Sunday, July 25, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Brickyard 400 2010, all set to make history!!

Posted: 25 Jul 2010 11:31 AM PDT

Brickyard 400

Brickyard 400

The 2010 edition of the NASCAR's biggest event the Brickyard is the 17th annual stock car race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. The Brickyard 400 2010 holds a capability to create history in the all the while success of the NASCAR motors since 1994.

Jimmie Johnson is all set to compete with the four times winning records of Jeff Gordon, where Gordon could only keep some distance with Johnson in the Brickyard. But it seems both of the fighters have a tougher competition with the champion Kevin Harvick and they only have to make their places in the second and the third positions.

In the race, challengers like Juan Pablo Montoya make his moves too, but has a lot to work on to reach to the top three. If he steps even further than his last year's speed up, he surely will be the first Indy winner. While the others only get the Brickyard as a chance to increase their skills and potential. The last race had geared Clint Bower up to the 12th position while Dale Earnhardt JR saw a fall.

The drivers still have their best chances even after the Brickyard in the next six races yet to go. The drivers hope for no breaks in the Brickyard this time. The event is to be telecasted on the ESPN channel at 1 pm EST and over millions of fan viewers would be able to watch it easy.

Tour-De-France 2010: ‘El Pistolero’, Contador Claims His Third Title

Posted: 25 Jul 2010 11:04 AM PDT

TOUR-DE-FRANCE

TOUR-DE-FRANCE

The 27 year old Alberto Contador held off a stiff challenge from nearest rival Andy Schleck to win his 3rd Tour-De-France title even as 7 time champion, Lance Armstrong finished his last race 39.20 secs adrift of the eventual winner and former rival, Contador thus finishing 23rd.

Saturday's individual time trials saw champion Contador hold off a stiff challenge from Schleck  of Luxembourgh. The battle was intriguing with both Contador and Andy competing wheel to wheel until a misfortune with Schleck in the 15th stage which upset his chances and allowed Contador to pull ahead in the final descent. Unfortunately, Schleck's  chain slipped during the ascent uphill.

Whatever maybe the case it heralds the arrival of the Tour-De-France's next great rivalry. In the final results,  Contador led 2nd placed Schleck comfortably by a margin of 39 secs .

Denis Menchov of Russia claimed the 3rd spot. Mark Cavendish of Britain won his 5th stage victory in this tour and 15th of his career in the end of the 20th and last stage , a ceremonial course from Longjumeau to Paris about 63.7 miles long.

Contador celebrated his victory with his Astana teammates who were shouting "ole ole ole" at the top of their voices and well-earned it was too. This joyous moment occurred on Champ-Elysees where a thousand strong fan-club lined the way to cheer for all of the cyclists.

It was not an ending befitting for Lance Armstrong who finished the race in a miserable position. It didn't help that his name was put forth by his former team-mate, Floyd Landis on alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. Even though Armstrong has never tested positive and refused any charges of doping against him, claims by his rival are a tad unsettling especially since he owned up to charges of doping agiainst himself in 2006 and was subsequently stripped of his title.

Armstrong caused the Tour-De-France to be shrouded in unnecessary clouds of suspicion.
This huge controversy apart, there was a minor problem with Armstrong and his team RadioShack turning up in wrong jerseys to support the Livestrong foundation of Armstrong.

The team was temporarily disallowed until they changed back into their original jerseys which caused the Tour race to be started 15mins late. In contrast, Contador had a leisurely ride in the final stage and put up 3 fingers signalling his 3rd Tour-De-France Title win. The popular "El-Pistolero" even had the cheek to spray photographers with his blue plastic gun. It was an achievement for Contador who joined Greg LeMond, louison Bobet and Philippe Thys as a 3 time Tour-De-France winner.

Del Rosario Notches Challengers 9 Win; Kaufman Also Victorious

Posted: 25 Jul 2010 05:47 AM PDT

Shawn Krest – AHN Sports Correspondent

Everett, WA, United States (AHN) – Shane del Rosario knocked out Lolohea Mahe in the main event of Strikeforce Challengers 9 in Everett, Washington, Friday night.

The undefeated heavyweight recorded his 10th career win and eighth knockout over Mahe, who outweighed del Rosario by more than 20 pounds.

Del Rosario stunned Mahe with a series of head kicks, and backed him against the cage.

From the clinch, del Rosario threw a left knee to the head. He followed with two knees to the body that crumpled Mahe to the canvas.

The referee waved off the bout at 3:48 of the first round. Del Rosario’s performance led to speculation that he will move up from the Challengers series to the main Strikeforce cards in the near future, with a possible matchup with Andre Arlovski next.

Mahe fell to 6-2-1 with his second straight knockout loss in a Challengers main event. He was stopped by Lavar Johnson in March.

In a women’s title bout, champion Sarah Kaufman defended her 135 pound championship for the first time with an emphatic knockout of Roxanne Modafferi.

Modafferi was able to choke off Kaufman’s striking by charging in and tying Kaufman up in a clinch on the cage. Much of the first two rounds were spent against the cage.

The few times that Kaufman was able to create space, she landed punches well and hurt the challenger. She ended the second round with a series of punches that had Modafferi reeling.

Modafferi was able to score from the clinch, using judo throws to take Kaufman down. She was unable to accomplish much from top position, however, and each time, the referee stood the pair back up.

Late in the third round, Kaufman recorded a takedown of her own. Modafferi tried to catch the champion in an armbar, but Kaufman stood up, lifted Modafferi high in the air and slammed her to the mat with a power bomb.

The referee leapt in to stop the fight at 4:45 of the third. Kaufman moved to 12-0 with her ninth knockout and first knockout since joining Strikeforce. Modafferi fell to 15-6.

In a welterweight bout, Bobby Voelker won an unpopular split decision over Washington native Cory Devela.

Devela spent most of the first round on top, getting full mount and a guillotine choke attempt. Voelker turned the tables in the second round, sweeping Devela after a takedown and bloodying Devela’s nose with ground and pound.

In the third round, Voelker scored a takedown and also dropped Devela to a knee in a fight-ending exchange of punches between the fighters.

Scores were all 29-28, with two of the three in Voelker’s favor. AHN’s unofficial scorecard also had it 29-28 for Voelker.

Voelker moved to 22-8, while Devela fell to 9-4.

Light heavyweight Mike Kyle won a second round submission over Abongo Humphrey. Kyle took Humphrey down into full mount, then transitioned to back control. A rear-naked choke ended it at 3:28 of the second round.

Kyle moved to 17-7 with his third career submission. Humphrey fell to 7-2.

Lightweight Caros Fodor won a unanimous decision over Thomas Diagne. Fodor caught Diagne in kimuras in both the second and third round.

Despite wrenching Diagne’s arm into unnatural angles, Fodor could not get a submission.

Scores were 30-27 on all cards, which matched AHN’s unofficial scorecard.

Fodor moved to 3-0, going the distance for the first time. Diagne fell to 1-2.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Kobe Undergoes Successful Knee Surgery, To Be Ready For Camp

Posted: 25 Jul 2010 05:47 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is expected to be ready in time for training camp after undergoing successful surgery on his right knee, multiple sources reported Friday.

The Lakers confirmed Bryant, 31, is currently rehabilitating following a non-complicated arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last week.

Bryant battled multiple injuries – knee ailments, a broken finger, and back spasms – last season to carry the Lakers to their second consecutive NBA championships.

Last week’s surgery also marked the third time Bryant had his knee repaired after going under the knife in the summer of 2003 and 2006.

In spite of the injuries, Bryant remained resilient and focused in his drive for another NBA championship ring.

After missing nine games in the regular-season, Bryant erupted in the postseason, where he averaged 30.3 points on 47.3 field goals shooting.

Bryant was brilliant for the Lakers in their come-from-behind 4-3 series win over their rival, the Boston Celtics, in the 2010 NBA Finals.

Kobe was named the NBA Finals MVP for the second straight year, solidifying his legacy as one of the best basketball players ever.

Bryant expressed his appreciation to USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo for permitting him to take a leave from the USA Team, which is currently preparing for the World Championships in August.

“Having the summer off from USA Basketball, Mr. Colangelo was very understanding about my situation and I greatly appreciate that, that gives me more time to make sure I’m completely ready to go [next season],” Bryant told ESPN.

The Lakers expect Bryant to be 100 percent healthy in time for training camp in September.

With the arrival of their new acquisitions (Steve Blake, Matt Barnes, and Theo Ratliff), the Lakers look primed for another championship run in the 2010-2011 season.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Contador Virtually Seals Repeat Tour De France Title

Posted: 25 Jul 2010 05:47 AM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Pauillac, France (AHN) – Spaniard Alberto Contador secured his third career Tour de France Saturday by extending his lead over Andy Schleck of Luxembourg to 39 seconds with a brilliant performance in the 52-km individual penultimate stage time trial won by Swiss Fabian Cancellara.

The final stage Sunday is essentially a 102.5-km parade to the Champs-Elysees in Paris, where Contador will repeat as champion.

Contador went into the time trial, a 42.5-mile solo ride from Bordeaux to Pauillac, with an eight second lead on Schleck.

The 27-year-old was heavily favored after consistently outperforming Schleck without protection from a team or the incentive of chasing a rival.

Schleck had vowed revenge earlier in the Tour when Contador broke an unwritten rule in cycling, passing Schleck as he fixed the chain on his bike.

Despite training and practicing time trials, the 30-year-old Schleck fell short and will finish second for the second-straight Tour.

Contador also won the 2007 Tour de France, the 2008 Giro d’Italia , the 2008 Vuelta a España , and the 2009 Tour de France . He is only the fifth rider in history to win cycling’s Grand Tour ( Giro d’Italia, Vuelta a España, Tour de France)

Time trial specialist Cancellara won his second 2009 Tour stage, finishing in one hour and 56 seconds.

Russian Denis Menchov is third overall (-2:01), Spaniard Samuel Sanchez fourth (-3:40) and Belgian Jurgen Van Den Broeck fifth (-6:54).

Christopher Horner is the highest-ranking American rider, in 10th place 12:02 behind.

Seven-time Tour winner Lance Armstrong, racing in what he claims will be his final competition, sits 23rd 39:20 behind.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Wife Of Legendary NFL Coach Cowher Succumbs To Cancer

Posted: 25 Jul 2010 05:47 AM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Raleigh, NC, United States (AHN) – Kaye Cowher, wife of former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher, lost a long battle to skin cancer at age 54 Friday.

Kaye was a Division I basketball star at NC State, where she met Bill in 1976.

Along with twin sister Faye, Kaye helped lead the Wolfpack to the Atlantic Coast Conference’s first women’s basketball title in 1978. The pair also appeared in a Wrigley’s Doublemint gum commercial.

Bill, now a CBS football analyst, went on to play for the Cleveland Browns and coach the Pittsburgh Steelers to a Super Bowl title in 2006.

Kaye played three seasons in the Women’s Professional Basketball League until that league folded in 1981.

All three of the couples’ daughters followed their mother’s footsteps to Division I ball. Meagan and Lauren played together at Princeton and Lindsay currently plays at Wofford.

The family has asked that arrangements be kept private and released no information on the death.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Cycling Controversy Continues: Landis Says He Saw Armstrong Use Drugs

Posted: 25 Jul 2010 01:30 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

NY, NY, United States (AHN) – American cyclist Floyd Landis dropped another verbal bomb on Lance Armstrong Friday, saying he saw the seven-time Tour de France champion practice doping methods numerous times during races.

In his first television interview since his admission of using performance enhancing drugs, the 34-year old Landis detailed previous allegations Armstrong cheated during races.

Landis told Neal Karlinsky of ABC’s “Nightline” he saw Armstrong took performance enhancing drugs and have blood transfusions – a contemporary doping method that reportedly enhances individual’s endurance – during their time with the US Postal Service Team.

“Rather than go into the entire detail of every single time I’ve seen it, yes,” Landis disclosed with Karlinsky Friday.” “I saw Lance Armstrong using drugs.”

Landis added Armstrong also offered him testosterone patches – an allegation he repeatedly brought up to the public.

Armstrong’s attorney Tim Herman rebuffed Landis and described him as a “confessed perjurer and a liar.”

Landis, stripped of his Tour de France overall victory in 2006 due to doping, said cheating remains massive in the sport and the authority has failed to keep competition clean.

“Well, it depends on what your definition of fraud is,” Landis told Karlinsky. “I mean it — look — if he didn’t win the Tour, someone else that was doped would have won the Tour. In every single one of those Tours.”

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Will Power Leads Way In Edmonton Practice; Posts Quickest Lap

Posted: 24 Jul 2010 11:17 PM PDT

Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada (AHN) – The pole for the Honda Indy Edmonton is up for grabs.

During Friday’s practice sessions the six drivers who have earned the pole awards on street/road courses this season were all near the top.

Will Power, who won this race a year ago is fresh off of a street-course win last week in Canada, had the quickest lap of the day at 115.176 mph over the 1.973-mile, 14-turn City Centre Airport circuit.

“The Verizon car is doing great, but we still have some work to do on the car to make it better. I don’t have the feeling in the car that I had earlier in the day,” said Power. “The track is coming up to grip and I’d like to get a better feel for the car because the field will get faster and tomorrow will be the toughest qualifying session of the year.”

Penske’s Ryan Briscoe was two-tenths of a second behind Power and Helio Castroneves was third-quickest as the top-11 cars were separated by less than a second.

“This is a good start for Team Penske, finishing the second practice 1-2-3,” said Castroneves. “The No. 3 car group was struggling through some technical issues, but we figured out what the car needed and we are confident going into tomorrow’s practice and qualifying. It’s great to be back in Edmonton. I love this place.”

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

T-Wolves President Fined $50K For Blunt Comment On Beasley

Posted: 24 Jul 2010 11:17 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Minneapolis, MN, United States (AHN) – Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations told a major media outlet Thursday he felt the use of pot by recently-acquired forward Michael Beasley was the reason for his underachieving as the No. 2 overall pick.

The NBA promptly fined Kahn $50,000 Friday for the comments, made on ESPN 1500 Twin Cities.

“He’s a very young and immature kid who smoked too much marijuana and has told me that he’s not smoking anymore,” Kahn said on the program. “I told him that I would trust him as long as that was the case.”

The NBA did not see the innocence in the statement, nailing Kahn with a hefty $50,000 penalty.

Beasley once got in trouble at the rookie combine because of a reported incident involving marijuana.

Kahn insists Beasley has surrounded himself with the right people and his transition to the Twin Cities should help him mature.

The 6-foot-10 Beasley put up a decent average of 14.3 points and 5.9 rebounds in his two seasons, good for a role player, though not fulfilling the Heat’s vision of becoming the No. 2 option behind Dwyane Wade.

Miami traded Beasley for draft picks last week to free up cap space following the acquisitions of Chris Bosh and LeBron James.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Clark, Wilson Share Canadian Open Lead At 10-Under

Posted: 24 Jul 2010 11:17 PM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – The St. George’s Golf and Country Club was soaked with two inches of rain Thursday night and that meant softer conditions and low scores in the second round of the Canadian Open.

Tim Clark, the reigning Players Champion, shot a 6-under par 64 and finds himself tied for the lead with Dean Wilson, winner of the 2006 International.

The two were in at 130, 10-under par on a day when players were allowed to play lift, clean and place on the saturated layout.

Play was delayed for two hours in the morning then another 90 minutes in the afternoon.

Clark had a six birdie, no bogey effort and hasn’t made a bogey in his first 36 holes.

Wilson has carded back-to-back 65s and has only one bogey in his first two rounds.

They held a one-shot lead over first round leader Brent Delahoussaye, who shot 69 after his opening course-record 62 for a 131 total for a tie with Steve Wheatcroft.

“It’s tough to follow up on an eight-under par round,” Delahoussaye said after his effort. “So I figured anything under par today would be good for me so I’m pleased.”

Delahoussaye’s course record 62 on Thursday was tied on Friday by Kevin Sutherland, who opened with 73 and is 5-under.

J.J. Henry shot 65 on Friday and was one of four players at 8-under, 132. Canadian Tour players Rob Grube and Brock Mackenzie joined him there, as did Hunter Mahan.

Tim Herron’s 63 got him into the hunt at seven-under along with Rob Estes, Matt Jones, Hunter Mahan and Nathan Green.

While the early rounds have been a “who’s that?” rather than a “who’s who?” in the field, a host of big-name players missed the 36-hole cut.

Popular Canadian Mike Weir (6-over), England’s Paul Casey (1-over), Sean O’Hair (1-over) and Fred Couples (4-over) will all miss the weekend.

Play lasted Friday until dark due to the morning and afternoon delays. The projected cut line was one-under par.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
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