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World's Fastest Man

2008-08-16T22:59:00.000-07:00

The individual who holds the title of World's Fastest Man is named Usain Bolt (Jamaica). Bolt?! Are you kidding me! Who plans this stuff? That's phenomenal.

In other Olympic news, congratulations to Michael Phelps for breaking the record of most Olympic golds both in a single Olympic games, and of all time. Yeesh.Now, for an Olympic rant. I've been hearing a lot of skepticism recently about the players who compose the Olympic basketball team. NBA players, primarily. Duh. Who else would we choose? They're the best basketball players in the country.But the argument is that the Olympics is a competition for amateurs, not paid professionals. (I've heard this from multiple people for multiple Olympics, for the record.) But let's think about this, folks. All Olympians are by no means all amateurs. A significant number of these athletes who are in the major events are paid athletes. Yes, some of them are young, high school or college students. Fair enough. However, just as many of them are professional, adult, paid athletes. For example, who cycled in the Olympics for two games? Lance Armstrong. Who played tennis in this 2008 Olympics? Federer, Nadal, the Williams sisters. Michael Phelps isn't making money working at McDonald's while simultaneously training to win 8 gold medals at once and perpetually breaking his own world records as an amateur. No. He is a full time swimmer and he makes the big bucks doing it. So why do the basketball players always get the heat? Soccer, tennis, sprinters, cyclists, swimmers, beach volleyball stars--they are all full time athletes. They are professionals. So back up off Kobe, man! He's got skillz! Why shouldn't the basketball team also be composed of the best players in the country? It should. And it is.

4x100 medley relay

2008-08-16T22:50:00.000-07:00

Jade Edmistone is an Australian breaststroke swimmer, who is the current world Adolph Gustav Kiefer was an American swimmer and the 4x100 medley relay first man in the world to swim 100 yards backstroke under 1 minute. Frank Edward McKinney Jr. was a backstroke swimmer from the United States. Christopher John Fydler is a former freestyle swimmer from Australia, who competed in three consecutive Summer Olympics for his native country, starting in 1992. Medley Relay event at the 2000 Summer Olympics was held in Sydney, Australia, on September 23, 2000. Ashley Callus is an Australian sprint freestyle swimmer, who won a gold medal in the 4 x 100 m freestyle relay at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Roland Mark Schoeman is a South African swimmer and a member of the 2004 Olympic Games swimming team for South Africa. born Australian swimmer. Klim was first selected to represent Australia in the Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Canada in 1994, while still a student at Wesley College, Melbourne. In 1996, he arrived at the Atlanta Olympics ranked first in the world for. Bradley Darrell Schumacher is a former freestyle swimmer from the United States, who won two gold medals as a member of the US Men's Relay Teams at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia John Devitt was an Australian sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1960s, who won a gold medal in the 100 m freestyle at the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome. Giaan Leigh Rooney OAM is an Australian swimmer who won a gold medal in world record time with her teammates Leisel Jones, Petria Thomas, and Jodie Henry at the Athens Olympics in the Women's 4 x 100 metre Medley Relay. Vladimir Valeryevich Salnikov is a Russian former swimmer who competed for the USSR and set 12 world records in the 400 medley relay. Enter your search terms. Submit search form. Web. www.zdnet.co.za. not found. Swimming events at the 2000 Summer Olympics Freestyle 50 m men women 100 m men women 200 m men women 400 m men women 800 m women 1500 m men Backstroke 100 m men women. Ed Moses is an American swimmer who won gold and silver medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Petria Ann Thomas OAM is an Australian swimmer and Olympic gold medallist and a winner of 15 national titles.

The world record marathon time

2008-08-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

The world record time for men over the distance is 2 hours 4 minutes and 26 seconds, set in the Berlin Marathon by Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia

The Marathon Distance

2008-08-16T22:39:00.000-07:00

Olympic Special: 100 Years of the Marathon Distance
Stefano Baldini achieved Olympic marathon glory in Athens. © www.photorun.net
Even at the first modern Olympic Games in 1896, the marathon was the cornerstone of track and field competition. But what is today the classic distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometers) was not run for the first time until the 1908 Olympics in London.
How this odd distance came about is linked—however strange it may seem—to the eruption of Vesuvius in 1906. The 1908 Olympics were originally to take place in Rome, not London. But the volcano’s eruption, which led to widespread destruction around the Italian capital, meant that the Italians had to give up the Games. Berlin was a candidate, but the German capital at that time did not possess the necessary sports facilities. So the British moved to fill the gap.
In previous Olympics, the marathon had been around 40 kilometers rather than a fixed distance, and if the Games had been held in Rome, the 1908 version would also have been 40 kilometers. In London, however, the seemingly arbitrary distance of 42.195 kilometers was run, principally because of the British royal family. At that time the course was measured back from the entrance to the Olympic stadium, 40 kilometers went as far as Eton. But the start was supposed to be directly in front of the east terrace of Windsor Castle so that the royal family could enjoy the view, so the distance became 42 kilometers.
That wasn’t the end of the matter. Another adjustment was needed in the Olympic stadium so that the finish would be in front of the royal box. So another 195 meters were added to reach what eventually became the standard distance.
The new distance, however, didn’t become universally accepted immediately. The International Olympic Committee didn’t decide until 1914 that a marathon should be 42 kilometers. After the course in Amsterdam in 1920 was extended to 42.75 kilometers, the debate began again. It was ultimately the world record committee of the International Athletics Federation, founded in Berlin in 1913, that decided in 1921 that the distance should henceforth be 42.195K.
The 1908 Olympic Marathon is memorable not only because of its distance. In fact, if the course had not been extended by 195 meters to the royal box, the winner would not have been John Hayes of the U.S., but Italy’s Dorando Pietri.
In torrid heat the Italian had been the longtime leader and was first into the stadium. On his last legs, he ran the wrong way. After officials pointed him in the right direction, he collapsed, got up and continued to stumble towards the finish line. Time and again, Pietri fell. As his nearest rival, Hayes, reached the stadium, the officials led the Italian across the finish line, which, naturally, led to his disqualification. Hayes, in 2:55:18, was pronounced the gold medalist.

NBA TEAMS BANNED FROM SIGNING IRANIAN 7-FOOTER

2008-08-16T22:35:00.000-07:00

According to Yahoo! Sports, the NBA has sent a letter to all 30 teams informing them they are FORBIDDEN from signing 7′ 2″ center Hamed Ehadadi of Iran. Ehahadadi was reportedly close to signing a deal with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Unfortunately, there is a federal law which prohibits “a person or organization in the United States from engaging in business dealings with Iranian nationals.”
Ehadadi has looked great for the Iranian team in the Olympics. He had 21 points and 16 rebounds against Argentina on Saturday.

Michael Phelps Won his 8th gold MEDAL!!!

2008-08-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

Holy cracker jacks. I just witnessed history! Michael Phelps has just broken the record and won his 8th gold medal. Seriously, I was sitting on the edge of my seat. I know nothing about swimming or much about sports but oh my god that was truly amazing. The man is like a dolphin or something! Are they sure he doesn’t have webbed feet??? I along with probably most of the world are in disbelief. His face when he saw he won was priceless as I’m sure mine would if I had just accomplished such a feat. His single mother, was seen in the crowd with shock and disbelief as well. I tip my hat off to you Michael as does the rest of the world. You deserve it. Now what happens when people tell you to go for the gold? You can simply tell them you already did (^_^) Michael Phelps you are officially on my “List of People to Meet in my Life”. God Bless you and congrats!

Phelps equals Spitz's gold medal record

2008-08-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

American Michael Phelps won his seventh gold on Saturday in the Men's 100m Butterfly final at the National Aquatics Center, to equal Mark Spitz (USA) as the only person ever to have won seven gold medals at a summer Olympic Games.
But Phelps had to survive a big scare from unheralded Serbian Milorad Cavic to do it.
Phelps won in an Olympic record time of 50.58, to take his gold medal tally to seven, but by the slimmest of margins - 0.01 seconds. He had a huge battle on his hands after Cavic touched first on the 50m mark at 0.09sec under the world record.
Phelps and Cavic battled it out in the last 50m. A monumental upset looked to be approaching - until Phelps dug deep and out-touched Cavic on the wall.
Cavic finished with the silver medal in a time of 50.59.
Australia's Andrew Lauterstein won the bronze medal in 51.12. World record holder Ian Crocker of the United States swam in fourth place at 51.13.

Giovinco: ‘The Italian Messi’

2008-08-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

This summer one of Europe’s finest young talents will be strutting his stuff at the Beijing Olympics as part of the Italian national side. The youngster’s name is Sebastian Giovinco and if you haven’t heard of him yet, you soon will.

The 21-year-old is a Juventus player but spent last season on loan at fellow Serie A club Empoli where he certainly caught the eye. At 5 ft 4, the attacking midfielder is nicknamed the ‘Atomic Ant’ and for what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in ability. Despite the youngster having played just 3 senior matches (1 start) for the Juventus first team, he is held in extremely high regard by the club and particularly the fans.

A recent contract dispute with the club led to a fans protest as it was suggested that Arsenal were to set to move for the player with Robin Van Persie perhaps heading to Turin. A poll launched on the Juve fans vecchiasignora.com website ended with a staggering 89.5% voting in favour of snubbing a potential Van Persie player-exchange offer for Giovinco from the Gunners. This shouldn’t be too much of a surprise as the wonderkid has been hailed as the future of the club and heir to club legend Alessandro Del Piero.

NASCAR Rookie Standings 2007

2007-08-28T03:59:00.000-07:00

2007 Busch Series RotY standings

David Ragan (#6) – 199 points
Marcos Ambrose (#59) – 181 points
Juan Pablo Montoya (#??) – 165 points
Kyle Krisiloff (#14) – 164 points
Brad Coleman (#18) – 121 points
Brad Keselowski (#88) – 118 points
Robert Richardson (#28) – 84 points
Justin Diercks (#??) – 51 points
Sam Hornish, Jr. (#12) – 35 points
Timothy Peters (#??) – 27 points
Bobby Santos III (#91) – 21 points
Brian Conz (#??) – 0 points

2007 Truck Series Rookie Standings

Tim Sauter (#07)– 123 points
Aaron Fike (#??)– 122 points
Willie Allen (#13)– 115 points
Blake Bjorklund (#8)– 110 points
Joey Clanton (#09)– 91 points
Jason White (#7)– 77 points
Tyler Walker (#??)– 51 points
Kelly Bires (#??)– 49 points
Peter Shepherd (#50)– 32 points
Kevin Hamlin (#4)– 26 points
Casey Kingsland (#??)– 5 points
Brian Sockwell (#54)– 1 point

Vince Young Awards

2007-08-28T03:54:00.000-07:00

2007 Pro Bowl
2002 Pete Dawkins Trophy
2005 Rose Bowl MVP
2005 Manning Award
2005 Maxwell Award
2005 Davey O'Brien Award
2005 Cingular All-America Player of the Year
2005 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
2005 Consensus First-Team All-American
2006 Rose Bowl MVP
"4 weeks" 2006 NFL Rookie of the Week Awards
2006 NFL AP Offensive Rookie of the Year
2006 Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year

Spurs New Sign; Ian Mahinmi

2007-08-25T06:06:00.000-07:00

Ian Mahinmi (born November 5 1986 in Rouen, France) is a French basketball player. At 6'10" and 225 lbs, he plays the position of power forward.

Mahinmi was born to a Beninese father and Jamaican mother. After playing with the French National Team he signed his first contract with the club STB Le Havre (France). He played two seasons with Le Havre, averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game in 2005-06. For 2006-07, he signed a contract with Pau Orthez in France's top professional league.

On August 2007 San Antonio Spurs have said that they have signed Ian Mahinmi.

who’s Dustin Pedroia?

2007-08-21T06:58:00.000-07:00

Dustin Luis Pedroia currently play for the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball.
Dustin Pedroia became the regular second baseman for the Red Sox in 2007. He has been known to be solid defensively. Pedroia's track record throughout his college and minor league career suggested continued success in the major leagues. However, early in the season, his batting average had fallen as low as .172. Such an average along with the great hitting of fellow teammate Alex Cora (who even batted above .400 at a point), had left Pedroia in a platoon role early in this season.

However, Pedroia has since picked up his batting average. On May 1st, his average was at a season-low .172, but Pedroia had raised his average to .322 by June 18th, aided by a 13-game hitting streak and a five-hit game against the San Francisco Giants on June 15, 2007.

Due to his production, he was named American League Player of the Week for May 28-June 3, and American League Rookie of the Month for May. So that no reason to throw out his name from Rookie of the Year nominates.

Brandt Snedeker win his first PGA title

2007-08-20T04:10:00.000-07:00

Snedeker who born December 8, 1980 in Nashville, Tennessee began the day five strokes off the pace, fired 10 birdies against a lone bogey in the final round to finish 72 holes on 22-under par 266 and defeat countrymen Tim Petrovic, Jeff Overton and Billy Mayfair, who all finished on 268.

It was not even the best round of the debut season for Snedeker, who fired a 61 in round one of the Buick Inivtational to match the Torrey Pines course record on his way to a third-place finish, which had been his best PGA showing.

Snedeker gained a two-year US PGA exemption and a berth at next year's US Masters, an event which he had played as an amateur.

MLS Rookie of the Year Candidates

2007-08-19T14:53:00.000-07:00

Adam Cristman, New England Revolution - Here is a guy that should get more votes and looks than he will get. He has played wonderfully so far this season I think. Stepping in for Taylor Twellman when he was gone with the national team for a few games. Four goals and four assists have made Cristman a fairly strong candidate for Rookie of the Year this season. This forth round pick has given prof that New England is still one of the best clubs at drafting young talent.

Maurice Edu, Toronto FC - I am beginning to think that Edu may be the best player on Toronto’s roster right now. The number one pick in the draft is showing us why more and more with his play. Thee goals and one assists in 17 games for Edu. He has become one of the league’s better defensive midfielders too. I think his chances of winning the Rookie of the Year award are fairly good as long as he keeps playing the way that he does. He doesn’t have to lead Toronto into the playoffs to win this award either I think.

Robbie Findley, Real Salt Lake - Here is a guy, drafted in the second round by LA and then later traded to Salt Lake when the Galaxy were roster dumping before Beckham’s arrival. Five goals on the year, Findley actually is one of the goal scoring leaders for Real this season (that isn’t saying much really). His chances in winning the award rest solely on how much more goals he scores this season.
Michael Harrington, Kansas City Wizards - The number three pick in the draft is showing his worth for the Wizards. Three goals and three assists. The better the Wizards do, the better the chances Harrington’s chances are at winning this award.

Morgan Pressel; Youngest Major Champion in LPGA

2007-08-14T11:45:00.000-07:00

Morgan Pressel born May 23, 1988 is one of the most successful young golfers in the history of women's golf, and appears well on her way to a great LPGA Tour career.
Pressel is the youngest-ever major champion on the LPGA Tour, winning the 2007 Kraft Nabisco Championship when she was not yet 19, and has reached number 4 in the Women's World Golf Rankings.

Pressel began playing when she was eight years old, at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. She lived there with her parents, and her grandparents close by. An uncle, Aaron Krickstein, was a famous tennis player who turned pro at age 16.

Rolando 'Rolandinho' Bianchi

2007-08-14T09:20:00.000-07:00

Rolando Bianchi is one of the latest hot prospects to come out of Italy, He is widely considered as one of the brightest promises of Italian football.

Bianchi is technically very strong, with high stats in ‘heading’, ‘first touch’, and ‘positioning’, his physical attributes aren’t too bad either and during preseason his stats usually stay at a reasonable level, and once back in training they shoot back up, to leave him in perfect stead, for a rigorous season, trying to bring Manchester City competent in Premiership.His ability has been attested to recently by his high-profile move to newly taken-over Man City.Bianchi scored on his debut for City.

Gerald Green; the 2007 Slam Dunk Contest champion

2007-08-14T08:56:00.000-07:00

Gerald Green, Jr. born January 26, 1986 in Houston, Texas.currently play for the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves. He was drafted by the Boston Celtics with the 18th pick of the first round in the 2005 NBA Draft. He is also the 2007 NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion.

Green was one of the last players to enter the NBA directly from high school, as the collective bargaining agreement between NBA owners and the NBA Players' Association now mandates that American players who enter the NBA Draft must be at least one year removed from the graduation of their high school class and reach age 19 no later than December 31 of the calendar year of the draft.

Reed Sorenson, #41 Juicy Fruit car rider

2007-08-14T08:28:00.000-07:00

Bradley Reed Sorenson currently drives the #41 Target Dodge Charger in the NEXTEL Cup and the #41 Wrigley's Dodge in the Busch Series for Chip Ganassi Racing.
Sorenson's career started at age six when he began racing quarter-midgets. He won the national championship in 1997. He moved up to Legends cars the following year, winning 13 out of 25 races, southeastern championships and breaking track records in the process. 1999 would turn out to be a better year as he won 30 out of the 50 races he competed in. He raced in Legends for the next two years and won 84 events.
Sorenson got his first career pole on July 28, 2007, during qualifying for the Allstate 400. Sorenson also became the youngest pole winner ever at Indianapolis Motor Speedway; at 21 years, 173 days old. He broke a record that stood for 72 years. Held by Rex Mays, who won the pole for the Indianapolis 500 in 1935 at 22 years of age. Sorenson ended up leading 16 laps, and finishing in the 5th place, behind race winner, Tony Stewart.

Matías Nocedal; the next Ginobili

2007-08-10T15:30:00.000-07:00

Manu Ginobili's success in the NBA has spawned the kind of fame normally reserved for soccer's elite, but now basketball is becoming a countrywide passion, and Ginobili is being heralded as the Michael Jordan of Argentina. As the search for the next Manu Ginobili heats up in Argentina the eyes of scouts have leveled on the thin frame of 17-year-old point guard prospect Matias Nocedal, of Argentino Castelar

Matias Nocedal, 1.94 meters of height and 17 years of age, has been yielded to Bruesa GBC for the next season. The player was signed by the Baskonia in April of 2006, signing both parts a contract of eight years of duration. At the present time, Matías has received specific training on the part of the vitoriano club, that chose to Iñaki Iriarte like its teacher in individual technique.

Nocedal is considered one of the Argentine players with greater future, and has been international with the albiceleste in all the inferior categories (until sub18). Its trajectory in Argentina is bound to the Argentinean of Castelar. For a reason or purpose individual, it was able to gain an aid of you kill in Adidas Superstar Camp de Lationamerica 2005. As far as its style of game, Nocedal can play as much of base as of escort. It knows to take advantage of his physicist to pentrar to basket and has good vision of game. In the equipment nocedal will share the perimeter with Pedro Sala, Ricardo Uriz, Isaac Lopez, Esteban Lopez and Salva Arco.

Players who's going to impact the NFL

2007-08-10T15:23:00.001-07:00

The NFL draft is one of the most exciting times of the season for us NFL geeks. As the pre-season begins, it is time to discuss how these drafted players are going to impact the league. Each year, there is a player or two that stands out and really has an impact. Some of these players were expected to have a big influence, e.g., Reggie Bush, and some come out of nowhere, e.g. Marques Colston. This year should be no different; although I am not going to try and guess which seventh-round pick may have a positive effect on his team, I will mention some guys that could be this year’s high-impact offensive rookies. Some you know, and some you will get to know really soon:

* Marshawn Lynch - With the departure of Willis McGahee, Marshawn Lynch should step right in as the starting running back for the Buffalo Bills. Lynch is a good inside runner who can burst through the initial hole. He also has the ability to get to the corner and eat up yardage on outside runs. The thing that makes Lynch unique is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. If he can pick up the pass blocking assignments, he has the potential to be great and help his team from day one.

* Calvin Johnson - Some are touting Johnson as the best WR prospect in years. This tall, fast, physical receiver has landed in Detroit where he can be a star immediately. He’s in the perfect situation as he has a proven star, Roy Williams, playing opposite him. Williams should help him avoid double teams.He is also in Mike Martz’s pass-happy offense, and Jon Kitna is going to love throwing to this super star!

* Anthony Gonzalez – Gonzalez is just what the doctor ordered in Indianapolis. The Colts offense is designed to have three great receivers. With the loss of Brandon Stokley to Denver, the Colts needed a third receiver and they found him in Anthony Gonzalez. He is a smart receiver that runs good routes and isn’t afraid to go over the middle. He is not your typical home run hitter, but Indy has Wayne and Harrison for that. Gonzalez should have 50-60 catches, which will loosen things up for Manning and the other offensive weapons.

* Tony Ugoh - It seems odd that we have two rookies on this list from the Super Bowl Champs. The Colts didn’t expect Tarik Glenn to retire this off-season but are glad they drafted Big Tony Ugoh as his replacement. Tony will be thrust into the starting line-up and expected to protect Manning’s blindside. He needs to work hard on his footwork and his ability to get to the second level. He has to get the job done from day one or Manning may look like David Carr, on his back.

* Brandon Jackson - Jackson reminds me of another Green Bay runner, Ahman Green. He is quick and shifty with the ability to run up the middle and outside. He also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. With a lack of experienced RBs, the Packers will count on Jackson to learn quickly and make an impact. He is the future in Green Bay, and the future has to be now.

These are the guys that have a real chance to be high-impact rookies. Guys like Adrian Peterson and Robert Meacham will struggle this year, although they may have great careers. Do you have other rookies you believe will be big contributors this year? I would love to hear from you.

Acie Law, Strengths and Weaknesses

2007-08-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

Acie Law is the Atlanta Hawks point guard rookie. In his four seasons at Texas A&M University, Law scored 1,653 points and was credited with 540 assists. Nicknamed "Captain Clutch" for his ability to take over the game late.

Strengths:
Law’s mental game may be his greatest asset, as he possesses all those intangible qualities that great point guards enjoy. He makes his teammates better, understands spacing and passing lanes, and uses his body and feet well to finish around the rim.

Law has developed an unbelievable reputation as a “clutch” performer, beginning with his game-winner against Texas. In his senior season, he hit a three-pointer to beat Kansas in Lawrence, and two simply unbelievable three point shots in a double-overtime loss to Texas (both threes extended the game an extra period). Law’s unafraid of the big shot, and seems to thrive when there’s a lot at stake.

Weaknesses:
Law needs to improve his consistency from the outside as a shooter to take a big step forward in his game. He’s already a great penetrator, but he needs the shooting game to complement it. Law also will need to add some upper body strength if he’s going to be able to be effective in the same way he was in college.

Lions Sign Wide Receiver Calvin Johnson

2007-08-06T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Lions have finally signed their superstar wide receiver.
Rookie wide receiver Calvin Johnson has finally signed, while JaMarcus Russell is still holding out.

The Lions signed the star receiver to a six-year $64 million deal with $27.2 million fully guaranteed. The Signing allows Johnson to finally get to camp for workouts, he's already missed eight days of training camp.

"I know the expectations are really high, but I'm hoping I can live up to them," Johnson said. "Now that I'm here, I can start working on that."

Johnson and the team agreed to terms and signed the contract early Friday, said Lions executive vice president Tom Lewand.

"It's good to be on the field and not be dealing with contract stuff any more," Johnson said. "At first, I was trying to be patient, but it's been pretty nerve-racking for the last few days."

Johnson was regarded by some as the best player in the draft after catching 78 passes for 1,202 yards and 15 touchdowns during his All-America junior season at Georgia Tech. He won the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top college receiver.

Anthony Gonzalez

2007-08-03T21:30:00.000-07:00

Anthony Gonzalez was born in Avon Lake, Ohio. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts, in the 2007 NFL Draft.Gonzalez is a receiver who teamed with Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn, Jr. in 2005 to give the Buckeyes three big-play receivers on what was one of the most explosive offenses in the country. His acrobatic 26-yard catch at Michigan in the 2005 regular season finale set up the game-winning score with 37 seconds to play. His role in 2006 increased with the departure of Holmes to the NFL via the 2006 NFL Draft. Gonzalez was selected with the 32nd pick of the first round by the Indianapolis Colts.

Unstopable Vaidisova

2007-08-03T20:12:00.000-07:00

Nicole Vaidisova is a star in women's tennis, born April 23, 1989 in Nürnberg. Vaidisova debuted on ITF Circuit Plzen-CZE 2003. As of June 25, 2007, Vaidisova is ranked #10 in the WTA rankings. She is becoming the 12th-youngest player in Tour history to crack the Top 10, at 17 years, 3 months, and 2 weeks of age on August 9, 2006. The highest ranking she achieved is #7 on May 2007.

Many well known commentators have referred to her as the "other ova" (The principal "ova" being Maria Sharapova). She bears strong similarities to Sharapova in terms of physique and on-court concentration. They both have powerful groundstrokes, strong serves, are blond and tall (Vaidisova is 1.83 m, Sharapova is 1.88 m), and have slender figures. They are also both ethnic Europeans who trained in the USA from a young age.

John Tavares; the NHL's next superstar

2007-08-02T15:42:00.000-07:00

John Tavares is a Canadian junior ice hockey player. born September 20, 1990, in Oakville, Ontario. He is currently playing in the Ontario Hockey League with the Oshawa Generals. Tavares is the youngest player to be drafted in the OHL at the age of 14.

Tavares was erased Wayne'The Great One'Gretzky's name from the record books, either. When Tavares scored his 71st goal on march 2007 for the Ontario Hockey League's Oshawa Generals.

In a league desperate for an infusion of marketable talent, the thought of another marquee superstar coming so close on the heels of Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin is tantalizing. Problem is, Tavares is not coming soon enough. The 6-foot, 183-pound center isn't eligible to start saving some struggling NHL franchise until the 2009 draft. Tavares in action

Batum; The Smooth Swingman

2007-07-30T02:48:00.000-07:00

A silky-smooth swingman who does just about everything well with a natural feel for the game. Has a high basketball IQ and can play several positions on the floor. Excellent defender with quick hands and feet, long arms and good athletic ability. Has a diverse offensive game with the ability to pull up off the dribble, hit from outside, and penetrate to the rim. Shows a good stroke from the outside and has excellent confidence to shoot through cold spells. Needs to add weight which will allow him to go inside and finish as well as make him a stronger defender.

Nicolas Batum is a French basketball player born December 14, 1988 in Lisieux. He is considered one of the most talented young players in Europe and a possible NBA draft lottery pick. He was voted the most valuable player in the U18 Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim 2006.

The 6 ft 8 in (2.03 meter) Batum primarily plays the small forward position, although he is capable of shifting to either of the guard positions as well.

He delivered an impressive performance at the 2007 Nike Hoop Summit scoring 23 points (9/13 FG, 3/5 for 3 pts) in 28 minutes. He also grabbed four rebounds and recorded four steals. Batum Dunk Video

Jeffrey Earnhardt

2007-07-29T21:59:00.000-07:00

Jeffrey Earnhardt (born June 22, 1989 in Mooresville, North Carolina) is the next to oldest grandson of the late seven time NASCAR Winston Cup champion Dale Earnhardt. He is the son of former NASCAR driver Kerry Earnhardt. Jeffrey was signed in 2007 to drive for Dale Earnhardt Incorporated (DEI) in the Busch East Racing Series.

Earnhardt's first race came in the Hornet Division at Wythe Raceway in Rural Retreat, Virginia. He scored 3 feature wins and finished in the top 5 in division points, winning Rookie of the Year. The following year he moved up to the Sportsman division at the Motor Mile Speedway in Radford, Virginia, finishing the season in the top 10 of the division standings. He also competed in the late model season finale at the track as a teammate to RCR developmental driver Allison Duncan.

In 2006, General Motors created a driver developmental search program wherein they looked for who they believed to be the stars of the future and invited them to test a late model and a Busch car at 2 different tracks with the best moving on. Jeffery made the final cut, and in January of 2007 it was announced that Earnhardt would be joining the family business, driving a #1 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch East Series for the entire 2007 season. He will also compete in the Bailey's 300, an all-star late model race at Martinsville Speedway.

For 2008 Espn has reported that Earnhardt will drive 8 races for DEI in the Busch Series in 2008 ,therefore by maintaining his rookie status in that series and contiune running Busch East.from ESPN

American Phenomenal Soccer Player

2007-07-27T06:37:00.000-07:00

Josmer (Jozy) Altidore (born November 6, 1989 in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American soccer striker, who currently plays for the New York Red Bulls of Major League Soccer.

Altidore was taken 17th overall in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, with the MetroStars trading up to receive the selection. Altidore spent the majority of the 2006 season away from the team while working towards his high school diploma in Florida. Altidore made his professional debut 23 August 2006 as a substitute in a 3-1 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup loss to D.C. United. He scored his first professional goal at the age of 16, blasting an 83rd minute, 28-yard shot to beat Columbus 1-0 September 16, 2006. Scoring three times in seven appearances, including a crucial goal against the Chicago Fire on September 30 2006, Altidore became a fan favorite. He scored the Red Bulls' only goal of their 2-1 aggregate loss to D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Series when he headed in a cross in the second leg. With that goal, he became the youngest player to score in the MLS playoffs at 16 years, 357 days (breaking DaMarcus Beasley's record by almost three years). Altidore was also youngest to start in an MLS playoff match on October 21 against D.C. United (16 years, 349 days).

Paul Millsap 'The Paperboy'

2007-07-27T06:06:00.000-07:00

Paul Millsap (#24 Utah Jazz Forward) made same score
as Rudy Gay.
Paul Millsap was impressive during the 2007 All-Star Rookie Versus
Sophomores Game. The rookie forward with the Utah Jazz recorded 22
points, eight rebounds, an assist and two steals in just over 27
minutes played.
Millsap was selected by the Jazz in the second round (47th overall)
of the 2006 NBA Draft.He is the only player in NCAA basketball
history to lead the nation in rebounding for three consecutive years.

The New Kevin Campbell come to Anfield

2007-07-26T09:13:00.000-07:00

Ryan Guno Babel (born December 19, 1986 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch professional football player who currently plays for Liverpool. He is right footed and plays as a striker or a left winger. He has been a member of the Netherlands national football team since 2005.Scouted by Ajax at the age of 11, he has obviously benefited by his time at the club since then. He became Holland's youngest scorer for 68 years with a goal on his full international debut, against Romania in 2005, and scored twice on the way to the last eight of the Under-20 World Cup the same year. This is a player born to play in the modern game, with all the physical attributes needed at the highest level.

Babel is big, strong, forceful player in the mould of a young Kevin Campbell - yet he just loves to come short for the ball.
Babel has a very good awareness of what is around him when he does receive the ball, which is important because you need almost peripheral vision in this area of the pitch. Ryan Babel Video

Who's behind Johnson

2007-07-25T13:07:00.000-07:00

Probably the 2nd most talented WR in the draft behind Calvin Johnson is Robert Meachem(born September 28, 1984 in Tulsa, Oklahoma). This guy was extremely raw, and had a huge junior season for Tennessee last year. At 6’ 3” and 220 pounds he is the prototypical NLF wideout. He also gets the luxury of playing in one of the most productive offenses in the NFL. Mark this guy down as a definite sleeper pick in any draft, and don’t hesitate to select him over veteran receivers in the late rounds. Colston and Meachem could prove to be a formidable 1-2 punch in the NFL for years to come, and with Brees chucking it around, and McAllister and Bush in the backfield, this could prove to be something very special. Combine his size with 4.4 speed and watch for this guy to possibly make a big impact in 2007.

Johnson, Quinn and Thomas is amazing combination

2007-07-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

Detroit Lions general manager Matt Millen did something that he hasn't done, well...in like two years. He drafted a wide receiver in the first round with Calvin Johnson. Yes, we all know Johnson is the best player in the draft. Eh. Yes, we know Johnson has everything you need (6’ 5” and 235 pounds with the speed to run a 4.35 40 yard dash, and a vertical leap of 42 ½ inches) to be the best wide receiver in the NFL for the next ten years. Eh. We also know this is the Lions. No offensive line. No quarterback. The Lions took the best player available, exactly did what they are supposed to be doing, but when there are two glaring needs starting them right in the face (quarterback and offensive line), you need to take one of them. Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn were right there to make them a better team next year. Guess what? Lions aren't moving up until they get a QB and a better offensive line.

NFL Draft Offers Gems for Fantasy Football Players

2007-07-24T10:30:00.000-07:00

Fantasy football players rarely pay much attention to National Football League rookies, during their fantasy football drafts. Rookies, you see, are not usually worth much to fantasy teams. It takes most rookies a year or two or in many cases even three or four to get fully acclimated to the NFL. Consequently, competitive fantasy football people usually steer clear of them.

This year may be different. More NFL rookies will likely appear on fantasy rosters than in the past decade, because this draft is rich with impact players. Thats right, rookies that can actually play this year and contribute to fantasy football rosters some even as starters. I see at least seven players taken in the first round of the NFLs draft that can start on fantasy teams, depending on how many teams are in your league. Obviously, smaller leagues (8 and 10 team leagues) will be too rich with veteran talent to have rookies as starters. Following is an assessment of these players and others to keep an eye on as you prepare for your fantasy draft. Notice the QBs are left out, as they wont contribute much, even if they start.

The seven NFL first-rounders to target are: Ronnie Brown, Braylon Edwards, Cedric Benson, Carnell Williams, Troy Williamson, Mike Williams and Mark Clayton. Brown, Benson and Williams are potential starters in any fantasy league. In one of the best running back classes in recent memory, these guys will enter their rookie campaigns as feature backs for Miami, Chicago and Tampa Bay, respectively. These teams have proven that with the right guy toting the mail, they all can produce fantasy stars.

Although not the best player, Benson is probably the best pick of all the rookies, in terms of fantasy football value. He is a no-brainer in basic scoring leagues. Hell be the starter from day one, and some experts have called him the best goal line runner ever to come out of college. If healthy, Benson could easily rush for 12 or more TDs in his inaugural NFL season.

Edwards is an immediate starter for the Browns, and this guy is a true stud. Although he can start in some fantasy football leagues, youll want to get him later, as Cleveland is a team that hasnt shown much in recent years. Edwards is a steal, if you can get him in later rounds. Then, let him sit for a few weeks, and watch his production. The same goes for Williams, taken by Detroit, and Clayton, selected by Baltimore. Both of these receivers will likely start for their new teams, but a wait-and-see attitude is indicated, as both teams are in weak passing offenses, although the sky is the limit for the Lions who have selected a wideout with their first pick in each of the last three seasons.

Aside from these seven, there are several players taken after the first round of the NFL draft that are worth drafting on fantasy football teams. Most notably is J.J. Arrington, taken at number 12 in round two by Arizona. Dennis Green loves this guy and hinted on draft day that Arrington will be his feature back. This guy is a compact runner and has a nose for the end zone. A feature back on an improving Cardinals team could be a big scorer for fantasy teams.

The easiest steal in your fantasy football draft will be Ryan Moats, taken in the third round by Philadelphia. Moats, a smallish tailback from Louisiana Tech, could surprise for an Eagles team in need of a star at the position. Although hell likely be relegated to special teams and third-down use early on, watch for him to emerge, especially if someone gets hurt. He is a quick slashing runner and a real workhorse, despite his 5-8, 210-pound frame. An eye-popping senior season saw him log 288 carries for 1,774 yards and 18 touchdowns. His 1,890 all-purpose yards set a school record, as he proved he can catch the ball with nearly equal acumen. With a career average per carry of 6.4 and 28 TDs, Moats is definitely worth watching. Grab this hard worker in the late rounds of your draft, and wait for him to get his turn. If the stars align in Philadelphia, you might just get yourself the steal of your fantasy football draft.

Here are a few other notables you may want to watch for a late selection or a free-agency pickup, as the season moves ahead:

1Heath Miller, TE taken by Pittsburgh: Would be ranked higher, because hell probably start, but tight ends are always a big question mark. If you are in a fantasy league that requires you to take a tight end, Miller is a good one.

2Vernand Morency, RB selected by Houston: Watch for an injury to Domanick Davis and grab Morency the second it happens.

3Maurice Clarett, RB taken by Denver: They love him and would like to see him prove all of the critics wrong. Hell get a chance to play.

4Matt Jones, WR selected by Jacksonville: Many feel the former QB is the best athlete in the NFL draft. At 6-6 with 4-5 speed and great hands, who knows?

5Roddy White, WR taken by Atlanta in the first round. Very fast and underrated. The Falcons saw little from Michael Jenkins last season, so keep a close eye on White.

6Chris Henry, WR taken by Cincinnati. Very big and fast. Could be a factor around the goal line in three and four receiver sets.

7Reggie Brown, WR selected by Philadelphia. The Eagles have a few question marks at the position, not the least of which is the bizarre antics of Terrell Owens.

8Ciatrick Fason, RB taken by Minnesota. With running back being so unsettled, Fason could emerge as the starter. Watch this one very closely.

Calvin Johnson; to tackle a global sanitation

2007-07-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Perhaps better known for his skills as a wide receiver, third-year Management major Calvin Johnson has nevertheless proven himself to be much more than just a star football player.Johnson dedicated his time to service as he worked to solve sanitation problems that are currently present in Bolivia.

During the 2006 summer, Georgia Tech Research Institute was given the option of working on either constructing environmentally friendly luxury condos, or a project building solar latrines to improve sanitation in Bolivia. Johnson chose the latter, as he wanted to help the less fortunate. He also traveled to Bolivia in January 2007 as part of the project.

"I just get the satisfaction of being able to help somebody," Johnson said.

Joe Thomas: the Potent Blocker

2007-07-24T09:37:00.000-07:00

Joe Thomas (born on December 4, 1984 in Brookfield, Wisconsin) is an offensive tackle taken by the Cleveland Browns on April 28, 2007 during the NFL Draft. He played collegiately for the Wisconsin Badgers.

The Cleveland Browns drafted Thomas in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft (3rd overall) to fill a dire need on the team's offensive line. The Thomas pick ended much speculation that the Browns would choose other players including former Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn with the 3rd overall pick in the draft, whom they traded to get later at spot 22. Instead of attending the 2007 draft festivities in New York, Thomas chose to continue a family tradition and go fishing on Lake Michigan with his father. He found out he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns by cell phone.

Martin Lee Truex, Jr.

2007-07-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

Martin Lee Truex, Jr. (born June 29, 1980 in Mayetta, New Jersey) is a NASCAR NEXTEL Cup driver. He currently drives the #1 Bass Pro Shops Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS for Dale Earnhardt, Inc.. Truex won the Busch Series Championship in 2004 and 2005.

Truex's father, Martin Sr., was a former champion in the Busch North Series and a successful modified driver. The younger Truex began racing in the Busch North series in 2000, and won 3 races in 3 years with a family owned team.

Truex rented a home from Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in Mooresville, North Carolina, before he purchased his own home. His cousin, Curtis Truex, Jr., races modifieds at Wall Township Speedway and currently drives late-model stock cars in the southeatern U.S. for JR Motorsports, which is owned by Dale Earnhardt Jr..

Truex made his Busch Series start in 2001 at Dover International Speedway in his father's #56 XST Paintable Silicon Chevy. He started 19th but finished 38th after an early wreck. In 2002, Truex drove one race for Phoenix Racing at New Hampshire International Speedway, starting thirteenth but finishing 29th. He ran three races the rest of that season for his father, his best finish seveneenth at Dover.

Kari Lehtonen

2007-07-24T09:12:00.000-07:00

Kari Lehtonen (born November 16, 1983 in Helsinki, Finland) is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender. He was drafted 2nd overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Atlanta Thrashers. In 2001, as the youngest goalie in the SM-liiga, he earned the league's playoff MVP award, while he was playing for Jokerit.

During the 2003-2004 NHL season he played four games for the Thrashers, winning all four of them and posting one shutout. On opening night of the 2005-2006 season, Lehtonen suffered a serious groin injury when Florida Panthers center Nathan Horton collided with Lehtonen. The injury sidelined him for 35 games. Lehtonen was once again injured on April 6, 2006 when Tampa Bay Lightning forward Chris Dingman collided with him. Lehtonen tried to get to his feet but sprained his ankle in the process.

Shortly into the 2006-2007 NHL Season Kari Lehtonen broke the Atlanta Thrashers shutout streak record previously held by Michael Garnett. He also set his career highs in every category.

AirTran Airways, a low-cost airline with an Atlanta hub with more than 250 departures per day, signed Kari Lehtonen as an endorser for the 2006-2007 season.

On February 8, 2007, Lehtonen became the Thrashers franchise leader for wins by a goaltender with 49, surpassing Pasi Nurminen's record of 48.

On April 12th, 2007, Lehtonen was the starting goaltender for the Thrashers in their first NHL playoff game.

Jimmy Clausen

2007-07-24T08:59:00.000-07:00

James Richard "Jimmy" Clausen (born September 21, 1987, in Thousand Oaks, California) is an American football player. He is a quarterback at the University of Notre Dame. and is one of the candidates to replace Brady Quinn as Notre Dame Fighting Irish starting quarterback.

Clausen, who graduated high school one semester early, enrolled at Notre Dame on January 16, 2007. He will compete for the starting quarterback job with then-junior Evan Sharpley and then-sophomores Demetrius Jones and Zach Frazer when spring practice starts.

Alexandre "The Duck" Pato

2007-07-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva (born September 2, 1989, in Pato Branco, Paraná), better known as Alexandre Pato, is a Brazilian striker who has been playing for Internacional since 2002. His nickname, The Duck, comes from the city where he was born, Pato Branco (which translates as White Duck).

Alexandre started playing indoor football (futsal) in his hometown at the age of 3. Soon his ability became known all around the south Brazilian state of Paraná and after being praised by many of his managers, the teenager went to Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, to try out for Sport Club Internacional. In 2002, at the age of 13, he moved there and started sharing housing with 83 other teenagers that, much like him, wanted to make a name for themselves in the Inter first team. Alexandre Pato Video

Mauro Zárate

2007-07-24T05:49:00.000-07:00

Mauro Matías Zárate (born March 18, 1987 in Haedo, Morón Partido, Buenos Aires Province) is an Argentine professional football player, currently playing for Al-Sadd in the Qatar National First Division.

Mauro is the brother of UANL Tigres player Rolando Zárate.

Playing career

Zárate made his full debut on April 21, 2004 against Arsenal de Sarandí.

Zárate shared the top-scorer award for the Apertura 2006 with Rodrigo Palacio (Boca Juniors) with 12 goals each.

On June 18, 2007, Zárate signed a 2-year deal with Al-Sadd in the Qatari League in a deal thought to be worth around $20M.

In 2007 Zarate helped the Argentina Under-20 team to win the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he scored the winning goal in the final against the Czech Republic.
Mauro Zarate Video

Martin Fenin

2007-07-24T05:42:00.000-07:00

Martin Fenin is a Czech football striker currently playing for the proffesional club FK Teplice. Fenin has also played for youth national teams, primarily the under-19 Czech Republic team. Fenin struck first gol for the Czechs in Canada 2007's FIFA U20 world cup Final on Sunday 22 July in Toronto, but it wasn't enough against a new-look Argentina, who won out 2-1.
Martin Fenin Video

Frederick’s moment to shine

2007-07-22T07:51:00.000-07:00



Charles Frederick (born February 2, 1982)
One of he more perplexing careers of a Washington Husky football player was that of WR Charles Frederick. He was blessed with tons of physical ability, but he never really realized his full-potential because of homesickness and injuries. Earlier this past week, Frederick was named Co-Rookie of the Year for the AFL after helping to lead the Kansas City Brigade to the playoffs.
Frederick, who shared the award with Tamp Bay Storm QB Brett Dietz, led all first-year players in receptions (115), yards from scrimmage (1,518), first downs (100), all-purpose yards (2,129), rushing attempts (50), rushing yards (133), rushing touchdowns (14), and scoring (246 points on 41 TD). He was also named to the 2007 All-Rookie team and set a single-game franchise record for rushing yards (59 on March 4 vs. Chicago), tied the single-game franchise and rookie record for TD receptions (5 on May 20 at New York), and tied the single-game franchise record and set the single-game rookie record for rushing TD (3 on March 4 vs. Chicago and March 16 vs. Dallas).

Even with all the accolades being thrown at him now, Frederick still remembers his tumultuous final season at the University of Washington.

“I pulled my hamstring and it set me back,” Frederick recalled. “It was almost like I was going to give up on it, but my dad told me to stick it out so I rehabbed my leg and got it stronger.”

Frederick wasn’t drafted by an NFL team, so he signed with the Spokane Shock of Arena 2 just to stay active in the game.

“It was nice because it was just like being back home in Seattle,” Frederick said with a laugh. “I mean, it rains, but it doesn’t rain that much and it’s a cool place to be.”

Shortly after his season ended he was called up by the Brigade who had just hired his head coach as their offensive coordinator.

“That was cool knowing the offense that they were going to run,” Frederick said. “The key for me was after the championship game I really didn’t take a break. I worked really hard at staying in shape and was just trying to get better and it paid off.

“It’s not hard to get used to playing Arena Football. It’s kinda like basketball. A lot of guys come to us from the NFL and they can’t get it down because it’s so different, but I really took to it.
washington.scout.com

Mark Anderson

2007-07-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Mark Anderson (born May 26, 1983 in Tulsa, Oklahoma) is a defensive end for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He played for the Hornets at Booker T. Washington High School. He attended the University of Alabama (where he became a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.). He was selected with the 159th overall pick (5th round) in the 2006 NFL Draft. Despite not being an official starter in the Bears Cover 2 defensive scheme, Anderson has thrived in his role as a third-down pass rusher, and during the 2006 regular season he totaled 12 sacks, a Chicago Bears rookie record, which was previously held by Brian Urlacher. Anderson also received consideration in 2006 Defensive Rookie of the Year, finishing second in the voting

Calvin Johnson: the Best Wide Receiver

2007-07-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

Calvin Johnson(born September 25, 1985 in Tyrone, Georgia) is a professional American football player who was drafted by the Detroit Lions. He spent three years for the Yellow Jackets at Georgia Tech until declaring for the 2007 NFL Draft. He played his first season for the Yellow Jackets in 2004 as a wide receiver. Johnson has a rare combination of size (6 ft. 5 in., 239 lb/ 196 cm, 108 kg), speed (4.35 sec 40-yard dash), strength, leaping ability (more than 45" (114 cm) vertical),[1][2] body control and hand-eye coordination. It is often mentioned that he is also a very humble and well-behaved person, exemplified by his building trip (see below), and his refraining from showing off or getting into confrontations on the field. On January 8, 2007, Johnson declared he would forego his senior year and enter the 2007 NFL Draft. Johnson was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 2nd pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Johnson was SI.com's Midseason NFL Draft Projection #1 pick, though Johnson had stated that he intended to earn his degree from Georgia Tech. On January 8, 2007, Calvin Johnson declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft, bypassing his senior season at Georgia Tech. He is regarded as the best athlete in the draft and is the #1 player on most draft boards. Johnson is said by ESPN to be able to be productive as a rookie, much like receiver Randy Moss was as a rookie.

In a mid-February workout with speed and conditioning coach Tom Shaw, Johnson clocked a remarkable 4.33 second 40-yard dash, recorded an 11-foot standing broad jump, and had a vertical leap of 43 inches.

Johnson surprised many when he weighed in at 239 pounds at the combine, 12 pounds more than expected, although he claims that this season he played "at about 235 and I got up to 238" and that his weight was not a problem. Johnson had told the media that he would not run the 40 yard dash at the combine but would wait until his March 15 workout at Georgia Tech. At the last minute, however, he was thought to have borrowed a pair of shoes from East Carolina QB James Pinkney and clocked an impressive 4.35 in the 40 yard dash. He later insisted that he had not borrowed the shoes, but simply reclaimed his own. Pinkney arrived in tennis shoes, and Johnson informed him he needed cleats and lent him his own. When he later returned to retrieve his shoes to run, many thought he was borrowing Pinkney's cleats. Johnson ultimately allowed the 4.35 to speak for itself and wowed scouts with his jump drill results, his receiving skills, and his 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) broad jump, which is "best broad jump I can ever remember an NFL prospect having," according to Gil Brandt.

Johnson was selected by the Detroit Lions as the 2nd pick overall in the 2007 NFL Draft. This is the highest a Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket has ever been drafted. The Lions were expected to trade Johnson, most likely to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the team announced that they were keeping him. The next day the Detroit Tigers invited him to throw out the first pitch.

Acie Law

2007-07-20T10:55:00.000-07:00

Acie Law IV (born January 25, 1985) is a basketball point guard who finished a four-year college career at Texas A&M University in 2007. In his four seasons at Texas A&M, Law scored 1,653 points and was credited with 540 assists. Nicknamed "Captain Clutch" for his ability to take over the game late, Law is well known among Aggie basketball fans for "The Shot," his buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat the archrival Texas Longhorns at Reed Arena on March 1, 2006, as well as for his play in the Aggies' stunning 69-66 upset win against Kansas (the only Big 12 South team to win at Allen Fieldhouse) on February 3, 2007.

On June 28, 2007, Law was taken 11th overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Atlanta Hawks.

Kyle Busch

2007-07-20T10:08:00.000-07:00

Kyle Thomas Busch (born May 2, 1985 in Las Vegas, Nevada) is an American race car driver. Currently, he drives the #5 Kellogg's/CARQUEST Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports in the NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series as well as the #5 Chevrolet in the NASCAR Busch Series. He grew up racing at The Bullring at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. He is often nicknamed Shrub, since he is the younger brother of NASCAR driver Kurt Busch and a small bush is called a shrub.

At 16, Busch competed in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series for Roush Racing as a replacement after the team's two drivers were released midway in the 2001 season, and earned two top-10 finishes in six starts what was scheduled to be a full-season campaign for 2002. (In 2000, NASCAR rules changed to permit a driver to make up to seven starts -- up from five -- in a season before becoming a full-time driver for rookie status.)

Busch was the fastest in practice for a 2001 Craftsman Truck Series race at California Speedway in Fontana, CA, when he was ejected from the track by CART officials because the American Racing Wheels 200 was part of a CART weekend featuring the Marlboro 500 CART FedEx Championship Series event. Marlboro threw Busch out of the garage because of an interpretation of the Master Settlement Agreement of 1998, prohibiting persons under 18 years of age in participating in events sponsored by tobacco companies. (In 2006, Marlboro ejected Grand-Am Daytona Prototype driver Colin Braun, 17, from three sportscar races held in conjunction with the Indy Racing League because they have an IRL sponsorship.)

Six weeks after the incident, NASCAR imposed a minimum age of 18 years starting in 2002 to prevent future incidents from happening again, because Winston was the premier series sponsor. (For 2007, the rule has changed; Grand National (Busch East and AutoZone West) and Whelen Modified (North and South) Tours will now permit drivers as young as 16 to enter the races.)

When the age requirements were put in place, Busch switched from NASCAR to the American Speed Association (ASA) series, a Midwest based company that also aided in his success; in the 2002 season, Busch finished eighth in the championship points for the ASA series.

Busch ran 1 race in 2004 for Morgan-Dollar Motorsports in their #47 Acxiom Chevrolet Silverado.

Busch returned to the Craftsman Truck Series in 2005 for a limited number of races in Billy Ballew Motorsports's Chevrolet's, winning at Lowe's Motor Speedway, Dover International Speedway, and the fall race in Atlanta Motor Speedway, all 200-mile races. Busch became the youngest driver to win a Truck Series race, at 20 years 19 days.

Busch repeated his Lowe's victory in 2006 in a truck painted to resemble the Rowdy Burns car from Days of Thunder, in a tribute to Bobby Hamilton (who was the stunt driver for the character), who was in the midst of a cancer battle which would later take his life.

Greg Oden vs. Kevin Durant: Tale of the Tape

2007-07-20T09:55:00.000-07:00

You've probably heard and read enough about Greg Oden and Kevin Durant to the point where the draft can't come soon enough. We agree. So we won't waste your time here with things like points, rebounds, steals and blocked shots, but we'd like to try to enlighten you on why those numbers are just a small part of what these young men, expected to go 1-2 in Thursday night's NBA draft, are about and why they are so special.

The Courant checked in with Texas coach Rick Barnes and Ohio State associate head Coach John Groce last week to tell us something we may not know about Oden and Durant and what the NBA can expect. Something that impressed them - or not - around the time their college careers began. The coaches obliged, and it was confirmed: Oden and Durant are special. There are no two ways about it.

The NBA will love them, commissioner David Stern in particular, because they are high-character guys. They lived up to the hype that has been following them since high school, and now the greatest basketball league in the world is set to welcome them and the excitement they'll bring.

But everything you've been hearing - and reading - about these guys being once-in-a-lifetime players? It could be true. If you ask their coaches, there's no doubt it's true.

Bojan Krkić

2007-07-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

Bojan Krkić (born August 28, 1990 in Lleida, Catalonia, Spain), is a 16-year-old Serbian-Spanish footballer who plays for FC Barcelona in Spain.

He is widely considered to be one of the most promising young talents of his time. His father, who holds the same name, was a well known footballer in Serbia, where he played for Red Star Belgrade, and a scout for FC Barcelona since 1997. His mother is of Catalan descent. He speaks fluent Catalan and is very proud of his Catalan descent.

Bojan joined the Barcelona FC's cantera in 1999, and scored 889 goals in seven years. A quick striker, with quite notable dribbling skills, Bojan shot to prominence at the UEFA European Under 17 Championships in Luxembourg in May 2006 when he was joint top-scorer. He achieved this despite being a year younger than most of the other players in the tournament and only playing 45 minutes in four out of five of Spain Under-17s matches. He scored a hat-trick against Luxembourg before inspiring his side to a 3-0 victory over the eventual champions Russia, with all of the goals being scored with him on the pitch as a second half sub. In the third match of the tournament, he scored a penalty after once again being introduced at half time. He started the semi-final against the Czech Republic but after his team mate Roberto García was sent off, Spain struggled and lost 2-0 in a shock result. In the third-place play-off Bojan was once again a second half sub and scored the opener on 53 minutes. When the match went to penalties, he scored and his side won 5-4 to finish third.

Bojan is currently playing the 2006/2007 season with the FC Barcelona B team and will be able to sign professional terms when he turns 17.

Bojan played his first match with Barcelona on April 24, 2007 scoring a goal in a friendly match against Al-Ahly. The match ended with a 4-0 for FC Barcelona.

Randy de Puniet

2007-07-20T09:20:00.000-07:00

Randy de Puniet (b. 14 February 1981) is a French motorcycle road racer. 2006 was his first season in MotoGP, for the Kawasaki factory team, where he remains for 2007. At Barcelona he took his first front-row start, and finished a career-best fifth. Up to Donington, he has started all but one other race on the third row.

De Puniet was French 125cc champion in 1998, moving up to the world championship a year later. In 2001 he moved up to the 250cc World Championship. He earned two podium finishes in 2002 to earn a factory Aprilia ride for 2003. He took his first win at Catalunya, coming 4th overall with 3 wins. In 2004 he was third with a single win, spending 2005 with an Aprilia ran by Jorge Martinez Aspar.

Ana Ivanovic

2007-07-20T09:08:00.000-07:00

Having started the year at No 14, Serbian beauty Ana Ivanovic has since strung together remarkable performances at the French Open and Wimbledon to lie perched at No 5, just four places away from her ultimate goal, of becoming the No 1 player in the world.

She knows she is almost there, but isn’t willing to count her chickens yet.
I was very intimidated by the Centre Court the first time I played on it against [Nicole] Vaidisova, but then after a set or so I could relax a little bit.

Talking to XPRESS after her semi-final journey at Wimble-don, the 19-year-old said: "I just want to enjoy the season. I’m very happy with my game at the moment, but I still need to improve in all areas.

"My goal is to be No 1 and obviously this is another step towards that. I’m still very young, so I don’t put a time on when I want to achieve this goal, but I feel I am moving in the right direction.

"It’s important that I get more experience. Being in these situations helps for the next time. I was very intimidated by the Centre Court the first time I played on it against [Nicole] Vaidisova, but then after a set or so I could relax a little bit.

"Against Williams it wasn’t really the occasion, it was that she played so well. But for sure I can improve on how I handle these big occasions and I’m confident this will happen."

Following the French Open, Ana had admitted to being fatigued mentally and said she hadn’t expected to do so well at Wimbledon. "I was really happy with how I played. Maybe it wasn’t my very best tennis, but it was all a great bonus. I wasn’t expecting to do so well.

"Like you said, I was mentally tired after the French Open and didn’t have many expectations for Wimbledon. So to reach the semi-final makes me very happy."

So does she think, given her battling wins against Nadia Petrova and Nicole Vaidisova, she has also become mentally stronger in these past two months?

"I think I’ve always been a fighter but I definitely improved many areas in the last two months, also mentally. Playing more against the top players teaches you a lot because you have to focus very hard. If you lose your concentration you can lose the match," she said.

The whole of the hard court season is still to come, but Ana is already formulating plans to visit Dubai.

"I need to decide where I will do preparation for Australian Open, and Dubai is one of the places I could train. It’s a great city so I could have my holiday there at the end of the season even if I don’t train there," she said

France Pontential Footballer

2007-07-20T00:46:00.000-07:00

1986-born:
* Sébastien Bassong
* Habib Bellaïd
* Alexandre Bonnet
* Yohan Cabaye
* Mohamed Chakouri
* Mathieu Coutadeur
* Mouhamadou Dabo
* Kevin Das Neves
* Didier Digard
* Franck Dja Djedje
* Ricardo Faty
* Abou Diaby
* Yohan Gouffran
* Yoann Gourcuff
* Geoffrey Jourdren
* Younes Kaboul
* Hugo Lloris
* Florian Marange
* Sylvain Marveaux
* Yassin Moutaouakil
* Julien Quercia
* Mamadou Samassa
* Moussa Sow

1987-born:
* Hatem Ben Arfa
* Karim Benzema
* Razak Boukari
* Clément Chantôme
* Issiar Dia
* Pierre Ducasse
* Karim El Mourabet
* Serge Gakpe
* Maxime Josse
* Larrys Mabiala
* Blaise Matuidi
* Jérémy Menez
* Samir Nasri
* Dimitri Payet
* Rémy Riou

Aaron Fike

2007-07-19T23:56:00.000-07:00

Aaron Fike (born November 24, 1982) is a NASCAR driver from Galesburg, Illinois. He is the driver of the #1 Toyota Tundra Craftsman Truck Series truck and the younger brother of former NASCAR driver A. J. Fike.

Fike began racing in 2001 in the USAC Silver Crown Series. He became the youngest driver to win a Silver Crown race (breaking Jeff Gordon's record), and finished tenth in points, earning him the Rookie of the Year award. The next season, he won seven midget feature races in addition to winning the Badger Midget Auto Racing Association championship. He also won a race in the IRL Infiniti Pro Series.

In 2003, Fike won the World Championship Midget Feature in Auckland, New Zealand, and the USAC Night Before the 500 race. He made his stock car debut in an ARCA RE/MAX Series race at South Boston Speedway. He finished 9th. He began racing part-time in the Busch Series in 2004 in the #43 Curb Agajanian Performance Group car, and for GIC-Mixon Motorsports. His best finish that year came at the Stacker 200 Presented by YJ Stinger, where he finished 17th.

For 2005, Fike signed a driver development contract with Brewco Motorsports, and split time in their #66 Duraflame Ford Taurus with Greg Biffle. He recorded his first top-ten finish at the Salute to the Troops 250 Presented by Dodge, where he finished eighth. He also ran 17 races with the #43, his best finish in that car being a 14th at Homestead. At the end of the year, he was released from his contract at Brewco. He started 2006 driving the #43 for Curb, but soon signed with Kevin Harvick Incorporated for a limited schedule. He was released after two races, and drove for Red Horse Racing in the Craftsman Truck Series in 2007, where he had four top-ten finishes, before he was arrested in the parking lot of Kings Island in July 2007 for possession of drug-related materials.[1] On July 11, 2007 Fike was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR.

Nani (Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha)

2007-07-19T23:43:00.000-07:00

Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha (born 17 November 1986 in Praia, Cape Verde), better known as Nani, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a winger. He currently plays for Manchester United. Nani is often compared with fellow international and Manchester United team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo notably for his dribbling skills and his speed.

Nani was born in Cape Verde, but migrated with his family to Portugal at an early age. He grew up in the Amadora district of Lisbon and started his career in junior football at Real de Massamá before joining the youth setup at Sporting. Manuel Fernandes has been a friend of Nani's since childhood and the pair used to kick a ball about together on the streets of Lisbon.

Personal information

Full name : Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha
Date of birth : November 17, 1986 (1986-11-17) (age 20)
Place of birth : Praia, Cape Verde
Height : 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position : Winger

Vince Young

2007-07-19T23:34:00.000-07:00

Vincent Paul Young, Jr. (born May 18, 1983[1] in Houston, Texas), commonly Vince Young, or "VY", is an American football player. He is a dual-threat quarterback, and the current starting quarterback for the National Football League Tennessee Titans. Young was drafted by the Tennessee Titans as the #3 overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft on April 29, 2006. He was awarded honors in his rookie season: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a roster spot on the AFC Pro Bowl team. EA games announced on April 17, 2007 that Vince Young will be on the cover of the Madden football video game for 2008.

Young played college football for the University of Texas Longhorns before turning professional. As a college junior, he was one of three finalists for the 2005 Heisman Trophy, finishing second to Reggie Bush and ahead of Matt Leinart in the final vote. Young was named the best college football player of 2005 by College Football News, based upon their statistical analysis.[2] Following the Heisman voting, Young led his team to a BCS National Championship on January 4, 2006 in a classic thriller against the defending BCS national champion University of Southern California Trojans in the 2006 Rose Bowl. The game featured two Heisman Trophy winners as Young's opponents: both USC quarterback Matt Leinart and USC running back Reggie Bush. The game was called one of the most-anticipated games in the history of college football.[3] In perhaps the most spectacular individual college football performance ever,[4] Young completed 75% of his passes for 267 yards and also managed to run for more yards than Bush; he totaled 200 yards at 10 yards a carry.

Young decided he would forgo his last year of NCAA college eligibility and become a professional player by entering the 2006 NFL Draft. This decision made him the second player in Longhorn coach Mack Brown's eight year term as head coach of the Texas Longhorns to enter the NFL with eligibility remaining

Gregory Wayne Oden Jr.

2007-07-19T23:08:00.000-07:00

Born January 22, 1988, in Buffalo, New York is an American NBA player for the Portland Trail Blazers and a member of the United States men's national basketball team. Oden was named the PARADE's High School Player of the Year and the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year two years in a row, in 2005 and 2006.

In 2006-07, Oden played basketball for the Ohio State Buckeyes for only one season, during which the team were the Big Ten Champions and the tournament runner-up in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.

On June 28, 2007, Oden was selected first overall in the 2007 NBA Draft by the Portland Trail Blazers. NBA analyst Steve Kerr has described him as a "once-in-a-decade player.

Oden lived in Buffalo, New York until he was nine years old and then moved to Terre Haute, Indiana, attending Fuqua Elementary School and playing basketball in the seventh grade at Sarah Scott Junior High School. He then moved to Indianapolis in the eighth grade.

In the 2005-06 season, Oden, a 7'0" 257 lb senior, led Lawrence North High School to an undefeated record, a third straight Class 4A Indiana state championship and the first ever player to finish for an Indiana school in USA Today's Super 25 rankings.^{[citation needed]} For the season, the center scored 22.0 points and 10.5 rebounds per game while shooting 74 percent from the field. Oden dominated in the state championship game against Muncie Central, scoring a game-high 27 points and grabbing 26 rebounds. Lawrence North won its last three state championship games by a combined 56 points and its average margin of victory during the regular season was 41 points.

Oden was named the 2006 Indiana Mr. Basketball. He was also on the McDonald's All-American Team and played in the All-American game. Oden led them to three straight state titles and 45 consecutive wins under coach Jack Keefer. Oden was named PARADE's High School Co-Player of the Year 2005 (along with Monta Ellis) and 2005 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year, becoming the first junior since LeBron James to be named such.

NBA Draft grades (1st round)

2007-06-29T19:42:00.000-07:00

1. Portland - Greg Oden. As expected, the Blazers nabbed their franchise center. Grade: A

2. Seattle - Kevin Durant. The Sonics made it two cornerstones in two picks. There is no question about the man is in Seattle with the departure of Ray Allen to Boston. Grade: A

3. Atlanta -Al Horford. I still have the opinion that the Hawks should have taken Mike Conley here. Horford will be a nice player and they did get Acie Law later, but he won’t be the leader that Conley will. Grade: B-minus

4. Memphis - Mike Conley Jr. The Grizzlies quickly snatched up Conley after Atlanta passed. Memphis obviously has plenty of needs, but there is talent with Pau Gasol and Rudy Gay on board. Conley has some developing to do, but he should be a great point in the league for a long time. Grade: A

5. Boston - Jeff Green. Danny Ainge was picking for Seattle on this one, which completed the deal to bring Ray Allen to Boston, which also saw the departure of Delonte West and overpaid Wally Szcerbiak.

This was a desperation move by Ainge. Unless you’re a piece away from contending for a title, which the Celtics aren’t even close, there is no reason to make this move other than to appease Paul Pierce. Pierce isn’t a prototypical 3, but that’s where he’s going to have to play full-time now with Allen aboard. Boston isn’t even a .500 team with Allen, and now they are strapped with the contracts of he and Pierce. Grade: D

6. Milwaukee - Yi Jianlian. Most think than Jianlian is the real deal. The Bucks could be a point guard away from really moving up the NBA food chain with Michael Redd and Andrew Bogut in place. Corey Brewer would have been a nice pick here, too, but once Conley was off the board, the Bucks went for the home run. Grade: B-plus.

7. Minnesota - Corey Brewer. Whether or not the Timberwolves keep Kevin Garnett, Brewer has an all-around game with All-Star potential. Small forward was a sore spot for Minnesota, so it also fills a need. Grade: A-minus.

8. Charlotte - Brandan Wright. Ok, Mike, we get it. You like your Carolina homies. This one makes little sense, though. Sure, Wright is athletic with lots of upside, but he’s raw and provides little scoring punch, an area of need with Gerald Wallace hitting the free agent market. The Bobcats have been in the league long enough to where they should be making some strides forward, and that doesn’t seem to be the case with this move. Wright could turn into a nice player, but ownership better hope the Carolina faithful frequent home games to see he, Sean May and Raymond Felton since this move doesn’t make then any better. Grade: D

(Note: The Bobcats used this pick to acquire Jason Richardson from the Warriors. The Bobcats needed a scoring wing and got themselves a pretty good one in Richardson, but they have could just drafted one and not paid Richardson's hefty salary.)

9. Chicago - Joakim Noah. This pick was a little surprising. Noah is a high-energy player that is a good defender, rebounder and is great at cleaning up around the basket. Sounds kind of like Ben Wallace and Tyrus Thomas. The Bulls needed a low-post scorer, and if they didn’t want to take Spencer Hawes, which I wouldn’t blame them, they should have gotten some perimeter depth to back-up Ben Gordon and Luol Deng. There was plenty of that in this draft. Grade: C

10. Sacramento - Spencer Hawes. The Kings’ frontline definitely needs the help, so in theory this is a good pick. Hawes has a promising low-post game but needs time to develop, which seems to fit in since the Kings appear to be heading for a rebuilding project. Grade: B

11. Atlanta - Acie Law. Most felt Law would still be here, so passing on Conley at 3 wasn’t a huge risk as long as the Hawks were comfortable with Law being their future point. Law is a score-first point guard, much like Chauncey Billups when he entered the league. Grade: B-minus.

12. Philadelphia - Thaddeus Young. Young has tremendous upside and the Sixers don’t appear to be going anywhere soon. Grade: C-plus.

13. New Orleans/Oklahoma City - Julian Wright. The Hornets needed the depth on the wing and get an extremely athletic player in Wright. He should benefit from playing with Chris Paul. Grade: B

14. L.A. Clippers - Al Thornton. The move could pave the way for Corey Maggette to leave town. The Clippers had better get a point for him. Grade: C-plus

15. Detroit - Rodney Stuckey. The Pistons were happy to be able to choose between Nick Young and Stuckley, whom they both were extremely impressed with. Being that Young went the following pick, Joe Dumars’ selection will be compared to Young. Dumars, himself, was from a small school like Stuckey, so maybe he sees some of himself in the youngster. Grade: B

16. Washington - Nick Young. Young, a three-year player at USC, will have a chance to earn minutes right away at the 2-guard position. The Wizards fell apart with injuries down the stretch, which probably benefited them a few spots in the draft. Young was a projected lottery pick by many prognosticators. Grade: A-minus

17. New Jersey - Sean Williams. The Nets needed to get tougher in the post, which describes Williams in general. He’s a capable rebounded and shot-blocker, but has had a problem with attitude at times. Grade: C-plus.

18. Golden State - Marco Bellinelli. This move made a lot more sense once Richardson was traded to Charlotte. Bellinelli should fit in well in the Warriors’ up-tempo offense. Grade: B

19. L.A. Lakers - Jarvaris Crittenton. This move isn’t going to suddenly make Kobe Bryant rescind his trade demand, but the Lakers may have found their point guard of the future. If not, they have another bargaining chip for potential trades. Good value pick here. Grade: A-minus

20. Miami - Jason Smith (to Philadelphia). The Sixers could use help in the post. Smith (7-0, 240) has size and quickly and could become a consistent low-post scorer, but needs to toughen up, especially to satisfy Philly fans’ liking. Grade: B-minus.

21. Philadelphia - Daequan Cook (to Miami). Pat Riley added some talent, very raw talent, to the Heat roster with this move. Most felt he should have stayed at Ohio State at least one more year, but he’s gotten himself a guaranteed contract. We’ll see if he can earn minutes played for the veteran Heat. Grade: C-minus

22. Charlotte - Jared Dudley. It appears Charlotte is preparing for Wallace not coming back by adding a couple of wing players in Richardson and Dudley. As far as the pick, it was probably safe but Wilson Chandler will probably turn out to be a better player. Grade: C

23. New York - Wilson Chandler. If there is one area that Isiah hasn’t been a total flop as a GM, it’s the draft. It looks like Thomas may have made another pretty good selection in wing Chandler, who played two years at DePaul. Grade: B

(Note: Isiah made another good move by acquiring Zach Randolph for Steve Francis, a salary no one wants, and Channing Frye, who is half the player Randolph is.)

24. Phoenix - Rudy Fernandez (to Portland). The Blazers added another talented Spanish guard to go with Sergio Rodriguez. Factor in the addition of Oden to go with LaMarcus Alridge and ROY Brandon Roy, the Blazers have quite a promising young team. Grade: B

25. Utah - Morris Almond. The Jazz needed scoring help on the perimeter and appear to have found it in Almond, an exciting slasher from Rice. Grade: B-plus.

26. Houston - Aaron Brooks. The Rockets have acquired Mike James to run the show and Brooks could provide some scoring punch off of the bench. Still, it’s hard to get excited about this selection. Grade: C

27. Detroit - Arron Afflalo. I realize that it’s the end of the first round, but this move makes almost no sense. Afflalo is a one-dimensional player. A poor man’s Allan Houston, at best. They’ve already taken a 2-guard in Stuckey when they have Rip Hamilton, at least for one more year, and then this move. I rarely find much to criticize Joe Dumars on, but this may be the worst move of the first round. Detroit would have been better off taking a host of others on the board. Grade: D-minus

28. San Antonio - Tiago Splitter. The wheels just keep turning. Splitter probably won’t play this season, but the Spurs can afford to wait with last season’s first-rounder, Luis Scola, set to join the team. You can bet this move will pay off later. Grade: A-minus.

29. Phoenix - Alando Tucker. The Suns added some wing depth with this move, which may be needed if Shawn Marion is dealt. I’m not sold on Tucker’s game translating to the NBA, but Phoenix had little to lose here. Grade: C

30. Philadelphia - Petteri Koponen. A little-known 19-year-old who has been compared to Steve Nash. Not sure about giving this guy a guaranteed deal. Grade: C-minus.

Transfer News

2007-06-29T04:32:00.000-07:00

Darren Bent becomes manager Martin Jol's second signing of the close season after Gareth Bale penned a deal with the spurs earlier this summer.

Post-Draft Thoughts on the Trail Blazers

2007-06-29T00:29:00.000-07:00

Now that the 2007 NBA Draft has finished, it's time to take stock of the draft. Portland couldn't really have a bad draft with the first pick and being able to pick up a talent like Greg Oden. Who looks like he will be wearing number 52, the number of former Blazer great Buck Williams. But, that wasn't the only move of the night for Portland.

The other big news of the night was that Portland traded oft-troubled Zach Randolph plus Fred Jones and Dan Dickau to the Knicks. In return, Portland gets Channing Frye and malcontent Steve Francis. The rumors suggest Portland may try to buy Francis out to get cap room and go after a free-agent small forward (Rashard Lewis?), and will keep Frye. I'm not sure why the team would want this trade unless it was all to get rid of Randolph. Frye seems to play the same position as Aldridge and has a similar game. Francis is a lockerroom cancer and hasn't produced like Randolph has in the past few years. If Randolph can stay out of trouble in NY (a big IF), Isiah Thomas and the Knicks really got the better of this deal.

I'll reserve judgment but I am leaning towards maybe this not being the best deal for Portland. I think a better move would have been to hold on to Randolph and then try to get more for him at the February trade deadline.

Seattle, who had the number two pick, drafted a tall, skinny forward from Texas, Kevin Durant. Then Seattle traded Ray Allen to Boston for the 5th pick (Jeff Green), Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak. It looks like Seattle may have fleeced Boston. The second year in a row a Northwest team has done that to Boston.

I really liked what Seattle did in the draft, and it looks awfully similar to Portland's 2006 draft. Portland got a tall, skinny forward from Texas (Aldridge) and a well regarded and well rounded upper-classman (Brandon Roy). The Pacific Northwest appears poised to have some really successful teams for the next decade. That is, if Seattle doesn't relocate.

Portland also managed to buy Phoenix's first round pick (no. 24) again this year. Last year Portland drafted Spanish point guard Sergio Rodriguez and this year the team selected a Spanish shooting guard, Rudy Fernandez. I don't know anything about the pick so I can't judge.

The Blazers also picked up Petteri Koponen (30) and Josh McRoberts (37). Koponen is a Finnish guy that I also know nothing about but did give Portland 3 first round picks. But, McRoberts has the potential to be a quality role player passing from the high pivot. He won't be a star but Portland doesn't need that.

At the end of the 2nd round, Portland also picked up shooting guard Demetris Nichols from Syracuse and Taurean Green, the point guard from two-time NCAA champs Florida. If Nichols makes the squad he could provide the outside shooting necessary to creat space down low. And, Green is a wonderful defender a the PG spot. However, the puts quite the logjam at the position. Jack, Rodriguez, Green and Steve Blake if he signs with Portland as many expect him to do all will be vying for time. Not too mention Steve Francis plays some point, as does Roy. However, the also means Portland may be trying to move Jack as has been rumored.

Overall, a good draft for Portland on the basis of Oden alone. Portland did get rid of Randolph but that may not be the best move, in my opinion. The other five picks? The potential is there with McRoberts, Green, and Nichols but playing time let alone a roster spot will be tough to come by. My money would be on McRoberts and Green. The other two, who knows? They will likely stay overseas for at least one season. But, this draft was all about Oden for Portland. Hopefully, it plays out well. I also smell more trades coming out of Portland.

Other news:

Looks like Golden State is trading Jason Richardson to Charlotte for Brandan Wright (the 8th pick).

Atlanta looks like it got quite the haul with Al Horford at number 3 and Acie Law IV at 11. Atlanta filled its point guard need and Horford is a beast that will give Atlanta some much needed bulk up front. I really think Law is going to end up being a very good PG in the league. Maybe not the level of Chris Paul or Deron Williams but very good.

Vitamin A Swimwear

2007-06-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

VA52T-BLK Black Velvet Matte Tricot Cosmo Halter Top Beautiful quality - Vitamin A tops are known for their incredible support and fabulous fit! Our most popular halter style, with far more support than your average string bikini top because every seam contains hidden rubber elastic, even the straps contain hidden rubber: the bold and alluring Cosmo Ring Halter features Vitamin A’s signature rings, metallic platinum underbust strap, and clean finished cups for a very smooth and flattering look without digging in... a favorite style of Jessica Alba, she’s been photographed wearing this top in almost every fabric we offer!
VA52B-BLK Black Velvet Matte Tricot Superstar Ring Bottom
get star style! as seen on the bods of Jessica Alba, Elle Macpherson, and Molly Sims to name a few...Vitamin A’s sleek California cut - super sexy low cut bikini bottom with our hottest signature hardware for 2007. contoured rings to fit any shape of hip comfortably, no digging. hardware imported from Italy does not get hot, crack, or rust. front panel is double lined with clean finished edges for maximum opacity and a very smooth look. back lays flat and smooth, stays put on the beach or in the waves. the superstar bottoms offer very sexy, but not skimpy, back coverage.

The youngest Argentinian offers novel challenge to Federer

2007-06-27T21:48:00.000-07:00

Roger Federer is in second round action against Argentinian Juan Martin del Potro on Court One. Federer will hope for a more challenging performance from his opponent so as to give him some practice as he leads an assault on the Wimbledon crown which it seems he is destined to win again in 2007
who is Juan Martin del Potro?
(born September 23, 1988) is a tennis player from Tandil, Argentina.

After ending 2005 ranked 1,077, Del Potro jumped over 900 positions, largely due to winning three Futures tournaments. As of June 2007, he is the youngest player in the ATP top 100 with a current career high ranking of 55.

On February 11th, 2007, Del Potro debuted playing for Argentina at the first round of the Davis Cup against Austria winning the 4th match and giving Argentina the third point and the classification for the quarterfinals.

Del Potro is 6'5'' (195 cm) tall. Unusual for an Argentine player, Del Potro's favorite surface is hardcourt, not clay.

Del Potro will be debuting in Wimbledon this year.

Rafa is bringing young Kaka to Liverpool?

2007-06-26T23:38:00.000-07:00

Lucas Pezzini Leiva (born January 9, 1987 in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul) is a Brazilian midfielder, who currently plays for Liverpool FC. He uses the name Lucas on the back of his shirt. He is nephew of the former Brazilian football player Leivinha and holds an Italian passport.Lucas started his career with Grêmio, making his first team debut on October 22, 2005 in a 1-0 win over Náutico in Serie B. Grêmio went on to win the league that season, gaining promotion to the top tier of Brazilian football.

2006 was a successful year for Lucas and Grêmio, winning the Rio Grande do Sul state championship (the Campeonato Gaúcho) for the first time since 2001, and also coming third in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Lucas also became the youngest player to ever to receive Placar magazine's Bola de Ouro (Golden Ball), given to the best player in the Campeonato Brasileiro — an honour previously won by the likes of Zico, Falcao, Careca, Romario, Kaka and Tevez.

In October 2006 Lucas was brought into the senior Brazilian squad for friendlies against Kuwaiti club Al-Kuwait and Ecuador. Lucas was both the youngest member and one of only two non-Europe-based players in a strong squad. He made his debut for Brazil on October 7, 2006 coming on as a second half substitute against Al-Kuwait. Brazil won the match 4-0. However, this appearance does not count as his first cap as the match was not considered an official friendly match by FIFA.

His form in 2006 led to reported interest from many major European clubs including Palermo, Inter, Juventus, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona.

Lucas is the current captain of the Brazilian Under-20 team. He helped the team to victory in the 2007 South American Youth Championship, scoring 4 goals in the process. He is expected to again lead the team in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup which will be contested in Canada in July 2007.

On May 13, 2007 Liverpool confirmed the acquisition of Lucas and will join the club from Gremio in time for the start of the 2007-08 season. The transfer fee is rumoured to be worth in the region of €10 million. Lucas will remain with Gremio until the end of their 2007 Copa Libertadores campaign.

Upon signing with Liverpool, Lucas has been dubbed "the Brazilian Gerrard" by some fans due to the similarity of his playing style and his creativity.

Sebastian Vettel; Future Idol

2007-06-26T20:19:00.001-07:00

Sebastian Vettel (born July 3, 1987 in Heppenheim) is a German race car driver. He has been the third (test and reserve) driver for the BMW Sauber Formula One team from the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix onwards. By taking part in Friday practice for the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, Vettel became the youngest ever Formula One driver to drive at a Grand Prix meeting, at 19 years and 53 days. (Mike Thackwell remains the youngest driver to compete in a championship Grand Prix race; Nico Rosberg the youngest to drive an F1 car in private testing. He also became the quickest driver to get a fine in F1, being fined $1,000 nine seconds into his career, after speeding in the pitlane. He also became the sixth youngest driver to start a Grand Prix and the youngest driver to score points in a Grand Prix.
Vettel started racing karts in 1995, winning various titles. In 2003, he upgraded to open-wheel cars, and won the 2004 German Formula BMW Championship with 18 victories from 20 races.

In 2005 he drove for ASL Mucke Motorsport in the Formula Three Euroseries. He was placed fifth in the final standings with 64 points, winning the year's top rookie honours. He did not win any races, but this was largely due to the championship's domination by Lewis Hamilton. Despite, this, he tested the Williams FW27 Formula One car on September 27 as a reward for this Formula BMW success. He then went on to test for the BMW Sauber team.

Vettel finished as runner-up in the 2006 F3 Euroseries, behind series leader Paul di Resta. He also made his début in the World Series by Renault at Misano, winning after Pastor Maldonado was disqualified.However, at the next round at Spa-Francorchamps, his finger was almost sliced off by flying débris in an accident, and he was expected to be out of racing for several weeks. However, he managed to compete in the Ultimate Masters of F3 at Zandvoort the following weekend, finishing in sixth place. He also set third fastest lap time, and it surprised his ASM team boss Frédéric Vasseur. Vasseur said: "I was impressed for sure, because at the beginning of the week I was sure he wouldn't race! But he showed good pace from the first practice session. I can't imagine he's 100 per cent but at least we know we can be competitive in the next F3 Euroseries round at the Nürburgring next weekend - that's important."
Vettel during practice at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Vettel during practice at the 2006 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Vettel has been BMW Sauber's third driver since the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix, when former incumbent Robert Kubica was called up to replace the departed Jacques Villeneuve for the 2006 Hungarian Grand Prix.

Vettel impressed on his testing début by setting fastest time in second Friday Free Practice during the 2006 Turkish Grand Prix. The young German also impressed on his second testing session in the 2006 Italian Grand Prix, setting the fastest time in both Friday practice sessions, a race weekend in which all the BMW cars were quick, with his predecessor Robert Kubica finishing on the podium in the race.

He has been confimed as BMW's test driver for 2007, and is also competing in the World Series by Renault Championship, where he had his first win at the Nürburgring.

Following the serious crash of regular BMW driver Robert Kubica in Canada, Vettel substituted for him at the US Grand Prix and started in seventh position on the grid, finishing in 8th position, thanks to Nico Rosberg's late retirement, to take his first F1 World Championship point and became the youngest driver ever to score a point in Formula One (at the age of 19 years and 349 days), a record previously held by Jenson Button - who was 20 years and 67 days old when he finished 6th at the 2000 Brazilian Grand Prix.

Ricky ''hitman'' Hatton

2007-06-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Richard "Ricky" Hatton MBE (born October 6, 1978, in Stockport, Cheshire, England) is an English boxer.

Hatton is a two-time IBF and IBO Light Welterweight Champion, having relinquished the IBF belt, only to step back down to the weight class and beat Juan Urango. He was the WBA Welterweight Champion, but relinquished this title on 31 August 2006 [1]. Hatton is also the former WBU, WBA Light Welterweight Champion. He is undefeated with a career record of 43 wins (31 by KO), 0 losses and 0 draws.
Born in Stockport, Cheshire, Hatton was raised on the Hattersley council estate in Hyde, Cheshire.

Both his grandfather and father played for Manchester City Football Club, and Hatton had a trial for the youth team. But Hatton found a local boxing club in Hyde, which he still trains at, and found he enjoyed the sport. Hatton's entrance music is the Manchester City FC club song "Blue Moon" as performed by the band "Supra". Aged 14, Hatton was taken by his uncles Ged and Paul to Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium to watch the second fight between Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank.

Hatton joined the family carpet business on leaving school, but after cutting three of his fingers his father made him a salesman to protect his body.
Hatton's debut fight was on 11 September 1997 against Colin McAuley, while in his second fight Hatton boxed at Madison Square Garden in New York.

On 5 June 2005 Hatton beat Kostya Tszyu, then widely regarded as one of the top pound-for-pound boxers in the world (although he had only fought one fight, a three-round knockout of Sharmba Mitchell, in the previous 29 months), by a technical knockout after the Australian failed to answer the bell for the 12th round. Hatton was a heavy underdog for this fight, and the victory announced his entry to the upper echelons of the world boxing scene. Prior to the fight the majority of boxing critics had given Hatton little or no chance and this victory was regarded as one of the best victories by an English boxer in the last 20 years. Critics denigrate his generally unimpressive level of opposition prior to the Kostya Tszyu bout (Hatton's only notable win was over ex-champion Vincent Phillips, who was years removed from his peak), but Hatton has expressed his desire to meet the most potent challengers and establish a legacy.

On 26 November 2005 Hatton won the WBA title when he defeated Carlos Maussa in the ninth round of a unification bout. In December, Hatton was named the 2005 Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year.

Hatton surrendered his IBF belt on 29 March 2006 after refusing to fulfil a mandatory defence against number one contender Naoufel Ben Rabah, because he intended to move up to the welterweight class.

JFK isThe Best Presidential Golfer

2007-06-26T08:47:00.000-07:00

Of the 14 presidents who played golf, John Kennedy was the best.Kennedy loved golf but didn’t want the public to think he was spending too much time on the golf course.

Transfer News

2007-06-26T08:39:00.001-07:00

Holland's Under-21 star Ryan Babel said;"Next season I definitely play at Ajax."

David Trezeguet sign a new four year deal, keeping him at the ,until he is 33.

Leroy Lita impress Bolton boss Sammy Lee during the European under-21 championships, that he thinks he'll be the perfect replacement for Nicolas Anelka.

the star released from the New-York Islanders

2007-06-26T07:53:00.000-07:00

Alexei Yashin has been released from the New-York Islanders just last week and is now an unrestricted free agent. He can now negociate with any NHL team for a new contract.Among the places that he is considering, Montreal is one of his first choices. He said that he has a nice relationship with Alex Kovalev, Andrei Markov and Saku Koivu.Can Yashin really help the Montreal Canadiens? We all know that Montreal has a big hole at the center position and with Yashin's raw talent, the 6'3'' and 220 pounds center could complete an efficient line along with Alex Kovalev and Sergei Samsonov.I think that Yashin could be a short term solution but the Habs should be very cautious with the amount of money and the duration of the contract that they are willing to offer to him. I think that a deal valued between 2 and 3 Millions for a single season could be a reasonnable price tag. Montreal should not offer a multi-year deal to force the russian player to perform next season.

Were WWE wrestler Chris Benoit murder/suicide?

2007-06-26T07:31:00.000-07:00

Pro wrestler Chris Benoit, his wife Nancy and their seven year-old son Daniel were found dead in their Atlanta home on Monday afternoon.

Officials were investigating the deaths as a murder-suicide.

Police believe pro wrestler Chris Benoit killed his wife, his 7-year-old son and them himself at their home in Fayetteville, Georgia. Investigators aren't saying much about a motive, though Benoit's colleagues say they'd received some odd text messages from him before he died.

Royston Drenthe = Edgar Davids?

2007-06-25T13:20:00.000-07:00

Royston Drenthe (born April 8, 1987) is a Dutch footballer who currently plays for Feyenoord Rotterdam. Drenthe mainly plays as a left back, but he is also suitable for the left winger or left forward positions.
At Feyenoord he came into the D2 team, where Tim Vincken and Gianni Zuiverloon were part of as well. Drenthe played mainly as a left winger during his junior years. As a C player he was invited to join the B squad on a trip to Switzerland. Drenthe misbehaved during the trip and the trainer, Marcel Bout, wanted him to leave the club as a result. Thanks to technical director Rob Baan Drenthe was able to stay and he was only temporarily suspended by the club. After his suspension he continued to play in the C-team before moving to the B-team, where he again had Bout as his coach.

Bout hardly used Drenthe in his line-up. Later, at the end of the season he was named as one of eleven players whose future at the club was questionable. Drenthe then decided to switch teams and moved to Feyenoord's feeder club Excelsior Rotterdam.

Drenthe improved during the two years he played at Excelsior. Coach Marco van Lochem wanted to try him as a left back, which turned out to be a success. Drenthe seemed to be a talent at this position and became a team regular. He impressed the Feyenoord coaches and was asked to join them again.

In 2007, Drenthe was called up by Netherlands national under-21 football team coach, Foppe de Haan, to be part of his squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, which was held in the Netherlands. Drenthe was one of the most important players in the second consecutive title of the competition for the Jong Oranje, being chosen by UEFA as the Player of the Tournament and picking up attention from a number of clubs, mainly from the Premier League, of which West Ham, Sunderland and Aston Villa remain most interested in signing him. However, Feyenoord doesn't want to sell, as he still has a contract until 2011.

Kevin Mirallas belgian rising star

2007-06-25T13:08:00.000-07:00

Kevin Mirallas (born October 5, 1987 in Liège) is a Belgian football striker.

He played for his home town side Standard Liège at youth level, and has played for Lille OSC since the opening of the 2004-05 season. Mirallas participated in the UEFA Cup in his first season at the club. He has represented Belgium at Under-17, Under-19 levels and Under-21 levels and was one of the leading figures in guiding 2007 Belgium to the semi-finals during the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship.

Mirallas can play on either side of midfield or down the centre of the pitch.

Jason Giambi

2007-06-25T12:27:00.000-07:00

Jason Giambi (born January 8, 1971) is a Major League Baseball Player and designated hitter for the New York Yankees.

He was the American League MVP in 2000 with the Oakland Athletics, and is a 5-time All-Star who has led the American League in walks 4 times, in on base percentage 3 times, in doubles and in slugging percentage once each, and won the Silver Slugger award twice. He attended Long Beach State.

Through December 2006, he is 4th in the majors of all active players in hit by pitch (127; he has been hit 8 times by David Wells in 30 at bats), 6th in on base percentage (.413), and 8th in walks (1,089).

He also is 3rd in the majors in the 2000s, through 2006, in both OBP (.438) and walks (551), 10th in slugging percentage (.582), 13th in home runs (175), and 16th in RBIs (526). Giambi is also known to have taken performance-enhancing drugs during his career but has indicated he stopped and has apologized recently for past steroid use.

During a game in Toronto against the Blue Jays, Giambi tore tissue in the arch of his left foot while running the bases after a home run. He is now on the diabled list for at least 3-6 weeks.

Kovalainen, Hakkinen foreruner

2007-06-25T12:18:00.002-07:00

Heikki Kovalainen is a racing driver, born October 19, 1981 in Suomussalmi, Finland. He is the second race driver for Formula 1 world champions Renault having occupied the role of third driver since 2005.
Kovalainen's career began in karting, much like that of many other F1 racers. His karting career lasted from 1991 to 2000, during which time he finished runner-up in Finnish Formula A in 1999. Then in 2000 he became Nordic champion and won the Elf Masters. He was also elected Finnish Driver of The Year.
Kovalainen began his car racing career in the British Formula Renault championship, which fellow Finn Kimi Räikkönen had won the previous year before moving straight into Formula 1 with Sauber. Kovalainen's apprenticeship in the junior categories of motor sport was more conventional, but was remarkable in that he used Renault power at every step along the way.

He finished fourth in the championship with two wins, two pole positions and three fastest laps, and earned the Rookie of the Year award.

Becker but not Becker

2007-06-25T12:13:00.000-07:00

Benjamin Becker (born June 16, 1981 in Merzig, Saarland, Germany) is a professional tennis player.

Becker is not related to former World No. 1 Boris Becker. He won the 2004 NCAA singles title while helping Baylor University to the team title.

In June 2006, he qualified for Wimbledon and defeated Juan Ignacio Chela before losing in the second round to Fernando Verdasco.

At the 2006 U.S. Open, he defeated Filippo Volandri and #30 seed Sébastien Grosjean to reach the third round. On September 3, he defeated Andre Agassi 7-5, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5 at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Agassi, who had announced the Open would be his final tournament, received an 8-minute standing ovation after the match, which Becker participated in. Becker was defeated the next day by Andy Roddick in the fourth round.

The 2006 U.S. Open sparked Benjamin to become a household name on the ATP Tour. Not only did he defeat the poster boy of the United States of America tennis, Andre Agassi, but he began his tear up the rankings. At the start of 2006, Becker was ranked #421. One year later he has moved all the way to #38 and continues his rise with every tournament.

The 2007 season has been quite a year so far for Benjamin. In reaching his first semi-final appearance in the ATP event held in Delray Beach International Tennis Championships he lost to world #8 James Blake. This match could not have been tighter as it was Blake who won 79 total points to Benjamin's 78 total points. The other semi-final appearance in 2007 was in San Jose at the SAP Open where Becker lost to the tallest man on the ATP Tour (6'10") Ivo Karlovic.

At the end of 2006 Benjamin was awarded Sportsman of the Year in his part of the country. Germany has treated Benjamin with great respect and believes he is part of a new generation of rising stars for German Tennis. Becker's proudest moment this year would have to be representing Germany in the 3-2 victory of a Davis Cup tie against the 2005 Davis Cup Champions Croatia. This tie was very important for Benjamin as it was his unveiling of the Boris Becker tennis clothing line. Boris has been a long time hero of Benjamin as he watched him become an icon not only in Germany but throughout the tennis world. Germany's next tie will be against Belgium on April 6-8, 2007 at the Sleuyter Arena in Ostend, Belgium.

2006 Newcomer of the Year

The 2006 ATP Awards were handed out on March 26, 2007. The Newcomer of the Year was awarded to Benjamin Becker. After completing his first season on the ATP Tour, Benjamin made the fastest rise of any player into the top 50. Climbing 419 positions from the following year solidified this Newcomer of the Year to be the next standout player.

Becker has also played a match against Jiří Novák in Tokyo that finished at 3:24 a.m., making it the latest finish to a match in ATP history.

Becker's primary weapon is a very big serve that he can hit in the 140's (mph).

Highlights

Semifinalist at the ATP San Jose Event

Semifinalist at the ATP Delray Beach Event

Semifinalist at the ATP Tokyo Event

Won the Salinas Challenger Tournament

Winner of Two Canadian Futures Events

Winner of the Singles & Doubles Waco, TX Futures Event

Winner of Laguna Niguel Futures Event

Winner of the Toronto Doubles Futures Event.

#1 NBA Draft

2007-06-25T12:07:00.000-07:00

Kevin Durant (born September 29, 1988 in Washington, D.C.) is a 6'9" (6'10" with shoes) American college basketball player who played for the University of Texas at Austin in the Big 12 Conference of the NCAA during the 2006-2007 season. He was selected as the 2006-2007 Phillips 66 Big 12 Player of the Year and received numerous other awards. After his freshman season, Durant opted to enter the NBA Draft

Durant, a 6' 9" small forward with a 7'4¾" wingspan, was widely hailed by the media as the Big 12's top freshman and a top candidate for Freshman of the Year.He averaged 25.8 points per game and 11.1 rebounds a game his freshman year. In Big 12 play he averaged 28.9 points per game and 12.5 rebounds. His college career high for scoring is 37, which he has achieved on four occasions. Durant had twenty 30-point games his freshman year, including a losing effort against Kansas for the regular season Big 12 title.

In March 2007, Durant was named the NABC Division I Player of the Year, and received the Oscar Robertson Trophy and the Adolph F. Rupp Trophy,becoming the first freshman to win each of these awards. On March 30, 2007, he was selected as the Associated Press college player of the year, becoming the first freshman and the first Texas athlete to receive this award since its inception in 1961. On April 1, 2007 he became the first freshman to receive the Naismith Award[19] and on April 7, 2007, won the John R. Wooden Award

In late February 2007, Durant received an invitation to the Team USA Basketball training camp. He is the second freshman to be invited to the camp (Greg Oden being the other).

Jelena Janković on the way

2007-06-25T11:57:00.000-07:00

Jelena Janković (Serbian Cyrillic: Јелена Јанковић, pronounced born on February 28, 1985) is a Serbian professional tennis player.

Janković entered the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) top 15 in late 2006 when she reached the semi-finals of the US Open. At the beginning of 2007, she broke into the top 10 in the WTA rankings, and entered the top 3 when she reached the semifinals of the French Open.

Career

Early career

Janković learned her first tennis skills in Tennis Club 'Red Star'. As a nine-and-a-half year old she was introduced to tennis by her elder brother and fitness coach Marko. She was later trained at the Tennis Academy of Nick Bollettieri. As a junior she won the 2001 Australian Open. In 2001, she started to play on the WTA Tour; she reached the second round at her first tournament at the Indian Wells Masters.

In October 2003, Janković entered the top 100 at No. 90 for the first time after winning her first ITF title in Dubai. Three months later, Janković garnered her first top 10 win against Elena Dementieva 6-1, 6-4 in the first round of the 2004 Australian Open. She then lost to Jill Craybas in three sets in the second round. In May, Janković won her first WTA title, a Tier V event, in Budapest, defeating Martina Sucha in the final 7-6, 6-3. Following her win in Budapest, she reached No. 51 in the world. Elsewhere in her 2004 season, she defeated top 20 players Nadia Petrova (twice), Vera Zvonareva, Patty Schnyder and Paola Suarez. Janković finished 2004 ranked No. 28 in the world.

2005

2005 is considered Janković's breakout season. In March, at Dubai, she advanced to the final following Serena Williams's retirement in the semifinal. Janković then lost in the final to Lindsay Davenport 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. She made her first Tier I semifinal in Berlin, losing to Nadia Petrova 6-4, 6-7, 6-3. In June, she reached her first grass court final at Birmingham, but lost to Maria Sharapova 6-2, 4-6, 6-1. In October, Janković reached her third final of the year in Seoul, ranked No. 17 in the world, her highest ranking at that time, losing to 16-year-old Nicole Vaidisova 7-5, 6-3. Her ranking at the end of the season eclipsed her 2004 record at No. 22.

2006

In 2006, Janković lost ten straight matches, not winning a match from late January into early May. She reached the quarterfinals of the Italian Open before losing to Venus Williams in three sets. She reached the semi-finals in Strasbourg, retiring against Vaidišová in the second set.

At the French Open, she upset the Number 25 seed Marion Bartoli before losing to World No. 1 Amélie Mauresmo 6-3, 6-3. At Wimbledon, she stunned defending champion Venus Williams in three sets in the 3rd round, on the "Graveyard Court." She then lost to Anastasia Myskina 6-4, 7-6.

Following her run at Wimbledon, she reached her fifth career final at the JP Morgan Chase Open, defeating Sania Mirza, Ana Ivanović, and then Serena Williams in the semifinal, becoming the only player in 2006 to defeat both Williams sisters. Ultimately, she lost to Elena Dementieva in the final. The final outcome was 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. In the third set, Dementieva was actually leading 5-0 before some spirited play and aggressive shot-making earned Janković the next four games. However, she was unable to even the score and fell short.

At the 2006 US Open, Janković defeated Vaidisova in the third round, defeated 2004 US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth, and beat 2004 US Open and French Open finalist Elena Dementieva 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinal, she lost to Justine Henin-Hardenne 4-6, 6-4, 6-0, after having been up 6-4 4-2, and one point away from 5-2 in the match. Janković lost her train of thought after arguing with the chairperson over a service call judged out; it was later proven the ball was indeed out.

At Janković's first tournament following the US Open, she reached the semifinals at the Tier II China Open, losing to Amelie Mauresmo 6-1, 3-6, 7-6. At 6-5 in the third, Janković served for the match, but was broken at 15-40.

After Beijing, Janković made the Guangzhou semifinal, retiring against Anna Chakvetadze 0-2 in the second. Then, in her last four events of the year, she reached the quarterfinals three times, losing to Kuznetsova, Vaidisova, and Poutchkova, respectively.

Due to her success in the latter part of the year, Janković finished the season ranked just outside the Top 10, at No.12

2007

To begin the 2007 season, Janković won her second title at the Tier IV ASB Classic tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, defeating Vera Zvonareva in the finals. In her second tournament, the Tier II Medibank International event, Janković reached her second final in a row, defeating 7th ranked Martina Hingis, home favorite Australian Sam Stosur, No. 1 seed Amelie Mauresmo, and Nicole Vaidisova along the way for a 9-0 start to 2007. In the final, Janković was defeated by Kim Clijsters in an intense and controversial match. In the final, Janković again lost her cool over a number of calls that went against her and ended up losing after serving for the match in the second set.If Janković had won the finals match against Clijsters, she would have entered the top 10. She made it to the fourth round of the Australian Open, where she was eliminated by the eventual champion Serena Williams 6-3, 6-2. Though she lost in the fourth round, she entered the top 10 at number 10 for the first time in her career.
Amélie Mauresmo and the chair umpire rush to a fallen Jelena Janković at the Dubai Tennis Championship 2007.
Amélie Mauresmo and the chair umpire rush to a fallen Jelena Janković at the Dubai Tennis Championship 2007.

At the first Tier I event of the year in Tokyo, Japan, Janković defeated Zheng Jie in straight sets in the second round, but ended up losing to countrywoman Ana Ivanović 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 in the quarterfinal. In late February 2007, she entered the 2007 Dubai Tennis Championship and reached the semi-finals relatively unchallenged, before she retired from the match with an ankle injury against Amélie Mauresmo. The following week, she continued her streak in the Middle East at Doha, reaching the semifinals again, losing to Justine Henin in 3 sets; the result brought her ranking to a career-high #9. At Miami, Janković reached the third round before losing to Italian Mara Santangelo in three sets 6-2, 6-7, 4-6.

Janković kicked off her clay-court season as the number two seed at a tournament in Amelia Island. She lost in the quarter-final to fellow Serb Ana Ivanovic in straight sets, 7-5 6-3. She then traveled to Charleston for the Family Circle Cup, winning her first Tier I title, defeating Venus Williams in a semifinal match that lasted more than 2 1/2 hours 3-6 6-3 7-6, and defeating Dinara Safina 6-2, 6-2, in a match that featured very windy conditions. That win moved Janković to number 7 in the world rankings.

Janković's next tournament was the J&S Cup in Warsaw, where she was the number 4 seed. She lost to Justine Henin 5-7 6-2 4-6 in the semis. Although she lost, the result saw her ranking rise to a new high of 6. She then played at the Qatar Telecom German Open where she lost in the quaterfinals to Justine Henin in another 3 set match 6-3, 4-6, 4-6. Though she was leading 4-0 in the third set, Janković lost the next 6 games.

Janković's next competed at the Tier I tournament in Rome, Italy, the Internazionali BNL d'Italia. Janković came into the tournament as the No.3 Seed, and one of the heavy favorites to carry home the title. In the final, she successfully defeated, No. 2 seed, Svetlana Kuznetsova 7-5, 6-1. The win put Janković as the No.4 ranked player on WTA Tour, and extended her lead at the top of the Race to the Championships.

As No.4 seed and a heavy favourite in 2007 French Open, she reached another Grand Slam semi-finals, where among others she defeated Venus Williams and Nicole Vaidisova before falling to Justine Henin in two sets, 6-2 6-2. This is her strongest performance in Roland Garros to date. Her performance in the 2007 French Open brings her ranking up to break the top 3 barrier at number 3, when it is released on 11th June.

Janković continued her impressive run in this season by capturing the DFS Classic title in Birmingham, beating first seed Maria Sharapova 4-6, 6-3, 7-5. In the match, Sharapova had led a set and a break, as well as 6-4, 3-6, 3-0 before Jelena fought back to win on a Sharapova forehand error. This is her first victory over Sharapova, having lost to her in the same tournament finals in 2005. Jelena then entered the Ordina Open in the Netherlands, where she reached the final the following week Janković became the first player since Chris Evert in 1974 to win 50 matches in a year in half a year. In the finals she ended up losing to Anna Chakvetadze in three sets due to a hamstring injury. She is currently at Wimbledon Championship as a third seed in ladies singles.

Anderson the next Eric Cantona

2007-06-25T11:44:00.000-07:00

His full name is Anderson Luis de Abreu Oliveira.

He signed for Brazilian Club Gremio in 1993. When he was just five years old.

Made his first team debut for Gremio when he was 18 years old.

He appeared at the FIFA U17 World Cup and won the Adidas Golden Ball for the most valuable player of the tournament. Previous winners include Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal.

During his time at Gremio, he helped them to win promotion to Brazil’s top division, scoring the crucial goal in a game against Nautico.

Anderson made only five first team appearances for Gremio before joining FC Porto.

This season for FC Porto, he appeared in 15 games, nine of them from the start and grabbed two goals. But he would have played more frequently were it not for a broken leg suffered in October.

In eighteen months at FC Porto, he won two Portuguese titles including a domestic double in 2005/2006.
after play for gremio and Porto, Anderson agreed to join Manchester United in June 2007

Brazil’s World Cup winning coach Mario Zagallo said of Anderson “everything suggests that he is going to be a superstar, a prodigy as he has undisputable quality.”

Despite having never appeared for Brazil at full international level, he has been called up by Brazil coach Dunga for the Copa America in Venezuela next month.

NBA Rising Star

2007-06-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

Top NBA Draft 2007

1) Kevin Durant - Texas - (18)

2) Greg Oden - Ohio State -

3) Spencer Hawes - Washington -

4) Mike Conley - Ohio State -

5) Javaris Crittenton - Georgia Tech -

6) Thaddeus Young - Georgia Tech - (18)

7) Petteri Koponen - Honka Espoo -

8) Artem Zabelin - Avtodor Saratov -

20

1) Al Horford - Florida -

2) Josh McRoberts - Duke -

3) Jeff Green - Georgetown -

4) Ante Tomic - KK Zagreb -

5) Daequan Cook - Ohio State -

6) Marcus Williams - Arizona -

7) Roy Hibbert - Georgetown -

8) Sean Williams - Boston College -

9) Dominic James - Marquette -

10) Wilson Chandler - DePaul -

21

1) Brandon Rush - Kansas -

2) Corey Brewer - Florida-

3) Marco Belinelli - Fortitudo Bologna -

4) Glen Davis - LSU -

5) Nick Young - USC -

6) Jason Smith - Colorado State -

7) Rodney Stuckey - EWU -

8) Jared Dudley - Boston College -

9) Sean Singletary - Virginia -

10) Gabe Pruitt - USC -

22

1) Joakim Noah - Florida -

2) Tiago Splitter - Tau Vitoria -

3) Acie Law - Texas A&M -

4) Rudy Fernandez - DKV Joventut -

5) Marc Gasol - Akasvayu Girona -

6) Aaron Gray - Pittsburgh -

7) Herbert Hill - Providence -

8) Morris Almond - Rice -

9) Jared Jordan - Marist -

10) Chris Richard - Florida -

23+

1) Al Thornton - Florida State -

2) Alando Tucker - Wisconsin -

3) Derrick Byars - Vanderbilt -

4) JR Reynolds - Virginia -

5) Brandon Heath - San Diego State -

6) Mario Boggan - Oklahoma State - none

7) Reyshawn Terry - UNC - none

8) Stephane Lasme - UMASS - none (24)

9) Chris Daniels - TAMU-CC - none

10) Carl Landry - Purdue - none
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Copa America 2007 schedule

2007-06-25T08:57:00.000-07:00

2007 Copa America schedule

Copa America, South America's regional championship, will take place from June 26-July 15 in Venezuela. Tweleve teams will compete, ten from South America and two invited guests (Mexico & USA).

Here are the groups and their schedules:

Group A
Venezuela
Uruguay
Bolivia
Peru

Date	Time (ET)	Teams	City
June 26	20:45	Venezuela - Bolivia	San Cristóbal
June 26	16:00	Peru - Uruguay	Mérida
June 30	18:15	Venezuela - Peru	San Cristóbal
June 30	16:00	Bolivia - Uruguay	San Cristóbal
July 3	18:30	Bolivia - Peru	Mérida
July 3	20:45	Uruguay - Venezuela	Mérida

Group B
Brazil
Mexico
Chile
Ecuador

Date	Time (ET)	Teams	City
June 27	20:45	Brazil- Mexico	Puerto Ordaz
June 27	18:30	Chile - Ecuador	Puerto Ordaz
July 1	16:00	Brazil - Chile	Maturín
July 1	18:15	Mexico - Ecuador	Maturín
July 4	18:30	Mexico - Chile	Puerto la Cruz
July 4	20:45	Ecuador - Brazil	Puerto la Cruz

Group C
Argentina
Paraguay
Colombia
USA

Date	Time (ET)	Teams	City
June 28	20:45	Argentina - USA	Maracaibo
June 28	18:30	Colombia - Paraguay	Maracaibo
July 2	20:45	Argentina - Colombia	Maracaibo
July 2	18:30	USA - Paraguay	Barinas
July 5	18:30	USA - Colombia	Barquisimeto
July 5	20:45	Paraguay - Argentina	Barquisimeto

The top two teams of each group and the best two third place teams advance to the playoffs.

July 7 - Quarter finals - Estadio Puerto La Cruz, Anzoátegui
July 7 - Quarter finals - Estadio Polideportivo de Pueblo Nuevo, San Cristóbal
July 8 - Quarter finals - Estadio Monumental de Maturín, Maturín
July 8 - Quarter finals - Estadio Metropolitano de Fútbol de Lara, Barquisimeto

July 10 - Semi finals - Estadio Olímpico de la Ciudad Universitaria, Caracas
July 11 - Semi finals - Estadio Polideportivo Cachamay, Puerto Ordaz

July 14 - Third place - Estadio Olímpico de la Ciudad Universitaria, Caracas

July 15 - Final - Estadio José Pachencho Romero, Maracaibo

As far as television in America and Canada goes, GolTV will air these games in English. In America, a Spanish version of the games will air on Univision and TeleFutura, however the two stations have not annoucned their exact lineup yet. That said, Univision will air nine games in total including all Mexico matches while TeleFutura will air the other 17 games.

Wimbledon 2007 tv schedule

2007-06-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Date Time Round Channel
June 24 2:30 PM Preview Show ESPN2
June 25 2:30 - 3:00 PM Preview Show NBC
June 25 7:00 AM (Live) Early Round ESPN2
June 26 2:00 - 4:00 AM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 26 7:00 AM (Live) Early Round ESPN2
June 27 1:00 - 4:00 AM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 27 7:00 AM (Live) Early Round ESPN2
June 27 7:00 PM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 28 1:30 AM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 28 7:00 AM (Live) Early Round ESPN2
June 28 9:00 PM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 29 2:00 AM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 29 7:00 AM (Live) Early Round ESPN2
June 29 7:30 PM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 30 1:30 AM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
June 30 8:00 AM (Live) Early Round ESPN2
June 30 3:00 PM (Live) Early Round ESPN2
June 30 8:00 PM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
July 1 2:00 AM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
July 1 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Live) Early Round NBC
July 1 5:00 PM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2
July 2 1:00 AM (Highlights) Early Round ESPN2

Date Time Round Channel
July 2 7:00 AM (Live) Round of 16 ESPN2
July 2 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM (Delay) Round of 16 NBC
July 2 4:00 PM (Delay) Round of 16 ESPN2
July 2 7:30 PM (Highlights) Round of 16 ESPN2
July 3 1:30 AM (Highlights) Round of 16 ESPN2
July 3 7:00 AM (Live) Round of 16 ESPN2
July 3 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Live) Women's QF NBC
July 3 1:00 PM (Live) Women's QF ESPN2
July 3 7:00 PM (Highlights) Women's QF ESPN2
July 3 11:35 PM - 11:50 PM (Highlights) Women's QF NBC
July 4 1:00 AM (Highlights) Women's QF ESPN2
July 4 7:00 AM (Live) Men's QF ESPN2
July 4 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Live) Men's QF NBC
July 4 1:00 PM (Live) Men's QF ESPN2
July 4 7:00 PM (Highlights) Men's QF ESPN2
July 4 11:35 PM - 11:50 PM (Highlights) Men's QF NBC
July 5 1:00 AM (Highlights) Men's QF ESPN2
July 5 7:00 AM (Live) Women's SF ESPN2
July 5 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM (Live) Women's SF NBC
July 5 10:00 PM (Highlights) Women's SF ESPN2
July 5 11:35 PM - 11:50 PM (Highlights) Women's SF NBC
July 6 3:00 AM (Highlights) Women's SF ESPN2
July 6 7:00 AM (Live) Men's SF ESPN2
July 6 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM (Live) Men's SF NBC
July 6 11:35 PM - 11:50 PM (Highlights) Men's SF NBC
July 7 12:30 AM (Highlights) Men's SF ESPN2
July 7 3:00 AM (Highlights) Men's SF ESPN2
July 7 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM (Live) Women's Final NBC
July 7 2:00 PM (SportsCenter) Women's Final ESPN2
July 7 11:35 PM - 11:50 PM (Highlights) Women's Final NBC
July 8 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM (Live) Men's Final NBC
July 8 3:00 PM (SportsCenter) Men's Final ESPN2

Wimbledon 2007

2007-06-25T08:44:00.000-07:00

Wimbledon 2007: Women's Top 10 Preview
[1] Justine Henin BEL. The 6-time Grand Slam champion (Roland Garros 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007; Australian Open 2004; U.S. Open 2003) is trying to win her first Grand Slam title in London despite making the final twice (losing to Venus Williams in 2001 and Mauresmo last year). My prediction at Roland Garros was that whomever won the Henin-S. Williams quarterfinal would most likely win the tournament, and I believe the same thing applies on the grass courts of Wimbledon. So does Jon Wertheim, calling the Henin-Williams Wimbledon quarterfinal the "de facto final." Serena didn't show up for that Paris showdown, however it is very unlikely these two steely competitors will have two "dud" matches in a row. This time the American will prevail. Quarterfinalist.

[2] Maria Sharapova RUS. Sharapova has salvaged her annus horribilis by making her first Roland Garros semifinal by winning a match that Patty Schnyder refused to win. As the site of her first major breakthrough, Sharapova is comfortable on the green stuff, but there's no question her serve and strokes are not as powerful as the 17-year old who stunned Serena Williams in 2004. This time it is likely that the woman who took out the defending champion in 2005 on her way to winning a 3rd Wimbledon title will bounce Sharapova from the tournament: Venus Williams in the 4th round. Fourth Round.

[3] Jelena Jankovic SRB. Many, many tennis watchers think Jelena simply plays too much tennis! But, hey, if she hates to practice and it works for her I say keep on doing what ya been doin'. She has the game and the confidence to go very far in this tournament. However, if she really doesn't get past people like Lucie Safarova or Shahar Pe'er like others have predicted then she should take a month off competitive tennis before getting back on the grind for the U.S. Open Series. Yeah, right. Semi-Finalist.

[4] Amelie Mauresmo FRA. I saw this year's Eastbourne Final and many observers are reading too much into Henin's 3rd set tiebreak win (despite Mauresmo serving for the match at 5-4). Since Mauresmo hasn't played that much tennis this year due to her appendix removal, I think it was incredibly important that she show Henin that she could hang with her on grass, and the Frenchwoman did that, for three sets of very close, beautiful grass court tennis. The defending champion also had a beautiful draw. I believe that Eastbourne result is more helpful to Mauresmo's chances than Henin's. We'll see. Semifinalist or Finalist.

[5] Svetlana Kuznetsova RUS. The "most talented of the Russians" is unfortunately also the most mentally fragile. She has the game to win this title and I would be shocked if she doesn't do exactly that within the next 5 years. However, 2007 will not be her year. Quarterfinalist or earlier.

[6] Ana Ivanovic SRB. The pulchritudinous Serb teen is having a fabulous 2007, making her first Grand Slam final last month in Paris and winning her second Tier 1 title a few weeks before that in Berlin. She has an all-court game and should be able to get deep in the draw but I doubt she will live up to her seeding and make the quarterfinal with Mauresmso. Fourth round or earlier.

[7] Serena Williams USA. As usual, the Williamses have to do things their own way. No grass court preparation prior to Wimbledon? We'll just play doubles instead! A chance at seeing Venus and Serena Williams on the court together will at the very least provide a compelling reason for people to shell out for Wimbledon's online streaming video coverage. Serena Williams hates to lose and I am sure that she has been thinking about that quarterfinal loss to Henin in Paris every single day as a motivator for off the court training. We'll see the results during the beginning of the second week when Wimbledon schedules all four Ladies' quarterfinals on the same day. And this time the Real Serena Williams will show up. Quarterfinalist or Champion.

[8] Anna Chakvetadze RUS. Four titles from her first four Sony Ericsson WTA Tour final apperances is impressive and I like this Russian's chances against anyone whose last name is not -Ova or Williams. Maybe we should start adding "-vic" to that list. I don't like Anna's chances of getting past Jankovic in the quarters if she does manage to get past a wily Hingis in the 4th round (which is doubtful). Fourth Round or Quarterfinalist.

[9] Martina Hingis SUI. "Chucky" has been winning titles at Wimbledon since she was a tween. She knows how to play on grass and she's wily enough to win a lot of matches she should lose. However, she can be overpowered and it is likely Jelena Jankovic, Anna Chakvetadze or even Sybille Bammer can take her out. Quarterfinalist or earlier.

[10] Daniela Hantuchova SVK. Congratulations to Daniela for making a return to the Top 10 after an inauspiciously long absence. She even won another title (her second!) at the Pacific Life Open this year. She clearly has been working hard and it shows. Unfortunately, she's in Serena Williams quarter of the draw and I don't like Hantuchova's chances against a Serena who has just come off wins against Samantha Stosur and Anastasia Rodionova. 4th Round.

Angora Fire

2007-06-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

South of Lake Tahoe, which straddles the Nevada-California state line, a large fire destroyed at least 165 homes over the weekend of June 23, 2007. This image from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Aqua satellite shows the Angora Fire on June 24. The area in which MODIS detected actively burning fire is outlined in red. A plume of brownish-gray smoke spreads northeast.

According to the June 25 report from the National Interagency Fire Center, the Angora Fire was burning in timber and grass, was about 1,800 acres, and was zero percent contained.

The large image provided above has a spatial resolution (level of detail) of 250 meters per pixel. The MODIS Rapid Response Team provides twice-daily images of the region in additional resolutions and formats, including an infrared-enhanced version that makes the burned area stand out from the surrounding, unburned vegetation.

NASA image courtesy the MODIS Rapid Response Team, Goddard Space Flight Center