A Year After Scandal, Tiger Finds His Rhythm -- and Fans -- at Chevron

Filed under: PGA, Sports Business and Media

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - The sun was shining, the Southern California air was crisp, gaggles of paunchy men in cargo shorts and golf shirts were clapping - and Tiger Woods was atop the leaderboard. It almost felt like, well, anytime before a certain driveway car crash turned Woods' life upside down a little over 12 months ago.

The atmosphere here at Sherwood Country Club, home of the $5 million Chevron World Challenge, was certainly more upbeat than it was a year ago. Back then, Woods was in hiding and the speculation about his extra-marital affairs was just tipping into outright mania. He skipped this tournament, which benefits his charitable foundation, and his absence cast a pall over the event - even if it did inspire some entertaining conversations among fans.

Woods was again the main topic of discussion at Sherwood on Friday, but for an entirely different reason: his play. The 34-year-old golfer, who has not won a tournament this year, shot an eagle on the second hole, part of a six-under-par round that extended his lead atop the 18-player field. He's now four strokes ahead of Graeme McDowell and five over Luke Donald and Rory McIlory, the 21-year-old phenom from Northern Ireland who was Woods' playing partner on Friday.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/12/03/a-year-after-scandal-tiger-finds-his-rhythm-and-fans-at-c/

Joanne Montanez Jodi Lyn OKeefe Jolene Blalock

Thunder Fan Hits $20,000 Half-Court Shot

Filed under: Cavaliers, NBA Fans, Thunder

Even NBA fans can shoot better than the Cleveland Cavaliers these days.

The woeful Cavaliers lost in Oklahoma Sunday night, 106-77, and to add insult to awfulness, they were outdone by the OKC fans.

Well, one fan actually. Robert Yanders, draped in a blue Thunder T-shirt, drilled a half court shot between the first and second period, earning a $20,000 prize, courtesy of MidFirst Bank.

OKC fans' field-goal percentage on the night: 1-for-1, (100 percent).

Cleveland Cavaliers: 25-for-77, (33.8 percent).

In all seriousness, however, the Cavaliers are struggling. They're 1-9 in their last 10 games, and are 7-17 overall. They also can't fill in the scoring gap left by some guy who wears No. 6 and plays for the Heat. The Cavs are 27th in the league in scoring at 93.91 points per game.

Maybe they should start recruiting players from road teams' arenas.

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More Thunder-Cavaliers : Box Score | Recap

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/12/thunder-fan-hits-20-000-half-court-shot/

Jennifer Scholle Jennifer Sky Jenny McCarthy

Landon Donovan Rumored For Newcastle Loan

Filed under: English Premier League, Los Angeles Galaxy

The rumors surrounding Landon Donovan's offseason excursions took a twist Sunday when the British tabloid Sunday Sun reported the U.S. all-time leading scorer has been offered to Newcastle.

The report, of course, must be taken with a grain of salt, especially when considering that Donovan told Goal.com he would only consider a loan during the MLS offseason if it was to Everton, where he earned rave reviews for a three-month stint last year.

Following unsuccessful spells earlier in his career with Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich, Donovan's European value skyrocketed during the past year, when he impressed with Everton and bagged three goals at the World Cup.

Everton manager David Moyes has not been shy about his admiration of Donovan, and the struggling Toffees could certainly use him to help steer clear of the relegation zone.

Newcastle, meanwhile, could be looking at Donovan as a replacement for winger Hatem Ben Arfa, whose leg was broken in October by -- who else? -- infamously violent Manchester City midfielder Nigel de Jong.

Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/12/13/landon-donovan-rumored-for-newcastle-loan/

Elena Lyons Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert

US-Egypt Friendly Announced for February

Filed under: International Soccer, International, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

The U.S. men's national team will begin preparing for the 2011 Gold Cup in earnest Feb. 9, when it will travel to Cairo for a friendly against Egypt, the three-time defending African Cup of Nations champion.

The match is set on a FIFA international fixture date, thus allowing coach Bob Bradley to choose from his full pool of players. He will be looking to test personnel and formations ahead of next summer's Gold Cup, at which a place in the 2013 Confederations Cup will be at stake.

The United States is also scheduled to play Jan. 22 (a non-FIFA date) against Chile at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., and working to schedule a March friendly at home against Argentina.

Despite failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup after losing a playoff against Algeria, Egypt is currently ranked No. 10 in the world by FIFA.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/12/13/us-egypt-friendly-announced-for-february/

Kim Smith Kim Yoon jin Kirsten Dunst

The Works: The New York Knicks Bring Goodness and Light

Filed under: Bulls, Knicks, Spurs, Thunder, The Works

Today in the Works: why we're happy to have the Knicks back; a brief history of aliens in the NBA; rethinking the rethinking of the 2009 draft; and a brief discussion of John Hollinger, Black Swan, and point guard aesthetics.

But first some very expensive news about this column, which has been on hiatus since Tom Ziller left town. Today, it launches anew, with Shoals reprising his original role and Eric Freeman riding shotgun. Eric writes a lot for Ball Don't Lie, and is a regular contributor to FreeDarko.com and our recent Undisputed Guide to Pro Basketball History. The Works will go from a daily column to a Monday, Wednesday and Friday deal. On the plus side, that means we will have more time to come up with weird stuff not ripped from today's headlines.

It's Knicks Time

Because the Knicks are the Knicks, some of the weekend's biggest news was the triumphant return of this team to national television. Granted, they have been on occasionally since Mike D'Antoni took over, but that's token-ism for the market to end all markets. This time it's for real: five of the next eleven Knicks games will be nationally televised, which in NBA terms means, this team is relevant again. Here are four reasons why this is a good thing:

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/13/the-works-the-new-york-knicks-brings-goodness-and-light/

Maria Sharapova Mariah Carey Mariah OBrien

Louisville Stuns UNC Late, Advances to First-Ever NCAA Championship

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. -- The University of Louisville Cardinals advanced to their first-ever College Cup Championship game in dramatic fashion on Friday night, scoring an 89th-minute goal to top UNC 2-1 in the early semifinal. A last-gasp strike from freshman forward Aaron Horton would be the difference for Louisville, as the Cardinals improved their 2010 overall record to an unbeaten 20-0-3.

After coming close on a number of occasions in a scoreless first half, Louisville opened the scoring in the 58th minute by way of a corner-kick goal from center back Austin Berry. Berry, who was named 2010 Big East Defender of the Year earlier in the season, lept up over his defender for a towering header into the top left corner of the net for a 1-0 lead.

The Tar Heels pushed right back, getting a goal of their own just four minutes later. It was pacey midfielder Alex Dixon who would provide the inspiration, dribbling around three Cardinals players before sending a high cross into the box for 6-foot-4 midfielder Stephen McCarthy. McCarthy was unchallenged as he headed it home past Andre Boudreaux and into the Louisville net to level the match at 1-1 in the 62nd.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/louisville-stuns-unc-late-advances-to-first-ever-ncaa-champions/

Willa Ford Xenia Seeberg Yamila Diaz

'Monday Night Football' Today Isn't Close to What It Once Was

by Milton Kent

Filed under: Sports Business and Media

The notion that the world would first learn of the death of a musical icon during the telecast of a mere football game seems laughable given our modern media sensibilities.

Yet, the confluence of the 30th anniversary of the shooting death of John Lennon this Wednesday - announced late in the fourth quarter of a Monday night game -- and the death Sunday of Don Meredith serves as a reminder that while the New England-Miami clash may have been just another football game, "Monday Night Football" was no mere telecast.

Indeed, the telecast that currently airs each Monday at 8:30 p.m. ET is connected to the four-act drama that kicked off each Monday at 9 p.m. then only by title and by the fact that there's a football game. Nothing else is the same.

The "Monday Night Football" of Dandy Don, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford was part musical, part comedy, part satire and occasional tragedy with a football game thrown in for good measure.

Gifford, the former New York Giants golden boy, could only have been the sensible center, the Everyman, of sorts, in a world where he was partnered with Cosell and Meredith, the Vaudevillians.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/08/monday-night-football-today-isnt-close-to-what-it-once-was/

Erika Christensen Estella Warren Esther Cañadas

Scott Speed Sues Red Bull After Team Releases Him

Filed under: Sprint Cup, Scott Speed, Red Bull Racing, NASCAR

A NASCAR driver usually don't sue his car owner after parting ways, since taking legal action could dissuade potential future car owners from getting involved with the driver.

But after more than seven years with Red Bull in both Formula One and NASCAR, Scott Speed has made that move, suing his former team for alleged breach of contract in a complaint asking the court to award him $6.5 million, SceneDaily.com reported late Friday.

Red Bull "significantly reduced its financial commitment to Speed's race team and was unable and/or unwilling to provide [Speed] with 'supporting equipment' satisfactory for a driver of [his] skill to [be] effective [to] compete in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series," Speed's complaint states, according to SceneDaily.

Speed's complaint also provides a rare, inside look at the money being paid in the Sprint Cup series for a driver at his level.

According to SceneDaily, the lawsuit says Speed signed a three-year deal in September 2007 for a salary of $300,000 in 2008, $500,000 in 2009 and $1 million in 2010. He was to receive 50 percent of his purse winnings for each top-10 finish, 45 percent for finishing 11th through 20th and 40 percent for finishes of 21st or worse.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/11/scott-speed-sues-red-bull-after-team-releases-him/

Claudette Ortiz Coco Lee Connie Nielsen

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Opens Up About Team Shake-Up and His Popularity

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR

LAS VEGAS -- The only suspense in Thursday's announcement of NASCAR's 2010 Most Popular Driver Award rested with the winner. For the eighth consecutive year, Dale Earnhardt Jr. claimed the honor -- tops among the 1.5 million fan votes -- once again proving his popularity is soaring even if his on-track efforts have fallen flat.

"Oh yeah, I was surprised,'' Earnhardt claimed moments after accepting the award during NASCAR Champion's Week. "You just never know. There's the performance factor we've suffered from on the race track, there's the new guys coming into the sport all the time. You never take it for granted.''

The same could be said for winning.

Earnhardt hasn't won a race in nearly three seasons and hasn't even been consistently competitive in the No. 88 National Guard-Amp Energy Chevrolet, while his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Jimmie Johnson will be crowned champion for the fifth consecutive year in Friday night's lavish NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards Banquet at the Wynn Las Vegas.

The juxtaposition isn't lost on the third-generation driver, son of the late seven-time champion, Dale Earnhardt. The 2004 Daytona 500 champ and 18-race winner is hoping a three-way crew chief swap at Hendrick will infuse new life into his career. And it can't happen soon enough.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/02/dale-earnhardt-jr-opens-up-about-team-shake-up-and-his-populari/

Kate Bosworth Kate Groombridge Kate Hudson

Gary Sheffield Not Officially Retired, but Focused on Financial Management

by John Hickey

Filed under: Rays, Sports Business and Media, MLB Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Gary Sheffield didn't play baseball last year, but that didn't mean he was without a job.

Sheffield, a nine-time All-Star and the owner of 509 career homers, said Tuesday in the lobby of the hotel hosting baseball's Winter Meetings that he's been spending time putting together a financial management startup, a company that he hopes will help young ballplayers keep more of their money.

"For the last seven years of my career, I negotiated my own contracts," Sheffield said. "It was stuff I learned along the way, stuff that young players who are earning a lot of money haven't learned.

"If we can fill that gap, I think we can really provide a service."

To be clear, the veteran outfielder Sheffield isn't following the path of former big leaguers Dave Stewart, Joe Sambito and others in trying to make their way as a player agent, although he said he has qualified as one.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/12/07/gary-sheffield-not-officially-retired-but-focused-on-financial/

Amber Heard Amber Valletta America Ferrera

Murray Armstrong, Legendary College Coach and Former NHL Player, Dies at 94

Filed under: College Hockey

Murray Armstrong, the coach who led the University of Denver to five of its first seven national championships, died Wednesday. He was 24 days short of his 95th birthday.

Armstrong was born in Saskatchewan, and made his NHL debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs during the 1937-38 season. He played for four NHL teams -- also suiting up with the New York Americans, Brooklyn Americans, and Detroit Red Wings. Armstrong played in 270 NHL games, scoring 67 goals and 188 points.

More than his NHL career, though, Armstrong will forever be remembered for his work as a coach at Denver.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/murray-armstrong-legendary-college-coach-and-former-nhl-player/

Alexis Bledel Ali Campoverdi Ali Larter

Vote for Fans? Choice

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Source: http://dcunited.com/node/13899

Megan Ewing Megan Fox Melania Trump

Denny Hamlin Already Looking Toward 2011

by Holly Cain

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Only 25 laps into Sunday's Ford 400 NASCAR season finale, Denny Hamlin realized his day was going to be long, and his hopes of holding off his two championship challengers diminished as the hot South Florida afternoon wore on.

When the green flag dropped, his 15-point championship lead over four-time defending Sprint Cup series champ Jimmie Johnson technically vanished, based on Hamlin's 38th-place starting position compared to Johnson's sixth.

Then on lap 25, Hamlin collided with Greg Biffle, sending Hamlin's No. 11 FedEx Toyota spinning on the infield grass -- an omen for what would come. Tire problems, pit road miscommunication and then an ill-timed caution period late in the race spelled his ultimate doom. The 30-year-old driver finished 14th in the race and became the first driver in NASCAR's seven-year Chase playoff format not to win the title when leading the championship with one race remaining.

"It's tough, trust me, these years don't come by too often in anyone's career,'' said Hamlin, who finished championship runner-up, 39 points behind the newly crowned five-time champion Johnson.

"I was privileged enough to be part of the closest championship in (Chase) history and give it my best effort, but it wasn't enough today. Our car got banged up and we just couldn't overcome it.''

Denny Hamlin Already Looking Toward 2011 originally appeared on Motorsports FanHouse on Sun, 21 Nov 2010 17:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

 

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Source: http://nascar.fanhouse.com/2010/11/21/denny-hamlin-already-looking-toward-2011/

Jennie Finch Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Gareis

Deryk Engelland vs. Colton Orr: the Rematch

Filed under: Maple Leafs, Penguins, NHL Fights, NHL Videos

One of the most surprising -- at the time -- fights this season involved Pittsburgh's Deryk Engelland and his one-punch knockout of Toronto tough-guy Colton Orr. During Pittsburgh's 5-2 win on Wednesday night -- extending its current winning streak to 11 games -- the two were able to square off in a rematch. The first one ended rather quickly, while the rematch was a nearly two-minute marathon. There was no decisive knockout blow in this one, but the folks at hockeyfights.com are still scoring it as another win for Engelland, who has proven to be one of the tougher young scrappers in the NHL this season.

Here's the video of Engelland vs. Orr, Round 2...

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/deryk-engelland-vs-colton-orr-the-rematch/

Lindsay Price Lisa Marie Lisa Snowdon

Forbes: LeBron James Was NBA's Most Underpaid Player of 2009-10

Filed under: Cavaliers, Heat, Sports Business and Media, NBA Free Agents, NBA Business

Most, but not all, was lost for Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert last summer when LeBron James spurned the team and took his talents to South Beach.

Forbes released figures this week showing James was the most underpaid player in the NBA last year, making $15.8 million a year. In the report, Forbes used players' salaries from 2009-10 and juxtaposed individual statistics alongside how many wins the team produced in the season. Specifically factoring into the report was sports economist David Berri's statistical formula that uses the following for each player: points, rebounds, turnovers, steals, assists and shooting percentages per team possessions in a game

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/forbes-lebron-james-was-nbas-most-underpaid-player-of-2009-10/

Ashanti Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene

Linus Omark Brings Shootout Skills to NHL

Filed under: Oilers, NHL Videos

Linus Omark has been dazzling hockey fans in Europe with his unique and jaw-dropping shootout goals for a couple of years now, doing everything from chipping the puck over goaltenders to dropping to his stomach and sliding across the ice in an effort to score.

The Oilers prospect made his NHL debut on Friday night during their 4-3 shootout win against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and it didn't take him long to show off his skills in the NHL, scoring the game-winning tally in the shootout. He did so by performing a spin-o-rama in the neutral zone after picking up the puck, faking a slap shot from between the circles, and then beat goaltender Dan Ellis through the five-hole.

In all honesty the shot itself wasn't that spectacular, but the flare of the spin and the stones to pull it off in your first NHL game? Awesome.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/11/linus-omark-brings-shootout-skills-to-nhl/

Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic

FanHouse TV: Winter Meetings Losers

Filed under: Angels, Blue Jays, Orioles, Rangers, Rays, Twins, Yankees, AL East, MLB Video, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency, Executive Take, MLB Winter Meetings

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- A few teams came up big this week Winter Meetings at Disney World. Others simply stood pat, either hampered by financial restrictions or choosing to wait until later in the offseason to make their moves. Then there were the teams that were hurt by events at the Swan and Dolphin Resort. FanHouse TV's Dan Graziano and Steve Phillips try to identify the latter group as they present this week's losers.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/fanhouse-tv-winter-meetings-losers/

Katie Holmes Katy Perry Keira Knightley

MLS without Moreno

The MLS playoffs begin this week, and for the first time ever, Jaime Moreno will not be in the League when they do.  In light of the League?s first playoff matches without Moreno, we spoke with some key figures around MLS about Moreno?s abilities as a player and his impact on the league.

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/13492

Molly Sims Monet Mazur Monica Bellucci

Byron Mullens Heads Back to Tulsa and NBA D-League

Filed under: Thunder, NBA D-League, Tulsa 66ers

Byron Mullens, the 24th overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft, will soon be suiting up for the D-League's Tulsa 66ers, it was announced by the Oklahoma City Thunder late Thursday. Mullens' assignment, which will be the 18th time an NBA team has sent a player to their D-League affiliate thus far this season, comes just a few days after his Oklahoma City Thunder recalled rookie Cole Aldrich from the 66ers.

The 21-year-old Mullens is no stranger to the D-League, having spent 27 games in Tulsa last season as a rookie after declaring for the NBA Draft following his freshman season in college. The rookie made significant strides last season, too, averaging 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds while getting the significant playing time he needed on his way to adjusting to the NBA-style of play.

After again receiving little playing time again this season -- appearing in just five of the Thunder's games this season -- Mullens should be able to put the things he's learned since his last D-League stint to good use while running the same system the big club runs.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/byron-mullens-heads-back-to-tulsa-and-d-league/

Rose Byrne Rose McGowan Roselyn Sanchez

Join Us: Live Ford 400 Race Chat

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR Live Blogging, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

NASCAR's 36-race season culminates today at Homestead-Miami Speedway when Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick battle to take home the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

It's bound to be a thrilling finish of NASCAR's closest points battle in the Chase for the Championship era.

Join the FanHouse team as we keep you updated live on the race's progress. Don't miss out at 1 p.m./ET.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/21/join-us-live-ford-400-chat-at-1-p-m-et/

Tessie Santiago Thalía Thandie Newton

Hansons, Snoopy, Happy Gilmore Into the Hockey Hall of Fame?

Filed under: Sports Business and Media

The selection committee at the Boxing Hall of Fame broke with tradition this week when it decided that Rocky Balboa would be inducted into the shrine.

Trouble is Rocky Balboa is fictional.

Rocky is the iconic character created by Sylvester Stallone, who wrote the Rocky screenplays.

Far be it for anyone to quibble with the selection of Rocky into the boxing shrine. Rocky introduced boxing to a generation of people.

Rocky is an American legend. He is an icon.

There is precedent, sort of, for having actors in a hall of fame. There is a recording of Abbott & Costello' famous "Who's On First" recording in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

That said, we'd like to bring the following figures to the attention of the selection committee for the Hockey Hall of Fame:

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/hansons-snoopy-happy-gilmore-into-the-hockey-hall-of-fame/

Monika Kramlik Moon Bloodgood Mýa

Brad Keselowski Gets Nationwide Crew Chief Paul Wolfe for Cup Team

Filed under: Crew Chiefs, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

No driver competing in NASCAR's two top series showed greater disparity in results in 2010 than Brad Keselowski, who won the Nationwide series championship with six victories while eking out a couple of top-10 finishes in a forgettable Sprint Cup campaign.

Both cars came from Penske Racing, and when Roger Penske is involved, nonperformance won't stand.

Thus, the organization announced Tuesday that Paul Wolfe, Keselowski's championship-winning crew chief in Nationwide, has been promoted to become his Sprint Cup crew chief, replacing Jay Guy.

In addition to the six victories and the championship, Keselowski and Wolfe scored 29 top-10 finishes in 35 races. Twenty six of those were top fives -- a series single-season record. He also won five poles, led 1,147 laps and had an average finish of 5.2.

By contrast, in his Sprint Cup car, Keselowski had no victories, one pole position, no top fives and just two top 10s -- 10th-place finishes at Martinsville and Talladega late in the season. He led 41 laps and had an average finish of 22.4.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/brad-keselowski-gets-nationwide-crew-chief-paul-wolfe-for-cup-te/

Mía Maestro Michael Michele Michelle Behennah

NCAA College Cup Semifinals set to kick tonight

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/EjDhXOIMmDM/ncaa-college-cup-semifinals-set-to-kick-tonight.html

Molly Sims Monet Mazur Monica Bellucci

NFL Two-a-Days: Eagles vs. Cowboys

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, NFL Video, NFL Analysis

Dallas is a new team under Jason Garrett. With jobs at stake, the Cowboys are playing like they should, which leads to an intriguing matchup against Michael Vick and the Eagles, says LeCharles Bentley in this edition of NFL Two-A-Days.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/11/nfl-two-a-days-eagles-vs-cowboys/

Marisa Tomei Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton

Robbing Cam Newton of Heisman Would Be Miscarriage of Justice

Filed under: NCAA Football, college-sports

Every now and then in one of our courts of law, a motion is made for a non obstante veredicto, or judgment notwithstanding the verdict. It asks a judge to reverse a jury's decision because the decision was contrary to the law, or without basis.

Sometimes the root of such a request is simply that the jury refused to follow the judge's instructions.

In the unlikelihood that Cam Newton doesn't win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday evening, he should request a non obstante veredicto from the Heisman Trust that oversees awarding the preeminent post-season college football award. For the only way Newton could depart New York City empty handed would be if enough jurors -- those who vote for the Heisman -- ignore the judges' ruling that he is eligible to play college football this season.

There is no question, of course, that Newton was the best college football player in this country this past regular season after guaranteeing that Auburn plays in the BCS national championship game next month by leading it to an undefeated record in the toughest conference in the land, the SEC. His Thursday night sweep of the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards at the Home Depot College Football Awards in Orlando all but cemented what should be his unrivaled candidacy for the Heisman.

Source: http://kevin-blackistone.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/robbing-cam-newton-of-heisman-would-be-miscarriage-of-justice/

Gina Gershon Gina Philips Gisele Bündchen

Heisman Trophy Finalists: Quarterback Andrew Luck of Stanford

Filed under: Stanford, Heisman

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck is only a redshirt sophomore, but his shot at the 2010 Heisman Trophy could well be his only one.

Luck has a big decision to make in days after Stanford faces Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3. He looks ready for the NFL in Stanford's pro-style system. Coach Jim Harbaugh has already compared him to Peyton Manning. USC coach Lane Kiffin said NFL scouts have told him that Luck's "marks are off the charts." Arizona State's Dennis Erickson and Oregon State's Mike Riley, former NFL coaches, have said that Luck looks ready to make the jump now.

Maybe it's just wishful thinking on their part, the prospect of another year with Luck behind center for the Cardinal.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/heisman-trophy-finalists-quarterback-andrew-luck-of-stanford/

Vanessa Simmons Veronica Kay Veronika Vaeková

MLSsoccer.com introduces "Pro Soccer Picks" fantasy game

Ready to get your fantasy on?Just in time for the MLS Cup Playoffs, MLSsoccer.com introduces our first fantasy game, Pro Soccer Picks.Playing Pro Soccer Picks is as easy as side-footing in a sitter. All you have to do is make your picks and you?re automatically in contention for some great prizes,...

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/14024

Carmen Electra Carol Grow Carrie Underwood

Short of Kilimanjaro Summit, Martina Navratilova Still Conquering Boundaries

Filed under: Tennis

Fear, Martina Navratilova was saying the other day, is always bigger than the act. She used to dread flying, so she got her pilot's license. Drowning terrified her, so she learned to scuba dive.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was meant to be the logical extension in a life spent pushing boundaries and swatting away phobias. The tennis legend who earlier this year battled breast cancer was four days into her trek up the 19,341-foot mountain in Tanzania when she became ill around the 14,800-foot level Friday, and had to be assisted down by porters.

Navratilova, 54, was driven first to the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre and then flown to Nairobi Hospital, where tests showed she was suffering from high altitude pulmonary edema -- an accumulation of fluid in the lungs.

Dr David Silverstein, consultant in cardiology and internal medicine at Nairobi Hospital, said Navratilova was being treated with diuretics to remove the fluid, and was expected to be hospitalized for two to three days. "It is potentially dangerous when someone is at high altitude, but once brought down, recovery is quick. Martina is doing well and will continue to do well," he said. "There will be no effects to long term health and patients get back to full fitness in due course. Martina's acute condition is not reflective of her health or fitness. It occurs in some people in conditions of low oxygen."

Source: http://lisa-olson.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/short-of-kilimanjaro-summit-martina-navratilova-still-conquerin/

Nicollette Sheridan Nikki Cox Nikki Reed

What's next for Jaime?

Now that his playing days with D.C. United are over, everybody is looking for the answer to the important question, ?What will Jaime do now??  To shed some light on the subject, we asked Jaime and Louise that very question.

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/13491

Carla Campbell Carla Gugino Carmen Electra

Nuggets Still Hopeful Carmelo Anthony Will Sign Extension

Filed under: Heat, Nets, Nuggets, NBA Rumors

Count the Denver Nuggets among the massive contingent of Miami Heat haters who want nothing more than to see the new Big Three turn into the Big Bust.

It's nothing personal against LeBron James & Co., but the latest developments on their respective fronts -- six straight wins for the Heat and two straight losses for the Nuggets -- are doing little to help their mission of retaining Carmelo Anthony.

While a source with knowledge of the Nuggets' thinking says it is almost certain Anthony will be traded by the Feb. 24 trade deadline if he doesn't agree to the three-year, $65 million extension which was offered during the summer, Denver -- much to the surprise of so many around the league -- remains optimistic about the chances of Anthony signing the deal and remaining in the Mile High City. But that complicated confidence may be wavering at the moment, the source said, because it's partially tied to the Heat's shockingly-slow start (8-7) and the message the team hoped it would send Anthony's way.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/nuggets-still-hopeful-carmelo-anthony-will-sign-extension/

Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku Emilie de Ravin

Non-AQ Report: Mountain West Will Discuss Future Friday

Filed under: Air Force, Hawaii, Navy, TCU, Vanderbilt, Mountain West, WAC, Coaching, Injuries

While conference expansion has been dormant for, oh, a week or so, it's certainly not dead.

The Mountain West presidents meet Friday to discuss Hawaii and other potential candidates to increase the conference's stature.

Last month, Hawaii jumped the gun with a press conference celebrating its departure from the Western Athletic Conference to the Mountain West, but Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson said no formal deal had been put forth and that the conference was merely exploring the interest of Hawaii as a football-only member.

But that interest should turn into an official invitation.

Hawaii already has asked the Big West to take its other sports and most of the local media is reporting that the only thing left for Hawaii to do is turn out the lights as it exits a crippled WAC conference. But in order for Hawaii to get an official invite, it has to show the Mountain West that it adds value to the league in the form of success on the field and television revenue off of it. That shouldn't be a problem considering the Warriors are ranked in the Top 25 and its television market is ranked No. 71, which is above both Reno and Boise.

The presidents also will discuss other possible members, but the meat of those discussions probably won't happen until the board of directors meets in Las Vegas in January.

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/non-aq-report-mountain-west-will-discuss-future-friday/

Ana Paula Lemes Ananda Lewis Angela Marcello

Cliff Lee Negotiations Heat Up, Rangers Make 'Substantial' Offer

Filed under: Rangers, MLB Free Agency

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Texas Rangers owner Chuck Greenberg traveled to Arkansas on Thursday and presented Cliff Lee with an offer in an attempt to persuade the prized pitcher to remain with the team he helped reach the World Series.

Greenberg, Rangers assistant general manager Thad Levine and co-chairman Ray Davis, a pipeline billionaire, met with Lee, the pitcher's wife and agent Darek Braunecker at the agent's office.

"We made an offer with substantial additional commitments in years and dollars," Greenberg said. "It was a very constructive conversation."

Before Thursday, the Rangers had asked Lee to tell them what it would take to for him to stay in Texas, which acquired from Seattle in July.

The New York Yankees added a year to their offer earlier in the day, proposing a seven-year contract for the 2008 AL Cy Young Award winner. On Wednesday, the Yankees had offered a six-year deal worth $137.5 million to $140 million.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/texas-rangers-push-to-keep-cliff-lee/

Tamie Sheffield Tara Conner Tara Reed

Portland Timbers Unveil Jerseys

Filed under: MLS, Portland Timbers

The Portland Timbers unveiled their new kits during a live event Thursday.

Alaska Airlines will serve as the uniform sponsors -- with the airline being a company that's actually based in Seattle, as one local writer was quick to point out (let the Timbers-Sounders Northwest rivalry commence).

The kits themselves feature the classic, well-designed axe emblem. The primary kits are in "ponderosa green" and pay homage to the club's rich history (including some time spent in the NASL), while the alternate red jersey is a tribute to Portland being the Rose City.

Portland will take the pitch in its debut MLS season in 2011. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, another regional side, will make their MLS debut in 2011 as well.

(See more photos of the uniforms and the event itself on the Timbers' Facebook page.)

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/12/10/portland-timbers-unveil-jerseys/

Gina Philips Gisele Bündchen Giuliana DePandi

Senators Seek Goals, Wins

Filed under: Senators, Eastern, NHL Coaching

Watching the Ottawa Senators, it seems certain that decision day is looming for the coach, the general manager and the core of the team.

Cory Clouston's contract as head coach expires at the end of the season, and general manager Bryan Murray's deal is up at the same time.

Based on what has transpired so far this season, their final pay stubs could also contain a note thanking them for doing their best and it is time to move on. That's provided they aren't both let go before then.

The Senators have many issues that need to be addressed.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/08/senators-seek-goals-wins/

Sanaa Lathan Sara Foster Sara Spraker

Should the NBA Bail Out George Shinn?

by Bethlehem Shoals

Filed under: Hornets, SuperSonics, Thunder, Sports Business and Media, NBA Business

Soon, the NBA will own an NBA team.

When the league purchases the New Orleans Hornets outright, it will put them -- however temporarily -- in charge of a franchise that's made a habit of tempting fate. For one, there's the ongoing dance with Chris Paul. Now that LeBron James is gone from Cleveland, Paul holds the dubious honor of "player who can single-handedly make or break a franchise." If you want to be more sanguine about it, the 25 year-old point guard is a constant kick in the ass for the Hornets. Other players, coaches and the front office know that, if they falter, and Paul wants out, they'll have forfeited the chance of a lifetime.

On top of that, there's the small matter of where the Hornets will play. Post-Katrina, New Orleans simply might not be big enough to support both the Saints and another team. George Shinn, as of today still the majority owner, is hardly the most predictable figure in sports, and is also supposedly quite cash-poor these days. If Chris Paul isn't on the verge of skipping town, then the Hornets are. And if the Hornets are, what exactly does it mean for Paul's future? This is, to say the least, a volatile situation, and to a certain extent, it makes sense that the league would step in and try to facilitate the most sane, orderly resolution possible.

However, there are two things about this quasi-sale that just don't sit right with me.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/06/should-the-nba-bail-out-george-shinn/

Tara Conner Tara Reed Tara Reid

Chiefs vs. Chargers Preview, Score and More

Filed under: Chargers, Chiefs, AFC West

The Chiefs could be without quarterback Matt Cassel for their key divisional game against the Chargers, the four-time defending AFC West champions who would be eliminated from the division race with a loss. Cassel had an appendectomy on Wednesday and backup Brodie Croyle would start in his place if he can't go. The Chiefs are bidding for a fourth straight win for the first time since 2004. They signaled their readiness to challenge for the division crown when they took the season opener from San Diego 21-14. A victory would mark their first sweep of the two-game season series with the Chargers in seven years.

The Chargers suffered a blow to their playoff hopes a week ago when they were upset 28-13 by the Raiders, who at 6-6 are tied with San Diego for second place in the division, two games behind front-running Kansas City with four to play. Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers heads into the game as the league's third-ranked passer with a rating of 102.5. Last week's loss marked the first time Rivers had lost a December game in 19 career starts during the month.

Who: Kansas City Chiefs (8-4) at San Diego Chargers (6-6)

Where: Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

When: Sunday, Dec. 12, 1:15 PT

TV Coverage: CBS

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/chiefs-vs-chargers-preview-score-and-more/

Sarah Shahi Sarah Silverman Sarah Wynter

Miami Thriving Behind LeBron and Wade's Simultaneous Success

Filed under: Heat, Jazz

SALT LAKE CITY -- King James, for the best interests of the Heat kingdom, I am kindly asking that you drive to the basket.

No, Master Wade, it is you who has won great wars in Miami. You should be the one to shoot the ball.

OK, so it didn't go quite like that. But for much of this Miami season, stars LeBron James and Dwyane Wade were deferring too much to the other.

So what happened?

Miami got off to a 9-8 start, and its struggles elicited glee from so many who had hoped to see the team stagger. Well, there's now bad news for those who were celebrating prematurely.

The Heat (15-8) have won six straight games, the most impressive being Wednesday night's 111-98 toppling of Utah at EnergySolutions Arena. And James and Wade, two players who are similar in what they like to do on the court, are learning how to play together.

Early in the season, James, a small forward, and Wade, a shooting guard, both had their moments but there was plenty of awkwardness. It often looked as if the basketball gods, wanting to maintain some NBA competitive balance, would not permit both to play extremely well in the same game.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/miami-thriving-behind-lebron-and-wades-simultaneous-success/

Tami Donaldson Tamie Sheffield Tara Conner

Tony Sparano, Dolphins Plan to Turn to 'Lombardi' for Football Perspective

Filed under: Dolphins, AFC East

DAVIE, Fla. -- Miami Dolphins coach Tony Sparano didn't mention his planned trip to take the team to see the Broadway play "Lombardi," in New York City during his Wednesday press conference because he doesn't like to make a big deal out of team trips and bonding experiences. But since the cat was let out of the bag by New York Giants owner John Mara, Sparano had no qualms about explaining why he thought this particular trip was a good idea.

"I just believe in the history of the game and several weeks ago when we played in Green Bay I got up early and I get to the stadium pretty early and started jogging around that field," he explained. "All of a sudden you start to smell the air a little different and then you start to feel a little different and it's kind of a neat feeling, and that to me is what this game is all about. It's like when I walk through this door every day here (at the team's training facility); just the history of the game here and all the things that go into that, I'm a big fan of it and I want my team to be a fan of it.

"I think at the end of this when you walk away from the game, whenever that might be, to take a piece of history with you it's something that's pretty special. And in this case with Coach Lombardi, I think that's something that everybody can learn a little bit from. You know I'm a big fan of his "What it takes to be Number One speech." I always have been and I shared it with the team today a little bit and I think that they enjoyed it."

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/09/tony-sparano-dolphins-plan-to-turn-to-lombardi-for-football-p/

Samantha Mathis Samantha Morton Samantha Mumba