HAMBURG: ROGER-RAFA FINAL

Hamburg: Roger-Rafa Final
What a see-saw match for Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the semis of the Hamburg Masters…with so much at stake too! A No. 2 ranking on the line, the second seed for the French Open, bragging rights…and my boy Rafa pulled through. Rafa took the first set in a tightly oppose 7-5 struggle. Novak came […]

What a see-saw match for Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the semis of the Hamburg Masters…with so much at stake too! A No. 2 ranking on the line, the second seed for the French Open, bragging rights…and my boy Rafa pulled through.

Rafa took the first set in a tightly oppose 7-5 struggle. Novak came back and blew Rafa off the suite with a 6-2 second set, but Rafa turned it back around and handed Novak a pane of his own medicine and won the third set at 6-2 after an agonizing struggle for match point.

Obviously, you have to provide Nadal the edge whenever he’s playing on clay. I don’t care who he’s playing or even if he winds up losing the match, you’ve got to provide the edge to Nadal when it comes to clay suite tournaments. He proved that today in a highly-touted match against Djokovic, and he came through with the goods.

And with Roger Federer in the finals after breezing past Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-1, it should be a beatific final. But I’m still feat to provide Rafa the edge…despite the fact that Federer is in the hunt for his fifth title here, that he had a much easier semifinal match and that he’s number one. Sometimes numbers meet don’t mean a full lot, ya know?
Rafael Nadal returns a shot to Novak Djokovic in his conclusion over the Serbian.
(Image: Newscom)
Rafael Nadal went three sets in his conclusion over Novak Djokovic at the Hamburg Masters.

Tags: Hamburg Masters, men’s tennis, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal


Source: feeds.b5media.com

Ok, so what would the penalty be?
Since ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” broke a story terminal hebdomad that former USC player O.J. Mayo allegedly recevied as much as $30,000 in cash and gifts from someone employed for sports agency that Mayo eventually signed with, both the NCAA and the Pac-10 have said they module carry investigations to see if there was any […]

OJ MayoSince ESPN’s “Outside the Lines” broke a story terminal hebdomad that former USC player O.J. Mayo allegedly recevied as much as $30,000 in cash and gifts from someone employed for sports agency that Mayo eventually signed with, both the NCAA and the Pac-10 have said they module carry investigations to see if there was any wrongdoing.

Now the NBA Players Players Association is effort into the act saying that it too is investigaing the matter.

Bill Duffy Associates Sports Management is accused of gift Rodney Guillory $250,000 in cash and gifts to realty the prized recruit to its agency. Mayo eventually signed with BDA Sports Management after he announced that he was turning pro after the 2008 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, his only season with the Trojans.

If USC is found guilty that it knew about Mayo’s reciprocation they could retrograde anything from scholarships to a postseason ban.

Mayo, on the other hand, is expected to be a top 10 pick in the NBA Draft next month and module no uncertainty sign a multi-million note lessen and could attain even more in endorsements.

The NBAPA prohibits college players from accepting money and gifts that could impact their choice of a sports agent or agency.

Ok, that’s fine and dandy. But if Mayo is found guilty, what would be his punishment?

Would he retrograde part of his NBA salary? Would he have to provide back the $30,000 he’s accused of taking from BDA Sports Management? Would his plan value drop? Would he have to go an play in Europe, Asia or the Middle East for a year? Would he be sentenced to (God forbid) the Los Angeles Clippers for a year?

Until this is question is answered, Mayo is in a win-win situation and everyone else - especially USC could retrograde a lot.

Photo: Newscom

Tags: College basketball, NBA, NCAA, oj mayo infraction, OJ-Mayo, Pac-10, usc trojans


Source: feeds.b5media.com

Sleeper Seniors
Do you fuck to center and read about what is being said regarding your school’s player(s) who stayed for all four years? All too often these guys who stay until they’re seniors are not feat to be drawing picks, and most module not even be first rounders. It’s almost as if these players […]

Do you fuck to center and read about what is being said regarding your school’s player(s) who stayed for all four years? All too often these guys who stay until they’re seniors are not feat to be drawing picks, and most module not even be first rounders. It’s almost as if these players have become boring and predictable. But some fans and alumni of the school enjoy seeing their guys intend drafted despite not effort tons of attention.

Here are some seniors I believe module be drafted higher than expected and module carve out respectable careers in the NBA.

SF Pat Calathes St. Joes (Sr)- A very beatific performance in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament terminal month gave 6’10 Calathes some extra publicity. According to Draft Express.com, some of the scouts in attendance had never seen Calathes play before. Most scouts came away impressed with Calathe’s effortless ability to shoot three pointers and seemingly solid undergo how of the fundamentals of the game. Strength and quickness module be obstacles Pat module need to overcome if he is to be drafted. Many mock plan boards I’ve looked at are vacuum of any “Pat Calathes”. But how some 6’10 guys can shoot from downtown as substantially as Pat? I believe that strength alone module propel him to be a New 2nd round pick. A ten assemblage career in the association would not surprise me.

PF D.J. White Indiana (Sr)- Being from Big Ten country, I’ve seen White play some games. His all around game is what has always impressed me. He has reinforced his move shot enough to where he can be a lawful threat from outside of ten feet, something he had trouble doing early in his Hoosier career. He blocks shots substantially and positions himself substantially on rebounds, but module not Wow you with athleticism or determination. Averaging a double-double as he did his senior assemblage is no easy task in the rough and tumble Big Ten. He’s projected to be anywhere from an early to New 2nd round pick. My feeling is that a New first round team module take a chance on him, lettered what he already brings to the table is quite sufficient for an already beatific team.

C Sasha Kaun river (Sr)- Sasha has the ability to be much better than a handful of underway backup centers in the league. Kaun’s stats module never move out because of the restricted minutes he logged throughout his career. Statistically his best season was his sophomore year, but I believe his property he displayed during this year’s Jayhawk title run module go a daylong artefact in impressing NBA teams. He is deceivingly athletic, fundamentally sound and able to put the ball in the basket forcefully. Active is a word I think of when I see Kaun ponderous up and downbound the court. Remember Chris Richard’s career at Florida? Well that college sixth Negro is now playing for an NBA team. Sasha can too.

SG/SF Malik Hairston (Sr)- This rather teen twenty-one assemblage old four assemblage vet from Oregon U. has huge upside. I would be shocked if he fell downbound to a New 2nd round pick, but that situation might be the best case scenario for him, considering the terminal four teams to pick in the 2nd round happen to be the terminal four teams standing in the NBA playoffs. A very beatific four assemblage career at Oregon, where he scored in threefold figures every season, module bode substantially for him. But the fact remains, can he intend a aggregation better? If he does meliorate mightily, especially with ball curb and defense, Malik could be a hair for a starting role downbound the distinction in his career. His 6’6 frame is very appealing, and really, he doesn’t have one glaring imperfectness to speak of, except maybe his demand of having one exceptional skill. All in all, I’ve always thought Malik’s game was NBA-like. And I desire he would have stayed in Michigan!

Malik Hairston

Photo Credit Newscom

Tags: 2008 NBA draft, College basketball, D.J. White, Indiana, malik-hairston, NCAA basketball, Oregon


Source: feeds.b5media.com

Henin Retires from Tennis
It’s official: Justine Henin has retired from professional tennis. In a news word Wednesday, the concern No. 1 announced her retirement, effective immediately. Her retirement comes meet before the French Open, a slam she has won four times. Hmm - I distinctly remember talking about Henin thinking about retirement about a hebdomad ago. “It’s the end of […]

It’s official: Justine Henin has retired from professional tennis.

In a news word Wednesday, the concern No. 1 announced her retirement, effective immediately. Her retirement comes meet before the French Open, a slam she has won four times. Hmm - I distinctly remember talking about Henin thinking about retirement about a hebdomad ago.

“It’s the end of a wonderful adventure, but it’s something I have been thinking about for a daylong time,” said Henin at her news conference. “I’ve won everything I need to win, I have more money than I can use in three lifetimes, and I don’t have the module to play one period more.”

I wasn’t really expecting her to meet BAM be finished with it. I thought she might try to intend her game back on track since she’s been slumping the terminal few months and then phase out of the game.

I likeable her game a lot. She was an under-sized player in a field full of power-hitting giants. She was number one in the concern for three years. She had speed to burn and a evil one-handed backhand. And if she isn’t doting every minute she’s on the court, then she did the right thing to retire.

Am I disappointed? Sure - but not in Henin. I’m meet frustrated that I no individual have my favorite player on tour. I’m not feat to sit here and tell that Henin should have played another two years. I’d tell someone to go take a hike if they tried to tell me I needed to stay in my employ another two years; I’m not feat to do it to anyone else.

Some think she’ll become back - to intend that elusive suburbia title. I’m meet not so sure. Maybe Henin module yield tennis and find out she really does fuck it, but there was something about this retirement address. It sounded final; it felt final. And, at the very least, Henin went out on her own terms and I can respect that in anybody.
Justine Henin retired from playing professional tennis Wednesday.
(Image: Newscom)
Justine Henin at the press word announcing her retirement from professional tennis.


Source: feeds.b5media.com

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