Durant ‘about 50-50’ on playing overseas

TULSA, Okla. (AP)—Kevin Durant says he is “about 50-50” on playing overseas if the NBA lockout lasts.

The league scoring champion from the Oklahoma City Thunder hopes the work stoppage is settled in time for a full season, but says he’ll “have to think about” playing elsewhere if that doesn’t happen.

Durant says he has been working on his game during his time off, but took a break from that to attend the WNBA game between Tulsa and Chicago on Thursday night. Speaking at halftime, he called himself a “basketball fanatic” who enjoys watching the women’s game.

Jimenez traded to Indians

 Rockies right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez was traded to the Indians. Jimenez was pulled last night from his start after pitching one inning against the Padres. Jimemez says he was surprised. “Everybody knew it, even me,” he said after his outing.

"I was surprised I pitched," ... "When I got to the bullpen, it was, I'm not sure why I'm here ...... I got to the mound and I couldn't throw a strike. I didn't have my mind on the game."

NBA All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose made $400,000 apiece for an exhibition game in the Philippines over the weekend. The players agreed to play an exhibition against a collection of stars of the Philippines Basketball Association. The group also included Chris Paul, James Harden, second overall pick Derrick Williams, JaVale McGee, and Tyreke Evans

Kobe Bryant all start in Manila!

Kobe Bryant, Derek Fisher, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, JaVale McGee, Derrick Williams, Chris Paul, Tyreke Evans and James Harden all in one team? you must be kidding me!

Dog bites the shark

Awesome!

Chinese great Yao Ming retires from basketball

Yao made it official Wednesday, telling a packed news conference in his hometown that a series of foot and leg injuries forced him to end his playing career at the age of 30.

Lamar Odom Tweets condolences over teen car crash victim

Lamar Odom has expressed his condolences over a 15-year-old boy, who was reportedly struck and killed by a car carrying the NBA player and reality star.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the young boys family," Odom Tweeted on Monday night.

The crash took place in New York on July 14. Odom was in Queens, New York for his cousin's funeral and was being chauffeured in a vehicle. His driver hit the boy and a motorcyclist. Both were taken to a hospital with series injuries and the boy died on Friday, Access Hollywood reported. Odom, who was sitting in the back seat, was not injured.

Khloe Kardashian, his wife and fellow star of E! series "Khloe & Lamar," reposted her husband's message on Twitter on Monday as well, saying: "Our love will give us strength! Love conquers ALL!"

Earlier, she Tweeted: "My heart/soul goes out 2every1 in pain from any suffering. Pray 4all of the angels surrounding us constantly. May our spirits stay strong."

 

Source: OnTheRedCarpet.com

Lamar Odom involved in a near-fatal car accident

Lamar Odom was involved in a serious car accident in New York on July 14, when his driver hit a 15-year-old boy and a motorcyclist.

Odom was in Jamaica, Queens for his cousin's funeral when the driver of his car service struck the two victims. The basketball player was not injured, but was reportedly visibly upset about the accident.

"Thank you for your support and prayers!" Odom wrote on Twitter on Monday.

MediaTakeOut.com, who first reported the incident, said that the pedestrian and motorcyclist were seriously injured in the crash. Odom's wife, Khloe Kardashian was not in the vehicle.

"Khloe wasn't in the car. It was a driver, and Lamar was in the back seat," Kardashian's publicist told the New York Post.

Odom, who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers and is the star of the TV realty show "Khloe & Lamar," married Khloe Kardashian in 2009 after dating for a month.

Source: OnTheRedCarpet.com

Marc Tyler didn't receive a single penny

 Marc Tyler's father said the suspended USC running back should have known better than to joke about the university paying football players and said he is 100% certain Marc has not taken one illicit penny from the school.  

Millions watched the Women's World Cup final

Whoa! According to this news the Women's World Cup final has been watched by 13.5 million viewers, which is the highest television rating for any soccer game on an ESPN network. It was the sixth most watched soccer telecast ever in the United States. The record is still held by the 1999 Women's World Cup final, which had an 11.4 rating. 

Japan beats the USA to capture the Women's World Cup.

Price strikes memorabilia deal

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP)—The pitcher who gave up Derek Jeter’s 3,000th career hit has a deal to sign memorabilia connected with the milestone.

Tampa Bay’s David Price agreed with Steiner Sports to autograph collectibles, including baseballs and pictures. Some of the souvenirs will bear the inscription, “I Gave Up DJ’s 3K,” and be signed by both Price and Jeter.

Jeter became the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits when he homered off Price last Saturday at Yankee Stadium.

NBA warns Michael Jordan not to golf with playersJordan

Michael Jordan could lose $1 million dollars in fine at the American Century Classic golf tournament with the five NBA players scheduled to appear at the tourney.

The tournament's website notes that Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen, Sacramento Kings guard Jimmer Fredette, Dallas Mavericks guard Jason Kidd and New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams are all scheduled to participate.

Since the lockout began on July 1, the NBA has yet to publicly issue a fine to a team executive who violates its gag order policy.

Ricky Hatton retired from boxing

Well, it should happened a long time ago. Ricky Hatton finally announced in London overnight that he had decided to hang up his gloves after two years out of the sport.

Hatton said: 'I am very upset. It's a very sad day for me.

"I know it is the right decision though. I've known it was the right thing to do for 18 months to be honest.

'It's a bit of a relief to finally do it. It's been hovering over my head for such a long time. These last two years have been really frustrating. I hit rock bottom and it almost drove me insane.

'There's nothing more I love than training for a fight but I have no dreams left now.'

Hatton's  retirement signals the end of a dramatic career that has seen him achieve success at welterweight and light-welterweight level.

Hatton beat Jon Thaxton to become the British light-welterweight champion in 2000 and went on to dominate the division, with his most notable victory at that weight coming in 2005 against IBF champion Tszyu.

Hatton then beat Carlos Maussa before moving up to welterweight where he defeated Luis Collazo to claim the WBA world title.

Rapidly earning a reputation as one of Britain's most popular sportsmen, Hatton went on to challenge Mayweather in Las Vegas.

Billed as the defining fight of his career, watched by millions around the world, Hatton failed to take the American's WBC welterweight title after being knocked out in the 10th round.

Undeterred by his first loss in boxing, Hatton returned to winning ways with victories over Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi before calling out pound-for-pound champion Pacquiao.

The two met at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in May 2009, when Hatton was knocked out cold in the second round to leave him with a 45-2 career record.

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Philippines' Azkals blank Sri Lanka, march to World Cup 2nd round

THE Philippine National Football Men’s Team Azkals' dream to qualify in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil lives on, as the nationals blanked the visiting Sri Lanka Brave Reds, 4-0 Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.

The Azkals’ victory gave them the ticket to the 2nd round of the World Cup qualifying tournament against Kuwait on July 23 and July 28 on a home and away game.

In Sunday’s win, Ilonggo Azkals midfielder Chieffy Caligdong nailed a goal in the 19th minute to open up the scoring for the nationals.

Drilling from the left side just inside the box and passing through two Sri Lankan defenders, Caligdong struck the ball towards the right of keeper Manjula Fernando. The ball hit the right bar before it entered the goal.

With 1-0 advantage, the Azkals picked up the tempo, as striker Phil Younghusband scored the squad’s second goal in the 43rd minute.

In the second half, striker Angel Guirado fired the team’s third goal in the 50th minute on a pass from James Youghusband. Guirado drilled past a Sri Lankan defender and escaped Fernando’s defense for an open goal.

After seven minutes, the Azkals got another goal opportunity when Stephan Schrock was fouled on the right side of the goal just inside the box. Phil Younghusband was tasked to take the penalty kick and he nailed the squad’s 4th goal in the 57th minute.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) chairman and Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Advisory Council member Monico Puentevella lauded the Azkals’ performance. “Our Azkals’s performance yesterday was great,” he said.

“But it would be an uphill game against Kuwait. We will be underdogs but we have a bigger chance. We will have a bigger crowd, too,” Puentevella stressed.

On the other hand, sportsman Oscar ‘Dodong’ Bascon praised the Azkals’ game. “They did great on defense and, most especially, improved their offense. It is noticeably that the team played well. They slowly got the chemistry. We just hope they play much better in the next round,” said Bascon.

Published in the Sun.Star Bacolod newspaper on July 04, 2011

Rafa Nadal lost the Wimbledon final on Sunday

 

Rafa Nadal lost the Wimbledon final on Sunday and will concede the number one ranking to his conqueror Novak Djokovic but the gritty Spaniard has known worse times. "You know what is the toughest moment? In Australia in 2010 when I had to go out with an injury. That is the toughest

moment," the 10-times grand slam winner told reporters.

Nadal is famous for his never-say-die mentality, so having to pull out of the Australian Open quarter-final against Andy Murray was as tough a time as the 25-year-old has known.

That withdrawal led to fears for his future, especially after the woes of 2009 where he missed the French Open and Wimbledon, but Nadal responded by winning three grand slams last year and his fitness troubles are now a thing of the past.

"After playing eight finals this year, winning Roland Garros a few weeks ago, playing the final here cannot be the toughest loss of my career," Nadal said, reflecting on a year that but for Djokovic could have ranked amongst his most dominant.

"Last five times wasn't my time. I'm gonna wait and I'm gonna try a sixth time," Nadal said of his five successive 2011 losses to Djokovic, all in finals.

"And if the sixth doesn't happen, or the seventh. It's going to be like this. That's the spirit of the sport.

"I understand the sport like this. When one player is better than you, at that moment the only thing you can do is work, try to find solutions, and try to wait a little bit for your time."

Given Nadal's bullish determination he will probably not have to wait long, and should Djokovic's form dip from the sensational 48 wins and just one defeat in 2011 the Spaniard will be waiting.

"For me when I was winning three grand slams last year, my level of last year is not forever. Probably the level of Novak of today is not forever. I'm gonna be here fighting all the time, waiting for my moment to beat him another time."

Source