Thursday, July 1, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Williams, Zvonareva To Clash In Wimbledon Final

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Wimbledon, United Kingdom (AHN) – World No.1 Serena Williams was in her element Thursday morning, as she overpowered unseeded Petra Kvitová 7-6, 6-2 to advance in the finals of the Wimbledon Open Championships at the All-England Club.

Williams, 28, booked her third straight finals appearance in the Wimbledon Open with an emphatic win over Kvitová in one hour and 33 minutes,

Williams poured on seven aces and 19 winners with only 14 miscues, while Kvitová recorded 5 aces and 34 winners but committed 20 unforced errors in their semifinal match on Centre Court.

The Czech managed to keep the match tight in the opening set, but the bludgeoning American fired the biggest shots in the tiebreaker.

Ranked No. 62 in the world, Kvitova came up with a breakthrough performance in the tournament after ousting seeded players like Zheng Jie, Victoria Azarenka, Caroline Wozniacki.

Kvitova secured her maiden Grand Slam semifinals appearance by defeating another surprise quarterfinalist Kaia Kanepi of Estonia 4-6, 7-6, 8-6.

Williams, gunning for her fourth Wimbledon Open championship in six tries, will play No. 21 seed Vera Zvonareva of Russia in Saturday’s finals.

Zvonareva is also having an incredible Wimbledon Open run, as she eliminated a pair of former top -ranked players (Jelena Jankovic and Kim Clijsters) before overcoming unseeded Bulgarian Tsvetana Pironkova 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 in the semis.

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Guerrero`s Homers Top Halos; Rangers Slugger Still Among Best

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Arlington, TX, United States (AHN) – Texas Rangers designated hitter Vladimir Guerrero was in a pay-back mode Wednesday night, as he blasted two homers to beat his former team the Los Angeles Angels, 6-4 at Angel Stadium.

Guerrero pulled off a dazzling performance at his former home field, recording two homers, four hits, two runs and five RBI.

The former MVP delivered his seventh career Grand Slam in the fourth inning and a critical blast in the 8th to improve the Rangers record to 47-30 (currently 1st in AL West).

It was sweet payback for Guerrero, who was not re-signed by the Angels in the offseason.

However, Guerrero insisted he did what designated hitters are supposed to do: hit the ball hard.

“I’m just trying to do my job,” Guerrero told MLB .com Wednesday. “I’m swinging the bat well and hitting it hard. I appreciate the years I had here, but I’m just trying to do my job.”

In six seasons with the Angles, Guerrero demonstrated an incredible batting power and plate discipline, which earned him multiple Silver Slugger awards (3 times in AL and 4 times in NL).

Guerrero splashed into the free agency market for the first time since in 2003 and eventually signed with the Ranges to a one-year, $5.5 million deal with incentives and a team’s option for 2011.

At 35, Guerrero remains an excellent hitter, averaging .339(5th AL) with 18 homers (5th), 68 RBI (1st), and 51 runs (10th) this season.

Guerrero is also hitting .481 with 3 home runs, 10 RBI, 13 hits and 9 runs in his last six games, which keep him as one of the top candidates for the 2010 AL MVP honor.

Guerrero is averaging .322 with 425 homers, 1386 RBI, 1236 runs, and 704 walks in 16 seasons in MLB.

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Chargers Wideout Vincent Jackson Suspended Three Games By NFL.

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

San Diego, CA, United States (AHN) – Disgruntled San Diego Chargers wide receiver Vincent Jackson has reportedly been slapped with a three-game suspension by the NFL Thursday for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The NFL suspended the 27-year-old Pro Bowl wide receiver for the first three contests of the regular season, according to ESPN.com.

Jackson, who has been threatening to sit out the first half of the 2010 season as an unsigned restricted free agent, has been convicted twice for driving under the influence, most recently pleading guilty to the charge in February.

According to the report by ESPN.com, the ban on Jackson could be moot, with the former Northern Colorado standout planning not to report to the Chargers unless a re-negotiation takes place.

It is still unclear if the NFL suspension would go into effect with the first game of the Chargers’ schedule or when Jackson first becomes available to the team.

Jackson, along with restricted free agent Marcus McNeill, did not sign their tenders by the June 15 deadline.

According to previous reports, the pair plan to hold out until after Week 10 of the 2010 campaign unless they receive long-term deals or are traded.

Last season, Jackson recorded 1,167 receiving yards and nine TD for the Chargers, who selected him in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft.

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Four Share Lead, Tiger Struggles At AT&T National

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Newton Square, PA, United States (AHN) – Arjun Atwal regularly joins Tiger Woods for practice sessions at Woods’ Isleworth hideaway in Orlando.

Atwal topped Woods by seven shots and is one of four players tied for the lead after the first round of the AT&T National at famed Aronimink Golf Club.

Atwal shot a four-under par 66 and is at the top of the leaderboard along with Joe Ogilvie, Jason Day and Nick Watney.

All four leaders started in the early morning half of the draw and took advantage of softer conditions and a light breeze.

As the day progressed, the greens became firmer and the winds picked up into the 15-20 mile per hour range to present a tough challenge to the afternoon players.

Woods was among them. He started out well enough and played his first nine one-under par but then he had a horrendous stretch of holes starting at the 14.

The world’s top-ranked player three-putted from 50 feet on the 213-yard par three for bogey, missed a seven-foot par putt at the par five 16th then saw his tee shot at the 212-yard 17th hole bounce off the left bank of the green and into the water.

Woods ended up with a double-bogey five then missed a five-foot birdie putt at the final hole to complete the disastrous stretch on the back nine.

“I putted awful,” Woods acknowledged after his round of 73, three-over par. “I hit it good all day, I just let it get away from me — unreal.”

Woods played with Dustin Johnson and Davis Love III. Only Johnson ended up relatively unscathed by the old-school Donald Ross-designed layout. Love had a triple and five bogeys on the back nine for a horrendous 43 and a 78 on the day.

“Our group had wedges into a lot of holes and couldn’t score,” Woods lamented.

Ogilvie, one of the co-leaders, admitted that the course was tough and should get tougher as the tournament progresses toward its finish on the 4th of July.

“If you hit the fairways, you’re gonna have some wedges in,” Ogilvie said of the layout. “I think it’s gonna play harder, harder and harder. I think if you averaged two-under par each day, you’d be pretty happy on Sunday afternoon.”

There were a half-dozen players a shot behind the leaders at 67. Only two of them came from the afternoon group — Ryan Moore and Carl Pettersson.

Only 34 players in the field shot under par as the undulating green at Aronimink made it tough for the players to judge their putts.

Add wind and stubborn rough and the 36-hole cut on Friday could be 4-over par.

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Phils` Utley Out Up To Six Weeks; Needs Thumb Surgery

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Philadelphia, PA, United States (AHN) – The Philadelphia Phillies will have to mix it up in their lineup after it was revealed star second baseman Chase Utley will undergo surgery Thursday to address an injured right thumb.

The 31-year-old four-time All-Star and Silver Slugger Award winner will undergo procedure to repair a severely torn ligament in his right thumb.

Although no timetable has been set for his return, Utley is expected to be sidelined from four to six weeks.

He hurt his thumb sliding into second base during Monday’s 7-3 loss to Cincinnati.

Utley, originally diagnosed with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

He is hitting .277 with 11 home runs and 37 runs batted in over 72 contests this season.

Utley is the front-runner at second base in National League All-Star voting.

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Sens Ink Defenseman Gonchar To 3-Year, $16 Million Pact

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Ottawa, ON, Canada (AHN) – The Ottawa Senators bolstered their lineup on Day 1 of free agency by signing veteran defenseman Sergei Gonchar to a three-year contract reportedly worth $16.5 million Thursday.

According to NHL.com, the high-scoring defenseman will be receiving $5.5 million annually. The contract also includes a no-trade clause.

The addition of Gonchar, one of the league’s premier offensive defenseman, would transform the Senators into a speedier, puck-rushing type of a team.

The 36-year-old Gonchar, who spent the last five years playing for the Penguins and won the Stanley Cup in 2009, is expected to fill the gap left Anton Volchenkov and Andy Sutton.

Ottawa, criticized for its lack of execution from the back last season, lost two of the NHL’s top shot-blocking defenseman by failing to re-sign Sutton and Volchenkov venturing into free agency.

With the five-time NHL All-Star Gonchar in a lineup that already includes Filip Kuba and a rising Erik Karlsson, the Senators will have a completely different look on the blue line.

Gonchar, currently trailing only Sergei Zubov as the NHL’s all-time leading scorer among Russian defenseman, is also expected to boost the Senators, who finished 15th in the league last season with 2.68 goals per game.

In terms of power play, Ottawa placed 21st in the NHL.

Gonchar has been saddled with injuries the past two seasons. He missed 20 games last season due to injury.

He managed to register 50 points (11 goals and 39 assists) in just 62 games with the Penguins last season. It ranked seventh in the NHL among defenseman scoring.

Gonchar made his NHL debut during the 1994-95 season with the Capitals, who made him the 14th overall pick in the 1992 NHL draft.

Gonchar also played for the Boston Bruins.

Also Thursday, the Senators re-signed restricted free agent forward Jesse Winchester to a two-year contract reportedly worth $750,000 per season.

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Lesnar Chooses Legendary Sparring Partner In Couture

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

Shawn Krest – AHN Sports Correspondent

Las Vegas, NV, United States (AHN) – When UFC Heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar steps into the octagon Saturday night, it will be his first bout since July of last year.

Lesnar isn’t easing back into the cage. He’ll be facing interim heavyweight champion Shane Carwin, a heavyweight who stopped every opponent in the first round.

The bout will be the main event of UFC 116 in Las Vegas and is one of the most anticipated heavyweight fights in recent MMA history.

Despite the long layoff, caused by a serious intestinal problem, Lesnar is not worried about rust.

“I’ll run through all the guys that I’ve had in my gym this training camp,” said Lesnar, “and if I have any ring rust left on me by the time July 3 rolls around, it’s a crying shame…I’ve had about 40 tune up fights in the last few weeks.”

“My camp is full of big guys,” continued Lesnar. “I’ve got Cole Konrad, who’s a two-time NCAA champion (and undefeated pro currently fighting for Bellator), Chris Tuchscherer who’s a runner up, Jon Madsen, who’s a national champion in division II (and an undefeated UFC fighter), and Marty Morgan (a former Olympic wrestler).”

The crew of opponents presented Lesnar with size, high-level wrestling, and pro experience. They were just the tip of the iceberg, however.

“I recently had Randy Couture in my camp,” said Lesnar, burying the lead. “So I’ve been surrounded by greatness, I believe.”

Couture combines the credentials of all of Lesnar’s other training partners. Olympic experience? He was a three-time Olympic team alternate and a Pan Am Games gold medalist. College wrestling titles? Couture was an All American and two-time runner up.

Couture is also a UFC Hall of Famer. He’s held the UFC Heavyweight title three times and the Light Heavyweight crown twice.

“I mean, Randy’s the godfather of the sport,” said Lesnar. “He’s a once in a lifetime type of guy.”

“He taught me a lot of different things,” continued Lesnar, “because there’s a lot of tricks to this trade, and Randy’s one of those guys that wasn’t always the biggest guy. But he fights very smart.”

Couture was also very gracious, since he was helping the man that took his title two years ago. Lesnar knocked out the 45-year old Couture in the second round at UFC 91 to take the crown.

“Being able to fight him and win the belt from him, and then have him come into camp and say, ‘These are the things that you do great, and these are the things I think you can do better at,’ was very refreshing,” Lesnar said.

“But,” continued Lesnar, “here’s the most important thing: When Randy Couture comes into your gym, you have to raise your intensity level. It’s one of those things where he just brings his ambiance into the gym. Everybody that’s in there raises their game.”

Couture praised the progress Lesnar has made in the sport, telling MMA site Sherdog.com that Lesnar is a better fighter than the last time they met and complimenting his footwork and “horse power.”

He also claimed that the two traded hunting stories during down time instead of talking fighting.

Lesnar begged to differ, saying that their conversations about fighting were where Couture added the most value to his camp.

“We got some good workouts in,” said Lesnar. “Some great ones. And then, at the end of the day, we sat down and we compliment one another and we degrade one another.”

“The biggest compliment we can get as fighters is honesty,” continued Lesnar. “What you’re doing wrong and how you can become better. That’s what I want to hear. I know what I’m good at. Tell me what I’m not. Then we can go from there.”

And if the person telling it to you is one of the best the sport has ever seen, all the better.

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Grizz Ink Gay To $80M Pact; Milicic Signs With T-Wolves

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

Memphis, TN, United States (AHN) – The Memphis Grizzlies boosted their rebuilding process by taking Rudy Gay off the market. The Grizzlies agreed to terms Thursday with the rising star on a five-year deal reportedly worth about $82 million.

The 6-foot-8 forward finished his fourth season with the Grizz last year, averaging 19.6 points and 5.9 boards and is part of the team’s young core, along with Marc Gasol and O.J. Mayo.

Gay ranked second on the Grizzlies’ scoring list last season.

He was slated to visit Minnesota Thursday, but cancelled the trip after agreeing with the Grizzlies and landing the first max deal of the summer.

The decision to stay in Memphis came a day after getting a qualifying offer from the Grizzlies.

Gay, 23, has averaged 17.4 points and 5.5 rebounds in 318 career games – -all with Memphis, which made him the eighth overall pick in the 2006 NBA draft.

Also Thursday, the Minneapolis Timberwolves agreed to re-sign center Darko Milicic to a four-year contract reportedly worth $20 million.

The 7-foot-center, who has been bounced between five different clubs since being taken second overall by the Pistons in the 2003 NBA Draft, averaged 8.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 24 contests with the Wolves last season.

Milicic has been considered ineffective except for his decent shot-blocking skills.

He was shipped to Minnesota by the Knicks in February after landing in New York following a trade with Memphis last summer.

The Serbian center, who was sandwiched between LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony in the 2003 draft, has been a bust with Detroit, Orlando, Memphis and New York.

Milicic was on the verge of returning to Europe when the Wolves acquired him at last year’s trade deadline.

After that he began to show flashes of some of his skills that made him a prospect while playing overseas.

Many believe that Milicic’s recent improvement was one of the reasons Minnesota decided to keep the player and even project him as a starting center.

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Phil Jackson Returns To Lakers Bench For 2010-11 Season

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 04:15 PM PDT

Phil Jackson

Phil Jackson

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – After months of uncertainty regarding his future, Los Angeles Lakers head coach Phil Jackson announced Thursday he will return for another season.

Jackson, who will turn 65 in September, indicated last week that he was “leaning toward” retirement after guiding the Lakers to their second championship in row.

“Count me in,” Jackson, the record holder of 11 NBA titles as coach, said in a statement released by the team. “After a couple weeks of deliberation, it is time to get back to the challenge of putting together a team that can defend its title in the 2010-11 season.”

“It’ll be the last stand for me, and I hope a grand one.”

Health issues has been a constant concern in recent years for Jackson, who was absent in the Lakers victory parade, citing medical tests.

Jackson, known for his use of Tex Winter’s triangle offense as well as Eastern philosophy in coaching, became the winningest coach in Lakers history in early February after surpassing Pat Riley with his 534th victory.

In NBA history, Jackson is considered the most successful coach by almost any measure.

Apart from logging a league-best .705 regular season winning percentage, Jackson owns a record 225 post-season wins.

He also has two more titles than Boston’s Red Auerbach.

Jackson’s decision would fortify the Lakers position as the team to beat next season.

It could also translate to a fourth three-peat for Jackson, who registered his third with the Lakers (’00, ’01, ’02).

He recorded the first two three-peats with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

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Indo-Pak Cricket Series Gets Nod From New Chief

Posted: 01 Jul 2010 12:20 PM PDT

Mumbai, India – An India-Pakistan cricket series, which looked impossible until Wednesday, seems possible now with the former president of the Board of Control of Cricket in India, Sharad Pawar, at the helm of affairs at the International Cricket Council.

The first sign of a positive change came when Pawar, after taking over as ICC chief, assured that under his regime the international cricketing body would make efforts to bring India and Pakistan together for a bilateral cricket series. However, he also attached a rider to the promise when he said that the series could happen if there is government clearance from both sides.

While talking to the media, the 69-year-old veteran said, "Recent Home Minister and Foreign Secretary's visit to Pakistan is a welcome sign. If India and Pakistan start playing and it influences the bilateral relations of the two countries and also if both the governments permit, we will be happy to encourage."

Pawar, who is also a serving union minister in the Indian government, took up the charge of the ICC on Thursday for the next two years.

He added: "ICC wants India and Pakistan to continue their bilateral series. But ICC had not taken the initiative to stop that.”

“It was because of some unforeseen circumstances that both the countries had decided to stop it,” Pawar said. “But now that the process to improve relations between the countries is on, it will give some dividends to cricket too."

Meanwhile, commenting on the rejection of former Australian Premier John Howard for the vice-president's post, Pawar chose to downplay the whole controversy by saying that the incident did not have any "political connotation."

Talking to the press, Pawar said the ICC had asked Australian and New Zealand Boards to find another candidate and submit his name by August 31.

ICC's Chief Executive, Haroon Lorgat, who was also present at the press conference, supported Pawar. "The ICC does not have to give those reasons,” he said. “There weren't sufficient number of directors in support of the nomination, (it) did not go to a vote and the outcome was to request Cricket Australia and New Zealand Cricket to reconsider their nomination."

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