Monday, May 24, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

New York Metro Area Seen As Favorite To Host 2014 Super Bowl

Posted: 24 May 2010 11:53 AM PDT

Dallas, TX, United States (AHN) – The New York area has never hosted a Super Bowl, so perhaps fittingly the joint campaign launched by the Giants and Jets to land the 2014 game was labeled “Make Some History.”

That could happen as soon as Tuesday, when NFL owners meeting in Dallas will vote whether to bring the Super Bowl to the new $1.6 billion Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., or award it to Miami or Tampa, Fla.

Miami and Tampa have hosted a combined 14 Super Bowls, but NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has thrown his support behind the New York bid, making it the favorite to become the first open-air Super Bowl stadium site in a cold-weather region.

Franchises with new stadiums typically have been awarded Super Bowls over the years (the Dallas Cowboys in 2011 and Arizona Cardinals in 2008 are recent examples).

If New York’s bid wins, it would appear to contradict a league requirement that host sites have a temperature no lower than 50 degrees or an indoor stadium.

Indeed, having the 2014 game in the New York metro area could Make Some History for another reason. According to weather.com, the average high in East Rutherford, N.J., during the first week of February is 38 degrees; the average low is 23 degrees.

The coldest temperature at a Super Bowl kickoff? It was 39 degrees in January, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, when the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Minnesota Vikings.

The 82,500-seat stadium is scheduled to open this season and will be the home of both the Giants and Jets.

"It can be very attractive to the ownership and to the NFL in general," Goodell told league owners in March about Meadowlands Stadium hosting the game.

Media outlet Bloomberg News estimated the economic benefit to the New York area would exceed $550 million.

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Jason Bay Homers Twice, Breaks Loose Against Yankees

Posted: 24 May 2010 11:51 AM PDT

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Jason Bay might still be adjusting to pitching in the National League. Or maybe the New York Mets left fielder simply needed to refocus his batting eye at the expense of American League pitchers.

Either way, Bay couldn’t have picked a better time to break out of his slump than against the crosstown interleague rival Yankees.

Bay had hit only one home run in his first 44 games with the Mets, but blasted two homers Sunday night in a 6-4 victory at Citi Field.

Bay had signed a four-year, $66 million contract during the offseason, jumping to the Mets from Boston, where he hit a career-high 36 homers last year.

So Mets fans were obviously getting impatient for his production to start matching his paychecks, and Bay delivered in startling fashion as the Mets won two of three games against the Yankees.

He ripped home runs off CC Sabathia in the second and fifth innings and finished the game 2-for-2 with 3 RBI. Bay also was 4-for-4 while leading the Mets to a 5-3 victory Saturday.

And the Yankees could prove Bay’s breakout point this season. He went 7-for-10 and scored 6 runs in the series, and raised his average to .307.

The Mets touched Sabathia for four runs after two were out in the second inning.

Alex Cora drove in two runs with a single, and Bay added a two-run homer. Bay led off the fifth with his second home run and David Wright hit a two-run double for a 6-0 lead.

Johan Santana raised his record to 4-2, holding the Yankees to one run in 7 2-3 innings.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Stanley Cup Finals 2010 Schedule Almost Ready

Posted: 24 May 2010 11:10 AM PDT

The Stanley Cup Finals 2010 have been almost finalized and the organizers might make announcement tonight.

Though the Blackhawks are in but the Fyers might stand a chance in the final moment. Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals is set for Friday, but the finals are unlikely to begin in the weekend. But if the Flyers win, there might be a chance to get the schedule for the 2010 finals.

With the defeat of the Blackhawks yesterday, Stanley Cup Finals 2010 schedule will start in Chicago. The Blackhawks have a much brighter record than the Fyers and Canadians and they even can turn the home ice to their advantage. It is their first final in 18 years, all they need is an opponent to beat.

Though Flyers are commanding a lead of 3-1 after defeating the Canadians, posing another major contender for the finals, last time of their moment of glory was in 2000.

Though, if the Canadians win tonight's match they still have a chance to get into the finals at Bell Centre crowd for Game 6 on Wednesday. But if the Flyers finishes them off now, then gear up for the finals between them and the Blackhawks for the Stanley Cup Finals 2010, may be in the next week.

Game 5 is tonight at 7 pm EST on Versus.

The finals might be scheduled on Thursday, Friday or Saturday, if the Flyers win tonight.

However, if the NHL considers the rights regarding Versus and NBC it may interfere in the process. But if Montreal stays alive, they will have to start the Stanley Cup Finals 2010 schedule some time later.

Federer Opens French Title Defense With Rout Of Luczak

Posted: 24 May 2010 10:46 AM PDT

Paris, France (AHN) – Anyone looking for cracks in Roger Federer’s clay court game were certainly disappointed as he opened defense of his French Open title Monday.

He easily dispatched Australia’s Peter Luczak 6-4. 6-1, 6-2, gathering steam on seemingly every point and outfoxing his 71st ranked opponent at will.

Federer’s numbers revealed a first-round comfort coming off his first victory at Roland Garros last year; he had only 11 unforced errors, lost only 14 of 64 points on his serve and was taken to only one break point while ripping 36 winners.

“The beginning is always important, coming back as defending champion and trying to get off to a good start,” Federer told reporters at Roland Garros.

“It was a good first set for me, without any hiccups on my own serve. After that things were a bit easier. He had to push it a bit more. I could relax and towards the end I played some great dropshots. So it was a perfect match to start the French Open.”

Federer hasn’t won a clay title this season, only the second time in nine years he has come to the French Open without one. He will meet Alejandro Falla in the second round.

Also Monday, No. 3 seed Novak Djokovic dropped a set against Kazakhstan’s Evgeny Korolev, but prevailed 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3. Djokovic faces Kei Nishikori of Japan or Columbia’s Santiago Giraldo for a place in the last 32.

Two Americans, unseeded Taylor Dent and 17th-seed John Isner also advanced.

Another American, Michael Yani, lost a match that equaled the longest at the tournament since the tiebreak was introduced in 1973. Lukas Lacko beat Yani 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4), 6-7 (5), 12-10.

The match resumed at 8-all Monday after being suspended overnight because of darkness.

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Pacquiao Rushed To Hospital With Minor Ulcer; Boxer Expected To Be OK

Posted: 24 May 2010 10:45 AM PDT

Manila, Philippines (AHN) – World welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao was hospitalized with a minor stomach ulcer and expected to be released later Monday or Tuesday, according to various reports.

Pacquiao was rushed to a suburban Manila hospital Sunday after a stomach ache kept bothering him over the weekend, media outlet ABS-CBN reported, quoting doctors as saying the ulcer was “not serious” and the boxer simply needed to rest.

Stress might have played a role — and not from Pacquiao, 31, working in the ring.

Pacquiao had kept a hectic schedule while campaigning for a seat in the House of Representatives, an election which he won May 10 to represent the 15th Congress of the Philippines for the province of Sarangani.

He will take his congressional seat on June 30.

Pacquiao and his promoters are still in talks for Pac-Man to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., a bout that could take place in November.

He is the first boxer in history to win seven world titles in seven different weight divisions.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Leonsis Rededicates Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards To Community

Posted: 24 May 2010 10:43 AM PDT

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – If one survives a brush with death as a young man when the plane almost crashes, their life is never the same again, noted one of the leading technology entrepreneur and business tycoon in Washington, DC, on Friday.

Ted Leonsis, owner of the Washington Capitals hockey team and soon to assume control of the Washington Wizards, called the plane incident "a moment of reckoning" when he spoke at a National Press Club Luncheon event Friday,

Today, Leonsis told the group, "I want to bring our city closer together… I'd like to give back to the community."

The technology giant said his philosophy was based on a "double bottom line." He articulated the approach in his book "The Business of Happiness," which was published in February.

He shared with his audience his experience during a trip many years ago to the Library of Congress in which he saw that the only line of the Declaration of Independence that was not edited from its first draft was the one calling for governance that fosters "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

From the experience emerged a formula that helped Leonsis achieve happiness.

The first step toward happiness, Leonsis said, is to "actively participate in a community of interest." If people interact with one another, they tend to have a brighter outlook on life.

During his long career at AOL, Leonsis was instrumental in developing the company's instant messaging service, an example of the human connectivity that he emphasizes.

Leonsis urged people to strive for "high levels of self expression," which he said for him comes in part through blogging.

Another key aspect of being happy is to understand the experiences of other people, Leonsis said.

Leonsis disclosed that he answers all of his e-mails and mingles with fans at hockey games "to try to understand what our constituencies are thinking. People who tune up their empathy become great leaders."

A greater sense of empathy leads to the next step in happiness, which involves volunteering and contributing to your community. Finally, the overarching theme of happiness is to pursue "a higher calling."

Leonsis said success with his sports teams involve concentrating on more than dollars. It means working with the young men and women to develop their lives beyond the game.

Leonsis blamed AOL's downwards spiral after merging with Time Warner in 2000 on the motive of the joint entity: Only caring about cash flow and revenue.

"We started to manage by numbers," Leonsis said. "Entrepreneurs that lose their calling and lose their belief that they're in the business of happiness lose their way."

The best business plan is one that is designed to make the company a good corporate citizen. "It has to right a wrong," Leonsis said. "It has to activate giving. It has to activate volunteerism."

His latest venture captures that attitude, Leonsis said. He established a documentary filmmaking company whose first production, "Nanking," won an award at the 2007 Sundance Festival.

His experience led him to develop the Web site Snagfilms.com, which promotes "filmanthropy," a term coined by Leonsis.

Visitors to the site can download and share documentaries, helping struggling filmmakers in the process, and contribute to more than 450 charities.

"It's a prime example of doing well by doing good and meeting the double bottom line," Leonsis said.

It was not entrepreneurial skill, but rather luck, that led to Leonsis' latest achievement.

The Wizards won the right to make the first pick in this year's National Basketball Association draft by winning the NBA lottery.

Leonsis did not reveal whom the team would choose. He hopes, though, that the selection will revive the Wizards, who won fewer than half their games last season.

"I believe we can get a franchise pick and rebuild the franchise," Leonsis said.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Venus Williams French open outfit makes trubble

Posted: 24 May 2010 07:23 AM PDT

Venus Williams 29, U.S. tennis star who ranks No. 2 in the world, set speech wiggling in France Sunday when she played in the French Open in Paris in a black corset-style outfit seems to feel that she plays on the dance floor not in the tennis courts.

Williams appeared in a lacy, red-trimmed, black outfit with a corset- top and a tutu skirt that gave the false impression of being gauzy.

As being a well experienced player who interested in Ele Ven fashion informed to press that it was “about illusion.”

Finally williams, won the first round against to Switzerland’s Patty Schnyder, 6-3, 6-3.

Venus Williams

Venus Williams

Venus Williams

Venus Williams

Venus Williams

Venus Williams

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson May Opt To Bench Bynum

Posted: 24 May 2010 06:53 AM PDT

Phoenix, AZ, United States (AHN) – The Los Angeles Lakers lead the Western Conference finals at 2-1, but coach Phil Jackson did not like what he saw from Andrew Bynum in game three.

The center had only two points and two rebounds in just over seven minutes in a 118-109 loss, and Jax may opt to bench him for game four.

“I’ll talk to him to see what his suggestion is about it and how he feels about it,” Jackson said, according to espn.com. “I think he was ineffective. There were some things that got by him. He had one nice move in the post. Defensively I thought he was a little bit late.”

Suns big man Amare Stoudemire torched the Lakers for 42 points and 11 rebounds, and Jackson wants to thwart Phoenix’ momentum before it snowballs.

Bynum, dealing with a knee injury that cost him time during the regular season and will require offseason surgery, disagrees that sitting him is the right move.

“That’s not going to do anything,” said Bynum. “The surgery is going to do something,” Bynum added.

How much Bynum has left in the tank is the question.

After averaging 12 points and nine boards in the Lakers’ opening round defeat of Oklahoma City, Bynum’s scoring, rebounding and blocked shot totals have slipped.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

SA vs WI 2nd ODI Live Score: West Indies Battered with Injuries and Patchy Bowlers

Posted: 24 May 2010 06:12 AM PDT

The first game of West Indies V South Africa series, once again proved the mettle of South Africa, as they proved to be far better side than the hosts. Even the change in limited – overs format could not create much of difference to the fortunes of the West Indians. AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla crafted a victory with their individual centuries, adding one hundred and twenty nine runs for the third wicket. In contrast, conditions favorable to the seamers were scarcely utilized by the West Indian bowlers.

After the game Graeme Smith praised both Amla and AB de Villiers for their brilliant display of batting. He said it was great to see both of them getting to their much deserved centuries.

Melancholy of Gayle was reasonably understandable. He looked worried and helpless in wake of another poor display of cricket from his team. Inconsistency of the bowlers to ball stump to stump was more dampening than their batsmen's failure to build a decent partnership. Chris Gayle is surrounded with lack of solutions to turn things in favor of his team for the 2nd ODI.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Kemar Roach with their injuries have not in any way helped the cause of West Indians. Dale Richards have been called for the second game. Likes of Darren Bravo, Devon Smith and Brendan Nash who could have proved to be more efficient for the team in need are out on a tour with A side. However it is possible that they can be called for the 4th and 5th ODI. With all the potential of the West Indian players it is not much difficult to say that we will witness a different game for the 2nd ODI while South Africa will try and maintain their winning feat.

Check out the live cricket score of the 2nd ODI of SA vs WI game live from North Sound.

Cavs Coach Mike Brown Shown Door Out Of Cleveland

Posted: 24 May 2010 05:50 AM PDT

Cleveland, OH, United States (AHN) – Despite winning an NBA-best 61 games in the regular season, Cleveland bounced all-time winningest Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown Sunday night.

Cleveland made the decision at the 12 am deadline to decide whether to fire him or pay him his full $4.5 million salary for the final year of his contract next season.

The Cavs advanced to the playoffs all five years under Brown and the franchise’s first-ever NBA Finals in 2007.

However, a championship has eluded the franchise despite several frantic moves to build a contender around impending free agent LeBron James.

Brown, 40, guided the Cavaliers to a franchise best 66–16 record during the 2008-09 campaign and was named NBA Coach of the Year.

But the success did not carry into the playoffs. The Orlando Magic, currently trailing Boston 3-0 in the Eastern Finals, dismissed King James and his Kingdom in last year’s conference finals.

Cleveland was eliminated by the Boston Celtics in the second round of this year’s playoffs. An embarassing 120-88 Game 4 loss was the most lopsided home defeat in franchise playoff history.

The loss made the Cavs the first team in NBA history to manage back-to-back 60+ win seasons and not advance to the NBA Finals.

Brown leaves the franchise after posting a record .663 winning percentage (272-138) with the team, ahead of Lenny Wilkens (.551) and Mike Fratello (.539).

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