Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Shocking Wimbledon 2010 Quarterfinals result, Venus Williams out

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 11:30 AM PDT

Wimbledon Cup

Wimbledon Cup

The biggest shocking news of the Wimbledon Cup came when the world saw five times winner Venus Williams was defeated by 82nd ranked Bulgarian Tsventena Pironkove 6-2, 6-3 on Tuesday.

This is considered to be her worst performance in the Wimble don till now.
Another major surprise came when two-time U.S. open winner Kim Clijster was thrashed by 21st seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva. She won the match in the sets of 21st seeded Russian Vera Zvonareva.

Willams failed to gain any sort of momentum against the 22 year old Pironkov
Venus realistically said after the match, "I just didn’t get enough balls in today. I let it spiral and didn’t get any balls in. I had a lot of opportunities, a lot of short balls and I seemed to hit each one out. "

Happy Pironkova, said, "Honestly, I think no one expected me to play semifinal in Wimbledon and to beat Venus Williams like that. Coming here I really just wanted to play a good game, to maybe win one or two rounds."

She added, "I still cannot believe that I reached the semifinals. This is truly like a dream to me."

Clijsters who came out of retirement thrashed fellow Belgian Justine Henin on Monday.

Coyotes Sign Wolski To Two-Year Pact; Ship Winnik To Avs

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Glendale, AZ, United States (AHN) – The Phoenix Coyotes decided Monday to retain Wojtek Wolski, re-signing the left winger to a two-year contract.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The 24-year-old Wolski came to Phoenix in a trade early March that sent forwards Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter.

In his first game in a Coyotes uniform, the young scorer scored the game-winning tally against his former club, the Avalanche.

Last season, Wolski registered career-highs of 23 goals and 42 assists in 80 contests between the two teams.

In 320 career games, Wolski recorded 79 goals and 132 assists.

Also Monday, the Coyotes struck another deal with Colorado, shipping forward Daniel Winnik for a fourth-round pick in the 2012 NHL draft.

Winnik, drafted in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft by the Coyotes, led the club’s forwards with 54 blocked shots and placed second in the team with 30 takeaways.

In 74 games last season, Winnik had four goals and 15 helpers.

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Heat Emerge As Favorite To Land LeBron; Bosh Could Also Land In Miami

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Tom Spousta – AHN Sports Reporter

Miami, FL, United States (AHN) – The Miami Heat has emerged as the front runner in the LeBron James free agent sweepstakes, according to various media reports. Or is it the Chicago Bulls? Or the Dallas Mavericks?

Or will King James just stay put in Cleveland?

One thing is clear: NBA free agency begins at midnight Wednesday (that’s Thursday morning, July 1 to most folks). Not even LeBron James can dunk over Father Time.

Although he can — and apparently did, says ESPN.com — meet with fellow free agents Chris Bosh and Dwayne Wade in a summit or sorts last weekend in Miami.

Wade reportedly called the confab between three of the NBA’s biggest stars and made a strong pitch about all three of them playing for the Heat.

Indeed, South Beach can be an alluring recruitment tool.

These were supposedly serious talks, which if true would make it one of the greatest signing coups in any sport.

Monday, Fox Sports Radio’s Stephen A. Smith reported James and Bosh are on board to join Wade. Also, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel quoted sources saying the Heat believes it can pull off signing all three players, despite the complications..

Others reportedly still alive in the LeBron Sweepstakes include the Bulls, who James is expected to meet with this week, and the Mavericks, who’ve been described as a dark horse to land him.

And there’s always a chance for Cleveland, although the Cavs may not have the dough to bring James the marquee help he wants.

July 1 is the date free agency starts, but a league rule dictates teams can’t actually execute contracts until July 8.

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Cubs Put Zambrano On Restricted List After Dugout Spat

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Tom Spousta – AHN Sports Reporter

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – The Chicago Cubs made what seemed like an obvious and overdue move Tuesday by placing Carlos Zambrano on the restricted list and convincing him to enter an anger management program.

The big right-hander was suspended for three games after an outburst and shouting match with Derrick Lee in the Cubs dugout last Friday.

It was another of several incidents with Zambrano over the years, and he reportedly agreed with the team to seek treatment for emotional issues.

“Hopefully he goes and gets the help he needs and can rectify some of his actions with his teammates and be able to move forward after the break,” Cubs general manager Jim Hendry told reporters in announcing the decision.

As part of treatment, Zambrano is expected to apologize to Lee and his teammates when he returns, which at the earliest would be July 15.

Zambrano, 3-6 with a 5.66 ERA this season, served two suspensions for outbursts during the past year. Back in 2007, he also got in a fight with teammate Michael Barrett.

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Poor Calls Force FIFA`s Blatter To Consider Goal Line Technology

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Johannesburg, South Africa (AHN) – President Sepp Blatter told reporters Tuesday FIFA will be looking into adding goal line replay technology after several referee debacles at South Africa 2010.

FIFA is the only governing body of a major sport that does not employ any kind of technology to aid referees.

“It would be nonsense to not look at using that technology after what has happened,” said Blatter.

England was denied a goal against Germany because the ref did not see the ball cross the line, as shown clearly on the replay. Goal line technology would have evened the score at the half in that 4-1 loss.

In the very next match, Carlos Tevez was awarded the opening goal for Argentina against Mexico despite being clearly offsides.

Though that was just one of many offsides calls that were questionable, FIFA does not plan to use the technology to review offsides calls.

The technology would rather just be in use in goal line calls, a welcomed addition as far as most refs are concerned.

“I am open-minded for anything that would make us more credible,” referee Howard Webb told reporters after a training session in Pretoria. “Whatever tools I have I will use to the best of my abilities.”

FIFPro, the entity representing FIFA players around the world, is putting pressure on Blatter to push the process forward.

“The entire football world once again reacted with disbelief to FIFA’s stubborn insistence that technology does not belong in football,” FIFPro said in a statement. “The credibility of the sport is at stake.”

Blatter did not offer much details into the process of adding the technology or when it would be implemented by, but this will likely be the last World Cup without at least goal line technology.

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Elbow Forces Tigers Pitcher Zumaya Back To Disabled List

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Minneapolis, MN, United States (AHN) – The Detroit Tigers placed Joel Zumaya on the disabled list Tuesday, one day after the hard-throwing righty left a 7-5 win over the Minnesota Twins clenching his elbow in pain in the eighth inning.

Zumaya, 25, withered in pain after throwing a fastball to Delmon Young and was helped off the field by trainers.

Though no details were given on the extent of the injury, the pained look on Zumaya’s face Monday indicated he could be out for an extended period of time.

“I don’t want to speculate other than that it was obvious he was in a huge amount of pain,” said manager Jim Leland. “We’re hoping for the best.”

Zumaya has already come back from a dislocated shoulder in 2007 and a stress fracture in the same shoulder in 2008. Continued problems forced him to have season-ending surgery on the shoulder last August.

Through Monday’s appearance, Zumaya is 2-1 with a 2.58 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 38 1-3 innings this season, already exceeding his innings total from the past three seasons.

The team recalled right-hander Casey Fien to take Zumaya’s place in the bullpen. Fien went 1-0 with a 2.29 ERA and three saves at Triple-A Toledo.

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Cycling Great Armstrong To Retire After 2010 Tour de France

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong recently said the 2010 Tour will be his last.

Armstrong returned from a four-year retirement last year and will be competing in July at age 38.

“And yes, this will be my final Tour de France. It’s been a great ride. Looking forward to three great weeks,” Armstrong said on his Twitter account.

The Texas native returned from a fierce battle with cancer and won seven straight titles from 1999-2005, but finished third last year.

Spaniard Alberto Contador, who is the favorite at next month’s competition, took home first place followed by runner-up Andy Schleck.

Armstrong is coming off a second-place finish in the Tour de Suisse earlier this month.

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Brazil Coach Takes Criticisms In Stride To World Cup Quarterfinals

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Tom Spousta – AHN Sports Reporter

Johannesburg, South Africa (AHN) – What’s that old axiom, the one from the American version of futbol, the one that says “Defense wins championships …?”

Well, Dunga for that.

As expected, Brazil has dominated the World Cup thus far, and it’s done so mostly with great defense.

Brilliant shotmaking and offensive wizardry have taken a back seat in Brazil’s ride into the quarterfinals, with just another example being its 3-0 thrashing Monday night of Chile.

So why is Brazil coach Carlos Caetano Bledorn “Dunga” Verri on the hot seat for the way his vaunted — and unbeaten — team plays?

Apparently, Brazil soccer fans tend to favor style (flashy rushes) over substance (solid victories).

Or, as former star Socrates has opined to the international soccer media, “Today’s Brazilian footballing style is an affront to our culture.”

Dunga, who was the captain of the 1994 Brazilian team which won the World Cup, doesn’t appear stung too much by the criticism.

“Everybody expresses their own preferences … I like winning,” Dunga has told reporters, adding, “The most important thing is to sleep easily at night and to take the decisions that are best for the team.”

Makes you wonder what might happen if Brazil were to lose.

And next time you hear American fans complain about the style of their favorite team, just think of Dunga.

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BoSox Star Pedroia To Miss Six Weeks Due To Bone Fracture

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Boston, MA, United States (AHN) – Second baseman Dustin Pedroia delivered an MVP-like performance Thursday, blasting three homers to power the Boston Red Sox over the Colorado Rockies 13-11 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.

He suffered a bone fracture the next day, however, and will miss six weeks though Pedroia won’t require surgery.

The 26-year old Pedroia was smoking hot for the Red Sox in the previous seven games, hitting .542 with 3 home runs, 7 RBIs, 13 hits, and 8 runs.

In Tuesday’s game, Pedroia blasted two homers early in the match before going for a game-clinching hat-trick in the top of the 10th inning.

Drafted 65th overall in 2004, Pedroia has been consistent power batter dating back from his minor league years.

In two minor league seasons, Pedroia averaged .308 as a quality up-and-coming infielder.

Pedroia made his big league debut on August 22, 2006 and several months later recorded his first blast on September 9, 2006.

Pedroia, the 2008 American League MVP, is also considered one of the league’s best players defensively and offensively.

Aside from leading his team in hits, runs, and doubles almost every year, Pedroia has solid fielding skills, highlighted by Gold Glove Award in 2008.

Pedroia is having another terrific output this season, averaging .293 with 12 homers, 41 RBI, and 52 runs scored.

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Wimbledon: No. 2 Seed Venus, Clijsters Fall Short Of Semifinals; Serena Victorious

Posted: 29 Jun 2010 07:24 AM PDT

Tom Spousta – AHN Sports Reporter

Wimbledon, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Forget another Williams sister finals act at Wimbledon. Scratch Kim Clijsters from the tournament bracket, too.

Both Venus Williams and Clijsters, a two-time U.S. Open champion, lost Tuesday in stunning quarterfinal upsets just as they seemed poised to make a claim for the title.

Williams, seeded No. 2 behind sister Serena, was dispatched in shockingly easy fashion, losing in straight sets 6-2, 6-3 to 82nd-ranked Tsvetana Pironkova.

A five-time Wimbledon champion, Venus Williams reached the final here in eight of the past 10 years.

Meanwhile, defending champion Serena Williams prevailed in a hard-fought match with China’s Li Na 7-5, 6-3.

No. 8-seeded Clijsters appeared in control after a solid first set victory, but 21st-seeded Vera Zvonareva of Russia came on strong to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 and advance to her first Wimbledon semifinal. Clijsters compiled 36 unforced errors to only 19 for Zvonareva

Williams looked on edge for an upset from the start. She eventually would make 29 unforced errors and serve up five double-faults in falling to the 22-year-old Pironkova of Bulgaria.

Pironkova will face Zvonareva in the semifinals. In the other, Serena Williams will meet unseeded Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, who beat qualifier Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 8-6 to advance.

The men will continue play Wednesday in their quarterfinals.

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