Monday, October 25, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Deangelo Hall Interception Return For Score Helps `Skins Edge Bears

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – Deangelo Hall picked off a third quarter pass and returned it 92 yards for a score, lifting the Washington Redskins to a 17-14 win over the Chicago Bears Sunday.

Hall snared four interceptions on the day, tying an NFL mark held along with 18 others.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was battered and bruised, getting sacked four more times for a total of 19 allowed in the last three contests.

Ryan Torain rushed for 125 yards and Donovan McNabb threw for 200 yards for the ‘Skins.

McNabb connected with Santana Moss on 24 yard scoring strike late in the opening quarter and Graham Gano booted a 46 yard field goal in the second for the Redskins.

D.J. Moore had a 54 yard interception for a score midway through the first quarter for the Bears, while Johnny Knox scored the team’s lone offensive touchdown with a 9 yard TD catch.

The Bears fell to 4-3 despite collecting more first downs, more total yardage and longer time of possession than the ‘Skins.

Washington improved to 4-3 with the victory, matching its win total from all of last season.

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Denny Hamlin Holds Ground With Win At Martinsville

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

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Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Martinsville, VA, United States (AHN) – Denny Hamlin knew one of his home-state tracks could make a difference in his Chase chances and it has for now.

Hamlin started from the pole and drove home to a win in the Tums Fast Relief 500 Sunday at Martinsville Speedway. It was Hamlin’s third consecutive win at Martinsville, his series-best seventh of the season and 15th of his career.

Mark Martin ran second and was followed by Kevin Harvick, Kyle Busch and points leader Jimmie Johnson, whose lead was trimed to six points with four races left in the season.

“Yeah, we certainly wanted to be better today with the Lowe’s Impala but the long run there at the end just wasn’t what our car needed at that point in time,” said Johnson. “On the short runs we were a lot better and more competitive. But another top five, we can’t be too disappointed in that.”

Harvick’s run allowed him to remain in third in the standings, 62 points out of the lead, while Chaser Carl Edwards ran seventh and was followed by Jeff Burton in eighth.

“The handling on our car just kind of went away and we just lost front grip there I the middle of the corners; he was just able to roll in the center. But I’ve just got to thank all these guys and really, everybody from RCR and our whole Shell/Pennzoil Chevrolet team,” said Harvick.

“They’ve done a great job at what we call some of our worst race tracks, and we come here where we felt like we’re running we and never had a top five so to come out of here today with a third is what it’s all about. We’ll just keep racing and keep hanging in there and keep racing hard.”

Joey Logano finished sixth and was followed by Dale Earnhardt Jr., while Brad Keselowski finished 10th overall.

As for the other Chasers in the race, Matt Kenseth and Kurt Busch ran 15th and 16th respectively, Jeff Gordon finished 20th and Tony Stewart was 24th.

“We were racing hard. We got shuffled back on the pit stop before that. We ran him down quite a bit, we were quite a bit faster than him. I dove inside of him in turn three and I definitely over-shot it a little bit,” said Gordon of a race incident with Kurt Busch.

“Either he didn’t know I was there or whatever and cut down on me and I got into him. Kurt Busch doesn’t have a very long fuse so either it was pay-back or he just got angry really quick and decided to wreck us. We just did what we could do to come home with the best finish we could.”

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Alonso Wins Korean Grand Prix, Takes Formula One Points Lead

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

Edward Lewis – AHN Sports Reporter

Yeongam, South Korea (AHN) – It was a rainy day in South Korea but things have never been brighter for Fernando Alonso.

With Red Bull’s drivers struggling, the Ferrari driver took advantage Sunday by winning the rain-soaked Korean Grand Prix and taking the Formula One championship lead.

Mark Webber entered the race with the points lead, but both Red Bull drivers failed to finish as Webber spun out and teammate Sebastian Vettel saw his engine fail with 10 laps to go.

The race started under caution but was red-flagged only two laps in due to persistent rain and standing water on the track. When the cars returned to the grid the safety car stayed out until Lap 18 and while the race went to the distance, it finished in darkness at 6 p.m.

While Alonso drove to a wet win and took the points lead, former champion Lewis Hamilton finished second, while Ferrari’s Felipe Massa ran third.

With two races left in the F1 season, Alonso owns an 11-point lead over Webber and a 21-point margin over third-place Hamilton. Vettel dropped 25 points back.

Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher finished a season-best fourth and Renault’s Robert Kubica was fifth followed by Force India’s Vitantonio Liuzzi.

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Roethlisberger Throws For 302 Yards; Controversial Call Helps Steelers Top `Fins

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

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Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Miami, FL, United States (AHN) – Ben Roethlisberger went 19-for-27 for 302 yards and two touchdowns as the Pittsburgh Steelers took advantage of a late controversial call to upend the Miami Dolphins 23-22 Sunday afternoon.

Roethlisberger fumbled near the Miami end zone, a reviewed call that awarded Pittsburgh the ball after the referees could not determine who recovered.

The call on the field was a touchdown, which was reversed on the review. However, the ball was awarded to Pittsburgh and the Steelers kicked the game-winning field goal.

Replay showed Miami apparently recovering the fumble, but not clearly enough for the ref to give the Dolphins the ball.

Though the call may have been considered unfair by many Miami fans, the Dolphins need only to look at their inability to find the end zone in the red zone (0-for-3) as the reason for their ultimate demise.

Miami got the ball into the red zone on several occasions, but had to settle for five field goals.

The Dolphins defense fought tough and held the Steelers to just 58 rushing yards, but Miami only managed 64 yards on the ground. Chad Henne went 23-for-36 for 257 yards and a touchdown for a 94.3 rating.

The Steelers defense concentrated on limiting Brandon Marshall, who finished with five catches for 57 yards. Devone Bess took advantage with six catches for 66 yards and a score.

Pittsburgh (5-1) keeps finding ways to win games, but may run into a road block against defending Super Bowl champions the Saints at the Superdome Sunday.

Miami (3-3) has yet to win a game at home, hitting the road to take on the Bengals on Halloween.

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Brees Picked Apart: Browns Stun Saints In Romp

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

Corine Gatti – AHN Sports Contributor

New Orleans, LA, United States (AHN) – The Cleveland Browns crushed the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints 30-17 Sunday at the Louisiana Superdome.

David Bowens had two interception returns for touchdowns, while Drew Brees was picked off four times to send the Saints to a 4-3 record in front a booing home crowd before it was all done.

Brees, 31, amassed 356 passing yards with two scores, allowing the team to close the gap to 20-10 with less than 14 minutes left on David Thomas’ TD grab.

Brees completed a whopping 37 of 56 pass attempts in the losing effort, as the Browns used a 13-play, 50-yard drive with Phil Dawson’s 48-yard field goal to seal the upset.

Rookie quarterback Colt McCoy recorded 74 passing yards, winning his first NFL game in his second consecutive start. McCoy completed 9 of 16 passes and was sacked just once.

Hillis led the Browns’ (2-5) ground attack with 69 yards on 16 carries.

Chris Ivory posted 48 yards on 15 carries for the Saints.

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Superstitious Football Fans Blamed For Deadly Stadium Stampede

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

Windsor Genova – AHN News News Writer

Nairobi, Kenya (AHN) – Superstitious football fans who thronged a stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday to watch their team preferred to enter through only one of three gates opened for them, leading to a stampede that killed seven people, according to a local newspaper.

Out of 15 gates at the 26,000-seat Nyayo National Stadium, officials only opened three for the match between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, with two assigned for use by Gor Mahia and its fans. The fans, however, tried to enter only through Gate Number 2 and refused to enter through Gate Number 3, believing that number two is lucky and would lead to their team’s victory, the Daily Nation reported Sunday.

When the match started, fans who had yet to enter Gate 2 became restless and began shoving until the gate fell. Fans near the gate also fell and were trampled by the onrushing crowd.

Some 285 police officers and a 100-men riot squad failed to control the crowd.

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Fred Couples Captures Administaff With Blazing Back Nine 29

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

The Woodlands, TX, United States (AHN) – Last march, Freddie Couples trailed Corey Pavin by two shots going into the final round at Cap Cana.

Couples blew past him with a final round 62 and a victory.

It was a case of Texas Deja Vu Sunday at The Woodlands tournament course. Couples went into the final round trailing second round leader Pavin by two shots.

All Couples did this time was shoot a seven-under par 29 over the final nine holes and claimed his fourth victory of the Champions Tour season with a nine-under par 63.

Couples’ 63 left everyone in his wake.

Pavin, who birdied his first two holes of the day and looked to be headed for his first win, found the going tough on the back nine.

He bogeyed the 13th and 14th holes then finished with a double bogey at the 18th and fell all the way back to fifth. His 74 left him at 208, nine shots behind Couples.

Mark Wiebe finished solo second, five behind Couples at 206, 10-under.

But it was Couples’ 63 and his 17-under par total of 199 that had heads turning.

Couples matched Pavin’s birdie-birdie start then pulled even with him when he made an eagle three at the par five sixth. He lost those shots with a double-bogey at the par three eighth.

But there was no stopping Couples over the final nine.

His winning run began with a birdie at the 11th and 12th holes then an eagle at the par five 13th sent him past Pavin and Wiebe. He added another birdie at 16 then closed with his fifth of the nine at the 18th.

Couples was straight forward about his round. “Wow! I have no explaination except that I hit the ball very, very well and I made a lot of putts and all that stuff added up to 63,” said Couples, who remains in a battle with Bernhard Langer for Player of the Year honors.

“There wasn’t a lot of stress,” said the easy-going Couples. “I think the big turning point was obviously hitting a good shot at the 13th then I made the 20-footer for eagle.”

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Lindback Stops 42 Shots; Predators Stomp Out Lightning`s Late Rally

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

Corine Gatti – AHN Sports Contributor

Tampa Bay, FL, United States (AHN) – Rookie Anders Lindback turned aside 42 shots, as the Nashville Predators stopped a late rally by the Tampa Bay Lightning to win 4-3 Sunday at St. Pete Times Forum.

Shea Weber, Sergei Kostitsyn, Cody Franson and Colin Wilson all scored for Nashville to preserve its 5-0-3 record.

The Preds are the only team not to lose in regulation.

The Predators snared a 4-1 lead after Wilson’s snap shot, defeating ex-Nashville goalie Dan Ellis, who made 17 saves.

Tampa Bay made it interesting with a late third-period scoring frenzy when Martin St. Louis and Adam Hall blasted shots home only 57 seconds apart.

Sean Bergenheim also scored for the Lightning (5-2-1), who ran out of time in their comeback bid.

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Byrd Hits Las Vegas Jackpot With Playoff Ace At Shriners

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Las Vegas, NV, United States (AHN) – Think of Las Vegas and you might think about luck, big jackpots and perhaps longshots.

Jonathan Byrd came up with golf’s rarest shot at the right moment late Sunday.

With the sun setting over the TPC Summerlin and Byrd locked in a playoff for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Classic title with Cameron Percy and Martin Laird, it looked like it might take until Monday to determine a winner.

At the fourth playoff hole, the 204-yard 17th, Bryd pulled a six-iron then hit the perfect shot at the perfect moment.

His ball started right of the hole, drew slightly, landed 10 feet short of the pin then rolled into the hole for an ace. It was the first time in PGA Tour history that a playoff was won with a hole-in-one.

“You gotta be kidding,” Byrd said as he was told the ball went in the hole. He couldn’t see it as daylight was fading. He then watched as both Percy and Laird hit their tee shots in the water and Byrd claimed his fourth PGA Tour victory and his first since the 2007 John Deere.

“I’m in shock,” Byrd said moments after his winning hole-in-one. “I couldn’t see it. For it to go in, that’s just luck.”

Luck goes a long way in Vegas and Byrd admitted that things weren’t going his way down the stretch. He stood at even par through 14 holes and was trailing Webb Simpson by four shots.

Simpson looked like he might emerge as the winner after he made a birdie at the 15th hole then got a lucky break at the par five 16th when his second shot barely cleared the water on the par five hole.

He would make birdie there but his luck ran out when his tee shot at the 17th found the water and he ended up with a double bogey that took him from 22-under par back to 20-under.

“I kept preaching to myself to hang in there,” Byrd said as he went on to birdie the 15th, 16th and 17th and got into the playoff with Percy and Laird. Laird missed his oppportunity to win when he failed to birdie the par five 16th. All three finished at 21-under par, 263 totals.

The trio parred the first playoff hole, the 18th, then the 17th, then the 18th again. With darkness setting in, PGA Tour officials gave the group the option to continue. “It’s up to you guys,” Byrd said to Percy and Laird.

Percy was eager to continue, Laird was wary but on they went. It was the second straight year that Laird, the defending champion, was in a three-way playoff.

Then Byrd stepped up first and made history.

Byrd then summed up the amazing events as he declared it, “an unbelievable day.”

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Pats Force Four Turnovers, Survive Chargers Comeback

Posted: 25 Oct 2010 04:37 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

San Diego, CA, United States (AHN) – Down 3-0 late in the first quarter, the Patriots defense forced four turnovers, leading to 20 straight points as New England held off the bumbling Chargers 23-20 in San Diego Sunday afternoon.

San Diego rallied with a 17-point fourth quarter, but Kris Brown missed a 50-yard field goal that would have tied the game with under a minute left.

The attempt would have been from 45 yards, but a false start penalty pushed Brown back.

Philip Rivers led the fourth-quarter charge, finishing with a season-high 34 completions for 335 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

San Diego’s receiving core, playing without injured top receivers Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee, was led by Patrick Crayton’s 81 yards on seven catches.

Darrren Sproles had nine catches for 70 yards and Antonio Gates was limited to four catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.

Tom Brady went 20-for-33 for 146 yards and a touchdown for a Patriots offense that managed just 210 total yards, well below their season average of 354 per game.

The game featured no running game from either side, with each team gaining just 38 yards on the ground despite 19 carries each.

New England (5-1) moved into a first-place tie with the New York Jets in the AFC East. The Pats host the Minnesota Vikings on Halloween.

San Diego (2-5) is searching for answers, anchoring the rear of the AFC West with the tough Tennessee Titans coming to town Sunday.

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