http://www.kentucky.com/sports/index.xml News, sports, and entertainment from Kentucky.com en-us Copyright 2008 Kentucky.com Sports 60 Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:41:34 EDT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss McClatchy Interactive's Workbench webmaster@kentucky.com http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496405.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496405.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:50 EDT
Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks spent much of the off-season telling the media that this year's offensive line would be his best at UK. Then, in the team's first fall scrimmage last week, the offensive line laid an egg.

It has taken just two weeks of fall practice for the offensive line to go from a supposed strength to a question mark leading into the Wildcats' Aug. 31 opener at Louisville.

.It's definitely a concern,. UK offensive coordinator Joker Phillips said.

UK junior right tackle Justin Jeffries said that while the line isn't performing terribly as a whole, one or two missed assignments have made the unit look uneven. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496387.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496387.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:13 EDT
This is a basketball state. The Baron. The Fabulous Five. Mr. Wildcat. The Fiddlin' Five. Pitino. The hanging of the banners. Cawood's Court. Midnight Madness.

Basketball is in our blood and in our history, those of us who have been born and raised in the Bluegrass, and all those who wish they had.

So why is it that here, one scant week before they put toe to leather next Thursday, do we find ourselves again looking so forward to the football season?

I'll tell you why. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496338.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496338.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:09 EDT
The "Mid-Summer Derby" is a 1 1/4 mile race with all 12 starters carrying 126 pounds.

Despite winning the Jim Dandy at Saratoga, Macho Again is only fourth in the morning line at 6-1. He will again be ridden by Julien Leparoux from post five. The gray colt will try to duplicate the Jim Dandy-Travers double that Street Sense accomplished last year.

Trained by Dallas Stewart, Macho Again won the Derby Trial and was second to Big Brown in the Preakness Stakes. In his career, the three-year-old has earned $673,761 with four wins in 11 starts.

Assuming the morning-line favorite's position at just 7-2 is Pyro. The colt, trained by Steve Asmussen, will be ridden by Shaun Bridgmohan from post 11.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496318.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/496318.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:46 EDT
CINCINNATI . Dear fans: Please be patient.

The Cincinnati Reds explain why they traded stars Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn and ask for patience in a letter sent to fans this week.

.By executing these inevitable changes now, we secured more players as part of our focus towards building a deeper, stronger inventory of young talent,. the letter states.

The letter was sent to fans by e-mail and posted on the team Web site. It's signed by owner Bob Castellini and General Manager Walt Jocketty and says the team is building with young talent and believes the trades were important for the club's long-term success. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/494764.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/494764.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:20 EDT http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495449.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495449.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:43 EDT
Junior-college transfer Kevin Galloway said Tuesday that he's gained his academic eligibility to play for Kentucky next season.

That brought UK halfway home to some sort of public acknowledgement that this season's team will not have a player sidelined because of academic questions. The other player reportedly facing eligibility questions, freshman DeAndre Liggins, could not be reached. His AAU coach, Mark Adams, said he had heard from other members of his team that Liggins had gained eligibility.

But that could not be confirmed.

Apparently, Galloway's academic status has been finalized and represents good news for UK. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495491.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495491.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:36 EDT
When you consider all of the offensive firepower Kentucky lost from last year, it's a pretty safe assumption that points will be harder to come by in 2008.

That puts more of a premium on kicker Lones Seiber cashing in three points when the opportunity arises, on punter Tim Masthay being more consistent in pinning teams in their own territory, and on the return game getting back to its outstanding form of 2005 and 2006.

.I don't think there's any question that the kicking game is going to be more important than it's been in several years for us,. UK Coach Rich Brooks said. .We obviously don't have the explosion right now on offense. (Special teams) is always important, but it's more important this year. We averaged 36 points a game last year. I don't see that happening this year, so we better find ways to win games..

That puts Seiber front and center at a position where everybody seems to remember the kicks you miss and forget the ones you make. Seiber nailed four of his five field-goal attempts in Kentucky's first scrimmage last Saturday, including a 52-yarder near the conclusion. Not a bad day at the office by any means. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495923.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495923.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:53 EDT
Louisville freshman QB Simms suspended four games

Louisville quarterback Matt Simms was suspended for the team's first four games of the season by Coach Steve Kragthorpe on Tuesday for breaking team rules.

Simms, a redshirt freshman, was competing with Tyler Wolfe for the backup spot behind starter Hunter Cantwell .

Simms is the son of former New York Giants and Morehead State quarterback Phil Simms and the brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms . ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495249.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495249.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:02 EDT
Random notes:

. He failed to reach the 100-meter Olympic finals over the weekend, but Tyson Gay might have gained fans in the process.

The Lexington native offered no excuses for finishing fifth in the semifinals in Beijing. He didn't blame his hamstring, which was obviously not 100 percent.

Instead, Gay said only that he gave it his all and .I just didn't get it together.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495501.html http://www.kentucky.com/232/story/495501.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:38 EDT
The Kentucky women's basketball schedule was released Tuesday afternoon, and the biggest talk might be about where the team is not going to be playing when the season starts in November.

For the first time in the past six years, the UK women have opted not to play any home games in Rupp Arena.

Last season, they played five games at the downtown facility versus their normal home at Memorial Coliseum.

.I want us to kind of put our roots down,. Coach Matthew Mitchell said of the move to all games at Memorial Coliseum. .We want to try and establish a true home-court advantage, and Memorial Coliseum is our true home.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495392.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495392.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:23 EDT
Coach Mike Holmgren is trying to ensure Hasselbeck is ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 7 at Buffalo.

"Absolutely your starting quarterback has to be ready for the first regular-season game," Holmgren said after No. 3 quarterback Charlie Frye again took most of the snaps Wednesday morning - just as he is likely to do on Monday night against the Chargers.

"(With) the guys that have played as long as he has played ... you are not quite as concerned about their minutes in the preseason," Holmgren said of Hasselbeck. "Now, I want him to feel better. That's my main concern. But as far as not playing or not getting enough reps, I don't worry about that too much."

Hasselbeck first felt his back tighten while completing seven of eight passes for 70 yards and a touchdown in two sharp series of the preseason opener Aug. 8 at Minnesota.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496399.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496399.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:48 EDT
Griffey connected against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in the second inning for his first homer since Chicago acquired him from Cincinnati on July 31. The drive made it 8-0.

Griffey entered just 9-for-43 with four RBIs and no extra-base hits for the White Sox.

Griffey spent his first 11 seasons with the Mariners, hitting .299 with 398 homers and 1,152 RBIs from 1989-99, before being traded to Cincinnati. He was batting .245 with 15 homers and 53 RBIs when the White Sox acquired him for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495203.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495203.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:48 EDT
Pruett refuted the claims in a sworn deposition he gave in May in a lawsuit filed by David Ridpath, Marshall's former NCAA compliance officer.

Earlier depositions by two players and a former strength coach implicated Pruett in the grades scandal involving a physical education class and a booster's high-paying jobs program for freshman players.

Pruett denies those claims or any direct involvement in the 2003 firing of Ridpath.

Ridpath claims he was made a scapegoat after the Huntington university was placed on four years probation and was stripped of some football and basketball scholarships.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495577.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495577.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 10:18 EDT
The Americans (8-0) pushed across four in the ninth Wednesday to extend their Olympic winning streak to 22 games.

Tied after seven, the teams went to the international tiebreaker in the eighth as both began their at-bats with a runner at second base.

Bustos, softball's greatest power hitter, hit her fifth homer of the games and 13th of her Olympic career. Monica Abbott pitched eight shutout innings for the U.S., which could face Japan again for gold Thursday.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495932.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495932.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
Natalie du Toit is the most inspirational.

Phelps' eight gold medals and seven world records left you in awe.

Du Toit's effort in the open water swimming marathon left you in tears.

Phelps set his record with a body custom-made for swimming. Du Toit swam 6.2 miles with one leg. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495940.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495940.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
It's a big morning for the American women's teams at the Olympics.

In softball, Cat Osterman pitched only an inning of the semifinal win over Japan, an extra-inning win that served, if nothing else, to make the Americans nervous.

That moved them, though, into what could be the last softball final in the Olympics (the sport was dropped for 2012) starting Thursday at 6:30 a.m. live on the USA network, with highlights on NBC during the 10 a.m.-1 p.m. show.

Osterman, the American ace, will be the starter.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495927.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495927.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
That was not necessary in Wednesday's semifinals.

The U.S. had its toughest battle yet against a Japan team the U.S. defeated in the gold medal game in Sydney in 2000 and escaped in extra innings in Athens in 2004.

It went to extras once again Wednesday, before the U.S. broke it open with four runs in the top of the ninth, the game-winning hit delivered by Caitlin Lowe and the big blast a home run by Crystl Bustos, for a 4-1 victory to move into Thursday's gold medal game.

It was the American's 19th straight victory. They have now outscored their opponents 57-2 in this tournament and 108-3 over the last two Olympics.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495933.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495933.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
Someone would rush over and offer what sounded to me like a pretty reasonable price, say, 10 dollars.

And he would respond with, "What? For this? I'll give you a quarter."

You would be surprised how many big-ticket items my grandfather purchased through the years for quarters. It was a force of will. So I know that will is somewhere in my blood. I know that, in the end, I can beat the Beijing Silk Market.

"You need underwear," the first woman yelled at me as I walked out of the elevator and she grabbed my pant leg. "You need UNDERWEAR."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495924.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495924.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
Chalk it up to the "Phelps effect." Or it could be interest in China's athletic prowess. They are among the reasons why viewers from Oklahoma City to Osaka, from Minneapolis to Moscow, have been tuning into their televisions and going onto the internet.

"I can tell you that generally ratings are higher than for any Olympic Games before," Timo Lumme, director of television and marketing services for the IOC, said Wednesday.

The Beijing Games have already become the most watched event in U.S. television history, surpassing even the 1996 Atlanta Games and sweeping NBC into muscular primetime dominance. When swimmer Michael Phelps won his eighth gold medal last Saturday night, NBC drew more viewers than at any time since 1990.

As a result, International Olympics officials look forward to an expected sharp jump in revenue from broadcast and sponsorship fees for the 2014 winter games in Sochi, Russia, and the 2016 Summer Games in London. The bulk of broadcast rights for those two games will go out for bid next year.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495931.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495931.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
A day after coming up short of her goal, taking the bronze instead of winning the gold, she said the only thing she would have done differently was drink more water. Dehydration, she said, is the only explanation for the cramp in her right hamstring that felled her bid for the gold medal.

"I got a massage [after the race], and my masseur thought it felt great," Richards said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon. "I don't think it was an injury of any sort. I think it was just terrible timing and really unfortunate. I definitely will be ready for the 4x400 [relay], whatever I need to do it. This is it. This is the Olympics. This is what I've been dreaming about all my life, and leaving here with two medals will be much sweeter than leaving with one."

Richards said she slept no more than 30 minutes the night after the race. She kept seeing "the gold slipping away" every time she closed her eyes.

Richards is ranked No. 1 in the world and had never lost to gold medalist Christine Ohuruogu of Great Britian (49.62) or silver medalist Shericka Williams of Jamaica (49.69). That made it even harder for Richards to accept the bronze after finishing in 49.93.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495934.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495934.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
But his work at the games did reinforce what he already knew to be true: Be yourself and be available to God.

Twenty years ago Casey was standing on an Athletes Village balcony overlooking the Seoul evening sky.

At his side was 25-year-old Carol Lewis on the night before her Olympic long-jump competition. When the rest of the world would have expected Lewis to be asleep, visualizing a perfect leap to victory, she was restless.

She missed her father, who had died shortly before the Olympics.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495925.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495925.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:37 EDT
Japan nearly scored an upset. How fun for them.

"That was softball at its best," U.S. coach Mike Candrea said.

If that is truly the case, if a 4-1 victory in extra innings to extend Team USA's Olympic winning streak to 22 games is really the pinnacle, it is time for wrap-it-up sign. It has been fun, even entertaining at times, but it's time for softball to use this possibly permanent hiatus from The Game to fix what is obviously broken.

A pitching mound that is basically inches from home plate. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495268.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495268.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:06 EDT
Johnson beat her friend and teammate on the balance beam, the last women's gymnastics event at the Beijing Games

"I finished off the Olympic Games with, to me, the most perfect ending ever," Johnson said, beaming as she tugged at the ribbon around her neck. "To finally get the gold medal ... on my very last routine meant the world to me."

And it means the Americans will be strutting home with more bling than Diddy.

Johnson already had three silvers, including one from the all-around, where Liukin won gold. Together, the women have won eight medals. Throw in Jonathan Horton's silver on the high bar Tuesday night, and the Americans are leaving Beijing with 10 medals. That's the most they've won at a non-boycotted Olympics since 1932, when rope climbing and Indian clubs still got you medals.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496580.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496580.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:33 EDT
NASCAR's decision Wednesday to suspend seven JGR crew members indefinitely for attempting to manipulate a horsepower test after a Nationwide Series race last weekend put a serious dent in owner Joe Gibbs' reputation

While NASCAR decided against banning the cars from future races, the penalties were among the harshest NASCAR has levied.

- Crew chiefs Jason Ratcliff and Dave Rogers were suspended and fined $50,000 each.

- No. 18 car chief Dorian Thorsen, engine tuner Michael Johnson and crew member Toby Bigelow and No. 20 car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek were all suspended indefinitely.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496008.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496008.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:29 EDT
The U.S. will play the Greece-Argentina winner on Friday.

Australia was the last team to push the U.S., losing by 11 on August in a friendly game in Shanghai. It was a close game through the first quarter, when the U.S. led by just one point, 25-24.

But leading by just five at 41-36 midway through the second quarter, the U.S. went on a 14-7 run to end the quarter and take a 13-point halftime lead.

Deron Williams nailed a three-pointer to close the half, then Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony made back-to-back threes to open the second half.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496612.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496612.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:08 EDT
"There's not too much you can do, to be honest with you," receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. "He has to do it himself. That's how I see it. I've talked to him. He knows what he needs to do, and hopefully he'll do it."

Owner Mike Brown gave Henry a two-year contract on Tuesday, undercutting his head coach and undermining his own crackdown on repeat offenders. Brown released Henry after his fifth arrest in the offseason, saying the team was finished with him.

Then, he brought him back despite the objections of coach Marvin Lewis, who had no interest in giving Henry another chance. The move reminded players who's in charge of the Bengals.

"It's the organization's team," quarterback Carson Palmer said after practice Wednesday. "It's their team. They're going to make decisions that they think are best, and Marvin and the players and all the coaches do the best with what we've got."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496125.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496125.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:43 EDT
Showing just what he can do when he goes all out start to finish, Bolt forged the greatest race ever run Wednesday night under the hazy lights at the Bird's Nest, heaving his chest toward the finish line - not simply to beat someone for the gold, but to become a part of track's glorious, and sometimes troubled, lore.

He finished in 19.30 seconds to break Michael Johnson's 12-year-old world record, one of the most venerable in the books.

"I just blew my mind and blew the world's mind," Bolt said.

Insane, Usain.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495592.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495592.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:03 EDT
Griffey's two-run drive in the second inning was his first since Chicago acquired him from Cincinnati on July 31, and No. 609 for his career. The 13-time All-Star was just 9-for-43 with four RBIs and no extra-base hits for the White Sox entering the game.

Alexei Ramirez and A.J. Pierzynski each hit a three-run homer for AL Central-leading Chicago, which has won eight of nine and maintained a one-game lead over Minnesota. Nick Swisher homered for the third straight game and Griffey scored three times.

Griffey hit an RBI single and Ramirez connected for his 14th homer in Chicago's six-run first against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (3-8), who lasted just two innings. Griffey's drive to right made it 8-0.

The White Sox have scored 13 or more runs in three of their last four games and the 15 runs were one short of their season high. It also was an impressive showing playing without Jim Thome, who was scratched with slight soreness in his right leg.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495588.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/495588.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:03 EDT
The last time the A's lost 11 series in a row was 1960, when they played in Kansas City.

The Twins won their 11th consecutive home series, improving to 30-9 at the Metrodome since June 1 in their last home game until Sept. 5. They play 14 straight on the road, beginning Thursday against the AL West-leading Los Angeles Angels. Only six of their next 30 games are in Minnesota.

This will be a defining stretch for the Twins, who began the day one game behind the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central.

Liriano (4-3) was still strong enough to win with five innings against the lifeless A's, who are 6-25 since the All-Star break.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495501.html http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495501.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:38 EDT
The Kentucky women's basketball schedule was released Tuesday afternoon, and the biggest talk might be about where the team is not going to be playing when the season starts in November.

For the first time in the past six years, the UK women have opted not to play any home games in Rupp Arena.

Last season, they played five games at the downtown facility versus their normal home at Memorial Coliseum.

.I want us to kind of put our roots down,. Coach Matthew Mitchell said of the move to all games at Memorial Coliseum. .We want to try and establish a true home-court advantage, and Memorial Coliseum is our true home.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495632.html http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495632.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
Receiver Chris Henry is back with the Cincinnati Bengals because their owner has a soft spot for troubled players.

Henry signed a two-year deal Tuesday with the team that let him go after he was arrested for the fifth time, a decision that seemed to mark a change in philosophy for owner Mike Brown. Instead, it was an aberration. The Bengals took him back at Brown's behest.

Coach Marvin Lewis, who had no interest in bringing back the troubled receiver, said Brown wanted to give Henry yet another chance.

.I obviously know that, at the end of the day, that the owner has the final say-so on whether or not he wants to give a guy an opportunity or not,. Lewis said. .Mike has wanted to give Chris this opportunity and asks that we do the best job that we can to try to prepare him and get him ready to play football.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495626.html http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495626.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
College Football

Louisville freshman QB Simms suspended four games

Louisville quarterback Matt Simms was suspended for the team's first four games of the season by Coach Steve Kragthorpe on Tuesday for breaking team rules.

Simms, a redshirt freshman, was competing with Tyler Wolfe for the backup spot behind starter Hunter Cantwell . ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495625.html http://www.kentucky.com/sports/story/495625.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:22 EDT
Transactions

BASEBALL

American League

BALTIMORE ORIOLES. Placed LHP George Sherrill on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 16. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496653.html http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496653.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:13 EDT
The move completes a trade that sent Luis Ayala to New York in exchange for a player to be named later -- Hernandez.

The 25-year-old Hernandez went 1-for-3 in four games with New York this season. Over the course of 35 career games, all with the Mets, he owns a .138 average (12-for-87) with one double, one triple, one home run and three runs batted in.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496650.html http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496650.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:58 EDT
Kotchman, who was acquired in a June 29 trade that sent Mark Teixeira to the AL West-leading Angels, learned after Tuesday's 7-3 loss to the Mets that his mother, Susan, had been hospitalized for an undisclosed reason. He returned home to St. Petersburg to be with her.

According to MLB, a player must remain on the bereavement list for a minimum of three days and a maximum of seven.

Kotchman is batting .157 (11-for-70) with five RBI in 20 games for the Braves. He had a .287 average to go along with 12 home runs and 54 RBI in 100 games for the Angels.

In a corresponding move, the Braves recalled outfielder Brandon Jones from Triple-A Richmond.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496643.html http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496643.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:38 EDT
Glavine made the decision after Wednesday's visit to specialist Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Alabama revealed a partial tear to the flexor tendon in his left elbow.

Glavine breathed a sigh of relief after the MRI determined there was no damage found in the ligament, as Tommy John surgery would have likely ended the left-hander's career.

Andrews will perform the surgery on Thursday, and Glavine is expected to regain form after four-to-five months of rehab, though he has yet to determine his plans to pitch during the 2009 season.

Glavine was placed on the disabled list for the third time this season on Friday due to a strained left elbow. The 42-year-old lefty had not gone on the disabled list at any point in his career until this season, but has been battling elbow discomfort since early May.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496600.html http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496600.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:53 EDT
He will join Double-A Binghamton.

The 38-year-old was 2-2 with a 4.37 earned run average in 26 games for the Rays this season before being designated for assignment on August 9. Reyes served as Tampa Bay's closer in 2007, recording a career-high 26 saves in 61 appearances.

Over parts of 13 seasons with the Brewers, Orioles, Dodgers, Pirates, Yankees, Cardinals and Rays, Reyes has compiled a 23-16 record with a 3.82 ERA and 32 saves.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496472.html http://www.kentucky.com/557/story/496472.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:48 EDT
Feliz has been on the DL since July 25 while suffering from a bulging disc in his lower back. Entering Wednesday's action, the 33-yar-old owns a .256 batting average and .304 on-base percentage with 12 home runs and 46 runs batted in through 99 games this year.

In a related move, the Phillies optioned pitcher Les Walrond to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The left-handed reliever appeared in four games with the big club this year, posting an 0-1 record with a 7.11 earned-run average.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496580.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496580.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:33 EDT
NASCAR's decision Wednesday to suspend seven JGR crew members indefinitely for attempting to manipulate a horsepower test after a Nationwide Series race last weekend put a serious dent in owner Joe Gibbs' reputation

While NASCAR decided against banning the cars from future races, the penalties were among the harshest NASCAR has levied.

- Crew chiefs Jason Ratcliff and Dave Rogers were suspended and fined $50,000 each.

- No. 18 car chief Dorian Thorsen, engine tuner Michael Johnson and crew member Toby Bigelow and No. 20 car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek were all suspended indefinitely.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496488.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496488.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:53 EDT
Speed captured his first pole in his ninth Truck Series start. He returns to the series since finishing third at Michigan in mid-June.

Speed, the current ARCA RE/MAX points leader, will run the first of eight remaining truck races left on his schedule this year for BDR.

Starting on the front row with Speed will be Johnny Benson, who posted a time of 15.507 seconds.

Benson will attempt to win his record fourth-consecutive race. His winning streak began last month at Kentucky and continued at O'Reilly Raceway Park and then Nashville. He joined Mike Skinner (1996 and 2007), Ron Hornaday, Jr. (1997), Greg Biffle (2000) and Todd Bodine (2006) as winners of three-straight races. No driver has ever won four in a row in the 14-year history of the series. Benson has a good shot of setting the record since he is the defending race champion.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496412.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496412.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:58 EDT
Team spokesman Dan Passe said the fire occurred Wednesday morning outside Cheyenne, Wyo., en route to Sunday's race at Sonoma, Calif. There were no injuries.

Penske had two other cars already in Sonoma because the team was testing there last week. The team is now trying to get those cars into race condition.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496078.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/496078.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:03 EDT
Drivers Tony Stewart and Joey Logano were each stripped of 150 championship points and placed on probation for the remainder of the year. Crew chiefs Dave Rogers of the No.20 team and Jason Ratcliff of the No.18 have been fined $50,000 each and placed on indefinite suspension from NASCAR.

Five other crew members from JGR were also suspended indefinitely. They include: car chief Dorian Thorsen, engine tuner Michael Johnson and crew member Toby Bigelow from the 18, and car chief Richard Bray and engine tuner Dan Bajek from the 20.

Stewart finished third in the No.20, while Logano came in seventh in the No.18 in Saturday's race at the Michigan International Speedway. During post- race inspection, officials found a magnetic spacer under the gas pedals of both cars with the attempt of compromising the chassis dynamometer test.

Team owner Joe Gibbs was penalized 150 points for each car.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/495600.html http://www.kentucky.com/531/story/495600.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:27 EDT
Sharpie 500 - Bristol Motor Speedway - Bristol, TN

It's sure to be a hot August night Saturday in Bristol, TN as the Sprint Cup "Race for the Chase" hits the track at the half-mile, high-banked Bristol Motor Speedway. While four drivers have a chance to clinch a "Chase" berth at Bristol, several other contenders battling for playoff position are hoping for the best in this year's night race there.

Kyle Busch has already clinched the top seed in the "Chase for the Sprint Cup," which begins September 14th at New Hampshire. Busch leads the standings with 80 bonus points for his eight wins.

Carl Edwards should secure the second position in the "Chase" standings after Bristol. Edwards is currently second in points, and trails Busch by 222 markers. If he finishes 25th or better, regardless of any other driver's performance, he's in. Despite five victories for the year, Edwards has 40 bonus points since he was deducted 10 points for a rules infraction after winning at Las Vegas earlier this year.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496612.html http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496612.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:08 EDT
"There's not too much you can do, to be honest with you," receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. "He has to do it himself. That's how I see it. I've talked to him. He knows what he needs to do, and hopefully he'll do it."

Owner Mike Brown gave Henry a two-year contract on Tuesday, undercutting his head coach and undermining his own crackdown on repeat offenders. Brown released Henry after his fifth arrest in the offseason, saying the team was finished with him.

Then, he brought him back despite the objections of coach Marvin Lewis, who had no interest in giving Henry another chance. The move reminded players who's in charge of the Bengals.

"It's the organization's team," quarterback Carson Palmer said after practice Wednesday. "It's their team. They're going to make decisions that they think are best, and Marvin and the players and all the coaches do the best with what we've got."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496613.html http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496613.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:08 EDT
The 235-pound Jackson, a bruising runner and the centerpiece of the team's offense, is entering the final year of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004. His prolonged stand perhaps reflected a realization of his value to an attack that averaged only 16 points last season while going 3-13.

The Rams cut off negotiations in late July on the first day of training camp after Jackson's agent, Eugene Parker, turned down a deal the team said would have put Jackson in the top echelon at his position.

At that time, Jay Zygmunt, the Rams' president of football operations, said there would be no further talks until the running back reported.

"This is certainly a step in the right direction," coach Scott Linehan said. "We're hoping we can get this thing squared away real quickly."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496578.html http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496578.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:33 EDT
The club's web site cited team sources close to the situation as saying Jackson would return Wednesday night and take a physical on Thursday morning.

Jackson is searching for a long-term contract extension from the club with negotiations expected to resume upon the running back's arrival.

Jackson has missed both preseason games and will likely miss Saturday's exhibition against Baltimore, regardless of a contract being finalized.

The 25-year-old is entering his fifth season in the league, all spent in St. Louis. He rushed for 1,002 yards on 237 carries with five scores and had 38 catches for 271 yards and a touchdown in 12 games of an injury-plagued 2007 campaign.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496576.html http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496576.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:29 EDT
Following Wednesday's practice, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan revealed that the veteran will have the knee scoped, in hopes that it will clear up the soreness which has largely kept Nalen out of training camp.

This procedure follows a previous arthroscopic surgery Nalen had back in June to repair torn cartilage in the same knee. After participating in the first week of camp, he had to cease activity due to soreness.

Shanahan said he hopes the surgery will enable Nalen to be healthy for the team's season-opener September 8 at Oakland.

The 37-year-old is heading into his 15th season with the Broncos. A torn right biceps muscle ended his 2007 season after five games, but he appeared in 64 consecutive regular-season contests from 2003-06.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496440.html http://www.kentucky.com/561/story/496440.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:13 EDT
New England has not looked sharp in August losses to the Ravens (16-15) and Buccaneers (27-10), with the absence of quarterback Tom Brady seemingly ranking among the prime culprits in that performance.

Brady is considered questionable for this week due to a lingering foot injury, and will yield to backup candidates Matt Cassel, Matt Gutierrez, and Kevin O'Connell if he is unable to play.

Cassel (7-of-14 passing, 68 yards in the preseason), Gutierrez (10-of-16, 76 yards, 1 INT), and O'Connell (12-of-28, 112 yards, 2 INT) have combined for four interceptions without a touchdown pass in the preseason to date.

Also looking for improvement on Friday night will be New England starting running back Laurence Maroney, who has mustered just 21 yards on 13 carries during the month of August.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496408.html http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496408.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:48 EDT
However, the Chinese government controls only Web sites with the ".cn" suffix and has no power over those assigned in other countries.

The move, announced Tuesday, "will better protect the interests of the Olympic gold medalists," said an official of the government's China Internet Network Information Center, quoted by the state Xinhua News Agency. It identified him only by the surname Hu.

Domain names based on the names of at least 10 gold medalists, including weightlifter Chen Xiexia and gymnast Yang Wei, were registered before the games, according to Xinhua. People who registered names before the Olympics can keep them but "were advised to give it to the medalist 'as a gift,'" Xinhua reported.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496008.html http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496008.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:29 EDT
The U.S. will play the Greece-Argentina winner on Friday.

Australia was the last team to push the U.S., losing by 11 on August in a friendly game in Shanghai. It was a close game through the first quarter, when the U.S. led by just one point, 25-24.

But leading by just five at 41-36 midway through the second quarter, the U.S. went on a 14-7 run to end the quarter and take a 13-point halftime lead.

Deron Williams nailed a three-pointer to close the half, then Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony made back-to-back threes to open the second half.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/495591.html http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/495591.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:17 EDT
Ilchenko sprinted from behind in the closing meters and finished the grueling 6.2-mile race in 1 hour, 59 minutes, 27.7 seconds, Wednesday morning in the shallow, calm water at the Shunyi Rowing-Canoeing Park.

Keri-Anne Payne of Britain took the silver in 1:59.40.7. Her teammate, Cassandra Patten, earned the bronze in 1:59.42.3.

Natalie du Toit of South Africa, an amputee who removed her carbon-fiber prosthetic left leg before diving in, finished 16th.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496156.html http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496156.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:08 EDT
The International Olympic Committee said Wednesday it has opened a disciplinary procedure into Blonska, who finished second behind fellow Ukrainian Nataliia Dobrynska last Saturday.

The IOC disciplinary commission and executive board are expected to rule on the case Thursday.

Lamine Diack, president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, said he had been notified of the positive result by Gabriel Dolle, the director of the IAAF's medical and anti-doping department.

"Yes, I've just been informed," Diack said. "Only on my way here, Dolle phoned me to say this athlete tested positive. The process is under way."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496251.html http://www.kentucky.com/564/story/496251.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 14:53 EDT
Bolt had already set a world record and won gold in the 100 in these Olympics. This time he beat the entire field by more than half a second and ran hard all the way through the line for a time of 19.30 seconds, which barely eclipsed the 19.32 American Michael Johnson posted in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

"I blew my mind," Bolt said, "and I blew the world's mind."

Bolt, who turns 22 Thursday, is a 6-foot-5 sprinter who is doing to records what Randy Moss does to NFL cornerbacks. Said U.S. track legend Renaldo Nehemiah after watching the race: "He's got the same tempo as the shorter guys, as well as a 9-foot-plus stride. It's ridiculous."

Said sprinter Kim Collins of St. Kitts and Nevis, who finished sixth in the 200: "He takes one stride and I have to take 2 { just to keep up. I mean, how fast can a human being go?"]]> http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/496451.html http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/496451.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:28 EDT
The fire started early Wednesday at the home of 39-year-old Gary Nicklaus. A former PGA golfer himself, Nicklaus had filed for building permits in January at the Bears Club, a golf community developed by his father.

The second floor of Gary Nicklaus' home was almost finished when the fire started about 5 a.m. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue spokesman Capt. Don DeLucia said the cost of the damage was unclear but that construction would have to restart from scratch. The cause of the fire was under investigation.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/495448.html http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/495448.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:37 EDT
The lowest score in two days of qualifying came on the No. 4 course at Pinehurst and followed Fillmore's opening 69 on Pinehurst No. 2, giving him a total of 6-under 134.

Fillmore leads the group of 64 players who will start the match-play portion Wednesday. The final two qualifiers will be determined in a playoff among 26 players who tied at 5-over 145.

A junior at BYU, Fillmore left golf behind during his Mormon mission to Chile but quickly made up for lost time when he returned in 2006. He went to the golf course about three hours after his plane landed in Salt Lake City.

"I got it back pretty quickly, but from sunup to sundown, I worked pretty hard at it," said Fillmore, a first-team All-Mountain West Conference player last season.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/494186.html http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/494186.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 19:23 EDT
Hull jumped 40 places to No. 49 this week.

Lorena Ochoa remained No. 1 and was again followed by Sorenstam. Yani Tseng finished third behind Hull and moved up two spots to No. 3 this week.

Tseng's move bumped Suzann Pettersen and Paula Creamer down to four and five respectively.

Ji-Yai Shin, Karrie Webb, Cristie Kerr, Seon-Hwa Lee and Jeong Jang remained in the sixth through 10 spots this week.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/494091.html http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/494091.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 17:57 EDT
Of that group, Rose is playing on the European Tour this week, while Cejka joins Woods and Donald as missing the event due to injury.

In the first event of the 2007 FedEx playoffs, Steve Stricker fired four rounds in the 60s, including a two-under 69 in the final round, to walk off with a two- shot win over K.J. Choi.

Stricker claimed his fourth PGA Tour win, but his first since the 2001 WGC- Accenture Match Play Championship. Choi, who held the 36-hole lead, lost for the first time in five tries when owning at least a share of the 36-hole lead.

Ridgewood replaces Westchester Country Club as the host of this event. Westchester had been the venue for all 41 years, but the event will now rotate among Ridgewood, Liberty National Golf Club and other courses including Westchester, which will host again by the 2012 season.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/494075.html http://www.kentucky.com/549/story/494075.html Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:52 EDT
Then came a tie for 20th over the weekend in his PGA Tour debut at the Wyndham Championship. Those performances leave the 18-year-old player from New Zealand as one of the favorites in the U.S. Amateur at Pinehurst, where he opened with a 1-over 71 in the opening round of stroke play Monday.

Can his confidence level get any higher?

"It actually doesn't stop," he said. "It goes up and up."

Qualifying for the 312-player field is split between Pinehurst's No. 2 and No. 4 courses.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/496008.html http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/496008.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:29 EDT
The U.S. will play the Greece-Argentina winner on Friday.

Australia was the last team to push the U.S., losing by 11 on August in a friendly game in Shanghai. It was a close game through the first quarter, when the U.S. led by just one point, 25-24.

But leading by just five at 41-36 midway through the second quarter, the U.S. went on a 14-7 run to end the quarter and take a 13-point halftime lead.

Deron Williams nailed a three-pointer to close the half, then Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony made back-to-back threes to open the second half.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/495359.html http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/495359.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 15:39 EDT
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but a report Tuesday in the Philadelphia Daily News said the 35-year-old Ratliff has accepted a one-year deal for the league minimum of $1.4 million.

"We are very fortunate to sign a player of Theo's caliber," Sixers general manager Ed Stefanski said. "He is a consummate professional who will provide us with additional depth in the front court."

A 13-year veteran, Ratliff played for the Sixers from mid-December of 1997 through late February of 2001.

Ratliff has also played for Atlanta, Detroit, Portland, Boston and Minnesota. In 705 NBA games, including 504 starts, he has averaged 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.63 blocks.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/495222.html http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/495222.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:28 EDT
Houston traded for Ron Artest, New Orleans inked swingman James Posey and Golden State has had to re-shuffle its roster. The Lakers have had a quiet summer, while the Clippers will have a new look.

Take a peek at where the squads in the Western Conference project at this time:

1. LOS ANGELES LAKERS - The Lakers are the defending Western Conference champions and get the top spot by default. They decided not to match Golden State's offer to physical big man Ronny Turiaf, but did re-sign guard Sasha Vujacic, who had a strong offseason. MVP Kobe Bryant makes the Lakers the team to beat in West.

2.SAN ANTONIO SPURS - Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker are still the nucleus of the Spurs, who were knocked out by the Lakers in five in the West finals. San Antonio did re-sign center Kurt Thomas and inked free agent guard Roger Mason, who adds athleticism. The Spurs are still one of the elite teams in the NBA.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/496120.html http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/496120.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:58 EDT
Dr. David Altchek, the attending orthopaedic surgeon in the Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service at the hospital confirmed that the center suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Smith has improved his strength and range of motion in the knee and will continue with therapy and medication before a follow-up visit with Dr. Altchek in early September.

Smith was originally hurt during normal basketball activity earlier this month. No timetable has been set for his return.

The Colorado State product averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds in 76 games during his rookie campaign last season. He played five games during the recently completed Las Vegas Summer League and averaged 18.6 points with 8.0 rebounds.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/496626.html http://www.kentucky.com/560/story/496626.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:23 EDT
The team, which has yet to be further named upon officially moving from Seattle in July, acquired Marshall from Cleveland in an 11-player, three-team trade in February. That deal also saw Seattle send Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West to Cleveland.

The trade was viewed as a cost-cutting move at the time, which apparently came to fruition Wednesday. Marshall was in the final year of a contract that would have paid him $5.9 million.

Marshall, a former lottery pick out of Connecticut, averaged just 3.8 points and 2.9 rebounds in a limited role with Cleveland and Seattle last season, when he saw action in 26 contests.

For his career, the six-foot-nine Marshall has averaged 11.4 points and 6.8 rebounds in 14 seasons with the Timberwolves, Warriors, Jazz, Bulls, Raptors, Cavaliers and Supersonics.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/279/story/455978.html http://www.kentucky.com/279/story/455978.html Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00 EDT
After the basketball season ended, Chrysti Noble would see her former player Sarah Rowe around the neighborhood, ball in hand.

The former Rockcastle County star would be shooting baskets or dribbling the ball around.

Those images made Noble want to look away.

.I was sad she wasn't going to play basketball anymore,. Noble said. .She was one of the best all-around players I'd ever coached in 18 years.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496613.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496613.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:08 EDT
The 235-pound Jackson, a bruising runner and the centerpiece of the team's offense, is entering the final year of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004. His prolonged stand perhaps reflected a realization of his value to an attack that averaged only 16 points last season while going 3-13.

The Rams cut off negotiations in late July on the first day of training camp after Jackson's agent, Eugene Parker, turned down a deal the team said would have put Jackson in the top echelon at his position.

At that time, Jay Zygmunt, the Rams' president of football operations, said there would be no further talks until the running back reported.

"This is certainly a step in the right direction," coach Scott Linehan said. "We're hoping we can get this thing squared away real quickly."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/292/story/495633.html http://www.kentucky.com/292/story/495633.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
Paul Dunbar running back Jerrell Greene, who committed to the University of Kentucky in April, won't play football for the Bulldogs in his senior season.

.It hurts my heart to say it, but we've removed Jerrell from our roster,. said Jason Howell, who is in his first season as Dunbar coach.

.He hasn't done what he needed to do to be on our team. He didn't hold up his end of the bargain..

Greene was charged with first-degree robbery in June after he allegedly tried to steal cough medicine from a Kroger pharmacy and got in a fight with store employees before he was arrested. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/294/story/495923.html http://www.kentucky.com/294/story/495923.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 08:53 EDT
Louisville freshman QB Simms suspended four games

Louisville quarterback Matt Simms was suspended for the team's first four games of the season by Coach Steve Kragthorpe on Tuesday for breaking team rules.

Simms, a redshirt freshman, was competing with Tyler Wolfe for the backup spot behind starter Hunter Cantwell .

Simms is the son of former New York Giants and Morehead State quarterback Phil Simms and the brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms . ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/275/story/473911.html http://www.kentucky.com/275/story/473911.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:13 EDT
It's an interim step, not a final ruling.

But Kentucky High School Athletic Association Hearing Officer Edmund .Pete. Karem has recommended that Dakotah Euton and Chad Jackson be eligible to play basketball for the 2008-2009 school year, according to Euton's father Clay Euton.

Euton and Jackson, who moved from Rose Hill Christian to Scott County this spring, were both ruled ineligible in June by KHSAA Commissioner Brigid DeVries.

Both players appealed, leading to a meeting with the hearing officer. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/277/story/450230.html http://www.kentucky.com/277/story/450230.html Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:55 EDT
The Cardinals will face an 18-game conference schedule in which teams will face all Big East teams, plus repeat games against three opponents.

Louisville's home conference opponents will include Connecticut, DePaul, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Providence, Seton Hall, USF and West Virginia. The Cardinals' nine league road games will be at Cincinnati, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Rutgers, St. John's, USF, Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia.

"As tough as our schedule was last season, this year our Big East and non-conference schedule could be the toughest we have ever faced," said U of L Coach Rick Pitino, whose team played the nation's sixth-toughest schedule by the ratings percentage index (RPI) last season. "With as many as nine Big East teams ranked in the early top 25 rankings, this could be the strongest season for the league since its inception. We look forward to the challenge and I know it will be fun for our fans and players alike."

Seven Big East Conference teams were in the among the nation's top 25 in a recent ranking by ESPN.com's Andy Katz, including three of the first five picks . No. 2 Pittsburgh, No. 4 Notre Dame, and No. 5 Louisville. U of L is second nationally in a CBSSports.com pre-season ranking by Gary Parrish, one of seven Big East teams among the top 16. The Cardinals are No. 6 in a similar ranking by Jeff Goodman of Foxsports.com with eight Big East teams are in the listing.

U of L will return four starters . seniors Terrence Williams and Andre McGee, and juniors Earl Clark and Jerry Smith . from a team which posted a 27-9 record, was runner-up in the Big East Conference, and reached the NCAA Elite Eight for the third time in 11 years. The Cardinals will welcome seven newcomers, including 2008 USA Today high school player of the year Samardo Samuels, a 6-8 forward/center.

U of L's complete schedule, including dates and times for the Big East games, is expected in early September.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/312/story/475037.html http://www.kentucky.com/312/story/475037.html Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:03 EDT
Two Lexington youth golfers will have the chance to play one of the game's most pristine courses on Labor Day weekend.

Connor Rose of Lexington Christian Academy and Pilar Morgan of Henry Clay High School both qualified for a trip to California to take on Pebble Beach Golf Links during the Wal-Mart First Tee Open, a Champions Tour event.

Rose and Morgan both earned the trip through the local Larry Gilbert Foundation/First Tee of Lexington, a local chapter of National First Tee.

.National First Tee is a youth golf organization that takes the game of golf and relates it to the game of life,. said Dave Bunnell, the executive director of First Tee of Lexington. .It takes core values and relates how they apply to golf and how they apply to life.. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/304/story/493911.html http://www.kentucky.com/304/story/493911.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 03:00 EDT
To this day, trainer LeRoy Jolley maintains he never had a horse try harder than Genuine Risk.

And to this day, Jolley knows her tenacity was matched only by her ability to capture hearts.

.Everyone who worked with her was absolutely in love with her,. Jolley recalled.

Early Monday, the racing world lost one of its most cherished icons when Hall of Famer Genuine Risk, one of only three fillies to win the Kentucky Derby, died in her paddock at Newstead Farm in Upperville, Va., at the age of 31. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/272/story/444186.html http://www.kentucky.com/272/story/444186.html Thu, 26 Jun 2008 08:02 EDT
OMAHA, Neb. . Fresno State was smashing in its final performance as college baseball's team of destiny, winning a championship that would have been impossible to predict.

With Steve Detwiler providing all the offense Justin Wilson needed, the Bulldogs captured their first national championship in a men's sport with a 6-1 victory over Georgia in Game 3 of the College World Series finals Wednesday night.

Detwiler homered twice and drove in all six runs, and Wilson allowed five hits in eight innings to cap Fresno State's wild ride to a title.

Fresno State was forecast to be a Top 25 team coming into the season, but the Bulldogs lost 12 of their first 20 games. They needed to win the Western Athletic Conference tournament just to make the NCAA field of 64, fought off elimination in regionals and super regionals, and became the first No. 4 regional seed to reach the CWS since the tournament expanded in 1999. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/289/story/432452.html http://www.kentucky.com/289/story/432452.html Fri, 13 Jun 2008 08:54 EDT
.Who's on first?. was the question posed by funny men Abbott and Costello .

.Who's on the mound?. is the question posed by coaches serious about winning the state baseball title at Applebee's Park this week.

Imagine football coaches being limited to using their star quarterbacks in only one game over the last three weeks of the playoffs.

Or imagine the consternation among basketball coaches if their star point guard were eligible to play only one game in the final three rounds of the Sweet Sixteen. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/270/story/477089.html http://www.kentucky.com/270/story/477089.html Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:42 EDT
Former Paul Dunbar High School baseball coach Mickey Marshall is facing three felony charges of theft .by failure to make a required disposition. involving $12,500 in checks that officials in the baseball booster club and a donor wrote to him.

The charges essentially allege that Marshall did not use the money as the booster club intended.

Booster clubs, made up of parents and coaches, are private organizations that support the activities of sports, cheerleading and bands in the Fayette County public schools by raising millions of dollars for equipment, travel and other expenses.

.There was nothing done with the intent of doing anything underhanded or criminal,. said Marshall, 38, who coached the team to state championships in 2003 and 2007. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/314/story/496072.html http://www.kentucky.com/314/story/496072.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:06 EDT
Already well ahead coming off a tight bend that was supposed to be his only challenge, the Jamaican didn't slow for the first time in the games and bettered the world record of Michael Johnson — one that even the track great considered still out of reach.

With his time of 19.30 seconds, he sliced .02 off the mark dating to the 1996 Atlanta Games. And, incredibly, he cut his personal best by a massive .37.

On the eve of his 22nd birthday, Bolt did the celebrating early. In a sport dominated by hundreds of seconds, he beat the field by over half a second.

All too far behind him, Churandy Martina of the Netherlands Antilles took silver in 19.82. Defending champion Shawn Crawford got bronze 19.96.]]> http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496613.html http://www.kentucky.com/529/story/496613.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:08 EDT
The 235-pound Jackson, a bruising runner and the centerpiece of the team's offense, is entering the final year of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004. His prolonged stand perhaps reflected a realization of his value to an attack that averaged only 16 points last season while going 3-13.

The Rams cut off negotiations in late July on the first day of training camp after Jackson's agent, Eugene Parker, turned down a deal the team said would have put Jackson in the top echelon at his position.

At that time, Jay Zygmunt, the Rams' president of football operations, said there would be no further talks until the running back reported.

"This is certainly a step in the right direction," coach Scott Linehan said. "We're hoping we can get this thing squared away real quickly."]]> http://www.kentucky.com/817/story/496405.html http://www.kentucky.com/817/story/496405.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:50 EDT
Kentucky football coach Rich Brooks spent much of the off-season telling the media that this year's offensive line would be his best at UK. Then, in the team's first fall scrimmage last week, the offensive line laid an egg.

It has taken just two weeks of fall practice for the offensive line to go from a supposed strength to a question mark leading into the Wildcats' Aug. 31 opener at Louisville.

.It's definitely a concern,. UK offensive coordinator Joker Phillips said.

UK junior right tackle Justin Jeffries said that while the line isn't performing terribly as a whole, one or two missed assignments have made the unit look uneven. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/818/story/495449.html http://www.kentucky.com/818/story/495449.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:43 EDT
Junior-college transfer Kevin Galloway said Tuesday that he's gained his academic eligibility to play for Kentucky next season.

That brought UK halfway home to some sort of public acknowledgement that this season's team will not have a player sidelined because of academic questions. The other player reportedly facing eligibility questions, freshman DeAndre Liggins, could not be reached. His AAU coach, Mark Adams, said he had heard from other members of his team that Liggins had gained eligibility.

But that could not be confirmed.

Apparently, Galloway's academic status has been finalized and represents good news for UK. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/496387.html http://www.kentucky.com/285/story/496387.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:13 EDT
This is a basketball state. The Baron. The Fabulous Five. Mr. Wildcat. The Fiddlin' Five. Pitino. The hanging of the banners. Cawood's Court. Midnight Madness.

Basketball is in our blood and in our history, those of us who have been born and raised in the Bluegrass, and all those who wish they had.

So why is it that here, one scant week before they put toe to leather next Thursday, do we find ourselves again looking so forward to the football season?

I'll tell you why. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/494257.html http://www.kentucky.com/287/story/494257.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:46 EDT
Two years ago in the Herald-Leader College Football Preview, I picked Louisville to beat Kentucky by 32 points.

U of L won by 31.

Last season, I predicted Kentucky would upset U of L by four.

Six was the Cats' actual margin of victory. ]]> http://www.kentucky.com/271/story/495628.html http://www.kentucky.com/271/story/495628.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 01:50 EDT
The Lexington Legends, who showed signs of life by winning 11 of their last 13 games in July, have found August to be a burying ground.

The Legends managed just five hits Tuesday night and fell to the visiting Hickory Crawdads 8-2 in a battle of the bottom two teams in the South Atlantic League Northern Division.

The loss was Lexington's fifth in a row and 15th in 18 August games.

The Crawdads, who are 4-14 in August, scored in six of their final seven at-bats. Keanon Simon and Austin McClune, the top two hitters in the Hickory lineup, combioned to go 7-for-12, with McClune hitting a solo home run. ]]>