Kevin Harvick Comes Full Circle From Dramatic Cup Debut

Filed under: Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Sitting on stage just to the left of his two championship rivals for a final NASCAR championship contenders press conference, Kevin Harvick leaned back in his chair and smiled, listening to Sprint Cup series points leader Denny Hamlin and second place Jimmie Johnson trade barbs and confidently explain how they planned to rise to the occasion in Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway.

At times they looked awkward and uncomfortable with the situation -- each arguing the other was under greater pressure -- while Harvick, a 46-point third place underdog, couldn't have appeared more settled, looking every bit his nickname, "Happy" Harvick.

Pressure? That was 10 years ago.

"It seems like it has worked backwards for me with coming in and taking over Dale's (Earnhardt) car,'' said Harvick, 35, who was picked by Richard Childress to drive the late seven-time champion's car in the days after Dale Earnhardt's fatal crash in the 2001 Daytona 500.

"You started with the biggest press conference you'll ever be a part of in your whole life. You start with the weight of the world on your shoulders. As it's gone through the years, it's actually gotten easier. It's almost like you've gotten prepared for these situations before you even got started.

"There is no pressure this week. It's so easy, we're having fun, we're relaxed. We realize we have a small deficit to overcome and we've done it throughout the year beating both cars. So we're having fun with it.''

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/20/kevin-harvick-comes-full-circle-from-dramatic-cup-debut-with-rcr/

college football college basketball ncaa finals tiger woods

World No. 1 Rank and More at Stake in European Tour's Finale

Filed under: PGA, European Tour

The world's top ranking is becoming a pretty common storyline heading into golf tournaments these days, and it's something you should get used to. There are three golfers that everyone will be paying attention to -- Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer (pictured), and Graeme McDowell -- and there are two key competitions taking place at the European Tour's final stop this week. Up for grabs this week will be the Race to Dubai and the World's Number One ranking.

For these three, it's been quite the breakout year, and they're the main reason European golf has been shoved into the face of anyone that follows the sport. One look at the six trophies displayed on the first tee at this week's Dubai World Championships and it's clear which continent is playing the best golf.

The Ryder Cup, the U.S. Open Trophy, the Claret Jug (British Open), Wannamaker Trophy (PGA Championship), the Dubai World Championship spectre and the Race to Dubai Trophy signified the dominance by Europe in 2010 and that trio was instrumental in all but one.

So I guess it's fitting that the final tournament of the year, which will determine the best player in Europe, will likely also crown the year's best player and world's top player. Kaymer and McDowell sit one and two respectively in the Race to Dubai with no one else close enough to catch them. The U.S. Open Champion has to finish no less than third in order to overcome the €290,910 difference between him and the PGA Champion. If either of them wins this week, which will, in turn, give them the Race title, they would have a strong case for the best player in 2010.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/more-than-world-no-1-is-at-stake-in-european-tours-finale/

wimbleton world series baseball soccer

LeBron James Is Nothing but Hot Air

Filed under: Cavaliers, Heat, NBA Media Watch, NBA Coaches

I never really got the whole thing about hating the Miami Heat. Sure, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh stacked the deck to try to win a championship. But so what? When rich owners do it, fans are grateful. What difference does it make if a few star players take charge instead?

James did have his embarrassing look-at-me Decision, when he announced he would go to Miami. But a lot of superstars have huge egos.

Well, it's all rushing in now, all becoming so clear. I finally get it. Unlike, say, Michael Jordan's ego, James' is not something that has emerged from his talent and success. In James' case, the ego is not a side thing, but actually the substance of who and what he is.

Air Jordan. Hot Air James.

But Hot Air isn't the whole problem in Miami. We're seeing now what happens when you put a bunch of divas into one room to solve a problem. They can't. If you're going to dig your way out of a ditch, you have to actually know what a shovel is, maybe used one at some point. With the Miami divas, someone else has done their digging for them their whole lives.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/lebron-james-is-nothing-but-hot-air/

golf world cup wimbleton world series

NFL Power Rankings Week 13 Roundup

Filed under: Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Jets, Packers, Patriots, Ravens, Saints, Steelers, NFL Power Rankings

The tide is beginning to turn towards the NFC South. That's the big takeaway from the biggest Week 13 power rankings across the internet.

While the Patriots still held the top spot on a few polls, including ours, they must have lost strength of opponent points with some voters, who apparently value the Falcons' last-second win against the Packers more than the Patriots' blowout of the lowly Lions. Besides the rise of the Falcons, power rankings are starting to catch on to the Saints, who have won four in a row and five out of the last six. Their late-game comeback against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving turned the nation onto the fact that the Super Bowl champs might be back to peak form, and they're beginning to creep towards the top of rankings because of it.

On the downside, the Eagles' loss to the Bears dropped them out of most top fives (except ours), only a couple of weeks after they were appearing at No. 1 or No. 2 on some polls. The Bears aren't so lucky, still not getting any top five respect despite leading the NFC North.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/01/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-roundup/

world series baseball soccer nba

The NHL Cycle: Pavelec Tops, Kessel Not, Adams Watch, Plays of the Week

Filed under: Maple Leafs, NHL Fans, NHL Videos, NHL Coaching

Every Monday morning Adam Gretz and Chris Botta recap the week in the greatest hockey league in the world. We call it the NHL Cycle.

THE HOT SEAT
Phil Kessel: The most talented player on the Toronto Maple Leafs has just three goals and two assists over his last 14 games. Kessel is the third-leading scorer on his team, behind Clarke MacArthur and Mikhail Grabovski. He performed well last year despite the pressure of a large contract and the high cost to acquire him from Boston. This year, Kessel has not played up to his standards -- even if he is still on a pace to score close to 40 goals.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ondrej Pavelec: So many worthy candidates, but let's salute Pavelec for his starring role in the turnaround of the Atlanta Thrashers, winners of five straight. This week, Pavelec allowed just two goals over three wins against Detroit, Montreal and Boston. That's on 101 shots against, including 42 in Atlanta's 4-1 win Sunday over the Bruins.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/the-nhl-cycle-pavelec-tops-kessel-not-adams-watch-plays-of-t/

kobe bryant world cup national hockey league college football

Juan Agudelo Lifts US to 1-0 Win Over South Africa in National Team Debut

Filed under: International Soccer, MLS, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team, Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake

Two U.S. national team debutants, aged 20 and 17, combined on a brilliant late goal to lead a young, experimental American team to a 1-0 win over South Africa before more than 50,000 partisans at Cape Town Stadium.

An exhibition that featured very few clear-cut scoring chances was decided in the 85th minute by a composed and creative assist from midfielder Mikkel Diskerud, 20, and a brilliant finish from teenage forward Juan Agudelo (No. 17 in photo), who made his professional debut for the New York Red Bulls less than three weeks ago.

He turns 18 next Tuesday and is the youngest player ever to score for the senior national team.

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments

Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/11/17/us-south-africa/

college basketball ncaa finals tiger woods golf

Barcelona destroys Real Madrid (Updated with highlights)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/yKPsFqPMQgE/barcelona-destroys-real-madrid.html

wimbleton world series baseball soccer