Sports Folk | Sports News, Fantasy Scores, NFL, College Football, MLB, NBA, NHL, FIFA and: May 2010

Monday, May 31, 2010

Lakers beat Suns at buzzer, Awesome college baseball brawl, Links

Given how they played in the first half yesterday, I felt like throwing up too

Golden Tate should’ve been flagged for this {Last Angry Fan}

NBA refs have a long way to go {LBS}

Lebron could play role in Knicks hunt for GM {NY Post}

Ashton Kutcher doesn’t like UM {Guyism}

Awesome college baseball brawl {Deadspin}

The World Series of Poker starts {With Leather}

Ron Artest gives ridiculous interview {The Big Lead}

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Full story at http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/NeswSports/~3/1Mz3FuN1kbg/

Wolves' Chris Iwelumo set to join relegated Burnley in �500k switch

Chris Iwelumo is poised to join Burnley from Wolves in a �500,000 move. Iwelumo, 31, had initially been lined-up as a makeweight in Wolves' �7m bid to sign Steven Fletcher.

Full story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1282722/Wolves-Chris-Iwelumo-set-join-relegated-Burnley-500k-switch.html?ITO=1490

It's Time for Kobe Bryant to Top LeBron

Filed under: Cavaliers, Celtics, Lakers, NBA Playoffs

With all due respect to every metric ever invented, and Pau Gasol -- who does make a slight bit of difference -- these Finals will be the great reckoning we've all waited for.

Don't get me wrong, Celtics-Lakers will be a fantastic series, one team and one star hitting their stride like never before at just the right time. Typing that sentence almost left me breathless, though maybe in a melodramatic kind of way. Regardless, even if this is the match-up everyone with fat wallets wants to see (so they'll get fatter), it also happens to be the best of all possible battles. Los Suns were the sentimental favorites and the Magic, some vague symbol of truth and justice.

When the smoke cleared, though, Boston and Los Angeles were the two teams carrying themselves like prospective champions. What's more, it's a rematch of the 2008 Finals that left the Lakers humiliated and Kobe Bryant licking his wounds, to such a degree that pride seemed irrelevant. Bryant has four rings; if the last one was the most important, as it proved he could stand without Shaquille O'Neal, a 2010 championship would show he could topple adversity and cast off another set of demons.

Pardon me, I got sidetracked. Next week, we'll find out who the NBA's best player is: Kobe or LeBron James. It's abstruse to put it this way, since we're not getting the head-to-head meeting that all of last season anticipated. Generally, it's bunk to talk "who's better, who's best" with regard to individual players unless they have kicked each other in the face and one has walked out the victor.

But the narrative is just right. LeBron was flummoxed, maybe even give the emperor's new clothes treatment, by a resurgent Celtics team. Now, Kobe, who has history here, has a chance to show what he can do against Boston.

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/30/its-time-for-kobe-bryant-to-top-lebron-james/

FanHouse TV: Suns-Lakers Wrap-Up, NBA Finals Preview

Filed under: Lakers, Suns, NBA Playoffs

PHOENIX -- The Lakers advanced to the NBA Finals on Saturday by closing out the Suns, in what turned out to be a very exciting Western Conference finals. NBA FanHouse writers Brett Pollakoff, Sam Amick, and Chris Tomasson break down Game 6, and give us a first look at the eagerly anticipated NBA Finals matchup between the Lakers and the Celtics.

Click below to watch:

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/30/fanhouse-tv-suns-lakers-wrap-up-nba-finals-preview/

Hamilton leads Button in McLaren 1-2 at Turkish GP

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS AP Auto Racing Writer

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Hamilton leads Button in McLaren 1-2 at Turkish GP

Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nascar-betting/hamilton-leads-button-in-mclaren-1-2-at-turkish-gp/

Lap-by-Lap: Charlotte (NASCAR.com)

Lap-by-Lap: Charlotte

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Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nascar-betting/lap-by-lap-charlotte-nascar-com-2/

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Millwall 1 Swindon 0: Paul Robinson fires Kenny Jackett's Lions into the Championship

It took a scruffy goal from a centre-half to end one of the worst records in the play-offs and secure a �5million promotion to the Championship.

Full story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1282441/Millwall-1-Swindon-0-Paul-Robinson-fires-Kenny-Jacketts-Lions-Championship.html?ITO=1490

Ron Artest's Great Odyssey to the Finals

Filed under: Lakers, Suns, NBA Playoffs

PHOENIX -- Ron Artest swears he was there to support Lamar Odom.

His blood brother from Queensbridge, N.Y., and the Lakers were in the NBA Finals against Boston in 2008, and the then-Sacramento Kings small forward had crossed the country to see the Game 6 loss in Beantown that ended it all.

But whether by design or serendipity, it was indeed the day he inserted himself into the Lakers' script. He awkwardly wandered into the shower area of the visitor's locker room at TD Banknorth Garden, then boldly told Kobe Bryant that he wanted to throw a few punches the next time the Celtics were knocking him out of the championship bout. Two years later, the most unlikely of storybook endings is on its way to being complete.

The Lakers finished Phoenix 111-103 in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals in large part because of Artest's 25-point outing and seemingly endless energy. Driven by disrespect once again, Artest called out Suns coach Alvin Gentry for dismissing his offensive skills with his defensive strategy and backed up his words with a 10-of-16 shooting night in which he buried 4-of-7 three-pointers. And now the Celtics await in the NBA Finals, with Artest insisting he wouldn't be pinching himself between now and Thursday's series opener in Los Angeles.

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/30/kobe-chat-helped-change-artests-life/

Kobe's Special Delivery a Pain in the You-Know-What for Suns

Filed under: Lakers, Suns, NBA Playoffs

PHOENIX -- Michael Jordan had the shoulder shrug. And now Kobe Bryant has the pat.

When the dust settles on Bryant's brilliant career and the highlights all have been spliced together, this one certainly will make it.

With 34.2 seconds left Saturday night at US Airways Center, the Lakers guard put up a 23-foot jumper right in front of Phoenix's bench with Suns forward Grant Hill practically doing chin-ups on his forearm. It didn't matter.

Bryant made the decisive bucket that would lead his team to a 111-103 win over and a third straight trip to the NBA Finals. Before Bryant ran back up court, he gave Suns coach Alvin Gentry a pat on the butt, as if to say, "Nobody can stop me.''

It was similar to when Jordan hit his sixth three-pointer of the first half for Chicago in Game 1 of the 1992 NBA Finals against Portland. With the Bulls on their way to the second of six titles, he simply shrugged for the camera.

"After I knocked down the shot, I just heard (Gentry) mutter something like, 'That's B.S., you know,''' said Bryant, giving his version of the shot that put the Lakers up 107-100 and on their way to securing a 4-2 win in the Western Conference finals. ''Something to that effect about the shot. Just made me smile.''

As for Gentry's version, "I said, 'Good defense. (Bryant) said, 'Not quite good enough.' ... He just patted me.''

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/30/kobes-pat-sends-lakers-back-to-finals-sexy-showdown/

Saints, Vikings talking trash on Twitter

Opening night can’t get here fast enough for the New Orleans Saints and Minnesota Vikings. Saints safety Darren Sharper is engaging in some serious trash talk on Twitter with former teammates Bryant McKinnie and Visanthe Shiancoe of the Vikings, with Brett Favre right in the middle of it. Sharper touched things off after Favre announced he was having ankle surgery last week.

Click here to read the full article…

Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nfl-betting/saints-vikings-talking-trash-on-twitter/

California judge grants stay for trainer Mullins

A judge has stayed the 30-day suspension imposed upon trainer Jeff Mullins by the California Horse Racing Board until June 2. That’s when a hearing is scheduled on Mullins’ application for a further stay. Mullins on May 9 began serving the suspension imposed by the racing board for an alleged 2008 drug violation.

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Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/horse-racing-betting/california-judge-grants-stay-for-trainer-mullins-2/

Saturday, May 29, 2010

GLENN HODDLE: What it's like to be the England boss at the World Cup

For the coach, the worst part is the last two or three games of a domestic season, when you can't stop yourself wondering if the next phone call will bring bad news.

Full story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1282352/GLENN-HODDLE-What-like-England-boss-World-Cup.html?ITO=1490

Celtics Are Right Where They Belong

Filed under: Celtics, Magic, NBA Playoffs

BOSTON -- What, them worry?

A little thing like becoming the biggest chokers in NBA history wasn't going to bother the Celtics, even if it had the rest of Massachusetts unable to breathe. Now the players are right where they expected to be.

"The Finals," Paul Pierce said.

Boston's not only the first team in, it should be favored to beat the Lakers or Suns. That thought was crazy just a month ago, but losing is believing. And if LeBron James and Dwight Howard can lose to the Old Gang Green, Kobe Bryant sure can.

"Nobody believed in us," Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck said as he accepted the Eastern Conference trophy.

That's a tiresome line, but in this case it's true. The Celtics finished the latter part of the season 27-27 and went into the playoffs smoking like a '72 Vega with bald tires. Who knew it was all part of a grand plan?

"He stuck to the script the whole time," Ray Allen said.

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/29/celtics-are-right-where-they-belong/

Robinson Delivers As Celts Promised

Filed under: Celtics, Magic, NBA Playoffs

BOSTON -- No one really believed Coach Doc Rivers -- they all figured it was just typical coach speak -- when he first said almost two months ago that often-maligned and hardly used Nate Robinson was going to win a playoff game for the Boston Celtics one day.

No one except Nate Robinson, who clung to those words like a security blanket, waking up every morning still believing what his coach said would happen.

Most everyone else had forgotten. Not Robinson, who has been crossing off days on his calendar since the playoffs began, like a kid crossing off days leading up to Christmas morning.

His belief finally paid off, getting the chance and delivering the high-octane boast Friday night to carry the Celtics to a 96-84 Game 6 victory over the Orlando Magic, putting them back in the NBA Finals.

He won the game that mattered the most.

"I was beginning to think, we're running out of games, when is this day going to happen?'' Robinson said. "But they say good things come to those who wait patiently. And I did.''

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/29/celts-robinson-delivers-as-promised/

Akron to hold ?LeBron Appreciation Day?

LeBron James, Akron’s greatest export this side of rubber tires, is being honored with an event in his hometown. The NBA’s two-time MVP will be recognized on June 19 at “LeBron Appreciation Day” in the University of Akron’s InfoCision Stadium. The celebration is aimed at convincing James to re-sign with the Cavaliers in July, when he is eligible to become a free agent.

Click here to read the full article…

Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nba-betting/akron-to-hold-lebron-appreciation-day/

Haier Play of the Day

Jameer Nelson beats the shot clock with a long 3-pointer.

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Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nba-betting/haier-play-of-the-day-381/

Friday, May 28, 2010

Sprinter Runs Right Through Wandering Woman

Think she’s getting kicked off the team? Taken away in an ambulance?

You’d think the bright yellowish hair would have caught her attention out of the corner of her eye. She looks as if she was part of the event, so she knows that large, very fast people are competing all around her. Yet still, this lady must have needed this to get some semblance of sense knocked into her.

Now watch the video again and just keep your eyes on the guy in orange in the back. Just awesome. At least someone saw it coming.

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Manchester City join rivals United, Spurs, Arsenal and Bayern Munich in the chase for Edin Dzeko

Manchester City have identified Valencia striker David Silva as their priority signing this summer. City have also joined the chase for Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko.

Full story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1281990/Manchester-City-join-rivals-United-Spurs-Arsenal-Bayern-Munich-chase-Edin-Dzeko.html?ITO=1490

Bending Rules for Perkins, Celtics Hurts NBA's Image

Filed under: Celtics, Magic, NBA Playoffs, NBA Referees

The NBA wonders why it has such an image problem, why hard-core fans still believe that outcomes are influenced by the desires of the league office, why most everyone thinks there are different standards for different players when it comes to officials.

It's because of rulings like Thursday's, allowing Celtics center Kendrick Perkins to play in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals against the Orlando Magic. It's not a surprising move by the NBA -- it was almost expected -- and it certainly feeds the conspiracy theory.

A Lakers/Celtics Finals is best for everyone.

It's called selective enforcement of the rules, which the league has mastered, which leads to improving the odds of one team over another. Is it right? No. Does it happen? It just did.

The league did itself no favors with this one, taking back the technical foul it called against Perkins Wednesday night in Game 5, which allows him to play Friday.

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/27/bending-rules-for-perkins-celtics-hurts-nbas-image/

Unlikely Hero Artest Saves Game 5

Filed under: Lakers, Suns, NBA Playoffs

LOS ANGELES -- Move over Lorenzo Charles. You've got company.

Well, Ron Artest didn't know that. But he was told as he walked down a corridor at the Staples Center late Thursday night his game-winning shot an hour earlier conjured up memories of Charles' look-what-I-found rebound and bucket that won the 1983 NCAA title for North Carolina State.

"No, don't remember that play,'' said the Lakers forward, who was 3 then. "What game was it?''

Given the details, Artest's face lit up and he said, "I'm going to YouTube it.''

First, Artest might want to return many of the voice mails and text messages that were accumulating from well-wishers after his last-second putback gave the Lakers a 103-101 win over Phoenix at the Staples Center for a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals. He said he had about 50 in the first hour after the shot and they were piling up by the minute.

With the game tied 101-101 and after the Lakers inbounded with 3.5 seconds, all Lakers guard Kobe Bryant could manage was an air ball three-pointer after double pumping from the right corner. Artest ran around shell-shocked Suns guard Jason Richardson, grabbed the ball in flight in front of the rim and banked in a layup that rattled around a bit before falling through as the buzzer sounded.

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/28/unlikely-hero-artest-saves-game-5/

F1 drivers: American driver crucial to US success

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS AP Auto Racing Writer

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Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nascar-betting/f1-drivers-american-driver-crucial-to-us-success/

Busch eyeing points lead with return to Charlotte (NASCAR.com)

Busch eyeing points lead with return to Charlotte

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Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nascar-betting/busch-eyeing-points-lead-with-return-to-charlotte-nascar-com/

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Even Chris Waddle couldn't miss with the new World Cup ball

Stepping into the Sports Technology Institute at Loughborough University is like entering Q's laboratory. It looks like something straight out of James Bond.

Full story at http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2010/article-1281668/Even-Chris-Waddle-miss-new-World-Cup-ball.html?ITO=1490

Zach Randolph Implicated in Drug Bust

Filed under: Grizzlies, NBA Police Blotter

It was too perfect, was it not?

The locker room cancer, the perennial headcase, the 20/10 disaster, finding redemption in a small-market team that was the only one willing to take him on its roster. Heartwarming, genuine, and a ray of hope in a place often referred to as Basketball Hell.

Zach Randolph shook off his reputation and put in one of the best seasons of his career, earning an All-Star berth and leading the Grizzlies, if not to playoff contention, then at least to respectability. Things looked like they had turned around for him. And that may all be down the drain.

Randolph has been named in a probable cause affidavit as "a major marijuana supplier in Indianapolis," according to Indianapolis' local ABC affiliate, News 6.

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/27/zach-randolph-implicated-in-drug-bust/

Do You Believe in Miracles? Magic Do

Filed under: Celtics, Magic, NBA Playoffs

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Stars Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson played the best, but it was unheralded Matt Barnes who said it best Wednesday night after the Orlando Magic throttled the Boston Celtics again, moving another step closer to making history.

A 3-2 deficit never felt so good.

"We've got our foot on their neck right now,'' Barnes said in a confident Magic locker room. "Now we have to keep it there.''

In a series that has gone from a surprising debacle to a stunning turnaround, the Magic slammed the Celtics, 113-92, Wednesday, a second consecutive victory that now has them believing that miracles can happen.

No NBA team ever has fallen behind 3-0 and rebounded to win a playoff series. And it has been tried 93 times before. Game 6 is in Boston Friday night, but the Magic already are making plans for Game 7 in Orlando.

The team that is down has suddenly become the favorite again.

"The momentum has shifted,'' said forward Rashard Lewis. "We want to make history now. We can win this series. We have the guys who can do it.''

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Full story at http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/05/27/do-you-believe-in-miracles-magic-do/

Haier Play of the Day

Dwight Howard finishes the alley-oop pass from Jason Williams in Game 4.

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Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/nba-betting/haier-play-of-the-day-379/

Rachel Alexandra, Zenyatta sharp in workouts

Horse racing’s leading ladies are back at work. Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra zipped five furlongs at Churchill Downs on Monday, while unbeaten mare Zenyatta was just as impressive in a work at Hollywood Park. Rachel Alexandra covered five furlongs in 1:00.40, second-fastest of the 14 horses who worked the distance.

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Full story at http://www.officialsportsbetting.com/horse-racing-betting/rachel-alexandra-zenyatta-sharp-in-workouts/

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Magic extend series, Gina Carano back in high school, Links

Stop the presses, the Orlando Magic have a heartbeat, albeit a faint one right now. Can they win 4 straight games in this series? I doubt it but the Celtics have been known to throw away some games late this season so I guess anything is possible.

My best bet: This goes to 6 games.

David Stern fines Barack Obama 100k {MLJ}

Gina Carano back in high school {The Cage Doctors}

The Pittsburgh Pirates are healing Bret Michaels {PSAMP}

The Ultimate Arnold Action cheat sheet {Flicksided}

Nolan Ryan buys Texas Rangers {Deadspin}

Venus Williams has no shame {WithLeather}

Steve Phillips would trade Strasburg for Oswalt {LBS}

Jeffrey Jordan reveals secret about Illinois basketball {YB}