Month: May 2009 (Page 3 of 61)

      Magic advance to Finals

      May 31, 2009 /

      Orlando rode a strong first half performance to an 18-point halftime lead, and held off the Cavs’ late charge to win Game 6 (103-90) and clinch a date with the Lakers in the Finals.

      Dwight Howard had arguably his best game of the series, posting 40 points (14-21 from the field, 12-16 from the free throw line), 14 rebounds and four assists. The Magic overcame substandard shooting from Hedo Turkoglu (3-12, 10 points) with fine play from Rashard Lewis (6-13, 18 points) and Mickael Pietrus (5-10, 14 points).

      For the Cavs, Game 6 was more about their failure to have an answer for Howard than it was about getting poor play from LeBron’s sidekicks. Delonte West (9-19, 22 points) and Mo Williams (6-12, 17 points) both played pretty well and shot a combined 5 of 7 from long range. Anderson Varejao (7-12, 14 points) also had a solid game. However, the rest of the Cavs shot a combined 5 for 17 (29%) for 12 points.

      James had 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists, and shot just 40% from the field. Most players would be reasonably happy with a night like that, but the Cavs needed more from LeBron in an elimination game on the road. Still, he averaged 41.2 points (on 50% shooting), 8.6 rebounds and 8.2 assists in the series, so it’s hard to fault his play.

      Looking ahead, the Lakers match up pretty well with the Magic in that they have a couple of big men in Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol that will try to slow down Howard. Bynum in particular needs to play well and it’s not clear that his stamina is strong enough to play a ton of minutes. Gasol isn’t strong enough to handle Howard one-on-one, so when Bynum is on the bench, the Lakers will probably have to throw some double-teams at Orlando’s big man. Meanwhile, Courtney Lee and Mickael Pietrus will be asked to watch Kobe. If they can slow him down and the Magic continue to hit their threes, they’ll have a good shot to upset the Lakers.

      Check back later in the day for a complete breakdown of the challenges that the Cavs face over the next year or so as they try to pick up the pieces and re-sign LeBron.

      NBA, NBA Finals

      Rachel Alexandra to skip Belmont

      May 30, 2009 /

      Despite blowing the horse racing world away with her performance at the 2009 Preakness, filly Rachel Alexandra will skip the Belmont Stakes this year due to fatigue

      As a result, Calvin Borel, who rode Mine That Bird to victory in the Kentucky Derby and Rachel Alexandra in the Preakness, will once again be aboard Mine That Bird in the Belmont Stakes, the third leg of the Triple Crown.

      Though it was widely thought that Rachel Alexandra would not run in the Belmont, owner Jess Jackson fueled hopes that she would run by not announcing a decision last Monday after the filly had her first work back from the race. But on Friday, Jackson ended speculation by saying he believes the filly would benefit from more time between races.

      “We know the media and many fans would have liked to see her run in the Belmont Stakes – we feel the same,” Jackson said in a press release. “But all of us sincerely interested in the horse must agree that we only want to see her run when it is best for her. While she is in great shape, having strong works, and recovering well from her amazing performances, we feel Rachel deserves a well-earned vacation. Since March 14, Rachel has won four graded races with just two weeks’ rest between her last two victories. We will always put her long-term well-being first. And, of course, we want to run her when she is fresh.”

      They have to do what’s best for the horse, but man, what a blow to horse racing. Rachel Alexandra became only the fifth filly to win the Preakness and had finished first in each of the five races she ran in this year. She brought some excitement to racing this year (even though she didn’t compete in the Kentucky Derby and won’t compete in the Belmont) and it’s a shame she won’t run in the third leg of the Triple Crown.

      That said, Borel’s story is intriguing on its own. He won riding Mine That Bird (a 50/1 long shot) at the Kentucky Derby and then again on Rachael Alexandra in the Preakness. Now he’ll hop back on Mine That Bird for the Belmont and try to win his own version of the Triple Crown. I haven’t seen any odds yet, but I’d be willing to bet that Mine That Bird will be the favorite to win the Belmont since he was victorious at the Kentucky Derby and finished second to Rachael Alexandra in the Preakness.

      General Sports

      Broncos’ Marshall seeking a pay raise

      May 30, 2009 /

      According to a report by the Denver Post, Broncos’ receiver Brandon Marshall has asked the team for a pay raise.

      In Marshall’s defense, his salary request is affordable for a receiver who averaged 103 catches and 1,295 receiving yards the past two years. Larry Fitzgerald averages $10 million a year, Randy Moss $9 million, Andre Johnson has an eight-year deal at $7.5 million per and Anquan Boldin is holding out in Arizona trying to get a deal worth at least $9 million per.

      Even if Marshall is another big season away from gaining inclusion in the elite receiver group, he believes he is considered close enough to the neighborhood to seek greater compensation.

      The timing of Marshall’s contract request, however, is peculiar given so many other issues that could negatively affect his immediate future. Begin with the arthroscopic hip surgery March 31. Although Marshall started running last week and is expected to be fully healthy by training camp, an injured hip can be a delicate injury for a receiver.

      There also is the matter of Marshall’s ongoing legal trouble that could draw a second NFL suspension in two years. ESPN’s “Outside The Lines” will air a story Sunday that rehashes Marshall’s past troubles with former girlfriend Rasheeda Watley.

      Marshall’s on-field production certainly garners a pay raise, but his off-field issues will keep the Broncos from giving him one. Why would Denver risk giving him more money and/or more years when he can’t keep his act together off the field? No matter how much money he brings in, it wouldn’t be wise for a fortune 500 company to give its top salesman a raise when he goes out drinking all the time, beats women and winds up in trouble with the law, so why would the Broncos cater to Marshall? It’s a similar situation in that it’s just not a smart business move.

      Marshall needs to concentrate on being productive on the field, flying right off it and then the money will come. His past actions are hurting his future financial gain and he should learn from the mistakes he’s made.

      NFL

      Falcons player arrested after fighting with wife about Facebook

      May 30, 2009 /

      Couples that don’t have Facebook accounts stay together. And this story proves it:

      An Atlanta Falcons player is out on bond following his arrest earlier this week, reportedly after a fight with his wife over a Facebook friend.

      Offensive tackle Quinn Ojinnaka, 25, was booked into the Gwinnett County Jail at 1:40 a.m. Wednesday on a misdemeanor charge of simple battery, according to jail records. He was released about four hours later after posting a $2,400 bond.

      Ojinnaka was arrested at his home in Suwanee after he fought with his wife and spat at her during an argument over a female friend of his on the social networking Web site, Facebook, according to a police report.

      The altercation happened as Ojinnaka was preparing to watch a basketball game Tuesday night, the police report said.

      Ojinnaka told police his wife tried to stab him with a pen, and she said he threw her on some stairs before tossing her out of the house, the police report said.

      Neither Ojinnaka nor his wife complained of injuries and declined medical assistance, police said. Had Ojinnaka not had a Facebook account, he wouldn’t have been Face-flirting with another woman, his wife wouldn’t have tried to stab him with a pen and he wouldn’t have been arrested for throwing her on (on?) some stairs.

      Facebook claims it reunites friends and is a great promotional tool. But what it really does is destroys families. I just don’t know how much more proof you need of that than the above story.

      NFL

      Rockies fire manager Hurdle

      May 30, 2009 /

      As many expected, the Rockies have decided to fire manager Clint Hurdle. Bench coach Jim Tracy will replace him.

      The last straw for the Rockies was being swept at home in a three-game series this week by the Dodgers, with the Rockies being outscored by a combined 31-13. At 18-28, the club is a season-worst 10 games below .500, last in the NL West, and trailing the first-place Dodgers by 14 games.

      Hurdle, 51, went 534-625 (.461) as Rockies manager after taking over for Buddy Bell on April 26, 2002. His high point was leading the Rockies to the 2007 National League pennant before they were swept by the Red Sox in the World Series.

      Hurdle managed only one good season in Colorado and some have stated that the Rockies actually one that year despite his flaws as a manager. Of course, the Monforts didn’t give him much to work with this year, trading his best player (Matt Holliday) in the offseason and not giving him a very competitive roster. Still, it was time for a change in Colorado and Hurdle’s days were numbered a long time ago.

      Tracy might not be much better (he was brutal in Pittsburgh), but he probably won’t be the long-term answer anyway.

      MLB

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