Story Archive for 02/07/2010
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Caps Down Pens
Published on February 07, 2010 at 11:21PM
WASHINGTON (AP)—Alex Ovechkin amassed a hat trick and Mike Knuble scored the game-winner in overtime as the Washington Capitals edged the Pittsburgh Penguins, 5-4 Sunday at Verizon Center in NHL action. Jordan Staal and Sidney Crosby each scored a pair of goals in the loss for the Penguins in this matchup of Eastern Conference powers. The win, which saw the Capitals overcome a 4-1 second period deficit, improved them to 41-12-6 on the season while Pittsburgh fell to 35-22-2 on the season. In other NHL action Sunday, Boston blanked Montreal, 3-0.
Lady Rebels Outlast LSU
Published on February 07, 2010 at 11:12PM
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)—Bianca Thomas had 29 points and the Mississippi Lady Rebels got past the #21 LSU Tigers, 102-101 in triple overtime Sunday in Top 25 womens’ college basketball action. Elizabeth Robertson added 25 points while making a career-high seven 3-pointers for Ole Miss while Kayla Melson chipped in with 20 points and 10 assists for the Lady Rebels. Allison Hightower had 31 points for the Lady Tigers before succumbing to cramps in the second overtime, while LaSondra Barrett chipped in with 23 more points for LSU. The win improved Mississippi to 15-8 on the season, while the Lady Tigers fell to 15-7. In other Top 25 action Sunday, #1 Connecticut embarrassed Louisville, 84-38, #2 Stanford crushed USC, 77-39, #7 Xavier humbled Richmond, 67-55, #9 Ohio State bested Penn State, 86-73, #12 Florida State decimated Wake Forest, 83-38, South Carolina upset #14 Georgia, 52-42, #18 Kentucky walloped Arkansas, 71-57, #19 Iowa State bludgeoned Missouri, 65-39, #23 Texas stormed past Texas Tech, 81-51 and #25 St. John’s pummeled Seton Hall, 66-45.
Orange Crush Bearcats
Published on February 07, 2010 at 11:08PM
CINCINNATI (AP)—Andy Rautins had 20 points and the #4 Syracuse Orange improved to 23-1 on the season with a 71-54 rout of the Cincinnati Bearcats Sunday at Fifth Third Arena in mens Top 25 college basketball action. The Orange shot 51 percent from the field on the afternoon and surrendered only 24 second half points en route to the easy victory. Ibrahima Thomas had 13 points in the loss for Cincinnati, which dropped them to 14-9. In other Top 25 action Sunday, #18 Ohio State bested Iowa, 68-58.
Raptors Gash Kings
Published on February 07, 2010 at 11:01PM
TORONTO (AP)—Chris Bosh amassed 36 points and 11 rebounds and Andrea Bargnani added 22 more as the surging Toronto Raptors gashed the Sacramento Kings, 115-104 Sunday at Air Canada Centre in NBA action. The win, which saw the Raptors outscore Sacramento, 31-17 in the 4th Quarter, was Toronto’s 13th in their last 14 home games, as they improved to 28-23 overall. Kevin Martin had 24 points and seven boards in the loss for the Kings, which dropped them to 16-34 on the season, while they’ve dropped their last six games. In other NBA action Sunday, Orlando overpowered Boston, 96-89.
Saints Make History; Win First NFL Title
Published on February 07, 2010 at 10:00PM
MIAMI (AP)—Again, this is a column, not your conventional article and I must honestly say the New Orleans Saints are worthy champions and showed why the NFL is my favorite sport far and away.
Yes, I do admit to having a crush on Ana Ivanovic, but if she isn’t competing in the finals of The French Open, Wimbledon, etc, I don’t want to watch tennis (at least on the womens’ side). As for the men, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal are great but they’re often the only ones.
I do love the NBA as my second-favorite sport and rejoice in my Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks and even Milwaukee Bucks playing well overall (the Mavs need to pull out of their funk quickly though) but the NBA is still inferior to the NFL. As for college football, three letters, B C S, tend to infuriate me excessively.
College basketball is great, but is a notch below the NBA and thus also below the NFL. In the NHL, playoff hockey is compelling but that won’t occur until April.
The NFL is the greatest simply because of games like this. Who would have thought the New Orleans Saints would upset the mighty Indianapolis Colts with Peyton Manning (the greatest quarterback this game has seen as I’ve mentioned previously) at the helm at the top of his game?
To quote ESPN’s lovable commentator, Chris Berman, that’s why they play the game.
Things started out well enough for Indianapolis as Manning (31 of 45, 333 yards, TD, INT) led two scoring drives that gave the Colts a 10-0 lead at the end of the 1st Quarter.
However, from there, the Saints managed to keep Manning off the field, even utilizing a risky onside kick as they kicked off to commence the second half.
Naturally, New Orleans head coach Sean Payton’s magnificent Saints recovered the kick and only percolated in momentum.
When I commented on the New Orleans Saints’ official fan blog, Canal Street Chronicles (www.canalstreetchronicles.com if you’d like to visit) that I believed Payton’s expertise gave New Orleans a definitive advantage in the coaching department, it was nice to see my belief verified.
Payton may look like actor Frankie Munz (of “Malcolm in the Middle” and “My Dog Skip,” fame) and always look like he’s eating Sour Patch Kids during Saints games, but the man can coach and on the football field that’s all that matters when it comes down to it.
As for the game’s MVP, Drew Brees (32 of 39, 288 yards, 2 TD’s), he utilized pinpoint accuracy and adroit leadership to lead the Saints to victory.
Brees is not only a magnificent quarterback who has won the hearts and minds of New Orleans denizens with his stellar play and majestic leadership on the field, off the field he has also done many wondrous things.
Perhaps some of you know that Brees visited the Beaver County Jail four years ago.
While there, he signed a football for the inmates and gave autographs to anyone who wanted them. Brees did not tell why he came but he went about his business, made people happy and then, like the gallant Don Quixote figure he is, went wherever the wind carried him doing good and working on becoming one of the best quarterbacks the NFL has seen in this generation.
It will take several more years for Brees to hold a candle to Manning’s overall greatness but if he continues on his path for the next several years, he definitely belongs in the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio upon his retirement.
Ultimately, I was just glad to have a Super Bowl where both teams were rife with good people. Thus, there is no expectation of disappointment once the game ends regardless of who emerges triumphant.
The NFL offseason commences now, but there’s still much to be done and hopefully my Denver Broncos are in this position next season.
After all, in the majestic National Football League, to quote Boston Celtics star Kevin Garnett: ANYTHING IS POSSIBLLLLLLLE!
Intercollegiate Track Roundup: 2/6
Published on February 07, 2010 at 12:59AM
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP)—Missouri’s Shannon Leinert placed first in the womens’ 800-meter dash to headline the strong showings of numerous athletes scattered throughout the Midwest Saturday at the Meyo Invitational at Notre Dame. Additionally, Lauren Bonds of Kansas won the womens’ mile run, while Alabama’s Kimberley Laing placed first in the 60-meter hurdles. As for the men, Kirani James of Alabama won the 400-meter dash and Ohio State’s Jeff See won the mile run. Michigan’s Sean Pruitt also fared well as he won the shot put.
POCATELLO, Idaho (AP)—Utah Valley’s Allah Larvea-Akrong placed first in the mens’ 60-meter dash to lead the way for athletes scattered throughout the Intermountain West Saturday at the Mountain States Games at Holt Arena. Additionally, Weber State’s Jonevan DiSimone won the mens’ 60-meter hurdles and his teammate Ally Dean won the womens’ 200-meter dash. Nate Carter also fared well for Weber State as he won the mens’ 400-meter dash.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. (AP)—Caitlin Lane of Penn State won the womens’ 800-meter dash on her home track to lead the way for numerous athletes throughout the East Saturday at the Sykes-Sabock Challenge. Additionally, her teammate Cheryl Spring placed first in the womens’ mile run and Auburn’s Krystal Bodie won the womens’ 60-meter hurdles. As for the men, Marcus Rowland of Auburn swept the 100 and 200-meter dash titles and David Aristil of South Florida placed first in the 60-meter hurdles.