Author: Christopher Glotfelty (Page 48 of 67)

      Cavs’ Anderson Varejao becomes free agent

      July 1, 2009 /

      varejao

      Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao has decided not to exercise his $6.2 million contract option for next season. In doing so, he becomes one of the NBA’s desirable unrestricted free agents, including Hedo Turkoglu, Ben Gordon, and Ron Artest.

      The hustling Varejao posted career-highs in starts (42), scoring (8.6), field-goal percentage (.536) and minutes (28.5) per game last season for the Cavs, who won 66 regular-season games but were eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals by Orlando.

      Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry has stated his intent to re-sign Varejao and the Cavs may offer him a contract during the free-agency signing period which starts on Wednesday.

      The 6-foot-11 Varejao sat out a large chunk of last season in a contract dispute with Cleveland, but has said he wants to stay with the Cavs.

      Varejao, who is only 26 years old, still seems like a great fit for the Cavs. Since Shaq will only be able to put in around 20 minutes per game, the Cavs will need another versatile big-man down low. Varejao has spent his entire NBA career with the Cavs and is in his prime, so it will be interesting to see how his future unfolds.

      NBA

      Doctors rule out surgery for Webb

      July 1, 2009 /

      webby

      The Arizona Diamondbacks and his fantasy owners can breathe a sigh of relief, as multiple doctors have ruled out the possibility of Brandon Webb having season-ending shoulder surgery. The D-Backs ace recently completed a three-city trip in which he saw shoulder specialists in each, all whom said surgery is unnecessary.

      Instead, Webb will hold off on throwing for the next four to six weeks while going through an exercise regimen designed to stabilize his shoulder and strengthen the rotator cuff area.

      All three of the doctors examined multiple MRIs taken of Webb’s shoulder and put him through tests to gauge its strength.

      “Meister said he has seen pitchers with MRIs that look 10 times worse than mine and they are pitching without problems,” Webb said.

      Webb said he first began to feel some stiffness in the shoulder during Spring Training and the doctors believe that it was a teres major strain. The teres major is a muscle located outside the shoulder joint. As a result of that injury, they told him, his shoulder became weak and what he is experiencing now is an internal impingement in the shoulder.

      “Yeah, I feel a lot better,” he said. “I’ve had some of the best doctors in the world for this stuff look at me and they all say pretty much the same thing. Hopefully I can get this shoulder stronger, then start throwing a little and be back to make a few starts in September. The doctors said that’s a realistic goal.”

      While I doubt the D-Backs will be in the playoff hunt come September, Webb can help breathe some life into the organization. Teammate Dan Haren has been excellent all year, but like Zack Geinke, he’s the only active pitcher on his team that is guaranteed to give you a good performance. When Webb returns, he and Haren will try to get back the good thing they’ve had in Arizona.

      Although Webb’s contract expires at the end of this season, the D-backs hold an option for 2010 at $8.5 million or they can buy out the option year for $2 million. How he pitches upon his return will be a good indication whether or not the Diamonbacks will want to pony up or allow Webb to become a free agent.

      MLB

      U.S. to meet Brazil in Confederations Cup finals

      June 25, 2009 /

      u.s

      Spain’s national team, the No. 1-ranked professional soccer team in the world, had been unbeaten a world-record-tying 35 games in a row. They had also won a world-record-tying 15 games in a row. But then they met the United States in the 2009 Confederations Cup. They met the Americans and the Americans beat them. This is the same U.S. National team that has never won a World Cup, a Confederations Cup, or made any FIFA records of considerable note. Nevertheless, they outplayed their Spanish opponents on Wednesday, defeating them 2-0 in front of a shocked South African crowd.

      Although Spain outshot the U.S. 18-9, nothing could get by goalkeeper Tim Howard who was solid the entire game. Goals by Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey were enough to propel the U.S. into the finals.

      Now the Americans will face Brazil, a team they have only beaten once in national competition. Earlier today, Brazil defeated South Africa 1-0 in a hard fought contest. But just because Brazil is in yet another final does not mean they are unstoppable. It took 88 minutes for Brazil to score, when Daniel Alves knocked a direct kick into the net against a highly underrated South African squad.

      Although the ripple effect may, unfortunately, not be as large here in the U.S., the fact that Spain’s national team was beaten buy a bunch of Americans is making news around the world. Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected this to happen. I didn’t, sports critics didn’t, the handful of American soccer fans didn’t, Spain didn’t, and even the irritating ESPN2 commentators didn’t (it’s OK to show a tad bit of nationalism, you bozos).

      Jim Rome was right in his telecast today: this victory won’t put U.S. soccer on the map. Still, it’s amazing.

      You can watch the U.S play Brazil in the Cofederations Cup final on Sunday at 11 AM on ESPN.

      Soccer

      Webb might be out the rest of the season

      June 22, 2009 /

      webb

      Arizona Diamondbacks ace and former Cy Young winner Brandon Webb may be out the rest of the season. Webb was expected to miss a maximum of twelve weeks when he injured his shoulder in early April, but after a recent setback things aren’t looking good.

      Diamondbacks ace Brandon Webb was dealt another setback Thursday when he felt discomfort in his right shoulder during a throwing session, causing the Diamondbacks to cancel the bullpen session that had been scheduled for Friday in Seattle.

      Webb left the team and returned to Phoenix, where he will be re-evaluated, according to manager A.J. Hinch. The setback casts doubt on whether he will pitch again this season.

      Webb was seen by a reporter leaving Kauffman Stadium about an hour before Thursday night’s game.

      Webb, who has been out since Opening Day because of what he said was a strained teres major muscle in the shoulder, was scheduled to throw off the mound today for the first time since April.

      Teammate Dan Haren felt bad for what Webb has gone through this season.

      “He’s come with us on the road, and he has seen us struggle a good part of the year,” Haren said. “If he was out there, I’m sure things would be a little different. He’s constantly in the training room doing these drills. To see him not getting better, I couldn’t imagine how frustrated he is.”

      I’ve heard rumors that Webb is asking to be traded as well. He has a team option for 2010, so there’s a chance (although unconfirmed) that Webb is delaying his return until his future with the team is a bit more clear. Either way, this doesn’t sound like Brandon Webb to me. Like Jake Peavy, the guy just seems to love pitching and simply enjoys the game. The Diamonbacks do have one of the worst records in baseball so I can see why Webb may not be ecstatic to come back. Nevertheless, his contract includes a team option for 2010 so Webb doesn’t really have a say in the matter as far as next year is concerned. If he wants to play for a different team or earn a better contract, he needs to come back this season and prove that this injury isn’t one that will linger throughout his career.

      MLB

      U.S. advances to Confederations Cup semifinals

      June 21, 2009 /

      soccer

      At the Confederations Cup in Rustenburg, South Africa, the U.S. National Team is continuing to surprise everyone as earlier today they beat Egypt to advance to the semifinals.

      The Americans had looked to be heading out of the tournament after losses to Italy and Brazil, but Charlie Davies, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey scored in a vastly improved performance to edge the African champions for a place in the next round on goal difference.

      “All of the critics in America who said we were no good after losing to Italy and Brazil, let’s see what they say now,” Bradley said. “We had to play 90 of 180 minutes against two of the top five teams in the world with 10 men.”

      The United States kept 11 men on the field all game after a red card in each of its previous two games and it showed. Where the Americans had labored previously, they shone throughout and could have scored even more.

      Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected the United States to go far at all in this tournament. The Confederations Cup started, which is held every four years, pits the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (CAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, AFC, OFC, CONCACAF), along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host country. The U.S. National Team is playing great soccer right now and hopefully they will continue with this energy up till next year’s World Cup.

      They will face Spain in the semifinals on Wednesday.

      Soccer

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