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[frenzyguy]

Boxing Preview Analysis: Antonio Tarver - Bernard Hopkins



An intriguing matchup takes place this coming Saturday night at the Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City when Antonio Tarver takes on former World Middleweight king Bernard Hopkins at light heavyweight. No major title is on the line but none are needed for this for one. Hopkins, now 41, sees this as an opportunity to go out on a win. As for Tarver, it,s a

chance to add Hopkins, scalp to the name of Roy Jones Jnr and cement his status as number one at 175 pounds.

A late starter to the pro game at 28, Tarver, the 1996 Olympic Bronze Medallist, has spent his entire career in the 175 pound division. After a failed first attempt at the IBF Light Heavyweight title in June 2000 against Eric Harding, the “Magic Man” finally got his hands on the crown in April 2003 with a unanimous decision win over Montell Griffin.

Tarver,s main rival at this time in the 175 pound division was Roy Jones Jnr, universally recognised as the number one pound for pound fighter. Bitter local rivals from the Florida area, Tarver had called out Jones, name for years but to no avail. Jones, in Tarver,s eyes, had always received star billing without even beating his leading competitor from the same state.

[frenzyguy]

HEAT'S teammates forget O'Neal


DALLAS · When did Game 1's first half turn?

Right after Shaquille O'Neal turned and made a 5-foot jump hook with 6:44 left to give the Heat a 40-31 lead.



LocalLinks

That's when the Heat turned its collective back on him. O'Neal didn't shoot again before halftime, even while playing the next 4:44 before picking up his second foul on a Jerry Stackhouse drive. The Heat scored only four more points, none in the set offense, and entered the break with a 46-44 deficit.

This isn't how O'Neal wanted to start his sixth NBA Finals series. He spoke of adding pages to his book, but this was a rather uninspiring opening chapter.

O'Neal entered with the third-highest scoring average in Finals history, at 32.6. He came off a strong clinching Game 6 against Detroit, when he scored 28 points and had 16 rebounds.

His Thursday numbers were ordinary by his standards: 17 points, six rebounds, five assists and one block in 38 minutes.

The three-time champion was nearly unstoppable when he got touches. He just didn't touch the ball enough. O'Neal made 73 percent of his field goal tries, but got only 11 attempts. Compare that to the 19 that Antoine Walker took, making only seven.

Mavericks coach Avery Johnson used starter DeSagana Diop and reserve Erick Dampier in short stints, to save fouls and give O'Neal different looks. Pat Riley was encouraged that, even with the Mavericks frequently threatening double-teams on the dribble and "doing a decent job of making him work," O'Neal was still able to catch the ball when teammates passed to him.

"I was just getting the ball to my guys," O'Neal said, of when those double-teams came. "If they are going to double, we'll get everybody open."

Still, Walker admitted, "We should have gotten it into Shaq a little bit more."

Nor could O'Neal pad his total at the line, missing his first eight free-throw attempts, which didn't even include his two misses negated by lane violations. Most of the attempts clanked hard off the back rim. He finally made one with 55 seconds left.

"Yeah, throughout my career, I know if I want my team to win a championship, I have to step up to the line and hit them," O'Neal said. "And I will. I was probably thinking about it a little too much."

The positives?

O'Neal stayed out of foul trouble, not committing his fourth until late in the game.

And O'Neal tied Tim Duncan for the second most career blocked shots in Finals with 58.

[benchgal]

Hamlin Pocono Pole Winner
Friday, June 9, 2006

LONG POND, Pa. - Apparently the best way to be successful at Pocono Raceway is to never see the track.

Last year, Carl Edwards won the Pocono 500 in his first career start at the 2.5-mile track.

On Friday Denny Hamlin won the pole for the Pocono 500 on the very first day he took a lap on the triangular speedway.

Hamlin surprised the field by winning his second career NASCAR NEXTEL Cup Series pole position on Friday afternoon claiming the top spot for Sunday's 14th race of the season.

The Joe Gibbs Racing rookie earned his second career Bud Pole by turning a lap of 169.638 mph in his FedEx Ground Chrvolet. Hamlin won the pole in last November's Phoenix International Raceway visit, one of a handful of Cup starts he made a year ago.

Like Edwards last season, Hamlin tuned-up for his first competition at Pocono using videogames.

"I got on that all week," Hamlin said. "I got a little bit of experience that way. You just can't beat on-track experience."

Kurt Busch qualified second in the Penske South Miller Lite Dodge.

Kasey Kahne, Brian Vickers and Jeff Burton rounded out the Top 5.

Jeff Gordon, Greg Biffle, Jamie McMurray, Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson completed the first ten qualifiers.

Tony Stewart qualified 18th and plans to run the entire 500 miles Sunday as his cracked right shoulder blade continues to heal. Stewart does not have a relief driver standing by as he did last week when veteran Ricky Rudd subbed for him in Dover.

Five drivers failed to qualify for the race: Scott Wimmer, Derrike Cope, Stanton Barrett, Greg Sacks and Brent Sherman.

Sunday's Pocono 500 will take the green flag at 2:10 p.m. (ET) and be televised by FOX with MRN providing live radio coverage.

[frenzyguy]

Reyes Wins 2006 Asian 9-Ball Tour Vietnam Leg

Nguyen Du Sports Hall, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - "The Magician" Efren Reyes has worked his magic once again, proving that he is still the best in Asia. Efren reigned supreme in the 2006 San Miguel Asian 9-Ball Tour, Vietnam (May 5-7).

Reyes, who was mobbed by Filipino and Vietnamese fans after the win, bested surprise Chinese finalist, Li He, in the finals with the score 11-6 to pocket the $10,000 grand prize.

The win served as Reyes' 6th leg title in the Asian tour. He has topped the Asian 9-ball Tour rankings in it's first 2 years (2003 & 2004). Last year Yang Ching Shun topped the tour after Reyes, hampered by poor Eye sight, only won the Vietnam leg. Now after a laser surgery to correct his vision, Reyes once again threatens to trample on everyone in Asian pool.

Big names of Asian pool who has fallen on the way side are Django Bustamante, Alex Pagulayan and Marlon Manalo of the Philippines and Taiwanese bets - Yang Ching Shun, Fong Pang Chao and reigning World 9-ball Champion Wu Chia Ching.

[frenzyguy]

We,ll end it now — Cone

The Philippine Star 06/11/2006

Right now, two things are consuming Alaska coach Tim Cone,s mind — to win their quarterfinals series against Coca-Cola and win back the heart of former ace player Johnny Abarrientos.

Disposing of the Tigers is the Aces, immediate goal which they intend to achieve today as they go for a sweep of their Gran Matador Brandy PBA Philippine Cup best-of-five quarterfinals showdown at the Araneta Coliseum.

In due time, Cone wants to clear things up with Abarrientos whom he wants back in the Alaska organization down the road.

"The series isn,t over. But they (the Tigers) need to win three straight games and it,s going to be tough. It,s not impossible but in our minds, that,s improbable," said Cone on their quarters battle with Coke.

"Obviously, every time they win, they get another game. We,re going to go out and try to get it in three games," Cone added.

Red Bull and Barangay Ginebra, which split the first two games in their own quarters series, battle for the go-ahead win in today,s 6:30 p.m. mainer at the Big Dome.

Earlier in the day, Batang Red Bull-Makati and Batang Harbour Centre-Caloocan slug it out for the Burlington Batang PBA junior summer league championship.

Batang Red Bull-Makati whipped Batang Air21-Manila, 70-50, while Batang Harbour Center-Caloocan nipped Batang San Miguel-Pasay, 64-62, in overtime Friday to set up their title collision preceding the Alaska-Coke setto.

The Aces made it two in a row versus the Tigers Friday although bothered by statement made by Abarrientos to the press after Game One.

Abarrientos said he,s yet to get over being traded by Alaska reportedly in the wake of ugly rumors including his alleged involvement in game-fixing, cockfighting and drugs.

"I want to straighten things out. Never, never in our minds as an organization and specially me as a coach had there been any reason we traded Johnny aside from the fact that we felt we needed Ali Peek at that time," said Cone. "Because we felt we,d got swamped by Tanduay which had (Eric) Menk and (Sonny) Alvarado, we thought we,re too small and we couldn,t compete. So we ran after Ali. For us to get Ali, Pop Cola wanted Johnny.

"There was never ever, ever in our mind that there,s something about cockfighting, drugs. It never ever entered our mind. Honestly, it breaks my heart Johnny would think that we did that to him. The fact that he feels that is really heartbreaking to our whole organization."

Cone said Abarrientos meant so much to them that they,ve long been trying to get him back.

"It,s not just Johnny who,s been traded. There,s Bong Hawkins and Jojo Lastimosa before him. There,s also Jeffrey Cariaso and Poch Juinio. We,re looking for turnover then because we don,t want to become Chicago Bulls or the next Boston Celtics. We want to continue to be competitive," said Cone.

Abarrientos, however, has declared war with Alaska. And the 1996 league MVP is likely to spearhead Coca-Cola,s bid to climb out of a 0-2 hole in this series.

[frenzyguy]

Tabla sa 1-1


Natutunan ng Harbour Centre ang kanilang leksiyon sa malaking pagkatalo sa Game-One at ito ang kanilang ginawa para itabla ang kanilang best-of-five championship series sa 1-1 panalo-talo laban sa Toyota Otis para sa titulo ng 2006 PBL Unity Cup na nagpatuloy sa napunong Olivarez College Sports Center sa Parañaque City.

Halos dinomina ng Portmasters ang kabuuan ng laro sa pagbibida ni Joseph Yeo na tumapos ng game-high na 25-puntos tungo sa 78-63 panalo laban sa Sparks sa Game-Two kahapon.

"We played like kids the last time. We played as a team and we shared the ball well," pahayag ni Harbour Centre coach George Gallent.

Sumandal ang Port-masters kina Yeo at Chico Lanete na umiskor ng 11 sa kanyang tinapos na 14-puntos sa ikaapat na quarter na kinapalooban ng tatlong tres upang pigilan ang paghahabol ng Toyota-Sparks.

Nabaon ang Toyota ng 15-puntos, 42-57 ngunit sa pagtutulungan nina Aaron Aban at Boyet Bautista na kumana ng tres sa 12-3 run, nakalapit ang Toyota sa 54-60 papasok sa 6:54 minuto ng labanan.

Hindi mapigilan sina Lanete at Yeo na nanguna sa 13-4 produksiyon upang muling dumistansiya ang Portmasters sa 73-58, may 2:30 minuto na lamang ang nalalabing oras sa laro.

Bunga nito, ang serye ay umigsi sa best-of-three serye kung saan ang mananalo sa Game-Three sa Martes ay parang may ‘twice-to-beat, na sa serye.

[frenzyguy]

Retiring Hopkins Dominates Tarver - Plus Final Punch Stats


Hopkins can retire with a smile and his legendary status intact. In one of the most incredible victories ever, Bernard Hopkins owned Antonio Tarver through 12 rounds of Hopkins' powered Action. Bernard Hopkins clearly won a unanimous decision over Antonio Tarver. Not only did Hopkins turn back the clock on his 41 year old body, he did so with a performance so dominating.

Tarver laid a $250,000 bet before the fight he would KO Hopkins within 5 rounds....however it was Tarver who would taste the canvas in the 5th round. In the 5th Hopkins landed a perfect sneaky right counter, and Tarver went back, caught hard....then Tarver's glove hits the canvas, and it was properly credited as a knockdown.

After the fight, Hopkins screamed at the delighted crowd "Half man, half amazing!"

Combinations coupled with punches from every angle and with mean intentions, Hopkins was never in any problems.

Tarver ran flat all night. No pop in his punches and was hitting nothing but Air all night as Hopkins was everywhere and anywhere.... and not getting hit.

A somber Tarver said after the fight, "It wasn't my night. You have days like this. No excuses. I give all praises to Bernard Hopkins."

All three judges saw the same thing as they all scored the bout 118-109 for the winner by unanimous decision, Bernard Hopkins.

Here are the Punch stats for Tarver vs Hopkins:

Total punches
Tarver: 78 of 437, 18%
Hopkins: 133 of 417, 32%

Power punches
Tarver: 48 of 211, 23%
Hopkins: 126 of 343, 37%"

[wattamen]

ritty on clay, Henin-Hardenne wins French Open again


PARIS (AP) -- Justine Henin-Hardenne was weary and her game was awry, a product of a relentless opponent, a searing sun and the grind of trying to win a Grand Slam title on unforgiving clay.

And yet, as so often in the past, Henin-Hardenne summoned a combination of will and skill at all the right moments.

It's one thing to win at your best, another to get by on an off-day, and Henin-Hardenne did the latter Saturday, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4, 6-4 to win a second consecutive French Open and third in four years.

"The difference today was a couple of points, important points. I managed those moments better, even though we might say she was more solid than I was," said Henin-Hardenne, a five-time major champion. "I play tennis because of these very close situations. This tightness -- when you're nervous, on the crucial points, on break points -- that's what I love."

It was hardly the most aesthetically pleasing match; the players combined for 68 unforced errors, 40 in the first set alone. Both women double-faulted on break point. Both were betrayed by their best shot: 2004 U.S. Open champion Kuznetsova missed 20 forehands -- five in the first game -- and Henin-Hardenne's backhand gave her fits early.

"The match today was not so good, the quality of what she did was not so good," said Carlos Rodriguez, Henin-Hardenne's coach. "But she understands now that even if she doesn't play the best match, she can still win."

That's thanks, at least in part, to mental fortitude and guile, two traits Henin-Hardenne uses to excel at 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds in a sport overtaken in recent years by the power game ushered in by the likes of the Williams sisters.

A white ballcap pulled low on her head, Henin-Hardenne can smack the ball with the best of them, as she showed Saturday by unfurling the occasional big groundstroke or an ace at upward of 110 mph.

As good as Kuznetsova is at tracking down balls, the fifth-seeded Henin-Hardenne was her equal in that department. And the final result wasn't much of a surprise, certainly: Henin-Hardenne is now 11-1 against Kuznetsova, including 4-0 on clay and 4-0 at majors.

"She plays smart, she mixes up her game. She serves pretty well," the eighth-seeded Kuznetsova said. "And, of course, I guess it's her mentality. ... She believes a lot."

Kuznetsova, who's worked with a sports psychologist to improve her internal strength, made things interesting by winning the first 10 points of the second set. Henin-Hardenne appeared to be a step slower, and she tried to cool off by holding a bag of ice on her neck at changeovers.

In Henin-Hardenne's previous major final, at the Australian Open in January, she quit because of stomach problems brought on by medication taken for an ailing shoulder.

"I wanted to forget about what happened in Melbourne," Henin-Hardenne said, "but it was a little bit in my mind."

Bad health's been a recurring issue for the Belgian, off the tour for months at a time in 2004 and 2005 because of illness or injury. So she could be forgiven for feeling a tad nervous heading into this final, suffering through sleepless nights and worrying about whether her game would hold up for one more match.

With the temperature in the 80s, and spectators flapping hand fans like metronomes across the stands, the match began in the oddest of ways.

On the second point, Henin-Hardenne botched a volley, then told the chair umpire the ball was deflated. He agreed, and informed Kuznetsova the point would be replayed. Kuznetsova cried out, "Why?" and argued. When action resumed, the Russian eventually lost the game thanks to all of those poor forehands and a double-fault.

Henin-Hardenne broke again for a 4-1 lead, then handed over a break with a double-fault, one of her few shaky moments.

Otherwise, Henin-Hardenne shined when she had to:

-- Serving at 4-3 and facing a break point, she produced her first backhand winner of the match, 42 minutes in.

-- At set point, she dug out a tough ball, forcing Kuznetsova to hit an extra shot -- a forehand into the net.

-- Down 2-0, 30-love in the second set, Henin-Hardenne stayed steady, and it was Kuznetsova who made four straight unforced errors to get broken.

-- Having double-faulted to deuce while down 3-2 in the second set, Henin-Hardenne ended a 23-stroke exchange -- the match's longest -- by snapping a forehand that gave Kuznetsova no chance.

-- At 3-3 in the second set, Henin-Hardenne ramped up the aggressiveness of her returns to break serve.

"I just fight on every ball, and that's very important," said Henin-Hardenne, the first woman to win consecutive French Open titles since Steffi Graf in 1995-96. "I know that all these kind of players, they don't like when the ball is coming back all the time."

How dominant was she the past two weeks?

She's the first woman since Arantxa Sanchez Vicario in 1994 to win the French Open without dropping a set. Henin-Hardenne lost 39 games over seven matches, never so much as pushed to a tiebreaker.

Still, to the very end, she insisted she didn't play her best.

The statistics Saturday bear that out. Henin-Hardenne made nearly twice as many unforced errors (30) as winners (16). She made only half her first serves. She won only five of the match's 20 points that lasted 10 strokes or more.

"That's not really important now. It doesn't count," Henin-Hardenne said. "What are people going to remember? That I played well from beginning to end? Or that I won the French Open?"

[frenzyguy]

Bobby Pacquiao sing-bangis ni Manny



Hiniya ni Bobby Pacquiao ang dating featherweight champion na si Kevin
Kelley nang kanyang patulugin ito sa loob lamang ng apat na rounds sa
labang nagsilbing undercard sa main event na kinatampukan nina Miguel
Cotto at Paulie Malignaggi kahapon sa Madison Square Garden sa New York
City.

Pinakain ng 25-anyos ng mas batang kapatid ng dating two time world
champion at pinagpipitaganang Filipino boxer na si Manny Pacquiao, ang
lahat ng sinabi ni Kelley na patitikimin nito ng masakit na kabiguan si
Pacquiao nang siya ang lumasap ng bangis ng kamao ni Bobby.

Sa tindi ng parusang inabot sa 5,7 na kaliweteng si Pacquiao na kilala
rin sa taguring ‘The Sniper, ay dalawang beses humalik sa lona ang
38-anyos na si Kelley. Una itong tumumba sa ikatlong round bago tuluyang
tinapos ni Pacquiao gamit ang left hook sa katawan ni Kelley na tumumba
at di na nakatayo matapos makumpleto ni referee Steve Willis ang kanyang
10-count.

Ang tagumpay ay nag-akyat sa ring record ni Pacquiao sa 27 panalo sa 41
laban at pang-12 niya ito kung knockout win ang pag-uusapan. Ito rin
ang ikatlong sunod niyang panalo matapos lumasap ng kabiguan kay
Fahprakorb Rakkiatgym noong Pebrero, 2005, at nagpatunay din na karapatdapat
siyang manalo laban kay Carlos Hernandez na kanyang tinalo gamit ang
split decision noong Oktubre 8, 2005 sa Thomas and Mack Center, Las Vegas.

Gaya ng sinabi ng mga humahawak sa kanya sa pangunguna na nina American
trainer Freddie Roach at manager Michael Koncz na nasa pinakamagandang
kondisyon ang tubong General Santos City boxer, lumabas ang bilis ng
kamao at lakas sa bawat suntok na kanyang binibitawan.

Kapansin-pansin din na may planong inilatag ang kanyang kampo kung
paano tatalunin si Kelley na pumasok sa laban may apat na sunod na panalo,
ang huling dalawa nga ay nauwi sa KO tagumpay.

Ang panalong ito ay nangahulugan na siya na ang may tangan ng WBC
Continental America Super Featherweight title na dating hawak ni Kelley na
nalaglag sa kanyang ika-pitong kabiguan matapos ang 67 laban.

Ito rin ay inaasahang magbubukas ng pinto para mapalaban na siya sa mas
matitinding katunggali na posibleng isang title fight sa darating na
mga buwan.