Nina's Sports Bad Boys Blog World: May 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

LSU assistant baseball coach Grewe resigns

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) � LSU pitching coach and recruiting coordinator David Grewe has resigned.

The 35-year-old Grewe says the decision to pursue other opportunities is "solely" his own and head coach Paul Mainieri says a search for Grewe's replacement has begun.

Tuesday's announcement came a day after the Tigers learned they would not be receiving a bid to the NCAA tournament.

Grewe was a former head coach at Michigan State from 2006-08 before joining the Tigers in 2009, the season they won their most recent national championship.

This season, the Tigers struggled with inconsistency. They went 36-20 overall, but only 13-17 in the Southeastern Conference, which was not good enough to qualify for the SEC tournament.

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Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomCollegeSports-TopStories/~3/0cGoN_fzJyE/2011-05-31-1849650620_x.htm

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Could haggling NFL factions agree on social-media monitoring?

In the ongoing lockout, with passions ramped up by vitriolic rhetoric and litigation replacing negotiation, there seems very little on which the two sides agree.

Kevin Long actually may have happened upon a common ground: He feels certain that both the NFL and its decertified union hope to protect players' reputations. And he and the company of which he is CEO, MVP Sports Media Training and U Diligence of West Lafayette, Ind., have developed a program that might aid in that pursuit.

The program, currently employed by about two dozen Division I schools, monitors the Twitter and Facebook accounts of players, and dispatches an e-mail alert to both the school and the athlete when one of the key "search words" is used. Think the Pittsburgh Steelers, and tailback Rashard Mendenhall, couldn't benefit from the program? And by extension -- given that several players in the league have used social media outlets in recent weeks to offer messages that might be regarded as, well, anti-social, or at least misguided -- teams and their locked out rank-and-file wouldn't benefit?

"I would think both the league and the players association would be amenable to something like this," Long said. "If the key is protecting a player's reputation, and that's really what it is, wouldn't it seem everyone would want to do that? It's like being in Willy Wonka and finding the golden ticket."

One would think that, in a business where the opposite sides both parrot the hackneyed admonition about maintaining the "integrity of the game," such would be the case. But other than about three exploratory phones call from teams a few years ago -- all of them seeking to potentially monitor the posts of potential draft choices and not incumbent players -- Long hasn't received any inquiries for a system that was designed in 2008.

The system, which includes clients in the six major college conferences and which was noted last week in a feature in The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette concerning the increasing dilemma teams face with social media, tracks the posts of athletes from many of the client universities' major teams. The program identifies 500 key words -- most of them from a range of subjects dealing with drugs, alcohol, sex, race and violence -- and red-flags any messages using the terms.

Within 2-3 minutes, a cautionary e-mail is dispatched to the school and the athlete. As for a league that at times seems almost as concerned with the bottom line as with maintaining public confidence, the cost is negligible. It is $1,500 per year for one college team, and $5,000 to track 500 athletes in all sports.

Clients can also customize the menu of words that initiate the alarms. For instance, if the Steelers were facing the Ravens, then Pittsburgh officials could enter the term "Baltimore" or "Ray Lewis" on the list of red-flag terms, to potentially preclude their players from providing bulletin-board material. So franchises could tailor the list of verboten words to meet their needs.

Could the NFL potentially make the program a condition of employment, a better and clearly more enforceable method of policing the often misguided messages that some players initiate? Obviously, there would be some First Amendment issues. But, as Long noted, the players must also willingly download the application for it to work. And if the league and the players' trade association (formerly the NFLPA) were to collectively bargain the program into a new CBA, it would stand a better chance of withstanding any challenges.

Several attorneys and agents surveyed about a league-mandated ban on players' use of social media contended that the issue would be strenuously challenged. But it would "have some teeth, at least," an agent agreed, if it were part of a CBA, and thus agreed to by the trade association. And the fact that a player must voluntarily download the application to permit the tracking might also offer a way around First Amendment or privacy issues.

Of course, a union that views HGH blood-testing as an invasion of privacy that it won't sanction -- and which has instructed players against agreeing to such exams -- probably isn't about to limit players' rights to social media, right?

Of the seven teams contacted this week, all but two were unfamiliar with Long's service. Officials from some of the franchises acknowledged interest, but none committed to exploring it. Still, several of the club officials conceded to concerns about players using social media, particularly during the lockout.

"My feeling," Long said, "is that once you put something on the Internet, it's no longer private. I would think teams might want to guard against that, at least in some instances." Obviously, as has been demonstrated in recent weeks by Twitter and Facebook posts for which players have been forced to apologize or explain, the issue of the increasing use of social media is of some concern to franchises. There are a few college programs that ban players from using social media in-season. The NFL has rules that prohibit players from using social media during games, and for a time before and after contests. Last season, Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, arguably the NFL player whose tweets have attracted the widest audience, was fined $25,000 for using Twitter during a preseason game.

Long said that, in speaking to athletes, he urges them to avoid what he terms a "Google-able moment." Said Long: "The last thing you want is for your own words to come back at you."

He uses Mendenhall, whose Twitter remarks in the wake of the death of Osama bin Laden have drawn sharp criticism even from loyal Pittsburgh fans, as an example.

Indeed, when Mendenhall's name was "Googled" on Wednesday, 16 of the first 20 items cited concerned his bin Laden remarks. There was sparse acknowledgement of his consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons, or even his untimely Super Bowl fumble.

"If [Mendenhall] had some way of due diligence for what he was saying, perhaps he could have mitigated it in some way," Long said. "Let's face it, people make bad judgments ... and we help protect them from themselves sometimes."

Long has what he laughingly referred to as the "Mother Rule," and, while relatively simple, it might merit consideration for NFL players and the population at large.

"If you're posting something that would make your mother spill her coffee when she reads it, or to keel over," Long said, "then don't do it."

Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=ce7a73ddb96a677eeb8ef7cb367eebd2

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NBA Finals Roundtable: Analyzing top storylines of Mavs vs. Heat

The Mavericks and Heat return to the Finals for a rematch of 2006 but under much different circumstances. Miami, replete with its stars in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, garnered as many fans as enemies when the three joined forces last summer and went on to plow through the East this postseason. Dallas, with Dirk Nowitzki and a revamped supporting cast, surprised with a sweep of the Lakers and an all-out dominant run in the West. So what can we expect in this Finals sequel? Five SI.com NBA writers analyze how each team got this far and what lies ahead in the Finals.

What have you learned about both teams in the playoffs?

Lee Jenkins: Judgment is rendered too quickly. The notion that the Mavericks were soft was nonsense. So was the idea that the Heat could not win close games. We knew the Mavericks could score, but they have improved their defense. We knew the Heat could defend, but they have solidified their rebounding. Both teams have consistently blown open fourth quarters, and in doing so, they've won every round with relative ease. One side will flinch in the Finals, but there's no evidence to project who that will be.

Ian Thomsen: Both teams were viewed skeptically -- the Heat hadn't proved they could play as a team offensively and the Mavs were known for postseason collapses. Each used the tough circumstances of these playoffs to prove that they're better than most people thought.

Sam Amick: Chicago center Joakim Noah said it best about the Heat after his Bulls fell in the Eastern Conference finals: "They're Hollywood as hell, but they're still very good." For all the hype and the antics surrounding this team, Miami coach Erik Spoelstra has instilled a fierce, defense-first mentality that complements its stars' incredible offensive abilities and has helped create a formidable foe. The Mavs are fearless fighters, which is something none of us were saying all that long ago. No lead is safe when they're on the floor, with ageless wonder Jason Kidd running the show, center Tyson Chandler anchoring the much-improved defense and Nowitzki playing like the future Hall of Famer that he is.

Chris Mannix: Honestly, I didn't know Nowitzki was this good in the post. He dropped 48 points on Oklahoma City in Game 1 and didn't attempt a three-pointer. He is so much stronger than he was five years ago and virtually impossible for most power forwards to stop. Like most people, I've been impressed by the Heat's ability to jell the way they have this postseason. They have been a little fortunate (Rajon Rondo's injury was big for them in the second round), but they deserve a lot of credit for figuring out how to play with each other and beating up on some formidable opponents.

Zach Lowe: About Miami, not all that much. The Heat were a fantastic team on both ends all season, and a small sample size of inept late-game shooting doesn't mean anything in the long run. The Mavs' offense has been a mini-revelation, and they have proved that they had another gear in reserve for the playoffs. They haven't changed their system in any significant way, but they've honed their focus -- by going to Nowitzki more, exploiting mismatches, milking what works and (perhaps most significant for the Finals) cutting their turnovers.

What will be the deciding factor in the series?

Jenkins: No team in the NBA can truly match up with Miami's wings, James and Wade, but the Mavericks could have more problems than most. Despite their age, they were able to hold up against Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant, but now they draw two transcendent slashers at once. If they can survive the James/Wade onslaught -- without top perimeter defender Caron Butler, who is still recovering from knee surgery -- defensive coordinator Dwane Casey will finally have to be rewarded with a head-coaching job.

Thomsen: Shooting. Both teams have players who can make shots under pressure. It's one thing to have that talent and another to make threes when it matters. Dallas can't win without strong shooting, and if the Heat's role players aren't converting open looks, then it will be asking too much of the Big Three to carry Miami to four wins.

Amick: It's more who than what for me, and that who is LeBron. This isn't 2007, when James' Cleveland running mates during his only other Finals appearance were guys like Larry Hughes and Daniel Gibson. And this Dallas team -- talented and deep though it is -- isn't of the same ilk as the championship-tested San Antonio team that swept Cleveland that year.

Mannix: Everyone knows Dallas can score -- it's averaging 99.7 points per game, No. 2 among teams in the postseason -- but the Mavs' ability to limit Miami's offense will be critical. Now, the Heat haven't been lighting it up: They are eighth in scoring (92.9 points). But the Big Three have played exceedingly well together the last two series, Bosh especially. A major key will be the ability of Dallas' defense -- particularly Kidd, DeShawn Stevenson and Shawn Marion, who will be involved in big individual matchups with Wade and James -- to keep the Heat stars to low shooting percentages.

Lowe: I'll go with the Mavs' three-point shooting. After torching the Lakers from deep, the Mavs slumped to 32.8 percent against a quicker and more coherent Thunder defense. Miami's defense represents another step up, and a Dallas team that prioritizes the three far more than in any recent season will be in trouble if it can't produce a bunch of points from long range.

Who needs a championship more: LeBron or Dirk?

Jenkins: James needs a championship in terms of quieting the media chorus that has hounded him for 11 months. But he will get one eventually. Nowitzki is 32, and though he shows no signs of slowing, much of his supporting cast is even older than he is. This is by no means Nowitzki's last chance, but with the Thunder emerging in the West, it is clearly his best one. Nowitzki has finally received recognition in these playoffs as one of the elite. A championship would ensure he never loses his standing again.

Thomsen: People will say LeBron can win in future years, but no one can guarantee the health of his teammates or the impact of the new collective bargaining agreement on Miami's roster. This is his eighth year and I can guarantee you he is obsessed with winning now. In his view, he has waited too long already. Nowitzki has to be viewing this as possibly his final shot at a title, knowing how difficult it is to reach the Finals. I'm sure he believes no one can want to win more than he does. But there is no doubt that more external pressure is on James to prevail, because of the expectations he has faced throughout his career.

Amick: Dirk needs this more because of this reality: One championship is all he needs. While James needs to win three, four, five or even six titles to achieve the kind of legacy he is pursuing, Nowitzki's narrative is much different. One title means he would have changed his own story, persevering through the Finals choke-job in 2006 against Miami to win it all at this late hour of his career with a gritty greatness we weren't sure the 13-year veteran had in him. James certainly needs to get his first title as badly as anyone in the league, especially since he's about to finish his eighth season. But the player with whom Scottie Pippen has decided we should compare him, Michael Jordan, was 28 when he won his first of six titles. James is 26, and the Heat will certainly be in this mix for years to come. Nowitzki's time is now.

Mannix: Dirk, easily. He's 32 and the clock is ticking. LeBron's "not one, not two, not three ..." speech put the pressure on him. But at 26, he's got a few years and a heck of a roster around him to collect his titles. Nowitzki's supporting cast is aging and the expected emergence of the Thunder and the likely resurgence of the Lakers means this could be his last shot at a title.

Lowe: I reject the idea that either "needs" a championship to validate his worth as a basketball player. Both are among the best the league has ever seen, and a ring will not change that. Winning a title is a team accomplishment, not an individual one, and depends a lot on luck, teammate quality, health and matchups. These have been the two best players in the postseason; haven't they proved their individual worth already? LeBron will have many more chances to win a title; Nowitzki may never have a better one. In that very obvious sense, Nowitzki may "need" this series more.

Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/basketball/nba/05/31/finals.roundtable/index.html?xid=si_topstories

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Harvick steals win as Earnhardt runs out of gas

CONCORD, N.C. -- Dale Earnhardt Jr. was out front on the final lap for the first time in 105 races, and the only thing standing in the way of a victory was the gas, or lack of it, in his tank.

Newton: Sharing the Spotlight

About the only way the Coca-Cola 600 could have upstaged the 100th anniversary of the Indy 500 was for Dale Earnhardt Jr. to celebrate in Victory Lane. Too bad Junior ran out of gas, writes ESPN.com's David Newton. Story

The crowd roared as he took the white flag, the fans stomping in the stands in near hysteria over the almost certain ending of Earnhardt's nearly three-year losing streak.

In a blink of an eye, it was over.

The gas tank in his Chevrolet ran dry along the backstretch at Charlotte Motor Speedway, and as Earnhardt tried to coast his way through the final turn, Kevin Harvick zipped past him to steal the Coca-Cola 600.

It was a heartbreaking end for the victory-starved JR Nation, and somewhat mimicked the final lap of the Indianapolis 500.

Earlier Sunday, rookie JR Hildebrand crashed coming out of the final turn to lose the Indianapolis 500. Both Earnhardt and Hildebrand are sponsored by the National Guard, and the sudden turns in the two big races spoiled what would have been a celebratory Memorial Day for the military, which makes sponsorship of auto racing its top marketing tool.

"We almost won this race," Earnhardt said. Broadcast from the garage on Charlotte's 200-foot wide big screen, the crowd erupted in cheers for NASCAR's most popular driver.

He settled for seventh, and his last win was at Michigan in 2008. It's the second time this year he's lost to Harvick, who has led just nine laps in his Sprint Cup Series-best three victories.

Harvick passed Earnhardt for the lead in the closing laps at Martinsville, and has taken no joy in beating him either time.

"I think everybody sitting up here would say we want the 88 to win and they're so close to winning and both times they had a chance to win," Harvick said. "We are going to do what we have to do to win the races, and today it all just worked out strategy wise that we won the race.

"But I feel so stinking bad for him, and I know how bad he wants it. It'll happen."

Earnhardt was comfortably out front in the closing laps of NASCAR's longest race of the year. Earnhardt knew stretching his gas to the finish was going to be tough, but crew chief Steve Letarte ordered him to go for broke.

It capped a frantic few minutes of strategy as nearly five hours of racing came down to fuel mileage and a final two-lap sprint to the finish.

The crew chief begged Earnhardt to not worry about gas and chase down Greg Biffle and Kasey Kahne over the final 20 laps. But Letarte reversed course when Kahne closed in on Biffle, and Matt Kenseth, who was running fourth, stopped for gas.

Figuring Biffle and Kahne would run out racing each other for the win, he urged Earnhardt to sit tight and try to exploit their misfortune. It might have worked, too, if Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson's engine didn't fail four laps from the finish.

Biffle had to stop for gas under caution, and Kahne and Earnhardt lined up side-by-side for the final restart.

Earnhardt, on the bottom, got a great jump as Kahne got hit from behind by Brad Keselowski. It caused cars to stack up in the middle of the pack, and debris was strewn everywhere. But the caution call from NASCAR never came.

Earnhardt got to the white flag just fine. But because the yellow never waved, he had to race and couldn't make it to the finish.

Earnhardt ran out on the back straightaway and coasted through the final turn until Harvick passed him.

Charlotte Results

Dale Earnhardt Jr. ran out of gas on the final lap, allowing Kevin Harvick to steal the win at Charlotte.

Complete results

"The spotter was like, 'Man, they're coming! They're coming!' I was like, 'I'm cruising. What am I supposed to do, get out and pedal this thing with my feet?" Earnhardt said.

Harvick had a similar reaction.

"The spotter was going nuts, "The 88's out of gas! Keep going!" Harvick said. "I'm like 'Well, I'm not going to let off!' What do you want me to do? I'm going as hard as I can go. All of a sudden, he just shut off. He had sucked every drop out of it."

Meanwhile, David Ragan finished second in a Ford behind the Chevrolet of Harvick. Joey Logano was third in third in a Toyota, and Kurt Busch was fourth in a Dodge. AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose were fifth in sixth in Fords for Richard Petty Motorsports.

Regan Smith was eighth in a Chevrolet, while the Toyotas of David Reutimann and Denny Hamlin rounded out the top 10.

The finishing order wasn't really indicative of how drivers managed the 600-mile race.

Biffle and Kenseth probably had the best cars, but Biffle would up 13th and Kenseth was 14th because of the fuel issues. Kahne, who came back from a pit road speeding penalty to have a shot at the win, wound up 22nd.

Kyle Busch led 55 laps, but had two late spins and finished 32nd.

It was so topsy-turvy, it opened the door for drivers who struggled mightily most of the race, and that included Hamlin, who changed his carburetor late in the race to drop from fourth to 27th with 99 laps to go.

"My eyes got huge when I saw everyone was running out in front of us," Hamlin said.

Same for Harvick, who complained from the very first laps about the handling of his Chevrolet, some pit calls by crew chief Gil Martin and a debris caution from NASCAR that Harvick doubted was legitimate.

But he somehow worked his way toward the front, and put himself in position to steal the win 500 yards from the finish.

"We were lucky," Harvick said from Victory Lane. "It's nothing against the race track, I just don't like racing here. It just doesn't fit what I do. I griped and griped and griped all day long about how terrible it was. I just had a bad attitude."

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/nascar/cup/news/story?id=6606531&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Running Back MVP home run touchdowns All Star

Rampage wins by unanimous decision at UFC 130

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Former light heavyweight champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson dominated Matt Hamill on Saturday night, winning a unanimous decision at UFC 130.

Jackson was able to neutralize every takedown attempt by the former NCAA wrestling champion while easily controlling the stand-up action throughout the fight. All three judges scored the bout 30-27.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, I give myself a 5," Jackson said. "But I did what I had to do to scrape out a victory."

Jackson came on strong at the end of the first round, bloodying Hamill's mouth just before the bell. He also landing a number of power punches in the final two rounds on his way to a convincing victory.

Jackson said Hamill had a great game plan.

"I wish I could have implemented my plan a little better," Jackson said. "That guy was tough. I was trying to knock him out."

In the co-main event, former heavyweight champ Frank Mir beat Roy Nelson in a unanimous decision. The judges' scores were 30-27, 30-27 and 30-26.

"Like I promised you, I'm not losing," Mir said. "I'm going for the title again. That's every fighter's dream."

Mir had a nice judo toss while taking the first round easily. He used the single-leg takedown to bring Nelson to the mat a number of times in the final two rounds.

On the undercard, Travis Browne knocked out Stefan Struvein the first round. Rick Story won by unanimous decision over Thiago Alves and Brian Stann continued his march up the middleweight ranks with a second-round TKO over Jorge Santiago.

Demetrious Johnson and Tim Boetsch also earned unanimous decision victories in the preliminary bouts. Gleison Tibau earned a submission victory and Michael McDonald and Renan Barao each won by decision.

Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/mma/05/28/ufc.130.ap/index.html?eref=si_latest

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Jets' Ryan takes tips from Gibbs on navigating work stoppage

Source: http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d82009cdd

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Bucs' Winslow aims to play with 'leader' Freeman until the end

Source: http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d82011c68

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SI investigation finds more violations by Jim Tressel

By George Dohrmann with David Epstein

This story appears in the June 6 edition of Sports Illustrated. To purchase a digital version of the magazine, go here.

The character traits that have made Jim Tressel a successful football coach and a beloved figure in Ohio are numerous and frequently cited. Former NFL coach Tony Dungy has praised Tressel's "integrity" and said he is the kind of man you'd want your son to play for. Eddie DeBartolo, the former 49ers owner, has said that Tressel's "steady" demeanor and knack for relating to young men reminded him of Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh.

Tressel has often been described as senatorial, an adjective rarely applied to a football coach; in fact, one of his nicknames is the Senator. He has been lauded for his sincerity and his politeness, and people who admire his faith in God often mention the prayer-request box on the desk in his office at Ohio State.

The 58-year-old Tressel benefited from the fertile recruiting grounds of Ohio, but supporters always believed he got the most out of players because he was -- as the title of a 2009 book about him declares -- More Than a Coach. Under Tressel, the Buckeyes often sat together before meetings or at the start of practice for 10 minutes of "quiet time" to read about virtues such as humility, faith and gratitude. Tressel liked to say that his teams "play as hard as we can play" but also "respect as hard as we can respect."

Yet while Tressel's admirable qualities have been trumpeted, something else essential to his success has gone largely undiscussed: his ignorance. Professing a lack of awareness isn't usually the way to get ahead, but it has helped Tressel at key moments in his career. As coach at Youngstown (Ohio) State in the mid-1990s, he claimed not to know that his star quarterback had received a car and more than $10,000 from a school trustee and his associates -- even though it was later established in court documents that Tressel had told the player to go see the trustee. In 2003, during Tressel's third season in Columbus, Buckeyes running back Maurice Clarett was found to have received money and other benefits. Even though Tressel said he spent more time with Clarett than with any other player, he also said he did not know that Clarett had been violating the rules. A year later an internal Ohio State investigation (later corroborated by the NCAA) found that quarterback Troy Smith had taken $500 from a booster. It was the second time the booster had been investigated for allegedly providing improper benefits to a star player, but again Tressel said he had no knowledge of the illicit payment.

On Monday -- after months of turmoil during which he had first claimed to be unaware of violations in his program and then acknowledged that he had known about them -- Tressel resigned. (He had four years left on his estimated $3.5 million-a-year contract.) In his 10 seasons Tressel was the most successful coach in Columbus since Woody Hayes, having led the Buckeyes to three BCS title games, the 2002 national championship, a 9-1 record against Michigan and a winning percentage of 82.8%. But like Hayes, who was fired after hitting a Clemson player during the 1978 Gator Bowl, Tressel exits ignominiously, all of his many accomplishments tarnished. "After meeting with university officials, we agreed that it is in the best interest of Ohio State that I resign as head football coach," Tressel said in a statement. "The appreciation that [my wife] Ellen and I have for the Buckeye Nation is immeasurable." The school named Luke Fickell, 37, as interim coach for the 2011 season. The team's co-defensive coordinator and assistant head coach, Fickell is a Columbus native who played for Ohio State from 1992 to '96.

Tressel's most recent troubles began in December, when the Department of Justice, passing along information it had gathered in a raid while investigating the owner of a Columbus tattoo parlor for drug trafficking, informed Ohio State that at least six current players, including quarterback Terrelle Pryor, had traded team memorabilia for tattoos or cash at the parlor. When those revelations became public, Tressel said he hadn't known what the players had done and expressed disappointment that they had not listened to what he called the "little sensor" inside them that knew right from wrong. Four of Tressel's highest-profile players were found to have committed major NCAA violations, yet the coach's supporters insisted that those were isolated incidents outside his control.

Then, on March 8, Tressel stood before TV cameras and confirmed a Yahoo report that he had been aware of the memorabilia-for-ink scandal and had not informed Ohio State officials when asked about it in December. Tressel said he had first learned that players were breaking NCAA rules almost a year earlier, in April 2010, when a Columbus lawyer e-mailed him. Rather than alert his superiors, as NCAA regulations require, Tressel said he "couldn't think" whom to tell. It was later reported that he had told one person, a hometown adviser of Pryor's. By ignoring his own "little sensor" and failing to be forthcoming, Tressel protected key players from being ruled ineligible for much of the 2010 season, in which the Buckeyes were a popular pick to reach the BCS championship game. (They ended up going 12-1.)

A failure to disclose potential violations is considered one of the NCAA's cardinal sins and almost always leads to a coach's dismissal or resignation. Yet Ohio State supported Tressel and continued backing him despite weeks of negative press and calls by prominent alumni for him to be replaced.

That support crumbled suddenly over Memorial Day weekend. Tressel was forced out three days after Sports Illustrated alerted Ohio State officials that the wrongdoing by Tressel's players was far more widespread than had been reported. SI learned that the memorabilia-for-tattoos violations actually stretched back to 2002, Tressel's second season at Ohio State, and involved at least 28 players -- 22 more than the university has acknowledged. Those numbers include, beyond the six suspended players, an additional nine current players as well as nine former players whose alleged wrongdoing might fall within the NCAA's four-year statute of limitations on violations.

One former Buckeye, defensive end Robert Rose, whose career ended in 2009, told SI that he had swapped memorabilia for tattoos and that "at least 20 others" on the team had done so as well. SI's investigation also uncovered allegations that Ohio State players had traded memorabilia for marijuana and that Tressel had potentially broken NCAA rules when he was a Buckeyes assistant coach in the mid-1980s.

Last Friday, SI informed Ohio State spokesman Jim Lynch of the new allegations and asked that Tressel be made aware of them. Lynch said the school would have some comment by the end of the day. No comment came, and on Saturday, Lynch told SI to contact Tressel's lawyer, Gene Marsh, for any response from the coach; Lynch also said he could not confirm that Tressel had been apprised of the new allegations. The implication was clear: Ohio State was distancing itself from Tressel. (E-mails from SI to Tressel and to Marsh and multiple phone messages for Marsh went unanswered.)

For more than a decade, Ohioans have viewed Tressel as a pillar of rectitude, and have disregarded or made excuses for the allegations and scandal that have quietly followed him throughout his career. His integrity was one of the great myths of college football. Like a disgraced politician who preaches probity but is caught in lies, the Senator was not the person he purported to be.

Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/magazine/05/30/jim.tressel/index.html?xid=si_topstories

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Monday, May 30, 2011

Kaepernick takes part in vigorous Niners passing session

Source: http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d8200e74f

Donovan McNabb players association David Stern Cliff Lee Shaun Rogers

Faine pens fan letter clarifying criticism of Bucs workouts

Source: http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d8200e958

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Tigers top Twins on Avila's disputed double

MIN@DET: Avila rips a go-ahead double in the eighth

DETROIT -- Fan interference on Alex Avila's double in the eighth inning allowed Jhonny Peralta to score the eventual winning run, as the Detroit Tigers defeated the Minnesota Twins, 6-5, at Comerica Park. It was the Tigers' seventh straight win against the Twins, dating back to last season.

Avila's two-out double down the third-base line appeared to ricochet off a fan. The umpires ruled fan interference and said Peralta, who took off from first base on contact, would have scored.

"Looking at the replay, when the fan touched it and where [Peralta] was and where [Twins outfielder Delmon Young] was, I thought he would have scored easy," Avila said. "That plays a judgment call on the umpire, and I thought they made the right call."

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire didn't agree.

"I don't care who it hit -- when it hits a fan in the stands, it's a ground-rule double and you don't score," Gardenhire said. "However you want to call it, that guy doesn't score. So it doesn't make sense to me and what they told me didn't make any sense, either."

Early in the game, it looked like the Tigers were feeling no effects from Sunday's day-night doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox. The Tigers couldn't have gotten off to a much better start in the game, as starter Brad Penny threw an eight-pitch opening inning -- all of them for strikes -- and the offense scored two runs in the bottom of the inning.

Outfielder Austin Jackson scored on a groundout from outfielder Brennan Boesch, and first baseman Miguel Cabrera followed with a solo home run to give Detroit a 2-0 lead. The Tigers scored another run in the second to increase their lead to 3-0.

Penny had great command early, throwing first-pitch strikes to 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, but began to lose location as the game progressed. The Twins scored one run in the third inning and rallied for four runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-3 lead.

Penny missed most of last season with a back injury, but with Monday's warm weather came more heat.

"That's probably the strongest I've felt since I got injured last year," Penny said "It's nice to have my strength all the way back."

As Penny's command wavered, his velocity picked up, as his fastball topped out at 95 miles per hour on multiple pitches.

"It was almost like he wasn't sure how to use it," Avila said. "It's something we have to make an adjustment to, but all in all, he gave us a chance to win."

Outfielder Andy Dirks, batting in the No. 2 spot for the third consecutive game, lead off the sixth inning with a single, and designated hitter Victor Martinez tied the game three batters later with a two-run homer.

The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning, but outfielders Austin Jackson and Casper Wells struck out looking and Boesch grounded out into a fielder's choice to keep the game tied at 5. It was a missed opportunity that Tigers manager Jim Leyland said came from the inexperience of his hitters.

Though Minnesota went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, none of the hits went for more than two bases. The Tigers were 1-for-9 in those situations, but took advantage of two homers for three runs.

"The simple fact is, you've got young players up there in big situations, and sometimes it's hard to learn to knock in a run," Leyland said. "The guys that learn how to knock in a run are guys that expand the strike zone just enough, but not too much."

Avila's controversial RBI double gave the Tigers the lead in the eighth, and Jose Valverde, pitching for the third time in two days, had a 1-2-3 ninth inning that ended with a diving catch by Don Kelly.

"We had the right formula -- it didn't look like it for a while -- but we had the right formula to get a win, and we did," Leyland said.

For a Tigers team that had lost to the Red Sox three times and the rain twice in the past week, there was a little more satisfaction in fighting back and finally getting a break to earn the win. After three games in less than 36 hours, they were looking forward to a break.

"That was an exciting game right there," Dirks said. "To pull it out like we did in the end shows a lot of the character of this ballclub. We've had a long couple days, and we came out and we played just as hard today. It's been one of the hottest days we've had, but nobody let up at any point. That's the kind of team that we have."

Chris Vannini is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_30_minmlb_detmlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=det&partnerId=rss_mlb

Chris Bosh Pat Riley Kevin Durant Amare Stoudemire King James

The truth about Jo-Jo Reyes' dubious 'streak'

Reyes, 26, hasn't won a big-league game since June 13, 2008. (AP)

Every now and again, you will hear somebody make fun of baseball numbers geeks by inventing some silly, made-up statistic of their own. For instance, they might say: ?Hey, did you know that Player X is hitting .403 with runners in scoring position on Wednesdays when the starting pitcher is left-handed, a Sagittarius and has broken up with his girlfriend within 1,093 hours of taking the mound??

LOL! See, the joke is that baseball stat-heads measure obscure and pointless things. The Simpsons pulled off this little joke in their recent baseball episode, but the truth is that the joke has become ubiquitous. You can hear it on radio, on television, in newspapers, on Broadway and in ballparks across America. Everyone who wants to poke fun at baseball stats people come up some version of the joke.

?I?m not interested in the guys batting average against lefties on national holidays when the person eliminated on American Idol has a name that starts with B.?

?Oh, what is he hitting in domes during day games when the NASDAQ is down??

?Yeah, they?re in their mother?s basement figuring the pitchers wDIDDY on turf when he batter scored better than a 1000 on his SAT.?

And so on. The jokes can be blandly funny, I suppose, though I think they miss the point. There ARE some annoying numbers geeks out there who chase after utterly meaningless statistics. Those geeks, though, might not be the ones we generally point at.

What I mean is that the people who spend a lot of time breaking down baseball numbers, well, their methods may be baffling to those of us without much feel for math, but in general they are working to find things that could be really interesting. There are people out there who work hard to come up with mathematical formulas to determine the run values of different actions (how much more a single is worth than a walk, for instance). There are people out there who work the numbers to separate the pitcher?s contribution in run prevention from the defense?s contribution. Some try to break down the statistics to see if certain players have the unique talent to hit better in the clutch than they do in regular situations. Some try to pick through the records to see if pitchers ? individually and collectively ? can pitch to the score. Some just work through the numbers to find counterintuitive facts ? for instance, the team that leaves more runners on base tends to win more often than lose. You might not think that.

Sometimes, these mathematical efforts go over my head. And sometimes they go WAY over my head. But the point is that much of baseball number-crunching is for a purpose ? to answer a question, to prove a point, to discover a whole new way to look at baseball ? and that can be fascinating if you come at it with an open mind.

Then there are really and truly pointless baseball numbers, statistics that tell you almost nothing, records that are made to be insulted. What would be a good example of a bad baseball statistic?

Well ? if you type in Toronto pitcher ?Jo-Jo Reyes? and ?winless streak? into your Google News Feed, you will find one. You will actually find hundreds and hundreds of hits representing one. Yes, this ?streak? ? and you will notice I put the finger quotations around the word ?has earned its corner of the news. People in the mainstream are actually talking about Jo-Jo Reyes? winless streak. And to be blunt about it, this record is dumber than most of the fictional jokes that people invent just to make fun of baseball.

To be clear: After Wednesday?s start against the Yankees, Jo-Jo Reyes has now made 28 consecutive starts without earning a win, which apparently ties him with Matt Keough for some sort of dubious distinction. (Reyes is scheduled to go for the record-breaker on Monday night against the Indians.) But what distinction? That?s a bit trickier. Is his record 0-28? No, it is not. It?s actually 0-13. Is his team?s record 0-28 in his starts? No, it?s not ? it?s a much-less interesting 7-21. Does this streak go back to last year? Well, no, because Reyes didn?t make a big league start last year. He made only�five big league starts back in 2009. So this ?streak? ? and there are those finger quotes again ? goes back to 2008, when he was a kid playing for Atlanta. He did not win any of his last 13 big league starts that year. He did not win any of his five big league starts in 2009. And, of course, he has not won any of his 10 big league starts this season. (He has won six minor league games since 2008, incidentally.)

That?s not a streak. That?s bad timing. That?s a not-especially-intriguing coincidence. A streak is something that happens continuously. A pitcher who goes up and down, makes a spot start here and there, goes to the minors for most of one year and the whole of the next, no, that?s not a streak.

But the quirky timing of the streak is not even the biggest problem with this bit of nonsense. The biggest problem is that it?s all made up. This whole thing is built around the archaic ?win? statistic. If the Blue Jays had lost 28 straight games that Reyes had started, yes, that would be interesting. If Reyes had left 28 straight games with his team trailing, I could see THAT being interesting. But neither thing is even remotely true. Heck, heading into Wednesday?s game, in Reyes? LAST START he had thrown seven shutout innings and the Blue Jays? pen blew the game. The start before that, the Jays actually won the game but because of the goofiness of the statistic, Reyes did not get the credit. Those were his last two starts, for crying out loud.

So, what, he hasn?t gotten one of those outdated ?pitcher wins? things? Big deal. I?ve got a long, long streak going where I have not used the word ?mollycoddle*.? I don?t think presses will be stopped.

*Damn. Streak broken.

I rip on the win as a statistic pretty often here, but if I?m being honest, I would miss the win if it was suddenly gone. I think it adds to the appeal of baseball to be able to say that a pitcher is 17-2 or 4-15 or whatever. Wins are an easy shortcut and a common language between casual and intense baseball fans. And in concert with other statistics, wins can give you a decent feel for what kind of year the pitcher is having ? whether it?s a good year, a bad year, a lucky year, a hard-luck year or whatever.

But this ?winless streak? annoys me because it attempts to give an authority to the statistic that is so obviously not there.

After Wednesday?s non-win in New York ? Reyes made sure on this one by giving up back-to-back doubles to start the game and five runs in three innings ? reporters surrounded the man of the hour. The whole scene was bizarre. Hey, here?s one of those kooky, joke stats: What pitcher has made the most consecutive starts without pitching at least five innings and exiting with his team in the lead in a game that the team ends up winning?

And people make fun of BABIP. Sheesh.

Source: http://joeposnanski.si.com/2011/05/26/jo-jos-circus/?xid=si_topstories

Snowboard Bobby Brown Freestyle Skiing Ryan Dungey Motocross

NCAA Division I Softball World Series Glance

Game 1 ? California (44-11) vs. Alabama (51-9), 1 p.m.

Game 2 ? Oklahoma State (42-18) vs. Baylor (45-13), 3:30 p.m.

Game 3 ? Oklahoma (42-17) vs. Arizona State (55-6), 7 p.m.

Game 4 ? Missouri (52-8) vs. Florida (52-10), 9:30 p.m.

Game 5 ? Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.

Game 6 ? Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner, 9:30 p.m.

Game 7 ? Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, Noon

Game 8 ? Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser, 2:30 p.m.

Game 9 ? Game 5 loser vs. Game 7 winner, 7 p.m.

Game 10 ? Game 6 loser vs. Game 8 winner, 9:30 p.m.

Game 11 ? Game 5 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 1 p.m.

Game 12 ? Game 6 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 3:30 p.m.

x-Game 13 ? Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser, 7 p.m.

x-Game 14 ? Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, 9:30 p.m.

NOTE: If only one game is necessary, it will be played at 7 p.m.

Monday, June 6: Teams TBD, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, June 7: Teams TBD, 8 p.m.

x-Wednesday, June 8: Teams TBD, 8 p.m.

Posted

Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomCollegeSports-TopStories/~3/e3b_iVP5g3U/2011-05-29-4270218282_x.htm

Lions Falcons Panthers Texans Cowboys

Rams' Bradford organizes rookie symposium -- on practice field

ST. LOUIS -- The closest thing the St. Louis Rams had to a coach stood in the middle of the huddle, holding the closest thing the St. Louis Rams had to a playbook.

A white sheet of paper, held by second-year quarterback Sam Bradford, detailed the formations, assignments and terminology of the play in question. Bradford in turn relayed those details to the receivers and linemen who attended this week's players-only practices at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo.

Bradford's training as a coach is limited. He also happens to be a novice in the offense he's attempting to teach, a scheme brought to the Gateway City by new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

Presumably, once McDaniels is allowed to have contact with the personnel he'll be tutoring, he'll bring some official playbooks for the rookies. For now, Bradford's hand-written guidelines will have to do.

"Sam's a good teacher and whatever he knows, we know and we know that it's accurate and good information," said Lance Kendricks, the rookie tight end from Wisconsin drafted in the second round of April's draft. "We can just take that in and use that as a starting point."

NFL players would normally be involved in organized team activities and minicamps this time of year, but the ongoing lockout has put those plans on hold. Veteran players around the league have been organizing informal team practices, the kind that Bradford's Rams scheduled this week at Lindenwood.

With about 30 players in attendance, the Rams held practices on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. A scheduled session for Thursday was canceled because of inclement weather.

For his fellow holdovers on offense, Bradford helped the unit adjust from the "old numbering system to the new numbering system" of play calls. For Kendricks and rookie receivers Austin Pettis and Greg Salas, the time with Bradford has been as much about schematic preparation as it's been a chemistry-building exercise.

Pettis, the team's third-round pick from Boise State, said getting a dose of the offense now means "everything won't be new to us" when the lockout is eventually lifted. "I'm able to learn a lot of stuff out here and just get as much knowledge as I can from Sam," said Pettis, a 6-foot-3 red-zone threat who caught 39 touchdown passes as a collegian.

Bradford told reporters on Monday that the rookie pass-catchers "hopped right in" without hesitation and looked good.

"We've gone over some things," the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner said. "I've tried to explain to them in as much detail as possible the formations, routes, alignments, things like that."

Meanwhile, Pettis, Kendricks and Salas have had plenty of time to pick Bradford's brain -- they've been staying at his house.

In addition to some private playbook study, Salas said Bradford has shown his house guests around St. Louis and treated them to dinner.

"It's been great," said Salas, the all-time University of Hawaii receiving leader. "He's a super-nice guy and has made it a lot easier coming in as a rookie. It's been a lot of learning, a lot of information to take in. We've got a lot to look forward to and a lot of things to study."

On the field at Lindenwood's Hunter Stadium, Salas said "it's all work" and the rookies have been absorbing a lot of the offense. Though the practices are undoubtedly different without coaches present, the youngsters have been seen asking plenty of questions of Bradford and all of the veterans present, including linebacker James Laurinaitis.

"It's important because rookies in this situation are the ones who are going to suffer," said Laurinaitis, who helped organize the practices along with Bradford and cornerback Ron Bartell. "They don't have the time to make those mistakes during OTAs and minicamps that I remember making. It's important for them, not to only get around everybody and introduced and learn the faces of your teammates, but also to get some more experience with everything. So it's good to get them here to learn and get their timing down with Sam."

The work Bradford and Laurinaitis do in mentoring their young teammates could go a long way toward determining the Rams' fate in 2011. The team jumped from one win to seven last season, nearly won the NFC West, and figure to be a trendy playoff pick this season. That said, a more difficult schedule that includes both Super Bowl XLV participants means it's no guarantee the win total will again increase.

"Last year was a good stepping stone, but you're not going to get more wins exponentially," Laurinaitis said. "It's year-by-year and what we did last year doesn't mean anything. I don't think there's any clear leader in the NFC West -- it's wide open. We've just got to make ourselves better and be prepared to go full-speed when (the lockout) is over."

Laurinaitis believes general manager Billy Devaney and head coach Steve Spagnuolo have already made the team better through the draft. Rookie cornerback Mikail Baker of Baylor and Oklahoma safety Jonathan Nelson also attended the Lindenwood workouts.

"Billy and Spags want to pick guys who love to play football," Laurinaitis said. "It's the sense I get from these guys out here. These guys love to play football and that creates competition and makes everybody on the team better."

While Devaney and Spagnuolo await a time when they're allowed to do some more tinkering with the team, the Rams have another session of informal workouts scheduled to begin June 8 in Phoenix. Depending on the ruling by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis on June 3, Laurinaitis said the players would love to cancel the Phoenix practices.

"We have a plan just in case," Laurinaitis said. "We don't know how long they'll take to rule on this thing, but we have to plan accordingly."

Source: http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=614f4516c2c5d2406d1373971b20e9f2

BMX Sam Bradford Eric Berry Tim Tebow Kyle Orton

Sources: Nebraska backup Green to transfer

Nebraska quarterback Cody Green has requested a release and is exploring transfer options, sources close the situation said Saturday.

Green, a rising junior, spent the last two seasons as the Cornhuskers' backup.

Green threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns last season in relief of starter Taylor Martinez, who battled an ankle injury as a redshirt freshman.

Information from ESPN.com's Joe Schad was used in this report.

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=6603325&campaign=rss&source=NCFHeadlines

Packers James Harrison Troy Polamalu Mike Wallace Hines Ward

Report: Bills eye fight between Hangartner, Wood at center

Source: http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d8200ec89

Hines Ward Ben Roethlisberger Lawerence Timmons Rashard Mendenhall Aaron Rodgers

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Hill's slam jump-starts Blue Jays' rout

Hill launches a grand slam to left

TORONTO -- Aaron Hill and Edwin Encarnacion were expected to provide power at the plate this season for the Blue Jays. But neither had homered in the Blue Jays' first 52 games of the season.

They have now, both of them. Each hit his first home run in the Blue Jays' six-run first inning as they beat the Chicago White Sox, 13-4, before 18,325 at Rogers Centre.

To make it sweeter for Hill, his first home run of the season also was his first career grand slam. It was Hill's 36th game of the season and Encarnacion's 38th. Hill spent time on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.

The offensive outpouring made a winner of left-hander Ricky Romero (5-4), who allowed six hits and two runs over seven innings. Left-hander John Danks (0-8) allowed nine hits and nine runs in four innings to take the loss.

Carlos Quentin hit his 13th homer of the season on Romero's first-pitch fastball with two outs in the first inning to give the White Sox (24-31) the first run.

Then the Blue Jays (27-26) went to work in the bottom of the inning. Yunel Escobar extended his hit streak to 10 games with a leadoff single, and Corey Patterson, who had five hits, including the game-winning homer in the 14th on Saturday, singled. Jose Bautista's single tied the game.

J.P. Arencibia walked with one out to load the bases for Hill, who homered to left on a 1-1 fastball. Encarnacion followed by hitting a homer to left on a 2-2 changeup.

Juan Rivera extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double in the second, but was thrown out trying for a triple.

Paul Konerko's single gave Chicago a run in the third, but Toronto came back with three in the fourth after Rajai Davis was hit by a pitch. He stole third with one out and scored on Escobar's single. Patterson then hit his fourth homer of the season to make it 9-2.

Jayson Nix, who ended an 0-for-22 drought with a first-inning single, doubled home two runs in the fifth against right-hander Lucas Harrell. Patterson singled home Nix and it was 12-2. Patterson had three RBIs and his seventh-inning single gave him four hits.

Arencibia singled home Rivera, who had doubled, in the sixth to make the score 13-2.

White Sox catcher Ramon Castro hit a one-out, two-run homer in the ninth off reliever Shawn Camp.

Larry Millson is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Source: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2011_05_29_chamlb_tormlb_1&mode=recap_home&c_id=tor&partnerId=rss_mlb

Ron Artest Braves Marlins Yankees Angels

Titans focus on Locker's arm

09:18 AM ET�05.29 | One number stands out about Jake Locker. It's 53.9, the percentage of passes he completed at Washington. Or, if you prefer, 55.4, the percentage of passes he completed as a senior. If Locker is going to make it as an NFL quarterback, that number has to improve. The man charged with improving it, Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer, explained to me how he hopes to make Locker a more accurate passer. "Right now, he is a 55 percent passer," Palmer said. "If he throws 20 passes, that's 11 of 20. Our job is to get him to complete 13 out of 20. In the California game he was (17of-27 for 63 percent). So you know he has it within him. We want him to complete two more balls out of 20. How hard is it going to be to complete two more of those balls? That's the goal. When we get to 13, now can we get to 14."

National Football Post

Source: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/286830-how-titans-plan-to-improve-lockers-accuracy?xid=si_nfl

Ron Hornaday Tony Schumacher Kyle Busch Dario Franchitti Ron Hornaday

NCAA Division I Softball Super Regionals Glance

Host school is home team for Game 1; visiting school is home team for Game 2; coin flip determines home team for Game 3:

Saturday, May 28: Baylor (43-12) at Georgia (50-12), 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, May 29: Baylor vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m.

x-Sunday, May 29: Baylor vs. Georgia, 6 p.m.

Friday, May 27: Florida 9, Oregon 1, Florida leads series 1-0

Saturday, May 28: Oregon (42-15) at Florida (51-10), Noon

x-Saturday, May 28: Oregon vs. Florida, 2:30 p.m.

Saturday, May 28: California (42-10) at Kentucky (39-14), Noon

Sunday, May 29: California vs. Kentucky, 1 p.m.

x-Sunday, May 29: California vs. Kentucky, 3:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 26: Stanford 5, Alabama 2

Friday, May 27: Alabama 10, Stanford 0, 5 innings

Friday, May 27: Alabama 1, Stanford 0, Alabama advances

Saturday, May 28: Washington (37-14) at Missouri, 9 p.m.

Sunday, May 29: Washington vs. Missouri, 7 p.m.

x-Sunday, May 29: Washington vs. Missouri, 9:30 p.m.

Friday, May 27: Oklahoma State 3, Houston 0, Oklahoma State leads series 1-0

Saturday, May 28: Houston (43-17) vs. Oklahoma State (41-17), 2:30 p.m.

x-Saturday, May 28: Houston vs. Oklahoma State, 5 p.m.

Thursday, May 26: Arizona State 3, Texas A&M 2

Friday, May 27: Arizona State 4, Texas A&M 2, Arizona State advances

Friday, May 27: Oklahoma 6, Arizona 0, Oklahoma leads series 1-0

Saturday, May 28: Oklahoma (41-17) vs. Arizona (43-17), 5 p.m.

x-Saturday, May 28: Oklahoma vs. Arizona, 7:30 p.m.

Posted

Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomCollegeSports-TopStories/~3/UNcivG-H-4k/2011-05-27-3707091955_x.htm

home run touchdowns All Star allstar PGA

Hoodie for gown: Pats' Belichick speaks at son's high school

Source: http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d8200f50e

Cavs Cleveland Cavaliers Dan Gilbert Kobe Bryant LA Lakers

Pouha says Jets defensive linemen plan workouts

NEW YORK (AP) -- The Jets' defensive linemen have been lifting weights and running while the NFL's labor dispute drags on. Well, now they're ready to hit something.

Sione Pouha and Mike DeVito told The Associated Press on Saturday they plan to gather in New Jersey sometime next week with the team's other defensive linemen, including Ropati Pitoitua and possibly first-round pick Muhammad Wilkerson and third-rounder Kenrick Ellis.

"We were talking and it was like, 'Dude, we've got to put something together,"' Pouha said. "All of us have been lifting and running and working out. That's one thing. Doing actual drills, making blocking reads and punching sled bags, well, that's another thing."

The players have made arrangements to bring in blocking sleds and add the physical element they've been missing in the absence of organized team activities because of the lockout. They also might review defensive plays from last season and reacquaint themselves with one another.

"It's great to get together as a unit," DeVito said, "so that we can start working together, getting our rhythm and timing right and to work that unity that is so important to have if you want a great defensive line."

Quarterback Mark Sanchez gathered several offensive players in Southern California earlier this month for his "Jets West" camp, and recently said the entire team expects to work out together in June if the lockout continues.

Pouha said no specific plans had been made yet in terms of gathering the entire team.

"I'm sure Mark will let all of us know," he said. "But in terms of the D-line, that's our plan, to get together. Nothing like an OTA, but to work on drills and get that fusion as a unit."

Source: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/football/nfl/05/28/jets.d.linemen.workout.ap/index.html?xid=si_nfl

LeBron James Miami Heat Cavs Cleveland Cavaliers Dan Gilbert

Sources: Cavs attempting to add No. 2 pick, too

Already owners of the No. 1 pick in the draft, the Cleveland Cavaliers are trying to sweeten their position by securing the second pick as well, according to league sources.

The Cavaliers are in discussions with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons about a three-team trade that would give Cleveland the top two picks of next month's NBA draft.

The Cavaliers would use the picks to select Duke point guard Kyrie Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams, the sources said.

In the trade being discussed, Cleveland would absorb Detroit's Richard Hamilton into the $14.6 million trade exception it received in last summer's LeBron James sign-and-trade with Miami, while also receiving the Pistons' No. 8 pick. The Cavaliers would then send that pick, along with their fourth pick, to Minnesota for the Timberwolves' second pick.

Cleveland would then buy Hamilton out of the $25 million remaining in the last two years on his contract, leaving the veteran shooting guard free to sign with another club as a free agent. Chicago would be one of the likeliest destinations.

Sources say, however, that Detroit will not consummate the trade as proposed without receiving players in return. The Pistons no longer view Hamilton's contract as an albatross with a lockout potentially knocking off one of the remaining two years on his deal.

Cleveland nearly traded for Hamilton at the February trade deadline with the intention of buying him out. In that scenario, Hamilton would have signed with Chicago after the buyout. The motivation for Detroit, which has been looking to move Hamilton for years, is mainly financial.

Whether the trade comes to fruition or not, the Cavaliers are all but certain to use the No. 1 pick on Irving, a favorite of the team's front office. The club's owner, Dan Gilbert, is a huge fan of Williams and sees him and Irving as building blocks for the future.

While one of the Cavaliers' greatest needs is at small forward, Williams, though viewed as a 'tweener, is seen by most league executives as a power forward. If the Cavs draft Williams and determine that he can't play small forward, they may deal power forward J.J. Hickson, who has good value on the trade market.

Chris Broussard covers the NBA for ESPN The Magazine.

Follow Chris Broussard on Twitter: @chris_broussard

Source: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2011/news/story?id=6603100&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Quarterback Running Back MVP home run touchdowns

Northwestern, Maryland win, advance to women's lacrosse final

STONY BROOK, N.Y. (AP) � Shannon Smith scored her fourth goal with 18 seconds remaining and second-seeded Northwestern advanced to its seventh consecutive NCAA women's lacrosse final with an 11-10 victory over third-seeded North Carolina on Friday night.

By Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke, AP

Northwestern teammates celebrate Shannon Smith's (3) game-winning goal against North Carolina in the NCAA women's lacrosse semifinals at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, N.Y.,

By Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke, AP

Northwestern teammates celebrate Shannon Smith's (3) game-winning goal against North Carolina in the NCAA women's lacrosse semifinals at LaValle Stadium in Stony Brook, N.Y.,

Erin Fitzgerald added three goals for the Wildcats (19-3), who will face top-ranked Maryland on Sunday in a rematch of last year's title game. Northwestern lost 13-11 to the Terrapins last year, ending a run of five consecutive championships.

"Obviously we're thrilled to be moving on to the championship game and I think we had our ups and downs today," Northwestern coach Kelly Amonte Hiller said. "But as we showed throughout the season, we kind of have a strong will to win and we made things happen when the going was tough."

The Wildcats wasted three three-goal leads and gave up 30 shots, requiring Smith to deliver a big play.

"Shannon's a great player," North Carolina coach Jenny Levy said. "She's a great offensive player and you can't go into the game without any kind of game plan against her.

"She's just very dynamic. She's big and she's tough and she's capable of getting her shot off and you can't do just one thing to her. She'll eventually figure it out."

Laura Zimmerman scored four goals for North Carolina (16-5), which lost to Northwestern in the semifinals last year and the championship game two years ago.

Smith came through after being unable to find an open teammate in front of the Tar Heels net and being fouled by Taylor Chutney with 25 seconds remaining. After driving past Chutney and Mia Hurrin, Smith swept a shot from close range past goaltender Britt Giacco.

"I had the ball behind the net and I was just waiting for the clock to go down," Smith said. "I was going up to the right side, the girl slid and I got fouled. I kind of just ran to the goal and the one girl who was doubling me slid off and I took that one girl 1-on-1 and got lucky that it went in."

After Smith's 29th career tournament goal sealed the win, a good portion of the 7,468 fans at Kenneth Lavelle Stadium gave the Wildcats a standing ovation. Their roster includes several players from Long Island.

"It's awesome," goaltender Brianne LoManto said. "It definitely has that home-crowd advantage but at the same time, we all have the same goal and we all got to stay focused and get things done on the field."

Before Smith scored her 12th goal in this tournament, it appeared North Carolina was on its way to a dramatic victory. Zimmerman scored twice and Brittney Coppa added another in a span of 2:46 for a 10-10 tie with 7:13 remaining.

"That just shows the kind of team that we are," Tar Heels midfielder Corey Donohoe said. "We just never give up no matter what and we never let down."

Before North Carolina's final rally, Northwestern had scored four straight in a span of 11:41 and took a three-goal lead on Fitzgerald's third of the night with 12:09 remaining.

Fitzgerald and Smith, who have combined for 111 goals this season, scored two of the first three goals as the Wildcats opened a 3-0 lead in the first nine minutes.

Becky Lynch scored twice in the first half for the Tar Heels.

Maryland beats Duke 14-8 to reach final for 20th time

Sarah Mollison and Katie Schwarzmann scored four goals each, Laura Merrifield added three and top-ranked Maryland beat Duke 14-8 on Friday to reach the NCAA women's lacrosse final for the 20th time.

The defending champion Terrapins (21-1) will face Northwestern on Sunday at Kenneth Lavelle Stadium on Long Island. They beat the Wildcats 13-11 in the championship last year.

"We're really thrilled about where we are right now," Maryland coach Cathy Reese said.

Emma Hamm scored three goals and Kim Wegner added two for Duke (15-5), which was seeking its first appearance in the title game. Molly Quirke, Sarah Bullard and Christie Kaestner also scored for the Blue Devils, who could not overcome 18 turnovers and 20 fouls.

Beth Glaros, Kristy Black and Alex Aust also had goals for Maryland, which has outscored opponents 48-20 in the tournament. The Terps also beat Duke 18-11 in February.

The Blue Devils couldn't overcome Mollison's presence, becoming the third team to allow at least four goals by the Australian star and ACC player of the year.

"I think it's because you can't run through the crease in women's lacrosse, you can only do so much with Sarah Mollison," Duke coach Kerstin Kimel said. "She's mastered everything through the crease when you play her, and I think that's a pretty fair statement."

Mollison took seven shots, six that reached the goal and four that went past Duke goaltender Mollie Mackler. Mollison's second consecutive four-goal game gave her 12 for the tournament and 35 in NCAA tournament games.

"I do like to play that position, and I do think that it is strength," Mollison said. "But at the same time my teammates work for me and I try to work for them. I think that's what makes us so successful and enables to be the team (we are)."

Mollison scored two goals in a span of a 2:40 that put the Terrapins up 3-1 with 10:51 left in the first half. Her third put Maryland up 7-2 just over three minutes into the second half, and the final goal gave the Terrapins a 10-4 edge with 19:57 remaining.

"Coming into to today's game, you look at Sarah and you look at everything everyone has done trying to stop her and it doesn't work to be totally honest," Kimel said. "It's a total tribute to her and honestly we just decided we were going to play her straight up man-to-man and try to do a great job of covering cutters in the front, which we did."

Schwarzmann scored three of her goals in the second half, including an unassisted tally with 2:42 remaining after Duke scored three times to get within five.

The sophomore midfielder also scored with 4:28 left in the first half, just over five and a half minutes into the second and again with 12:34 to go.

Merrifield scored Maryland's first goal six minutes into the contest and the Terrapins' final goal of the first half with 1:46 left that made it 5-2. She also scored the first goal of the second half 90 seconds in.

Schwarzmann, who scored five goals in Maryland's earlier victory over Duke, assisted on two Mollison goals. She also scored with 4:28 remaining in the first half.

Maryland seemed to be cruising to the title game for most of the second half before Brittany Dipper gave up goals to Bullard and Kaestner in a span of 38 seconds. Just over a minute later, Hamm scored her third goal off a feed from Kaestner.

The Blue Devils squandered two more big opportunities before Maryland regained possession with a little over three minutes remaining and sealed the win.

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Source: http://rssfeeds.usatoday.com/~r/UsatodaycomCollegeSports-TopStories/~3/XKeLgWhGsnA/2011-05-28-womens-semifinals_N.htm

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