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Sports Outside the Beltway

Denver Nuggets’ Nene has testicular cancer

He had a tumor removed on January 14th. From AP-

DENVER – A testicular tumor removed from Denver Nuggets forward Nene was malignant. The team said Tuesday the tumor was discovered early, and tests showed the cancer was isolated.

“The recovery rate is extremely high,” the Nuggets said in a written statement. “In addition, the odds of a recurrence are very small.”

Nene underwent surgery Jan. 14 to remove the tumor.

The team statement said he was doing well, but there was no timeline for his return.

The Brazilian player’s Web site had posted a statement last week saying the tumor was benign, but that announcement later was removed.

Famous testicular cancer survivors in sports include Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton, John Kruk, and Mike Lowell. The survival rates are pretty darn good. As a fellow cancer survivor I wish Nene well.

 

Freehold Raceway cuts purses, Meadowlands could be next

Just more proof that horse racing in the United States can’t survive economically today.

Freehold Raceway has released a reduced purse structure and the Meadowlands is expected to follow with drastic purse cuts if the New Jersey legislature does not quickly fulfill promises to provide a purse supplement.

Freehold issued a statement to its horsemen on Tuesday which said:

“No deal has been reached as of yet for a new purse supplement. We have been overpaying purses by over $100,000 per week. With the current purse schedule, we would be in an overpayment situation in another week. This will be the new purse schedule until a new agreement is reached. Unfortunately, we will not be able to write an invitational pace, open mares or open trot until a new agreement is reached.”

The Meadowlands has also indicated that it could possibly be cutting its purse structure by as much as 45 percent by the end of the month if no agreement is forthcoming from Trenton. Additionally, the leading standardbred track in the country will be asking for payback of the overpayments it made in January.

Without a purse supplement, the Meadowlands’ nightly purse distribution would drop from the current average level of $220,000 per program down to $90,000 nightly.

That is a 60% dropoff. You would think with its close proximity to New York City, racing at The Meadowlands and even Freehold would be thriving. Apparently not, remember the New York Racing association even had to file for bankruptcy almost fifteen months ago. Few race tracks today can survive without support of other forms of gambling(casinos, poker), even then racing establishments often struggle to survive.

Sadly I think horse racing may be dead in this country about 50 years from now. It could happen alot sooner. I’ve been to the races no more than five times since leaving the Navy 18 years ago. If a racing fan like me don’t attend the races, then the sport has problems.

 

The Miami Dolphins want Trent Green back at QB?

The two-time Pro Bowler has suffered serious concussions the last two seasons. From the Palm Beach Post-

The new Dolphins front office wants concussion-prone quarterback Trent Green to come back for 2008.

Dolphins football operations chief Bill Parcells and General Manager Jeff Ireland have reached out to Green to express their interest in his return.

“There have been conversations about Trent returning, pending his health issues,” Green’s agent, Jim Steiner, said Monday night. “The conversations are just getting started, and they will be ongoing for quite some time.

Green has “got a huge passion for the game, and he’s passing his medical tests 100 percent,” Steiner said.

But Green still hasn’t made up his mind whether he wants to resume a career that has been waylaid by concussions in each of the past two seasons.

Green, who wants to enter broadcasting once he retires, spent the playoffs commentating for ESPN and the NFL Network and appeared to be having fun.

To review what I think about Green and the Dolphins situation at QB.

1- Green should retire rather than risk his long-term health.
2- Miami can use another QB but one who can actually play and who won’t cost the team further valuable draft picks.
3- The starting QB job for the 2008 Dolphins should be John Beck’s to lose.
4- I don’t think the Dolphins should use the #1 pick on a QB. If the team traded down, maybe.

 

Philip Rivers played on knee with ACL ‘totally gone’

The Charger QB had surgery today. From The San Diego Union-Tribune-

Philip Rivers’ anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee is “totally gone” and he will have reconstructive surgery soon.

The recovery time for the surgery is not known but Rivers said he definitely will be 100 percent by the start of next season.

Meanwhile, Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson said his sprained MCL will not require surgery. About four weeks rest should be enough to heal the injury that kept him out of all but the first two offensive series of Sunday’s AFC Championship Game.

“It’s just time,” Tomlinson said. “It’s not going to require surgery. Most of these injuries, when you have a sprained MCL, it takes four weeks.”

Rivers played the entirety of the Chargers’ 21-12 loss to the New England Patriots with a right knee with no ACL. He revealed Monday he had arthroscopic surgery last Monday to clean out loose cartilage and enable him to play.

Not to minimize Rivers’ bravery(or craziness depending on your POV) while playing hurt, if his ACL was totally gone as described, he wouldn’t have been walking alone playing yesterday.

The Chargers put up a heck of a game yesterday. Imagine if the team would have been healthy. Then imagine if the pathetic 1972 NY Jets defense wasn’t so slow that they allowed a 37-year-old QB named Earl Morrall to scramble for a TD on a run of over 30 yards and the 1972 Dolphins wouldn’t have been undefeated that year either.

Get well Philip. Hope to see you back in uniform to open the 2008 season.

Hat tip- Dan Z at Wizbang Sports

 

Oregon St. fires basketball coach Jay John

The school gave him a contract extension three years ago. From AP-

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Oregon State fired basketball coach Jay John, whose team is 6-12 this season and winless in the Pac-10. Attendance is reaching record lows at Gill Coliseum and the school has had only one winning season since 1989-90.

Assistant Kevin Mouton will temporarily run the team after the rare midseason coaching change, which was announced Sunday night by athletic director Bob De Carolis. De Carolis did not rule out Mouton as a permanent replacement.

John, in his sixth season, received a five-year contract extension in 2005. Oregon State owes him about $1.1 million.

*****

John did not have a chance to meet with the team Sunday night. He had a record of 72-97 and a conference mark of 26-68, including 0-6 this season. The Beavers, however, showed some grit in nearly upsetting Washington on Saturday.

You have to wonder about the people in charge of OSU’s sports programs. They give a coach with limited results a contract extension, then fire him in mid-season for not turning around a perennial loser. Paying someone not to coach your team seems like a waste of money to me.

 

Florida Panther Coach Jacques Martin gets his 500th victory

He is only one of 10 NHL coaches to win that many games. From AP-

NEWARK, N.J.– Jacques Martin joined a club so exclusive, its members numbered in the single digits.

Until he joined, anyway.

Martin became the 10th NHL coach with 500 wins after Radek Dvorak and David Booth scored early in the third period to lift the Florida Panthers to a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils on Friday. Backup goalie Craig Anderson made 31 saves and the Panthers ended a three-game losing streak.

“I’ve been very fortunate to work in this league, the best league in the world and to have some good players to coach,” said Martin, who is also Florida’s general manager.

Dvorak and Booth scored 1:17 apart in the third to give Florida the lead. Dvorak got the equalizer 2:28 in. Brett McLean unloaded a hard shot on Martin Brodeur who made a stick save. Dvorak pounced on the rebound for his first goal in 11 games.

Before taking over the Panthers, Martin coached in St. Louis and Ottawa.

Friday’s win was Florida’s 2nd triumph over Martin Brodeur this year in three tries. At present the Panthers are mired in a slump that leaves me doubtful about the team’s prospects for winning the weak Southeast Division. The team losing 5-3 to a weak Washington team on Saturday night. The team isn’t scoring and Goalie Tomas Vokoun is in a slump. I’d let Craig Anderson start versus Ottawa on Tuesday night, but Martin seems reluctant to use his #2 goalie much.

If Florida doesn’t get their act together soon the 2007-08 year can be marked as just another disappointment for the team’s fans.

 

Harness horse driver Wally Hennessey gets his 7000th career win

The Hall of Fame driver has won at least 200 races for 17 straight years. From Harnessracing.com-

Hall of Famer Wally Hennessey became the 22nd driver in harness racing history to reach the 7,000-win plateau on Wednesday when guiding Blessed Victory through the wire first in the 11th race at Pompano Park.

Starting from post nine in the non-winners trot, Blessed Victory led every step of the way en route to a seven-length triumph, covering the mile in 1:58.2 to give Hennessey his landmark victory.

“Any time you can reach a milestone like this, it’s an accomplishment,” Hennessey said from the Pompano winner’s circle following his winning drive. “I’ve had many opportunities from a lot of good people, and you don’t stand here with 7,000 races won having done it alone.”

A native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and born to a family rich in the tradition of Standardbred racing, Hennessey was a dominant driver in the Maritimes throughout the early stages of his career, becoming the youngest driver to win the Maritime driving championship when tallying 136 victories in 1981, returning to claim the title again in 1982 and 1983 before leaving the comforts of home to ply his trade south of the border.

“I used to take some trips down to Pompano Park in the early ’80s,” Hennessey recalled. “I would dream of driving down here, even if it was for just one race. Then, in 1986, I decided to make the jump and give it a try. I’ve been very fortunate to do as well as I have, and many of my wins have come at this track.”

Inducted to the Harness Racing Hall of Fame in Goshen, N.Y., in July 2007, Hennessey is also a member of the Prince Edward Island and Florida Sports Hall of Fame, and will forever be linked with the illustrious career of Moni Maker, who he drove to victory across North America, along with a triumph in the Elitlopp in Sweden.

After finishing 2007 with 274 wins to mark the 19th consecutive season that the 52-year-old horseman has won at least 200 races, Hennessey has no intentions of slowing down.

I saw Wally drive when at Pompano Park when I used to go to the races there with my father. 52 years of age is still quite young for a harness drive. Wally could be driving and or training for another 20-25 years easy.

It isn’t three months since Joe Hennessey, Wally’s father, passed away. I’m sure Joe is proud of what his son has accomplished.

 

Philippines wins Women’s World Cup Golf Title

They edged the favored South Korean team.

SUN CITY, South Africa (AP) — Jennifer Rosales and Dorothy Delasin of the Philippines shot a 7-under 65 Sunday to beat South Korea by two strokes at the Women’s World Cup of Golf.
Ji-Yai Shin and Eun-Hee Ji were comfortably in the lead after nine holes, but Rosales and Delasin had five birdies and finished at 18-under 198 at the Gary Player Country Club.

Taiwan and Japan shared third place at 203.

Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst of the United States had six birdies and a bogey for a final round 67. Their 208 gave them a share of 10th with Scotland.

*****

Delasin sealed the win with a 15-foot putt for birdie on the par-5 18th, after she had pulled her drive to the right of the fairway. She threaded her second shot close to the trees onto the fairway, and dropped her third to set up the putt.

“I had an angel with me on that (putt),” Delasin said. “I had no fear. I just crossed my fingers and hit it.”

Korea went into the final hole needing an eagle to get back into the match. Shin’s second shot aimed straight at the pin but it veered right and bounced off a rock in the water surrounding the island green. It landed 30 feet from the flag.

Shin finished with a birdie, Korea’s second on a homeward nine against six for the Philippines.

It was the reverse for the opening nine holes. Shin had an eagle 3 on the fifth and a birdie on the par-4 sixth, to pressure the Philippines, who birdied the first and third holes.

Gwladys Nocera and Virginie Lagoutte-Clement of France shot 67 to finish fifth, while South Africa, Canada and Wales shared sixth.

Delasin has a history of upsetting Koreans. Her first three LPGA tour triumphs all came at the expense of Se Ri Pak. Pak is in the Hall of Fame, but three times she held the lead over Dorothy going into the final round of a tournament only to see the Filipina pass her. In Delasin’s other tour victory, she defeated Hee Won Han in a playoff.

Delasin and Rosales haven’t been playing well of late. Yesterday’s result has to be considered an upset.

 

Pittsburgh Penguin Sidney Crosby out with ankle injury

It is uncertain how long last season’s leading scorer will be out for. From AP-

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh star Sidney Crosby badly sprained an ankle while ramming into the boards in the first period, and the Andre Roy-led Tampa Bay Lightning took advantage of his absence for a 3-0 victory over the Penguins on Friday night.

Crosby was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain, an injury to the large ligament that connects the two biggest bones in the lower leg, the tibia and fibula. The injury is more serious than the traditional twisted ankle and can sideline an athlete for a month or more.

Roy, a Pittsburgh castoff, had a goal and two assists to figure in all three goals as the Lightning won for only the third time in 12 games (3-7-2). Tampa Bay had been an NHL-worst 5-14-3 on the road.

Crosby, tied for the NHL scoring lead with 63 points coming into the game, was shooting from the edge of the right circle when Tampa Bay defenseman Paul Ranger rammed him with his stick halfway through the first period. Crosby dropped to the ice on his rear end but managed to swipe at the puck a second time before ramming awkwardly into the rear boards, his left leg up.

Crosby’s right ankle appeared to twist to the side as that leg absorbed the impact of the collision. Crosby initially got up and began to limp toward the bench, only to turn around and enter a tunnel to the Penguins locker room. He pulled up in visible pain in the walkway and had to be helped the rest of the way.

The Penguins said Crosby would be re-examined Saturday by team doctors. If the early diagnosis is accurate, last season’s NHL scoring champion and MVP seems certain to miss the Jan. 27 All-Star game at Atlanta. Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury has been out since Dec. 6 with the same injury.

I think Pittsburgh can survive the temporary loss of Crosby and still advance to the playoffs this season. The southeast division is so weak or mediocre this year, only the division winner is likely to make the playoffs. That leaves the Penguins one of 10 teams fighting for the other 7 spots.

 

2008 NFL Mock Draft

The playoffs aren’t even over yet but fans of 28 of 32 teams are already looking ahead to next year.

I read a lot about football and listen to Sirius’ NFL Radio on my daily commute but I’m not a professional scout. I can, however, see what the pros are saying and look for trends. It’s silly at this early stage to go beyond the 1st round, so I won’t; most of those who are linked below do, though, so you can click through if you’re interested.

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