Thursday, May 27, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Falcons’ Remedy For Lackluster Offense: Go Deep With Ryan

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:38 PM PDT

Flowery Branch, GA, United States (AHN) – Matt Ryan’s numbers dipped slightly last season, his second as the Atlanta Falcons’ quarterback and one year after he had lit up opposing defenses en route to earning NFL offensive Rookie of the Year honors.

Nothing alarming, but Ryan and the Falcons have identified the next step in reigniting their offense and his development.

Go deep.

“It’s an area where we definitely want to get better and we will,” Ryan said to the media Wednesday while the Falcons conducted organized team activities (OTAs). “We’ve been working on that.”

Ryan threw for 2,916 yards and completed 58.3 percent of his passes last season, down in both categories. His 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions were in line with his rookie year, although his QB rating of 80.9 was about nine points lower.

Ryan by no means slumped, but a closer look at his deep throws (or lack of them) show exactly where the Falcons want to improve.

According to NFL.com statistics, Ryan ranked 23rd in the league with only 31 completions of 20 yards or more.

Philip Rivers of the San Diego Chargers was tops with 64 completions beyond 20 yards. Houston’s Matt Schaub was second, two behind Rivers, followed by Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger and Dallas’ Tony Romo with 61.

“At this point we feel like we have that timing established a little bit, now it’s about trying to fine tune it and work on some things,” Ryan told reporters. “We are trying to push ourselves into areas where we are a little bit uncomfortable so that we can get better.”

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Park Wheeling Tommy Baldwin Racing Entry At Daytona; Car To Honor Richie Evans

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:36 PM PDT

Mooresville, NC, United States (AHN) – Tommy Baldwin Racing and driver Steve Park will enter a Richie Evans tribute car in the Coke Zero 400 at Daytona International Speedway on July 3.

The No. 36 Chevrolet will carry a throwback orange and black design in memory of Evans, who won eight consecutive Modified Championships from 1978 to 1985 before his untimely death at the age of 44.

"Richie Evans is one of the guys we all worked hard to beat and to be around," Baldwin said. "I always looked up to him.”

Evans posted 54 top-five finishes in 60 Modified races in 1979 from Quebec to Florida and the International Motorsports Hall of Fame terms it, "one of the supreme accomplishments in motorsports."

Evans, who won over 400 races during his career, was fatally injured during practice for the Winn-Dixie 500 Triple header at Martinsville Speedway in 1985.

Park, a two-time winner in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, will return to Daytona for the first time since winning the pole there in 2003.

"I'm extremely honored to be driving a car that pays homage to one of the greatest race car drivers of all time," said Park. "Richie is respected by so many drivers and he really made his mark in this sport. This is a really neat way to get the fans involved while paying homage to one of the greats."

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Jankovic, Murray Advance At French Open

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:35 PM PDT

Paris, France (AHN) – Former world's no.1 Jelena Jankovic came though the Parisian rain to defeat Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 Thursday at Court Philippe Chatrier.

The fourth-seeded Jankovic produced 30 winners of her 95 total points to survive a gritty challenge from her Estonian opponent.

Kanepi, ranked 119th in the world, went toe-to-toe with the Jankovic, making 31 winners of her 82 points but committing 24 unforced errors (8 double faults).

With rainclouds starting to form, Jankovic unloaded several crosscourt and baseline beauties to seal a second round win.

Jankovic, who looks to better than her fourth-round finish last year, will play Ukrainian rising star Alona Bondarenko in the third round.

The 27th-seed Bondarenko, who defeated Slovakian Magdaléna Rybáriková 6-3, 6-3 Thursday, is expected to provide another tough battle for Jankovic.

Meanwhile, world's no.4 Andy Murray also progressed into the third round by ousting Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina 6-2, 6-7, 6-3, 6-2.

Murray, Britain's biggest hope of ending its 74-year Grand Slam drought, blasted 9 aces and produced 75 winners to shake off Chela's threat.

Murray will next play Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis, who defeated Spainish Marcel Granollers 4-6, 6-1, 7-5, 6-2.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Ickler To Make Roush Fenway Debut At Charlotte Motor Speedway

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:33 PM PDT

Concord, NC, United States (AHN) – Brian Ickler will make his Roush Fenway Racing debut this weekend at Charlotte Motor Speedway, wheeling the No. 16 Ford in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

Ickler has made three Nationwide starts, but got bumped up to a Nationwide this weekend and next weekend at Nashville following his promising start in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.

"I am really looking forward to my first start for Roush Fenway Racing this weekend," Ickler said. "Charlotte is a track I've been to in the Truck Series so I'm familiar with it which will make things a little easier. I'm excited to work with this veteran group of guys on the No. 16 team. We have all the tools for a great finish and I'm anxious to see what we can do with them."

Ickler tallied four top-fives and two poles in 13 starts, including top-five finishes in his last two starts at Martinsville and Kansas this year.

The 24-year-old San Diego native will compete in the Tech-net Auto Service 300 at Charlotte Motor Speedway on Saturday.

Thrashers May Have Found Investors To Purchase Percentage Of Team

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:32 PM PDT

Atlanta, GA, United States (AHN) – The Atlanta Thrashers have reportedly found investors in hopes of boosting the franchise’s business stability in the coming years, multiple sources posted Thursday.

Atlanta Sprit, the majority owner of the Thrashers, reported it already found a considerable number of individuals who are willing to buy a "partial or significant" share of the NHL franchise.

Atlanta Spirit co-owner Bruce Levenson said it is seeking a local investor to provide the organization more "financial muscle."

Levenson also denied rumors that the group plans to sell a majority stake or leave Atlanta to play for another city.

Reports circulated that Hollywood filmmaker Stephen Rollins has interest to purchase majority stakes of the Atlanta Thrashers.

Rollins, an Atlanta native, organized a signature campaign to support Atlanta in its bid to have an NHL team.

However, Levenson said the group ideally looks for local investors to play a role in the business side of the Thrashers.

The Thrashers are ranked 29th in Forbes NHL Team Valuations and are 28th overall in attendance, drawing less than 75 percent of the seating capacity of Philips Arena.

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Roddick, Dementieva Advance In Rainy Paris

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:30 PM PDT

Paris, France (AHN) – Last year's Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick booked a spot in the third round Thursday, while four-time champion Rafael Nadal was forced to wait until Friday for his second-round match at the rain-drenched French Open.

Power-serving American sixth seed Roddick had to work his way through the soggy clay court at Roland Garros to advance into the third round following a 6-3, 5-7, 6-4, 6-2 victory over Slovenia's Blaz Kavcic.

Roddick recorded 30 more winners than Kavcic and broke the serve of his Slovenian foe 10 times.

Roddick will next play Russia’s Teimuraz Gabashvili.

Rain caused the delay of the start of Thursday's play for several hours. The inclement weather forced stoppages after that and postponed several matches, including one featuring former world No. 1 Spaniard Nadal.

Apart from Nadal, No. 3 Novak Djokovic will have to return Friday for his second-round assignment.

Nadal, who has won his last 16 matches and is seeking a fourth straight title on the European clay-court swing, will face Horacio Zeballos, while Djokovic plays Kei Nishikori.

Meanwhile, Italian Fabio Fognini posted a minor upset Thursday when he ousted No. 13 Frenchman Gael Monfils, 2-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 9-7.

On the women's side, former runner-up Elena Dementieva posted a second-round victory Thursday at the year’s second Grand Slam event.

Fifth-seeded Dementieva routed Anabel Medina Garrigues, 6-2, 7-6 (7-3) to set up a third-round clash with Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak.

Meanwhile, No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska was upset by Yaroslava Shvedova.

Former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, the 2008 champion, also did not make it into the next stage after succumbing to huge-hitting Russian 28th seed Alisa Kleybanova, 6-3, 6-0.

Australia's Jarmila Groth also sent Japanese Kimiko Date Krumm packing with a 6-0, 6-3 victory. Date Krumm was the first-round conqueror of French Open runner-up and former No. 1 Dinara Safina.

Also rescheduled for Friday due to the weather was the match featuring reigning world No. 1 Serena Williams and German Julia Goerges.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Lilly, Colvin Lift Cubs Past Dodgers In Rubber Match

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:18 PM PDT

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – Ted Lilly hurled seven scoreless innings and Tyler Colvin drove in the lone run with a double in the eighth, as the Chicago Cubs edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 1-0 Thursday in the rubber match of a three game set at Wrigley Field.

In the eighth, Mike Fontenot tripled and scored on Colvin's RBI double with one out, as the Cubs won the pitcher's duel to take the series, two games to one.

Thursday's game turned out to be a pitching clinic held by the Cubs veteran right-hander and Dodgers starter John Ely (3-2), who eventually took the loss.

Lilly scattered three hits, had three walks and fanned five in seven solid innings, but did not factor in the decision.

Ely was about as dominant as Lilly, allowing one run on four hits in 7 1-3 innings in his first career start against the Cubs.

Sean Marshall (5-1) picked up the win after pitching a scoreless eighth. Carlos Marmol pitched in the ninth en route to his 11th save.

It was the third shutout of the season for the Cubs, who have won eight of their last 11 games.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Injuries Make Celtics Vulnerable For Game 6 Vs. Magic

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:16 PM PDT

Boston, MA, United States (AHN) – The Boston Celtics headed for a Game 6 showdown with the Orlando Magic Friday amid injuries surfacing as another obstacle as the series moved to TD Banknorth Garden.

Meanwhile, the Celtics did receive a break Thursday when the NBA rescinded a technical call slapped on Celtics center Kendrick Perkins by Eddie F. Rush.

Perkins, who was ejected during Wednesday’s game, received his second technical call after he complained with the referee, but immediately walked away with 36 seconds left in the second quarter.

The league ruling means that Perkins will be eligible to play Friday, but he remains vulnerable to suspension with six technical fouls in the postseason.

The Celtics suddenly found their backs against the wall after dropping two straight games to the Magic. They had stormed to a 3-0 advantage in the Eastern Conference finals, but the Magic, led by Dwight Howard, owned all the momentum.

The Magic came through with 56 second half points – 29 in the fourth quarter – to earn a 113-92 Game 5 victory and cut the series deficit to 3-2.

However, the biggest problems for the Celtics right now are the injuries.

Forward Glen Davis, who has been a revelation for the Celtics this postseason, suffered a concussion after absorbing an accidental shot to his face from Howard's left elbow.

Davis, who’s averaged 8.2 points and 4.4 rebounds so far in the series, was given medical attention after he was assisted by referee Joey Crawford. The still wobbly Davis left the game with 9.7 seconds left in the third quarter and did not return.

Celtics guard Marquis Daniels also sustained a concussion after colliding with Magic center Marcin Gortat. Both Daniels and Davis are questionable for Game 6.

Forward Rasheed Wallace, who scored a team-high 21 points Wednesday, fouled out late in the fourth quarter and went straight to the locker room for medical attention.

The Celtics reported Wallace "tweaked his back" but was in stable condition.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Overton, Bohn, Adams Lead Birdie Barrage At Colonial

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:14 PM PDT

Fort Worth, Texas, United States (AHN) – Ben Hogan had a simple formula for success in professional golf.

Fairways and greens.

Blake Adams, Jeff Overton and Jason Bohn followed Hogan’s blueprint Thursday during the first round of the Colonial Invitational. The result was a trio of 7-under-par 63s that set the pace on a day when most of the field found the often-difficult course, virtually defenseless.

Hot weather, little to no wind and perfect greens set the stage for the first round birdie barrage.

The day started slow for co-leader Overton, who started with seven straight pars before he made a birdie at the par three eighth. He parred nine for a one-under 34 then proceeded to birdie seven of the holes on the back nine for a mind-boggling 29.

“It was an awesome feeling,” he said afterward. “I’m playing great. I’ve been out here five years now and I’m finally feeling more comfortable.”

The other leader, Bohn, was not. “I woke up this morning and my left ear was aching,” he said after his 63. “I couldn’t hear anything and I told my playing partners, ‘I’m sorry if I don’t hear you.’” Bohn said his success came from the fairway. “I drove the ball in the fairway and didn’t miss many putts,” said Bohn, who once scored a $1 million hole-in-one as a college student at Alabama.

Adams, who finished tied for second at the Byron Nelson with Overton, birdied his final hole of the afternoon, the ninth to jump into the three-man tie.

The man getting a lot of the attention in the first round was John Daly. Daly, playing on a sponsor’s invite, had the first no-bogey round of his comeback. He drove the ball well and finished with a four-under-par 66, three off the red-hot pace of Overton and Bohn.

Phil Mickelson, the highest ranked player in the field who is working his way toward taking the No. 1 ranking from Tiger Woods, was lost in the sea of birdies. Mickelson bogeyed two of the final three holes to finish one-over 71 and flirting with the cut if he does not improve on Friday.

Defending champion Steve Stricker shook off the rust from his six-week layoff to finish the day at two-under, 68.

But it was the perfect playing conditions that yielded 75 sub-par scores on Thursday. Little to no wind, perfect greens and tight fairways set the stage for the scoring rampage.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

LeBron, Wade, Bosh, Joe Johnson To Meet For Free Agent Summit

Posted: 27 May 2010 10:12 PM PDT

United States (AHN) – Recent reports suggest that big-name free agents Dwyane Wade, Joe Johnson, Chris Bosh and LeBron James are planning a summit to discuss their futures and have been engaging in dialogue for some time.

“[Free agency] has been three years coming,” Wade told the Chicago Tribune. “We’ve discussed it prematurely, at different times. [But] you don’t know what guys are thinking and where they’re going. I think we’ll all sit down, and before one of us makes a decision, all of us will have spoken to each other and [listened to the] thinking.”

Wade also acknowledge that many of the group’s individual decisions will depend on what each player does and feels.

Agent Henry Thomas denied the four will be meeting, but James, Wade and Bosh have formed a close relationship since playing with the U.S. Olympic basketball team that won the gold medal at the Beijing Games.

Since no team has more than two max contracts, which these players will certainly command, no more than two will likely end up on the same team.

Some teams with money to spend and interest from free agents include Chicago, New York, and Miami. But it is believed most of the four big names will stay with their current teams, who can offer them the highest contract for the longest amount of time.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.
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