Sheftic keeps lead in Club Pro Championship
June 30, 2009
SANTA ANA PUEBLO, N.M. (AP)—Mark Sheftic shot a 70 on Tuesday to keep the leadafter the three rounds of the PGA Professional National Championship.
Sheftic, 34, of Ambler, Pa., was 8-under 205 heading into Thursday’s finalround. He leads Stephen Schneiter of Sandy, Utah; Keith Dicciani of WhitePlains, N.Y.; and Todd Lancaster of Aurora, Ohio, by two strokes. Schneiter andDicciani each shot 67 Tuesday and Lancaster had a 68.
Sheftic, who is playing in his first championship for club pros, is theteaching professional at the noted Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. He was amongmore than 300 entrants to begin play Sunday, vying for a $550,000 total purse.The top-20 finishers receive a berth in the 2009 PGA Championship.
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Mavs’ Cuban to meet with free agent Kidd
June 30, 2009
DALLAS (AP)—Mark Cuban wants to be first in line to talk to Jason Kidd(notes).
Cuban posted Tuesday on Twitter, “Getting ready to fly up to NYC for FreeAgent meeting at 12:01,” and that free agent is Kidd, according to a personwith knowledge of the situation. The person spoke on condition of anonymitybecause NBA rules prevent commenting on such things.
Cuban has made it clear he wants to keep Kidd alongside Dirk Nowitzki(notes) on theDallas Mavericks, but it might not be that easy.
The New York Knicks are believed to be interested, too. So could LeBronJames’(notes) Cavaliers or perhaps Kobe Bryant’s(notes) Lakers. Kidd has never won an NBAchampionship, but has won two Olympic gold medals, including one with James andBryant just last year. Other teams also may be calling agent Jeff Schwartz.
ESPN.com first reported that Cuban’s New York trip is for Kidd.
Kidd made more than $21 million last season. At 36, he knows to expect a dip— but how much could be the big difference. Another likely factor will be thelength of the contract.
The Lakers and Cavaliers might only offer a one-year deal, dangling theirhopes of a title as incentive. Kidd would then be a free agent again in 2010,meaning he’d still have a chance for one last big payday.
“You would love to win a championship, but there are no guarantees,” Kiddsaid in mid-May, a day after the Mavericks’ season ended with a second-roundloss to the Denver Nuggets. “You could pick the favorites for next year to wina championship and things could go sideways.”
So maybe he’d prefer big money now from a team already in contention. Thatcould be Dallas, which might be willing to pay more than other teams to helpmaximize the prime of Nowitzki’s career and to avoid the problem of trying toreplace him.
“I’m not looking at it as … hitching on a bandwagon and jumping on with ateam that’s a favorite,” Kidd said. “I’m looking to help a team try to win achampionship. Whether it’s here in Dallas or wherever it may be, I still feelthat I have a lot to give to the game. I feel great, and I thought I had apretty good season. As much as everybody talks about my age, I still feel like Ican compete at a high level.”
The Knicks are early in a rebuilding phase, but are hoping to speed thingsup by signing James in 2010. Having Kidd play for them this season, even if onlyon a one-year deal, could help their recruitment of James next summer.
Kidd played 81 games last season, averaging 9 points, 8.7 assists and 6.2rebounds per game. Dallas won 50 games, then cruised by San Antonio in the firstround of playoffs before getting stopped by Denver.
Kidd said he “would love to be back” with the Mavericks. He also said hebelieves he has three good years left. He’s already played 15 seasons, rackingup the third-most assists in NBA history.
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Your Turn: Ix-nay on Yle-kay (Yahoo! Sports)
June 30, 2009
Kyle Busch apologized for spinning Martin Truex Jr., which sparked a multi-car wreck at New Hampshire.(AP)
If it weren’t for Kyle Busch, apparently there wouldn’t be anything to talk about, considering the Kyle-related rants are still running about 9-to-1 compared to the field.
So your challenge for next week: Talk about anyone other than Kyle Busch. (Cue the Dale Earnhardt Jr. rants.) Be a part of Your Turn by emailing us your rants right here.
We’ll kick things off with Ray Roy of Sanford, Maine – Ricky Craven country:
Fuel mileage! fuel mileage! fuel mileage! I go to watch a race “at speed” not at half speed to save fuel. When cars slow down to save fuel it’s no longer a race as far as I’m concerned. My suggestion would be, “If it’s going to be a fuel issue to end the race, NASCAR should have a mandatory caution at 20 to 30 laps to go, everyone pits just for fuel, and everyone lines back up the way they went into the pits. No lucky dog, no double file restart, just continue on as if no one stopped. Now maybe we can see a race finish under speed. Thanks for letting me share my opinion.
Our boy Eric Burleigh from Lake City, Mich., is back on Your Turn with his take on TNT’s coverage:
I gotta tell ya. I like Kyle Petty in the announcer’s booth for TNT. He’s likeable, knowledgeable, personable and telegenic (even if he sucked on the race track). I think Dale Jr. is beginning to understand why Kyle found it so frustratingly difficult to come anywhere close to fulfilling, or impossibly rising above, his father’s legacy. Perhaps Junior should take notes, work on his TV skills and begin preparing his resume for life after racing. Unless, of course, he defies the immutable laws of the NASCAR universe and actually becomes a contender.
Herm from Richmond, Va., chimes in to ask this very logical question:
If Mark Martin’s little 120 lb. butt can handle a race car, why can’t Danica Patrick’s little 120 lb. butt do it?
Paul Bowen from parts unknown has a few things he needs to get off his chest
I don’t like people down on Juan Pablo Montoay for point racing. Championships have been won like that for decades. People who worry more about a drivers personality than his driving ability.
I don’t like grubby looking drivers with 3 day beards with their hat on backwards, looking like skid row bums. You don’t see that much in formula one or IRL.
Hefty fines for people who say something or want to punch somebody who just tried to kill them.
I don’t like people who boo. Kyle Busch is the one breath of fresh air. He is the one I pay the money to watch. He like the late Dale Sr. is concerned about the quality of the show.
Tami Eastridge of North Little Rock, Ark., jumps in the “I Hate Kyle Busch” rant of the week:
I heard some commentators say that because Kyle is so good he can act any way he wants to, and get away with it, maybe if his sponsor was Exlax, wait a minute, even that is too good for him. I have written to Mars about his attitude and poor sportsmanship and asked them to pull the M logo off of his car, kids are attracted to this logo, just as teens were attracted to Joe Camel, the Camel cigarettes ads. Kyle is not some one I want our youths looking up too.
And finally, Brian Hay of Tustin, Calif., doesn’t understand why people came to Kyle Busch’s defense following the wreck at New Hampshire:
What is up with reporters defending Kyle Busch’s actions when even Busch admitted after the race that he was at fault? Yes, everyone loves to hate him. Yes, he gets blamed for things that aren’t his fault. But this time it was his fault. Everyone else checked up. He didn’t. He stayed on the gas and went for the gap. If he stayed straight, hit Truex square, they all make the corner, just like Jr. stayed straight when Truex nailed him square in the bumper. It seems as if Jenna Fryer was one of the only reporters to get it right.
Call a spade a spade. He screwed up. Let him take the heat for it. Kyle even stood up and took it. Kyle Petty’s bending over to protect him during the broadcast was ridiculous. Besides, Busch probably relishes it! It will make his next bow to the crowd that much sweeter for him.
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Bobcats to consider free agent Iverson
June 30, 2009
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—The Charlotte Bobcats have an owner who’s losing millionsand looking to sell. They’ve struggled to move tickets, win games and becomerelevant in a town that used to adore the NBA.
Allen Iverson(notes) could change that. Pair the polarizing guard with coach LarryBrown again and they wouldn’t just be talking about games in Charlotte, they’dbe talking about practice, too.
Whether Iverson is reunited with his former adversary-turned-buddy Brown isCharlotte’s most intriguing storyline as the NBA’s free agency period opensWednesday.
Iverson is a 34-year-old free agent, far removed from his NBA MVP days andcertainly about to be paid much less than the nearly $22 million he made lastseason, when he was traded from Denver to Detroit.
Seven years after Iverson’s famous “We’re talking about practice!” rantdirected at Brown when they were in Philadelphia, the two have made up. Iversonwas spotted in Charlotte in May, when Brown said he’d have no problems coachinghim again and Iverson’s agent indicated his client would be open to playing forthe Bobcats.
Leon Rose declined further comment on Tuesday, but he’s expected to talk tothe Bobcats as the free agency negotiating period starts Wednesday.
“Even though there are things that went on during our careers, the work hedid was phenomenal,” Brown said recently. “He wants to win, he competes everynight, he plays hurt.”
Brown did question whether the Bobcats, who have never won more than 35games in a season, would be a good fit for a player seeking to win an NBA titlebefore retiring. But Rose said his client would have no qualms coming toCharlotte.
The Bobcats were the lowest-scoring team in the NBA last season, butIverson’s role here would be uncertain.
The Bobcats have depth in the backcourt. They drafted shooting guard GeraldHenderson(notes) with the 12th pick to back up Raja Bell(notes). D.J. Augustin(notes) is expected toagain back up point guard Raymond Felton(notes).
Charlotte last week gave Felton a one-year, $5.5 million qualifying offer tomake him a restricted free agent and plan to sign him to a long-term deal thissummer.
“I don’t see any situation where he will not be with this team,” managingpartner Michael Jordan said. “Granted, we’ve got a lot of business decisions tomake and a lot of negotiations ahead. But I anticipate us keeping and signingRaymond Felton, without a doubt.”
Under that scenario, Iverson would likely have to take on a lesser role,something he resisted in Detroit last season.
It’s also uncertain if the two sides could agree on a contract. The Bobcats,who are over the salary cap, will probably not offer more than a midlevelexception of about $5.6 million for a free agent.
Management has been told by owner Bob Johnson, who has slashednon-basketball payroll and is exploring selling the team, not to exceed theluxury tax threshold of about $70 million.
“I don’t think it’s fair for us to get anywhere close to the luxury taxnumbers,” general manager Rod Higgins said. “We’re just trying to get to theplayoffs. We’re not there yet, so it’s going to be hard pressed for us to go toownership and say we want to go to the tax level.”
The Bobcats’ biggest need is the frontcourt. Injury-prone power forward SeanMay(notes) becomes an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday after Charlotte declined togive him a one-year qualifying offer of $3.7 million.
The Bobcats could still try to re-sign May for less, and they must addressBoris Diaw’s(notes) backup because veteran Juwan Howard(notes) is also a free agent. RasheedWallace(notes) and Antonio McDyess(notes), both of whom have played for Brown, are available.
Charlotte has big money tied up in reserve big men Nazr Mohammed(notes) ($13.2million owed over the next two seasons) and DeSagana Diop(notes) ($19.4 million overthree years), but didn’t make a draft-week trade to clear cap space to be amajor player in free agency.
But with Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta and Washington all making recent deals,the Bobcats may have a tough time becoming a playoff team in an improved EasternConference next season if they don’t make a move or two to upgrade offensively.
Notes: Johnson again declined an interview request Tuesday, two days afterthe Houston Chronicle reported former Rockets executive George Postolos made aninquiry about buying the Bobcats. Postolos declined comment in an e-mailresponse. … With the Bobcats not fielding a summer league team to save money,Henderson will play for Minnesota’s entry in Las Vegas July 10-19. Second-roundpick Derrick Brown(notes) will play for Utah in Orlando July 6-10.
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Senate to hold antitrust hearing on BCS
June 30, 2009
WASHINGTON (AP)—The Senate plans to hold a hearing next week looking intoantitrust issues surrounding the Bowl Championship Series. It’s the second timethis year that Congress is shining a light on the polarizing system collegefootball uses to crown its national champion.
The hearing will be held next Tuesday in the Judiciary Committee’ssubcommittee on antitrust, competition policy and consumer rights, according toa posting on the committee’s Web site.
Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah, the subcommittee’s top Republican and the lawmakerwho sought the hearing, did not return telephone and e-mail messages left at hisoffice Tuesday.
In an essay for Sports Illustrated being released Wednesday, Hatch wrotethat the Sherman Antitrust Act prohibits contracts, combinations or conspiraciesdesigned to reduce competition.
“I don’t think a more accurate description of what the BCS does exists,”Hatch wrote. He noted that six conferences get automatic bids to participate inseries, while others do not. The system, he argued, “intentionally andexplicitly favors certain participants.”
Citing the money generated by the BCS, Hatch wrote, “If the government wereto ignore a similar business arrangement of this magnitude in any otherindustry, it would be condemned for shirking its responsibility.”
When asked about Hatch’s comments, BCS coordinator John Swofford said theBCS’ lawyers have “worked diligently to ensure that the BCS is in compliancewith the law.”
Football fans in Hatch’s state were furious that Utah was bypassed for thenational championship despite going undefeated in the regular season. Hatchnoted that President Barack Obama and others have called for the BCS to bereplaced with a playoff system.
“One thing is clear: No changes will take place if Congress does nothing,”Hatch wrote.
Rep. Joe Barton of Texas, the top Republican on the House Energy andCommerce Committee, has introduced legislation that would prevent the NCAA fromcalling a game a national championship unless it’s the outcome of a playoff. Ata May hearing, Barton warned that the legislation would move forward “if wedon’t see some action in the next two months” from BCS on switching to aplayoff system.
David Frohnmayer, president of the University of Oregon and chairman of theBCS Presidential Oversight Committee, expressed a preference Tuesday for thecurrent system, saying the proposals for a playoff system “disrespect ouracademic calendars, and they utterly lack a business plan.”
Jaguars deal WR Northcutt to Lions
June 30, 2009
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)—The Jacksonville Jaguars have traded receiver DennisNorthcutt(notes) to the Detroit Lions for safety Gerald Alexander(notes).
The deal was finalized Tuesday after both players passed physicals.
Northcutt gives the Lions a veteran receiver opposite rising star CalvinJohnson(notes).
Alexander, a second-round pick in 2007, gives Jacksonville depth in thesecondary. He started 16 games as a rookie, but missed most of last yearfollowing a neck injury.
Northcutt, who has 364 receptions for 4,584 yards and 17 touchdowns, hasbeen projected to start this season. But Jacksonville’s three rookie receiverswere impressive enough during offseason drills that Northcutt became expendable.
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A game that taught Tiger how to break par
June 30, 2009
BETHESDA, Md. (AP)—Even when he was just learning to play golf, Tiger Woodsnever had any trouble breaking par. He owes that to his father making sure thebar was never set too high.
Earl Woods used to determine how many perfect shots his son needed to reachthe green, then added two for the putts. As he got older and could hit the ballfarther, par was reduced until it became regulation.
“The biggest argument Tiger and I have ever been involved with was changinghis par,” Earl Woods said in a 2000 interview. “I changed the par from 8 to 7and he would complain, ‘No, no, no.’ And then he would shoot sub-par. He neverdeveloped a comfort zone.”
Woods recalled those days during his press conference Tuesday, especiallywhen his father lowered par.
“Say it was a par 4 and it took me four to get there, the first time I gotthere in three, par automatically went down,” Woods said. “Sometimes, hedidn’t know that I would lay up a couple times, not get the ball to the green,so I wouldn’t have to drop par. And then he started catching on and he’d droppar anyway. It was his way of being creative enough where it taught me never tobe afraid to go low.
“If I had a hot day, run with it.”
Strangely, though, Woods doesn’t prefer to play tournaments where he has toshoot 65 just to keep in contention.
Woods’ career-best is a 61, and he has won 28 times on the PGA Tour when hisscore was 270 or lower. He goes into the AT&T National having finished at par orbetter at every tournament over the last two years.
GOYDOS ON THE GO: Paul Goydos tied for second last week at the TravelersChampionship, which came with a big check and a small consolation. He moved intoposition to qualify for the British Open on a special, cumulative money list.
The British Open exempts the top two players (not already eligible) on amoney list that includes The Players Championship, Memorial, St. Jude Classic,U.S. Open, Travelers Championship and this week’s AT&T National.
Goydos earned $528,000 at Hartford, putting his total on the special moneylist at $759,467. That puts him atop the list among players not alreadyeligible, leading U.S. Open runner-up Ricky Barnes ($588,762), John Mallinger($584,319) and Kevin Na ($584,150).
PRO-AM PLAN: Starting next year, not playing in the pro-am won’t necessarilymean being disqualified from PGA Tour events.
Under a plan the policy board adopted Tuesday, some players might have theoption of skipping the round of golf with amateur clients in exchange forattending a corporate function during the tournament, such as a dinner orcocktail party with top clients.
The idea originated from the Tour Championship two years ago, when thegreens at East Lake were in such bad shape from the heat that the pro-am wascanceled and players instead took part in a Q&A with amateurs at breakfast.
“The sponsors loved it,” Davis Love III said. “That’s what got this thinggoing.”
Love said the players ultimately would have the last word in case they needto participate in the pro-am to see the golf course. But he said it might helpsome players decide to play a tournament if they otherwise would miss because offamily obligations.
Under the guidelines, anyone finishing in the top 30 on the money list ofFedEx Cup standings could pick two tournaments where they can elect somethingother than the pro-am. Also, no more than three players per tournament couldsign up for something other than the pro-am. Most of the arrangements would bedecided a month in advance.
MAJOR STREAK: Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, is to have surgery Wednesday tolearn the scope of her breast cancer. Mickelson has already said it was“unlikely” he would play in the British Open during the early stages of hertreatment.
If that’s the case, it would end the longest active streak in the majors.
Mickelson has played 61 dating to the 1994 U.S. Open—he missed the Mastersthat year after breaking his leg while skiing. Next line would be Vijay Singh,who now has played 60 consecutive majors.
No one from this generation is likely to match the major streak set by JackNicklaus, who played 146 in a row from the 1962 Masters through the 1998 U.S.Open.
ENEMY TERRITORY: Tiger Woods didn’t have a full appreciation of his marketat the AT&T National.
It’s one thing for Woods to play with a celebrity in the pro-am, even an NFLquarterback. It’s quite another when that quarterback is Tony Romo of the DallasCowboys, playing before fans who live for the Washington Redskins.
“I didn’t realize it was going to be this big a deal,” Woods said.
It will be the second quarterback Woods has played with in a pro-am thisyear. He played with Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts at the QuailHollow Championship.
The difference might be in crowd reaction.
“It’s going to be a fun round, but also an interesting one,” Woods said.“Granted, he used to getting booed, and it is what it is.”
DIVOTS: The Barclays will be held at Ridgewood Country Club in 2010, thenmove to Plainfield Country Club in 2011. … Rich Beem’s effort to raise moneyfor Dallas Cowboys scouting assistant Rich Behm, injured when the team’spractice facility collapsed, raised $10,321. It started out as Beem wanting onlyto auction the clubs he used at the two Dallas-area tournaments. … RhodeIsland Country Club will host the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 2011, and The CountryClub in Cleveland will host it a year later. … Kenny Perry went over the $30million mark in career earnings last week.
STAT OF THE WEEK: Fred Couples won his first PGA Tour event in 1983 atCongressional when it was called the Kemper Open.
FINAL WORD: “Fans actually knew who I was for once.”—U.S. Open championLucas Glover on the support he received in Hartford.
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Rockets keeping quiet about Yao’s injury
June 30, 2009
HOUSTON (AP)—On the eve of the NBA draft, Houston Rockets general managerDaryl Morey said that the franchise was still determined to build aroundAll-Star center Yao Ming(notes).
“He’s the cornerstone of the team,” Morey said.
A few days later, the future of the team and the All-Star center from Chinahave suddenly been thrown into question amid ominous reports from the teamdoctor that the hairline fracture in Yao’s left foot could not only possiblykeep him out all of next season, but potentially end his career.
That would not only be devastating news for the Rockets, but a cripplingblow to the NBA, which would lose one of its most influential internationalambassadors.
On Tuesday, the league was still holding out hope that Yao would play again.
“I think it’s awfully premature for us to comment on that,” leaguespokesman Tim Frank said. “Let’s see how this works out first.”
Morey said Monday he would not comment on the reports about Yao “until wehave all the facts.” A team spokesman said Tuesday that nothing was definitiveand that Yao and his representatives were seeking other medical opinions thisweek.
The Rockets already know that Tracy McGrady(notes) could be out until next Februaryafter undergoing risky microfracture surgery on his left knee. Morey also has todecide what to do with Ron Artest(notes), who becomes a free agent after making over $7million in a productive first season in Houston. Artest said after the seasonthat he wanted to come back—but that was when he believed the Rockets couldcompete for the Western Conference title.
Releasing McGrady and Artest could save the Rockets money, but probably costthem a season. It would also mark a disappointing end to the star-crossedpairing of Yao and McGrady.
The two have only played together in 220 games across five seasons.Together, they’ve missed 204 games to injuries and illnesses since McGradyjoined the team in June 2004.
Yao and McGrady have played in 10 All-Star games as Rockets, but they’venever led Houston out of the first round of the playoffs together. McGradywatched from the sidelines as Houston beat Portland in the first round lastseason, the Rockets’ first series victory since 1997.
Yao was injured in Game 3 of the second-round series with the Los AngelesLakers, and Houston pushed the eventual NBA champions to seven games. But thescrappiness the Rockets showed won’t be enough to carry them through a wholeseason without a superstar.
That leaves Morey with difficult—and far-reaching—decisions to make thissummer.
Yao is due to make over $16 million next season, with a player option for2010-11 that would pay him over $17 million. McGrady will make over $22 millionnext season, the last year of his contract.
Before the draft, Morey said teams have made “very aggressive” offers forMcGrady. They’re probably more interested in McGrady’s expiring contract thanwhat he could provide on the court, but either way, Morey hasn’t seen a deal helikes.
“We are getting a lot of interest on Tracy and I do have to listen,” Moreysaid. “It’s my job to make this team as ready to win the title as possible.”
But how realistic is that if Yao is sidelined for the season or longer?
Morey said last Friday that the uncertainty surrounding Yao had not changedhis offseason strategy for trades. That was before team doctor Tom Clanton toldthe Houston Chronicle that Yao’s injury could threaten his career.
If Yao is out for the season, the Rockets could apply for an injured playerexception and use that money toward signing a free agent, said Frank, the NBAspokesman. It would amount to the value of the midlevel exception, equal to 108percent of the average player salary from last season (about $5.6 million).
Some of the unrestricted free agent big men available this summer, if theRockets won’t have Yao, include Chris Andersen(notes), Brandon Bass(notes), Rasheed Wallace(notes),Antonio McDyess(notes), Chris Mihm(notes), Francisco Elson(notes), Jamaal Magliore and Drew Gooden(notes).
A doctor approved by the NBA would have to declare Yao out for the seasonbefore Houston would get the exception. And the Rockets would not be able tocombine the two exceptions to make an $11 million offer to one player.
The absence of Yao would have a major impact far beyond Houston.
Rockets games routinely draw television audiences between 20 and 30 millionin China, said Marc Ganis, the president of the Chicago-based sports consultingfirm SportsCorp Ltd., which has partners in China.
The NBA became the first American sports league to host games in China in2004, when Yao’s Rockets played Sacramento in Beijing and Shanghai. The leagueopened offices in China in January 2008, and NBA games and programming areavailable on 51 television and digital outlets there.
Ganis says the NBA would’ve eventually developed a strong presence in China,but Yao accelerated the process by a decade or more. Yao adorns larger-than-lifebillboards, stars in commercials and even provided the voice for a character ina Chinese-language animated movie after the Rockets’ season.
“His emergence as a rock star allowed the NBA to get on his broad shouldersand be carried to a much higher level of popularity than it would’ve been,”Ganis said. “His value to the league has been almost incalculable.”
Even if Yao never plays another NBA game, Ganis said his internationalimpact is permanent.
NBA merchandise is sold in 30,000 retail stores in China. Kobe Bryant(notes) hashad the top-selling NBA jersey in China for two straight seasons. Yao ranks10th, but only because most Chinese fans already have them.
“It’s inevitable that one day, he will no longer be playing in the NBA, butthat could be a decade down the road,” Ganis said. “But I would expect Yao tobe an ambassador for the NBA in Asia and I would expect him to be a significantcontributor for the development of basketball in China.”
For now, all China, the Rockets and everyone else can do is wait to see ifhe plays in the league again.
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Kim reaches 1-year anniversary of last win
June 30, 2009
BETHESDA, Md. (AP)—Anthony Kim pressed a cell phone against his ear as helistened to Tiger Woods, the tournament host of the AT&T National, congratulatehim on another impressive victory that seemed to mark the arrival of America’snext great golfer.
That was one year and 25 tournaments ago.
Kim has yet to pose with another trophy he could call his own. Remember, theRyder Cup is an exhibition, and no matter how thoroughly the 23-year-olddismantled Sergio Garcia in the leadoff singles match, it was a team effort.
Over the last year, Kim has made news for not remembering how many majorsWoods had won, not being fully aware that the automobile industry was hurting,not realizing Colin Montgomerie had been selected Ryder Cup captain for Europeor not knowing Congressional once hosted a U.S. Open or two.
Trouble is, he has not made news for what matters.
Kim started the season with a runner-up finish at Kapalua. He has notfinished in the top 10 anywhere in the world since. So perhaps it was notsurprising Tuesday when someone asked him the best thing that has happened tohim this year.
He thought about this briefly, then smiled.
“I made it to my 24th birthday,” he said.
His age should count for something. When he unleashed a bogey-free 65 in thefinal round at Congressional last year for a two-shot victory, Kim became thefirst American under 25 since Woods to win at least twice on the PGA Tour in thesame year.
Woods, who was home in Florida recuperating from reconstructive kneesurgery, told him that day to keep working hard and there would be no limits onwhat Kim could achieve. And it appeared that Kim was headed in that direction.
He was in the mix Sunday at Royal Birkdale, his first taste of links golf.He was in the final group at the Canadian Open until he kept his foot on theaccelerator through one too many construction zones, as Kim is prone to do. Hewas a birdie putt away from joining the playoff at the season-ending TourChampionship.
And there was that week at the Ryder Cup, where Kim was the life of theparty in so many ways.
Still, celebrations for his golf have been rare.
Kim has dealt with more nagging injuries than he can recite, whether it washis jaw from a horseback riding in New Zealand to the most recent setback, aninjury in his left thumb that kept him from making an aggressive pass at theball.
He had to stick with fairway metals at long and soggy Bethpage Black, and hewas pleased to finish tied for 16th with those kind of restrictions. He made 11birdies in the second round at the Masters when he shot 65, but he didn’t breakpar the other three rounds.
“It’s probably been my toughest year on tour, the fact that I’ve had theselittle injuries that have held me back,” Kim said. “But I’m learning moreabout myself when I’m not playing well. I’m learning how to play this game. I’mlearning how to approach different situations when you’re not playing you best,and it’s going to help me when I do start hitting the ball well, and do startputting well, when my game comes together.”
Kim isn’t the only player who has struggled this year.
British Open and PGA champion Padraig Harrington has missed his last fourcuts. Adam Scott had a hard time breaking 80 a few months ago. Ernie Els hasn’twon in 16 months and has fallen out of the top 20.
The fact Kim has gone an entire year without winning is a reminder thatwinning is never easy on the PGA Tour.
“We live in the era of Tiger Woods, who makes winning look ridiculouslyeasy,” Paul Goydos said last week. “The more I think about it, the more I feelTiger Woods is the most underrated player on this tour. You guys have no conceptof what he accomplishes on a weekly basis when he plays. It’s ridiculous howgood he plays.”
Even with 67 career victories and—pay attention, Anthony—14 majors,Woods conceded that it’s never easy.
“I certainly have won my share of tournaments, but I’ve lost more than I’vewon,” he said. “And that’s the nature of our sport. We do lose a lot ofevents.”
Having turned 24 a few weeks ago, time is on Kim’s side.
He is the defending champion at Congressional—remember, Anthony, it willhost the U.S. Open in 2011—and winning again will be more difficult this timewith his health just now returning and Woods at full strength.
It would be easy to speculate that Kim is enjoying fruits more than labor,although only he knows how hard he is working. At least his objectives have notchanged.
“I want to win golf tournaments. I’m here to do that,” he said. “But atthe same time, I have so much to look forward to. I heard you don’t hit yourpeak at golf until 31, 33 years old. So I have a long way to go. I have a longcareer ahead of me. And as long as I stay positive and keep working hard, Ishould be in pretty good shape.”
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Stafford, Sanchez help each other prep
June 30, 2009
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP)—Matthew Stafford(notes) and Mark Sanchez(notes) are set tobecome rich beyond comprehension long before throwing their first official NFLpass.
The quarterbacks will be anointed as saviors—Stafford for a Detroit teamthat went winless in 2008, and Sanchez for a New York Jets club that hasn’ttasted the Super Bowl in 40 years.
The accompanying pressure can be overwhelming.
So Stafford and Sanchez often find themselves seeking someone whounderstands their situation. They call each other.
Already linked as the top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft, Staffordand Sanchez have forged a separate bond. They go back and forth as a soundingboard for the other while attempting to turn potential into performance.
“We’re just learning, playing football,” said Stafford, the No. 1 overallpick who went off the board four slots ahead of Sanchez. “Obviously, during theseason, you want to win football games. That’s the No. 1 priority. But at thispoint, we’re just trying to learn and give ourselves a chance to be competitiveduring training camp and get a chance to get on the field.”
The friendship started last summer, when they were counselors at the samecamp for elite high school quarterbacks. They’ve kept in contact regularlysince, talking about practically every imaginable topic.
On Tuesday, at the NFL rookie symposium, they were on the same fieldtogether—throwing footballs around with dozens of kids brought in to interactwith the game’s newest professionals. But in down moments during this mandatoryevent for first-year NFL players—which offers education on how to handlesubjects like personal conduct, finances and security—the two youngquarterbacks tend to huddle together.
“We talk so much about how’s the playbook coming, what are the guys like inthe locker room, have they treated you OK,” Sanchez said. “Both of oursituations have been very similar. Obviously, we’re in different markets, butyou’re a rookie quarterback, you just signed your contract, you and your familyare financially secure. There’s a dynamic to that. It means a lot to be able totalk to someone.”
The biggest lesson many of the rookies took from the symposium, Staffordincluded, was that they’ll have to say “no” a lot—especially when it comesto people asking for money, gifts or favors from the new millionaires.
“I’ve had to do it for a while,” said Stafford, who spent most of lastseason at Georgia being touted as the possible No. 1 pick.
Of course, neither Stafford nor Sanchez is all that removed from being akid, either, so they fit right in with the high schoolers.
“All about the kids, today,” said Sanchez, who posed for photos, signedcountless autographs on the backs of T-shirts and has been known to keep aSharpie marker on his keychain in case the mood strikes to scrawl his name.“All about the kids.”
Sanchez, who starred at USC, is already a huge name in the massive marketthat is New York. He’s gotten to meet Tiger Woods and Derek Jeter, both of whomoffered their advice on how to handle all the attention that he’ll draw playingin the Big Apple.
“You’ve got to be smart,” Sanchez said. “You’ve got to protect yourselfand protect your team.”
Stafford hasn’t quite commanded that sort of Woods-and-Jeter attention, eventhough he was the top pick.
Even on Tuesday, when they walked onto the converted flag-football field—it’s typically a driving range at the PGA National compound—within moments ofone another, cameras and heads started turning quickly toward Sanchez. Stafford,meanwhile, seemed almost invisible by comparison, and didn’t mind thatwhatsoever.
“We’re both pretty similar, easy-going guys,” Stafford said. “Pressurereally doesn’t get to us too much. We just talk about how much fun it is to beliving the dream.”
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