Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

World Cup: Chile Opens With Win Over Honduras

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 12:05 PM PDT

Nelspurit, South Africa (AHN) – Chile, who are many people’s dark horses to make a real impact at the 2010 World Cup Finals, kicked off its campaign with a 1-0 win over Honduras.

In truth Chile probably should have scored more, but will take the three points regardless.

Having dominated from start to finish, the Chileans, led by the impressive Sanchez, had to rely on a lucky goal to claim the win.

A low cross caused havoc in the Honduran box with an attempted clearance struck the advancing Jean Beausejour on its route out of danger.

The ball then looped past Hoduras ‘keeper Valladares for the match’s lone goal.

Honduras will now need to get points out of both Switzerland and European Champions Spain if it is to progress, a position Chile look favorites to acheive.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

World Cup Favourites Spain Defeated In Opening Match

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 12:04 PM PDT

Durban, South Africa (AHN) – World Cup favourites and current European Champions Spain were defeated 1-0 by Switzerland in its opening match Wednesday.

On a night which pitted football’s equivalent of beauty against the beast, it was the beast of Switzerland which emerged victorious.

Spain, as was expected kept the ball superbly, but all the possession in the world is no good if a team does not advance the ball and create scoring opportunities.

Switzerland knew this and manned its defensive barricades just hoping for a chance to hit the favorites on the break.

Then, when its chance came, Spain took it.

A long ball was defended atrociously and the ball eventually found it’s way to Gelson Fernandes who continued the bundled move, forcing the ball home.

Stung into action, Spain sprung forward and Xabi Alonso almost scored the goal of the tournament when he smashed a stunning drive against the underside of the Swiss crossbar.

Spain now will need to beat both Honduras and Chile if it is to stay in the tournament, but even then it is likely to face powerhouse Brazil in the last 16.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

World No. 2 Federer Named Top Seed At Wimbledon

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 12:02 PM PDT

United States (AHN) – Switzerland's Roger Federer again received the No.1 seed Wednesday, when the All-England Club released the official seeding for next week's Wimbledon Open Championships.

Federer, 28, gained the top seed for next week's Grand Slam tournament, despite conceding his No.1 ranking to Rafael Nadal on June 7.

Unlike other Grand Slam tournaments, Wimbledon does not determine seeding based on world ranking but rather the player's performance on grass over the last two years.

Top-ranked Nadal captured his lone Wimbledon title in an epic five-set win over Federer in 2008, but was still seeded at No. 2 after skipping the tournament last year due to tendinitis.

Federer, the reigning Wimbledon champion, is gunning to tie Pete Sampras' record of seven men's single titles here in the open era.

Other contenders in the men's draw are: Novak Djokovic (No. 3), Andy Murray (No. 4), Andy Roddick (No. 5), Robin Soderling (No. 6), Nikolay Davydenko (No. 7), Fernando Verdasco (No. 8), David Ferrer (No. 9), and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (No.10).

Meanwhile, defending Wimbledon champion Serena Williams received the No. 1 seed, followed by sister Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Jelena Janković and Francesca Schiavone.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

U.S. Open Promises To Be Perilous At Pebble

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 12:01 PM PDT

Pebble Beach, California, United States (AHN) – When asked, Jack Nicklaus said that if he had only one round of golf left to play, it would be at Pebble Beach.

That is mighty testimony to the beauty, peril and quality of the world-famous seaside layout that hosts the 110th United States Open golf championship beginning Thursday.

There are instant memories of past U.S. Opens at Pebble Beach. There was Nicklaus’ 1-iron shot that hit the pin at the 17th hole and stopped a foot away during the final round and sealed the 1972 title for the Golden Bear.

There was the Tom Watson chip-in at the same hole in 1982. It was a birdie that won him the title over Nicklaus.

Tom Kite hit a 6-iron on the 100-yard seventh hole during the final round in 1992. It was into a howling wind and he missed the green long left. He then chipped-in for birdie. He called it the greatest shot of his career, a birdie that helped lift him to his only major title.

Then there was the 2000 Open. It was no contest. Tiger Woods made history with his record 12-under-par score and won by 15 shots.

Phil Mickelson remembers it well. “2000 was the greatest performance I’ve ever seen in the game,” he said of Woods’ victory.

Don’t look for that kind of performance from any player in this year’s field.

“This is the best U.S. Open setup I’ve seen,” said Mickelson, who has seen 20 of them as a player. “I’m concerned about how small the greens are and what happens if we don’t get any moisture.”

Indeed, many of the Pebble Beach greens are tiny compared to what the world’s best players see on a weekly basis. “Some of these greens will be unhittable,” Mickelson predicted. “Where can you make par from? It puts emphasis on the short game.”

And that is a strength of Mickelson and Woods.

Mickelson and the rest have seen the weather report through the weekend and there’s virtually no chance of rain. “And that’s why I’m concerned,” Mickelson pointed out.

Temperatures will only reach the mid-to-high 60s, perfect weather.

In addition to hard, non-receptive greens, the fairways are also getting harder.

“The fairways are getting really quick,” observed Woods, and that’s one reason most players will limit the number of drivers they use in the tournament.

“At Augusta (the Masters) I swing as hard as I can on every tee shot,” Mickelson said. “You can’t do that out here.”

If the fast conditions aren’t enough, there’s always the famous Open rough. The USGA has allowed native grasses to grow on the green-side of most bunkers. The fairways that border the ocean holes have been shaved down and tee shots that start running toward the water could easily go right over the famous cliffs.

Pebble Beach does have its scoring opportunities. At a shade more than 7,000 yards, it is short by Open standards. There are birdie opportunities on the short holes, but there are also double-bogeys lurking for bad decisions and wayward tee shots.

This is Everyman’s tournament. The field is a mixed bag. You have Mickelson, Woods and the rest of the world’s best along with little known pros and in some cases, college and amateur golfers who survived the qualifying process.

It’s golf democracy at its finest.

It is also the most difficult major to win.

Why?

Let Woods, who has won three of these, answer that:

“It is the hardest to win,” he tells us.

“It has the narrowest fairways, the highest rough and the trickiest greens.”

“And,” he added, “It’s hard to get shots back.”

Hard for him, near impossible for others.

There’s an old saying: You don’t win the U.S. Open, it wins you.

THE OPEN NOTEBOOK:

Phil Mickelson tees off at 11:06 a.m. (EDT) Thursday. He’ll start on the 10th tee and is playing with Paddy Harrington and Y.E. Yang. They are off late Friday, 4:36 p.m. (EDT), starting at the first hole.

TIger Woods is on the opposite side of the draw from Mickelson. He plays with Lee Westwood and Ernie Els. They play Thursday at 4:36 (EDT) and tee off at No. 1. On Friday they’ll go early, 11:06 a.m. (EDT) and start at No.10.

Mickelson’s game plan? “I want to play aggressive into the greens. I have to take that into consideration off the tee. How can I be most aggressive into the pin? I have to keep that in mind on the tee shots.”

Lee Westwood, who is paired with Woods, has contended but been unable to win in his past four majors. There’s pressure on him this week as he comes to Pebble fresh off of victory in Memphis at the St. Jude Classic. “The most pressure comes from expectations of what I want to do,” said Westwood.

Looking for a dark horse this week? How about Tim Clark? He has the control game necessary for U.S. Open conditions. He uses the long putter and if he can win, it would be the first Open victory for a player who uses one.

The seventh hole at Pebble Beach is perhaps the shortest you’ll see in a major championship. It’s a mere 109 yards or so, hardly a full pitching wedge for these players. But it is still intimidating, nestled against the cliff on the right and the long grass awaiting stray shots to the left.

The wind is typically a factor at Pebble Beach but forecasts for the tournament have winds fairly calm, with breezes expected to be no greater than 10 mph. But one thing is for sure, conditions can change quickly here.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Miami-’Wade’ County Puts Heat On Dwyane To Stay

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 11:59 AM PDT

Miami, FL, United States (AHN) – Please, Dwyane … Don’t go! Don’t go Dwyane!

Dwyane Wade has long been the face of the Miami Heat. At least since Shaq left town, anyway.

But with free agency looming July 1, Miami has gotten serious about keeping its star player. So by unanimous vote, the Miami-Dade County commission has officially renamed the area Miami-Wade County during the week of July 1-7.

Such a resolution, of course, can’t come without some kind of declaration. This one states it was done “in recognition of all that Dwyane Wade has done for the visibility, stature and national image” of the county.

Surely, Wade is honored, but it sounds like the Heat and Miami will need to go beyond symbolism to keep him.

Wade has repeatedly said he doesn’t want to leave via free agency, but the team needs to upgrade its roster with another good player or two.

Hey, Wade did help bring an NBA title and victory parade to town, but he had Shaq as his sidekick.

All he’s asking for is a stronger supporting cast in Miami-Wade County.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Phil Mickelson: Lefty Takes Swing Into His 40s

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 11:57 AM PDT

Pebble Beach, California, United States (AHN) – Happy birthday Lefty, you’re 40 today.

You’ve hit the big Four-Oh.

“It’s hard for me to believe I’ve been out here this long and played golf this long,” Mickelson said.

It’s hard to believe he’s been on the tour since 1992.

Lefty says he’s better now than he was 10 years ago and a world better than he was in 1992.

“I see a phenomenal difference even from a year or two ago,” said Mickelson, who has finished runner-up five times at the U.S. Open. “I feel like I’m playing some of my best golf.”

His improvements?

“Better yardage control, my distance control with my iron shots is much better and I’m putting better.”

His latest putting improvements have come from working this season with flatstick guru Dave Stockton.

Mickelson’s also in better shape than he was five years ago. He’s picked up the fitness craze that hit the tour when Tiger Woods’ biceps started to bulge and his trophy case kept expanding.

Vijay Singh’s success in his late 40s has also inspired Mickelson. “We’ve seen what Vijay has done,” he reminded.

Phil also recalls some of Jack Nicklaus’ accomplishments later in his career.

It was 30 years ago this week that Nicklaus won the 80th U.S. Open at Baltusrol Golf Club in New Jersey at age 40. “Then there was the 1986 Masters when he was 46 and we thought that was incredible,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson begins his quest for a first U.S. Open title on Thursday and he’s the favorite heading into this tournament that has teased him in the past.

Perhaps it’s his “Phil The Thrill” bravado that makes it difficult for him at times.

“When I started out as a young pro, a lot of people probably thought this is a tournament I would do well at,” said Mickelson, who makes his 20th U.S. Open appearance this week.

He’s not concerned about those finishes. His only concern is this week.

So how will Mickelson celebrate his birthday?

He’s skipping time at Pebble Beach and playing at neighboring Cypress Point.

Oh yes, and with those young children of his. You can bet there will be a birthday cake afterwards.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Celtics’ Perkins Sprains Knee, Might Miss Game 7

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 11:55 AM PDT

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – The Boston Celtics suffered a huge blow to their championship bid after losing center Kendrick Perkins in the first quarter of Tuesday's 89-67 Game 6 defeat to the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center.

Perkins sprained his right knee after tweaking it while going for a rebound with 5:30 left in the first quarter.

Perkins was assisted by his teammates to the locker room and did not return.

Celtics PR representative Jeff Twiss said Perkins underwent an examination Tuesday, but did not give details about the center's condition.

Perkins' injury came at the worst possible time for the Celtics, who face the prospect of Game 7 without him while looking to recover from a blowout 22-point loss to the Lakers.

Perkins is averaging 5.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in the series, but his strong interior play gives the Celtics a physical presence on the defensive end.

Reports indicated Perkins is scheduled for another examination Wednesday, however, ESPN analyst Ric Bucher said the center's status is still questionable for Thursday's final game.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers remains hopeful his big man would return Thursday, yet he admitted "the injury does not look great."

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Virginia Angler Lands 833-Pound Record Blue Marlin

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 07:37 AM PDT

Morehead City, NC, United States (AHN) – Call it another chapter to The Old Man and the Sea. Or maybe it’s something about battling a big marlin that captures the imagination.

Andy Thomossan, a 63-year-old angler from Richmond, Va., had the fishing experience of a lifetime, catching an 883-pounder at the 52nd annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament.

He caught the fish off Hatteras after a fight lasting more than three hours, according to a story in the Carteret County News-Times.

Thomossan was aboard the 57-foot Citation captained by Eric Holmes when he hooked the blue marlin around noon Monday. The tournament-record fish measured 137 inches (11 feet, 5 inches).

The catch was worth $318,750 from the tournament’s prize pool.

“It was a long battle," Thomossan told the newspaper. "I am tired, but it was the experience of a lifetime. When you get to my point in life and you get to have the opportunity to do something like this, it is special. I have caught two marlins in my life, one was a white marlin and the second was this blue.”

“It is quite a fish to have for your first one. And here it only takes one, and this one consumed most of the day."

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Skins Tackle Haynesworth Seeks Trade

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 04:55 AM PDT

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – Pro Bowl defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth is reportedly demanding a trade following a tumultuous one season with the Washington Redskins, multiple sources reported Tuesday.

Haynesworth's representative Chad Speck said his client will not participate in the Redskins' mandatory minicamp Wednesday to facilitate trade negotiations.

Haynesworth's decision also came as a surprise, just one hour after Redskins general manager Bruce Allen announced his intention to keep the defensive tackle.

Speck said Haynesworth would have not been interested in Washington at the first place, if not because of the hefty contract.

Haynesworth signed a seven-year, $100 million deal with the Redskins last season, but the defensive tackle's volatile character led to a subpar stint in Washington.

The Pro Bowl defensively tackle also expressed his dislike on defensive coordinator Greg Blache's shift to a 3-4 defense, saying he can't survive another season with the same scheme.

After recording 8.5 sacks and 51 tackles with the Tennessee Titans, Haynesworth tallied only 8 sacks and 29 tackles with the Redskins.

Speck said trading Haynesworth is clearly the best move out there for both parties, a thing Redskins coach Mike Shanahan would probably disagree.

Haynesworth's trade demands came just one day after New England Patriots guard Logan Mankins rejected the team's restricted free agent tender and eventually asked for a trade Monday.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.

Analyst, Former Manager Valentine Talks Of Meeting With Orioles Officials

Posted: 16 Jun 2010 04:51 AM PDT

Baltimore, MD, United States (AHN) – Bobby Valentine, who has had previous success as a major league manager with the Rangers and the Mets, reportedly revealed a recent meeting with Orioles brass.

The 60-year-old Valentine, currently an analyst for ESPN, is one of several managerial candidates of the team.

During a Monday appearance on ESPN Radio's The Michael Kay Show, Valentine confirmed the meeting between Orioles owner Peter Angelos and Andy MacPhail, president of baseball operations about their vacant managerial post.

Despite considering it a "big challenge", Valentine, who steered the Mets to the World Series in 2000, is hoping for some "reward."

According to Valentine, the architect of a remarkable turnaround by a Japanese team, the reward he was referring to is "in the standings."

The former major league player and manager added that with the current condition of the Orioles it would be not be a quick turnaround.

The Orioles entered Monday with worst mark in the majors.

In his second stint with Chiba Lotte Marines as manager (2004-2009), he led the club to the league championship in 2005. The Marines were considered one of the worst teams in Japan before Valentine took the helm.

His Major League career coaching record stands at 1,117-1,072 with a .510 winning percentage.

Along with Valentine, former Indians manager Eric Wedge is also one of the candidates by the Orioles, MLB.com reported.

Copyright © 2003 – 2010 AHN – All rights reserved.
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