Thursday, July 24, 2008

baseball leans to the left

David Peters was born lefthanded. It took a few raps on the hand by his teachers, but like many in his generation, he switched to being a righty.

Maybe that's why Peters, now 61, became a scholar instead of a first baseman.

Peters is an engineering professor at Washington University in St. Louis who happens to be a baseball nut. He looked at baseball from an engineer's perspective and determined that southpaws have a decided advantage.

"Ninety percent of the human population is righthanded, but in baseball 25 percent of the players, both pitchers and batters, are lefthanded," Peters said.

"Do lefties have an advantage? They definitely do. The statistics bear that out."

Shock signs Lieberman

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) -- The Detroit Shock came up with a way to distract some attention away from their skirmish earlier this week.

For one game at least.

The Shock signed 50-year-old Nancy Lieberman, a Hall of Famer and one of their former coaches, to a seven-day contract on Thursday and she expected to play only that night in Houston.

"It's really a one-game deal," Lieberman said in a telephone interview. "My motivation stems from the fact that I love this game and I never stopped playing it whether it's a pickup game with Deion Sanders and Tony Romo at a church or at a park with my son."

She became the oldest player in WNBA history at 39 while playing for the Phoenix Mercury in 1997, the league's inaugural season.

Shock coach Bill Laimbeer says Lieberman, an ESPN analyst, was impressive during drills during last year's WNBA All-Star game.

"This is not a gimmick," Laimbeer insisted. "I talked to her last year about this and again two weeks ago. This opportunity probably would've happened if we didn't have the incident the other night."

A spot opened up for Lieberman when standout forward Cheryl Ford suffered a season-ending knee injury Tuesday night when the Shock, assistant coach Rick Mahorn and the Los Angeles Sparks were involved in a skirmish.

Lieberman was the general manager and coach of the Shock from 1998-2000. During her professional playing career, she averaged 15.7 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

She played at Old Dominion University from 1976-80, helping the school win two national titles, and played for the U.S. Olympic team in 1976 and 1980.

Lieberman was the first woman to play professionally with men as part of the USBL's Springfield Fame in 1986.

She was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame three years later.

Greg McMakin is a friendly person

In the 30-step walk to the hotel elevator, McMackin spotted a maid. He said, "Hi," and, few minutes later, she was offering best wishes for the coming football season.

"I like people," said the first-year University of Hawai'i head football coach, who also engaged in conversations with a waiter and restaurant hostess.

These days, McMackin is a most happy fella.

It is six months since he succeeded June Jones, who orchestrated the most successful football season in school history.

McMackin's first recruiting class, constructed in a frenetic three weeks, drew raves from computer geeks.

And he is well liked. UH offensive coordinator Ron Lee mused that McMackin shakes more hands "than Obama." He has not met a speaking invitation he did not accept.

"I've always been a friendly person," McMackin said. "My wife is that way, too. And it's easier to be that way in Hawai'i because the people of Hawai'i are the same way. I'm amazed by the response we've received. I know I'm on my honeymoon. We haven't played any games, and we had a great season last year. There's a lot of enthusiasm. I feel really responsible to do a great job because of the faith of the administrators, coaches, players and fans. I take this as a very serious responsibility."

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Woe is Wie

Just when he seemed that things were getting better...

Michelle Wie finished the third round of the State Farm Classic alone in second today — that is, if she hadn't already been disqualified.

Wie failed to sign her scorecard after yesterday's second round. She showed up today and shot 5-under 67 to finish alone in second at 17 under, one stroke back of Yani Tseng. That's when Wie learned of the LPGA's ruling.

The 18-year-old Wie, who appeared to have been crying, told reporters she made a mistake.

"I don't know how it happened," she said.

Wie, who is playing a part-time schedule while attending Stanford, was having by far her best tournament of the year. She opened with a 5-under 67 and followed with rounds of 65 and 67 — though the last two won't count.

Monday, July 07, 2008

Mariah Carey baseball star

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WCH9o74Jdgs

Chestnut remains top dog

In one of the most exciting finishes in hot dog eating competition history, defending champion Joey Chestnut today defeated six-time winner Takeru Kobayashi in overtime to keep the Mustard Belt, $20,000 and the world's fastest hot dog eater title.

Both eaters downed 59 hot dogs in the regular 10-minute competition at Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hotdog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, forcing a speed-eating, five-dog overtime.

Nadal ends Federer's reign at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England — Rafael Nadal, grass stains on his white shirt and a Spanish flag tucked under his arm, scampered through the Centre Court stands to celebrate his first Wimbledon title with hugs and handshakes.

Roger Federer sat in his changeover chair, alone with his thoughts, alone with the knowledge that he had come so close to becoming the first man since the 1880s to win a sixth consecutive title at the All England Club.

Two points from victory, the No. 1-ranked Federer couldn't pull it out, instead succumbing to No. 2 Nadal, 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7, yesterday in a 4-hour, 48-minute test of wills that was the longest men's final in Wimbledon history — and quite possibly the greatest.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

NBA leaves Seattle

Clay Bennett finally found a dollar amount that would sever his contentious relationship with the city of Seattle — $75 million.

As a result, the SuperSonics are headed to Oklahoma City with Bennett leading the way, leaving behind the team name, colors and 41 years of history.

Oklahoma City will have an NBA franchise for the 2008-09 season after a settlement announced yesterday between the team and the city of Seattle, ending the clashing bond with the city that culminated in a six-day federal trial over terms of the team's KeyArena lease. The judge was scheduled to rule yesterday afternoon.

"We made it," Bennett said after stepping to an Oklahoma City podium featuring the NBA logo and the letters OKC. "The NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season."