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2009-02-05T17:53:00.000-08:00

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Patriots can miss playoffs with 11-5 record

2008-12-17T07:31:00.001-08:00

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—The New England Patriots need just two more wins to finish at an impressive 11-5 without Tom Brady—and possibly miss the playoffs.

Denver and Arizona could wind up at 8-8 and get in.

That’s the same Denver team the Patriots routed 41-7 in the seventh week of the season and the same Arizona team that has clinched the NFC West, but is an 8-point underdog to the Patriots in Foxborough on Sunday.

Nearly perfect last season, all the team of the decade can do is play its last two regular-season games and hope the outcomes of others help them reach the postseason for the sixth straight year—and give them another chance for their fourth title in eight years after finishing 18-1 with a Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

If Patriots coach Bill Belichick thinks it’s unfair for a team with three fewer wins to reach the playoffs while his team becomes the first 11-5 club to miss the postseason in 23 years, he’s not saying.

“I’m not even thinking about it. I’m not sure exactly what all the scenarios are. It doesn’t make any difference,” he said Monday. “There’s a million things that can happen and the only thing we can control is how we prepare and play against Arizona.”

His players are taking the same approach: win two games then see where they end up.

“I love the challenge,” safety Brandon Meriweather said. “I’m more excited than anything just to see how it’s all going to play out and see how well the team is going to play in the last couple games.”

The Patriots could dominate them the way they dominated Oakland in a 49-26 win Sunday and still be on the sidelines, as so many of their injured players are, when the playoffs begin. Of course, they also could finish at 9-7, while the Broncos and Cardinals can win their divisions at 10-6.

But the Patriots also will be favored in their last regular-season game, at Buffalo.

The Bills have lost seven of their last eight games and are winless in the AFC East. The other three teams in the division—New England, Miami and New York—are all 9-5, but the Dolphins and Jets would have the tiebreaker edge over the Patriots if all three finish with the same record.

The Patriots also need help in the wild-card race.

Indianapolis leads it at 10-4, faces a weak Jacksonville team on Thursday and would win a tiebreaker because it beat New England. Baltimore is currently second at 9-5 and also would win a tiebreaker over the Patriots with a better conference record if both are 11-5. But if the Ravens lose to Dallas or Jacksonville, the Patriots would edge them with two wins.

On Sunday, Meriweather will be focusing on Kurt Warner and the Cardinals’ strong passing attack, not on the scoreboard to see how other teams are doing.

“That’s something I would never do,” he said. “I’d rather take care of my own business and perform and make it on my own, so I’m really not concerning myself with other people just because that will stress you out and I’m trying not to be stressed at all.”

The only time in 30 years of the 16-game schedule when an 11-5 team missed the playoffs was in 1985, when Denver fell short. That also was the only year an 8-8 team, Cleveland, won its division.

That was the same season when the Patriots reached the Super Bowl for the first time, losing 46-10 to Chicago. New England won its first championship in the 2001 season, when it won the AFC East with an 11-5 record.

But that team wasn’t battered by injuries like this year’s club. Brady was lost for the season in the opener and safety Rodney Harrison, linebacker Adalius Thomas and running back Laurence Maroney are on injured reserve. Also sidelined are linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Pierre Woods, safety James Sanders and left tackle Matt Light, who left with a shoulder injury in the second quarter Sunday.

That has brought the healthy players closer.

“Everybody has to lean on each other because we knew once Tom, Hot Rod’s (Harrison) and all the other injuries happened, that everybody else was going to be against us and we had to pull together and carry each other,” Meriweather said.

Belichick said Monday he had no information that Light would miss the rest of the season, but that could change. Even without Light for the entire second half, the Patriots rushed for 277 yards Sunday and Matt Cassel was sacked just twice. Cassel threw for a career-high four touchdowns just six days after his father, Greg, died at age 57 in California.

Cassel stayed on the West Coast for Tuesday’s funeral and will return to prepare for Arizona.

The Cardinals began the weekend with the No. 2 passing attack in the NFL, but lost 35-14 to Minnesota as Warner threw just one scoring pass. But wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald will go against a porous Patriots secondary..

“As we all know (they’re a) very high-scoring, quick-strike offensive football team,” Belichick said. “Some pretty dynamic receivers. So we’ve got a lot of work to do there.

“We’re down to a two-game season.” With a chance to play more, or not, if they win both.

D'Antoni still coach of Suns, for now

2008-05-01T10:37:00.000-07:00

D’Antoni still coach of Suns, for now

East Valley Tribune

"For now, Mike D’Antoni remains the head coach of the Phoenix Suns. He says he wants to stay. General manager Steve Kerr says he wants D’Antoni to stay. But after an average of 58 wins a season but no trips beyond the Western Conference finals and in the wake of a frustrating first-round loss to San Antonio this season will D’Antoni return for a fifth season? Stay tuned. Kerr said a final resolution will come over the next few days when the two, supposedly with owner Robert Sarver also in the mix, get together to talk about the future of both D’Antoni and the franchise."

Bryant scores 20,000th career point

2007-12-23T11:50:00.000-08:00

Bryant scores 20,000th career point

December 23, 2007 NEW YORK (TICKER) -- Kobe Bryant scored his 20,000th career point Sunday, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach the milestone.

Bryant achieved the feat when he drilled a 3-pointer with 11:08 remaining in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers' matinee contest with the New York Knicks.

At 29 years, 122 days old, Bryant joined Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan as the only players in league history to score 20,000 points before the age of 30.

Yankee Stadium's final game

2007-12-18T12:30:00.000-08:00

Yankee Stadium's final game

The House That Ruth Built, which opened in 1923, will host its final game in 2008

The final regular-season game at Yankee Stadium will be Sept. 21 against Baltimore, and New York is raising prices for its best box seats by $100 to $250.

The Yankees released their 2008 schedule and ticket prices on Monday for the last season in
The House That Ruth Built, which opened in 1923.

The team plans to move in 2009 into a new ballpark being built across the street in the Bronx.

Buy Yankee Tickets

Report connects big names to performance-enhancing drugs

2007-12-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

Barry Bonds has company – lots and lots of drug-tarnished company.

Major League Baseball players with links to performance-enhancing substances named in the Mitchell report.

NEW NAMES
Chad Allen Mike Bell Gary Bennett Larry Bigbie Kevin Brown Alex Cabrera Mark Carreon Jason Christiansen Howie Clark Roger Clemens Jack Cust Brendan Donnelly Chris Donnels Matt Franco Eric Gagne Matt Herges Phil Hiatt Glenallen Hill Todd Hundley Mike Judd David Justice Chuck Knoblauch Tim Laker Mike Lansing Paul Lo Duca Nook Logan Josias Manzanillo Cody McKay Kent Mercker Bart Miadich Hal Morris Daniel Naulty Denny Neagle Jim Parque Luis Perez Andy Pettitte Adam Piatt Todd Pratt Stephen Randolph Adam Riggs Armando Rios Brian Roberts F.P. Santangelo Mike Stanton Ricky Stone Miguel Tejada Ismael Valdez Mo Vaughn Ron Villone Fernando Vina Rondell White Jeff Williams Todd Williams Steve Woodard Kevin Young Gregg Zaun

PREVIOUSLY LINKED
Manny Alexander Rick Ankiel David Bell Marvin Benard Barry Bonds Ricky Bones Paul Byrd Ken CaminitiJose Canseco Paxton Crawford Lenny Dykstra Bobby Estalella Ryan Franklin Jason Giambi Jeremy Giambi Jay Gibbons Troy Glaus Juan Gonzalez Jason Grimsley Jose Guillen Jerry Hairston Jr. Darren Holmes Ryan Jorgensen Wally Joyner Gary Matthews Jr. Rafael Palmeiro John Rocker Benito Santiago Scott Schoeneweis David Segui Gary Sheffield Derrick TurnbowRandy Velarde Matt Williams

Question: What should the punishment be for these guys?

The Sports Billionaires

2007-12-06T14:01:00.000-08:00

By Klaus Kneale, Forbes.com December 4, 2007

Owning a sports team can be a frustrating proposition. Expensive players get in trouble off the field. Coaches' egos need constant soothing. And fans are fleeting – especially if their team loses as ticket prices rise.

But for some billionaires, the allure of the victory – and the chance their team will soar in value – makes all the player misbehavior, years of rebuilding and negative press worth it.

Take Robert Kraft, the owner of the National Football League's darling New England Patriots. When Kraft bought the team in 1994 for a then-record $172 million, the team was a faltering money-loser, winning less than half its games since 1959, the year it started. Kraft transformed them into one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, these days worth $1.2 billion.

On the arm of star quarterback Tom Brady, the Pats won three Super Bowls and have the best record in the league this season. The success of the team made Kraft a billionaire. The majority of his $1.4 billion fortune is wrapped up in the Patriots; the remainder comes from real estate and other investments, as well as the New England Revolution Major League Soccer team.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones struck it rich in natural gas in the 1970s. He bought the then-junky Cowboys for $158 million in 1989. Led by quarterback Troy Aikman and running back Emmitt Smith, the team won three Super Bowls in the 1990s. Today they're worth $1.5 billion before debt and sit atop the National Football Conference East, led by star quarterback Tony Romo.

Nearly all of Jones' $1.5 billion net worth is derived from the Cowboys; he recently sold $300 million worth of his personal real estate to help pay for the current construction of a new $1 billion Cowboys Stadium.

Vanity investors dominate Europe, buying soccer teams to own soccer teams, but making their fortunes elsewhere. Iceland's Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson made his $1.2 billion fortune in shipping, banking, real estate and beer brewing before buying soccer's West Ham United last November. Silvio Berlusconi, Italy's richest man, built his $11.8 billion fortune through media investment; he became president of soccer's legendary squad A.C. Milan in 1986.

But the king of them all has to be Roman Abramovich, the 41-year-old Russian oil guru who spent a tiny fraction of his $18.7 billion net worth to scoop up debt-heavy U.K. soccer giant Chelsea in 2003. Once reviled for his moves, he grew on fans after immediately spending more than $170 million on new players. The squad's 2004-2005 season is considered its most successful season ever, and the team's value is up 58 percent since Abramovich bought the team – despite not winning a championship or building a new stadium.

And some owners were once players. Detroit Tigers owner Michael Ilitch left his dreams of playing pro baseball behind after an injury forced him to hang up his cleats in the minor leagues. He spent decades building his Little Caesar's Pizza into one of the largest chains in America, using the proceeds to buy up his hometown teams. Ilitch bought hockey's Detroit Red Wings in 1982 for $8 million, today worth $293 million. He bought the Tigers for $82 million 10 years later; they're now worth more than $350 million.

Winning isn't always everything. Ask Charles Dolan, owner of the NBA's New York Knicks. Last year, Dolan, who owns the Knicks through cable giant, paid his players a league-high $118 million; they put up the second-worst record in the league. No problem: The team is worth $592 million, the highest in the NBA.

Steelers vs. Patriots: Tomlin says this isn't Appalachian State vs. Michigan

2007-12-05T12:35:00.000-08:00

By ALAN ROBINSON, AP Sports WriterDecember 4, 2007

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- This game has been on the Pittsburgh Steelers' minds for weeks and, finally, they can talk about it.

The Steelers (9-3) are convinced they can ruin New England's perfect season, and they were secretly rooting for the Patriots (12-0) to stay unbeaten so they would have the chance to do exactly that Sunday in Foxborough.

They know something about stopping New England streaks, too, having halted a record Patriots run only three years ago and, with it, the possibility of an undefeated season.

Pittsburgh almost didn't get this chance to keep New England out of the record book, as the Patriots were forced to stage a desperation rally to beat Baltimore 27-24 on Monday night. The week before, the Patriots trailed in the fourth quarter of a 31-28 win over Philadelphia.

Now, the Steelers could be the best team standing in the way of the Patriots and the NFL's first 16-0 regular season. After Pittsburgh, the Patriots play the Jets (3-9), the Dolphins (0-12) and the New York Giants (8-4).

"Obviously you think about it, because everybody talks about them because they are undefeated," quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said. "Everything that has to do with news and sports is the New England Patriots, and deservedly so. They're a great football team offensively and defensively."

The Patriots could be at a disadvantage because they will have a short week of preparation for the Steelers, who own the AFC's third-best record and are in contention for a wild-card playoff bye. Still, that same scenario didn't hurt the Steelers last week as they beat Miami 3-0 on Monday and the Bengals 24-10 on Sunday.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin willingly heaped plenty of praise on the Patriots during his weekly news conference Tuesday but, by the end, seemed to be wearying of all the how-great-are-the-Patriots questions.

"This isn't Appalachian State against Michigan," he said.

Even if some of the Patriots' scores -- 52-7, 56-10, 38-14 -- resemble an early season college mismatch. The Patriots have, by far, the league's top offense, leading in scoring average (39.1), yards per game (425.3) and passing yardage (304).

The Steelers counter with the league's best overall defense (230.8 yards), No. 1 passing defense (154 yards) and the No. 2 rushing defense (76.8).

"We'd better get ready -- we know how explosive they are," linebacker Larry Foote said. "But we're confident with our own swagger. If we play our game, we can beat anybody."

Offensive tackle Max Starks said "some teams might be star-struck by them," but the Steelers won't be.

"Some defenses might be, 'Oh my gosh, I'm going against Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Donte Stallworth. Tom Brady is the quarterback.' Some people might get enamored with that," Starks said. "But I definitely don't see that in our defense."

The Steelers have this going for them, too: Only three seasons ago, they stopped a couple of long Patriots streaks, as well as New England's chance for an undefeated season.

Pittsburgh's 34-20 win at Heinz Field on Oct. 31, 2004, ended New England's record 18-game season winning streak and a 21-game overall winning streak. It also was the Patriots' first loss that season after a 6-0 start; the Patriots would finish 14-2 during the season and win the Super Bowl.

Turnovers led to that Halloween loss in Pittsburgh, with Brady throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble and Roethlisberger, still unbeaten as an NFL starter at the time, converting four Patriots mistakes into scores.

Still, Tomlin said nothing in the past means anything in this game and that Pittsburgh will prepare for New England like it does for any other opponent.

"We're going to play our game," he said. "We don't let people dictate how we play defense. but we got to play our game and play it well."

Brady defends Moss after comment by Jaworski

2007-12-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

Brady defends Moss after comment by Jaworski

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady came to the defense of receiver Randy Moss Friday afternoon. Brady was asked to respond to remarks made by ESPN "Monday Night Football" analyst Ron Jaworski that Moss took plays off last Sunday against the Eagles according to Boston.com.

"I have never, ever felt he has taken plays off. Are you kidding me? There is nothing there about Randy's game that I'm not 100 percent positive on," Brady said at his Gillette Stadium locker.

Source: Boston.com

Adrian Peterson sets rushing record

2007-11-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

by Dave Campbell, Associated Press November 5, 2007

Minneapolis — (AP) Right after Adrian Peterson finished another feat, the talk turned to two more.

Peterson rushed for an NFL-record 296 yards for Minnesota in Sunday's game, putting him well on pace to break Eric Dickerson's rookie record for the season - and within range of Dickerson's all-time mark for yards rushing in one year.

"I set my bar high, because I know anything is possible when you continue to work hard," Peterson said.

The hits just keep on coming for Peterson, who carried the Vikings to a 35-17 victory over the San Diego Chargers. His career? Yeah, it's only eight games old.

"Every time he touches the ball, my jaw drops," teammate Darren Sharper said.

Coach Brad Childress and running backs coach Eric Bieniemy looked at each other during practice last week and had a feeling Peterson was on the verge of a big game. It was subtle progress, figuring out how to poke his head inside the hole to lure the linebacker in before taking off on a run around the end, but that's part of playing this difficult position.

"He's going to hit home runs, but he's understanding the patience part of it as well," Childress said.

Peterson, who scored on touchdown runs of 1, 64, and 46 yards, became the first rookie to top 200 yards twice in the same year. He bested the 295 yards Jamal Lewis gained for Baltimore in 2003 against Cleveland. He led Minnesota to a franchise-record 378 yards rushing, too.
Plus, with 1,036 yards at the midpoint of the season, he's gaining fast on Dickerson's rookie record of 1,808 set in 1983. Dickerson rushed for 2,105 yards the next year, which is the most in NFL history.

Childress was asked if he thought he had the best back in the league.

"Yeah, you can't feel any other way right now," the coach said.

For all that he's done for the Vikings, his actual impact on their success is not yet clear.
At 3-5, they're merely on pace to finish with the same record they had last year. With the lingering uncertainty at quarterback and the improbability that Peterson will repeat this, no matter how good he gets, there's no guarantee this team can climb into playoff contention in the second half of the season.

Peterson scored two of his three touchdowns and gained 253 yards in the second half, helping the Vikings rally from a 14-7 hole. They trailed at the half after Antonio Cromartie plucked a missed field goal out of the air and returned it 109 yards for a touchdown, the longest play in NFL history.

In any other game, Cromartie's feat would have been big news. Instead, San Diego (4-4) saw a three-game winning streak end with a substandard all-around performance.

Minnesota pressured Philip Rivers into one of the worst games of his career and made sure LaDainian Tomlinson didn't come close to matching Peterson's performance. The Vikings came into the weekend with more yards passing allowed than any other NFL team, but Rivers went just 6-for-17 for 59 yards in the first half and finished 19-for-42 for 197 yards, one interception and one lost fumble.

"It's not defense or offense. It's all of us," Rivers said. "Obviously we were given plenty of opportunities, but we didn't do enough."

Tomlinson rushed 16 times for 40 yards and one touchdown. He sought out Peterson to congratulate him on the field after the game, perhaps a torch-passing of sorts from the reigning NFL MVP to a rookie who's playing like one.

"I was just sitting over there on the sidelines, and to have over 200 yards in the second half, that's impressive," Tomlinson said. "I've never seen anything like it."

The Chargers knocked Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson out of the game with a concussion late in the second quarter. Brooks Bollinger relieved, and he threw a 40-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Sidney Rice in the third quarter that put the Vikings in front 21-14.

That score was set up by seven straight running plays.

"That's how I like to play football," Childress said.

Who is your pick to win the Heisman Trophy?

2007-10-24T13:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the frontrunners:

Tim Tebow - QB, Florida He threw a career-high four touchdown passes in a crucial 45-37 SEC Eastern Division victory over Kentucky. Perhaps the nation’s premier dual threat, he completed 18 of 26 passes for 256 yards and rushed for 78 yards and another touchdown.

Andre' Woodson - QB, Kentucky The top two might have been reversed had the Wildcats won. Woodson was excellent again in throwing for a season-best 415 yards and five touchdowns against Florida. He’s thrown eight touchdown passes in the last two weeks – against Florida and LSU.

Mike Hart - RB, Michigan Although an ankle injury prevented Hart from playing against Illinois, penalizing him for being injured wouldn’t be right - especially when he averages 154 yards per game. Still, he needs to get back on the field ASAP. The race is close, and he can’t enhance his chances on the sideline.

Dennis Dixon - QB, Oregon Dixon wasn’t great in a lopsided victory over Washington, but he didn’t have to be. He passed for a touchdown and rushed for another.

Matt Ryan - QB, Boston College He sat out an open week, but on Thursday faces Virginia Tech, which has the best defense he’ll see this season.

Tell us your pick!

Super Bowl Ticket Contest - Win Free Tickets To The Super Bowl!

2007-10-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

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Who is the next World Series Champion?

2007-10-02T05:19:00.000-07:00

Playoffs begin tonight. Give us your pick

Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Chicago Cubs - NLDS Home Game 1

New York Yankees vs. Cleveland Indians - ALDS Home Game 1

Philadelphia Phillies vs. Colorado Rockies - NLDS Home Game 1

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Boston Red Sox - ALDS Home Game 1

TickCo

2007-09-28T11:34:00.000-07:00

At TickCo you will find all your favorite sports tickets including NASCAR tickets, MLB, NFL and NBA tickets.

NHRA driver Ashley Force named 'hottest athlete'

2007-09-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

NHRA driver Ashley Force named 'hottest athlete'

Ashley Force has been named the winner of the first annual “Hottest Athlete” poll on AOL Sports.

NHRA driver Ashley Force poses during a promotional shoot for A&E's "Driving Force" in this photo released in January.

The Web site’s users voted on the best-looking men and women in sports over several weeks and National Hot Rod Association star Force beat out football hunk Tom Brady, as well as fellow motorsports competitor Danica Patrick for the honor.

Force, the daughter of longtime NHRA star John Force, spent two seasons in the entry-level Super Comp class and three more in the Top Alcohol Dragster class before becoming the 10th woman in NHRA history to earn a license to compete in the Funny Car division.

“While competing in Top Alcohol, she won five NHRA national events including the biggest event in the sport, the 2004 U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis. Force and her father made racing history in April when they became the first father and daughter to race against each other.

Ashley won the race and advanced to the semifinals, where she tied for the highest ever Funny Car event finish for a female.

Vote On The Fate of Barry Bond's 756 Home Run Ball

2007-09-20T10:33:00.000-07:00

Fashion designer Marc Ecko revealed himself as the winning bidder in the online auction for the ball that Bonds hit last month to break Hank Aaron's record of 755 home runs. The final selling price for No. 756 was $752,467, well above most predictions.

Ecko had not even taken possession of the ball before setting up a website that lets visitors vote on which of the three outcomes they think the ball most deserves. He plans to announce the final tally after voting ends Sept. 25. (http://www.vote756.com/marcecko/)

O.J. Simpson returns to Florida, and center of media storm, after judge sets bail at $125,000

2007-09-20T10:28:00.000-07:00

By MICHELLE SPITZER, Associated Press WriterSeptember 20, 2007

MIAMI (AP) -- O.J. Simpson slipped back into familiar territory early Thursday -- not just the humidity of South Florida, but into the center of a media cavalcade fixated on a robbery case that could imprison him for life.

In the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport, he refused to answer reporters' questions about the case, though girlfriend Christine Prody answered a question about how Simpson was doing with: "He's fine."

The former football star left in an SUV, tailed by a pack of cameras and reporters. Hours later, he still hadn't returned to his suburban Miami home, where reporters and a television helicopter disturbed the quiet in the normally tranquil neighborhood.

Police allege the Heisman Trophy winner led an armed holdup of sports memorabilia collectors. Simpson has insisted he was merely retrieving items that had been stolen from him.

Legal experts say the prosecution's case could be clouded by issues including who had rightful ownership of the goods and the reputation of witnesses in the sometimes less-than-reputable world of memorabilia trading.

At his arraignment Thursday, Simpson furrowed his brow as the judge read the list of charges against him. Gone was the slight smirk he flashed when arrested.

He answered quietly in a hoarse voice and nodded as the judge laid out restrictions for his release, including surrendering his passport to his attorney and having no contact with co-defendants or potential witnesses.

Simpson did not enter a plea. His attorney, Yale Galanter, said after the hearing that the $125,000 bond was reasonable.

As Simpson flew home to the Miami area, US Airways emptied a plane so he could board first with Galanter and Prody.

Simpson sat in an aisle seat in economy class. Passengers who boarded behind him took pictures with cell phones and cameras. He nodded and smiled as they passed.

With his attorney across the aisle and his girlfriend against his shoulder, Simpson slept from Las Vegas to South Florida. When the plane touched down, he hugged Galanter.

Simpson had still not returned to his suburban Miami home by 2 a.m, hours after authorities arrested a fifth suspect in the case.

Simpson was arrested Sunday after a collector reported a group of armed men charged into a hotel room at the Palace Station casino and took several items. He spent three nights in jail after being charged with kidnapping, robbery with use of a deadly weapon, burglary while in possession of a deadly weapon, coercion with use of a deadly weapon, assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, conspiracy to commit robbery and conspiracy to commit a crime.

Four other men have been arrested on many of the same charges, and police were still looking for another suspect.

Charles Howard Cashmore, 40, surrendered to police Wednesday and was scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning. Cashmore brought in items that are believed to have been taken, police said without elaborating.

Authorities allege that the men went to the room Sept. 13 on the pretext of brokering a deal with two longtime collectors, Alfred Beardsley and Bruce Fromong. The meeting was set up by memorabilia dealer Tom Riccio.

According to police reports, the collectors were ordered at gunpoint to hand over several items valued at as much as $100,000, including football game balls signed by Simpson, Joe Montana lithographs, baseballs autographed by Pete Rose and Duke Snider and framed awards and plaques.

Beardsley told police he had expected that the collection would earn $35,000 at the meeting from a "client" he had never met. Instead, he said, one of the men with Simpson brandished a pistol, frisked him and impersonated a police officer, and another man pointed a gun at Fromong.

Authorities said Beardsley, of Burbank, Calif., was paroled in March 2006 after serving 11 months of a two-year sentence for stalking a woman in Riverside County.

He was arrested at his room at the Luxor hotel Wednesday for violating parole. A California corrections spokesman said Beardsley was required to get written approval before traveling more than 50 miles from home or leaving home for more than 24 hours.

Beardsley was held without bail pending an extradition hearing Thursday.
Riccio also has a criminal record, including grand larceny in Florida in 1984, when he received three years of probation; and felony arson in 1995, in California, for which he was sentenced to two years.

Riccio, who recorded an audiotape of the confrontation later released by the celebrity Web site TMZ, said he was not concerned with how his past might affect his credibility "because everything's on tape. That's why it's on tape."

But Beardsley told NBC's "Today" show before Simpson's hearing that he didn't think the audiotape was accurate.

Riccio also said he had been promised some form of immunity by prosecutors.

Two other defendants, Walter Alexander, 46, and Clarence Stewart, 53, were arrested and released pending court appearances. Stewart turned in some of the missing goods and Alexander agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, authorities said. Suspect Michael McClinton, 49, of Las Vegas, surrendered to police Tuesday. Jailers were unable to say whether Cashmore or McClinton had retained a lawyer.

Police have not identified the remaining suspect they are seeking.

Associated Press writers Ryan Nakashima, Ken Ritter, Kathleen Hennessey and Chelsea J. Carter in Las Vegas, and APTN videographer Richard Matthews in Miami contributed to this report.

Shaquille O'Neal wants divorce

2007-09-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

MIAMI (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal has filed to divorce his wife after nearly five years of marriage, his attorney said Tuesday night.

Attorney Ira Elegant said the petition was filed on behalf of the Miami Heat center in Miami-Dade Circuit Court on Tuesday. It was not immediately clear who is representing Shaunie O'Neal in the case.

The Heat did not have an immediate comment, and Shaquille O'Neal did not respond to a request for comment made through the team.

According to the filing, which was first reported by The Miami Herald on its Web site Tuesday night, Shaquille O'Neal is asking Shaunie O'Neal to provide a "correct accounting of all money, funds, stocks, bonds, and other securities" that she had access to or obtained during the marriage.

They are the parents of six children; Shaquille and Shaunie O'Neal had four together, and each had one other before their Dec. 26, 2002, wedding.

Shaquille O'Neal makes $20 million annually in his contract with the Heat, plus endorsement deals that are estimated to be worth several million more each year. The couple has also listed their home on Miami Beach's posh Star Island for about $32 million, or roughly $13 million more than they paid for it after O'Neal was traded to the Heat by the Los Angeles Lakers before the 2004-05 season.

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2007-08-21T09:22:00.000-07:00

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2007-08-20T07:23:00.000-07:00

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Rivals.com 2007 Preseason Top 25

2007-08-17T10:30:00.000-07:00

1. Southern California 11-2
John David Booty bided his time in Los Angeles and made the most of it when he finally got his shot to quarterback the Trojans. He completed 242 of 391 passes for 2,956 yards and 25 touchdowns with nine interceptions, establishing himself as a major Heisman threat in 2007. The receiver position will be somewhat depleted, but there is plenty of talent in the wings. The defense, though, could carry the Trojans. It has scary potential, with probably the best secondary in the nation behind a top-notch front seven. USC ranked in the top 10 nationally in run defense, 11th in scoring defense and 20th in total defense. The unit loses only one senior, linebacker Dallas Sartz. Pete Carroll has it rolling, and no one else in the Pac-10 is even close.
2. Michigan 11-2
A superb effort in the regular season has been lost for many in Ann Arbor amidst the lopsided loss to USC in the Rose Bowl. The Wolverines should bounce back though, because of the best collection of returning skill players in the country. Running back Mike Hart (1,562 yards; at least 91 yards in every regular season game) was a Rivals.com first-team All-American. Quarterback Chad Henne (2,508 passing yards, 22 TDs, eight interceptions) and wide receiver Mario Manningham (20 yards per catch, nine TDs in just seven starts) were on our third team. The defense loses six senior starters, including All-Americans LaMarr Woodley and Leon Hall. Defensive coordinator Ron English will have his hands full to duplicate the success of 2006.
3. LSU 11-2
One of the most oft-heard utterances of the 2006 season was: LSU has as much, if not more, talent than any team in the country. Some people refused to believe it, but the realization may have sunk in a little when the Tigers destroyed Notre Dame in the Sugar Bowl. There is an abundance of talent in Baton Rouge, so much so that we're picking LSU at the top of the heap in a tough year in the SEC. The defense should return seven starters, including one of the top lines in the country. The biggest question will be at safety, where LaRon Landry and Jessie Daniels are seniors. On offense, four starters return on the line. There is as much depth at quarterback behind JaMarcus Russell as any team in the country has at the position.
4. West Virginia 11-2
The Mountaineers finished on a high note, rallying from an 18-point second-half deficit to beat Georgia Tech in the Gator Bowl. Rich Rodriguez had his flirtation with Alabama, but eventually decided to stay in Morgantown. That is good news for fans of the Mountaineers. The entire backfield of quarterback Pat White, running back Steve Slaton and fullback Owen Schmitt returns, as do three-fifths of an offensive line that loves to get off the ball and create holes. White and Slaton don't need a lot of room to gain positive yardage. The defense struggled in 2006 (62nd nationally), but it does return seven starters. Nose tackle Keilen Dykes, a first-team All-Big East pick, is the leader.
5. Florida 13-1
The Gators lose some key personnel, especially on the defensive side where the front seven will be decimated. UF had 10 senior starters in all, four on offense and six on defense. Much of the pressure to duplicate the success of the 2006 season will fall on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback Tim Tebow, who will be called on to do more than just run on third-and-short. There's little doubt, though, that his presence will transform the Gators into more of a running team. Four-fifths of a solid offensive line return, and you can bet you'll see a lot more of Percy Harvin in 2007. The defense will have to wait and see how many of its mega-talented juniors return for the chance to repeat as national champions like the basketball team's juniors did.
6. Ohio State 12-1
The Buckeyes will have to replace Troy Smith, and it has been a while since Jim Tressel entered a season with a question at quarterback. Smith's backup was a fifth-year senior (Justin Zwick) as well. Fortunately for Tressel, he can surround his signal-caller with spectacular playmakers at running back and receiver. OSU also returns three offensive linemen. If all of Ohio State's juniors return for one more year, and we assume in this poll that they will, whoever is under center will throw to a solid group of receivers. The defense, which admirably replaced nine starters from the 2005 team, will have to make up for losing most of its line. However, it has strength everywhere else.
7. Virginia Tech 10-3
The Hokies are loaded for a strong run in 2007, returning 16 starters from a team that was upset by Georgia in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Not only is that a nice number of key returnees to have if you're Frank Beamer, but it's evenly split among offense and defense. Bud Foster's unit led the way in 2006, topping the national rankings in total defense. The Hokies yielding just 219.5 yards per game. Linebackers Vince Hall and Xavier Adibi are strong contenders for All-American honors, as is special-teams ace Eddie Royal. Royal led the ACC in punt returns with a 12.0-yard average. The biggest question for Virginia Tech will be at quarterback, where rising junior Sean Glennon (2,097 yards, 11 TDs, eight interceptions) will need to be more consistent.
8. Oklahoma 11-3
The Sooners will have a long time to stew over their loss to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl and the shocking events that led to it. But Bob Stoops & Co. can take solace in the fact they return a whopping 16 starters, including nine on offense. The only problem is one of the guys who has used up his eligibility is quarterback Paul Thompson. Backup Joey Halzle saw action in only one game in 2006. Questions under center notwithstanding, Oklahoma has plenty of reason for optimism. It returns four offensive linemen who helped OU rank 18th nationally in rushing. The Sooners also get back three-fourths of their secondary and all three were named second-team All-Big 12.
9. Texas 10-3
The Longhorns lose five starters on each side of the ball, but Mack Brown has been stacking one top recruiting class on another in Austin. The chief concern will be along the offensive line, where the middle (center and both guard spots) will have to be rebuilt. The secondary also was hit hard by graduation, with only free safety Marcus Griffin returning. Still, Brown's bunch should be a top contender with Oklahoma in the Big 12. Colt McCoy grabbed the starting spot at quarterback and made the most of his chance, completing nearly 69 percent of his passes for 27 TDs and just seven interceptions. With a year under his belt and receivers like Billy Pittman and Limas Sweed, the sky is the limit on offense.
10. Wisconsin 12-1
Bret Bielema started his head coaching career about as well as he could have hoped, becoming just the third coach in NCAA history to post 12 wins in his rookie season. The second-youngest active coach in Division I-A prowled the sidelines like a veteran, and his team responded by playing solid, efficient football. Even bigger things could be on the horizon. Sixteen starters are slated to return, including nine on offense. Yes, quarterback John Stocco - an underrated passer and leader - and All-American left tackle Joe Thomas leave giant shoes to fill, but the rest of the offensive line isn't too shabby. Running back P.J. Hill is back to prove his redshirt freshman season was no fluke. Bielema no doubt will fashion another highly ranked defense with five of the front seven back, too.
11. Louisville 12-1
At this writing, quarterback Brian Brohm is returning to the Cardinals. The guys who aren't returning are running back Michael Bush and head coach Bobby Petrino, who is making the jump to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons. The Cardinals lose seven starters on defense, but when you play offense like they do (second nationally in total offense, fourth in scoring offense) you don't worry so much about defense. Brohm has top targets Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglas back, as well as three offensive linemen. Former Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe has the unenviable task of keeping the offensive juggernaut on track, but at least there is plenty of coal for the engine.
12. Georgia 9-4
The Bulldogs lose five senior starters on each side of the ball. The most significant losses are along the offensive line, where three starters are gone. The defensive front seven also takes a big hit, losing more than half of its starters. But coach Mark Richt has recruited well over the years, and there is plenty of talent waiting for a chance. It obviously would help matters in Athens if quarterback Matthew Stafford can get a firm grip on the offense and squelch any competition. He seemed to take a step in the right direction with his offensive MVP performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl. Stafford at least has the luxury of solid players lining up behind him in fullback Brannan Southerland and running back Kregg Lumpkin.
13. Nebraska 9-5
The offense returns seven starters, but the focus will be on a new starter in Lincoln. Arizona State transfer Sam Keller is expected to take the reins at quarterback from Zac Taylor, who enjoyed his finest season under Bill Callahan. Callahan's West Coast offense is taking hold, and Keller will be the beneficiary of a solid nucleus of skill players. Offensive leaders include receivers Maurice Purify and Terrence Nunn and running backs Brandon Jackson and Marlon Lucky. The losses are heaviest on defense for the Cornhuskers, where the entire front four is gone. On the bright side, All-Big 12 linebacker Bo Ruud and three-fourths of the secondary return.
14. Auburn 11-2
The Tigers lose seven starters on offense and five on defense, so Tommy Tuberville and his staff will have some work to do. Gone are workhorse running back Kenny Irons, receiver Courtney Taylor and all but one offensive lineman. The offensive line figures to be the biggest worry. Auburn has some quality depth at running back. The defense loses standout linebackers Karibi Dede, Will Herring and cornerback David Irons. However, there is always talent to be had when you're one of the elite programs in the SEC. Defensive end Quentin Groves (9.5 sacks) returns, as does defensive tackle Sen'Derrick Marks, a first-team Rivals.com Freshman All-American.
15. California 10-3
The Golden Bears lose much of their firepower with the decision of running back Marshawn Lynch to leave early for the pros. But Justin Forsett has proven to be a more-than-capable replacement. He returns in the backfield along with quarterback Nate Longshore, who settled in and finished with 3,021 passing yards and 24 TDs. Longshore's favorite target, DeSean Jackson, also is back and should gain more national recognition as a junior. The offensive line has three starters back. The unit that will need the most attention is the defense, which loses six starters - including decorated lineman Brandon Mebane and All-American corner Daymeion Hughes.
16. Arkansas 10-4
A wild and woolly season filled with unthinkable highs and unspeakable lows culminated in a loss to Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl. Along the way Darren McFadden finished as the Heisman runner-up, and a group of parents expressed concern with the head coach and the program. The head coach in this case being Houston Nutt, who hired former Springdale (Ark.) High School coach Gus Malzahn to be his new offensive coordinator. It worked out well enough; Malzahn was named Rivals.com's National Offensive Coordinator of the Year. It helped to have around McFadden and Felix Jones, both of whom return.
17. Tennessee 9-4
The Vols made a nice turnaround from a shocking 5-6 season in 2005 to win nine games. However, a disappointing loss to Penn State in the Outback Bowl left room for some grousing from the Orange faithful. With rival Florida winning the national title, don't expect the grousing to die down. Still, UT coach Phillip Fulmer appears to have things headed back in the right direction. Quarterback Erik Ainge was a revelation in 2006 despite mediocre offensive line play. Expect that to change and Ainge to remain solid, though the receiving corps will experience heavy losses. John Chavis' defense also wasn't up to its usual self (50th nationally in total defense), but it did have some major injury problems. The defense returns six starters and should bounce back toward the top 20.
18. Penn State 9-4
The Nittany Lions quietly have been stockpiling talent, and the trait they've been looking for is speed. Joe Paterno's teams haven't always been the fastest, but they've always been well-coached. When you put speed and coaching together, you're on the verge of a breakthrough. There are significant losses, chief among them running back Tony Hunt and All-American linebacker Paul Posluszny. But much of the offense returns, including quarterback Anthony Morelli and a trio of receivers who could make a major impact in Jordan Norwood, Derrick Williams and Deon Butler. Three offensive linemen also are back. The defense will be led by linebacker Dan Connor, cornerback Justin King and safety Anthony Scirrotto.
19. Rutgers 11-2
The Scarlet Knights return 13 starters from a team that led the program to new heights. But the most important returnee is coach Greg Schiano. He was targeted by many of the programs looking for a head coach, but Rutgers was able to convince him to stay in Piscataway. Schiano believes he has it going at the state university of New Jersey, and who's to argue with a season that narrowly missed out on the BCS? Running back Ray Rice returns to lead the offense, which also has emerging wide receiver Kenny Britt and three-fifths of the line that made such big holes for Rice. The defense loses four of its front seven, but don't expect too much of a dropoff from a unit that ranked fourth nationally a year ago.
20. Florida State 7-6
Remember when Penn State was written off after a few poor seasons? Unlike Penn State in the early 2000s, Florida State is still making bowl games – and winning them (the Seminoles beat UCLA 44-27 in the Emerald Bowl). The bloodletting in the offensive staff should turn the team around with LSU's Jimbo Fisher taking over for maligned coordinator Jeff Bowden. West Virginia's Rick Trickett is also a good bet to get more out of the offensive line. The defense will be a year older, but it still loses senior linebacker Buster Davis and linebacker Lawrence Timmons - a junior who already declared for the draft.
21. Texas A&M 9-4
Although the Aggies' season ended with a 45-10 drubbing at the hands of Cal in the Holiday Bowl, Texas A&M's 2006 season has to be one of the best turnarounds of the year. Dennis Franchione went into the season on the hot seat, but goes into 2007 with a little momentum thanks to a win over Texas in Austin. The Aggies can look forward to another powerful ground game with quarterback Stephen McGee and running back Jorvorskie Lane, who had 19 touchdown runs. Look for Texas A&M to find more ways to get the ball to explosive running back Mike Goodson. The Aggies' defense should have plenty of experience with only four seniors leaving.
22. Notre Dame 10-3
Charlie Weis has his work cut out for him in Year Three. Brady Quinn, Jeff Samardzija and 15 other seniors who started the Sugar Bowl are gone. Jimmy Clausen, Rivals.com's top recruit in 2007, Demetrius Jones, Zach Frazer and 2006 backup Evan Sharpley will compete to replace Quinn. The Irish will have two full Charlie Weis signing classes to replenish the roster, but the only freshman to see consistent playing time in '06 was offensive tackle Sam Young. The youth on the roster won't have much time to adjust with road trips to Michigan, Penn State, Purdue and UCLA and home games against Georgia Tech and Michigan State making up the first half of the season.
23. Hawaii 11-3
Hawaii's pass-first offense will make sure the Warriors are routinely among the top statistical offenses in the country, but quarterback Colt Brennan makes Hawaii a contender for the next mid-major breakthrough. The Warriors were second in the WAC to undefeated Boise State in 2006, and they ended the year with a convincing win over Arizona State in the Hawaii Bowl. The only thing that will stop Hawaii from joining Boise State and Utah as a BCS bowl team is road trips. Two of Hawaii's three losses came on the mainland (to the Broncos and Alabama).
24. Boston College 10-3
Boston College extended its bowl winning streak to seven games without Tom O'Brien. Now, the Eagles will have to continue their regular-season consistency without him as well. Jeff Jagodzinski takes over a team that has won at least eight games in six consecutive years. The Eagles' top playmakers will be seniors for their rookie coach. Quarterback Matt Ryan returns as the ACC's leader in total offense. The Eagles also bring back linebackers Jolonn Dunbar and Brian Toal and cornerback DeJuan Tribble
25. Clemson 8-5
The Tigers limped out of the season with four losses in their final five games, including a loss to Kentucky in the Music City Bowl. Running backs James Davis and C.J. Spiller form one of the most dangerous running tandems in the country. That's good news for the Tigers, who will have to replace fifth-year senior Will Proctor at quarterback. Among the leading candidates will be true freshman Willy Korn. Star defensive end Gaines Adams departs, but leaves behind a large group of returning starters - including rising senior cornerback C.J. Gaddis.

Also receiving votes: Wake Forest, UCLA, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oklahoma State, Maryland, South Florida, South Carolina, Oregon, Alabama, Miami, TCU, Miami, Boise State, Missouri

No Barry Bonds In The All Star Game?

2007-06-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

Barry Bonds could become the home run king and fail to appear in an All-Star Game in his own home park in the same season. Although he's slowly closing in on Hank Aaron's career record,

Bonds dropped into fourth place this week among National League outfielders in voting by fans, who will select the eight starters.

Players will elect eight more position players and eight pitchers for the game on July 10 in San Francisco. Then St. Louis manager Tony La Russa, in conjunction with the commissioner's office, will select four pitchers and three nonpitchers. And La Russa isn't saying what he might do if

Bonds, a 13-time All-Star, is left out by players and fans.

“I'm not going to get into whether Barry Bonds is in,” he said yesterday. “He might get voted in.” (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Buy All Star Game Tickets Here

Lebron VS. Duncan

2007-06-07T16:20:00.000-07:00

Tim Duncan

VS.

Lebron James

Who's gonna be the finals MVP??

Ashley Judd at the Indy 500

2007-06-07T12:44:00.001-07:00

Ashley Judd celebrating after husband Dario Franchitti won the rain-delayed-then-cancelled Indy 500 Hmmmm

Father's Day Gift Guide at ESPNShop.com

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

Father's Day Gift Guide at ESPNShop.com

Save 25% off no minimium on all orders at ESPNSHop.com.

Minor League Braves Manager Phil Wellman Goes Nuts

2007-06-05T12:37:00.000-07:00

Allison Stokke - Record Breaking Pole Vaulter

2007-05-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.myspace.com/allisonstokkefans

Can The Yankees Buy A World Series Championship?

2007-04-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

Can money buy a championship? The Yankees sure think so:

Four of the top seven players on baseball's salary list play in the Bronx, led by Alex Rodriguez at a record $27.7 million, according to a survey of contract terms by The Associated Press.

A-Rod is followed by Jason Giambi ($23.4 million) and Derek Jeter ($21.6 million), with Boston's Manny Ramirez fourth at $17 million.

"I love being the highest-paid player in the game. It's pretty cool," Rodriguez said when he arrived at spring training, explaining the money allows him to do more charitable work. "You get crushed, but you know what? It's pretty cool. I enjoy it."

Colorado's Todd Helton ($16.6 million) was fifth, and the Yankees' Andy Pettitte was tied for sixth with the Los Angeles Angels' Bartolo Colon at $16 million.

"We should make it. We're the ones doing the entertaining," said San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, 11th on the list at $15.5 million.

The Yankees' opening-day payroll dropped slightly for the second straight season to $195.2 million from $198.7 million last year and a record $205.9 million in 2005.

Boston was next at $143.5 million -- and that doesn't include the $51.1 million fee the Red Sox paid the Seibu Lions for pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka. The Yankees' figure also didn't include the $26 million they sent to the Hanshin Tigers for pitcher Kei Igawa.

The New York Mets were third at $117.9 million, followed by the Chicago White Sox ($109.7 million), the Angels ($109.3 million), the Los Angeles Dodgers ($108.7 million) and the Seattle Mariners ($106.5 million).

Is these salaries justifiable? I don't think so. Perhaps more performance based compensation and let the sponsors help pick up the costs not the poor slobs like me buying the tickets.

What do you think?

SPORTS GROUPIES MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL PICKS

2007-03-30T09:40:00.000-07:00

Here our picks for this baseball season. Tell us yours.

AL East
1. New York Yankees
2. Boston Red Sox
3. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays

AL Central
1. Cleveland Indians
2. Detroit Tigers
3. Minnesota Twins
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Kansas City Royals

AL West
1. Los Angeles Angels
2. Oakland Athletics
3. Texas Rangers
4. Seattle Mariners

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies
2. New York Mets
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Florida Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Milwaukee Brewers
4. Houston Astros
5. Cincinnati Reds
6. Pittsburgh Pirates

NL West
1. Arizona Diamondbacks
2. Los Angeles Dodgers
3. San Diego Padres
4. San Francisco Giants
5. Colorado Rockies

World Series: Yankees over Cardinals

Is Phelp's The Next Mark Spitz?

2007-03-28T07:12:00.000-07:00

MELBOURNE (AFP) - Michael Phelps, Laure Manaudou and Leila Vaziri obliterated world records here Wednesday on another sensational night of swimming but Grant Hackett's reign as king of the 800m freestyle ended.

Phelps, 21, carved a huge 1.71 seconds off his own 200m butterfly world record to set a new mark of one minute 52.09 seconds and leave China's top swimmer Wu Peng (1:55.13) and Russia's Nikolay Skvortsov (1:55.22) in his wake.

But there was disappointment for the once invincible Hackett who faded badly to finish seventh behind Tunisian winner Oussama Mellouli (7:46.95) in an event he was defending and in which he holds the world record.

Hackett was sluggish and never in the race with only the 1500m, where he is unbeaten in a decade, now left to salvage his meet.

"If I had more fuel in the tank I would have stepped it up a few places," said the Australian, who is the most decorated swimmer in world championship history.

"It's extremely disappointing when you've swum almost 20 seconds faster than that."

Poland's Przemyslaw Stanczyk took the 800m silver while Australia's Craig Stevens grabbed the bronze.

Phelps' phenomenal success made him the only swimmer to win a 200m butterfly world title three times and keeps him on track for eight gold medals here as he gears up to challenge Mark Spitz's seven Olympic titles in Beijing next year.

"I surprised myself, I went so fast," said the American. "I wanted to go 1:52.00 but I didn't expect to swim 1:52.00.

"I'm showing I'm in solid shape now. I had a really good swim earlier in the season where I broke the world record.

"I wanted to take it out tonight, so I'm pretty happy."

He has now set two world records at the meet after his stunning win over Pieter van den Hoogenband in Tuesday's 200m freestyle final and returned later Wednesday to qualify fastest in the 200m individual medley semi-finals.

Manaudou, 20, was equally impressive, leading from the gun to win her second gold medal of the championships in a new world record time of 1:55.52.

Annika Lurz of Germany fought her to the wall to take silver in 1:55.68 while Italy's Federica Pellegrini, who set a new world mark in the semi-finals on Tuesday, grabbed the bronze in 1:56.97.

Manaudou dropped out of the 50m backstroke semi-finals Wednesday to focus on the 200m and it paid rich dividends.

"I didn't expect to set another world record but Pellegrini is a great swimmer and she will get it again next time," Manaudou said.

"The 400m freestyle is my race. There is stress for me to perform and I put pressure on myself. I just performed exceptionally well."

Despite seeing her record snatched away Pellegrini was content.

"I just wanted to improve on yesterday which was a perfect race and you can't improve on a perfect race," Pellegrini said. "There's still time for me to do it again."

Mellouli, who won Tunisia's first ever championship gold, said it was all the better for being achieved in Australia, but he had sympathy for Hackett.

"It's that much better making it happen here in Australia, because the country is so in love with swimming," he said.

"I don't think it was Grant's day, but he is a tremendous athlete. Hopefully he'll make a comeback next year."

Vaziri unexpectedly set a new world record in the women's 50m backstroke, touching in 28.16 during a lightning semi-final swim to qualify for the final fastest, shaving 0.03 off the time set by Germany's Janine Pietsch in 2005.

In the night's other final, Ukraine's Oleg Lisogor won the men's 50m breaststroke gold medal ahead of US star Brendan Hansen and South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh, but his 27.66 seconds was outside world record time.

Kobe has taken over

2007-03-27T09:26:00.000-07:00

(Sports Network) - Superstar Kobe Bryant is carrying the Los Angeles Lakers towards the postseason. The Lakers are 38-32 and are the sixth seed in the Western Conference playoff race, 2 1/2 games ahead of the seventh-seeded Denver Nuggets. The red-hot Lakers go for their sixth straight win on Tuesday, as they host the NBA-worst Memphis Grizzlies at the Staples Center. It is the fourth and final meeting between the squads this season. The Lakers won two of the three previous contest.

The Grizzlies have lost 19 of the 22 meetings at the Lakers.

LA plays the second of a five-game homestand against the Grizzlies. On Sunday, Bryant's streak of scoring at least 50 points ended, but the Lakers continued their winning ways by defeating the Golden State Warriors, 115-113, at the Staples Center.

Bryant scored 43 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead Los Angeles, which has won a season-best five in a row after a seven-game losing streak. Bryant, who hit 15-of-33 shots, had scored at least 50 points in his previous four games, becoming just the second player in NBA history to accomplish that feat.

Lamar Odom added 24 points and a career-high tying 19 rebounds, while Smush Parker added 13 points for LA, which used a 14-0 fourth-quarter run to help eliminate a double-digit deficit and defeat the Warriors.

The Lakers are 23-11 as the host this season. They will also play Houston, Sacramento and Denver on the current homestand. LA is scheduled to host seven of its final 12 games.

Bryant leads the Lakers in scoring (31.0 ppg) and assists (5.4 apg). The superstar guard has scored 25 or more points in 19 straight games. He is averaging 41.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his last 10 outings.

The Lakers final road contests are against the Clippers, Seattle, Denver, Phoenix and Sacramento. Besides Memphis, Houston, the Kings and Nuggets, the Lakers will closeout their home schedule against the Suns, Clippers and SuperSonics.

Los Angeles has scored over 100 points in five straight games.

So.....Can Kobe get the Lakers deep into the playoffs?? Can they get past the first round with the Mavericks, Suns or Spurs as their likely opponents? I doubt it but let us know what you think.

Can Bonds Hit 800 Home Runs? Should He Try?

2007-03-23T11:25:00.000-07:00

There is a report that I read today that Barry Bonds has suggested he may play past this year.

Asked Monday whether he'd like to play next season if he's still healthy, Bonds responded, "sure." Bonds hedged a bit later in the interview, but it's clear he's not quite ready to step away.” Let me get through '07 first," he said. "If I'm healthy, I'd consider coming back." Bonds is healthier than he was last year, and has played in 4 straight games. Manager Bruce Bochy said watching Bonds leaves no doubt that the slugger could play beyond 2007.

"There's no question in my mind he has a lot of baseball left," Bochy said. "He came in here in good shape. He's been running well, he's swinging the bat well. He looks like he's on a mission to play longer.

"The biggest on-field question surrounding Bonds this season has been thought to be whether he will hit the 22 home runs he needs to break Hank Aaron's career home run mark of 755. My gut tells me Barry may break the record before the All-Star break. The only reason I can think of that he would want to continue to play is to set a record beyond the reach of any potentially great slugger for years to come…800 home runs would be such a record.

At 40 homers a season, that would still take 20 seasons to tie such a mark. Considering how long Ruth’s record remained unbroken, this would be a great way, in hindsight to preserve Bond’s memory. This may be a great way to sanitize his achievements and propel him into the Hall of Fame, the same Hall of Fame that has been denied to Mark McGuire up to this point. Perhaps the hope is that by setting such an impossible record, one right up there with DiMaggio’s 56 game hit streak, that when fans and sportswriters alike look back on it, the steroid allegations will not be so clearly etched in their minds after the passage of time. All that would remain is that incredible number….800.

When the possibility of hitting 800 homers was brought up, Bonds said to "call Alex" - a reference to the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, who has 464 homers at the age of 31.

"Whatever I end up with, I'll be happy," Bonds said.

Bonds has other goals as well. He said he'd have no problem getting the 70 RBIs he needs this year for 2,000 but might need to alter his strategy if he's going to get the 159 hits he needs to reach 3,000 in 2007.

"Got to get some bunts in then," he said.

What do you think? Can he do it? Should he try to play beyond 2007?

Could make the steroids scandal go away :)

Sport Groupies In The News

2007-03-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Below is a link to our press release. Please check it out:
Real Sports Fans Are Sports Groupies

We look forward to providing you sports news, opinions and more every day.

Are athletes "Role Models"?

2007-03-22T07:21:00.000-07:00

Below are a couple of today's sports headlines:

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) -- St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa was arrested Thursday on a drunken driving charge after police said they found him asleep inside his running sport utility vehicle at a stop light.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest faces four misdemeanor charges stemming from a dispute with his wife at home earlier this month.

We also have the steroids controversy, cheating at Nascar and plenty.

As a child I looked up to these athletes and wanted to be like them. Now as an adult with 2 boys, I tell them that these men and women have god given abilities but are just as likely to make mistakes as anyone and although we can respect their skills on the field, we should not consider them as role models. Leave the "role modeling" to God and family.

Is Michael Jordan breaking the rules?

2007-03-21T21:02:00.000-07:00

Do the Bobcats have an unfair advantage with M.J.'s high school all-star game and camps?

Personally I think Jordan should not be penalized for being smart enough to set up a personal farm system that the other NBA execs we too stupid not to.

What do you think?

The Sweet 16

2007-03-21T14:06:00.000-07:00

Here's our picks (in bold), what are yours?

Florida vs Butler

Oregon vs UNLV

Kansas vs Southern Ill.

Pittsburgh vs UCLA

North Carolina vs USC

Vanderbilt vs Georgetown

Ohio St. vs Tennessee

Texas A&M vs Memphis

Today In Sports

2007-03-21T10:31:00.001-07:00

Today in Sport by TodayinSport.com

Who is this year's NBA MVP?

2007-03-21T10:19:00.000-07:00