Friday, May 28, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Roethlisberger Cleared For Workouts With Team

Posted: 28 May 2010 12:15 PM PDT

Pittsburgh, PA, United States (AHN) – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cleared Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Friday to participate in next week's team activities.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello posted a statement on his Twitter account, announcing an end to Roethlisberger's behavioral evaluation period.

“Commissioner Goodell has advised Steelers & Ben Roethlisberger that he is cleared to return to team activities next week.” Aiello posted Thursday.

The NFL commissioner slapped Roethlisberger with a six-game suspension without compensation and prohibited him from participating in team activities for violating the league's personal conduct policy.

Roethlisberger was charged following an alleged sexual assault incident in Georgia, but prosecutors dropped the case due to lack of evidence.

In spite of the decision, Goodell can still lessen or lengthen Roethlisberger’s suspension period next season.

Steelers president Art Rooney II also recognized the commissioner's decision and released a statement in connection to the matter.

“Commissioner Goodell informed us today that based on the information he received from the clinical evaluations, he has cleared Ben Roethlisberger to return to the Steelers’ facility to take part in both meetings and practices. We look forward to having Ben rejoin his teammates on the practice field,” Rooney said in his statement released Friday.

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Phil Mickelson Flounders, Misses Cut At Colonial

Posted: 28 May 2010 12:14 PM PDT

Fort Worth, Texas, United States (AHN) – Phil Mickelson was honest about his opening round performance at the Colonial Invitational Thursday.

“I drove it sideways and hit terrible iron shots,” is how the world’s No. 2 player assessed his play. After his round he sought input from instructor Butch Harmon but it had little positive results Friday.

Mickelson struggled mightily again and missed the 36-hole cut.

He played the back nine first and found himself 2-over for the tournament with nine holes to play and the cut looking like it would come at 1-under par. He needed to make something happen in a hurry.

Instead, things got worse, a lot worse.

It all came crashing down at the three-hole stretch on Colonial’s front nine, Nos. 3-5, known as the “Horrible Horseshoe.” He went bogey-bogey-bogey and that was it for Lefty.

He finished at 3-over 73 for a 144 total.

The tournament that created a “Pink Out” day for its third round last year to honor Mickelson’s wife Amy, who’s in the midst of battling breast cancer, will be held without Mickelson on the weekend for the second straight year.

While the tournament lost one major draw, another stepped up.

John Daly shot a second-straight sub-par round and found himself 5-under par at the halfway point. Daly’s 69 would have been better had it not been for a double-bogey 6 at his final hole of the day, the par-4 ninth.

Still, it marks a big step forward for Daly and his comeback campaign.

It will be the first time he’s made the cut at Colonial, a course that had been previously unkind to him. He missed three cuts here and withdrew in another try.

He’ll be around this time.

Phil Mickelson won’t.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Umpire Joe West Faces Punishment For White Sox Ejections

Posted: 28 May 2010 12:12 PM PDT

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – Umpire “Cowboy” Joe West might soon have some extra time to record a few tracks for his country western music CD.

Several media outlets reported Major League Baseball is investigating West’s ejection of Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen and pitcher Mark Buehrle Wednesday, an incident that could lead to West’s suspension.

Yahoo! Sports already reported MLB has reprimanded West in a phone call, and that combined with previous controversial comments about the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, the veteran umpire had crossed a line and will be suspended.

“I didn’t do anything confrontational,” West said Thursday during an interview with ESPN 1000 radio in Chicago, adding that he didn’t use profanity when arguing with Guillen and Buehrle.

West tossed Guillen after the manager came onto the field following a balk call on Buehrle. One inning later, West called another balk on Buehrle, who threw down his glove in disgust and also was thrown out.

“Ozzie came out to protect his pitcher, which was probably a good idea at the time, because Buehrle was drawing lines in dirt on the mound (to show he’s not moving his leg past where the rules stipulate), and he was about to get ejected then,” West said on the radio show.

“Ozzie even said he was out there not to argue the balk but to protect his pitcher, which he should come out in that situation. I said, ‘Everything is OK now, Ozzie, you can go back to the dugout.’ And he got mad, because I told him you can go back. He used a few profanity-laced lines and that got him ejected.”

In April, West sparked a controversy by calling the Yankees and Red Sox “pathetic and embarrassing” because both teams take a long time to play their games.

West, a country music singer and songwriter, apparently now awaits his own ejection of sorts from MLB.

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Raiders Want $10 Million Back From Quarterback JaMarcus Russell

Posted: 28 May 2010 12:10 PM PDT

Oakland, CA, United States (AHN) – You figured at some point the Oakland Raiders would cut their losses and dump quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Admit they made a mistake drafting him as the No. 1 overall pick and write him off like a non-performing loan on a bank’s balance sheet.

Hey, these are cashed-strapped economic times, and the Raiders apparently need the money more than Russell — $9.55 million to be exact.

Yahoo! Sports reported the team has begun the process to take back approximately $10 million in salary advances for the 2010-12 seasons.

“We have filed a grievance against JaMarcus Russell and that’s all we’re going to say at this time,” Raiders general counsel Jeff Birren was quoted as saying in a statement released through the team.

Given Russell’s play, the Raiders certainly have grounds for a grievance.

He’s already pocketed a reported $36.4 million in his three seasons, during which he was 7-18 as a starter, throwing only 18 touchdowns with 23 interceptions.

Russell’s representative, of course, claims the money was guaranteed.

Fully, his agent Eric Metz, emphasized. “That is why JaMarcus was forced to hold out and miss all of training camp as a rookie. The Raiders know that and this is our only comment,” he said in the report.

If it comes down to money earned vs. money owed, expect Russell to lose another game.

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UConn Men’s Basketball Team Cited For Eight Violations; Two Assistants Step Down

Posted: 28 May 2010 10:31 AM PDT

Storrs, CT, United States (AHN) – The University of Connecticut men’s basketball program was cited for eight violations Friday by the NCAA ranging from giving recruits improper benefits to Coach Jim Calhoun’s failure to “promote an atmosphere of compliance.”

The school didn’t announce any self-imposed sanctions after releasing the infractions letter and declined comment. UConn officials are expected to respond to the NCAA infractions committee at an October meeting.

The basketball program forced two assistants to resign Thursday, according to the Hartford Courant, a move seen as a response to recruiting violations about to be leveled.

The paper identified assistant coach Pat Sellers and director of basketball operations Beau Archibald as the two who resigned.

Other violations cited by the NCAA included improper phone calls and text messages to recruits. Calhoun recently received a contract extension for at least four more seasons.

The 15-month investigation centered around the recruitment of Nate Miles, who was kicked off the the team in 2008 after only two months.

Miles had been arrested for violating a restraining order made by a female student. Last year, Yahoo!Sports detailed the allegations of NCAA rule violations in Miles’ recruitment.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Federer, Nadal Roar Past Foes At French Open; Serena, Venus Victorious

Posted: 28 May 2010 10:30 AM PDT

Paris, United States (AHN) – Top seeds held serve and raised their games as the French Open gathered steam toward the later rounds this weekend.

World No.1 Roger Federer remained on track for his second straight French Open title, defeating German Julian Reister in straight sets 6-4, 6-0, 6-4 Friday at Roland Garros.

Federer blasted 6 aces and produced 34 winners of 94 total points to offset his 18 unforced errors in the match. He will face the winner of the Stanislas Wawrinka-Fabio Fognini third round match Friday.

Meanwhile, four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal set up a third-round showdown with Australian Lleyton Hewitt with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 win over Argentine Horacio Zeballos.

The second-seeded Nadal overpowered Zeballos with 23 winners of 93 points and committed just 12 miscues in the match.

Nadal, gunning for a fifth French Open title, will be expecting a tougher foe in the third round, when he faces 28th-seed Hewitt.

In the women's draw, the Williams sisters also reigned supreme, as Venus and Serena accomplished their initial assignments.

Venus moved into the fourth round after beating last year's semifinalist Dominika Cibulková 6-3, 6-4, while Serena blasted German Julia Goerges 6-1, 6-1 in their second round match Friday.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Dodgers Star Ethier Could Return From Finger Injury Monday

Posted: 28 May 2010 08:32 AM PDT

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Outfielder Andre Ethier could suit up for the Los Angeles Dodgers Monday, when they open a 13-game homestand, beginning with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Dodgers manager Joe Torre said Ethier could play for the Dodgers Monday after being placed on the 15-day disabled list with a broken bone in his right pinkie.

Ethier is expected to participate in a two-game rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Albuquerque at Memphis.

Torre said he will rest Ethier Sunday and could place him back in the roster depending on his right fielder's condition.

Los Angeles Lakers trainer Gary Vitti, who also helped Lakers star Kobe Bryant with his pinkie injury, recommended Ethier wear a small splint on the finger. The splint appeared not to bother Ethier during batting practice Tuesday and Wednesday.

Although he remains atop in batting at .392, Ethier lost his lead in the other Triple Crown categories in the National League.

He also hit 11 home runs, has 38 RBI, and scored 25 runs this season.

Ethier, who has 140 plate appearances, would quickly qualify again for the Triple Crown race if he's able to return Monday.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Bear’ Bryant: Kobe Uses Anger To Propel Lakers Past Suns

Posted: 28 May 2010 08:31 AM PDT

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Kobe Bryant aka the Black Mamba strikes again.

When Bryant gets lathered up like he did after Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals between the Los Angeles Lakers and Phoenix Suns it's a good bet he's coming out to take charge the next game.

And he did. Bryant, the Lakers resident-in-house superstar, torched Phoenix with another jaw-dropping performance, scoring 30 points, snatching 11 rebounds and handing out nine assists in a pivotal Game 5 performance Thursday night at STAPLES Center.

Bryant scored 13 of his 30 points in the first quarter, setting a tone for the Lakers, as he has done all season, that playtime is over.

The Lakers would need all of those 30 points and a little bit extra in this game as Phoenix rallied from a 17-point first half deficit to tie the game at 101 with 3.5 seconds left in the contest after Jason Richardson knocked down a 3-point shot. Phoenix's problem was that they left too much time on the clock.

Considering that the Lakers have a rich history of executing and making game-winning shots that was a bad omen for Phoenix who outscored Los Angeles 29-25 in the final quarter.

Bryant's heave from behind the three-point arc was straight but fell short of its goal of reaching the basket, turning into an airball attempt.

But Bryant and the Lakers received the biggest reprieve they've had in this postseason when Ron Artest grabbed the ball and banked in the game-winning shot with the clock struck at zero. Game over.

"I could see him coming," Bryant said. "I felt I had a good look. Grant Hill stuck his hand in there in the last second, forced me to double-pump. Other than that I was going to shoot over Steve (Nash). And once I released the ball, I saw Ron streaking in. I was just hoping he got it off in time."

For his part, Artest said his aggressive play over the final two quarters of the game carried over to the Lakers' last possession, which ended up giving Los Angeles a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

"Just gotta continue to play," Artest said. "I was kind of not playing my game from the beginning of the game, and It kind of carried over. So in the second half, I was finding my way a little bit, made some good passes and good steals and got some tough rebounds. So I guess that aggressive play can carry over into that last possession."

Bryant has kept up his play of attack basketball during the postseason, averaging 29 points, nearly five rebounds and just over six assists a game throughout the playoffs.

Last year's NBA Finals MVP is playing like the best player in the playoffs. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Bryant's performance was spectacular.

"I thought we were going a little bit too reliant on him at the beginning of the fourth quarter, but that will happen at times," Jackson said. "But he played a stellar game tonight."

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

NHL Set To Announce Outdoor Games For Early 2011

Posted: 28 May 2010 06:14 AM PDT

Pittsburgh, PA, United States (AHN) – The National Hockey League will reportedly announce Friday the scheduling of two outdoor games for next year.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will hold a press conference Friday to confirm the 2011 Winter Classic game between the Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The second game he’ll discuss is the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames outdoor showdown.

The much anticipated Winter Classic showdown between the Penguins and the Capitals will be held on Jan 1 at Heinz Field.

The New Years Day hockey game will be the second hockey match to be held in a football stadium since Ralph Wilson Stadium staged the original Winter Classic match between Penguins and Buffalo Sabres game on Jan. 1, 2008.

With Heinz Field's seating capacity of over 66,000, this hockey match is expected to generate huge buzz and ticket sales in the coming months.

The match will also feature the tussle between two of the most established stars in the league: Penguins' star Sidney Crosby and Capitals standout Alexander Ovechkin.

Meanwhile, the Canadiens-Flames match will be held at at McMahon Stadium in Calgary the weekend right after CBC's "Hockey Day in Canada" in February.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Favre Surgery Has Hopes High On Return To Vikings

Posted: 28 May 2010 04:48 AM PDT

Eden Prairie, MN, United States (AHN) – Brett Favre’s ankle surgery has gone a long way in assuring some the legendary quarterback will return to the Minnesota Vikings for the 2010 season.

Renowned surgeon Dr. James Andrew repaired the ankle that was hurt during the 2009 NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints.

“This is to confirm that I did have a procedure to remove some scar tissue and bone spurs from my ankle which had been bothering me for a period of time. I appreciate your concerns,” said Favre on his website officialbrettfavre.com.

Favre, 40. underwent shoulder surgery before signing a two-year pact with the Vikings prior to the 2009 season. He went on to post one of the best seasons in his Hall-of-Fame career, 33 touchdowns and only seven interceptions.

The Vikings hung tough before falling in the NFC Championship to the Super Bowl champion Saints.

“When I decided to return to the NFL to play my 19th season, I did so with some trepidation”, said Favre. “After all, I was joining a new team in a new city, for the archrivals of the "green and gold." And I'm not getting any younger.”

“I couldn't be happier about my decision. The coaches, staff, and especially teammates who joined me in the season's journey are true professionals, and better yet, friends. I felt completely comfortable from day one as a member of the Minnesota Vikings, and it's a tribute to the entire organization that accepted me with open arms. It was truly an amazing experience to be a part of the Minnesota Vikings this past season”

Favre is an 11-time Pro Bowler and owns the NFL career passing (69,329) and touchdown (497) record.

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