Friday, July 2, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Lightning Extend St. Louis` Deal; Rangers Re-sign Forward Prospal

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Tampa Bay, FL, United States (AHN) – Former NHL scoring champ Martin St. Louis could be around when the Lightning become a contender again.

He signed a four-year contract extension reportedly worth $22.5 million with Tampa Bay Thursday.

The new deal will kick in on July 1, 2011.

It would keep the 35-year-old veteran forward under contract through the 2014-15 season.

St. Louis, recipient of the Lady Byng Award as the league’s most well-behaved player, could have been an unrestricted free agent next summer.

The product of the University of Vermont enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2009-10, tallying 29 goals and 94 points while playing in all 82 regular-season games.

He broke into the league with Calgary in 1998, but shone when he arrived in Tampa prior to the 2000-01 season.

He led the NHL in scoring in 2004, when he helped the Lightning capture their first and only Stanley Cup title.

St. Louis complemented his second-year linemate, Steven Stamkos, who converted most of his passes last season.

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers wasted no time in filling their No. 1 need for a capable backup goaltender by signing veteran Martin Biron to a two-year deal Thursday.

Biron, who turns 33 in August, will reportedly earn $1.8 million over two years as relief for the workhorse Henrik Lundqvist.

Biron is coming off a tough season, going only 9-14-4 with a 3.27 goals-against average and .896 save percentage for the struggling Islanders, who carried three netminders.

He started only 26 games as he spent much of the season battling Dwayne Roloson, who got the bulk of the work, starting 49 contests.

Also Thursday, the Rangers re-signed forward Vinny Prospal, an unrestricted free agent, to a one-year pact.

Though the terms of the deal were not disclosed, it was reported that the 35-year-old veteran forward’s contract is worth $1 million in base salary plus bonuses.

Prospal made an impact in his first season in a Rangers’ uniform, landing second on the team in points behind Marian Gaborik and had 20 goals in 2009-10.

He was also second in the Rangers in assists, power play assists (13), even strength goals (13) and tied for second overall goals.

In other related roster moves, the Rangers bulked up their lineup Thursday by picking up free-agent enforcer Derek Boogaard.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but New York Post.com reported the deal was for four years at $1.65 million per season.

The 28-year-old forward, known more for his aggressive play, recorded four helpers and 105 penalty minutes in 57 contests for Minnesota last season.

The Rangers also brought back forward Erik Christensen and agreed to terms with Derek Stepan, who captained the winning U.S. team at the world junior championship.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Rangers Acquire Veteran Catcher Molina From Giants

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Anaheim, CA, United States (AHN) – The Texas Rangers, in their continuing push for a first division crown since 1999, acquired veteran catcher Bengie Molina Thursday in a trade with the San Francisco Giants.

In return, the Rangers will shell out cash and send reliever Chris Ray and minor league starter Michael Main to San Francisco.

The addition of Molina, who turns 36 in July, will address the Rangers’ catching position which is hitting a league-low .209.

His ability to handle a pitching staff coupled with his leadership and good reputation in the clubhouse could be a big factor for the Rangers, who entered Thursday seeking a club-record ninth straight series victory against the Angels.

In his career, Molina has caught 28.2 percent of the runners trying to steal. It ranks 11th among active players.

He also was recognized twice with the Gold Gloves award in ’02 and ’03.

Although he has struggled this season, Molina comes to Rangers with a career batting average of .275.

This season, he is hitting .257 with three home runs and 17 RBI in 61 contests.

The two-time World Series champion will join the Rangers Friday in Arlington.

Meanwhile, the Giants acquire Ray, who is 2-0 with a 3.41 ERA in 35 relief outings in his first season with the Rangers.

Main, the Rangers’ first round choice in 2007, was 5-3 with a 3.45 ERA and 72 strikeouts with Class A Advanced Bakersfield. He was recently promoted to Double-A Frisco.

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Nets Sign Undrafted Free Agents Zoubek, Uzoh

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

East Rutherford, NJ, United States (AHN) – The New Jersey Nets signed undrafted free agents–combo guard Ben Uzoh and center Brian Zoubek to pacts Thursday.

Terms of the agreement with the pair, who were not selected in the 2010 NBA Draft, were not disclosed per team policy.

The 6-3, 205 pounds Uzoh, named First Team All-Conference USA as a senior, averaged 13.8 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists while starting all but one of his 141 career games at the University of Tulsa.

Zoubek, on the other hand, was a three-time ACC All-Academic team member. He helped Duke capture the NCAA crown last season.

The 7-foot-1 260-pound native of Haddonfield, N.J. averaged 4.2 points and 4.5 rebounds in 133 career games.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Vick Denies Involvement In Birthday Shooting Incident

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Virginia Beach, VA, United States (AHN) – Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick released a statement Thursday, denying his participation in last week’s shooting incident outside a Virginia Beach restaurant right after his advanced 30th birthday celebration.

Vick released a short statement through his legal representatives Thursday, saying “I had nothing to do with the incident.”

The 30-year old Vick is facing another hurdle in his conditional liberty, following a shooting incident outside the Guadalajara’s Restaurant in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

Virginia Beach police reported Quanis Phillips, one of the co-defendants in Vick’s dogfighting case, was shot after attending the quarterback’s advanced 30th birthday party on June 25.

Vick said he left prior to the shooting and insisted he had no participation at all in the incident.

Virginia Beach police previously stated Vick wasn’t a “person of interest” in their ongoing investigation.

Guadalajara Restaurant spokesman Allan Fabijan also released two surveillance videos showing Vick near the time of the incident – evidence that contradicts the defense of the football player’s lawyers.

With any involvement in the case, Vick might have committed a probation violation due to his association with Phillips, who was reportedly released from the hospital last Friday.

Vick added he already reported the case to the Philadelphia Eagles and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell through his representatives.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Hinch Out As D-Backs Manager; Replaced By Kirk Gibson

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

Matt Aug – AHN Sports Editor

Phoenix, AZ, United States (AHN) – A.J. Hinch was fired as manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks late Thursday night, and will be replaced on an interim basis by former MLB slugger Kirk Gibson.

The Diamondbacks are 31-48 and in dead last place in the NL West under the second-year skipper.

The D-Backs’ struggles also cost team GM Josh Byrnes his job Thursday.

Gibson, a solid hitter mostly remembered for a pair of clutch postseason homers, might be overseeing a team that sells its top assets before the trade deadline.

Starting pitchers Dan Haren and Edwin Jackson, along with infielders Kelly Johnson and Adam LaRoche could be dealt as the D-Backs look to shed salary.

The pitchers will take a combined $20 million in salaries with them for next season if they can be traded.

The D-Backs are a disaster, hitting .251 as a team for 23rd of 30 MLB teams.

Arizona batters have struck out 724 times, 300 more than the Chicago White Sox, so being more selective at the plate could be job one for Gibson.

Arizona has a double-whammy with an MLB-worst 5.33 ERA, nearly a quarter of a run higher than the No. 29 Pittsburgh Pirates.

D-Backs pitchers have surrendered 105 homers on the season, a whopping 51 more than the Colorado Rockies, who have allowed the fewest.

If the fiery Gibson can keep his cool and remain patient he should have a young team to mold next season.

Players can learn from someone who made the most of his abilities, as Gibson hit .268 with 255 homers, 870 RBI and 284 stolen bases in his career.

Gibson served as a bench coach with the Tigers before joining the D-Backs in the same role in 2007.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Favre Throwing Again At Mississippi High School

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Hattiesburg, MS, United States (AHN) – Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was spotted participating in a passing drill with high school football players in Hattiesburg, sparking speculation for a possible return of the three-time NFL MVP.

Favre, 40, was reportedly working out with Oak Grove High School football team in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as part of his rehabilitation to his surgically repaired ankle.

Favre, a three-time NFL MVP, underwent surgery to extract bone spurs he sustained during the Vikings grueling playoff run last season.

Renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews was once again tapped to perform the surgery, roughly a year after he repaired the quarterback’s severely injured tendon.

Oak Grove High School football coach Nevil Barr said Favre was throwing again MVP-like passes, but added his ankle remains a mystery to them.

“His arm is great like always,” Barr told Star Tribune Thursday. “As far as how his ankle is I haven’t heard him say anything about it. We don’t ask him a whole lot on that.”

Although he has not announced his plans yet, Favre’s ongoing rehabilitation in his hometown could pave the way for another season with the Vikings.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Youth Pitching In On Mounds Across MLB; Jimenez Most Dominant

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – The current 2010 campaign has been dubbed the “Year of the Pitcher”, with pitching dominating the story so far this year.

Compared to last season, 21 young pitchers enter Monday with ERA’s under 3.00.

Last year only 11 made the mark.

Though a number of veteran hurlers have retained their brilliance, many young pitchers have dominated the mound in 2010.

The Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez leads the list of notable young pitchers which include Josh Johnson (26), Jon Lester (26), Mike Pelfrey (26), Tim Lincecum (26), Clay Buchholz (25), Yovani Gallardo (24), David Price (24), Phil Hughes (24), Clayton Kershaw (22) and Mat Latos (22).

The 26-year-old Jimenez is off to a remarkable 13-1 start and a 1.60 ERA entering his 16th outing Monday against San Diego.

He took a no-hitter into the sixth inning against the Padres Monday to notch his 14th victory of the season, as Colorado topped San Diego, 10-6.

Not far behind is the Marlins’ ace Johnson, who has a 1.83 ERA.

Jimenez’s eight-game streak in which he allowed only one run or fewer was snapped in a 2-1 loss to the Padres Saturday.

That feat, in which he registered a 0.63 ERA, was only the eighth such streak in Major League history.

The list of young pitchers carving their niche does not even include 21-year-old rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals.

Entering Monday, Strasburg was 2-1 with a 1.78 ERA over his first four starts.

The No. 1 overall pick by the Nationals in the 2009 MLB Draft struck out a record 41 batters over 25 1-3 innings since making his debut on June 8 against the Pirates.

Strasburg absorbed his second loss in the Nats’ 5-0 setback Monday despite a dazzling performance through six innings at Turner Field.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

World Cup: Netherlands Knock Out Brazil With 2-1 Win

Posted: 02 Jul 2010 06:37 AM PDT

Andrew Lawn – AHN Sports Correspondent

Port Elizabeth, South Africa (AHN) – The Netherlands advanced to the 2010 World Cup semifinals after an impressive 2-1 win over five-time winners Brazil in Port Elizabeth.

In a fixture that has provided numerous World Cup memories in the past, Brazil began the game in a fashion that justified its pre-game tag of favorites.

One of the passes of the tournament from Felip Melo freed Robinho, who cooly deposited a shot home to make it 1-0 for the South Americans after only 10 first half minutes.

Brazil’s performance deserved the lead as the Dutch appeared as if it would fold under the first real examination it had undergone in South Africa.

However the Netherlands dug in and without threatening the Brazilian goal managed at least to stem the flood of yellow-shirted attacks on itsgoal.

Eight minutes after the interval their resolve was rewarded when Wesley Sneijder whipped in a dangerous cross.

Tempted by the flight, Cesar came rushing out of his goal, but the same flight which tempted him now deceived him and sailed over his head to make it 1-1.

The goal revived Dutch confidence and in the face of some fierce treatment from an unusually physical Brazil, the Netherlands sensed their chance and poured forward.

Fifteen minutes later the pressure told as a Dutch corner was met by Dirk Kuyt at the front post, whose flick found Sneijder unmarked six-yards from goal.

Presented with an easy chance to put his nation ahead Sneijder was calmness personified as he guided a header home.

With a one-goal deficit Brazil decided to concentrate not on football but on upping the physical ante.

Michel Bastos was lucky not to see red moments before the Dutch made it two, moments after Melo wasn’t so fortunate.

A mindless stamp on Arjen Robben was spotted by all 60,000 spectators and crucially the referee, who produced a straight red and ended any chance the 2002 Champions had of getting back into the game.

The Netherlands harbor real hopes of making its first World Cup final since 1974, when it faces Ghana or Uruguay in Tuesday’s semifinal.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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