Story Archive for 01/24/2010
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Mavs Pummel Knicks; Finish Eastern Swing With Winning Record
Published on January 24, 2010 at 10:06PM
NEW YORK (AP)—Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry each posted 20 points and Drew Gooden amassed 15 points and 18 rebounds as the Dallas Mavericks embarrassed the New York Knicks, 128-78 Sunday at Madison Square Garden in NBA action. The Mavs, coming off a disappointing loss at Philadelphia Friday, shot a scorching 58 percent from the field for the game en route to their 29th win of the season, while they finished their Eastern Conference road swing at 3-2, losing to Toronto and Philadelphia and beating Boston, Washington and New York. Jared Jeffries had 14 points in the loss for New York. In other NBA action Sunday, Toronto edged the Los Angeles Lakers, 106-105 and the Los Angeles Clippers pounded Washington, 92-78.
Saintsational Win In N'Awlins While Favre Gags
Published on January 24, 2010 at 09:33PM
NEW ORLEANS (AP)—This will not be a conventional article as those can get trite and boring from time to time. Rather, I will say it is nice to see Brett Favre choke while class acts in Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints and the erstwhile Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts will play for a championship in Super Bowl 44 (Roman numerals get too confusing) February 7 at Miami’s Landshark Stadium. The Saints, who notwithstanding great players in their past such as Manning’s father, Archie, Bobby Hebert, Rickey Jackson Eric Martin and Danny Abramowicz, are playing in their first Super Bowl since the franchise’s inception in 1967. This team, bolstered by solid players such as Brees, wideout Marques Colston, linebacker Jonathan Vilma and safety Darren Sharper, was the toast of the NFL for much of the regular season in racing out to a 13-0 start before losing their last three games. Meanwhile, Indianapolis just does what they do. With former Brigham Young star Austin Collie and dynamic Pierre Garcon filling in at receiver for the released Marvin Harrison and the injured Anthony Gonzalez, the Indianapolis offense has not missed a beat. This is because Manning further cements his status as the greatest quarterback this game has seen in this columnist’s opinion. I tip my hat to the New York Jets who gave the Colts all they had in a 30-17 loss in the AFC championship game and perhaps Mark Sanchez (17 of 30, 257 yards, 2 TD’s, INT) has the stuff of greatness in him. He sure had an excellent view of a true master as Manning (26 of 39, 377 yards, 3 TD’s) was on top of his game. Now, shifting back to the Vikings/Saints game, Brett Favre was at his worst at the most inopportune time. His statistics (28 of 46, 310 yards, TD, 2 INT’s, fumble) looked solid enough but his three turnovers, including an interception by Tracy Porter which eradicated any shot at a field goal that would have potentially won the game in regulation (New Orleans prevailed, 31-28 in overtime). As for Drew Brees (17 of 31, 197 yards, 3 TD’s) his performance wasn’t flashy but what it lacked in pizazz it more than made up for in substance. When the Saints won the coin toss in overtime, Brees calmly led New Orleans into position for Garrett Hartley’s 40-yard field goal, obviously the biggest kick the Oklahoma product and Keller, Texas native has ever made. Still, it’s important that you, the reader, understands, Favre’s precipitous fall. Despite a recent history of choking in the clutch (i.e, the 2008 NFC Championship Game when his Packers lost to the New York Giants) in big games, he is still lauded as perhaps the greatest the game has seen. Obviously, Favre cannot hold a candle to Manning in terms of character or excellence on the field. This is because Favre, in his best wishy-washy Charlie Brown attitude always stews over retirement, holding teams (such as the Packers) hostage as he mercurially debates whether he should come back or not. Of course, every year he comes back and every year he falls short of true greatness. Please don’t misunderstand, greatness and championships are different entities. Dan Marino, the only quarterback, who can be in the conversation with Manning at this point, never won a championship. Nevertheless, he always handled himself with dignity and when it was time to go, he knew it. (That’s the funny thing about losing a playoff game, 62-7 as Marino did in his finale). Never have true great quarterbacks, like my beloved John Elway, Joe Montana, Marino or even Troy Aikman or Jim Kelly held franchises and the media hostage in order to get themselves a few moments of publicity. Favre can say he loves the game all he wants but what he really loves is Brett Lorenzo Favre. He honestly believes he is bigger than the shield (a reference to the NFL logo) and thus it is refreshing to see him fail. This is an alien feeling to me. I despise the BCS primarily because it deprives everyone of an equal opportunity to compete in college football and while Favre should have every right to compete theoretically he has taken away opportunities from other quarterbacks who toil and sweat through minicamps and training camp throughout the offseason. Last August, Favre came to Vikings headquarters at Eden Prairie, Minn. when he wanted to with no respect for signal-callers Sage Rosenfels and Taravaris Jackson who had toiled throughout the summer in hopes of being Minnesota’s #1 quarterback. Vikings head coach, Brad Childress, made a pernicious pact with Beelzebub and allowed Favre to give him an impressive regular season and a scintillating 34-3 win over the Dallas Cowboys in last week’s NFC Divisional playoffs. Nevertheless, when they met a team with true heart and class, the Vikings were vanquished proving that good men and good teams win in the NFL regularly. If you ever wonder about the justice and equity of the world, look to this Super Bowl matchup between the Saints and Colts as irrefutable evidence that sometimes nice guys, in this case, Manning and Brees as well as their respective head coaches, Indianapolis’ Jim Caldwell and New Orleans’ Sean Payton come off conqueror. Keep on doing good and reading my columns, even lengthy ones such as this. May peace be with you this day and always!
Collegiate Track Roundup: 1/23
Published on January 24, 2010 at 12:28AM
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP)—Brigham Young’s Mindy McClurkin won the womens’ 200-meter dash to lead the way for numerous athletes scattered throughout the southwest Saturday at the Cherry & Silver Invitational at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Additionally, Arizona’s Margaret Callahan won the womens’ mile run, while Ashley Gibson of New Mexico won the womens’ 3000-meter dash. For the women, other wins came from Kimyon Broom of California in the 60-meter hurdles and Brigetta Barrett of Arizona in the high jump. As for the men, Arizona’s Abdi Hassan won the 800-meter dash and Rory Fraser of New Mexico placed first in the mile run.
PULLMAN, Wash. (AP)—Princess Joy Griffey, Cindy Robinson and Shawna Fermin placed first in the womens’ 60, 200 and 400-meter dashes respectively for the Washington State Lady Cougars at the Cougar Invitational Saturday. Additionally, Montana’s Kara DeWalt won the womens’ 3000-meter dash and Ashlee Cannon of Utah State placed first in the womens’ 60-meter hurdles. As for the men, Washington State athletes, Marlon Murray, Wesley McCann, and Reny Follett placed first in the 60, 200 and 400-meter dashes while Utah State’s Brian McKenna was first in the 3,000-meter dash. Meanwhile, Washington State’s Trent Arrivy automatically qualified for the NCAA championships with a mark of 7-04.25 in the pole vault.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP)—Oklahoma’s Scottesha Miller won the womens’ 60-meter dash to lead the way at the Razorback Invitational Saturday. Other wins came from Baylor’s Tiffany Townsend in the womens’ 200-meter dash and Cali George of Arkansas placed first in the womens’ 3000-meter dash. As for the men, Ray Jadusingh of Alabama took the 60-meter dash title and Mississippi’s Lee Moore placed first in the 800-meter dash. Additionally, Sean Tabor of Texas Christian won the mens’ shot put and his teammate, Festus Kigen won the 3,000-meter dash crown.
NAMPA, Idaho (AP)—Utah Valley’s Chelsea Baker swept the 200 and 400-meter dash titles and her teammate Amanda Morse placed first in the womens’ 60-meter dash Saturday at the Boise State Dual Meets. Additionally, Idaho State’s Erica Richardson swept the womens’ mile run and 3,000-meter dash events while Rosina Amenebede took the womens’ long jump title. As for the men, Utah Valley’s Allah Laryea-Akrong took the 60 and 200-meter dash crowns and former Panguitch High star Trac Norris placed first in the 800-meter and mile run events. The Wolverines were also represented well by Andrew Graham in the 60-meter dash and Kenny Millard in the high jump.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP)—Colorado’s Sydney Davis placed first in the womens’ 200-meter dash to lead the way for numerous athletes scattered throughout the Intermountain West Saturday at the Potts Invitational. Shalaya Kipp also represented the Lady Buffs well by placing first in the mile run while her teammate Kathleen Majewski won the high jump. As for the men, Chad Liscar of Air Force won the 200-meter dash and Nigel Joseph won the 400-meter dash for Colorado State while Colorado’s Matthew Biegner placed first in the mile run.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP)—Wichita State’s Audacia Moore placed first in the womens’ 60 and 200-meter dashes to lead the way for athletes scattered throughout the Midwest Saturday at the Husker Invitational. Meanwhile, Missouri’s Leslie Farmer placed first in the womens’ 600-yard dash and her teammate Shannon Leinert won the 800-meter dash. As for the men, Nebraska’s Dax Danns won the 60 and 200-meter dashes, while Kansas State’s Ben Love placed first in the 400-meter dash. Both Nebraska’s men and women placed first overall on their home track.
Canucks Bury Blackhawks
Published on January 24, 2010 at 12:10AM
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Canada (AP)—Henrik Sedin posted two goals and Daniel Sedin, Mikael Samuelsson and Steve Bernier also scored as the Vancouver Canucks shellacked the Chicago Blackhawks, 5-1 Saturday at General Motors Place in NHL action. The Canucks raced out to a 3-0 lead after the first period and Roberto Luongo bolstered Vancouver with 43 saves. Jonathan Toews scored the sole goal in defeat for Chicago. The win improved the Canucks to 31-18-2 on the season while the Blackhawks fell to 35-13-4. In other NHL action Saturday, Ottawa doubled up Boston, 2-1, Philadelphia gashed Carolina, 4-2, Los Angeles tripped up Detroit, 3-2, Montreal smacked the New York Rangers, 6-0, New Jersey stymied the New York Islanders, 4-2, Washington humbled Phoenix, 4-2, Florida blanked Toronto, 2-0, Tampa Bay downed Atlanta, 2-1 in a shootout, Anaheim snuck past St. Louis, 4-3 in a shootout, Minnesota clipped Columbus, 4-2 and San Jose sunk Buffalo, 5-2.