Orlando News Center

Angels hope to move up AL West standings in Seattle

Orlando News Center — Tue, 29 May 2012 09:45:17 +0000

The Angels still have quite a hill to climb if they want to challenge for the American League West title. Getting out of last place would be a great start.

Los Angeles can do just that tonight as it opens a four-game series against the third-place Seattle Mariners.

The Angels were expected to be at the top of the standings after adding both first baseman Albert Pujols and starter C.J. Wilson through free agency this offseason. However, Pujols has struggled offensively and Los Angeles comes into Thursday five games under .500 at 20-25. that leaves the club seven games back of first-place Texas and a half-game behind Seattle for third place.

Getting Dan Haren going will be key for the Angels as the former All-Star is just 1-5 with a 4.37 earned run average through nine starts and is currently riding a four-game losing streak.

The Angels were shut out in each of the first three games of Haren's slide, not giving the right-hander much of a chance to find the win column, and only managed to plate two runs in his outing on Saturday versus the Padres. it wasn't enough in a 3-2 loss as Haren was charged with all three runs over 6 2/3 frames.

"I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to win games," Haren told the Angels' website. "I'm frustrated to be sitting at 1-5. I'm not happy about it, and the team's not happy with where we're at."

The Angels are averaging 2.3 runs per game in Haren's starts, but the 31-year- old does have good career numbers versus the Mariners, going 10-5 with a 2.60 ERA in 19 meetings.

Los Angeles does have a chance to win three in a row for the first time since May 5-7 in tonight's opener. it snapped a three-game slide with Tuesday's shut out win over Oakland, then won the series on Wednesday thanks to a 3-1 victory in 11 innings.

Alberto Callaspo hit a two-run double in the deciding inning and Maicer Izturis had an RBI single earlier in the game as the Angels nearly wasted another solid effort from starter Jered Weaver.

Weaver did not factor into the decision, allowing one run on three hits over eight innings.

"It's our job to keep us in the game and that's what I did for the most part," Weaver said.

Seattle remained ahead of Los Angeles in the standings thanks to Wednesday's 5-3 win over Texas, giving the Mariners a series victory of their own as well as a win in five of six since a four-game slide.

Kevin Millwood followed up his first shutout in nearly nine years with six scoreless innings of two-hit ball. The Seattle starter has not allowed a run in 17 2/3 frames.

"Confidence has been building for the last couple weeks," Millwood said. "So I felt like when I got out there, I felt like i was going to have a good game and throw the ball well. Confidence goes a long way in this game and that's what I'm working on right now."

Alex Liddi smacked his first career grand slam for the Mariners, who turn to left-hander Jason Vargas in this opener.

Vargas is coming off a win over the Rockies on Saturday as he allowed three runs on five hits and a walk in seven innings of work. The 29-year-old did not allow a run over the first six frames and won a 10-3 decision after the Mariners had scored just seven runs in his previous four outings.

Vargas is 5-3 with a 3.34 ERA in 10 starts this season, six of those quality outings, and that includes a 2-0 mark and 1.27 ERA in three home starts.

In 10 career meetings with the Angels, including nine starts, Vargas is 3-3 with a 2.39 ERA.

The Angels won 12 of 19 versus the Mariners last season, though went 4-5 in Seattle. They have won 30 of the last 41 encounters overall.

Angels hope to move up AL West standings in Seattle

Angels hope to move up AL West standings in Seattle is a post from: Orlando News Center

Tropical storm Beryl is forecast to strike the United States at about 00:00 GMT on 31 May.

Orlando News Center — Tue, 29 May 2012 04:45:19 +0000

Source: Content partner // Tropical Storm Risk

Tropical storm Beryl is forecast to strike the United States at about 00:00 GMT on 31 may.Data supplied by theUS National Hurricane Centersuggest that the point of landfallwill benear34.6 N,76.2 W.Beryl is expected to bring 1-minute maximum sustained winds to the region of around64 km/h (40 mph).Wind gusts in the area maybeconsiderably higher.

The information above is provided for guidance only and should not be used to make life or death decisions or decisions relating to property. anyone in the region who is concerned for their personal safety or property should contact their official national weather agency or warning centre for advice.

This alert is provided by TropicalStorm Risk (TSR) which is sponsored by Benfield, Royal & SunAlliance,Crawford & Company and University College London (UCL). TSR acknowledges thesupport of the UK Met Office.

Tropical storm Beryl is forecast to strike the United States at about 00:00 GMT on 31 May.

Tropical storm Beryl is forecast to strike the United States at about 00:00 GMT on 31 May. is a post from: Orlando News Center

13 charged in hazing death of Fla. band member

Orlando News Center — Tue, 29 May 2012 03:45:12 +0000

ORLANDO, Fla. – Thirteen people were charged Wednesday in one of the biggest college hazing cases ever prosecuted in the U.S., accused in the death of a Florida A&M University drum major who authorities say was mercilessly pummeled by fellow members of the marching band.

The charges came more than five months after Robert Champion, 26, died aboard a chartered bus parked outside an Orlando hotel following a performance against a rival school.

While the most sensational hazing cases have typically involved fraternities, sororities or athletic teams, the FAMU tragedy in November exposed a brutal tradition among marching bands at some colleges around the U.S.

"The death ... is nothing short of an American tragedy," said State Attorney Lawson Lamar. "No one should have expected that his college experience would include being pummeled to death."

Eleven defendants were charged with hazing resulting in death, a felony, and misdemeanor offenses that all together could bring nearly six years in prison. two others face misdemeanor charges.

It was not immediately clear whether those charged were all students or whether they included faculty members or others involved in the road trip.

Wills, who was also drum major, declined comment when reached by phone. No working phone number was available for Jackson. The names of the 11 others have not been released.

Jackson was serving probation for a felony battery charge, according to state and local records. he was arrested in 2009 by Tallahassee Community College police for battery and resisting without violence and arrested again by Tallahassee police a year later, according to county jail records.

Champion had bruises on his chest, arms, shoulder and back and died of internal bleeding, Lamar said. Witnesses told emergency dispatchers that the drum major was vomiting before he was found unresponsive aboard the bus.

The prosecutor gave no motive for the beating. But witnesses said Champion might have been targeted because he opposed the routine hazing that went on in the marching band or because he was gay, according his family's attorney.

Legal experts had predicted more serious charges, such as manslaughter or second-degree murder.

Champion's mother, Pam, said she was glad charges were brought but disappointed they weren't more severe. "I thought it should send a harsher message," she said.

Lamar said prosecutors didn't have the evidence to bring more serious charges.

"The testimony obtained to date does not support a charge of murder, in that it does not contain the elements of murder," he said. "We can prove participation in hazing and a death. we do not have a blow or a shot or a knife thrust that killed mr. Champion. it is an aggregation of things which exactly fit the Florida statute as written by the Legislature."

Hazing in Florida was upgraded to a felony in 2005 following the death of a University of Miami student four years earlier. Chad Meredith was drunk and died trying to swim across a lake at the behest of his fraternity brothers. No charges were filed, but a civil jury ordered the fraternity to pay Meredith's parents $12 million.

Champion's death has jeopardized the future of FAMU's legendary marching band, which has performed at the Grammys, presidential inaugurations and Super Bowls and represented the U.S. in Paris at the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution. FAMU, based in Tallahassee, has suspended the band and set up a task force on curtailing hazing.

Hazing has long been practiced in marching bands, particularly at historically black colleges like FAMU in the South, where the band is often as revered as the football team and members are campus celebrities.

Much of the hazing reported at FAMU has involved students trying to get into certain cliques within the band, and it has typically included punching, slapping and paddling.

Solomon Badger, chairman of the FAMU board of trustees, said the school is doing everything it can to eradicate hazing. he said of the charges: "I hope this wraps its arm around everything we have been plagued with the last six months."

Richard Sigal, a retired sociology professor at the County College of Morris in Randolph, N.J., who holds anti-hazing workshops at schools, said he could not recall another hazing case with so many defendants. Most cases don't result in criminal charges, and those that do typically end in plea bargains with little or no jail time, Sigal said.

Champion's parents have sued the bus company owner, claiming the driver stood guard outside while the hazing took place. The company said the driver was helping band members with their equipment.

The lawsuit described two types of hazing that took place on the bus.

In one ritual, students ran from the front of the bus to the back while other band members slapped, kicked and hit them. a student who fell was stomped and dragged to the front to run again.

In a ritual known as "the hot seat," a pillowcase was placed over the student's nose and mouth and he or she was forced to answer questions. if the student gave the correct answer, the pillowcase was removed briefly; a student who supplied a wrong answer was given another question without a chance to take a breath, the lawsuit said.

In a separate incident at FAMU, three people were charged with severely beating a woman's legs with their fists and a metal ruler last fall to initiate her into a clique of band members from Georgia. The woman suffered a broken thigh.

Also, four band members were arrested earlier this year and charged with hazing for allegedly punching, slapping and paddling five students from the clarinet section.

On Tuesday, a lawyer for two FAMU music professors who allegedly were present during a hazing of band members in 2010 said they have been forced out.

Former drum major Timothy Barber said the charges could help stop hazing at FAMU. "It kind of strikes a level of fear in people, that this hasn't stopped and it's not going to be tolerated," he said.

In some other major hazing cases around the country, four former students at California Polytechnic State University pleaded no contest and were sentenced to about a month in jail in 2010 in the drinking death of a fraternity pledge.

In 2005, four fraternity members at California State University pleaded guilty in the death of a student who was forced to drink large amounts of water during an initiation. The most serious charge was involuntary manslaughter, resulting in a one-year sentence for one member. two others pleaded guilty to accessory to manslaughter and got six months.

Associated Press writer Kyle Hightower in Orlando contributed to this report.

13 charged in hazing death of Fla. band member

13 charged in hazing death of Fla. band member is a post from: Orlando News Center

Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update: May 23, 2012

Orlando News Center — Mon, 28 May 2012 23:45:18 +0000

Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update: may 23, 2012

LSP EARNS RIGHT TO HOST OPEN CUP FOURTH ROUND ON 6/5

Should Sporting Kansas City advance to the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fourth round, LIVESTRONG Sporting Park will host the match at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, June 5. Sporting KC faces Orlando City SC on Tuesday in the third round of the tournament and would face the winner between the Colorado Rapids and Tampa Bay Rowdies in the fourth round. If necessary, single-game tickets for the fourth round fixture will go on sale immediately following the third round match on Tuesday.

U.S. Soccer announced the possible pairings and locations for the fourth round on Wednesday. Match-ups are based on a geographic basis when feasible and hosts are determined by random selection among clubs who have applied to host and meet minimum venue requirements.

Sporting Kansas City will begin the tournament at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, may 29 when they welcome Orlando City SC to LIVESTRONG Sporting Park in the third round of the competition. The visitors were 7-0 winners over the KC Athletics in the second round on Tuesday and are the reigning USL PRO champions.

Tickets, starting as low as $13, are currently on sale for the match and can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at the LSP Box Offices. all Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members will receive a ticket to the may 29 match at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, and all subsequent Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup home matches through the quarterfinals, as part of their season ticket package.

UPDATED SPORTING KC TRAINING SCHEDULE

Sporting Kansas City will now train at 3:30 p.m. CT on Friday. The team's weekly press conference will be held at 1:30 p.m. CT on Friday with Manager Peter Vermes and forward Teal Bunbury.

The team will train as scheduled at 10 a.m. CT on Saturday. Visit SportingKC.com/calendar for all the latest times/dates for upcoming Sporting KC events.

All media members planning to attend practice are encouraged to contact Alice Schroeder (913-302-1565) of the Sporting Kansas City communications department in advance for assistance in facilitating media access and availability.

SPORTING KC TO HOST SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES SUNDAY

Sporting Kansas City will host a game at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park for the first time in three weeks against the San Jose Earthquakes at 3:30 p.m. CT this Sunday. The match will air live on the NBC Sports Network and will also be broadcast locally on Sports Radio 810 WHB, which will air a pre-game and post-game show for the match.

The Earthquakes (7-2-3) are currently in second place in the Western Conference with 24 points, most recently drawing with the Columbus Crew at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Earthquakes are currently without their leading goalscorer Chris Wondolowski (11), who has joined the U.S. Men's National Team in Orlando.

The match will be sponsored by Providence Medical Center and the first 10,000 fans will receive a free tumbler, courtesy of Providence Medical Center. A limited amount of tickets for the match are still available and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com or at the LIVESTRONG Sporting Park box offices.

SPORTING KC TO HOST ORLANDO CITY IN U.S. OPEN CUP THIRD ROUND PLAY AT LSP

Sporting Kansas City will face Orlando City Soccer Club (USL PRO) in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at 7:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday, may 29 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Orlando City were the champions of the USL PRO league in their inaugural 2011 season. should Sporting Kansas City advance on Tuesday, they will host the winner between the Colorado Rapids and Tampa Bay Rowdies in a match to be played at 7:30 p.m. CT on June 5 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park at 7:30 p.m. CT.

All Sporting Kansas City Season Ticket Members and half season ticket members will receive a ticket to the match on may 29, and all subsequent Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup home matches through the quarterfinals, as part of their season ticket package.

Single-game tickets are available to purchase online at Ticketmaster.com or at the LSP Box Offices.

SPORTING KC TRIO SELECTED TO JOIN NATIONAL TEAMS

Sporting Kansas City players Roger Espinoza, Kei Kamara and Graham Zusi have been selected to join their respective national teams for upcoming international matches. Espinoza and Kamara will remain with Sporting Kansas City through the team's match on Sunday to be available against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Espinoza will then join Honduras for a friendly against El Salvador on June 2 and two World Cup Qualifiers on June 8 and 12 against Panama and Canada, respectively. Kamara will join Sierra Leone for World Cup Qualifiers on June 2 and 9 against Cape Verde Islands and Equatorial Guinea, as well as an Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Sao Tome & Prinicipe on June 15.

Zusi was named to the U.S. Men's National Team roster for their training camp in Orlando, Fla. The U.S. Men's National Team will train in Orlando through Friday, when head coach Jurgen Klinsmann will select a final 23-player roster for a series of five upcoming matches. The U.S. will play international friendlies against Scotland (May 26 in Jacksonville, Fla.), Brazil (May 30 in Landover, Md.) and Canada (June 3 in Toronto) to prepare for their first FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Antigua & Barbuda on June 8 in Tampa, Fla. and Guatemala on June 12 in Guatemala City.

Espinoza, Kamara and Zusi will rejoin Sporting Kansas City immediately following their international duty.

SPORTING KC IN THE COMMUNITYSporting Kansas City players will hang up their cleats and take part in several community appearances this week. Visit SportingKC.com/calendar to see a full list of Sporting KC events, including the following:

Chance Myers will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans at the Kansas Sampler in Mission from 5:30-7 p.m. today.this evening from 5:30-7 p.m., Aurelien Collin, Teal Bunbury, Dom Dwyer and Lawrence Olum will help at a Sporting Club Network Mini-Clinic at the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park. Teal Bunbury will be signing autographs and challenging fans to FIFA '12 at the Overland Park Soccer Complex from 1-2:30 p.m. this Saturday during the Heartland Soccer Association tournament.

For more information on these appearances, contact Staci Schottman in the Community Relations Department at sschottman@sportingkc.com.

SPORTING KC ADDS TOMMY HOWE TO JUNIORS COACHING STAFF

Sporting Kansas City Juniors hired a new coach in St. Louis soccer icon Tommy Howe for the upcoming season. Howe will assist the Juniors Director of Coaching Jon Parry with both the under-16 and under-18 academy teams and will serve as the head coach for the under-12 pre-academy team.

SPORTING CLUB NETWORK WELCOMES NEW AFFILIATES

The Sporting Club Network welcomes Woodson City Rangers, St. Joseph Youth Soccer Association and Electric City Soccer Club as the newest affiliates to the club. Woodson City Rangers, one of the newest soccer clubs in St. Louis, will be an official Juniors affiliate and all three teams will now have unique access to the Sporting Club Training Center in Swope Park, as well as the coaches education series, licensing and experience opportunities and more.

SPORTING KC DRAWS WITH COLORADO RAPIDS ON THE ROAD

Sporting Kansas City were tested on the road last Saturday, but managed a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids on their home turf. Two early goals from Teal Bunbury in the first 14 minutes of play saw Bunbury soar to the top of the Castrol Index for Week 11. Bunbury's first got Kansas City on the board 61 seconds after kickoff which ranks as the fourth fastest goal in club history and coincidentally fourth fastest in MLS this season.

SPORTING KC AND INK MAGAZINE SPONSOR SUMMER BEER FESTIVAL

Sporting Kansas City and Ink Magazine have teamed up with BeerKC to present its first annual Summer Beer Festival, a tribute to craft beers. The event will take place from 5-9 p.m. on June 9 at Pennsylvania Avenue, between McCoy's and Kelly's in Westport. The event will benefit AIDS Walk Kansas City.

More than 20 breweries will be showcased during the event. Participants will receive a commemorative tasting glass and will be able to sample the variety of beers. Sporting Kansas City players will also be in attendance. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For more information visit here.

SPORTING KC TO HOST STOKE CITY FC ON AUGUST 1

Sporting Kansas City will host Stoke City FC of the Barclays Premier League at 7:30 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Ticket prices begin at $20 and are on sale now.

Founded in 1863, Stoke City are the oldest club in the Premier League and are led by Manager Tony Pulis and forward Peter Crouch, an England international with 22 goals in 42 appearances.

SPORTING KC BROADCASTS AVAILABLE ACROSS KANSAS

Sporting Kansas City has added MyTV Wichita and WIBW-TV/MyTV Topeka as the club's new regional broadcast partners. The Stations will carry all 13 of the club's remaining away matches live this season.

MyTV Wichita and WIBW-TV/MyTV Topeka join KSMO-TV to provide live, over-the-air broadcasts of Sporting Kansas City matches in 90 of the 105 counties in the state of Kansas and all of the Kansas City metropolitan area. Combined, Sporting Kansas City can now be seen in more than 1.5 million homes throughout the region, including the cities of Kansas City, Wichita, Topeka, Lawrence and Manhattan.

In addition to the 13 remaining Sporting Kansas City road matches during the 2012 MLS regular season, five home matches at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park will be nationally broadcast to provide a total of 18 upcoming telecasts that will now reach a wider regional audience.

MyTV Wichita (KMTW-TV) is broadcast throughout the Wichita and Hutchinson areas of central Kansas and is operated by Kansas City, Mo-based Newport Television, which also owns and operates Fox Kansas (KSAS-TV).

GSI Sports & Sporting Kansas City are proud to host the 13th annual Sporting Club 3v3 Classic on July 7, 2012 at the Stump Park Soccer Complex in Shawnee, Kan. all teams will receive tickets to the Sporting KC vs. Houston Dynamo match and championship games will be played at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park after Sporting Kansas City's Eastern Conference championship rematch with the Dynamo.

For more information and to register your team, click here.

MAKE IT 'APPEN: DESIGN A SPORTING KC APP AND WIN SEASON TICKETS

Sporting Kansas City has announced a one-of-a-kind opportunity for amateur developers. Sporting Kansas City needs your ideas for a game or app associated with soccer that can be played on a mobile device. The creator of the winning idea will receive two Sporting Kansas City Season Tickets for the 2013 season and on-field recognition at a Sporting KC match.

To submit an entry, visit SportingMembership.com/AppContest and complete the online application form at the bottom of the page. The deadline to submit entries is midnight on Monday, June 3.

All entries will be reviewed by a panel (comprised of Sporting Kansas City front office personnel) to determine up to four finalists. Finalists will be determined by Monday, June 25. each finalist will then have the opportunity to pitch their idea in person to this panel. The winner will be announced at the July 21 Sporting KC match vs. new England Revolution.

PRORATED 2012 SEASON TICKET PLANS AVAILABLE

Sporting Kansas City prorated season ticket plans are available for the remainder of the 2012 Major League Soccer season. The benefits include discounted rates, priority for purchasing playoff tickets, preferred parking and access to special events.

For ticket information, visit sportingkc.com or call 888-4KC-GOAL.

JOIN SPORTING KC OVER THE AIRWAVES

The State Line Soccer show will be available over the airwaves on Thursday with hosts Callum Williams and Jake Yadrich on 610 Sports Radio. call 913-576-7610 to join the discussion around all the latest news.

SPORTING KC UNVEILS BOYS AND GIRLS YOUTH SOCCER CAMPS FOR 2012

Sporting Kansas City and the Sporting Kansas City Juniors youth development academy will again offer a series of youth soccer camps in 2012 for boys and girls of all ages. Please see the list of scheduled camps below:

Pre-Tryout Camp: June 4-6 for U11-U14 boys ($130) Boys & Girls Development Camp: June 18-20 for boys and girls ages 8-12 ($130) St. Teresa's Academy Camps: July 9-12 or July 30 - Aug. 3 for boys and girls ages 4-13 ($75-100) Sporting Youngsters Camp: June 11-14 for boys and girls ages 4-7 ($100) Sporting Development Camp: June 11-14 for boys and girls ages 8-12 ($150)FOLLOW SPORTING KC ONLINE

Sporting Kansas City fans looking to keep up with the club on the worldwide web now have a place to go. The new social media page on SportingKC.com features Twitter account information for the club, its players as well as many staff members. Additionally, fans may take advantage of the Media Recap page for all the latest independent news coverage available online.

Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update: May 23, 2012

Sporting Kansas City Weekly Update: May 23, 2012 is a post from: Orlando News Center

Rockies, Astros set for two on Memorial Day

Orlando News Center — Mon, 28 May 2012 20:36:13 +0000

The Colorado Rockies begin a four-game series versus the Houston Astros this afternoon with a rare scheduled doubleheader at Coors Field.

Colorado returns home after a miserable road trip that saw it go 2-4 after a 7-5 loss in Cincinnati on Sunday. the Rockies managed to hit five solo home runs in defeat, but unfortunately, Colorado starter Jamie Moyer surrendered four longballs, as the Rockies fell for the 17th time in their last 22 games overall.

"I don't think I've managed a game in 11 years where nine home runs were hit," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said.

Hoping to change their fortunes in game one the Rockies will hand the ball to righty Juan Nicasio, who had one of his worst outings of the season his last time out. Nicasio lost to Miami on Tuesday, allowing six runs (five earned) and nine hits in five innings to drop him to 2-2 to go along with a 4.83 ERA.

Nicasio did not get a decision to the Astros earlier in the year, but pitched well, as he gave up just a run in seven innings.

Getting the call in the second game will be righty Alex White, who picked up his first win of the year his last time out. White beat the Marlins, but was not particularly sharp, as he allowed four runs in six innings. Still, he improved to 1-3 to go along with a 5.32 ERA.

He has faced the Astros twice and is 0-1 against them with an 8.44 ERA.

Houston, meanwhile, came back to earth a bit this weekend, as it dropped two of three to the major league-best Los Angeles Dodgers, including a 5-1 setback in Sunday's finale at Dodger Stadium.

J.a. Happ (3-4) struck out a career-high 10 Dodgers and gave up three runs (two earned) in 6 1/3 in the loss.

"That's a first-place team over there," Happ said. "It's frustrating because I wanted to help win this series but we came a little short."

The Astros managed just two hits in Sunday's loss, as the final seven spots went a combined 0-for-20.

Wandy Rodriguez will take the ball in the first game for the Astros, as he tries to improve upon a 4-4 mark. Rodriguez was brilliant on Wednesday against the Chicago Cubs, as he allowed a run and eight hits in seven innings to drop his ERA to an impressive 2.14.

Rodriguez is 4-3 lifetime versus the Rockies with a 4.01 ERA in 12 starts.

Getting the call in the nightcap will be 22-year-old righty Jordan Lyles, who will be recalled from Triple-A to make the start. Lyles has appeared in three games for the Astros this season and is 0-1 with a 5.29 ERA.

This will be his first-ever start against the Rockies.

Houston took two of three from Colorado earlier in the year after the Rockies won last year's season series, 5-2.

Rockies, Astros set for two on Memorial Day

Rockies, Astros set for two on Memorial Day is a post from: Orlando News Center

Dos Santos seeking Spurs talks

Orlando News Center — Mon, 28 May 2012 09:36:12 +0000

Giovani Dos Santos intends to hold talks with Tottenham Hotspur chairman Daniel Levy with regards his future.

GettyImagesGiovani Dos Santos has not impressed at Tottenham

Dos Santos, 23, has struggled to make an impression at Tottenham since joining the club from Barcelona in 2008.

The forward has been loaned out to Racing, Galatasaray and Ipswich during his time at White Hart Lane, and this season he failed to make a Premier League start for Spurs.

Dos Santos is currently focused on impressing for his nation Mexico but will seek discussions with Tottenham when he returns to England.

"I don't know about my future," he told the Daily Mirror. "I want to concentrate on the national team, but after that I will speak to the chairman to see what is going to happen to me.

"You never know in football. you have to try to do your best to get chances. maybe I will go, maybe I will stay.

"It's great to come to the national team and play games. I'm grateful for the coach to give me the chance. It's a pleasure.

"I don't have any other offers at the moment. I will speak to my manager and we will see in a few weeks what will happen with my future."

Dos Santos seeking Spurs talks

Dos Santos seeking Spurs talks is a post from: Orlando News Center

Nothing found for 2012 05 24 Obama-doesnt-want-you-to-attend-grpc < Link>
Orlando News Center — Mon, 28 May 2012 06:54:14 +0000

About AWR Hawkins: AWR Hawkins writes for all the BIG sites, for Pajamas Media, for RedCounty.com, for Townhall.com and now AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

His southern drawl is frequently heard discussing his take on current events on radio shows like America’s Morning News, the G. Gordon Liddy Show, the Ken Pittman Show, and the NRA’s Cam & Company, among others. he was a Visiting Fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal (summer 2010), and he holds a PhD in military history from Texas Tech University.

If you have questions or comments, email him at . you can find him on facebook at facebook.com/awr.hawkins.

Readmore..

Nothing found for 2012 05 24 Obama-doesnt-want-you-to-attend-grpc < Link>

Nothing found for 2012 05 24 Obama-doesnt-want-you-to-attend-grpc < Link> is a post from: Orlando News Center

Bernard wants focus to be on Indianapolis 500

Orlando News Center — Mon, 28 May 2012 05:54:14 +0000

INDIANAPOLIS—IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard twice deflected questions Saturday about his relationship with several team owners, citing his desire to focus on the series' biggest race of the year.

There's been an undercurrent of negativity since Indianapolis Motor Speedway opened may 9 for preparations for Sunday's Indianapolis 500. Chevrolet team owners have been upset since losing a pair of appeals protesting a component of rival Honda's turbocharger. the anger spread to other manufacturers when IndyCar last Sunday levied fines throughout the garage that, when all said and done, had reached $300,000 for 19 infractions among 13 different teams.

"I've been involved now in racing for 28 months, and what I've seen is this unbelievable amount of passion to win, desire to win, not only from drivers but mainly from team owners," Bernard said. "When a call is not made in their direction, of course they're going to be upset."

Asked about rumors that team owners have banded together to make a case to IndyCar's Board of Directors to have Bernard removed, the CEO smiled and stayed on message.

"You know, I'm not going to really take away from the Indy 500," he said. "I think that the Indy 500 is why we're here. I think, again, the team owners, their passion to win, there was a very upset team owner and still is. but I think it's very clear that IndyCar is not going to play favorites.

"I think what you saw with penalties this week, it wasn't one-sided. If there was an infraction, it was given. we reported those. That's the new IndyCar."

The "very upset team owner" is powerful Roger Penske, who stopped speaking to Bernard sometime after Chevrolet's first appeal was denied. but Bernard and Penske met on Friday at the speedway for their first conversation in about a month.

Bernard inherited a huge mess of a series when he was hired to replace league founder Tony George. despite a dramatic reduction of series-accumulated debt, increased attendance and television ratings, the introduction of a new car, and multiple engine manufacturers, many team owners remain unimpressed.

One issue is costs—the new Dallara DW12 is more expensive than owners were led to believe, and exclusivity contracts with the manufacturer means teams can only purchase replacement parts from Dallara. There also seems to be a disconnect in how information is being disseminated to the teams, and criticism toward many of Bernard's top series officials.

"We have a very competent IndyCar tech team," Bernard said. "I think I'm going to stand behind their decisions."

----

OTHER LEAGUE NEWS: Bernard continues to look at the 2013 schedule, and is still trying to make a race in Ft. Lauderdale happen.

He's also had conversations with Phoenix and Richmond, and at least one meeting with officials from Pocono. Bernard would love to get all three ovals on next year's schedule. IndyCar is also committed to helping Michael Andretti's promotional group put on this year's events at Milwaukee and Baltimore.

But the CEO has cooled on Road America, in part because of Andretti's attempt to keep Milwaukee on the schedule.

"I think we owe it to Michael Andretti, who is laying out a lot of money to make that event successful. he has asked us not to rush Road America right now," Bernard said. "We have a responsibility to try to help Milwaukee every way we can, and we are. we put a lot of money into this, too. I think it's important for us to keep the Milwaukee Mile on our race series."

As for this season, Bernard said it's currently all-systems go for August race scheduled in China. he flew to meet with city leaders directly from the April 29 race in Brazil, and said there are no plans at this time to cancel the event in the seaport city of Qingdao.

"They were all very appreciative of us flying over there. they want a race," he said. "The new mayor wants to get his arms around it, understand it and make sure that he is fully involved in this so he doesn't want to have a black eye in his first year of office, which is a six-year term.

"We're continuing on with that event like we've planned. we have a signed contract. It's just a matter of working on the details. we want to be very respectful to that city and the country. and I think I made it very clear, we're not interested in dates, we're interested in marriages. we want this to work for many years."

Lastly, in response to a lack of presence of late by series title sponsor Izod, Bernard said management changes have led to some internal evaluations.

"They are the same partner. I think there have been some different management changes. how they're spending their money is a little bit different," he said. "They're evaluating, we're evaluating, to see if they're getting the same bang for the buck. in today's world, you start with marketing, advertising, figuring out what works and what does not work.

"I think, hopefully, they're assessing it right now and determining what is in the best interest of them and IndyCar."

Izod has four more years on its contract with IndyCar.

---

MATERNITY FIRESUIT: ESPN pit reporter Jamie little is pregnant with her first child, and needed some alterations to her ABC firesuit to be able to work Sunday's telecast of the Indianapolis 500.

Little, who is expecting a boy on Aug. 8, will be wearing a firesuit that has expandable material down both sides of the top. the bottom part is similar to maternity pants, complete with a stretchy belly band.

"I've been lucky with my pregnancy," she said. "I feel normal and everything seems normal. I'm making a conscious effort to eat and drink more, especially when I'm on pit road and it's hot. but other than the firesuit being a two-piece and not a one-piece and having to get alterations every week to make it more comfortable, it's been normal."

Little's last race will be the July 8 event at Toronto, and she'll take a two-month maternity leave and return for the September NASCAR weekend at Richmond.

Highs in the mid-90s are expected Sunday. the hottest Indy 500 took place in 1937 when the thermometer hit 92.

———

IT AIN'T CHOPPED LIVER: Guy Fieri, host of the Food Network's hit show "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives," is an admitted car freak with a bunch of treasures in his personal collection.

That doesn't mean he's not nervous about driving the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 on Sunday. the 2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is the fastest production car ever offered by General Motors, with a top speed of 205 mph. and Fieri found out about speed during practice for Sunday's gig with three-time Indy 500 winner Johnny Rutherford.

He said he took the car for a few laps and then Rutherford took over.

"We came out of the pits at about 80 and I'm stuck to the window and I wasn't sure we were going to make the first turn," Fieri said Saturday. Then came the fourth turn at "125 mph to "135 mph" before they stopped.

"He looked at me and said, 'That's how you do it.' Amen," Fieri said.

As for the local food, Fieri said he had steak Friday night at Indy's St. Elmo Steak House, along with its famously spicy shrimp cocktail. It must have been good; he said he was going back for more Saturday night.

Bernard wants focus to be on Indianapolis 500

Bernard wants focus to be on Indianapolis 500 is a post from: Orlando News Center

Thunder surge past Lakers to win West semis; Bass erupts for Celtics in win over Sixers

Orlando News Center — Sun, 27 May 2012 20:36:21 +0000

(CBS/AP) OKLAHOMA CITY - with the Oklahoma City Thunder just starting to come to life, Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant didn't need to take a break.

They will have enough time to rest as they get ready for a second straight trip to the Western Conference finals.

Westbrook scored 28 points, Durant added 25 points and 10 rebounds, and the two All-Stars skipped their usual rest periods to power the Thunder ahead in the second half for a 106-90 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the West semifinals on Monday night.

"We know that's the most important time of the game, especially in a tight game," Durant said. "I think that we kept our composure throughout the fourth, and our poise and we made plays."

Kobe Bryant scored 42 points for the Lakers and took the briefest of rest — less than 2 minutes — in the second half. It didn't even take that long for the game, and their season, to slip away.

After getting eliminated by Los Angeles in 2010 and Dallas in 2011 before both of those teams went on to win it all, the Thunder knocked both out on their way to the West finals for the second straight year.

The only other time the franchise made consecutive conference finals was from 1978-80, including Seattle's only NBA title in 1979.

Once there, they'll face the top-seeded Spurs, the only team other than the Lakers or Mavs to win the West in the past 13 years and currently riding an 18-game winning streak. the series starts Sunday night in San Antonio.

CBSSports.com's Royce Young says the Thunder will have to continue playing with poise to beat the more experienced Spurs.

"It's a master versus pupil matchup. the Spurs are the original Thunder, a small market team built from the ground up that sustained success. They play as a team, falling lock step in line behind their leader, Tim Duncan," Young writes.

After Westbrook's pair of three-point plays fueled a 14-3 burst that put Oklahoma City ahead to stay late in the third quarter, Durant hit two 3-pointers as the Thunder scored the first 10 points of the fourth to push their lead to 93-77.

Bryant was waiting to check in when Durant connected on his second 3-pointer, just 89 seconds into the fourth quarter. But by the time he got in, there was little he could do — despite the 13th 40-point game of his playoff career.

"That what we do. That's our rotations and that's the right rotation to make," Bryant said. "You have to trust that unit coming in there to hold the fort down."

Lakers coach Mike Brown said he trusted that unit — including starters Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum — after it had turned a five-point deficit into a lead to start the second quarter.

"I've got to be able to rest Kobe a few minutes here and there, and we didn't do a good job of handling it at that point in the game," Brown said, adding that he didn't keep Bryant out as long as he had planned.

Westbrook went running to the scorer's table and pumped his fist in the air after his first energizing three-point play, when he was able to flip the ball in after Ramon Sessions fouled him on the fast break.

"I just tried to throw it to the rim and luckily it went in. that kind of sparked us, and everybody else kept it going from there," Westbrook said.

Westbrook converted another after banking in a jumper from the left side despite Sessions slapping him on the arm to make it 82-76 with 1:29 left in the third quarter.

Durant extended the lead with a 3-pointer in the opening minute of the fourth and then hit another 32 seconds later — just after Bryant had stepped to the scorer's table to check in after a brief rest.

Bryant described it as "tough, to say the least."

Bass erupts for Celtics in 101-85 win over Sixers

BOSTON - Brandon Bass scored 18 of his postseason career-high 27 points in the third quarter on Monday night as the Boston Celtics pulled away from the Philadelphia 76ers to win 101-85 and take a 3-2 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series.

Kevin Garnett added 20 points and Rajon Rondo had 13 points and 14 assists for the Celtics, who can advance to the East finals with a victory in Philadelphia in Game 6 on Wednesday. the Sixers would need a win there to force the series back to Boston for a decisive seventh game on Saturday.

Elton Brand scored 19 and Evan Turner had 11 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia, which led by six points early in the third quarter before Boston scored 14 of the next 16 points. Bass scored eight of them, including back-to-back dunks followed by a steal that set up Ray Allen's fast-break layup to give the Celtics a 63-57 lead with five minutes left in the quarter.

Boston closed out the third with a 10-2 run over the final 3 minutes and outscored the Sixers 28-16 in the period. the Celtics also scored 16 of the first 22 points in the fourth quarter — seven from Rondo — to put away the game.

Paul Pierce had 16 points — a perfect 9 for 9 from the free throw line — and Allen, back in the starting lineup because of an injury to Avery Bradley, had five points.

The Celtics acquired Bass in December in a trade with Orlando for Glen "Big Baby" Davis, and he worked his way into the starting lineup after the All-Star break. although he solidified the power forward position after Garnett moved to center, he hadn't done anything spectacular — until Monday.

Bass hadn't scored more than 22 points in a game this season and he matched his regular-season career high of 27 on Monday night. His playoff high was 19 points, in 2008.

He left the game to a standing ovation with 2 minutes left and the Celtics leading by 18.

Boston tied it 57-all when Bass stole the ball from Thaddeus Young and got to the free throw line, making both foul shots. After a Sixers miss, Rondo found Bass underneath for the dunk. Bass added another crowd-pleasing dunk before knocking loose a ball to start Rondo on a fast break he finished by finding Allen for the layup.

Notes: Actor Will Smith, a 76ers co-owner, was at the game, as were comedians Chris Rock and David Spade. ... Bradley did not play because of problems in both shoulders, coach Doc Rivers said. ... Rondo had seven assists in the third quarter. He picked up one of his most spectacular when he slipped at the free throw line but left-handed the ball to Greg Stiemsma for the dunk.

Thunder surge past Lakers to win West semis; Bass erupts for Celtics in win over Sixers

Thunder surge past Lakers to win West semis; Bass erupts for Celtics in win over Sixers is a post from: Orlando News Center

Thunder strike late to beat Lakers, Celtics win

Orlando News Center — Sun, 27 May 2012 15:54:15 +0000

Although the 76ers lost by a bigger margin, it will be the Lakers who will probably be suffering more due to the manner of their loss.

Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum both scored 20 points as the Lakers led 75-68 with two minutes left and looked set to inflict a first defeat on the Thunder in the playoffs this year.

but Oklahoma then rallied with James Harden scoring four in those final minutes and Kevin Durrant five, including a soft floater to put the Thunder ahead with 18 seconds remaining, to leave the home fans ecstatic.

"We kept our composure," Durant told reporters after scoring a team-high 22 points. "We've been growing as a group at the end of games. this is the playoffs, every possession is important."

the Lakers had a chance to win the game but Steve Blake misfired on an open three-pointer with Los Angeles trailing by one with three seconds on the clock. Durant then landed a final free throw to add to the Lakers' pain.

It was one of a number of mistakes made by the experienced Los Angeles side late on. Two consecutive turnovers in the final minutes soured a credible defensive effort that saw them contain the lively Thunder.

Oklahoma City had crushed the Lakers by 29 in the opening game but Los Angeles were able to control the pace and the contest until the final, fatal minutes.

the Lakers will need to lift themselves for Game Three in Los Angeles on Friday.

in the East, the evergreen Kevin Garnett pushed his 35-year-old body to contribute 27 points and 13 rebounds, while Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo also added double-doubles for the Celtics.

the 76ers ignited the home crowd by taking a 33-28 lead after the first quarter, but the Celtics flipped a switch in the second and never looked back.

Fired by Garnett and a stout defense, the visitors held Philadelphia to just 33 points over the second and third quarters to carry a 23-point lead into the fourth.

"We were fuelled by defense," Garnett said. "I thought we got turnovers and stops and it gave us offence."

Thaddeus Young finished with 22 points to lead the 76ers, who will look to rebound at home in Game four on Friday.

Pierce collected 24 points and 12 rebounds for Boston, with Rondo scoring 23 and contributing 14 assists.

(Writing by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by Patrick Johnston)

Thunder strike late to beat Lakers, Celtics win

Thunder strike late to beat Lakers, Celtics win is a post from: Orlando News Center