03/15/2011
03/01/2011
Trevor Bayne Becomes Youngest Winner in Daytona 500 History
Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., David Reutimann, Jeff Burton, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Daytona Int'l Speedway, NASCAR Crashes, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- For all the talk of a new track surface, a different style of racing and promises of the "wildest" Daytona 500 ever, Sunday's much-anticipated NASCAR season-opener still ended up like so many of those that have preceded it -- decided in the final laps.
Making his first-ever Daytona 500 start, 20-year-old rookie Trevor Bayne held off Carl Edwards, David Gilliland and Bobby Labonte to earn the venerable Wood Brothers Racing team its fifth Daytona 500 victory and first since NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee David Pearson's win in 1976.
"Am I dreaming? Is this real? I don't even know where to go,'' a stunned Bayne exclaimed to his team on the radio as he crossed the finish line and drove his No. 21 Motorcraft Ford to victory circle, where he was too young to even drink the traditional celebratory champagne.
The race lived up to its billing, easily setting records for caution flags (16) and lead changes (74 among 22 drivers), but in the end it was a a great show of poise heading to the checkered flag that made Bayne the youngest winner of NASCAR's most prestigious trophy - one day after he celebrated his 20th birthday.
A five-car accident at the front of the field with four laps remaining in the 200-lap regulation period set up the first of two green-white-checkered overtime periods and all but eliminated several of the strongest cars, including Ryan Newman, Regan Smith and Clint Bowyer, who exchanged the lead in the closing 15 laps.
Robby Gordon's spin on the first restart sent cars scrambling, and fan favorite Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s No. 88 Chevrolet was collected in the melee, setting up the final two-lap shootout among Bayne and the veterans.
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Jordana Brewster Josie Maran Joss Stone Jules Asner Julia Stiles
Pebble Power Rankings: Dustin Johnson Aims for Hat Trick
Filed under: PGA, Golf Odds and Ends
The Tour heads back to California for one of the most scenic stops all year at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Players will be competing on three courses, all of which measure less than 7,000 yards and demand accuracy and a solid short game. Tiger Woods might be on the other side of the world this week, but the field in Northern California doesn't lack star power.Favorites
Dustin Johnson -- After back-to-back top 10s to open the year, Johnson (pictured) might have made it three straight had the weather in Scottsdale not caused delays everyday. Less than 30 minutes after his opening-round 64, he was back on the tee for round two and shot nine strokes worse. The two-time defending champ at this event was a disastrous final round away from winning the U.S. Open here last summer.
Vijay Singh -- Don't look now, but the Big Fijian looks to be regaining his form. Winless since 2008, Singh has improved each week and earned his first top three finish in three years, which is pretty unbelievable. The 2004 winner here also has three runner-up finishes at the AT&T
Mark Wilson -- Winner in two of his three starts this season, Wilson's game is primed for the trip to Pebble Beach. He sits top 5 on Tour in greens in regulation, scrambling, and scoring, and his consistency will benefit him this week. While his past results here aren't spectacular, the FedEx Cup points leader hasn't missed the cut at the AT&T since 2003.
Jim Furyk -- Last season's FedEx Cup winner took a month off since missing the cut at the Sony Open. He also took a month break after playing both tournaments on the islands to open 2007, returning to the AT&T and finishing T6. Maybe that trend could be a bit of a stretch, but there's no doubt Furyk enjoys Pebble Beach - he hasn't finished outside of the top 40 since 1999.
J.B. Holmes -- The two-time Tour winner nearly added number three at the AT&T a year ago. Holmes finished one stoke behind Dustin Johnson in a tie for 2nd and hasn't missed the cut in four starts at this tournament. One of the longest hitters on tour, he also sits sixth in birdie average after a T5 at the WMPO.
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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/10/pebble-power-rankings-dustin-johnson-aims-for-hat-trick/
Kyle Busch Wins Nationwide Race, Goes for Weekend Sweep Sunday
Filed under: Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup, Joe Gibbs Racing, NASCAR
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Kyle Busch became the first driver in a national NASCAR race to win wire-to-wire in nearly eight years.It wasn't as easy as it looked, not with his car getting loose and Carl Edwards bearing down over the final few laps.
Busch dominated from the pole early and held off Edwards late, maintaining the lead the entire way in the Nationwide race Saturday to set up the chance for a perfect weekend at Phoenix International Raceway.
"It came down to the end of the race and Carl was alongside of me and we were racing really hard trying to beat each other, and I was like, 'Man, just beat him back to the start-finish line, man, just beat back to the start-finish line,"' Busch said. "I was just trying to hold on for as long as I could."
The Nationwide opener last weekend was a nail-biter, with Tony Stewart nipping Clint Bowyer by .007 seconds for the series' closest finish ever at Daytona. Busch had race No. 2 looking like a walkover until Edwards pulled beside him three times in the final 20 laps.
Busch never let him get around, though, fighting a car that had lost some handling after the final pit stop to lead all 200 laps around Phoenix's bumpy mile oval. He's the first green-to-checkers winner in any NASCAR series national race since Dale Earnhardt Jr. did it during a Nationwide race at Daytona in 2003.
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Sarah Wynter Scarlett Chorvat Scarlett Johansson Selita Ebanks Shakara Ledard
NASCAR Makes Another Small Rule Change for Daytona 500
Filed under: Daytona Int'l Speedway, Sprint Cup, NASCAR
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- NASCAR has made another change to cars for the Daytona 500, this one because temperatures are expected to reach 80 degrees Sunday during the season-opening race.
Sprint Cup officials say teams can add an extra inch to grill openings, allowing more air to flow to engine-cooling radiators.
The change was made following the final practice session Saturday and should help drivers keep their engines cooler at speeds nearing 200 mph around Daytona International Speedway on Sunday.
NASCAR made three changes earlier in the week, reducing the size of the horsepower-sapping restrictor plates, adding a pressure-relief valve to cooling systems and reducing the size of grill openings. The moves were made to slow downs cars after speeds topped 206 mph.
The 43-car field will take the green flag at about 1:15 p.m. ET.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks and other supplemental copy have been inserted by AOL.
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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2011/02/19/nascar-makes-another-small-rule-change-for-daytona-500/
Zhang Ziyi Zoe Saldana Zooey Deschanel Aaliyah Abbie Cornish
Match Play Presents Early Intrigue, Often Unfulfilling Final Rounds
Filed under: PGA
This week's WGC Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz., could be something really special.
Or it might not.
That's the tricky thing about match play. When competition begins Wednesday with 64 of the top ranked players in the world, there will be all sorts of intriguing possibilities. A few times over the years, promise has even delivered. In 2000, Darren Clarke beat Tiger Woods in the final. Woods won in 2003 by taking down David Toms in the final and won again in 2004 over Davis Love III. Woods defeated Stewart Cink in 2008. Even last year, although an all-England final, Ian Poulter's victory over Paul Casey had its viewing strengths.
But then there was 2001 when Steve Stricker beat Pierre Fulke in the Sunday final. Or 2007 when Henrik Stenson beat Geoff Ogilvy. And who doesn't remember Kevin Sutherland's 1-up decision over Scott McCarron in 2002?
Because players are eliminated as the week wears on, it is always possible that by the time Sunday's final match arrives, there is the possibility of a "Who's He?" taking on "Who Cares?"
That makes match play events fascinating in that much of the intrigue often occurs early in the week, and the final days can drag.
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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/22/match-play-presents-early-intrigue-often-unfulfilling-final-rou/
Raquel Alessi Rebecca Mader Rebecca Romijn Reese Witherspoon Rhona Mitra
02/28/2011
Aaron Baddeley Holds off Singh, Couples to Win First Tournament in Four Years
Filed under: PGA
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Aaron Baddeley returned to his old swing and a title he hadn't seen in four years -- a PGA Tour winner.In a battle of generations Sunday at Riviera, the 29-year-old Baddeley played mistake-free over the final six holes to hold off Vijay Singh and deny a fairy-tale finish for 51-year-old Fred Couples.
Baddeley closed with a 2-under 69 for a one-shot victory over Singh, who turns 48 on Tuesday.
It was the third career PGA Tour win for Baddeley, whose game had slipped so much that he had plunged to No. 224 in the world. This isn't enough to get back into the top 50, but at least he can book a trip to Augusta National in April for the Masters.
Singh, who only three weeks ago had fallen out of the top 100 in the world for the first time in more than 21 years, had his highest finish since he won the Deutsche Bank Championship in 2008 on his way to the FedEx Cup. Despite back-to-back bogeys on the back nine, he gave himself a chance to the end and closed with a 69.
Singh said it was the best week with the putter in his career, which would include his 2000 Masters victory. He took only 105 putts for the week, including just one three-putt in the second round.
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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2011/02/20/aaron-baddeley-holds-off-singh-couples-to-win-first-tournament/
Alice Dodd Alicia Keys Alicia Witt Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer
Miguel Cabrera Arrives at Spring Training, Set to Enter Treatment Program
Filed under: Tigers, MLB Police Blotter
LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) -- Miguel Cabrera arrived at spring training Thursday for the first time since he was arrested last week on suspicion of drunken driving and promptly apologized as Major League Baseball said he will undergo treatment set up by doctors administered by management and its players' union.The 27-year-old was arrested Feb. 16 on suspicion of driving under the influence and resisting an officer without violence, both misdemeanors. He is set to be arraigned on March 16.
"I am very sorry for what I have done," Cabrera said through a translator. "I have worked hard for a period of time and I hope everyone forgives me. All I ask for is forgiveness."
Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said last week that Cabrera would undergo treatment before arriving. Tigers position players reported on Feb. 18.
Cabrera didn't deny that he had an alcohol problem, but said he was willing to undergo treatment and the Tigers have been working with doctors to find a solution. Cabrera said the incident was out of the ordinary and that he had been working on his treatment in Detroit and his hometown in Venezuela.
He refused to say he is an alcoholic.
"I have it under control," Cabrera said. "It was just a bad decision. I plan to continue with treatment. I made a mistake this time, and all I can do is continue treatment."
Cabrera said he is eager to meet with his teammates, but he won't give a clubhouse speech begging for forgiveness.
"There won't be a big meeting," Cabrera said. "I want to meet with everyone face to face over the next few days. I've learned a lot of lessons in my life, and this was a tough one."
Cabrera does not have a Florida driver's license, but he does have a driver's permit that allows him to drive. He said he didn't plan to do any driving this spring training.
Dombrowski said Cabrera will be treated throughout the season and it is up to manager Jim Leyland to decide when Cabrera will be ready to play.
"We are in the process of trying to help, but he is committed to helping himself," Dombrowski said. "He's a quality person with a great heart."
Asked whether Cabrera might get the same kind of treatment as AL MVP Josh Hamilton of Texas, Dombrowski said it was an option and the Tigers will monitor the situation. After battling drugs and alcohol, Hamilton has a companion on the road at all times to make sure he doesn't stray from sobriety.
Cabrera will suit up with the Tigers for his first workout on Friday, but won't see any action when the Tigers scrimmage Florida Southern College. Leyland said he expects Cabrera in the starting lineup when the Tigers open the season on March 31.
Rob Manfred, baseball's executive vice president of labor relations, said Cabrera has been evaluated by representatives of a treatment board operated by MLB and the union.
"Cabrera has voluntarily cooperated and has been completely forthcoming in this process," Manfred said, adding that Cabrera was recommended "a multifaceted, professionally-administered program" that will "include supervision as is necessary to ensure that he adheres to his program."
"Cabrera understands the importance of this program and is fully committed to the program," Manfred said. "He also understands that any future alcohol-related incidents could involve more serious consequences."
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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/miguel-cabrera-arrives-at-spring-training-set-to-enter-treatmen/
Marisa Coughlan Marisa Miller Marisa Tomei Marla Sokoloff Marley Shelton
