Thursday, September 2, 2010
Ex-Bengal Bryant to have bothersome knee examined, agent says
Antonio Bryant will see a doctor this week to determine the severity of his knee injury, according to his agent, Peter Schaffer. Schaffer said Wednesday that Bryant had been making progress in Cincinnati before the Bengals released him this weekend, but a timetable for a recovery -- if one is possible this season -- will be determined after further medical consultation. The Bengals signed the wide receiver in March, guaranteeing him more than $7 million in 2010, but he couldn't practice more than one session because of the lingering injury. Bryant has a long history of knee problems, and some wonder if his career might be in jeopardy. "We'll know exactly where we stand by the end of this week," Schaffer said. "Antonio has been working hard and doing everything he can to get back, and we'll see what the doctors tell us as far as when he might be able to get back on the field." Bryant, an eight-year veteran, has 372 receptions for 5,685 yards and 30 touchdowns. His best season was 2008, when he posted career highs in catches (83), yards (1,248) and touchdowns (seven) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
BET to Air NASCAR Reality Series
Filed under: Sports Business and Media, NASCARApparently undeterred by the failure of the Michael Vick reality series it did last year, Black Entertainment Television will begin airing a NASCAR-themed reality series.
"Changing Lanes" premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. In the series, a group of 30 minority drivers, who aspire to qualify for the stock car racing circuit, will live together for a month while training and learning the ropes.
The field, which, according to the New York Times, includes African-American, Hispanic and women contestants, will eventually be winnowed to 10 winners. The one-hour premiere repeats throughout the week.
"Changing Lanes" premieres Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET. In the series, a group of 30 minority drivers, who aspire to qualify for the stock car racing circuit, will live together for a month while training and learning the ropes.
The field, which, according to the New York Times, includes African-American, Hispanic and women contestants, will eventually be winnowed to 10 winners. The one-hour premiere repeats throughout the week.
Sam Querrey Nails Bradley Klahn in Groin on Way to Four-Set Win
Filed under: U.S. OpenNEW YORK -- Sam Querrey, the No. 20 seed and one of America's leading candidates to contend at this year's U.S. Open, won his opening round match on Wednesday, defeating Bradley Klahn 6-3, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4.
Despite eleven double faults, the 6-foot-6 Querrey was otherwise dominant with his serve. He won 88 percent of the points on his first serve, including 19 aces to Klahn's six.
There was a brief break in the match of two hours and 29 minutes, when Querrey accidentally slammed the ball during the second set into the groin area of Klahn, who was at the net.
"That was an accident," said Querrey. "He hit a dropshot, and I ran up there and it was kind of better than I thought. So I kind of got a little confused where I was going to hit it. I kind of went at him. I didn't mean to hit it there. I felt bad because he's my buddy."
"I had kind of a delayed reaction," said Klahn, who will return for his junior year at Stanford on Sept. 20. "The first five seconds, I thought I was okay. Then I thought I'd better call for the trainer."
US Open: Llodra Upsets Berdych | Ivanovic Breezes On | Victoria Azarenka Collapses
More: Federer's Between-the-Legs Shot | Latest US Open Scores | Photos
After Klahn took a few minutes to recover and stretch -- while Querrey clearly felt badly about the pain he had put his pal through -- play resumed.
Despite eleven double faults, the 6-foot-6 Querrey was otherwise dominant with his serve. He won 88 percent of the points on his first serve, including 19 aces to Klahn's six.
There was a brief break in the match of two hours and 29 minutes, when Querrey accidentally slammed the ball during the second set into the groin area of Klahn, who was at the net.
"That was an accident," said Querrey. "He hit a dropshot, and I ran up there and it was kind of better than I thought. So I kind of got a little confused where I was going to hit it. I kind of went at him. I didn't mean to hit it there. I felt bad because he's my buddy."
"I had kind of a delayed reaction," said Klahn, who will return for his junior year at Stanford on Sept. 20. "The first five seconds, I thought I was okay. Then I thought I'd better call for the trainer."
US Open: Llodra Upsets Berdych | Ivanovic Breezes On | Victoria Azarenka Collapses
More: Federer's Between-the-Legs Shot | Latest US Open Scores | Photos
After Klahn took a few minutes to recover and stretch -- while Querrey clearly felt badly about the pain he had put his pal through -- play resumed.
Manny Ramirez Singles in Sox Debut
Filed under: Indians, White SoxCLEVELAND (AP) -- For the second straight game, Manny Ramirez watched from a few feet away as one of his new teammates hit a game-winning homer.
Claimed off waivers by Chicago for his renowned power, Ramirez provided only a bloop single in his debut but he was on deck when Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the White Sox a 6-4 win and three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.
Ramirez's debut with the White Sox was anything but a hit for seven innings. Chicago trailed 4-1 going into the eighth, but the White Sox rallied after the Indians pulled Carlos Carrasco, who was making his first start of 2010.
With the intimidating Ramirez waiting in the on-deck circle, Konerko connected with two outs off Justin Germano (0-1) as the White Sox improved to 3-0 on a 10-game trip that will next take them to Boston, where Ramirez may not be welcomed back with open arms by Red Sox fans.
Claimed off waivers by Chicago for his renowned power, Ramirez provided only a bloop single in his debut but he was on deck when Paul Konerko hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning to give the White Sox a 6-4 win and three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.
Ramirez's debut with the White Sox was anything but a hit for seven innings. Chicago trailed 4-1 going into the eighth, but the White Sox rallied after the Indians pulled Carlos Carrasco, who was making his first start of 2010.
With the intimidating Ramirez waiting in the on-deck circle, Konerko connected with two outs off Justin Germano (0-1) as the White Sox improved to 3-0 on a 10-game trip that will next take them to Boston, where Ramirez may not be welcomed back with open arms by Red Sox fans.
US survives test from Brazil, wins 70-68 (AP)
ISTANBUL (AP)?Derrick Rose(notes) thought it was going in. So did Leandro
Barbosa(notes), who shot it.
Instead, Brazil?s attempt to tie at the buzzer fell out, and the United
States remained unbeaten, though no longer unchallenged.
A world championship won?t come easily for this young team?if it comes at
all?so the Americans believe their 70-68 victory over Brazil on Monday will
help them in the later rounds.
?Sometimes family that goes through adversity gets a little better,?
center Lamar Odom(notes) said. ?It?s a game we probably needed. Probably a good
tuneup, especially going into the medal rounds, trying to finish up this
tournament.?
Kevin Durant(notes) scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups(notes) added 15 for the
Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But they
have bigger goals than a group championship, trying to end a 16-year U.S.
drought in this event.
This U.S. team has to do without Kobe Bryant(notes), LeBron James(notes) and all the other
players who led the Americans to the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, and those
guys never needed breaks at the buzzer.
?This game right here was an eye opener,? said Rose, the only other U.S.
player in double figures with 11 points. ?We know that teams are really coming
in here to try to win this tournament and we?re here to do the same.?
After the Americans trailed most of the first 2 1/2 quarters, Odom?s dunk with
7:14 left put them ahead 64-62. But they couldn?t build on the lead during a
tense final few minutes, and Brazil had two chances to send the game to
overtime.
Following a miss by Billups, Brazil got the ball and Marcelo Huertas was
fouled on a drive to the basket with 3.5 seconds remaining. He missed the first
free throw and then the second intentionally, tracking it down in the corner and
firing it underneath to Barbosa, who lofted a shot over Kevin Love(notes), only to have
it bounce off the back and front of the rim.
?I thought it was going in, but it?s OK,? Barbosa said. ?I think we did a
great job, it was a great game. I don?t think the USA knew that we could cause
problems for them and we did it.?
Barbosa finished with 14 points after a strong start for Brazil (2-1).
Marcus Vinicius(notes) scored 16, and Tiago Splitter(notes) had 13 points and 10 rebounds
while battling foul trouble in the second half.
With NBA big men Nene, Anderson Varejao(notes) and Splitter, Brazil was considered
one of the teams with enough size to topple the undersized Americans. Nene had
to pull out with an injury and Varejao sat out again while continuing to rest a
sprained right ankle, so the Brazilians turned to a speed game to lead much of
the way.
They just couldn?t finish the upset, leaving the Americans needing only a
victory over Iran or Tunisia, the bottom two teams in Group B, or another Brazil
loss to earn the top seed from the group and three full days off before meeting
the No. 4 seed from Group A on Sept. 6.
The Americans have plenty to work on before worrying about that, after
needing a huge night from Durant and 31 minutes from Billups, the old man of the
team at 33 who had their only basket in the final 6:50.
?I knew that in the first half that this was going to be a fourth-quarter
game, a last two- or three-minute game, and I was preparing myself to just be
ready,? Billups said.
Nowhere was the difference between this team and its predecessor more
apparent than in the matchup with Barbosa. When the teams last met, in their
2007 Olympic qualifier, Barbosa entered as the tournament?s leading scorer
before Bryant led a defensive effort that held him to four points on 1-of-7
shooting in an easy U.S. win.
There?s no defenders like Bryant here, and Barbosa took advantage in the
first quarter by making two 3-pointers and scoring eight points. Brazil made 12
of its first 16 shots in the period and its first four 3-pointers, streaks that
were snapped when Barbosa was just short on a half-court heave at the buzzer,
leaving them with a 28-22 lead.
Brazil extended its lead to eight early in the second quarter and Splitter?s
dunk sent the Brazilians to the half with a 46-43 advantage.
The Americans finally grabbed the lead midway through the third, extending
it to 61-55 after consecutive baskets by Durant. Barbosa scored the final four
points of the period, though, and pulled Brazil within two heading to the
fourth.
The crowd grew solidly behind the underdogs, cheering for Brazil baskets and
booing loudly when a small ?U-S-A!? chant broke out in the fourth.
Brazil is coached by Ruben Magnano, who guided Argentina to victories over
the U.S. in the 2002 worlds and 2004 Olympics, when the Argentines won gold. He
nearly authored another upset, as players on both teams thought Barbosa?s shot
was going in.
?I had Durant right in front of me, I couldn?t see,? Huertas said. ?I was
in the corner but I saw the ball tipped on both sides of the rim and went out.
It was a big disappointment.?
And for the Americans, a big relief.
?I thought it was in, to tell you the truth,? Rose said. ?Thank God it
came out.?
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Barbosa(notes), who shot it.
Instead, Brazil?s attempt to tie at the buzzer fell out, and the United
States remained unbeaten, though no longer unchallenged.
A world championship won?t come easily for this young team?if it comes at
all?so the Americans believe their 70-68 victory over Brazil on Monday will
help them in the later rounds.
?Sometimes family that goes through adversity gets a little better,?
center Lamar Odom(notes) said. ?It?s a game we probably needed. Probably a good
tuneup, especially going into the medal rounds, trying to finish up this
tournament.?
Kevin Durant(notes) scored 27 points and Chauncey Billups(notes) added 15 for the
Americans (3-0), who essentially clinched Group B with the victory. But they
have bigger goals than a group championship, trying to end a 16-year U.S.
drought in this event.
This U.S. team has to do without Kobe Bryant(notes), LeBron James(notes) and all the other
players who led the Americans to the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics, and those
guys never needed breaks at the buzzer.
?This game right here was an eye opener,? said Rose, the only other U.S.
player in double figures with 11 points. ?We know that teams are really coming
in here to try to win this tournament and we?re here to do the same.?
After the Americans trailed most of the first 2 1/2 quarters, Odom?s dunk with
7:14 left put them ahead 64-62. But they couldn?t build on the lead during a
tense final few minutes, and Brazil had two chances to send the game to
overtime.
Following a miss by Billups, Brazil got the ball and Marcelo Huertas was
fouled on a drive to the basket with 3.5 seconds remaining. He missed the first
free throw and then the second intentionally, tracking it down in the corner and
firing it underneath to Barbosa, who lofted a shot over Kevin Love(notes), only to have
it bounce off the back and front of the rim.
?I thought it was going in, but it?s OK,? Barbosa said. ?I think we did a
great job, it was a great game. I don?t think the USA knew that we could cause
problems for them and we did it.?
Barbosa finished with 14 points after a strong start for Brazil (2-1).
Marcus Vinicius(notes) scored 16, and Tiago Splitter(notes) had 13 points and 10 rebounds
while battling foul trouble in the second half.
With NBA big men Nene, Anderson Varejao(notes) and Splitter, Brazil was considered
one of the teams with enough size to topple the undersized Americans. Nene had
to pull out with an injury and Varejao sat out again while continuing to rest a
sprained right ankle, so the Brazilians turned to a speed game to lead much of
the way.
They just couldn?t finish the upset, leaving the Americans needing only a
victory over Iran or Tunisia, the bottom two teams in Group B, or another Brazil
loss to earn the top seed from the group and three full days off before meeting
the No. 4 seed from Group A on Sept. 6.
The Americans have plenty to work on before worrying about that, after
needing a huge night from Durant and 31 minutes from Billups, the old man of the
team at 33 who had their only basket in the final 6:50.
?I knew that in the first half that this was going to be a fourth-quarter
game, a last two- or three-minute game, and I was preparing myself to just be
ready,? Billups said.
Nowhere was the difference between this team and its predecessor more
apparent than in the matchup with Barbosa. When the teams last met, in their
2007 Olympic qualifier, Barbosa entered as the tournament?s leading scorer
before Bryant led a defensive effort that held him to four points on 1-of-7
shooting in an easy U.S. win.
There?s no defenders like Bryant here, and Barbosa took advantage in the
first quarter by making two 3-pointers and scoring eight points. Brazil made 12
of its first 16 shots in the period and its first four 3-pointers, streaks that
were snapped when Barbosa was just short on a half-court heave at the buzzer,
leaving them with a 28-22 lead.
Brazil extended its lead to eight early in the second quarter and Splitter?s
dunk sent the Brazilians to the half with a 46-43 advantage.
The Americans finally grabbed the lead midway through the third, extending
it to 61-55 after consecutive baskets by Durant. Barbosa scored the final four
points of the period, though, and pulled Brazil within two heading to the
fourth.
The crowd grew solidly behind the underdogs, cheering for Brazil baskets and
booing loudly when a small ?U-S-A!? chant broke out in the fourth.
Brazil is coached by Ruben Magnano, who guided Argentina to victories over
the U.S. in the 2002 worlds and 2004 Olympics, when the Argentines won gold. He
nearly authored another upset, as players on both teams thought Barbosa?s shot
was going in.
?I had Durant right in front of me, I couldn?t see,? Huertas said. ?I was
in the corner but I saw the ball tipped on both sides of the rim and went out.
It was a big disappointment.?
And for the Americans, a big relief.
?I thought it was in, to tell you the truth,? Rose said. ?Thank God it
came out.?
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Team USA Clinches Group B by Beating Iran
Filed under: FIBA, USA Basketball, FIBA World ChampionshipISTANBUL -- Kevin Love had an off day Tuesday and decided off would go his scraggly beard.
Good timing. The Team USA big man went from being a non-factor two days earlier against Brazil to scoring a team-high 13 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 11 minutes Wednesday as the Americans beat Iran 88-51 at Abdi Ipekci Arena to raise their record to 4-0 and clinch Group B in the World Championship.
"Aerodynamics,'' Love quipped about the shave streamlining his play. "Somebody said that before. So I'll use that.''
Whatever the reason, one of the priorities for the Americans on Wednesday was to get the bench back involved. In the 70-68 escape over Brazil, two players didn't see action and three, including Love, were used for just five minutes apiece.
The Americans knew they weren't going to be challenged by Iran, and it will be the same story Thursday in the finale of group play against woeful Tunisia. So it's important for the reserves to regain their confidence heading into next Monday's knockout round, when Team USA will face the No. 4 seed in Group A, which will be the loser of Thursday's Angola-Australia game.
"We thought we would be able to play our roster (Wednesday) and (Thursday), and that it is important to get people involved,'' said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, who said that was one of the issues discussed in a team meeting earlier Wednesday.
Good timing. The Team USA big man went from being a non-factor two days earlier against Brazil to scoring a team-high 13 points and grabbing six rebounds in just 11 minutes Wednesday as the Americans beat Iran 88-51 at Abdi Ipekci Arena to raise their record to 4-0 and clinch Group B in the World Championship.
"Aerodynamics,'' Love quipped about the shave streamlining his play. "Somebody said that before. So I'll use that.''
Whatever the reason, one of the priorities for the Americans on Wednesday was to get the bench back involved. In the 70-68 escape over Brazil, two players didn't see action and three, including Love, were used for just five minutes apiece.
The Americans knew they weren't going to be challenged by Iran, and it will be the same story Thursday in the finale of group play against woeful Tunisia. So it's important for the reserves to regain their confidence heading into next Monday's knockout round, when Team USA will face the No. 4 seed in Group A, which will be the loser of Thursday's Angola-Australia game.
"We thought we would be able to play our roster (Wednesday) and (Thursday), and that it is important to get people involved,'' said USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo, who said that was one of the issues discussed in a team meeting earlier Wednesday.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Still a Cardinal: Leinart's status hasn't changed, coach says
When the Arizona Cardinals announced a Wednesday afternoon news conference and didn't reveal the topic to be discussed, coach Ken Whisenhunt knew what people would assume: Quarterback Matt Leinart had been cut or traded. Not only was there a different announcement -- the Cardinals talked about Darnell�Dockett's new deal -- but Whisenhunt said "nothing has changed" regarding Leinart's status, according to the team's official Web site. "It's all speculation by a number of people," said Whisenhunt, who admitted he "was a little tickled" about all the interest in the news conference. Whisenhunt's comments came as several media outlets reported the Cardinals are shopping Leinart, who has expressed frustration over apparently losing the starting quarterback job to Derek Anderson. FoxSports.com's Jay Glazer, who appears on NFL Network, said Tuesday that the Cardinals have reached out to teams around the NFL to gauge trade interest in Leinart, a former first-round draft pick. Whisenhunt said Tuesday that he will use the same playing order as he did in last Saturday's 14-9 win at Chicago, meaning Leinart will replace Anderson, who will start, at some point in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Washington Redskins. "It worked for us," the coach said, "so we'll see if it continues to work that way." Whisenhunt said neither quarterback will have as much playing time as they did against the Bears, "but both guys will get the opportunity." Whisenhunt's decision came following a Monday afternoon meeting with Leinart after the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner told reporters that he had outplayed Anderson in training camp and preseason and that his problem with his coach "probably goes beyond football." Whisenhunt called it "a good talk." "We obviously touched base on where everything was, which I've always said I wanted," he said, "If players have an issue or a problem, (they need) to come see me. We had communicated before about where we were, and, obviously, we needed to talk a little bit more, but it was a good talk." Leinart didn't make himself available to reporters after the Cardinals worked out Tuesday for the first time at Arizona State University's indoor practice facility. Unless the Cardinals acquire another quarterback, the team could be left with the unlikely prospect of having two rookies -- John Skelton and Max Hall -- back up Anderson.
Cardinals general manager Rod Graves didn't return a message left on his cell phone Tuesday. Whisenhunt said he has been consistent in the way he communicates with players since he took over as head coach in 2007. "I'm comfortable with the way we've done that," he said. "Obviously, there must have been some breakdown because he didn't hear what he wanted, but hopefully we got that cleared up yesterday." He said he has nothing personal against Leinart. "I've always liked Matt," Whisenhunt said. "I think Matt is a tremendous person, and he's done a lot for this city and this community, but it's my job as the head coach of this team to pick the best players for our squad. I didn't think, as the preseason progressed, that we were as efficient as we needed to be." Whisenhunt said the Cardinals played better last week. "I don't know if that was a function of making the changes or whether that was a function of our guys waking up a little bit," he said. "We get an opportunity to see this week." Whisenhunt hasn't announced the starting quarterback for the regular-season opener Sept. 12 at St. Louis, but Anderson appears to be the front-runner, considering he's making the last two starts. Leinart said Monday that he didn't know what else he "could possibly do" to earn the job. "It probably goes beyond football, beyond the field actually," he said. "For me, I am not making excuses. I am not going to complain. For me, I just really want an explanation, and I haven't been given one." Whisenhunt wasn't happy that Leinart had expressed his feelings to the media. "Would I have rather he come to me and talked to me? Yes, to be perfectly honest, I would," Whisenhunt said. "But, you know, that's what sometimes happens in this business. Matt and I had an opportunity to talk yesterday. He definitely had some feelings that he needed to get out, and he came up and saw me, and that was important." Anderson, signed as a free agent after the Cleveland Browns released him, has seen far more playing time than Leinart in the preseason. The former Oregon State quarterback has completed 31 of 53 passes (59 percent) for 287 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. Leinart has completed 83 percent (19 of 23), most of them short-range throws, for 161 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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