http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=tennis-w/news/news.aspx?id=4206117
Melbourne, Australia (Sports Network) - Serena Williams remained on target for her fourth Australian Open title as the second-seeded American beat China's Peng Shuai, 6-1, 6-4, in third-round action Saturday.
Williams fired 10 aces and won half of her 12 break point chances. Williams was down 3-1 in the second set before rallying and took advantage of four double faults from Peng, who until this year had never advanced past the second round here.
"It was definitely a lot better than my second round," said Williams. "But I'm still trying to work on some things and hoping they'll come together."
The reigning U.S. Open champion and former world No. 1 Williams owns nine major titles, including ones in Melbourne in each odd year since 2003. She has yet to drop a set at this fortnight.
Up next for Williams will be 13th seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. Azarenka defeated 20th-seeded Frenchwoman Amelie Mauresmo, the 2006 champion, 6-4, 6-2.
"It's a little bit frustrating to come out with only six games today," said Mauresmo, also the 2006 Wimbledon champion. "But I did not play well enough at the key points, whether it was in the first set or second set. First set I had the lead early on, but then was not able to really keep it up not serving good enough."
Fourth-seeded Elena Dementieva closed out third-round action with a competitive 7-6 (8-6), 6-4 victory over local favorite Samantha Stosur. Dementieva led a Russian resurgence Down
Under, becoming the fifth Russian to make it to the fourth round this year.
Also Saturday, eighth-seeded Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova got past 31st seed Alona Bondarenko of the Ukraine, 7-6 (9-7), 6-4. Kuznetsova's next foe will be 22nd seed Zheng Jie of China. Zheng topped Ukrainian Kateryna Bondarenko, 6-2, 6-2.
In other results Saturday, 18th seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia downed France's Virginie Razzano, 7-5, 7-5, No. 21 seed Anabel Medina Garrigues of Spain downed 12th-seeded Italian Flavia Pennetta, 6-4, 6-1, and Carla Suarez Navarro defeated fellow Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez, 6-1, 6-4, in another third-round match. Garrigues and Sanchez will play each other in the fourth round.
The top half of the draw plays fourth-round matches Sunday, led by top-seeded Jelena Jankovic of Serbia as she battle France's Marion Bartoli, the 16th seed and 2007 Wimbledon runner-up.
The U.S. Open runner-up Jankovic has never won a major title, but is still ranked No. 1 in the world among the women.
Third-seeded Russian Dinara Safina tangles with 15th-seeded Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, while Australian Jelena Dokic faces 29th seed Alisa Kleybanova of Russia. The 19-year-old Kleybanova ousted fifth-seeded Serbian Ana Ivanovic, last year's runner-up, in the third round.
The other matchup Sunday will be between a pair of Russians as seventh seed Vera Zvonareva faces No. 10 seed Nadia Petrova.
01/24 08:52:37 ET
Saturday, January 24, 2009
No money, Superbowl lives on
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/01/24/sports/FBN-Super-Bowl-Economy.php
TAMPA, Fla.: The sagging economy has put a hit on plans for this year's Super Bowl, not that visitors to Tampa for the game and hundreds of millions watching on TV will be able to tell the difference.
America's bacchanalian bash in honor of football will still roll for the TV cameras with all its over-the-top glitz. Yet there are signs — fewer and smaller parties, maybe not quite so many reporters and traveling fans — that the shine will be a little less bright this year.
The game will still be sold out. The town will be crawling with party-hopping celebrities. Hotels will be busy, fans wearing Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals garb will be ubiquitous on the streets, and hundreds of media members will descend to cover the event, which will still likely be the nation's most-watched TV broadcast this year.The impact of the nation's economic woes on the event are more subtle.
The Super Bowl Host Committee had to lower its fundraising goal by $1 million. Corporations that are sponsoring the game are sending fewer bigwigs to town. A couple of the big Super Bowl parties and other events were bagged, others are downsizing, and some media companies — especially hard hit by the downturn and the changing habits of news consumers — are sending fewer scribes to cover the game.
TAMPA, Fla.: The sagging economy has put a hit on plans for this year's Super Bowl, not that visitors to Tampa for the game and hundreds of millions watching on TV will be able to tell the difference.
America's bacchanalian bash in honor of football will still roll for the TV cameras with all its over-the-top glitz. Yet there are signs — fewer and smaller parties, maybe not quite so many reporters and traveling fans — that the shine will be a little less bright this year.
The game will still be sold out. The town will be crawling with party-hopping celebrities. Hotels will be busy, fans wearing Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals garb will be ubiquitous on the streets, and hundreds of media members will descend to cover the event, which will still likely be the nation's most-watched TV broadcast this year.The impact of the nation's economic woes on the event are more subtle.
The Super Bowl Host Committee had to lower its fundraising goal by $1 million. Corporations that are sponsoring the game are sending fewer bigwigs to town. A couple of the big Super Bowl parties and other events were bagged, others are downsizing, and some media companies — especially hard hit by the downturn and the changing habits of news consumers — are sending fewer scribes to cover the game.
Friday, January 23, 2009
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/01/23/nflrdp0123.html
Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin laughed off the negative reaction to his nationally televised run-in with offensive coordinator Todd Haley, calling it “hilarious.”
Boldin’s shouting match with the coach on the sideline came as Arizona drove for the winning touchdown in Sunday’s playoff victory over Philadelphia.
Boldin left quickly after congratulating teammates to avoid questions about the incident. He acknowledged Thursday that his abrupt departure “made it worse.”
“For me it’s hilarious,” Boldin said of the criticism. “Every week, somebody on the sidelines gets into an argument … and once it’s done, it’s dead on all sides.”
Union successor
The NFL players’ union has narrowed its list to five candidates to succeed the late Gene Upshaw as executive director, The Associated Press reported. The list includes former NFLPA presidents Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong. The other three candidates reportedly are former union executive and former Bears tackle Jim Covert, ex-NFL player Ben Utt and attorney DeMaurice Smith.
Receiver recovering
New York Giants receiver Taye Biddle is recovering from gunshot wounds to his hand and leg after being shot while visiting family in his hometown in Decatur, Ala.
Decatur police said Biddle was shot outside a residence and was treated and released from a hospital. There was no evidence Biddle caused or provoked the shooting
49ers get ex-Falcon
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of former Falcons defensive back Jimmy Williams.
In two seasons (2006-07), Williams had 40 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed in 27 games. He didn’t play in 2008.
Rams coaches
St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo named Pat Shurmur (formerly Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach) offensive coordinator and Ken Flajole (formerly Carolina’s linebackers coach) defensive coordinator.
Etc… .
Arizona’s playoff success pushed the Falcons up one spot to No. 24 in the draft. The Cardinals were scheduled to pick at No. 21, but by reaching the Super Bowl, they will pick No. 31 or No. 32. …
New Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris filled the defensive coordinator post with Jim Bates, who had the same job with the Falcons (1994) and most recently with Denver (2007)… . Carolina defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac turned down an offer to remain on the staff… . Former head coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren were added to NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show.
Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin laughed off the negative reaction to his nationally televised run-in with offensive coordinator Todd Haley, calling it “hilarious.”
Boldin’s shouting match with the coach on the sideline came as Arizona drove for the winning touchdown in Sunday’s playoff victory over Philadelphia.
Boldin left quickly after congratulating teammates to avoid questions about the incident. He acknowledged Thursday that his abrupt departure “made it worse.”
“For me it’s hilarious,” Boldin said of the criticism. “Every week, somebody on the sidelines gets into an argument … and once it’s done, it’s dead on all sides.”
Union successor
The NFL players’ union has narrowed its list to five candidates to succeed the late Gene Upshaw as executive director, The Associated Press reported. The list includes former NFLPA presidents Troy Vincent and Trace Armstrong. The other three candidates reportedly are former union executive and former Bears tackle Jim Covert, ex-NFL player Ben Utt and attorney DeMaurice Smith.
Receiver recovering
New York Giants receiver Taye Biddle is recovering from gunshot wounds to his hand and leg after being shot while visiting family in his hometown in Decatur, Ala.
Decatur police said Biddle was shot outside a residence and was treated and released from a hospital. There was no evidence Biddle caused or provoked the shooting
49ers get ex-Falcon
The San Francisco 49ers announced the signing of former Falcons defensive back Jimmy Williams.
In two seasons (2006-07), Williams had 40 tackles, one interception and three passes defensed in 27 games. He didn’t play in 2008.
Rams coaches
St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo named Pat Shurmur (formerly Philadelphia’s quarterbacks coach) offensive coordinator and Ken Flajole (formerly Carolina’s linebackers coach) defensive coordinator.
Etc… .
Arizona’s playoff success pushed the Falcons up one spot to No. 24 in the draft. The Cardinals were scheduled to pick at No. 21, but by reaching the Super Bowl, they will pick No. 31 or No. 32. …
New Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris filled the defensive coordinator post with Jim Bates, who had the same job with the Falcons (1994) and most recently with Denver (2007)… . Carolina defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac turned down an offer to remain on the staff… . Former head coaches Tony Dungy and Mike Holmgren were added to NBC’s Super Bowl pregame show.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Pacman's going to sue ESPN
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/Pacman-s-going-to-sue-ESPN?urn=nfl,133090
Sometime soon, Pacman Jones might get the rare pleasure of meeting a lawyer who is not working 'round the clock to keep him out of jail. It seems that Pacman didn't care for ESPN's report that he had arranged to have a man shot in an Atlanta nightclub in 2007, and he plans to sue.
From the Dallas Morning News:
Adam Jones is denying an ESPN report that he arranged for someone to shoot at three men outside a Atlanta night club.
In fact an angry Jones said he's planning legal action against the network.
"It will be a lawsuit in a week against ESPN," Jones said. "That's stupid. It's so stupid I have no more comments."
I'm getting way ahead of myself here, but my dream outcome for any potential Pacman Jones lawsuit against ESPN would be that ESPN agrees to air a special episode of "Outside the Lines" entitled "ESPN's sincere and heartfelt apology to the noble and kindhearted Adam 'Pacman' J
jones, who has done absolutely nothing wrong."
ESPN's really put itself in a tight spot here. It went public with an accusation with no information on who the accusation comes from, and no reason why the information should be deemed credible, especially when the police investigation found no reason to press any charges against Pacman.
I guess that information's coming on a future edition of "Outside the Lines," and ESPN has put itself in a position now where that show had better deliver.
Related: Adam Jones, Dallas Cowboys, NFL Media
Sometime soon, Pacman Jones might get the rare pleasure of meeting a lawyer who is not working 'round the clock to keep him out of jail. It seems that Pacman didn't care for ESPN's report that he had arranged to have a man shot in an Atlanta nightclub in 2007, and he plans to sue.
From the Dallas Morning News:
Adam Jones is denying an ESPN report that he arranged for someone to shoot at three men outside a Atlanta night club.
In fact an angry Jones said he's planning legal action against the network.
"It will be a lawsuit in a week against ESPN," Jones said. "That's stupid. It's so stupid I have no more comments."
I'm getting way ahead of myself here, but my dream outcome for any potential Pacman Jones lawsuit against ESPN would be that ESPN agrees to air a special episode of "Outside the Lines" entitled "ESPN's sincere and heartfelt apology to the noble and kindhearted Adam 'Pacman' J
jones, who has done absolutely nothing wrong."
ESPN's really put itself in a tight spot here. It went public with an accusation with no information on who the accusation comes from, and no reason why the information should be deemed credible, especially when the police investigation found no reason to press any charges against Pacman.
I guess that information's coming on a future edition of "Outside the Lines," and ESPN has put itself in a position now where that show had better deliver.
Related: Adam Jones, Dallas Cowboys, NFL Media
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Jets introduce Rex Ryan as head coach
Enite read here
Florham Park, NJ (Sports Network) - The New York Jets introduced former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as the team's new head coach on Wednesday.
The hiring comes less than a week after the Ravens lost to Pittsburgh, 23-14, in the AFC Championship Game. He replaces Eric Mangini, who was fired following the season and later became head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
"With all these cameras here, I was expecting the new President to show up," said Ryan."That's OK, though, we will hopefully see him a couple of times over the next few years anyway."
The 46-year-old Ryan, who becomes the 17th overall head coach in Jets' history, has never been the head coach of a team in college or the pros. He was with the Ravens since 1999 on the defensive side of the ball.
"You're gonna see an attack team here, aggressive on both sides of the ball," added Ryan. "The message to the league is clear: Here come the Jets and they will give you everything they got. And that's probably more than you can handle. We want to be known as the most physical team in the league."
Florham Park, NJ (Sports Network) - The New York Jets introduced former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan as the team's new head coach on Wednesday.
The hiring comes less than a week after the Ravens lost to Pittsburgh, 23-14, in the AFC Championship Game. He replaces Eric Mangini, who was fired following the season and later became head coach of the Cleveland Browns.
"With all these cameras here, I was expecting the new President to show up," said Ryan."That's OK, though, we will hopefully see him a couple of times over the next few years anyway."
The 46-year-old Ryan, who becomes the 17th overall head coach in Jets' history, has never been the head coach of a team in college or the pros. He was with the Ravens since 1999 on the defensive side of the ball.
"You're gonna see an attack team here, aggressive on both sides of the ball," added Ryan. "The message to the league is clear: Here come the Jets and they will give you everything they got. And that's probably more than you can handle. We want to be known as the most physical team in the league."
Steele career done for
Entire read here
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama point guard Ronald Steele has decided to forego the rest of his senior season.
Crimson Tide coach Mark Gottfried announced the decision Tuesday evening after Steele had missed the past two games with a heel injury. The Tide lost both games.
He returned after missing all of last season following three knee operations. Steele was averaging nearly 13 points and four assists a game. He is one of only two players in Tide history with 1,000 points and 400 assists in his career and was a preseason All-American as a sophomore. Then injuries took their toll.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Alabama point guard Ronald Steele has decided to forego the rest of his senior season.
Crimson Tide coach Mark Gottfried announced the decision Tuesday evening after Steele had missed the past two games with a heel injury. The Tide lost both games.
He returned after missing all of last season following three knee operations. Steele was averaging nearly 13 points and four assists a game. He is one of only two players in Tide history with 1,000 points and 400 assists in his career and was a preseason All-American as a sophomore. Then injuries took their toll.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Super time baby
Entire read here
LAS VEGAS — The guys in the back rooms who make the numbers seem a bit confused by this one, though they're hardly alone. The Arizona Cardinals haven't made it easy for anyone in their improbable run to the Super Bowl.
The Cardinals will be underdogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, that much is certain in the sports books that line the Las Vegas Strip. No surprise there, because Arizona has been the dog in all three of its playoff games after sputtering badly late in the regular season.
The NFL will have you believe it doesn't matter because there is no such thing as a connection between the league's popularity and the ease with which you can bet on a game. The league and the television talking heads who understand what side their bread is buttered on will pretend that there is no such thing as a point spread on the biggest game of the year.
That's nonsense, of course, because hundreds of millions of dollars will change hands on everything from the opening coin flip to the eventual final score. Millions of Americans will have a financial stake in the game, whether they wager online, in a Vegas sports book or simply buy a square or two in the pool at their local bar.
I don't bet on sports, mostly because I'm lousy at picking winners, but a friend of mine risked five bucks in August on a 50-1 shot that the Cardinals will win the Super Bowl. Those odds weren't bad, but bookies thought so little of Arizona that even when the Cardinals made the playoffs you could still get 35-1 on them winning it all.
Fortunately for the bookies, my friend's bet was about the norm. Bettors didn't wager serious money on the Cardinals, even at longshot odds, because they had no idea going into the playoffs that Kurt Warner would play like he did earlier in the season, Edgerrin James would get a chance to run the ball, and Larry Fitzgerald would stake his claim as the best wide receiver in the league.
That combination, along with an underrated defence, was good enough to win three playoff games and get the Cardinals in the Super Bowl for the first time in their history. And what a miserable history it has been, stretching from the team's formation in 1898 in Chicago to its current location in Phoenix, where before this year the Cardinals had one winning season in 21 years.
There was never any reason to believe Arizona could actually make it to the Super Bowl. History shows that perennially bad teams tend to revert to doing bad things (see Chicago Cubs) when the pressure is on because they don't know how do anything different.
LAS VEGAS — The guys in the back rooms who make the numbers seem a bit confused by this one, though they're hardly alone. The Arizona Cardinals haven't made it easy for anyone in their improbable run to the Super Bowl.
The Cardinals will be underdogs against the Pittsburgh Steelers, that much is certain in the sports books that line the Las Vegas Strip. No surprise there, because Arizona has been the dog in all three of its playoff games after sputtering badly late in the regular season.
The NFL will have you believe it doesn't matter because there is no such thing as a connection between the league's popularity and the ease with which you can bet on a game. The league and the television talking heads who understand what side their bread is buttered on will pretend that there is no such thing as a point spread on the biggest game of the year.
That's nonsense, of course, because hundreds of millions of dollars will change hands on everything from the opening coin flip to the eventual final score. Millions of Americans will have a financial stake in the game, whether they wager online, in a Vegas sports book or simply buy a square or two in the pool at their local bar.
I don't bet on sports, mostly because I'm lousy at picking winners, but a friend of mine risked five bucks in August on a 50-1 shot that the Cardinals will win the Super Bowl. Those odds weren't bad, but bookies thought so little of Arizona that even when the Cardinals made the playoffs you could still get 35-1 on them winning it all.
Fortunately for the bookies, my friend's bet was about the norm. Bettors didn't wager serious money on the Cardinals, even at longshot odds, because they had no idea going into the playoffs that Kurt Warner would play like he did earlier in the season, Edgerrin James would get a chance to run the ball, and Larry Fitzgerald would stake his claim as the best wide receiver in the league.
That combination, along with an underrated defence, was good enough to win three playoff games and get the Cardinals in the Super Bowl for the first time in their history. And what a miserable history it has been, stretching from the team's formation in 1898 in Chicago to its current location in Phoenix, where before this year the Cardinals had one winning season in 21 years.
There was never any reason to believe Arizona could actually make it to the Super Bowl. History shows that perennially bad teams tend to revert to doing bad things (see Chicago Cubs) when the pressure is on because they don't know how do anything different.
College Football racist against blacks
Entire read here
The Black Coaches Association Hiring Report Card came out this month, and when it comes to hiring black head coaches, big-time college football gets a big-time "F."
There are 117 colleges participating in Division I-A football and there are only three black head coaches. You don't have to be too smart to know how stupid this looks.
Let me lay it out for you:
Fifty percent black athletes leads to 25 percent black assistant coaches leads to 3 percent black head coaches.
Fifty percent white athletes leads to 75 percent white assistant coaches leads to 97 percent white head coaches.
A profession that so desperately seeks a level playing field offers nothing close to one for the black athlete who aspires to rise to the pinnacle of the college coaching profession.
Plainly and simply, folks, this is discrimination. More precisely this is one of the last and greatest bastions of discrimination within all of American sports.
In college football, we are winning games, building programs and making millions of dollars with the sweat and blood of African-American athletes. I should know. In the last dozen years, my family alone has made more than $30 million as Division I-A head football coaches.
The Black Coaches Association Hiring Report Card came out this month, and when it comes to hiring black head coaches, big-time college football gets a big-time "F."
There are 117 colleges participating in Division I-A football and there are only three black head coaches. You don't have to be too smart to know how stupid this looks.
Let me lay it out for you:
Fifty percent black athletes leads to 25 percent black assistant coaches leads to 3 percent black head coaches.
Fifty percent white athletes leads to 75 percent white assistant coaches leads to 97 percent white head coaches.
A profession that so desperately seeks a level playing field offers nothing close to one for the black athlete who aspires to rise to the pinnacle of the college coaching profession.
Plainly and simply, folks, this is discrimination. More precisely this is one of the last and greatest bastions of discrimination within all of American sports.
In college football, we are winning games, building programs and making millions of dollars with the sweat and blood of African-American athletes. I should know. In the last dozen years, my family alone has made more than $30 million as Division I-A head football coaches.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Dwight Howard leads NBA All-Star voting
Entire read here
The NBA released updated All-Star voting figures yesterday, and if the selections were to be made right now, here’s how it would all shake out…
Dwyane Wade (1,229,858) and Allen Iverson (858,469) would be the starting backcourt for the Eastern Conference, alongside LeBron James (1,259,764), Kevin Garnett (905,506) and the leading vote-getter and Dwight Howard (1,421,882).
For the Western Conference, Kobe Bryant (1,280,912) and Tracy McGrady (746,098) would be playing alongside Tim Duncan (903,311), Amare Stoudemire (626,796) and
The NBA released updated All-Star voting figures yesterday, and if the selections were to be made right now, here’s how it would all shake out…
Dwyane Wade (1,229,858) and Allen Iverson (858,469) would be the starting backcourt for the Eastern Conference, alongside LeBron James (1,259,764), Kevin Garnett (905,506) and the leading vote-getter and Dwight Howard (1,421,882).
For the Western Conference, Kobe Bryant (1,280,912) and Tracy McGrady (746,098) would be playing alongside Tim Duncan (903,311), Amare Stoudemire (626,796) and
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Friday, January 16, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hockey sucks
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/31915/why_hockey_sucks.html
Ernest Hemingway had some peculiar ideas about what qualified as a sport. He said something to the effect that the only true sports were bullfighting and auto racing. I think there might have been a third one and I forget what it is but it might as well have been shotgun-barrel-eating because that turned out to be the only thing Poppa Bear was ever really and good at. Some might say he could right, but come on, have you read The Sun Also Rises? I have and trust me when I tell you as a writer E.H. was a great big-game hunter. My point is ol’ Ernie had some strange ideas about sports.
A lot of people have some strange ideas about sports. Some people still try to convince us that golf is a sport. I’m sorry but any sport where John Daly can do well is not really a sport. The man is a known alcoholic and weighs roughly 81/2 tons. Sure, I enjoy watching Tiger Woods, but I still don’t think of it as a sport. It involves way too much walking. Does it take skill? Sure, but so does table tennis, Scrabble, Monopoly and Chess. Golf is a game and until they allow either land mines on the greens or tackling of your opponent that is going to remain my opinion thank you very much.
For me the only two real sports are baseball and football. Growing up in Chicago, football is in my very DNA. Honest to God and hands to heaven one of my very first words was “Butkus.” Two teams of large men lining up on either side and smashing into each other? Hell yeah! All just to gain a little bit of ground. It’s gladiatorial. It’s like war without bullets.
For me the best sport is baseball. I love baseball. Lord in heaven I love baseball. I am diehard White Sox fan and I eager look forward to each game. I will watch a baseball game for three plus hours and when it ends I am depressed and want to watch more baseball. Home runs are great but the real game is getting the lead off man on base and then having him steal or bunting him over. Then you get the second guy on or he sacrifices to move the runner and then you put up your big hitter. He then smashes one over the wall and you get multiple runs. It’s a thing of beauty.
Ernest Hemingway had some peculiar ideas about what qualified as a sport. He said something to the effect that the only true sports were bullfighting and auto racing. I think there might have been a third one and I forget what it is but it might as well have been shotgun-barrel-eating because that turned out to be the only thing Poppa Bear was ever really and good at. Some might say he could right, but come on, have you read The Sun Also Rises? I have and trust me when I tell you as a writer E.H. was a great big-game hunter. My point is ol’ Ernie had some strange ideas about sports.
A lot of people have some strange ideas about sports. Some people still try to convince us that golf is a sport. I’m sorry but any sport where John Daly can do well is not really a sport. The man is a known alcoholic and weighs roughly 81/2 tons. Sure, I enjoy watching Tiger Woods, but I still don’t think of it as a sport. It involves way too much walking. Does it take skill? Sure, but so does table tennis, Scrabble, Monopoly and Chess. Golf is a game and until they allow either land mines on the greens or tackling of your opponent that is going to remain my opinion thank you very much.
For me the only two real sports are baseball and football. Growing up in Chicago, football is in my very DNA. Honest to God and hands to heaven one of my very first words was “Butkus.” Two teams of large men lining up on either side and smashing into each other? Hell yeah! All just to gain a little bit of ground. It’s gladiatorial. It’s like war without bullets.
For me the best sport is baseball. I love baseball. Lord in heaven I love baseball. I am diehard White Sox fan and I eager look forward to each game. I will watch a baseball game for three plus hours and when it ends I am depressed and want to watch more baseball. Home runs are great but the real game is getting the lead off man on base and then having him steal or bunting him over. Then you get the second guy on or he sacrifices to move the runner and then you put up your big hitter. He then smashes one over the wall and you get multiple runs. It’s a thing of beauty.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Meeks scores 54; hits 10 dimes
Entire read here
Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks was virtually unstoppable, setting the Wildcats’ and the Thompson-Boling Arena scoring record with 54 points as the Big Blue rolled.
Kentucky (13-4, 2-0 SEC) scored a 90-72 victory over No. 24 Tennessee (10-5, 1-1) Tuesday night to claim early-season SEC East Division superiority.
Former LSU standout Chris Jackson held the previous arena record, scoring 49 points on the Vols on Feb. 10, 1990, two years after UT moved into the spacious facility. Dan Issel had the previous Kentucky scoring record with 53 points on Feb. 7, 1970, against Ole Miss.
Many of the 20,474 in attendance had filed out by the time Meeks put the finishing touches on his masterpiece.
The 6-foot-4 sharpshooter, whose previous career-high was 46 points earlier this season against Appalachian State, was 15-of-22 shooting from the field, 10-of-15 beyond the 3-point arc and a perfect 14 of 14 from the free throw line.
“After I hit four or five threes in the first half, my confidence got bigger,’’ said Meeks, who surpassed his scoring averaged of 24.2 points by halftime with 26. “I was just trying to do everything I could to help us win the game.’’Tyler Smith led UT with 19 points, and Wayn Chism had 18 points and nine rebounds.UT coach Bruce Pearl said he tried a variety of defenders on Meeks.
“He (Meeks) did anything he wanted to do out there,’’ Pearl said. “We wanted to deny him the ball and put so much ball pressure on him that he had to go to the rim. He did that the first play of the game, but he didn’t have to do that after that.
“Defensively we tried to guard him as a team. None of our guards could guard him.’’
UT battled back from 16 down in the second half to close to within 71-64 on Chism’s three-point play with 6:52 left.
Kentucky guard Jodie Meeks was virtually unstoppable, setting the Wildcats’ and the Thompson-Boling Arena scoring record with 54 points as the Big Blue rolled.
Kentucky (13-4, 2-0 SEC) scored a 90-72 victory over No. 24 Tennessee (10-5, 1-1) Tuesday night to claim early-season SEC East Division superiority.
Former LSU standout Chris Jackson held the previous arena record, scoring 49 points on the Vols on Feb. 10, 1990, two years after UT moved into the spacious facility. Dan Issel had the previous Kentucky scoring record with 53 points on Feb. 7, 1970, against Ole Miss.
Many of the 20,474 in attendance had filed out by the time Meeks put the finishing touches on his masterpiece.
The 6-foot-4 sharpshooter, whose previous career-high was 46 points earlier this season against Appalachian State, was 15-of-22 shooting from the field, 10-of-15 beyond the 3-point arc and a perfect 14 of 14 from the free throw line.
“After I hit four or five threes in the first half, my confidence got bigger,’’ said Meeks, who surpassed his scoring averaged of 24.2 points by halftime with 26. “I was just trying to do everything I could to help us win the game.’’Tyler Smith led UT with 19 points, and Wayn Chism had 18 points and nine rebounds.UT coach Bruce Pearl said he tried a variety of defenders on Meeks.
“He (Meeks) did anything he wanted to do out there,’’ Pearl said. “We wanted to deny him the ball and put so much ball pressure on him that he had to go to the rim. He did that the first play of the game, but he didn’t have to do that after that.
“Defensively we tried to guard him as a team. None of our guards could guard him.’’
UT battled back from 16 down in the second half to close to within 71-64 on Chism’s three-point play with 6:52 left.
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