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6297. wabbit - 3/30/2009 4:44:38 PM  He's baaaack. Tiger Woods had not felt such an adrenaline rush in nine months, especially when he stood over a 12-foot birdie putt Sunday at Bay Hill with only enough sunlight remaining for one last shot.
It made Woods forget that it had been nine months since he played under so much pressure.
And then he made golf remember the magic it had been missing.
With cameras flashing in the approaching darkness, Woods delivered another rock-star moment by making a birdie on the final hole to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational by one shot and match the largest comeback in his PGA Tour career.
“It feels good to be back in contention, to feel the rush,” Woods said. “It's been awhile, but God, it felt good.”
It sure looked that way.
Just like last year, when Woods made a 25-foot birdie on the final hole at Bay Hill to win by one, he crouched and backpedaled as the putt rolled toward the cup. But instead of slamming his cap to the ground, he gave a roundhouse fist pump and ran into the arms of caddie Steve Williams, who lifted him off the ground in celebration.
Welcome back, Tiger.
6298. wabbit - 3/30/2009 4:45:11 PM 
The Men's Final Four are set.
With bodies clogging the lane and 3-pointers clanging off the rim, Scottie Reynolds made a half-court dash for a last-second basket to give Villanova 78-76 victory over Pittsburgh and send the Wildcats to their first Final Four since 1985, when Patrick Ewing's Georgetown beat St. John's in the semis before losing to Villanova in an epic championship game. Rollie Massimino's Wildcats were a No. 8 seed -- the lowest ever to win it all. Reynolds scored with 0.5 seconds left to help the Wildcats (30-7) beat one conference rival and join another on its way to Detroit.
North Carolina rolled past Blake Griffin and Oklahoma with a total team effort. Ty Lawson scored 19 points and top-seeded North Carolina overcame a quiet game from Hansbrough to beat the Sooners 72-60 Sunday in the South Regional final. North Carolina (32-4) advanced to the Final Four for the second straight year and will play Villanova in the national semifinals.
6-foot-1 freshman Kemba Walker matched a career high with 23 points as the top-seeded UConn Huskies held off Missouri 82-75 in the West Regional final on Saturday. A.J. Price added 18 points and was named most outstanding player of the West region. But the difference was Walker, who deftly handled the Tigers' pressure defense.
The Michigan State Spartans gave the Final Four a hometown feel, stopping overall No. 1 seed Louisville 64-52 Sunday to win the Midwest Regional. Goran Suton had 19 points and 10 rebounds as the second-seeded Spartans (30-6) played the pace game to perfection and reached their fifth Final Four in 11 years -- the most trips of any team in the nation during that span. Only 90 miles from their campus in East Lansing, the Spartans will play Connecticut on Saturday at Ford Field in Detroit. A crowd of 72,000, the largest ever for college basketball's signature event, is expected for each game.
6299. wabbit - 3/30/2009 5:14:52 PM  Alysheba, winner of the 1987 Kentucky Derby and Preakness and 1988 Horse of the Year, has died. The champion stallion was 25.
Dubbed "America's Horse" by racing fans, Alysheba was euthanized Friday night following a fall in his stall at the Kentucky Horse Park's Hall of Champions, where he was buried Saturday.
The son of racing legend Alydar became a sensation for trainer Jack Van Berg and owners Dorothy and Pamela Scharbauer during a brilliant career that included a win in the 1988 Breeders' Cup Classic. He retired as horse racing's all-time money winner with more than $6.6 million in earnings from 11 victories in 26 lifetime starts.
Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron, who piloted Alysheba to victory in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, called him "the most talented horse I ever rode."
The stallion fell in his stall, injuring his right hind femur, and was euthanized Friday night at a medical center in Lexington. Kathy Hopkins, director of equine operations at the horse park, said Alysheba fell due to a chronic degenerative spinal condition. "Complicated by his advanced age, this trauma resulted in severe pain," Hopkins said. "The resulting pain and suffering, and the inability to stand unaided, led to a joint decision for euthanasia."
Alysheba is the second champion horse to be euthanized in the past two weeks. Lil E. Tee, who upset heavily favored Arazi to win the 1992 Kentucky Derby, was put down at Old Frankfort Stud in Lexington on March 18 at age 20.
6300. wabbit - 3/30/2009 5:15:17 PM  The highly anticipated showdown between Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) winner Quality Road and undefeated Dunkirk in the $750,000 Florida Derby (G1) lived up to expectations on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. Quality Road, Theregoesjojo, and Dunkirk surged into the stretch three abreast. Theregoesjojo got pinched back between horses at the top of the lane, setting up a duel between Dunkirk and Quality Road. Dunkirk pushed a head in front and appeared poised to power past Quality Road, but the Elusive Quality colt battled back determinedly to regain command and shook free in the final furlong en route to a 1 3/4-length win. Making his first start around two turns, Quality Road set a track record at Gulfstream Park by completing 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.72 on a track rated as fast. The winning time narrowly eclipsed the previous record on 1:47.79 set by Brass Hat in the Donn Handicap (G1) on February 4, 2006.
Well Armed ran away with the $6 million Dubai World Cup on Saturday and claimed the richest prize in horse racing in an upset that left the favorites deep in the pack. The 14-length victory -- nearly double the record Dubai World Cup margin set last year by Curlin -- was so comfortable that jockey Aaron Gryder patted the 6-year-old gelding's neck 10 strides before the finish. Brazil-bred Gloria de Campeao was the distant runner-up, with Saudi-owned Paris Perfect third. The pre-race favorites for the World Cup -- American-trained Albertus Maximus and Asiatic Boy, last year's runner-up -- never seriously challenged in the 11/4-mile race on dirt softened by intermittent rain. Albertus Maximus was sixth and Asiatic Boy was 12th in the 14-horse field. It was just the seventh win in 23 starts for Well Armed, trained by Eoin Harty and owned by Kentucky's WinStar Farms. But it was huge. Well Armed broke for the lead from the gate and led at the halfway mark. With 600 yards left, he began to pull away with each stride.
Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum has long said the Derby is one of the missing jewels for his storied Godolphin Racing operation. His stable's 1-2 finish in the $2 million UAE Derby possibly raises the stakes for a strong bid at Churchill Downs on May 2. Regal Ransom, ridden by Alan Garcia, held off a late charge by Desert Party to win by a half length and avenge two runner-up finishes to the 3-year-old son of Street Cry - considered one of Godolphin's top Derby prospects.
6301. wabbit - 4/8/2009 4:27:27 PM Mon Mome, a 100-1 shot, won the Grand National at Aintree by 12 lengths Saturday, with the world's most famous steeplechase again marred by a horse death. Mon Mome was ridden by Liam Treadwell over the grueling 4 1/2 miles. The 9-year-old matched Foinavon in 1967 as the biggest long shot to win this race. Mon Mome, 10th last year, is trained by Venetia Williams, whose career as an amateur jockey ended shortly after falling in the 1988 Grand National. Williams became only the second woman after 1983 and 1995 winner Jenny Pitman to train a National winner.
Forty horses started the 162nd running of the race, which was delayed by two false starts. The winner pulled away after jumping the last of the 30 fences. Comply or Die, a 14-1 shot who won last year, was second. My Will finished third, ahead of State of Play.
Hear The Echo collapsed and died a few hundred yards from the finish. He was the fifth horse to die this year in the three-day meet. Butler's Cabin, one of the pre-race favorite, also collapsed and had to be given oxygen. Last year, a horse had to be put down after it unseated the jockey, then crashed into a barrier. Not counting Saturday's race, the British charity Animal Aid has determined that a dozen horses have died during the Grand National. 6302. wabbit - 4/8/2009 4:27:43 PM 
Two California horses racing at opposite ends of the country each solidified their status as Kentucky Derby favorites on Saturday. Pioneerof the Nile won the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby by a length over Chocolate Candy on Santa Anita's artificial surface. Pioneerof the Nile gave Bob Baffert a record fifth Santa Anita Derby victory, and will be the white-haired trainer's first Kentucky Derby starter since 2006. Baffert has won the Run for the Roses three times. The Pamplemousse was scratched because of a tendon problem hours before Saturday's $750,000 Santa Anita Derby, in which he was the 9-5 morning line favorite. He will not run in the Kentucky Derby.
In New York, California-based I Want Revenge overcame a horrible start and rallied to win the $750,000 Wood Memorial by 1-1/2 lengths on the dirt. Their victories pointed both colts squarely on a collision course for the May 2 Kentucky Derby. Under Joe Talamo, who flew in from Santa Anita to ride, I Want Revenge got around a wall of horses in the stretch to win.
Also in the Derby picture is Musket Man, who used a big stretch run to win the $500,000 Illinois Derby at Hawthorne by two lengths. Musket Man was in fifth place approaching the final turn when jockey Eibar Coa maneuvered him into position on the far outside for a dynamic stretch run. Trainer Derek Ryan is wasting no time planning Musket Man's next destination. He plans to send the colt to Churchill Downs on Sunday.
6303. wabbit - 4/8/2009 4:28:04 PM  The Tampa Bay Rays got an early reminder that reaching the playoffs for a second straight time will be at least as hard as the first. Josh Beckett struck out 10 in seven innings of two-hit ball to lead the Red Sox to a 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay on Tuesday in a makeup of their rained-out opener and a rematch of the AL championship series that the Rays won to reach the franchise's first World Series. AL MVP Dustin Pedroia homered on the second pitch he saw this season, and Jason Varitek also homered to help Boston get off to a fast start against the team that edged it by two games for the AL East title last year. For Beckett, who was recovering from a side strain when he faced the Rays in the playoffs, it was a chance to show the form that made him a 20-game winner and Cy Young contender in 2007.
Jair Jurrjens and four relievers combined on a six-hitter, Kelly Johnson and Chipper Jones hit solo homers and the Atlanta Braves beat the defending World Series champions 4-0 on Tuesday night. The Phillies are off to an 0-2 start for the fourth straight year. They'll receive their 2008 championship rings Wednesday before trying to avoid a three-game sweep. Jurrjens (1-0) beat a guy twice his age. The 23-year-old right-hander gave up four hits and walked three in 5 2-3 impressive innings. Jeff Bennett gave up a single to the only batter he faced before Eric O'Flaherty got the next four outs. Rafael Soriano pitched the eighth and Mike Gonzalez finished.
The Minnesota Twins finally got their offense going in the ninth inning - with a big assist from Seattle closer Brandon Morrow. Alexi Casilla's two-run single capped Minnesota's three-run rally with two outs in the ninth and the Twins beat the Mariners 6-5 on Tuesday night. Brought in to protect a 5-3 lead, Morrow (0-1) retired his first two batters before walking the bases loaded. Miguel Batista relieved and Denard Span chopped an RBI infield single to third that made it 5-4. Casilla lined the next pitch from Batista up the middle, scoring Brendan Harris and Brian Buscher.
MLB news
6304. wabbit - 4/8/2009 4:28:31 PM  Unbeaten, unchallenged and national champions. After one last blowout, Connecticut could finally exhale and take its place in basketball history. Tina Charles had 25 points and grabbed 19 rebounds Tuesday night as UConn routed Louisville 76-54 and captured the Huskies' sixth title. UConn won every one of its 39 games by double digits, a first in college basketball.
Charles was the star of the final victory. She commanded both ends of the floor and Louisville, which lost badly to UConn for the third time this season, had no one who could stop her. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma had said before the tournament that his junior center would be the key to UConn winning the title. A year after he benched her in the NCAAs for inconsistent play, Charles delivered, 11-for-13 from the field, and fell just one rebound short of becoming only the second player ever in a championship game to have at least 20 points and 20 rebounds. She was named the outstanding player of the Final Four.
Maya Moore and Montgomery each added 18 points for the Huskies. Angel McCoughtry finished off her stellar career for Louisville with 23 points. Candyce Bingham was the only other Cardinal in double figures with 10 points as Louisville (34-5) shot a dismal 31 percent from the floor.
NCAA Womens basketball
6305. judithathome - 4/8/2009 7:49:33 PM On to the Kentucky Derby!! Comin' up in a few short weeks! 6306. wabbit - 4/8/2009 8:10:00 PM I read somewhere that the Kentucky Derby is the second biggest party day, after the Super Bowl (and not including New Year's Eve, I suppose). I never would have guessed. Churchill Downs has a new website dedicated to the Kentucky Derby Party.
My sister and I usually get on the phone to watch the race together. We get to listen to each other call the race and yell and scream and root our picks on. We've done pretty well lately and we never pick the favorite — too bad we don't have real money down. I had Eight Belles last year, sadly. My sister had the winners of the all but one of the previous races that day. 6307. judithathome - 4/8/2009 10:16:25 PM Well, I always have a great Derby Day when it falls on my birthday...which it does quite often. 6308. wabbit - 4/8/2009 11:22:05 PM Alas, you have a few years until that happens again — it's a couple days early for you this year, isn't it?
I haven't got a favorite yet, but I'll begin paying close attention now. 6309. robertjayb - 4/11/2009 3:19:13 AM Goddam French bastards. They are determined to plague Lance Armstrong forever... He won their race seven (count 'em, seven times) They are so discombobulated by this Yankee afront that they feel honor (Snark) bound to keep him from riding even as a domestique in an eighth race. Pissants. Employing the internationally famous French facility for bureaucratic flim-flam, they send out clerks to badger this unquestionably legitimate champion. What does Bernard Hinault, a real badger and another genuine champion say about this shameful farce?
April 10 (Bloomberg) -- Record seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong said that he likely will be banned from returning to cycling’s premier race because of a drug-testing dispute with France’s anti-doping agency.
Armstrong, speaking in a video posted on his foundation’s Web site and Twitter, said that the French agency, known as AFLD, will probably ban him from the July race because of his actions before the March 17 drug test.
“There is a very high likelihood that they will prohibit me from riding in the tour,” Armstrong said in the video.
Outfuckingrageous! To the barricades! Drape the statue of liberty.
Layfayette weeps!
6310. wabbit - 4/11/2009 4:23:05 PM Bernard Hinault seems to be doing very well for himself as a farmer.
...France's anti-doping agency, known as AFLD, has said the American did not fully cooperate with a drug tester when he showed up at Armstrong's home in France to collect blood, urine and hair samples from the cyclist on March 17.
Although no banned substances were found, the dispute revolves around a 20-minute delay when Armstrong went inside the house and took a shower while his assistants checked the tester's credentials.
The seven-time Tour winner said he asked the tester for permission to go inside and it was granted. The AFLD says Armstrong "did not respect the obligation to remain under the direct and permanent observation" of the tester.
According to Armstrong, the tester wrote "no" on the section of the official paperwork that asks if there was anything irregular about the test…
Armstrong's brief video is up at SI.6311. wabbit - 4/11/2009 5:06:58 PM  Division title: Check. No. 1 playoff seed: Check. Next goal for LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers is securing the NBA's best record. James had 27 points and 10 assists, Wally Szczerbiak scored a season-high 18 and the Cavaliers beat the struggling Philadelphia 76ers 102-92 Friday night to clinch home-court advantage in the Eastern conference playoffs. No team has played better at home this season than the Cavs. They're 38-1 at Quicken Loans Arena, with the only loss coming against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 8. Cleveland (64-15) is 1 1/2 games ahead of the Lakers for the best record in the league. Andre Iguodala led Philadelphia with 26. The Sixers (40-39) have lost four straight since clinching a playoff berth. They remained one game behind Miami for fifth place in the East.
Paul Pierce spent part of the week looking over the schedule, counting the missed opportunities that cost the Celtics a chance to repeat as the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. There was a loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles. Another to the Trail Blazers when Brandon Roy was out. "There are five or six games you look at and go, 'What would our record be if we had taken care of business?'" Pierce said after Boston saw its slim chances of earning home court in the East evaporate despite a 105-98 victory over the Miami Heat on Friday night. "Every game is big for us now. These last three games, I feel like we have to win them all." Pierce scored 21 of his 28 points in the second half, including the go-ahead free throws with 97 seconds left to help the Celtics earn their sixth straight win. But the Cavaliers' victory over Philadelphia minutes earlier locked Boston out of the No. 1 seed; the Celtics are in Cleveland on Sunday in a game that will settle bragging rights, but little else.
Kobe Bryant sat, his knees wrapped in ice, with his chin in his hand. He was pondering the Lakers' latest loss to the Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden. He came up with a myriad of possibilities, but in the end he shook his head. "Even when we're having championship runs, we usually come up here and get our butts kicked," Bryant said. "They play us tough here." Brandon Roy had 24 points and eight assists, and the Blazers beat the Lakers 106-98 on Friday night. It was Portland's eighth straight victory over Los Angeles at the Rose Garden. Bryant scored 32 points for the Lakers, but in the final minute alone he missed a key 3-pointer, had a crucial turnover and was off on another 3. The sellout crowd collectively held its breath as each shot was launched.…
NBA scores
6312. wabbit - 4/11/2009 5:07:28 PM  Jered Weaver did the best he could to gather his emotions, striking out eight in a strong season debut that served as a tribute to his friend and rookie teammate. Weaver and the grief-stricken Los Angeles Angels, still mourning Nick Adenhart's shocking death, returned to baseball Friday night with a 6-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox. It was the Angels' ninth consecutive regular-season victory against the Red Sox - the longest in franchise history - but the joy over this one was muted by prevailing sadness. The 22-year-old Adenhart and two of his friends were killed when their car was broadsided early Thursday in a crash caused by a suspected drunk driver who was charged with three counts of murder Friday.
The scene keeps repeating in the first week of the season: Emilio Bonifacio sprinting around third base to score. His latest run gave the unbeaten Florida Marlins their latest win. Jorge Cantu singled with two out in the ninth to bring Bonifacio home from second base Friday, and the Marlins remained unbeaten through four games by defeating the New York Mets 5-4. Acquired in November from Washington, Bonifacio went 3-for-5 for his fourth consecutive multi-hit game, hiking his average to .579 (11-for-19). He scored three times and has nine runs this season. The Marlins' new leadoff hitter is a big reason they're the only unbeaten team in the majors and 4-0 for the first time in franchise history. Other key contributors include Hanley Ramirez (.500, eight RBIs) and Cantu (.429). The team average is .309.
Cole Hamels hardly looked like a World Series MVP in his 2009 debut, which resembled batting practice for the Colorado Rockies. After his start was pushed back because of spring training elbow trouble, Hamels was roughed up and chased early Friday in Colorado's 10-3 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Jason Marquis pitched seven strong innings in his Rockies debut, and Colorado beat the defending World Series champions in its home opener. The crowd of 49,427 was the highest paid attendance in a regular-season game at Coors Field, which opened in 1995. They didn't see the same Hamels who won NLCS and World Series MVP trophies last year. Hamels (0-1) was supposed to start Philadelphia's season opener Sunday night, but his outing was delayed due to a sore left elbow that slowed him this spring. The left-hander allowed seven runs and 11 hits in 3 2-3 innings, including a five-run third in which gave up half a dozen extra-base hits.
MLB news
6313. wabbit - 4/11/2009 5:09:48 PM  They've taken care of all the nostalgic farewells at Augusta National. Goodbye, Gary Player. Raise a toast to Fuzzy Zoeller. And, just in case Greg Norman doesn't make it back, thanks for the memories, Great White Shark, however painful some of them might be. Now, it's time to get down to the real business of this 2009 Masters. Does Kenny Perry have what it takes to become the oldest winner in major championship history? Can Chad Campbell hang on to an Augusta lead the second time around? Will Anthony Kim's putter keep on smokin'?
Doctor Jekyll, meet Mister Hyde. Augusta National on Thursday, meet Augusta National on Friday. The red numbers that made Thursday's scorecards look like AIG's annual statement weren't going to happen again Friday. That just wouldn't be like the National, which is flat-out the hardest darned great course in the world. The difference was the wind. Friday morning broke sunny and clear with a pleasant breeze, but those nice little breezes took steroids later in the morning and turned into strong, swirling winds, gusting upwards of 25 miles per hour. The course can be somewhat vulnerable (but not easy, not ever) with soft greens and no wind. On Friday, the course was playing two full shots harder than the first round at one point during the afternoon before easing up to a little more than a shot and a half harder by the end of the day. Someone asked Tiger Woods if the wind was difficult. "Yeah," he said without smiling, making it clear he'd just been asked the golfing equivalent of, Is General Motors having a bad year? "You might say that."
6314. wabbit - 4/13/2009 6:03:38 PM  They played deep into the shadows of a warm spring evening, a middle-aged man with a hiccup in his swing and an Argentine with a going draw. Kenny Perry and Angel Cabrera comprised the final act of a wild Masters Sunday, a day of high drama and loud roars that recalled the old-time magic of this beloved tournament.
When the 39-year-old Cabrera saved par from the trees to the right of the first playoff hole — where the third man in the sudden death shootout, Chad Campbell, succumbed with a bogey — he earned a reprieve to keep battling Perry, and an already special Masters became just a little more intense. From the middle of the 10th fairway, the second playoff hole, Perry pulled his approach shot wide left of the green and missed his 20-footer for par. Cabrera hit his approach just below the hole and safely two-putted.
At dusk, the former caddie became a Masters champion…
6315. wabbit - 4/14/2009 12:26:27 AM 
R.I.P. Mark Fidrych
Former All-Star pitcher Mark "the Bird" Fidrych was found dead Monday in an apparent accident at his farm. He was 54.
Worcester County district attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. saids a family friend found Fidrych about 2:30 p.m. Monday beneath a dump truck at his Northborough, Mass., farm. He appeared to be working on the truck, Early said.
The colorful right-hander was the American League rookie of the year in 1976 when he went 19-9 with a 2.34 ERA. He spent all five of his major league seasons with the Detroit Tigers, compiling a 29-19 record and a 3.10 ERA… I loved watching him pitch. He was so goofy and fun, and not a half bad pitcher to boot.6316. wabbit - 4/19/2009 3:07:06 PM 
Todd Pletcher gave Advice some time off after a disappointing 2-year-old campaign last fall, thinking his talented but immature colt needed a break to get through some growing pains. Consider Advice all grown up, just in time for the Kentucky Derby. Advice roared past heavy favorite Square Eddie to take the $300,000 Lexington Stakes at Keeneland and earn a shot at next month's Run for the Roses. Advice put together a masterful move in the stretch, surging by Square Eddie then holding off Conservative by a length to pick up his first win as a 3-year-old. Advice, with Garrett Gomez up, covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.33 and paid $33.60, $15 and $7.80. Pletcher is certain Advice has the toughness to navigate the 1 1/4 mile Derby, but he and owners WinStar Farm will wait to decide whether to send him to Churchill Downs.
Dunkirk covered five furlongs in :59.90 handily, the fastest of 12 timed moves at the distance, for trainer Todd Pletcher. The Unbridled’s Song colt finished second to Quality Road in the Florida Derby on March 28 at Gulfstream Park in only his third career start. S and M al Naboodah Group United Arab Emirates Derby (UAE-G2) winner Regal Ransom and Gulf News United Arab Emirates Two Thousand Guineas (UAE-G3) winner Desert Party both worked at Churchill Downs as did Illinois Derby (G2) winner Musket Man. Regal Ransom, who defeated Desert Party by a half-length in the UAE Derby, breezed five furlongs on a track rated as fast in :59.80. He posted splits of :12.60, :24.20, :35.80, and :48 during the drill and galloped out six furlongs in 1:13. The Distorted Humor colt’s breeze ranked fourth of 28 timed workouts at the distance. Desert Party breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20, posting internal fractions of :12.20, :24.40, :37, and :48.80. The Street Cry (Ire) colt galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.20.
Thoroughbred Times
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