Monday, July 19, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Favre, Vikings Coach Childress Reportedly Seen In Hattiesburg

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 05:00 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Hattiesburg, MS, United States (AHN) – Brett Favre, still undecided whether to come back for a second season in a Minnesota uniform, was reportedly seen with Vikings head coach Brad Childress Monday at the University of Southern Mississippi’s passing camp.

According to WDAM-TV in Hattiesburg, Childress was in Mississippi Monday apparently trying to accelerate the star quarterback’s decision.

Favre, who turns 41 in October, has indicated repeatedly over the past couple of weeks that he remains unsure of returning for a 20th NFL season.

Both Favre and Childress, who arrived Sunday, were reportedly seen Monday at the 7-on-7 passing camp for the area’s top high school athletes. The camp is held at the alma mater of the 11-time Pro Bowl and three-time First-Team All-Pro quarterback.

When asked about his visit, Childress remarked to the television station: “You can fill in the blanks.”

Favre, coming off one of the best seasons of his career after being lured out of his second brief retirement, has one year left on his contract with the Vikings.

In 2009, Favre threw for 4,202 yards with 33 TDs and had just seven interceptions for the Vikings. He also placed second only to Saints’ signal caller Drew Brees in terms of quarterback rating (107.2).

According to multiple reports, Favre is considering his left ankle, which recently underwent a procedure to remove scar tissue and bone spurs.

Meanwhile, many in the league, especially the Vikings, believe the future Hall of Famer will return, but the question as to when and on what conditions remain to be answered.

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Colts Working On Contracts For Stars Manning, Wayne, Mathis

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Indianapolis, IN, United States (AHN) – The Indianapolis Colts are addressing contract issues for star quarterback Peyton Manning, defensive end Robert Mathis and wide receiver Reggie Wayne.

The Colts have been working on extending the remaining one year left on Manning’s contract, but have been stalled because of collective bargaining agreement rules.

“What we don’t know is what the system is going forward,” Colts president Bill Polian told WEEI.com. “It makes it really difficult working out a deal that makes sense for everybody because you don’t know what the [salary] cap will be, what the ramifications are, how things count.”

Manning, 34, is coming off his second-straight NFL MVP, throwing 4500 yards, 33 touchdowns and 16 interceptions while leading the Colts to the Super Bowl.

When the deal does get done, it is expected to be the richest in the history of the sport, exceeding an average of $22 million a year.

Both Wayne and Mathis are unhappy with the remaining two years on their contracts and have been holdouts at camp.

Wayne is set to get paid about $6.3 million each of the next two seasons, while Mathis is getting $12 million over the same span of time.

Wayne, 31, is coming off one of the best seasons of his nine-year career, finishing with 100 receptions for 1,264 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Mathis, 29, was selected to his second-straight Pro Bowl after posting 9.5 sacks and five forced fumbles.

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Browns Quarterback Delhomme Emerging As Likely Starter

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Cleveland, OH, United States (AHN) – Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini recently told a major media outlet newly-acquired quarterback Jake Delhomme is emerging as the likely starter in minicamp.

Mangini praised the veteran Delhomme’s efforts during organized team activities.

“It’s really Jake’s job to lose, and he did a great job during OTAs,” Mangini told The Dan Patrick Show . “I couldn’t have been happier with him, not just in terms of the way he learned the information but the way he ran the offense.”

The bringing in of football mastermind Mike Holmgren as president of football operations preceded a quarterback house cleaning that sent away last year’s starters Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn.

Holmgren and Mangini brought in Delhomme, who was cut after seven seasons in Carolina, and former Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace. Wallace played under Holmgren in Seattle.

“Seneca did a good job too,” Mangini said. “I think it’s important that Seneca gets some reps with the [first team offense], so that if he goes in, he does have some time with that group.”

Wallace may be used in certain formations that utilize his quick feet, but the Browns are heading into training camp and the preseason with Delhomme as their starter.

The 35-year-old emerged as a star in 2003, when he took over at halftime of the season opener with Carolina down 17-0 and led the Panthers to victory.

Delhomme threw for 3,219 yards, 19 touchdowns and 16 interceptions and led the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVIII.

The Louisiana native went on to start 16 games for three-straight years and tossed 72 touchdowns over that span.

However, a five-interception playoff debacle in 2008 preceded Delhomme’s worst season in Carolina, finishing with a miserable 59.4 quarterback rating in 11 games.

Cleveland, which finished dead last in the AFC North at 5-11 last season, is hoping Delhomme can regain some of the magic.

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Kovalchuk Ends Hockey`s Summer `Mystery`, Re-Signs With Devils

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Newark, NJ, United States (AHN) – After breaking off negotiations with the Kings, one of the aggressive suitors and front-runner; Ilya Kovalchuk decided Monday to stay in New Jersey and re-sign with the Devils.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed but multiple reports indicated a multi-year pact worth more than $100 million was agreed upon by the coveted forward, who ended hockey’s version of long-running summer blockbuster.

Kovalchuk, the biggest free agent in this NHL class of unrestricted free agents, spurned several offers by the Kings, who even hosted the 27-year-old Russian native in a college recruiting-style visit last week.

He also spurned reported offers of $70 million over seven years and $100 million over 12 years from the Thrashers, who drafted him in 2001.

After finally giving up on re-signing the high-scoring left wing, Atlanta dealt Kovalchuk to New Jersey for defenseman Johnny Oduya, right wing Niclas Bergfors, forward Patrice Cormier and a first-round draft pick.

Kovalchuk, who is Atlanta’s all-time leader in virtually every offensive category, twice surpassed the 50-goal mark while playing with the Thrashers.

Last season, the Russian sniper played 27 contests for the Devils, registering 10 goals and 17 assists. He also had two goals and four assists in the five playoff contests for the Devils, who were ousted by Philadelphia in the first round.

Kovalchuk has compiled 642 points (338 goals, 304 assists) in 621 regular-season games.

Apart from the Devils and the Kings, Kovalchuk was also wooed by the Islanders and SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

Kovalchuk will be available to media Tuesday at the Prudential Center, according to the Devils.

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May-Treanor, Branagh Growing As Beach Volleyball Team

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Hermosa Beach, CA, United States (AHN) – After failing to keep their AVP semifinals streak alive Sunday, Misty May-Treanor and Nicole Branagh believe there are still more to come in their budding partnership.

The No.2 seeded tandem of May-Treanor and Branagh bowed down to No. 4 seed Angie Akers and Tyra Turner in straight sets (21-18, 22-20) Sunday, finishing in fifth place at the Hermosa Beach Open.

Sunday’s loss marked the first time the American tandem failed to reach an AVP semifinal this season, but the duo insisted it did not crush their will to get better.

“We’re going to be a very good team once we can put all the pieces together,” May-Treanor told Universal Sports.com Sunday. “We have glimpses of doing fantastic things.”

May-Treanor and Branagh started out well in their first two matches, but they lost to Angela Lewis and Priscilla Lima in their third game.

The tandem bounced back from the loss and won their make-or-break match over Jenny Kropp and Whitney Pavlik, 21-16, 21-14.

However, May-Treanor and Branagh committed too many unforced errors that led to their first early exit in an AVP tournament.

At the end of the day, No.1 seed Jen Kessy and April Ross bagged their fourth title in six AVP tournaments this season.

Kessy and Ross blasted No.3 Rachel Scott and Elaine Youngs (21-17, 21-14) to stay on top of the AVP women’s side ladder.

As for May-Treanor and Branagh, they believe their chemistry is just starting to develop, yet their accomplishments in their first five AVP tournaments were solid for a tandem in its first year.

Prior to this tournament, May-Treanor and Branagh appeared in five consecutive semifinal matches, including two runner-up finishes to Kessy and Ross.

“We’re just learning about each other as we go, and I think we’re doing extremely well for a new team,” May-Treanor said. “I can’t imagine another new team being in the position that we are at this point.”

May-Treanor, who sat out a year with a torn Achilles’ tendon, said it takes time and perhaps losses to build a championship-caliber team.

May-Treanor also had to find a new partner after her longtime partner, Kerri Walsh, took a leave from the game due to the birth of her second son.

With 15 AVP titles on her trophy shelf, the 31-year old Branagh is indeed a credible partner to May-Treanor, who’s considered the other half of the greatest beach volleyball team of all-time.

A winner of two Olympic gold medals and 106 beach volleyball titles, the 32-year old May-Treanor sensed it just needs a matter of time for them to see some “spark of greatness.”

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Tiger, Mickelson Get An Open Dose Of Humble Pie

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

St. Andews, Scotland, United Kingdom (AHN) – What were the chances that both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson would be shown up by an amateur at the British Open?

If there were betting odds, they would certainly have been astronomical.

But the improbable went from possible to true and now there’s the question:

Is there really a No. 1 player in the world?

Reigning British Amateur champion Jin Jeong, of Korea, put two huge notches in his belt last weekend — one for Tiger Woods and the other for Phil Mickelson.

Jeong’s rounds of 68-70-74-72 and his 4-under-par total 284 beat Woods by a shot and Mickelson by four.

What does that say about the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the world?

Not much.

A look at the Open leaderboard showed champion Louis Oosthuizen at the top followed by England’s Lee Westwood (279), Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, Henrik Stenson of Sweden and England’s Paul Casey all tied at 280.

You had to go down to 6-under to find Americans Sean O’Hair and Nick Watney.

Fact is that Woods, Mickelson and most of the other Americans simply didn’t show up for this major.

Woods was bamboozled by both his putters, the one he started with and then old faithful, which got the call for the last round.

Mickelson was simply his old self — Wild Thing. He didn’t know what was going on out there on the Old Course.

Had it not been for a first round 79, American rookie Rickie Fowler might have been the talk of the town with rounds of 67-71-67 over his final 54 holes.

So now it’s three majors down and one to go.

Yes, Mickelson and his miracle shot at 13 won the Masters but then Graeme McDowell and now Louis Oosthuizen have surprised the world in the two Opens — U.S. and British.

What’s in store next month at the PGA?

That’s something Woods, Mickelson and the other American golfers need to think about.

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Padres Extend Manager Bud Black By Three Years

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

San Diego, CA, United States (AHN) – Bud Black, who has dealt with a number of challenges as manager of the Padres, was rewarded by San Diego Monday with a three-year contract extension through 2013, with club options for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

Black, 53, hired by the Padres in 2007, steered the club within one win of the playoffs in his rookie year before the team struggled the last two campaigns.

A former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, Black was expecting he would not be around much longer, especially when longtime general manager Kevin Towers was replaced by Jed Hoyer in October.

Having dealt with issues in four-plus seasons as the Padres manager, including the departure of closer Trevor Hoffman after the 2008 season and ace Jake Peavy’s trade last summer, Black has managed to steer the team to a surprising success.

Despite ranking in the bottom half of the National League in most offensive categories, Black has the Friars playing superbly. The team also has been atop the NL West for much of the season and have the NL’s best mark at 54-37, entering. Tuesday’s game in Atlanta.

Black’s experience, 15-big league seasons with five teams as a left-handed starter, has served him well in motivating players, whom consider him a players’ manager.

After finishing his playing career with a 121-116 mark and a 3.84 ERA in 398 games; Black spent seven seasons as the Angels pitching coach (2000-2006).

He won the World Series in 2002, before earning his first shot at a managerial post.

In his first season, the Padres were 89-74, that ended with an epic 13-inning loss at Colorado in a one-game wild-card tie breaker contest.

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Former Flyer Gagne Bolts for Tampa

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Todd Callahan – AHN Sports Reporter

Tampa, FL, United States (AHN) – A busy offseason continued for the Tampa Bay Lightning, who bolstered their scoring Monday by acquiring left wing Simon Gagne from the Philadelphia Flyers.

Gagne, who has spent the first 10 years of his NHL career with the Flyers, was traded for journeyman defenseman Matt Walker and a fourth-round draft pick in next year’s entry draft.

The trade appears to favor the Lightning, who have added a new head coach in Guy Boucher, a new general manager in Steve Yzerman and a two-time All-Star in Gagne, a cog in Philadelphia’s run to the Stanley Cup Final.

“I’m looking at this opportunity as a new challenge and a new start,” Gagne told NHL.com. “Tampa Bay was a team I was more than willing to waive my no-move clause for.”

“I really like the direction the team is headed in with a solid owner, Steve Yzerman as GM and Coach (Guy) Boucher.”

Yzerman and Gagne have a history together.

The two were teammates on the 2002 Canadian Olympic team that won gold medal.

Being familiar with Gagne, who is in the last year of a contact, and giving up very little in Walker, who scored two goals in 66 games for the Lightning, made Yzerman’s decision easy to make.

“Anytime you’re acquiring a player or moving a player, the more information you have on the person the more comfortable you are with your decision,” Yzerman said.

“Getting a chance to play with Simon then and having him at the Olympic camp this year as well, you learn the type of person he is and where he would fit in.”

Despite missing the first 24 games of the season because of surgery to repair two small hernias in his right groin, Gagne tallied 17 goals and 23 assists in 58 games.

Gagne also made his presence felt in the postseason where he added nine goals and three assists in 19 playoff games.

Having missed first round of the playoffs and the first three games of a second round series with the Boston Bruins because of a foot injury, Gagne sparked a historic comeback.

With his team down 3-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, Gagne scored the game-winning goal in overtime of Game 4.

He added a pair of goals in a Game 5 win and added the game-winner in Game 7 that broke the hearts of the Bruins.

Now wearing a new sweater, Gagne joins Tampa players Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Ryan Malone to form a strong scoring nucleus.

The move also shows the Lightning are serious about ending their three-year Stanley Cup playoff hiatus.

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Pitt End Sheard Arrested, Suspended For Reported Fight

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Todd Callahan – AHN Sports Reporter

Pittsburgh, PA, United States (AHN) – University of Pittsburgh senior Jabaal Sheard, a three-year starter for the Panthers, was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct following an alleged altercation outside La Fond Galleries.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pound lineman reportedly got into a fight with Edward Parker, 27, on East Carson Street in south Pittsburgh.

According to the police report, several police officers tried to break up the scuffle, Sheard, who was reportedly being hit by police batons, picked up Parker and threw the 27-year-old through a glass door of a gallery.

Sheard jumped on the bleeding Parker, who was on the ground inside the art store, and continued punching him before police subdued the two with pepper spray.

Sheard, who started all 13 games for the Panthers and tallied 42 tackles with five quarterback sacks, was taken to jail and has a court hearing slated for July 28.

A standout performer for the Panthers, Sheard has the potential for an NFL career though the incident jeopardizes those possibilities.

Now facing possible jail time, Sheard’s future with the program also is in serious doubt.

Pittsburgh’s athletics department released the following statement Monday.

“We are in the midst of gathering information on a weekend incident involving Jabaal Sheard. While we conduct our own investigation of the matter, Jabaal has been indefinitely suspended from team activities.”

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Gators Probed By NCAA Over Ex-Lineman`s Possible Rules Violation

Posted: 19 Jul 2010 04:33 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Gainesville, FL, United States (AHN) – The University of Florida and the NCAA are reportedly investigating a potential rules violation that allegedly occurred last December involving former Gators football standout Maurkice Pouncey, who was a junior center last year.

A finding of violation could cost last year’s Sugar Bowl win by Florida, which apprised the NCAA of the allegation after it became aware of the issue.

Florida, which is investigating the issue internally, also forwarded information to the SEC.

Pouncey, a standout offensive lineman who entered the NFL after his junior season, is alleged to have received money from a representative of an agent between the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5 and the Gators’ Sugar Bowl match on Jan. 1, according to Gainesville.com.

A report by ESPN.com, citing sources, placed the said amount at around $100,000.

Under Florida statute, an athlete agent making payments to a student-athlete who is still eligible is liable for a second-degree felony.

It is punishable by up to 15 years in jail and/or a $100,000 fine.

If found guilty, Pouncey could be retroactively ruled ineligible for the Sugar Bowl that could translate to the Gators vacating the 51-34 Sugar Bowl victory over the Bearcats.

Pouncey, winner of the Rimington Award as the nation’s top center in 2009, was taken by the Steelers with the 18th overall pick in April.

His twin brother Mike opted to stay in school for his senior year rather than leave early and turn professional.

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