Thursday, October 21, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Azarenka Wins At Kremlin Cup, Qualifies For WTA Tour Championship

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Moscow, Russian Federation (AHN) – Belarus’ Victoria Azarenka successfully booked her place in next week’s WTA Championships after defeating Andrea Petkovic, 6-4, 2-6, 6-1, Wednesday in the third-round of the 2010 Kremlin Cup Wednesday in Moscow, Russia.

The 21-year-old Azarenka secured the last spot at the WTA Championships in Doha, Qatar with a hard-earned victory over Petkovic.

Seeded second in the tournament, Azarenka used powerful serves and crisp forehands to overpower her German opponent in the opening set.

However, momentum suddenly switched side in the second set, as Petkovic became more confident with her shots.

Azarenka also exposed mental lapses in her game after committing strings of unforced errors in a set dominated by Petkovic.

Facing the possibility of losing the match, Azarenka picked up the phase in the deciding set and came up with a succession of brilliant plays to seal the deal in an emphatic fashion.

Azarenka, ranked 10th in the world, joined world’s No.1 Caroline Wozniacki, US Open champion Kim Clijsters, Samantha Stosur, Jelena Jankovic, Vera Zvonareva, Elena Dementieva, and Francesca Schiavone in the season-ending WTA Championship tournament from October 26 to October 31.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Steelers` Harrison Mulls Retirement After Hit Sanction; Fined $75K

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Share
Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Pittsburgh, PA, United States (AHN) – An obviously distraught and confused James Harrison is reportedly contemplating retirement a day after the Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker was fined for a hit he delivered Sunday against Cleveland.

Harrison, who sent both Browns’ Mohamed Massaquoi and Josh Cribbs out of Sunday’s tilt with head injuries, was docked $75,000 for his vicious head-first hit on Massaquoi.

The hit sustained by Cribbs was deemed legal because he was a runner in possession of the ball. He was running out of the wildcat formation.

The latest NFL disciplinary rules, involving fines and possible suspension of players, came after a weekend that saw a number of injuries due to helmet-to-helmet hits on defenseless receivers.

Harrison, a two-time Super Bowl champion, received the largest of the three fines handed by the NFL for what it termed illegal hits during Sunday’s contest.

The league fined New England’s Brandon Meriweather and Atlanta’s Dunta Robinson $50,000 each for their hits Sunday.

According to Ray Anderson, the NFL’s vice president of football operations, Harrison was slapped with higher fine because he was a repeat offender, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

A flustered and angry Harrison was excused from practice Wednesday as the Steelers prepare for a clash with the Miami Dolphins.

Harrison and his agent, Bill Parise, indicated in several interviews Wednesday that the Steelers’ 6-foot, 242 pound linebacker was considering retirement as a result of the NFL’s revised rules.

“How can I continue to play this game the way that I’ve been taught to play this game since I was 10 years old?” Harrison, a vital cog of the Steelers defense, said on Sirius XM Radio Wednesday as reported by the Post-Review.

“And now you’re telling me that everything that they’ve taught me from that time on, for the last 20-plus years, is not the way you’re supposed to play the game anymore. If that’s the case I can’t play by those rules. You’re handicapping me,” he added.

On Wednesday, Harrison met with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who excused the linebacker for the day, but expects him to return to practice Thursday.

Although it is to early to speculate on Harrison’s next move in relation to the new NFL rule on fines and suspensions–the Steelers will still have other options in the event Harrison does not return.

Pittsburgh will most likely move Lawrence Timmons into Harrison’s spot at outside linebacker and start veteran Larry Foote inside if Harrison, who is in the second year of a six-year, $51.75 million contract, decides to end his playing career.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Sabathia Solid As Yanks Top Rangers, Force ALCS Back To Texas

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

NY, NY, United States (AHN) – With the Yankees season on the line, ace CC Sabathia answered the call with six innings of two-run ball as the New York offense came alive in a 7-2 win over the Texas Rangers Wednesday.

Nick Swisher, Robinson Cano and Curtis Granderson all hit solo homers for New York off uncharacteristically shaky Rangers pitching.

“We knew we had our backs against the wall,” said Swisher. “We knew what we had to do, it just feels good to be able to go out there and execute.”

C.J. Wilson coughed up five runs in five innings for the Rangers to put them in a quick 5-0 hole after the third inning.

If was a needed win and boost for Sabathia, who allowed five runs, scattered 11 hits and struck out seven in Game 1.

Jorge Posada and Lance Berkman each knocked in a run for New York.

Matt Treanor, batting eighth, homered in the fifth off Sabathia and knocked in another run an inning later. The No. 2-4 hitters in the Rangers lineup went a combined 2-for-12 with four strikeouts.

Kerry Wood dealt two scoreless innings in relief and Mariano Rivera closed the door with a scoreless ninth.

The win forces Game 6 of the American League Championship Series in Arlington Friday evening at 8:07 p.m. ET.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Jamie Moreno To Play Last MLS Match For D.C. United Saturday Vs. Toronto

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Share
Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Washington, D.C., United States (AHN) – Veteran D.C. United forward Jaime Moreno, who has not played the 2010 campaign the way he would have hoped, is set to cap his illustrious Major League Soccer career Saturday against Toronto FC.

United’s season finale Saturday will mark the last time the 36-year-old Bolivian forward will be suiting up in a Black-and-Red uniform.

The Bolivian legend, the all-time leading scorer in MLS, has not played quite as many minutes as he wanted this season for the struggling United.

Apart from getting limited playing time, the Black-and-Red had also been scraping the bottom of the MLS table for most of the year.

Two weeks ago, Moreno was assessed a red card during a contest against San Jose that cost him to sit out one match.

Moreno has won the MLS Cup on four different occasions while playing for United, and also the MLS Supporter’s Shield in 2007. Moreno, 36, was also recognized with the MLS Golden Boot award in 2007.

On April 17 2009, he reached a milestone by becoming the first MLS player ever to reach the mark of 100 goals and 100 assists.

In his 14-year MLS career, Moreno was named to the MLS Best XI five times (1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006).

D.C. United celebrated the career of the legendary striker with a variety of tributes all month, continuing the celebration with a limited-edition commemorative poster in honor of Moreno to the first 10,000 fans at RFK Stadium Saturday.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Legends Reyes, Bustamante Lead Filipino Charge At U.S. Open 9-Ball Tilt

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Chesapeake, VA, United States (AHN) – BCA Hall of Fame member Efren “Bata” Reyes and Francisco “Django” Bustamante are off to a sizzling start, blitzing past their respective first two opponents to lead the Filipino charge at the 35th edition of the U.S. Open in Chesapeake, Va.

Reyes, 56, considered as one of the all-time greats in the games of nine-ball, eight-ball and one-pocket, claimed his second victory after overcoming Ben Judge, 11-7.

Reyes, also known as “The Magician” barged into the win-column with an 11-3 demolition of Nick Tafoya.

Bustamante, who is slated to be inducted into the Hall of Fame later this week, also remained undefeated in two matches.

Bustamante topped Shawn “Big Bubba” Putnam 11-9 before handling Michael Yednak, 11-1.

Another Filipino pool legend, Jose “Amang” Parica, who is based in the United States, also posted back-to-back victories, setting a showdown with 2007 World Pool Champion Daryl Peach of England in the next phase.

Other Filipino players still in contention include former world champion Ronato Alcano, Lee Van Corteza, who placed fourth in last year’s Open, Warren Kiamco and Ramil Gallego.

Alcano is fresh off his domination of the 2010 Sangsom Pattaya 9-Ball Invitational Pool Competition in Pattaya, Thailand Sunday.

Meanwhile, former world and U.S. Open champion Alex “the Lion” Pagulayan was sent to the losers’ (one-loss) bracket after succumbing to unheralded Larry Kressel.

Other Filipino players landing in the losers’ bracket were Dennis Orcollo, Jundel Mazon and 2007 World 9-Ball runner-up, Roberto Gomez.

The 2010 U.S. Open is slated Oct. 17-23.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

New Zealand Table Tennis Player Banned For Cursing

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Wellington, New Zealand (AHN) – Table tennis player Andrew Hubbard was banned from the national championships a week ago for swearing at an official during the tournament.

Hubbard, 38, who is a national selector and professional coach, was barred from the championship venue and disqualified from playing in the mixed doubles and men’s singles after the incident during his mixed double match Friday.

As a result, Hubbard was not only barred from playing in the mixed doubles but the sanction also cost him a potential national men’s singles title.

The incident stemmed when Hubbard, who is also the convener of the Wellington Table Tennis development and coaching committee, tried to question the faults assessed against him by the umpire.

After failing for his request for a review, Hubbard was heard swearing, resulting in a red card and eventually the chance to take part in the men’s singles semifinals.

Hubbard tried to appeal his case to the chairman of TTNZ Bryan Keane, who communicated with the Auckland Table Tennis regarding the matter.

According to a report by The Press, Hubbard is considering legal action for the ban and its consequences.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Kapono, Iguodala Post 20 Points Each; Sixers Trump Knicks

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Philadelphia, PA, United States (AHN) – Jason Kapono and Andre Iguodala combined on 16-of-27 (59 percent) shooting for 20 points each as the Philadelphia 76ers skated past the New York Knicks 118-91 Wednesday night.

Elton Brand finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds and Lou Williams added 18 points on 5-of-7 shooting for Philly.

The Sixers shot 50.5 percent from the field while limiting the Knicks to dismal 34.9 percent shooting.

Center Amare Stoudemire sat out the entire game for New York after playing 37 minutes and scoring 39 points Tuesday night in a 117-111 win over New Jersey.

Raymond Felton led the Knicks with 16 points. Anthony Randolph had 15 and Andy Rautins scored 15 off the bench.

New York (3-4) plays its last preseason game Friday at Toronto. The Knicks open the regular season against the Toronto Raptors five days later, Oct. 27.

The Sixers (2-5) are ready for their regular season opener hosting media darlings, the Miami Heat, Wednesday.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

NFL Wants To Meet With `Deadspin` Editor Over Favre; Brett`s Wife To Appear On National TV

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Apart from reaching out to the former New York Jets employee, who alleged to have received inappropriate messages and photos from legendary quarterback Brett Favre, the NFL also has reportedly asked to meet with Deadspin editor A.J. Daulerio Wednesday regarding the matter.

Deadspin first reported that Pro Bowl quarterback Favre, who recently turned 41, allegedly sent inappropriate voicemails and photos to Jenn Sterger when he played for the Jets in 2008.

Sterger was a gameday host for the Jets in the one season the 11-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro signal-caller played for the Jets.

Daulerio published an e-mail sent to him by NFL security chief Milt Ahlerich asking him to meet about the league’s investigation into Favre’s alleged inappropriate behavior, USA Today.com reported.

According to Daulerio, the league’s security chief asked him to consider “sharing any and all details you and your media organization may have on this matter.”

Favre, who steered the Green Bay Packers to win Super Bowl XXXI against the New England Patriots, has yet to address the allegations since it made the headlines.

On Tuesday, Favre met with NFL security personnel but declined to discuss details of the meeting.

According to multiple reports, Sterger, who is now connected with Versus network, is considering a request from the NFL to meet with the league in relation to the Favre probe and has hired a lawyer.

Meanwhile, Favre’s wife, Deanna Favre, is scheduled to appear on national TV Thursday. She is expected on ABC’s Good Morning America and Fox & Friends on the Fox News Channel.

She is a cancer survivor.

Apart from raising awareness of the illness since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, she will likely face questions about the NFL’s investigation into the alleged behavior by her husband toward Sterger in her national TV appearance.

Favre, who is the author of “Don’t Bet Against Me”, is also expected to speak about her recent book “The Cure for the Chronic Life” Thursday, which was recently released.

She is the creator of the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, a group that supports breast cancer awareness.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Uribe Sac Fly Ends Back-And-Forth Battle; Giants Take 3-1 NLCS Lead Over Phils

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

San Francisco, CA, United States (AHN) – Juan Uribe hit a sac fly in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the San Francisco Giants to a 6-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies Wednesday night.

San Francisco led 2-0 after the third inning and again 5-4 following the sixth, but couldn’t put the game away until the final at-bat.

Buster Posey broke out of his series-long slump with a 3-for-4 performance with two RBI. Pablo Sandoval added a two-RBI double and Aubrey Huff knocked in a run.

Giants starter Madison Bumgarner and Philly’s Joe Blanton each gave up three runs in 4 2-3 innings.

Closer Brian Wilson dealt a scoreless ninth for the win and Roy Oswaly gave up the game-winning sac fly to earn the loss.

The win gives San Francisco an iron-clad 3-1 series lead in the National League Championship Series over the defending NL champs.

Aces take the mound Thursday when San Fran’s Tim Lincecum (2-0, 1.69 ERA) faces Roy Halladay (1-1, 2.25 ERA) with a chance to send the Giants to their first World Series since 2002.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

Kane`s Shootout Goal Helps Blackhawks Escape Canucks

Posted: 21 Oct 2010 04:39 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – Viktor Stalberg scored in regulation and Patrick Kane netted the winner during the third round of a shootout, as the Chicago Blackhawks defeated the Vancouver Canucks 2-1 on Wednesday night.

Mikael Samuelsson missed the following Canucks shot wide of the net to give Chicago the win.

Jonathan Toews and Patrick Sharp also beat Canucks keeper Roberto Luongo, who finished with 31 saves.

Daniel Sedin was the lone Canucks skater to beat Marty Turco in regulation.

Turco finished with 36 saves in the winning effort.

The defending Stanley Cup Champions improved to 5-2-1, and are off to a strong start as they head to St. Louis to face the lowly Blues Friday.

Vancouver (2-3-2, 6 pts) hosts the Minnesota Wild, also Friday.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)