Roy Oswalt isnt Cliff Lee.

Thats fine. Roy Oswalt doesnt need to be Cliff Lee.

But heres what Roy Oswalt is: The best No. 3 starter in all of baseball, and the guy who makes the Phillies not only a team that the Braves should be scared of, but a team that the Yankees, Rays, Rangers and anyone else should be scared of, too.

Unlike Lee, Oswalt will be around through 2011 to help the Phillies rack up more rings. (AP) And not just for this year.

If the Phillies can overcome all remember, theyre still missing both Chase Utl theyll head into October with Roy Halladay, a revitalized Cole Hamels and Oswalt forming a big-time top three in the rotation.

And, no matter what, the Phillies have those same three atop the rotation next year, too.

Trading for Oswalt, as the Phillies did Thursday, keeps one Phillies streak alive. Thats five straight years now that theyve made an in-season deal for a starting pitcher.

But trading for Oswalt is designed to keep another Phillies streak going. The Phillies have been to the World Series two straight years, and they believe that this core group of players can get there a few more times.

As Hamels said this spring, “We dont want to stop at winning one or two World Series. We want to win as many as we can, to become that dynasty team we could be destined to be.”

Everything that General Manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has done has been designed to extend the window and give this team as many chances as possible to win. Its why almost every significant Phillies player is signed at least through the end of 2011 (and why you can bet that Amaro will eventually get an extension done for Jimmy Rollins, just as he did for Ryan Howard).

More on Phillies Stories Oswalt accepts deal to Phillies Phillies notch eighth straight win Video Miller on Oswalt to Phillies

And yes, its why Amaro traded Lee away last December.

This isnt the time or place to revisit the should-he-or-shouldnt-he debate on the trade that sent Lee to the Mariners. Just remember that Amaros explanation included the point that he didnt “want to put all our eggs in one basket.”

Lee is a free agent at the end of this year, and the Phillies never were going to outbid the Yankees for him on the open market. Had they kept him, or had they re-acquired h a 2010-and-done Phillie.

Instead, the Phillies have Oswalt, their first choice among the pitchers available this month.

Last week, when the Oswalt talks heated up, the Phillies had stumbled out of the All-Star break and had fallen to seven games behind the Braves, and four games behind in the wild-card race. Since then, the Phils have won seven in a row, and were only three games back of Atlanta going into Thursday nights game against the Diamondbacks.

Does Oswalt make a difference? Well, youd have to think he gives the Phillies a better chance of winning Fri and a better chance of winning every five games after that.

And Oswalt, 4-0 in seven postseason starts with the Astros, gives them a much better chance of winning in October.

Even with all the injuries (Rollins for a good part of the first half, Utley and Victorino now), the Phillies average nearly five runs a game, more than a run a game more than the Astros. Oswalt went 6-12 in his 20 starts with Houston, but in 10 of those games (and one of his two no-decisions), the Astros scored two runs or fewer.

“Hes good,” said one scout who has watched Oswalt recently. “Hes not as good as he once was, but hes still good. Hes still better than most, just not as dominant as he once was.”

No, hes not Cliff Lee.

“Halladays not even better than Lee right now,” the scout said. “I mean, Lee isnt better than Halladay, either, but thats how good Lee is. You cant score off him.”

A year ago, when the Phillies didnt have Halladay and Hamels was slumping, the Phillies needed a pitcher like Lee to lead them to the postseason. He did that, and by beating the Yankees twice in the World Series, he nearly led them to another title.

This year, with Halladay and a revitalized Hamels, the Phillies could stick to the long-term plan and make a deal that fits that plan.

They got, as manager Charlie Manuel told reporters in Philadelphia, “A top of the rotation starter in the prime of his career.”

No, hes not Cliff Lee.

But Roy Oswalt is the best No. 3 starter in all of basebal this year, and next year.

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by admin
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Marion Bartoli, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka advanced to the quarterfinals of the Bank of the West Classic.

Shahar Peer, another seeded player, wasnt as fortunate Thursday.

The fourth-seeded Bartoli beat former world No. 1 Ana Ivanovic, 6-3, 6-4, for her eighth consecutive victory at the event and 10th win in her past 13 matches.

“It was a great match,” Bartoli said. “It was a good build up for the U.S. Open. Its good to have these kinds of matches.”

Bartoli beat Ivanovic for the first time in four career meetings.

“When I played Ana before she was on the rise to becoming the No. 1 player in the world,” Bartoli said. “Now I finally passed her. Having a higher ranking than her helped my confidence and gave me the mental strength to play the game.”

Ivanovic fell to 3-6 over her past nine matches.

Former world No. 1 Sharapova, the fifth seed, beat Belarus Olga Govortsova, 6-3, 6-3, and the eighth-seeded Azarenka topped American Melanie Oudin, 6-3, 6-1 in second-round action, while Maria Kirilenko knocked off the sixth-seeded Peer, 6-4, 6-3.

“It was a sloppy first game but the rest of it was fine,” Sharapova said. “I took my chances when I could.”

The 16th-ranked Peer became the first seeded player to fall at the event, losing for the fourth time in her past six matches after opening the year 18-5, which included a three-set victory past Kirilenko in New Zealand.

“This time I decided to be a lot more aggressive,” Kirilenko said. “This year has been so much better and given me a lot of confidence.”

The 27th-ranked Kirilenko, set to face third-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska on Friday, is assured of her best finish at Stanford in three trips.

“I played not too badly,” Kirilenko said. “I can play better.”

Shes also had her career best results at the Australian Open, when she reached the quarterfinals, the French Open, when she made the fourth round, and at Wimbledon, when she was eliminated in the third round.

Azarenka, who broke into the top 10 last year, reached her sixth quarterfinal of the year.

“I think I played very well,” Azarenka said. “It was a little tough at the beginning with a couple of service breaks but I felt strong the whole match. For me its important to play every point the same, no matter what the score is. Whether I am up or down 40-love, that is always a key for me.”

She will play Bartoli.

Oudin also thought she competed well.

“I had a game point almost every single game,” she said. “I dont think she overwhelmed me. It was close.”

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by admin
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The secret to the success of Ohio State basketball can be found on the roster.

Dont bother with the names.

Look at the hometowns.

Upper Sandusky, Ohio. Solon, Ohio. Findlay, Ohio. Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, and on down the line. Add it up, and 10 of the 15 players on Ohio States current roster are from the state of Ohio. So if youre looking for a reason why Thad Matta has turned the schools basketball program into a dominant force that helped land OSU on the CBSSports.com list of the nations best combined football/basketball schools, thats a good place to start, with the hometowns of the players responsible for the rise to prominence.

“We have a lot of talent in the state of Toledo, Ohio. “There are players everywhere, and Ohio State is working really hard to keep that talent in Ohio.”

Talk to coaches about what makes a job great, and theyll almost always tell you the same things: A strong financial commitment from the administration, first-class facilities, and a natural recruiting base. Ohio State has all three, and the perfect coach to take advantage of all three.

Thad Matta is terrific.

He spent his first four years as a college head coach winning championships at three different schools (Butler, Xavier and OSU) in three different leagues (Horizon, Atlantic-10, Big Ten), and hes made eight of the nine NCAA tournaments for which his teams have been eligible. Hes won at least a share of seven league titles in 10 seasons as a coach and at least a share of three of the past five Big Ten championships. So its probably safe to assume Matta would win regardless of whether he was at Ohio State or Oregon State, but the fact that hes at Ohio State means theres no ceiling on what can be accomplished.

Has Matta won a national title yet?

No.

Flourishing Five: No. 3 Ohio State Ohio State football Dennis Dodd No doubt Ohio State is a force. With five straight seasons atop the Big Ten, Jim Tressels program helped cement Ohio States spot on our super schools list. Read >> Ohio State basketball SeasonOverallTourney 2005-0626-61-1 2006-0735-45-1 2007-0824-130 Big Ten regular-s 2008 NIT tournament champions
Draft picks PlayerPick (Year)Team Greg Oden1 (2007)Portland Mike Conley Jr.4 (2007)Memphis Daequan Cook21 (2007)Philadelphia Kosta Koufos23 (2008)Utah B.J. Mullens24 (2009)Dallas Evan Turner2 (2010)Philadelphia
Recruiting MaxPreps.com: Ohio St. hoops recruiting thrives Series rundown No. 5 Pittsburgh: Football | Basketball No. 4 Wisconsin: Football | Basketball No. 2: August 2 No. 1: August 5 But remember, hes only 43. My guess is that hell get that national title before hes 53, because a coach who stacks heralded recruits on top of each other should eventually cut nets, and I dont see any reason to think Matta wont continue to stack heralded recruits on top of each other, mostly because recruits in Ohio and the surrounding areas are pretty much stacked on top of each other, year after year after year.

Consider that Matta has signed eight McDonalds All-Americans in his past five Daequan Cook (2006), Kosta Koufos (2007), William Buford (2008), B.J. Mullens &#04 Mike Conley (2006), Greg Oden &#0 were from bordering Indiana, less than 200 miles away from the Ohio State campus, point being that Matta took over the OSU program at a time when the area was producing or about to produce a flurry of elite prospects.

“I had no idea; I really didnt,” Matta said when I asked, back when he was recruiting Sullinger, if he recognized the string of dominant post players that would come through when he accepted the Ohio State job in 2004. “The only one I knew was Greg. That was really about it.”

But Oden has been far from it. Koufos (attended high school 128 miles from the OSU campus) and Mullens (attended high school 15 miles from the OSU campus) were also both talented enough a Columbus native whom Buford will almost certainly have the opportunity to be the fourth Ohio State post player in the past five years to be selected in the first round when the 2011 NBA Draft rolls around next June.

Its a remarkable amount of area-talent. Matta capitalizing on it despite constant turnover on his staff has allowed the Buckeyes to average 27 wins the past five seasons, and theyll enter next season with a top 10 ranking even without reigning CBSSports.com National Player of the Year Evan Turner, the second overall pick of the 2010 NBA Draft. Whats more, the success rooted in local recruiting has helped Matta expand his recruiting horizons, proof being how Ohio State is now seriously involved with a consensus top 10 prospect from Chicago (Anthony Davis) and Memphis (Adonis Thomas).

“Thad Matta and his staff are good enough at their jobs that they can go out of state and get some guys,” said Evan Daniels, a national recruiting analyst for Scout.com. “His staff is putting him on the right guys, and hes pretty good at closing the deal. So theyve established themselves, and they can recruit anywhere in the country. Obviously, there are certain pockets that are tough for anyone to get a player out of. But theyve had enough success that they can now go out and throw their hat in the ring with anybody, and people will listen.”

The result is winning seasons, one after another.

The end is nowhere in sight.

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by admin
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At least theres the Rose Bowl for USC.

Not the Rose Bowl , not until at least January 2013 because of those uranium-grade NCAA penalties.

Kiffin and the anytime soon. (US Presswire) You might have heard.

Ah, but theres always Rose Bowl, The Stadium, as Lane Kiffin reminded us at Pac-10 media days.

Because you want to celebrate a December road game against UCLA as some sort of “reward” after having your program gutted.

The man could convince us a grease fire was balsamic vinaigrette left in the sun too long.

Hey, but thats his job, or at least more of his job after the program formerly known as USC retrenches. Defending champion Oregon lost its starting quarterback (for good) and its best runner (for a game) during an offseason of what can politely be termed offseason turmoil. Washington has what were being brainwashed to believe is the NFLs top draft pick next season (Jake Locker). Heck, the conference had just rented a couple of G4s and flew the coaches to New York for a media schmooze this week.

The story remained USC. On the floor of that Rose Bowl with complimentary Pac-10 sun screen and equally complimentary misting tents, Kiffin began to lay out his plan for survival at the conferences media day. His and the programs.

The weather wasnt the only thing that was sunny.

“This is the exact job I signed up for,” Captain Confidence said. “I didnt come here for bowl games. I didnt come here for scholarships. I came here because its the best job in America …

“… and we get to live right here too.”

So suck it America. You too Tennessee.

If the USC football franchise doesnt burn to the in several things. You have to believe that Kiffin is on notice from the new administration. Suddenly, he has to win with one arm tied behind his back, one that could usually offer 25 scholarships a year. You have to believe that administration wont treat a six-pack of secondary of violations (see Tennessee) as Lane being Lane.

You also have to believe there are more like Matt Barkley who believe playing for an NFL preparatory college is more important than chasing bowls, conference titles or national championships these next two seasons.

“I figured signing with USC would give me the best chance of going to the league,” said the sophomore quarterback explaining why he committed then and isnt transferring now.

By the time USC can next go to a bowl in 2012, Barkley could be in the NFL. But that was kind of the point of signing with USC in the first place. Three and out.

“Youre announcing youre staying for your senior year?” Kiffin asked.

“Yeah, well see,” Barkley said nervously, “Hopefully.”

Thats a huge reason to believe. With an all-star staff, players can still commit to USC knowing they will be trained for the NFL and be seen by the NFL.

“I dont know how much two [bowl] games will do in evaluating how good a quarterback I am,” Barkley said. “Im sure well have played in enough big games to decide that.”

Winning? Hold on there, hoss. No one really knows the long-term effects of losing 30 scholarships over the next three years. Oklahoma won a national champ and it wasnt pretty. Howard Schnellenberger and John Blake nearly crashed OU into a cornfield before Bob Stoops came along.

Column Dennis Dodd
Looking as confident and sharply dressed as any power executive in the real world, Larry Scott laid out the reasons Thursday why his plan to conquer the college sports world fell short this summer. Read >> Dodd: A strange, fun look at Pac-10 media day Dodd: Five things about the Pac-10 Kiffin thinks lawsuit motivated by location Oregon picked to defend Pac-10 title BCS: USC likely to lose 2004 title

Following crippling NCAA penalties in 2002, Alabama went through coaches like they were wet naps at a rib joint for a time before finally hitting on Nick Saban. For $4 million per, the Big Pimp delivered.

Only the top programs, it seems, have a chance of getting through this crap. If theyre lucky and they do it right. Kiffin says he has a plan. Kids will always want to come to USC. That helps. Hell get quarterbacks. Book it. He can fill in with jucos, but not too many. There can be absolutely mistakes on the 15 guys he can offer the next three years.

He has to hope that no one else, at least no one of substance, transfers. Five have left, but USC types characterized them as guys who wouldnt have played anyway and are missing out on a USC degree.

Left unsaid: Theyre warm bodies. Guys who could hit and practice and fill out a roster. They could keep someone else from getting injured.

“We created free agency in college football,” Kiffin said. “Weve dealt with free agency there is no salary cap on. Our players can leave anytime to go anywhere and they dont have to sit out.”

And bravo to the NCAA for that. It developed legislation that allows rising juniors and seniors at schools with major sanctions to transfer without sitting out.

Meanwhile back in South Central, you first have to believe USC can win this season with 71 scholarship players. You have to believe no one will or transfer. Most schools dont carry the 85 max in scholarships. Washington, for example, will go into the season with 76. But no, schools dont have to worry about USCs shrinkage over the next three seasons.

Walk-ons arent much of an option at USC. There are few kids smart enough, rich enough and talented enough to stick at USC without a scholarship. That argument ends with the cost o more than $50,000. You have to hope USC doesnt become Kansas State of the 1980s. The program had so mismanaged itself with losing and transfers and injuries and that it was down to 50-something scholarships when Bill Snyder took over in 1989.

“They have what?” Arizona coach Mike Stoops asked, referring to USC. “Theyre down 14 scholarships [from 85]? … Thats significant. The problems that will occur are with the depth of your football team. If you make a mistake [in recruiting] that multiplies the problem tenfold.”

Thats Mike Stoops who was with Snyder as an assistant from 1992-1998. In his third season, Snyder posted a winning record. By 1998, he was a game away from playing for the first BCS national championship.

And that was with the program SI once called the worst in the country. Recovery can be achieved but there are different levels. K-State was chasing relevance; USC is used to chasing titles.

“Theyll recruit really well,” said one Pac-10 coach who didnt want to be named. “Hes assembled a good staff. Its going to be hard. The real reason is perception of the other schools has changed. Theyre [USC] not invincible. When they were rolling the games were over before they started. Now, guys believe this: Were going to beat them.”

The contrition has started. New AD Pat Haden is the absolute right choice. Sending back the Heisman was a symbolic, but also a brave act. The BCS looks like it is going to vacate the 2004 title as soon as the NCAA appeal is over.

It is a diminished USC, but one that will be back at some point. In the mind of Tommy Trojan, no amount of Heisman removal or tearing down banners can change what those teams accomplished.

“I dont think, in my humble opinion, what Reggie did [had] an effect in the way we played,” said Washingtons Steve Sarkisian who coached at USC with Kiffin. “We practiced our asses off … We practiced better than anybody, we played better than anybody.”

Thats ultimately what USC has to believe: That another Reggie Bush, a clean one, will someday come along.

Because its USC.

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by admin
Filed under: NCAA football news | No Comments »

Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman expects to learn on Saturday whether his salary cap-squeezed team will be able to keep restricted free agent goaltender Antti Niemi, who backstopped Chicago to its first Stanley Cup in 49 years last spring.

After Bowman and Niemis agent, Bill Zito, were unable to reach contract terms for the 26-year-old netminder, the case advanced to an arbitration hearing Thursday in Toronto. Both Bowman and the NHL Players Association presented their cases and undisclosed one-year salary figures to an arbitrator, who has 48 hours to make a decision.

The arbitrator can choose either sides offer, or any amount between the two, per the NHLs collective bargaining agreement.

“The arbitrator will make the ruling, I believe, sometime on Saturday,” Bowman said during a conference call Thursday evening. “At that point we have 48 hours to accept or walk away from the award, or trade the award.

“To be simple, it will depend on what the number is,” he added. “Im not going to get into the dollar amount. Our cap situation is tight. Depending on where it is, it will drive the boat.”

Niemi earned $826,875 last season as a rookie. He played all but one period of the Blackhawks postseason run to the championship, going 16-6 with a 2.63 goals-against average, .910 save percentage and two shutouts,

To remain under the NHLs $59.4 million salary cap, the Blackhawks may have offered as little as $2 million to Niemi, who has played in just 42 regular-season games in his career. He took over as the teams top goalie last year, appearing in 39 regular-season games, and went 26-7-4 with seven shutouts, a 2.25 goals-against average and .912 save percentage.

Bowman characterized the hearing as calm and routine.

“It wasnt a contentious thing at all, truthfully” he said. “Both sides were there arguing the merits of their case and highlighting the benefits of their side.

“Obviously, Antti was a successful player and a big part of out team. But when it comes down to the business side, you have to look at comparable players and their situations.”

Since winning the Cup in June, the Blackhawks have shed seven players from their roster, either via trade or free agent signings, to remain under the cap next season. Their situation is complicated by some $4 million in player performance bonuses that were earned last season but will be charged against their 2010-11 cap limit.

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by admin
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Former NBA big man Lorenzen Wright, whose body was found in the woods outside Memphis, was shot to death and the case is being investigated as a homicide, police said Thursday.

Police wouldnt answer questions about motive or suspects. But records indicate that Wright, revered in his hometown as a generous and likable sports hero, was probably carrying a large amount of cash when he disappeared on July 18. A court affidavit obtained by the Associated Press also said Wright had sold two vehicles to a man affiliated with a Memphis drug ring thats suspected in six deaths.

His family filed a missing person report with police on July 22, four days after he was last seen, but investigators repeatedly said they didnt suspect foul play. Wrights mother said in the report that she was worried because his silence was out of character and “he probably has a large amount of cash on him.”

The report said that the day he disappeared, he had been dropped off at a restaurant by a woman and later taken to his ex-wifes house in Collierville, a Memphis suburb. The ex-wife, Sherra Wright, told officers that Wright left her home in the middle of the night with someone.

Family members said Wrights body was found near an apartment complex in southeast Memphis on Wednesday, but police awaited dental records to confirm his identity. Police on Thursday said a 911 call was placed from Wrights cell phone early on July 19 and investigators determined it came from the area his body was found.

Court documents show that Wright acknowledged to the FBI that in 2008 he sold two luxury vehicles, a Mercedes sedan and a Cadillac SUV, to Bobby Cole. The affidavits about the business deal dont show if Wright knew that Cole had been indicted in 2007 on drug distribution charges or if they knew each other.

Cole told the FBI he was connected to the organization run by Craig Petties, an accused drug kingpin charged with racketeering and conspiracy in six murders.

In 2008, Cole offered to turn over to Drug Enforcement Administration agents three vehicles he bought with drug money, including a 2007 Cadillac Escalade SUV and a 2008 Mercedes Benz S63 that had been registered to Wright.

Wright told agents he had sold two vehicles to Cole and he no longer owned them, although registration records listed the Cadillac in Wrights name and the Mercedes in one of Wrights business investments, Allwright Automotive LLC.

In federal court filings, Lorenzen Wright claimed ownership of the cars and said he didnt know the property was used in a crime. A federal judge entered a default judgment in favor of the government in March 2010 and the vehicles were forfeited and the case closed.

The 6-foot-11 Wright played 13 seasons in the NBA for the Los Angeles Clippers, Atlanta Hawks, Memphis Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings and most recently the Cleveland Cavaliers. Wright left the University of Memphis early for the NBA, and the Clippers made him a lottery pick with the No. 7 selection overall.

He averaged 8 points and 6.4 rebounds in 778 career games.

Wright leaves behind six children, his mother Deborah Marion, and father Herb Wright, who coached his son from a wheelchair after he was shot in the spine. Lorenzen Wright 11-month-old daughter, Sierra, died in March 2003 of sudden infant death syndrome.

Longtime friend Kevin Nelson remembered Wright as a well-meaning person who treated people with respect.

“He was a people person, he never met a stranger,” Nelson said. “It really hit us hard.”

Nearly 200 people had turned up Wednesday at the crime scene after hearing that police might have found Wrights body. Among them was former NBA star Penny Hardaway, who played at Memphis two years before Wright and heard the news from a friend.

“I cried. The emotions hit me immediately. Its just sad because we lost a good person and a brother,” Hardaway said.

Wrights friends also questioned why police didnt act with more urgency, pointing to the 911 call.

The , which first reported the call, said a dispatcher in the suburb of Germantown heard a garbled male voice say an expletive and then at least 10 gunshots. The call went dead and no one answered when the dispatcher called back, the newspaper reported.

Collierville spokesman Mark Heuberger said he couldnt comment on whether his department knew about the call. Family spokeswoman Camelle Logan, Wrights cousin, declined comment.

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by admin
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Online betting players know that when it all comes down to it, NFL teams live and die with their offensive and defensive lines, something that Buffalo and Washington had trouble with in 2009. The Redskins have improved there, while the Bills havent, and thatll be the difference in this preseason matchup.

What: NFL betting
When: Friday, August 13th, 7:30 PM ET
Where: FedEx Field, Landover, MD
Pick: Redskins

Whats On The Line

The Bills are looking to fill a lot of holes on both sides of the ball, and fans will be hoping that rookie running back C.J. Spiller is signed by the time they get into camp. This will be the first showing of Donovan McNabb in a Washington uniform, although he wont get that many reps. But what about Albert Haynesworth? Will he still be in the nations capital?

Offensive Matchups: Bills Redskins Betting

Trent Edwards is back as the No.1 guy after a year of injuries in 2009, but Ryan Fitzpatrick is waiting in the wings, while Brian Brohm and Levi Brown should also get some reps in this game. Whoever the quarterback is will be throwing to a group of young and hungry wideouts, but it wont matter unless the offensive line is improved. This was the problem unit on the offense last year, and it was due to a mix of inexperience and injuries. Fred Jackson is the No.1 back, while Marshawn Lynch will probably be shipped out, but everyone is waiting to see what Spiller, the open-field threat can do. Spiller hadnt signed with the Bills as of July 29th, so that should be priority No.1.

In Washington, its all about the pickup of McNabb, who was recruited by Mike Shanahan, the offensive genius who replaces Jim Zorn at coach. Even though Rex Grossman and Colt Brennan will get most of the work in this game, McNabb is a definite improvement over Jason Campbell, but like the Bills, Washingtons offensive line was terrible last year. But with the drafting of Trent Williams, along with the acquisition of Jammal Brown, the line could be in better shape. The Redskins are deep at running back with Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker, but all three of those guys have been injury prone. The key in this game will be finding some receivers for McNabb, and its time for Malcolm Kelly to step up.

Betting Edge: Redskins

Defensive Matchups: Bills Redskins Betting

The Bills are switching to a 3-4 defense under new coach Chan Gailey, and Buffalo was 30th in the league in run defense last year. Theyre hoping that rookie Torrel Troup will help in the middle of the line, which will allow the linebackers to make tackles. The secondary is the best group on the defensive side of the ball, but the cornerbacks had some injuries last year, and theyll be looking at the depth of that unit in this game.

Haynesworth wants to leave reportedly because of Shanahans switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4, but to be honest, he wasnt all that great last year and if hes going to be a distraction, the Redskins are better off moving him. The Redskins still have a very good defense without him, led by Landon Fletcher, who is coming off his first Pro Bowl, but hes also 34 years old. Hell be fine this year, but the Redskins need to start looking for his replacement. Fourth-round pick Perry Riley will probably get a good look at linebacker in this game.

Sport picks: Draw

Notable Injuries: Bills Redskins Betting

Guard Mike Williams (lungs) is reportedly gone for the season with blood clots, while tackle Demetrius Bell (leg) and linebacker Paul Posluszny (groin) probably wont make this game, either.

Tight end Chris Cooley (ankle) should be fine to take a couple reps in this game.

Betting picks: Redskins

Outlook and Pick: Bills Redskins Betting

The Bills have won their last two regular-season trips to Washington, and even though its a preseason game, it could have the intensity of a regular-season game because both teams have new coaches, and players know theyre playing for spots. The Redskins should win because of a deeper defense, and theyll be out to show that their offensive line is improved. If they win the battle up front against a Buffalo team that has been terrible on both lines lately, theyre an easy sports betting pick.

Stans Pick: Redskins

Posted on July 30th, 2010 by admin
Filed under: Sportsbook news | No Comments »

Trade deadline, three days away.

And this is roughly when the Boston Red Sox were supposed to pluck slugger Adrian Gonzalez from the carcass of the dead-and-buried San Diego Padres.

A foot injury has reduced Boston captain Jason Varitek to a boot and crutches. (AP) Except … the earth apparently has reversed its axis since last winter. You cant even find a deal this ludicrous on mlbtraderumors.com these days.

Here the Red Sox are in Southern California, and first place is two hours south.

It is Gonzalez who is pushing his teammates toward the best record in the National League.

It is the Red Sox who are threatening to fade.

Sparkplug Dustin Pedroia got depressing news from the doctor this week and will have another bone scan on his fractured left foot when the Sox get home Friday. Captain Jason Varitek gimps around in a boot and on crutches. Slugger Mike Lowell is rehabbing with Triple-A Pawtucket in Toledo, outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is rehabbing in Florida with the Gulf Coast League Sox and J.D. Drew was scratched from the latest Boston lineup with hamstring tightness.

That the Red Sox have been able to hang this close for this long through a tidal wave of injuries in 2010 has been more impressive than the autumn trees lining the Charles River in the fall.

But as the trade d they need a set-up reliever to pair with Daniel they cannot fill their biggest needs.

They cannot make Pedroias foot whole again with one phone call. They cannot heal Ellsburys ribs with a player to be named later. There is no deal to be had that will remove Lowells hip problems.

“The season is not even close to being over,” Pedroia says.

True. But what a 162-game schedule does is, it exposes weaknesses and rewards depth.

“Still a long way to go,” Pedroia protests. “Weve still got 60-some games left, right?”

Right. But the Red Soxs outlook for playing catch-up over those 60-some games would not be nearly as dire if they were not in the same situation now as they were in late June … and late May … and seemingly every day since the season started: Stuck in neutral waiting for guys to get healthy.

The dog days of August are around the corner, and theyre threatening to take the Red Sox with them.

It isnt just that the Sox trail the Yankees by eight games in the AL East.

Its that theyve fallen five games behind Tampa Bay in the AL wild-card chase.

Theyve lost seven of 13 since the All-Star break, 12 of their past 20 and 6 ½ games in the standings since June 21.

“Other than past week or 10 days. … We lost to a good team in Texas that was really hot. We didnt win like we should have against Oakland,” first baseman Kevin Youkilis says.

“Victor [Martinez] is back now, and if get a couple of other guys back well be in good shape because we have enough starting pitching to go a good way. We get a couple of guys back here and there I think it will give us a good stretch run and, hopefully, put us in the playoffs some how, some way.”

All credit in the world to the Darnell McDonalds and Daniel Navas for not only acting as human Band-Aids, but for doing far more than expected in keeping Boston in contention for so long.

But the hope was to get Pedroia back in late July or the first of August, and unless Fridays CT scan reveals a miracle at work, the 2008 AL MVP almost certainly will not see the field until mid-August at the earliest.

Pedroia returned dejected from a visit to the Angels well-known orthopedist, Dr. Lewis Yocum, late Tuesday afternoon. Essentially, Pedroia, who was h which would have been around Aug. 1. But Yocums news was jarring.

“I thought I could play,” Pedroia says. “That if I feel hurt, you can just play through it. You really cant do that with this injury. Thats hard to deal with. That bone will break off, then they would have to put pins in it. It would be a disaster. It could go into the offseason and then maybe next year.”

Josh Beckett returned from the disabled list a week ago, made just his 10th start of the season in Wednesdays series finale in Anaheim and has won just one game this summer.

The hope is that Ellsbury can return in about two weeks.

“They really miss Ellsbury,” one American League scout says. “His speed, and what he does in the outfield. Theyve been playing too much with fourth outfielders.”

Though general manager Theo Epstein at recent July deadlines has pulled out of his hat impact players Victor Martinez, Billy Wagner, Jason Bay, Orlando Cabrera and Dave Roberts, the agenda this July is different.

“Weve had our fair share of injuries and those teams havent,” Pedroia says of the two teams the Sox are chasing in the AL East, the Yankees and Rays. “Thats really a credit to them, but weve had some freak accidents, man. All year.

“We havent had our opening day lineup out there since game nine or whenever the heck it was. Weve dealt with it and hopefully we can hang on and get in [the playoffs].”

Pedroia cites a 35-game stretch from late May through early July in which Red Sox made up eight games in the standings. Point is, he says, it can be done.

But how many holes can an injury-racked team be expected to climb out of before the fuel gauge registers “E”?

Here we are, the trade deadline ticking closer, and the Red Sox and Adrian Gonzalez this week were separated by just two hours of Interstate 5 asphalt.

But who would have believed the direction each is traveling?

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by admin
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Second-seeded Sam Querrey rallied to beat Kevin Anderson 7-6 (10), 4-6, 6-0 to open defense of his title at the Farmers Classic on Wednesday night.

Querrey served out the 2-hour, 14-minute match on his second match point, putting away a forehand winner.

He improved to 3-0 against Anderson, a South African who was set to play the qualifying here, but avoided it when he advanced to the semifinals last week in Atlanta. He received a special exemption into the main draw, and gave Querrey all he could handle until the third set.

“We both have big serves. I got lucky there,” Querrey said. “Hes got such a big serve. I couldnt really get a rhythm. I just focused a little harder on my service games and I got a few more returns.”

Bob and Mike Bryan opened a bid to win their record 62nd career doubles title with a 6-3, 6-4 victory against Mardy Fish and Mark Knowles.

The top-seeded Bryans are five-time champions of their hometown tournament at the Los Angeles Tennis Center on the UCLA campus, improving to 25-6 here with their 13th consecutive victory. Theyre from nearby Camarillo in Ventura County.

“It feels great to be on that court,” Mike said. “You look around and see a lot of familiar faces and it gives you a shot of energy. We played on that court when we were 6 years old and probably every year since. Its our favorite court in the world.”

The brothers are tied with Hall of Famers Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde with 61 career titles. They could have made history at Wimbledon, but lost in the quarterfinals.

Bob Bryan said the twins felt greater pressure to tie the Woodies, which they did in May at the Madrid Masters.

“That was the number we were looking at,” he said. “We want to play this game for another five years. We dont feel that pressure.”

Third-seeded Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus beat American wild card Ryan Sweeting 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in second-round play.

Baghdatis fired 11 aces and had the same number of winners in advancing to his fifth quarterfinal of the year. Hell next play sixth-seeded Janko Tipsarevic of Serbia, who beat qualifier Somdev Devvarman of India 7-6 (11), 6-2.

Baghdatis had lost all three of his matches in his three previous tournaments, all on grass. It was his first win since a second-round victory at the French Open in May.

“I fought for the match without playing perfect tennis,” he said. “I came to L.A. knowing I wasnt going to play my best tennis. I felt really bad on court and its good to win when you feel bad.”

Sweeting fell to 1-7 in ATP Tour matches this year, including first-round losses at the French Open and Wimbledon.

“I started off playing well,” he said. “He started serving well. When he gets going, hes a tough player. Hes a shotmaker. He can hit a winner from anywhere on the court.”

Tipsarevic improved to 2-0 against Devvarman, who missed a chance to break into the tours top 100 for the first time with a victory.

Rainer Schuettler of Germany outlasted American Robby Ginepri 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 in their first meeting since 2003. At 34, Schuettler is the oldest player in the singles draw. Schuettler will next play Querrey.

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by admin
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Kentucky lost its five best players early because they wanted to become NBA millionaires, and North Carolina lost two players who figured to be in next seasons rotation because they wanted to get closer to their California home. This stuff happens in college basketball. Guys come and go for a variety of reasons, but when they go its always because they believe theres something better out there.

In other words, good players never just quit.

Kevin Coble led the Wildcats in scoring and rebounding each of his three seasons. (Getty Images) Or at least thats what I thought.

“I would like to thank Northwestern University and the administration for all that they have done for me,” said Kevin Coble, who followed that sentence Tuesday by explaining that hes going to thank Northwestern University and the administration for all they have done for him by not using his final year of eligibility. Consequently, the Wildcats will enter the season without a key part, and I really do feel sorry for poor Bill Carmody.

One of his best players just quit.

In late July.

And though I realize Coble suffered a foot injury last year, there was and still is no indication said foot injury wouldve prevented Coble from playing this season. He couldve played if he wanted to play. Thats what Im told. But Coble doesnt want to play anymore, which is odd because when a person accepts a basketball scholarship to a school I tend to think he should, I dont know, play basketball for that school. Maybe Im just old-fashioned.

But whatever.

Thats not the point of this column.

The point of this column is how Cobles decision, right or wrong, highlights just how difficult it is to succeed at Northwestern, a traditional non-power that serves as the answer to one of college basketballs most basic trivia questions: Whats the only power-conference school to never make the NCAA tournament? Northwestern, of course. And what are the odds of that ever changing if the guy who leads his team in scoring and rebounding as a freshman, sophomore and junior opts to quit basketball despite remaining in school for his senior year?

Understand, thats whats happening here. Coble isnt leaving the Wildcats for the NBA, for Europe, for a job as an investment banker. Hes just . He doesnt even graduate until December, meaning Coble will be a student on campus but not a player on the court when Northwestern opens the season. Its the equivalent of Robbie Hummel announcing hes going to remain in school at Purdue but no longer play for the Boilermakers, the equivalent of Kalin Lucas announcing hes going to remain in school at Michigan State but no longer play for the Spartans.

Its insane.

(If not insane, at least unusual.)

But what Cobles decision does more than anything is underline the difficulty facing Carmody. Coaches at most schools have to worry about losing a player to the NBA, to the NBDL, to an overseas contract or another school via transfer, but thats pretty much it. Northwestern just lost maybe its best player to … nothing. Dude just up and quit in late July, decided hed rather focus on books and other things than play another Big Ten schedule, which might t who tend to recruit “stude are the only power-conference team to never make the NCAA tournament.

John Calipari loses players to the Wizards and Kings.

Roy Williams loses players to UCLA.

Bill Carmody loses players to a lack of interest.

Thats not something that happens at high-major programs.

Thats something that happens when a church league star gets married.

Posted on July 29th, 2010 by admin
Filed under: NCAA basketball news | No Comments »