Sports News

NHL offers $140-million for financially troubled Phoenix Coyotes

noreply@blogger.com (Vash) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 02:43:00 +0000

The Associated Press Phoenix 2009-08-26 22:00

Phoenix - The NHL is offering about US$140-million to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. This would avoid a sticky issue still facing the case by accepting the existing lease to play in Glendale.

England regain the Ashes

noreply@blogger.com (Vash) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:09:00 +0000

Andrew Flintoff was appropriately involved in the pivotal moment as England bowled out Australia to reclaim the Ashes at the Oval.

Michael Hussey (121) was immovable for almost six hours for Australia. But they still finished 348 all out on the fourth evening as a late three-wicket burst from Stephen Harmison helped England complete an npower series-clinching 197-run win.

Doubts were beginning to surface nonetheless - even with more than a day-and-a-half remaining to see off the tourists' resistance - when Flintoff struck to end a third-wicket stand of 127 between Ricky Ponting (66) and Hussey.

Australia had reached 217 for two in glorious batting conditions, and it was far from obvious where the next wicket might come from as distant hope emerged that they could even somehow make the world record-smashing 546 they had been set for victory.

Ponting's team needed only a draw to retain the urn.

Flintoff, meanwhile, had done little of substance with either bat or ball to mark his 78th and final Test for his country before retirement because of a chronic knee injury.

But it was in those circumstances that he summoned a moment of brilliance in the field, throwing down the stumps as Australia's captain tried in vain to make his ground - responding to a call for a single to wide mid-on from Hussey.

It was a game-breaking instant, reminiscent of Ponting's run-out by substitute Gary Pratt in Australia's Trent Bridge defeat on the way to losing the Ashes for the first time in a generation in 2005.

This time, Hussey did his best to keep England at bay. But even his 219-ball 10th Test hundred could not keep back the tide in a match which had previously been notable for the nine first-innings wickets shared by Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann - match figures eight for 158 - and a century on day three from home debutant Jonathan Trott.

Queen hails England Ashes victory

noreply@blogger.com (Vash) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:28:00 +0000

The Queen led tributes to the victorious England cricket team after they emphatically swept aside Australia to regain the Ashes.

Inspired by the mercurial Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff, appearing in his last Test, England secured a 197-run win over Australia to claim cricket's biggest prize.

The victory sparked joyous scenes in pubs, bars and living rooms across the county as the tension from the nail-biting five-match series was finally released.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "The Queen congratulates the England team on their victory in The Ashes, and extends her good wishes to both teams on their excellent performances over the course of the series."

The Prime Minister will also write to the England team congratulating them on their win.

The title has been Australia's since they demolished England 5-0 in 2006-07.

But today's victory at the Oval in London gave England a 2-1 series win.

Flintoff, as so often, made the telling contribution that turned the game in England's favour.

His brilliant run out dismissed Aussie captain and dangerman Ricky Ponting after stubborn resistance from the tourists.

The England bowlers then proceeded to tear into the remaining batsman with victory secured as Graeme Swann dismissed Mike Hussey to claim the historic urn.

Spanish delight as Alonso fastest in F1 European GP practice

noreply@blogger.com (Vash) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:04:00 +0000

VALENCIA, Spain - Fernando Alonso provided Spanish fans with hope of a successful Renault weekend Friday after setting the fastest lap time in European ...

Williams, Dementieva advance to quarter-finals at women's Rogers Cup

noreply@blogger.com (Vash) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:35:00 +0000

Toronto - Serena Williams got a little revenge for her sister at the Rogers Cup.

The second-seeded American cruised by Ukranian Alona Bondarenko 6-1, 6-4 in the third round of the US$2-million WTA event Thursday to advance to the quarter-finals.

The victory may have been extra sweet for Williams, the highest-seeded player left at the tournament after top-seed Dinara Safina was eliminated. After Venus Williams fell to Kateryna Bondarenko on Wednesday, sister Serena returned the favour by eliminating Alona, Kateryna's sister.

Williams will face the winner of China's Jie Zheng's match with Lucie Safarova of the Czech Republic later Thursday.

Earlier, Elena Dementieva rallied against a persistent Shahar Peer, defeating the Israeli 6-1, 1-6, 6-4. The fourth-seeded Russian stumbled in the second set and needed to fight Peer off in the third.

Dementieva will face Australia's Samantha Stosur in the quarter-finals. Stosur swept France's Virginie Razzano 6-3, 6-1 earlier Thursday.

Meanwhile, Aravane Rezai couldn't repeat the magic of her huge upset over Safina, falling 6-3, 6-4 to Russia's Alisa Kleybanova.

Lopes-Schliep wins silver in 100-metre hurdles at world track championships

noreply@blogger.com (Vash) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:34:00 +0000

The Canadian Press BERLIN | Wednesday, August 19th, 2009 4:57 pm

BERLIN - Canadian hurdler Priscilla Lopes-Schliep has a world championship silver medal to go with her Olympic bronze.

Usain Bolt wins 200 metres in another record time at world track meet

noreply@blogger.com (Vash) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 23:25:00 +0000

The Associated Press Berlin, Germany | Thursday, August 20th, 2009 2:56 pm

Berlin, Germany - Star sprinter Usain Bolt has broken another world record. Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica shattered his 200 metres world record, clocking 19.19 seconds to win the world championship gold medal on Thursday.

He set the previous world record of 19.30 at last year's Beijing Olympics.

Bolt has become the only man ever to hold the 100 and 200 Olympic and world titles as well as the world records at the same time.