Monday, August 2, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Marty Turco – the new gollie over Niemi for the Blackhawks!!

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 11:52 AM PDT

Marty Turco

Marty Turco

The Chicago Blackhawks, surprisingly walk away from the $2.75 million contract that got awarded to Antti Niemi, making the winner goalie of the Stanley Cup an unrestricted free agent. The hawks have instead walked down for a $1.3 million on year contract with veteran netminder Marty Turco as the newer one.

Antti Niemi, who had beaten down Cristobal Huet to the number position in Canada, leading his team to the first ever championship in 1961, the 26- year old netminder went off well with seven shoots in a row in 39 continuous season games and 16-6 in the playoffs.

Niemi, along with Dustin Byfuglien, Andrew Ladd, Ben Eager, and Kris Versteeg will all be with new teams this season.

Neimi left away for a new team earning over a $826,875 last season becoming the first goalie to win a Stanley Cup after Nikolai Khabibulin left the Tampa Bay for Chicago and the winning of the Lightening in 2004.

Turco too became an unrestricted free agent after his entire 10-year career with the Dallas Stars came down to Chicago. The last season saw Turco's 22-20-11 in 53 games with a 2.72 GAA and four shutouts.

“Marty is the perfect veteran addition to our tremendous core that is already in place as we look to begin our defense of the Stanley Cup,” said Blackhawks General Manager Stan Bowman in a statement. “He is joining us with the intention of adding a Stanley Cup to his lengthy list of accomplishments over the last decade and we are looking forward to his immediate contributions.”

"Joining the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks is an unbelievable opportunity for me both professionally and personally," said Turco in a release. “The Blackhawks are a first-class organization in a world-class city and at this point in my career I am excited to be a part of a team that will give me such a good chance to win the Stanley Cup.”

Browns Second-Round Running Back Hardesty Injures Knee

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:59 AM PDT

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Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Berea, OH, United States (AHN) – The Cleveland Browns announced Saturday second-round draft pick Montario Hardesty will be forced to miss action after the running back injured his knee during a pre-camp drill last week.

The Browns are taking no risks with the oft-injured back, who had problems with his knees during his time at the University of Tennessee.

Hardesty tore his right ACL as a freshmen, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee as a sophomore and got his right knee drained as a senior.

The North Carolina native bounced back and was the Southeastern Conference’s second leading rusher in 2009, behind Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram.

Hardesty twisted his knee during a drill, but it will not require surgery. The 59th overall pick is expected to battle veteran Jerome Harrison for the starting job.

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Couples, Langer Set Up Duel At Senior Open

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Sammamish, WA, United States (AHN) – Fred Couples, a son of Seattle, had them screaming in Sammamish, WA. on Saturday.

The Washington native gave his hometown fans something to cheer about and they cheered loudly as he was simply flawless in the third round of the U.S. Senior Open.

Couples had five birdies and no bogeys around the difficult Sahalee Country Club and shot a 65, low round of the tournament.

Couples’ 5-under effort put him in a tie with Bernhard Langer going into the final round. Both were in at 205.

Couples made a great two-putt from 100 feet on the final hole. Langer, birdied 18 for 68 to tie Couples for the lead.

It set up a final round duel between the two best players on the Champions Tour.

The duo put some distance between themselves and the other contenders. Tom Kite shot a 3-round 69 to get himself back to even par, 210 and tied for third place with Chien Soon Lu, who put up a 68. They’ll start the final round five shots behind.

Four players were six shots behind — John Cook, Peter Senior, Michael Allen and Tommy Armour III. They were tied at 1-over-par, 211.

Couples got off to a great start. He started his run at the par-5 second with a birdie then added three more at the fifth, seventh and ninth holes for a 4-under 31.

He also was steady coming home. Couples ran off six straight pars before he made a 10-footer for birdie at the 16th.

Langer was 1-under through his front nine then added another birdie at the 11th to get to 5-under. But he suffered his only bogey of the day when he came up short of the 11th green and failed to get up-and-down for his par. He ran off six straight pars until his closing birdie evened him with Couples.

The gallery swelled to nearly 30,000, and the majority urged Couples on all day.

“People love golf in the Northwest and they’re coming out and supporting the tournament,” Couples said. “And that’s great for me.”

Couples said early in the week that he desperately wants to win a major in front of his hometown supporters. He played in 23 U.S. Open Championship without a win and will now have his chance in an 18-hole showdown with Langer.

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Kyle Busch Scores Ninth Nationwide Win Of Season

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

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Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Newton, IA, United States (AHN) – Another NASCAR Nationwide Series race and another dominant performance by Kyle Busch.

Busch, wheeling the No. 18 Toyota for Joe Gibbs Racing, led 208 of a possible 250 laps in winning his ninth Nationwide race of the season Saturday night at Iowa Speedway.

“It’s pretty phenomenal the race cars these guys put out,” Busch said. “I didn’t think we had it. It was the same car we had last year or the same feel. The pit crew gave me awesome stops all night.”

Like previous outings this year, Busch had the car to beat and drove away with a winning margin of 1.704 seconds over Kevin Harvick in capturing the U.S. Cellular 250.

With nine wins on the season, Busch is within one of tying the all-time wins record (10) of races won in a single season.

“It’s fun when they drive like this,” Harvick said. “I feel like we’re closer to the 18, but those guys are so good right now.”

Following Busch across the finish line were Harvick, Jason Leffler, points leader Brad Keselowski and Trevor Bayne.

Rounding out the top-10 finishers were Steve Wallace, Michael Annett, Just Allgaier, Matt Dibenedetto and Carl Edwards, who trails Keselowski in the points race.

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Cano`s HR Gives Yanks Sole Possession of First

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Todd Callahan – AHN Sports Reporter

St. Petersburg, FL, United States (AHN) – Robinson Cano lifted a Rafael Soriano fastball into the seats in right field and in the process lifted the Yankees into sole possession of first place in the American League East Saturday with a 5-4 win.

With the game tied at 4 and one-out in the eighth inning, Cano tallied his 21st home run of the season, breaking the deadlock against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

With a victory, the Rays could have moved into a tie with the defending World Series champs for the division lead.

Thanks to Cano, who led the Yanks with a 3-for-4 performance, New York improved to 66-37 and padded its lead in the division to two games over the Rays (64-39).

The Yankees, who have a 7 1-2 game cushion over the Red Sox, are guaranteed to leave Tampa with the division lead. The two teams conclude a three-game series Sunday.

In Saturday’s game, the Yankees erased three deficits, thanks in part to Cano, who got half the team’s hits.

Mark Teixeira went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer, and Nick Swisher had a homer in the victory.

The Yankees were facing Tampa pitcher Matt Garza, who was making is first outing since throwing a no-hitter Monday against the Tigers.

However, New York made sure the right-hander did not have a repeat performance, as Cano nailed a fastball into the right field gap for a double in the second inning.

It was one of five hits the Yankees tallied off Garza, who allowed four runs and struck out nine in seven innings of work.

Garza had a two-hitter going for the first five innings and owned a 3-1 lead, but he ran into trouble in the sixth inning.

Derek led off the frame with a double and scored on Teixeira’s 21st home run to tie the game.

The seesaw battle continued in the bottom of the frame, as Matt Jones’ solo shot to right field of Javier Vazquez reclaimed the lead for the Rays, who were playing in front of back-to-back sold out crowds for the first time in franchise history. Sunday’s game also is a sale out.

However many of the fans, dressed in pinstripes, had something to cheer about in the top of the seventh when Swisher touched Garza for a solo home run to tie the game.

The game turned into which bullpen would be better, and the Yankees rose to the occasion, as Boone Logan, David Robertson and Mariano Rivera, who tallied his 22nd save of the season, combined to allow just hit in the final 2 2/3 innings.

The lone hit was a ninth inning single into right field by pinch hitter Willy Aybar into shallow right field.

Rivera closed the game by getting Jason Bartlett to ground out to Jeter to preserve first place for the Yankees, who took over first place in the division from the Rays on June 20.

Leading the Rays in a losing effort was leadoff hitter John Jaso, who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and left fielder Carl Crawford went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Jaso led off the bottom of the first inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Evan Longoria for a 1-0 lead.

Jaso also broke a 1-1 tie when he scored on an RBI single by Crawford in the bottom of the third inning that gave the Rays a 2-1 lead.

Saturday’s game marked the debut of newly acquired designated hitter Lance Berkman, who traded to the Yankees Friday by the Houston Astros. Berkman went 0-for-4 with his new team.

Alex Rodriguez, who went 1-for-3, was held without a home run and remains at 599 for career homers. He has not hit a home run in nine consecutive games.

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Angel`s Two Goals, Henry Debut Help Red Bulls Draw With Dynamo

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Todd Callahan – AHN Sports Reporter

Houston, TX, United States (AHN) – On a night famed French striker Thierry Henry made his MLS debut, little known substitute Brian Mullan stole the show in guiding the Houston Dynamo to a 2-all draw with the New York Red Bulls Saturday.

The Red Bulls (8-6-3) got two goals by Juan Pablo Angel, who leads the team with 11 goals this season, and Henry added a pair of assists in his long awaited league debut, but the Dynamo (5-8-5) added the equalizer in the final minute of regulation.

It was the fourth draw in the last five matches for Houston, which is in next to last place in the Western Conference standings.

Houston, down a man since the 44th minute of the match thanks to a red card to midfielder Lovell Palmer, was trailing 2-1 when the opportunistic Dynamo intercepted a pass in the middle of the pitch from New York goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul. with 88:55 left in the match.

The Dynamo, who had 12 total shots and four shots on goal, controlled the ball, and an open Andrew Hainault, who was just inside the midfield line.

The stopper connected on a pass with a streaking Mullan, who outleaped Red Bulls defender Carlos Mendes and headed the ball in the upper left corner of the goal for the equalizer.

“We were in a dire situation down a man,” Mullan told the Houston Chronicle. “The team was down a man, down a goal and we needed to score as quickly as possible. The team showed some urgency and we played well a man down. Luckily we had some good combination play and Andrew sent in a great ball that the defender misjudged and I scored.”

Arguably the player the majority of the 24,750 at Robertson Stadium wanted to see was Henry, who did not disappoint.

The former UEFA Champions League star got into the scorebook in the 10th minute when he connected on a pass inside the penalty box to Angel for the opening goal of the game.

With the game knotted at 1-all after a penalty kick in the 24th minute by Houston’s Brad Davis, Angel and Henry connected again in the 58th minute.

Angel received a through pass from Henry and blasted a right-foot shot past Houston goalkeeper Tally Hall, who made three saves on five shots-on-goal

“The result was a bit bad for us because of the late goal,” Henry said. “I think with Juan Pablo and I played well.”

Many in the crowd sported Henry’s old club jerseys from Arsenal and Barcelona and cheered wildly when the Frenchman touched the ball.

Some in the crowd became more involved and ran onto the pitch, and one zealous fan jumped on Henry’s back in the second half of the game.

“I don’t even know what happened,” Henry confessed to the Houston newspaper.

After Mullan’s match-tying goal, a few more fans stormed the field and were eventually escorted away by security guards, who struggled to catch the trespassers.

“It’s a good thing that they weren’t coming to harm (Henry),” Red Bulls midfielder Dane Richards told the Chronicle. “But that guy missed so many tackles from those guys. They’re there to protect the players, but it wasn’t there.”

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Steelers` Roethlisberger Gets Warm Welcome, Runs Offense

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Pittsburgh, PA, United States (AHN) – The Pittsburgh Steelers kicked off their first practice of training camp on a positive note Saturday, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and right tackle Flozell Adams flawlessly executed the first-team offense.

Roughly two months after avoiding sexual assault charges, Roethlisberger was back on the field, running the Steelers first-team offense.

Roethlisberger, who will serve at least a four-game suspension, expressed his enthusiasm for playing with the Steelers’ newly-acquired right tackle.

Adams signed a two-year deal with the Steelers last week, replacing injured offensive tackle Willie Colon (torn Achilles heel) in the starting lineup.

Roethlisberger said he welcomes the opportunity to run the first-team offense despite a tumultuous offseason.

Backup quarterback Byron Leftwich took the quarterback role from Roethlisberger after three plays and executed the offensive play solidly.

Leftwich’s designation as the backup quarterback behind Roethlisberger was criticized by some as a questionable move.

Many football followers believe Dennis Dixon should be ahead of Leftwich on the Steelers depth chart, but coach Mike Tomlin insisted he knows what he’s doing.

The Steelers are conducting series of drills at St. Vincent College in Latrobe to prepare for the upcoming NFL 2010-2011 season.

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Marquez Defeats Diaz In One-Sided Rematch

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Shawn Krest – AHN Sports Correspondent

Las Vegas, NV, United States (AHN) – Juan Diaz finished the fight this time, but his rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez had the same result as their first bout.

Marquez dominated from the opening bell en route to a unanimous decision victory Saturday night in Las Vegas.

While both fighters had moments, the fight did not have the same furious action as the first match between the two fighters, won by Marquez by ninth-round knockout in February, 2009.

The bout was the consensus choice for 2009 Fight of the Year.

Marquez was more clinical in the rematch, targeting punches against Diaz and maintaining a safe distance.

Marquez suffered swelling around his eye in the middle of the fight, which his camp said afterward was the result of getting poked by Diaz’s thumb.

Diaz seemed unable or reluctant to mix it up with Marquez, refusing to press the action. Scores were 116-112, 118-110, and 117-111. AHN’s unofficial scorecard had it 117-11 in Marquez’s favor.

The fight was Marquez’s return to the lightweight division after moving up to welterweight to face Floyd Mayweather Jr. in Mayweather’s return from a brief retirement.

The win moved Marquez to 51-5 and allowed him to defend the WBO Lightweight title and the WBA Super World Lightweight titles, both of which he won in his first bout with Diaz.

Marquez is rumored to be facing Britain’s Amir Khan next, and his comments after the bout indicated that he would also be interested in a third fight with Manny Pacquiao.

Marquez was knocked down three times in the first round but survived and earned a draw with Pacquiao in their first fight and lost a split decision in the rematch.

In addition to the two Marquez losses, Diaz has lost decisions to Nate Campbell and Paul Malignaggi in his last six bouts, dropping him to 35-4 on his career.

A law student, Diaz indicated that he was considering leaving the sport to devote his attention to the law full-time.

In a talent-packed undercard, many of the bouts resembled the main event in their one-sidedness.

Dmitry Pirog won the vacant WBO Middleweight title with a fifth-round knockout of the favored Daniel Jacobs.

Pirog’s foot and hand speed were too much for Jacobs, and Pirog was able to hurt the previously undefeated 2009 Prospect of the Year in the second round.

A right hand at :57 of the third ended things. Pirog moved to 17-0 with his 14th knockout. Jacobs fell to 20-1.

Robert “Ghost” Guerrero got a final-round surprise in an otherwise dominating win over Joel Casamayor. Guerrero knocked Casamayor down in the second round.

Casamayor was also penalized a point for excessive holding in that round, leading to a rare 10-7 score.

Guerrero seemed to be fully in control of the bout before Casamayor scored a flash knockdown with a minute to go to the fight.

The rally was too little, too late, as Guerrero won by scores of 98-89, 98-89, and 97-90. AHN’s unofficial card had it 98-89 as well.

Guerrero moved to 27-1 and has not lost since 2005. Casamayor fell to 37-5-1 with his second loss in three bouts.

Jorge Linares dominated a matchup with Rocky Juarez, winning a unanimous decision by scores of 99-90, 99-90, and 97-92.

AHN’s unofficial card had it 99-90, as Linares dropped Juarez with an uppercut at the end of the fifth round.

Juarez lost his third straight bout and fell to 28-7. Linares moved to 29-1.

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Webber Scores Hungarian Grand Prix Win

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Budapest, Hungary (AHN) – Another race another week of controversy in Formula One.

A week after Ferrari was fined penalized $100,000 for altering the outcome of a race, Red Bull’s Mark Webber won the Hungarian Grand Prix after teammate Sebastian Vettel was penalized.

Vettel was given a drive-thru penalty on Lap 32 for falling more than 10 car-lengths behind the pace car and Webber took advantage by grabbing the lead and later his fourth win of the season Sunday at the Hungaroring track.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, involved in the controversy last week, took runner-up honors and was followed by Vettel and Felipe Massa, Ferrari’s other driver.

Webber leads the points standings with 161, four points ahead of former F1 champion Lewis Hamilton of McLaren. Following Hamilton is Vettel with 151 points and defending world champion Jenson Button with 147 points.

Former champion Michael Schumacher was ruled by race stewards to have impeded Williams driver Rubens

Barrichello during an overtaking maneuver on Lap 66 was penalized 10 positions at the next race in Belgium on August 29.

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Tseng Makes Major Statement, Wins British Open

Posted: 02 Aug 2010 05:58 AM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Southport, England, United Kingdom (AHN) – Yani Tseng made a major statement Sunday at Royal Birkdale in the final round of the women’s British Open.

It was a double-major statement.

Her nervous one-shot victory over Australian Katherine Hull, was her second major win of the 2010 season and with it, she became the youngest player in LPGA history to win three major championships.

Tseng’s closing 73 gave her a winning 11-under par total of 277, one shot better than Hull, who shot a two-under 70 that created a back nine duel between the two players.

Tseng is only 21 and her victory combined with her title in the Kraft Nabisco championship, made her case for Player of the Year honors.

She started the day with a four-shot lead but saw it nearly vanish when Hull made two early birdies and she bogeyed the third hole.

Tseng rebounded and picked up a pair of birdies then a bogey at the eighth hole and maintained her four-shot advantage with nine to play.

It looked as though she might stroll to victory, as Louis Oosthuizen did in the men’s Open. But it didn’t turn out that way.

A bogey at the 10th hole dropped Tseng to 11-under then Hull made things tighten with birdies at the 11th and 13th holes.

From there it became match play between the two contenders. With three par fives, all considered birdie holes among the final four, it was anyone’s title.

The two traded pars at the 14th then at 15, Tseng missed a great opportunity to pad her lead but she lipped out a birdie putt from four feet.

At 16, Tseng hit a nice approach from 114 yards to 10 feet but again missed and it was obvious that her nerves were in play.

The 17th presented both players with another birdie opportunity. Both players were just off the green in two but neither could get close enough. Both missed birdie putts from about 15 feet then went to the short 18th with the tournament still on the line.

Tseng got a bad break when her tee shot caught a fairway bunker at the 477-yard final hole. She was forced to lay up and Hull had her chance. From 221 yards she went over the green while Tseng’s third shot from 144 yards ended up pin high on the right fringe.

Hull’s chip came up 15 feet short and all Tseng had to do was two-putt for the win. She did, although it was a nervous five-footer she faced and made.

Tears of happiness flowed as she hugged her caddy. The 2008 Rookie of the Year is now the favorite for Player of the Year. He double-major this year goes with her LPGA victory in 2008.

She was runnerup at the British in 2008 but took home the gold medal Sunday.

Na Yeon Choi and In-Kyung Kim tied for third at 281. Cristie Kerr closed with a 70 and tied for fifth at 282 with Amy Yang and Hee Kyung Seo.

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