Tomas Fleischmann Traded to Colorado for Scott Hannan

Filed under: Avalanche, Capitals

The Washington Capitals addressed an area of their team that's been a concern for outsiders for several years now (a tough stay-at-home defenseman) by acquiring Scott Hannan from the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday in exchange for struggling forward Tomas Fleischmann. After scoring a career-high 23 goals for the Capitals a season ago, Fleischmann has stumbled out of the gate this year with just four goals and six assists in 23 games.

Hannan brings the Capitals rock-solid durability (he's missed just seven games since the 2002 season) and the type of presence they've been missing on their blue line, and one that will come in handy for the second season in April and May. He's in the final year of a contract that pays him $4.5 million per season, and the 31-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the season.

"Being with a team where you can fit in right away is something that you want," Hannan said in a conference call with reporters. "I know I can play that role with many other teams, (but) I relish the fact that I can do that in Washington."

According to Adrian Dater of the Denver Post, via Twitter, Hannan's contract contained a no-trade clause that he had to waive in order to complete the trade.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/tomas-fleischmann-traded-to-colorado-for-scott-hannan/

San Jose Sharks Boston Celtics New Jersey Nets

NFL Power Rankings, Week 13: Your Turn to Vote

Filed under: Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Jets, Packers, Patriots, Ravens, Saints, Steelers, NFL Power Rankings

Our NFL Power Rankings for Week 13 were back in flux, just one week after seeing some stability for the first time all season.

The top remained the same after the Patriots beat the Lions on Thanksgiving, but four of our top 10 teams from Week 12 lost this past weekend. That included two top five teams, the Eagles and Packers. Meanwhile, the Saints and Jets keep winning.

An amazing 15 teams are within two games of their division leaders. With this much parity -- some say mediocrity -- the final five weeks of the season will have a number of roller-coaster twists and turns.

So it's your turn to weigh in. Vote for who you think the best team in the league is, and we'll compare the readers' top five with our own and other NFL experts across the Internet on Wednesday.

Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/nfl-power-rankings-week-13-your-turn-to-vote/

Real Salt Lake San Jose Earthquakes Seattle Sounders FC

Sidney Crosby Accused of 'Dirty' Slew Foot Play on Rangers' Callahan

Filed under: Penguins, Rangers, NHL Discipline

NEW YORK -- During the first period of Monday night's game between Pittsburgh and New York, Sidney Crosby knocked down Rangers forward Ryan Callahan with a check the Rangers have called "dirty."

With a little over five minutes remaining in the first period of the Penguins' 3-1 win, Crosby and Callahan jostled while skating toward the Penguins zone. As they skated entangled over the blue line, Crosby appeared to place his skate behind Callahan's as he knocked his opponent to the ice.

"That's a dirty play," Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky said of Crosby in a broadcast interview during the first intermission. "He's a guy who tries to get away with a lot of that stuff. He complains a lot." After the game, Dubinsky was still seething, but tried to bite his tongue. "I don't want to sit here and talk about (Crosby) any more. It's awful."

Asked after the game if Crosby's take-down was dangerous, Callahan said, "Absolutely. Anytime you take someone's feet out from underneath them, it's a dangerous play There's not much you can do."

Crosby, who was not given a penalty, defended himself to reporters after the game. "How many penalty minutes do I have this year"? asked the Pittsburgh captain, who has 15. "Show me all those dirty plays. It's a battle and he falls. He's holding me going up ice and I'm trying to push him off. Is it that calculated? I'm going to the net. If I tripped him, I tripped him."

Callahan was given a two-minute minor for interference.

"It's a play that the NHL has tried to get rid of," said Rangers Hall of Fame defenseman Brian Leetch, who now serves as a studio analyst on the team's broadcasts on MSG Network. "It's a dirty play."

The broadcasters on the Pittsburgh feed of the game did not make any mention of Crosby's play.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/sidney-crosby-accused-of-dirty-slew-foot-play-on-rangers-call/

Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs * Oakland Raiders *

Steve Phillips' Fix My Team: Marlins

Filed under: Marlins, MLB Video, Executive Take

Every team has a few precious months in the offseason to make tweaks to their roster and ensure that they improve in 2011. Steve Phillips has taken a team to the World Series before, and in November and December he will present his plan for every major league team to get there as well. It's the 12th episode of Fix My Team, and his latest project is the Florida Marlins.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/steve-phillips-fix-my-team-marlins/

St. Louis Blues Anaheim Ducks Dallas Stars

Troy Tulowitzki, Jorge De La Rosa Agree to New Rockies Deals

Filed under: Rockies, MLB Free Agency

The Rockies committed more than $150 million Monday to keep shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and left-hander Jorge de la Rosa in Colorado for the long haul.

The Denver Post was the first to report that the Rockies finalized a seven-year, $134 million extension with Tulowitzki that runs through the 2020 season and that they also have a deal in principle to keep the free agent de la Rosa on a two-year deal that could run to four years with a pair of options.

Tulowitzki's deal was officially announced at a 4 p.m. ET Tuesday news conference that should serve only to reinforce the notion that the 26-year-old has become the face of the franchise. The value of his new contract trails only the previous holder of that mantle, Todd Helton, whose nine-year, $141.5 million deal wraps up next season.

The new agreement piggybacks on the six-year, $31 million deal Tulowitzki signed after his 2007 rookie campaign, which at the time was the largest ever for a player with less than two years of major league service. Tulowitzki will make $5.5 million in 2011 under the terms of that contract.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/report-troy-tulowitzki-jorge-de-la-rosa-agree-to-new-rockies-d/

Colorado Rapids FC Dallas Houston Dynamo

2010 in Review: D.C. United offseason checklist

WASHINGON ? After a long season, D.C. United?s to-do list this winter is substantial. But there?s only one way to go for MLS? most decorated franchise, and there?s certainly hope for the future. But DC brass must hit the ground running to rebuild the team into a winner. Here?s United?s offseason checklist.

Find a head coach

Source: http://www.dcunited.com/news/2010/11/2010-in-review-dc-united-offseason-checklist

Washington Wizards Denver Nuggets Minnesota Timberwolves

Dustin Byfuglien Doesn't Need to be Near the Net to Score Goals

Filed under: Thrashers, NHL Coaching

The only people that were on board with Atlanta's decision to move Dustin Byfuglien to defense (his original position) this season were the Atlanta Thrashers themselves. Two months into the season, and he's on a torrid pace that, if maintained, would shatter all of his previous career highs in goals and points, and is currently leading all NHL rearguards in scoring with 25 points in 23 games -- two points ahead of Kris Letang and John-Michael Liles who are tied for second.

One of the biggest criticisms of Atlanta's move was that by switching him back to the blue line, the Thrashers would be eliminating one of his greatest strengths as a hockey player: his ability to park himself in front of the other team's goaltender and use his 6-foot-3, 246-pound frame to cause all sorts of hell in front of the net, banging in rebounds and collecting the tough goals. It was a criticism voiced the loudest by former NHL player Jeremy Roenick.

While it's true that Byfuglien collected a lot of goals from that area, a look at his goal-scoring locations over the past four years shows that he was not only a threat directly in front of the net, but he's also always been capable of scoring goals from all over the offensive zone, something that has continued to happen as a defenseman.

Here's a quick look...

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/dustin-byfuglien-doesnt-need-to-be-near-the-net-to-score-goals/

Chicago Fire Columbus Crew D.C. United

Dodgers Finalize Juan Uribe Deal, Trade Ryan Theriot to Cardinals

Filed under: Cardinals, Dodgers, MLB Free Agency

The Dodgers added an infielder and subtracted another Tuesday, officially signing free agent Juan Uribe and trading Ryan Theriot to the Cardinals for pitcher Blake Hawksworth.

Uribe's three-year, $21 million deal became official after he passed a physical. He figures to slot in at various infield positions for new manager Don Mattingly, just as he did in 2010 for the rival Giants. Uribe started 103 games at shortstop, 26 games at third base and 24 games at second base this season, so the Dodgers will have flexibility in how they fill out their lineup each day.

And of course there's his bat. Uribe posted career highs with 24 homers and 85 RBI in 2010 and came up big in a few key situations in the playoffs.

"Juan provides us with a big bat in the middle of the infield and can change a game with one swing," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said in a statement. "His versatility is a huge asset, as he can play second base, third base and shortstop and he's a two-time World Champion, so he knows what it takes to win."

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/dodgers-finalize-juan-uribe-deal-trade-ryan-theriot-to-cardinal/

New York Knicks Philadelphia 76ers Toronto Raptors

NASCAR Championship Scenarios as Finish Line Nears for 2010

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

Denny Hamlin certainly had plenty of frustration boiling over after late-race strategy failed to work in his favor. So, he took a water bottle and threw it Sunday in Phoenix.

The temperament, however, may be unjustified: Hamlin heads into Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup season-finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the proverbial driver's seat to win the 2010 crown.

Sure, the Virginia driver is sporting just a 15-point lead and could lose it by finishing second to Jimmie Johnson at Homestead.

But if that happens, Hamlin will be just the third driver in NASCAR's modern points system era to lose the championship in the season's final race. The first was 1979 when Richard Petty beat Darrell Waltrip and the second in 1992 when Alan Kulwicki topped Davey Allison.

Hamlin, however, clinches his fate by simply leading the most laps and finishing second or better. If Hamlin pulls that feat while Jimmie Johnson wins, the two will finish tied in the point standings.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/17/nascar-championship-scenarios-as-finish-line-nears-for-2010/

Cleveland Browns Pittsburgh Steelers Houston Texans

Richard Petty and Investors Take Control of RPM From George Gillett Jr.

Filed under: A.J. Allmendinger, Petty Enterprises, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) -- Richard Petty will once again run his race team and participate in day-to-day operations as chairman of the new ownership group that was announced Monday.

The assets of Richard Petty Motorsports have been sold from George Gillett Jr. to an investment group that consists of Petty, Medallion Financial Corp. and DGP Investments.

"Today is a great day for me, my family, our fans and our wonderful sponsors," Petty said in a statement that listed 10 partners that "have supported me through thick and thin and I thank them from the bottom of my heart."

RPM will field cars for AJ Allmendinger and Marcos Ambrose in 2011.

The transfer of assets has been in the works for several weeks because of Gillett's ongoing financial problems. Debt-laden English soccer club Liverpool recently was sold despite the objection of Gillett and business partner Tom Hicks. And a U.S. hedge fund is suing Gillett over what the firm says is more than $117 million in debt he racked up investing in Liverpool.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/richard-petty-and-investors-take-control-of-rpm-from-george-gill/

Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers New Orleans Saints

Derek Jeter's $$$ Demands Laughable

Filed under: Yankees, AL East, MLB Free Agency

The news improved for Derek Jeter on Monday. Of the 250,000-plus secret government documents released by WikiLeaks, none mentioned a romance between Hal Steinbrenner and a goat.

If such evidence actually exists -- and we have no independent confirmation that it does -- perhaps Jeter's camp still has exclusive access. It can still embarrass the Yankees into giving Jeter a crazy contract.

If you take blackmail out of the negotiations, however, the Face of the Yankees has little to smile about. Jeter's getting humiliated, and he has nobody to blame but himself or his agent or whichever girlfriend keeps whispering in his ear that he's worth $23 million a year.

Most Yankees fans don't even believe that, which is saying something considering they'd normally cheer if New York signed a free-agent rutabaga for $16 million a year. Come to think of it, most household vegetables would pitch better than A.J. Burnett.

But back to El Capitan. Jeter has supposedly always had a clear sense of his value. So you have to wonder what he sees that the rest of the world is missing.

"Derek's impact on the sport's most valuable franchise cannot be overstated," said agent Casey Close.

Sure it can -- $150 million over six years.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/derek-jeters-demands-laughable/

Detroit Pistons Indiana Pacers Milwaukee Bucks

Join Us: Live Ford 400 Race Chat

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR Live Blogging, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

NASCAR's 36-race season culminates today at Homestead-Miami Speedway when Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson and Kevin Harvick battle to take home the NASCAR Sprint Cup Championship.

It's bound to be a thrilling finish of NASCAR's closest points battle in the Chase for the Championship era.

Join the FanHouse team as we keep you updated live on the race's progress. Don't miss out at 1 p.m./ET.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/21/join-us-live-ford-400-chat-at-1-p-m-et/

Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings Atlanta Falcons

Kasey Kahne Wins Pole for NASCAR Finale, Jimmie Johnson Leads Contenders

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kasey Kahne, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR

HOMESTEAD, Fla. -- Kasey Kahne won the pole position for Sunday's Ford 400 NASCAR Sprint Cup series season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, while four-time defending Cup champ Jimmie Johnson's sixth-place effort was best of the three drivers vying for the season championship.

Kahne's No. 83 Red Bull Toyota turned a lap of 176.904 mph around the 1.5-mile oval, bettering Carl Edwards' Ford and Jamie McMurray's Chevrolet. (Kahne is shown at right checking times during qualifying).

But as significant as who will be starting up front is who won't be. Championship points leader Denny Hamlin, who holds a tenuous 15-point edge over Johnson, will start 37th in the 43-car field. Kevin Harvick, who trails Hamlin by 46 points, will roll off 28th.

"It was tough ... but our car is gonna be fine tomorrow,'' Hamlin said. "We know that. This is a track you can pass (at). We're looking forward to that part of it. Friday has just never been our strong suit and so we gotta battle back again."

Harvick, who has started better then 20th only one time since August, didn't appear overly concerned with his starting position. He finished third at Martinsville, Va., last month after starting 36th and was runner-up at Las Vegas despite starting 34th.

"I thought we might have been a little better, but not much,'' said Harvick, who drives the No.. 29 Shell-Pennzoil Chevy. "Everybody on the car did a really good job. ... We've been talking about where we want to pit here, the same thing we do every week.

"Our car was very comfortable in race trim and we are ready to go.''

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/19/kasey-kahne-wins-pole-for-nascar-finale-jimmie-johnson-leads-co/

Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings Dallas Mavericks

World No. 1 Rank and More at Stake in European Tour's Finale

Filed under: PGA, European Tour

The world's top ranking is becoming a pretty common storyline heading into golf tournaments these days, and it's something you should get used to. There are three golfers that everyone will be paying attention to -- Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer (pictured), and Graeme McDowell -- and there are two key competitions taking place at the European Tour's final stop this week. Up for grabs this week will be the Race to Dubai and the World's Number One ranking.

For these three, it's been quite the breakout year, and they're the main reason European golf has been shoved into the face of anyone that follows the sport. One look at the six trophies displayed on the first tee at this week's Dubai World Championships and it's clear which continent is playing the best golf.

The Ryder Cup, the U.S. Open Trophy, the Claret Jug (British Open), Wannamaker Trophy (PGA Championship), the Dubai World Championship spectre and the Race to Dubai Trophy signified the dominance by Europe in 2010 and that trio was instrumental in all but one.

So I guess it's fitting that the final tournament of the year, which will determine the best player in Europe, will likely also crown the year's best player and world's top player. Kaymer and McDowell sit one and two respectively in the Race to Dubai with no one else close enough to catch them. The U.S. Open Champion has to finish no less than third in order to overcome the €290,910 difference between him and the PGA Champion. If either of them wins this week, which will, in turn, give them the Race title, they would have a strong case for the best player in 2010.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/11/24/more-than-world-no-1-is-at-stake-in-european-tours-finale/

Pittsburgh Penguins Atlanta Thrashers Carolina Hurricanes

State of the Team: Portland Timbers

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/urw5kQw541g/state-of-the-team-portland-timbers.html

New England Revolution New York Red Bulls Philadelphia Union

Juan Agudelo Lifts US to 1-0 Win Over South Africa in National Team Debut

Filed under: International Soccer, MLS, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team, Columbus Crew, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake

Two U.S. national team debutants, aged 20 and 17, combined on a brilliant late goal to lead a young, experimental American team to a 1-0 win over South Africa before more than 50,000 partisans at Cape Town Stadium.

An exhibition that featured very few clear-cut scoring chances was decided in the 85th minute by a composed and creative assist from midfielder Mikkel Diskerud, 20, and a brilliant finish from teenage forward Juan Agudelo (No. 17 in photo), who made his professional debut for the New York Red Bulls less than three weeks ago.

He turns 18 next Tuesday and is the youngest player ever to score for the senior national team.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/11/17/us-south-africa/

Toronto Raptors Chicago Bulls Cleveland Cavaliers

Recruiting Report: Coaching Carousel Has Impact Nationally

Filed under: Alabama, University of Miami, Texas, Recruiting

The weekend firing by Miami of coach Randy Shannon was the first high-profile termination in the yearly nationwide coaching carousel. But because the Hurricanes attempt to build a wall around south Florida each season on the recruiting trail, Shannon's ouster is sure to send shock waves beyond the Miami fan base.

As of Monday, Miami had just seven public commitments on its board -- far fewer than most high-profile FBS teams have stockpiled to this point of the season. Of those seven, four are considered four-star talent by Rivals.com -- QB Teddy Bridgewater (6-3, 185, Miami, Fla., Northwestern HS), DE Anthony Chickillo (6-3, 226, Tampa, Fla., Alonso HS), WR Phillip Dorsett (5-10, 170, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., St. Thomas Aquinas HS) and DB Albert Louis-Jean (6-1, 172, Brockton, Mass., HS)

Perhaps more notable is that Shannon and his staff were not able to land any public commitments since Chickillo and three-star prospect Jeremy Davis (DB, 6-4, 189, New Berlin, N.Y., Milford Academy) committed on Sept. 9.

Indiana also fired Bill Lynch on Sunday after four seasons. The Hoosiers will try to shore up their 21 public commitments -- including four-star prospects LB Zack Shaw (6-3, 218, Coshocton, Ohio, HS) and ATH Raymon Taylor (5-10, 167, Detroit, Mich., Highland Park HS).

 

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/recruiting-report-coaching-carousel-has-an-impact-nationally/

Tennessee Titans * Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs *

A look at the World Cup bid races

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/gk7Ttjz2QeM/a-look-at-the-world-cup-bid-races.html

Orlando Magic Washington Wizards Denver Nuggets

Nolan Ryan Didn't Ask Andy Pettitte About Playing for Rangers

Filed under: Rangers, Yankees, MLB Rumors, MLB Free Agency

There was a report Monday that the Texas Rangers had expressed interest in signing longtime Yankees southpaw Andy Pettitte. According to the report, team president Nolan Ryan had reached out to Pettitte to gauge his interest in leaving New York for the Lone Star State one more time. Well, apparently this is all news to Nolan Ryan.

Ryan says that he has talked to Pettitte in recent weeks, as Pettitte is a partner in Ryan's company that owns a couple of minor league baseball teams, and he said Pettitte also wanted to wish him luck in the World Series. According to Ryan, when the idea of 2011 came up between the two, it was only to see if Pettitte planned on pitching again next season.

"I asked him if he thought he was going to play in 2011 or retire," Ryan told the Star-Telegram. "He said if he played it would be with the Yankees because he wanted to retire with the Yankees. It wasn't like I was asking him if he wanted to come play for us."

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/nolan-ryan-didnt-ask-andy-pettitte-about-playing-for-rangers/

Washington Capitals Western Conference Calgary Flames

Three for the Show as NASCAR Hits Homestead for Grand Finale

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR

MIAMI -- Dressed in a freshly pressed, button-down shirt, cleanly shaven and appearing slightly preoccupied, Denny Hamlin was the first to arrive for NASCAR's version of a title fight weigh-in -- a formal press conference with the Sprint Cup Series championship contenders in downtown Coral Gables.

Looking a lot younger than the 30 years he turned Thursday, Hamlin politely smiled but more often stared up at the ceiling as his two bearded, 30-something challengers -- four-time defending Cup champ Jimmie Johnson and veteran Kevin Harvick -- arrived and took their seats on either side of him, then seized every opportunity to take good-natured barbs at the birthday boy and each other.

Hamlin, who holds a 15-point edge over Johnson and a 46-point cushion over Harvick entering Sunday's season finale at Homestead-Miami Speedway, called the event "awkward'' because "there's all this s***-talking going on and we're like two feet away (from each other).''

"He definitely seems like the most nervous,'' Harvick said smiling and looking over at Hamlin.

"That's because I'm between you,'' Hamlin replied.

Actually, it's his position in front of them that has made this the most dramatic final race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup since NASCAR first instituted its 10-race playoff format seven years ago.

It is the closest-ever margin between first and second place entering the final race. And Harvick, who has the best average finishing position (8.4) among the three at the 1.5-mile Homestead oval, is still a factor compared to past years when a third-place driver was merely a mathematical technicality.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/11/18/three-for-the-show-as-nascar-hits-homestead-for-grand-finale/

Indianapolis Colts * Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans *

A look at the World Cup bid races

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/gk7Ttjz2QeM/a-look-at-the-world-cup-bid-races.html

New York Jets Baltimore Ravens Cincinnati Bengals

Gil McDougald, Former Yankee, Dead at 82

Gil McDougald, the infielder who played on eight pennant-winning and five World Championship teams with the Yankees, died of prostate cancer Sunday at 82.

"Gil was a great guy, well-liked by the team and a helluva ballplayer," Whitey Ford said. "He was a good fielder and was always a fierce competitor."

McDougald spent his entire career with the Yankees from 1951-60, going to five All-Star games. He became the first Yankee to win Rookie of the Year, batting .306 with 14 home runs in 1951. He achieved another first that year -- the first rookie to hit a grand slam in the World Series. He was also for his versatility, playing every position in the infield except for first base.

McDougald is survived by his wife, seven children, and 14 grandchildren.

Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/gil-mcdougald-former-yankee-dead-at-82/

Kansas City Chiefs * Oakland Raiders * San Diego Chargers *

Reporter on Derek Anderson Tirade: 'I Tried to Be Diplomatic'

Filed under: Arizona Cardinals, NFL Quarterbacks

A day after Derek Anderson made a bad "Monday Night Football" game memorable by snapping at a reporter for asking why Anderson and teammate Deuce Lutui were caught laughing late in a blowout loss to the 49ers, the reporter has defended asking the question.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic touched on the question and the controversy surrounding it Tuesday. There have been differences of opinion as to whether Somers was just doing his job appropriately or stepped over the line in trying to get an answer out of Anderson.

"As most ardent Cardinals fans know, Anderson became angry after the game after I asked him several times about the conversation with Lutui and its context. I tried to be diplomatic and professional, but I guess that's for others to judge. Anderson obviously didn't think so. Some wanted Anderson roasted over spit. Others think I badgered him. I hope I was somewhere between those two extremes, but as I said, that's for others to judge.

"I take no satisfaction in what happened, but I felt the questions were justified. The Cardinals were losing their sixth consecutive game. Their starting quarterback and right guard were smiling on the sidelines. Readers wanted to know why, especially since many of them think this team is not playing as hard as it should."

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Milton Kent Derek Anderson Victim of Media's Blindside Attack

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/reporter-on-derek-anderson-tirade-i-tried-to-be-diplomatic/

C.D. Chivas USA Colorado Rapids FC Dallas

Barcelona destroys Real Madrid (Updated with highlights)

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/yKPsFqPMQgE/barcelona-destroys-real-madrid.html

New York Islanders New York Rangers Philadelphia Flyers

Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle Combine For Oilers Game-Winning Goal

Filed under: Avalanche, Oilers, Western, NHL Videos

Despite a slow start, hopes are still high in Edmonton. The young Oilers have taken their lumps this season, falling victim to more than their fair share of blowouts to this point in the season.

Within those blowout losses, though, we've seen a few real signs of hope for this Edmonton team. Coach Tom Renney is optimistic about his talented young players, and two of them gave the first-year Oiler coach a bit of a reward for his optimism Thursday night.

With the game against Colorado tied 2-2 late in the third, rookies Jordan Eberle and Taylor Hall combined for a pretty goal that gave the Oilers a 3-2 home win over their division rivals.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/26/taylor-hall-jordan-eberle-combine-for-oilers-game-winning-goal/

Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs New Jersey Devils

Derek Anderson Victim of Media's Blindside Sack

Filed under: 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, NFL Media Watch, Sports Business and Media

The official stats from Monday night's Arizona-San Francisco debacle in the desert say that Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson got sacked once, but they are off by one.

The footage of Anderson blowing up at a reporter asking why he and lineman Deuce Lutui had the temerity to laugh on the bench trailing by 18 in the fourth quarter has been repeated and dissected as much as the Zapruder film, but the result is always the same: Anderson comes off as a jerk.

The truth is, Anderson had every right to be angry at the latest example of television and the media showing things without context, then placing the subject under a heat lamp to explain away actions that are likely entirely proper.

Anderson had the bad luck of sharing what appeared to be a private moment with Lutui on a Monday night telecast, when ESPN rolls out a phalanx of cameras to document a dog of a game. If this game had been on a Sunday afternoon, there probably wouldn't have been a camera on the two players.

But there was a camera, and it caught two players, in the throes of a beatdown, sharing a laugh. Perhaps the chuckle was, as has been suggested in some places, about the hopelessness of the situation. Maybe the two men spotted an attractive cheerleader and traded chuckles. Perhaps they saw a player pulling his pants down. Who knows? More importantly, who cares?

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More: Reporter on Derek Anderson Tirade: 'I Tried to Be Diplomatic'

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/30/derek-anderson-victim-of-medias-blindside-sack/

Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans * Denver Broncos

Colorado Rapids' 'Dirty Desire to Win' Leads to First MLS Title

Filed under: MLS, Colorado Rapids, FC Dallas

TORONTO -- The Colorado Rapids' dramatic run through the MLS Cup playoffs presents a convincing argument for the power of intangibles in sports.

No one could argue that they were the league's best team this year. The Rapids finished the regular season 12-8-10, good for fifth in the Western Conference and seventh overall. They won just one of their final four games heading into the playoffs, for which they hadn't qualified since 2007.

And yet, the whole was far greater than the sum of those numbers.

"For anyone out there who didn't back us, I pity you," coach Gary Smith said following his team's 2-1 defeat of FC Dallas in Sunday's MLS Cup Final. "If any money I had, if I knew that every time a side walked out on the pitch they were going to give absolutely everything they got, you ain't far away."

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/11/22/colorado-rapids-dirty-desire-to-win-leads-to-first-mls-title/

Los Angeles Lakers Phoenix Suns Sacramento Kings

Jon Garland Signs With the Dodgers

Filed under: Dodgers, Padres, MLB Hot Stove, MLB Free Agency

Jon Garland didn't have to look far to find an employer for the 2011 season. He just hopped on the I-5 north from San Diego for a couple of hours and pulled into the players' lot at Dodgers Stadium.

The Dodgers announced Friday that they've reached an agreement with Garland on a one-year deal with a club option for 2012. Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times reports that Garland will get $5 million plus incentives in 2011 and that a vesting option worth $8 million will kick in for 2012 if he pitches 190 innings in his first season. It's his second stint with the Dodgers after a late-season trade in 2009 gave him a month with the team.

"We're very pleased to have Jon join this group and give us five very strong starters going into Spring Training," said Dodgers G.M. Ned Colletti. "We saw what Jon was capable of down the stretch in 2009 and again last year within our division. Year after year, he takes the ball 30-plus times and gives his team a chance to win every time out."

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/11/26/jon-garland-signs-with-the-dodgers/

Ottawa Senators Toronto Maple Leafs New Jersey Devils

Monday Movers: PGA Closes Season at Disney; Tiger Still Winless

Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends

Each week, Monday Movers will look back on the previous week in the golf world to see whose stock is rising and who will likely be heading back to the range.

On the Rise

Robert Garrigus -- For the second time this year, Garrigus had a three-stroke lead on the 72nd hole of a tournament. The first came at the St. Jude Classic in June, where he finished with a triple bogey and lost in a playoff to Lee Westwood. He can look back on that week now with much less regret after closing out the final hole of the Children's Miracle Network Classic with a par and a three-stroke win. His first career victory came at a perfect time, as he entered the week 122nd on the money list and in jeopardy of losing his tour card. He became the first player to lead the tour in driving distance and win in the same season since John Daly in 1995.

Kodak Challenge -- The inaugural year for the Kodak Challenge has to be considered a success. Tour rookie Troy Merritt won the $1 million first prize in a playoff over Aaron Baddeley and Rickie Fowler after all three finished the season at 17 under. Merrittt nearly holed out on the 17th at Magnolia and tapped in the birdie for the win. Not only did the Challenge provide extra drama to the final tournament of the season, it also gave fans an opportunity to see Fowler one last time in 2010. Without the opportunity to win this week, the young star would have skipped the finale after the last few weeks of extensive travel.

Stuart Appleby -- The Australian capped off a bounce-back 2010 with a win in his country at the Australian Masters. It took a rally from seven shots back to secure his first win at home in nine years. Appleby made headlines earlier this year after shooting a 59 enroute to a victory at The Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia. Appleby failed to finish in the top 125 a year ago and needed a good year to gain exempt status in 2011.

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Elliott: Robert Garrigus Winner Among Winners at Disney

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/11/15/monday-movers-pga-closes-season-at-disney-tiger-still-winless/

Dallas Cowboys New York Giants Philadelphia Eagles

Monday Movers: Martin Kaymer Reigns Supreme in Europe

Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends, European Tour

Each week, Monday Movers will look back on the previous week in the golf world to see whose stock is rising and who will likely be heading back to the range.

On the Rise

Martin Kaymer -- Kaymer became the youngest player since Ronan Rafferty in 1989 to be crowned Europe's No. 1 golfer. The 25-year-old's only competition in the Race to Dubai was Graeme McDowell, who finished in a tie for 13th -- the same as Kaymer. With the title comes a bonus of €1,092,418 from the €7.5 million bonus pool and moves the German's yearly earnings to €4,461,010, which tops Lee Westwood's record set a year ago by more than €200,000. It's been an incredibly quick rise to the top for Kaymer, who's in just his fourth full season on tour.

Robert Karlsson -- The Swede began the final round of the Dubai Championships by shooting 4 under par through his first three holes to overtake overnight leader, Ian Poulter. The win wouldn't come easy for Karlsson as it took a birdie on the 620-yard 18th to force a playoff. He carried that momentum and pin-point accuracy over into sudden death to card birdie-birdie and walk away with the €910,348 first prize. This is the third year (2006 and 2008) that Karlsson has recorded multiple wins on the European Tour.

President's Cup -- President Cup Team Captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman named their assistants for the 2011 competition on Sunday. During Captains' Day at The Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Australia, Couples, the U.S. Team Captain, announced that he would bring back Jay Haas and Michael Jordan, while Norman, the International Team Captain, did the same with Frank Nobilo. The second International assistant will be decided at a later time, and it marks the first time that each team will have two assistants. Haas, Jordan, and Nobilo were in their same roles at the 2009 President's Cup in which the U.S. won 19.5-14.5.

PGA Tour 2011 Field -- The last few weeks have brought disappointing news with regards to European players participating on the PGA Tour in 2011. Both world No. 1 Lee Westwood and No. 10 Rory McIlroy have stated they will not play in the U.S. next year. The Tour received good news last week from two South African players -- British Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel. Oosthuizen earned his spot on Tour with the win at St. Andrews, while Schwartzel made enough money as a non-member in 2010 thanks to his second place finish at the WGC-CA worth $850,000.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/monday-movers-martin-kaymer-reigns-supreme-in-europe/

Washington Redskins * Chicago Bears * Detroit Lions *

Tiger Woods Lays Up During ESPN Radio's 'Mike and Mike' Interview

by Milton Kent

Filed under: Sports Business and Media

The true purpose of Tiger Woods' much ballyhooed interview with ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike In The Morning was revealed about five minutes after the interview ended. That's when co-host Mike Greenberg read the first of a number of plugs for Woods' golf event next month.

In other words, just like virtually every other interview on Mike and Mike with an active professional athlete, where the celebrity in question answers a couple of questions about the season to date, then touts his commercial sponsor, Woods got the word out about his event without having to get his hands dirty.

In a roughly 25-minute interview over two segments, Woods broke no new ground from the story he has offered the past year. He declined to provide any details about the Thanksgiving Day accident at his home, he said precious little about whom he has taken advice from and he added nothing to speculation that he might have taken human growth hormones. Woods wouldn't even take a shot at Augusta National Chairman Billy Payne, who famously chided him before the Masters this year about his behavior. As Greenberg rightly pointed out, Woods' answers, in many cases, sounded like he was parroting a therapist.

In fairness to Greenberg and co-host Mike Golic, they were put in a no-win situation. They were asked to interview a man who has notoriously kept a wall between himself and the public, parceling out just enough of himself to say that he made the attempt. Recognizing that, the pair attempted before the interview started to lower expectations, first by saying that they weren't going to try to make themselves into Barbara Walters or Mike Wallace, and then by declaring that they would not explore the salacious details of last Thanksgiving and its aftermath.

To their credit, the two of them, and particularly Golic, the former defensive lineman, pressed Woods to the degree that they were allowed to, both by the limits of time and by the evasiveness of the interviewee.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/11/18/tiger-woods-lays-up-during-espn-radios-mike-and-mike-intervie/

Chicago Blackhawks Columbus Blue Jackets Detroit Red Wings

MLS Commissioner Promises Changes in Competition Format

Filed under: MLS

TORONTO -- A convoluted playoff format that produced a farcical Eastern Conference championship game featuring two Western Conference teams was the final straw for MLS commissioner Don Garber, who said Saturday afternoon that there will be slight modifications to the league's competition format next year and "revolutionary" changes after Montreal joins as the 19th club in 2012.

Garber was speaking at a media roundtable in Toronto on the eve of the MLS Cup Final, and was responding to a question from FanHouse regarding the playoff structure that has been in place, with a few tweaks, since 2003.

There has been growing discontent in recent years with that format, which requires an individual club to play only four games to win the championship and doesn't offer any reward for regular season excellence in the first round. Consequently, the results seem almost random.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/11/20/mls-commissioner-promises-changes-in-competition-format/

Washington Redskins * Chicago Bears * Detroit Lions *

AP Top 25 Poll: Duke Is Unanimous No. 1, UConn Makes Historic Leap

Filed under: Connecticut, Duke

Duke finished the week with two decisive victories against Kansas State and Oregon. It picked up another decisive win Monday, capturing each of the 65 first-place votes in the AP Top 25 poll.

Meanwhile, UConn completed the biggest rise in the polls' rankings since 1989, vaulting from unranked to No. 7. The Huskies toppled then-No. 2 Michigan State and then-No. 8 Kentucky in the Maui Invitational. It was the biggest jump since Kansas vaulted from unranked to No. 4 after winning the 1989 preseason NIT.

Duke received all but seven first-place votes a week ago. Six went to Michigan State and the last went to Kansas State, which the Blue Devils defeated to win the CBE Classic. The Blue Devils are the first unanimous No. 1 team since Kansas finished the regular season with all first place votes last season.

Source: http://ncaabasketball.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/ap-top-25-poll-duke-is-unanimous-no-1-uconn-makes-historic-le/

Toronto Maple Leafs New Jersey Devils New York Islanders

The NHL Cycle: Pavelec Tops, Kessel Not, Adams Watch, Plays of the Week

Filed under: Maple Leafs, NHL Fans, NHL Videos, NHL Coaching

Every Monday morning Adam Gretz and Chris Botta recap the week in the greatest hockey league in the world. We call it the NHL Cycle.

THE HOT SEAT
Phil Kessel: The most talented player on the Toronto Maple Leafs has just three goals and two assists over his last 14 games. Kessel is the third-leading scorer on his team, behind Clarke MacArthur and Mikhail Grabovski. He performed well last year despite the pressure of a large contract and the high cost to acquire him from Boston. This year, Kessel has not played up to his standards -- even if he is still on a pace to score close to 40 goals.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ondrej Pavelec: So many worthy candidates, but let's salute Pavelec for his starring role in the turnaround of the Atlanta Thrashers, winners of five straight. This week, Pavelec allowed just two goals over three wins against Detroit, Montreal and Boston. That's on 101 shots against, including 42 in Atlanta's 4-1 win Sunday over the Bruins.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/29/the-nhl-cycle-pavelec-tops-kessel-not-adams-watch-plays-of-t/

Pittsburgh Steelers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts *

Don Cherry Tries to Stay Relevant, Backs Parliament Candidate

Filed under: Sports Business and Media

Don Cherry is at it again, and this time the flamboyant hockey commentator is throwing his weight behind a right-winger -- shock of shocks -- who is running for the Canadian Parliament.

Cherry's voice is on an automated call being dialed into households in the Toronto area, riding in support of ex-cop Julian Fantino, the former head of both the City of Toronto Police Department and next the Ontario Provincial Police. Fantino is running in a federal byelection next week for the right-wing Tory party.

It seems fitting that the pied pier of hockey is a telemarketer for a man in uniform, and Cherry and Fantino are two peas in a pod in more ways than one.

They both believe that Canadian laws are soft on criminals, and there is nothing like the fear factor to stir up emotions in a political debate. The soft on crime card is an easy card to play and ignores the issues of the day.

And they are both on the back nine of colorful and some would say politically incorrect careers.

There's no doubt that Fantino is trying to ride Cherry's popularity into the Canadian Parliament and there's no crime being committed there. One is a retiree making six figures as the alleged conscience of hockey, while the other retiree draws one if not two pensions for his public service and now wants to live off the public purse.

But while Fantino is avoiding public debates on issues, Cherry loves being in the middle of things.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/11/25/don-cherry-tries-to-stay-relevant-backs-parliament-candidate/

Jacksonville Jaguars Tennessee Titans * Denver Broncos