Sunday, August 22, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Federer vs Fish: Cincinnati final showdown

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 12:37 PM PDT

Mason, OH, United States: While putting up yet another flabbergasting display of tennis Roger Federer, on Saturday defeated Cyprus's Marcos Baghdatis 6-4, 6-3 to advance to the finals of Cincinnati Masters t the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason, Ohio.

The confidence which Baghdatis gained after defeating Rafael Nadal in Friday's quarterfinals was shattered by Federer's immaculate performance. Federer who lost to Andy Murray in the last week Roger's Cup final, launched an attack on his opponent from the very beginning of the match with solid accurate serves and a myriad of crosscourt shots, enough to leave the Cypriot bedazzled.

The Saturday's final holds great significance for the 16 time Grand Slam Champion who also froze his No.2 spot in world ranking by being a part of another final. In the final, Federer shall defend his Cincinnati Masters title against American Mardy Fish who is aspiring to win his 3rd singles title of the season and 1st Cincinnati Masters title.

Fish defeated fellow American Andy Roddick 4-6, 7-6, 6-1 in the semi final en route his journey to the final.

David Rudisha wins the 800 metres at the ISTAF

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 12:01 PM PDT

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David Rudisha, the Kenyan player won an 800 meter record at the International’s Infestation Or rather, one should say that David Rudisha set a world record today and broke all the past ones. The world Champion, David Rushida, ran across the line of the race track within 41.09 seconds.

The 21 year old athlete became powerful against all the other athlete, Wilson Kipketer of Denmark who has been the best one till this year, from the last 13 years. David Rushid beat Wilson Kipketer by two hundredths of a second.

David Rudisha’s earlier performance yeilded him 1:41.51. Boaz Lang (1:44.34) and Abraham Kiplagat (1:44.49) were not far behind with their scores.

Semenya, the South African Caster, also marked the winning of the 800 meters of w omen’s category. Semenya, ran in the same stadium an year back when she won her name as the world.

1:59.90 was the record set by the South African w omen’s champion. Semenya, in her third race, broke apart the barriers she was facing.

She has been at it since she came back in July from the International athletics federation IAAF. The winner also took the gender tests.

Blackpool Dreams Gunned Down: Tangerines Blanked By Arsenal

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:31 AM PDT

Andrew Lawn – AHN Sports Correspondent

London, United Kingdom (AHN) – Blackpool’s Premier League dream start is truly over after a 6-0 thumping at the hands of Arsenal.

Having beaten Wigan 4-0 away last week, fans of the Tangerines would have been forgiven for thinking the Premier League would be a stroll.

One week and a 6-0 thrashing later and their dream start is over.

Goals from Chamkh, Diaby and an Arshavin penalty added to a Theo Walcott hat-trick gave the Gunners a comprehensive win.

Blackpool’s victims last week, Wigan, were again on the receiving end of a heavy defeat going down 6-0 to Chelsea.

Chelsea has already scored 12 goals in its opening two Premier League fixtures.

Didier Drogba notched a hat-trick of assists, to go with last week’s three goals as Kalou and Anelka got two apiece with Benayoun and Malouda getting one each.

Elsewhere, West Ham lost its second in two matches going down 3-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers.

Tottenham Hotspurs gained a valuable three points at Stoke City with a 2-1 win whilst Birmingham City beat Blackburn Rovers by the same scoreline.

Newly promoted West Brom snatched a late winner to beat Sunderland 1-0 at the Hawthorns, via new signing Peter Odemwingie.

Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers drew 1-1 at Goodison Park.

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Vikes` Harvin Released From Hospital, Makes Appearance At Practice

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:22 AM PDT

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Corine Gatti – AHN Sports Contributor

Eden Prairie, MN, United States (AHN) – Minnesota Vikings wideout Percy Harvin is reportedly doing much better, after he collapsed at training camp in suffering from apparent severe migraine headaches.

Harvin was taken away in an ambulance, ending practice an hour early Thursday. He was discharged from the hospital and remained on the sidelines at practice Friday.

Coach Brad Childress suggested that looking into the glaring sun could have triggered the episode that landed Harvin, 22, into the hospital.

Harvin, who won’t make the trip to San Francisco for the upcoming preseason game, missed time during last season’s training camp, suffering from severe headaches.

The condition worsened following his grandmother’s death.

When the ambulance came to pick Harvin up at the Vikings training compound Thursday, a group of players formed a circle to pray for the fallen team member.

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Back C.J. Spiller Takes Bills For Luxury Drive

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:22 AM PDT

Shawn Krest – AHN Sports Correspondent

Toronto, Ontario, Canada (AHN) – It didn’t take long for C.J. Spiller to go from being a luxury to a necessity.

When Spiller was picked with the Bills’ first round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft, the choice was panned by many.

Nothing against Spiller, but the Bills had needs at many other positions and two starting caliber running backs in Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch.

It took all of one quarter of one preseason game for all that to change. Last week in Washington, Jackson suffered a hand injury that has him on the sidelines in in a cast. The team hopes to have him back by the first game but isn’t sure.

A few plays later, Lynch suffered an ankle injury that will keep him out for much of the preseason.

Suddenly, the running back cupboard was bare, except for Spiller.

Spiller made the most of his opportunity Thursday night in Toronto. On his first carry, he took it four yards for a first down.

The next snap gave him his first highlight reel play.

Spiller took the ball and was met at the line by Colts’ man mountain Robert Mathis.

The 196-pound rookie from Clemson bounced off the 245 pound Mathis and kept running.

“Coming into the game, we saw that they were a defense that is always going to try to play on top of the line,” Spiller said. “I just read my keys, and the offensive line did a great job of holding them up.

Defensive back Jacob Lacey was next, but the second-year pro dove and came up empty as Spiller changed direction again.

Spiller sped down the sideline with one man to beat-five-year veteran Antoine Bethea.

And beat him, Spiller did. With a stutter step and juke, Spiller spun Bethea around and tiptoed into the end zone to give the Bills a 7-0 lead. The run went for a game-high 31 yards.

“I just cut back, made a guy miss,” Spiller understated, “and it felt good to get in there.”

The three guys Spiller made miss combined for four Pro Bowls, 15 years in the NFL, and two Super Bowl rings.

“That’s a great defense we just went up against, and that’s a big confidence booster,” Spiller said.

“It starts with our running game,” agreed Bills quarterback Trent Edwards. “If C.J. can pound out yards, move the ball and the chains, it helps scoring touchdowns if you can run the ball like that.”

After gaining 35 yards on two carries, Spiller was merely human for the rest of his limited playing time. When he left the game early in the second quarter, he had 54 yards on 10 carries, both best on the night for either team.

More important to the Bills prospects for the 2010 season was the one in the touchdowns rushing column for Spiller.

“We put the ball in the end zone and points on the board,” said Edwards, “and that’s what we like.”

Not bad for a luxury pick.

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Phillies Halladay Shutting Out Nationals 1-0 Through Five Innings

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:22 AM PDT

Ed Condran – AHN Sports Correspondent

Philadelphia, PA, United States (AHN) – It appeared that the Phillies-Nationals game at Citizens Bank Park was going to be a marquee matchup.

The Nationals could have started rookie phenom

Stephen Strasburg on regular rest against Phillies ace Roy Halladay.

However, the Nationals opted to have another sort of marquee matchup. The National League East cellar dwellers started Jason Marquis versus ‘Doc’ Halladay.

Marquis entered the game with a 14-plus ERA, against the perennial All-Star hurler. So it was half of a marquee matchup.

Halladay, who has won five straight starts, doesn’t have his best stuff despite tossing shutout ball thus far

He has given up six hits and issued an uncharacteristic two walks in an inning but the Phillies lead 1-0 after five frames.

Phillies hot-hitting leftfielder Raul Ibanez has driven in the game’s lone with a double.

However, Marquis, who is 0-5, is pitching his best game of the season, giving up just four-hits in five innings.

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Weibring Leads Way At Jeld-Wen Tradition

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:22 AM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Sunriver, OR, United States (AHN) – D.A. Weibring is known for his short game and Friday his putter came to life and helped him shoot a second straight 67 at the Jeld-Wen Tradition Championship at the Crosswater Club.

Weibring’s 10-under par total of 134 gave him a two shot lead over Senior PGA champion Tom Lehman, who holed a bunker shot for birdie at the par three 17th that helped him put up a 69 and a 136 total.

“It’s a nice way to get started,” said Weibring, who has been bothered by a bone spur in his shoulder. “I holed some nice putts. I played pretty solid,” he said after taking only 25 putts for the round, including a 25-footer for birdie at his final hole of the day.

“The greens were a little quicker today, I made some good downhill putts,” said Weibring, whose last win came at the 2008 Senior Players Championship.

Lehman will go into Saturday’s third round hoping to find a better iron game. “The whole day long was a frustrating experience, but I hung in there,” he said as he comes to the end of a long run of majors on both tours. “I’m pretty worn out, I’m trying to hold it together this week,” Lehman said.

Lehman was a shot ahead of a group of four players that included Fred Funk (68-69), Gil Morgan (68-69), Jay Don Blake (69-68) and Bob Tway (70-67).

Bernhard Langer, looking for his third-straight major, was in contention at six-under after a second straight 69.

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`Doc` Halladay Keeps Runs Away; Phillies Blank Nationals

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:22 AM PDT

Ed Condran – AHN Sports Correspondent

Philadelphia, PA, United States (AHN) – When Roy Halladay is on, he’s arguably the best pitcher in baseball.

When the ace known as ‘Doc’ is off, he’s still among the better hurlers in the game. Halladay didn’t have his finest stuff Friday night, but that didn’t stop him and the Philadelphia Phillies from blanking the Washington Nationals 1-0 at Citizens Bank Park

The perennial All-Star uncharacteristically nibbled and as a result tossed 116 pitches over seven innings. Halladay, who is 16-8, struck out five and walked three batters, which is the anomaly for the control freak.

Halladay, who sports a 2.16 ERA, scattered eight hits and made big pitches when he had to get out of some tough situations.

“I battled myself a little bit early,” Halladay said. “It was one of those games you’re always working to make pitches. I made some when I needed to and had a little bit of luck on my side too. I’ll take it on days where you’re grinding a bit to get out of some of those jams.”

Phillies hot-hitting leftfielder Raul Ibanez drove in the only run of the game with a double. The Phillies prevailed despite a meager four-hit attack.

It appeared that the contest was going to be a marquee matchup. The Nationals could have started rookie phenom Stephen Strasburg on regular rest against Halladay.

However, the Nationals opted to have another sort of marquee matchup. The National League East cellar dwellers went with Jason Marquis versus Halladay.

Marquis, who is 0-6, entered the game with a 14-plus ERA against Halladay. So it was half of a marquee matchup but a full-on pitchers duel.

The Phillies kept the Nationals off the scoreboard thanks to Halladay’s gutty performance and a key assist from the backend of the bullpen.

Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge preserved the shutout. The latter earned his 17th save in 21 opportunities.

With the win the Phillies still lead the NL Wild Card race and remain2 1-2 games behind the NL East leading Atlanta Braves.

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Kyle Busch Scores 10th Nationwide Win Of Season

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:22 AM PDT

Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Bristol, TN, United States (AHN) – Kyle Busch may not be running the NASCAR Nationwide Series fulltime, but he certainly is dominating it.

Friday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, Busch scored his 10the Nationwide win of the season, 40th of his career and set himself up for a potential rare Bristol trifecta after winning the Truck race here Wednesday night.

If Busch is able to capture Saturday night’s Irwin Tools Cup race, he would land the rare triple at Thunder Valley.

The win didn’t go without its share of controversy as a tangle with points leader Brad Keselowski on Lap 219 sent Keselowski into the wall and a 14th-place finish, leaving hard feelings between the two frontrunners.

“I raced and raced and raced him (Brad Keselowski) and I don’t know for 12, 15 laps and my Z-Line Camry was pretty awesome tonight. The guys did a great job. It was loose, but it was good. I thought I had him cleared on the back and I moved up in front of him and instead of him doing an Earnhardt crossover move he decided that he would just run into the back of me and put me in the fence. So, that’s Brad Keselowski. So, you know, I went down into the next corner and dumped him,” said Busch of Keselowski.

“He does it to everybody else. Why can’t I do it to him? So, whatever. It don’t matter. It’s fun to come over here and race and I enjoy it, and of course it’s cool to put this 18 car in victory lane.”

Jason Leffler ran third and was followed by Elliott Sadler and Carl Edwards, while Trevor Bayne, Clint Bowyer, Reed Sorenson, Parker Kligerman and Joey Logano rounded out the top 10.

The race also has a wild accident on Lap 83 when Justin Allgaier’s Dodge sent Kasey Kahne’s Toyota sliding on its side along the outside wall.

“I’m on probation for racing hard and that allows everyone to intentionally wreck me,” said Keselowski of Busch. “We made good moves in the race and worked our way to the front. We had a great car. The fans saw what happened. He’ll get his.”

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Jimmie Johnson On Pole At Bristol

Posted: 22 Aug 2010 06:21 AM PDT

Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Bristol, TN, United States (AHN) – Despite winning a few races this season defending NASCAR Sprint Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson has been able to fly under the radar most of the year.

Johnson was high on the radar when he won his first ever Bristol Motor Speedway pole Friday night. It was Johnson’s 24th career pole in NASCAR’s premier series.

“We definitely have things going right for us so far; a good qualifying effort. Race practice went well. We were near the top five on the fastest lap throughout most of practice,” said Johnson.

“It felt like our car was very consistent and we were a bit puzzled on how much the groove has widened out and where we think the ideal line to race is, come race time. We spent a lot of time focused on the bottom of the race track, including qualifying and running our lap.”

Roush Fenway Racing’s Carl Edwards was the qualiying leader until Johnson stepped up and knocked him off. Edwards will roll off second alongside Johnson and Joe Logano will start third.

Tony Stewart will roll out fourth and will be followed by David Reutimann, who missed most of Friday’s opening practice with flu-like symptoms.

“I am happy with that lap. We were 12th quickest at the end of practice. I don’t know where that is going be,” said Stewart. “The car felt good. I’m really happy with the way that it ran. Proud of (crew chief) Darian (Grubb) and these guys.”

The only drivers who failed to qualify for the 43-car field was Dave Blaney, Joe Nemechek, Kevin Lepage, J.J. Yeley, Brian Keselowski and Mike Bliss.

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