EZ Sports Online Weblog: July 2005 Archives

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July 20, 2005

Jets cornerback Abraham decides to retire after nine seasons in NFL

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) - Jets cornerback Donnie Abraham has decided to retire.

Abraham thought about retiring after the season ended, but participated in off-season training activities to figure out whether he really wanted to give up the sport. He made his decision earlier this week, and informed the team.
As a result, the Jets traded for Cowboys cornerback Pete Hunter on Thursday.

The 31-year-old Abraham, who started every game last season, spent the last three years with the Jets after starting his career with Tampa Bay. In nine NFL seasons, he had 447 tackles, 94 passes defended and 38 interceptions - three returned for touchdowns.

Posted by admin at 04:40 PM | Comments (0)

July 17, 2005

'Danica-mania' moves to Nashville - with a few limits attached

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The time apparently has come for a few limits on the travelling Indy Racing League show known as "Danica-mania."

TERESA M. WALKER
On Thursday, the IRL arrived at the Nashville Superspeedway for Saturday night's Firestone Indy 200, and getting to the rookie driver who's been making history almost everywhere she stops this year is getting tougher.

Danica Patrick, fresh off an appearance at the ESPY Awards on Wednesday night in Los Angeles, attended an autograph signing at the headquarters of Bridgestone Firestone with a police officer in tow. Her schedule limited her to 30 minutes, most of which were spent signing for employees who rushed to get the must-have signature of the day.

Seeing the lengthy lines she has attracted in her previous stops, and with Patrick poised to contend for a second straight pole in qualifying Friday, track officials decided last week to hand out 400 free passes for Friday night's autograph session. They were snapped up quickly.

Not bad for an event sold out for a third straight year.

"When you add Danica to the equation, it has taken this event to an entirely new level," track general manager Cliff Hawks said. "The Indy Racing League is experiencing, I believe, a level of star power that they have not had since the inception of the league. She's probably the most significant addition to the series that they've had in a long time, and we're feeling the positive effects."

And for people not swept up in the Danica excitement, the Firestone Indy 200 has a little something for everyone.

Defending champion Tony Kanaan is looking for a second straight victory, and the defending series champ is trying to chase down teammate Dan Wheldon in the points race. Kanaan isn't ready to cede the season title despite trailing by 76 points. Wheldon is trying to tie the series record with his fifth victory this season.

But Kanaan thinks his team is ready to build off its victory at Kansas two weeks ago.

"Obviously, momentum, it's everything. It's a big part of racing, so I think the guys are pumped, and we're coming to a race track that we had success. I don't think we had the best car here last year to win the race. We got in a situation where we ended up winning," he said.

"If we can carry this momentum ... it will help us a lot."

Buddy Lazier, who won the inaugural race here in 2001, is back in a car for the first time since finishing fifth at the Indianapolis 500. He will be racing for Panther Racing this weekend and at Michigan, with the possibility of more to come after Pennzoil joined on as a primary sponsor Thursday.

Dario Franchitti would like to win at the track he considers his home because it's a short drive from the home he shares with his wife, actress Ashley Judd.

If that weren't enough, there's the fact that this 1.33-mile oval features the only concrete track on the IRL's 17-race schedule.

The concrete sections make for a bumpy ride, and the surface shreds the Firestone tires, leaving rubber marbles that make the track slick late in the race and away from the racing groove.

With Patrick being new to the tracks this season, she has been tapping her Rahal-Letterman teammates for inside tips before practice and qualifying. Buddy Rice won the pole here last year and only a late tie-up with Wheldon knocked him back to a fifth-place finish.

"I don't think it's any secret that Rahal-Letterman has been strong on all the mile-a-half tracks. It's a mile-a-third, but it's still the same. It's a high-banked, big track, and with the Honda power, I think it puts us in a very good position to win anytime we come onto one of these tracks," Rice said.

Posted by admin at 04:42 PM | Comments (0)

July 15, 2005

Omar Vizquel's three-run homer helps Giants beat Dodgers 4-3

LOS ANGELES (AP) - When San Francisco's Omar Vizquel hits a home run, he's always surprised. It happened for just the 68th time in his 2,222nd career game Thursday night.

Vizquel's three-run homer in the seventh drove in the go-ahead runs, and the San Francisco Giants took advantage of the early ejection of Los Angeles starter Brad Penny to beat the Dodgers 4-3 for the 10,000th victory in franchise history. Meanwhile, Giants slugger Barry Bonds told MLB.com that he doesn't know if he's going to play this season.
Bonds, who hasn't played this year because of knee problems, wasn't with the team. He returned to his Beverly Hills home in late June to continue rehabilitation.

Bonds, who has 703 lifetime homers to rank third on baseball's all-time list, spoke with MLB.com by telephone.

"He's progressing, but there's not a lot to report," assistant general manager Ned Colletti said before the game. "He's showing signs of progress, but there's no timetable for baseball work to start and there's no timetable for a return. He's just slowly getting better."

Vizquel hit an 0-2 pitch from D.J. Houlton (4-3) off the screen attached to the right-field pole for his second homer of the season, giving the Giants a 4-1 lead.

"I felt pretty sluggish today, really slow," Vizquel said. "It was kind of like playing in slow motion. That at-bat, I said, 'Wake up, do something.' I got a pitch to hit, and there it goes.

"Every time I hit a home run is by mistake."

Penny was ejected in the third inning by plate umpire Rob Drake after tossing his helmet in protest of a call at first base.

"He was throwing pretty hard, the fastball was jumping out of his hand," Vizquel said. "It obviously made an impact on their team."

Jason Schmidt (7-5) pitched six solid innings to snap a two-game losing streak. Tyler Walker, the fourth Giants pitcher, worked the ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances.

San Francisco's three seventh-inning runs were unearned thanks to the second error of the game by Jeff Kent, normally a second baseman but playing first to take pressure off his sore left hamstring.

Jason Ellison reached base with one out when Kent couldn't handle a throw from Houlton, and pinch-hitter Adam Shabala followed with a single. Houlton retired Michael Tucker before Vizquel came through.

The loss was the fifth straight and 12th in 17 games for the Dodgers, who fell a season-worst nine games below .500 (40-49).

The Dodgers scored twice off Scott Munter in their half on a run-scoring infield out by Mike Edwards and a two-out, RBI double by Jason Phillips. LaTroy Hawkins, who allowed the hit by Phillips, walked Antonio Perez intentionally to load the bases before striking out Jayson Werth to end the inning.

The Dodgers scored in the fourth when Perez hit a two-out single, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Jason Grabowski.

The Giants tied it in the sixth on two-out singles by J.T. Snow, Moises Alou and Ray Durham.

Penny tried to sacrifice with a runner at first and nobody out in the third. Schmidt tried for the force at second, but the throw was wide and Jason Repko was called safe. Penny beat shortstop Vizquel's low relay to first, but was called out by umpire Alfonso Marquez for turning toward second.

Penny protested before returning to the dugout, and tossed his helmet as he approached the third-base line, prompting Drake to immediately eject him. Penny then had to be held back by third base coach Jim Lett and bench coach Glenn Hoffman before leaving the field.

Penny allowed one hit in three scoreless innings.

"I guess you can't have a conversation with an umpire anymore. Him, you can't talk to," Penny said regarding Drake. "Other umpires, you can.

"He said he didn't throw me out because of the helmet, but that's the only thing it could have been. He said it wasn't because of what I said, but I didn't say anything derogatory towards anybody. I shouldn't get tossed in that situation."

Schmidt was lifted for a pinch hitter after allowing four hits and one run. He walked four, struck out seven and threw 112 pitches.

Notes: The Giants, who began play as the New York Gothams in 1889, have a 10,000-8,511 record. They became the first major league team to reach 10,000 wins. ... Perez had three hits and two stolen bases. ... The Dodgers recalled RHP Steve Schmoll from triple-A Las Vegas before the game. Schmoll retired the Giants in order in the eighth. ... Shabala was recalled from triple-A Fresno before the game. ... Dodgers manager Jim Tracy said that All-Star SS Cesar Izturis, sidelined since June 30 because of a strained right hamstring, will be activated Friday. ... Dodgers OF Milton Bradley, sidelined since May 30 because of a torn ligament in his right ring finger, begins a rehab assignment Friday night in Las Vegas.

Posted by admin at 04:17 PM | Comments (0)

July 10, 2005

Report: drug-testing policy to be part of new collective bargaining agreement

TORONTO (CP) - The NHL's new collective bargaining agreement will include a stiff drug-testing policy, a league source told The Canadian Press on Tuesday.

The policy would see players subject to a minimum of two drug tests a year with no advance warning. A player would earn a 20-game suspension for a first-time offence, a 60-game ban for a second offence and a permanent suspension from the NHL after a third violation.
Commissioner Gary Bettman and NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow suggested the league and union would introduce such a policy after the two appeared before a U.S. congressional hearing on steroid use last May.

Posted by admin at 04:33 PM | Comments (0)

July 05, 2005

DEMI AND ASHTON ARE BRANDED COLD, SELFISH AND MEAN

EXCLUSIVE: In part two of Ashton Kutcher's sister-in-law's tell-all, she claims he snubbed his disabled twin brother over $2,500 loan to buy a hearing aid

Ashton Kutcheris living
a multi-million dollar
lifestyle with girlfriend
Demi Moore while his
disabled twin has to claim welfare
to help feed his baby son Ashton's sister-in-law Melissa
Kutcher, 24, claims the Punk'd star
has done little to help his brother
Michael who suffers from cerebra
palsy and survived a life-or-death
heart transplant 13 years ago.
In the second installment of our
exclusive interview with Melissa,
she blows the lid off Ashton's past
flings with Britney Spears and Tara
Reid — and reveals the truth behind
Ashton's image as a caring family man.
Melissa said: "Ashton told the
world he loves to help his sickly
brother but in reality he doesn't take
too good care of him.
"A few months ago Michael asked
Ashton if he could borrow $2,500
for a hearing aid. Ashton asked if he
could get a loan from their parents or
a bank and Michael told him that
wasn't an option.
"Ashton then told Michael he
would think about it and call him
back about it."
The vast difference in the
twins' lifestyles is reflected
in Ashton's choice of
Christmas gift for Michael
and Melissa, who have a nine-month-old baby, Jackson.

Melissa said: "For Christmas Ashton
gave us a $3,000 Pottery Barn
gift card. While I'm grateful, we've
never shopped there and there isn't a
store within 100 miles of our city.
"I'm sure someone gave it to him
and he just re-gifted it to us. I would
have sooner had a $3,000 gift card
for Wal-Mart.
"When Ashton does send Michael
something it's usually used clothing
and shoes. One time their father
brought us back a bag of gifts from
Ashton and I had to laugh. There
were cigars, a back scratcher, UGG
slippers, a robe and a garter belt. It
looked like someone went around
Ashton's house and picked up
things off the floor.
"We've never asked for a lot and we
never expected Ashton to take care
of us. But I was hoping at the very
least he could've helped out his twin
brother a little more."Until recently Michael lived in an
$8,000 trailer in Cedar Rapids, Iowa with Melissa, who has three
children with different men. Meanwhile
Demi and Ashton have homes
in Hollywood and Idaho.
"We now rent a home that costs
about $58,000; Ashton's big wheel
truck probably cost double that. We
earn so little money our children are
on a form of state welfare. It's embarrassing
when people know we are
related to Ashton Kutcher. Ashton
has always just cared about himself."
Melissa said Demi and Ashton
were so insensitive they bet $500 on
how to treat her son's constipation.
"Our newborn son was constipated
while we were staying with them
over Thanksgiving last year. Demi
thought she could help by rubbing
homeopathic oil on his stomach,
massaging his intestinal tract. When
she did Ashton told her she was massaging
the intestinal tract the wrong way. "They made a $500 bet on which way the intestinal tract moves down the stomach. "They went online and found Demi was right. Ashton pulled out five $100 bills and gave them to Demi. "Meanwhile my son was still in pain from constipation. Demi had the idea to use some of her homeopathic oil to help ubricate him. It didn't work, so she called her personal doctor who recommended some soy milk. But it cost about $24 a can. I told Ashton we couldn't afford it. I said, 'Ashton you know we are on a form of welfare (W.I.C.) and they don't provide for expensive formula.' Ashton said, 'Well tell them you need this stuff and maybe they'll change it.'" Ashton's stint as a male model took him away from Cedar Rapids and his acting career skyrocketed after he started dating Demi. Melissa claims Ashton and Michael did not have the happiest of childhoods. "Their parents divorced when Ashton and Michael were 13. Michael learned of the divorce while he lay in his hospital bed after his heart transplant surgery," Melissa said.

Demi and Ashton's Kabbalah beliefs have also caused tension in the family, according to Melissa, who has recently been served with ivorce papers by Michael.

She said: "Ashton has his sister
Tausha and his father wear the red Kabbalah bracelet. He used to send Kabbalah materials to our house. Recently he sent Michael
some tapes and he's now dabbling in it. This has caused further strain
on our marriage because I don't believe in it all. Ashton told Michael I have negative energy. I'm sure this
comes from Demi."

Melissa said that Ashton had flings with Britney Spears and Tara Reid before he started dating Demi. She
claimed Ashton spoke of a tryst with Britney occurring in May 2003.

"He said he slept with Britney Spears in New York when he hosted Saturday Night Live," she said. "Britney was in town and Ashton ditched his parents and he spent the night with Britney."

Britney's publicist said: "I won't ask (Britney about this) because that's none of my business."

Melissa continued: "Since Ashton started dating Demi, Michael thinks he's done a complete change. When Ashton was dating Brittany urphy, she spent time with Michael and the rest of the family
and appeared to really enjoy their company.

"Ashton doesn't make a lot of time to talk to or see his twin. When Michael calls Ashton he has to go through several layers of personal assistants to talk to him.

"Ashton's family calls him by his real name, Chris. There's a big joke in the family every time Michael talks to him — they wonder if he's going to speak to his brother Chris or
Ashton the Hollywood celebrity.
"When Michael gets off the phone
he'll say, 'I was just talking to Ashton,' meaning the conversation was brief and impersonal. Once in a blue moon Ashton will spend 30 minutes on the phone with Michael. When he does it means a lot to Michael, who will say, 'It was good talking to Chris.'" Melissa added: "I think there'll be a wedding in the next few months. The family was told they will be given a two hour notice to get on a plane
and be flown somewhere."

Posted by admin at 02:52 PM | Comments (0)

July 04, 2005

Armstrong camp wary of backlash despite great start to Texan's farewell Tour

LA CHATAIGNERAIE, France (AP) - Six-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong began Stage 3 of his farewell race Monday, setting out on a long, flat route with the Texan looking to stay out of trouble.
Monday's 212.5-kilometre trek from La Chataigneraie to Tours generally favours sprinters, meaning Armstrong will try and stay in the main pack away from potential crashes as the faster riders near the front jostle for position. Armstrong's team says it is wary that its great start was too good too soon in the gruelling three-week race.
Armstrong consolidated a healthy lead in Sunday's second stage, safely finishing 63rd in the main pack while 10 riders fell during the 181.5-kilometre trek from Challans to Les Essarts.

The American, going for a record seventh straight Tour victory before he retires, was second overall and led Jan Ullrich of Germany and Ivan Basso of Italy by more than a minute, with Kazakhstan rider Alexandre Vinokourov 51 seconds behind.

American George Hincapie, a vital cog in all of Armstrong's Tour wins, believed the race shouldn't be as easy as it has been in the first two days.

"The race is three weeks long, there's a long way to go," Hincapie said Sunday. "We're not that confident."

He felt Ullrich's T-Mobile team, which included Vinokourov and Andreas Kloeden, last year's runner-up, was poised for a backlash.

"They're fighters and they'll keep on fighting. There's no rest until Paris," Hincapie said.

Ullrich's ambitions for a second Tour victory were dealt a severe blow Friday when he crashed into the back of his team car during a training run, cutting his neck close to the jugular vein.

He looked demoralized during Saturday's time trial - conceding 66 seconds to Armstrong - but appeared determined again on Sunday while placing 19th just behind the front-runners in a dangerous sprint stage won by Belgian Tom Boonen.

Posted by admin at 02:41 PM | Comments (0)

July 03, 2005

Shawn Green homers, drives in three runs as D'backs beat Dodgers 10-3

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Shawn Green again tormented the Los Angeles Dodgers, who could use a few healthy outfielders.

Green homered and drove in three runs, Chris Snyder also had three RBIs and Chad Tracy hit a two-run homer, leading the Arizona Diamondbacks to a 10-3 victory Sunday night. The injury-riddled Dodgers, already missing centre fielder Milton Bradley with a torn ligament in his right ring finger and left fielder Ricky Ledee with a strained left hamstring, received more bad news when J.D. Drew was hit by a pitch from Arizona rookie Brad Halsey and broke his left wrist.
"It was a fastball that hit me right on the wrist," said Drew, who homered three times in the previous two games. "I went out there to test it and it started to swell on me. I came in and got a clean X-ray, and it showed a clean break.

"It's going to be hard to pick up where I left off when I get back. It's out of my control. I was being aggressive at the plate and one just got away from him."

Adding to Los Angeles' woes, Green hit his 14th homer of the season and fifth against the Dodgers - who are still paying $10 million of his 2005 salary after trading the two-time all-star to the Diamondbacks in January for four minor leaguers.

"It's always gratifying to hit home runs here and have good games here - but to do it under those circumstances, it's definitely an added bonus," said Green, who set a Dodgers franchise record with 49 home runs in 2001. "I enjoy playing here. But we still play them six more times. I don't want to get too carried away."

Jason Phillips hit a two-run homer for the Dodgers, who completed the first half of their schedule with a 38-43 record - six games worse than last year at this stage. The defending NL West champions are 6 1/2 games behind division-leading San Diego, and two behind the Diamondbacks.

"It's just amazing, how many people have gone down," rookie outfielder Jason Repko said. "And J.D. is a key player, so we'll have to see how it works out. But we're going to find a way to do it."

That will be up to general manager Paul DePodesta. When asked if the club could survive this latest bombshell, he took a stoic attitude.

"We don't have a choice. We have to at this point," DePodesta said. "This has been pretty remarkable. I don't think you could find anyone in this room who's ever seen anything like this, but those are the cards we've been dealt, so we've got to do something with it. We have an awful lot of prospects who I feel would be good trade chips, so we'll see."

Drew, batting .286 with 15 homers and 36 RBIs, was just starting to feel good about his ailing left knee when this latest mishap occurred. He is scheduled to see a hand specialist on Tuesday, but one Dodger said that Drew told some teammates, "I'll see you in about 6-8 weeks."

Halsey (5-7) won for the first time since May 31, after losing all five of his starts in June with a 7.86 ERA for the month. He allowed three runs and seven hits in 5 1-3 innings, striking out three, walking two and hitting three batters.

After giving up half of a 6-0 lead, the left-hander had to hold his breath in the fourth as Antonio Perez's bid for a game-tying three-run homer was caught by Green only a few feet from the right-field fence.

D.J. Houlton (4-2) lasted only two innings in front of an unhappy sellout crowd of 55,868 that stayed for the entire game for fireworks show afterwards. The rookie right-hander faced 14 batters, giving up six runs, six hits and two walks.

The Diamondbacks, who have outscored their opponents 68-26 in the first inning, provided Halsey with a 5-0 cushion before he threw a pitch.

Green opened the scoring with a two-out homer to right after a leadoff double by Craig Counsell. Royce Clayton had an RBI single and Snyder added a two-run double.

Arizona third baseman Troy Glaus, hitless in his last 15 at-bats, got the night off. He aggravated a strained tendon behind his left knee while sliding to break up a double play in the eighth inning of Saturday's 7-5 win. The three-time all-star, who already has received two cortisone shots this season, is expected to get another one before the all-star break.

Notes: Dodger Stadium organist Nancy Bea Hefley was invited by the Chicago Cubs' triple-A Iowa club to perform during a four-game engagement July 18-21. ... Halsey, who helped pitch Texas to a College World Series title in 2002, was making his second start since the Longhorns duplicated the feat on June 26. ... Dodgers SS Cesar Izturis, who was named to the NL all-star team as a reserve, sat out his third straight game with tightness in his right hamstring. ... Arizona is 7-5 against the Dodgers, who won 16 of the 19 meetings last season. Four of those victories were by RHP Jose Lima, who is 1-7 with a 7.58 ERA in 17 starts this year with Kansas City.

Posted by admin at 02:39 PM | Comments (0)

July 01, 2005

Danica Patrick falls off pole pace early; Kanaan wins Argent Mortgage Indy 300

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) - The pole and the crowd might have belonged to Danica Patrick. The trophy - and the last word - went to Tony Kanaan. "You guys wanted Danica to win? Sorry," Kanaan said after his Indy Racing League victory Sunday at Kansas Speedway. "You got to wait until next time."

A 1-2-3 qualifying effort by Patrick and Rahal Letterman Racing teammates Buddy Rice and Vitor Meira led some to believe the team might dominate the Argent Mortgage Indy 300 - as it did here last year, when Rice edged Meira in the second-closest IRL finish in history.
Instead, Patrick's first career pole proved to be the highlight of her day. The 23-year-old rookie, only the second woman in league history to start from the pole, struggled with mechanical problems all day and finished ninth on the 1 1/2-mile tri-oval.

Kanaan edged Andretti Green teammate Dan Wheldon by .012 seconds - the sixth-closest finish in league history - for his first victory of the season and the fifth of his career.

"I don't hear anybody talking about Rahal Letterman now, so who cares? They can talk all they want," said Kanaan, the defending series champion. "The race is finished when the checkered flag drops, and now they're going to have to talk about us."

Patrick said she did everything she could to win.

"It would have been nice to finish up front, where I think the car was fast enough to finish, but I worked so hard today," Patrick said. "I basically raced side by side for 200 laps. I did all that I could."

With only three cautions and the last 61 laps of the 200-lap race under green, Wheldon's strategy of pitting earlier than the rest of the field appeared to have him headed to his fifth victory in eight races this season.

The points leader and Indianapolis 500 winner took the lead with three laps to go, when Rice had to pit.

But Kanaan, who pitted in the 190th lap, went ahead on the next lap and then held on to deny Wheldon, who needed a win to tie Sam Hornish Jr.'s record for most victories in a season.

"I love Tony to bits. I'm glad he beat me instead of somebody else, but losing like this is difficult to take," said Wheldon, who led 111 laps after struggling to find speed all week and starting 11th.

"I don't know that we found any more speed," said Wheldon, whose points lead over Kanaan shrank from 83 points to 75. "I think other people lost some speed today."

Meira, running just behind the leaders, made a last-second dive to the inside, crossing below the white line, but still came up third.

"If I could keep my foot down and on the inside, it's a little downhill, so that was my only shot," Meira said. "I tried outside on Wheldon when it was only me and him, but I couldn't make it."

Dario Franchitti, another Andretti Green racer, was fourth, followed by Tomas Scheckter, Scott Sharp, Darren Manning, Helio Castroneves, Patrick and Rice.

"We tried to save fuel for the end and hoped for a yellow flag," said Rice, who beat Meira by only .0051 seconds in the 2004 race. "With one yellow lap, we could have stolen the race."

Patrick Carpentier of Joliette, Que., was 14th.

"I must have the slowest car in the field," Carpentier said. "I was proud of the work I had done up to the last stop, but unfortunately, when I came back on the track, I was not in the right place."

"It's quite a frustrating result," he added. "During the race, I had the opportunity to set myself up with several cars and that's how I made my way up the field. But with 10 laps to go, it was mission impossible. Let's hope that things can improve from here."

Carpentier said he is returning to Joliette to rest before the next race.

Patrick, who joined Sarah Fisher as the second woman to win a pole after qualifying first Saturday, lost the lead to Rice on the opening lap and dropped to fifth on the second. She got as high as fourth late in the race, after falling as low as 15th, but never challenged for the lead.

"On the start, there's nothing I could have done," Patrick said. "It was foot to the floor. I couldn't run fourth gear, and fifth gear was so long that everyone passed me."

Patrick's engine also cut out on her once, and she had problems getting away from pit stops because her crew had her traction control turned off.

But winning the pole was the latest in a string of firsts for Patrick. In May, Patrick became the first woman to lead a lap at the Indianapolis 500 and placed fourth, the best finish by a woman in the 89-year history of the race.

Rice led for 12 laps, the first time he has been out front all season after winning three races and finishing third in the points last year.

"We didn't have the best car today," he said. "It was just pushing too much in the corners. I had to leave a lot in the corners or I was going to hit the fence."

Posted by admin at 02:43 PM | Comments (0)