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."

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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.

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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."

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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."

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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.

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STAT OF THE WEEK: Of the seven sudden-death playoffs on the PGA Tour this year, four have gone more than one hole.

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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.

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.

"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.

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"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.

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"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

Karachi- Sports desk, Pakistan tennis queen Nida Waseem and badminton princess Palwasha Basheer will do modeling for Famous Designer Rizwan Moazzam for his new Bridal Collections 2011.Rizwan Moazzam is in contact with other women sports personalities for his Collections.He said that he would like to present his new Collection through sports celebrities modeling.

We are missing Pakistani Players in IPL - SHAHRUKH KHAN

Kolkata- AP , Indian star Shahrukh Khan said that he is missing Pakistani players in IPL.The charm of IPL without Pakistani players seems colourless.I like Shoaib Akhtar and Shahid Afridi very much.They are my hero.If Indian Board allows Pakistan Players in IPL, I 'll definitely took both of them in my team Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Shoaib Akhtar is likely to start his film career soon

Shoaib Akhtar with Salman Khan

Islamabad-Routers, Ex-Rawalpindi express Shoaib Akhtar is likely to come in films soon.Shoaib indicated that he will soon in film world.He wants to start his filmy career from lollywood. Shoaib said he loves his country very much and he wants to deliver more to his country.If he can help his national film industry, he will help them.In question about bollywood, he said that I might be in Bollywood in future but first I will definitely do any film in Pakistan if any producer offers me film.He said that Salman khan attracts me as a hero.If I'll do film I 'll definitely took some advice from him.He is my good friend.

Manchester United is going to kick Ryan Giggs after this Champions League Season

Manchester ( Routers) Manu officials is going to kick Ryan Giggs this year after Champions league.Team officials confirmed this news.They said that Giggs has not enough stamina like previous.He is now became Shoaib Akhtar of Pakistan cricket team who was involved in injuries in his carrier.We want young blood for the future of our team.We have to come harder against Real Madrid who always bought our key players by paying them huge money.We always make players not buy players.

Ryan Giggs is not happy with his team's decision.He said Sir Alex is mad.He doesn't  care what manchester united will do without senior player.All major clubs respects their seniors but Manchester United didn't care about Seniors.I will make my club after leaving  Manchester United.

West Indies beat Pakistan in fourth ODI of Digicel series - PTV NEWS

Bridgetown, Barbados (Routers) West Indies beat Pakistan by 1 run in 4th ODI of Digicel series by D/L method.Afridi seemed not happy with this rule, he criticizes D/L RULE.He said in presentation ''When Hafeez and Shafiq played well, I thought we could get 275. The newcomers did not get a proper chance, I am happy with the efforts of my team-mates. When we bat first, we need to focus on that, I felt that 248 was a very defendable and good score Lendl Simmons continued his good form with his career best knock of 76.''

Darren Sammy said It was satisfying to finally register a win against a quality opposition. I thought we did well to come back later in the innings during the bowling. Lendl Simmons has been very consistent throughout, I hope he will continue. The six by Dwayne Bravo was very pleasing, Sarwan and young Bishoo were good as well, we will take the positives into the next match.

Mohammad Hafeez is the MoM for his fine knock of 121 
 Hafeez: It is a bit disappointing to lose after scoring a century. It was tough for me when I was dropped, I along with my coach worked hard on my batting technique and that is paying off.
Pakistan lead the 5 match series 3-1 with one to play

England all-rounder and Sussex captain Mike Yardy makes low-key return after treatment for depression

Mike Yardy made his return to competitive cricket on Monday but it could be some time before the England all-rounder is playing on a regular basis again.

Nearly six weeks after he withdrew from England’s World Cup squad in India to receive treatment for depression and two months since his last game against South Africa in Chennai, the 30 year-old made a low-key return as he led Sussex to a five-wicket victory in a Clydesdale Bank 40 game against Holland at Hove.

Yardy took one for 36 and made an attractive 39 from 52 balls, but Sussex coach Mark Robinson said he would not be involved in the County Championship match against Hampshire which starts at the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.

Robinson said: “It has been a gradual process for Michael. It’s the same when a player has an injury and you bring him back too early. We don’t want him to suffer a relapse.

“A fortnight ago when we were up at Durham he was on the phone to me two or three times a day to find out what was going on.

"A week ago he targeted one of the two one-dayers we had over the Bank Holiday and has been increasing his workload since then. He was around the squad for the Championship game last week and before we set off for Derby on Saturday he gave a terrific team talk about the importance of one-day cricket this season. But we can’t push him.”
Sussex wanted Yardy’s return to attract as little publicity as possible and he declined the opportunity to talk to the media afterwards. His presence in the team was confirmed only 40 minutes before the start and he was generously applauded on his way back to the pavilion after the toss.
If Yardy felt comfortable in his surroundings there was a reassuring familiarity about his performance too. He brought himself on in the 10th over and was soon into a rhythm with his left-arm spin, despite having to contend with a strong cross-wind.
In his fifth over a crowd of around 2,500 were on their feet when he had Tom Cooper caught down the leg side. His first six overs cost just 23 runs although his figures were spoiled when opener Eric Szwarczynski greeted his return to the attack for a one-over spell by lofting him for a straight six on his way to a maiden one-day century.
Yardy came in at No 5 with Sussex in some trouble at 47 for three chasing a target of 226, but he got off the mark by dispatching his third ball, a leg-stump half-volley, to the boundary and added three more fours before he played on to Berend Westdijk, trying to force off the back foot.
Vice-captain Murray Goodwin, who helped him put on 80 in 15 overs for the fourth wicket on his way to an unbeaten 109, said the squad had done nothing different since Yardy returned to the dressing-room environment.
“It is nice to have a quality player back and I thought he bowled and batted really well today. To be honest, you wouldn’t have known there is anything wrong with him over the last few weeks since he has been around the guys again. He loves the club and is desperate to do well for Sussex but he is also wise enough to know when he is ready to return on a regular basis.”

SONY MAX:Mumbai, Kochi register impressive wins in IPL

Mumbai Indians beat Kings XI Punjab by 23 runs to return to the top of the IPL table on Monday, and Kochi Tuskers thrashed Delhi Daredevils by seven wickets.
Mumbai captain Sachin Tendulkar and Ambati Rayudu each scored 51 and put on a 95-run stand that helped the team total 159-5 after being asked to bat first on a docile Wankhede Stadium pitch. A combined bowling effort then helped restrict Punjab to 136-8.
The win took Mumbai to 12 points from eight games, ahead of the Shane Warne-led Rajasthan Royals with 11 points from nine matches. Punjab remained on six from seven.
At New Delhi, Delhi Daredevils' 140-6 was overhauled with ease by Kochi, which made 141-3 in only 15 overs.
Kochi reached eight points from nine games while Delhi remained on six from nine.
Tendulkar excelled with some clever shots on the on side, smashing a six and three fours off 45 balls. Rayudu relished playing straight down the ground, getting one six and eight fours off 37 deliveries.

West Indian Kieron Pollard smashed two hefty sixes in his 20 off 11 deliveries while Rohit Sharma got 18 off 11.
However, Mumbai was stopped from notching a bigger total by Australian pace bowler Ryan Harris and leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, who bagged two wickets each.
"I thought we got a good total in the end," Tendulkar said. "We were short by 10-15 runs but made up with some fine fielding."
In reply, King's XI Punjab lost captain Adam Gilchrist early on, trapped lbw by offspinner Harbhajan Singh without scoring.
Australian batsman Shaun Marsh top-scored with 61 while Paul Valthaty made 33, but the team could not develop any real momentum.
Marsh faced 47 deliveries and hit eight fours in his 10th IPL half-century before trying to force the pace and becoming Sri Lankan pace bowler Lasith Malinga's second victim.
Harbhajan and Munaf Patel also finished with two wickets each.
In the night game, Delhi struggled after losing openers Virender Sehwag (15) and David Warner (13).
Venugopal Rao's 40 and a quick 27 off 15 from Travis Birt lent some respectibility, but Kochi did not have much problem avenging its 38-run loss on Saturday.
"We kept losing wickets and it was always going to be difficult defending 140," Sehwag said. "We now have to win five games in a row to qualify but we'll hopefully do that."
New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum ensured a blistering start for Kochi with 37 off 19 balls, while Parthiv Patel hit 37 not out and Australian batsman Brad Hodge finished with an unbeaten 24.
In the only match scheduled for Tuesday, Deccan Chargers play Kolkata Knight Riders at Hyderabad.

Dave Duerson And The NFL’s Most Serious ProblemWith the NFL draft over, attention in the football world has returned to the league’s ongoing battle between its owners and players. But the lockout may someday seem minor compared to the NFL’s bigger underlying problem: the health and safety of its players. Dr. Ann McKee, a researcher at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University’s School of Medicine, today announced her diagnosis of the brain of former NFL player, Dave Duerson. The news is not good for the NFL. McKee reported that Duerson had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of brain disease caused by repeated trauma to the head. Duerson was a defensive back for 11 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. After his football career, he became a successful businessman, starting his own food company. But eventually, his company went bankrupt. On February 17, at age 50, Duerson committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest. He left a note with family members that asked that his brain be donated to the NFL’s Brain Bank. Duerson joins a sad list of former NFL players, like Andre Waters, Terry Long and Jason Grimsley, who committed suicide and were later discovered to have CTE. But retired players are just the tip of the iceberg for the NFL’s health concerns. Another problem, of course, is the current players. By almost all accounts, the game has gotten bigger and faster and more dangerous since Duerson and his contemporaries retired. This year the NFL took a few baby steps in addressing its head-injury problems, outlawing helmet-to-helmet hits. Still concussions happen. This past season’s Super Bowl featured two quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, who have troubling concussion history. But perhaps the most troubling thing for the NFL is the future of the sport. Earlier this year, the New York Times interviewed Chris Collinsworth, a former player who is now perhaps the best and most thoughtful football announcer on TV. Collinsworth has been outspoken about the issue of helmet-to-helmet hits in the NFL. His two sons play football (one at Notre Dame and one in high school), and he expressed his concerns about their well-being. This is a league that we’ve always celebrated the biggest hits and the bone-jarring blows, but you can’t hide from the evidence anymore,” Collinsworth, in a telephone interview, said regarding the short- and long-term effects of football head trauma. “We’re talking about the very essence of the game. I’d be less than honest if I said I didn’t have my doubts as to whether my children should be playing football. He followed that statement up with this one: You try to teach toughness and to hit hard, and also say to be safe and don’t hurt anybody — there’s a contradiction there,” Collinsworth said. “The very fundamental question for the long road is, Do you want your kids playing football? That’s the scary question, especially for the N.F.L. I think we’re talking about the survival of the game to some extent. Collinsworth raises the central question in all of this: given what we now know, will parents be willing to let their sons play football? Perhaps we’re already seeing our answer. One troubling trend for the future of football is the decline in participation. According to the latest figures from the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, over the last nine years, participation in tackle football (for those 6 years of age and older) has declined by 17.4%. (During that same time period, the American population has increased by 8.6%.) Some of that decline has to be attributable to concerns over health. Someday, the battle between NFL owners and players about how to split the $9 billion in revenue that the most popular sport in the U.S. generates every year will end. There will be NFL football again. But then the league will have to turn its attention to what is becoming its most serious problem: what to do about its players’ brains.

With the NFL draft over, attention in the football world has returned to the league’s ongoing battle between its owners and players. But the lockout may someday seem minor compared to the NFL’s bigger underlying problem: the health and safety of its players.
Dr. Ann McKee, a researcher at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University’s School of Medicine, today announced her diagnosis of the brain of former NFL player, Dave Duerson. The news is not good for the NFL. McKee reported that Duerson had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of brain disease caused by repeated trauma to the head.
Duerson was a defensive back for 11 seasons in the NFL, playing for the Chicago Bears, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals. After his football career, he became a successful businessman, starting his own food company. But eventually, his company went bankrupt. On February 17, at age 50, Duerson committed suicide by shooting himself in the chest. He left a note with family members that asked that his brain be donated to the NFL’s Brain Bank.
Duerson joins a sad list of former NFL players, like Andre Waters, Terry Long and Jason Grimsley, who committed suicide and were later discovered to have CTE.
But retired players are just the tip of the iceberg for the NFL’s health concerns. Another problem, of course, is the current players. By almost all accounts, the game has gotten bigger and faster and more dangerous since Duerson and his contemporaries retired. This year the NFL took a few baby steps in addressing its head-injury problems, outlawing helmet-to-helmet hits. Still concussions happen. This past season’s Super Bowl featured two quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, who have troubling concussion history.
But perhaps the most troubling thing for the NFL is the future of the sport. Earlier this year, the New York Times interviewed Chris Collinsworth, a former player who is now perhaps the best and most thoughtful football announcer on TV. Collinsworth has been outspoken about the issue of helmet-to-helmet hits in the NFL. His two sons play football (one at Notre Dame and one in high school), and he expressed his concerns about their well-being.

This is a league that we’ve always celebrated the biggest hits and the bone-jarring blows, but you can’t hide from the evidence anymore,” Collinsworth, in a telephone interview, said regarding the short- and long-term effects of football head trauma. “We’re talking about the very essence of the game. I’d be less than honest if I said I didn’t have my doubts as to whether my children should be playing football.

He followed that statement up with this one:

You try to teach toughness and to hit hard, and also say to be safe and don’t hurt anybody — there’s a contradiction there,” Collinsworth said. “The very fundamental question for the long road is, Do you want your kids playing football? That’s the scary question, especially for the N.F.L. I think we’re talking about the survival of the game to some extent.

Collinsworth raises the central question in all of this: given what we now know, will parents be willing to let their sons play football?
Perhaps we’re already seeing our answer. One troubling trend for the future of football is the decline in participation. According to the latest figures from the Sporting Goods Manufacturing Association, over the last nine years, participation in tackle football (for those 6 years of age and older) has declined by 17.4%. (During that same time period, the American population has increased by 8.6%.) Some of that decline has to be attributable to concerns over health.
Someday, the battle between NFL owners and players about how to split the $9 billion in revenue that the most popular sport in the U.S. generates every year will end. There will be NFL football again. But then the league will have to turn its attention to what is becoming its most serious problem: what to do about its players’ brains.

The Death of Dave Duerson: More Evidence of Concussion Dangers in Football -ESPN NEWS

On Monday, Boston University's Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy announced that Dave Duerson, the former star NFL defensive back who committed suicide on February 17, was suffering from a moderately advanced case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative disease linked to repeated head trauma. Duerson, indeed, did not die in vain.
Before Duerson took his own life, he took steps to help others avoid the pain that enveloped him. Through a note and text messages, Duerson asked his survivors to donate his brain to research, specifically to the Boston University center, which has specialized in studying the long-term brain damage suffered by former football players. Duerson shot himself in the chest, presumably to preserve his brain: currently, CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem.

On Monday, doctors from Boston University released their findings. Images from Duerson's brain showed that significant levels of the abnormal tau protein, which characterizes CTE, had developed in the regions associated with impulse control and memory. Over the last few years of his life, Duerson, who had started a successful food supply business after his playing career ended in 1993, complained about memory loss and started behaving more erratically. Ann McKee, the neuropathologist who conducted the analysis of Duerson's brain, said that Duerson had the "classic appearance" of CTE. The Boston University Center has now studied the brains of 15 deceased NFL players. All but one had CTE.

These findings should continue to concern parents whose children play, or express an interest in playing, football. The BU doctors emphasize that both concussive hits — Duerson suffered 10 known concussions throughout his NFL careers — and repeated "sub-concussive" hits  can cause CTE. Coaches can certainly reduce the incidence of head-to-head contact in practices. "We need coaches to be smarter about the drills that they do," says Chris Nowinski, a president of the Sports Legacy Institute, a group dedicated to the prevention of brain trauma in athletics. "It's amazing to me that we have pitch counts in baseball to protect the elbow ligaments of children, but we don't keep count about how often children are hit in the head."

Michigan State basketball's Draymond Green gets a few reps during football scrimmage

EAST LANSING -- The alley-oop didn't work so well on the football field.
Michigan State junior Draymond Green traded basketball shoes for cleats on Saturday. He played wide receiver/tight end for a couple of plays for the White squad in the third quarter of Michigan State's spring football game at Spartan Stadium.
Green was whistled for a false start on his first play from scrimmage in the third quarter, putting the White in a first-and-15 situation at the White 36.
Andrew Maxwell overthrew the 6-foot-7 Green on the next play but got the benefit of a 10-yard holding penalty called against cornerback Johnny Adams, who was covering Green.
Green wasn't available to reporters afterward, but he sent out a tweet @Money23Green: "Lol that was classic I'm going to stick to Basketball but it was definitely fun thanks to Coach D and his staff for the opportunity"
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio joked that Green's future as a football player was "limited."
Dantonio said Green came to him and asked to play, and he agreed if Green would come to a practice to prepare, which he did last week.
"He just didn't show up and put the pads on," Dantonio said. "He got fitted. We had to get him cleared.
"He came out and went through the whole practice Thursday (in) shorts. Caught some balls. ... It was great to see him out there, and then we got him in a couple plays. He just asked that he not be tackled."

Far from plain -BASKETBALL WOMEN

 By: OSAMA BIN LADIN

EVANSTON, Ill. -- The NCAA spring Evaluation weekend may have come and gone but there is no shortage of action in gyms across the country as the club-basketball season hits full stride. The Great Plains Qualifier was operated by U.S. Junior Nationals this past weekend. Northwestern University served as the tournament's headquarters and provided three of the 16 courts of action. Six different states were represented by 96 teams competing in the two-day event and competitive games as well as eye-catching individual play were abundant throughout.

Jewell Loyd (Lincolnwood, Ill.), Midwest Elite: One of the things that sets elite level prospects apart from the crowd is their ability to improve and advance their game no matter what level they've reached. Loyd has USA Basketball on her resume and a recent verbal commitment to national runner-up Notre Dame on the books and she continues to play as if she's got something to prove every time she steps on the floor. The 5-foot-9 guard is an impact player in virtually every aspect of the game and now plays with a maturity and confidence that allows her to relax and make the most of both her basketball and athletic skills. With the ball in her hands not many of her perimeter peers have either the acceleration or elevation to play her straight up. Those who look for a defensive cushion pay with a great view of her jumper. Her crossover and stepback both create open looks and penetration almost at will. It would be a mistake to underestimate her on the defensive end of the floor as that same footspeed makes her an aggressive on-ball defender who can contain the penetration of even the quickest opposing ballhandlers. More than anything, what catches your attention with Loyd is her approach to every possession as if the game is on the line. Mckenzie Piper (Iowa City, Iowa), All Iowa Attack: One of the greater compliments offered to prospects by college recruiters is the observation that she simply "makes plays." This versatile guard has the size and skills to make play after play and does so in many ways. The ability is there to put the ball on the floor and get into the paint to create shots or looks for her teammates. Her pullup is more and more reliable and the confidence with which she uses it is appropriate and warranted. The stroke and range are there as well to take advantage of the deeper perimeter jumpers that come her way. On the break she sees the floor and makes good decisions whether to kick it ahead or even to pull it out and look for a better option. At 5-11 she has good size and a solid physical build that necessitates a bigger guard or wing defensive matchup. Piper is one of those players opponents hate to face as they'll have to be ready to compete for every ball on the boards or on the floor.

Mark Lewis for ESPN.com Lefty shooter Maggie Lyon is adding more to her game to complement her sweet stroke.

Maggie Lyon (Wilmette, Ill.), Midwest Elite: Opponents facing the Midwest Elite will be making a major error if they focus their defensive efforts on standout guard Jewell Loyd. The growth and diversity in the skills of this 6-1 wing is impressive and the threat she poses will have to be respected both in transition and the halfcourt. The left-hander always has shown the ability to shoot the ball. She's now much more adept at creating her own looks and is effective with the pullup or taking it all the way to the rim. Lyon has a great combination of size, ballhandling and an attacking mentality that makes her a challenge to match up with defensively. She got by her defender time and again and demonstrated an improved ability to read defensive rotations off the drive. With her increased scoring threat she'll need to set up opportunities for her teammates more often and distribute the ball to keep defenders honest. Physically she's strong and shows no hesitation in mixing it up at either end of the floor.

Joanna Hedstrom (Shorewood, Minn.), North Tartan: There may not be a deeper club-team roster than you'll find with the North Tartan 17's, which finished the weekend undefeated. As difficult as it might be to stand out among that kind of crowd, this 5-9 combo guard offered up some consistent and productive play. More than anything her awareness of the floor was evident and helped her facilitate the offensive output from her many talented teammates. Playing primarily at the point she handled the ball effectively on the break and utilized good vision in kicking it ahead to teammates out in the lanes. In the halfcourt she was able to penetrate and force defensive rotations leading to both shots and simple interior passes. Her own scoring was more an exercise of taking advantage of what defenses surrendered rather than creating her own but the possibilities are there in her individual attack. She's got good size with a lean build and the potential to add some growth.

Mark Lewis for ESPN.com Andrijana Cvitkovic, at 6 feet 2, can play either forward position and create offense.

Andrijana Cvitkovic (Culver, Ind.), Spiece Indy Lady Gym Rats: The Gym Rats may have cornered the market on the size and skills commodity this summer with both Taya Reimer and this 6-2 Euro-skilled forward. Combining sharp ballhandling with impressive size and a solid build, Cvitkovic has the potential to be a threat at both the forward spot and on the wing. There's no hesitancy to create off the dribble and she has the ability to get to the rim and finish in traffic. At the same time she can post up and has the frame and wingspan to seal defenders of almost any size. That size comes with agility and speed as well making her a threat in transition and giving her the potential to defend on the perimeter. Notice the word "potential" as there still is refinement to be done. On the glass she demonstrated a willingness to go get the ball and was quick with the outlet or to clear it with the dribble. The possibilities and what she can ultimately do with them are limitless and entirely up to her. Jessica January (Richfield, Minn,), Minnesota Suns: This 5-9 guard catches your attention with an explosiveness that is rare on any level. Of course, winning two state titles in her freshman track season last spring might provide some evidence that she's going to be difficult to stay in front of defensively. January adds to the mix some sharp, low and quick ballhandling, including a lethal crossover to penetrate anytime she desires. Occasionally she gets herself stuck in traffic and might have been better served attacking another way; her choices are evolving and she picks her spots efficiently on the whole. The pullup looks good and can be a real asset for an attacking style like hers. She can take the outlet and push the ball in transition or get out in the lanes if she's not the handling it herself. On the defensive end those same tools give her the potential to be a top tier defender and she exhibited some quick hands that may well rival her flying feet. With all her physical assets and a sound base to her fundamental game, it's up to her the price she wants to pay and how far she wants to go.

Sentencing In Bud Mackey Case Delayed

Formal sentencing for former Scott County basketball star Bud Mackey in a drug and theft case was delayed Monday afternoon.
Mackey faces more than 15 years behind bars. The former basketball stand-out recently entered a guilty plea in court for trafficking in a controlled substance as well as escaping from the Scott County Sheriff's Office while being arrested on a robbery charge.
Mackey's robbery charge was amended to felony theft.

Sentencing has been re-scheduled for June 6 in the case.

Whitworth to Introduce Matt Logie as Men's Basketball Coach

Courtesy Whitworth Athletics
Whitworth University will introduce Matt Logie as its next men's basketball coach at a press conference on Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m.
Logie just completed his second year as the Associate Head Coach at Lehigh University of the Patriot League, his alma mater.
He is originally from Mercer Island, Washington, where he played basketball for his grandfather, Ed Pepple. He was a First Team All-State selection after leading Mercer Island to the 1999 state championship.
Logie will take over a team that finished 28-2 in 2010-11, reached #1 in the D3hoops.com poll and advanced to the NCAA Division III sectional final (elite eight).

UF baseball team remains at No. 5 - USA YESTERDAY

 Reporter: Osama bin Ladin

The Florida baseball team remained at No. 5 in the latest Baseball America poll released Monday.

And, again, no movement in the top five: Virginia (42-5), South Carolina (35-8), Oregon State (32-9), Vanderbilt (38-5) and Florida (34-10).

There is a new No. 1 in the Collegiate Baseball poll, with South Carolina moving up from No. 2, swapping places with Virginia. UF is also No. 5 in that poll.

The Gators will complete their seven-game homestand by hosting Bethune-Cookman (29-19/15-0 MEAC) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. UF defeated the Wildcats in the 2010 NCAA Gainesville Regional, 7-3.

UF travels to Arkansas (29-13/10-11 SEC) for a three-game series that will begin Thursday night.

Catcher Mike Zunino, a key player in UF’s run this season, was chosen as the SEC Player of the Week for the first time in his career Monday.

Zunino batted a sizzling .583 (7-for-12) during the three wins over the Rebels that enabled Florida (34-10/17-4 SEC) to remain tied on top of the league and Eastern Division standings with Vanderbilt (38-5) and South Carolina (35-8). He paced the Gators on the weekend sweep of Ole Miss with eight RBI, four doubles, four runs and a slugging percentage of 1.167.

In Sunday’s finale, Zunino went a career-high 4-for-4, drove in four runs and had three doubles to become the first Gator player with a trio of two-baggers in a game since April 11, 2010. He went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, a pair of runs and a double in Saturday’s series-clincher. The sophomore opened the series Friday by going 1-for-4 with a key two-run single that turned a 3-2 lead into a 5-2 advantage.

Baseball closes series with 7-1 win over Stanford - USA TODAY

 By OSAMA BIN LADIN

Thanks to a magnificent start by Jake Barrett and a power display by Joey DeMichele, the Sun Devils beat the Stanford Cardinal 7-1 on Sunday afternoon to take the weekend series two games to one. Barrett (6-3) was brilliant for eight innings, allowing only a first inning run to earn the win and help ASU improve to 31-10 on the year, 13-5 in Pac-10 play.
Barrett, who threw a complete game shutout last weekend at Cal, was electric all afternoon. He struck out ten and scattered seven hits over eight innings before giving way to Mitchell Lambson. Lambson struck out two in his perfect inning of work to secure the victory.
The Cardinal would draw first blood in the first inning after a wild pitch by Barrett allowed Tyler Gaffney to score from third. After two ASU errors, Stanford had runners at second and third and only one out and looked poised to add to the early 1-0 lead. But Barrett struck out the next hitter and then induced a fly out to work out of the jam.
The Devils would take the lead in the bottom of the second after Joey DeMichele drove a two-run home run to right field driving in Riccio Torrez on the play and putting ASU up 2-1. In the bottom of the second with Matt Newman on third, Austin Barnes hit a sharp single through the right side, driving in Newman increasing the lead to 3-1.

ASU would keep the scoring up in the bottom of the fourth when Johnny Ruettiger singled to left center allowing Barnes to score. In the bottom of the fifth, DeMichele again powered a ball over the right field fence for his second round-tripper of the game. But he was not done just yet as he brought the crowd of 3,226 to its feet in the seventh when he blasted a ball onto Rural Road in right field for his third homer of the game, a two-run shot. DeMichele is the first Sun Devil to hit three home runs in a single game since Jeff Larish accomplished the same feat in the 2005 College World Series against Nebraska. He finished the day 3-3 with five RBI.
Matt Newman, Riccio Torrez and Austin Barnes all collected two hits of their own in the win. The Sun Devils will continue this home stand with a two-game midweek series against the BYU Cougars beginning Monday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. from Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark.

Los Angeles Dodgers seek turnaround in attendance - FOX SPORTS

For decades, the Los Angeles Dodgers were the closest thing Major League Baseball had to a monarchy — a family-run team that preached patience and continuity and carried itself in regal fashion. From 1954 through 1995, the Dodgers had two managers, and under Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda, they won six World Series and 11 National League pennants while reaching the playoffs 14 times and suffering through just eight losing seasons.
Now, the Dodgers are a sporting synonym for chaos, with almost as many managers since 1996 (seven) as playoff wins (nine). The disarray in the dugout is nothing compared to the tumult in the owner's box, where the divorce saga of Frank McCourt — who rescued the Dodgers from Fox ownership in 2004 — dominated the front pages of Los Angeles newspapers last season.his season began with a pair of Dodgers fans nearly beating a San Francisco Giants fan to death in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on Opening Day Thursday, March 31. McCourt, who fired the Dodgers' head of security over the winter, told reporters afterward that even the presence of "…2,000 policemen there…[was] not going to change that random act of violence."
After McCourt reportedly needed a $30 million loan from Fox — which still televises Dodgers games — to make payroll, Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announced Wednesday, April 20 he would appoint someone to take over all operations of the Dodgers. He put former Texas Rangers executive Tom Schieffer in charge Monday, April 25, after which McCourt held a press conference in Manhattan and declared he would "protect his rights" as he tried to get back control of the team.
The turmoil — coupled with the Dodgers' slow start — is beginning to make a negative impact at the box office. The Dodgers rank third in the National League in attendance at 37,562 per game at 57,099-seat Dodger Stadium, but their average is down a resounding 6,390 per game — most in the NL and second-most in baseball ahead of only the Seattle Mariners, who lost 100 games last year for the second time in three seasons.
At their current rate, the Dodgers would not only finish lower than second in the NL in attendance for the first time since 2002 but would be in danger of drawing fewer than 3 million fans for the first time since 2000 (they are on pace to draw slightly more than 3.04 million people).
But if the first homestand following MLB's takeover is any indication, the Dodgers may have trouble maintaining even the middling pace they set through the season's first month. The Dodgers dropped two of three games against the San Diego Padres from Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1, during which the average crowd was 37,064 — down more than 600 fans from the 37,687 the Dodgers averaged in their first 12 home dates.
Still, Gary Lee, the director of marketing at Los Angeles-based VIP Tickets, believes the news may not be all bad for the Dodgers in the long-term. With the McCourt-caused headlines still fresh in the minds of fans — as well as the NBA's Lakers dominating attention and the ticket market in Los Angeles — Lee is hopeful the Dodgers will begin making a comeback at the gate over the summer, especially if the team begins playing better.
"This town right now is [all about] Lakers playoffs — those tickets are extremely hot, and in this economic time people are trying to save money with gas prices so high," Lee told TicketNews. "And luxuries like this, they want to make sure they spend their money wisely. So they might want to spend more of the money on Lakers tickets, if that's the only ticket they can buy now."
The Dodgers also have a handful of young stars who could help the franchise turn things around, on and off the field. Outfielder Andre Ethier has a 27-game hitting streak, the longest by a Dodger since the team moved to Los Angeles, while fellow outfielder Matt Kemp is hitting .373. Starting pitchers Clayton Kershaw and Chad Billingsley, meanwhile, both have ace potential.
The Dodgers fell to 14-15 with their loss to the Padres Sunday, May 1 and are in second place in the NL West, 4.5 games behind the Colorado Rockies in the NL West. That's tied for the biggest deficit faced by a second-place team, but only four teams in the NL have a winning record through Sunday, so it may not take much of a hot streak for the Dodgers to get into the playoff race.
"They're not great, they're not bad, but the thing is I think a lot of the fans believe the Dodgers are on the brink of being really good again," Lee said. "I think the fans believe that there are pieces on this team to make this team really good.
"It's not an ideal situation for the Dodgers [but] they're making the most out of it. They really are making efforts to show the fans that it's safe to come back to the park and [are trying to] put a good product out there. I think when the stories go away, people are going to come back to the park."

Who is Mr. Baseball in Philadelphia?

Today, Roy Halladay(notes), Cliff Lee(notes), Ryan Howard(notes) and Chase Utley(notes) could accurately be referred to as 'Mr. Baseball.' The Philadelphia Phillies are the toast of the town at the moment. Back in the day, Connie Mack owned the city. He and his Philadelphia Athletics were quite a story.
Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy

Connie Mack managed until he was 87 years old.
Sean O'Brien

'The Tall Tactician' also known by another nickname, Connie Mack, began his professional baseball playing career with the Washington Senators in 1886. He spent four years with them before shuffling off to Buffalo. After playing for the Buffalo Bisons in 1890, he went to the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he would spend the last six years of his professional playing career.
Mack had versatile fielding skills. Though he mostly caught, he did spend time at every infield position except third base and also played in the outfield. He finished his career with a .930 fielding percentage and a .245 batting average.
Something happened while he was playing in Pittsburgh that changed his career and the history of baseball. Mack also took on the role of managing the team during the 1894 season. He went 12-10 at the end of that year and then managed two more seasons with the Pirates.
Driving from Pittsburgh to Philly
Mack retired as a player and as a manager in 1896. Five years came and went until he drove across the state of Pennsylvania and became the first manager of the newly formed Philadelphia Athletics in baseball's American League. He was in charge of that Philadelphia team for an astounding 50 years, leading the Athletics to 9 Pennants and 5 World Series Championships. He managed 7,755 total games through the 1950 season, winning 3,731 of them.

The ever dapper Mr. McGillicuddy always wore a suit while in the dugout and also held another interesting distinction. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame by Baseball's Centennial Committee in 1937. So, 'Mr. Baseball' managed for over a decade while being a member of one of sports most distinguished fraternities.
Most people don't have a stadium named, or a statue erected, in their honor. But, most people weren't like Connie Mack and never could have been.
Growing up in the Philadelphia region during the late 1970s and early 1980s naturally enabled everyone to become Philadelphia Phillies fans. My friends and I learned the game on little league fields, through trading cards, and by playing APBA. That era became an important part of our young lives.
Supportive family members and friends, as well as relentless persistence, created an opportunity for me to work in the front office for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in the early 1990s. Today, a new golden era has sparked a resurgence of baseball passion in everyone who never surrendered that feeling of their old school days.

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Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash : Indian cricketers will not be part of it -ESPN ASIA

Australian cricketers may be participating in the IPL but Indian players would not get the BCCI's permission to compete in the Twenty20 Big Bash League Down Under later this year because of domestic tournaments.

BCCI Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty said the Board would not free the players of their domestic season commitments which run from October to March. The Big Bash is scheduled from mid-December until late January.

"Last year some teams wanted Indian players and they were not available because of (the) domestic tournament," he told 'The Age'.

India have a one-day series in Australia lined up next year soon after the Big Bash but even newly-appointed coach Duncan Fletcher can't ask for a earlier-than-scheduled trip Down Under for his players to get acclimatised.

"It's a policy decision of the board, the new coach has nothing to do with that, and when there is a domestic tournament on I don't think we will release any players.

"Sri Lanka now has some league in the month of July and it doesn't clash with our domestic tournament so whoever wants to go with prior permission can participate," Shetty explained.

There are 35 Australians, including retired champions Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist, playing in the Indian Premier League right now.

Ray Illingworth to leave hospital following heart attack

Yorkshire County Cricket president and former England captain Ray Illingworth is hoping to be discharged from hospital following a heart attack.

The 78-year-old was admitted to Leeds General Infirmary on Tuesday after falling ill, but could be sent home over the weekend.

Ray Illingworth could be sent home soon. (Allstar)

Former president Robin Smith explained that he has spoken to Mr Illingworth's wife and believes he will be allowed to return to his house in Farsley soon.
'The club sends every good wish to Raymond and his family,' he said.
'He is doing a tremendous job as Yorkshire president and we trust it will not be long before he is back with us at Headingley.'

Mr Illingworth captained Yorkshire, Leicestershire and England during his career, scoring 24,134 first-class runs and taking 2,072 wickets.
Cricket fans might also remember him as a BBC commentator - a role he took up after retiring from the sport.
Yorkshire County Cricket Club was founded in 1863 and claims to have the most illustrious history of any of England's first-class counties.

Elizabeth Hurley and Shane Warne engage in post-match smooching in Jaipur -In respose of Kate & Williams marriage

Most of the world were riveted by Royal Wedding events unfolding in London today. But Elizabeth Hurley was not one of them.

The model's attention was otherwise engaged, far away in Jaipur, India.
Elizabeth was far more interested in cheering her boyfriend Shane Warne on at his cricket game, and the couple engaged in some post-match kissing that would have made the Royal couple blush.

PDA: Shane Warne and Elizabeth Hurley indulge in some post-match smooching in Jaipur today

The 45-year-old has been in India supporting Shane, 41, as he captains the Rajasthan Royals at the Indian Premier League.

Despite replying coyly recently that she and the sportsman were simply 'very good friends,' the pair proved that their very public romance is very much back on in recent days.
On top of their passionate display of affection after Shane's match against the Mumbai Indians, the couple are back to their incessant tweeting.

Number one fan: Shane declared on Twitter that Elizabeth is now a 'cricket lover' after she cheered on him and his team the Rajasthan Royals

Getting into the spirit: The model and businesswoman wore a jewelled bindi on her forehead

Warne commended his girlfriend and her son Damien over Twitter on their support of his team.
He wrote: 'You and D's flag waving was superb today - all the boys appreciate your support v much. Think you are now a cricket lover!'
He added: 'P.S. FYI RR blue top 100% suits you... Hahahaha I secretly think your a 20/20 lover And are converted to cricket !!!!! LOL.'
Miss Hurley replied: 'Yes! Love cricket now,' adding three 'kisses.'

Sweet tweet: Shane suggested that Elizabeth is now a 'cricket lover'

Small doses please: The model replied that she had indeed been converted, but not necessarily for five day tests

But Elizabeth, who today sported a jewelled bindi on her forehead, also said: 'Not sure I could sit through a 5 dayer though.....unless u bowled throughout.'
Hurley also appeared to have found an alternative supporters' outfit, after bemoaning the uncomfortable nylon shirts.
'My first time wearing a startlingly unpleasant nylon top-confused how these large, sweaty sportsmen stand them?' she wrote on Twitter earlier this week.

The other kiss: Shane and Liz's passionate embrace made Prince William and Kate's kiss look tame

Her public show of support has sent a message that despite their young romance being rocked by more than one allegations of infidelity on Warne's part, they are still going strong.
In a recent interview Hurley admitted she had first been attracted to Warne because of his nationality.

She said: 'I love Australians. They're very out-doorsey. They're jolly, they make me laugh - their accents amuse me.'

Saturday Sports Fix - what you missed overnight

SEBASTIAN Vettel warns Red Bull of F1 rivals, Aussie Brett Rumford in the Seoul mix, soccer's owl kicker cops it sweet and the lid lifted on Sri Lankan match fixing. Read more below now!
FIXING MATCHES JUST WRECKS THE SPORT
CRICKET - Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Hashan Tillakaratne has admitted that his country had been fixing games since 1992.

The left-handed batsman, who played 83 Tests and 200 one-dayers for Sri Lanka during his 15-year career, said he was prepared to back up his allegations by naming some of those involved.
WHOA.... not that's a heavy accusation.

"Match fixing is something which has been in this country over a period of time. This has spread like a cancer today," Tillakaratne was quoted as saying by Sri Lanka's Daily Mirror newspaper.
"According to my knowledge, it happened since 1992.

It's always shocking to hear about this stuff, but I don't why? The moment it comes out and those who are responsible are caught, it's like we always knew. We'll have to keep our eyes on this one to see where it goes.
AUSSIE GOLFER LEADS SEOUL TOURNAMENT
GOLF - Brett Rumford is his name and he leads the Ballantine's Championship in South Korea after a brilliant nine-under-par this morning.
He made his surge in the second round as big names like Ernie Els and Ian Poulter failed to follow his lead and were cut from the competition.

The 33-year-old from Perth barely put a foot wrong... seriously.  He carded nine birdies on his way to a 63. I bet Brett can just smell the $2.9 million.
Check out this cool video of Rumford driving down the course... it's in slow-mo!

Players’ assets should be examined, says Zulqarnain

Zulqarnain Haider revealed he has given important information on fixing to the interior minister.-AP photo

LAHORE: Wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider says the assets of every cricketer in the country should be examined regularly to curb the menace of fixing in cricket.
“Assets of the cricketers [in Pakistan] should be examined every year and the income tax department can play a vital role in this regard,” Zulqarnain said while talking to reporters at his residence here on Friday.
“In Pakistan where many people are struggling for two-time daily meals many cricketers own 15 houses. The whole nation should think about this to end the difference [of living standard] between the people,” added Zulqarnain.
Declining to mention the name of any player who might be involved in fixing business, Zulqarnain reckoned it was not good as the government was already investigating the matter.
He said the other players around the world should also come forward to help those who wanted to eradicate match-fixing and spot-fixing trend in cricket.
Zulqarnain claimed had he not sacrificed his career in Dubai by abandoning the national side to leave for Britain, no progress would have been made to check corrupt elements in cricket.
The player revealed he had given important information on fixing to the interior minister and there was progress in this regard.

ESPN: ASU basketball could play 2 point guards at same time

In a couple months, Jahii Carson and Chris Colvin both will join the Arizona State basketball program. Both play the point. And both could play next season at the same time.
The Sun  have done this in the recent past, with Jamelle McMillan and Derek Glasser, but this has the potential to be different, simply because Carson and Colvin are different guards. Around the Valley, everyone knows about the 5-foot-10 Carson, explosive and flashy out of Mesa High.
Colvin, 6-foot-3, started his career at Iowa State, playing 29 games as a freshman reserve, before transferring to Palm Beach State, where he played last season. "Since I was a little kid, I've been a pass-first guy, big on assists," Colvin said. "That's something that's always been a part of my game."
Said ASU associate head coach Dedrique Taylor: "He's been in the Big  and then he's been in junior college, so he's played at a pretty high level for the last two years, and we're going to need that experience immediately. Also, his ability to get into the paint off the bounce, his ability to play in transition, his leadership, those are all things we're going to need."
Anyone who watched the Sun Devils last season - they finished 12-19, last in the Pac-10 - know where they struggled. Finding easy points, in transition or in the post, was a chore every night. ASU had plenty of guards who could catch a reverse pass and shoot. But penetrating and getting to the rim was another story.
Using Carson and Colvin together would increase ASU's pace. Ideal scenario: Kyle Cain grabs a defensive rebound, outlets to the closest guard and the Sun Devils look to grab something quick, putting pressure on the defense. If that doesn't work, ASU slow ups and flows into the motion offense, setting ball screens to create mismatches and open looks.
But the main point is to just get ASU's best players on the court, regardless of position. Taylor points to last season's NCAA championship game. Connecticut freshman Shabazz Napier didn't start, but at crucial moments he teamed with Kemba Walker in the backcourt, relieving Walker of some play-making responsibilities. (Note: You might see this a lot in next season's Pac-12. Arizona has the personnel - with MoMo Jones, Jordin Mayes, Kyle Fogg and freshmen Josiah Turner and Nick Johnson - to do it as well as anybody. And Washington has two great passers in Abdul Gaddy and freshman Tony Wroten.)
Another example:
"Look at the Denver Nuggets," Taylor said, "Since their trade with the Knicks, they have played extremely well with Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton on the floor together. ... Because when Kenyon Martin gets the ball off the board, he's out-letting it to one of those two guys and they're racing up the floor. It's hell to pay for the defense when you have two guys on the floor who can push the ball that fast."
The potential result: Greater opportunities in transition, which is something ASU has talked about a lot in the past, but struggled to make happen.
"You have to be able to create X amount of points in transition," Taylor said. "It's such a pivotal part of the game. And I wouldn't say that's something we've done well, even when we had Derek and James (Harden). James wasn't a runner, and Derek wasn't a blazing guard, someone that could just get by people in the open floor. He was more controlled, get us in the flow and then BOOM, you make a mistake and he makes you pay for it. But he wasn't going to blow by you off the bounce, which is why I think Jahii and Chris give us a different option."

Men's basketball: New FGCU coach off to quick start on recruiting trail

ESTERO — Florida Gulf Coast University men's basketball coach Andy Enfield has his second signee, and perhaps an eventual starting backcourt for years to come.
Shooting guard Bernard Thompson (6-foot-3, 180 pounds), of Conyers (Ga.)-Rockdale County High has signed his national letter of intent and will join Winter Park point guard Brett Comer (6-3) as new Eagles for Enfield, who was hired March 31.
Thompson, whom Enfield recruited during four of his five years as an assistant at Florida State, chose FGCU, which will be in its first season of Division I postseason eligibility next season, over East Carolina, Georgia State, Murray State, Northeastern, Wright State and Virginia Commonwealth, a Final Four team last season.
Thompson averaged 17.0 points and 6.5 rebounds during his senior season as Rockdale County finished as Georgia’s Class 4A runner-up for coach Alvin Williams.
“We’re really excited to have Bernard come to our program,” Enfield said. “He’s such a talented player. He plays hard on both ends of the court. He has a very explosive first step and he’s a heck of a defensive player. Bernard did whatever he had to do to help the team win. Some games he was the leading scorer. Some games he was the leading rebounder. Some games he was both.
“Bernard gives us some explosiveness that this program needs.”
Thompson could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon, but Williams, whose roster also included junior Kevin Ware, a Tennessee commitment, gushed about Thompson.
“I tell you what, that kid’s a steal,” Williams said. “Bernard’s an all-around player. I mean he can defend the other team’s best guard and he can do anything offensively the defense gives him. If they give him that long jumper, he takes it and makes it. If they give him that lane where he can pull up, he makes it. And he is explosive going to the basket. Big-time players play big in big-time games. In the playoffs he carried us big-time.
“I have a very talented team here, but out of all of that talent, Bernard is the most mature player — meaning that he’s ready to go play in college right now.”
Wrote ESPN.com’s Mike LaPlante: “ It seems that every year after the holiday tournaments there are a handful of players that emerge with an increased profile and major recruiting buzz. Count Rockdale County (Ga.) High School’s Bernard Thompson, who has gone from a relative unknown to one of the most talked about names on the recruiting circuit, as one of them.
“I got the chance to watch Thompson compete in three different tournaments during the later part of December and I came away impressed with his basketball IQ and upside. He is a long, rangy guard that can shoot it from 3 and is deceptively athletic. He attacked the lane in transition at the Chick-fil-a Classic and finished with a left-handed jam that caught everyone off guard and had the college coaches in attendance buzzing.”
Comer, who signed on Monday, was named an all-state first teamer by the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches after averaging 10.2 points, 6.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game as a senior last season when he helped lead Winter Park its second straight Class 6A title. He scored in double figures 18 times and had six double-doubles.
ESPN.com rated Comer as the 51st-best point guard in the country and he canceled visits to Colorado State and Massachusetts after committing to FGCU.
“Our coaching staff, we’re excited,” Enfield said. “We think Bernard and Brett complement the players we have very well. We expect them to contribute as freshmen and be big-time college basketball players. With any freshman, it takes some time, but they’re talented enough to be excellent players for us, and they really complement each other well.”

Southern Miss dismisses Darnell Dodson from team

Veteran guard Darnell Dodson has been dismissed from the Southern Mississippi basketball program following his arrest on theft charges, the Hattiesburg American reports.
The newspaper quoted university police chief Bob Hopkins as saying Dodson was arrested along with another former USM player, Cory Markell Smith, on felony charges of automobile burglary and residential burglary.

Kentucky's Darnell Dodson (3) is fouled by Morehead State's Demonte Harper during the second half of their NCAA college basketball game in Lexington, Ky., Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. (AP Photo)

Golden Eagles coach Larry Eustachy released a statement Thursday that said Dodson was being dismissed from the team, although he did not cite a reason.
The alleged crime occurred at a Southern Mississippi fraternity house.
"Members returned to the residence and saw two black males in the residence before they fled out the back door," Hopkins told the paper. "They gave us basic descriptions.
"We stopped and talked to one individual, who was later identified as Dodson. There was a preliminary investigation done at that time. He was released to be back in our office the next morning. He came back and the investigators interviewed him and through that interview and the available evidence, we were able to make an arrest."
Dodson and his alleged accomplice were being held on $20,000 bond.
Dodson spent the 2009-10 season at Kentucky, where he averaged 6 points for the Wildcats' Elite Eight team. He was not welcomed to return for 2010-11, for reasons never specified by coach John Calipari. In January, Dodson chose to transfer to Southern Miss.

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Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations

The Celtics GM made his weekly appearance with Michael and Glenn and helped up put the wraps on the sweep over the Knicks and preview the showdown with the two Big Three's as the Celts take on the Heat in round two of the NBA Playoffs.

Ball State stuns Western Michigan in MAC men's tennis tournament- FOX NEWS

KALAMAZOO – The semifinals of the Mid-American Conference men’s tennis tournament didn’t start off very well for No. 1 seed Western Michigan University.

It ended even worse.

The Broncos had their streak of five straight MAC tournament titles end on Friday when No. 3 Ball State stunned WMU, 4-3, at the Sorensen Courts. Ball State will play the winner of No. 2 Toledo and No. 4 Buffalo on Saturday in the championship match. The tourney winner receives the MAC’s automatic bid into the NCAA tournament.

Western had defeated Ball State, 7-0, earlier in the season, but several of the matches were close.

The Cardinals put themselves in control of the semifinal right off the bat when they won the doubles point by taking two of the three doubles matches. When Western held a 3-2 lead after four of the singles matches had ended, Ball State’s Andres Monroy topped Casey Cullen, 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 at fifth singles to tie the match.

BSU’s Cliff Morrison then beat Simon Blomberg, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 at No. 3 singles to clinch the Cardinals’ victory.

Western’s only two players to win both of their matches were the top two singles players, seniors Michael Calderone and Kazuya Komada. The two teamed to win their No. 1 doubles match before Calderone topped Dalton Albertin, 7-6, 7-6, at No. 1 singles and Komada beat Zane Smith, 6-1,6-0, at No. 2.

Tennis Odds: Soderling Wants to Beat Nadal- ESPN

Robin Soderling feels his tennis odds are still good to beat Rafael Nadal in the upcoming clay court season, which is a favourite of Nadal and tennis betting fans.
“He’s a great player, especially on clay,” the world number five Swede said Monday.

“But you have to go to the court thinking that you have a chance. Otherwise, what’s the point? Nadal is the best on clay ever but he can be beaten. You just have to play your best tennis and have some luck.”
And some think that luck is what is needed to improve the number 5 ranked Soderling’s tennis odds.
Soderling has had the opportunity to beat Nadal in 2009 in the fourth round of the French Open, where he went on lose to Roger Federer. Soderling defeated Nadal 6–2 6–7 (2-7) 6–4 7–6 (7-2) at Roland Garros.
Tennis odds hopefully are improving for the Swede after Achilles tendon and knee trouble kept him away from tennis betting.
“I wanted to play in Monte Carlo but I wasn’t ready. The clay season is long and now I’m injury-free. I feel ready to play well. This will be a tough tournament with a lot of guys who can win.”

“But I’m feeling good with my game and I’ve had two and a half weeks of practice on the clay. I have to be counted among the favourites,” said the Swede.
World number two in Novak Djokovic, who is on a 24-0 winning record this season will be on clay for the first time this season at home in Belgrade this week and could also be quite the contender for top tennis odds.

“It’s very even at the top of the game. Djokovic has beaten Rafa twice this year (hardcourt) but clay is totally different. Nadal is good on everything, but on clay he’s even better.”
Federer is currently 1000 ranking points behind world No.2 Novak Djokovic, who is 3000 ranking points behind Nadal, meaning the three are likely to stay in their places for a little while longer for tennis betting.

Lady Demon tennis' title defense starts Friday

SAN ANTONIO -- Northwestern State has had another impressive regular season, but for the Lady Demons tennis team, having a taste of last year's NCAA Tournament has them eager to return by defending their Southland Conference Tournament title beginning Friday morning against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.

The Lady Demons (16-5 overall, 9-2 in the Southland) edged the Lady Islanders (12-5, 7-4) in a tightly contested 4-3 decision in the third conference match of the season in early March at Corpus Christi.

Andrea Nedorostova and Martina Rubesova rallied from 5-2 down to an 8-5 win in the No. 2 doubles match, securing the doubles point with an 8-5 win, then swept their singles matches in a pair of hard-fought victories.

Nedorostova prevailed 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 in the No. 4 position to clinch the match for the Lady Demons. Rubesova won 6-1, 7-5 in the No. 3 singles spot. Four of the six singles went three sets.

"Everything we've done in the fall and spring has been designed to get us to this point, going into the weekend in the best possible position to win this tournament and get back to the NCAA Tournament," said first-year coach Luc Godin. "It's much tougher than it was a year ago because the competitive level of play has really improved in our conference.

"We were very fortunate to win in our first match against Corpus Christi and we'll need to be at our best to have a chance to succeed Friday," said Godin.

The match will begin at 9 a.m. at the Texas-San Antonio Tennis Center. The winner advances to a 9 a.m. Saturday semifinal against either second-seeded Lamar or No. 7 Sam Houston State. Top-seeded Texas-Arlington, the regular season champion, is on the other side of the bracket trying to reach the Sunday championship match.

The Lady Demons are 37-7 over the past two years, including a 23-2 mark against Southland foes.

Nedorostova and Rubesova are 25-0 in doubles against Southland tandems in two years.

Kathrin Lange can take over second place on the school career doubles victory list Friday if she and all-time leader Bianca Schulz prevail in their No. 3 match. Lange is tied for second at 63 with former career queen Karen Patel (1988-91).

Lange, Schulz, No. 1 doubles tandem Olga Bazhanova and Adna Curukovic, and Rubesova are graduating seniors.

Tennis-Feisty Djokovic steamrolls into Serbia Open semis

World number two Novak Djokovic settled an old score with a childhood rival when he beat Slovenian Blaz Kavcic 6-3 6-2 on Friday to reach the Serbia Open semi-finals.
The 23-year old Serb, who will meet compatriot and close friend Janko Tipsarevic on Saturday for a berth in Sunday's final, showed some nerves in the second set before he stretched his unbeaten run in 2011 to 26 matches.
Djokovic was 4-1 up when the umpire ordered play to continue despite heavy rain and facing a break point, the home favourite sat down and waited for the slippery lines to be mopped up before he dropped his serve.
But it was only a temporary blip as the winner of this year's Australian Open, Dubai Championships and Master series events in Miami and Indian Wells regained his composure to seal the match in 1 hour 25 minutes.
"I remember very well losing to Kavcic 10 years ago in an under-14 tournament, I haven't forgotten the result either and I had a score to settle here today," Djokovic said with a wry smile in a courtside interview.
"We grew up together and I really wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
"Pressure is part of the game, especially in front of your own fans but it's also a very special feeling to be here and I am looking forward to playing against Janko.
"The most important thing is that Serbia will have one player in the final and may the best player win what should be a very entertaining match," he said.
Djokovic looked sharp in the opening set and won 14 of 16 points on his first serve, getting the crowd on their feet with a reflex volley and some delightful backhand winners.
He fired in 18 winners throughout the one-sided contest and appeared to leave a lot in the tank for the showdown with Tipsarevic, who beat India's Somdev Devvarman 6-3 3-6 6-4 in a rip-roaring contest which lasted 2 hours 38 minutes.
Djokovic won both their previous encounters but Tipsarevic said he was looking forward to face his Davis Cup team mate, who steered Serbia to their first title in the competition when they edged France 3-2 in the Belgrade Arena last December.
"It will be a good test of my credentials and it will show where I stand at the moment, as playing against the world's best is the only barometer of one's quality," Tipsarevic said.
Italian Filippo Volandri brushed aside Marcel Granollers 6-2 6-4 to set up a last-four meeting with Spaniard Feliciano Lopez, who beat compatriot Albert Montanes 6-4 6-4.

Briton Naomi Cavaday retires from tennis

Cavaday plans to concentrate on coaching in the future

British number five Naomi Cavaday has retired from professional tennis at the age of 22.

The Kent-born left-hander reached a career-high ranking of 174 last May, and is currently 231st in the world.
Cavaday, who battled depression and an eating disorder during her six-year career, will now focus on becoming a coach at the Lawn Tennis Association.
"What a fantastic opportunity I have had and I am so proud of what I have achieved," she said.
In a statement on the LTA website, Cavaday added: "Throughout my career I have had big struggles with an eating disorder and depression, but I'm pleased to say that I have worked through and overcome these issues and I am now in a great place to be able to make this decision, even though it has been a difficult decision to make.
"I want to be honest about what I have been through to raise awareness of these difficulties that many people go through and athletes are no exception."
Cavaday, who won a clay-court title in Brescia on the second-tier ITF tour last April, has not played in 2011.
She played in the main draw at Wimbledon three times, losing to Ai Sugiyama in 2006, Martina Hingis in 2007 - after holding two match points - and Venus Williams in 2008.
Cavaday turned down a wildcard for last year's Wimbledon and chose to enter the qualifying tournament, saying after defeat by Andrea Hlavackova: "I don't regret my decision.
"It was the right thing to do and with how I was playing I definitely could have qualified."