US Ties Chile, 1-1, as Young Strikers Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury Impress

Filed under: International Soccer, US Soccer, Colorado Rapids, D.C. United, Kansas City Wizards, New York Red Bulls, San Jose Earthquakes

For the second time in two national team appearances, teen sensation Juan Agudelo entered as a substitute and made the difference for the Americans.

Two months ago in South Africa, his 85th-minute goal was the difference in 1-0 win over the hosts. On Saturday night in Southern California, the 18-year-old drew the penalty kick that lifted the U.S. to a 1-1 tie with Chile.

Fellow reserve Teal Bunbury confidently converted the penalty in the 74th minute (video below), but it was Agudelo's enterprising and incisive run through the heart of the Chilean defense that was the highlight.

The play started with a long low pass from central defender Tim Ream, and Agudelo, who had entered the game along with Bunbury just 15 minutes earlier, unhinged the opposition with a give-and-go with midfielder Alejandro Bedoya. Dribbling into the penalty area at speed, Agudelo was upended by Chile's Sebastián Toro.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/01/22/us-ties-chile-1-1-as-young-strikers-juan-agudelo-and-teal-bunb/

Dave Simmonds Julián Simon Marco Simoncelli Barry Smith Bradley Smith

Training Session - 2/14

Source: http://www.dcunited.com/event/2011/01/training-session-214

Lorenzo Zanetti Vincenzo Zanzi Giovanni Zigiotto Luigi Zinzani Norick Abe

Cal Coach Jeff Tedford Rooting for Aaron Rodgers in Super Bowl

Filed under: California, Pac 10

How fitting that Cal football coach Jeff Tedford was on the two-lane road heading into Chico for a recruiting trip Wednesday -- just days after his last success story from the same small California college town earned a ticket to the biggest show in sports.

Tedford watched his former quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, lead the Green Bay Packers to Super Bowl XLV by winning the NFC Championship Game on Sunday. He watched as a fan, cheering for Rodgers and another former Cal player and Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop. And he watched as a coach.

"I'll break it down, watch tendencies, that kind of thing," Tedford said. "But mostly, I was rooting for him and Des. I was watching both sides of the ball."

Tedford is the coach who discovered Rodgers. Rodgers had not been offered a Division I scholarship and he was playing at Butte College in Chico when Tedford spotted him while there to recruit another player.

Tedford, who had previously mentored Trent Dilfer, Kyle Boller and David Carr, turned Rodgers from an under-regarded passer into a star college quarterback. Rodgers was named the starting quarterback by the fifth game of his debut season at Cal. He led Cal to bowl games at the end of the 2003 and 2004 seasons, finishing 10-1 in 2004, including a loss at USC in which Rodgers tied an NCAA record with 23 consecutive passes completed in one game.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/01/27/cal-coach-jeff-tedford-rooting-for-aaron-rodgers-in-super-bowl/

Guy Bertin Franco Bertoni Juan Bertran Willi Bertsch Paul Berwick

A New NASCAR Season Spawns Hope, Optimism and Nervousness

Filed under: Jamie McMurray, Juan Pablo Montoya, Ryan Newman, Tony Stewart, NASCAR Testing, Sprint Cup, Earnhardt-Ganassi Racing, Stewart-Haas Racing, NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Painted high on the walls of the sprawling setup room at the Stewart-Haas Racing team shop here are inspirational quotes from Winston Churchill, Thomas Paine, Lyndon B. Johnson and Vince Lombardi, among others, as well as Satchel Paige, the legendary African-American baseball player who made his name as a pitcher rather than a great politician or statesman.

Yet it is Paige's quote -- "Don't look back, something might be gaining on you" -- that seems to best typify the dead-of-winter mood in the race shops scattered around the greater Charlotte area.

Nearly all the teams and drivers are once again filled with hope and enthusiasm, but everyone has to be wondering nonetheless how their season will play out. Will they be competitive right out of the box? Have other teams gained some kind of a little advantage?

"It's just who made the bigger gains" during the off-season and preparing for 2011, said Tony Stewart as the annual Charlotte Motor Speedway media tour, with some 200 media members in attendance, made a stop at his Kannapolis shop Monday afternoon for a visit with him and teammate Ryan Newman.

Chip Ganassi, co-owner of Earnhardt Ganassi Racing, echoed the thought earlier Monday during a luncheon with the team. Although both of his drivers, Jamie McMurray and Juan Pablo Montoya, won races in 2010, "there are lots of places we can improve," he said. "You're looking at that all the time. It's a constant process of looking at yourself and looking at the team."

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/01/24/a-new-nascar-season-spawns-hope-optimism-and-nervousness/

Julián Simon Marco Simoncelli Barry Smith Bradley Smith Jakub Smrž

Team Lidstrom Edges Team Staal at NHL All-Star Game

Filed under: NHL All Star Game

RALEIGH, N.C. -- No lead -- even a four-goal advantage -- was safe at Sunday's NHL All-Star Game, an exhibition that was again short on defense and long on unabated chances on net.

But the most notable stats came from the blue line and goal crease of Team Lidstrom, which earned a 11-10 victory at RBC Center. Nick Lidstrom, the captain of the Detroit Red Wings who selected his squad in a first-of-its-kind draft earlier in the weekend, was a plus-7 and Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas became the first netminder in the history of the exhibition to record three consecutive wins.

"It can go either way," said Lidstrom, who had an assist and two blocked shots. "You can be plus-7 or minus-7. It's that easy."

His defensive partner, Shea Weber of the Nashville Predators, was a plus-6 and recorded a game-high four assists. Despite those enviable numbers, and two-goal games by Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar (Team Lidstrom), Dallas' Loui Eriksson (Team Staal) Philadelphia's Daniel Briere (Team Staal), Carolina's Eric Staal (Team Staal) and Pittsburgh's Kris Letang (Team Staal), the game's MVP award went to Patrick Sharp.

The Chicago Blackhawks forward, who was not even on the All-Star ballot, had a goal and two assists in the losing effort.

"I thought we won the game," said Sharp, who won a Honda as part of the award, which was voted on by the media and fans. "It's a game where there's lots of offense. There's some pretty plays lots of nice goals on both sides, and I'm honored to win the trophy."

The two teams -- one led by Lidstrom and the other by hometown favorite Eric Staal -- sent 91 shots on net. No penalty minutes were served and zero hits were recorded.

Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/30/team-lidstrom-edges-team-staal-at-nhl-all-star-game/

Chris Conn Craig Connell Giuseppe Consalvi Marc Antoine Constantin Michele Conti

Twins to Retire Bert Blyleven's No. 28

Filed under: Twins, MLB Hall of Fame

The honors keep rolling in for Bert Blyleven.

The Twins announced Thursday night that they will retire the newly minted Hall of Famer's No. 28 jersey. The ceremony will take place before the Twins' July 16 game against the Rangers -- eight days before the Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Blyleven spent 11 of his 22 big-league seasons with the Twins, but was traded from Minnesota to Texas in June 1976 and spent the balance of that season and all of the following year with the Rangers. He eventually returned for a second stint in Minnesota toward the end of his career.

"2011 is going to be a special year for the Blyleven family, the Twins organization and millions of fans across Twins Territory," Twins CEO Jim Pohlad said in a statement. "As excitement builds for Bert's induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, the Twins organization is proud to bestow our highest honor with the retirement of his jersey -- number 28. Bert Blyleven Day is aimed at celebrating Bert's incredible contributions on and off the field, while also providing he and his family a proper send-off to Cooperstown."

Blyleven will be the sixth Twin to have his number retired, joining Harmon Killebrew (3), Tony Oliva (6), Kent Hrbek (14), Rod Carew (29) and Kirby Puckett (34).

Puckett's number was the most recent to be retired, in 1997.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/27/twins-to-retire-bert-blylevens-no-28/

Simon Crafar Cecil Crawford Dick Creith Bruno Cretti Thierry Crine

Southampton 1, Manchester United 2: The Highlights

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/7mVjI_Z_k_Q/southampton-1-manchester-united-2-the-highlights.html

Christophe Cogan Bob Coleman Rod Coleman Renzo Colleoni Jacques Collot

Shane O'Brien Cools Jets in Nashville

Filed under: Canucks, Predators, Western

VANCOUVER -- Shane O'Brien can still be counted on for a good quote, but not necessarily a good time.

"It's a different Shane O'Brien," he said. "I'm waiting for the offseason to explore Nashville a little bit more."

He made the comments as the Predators visited Vancouver for his first game against the Canucks since they traded him at the start of this season. You could say the affable 27-year-old Port Hope, Ont., native, who developed a reputation for partying during two seasons as a Canuck, is trying to be a stay-at-home defenseman off the ice as well as on.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/27/shane-obrien-cools-jets-in-nashville/

Osamu Hiwatashi Gary Hocking Alex Hofmann Andreas Hofmann Neil Hodgson

Jim Harbaugh and Trent Baalke Aboard, 49ers Unlikely to Make Sweeping Changes

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West

The San Francisco 49ers are unlikely to undergo wholesale changes now that Trent Baalke has taken over as general manager and Jim Harbaugh has left Stanford to join the organization as coach.

There are no plans to change overall defensive schemes, and the offense that Stanford ran under Harbaugh would seem to fit most of the offensive players on the San Francisco roster.

"There's a lot of similarities to what we've done in the past,'' Baalke told The Sacramento Bee Thursday. "We're still working through with the coaches exactly what they're looking for at each position.

"But the systems on both sides of the ball should marry up very well with the personnel that we have now and the personnel that we've been looking for.''

Harbaugh brought Vic Fangio along from Stanford as the defensive coordinator, and Fangio's defense with the Cardinal stressed quickness more than massive bulk along the defensive line.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/jim-harbaugh-and-trent-baalke-aboard-49ers-unlikely-to-make-swe/

Loris Capirossi Stefano Caracchi Jordi Carchano Martín Cárdenas Jose Luis Cardoso

Steelers Don't Expect to Miss Beat With Doug Legursky in for Maurkice Pouncey

Filed under: Steelers, AFC North

According to a source on Friday, Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey will be out for the Steelers as they attempt to win their seventh Super Bowl title Feb. 6 against the Packers in Dallas.. But according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, teammates believe that offensive lineman Doug Legursky is better than Pouncey despite of the high praise given by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he spoke about Pouncey's ability to call blocking schemes for linemates prior to snapping the ball.

"Doug's pretty good, there's really no difference at all," left guard Chris Kemoeatu told the Post-Gazette. "I've been (working) with Doug enough, especially last week when he stepped up in there. It's a good thing we get two weeks going into the Super Bowl. We get repetition, being next to each other."

The Steelers had major overhauls all season regarding their offensive line. Right tackle Willie Colon ruptured his Achilles' tendon in June and the Steelers signed former Cowboy offensive tackle Flozell Adams to replace him. Left tackle Max Starks injured his neck on Nov. 8, causing him to be out for the season and offensive tackle Jonathan Scott filled in. When guard Trai Essex got injured, Legursky stepped in and played right guard for four games, although guard Ramon Foster beat out Essex for that position.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/steelers-dont-expect-to-miss-beat-with-doug-legursky-in-for-mau/

Werner Haas Silvio Habat Larbi Habbiche Ron Hackett Gerhard Haeberle

Accidental Collisions Cause Major Rise in NHL Concussions

Filed under: Blues, Coyotes, Sabres, Stars, Thrashers, NHL All Star Game, NHL Injuries

RALEIGH, N.C. -- There has been a threefold increase in games lost due to concussions suffered through accidental collisions in the NHL this season, an alarming trend commissioner Gary Bettman noted before the NHL SuperSkills competition at RBC Center on Saturday.

"The ideal number of concussions would be zero," Bettman said. "Our objective would be to come as close as possible to get that result without changing the fundamentals of our game. We are doing whatever possible to limit the amount of concussions."

Concussions suffered in fights and through hits delivered to the body where a player's head then strikes the glass, boards or ice have also increased this season. Bettman refused to disclose the specific numbers.

He added that the number of concussions from blindside hits to the head was down, largely due to the rule implemented last March that barred such collisions. Hits to the head deemed legal under NHL rules have also resulted in fewer man games lost, according to Bettman.

Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/29/accidental-collisions-cause-major-rise-in-nhl-concussions/

Manuel Hernández Santiago Herrero Tom Herron Wilfred Herron Manfred Herweh

Tracy Morgan Brings TNT Pregame Show to Halt With 'Salute' to Sarah Palin

Filed under: NBA Media Watch, NBA Videos

Someone said something shocking on a TNT NBA studio show Thursday night. No shock there, not with Charles Barkley as one of the analysts.

Except, the stunning statement didn't happen in a studio, but rather on the floor of Madison Square Garden. And it wasn't said by Barkley, but by comedian Tracy Morgan, who made the startling declaration that former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was attractive.

Really, really attractive.

Here's the set-up: Barkley, Kenny Smith and Ernie Johnson were conducting business at MSG in advance of the Miami Heat-New York Knicks game, which TNT televised. The trio were discussing the pending NBA All-Star Game and Thursday's announcement of the Eastern and Western Conference starters, when Morgan, who stars in the NBC sitcom "30 Rock" happened by their makeshift set.

Barkley and Smith asked Morgan whom he thought merited inclusion on the All-Star roster. Then Morgan was asked to choose between Palin and Tina Fey, who created "30 Rock," and has impersonated Palin on "SNL."

That's when Morgan said that Palin, the former Republican vice presidential nominee was "good masturbation material." It may have marked one of the few times that the normally loquacious Barkley has ever been speechless.

TNT, however, recovered quickly, issuing a statement from spokesman Jeff Pomeroy that read: "It's unfortunate Mr. Morgan showed a lack of judgment on our air with his inappropriate comments."

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/27/tracy-morgan-brings-tnt-pregame-show-to-halt-with-salute-to-sa/

Roger Beaumont Leandro Beccheroni Hans Becker Alex Bedford Günter Beer

Accidental Collisions Cause Major Rise in NHL Concussions

Filed under: Blues, Coyotes, Sabres, Stars, Thrashers, NHL All Star Game, NHL Injuries

RALEIGH, N.C. -- There has been a threefold increase in games lost due to concussions suffered through accidental collisions in the NHL this season, an alarming trend commissioner Gary Bettman noted before the NHL SuperSkills competition at RBC Center on Saturday.

"The ideal number of concussions would be zero," Bettman said. "Our objective would be to come as close as possible to get that result without changing the fundamentals of our game. We are doing whatever possible to limit the amount of concussions."

Concussions suffered in fights and through hits delivered to the body where a player's head then strikes the glass, boards or ice have also increased this season. Bettman refused to disclose the specific numbers.

He added that the number of concussions from blindside hits to the head was down, largely due to the rule implemented last March that barred such collisions. Hits to the head deemed legal under NHL rules have also resulted in fewer man games lost, according to Bettman.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/29/accidental-collisions-cause-major-rise-in-nhl-concussions/

Steve Baker Peter Balaz Romolo Balbi Jean François Balde Mike Baldinger

Serena, Venus Williams' Mother Uses Twitter to Bash Kim Clijsters

Filed under: Australian Open, WTA

With neither Serena or Venus Williams in the Australian Open final, it begs the question everyone in the tennis community has been wondering, who will their mother root for?

Oracene Price took to the power of social media -- and 140 characters -- to let her feelings on Saturday's final be known. And she was just as honest as we'd all hope she'd be, even letting (hopefully jokingly) Twitterverse know that she was unsure what the finals matchup was:



After she received this all-important answer, she then quickly let it be known who her favorite in Saturday's match is:



Price doesn't want Kim Clijsters to win and explains why she wants Li Na "to kick some butt."



The first half of this makes complete sense. Price wants a new Slam title winner and she wants a Chinese player to win. Perfectly logical reasoning.

What isn't so clear is why she doesn't "want (her) vision blurred!" Does Clijsters have special powers that blinds (or affects) people's vision? This seems like something only Price knows about -- and it will become clearer in a forthcoming tweet.

One of Price's followers then wanted some clarification that she was indeed rooting for Li Na. Price responds with this response, which definitely includes an insult toward Clijsters, but its specific reference is unclear.



The use of "dubious" (which has several meanings) needed a follow-up explanation, but unfortunately we did not get one. She concludes her Twitter rant with the following harsh swipe at Clijsters:




Price probably means "Medusa stare" here not "scare," but regardless comparing her to a mythological beast is never a compliment. Chris Chase of Yahoo!'s "Busted Racquet" tries to decipher the Medusa reference: "That must mean Oracene either thinks Clijsters is ugly, has snakes for hair or will be beheaded by Perseus in an attempt to rescue his mother from the evil grips of King Polydectes. I'm guessing it's the third one."

All eyes will be on @Clijsterskim in the near future.

H/T to Busted Racquet.

Source: http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/serena-venus-williams-mother-uses-twitter-to-bash-kim-clijster/

Brendan Clarke Noel Clegg Oscar Clemengich Ivan Clementi Jules Cluzel

Mike Holmgren Knows What It Means to Win in Green Bay

Filed under: Packers, Steelers

CLEVELAND -- There is no other city in the country with a team like the Green Bay Packers, and there is no other city with a relationship with its team like Green Bay.

Mike Holmgren understood, but he really understood deeply when he worked as Packers coach from 1992-98.

"It hits you from the first step when you get off the airplane," Holmgren said this week from Cleveland, where he is now president of the Cleveland Browns. "You drive down Lombardi Avenue to the facility. You see the pictures of Bart Starr and Jerry Kramer and Paul Hornung.

"If you know football at all, and I like football ... I was kind of a historian ... you can't help it but feel it. You just can't help it."

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/mike-holmgren-knows-what-it-means-to-win-in-green-bay/

Youichi Ui Chris Vermeulen Pierrot Vervroegen Walter Villa Arnaud Vincent

San Diego State Should Make Kawhi Leonard the Man

Filed under: BYU, San Diego State

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego State's first loss of the basketball season isn't without potential benefits, for either me or the Aztecs.

l'm less likely to hear weird hippie music when the next basketball polls come out. As SDSU climbed to fourth nationally, each poll seemed a hallucination of Grateful Dead magnitude.

San Diego State above blue bloods Kentucky, Connecticut and North Carolina? Like visions of tangerine trees and marmalade skies.

Earthy clarity may also be a dividend for coach Steve Fisher and his Aztecs (20-1) from Wednesday's 13-point loss at No. 9 Brigham Young. Better to win, sure, but better to discover the fault lines now than in the NCAA Tournament, where the Aztecs are 0-6.

The best BYU team in 20 years, despite trailing at halftime, schooled SDSU at times. "Very well-coached" and "very well put together" is how Aztecs point guard D.J. Gay described the Cougars (20-1) Friday.

Now comes the crucial part.

Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/post-byu-lesson-sdsu-needs-to-feature-kawhi-leonard/

Sebastián Porto Umberto Praga Tarquinio Provini Alberto Puig Maurice Quincey

Point/Counterpoint: Tiger Woods Finally Has Something to Look Forward To

Filed under: PGA, Ryder Cup

FanHouse Golf Writer Mick Elliott runs through a point/counterpoint on the last week of happenings in golf:

Fact: Tiger Woods begins 2011 play this week in San Diego, hoping to bounce back from the first winless season of his career. "I've been working hard on my game, it's game time, hooah!!" Woods posted on Twitter.

Observation: And Tiger knows "hooah.''

Fact: Woods will arrive at Torrey Pines No. 3 in the world rankings, now trailing No. 1 Lee Westwood and No. 2 Martin Kaymer.

Observation: Woods should be thrilled. Finally, he has something to look forward to.

Fact: Phil Mickelson made it as a vegetarian for five months, but recently returned to his old diet. "I was a strict vegetarian for five months, but ultimately, it was doomed to fail," he said.

Observation: That explains Callaway's new product line: The Rescue Club Sandwich.

Fact: Westwood, the Englishman and recent new No. 1, says he will not enter this year's Players Championship, golf's "fifth major,'' because of scheduling conflicts involving his status as a non-member of the PGA Tour.

Observation: Meanwhile, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem continues to work on ways to attract foreign stars to the U.S. So far, the best idea is Marriott Rewards Points.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/point-counterpoint-tiger-woods-finally-has-something-to-look-fo/

Graeme Crosby Francis Cufi Emilio Cuppini Jim Curry Edmund Czihak

Rumors of Andy Pettitte's Return Are Starting to Swirl

Filed under: Yankees, AL East, MLB Rumors

When the Yankees officially announced the Rafael Soriano signing last week, Joe Girardi let slip that Andy Pettitte has been working out and throwing down in Houston.

That seemed like a sign that we might soon be hearing something different after a long spell of nothing but negative reports about his chances of pitching during the 2011 season. After all, there isn't much reason to get yourself into game shape if the only game you plan to play is gin rummy.

So it isn't much of a surprise that Wednesday has brought a pair of reports that link Pettitte to a return. Jon Heyman of SI.com said he's spoken to some baseball people who have told him they expect to see the lefty starting games in the Bronx this summer, while Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports' Hardball Talk quotes an unnamed source as saying there's a "very strong possibility" that Pettitte returns for one more year.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/26/rumors-of-andy-pettittes-return-are-starting-to-swirl/

Alexis Masbou Umberto Masetti Claudio Mastellari Naoki Matsudo Giuseppe Matucci

FanHouse TV: Have Milledgeville Residents Forgiven Ben Roethlisberger?

Filed under: Steelers, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Video, Super Bowl, FanHouse Exclusive, NFL Quarterbacks

Ten months ago the small Georgia town of Milledgeville suddenly became well known thanks to the Ben Roethlisberger scandal. So, how do the towns' residents feel about the Steelers QB playing in the Super Bowl and what's the buzz like around town now? FanHouse TV's A.J. Perez went there to find out.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/fanhouse-tv-have-milledgeville-residents-forgiven-ben-roethlisb/

Shunji Yatsushiro Ryuji Yokoe Toshimi Yorino Kenichi Yoshida Lewis Young

Sources: Javaris Crittenton Signs With NBA D-League

Filed under: Grizzlies, Wizards, NBA Rumors, NBA D-League, Dakota Wizards

Javaris Crittenton has had a pretty interesting career since being selected by the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the 2007 NBA Draft.

During his rookie season, Crittenton was one of the centerpieces of one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history when the Memphis Grizzlies acquired him -- and a couple of other pieces, one turning out to be Marc Gasol -- for Pau Gasol. Last season, he pleaded guilty to unlawfully possessing a firerarm following his infamous locker room confrontation with Washington Wizards teammate Gilbert Arenas.

After being suspended for the rest of 2009-10, he failed to make good on a training camp invitation with the Charlotte Bobcats this fall. He briefly played for a professional team in China but was released on Christmas Eve, despite averaging 25.8 points per game.

But despite the rocky start to his career, sources close to the situation have confirmed to FanHouse that Crittenton will attempt to get his NBA career back on track after recently signing a contract to play in the NBA D-League. The 6-foot-5 guard won't clear waivers until Thursday, only then learning where he'll be playing the rest of this season.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/26/sources-javaris-crittenton-signs-with-nba-d-league/

Jon Ekerold Toni Elías James Ellison Aleix Espargaro Pol Espargaro

If Williams Sisters Are Left Out of Olympics, Expect Ugly Situation

Filed under: WTA

MELBOURNE, Australia -- Serena Williams wins Wimbledon and then the U.S. Open. She is on a roll, dominating tennis again. And then, with the Olympics coming, she says she wishes she could play for the U.S., but is being kept out.

The U.S. picks Melanie Oudin instead.

I'm imagining a future here, a very possible future. A very uncomfortable and explosive future. When you stand there and see two trains on the same track, barreling toward each other, you sort of brace yourself.

Williams, and her sister Venus, are very close to failing to meet requirements to be eligible for the 2012 London Olympics. Those requirements, though, have a lot of gray area and interpretation, and of course an appeals system.

But the rules aren't based on the right things, anyway.

Oh, this could get ugly.

Source: http://tennis.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/serena-williams-venus-williams-usat-itf-olympics-eligible/

David Whitworth Peter Williams Warren Willing Mark Willis Martin Wimmer

Report: A's, Mariners Discussing Chone Figgins Trade

Filed under: Athletics, Mariners, MLB Rumors, MLB Hot Stove

The beginning of spring training is rapidly approaching, but the Oakland A's are apparently still working on building their 2011 roster. According to the Contra Costa Times, the A's have asked the Mariners about infielder Chone Figgins in a swap that would reportedly include A's starting third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff and perhaps one of the A's young pitchers.

Figgins had one of the worst years of his career after signing a four-year, $64 million contract with the Mariners last offseason. He hit just .259/.340/.304 with the Mariners and struggled quite a bit defensively after Seattle made the curious decision to move him to second base so that their own second baseman, Jose Lopez, could play third.

Of course, Kouzmanoff wasn't much better. He had a bit more pop than Figgins (he hit 16 homers with a .396 SLG), but his OBP was also below .300. He does have a slick glove at third base, but then so did Figgins when he played there with the Angels in 2009. He's due $4.75 million after avoiding arbitration with the A's last week and while that seems like a lot for a player that produced like he did in 2010, well, it's still only about half of what Figgins is going to make.

Basically, the A's would be hoping that Figgins could get his career back on track after getting out of the hitter's black hole that is Safeco Field, and the Mariners wouldn't have to pay the rest of Figgins' enormous contract. Win/win situation, I guess?

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/28/report-as-mariners-discussing-chone-figgins-trade/

Bob Coulter Woolsey Coulter Peter Courtney Gary Cowan Kevin Cowley

East Dominates West in Shrine Bowl

Filed under: Prospects

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Marvin Austin kept mostly a low profile in the practice sessions leading up to the East-West Shrine Game.

After sitting out this past season following his involvement in the agent scandal that rocked North Carolina's football program, he had a lot to prove Saturday in the annual showcase for college seniors.

So grabbing a late-game fumble recovery for a touchdown to punctuate a 25-8 victory for the East over the West more than made his week in Orlando worthwhile.

"I sat the whole season out. Everybody knows it," Austin said. "People thought I was going to feel sorry for myself. ... A lot of people talk about my talent. They don't see the work I put in to try to be the best. They (the NFL) say they just want me to be confident and keep playing hard."

That workhorse spirit was exhibited throughout an East team that dominated first major all-star game of the draft season.

Syracuse running back Delone Carter ran for a touchdown and was selected the offensive MVP and Richmond tackle Martin Parker had a pair of sacks and forced a fumble to take defensive MVP honors.

The East scored 19 points in the first half and recovered three fumbles. It also had a team safety.

Carter finished with 54 yards on 11 carries, while Virginia Tech's Tyrod Taylor had the best passing day for the East, going 4 of 5 for 59 yards.

Austin's highlight came with 3:41 left in the fourth quarter when West quarterback Jerrod Johnson of Texas A&M was sacked by Tennessee's Chris Walker inside the 2. The ball trickled into the end zone and was recovered by Austin.

Parker had 96 tackles this past season and 5½ sacks. He was projected to be a late-round pick, but said he ignored all of that this week.

"My goal coming down here was just to play a solid game and just show the scouts, (and) show the people what I could do," Parker said. "It never crossed my mind that I would go out there and be defensive player of the game. I'm really thankful and grateful for it."

The West managed just 14 yards rushing yards and had just eight first downs. Its lone score came on a 5-yard touchdown pass from Idaho's Nathan Enderle to Portland State tight end Julius Thomas with 2:44 left in the second quarter. The pair also hooked up for a 2-point conversion pass. Enderle was 6 of 12 for 45 yards.

The West's best effort on defense came from Oklahoma State linebacker Orie Lemon, who finished with eight tackles. He said he will let his play speak for itself regarding the future.

"I put it all in God's hands and I'll let him do his will," Lemon said. "Wherever he takes me, that's where I'm going."

The East led 19-8 at halftime, dominating the time of possession in the opening 30 minutes and riding the play of a stingy defense that had a pair of fumble recoveries.

West running back and Hawaii product Alex Green fumbled on the opening play of the game to set up a 16-yard touchdown run by Carter.

The lead grew to 9-0 with 8:59 left in the first quarter when Wisconsin quarterback Scott Tolzien was sacked at his own 5 by Oregon defensive end Kenny Rowe. The ball rolled into the end zone and was recovered by Illinois' Randall Hunt for a safety.

Following the free kick, the East capped the first extended drive of the day with a 4-yard touchdown run by Penn State's Evan Royster.

Auburn kicker Wes Byrum, who had the winning kick in the Tigers' national championship game win over Oregon, connected on one of three field goal attempts in the first half. He hit from 25 yards and had misses from 27 and 44 yards.

The East held the ball for 18:32 in the first half, compared to just 11:28 for the West. The East also had 11 first downs, to just four for the West.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/01/22/east-dominates-west-in-shrine-bowl/

Eric Hinton Harry Hinton Osamu Hiwatashi Gary Hocking Alex Hofmann

Evening ticker: Onalfo joins Galaxy, Van Der Sar retiring in May and more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/8zdrfMj4nJI/evening-ticker-onalfo-joins-galaxy-van-der-sarr-retiring-in-may-and-more.html

Nobuatsu Aoki Takuma Aoki Hiroshi Aoyama Shuhei Aoyama Andre Luc Appietto

Senior Bowl Showcases Less-Heralded Prospects Along With Big Names

Filed under: Bowl Games, Division II

Saturday's Under Armour Senior Bowl will feature many of the nation's top senior college football players in a North-against-South format.

Fans will certainly recognize established talents and their schools, such as quarterbacks Jake Locker of Washington and Greg McElroy of Alabama; offensive lineman Gabe Carimi of Wisconsin and defensive end Ryan Kerrigan of Purdue.

Quick, have you ever heard of Brandon Fusco? Or Slippery Rock University?

"I never really pictured myself being here, but I worked hard through my senior season to be here, so I am very excited about the opportunity and very blessed by the opportunity," Fusco told the media earlier this week.

Fusco was one of three small-school players from Division II teams invited to play in the 62nd annual Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

The other two players are Southern Arkansas defensive lineman Cedric Thornton and receiver Edmond Gates from Abilene Christian. Gates was injured in practice and won't play.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2011/01/27/senior-bowl-showcases-less-heralded-prospects-along-with-big-nam/

Kenichi Yoshida Lewis Young Paul Young Yasuharu Yuzawa Shahrol Yuzy

LaRue Martin's Story Proves One of Redemption, Success

Filed under: Trail Blazers, NBA Draft

CHICAGO -- In the summer of 2008, a letter arrived at the Chicago office of LaRue Martin. He opened it and was stunned by what he read.

The letter had been written by former Portland owner Larry Weinberg. He had heard how the one-time Trail Blazers center had turned his life around.

"You certainly are a wonderful role model in the work you are doing for UPS,'' Weinberg wrote July 19, 2008.

Martin felt a great sense of relief. For years, he believed he had let down the Trail Blazers by not living up to expectations as the No. 1 pick in the 1972 draft. And here was the former owner lauding him for his work later in life.

"I was shocked to death,'' Martin, 60, said of getting the letter. "(Weinberg wrote), 'LaRue, I'm very proud of you and what you've turned out to be. Basketball maybe was up and down for you but look at you.' He said, 'I'm very proud to be associated with you.'''

After 36 years, redemption had arrived.

Martin had been taken out of Chicago's Loyola University in 1972 ahead of No. 2 pick Bob McAdoo, a future Hall of Famer. But the 6-foot-11 Martin would go down as the biggest bust in NBA draft history.

In four seasons, Martin averaged a mere 5.3 points and 4.6 rebounds before being waived out of the league, his career done at 26. The years after were hard as Martin struggled to come to terms with his unsuccessful playing career. He had gotten an ulcer and became an alcoholic.

Eventually, though, Martin became a success in another walk of life. For the past 25 years, he's worked for UPS, the last 15 as community services manager of the Illinois district.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/larue-martins-story-proves-one-of-redemption-success/

Lewis Young Paul Young Yasuharu Yuzawa Shahrol Yuzy Lorenzo Zanetti

Senators Owner Eugene Melnyk Fed Up, Fire Sale Could Be Next

Filed under: Senators, Eastern

Let the fire sale begin in Ottawa -- and the job applications for new general manager and possibly a new coach of the Senators to start pouring in.

Ottawa Senators' owner Eugene Melnyk has had enough, and he's ready to sweep the deadwood out of the dressing room and begin the search for a new GM and possibly a new coach being in place for next season.

Melynk told the Ottawa Sun from his home in the Barbados that both GM Bryan Murray and coach Cory Clouston will finish the season (the Senators sit in 13th place in the Eastern Conference after Sunday's games).

"The time has come to make some of the most difficult decisions that an owner can make,'' said Melnyk. "Do we need a game-changer? I believe we do. I've lost sleep. Bryan Murray loses sleep. Cory Clouston loses sleep. Everybody who loves this team doesn't sleep well at night."

Getting rid of Clouston won't cost the Senators a nickel as his contract expires at the end of the season. The same goes for Murray whose his contract is up.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/23/senators-owner-eugene-melnyk-fed-up-fire-sale-could-be-next/

Ray Amm Luigi Ancona Bob Anderson Chris Anderson Fergus Anderson

Optimism reigns in D.C. United's preseason

WASHINGTON ? Every preseason camp in MLS is usually accompanied with a tinge of optimism, and the vibe around D.C. United is no different as preparations for 2011 get underway.

Players reported for preseason last Friday and, after a weekend of fitness testing and physicals, began training indoors at the Greenbelt Sportsplex in Maryland on Monday.

Source: http://www.dcunited.com/news/2011/01/optimism-reigns-in-dc-uniteds-preseason

Hans Bartl Harald Bartol Darren Barton František Bartoš Günter Bartusch

Yankees' Offseason Has Been Heavy on Talk, Light in Substance

Filed under: Yankees, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

When the Yankees move Derek Jeter to center field, they have to hope he backtracks as well as Brian Cashman has this winter.

Three times in the past few weeks, Cashman has had to come up with ways to explain away some quotes.

The Yankees general manager said the New York Daily News misquoted him when it reported he said Andy Pettitte would not be able to pitch when the 2011 season opens but could come back midseason.

He declared he wouldn't sign reliever Rafael Soriano as a setup man because it would cost the Yankees their first-round draft pick. Once the Yankees did indeed sign Soriano, Cashman made it known that he was overruled by ownership.

He was then quoted, at a fan function, as saying that he didn't expect Jeter to last at shortstop for the entirety of his four-year contract extension, with a move to the outfield as the next step. Cashman played the "out of context" card on that one.

Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/01/26/yankees-offseason-has-been-heavy-on-talk-light-in-substance/

Roberto Gallina Wayne Gardner Juan Garriga Alex George Ezio Gianola

Philadelphia Union's Partnership With Bimbo About More Than Just a Name

Filed under: MLS, Philadelphia Union

The Sept. 1 friendly between the Philadelphia Union and Mexican power Chivas de Guadalajara at PPL park wasn't just your average American soccer marketing ploy.

It turns out the game was as much about fishing for dollars with the large logo on the front of the opponent's famous red-and-white jersey as it was about fishing for fans with the small badge toward the top.

That big logo, of course, reads "Bimbo." To Americans, it's an amusing and relatively misogynistic insult. But to everyone south of the 2-0 parallel, it's just a loaf of bread.

Soccer is the global game, and as such, it's played in many different languages. Sometimes certain subtleties can get lost in translation. On Tuesday, the Union announced an ambitious sponsorship deal that's going to test those boundaries. Bimbo, the baked good conglomerate pronounced "Beembo," will pay a reported $12 million over four years to be the Union's presenting/jersey sponsor.

Union CEO Nick Sakiewicz told FanHouse that the Chivas friendly "was somewhat tactical because we were in conversations with Bimbo at the time."

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2011/01/12/philadelphia-unions-partnership-with-bimbo-about-more-than-just/

Bruno Bertacchini Silvano Bertarelli Albert Bertholet Guy Bertin Franco Bertoni

Charlotte Motor Speedway Erecting World's Largest HD Screen

Filed under: NASCAR Tracks, Sprint Cup, NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. -- Three tour buses slowly circled Charlotte Motor Speedway Tuesday and stopped on the backstretch, disgorging dozens of media members into the cold winter air next to the construction site of billionaire O. Bruton Smith's latest promotional extravaganza -- the world's HD largest video board.

This television screen will be 200 feet wide by 80 feet high and will tower some 30 feet higher than the backstretch lights. It will be visible -- with an impressively large image -- from every seat of the grandstands stretching from turn four all the way down the frontstretch and well into turn two.

In typical speedway fashion, the announcement included fanfare -- in this case the arrival of Marcus Smith, speedway president, and FOX NASCAR announcers Jeff Hammond and Mike Joy, all driving front end loaders.

But many in the media were more interested in hearing from Marcus Smith's father, Bruton, who parked his jet-black, brand-new Mercedes right there in the middle of the backstretch just a few yards away.

As a promoter, Smith goes back to the earliest days of NASCAR. He's always been the most innovative of the major racing promoters, and he's always been one to speak his mind. So despite the fanfare engineered by his son, when Bruton stepped out of his car, he was the one who was quickly surrounded by eager reporters.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/01/25/bruton-smith-erecting-worlds-largest-hdtv-screen-at-charlotte-m/

Jacques Bernard Adrian Bernetic Manfred Bernsee Bruno Bertacchini Silvano Bertarelli

2010 Team Reviews: Penske Racing Perseveres as Lone Dodge Team

Filed under: Kurt Busch, Sam Hornish Jr., Penske Racing, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

When Ryan Newman took the checkered flag in the 2008 Daytona 500, Penske Racing, his team at the time, got its first win in NASCAR's biggest race. Now team owner and motorsports mogul Roger Penske is in the market for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championship.

In that regard, Penske looked to be in terrible position before the start of last season after it became the lone team operating under the Dodge banner. Penske made the best of the situation and, in fact, may have gained from the undivided attention his operation received from Dodge.

The team's driving leader, former champion Kurt Busch, made a small push by securing another berth in the Chase for the Sprint Cup, while Brad Keselowski often struggled in his first season as a full-time driver in the Cup Series. The team's other driver, Sam Hornish Jr., may see his ride disappear in NASCAR's top division after yet another disappointing season in his three-year career.

11th - Kurt Busch [2 wins, 9 Top-5s, 17 Top-10s, 2 DNFs, 15.3 Avg. Finish]

It took just four races in the 2010 season for Kurt Busch to lay claim to his first win of the year, taking the checkered flag at Atlanta Motor Speedway in March. The win -- which featured Busch scraping the wall several times -- seemed to galvanize Busch's chance of being a real championship contender.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/01/06/2010-team-reviews-penske-racing-perseveres-as-lone-dodge-team/

Hans Rudi Brüngger Ralph Bryans Keith Bryen Simon Buckmaster Gianfranco Buffarello