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5602. wabbit - 6/11/2007 3:58:14 PM  Rags to Riches is queen for a day. The fabulous filly outdueled Preakness winner Curlin in a breathtaking stretch run and won the Belmont Stakes by a head Saturday, becoming the first of her sex in more than a century to take the final leg of the Triple Crown.
No one was happier with the victory than trainer Todd Pletcher and jockey John Velazquez, who both ended long droughts in Triple Crown races: Pletcher was 0-for-28, Velazquez 0-for-20.
Despite a slight stumble at the start, Rags to Riches turned the Belmont into a sensational showdown -- a true battle of the sexes. When the field of seven 3-year-olds turned for home, four horses were up front, Rags to Riches on the outside and Curlin sneaking in between the other rivals. In an instant, it became a two-horse race -- a quarter-mile to the finish of the 1 1/2-mile Belmont, the longest and most grueling of the Triple Crown races. And when Rags to Riches won, it was a great day for ladies as racing had it's first filly to win a Triple Crown race since Winning Colors took the 1988 Kentucky Derby.
Rags to Riches became the third filly to capture the Belmont -- Ruthless took the first running in 1867 and Tanya won in 1905. Only 22 fillies have tried the Belmont, with Rags to Riches the first since Silverbulletday finished seventh in 1999. Rags to Riches won in 2:28.74, well off Secretariat's track record of 2:24. Rags to Riches was sent off as the 4-1 second choice and returned $10.60, $4.40 and $3.20. Curlin, with Robby Albarado aboard, paid $3 and $2.30. Tiago was third and returned $3.70. Hard Spun finished fourth, followed by C P West, Imawildandcrazyguy and Slew's Tizzy.
Carnations are for girls.
5603. wabbit - 6/11/2007 3:58:47 PM  Randy Johnson knew he had to pitch well to beat Daisuke Matsuzaka. Johnson allowed one run in six innings and three relievers did the rest as the Arizona Diamondbacks defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-1 Sunday afternoon to salvage the final game of a three-game series. Matsuzaka (7-5) gave up two runs in six innings, and that was too many against the stingy Diamondbacks staff. Carlos Quentin doubled home the eventual winning run in the sixth inning, and Eric Byrnes had three hits as the Diamondbacks moved within percentage points of first-place San Diego in the NL West.
Joe Torre offered a simple explanation for his team's recent turnaround. "Looseness. These guys are having fun with each other," the Yankees' manager said Sunday after New York's sluggers broke loose in a 13-6 victory over the Pirates. Alex Rodriguez homered twice and drove in five runs, Bobby Abreu went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and the Yankees overpowered Pittsburgh for their sixth consecutive victory. Abreu and Rodriguez each scored four times and Hideki Matsui hit a two-run double, helping the resurgent Yankees (30-31) set a season high for runs in winning for the ninth time in 11 games. It's their longest winning streak since they won six straight last September.
Barry Bonds walked to the plate as the potential tying run with one out in the ninth inning Sunday, the crowd urging him on to deliver one of his famous big hits. Just like the rest of the Giants, Bonds failed to come through. He flied out just in front of the warning track in left field, helping send San Francisco to its second straight shutout loss to the Oakland Athletics. Lenny DiNardo and two relievers combined on a five-hitter, and the Athletics used a tiebreaking home run in the eighth inning by Marco Scutaro to complete a three-game sweep of their Bay Area rivals with a 2-0 victory.
MLB scores
5604. wabbit - 6/11/2007 4:02:22 PM  As Roger Federer tried in vain to solve Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, the silver Coupe des Mousquetaires -- the only Grand Slam trophy missing from the No. 1-ranked player's collection -- sparkled in the sun behind a baseline, 10 feet overhead. So successful everywhere else, so superb against everyone else, Federer once more succumbed to Nadal at Roland Garros, one win short of a French Open title, one win short of a fourth consecutive major championship, one win short of a career Grand Slam. Instead, it was Nadal who made a bit of history Sunday, showing true resolve on the biggest points to beat Federer 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 and become only the second man since 1914 to win three consecutive French Open titles.
For the fourth time, Justine Henin proved that she's by far the best clay court player of her generation. In another airtight and almost perfect performance, the Belgian won her fourth Roland Garros title with a 6-1, 6-2 destruction of Ana Ivanovic in the final on Saturday. "It's my magic garden and my second home" Henin said of Philippe Chatrier court. "It's the only court in the world where I have such a great feeling. It's amazing."
After double-faulting to be broken in the opening game of the contest, Henin amped up her game and completely suffocated the 19-year-old Serbian, attacking her second serves, launching huge forehands and scurrying about the court retrieving any and all huge shots that Ivanovic threw at her. Henin served big and intelligently to specific areas, moved her high variety backhand around the court and stayed keenly focused during the entire match.
5605. PsychProf - 6/11/2007 8:05:49 PM Best Sports Thread. 5606. wabbit - 6/11/2007 8:55:38 PM Except for yours.
Muaahh! 5607. wabbit - 6/11/2007 8:56:54 PM Hey Prof, I've done a wee bit of updating of our links page - if you have any suggestions, please let me know! 5608. PsychProf - 6/12/2007 8:23:21 PM Thanks Wabbit...it is up at Ozzie's Sports Bar. 5609. wonkers2 - 6/13/2007 2:39:11 AM Lake St Clair Sailboat Race 5610. anomie - 6/13/2007 2:42:48 AM Lots of great pics Wonks, and man that looks like fun. 5611. greystoke - 6/13/2007 2:59:09 AM Verlander pitches no-hitter. I've seen information about the last no-hitter by a Tiger (Jack Morris 1984), the last no-hitter in Detroit (Nolan Ryan 1973), and the previous no-hitter this season (Mark Buehrle). But is this the first inter-league no-hitter. I think so, but I'm not sure. 5612. greystoke - 6/13/2007 11:46:48 AM Nope it was the third interleague no-hitter. 5613. jexster - 6/13/2007 6:30:32 PM Just discovered..
Beefcake Blood Sport
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5614. wonkers2 - 6/13/2007 11:51:05 PM Thanks, anomie. It was a perfect night or would have been if we had won. But we took second which was better than usual. 5615. wabbit - 6/15/2007 1:40:40 PM  Johan Santana was frustrated yet again by Minnesota's missing offense as well as his removal after seven strong innings. After the ninth inning, he was smiling. Mike Redmond's RBI single capped a three-run rally in the ninth inning against Atlanta closer Bob Wickman, ruining Tim Hudson's strong start and lifting the Twins to a 3-2 victory over the Braves on Thursday night. Santana gave up Brian McCann's solo homer in the fifth, Matt Diaz's RBI double in the sixth, and left trailing 2-0. Atlanta lost for the ninth time in the last 12 games, but it sure wasn't Hudson's fault. Hudson dominated for 7 1-3 innings, yielding only two hits and leaving Rafael Soriano to record the last two outs in the eighth when he felt a knot in the back of his shoulder. But Minnesota hit a bunch of bouncers to scrap together a wild rally in the ninth to hand Wickman (1-2) his third blown save this year.
Joe Torre found his new lucky spot in the dugout, then watched Alex Rodriguez, Andy Pettitte and the rest of the team go to work. Yep, things are falling into place nicely for the New York Yankees. Rodriguez drove in two more runs, Pettitte breezed for eight innings and the Yankees won their ninth straight game, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 7-1 Thursday. Playing with a fresh bounce in their step, the Yankees finished off another sweep - they brushed aside Pittsburgh last weekend - and extended their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2005. Next up, the New York Mets visit for the Subway Series.
With a line-drive grand slam over Fenway Park's Green Monster, Garrett Atkins might have put his slump behind him. Kaz Matsui also had three hits for the Rockies as they sent Josh Beckett (9-1) to his first loss of the season. Jeff Francis (6-5) pitched five shutout innings, allowing seven hits and two walks while striking out two to win for the fifth time in six decisions. Beckett has won just two of his last five starts, a span that included two weeks on the disabled list with torn skin on his right middle finger. He allowed season highs of six runs and 10 hits, with a walk and a strikeout in five innings before leaving down 6-0. Boston's loss, coupled with the Yankees' 7-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks , trimmed the Red Sox lead in the AL East to 7 1/2 games, just about half of the 14 1/2 games New York trailed by just two weeks ago. The Red Sox have lost three of four and scored two or fewer runs in seven of their last nine games.
MLB scores
5616. wabbit - 6/15/2007 1:40:56 PM  Once again, the San Antonio Spurs walked the hallways in champagne-soaked T-shirts. Bruce Bowen carried the Larry O'Brien trophy, one he had cradled before. Tony Parker, wrapped in France's flag, squeezed an MVP award he richly deserved. And Tim Duncan, always the center of everything for his team, recorded every precious moment with a camcorder. This wasn't their first NBA title. But for the Spurs, it's the maybe the one that means the most. Champions for a fourth time in nine years, they're now a dynasty.
Parker scored 24 points, Manu Ginobili had 27 -- 13 in the fourth quarter -- and the Spurs moved in among the NBA's greatest franchises with an 83-82 victory Thursday night for a sweep of the Cavaliers -- court jesters through much of their first finals. With their fourth championship since 1999 -- and third in five years -- the Spurs joined the Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls as the only teams in NBA history to win four titles.
5617. wabbit - 6/18/2007 2:03:03 PM  The only thing Angel Cabrera couldn't conquer at this U.S. Open was Oakmont. That was much tougher than Tiger Woods. Cabrera hit all the right shots at the right time Sunday, none bigger than a booming tee shot down the middle of the 18th fairway that stopped a late slide, allowed him to post a 1-under 69 and forced Woods and Jim Furyk to catch him. For the second straight major, Woods couldn't buy a birdie. For the second straight U.S. Open, Furyk couldn't make a par. Cabrera became the first Argentine in 40 years to win a major, powering his way to a pair of birdies on the back nine that turned into a one-shot victory over two of the best players in the world.
South Africa's Ashleigh Simon became the youngest professional winner of a Ladies European Tour event at the Catalonia Ladies Masters on Sunday, edging out Becky Brewerton and Kirsty Taylor by two strokes. The teenager, aged 18 and 37 days, carded a 2-under-par 70 at the Club de Golf Masia Bach to finish at 8-under 280. Only South Korea's Amy Yang, a 16-year-old amateur when she claimed the 2006 ANZ Ladies Masters in Australia, was younger in recording a victory. Simon turned professional a day after her 18th birthday about five weeks ago, and was playing in only her fourth start in the paid ranks.
PGA news
5618. wabbit - 6/18/2007 2:03:20 PM  Kate Ziegler broke swimming's oldest world record, shattering the 1,500-meter freestyle mark by 9 1/2 seconds Sunday night. Ziegler won the 30-lap race at the Kate Ziegler broke swimming's oldest world record, shattering the 1,500-meter freestyle mark by 9 1/2 seconds Sunday night. Ziegler won the 30-lap race at the TYR Meet of Champions in 15 minutes, 42.54 seconds, easily erasing Janet Evans' 1988 mark of 15:52.10 set in Orlando, Fla. At the time, Evans was the first woman to break 16 minutes. It was Ziegler's fourth victory at the meet, having already won the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles. In the 1,500, Ziegler's 400-meter split was 4:09.87 -- 4 seconds off her winning time in the event Friday. Her 800 split of 8:22.57 was 2 seconds faster than her winning time in the 800 Thursday. At the world championships in March, Ziegler won the 1,500 in 15:53.05, second-fastest in history. The race is not an Olympic event for women. in 15 minutes, 42.54 seconds, easily erasing Janet Evans' 1988 mark of 15:52.10 set in Orlando, Fla. At the time, Evans was the first woman to break 16 minutes. It was Ziegler's fourth victory at the meet, having already won the 200, 400 and 800 freestyles. In the 1,500, Ziegler's 400-meter split was 4:09.87 -- 4 seconds off her winning time in the event Friday. Her 800 split of 8:22.57 was 2 seconds faster than her winning time in the 800 Thursday. At the world championships in March, Ziegler won the 1,500 in 15:53.05, second-fastest in history. The race is not an Olympic event for women.
5619. wabbit - 6/18/2007 2:03:36 PM  Barry Bonds added baseball's oldest ballpark to his longball list and was back on his way to the sport's most hallowed record. The San Francisco slugger hit his 748th career homer in Boston's 9-5 victory over the Giants on Sunday, adding Fenway Park, the Red Sox and knuckleballer Tim Wakefield to his scrapbook and moving within seven of Hank Aaron's mark. The last time Bonds homered off a knuckler was when he hit No. 73 of 2001 off Los Angeles Dodger Dennis Springer to establish the single-season record. Bonds had been hitless in eight at-bats against Wakefield, even joking that the pitches were too slow to hit hard.
Alex Rodriguez and Chien-Ming Wang have been unstoppable the past few weeks, two big reasons the New York Yankees look almost unbeatable right now. Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 27th homer, Wang came within one out of a complete game and the Yankees won the second Subway Series of the season Sunday night with an 8-2 victory over the stumbling Mets. Damon and Jorge Posada also homered, helping the Yankees win for the 11th time in 12 games. They finished their finest homestand in nine years with an 8-1 record and split the six-game season series with their crosstown rivals for the third straight year. Wang (7-4) struck out a career-high 10 and walked one. He scattered six hits, sending the NL East leaders to their 11th defeat in 13 games.
Fausto Carmona's sharp sinker gave the Cleveland Indians a needed lift. Carmona (8-2) pitched seven-plus innings to help the Indians avoid a three-game sweep with a 5-2 win over the Atlanta Braves on Sunday. Casey Blake extended the majors' longest hitting streak of the season to 26 games for Cleveland, which won for only the third time in eight games and remained in first place in the AL Central. Chipper Jones got his 2,000th hit for the Braves, losers of 10 of their last 15.
MLB scores
5620. wonkers2 - 6/19/2007 10:50:52 PM Cap'n Dirty finished out of the money last night 5621. wonkers2 - 6/20/2007 9:45:10 PM Bol d'Or Regatta
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