Monday, June 14, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Legendary Caddy Bruce Edwards: A Charmed Life Cut Short

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 12:28 PM PDT

Pebble Beach, CA, United States (AHN) – When the U.S. Open begins play Thursday at Pebble Beach, perhaps many of us will drift back in time to the dramatic shot heard around the world of golf in 1982.

Tom Watson, faced with a difficult situation to stay in contention on the 71st hole of the Open, hit the perfect wedge shot that went into the hole and gave him the boost he needed to beat Jack Nicklaus for the title.

Watson ran across the green and pointed at his caddy, Bruce Edwards. Edwards moments earlier had told Tom to get it close. Watson, confidently retorted: “I’ll make it.”

He did. I will think of that moment and I’ll think about Bruce.

No doubt my mind go back to a time 29 years ago.

We were standing on the practice tee on a steamy Thursday May morning in 1981 at the ritzy Preston Trail Golf Club in Dallas. First round play at the Byron Nelson was in progress.

It was the first time I’d seen Bruce Edwards up close and personal. First time I’d seen him from a caddy’s perspective.

Sure, we all knew Bruce as golf writers but this was the first time I was doing what he did. Fate had turned me from a sports writer to the caddy ranks. He stood two spots down, leaning against that red and white RAM golf bag waiting for his man.

His man was young Tom Watson, the stud of the PGA Tour. He was the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year and was on a roll, having won that title in 1977, ‘78, ‘79 and ‘80.

Edwards was 25, Watson and I were only six years his senior. We were all young.

Edwards and I were a universe apart with the bags we carried. He had Watson, I had Beau Baugh. No one knew Beau. They knew his sister, LPGA star Laura, but Beau was just another PGA Tour “rabbit.” Just another guy struggling to make it.

Edwards and I stood out from the rest of the caddies. We dressed like players. Our clothes were neat and pressed. We wore expensive golf shirts and slacks, no jeans. Bruce was the “standard.”

He was a new-age caddy. He looked the part. His hair was razor-cut, parted down the middle. He looked younger than 25.

He looked over at me and nodded. Bruce wasn’t a big talker. He was prepping for action, ready to get Watson around Preston Trail one more time. It was a course Watson dominated. Played like he owned the place. He won the event in 1978, 1979 and was the defending champion that week.

Couldn’t help thinking to myself as I watched Edwards check throught he pockets of Watson’s bag: “This guy has it MADE.”

Fate had smiled on Edwards the day he met Watson back in 1973. From that point on, his life was charmed. He was THE caddy.

I glanced again and saw a huge smile light up Bruce’s face. Watson’s right behind me, I sensed it. He was. “Gentlemen,” Watson said to us as he walked past. He wore a huge grin. The gallery buzzed with excitement. Watson had that effect on crowds.

Baugh missed the cut that week. Watson contended hard but it was Bruce Lietzke’s turn to win.

Would see Bruce again a month later at the U.S. Open at Merion. Watson was a favorite. My job was to help Hal Sutton, the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, survive his first and second round pairing with Jack Nicklaus and Hale Irwin.

Once again I got a friendly nod from Edwards. “You got Hal,” he said and pointed at me. “Yeah,” I responded. “Take care of him,” Bruce said with a smile. “Thanks, good luck to you and Tom,” I told him.

Bruce only smiled.

Couldn’t help thinking again that Bruce really had it made. Caddies were envious of Bruce but at the same time, they all had enormous respect for him.

He was changing the caddy environment, changing the perception of what were previously regarded as mere bag-toters.

Bruce was making a great living and having a world of fun in the process.

He was frustrated only by the fact he couldn’t caddy for Tom at the Masters. Outside caddies weren’t allowed at Augusta National, but that changed in 1983.

Bruce never carried Tom’s bag for those five British Open wins either. That honor went to Alfie Files.

Still, Bruce was Tom’s guy and Tom was his guy. They were an incredible fit. Tom was more than Bruce’s boss, he was Bruce’s close friend, a first in those days.

A year later came Bruce and Tom’s magic moment at Pebble. I was overjoyed for both.

I followed their career, player and caddy. There was no partnership like it.

The Thursday of the 2004 Masters brought the devastating news that the world lost Bruce Edwards. The young man I knew who lived a charmed life had been dealt a cruel hand by fate in his late 40s. He was a victim of ALS, a death sentence.

Bruce left Tom forever that day, April 8. He was only 49.

When I heard the news, my mind drifted back to those idyllic days on the tour. The young Bruce, the young Watson, standing 10 feet from me. Caught myself thinking how I envied Bruce at the time.

Those were exciting days for Edwards and Watson and all of us were excited by them.

The Golf Channel will air a special documentary about Bruce Edwards Monday night based on John Feinstein’s book Caddy For Life.

Some will watch Bruce up close and personal for the first time. I’ll simply remember him exactly the way he was in 1981.

Forever young, forever the best caddy.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Brewers’ Hart Belting Way To Career Year; Leads NL With 17 Homers

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:52 AM PDT

Milwaukee, WI, United States (AHN) – Corey Hart’s career with the Milwaukee Brewers has included descriptions such as unsung, all-star and resurgent.

The right fielder can now be called ‘blistering’ for a torrid pace with his recent display of power.

Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Corey Hart leads the National League with 17 home runs, which also ranks third in the majors. Against the Texas Rangers Friday, he belted a homer for the third time in four games.

Add to that his three homers vs. the New York Mets in a series at the end of May, and the 28-year-old Hart suddenly has become a threat to post career-high numbers for the otherwise lagging Brewers (26-37, tied for fourth place in the NL Central).

Hart was batting .256 going into Monday night’s game against the Los Angeles Angels, down from his career average of .271, but he’s produced more clutch hits and reached base more often.

His 42 RBI rank 13th in the NL and he’s also walked 23 times, already well within range of topping his 43 walks last season.

In 2007, Hart became the first Brewer in four years to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases.

He might have been small-market Milwaukee’s secret star, but in 2008 Hart received his national due when he was named to the NL All-Star team.

Last season was cut short in August, when he was put on the disabled list and missed about a month after undergoing an emergency appendectomy.

His power has obviously returned, and he’s on pace to have the best season since he broke into the majors with the Brewers in 2004.

In ‘07, he ripped 24 homers, and in ‘08 he drove in 91 runs — with more than three months left in the season, those are numbers easily within reach for Hart.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Jets’ Lineman Mangold Arrives At Camp Despite Lack Of New Deal

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:51 AM PDT

Florham Park, NJ, United States (AHN) – Fresh off a trip to the AFC Championship game, the New York Jets are finding out how such success usually equals new and expensive contract negotiations.

All-Pro center Nick Mangold provided a good faith gesture Monday when he arrived for the start of the team’s three-day mandatory minicamp.

Mangold, a first-round 2006 draft pick who’s in the final year of his rookie contract, reportedly wasn’t going to show as negotiations continued for a new deal.

He’s scheduled to make $3.3 million this season, but according to various media reports the Jets have not made an offer.

All-Pro cornerback Darelle Revis also is not happy with his contract and wants a new deal making him the NFL’s highest paid player at his position.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Japan Clinches Famous Opening World Cup Win; Topple Cameroon

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:49 AM PDT

Bloemfontein, South Africa (AHN) – Less than three months after being booed off the field by its own fans after a 3-0 friendly defeat to Serbia, Japan secured a famous win in its opening World Cup match, beating African hopefuls Cameroon 1-0 in Bloemfontain.

A single goal from Honda, coming after a deep cross evaded everyone else, was neatly controlled by the forward before being lashed emphatically home.

Cameroon will take positives from the game and could have won a point when a spectacular long range effort by Mbia slammed against the Japanese crossbar before bouncing to safety.

That effort inspired a brief spell of pressure from the African side, but it was to no avail as Japan held on.

The result leaves Japan and the Netherlands in pole position to qualify from Group E, and the sides meet Saturday.

Cameroon and Denmark meet in a must-win game for both sides the same day.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Report: NBA Players Utilizing Twitter More Than Ever

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:48 AM PDT

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Despite the limit in the use of social media set by the NBA last year, more and more players are using twitter to reach out to their fan base and provide personal updates.

About 150 players are hooked on the said social media network, according to a Boston Herald report.

The NBA is considered one of the North American pro sports league most associated with Twitter.

The league's top user and regarded as one of the chief catalyst for that link is NBA superstar Shaquille O'Neal, who is reported to have nearly 3 million followers.

Paul Pierce, who is currently helping the Celtics in their goal to win another NBA championship title, is also among the top users of the cyber social site.

Lakers star Kobe Bryant belongs to a group of players who shun the use of Twitter.

Under the guidelines set last year by the league, the use of Twitter and other social media networking is banned during a period beginning 45 minutes before the opening tip and until about 25 minutes after a game concludes.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

L.A. Kings Assistant Hardy Resigns Amid Sexual Abuse Charge

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:47 AM PDT

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Los Angeles Kings assistant coach Mark Hardy resigned amid a felony sexual abuse charge, the NHL team announced Sunday.

Hardy, who the Kings said resigned Friday, was arrested last month in Washington after allegedly fondling a female family member in a hotel room.

Hardy, 51, and the woman were allegedly drunk and sleeping in the same bed together when the incident occurred.

Hardy played defenseman for the Kings, New York Rangers and Minnesota North Stars during a 15-year NHL career.

He coached previously in Los Angeles, before a two-year stint with the Chicago Blackhawks, rejoining the Kings for the 2008-09 season.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Cavs Or Spartans? Michigan State Remains In Limbo On Izzo Decision

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:46 AM PDT

East Lansing, MI, United States (AHN) – Will he or won’t he? Either way, expect Tom Izzo breaking news updates.

The Michigan State Spartans’ annual basketball camp opened Monday morning and Tom Izzo was still the school’s men’s basketball coach.

But the buzz about Izzo jumping to the Cleveland Cavaliers’ is growing louder — and not just from all those mobile devices set on vibrate at the campus hoops complex.

Attendees can expect drills and lessons on the pick-and-roll and other fundamentals during the camp, which runs through Thursday.

They might also learn about the box-in-one, which Izzo has put himself in now that he’s flirted with moving to the NBA to coach LeBron James and the Cavs.

Whether he stays or goes, Izzo now has to make a decision, and then he has to tell everyone whether his heart still belongs to the Big Ten champions in East Lansing or he’ll take the money and run to Cleveland.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer originally reported Izzo’s announcement would come last Saturday, but updated the story with sources saying Izzo would decide “soon.”

Izzo also reportedly sent a text message to several national media members saying he was still gathering information.

No press conferences or formal statements seem to be in the works.

Will he stay or go? Even LeBron has remained mostly silent on this one, as the Cavs star contemplates his own future.

Michigan State and Cavs fans are just waiting to hear from Izzo.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

World Cup: Dutch Double Danes 2-0 In Jo’Burg

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:45 AM PDT

Johannesburg, South Africa (AHN) – World Cup hopefuls the Netherlands opened its World Cup account with a professional 2-0 win over fellow European’s Denmark Mondau.

The Orange men, who were backed by a large travelling Orange-clad army, began brightly in bright Johannesburg sunshine, living up to their pre-tournament billing as one of the favourites to lift the trophy.

Missing Arjen Robben, who is still recovering from a hamstring strain, the Dutch retained a potent threat going forward, but wasted a couple of good early chances.

Denmark, which still fancies its chances of emerging from a group which also contains Cameroon and Japan who meet later on Monday, weren’t just there as fodder for the Dutch cannons though.

The squad created two good chances of their own, which Nicolas Bendtner was unable to convert.

Moments after the interval, Bendtner’s, not the Netherlands, wastefulness was punished.

A deep ball into the Danish box caused panic as a hurried defensive header struck Denmark centre-back Daniel Agger on route to the bottom corner.

After conceeding, the Danes, inexplicably retreated further into their defensive shell, satisfying themselves with increasingly rare foray’s into Dutch territory.

Their negativity, like their earlier wastefulnes, was duely punished.

This time Dirk Kuyt got the goal, tapping home the rebound after Eljero Eliah’s shot bounced back off the post.

The Netherlands will be happy with the three points, but you feel they will have to improve if they are to live up to their pre-tournament hopes.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Big 12 Tries To Remain Viable, Talks To Texas About Staying Put

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 11:43 AM PDT

Irving, TX, United States (AHN) – Amid the ongoing shakeup in the Big 12, the conference is trying to hold together by pushing for projected value in its realignment negotiations among its members especially with Texas.

According to a report by ESPN.com, citing a source, Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe indicated that strong television revenue is still possible for a 10-team model.

As a result, the value of sharing revenue with fewer schools is given more emphasis in the conference's realignment.

Texas, considered the linchpin to the conference's survival after it recently lost Nebraska and Colorado, could get more concessions, Kansas City.com reported.

Also part of that reported pitch is the distribution of the departure penalties to be collected from Nebraska and Colorado.

Apart from keeping alive the conference's natural rivalries, it will also consider the interests of its fan base and the student-athletes.

Last week Colorado bolted for the Pac-10 Conference, while Nebraska agreed to join the Big Ten.

According to a Kansas City Star report, officials from Kansas, Missouri, Kansas State, Iowa State and Baylor held a conference call Saturday.

The said five schools agreed to continue to be affiliated with the Big 12.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

UFC 115 Takes In Robust $4.2 Million Live Gate Attendance

Posted: 14 Jun 2010 04:11 AM PDT

Vancouver, BC, Canada (AHN) – In the promotion's first trip to a Canadian city other than Montreal, UFC 115 held Saturday night drew a reported $4.2 million live gate attendance.

About 17,000 fans reportedly flocked to GM Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to witness the UFC 115 edition which featured the headliner between former lightweight heavyweight champ Chuck Liddell and Rich Franklin, a former middleweight champion.

Saturday's pay-per-view event failed to surpass UFC 113 on May 8 in Montreal which reported 17,647 attendees.

UFC 113, however, only registered a reported $3.27 million gate.

The record for the North American attendance for a mixed martial arts event is currently owned by UFC 97 with 21,451 attendees and a reported $4.9 million gate.

Despite sustaining a broken area, believed to have occurred in the first two minutes of the clash after a blocking a pounding kick from Liddell, Franklin (26-5 MMA, 13-4 UFC) eventually outlasted his legendary opponent.

A monstrous short right hand sent Liddell (21-8 MMA, 16-7 UFC) to the canvass in the opening round's final seconds and also into retirement.

In the main co-event Mirko "Cro-Cop" Filipovic pummeled Patrick Barry with punishing powerful strikes in the third en route to a submission via a rear-naked choke 4:30 into third round.

Meanwhile, Martin Kampmann scored a unanimous 30-27 decision over No. 5 ranked Paulo Thiago in a welterweight encounter.

In the heavyweight clash, Ben Rothwell also posted a unanimous decision over Gilbert Yvel.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.
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