Monday, November 1, 2010

Latest Sports Buzz

Latest Sports Buzz

Garrard`s Four Touchdown Passes Lift Jags Over Crumbling Cowboys

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:25 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Arlington, TX, United States (AHN) – David Garrard completed 17 of 21 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns for an incredible career-best 157.8 quarterback rating as the Jacksonville Jaguars dismantled the Dallas Cowboys 35-17 Sunday.

The Jags made a living off the turnover, intercepting second-stringer Jon Kitna four times and using the momentum to take a 28-3 lead into the final quarter.

Kitna finished 34-for-49 for 379 yards and a touchdown to go along with the four picks.

Maurice Jones-Drew exploited the porous Cowboys defense for 135 yards on 27 carries. Mike Sims-Walker paced the receiving core with eight catches for 153 yards and a touchdown.

Tight end Mercedes Lewis made just two catches, but both for touchdowns, and Mike Thomas had four grabs for 41 yards with a score.

Dallas got nothing going on the ground, managing a season-low 50 yards. Miles Austin made seven catches for 117 yards and Jason Witten had 10 for 97 and a score.

The once highly-regarded Cowboys (1-6) are among the league’s biggest disappointments, missing quarterback Tony Romo and already four games back of the Giants in the NFC East.

It doesn’t get any easier at Lambeau Field against the Packers in Week 9

Jacksonville (4-4), which few regarded highly prior to the season, is hanging tough in the competitive AFC South just two games out of first. The Jags face division rivals the Texans in Week 10 after their bye week.

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Rod Spittle Tops Jeff Sluman, Wins AT&T In Stunning Upset

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:25 PM PDT

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Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

San Antonio, TX, United States (AHN) – Rod Spittle became the ultimate party crasher Sunday at the AT&T Championship at Oak Hills.

Spittle had no status on the Champions Tour. He got into this event as a Monday qualifier.

A par on the first playoff hole Sunday at Oak Hills, the 210-yard par three 18th, stunned Jeff Sluman and earned Spittle his first-ever victory as a senior. The little-known pro from Canada was the 1977 and 1978 Canadian Amateur champion.

Now he’s fully exempt for the 2011 Champions Tour season.

He did it with a great come-from-behind effort down the stretch in the final round.

All he did was birdie the 15th, 16th and 17th holes, got himself to 12-under par for the championship and in a playoff with Sluman, a three-time winner on this tour and the 1988 PGA Champion.

To call it a Cinderella story is an understatement. Spittle played in only three events this season and earned a paltry $38,000. He was in no events in 2009 and only nine in 2008.

His final round 67 tied him with Sluman at 12-under par 201. Sluman shot a 67 of his own and was an overwhelming favorite to win the playoff.

In addtion to Sluman, Spittle beat John Cook, Larry Nelson and Chien Soon Lu. That trio finished at 11-under par 201.

Two shots back of the winner were Corey Pavin, Jay Don Blake and Steve Haskins. Pavin closed with a 5-under par 66.

This event started with Hall of Fame contenders like Hale Irwin and Larry Nelson and ended with the relatively obscure Spittle.

He’s obscure no longer and pocketed the first place money of $262,500, the largest payoff of his career.

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Butler`s 17 Points Lead Six In Double Figures As Mavs Crush Clippers

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:25 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Los Angeles, CA, United States (AHN) – Caron Butler scored 17 points and Dirk Nowitzki had 16 to lead six Mavs in double figures as Dallas took it to the Los Angeles Clippers 99-83 Sunday.

Nowitzki added seven rebounds and three blocks. Jason Kidd had 13 points, 9 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals in the win for Dallas, which overcame a sluggish first half by outscoring the Clippers 29-19 in the third quarter.

The Mavs shot an impressive 47 percent from the floor, including 43 percent from three, while limiting the winless Clippers to 34 percent shooting.

Jason Terry, in the starting lineup after several years as one of the league’s premier reserves, had 15 points. Brendan Haywood scored 10 Shawn Marion added 10 of his 12 points in the fourth quarter.

Blake Griffin had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers.Chris Kaman scored 13 and DeAndre Jordan was the lone other player in double figures with 10 off the bench.

Still searching for their first win, the Clippers (0-3) host the Spurs Monday. Dallas (2-1) goes to Denver to face the Nuggets Wednesday.

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Clijsters Rips Wozniacki For WTA Championship; Melzer Retains Open Sud De France Title

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:24 PM PDT

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Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

Doha, Qatar (AHN) – Third-seeded Belgian Kim Clijsters brushed aside the effects of a minor accident Saturday in trouncing top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark in the title match of the season-ending WTA Championships Sunday.

The 27-year-old former No. 1 Clijsters, who was involved in a car accident on the way to the venue Saturday before her semifinal match, unleashed thundering forehands and nifty backhands against Wozniacki 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to win her third season-ending event.

It is the 40th career title and fifth title of the season for Clijsters, who ruled the event in 2002 and ’03.

Clijsters, ranked fourth, was playing in her first tournament since dismantling Russia’s Vera Zvonareva in New York for her third U.S. Open.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Wozniacki, who took over the No. 1 ranking from the injured Serena Williams last month, is still without a Grand Slam title.

Sunday’s showdown marked the first time the two players met since the 2009 U.S. Open finale, where Clijsters trumped Wozniacki in her third tournament back from a 2 1-2-year retirement after starting a family.

In Montpellier, France, crowd favorite Gael Monfils, seeded third, toppled defending champion Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 6-1, 5-7, 6-1 to capture the Open Sud de France tennis event Sunday.

It marked the third career title for Monfils, whose last triumph was in Metz last year.

At the Bank Austria Tennis Trophy tournament finale, top seed and defending champion Jurgen Melzer battled back from a set down to defeat fellow Austrian Andrea Haider-Maurer Sunday.

Melzer prevailed over Haider-Maurer, 6-7 (10-12), 7-6 (7-4), 6-4 to retain his title.

Meanwhile, top-seeded Russian and former champion Mikhail Youzhny was upset by Kazakhastan’s Mikhail Kukushkin Sunday at the St. Petersburg Open.

Kukushkin toppled Youzhny, who dominated this tournament in 2004, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to capture the title in his first ATP singles final.

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Brady In The Air, Green-Ellis On The Ground Lift Pats Over Vikes

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:24 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Foxborough, MA, United States (AHN) – Tom Brady tossed for 240 yards and a touchdown and BenJarvus Green-Ellis carried the ball 17 times for 112 yards and two scores as the New England Patriots handled the Minnesota Vikings 28-18 Sunday.

Brett Favre hobbled off the field in the fourth quarter after going 22-for-32 for 259 yards and an interception.

Favre took a hit near the throat from the Patriots’ Myron Pryor that left the veteran signal-caller wobbly and with the need to be carted off the field.

After the contest, Vikes coach Brad Childress stressed that Favre did not suffer a head injury but the signal-caller did need eight stitches to close a wound.

Childress even guessed Favre would be ready to play in Week 9.

Tarvaris Jackson came in and threw a one-yard touchdown pass to Naufahu Tahi to cut the lead to 21-18 with under eight minutes left. But the trusty Brady marched the Pats right back down the field.

Green-Ellis’ two-yard touchdown run capped a 13-play, 84-yard drive that ate 5:30 and gave New England an insurmountable 28-18 lead with under two minutes left.

Second-year player Brandon Tate had three catches, including a 65-yard touchdown bomb, for 101 yards to pace seven receivers with at least one reception.

Adrian Peterson carried the ball 25 times for 92 yards and a score. Percy Harvin had six catches for 104 yards for Minnesota (2-5), which hosts the Cardinals in Week 9.

With the win and a Jets loss to the Packers, New England (6-1) is now in sole possession of first place in the AFC east. The Pats head to Cleveland to face the Browns Sunday.

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Brendan Steele Wins Nationwide Tour Championship In Playoff

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:24 PM PDT

John Nestor – AHN Sports Correspondent

Charleston, SC, United States (AHN) – A five-stroke lead wasn’t good enough for Brendan Steele but a four-hole playoff worked out just fine.

Steele won the Nationwide Tour Championship, beating Colt Knost on the fourth hole of a playoff Sunday.

It was a tough loss for Knost after he made up a five-stroke deficit, but the consolation is that he earned his PGA Tour card for the 2011 season, along with Steele and 23 others.

Steele began the season-ending event 30th and Knost, the 2007 U.S. Amateur champion, was 36th. The top 25 on the money list after the final round Sunday earned their PGA Tour cards.

Steele drained an eight-foot birdie on the fourth extra hole and finished sixth on the final money list. Knost climbed 21 spots to 15th.

Entering the final round at Daniel Island with a five-stroke lead, Steele admitted the cushion worked against him a bit.

“I didn’t sleep very well,” Steele said. “Couple of hours here and there. It’s almost a little bit harder when you’ve got that big lead because you can’t help but try and protect it a little bit.”

Jamie Lovemark remained No. 1 the money list to earn a full PGA Tour exemption and entry into The Players Championship. Lovemark finished with $452,951 in earnings.

“I’ll be looking forward to the Sony” Open, the season’s first event,” Lovemark said. “I want to win out there next year so I don’t expect much less of myself.”

Justin Hicks edged Scott Gardiner by $2,010 for the 25th and final PGA Tour spot.

The top 60 players on the money list were in the field this week and players in positions 26th through 40th are exempted into the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament in December.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was on hand to award the 25 new members cards. “It’s so exciting to see them get ready for next year,” Finchem said.

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Auburn Climbs To No. 2, Oregon Stays On Top of Coaches Poll

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:24 PM PDT

Jojo Doria – AHN Sports Contributor

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – After dismantling USC Saturday night in Los Angeles, Oregon firmed its grip of the top spot, while Auburn moved up to No. 2 in the USA Today coaches’ poll.

In the latest coaches’ poll, the Tigers, who used its running game in demolishing Ole Miss in Oxford Saturday night, leapfrogged the Boise State Broncos, who slipped to third place.

It marked the highest ranking for Auburn since USA Today started administering the coaches’ poll.

Meanwhile, Boise State not only dropped down a place in the polls, but it also saw its 75-point lead over No. 4 TCU slashed to 69 points.

The Ducks, who rolled up 599 yards of offense against Southern California’s hapless defensive units Saturday, with LaMichael James logging 239 yards rushing, maintained the top spot with 51 first-place votes.

Apart from Oregon, Auburn also picked up one first-place vote, entering the poll with four.

The USA Today coaches’ poll is one of two polls used to determine the BCS standings.

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Despite Final Round 74, McDowell Outlasts Field At Valderrama Masters

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:24 PM PDT

Tom Edrington – AHN Sports Reporter

Sotogrande, Spain (AHN) – The tougher the course, the better it is for Graeme McDowell.

McDowell picked up his third victory of the season Sunday at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters. His final round 74 at the Club de Golf Valderrama was no masterpiece but it was good enough to outlast a field that saw only four players finish the 72 holes under par.

McDowell’s closing round gave him a three-under par 281 total, two ahead of the trio of Soren Kjeldsen, Damien McGrane and his playing partner, countryman Gareth Maybin.

Kjeldsen posted the low round of the day, a two-under par 69. Maybin shot 76, McGrane a 72.

It was McDowell’s first three-win season of his career. It was the seventh time he’s won on the European Tour and he will enter the top 10 in the world rankings on Monday.

Lee Westwood will claim the No. 1 ranking thanks to Martin Kaymer’s 21st place finish. Kaymer shot 75 for his final round and was in at 291, seven-over par.

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Paul Powered: Millsap Monster Mashes Jazz Past Thunder

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:24 PM PDT

Kareem Shaker – AHN Sports Reporter

Oklahoma City, OK, United States (AHN) – Paul Milsap put up an impressive 30 points, 16 rebounds and six assists as the Utah Jazz silenced a thunderous Halloween crowd in Oklahoma City with a 120-99 thrashing of the Thunder Sunday night.

The Jazz broke open the game in the second quarter, outscoring the Thunder 29-17 with contributions from across the lineup.

Deron Williams powered a first half-closing 17-4 run to finish with 16 points and 15 assists. Recently-acquired big man Al Jefferson netted 23 points and hauled down 10 rebounds.

Utah opened the second half with another lengthy run, going up by as much as 28 on its way to the win.

Kevin Durant paced the Thunder with 29 points and Russell Westbrook scored 22.

Oklahoma City (2-1, 1-1 home) heads to Los Angeles to face the Clippers Wednesday. Utah (1-2) hosts the Raptors.

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Bumgarner`s Pitching, Huff Homer Help Giants Take 3-1 World Series Lead

Posted: 01 Nov 2010 04:24 PM PDT

AHN Sports Staff

Arlington, TX, United States (AHN) – Aubrey Huff cracked a two-run homer in the third inning, powering the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 win over the Texas Rangers in game four of the World Series Sunday night.

Andres Torres added an RBI double in the seventh and Buster Posey added a solo shot in the eighth for the Giants, who took a dominant 3-1 series lead after the Rangers captured game three.

Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner pitched three no-hit innings before allowing a Michael Young infield hit in the fourth.

He littered the scoreboard with eight zeroes in a terrific start before Brian Wilson tossed a scoreless ninth.

Tommy Hunter took the hill first for the Rangers, who looked to level the series.

Hunter lasted just four innings, allowing five hits and two runs in that span, and was replaced by Darren Oliver.

Vlad Guerrero’s hitting woes continued in the early part of the game for the Rangers, as he fanned his first three at-bats to reduce his series batting average to just over .100.

Josh Hamilton, hitting just .143 despite his game-three heroics, was thrown out trying to steal second base early on by Posey.

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