U.S. Open Round 3

June 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Phil Mickelson and Billy Horschel will start the day tied for the lead at -1 at the 2013 U.S. Open. With 73 players making the cut at the Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, including the world’s #1 and #2 players (Tiger Woods and Rory Mcilroy playing in the same group), fans are sure to enjoy an entertaining day of golf.  Four players start the day at one shot off the lead with Woods and Mcilroy 4 shots back.

Mickelson finished his Friday round of 72 with a birdie on 18 to allow him the opportunity to play in the final group on Saturday.  Mickelson struggled on the greens all day Friday before rolling in the footer for birdie on 18.

Meanwhile, Billy Horschel shot a 3 under 67 for the round of the tournament so far.  Horschel appeared very relaxed while dancing around the very challenging surburban Philadelphia course, hitting all 18 greens in regulation.

 

At one off the lead are big names as well.  Justin Rose, John Sendon, Steve Stricker and Luke Donald will all chase the leaders on Saturday. 

Weather will not be a factor today as sunny skies and light winds are predicted in the Ardmore, PA area.  The challenge will more likely come from the thick rough, testy breaking greens and the nerves of those swinging the clubs.  AS all of the famous faces take to the course on Saturday, no one will garnish more attention than the ever popular Phil Mickelson.  Starting day 3 tied for the lead will only add to that hpye.  Throw in the fact that Sunday is not only Father’s Day,but also Mickelson’s birthday, and you have the making of another great U.S. Open Championship.

 

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Filed Under: PGA/Sr. PGA./LPGA Golf Tours, Uncategorized

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are headed to Omaha

June 10, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The Mississippi State Bulldogs are headed to the College World Series after defeating the Virginia Cavaliers in the NCAA Super Regional today in Charlottesville, VA.  The Bulldogs managed a 6 to 5 victory behind Sophomore closer Jonathan Holder of Gulfport, MS.  It will be the Bulldogs first trip to Omaha since 2007.

Sports logo of Mississippi State University an...

Sports logo of Mississippi State University and the Mississippi State Bulldogs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Filed Under: Mississippi State Bulldogs, NCAA, SEC

MS State gets 2 years probation, loses 4 scholarships

June 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Recruiting violations will cost MS State to lose 4 scholarships and to remain on probation for the next 2 years.

http://www.wlox.com/story/22531610/ms-state-gets-2-years-probation-loses-4-scholarships

Filed Under: SEC

LSU defeats Vandy to capture SEC Baseball Tournament Title

May 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The LSU Tigers managed a 5-4 victory in extra innings Sunday over #1 ranked Vanderbilt to take the SEC Baseball Tournament title in Hoover, AL.  The 2nd seeded Tigers move to 52-9 for the season and advance to the NCAA Tournament.  Tournament seeds will be announced Monday morning and coach Paul Mainieri feels good about where his team will end up at this year’s dance.

 LSU celebrates.jpeg

The Tigers managed to rally in the top of the 11th when pinch hitter, Chris Sciambra, slashed a single through the middle scoring speedster Jared Foster.  Senior Chris Cotton closed out Vandy in order to seal the deal, 5-4 Tigers.  For the tournament, Cotton managed to control his opponents by eliminating all 17 hitters he faced.

The win gave LSU their fourth SEC title in the last six years.

LSU Tigers

LSU Tigers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

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Filed Under: LSU Tigers, NCAA, SEC

Michigan – Ohio Rivalry is Alive and Strong

May 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

If you have one ounce of football spirit in your soul, live anywhere in the great mid-west, and can string together a sentence consisting of more than four words, then what I am about to tell you is overstating the obvious.  That said, here goes anyway…Michigan and Ohio don’t get along!  Now, one would like to believe that this distaste for a fellow man is more spiritual than literal, but I suppose that’s one of those relativity questions better answered in a college debate class.  Oh yea, I think at this point I should point out one more tidbit of information.  This rivalry is collegiate in nature, and not merely anti statesman. 

In attempt to clarify my foggy intro, the rivalry between the Michigan Wolverines and the Ohio State Buckeyes is one of those adverse relationships that fill college stadiums to the brink on cool Autumn Saturdays and cause mild mannered housewives to blossom into ferocious, teeth clinching pole cats.  In the world of college football where national championships and big money rule, nothing…yes nothing drive fans to flock in groves more so than that of the ultimate rivalry.

In the most recent display of rivalry ridiculousness, Michigan wide receiver Bo Denver posted a photo of the Wolverines new footballs that display the words “Made in USA, Not in Ohio”.  The post by Denver is obviously a jab to incite a Buckeye loyalist that will, no doubt, fuel a fury of revenge tactics to the foe.  These petty yet meaningful duels are the meat and potatoes behind all long lasting and publicized rivalries and  so long as the intent is harmless and the jesters remain somewhere short of criminal in their behavior, these duels translate into spectacular football games.

 

So, from one avid football fan to all the rest of you, I say embrace those opportunities to challenge your rival.  Metaphorically pouring fuel on the long burning fire not only keeps the rivalry flames aglow, but also develops new young fans that migrate to their beloved team to douse them with a healthy dose of Saturday retardant (also metaphorically speaking).  Thank you Bo Denver.  For your posting will have the effect of awakening the slumbering giant and a swarm of Buckeyes shall invade the hyperspace of Wolverines everywhere.  Game on!!!

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Filed Under: Michigan, NCAA, Ohio State, Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Keegan Bradley sets course record

May 16, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Keegan Bradley shot a 10 under par 60 in his opening round of the Byron Nelson Championship at the TPC Four Seasons Resort course setting a new course record.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/bradley-opening-60-nelson-even-193038977–golf.html

THE PLAYERS Championship - Round Two

Filed Under: PGA/Sr. PGA./LPGA Golf Tours

Orb wins Kentucky Derby in a mudfest

May 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment

The 139th running of the Kentucky Derby lived up to the hype. After torrential rains drenched the entire Louisville area on Friday and Saturday, the Churchill Downs racetrack remained a sloppy yet prolific venue for one of horse racing’s most cherished events.  150,000 onlookers watched as Orb, the post-time favorite at 5-1, raced around the final turn and jolted into the lead with only seconds to go.  Orb passed Normandy Invasion on the final stretch to win with a time of 2:02:89.  Golden Soul finished second and Revolutionary took third.  The race carried a $2 million total purse.

Orb’s jockey, Joel Rosario, said he knew Orb would respond well when the time was right.  Roasario kept Orb near the back of the pack for most of the race bringing him to rail and then back outside as he let Orb run.  Rosario called the race a “perfect trip”.

Orb’s trainer, Shug McGaughey III, was overcome with emotion by Orb’s comeback win.  McGaughey said “I had always dreamed of this day and it finally came”.  McGaughey is a Kentucky native that is widely known and well respected trainer who many believed was due his dream.  Orb’s co-owner, Stuart Janney gave McGaughey the credit for putting Orb in a position to win.

The Derby gave notice to more than just a horse race this year.  Two jockeys were poised to make history had they crossed the finish line first.  Jockey Kevin Krigger was attempting to become the first black jockey to win since 1902.  He finished 17th. Rosie Napravnik made her bid atop Mylute to become the first female earn the cherished crown.  She finished a very respectable fifth.

 

 

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Horschel Ties Course Record While Capturing First Win

April 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

Fighting off the rain, weather delays and the alligators, Billy Horschel managed not only to set a personal best firing off six birdies in a row, but went on to sink a clutch, 27 foot birdie putt on number 18 to win his first PGA tournament.  Horshel shot a cool 64 on Sunday to capture the Zurich Classic title by one shot over D. A. Points.  For his win, Horshel took home $1,188,000 captured the eyes of golf fans everywhere with an emotional celebration following his birdie putt on number 18.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCO7PVGres8

Horshel went on a birdie run reeling off 7 birdies in eight holes and had to overcome a bogie on number 15 to put him in position to win.  With a birdie on 16, Horshel set up the dramatic putt on 18 to win.  But it was no fluke for Horshel to finish in the driver’s seat.  Although this win marks his first PGA victory, Horshel  leads the PGA making 23 straight cuts and had earned an impressive $1.3 million already prior to today’s victory.

Horshel began the day 2 back of the third round leader, Lucas Glover.  Glover, who shot a final round 71, never could get his putter working today and finished tied for fourth place with Robert Gates.  Kyle Stanley finished along in third place.

 

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Filed Under: Florida Gators, PGA/Sr. PGA./LPGA Golf Tours

Spring Game a Big Hit for the Nittany Lions

April 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Patern...

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno on the sideline during warmups prior to the 2006 Homecoming game versus the University of Illinois on Friday, October 20, 2006. Taken by me. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

NCAA sanctions affect college athletics to the very core of the most basic program operations.  Take the Penn State Nittany Lions for example.  When the Lions were sanctioned by the NCAA following a lengthy child molestation investigation that resulted in the arrest and conviction of Assistant Coach Jerry Sandusky and eventual termination of legend head coach Joe Paterno, the University immediately began suffer the fallout.  Student enrollment dropped, sales of season tickets plummeted and recruits ran, not walked, but ran for the next best opportunity.

O'Brien 1 7 13- 010

Now, a full season removed from the muck, head coach Bill O’Brien has to hold back the reins on his players in order to limit injuries because NCAA sanctions have reduced Penn State’s scholarship roster from 85 to 65 (by the 2014 season).  Reduced scholarship numbers mean fewer standout players to carry the load of a full football season.  In an attempt to limit injuries on his squad, Coach O’Brien has implemented a “no hit” rule during practice.  O’Brien feels that by limiting hard tackles in practice, he can keep his team healthy, especially atthose positions with less depth, and keep his players hungry for the real deal. With every rule, there must be an exception.  The “no hit” exception is this Saturday whenthe Lions square off in the annual Blue-White intrasquad scrimmage. Players understand thenecessity of the coach’s rule, but we don’t always feel compelled to oblige.  Zach Zwinak , a 234 pound bruising running back, who was a 1000 yard rusher last year, said “when we play football, we want to hit”.  When asked about how he was handling the advice of assistant coach Charles London to shake off tacklers without mowing them down, Zwinak said he is sticking to his downhill running style.

Zwinak

Zwinak (Photo credit: puffclinty)

Still other players have embraced the coaches “no hit” policy.  Returning starting defensive tackle, DaQuan Jones, says the limited reps and contact has helped him to remain health and to allow his body to recover more quickly.  Coach O’Brien says that it makes more sense to have players upright and on their feet in practice trying to tackle that it does to have the flying everywhere in attempt to gain a starting position.  That being said, all bets are off for this Saturday’s scrimmage game.  All out tacklingis expected and players must prepare themselves for that.  Coach O’Brien said the Blue-White scrimmage is not about running the ball, it’s about stopping people from running the ball.  Zack Zwinak may not agree with that statement.

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Filed Under: Penn State

Tianlang Guan is leaving his mark at Augusta

April 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment

2013_Masters_Tianlang_Guan_14_Year_Old_Score_AugustaAt a time when most 14 year old boys are trying to avoid homework or maybe wanting to impress the prettiest girl in class, Tianlang Guan, a 14 year old amateur golfer from China, is doing something no other 14 year old has ever done before.  He’s playing in the Master’s.  Guan has captured headlines as well as the hearts of his countrymen.  Despite a one stroke penalty issued to Guan on Friday for slow play, Guan made the cut to play the weekend exactly on the bubble.

Guan, commenting on the penalty issued to him after at least two fair warnings, said “I respect the decision”.  The penalty nearly cost Guan the opportunity to play on the weekend, but a four foot putt on #18 saved the day and secured him a spot on Saturday and Sunday in Augusta.

At 5 feet 8 inches and 140 pounds, Guan is a less-than-imposing physical specimen.  But, what he lacks in size, he more than makes up for in character.  Guan has shown steady nerves and an unshakable demeanor through the first three rounds of the tournament.  Guan shot 77 on Saturday and dropped to 59th place in the tournament.  Although Saturday’s round had taken the field’s only amateur out of contention, it was still enough to match three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson and bested that of world no. 2 Rory McIlroy (79).  Because Guan is the only amateur remaining in the field, he will receive the tournament’s low amateur silver medal in Butler Cabin following Sunday’s round as the tournament champion slips on the coveted green jacket.

imagesAs Guan returns to his native China once the tournament is complete, he’ll have much to be proud of.  Making the cut at the Master’s, the low amateur medal and earning the respect of America’s golf fans as a class act, are all atop of the list.  And despite the fact that Guan won’t finish anywhere near the top ten, it is still evident that this 14 year old is leaving his mark at Augusta.                        

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Filed Under: PGA/Sr. PGA./LPGA Golf Tours Tagged With: , , , ,
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