Keepingitreal

NO. 2 ALABAMA 26, AUBURN 21 Alabama Squeaks Past Auburn

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- No. 2 Alabama found its championship form in the nick of time. Outplayed most of the game, the Crimson Tide stayed unbeaten with a 26-21 victory Friday over Auburn, taking the lead with a nearly perfect drive that was capped by Greg McElroy's 4-yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with 1:24 left. Alabama (12-0, 8-0 Southeastern Conference) to complete a second straight perfect regular season, but did it the hard way against its bitter rival. The Tide fell behind in the opening minutes, but came out ahead to do its part to set up 1 vs. 2 showdown with top-ranked Florida in the SEC championship game. But forget the national and league championship, the state title almost slipped away. Auburn (7-5, 3-5) pushed the ball to the Alabama 37 on the final drive, but Chris Todd's pass to the end zone was batted down by the Tide defense.oth No. 3 Texas and No. 2 Alabama remained on track for a possible appearance in the Bowl Championship Series title game with uninspired victories this week. The Longhorns needed a Heisman-worthy performance from Colt McCoy to escape College Station with a 49-39 victory over unranked Texas A&M on Thursday night. The Crimson Tide were trailing late against its fierce rival, Auburn, before coming back for a 26-21 win Friday. The less-than-impressive victories have some questioning why the Longhorns and the Tide (or its SEC counterpart, Florida) seem predetermined to make the B.C.S. title game, especially when there are undefeated teams like Cincinnati, Texas Christian and Boise State. CONTINUE READING...

Tiger Woods Out of Hospital After Car Accident

 Tiger Woods, the world’s No. 1-ranked golfer, was injured early Friday in a one-car accident in front of his home, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. His wife broke the back window of his vehicle with a golf club to help get him out of the car, according to a local police chief.Woods was leaving his home at 2:25 a.m. Friday in the Isleworth community in Windermere, an Orlando suburb, when the Cadillac Escalade he was driving struck a fire hydrant and drove into a neighbor’s tree. His spokesman said that Woods, 33, was treated and released from Health Central Hospital in Ocoee in good condition.

Windermere’s police chief, Daniel Saylor, said officers found Woods lying in the street and his wife, Elin, with him. “She was frantic, upset,” Saylor said in a briefing Friday night. “It was her husband laying on the ground.”

Woods had lacerations to his upper and lower lips, and he had blood in his mouth, Saylor said. Woods’s wife told officers she was in the house when she heard the accident and “came out and broke the back window with a golf club,” Saylor said, adding that the front-door windows were not broken and that “the door was probably locked.”

Saylor added: “She supposedly got him out and laid him on the ground. He was in and out of consciousness when my guys got there.”

He said the officers treated Woods for 10 minutes until an ambulance arrived to take him to the hospital. Woods was conscious enough to speak, he said. “He was mumbling, but didn’t say anything coherent,” Saylor said.

The highway patrol incident report originally listed Woods’s condition as serious — a highway patrol spokesman told The Orlando Sentinel that that is customary when a patient is transported to a hospital — but Woods’s spokesman, Glenn Greenspan, issued a statement saying Woods was in good condition.

The highway patrol said that alcohol was not involved in the accident, although it remained under investigation and charges could be filed. CONTINUE READING...

Mayweather wins by unanimous decision in comeback fight

Juan Manuel Marquez fought back after being knocked down in the second round but in the end it was the same as always. Behind his world famous defense and lightning quick jab, Mayweather dominated the five-time world champion in a unanimous decision victory. Mayweather's unique defensive style created problems for Marquez while his jab proved to be more than enough offense to win rounds, beating Marquez on all three judges's scorecards by scores of 118-109, 120-107 and 119-108.

Floyd Mayweather or Juan Manuel Marquez? Boxing's Experts Weigh In

Juan Manuel Marquez, who is considered one of Mexico's greatest fighters, will fight at 144 pounds -- the highest weight at which he's ever competed -- to face unbeaten Floyd "Pretty Boy" Mayweather Jr. in a battle pitting two of boxing's pound-for-pound best performers Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.  FanHouse sought out the opinions and predictions of some of the sport's most knowledgeable sources in the boxing world for the megafight.

Check out the results below:

Bob Canobbio, CompuBox
Mayweather TKO 10: "Mayweather is too big for Marquez, and he's too fast. The layoff is actually going to work to Mayweather's advantage. It looks to me like Mayweather is physically peaking. I know Mayweather's not a knockout puncher, but he managed to knock out Ricky Hatton with a perfect punch.

I think he's going to wear down Marquez and eventually stop in in the late rounds around round 10, because if Marquez wants to win the fight, he's got to step it up. Marques is not going to win counter-punching by throwing 50 punches a round. Mayweather is such an accurate puncher. And Marquez is going to have to step it up, try to win rounds, and by doing so, he's going to leave himself open to be hit." SOURCE:FANHOUSE

Y. E. Yang Shocks Woods to Win at P.G.A.

CHASKA, Minn. — Y. E. Yang, ranked No. 110 in the world, took on No. 1 Tiger Woods and never blinked.

Yang, of South Korea, stunned Woods and electrified the golf world on Sunday at Hazeltine National by shooting a two-under-par 70 in the final round to win the P.G.A. Championship with a score of eight-under 280.

Woods finished three strokes back after a final-round 75, and Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy tied for third at 285.

In one of the biggest upsets in the sport’s history, Yang, 37, became the first Korean man to win one of golf’s four major championships. He was also the first golfer to overtake Woods in a major championship in which Woods had the lead going into the final round.

In a tense, head-to-head duel in the gusting winds, Yang took the lead at the 14th hole with a 75-foot pitch for eagle. On the final hole, he hit a towering shot from 197 yards with a hybrid club to set up his closing birdie.

When Yang holed the birdie putt, he broke into a brief victory dance, punching the air and with both fists, raising his arms over his head and high-fiving his caddie.

Woods, his face impassive, watched the celebration, then missed his final par putt — one of eight putts from inside 10 feet he missed on Sunday. He putted out for the 75, which tied his highest closing round as a professional in a major championship. The losing margin was a five-shot swing from the start of the day, which Woods entered leading by two.SOURCE: NYTIMES.COM

“You never know in life, this might be my last win as a golfer,” Yang, smiling, said through an interpreter. “But this is a great day. It’s going to be a great foundation for me to continue playing on the PGA Tour. It means the world right now. It hasn’t sunken in, but I do know the significance of it.”

Ricky Berens Suffers Wardrobe Malfunction at World Championships, Splits Open Swimsuit

Olympic gold medalist Ricky Berens had to swim with his ass exposed to the World Championships audience after the back of his suit split. He was swimming the 4×100 freestyle relay, bent over to stretch, and ripped his suit wide open seconds before his turn to swim. Berens was also a gold medalist in the same event last year in Beijing. Luckily, he put his head down and the US still qualified for finals (and won the event).

Bill Pickett Invitational African-American Rodeo Highlights

Serena Williams beats sister Venus at Wimbledon

WIMBLEDON, England (AP) — Serena Williams kept telling herself she was facing just another foe in the Wimbledon final Saturday, just another woman who hits the ball quite hard, just another player trying to deny her a Grand Slam title. She wasn't facing just anyone, of course. She was playing her older sister Venus. And when the latest all-Williams final finished, when Serena wrapped up a 7-6 (3), 6-2 victory for a third Wimbledon championship and 11th major title overall, she jogged to the net with her arm extended for a handshake. Venus pulled her close for a warm embrace, instead.``I didn't think about Venus at all today. I just saw her as an opponent,'' said Serena, who also beat her sister in the 2002 and 2003 finals at the All England Club. ``At one point, after the first set, I looked on the side of the court at the stats, and it was like 'Williams,' 'Williams.' I couldn't figure out which was which.''That also might have been because she was facing the only other woman who can equal her power and court coverage on grass courts. Monday's rankings will say Serena is No. 2, and Venus No. 3 - behind No. 1 Dinara Safina, a 6-1, 6-0 loser to the elder Williams in the semifinals - but it is clear who the best woman in the world is at the moment.Serena has won three of the past four Grand Slam titles and even poked a little fun at Safina, who is 0-3 in major finals.``If you hold three Grand Slam titles, maybe you should be No. 1, but not on the WTA Tour, obviously,'' Serena said. Then, alluding sarcastically to two less-than-major events won by Safina, Serena doubled over in laughter after saying: ``I see myself as No. 2. That's where I am. I think Dinara did a great job to get to No. 1. She won Rome and Madrid.''The sisters' father, Richard Williams, used to say his youngest daughter would be the better of the two, and the numbers back that up at this point: Serena leads in Grand Slam titles (11-7), in head-to-head matches (11-10), and in all-Williams major finals (6-2).It was the 14th Grand Slam final for each Williams; no other active woman participated in more than four. Serena is 11-3 in such matches; Venus fell to 7-7, with all but one defeat coming against her sister. Asked if it's easier or harder losing to a sibling, five-time Wimbledon champion Venus said: ``There's no 'easy' to losing, especially when it's so close to the crown.'' SOURCE:COMCAST.NET

Floyd Mayweather Comeback Against Marquez Postponed Due To Injury

The highly anticipated return of Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been postponed for the time being, due to an injury that will keep the boxer from training.According to reports, the 32-year-old former boxing champ damaged cartilage in his ribs and had to stop training for his comeback fight until a doctor says he can resume."He tried to work through it. He really did not want to postpone the fight, but it came to the point where he could barely sit," Richard Schaefer, of Golden Boy promotions, told the Associated Press. "He could not train, he could not move and there was really not much of a choice."The undefeated Mayweather was scheduled to fight Juan Manuel Marquez on July 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, but things will be pushed back due to the injury.Schaefer told the AP that both fighters have committed to rescheduling and a September date has been mentioned. But promoters and the fighters won't agree to a date without the OK of doctors.Mayweather's ribs are not broken, and he plans to see a doctor this week. How he damaged his ribs is currently unknown."Right now he cannot go and train, he cannot work out, he cannot run, he cannot hit the heavy bag and the speed bags and jump ropes and all these kinds of things," Schaefer explained. "He definitely will need some additional training, but again, Floyd is such an amazing athlete -- and really on top of his game -- that I think it will be relatively easy for him to get right back into it." SOURCE:BALLERSTATUS.COM

Pacquiao annihilates Hatton!

There’s no question who is #1 pound for pound. Manny Pacquiao (49-3-2, 37 KOs) destroyed IBO light welterweight Ricky Hatton (45-2, 32 KOs) on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Hatton came out aggressively but was dropped by twice by Pacquiao in round one. In round two, Pacquiao dropped Hatton for the count with a left to the chin. Time was 2:59. Hatton was down for several minutes.AS VEGAS — As humble as he is ferocious when the bell rings, Manny Pacquiao made history Saturday night in his destruction of Ricky Hatton at MGM Grand. Pacquiao dropped the Englishman twice in the opening round and knocked him cold a the end of the second with a looping left hand to score a stoppage at 2:59 before 16,262. The Filipino was fighting in his fourth different weight class in 14 months as he deposed Hatton, who had never lost at 140 pounds. Pacquiao is now the only fighter in history to have won linear championships in four different weight classes (112, 126, 130, 140), surpassing all-time great Henry Armstrong.

SPIKE LEE'S 'KOBE' FILM GETS NY PREMIERE: Telepic about Lakers star to screen at Tribeca Film Festival before ESPN debut.

Spike Lee's "Kobe Doin' Work," a telepic capturing a day in the life of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant, will have its world premiere next month during the Tribeca Film Festival before its May debut on ESPN. During last year’s playoffs, Lee and his cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, spent the day with the NBA standout. With unlimited access to Bryant before, during and after the game, the result is a definitive portrait of one of the sport’s greatest athletes. The April 25 bow is part of the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film. “We are proud to kick off the Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival with a documentary showcasing not only Spike Lee's fervent love of basketball, but our collective commitment to great storytelling," said Keith Clinkscales, senior vice president ESPN content development. "'Kobe Doin’ Work' and the entire sports festival slate speak to the power of film and sports to inspire, motivate and transform.” Seven more sports-themed films will screen during the festival's April 22 – May 3 run in lower Manhattan.

Travis Henry, With 9 Kids by 9 Moms, Loses Bid to Reduce Child Support

Former Bills, Titans and Broncos running back Travis Henry, who has nine children with nine different women, was shot down by a judge on Thursday when he went to court in an effort to have his child support reduced. As we've noted previously here at FanHouse, Henry signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract with the Broncos in 2007, and he has a $100,000 car and has spent $146,000 on jewelry. But, despite his riches, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that Henry came close to being jailed because he couldn't come up with $9,800 he owed in child support, and he ended up borrowing that money from his former team, the Titans, to pay it. The Journal-Constitution also reported:

Henry, 28, has fathered nine children by nine women in at least four Southern states and has been ordered by various judges to provide child support for seven of them, according to court records involving one child living in DeKalb County. ...

Henry isn't the most thrifty guy, according to court records, so the judge wants to ensure payment by establishing an unusual $250,000 trust that Henry must fund.

The hearing on Thursday in DeKalb County, Georgia, related only to the $3,000 a month he has to pay to support his 5-year-old son. Henry argues that he can't afford that much child support now that he's out of the league and facing felony cocaine possession charges. But the lawyer for the mother argued that if Henry can afford to spend thousands of dollars on jewelry, cars and a new home, he can afford to take care of his kids, too. The judge apparently found that argument persuasive.

As for Henry, here's how he explained himself in court:

"Now that I look back on my life, not all of my decisions were good, and now I'm paying for it," Henry said. "I just want to make good. ... I want to take care of my children. I want to get my life back together."

Henry's lawyer said he's not done fighting to have his child support reduced.

Judge tosses out key evidence in Bonds' trial

A federal judge late today threw out much of the "mountain of evidence" that prosecutors say they accumulated to prove former Giants star Barry Bonds lied when he denied knowingly using steroids. Eleven days before the start of Bonds' trial on perjury charges, Judge Susan Illston ruled that the jury may not be told about three positive steroid tests, doping calendars and other documents that the government says shows Bonds' longtime use of performance-enhancing drugs. The evidence amounts to inadmissible "hearsay," the judge wrote in a ruling, unless the man who allegedly kept the calendars and arranged the private steroid tests - trainer Greg Anderson - agrees to testify about the documents. Anderson, who pleaded guilty in the BALCO steroid conspiracy case, already has served a year in prison for contempt of court rather than testify against Bonds, his longtime client and friend. He hasn't changed his mind. At a hearing Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, prosecutor Matthew Parrella said he has been told that Anderson, freed from prison last year, plans to ignore his subpoena to Bonds' trial. The judge's ruling places some of the government's most significant evidence off-limits. No longer available are: -- Reports on private steroid tests from 2000 and 2001, allegedly arranged by Anderson via the Bay Area Laboratory Cooperative in Burlingame. The government says they show Bonds was using the injectable steroids methenelone and nandrolone. -- "Handwritten notes, calendars and drug ledgers" seized in a raid on Anderson's Burlingame condominium in 2003. The government says the trainer created the documents to track Bonds' regimen of banned drugs. -- Testimony about doping calendars from Oakland A's slugger Jason Giambi and six other ball players who admit they obtained steroids from Anderson. The players said Anderson kept calendars for them that are similar to the ones he allegedly kept for Bonds, according to the government. The players still may be permitted to testify about other matters. Prosecutors had hoped to tie Bonds to the drug tests through the testimony of former BALCO Vice President James Valente. But Valente said he knew about the tests because Anderson told him so. That's hearsay, the judge ruled - second-hand testimony that is usually impermissible. Bonds, 44, holder of basball's all-time home run record, is charged with 11 counts of perjury and obstruction of justice, all in connection with testimony in 2003 in which he told the grand jury investigating the BALCO steroids scandal that Anderson had given him only flax seed oil and arthritis balm, not steroids.SOURCE:SFGATE.COM

USA Swimming suspends Phelps for 3 months

Michael Phelps was suspended from competition for three months by USA Swimming, the latest fallout from a photo that showed the Olympic great inhaling from a marijuana pipe.The sport's national governing body also cut off its financial support to Phelps for the same three-month period, effective Thursday.``This is not a situation where any anti-doping rule was violated, but we decided to send a strong message to Michael because he disappointed so many people, particularly the hundreds of thousands of USA Swimming member kids who look up to him as a role model and a hero,'' the Colorado Springs-based federation said in a statement.``Michael has voluntarily accepted this reprimand and has committed to earn back our trust.''Phelps won a record eight gold medals in Beijing and returned to America as one of the world's most acclaimed athletes. Now he's enduring a wave of bad news in the wake of the photo, published Sunday by News of the World, a British tabloid.Earlier Thursday, cereal and snack maker Kellogg Co. announced it wouldn't renew its sponsorship contract with Phelps, saying his behavior is ``not consistent with the image of Kellogg.'' The swimmer appeared on the company's cereal boxes after his Olympic triumph. USA Swimming provides a $1,750 monthly stipend to national team members to help defray travel and training expenses, plus performance bonuses. However, it's a small percentage of the millions Phelps makes through endorsements. ``Michael accepts these decisions and understands their point of view,'' said one of his agents, Drew Johnson. ``He feels bad he let anyone down. He's also encouraged by the thousands of comments he's received from his fans and the support from his many sponsors. He intends to work hard to regain everyone's trust.'' Phelps' coach, Bob Bowman, said he believes Phelps will emerge from the experience a stronger swimmer and person. ``Michael's been through a lot and he's learned a lot, hopefully,'' Bowman told The Associated Press during a telephone interview. ``I support him and I want to see him do better. I'm here, as always, to try to help him move forward. He's learned some tough lessons and he's disappointed a lot of people, me included.'' SOURCE:COMCAST.NET

Phelps on pot aftermath: 'By no means is it easy'

BALTIMORE (AP) — Olympic champion Michael Phelps said Wednesday it has been difficult coping with the fallout from a photo of him smoking from a marijuana pipe.``It's something I am going to have to live with and something I'll have to grow from,'' Phelps told The Associated Press outside the pool where he trains. ``I know with all of the mistakes I made, I learned from them and that is what I expect to do from this. By no means it is fun for me, by no means is it easy.''It was the first time Phelps had publicly addressed the photo since issuing an apology Sunday after it surfaced in a British tabloid over the weekend.Wearing a black sweat suit and shaking off the remaining drops of water in his hair after a workout at the Meadowbrook Aquatic Center, Phelps said the most important thing for him is that he was back in the pool training.``I'm back to my routine, the thing I love, the thing I care about most,'' Phelps said. ``To be able to get back in the water and get back to a normal schedule is what I am happy about most.''Phelps and his coach, Bob Bowman, in November took over operation of Meadowbrook and the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, where the swimmer began training at age 7.Phelps declined to address the possibility of criminal charges and reiterated his desire to put the furor behind him.``You know, it happens,'' he said. ``When stupid things are (done), bad judgment is made and mistakes are made, it happens.''Phelps apologized to his fans and sponsors after the tabloid News of the World published a picture that appeared to show the Olympic champion smoking marijuana during a November house party at the University of South Carolina.The photo wasn't the first time Phelps has been in trouble for his activities away from the pool. After the 2004 Athens Games, an underage Phelps was arrested for drunken driving, pleaded guilty and apologized to his fans.Several of Phelps' sponsors - including Visa, apparel company Speedo and luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega - have expressed their support of the athlete, who won a record eight golds medals at the Beijing Olympics last summer. SOURCE:AP

Phelps acknowledges photo using pot pipe

Olympic great Michael Phelps acknowledged "regrettable" behavior and "bad judgment" after a photo in a British newspaper Sunday showed him inhaling from a marijuana pipe.In a statement to The Associated Press, the swimmer who won a record eight gold medals at the Beijing Games did not dispute the authenticity of the exclusive picture published Sunday by the tabloid News of the World."I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment," Phelps said in the statement released by one of his agents. "I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me. For this, I am sorry. I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."News of the World said the picture was taken during a November house party while Phelps was visiting the University of South Carolina. During that trip, he attended one of the school's football games and received a big ovation when introduced to the crowd.While the newspaper did not specifically allege that Phelps was smoking pot, it did say the water pipe is generally used for that purpose and anonymously quoted a partygoer who said the Olympic champion was "out of control from the moment he got there."The party occurred nearly three months after the Olympics while Phelps was taking a long break from training, and his actions should have no impact on the eight golds he won at Beijing. He has never tested positive for banned substances. The case is unlikely to fall under any doping rules. Phelps' main sanctions most likely will be financial — perhaps doled out by embarrassed sponsors who might be reconsidering their dealings with the swimmer.Phelps was in Tampa, Fla., during Super Bowl week to make promotional appearances on behalf of a sponsor. But he left the city before Sunday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals, abandoning his original plan to be at Raymond James Stadium. SOURCE:SFGATE.COM

Serena Williams Wins 10th Grand Slam Title

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) -- Serena Williams routed Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 Saturday to win the Australian Open for her 10th Grand Slam title and a return to the No. 1 ranking.It was total domination for the second-seeded Williams, who looked at ease in winning back-to-back majors -- she won the U.S. Open championship in September -- and was moving fluidly on the court.''I absolutely, clearly, love playing here,'' the 27-year-old Williams said. ''You guys root for me so much. I don't get that everywhere. So thank you so much.''Williams' near-perfect performance was in sharp contrast to No. 3 Safina, who was tight from the start. Later apologizing to the crowd for her performance, Safina said Williams was just too good, leaving her feeling like a ballboy.In the first game, Safina double-faulted three times, including on break point. Williams ran off 18 of the last 20 points in the first set to finish it in 22 minutes.Other than matches that ended early due to illness or injury, it was the most lopsided Australian Open women's final since 1962, when Margaret Smith beat Jan Lehane 6-0, 6-2.It was Williams' second overwhelming victory in a final at Melbourne Park, where she kept alive her record of winning in odd-numbered years since 2003 for four titles. Coming into the 2007 tournament unseeded after being plagued by injuries the year before, she beat top-seeded Maria Sharapova 6-1, 6-2.Sharapova rebounded to win last year but was unable to defend her title while recuperating from a shoulder injury.Williams became the fifth woman to win four or more Australian titles. By making the singles and doubles finals, she already had become the all-time leading money winner in women's sports.For winning the Australian singles title, she earned $1.3 million and has career earnings of more than $23.5 million.After Melbourne's hottest three-day heat wave on record, conditions were nearly perfect for the tournament's first women's final at night, but Rod Laver Arena was less than capacity, with large patches of empty seats scattered around the upper deck of the 15,000-seat stadium. SOURCE:NYT.COM

Florida Raises Another Trophy: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — After all the penalties, interceptions and missed opportunities in the aesthetically unappealing Bowl Championship Series title game between Oklahoma and Florida on Thursday night, things started to look familiar. There was Florida quarterback Tim Tebow taking a shotgun snap, lowering his shoulder and simply plowing his way into college football lore. There was Tebow leaping in the air with just over three minutes remaining and delivering a trademark jump pass to David Nelson that clinched the game. And there was Tebow taunting Oklahoma’s Nic Harris with a Gator chomp, the most recognizable player in college football adding more indelible moments to his career. Tebow led the Gators to a 24-14 victory against the Sooners on Thursday night, and his familiar image resulted in a familiar spectacle: Florida fans, celebrating their third national title and second in the past three seasons, unleashed the haunting sing-song that has become so familiar to college sports fans: “Its great, to be, a Florida Gator.” The chants rang through the pro-Gator crowd at Dolphin Stadium as if it were a Saturday afternoon at The Swamp. “I’m just so proud of my teammates because they kept fighting for four quarters and that’s how we were able to pull it out,” Tebow said. The title is the Gators’ second under Coach Urban Meyer, who became the first coach in the Bowl Championship Series era to win two titles. Florida received 48 first-place votes out of 65 in the Associated Press poll released early Friday morning; undefeated Utah finished second (16 first-place votes), followed by U.S.C. (one first-place vote), Texas and Oklahoma. There will be an off-season filled with talk of a burgeoning dynasty in Gainesville. “This is one of the best teams in college football history,” Meyer said. “I love these guys.” He added, “It never gets old, I promise you that.” SOURCE:NYT.COM

Manny Pacquiao's win is sweet, bittersweet

Reporting from Las Vegas -- Freddie Roach basked in a celebration that was sweet for so many reasons. His prize student had just won the most important fight of his career, he had just orchestrated a master strategy that dominated a clearly shot but proud former champion, and he had just stuck it to his old boss. "This is the biggest win of my life," Roach said late Saturday night after his fighter, Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines, spent eight rounds treating former 10-time world champion Oscar De La Hoya like a punching bag until his corner threw in the towel before the ninth round started."Everyone said we couldn't do it, and I wondered about it at night. I couldn't sleep the last four nights, but the more I thought about it, the more I knew we had the edge." He was right, and with a rapid-punching, constantly moving attack that overwhelmed the 35-year-old De La Hoya, 2-to-1 underdogs Pacquiao and Roach likely ended the career of the most successful pay-per-view draw in boxing history. "Everything Freddie told me would happen, it happened," Pacquiao said. "I hurt him bad. I don't think he could've stood another round." The victory fully redeemed Roach, whom De La Hoya unceremoniously fired without a phone call after losing a split decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2007. Roach felt scorned, of course, and lashed out by saying De La Hoya could no longer "pull the trigger" and assessing that the Golden Boy used a trainer only to retrieve him "a sip of water" between rounds. "Some of this is a get-back at him, and I'm happy about that," Roach said.
But with the news that the beaten-up De La Hoya required a precautionary post-fight trip to the hospital, there was a bittersweet feel to the celebration. Roach himself struggles with pugilistic Parkinson's disease, causing tremors and other neurological symptoms. He fought too long and admits, "Deep down, you know you're going through the motions. This is the hurt business. You stay around too long, you get hurt." He doesn't want De La Hoya to make the same mistake. Roach himself probably became the first to know Saturday's fight was De La Hoya's last when the defeated fighter told his ex-cornerman, "Freddie, you're right, I don't have it anymore." De La Hoya told someone else in the ring, "My body seemed to just not be able to respond and I didn't have the strength to stop him when he was coming on." CONTINUE READING...

Joe Calzaghe Outworks Roy Jones Jr. For Unanimous Decision

At the end of the boxing match billed the "Battle of the Superpowers" held Saturday night (November 8) at New York's Madison Square Garden, Joe Calzaghe came out on top, and proved to be just too much for a 39-year-old Roy Jones Jr. upper middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe added Jones to a long list of defeated opponents on his perfect 46-0 record, with a unanimous 12-round decision, in what might be the final bout for both aging fighters.Despite being dropped to the canvas in the first round, Calzaghe mounted a comeback immediately, resulting in a bloody one-sided battle.The Welshman applied constant pressure throughout the fight, and in the seventh opened a deep gash over Jones' left eye. After an inspection of the cut, the fight was allowed to continue, and the blood flowed from Jones' face for the remaining rounds.Calzaghe even taunted Jones at times, dropping his hands to allow the Florida boxer free shots. Jones, however, just couldn't withstand his trademark punch output, and Calzaghe didn't let up.His faithful fans chanted "Super Joe ... Super Joe Calzaghe!" and he lived up to the nickname Saturday.After 12 rounds, all three judges scored the light heavyweight fight 118-109 for Calzaghe, giving the undefeated champ a unanimous decision."The Pride of Wales" earned his second huge victory this year. He beat Bernard Hopkins in a split decision in April, and now Jones. He's now enjoying the victory."This year I beat two legends in Bernard Hopkins and Roy Jones and I came to the U.S. to do it," he said. "I took the risk. They didn't come to me. I'm just so happy. I worked so hard, and it all paid off."Following the fight, Jones admitted Joe outworked him, and didn't make any excuses. "The pitter-pats were harder than I thought," Jones said. "I don't know. He won the fight. He definitely won the fight."Although Calzaghe has raised the question that the Jones battle was his last fight, he said he would delay a decision until after he discussed his future with his family. Bernard Hopkins was seated ringside Saturday and is itching for a rematch. He still feels that he won their April bout, as do many others. However, it's up to Calzaghe to decide if he'd like to retire while on top, or if he wants to risk his untarnished record with a rematch with Hopkins. Only time will tell. But, Calzaghe is at his peak, and retiring now would keep his boxing legacy intact. According to CompuBox, Calzaghe landed 344 of the 985 punches -- the highest number of punches absorbed by Jones in 31 fights involving him -- while Jones connected with just 159 of 475 blows. SOURCE:BALLER STATUS