Saturday, October 2, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

`Skins Haynesworth Insists He Is Team Player

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 06:32 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – After living in controversy for several months, Washington Redskins defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth spoke up again Thursday, but this time he clarified “misunderstandings” about him and his relationship with his team.

In an interview with ESPN sportscaster Sara Walsh, Haynesworth insisted he’s a team player and he has not given up on the Redskins despite the challenges in playing on a 3-4 defensive scheme.

“It’s very challenging with new scheme, from last year and even this year,” Haynesworth told Walsh Thursday. “It’s been very challenging. But I haven’t given up.”

Haynesworth, 29, added his relationship with Redskins coach Mike Shanahan is fine, denying reports that there is still tension between him and the two-time Super Bowl-winning coach.

“We’re completely fine. I talk to him. It’s very cordial. It’s a fine relationship.” Haynesworth said about his rapport with the coach.

However, Haynesworth confessed he seriously pondered whether or not to accept a $21 million bonus check in April, but in the end, his intrigue on adapting to a 3-4 defense prevailed.

The big payday probably affected his decision, as well.

In spite of the criticism he received for skipping majority of training camp and lambasting the entire Redskins coaching staff, Haynesworth remains hopeful football fans would learn to understand him.

Haynesworth, who only posted two tackles after three games as a second-stringer, is confident he can recapture the game that once made him the most dominant defensive tackle in the NFL.

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Knicks Arrive In Familiar Spot For Dantoni, Gallinari: Milan

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 06:08 AM PDT

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John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

milan, Italy (AHN) – New York Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni is taking his New York Knicks team back the city that made his basketball career: Milan.

The Knicks are in Europe for NBA Europe Live 2010. They will play a highly anticipated game Sunday against Armani Jeans Milano at the Mediolanum Forum.

AJ Milano, is not only the most successful team in Italy with 25 Italian Championships, four Italian Cups and three European Champions Cups, it is also the former team of Knicks forward Danilo Gallinari (2006-08) and D’Antoni (1978-90).

D’Antoni is the team’s all-time leading scorer and went on to coach the club for four seasons (1990-94) winning the Korac Cup in 1993.

D’Antoni’s Italian success almost did not happen as he nearly gave the NBA another shot after two years in Milan. He decided against going to training camp with the Chicago Bulls and he went on to become a basketball legend in Italy.

“I took off, and it was the best decision I made in my entire life,” D’Antoni told the New York Times on Thursday. “I think about it all the time.”

D’Antoni led Milano to five Italian League championships from 1976 to 1989 as well as two Cups of Europe and two Cups of Italy. In 1990, he was named the Italian League’s greatest point guard.

The trip is also a homecoming for Gallinari, who the Knicks are expecting big things from this season.

The 22-year-old started his professional basketball career in Italy at the age of 15. He was acquired by Armani Jeans Milano in 2005.

Gallinari’s father, Vittorio, also played professionally in Italy and was a teammate of D’Antoni.

“Playing in my hometown where I grew up is something special and unbelievable,” Gallinari said. “I’m so happy to be here and proud to play the game.”

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NCAA Bears Down On Rulebreakers, Coaches Take Notice

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 06:08 AM PDT

John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

Chapel Hill, NC, United States (AHN) – North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Connecticut, South Carolina. When you talk NCAA sports and those programs you would normally be in a discussion about a Final Four or a BCS bowl game.

No program, no matter how distinguished the name or how successful the team, is above breaking the rules, it seems, and the NCAA is taking notice.

North Carolina’s football program is in turmoil off the field and finally picked up its first win last week while juggling numerous suspensions.

Georgia and South Carolina, from the mighty Southeastern Conference have also had issues with their football programs.

At Tennessee and UConn men’s basketball are having issues.

Michigan and USC, no not a Rose Bowl matchup, but just two more football programs to run afoul of the NCAA recently.

The North Carolina football scandal is the latest in the long line of transgressions among major schools.

Yahoo Sports reported on Wednesday that there were financial ties between North Carolina defensive coordinator John Blake and agent Gary Wichard.

Yahoo reported Blake was wired money from Wichard’s bank and that Blake had a credit card from his firm, Pro Tect Management.

Blake resigned and over a dozen players were suspended because of problems with agents and academics, leaving the status of coach Butch Davis in doubt.

“I do not. I expect to be the football coach here currently and certainly in the future,” Davis answered when asked if he thought he should resign.

Agents and their influence are a hot topic. The issue dogged players at South Carolina and Georgia.

The Gamecocks dismissed star tight end Weslye Saunders from the team because of problems involving agents.

Georgia receiver A. J. Green missed four games because he sold a game jersey for $1,000 to someone the N.C.A.A. determined was an agent.

Tennessee men’s basketball coach Bruce Pearl was near tears in September at a news conference where he apologized for making illegal phone calls, improperly hosting recruits in his home and lying to the N.C.A.A.

The university imposed recruiting restrictions on itself and docked Pearl $300,000 per year for five years.

At UConn, Jim Calhoun is entering his 25th season at the school but is doing so under the shadow of possible NCAA sanctions. Calhoun and other UConn officials will have to appear before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions in Indianapolis on Oct. 15.

Where it ends no one knows. Ideas have been floated about ranging from paying players in big revenue sports a stipend, to reaching out to the professional leagues like the NBA and NFL for help in combating the agent problem.

In the end, a lot of the responsibility falls on the individual coaches, but with big money contracts and endorsement deals tied to success on the field or on the court, it’s tough to know who to believe.

“We are doing everything we can to bring a class program, to win football games the right way, to graduate players and we are going to do better,” Davis said.

“Anything that we need to fix, whether it’s from an academic standpoint, whether it’s looking into the backgrounds of coaches, we’re certainly going to do that. In retrospect and looking back, because people have drawn the assumption that because Coach Blake had worked outside of college football, clearly that’s something that we would definitely not go down that alley again.”

But somebody or some program will, it’s almost guaranteed. And it looks like the NCAA will be waiting.

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Twins Slugger Morneau Could Return From Concussion For ALCS

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT

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AHN Sports Staff

Minneapolis, MN, United States (AHN) – Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau will still sit out in the upcoming American League Division Series next week, although the all-star slugger has not ruled out the possibility of returning during the postseason.

The 29-year-old Morneau has been sidelined for almost three months after sustaining a concussion in a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on July 7.

However, the Twins are optimistic Morneau, who participated in batting practice Thursday afternoon, will be able to return for the American League Championship Series if the Twins advance that far.

Morneau said he’s on track with his current rehabilitation but admitted he is not ready for the American League Division Series, which starts Wednesday.

The Twins (93-66) returned to the postseason for the second consecutive year, beating out the Chicago White Sox (86-73) in the American League Central division race.

The Twins’ division series opponent will unlikely be determined until Sunday because the New York Yankees (94-65) and the Tampa Bay Rays (94-65) – both assured of a playoff spot – are still vying for the American League East title.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he expects Morneau to ramp up his work, as the first baseman looks to achieve full recovery in the coming days.

For now, the biggest roadblocks in Morneau’s recovery are the post-workout symptoms, which derailed the slugger’s return this season.

If he went asymptomatic after Thursday’s BP session, Morneau is expected to undergo a battery test, including a simulated game tentatively next week.

Morneau hit .345 with 18 homers, 56 RBIs, and 53 runs in 81 games this season.

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Childress` Grandson, Ty, Scores ARCA Kansas Win

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT

Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Kansas, KA, United States (AHN) – Ty Dillon followed in big brother’s footsteps Thursday night when he surged past Steve Arpin with five laps to go to win the Kansas Lottery 150 ARCA race at Kansas Speedway.

Dillon, the younger brother of NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver Austin Dillon, scored his first ARCA Racing Series win in just his second career start. Dillon became the 12th driver to score his first ARCA win this season and the 14th different winner in the series.

“We had a good car all day. In practice, we were really fast, and in qualifying, we just freed it up a little bit. We thought we might have the pole,” Dillon said. “The guys gave me a great car. To take two rookies, me and my brother, and we’ve got three wins and six or seven poles, I just want to thank everybody. They work so hard with these cars, and now we’ll take this to Rockingham.”

Just last weekend, Dillon’s older brother, Austin, won his second Truck race when he scored a win at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The racing brothers are the grandsons of NASCAR Sprint Cup team owner Richard Childress.

Ty, just 18, finished second in his other ARCA start earlier this year in Iowa.

Dillon started fourth and kept his No. 41 RCR Development Chevrolet among the leaders before make his grandfather, who was present, proud.

“It was just great to be here for this win today,” said Childress. “I missed his run over in Iowa and I missed his (NASCAR K&N Pro Series East) win over at Gresham (Motorsports Park in Georgia), but it was great to be here today and watch him win and watch the look on his face, and to see how he drove that car.”

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Shaq Will Enjoy Drive For Five In Boston

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Boston, MA, United States (AHN) – Basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neal is reportedly enjoying his time with the Boston Celtics, as he assured his fans a leaner and better “Big Shamrock” for the 2010-11 NBA season.

The 38-year-old O’Neal has been active at training camp, although he never lets a day pass without lighting up the whole building with his jokes and childish demeanor.

After playing for five franchises in 18 seasons, O’Neal is gunning to win an elusive fifth NBA championship ring and join a circle of basketball greats, including Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, and Magic Johnson.

O’Neal, the 2000 NBA MVP, admitted he never dreamt of joining the Celtics during his childhood days.

“I didn’t like the Celtics at all,” O’Neal said at training camp. “I hated the Celtics.’

However, O’Neal insisted he’s more concerned about the future, believing the Celtics have the materials to bring him back to the big stage.

O’Neal, who raked up millions during his prime, has already proved his commitment with the Celtics when he rejected a mid-level exception offers from Detroit and Atlanta for a veteran’s minimum deal last August.

Teammates and coaches also lauded O’Neal for pushing himself hard in workouts. Some sources even reported Shaq dropped few pounds and looked much leaner than last season.

O’Neal explained all of these sacrifices were made for one ultimate goal, an NBA championship.

“I’d like to be inserted in that. It’s all about championships. I don’t want to be inserted because I was good with the media. O’Neal told Enterprise News Thursday.

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Jose Aldo Continues WEC Domination With Knockout

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT

Shawn Krest – AHN Sports Correspondent

Broomfield, Colorado, United States (AHN) – Jose Aldo defended his WEC Featherweight title with a knockout victory over Manvel Gamburyan in the main event of WEC 51, Thursday night in Broomfield, Colorado.

A flurry of left and right hooks following a second-round takedown ended what to that point was a fairly even fight. The two fighters stalked each other in the first round, with Gamburyan the busier puncher.

Aldo threw repeated leg kicks, the same strategy he used in his most recent title defense against Urijah Faber. Aldo controlled Faber with a steady diet of kicks that had Faber’s leg grotesquely bruised by the end of the five-round decision.

Two of the three judges awarded the first round to the challenger, which Aldo said afterward was all part of the plan. “The same thing happened against Urijah,” said Aldo. “They gave him the first round. I try to study my opponent in the first round, and in the second round, I execute my game plan.”

The execution worked to perfection. After taking Gamburyan down early in the second, Aldo threw a series of rights. When Gamburyan attempted to avoid the onslaught, Aldo ended the bout with a series of left hooks.

Referee Herb Dean stepped in and halted the action at 1:32 of the second.

The win was the eleventh straight for Aldo, who moved to 18-1 for his career with his 12th knockout. Aldo is a perfect 8-0 in the WEC, with seven of the eight wins coming by knockout. He has reigned as Featherweight champion since November of last year and notched his second successful defense of the title.

Gamburyan fell to 11-5 and saw a three-fight win streak snapped. He was knocked out for the first time since August, 2008.

In a lightweight grudge match, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone got revenge over arch rival Jamie Varner with a three-round unanimous decision.

Varner won a split decision over Cerrone in a WEC Lightweight title bout at WEC 36. The bout was stopped early when Cerrone landed an accidental illegal knee and Varner could not continue.

The two fighters didn’t get along prior to their bout, and the controversial ending soured relations even further.

There was no controversy in the decision Thursday night, as Cerrone won every round on every card. Cerrone opened the bout with a series of legal knees that stunned Varner. He quickly opened a cut on Varner and continued to control the striking for the rest of the contest.

Cerrone moved to 12-3 with the win, and the bout was named Fight of the Night. Varner fell to 16-4-1 and is winless since the victory over Cerrone in their first meeting.

Miguel Torres got back on the winning track with a rear-naked-choke submission of Charlie Valencia at 2:25 of the second round of their bantamweight bout. Torres had lost his previous two fights.

George Roop scored a spectacular head-kick knockout of “The Korean Zombie” Chan Sung Jung at 1:30 of the second round of their featherweight contest.

Mark Hominick won a split decision victory (29-28, 29-28, 28-29) over Leonard Garcia in a featherweight bout that opened the telecast.

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Remaining Grounded: UCLA Making Run At Success

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT

John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – After what can only be described as early-season hibernation, the UCLA Bruins have sprung to life in a pair of impressive victories that have given new life to their 2010 season.

Relying almost exclusively on their ground game, the Bruins (2-2, 0-1 Pac-10) overcame a pair of opening-season losses to knock off a ranked team in consecutive weeks.

With its pistol offense more a water gun than anything, UCLA was handled at Kasas State to open the season and drubbed by Stanford at home in its Pac-10 opener.

Things looked bleak with Houston and Texas looming but head coach Rick Neuheisel and offensive coordinator Norm Chow found a surprising remedy.

Running the ball.

Neuheisel was a quarterback at UCLA and Chow is known as a QB guru having groomed the likes of Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart into Heisman Trophy winners.

However the “Pistol” has been misfiring and the Bruins have had their best success when the offense has looked more like a tank.

UCLA is averaging 218.75 rushing yards per game, 20th in the nation.

Redshirt sophomore tailback Johnathan Franklin, Bruins’ leading rusher at 102.2 yards per game, has rushed for over 100 yards four times in his career and has done it in back-to-back games for the first time.

Derrick Coleman has teamed up with Franklin in the backfield and rushed 16 times for 94 yards and a touchdown against Texas

UCLA topped then no. 23 Houston 31-13 and then went to the Lone State State and trampled a fourth-ranked Texas squad, 34-12. The Bruins ran for over 260 yards in each of their wins.

The running game has been such a success that even the offensive linemen are getting noticed.

Center Ryan Taylor was chosen the Pac-10 offensive player of the week for his performance against Texas. Taylor was the first offensive line to win the award since Oregon’s Adam Snyder on Sept. 20, 2003.

However, the Bruins still face tests against Oregon (ranked 4th), Arizona (14th) and USC, which would be ranked in the coaches poll if not for probation. UCLA isn’t going to be able to be one-dimensional against that kind of opposition and succeed.

Last week’s 27 passing yards against Texas was UCLA’s lowest total through the air since having none in a 1978 game against Oregon State.

As good as the running game has been, the passing attack has been as inept, UCLA ranking third-to-last nationally at 81.75 yards per game through the air.

“I believe we’re going to have to throw the ball,” Neuheisel said. “I know how competitive this conference is, I know we’re going to have to throw it with some measure of success. We’ve got to start showing that.”

UCLA has a chance to work out the kinks this week against Washington State. The Cougars rank 116th out of 120 teams nationally in pass defense, giving up 286 yards per game

UCLA has passed for fewer than 100 yards in three games and quarterback Kevin Prince injured his right knee against Texas and has yet to practice this week.

Sophomore Richard Brehaut would make his first college start if Prince is unable to play and despite Washington State being weak against the pass, UCLA would likely utilize the run game against a Cougar defense that is allowing 209 yards rushing per game.

“I just don’t want to force the issue of throwing the football because of my background and because I love to throw the football,” said Neuheisel. “I want to make sure that we are doing what it takes to win football games.”

For now, that’s playing defense and running the ball, and despite Neuheisel and Chow’s background, don’t expect the Bruins to air it out for the sake of it.

“There are lots of weapons in football,” Neuheisel said. “One of them is ball control, another one of them is field position. By the ability to control the clock and control the field position, you can cause the other team to become a little bit more impatient.”

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Roethlisberger, Ravens` Lewis Maintain Text Friendship

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Baltimore, MD, United States (AHN) – Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis recently discussed his friendship and communications with suspended Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

During a conference call with Pittsburgh media Wednesday, the Ravens’ 11-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl MVP, acknowledged the rivalry between them, but also indicated there’s a “respect thing” between the two players.

“We texted each other when he was going through what he was going through,” Lewis, one of the league’s most accomplished players, said, as reported by FanHouse.com. “I was there for him. It’s more of a brotherhood.”

“The game will always take care of itself on the field, but off the field if we don’t look out for each other, nobody else will,” Lewis added.

Lewis, who said he exchanges text messages with numerous other NFL players, and Roethlisberger have been friendly rivals ever since.

In his latest text to the Steelers signal-caller, Lewis stressed about moving on and told Roethlisberger “to put behind as a man, leave it there. Once it’s done, it’s done,’ as reported by Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Lewis also revealed Roethlisberger’s text to him about how much he misses the game and wished he could play in Sunday’s Ravens-Steelers clash at Heinz Field.

The four-game suspension Roethlisberger is serving for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy does not end until next week.

Pittsburgh, however, does not play next week, but Roethlisberger can resume practicing then.

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Ryder Cup Rainsuits A Leaky Situation For American Team

Posted: 02 Oct 2010 03:32 AM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Newport, Wales, United Kingdom (AHN) – It wasn’t a wardrobe malfunction like the one Janet Jackson had at the 2004 Super Bowl.

But it was a major malfunction and a serious one Friday morning as play began at the 2010 Ryder Cup.

The American Ryder Cup team found out that their rainsuits would not shed water during the deluge that suspended the first round of play after two wet and windy hours as foursome matches began at Celtic Manor’s 2010 course.

Former team captain Paul Azinger termed the rainsuits, made by Sun Mountain Sports, “a disaster.”

Another former U.S. captain Curtis Strange got straight to the point as the American team fell behind early in three of the four best-ball matches. “This rain gear is not doing anything for them,” he said.

The suits were bulky and when the team went out to play, they proved to be not 100 percent waterproof. “It’s the easiest thing to get right,” Azinger went on. “It just has to function.”

Some players totally abandoned the rainwear, including Tiger Woods who chose to play without the rain jacket, wearing only the trousers.

“I don’t want to make a big deal out of it,” said ESPN’s Mike Tirico. “It IS a big deal,” Strange shot back as he watched the Americans struggle to keep dry.

The conditions were severe. “The worst I’ve ever seen or played in,” said veteran Stewart Cink, who was paired with Matt Kuchar. They were one down to Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell after four holes.

“”This is awful,” said European captain Colin Montgomerie. “It’s like a bad day in Seattle,” he said, giving American fans something to relate to. The rains were heavy and the wind blew 15-20 miles per hour and temperatures were in the low 50s.

The United States got the break it needed when play was suspended at 4:45 a.m (EDT). The delay would last more than seven hours, which allowed the PGA of America and captain Corey Pavin to replace the rainsuits.

PGA of America officials broke out the corporate credit card and headed for the souvenir tent where they bought 32 ProQuip rainsuits. “We went out and bought some rain gear,” Pavin said. “It (the Sun Mountain apparel) didn’t perform the way we wanted it to.”

Ian Poulter took the time during the rain delay to poke fun at the American dilemma. “Our is keeping us nice and dry. That’s all I’m going to say.”

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