Oh Canada!
February 28, 2010
wvs posted a photo:
Big celebration at Yonge-Dundas Square over Canada’s Gold win in Ice Hockey in 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.
Sources: New York Jets plan to release running back Thomas Jones
February 28, 2010
New York Jets running back Thomas Jones will not restructure his contract and will be released this week, sources told ESPN on Saturday.
JonesJones, who will become a free agent March 5, was slated to receive a $3 million roster bonus March 9 and a $2.8 million base salary in 2010. Jones, who has played the last three seasons for the Jets, rushed for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns on 331 carries last season. The Jets reached the AFC Championship Game. Jones has 9,217 career rushing yards in 10 seasons with the Jets, Arizona Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears.Adam Schefter is ESPN’s NFL Insider.
No. 4 Syracuse rips No. 7 ‘Nova 95-77 (AP)
February 28, 2010
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP)—Jim Boeheim didn’t want to talk about rankings. He just
wanted to briefly bask in a scintillating victory by his Syracuse Orange and
then move on.
Rick Jackson scored 19 points and Arinze Onuaku had 17 as the two big men
dominated inside, helping the No. 4 Orange rout No. 7 Villanova 95-77 on
Saturday night before an NCAA on-campus record crowd of 34,616.
On a day when the top two teams in the nation—Kansas and Kentucky—both
lost, the victory could move the Orange to No. 1 for the first time since
1989-90.
Pretty heady stuff for a team that entered the season off everybody’s radar.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re ranked in our game, it really doesn’t,”
Boeheim said. “This team has not thought about rankings all year. I told them
they needed a short celebration. I’m just trying to get the players focused on
the next game. The only thing anybody will remember is the (NCAA) tournament,
but I hope the fans enjoyed this team.”
They did, repeatedly shaking the Carrier Dome with each basket as Syracuse
(27-2, 14-2) improved to 7-0 against ranked teams and clinched at least a tie
for the Big East title with two games left in the regular season. The Orange
also own the tiebreaker because of the victory over the Wildcats (23-5, 12-4),
who have lost three of four.
“They’re so improved, so balanced in every phase of the game,” Villanova
coach Jay Wright said. “They’re a great team. I thought we came ready to play.
We jumped on them, but once they got it going they had a response to
everything.”
With Syracuse stars from the past back for a reunion of sorts—Derrick
Coleman, John Wallace, Billy Owens and Rafael Addison among them—and the fans
waving orange towels donated by the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, the Orange
began to assume command late in the first half and took control in the second.
Syracuse increased a 10-point halftime lead to a bulging 72-56 as the
6-foot-9, 260-pound Onuaku converted consecutive follows and the 6-9 Jackson
slammed home a feed from Andy Rautins.
“We just got the ball to the right people,” Boeheim said. “It was just a
tremendous effort on both ends of the floor.”
If anybody didn’t think it was Syracuse’s night, they had to be convinced
when Onuaku, one of the poorest free throw shooters in the nation, converted a
three-point play for a 16-point lead with 8:54 left.
“I think I was kind of the spark just to give us a little cushion,” said
Onuaku, who combined with Jackson to hit 16 of 25 shots. “We kind of took it
from there.”
“When Arinze’s like that, we’re probably the best team in the country,”
Rautins said. “With those guys playing well, we’re extremely tough to beat.”
Syracuse limited the Wildcats to 8 of 28 (28.6 percent) on 3-pointers and
committed only one turnover in the second half. The Orange, who entered the game
averaging 15 turnovers, also allowed only two fast-break points and its bench
outscored Villanova’s 32-21.
Syracuse reserves Kris Joseph and Scoop Jardine each scored 16 points, Wes
Johnson had 14 and Rautins finished with 12 points and eight assists.
Scottie Reynolds led Villanova with 16 points, Corey Fisher had 14, Antonio
Pena 13 and freshman Mouphtaou Yarou a season-high 13.
Rautins, who missed his first three 3-point attempts, opened the second half
with a 3 from the wing and Johnson followed with another that countered a
three-point play by Fisher.
Jackson hit a hook in the lane and converted a layup off the glass off a
feed from Rautins to give Syracuse a 56-48 edge at 16:38.
“‘Nova’s a team that’s going to live and die by the 3,” Jackson said.
“Against a team that shoots as many 3s, you don’t want to get into a shooting
contest.”
After a follow by Yarou, Rautins drained another 3, this one from the top of
the key, and after Reynolds missed a wide-open 3 from the left corner, Onuaku
converted two follows off missed 3s by Rautins to boost the lead to 65-52 with
12:03 left.
The Wildcats didn’t seem fazed by the raucous crowd. Reynolds hit a pair of
open 3s and a three-point-play by Fisher helped stake ‘Nova to an early lead. A
3 from the top of the key by Corey Stokes gave Villanova a 23-14 edge midway
through the first half.
But the Syracuse zone gradually became more aggressive and the openings
disappeared. ‘Nova missed six straight 3-pointers and scored only one basket in
a span of nearly 6 minutes.
Villanova entered the game averaging 25 points a game from its bench, but
Jardine and Joseph combined for 21 points in the first half alone and keyed the
comeback.
Five straight points by Jardine and a pair of free throws by Johnson gave
Syracuse a 46-36 halftime lead.
“They did a great job of posting up, playing off of one another, offensive
rebounding,” Reynolds said. “We tried to stay together, not let it (the crowd)
affect us. I don’t think it had anything to do with the outcome.”
Navan Bantam Cashspiel
February 28, 2010
inthebag.golf posted a photo:
Inaugural Navan Bantam Cashspiel held 16 Jan 2010.
NBA commissioner David Stern expects expedited approval of Michael Jordan’s ownership bid
February 28, 2010
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Jordan Reaches Deal To Buy Bobcats
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Michael Jordan’s drive and immense physical talent made him an NBA superstar. His stardom and shrewdness helped him make millions in business.His latest venture will test his talents and skills like no other.NBA commissioner David Stern said Saturday he expects Jordan to be approved as majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats by the end of next month. Minutes before his exclusive negotiating window expired late Friday night, Jordan struck a deal with owner Bob Johnson to take over the money-losing team in his home state.
JordanIt puts the biggest basketball star of his generation in charge of a 6-year-old team that’s never made the playoffs, has struggled to win over fans and has more than $150 million in debt.Can Jordan’s streak of business success continue?”If he’s going to be an absentee owner, just like Bob was, it’s not going to work,” said Felix Sabates, a NASCAR team owner who also holds a minority stake in the Bobcats. “I think if Michael makes a commitment and shows dedication, he can be very successful. He’s a big icon in this part of the country.”An icon that has been rarely seen. He’s been a part-owner of the Bobcats with the final say on all basketball decisions since 2006. But Jordan has kept a low profile, rarely attending practices or games, taking no role in marketing and leaving the day-to-day operations to a team of assistants.But former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos, who had an ownership group together to buy the team before Jordan swooped in at the last minute, thinks the deal shows Jordan really wanted the team.”It’s a very substantial part of his net worth,” Postolos said. “He’s very, very committed.”Jordan remained silent on Saturday. Details of his ownership group — called MJ Basketball Holdings LLC — weren’t available. Sabates said he won’t be part of Jordan’s ownership group, and believes Jordan is buying 100 percent of the team.Johnson, the first black majority owner of a major professional sports team, has also declined comment after coming close to ridding himself of a venture that cost him a fortune.”Whatever the number is, Bob is taking a huge financial loss,” Sabates said. “He tried hard. He just made some stupid mistakes. Bob has a bit of an attitude problem that some people owe him. Nobody owes anybody anything.”“Whatever the number is, Bob is taking a huge financial loss. He tried hard. He just made some stupid mistakes. Bob has a bit of an attitude problem that some people owe him. Nobody owes anybody anything.
”
– Bobcats minority owner Felix Sabates on majority owner Bob Johnson
Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television, paid $300 million for the expansion team, which replaced the New Orleans-bound Hornets in this town and began play in 2004-05. Johnson, who maintained his residence in Washington, had several missteps, from a failed venture to start a regional sports network, pricing tickets too high, clashing with business leaders and struggling to win over fans soured by the Hornets’ ugly exit.While the Bobcats lost on the floor, Johnson was losing tens of millions of dollars each year despite a new arena funded by taxpayers. The losses mounted as he increased the player payroll after his successful effort to recruit Jordan, who bought a small stake in the team and was given control of personnel moves.Just like his stint running the Washington Wizards and his decision to draft Kwame Brown No. 1 overall in 2001, Jordan quickly had a gaffe in Charlotte when he selected the disappointing Adam Morrison with the third pick in the 2006 draft.While Jordan was eventually fired in Washington, he’s been praised for some recent moves in Charlotte, most notably persuading fellow Hall of Famer Larry Brown to take over as coach before last season. They’ve paired up to complete seven trades involving 21 players since the start of last season, and the Bobcats (28-29) are in playoff contention in the Eastern Conference.”Everybody wanted to see him involved and I can’t imagine the NBA not having Michael Jordan involved,” Brown said Saturday while watching the North Carolina-Wake Forest game. “He’s been great for us to work with, he lets us do our job and he’s the best. So thankfully, he’s back.”Bobcats guard Stephen Jackson echoed his coach. Jackson, acquired from Golden State in November, has been one of Jordan’s best pickups.”I think it’s great, an opportunity for me to continue to play for a guy who I’ve looked up to my whole career, the best to ever play the game,” he said Saturday night. “I think he’s going to get this team, the right guys on the court, and go in the right direction to be a consistent team in the playoffs.”Jordan will become the second black majority owner for this franchise in a state where he’s adored. He grew up in Wilmington and hit a last-second shot to give North Carolina the 1982 national championship.”We have been anticipating an agreement for transfer of a majority interest in the Bobcats and are pleased it has occurred,” Stern said in a statement. “Bob Johnson brought the excitement of the NBA back to Charlotte and I am certain that as Michael Jordan returns to his home state as the principal owner of the Bobcats the team will continue its growth as a success on the court, as a business success and as a valued community asset.”Sabates said making Charlotte his home is key to making it work for Jordan. If he doesn’t, his streak of business success may end.”If Michael doesn’t do that, he’s wasted a lot of money,” Sabates said. “But Michael is pretty smart and Michael’s got some pretty good advisers. He didn’t get to where he’s at by being dumb.”This is the biggest investment of his life. He can have 19,000 people at every game. It’s up to him.”
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
Notre Dame upset of G’town helps NCAA hopes
February 28, 2010
(19-10, 8-8 Big East)
(13) Georgetown 64
(19-8, 9-7 Big East)
- Passport
TV: CBS
| 1 | 2 | T | ||
| ND | 31 | 47 | 78 | |
| #13 | GTWN | 27 | 37 | 64 |
ATHLETE Director Dave’s Pics - Running in the Winter
February 28, 2010
ATHLETE Director Dave posted a photo:
BROOKLYN, NY - Runners start the NYRR Al Gordon Classic in Prospect Park. [February 28, 2010]
Winter Games: Chad Hedrick barely misses last gold in team pursuit
February 28, 2010
RICHMOND, British Columbia — Chad Hedrick was yukking it up outside the Olympic oval, savoring one last medal in one more event before he gets started on the rest of his life.”I think I’ll join the bowling tour,” he joked to his young teammates. “Have y’all ever seen me bowl?”Hedrick wanted to go out with gold Saturday, but didn’t seem too upset about settling for silver in his farewell to speedskating, losing out to the Canadians by a mere 21-hundredths of a second in the final of team pursuit.The 32-year-old Texan claimed his fifth medal — in five different events, making him one of only four males in Olympic history to compile such a versatile resume.
The silver still made Hedrick one of only two American men to win five Olympic medals on the big oval. The other was Eric Heiden, who swept all five events at the 1980 Lake Placid Games and now serves as team doctor.
Winter Olympics blog
ESPN and ESPN.com Olympic contributors write about all things Vancouver in ESPN.com’s Winter Olympics blog.
He cheered Hedrick from behind the pads heading into the first turn.”The Olympics has changed me as a person,” Hedrick said. “I’m happy with the results as I leave Vancouver. I’m happy with the person I am. It’s just a great start to a good life.”And one he couldn’t have expected growing up in sweltering Texas. He learned to skate with wheels under his feet instead of blades, becoming one of the world’s greatest inline skaters with a revolutionary double-push style that earned him his nickname, “The Exception.”When he had won all he could as an inliner, he switched to the ice as the relatively late age of 24, looking to capture a few Olympic titles. His brash style rubbed some the wrong way, but it’s hard to argue with the results: three medals at the 2006 Turin Games, two more in Vancouver.”I didn’t accomplish every goal that I wanted to, but I can take that and move on in life and grow as a person,” he said.Sven Kramer and the Netherlands won bronze in men’s pursuit, beating Norway by 0.55 in the third-place race with an Olympic-record time (3:39.95) that was faster than either of the finalists.Kramer barely celebrated on the victory lap with Mark Tuitert and Jan Blokhuijsen, knowing he had come up far short of expectations in Vancouver. The Dutch star had been expected to win three gold medals, but wound up with only one, in the 5,000.A shocking disqualification in the 10,000 for messing up a routine lane changeover cost Kramer a certain victory. Then, the favored Dutch were upset by the Americans in the semifinals of team pursuit after getting out of sync because of a communication problem involving Kramer and the other two skaters.The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Cleveland Browns president Mike Holmgren: Quarterback competition won’t work
February 28, 2010
Team president Mike Holmgren says the Cleveland Browns don’t intend to undergo a quarterback competition for their starting position, and said it was a “long shot” whether they would have both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn when next season starts.”They did that last year. And that didn’t work out,” Holmgren said Friday, according to The Plain Dealer of Cleveland.Speaking from Indianapolis, where the NFL is holding its annual scouting combine, Holmgren said he wanted to “turn the team around very quickly.”
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Chilean contingent to forgo closing ceremonies at Vancouver Olympics
February 28, 2010
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Chile’s athletes and coaches are planning to skip the Olympic closing ceremonies following a magnitude-8.8 earthquake that has devastated their country. Team spokesman Luis Alberto Santa Cruz said Saturday morning that the athletes and coaches are trying to get home from Vancouver as soon as possible because of the quake. Chile has three Alpine skiers representing the country at the Vancouver Games. Noelle Barahona, Maui Gayme and Jorge Mandru are all finished competing, so they won’t miss any remaining events. Santa Cruz says that some of the coaches and athletes have been able to reach family and so far, they have found out that their loved ones are fine. Some are still trying to make contact.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press