After 61 punishing laps of the Marina Bay Street Circuit on Sunday, the podium featured not one team or driver in the running for the 2009 championship. Instead it was McLaren, Toyota, and Renault celebrating.However, Jenson Button and Brawn left Singapore quietly satisfied, the former having extended his championship lead to 15 points, the latter having all but wrapped up the constructors’ crown with three rounds remaining…Reproduced with kind permission of the FIA
September 28, 2009
July 27, 2009
Soccer: Beckham clashes anew with another fan
David Beckham has clashed with another fan just one week after an ugly confrontation with spectators during his first home match for the Los Angeles Galaxy after returning from Italy.The latest incident saw the 34-year-old exchange words with a male in the crowd, who was wearing an England shirt, during the Galaxy's 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday.
NBA: Gooden to sign 1-year deal with Mavericks
The Dallas Mavericks have struck a deal with unrestricted free agent Drew Gooden to make use of some of the money they got back when Orlando matched their offer sheet earlier this month to restricted free agent Marcin Gortat.
Formula 1: Massa to miss Hungarian Grand Prix after undergoing surgery
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa will not race in Sunday’s Hungarian Grand Prix following his high-speed qualifying crash at the Hungaroring, the team have confirmed. Massa was airlifted to AEK Hospital in Budapest, where he is in a stable condition.
Cycling: Lance Armstrong a favorite for 2010 Tour de France
Christophe Ena / Associated Press
Lance Armstrong, who finished third in the Tour de France on Sunday, is a favorite to win the race in 2010 with his new team.
Lance Armstrong, who finished third in the Tour de France on Sunday, is a favorite to win the race in 2010 with his new team.
NBA: Lamar Odom and Lakers resume talks
Is the table being set again? A week after the Lakers pulled a pair of contract offers to Lamar Odom off the table, the sides resumed talks Wednesday.The discussions were labeled productive, but there was nothing to report "at the moment," according to a source familiar with negotiations who was not authorized to comment publicly.
Formula 1: Massa’s condition improving says official
Injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa’s condition is said to be improving, according to a Hungarian government official. Massa remains stable in a Budapest hospital following his high-speed crash at the Hungaroring on Saturday, in which his helmet was struck by a loose spring from the car of fellow Brazilian Rubens Barrichello.
July 26, 2009
Formula 1: Hamilton earns first victory in Hungary
Lewis Hamilton brought McLaren their first victory of the season after a surprise result in Hungary on Sunday afternoon, his dominant success also marking Martin Whitmarsh’s first as team principal and the first for a KERS-equipped car. Kimi Raikkonen was second for Ferrari, containing a challenge from Mark Webber’s Red Bull.
July 23, 2009
NBA: No. 1 pick Griffin sidelined with shoulder injury
LAS VEGAS (AP)-Blake Griffin has pulled out of USA Basketball's minicamp
because of a strained right shoulder, possibly hurting the No. 1 pick's
chances of playing next year in the world championships.
because of a strained right shoulder, possibly hurting the No. 1 pick's
chances of playing next year in the world championships.
NBA: Bryant 'optimistic' Odom will re-sign with Lakers
SINGAPORE (AP)-Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is optimistic the NBA
champions will re-sign key free agent Lamar Odom .
champions will re-sign key free agent Lamar Odom .
NBA: Timberwolves pick Rubio to leave Spanish club
GERONA, Spain (AP)-Ricky Rubio plans to part ways with Spanish basketball
club DKV Joventut even if the Minnesota Timberwolves cannot reach a deal to
bring their first round draft pick to the NBA.
club DKV Joventut even if the Minnesota Timberwolves cannot reach a deal to
bring their first round draft pick to the NBA.
NBA: Warriors' Randolph looks long on talent
WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - As Anthony Randolph tried to squeeze his long, lean
frame into a booth at P.F. Chang's this week, his fellow restaurant patrons
gave him little more than a he-must-play-basketball glance. A week removed
from his 20th birthday, Randolph can easily be mistaken for a local college
player. One season with the Golden State Warriors has hardly made him a
recognizable face, even in the Bay Area.
frame into a booth at P.F. Chang's this week, his fellow restaurant patrons
gave him little more than a he-must-play-basketball glance. A week removed
from his 20th birthday, Randolph can easily be mistaken for a local college
player. One season with the Golden State Warriors has hardly made him a
recognizable face, even in the Bay Area.
NCAA: Light Bomber Saret shoots 89 points
MANILA, Philippines - It was just one of those days when the rim looked
bigger than usual for Jose Rizal University high school guard Joshua Saret.
bigger than usual for Jose Rizal University high school guard Joshua Saret.
Boxing: Roach sets eight-week camp for Pacman
FREDDIE ROACH THINKS MANNY PACQUIAO is in for a tough fight against Miguel
Cotto on Nov. 14 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
But the famed trainer also feels that his prized ward will come out the
winner of the fight set at a catch weight of 145 pounds.
Pacquiao, the International Boxing Organization light welterweight titlist,
has been installed as an early 2-1 favorite over Cotto, the World Boxing
Organization welterweight champion.
Roach said he plans to conduct at least an eight-week training camp for
Pacquiao at his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
The serious buildup starts after the fight's press tour calendared in Los
Angeles (Sept. 9), New York (Sept. 10) and San Juan, Puerto Rico, (Sept.
12).
Noting Pacquiao's impressive wins in his last two fights, an eight-round
stoppage of Oscar De La Hoya and a two-round demolition of Ricky Hatton,
Roach told Brad Cooney of 8countnews.com via podcast on Tuesday that he's
very confident the world's best pound-for-pound fighter will emerge
victorious over the Puerto Rican.
Cotto was described by Roach as a "solid fighter and a game guy who likes to
fight," adding that Pacquiao has to deal with the Puerto Rican's perceived
built-in advantage in size and strength.
This early, Roach said he wants to watch tapes of Cotto's previous fights,
specifically his triumph over Shane Mosley, to come up with a game plan.
"We'll be ready for this fight," Roach said.
PBA: ROOKIE CAMP SLATED JULY 28, 30 & 31
PROSPECTIVE applicants for this year's Rookie Draft get to show both their
physical and mental skills when the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA)
hold its traditional rookie camp in two different venues at the end of the
month.
The camp is set on July 28, 30 and 31, with supervisor of officials Ramil
Cruz acting as camp director.
The first day of the event will be a whole-day affair at the Club 650 gym in
Libis, Quezon City from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Initial activities include measurement of the rookies' physical aspects from
height, wing span to current weight.
Then skills and strength evaluation follows, from the simple push ups, bench
press, sit ups, sprints to pull ups.
Finally in the afternoon, drills will be conducted, with participants
engaging in agility, shooting, dribbling and fastbreak activities.
The camp takes a break the following day, but resumes on July 30-31 with all
rookies seeing action in the four-game schedule to be played at the Caruncho
gym in Pasig City.
All participants will be split into four teams. Group 1 plays Group 3 in the
first game at 2 p.m., while Group 2 clashes with Group 4 at 4 p.m.
The final day of the camp is a crossover double header between Group 1 vs.
Group 2 (2 p.m.) and Group 3 vs. Group 4 (4 p.m.).
The official rookie team rosters will be sent out this Friday (July 24),
although coaching assignments are going to be announced later.
This year's PBA Rookie Draft is set August 2 at the Market Market Place in
Taguig.
Burger King own's the no. 1 overall pick.
Basketball: RP team succumbs to Lebanon
NATIONALS LOSE ANEW TO LEBANON
TAIPEI - The halftime music in the Powerade Team Pilipinas-Lebanon game -
the Eagles' "Take It Easy" - turned out to be a plea for mercy that echoed
before Fadi El-Khatib and company lowered the boom in the fourth quarter.
El-Khatib, the Lebanese leader, finished with 14 points and rode the
backseat to Dallas-born Brian Feghali and naturalized player Jackson Vroman
as Lebanon drubbed the Nationals, 95-83, Wednesday in the 31st William Jones
Cup tournament at the Hsinchuang gym here.
Feghali, who played three years for Louisiana State in the US NCAA, led
Lebanon with 29 points, including five 3-pointers, and 10 rebounds, while
Vroman, the replacement for Joseph Vogel, added 24 points with seven
rebounds, four assists, and five steals.
The Philippines outrebounded the Lebanese, 36-28, but turned the ball over
on 27 occasions, 12 more than the opposition.
"We just beat ourselves, and too many fouls were called on us," said
national coach Yeng Guiao, noting the RP team was awarded 15 free throws and
the Lebanese 32.
Flexing it muscle on the rare occasions it needed to, Lebanon moved up to
solo second behind unbeaten Jordan (4-0).
Three other teams - Iran, South Korea and host Taiwan - are tied at third to
fifth with 3-1 slates.
After dropping their first two games and beating Kazakhstan, the Nationals
lost their next two, falling to 1-4 just above Taiwan-B (1-5) and the
winless Kazakhs (0-5).
The RP team trailed 50-35 late in the second quarter on the strength of
Brian Feghali's outside shooting before James Yap closed out the first half
with seven straight points.
Behind Kerby Raymundo, the Nationals came back to narrow the gap at 59-57
midway in the third quarter before the veteran El-Khatib drained a
three-point shot to spark a 15-5 Lebanon run to end the RP uprising.
Four more games remain in the country's schedule, with South Korea, a
groupmate in the 25th FIBA Asia Men's Championship in Tianjin, China next
month, up next this Thursday.
In an earlier game, Jordan (4-0) kept an unblemished slate intact by
crushing previously unbeaten South Korea, 83-67, as Rasheim Wright scored 21
points and the defense forced the usually accurate Korean snipers (3-1) to
miss 20 three-point shots.
Before that, Iran (3-1), powered by 7-foot-3 Hamed Ehadadi, who had 18
points and 11 rebounds, routed Japan (1-3), 82-70, and later, Taiwan-B upset
Kazakhstan, 82-69, picking up its first win while handing the Kazakhs their
fifth straight setback.
The scores:
LEBANON 95 - Feghali 29, Vroman 24, El-Khatib 14, Fahed 11, Nour 9, Mahmoud
4, Turk 3, Kanaan 1.
POWERADE-RP 83 - Helterbrand 12, Raymundo 11, Yap 11, Pennisi 9, Santos 7,
Norwood 7, Aguilar 6, Baguio 4, Thoss 3, Taulava 3.
Quarterscores: 30-19; 50-42; 78-66; 95-73
July 22, 2009
Basketball: Japan beats RP Team
Japan edged out Powerade-Pilipinas in a William Jones Cup game that both teams played at half-throttle, but national coach Yeng Guiao believed there were valuable lessons gained from the defeat.
“Our emphasis before the game was to learn as much as we can from the Japanese,” Guiao said after an 87-85 loss to Japan which dug itself out from a 19-point hole at the Hsinchuang Gymnasium here.
“We know deep in our hearts that we can beat them,” he added. “There were just lapses on our part, some mental mistakes.
“But we can handle them come (Tianjin) China,” Guiao assured Filipino scribes, referring to the Fiba Asia world championship qualifier where Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka are bracketed in the same group with the Philippines.
Japan also tried to conceal some of its aces during the game, but went all out in the stretch by unleashing its veterans and dealing the Philippines its third loss in four outings in this nine-team event.
The Japanese (1-2) drew 24 points and eight rebounds from 6-foot-10 center Kosuke Takeuchi, and 12 points, two assists and two blocks from guard Shin Kashiwagi, who rejected Jayjay Helterbrand’s potential game-winning triple try at the buzzer.
Japeth Aguilar shot 17 points and had seven rebounds in sustaining his improved play. His excellent form made him a shoo-in for the final 12-man roster for Tianjin which Guiao, consultant Jong Uichico and the rest of the coaching staff were deciding on Tuesday night.
Guiao declined to identify the two players who will be cut at the end of this tournament. The Philippines hopes to submit the team’s final roster the end of office hours today, the deadline set by the Fiba.
The Philippines made 9 of 26 attempts from the three-point arc as Willie Miller, again starting out at the point, finished with 14 markers and five rebounds.
James Yap hit a triple with 4:45 left in the second period to give the Filipinos their biggest lead of the game, 36-17.
Japan, however, pruned this down to four points at the end of the half as Guiao tried different combinations and the enemy began to connect from the field.
A three-point play by Kei Iragashi off Kerby Raymundo with 7.3 seconds left gave the Japanese an 86-82 lead, which Jared Dillinger cut down with a trey from way out with 4.8 seconds left, 86-85.
Kashiwagi then split his free throws off a Helterbrand foul with four ticks left for what turned out to be the final score. But Helterbrand, after bouncing the ball off the back of Kashiwagi, went for a triple but got rejected.
Lebanon, meanwhile, welcomed Jackson Vroman to the lineup but did not suit up Fadi El-Khatib in a 77-73 decision of Kazakhstan in an earlier game marred by lousy officiating.
The scores:
JAPAN 87—Takeuchi 24, Kashiwagi 12, Takeda 9, Ishizaki 9, Sakurai 7, Orimo 7, Amino 7, Igarashi 5, Ito 4, Okada 3.
POWERADE-PILIPINAS 85—Aguilar 17, Miller 14, Santos 10, Dillinger 8, Thoss 8, Raymundo 5, Yap 5, De Ocampo 5, Norwood 5, Baguio 4, Taulava 2, Helterbrand 2.
Quarters: 12-27, 36-40, 61-61, 87-85
“Our emphasis before the game was to learn as much as we can from the Japanese,” Guiao said after an 87-85 loss to Japan which dug itself out from a 19-point hole at the Hsinchuang Gymnasium here.
“We know deep in our hearts that we can beat them,” he added. “There were just lapses on our part, some mental mistakes.
“But we can handle them come (Tianjin) China,” Guiao assured Filipino scribes, referring to the Fiba Asia world championship qualifier where Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka are bracketed in the same group with the Philippines.
Japan also tried to conceal some of its aces during the game, but went all out in the stretch by unleashing its veterans and dealing the Philippines its third loss in four outings in this nine-team event.
The Japanese (1-2) drew 24 points and eight rebounds from 6-foot-10 center Kosuke Takeuchi, and 12 points, two assists and two blocks from guard Shin Kashiwagi, who rejected Jayjay Helterbrand’s potential game-winning triple try at the buzzer.
Japeth Aguilar shot 17 points and had seven rebounds in sustaining his improved play. His excellent form made him a shoo-in for the final 12-man roster for Tianjin which Guiao, consultant Jong Uichico and the rest of the coaching staff were deciding on Tuesday night.
Guiao declined to identify the two players who will be cut at the end of this tournament. The Philippines hopes to submit the team’s final roster the end of office hours today, the deadline set by the Fiba.
The Philippines made 9 of 26 attempts from the three-point arc as Willie Miller, again starting out at the point, finished with 14 markers and five rebounds.
James Yap hit a triple with 4:45 left in the second period to give the Filipinos their biggest lead of the game, 36-17.
Japan, however, pruned this down to four points at the end of the half as Guiao tried different combinations and the enemy began to connect from the field.
A three-point play by Kei Iragashi off Kerby Raymundo with 7.3 seconds left gave the Japanese an 86-82 lead, which Jared Dillinger cut down with a trey from way out with 4.8 seconds left, 86-85.
Kashiwagi then split his free throws off a Helterbrand foul with four ticks left for what turned out to be the final score. But Helterbrand, after bouncing the ball off the back of Kashiwagi, went for a triple but got rejected.
Lebanon, meanwhile, welcomed Jackson Vroman to the lineup but did not suit up Fadi El-Khatib in a 77-73 decision of Kazakhstan in an earlier game marred by lousy officiating.
The scores:
JAPAN 87—Takeuchi 24, Kashiwagi 12, Takeda 9, Ishizaki 9, Sakurai 7, Orimo 7, Amino 7, Igarashi 5, Ito 4, Okada 3.
POWERADE-PILIPINAS 85—Aguilar 17, Miller 14, Santos 10, Dillinger 8, Thoss 8, Raymundo 5, Yap 5, De Ocampo 5, Norwood 5, Baguio 4, Taulava 2, Helterbrand 2.
Quarters: 12-27, 36-40, 61-61, 87-85
Golf: Singh boosted by Watson heroics
Vijay Singh believes Tom Watson's showing at the Open can be an inspiration to him and his fellow 40-something golfers.
Singh, 46, has won 22 tournaments since his 40th birthday, more than anyone else in PGA Tour history, but even he was impressed by Watson's runner-up finish at Turnberry on Sunday when the 59-year-old lost a four-hole play-off to fellow American Stewart Cink.
Speaking ahead of his World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational title defence in Akron, Ohio, in two weeks, Fijian Singh was asked if Watson's performance had been inspirational to over 40s.
"Yes, definitely. People are still talking about Tom Watson, I've had more questions about his age and (how that) makes us old guys look great," Singh said.
"I said, 'hang on a second, I'm not that old'.
"But it does. It does give me a lot more inspiration. It would have been great if he had won, but what he did is just incredible. It shows how good of a player he is, and really, that age doesn't really matter.
"If you're healthy and you're fit and your golf game is good, you can play for as long as you want to play, and that gives me a lot more confidence.
"Just like when Tom won the TPC at the age of 48, 47, that shows that you are healthy and that if you can play with the boys, why not?
"That's the kind of feeling that I have, and I think that I can last out here as long as my mind says 'go ahead and do it'."
Singh, with 56 total career wins worldwide, became the oldest player to win a WGC event last August when he held off Lee Westwood, Stuart Appleby and Phil Mickelson with a final-round 68 at Firestone Country Club to land the Bridgestone Invitational.
The victory was his first of 2008 and it served as the springboard for the rest of the campaign as he moved into the PGA Tour's FedExCup play-offs, won two of the four events and captured the FedExCup itself.
After a below-par 2009 to date, with three top-10 finishes from 17 starts, the world number 11 is hoping for a similar kickstart when he returns to Firestone in two weeks.
"I'm really disappointed this year, but I came out of February well, and I just started playing a little too soon and it kind of put me back quite a bit," Singh said.
"Instead of taking two months off, I took a month and a half off, and going to the range created a lot of bad habits for my golf swing. And it took two or three months to get out of it because every time you get out of something, you develop something new.
"But, it was the first time in a long time that I won so late in the season (at the Bridgestone), and that gives me a lot of confidence going back there.
"I'm feeling really confident about the golf course. My golf game is coming around. I just can't wait.
"I have two weeks to practice, and I can't wait to get out there and do it again. So it will be great and I hope it will be the place where it started out."
Ateneo dominates in UAAP, beats UST
Update: Full Story
MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo's main man spent more time riding the bench, but the Blue Eagles still proved unstoppable, rolling past the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 93-77, yesterday to grab the solo UAAP men’s basketball lead at the PhilSports Arena.
A bristling shooting performance starring the 5-foot-6 Emman Monfort carried the Blue Eagles to their third straight triumph despite reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini riding the bench due to early foul trouble.
Monfort, who was cut from the team last year, unloaded 18 points from three-point range to finish with a career-high 20.
“It’s a blessing for us that he’s (Monfort) here,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “With Chris Tiu not here anymore, obviously teams are trying to grab Rabeh a lot more. I think right now nobody really respected the game of Emman because nobody really knows him and forgot about him.”
“Every shot I took was open, maybe it’s also a lapse on [UST’s] defense,” said Monfort, the first player coming off the bench this season to lead his team in scoring.
Earlier, the University of the East veterans helped avert another meltdown and the Warriors flogged the National U Bulldogs, 73-59.
“We were able to recover,” said coach Lawrence Chongson, three days after the Warriors blew a 17-point advantage in their 72-57 loss to the Eagles.
Pari Llagas buried nine of his 16 points in the third quarter while Paul Lee collected 14 points, six boards and seven assists for the Warriors, who now share second place with the Tigers at 2-1.
The Eagles outscored the Tigers in a 15-5 run that included three Monfort triples that jacked up Ateneo’s lead from 37-27 to 52-32 late in the second period.
“We’ve done a better job shooting threes this year,” said Black.
Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe added 14 points apiece for the Eagles. Al Hussaini, who picked up two fouls right in the first quarter, finished with 13 markers after averaging 22.5 points in the Eagles’ back-to-back victories against preseason favorite Far Eastern University and UE.
In women’s play, the University of the Philippines nipped Ateneo, 48-47, and UST thumped National U, 61-50.
The scores:
First Game
UE 73—Llagas 16, Lee 14, Lingganay 12, Acuña 12, Espiritu 11, Reyes 4, Zamar 2, Duean 2, Tagarda 0.
NU 59—Baloran 19, Ponferrada 11, Hermosisima 11, Malanday 8, Singh 5, Cabaluna 5, Terso 0, Manito 0, Magat 0, Luy 0, Batac 0.
Quarters: 15-18, 36-31, 61-47, 73-59
Second Game
ATENEO 93—Monfort 20, Salamat 14, Buenafe 14, Al-Hussaini 13, Salva 8, Tiongson 7, Long 7, Bacalo 4, Golla 2, De Chavez 2, Chua 2, Sumalinog 0, Reyes 0, Gonzaga 0, Burke 0, Austria 0.
UST 77—Maliksi 20, Ababou 17, Mirza 13, Teng 6, Bautista 6, Afuang 5, Mariano 4, Green 2, Fortuna 2, Camus 2, Ungria 0, Felix 0, Cam 0.
Quarters: 30-21, 52-35, 68-49, 93-77
MANILA, Philippines - Ateneo's main man spent more time riding the bench, but the Blue Eagles still proved unstoppable, rolling past the University of Santo Tomas Tigers, 93-77, yesterday to grab the solo UAAP men’s basketball lead at the PhilSports Arena.
A bristling shooting performance starring the 5-foot-6 Emman Monfort carried the Blue Eagles to their third straight triumph despite reigning MVP Rabeh Al-Hussaini riding the bench due to early foul trouble.
Monfort, who was cut from the team last year, unloaded 18 points from three-point range to finish with a career-high 20.
“It’s a blessing for us that he’s (Monfort) here,” said Ateneo coach Norman Black. “With Chris Tiu not here anymore, obviously teams are trying to grab Rabeh a lot more. I think right now nobody really respected the game of Emman because nobody really knows him and forgot about him.”
“Every shot I took was open, maybe it’s also a lapse on [UST’s] defense,” said Monfort, the first player coming off the bench this season to lead his team in scoring.
Earlier, the University of the East veterans helped avert another meltdown and the Warriors flogged the National U Bulldogs, 73-59.
“We were able to recover,” said coach Lawrence Chongson, three days after the Warriors blew a 17-point advantage in their 72-57 loss to the Eagles.
Pari Llagas buried nine of his 16 points in the third quarter while Paul Lee collected 14 points, six boards and seven assists for the Warriors, who now share second place with the Tigers at 2-1.
The Eagles outscored the Tigers in a 15-5 run that included three Monfort triples that jacked up Ateneo’s lead from 37-27 to 52-32 late in the second period.
“We’ve done a better job shooting threes this year,” said Black.
Eric Salamat and Ryan Buenafe added 14 points apiece for the Eagles. Al Hussaini, who picked up two fouls right in the first quarter, finished with 13 markers after averaging 22.5 points in the Eagles’ back-to-back victories against preseason favorite Far Eastern University and UE.
In women’s play, the University of the Philippines nipped Ateneo, 48-47, and UST thumped National U, 61-50.
The scores:
First Game
UE 73—Llagas 16, Lee 14, Lingganay 12, Acuña 12, Espiritu 11, Reyes 4, Zamar 2, Duean 2, Tagarda 0.
NU 59—Baloran 19, Ponferrada 11, Hermosisima 11, Malanday 8, Singh 5, Cabaluna 5, Terso 0, Manito 0, Magat 0, Luy 0, Batac 0.
Quarters: 15-18, 36-31, 61-47, 73-59
Second Game
ATENEO 93—Monfort 20, Salamat 14, Buenafe 14, Al-Hussaini 13, Salva 8, Tiongson 7, Long 7, Bacalo 4, Golla 2, De Chavez 2, Chua 2, Sumalinog 0, Reyes 0, Gonzaga 0, Burke 0, Austria 0.
UST 77—Maliksi 20, Ababou 17, Mirza 13, Teng 6, Bautista 6, Afuang 5, Mariano 4, Green 2, Fortuna 2, Camus 2, Ungria 0, Felix 0, Cam 0.
Quarters: 30-21, 52-35, 68-49, 93-77
July 21, 2009
U.S. begins search for next Olympic team
Even as confident as Jerry Colangelo is that the United States will retain
most of the core of its gold-medal Olympic team, the USA Basketball chairman
concedes this week's minicamp will be important for helping identify the
program's next wave of talent.
Colangelo told Yahoo! Sports in a recent interview he still expects most of
the roster from last summer's Beijing Olympics to return for the 2010 World
Championships and the 2012 Olympics. Among the players he expects to return
are: Kobe Bryant , LeBron James , Dwyane Wade , Dwight Howard , Chris Paul ,
Carmelo Anthony , Chris Bosh and Deron Williams .
Even so, fatigue, free agency and injury could end up changing a star's mind
next summer.
"Generally speaking, you can expect turnover and there should be," Colangelo
said. "That's part of the pipeline. But a number of them say they want to
come back.
"I haven't talked to them lately. But I talked to them all during All-Star
break [in Phoenix] and laid out a plan. If it's my decision, I want them for
two years, 2010 and 2012. 'What do you think? How do you feel?' They all
said, 'Let's do it.' The World Championships are held in high esteem. The
guys who played in Japan [in the 2008 World Championships] still remember
losing to Greece. It's not like we're starting from scratch."
One major challenge for USA Basketball is keeping its stars interested after
last summer's success. Wade, Anthony and James have played for the national
team since the 2004 Athens Olympics. Bryant will be 32 years old during the
World Championships next year in Turkey.
Colangelo, however, has several reasons to believe the U.S. stars will live
up to their word. One is that many of those players appear to have
thoroughly loved the rare experience to be teammates and would hate to miss
out on another opportunity to make more history. They also won't be lacking
for a challenge: The United States hasn't won the World Championships since
1994.
"I will only be 27 years old," Anthony said during the 2008 Olympics. "I
want all the gold medals I can get throughout my career."
The opportunity to play in the 2012 Olympics in London is an easy recruiting
pitch. But will those same players show similar enthusiasm for a long trip
to Turkey and the Worlds' lengthy 24-team tournament? Colangelo has been
trying to sell to his stars that some nations consider the World
Championships to be a more prestigious event than the Olympics.
"We have some unfinished business," Colangelo said. "That's the theme. Let's
take care of that with the next step being the Olympics. It's one thing to
get to the Olympics; it's another to defend it. We're taking it one step at
a time."
U.S. head coach Mike Krzyzewski and his assistant coaching staff of Mike
D'Antoni, Nate McMillan and Jim Boeheim have already committed to return.
USA Basketball is expected to make the announcement during a news conference
this week in Las Vegas.
"If it's not broke, don't fix it," Colangelo said. "There is a good thing in
place. You don't want to make change."
A Chicago native, Colangelo also is on the committee to try to bring the
2016 Olympics to the Windy City. He can envision some of the younger players
from last summer's gold-medal team competing seven years from now. But even
if most of the veteran U.S. stars return for the 2012 London Games, there
will be at least four new players on the roster. Oklahoma City Thunder
forward Kevin Durant is expected to be a lock. Portland Trail Blazers guard
Brandon Roy , who isn't expected to participate in the minicamp, Chicago
Bulls point guard Derrick Rose , Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger and
Los Angeles Clippers rookie forward Blake Griffin should be also among the
top candidates competing for roster spots.
"The talent will be outstanding," Colangelo said. " . I'm excited to see
them work together with one another."
NBA: Rubio's buyout could be softened by endorsements
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)-When Matt Delzell takes a look at Ricky Rubio through his
sports marketer's glasses, all he sees are dollar signs.
"He's young. He's Spanish. He's a good-looking kid," said Delzell, a
director for Los Angeles-based Davie Brown Talent, one of the largest talent
buyers in the United States. "There is a lot of hype and buzz that is
already around him."
"Buzz" is that most fickle, slippery of qualities that is harder to get a
grip on than one of the point guard's no-look passes. But Delzell said that
intangible quality, combined with a flashy style of play, a baby face and a
shaggy 'do that is en vogue with young people make the 18-year-old Rubio a
highly marketable commodity in the endorsement world.
That's icing on the cake for most big-time athletes. But for Rubio, who is
facing a contract buyout from his Spanish professional team that could cost
him more than $6 million, it might mean the difference between playing for
the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA this year or delaying that dream for
another season or two.
"The majority of the rookies that come into the league aren't faced with
this dilemma," Delzell said. "Whatever they sign for, they get to keep. With
him having to give up so much, he may be more inclined to consider endorsing
opportunities or appearances."
The opportunities should be plentiful for a precocious young talent with the
flair for the dramatic.
Darin David, a director with the sports marketing firm Millsport in Dallas,
said Rubio's appeal both in Europe and the United States would make it
conceivable for him to recoup much of the money he loses on the buyout, if
not all, through endorsements.
"If he is able to deliver the kind of play that's expected of him, then
certainly between the U.S. and Spain he's going to be more popular and have
a lot more interest globally," David said.
Minnesota Timberwolves president of basketball operations David Kahn left on
Monday to fly to Spain to meet with Joventut officials in hopes of reducing
the cost of the buyout.
"I'm hopeful that in some small way I can be helpful in this process and
keep it moving forward and solving the singular the issue, which is the
buyout," he said.
The Timberwolves jumped at the chance to grab Rubio with the fifth overall
pick on draft night, a move that had the 2,000 or so fans at Target Center
for a draft party cheering wildly.
"We understand how special he is. Frankly, how unique he is," Kahn said
after the draft. "There's never been a player like this. Nobody has ever
played in the gold medal game against Team USA at the age of 17. There's no
such thing. It's almost surreal."
Under the rules of the NBA's collective bargaining agreement, the
Timberwolves can only contribute $500,000 to the buyout cause, so Rubio can
use all the help he can get. He made less than $100,000 playing for Joventut
last year, so he is by no means a wealthy man who can just write a check and
be done with it.
That's where the business world comes in.
Rubio signed with Joventut at 14, the youngest player ever to appear in a
game in the competitive Spanish ACB league. His emergence coincided with the
Internet explosion, and his YouTube highlights have drawn massive amounts of
hits after Rubio helped Spain to the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.
"He's going to be in the news more and more, and people are going to
anticipate more and more what this kid can do on the court," David said. "He
does have that going for him."
Rubio is already appearing in a television commercial for Gillette, a
company that has been aggressive in securing relationships with some of the
biggest names in sports. Rubio appears in the spot with New York Yankees
shortstop Derek Jeter, tennis superstar Roger Federer and golfer Tiger
Woods, perhaps the most recognizable sports figure in the world.
"It's a pretty good start," Delzell said. "Hype got him this commercial. He
hasn't played one second of NBA basketball, but there's already so much
hype."
Hype, of course, will only take him so far. Once he arrives in the States,
Rubio will have to show on the court that he is every bit the "virtuoso" and
"orchestra conductor with the basketball" that Kahn described in a letter to
Timberwolves fans after the draft.
"There are plenty of companies who will say that he's interesting and will
keep an eye on him, but we're not going to invest or commit that significant
amount of money without seeing that he's legit," Delzell said. "So if he
performs, I don't have a doubt that he will be able to make up that buyout
amount. It will come down to performance."
Timberwolves, Clippers swing 4-player deal
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)-On the same day that he left for Spain to discuss Ricky
Rubio's buyout with DKV Joventut, Minnesota Timberwolves president David
Kahn traded the only veteran point guard he has on his roster.
Was Kahn clearing room for Rubio by sending Sebastian Telfair and forwards
Mark Madsen and Craig Smith to the Los Angeles Clippers for Quentin
Richardson ?
"This is not a precursor of any sort," Kahn said Monday from New York
shortly before he was scheduled to hop a flight across the Atlantic. "We
have no feel yet as to whether Ricky will be joining us."
Rubio has a multimillion-dollar buyout of his contract with Joventut that
threatens to keep him in Spain for another season, or possibly two. Kahn
hopes to lower the number-which could go as high as $6.6 million-to make it
easier for the 18-year-old point guard to join the Timberwolves this season.
The deal, which was first reported by YahooSports.com, also ends Minnesota's
glut at power forward. Smith was a capable scorer off the bench for the
Wolves, but he had trouble getting consistent playing time behind Al
Jefferson and Kevin Love .
For the Clippers, Telfair is another play-making point guard behind Baron
Davis . Smith can put points on the board quickly, while Madsen has shown
the same hustle and chemistry in the locker room that he did when he played
for the rival Lakers.
"We are really excited to add these three players to our team," Clippers
general manager and coach Mike Dunleavy said. "This move really gives some
much needed depth."
The Clippers thinned their ranks of big men by trading Randolph, leaving No.
1 draft pick Blake Griffin , Chris Kaman , Marcus Camby and DeAndre Jordan
to compete for playing time in the middle.
The deal gives the Clippers some options later, too. Madsen and Smith are in
the final year of their contracts while Telfair has a player option for
2010-11 at a modest $2.7 million.
Richardson has one year remaining on his contract at $9.3 million and gives
Minnesota a veteran presence at shooting guard that was not there after they
traded Randy Foye and Mike Miller to Washington in June.
Rookie Wayne Ellington was the only true shooting guard on the roster
before the Wolves acquired Richardson.
"I felt we needed to start addressing some of the roster imbalances that
were created as part of the Wizards trade and this is a step toward that,"
Kahn said. "If we want to add another player, we now have a place to do
that."
After selecting point guards Rubio and Jonny Flynn back-to-back in the
first round of the NBA draft last month, Telfair's days with the
Timberwolves appeared to be numbered.
"Because of how the point guard situation may evolve, and this doesn't have
anything to do with Rubio per se, I sensed that playing time for Sebastian
would wane over the next few years," Kahn said.
It had already started to wane for Madsen, whose hustle and geniality made
him a fan favorite in six seasons in Minnesota, a place he said felt like
home. He was a valued leader for a young team that is rebuilding.
"That's going to be the hardest thing, leaving the locker room," Madsen told
The Associated Press in a phone interview. "There were some very, very
special relationships that you'll always have. I'm definitely going to miss
these guys as players and as people."
It won't be a totally new start for him. He'll be accompanied by two
teammates to a city he knows well. Madsen spent the first three years of his
career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers before signing with Minnesota in
2003.
"How do I feel about the trade???" Love tweeted. "Well . We lost a lot of
good men out there."
Smith, despite being undersized at 6-foot-6, averaged 10.1 points in less
than 20 minutes a game last season. He grew up in Los Angeles, starring at
Fairfax High School before leaving to play at Boston College.
Telfair averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 assists last season in the first year of
a three-year extension. In Los Angeles, Telfair will serve as the quality
backup to Baron Davis that the team lacked last season.
"I'm going going back back to Cali, Cali," Telfair posted on his Twitter
account, referencing a popular hip-hop song. "Just got traded to clippers.
I'm a little upset becuase (sic) I love Minnesota but I think I will be
happy in LA also."
Richardson averaged 10.2 points and 4.4 rebounds last season for the New
York Knicks. This is the third time the shooting guard has been traded this
summer. He went from the Knicks to Memphis in a deal for Darko Milicic in
June, then was shipped from the Grizzlies to the Clippers for Randolph last
week.
O'neal to face Phelps, Big Ben in TV shows
Maybe Shaquille O'Neal's new nickname should be the Big Experimenter.
In a new ABC reality television series that begins filming this week, Shaq will take on other top athletes in their own sports.
"Shaq Vs.," which is set to premiere Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET, begins filming Wednesday in Pittsburgh, where Shaq will take on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football.
Future episodes of the hour-long show will feature Shaq against Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, tennis star Serena Williams and beach volleyball Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.
Shaq told USA Today that he came up with the idea as a way to train for the NBA season. Shaq figured Americans "would really want to see an athlete play another sport," according to the newspaper. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq's new team, have cleared the 37-year-old O'Neal to take part in the show.
He is scheduled to report for the Cavs' opening of training camp on Sept. 15.
According to USA Today, the episodes will feature preliminary challenges, news conferences, quality time with needy kids and negotiations of a handicap between Shaq and his competitors. Each episode will climax with a main event.
There's no cash prize for the winner. "Bragging rights are always better than any monetary prize," O'Neal told USA Today.
Shaq will train with a coach for one week leading up to each challenge.
"These athletes may be on top of their game, but I am up for the challenge," O'Neal said. "I plan to train hard and win, so look out."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
In a new ABC reality television series that begins filming this week, Shaq will take on other top athletes in their own sports.
"Shaq Vs.," which is set to premiere Aug. 18 at 9 p.m. ET, begins filming Wednesday in Pittsburgh, where Shaq will take on Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in football.
Future episodes of the hour-long show will feature Shaq against Olympic swimming sensation Michael Phelps, boxing legend Oscar De La Hoya, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols, tennis star Serena Williams and beach volleyball Olympians Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh.
Shaq told USA Today that he came up with the idea as a way to train for the NBA season. Shaq figured Americans "would really want to see an athlete play another sport," according to the newspaper. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Shaq's new team, have cleared the 37-year-old O'Neal to take part in the show.
He is scheduled to report for the Cavs' opening of training camp on Sept. 15.
According to USA Today, the episodes will feature preliminary challenges, news conferences, quality time with needy kids and negotiations of a handicap between Shaq and his competitors. Each episode will climax with a main event.
There's no cash prize for the winner. "Bragging rights are always better than any monetary prize," O'Neal told USA Today.
Shaq will train with a coach for one week leading up to each challenge.
"These athletes may be on top of their game, but I am up for the challenge," O'Neal said. "I plan to train hard and win, so look out."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Tennis: Safina returns to winning ways
Dinara Safina recorded a first round win in the Banka Koper Slovenia Open in Portoroz today.
The world number one eased past local wild-card Tadeja Majeric 6-0 6-4 in her first match since her All-England Club ambitions were so ruthlessly exposed by Venus Williams in their semi-final match-up on Centre Court.
Sixth seed Lucie Safarova beat Great Britain's Katie O'Brien 6-4 6-4 but third seed Kaia Kanepi was a surprise loser, going down 6-1 6-2 to the impressive Olga Govortseva of Belarus.
NBA: Cavaliers confirm offer to Moon
CLEVELAND (AP)—The Cleveland Cavaliers have confirmed their pursuit of restricted free agent forward Jamario Moon(notes), who finished last season with Miami.
The Heat have seven days to match Cleveland’s contract offer to the 29-year-old Moon. The Cavs announced the offer on Monday but did not release terms.
Miami, which may be pursuing free agent Lamar Odom(notes) and clearing out salary cap space for next summer, is not expected to match Cleveland’s offer.
Cleveland has roughly $3.2 million of its midlevel exception to sign the 6-foot-8 Moon, who averaged 7.8 points and 5.4 rebounds over the past two seasons and is regarded as a good defender.
Moon led the NBA in steals-to-turnovers ratio (2.0) during the 2008-09 season. He began last season with Toronto.
The Heat have seven days to match Cleveland’s contract offer to the 29-year-old Moon. The Cavs announced the offer on Monday but did not release terms.
Miami, which may be pursuing free agent Lamar Odom(notes) and clearing out salary cap space for next summer, is not expected to match Cleveland’s offer.
Cleveland has roughly $3.2 million of its midlevel exception to sign the 6-foot-8 Moon, who averaged 7.8 points and 5.4 rebounds over the past two seasons and is regarded as a good defender.
Moon led the NBA in steals-to-turnovers ratio (2.0) during the 2008-09 season. He began last season with Toronto.
Soccer: Ribery was on United Radar
Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed Manchester United "explored" the potential for a deal to sign Bayern Munich star Franck Ribery.
France international Ribery has been a target for many of Europe's leading clubs, with Spanish rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid expressing an interest.
Chelsea have also been linked with the winger, but Bayern have been adamant that the club will not be cashing in on the 26-year-old.
United were rumoured to be readying a bid as they sought to spend some of the world-record windfall from the sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real.
However, Ferguson confirmed a polite enquiry was met with a firm response from Bayern, who sold Owen Hargreaves to United two years ago.
"We didn't try to buy Ribery, we explored it in a nice, quiet way when David Gill was at one of his meetings with Bayern in March," said Ferguson.
"They told him, 'absolutely no chance' and the one thing you can say about Bayern is that, when they say something, they mean it.
"When we negotiated with them over Hargreaves, at the beginning they said 'no', but they also said that, if it ever changed, their minds, we'd be the first to know.
"It was exactly the same this time. There is no way that they will sell Ribery."
Ferguson also considered signing Karim Benzema from Lyon, but conceded he did not want to pay over the odds for the Real new-boy.
He added: "We tried to spend it (the Ronaldo money) on Karim Benzema as, at 21, I felt that there would be an improvement there.
"He is tough, good physique, a good goalscoring record, so it was worth going a wee bit extra for him because of his age.
"But when it went to £42million, it was beyond his value. We went to £35million and I think that was fair."
Boxing: Cotto, Pacquiao agree fight on November 14
A deal has been completed for boxing's biggest fight of the fall: a showdown between pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao and welterweight titleholder Miguel Cotto.
Pacquiao and Cotto, two of boxing's most popular and crowd-pleasing fighters, will meet at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Nov. 14 (HBO PPV), Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said on Monday.
"It's done," said Arum, who was back at work in his Las Vegas office after a vacation in London and Italy and attending a wedding in Israel. "While I was away I reached a verbal agreement with each side. Pacquiao committed to the fight this weekend and Cotto the week before while I was in Israel. I was on the phone all the time trying to get this done."
Arum said his attorney, Michael Heitner, was preparing the documents for signatures.
"But everything is agreed or I wouldn't say what I am saying," Arum said. "The weight, the percentages, the guarantees -- it's all agreed to."
Although the percentage split was not disclosed, Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) will receive more than 50 percent of the money. That was never a serious sticking point, however. The key holdup had been the contract weight.
Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), a titleholder at 147 pounds, had agreed to drop below the welterweight limit for the fight. Pacquiao, the 140-pound junior welterweight champion, wanted him to come all the way down to 143 pounds. Cotto refused. Ultimately, they agreed on a 145-pound maximum weight.
Pacquiao, 30, the national hero of the Philippines, scored a sensational knockout of Ricky Hatton to win the junior welterweight title on May 2 at the MGM Grand. The victory gave Pacquiao a world championship in a record-tying sixth weight division.Cotto, 28, of Puerto Rico, is coming off a bloody split decision victory in a title defense against Joshua Clottey on June 13 at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Given their penchant for all-action brawls, Arum said he had high expectations that Cotto and Pacquiao would produce another memorable fight.
"I'm really excited because it's a real fight. These are two real warriors," Arum said. "Whichever way this fight goes, I think it's going to be a classic because of the way these guys fight. There will be a lot of engagement. They're great fighters. Cotto and Pacquiao are gutty guys. If you want blood and action and excitement, this is the fight."
Arum said tickets would go on sale in late August followed by a three-city press tour.
"I want to get it done the week after Labor Day so I don't interfere with the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez fight," he said. "I don't want [Golden Boy Promotions] saying I jumped them."
Arum said the tentative tour schedule would be Sept. 9 in Los Angeles, Sept. 10 in New York and Sept. 12 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"Pacquiao and Cotto are both very pumped up for the fight," he said.
Pacquiao and Cotto, two of boxing's most popular and crowd-pleasing fighters, will meet at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Nov. 14 (HBO PPV), Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said on Monday.
"It's done," said Arum, who was back at work in his Las Vegas office after a vacation in London and Italy and attending a wedding in Israel. "While I was away I reached a verbal agreement with each side. Pacquiao committed to the fight this weekend and Cotto the week before while I was in Israel. I was on the phone all the time trying to get this done."
Arum said his attorney, Michael Heitner, was preparing the documents for signatures.
"But everything is agreed or I wouldn't say what I am saying," Arum said. "The weight, the percentages, the guarantees -- it's all agreed to."
Although the percentage split was not disclosed, Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) will receive more than 50 percent of the money. That was never a serious sticking point, however. The key holdup had been the contract weight.
Cotto (34-1, 27 KOs), a titleholder at 147 pounds, had agreed to drop below the welterweight limit for the fight. Pacquiao, the 140-pound junior welterweight champion, wanted him to come all the way down to 143 pounds. Cotto refused. Ultimately, they agreed on a 145-pound maximum weight.
Pacquiao, 30, the national hero of the Philippines, scored a sensational knockout of Ricky Hatton to win the junior welterweight title on May 2 at the MGM Grand. The victory gave Pacquiao a world championship in a record-tying sixth weight division.Cotto, 28, of Puerto Rico, is coming off a bloody split decision victory in a title defense against Joshua Clottey on June 13 at New York's Madison Square Garden.
Given their penchant for all-action brawls, Arum said he had high expectations that Cotto and Pacquiao would produce another memorable fight.
"I'm really excited because it's a real fight. These are two real warriors," Arum said. "Whichever way this fight goes, I think it's going to be a classic because of the way these guys fight. There will be a lot of engagement. They're great fighters. Cotto and Pacquiao are gutty guys. If you want blood and action and excitement, this is the fight."
Arum said tickets would go on sale in late August followed by a three-city press tour.
"I want to get it done the week after Labor Day so I don't interfere with the Floyd Mayweather-Juan Manuel Marquez fight," he said. "I don't want [Golden Boy Promotions] saying I jumped them."
Arum said the tentative tour schedule would be Sept. 9 in Los Angeles, Sept. 10 in New York and Sept. 12 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"Pacquiao and Cotto are both very pumped up for the fight," he said.
NBA: Steve agreed new contract with Phoenix Suns
PHOENIX (AP)—Steve Nash(notes) and the Phoenix Suns have agreed on a two-year, $22 million contract extension, his agent said.
Bill Duffy confirmed the agreement Monday in an interview with The Associated Press.
The deal will keep the two-time MVP point guard under contract with the Suns through the 2011-2012 season.
The 35-year-old Nash, entering his 13th NBA season, had one year left on his contract that would pay him $13 million next season.
The agreement first was reported by ESPN.
The Suns and Nash had been in negotiations for several weeks on a deal that would keep him in Phoenix. He will be 38 when the contract expires. He is expected to sign the agreement later this week.
Under the agreement, $6 million of the final two years of the contract will be deferred, with $3 million being paid in each of the two years following the expiration of the contract, Duffy said.
The deal was pushed closer to completion last Wednesday when owner Robert Sarver met with Duffy in Las Vegas to sweeten the team’s earlier offer.
The Suns lured Nash to Phoenix in 2004 in a celebrated effort that included a flight to Dallas by then-owner Jerry Colangelo and a host of representatives of the team. When Mavericks owner Mark Cuban balked at re-signing Nash, at age 30, at the amount he wanted, the point guard signed a five-year, $65 million contract with Phoenix.
What followed were the best years of Nash’s career as the maestro of the high-octane offense of then-coach Mike D’Antoni. He was named the league’s MVP in 2005 and 2006 and was a first-team all-NBA selection in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
When D’Antoni left the Suns for the New York Knicks after the 2007-08 season, Nash struggled with the slower style of new coach Terry Porter. When Porter was fired at the All-Star break and replaced by assistant Alvin Gentry, the Suns returned to the speed game, a factor that no doubt figured into Nash’s decision to re-sign.
When Gentry was kept on as coach after the season, Nash made his feelings known on his Twitter account.
“Really happy that the Suns re-signed Alvin Gentry,” Nash wrote. “Great coach and great person.”
Nash will stay with a team that faces an uncertain future after failing to make the playoffs for the first time since he rejoined the team. All-Star Amare Stoudemire has one year left on his contract and wants the maximum in any new deal, something the budget-conscious Suns may not be willing to do.
Nash had to be convinced the team was willing to take steps to become a contender again, Duffy said. He said the team has assured Nash he will be consulted as the Suns make future moves, the agent said.
If Stoudemire does leave, the Suns will have the money to be a player in the lucrative free agent market after the coming season.
Nash, born in South Africa and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, was the Suns’ first-round draft pick in 1996 and was traded to Dallas in 1998. He has averaged 14.4 points and eight assists in his pro career.
In the last five years with Phoenix, Nash has averaged 17.1 points and 10.8 assists per game. He has shot better than 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range in all five seasons.
Bill Duffy confirmed the agreement Monday in an interview with The Associated Press.
The deal will keep the two-time MVP point guard under contract with the Suns through the 2011-2012 season.
The 35-year-old Nash, entering his 13th NBA season, had one year left on his contract that would pay him $13 million next season.
The agreement first was reported by ESPN.
The Suns and Nash had been in negotiations for several weeks on a deal that would keep him in Phoenix. He will be 38 when the contract expires. He is expected to sign the agreement later this week.
Under the agreement, $6 million of the final two years of the contract will be deferred, with $3 million being paid in each of the two years following the expiration of the contract, Duffy said.
The deal was pushed closer to completion last Wednesday when owner Robert Sarver met with Duffy in Las Vegas to sweeten the team’s earlier offer.
The Suns lured Nash to Phoenix in 2004 in a celebrated effort that included a flight to Dallas by then-owner Jerry Colangelo and a host of representatives of the team. When Mavericks owner Mark Cuban balked at re-signing Nash, at age 30, at the amount he wanted, the point guard signed a five-year, $65 million contract with Phoenix.
What followed were the best years of Nash’s career as the maestro of the high-octane offense of then-coach Mike D’Antoni. He was named the league’s MVP in 2005 and 2006 and was a first-team all-NBA selection in 2005, 2006 and 2007.
When D’Antoni left the Suns for the New York Knicks after the 2007-08 season, Nash struggled with the slower style of new coach Terry Porter. When Porter was fired at the All-Star break and replaced by assistant Alvin Gentry, the Suns returned to the speed game, a factor that no doubt figured into Nash’s decision to re-sign.
When Gentry was kept on as coach after the season, Nash made his feelings known on his Twitter account.
“Really happy that the Suns re-signed Alvin Gentry,” Nash wrote. “Great coach and great person.”
Nash will stay with a team that faces an uncertain future after failing to make the playoffs for the first time since he rejoined the team. All-Star Amare Stoudemire has one year left on his contract and wants the maximum in any new deal, something the budget-conscious Suns may not be willing to do.
Nash had to be convinced the team was willing to take steps to become a contender again, Duffy said. He said the team has assured Nash he will be consulted as the Suns make future moves, the agent said.
If Stoudemire does leave, the Suns will have the money to be a player in the lucrative free agent market after the coming season.
Nash, born in South Africa and raised in Victoria, British Columbia, was the Suns’ first-round draft pick in 1996 and was traded to Dallas in 1998. He has averaged 14.4 points and eight assists in his pro career.
In the last five years with Phoenix, Nash has averaged 17.1 points and 10.8 assists per game. He has shot better than 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from 3-point range in all five seasons.
July 20, 2009
Boxing: Pacquiao's secret in toppling opponents
MALUNGON, Sarangani, Philippines—Ever wondered what keeps boxing icon Manny Pacquiao going and possibly one of his secrets in toppling his ring opponents?
Pacquiao, who has a reputation for demolishing his opponents through powerful punches, on Tuesday provided some hints on how he keeps in shape and maintains his strength.
“Hindi lang dapat puro karne ang kainin natin (We should not eat just meat),” he said during the fellowship lunch he hosted for some 500 participants to the three-day vegetable congress here that also started on Tuesday.
Pacquiao said Filipinos need to learn to eat vegetables as well.
“Kailangan nating kumain ng marami at sari-saring gulay upang lumakas ang ating resistensya at katawan (We need to eat many and different vegetables to have strong resistance and bodies),” the southpaw said to his guests, led by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.
As if to show to his guests that he was serious in his call for increased vegetable consumption, the pugilist from General Santos City toured them around his 10-hectare vegetable farm here.
Pacquiao said vegetables have many health benefits and that he owed his being in shape to eating them.
He said during his rigid pre-fight training, he made sure that he consumes lots of vegetables.
Yap agreed by saying: “We need to eat lots of vegetables and fruits to sustain and maintain a healthy life.”
He said even the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommends that a person should consume at least 75 kilograms of vegetable in a year to remain healthy.
“We in the Philippines consume just half of that,” Yap said.
Increasing vegetable consumption among Filipinos was one of the reasons the three-day national vegetable congress was held here (July 14-16), he said.
The congress was aimed not only at helping stakeholders and boosting the vegetable industry but also instill in the minds of the participants the value and benefits of eating vegetables, Yap said.
Among the issues tackled in the congress was the revival of the Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board (PVIDB) Technical Working Group.
The organizers, among them the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the reactivation of the PVIDB-TWG would play a vital role in boosting the country’s vegetable industry.
Tommy Ala, DA director for Central Mindanao, said the region, which has about 10,000 vegetable farmers, has the advantage to boost production because it is typhoon-free.
“This is to our great advantage. Vegetable farmers can plant whole year round. Given the right technology, opportunity, and government support, local vegetable growers can enhance their production capability resulting to a much better income generation,” Ala said.
Central Mindanao accounts for about 30 percent of the country’s total vegetable production, according to Ala.
Jose Victor Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetables Industry and Development Council (Cemvidec), said his organization also wanted to unify the efforts of industry players to make an impact in the government’s food sufficiency and poverty alleviation program.
Pacquiao, who has a reputation for demolishing his opponents through powerful punches, on Tuesday provided some hints on how he keeps in shape and maintains his strength.
“Hindi lang dapat puro karne ang kainin natin (We should not eat just meat),” he said during the fellowship lunch he hosted for some 500 participants to the three-day vegetable congress here that also started on Tuesday.
Pacquiao said Filipinos need to learn to eat vegetables as well.
“Kailangan nating kumain ng marami at sari-saring gulay upang lumakas ang ating resistensya at katawan (We need to eat many and different vegetables to have strong resistance and bodies),” the southpaw said to his guests, led by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.
As if to show to his guests that he was serious in his call for increased vegetable consumption, the pugilist from General Santos City toured them around his 10-hectare vegetable farm here.
Pacquiao said vegetables have many health benefits and that he owed his being in shape to eating them.
He said during his rigid pre-fight training, he made sure that he consumes lots of vegetables.
Yap agreed by saying: “We need to eat lots of vegetables and fruits to sustain and maintain a healthy life.”
He said even the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommends that a person should consume at least 75 kilograms of vegetable in a year to remain healthy.
“We in the Philippines consume just half of that,” Yap said.
Increasing vegetable consumption among Filipinos was one of the reasons the three-day national vegetable congress was held here (July 14-16), he said.
The congress was aimed not only at helping stakeholders and boosting the vegetable industry but also instill in the minds of the participants the value and benefits of eating vegetables, Yap said.
Among the issues tackled in the congress was the revival of the Philippine Vegetable Industry Development Board (PVIDB) Technical Working Group.
The organizers, among them the Department of Agriculture (DA), said the reactivation of the PVIDB-TWG would play a vital role in boosting the country’s vegetable industry.
Tommy Ala, DA director for Central Mindanao, said the region, which has about 10,000 vegetable farmers, has the advantage to boost production because it is typhoon-free.
“This is to our great advantage. Vegetable farmers can plant whole year round. Given the right technology, opportunity, and government support, local vegetable growers can enhance their production capability resulting to a much better income generation,” Ala said.
Central Mindanao accounts for about 30 percent of the country’s total vegetable production, according to Ala.
Jose Victor Santos, president of the Central Mindanao Vegetables Industry and Development Council (Cemvidec), said his organization also wanted to unify the efforts of industry players to make an impact in the government’s food sufficiency and poverty alleviation program.
NBA: Odom doesn't have a team yet
Another day has gone by and Lamar Odom remains a free agent without a team.
The Lakers lost interest and pulled their deal off the table when Odom and his agent didn't respond quickly enough to the offer.
Essentially, the Lakers offered Odom a guaranteed contract worth $30 million, depending on the length of the deal.
Odom prefers a five-year deal but appeared willing to accept the Lakers' offer if they had guaranteed all four years.
The Lakers' offer before it was removed was for four years at $9 million a season. But only three years of the deal were guaranteed.
The Lakers held the option for the fourth season and had guaranteed Odom $3 million if they decided to buy him out.
The Lakers also offered Odom a three-year deal that would have paid him $10 million a season.
Either way, at least in the Lakers' eyes, Odom would have been paid at least $30 million with the opportunity to earn more.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss withdrew his offer Tuesday because he was unhappy that Odom and his people waited so long to respond to the team's offer and because Odom spoke to Miami Heat President Pat Riley to discuss a deal. Buss is still upset.
Odom had conversations with the Heat about signing for the mid-level exception of $5.8 million.
The Heat would have given Odom a five-year deal for $34 million, and probably the opportunity to opt out after three seasons and become a free agent in 2012.
Calls to Odom from teammates Derek Fisher on Thursday and Kobe Bryant on Wednesday failed to settle the issues.
Odom and his representatives are expected to make a decision this week on his future.
If he is able to get Buss to re-open negotiations, Odom, who turns 30 on Nov. 6, may have to take less than the $9 million a season that was originally offered.
After the Utah Jazz matched the offer Portland gave Paul Millsap, the Trail Blazers have about $8 million to offer another player.
But it appears they don't have any interest in Odom, and he doesn't appear to have interest in Portland.
The Lakers could also risk losing Odom and getting nothing in return if he goes to another team.
The Lakers lost interest and pulled their deal off the table when Odom and his agent didn't respond quickly enough to the offer.
Essentially, the Lakers offered Odom a guaranteed contract worth $30 million, depending on the length of the deal.
Odom prefers a five-year deal but appeared willing to accept the Lakers' offer if they had guaranteed all four years.
The Lakers' offer before it was removed was for four years at $9 million a season. But only three years of the deal were guaranteed.
The Lakers held the option for the fourth season and had guaranteed Odom $3 million if they decided to buy him out.
The Lakers also offered Odom a three-year deal that would have paid him $10 million a season.
Either way, at least in the Lakers' eyes, Odom would have been paid at least $30 million with the opportunity to earn more.
Lakers owner Jerry Buss withdrew his offer Tuesday because he was unhappy that Odom and his people waited so long to respond to the team's offer and because Odom spoke to Miami Heat President Pat Riley to discuss a deal. Buss is still upset.
Odom had conversations with the Heat about signing for the mid-level exception of $5.8 million.
The Heat would have given Odom a five-year deal for $34 million, and probably the opportunity to opt out after three seasons and become a free agent in 2012.
Calls to Odom from teammates Derek Fisher on Thursday and Kobe Bryant on Wednesday failed to settle the issues.
Odom and his representatives are expected to make a decision this week on his future.
If he is able to get Buss to re-open negotiations, Odom, who turns 30 on Nov. 6, may have to take less than the $9 million a season that was originally offered.
After the Utah Jazz matched the offer Portland gave Paul Millsap, the Trail Blazers have about $8 million to offer another player.
But it appears they don't have any interest in Odom, and he doesn't appear to have interest in Portland.
The Lakers could also risk losing Odom and getting nothing in return if he goes to another team.
Boxing: Pacquiao’s aide wins WBA junior welter crown
Another protege of renowned trainer Freddie Roach, and a sparmate of superstar Manny Pacquiao, took boxing's centerstage yesterday with a dominant win in the United Kingdom.
Former Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan pounded out a unanimous decision win over German Andriy Kotelnik to claim the WBA 140-pound title in their 12-round showdown yesterday at the MEN Arena in Manchester.
Khan, who was getting instructions from Roach in his corner, outboxed and dominated Kotelnik en route to a 120-108, 118-111, and 118-111 win.
The victory of Khan solidified Roach's status as the world's best boxing tactician, earning for himself his 25th world champion.
The win also improved the Bolton native’s record to 21 wins, 1 loss with 15 KOs, and put him among the list of the world's premier fighters.
It was Roach who turned Khan into a much-improved fighter after the latter's first-round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott last year.
Hours before Khan's win, Prescott took on a different career route when he was outpointed by Miguel Vazquez at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
With Khan's victory, reports are suggesting that a fight with British Ricky Hatton can be made, which is going to be a major attraction on British soil.
"I just want to enjoy this for a while!" Roach told Sky Box Office. "We'll probably defend this somewhere down the line, maybe Ricky Hatton down the line. If he decides to continue I am sure he'd want to fight again for a 140-pound title and it will be a big fight here in England. So I am sure it could happen."
Hatton has been hospitalized this week due to stomach problems, and has yet to decide whether he will continue his career following his monumental defeat at the hands of Filipino boxing idol Pacquiao.http://sports.inquirer.net/sport/boxing/view/20090720-216353/Pacquiaos-aide-wins-WBA-junior-welter-crown
Former Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan pounded out a unanimous decision win over German Andriy Kotelnik to claim the WBA 140-pound title in their 12-round showdown yesterday at the MEN Arena in Manchester.
Khan, who was getting instructions from Roach in his corner, outboxed and dominated Kotelnik en route to a 120-108, 118-111, and 118-111 win.
The victory of Khan solidified Roach's status as the world's best boxing tactician, earning for himself his 25th world champion.
The win also improved the Bolton native’s record to 21 wins, 1 loss with 15 KOs, and put him among the list of the world's premier fighters.
It was Roach who turned Khan into a much-improved fighter after the latter's first-round knockout loss to Breidis Prescott last year.
Hours before Khan's win, Prescott took on a different career route when he was outpointed by Miguel Vazquez at the Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
With Khan's victory, reports are suggesting that a fight with British Ricky Hatton can be made, which is going to be a major attraction on British soil.
"I just want to enjoy this for a while!" Roach told Sky Box Office. "We'll probably defend this somewhere down the line, maybe Ricky Hatton down the line. If he decides to continue I am sure he'd want to fight again for a 140-pound title and it will be a big fight here in England. So I am sure it could happen."
Hatton has been hospitalized this week due to stomach problems, and has yet to decide whether he will continue his career following his monumental defeat at the hands of Filipino boxing idol Pacquiao.http://sports.inquirer.net/sport/boxing/view/20090720-216353/Pacquiaos-aide-wins-WBA-junior-welter-crown
Basketball: Jordan rout of RP stumps local scribes
TAIPEI— Did the Philippines really play to lose—and lose big—against Jordan in its Jones Cup debut Saturday night, and maybe keep its Fiba-Asia opponents in the dark about its real worth?
That was the question that sportswriters from this progressive city tried asking a five-publication team that came from the Philippines to cover the prestigious event.
“We just don’t think that it was normal for the Philippines to play that way,” said Chen Chin-hung, a veteran reporter from the Youth Daily News Service, who had also visited Manila several times to cover the Taiwanese athletes in different events.
The Philippines, a three-time champion here which sent its finest professional stars back home, was mangled into submission by the heftier, taller and talented Jordanians, 90-59.
“So tell us,” Chen said, asking the question for his group: “Did you come here to not win at all?”
He tried so hard to get an answer that would confirm their suspicion because it could have been the angle that they were trying to work on. As Jones Cup veterans, even the Taiwanese couldn’t believe what they just saw.
* * *
It seems that Chen’s question has some bearing, since most of the countries represented here, except Jordan in all likelihood, are not playing to their true potential in order to conceal their “aces” for the Fiba-Asia qualifying in Tianjin, China, next month.
In fact, even the home team, which prevailed narrowly over Japan Saturday night, used its 7-foot ace, the pony-tailed Tseng Wen-ting, sparingly like the Japanese, who reportedly did not even bother taking their 7-foot-2 center to this tournament.
* * *
Coach Yeng Guiao will name his final 12-man roster for the Tianjin event on July 22, the deadline set by the Fiba, and he is worried that this might leak in some way and dishearten some of his players here who won’t make it.
And from the way he talked over breakfast at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel, he still isn’t sure who will be dropped.
Guiao also said that their stint in this nine-nation tournament, aside from playing to win, is to be able to see how Korea and Japan play, since the two countries belong to the Philippine bracket in Tianjin.
Sri Lanka is the fourth team in the group.http://sports.inquirer.net/sportsevents/sportsevents/view/20090720-216284/Jordan-rout-of-RP-stumps-local-scribes
That was the question that sportswriters from this progressive city tried asking a five-publication team that came from the Philippines to cover the prestigious event.
“We just don’t think that it was normal for the Philippines to play that way,” said Chen Chin-hung, a veteran reporter from the Youth Daily News Service, who had also visited Manila several times to cover the Taiwanese athletes in different events.
The Philippines, a three-time champion here which sent its finest professional stars back home, was mangled into submission by the heftier, taller and talented Jordanians, 90-59.
“So tell us,” Chen said, asking the question for his group: “Did you come here to not win at all?”
He tried so hard to get an answer that would confirm their suspicion because it could have been the angle that they were trying to work on. As Jones Cup veterans, even the Taiwanese couldn’t believe what they just saw.
* * *
It seems that Chen’s question has some bearing, since most of the countries represented here, except Jordan in all likelihood, are not playing to their true potential in order to conceal their “aces” for the Fiba-Asia qualifying in Tianjin, China, next month.
In fact, even the home team, which prevailed narrowly over Japan Saturday night, used its 7-foot ace, the pony-tailed Tseng Wen-ting, sparingly like the Japanese, who reportedly did not even bother taking their 7-foot-2 center to this tournament.
* * *
Coach Yeng Guiao will name his final 12-man roster for the Tianjin event on July 22, the deadline set by the Fiba, and he is worried that this might leak in some way and dishearten some of his players here who won’t make it.
And from the way he talked over breakfast at the Sunworld Dynasty Hotel, he still isn’t sure who will be dropped.
Guiao also said that their stint in this nine-nation tournament, aside from playing to win, is to be able to see how Korea and Japan play, since the two countries belong to the Philippine bracket in Tianjin.
Sri Lanka is the fourth team in the group.http://sports.inquirer.net/sportsevents/sportsevents/view/20090720-216284/Jordan-rout-of-RP-stumps-local-scribes
Boxing: Hatton not fighting Khan yet
MANCHESTER, England (AP)—With Amir Khan now a world champion, many English boxing fans will be hoping to see him in the ring with Ricky Hatton.
Though the 22-year-old Khan’s trainer is enthusiastic about a Battle of Britain bout, promoter Frank Warren has strong reservations.
Hatton’s future in the sport has been in doubt since he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in the second round of their 140-pound title fight in May and he went to the hospital for a precautionary brain scan.
Hatton, who has been known for quickly putting on weight after fights, has returned to a hospital in his native Manchester in the past week with a stomach bug.
Warren insists that the 30-year-old Hatton is not up to fighting Khan, who captured the WBA light-welterweight title by unanimous decision against Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday.
“Ricky shouldn’t be fighting—it’s not good for boxing and it’s not good for him more importantly,” Warren said on Sunday. “He’s just been in hospital for overindulgence or whatever that may be.
“I don’t think he should fight again, he should definitely retire. If the fight happened and, God forbidden, something bad happens, everyone would blame boxing. Sometimes fighters go on and at the end of the day bad things happen.”
Trainer Freddie Roach, whose strict regime has turned around Khan’s fortunes since he was knocked out in 54 seconds by Breidis Prescott, is less gloomy about Hatton’s future prospects.
“If he does decide to fight again and continue his career, then he’s made for my guy,” Roach said. “I’d take that fight in a heartbeat.”
Khan is leaving the decision to his team.
“I’m a fan of Ricky Hatton and I’d like him to support me on the way to achieving what he’s achieved,” Khan said. “Boxing is a game where you have to face fighters, and for Britain it would be a huge fight.
“Let’s see what happens. I’ll leave it with Frank and Freddie and if they think it’s the right move for me to make, then I’ll do it.”
A more realistic prospect for Khan, after outclassing Kotelnik from start to finish with quick combinations and impressive footwork despite stepping up a division, is traveling to the United States.
“It’s time to go to America and fight the big names over there,” Khan said. “Now I’ll get people knocking on my door. I want to fight the likes of (Juan Manuel) Marquez, because I think my style will go up against theirs. … We’ll give it a few weeks and see where we go.”
Though the 22-year-old Khan’s trainer is enthusiastic about a Battle of Britain bout, promoter Frank Warren has strong reservations.
Hatton’s future in the sport has been in doubt since he was knocked out by Manny Pacquiao in the second round of their 140-pound title fight in May and he went to the hospital for a precautionary brain scan.
Hatton, who has been known for quickly putting on weight after fights, has returned to a hospital in his native Manchester in the past week with a stomach bug.
Warren insists that the 30-year-old Hatton is not up to fighting Khan, who captured the WBA light-welterweight title by unanimous decision against Andreas Kotelnik on Saturday.
“Ricky shouldn’t be fighting—it’s not good for boxing and it’s not good for him more importantly,” Warren said on Sunday. “He’s just been in hospital for overindulgence or whatever that may be.
“I don’t think he should fight again, he should definitely retire. If the fight happened and, God forbidden, something bad happens, everyone would blame boxing. Sometimes fighters go on and at the end of the day bad things happen.”
Trainer Freddie Roach, whose strict regime has turned around Khan’s fortunes since he was knocked out in 54 seconds by Breidis Prescott, is less gloomy about Hatton’s future prospects.
“If he does decide to fight again and continue his career, then he’s made for my guy,” Roach said. “I’d take that fight in a heartbeat.”
Khan is leaving the decision to his team.
“I’m a fan of Ricky Hatton and I’d like him to support me on the way to achieving what he’s achieved,” Khan said. “Boxing is a game where you have to face fighters, and for Britain it would be a huge fight.
“Let’s see what happens. I’ll leave it with Frank and Freddie and if they think it’s the right move for me to make, then I’ll do it.”
A more realistic prospect for Khan, after outclassing Kotelnik from start to finish with quick combinations and impressive footwork despite stepping up a division, is traveling to the United States.
“It’s time to go to America and fight the big names over there,” Khan said. “Now I’ll get people knocking on my door. I want to fight the likes of (Juan Manuel) Marquez, because I think my style will go up against theirs. … We’ll give it a few weeks and see where we go.”
Soccer: Beckham confronts fan in LA
CARSON, Calif. (AP)—Boos rained down and fans sent negative messages with their homemade signs. Things sure got ugly when David Beckham came back to town.
Beckham downplayed the rough reception in his first home game with the Los Angeles Galaxy, a 2-2 tie with AC Milan in which his corner kick set up his team’s second goal, although his halftime confrontation with a fan indicated otherwise Sunday night.
“I’m not disappointed. It doesn’t affect me,” he said. “You can’t be liked by everyone.”
Anti-Beckham sentiment ran high as the English star returned after missing half of the Major League Soccer season while on a five-month loan to the Italian club. He was the target of frequent booing and derisive banners held up in a corner of the stadium, where one of the team’s fan groups sits.
The signs all had messages directed at Beckham. “Go home fraud” read one, with a red slash through his No. 23 jersey number. Another said, “23: Repent,” while another read, “Hey Becks, Here Before You, Here After You, Here Despite You.” Another read, “Is evil something u are…or something u do.”
Beckham downplayed the rough reception in his first home game with the Los Angeles Galaxy, a 2-2 tie with AC Milan in which his corner kick set up his team’s second goal, although his halftime confrontation with a fan indicated otherwise Sunday night.
“I’m not disappointed. It doesn’t affect me,” he said. “You can’t be liked by everyone.”
Anti-Beckham sentiment ran high as the English star returned after missing half of the Major League Soccer season while on a five-month loan to the Italian club. He was the target of frequent booing and derisive banners held up in a corner of the stadium, where one of the team’s fan groups sits.
The signs all had messages directed at Beckham. “Go home fraud” read one, with a red slash through his No. 23 jersey number. Another said, “23: Repent,” while another read, “Hey Becks, Here Before You, Here After You, Here Despite You.” Another read, “Is evil something u are…or something u do.”
NBA: Taylor Griffin faces off older brother
LAS VEGAS (AP)—Phoenix Suns forward Taylor Griffin walked to the free-throw line Sunday night during an NBA Summer League game against the Los Angeles Clippers and was greeted with some spirited trash talk from a group of nearby Clippers fans.
His younger brother, Clippers’ top pick Blake Griffin, stood a few feet away on the rebounding block and cracked a smile.
The brothers, teammates the past two years at Oklahoma and for most of their childhood growing up in Edmond, Okla., got their first taste of competing against each other professionally in Phoenix’s 87-70 victory.
“For me, it was just another game,” Blake Griffin said. “Of course I wanted him to do well, but this is a business and I’m more concerned with winning.”
Just two minutes into their initial game as opponents and with the assistance to the help of a group of about 20 vocal Clippers’ fans, it was obvious the Griffins are no longer teammates.
Taylor Griffin made both foul shots, then Blake Griffin, like he did at Oklahoma and during the weeklong summer league, did the job on the court.
“I didn’t pay much attention to that,” Blake Griffin said of friendly trash talk toward his brother. “And it didn’t bother him. He made both the foul shots.”
Blake Griffin, who before the game was announced as the event’s Most Outstanding Player, got the best of his brother with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Taylor Griffin, a second-round selection of the Suns, had four points and six rebounds.
They rarely guarded each other with Phoenix converting Taylor Griffin into a small forward and Blake Griffin playing inside at power forward. Blake Griffin averaged 20 points and 10 points in five summer games.
The brothers exchanged hugs on the court following the game. Blake Griffin is hoping to enjoy a long NBA career while Taylor Griffin is fighting for a spot on the Suns’ roster.
“It was fun getting to play against him,” Blake Griffin said.
His younger brother, Clippers’ top pick Blake Griffin, stood a few feet away on the rebounding block and cracked a smile.
The brothers, teammates the past two years at Oklahoma and for most of their childhood growing up in Edmond, Okla., got their first taste of competing against each other professionally in Phoenix’s 87-70 victory.
“For me, it was just another game,” Blake Griffin said. “Of course I wanted him to do well, but this is a business and I’m more concerned with winning.”
Just two minutes into their initial game as opponents and with the assistance to the help of a group of about 20 vocal Clippers’ fans, it was obvious the Griffins are no longer teammates.
Taylor Griffin made both foul shots, then Blake Griffin, like he did at Oklahoma and during the weeklong summer league, did the job on the court.
“I didn’t pay much attention to that,” Blake Griffin said of friendly trash talk toward his brother. “And it didn’t bother him. He made both the foul shots.”
Blake Griffin, who before the game was announced as the event’s Most Outstanding Player, got the best of his brother with 16 points and eight rebounds.
Taylor Griffin, a second-round selection of the Suns, had four points and six rebounds.
They rarely guarded each other with Phoenix converting Taylor Griffin into a small forward and Blake Griffin playing inside at power forward. Blake Griffin averaged 20 points and 10 points in five summer games.
The brothers exchanged hugs on the court following the game. Blake Griffin is hoping to enjoy a long NBA career while Taylor Griffin is fighting for a spot on the Suns’ roster.
“It was fun getting to play against him,” Blake Griffin said.
July 19, 2009
Armstrong slams foe's tactics
BESANCON – Lance Armstrong joined a string of riders to question the racing tactics of American outfit Garmin on Saturday's 14th stage of the Tour de France.
The 199-kilometer stage ended with victory for Russian Sergei Ivanov, of Katusha, and Italian Rinaldo Nocentini, of AG2R, keeping the yellow jersey by a handful of seconds.
But ahead of three key stages in the Alps, what was going on elsewhere was arguably more exciting.
Nocentini looked set to lose his yellow jersey to George Hincapie as the American raced ahead as part of a 12-man breakaway from which Ivanov emerged alone 11km from home to go on and win.
With AG2R struggling to close the gap at the front of the chasing bunch, the French outfit were forced to call on help.
And Garmin, big rivals of Hincapie's Columbia team, seemed only too happy to oblige.
They appeared at the front of the chasing bunch with 10km to ride, allowing AG2R some respite before the French outfit went on to defend the jersey by a slim margin of five seconds.
Hincapie is now second in the overall standings, but with little chance of winning the American veteran lost out on the prestige of becoming race leader, albeit briefly, for the first time since 2006.
Having helped Armstrong to win all seven of his yellow jerseys, the former Tour de France champion was among those to hit out at Garmin's tactics.
"Sounds like there's quite a bit of confusion over this one... No one, and I mean no one, wanted George in yellow more than me," said Armstrong, whose Astana team, sitting back in the bunch, effectively allowed Hincapie to race into the virtual lead.
“Our team rode a moderate tempo to put him in the jersey by at least two minutes. AG2R said they would not defend then they started to ride.”
"Until 10km to go he was solidly in yellow until Garmin put on the gas and made sure it didn't happen."
Ahead of three days of climbing spread over the next four days -- Monday is a rest day -- Garmin's team leader Christian Vande Velde is likely to be short of allies in the Alps, where the yellow jersey is likely to be decided.
With Armstrong in fourth overall at 8secs and his teammate Alberto Contador, the 2007 champion, third at 6 Astana appear in command of the race.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel admitted that having Hincapie in the lead would have left them ideally placed. With no jersey to defend, they could save energy by simply following the wheels of Hincapie's Columbia team.
But he too was surprised that Garmin worked to make sure Hincapie went home empty handed.
"I didn't think AG2R were going to manage it because they were fading towards the end of the stage," said Bruyneel.
"Then when I saw Garmin come through I couldn't quite believe it. It seems it's gotten personal and that's a shame."
Columbia team manager Rolf Aldag said he was mystified by Garmin's decision to help prevent Hincapie's day of glory.
"It was other teams who came to the front with 10km to go to [help AG2R] chase, specifically Garmin. But that's bike racing, we have to live with it.
"I really don't know who made the call, if it was made, to chase George down. But everything comes back in life."
Source: http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20090719-216165/Armstrong-slams-foes-tactics
The 199-kilometer stage ended with victory for Russian Sergei Ivanov, of Katusha, and Italian Rinaldo Nocentini, of AG2R, keeping the yellow jersey by a handful of seconds.
But ahead of three key stages in the Alps, what was going on elsewhere was arguably more exciting.
Nocentini looked set to lose his yellow jersey to George Hincapie as the American raced ahead as part of a 12-man breakaway from which Ivanov emerged alone 11km from home to go on and win.
With AG2R struggling to close the gap at the front of the chasing bunch, the French outfit were forced to call on help.
And Garmin, big rivals of Hincapie's Columbia team, seemed only too happy to oblige.
They appeared at the front of the chasing bunch with 10km to ride, allowing AG2R some respite before the French outfit went on to defend the jersey by a slim margin of five seconds.
Hincapie is now second in the overall standings, but with little chance of winning the American veteran lost out on the prestige of becoming race leader, albeit briefly, for the first time since 2006.
Having helped Armstrong to win all seven of his yellow jerseys, the former Tour de France champion was among those to hit out at Garmin's tactics.
"Sounds like there's quite a bit of confusion over this one... No one, and I mean no one, wanted George in yellow more than me," said Armstrong, whose Astana team, sitting back in the bunch, effectively allowed Hincapie to race into the virtual lead.
“Our team rode a moderate tempo to put him in the jersey by at least two minutes. AG2R said they would not defend then they started to ride.”
"Until 10km to go he was solidly in yellow until Garmin put on the gas and made sure it didn't happen."
Ahead of three days of climbing spread over the next four days -- Monday is a rest day -- Garmin's team leader Christian Vande Velde is likely to be short of allies in the Alps, where the yellow jersey is likely to be decided.
With Armstrong in fourth overall at 8secs and his teammate Alberto Contador, the 2007 champion, third at 6 Astana appear in command of the race.
Team manager Johan Bruyneel admitted that having Hincapie in the lead would have left them ideally placed. With no jersey to defend, they could save energy by simply following the wheels of Hincapie's Columbia team.
But he too was surprised that Garmin worked to make sure Hincapie went home empty handed.
"I didn't think AG2R were going to manage it because they were fading towards the end of the stage," said Bruyneel.
"Then when I saw Garmin come through I couldn't quite believe it. It seems it's gotten personal and that's a shame."
Columbia team manager Rolf Aldag said he was mystified by Garmin's decision to help prevent Hincapie's day of glory.
"It was other teams who came to the front with 10km to go to [help AG2R] chase, specifically Garmin. But that's bike racing, we have to live with it.
"I really don't know who made the call, if it was made, to chase George down. But everything comes back in life."
Source: http://sports.inquirer.net/breakingnews/breakingnews/view/20090719-216165/Armstrong-slams-foes-tactics
UAAP: Ateneo takes solo lead against UST
MMANILA, Philippines - Ateneo rolled past University of Santo Tomas Tigers in a 93-77 blowout victory that secured the defending champion Eagles the solo UAAP lead.
Emman Monfort unloaded 18 points from three-point range to finish with a career-high 20 markers Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.
The Tigers fell to second place at 2-1.
ATENEO 93--Monfort 20, Salamat 14, Buenafe 14, Al-Hussaini 13, Salva 8,
Tiongson 7, Long 7, Bacalo 4, Golla 2, De Chavez 2, Chua 2, Sumalinog 0,
Reyes 0, Gonzaga 0, Burke 0, Austria 0.
UST 77--Maliksi 20, Ababou 17, Mirza 13, Teng 6, Bautista 6, Afuang 5,
Mariano 4, Green 2, Fortuna 2, Camus 2, Ungria 0, Felix 0, Cam 0.
Quarters: 30-21, 52-35, 68-49, 93-77
Emman Monfort unloaded 18 points from three-point range to finish with a career-high 20 markers Sunday at the PhilSports Arena.
The Tigers fell to second place at 2-1.
ATENEO 93--Monfort 20, Salamat 14, Buenafe 14, Al-Hussaini 13, Salva 8,
Tiongson 7, Long 7, Bacalo 4, Golla 2, De Chavez 2, Chua 2, Sumalinog 0,
Reyes 0, Gonzaga 0, Burke 0, Austria 0.
UST 77--Maliksi 20, Ababou 17, Mirza 13, Teng 6, Bautista 6, Afuang 5,
Mariano 4, Green 2, Fortuna 2, Camus 2, Ungria 0, Felix 0, Cam 0.
Quarters: 30-21, 52-35, 68-49, 93-77
UAAP: UE defeats NU 73-59
MANILA, Philippines -- The University of the East Red Warriors drubbed the National University Bulldogs, 73-59, in the opening game of Sunday's twinbill at the UAAP basketball tournament.
UE now has a 2-1 record, with its loss coming from the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Thursday.
The second game will be a battle of two undefeated teams -- the Blue Eagles and the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers.
UE now has a 2-1 record, with its loss coming from the Ateneo Blue Eagles last Thursday.
The second game will be a battle of two undefeated teams -- the Blue Eagles and the University of Sto. Tomas Growling Tigers.
Soccer: Beckham to make home debut against AC Milan
CARSON, Calif. (AP)—Seven weeks after wearing AC Milan’s jersey, David Beckham is ready to compete against the perennial Italian power with the MLS’ Los Angeles Galaxy.
Beckham and the Galaxy will play AC Milan on Sunday night in an exhibition, Beckham’s first home game since returning from Italy on July 10.
“I’m looking forward to it but it’s going to be funny,” Beckham said about playing against recent teammates. “You’re always going to come up against teams you’ve played with and against in the past. It won’t be too strange.”
Despite losing stars Kaka to Real Madrid and Paolo Maldini to retirement, AC Milan still has Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato and Andrea Pirlo.
“We’ll be competitive, that’s for sure,” Galaxy forward Landon Donovan said. “For a lot of our guys, this is a very good opportunity. We don’t want to stand around like cones and get embarrassed.”
One of AC Milan’s newest acquisitions is defender Oguchi Onyewu, who started for the United States in last month’s FIFA Confederations Cup and in the 2006 World Cup.
Onyewu signed with Milan on July 7 but is expected to play later this week, as AC Milan competes in the World Soccer Challenge.
Beckham played in his first MLS game this year Thursday night against New York in East Rutherford, N.J. During the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory, fans booed Beckham every time he touched the ball.
How does the midfielder expect to be received at home?
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Beckham said. “It’s great for myself to be back playing in front of the fans that we’ve got. They’ve always been amazing to me since I’ve been here. I hope it continues.”
Beckham, who played 70 minutes against New York, said he wants to increase that total Sunday night.
“Coming back after a while of not playing, it’s easy to get an injury,” Beckham said. “It’s important that I work hard and don’t put myself in any silly positions.”
The match was part of the last-minute agreement between the Galaxy, Major League Soccer and AC Milan to extend Beckham’s loan to the end of the Serie A season in May. Originally, Beckham had to return to the Galaxy in March.
Beckham and the Galaxy will play AC Milan on Sunday night in an exhibition, Beckham’s first home game since returning from Italy on July 10.
“I’m looking forward to it but it’s going to be funny,” Beckham said about playing against recent teammates. “You’re always going to come up against teams you’ve played with and against in the past. It won’t be too strange.”
Despite losing stars Kaka to Real Madrid and Paolo Maldini to retirement, AC Milan still has Ronaldinho, Alexandre Pato and Andrea Pirlo.
“We’ll be competitive, that’s for sure,” Galaxy forward Landon Donovan said. “For a lot of our guys, this is a very good opportunity. We don’t want to stand around like cones and get embarrassed.”
One of AC Milan’s newest acquisitions is defender Oguchi Onyewu, who started for the United States in last month’s FIFA Confederations Cup and in the 2006 World Cup.
Onyewu signed with Milan on July 7 but is expected to play later this week, as AC Milan competes in the World Soccer Challenge.
Beckham played in his first MLS game this year Thursday night against New York in East Rutherford, N.J. During the Galaxy’s 3-1 victory, fans booed Beckham every time he touched the ball.
How does the midfielder expect to be received at home?
“We’ll have to wait and see,” Beckham said. “It’s great for myself to be back playing in front of the fans that we’ve got. They’ve always been amazing to me since I’ve been here. I hope it continues.”
Beckham, who played 70 minutes against New York, said he wants to increase that total Sunday night.
“Coming back after a while of not playing, it’s easy to get an injury,” Beckham said. “It’s important that I work hard and don’t put myself in any silly positions.”
The match was part of the last-minute agreement between the Galaxy, Major League Soccer and AC Milan to extend Beckham’s loan to the end of the Serie A season in May. Originally, Beckham had to return to the Galaxy in March.
MLB: Sabathia beats Verlander, Yankees top Tigers 2-1
NEW YORK (AP)—Justin Verlander(notes) followed the trajectory of the ball and watched helplessly as Alex Rodriguez’s(notes) opposite-field fly settled softly into the second row of right-field seats.
All of a sudden, after six dominant innings, Verlander was losing.
Welcome to the new Yankee Stadium.
CC Sabathia(notes) beat Verlander in a prime pitching matchup that lived up to its billing, and Rodriguez’s pop-fly homer sent the New York Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
“It’s very frustrating,” Verlander said. “It’s very disappointing to throw the ball as well as I did and come away with a loss.”
Sabathia (9-6) tossed seven shutout innings, working out of trouble all afternoon for his eighth victory in 11 decisions. Mariano Rivera(notes) got three quick outs for a save and Derek Jeter(notes) made an outstanding defensive play in the ninth.“The game had a feeling that one mistake, one pitch, one swing was going to be the difference,” Rodriguez said.
Melky Cabrera(notes) legged out an infield single to drive in the second run against Verlander (10-5), who took a three-hit shutout into the seventh before running into some tough luck.
Rodriguez led off with a high fly toward Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch. Verlander watched it the whole way, then smiled in disbelief after the ball carried over the fence.
“If it went out by 10 rows, all right. But just scraping the back of the wall is frustrating. I’d rather a guy hit it 10 miles,” Verlander said. “I didn’t think he hit it very well, but it had the right trajectory and he hit it to the right part of the field.”
It was Rodriguez’s 571st home run, two behind Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew for ninth place.
“He’s throwing 98 (mph),” Rodriguez said about Verlander, coming off his second trip to the All-Star game. “I think he supplied a lot of the power.”
Robinson Cano(notes) singled with two outs and went to third on Nick Swisher’s(notes) soft double inside the left-field line. Cabrera hit a slow roller to shortstop, with Swisher doing all he could to distract Adam Everett(notes) as he crossed over to third.
“Very smart baseball,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Everett’s throw appeared to beat Cabrera by the slimmest margin, but he was called safe by first base umpire Jeff Nelson(notes). Cabrera clapped his hands as Cano scored, putting New York ahead 2-0.
Marcus Thames(notes) homered in the eighth off Alfredo Aceves(notes), who struck out two to set up Rivera for his 507th career save and 25th in 26 chances this season.
Jeter made a signature jump throw from deep in the shortstop hole to get Brandon Inge(notes) for the second out of the ninth.
“That was an incredible play,” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira(notes) said. “He made such a strong throw. It was perfect.”
The Yankees, who have won 15 of 20, are 40-22 since Rodriguez came off the disabled list May 8—the best record in the majors. New York also improved to 18-5 against AL Central teams.
The first-place Tigers fell to 4-12 against the AL East.
“Hopefully, sweep them tomorrow,” Sabathia said.
Verlander beat Sabathia on April 27, pitching seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and no walks to start his seven-game winning streak.
This time, the right-hander yielded only two hits through his first 5 2-3 innings—singles by Jeter in the first and fourth.
“That’s as good as we’ve seen him. He was throwing every pitch for strikes. He’s added a slider to his repertoire,” Rodriguez said. “You just hope for a mistake. These guys, it’s hard to score three or four runs against guys like CC and Verlander. We knew one or two runs would win the game.”
A gritty Sabathia allowed five hits and three walks but stranded seven runners. Pitching like the $161 million ace the Yankees were counting on when they signed him, the big lefty also induced a pair of double-play grounders.
With runners at second and third in the sixth, Sabathia retired Ryan Raburn(notes) on a shallow fly and Inge on a soft looper.
“We had CC on the ropes a couple of times,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “We just couldn’t capitalize. Most people talk about guys who have high on-base percentages, but I’d rather take the guy who will drive them in.”
NOTES: David Cone threw out the first pitch on the 10th anniversary of his perfect game against the Montreal Expos at old Yankee Stadium. His catcher in that game was the same one as Saturday: Girardi. … New York reliever Damaso Marte(notes) (left shoulder inflammation) pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in his second rehab appearance for the Gulf Coast League Yankees.
All of a sudden, after six dominant innings, Verlander was losing.
Welcome to the new Yankee Stadium.
CC Sabathia(notes) beat Verlander in a prime pitching matchup that lived up to its billing, and Rodriguez’s pop-fly homer sent the New York Yankees to a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday.
“It’s very frustrating,” Verlander said. “It’s very disappointing to throw the ball as well as I did and come away with a loss.”
Sabathia (9-6) tossed seven shutout innings, working out of trouble all afternoon for his eighth victory in 11 decisions. Mariano Rivera(notes) got three quick outs for a save and Derek Jeter(notes) made an outstanding defensive play in the ninth.“The game had a feeling that one mistake, one pitch, one swing was going to be the difference,” Rodriguez said.
Melky Cabrera(notes) legged out an infield single to drive in the second run against Verlander (10-5), who took a three-hit shutout into the seventh before running into some tough luck.
Rodriguez led off with a high fly toward Yankee Stadium’s short right-field porch. Verlander watched it the whole way, then smiled in disbelief after the ball carried over the fence.
“If it went out by 10 rows, all right. But just scraping the back of the wall is frustrating. I’d rather a guy hit it 10 miles,” Verlander said. “I didn’t think he hit it very well, but it had the right trajectory and he hit it to the right part of the field.”
It was Rodriguez’s 571st home run, two behind Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew for ninth place.
“He’s throwing 98 (mph),” Rodriguez said about Verlander, coming off his second trip to the All-Star game. “I think he supplied a lot of the power.”
Robinson Cano(notes) singled with two outs and went to third on Nick Swisher’s(notes) soft double inside the left-field line. Cabrera hit a slow roller to shortstop, with Swisher doing all he could to distract Adam Everett(notes) as he crossed over to third.
“Very smart baseball,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.
Everett’s throw appeared to beat Cabrera by the slimmest margin, but he was called safe by first base umpire Jeff Nelson(notes). Cabrera clapped his hands as Cano scored, putting New York ahead 2-0.
Marcus Thames(notes) homered in the eighth off Alfredo Aceves(notes), who struck out two to set up Rivera for his 507th career save and 25th in 26 chances this season.
Jeter made a signature jump throw from deep in the shortstop hole to get Brandon Inge(notes) for the second out of the ninth.
“That was an incredible play,” Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira(notes) said. “He made such a strong throw. It was perfect.”
The Yankees, who have won 15 of 20, are 40-22 since Rodriguez came off the disabled list May 8—the best record in the majors. New York also improved to 18-5 against AL Central teams.
The first-place Tigers fell to 4-12 against the AL East.
“Hopefully, sweep them tomorrow,” Sabathia said.
Verlander beat Sabathia on April 27, pitching seven shutout innings with nine strikeouts and no walks to start his seven-game winning streak.
This time, the right-hander yielded only two hits through his first 5 2-3 innings—singles by Jeter in the first and fourth.
“That’s as good as we’ve seen him. He was throwing every pitch for strikes. He’s added a slider to his repertoire,” Rodriguez said. “You just hope for a mistake. These guys, it’s hard to score three or four runs against guys like CC and Verlander. We knew one or two runs would win the game.”
A gritty Sabathia allowed five hits and three walks but stranded seven runners. Pitching like the $161 million ace the Yankees were counting on when they signed him, the big lefty also induced a pair of double-play grounders.
With runners at second and third in the sixth, Sabathia retired Ryan Raburn(notes) on a shallow fly and Inge on a soft looper.
“We had CC on the ropes a couple of times,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “We just couldn’t capitalize. Most people talk about guys who have high on-base percentages, but I’d rather take the guy who will drive them in.”
NOTES: David Cone threw out the first pitch on the 10th anniversary of his perfect game against the Montreal Expos at old Yankee Stadium. His catcher in that game was the same one as Saturday: Girardi. … New York reliever Damaso Marte(notes) (left shoulder inflammation) pitched a scoreless inning with two strikeouts in his second rehab appearance for the Gulf Coast League Yankees.
NAAS: SSC-Cavite, CEU subdue foes
MANILA, Philippines – Defending champion San Sebastian College-Recoletos Cavite launched its title bid impressively even as Centro Escolar survived a scare to down University of Manila, 81-79, in Saturday’s opening twinbill of the National Athletic Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities men’s basketball tournament.
Holdovers Junjun Gracilla and Kris Lucernas combined for 35 points as the SSC Baycats blasted Lyceum of Subic Bay, 82-68, to kick off the league’s ninth season at the jam-packed Cuneta Astrodome.
SSC-R Cavite coach Egay Macaraya said he hoped the win would inspire the Baycats, who will attempt to become the first team to score back-to-back titles since UM dominated the first six tournaments of the league.
The Scorpions blew a 10-point 74-64 advantage in the final three minutes before holding off the Hawks, who rallied behind veteran Reyner Sadsad and rookies Aldwin Ferrer and Jayson Ibay.
Over at the Pasay Sports Complex, last year’s runner-up STI trounced St. Clare, 80-69.
The Astrodome scores:
First Game
SSC-R CAVITE 82—Gracilla 18, Lucernas 17, Escobal 15, Filio 9, Alcasabas 8, Basa 8, Antipuesto 4, Reyes 2, Pono 1, Pasagui 0, Atangan 0, Acain 0.
LSB 68—Collado 16, Baydo 12, Velasco 11, Bote 8, Bilog 8, Ellano 3, Valencia 3, Carey 2, Espineli 2, Ignacio 0, Fuentebello 0, Carter 0, Postardo 0.
Quarters: 14-17, 42-24, 62-58, 82-68.
Second Game
CEU 81—Magno 17, Zapata 10, Clauren 10, Marquez 9, Banas 9, Flores 7, Lobaton 6, Garcia 6, Yambot 2, Dy 2, Manlutac 2, Ascayan 1.
UM 79—Matubang 21, Ibay 14, Manuel 9, Sadsad 8, Viernes 8, Angeles 6, Ferrer 5, Delostrinos 4, Rabalo 2, Patricio 2, Jacob 0, Basan 0, Tamayo 0.
Quarters: 14-19, 38-36, 61-46, 81-79
Holdovers Junjun Gracilla and Kris Lucernas combined for 35 points as the SSC Baycats blasted Lyceum of Subic Bay, 82-68, to kick off the league’s ninth season at the jam-packed Cuneta Astrodome.
SSC-R Cavite coach Egay Macaraya said he hoped the win would inspire the Baycats, who will attempt to become the first team to score back-to-back titles since UM dominated the first six tournaments of the league.
The Scorpions blew a 10-point 74-64 advantage in the final three minutes before holding off the Hawks, who rallied behind veteran Reyner Sadsad and rookies Aldwin Ferrer and Jayson Ibay.
Over at the Pasay Sports Complex, last year’s runner-up STI trounced St. Clare, 80-69.
The Astrodome scores:
First Game
SSC-R CAVITE 82—Gracilla 18, Lucernas 17, Escobal 15, Filio 9, Alcasabas 8, Basa 8, Antipuesto 4, Reyes 2, Pono 1, Pasagui 0, Atangan 0, Acain 0.
LSB 68—Collado 16, Baydo 12, Velasco 11, Bote 8, Bilog 8, Ellano 3, Valencia 3, Carey 2, Espineli 2, Ignacio 0, Fuentebello 0, Carter 0, Postardo 0.
Quarters: 14-17, 42-24, 62-58, 82-68.
Second Game
CEU 81—Magno 17, Zapata 10, Clauren 10, Marquez 9, Banas 9, Flores 7, Lobaton 6, Garcia 6, Yambot 2, Dy 2, Manlutac 2, Ascayan 1.
UM 79—Matubang 21, Ibay 14, Manuel 9, Sadsad 8, Viernes 8, Angeles 6, Ferrer 5, Delostrinos 4, Rabalo 2, Patricio 2, Jacob 0, Basan 0, Tamayo 0.
Quarters: 14-19, 38-36, 61-46, 81-79
Tennis: Kim Clijsters eyeing full-fledged comeback
Kim Clijsters is married and a mom these days. Now she hopes to again become a year-round professional tennis player.
The former top-ranked woman is ending a two-year retirement this summer, revving up with appearances in the World TeamTennis Pro League next week, followed by a three-tournament test run. After returning to the U.S. Open for the first time since winning it in 2005, Clijsters will decide if a full-fledged return to the tour next season is feasible.
“I’ve been training like a professional, with my mindset to coming back as a full professional. I’m just going to see after the U.S. Open how the whole trip went and just see which things I have to adjust,” Clijsters said Friday. “Because it’s a new experience for me, as well, traveling with a family and just being back on tour and everything. It’s going to be completely different than it has been when I was on tour for 10 or 12 years in the past.”The 26-year-old Belgian left the sport in May 2007 to start a family. She married American Brian Lynch that year, and their daughter, Jada, was born in February 2008.
Clijsters called what she’s doing now “starting back all over. I hardly played for two years.”
She reached No. 1 in the singles and doubles rankings in August 2003, and won 34 career singles titles overall, including her Grand Slam championship at Flushing Meadows. She also was the runner-up at four major tournaments.
Clijsters was given wild cards to enter WTA tournaments at Mason, Ohio, and Toronto, followed by the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31.
“We should only be so lucky that she would come back on a permanent basis,” U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley said. “Regardless of where we are—and where people think we are—as a sport, when the opportunity presents itself for a former Grand Slam singles champion and popular fan favorite to come back after retiring, that can only have a positive impact.”
Before those three events, Clijsters is making her return to competition with World TeamTennis.
She will play matches at St. Louis on Tuesday and Philadelphia on Wednesday.
“It’s great for the sport that Kim is back,” World TeamTennis founder Billie Jean King said. “Kim has a great game and personality for WTT, so our fans are the real winners here.”
Clijsters is looking forward to making her WTT debut with the St. Louis Aces.
“You want to have that tension again, and the official type of matches. Although it’s not the same as a normal tournament, the atmosphere, I think, is there—and the tension and the pressure and the nerves and everything,” Clijsters said.
She’s been in New Jersey, staying with Lynch’s family while getting ready for her return, so these initial trips aren’t as daunting as they might be if Clijsters were in Belgium.
The past several months of preparation have been enjoyable. Still, she can’t wait to compete.
“I like practicing,” Clijsters said, “but I like playing matches better.”
And she’ll have an important new fan tagging along. How much of Clijsters’ matches that fan actually will see is another matter.
“I don’t know how much Jada will be able to sit in the stands,” Mom said, “but she’ll definitely come.”
The former top-ranked woman is ending a two-year retirement this summer, revving up with appearances in the World TeamTennis Pro League next week, followed by a three-tournament test run. After returning to the U.S. Open for the first time since winning it in 2005, Clijsters will decide if a full-fledged return to the tour next season is feasible.
“I’ve been training like a professional, with my mindset to coming back as a full professional. I’m just going to see after the U.S. Open how the whole trip went and just see which things I have to adjust,” Clijsters said Friday. “Because it’s a new experience for me, as well, traveling with a family and just being back on tour and everything. It’s going to be completely different than it has been when I was on tour for 10 or 12 years in the past.”The 26-year-old Belgian left the sport in May 2007 to start a family. She married American Brian Lynch that year, and their daughter, Jada, was born in February 2008.
Clijsters called what she’s doing now “starting back all over. I hardly played for two years.”
She reached No. 1 in the singles and doubles rankings in August 2003, and won 34 career singles titles overall, including her Grand Slam championship at Flushing Meadows. She also was the runner-up at four major tournaments.
Clijsters was given wild cards to enter WTA tournaments at Mason, Ohio, and Toronto, followed by the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 31.
“We should only be so lucky that she would come back on a permanent basis,” U.S. Open tournament director Jim Curley said. “Regardless of where we are—and where people think we are—as a sport, when the opportunity presents itself for a former Grand Slam singles champion and popular fan favorite to come back after retiring, that can only have a positive impact.”
Before those three events, Clijsters is making her return to competition with World TeamTennis.
She will play matches at St. Louis on Tuesday and Philadelphia on Wednesday.
“It’s great for the sport that Kim is back,” World TeamTennis founder Billie Jean King said. “Kim has a great game and personality for WTT, so our fans are the real winners here.”
Clijsters is looking forward to making her WTT debut with the St. Louis Aces.
“You want to have that tension again, and the official type of matches. Although it’s not the same as a normal tournament, the atmosphere, I think, is there—and the tension and the pressure and the nerves and everything,” Clijsters said.
She’s been in New Jersey, staying with Lynch’s family while getting ready for her return, so these initial trips aren’t as daunting as they might be if Clijsters were in Belgium.
The past several months of preparation have been enjoyable. Still, she can’t wait to compete.
“I like practicing,” Clijsters said, “but I like playing matches better.”
And she’ll have an important new fan tagging along. How much of Clijsters’ matches that fan actually will see is another matter.
“I don’t know how much Jada will be able to sit in the stands,” Mom said, “but she’ll definitely come.”
Tennis: Soderling, Monaco reach Swedish Open final
BASTAD, Sweden (AP)—Second-seeded Robin Soderling beat fellow Swede Andreas Vinciguerra 6-1, 7-6 (6) Saturday to set up a meeting with Juan Monaco in the Swedish Open final.
Monaco, an unseeded Argentine, routed two-time defending champion Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-2 in the other semifinal on the slow clay.
Soderling, this year’s surprise French Open finalist, saved a set point in the second-set tiebreaker when trailing 6-5. He won it when Vinciguerra netted a forehand return.
Vinciguerra, a wild-card entry ranked No. 460, broke Soderling’s serve only once to level at 3-3 in the second set.
The 12th-ranked Soderling reached his first final at Bastad.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “This is a tournament in which I really want to do well. I played well in the opening set. When I broke him early in the second I relaxed too much on the court and he came back.”
Vinciguerra said he would support Soderling in Sunday’s final.
“Robin played incredible, I hope he wins the final,” Vinciguerra said.
Soderling will try to become the first Swedish winner of the tournament since 2000, when his coach, Magnus Norman, won the title.
Monaco broke the third-seeded Robredo three times in the opening set and raced to a quick 5-1 lead in the second after securing two more breaks of the Spaniard’s serve.
“I think it was my best match of the year,” Monaco said. “I played the important points very well and I didn’t give him a chance to get into a rhythm.”
Monaco is the first Argentine to reach the Swedish Open final since Mariano Zabaleta, who won back-to back titles in 2003-04.
Robredo is 23-7 in Bastad after playing the tournament for nine straight years.
Monaco, an unseeded Argentine, routed two-time defending champion Tommy Robredo 6-0, 6-2 in the other semifinal on the slow clay.
Soderling, this year’s surprise French Open finalist, saved a set point in the second-set tiebreaker when trailing 6-5. He won it when Vinciguerra netted a forehand return.
Vinciguerra, a wild-card entry ranked No. 460, broke Soderling’s serve only once to level at 3-3 in the second set.
The 12th-ranked Soderling reached his first final at Bastad.
“It’s going to be fun,” he said. “This is a tournament in which I really want to do well. I played well in the opening set. When I broke him early in the second I relaxed too much on the court and he came back.”
Vinciguerra said he would support Soderling in Sunday’s final.
“Robin played incredible, I hope he wins the final,” Vinciguerra said.
Soderling will try to become the first Swedish winner of the tournament since 2000, when his coach, Magnus Norman, won the title.
Monaco broke the third-seeded Robredo three times in the opening set and raced to a quick 5-1 lead in the second after securing two more breaks of the Spaniard’s serve.
“I think it was my best match of the year,” Monaco said. “I played the important points very well and I didn’t give him a chance to get into a rhythm.”
Monaco is the first Argentine to reach the Swedish Open final since Mariano Zabaleta, who won back-to back titles in 2003-04.
Robredo is 23-7 in Bastad after playing the tournament for nine straight years.
NBA: Wade invites Odom in Miami
By TIM REYNOLDS, AP Sports Writer
Dwyane Wade spent much of his rookie season picking Lamar Odom’s(notes) brain on all aspects of the NBA game, everything from playing tips to travel advice.
He hopes those chats start again soon.
The Miami Heat, who traded Odom to the Los Angeles Lakers five years ago in the trade that brought Shaquille O’Neal(notes) to South Florida, have made the free agent forward an offer to return and help Wade once again. The team has not revealed terms of the offer, although it’s believed to be a five-year package that could be worth around $35 million.
“I want Lamar to do what’s best for him and his family because we love him as family, but on the other hand, we want him back home, to come home,” Wade said Friday in a telephone interview. “His house is still there. It’d be exciting to see what happens.”
Odom averaged 17.1 points—the second-highest average of his career—in 80 games with the Heat during the 2003-04 season. He’s spent the past five years with the Lakers, who pulled their contract offer to Odom earlier this week, a move that doesn’t necessarily mean the two sides won’t resume talking. Odom, 29, was a significant contributor to the Lakers’ championship run this year.
The Heat went 42-40 that season with Odom, winning 17 of their final 21 regular-season games and earning the No. 4 spot in the Eastern Conference. That summer, Miami traded Caron Butler(notes), Brian Grant and Odom to the Lakers for O’Neal, who helped Wade and the Heat win a championship two years later.
Wade, who has asked the Heat to make some roster upgrades with hopes of getting back to the championship level, said he doesn’t need to call Odom to lobby for his return.
“Lamar already knows how I feel,” Wade said. “I really don’t know how to feel. He’s really taken time to deal with it, sit back. It’s a very important decision in his life. It could be about where he ends his career.”
The Heat have also been linked to a potential trade involving Utah forward Carlos Boozer(notes), another close friend of Wade and his teammate from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported Friday that Miami “has not entered talks … but is monitoring” the Boozer situation.
Over his 10-year career, the versatile 6-foot-10 Odom has averaged 15.1 points and 8.8 rebounds.
“Lamar and I always had a great relationship,” Wade said. “He’s always been the guy, one of the guys, that I thought really helped me as a young player.”
Boxing: Mosley to go down to 140 to entice Pacman
By Salven Lagumbay
FORMER pound-for-pound king and current WBA welterweight king Sugar Shane Mosley has once again put superstar Manny Pacquiao on a defensive, this time challenging the Pinoy boxing icon to a fight at a weight right into the latter's alley.
Mosley, in an announcement to the media yesterday, said he is willing to move down to 140 lbs, Pacquiao's comfort zone, just to entice the latter to a fight following reports that the planned Pacquiao-Miguel Cotto fight hangs in the balance due to weight issues.
Cotto is reportedly willing to fight Pacquiao at 145 lbs, while the latter insists the fight be held at 143 lbs.
Mosley, in a move that surprised many, says he can take on Pacquiao at 140 and win his belt as well as reclaim the pound-for-pound title.
“I believe I can make the weight so let's do it! There should be no 143, 141 or 142 or all this other stuff. I'm going to 140 and fighting at his weight,” Mosley told Fighthype.com in an interview.
Mosley also believes that even at 145 lbs, Cotto will find it very difficult to make weight, so a Pacquiao-Cotto fight at 143 lbs is definitely not going to take place.
Aside from agreeing to fight Pacquiao at 140 lbs, Mosley also indicated he would be willing to give Pacquiao a bigger share of the purse, 60-40 in Pacquiao's favor.
“He's the champion so he's going to get more and I've got no problem with that. Let's just get this on,” added Mosley.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao's LA-based friend Jeff de Guzman has advised Pacquiao to take up the Mosley challenge instead of fighting Cotto.
“Aba, harap-harapan na niyang hinamon si Manny ah. Dapat pagbigyan na nga,” De Guzman stated, adding that a fight against Mosley will be more meaningful than a fight against Cotto.
“Mosley will be fighting for his legacy as well, and he has stated he has never won a belt at the 140-lb class, so Manny might as well fight him,” said De Guzman.
“That will be a really good fight,” added De Guzman.
UAAP: FEU whips DLSU
MANILA, Philippines – The kind of dominance expected from Far Eastern was in full show Saturday as the Tamaraws whipped the De La Salle Archers, 65-51, in the UAAP men’s basketball competition at the Araneta Coliseum.
A fiery start by veterans Mark Barroca, JR Cawaling, and Reil Cervantes pushed the pre-season favorites Tamaraws to double-digit leads early before they coasted to their first win in two matches.
“The adjustment was more on mental; lumaki agad ang ulo [they got too cocky early],” said coach Glenn Capacio after the Tamaraws rebounded from a 63-59 setback against defending champion Ateneo.
“We emphasized on ball movement. The team [that lost against Ateneo] wasn’t us.”
Barroca, a member of the national developmental team, shot a game-high 15 points, while rookie guard RR Garcia added 12 markers.
Cervantes posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 boards for the Tamaraws, who led by as many as 20 points, 61-41, in the second half.
The Archers – fielding a rookie-laden lineup after finishing second last season – dropped to 0-2 for their worst start in 23 years.
Earlier, Adamson took advantage of the University of the Philippines’ sloppy plays in the closing seconds to post its first triumph, 72-68.
The Falcons turned three straight Maroons turnovers into a crucial 5-0 spurt in the last 16 seconds to pull ahead after trailing at 69-68.
“The reason for that is our defense,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria. “I thought we were going to lose, but because of the constant reminder to be positive, they did not give up.”
Jan Colina registered a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Falcons, who joined the Tamaraws and idle University of the East and National University at 1-1.
Leo Canuday scored an undergoal stab with 16.4 seconds remaining to lift the Falcons up, 69-68, following a Lester Alvarez steal off UP’s Arvin Braganza.
Another Braganza turnover paved the way for a free throw by Adamson guard Jerick Cañada that cushioned the Falcons’ lead, 70-68, with 5.8 seconds left.
The Maroons, who dropped to 0-2, still had a chance to tie or win the game, but another miscue allowed Adamson rookie Eric Camson to score a buzzer-beating jumper for the final tally.
The Tamaraws held a 36-24 advantage at halftime built on a sizzling 51.7 percent shooting clip from a 26-16 lead in the first 15 minutes of play.
The Archers, who were held to their lowest point production in a 65-46 blowout loss to UE last week, continued to struggle with a 23 percent shooting mark.
For the second straight game, no La Salle player scored in double figures.
In juniors action, John Cani fired 19 points, while Christian Canicula added 14 markers and 17 boards to lead UE past FEU, 70-62, for its second straight triumph at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Baby Tamaraws dropped to 1-1 like the Adamson Baby Falcons, who leaned on Irvin Mendoza’s 17 points and 10 rebounds in dumping the winless UP Junior Maroons, 96-64.
Meanwhile, defending champion Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas dispute the solo lead in varsity action at 4 p.m. Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
NU and UE try to recover from recent losses in the first game at 2 p.m.
The scores:
First Game
ADAMSON 72—Colina 14, Cañada 11, Camson 11, Alvarez 9, Canuday 8, Nuyles 6, Galinato 6, Santos 5, Cabrera 2, Margallo 0, Lozada 0, Basilio 0.
UP 68—Co 17, Sison 12, Ma. Reyes 9, Gomez 8, Padilla 6, Mi. Reyes 5, Maniego 4, Lopez 2, Braganza 2, Astorga 2, Juruena 1, Marfori 0, De Asis 0.
Quarters: 20-20, 30-37, 50-54, 72-68
Second Game
FEU 65—Barroca 15, Garcia 12, Cervantes 11, Cawaling 10, Ramos 8, Noundou 4, Tanuan 2, Caluag 2, Manalo 1, Vinluan 0, Sanga 0, Knuttel 0, Exciminiano 0..
LA SALLE 51—Mangahas 8, Malabes 7, Marata 6, Barua 6, Bringas 5, Tolentino 4, Bagatsing 4, Atkins 4, Ferdinand 3, Webb 2, Villanueva 2, Mendoza 0, Co 0, Banal 0.
Quarters: 14-12, 36-24, 51-37, 65-51
A fiery start by veterans Mark Barroca, JR Cawaling, and Reil Cervantes pushed the pre-season favorites Tamaraws to double-digit leads early before they coasted to their first win in two matches.
“The adjustment was more on mental; lumaki agad ang ulo [they got too cocky early],” said coach Glenn Capacio after the Tamaraws rebounded from a 63-59 setback against defending champion Ateneo.
“We emphasized on ball movement. The team [that lost against Ateneo] wasn’t us.”
Barroca, a member of the national developmental team, shot a game-high 15 points, while rookie guard RR Garcia added 12 markers.
Cervantes posted a double-double of 11 points and 13 boards for the Tamaraws, who led by as many as 20 points, 61-41, in the second half.
The Archers – fielding a rookie-laden lineup after finishing second last season – dropped to 0-2 for their worst start in 23 years.
Earlier, Adamson took advantage of the University of the Philippines’ sloppy plays in the closing seconds to post its first triumph, 72-68.
The Falcons turned three straight Maroons turnovers into a crucial 5-0 spurt in the last 16 seconds to pull ahead after trailing at 69-68.
“The reason for that is our defense,” said Adamson coach Leo Austria. “I thought we were going to lose, but because of the constant reminder to be positive, they did not give up.”
Jan Colina registered a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Falcons, who joined the Tamaraws and idle University of the East and National University at 1-1.
Leo Canuday scored an undergoal stab with 16.4 seconds remaining to lift the Falcons up, 69-68, following a Lester Alvarez steal off UP’s Arvin Braganza.
Another Braganza turnover paved the way for a free throw by Adamson guard Jerick Cañada that cushioned the Falcons’ lead, 70-68, with 5.8 seconds left.
The Maroons, who dropped to 0-2, still had a chance to tie or win the game, but another miscue allowed Adamson rookie Eric Camson to score a buzzer-beating jumper for the final tally.
The Tamaraws held a 36-24 advantage at halftime built on a sizzling 51.7 percent shooting clip from a 26-16 lead in the first 15 minutes of play.
The Archers, who were held to their lowest point production in a 65-46 blowout loss to UE last week, continued to struggle with a 23 percent shooting mark.
For the second straight game, no La Salle player scored in double figures.
In juniors action, John Cani fired 19 points, while Christian Canicula added 14 markers and 17 boards to lead UE past FEU, 70-62, for its second straight triumph at the FilOil Flying V Arena in San Juan.
The Baby Tamaraws dropped to 1-1 like the Adamson Baby Falcons, who leaned on Irvin Mendoza’s 17 points and 10 rebounds in dumping the winless UP Junior Maroons, 96-64.
Meanwhile, defending champion Ateneo and University of Santo Tomas dispute the solo lead in varsity action at 4 p.m. Sunday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig.
NU and UE try to recover from recent losses in the first game at 2 p.m.
The scores:
First Game
ADAMSON 72—Colina 14, Cañada 11, Camson 11, Alvarez 9, Canuday 8, Nuyles 6, Galinato 6, Santos 5, Cabrera 2, Margallo 0, Lozada 0, Basilio 0.
UP 68—Co 17, Sison 12, Ma. Reyes 9, Gomez 8, Padilla 6, Mi. Reyes 5, Maniego 4, Lopez 2, Braganza 2, Astorga 2, Juruena 1, Marfori 0, De Asis 0.
Quarters: 20-20, 30-37, 50-54, 72-68
Second Game
FEU 65—Barroca 15, Garcia 12, Cervantes 11, Cawaling 10, Ramos 8, Noundou 4, Tanuan 2, Caluag 2, Manalo 1, Vinluan 0, Sanga 0, Knuttel 0, Exciminiano 0..
LA SALLE 51—Mangahas 8, Malabes 7, Marata 6, Barua 6, Bringas 5, Tolentino 4, Bagatsing 4, Atkins 4, Ferdinand 3, Webb 2, Villanueva 2, Mendoza 0, Co 0, Banal 0.
Quarters: 14-12, 36-24, 51-37, 65-51
July 18, 2009
Boxing: Who will preserve the Pacquiao legacy
By Recah Trinidad
THERE’S A NEW PROPOSAL FOR MANNY Pacquiao’s next big fight.
Certain quarters suggest that they skip the WBO welterweight title and stake a new crown instead.
First things first: Miguel Cotto at 143 pounds could be no better than a scarecrow.
The next question is: What does Pacquiao achieve if he crushes a slow, hollow foe?
* * *
The Pacman, naturally, rakes in the millions.
But, at the same time, an ugly possibility looms.
Pacquiao could also end up with a new title.
The Pacman could be boxing’s new Drain-Your-Pounds king.
* * *
Before you start suspecting, that was an original title imported by Dong Secuya’s philboxing.com from the United States.
Writing from Indianapolis, fight expert Dennis Guillermo warned of a gory possibility.
Guillermo, better known as dSource at the Indianapolis Fight Sports Examiner, sent Pacquiao diehards screaming in disgust when he warned that the Pacman could slide silly from his pound-for-pound throne if he ends up crushing a dried-up Cotto.
* * *
It was not clear if the warning was directed to somebody in particular.
But this should draw the attention of the great Freddie Roach, three-time Trainer of the Year.
Guillermo, in a sense, has been telling Roach that beating Cotto at 143 lb would be an empty victory.
It won’t amount to anything truly significant.
* * *
Of course, Roach will always scrape the bottom, do his best (and worst), in order to ensure a Pacman triumph.
But it might help if Roach also shares a few insights from dSource, who says that:
1) Cotto has already shown in the past he could not force his body to lose any more weight, so beating him because he is dehydrated nullifies the glory of victory.
2) It takes away from the accomplishment if Pacquiao doesn’t fight the real Cotto but a compromised version of the WBO welterweight champion.
3) If they should fight at 143 lb, the WBO crown should not be staked, because it’s not the real champion Pacquiao would be fighting.
* * *
Cotto at 143 lb could be a warrior with only one good arm, or worse.
He could be weaker, useless than a hornless bull.
“Cotto at 147 would be perfect, but Cotto at 145 or 144, which he says he could swing, would be enough to keep the fight legit,” Guillermo stresses.
Now, nobody is trying to tell Roach there’s somebody out there who could handle Pacquiao more perfectly.
* * *
But there’s also this question about legacy.
Continues Guillermo: “Pacquiao’s mystique is that of the underdog that took on all challenges. Pacquiao is about taking the biggest, most dangerous opponents.”
Now, dSource is at a loss.
“Why would Pacquiao want to taint that image now?” wonders the concerned expert.
http://sports.inquirer.net/sport/boxing/view/20090714-215327/Who-will-preserve-the-Pacquiao-legacy
Golf: Tiger Woods out early in the British Open
By Mark Sugden
Agence France-Presse
TURNBERRY — Tiger Woods crashed out of the British Open at the halfway stage after a second round 74 here on Friday.
An error-strewn display left the world number one on a two-round total of 145, five over par, one stroke above the cut mark and ten adrift of leaders Tom Watson and Steve Marino.
It was only the second time since he turned professional that Woods has missed the cut in a major tournament, the only precedent being the US Open in 2006 which he contested shortly after the death of his father, Earl.
There had been no hint of what was about to unfold as he followed six straight pars with a birdie at the long 7th hole to move to even par for the tournament -- a position from which he expected to mount a challenge to win.
But his round fell apart with a disastrous run of holes around the turn, with double bogeys on both the 10th and 13th ultimately proving fatal to his chances.
"There is no doubt I'm frustrated because I was playing well," Woods said afterwards. "After seven holes I was right there in the championship.
"I thought if I could post level par for the round I would probably be in the top ten. But I didn't do that. I went the other way.
"I had a few really poor holes in a row. I hit a few bad shots. It just seemed to be problem after problem and I kept compounding it.
"It is very disappointing. I just did not play certain holes well enough."
Woods has won three tournaments since coming back from an eight-month lay-off for reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
But he has not been able to add to his haul of 14 majors after finishing tied for 6th in both The Masters and the US Open.
"I have just not played well enough in the majors this year," he said. "In all the majors I've won I've played cleanly in all four rounds and I just haven't done it this year.
"I was on the range yesterday and I felt good. I was hitting it well. But unfortunately it was not to be today."
After bogeys on both the 8th and 9th, Woods sent his drive at the 10th flying into the long grass. With the help of dozens of spectators two balls were found but neither was the one they were looking and he was forced to mark his card with a double bogey six.
The situation was not totally desperate at that stage with the American then only four over -- right on the projected cut mark.
But a bogey on the 12th, where his drive ended in a fairway bunker, was followed by a second double bogey on the 13th.
The best golfer on the planet watched in disbelief as his chip failed to make it up the slope on the back edge of the green and rolled all the way back down. Woods then hit a poor approach putt and was unable to hole out from 15 feet.
A good approach to the 16th set up a 25-foot birdie putt which Woods holed to give himself a fighting chance of survival.
At the 17th, he had a lucky break when his second shot took a kindly bounce over the huge bunker at the front left of the green, the ball coming to rest just off the back edge, from where he was able to get up and down to get back to five over.
That meant a birdie at the last would enable him to squeeze into the last two rounds but a slightly over-hit approach meant he had to play a good chip to salvage a par that was just not good enough.
Tennis: Injured Verdasco out in Swedish Open
Fernando Verdasco limped out of the Catella Swedish Open quarter-finals but Tommy Robredo made it safely through.
Verdasco, the world number nine, pulled a calf muscle in the first game of his match against Juan Monaco and although he attempted to soldier on, the Spaniard was 1-6 1-3 down when he called it a day after 55 minutes.
"I had real pain when serving, especially since the injury was in my my right leg," said Verdasco.
"It was not easy for me - I tried to continue playing but when I saw that I had no chance to win I retired before injuring myself further."
Monaco will now face Robredo, who claimed the title in Bastad last year and in 2006.
The third seed needed 77 minutes to see off Georgia's Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-4 6-0 and is on course for a third claycourt title of 2009.
In the other half of the draw, French Open finalist Robin Soderling thrilled his home crowd by edging a tight match against another Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro.
The world number 12 was given a tough workout but crucially claimed three breaks to one to win 7-5 6-3.
Verdasco, the world number nine, pulled a calf muscle in the first game of his match against Juan Monaco and although he attempted to soldier on, the Spaniard was 1-6 1-3 down when he called it a day after 55 minutes.
"I had real pain when serving, especially since the injury was in my my right leg," said Verdasco.
"It was not easy for me - I tried to continue playing but when I saw that I had no chance to win I retired before injuring myself further."
Monaco will now face Robredo, who claimed the title in Bastad last year and in 2006.
The third seed needed 77 minutes to see off Georgia's Teimuraz Gabashvili 6-4 6-0 and is on course for a third claycourt title of 2009.
In the other half of the draw, French Open finalist Robin Soderling thrilled his home crowd by edging a tight match against another Spaniard, Nicolas Almagro.
The world number 12 was given a tough workout but crucially claimed three breaks to one to win 7-5 6-3.
PBA: Beermen bags Fiesta Cup
MANILA, Philippines - Laced with superstars in every position after a never-ending buildup over the years, San Miguel Beer finally achieved what it was built to do.
Throwing the full weight of their offensive armada at Barangay Ginebra and adding tough defense in between, the Beermen ended a four-year title drought last night by winning the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup after a clinical 90-79 Game 7 dismantling of the Gin Kings in front of 20,541 screaming souls at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen jumped out of the gates hard, zoomed to several 17-point leads in the third quarter before emphatically weathering numerous Ginebra rallies in the fourth to jack up their all-time high collection of championships to 18.
Jonas Villanueva, a few nights after being named the season’s Most Improved Player, bagged the PBA Press Corps’ Fern-C Finals MVP plum after norming 11 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists, edging out the rejuvenated Danny Ildefonso in the balloting.
The two teamed up in the play that ended all Ginebra hopes late in the fourth, as Villanueva fed Ildefonso in a fastbreak play that gave San Miguel an 83-72 cushion, going into the last 2:21.
After a hot first half where they took a 10-point lead, the Beermen shifted to high gear in the third, taking a couple of 17-point leads, the last at the 4:24 mark, as Dondon Hontiveros skipped into the lane and tossed in an awkward shot that gave San Miguel a 63-46 advantage.
True to its never-say-die spirit, Ginebra found an unlikely hero in Chico Laneta, who beat the third-quarter buzzer with a gutsy drive and then added another twinner early in the fourth off an aggressive move to push the Kings to within 70-62, with 10:46 to play.
But Jay Washington ended a four-minute drought with a slam dunk and the Beermen simply fended off several Kings rallies from that point on.
The last of those Ginebra rallies came late in the fourth, when the Kings held the Beermen scoreless for over three minutes, a dry spell ended by the Villanueva-Ildefonso connection.
The Kings trailed after the first quarter for the first time in the series, not being able to start in the same fiery style that they did in the first six games. Even David Noel failed to buy a point in that span.
Frosty start
Contributing to that frosty start was the ejection of Sunday Salvacion with 64 seconds remaining in the first period. He was called for a Flagrant Foul 2 infraction after hitting Freeman with a wayward elbow in the face.
San Miguel also took care of the ball better in the first two periods, committing just eight turnovers compared to the Kings’ 14.
Helterbrand, despite being hobbled by an aching left hamstring, still had seven points in the first period and eight in the second as the Kings, who trailed by as many as 13 points after the first eight minutes, stayed within striking distance going to the second half.
The newly crowned MVP took eight attempts from the field, hitting all six two-point tries and making a triple in 17 minutes, while Noel was 0-of-3 from trifectaville and just 2-of-4 from two-point range.
Although Freeman was called for a first foul with less than two minutes gone, the Best Import winner was able to stay away from his second until the first minute of the third quarter.
He translated a long first-half stint into 13 points and nine rebounds to give San Miguel a huge energy boost.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 90—Freeman 29, Villanueva 15, Pingris 12, Ildefonso 10, Cortez 9, Pennisi 8, Washington 5, Hontiveros 2, Racela 0, Pena 0.
GINEBRA 79—Helterbrand 25, Menk 12, Tubid 10, Reavis 9, NOel 8, Lanete 6, Wilson 5, Baguio 4, Mamaril 0, Salvacion 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 45-37, 70-60, 90-79
Throwing the full weight of their offensive armada at Barangay Ginebra and adding tough defense in between, the Beermen ended a four-year title drought last night by winning the Motolite PBA Fiesta Cup after a clinical 90-79 Game 7 dismantling of the Gin Kings in front of 20,541 screaming souls at the Araneta Coliseum.
The Beermen jumped out of the gates hard, zoomed to several 17-point leads in the third quarter before emphatically weathering numerous Ginebra rallies in the fourth to jack up their all-time high collection of championships to 18.
Jonas Villanueva, a few nights after being named the season’s Most Improved Player, bagged the PBA Press Corps’ Fern-C Finals MVP plum after norming 11 points, 3.9 rebounds and 3.6 assists, edging out the rejuvenated Danny Ildefonso in the balloting.
The two teamed up in the play that ended all Ginebra hopes late in the fourth, as Villanueva fed Ildefonso in a fastbreak play that gave San Miguel an 83-72 cushion, going into the last 2:21.
After a hot first half where they took a 10-point lead, the Beermen shifted to high gear in the third, taking a couple of 17-point leads, the last at the 4:24 mark, as Dondon Hontiveros skipped into the lane and tossed in an awkward shot that gave San Miguel a 63-46 advantage.
True to its never-say-die spirit, Ginebra found an unlikely hero in Chico Laneta, who beat the third-quarter buzzer with a gutsy drive and then added another twinner early in the fourth off an aggressive move to push the Kings to within 70-62, with 10:46 to play.
But Jay Washington ended a four-minute drought with a slam dunk and the Beermen simply fended off several Kings rallies from that point on.
The last of those Ginebra rallies came late in the fourth, when the Kings held the Beermen scoreless for over three minutes, a dry spell ended by the Villanueva-Ildefonso connection.
The Kings trailed after the first quarter for the first time in the series, not being able to start in the same fiery style that they did in the first six games. Even David Noel failed to buy a point in that span.
Frosty start
Contributing to that frosty start was the ejection of Sunday Salvacion with 64 seconds remaining in the first period. He was called for a Flagrant Foul 2 infraction after hitting Freeman with a wayward elbow in the face.
San Miguel also took care of the ball better in the first two periods, committing just eight turnovers compared to the Kings’ 14.
Helterbrand, despite being hobbled by an aching left hamstring, still had seven points in the first period and eight in the second as the Kings, who trailed by as many as 13 points after the first eight minutes, stayed within striking distance going to the second half.
The newly crowned MVP took eight attempts from the field, hitting all six two-point tries and making a triple in 17 minutes, while Noel was 0-of-3 from trifectaville and just 2-of-4 from two-point range.
Although Freeman was called for a first foul with less than two minutes gone, the Best Import winner was able to stay away from his second until the first minute of the third quarter.
He translated a long first-half stint into 13 points and nine rebounds to give San Miguel a huge energy boost.
The scores:
SAN MIGUEL 90—Freeman 29, Villanueva 15, Pingris 12, Ildefonso 10, Cortez 9, Pennisi 8, Washington 5, Hontiveros 2, Racela 0, Pena 0.
GINEBRA 79—Helterbrand 25, Menk 12, Tubid 10, Reavis 9, NOel 8, Lanete 6, Wilson 5, Baguio 4, Mamaril 0, Salvacion 0.
Quarters: 25-15, 45-37, 70-60, 90-79
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