Source: http://www.milehighhockey.com/2012/6/28/3122379/daily-cupcakes-june-28th-2012
Brett Pill Pat Burrell Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez John Baker Brad Davis
Saturday, June 30, 2012
US Olympic Gymnastics Trials: Why Alicia Sacramone Must Be Named to Team USA
Alicia Sacramone is making a statement at the U.S. Olympic Gymnastic Trials that she needs to be a part of the team that heads to London. This is a position that few thought she would ever be in again.
After all, it was just last year that Sacramone tore her Achilles tendon at a global meet, and a torn Achilles tendon is most definitely not a sprained ankle or a twisted wrist.
This is a serious injury that has ended careers in many sports, and in the world of narrow windows that is women's gymnastics, this injury seemed like it would be the nail in the coffin to Sacramone's career.
At 24, Sacramone is already far older than the typical teenage gymnast Olympic competitor. At her age, most gymnasts would have thrown in the towel after tearing their Achilles. Shoot, most would be calling it a career just because they were past their prime or burnt out.
Don't tell that to Sacramone, though. She is back and looking strong.
She scheduled herself to compete in just two events at these rials, and she needed to be impressive in these events to show she was fully recovered and ready to compete at an Olympic level.
Sacramone looked good in the vault Friday night while earning scores of 15.700 and 15.375. The 15.7 was the fifth highest score of the event. This has been Sacramone's strongest event, and she finished fourth on the vault in 2008 in Beijing.
In her other event, the balance beam, she had a little wobble but was still crisp enough to earn third in the event.
Why She Must Make the Trip to London
Sacramone needs to be on this team not just for her talent and potential, but also because of her experience and leadership. She was a member of the 2008 Beijing silver medal squad and is the only one with a realistic shot of joining this squad.
2008 member Shawn Johnson retired after tearing up her knee while skiing.
Nastia Liukin, the 2008 Olympic all-around champion, fizzled in the uneven bars while landing on her rump on her dismount.
Bridget Sloan, the only other 2008 member at these trials, was forced to withdraw after spraining her elbow.
That leaves Sacramone as the one 2008 member ready to bring a sense of calm and experience to what figures to be a very young team.
It won't be announced until Sunday night who the five members of the 2012 Olympics team are, but Sacramone needs to be one of them.
Her return from injury is as inspiring as it is impressive. It is shocking how far back she has already made it, and she figures be in even better form when the Olympics roll around.
Sacramone is ready to compete for a medal in the vault, and even more importantly, she is ready to add the experience this team will sorely need as they head to the brightest stage gymnastics has to offer.
Brad Davis Logan Morrison Mike Stanton Josh Bailey Mark Eaton Trent Hunter
Wimbledon 2012 Schedule: Novak Djokovic and 4th-Round Favorites Who Will Cruise
The biggest story of Wimbledon thus far has been the early ouster of superstar Rafael Nadal. But upset lightning isn’t going to strike twice at this tournament. By the time the rest of the biggest names in the men's draw bow out, it will be because they’re facing each other in the late rounds of the tournament.
Here are three high seeds who—having already moved on to the fourth round—should have no trouble advancing to the quarterfinals in Monday’s action.
The world’s No. 1-ranked player has been a fixture in Grand Slam finals since the 2010 U.S. Open, and that pattern’s not going to change here. Djoker proved his mettle on grass by winning this tournament last summer, so the surface is hardly going to be an obstacle now.
He’s also facing an exceptionally easy fourth-round match against unseeded Viktor Troicki, who’s already set a personal best for this tourney by getting out of Round 3. Djokovic fought back from an early stumble against Radek Stepanek to rout the Czech in the last three sets (4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2), and he won’t be caught off-guard against another underdog.
Once unbeatable at the All-England Club, No. 3 seed Federer has bowed out in the quarterfinals in the last two years. Reaching the 2012 quarters, though, should pose little problem for the Swiss legend after surviving a thriller against Julien Benneteau.
Federer's fourth-round opponent, Xavier Malisse, is a hard-court specialist with precisely zero tournament final appearances on grass. Although Malisse did make the semis at Wimbledon a decade ago, he’ll be hard-pressed even to stay competitive with a grass-court expert like Federer.
A semifinalist at Wimbledon a year ago, No. 5 seed Tsonga has an excellent chance to match that feat next week. He’s been tremendously sharp so far, dropping just one set through his first three matches.
10th-seeded opponent Mardy Fish, for his part, has been just scraping by, playing tiebreakers in five of 11 sets in the tournament so far. Neither player is especially at home on grass, but Tsonga has been executing too well to be tripped up by the scuffling Fish on his way to the quarterfinals.
Frans Nielsen Dwayne Roloson Jon Sim Jason Arnott David Clarkson Patrick Davis
NBA Draft 2012: Even After Solid Draft, Hornets Still Have a Lot of Work to Do
The New Orleans Hornets hit a home run in Thursday night's NBA draft. They got a franchise cornerstone in No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis, who will provide a defensive presence while his offensive game comes along. They got another young scorer at No. 10 in Duke guard Austin Rivers, whom the team will try to mold into their point guard of the future. They also got a nice sleeper in Davis' college teammate, Darius Miller, with the 46th pick.
While everything seemed to fall in place for the Hornets, New Orleans still has a ways to go to get back to being a respectable basketball team.
For starters, with free agency starting Sunday, getting shooting guard Eric Gordon signed to a long-term deal is the team's top priority this summer. Gordon's a restricted free agent and the Hornets have said they'll match any offer for the centerpiece of last year's Chris Paul trade.
The next order of business will be finding another big man. With Chris Kaman a free agent and Emeka Okafor having been traded to Washington, the team's only real options to pair with Davis in the paint are Jason Smith and Gustavo Ayon.
Ayon played in 54 games last year, starting 24 of them, and averaged nearly six points and five rebounds a game. As for Smith, he played in 40 games and made 29 starts while averaging close to 10 points and five rebounds a game.
Smith would seem like the most likely candidate to be Davis' tag-team partner, but he's more of a stopgap than a viable starting option. The team could try to re-sign Kaman, but the former Clipper seems like a long shot to come back, seeing as the Hornets tried to trade him for much of his tenure in New Orleans.
Another option is making a play for former Wizards/Nuggets center JaVale McGee. McGee is a restricted free agent, but Denver doesn't have the cap room that New Orleans has to get into a bidding war. The only question is whether McGee would be worth the big payday. On the one hand, he's a rebounding machine who would serve as another shot-blocker to protect the rim. On the other hand, he's an infamous knucklehead who might not be the kind of influence you want around your young franchise big man.
Still, McGee's the best center on the market not named Roy Hibbert.
The next task for New Orleans will be sorting out their issues at small forward. The team sent away Trevor Ariza, who started 41 games for New Orleans last season, to Washington a couple weeks ago. The other in-house options are Al-Farouq Aminu and their second-round pick, Darius Miller. Neither are enticing options as starters, but Aminu offers the most promise of the two. Former Net Gerald Wallace is the best free-agent SF on the market.
The Hornets are on the right track. They have three franchise cornerstones in Davis, Gordon and Rivers and they'll have some serious cap room once they waive Rashard Lewis.
The question is, do they try to fill their needs in free agency now, or use this season to develop the youngsters and then go hard in the summer of 2013? Some big names that will be available next summer include point guards Ty Lawson (restricted), Jrue Holiday (restricted), Darren Collison (restricted) and big men Andrew Bynum and Al Jefferson.
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard would also be a free agent next summer, assuming he isn't traded to a team that he's willing to sign an extension with. Even if Howard was available next summer, the Hornets would have to make huge strides for D12 to consider signing with them.
The blocks are in place to build a contender in New Orleans. They'll need a lot of things to bounce their way to make the playoffs next season, but they have three nice pieces in place and the money to be players in a big free-agent summer next year.
With a couple more moves, this team could be the second coming of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Who would have thought we would be saying that after they lost Chris Paul?
Florida Panthers Tampa Bay Lightning Washington Capitals Arizona Diamondbacks Atlanta Braves Chicago Cubs
Moen for four, teeing up Sunday
Travis Moen’s four year deal with the Habs (4 year, $7.2 million) goes a long way shoring up leadership for the Canadiens, as well as their fourth line and penalty kill. While Moen may not be a sexy player, he’s an effective one, and a winner at that. Having him signed will allow the Habs to focus on finding more scoring and depth down the middle.
As for the Impending frenzy on Sunday, I expect the Habs to target at least one Francophone player (perhaps PA Paranteau, but likely Gui Latendresse), a skilled forward like Jagr, and some sandpaper/scoring such as a Shane Doan. I’d be pleased if they bring Latendresse back, as I feel his size and strength could help the second/third lines - as long as he’s healthy. I’d also like to see Alex Kovalev back as a 3rd/4th line/PP specialist, but I don’t be the sense the current Habs regime wants him back in Montreal. The Erik Cole signing last year was perfect - can the new management team top it?
Beyond that, anyone’s guess. I could also see GM Marc Bergevin trying to bring in a different backup, perhaps Martin Biron or someone of that ilk, but I doubt that is their first priority,
Should be lots of fun, speculate away - and enjoy!
As for the Impending frenzy on Sunday, I expect the Habs to target at least one Francophone player (perhaps PA Paranteau, but likely Gui Latendresse), a skilled forward like Jagr, and some sandpaper/scoring such as a Shane Doan. I’d be pleased if they bring Latendresse back, as I feel his size and strength could help the second/third lines - as long as he’s healthy. I’d also like to see Alex Kovalev back as a 3rd/4th line/PP specialist, but I don’t be the sense the current Habs regime wants him back in Montreal. The Erik Cole signing last year was perfect - can the new management team top it?
Beyond that, anyone’s guess. I could also see GM Marc Bergevin trying to bring in a different backup, perhaps Martin Biron or someone of that ilk, but I doubt that is their first priority,
Should be lots of fun, speculate away - and enjoy!
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/tuc/comments/moen_for_four_teeing_up_sunday/
Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson Nick Johnson Javier Lopez Alex Hinshaw Ramon Ramirez
The 10 Greatest Teams That Didn't Win The Super Bowl
One of the best things about the NFL is that the best team often wins it all, but upsets do happen. And in the Super Bowl era (1966-present) there have been a number of great teams that fell short along the way.
Recently, the NFL Network took a look at the "Top Ten Teams That Didn't Win A Super Bowl." And while there may be little debate over which team is number one, the rest of the teams are not as clear.
On the next few pages we will take a look at their choices. And maybe the most interesting (funniest?) aspect of the list is that Randy Moss played for two of the top five teams.
#10 1983 Washington Redskins
Record: 14-2
Playoff Loss: Los Angeles Raiders 38-9 (Super Bowl XVII)
Where it went wrong: The Redskins were still in the Super Bowl game late in the first half when Joe Theisman threw a terrible pass into the waiting arms of linebacker Jack Squirek who returned it five yards for the touchdown.
#9 1979 Houston Oilers
Record: 11-5
Playoff Loss: Pittsburgh Steelers 27-13 (AFC Championship Game)
Where it went wrong: The Oilers had beaten the Steelers in week 15, but in the playoffs, Pittsburgh was just too much as they were gunning for their fourth title in six years.
#8 1984 Miami Dolphins
Record: 14-2
Playoff Loss: San Francisco 49ers 38-16 (Super Bowl XIX)
Where it went wrong: Dan Marino's second season was also his best Dolphins team. Unfortunately, they ran into one of the best teams of all-time.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Jhan Marinez Anibal Sanchez John Baker Brad Davis Logan Morrison Mike Stanton
The Biggest NBA Free Agents Up For Grabs This Summer
The 2012 NBA Draft didn't include the frenzy of trades many expected, but the NBA landscape should be drastically shaken up this summer as free agency opens on Sunday.
The draft is how teams improve slowly over time, but signing a big name free agent can make a huge immediate impact on a franchise's fortunes. Just look at the 2012 NBA champion Miami Heat.
There are a wealth of big names available on the market, led by point guard Deron Williams.
Deron Williams, unrestricted free agent
Williams became an unrestricted free agent after giving up his player option to return to the Brooklyn Nets for an extra season.
The Nets and Dallas Mavericks are considered the front-runners to sign Williams.
2011-12 stats:
- 21.0 points per game
- 8.7 assists per game
- 1.2 steals per game
Ray Allen, unrestricted free agent
Ray Allen is the most coveted off-guard this summer, and championship-ready teams will be in the best position to land Allen.
LeBron James, for one, hopes Allen comes to Miami.
2011-12 stats:
- 14.2 points per game
- 3.1 rebounds per game
- 45.3% 3-point percentage
Kevin Garnett, unrestricted free agent
Kevin Garnett is expected to make a decision regarding his future in the next few days, and the Big Ticket is contemplating retirement.
If he does decide to continue playing, he'll be an unrestricted free agent, but it's difficult to imagine him leaving Boston.
2011-12 stats:
- 15.8 points per game
- 8.2 rebounds per game
- 50.3% field goal percentage
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Pikka Rinne Mathieu Carle Lars Eller Hal Gill John Madden Petr Kalus
Friday, June 29, 2012
SPORTS CHART OF THE DAY: Wimbledon Champs Will Take Home More Than Ever This Year
France's Gilles Simon started a controversy this week when he said that the equal pay for men and women "isn't something that works in sport" (via The Guardian). He cited the increased amount of time that men are on the court and added that "Men's tennis remains more attractive than women's tennis at the moment."
Wimbledon has awarded equal pay to the winner's of the men's and ladies' draws since 2007. And part of the disdain by some men is likely the desire for a bigger slice of an ever-increasing pie.
Here is a look at the year-by-year pay for the men and women, adjusted for inflation...
Data via Wimbledon.org
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Petr Kalus Colton Gilies Justin Falk Robbie Eal Joe Callahan Bryan Allen
Red Wings GM Ken Holland talks ‘holes’ with Pleiness; Hudler is g-o-n-e
Red Wings GM Ken Holland has some serious needs to fill on Sunday, but he told the Macomb Daily’s Chuck Pleiness (via RedWingsFeed) that his team does not believe that it’s dealing from anything other than a position of strength going into July 1st:
“We’ve got cap space, we’ll explore the market, but it’s got to make sense,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said Friday. “We have lots of pieces in place, players ready to step up and play a bigger role. Some of this has to be internal evolution.”
And Detroit has some major holes to fill, namely on the blue line and perhaps another top six forward. This offseason the Wings lost defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom (retirement) and Brad Stuart (trade). They could also lose Jiri Hudler to another team that’s willing to offer the winger more money.
“We don’t have as many holes as some people think,” Holland said. “I attribute that to the development of Brendan Smith. You’re not going to replace Nicklas Lidstrom. He’s going to be replaced by all defensemen picking it up. Brad Stuart is a loss. I look at the addition of Kyle Quincey, the development of Brendan Smith, Jonathan Ericsson. We got Nik Kronwall, Jakub Kindl is 25, Ian White had a good year. We don’t have big names, but we have good players. Jonathan Ericsson is developing into a shut-down defenseman.”
So what does Holland’s assessment mean given that Nicklas Lidstrom’s retired?
“We’ve got cap space, we’ll explore the market, but it’s got to make sense,” Wings general manager Ken Holland said Friday. “We have lots of pieces in place, players ready to step up and play a bigger role. Some of this has to be internal evolution.”
And Detroit has some major holes to fill, namely on the blue line and perhaps another top six forward. This offseason the Wings lost defensemen Nicklas Lidstrom (retirement) and Brad Stuart (trade). They could also lose Jiri Hudler to another team that’s willing to offer the winger more money.
“We don’t have as many holes as some people think,” Holland said. “I attribute that to the development of Brendan Smith. You’re not going to replace Nicklas Lidstrom. He’s going to be replaced by all defensemen picking it up. Brad Stuart is a loss. I look at the addition of Kyle Quincey, the development of Brendan Smith, Jonathan Ericsson. We got Nik Kronwall, Jakub Kindl is 25, Ian White had a good year. We don’t have big names, but we have good players. Jonathan Ericsson is developing into a shut-down defenseman.”
So what does Holland’s assessment mean given that Nicklas Lidstrom’s retired?
Jamie Lundmark Nick Spaling Pikka Rinne Mathieu Carle Lars Eller Hal Gill
Vancouver Makes Schneider Signing Official
Vancouver, B.C. – Vancouver Canucks President and General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have re-signed goaltender Cory Schneider. In keeping with club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Cory has displayed tremendous poise and professionalism since joining our organization,” said President and General Manager Mike Gillis. “He has proven himself as a leader on and off the ice and has shown an unwavering commitment to being the best at his position.”
Schneider, 26, finished the 2011.12 season with a record of 20-8-1, appearing in 33 games for Vancouver. He ranked second in the NHL for highest save percentage (.937) and third in the NHL for lowest goals against average (1.96).
“Cory has displayed tremendous poise and professionalism since joining our organization,” said President and General Manager Mike Gillis. “He has proven himself as a leader on and off the ice and has shown an unwavering commitment to being the best at his position.”
Schneider, 26, finished the 2011.12 season with a record of 20-8-1, appearing in 33 games for Vancouver. He ranked second in the NHL for highest save percentage (.937) and third in the NHL for lowest goals against average (1.96).
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/vancouver_makes_schneider_signing_official/
detroit red wings nashville predators St Louis Blues Calgary Flames Colorado Avalanche Edmonton Oilers
Get Your Long Term Contracts Now
Free agency is looming in the NHL. Big name players are already signing some big contracts and the real madness does not begin for a couple years. Yesterday we saw Sidney Crosby sign a 12 year $104.4 contract with Pittsburgh and Jonathan Quick sign a 10 year $58 million contract with Los Angeles. Potential free agent Dennis Wideman signed a five year $26.25 million contract after his rights were traded to Calgary. The length and value of these contracts are significant and clearly show that there are teams that are willing to pay some significant amounts of money to lock up some talent. This is the case with the healthy NHL teams. They are growing in revenue and are anxious to lock up as good players as possible for their future.
The Gary Bettman NHL wants changes to the CBA to lower the player’s share of revenue and likely to reduce the length of contracts. This makes the money being thrown around this summer likely phony money.
The Gary Bettman NHL wants changes to the CBA to lower the player’s share of revenue and likely to reduce the length of contracts. This makes the money being thrown around this summer likely phony money.
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/psh/comments/get_your_long_term_contracts_now/
Andrew Brackman A.J. Burnett Steve Garrison Phil Hughes Damaso Marte Mariano Rivera
Classic SEC Football: Tennessee Tops Arkansas in 1998 to Keep Title Hopes Alive
Every Friday, The SEC Blog will feature one classic game from the storied history of SEC football.
For almost every team that wins a national championship, there's always that one game that stands out. That one game that's viewed as an escape more than a win.
In 1998, the Arkansas game was "that game" for the Tennessee Volunteers.
The game matched two unbeaten teams, with the Vols sporting the No. 1 ranking while the Razorbacks were ranked No. 9.
Arkansas capitalized on two Tennessee first half turnovers to surge out to a 21-10 lead at the half, stunning the crowd of 106.365 fans at Neyland Stadium.
The two teams swapped field goals and Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin scored from four yards out to cut Arkansas' lead to 24-20 heading into the fourth quarter.
For more than 12 minutes in the fourth quarter, the two teams weren't able to crack the scoreboard, but it wasn't without excitement.
Vols' defensive back Deon Grant blocked a field goal attempt midway through the fourth, but Tennessee didn't capitalize. Time was running out, and Arkansas looked like it was going to win this battle and keep its national championship hopes alive.
Arkansas was attempting to ice the game away with under three minutes to play, but the drive stalled and the Hogs were forced to punt from their won 41-yard line with 2:56 to play. The snap sailed over Hogs' punter Chris Akin's head, and Akin kicked the ball out of the end zone for a safety.
Trailing 24-22, the Vols couldn't move against Arkansas' defense, and turned it over on downs with under two minutes to play. The Vols needed a miracle.
They got it.
Needing only one first down to put the game away, Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner stumbled after taking the snapped, dropped the ball on the turf, and Billy Ratliff recovered on the Hogs' 43-yard line with 1:43 to play.
Tennessee running back Travis Henry ran five straight times, scoring the game-winning touchdown with 31 seconds left.
The 28-24 win kept Tennessee's dream season alive, which culminated with a 23-16 win over Florida State in the Fiesta Bowl to claim the BCS National Championship.
Andy Hilbert Bruno Gervais Dustin Kohn Andrew McDonald Matt Martin Frans Nielsen
NBA Draft 2012 Grades: Non-Lottery Teams That Deserve an A
Believe it or not, even playoff teams can instantly improve through the NBA draft.
Especially in a draft that is loaded with talent like this one, playoff teams actually have a good chance of finding impact players, even if they don't get to choose within the first 14 picks.
Just look at 2011 for proof.
The San Antonio Spurs got Kawhi Leonard at No. 15 (seriously), the New York Knicks got Iman Shumpert at 17 and the Denver Nuggets got Kenneth Faried at 22.
So it's true. Non-lottery teams can, in fact, have a productive draft. Let's take a look at the best ones from this year.
The Magic are clearly prepping for when Dwight Howard inevitably leaves town, but they are absolutely doing it the right way.
First, they grabbed power forward Andrew Nicholson out of St. Bonaventure, and it's hard not to love this kid's game.
He doesn't have elite athleticism, but his footwork in the post is impeccable, he has a high basketball-IQ and his jumper is as smooth as a baby's bottom. Nicholson may be 6'9", but he can score from anywhere on the court.
And he'll contribute right away.
In the late second round, the Magic grabbed Kyle O'Quinn, one of my favorite sleepers in this draft.
If you're looking for a Kenneth Faried in this year's draft, O'Quinn is he and he is him. Or something like that. The Norfolk State big man has tremendous length and is a big ball of energy. He'll serve as an immediate x-factor off the bench for Orlando as a ferocious rebounder and great defender.
Many people didn't like Philly's pick of Mo Harkless at No. 15. While I understand the fact he's not a shooter and that's what Philly needs on the wing, he is a unique talent.
The St. John's product is long, athletic and a tremendous defender. He can get to the hoop and he can rebound. Besides shooting, he can literally do it all, and he even has the mechanics that will eventually translate with repetitions.
It was smart of the Sixers to grab an elite talent if they liked the player, regardless of position.
On top of that, Philly made a trade with Miami in order to acquire Arnett Moultrie, which is an absolute steal at No. 27.
While this draft will be a controversial one, I love both the players Philly got, and that's all you can ask for.
With their first pick, the Celtics took Jared Sullinger. While I'm not a huge fan of Sully, he is an absolute steal at No. 21.
Despite the red flags due to injury, that's a great pick.
Next up in the draft, the C's grabbed Fab Melo out of Syracuse. Again, I'm not the biggest Melo supporter, but he fits what the Celtics do. He's a big body who is raw on the offensive end, but he can contribute on the defensive end right away.
In the second round, Boston finished off its draft by grabbing Melo's Syracuse teammate, Kris Joseph.
None of these picks are sexy, but all big men fit with Boston well and can all contribute in some way or another very soon.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1240922-nba-draft-2012-grades-non-lottery-teams-that-deserve-an-a
Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians Detroit Tigers Kansas City Royals Los Angeles Dodgers Minnesota Twins
Spain vs. Italy TV Schedule: X-Factors to Look Out for in Euro 2012 Final
After Italy shocked Germany on Thursday in the Euro 2012 semifinals, the underdog will face reigning champion Spain on Sunday at Olympic Stadium in Ukraine.
The enigmatic Mario Balotelli was the hero for Italy against Germany, scoring two early goals. Spain, on the other hand, won in penalty kicks against Portugal after its strong defense shut out Cristiano Ronaldo and Co.
But beyond the stars in the final, there are also role players and regular substitutes who could help their respective clubs make history in 2012.
Here's a look at the biggest X-factors for each finalist (match will air at 2:45 p.m. ET on ESPN/ESPN3).
Fernando Torres, Spain
Fernando Torres' playing time has fluctuated throughout Euro 2012, along with his performance. He scored two goals against Ireland in the group stage but hasn't done much since. After disappointing in his start against Croatia in the group stage, Torres played just 23 minutes against France in the quarterfinals and didn't play at all against Portugal in the semifinals.
The Chelsea striker has been up and down in the past year, but he has shown glimpses of being a difference-maker on the pitch.
Cesc Fabregas, Spain
Coach Vicente del Bosque doesn't seem to know what he wants to do with Cesc Fabregas, but that hasn't stopped Fabregas from making an impact in Euro 2012. The Arsenal midfielder has scored twice in the tournament, including once against Italy in the group stage. He swung home the game-winning penalty shot against Portugal in the semifinals.
Antonio Cassano, Italy
Antonio Cassano isn't one of the bigger names on Italy, but it was his beautiful cross that set up Mario Balotelli for the side's first goal against Germany in the semifinals. The 29-year-old's creativity and ball control was on full display against the Germans, and the Italians are going to need more of that if they are going to upstage the reigning champions.
Antonio Di Natale, Italy
Antonio Di Natale has taken just 10 shots in Euro 2012, but his lone goal came against Spain in the group stage as the two sides battled to a 1-1 draw. Di Natale will likely get somewhere between 20 and 40 minutes against the Spanish, but the veteran has the talent and experience to be a deciding factor in the final.
Di Natale has the speed and goal-scoring ability to make you pay if you forget about him, even at 34 years of age. He had 23 goals for Udinese in Serie A this past season.
Hal Gill John Madden Petr Kalus Colton Gilies Justin Falk Robbie Eal
Thursday, June 28, 2012
NBA Draft 2012 Grades: Which 1st-Round Teams Didn't Do Their Homework?
The NBA draft is not a crapshoot.
Teams cannot pull the trigger on a selection and simply hope for the best. Workouts have to be held, game footage has to be studied, and tendencies discovered.
In short, every team must do their due diligence before being put on the clock.
After witnessing the highly entertaining—albeit somewhat head-scratcher—of a first round, though, it's clear plenty of franchise neglected to do just that.
Minnesota Wild Vancouver Canucks Anaheim Ducks Dallas Los Angeles Kings Phoenix Coyotes
WHAT? HOW?!? Rafael Nadal Eliminated From Wimbledon In Astonishing Second Round Upset
Rafael Nadal just went down at Wimbledon to Lukas Rosol of Czech Republic 7-6, 4-6, 4-6, 6-2, 4-6.
The un-seeded, 26-year-old Rosol entered the match ranked No. 100 in the world and had never made it past the first round at Wimbledon in his career.
Rosol's net approaches were much better throughout the match.
And what's even more surprising for the usually resilient Nadal, is that he only had one (ONE!) break point in the three sets he lost to Rosol.
In other words, Rosol was without a doubt the best player at Centre Court Thursday.
Nadal was the No. 2 seed at the tournament and widely expected to meet No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon finals.
This is the second major upset at Wimbledon in as many days.
RELATED: This perfectly explains how much of an unknown Lukas Rosol truly is→
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Bulgarian Runner Breaks Leg in Horrific Injury During A 100-Meter Sprint
Bulgaria's Georgi Kirilov Georgiev's day at the European Championships in Helsinki, Finland, didn't quite end the way he would have liked.
In a 100-meter sprint heat, Georgiev suffered a freak injury that left his leg broken and knee dislocated.
WARNING: This video contains some disturbing images. Watch at your own risk.
(via bigleadsports)
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Ten-Year Extension For Jonathan Quick
LOS ANGELES – The 2012 Stanley Cup Champion Los Angeles Kings have agreed to terms with goaltender Jonathan Quick on a 10-year contract extension, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the new deal cannot be signed until July 1.
Quick, in addition to being a Stanley Cup Champion, is also a Conn Smythe winner, Vezina Trophy Finalist, NHL All-Star and Kings MVP who will call Los Angeles home through the 2022-23 season.
Quick had a record-setting year in 2011-12 for the Kings and ranked amongst the NHL’s best in every major goaltending category. He was even better during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs as he led the Kings to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship.
added 4:16pm, via Pierre LeBrun tweet, Told first 7 yrs of Quick’s deal worth $7 M per year before tapering off in final 3 years to bring down cap hit ...
Quick, in addition to being a Stanley Cup Champion, is also a Conn Smythe winner, Vezina Trophy Finalist, NHL All-Star and Kings MVP who will call Los Angeles home through the 2022-23 season.
Quick had a record-setting year in 2011-12 for the Kings and ranked amongst the NHL’s best in every major goaltending category. He was even better during the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs as he led the Kings to their first-ever Stanley Cup championship.
added 4:16pm, via Pierre LeBrun tweet, Told first 7 yrs of Quick’s deal worth $7 M per year before tapering off in final 3 years to bring down cap hit ...
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/ten-year_extension_for_jonathan_quick/
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NBA draft scenarios for Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are staring the end of the Larry Bird era in the eyes right now. The 2011-12 NBA Executive of the Year announced his decision to step down as team president Thursday, but he’s not quite done yet. Bird will conduct the Pacers’ draft alongside Donnie Walsh, who returns to Indiana as president, [...]
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/nba-draft-stock-report/nba-draft-scenarios-for-indiana-pacers/
Josh Bailey Mark Eaton Trent Hunter Andy Hilbert Bruno Gervais Dustin Kohn
Memphis Grizzlies must upgrade depth this off-season
By signing their key players to contract extensions the past couple of years, the Memphis Grizzlies have a solid starting five. However, their bench production has been average at best which has held them back a bit. The Griz need to upgrade the talent behind their starters this off-season, but that will be difficult to [...]
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A Guy Jumps Over A Pier While Kite Surfing During A Tropical Storm
Someone in Florida went kite surfing during tropical storm Debby, and pulled off quite the trick — steaming toward the pier at full speed and flying over a it like it was nothing.
Some intrepid Floridians caught the feat on video from a nearby window.
Deadspin put it up this afternoon (the craziness starts at the 45-second mark):
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Bleacher Report Has EYE-POPPING Revenues – No Wonder Turner Is About To Snatch It Up (TWX, AOL)
Sports site Bleacher Report is in the process of selling itself to Turner for ~$200 million, it has been reported and we can confirm.
One reason why: in a year when most ad-supported online outlets have seen a disappointing sales, Bleacher Report has not.
According to one source close to Bleacher Report, the site is on track for $40 million revenues in 2012.
That's a lot of money for a news site!Blog
For some context: The Huffington Post didn't have those kinds of revenues when it sold to AOL for $315 million, for example.
(If our source isn't exaggerating; he is close to the company that's selling, after all.)
Those revenues make it easy for Turner to pull the trigger.
Another reason, pointed out by Peter Kafka at AllThingsD: Turner lots tons of sports inventory when it gave up Sports Illustrated before this Spring. It sells NBA.com inventory but it doesn't own it. It is about to lose PGA.com's inventory.
Another interesting tidbit: We've heard that some of BR's cofounders were reluctant to sell the company and wanted to try expanding into new verticals.
Investors essentially said to them: are you nuts? That's a lot of money!
And yeah, it is.
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Andy Greene zach Parise bryce Salvador Wade Belak Martin Erat Marcel Goc
Flames Have Around $20M In Cap Space
from Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald, With just five days to go until free agency, the Calgary Flames general manager simply can’t afford to waste any time — not with an estimated $20 million in cap space at his disposal to shop for players on the open market.
The draft is over, but the real work has just begun.
“We’re very busy,” Feaster says, emphatically. “I appreciate that there’s a sense that we’re just sitting here now and it’s fun and games. It’s not. We’re not happy with where we’ve been in the last three years.
“We’re not happy not making the playoffs.”
As no Calgarian needs reminding, the Flames have indeed failed to qualify for the playoffs for three years running. After a near-miss in 2010/11, Feaster promised to keep the group of guys together for their valiant effort down the stretch.
The same does not hold true this time around.
read on
The draft is over, but the real work has just begun.
“We’re very busy,” Feaster says, emphatically. “I appreciate that there’s a sense that we’re just sitting here now and it’s fun and games. It’s not. We’re not happy with where we’ve been in the last three years.
“We’re not happy not making the playoffs.”
As no Calgarian needs reminding, the Flames have indeed failed to qualify for the playoffs for three years running. After a near-miss in 2010/11, Feaster promised to keep the group of guys together for their valiant effort down the stretch.
The same does not hold true this time around.
read on
Source: http://www.kuklaskorner.com/index.php/hockey/comments/flames_have_around_20m_in_cap_space/
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012
10 NBA Ballers Who Have No Swag off of the Court
While the NBA is filled with its fair share of machismo-oozing masters of bravado, it also has more than a few players who carry themselves more like members of a high school chess club than professional athletes.
Whether it be quirky habits, odd style choices or a combination of the two, the following 10 players seem to be either ignorant or apathetic to having any sense of swag.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1239288-10-nba-ballers-who-have-no-swag-off-of-the-court
Brad Davis Logan Morrison Mike Stanton Josh Bailey Mark Eaton Trent Hunter
Houston Astros: 5 Prospects Who Could Be Making Their Way Up to the Bigs Soon
The Houston Astros have one of the worst records in MLB this year.
Fortunately, help may be on the way.
The Astros have already seen some of that help arrive, as rookie left-hander Dallas Keuchel has allowed only 10 hits and two runs in his first 14 innings of work, including a six-hit, complete game against the Cleveland Indians.
But, of course, just one starter isn't enough to turn an entire team around.
So, let's look at a few others who could be making their way up the ranks to Houston soon.
Martin Erat Marcel Goc Jamie Lundmark Nick Spaling Pikka Rinne Mathieu Carle
NBA Draft 2012: How a Pair of 1st-Rounders Will Turn Around Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the process of picking themselves back up after LeBron James' departure. In Cleveland's first post-James season, the Cavs went 19-63 (.231 winning percentage) and were awarded the No. 1 overall pick, which they used to select point guard Kyrie Irving.
This past season, the team improved to 21-45 (.318 winning percentage), and Kyrie Irving proved to be a good building block, winning the NBA's Rookie of the Year award.
After making some strides, the team is looking to improve even more with its two first-round picks (No. 4 and No. 24). With this year's draft being one of the deepest in recent memory, the Cavs should have a prime opportunity to improve the franchise even more.
With the No. 4 pick, the Cavs are looking to get an impact prospect. Based on recent projections and predictions, they should have their pick of anybody except Anthony Davis and Bradley Beal, who are likely to be gone by the time Cleveland's on the clock.
The ESPN experts' most recent mock draft has the Cavs taking Kentucky small forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist at No. 4.
Here's what ESPN draft insider Chad Ford had to say about Kidd-Gilchrist going to Cleveland.
Cavs GM Chris Grant always talks about building a winning culture in Cleveland. MKG is a culture guy. He is not the draft's best scorer, he has an ugly jumper and he's not particularly polished. But he is an incredible defender, has an elite motor, finishes tremendously well around the basket and is a leader. If the Cavs are trying to build a winner, they can't go wrong with Kidd-Gilchrist.
Regardless of whether it's Kidd-Gilchrist, Harrison Barnes or Thomas Robinson, the Cavs will get somebody to pair with Kyrie Irving for years to come. Between Irving and their top pick, they should have the cornerstones of their franchise.
The No. 24 pick, while obviously not as coveted as the No. 4 pick, should provide some value as well. Cleveland received the pick from the Los Angeles Lakers in the Ramon Sessions trade.
The same mock draft has Cleveland taking Washington shooting guard Tony Wroten Jr. at No. 24. However, given how many different ways the draft could pan out, it's nearly impossible to guess with any certainty who Cleveland will take and who will be available.
But we know this much to be true: every year there are impact players drafted at No. 24 or later. Since Cleveland is only set at point guard, they'll be able to choose the best player available outside of the 2.
This upcoming season, with another year of development from first-year players Kyrie Irving and Tristan Thompson along with promising prospects at No. 4 and No. 24, the Cavs should be well on their way back to the playoffs.
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