Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2010/12/29/1902374/gold-rarities-postgame-show-celtics-at-pistons
Nick Johnson Javier Lopez Alex Hinshaw Ramon Ramirez Sergio Romo Ron Artest
Freitag, 31. Dezember 2010
Erik Spoelstra's Christmas Gift to Players Sends Inspiring Message
MIAMI -- Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra may be a last-minute Christmas shopper, but he deserves a pass since he was probably too busy planning for his team's much-hyped matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers to free up enough time to go shopping.On Tuesday night, in the Heat's first home game at the AmericanAirlines Arena since their victory against the defending champions, Spoelstra made sure he had a thoughtful gift for his team waiting for them. A DVD box set of the "Band of Brothers" mini-series and the original book written by Stephen E. Ambrose were bundled together in cellophane and holiday ribbons for each of the players. Taking a page from his mentor Pat Riley, who always sought to motivate and inspire his team, the young coach's intentions were clear.
The story of the Easy Company, an elite collection of riflemen sent ahead of the others to combat in World War II, is one that is easy to imagine would be a favorite of Spoelstra's. In enemy territory, these soldiers only had each other as they pulled together as a family to survive. With the Heat choosing to hold training camp at Hurlburt Field in Florida's Panhandle and their continued efforts to honor returning troops at home games throughout the season, the players have had plenty of contact with these brave Americans who risked their lives protecting their country.
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/29/erik-spoelstras-christmas-gift-to-players-sends-inspiring-messa/
Josh Howard Jason Terry Jason Kidd Dirk Nowitzki Jerry Stackhouse J.R Smith
Thursday Bullets
- According to a litigation and labor attorney from Chicago, today's NBA is actually very�similar to�the league's golden era of the 1980s. Unfortunately, today's NBA�audience seemingly wants NFL-style parity.
- Speaking of the 1980s versus today, SI.com's Ian Thomsen wants everybody to know that NBA teams in the 80s weren't any deeper than they are today.
- If Josh McRoberts' hard foul on John Wall made you mad, maybe these funny captions will make you glad.
- Want a�detailed analysis�of Sacramento's sixth win of the season? Of course you do. Sebastian Pruiti of NBA Playbook breaks it down for you. Although I'm not sure anybody writes up a halfcourt game-winner.
- This in-depth explanation of the "Four Factors" -- complete with charts and graphs and stuff -- will either make you smarter about basketball or break important things inside your brain. Accept the challenge. If you dare.
- The Lakers looked very crisp last night, don't you think? In comparison, the Hornets -- who grabbed a season-low 24 rebounds --�looked very small.
- The Pistons are a much better team with Tracy McGrady running the offense. Yes, Tracy McGrady.
- Relax, Celtics fans. Kevin Garnett's�MRI was a precaution, not a necessity.
- Okay, don't relax, Celtics fans. John Hollinger has some new, non-KG things for you to worry about.
- Even good teams with plenty of good players need somebody who can create shots.
- Based on the current results as of today, it doesn't look like Danny Granger or Roy Hibbert will be voted onto the Eastern Conference All-Star team. In all fairness, Indiana is a small market team and even Pacers great Reggie Miller only made one All-Star start...and even�that was only�because Michael Jordan was retired.
- More discussion and quotes about the defense not being played in Phoenix.
- Look out NBA: The Timberwolves have one two games in a row! And according to Basketball-Reference's Expected W-L formula,�the T-Wolves are actually�two games better than�their 8-25 record. Okay, maybe I'm reaching here.
- The Miami Heat just keep making history.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/23402/thursday-bullets-196
Chris Bosh Mario Chalmers Dwayne Wade Brian Wilson Eli Whiteside Mike Fontenot
Nova gets perfect test in win over Temple
PHILADELPHIA -- There are times when a basketball game can look a little like a ballet, run with a fluidity of motion that can be downright pretty.
Then there are games like the one between Villanova and Temple on Thursday night, run with all the fluidity and grace of a rugby game. Offensive schemes laid in a scrapheap on the sidelines, scouting reports turned into little more than an assistant coach’s wishful thinking.
The key to being a really good team is to be able to win both ways, to score when your offense unfolds like an open highway and when your offense gets run over by a semi.
Villanova beat Temple 78-74 in a slugfest Big 5 game worthy of a Big East stamp because when the Owls took everything away from the Wildcats, they still managed to find a way to score and Temple didn’t.
“They didn’t let us run a lot of offense,’’ Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. “Came down to being able to players just being able to make baskets and we didn’t make enough of them.’’
Jay Wright never will be accused of being a control freak of a coach. He is not on the sidelines madly scribbling on a dry-erase board every minute, concocting detailed offensive in-game schemes.
Can he coach? Absolutely. You don’t make six NCAA tournaments, win 20 games six years in a row and earn a spot in a Final Four without knowing what you’re doing.
But he has built Villanova on trust in his players as much as anything, holding fast in the faith that his guys know what to do with the ball in their hands. He demands defensive effort and offers up some semblance of offensive freedom in exchange.
Against Temple, he was rewarded for his faith.
The Wildcats held Temple to 40 percent shooting and forced 11 turnovers.
“We’re a tough, aggressive team,’’ Villanova’s Corey Stokes said. “We have a lot of heart.’’
Of course it’s easy to hand over the keys to the Ferrari when one top-10 recruiting class rolls into the next, but it is of note that the Wildcats are adept as anyone in the country at creating offense for themselves.
And against Temple, they had to. The Owls ranked 15th in field-goal percentage defense (37.7 percent) and 20th in scoring defense (58 points per game) and have a keen ability to frustrate teams out of doing what they want to do.
But Villanova never grew frazzled or frustrated and simply found ways to score.
In the first half, the way came via Maalik Wayns. A Philly product that grew up on the lore of the Big 5 and played against most of the guys on the Temple roster, he has unabashedly taken the keys that Wright has handed him. He scored eight points but more critically dished out four assists, setting up his teammates with his fearless drives to the hoop.
“Maalik has definitely developed into a true Philly guard,’’ Wright said. “I thought he was when we recruited him but he actually had a little more AAU in him than I realized. Now he’s really helping guys like [Corey] Fisher and Stokes.’’
Taking the lead from Wayns, Stokes created his own fortune in the second half, albeit in different fashion.
Always a good shooter, he was once more a spot-up guy, an on-the-arc camper. Now he can create shots as well as make shots. He sunk five 3-pointers but also took six trips to the free throw line, evidence that he is far more than just a perimeter stalker. Stokes finished with a team-high 24.
Where this all matters, of course, is not in the Big 5, but in the Big East.
Wright was masochistically thrilled that this game dropped into the schedule when it did. On Sunday, the Wildcats embark on the conference season, opening up against Rutgers.
It is hardly a news flash that the brutality of the Big East demands that teams find ways to win when things aren’t laid out easily.
Wright said before the game that Temple was as good defensively as any team he’d face in his own conference and was anxious for a well-timed measuring stick.
“Win or lose this game was perfect timing for us,’’ Wright said. “It could have ruined our New Year’s Eve, but we went into this thinking we wanted to see where we were. We’re a good team, but we can get a lot better.’’
Boston Red Sox Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers
Columbus Blue Jackets Fans get Finger from NHL Referee?
Did a NHL referee give a one-finger salute to fans of the Columbus Blue Jackets the other night? Possibly. Possibly not. Well, I’ve certainly learned in recent weeks about how to take criticism; never stoop down to your detractors’ level. I hope the official knows this as well.
From The Last Angry Sports Fan:
A bunch of fans in the 109 section of Nationwide Arena are saying that referee Paul Devorski taunted them before flipping them off via a subtle, but fairly obvious, obscene gesture.
During the Columbus Blue Jackets? 4-3 shootout win over the Minnesota Wild, the group of fans started razzing Devorski over what they thought was a missed call.� Witnesses claim they were giving Devorski the business pretty good, as to be expected from the hometown fans when a call doesn?t go their way.� Referees, umpires and the like get this kind of treatment all the time?it?s one of the reasons that a thick-skin is a prerequisite for professional referees.
Read more here
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Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/hockey/columbus-blue-jackets-fans-get-finger-from-nhl-referee/
Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat Milwaukee Bucks Minnesota Timberwolves New Jersey Nets New Orleans Hornets
Real Madrid Battle Barcelona for the Right To Sign Cesc Fabregas
Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid are now after the Arsenal star, after Barcelona's attempt to sign him failed earlier this year.
The former Chelsea boss may be seen as one of the best managers in the world, but he is still going to find it hard to persuade Cesc to move to Madrid.
The skipper was a youth player at Real's rivals, Barcelona. If he does move, then the chances are that where he will go, but Jose isn't going to give up on him.
He nearly joined Barca in the summer, but a plea from Arsenal's manager, Arsene Wenger, kept him in London.
Madrid will be placing a bid of £35 million o the table for the midfielder, or they could offer a part exchange with defender Ezequiel Garay, midfielders Lassana and Mahamadou Diarra or Gago.
A insider at the Bernabeu said, "Mourinho has decided to convince Cesc personally he can be the next leader of the team."
Barcelona will also renew there bid to get the player. Club president Sandro Rosell has said, "This matter is so important I am personally prepared to negotiate with Arsenal."
Fabregas has been at Arsenal since signing for them in 2003 at the age of seventeen. He has been an iconic player for them over the years and will be remembered by the Arsenal fans when he does finally move.
Arsenal found it tough keeping Cesc in the summer when Barca where after him; now, it has moved up a level as they will be competing with two Spanish giants in the summer.
Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies Pittsburgh Pirates
Mikel Leshoure to Rashard Mendenhall Comparisons Running Wild Now
Given that they are/were both Illinois Fighting Illini, wore the same jersey number, played the same position, and didn’t break out until their junior year (and when they broke out, they really did it in style) it’s inevitable to compare current Illini tailback Mikel Leshoure to current Pittsbrugh Steelers star running back Rashard Mendenhall.
Heck, I wrote a column about it in October.
And after Leshoure’s huge, record-setting game in the Texas Bowl, more people are making the analogy. Leshoure was even asked the question Wednesday night, in the post-game press conference. Both are local products. Leshoure is from Champaign (Centenniel h.s.) and Mendenhall is from suburban Skokie (Niles West h.s.).
By Paul M. Banks
?It would definitely be a compliment. To start things off, the accomplishments that he?s had and the success he?s having now. He was a great back and he?s continued to get better. Hopefully I can do the same thing and follow in his footsteps to make my name known in the NFL,? he said.
So then the million dollar question is, will he follow Mendenhall’s lead and leave early for the NFL after his breakout junior season?
?I haven?t got to that yet or decided what I?m going to do,” he answered. Meaning we won’t know for awhile yet.
Leshoure finished the 2010 season with a bang, recording 184 rushing yards and 21 receiving yards for a total of [More …]
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/illinois-illini/mikel-leshoure-rashard-mendenhall/
Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera Kerry Wood Francisco Cervelli Chad Moeller
Marcin Gortat Rips Suns Defense After Disappointing Loss to Sixers
PHOENIX -- Frustrations reached a boiling point for the Phoenix Suns both during and after Wednesday's dreadful 123-110 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers over their inability to play defense. Philadelphia ranks just 22nd in the league in offensive efficiency and 23rd in the league in points per game, averaging just 95.6 per contest. But the Sixers put up 123 on the Suns by shooting a gaudy 54.9 percent from the field and getting to the free-throw line 35 times to Phoenix's 17.
There were plenty of questionable calls that didn't go the Suns' way, including an out-of-bounds call late in the fourth quarter that went to the Sixers -- one that Steve Nash was certain should have gone in his team's favor. For a few brief moments, Nash completely lost it, picking up a technical foul for demonstratively arguing with the official who made the call. Nash continued to protest after he was whistled for the technical, and seemed as though he was trying to get the second one called so he could take an early shower.
Two sources sitting close enough to hear Nash's comments independently confirmed the statement he made to Alvin Gentry but was clearly directed at the official: "I'm going to f*****g punch one of these motherf*****s in the face."
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/30/marcin-gortat-rips-suns-defense-after-disappointing-loss-to-sixe/
Boston Celtics Charlotte Bobcats Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets
Donnerstag, 30. Dezember 2010
Video: Shaquille O'Neal Reacts to Being Fined $35K for Criticizing Referees
Filed under: Celtics, NBA Videos, The Bonus
Shaquille O'Neal was fined $35,000 by the league for criticizing officials after he fouled out during Boston's Christmas Day loss to the Magic. Part of O'Neal's remarks specifically targeted referee Bob Delaney (who wears 26 on his jersey), which is obviously a guaranteed fine every single time."I guess they (fans) come out to see No. 26 play," O'Neal said. "He was a great player out there today. They paid all that money to see No. 26 come play. My thing is, if you're going to call it, call it the same way every time. Don't pick and choose who you are going to call it against.''
We may think that $35K is chump change to a player of O'Neal's stature, and to be fair it is -- the guy has made in excess of $20 million in salary in each of the past nine seasons. But based on his reaction to the fine -- captured in the following video clip by CSNNE.com -- you wouldn't think that was the case.
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/29/video-shaquille-oneal-reacts-to-being-fined-35k-for-criticizi/
New Orleans Hornets New York Knicks Oklahoma City Thunder Orlando Magic Philadelphia 76ers Phoenix Suns
Ray Navarrete Blends Baseball, Fashion With Undeniable Style
Filed under: Minor Leagues
Ray Navarrete hasn't stopped chasing his dream. Make that dreams.Navarrete, a unique and stylish two-way talent, wants to hit for average in the major leagues and design clothes in the fashion industry. That's right. He has a glove in one hand and a sketchbook in the other.
Navarrete, 32, is a 10-year veteran of professional baseball at the minor league and independent league levels. He reached Triple-A with the New York Mets in 2006, has played every position, including pitcher, and was the 2009 Atlantic League Most Valuable Player with the Long Island Ducks.
That's just half of it.
Navarrete is also co-founder of a fledgling clothing line called "Digmi." It began six years ago as a description in style but has since evolved into a philosophy. It's best explained by Navarrete as the ability to make the world notice you for your unique style and passionate pursuit of living life through your dreams.
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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/12/29/ray-navarrete-blends-baseball-fashion-with-undeniable-style/
Indiana Pacers Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Memphis Grizzlies Miami Heat Milwaukee Bucks
Thunder roll by error-prone Nets 114-93 (AP)
Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder are forgetting what a losing streak feels like. Durant scored 27 points before taking the fourth quarter off and the Thunder bounced back from their latest loss by rolling past the error-prone New Jersey Nets 114-93 on Wednesday night. Oklahoma City forced a season-high 23 turnovers and won for the 10th straight time immediately following a loss.
Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez John Baker Brad Davis Logan Morrison Mike Stanton
Celtics feel pain of Garnett loss
For the second time in a week, one of the best teams in the NBA lost an elite player to injury. The impact of the absence of both Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett was immediate. For the Mavericks, it came with a home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday night. In the case of the Boston Celtics, it came in the form of a 104-92 loss to the Detroit Pistons a day later.
They got burned for 104 points by a hot-shooting Pistons team, one that sizzled from 3-point range for the second straight game. The Pistons followed up an 11-for-19 3-point shooting effort in their last game against the Bobcats by making 10-of-15 3-pointers against the Celtics.
A check of Basketball-Reference.com showed it to be the third time in the last 25 years (and the first time since 2008) that the Pistons had consecutive games in which they made at least 10 3-pointers AND shot 55 percent or better from 3-point range.
Elsewhere, while the Celtics had a rare bad night, the Los Angeles Lakers had a rare (relatively speaking) good one, snapping their three-game losing streak with a 103-88 road win over the New Orleans Hornets. The Lakers shot only 29 percent from 3-point range, but made up for that by making 68 percent of their two-point attempts.
The Lakers have played it to an extreme over the last two games. Tuesday night, they shot a season-low 35.4 percent against the San Antonio Spurs. Their 58.6 percent Wednesday was a season high.
Our nightly look at the most interesting plus-minus numbers also provided a couple of interesting takes from Wednesday’s games.
Miami Heat forward, Chris Bosh, who entered the night leading the NBA in plus-minus, was minus-16 in a 125-119 win over the Houston Rockets. In fact, when Bosh, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade were on the floor together, the Rockets outscored the Heat, 80-78.
It was a historic win for the Heat. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, they became the first team in NBA history to go 10-0 on the road in a calendar month.
Tyreke Evans was minus-8, but was plus-3 when it counted, sinking his first career NBA buzzer beater, a shot from beyond halfcourt that gave the Sacramento Kings a 100-98 win over the Memphis Grizzlies.
It was the eighth NBA buzzer-beater this season, the first for the Kings since Kevin Martin hit one to beat the Seattle SuperSonics on January 27, 2008.
And Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups may have had the best game of the night by someone other than Wade, going 6-for-6 from 3-point range, and finishing with 36 points in a 119-113 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.
But the Nuggets were outscored by two points when Billups was on the floor. In contrast, J.R. Smith was just 4-for-16 from the field, but Denver outscored Minnesota by 21 points in his 30 minutes of play.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/23350/celtics-feel-pain-of-garnett-loss
Charlotte Bobcats Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers Dallas Mavericks Denver Nuggets Detroit Pistons
A case of seriousinjuryaphobia
Matt McHale is the founder of the ESPN TrueHoop Network blog By The Horns. You can also�follow him at Basketbawful. Follow him anywhere else and he'll file a restraining order. All hail mighty Science!�For it�has brought us many delights and wonders, such as�six-pack ab implants, computers made out of recycled cardboard�and a�Wearable Instrument Shirt�that can transform�an average air guitarist�into an�Air Guitar Hero.
However, Science does more than cater to our�fanciful whims. It also�identifies the things�that scare us. And based on a quick Google search, pretty much everything scares us. Anthophobia is the fear of flowers. People with Consecotaleophobia are afraid of chopsticks. Those suffering from�Lutraphobia are terrified of otters. Seriously.
Oddly enough, Science has�failed to�define a term for one of humankind's greatest and most paralyzing�phobias: The fear that your favorite team's star player will suffer or may have already�suffered�a debilitating injury.
Well, if there was such a phobia,�Celtics fans are feeling it right now. In fact, they've probably been feeling it all season.
It's no secret that the return to health (and subsequent rejuvenation) of Kevin Garnett has been the�special ingredient�in Boston's magic sauce this season. KG's Player Efficiency Rating is back up in the 20s, his rebounding percentages are the highest they've been since his Minnesota days, and his Defensive Rating of 92.8 leads the league�(Dwight Howard is second at 93.1 and Joakim Noah is third at 96.8).
Then there's this little statistical factoid from ESPN Stats and Information: "Data from the Elias Sports Bureau shows that the Celtics typically outscore opponents by 14.9 points-per-48 minutes when Garnett has been on the floor this season, and outscored by 3.6 points when he has been out of the game. The difference (18.5 points-per-game better) ranks third among NBA players, trailing only Nowitzki and Steve Nash."
Long story short: Garnett is absolutely�critical to the Celtics' ultimate success.
Of course, this has been the case ever since KG arrived in Boston, which is why Garnett's surgically repaired knee is�a hot topic for�Celtics fans everywhere. As much as they may have thrilled to some of the sweet alley-oop dunks�he's thrown down this season, I'm betting�thoughts like "OhmygodIhopehedoesn'tblowouthisknee!" have crossed a mind or two. Or thousands.
Then KG�suffered a leg injury�during an uncontested dunk. Limped down the court. Crumpled to the floor in pain. And suddenly that nameless dread had become�reality.
Jeff Clark of CelticsBlog�is�keeping a stiff upper lip.�Although it's worth noting that his post title of "Don't Panic!" contains the word "Yet" in parentheses.
Anyway, Clark writes:
It is easy (very easy) to draw a line of comparison from this injury to the ones that plagued Kevin Garnett the last couple of years. Seeing him crumple to the floor without any noticeable contact with anyone else is downright terrifying. And it doesn't hurt that the team has played poorly (with or without KG) since Christmas - continuing a dreary trend. So are there any reasons for optimism? Call me an eternal optimist or blind faith follower, but I think so.
First of all, not all injuries are created equal. The early word is that it is not the knee and not a fracture as we originally worried. It is a calf muscle injury, which still has to be taken seriously (and we await the results of the MRI) but hopefully, hopefully isn't as bad.
Secondly, perhaps we can take that same history that gives us the creeps and take heart from it as well. A couple of years back when we lost Garnett (even though we didn't know we had lost him for the year yet) the rest of the team stepped up and played very well down the stretch. Don't forget we were up 3 games to 2 on the Magic that year. In addition, the team essentially took last winter off before rallying together for a run to the finals.
If the Celtics can weather this latest storm maybe they can get some guys healthy again. Rondo is close, West could be next, and Perkins is itching to get back on the court - who knows, maybe Jermaine O'Neal will make an appearance too ...what's that you say, he's playing already? Missed that. Anyway, whenever Garnett comes back, he'll hopefully have enough support to ease back into the rotation (well, KG doesn't do anything half speed, but you know what I mean).
I have to give Jeff credit. He's somehow emitting�rays of sunshine despite the fact that over half of his team's 12-man�roster has been or is currently injured (Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, Shaq, Jermaine O'Neal, Delonte West, Semih Erden and now Garnett). I'm sure it helps that the Celtics are 24-6.
But depending on KG's MRI results -- Doc Rivers says we'll know more later today --�seriousinjuryphobia may end up defining the rest of the Celtics' season.
Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/23380/a-case-of-seriousinjuryaphobia
Andrew Bynum Jordan Farmar Derek Fisher Pau Gasol Lamar Odom Baron Davis
Brett Favre/Jenn Sterger Scandal: A Few Thoughts on the Matter
I don't get it...why did Jenn Sterger and her camp state that they would NOT sue the Favre camp, the Jets or the NFL if Favre were disciplined (I'm guessing more than $50,000) by the National Football League?
From what I have gathered, Favre did not publicize this mess, and neither did the Jets nor the NFL. Sterger didn't publicize this, either (supposedly); rather, an independent website (Deadspin.com) brought this to the forefront.
So why isn't Deadspin.com being threatened with a lawsuit? And, if Sterger was so offended by Favre's creepy advances, why didn't she claim harassment back in 2008 or 2009?
Some are treating Sterger as if she's been preyed upon like a poor, helpless victim, but Jenn Sterger is NOT completely innocent in this whole thing! When are women (like her) going to realize that if they put some cheap bait on a hook, they might attract some bottom-feeders as a result? Sterger presents herself in a very provocative way (to say the least).
She has posed for both Maxim and for Playboy. Women (like her) just can't do this stuff, and then expect to be treated with respect! Right or wrong, it just doesn't work that way!
Lastly, make no mistake about it...as a long-time Favre fan, I am VERY disappointed with No. 4! Brett, do you remember how you felt when Deanna was diagnosed with breast cancer? Do you remember how you felt when you thought that you might lose her? You have been so blessed to have this wonderful, supportive, Christian woman for your wife (who apparently is still willing to forgive you), and here you were willing to throw it all away for a floozy like Jenn Sterger!
Come on, Brett; you're better than that—and so is Deanna!
Your legacy has definitely been tarnished through this. Part of your past appeal has been your "good-guy" persona; you've always shown a propensity to help kids in need. This was evident when you were recognized with the "Make-a-Wish" award in 2007. Sports Illustrated also voted you "Sportsman of the Year" during that same period. In my opinion, you can still get some of this adoration back (much like Michael Vick) if you come clean after the season is over.
You should make a heartfelt apology to Sterger (you attempted to include her in an adulterous relationship, after all), your wife, your in-laws, your children, your grandson, your mother, your siblings, your friends, the NFL, the Jets, the Vikings, the Packers and to all of the fans who have supported you over the years. If you do this, it won't change everything, but "genuine healing" will have its best chance to begin.
This is no longer just a private issue or a "league issue" as you have previously stated. It is now a "public issue," and you're the only one who can fix it! You owe us nothing on the field, Brett, but you do owe us a sincere apology off of it. Try it—you might find that Deanna isn't the only one willing to forgive you for your transgressions!
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/557124-a-few-thoughts-on-the-favresterger-scandal
Florida Marlins Houston Astros Los Angeles Dodgers Milwaukee Brewers New York Mets Philadelphia Phillies
Hawks May Assign Jordan Crawford to NBA D-League
Filed under: Hawks, NBA D-League, Utah Flash
Jordan Crawford, the 27th overall pick in this year's NBA Draft, has appeared in just 10 games for the Atlanta Hawks -- and in those games, he hasn't been extremely effective. Crawford has made just 19 of his 50 shot attempts.That's certainly a far cry from the Jordan Crawford that showed up in a huge way for the Xavier Musketeers in last year's NCAA Tournament with unlimited range, and even further from the hype that he received when he dunked on LeBron James in the summer of 2009.
Crawford's NBA shooting percentage thus far aside, the 6-foot-3 shooting guard is also behind Joe Johnson, Jamal Crawford, Maurice Evans and even the recently acquired Damien Wilkins on the Hawks' depth chart so far this season which has led to talks of him possibly being assigned to the NBA D-League.
"There has been some talk about it," Hawks coach Larry Drew told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "We are certainly going to keep our options open with our young guys (and) putting them in situations where they can get some playing time instead of practicing every day and just being with the team. I would rather them be somewhere playing, where they are learning, where they can get some experience."
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/28/hawks-jordan-crawford-possible-nba-d-league-assignment/
Andrew Bynum Jordan Farmar Derek Fisher Pau Gasol Lamar Odom Baron Davis
Mittwoch, 29. Dezember 2010
2011 Fantasy Baseball: Who Are the Next Elite Starting Pitchers?
2010 was truly the year of the pitcher. With five no-hitters this past year, including three perfect games, well two perfect games (sorry Armando Galarraga), teams have begun to place a heavy emphasis on pitching for 2011. Big names such as Zack Grienke and Cliff Lee have moved to different teams, and there are rumors that other pitchers such as Matt Garza can be moved as well.
While players such as Grienke, Lee and Halladay are considered to be some of the elite fantasy players, there are many other pitchers that are projected to be drafted within the mid-to-late rounds that can give you the production of a No. 1 fantasy starter.
The following list contains several pitchers that can break out onto the scene after showing glimpses of promise during this past 2010 season.
Path to the Elite
Name: Jonathan Sanchez
Stats: 13 W, 9 L, 3.07 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, .204 BAA, 9.55 K/9, 4.47 BB/9
Analysis: Statistically speaking, Jonathan is one of the elite pitchers in the game. Last season, he led all starting pitchers with a BAA of .204 and H/9 of 6.62 and ranked within the top 10 in strikeouts and K/9. That’s better than Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Tim Lincecum or any other pitcher that is projected to be drafted within the first few rounds. So where’s the love?
There is one blaring statistic that is holding him back—walks. If Sanchez wants to be considered an "elite pitcher," he has to learn how to consistently throw strikes. Entering his fourth year as a Major League starter, Jonathan Sanchez might finally put it all together. Considering his substantial upside, taking a mid-to-late round flier on this pitcher wouldn’t be the worst decision you have ever made.
Name: Clayton Kershaw
Stats: 13 W, 10 L, 2.91 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .214 BAA, 9.35 K/9, 3.57 BB/9
Analysis: Kershaw had unrealistic expectations placed upon him when he was drafted with the sixth pick in the 2006 Amateur Draft. He was immediately compared to Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, while his knee buckling curveball quickly became the talk of the organization. After an average first full year in the majors, he developed into a front of the rotation starter in his second term.
Among all sophomore pitchers, he ranked top five in ERA, BAA, K/9 and H/9 and really showed signs of maturity in his second year. Known primarily as a fastball and curveball pitcher after being drafted straight out of high school, he began to integrate a slider into his arsenal.
Kershaw has morphed into a pitcher with three-plus pitches and is on the verge of breaking out. His 13-10 record may seem pedestrian, but the Dodgers in general seemed to have slumped last year. If the Dodgers offense can perform like they are used to, Kershaw may see a spike in the win column and in his fantasy production.
Name: Max Scherzer
Stats: 12 W, 11 L, 3.50 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, .244 BAA, 8.48 K/9, 3.23 BB/9
Analysis: Scherzer seemed to have a rough time transitioning into the American League in 2010. During the first half of the season for the Detroit Tigers, he posted a 4.61 ERA while allowing an opponent batting average of .268. However, during the second half of the season, Scherzer sure seemed to turn it around quickly posting a 2.47 ERA and .222 BAA the rest of the way. Max has always had the ability to strike people out; the real question has always been if he would be able to learn how to control his immense talent.
The second half of the season should have proved any critics wrong. The Detroit Tigers have gotten better this offseason with the acquisition of Victor Martinez, and their offense appears poised to improve upon last season’s numbers—this only means more run support for Scherzer. Scherzer is currently drafted in the eighth and ninth round and seems ready to put together his first successful campaign.
Name: Mat Latos
Stats: 14 W, 10 L, 2.92 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .217 BAA, 9.23 K/9, 2.44 BB/9
Analysis: In his second season in the big leagues, Mat Latos emerged as San Diego’s ace and was a main contributor to the improbable playoff push by the Padres last season. It can be easily understood that when Mat Latos struggled (6.21 September ERA), the Padres struggled along with him.
At times during the 2010 season, Mat Latos was one of the most dominate starters in the league. For three months out of the season, he posted an ERA under 1.90 while holding opposing batters to under .189.
However, during the other months, Latos revealed his ugly side when he posted an ERA above 6.00 and allowed opposing batters to hit over .300 against him. It appears that his first full season as a starter finally took its toll in the latter months. Nonetheless, averaged out over the course of the season, Mat Latos put up very respectable numbers that would classify him with the elite.
Come 2011, look for Mat Latos to be ready to shoulder the load and prove that 2010 was not a fluke. The wins may be hard to come by next season, but you can count on a high strikeout total and a WHIP among the league’s best.
Name: David Price
Stats: 19 W, 6 L, 2.72 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, .221 BAA, 8.13 K/9, 3.41 BB/9
Analysis: It is hard to believe that David Price is only in his third year as a starter after watching him match former Cy Young award winner CC Sabathia pitch-for-pitch in the final games of the regular season. He certainly backed up why he was the No. 1 draft pick in the 2007 Amateur Draft.
In 2010, Price ranked within the Top 10 in ERA, WHIP, BAA, K/9, and H/9 and showed no signs of slowing down at the end of the season (3.09 second half ERA). His draft stock may dip a little because of the loss of Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena, but Price will be an excellent source of strikeouts and ERA/WHIP over the course of the season.
David Price is currently drafted around the fourth round which would be a steal considering his high strikeout rate and low ERA/WHIP making him an excellent acquisition if you miss out on the initial starting pitching run in the early stages of the draft.
Name: Tommy Hanson
Stats: 10 W, 11 L, 3.33 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, .239 BAA, 7.70 K/9, 2.49 BB/9
Analysis: In 2009, Tommy Hanson emerged as one of the top young arms in the league. After a mid-season call up, he went 11-4 while posting a 2.89 ERA to finish the season. Expectations for Hanson were high for the start of the 2010 season, but during the first half, he put up less than stellar numbers with a 4.13 ERA and a .271 BAA.
The All-Star break must have had an effect on him because he ended up finishing the year with a 2.51 ERA and a .205 BAA. Despite improving his numbers at the end of the season, he was only able to win two games in the second half.
You can expect an increase in the win department next season as he continues his hot streak of pitching. All signs point to Tommy Hanson sustaining his momentum into the 2011 season as one of the big draft steals (he is projected to be drafted within the sixth and seventh rounds).
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Charley Rosen's Close Look: What's Wrong With Lakers?
OK, the Lakers claimed that the piece of coal that the Heat presented them with on Christmas Day was due to their lack of focus and their failure to approach the game with an appropriate sense of urgency. And after being publicly berated by both Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant, as well as a feisty practice session, the Lakers collectively swore that their championship chops were fully restored.
How then to explain another lopsided loss, this one in San Antonio?
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/29/charley-rosens-close-look-whats-wrong-with-the-lakers/
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Notre Dame Hoops Uses Unconventional Formula for Success
“My theme is a lot of interchangeable parts,” Notre Dame Fighting Irish Head Coach Mike Brey said of his team this season. And it’s true, while last year’s team leaned heavily on Luke Harangody in the post and Tory Jackson at the point, this unit often sports a very unconventional line-up.
The Irish have ascended to the #15 national ranking in college basketball by sometime playing a set of five that includes four four-men.
“Certainly Ben and Abro are the most most confident to make plays, especially against are our early non league slate, and that’s not lost on me. They’ve been in the battles a little longer than the other guys,” Brey said of his system.
Indeed this team has won with experience, as seniors Ben Hansbrough and Tim Abromaitis lead the way.
By Paul M. Banks.
“I think it’s going to be really good for us because teams won’t know what to do with match-ups and mismatches, us having size but at the same time a lot of athleticism and a lot of talent,” Abro said of the system which doesn’t include a true point guard or a true center.
“Especially in the Big East, those teams don’t face a lot of teams like us,” he continued.
I guess we’ll find out Thursday, when the Irish open up conference play versus Georgetown. The team’s best attribute is personified by forward Carleton [More …]
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/college-bball/notre-dame-hoops-uses-unconventional-formula-for-success/
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Ray Navarrete Blends Baseball, Fashion With Undeniable Style
Filed under: Minor Leagues
Ray Navarrete hasn't stopped chasing his dream. Make that dreams.Navarrete, a unique and stylish two-way talent, wants to hit for average in the major leagues and design clothes in the fashion industry. That's right. He has a glove in one hand and a sketchbook in the other.
Navarrete, 32, is a 10-year veteran of professional baseball at the minor league and independent league levels. He reached Triple-A with the New York Mets in 2006, has played every position, including pitcher, and was the 2009 Atlantic League Most Valuable Player with the Long Island Ducks.
That's just half of it.
Navarrete is also co-founder of a fledgling clothing line called "Digmi." It began six years ago as a description in style but has since evolved into a philosophy. It's best explained by Navarrete as the ability to make the world notice you for your unique style and passionate pursuit of living life through your dreams.
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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/12/29/ray-navarrete-blends-baseball-fashion-with-undeniable-style/
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Video: Coach K not focused on milestone
Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski talks about former North Carolina coach Dean Smith, who will likely be passed as the No. 2 all-time wins leader in Division I after the Blue Devils' game at UNC Greensboro tonight (ESPNU, 7 p.m. ET). Coach K and Smith are currently tied at 879 victories.
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NFL Playoff Picture: Can Baltimore Ravens take the AFC North
The NFL Playoff Picture in the AFC North is competitive, yet likely clear. Pittsburgh and Baltimore have identical 11-4 records, play very winnable games this Sunday, and Pittsburgh holds the tie-breaker. If Baltimore wants to win the AFC North and secure a first-round bye, they need to beat Cincinnati, but also hope Cleveland can score an upset against Pittsburgh.
Baltimore can beat Cincinnati, that's likely going to happen, even though Cincy seems to be getting better. Pittsburgh losing to Cleveland is a lot harder to see happening, but they did win against Pittsburgh late last year, so it can't be ruled out. It seems like most of these games are not letting the teams control their own destiny, but that won't stop Baltimore from doing what they have to do.
For how the games might turn out, see this week's NFL predictions.
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Source: Arthur Rhodes, Rangers Agree to 1-Year Deal
Filed under: Rangers, Reds, MLB Rumors, MLB Inside Scoop, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency
Journeyman reliever Arthur Rhodes will play for the eighth different team of his career in 2011. The left-hander agreed to a one-year deal with the AL champion Texas Rangers Thursday, a source told FanHouse.Rhodes' deal with Texas is pending the completion of a physical and includes a vesting contract option for 2012.
Rhodes, who has pitched for the Orioles, Mariners, Athletics, Indians, Phillies and Marlins, has spent the last two seasons with the Cincinnati Reds.
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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/12/23/source-arthur-rhodes-rangers-agree-to-1-year-deal/
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Curtis Kelly's suspension settled at six
Sorting out the Kansas State Clothesgate mess -- in which star Wildcats Jacob Pullen and Curtis Kelly received impermissible benefits in the form of free clothing from a department store -- was merely a matter of settling on the length of each player's suspension. Pullen and Kelly missed K-State's loss to UNLV last week after the school was informed of the NCAA's finding. Pullen was hit with a three-game suspension, but Kansas State and the NCAA had yet to agree on the proper length of Kelly's punishment. That agreement has been made. Per a release from Kansas State this morning, the NCAA has accepted K-State's recommended punishment, which amounts to a six-game suspension, repayment of any illicit benefits, and an educational program administered by KSU's compliance staff.
There's nothing particularly controversial about this; it's the standard suspension for the sort of benefits Kelly and Pullen received. The difference in length can be attributed to the monetary value of the clothing each player received. Pullen received less than $300, so his suspension equates to 10 percent of his team's games; Kelly received somewhere between $300 and $500, and was therefore docked 20 percent.
The good news? The two games Kelly has already missed can be counted against his overall suspension, so the Kansas State forward will be able to return after missing four more games. That means Kelly will miss Friday's game vs. North Florida, as well as dates with Savannah State, Oklahoma State, and Colorado. Considering the rigors of the Big 12 schedule that await a K-State team in desperate need of leadership, that's not so bad after all.
And, finally, Kelly's suspension teaches us a very valid moral: If you're a college basketball player or a college basketball recruit, and you're thinking about taking illicit benefits, either go big or go home.
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Billups helps Nuggets end 3-game skid (AP)
Building a hefty cushion, the Denver Nuggets didn't have to worry about another fourth-quarter breakdown. Chauncey Billups scored 18 points and the short-handed Nuggets took a 20-point lead into the fourth quarter en route to a 95-77 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night. Denver snapped a season-high, three-game losing streak, including Sunday's loss to Philadelphia in which...
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Dienstag, 28. Dezember 2010
TMA: Pitt's balance tops Kemba's brilliance
The Morning After is our semi-daily recap of last night's best hoops action. It rediscovered the joys of a full eight hours over Christmas break. It will not feel those joys again for a while. No. 6 Pittsburgh 78, No. 4 Connecticut 63: It is impossible to stop Kemba Walker from scoring 30 points.
OK, so it's not literally impossible; Walker's average has dipped -- "dipped" being a relative term here -- to 26.5 points per game in recent weeks. But it's very, very difficult. Walker is a scoring machine, one of those players that can have an "off night" and still manage to throw up a tidy 30-plus points in 40 minutes as if the task was casual, even effortless. He's brilliant to behold.
Unfortunately for UConn, the Huskies not only need Walker to score a whole mess of points every game. They need him to do so efficiently. Monday night's Big East-opening effort proved that it's nearly impossible to keep Walker from leading all scorers. But it also showed that even if you can't keep Walker off the top of the scoreline, you can keep him from singlehandedly ripping your heart out and handing it to you during postgame handshakes. You can't stop Kemba, but you can contain Kemba's team. Pittsburgh did exactly that Monday night.
Walker had to take 27 shots to get to 31 points Monday night; he made 10 field goals, and only 3-of-11 from beyond the arc, and an off-shooting night wasn't the only reason why. Pittsburgh did the things you have to do to keep Walker from dominating the game. The Panthers slowed the game down and made UConn play in the half court. They shaded to Walker with help defense whenever he got past the first defender. They forced him into tough, double-clutch mid-range jumpers. They challenged every one of his finishes at the rim. Because UConn lacks a consistent second scorer -- let alone the sort of offensive balance Pittsburgh has from top-to-bottom -- the Panthers were able to take the Huskies out of the game even as Walker racked up the points. Walker scored 31 points, sure, but Pittsburgh's defense was arguably dominant.
Of course, it didn't hurt that Pittsburgh was thoroughly good on offense, too. Gary McGhee and company weren't their usual dominating selves on the offensive glass. UConn actually grabbed a higher percentage of their misses than did Pitt, which came into Monday night's game leading the nation in offensive rebounding percentage. But the Panthers were so balanced and collected on offense -- typical Pitt, that -- that grabbing a "mere" 40.7 percent of their misses was plenty. Offensive boards tend to shrink in importance when you get this many open looks.
Was UConn exposed? I won't go that far. This was a tough road environment against a top-10 squad, plus any other standard disclaimers you'd like to apply. Were UConn's flaws laid bare? I'd say so. The Huskies are, to this point, a one-man team. The good news? That one man is really, really good. The bad news? When that one man has to work so hard to be productive, and the opposing team has an arsenal of offensive weapons at its disposal, Connecticut is going to have a tough time hanging with quality opponents in the Big East no matter the venue.
Monday night, Pittsburgh looked like a top-five team. UConn looked like a star surrounded by his entourage. Until the Huskies become less of the latter and more of the former, they're going to lose games like this one. That simple.
Everywhere else: Oy vey. Indiana fans riding the team's recent recruiting highs were brought back to reality in the past seven days, when Indiana, in order, lost to Northern Iowa, Colorado and now Penn State. Worse yet, the Penn State loss came at home, and worst yet, Penn State's last game was a 10-point loss to Maine in Happy Valley. This Indiana team was picked to finish eighth in the Big Ten. It was supposed to improve in bits, rack up some nonconference wins, and maybe get to .500 by the end of the year if everything went right. Instead, the Hoosiers appear to be every bit the struggling entity they were last season, and Tyler Zeller or not, no IU fan will want to live through that one again ... Ohio State did unspeakable things to Tennessee-Martin in a downright unfair 100-40 win in Columbus ... Missouri had no problems with Northern Illinois ... Louisville intelligently scheduled this home date with Morgan State, which is likely to end up in the NCAA tournament out of the MEAC again this season ... Clemson blew out the nation's slowest team, Delaware State, 76-41 ... and UAB got a decent win over 5-6 George Washington in Birmingham.
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