News sports 2008-07-03 Andanh.com

Working his way back Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:06:00 -0500
Former Greenwood high school tennis star Robert Hall wasn’t the same player this past weekend that most have grown accustomed to seeing. But that was OK with Hall. Two months after tearing his left abdomen in the Region 4 Tennis Tournament, Hall played in his first competitive tournament over the weekend. He lost 6-3, 6-2 to Jeremy Clark in the opening round of the W.A. Weldon Open Tennis Tournament in Glasgow, but it was another step in his recovery. “I was just so happy to get back out there,” Hall said. “I wasn’t very good. But I really wanted to play it because it’s local and more notoriety. I just wanted to get back out there and compete again.” Hall’s return doesn’t mean he’s back to 100 percent. Hall said he’s only “60 percent” after having two months of rest and therapy to heal his abdomen. “I was so sore (after),” Hall said. “The thing it affects the most is your flexibility. I can’t rotate that much on my left side. I can only go to a certain little spot. It’s restrictive. And my serve is kind of a mess.” Hall also had a mental block to overcome. “I was scared the whole time,” Hall said. “I was trying my hardest but (was) a little tentative on a lot of my shots and kind of nervous about a lot of things. That’s not good when balls are coming at you pretty fast.” It was appropriate that Hall made his return in Glasgow, because that’s where his high school career had a devastating finish. Hall was a near lock to win his fourth straight regional championship in May when he felt a sudden and sharp pain in his side during the second round of the tournament. Hall still won the match 6-0, 6-0, but had to drop out of the tournament the next day. “There’s not an hour that goes by that I don’t think about (the injury),” Hall said. “It’s still fresh on my mind. It was really hard, especially that week.” Not only did Hall’s injury ruin his chances for another region title and a possible state championship, but it changed his summer plans. Hall’s summers had usually consisted of traveling the country and playing in six to eight tournaments. Staying home has been a huge adjustment, Hall said. “Usually right after the state (high school) tournament, I pack my bags and I don’t come back until August and go back to high school,” Hall said. “It’s been kind of nice to hang out with my friends and enjoy my summer a little more. I thought I would enjoy my break a lot, which I have. But I miss competing and the excitement of being back out there.” After playing this past weekend, Hall now has two goals for the rest of the summer. Hall wants to be 100 percent for the USTA Boys’ National Championships Aug. 1-10 in Kalamazoo, Mich. The winner gets an automatic berth in the U.S. Open. It will be Hall’s only other tournament of the summer. Hall also wants to be ready when he heads to the University of Louisville and begins his collegiate journey next month. Some have told Hall the adversity he’s faced from his injury will make him better. Consider Hall a skeptic. “That’s what I keep on hearing, but it doesn’t feel that way now,” Hall said. “I hope it does. I hope I can go into Louisville and start immediately and make an impact.”

Rogers earns ESPY nom Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:06:01 -0500
Talk about a life-changing shot. If it wasn’t enough that Ty Rogers’ 25-foot buzzer beater against Drake in March catapulted one of the more memorable Western Kentucky NCAA Tournament runs in recent memory, the 3-point dagger has earned the former Hilltopper plenty of stardom as well. Rogers’ 3-pointer was announced Tuesday as a finalist for a 2008 ESPY Award. The shot is one of four nominees in the “Best Finish” category, with the other candidates being the final lap of the 2007 Pepsi 400, the overtime periods of the NBA first round Western Conference playoff series between the Phoenix Suns and San Antonio Spurs this spring and the Pittsburgh Penguins’ triple-overtime win over the Detroit Red Wings in Game 5 of last month’s Stanley Cup finals. “I’m extremely excited about it,” Rogers said. “When it happened, I thought it was a possibility that we might be nominated for an ESPY, but I never really dreamed that it actually would happen. “It’s just a great honor for our team and the university and more exposure for the university, which is just great.” The event itself will be July 16 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. ESPN will air the show at 8 p.m. July 20. Rogers said today he has yet to contact ESPN as far as travel arrangements are concerned, but said he is very interested in attending the show. “To be honest, I don’t know much about it yet. I’ve been given a number to reach the ESPN guys, but I haven’t talked to them yet,” he said. “I think they’re willing to fly us out there but my first day of work is this coming Monday so I don’t know how they’ll take that so soon. “But I would love to go - I think it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” This isn’t the first honor Rogers’ shot has earned. It was named the Pontiac Game Changing Performance of the NCAA Tournament in April, earning WKU a $100,000 scholarship award in Rogers’ honor. Rogers said the roller coaster he’s been riding for several months has been unexpected, more so because it was created by a split-second occurrence in life. “It’s been unbelievable. I just thank God once again for all the blessings he’s given me,” Rogers said. “That one moment in life has done so much for me in just a (few) months - it’s given me opportunities to speak at different places and now this - it’s just been unbelievable.” And should Rogers bring home an ESPY later this month, he’ll have one more speaking engagement on his hands - in front of more than 7,000 members of sporting world royalty in Los Angeles. Something he said shouldn’t bother him too much. “Oh I’ll be prepared for that one, for sure,” he said.

Lady Tops land first recruit for 2009 Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:06:01 -0500
Western Kentucky women’s basketball has landed its first recruit for 2009: Tennessee’s reigning Class 2A Miss Basketball Lashay Davis confirms that she has verbally committed to play at WKU. Davis said she expects to sign this fall. Western Kentucky officials are prohibited from commenting on recruits until they have signed with the school. Davis, a 5-foot-7 guard from Upperman High School in Baxter, Tenn., said she chose WKU over Middle Tennessee, Tennessee Tech and Tennessee-Chattanooga. “All the coaches are nice and the facility is nice,” Davis said. “It’s a good school and it’s just two hours away.” Although Davis didn’t officially announce her decision until this week, she said she’s pretty much known she wanted to attend WKU since attending the Lady Toppers’ 69-54 win over Denver in February. Davis averaged 19.1 points, 3.4 assists and 2.4 steals a game to help lead Upperman to a second straight TSSAA Class 2A semifinal appearance. The two-time District 7-AA Most Valuable Player shot 51.4 percent from the field, 37.2 percent from 3-point range and hit 70 percent from the free throw line. She heads into her final season at Upperman with more than 1,600 points in her career. “Lashay is a complete player,” Upperman coach Dana McWilliams said. “She’s a good shooter. She’s good off the dribble. She’s a good passer. She’s been one of the best players in this area and just keeps getting better every year.” Davis has played primarily at the 3 position for Upperman, but she said she isn’t sure where coach Mary Taylor Cowles will use her at WKU. “She said she didn’t know how much I’d play or if I’d start, but I could work my way into it,” Davis said. “I like that challenge.” Davis said she is glad to have the recruiting process out of the way. “It takes a lot of pressure off my senior year,” Davis said. “Now I can just play and get better.”

Tinnon finishes eighth in breaststroke, misses Olympic bid Wed, 2 Jul 2008 11:06:02 -0500
OMAHA, Neb. — Former Bowling Green High School swimmer Elizabeth Tinnon took eighth Tuesday in the 100-meter breaststroke at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials at Qwest Center Omaha. Tinnon, who also swam for the University of Texas, placed eighth in the 100-meter breaststroke at 1:09.16. She needed to finish in the top two in the finals to earn a berth on the U.S. team for the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Tinnon still has a chance to qualify for the team in the 200-meter breaststroke. The 200-meter competition begins Thursday. Elsewhere, Katie Hoff and Natalie Coughlin usually dominate their events in the pool. But the indefatigable teenager and the highly decorated Olympian rarely swim against each other. That changes tonight at the U.S. Olympic trials, when Hoff and Coughlin face off in the 200-meter individual medley final. Hoff clocked the fastest qualifying time, while Coughlin was third quickest - 1.78 seconds behind the 19-year-old from Baltimore. Hoff recalled racing Coughlin at U.S. nationals a couple of times, but never on a stage as big as the trials. “She’s going to be a great racer and I’ll look forward to the challenge,” Hoff said. Both of them already have secured spots on the U.S. team for Beijing, so their matchup is all about adding another individual event to their Olympic schedules. “I’m not thinking of the 200 IM as me against Katie or me against anybody,” said Coughlin, who won five medals at the 2004 Athens Games. The IM features all four strokes - butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Coughlin’s coach persuaded her to swim the event only a week ago. “I can take it out fast in the fly,” Coughlin said. “My backstroke is good, but not spectacular in the IM by any means. My breaststroke, I try and hold it together as long as possible, and then I have a good freestyle. “But Katie, her middle 100 is her real strength. She definitely brings it home in the freestyle, but she’s really good at the back to breast transition.” Hoff is 2-for-2 in finals so far. Besides the 200 IM, she’ll be heavily favored to notch her fourth individual spot in the 200 free final tonight. Coughlin set a world record in the 100 backstroke Tuesday night to punch her Olympic ticket. Aaron Peirsol also got in on the record-setting action. Racing about 10 minutes apart, Coughlin and Peirsol broke their own marks in the 100 back, marking the fifth and sixth world records of the meet. Both of them were wearing the Speedo LZR Racer, which upped its tally of world marks to 44 since debuting in mid-February. Coughlin became the first woman to break 59 seconds, just one day after she reclaimed the world record in the preliminaries. She touched in 58.97 seconds. “I feel like a huge weight has been lifted,” she said. Michael Phelps was on world-record pace as he powered toward the finish of the 200 freestyle, but he settled for the third-fastest time in history, 1 minute, 44.10 seconds. “The only thing I was not happy with was the last turn,” he said. “That’s something little I can fix between now and Olympics.” Phelps goes into today’s 200 butterfly final with the fastest qualifying time of 1:54.02. He owns the world record and is clearly the class of the field. “I am ready for it,” he said. “I am not extremely exhausted by any means. The excitement of being in a final - it doesn’t matter how sore I am - I will still be able to get up and swim as fast as I can and hopefully give something good.” That’s what Peirsol did in the 100 back, holding off a strong field and lowering his own record to 52.89, ahead of his 52.98 at last year’s world championships. Six-foot-8 Matt Grevers took second just ahead of Ryan Lochte, who dropped out of the 200 free final - and another chance to race Phelps - to give himself a better shot to qualify in the backstroke. The move backfired; Lochte came on strong over the final 50 but touched in 53.37, behind Grevers’ 53.19. Randall Bal, the fastest qualifier in the semifinals, settled for fourth in 53.45. “That was probably the best field I’ve ever been in,” said Peirsol, one of the Nike-sponsored swimmers who ditched their regular suit to wear the LZR Racer. “I don’t think the Olympic field will be any harder than that.” Lochte avoided reporters after the race. “He’s got other races, and I’m sure he’s trying not to get caught up in this one,” said Phelps, who beat Lochte in the 400 IM when they both went under the previous world record. “He’s trying to move forward.” In Tuesday night’s other final, Jessica Hardy earned her first trip to the Olympics by winning the 100 breaststroke. The 21-year-old was under world-record pace at the turn but faded on the final lap. Still, she managed to win in 1:06.87. Megan Jendrick, who won two golds at the Sydney Olympics but just missed making the team four years ago, claimed the expected second spot for Beijing in 1:07.50.

Ellis Park closing for good Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:31:00 EST
Ellis Park owner Ron Geary said tonight he's closing the Henderson, Ky., racetrack, which was scheduled to open its summer thoroughbred meeting on Friday.

Coughlin, Peirsol set 100 back world marks Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:36:00 EST
Michael Phelps just missed setting another world record at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Natalie Coughlin and Aaron Peirsol showed him how to do it. Racing about 10 minutes apart, Coughlin and Peirsol broke their own marks in the 100-meter backstroke last night.

Columnist dines on tasty diet of crow Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:35:00 EST
The company self-evaluation form arrived in the inbox yesterday, affording me the welcome opportunity for an annual foray into fiction writing. But it also signals that time for me to do unto myself as I do unto others for 364 days a year: second-guess, critique and in general poke them with a stick.

Fogg's arm, Dickerson's stick power Bats 5-0 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:29:00 EST
Forget the nine days Josh Fogg has remaining on his major league rehab assignment. He's ready now. Fogg pitched a near-flawless eight-plus innings last night as the Louisville Bats beat Indianapolis 5-0 before 9,714 fans at Louisville Slugger Field.

Queens of the road Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:47:00 EST
Niki Dallaire of Louisville describes herself as a student who does "a little freelance bartending." You can also call her a national champion bicycle racer, although she started racing seriously only last year.

Curlin's new chore: some lawn work Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:47:00 EST
Having beaten the best in the world on dirt, 2007 Horse of the Year Curlin took his first step yesterday toward tackling another challenge: grass racing.

New on the job, Crean says IU is alive and well Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:19:00 EST
It's up to coach Tom Crean to pick up the pieces of the Indiana University men's basketball program after months of staggering challenges marked by the recruiting scandal under former coach Kelvin Sampson. But Crean believes the pieces are there to build new success.

Wild card Zheng reaches semis Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:20:00 EST
For at least the next few days, tennis on grass is going to be a lot more popular in China than tennis on a table. Zheng Jie became the first Chinese player to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament yesterday, upsetting 18th-ranked Nicole Vaidisova 6-2, 5-7, 6-1 at Wimbledon.

Ganassi puts end to Franchitti's Cup team Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:18:00 EST
Team owner Chip Ganassi shut down Dario Franchitti's Sprint Cup team yesterday because of a lack of sponsorship, putting the former IndyCar Series champion's future in doubt.

The final buzzer sounds on UK Basketball Museum Wed, 02 Jul 2008 00:38:00 EST
The University of Kentucky Basketball Museum is history. The museum, which opened in 1999 in the Lexington Center adjacent to Rupp Arena, can no longer sustain itself financially and officially closed its doors yesterday, executive director Van Florence said.

Churchill downs update Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:15:00 EST
Schedule change: With Friday being July 4, post time that day reverts to 1:15 p.m. Instead, tomorrow will be the 2:45 "twilight" first post, with Happy Hour from 4-7 p.m. in the paddock. Week's stakes: Einstein, winner of the Grade I Woodford Reserve Turf Classic and second in the Stephen Foster Handicap on dirt behind Curlin, heads Friday's $200,000, Grade II Firecracker Handicap at a mile on turf, a race his connections hope will be a prep for the Arlington Million. Einstein takes on Inca King, unbeaten in three stakes over the course; River City Handicap winner Thorn Song; and A.P. Excellent, who lost last year's Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup by a nose. Steve Asmussen, who has trained 14 2-year-old winners this meet, is expected to send out Lyin' Heart and Segal in Saturday's Grade III Bashford Manor. Sunday's closing-day Locust Grove for grass distaffers should include Churchill Distaff Turf Mile winner Bayou's Lassie and Brownie Points, Lone Star's Ouija Board winner and Apple Blossom runner-up. Simulcast highlight: Hollywood Park's graded-stakes quintet Saturday includes Churchill-based Elite Squadron in the Grade I Triple Bend and Regret winner Pure Clan in the Grade I American Oaks. Pure Clan will be Bob Holthus' first California starter. Infield open Friday: Radio station WAKY sponsors what is billed as the World's Largest Free Picnic in the Downs' infield, with free admission at gate 10 between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Local bands, including the timeless Monarchs, play all afternoon, with a classic car show and kids' activities available. Races within the races: Whatever happens, trainer Tom Amoss has had an extraordinary meet, so far winning a meet-best 30 races in 75 starters, including two stakes. Steve Asmussen overcame a slow start and is one win back, in 128 races, but will win the earnings title with $1.7 million and counting. Asmussen pulled into the chase by going 6 for 19 last week, while Amoss was 4 for 12. Robby Albarado -- who went 11-7-4 for 38 mounts last week -- is poised to win his first CD riding title, enjoying a 64-57 cushion over Miguel Mena. Look for Albarado -- who gets a two-week break before going to Saratoga -- to ride as many races as he can these final few days. Mena (8-2-5 from 37 mounts last week) heads next to Presque Isle, where he won last year's inaugural title. Small stable alert: Tim Glyshaw won two races Sunday with his growing stable. Rob O'Connor had another win and second in two starts last week and is at 8-3-4 for 21 starts. Etc.: Trainer David Vance won two races Sunday and is one win from 3,000. Jockey Jordan Springer won Friday on her second mount after being sidelined eight months with a fractured bone in her upper back. She plans to be a freelance exercise rider this summer at Del Mar. Jennie Rees

Churchill Downs Graded Entries Wed, 02 Jul 2008 01:47:00 EST

PREP BASEBALL: Elizabethtown upends Central Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:08 -0500
ELIZABETHTOWN What a difference two weeks can make.

PREP BASEBALL: John Hardin sweeps North Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500
RADCLIFF It’s been said that hitting is contagious and the John Hardin Bulldogs certainly had a bad case of it spread through the team Thursday night.

PREP SOFTBALL: Krupinski, Central Hardin shut out John Hardin Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:06 -0500
CECILIA Having been shut out in their previous two games, the Central Hardin Lady Bruins were in a little bit of a funk.

PREP SOFTBALL/BASEBALL ROUNDUP: Lady Panthers fall; Mayfield moves to 7-1 Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500
The slumping Elizabethtown Lady Panthers lost for the 10th time in 13 games, falling to visiting Warren Central on Thursday, 3-1.

BOYS'/GIRLS' PREP TENNIS RESULTS: Thursday's Matches Thu, 1 May 2008 23:03:07 -0500
Results from Thursday's area high school tennis matches:

Adam Bender makes the big leagues Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:21 EDT

CHICAGO . Adam Bender is usually pretty talkative, but he had a hard time finding any words Tuesday when Chicago White Sox first baseman Nick Swisher welcomed the 8-year-old to U.S. Cellular Field.

Bender, who had his left leg amputated at the age of 1 during a successful battle against cancer, came to Swisher's attention when he read an article documenting the Lexington native's exploits as a catcher in youth baseball.

Bender, who can catch and throw while balancing on his right leg, received a personalized White Sox jersey with Swisher's number 30 on the back.

.This is a huge thrill. I've had his article up in my locker for about a month now, and that kind of seemed to be when everything turned around,. said Swisher, who started slowly this season but has recently been one of the White Sox's hottest hitters.

Missed chances cost Legends Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:26 EDT

Lexington Legends Manager Gregg Langbehn saw his first eight batters reach base during the first two innings of Wednesday night's game against the Lakewood BlueClaws. What he didn't see was a single one of them cross the plate.

.I told (hitting coach) Stubby (Clapp), .I don't even remember a time when the first eight batters of our lineup reach base and we haven't scored yet,'. Langbehn said.

The Legends continued to reach base thanks to some wild Lakewood pitching and shaky defense, but they blew opportunity after opportunity, falling 4-2 at Applebee's Park to open a four-game home stand.

.Offensively we just squandered opportunities,. Langbehn said. .They gave us every opportunity to have multiple-run innings but we didn't take advantage of them..

Ellis Park closing before summer meet Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:03 EDT
Ellis Park will not have its traditional summer meeting of Thoroughbred racing, according to owner Ron Geary.

Geary will hold a news conference Thursday morning to announce that the Western Kentucky track will close with no plans to reopen as a racetrack.

Ellis Park was scheduled to open a 44-day meet on Friday with more than 350 horses stabled at the Henderson racetrack.

Geary made his decision after a federal judge in Owensboro denied his request for an injunction against the Kentucky division of the Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association, he told the Courier-Journal in Louisville.

Geary wanted to use account wagering systems for Ellis bettors nationwide. The Kentucky division of the HBPA sought a higher share of revenues.

Gay's family as focused as their fastest man Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:25 EDT

EUGENE, Ore. . Hearing the rush of 20,000-plus people having their breath taken in one instant makes for wobbly legs and feint heads.

Had Sunday's collective gasp been taken a few seconds earlier, into the breeze, Tyson Gay's fastest-100-ever, 9.68 seconds, might not have been wind-aided.

Imagine what Tyson's mother, Daisy Gay Lowe, and sister Tiffany felt as the race unfolded at Hayward Field.

.Everybody was cheering (the outcome) and then it just went up like 20 octaves after the time flashed up,. Daisy said. .Tiffany and I were standing there screaming together, and we both were shivering. Just shaking. We just could not believe it..

Korir's backup plan includes Bluegrass 10K Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:41 EDT

Lexington already has one track star in the Summer Olympics in former Lafayette sprinter Tyson Gay. Friday morning, the city will get to see Jacob Korir, an Eastern Kentucky University track and cross country runner who could also have been bound for Beijing had he gotten the chance.

Korir will defend his title and attempt to become the ninth consecutive Kenyan winner in the 32nd annual Bluegrass 10,000 Friday. The race starts at Main and Rose streets and winds in and out of downtown before finishing on North Limestone.

The defending champion will be there, but Korir would rather be in his native Kenya, training for the Olympic team that will head to Beijing next month. Visa problems kept him from making the trip home to take part in the Olympic trials.

Could he have made the team? Korir says so, even though Kenya boasts a rich distance-running heritage that rivals any in the world.

John Clay: Summer standings for SEC football Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:46 EDT

Being the official band of summer, it was the Beach Boys who hit upon the idea of .Good Vibrations..

It's the same idea when it comes to Southeastern Conference football. Summer vibrations have much to do with how things might fall in the fall. The absence of pad-popping doesn't restrict us from figuring out which teams have had an enjoyable summer and which have experienced a deplorable one as we enter the final month before training camps.

The up, the down, and the mixed:

Florida (up): Tim Tebow, the quarterback, has a bronze tan and a bronze trophy . you know, that little guy called the Heisman. Meanwhile, Urban Meyer, the head coach, has a biography heading to a book store near you. And Percy Harvin is healing this summer so that the Gators can figure out a thousand more ways to get his flying feet involved in the offense this season.

UK not a finalist for Jordan Crawford Wed, 02 Jul 2008 18:41 EDT

Favre considers return to NFL or does he? Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:03 EDT
Brett Favre dismissed an ESPN report that he's considering coming out of retirement as "all rumor."

Favre responded Wednesday to the ESPN report by telling his hometown newspaper Web site, SunHerald.com in Gulfport, Miss., that "it's all rumor."

The paper reported that Favre sent a text message saying there's "no reason" for a media frenzy.

ESPN reported that an unidentified Packers source said the 38-year-old Favre told coach Mike McCarthy in the past two weeks that he has the itch to play.

"The Packers have no reaction," team spokesman Jeff Blumb told The Associated Press.

Fulmer, Pearl get new deals through 2014 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:28 EDT

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. . Tennessee signed football coach Phillip Fulmer and basketball coach Bruce Pearl to new deals Wednesday that will keep them with the Volunteers through 2014.

Fulmer's deal is worth an average of nearly $3 million over the next seven seasons, and the nearly $1 million raise makes him the fourth-highest paid coach in the Southeastern Conference.

He will get $2.4 million for the upcoming season and his salary escalates to $3.3 million in 2014 with automatic raises of $150,000 annually. Fulmer will also receive raises for achieving certain goals, such as an additional $350,000 for winning an SEC championship or an additional $850,000 raise for winning a national championship.

Fulmer would receive $1 million longevity bonus in December 2012, which would be his 20th anniversary as head coach.

UofL will face all Big East teams this year Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:55 EDT
The University of Louisville's 2008-09 men's basketball season in the Big East Conference will include a slate of 18 games, including two games each against Notre Dame, West Virginia and South Florida.

The Cardinals will face an 18-game conference schedule in which teams will face all Big East teams, plus repeat games against three opponents.

Louisville's home conference opponents will include Connecticut, DePaul, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall, USF and West Virginia. The Cardinals' nine league road games will be at Cincinnati, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Rutgers, St. John's, USF, Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia.

"As tough as our schedule was last season, this year our Big East and non-conference schedule could be the toughest we have ever faced," said U of L Coach Rick Pitino, whose team played the nation's sixth-toughest schedule by the ratings percentage index (RPI) last season. "With as many as nine Big East teams ranked in the early top 25 rankings, this could be the strongest season for the league since its inception. We look forward to the challenge and I know it will be fun for our fans and players alike."

Seven Big East Conference teams were in the among the nation's top 25 in a recent ranking by ESPN.com's Andy Katz, including three of the first five picks . No. 2 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Notre Dame, and No. 5 Louisville. U of L is second nationally in a CBSSports.com pre-season ranking by Gary Parrish, one of seven Big East teams among the top 16. The Cardinals are No. 6 in a similar ranking by Jeff Goodman of Foxsports.com with eight Big East teams are in the listing.

U of L will return four starters . seniors Terrence Williams and Andre McGee, and juniors Earl Clark and Jerry Smith . from a team which posted a 27-9 record, was runner-up in the Big East Conference, and reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the third time in 11 years. The Cardinals will welcome seven newcomers, including 2008 USA Today high school player of the year Samardo Samuels, a 6-8 forward/center.

U of L's complete schedule, including dates and times for the Big East games, is expected in early September.

Video | Curlin works the turf Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:25 EDT

McNamee asks for Clemens suit to be dismissed Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:18 EDT
Brian McNamee asked a federal court late Tuesday to dismiss Roger Clemens' defamation lawsuit or move the case to New York.

Clemens, a seven-time Cy Young Award winner, sued McNamee in January after his former trainer accused him in the Mitchell Report of using steroids and human growth hormone. The case originally was filed in Texas state court and was shifted in February to the U.S. District Court in Houston.

McNamee's lawyers first tried to dismiss the case in early March. When Clemens' lawyers responded on May 27, they added a new claim of "intentional infliction of emotional distress" and two additional claims of defamation.

In their latest filing, McNamee's lawyers said New York has the most interest in this lawsuit and that many of the potential witnesses reside in New York. McNamee claims no defamation took place and that it would be a burden for him to defend the case in Texas.

"Mr. Clemens has so far pitched around Senator Mitchell, choosing not to sue him or Major League Baseball," McNamee's lawyer said in the motion.

Atkins homers as Colorado Rockies top Padres, 8-1 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:53 EDT
Garrett Atkins, Troy Tulowitzki and Yorvit Torrealba homered to help the Colorado Rockies beat the San Diego Padres 8-1 on Wednesday night.

Atkins drove in four runs and Ubaldo Jimenez pitched into the seventh inning for his second win in his last three starts.

Colorado scored seven runs in the first three innings against Randy Wolf (5-8), who lasted just four innings.

Atkins singled in a run in the first and followed Matt Holliday's RBI single in the third with a three-run drive to left-center, his 11th of the year. Tulowitzki added a two-run homer in the third, his third of the year.

Torrealba connected in the eighth against Carlos Guevara to make it 8-1.

Howard's 3-run homer powers Phillies past Braves Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:43 EDT
Ryan Howard hit a three-run homer, Pat Burrell added his second homer of the series and the Philadelphia Phillies survived a ninth-inning scare to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-3 on Wednesday night.

The Phillies improved to 5-0 in Atlanta this season and 7-1 overall in the season series.

The Braves (40-45) fell a season-worst five games under .500 with their second straight loss in the series, despite homers from Chipper Jones and Ruben Gotay.

Jones, playing his second game after missing eight straight starts with a strained right quadriceps, hit his 17th homer off J.C. Romero in the eighth, cutting the Phillies' lead to 5-3.

The Phillies answered with two runs in the ninth. Jimmy Rollins' triple drove in Eric Bruntlett, and Chase Utley added a run-scoring single.

Evgeni Malkin re-signs with Penguins for 5 years Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:48 EDT
Evgeni Malkin is staying in Pittsburgh for quite some time. The Penguins signed the MVP finalist to a five-year extension worth $43.5 million on Wednesday, a deal that will keep him under contract until 2013-14. The 21-year-old forward still has one year left on his initial three-year, entry level contract.

His deal is equal to one signed last year by teammate Sidney Crosby that begins with the upcoming season.

"This is an important signing for our franchise and the city of Pittsburgh and we commend Evgeni on his commitment to the future of the franchise and the city," Penguins general manager Ray Shero said in a statement. "This signing continues to ensure the young core of this team can stay intact for years to come."

The Penguins also signed a six-year, $22.5 million contract with defenseman Brooks Orpik, considered by Shero to be a "mainstay." The deal averages $3.75 million per year, or less than Orpik was offered elsewhere.

Signing Malkin was key to the Penguins, who lost Marian Hossa to the Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings and forward Jarkko Ruutu to the Ottawa Senators earlier Wednesday. Without a new deal, Malkin could have become a free agent after next season. That led to speculation that Malkin could be dealt by the Penguins, though Shero said such talk was mere fantasy.

Source: Diop headed back to Dallas Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:43 EDT
The Dallas Mavericks had to give up DeSagana Diop to get Jason Kidd. Now, the 7-foot center is headed back to Dallas.

Diop agreed Wednesday to a $31 million, five-year contract with the Mavericks, according to a person close to the negotiations who requested anonymity because NBA rules prevent the deal from being signed until next week.

Dallas also has agreed to a one-year, minimum-salary contract with Gerald Green, a 22-year-old former slam dunk champion who had been unemployed since March. He passed a physical Wednesday and paperwork to make the deal official is being finalized. Since he wasn't on a team when last season ended, he can be signed at any time.

In other free agent news, Eddie Jones has exercised his $2 million option to return next season, when he'll be 37, and the Mavs are trying to keep their other free agents: Devean George, Antoine Wright and J.J. Barea.

Diop is a former lottery pick who was considered a bust after four lousy years in Cleveland. The Mavs signed him for the 2005-06 season and he wound up splitting the center job with Erick Dampier as Dallas reached the NBA finals. He and Dampier shared the job against the following season, when the Mavericks won a franchise-record 67 games.

Dallas Stars sign premier agitator Sean Avery Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:43 EDT
The Dallas Stars know all about Sean Avery - his history of mouthing off to teammates as well as foes, that he's a two-time NHL leader in penalty minutes whose agitating tricks included a "bush league" stunt in the playoffs that the league quickly banned.

The way Stars co-general manager Brett Hull sees it: What's there not to like?

Dallas signed the pesky forward to a $15.5 million, four-year deal Wednesday, a commitment that also pushes the Stars close enough to the salary cap that they probably won't chase more high-profile free agents.

"It's limitless what he can bring to us," Hull said. "His skill level is getting better and better, year by year. That, with his grit, his toughness, his ability to win, I just thought it was a no-brainer to have him in our lineup."

Avery has played for three teams in six seasons, yet whatever he does, and however he does it, seems to work. In 86 games with the New York Rangers over the last two seasons, the club was 50-20-16 with him in the lineup and 9-13-3 without him.

Giambi, A-Rod power Yanks to 18-7 win over Rangers Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:13 EDT
Jason Giambi and the New York Yankees had an emphatic response to Hank's latest edict.

Giambi hit a grand slam and drove in a season-best six runs, Alex Rodriguez added a three-run shot and New York pounded the Texas Rangers 18-7 Wednesday night to avoid a series sweep.

The Yankees had been struggling at the plate, scoring just seven runs and batting .172 in losing three of their last four games, prompting co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner to say things were "getting ridiculous."

"We've got to start hitting," Steinbrenner said earlier in the day in Tampa, Fla. "They've got to start waking up."

Consider them wide awake.

'Canes sign Melichar, give Pitkanen $12M contract Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:08 EDT
The Carolina Hurricanes found the physical defenseman they've been looking for, while also signing another addition to the team's blue line.

The Hurricanes signed former Pittsburgh defenseman Josef Melichar on Wednesday to a one-year contract worth $1 million. They also gave restricted free agent Joni Pitkanen a three-year deal worth $12 million a day after trading with Edmonton for the offensive-minded defenseman.

Melichar, 29, spent last season with Linkoping of the Swedish Elite League, finishing with 74 penalty minutes in 50 regular-season games and a team-leading 39 more minutes in the penalty box in 16 playoff games. General manager Jim Rutherford said Melichar is "a big, strong and experienced defensive defenseman who will be a shut-down player."

Melichar played in 310 games with Pittsburgh from 2000-07. The Penguins' third-round pick in 1997 had his best offensive season in 2005-06, when he had three goals and 12 assists.

Melichar's signing came on the second day of the NHL's free-agency period and 24 hours after the Hurricanes continued to retool their blue line by trading for Pitkanen in a deal that sent fan-favorite forward Erik Cole to the Oilers.

Hoff putting on Phelps-like performance at trials Wed, 02 Jul 2008 23:08 EDT
Wow, that kid from suburban Baltimore is something.

No, we're not talking about Michael Phelps.

Nineteen-year-old Katie Hoff stole the show at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials, winning two events about 45 minutes apart Wednesday night - and setting new American records in both.

Phelps reached the halfway point to setting his Beijing Games program, earning his third individual title of the trials in the 200-meter butterfly after also locking up a spot in at least one relay. The 23-year-old is on pace in his bid for eight wins in China to break Mark Spitz's 36-year-old record of seven golds.

And Hoff might be just as busy as her former teammate at the North Baltimore Aquatic Club.

Stars bring poker faces to Las Vegas for charity Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:28 EDT
Celebrities turned out Wednesday to donate to Darfur charities - and to show their fellow stars just who the real card sharks were.

"I'm looking forward to whipping a lot of celebrity rear end," talk show host Montel Williams said before beginning play in a charity Texas Hold 'em tournament at the World Series of Poker. "I tweaked my game, and my game is really solid."

Williams and 87 others, including such Hollywood heavy hitters as Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Alexander, George Lopez, Adam Sandler and Ray Romano, played in the no-limit tournament to raise money and have a good time.

Charles Barkley also played after a recent pledge to take a hiatus from gambling. The 45-year-old former NBA star, who was sued in May by the Wynn casino for failing to pay back gambling loans, said he would donate his winnings to charity and didn't plan to spend a lot of extra time in town.

The TNT commentator paid back his markers shortly after the casino filed a civil complaint. Barkley said he wasn't going to gamble for "the next year or two" on the air during the NBA playoffs.

Kuroda shines in Dodgers' 4-1 win over Astros Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:03 EDT
Hiroki Kuroda threw seven shutout innings after coming off the disabled list, and Jeff Kent had a pair of RBI doubles to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 4-0 win over the Houston Astros on Wednesday night.

Kuroda (4-6) allowed five hits with one strikeout, looking strong in his first start since going on the DL on June 18 with tendinitis in his right shoulder.

Andre Ethier hit a solo homer and Blake DeWitt scored on Luis Maza's squeeze bunt for the Dodgers, who've won five of their last six road games.

Carlos Lee homered in the ninth off Cory Wade for Houston's only run. Wade relieved Kuroda in the eighth and retired the other six batters he faced.

Kuroda allowed only a broken-bat single to David Newhan and a walk to Lance Berkman through the first four innings, throwing only 48 pitches.

Thrashers sign free-agent defenseman Hainsey Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:53 EDT
The Atlanta Thrashers signed free agent defenseman Ron Hainsey on Wednesday, adding size and youth to their blue line.

General manager Don Waddell said the 27-year-old Hainsey "is now entering the prime of his career."

"Ron is one of the best young defensemen in free agency and we're very happy to be adding a player of his caliber to our lineup," Waddell said.

"He moves the puck well, has good offensive capabilities and is a solid all-around defenseman who has taken significant strides with his game over the last few seasons."

Hainsey was a first-round pick by Montreal in 2000. He spent the last three years with Columbus and had eight goals - all on the power play - and 24 assists last season. Hainsey is expected to give the Thrashers' power play a boost. He ranked sixth among NHL defensemen in power plays.

Blue Jackets ink Huselius to 4-year deal Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:53 EDT
The Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Kristian Huselius to a four-year, $19-million contract.

The 29-year-old Huselius had 66 points, including 25 goals, in 81 games for the Calgary Flames last season. He had a career-high 77 points and 34 goals with the Flames the previous season.

Last-minute deal lets Sonics move to Oklahoma City Wed, 02 Jul 2008 22:53 EDT
Clay Bennett finally found a dollar amount that would sever his contentious relationship with the city of Seattle - $75 million.

As a result, the SuperSonics are headed to Oklahoma City with Bennett leading the way, leaving behind the team name, colors and 41 years of history.

Oklahoma City will have an NBA franchise for the 2008-09 season after a settlement announced Wednesday between the team and the city of Seattle, ending the clashing bond with the city that culminated in a six-day federal trial over terms of the team's KeyArena lease. The judge was scheduled to rule Wednesday afternoon.

"We made it," Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. "The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season."

The settlement calls for Bennett and his Professional Basketball Club LLC to pay as much as $75 million to the city in exchange for the immediate termination of the lease. The team's name and colors will be staying in Seattle.

Fontenot's homer in eighth lifts Cubs past Giants Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:38 EDT
Mike Fontenot hit a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs continued their offensive resurgence in a 6-5 win over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.

Jim Edmonds also homered for the Cubs, who have scored 16 runs in the first three games of this four-game series after being held to nine runs while getting swept by the Chicago White Sox over the weekend.

Carlos Marmol (2-3) picked up the win for Chicago despite giving up a tying three-run homer to Ray Durham in the seventh. Bob Howry pitched a perfect eighth and Kerry Wood worked the ninth for his 21st save.

Wood retired the first two he faced before Jose Castillo's pinch-hit triple put the tying run on. The closer then got Fred Lewis to strike out looking to end the game.

Fontenot homered off loser Tyler Walker (3-4), a solo shot into the seats above the 22-foot right-field wall. It was Fontenot's fifth home run of the season, and second in four games.

Rays nip Red Sox 7-6 for sweep, widen AL East lead Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:28 EDT
Evan Longoria went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Wednesday night, helping the surging Tampa Bay Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 for their second three-game sweep of the World Series champions this season.

The Rays improved the best record in baseball to 52-32, rallying from a three-run deficit in the seventh inning and extending their lead in the AL East to a franchise-best 3 1/2 games over the second-place Red Sox, who matched a season high with their fifth consecutive loss.

Tampa Bay is 6-0 at home against Boston, which has swept a pair of three-game series from the Rays at Fenway Park.

Longoria had a RBI single off Daisuke Matsuzaka in the first inning, and his two-run double off Craig Hansen (1-3) was the big blow in a six-run seventh and gave the rookie 15 RBIs in his last 10 games.

Jason Bartlett also had a two-run single in the seventh, making it 7-4 and setting off chants of "Sweep! Sweep! Sweep!" among the crowd of 36,048, the Rays' fourth sellout of the season and just the 12th in the club's 11 seasons.

Cairo's 3 RBIs lead Mariners past Blue Jays Thu, 03 Jul 2008 01:02 EDT
Miguel Cairo drove in three runs with two doubles to help the Seattle Mariners beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 on Wednesday night.

Cairo, making just his second start at second base, drove in the game's first run with a two-out double in the third inning.

Dustin McGowan (6-7) walked Ichiro Suzuki then Cairo doubled off the wall in center. Raul Ibanez followed with a run-scoring single to center that just eluded second baseman Marco Scutaro.

The Blue Jays tied the game on Adam Lind's two-run homer in the fifth.

Yuniesky Betancourt reached on a one-out single in the bottom of the inning. Suzuki followed with a single and Cairo then hit McGowan's first pitch into the gap in left-center as both runners scored easily.

Glaus hits winning homer in ninth for Cards Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:53 EDT
Troy Glaus' second homer of the game with two outs in the ninth won it for St. Louis, an inning after pinch-hitter Chris Duncan's two-run shot tied it in the Cardinals' 8-7 victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday night.

Glaus' fifth career game-winning homer came off rookie Carlos Muniz (0-1), a towering drive that barely cleared the left-field wall. Rick Ankiel hit his 17th homer in the fifth and flied out to the wall in center field before Glaus' at-bat.

Ryan Franklin (3-2) worked a perfect ninth for the Cardinals, who have won two of the first three games in the four-game set.

Glaus' three-run shot capped a four-run first against struggling Pedro Martinez. The multihomer game was Glaus' first since July 16, 2007, at New York against the Yankees, and the 26th of his career. It was Glaus' first game-winning homer since June 10, 2005, against the Royals, when he was with Blue Jays.

Duncan had been 0-for-12 as a pinch-hitter and 0-for-2 with strikeouts in both career at-bats against Pedro Feliciano before lining a first-pitch fastball well over the right-field wall to tie it at 7.

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