scheduled starters on the disabled list, the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks hope to get their respective offenses in gear Monday night at Chase Field in the opener of a three-game set.
This game was supposed to feature an intriguing pitching matchup between Lee and Hudson, who combined for 33 wins last season. However, both starters were placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday. Lee has a strained left oblique and Hudson a right shoulder impingement.
Kendrick (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will take Lee's place for Philadelphia (7-9), while Miley (1-0, 3.12) gets the nod for Arizona (8-8). Both will be making their first starts of the season after working exclusively out of the bullpen.
"I feel comfortable with Kendrick," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told his team's official website.
Neither Kendrick nor Hudson will have to worry about facing a hot offense. The Phillies - still missing Ryan Howard and Chase Utley - rank near the bottom of the NL in runs scored (43), batting average (.239) and homers (7) and have totaled 10 runs while losing four of six.
Philadelphia is 8 for 51 (.157) with runners in scoring position over the last six games.
"We have to stay strong within and keep pushing, keep attacking and keep believing that we are going to hit better than we are hitting," said Hunter Pence, hitless in his last 15 at-bats.
Manuel's club won the first two games of its series in San Diego but was held to one run in each of the final two, both losses. The Phillies didn't help themselves by making a season-high three errors in Sunday's 6-1 defeat after beginning the day with the fewest errors (6) and best fielding percentage (.990) in the league.
"The last two nights were just bad games," Manuel said. "(Sunday), it got a little bit sloppier. It's been a while since we played this bad. I look at it like this is a test. It's a test for the coaching staff, the manager and the players. I see guys who are trying too hard. They just need to relax and play like we can."
Arizona's offense has been better than Philadelphia's, just not by much lately.
Helped by Gerardo Parra's grand slam, the Diamondbacks ended a five-game skid with Sunday's 6-4 win over Atlanta and scored more than two runs for the first time in five games.
"This feels pretty good," manager Kirk Gibson said. "It makes you smile. It's been a while since we've shaken hands after a game."
Arizona has batted .197 over its last five contests.
Kendrick went 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts last season - none against Arizona. He made his most recent appearance at San Francisco on Tuesday, tossing two scoreless innings in a 4-2 loss.
The right-hander has no record and a 4.56 ERA in five career appearances - four starts - against the Diamondbacks.
Arizona catcher Miguel Montero is 4 for 6 with a homer and a double off Kendrick.
Miley pitched seven scoreless innings in his first two appearances, but was tagged for three runs and five hits over 1 2-3 innings Thursday in a 10-2 loss to the Braves.
The left-hander went 4-2 with a 4.15 ERA in seven starts last season, winning his only two decisions at Chase Field.
Miley has never faced the Phillies.
It's entirely possible they'll have better luck against Kyle Kendrick and Wade Miley.
With the original scheduled starters on the disabled list, the Philadelphia Phillies and Arizona Diamondbacks hope to get their respective offenses in gear Monday night at Chase Field in the opener of a three-game set.
This game was supposed to feature an intriguing pitching matchup between Lee and Hudson, who combined for 33 wins last season. However, both starters were placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday. Lee has a strained left oblique and Hudson a right shoulder impingement.
Kendrick (0-0, 1.93 ERA) will take Lee's place for Philadelphia (7-9), while Miley (1-0, 3.12) gets the nod for Arizona (8-8). Both will be making their first starts of the season after working exclusively out of the bullpen.
"I feel comfortable with Kendrick," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told his team's official website.
Neither Kendrick nor Hudson will have to worry about facing a hot offense. The Phillies - still missing Ryan Howard and Chase Utley - rank near the bottom of the NL in runs scored (43), batting average (.239) and homers (7) and have totaled 10 runs while losing four of six.
Philadelphia is 8 for 51 (.157) with runners in scoring position over the last six games.
"We have to stay strong within and keep pushing, keep attacking and keep believing that we are going to hit better than we are hitting," said Hunter Pence, hitless in his last 15 at-bats.
Manuel's club won the first two games of its series in San Diego but was held to one run in each of the final two, both losses. The Phillies didn't help themselves by making a season-high three errors in Sunday's 6-1 defeat after beginning the day with the fewest errors (6) and best fielding percentage (.990) in the league.
"The last two nights were just bad games," Manuel said. "(Sunday), it got a little bit sloppier. It's been a while since we played this bad. I look at it like this is a test. It's a test for the coaching staff, the manager and the players. I see guys who are trying too hard. They just need to relax and play like we can."
Arizona's offense has been better than Philadelphia's, just not by much lately.
Helped by Gerardo Parra's grand slam, the Diamondbacks ended a five-game skid with Sunday's 6-4 win over Atlanta and scored more than two runs for the first time in five games.
"This feels pretty good," manager Kirk Gibson said. "It makes you smile. It's been a while since we've shaken hands after a game."
Arizona has batted .197 over its last five contests.
Kendrick went 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 15 starts last season - none against Arizona. He made his most recent appearance at San Francisco on Tuesday, tossing two scoreless innings in a 4-2 loss.
The right-hander has no record and a 4.56 ERA in five career appearances - four starts - against the Diamondbacks.
Arizona catcher Miguel Montero is 4 for 6 with a homer and a double off Kendrick.
Miley pitched seven scoreless innings in his first two appearances, but was tagged for three runs and five hits over 1 2-3 innings Thursday in a 10-2 loss to the Braves.
The left-hander went 4-2 with a 4.15 ERA in seven starts last season, winning his only two decisions at Chase Field.
Miley has never faced the Phillies.
Bubba Watson Shows Off Green Jacket For Infant Son
Bubba Watson has had quite the past month or so. In addition to winning his first major championship at the Masters, he & his wife also adopted a baby boy, Caleb. Tonight, Bubba tweeted some pictures if a tiny green jacket made for his son. He later confirmed that it was a gift from an [...]
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