Friday, October 29, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Bonds Wants To Return As MLB Hitting Coach

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

San Francisco, CA, United States (AHN) – Speaking to reporters prior to Game 1 of the World Series Wednesday, former San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds expressed an interest to return to the majors as a hitting coach.

Bonds, whose MLB record 762 career homers were mired with allegations of steroid use, hasn’t played since 2007.

The controversial figure is facing federal perjury charges in relation to his denial of steroid use. Still, he feels he has a “gift” and wants to share it.

“Hopefully what I’m doing in private, personally with people, I can do full time here,” Bonds told MLB.com. “I just wish I was back in uniform. This is only half a uniform, so I guess that’s good enough.”

Bonds helped lead the Giants to the 2002 World Series, where they came up short against the Angels. He broke Mark McGwire’s single season home run record with 73 in 2001.

McGwire, who faced similar allegations through his career, admitted his use of steroids before taking over as hitting coach for the St. Louis Cardinals prior to this season.

Any admittance by Bonds would likely come after his trial in March on charges he lied to a federal grand jury about taking steroids in 2003.

San Fran won Game 1 to take a 1-0 lead on the Texas Rangers in their attempt to win a title for the first time since 1954.

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Blackhawks Winger Hossa Sidelined With Upper Body Injury

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

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Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Chicago, IL, United States (AHN) – The Chicago Blackhawks star winger Marian Hossa will be sidelined for “a couple of weeks” with an upper body injury, according to coach Joel Quenneville Thursday.

The veteran winger, who was off to one of the best starts in the NHL this season, left the ice during the early stages of the second period in Wednesday’s 3-1 over the L.A. Kings and did not return.

Hossa is believed to have been hurt following a collision with Kings’ Jarrret Stoll.

“We found out a little bit more [and] it’s not of a serious nature,” Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said following Thursday’s practice as reported by the Chicago Tribune.

“Hopefully he can get on the ice soon and he can be back before we know it,” Quenneville added.

The injury will not require surgery.

The 31-year-old Hossa, who lifted his first Stanley Cup trophy in June with the Blackhawks, started the season healthy and has been playing well.

He has scored seven goals, trailing only Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos and teammate Patrick Sharp at the top of the league.

Hossa has compiled 11 points through 11 contests.Last season, Hossa was sidelined for the first 22 games following a shoulder surgery in July of 2009.

Meanwhile, the Blackhawks are looking at Rockford of the AHL for a number of options to replace Hossa on the roster.

The ‘Hawks could bring back Brandon Pirri, who has accounted himself well lately, or tab Evan Brophey.

Hossa’s absence could also pave the way for Kyle Beach to make his NHL debut.

Beach, who has showed some promise in training camp, has posted two goals, three assists and 17 penalty minutes in eight tilts to begin his AHL career.

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Mason Shootout Save Lifts Blue Jackets Over Oilers

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Columbus, OH, United States (AHN) – Steve Mason stopped Sam Gagner’s shootout attempt, while Rick Nash and Nikita Filatov beat Devan Dubnyk as the Columbus Blue Jackets grabbed a 2-1 win over the Edmonton Oilers Thursday night.

Samuel Pahlsson and Kyle Wilson scored in regulation for Columbus, which surrendered a 2-1 lead in the final period.

Shawn Horcoff scored and Taylor Hall forced overtime with a goal halfway through the third period.

Blue Jackets goalie Mason finished with 25 saves and Dubnyk stopped 39 shots for the Oilers.

Gilbert Brule missed his shootout attempt to seal the win for Columbus.

Columbus (6-3-0, 12 pts) heads to Colorado to take on the Avalanche Saturday.

Edmonton (2-4-2, 6 pts) continues its road trip at Chicago Friday.

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Trio On Top At Nationwide Tour Championship

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

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John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

Charleston, SC, United States (AHN) – Joe Affrunti, James Hahn and Brendan Steele are tied for the lead after Thursday’s first round of the Nationwide Tour Championship.

Affrunti, Hahn and Steele shot 6-under-par 66 on Thursday at Daniel Island and share a one-stroke lead.

William McGirt and Hunter Haas are tied for fourth at 5-under 67. Colt Knost and Australian Scott Gardiner are tied for sixth place at 4-under 68.

A group of nine including the tour’s leading money winner Jamie Lovemark are at 3-under 69.

The Nationwide Tour Championship is the last chance for players to earn 2011 PGA Tour cards through the money list. The top 60 earners qualified for the season-ending tournament at Daniel Island and the top 25 after Sunday’s final round will earn spots on the PGA Tour.

The trio tied for the lead have some work to do this week to automatically earn their PGA Tour cards as Hahn is 29th on the money list, Steele is 30th, and Affrunti 34th.

“It’s important but there’s such a long way to go, especially without a cut,” Steele said. “Even if you don’t play well today it’s not a disaster. Guys that shoot even or a couple over, they can still win the golf tournament.”

Chris Kirk, No. 2 on the money list, withdrew prior to the start of the round with a broken bone at the base of his thumb.

Kirk injured his left thumb last week in Jacksonville and was forced to withdraw from the Jacksonville Open. He visited a doctor in Charleston on Wednesday and an MRI exam revealed the broken bone which will keep him out of action for several weeks.

“I was really looking forward to playing these last couple of tournaments being close to home and all,” said Kirk. “This week was kind of a victory lap week. I’ve had a great year and I’m trying to not to lose sight of that and be thankful I’m in the position I’m in. This week is important but in the grand scheme of things, I’ll be playing in the Sony Open in Hawaii, the first tournament of the year and most of the early events, so I’m in great shape regardless.”

Kirk was not replaced in the field as only the top-60 money-winners are eligible to play in this week’s event. Kirk will receive last-place money of $3,000 but it will not count towards his official earnings for this year.

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Michalek, Fisher, Alfredsson Lift Senators Over Panthers

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

Corine Gatti – AHN Sports Contributor

Ottawa, ON, Canada (AHN) – Milan Michalek, Mike Fisher and Daniel Alfredsson all scored, lifting the Ottawa Senators to a 5-3 victory over the Florida Panthers Thursday at Scotiabank Place.

Bryan McCabe scored early for the Panthers at 10:02 on the power play in the first period defeating Brian Elliott, who stopped 28 shots for Ottawa.

It hasn’t been exactly peachy for the Panthers, who dropped three of the last four and were coming off Tuesday’s loss to the Leafs.

On Thursday, the hand played out the same way with one more in the loss column.

Three consecutive goals followed in the second frame for the Senators, who improved to 4-5-1.

Alexei Kovalev and Alfredsson scored in the third making it 5-1 before goalie Tomas Vokoun (23 saves) could catch his breath in the cage.

Panthers’ Chris Higgins put the team back on the board 6:09 into the third with a second goal.

Mike Santorelli made it 5-3 with a blast with 56.2 seconds left in regulation.

Florida’s record fell to 3-5-0 into the young NHL season.

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Backstrom Turns Aside 21 Shots; Wild Defeat Caps

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

Corine Gatti – AHN Sports Contributor

St. Paul, MN, United States (AHN) – Chuck Kobasew and Mikko Koivu scored and Niklas Backstrom stopped 21 shots, as the Minnesota Wild defeated the Washington Capitals 2-1 Thursday.

Kobasew opened up the scoring for the Wild 7:48 into the game. Minnesota was quiet until the second, but that was all the offense it needed for the fourth win of the season.

Capitals’ Karl Alzner was called for hooking, setting up Koivu’s power-play goal in the second. It was his third of the season and a 2-0 advantage for the Wild.

Washington would not celebrate a goal of its own until late in the third period.

Mike Greene set Alex Ovechkin up, putting the Capitals on the board with 1:36 left in regulation. Ovechkin’s wrister was his fifth goal of the season.

Michal Neuvirth wasn’t tested often in stopping just 15 shots for the Capitals, who fell to 6-4-0.

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San Frantastic! Giants Roll Over Rangers For 2-0 World Series Lead

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

San Francisco, CA, United States (AHN) – Matt Cain twirled 7.2 innings of four-hit shutout ball and Edgar Renteria homered and drove in three runs, powering the San Francisco Giants to a dominating 9-0 win over the Texas Rangers for a 2-0 World Series lead Thursday.

The game was close until the eighth frame, when the Giants poured it on with seven runs to send the Rangers reeling back to Arlington for the middle part of the Classic.

The Rangers could use some home cooking after getting outscored 20-7 in the city by the bay.

The punchless Texas offense managed just four hits, including Ian Kinsler’s double.

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Giants` Cain Dominates Rangers In Game 2 Of Fall Classic

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

San Francisco, CA, United States (AHN) – Matt Cain, who has yet to allow an earned run this postseason, continued to baffle hitters by pitching shutout ball into the eighth inning, as the San Francisco Giants blasted the Texas Rangers 9-0 Thursday night at AT&T Park.

Cain (1-0), who did not allow an earned run over 13 2-3 innings in the NLDS and NLCS, scattered four hits and two walks over seven-plus innings, as the Giants take a 2-0 lead in the World Series.

Cain also struck out two and walked two in the victory.

Edgar Renteria smacked a go-ahead home run off C.J. Wilson in the fifth inning that drew first blood for the Giants, 1-0.

Renteria also added a two-run single in the eighth frame, where the Giants erupted for seven runs that sealed the win.

Wilson (0-1), who was making his first start against the Giants, was saddled with the loss despite a strong start. He yielded two runs on four hits over six innings.

The Giants will look to carry the momentum Saturday, when they visit Texas for Game 3 of the Fall Classic.

San Francisco is aiming to capture its first championship in 56 years.

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Theo Fleury`s Alleged Sex Abuser Back Behind Bars

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Toronto, Canada (AHN) – Disgraced junior hockey coach Graham James, wanted on nine charges of sexual assault, including allegations he sexually assaulted former Calgary Flames captain Theoren Fleury, surrendered to police Wednesday at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.

James, 58, who pleaded guilty in 1997 to sexual assault charges stemming from allegations brought forward by two of his former teenaged players, including former NHL player Sheldon Kennedy, was whisked to Winnipeg after surrendering early Wednesday to authorities by mutual agreement.

He remains in custody. James, who had been living in Guadalajara, Mexico, was arrested based on a Canada-wide warrant issued this month.

The warrant lists allegations from new complainants that date several years.

Among the complainants was Fleury, who in his published autobiography alleged that James started abusing him when was 14-years-old.

In 1997, James was convicted of sexually assaulting two teen players over ten years, including Kennedy, and was sentenced to 3 1-2 years in prison.

A pardon was issued by the Canadian National Parole Board in 2007 that sparked a public uproar.

That pardon given to the former high-profile major junior hockey coach only came to light after it was reported in the media recently.

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Quick, Kings Outlast Stars For Big Win

Posted: 29 Oct 2010 04:29 PM PDT

John Tranchina – AHN Sports Correspondent

Dallas, TX, United States (AHN) – Two goals within nine seconds by Alexei Ponikarovsky and Wayne Simmonds in the second period staked the Los Angeles Kings to a 3-1 lead and they held on to defeat the Dallas Stars 5-2 Thursday night at the American Airlines Center in a battle between the Pacific Division’s two top teams.

Dustin Brown, Willie Mitchell and Justin Williams also scored for Los Angeles, which moved into first place in the Western Conference with a 7-3-0 record. Defenseman Jack Johnson added three assists while goaltender Jonathan Quick was outstanding, making 30 saves.

For the Stars, they dropped their third straight game, all at home, after opening the season 5-1-0. Brad Richards and Brandon Segal scored for Dallas.

Ponikarovsky’s goal at 13:05 of the second period snapped a 1-1 tie, as he jammed home a point-blank rebound after Dallas netminder Kari Lehtonen stopped Simmonds’ shot from the left corner.

After the ensuing face-off, a slick pass from Johnson sprung Simmonds on a breakaway,as he tried a deke to the backhand that Lehtonen saved with his pad.

But Simmonds’ forward motion took him right into Lehtonen, jarring the puck over the line as he also knocked the net off its moorings. The play was originally called ‘no goal’ on the ice, but a video review overturned the decision.

A short-handed goal by Mitchell 4:40 into the third period further deflated Dallas, prompting a goalie change to backup Andrew Raycroft, who made his first appearance of the season.

Segal’s sharp-angle wrist shot just past the midway point of the third brought Dallas to within 4-2, but Williams sealed it with an empty netter with 1:41 remaining.

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