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Roddick joked that he ran into a inmovable object and that the judge had a career in professional wrestling ahead of him. From AP-
Andy Roddick took a tumble on his way to a first-round win Monday, tripping over the foot of a line judge.
Roddick rolled to the ground and angrily reproached the man when he stood.
“Move out of the way when you see a player coming,” Roddick told the official before resuming the match with Thiemo de Bakker of the Netherlands and winning 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.
Roddick, who is just coming off a knee injury, said he was all right after the collision. I do like that he felt good enough to joke about it afterwards.
In other Australian Open news-
A seagull walks on the court as French Fabrice Santoro looks on during their men’s singles first round match against Croatia’s Marin Cilic at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia Monday.
Where was the stadium police when this was happening? That trespasser should have had his wings clipped!
It was nothing short of miraculous totally thanks to Goalie Tomas Vokoun that the Panthers were able to pull off a victory tonight. From AP-
Gregory Campbell scored midway through the second period and Tomas Vokoun made 27 saves in the Florida Panthers’ 1-0 victory over the Atlanta Thrashers on Monday night.
Vokoun earned his fifth shutout of the season and won for the fifth time in his last seven home starts. Vokoun has made 101 saves in the last three games, all Panthers victories. Florida is on its fourth three-game winning streak of the season.
Whenever I start getting optimistic about the Panthers(they have more wins than losses now on the season), I remind myself that they haven’t had a winning streak longer than 3 games since the 2006-07 season. They can never get real hot, which is one reasons the team can’t get to the playoffs.
Vokoun was incredible tonight. He made a diving 2-pad safe early in the game. Later, he had to deflect away shot after Thrasher shot. Atlanta pulled their goalie and then when Florida committed a penalty, the team had a 6-4 advantage for the last 90 seconds of play.
Gregory Campbell in addition to scoring the only goal(with a helpful screen from Rusty Olesz) won a key faceoff in the last 20 seconds, and just a little while later, cleared the puck out of the Florida zone as the last few seconds ticked off the clock. Those plays got Florida the win tonight and make Campbell Co-MVP for a night but he still has played like crap this season for the most part and is a drain on the team.
Next up for Florida- A road trip to New Jersey and the NY Islanders.
Personal note- I just bought my first ever ticket to a Panther game. On Monday February 1st, I will see them play Anaheim. That’s one of 3 Florida games not on television this year. I am really addicted to Panther hockey, eh?
The Sabres have beaten the Coyotes the last four times the teams have met. From AP-
Jason Pominville scored his 12th and 13th goals of the season and the Buffalo Sabres routed the Phoenix Coyotes 7-2 on Monday night to move into a tie with Washington atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Thomas Vanek had a goal and two assists as the Sabres improved to 8-0-3 in their last 11 games, 2-0-1 on their season-high, seven-game road trip.
The Sabres scored three goals on 13 shots before Phoenix coach Dave Tippett lifted goalie Ilya Bryzgalov 4:01 into the second period. Bryzgalov has allowed 26 goals in his last seven starts.
Buffalo and Washington each have 66 points, but the Sabres have played one fewer game.
It was a season high in goals scored for Buffalo and allowed by Phoenix.
*****
The Coyotes had only four shots in the first period.
Butler’s shot dribbled off Bryzgalov into the net 2:24 into the second period. The shot from the middle of the left circle came after a brilliant pass from Vanek, who spun around and with his back to the net sent the puck across the ice to Butler.
A few weeks ago, I was pessimistic about Phoenix staying in the Western Conference playoff picture. I know better than to read too much into short streaks of games, but Bryzgalov’s play of late is troubling. Phoenix doesn’t have a chance unless this Goalie overacheives like he did early in the season.
Note- The Coyotes are in 5th place in the Western Conference. It is hardly panic time for the team’s fans.
On the other hand, Buffalo is riding Goalie Ryan Miller to the top in the East. Miller’s Goal against average is 2.01 and he has a .936 save percentage. No individual Sabre scares you offensively, but almost make good contributions. Other than Miller, Buffalo has no stars. If Washington doesn’t win the Eastern Conference, Buffalo would be my next choice.
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OTB Sports linked with Phoenix Coyote Scottie Upshall out with torn ACL...
They are only doing this year’s event but have an option to pick up more. From AP-
The San Diego Open has found a title sponsor one week before its tournament at Torrey Pines, with Farmers Insurance Group agreeing to a deal for at least one year.
The PGA Tour said Monday that Farmers, a subsidiary of Zurich Financial Services, has an option to be the title sponsor beyond 2010.
The tournament, formerly the Buick Invitational, will be called the Farmers Insurance Open when it begins Jan. 28.
There have been plenty of Chicken Little impersonators among both golf bloggers and writers because of the PGA having lost multiple sponsors of late. Farmers Insurance stepping forward is just the latest case of these people being off target. Doom and gloom sells or makes for a better column or blog post, remember that.
The cause of death is unknown at this time. Very tragic and RIP.
Chicago Bears defensive end Gaines Adams died Sunday morning after he was taken to a Greenwood, S.C., emergency room, the county coroner said.
Greenwood County Coroner James T. Coursey said Adams was taken to the emergency room at Self Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9 a.m. ET Sunday morning.
*****
Adams, 26, listed at 6-foot-5 and 256 pounds, played in college at Clemson and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He was traded to the Bears in October.
In 47 games over four seasons with the Bucs and Bears, Adams had 67 tackles, including 13.5 sacks.
Former Major League Baseball player Jose Offerman is up to his old tricks. From AP-
Former major league All-Star Jose Offerman threw a punch at an umpire during an argument in a Dominican winter league game Saturday night, the second time in 2½ years that he’s attacked someone on a baseball field.
Offerman, manager of the Licey Tigers, appeared to hit first base umpire Daniel Rayburn in the face or neck with his fist during a heated discussion in a game against the Cibao Giants. Rayburn fell to the ground.
Offerman was detained by stadium security and taken to a police station to wait until the end of the game to see if Rayburn would press charges.
The Giants were winning 6-0 in the third inning of the final game of the winter league semifinal playoff series when plate umpire Jason Bradley ejected catcher Ronny Paulino for arguing balls and strikes.
Offerman came onto the field to talk to Bradley, but ended up arguing with Rayburn.
It was the latest violent outburst by Offerman, an All-Star infielder with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1995 and Boston Red Sox in 1999.
On Aug. 14, 2007, he was batting for the Long Island Ducks against the Bridgeport Bluefish in an independent minor league game when pitcher Matt Beech hit him with a fastball. Offerman charged the mound with his bat and swung at least twice, striking Beech and Bluefish catcher John Nathans.
At present Nathans is suing Offerman in Federal court claiming he suffered permanent injuries. Offerman’s displays of temper have probably kept him from a earning a Minor league coaching or managing job in the United States. If I were in baseball, I’d question his suitability for any job related to the sport. Right now he isn’t mature enough to hold any job given to him.
He becomes the 22nd NBA coach to reach that milestone. From AP-
At the end of one of the toughest, most exhausting weeks in franchise history, the Washington Wizards needed a few smiles. And a win. And a nice ovation. And a milestone moment for the coach — just as an added bonus.
The Wizards beat the Sacramento Kings 93-86 on Saturday night, one day after their biggest star pleaded guilty to a felony gun charge and less than 24 hours after a deflating, double-overtime loss at Chicago.
The victory broke a four-losing streak and gave coach Flip Saunders his 600th career win, usually a significant moment that will end up merely as a footnote in an otherwise tumultuous season.
The Arenas saga has stolen the spotlight in Washington. The play of the Wizards hasn’t been very good, and so the press has not unexpectedly ended up concentrating on what has happened off the court.
I was 1-3 last weekend. Maybe I should invest in a new crystal ball.
Arizona at New Orleans- A 3-game losing streak to close the season makes the Saints look vulnerable. I got to go with the team I chose to go to the Super Bowl. Arizona 41, New Orleans 35
New York Jets at San Diego- The Jets with their rookie Quarterback play their second playoff game with him under center. The Jets have only been to one Super Bowl, number three where led by Joe Namath they upset the Baltimore Colts. No upset will happen this year. San Diego 28, Jets 17.
Baltimore at Indianapolis- Baltimore has a good defense but Peyton Manning will prove too much for it. Indianapolis 27, Baltimore 17.
Dallas at Minnesota- Wade Phillips finally notched a playoff victory last weekend. The Cowboys got their first post season victory in 14 years. The Vikings are trying to ride 40-year-old Bret Favre’s back to the Super Bowl. Father time will lose tomorrow. Dallas 24, Minnesota 20.
It was last week that the NBA suspended him indefinitely. From ESPN-
Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas pleaded guilty Friday to carrying a pistol without a license in the District of Columbia, a felony conviction that could jeopardize his future in the NBA.
Arenas pleaded guilty to a single count of violating the city’s strict gun laws as part of a plea bargain in D.C. Superior Court. He will remain free at least until his sentencing March 26.
The charge stems from a Dec. 21 incident in which Arenas admitted he stored guns in his locker at the Verizon Center and took them out to play a joke on a teammate.
Sheridan: What’s Next for Arenas?
ESPN.com’s Chris Sheridan answers five key questions surrounding the saga of Gilbert Arenas, including whether the Wizards’ three-time All-Star holds any trade value. Story
The NBA has suspended him indefinitely. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed not to ask for more than six months in jail for Arenas. He will be sentenced by Superior Court Judge Robert E. Morin. Morin could sentence Arenas to anything from probation to a maximum of five years in jail.
Arenas has taken full responsibility for his actions. This will probably help him at sentencing. If Arenas serves more than 60 days, I will be surprised.
Alexander had his best game of the 2009-10 NHL season tonight.
Alex Ovechkin had a goal and a career-high four assists, Mike Knuble scored twice, and the Washington Capitals got 28 saves from Jose Theodore in a 6-1 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night.
The five points were a season high for Ovechkin, the reigning two-time NHL MVP. He scored his 29th goal with only 49 seconds elapsed to get the Capitals off to a quick start during their third game in four nights, then assisted on Washington’s next four goals.
Both of Knuble’s goals came in the second period, boosting the Capitals’ lead to 4-0. He has five goals in his last five games.
*****
Vesa Toskala, who blanked Philadelphia just 24 hours earlier in Toronto, yielded a goal on the first shot he faced and fell to 7-10-2.
Crazy as it may seem, Toronto who is 14th of 15 in the Eastern Conference points standings, split its four games with Washington this season. The Capitals sub par goaltending creates odd results like this. Last season the Florida Panthers split its 6 games with Washington, and two of those cat wins were by 3 goals or more.
Washington Capital defensemen Mike Green got 2 assists tonight, bringing his total to 34. His 46 points is an obscene total for a blueliner. Nevertheless, Green wasn’t slelected to play for Canada in the upcoming Olympics. His defensive skills don’t quite match his offensive.
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