PHILADELPHIA (AP)—From losingest team to longest game, the Philadelphia Phillies are World Series champions.
Strange as that sounds.
Strange as it was.
Brad Lidge and the Phillies finished off the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in a three-inning sprint Wednesday night to win a suspended Game 5 nearly 50 hours after it started.
Left in limbo by a two-day rainstorm, the Phillies seesawed to their first championship since 1980. Pedro Feliz singled home the go-ahead run in the seventh and Lidge closed out his perfect season to deliver the title Philly craved for so long.
“It was a crazy way to win it with a suspended game but we did and it’s over and we’re very excited,” 45-year-old Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer said. “It has been a long wait, but it’s worth it.”
Series at a Glance
vs.
Phillies win series 4-1
Game 1: at TAM
PHI 3, TAM 2 - FinalRecap Box Score
Game 2: at TAM
PHI 2, TAM 4 - FinalRecap Box Score
Game 3: at PHI
TAM 4, PHI 5 - FinalRecap Box Score
Game 4: at PHI
TAM 2, PHI 10 - FinalRecap Box Score
Game 5: at PHI
TAM 3, PHI 4 - FinalRecap Box Score
*
Bundled in parkas and blankets, fans returned in force to Citizens Bank Park and saw the city claim its first major sports championship in 25 years. No more references needed to those sad-sack Phillies teams in the past and their 10,000-plus losses.
“They could taste it just as much as we could,” Series MVP Cole Hamels said.
It was among the wackiest endings in baseball history, a best-of-seven series turned into a best-of-3 1/2 showdown when play resumed in the bottom of the sixth inning tied at 2.
How bizarre? Hamels was a star in Game 5—and the ace never stepped on the mound Wednesday night; Two Rays relievers warmed up to start, and there was a pinch-hitter before a single pitch; “God Bless America” was sung rather than the national anthem, and it was quickly followed by the seventh-inning stretch.
All because the game was suspended Monday night after rain made the field into a quagmire, washing out the foul lines, creating a puddle at home plate and turning every ball an adventure. Commissioner Bud Selig eventually called it— he got booed when he presented the MVP trophy to Hamels.
For Philly, it was more than a World Series win. It was a bit of redemption for all the losses, the jokes, the slights.
Finally, something to celebrate.
How much did Philly fans want a champion to call its own?
Well, the sports hero they point to with the most pride isn’t even a real person—Rocky Balboa.
Yo, Adrian … the Phillies did it!
“It’s over,” shortstop Jimmy Rollins said. “It’s over, man.”
Lidge went 48-for-48 on save chances this year, including two this week. He retired two batters with a runner on second, striking out pinch-hitter Eric Hinske to end it.
Lidge jumped in front of the mound, landing on his knees with arms outstretched. Catcher Carlos Ruiz ran out to grab him, and teammates sprinted to the mound to join them as towel-waving fans let loose.
“At first, I couldn’t believe it. And then the gravity of what happened hit me,” Lidge said.
A generation ago, it was Tug McGraw who went wild when the Phillies won their first title. A few days after country singer Tim McGraw scattered his dad’s ashes on the mound, it was Lidge’s turn to throw the final pitch.
Despite low TV ratings and minus the majors’ most glamorous teams, fans will always remember how this one wrapped up. And for the first time in a long while, kids saw a World Series champion crowned before bedtime.
“I believe this firmly, our guys are not going to be satisfied without playing in October from now on,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “And that’s a good thing. And that’s all because of this group of people this year.”
Reliever J.C. Romero got the win, his second of the Series.
Hamels went 4-0 in five postseason starts, beating the Rays in Game 1 and pitching six sharp innings in the rain during Game 5. He was set to be the first batter when the game resumed, and was immediately pulled for a pinch-hitter.
While former NL MVPs Ryan Howard and Rollins drive the Phillies, it was their less-heralded teammates who helped win it on this chilly night.
Tied at 3, Pat Burrell led off the seventh with a drive off the center-field wall against J.P. Howell. Chad Bradford relieved and one out later Feliz singled home pinch-runner Eric Bruntlett.
Rocco Baldelli’s solo home run off Ryan Madson made it 3-all in the top of the seventh. The Rays almost got more, but All-Star second baseman Chase Utley alertly bluffed a throw to first on a grounder over the bag and instead threw out Jason Bartlett at the plate.
A man walks past a rain covere… AP - Oct 28, 6:47 pm EDT
Pinch-hitter Geoff Jenkins, the first batter Wednesday night, doubled and later scored on Jayson Werth’s bloop single.
In all, there were six new pitchers, three pinch-hitters and two pinch-runners when play restarted.
Manager Charlie Manuel, whose NL East champions clinched a playoff spot in the final week, guided the Phillies’ second overall championship in six World Series tries. The Phils helped themselves by going 7-0 at home this postseason, beating Milwaukee and the Dodgers in the NL playoffs and then defeating the Rays.
“I always thought we’d win the World Series. I knew we could beat anyone in the league,” Manuel said.
Once known as a city of champions, Philadelphia sports fell on hard times after Julius Erving and Moses Malone led the Sixers to that 1983 title.
Since then, the Phillies, Eagles, Sixers and Flyers made it to the championship game or round—seven times, in total—and lost all of them.
Mud covers an on deck batting … AP - Oct 28, 5:35 pm EDT
The city became so starved for a crown that it was ready to throw a parade down Broad Street for a horse. But local colt Smarty Jones lost, too, in his bid for the Triple Crown.
“People enjoy being associated with winning and a world championship is the ultimate,” Mike Schmidt, MVP of the Phillies’ other championship, wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press this week. “It unites a town behind one team.”
Cheesesteaks, on the house.
Tampa Bay did itself proud, too, until this final week. Baseball’s best success story this season, the worst-to-first Rays played like the downtrodden Devil Rays from the past decade.
Even so, the gap between the Phils and Rays wasn’t enormous. Had Evan Longoria’s late, long drive off Jamie Moyer in Game 3 not been blown back by the wind, the teams might still be playing.
Notes
The World Series failed to make it to a Game 6 for the fifth straight year, the first time that’s happened. … Burrell went 1-for-14 in the five games. … Howell put down the first sacrifice bunt of his career.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The Beatles Take Video Game Plunge
October 30, 2008 , 11:00 AM ET
Antony Bruno, Denver
Music from the Beatles is coming to videogames ... but not to "Rock Band."MTV Networks and Harmonix -- the game developer behind the popular "Rock Band" franchise -- together with the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd., are developing an entirely new interactive music game based solely and exclusively on the entire Beatles catalog.The game, which does not yet have a title or release date, will not be part of the "Rock Band" franchise, but will be based on the same platform. Since the project is still in early development, all parties were stingy on details during a conference call this morning (Oct. 30). But here's what is known so far:-- The game is designed to take users on an "experiential journey" through the Beatles' career, music and vision. It will also include new types of interactive gameplay associated with the Beatles' imagery in addition to its music. Surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, are involved in the vision and creative direction.-- The music will come from master recordings of the Beatles' U.K. releases, but will not be remixed or remastered. Giles Martin, the son of original Beatles producer George Martin and co-producer of the Beatles' "LOVE" project, will serve as music producer.
-- A fourth-quarter 2009 release is in the cards.There are numerous details still unconfirmed. Neither MTV or Apple Corps would comment on whether Beatles content will be available for the "Rock Band" franchise as downloadable content at any point, and Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones said the announcement was in no way meant as a precursor to the Beatles' catalog arriving at digital music services.It's also unclear whether the new game will be compatible with any existing "Rock Band" game peripherals -- such as the plastic guitar and drums controllers -- or if new custom instruments can be expected. Both MTV/Harmonix and rival Activision, which publishes the competing "Guitar Hero" franchise, have actively courted the Beatles for some time in an attempt to score content from high-profile artists. Jones cited the fact that MTV/Harmonix was the first to introduce a full-band interactive music game as a significant factor in the decision, as well as MTV's long history of working with artists. Little is known about the deal structure. Neither company would characterize the terms in any specific way, but hinted that all involved essentially "owned" a piece of the project, suggesting it is not a typical licensing deal. "Nothing is typical about the Beatles," Jones said.
Antony Bruno, Denver
Music from the Beatles is coming to videogames ... but not to "Rock Band."MTV Networks and Harmonix -- the game developer behind the popular "Rock Band" franchise -- together with the Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd., are developing an entirely new interactive music game based solely and exclusively on the entire Beatles catalog.The game, which does not yet have a title or release date, will not be part of the "Rock Band" franchise, but will be based on the same platform. Since the project is still in early development, all parties were stingy on details during a conference call this morning (Oct. 30). But here's what is known so far:-- The game is designed to take users on an "experiential journey" through the Beatles' career, music and vision. It will also include new types of interactive gameplay associated with the Beatles' imagery in addition to its music. Surviving members Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, as well as Yoko Ono Lennon and Olivia Harrison, are involved in the vision and creative direction.-- The music will come from master recordings of the Beatles' U.K. releases, but will not be remixed or remastered. Giles Martin, the son of original Beatles producer George Martin and co-producer of the Beatles' "LOVE" project, will serve as music producer.
-- A fourth-quarter 2009 release is in the cards.There are numerous details still unconfirmed. Neither MTV or Apple Corps would comment on whether Beatles content will be available for the "Rock Band" franchise as downloadable content at any point, and Apple Corps CEO Jeff Jones said the announcement was in no way meant as a precursor to the Beatles' catalog arriving at digital music services.It's also unclear whether the new game will be compatible with any existing "Rock Band" game peripherals -- such as the plastic guitar and drums controllers -- or if new custom instruments can be expected. Both MTV/Harmonix and rival Activision, which publishes the competing "Guitar Hero" franchise, have actively courted the Beatles for some time in an attempt to score content from high-profile artists. Jones cited the fact that MTV/Harmonix was the first to introduce a full-band interactive music game as a significant factor in the decision, as well as MTV's long history of working with artists. Little is known about the deal structure. Neither company would characterize the terms in any specific way, but hinted that all involved essentially "owned" a piece of the project, suggesting it is not a typical licensing deal. "Nothing is typical about the Beatles," Jones said.
Gautam Gambhir gets off with a rap over the elbow
THE International Cricket Council has endorsed declining standards of player behaviour by failing to take adequate action following the spiteful opening day of the third Test here.
India's double century-maker Gautam Gambhir could escape an automatic suspension after avoiding a charge of "inappropriate and deliberate physical contact" for striking Shane Watson with an elbow during Wednesday's play.
In November last year, Gambhir was found guilty of that same offence, violating level 2.4 of the ICC's code of conduct, when he collided with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi during a one-day match.
The ICC handbook states that any player found guilty of the same offence within a 12-month period automatically has the severity of the penalty raised a level. While level two infringements carry fines ranging from 50 to 100per cent of a player's match fee and a suspension of one Test or up to two one-day matches, Gambhir would have been facing much tougher level three penalties. These range from a suspension of two to four Test matches or four to eight one-day games.
Instead, Gambhir has been charged with a level two offence which states players "shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket".
The charge relates to Gambhir striking Watson with an elbow to the ribs while taking a run on Wednesday. The often vocal Watson has been charged with the same broad offence but with a lesser level one penalty after being accused of saying something inappropriate to Gambhir.
A level one offence carries a fine of up to 50 per cent of a player's match fee.
The charges were laid by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar and third umpire Suresh Shastri and will be heard by match referee Chris Broad overnight.
Inaction on other incidents appears to endorse opponents abusing each other to the point where an umpire is forced to step between them and the fielding team's captain and vice-captain become involved.
That is the only conclusion which can be drawn from a failure to take action against Simon Katich and Gambhir for their unseemly verbal clash late on Wednesday.
It has been alleged that television footage shows Gambhir calling Katich a "f**** cheat", igniting the conflict after Gambhir had his path blocked by Katich while trying to field off his own bowling. Their confrontation became so heated that umpire Bowden stepped between them.
And twice vice-captain Michael Clarke stepped in to pull Katich away while captain Ricky Ponting also ran in to calm things down, pointing to Clarke to take Katich away from Gambhir.
The same cover-all level two clause of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game was employed to report India fast bowler Zaheer Khan during the second Test in Mohali. Zaheer was fined 80 per cent of his match fee after running to give Matthew Hayden a fearful send-off when he was dismissed in the second innings.
It continued India's record as the worst behaved team in the world, with about 50 separate guilty verdicts at disciplinary hearings compared to Australia's 30 or so over the past decade.
While Gambhir's strike of Watson looked deliberate and upset the Australians, the Indian opening batsman claimed it was an accident.
"It (contact) wasn't deliberate. It just happened. I don't think I needed to get into this argument with Shane Watson because I feel he had no option of getting me out," Gambhir said. "There wasn't a need for me to stick my elbow out, it just happened."
Gambhir also tried to play down his ugly clash with Katich.
"It's part of the game," Gambhir said. "They were desperate to get me out and they were trying to break my concentration."
Clarke felt the need to step in and drag Katich away to stop the incident getting out of control.
"It just looked like the boys were talking so I just wanted to make sure say what you want to say and let's get on with it," Clarke said. "I said 'Kat, let it go, mate. Just get back and bowl. It's fine. Let it go'."
India's double century-maker Gautam Gambhir could escape an automatic suspension after avoiding a charge of "inappropriate and deliberate physical contact" for striking Shane Watson with an elbow during Wednesday's play.
In November last year, Gambhir was found guilty of that same offence, violating level 2.4 of the ICC's code of conduct, when he collided with Pakistan's Shahid Afridi during a one-day match.
The ICC handbook states that any player found guilty of the same offence within a 12-month period automatically has the severity of the penalty raised a level. While level two infringements carry fines ranging from 50 to 100per cent of a player's match fee and a suspension of one Test or up to two one-day matches, Gambhir would have been facing much tougher level three penalties. These range from a suspension of two to four Test matches or four to eight one-day games.
Instead, Gambhir has been charged with a level two offence which states players "shall at all times conduct play within the spirit of the game as well as within the Laws of Cricket".
The charge relates to Gambhir striking Watson with an elbow to the ribs while taking a run on Wednesday. The often vocal Watson has been charged with the same broad offence but with a lesser level one penalty after being accused of saying something inappropriate to Gambhir.
A level one offence carries a fine of up to 50 per cent of a player's match fee.
The charges were laid by on-field umpires Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar and third umpire Suresh Shastri and will be heard by match referee Chris Broad overnight.
Inaction on other incidents appears to endorse opponents abusing each other to the point where an umpire is forced to step between them and the fielding team's captain and vice-captain become involved.
That is the only conclusion which can be drawn from a failure to take action against Simon Katich and Gambhir for their unseemly verbal clash late on Wednesday.
It has been alleged that television footage shows Gambhir calling Katich a "f**** cheat", igniting the conflict after Gambhir had his path blocked by Katich while trying to field off his own bowling. Their confrontation became so heated that umpire Bowden stepped between them.
And twice vice-captain Michael Clarke stepped in to pull Katich away while captain Ricky Ponting also ran in to calm things down, pointing to Clarke to take Katich away from Gambhir.
The same cover-all level two clause of conduct contrary to the spirit of the game was employed to report India fast bowler Zaheer Khan during the second Test in Mohali. Zaheer was fined 80 per cent of his match fee after running to give Matthew Hayden a fearful send-off when he was dismissed in the second innings.
It continued India's record as the worst behaved team in the world, with about 50 separate guilty verdicts at disciplinary hearings compared to Australia's 30 or so over the past decade.
While Gambhir's strike of Watson looked deliberate and upset the Australians, the Indian opening batsman claimed it was an accident.
"It (contact) wasn't deliberate. It just happened. I don't think I needed to get into this argument with Shane Watson because I feel he had no option of getting me out," Gambhir said. "There wasn't a need for me to stick my elbow out, it just happened."
Gambhir also tried to play down his ugly clash with Katich.
"It's part of the game," Gambhir said. "They were desperate to get me out and they were trying to break my concentration."
Clarke felt the need to step in and drag Katich away to stop the incident getting out of control.
"It just looked like the boys were talking so I just wanted to make sure say what you want to say and let's get on with it," Clarke said. "I said 'Kat, let it go, mate. Just get back and bowl. It's fine. Let it go'."
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Beyonce Upstages Jay-Z, Wayne At NYC Show
Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and Ne-Yo brought major star power to Power 105's Powerhouse concert last night (Oct. 29) at the Izod Center in East Rutherford, N.J., but it was a surprise appearance by Beyonce that stole the show.The singer entered the stage during Jay-Z's set and performed the choreography from her new single, "Single Ladies," flanked by two background dancers. Though she didn't say or sing a word, Beyonce, clad in black stretch pants and a black turtleneck, drove the crowd wild when she flashed her extraordinarily large wedding ring at the end of her performance.Ne-Yo's set featured hits like "So Sick" and "Miss Independent," plus guest turns from rappers Plies and Fabolous, who performed their verses on "Bust It Baby Pt. 2" and "Make Me Better," respectively.Lil Wayne began his set fully clothed in a vest, flannel shirt and jeans but ended up topless. Many fans thought that Jay-Z would join Wayne for their duet "Mr. Carter," but he rapped alone on the track. Backed by a DJ and a full band including a female bassist, Wayne pulled out his own green and white Fender guitar and sang "Comfortable" in a highly off-key pitch. Still, fans sang along as he ran through "Ms. Officer," which featured Bobby Valentino, "I'm Me," "Please Don't Shoot Me Down," and "My Life." Rapper and fellow Cash Money executive Baby appeared to duet with Lil Wayne on "Pop Bottles" just before the younger MC went into a spastic rendition of "A Milli." Hopping up and down during most of the song as he rhymed, Wayne was eventually calmed down by an assistant who cloaked him in a robe, James Brown-style. For a touch of comedy, he closed the set by lip-synching Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You."
Jay-Z was the evening's last performer and touted the most elaborate stage setup and a full band dressed in suits. A large TV screen hung from the ceiling above the stage while another three-part screen spread across the stage itself and behind Jay-Z as he ran through classics like "Hello" and "U Don't Know." The screen continually showed a montage of 1930s gangsters, continuing the theme of from last album, "American Gangster," as well as clips from Jay-Z's many videos. After "Roc Boys" and "Lucifer," Jay-Z said he was only going to play "the sh*t that I like now." Tracks like "Can I Live," "Blue Magic" and "Swagger Like Us" followed, and Jay-Z reminded the crowd to vote on Nov. 4."This is the most important election ever," he said. "Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Obama could run and Obama is running so we all could fly
Jay-Z was the evening's last performer and touted the most elaborate stage setup and a full band dressed in suits. A large TV screen hung from the ceiling above the stage while another three-part screen spread across the stage itself and behind Jay-Z as he ran through classics like "Hello" and "U Don't Know." The screen continually showed a montage of 1930s gangsters, continuing the theme of from last album, "American Gangster," as well as clips from Jay-Z's many videos. After "Roc Boys" and "Lucifer," Jay-Z said he was only going to play "the sh*t that I like now." Tracks like "Can I Live," "Blue Magic" and "Swagger Like Us" followed, and Jay-Z reminded the crowd to vote on Nov. 4."This is the most important election ever," he said. "Rosa sat so Martin could walk, Martin walked so Obama could run and Obama is running so we all could fly
AC/DC Debuts At No. 1 With 784,000
Updating a story first posted here last night, AC/DC earns its first Billboard 200-topping debut with "Black Ice," blasting onto the chart with the second-biggest sales frame this year. The Columbia set, released exclusively through Wal-mart, Sam's Club and AC/DC's Web site, moved 784,000 copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan.That number only trails the opening frame for Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" (Def Jam), which bowed with 1.005 million units earlier this year. "Black Ice" also provides AC/DC's best sales frame since SoundScan began tracking data in 1991.AC/DC topped the chart in early 1982 with "For Those About To Rock We Salute You," which climbed to No. 1, but did not debut there. Thanks to deep discounts at Wal-Mart, the band's back catalog enjoyed a huge week, shifting 92,000 copies combined. "Back in Black" went from 9,000 to 21,000, while "High Voltage" rocketed from 4,000 to 11,000.Debuting at No. 2 is the soundtrack to Disney's "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" with 297,000. That's the best debut sales week for a theatrical film soundtrack since November 2005, when "Get Rich or Die Tryin'" started at No. 2 with 317,000. "HSM3" is the first in the series of the "High School Musical" films to debut in movie theaters as opposed to on the Disney Channel.T.I.'s Grand Hustle/Atlantic album "Paper Trail" falls 2-3 with 93,000 copies, a sales decrease of 29%. With a 50% dip, Kenny Chesney's "Lucky Old Sun" drops from the summit to No. 4 with 88,000. Metallica's "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.) continues its decline 4-5 with 52,000 (+3%), while Kid Rock's "Rock N Roll Jesus" (Atlantic) clings to No. 6 for a second week at 40,000 (-11%).
R&B/Gospel outfit Mary Mary notches its second top 10 debut as "The Sound" (My Block/Columbia) begins at No. 7 with 37,000. The duo's self-titled set peaked at No. 8 in 2005.Slipping 24% to 31,000, Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam) keeps the No. 8 spot warm for a second week. Amid a tumultuous week in the news for the star, Jennifer Hudson's self-titled Arista set slips 5-9 with 29,000 (-37%). Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" re-enters the top tier 12-10 on a 2% decrease to 25,000. One slot below, Adele earns a new peak on the big chart as her Columbia effort "19" climbs 46-11 after her appearance on "Saturday Night Live." Sales rose from 11,000 to 25,000.Hank Williams III bows at No. 18 with "Damn Right Rebel Proud" (Sidewalk) with 20,000, easily scoring his best charting album. His previous best came with 2006's "Straight to Hell," which peaked at No. 73.Lee Ann Womack starts at No. 23 with "Call Me Crazy" (MCA Nashville), after moving 17,000. Her last set, 2005's "There's More Where That Came From," debuted at No. 12. Other debuts this week include post-hardcore band Escape The Fate's "This War Is Ours" (Epitaph, No. 35, 13,000), Polyvinyl act Of Montreal's "Skeletal Lamping" (No. 38, 12,000), country singer Craig Morgan's "That's Why" (BNA, No. 39, 12,000), Brett Dennen's "Hope for the Hopeless" (Dualtone/Downtown, No. 41, 11,000) and Labelle's "Back To Now," the funk trio's first set since 1978 (Verve, No. 45, 11,000).At 7.07 million units, sales this week are up 8.3% from last week's sum and down 15.2% from the same week last year.
R&B/Gospel outfit Mary Mary notches its second top 10 debut as "The Sound" (My Block/Columbia) begins at No. 7 with 37,000. The duo's self-titled set peaked at No. 8 in 2005.Slipping 24% to 31,000, Ne-Yo's "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam) keeps the No. 8 spot warm for a second week. Amid a tumultuous week in the news for the star, Jennifer Hudson's self-titled Arista set slips 5-9 with 29,000 (-37%). Lil Wayne's "Tha Carter III" re-enters the top tier 12-10 on a 2% decrease to 25,000. One slot below, Adele earns a new peak on the big chart as her Columbia effort "19" climbs 46-11 after her appearance on "Saturday Night Live." Sales rose from 11,000 to 25,000.Hank Williams III bows at No. 18 with "Damn Right Rebel Proud" (Sidewalk) with 20,000, easily scoring his best charting album. His previous best came with 2006's "Straight to Hell," which peaked at No. 73.Lee Ann Womack starts at No. 23 with "Call Me Crazy" (MCA Nashville), after moving 17,000. Her last set, 2005's "There's More Where That Came From," debuted at No. 12. Other debuts this week include post-hardcore band Escape The Fate's "This War Is Ours" (Epitaph, No. 35, 13,000), Polyvinyl act Of Montreal's "Skeletal Lamping" (No. 38, 12,000), country singer Craig Morgan's "That's Why" (BNA, No. 39, 12,000), Brett Dennen's "Hope for the Hopeless" (Dualtone/Downtown, No. 41, 11,000) and Labelle's "Back To Now," the funk trio's first set since 1978 (Verve, No. 45, 11,000).At 7.07 million units, sales this week are up 8.3% from last week's sum and down 15.2% from the same week last year.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Venus Williams wins 38th career title
Venus Williams claimed her second title of the year on Sunday when she defeated unseeded Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (7/1), 6-2 in the final of the Zurich Open.
The third seeded American, who was playing the 60th final of her career, won her 38th title, adding to the Wimbledon crown she earned in July.Pennetta, who rose to a new career-high ranking of 14 yesterday, was seeking her fourth consecutive win over Williams, after beating her in Bangkok last year and at Roland Garros and in Moscow this year.The quality of play was worthy of a final, with the players evenly matched in the first set before Pennetta showed signs of weariness in the second set.The Italian, who was involved in a three-set doubles semi-final as well as a hard-fought singles match on Saturday, looked the stronger player in the opening set. She rallied aggressively from the baseline and drew some superb defensive play from Williams, although she twice failed to make the killer shot at the end of a rally.Neither player faced a break point in the entire first set, although Williams was taken to deuce five times. But having held serve more easily, only going to deuce once, Pennetta was totally overwhelmed in the tie-break, dropping the first six points.In the second set, a slightly tired-looking backhand into the net gave Williams a break for 2-1 and the American consolidated that in the most spectacular fashion, by holding her next service game with four consecutive aces.Pennetta’s challenge then faded badly and, although she survived a break point at 3-1, another netted backhand gave Williams a further break for 5-2.But the drama in the last Zurich Open to be held was not quite over. Williams thought she had won when a ball from Pennetta was judged to have landed right in the corner of the court, a dispute that brought Venus’ father and coach Richard to his feet. That brought the score to deuce, but the contest was over two points later. This story has been viewed 370 times.
The third seeded American, who was playing the 60th final of her career, won her 38th title, adding to the Wimbledon crown she earned in July.Pennetta, who rose to a new career-high ranking of 14 yesterday, was seeking her fourth consecutive win over Williams, after beating her in Bangkok last year and at Roland Garros and in Moscow this year.The quality of play was worthy of a final, with the players evenly matched in the first set before Pennetta showed signs of weariness in the second set.The Italian, who was involved in a three-set doubles semi-final as well as a hard-fought singles match on Saturday, looked the stronger player in the opening set. She rallied aggressively from the baseline and drew some superb defensive play from Williams, although she twice failed to make the killer shot at the end of a rally.Neither player faced a break point in the entire first set, although Williams was taken to deuce five times. But having held serve more easily, only going to deuce once, Pennetta was totally overwhelmed in the tie-break, dropping the first six points.In the second set, a slightly tired-looking backhand into the net gave Williams a break for 2-1 and the American consolidated that in the most spectacular fashion, by holding her next service game with four consecutive aces.Pennetta’s challenge then faded badly and, although she survived a break point at 3-1, another netted backhand gave Williams a further break for 5-2.But the drama in the last Zurich Open to be held was not quite over. Williams thought she had won when a ball from Pennetta was judged to have landed right in the corner of the court, a dispute that brought Venus’ father and coach Richard to his feet. That brought the score to deuce, but the contest was over two points later. This story has been viewed 370 times.
Bernard Hopkins dominates Kelly Pavlik
ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Bernard Hopkins gave Kelly Pavlik a boxing lesson and a first loss that he will never forget.
The 43-year-old Hopkins used lightning quick combinations and a cagey, near-perfect defense to embarrass and confuse Pavlik in a 12-round non-title bout Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall.
Hopkins, who dominated the middleweight class for a decade, made the 26-year-old Pavlik — the WBC and WBO middleweight champion — look slow and powerless in fighting at 170 pounds, 10 pounds over his weight class.
"I think this was my best performance, better than (Antonio) Tarver, better than (Felix) Trinidad, better than Oscar (De La Hoya), better than my 21 defenses," Hopkins said. "I am extremely happy."
Hopkins received winning scores of 119-106 from judge Alan Rubenstein, 117-109 from Barbara Perez and 118-108 from Steve Weisfeld.
The mismatch was obvious from the opening bell, and Hopkins reveled in the beating he gave the Youngstown, Ohio boxer. By the fifth round, Pavlik was bleeding from the nose and by the seventh Hopkins was taunting him.
During one stretch in the round, Hopkins landed four or five straight punches, and then stepped back started winding up on his punches before delivering them.
"He was a great fighter but I knew my style and quickness was underrated and it was going to give him problems tonight," Hopkins added.
Pavlik (34-1) never stopped stalking Hopkins of Philadelphia, but he never seemed to hurt him.
"I just could not get off tonight," Pavlik said. "I don’t know why? It was not his slickness. It just wasn’t me out there tonight. I couldn’t do anything I’m used to doing. We’re going back to the drawing board. it just wasn’t me tonight. I’ll be more comfortable going back to 160."
With tinges of gray in his beard, Hopkins even looked the fresher fighter. He came into ring wearing an executioner’s mask and black robe with an ’X’ on both, and he terminated Pavlik’s perfect mark in improving to (49-5-1).
The crowd had come to hail Pavlik, who had battered Gary Lockett in his first title defense in June.
When he was in trouble early, they chanted "Kel-lee! Kel-lee!"
Halfway through the fight the chants become "B-Hop! B-Hop!"
Hopkins landed a barrage of blows in the 12th round and started yelling at Pavlik in a move that was no more than a gleeful taunt.
"I wanted to pick it up and step it up," Hopkins said. "I wanted to stop him."
When the final bell sounded, both fighters continued to throw punches, forcing referee Benji Esteves to dive between them.
Hopkins then walked over to the television cameras and glared, wondering how so many had predicted that Pavlik would knock him out for the first time in his career.
In hindsight, it’s a wonder Pavlik was still standing at the end.
Hopkins praised Pavlik after the fight.
"I was a fan of yours before the fight and I am a fan of yours now," Hopkins told Pavlik in the corner. "You just need to get a little more slickness. You need to bend you knees more like your coach was telling you. Middleweight is your destiny."
The 43-year-old Hopkins used lightning quick combinations and a cagey, near-perfect defense to embarrass and confuse Pavlik in a 12-round non-title bout Saturday night at Boardwalk Hall.
Hopkins, who dominated the middleweight class for a decade, made the 26-year-old Pavlik — the WBC and WBO middleweight champion — look slow and powerless in fighting at 170 pounds, 10 pounds over his weight class.
"I think this was my best performance, better than (Antonio) Tarver, better than (Felix) Trinidad, better than Oscar (De La Hoya), better than my 21 defenses," Hopkins said. "I am extremely happy."
Hopkins received winning scores of 119-106 from judge Alan Rubenstein, 117-109 from Barbara Perez and 118-108 from Steve Weisfeld.
The mismatch was obvious from the opening bell, and Hopkins reveled in the beating he gave the Youngstown, Ohio boxer. By the fifth round, Pavlik was bleeding from the nose and by the seventh Hopkins was taunting him.
During one stretch in the round, Hopkins landed four or five straight punches, and then stepped back started winding up on his punches before delivering them.
"He was a great fighter but I knew my style and quickness was underrated and it was going to give him problems tonight," Hopkins added.
Pavlik (34-1) never stopped stalking Hopkins of Philadelphia, but he never seemed to hurt him.
"I just could not get off tonight," Pavlik said. "I don’t know why? It was not his slickness. It just wasn’t me out there tonight. I couldn’t do anything I’m used to doing. We’re going back to the drawing board. it just wasn’t me tonight. I’ll be more comfortable going back to 160."
With tinges of gray in his beard, Hopkins even looked the fresher fighter. He came into ring wearing an executioner’s mask and black robe with an ’X’ on both, and he terminated Pavlik’s perfect mark in improving to (49-5-1).
The crowd had come to hail Pavlik, who had battered Gary Lockett in his first title defense in June.
When he was in trouble early, they chanted "Kel-lee! Kel-lee!"
Halfway through the fight the chants become "B-Hop! B-Hop!"
Hopkins landed a barrage of blows in the 12th round and started yelling at Pavlik in a move that was no more than a gleeful taunt.
"I wanted to pick it up and step it up," Hopkins said. "I wanted to stop him."
When the final bell sounded, both fighters continued to throw punches, forcing referee Benji Esteves to dive between them.
Hopkins then walked over to the television cameras and glared, wondering how so many had predicted that Pavlik would knock him out for the first time in his career.
In hindsight, it’s a wonder Pavlik was still standing at the end.
Hopkins praised Pavlik after the fight.
"I was a fan of yours before the fight and I am a fan of yours now," Hopkins told Pavlik in the corner. "You just need to get a little more slickness. You need to bend you knees more like your coach was telling you. Middleweight is your destiny."
Phillies get early look at Tropicana Field; World Series begins Wednesday night
The Philadelphia Phillies got an early look at Tropicana Field, site of Wednesday night's World Series opener.
Instead of waiting until the day before, they worked out Monday evening at the quirky ballpark. By the time the first pitch is thrown, they will have been off for six days since winning the NL pennant.
"Once we kind of get back to that flow, it starts to come naturally," Ryan Howard said.
It will be a World Series of contrasts: North vs. South. Old vs. New. Rest vs. rust. Beloved vs. belittled.
Well, both have disparaged over the years.
The frustrated Phillies have been around since 1883 but the losingest team in the history of U.S. major leagues has had just one title to celebrate, back in 1980. The Rays? The franchise didn't start play until 1998, didn't have a winning season until this year and didn't even shed the Devil from its nickname until after completing play in 2007.
"People were happy when we got our 71st win. People were excited when we got our 81st win, saying you guys have cleared the .500 mark. We still kept going," said Rays pitcher Matt Garza, the AL championship series MVP. "We've proved doubters wrong this entire time."
Philadelphia is famous for the Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks and booing Santa Claus. Tampa/St. Pete is known for the Gasparilla Festival and strip clubs. Until now, its most noted baseball team was the Yankees, who have held spring training there since 1996.
But baseball's glamourpusses have all gone home, with the Yankees and Mets failing to make the postseason, and the Cubs, Dodgers and defending champion Red Sox all getting bounced out of the playoffs.
Tampa Bay was a 200-1 shot to win the Series when betting opened, ahead of only Kansas City and Washington (both 250-1). Philadelphia was 18-1.
Instead of waiting until the day before, they worked out Monday evening at the quirky ballpark. By the time the first pitch is thrown, they will have been off for six days since winning the NL pennant.
"Once we kind of get back to that flow, it starts to come naturally," Ryan Howard said.
It will be a World Series of contrasts: North vs. South. Old vs. New. Rest vs. rust. Beloved vs. belittled.
Well, both have disparaged over the years.
The frustrated Phillies have been around since 1883 but the losingest team in the history of U.S. major leagues has had just one title to celebrate, back in 1980. The Rays? The franchise didn't start play until 1998, didn't have a winning season until this year and didn't even shed the Devil from its nickname until after completing play in 2007.
"People were happy when we got our 71st win. People were excited when we got our 81st win, saying you guys have cleared the .500 mark. We still kept going," said Rays pitcher Matt Garza, the AL championship series MVP. "We've proved doubters wrong this entire time."
Philadelphia is famous for the Liberty Bell, cheesesteaks and booing Santa Claus. Tampa/St. Pete is known for the Gasparilla Festival and strip clubs. Until now, its most noted baseball team was the Yankees, who have held spring training there since 1996.
But baseball's glamourpusses have all gone home, with the Yankees and Mets failing to make the postseason, and the Cubs, Dodgers and defending champion Red Sox all getting bounced out of the playoffs.
Tampa Bay was a 200-1 shot to win the Series when betting opened, ahead of only Kansas City and Washington (both 250-1). Philadelphia was 18-1.
Eminem Goes Deep With Dr. Dre On New Album
Andre Paine, London
Eminem says his comeback album will have a "lot of material" after five months of solid work on the record with Dr. Dre. As previously reported, the set is titled "Relapse" and is expected before the end of the year via Interscope.Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe, Eminem said, "For the last five months I've been working pretty much straight with Dre. There's going to be a lot of material, more so than I've had on an album with him producing before."He added, "Obviously his beats are insane but aside from that I can rap, I can write and not worry about what the beat has to sound like and how loud a snare drum is. All those things are taken care of for me. I feel like a spoiled rapper. I get to pick and choose everything."The rapper said he has no plans to tour at present and, referring to his previous success, has "no desire to be that big again."Asked about his voting intentions next month, Eminem said, "Yeah, I will vote for Barack Obama. I can't get too political honestly because I don't know enough about everything to know what's going on.
"I know we're going into a recession and pardon the cliche, but we need something to change. I think Barack would be a breath of fresh air to get what's left of the Bush administration out the door."Eminem's memoir, "The Way I Am," hits stores internationally this week.
Eminem says his comeback album will have a "lot of material" after five months of solid work on the record with Dr. Dre. As previously reported, the set is titled "Relapse" and is expected before the end of the year via Interscope.Speaking to BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe, Eminem said, "For the last five months I've been working pretty much straight with Dre. There's going to be a lot of material, more so than I've had on an album with him producing before."He added, "Obviously his beats are insane but aside from that I can rap, I can write and not worry about what the beat has to sound like and how loud a snare drum is. All those things are taken care of for me. I feel like a spoiled rapper. I get to pick and choose everything."The rapper said he has no plans to tour at present and, referring to his previous success, has "no desire to be that big again."Asked about his voting intentions next month, Eminem said, "Yeah, I will vote for Barack Obama. I can't get too political honestly because I don't know enough about everything to know what's going on.
"I know we're going into a recession and pardon the cliche, but we need something to change. I think Barack would be a breath of fresh air to get what's left of the Bush administration out the door."Eminem's memoir, "The Way I Am," hits stores internationally this week.
Spears' Driver's License Case Dismissed
The criminal driving-without-a-license case against Britney Spears in Los Angeles has been dismissed.A mistrial was declared this morning (Oct. 20) when jurors said they couldn't come up with a unanimous decision following two full days of deliberations. Jurors were deadlocked 10-2 in favor of acquitting the pop singer of any wrongdoing.A couple of hours later, prosecutors said they would not pursue the criminal case further, and the case was dismissed.Spears hit a parked car last year while driving in California on her Louisiana license. Her attorney said she didn't meet the state's residency requirements and was within the law.But prosecutors said the 26-year-old needed a license because she was married, had two children and filed for divorce in Los Angeles -- and was ostensibly a California resident.
Alleged Guns N' Roses Leaker Pleads Innocent
A man accused of placing unreleased Guns N' Roses songs on the Internet pleaded innocent yesterday (Oct. 20) in Los Angeles federal court.Kevin Cogill, 27, is charged with violating federal copyright law. No date has been set for the trial, said Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office.The FBI says that Cogill posted nine tracks from Guns N' Roses' upcoming album "Chinese Democracy" on the Web site antiquiet.com. Cogill was arrested in August at his Los Angeles home and released on bail the same day. He faces three years in federal prison if convicted, and five years if the court finds he posted the songs for commercial gain.Guns N' Roses said in a statement at the time of the arrest that while it did not condone Coghill's actions, "our interest is in the original source" of the material. Mrozek declined to comment on whether there would be any additional arrests."Chinese Democracy" is due Nov. 23 exclusively in Best Buy stores. The project has been delayed multiple times over the years as singer Axl Rose shed all his original bandmates.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Benedict Favre routine will ruin Brett's legacy
The Brett Favre Legacy Decimation Watch just took a turn.
For many of the observers cringing at the idea of Favre in a Jets uniform their fear was stoked by images of Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath performing miserably for the Chargers and Rams, respectively.
Nobody wanted to see the ol' gunslinger lose his fastball and take a bunch of hits on a 6-10 also-ran.
Favre fervor
Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Brett Favre leaked info to the Lions ahead of their game with the Packers in September. Read the story that got the controversy started. Also: Favre info leak story sparks reaction
But until Sunday, when Favre and the Jets scored only one TD in an OT loss at Oakland, Favre had put those fears to rest. He had thrown 13 touchdown passes in five games, leading the Jets to a 3-2 record and appeared to be transforming them into a playoff contender.
But Bad Brett — the guy who has thrown four picks and only one TD in his last two starts — has apparently given way to Odious Brett, a disgruntled, traitorous former employee guilty of what amounts to corporate espionage against his old company.
According to FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer, in a report citing several sources that was corroborated independently by two league sources, Favre spent between 60 and 90 minutes helping Lions coaches prepare for their Sept. 14 meeting with the Packers. The tutorial must have been a smash success. The Lions lost 48-25.
There is an irony here, of course. Favre would only be able to provide details of how the Packers approached different situations when he was the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions, is a different animal, more than happy to go to the check-down and avoid the high-risk improvisation that has come to define Favre. Rodgers' stewardship of the offense in high winds against the Colts on Sunday — 21 for 28 for 186 yards, no picks, one TD — stood in stark contrast to Favre's riverboat gambling that produced a 47.8 QB rating in Oakland.
There is nothing in the league rules to prevent a former player from providing proprietary playbook information to another team. But one might have thought Packer fans could rely on Favre's moral code to prevent it.
Guess not.
During his tempestuous summer battling Packers GM Ted Thompson through the media, Favre accumulated a whole lot of bitterness toward his former employer, feelings that must not have been assuaged by his move to the Jets.
And while Favre may feel completely justified in doing anything and everything to undermine his former organization, he must understand that you can't hurt the Packers without hurting the team's legendary fan base.
At the height of the summer soap opera in early August, hundreds of Packer fans braved a lightning storm to greet Favre at the airport when he arrived in Green Bay. Even as they slowly warmed to Rodgers, they made it clear that No. 4 would always be No. 1 in their hearts. Packers fans' love of and loyalty to Favre have never been in doubt.
Turns out that might be a one-way street.
Whatever affinity Favre may have for his longtime fans and for Green Bay apparently lost out to his deep, searing enmity for Thompson and the organization that he believes should have treated him like a Supreme Court Justice with a lifetime appointment to quarterback the Pack.
Packer fans are still rooting like crazy for Favre because the better he and the Jets do, the better the draft pick Green Bay will receive. The fourth-round pick becomes a third when Favre plays half the team's plays, a second if the Jets make the playoffs with Favre under center for 70 percent of the plays and a first if Favre leads them to the Super Bowl. The last two scenarios seem unlikely after that result in Oakland on Sunday.
Favre, however, is clearly not rooting for his old team. It's called the high road. Even though players' emotions can be pretty mixed up after they are dealt to another team, most of them are usually able to muster, "Hey, I've got a lot of friends in that locker room and I'll be rooting for them."
If Favre needs a road map from Wisconsin to that elusive high road he should take a look at the way Ned Yost handled his firing from the Brewers with 12 games to play despite being tied for the wild card.
"If anybody thinks that I've got sour grapes or I don't want this club to succeed, they're crazy," said Yost. "I'll be rooting them on every inch of the way and I hope they can win that wild card and go deep, deep into the playoffs and win the World Series."
Gee, you mean Yost didn't call up Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and give him the Brewers' signals?
Yost took his separation from the Brewers like a man. Favre has taken his separation from the Packers like a spiteful, petulant child.
If Packer fans are looking for sign ideas for their next home game (Nov. 16, Bears), here's an easy one for the Sharpie: Brat Favre.
For many of the observers cringing at the idea of Favre in a Jets uniform their fear was stoked by images of Johnny Unitas and Joe Namath performing miserably for the Chargers and Rams, respectively.
Nobody wanted to see the ol' gunslinger lose his fastball and take a bunch of hits on a 6-10 also-ran.
Favre fervor
Jay Glazer reported Sunday that Brett Favre leaked info to the Lions ahead of their game with the Packers in September. Read the story that got the controversy started. Also: Favre info leak story sparks reaction
But until Sunday, when Favre and the Jets scored only one TD in an OT loss at Oakland, Favre had put those fears to rest. He had thrown 13 touchdown passes in five games, leading the Jets to a 3-2 record and appeared to be transforming them into a playoff contender.
But Bad Brett — the guy who has thrown four picks and only one TD in his last two starts — has apparently given way to Odious Brett, a disgruntled, traitorous former employee guilty of what amounts to corporate espionage against his old company.
According to FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer, in a report citing several sources that was corroborated independently by two league sources, Favre spent between 60 and 90 minutes helping Lions coaches prepare for their Sept. 14 meeting with the Packers. The tutorial must have been a smash success. The Lions lost 48-25.
There is an irony here, of course. Favre would only be able to provide details of how the Packers approached different situations when he was the quarterback. Aaron Rodgers, who threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions, is a different animal, more than happy to go to the check-down and avoid the high-risk improvisation that has come to define Favre. Rodgers' stewardship of the offense in high winds against the Colts on Sunday — 21 for 28 for 186 yards, no picks, one TD — stood in stark contrast to Favre's riverboat gambling that produced a 47.8 QB rating in Oakland.
There is nothing in the league rules to prevent a former player from providing proprietary playbook information to another team. But one might have thought Packer fans could rely on Favre's moral code to prevent it.
Guess not.
During his tempestuous summer battling Packers GM Ted Thompson through the media, Favre accumulated a whole lot of bitterness toward his former employer, feelings that must not have been assuaged by his move to the Jets.
And while Favre may feel completely justified in doing anything and everything to undermine his former organization, he must understand that you can't hurt the Packers without hurting the team's legendary fan base.
At the height of the summer soap opera in early August, hundreds of Packer fans braved a lightning storm to greet Favre at the airport when he arrived in Green Bay. Even as they slowly warmed to Rodgers, they made it clear that No. 4 would always be No. 1 in their hearts. Packers fans' love of and loyalty to Favre have never been in doubt.
Turns out that might be a one-way street.
Whatever affinity Favre may have for his longtime fans and for Green Bay apparently lost out to his deep, searing enmity for Thompson and the organization that he believes should have treated him like a Supreme Court Justice with a lifetime appointment to quarterback the Pack.
Packer fans are still rooting like crazy for Favre because the better he and the Jets do, the better the draft pick Green Bay will receive. The fourth-round pick becomes a third when Favre plays half the team's plays, a second if the Jets make the playoffs with Favre under center for 70 percent of the plays and a first if Favre leads them to the Super Bowl. The last two scenarios seem unlikely after that result in Oakland on Sunday.
Favre, however, is clearly not rooting for his old team. It's called the high road. Even though players' emotions can be pretty mixed up after they are dealt to another team, most of them are usually able to muster, "Hey, I've got a lot of friends in that locker room and I'll be rooting for them."
If Favre needs a road map from Wisconsin to that elusive high road he should take a look at the way Ned Yost handled his firing from the Brewers with 12 games to play despite being tied for the wild card.
"If anybody thinks that I've got sour grapes or I don't want this club to succeed, they're crazy," said Yost. "I'll be rooting them on every inch of the way and I hope they can win that wild card and go deep, deep into the playoffs and win the World Series."
Gee, you mean Yost didn't call up Phillies manager Charlie Manuel and give him the Brewers' signals?
Yost took his separation from the Brewers like a man. Favre has taken his separation from the Packers like a spiteful, petulant child.
If Packer fans are looking for sign ideas for their next home game (Nov. 16, Bears), here's an easy one for the Sharpie: Brat Favre.
Boston’s future is hardly dim
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The last time the Boston Red Sox lost a Game 7, to the New York Yankees in the 2003 American League Championship Series, within days CEO Larry Lucchino was meeting in a New York hotel room with Texas Rangers owner Tom Hicks and general manager John Hart, discussing a possible trade for Alex Rodriguez.
That deal, of course, never came to pass – if it had, Jon Lester, who pitched gallantly but lost Game 7 to the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Sunday night, would be wearing a Rangers uniform today, and Madonna might still be married.
But that winter, the Red Sox hired a new manager, Terry Francona, traded for an ace, Curt Schilling, and signed a free-agent closer, Keith Foulke. The message was unmistakable, and would be reinforced in all the subsequent moves (trading Nomar Garciaparra; allowing Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon to walk; trading for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell among the myriad others) Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and Co. would make: Change is an essential component of success, especially for ultimate success.
That approach has resulted in two World Series titles in four seasons and a bid for another that was thwarted by the Rays, a team now marked as the rising power in the American League East since they’ve vanquished the Red Sox and Yankees.
The Red Sox acknowledged the Rays’ superiority in this series. “I know you never really say the better team won and all that stuff,” said Dustin Pedroia, whose first-inning home run Sunday accounted for Boston’s only run, “but in October, the best team always wins, and they beat us.
“We just ran out of magic.”
But no one doubts for a moment that the Red Sox, who advanced this far despite major injuries to Lowell, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Beckett (incidentally, the four highest-paid players still on their roster) and a contentious divorce from Manny Ramirez, will be reloaded and as formidable as ever come next spring.
And the Rays, despite the splendor of B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria and David Price and Garza, don’t hold a monopoly on talented kids.
“This is going to sound weird coming from me, because I’m in the same boat,” said Lester, who gave up just three runs in seven innings but was outdueled by Matt Garza, “but we’ve got a lot of youth that learned a lot this year. There are some veterans who are going to come back, and depending on where we go this offseason, some veterans we’re going to pick up along the way. But I don’t see why we’re not in this position every year for a long time.”
Lester, who turns 25 in January , won 16 games this season , threw a no-hitter and established himself as one of the premier young left-handers in the game. He looks around the clubhouse, sees how the homegrown players are increasingly occupying key positions in the organization – Jonathan Papelbon and Justin Masterson, Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis and Jed Lowrie, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden in the pipeline – and celebrates how the organization’s philosophy has changed since he was drafted by the previous regime in 2002.
“I think the coolest thing is not what they come up here and do, but that the organization now is giving us the chance,” Lester said. “When I first got drafted, it was a joke. Everybody kept saying, ‘You’re just going to be traded, don’t get used to being here, you’re just going to be traded.’ Well, yeah, I almost was traded twice. I’m very glad it didn’t happen. To be a part of this group is unbelievable.”
The Red Sox thought about trading Lester last winter for Johan Santana and decided against it. That doesn’t mean Epstein won’t use prospects to achieve his desired goals this winter, whether it is to land an established pitcher (Jake Peavy or Matt Cain?) or their catcher of the future, but the emergence of a new generation of Red Sox players underscores the GM’s commitment to build from within.
“We’ll be fine,” Pedroia said. “We’ve got a lot of good players on our team. Pitching is obviously the key, and we have that. Everyone in our division is going to get better and so are we. Obviously, we’re looking forward to playing these guys [the Rays] for a long time, because they’re going to be good for a long time.”
There is obvious age on the Red Sox roster, some hefty contracts, and injury concerns. Lowell, who underwent hip surgery, will be 35 next season. Drew (back), Ortiz (wrist) and another injured veteran, Julio Lugo (quadriceps), will be 33. Youkilis turns 30 in March. Beckett, who had issues with his elbow and oblique muscle, enters the last year of a three-year deal that pays him $10.5 million next season; the club holds an option of $12 million on him for the 2010 season – assuming he is restored to full health, an extension will be on the docket in coming months.
“Crazy, man,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been here six years, and this is the first year I’ve really been bothered by injury. I tried to fight back. I tried to work, man. I tried my best. It’s not going to be roses and flowers all the time. Bad things happen. You learn from it.
“[But] I’m pretty sure Beckett will be ready to go next year. Mikey Lowell. Julio Lugo. Myself. And most of the time, [the Red Sox] go into the offseason and get some help, which everybody needs because everybody gets stronger.
“Now we’ve got a new team in the East. They have a lot of talented players. They played amazing this year. They did a great job, those kids, man. They deserve to be where they are.”
Epstein addressed one need for 2009 back at the trading deadline, when he acquired Jason Bay in the deal for Ramirez, once it became clear that Ramirez had little interest in coming back and the Sox were through placating him. Falling short this season without him obviously raises the question of how much he was missed.
Manager Terry Francona indirectly revealed how he felt when he said that despite the disappointment of losing, “this is probably the funnest couple months maybe I’ve ever had.”
Those were Manny-free months, of course. Ortiz had a different response. Miss Manny?
“Of course,” he said. “You know Manny is the kind of guy who knows how to get it done. No problem. Manny is one of the best hitters in the game. Who wouldn’t miss Manny? I mean, I’m not going to lie to you.”
The Red Sox hold a perpetual option on Tim Wakefield; at 42, and with the knuckleballer’s shoulder issues each of the last two seasons, that becomes a trickier decision. Mike Timlin will be gone; so will Schilling, who did not pitch at all this season and eventually had shoulder surgery. The Red Sox rotation is strong with a healthy Beckett, Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka, but they will be in the market for another starter, though it is highly unlikely they’ll be in the mix for CC Sabathia.
It would surprise no one if the Red Sox try to lock up Pedroia, Papelbon, Lester and Youkilis with multiyear deals. Their biggest roster decision involves Jason Varitek, their captain and catcher. Varitek hit a big home run to help the Red Sox win Game 6; it was his only hit of the series. The Red Sox left six men on base in the last three innings; Varitek struck out twice.
Asked if this might have been his last game with the Red Sox, Varitek’s voice broke.
“I’d rather not talk about it,” he said, turning away.
Lester said it was hardly his place to advise Epstein what to do but didn’t hesitate to say what he would do if asked.
“Sign him,” he said. “Obviously having an offensive catcher is a bonus, but I think what he does behind home plate, especially for the young guys and all the other pitchers, and what he does in the clubhouse is priceless.
“It’s priceless. It really is. I hope he comes back. I really do, not only for myself but for this organization. He’s Mr. Red Sox. He is what exemplifies the Red Sox: work ethic, fighting till the end, never giving up. That’s priceless for me.”
Lester was the winning pitcher when the Red Sox completed their sweep of the Colorado Rockies in last year’s World Series. Sunday night, he watched another young lefty, Rays rookie Price, disappear at the bottom of a joyous scrum.
“This is another building block in our development on the big-league level,” Lester said. “You have to sometimes come to realize that it’s not always going to be peaches and cream. It’s not always going to be winning the World Series, and top of the world.
“You’re going to have your ups and downs. Now guys have been in this position, and we’ve experienced what it’s like to lose. We’ll see how we respond to this, myself included.”
That deal, of course, never came to pass – if it had, Jon Lester, who pitched gallantly but lost Game 7 to the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 on Sunday night, would be wearing a Rangers uniform today, and Madonna might still be married.
But that winter, the Red Sox hired a new manager, Terry Francona, traded for an ace, Curt Schilling, and signed a free-agent closer, Keith Foulke. The message was unmistakable, and would be reinforced in all the subsequent moves (trading Nomar Garciaparra; allowing Pedro Martinez and Johnny Damon to walk; trading for Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell among the myriad others) Red Sox GM Theo Epstein and Co. would make: Change is an essential component of success, especially for ultimate success.
That approach has resulted in two World Series titles in four seasons and a bid for another that was thwarted by the Rays, a team now marked as the rising power in the American League East since they’ve vanquished the Red Sox and Yankees.
The Red Sox acknowledged the Rays’ superiority in this series. “I know you never really say the better team won and all that stuff,” said Dustin Pedroia, whose first-inning home run Sunday accounted for Boston’s only run, “but in October, the best team always wins, and they beat us.
“We just ran out of magic.”
But no one doubts for a moment that the Red Sox, who advanced this far despite major injuries to Lowell, David Ortiz, J.D. Drew and Beckett (incidentally, the four highest-paid players still on their roster) and a contentious divorce from Manny Ramirez, will be reloaded and as formidable as ever come next spring.
And the Rays, despite the splendor of B.J. Upton and Evan Longoria and David Price and Garza, don’t hold a monopoly on talented kids.
“This is going to sound weird coming from me, because I’m in the same boat,” said Lester, who gave up just three runs in seven innings but was outdueled by Matt Garza, “but we’ve got a lot of youth that learned a lot this year. There are some veterans who are going to come back, and depending on where we go this offseason, some veterans we’re going to pick up along the way. But I don’t see why we’re not in this position every year for a long time.”
Lester, who turns 25 in January , won 16 games this season , threw a no-hitter and established himself as one of the premier young left-handers in the game. He looks around the clubhouse, sees how the homegrown players are increasingly occupying key positions in the organization – Jonathan Papelbon and Justin Masterson, Pedroia and Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis and Jed Lowrie, Clay Buchholz and Michael Bowden in the pipeline – and celebrates how the organization’s philosophy has changed since he was drafted by the previous regime in 2002.
“I think the coolest thing is not what they come up here and do, but that the organization now is giving us the chance,” Lester said. “When I first got drafted, it was a joke. Everybody kept saying, ‘You’re just going to be traded, don’t get used to being here, you’re just going to be traded.’ Well, yeah, I almost was traded twice. I’m very glad it didn’t happen. To be a part of this group is unbelievable.”
The Red Sox thought about trading Lester last winter for Johan Santana and decided against it. That doesn’t mean Epstein won’t use prospects to achieve his desired goals this winter, whether it is to land an established pitcher (Jake Peavy or Matt Cain?) or their catcher of the future, but the emergence of a new generation of Red Sox players underscores the GM’s commitment to build from within.
“We’ll be fine,” Pedroia said. “We’ve got a lot of good players on our team. Pitching is obviously the key, and we have that. Everyone in our division is going to get better and so are we. Obviously, we’re looking forward to playing these guys [the Rays] for a long time, because they’re going to be good for a long time.”
There is obvious age on the Red Sox roster, some hefty contracts, and injury concerns. Lowell, who underwent hip surgery, will be 35 next season. Drew (back), Ortiz (wrist) and another injured veteran, Julio Lugo (quadriceps), will be 33. Youkilis turns 30 in March. Beckett, who had issues with his elbow and oblique muscle, enters the last year of a three-year deal that pays him $10.5 million next season; the club holds an option of $12 million on him for the 2010 season – assuming he is restored to full health, an extension will be on the docket in coming months.
“Crazy, man,” Ortiz said. “I’ve been here six years, and this is the first year I’ve really been bothered by injury. I tried to fight back. I tried to work, man. I tried my best. It’s not going to be roses and flowers all the time. Bad things happen. You learn from it.
“[But] I’m pretty sure Beckett will be ready to go next year. Mikey Lowell. Julio Lugo. Myself. And most of the time, [the Red Sox] go into the offseason and get some help, which everybody needs because everybody gets stronger.
“Now we’ve got a new team in the East. They have a lot of talented players. They played amazing this year. They did a great job, those kids, man. They deserve to be where they are.”
Epstein addressed one need for 2009 back at the trading deadline, when he acquired Jason Bay in the deal for Ramirez, once it became clear that Ramirez had little interest in coming back and the Sox were through placating him. Falling short this season without him obviously raises the question of how much he was missed.
Manager Terry Francona indirectly revealed how he felt when he said that despite the disappointment of losing, “this is probably the funnest couple months maybe I’ve ever had.”
Those were Manny-free months, of course. Ortiz had a different response. Miss Manny?
“Of course,” he said. “You know Manny is the kind of guy who knows how to get it done. No problem. Manny is one of the best hitters in the game. Who wouldn’t miss Manny? I mean, I’m not going to lie to you.”
The Red Sox hold a perpetual option on Tim Wakefield; at 42, and with the knuckleballer’s shoulder issues each of the last two seasons, that becomes a trickier decision. Mike Timlin will be gone; so will Schilling, who did not pitch at all this season and eventually had shoulder surgery. The Red Sox rotation is strong with a healthy Beckett, Lester and Daisuke Matsuzaka, but they will be in the market for another starter, though it is highly unlikely they’ll be in the mix for CC Sabathia.
It would surprise no one if the Red Sox try to lock up Pedroia, Papelbon, Lester and Youkilis with multiyear deals. Their biggest roster decision involves Jason Varitek, their captain and catcher. Varitek hit a big home run to help the Red Sox win Game 6; it was his only hit of the series. The Red Sox left six men on base in the last three innings; Varitek struck out twice.
Asked if this might have been his last game with the Red Sox, Varitek’s voice broke.
“I’d rather not talk about it,” he said, turning away.
Lester said it was hardly his place to advise Epstein what to do but didn’t hesitate to say what he would do if asked.
“Sign him,” he said. “Obviously having an offensive catcher is a bonus, but I think what he does behind home plate, especially for the young guys and all the other pitchers, and what he does in the clubhouse is priceless.
“It’s priceless. It really is. I hope he comes back. I really do, not only for myself but for this organization. He’s Mr. Red Sox. He is what exemplifies the Red Sox: work ethic, fighting till the end, never giving up. That’s priceless for me.”
Lester was the winning pitcher when the Red Sox completed their sweep of the Colorado Rockies in last year’s World Series. Sunday night, he watched another young lefty, Rays rookie Price, disappear at the bottom of a joyous scrum.
“This is another building block in our development on the big-league level,” Lester said. “You have to sometimes come to realize that it’s not always going to be peaches and cream. It’s not always going to be winning the World Series, and top of the world.
“You’re going to have your ups and downs. Now guys have been in this position, and we’ve experienced what it’s like to lose. We’ll see how we respond to this, myself included.”
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tennis: Nadal within grasp of milestone
Rafael Nadal moved within two more wins of retaining the year-end No 1 ranking when he struggled past Ernests Gulbis 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 to reach the third round of the Madrid Mastersyesterday.
Next up for Nadal, champion in Spain in 2005, will be 15th-ranked Richard Gasquet after the Frenchman overcame 23 aces by American Mardy Fish to win 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.
"I'm probably playing with less pressure than usual so whatever happens, things are good," said Nadal, who has a slight nag in his right leg despite three weeks of rest.
Nadal received a four-set test from Gulbis en route to the Wimbledon title, and yesterday's match was similarly troubling for the Spaniard. But Gulbis often followed a crisp winner with an unforced error.
Nadal, who has never been a fan of the Spanish capital's high altitude and the extra speed it brings to the hard court, had trouble keeping up with the Latvian as he stuck his shots down the line to break for 2-0 in the second.
A ragged Nadal eventually netted to force a deciding set in the mainly baseline contest.
"He played very well in the second set but all the match was very tough because he played very aggressive," Nadal said.
Several crosscourt forehands gave Gulbis a break opportunity in the third game, but Nadal held and broke in the next game as Gulbis smashed a forehand long. Nadal served out and pumped his fists in relief at the end of his two-hour, 22-minute opening match.
He has a 5-0 record against Gasquet.
"My record is good against him but it's always a tough match with him," the Olympic champion said.
In other second-round matches, US Open finalist Andy Murray advanced, but 11th-seeded James Blake and No 13 Fernando Verdasco lost.
Murray moved on when Simone Bolelli of Italy retired with an apparent shoulder injury while trailing 6-0, 2-1.
"I've been playing really, really well in practice the last few weeks," said Murray, who picked up his first Masters Series title in Cincinnati in August. I'm probably mentally fresher now than in the US Open."
Murray will next play Marin Cilic of Croatia, who beat Verdasco 6-2, 6-3.
Gilles Simon of France won 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to keep Blake winless in five appearances at the tournament. Simon saved four break points in the second set and converted two of his own before dominating the final set.
Blake has only a few tournaments left to qualify for the Masters Cup. He is in ninth place in the standings for the top-eight event.
In first-round play, the winners included French Open semifinalist Gael Monfils, American qualifier Robby Ginepri, Spanish qualifierMarcel Granollers, German Philipp Kohlschreiber, Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, Victor Hanescu of Romania, and Swede Robin Soderling.
- AP
Next up for Nadal, champion in Spain in 2005, will be 15th-ranked Richard Gasquet after the Frenchman overcame 23 aces by American Mardy Fish to win 6-7 (3), 6-4, 6-3.
"I'm probably playing with less pressure than usual so whatever happens, things are good," said Nadal, who has a slight nag in his right leg despite three weeks of rest.
Nadal received a four-set test from Gulbis en route to the Wimbledon title, and yesterday's match was similarly troubling for the Spaniard. But Gulbis often followed a crisp winner with an unforced error.
Nadal, who has never been a fan of the Spanish capital's high altitude and the extra speed it brings to the hard court, had trouble keeping up with the Latvian as he stuck his shots down the line to break for 2-0 in the second.
A ragged Nadal eventually netted to force a deciding set in the mainly baseline contest.
"He played very well in the second set but all the match was very tough because he played very aggressive," Nadal said.
Several crosscourt forehands gave Gulbis a break opportunity in the third game, but Nadal held and broke in the next game as Gulbis smashed a forehand long. Nadal served out and pumped his fists in relief at the end of his two-hour, 22-minute opening match.
He has a 5-0 record against Gasquet.
"My record is good against him but it's always a tough match with him," the Olympic champion said.
In other second-round matches, US Open finalist Andy Murray advanced, but 11th-seeded James Blake and No 13 Fernando Verdasco lost.
Murray moved on when Simone Bolelli of Italy retired with an apparent shoulder injury while trailing 6-0, 2-1.
"I've been playing really, really well in practice the last few weeks," said Murray, who picked up his first Masters Series title in Cincinnati in August. I'm probably mentally fresher now than in the US Open."
Murray will next play Marin Cilic of Croatia, who beat Verdasco 6-2, 6-3.
Gilles Simon of France won 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 to keep Blake winless in five appearances at the tournament. Simon saved four break points in the second set and converted two of his own before dominating the final set.
Blake has only a few tournaments left to qualify for the Masters Cup. He is in ninth place in the standings for the top-eight event.
In first-round play, the winners included French Open semifinalist Gael Monfils, American qualifier Robby Ginepri, Spanish qualifierMarcel Granollers, German Philipp Kohlschreiber, Jarkko Nieminen of Finland, Victor Hanescu of Romania, and Swede Robin Soderling.
- AP
Rooney does the double - again
On fire Wayne Rooney scored twice as England took a further step towards qualification for the World Cup 2012 in Minsk on Thursday.
Steven Gerrard fired England ahead just 11 minutes into their 3-1 win over Belarus with a superb 30-yard cracker that will go some way to calming the midfield storm surrounding Gerrard and Lampard currently taking over the English media.
Instead of boosting England's confidence the early lead saw lack of defensive focus for Capello's side that eventually led to Belarus' Sitko equalising in the 28th minute.
But it was Rooney, as has been so often the case during the last few games, that rescued England when he turned in a cross from Wigan's Emile Hesky just five minutes after the break.
The Manchester United striker then hit home a brilliant third goal from a Steven Gerrard pass to give England coach Capello yet another win.
The victory for this new look national side gives England a perfect record of 12 points after winning the opening four games in World Cup qualification - a feat the side has never managed before.
Steven Gerrard fired England ahead just 11 minutes into their 3-1 win over Belarus with a superb 30-yard cracker that will go some way to calming the midfield storm surrounding Gerrard and Lampard currently taking over the English media.
Instead of boosting England's confidence the early lead saw lack of defensive focus for Capello's side that eventually led to Belarus' Sitko equalising in the 28th minute.
But it was Rooney, as has been so often the case during the last few games, that rescued England when he turned in a cross from Wigan's Emile Hesky just five minutes after the break.
The Manchester United striker then hit home a brilliant third goal from a Steven Gerrard pass to give England coach Capello yet another win.
The victory for this new look national side gives England a perfect record of 12 points after winning the opening four games in World Cup qualification - a feat the side has never managed before.
Madonna, Guy Ritchie To Divorce
Madonna's spokeswoman says the singer and her husband, filmmaker Guy Ritchie, will divorce after seven-and-a-half years together.A statement e-mailed to the Associated Press from spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg says the couple has agreed to divorce, and asks the media to respect their privacy.The statement, co-signed by Ritchie's representative, says the couple had not agreed to a settlement.Madonna and Ritchie married in December 2000 at a Scottish castle. The couple have two children: Rocco, 8, and David Banda, 3, who was adopted from Malawi in 2006. Madonna also has a 12-year-old daughter, Lourdes, from her relationship with personal trainer Carlos Leon.The couple are reportedly worth some $525 million, the bulk of that belonging to Madonna. Ritchie has an estimated $35 million fortune. They own homes in London, Los Angeles and New York, and a 1,200-acre retreat in Wiltshire, England.
Madonna will perform concerts today and tomorrow in Boston as her "Sticky and Sweet" tour continues. Ritchie's latest movie, "RocknRolla," recently opened to mixed reviews.
Madonna will perform concerts today and tomorrow in Boston as her "Sticky and Sweet" tour continues. Ritchie's latest movie, "RocknRolla," recently opened to mixed reviews.
Spears Scores Record-Setting Hot 100 Jump
Another week, another record-breaking jump to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Britney Spears makes a near-maximum 96-1 rise with "Womanizer," returning to the top of the list for the first time since her debut single "...Baby One More Time" hit No. 1 in January 1999.This is the third time in the past two months that the mark for the biggest jump to No. 1 has been shattered. On the Hot 100 dated Sept. 6, T.I. soared 71-1 with "Whatever You Like" and last week he sprinted 80-1 with "Live Your Life."Spears' single is spurred by first-week download sales of 286,000, the biggest opening-week tally by a female artist since Nielsen SoundScan began tracking digital downloads in 2003, besting Mariah Carey's take for "Touch My Body" by just over 200 units. In between her nearly 10-year gap between No. 1s, Spears has placed four other top 10s on the Hot 100, the last being "Gimme More," the first single from her last set, "Blackout." That song jumped 68-3 last October with first-week download sales of 179,000."Womanizer" previews Spears' sixth studio set "Circus," due Dec. 2 via Jive.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Jelena Jankovic putting fear into opponents as the No. 1
Jelena Jankovic is enjoying the respect she gets as the top-ranked player in women's tennis.
The 23-year-old Serb, who arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday looking for her fourth straight WTA title at the Zurich Open, is the topic of conversation for many of her rivals on tour.
"Maybe I have more intimidation," Jankovic said. "Because some of the players when I played in Moscow, they say it's impossible to beat her."
The performance that has others doubting themselves is her Kremlin Cup semifinal comeback Saturday against fifth-ranked Elena Dementieva. After losing the first set 6-0, Jankovic bounced back to take the next two sets 6-1, 6-0.
"One quality that I have is that I don't give up," Jankovic said. "You believe in yourself and feel that you can do anything because this is the confidence that you have from winning a lot of matches."
Jankovic has now won 12 matches in a row, collecting titles in Beijing, Stuttgart, Germany, and Moscow.
She admits the globe-trotting is tiring, but returning to the top ranking last week - after a week as No. 1 in August - can be inspirational.
"With a good, positive mind and attitude, I feel that I can do anything on the court, the feeling I have in this moment," said Jankovic, who has been training even harder since recovering from a knee injury after Wimbledon in July.
"I wasn't able to practice for three weeks and I got completely out of shape. I lost the muscle so quickly," Jankovic said. "That is my body type so I have to work very hard in the gym to keep my body strong."
While her performance level intimidates opponents, Jankovic believes her 1.77-meter (5-foot-9½) physique does not.
"The girls in the top 10 are all very tall, very strong, and I am one of the smallest and weakest ones," she said. "So I have to work harder than them to be up there."
Jankovic has long had a reputation for hard work. Her 72 wins in singles was a WTA Tour-best in 2007, and she has a 63-16 record heading into the Zurich Open, an indoor hard court event.
A year ago, she was exhausted by the time of the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid, Spain. Not this time.
"I feel ready to finish the year and I feel very motivated," said Jankovic, who is almost certain to end 2008 as No. 1.
This year's WTA Championships, in Doha, Qatar, from Nov. 4-9, is Jankovic's next competitive stop after Switzerland.
"I would love to win," she said. "That would really be the crown."
Whether Venus Williams joins Jankovic among the elite eight players in Doha will depend on her results this week. The 28-year-old American is ninth in the standings after Vera Zvonareva reached the final in Moscow last week, losing to Jankovic in straight sets.
The Russian stepped up the pressure on Williams by securing a late wild card entry to the Zurich tournament.
"I am not going to be entering any extra tournaments," Williams said. "If someone can enter more tournaments and play better than me then I'm going to wish them a lot of luck.
"If I play well enough to earn my place then I'll deserve to be there. You know, I'll probably get in."
Williams has a first-round bye and opens against Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine. Jankovic begins Thursday against either Nadia Petrova of Russia or Flavia Pennetta of Italy
The 23-year-old Serb, who arrived in Switzerland on Tuesday looking for her fourth straight WTA title at the Zurich Open, is the topic of conversation for many of her rivals on tour.
"Maybe I have more intimidation," Jankovic said. "Because some of the players when I played in Moscow, they say it's impossible to beat her."
The performance that has others doubting themselves is her Kremlin Cup semifinal comeback Saturday against fifth-ranked Elena Dementieva. After losing the first set 6-0, Jankovic bounced back to take the next two sets 6-1, 6-0.
"One quality that I have is that I don't give up," Jankovic said. "You believe in yourself and feel that you can do anything because this is the confidence that you have from winning a lot of matches."
Jankovic has now won 12 matches in a row, collecting titles in Beijing, Stuttgart, Germany, and Moscow.
She admits the globe-trotting is tiring, but returning to the top ranking last week - after a week as No. 1 in August - can be inspirational.
"With a good, positive mind and attitude, I feel that I can do anything on the court, the feeling I have in this moment," said Jankovic, who has been training even harder since recovering from a knee injury after Wimbledon in July.
"I wasn't able to practice for three weeks and I got completely out of shape. I lost the muscle so quickly," Jankovic said. "That is my body type so I have to work very hard in the gym to keep my body strong."
While her performance level intimidates opponents, Jankovic believes her 1.77-meter (5-foot-9½) physique does not.
"The girls in the top 10 are all very tall, very strong, and I am one of the smallest and weakest ones," she said. "So I have to work harder than them to be up there."
Jankovic has long had a reputation for hard work. Her 72 wins in singles was a WTA Tour-best in 2007, and she has a 63-16 record heading into the Zurich Open, an indoor hard court event.
A year ago, she was exhausted by the time of the season-ending WTA Championships in Madrid, Spain. Not this time.
"I feel ready to finish the year and I feel very motivated," said Jankovic, who is almost certain to end 2008 as No. 1.
This year's WTA Championships, in Doha, Qatar, from Nov. 4-9, is Jankovic's next competitive stop after Switzerland.
"I would love to win," she said. "That would really be the crown."
Whether Venus Williams joins Jankovic among the elite eight players in Doha will depend on her results this week. The 28-year-old American is ninth in the standings after Vera Zvonareva reached the final in Moscow last week, losing to Jankovic in straight sets.
The Russian stepped up the pressure on Williams by securing a late wild card entry to the Zurich tournament.
"I am not going to be entering any extra tournaments," Williams said. "If someone can enter more tournaments and play better than me then I'm going to wish them a lot of luck.
"If I play well enough to earn my place then I'll deserve to be there. You know, I'll probably get in."
Williams has a first-round bye and opens against Alona Bondarenko of Ukraine. Jankovic begins Thursday against either Nadia Petrova of Russia or Flavia Pennetta of Italy
Tennis: More big names likely to join Dementieva
Expect at least two other players ranked in the world's top 25 to follow big drawcard Elena Dementieva into the field for January's international women's tournament.
The Monaco-based world No 5 Russian is the highest-ranked player to have appeared in the ASB Classic and is certain to be the top seed.
The US$220,000 ($353,550) Classic - part of the "international"-rated series of tournaments on the rejigged WTA as opposed to the big money "premier" events - is allowed just one player in the world top 10.
In the past five years, the Classic's top seeds have, at the time of entering the event, been No 14 (Paola Suarez), No 26 (Amy Frazier), No 9 (Nadia Petrova), No 12 (Jelena Jankovic) and this year No 22 (Vera Zvonareva). Those numbers justify the delight of tournament director Brenda Perry at snaring one of the world's finest.
"Elena brings a commanding presence to the court with a captivating mix of intensity, passion, power and femininity," Perry said
But the tournament will need more than one player demonstrably superior to the rest of the field, so Perry has the feelers out for others to add some muscle to the event, and ensure Dementieva doesn't get an easy time of it.
Among those she's likely to be pursuing are Petrova, now world No 13 but who enjoyed her time in Auckland and wanted to return last year, only to be counted out because of her top 10 ranking.
World No 15 Caroline Wozniacki, the rapidly rising 18-year-old Dane, is much in demand, while No 14 Daniela Hantuchova and No 18, Belarusian teenager Victoria Azarenka, have been in Auckland before.
The 2005 Classic winner, Slovenian Katerina Srebotnik, is No 21, loves coming to Auckland where she has good friends, and is a strong chance to return. More names are expected within the next two weeks.
Dementieva deserves a pat on the back for entering Auckland. Under the new WTA rules, top 10 players can enter only one "international" tier event in the first half of the year.
That means if they lose form or suffer an injury they cannot drop to a lower-level tournament to regain form or fitness, instead being obliged to stick with the premier grade tournaments.
Dementieva, who turns 27 today, is celebrating a good year on the circuit. Apart from winning the Dubai title in February, she won the Olympic Games gold in Beijing, beating Serena Williams (No 3), Zvonareva (No 8) and Dinara Safina (No 2) in successive matches.
But her ambition remains to reach world No 1. She has been as high as No 4 and her desire to make it to the top remains undiminished.
"This is the biggest motivation for me," she said yesterday. "It's been a great year so far. I do believe I can reach the No 1 position."
The Monaco-based world No 5 Russian is the highest-ranked player to have appeared in the ASB Classic and is certain to be the top seed.
The US$220,000 ($353,550) Classic - part of the "international"-rated series of tournaments on the rejigged WTA as opposed to the big money "premier" events - is allowed just one player in the world top 10.
In the past five years, the Classic's top seeds have, at the time of entering the event, been No 14 (Paola Suarez), No 26 (Amy Frazier), No 9 (Nadia Petrova), No 12 (Jelena Jankovic) and this year No 22 (Vera Zvonareva). Those numbers justify the delight of tournament director Brenda Perry at snaring one of the world's finest.
"Elena brings a commanding presence to the court with a captivating mix of intensity, passion, power and femininity," Perry said
But the tournament will need more than one player demonstrably superior to the rest of the field, so Perry has the feelers out for others to add some muscle to the event, and ensure Dementieva doesn't get an easy time of it.
Among those she's likely to be pursuing are Petrova, now world No 13 but who enjoyed her time in Auckland and wanted to return last year, only to be counted out because of her top 10 ranking.
World No 15 Caroline Wozniacki, the rapidly rising 18-year-old Dane, is much in demand, while No 14 Daniela Hantuchova and No 18, Belarusian teenager Victoria Azarenka, have been in Auckland before.
The 2005 Classic winner, Slovenian Katerina Srebotnik, is No 21, loves coming to Auckland where she has good friends, and is a strong chance to return. More names are expected within the next two weeks.
Dementieva deserves a pat on the back for entering Auckland. Under the new WTA rules, top 10 players can enter only one "international" tier event in the first half of the year.
That means if they lose form or suffer an injury they cannot drop to a lower-level tournament to regain form or fitness, instead being obliged to stick with the premier grade tournaments.
Dementieva, who turns 27 today, is celebrating a good year on the circuit. Apart from winning the Dubai title in February, she won the Olympic Games gold in Beijing, beating Serena Williams (No 3), Zvonareva (No 8) and Dinara Safina (No 2) in successive matches.
But her ambition remains to reach world No 1. She has been as high as No 4 and her desire to make it to the top remains undiminished.
"This is the biggest motivation for me," she said yesterday. "It's been a great year so far. I do believe I can reach the No 1 position."
Keys, Coldplay, Eagles Lead AMA Nominations
Alicia Keys leads the nominees for the 2008 American Music Awards with five, including artist of the year, favorite female artist -- pop or rock music, favorite female artist -- soul/rhythm & blues music and favorite album in pop or rock music and soul/R&B music for "As I Am."Coldplay and the Eagles earned four nominations each. Coldplay was nominated for artist of the year, favorite band, duo or group -- pop or rock music, favorite artist -- alternative rock music and favorite album -- pop or rock music for "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends."The Eagles scored nominations for: artist of the year, favorite band, duo or group -- pop or rock music, favorite artist -- adult contemporary music, and favorite album pop or rock music for "Long Road Out of Eden."The other artists nominated for artist of the year are Lil Wayne, who was also nominated for favorite male artist -- rap/hip-hop music and favorite album rap/hip-hop music for "Tha Carter III"; and Chris Brown, who also received nominations for favorite male artist -- pop or rock music and favorite male artist -- soul/rhythm & blues music.Other artists receiving multiple nominations are Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Mariah Carey, Daughtry, Flo Rida, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood, Usher and Kanye West.
Voting for the awards is done online via ABC.com's American Music Awards website. The AMAs will be held Nov. 23 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. They will be aired live on ABC and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
Voting for the awards is done online via ABC.com's American Music Awards website. The AMAs will be held Nov. 23 at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. They will be aired live on ABC and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel.
Britney Spears To Tour Next Spring
Britney Spears will begin a tour next spring, produced by AEG Live. Sources say the trek will likely hit arenas and be international in scope, as were recent AEG Live-produced outings by Bon Jovi and Justin Timberlake. Spears last toured in 2004, grossing more than $34 million, according to Billboard Boxscore.The artist will be out in support of her new album, "Circus," due Dec. 2 via Jive. First single "Womanizer" is expected to leap into the upper reaches of the Billboard Hot 100 this week after first-week download sales are factored into the chart.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Chilly stars under the stars
INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – Always searching for new ways to grow the game, the NBA took the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets outside on Saturday night, a cute experiment that would have been more warmly received had anyone packed a blanket.
Give David Stern credit. He sold out a preseason basketball game aired in front of a national TV audience, and he didn’t have to cross the Atlantic to do it. More than 16,000 people packed the Indian Wells Tennis Center to see the Suns and Nuggets play under the stars, and most of the fans seemed to enjoy the experience, even if they came away colder for it.
“It felt like Edmonton, Alberta, out there,” said Suns point guard and Canadian transplant Steve Nash.
The NBA hadn’t played a game outdoors since 1972, and there’s probably a good reason why league officials waited 36 years to stage another: When it comes to the weather, even Stern has to answer to a higher power. Even in the desert.
Temperatures, which hit 105 degrees here three days earlier, dropped to the low 60s in the second half. The steady wind made it feel at least 10 degrees cooler. Several players used towels as makeshift hoods to stay warm on the bench. A few admitted to being too cold to sweat.
“Growing up we played outside in weather cold like this all the time,” Nash said, “but I would say that’s been about 16 years ago.”
Allen Iverson, perhaps, had the evening’s best seat, watching from the warmth of his home in Denver. Iverson skipped the trip because of what the team described as a sore knee and Carmelo Anthony sat out his second exhibition game with a sore finger. Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, still trying to work his way back into shape after being sidelined by an ankle injury and a torn iris, also didn’t play.
“I’m not going to spend too much time looking at the film tonight,” Suns coach Terry Porter said, pausing to blow on his hands.
The Nuggets won 77-72, but the low-scoring game had more to do with the 10 mph wind gusting through the stadium than the defensive improvements both teams have pledged to make this season. Grant Hill tossed up a 3-pointer from the top of the arc in the first quarter only to watch the breeze gently catch it. He shouldn’t have felt bad. Of the 27 3-pointers the teams combined to take, only three found the bottom of the net. Former Suns coach Mike D’Antoni couldn’t have taken that much mojo with him to New York, could he?
Said Nash: “When you shoot a ball and it starts slicing right … ”
Denver even bricked 20 of its 38 free throws, though not everyone on the court could use the unusual elements as an excuse. Shaquille O’Neal, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will be happy to know, can miss free throws outside just as well as he does inside; in the game’s opening moments, he clanged a pair hard off the rim. One backboard, perhaps already worrying about its fate, mysteriously splintered on its own Friday afternoon before the Suns had even stepped foot into the stadium for their shootaround. Workers replaced the broken backboard, but NBA officials ordered two more reserves brought in as insurance.
Nuggets coach George Karl was disappointed to see the league had neglected to include one longtime playground staple: chain nets. Karl’s first impression when told Denver would be playing outdoors?
“I have to admit,” he said, “I had some thoughts of, ‘What?’ ”
The NBA shrugged off such skepticism by throwing its marketing muscle behind the event. One of the Suns owners sold the league on using Indian Wells as the ideal location for the game, and the team trucked in a special court emblazoned with “NBA Outdoors!” just in case anyone hadn’t noticed the roof missing overhead. TNT played along, bringing Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Marv Albert to broadcast the game, though their largest viewing audience (Phoenix) lost feed of the telecast for much of the first quarter.
As that opening quarter came to a close, Suns public-address announcer Cedric Ceballos shouted, “One quarter of history already intact!” When it comes to watershed moments in NBA history, Saturday night ranked slightly ahead of the introduction of the microfiber ball. None of the players openly complained, but none were clamoring to sign up to do it again, either.
And no one certainly sounded ready to play any game of merit outdoors, even if Barkley was already pitching the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field as an alternate site for this season’s All-Star Game in Phoenix. Much like the NBA’s annual preseason sojourns to Europe, the outdoor experiment should probably be limited to the exhibition level for the near future. At the least, Karl suggested, the league should consider moving up the start time a couple hours to take advantage of warmer weather.
“I thought the best part was seeing the moon,” Karl said. “You think you should be drinking a beer or drinking a bottle of wine and just relaxing.”
Shaq, too, claimed to welcome the unique experience. But would he be willing to do it again?
He nodded then smiled.
“In June.”
Give David Stern credit. He sold out a preseason basketball game aired in front of a national TV audience, and he didn’t have to cross the Atlantic to do it. More than 16,000 people packed the Indian Wells Tennis Center to see the Suns and Nuggets play under the stars, and most of the fans seemed to enjoy the experience, even if they came away colder for it.
“It felt like Edmonton, Alberta, out there,” said Suns point guard and Canadian transplant Steve Nash.
The NBA hadn’t played a game outdoors since 1972, and there’s probably a good reason why league officials waited 36 years to stage another: When it comes to the weather, even Stern has to answer to a higher power. Even in the desert.
Temperatures, which hit 105 degrees here three days earlier, dropped to the low 60s in the second half. The steady wind made it feel at least 10 degrees cooler. Several players used towels as makeshift hoods to stay warm on the bench. A few admitted to being too cold to sweat.
“Growing up we played outside in weather cold like this all the time,” Nash said, “but I would say that’s been about 16 years ago.”
Allen Iverson, perhaps, had the evening’s best seat, watching from the warmth of his home in Denver. Iverson skipped the trip because of what the team described as a sore knee and Carmelo Anthony sat out his second exhibition game with a sore finger. Suns forward Amare Stoudemire, still trying to work his way back into shape after being sidelined by an ankle injury and a torn iris, also didn’t play.
“I’m not going to spend too much time looking at the film tonight,” Suns coach Terry Porter said, pausing to blow on his hands.
The Nuggets won 77-72, but the low-scoring game had more to do with the 10 mph wind gusting through the stadium than the defensive improvements both teams have pledged to make this season. Grant Hill tossed up a 3-pointer from the top of the arc in the first quarter only to watch the breeze gently catch it. He shouldn’t have felt bad. Of the 27 3-pointers the teams combined to take, only three found the bottom of the net. Former Suns coach Mike D’Antoni couldn’t have taken that much mojo with him to New York, could he?
Said Nash: “When you shoot a ball and it starts slicing right … ”
Denver even bricked 20 of its 38 free throws, though not everyone on the court could use the unusual elements as an excuse. Shaquille O’Neal, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich will be happy to know, can miss free throws outside just as well as he does inside; in the game’s opening moments, he clanged a pair hard off the rim. One backboard, perhaps already worrying about its fate, mysteriously splintered on its own Friday afternoon before the Suns had even stepped foot into the stadium for their shootaround. Workers replaced the broken backboard, but NBA officials ordered two more reserves brought in as insurance.
Nuggets coach George Karl was disappointed to see the league had neglected to include one longtime playground staple: chain nets. Karl’s first impression when told Denver would be playing outdoors?
“I have to admit,” he said, “I had some thoughts of, ‘What?’ ”
The NBA shrugged off such skepticism by throwing its marketing muscle behind the event. One of the Suns owners sold the league on using Indian Wells as the ideal location for the game, and the team trucked in a special court emblazoned with “NBA Outdoors!” just in case anyone hadn’t noticed the roof missing overhead. TNT played along, bringing Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller and Marv Albert to broadcast the game, though their largest viewing audience (Phoenix) lost feed of the telecast for much of the first quarter.
As that opening quarter came to a close, Suns public-address announcer Cedric Ceballos shouted, “One quarter of history already intact!” When it comes to watershed moments in NBA history, Saturday night ranked slightly ahead of the introduction of the microfiber ball. None of the players openly complained, but none were clamoring to sign up to do it again, either.
And no one certainly sounded ready to play any game of merit outdoors, even if Barkley was already pitching the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Chase Field as an alternate site for this season’s All-Star Game in Phoenix. Much like the NBA’s annual preseason sojourns to Europe, the outdoor experiment should probably be limited to the exhibition level for the near future. At the least, Karl suggested, the league should consider moving up the start time a couple hours to take advantage of warmer weather.
“I thought the best part was seeing the moon,” Karl said. “You think you should be drinking a beer or drinking a bottle of wine and just relaxing.”
Shaq, too, claimed to welcome the unique experience. But would he be willing to do it again?
He nodded then smiled.
“In June.”
Talk radio host says Magic faked having AIDS
Not even Don Imus would be this stupid, would he? Magic Johnson certainly hopes not.
Minneapolis talk radio hosts Chris Baker and Langdon Perry of KLTK-FM, recently specualted that the former Lakers great “faked” having HIV/AIDS. Says he faked it for sympathy.
Perry said that he was “convinced that Magic faked AIDS. … I’m not sure why, but I’m pretty sure he faked AIDS … Cause he’s the only cured AIDS guy ever.
Johnson soon learned about the comments and issued a statement;
“I am extremely disappointed in KTLK in Minneapolis. I am outraged that Chris Baker and Langdon Perry would minimize such a serious and deadly issue. Millions are dying from HIV/AIDS and the fact that they would make jokes about my status is unbelievable,” Johnson said. “Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies.”
And some people think Vic the Brick is outrageou
Minneapolis talk radio hosts Chris Baker and Langdon Perry of KLTK-FM, recently specualted that the former Lakers great “faked” having HIV/AIDS. Says he faked it for sympathy.
Perry said that he was “convinced that Magic faked AIDS. … I’m not sure why, but I’m pretty sure he faked AIDS … Cause he’s the only cured AIDS guy ever.
Johnson soon learned about the comments and issued a statement;
“I am extremely disappointed in KTLK in Minneapolis. I am outraged that Chris Baker and Langdon Perry would minimize such a serious and deadly issue. Millions are dying from HIV/AIDS and the fact that they would make jokes about my status is unbelievable,” Johnson said. “Chris, Langdon and KTLK should use their power in a more positive light by encouraging people to get tested for this disease instead of making up such ridiculous lies.”
And some people think Vic the Brick is outrageou
Obama flip-flops, becomes a Phillies Phan The Examiner
Standing in Philadelphia, in front of thousands of residents of Philadelphia, he went out on a limb. “I am a White Sox fan,” he said, “but since the White Sox are out of it, I’ll root for the Phillies now.” So there you have it, Obama is now pulling for the Phillies. Write it in stone. Hold him to it. Sure, there is a lot to like in the Phillies. Lefty Jamie Moyer, for instance, pitching into his late 40’s, is defying the limits of age (take notice John McCain). The Phillies have nice uniforms and a nice stadium too. There is a lot to like, but is that really what Obama likes? Could it be that the Phillies are from Philadelphia which is in Pennsylvania, which is a battleground state? And does it help that they are playing the Dodgers from Los Angeles which is in California, which is a safe Democratic state? Who really needs the Dodgers anyway?Will Obama stick to this position when he campaigns in Florida? After all, the Tampa Bay Rays are in the playoffs, and are located smack in the middle of key swing territory in the Sunshine State. Will Obama be brave enough
Put a cap on this insult to England legends The Daily Mail
Since nothing is sacred when it comes to the promotion of Brand Beckham, another act of heresy was committed on Saturday as casually as boozy fans might blaspheme on their train home from Wembley.Old Goldenballs was tossed yet one more cap for a fag-end appearance lasting barely 10 minutes. Thereby, for the second international match running, the legend of a truly great England player was trampled underfoot by today’s stampeding obsession with tawdry celebrity. In Croatia last month, a brief outing as Theo Walcott’s substitute drew David Beckham level with the noble Billy Wright’s 105 caps.
New Bjork Single: To Yorke, Or Not To Yorke?
According to the Bjork camp, the Icelandic vocalist will release a new single, "Nattura," on Oct. 20 via One Little Indian, featuring backing vocals from Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke.The only problem: according to Radiohead's management, Yorke hasn't recorded anything new with Bjork, although the possibility remains that his contribution is a sample or was taped at some point in the past.No additional information about the nature of the collaboration was available at deadline about "Nattura," which shares its name with an organization devoted to protecting Iceland's environment. Bjork played a benefit concert with fellow Iceland natives Sigur Ros on behalf of Nattura this summer.Bjork and Yorke previously sang together on "I've Seen It All," from the 2000 film "Dancer in the Dark," in which Bjork starred.Meanwhile, Radiohead has announced its first live dates of 2009. The group will play March 15-17 at Foro Sol in Mexico City.
Beastie Boys Plot Star-Studded Vote Shows
The Beastie Boys have drafted Sheryl Crow, Norah Jones, Jack Johnson and Ben Harper to join them on the Get Out and Vote tour, which will begin Oct. 28 in Richmond, Va. Shows are also set for Nov. 1 in St. Paul, Minn., and Nov. 2 in Milwaukee."This election is too important to stay at home," the rap trio said this morning (Oct. 10), adding that it is endorsing Barack Obama for president. "We hope that you can come out, have a nice night, dance, sing, get your freak on, and then wake up the next morning and get everyone that you possibly can to get out and vote."Crow, Jones, Johnson and Santogold are on the bill for the Richmond show, while Harper and Tenacious D will support in St. Paul. Harper, Tenacious D and David Crosby and Graham Nash will join the Beasties in Milwaukee.For ticket information, visit the Beasties' Web site.
Beyonce Turns The Tables In 'Boy' Video
Beyonce will release videos for her two new singles "If I Were a Boy" and "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" via MTV, BET, VH1 and Fuse on Monday (Oct. 13). The two songs were released to radio this week and are the first from her forthcoming, as-yet-untitled album, due Nov. 18 via Music World/Columbia."It's kind of like 'Freaky Friday'," Beyonce tells Billboard of the concept behind the "If I Were a Boy" clip, where she plays a police officer. "In the beginning of the video, my husband makes me breakfast and he's excited about it, and I kind of don't have time to eat. As a police officer, I have a male partner and the video goes through our days. My husband's at work and has attractive girls flirting with him but he declines their advances. I have a guy flirting with me, and I flirt back."Beyonce says the clip will depict common things that men do to hurt their significant others, like not answering their phone."It's about all of the little things that mean so much in a relationship," says Beyonce. "At the end of the clip, you realize that I was acting out his life, and it all starts over again. He was a cop and everything that happened was really him doing the same thing to me."Both videos were directed by Jake Nava, who previously helmed Beyonce's "Baby Boy" featuring Sean Paul.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Simpson guilty of robbery, kidnap charges
LAS VEGAS - O.J. Simpson, who went from American sports idol to celebrity-in-exile after he was acquitted of murder in 1995, was found guilty Friday of robbing two sports-memorabilia dealers at gunpoint in a Las Vegas hotel room.
The 61-year-old former football star could spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing was set for Dec. 5.
A weary and somber Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read by the clerk in Clark County District Court. He was immediately taken into custody.
The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges for gathering up five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.
The verdict came 13 years to the day after Simpson was cleared of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century.
"I don't like to use the word payback," defense attorney Yale Galanter said. "I can tell you from the beginning my biggest concern ... was whether or not the jury would be able to separate their very strong feelings about Mr. Simpson and judge him fairly and honestly."
Co-defendant also convictedSimpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, also was found guilty on all charges in the Las Vegas case and taken into custody.
Simpson showed little emotion as officers handcuffed him and walked him out of the courtroom. His sister, Carmelita Durio, sobbed behind him in the arms of Simpson's friend, Tom Scotto, who said "I love you" as Simpson passed by. As spectators left the courtroom, Durio collapsed.
Jurors made no eye contact with the defendants as they entered the courtroom. They declined to answer questions after the verdict was read.
Galanter said his client had expected the outcome, and in a courthouse conversation with an Associated Press reporter on Thursday, Simpson had implied as much.
Simpson said he felt melancholy and that he was "afraid that I won't get to go to my kids' college graduations after I managed to get them through college."
Galanter said it was not a happy day for anybody. "His only hope is the appellate process," he said.
Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said prosecutors would not comment until the case was "completely resolved."
The 61-year-old former football star could spend the rest of his life in prison. Sentencing was set for Dec. 5.
A weary and somber Simpson released a heavy sigh as the charges were read by the clerk in Clark County District Court. He was immediately taken into custody.
The Hall of Fame football star was convicted of kidnapping, armed robbery and 10 other charges for gathering up five men a year ago and storming into a room at a hotel-casino, where the group seized several game balls, plaques and photos. Prosecutors said two of the men with him were armed; one of them said Simpson asked him to bring a gun.
The verdict came 13 years to the day after Simpson was cleared of murdering his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, in Los Angeles in one of the most sensational trials of the 20th century.
"I don't like to use the word payback," defense attorney Yale Galanter said. "I can tell you from the beginning my biggest concern ... was whether or not the jury would be able to separate their very strong feelings about Mr. Simpson and judge him fairly and honestly."
Co-defendant also convictedSimpson's co-defendant, Clarence "C.J." Stewart, 54, also was found guilty on all charges in the Las Vegas case and taken into custody.
Simpson showed little emotion as officers handcuffed him and walked him out of the courtroom. His sister, Carmelita Durio, sobbed behind him in the arms of Simpson's friend, Tom Scotto, who said "I love you" as Simpson passed by. As spectators left the courtroom, Durio collapsed.
Jurors made no eye contact with the defendants as they entered the courtroom. They declined to answer questions after the verdict was read.
Galanter said his client had expected the outcome, and in a courthouse conversation with an Associated Press reporter on Thursday, Simpson had implied as much.
Simpson said he felt melancholy and that he was "afraid that I won't get to go to my kids' college graduations after I managed to get them through college."
Galanter said it was not a happy day for anybody. "His only hope is the appellate process," he said.
Clark County spokesman Dan Kulin said prosecutors would not comment until the case was "completely resolved."
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