Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Maria Sharapova Romance with her Boyfriend Sasha Vujacic
Elizabeth Hurley has made it clear that she and her former husband, Arun Nayar, are very much separated
Now that the very happy and single Elizabeth Hurley has made it clear that she and her former husband, Arun Nayar, are very much separated, there’s nothing stopping the British miss from exchanging sweet nothings with alleged boyfriend, and cricketer, Shane Warne.
Twitter has been witness to their fledgling relationship for some time now. Now Liz is in India to support Shane’s Rajasthan Royals’ bid to win this year’s IPL. She’s been updating her Twitter status every few minutes about the “pouring rain,” while following the team around the country.
She’s also calming Shane’s pre-match nervousness. In one such instance, when Shane posted to Liz, “holding hands in dressing room didn’t work last game. Any other tips for tonight’s game? Boys are super excited.” Liz was quick to remark, “See if Shilpa will give them a big kiss if you win?”
Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne romance are in media now a days.
Twitter has been witness to their fledgling relationship for some time now. Now Liz is in India to support Shane’s Rajasthan Royals’ bid to win this year’s IPL. She’s been updating her Twitter status every few minutes about the “pouring rain,” while following the team around the country.
She’s also calming Shane’s pre-match nervousness. In one such instance, when Shane posted to Liz, “holding hands in dressing room didn’t work last game. Any other tips for tonight’s game? Boys are super excited.” Liz was quick to remark, “See if Shilpa will give them a big kiss if you win?”Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne romance are in media now a days.
ESPN ASIA: Former Sri Lanka skipper Hashan Tillakaratne has vowed to defy death threats to expose match-fixing
The tourists will arrive in England next week surrounded by controversy after Tillakaratne last week claimed fixing was rife in his home country.
Tillakaratne, who played 83 Tests and is now a politician, says the problem dates back to 1992 and has promised to reveal names of Sri Lankan players involved in corruption.
Now he says he will take his evidence to the ICC.
He insisted: "I have been getting a lot of nuisance calls and death threats.
"But I will expose all those who are involved."
Tillakaratne, who played 83 Tests and is now a politician, says the problem dates back to 1992 and has promised to reveal names of Sri Lankan players involved in corruption.
Now he says he will take his evidence to the ICC.
He insisted: "I have been getting a lot of nuisance calls and death threats.
"But I will expose all those who are involved."
Boise State charged with lack of control - USA YESTERDAY
Boise, ID (Sports Network) - The NCAA has charged Boise State with lack of institutional control after finding alleged violations in multiple sports.
Most of the 22 allegations are minor, but the NCAA said that because of the severity of women's tennis violations, it chose to combine all the violations into a major violation. Other sports involved are football, men's tennis, and track and field/cross country.
The school is now required to attend a hearing with the NCAA infractions committee on June 10. The governing body's final report is expected to be released several months after that.
Boise State also responded to the NCAA's allegations Monday.
"Complying with NCAA rules is fundamental to who we are and how we do things at Boise State," said athletics director Gene Bleymaier. "We have addressed the issues and are working with the NCAA to bring this to a close."
The school faces the serious charge because of an alleged violation committed by women's tennis coaches.
A summary of the NCAA's inquiry said that in 2010, the head women's tennis coach and assistant coach provided a prospective student-athlete with "impermissible transportation, cash, lodging, educational expenses and entertainment."
The NCAA also said both coaches conducted illegal practice sessions with the prospect and allowed her to compete before she was enrolled. The coaches, who Boise State said were removed from their posts in November, have been charged with unethical conduct.
This violation, which was self-reported by the school after being committed in October 2010, led the NCAA to charge Boise State with lack of control.
That violation was discovered days before a summary disposition that would have essentially treated the other infractions as unintentional.
Boise State began an investigation in March 2009 at the NCAA's request, and through May 2010 self-reported some secondary violations in preparation for the summary disposition.
Most of the minor infractions center around transportation, housing and meals.
The NCAA alleged that in the summers of 2005-09, assistant football coaches and staff arranged housing and transportation in Boise for 63 prospective student-athletes so they could participate in valid workouts. The arrangements were made for free or at a reduced cost, and the benefits added up to $4,934, a figure determined by the NCAA.
The NCAA also alleged that between 2005-09, 16 prospective student-athletes in the other sports -- men's and women's tennis, and track and field/cross country -- received $718.26 worth of benefits.
Most of the 22 allegations are minor, but the NCAA said that because of the severity of women's tennis violations, it chose to combine all the violations into a major violation. Other sports involved are football, men's tennis, and track and field/cross country.
The school is now required to attend a hearing with the NCAA infractions committee on June 10. The governing body's final report is expected to be released several months after that.
Boise State also responded to the NCAA's allegations Monday.
"Complying with NCAA rules is fundamental to who we are and how we do things at Boise State," said athletics director Gene Bleymaier. "We have addressed the issues and are working with the NCAA to bring this to a close."
The school faces the serious charge because of an alleged violation committed by women's tennis coaches.
A summary of the NCAA's inquiry said that in 2010, the head women's tennis coach and assistant coach provided a prospective student-athlete with "impermissible transportation, cash, lodging, educational expenses and entertainment."
The NCAA also said both coaches conducted illegal practice sessions with the prospect and allowed her to compete before she was enrolled. The coaches, who Boise State said were removed from their posts in November, have been charged with unethical conduct.
This violation, which was self-reported by the school after being committed in October 2010, led the NCAA to charge Boise State with lack of control.
That violation was discovered days before a summary disposition that would have essentially treated the other infractions as unintentional.
Boise State began an investigation in March 2009 at the NCAA's request, and through May 2010 self-reported some secondary violations in preparation for the summary disposition.
Most of the minor infractions center around transportation, housing and meals.
The NCAA alleged that in the summers of 2005-09, assistant football coaches and staff arranged housing and transportation in Boise for 63 prospective student-athletes so they could participate in valid workouts. The arrangements were made for free or at a reduced cost, and the benefits added up to $4,934, a figure determined by the NCAA.
The NCAA also alleged that between 2005-09, 16 prospective student-athletes in the other sports -- men's and women's tennis, and track and field/cross country -- received $718.26 worth of benefits.
Fox News:Serena Williams Not Home During Stalker Arrest
RumorFix has learned that a man accused of stalking Serena Williams has been arrested outside the tennis star's Florida mansion.
Police detained Patenema Ouedraogo on Tuesday morning at approximately 2 a.m. after he was discovered on the grounds of the athlete's plush Palm Beach Gardens estate.
The 40-year-old suspect is an obsessed fan who is well-known to Williams and her security team.
Earlier this year, Ouedraogo allegedly snuck into the star's HSN dressing room by telling security he was her assistant. Williams had him thrown out, but the accused reportedly waited outside the building for the rest of the day.
Ouedraogo has been charged with stalking and cyber-stalking following Tuesday's arrest after telling law enforcement that he had been monitoring Williams' whereabouts on Twitter. He's currently being held on $25,000 bond.
Luckily for William, she was not home at the time of the arrest. Just hours before photographers captured her attending the star studded MET Gala in New York.
Police detained Patenema Ouedraogo on Tuesday morning at approximately 2 a.m. after he was discovered on the grounds of the athlete's plush Palm Beach Gardens estate.
The 40-year-old suspect is an obsessed fan who is well-known to Williams and her security team.
Earlier this year, Ouedraogo allegedly snuck into the star's HSN dressing room by telling security he was her assistant. Williams had him thrown out, but the accused reportedly waited outside the building for the rest of the day.
Ouedraogo has been charged with stalking and cyber-stalking following Tuesday's arrest after telling law enforcement that he had been monitoring Williams' whereabouts on Twitter. He's currently being held on $25,000 bond.
Luckily for William, she was not home at the time of the arrest. Just hours before photographers captured her attending the star studded MET Gala in New York.
Can anyone beat Nadal on Clay?
There you have it. And the most remarkable aspect of that trivia question is what's left unsaid—that nobody else has beaten Nadal (at least not since he was a mere stripling) on the red clay in Europe before Paris. The only real surprise on that list is Andreev—all the other players are Grand Slam champions and former No. 1-ranked players. Andreev took the measure of Rafa in the quarters of Valencia in 2005, when Nadal was ranked No. 31. But it was just days
It wasn't that Acapulco was such a big event. Rather, it was the overpowering way Nadal blasted his way to the title, taking out (in order), Alex Calatrava, Santiago Ventura, Guillermo Canas, Mariano Puerta and Albert Montanes. It was a kind of Platonic round-by-round for clay-court tennis, all either Spanish or Argentinian men with a preference for the dirt. And Nadal gave Montanes a single game in the final, which he won 6-1, 6-0.
Furthermore, after what looks like an odd, inexplicable glitch against against Andreev, Nadal became the Rafa whom we now know and love (or, in some cases, fear and loathe). He would not lose again in 2005 until his feet touched grass in Halle. Nadal won, in succession, Monte Carlo (d. Guillermo Coria), Barcelona (d. Ferrero), Rome (d. Coria) and Roland Garros (d. Puerta). By the end of that run, he was No. 3 in the world and no longer a question mark in anyone's mind.
Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Bjorn Borg Compete in 2011 Champions Series
Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi and Bjorn Borg, who have a combined 33 Grand Slam singles titles, will compete in the 2011 Champions Series, organized by men’s tennis senior tour.
The Champions Series, which carries a $1 million purse split by its top three finishers, will make 12 stops across the U.S. starting in September, according the senior tour’s website. The season begins on Sept. 22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and concludes on Oct. 22 in Buffalo, New York.
Each tournament has four players split into a pair of one- set semifinals. The two winners meet that same night in an eight-game pro-set championship match.
Americans Michael Chang, Jim Courier and John McEnroe, and Swede Mats Wilander will also compete on the 2011 tour, which has television partnerships with Fox Sports Net, New England Sports Net and Tennis Channel, according to its website.
The Champions Series, which carries a $1 million purse split by its top three finishers, will make 12 stops across the U.S. starting in September, according the senior tour’s website. The season begins on Sept. 22 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and concludes on Oct. 22 in Buffalo, New York.
Each tournament has four players split into a pair of one- set semifinals. The two winners meet that same night in an eight-game pro-set championship match.
Americans Michael Chang, Jim Courier and John McEnroe, and Swede Mats Wilander will also compete on the 2011 tour, which has television partnerships with Fox Sports Net, New England Sports Net and Tennis Channel, according to its website.
Men's Basketball Head Coach Rick Pitino Introduces Coaching Staff
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - University of Louisville men's basketball head coach Rick Pitino met with the media on Tuesday afternoon to introduce the Cardinals' new coaching staff - associate coach Richard Pitino and assistant coaches Wyking Jones and Kevin Keatts - at the Yum! Center.
After Rick Pitino talked about the new staff, his son, Richard, Jones and Keatts spoke with the media and answered questions about coming to Louisville and past coaching experiences.
Richard, an assistant on the Louisville staff from 2007-09, has developed into one of the top young assistants and recruiters nationally, with a reputation as a tireless worker and a comprehensive and detailed scout. He worked at Florida under head coach Billy Donovan, who played under Rick Pitino at Providence for two seasons, including the 1986-87 season when the Friars reached the NCAA Final Four.
In his two seasons with the Gators, Florida was a combined 50-20 with back-to back NCAA Tournament appearances, including reaching the 2011 NCAA Southeast Regional finals before falling to NCAA runner-up Butler. The Gators won the 2011 Southeastern Conference championship and had a 29-7 overall record, ranking 10th in the final ESPN/USA Today poll and 15th by AP.
Jones previously spent two years at New Mexico under head coach Steve Alford. He helped the Lobos produce a combined 52-18 record. The 2009-10 New Mexico team won a school-record 30 games (30-5 record), won the Mountain West Conference Championship and was ranked eighth in the final AP poll.
Before joining the New Mexico staff, Jones spent two years as a basketball travel team manager with Nike Elite Youth Basketball. There, he managed all 45 travel teams and the tournaments that Nike sponsored in its grassroots youth program, while he built key relationships across the nation.
Keatts, through 10 seasons at Hargrave Military Academy in two separate stints as the head coach (1999-2001, 2003-2011), compiled an incredible 262-17 record with two national prep titles (2004, 2008), three runner-up finishes (2005, 2006, 2009) and two additional appearances among the final four prep teams (2007, 2010). He won his second national prep title with a perfect 29-0 record, the school's first undefeated season. His teams lost one or fewer games on six occasions.
Located in Chatham, Va., Hargrave produced 103 players who signed NCAA Division I men's basketball scholarships during Keatts 10 seasons as a head coach -- an average of over 10 a year -- and an additional 18 advanced to play at the Division II level. Among the active BIG EAST Conference players who attended Hargrave are Pittsburgh guard Isaiah Epps and DePaul guard/forward Eric Wallace.
After Rick Pitino talked about the new staff, his son, Richard, Jones and Keatts spoke with the media and answered questions about coming to Louisville and past coaching experiences.
Richard, an assistant on the Louisville staff from 2007-09, has developed into one of the top young assistants and recruiters nationally, with a reputation as a tireless worker and a comprehensive and detailed scout. He worked at Florida under head coach Billy Donovan, who played under Rick Pitino at Providence for two seasons, including the 1986-87 season when the Friars reached the NCAA Final Four.
In his two seasons with the Gators, Florida was a combined 50-20 with back-to back NCAA Tournament appearances, including reaching the 2011 NCAA Southeast Regional finals before falling to NCAA runner-up Butler. The Gators won the 2011 Southeastern Conference championship and had a 29-7 overall record, ranking 10th in the final ESPN/USA Today poll and 15th by AP.
Jones previously spent two years at New Mexico under head coach Steve Alford. He helped the Lobos produce a combined 52-18 record. The 2009-10 New Mexico team won a school-record 30 games (30-5 record), won the Mountain West Conference Championship and was ranked eighth in the final AP poll.
Before joining the New Mexico staff, Jones spent two years as a basketball travel team manager with Nike Elite Youth Basketball. There, he managed all 45 travel teams and the tournaments that Nike sponsored in its grassroots youth program, while he built key relationships across the nation.
Keatts, through 10 seasons at Hargrave Military Academy in two separate stints as the head coach (1999-2001, 2003-2011), compiled an incredible 262-17 record with two national prep titles (2004, 2008), three runner-up finishes (2005, 2006, 2009) and two additional appearances among the final four prep teams (2007, 2010). He won his second national prep title with a perfect 29-0 record, the school's first undefeated season. His teams lost one or fewer games on six occasions.
Located in Chatham, Va., Hargrave produced 103 players who signed NCAA Division I men's basketball scholarships during Keatts 10 seasons as a head coach -- an average of over 10 a year -- and an additional 18 advanced to play at the Division II level. Among the active BIG EAST Conference players who attended Hargrave are Pittsburgh guard Isaiah Epps and DePaul guard/forward Eric Wallace.
UPDATE: Falls Hires Leffel As Boys Varsity Basketball Coach; Tokoto Staying
Dan Leffel was selected to be the boys basketball coach at Menomonee Falls High School, athletic director Dave Petroff said Monday, and he will have J.P. Tokoto on the team as well for the 2011-12 season.
Leffel replaces Ben Siebert, who resigned in March. Leffel, who teaches science at North Middle School, had been the freshman coach at Menomonee Falls.
The Indians will have two returning starters for next season, forward Tokoto and guard CJ Malone. Leffel is also counting on contributions from Kevin Meyers, James Ulicki and Brandon Ramey, who were varsity reserves last season.
Tokoto's father told the JSOnline that he would indeed attend next year after considering options such as prep school.
“We will rely on JP and CJ a lot,” Leffel said. “But I’m also excited about trying to develop some of the other players. We’re also going to count on some of the JV guys. They made great strides last year. They showed me a lot.”
After 12 seasons as an assistant coach, Leffel will get an opportunity to run his own show.
“I’m really excited about getting this opportunity,” Leffel said Monday. “It has been a goal of mine to coach in the same district that I teach in. This is a dream come true.”
Leffel has been a part of the Falls basketball program since 2005. He served as an assistant varsity coach for three years and has spent the last three years as the freshman coach. Before coming to Menomonee Falls, Leffel was an assistant varsity basketball coach at Wauwatosa West High School and an assistant coach at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Leffel, 34, is a 1994 graduate of Greenfield High School and a 1999 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran. He played basketball at both schools.
He takes over a team that started the 2010-‘11 season with high expectations, but ended up a disappointing 11-12 last season.
Leffel said he plans to make some changes both offensively and defensively next season.
“I thought we were a little bit too predictable last season,” Leffel said. “I think we relied too much on the dribble drive. I want to use a motion offense, to use screens and picks to get our guys open. On defense, I like to play aggressively. We’re going to press full court, whether it’s zone or man to man. We’re going to switch it up a lot more.”
Siebert met with MFHS Athletic and Activities Director David Petroff in March to inform him of his decision to step down as head coach. Petroff said Siebert cited personal reasons as the motivation behind the decision.
Siebert finished with a 47-25 record in his three seasons as coach at Menomonee Falls. That includes a 11-12 record this past season, which included a first-round loss to Waukesha South in the WIAA regional. Siebert teaches math at the high school.
Leffel replaces Ben Siebert, who resigned in March. Leffel, who teaches science at North Middle School, had been the freshman coach at Menomonee Falls.
The Indians will have two returning starters for next season, forward Tokoto and guard CJ Malone. Leffel is also counting on contributions from Kevin Meyers, James Ulicki and Brandon Ramey, who were varsity reserves last season.
Tokoto's father told the JSOnline that he would indeed attend next year after considering options such as prep school.
“We will rely on JP and CJ a lot,” Leffel said. “But I’m also excited about trying to develop some of the other players. We’re also going to count on some of the JV guys. They made great strides last year. They showed me a lot.”
After 12 seasons as an assistant coach, Leffel will get an opportunity to run his own show.
“I’m really excited about getting this opportunity,” Leffel said Monday. “It has been a goal of mine to coach in the same district that I teach in. This is a dream come true.”
Leffel has been a part of the Falls basketball program since 2005. He served as an assistant varsity coach for three years and has spent the last three years as the freshman coach. Before coming to Menomonee Falls, Leffel was an assistant varsity basketball coach at Wauwatosa West High School and an assistant coach at Wisconsin Lutheran College.
Leffel, 34, is a 1994 graduate of Greenfield High School and a 1999 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran. He played basketball at both schools.
He takes over a team that started the 2010-‘11 season with high expectations, but ended up a disappointing 11-12 last season.
Leffel said he plans to make some changes both offensively and defensively next season.
“I thought we were a little bit too predictable last season,” Leffel said. “I think we relied too much on the dribble drive. I want to use a motion offense, to use screens and picks to get our guys open. On defense, I like to play aggressively. We’re going to press full court, whether it’s zone or man to man. We’re going to switch it up a lot more.”
Siebert met with MFHS Athletic and Activities Director David Petroff in March to inform him of his decision to step down as head coach. Petroff said Siebert cited personal reasons as the motivation behind the decision.
Siebert finished with a 47-25 record in his three seasons as coach at Menomonee Falls. That includes a 11-12 record this past season, which included a first-round loss to Waukesha South in the WIAA regional. Siebert teaches math at the high school.
Central Washington University hires women's basketball coach
Shawn Nelson, who has spent the past eight seasons as the head women's basketball coach at Carroll College, has been named the next women's basketball coach at Central Washington University. Making the announcement on Tuesday was CWU director of athletics Jack Bishop.
"I am pleased that, after a comprehensive search, we have had the opportunity to hire such a quality head coach to lead our women's basketball program into the future," Bishop said. "I was most impressed with Shawn's philosophy about practice, offense, defense, and the efficiency with which it appears he handles a basketball program.
"He has shown a great ability to recruit high-quality student-athletes, an ability to recruit the Northwest, and he has a reputation to be able to teach the three-point shot and to attract numerous high school programs and players to camps, where they can learn from his expertise."
"I am very excited to be named the head women's basketball coach at Central Washington University," Nelson exclaimed. "I appreciate the support of the administration and of the search committee. I am excited about the opportunity to build a winning program (at CWU), and to be able to lead the program in the future."
Nelson, 38, compiled a 201-70 win-loss record over his eight seasons at the Helena, Mont., school. His teams won at least 27 games in each of his first five years, finishing ranked among the top 25 in the Division I of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He also became the youngest basketball coach in the history of the Frontier Conference - men's or women's - to reach the 100- and 200-win plateaus.
Nelson has spent the past 20 years affiliated with Carroll, beginning with his time as a men's basketball player for the Fighting Saints from 1991-95. He graduated from Carroll with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology in 1996, and then spent the next seven years as an assistant men's basketball coach and sports information director at the school. He then began his head coaching career with the Fighting Saints' women's basketball program in 2003-04 and guided them to a 28-7 record and number 23 national ranking.
Over the course of his coaching career with the Fighting Saints, Nelson took his teams to five consecutive NAIA Division I national tournaments, including an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2008. He was a two-time Frontier Conference Coach of the Year, had Carroll ranked among the NAIA top 25 during each of his eight seasons, and coached the nation's top three-point shooting team for four straight years. Two of his former players were named WBCA Kodak All-Americans.
Nelson, who is a member of the Wendy's of Montana-Carroll College Athletic Hall of Fame, is originally from Fallon, Nev., where he attended Churchill County High School. He has been married to wife Laura, a former standout track and field athlete at Montana State University, for nearly nine years. The couple has two sons, Peyton (age 5) and Cooper (3).
"I am pleased that, after a comprehensive search, we have had the opportunity to hire such a quality head coach to lead our women's basketball program into the future," Bishop said. "I was most impressed with Shawn's philosophy about practice, offense, defense, and the efficiency with which it appears he handles a basketball program.
"He has shown a great ability to recruit high-quality student-athletes, an ability to recruit the Northwest, and he has a reputation to be able to teach the three-point shot and to attract numerous high school programs and players to camps, where they can learn from his expertise."
"I am very excited to be named the head women's basketball coach at Central Washington University," Nelson exclaimed. "I appreciate the support of the administration and of the search committee. I am excited about the opportunity to build a winning program (at CWU), and to be able to lead the program in the future."
Nelson, 38, compiled a 201-70 win-loss record over his eight seasons at the Helena, Mont., school. His teams won at least 27 games in each of his first five years, finishing ranked among the top 25 in the Division I of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). He also became the youngest basketball coach in the history of the Frontier Conference - men's or women's - to reach the 100- and 200-win plateaus.
Nelson has spent the past 20 years affiliated with Carroll, beginning with his time as a men's basketball player for the Fighting Saints from 1991-95. He graduated from Carroll with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology in 1996, and then spent the next seven years as an assistant men's basketball coach and sports information director at the school. He then began his head coaching career with the Fighting Saints' women's basketball program in 2003-04 and guided them to a 28-7 record and number 23 national ranking.
Over the course of his coaching career with the Fighting Saints, Nelson took his teams to five consecutive NAIA Division I national tournaments, including an appearance in the Elite Eight in 2008. He was a two-time Frontier Conference Coach of the Year, had Carroll ranked among the NAIA top 25 during each of his eight seasons, and coached the nation's top three-point shooting team for four straight years. Two of his former players were named WBCA Kodak All-Americans.
Nelson, who is a member of the Wendy's of Montana-Carroll College Athletic Hall of Fame, is originally from Fallon, Nev., where he attended Churchill County High School. He has been married to wife Laura, a former standout track and field athlete at Montana State University, for nearly nine years. The couple has two sons, Peyton (age 5) and Cooper (3).
Kentucky Mr. Basketball Hickey signs with LSU- ESPN USA
Anthony Hickey will play collegiately at Louisiana State University, Kentucky's Mr. Basketball announced during a ceremony at his school Tuesday, according to The Times Picayune of New Orleans.
Hickey, a senior point guard who led Christian County to the 2011 state championship in Rupp Arena in March, opted for LSU over another Southeastern Conference school, South Carolina. He had also reportedly been considering Dayton, Butler and Western Kentucky.
The 5-foot-10 Hickey averaged 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game as a senior. He is rated as a three-star prospect by recruiting services Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Moss commits to Florida
Boone County junior Sydney Moss has committed to play college basketball at Florida, according to a report by ESPN.com.
Moss, the daughter of NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, averaged 22.6 points and 10.8 rebounds this past season.
She reportedly chose Florida over Louisville, Dayton, West Virginia, Xavier and Kansas.
Purvis back on the market
Class of 2012 point guard Rodney Purvis, who orally committed to Louisville last December, said Monday he was reopening his recruitment.
Purvis, a 6-foot-4 junior from Raleigh, N.C., told the Raleigh News and Observer that he remains interested in Louisville, along with Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina State.
Purvis said he wanted to re-evaluate after Louisville assistant Tim Fuller, who had handled much of his recruitment, left the U of L program recently.
Purvis, rated one of the top guards in the 2012 class, averaged 25.4 points as a junior.
Hickey, a senior point guard who led Christian County to the 2011 state championship in Rupp Arena in March, opted for LSU over another Southeastern Conference school, South Carolina. He had also reportedly been considering Dayton, Butler and Western Kentucky.
The 5-foot-10 Hickey averaged 18.6 points, 4.6 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 3.8 steals per game as a senior. He is rated as a three-star prospect by recruiting services Rivals.com and Scout.com.
Moss commits to Florida
Boone County junior Sydney Moss has committed to play college basketball at Florida, according to a report by ESPN.com.
Moss, the daughter of NFL wide receiver Randy Moss, averaged 22.6 points and 10.8 rebounds this past season.
She reportedly chose Florida over Louisville, Dayton, West Virginia, Xavier and Kansas.
Purvis back on the market
Class of 2012 point guard Rodney Purvis, who orally committed to Louisville last December, said Monday he was reopening his recruitment.
Purvis, a 6-foot-4 junior from Raleigh, N.C., told the Raleigh News and Observer that he remains interested in Louisville, along with Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina State.
Purvis said he wanted to re-evaluate after Louisville assistant Tim Fuller, who had handled much of his recruitment, left the U of L program recently.
Purvis, rated one of the top guards in the 2012 class, averaged 25.4 points as a junior.
Suburban West Roundup: Golf Kicks Off Spring Postseason Suburban West Roundup: Golf Kicks Off Spring Postseason
Area golf teams teed it up last week for district tournaments, with the top two teams and top 15 individuals from players outside the top two teams advancing to sectional play.
Parkway South won the Class 4 District 2 Tournament which was held at Persimmon Woods Golf Club in Weldon Spring. The Patriots won with a score of 214, which was six strokes better than CBC, which also qualified for sectionals as a team.
Parkway South's Kyle Weldon was the individual medalist, shooting a two-over par 73. Parkway South's Jack Darland was tied for second with a 77. Wesley Allard, David Arth and Jacob Frericks round out the district champion team.
(Update: After this article was written, Patch learned that long-time Parkway South golf coach, Mark Wade, passed away last Saturday.)
Eureka finished third out of the 11 teams competing at the Class 4 District 2 Tournament. The Wildcats had a team score of 329 and also advanced three golfers to the state sectional meet, which will take place this Wednesday at Old Hickory Golf Course in St. Peter's.
Eureka's Shane Harris and Theodore Jones each shot an 81 to place eighth overall, and Matt Miklas finished with an 83 at 13th place.
Other area Suburban West golfers advancing to sectionals include: Zach Gollwitzer (Marquette), Conner Katsev (Lafayette), Mitchell Porter (Lafayette), William Signaigo (Marquette), Maxwell Charpentier (Lafayette), Michael Becker (Webster) and Charles Owens (Marquette).
Lindbergh was able to qualify as a team with a second-place finish in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament which was held at the Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, MO. Poplar Bluff won the district with a score of 320. Lindbergh shot a 331, which was 10 strokes better than third-place Jackson.
Lindbergh was led by Drew Ervin, who tied for second with a four-over par 78. Justin Stacer, Kyle Young, John Heutel and Jacob Arends were the other members of the Flyers district team.
Oakville finished fourth as a team but will send four individuals (Rylan Smelcer, Ryan Hancock, Cam Crouthers and Kyler Dill) to the sectional meet. Mehlville and Fox also will be represented at sectionals. Justin Komos qualified from Mehlville, while Brock Mueller made it from Fox.
Rain postponed many of the baseball games in the conference last week, but a big series was held Friday and Saturday with league-leader Parkway South and Oakville splitting two games. Parkway South remained undefeated, not only in the conference but overall, with a 15-5 win on Friday. The Patriots scored six runs in the second inning and five in the fourth in the 10-run win. Sean Keeney went 4-for-4 in the loss for the Tigers.
Oakville handed the Patriots their first loss of the season on Saturday as Chad Gendron allowed just three hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-1 Tigers win. Dalton Bray had three runs batted in to pace Oakville, which improved to 8-2 in the league. The Tigers are still a game behind Parkway South, which is 9-1.
"The fact that Parkway South was undefeated did not give us any more ambition to win the game Saturday," Oakville coach Rich Sturm said. "We were just trying to get back into the conference race and righting the ship after a very poor performance Friday. We beat ourselves Friday and just did not play good fundamental baseball.
"We had that happen in another game against Vianney, and we came right back and beat them the next game. Saturday we hit the ball better, ran the bases better and just played a better game and, of course, Chad was excellent. I think it just says a lot about the heart and character of the team, the way they have bounced back after big losses to beat two of the better teams in the area."
The Lindbergh girls won the championship in the CYC/Joseph Carenza Soccer Tournament. The Flyers did not allow a goal in the tournament, defeating Pacific 9-0, Webster Groves 1-0 and Collinsville, 3-0, in the championship game. Oakville finished third in the tournament. Lexi Pommer scored three times in a 5-0 win over Webster Groves in the third-place game.
The Mehlville girls soccer team also won a tournament last week as they repeated their title in the Lutheran South Tournament. Kaela Luna scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Affton and added a goal in a 3-1 win over DuBourg. Allison Wade, Kayla Hezel and Shelby Gibson scored goals in a 3-1 win over De Soto to close the tourney.
Patch Suburban West Girls Athlete of the Week
Lindbergh goalkeeper Nina Tzlanos has been named the Girls Athlete of the Week in the Suburban West. She did not allow a goal in last week's tournament and now has nine shutouts for the season for the Flyers, who are 13-2. The junior has allowed just eight goals in 15 games this season for a 0.54 goals against average.
Patch Suburban West Boys Athlete of the Week
Mehlville baseball player Mark O'Moran is the Patch Suburban West Conference Boys Athlete of the Week. O'Moran hit .500 throughout a recent seven-game stretch. Eight of his 11 hits were for extra bases, including a grand slam against league-leader Parkway South. He drove in 14 runs in the seven games and also drew three walks and was hit by a pitch twice. O'Moran also had a home run in an 8-4 win over Northwest on Friday to give the Panthers their first league win.
Parkway South won the Class 4 District 2 Tournament which was held at Persimmon Woods Golf Club in Weldon Spring. The Patriots won with a score of 214, which was six strokes better than CBC, which also qualified for sectionals as a team.
Parkway South's Kyle Weldon was the individual medalist, shooting a two-over par 73. Parkway South's Jack Darland was tied for second with a 77. Wesley Allard, David Arth and Jacob Frericks round out the district champion team.
(Update: After this article was written, Patch learned that long-time Parkway South golf coach, Mark Wade, passed away last Saturday.)
Eureka finished third out of the 11 teams competing at the Class 4 District 2 Tournament. The Wildcats had a team score of 329 and also advanced three golfers to the state sectional meet, which will take place this Wednesday at Old Hickory Golf Course in St. Peter's.
Eureka's Shane Harris and Theodore Jones each shot an 81 to place eighth overall, and Matt Miklas finished with an 83 at 13th place.
Other area Suburban West golfers advancing to sectionals include: Zach Gollwitzer (Marquette), Conner Katsev (Lafayette), Mitchell Porter (Lafayette), William Signaigo (Marquette), Maxwell Charpentier (Lafayette), Michael Becker (Webster) and Charles Owens (Marquette).
Lindbergh was able to qualify as a team with a second-place finish in the Class 4 District 1 Tournament which was held at the Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau, MO. Poplar Bluff won the district with a score of 320. Lindbergh shot a 331, which was 10 strokes better than third-place Jackson.
Lindbergh was led by Drew Ervin, who tied for second with a four-over par 78. Justin Stacer, Kyle Young, John Heutel and Jacob Arends were the other members of the Flyers district team.
Oakville finished fourth as a team but will send four individuals (Rylan Smelcer, Ryan Hancock, Cam Crouthers and Kyler Dill) to the sectional meet. Mehlville and Fox also will be represented at sectionals. Justin Komos qualified from Mehlville, while Brock Mueller made it from Fox.
Rain postponed many of the baseball games in the conference last week, but a big series was held Friday and Saturday with league-leader Parkway South and Oakville splitting two games. Parkway South remained undefeated, not only in the conference but overall, with a 15-5 win on Friday. The Patriots scored six runs in the second inning and five in the fourth in the 10-run win. Sean Keeney went 4-for-4 in the loss for the Tigers.
Oakville handed the Patriots their first loss of the season on Saturday as Chad Gendron allowed just three hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 6-1 Tigers win. Dalton Bray had three runs batted in to pace Oakville, which improved to 8-2 in the league. The Tigers are still a game behind Parkway South, which is 9-1.
"The fact that Parkway South was undefeated did not give us any more ambition to win the game Saturday," Oakville coach Rich Sturm said. "We were just trying to get back into the conference race and righting the ship after a very poor performance Friday. We beat ourselves Friday and just did not play good fundamental baseball.
"We had that happen in another game against Vianney, and we came right back and beat them the next game. Saturday we hit the ball better, ran the bases better and just played a better game and, of course, Chad was excellent. I think it just says a lot about the heart and character of the team, the way they have bounced back after big losses to beat two of the better teams in the area."
The Lindbergh girls won the championship in the CYC/Joseph Carenza Soccer Tournament. The Flyers did not allow a goal in the tournament, defeating Pacific 9-0, Webster Groves 1-0 and Collinsville, 3-0, in the championship game. Oakville finished third in the tournament. Lexi Pommer scored three times in a 5-0 win over Webster Groves in the third-place game.
The Mehlville girls soccer team also won a tournament last week as they repeated their title in the Lutheran South Tournament. Kaela Luna scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Affton and added a goal in a 3-1 win over DuBourg. Allison Wade, Kayla Hezel and Shelby Gibson scored goals in a 3-1 win over De Soto to close the tourney.
Patch Suburban West Girls Athlete of the Week
Lindbergh goalkeeper Nina Tzlanos has been named the Girls Athlete of the Week in the Suburban West. She did not allow a goal in last week's tournament and now has nine shutouts for the season for the Flyers, who are 13-2. The junior has allowed just eight goals in 15 games this season for a 0.54 goals against average.
Patch Suburban West Boys Athlete of the Week
Mehlville baseball player Mark O'Moran is the Patch Suburban West Conference Boys Athlete of the Week. O'Moran hit .500 throughout a recent seven-game stretch. Eight of his 11 hits were for extra bases, including a grand slam against league-leader Parkway South. He drove in 14 runs in the seven games and also drew three walks and was hit by a pitch twice. O'Moran also had a home run in an 8-4 win over Northwest on Friday to give the Panthers their first league win.
ROUTERS: 19-year-old sets record as youngest MP; NDPer planned summer job at golf course
MONTREAL — Nineteen-year-old Pierre-Luc Dusseault planned to work a summer job at a golf course if his foray into federal politics didn't work out.
He can forget the links.
The teenage longshot is now headed to Ottawa as the youngest member to ever sit in Canada's federal Parliament, joining dozens of other New Democrats in Quebec who scored unlikely victories on Monday night.
Instead of working his way around the green fairways, he will learn his way around the green parquet of the House of Commons as the new MP for Sherbrooke. His new starting salary is $157,731.
Dusseault ran a grassroots campaign in the university town east of Montreal. He says he always believed he had a chance.
"I did a full-time campaign and I was there to win, I wasn't there to be a figurehead, I was involved in the debates and I was present on the ground," Dusseault said.
"I worked to win and our efforts bore fruit."
Despite the steep learning curve, he said he's ready more than ready to tackle Ottawa.
The political neophyte is co-founder and president of the NDP association at the Universite de Sherbrooke, where he finished his first year as a political science student.
Dusseault is a self-described political junkie who has already been to Ottawa and visited the House of Commons. He also admits to watching a lot of CPAC, the TV channel that broadcasts parliamentary proceedings.
"I know the game," Dusseault said confidently.
Dusseault turns 20 at the end of this month. At 19 years, 11 months, he will be the youngest MP ever to serve in Ottawa. He replaces Claude-Andre Lachance, who has held the distinction for over a quarter-century. Lachance was elected as a Trudeau Liberal in 1974 at the age of 20 years, three months, in a Montreal riding.
Coincidentally, Dusseault was also voting for the first time on Monday. His maiden exercise in democracy was a no-brainer — he simply ticked the circle next to his own name.
"It's not a difficult choice," quipped the Granby, Que., native.
The local campaign started slowly until the university year ended. That's when Dusseault made a push, hitting the streets and parks. He said people in Sherbrooke made it clear they wanted change.
"All the people I met were saying we want a young MP, we want change and the NDP is the new voice of Quebec," Dusseault said.
From 1984 to 1998 the riding was held by then-Progressive Conservative Jean Charest, currently premier of Quebec.
Since 1998, the riding had been held solidly by long-time Bloc Quebecois member Serge Cardin, who'd never received less than 44 per cent of the vote.
Sherbrooke is a riding where the NDP had never finished better than fourth in recent elections, but was among nearly six-dozen seats swept up in Monday's orange tide.
Dusseault said he's thankful the voters in his Eastern Townships riding have given him and, by extension, Canadian youth the chance to represent them. Dusseault said more young people are needed in the House of Commons.
The son of a daycare administrator and a warehouse manager, Dusseault said he would still like to finish his university degree after his political career is over.
But for now, priorities include meeting with other NDP MPs and setting up a riding office. He also will need to pick up a few more suits and he plans to improve his English.
"Maybe some won't take me seriously in the beginning, but I'm ready to work hard and earn my spot," Dusseault said.
"In the coming weeks, months, years, I'll show those who are skeptical that the youth have their place and can get the job done."
He can forget the links.
The teenage longshot is now headed to Ottawa as the youngest member to ever sit in Canada's federal Parliament, joining dozens of other New Democrats in Quebec who scored unlikely victories on Monday night.
Instead of working his way around the green fairways, he will learn his way around the green parquet of the House of Commons as the new MP for Sherbrooke. His new starting salary is $157,731.
Dusseault ran a grassroots campaign in the university town east of Montreal. He says he always believed he had a chance.
"I did a full-time campaign and I was there to win, I wasn't there to be a figurehead, I was involved in the debates and I was present on the ground," Dusseault said.
"I worked to win and our efforts bore fruit."
Despite the steep learning curve, he said he's ready more than ready to tackle Ottawa.
The political neophyte is co-founder and president of the NDP association at the Universite de Sherbrooke, where he finished his first year as a political science student.
Dusseault is a self-described political junkie who has already been to Ottawa and visited the House of Commons. He also admits to watching a lot of CPAC, the TV channel that broadcasts parliamentary proceedings.
"I know the game," Dusseault said confidently.
Dusseault turns 20 at the end of this month. At 19 years, 11 months, he will be the youngest MP ever to serve in Ottawa. He replaces Claude-Andre Lachance, who has held the distinction for over a quarter-century. Lachance was elected as a Trudeau Liberal in 1974 at the age of 20 years, three months, in a Montreal riding.
Coincidentally, Dusseault was also voting for the first time on Monday. His maiden exercise in democracy was a no-brainer — he simply ticked the circle next to his own name.
"It's not a difficult choice," quipped the Granby, Que., native.
The local campaign started slowly until the university year ended. That's when Dusseault made a push, hitting the streets and parks. He said people in Sherbrooke made it clear they wanted change.
"All the people I met were saying we want a young MP, we want change and the NDP is the new voice of Quebec," Dusseault said.
From 1984 to 1998 the riding was held by then-Progressive Conservative Jean Charest, currently premier of Quebec.
Since 1998, the riding had been held solidly by long-time Bloc Quebecois member Serge Cardin, who'd never received less than 44 per cent of the vote.
Sherbrooke is a riding where the NDP had never finished better than fourth in recent elections, but was among nearly six-dozen seats swept up in Monday's orange tide.
Dusseault said he's thankful the voters in his Eastern Townships riding have given him and, by extension, Canadian youth the chance to represent them. Dusseault said more young people are needed in the House of Commons.
The son of a daycare administrator and a warehouse manager, Dusseault said he would still like to finish his university degree after his political career is over.
But for now, priorities include meeting with other NDP MPs and setting up a riding office. He also will need to pick up a few more suits and he plans to improve his English.
"Maybe some won't take me seriously in the beginning, but I'm ready to work hard and earn my spot," Dusseault said.
"In the coming weeks, months, years, I'll show those who are skeptical that the youth have their place and can get the job done."
O'Hair decides to leave swing coach Foley
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sean O'Hair not only is looking for his game, he's now looking for a new swing coach.
O'Hair, who has missed his past five cuts and has not finished among the top 20 all year, has decided to split with Sean Foley after a relationship that began nearly three years ago in the Canadian Open.
During their time together, O'Hair won the Quail Hollow Championship and played in the Presidents Cup. But whatever had been going right started going very wrong this year, and it was time for a change.
O'Hair fired caddie Paul Tesori at the end of last year, and recently split up with caddie Brennan Little. Foley was next to go.
"He hasn't been happy with how this year has gone, and he feels he needs to make a change in direction with his instruction," Foley said Tuesday. "We had a good run up until the 2011 season. Sean is a good friend of mine. I love the kid. But this is business. I don't look at it from an emotional standpoint but a rationale standpoint.
"He has to do what's good for his career," Foley said. "He'll have my complete support, and I'll always cheer for him."
Foley more famously began working with Tiger Woods in August, and his stable includes Hunter Mahan, Justin Rose and Stephen Ames. For O'Hair, it was not an issue of time with the coach as much as it was wanting to change.
"What worked so well for so long ... you keep doing the same thing and it doesn't work as well," Foley said. "It's like in the NBA. You win a championship one year, two years later the coach gets fired for having a losing record. That's the business."
___
NELSON AWARD: Former PGA Tour commissioner Dean Beman has been selected for the Byron Nelson Prize, awarded to a person in golf who embodies the philanthropic spirit for which Nelson was known.
Beman was the architect for the PGA Tour business model, serving as commissioner from 20 years starting in 1974. Under his leadership, nearly all PGA Tour events devoted themselves to charity efforts.
"During my years as commissioner of the PGA Tour, I always pointed to the HP Byron Nelson Championship as the event other sponsors should use as a model in their own communities," Beman said. "Byron Nelson was always held up as the gentleman and golfer who should be emulated by our members. For me, there is no greater honor than receiving a prize which bears his name."
Beman will be honored May 24 at the opening ceremony of the Byron Nelson Championship. The Salesmanship Club of Dallas, which operates the tournament, donates $100,000 to the charity of the winner's choice. Beman has selected The Duvall Home in Florida, which provides residential and day training to those with developmental disabilities.
___
WORLD PERSPECTIVE: The European Tour sent out a news release Tuesday on Lee Westwood, the No. 1 player in the world, hopeful of capturing what he considers to be the fifth major. That would be the PGA Championship at Wentworth later this month, not The Players Championship, which Westwood is skipping next week.
Westwood made it clear last year that he doesn't rate The Players Championship among his top five, instead putting the World Golf Championships behind the majors.
Then again, he's not a PGA Tour member.
And he's not alone.
Martin Kaymer of Germany, who is No. 2 in the world and not a PGA Tour member, will be at The Players Championship next week. He referred to it as one of the majors "because of the world ranking points."
But asked if he would rather win The Players or a World Golf Championship, he got even more specific.
"The World Golf Championships, and preferably the one at Firestone because it's a fantastic golf course and a beautiful place," Kaymer said. "It's a small field of great players, and you can call yourself a world champion."
___
FOOTBALL TIME: Back on the PGA Tour for the first time since the Masters, Rory McIlroy, Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer played as if they were home in Europe when they arrived for the Wells Fargo Championship.
They were invited to take part in a soccer game against a local club in Charlotte. They were joined by Mick Doran, the caddie for Camilo Villegas, and Stuart Cage, one of McIlroy's managers.
About all that is known is the final score. The Charlotte team won 7-4. Details after that get a little fuzzy.
Kaymer said he scored the first goal for the European side and tried to inspire the team. That brought laughter from McIlroy, who said the German didn't even show up until after halftime.
"It was good, good fun," McIlroy said. "I think four or five players turned up, a few caddies. Played a local team from here who were a lot better than us. It was 4-1 at halftime. We got it back to 4-all halfway through the second half, and then they turned it on at the end and beat us. Luckily, no injury, so we're ready to go for this week."
Doran put it all into perspective.
"They were a good team, passing it beautifully, and we were just sort of chasing after the ball," he said. "I think they let us score a few goals after the half just to make a game of it."
___
DIVOTS: Rory McIlroy spent an hour on the putting green Monday at Quail Hollow while working with Dave Stockton, a two-time major champion and putting specialist who also works with Phil Mickelson. Stockton said he began working with McIlroy on Monday. ... The Seve Ballesteros Foundation will be the charity for Europe's PGA Championship at Wentworth next month, 20 years after the Spaniard's last year of winning on the tour's home course. Ballesteros won the PGA Championship and the World Match Play Championship that year. ... Tommy Gainey already has won more than $1.25 million this year on the PGA Tour with a swing that is not exactly textbook. And that's OK with him. "I don't worry about what people say about my swing. I know it's unorthodox. I know it's ugly. But it works," he said.
___
STAT OF THE WEEK: Of the seven sudden-death playoffs on the PGA Tour this year, four have gone more than one hole.
___
FINAL WORD: "I turn left for a living, and for some reason, my golf ball goes right all the time." — NASCAR driver Jimmie Johnson, who has won the past five Sprint Cup Championships.
Shark imparts wisdom on Rory McIlroy - ESPN NEWS
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- As he was hitting from between two cabins that nobody ever dreamed were in play or making a mess of the par-3 12th hole at Augusta National or slumping in despair after a wayward tee shot, Rory McIlroy was on his way to Masters infamy.
By squandering a four-shot, 54-hole lead last month at the Masters, the Northern Irishman suffered the biggest meltdown of a third-round leader in 15 years -- since Greg Norman blew a six-shot advantage.
So who better to discuss dealing with such a calamity than the Great White Shark himself.
"I had a good chat with Greg Norman the week after, when I was in Malaysia," McIlroy said.
His advice?
"Don't listen to you guys."
Ah, stay away from the media. McIlroy, 21, smirked, but went on to share Norman's wisdom.
"He sort of just said to me, from now on, don't read golf magazines, don't pick up papers, don't watch the Golf Channel," McIlroy said. "But it's hard not to. Obviously you want to keep up to date with what's going on. But you can't let other people sort of influence what you're thinking and what you should do.
"I've taken my own views from what happened a few weeks ago and moved on, and that's the most important thing."
McIlroy is making his first U.S. appearance since the Masters at this week's Wells Fargo Championship, where he is the defending champion at Quail Hollow Golf Club.
A year ago, it was all good, as McIlroy made the cut on the number, shot a third-round 66 to get back into the tournament, then roared to his first PGA Tour victory by shooting a final-round 62 that included six consecutive 3s to close out his round -- as he won by four.
He was ahead by four at Augusta then saw it all unravel, as a slew of players made a Sunday charge. By the time McIlroy reached the 10th tee, he was still tied for the lead but clearly shaken by some uneven play. His drive that bounded off a tree and into the yard of the Augusta cabins alongside the 10th hole -- it is not out of bounds -- led to a triple-bogey 7. He four-putted the 12th green then hit his tee shot into the creek at the 13th.
McIlroy shot 80 and ended up 10 strokes behind winner Charl Schwartzel.
"First thing, I don't think I was ready," McIlroy said. "That was the most important thing. I displayed a few weaknesses in my game that I need to work on.
Want great insight into the game of golf in 140 characters or less? Follow @BobHarig.
"But I think you have to take the positives. For 63 holes, I led the golf tournament, and it was just a bad back nine -- a very bad back nine that sort of took the tournament away from me, I suppose. But what can you do? There's three more majors this year and hopefully dozens more that I'll play in my career."
Therein lies the huge difference with Norman, 56, who was 41 at the time of his Masters blowup and already had dealt with plenty of major championship heartbreak.
Although Norman didn't shoot as high of a score, he basically had only one player to beat -- Nick Faldo -- and shot 78 to lose by five.
"I knew exactly how he felt," Norman told the Australian Associated Press about McIlroy. "I've experienced it. What is it with golf destiny? Isn't it strange?
"It taps you on the back of your head and it either pushes you ahead or pushes you back. What determines that? It's crazy."
Like Norman in the aftermath of his defeat to Faldo, McIlroy handled his loss with class.
He did several interviews afterward and didn't make excuses. He said he'd be better for it -- and has universally received praise for the way he handled the situation.
Then he got on a plane and made the long trip for a long-ago-made commitment to play the Malaysian Open -- and nearly won. McIlroy finished two strokes back of Matteo Manassero.
It was there that he played the first two rounds with Martin Kaymer, who two weeks ago dropped to No. 2 in the world behind Lee Westwood. Kaymer won the previous major championship, at the PGA, but came from behind to defeat Bubba Watson in a playoff.
"The big advantage was I didn't have to sleep over it," Kaymer said. "I didn't have to listen to ... how big it would be and all the pressure that you will approach the next day. I didn't have to deal with that.
"You know, he's only 21 years old, and I think it's easy for people to forget ... he's so young and the stuff that he did, the way he plays golf, it's been unbelievable. Yeah, he didn't play well the last round, but that happens. He will win plenty of tournaments, maybe a few majors, but that was probably the biggest difference, that I didn't have to deal with that at the PGA."
Aside from being asked about it, McIlroy said he is doing his best to put the Masters behind him. He has spent some time already this week working with putting guru Dave Stockton Jr. and is looking forward to a busy stretch of golf that will see him return to Europe for two events, including the BMW PGA Championship, before coming back to America for the Memorial and then the U.S. Open.
"I'm fine," he said. "It was a great chance to win a first major, but it's golf. It's only golf at the end of the day. No one died. Very happy with my life, very happy with what's going on, very happy with my game."
By squandering a four-shot, 54-hole lead last month at the Masters, the Northern Irishman suffered the biggest meltdown of a third-round leader in 15 years -- since Greg Norman blew a six-shot advantage.
So who better to discuss dealing with such a calamity than the Great White Shark himself.
AP Photo/Chris O'MearaRory McIlroy struggled through his final round at the Masters, probably no where more than his triple-bogey 7 at the 10th hole. But as the Northern Irishman pointed out, he did lead the year's first major for 63 holes.
His advice?
"Don't listen to you guys."
Ah, stay away from the media. McIlroy, 21, smirked, but went on to share Norman's wisdom.
"He sort of just said to me, from now on, don't read golf magazines, don't pick up papers, don't watch the Golf Channel," McIlroy said. "But it's hard not to. Obviously you want to keep up to date with what's going on. But you can't let other people sort of influence what you're thinking and what you should do.
"I've taken my own views from what happened a few weeks ago and moved on, and that's the most important thing."
McIlroy is making his first U.S. appearance since the Masters at this week's Wells Fargo Championship, where he is the defending champion at Quail Hollow Golf Club.
A year ago, it was all good, as McIlroy made the cut on the number, shot a third-round 66 to get back into the tournament, then roared to his first PGA Tour victory by shooting a final-round 62 that included six consecutive 3s to close out his round -- as he won by four.
He was ahead by four at Augusta then saw it all unravel, as a slew of players made a Sunday charge. By the time McIlroy reached the 10th tee, he was still tied for the lead but clearly shaken by some uneven play. His drive that bounded off a tree and into the yard of the Augusta cabins alongside the 10th hole -- it is not out of bounds -- led to a triple-bogey 7. He four-putted the 12th green then hit his tee shot into the creek at the 13th.
McIlroy shot 80 and ended up 10 strokes behind winner Charl Schwartzel.
"First thing, I don't think I was ready," McIlroy said. "That was the most important thing. I displayed a few weaknesses in my game that I need to work on.
Follow On Twitter
Want great insight into the game of golf in 140 characters or less? Follow @BobHarig. Therein lies the huge difference with Norman, 56, who was 41 at the time of his Masters blowup and already had dealt with plenty of major championship heartbreak.
Although Norman didn't shoot as high of a score, he basically had only one player to beat -- Nick Faldo -- and shot 78 to lose by five.
"I knew exactly how he felt," Norman told the Australian Associated Press about McIlroy. "I've experienced it. What is it with golf destiny? Isn't it strange?
"It taps you on the back of your head and it either pushes you ahead or pushes you back. What determines that? It's crazy."
Like Norman in the aftermath of his defeat to Faldo, McIlroy handled his loss with class.
He did several interviews afterward and didn't make excuses. He said he'd be better for it -- and has universally received praise for the way he handled the situation.
Then he got on a plane and made the long trip for a long-ago-made commitment to play the Malaysian Open -- and nearly won. McIlroy finished two strokes back of Matteo Manassero.
It was there that he played the first two rounds with Martin Kaymer, who two weeks ago dropped to No. 2 in the world behind Lee Westwood. Kaymer won the previous major championship, at the PGA, but came from behind to defeat Bubba Watson in a playoff.
"The big advantage was I didn't have to sleep over it," Kaymer said. "I didn't have to listen to ... how big it would be and all the pressure that you will approach the next day. I didn't have to deal with that.
"You know, he's only 21 years old, and I think it's easy for people to forget ... he's so young and the stuff that he did, the way he plays golf, it's been unbelievable. Yeah, he didn't play well the last round, but that happens. He will win plenty of tournaments, maybe a few majors, but that was probably the biggest difference, that I didn't have to deal with that at the PGA."
Aside from being asked about it, McIlroy said he is doing his best to put the Masters behind him. He has spent some time already this week working with putting guru Dave Stockton Jr. and is looking forward to a busy stretch of golf that will see him return to Europe for two events, including the BMW PGA Championship, before coming back to America for the Memorial and then the U.S. Open.
"I'm fine," he said. "It was a great chance to win a first major, but it's golf. It's only golf at the end of the day. No one died. Very happy with my life, very happy with what's going on, very happy with my game."
Nida Waseem and Palwasha Basheer will do modeling for Rizwan Moazzam new Bridal Collections 2011
| Palwasha Basheer |
| Nida Waseem |
We are missing Pakistani Players in IPL - SHAHRUKH KHAN
Shoaib Akhtar is likely to start his film career soon
| Shoaib Akhtar with Salman Khan |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
