Paul Maurice was fired as coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs after the team failed to make the playoffs during his 2 years.
The NHL club fired Paul Maurice in their first big move of what may be a busy off-season for the team. Assistant coach Randy Ladouceur was also fired and assistant Dallas Eakins was offered a position elsewhere in the organization. Keith Acton will remain as an assistant. They are now looking for a new General Manager after firing John Ferguson earlier this year.
When informed of the decision, Maurice said it was not a total shock. The Maple Leafs finished 12th in the Eastern Conference with a 36-35-11 record and missed a playoff spot by 11 points. "The way the season ended up and the changes that are going to take place on the team," said Maurice. "So I was very aware that it was a possibility and can't say that I was surprised."
Maurice had another year left on his contract. In 2003, he was fired as coach of the Carolina Hurricanes. Maurice being fired will pave the way for the new management team to bring in its own staff. This decision will allow Maurice to look for other NHL jobs. Maurice was quoted saying that he appreciated it happening sooner rather than later and that this dismissal was easier to take than the first one.
His job was spared in January when the team fired Ferguson and replaced him with Fletcher on an interim basis. Ferguson hired Maurice in 2006 after firing Pat Quinn, after the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since 1998. Both Maurice and Ferguson thought that the Maple Leafs would be a playoff team competing for the Stanley Cup. Maurice declined to answer questions about his highlights and deficits during the 2 years he was coach.
Maurice played junior hockey for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires but his playing career was cut short due to an eye injury. Afterwards, he spent 6 years as an assistant coach with the Detroit Jr. Red Wings and was promoted to head coach in 1993-94. He coached the Wings to the OHL title and a berth in the Memorial Cup.
Bet on NHL hockey and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Big Brown Wins Kentucky Derby 134
Big Brown had a 4 3/4-length victory over Eight Belles to win the 134th running of the Kentucky Derby.
The Kentucky Derby 134 is in the books and it was a victorious Big Brown that pulled away from the entire field. On an unhappy note, the filly Eight Belles was able to finish second, very close to Big Brown but was pulled up after the wire and was euthanized on the race track. It's a sad end for what would have been a great weekend for Larry Jones and his fillies.
Bob Black Jack and Cowboy Cal maintained their position in the run down the backstretch. Desormeaux kept Big Brown in the clear in the 3rd flight in 7th place. Approaching the far turn Big Brown began a looping move that put him in 3rd in the middle of the turn. Turning for home, Big Brown swept past Recapture the Glory, who had taken a narrow lead from Cowboy Cal. From there it was just a formality as Big Brown cruised to the wire in 2:01.82 for the mile and a quarter.
The victory was worth $1,451,800 and increased Big Brown’s bankroll to $2,114,500 in just four starts. Big Brown rewarded his backers with payoffs of $6.80, $5 and $4.80. Eight Belles returned $10.60 and $6.40. Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork finished 3rd under Calvin Borel and paid $11.60 to show.
Completing the field in order were Tale of Ekati, Recapture the Glory, Colonel John, Anak Nakal, Pyro, Cowboy Cal, Z Fortune, Smooth Air, Visionaire, Court Vision, Z Humor, Cool Coal Man, Bob Black Jack, Gayego, Big Truck, Adriano and Monba.
Place your bets at i-Sportsbook.com.
The Kentucky Derby 134 is in the books and it was a victorious Big Brown that pulled away from the entire field. On an unhappy note, the filly Eight Belles was able to finish second, very close to Big Brown but was pulled up after the wire and was euthanized on the race track. It's a sad end for what would have been a great weekend for Larry Jones and his fillies.
Bob Black Jack and Cowboy Cal maintained their position in the run down the backstretch. Desormeaux kept Big Brown in the clear in the 3rd flight in 7th place. Approaching the far turn Big Brown began a looping move that put him in 3rd in the middle of the turn. Turning for home, Big Brown swept past Recapture the Glory, who had taken a narrow lead from Cowboy Cal. From there it was just a formality as Big Brown cruised to the wire in 2:01.82 for the mile and a quarter.
The victory was worth $1,451,800 and increased Big Brown’s bankroll to $2,114,500 in just four starts. Big Brown rewarded his backers with payoffs of $6.80, $5 and $4.80. Eight Belles returned $10.60 and $6.40. Mr. and Mrs. William K. Warren Jr.’s Denis of Cork finished 3rd under Calvin Borel and paid $11.60 to show.
Completing the field in order were Tale of Ekati, Recapture the Glory, Colonel John, Anak Nakal, Pyro, Cowboy Cal, Z Fortune, Smooth Air, Visionaire, Court Vision, Z Humor, Cool Coal Man, Bob Black Jack, Gayego, Big Truck, Adriano and Monba.
Place your bets at i-Sportsbook.com.
Rangers Face a 3-0 Series Deficit and the Possibility of Losing Jagr
The New York Rangers are faced with pressures such as Sean Avery injury, the steep odds against a comeback from a 3-0 series deficit to the Penguins and whether or not it is Jaromir Jagr’s last stand in New York.
Jaromir Jagr came to the Rangers in a trade in 2004. He became the leader of the team’s source of revival after the lockout. After 3 consecutive playoff appearances, contract expires at the end of the season. Jagr wants out of the Rangers, although the team seems to want to bring him back. Jagr wants to play offensive hockey again.
After the Rangers dropped to 3-0, questions surfaced about the series deficit as well as whether or not the end is near for Brendan Shanahan and Jaromir Jagr. Jagr has become a dominant force again for the Rangers and Game 3 was a prime example, despite the Rangers’ loss. He scored a goal, took 10 shots and set up his teammates for countless more. Nevertheless, there are many reasons to believe that Jagr is done if the Rangers can't extend their series against the Penguins.
“He’s our best player, there’s no doubt about it,” said Brandon Dubinsky. “He’s helped me personally. I guess that’s kind of a selfish standpoint. I think the team would feel the same way, how important a guy like that is to not only the dynamic of our team in the dressing room, but he’s shown the last part of the season and in the playoffs how dominating he still is at this level.”
There is speculation that he will play in Russia next year. He also may decide to stay in the NHL, but perhaps on a team with a more open offensive system. Even though Jagr is 36 years old, he doesn't think age is important if you work hard saying, "If you do a lot for the game, it doesn't matter how old you are. The hard work always overcomes everything. Maybe not the injuries, but everything else.”
Jagr won Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 and came within 2 points of winning a 6th scoring title in 2005-06. He led the Rangers to the playoffs in 3 consecutive post-lockout seasons. He's been their best player this season and he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Jagr may still be back if he doesn't find what he is looking for with another NHL team. The Rangers probably will not bring back Brendan Shanahan or Martin Straka to a team looking to get younger. However, there is no doubt that the Rangers still believe in Jagr. It is a matter of whether Jagr believes in the Ranger.
Bet on NHL hockey and other sports at www.i-Sportsbook.com.
Jaromir Jagr came to the Rangers in a trade in 2004. He became the leader of the team’s source of revival after the lockout. After 3 consecutive playoff appearances, contract expires at the end of the season. Jagr wants out of the Rangers, although the team seems to want to bring him back. Jagr wants to play offensive hockey again.
After the Rangers dropped to 3-0, questions surfaced about the series deficit as well as whether or not the end is near for Brendan Shanahan and Jaromir Jagr. Jagr has become a dominant force again for the Rangers and Game 3 was a prime example, despite the Rangers’ loss. He scored a goal, took 10 shots and set up his teammates for countless more. Nevertheless, there are many reasons to believe that Jagr is done if the Rangers can't extend their series against the Penguins.
“He’s our best player, there’s no doubt about it,” said Brandon Dubinsky. “He’s helped me personally. I guess that’s kind of a selfish standpoint. I think the team would feel the same way, how important a guy like that is to not only the dynamic of our team in the dressing room, but he’s shown the last part of the season and in the playoffs how dominating he still is at this level.”
There is speculation that he will play in Russia next year. He also may decide to stay in the NHL, but perhaps on a team with a more open offensive system. Even though Jagr is 36 years old, he doesn't think age is important if you work hard saying, "If you do a lot for the game, it doesn't matter how old you are. The hard work always overcomes everything. Maybe not the injuries, but everything else.”
Jagr won Stanley Cups in Pittsburgh in 1991 and 1992 and came within 2 points of winning a 6th scoring title in 2005-06. He led the Rangers to the playoffs in 3 consecutive post-lockout seasons. He's been their best player this season and he will be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
Jagr may still be back if he doesn't find what he is looking for with another NHL team. The Rangers probably will not bring back Brendan Shanahan or Martin Straka to a team looking to get younger. However, there is no doubt that the Rangers still believe in Jagr. It is a matter of whether Jagr believes in the Ranger.
Bet on NHL hockey and other sports at www.i-Sportsbook.com.
2008 Kentucky Derby 134 Prospects
As the Kentucky Derby approaches, sports bettors gather their statistics to make the right picks for this year's race.
During last year's Kentucky Derby, Street Sense got ahead and won at 2:02.17. The year before that, Barbaro won in 2:01.36. It is undetermined as to whether this year's winner will be faster than 2:01.50.
Some experts say that Big Brown could win the Kentucky Derby this year. However, the unbeaten Florida Derby winner will have to contend with some others if he is to win the Run for the Roses. Winner of the Santa Anita Derby, California Colt Colonel John, had a solid practice on the track completing five furlongs in 57.80 seconds.
In the past, Pyro was a favorite among bettors until his disappointing 10th place finish in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. However, his earlier races imply that he's a force to be reckoned with.
Gayego was the winner of the Arkansas Derby and was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith who also rode Giacomo to victory in 2005.
Eight Belles will be surrounded by 19 colts this year's Derby. If she wins, she will join 3 other fillies that have accomplished this noteworthy achievement. The others were Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988.
Street Sense won last year lead by Calvin Borel. If he wins on Denis of Cork he'll be the first jockey to win 2 consecutive Derbys since Eddie Delahoussaye in the early '80s. Borel's mount is currently at 12-1 odds. However, experts say that there are very few who can ride the rail like him.
Dallas Stewart trained Macho Again who won the Derby Trial. “I was encouraged to see Dallas’ horse come back and win the Derby Trial, which legitimizes the race somewhat,” said trainer Graham Motion, referring to the Dallas Stewart-trained Macho Again, who struggled on the Polytrack surface at Turfway in the Lane’s End. “But Adriano certainly couldn't have won more comfortably.”
Because Adriano had previously run poorly in his only start on dirt at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth and had all of his success on turf, his trainer hesitated to commit to a Derby start directly after the Lane’s End. Motion said Adriano’s ninth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth could well have been a result of his colt’s prerace misbehavior in the paddock.
Bet on horse racing and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
During last year's Kentucky Derby, Street Sense got ahead and won at 2:02.17. The year before that, Barbaro won in 2:01.36. It is undetermined as to whether this year's winner will be faster than 2:01.50.
Some experts say that Big Brown could win the Kentucky Derby this year. However, the unbeaten Florida Derby winner will have to contend with some others if he is to win the Run for the Roses. Winner of the Santa Anita Derby, California Colt Colonel John, had a solid practice on the track completing five furlongs in 57.80 seconds.
In the past, Pyro was a favorite among bettors until his disappointing 10th place finish in the Blue Grass at Keeneland. However, his earlier races imply that he's a force to be reckoned with.
Gayego was the winner of the Arkansas Derby and was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith who also rode Giacomo to victory in 2005.
Eight Belles will be surrounded by 19 colts this year's Derby. If she wins, she will join 3 other fillies that have accomplished this noteworthy achievement. The others were Regret in 1915, Genuine Risk in 1980 and Winning Colors in 1988.
Street Sense won last year lead by Calvin Borel. If he wins on Denis of Cork he'll be the first jockey to win 2 consecutive Derbys since Eddie Delahoussaye in the early '80s. Borel's mount is currently at 12-1 odds. However, experts say that there are very few who can ride the rail like him.
Dallas Stewart trained Macho Again who won the Derby Trial. “I was encouraged to see Dallas’ horse come back and win the Derby Trial, which legitimizes the race somewhat,” said trainer Graham Motion, referring to the Dallas Stewart-trained Macho Again, who struggled on the Polytrack surface at Turfway in the Lane’s End. “But Adriano certainly couldn't have won more comfortably.”
Because Adriano had previously run poorly in his only start on dirt at Gulfstream Park in the Fountain of Youth and had all of his success on turf, his trainer hesitated to commit to a Derby start directly after the Lane’s End. Motion said Adriano’s ninth-place finish in the Fountain of Youth could well have been a result of his colt’s prerace misbehavior in the paddock.
Bet on horse racing and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Canadiens and Flyers Do Battle in Eastern Conference
The Montreal Canadiens will try to draw even in the best of seven Eastern Conference semifinals when they visit the Philadelphia Flyers for Game 4.
Montreal won Game 1 in OT, but the Flyers took 2 in a row, earning a 2-1 series advantage. Philadelphia could move one step away from the Eastern Conference finals with another victory. After a 4-2 decision in Montreal, Philadelphia won a Game 3 match-up in South Philadelphia. The Flyers are trying to make it to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since losing to Tampa Bay in 7 games during the 2004 playoffs.
Martin Biron made 32 saves and the Flyers scored 3 times in the 2nd period as they held on for the 3-2 decision and a Game 1 lead in the series. In Game 7 of the Flyers' opening round series against Washington, Biron stopped 135 of 145 shots for a .931 save percentage. He's 6-4 with a 2.66 goals against average and .913 save percentage in 10 games during his first NHL postseason.
Price was solid in the Canadiens' conference quarterfinal series against Boston. However, he's had a difficult time in the 2nd round. He's allowed 10 goals on 68 shots in the series for a dismal .853 save percentage. Guy Carbonneau, Canadiens head coach, declined to name either Price or Halak as the starter in goal for Game 4. The are the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs. No Canadian-based team has won a Stanley Cup since the Canadiens earned their NHL record 24th title in 1993.
The Canadiens are 3-1 all-time in playoff series against Philadelphia, including a win in the 1976 Stanley Cup finals. The last postseason encounter between the teams came in 1989, when the Habs defeated Philly in the Wales Conference finals. The Canadiens outscored the Flyers by a 15-6 margin in the regular season, but they were 8-0 against the Bruins this year and went 7 games with Boston in the 1st round.
Philadelphia had an average 21-14-6 record this season. The Habs posted a solid 25-12-4 mark as the visitors. The Habs are in the 2nd round for the first time since 2004 when they lost to Tampa Bay in the conference semifinals. Philadelphia was also last in the 2nd round that season. They made it to the East finals before losing to the Lightning.
The Canadiens were 9-1 all-time in playoff games in Philadelphia before their latest setback. It was their first postseason game at the Wachovia Center. Game 5 of this series is scheduled in Montreal.
Bet on NHL hockey and other sports a i-Sportsbook.com.
Montreal won Game 1 in OT, but the Flyers took 2 in a row, earning a 2-1 series advantage. Philadelphia could move one step away from the Eastern Conference finals with another victory. After a 4-2 decision in Montreal, Philadelphia won a Game 3 match-up in South Philadelphia. The Flyers are trying to make it to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since losing to Tampa Bay in 7 games during the 2004 playoffs.
Martin Biron made 32 saves and the Flyers scored 3 times in the 2nd period as they held on for the 3-2 decision and a Game 1 lead in the series. In Game 7 of the Flyers' opening round series against Washington, Biron stopped 135 of 145 shots for a .931 save percentage. He's 6-4 with a 2.66 goals against average and .913 save percentage in 10 games during his first NHL postseason.
Price was solid in the Canadiens' conference quarterfinal series against Boston. However, he's had a difficult time in the 2nd round. He's allowed 10 goals on 68 shots in the series for a dismal .853 save percentage. Guy Carbonneau, Canadiens head coach, declined to name either Price or Halak as the starter in goal for Game 4. The are the only Canadian team remaining in the playoffs. No Canadian-based team has won a Stanley Cup since the Canadiens earned their NHL record 24th title in 1993.
The Canadiens are 3-1 all-time in playoff series against Philadelphia, including a win in the 1976 Stanley Cup finals. The last postseason encounter between the teams came in 1989, when the Habs defeated Philly in the Wales Conference finals. The Canadiens outscored the Flyers by a 15-6 margin in the regular season, but they were 8-0 against the Bruins this year and went 7 games with Boston in the 1st round.
Philadelphia had an average 21-14-6 record this season. The Habs posted a solid 25-12-4 mark as the visitors. The Habs are in the 2nd round for the first time since 2004 when they lost to Tampa Bay in the conference semifinals. Philadelphia was also last in the 2nd round that season. They made it to the East finals before losing to the Lightning.
The Canadiens were 9-1 all-time in playoff games in Philadelphia before their latest setback. It was their first postseason game at the Wachovia Center. Game 5 of this series is scheduled in Montreal.
Bet on NHL hockey and other sports a i-Sportsbook.com.
Mavericks Dump Coach Johnson
The Dallas Mavericks fired coach Avery Johnson in what might be one of many off-season decisions after the league's highest payroll produced a 2nd consecutive first-round knockout from the playoffs.
Avery Johnson leaves the team with an impressive resume after more than 3 seasons. However, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wasn't happy with a bottom line of being 3-12 in the playoffs after blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals. After that, the team had to deal with the embarrassment of being booted by Golden State in the opening round last year in one of the biggest upsets in NBA history. The Mavericks didn't win any road games in a 0-9 skid that was impossible to overcome.
Johnson was a championship-winning point guard for San Antonio. He became the Maverick's coach in training when he joined Don Nelson's staff in 2004. After a few months Nelson stepped down Johnson took over. Dallas went 16-2 the rest of that year and won the playoff series. During his first full season, the team went to the NBA Finals for the first time, making him the NBA coach of the year.
The Mavericks won 67 games, matching the 5th most in NBA history. They ended up wasting it with their opening round playoff loss to Nelson and the Warriors. Experts said that Johnson was out-coached by Miami's Pat Riley in the finals, then by Nelson. Johnson changed his starting lineup for Game 1 against Golden State even though his team was the overwhelming favorite.
Johnson's departure became imminent in the Hornets series. He admitted that he was to blame for the team being down 2-0. Afterwards, Josh Howard admitted on a local radio to show that he and other NBA players use marijuana. After losing Game 4, Johnson canceled an off-day practice but later found out that his players put themselves through a workout without him.
Johnson may not be unemployed very long. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are among the teams in need of a coach. Either may be interested in a coach that preaches discipline and defense. It's hasn't been determined who Johnson's successor will be. Cuban inherited Nelson when he bought the team and then they both agreed to groom Johnson. Paul Westphal was on Johnson's staff and Del Harris is still on the payroll as a consultant. Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Carlisle are other experienced coaches who might be considered. Either way, whoever takes over will inherit a team of expensive, aging players.
Bet on NBA basketball and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Avery Johnson leaves the team with an impressive resume after more than 3 seasons. However, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban wasn't happy with a bottom line of being 3-12 in the playoffs after blowing a 2-0 lead in the 2006 NBA finals. After that, the team had to deal with the embarrassment of being booted by Golden State in the opening round last year in one of the biggest upsets in NBA history. The Mavericks didn't win any road games in a 0-9 skid that was impossible to overcome.
Johnson was a championship-winning point guard for San Antonio. He became the Maverick's coach in training when he joined Don Nelson's staff in 2004. After a few months Nelson stepped down Johnson took over. Dallas went 16-2 the rest of that year and won the playoff series. During his first full season, the team went to the NBA Finals for the first time, making him the NBA coach of the year.
The Mavericks won 67 games, matching the 5th most in NBA history. They ended up wasting it with their opening round playoff loss to Nelson and the Warriors. Experts said that Johnson was out-coached by Miami's Pat Riley in the finals, then by Nelson. Johnson changed his starting lineup for Game 1 against Golden State even though his team was the overwhelming favorite.
Johnson's departure became imminent in the Hornets series. He admitted that he was to blame for the team being down 2-0. Afterwards, Josh Howard admitted on a local radio to show that he and other NBA players use marijuana. After losing Game 4, Johnson canceled an off-day practice but later found out that his players put themselves through a workout without him.
Johnson may not be unemployed very long. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks are among the teams in need of a coach. Either may be interested in a coach that preaches discipline and defense. It's hasn't been determined who Johnson's successor will be. Cuban inherited Nelson when he bought the team and then they both agreed to groom Johnson. Paul Westphal was on Johnson's staff and Del Harris is still on the payroll as a consultant. Jeff Van Gundy and Rick Carlisle are other experienced coaches who might be considered. Either way, whoever takes over will inherit a team of expensive, aging players.
Bet on NBA basketball and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Chalmers Wins Nationwide Tour
Greg Chalmers Became the 5th Australian to win in 8 events on the Nationwide Tour when he survived a playoff bogey to win the Henrico County Open.
Greg Chalmers defeated Henrik Bjornstad on the 2nd playoff hole at the Henrico County Open. They finished regulation play at The Dominion Club in suburban Richmond tied at 14 under par 274. Chalmers 3 putted for bogey from 75 feet on the 2nd extra hole. Bjornstad pulled his tee shot on the par 3 into the water and missed the putt that would have forced another hole. Chalmers is the 2nd player in the tour's 19-year history to win a playoff with a bogey. All but one of the previous 126 playoffs ended either with an eagle, birdie or par.
"It feels really good to win this early in the year," said Chalmers. "I've been playing very well up to this point. I felt this kind of win was just around the corner for me and it's nice to actually turn that corner."
Both Bjornstad and Chalmers finished under 70s on The Dominion Club course. Neal Lancaster finished 3rd, when his birdie putt on the final hole stopped a few inches away from the cup. Six players tied for 4th, including Bryan DeCorso and Matt Hansen, leaving Bjornstad and Chalmers to compete in the tournament's 3rd consecutive playoff and the 5th in the past 9 years.
They returned to the tee at the 18th hole, where they each made par. Bjornstad got on the green in 2 shots and settled for par when his birdie putt missed. Chalmers laid up on the par 5 and 2 putted for par. Chalmers had 3 straight birdies, reaching 15 under par. He missed a few birdie chances which prevented him from getting in the lead. A bogey at Number 16 dropped him back to 14 under, where he stayed.
Hansen stayed in the lead at 15 under with 3 holes remaining. However, he bogeyed the par 4 16th, falling into a tie. His 2nd shot on the par 5 closing hole fell short in the water and, resulting in a double bogey. "I though I could hit a 3 iron further than 198 yards," said Hansen. "If it's 5 yards to the left it's on land. There will be other chances."
Lyle, Chalmer and Porter now occupy the first 3 places on the money list with Price 5th and Coles 10th. The victory was worth $90,000 for Chalmers, bumping him to Number 2 with $161,154. The top 25 at the end of the year will earn 2009 PGA Tour cards.
Bet on golf and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Greg Chalmers defeated Henrik Bjornstad on the 2nd playoff hole at the Henrico County Open. They finished regulation play at The Dominion Club in suburban Richmond tied at 14 under par 274. Chalmers 3 putted for bogey from 75 feet on the 2nd extra hole. Bjornstad pulled his tee shot on the par 3 into the water and missed the putt that would have forced another hole. Chalmers is the 2nd player in the tour's 19-year history to win a playoff with a bogey. All but one of the previous 126 playoffs ended either with an eagle, birdie or par.
"It feels really good to win this early in the year," said Chalmers. "I've been playing very well up to this point. I felt this kind of win was just around the corner for me and it's nice to actually turn that corner."
Both Bjornstad and Chalmers finished under 70s on The Dominion Club course. Neal Lancaster finished 3rd, when his birdie putt on the final hole stopped a few inches away from the cup. Six players tied for 4th, including Bryan DeCorso and Matt Hansen, leaving Bjornstad and Chalmers to compete in the tournament's 3rd consecutive playoff and the 5th in the past 9 years.
They returned to the tee at the 18th hole, where they each made par. Bjornstad got on the green in 2 shots and settled for par when his birdie putt missed. Chalmers laid up on the par 5 and 2 putted for par. Chalmers had 3 straight birdies, reaching 15 under par. He missed a few birdie chances which prevented him from getting in the lead. A bogey at Number 16 dropped him back to 14 under, where he stayed.
Hansen stayed in the lead at 15 under with 3 holes remaining. However, he bogeyed the par 4 16th, falling into a tie. His 2nd shot on the par 5 closing hole fell short in the water and, resulting in a double bogey. "I though I could hit a 3 iron further than 198 yards," said Hansen. "If it's 5 yards to the left it's on land. There will be other chances."
Lyle, Chalmer and Porter now occupy the first 3 places on the money list with Price 5th and Coles 10th. The victory was worth $90,000 for Chalmers, bumping him to Number 2 with $161,154. The top 25 at the end of the year will earn 2009 PGA Tour cards.
Bet on golf and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Penguins beat Rangers with a 2-0 Series Lead
Jordan Staal scored a power-play goal in the second period giving the Penguins a 2-0 victory over the Rangers and a sweep of the first 2 games of their 2nd round series.
Jordan Staal's goal in the 2nd period broke a scoreless tie and Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up, giving the Penguins a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers and a home-ice sweep of the first 2 games of their 2nd round series. Fleury helped the Penguins kill off 2 key Rangers power plays in the last few minutes and Adam Hall scored into an empty net with 16.7 seconds left. Staal has played well in the playoffs so far after having a disappointing regular season, getting only 12 goals, none short-handed. He had 29 goals and an NHL rookie-record of 7 short-handed scores.
Staal's power-play goal came with the Rangers' best penalty killer, Chris Drury, off for hooking. Evgeni Malkin gathered the puck in the left circle and fed it down low to Staal who lifted the puck over the goalie, who played a great game, making multiple saves. "He's a great passer," Jordan Staal said of goalie Henrik Lundqvist. "I'm just glad to be the finisher."
"We just have to go back home and still feel confident, we know we can beat this team," Lundqvist said. "We have to go back home and get two wins there and come back here, and it's going to be pressure on them."
With the Penguins clearing the puck in the last few seconds, Fleury hit Rangers forward Sean Avery in the backside with his stick. Avery spun around and hit the goalie with his stick before being pushed away. Officials gained control before things got completely out of hand. A few seconds before Staal scored his 2nd of the playoffs, Pittsburgh's Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone couldn't convert from in close as the Rangers' Martin Straka rushed back to the bench to replace his broken stick, creating a 5 on 3 for Pittsburgh.
Sidney Crosby also missed a good scoring chance. Instead, Crosby occupied the Rangers' attention at both ends of the ice, sometimes in a distracting way. He drew the penalty that led to Malkin's deflected game-winning goal in Game 1 on Friday, causing some of the Rangers to accuse him of diving to set up the power play goal in the final two minutes.
The Rangers have to sweep the 2 games in New York to regain a tie in the series between Atlantic Division rivals. Games 3 and 4 will be at Madison Square Garden where Pittsburgh is 0-3-1 this year.
Bet on NHL hockey and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Jordan Staal's goal in the 2nd period broke a scoreless tie and Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made the lead stand up, giving the Penguins a 2-0 victory over the New York Rangers and a home-ice sweep of the first 2 games of their 2nd round series. Fleury helped the Penguins kill off 2 key Rangers power plays in the last few minutes and Adam Hall scored into an empty net with 16.7 seconds left. Staal has played well in the playoffs so far after having a disappointing regular season, getting only 12 goals, none short-handed. He had 29 goals and an NHL rookie-record of 7 short-handed scores.
Staal's power-play goal came with the Rangers' best penalty killer, Chris Drury, off for hooking. Evgeni Malkin gathered the puck in the left circle and fed it down low to Staal who lifted the puck over the goalie, who played a great game, making multiple saves. "He's a great passer," Jordan Staal said of goalie Henrik Lundqvist. "I'm just glad to be the finisher."
"We just have to go back home and still feel confident, we know we can beat this team," Lundqvist said. "We have to go back home and get two wins there and come back here, and it's going to be pressure on them."
With the Penguins clearing the puck in the last few seconds, Fleury hit Rangers forward Sean Avery in the backside with his stick. Avery spun around and hit the goalie with his stick before being pushed away. Officials gained control before things got completely out of hand. A few seconds before Staal scored his 2nd of the playoffs, Pittsburgh's Marian Hossa and Ryan Malone couldn't convert from in close as the Rangers' Martin Straka rushed back to the bench to replace his broken stick, creating a 5 on 3 for Pittsburgh.
Sidney Crosby also missed a good scoring chance. Instead, Crosby occupied the Rangers' attention at both ends of the ice, sometimes in a distracting way. He drew the penalty that led to Malkin's deflected game-winning goal in Game 1 on Friday, causing some of the Rangers to accuse him of diving to set up the power play goal in the final two minutes.
The Rangers have to sweep the 2 games in New York to regain a tie in the series between Atlantic Division rivals. Games 3 and 4 will be at Madison Square Garden where Pittsburgh is 0-3-1 this year.
Bet on NHL hockey and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Kyle Busch Wins at Talladega
Kyle Busch came back from being a lap behind in the Aaron's 499 for his 1st win at Talladega Superspeedway. A multi-car pileup froze the track and allowed Busch to make his way across the finish line.
Unlike his past experiences, this time the crash happened behind Kyle Busch, who drove into Victory Lane instead of leaving Talladega Superspeedway with a demolished car. He fell a lap behind halfway through the race, managing to avoid a crash with Jamie McMurray. This was his 2nd Sprint Cup race of the year, finishing just ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya in the Aaron's 499. Montoya finished 2nd, moving into the top 12 in series points. Hamlin finished 3rd.
The Sprint Cup series race was won under caution when a multi-car accident brought out the yellow flag on the final lap. Among those knocked out of the race were Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Jamie McMurray. The crash froze the field, allowing Busch to slowly make his way across the finish line.
"I'd like to say that I'm smarter than I look but that's certainly not the case," Busch said. "Today was just due to having a great car. Getting a lap down, that was like, 'Oh, typical Talladega' there. But I didn't wreck today and I was definitely happy of that and I was greatly appreciative that I was able to win today because it's certainly been a struggle for several years."
With 15 laps remaining, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Stewart were among those caught in the crash. Busch had the lead ahead of Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya when the racing resumed with 5 laps left. A spin by Bobby Labonte brought out the race's 7th caution.
In 6 previous Cup races, Busch failed to finish 4 times and crashed both events last year. This victory is his 2nd Sprint Cup win, the 7th spanning all 3 of NASCAR's top series. It also gives him 4 consecutive wins. Busch was one of the fastest cars for most of the race. He used a "Lucky Dog" pass to get back on the lead lap with about 60 laps remaining. From there he powered towards the leader.
At lap 61 the drivers began to head for pit road a couple at a time for fuel and tires. The next lap almost half the field made the slow left turn into the pits. The rest of the drivers came in on lap 63 and 64 so no one got caught in a caution flag situation, except for Busch. He missed his pit stall and had to go all the way around which cost him almost a full lap to the leaders.
This victory pushed Busch to within 13 points of championship leader Jeff Burton. The next race in the series is set for May 3rd at the Richmond International Raceway.
Bet on NASCAR and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Unlike his past experiences, this time the crash happened behind Kyle Busch, who drove into Victory Lane instead of leaving Talladega Superspeedway with a demolished car. He fell a lap behind halfway through the race, managing to avoid a crash with Jamie McMurray. This was his 2nd Sprint Cup race of the year, finishing just ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya in the Aaron's 499. Montoya finished 2nd, moving into the top 12 in series points. Hamlin finished 3rd.
The Sprint Cup series race was won under caution when a multi-car accident brought out the yellow flag on the final lap. Among those knocked out of the race were Tony Stewart, Bobby Labonte, Kurt Busch, Martin Truex Jr. and Jamie McMurray. The crash froze the field, allowing Busch to slowly make his way across the finish line.
"I'd like to say that I'm smarter than I look but that's certainly not the case," Busch said. "Today was just due to having a great car. Getting a lap down, that was like, 'Oh, typical Talladega' there. But I didn't wreck today and I was definitely happy of that and I was greatly appreciative that I was able to win today because it's certainly been a struggle for several years."
With 15 laps remaining, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Stewart were among those caught in the crash. Busch had the lead ahead of Jeff Gordon, Ryan Newman and Juan Pablo Montoya when the racing resumed with 5 laps left. A spin by Bobby Labonte brought out the race's 7th caution.
In 6 previous Cup races, Busch failed to finish 4 times and crashed both events last year. This victory is his 2nd Sprint Cup win, the 7th spanning all 3 of NASCAR's top series. It also gives him 4 consecutive wins. Busch was one of the fastest cars for most of the race. He used a "Lucky Dog" pass to get back on the lead lap with about 60 laps remaining. From there he powered towards the leader.
At lap 61 the drivers began to head for pit road a couple at a time for fuel and tires. The next lap almost half the field made the slow left turn into the pits. The rest of the drivers came in on lap 63 and 64 so no one got caught in a caution flag situation, except for Busch. He missed his pit stall and had to go all the way around which cost him almost a full lap to the leaders.
This victory pushed Busch to within 13 points of championship leader Jeff Burton. The next race in the series is set for May 3rd at the Richmond International Raceway.
Bet on NASCAR and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Byrd Will Make Light Heavyweight Debut Against George
Former 2 time heavyweight titleholder Chris Byrd is moving down to light heavyweight and signed a deal with promoter, Artie Pelullo and Banner Promotions.
After signing a new contract with Art Pelullo’s Banner Promotions, former WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Chris Bryd will make his light heavyweight debut against Shaun George next month at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, NV. Byrd dominated David Tua at the same arena back in a 2001 elimination fight, earning him a heavyweight title shot.
Byrd made his professional debut in 1993 at 160 lbs. He hasn't fought at less than 177 pounds since then. He recently lost an IBF eliminator to Alexander Povetkin in Germany. George has own 3 straight since losing on points to Alex Gurov in a bid for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title.
If Byrd wins a title at light heavyweight, he becomes the 2nd former heavyweight titleholder to drop down to 175 pounds and also claim a belt. The others were Bob Fitzsimmons in 1902 and Roy Jones Jr. in 2003. Pelullo says that he's known Byrd for a long time and is looking forward to working with him. It may surprise some people that a former 2 time heavyweight champion is fighting at a lower weight class. Although, Pelullo thinks that Byrd will have some great fights in the division and most likely win the world championship.
"I'm excited to work with Artie Pelullo and Banner Promotions and look forward to becoming the light heavyweight champion of the world as soon as possible," Byrd said. "I know Roy Jones Jr. and Robert Fitzsimmons won titles at heavyweight and then light heavyweight, but I'll be the first two-time heavyweight champion to move down to light heavy to win the title."
It's been eight years since Byrd won his first heavyweight title against Vitali Klitschko and He had a great run as heavyweight champion after beating Evander Holyfield. In his last fight, Byrd was stopped in the 11th round of a heavyweight eliminator by Alexander Povetkin. After that fight, he originally planned on going down to the 200 lbs. cruiserweight division but the weight just kept coming off.
Ultimately, Byrd would like to land a fight with one of the big names in the division, such as Antonio Tarver, Jones, Clinton Woods, Glen Johnson, Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, etc. He expects to be in that mix after a few good fights.
Bet on boxing and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
After signing a new contract with Art Pelullo’s Banner Promotions, former WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Chris Bryd will make his light heavyweight debut against Shaun George next month at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, NV. Byrd dominated David Tua at the same arena back in a 2001 elimination fight, earning him a heavyweight title shot.
Byrd made his professional debut in 1993 at 160 lbs. He hasn't fought at less than 177 pounds since then. He recently lost an IBF eliminator to Alexander Povetkin in Germany. George has own 3 straight since losing on points to Alex Gurov in a bid for the vacant WBO Asia Pacific cruiserweight title.
If Byrd wins a title at light heavyweight, he becomes the 2nd former heavyweight titleholder to drop down to 175 pounds and also claim a belt. The others were Bob Fitzsimmons in 1902 and Roy Jones Jr. in 2003. Pelullo says that he's known Byrd for a long time and is looking forward to working with him. It may surprise some people that a former 2 time heavyweight champion is fighting at a lower weight class. Although, Pelullo thinks that Byrd will have some great fights in the division and most likely win the world championship.
"I'm excited to work with Artie Pelullo and Banner Promotions and look forward to becoming the light heavyweight champion of the world as soon as possible," Byrd said. "I know Roy Jones Jr. and Robert Fitzsimmons won titles at heavyweight and then light heavyweight, but I'll be the first two-time heavyweight champion to move down to light heavy to win the title."
It's been eight years since Byrd won his first heavyweight title against Vitali Klitschko and He had a great run as heavyweight champion after beating Evander Holyfield. In his last fight, Byrd was stopped in the 11th round of a heavyweight eliminator by Alexander Povetkin. After that fight, he originally planned on going down to the 200 lbs. cruiserweight division but the weight just kept coming off.
Ultimately, Byrd would like to land a fight with one of the big names in the division, such as Antonio Tarver, Jones, Clinton Woods, Glen Johnson, Bernard Hopkins, Joe Calzaghe, etc. He expects to be in that mix after a few good fights.
Bet on boxing and other sports at i-Sportsbook.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
