-Courtesy of Penn State University
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa., May 12, 2008 – Former Penn State running back Matt Hahn has signed with the National Football League’s Oakland Raiders, who announced the signing last Friday, just prior to the team’s rookie mini-camp.
Hahn joins five other Nittany Lions that played during the 2007 season that were drafted or have been signed by NFL teams. The Dix Hills, N.Y. product joins former Nittany Lion standout tight end Tony Stewart on the Raiders’ roster. Stewart joined the Raiders prior to last season, his eighth in the NFL.
Hahn's brother, Kevin, is a redshirt freshman running back for the Nittany Lions.
Hahn was a consistently productive runner, receiver and blocker for the Nittany Lions from 2004-07. In the midst of having one of the best games of his career, his senior season came to an abrupt end in the Oct. 20, 2007 game at Indiana. Hahn was gouging the Indiana defense in the high-scoring affair, setting career-highs with 43 yards on five carries. But, during a 14-yard run in the fourth quarter, Hahn suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee as he was tackled, ending his season and Penn State career. The former St. Anthony’s Catholic School standout played in every game in 2007 with two starts. He gained 82 rushing yards last year on 15 carries for a strong 5.5 average, with a touchdown run against Wisconsin. Hahn also had nine receptions for 47 yards, with a touchdown catch vs. FIU.
Hahn was presented the squad’s 2007 Ridge Riley Award for “sportsmanship, leadership and friendship.” He is on schedule to earn his degree in recreation, park and tourism management this week.
A pair of Penn State standouts were selected in the 2008 NFL Draft, increasing to 234 the number of Nittany Lions that have been drafted under Hall of Fame coach Joe Paterno. All-America linebacker Dan Connor (Wallingford) was selected by Carolina in the third round and All-Big Ten cornerback Justin King (Pittsburgh), was selected by the St. Louis Rams with the second pick of the fourth round.
Wide receiver Terrell Golden (Norfolk, Va.) signed with the Philadelphia Eagles, record-setting quarterback Anthony Morelli (Pittsburgh) signed with the Arizona Cardinals and running back Austin Scott (Allentown) signed with the Cleveland Browns. In addition, running back Rodney Kinlaw (Goose Creek, S.C.) participated in the Detroit Lions’ mini-camp earlier this month.
Monday, May 12, 2008
MLS Philadelphia hires director of operations and CFO
Keystone Sports and Entertainment, LLC, the Major League Soccer Philadelphia 2010 ownership group, hired Rob Smith as Director of Operations and Dave Debusschere as Chief Financial Officer on Monday.
Smith and Debusschere will officially begin their new assignments on June 2.
"We said from day one that this organization would be world-class in every way," said CEO Nick Sakiewicz. "Rob Smith and Dave Debusschere are key pieces in taking us where we want to go. Rob has roots here in the Philadelphia region but is recognized across the country for his outstanding work with FC DELCO. And Dave (Debusschere's) 10-plus years of financial experience, combined with his passion and understanding of sports, make him our ideal CFO."
Smith and Debusschere will officially begin their new assignments on June 2.
"We said from day one that this organization would be world-class in every way," said CEO Nick Sakiewicz. "Rob Smith and Dave Debusschere are key pieces in taking us where we want to go. Rob has roots here in the Philadelphia region but is recognized across the country for his outstanding work with FC DELCO. And Dave (Debusschere's) 10-plus years of financial experience, combined with his passion and understanding of sports, make him our ideal CFO."
Soul try to get back on winning track
ESPN Game Preview: Philadelphia at Georgia
Courtesy: Arena Football League
Philadelphia Soul (9-1) @ Georgia Force (4-5)
The History
By Ray Bentley -- The Philadelphia Soul will attempt to rebound after suffering their first loss of the 2008 season last week as they visit the Georgia Force on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. EST and the game will be shown in HD and on ESPN360.com. This will be the 4th meeting ever between these two with Georgia holding a 2-1 edge. The Force beat the Soul twice last year including a 65-39 thrashing in the Divisional Playoff round. Philly’s lone win in the series came in 2006.
ESPN2 will give a unique perspective in covering this game as they will use seven microphones to bring viewers inside both the offensive and defensive huddles. Coaches and the referee will also be mic’ed up to hear play calls, strategy and penalty explanations. The will also take viewers into both locker rooms at halftime. This inside access will be exciting and intense and will give a perspective to the game that has never been seen to this extent. It should be awesome.
The Stakes
The Soul are battling Dallas for the top spot in the National Conference. The Desperados kept pace after beating Grand Rapids this week. Philly won the head-to-head matchup 2 weeks ago and play Dallas again in Week 14. They did get nine days off prior to playing this one and needed the rest to try and heal up after a recent rash of injuries.
Georgia is currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture but they are coming off a big win over division leading New Orleans. The Force have seemingly found their stride and are geared up for a run at a Wild Card spot.
The Players
The Philadelphia QB situation has been a tricky one but by putting Tony Graziani on IR this week, they cleared up the picture a tad. That picture is of Matt D'Orazio, who is the top rated QB in the AFL. D’Orazio has a bum ankle but he is the kind of guy who will tape it up and get it done. The only question will be his mobility which is usually a strength. The Soul signed Glenn Gauntt as a back up while Graziani mends.
Georgia has the same QB situation they have had for the past year-and-a-half which is pretty dang good. Chris Griesen has had to adjust to multiple receivers this year but is still one of the best in the game. He burst on the scene last year by throwing 117 TD passes and has 54 this year. His strength is intelligence combined with athleticism. You don’t see him try to force the ball in places where it should not go. He also throws one of the best deep balls in the game.
Two of the top receivers in the AFL will be reunited in this game as Philly’s Chris Jackson and Georgia’s Troy Bergeron will try to match stats. These two played together in Georgia last year and were a big part of Griesen’s record-setting performance. Bergeron is finally back to full strength after fighting through injuries early in the year. It means a ton to the Georgia offense to have him back making big plays and stretching defenses. Jackson is the “Zen” master of all AFL receivers and makes the critical 3rd and 4th down plays look routine.
Philly has exceptional depth at receiver with Larry Brackins and Darius Watts. Brackins is a one-man gang after the catch and you seldom see the first defender tackle him. Watts may be the most athletic of the three and can do it all. This is what makes the Philly’s offense the highest scoring in the AFL.
Of course they could not do a thing without the great protection they get up front from arguably the top O-line in the game. Phil Boggle, Mike Mabry and Martin Bibla all are in line for post-season honors but they will be tested in this one by an outstanding Georgia defensive line.
Georgia has gotten a solid season from Carl Morris on the outside and Tiger Jones is coming into his own as a playmaker. Finally, Georgia has a consistent group at receiver as they have fought injuries all year. They have started six different receiver combinations in their nine games thus far.
But the real injury problems for the Force have been in the defensive secondary. They have used 11 different DBs in their nine games and will be missing their signal caller and middle defender Hamin Milligan this week. That puts the pressure on Willie Gary to make the calls and the plays. Chris Royal and Cornelius Bonner are expected to be the other starters but Bonner is dealing with a turf-toe injury and could be a game-time decision.
Philly’s secondary has also been battered by injuries as starters Mike Brown and Brian Mance have both been shelved on IR. The means Eddie Moten, the middle defender will be working with Dee Webb and Rob Keefe again this week. This is the group that started in Philly’s only loss of the year which came last week.
The game may well be a shootout due to the injuries in each secondary but don’t count out these defenses as they both feature a considerable pass rush. Philly is led by Gabe Nyenhuis (6 sacks) and Bryan Save (5.5 sacks) and Mac Linebacker Anthony Dunn (3.5 sacks). Save has a triceps injury and has practiced some this week but may not be at full strength. He uses his hands and speed as well as anyone and has blossomed into one of the best Noses in the game.
Georgia has great talent and experience in their defensive line. It is anchored by Ernest Allen (4.0 sacks) at the Nose and the ends, Jermaine Smith and R-Kal Truluck are both capable of taking over a game. The banged up secondary will be counting on theses guys to get to D’Orazio in a hurry which will help in trying to cover Jackson and Brackins. Georgia has also been getting explosive play from their Jack LBer, Cam Newton, who has four picks with three of them returned for TDs.
The Game
It will be interesting to see how the Soul responds after losing their first game of the year last week in Cleveland. They have had nine days since that game and have had a chance to heal up a bit and also get that bitter losing taste out of their mouths. They have a huge challenge in this one as Georgia is a well-coached, talented team that plays tough at home.
Georgia has lost some close ones and with a play here or there they could easily be 6-3 instead of 4-5. You get the feeling they are hitting their stride, especially after they way the handled New Orleans last week. With Bergeron back in the lineup the offense is hard to stop. He brings a confidence to the rest of the team when he is healthy. He will also be amped up to show his former mentor Jackson just how much he has learned.
These two met twice last year and both games were marred with multiple personal fouls. In fact, when they met in the playoffs a fight broke out in pre-game warm-ups. Suffice it to say they have a history of not liking each other very much. The team better able to harness this ill will and not get caught up in the trash talking and cheap shots will increase their chances for success.
This game could easily turn into a shootout due to the injuries in each secondary. Both teams have excellent QBs and receivers who are more than capable of taking advantage of the situation. However, both may decide to play a lot of zone coverage forcing the opposing offense to take the short passes and move methodically down the field. If this occurs then whoever plays better red zone and goal line offense will gain the advantage.
In fact, I expect this game to be decided at the goal line. Both teams are stout against the run and both are physical on defense. There will be a game within the game once they get down in scoring position. If D’Orazio is limited in his ability to run and scramble expect Philly to use the direct snap package to Clifton Smith in these situations.
You have very similar coaching situations in this matchup as both head coaches, Doug Plank for Georgia and Bret Munsey for Philly call the defensive coverages. Both also have former AFL QBs as offensive coordinators. Jim Kubiak calls the plays for Georgia while Connell Maynor handles the business for Philly. This should be a great matchup of the minds.
A big key will be how well Georgia tackles in the secondary. Philly is an excellent quick screen team and rely on yards after the catch from their receivers. On the flip side, Philly will have to find a way to contain Bergeron. Moten will have his hands full covering the Georgia speedster but he always seems to rise to the occasion.
Courtesy: Arena Football League
Philadelphia Soul (9-1) @ Georgia Force (4-5)
The History
By Ray Bentley -- The Philadelphia Soul will attempt to rebound after suffering their first loss of the 2008 season last week as they visit the Georgia Force on Russell Athletic ESPN Arena Football Monday. Kickoff is slated for 8 p.m. EST and the game will be shown in HD and on ESPN360.com. This will be the 4th meeting ever between these two with Georgia holding a 2-1 edge. The Force beat the Soul twice last year including a 65-39 thrashing in the Divisional Playoff round. Philly’s lone win in the series came in 2006.
ESPN2 will give a unique perspective in covering this game as they will use seven microphones to bring viewers inside both the offensive and defensive huddles. Coaches and the referee will also be mic’ed up to hear play calls, strategy and penalty explanations. The will also take viewers into both locker rooms at halftime. This inside access will be exciting and intense and will give a perspective to the game that has never been seen to this extent. It should be awesome.
The Stakes
The Soul are battling Dallas for the top spot in the National Conference. The Desperados kept pace after beating Grand Rapids this week. Philly won the head-to-head matchup 2 weeks ago and play Dallas again in Week 14. They did get nine days off prior to playing this one and needed the rest to try and heal up after a recent rash of injuries.
Georgia is currently on the outside looking in at the playoff picture but they are coming off a big win over division leading New Orleans. The Force have seemingly found their stride and are geared up for a run at a Wild Card spot.
The Players
The Philadelphia QB situation has been a tricky one but by putting Tony Graziani on IR this week, they cleared up the picture a tad. That picture is of Matt D'Orazio, who is the top rated QB in the AFL. D’Orazio has a bum ankle but he is the kind of guy who will tape it up and get it done. The only question will be his mobility which is usually a strength. The Soul signed Glenn Gauntt as a back up while Graziani mends.
Georgia has the same QB situation they have had for the past year-and-a-half which is pretty dang good. Chris Griesen has had to adjust to multiple receivers this year but is still one of the best in the game. He burst on the scene last year by throwing 117 TD passes and has 54 this year. His strength is intelligence combined with athleticism. You don’t see him try to force the ball in places where it should not go. He also throws one of the best deep balls in the game.
Two of the top receivers in the AFL will be reunited in this game as Philly’s Chris Jackson and Georgia’s Troy Bergeron will try to match stats. These two played together in Georgia last year and were a big part of Griesen’s record-setting performance. Bergeron is finally back to full strength after fighting through injuries early in the year. It means a ton to the Georgia offense to have him back making big plays and stretching defenses. Jackson is the “Zen” master of all AFL receivers and makes the critical 3rd and 4th down plays look routine.
Philly has exceptional depth at receiver with Larry Brackins and Darius Watts. Brackins is a one-man gang after the catch and you seldom see the first defender tackle him. Watts may be the most athletic of the three and can do it all. This is what makes the Philly’s offense the highest scoring in the AFL.
Of course they could not do a thing without the great protection they get up front from arguably the top O-line in the game. Phil Boggle, Mike Mabry and Martin Bibla all are in line for post-season honors but they will be tested in this one by an outstanding Georgia defensive line.
Georgia has gotten a solid season from Carl Morris on the outside and Tiger Jones is coming into his own as a playmaker. Finally, Georgia has a consistent group at receiver as they have fought injuries all year. They have started six different receiver combinations in their nine games thus far.
But the real injury problems for the Force have been in the defensive secondary. They have used 11 different DBs in their nine games and will be missing their signal caller and middle defender Hamin Milligan this week. That puts the pressure on Willie Gary to make the calls and the plays. Chris Royal and Cornelius Bonner are expected to be the other starters but Bonner is dealing with a turf-toe injury and could be a game-time decision.
Philly’s secondary has also been battered by injuries as starters Mike Brown and Brian Mance have both been shelved on IR. The means Eddie Moten, the middle defender will be working with Dee Webb and Rob Keefe again this week. This is the group that started in Philly’s only loss of the year which came last week.
The game may well be a shootout due to the injuries in each secondary but don’t count out these defenses as they both feature a considerable pass rush. Philly is led by Gabe Nyenhuis (6 sacks) and Bryan Save (5.5 sacks) and Mac Linebacker Anthony Dunn (3.5 sacks). Save has a triceps injury and has practiced some this week but may not be at full strength. He uses his hands and speed as well as anyone and has blossomed into one of the best Noses in the game.
Georgia has great talent and experience in their defensive line. It is anchored by Ernest Allen (4.0 sacks) at the Nose and the ends, Jermaine Smith and R-Kal Truluck are both capable of taking over a game. The banged up secondary will be counting on theses guys to get to D’Orazio in a hurry which will help in trying to cover Jackson and Brackins. Georgia has also been getting explosive play from their Jack LBer, Cam Newton, who has four picks with three of them returned for TDs.
The Game
It will be interesting to see how the Soul responds after losing their first game of the year last week in Cleveland. They have had nine days since that game and have had a chance to heal up a bit and also get that bitter losing taste out of their mouths. They have a huge challenge in this one as Georgia is a well-coached, talented team that plays tough at home.
Georgia has lost some close ones and with a play here or there they could easily be 6-3 instead of 4-5. You get the feeling they are hitting their stride, especially after they way the handled New Orleans last week. With Bergeron back in the lineup the offense is hard to stop. He brings a confidence to the rest of the team when he is healthy. He will also be amped up to show his former mentor Jackson just how much he has learned.
These two met twice last year and both games were marred with multiple personal fouls. In fact, when they met in the playoffs a fight broke out in pre-game warm-ups. Suffice it to say they have a history of not liking each other very much. The team better able to harness this ill will and not get caught up in the trash talking and cheap shots will increase their chances for success.
This game could easily turn into a shootout due to the injuries in each secondary. Both teams have excellent QBs and receivers who are more than capable of taking advantage of the situation. However, both may decide to play a lot of zone coverage forcing the opposing offense to take the short passes and move methodically down the field. If this occurs then whoever plays better red zone and goal line offense will gain the advantage.
In fact, I expect this game to be decided at the goal line. Both teams are stout against the run and both are physical on defense. There will be a game within the game once they get down in scoring position. If D’Orazio is limited in his ability to run and scramble expect Philly to use the direct snap package to Clifton Smith in these situations.
You have very similar coaching situations in this matchup as both head coaches, Doug Plank for Georgia and Bret Munsey for Philly call the defensive coverages. Both also have former AFL QBs as offensive coordinators. Jim Kubiak calls the plays for Georgia while Connell Maynor handles the business for Philly. This should be a great matchup of the minds.
A big key will be how well Georgia tackles in the secondary. Philly is an excellent quick screen team and rely on yards after the catch from their receivers. On the flip side, Philly will have to find a way to contain Bergeron. Moten will have his hands full covering the Georgia speedster but he always seems to rise to the occasion.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Philly native Eddie Alvarez wins MMA bout in Japan
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Kensington's Eddie Alvarez defeated Joachim Hansen by unanimous decision in the Dream light grand prix quarterfinals at the at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on Sunday.
There was a lot of give-and-take between the fighters in a fast-paced bout that was well received by the fans.
Alvarez decked Hansen early and avoided a number of submission attempts late en route to the win.
"Eddie, you're the toughest man I've ever fought," Hansen said after the fight.
"It takes two people to put on a fight like this, so I think we're both winners," Alvarez added.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Kensington's Eddie Alvarez defeated Joachim Hansen by unanimous decision in the Dream light grand prix quarterfinals at the at the Saitama Super Arena in Saitama, Japan on Sunday.
There was a lot of give-and-take between the fighters in a fast-paced bout that was well received by the fans.
Alvarez decked Hansen early and avoided a number of submission attempts late en route to the win.
"Eddie, you're the toughest man I've ever fought," Hansen said after the fight.
"It takes two people to put on a fight like this, so I think we're both winners," Alvarez added.
Friday, May 09, 2008
Pens draw first blood
By Bob Herpen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Evgeni Malkin scored twice and added an assist, as Pittsburgh doubled up Philadelphia, 4-2, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals from Mellon Arena.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Evgeni Malkin scored twice and added an assist, as Pittsburgh doubled up Philadelphia, 4-2, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals from Mellon Arena.
Sidney Crosby and Petr Sykora also tallied for the Penguins, who improved to 9-1 in the postseason and have won the first game in each of their playoff series. Pittsburgh also improved to 6-0 on home ice.
Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves to earn his ninth postseason win.
Mike Richards scored twice for the Flyers, who fell to 8-5 on the playoff year. Martin Biron had an uncharacteristically off night in net, allowing four goals on only 21 shots in the loss.
Philadelphia missed the impact of veteran defenseman Kimmo Timonen, who is likely lost for the remainder of the playoffs with a blood clot in his left leg.
Game 2 is scheduled for Sunday in Pittsburgh.
After stinging the visitors with a goal late in the opening 20 minutes of play, Malkin made it 4-2 on a short-handed goal with 4:50 played in the second.
The Russian was obliterated by Richards on a hit behind the Flyers' net seconds before, but a turnover and Sergei Gonchar's lead pass found him waiting alone at the Philadelphia blue line. He skated in uncontested and unleashed a slap shot from 20 feet which Biron saw but was powerless to stop.
"I didn't have a lot of time to think about what to do," said Malkin through a translator. "I had a few seconds to think and I decided to shoot as hard as I can."
Added Crosby: "It worked. If it were my shot, I'd do the same thing."
From there, the Penguins put the clamps on the Flyers defensively, holding the visitors to seven shots in the middle period and nursing the two-goal lead to intermission.
Although they were awarded a power play just after the midway point in the third, the Flyers didn't capitalize. Though they outshot their hosts 9-4 in the final period, their best chance to creep within a goal came when Randy Jones clanged a point drive off the crossbar in the final minutes.
"You turn the puck over and give up rushes against Crosby and Malkin, that's the game you can't play," Flyers coach John Stevens said. "We did that. Every time you get an odd-man rush, or I call it a 'stressed attack,' it favors them. Those are the things we can't do."
The Pens struck for the game's first goal 6:19 into the contest, as Crosby dished from the left circle to the right wing for Sykora, who moved to the backhand and lifted a shot over Biron.
Philly tied the game at 8:30, when Richards circled the net from left to right and slipped a wraparound past Fleury.
Richards netted his second with 7:10 to play in the first, as he emerged from a scrum with a loose puck and lifted it under the crossbar for a 2-1 Flyers edge.
One minute, 21 seconds later the game was tied again. Biron sent a clearing pass behind one of his defenseman up the left side boards. Hossa met the puck halfway to the point, and his feed towards the net deflected off Crosby in the slot and slithered through Biron.
Pittsburgh then took a 3-2 lead with 6.5 seconds to play, as Malkin was barely onside to accept a Ryan Whitney feed and fire home a wrister from the right circle.
"We did a great job. It was kind of odd early on how that first period went," Crosby said. "So many goals, and that's usually uncharacteristic of the playoffs to make mistakes like that early on. But we did a great job capitalizing and as the game went on we maintained that speed."
Phantoms knocked out of AHL playoffs
WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins secured a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday night, by defeating the Philadelphia Phantoms by a score of 3-1 at the Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza. With the win, the Penguins claimed the East Division playoff crown in five games over their intrastate rivals.
The Penguins will take on the Portland Pirates, who posted a 5-4 win in
The series, which will follow a 2-3-2 format, will open in
This will be the first time the Penguins have advanced to the third round of the Calder Cup Playoffs since the 2004 postseason, when the team defeated the Hartford Wolf Pack in seven games to advance to the Calder Cup Finals.
EliteXC announces undercard for Prudential Center
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - There will be a distinct Philadelphia flavor to the six announced undercard bouts that will precede the first-ever mixed martial arts event shown live on network television Saturday, May 31, at the Prudential Center.
Philadelphia area fighters Wilson Reis (3-0), Matt Makowski (2-0), Jim Bova (3-0), Zach Makovsky (3-1) and Mike Groves (0-1) are scheduled for the undercard.
The 140-pound Reis, who takes on Justin Robbins, has been totally dominant in his brief career, always appearing to be a class or two above his opponent.
In a fight that got off to a wild start, Reis won his EliteXC debut with a second-round submission (rear naked choke) over Makovsky on January 25, in Atlantic City.
A fast-rising featherweight, Reis is only 23 but already is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. The world class grappler made Makovsky, a former Division I wrestler, look pedestrian in what was expected to be a close fight.
The popular Nick Serra (4-2), the younger brother of former UFC middleweight king Matt Serra and the second American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Renzo Gracie, will be opposed by Makowski in a 170-pound scrap.
A submission specialist, all four of Serra’s victories have been via tap out. In his last start, he submitted (armbar) Mike Varner in the second round on June 23 of last year in Atlantic City.
Makowski has compiled an outstanding record in Muay Thai and is considered fundamentally sound.
In his most recent outing, Makowski showed a good ground game to go with his striking en route to registering an excellent 4:01, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Muay Thai specialist Joe Schilling on January 25, in Atlantic City.
Chris Liguori, a one-time middleweight, who now competes at 155-160 takes on the promising Bova, who, like Liguori, signed recently with EliteXC.
Bova trains out of Minersville, Penn. and in his last start scored a 3:59, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Mark Getto. ova has won all three of his fights by submission.
Makovsky meets Andre Soares of New Jersey at 135 pounds and Groves (0-1) will take on Joe Sampieri (0-2) of Manhattan.
Makovsky, who suffered his first loss, to Reis, in his last start, is a former Division I wrestler from Drexel and his 72 victories rank 18th on the all-time Drexel win list.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - There will be a distinct Philadelphia flavor to the six announced undercard bouts that will precede the first-ever mixed martial arts event shown live on network television Saturday, May 31, at the Prudential Center.
Philadelphia area fighters Wilson Reis (3-0), Matt Makowski (2-0), Jim Bova (3-0), Zach Makovsky (3-1) and Mike Groves (0-1) are scheduled for the undercard.
The 140-pound Reis, who takes on Justin Robbins, has been totally dominant in his brief career, always appearing to be a class or two above his opponent.
In a fight that got off to a wild start, Reis won his EliteXC debut with a second-round submission (rear naked choke) over Makovsky on January 25, in Atlantic City.
A fast-rising featherweight, Reis is only 23 but already is a black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. The world class grappler made Makovsky, a former Division I wrestler, look pedestrian in what was expected to be a close fight.
The popular Nick Serra (4-2), the younger brother of former UFC middleweight king Matt Serra and the second American Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Black Belt under Renzo Gracie, will be opposed by Makowski in a 170-pound scrap.
A submission specialist, all four of Serra’s victories have been via tap out. In his last start, he submitted (armbar) Mike Varner in the second round on June 23 of last year in Atlantic City.
Makowski has compiled an outstanding record in Muay Thai and is considered fundamentally sound.
In his most recent outing, Makowski showed a good ground game to go with his striking en route to registering an excellent 4:01, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Muay Thai specialist Joe Schilling on January 25, in Atlantic City.
Chris Liguori, a one-time middleweight, who now competes at 155-160 takes on the promising Bova, who, like Liguori, signed recently with EliteXC.
Bova trains out of Minersville, Penn. and in his last start scored a 3:59, first-round submission (rear naked choke) over Mark Getto. ova has won all three of his fights by submission.
Makovsky meets Andre Soares of New Jersey at 135 pounds and Groves (0-1) will take on Joe Sampieri (0-2) of Manhattan.
Makovsky, who suffered his first loss, to Reis, in his last start, is a former Division I wrestler from Drexel and his 72 victories rank 18th on the all-time Drexel win list.
Phils activate Rollins
JRoll is finally back. The Phillies activated Jimmy Rollins from the disabled list and the reigning NL MVP will be batting leadoff against the San Francisco Giants in the series opener at AT&T Park.
Infielder Brad Harman was optioned to Double-A Reading to make room for Rollins. He went 1-for-10 with the Phillies.
Flyers' Timonen talks before Game 1
Q. I thought you were going to stay home. Did you decide it was important to come here and support the team?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, actually, Mr. Snider, the owner called me last night and said he's going to fly in today, and he's ready to offer me a ride with his plane. So I said I probably can't fly. But then we talked to doctors today and they said yeah, you can fly.
Q. Could you just talk a little about what this news meant to you, how it hit you, and not being able to play in the series?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, it's been a really hard 24 hours. Thursday morning I was still ready to go on the road with the boys, and I got the news that I can't play probably in this series. Probably not the rest of the season. So it was awful. I can't even describe the feeling. But, like I said, it's been a really rough 24 hours.
Q. This team has overcome so many setbacks during the regular season. How do you think the room's going to deal with losing you at this juncture in the season?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, exactly like you said. We face a lot of adversity throughout the year. We lost some key guys for a long period of time. But we were still able to win games. And that tells you what kind of team we have. And I still believe we can get over this for sure.
We've got pretty good players that's can come in and play my role, and play well. And I'm really confident that's going to happen. Hopefully the guys win today.
Q. I know Coach Stevens addressed the team yesterday when he got the news. Were you able to address the team and talk to the guys? And if so, what went down?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I had a chance to talk to a lot of guys now when I got here. Everybody was saying how sorry they are, and it is a bad break. But I said, you know, don't feel sorry for me. You guys have a game tonight and I want to you win.
Q. You've been such an integral voice in the locker room while you were playing. Do you plan on still trying to be around the guys as much as possible or because you're injured, do you need to separate yourself, do you think?
KIMMO TIMONEN: No, I still want to be here. I talked to John Stevens last night, and he said he would like me to come here and be part of the team. When I got the news that I could fly, it was a no?brainer. I want to come here and I want to stay here and I'm flying back Sunday with the team.
So I'm going to be as helpful as I can. And if there's something on the power play and five-on-five play, I will be there if they need my advice.
Q. I'm just curious medically, how scary was it to find this out? And also, I believe this is the second time you've had this. So have they talked to you about maybe doing some tests that makes you see if you have something that makes you more likely to get blood clots?
KIMMO TIMONEN: It is the second time. But the first time four years ago it was a little different. It was superficial blood clot. And it's not a really dangerous, obviously, it's a blood clot. This time it was in the artery not in the vein. The dangerous thing about this is if I kept playing and the clot breaks loose, it could go to my toes and they have to cut my toes off. So obviously you don't want that to happen.
So I met three different doctors yesterday, and everybody said they won't let me play. There are too many risks of that to happen, and I've got to respect their opinion.
Q. Was there any kind of best case scenario given to you about when you could potentially return? Or are you of the mind right now that you won't play no matter how long the team goes?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, there's a little hope. I asked the doctors is there any chance I could return this year, and they don't know that. They said it might be two weeks, it might be two months, it might be five months.
It's really individual how the blood thinners are working, and we'll see. We're going to do the check-up every week and see how if it's any smaller or is it any better, and then we'll go from there.
Q. Is there a potential of this ending your career?
KIMMO TIMONEN: What's that.
Q. Could this be a career-ending type thing?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I've heard it is not, but it could have been. So I'm glad we found it earlier than later.
Q. You mentioned that you'd be available for advice to other players, what advice would you give Randy Jones for your position on the power play?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I haven't talked to Randy yet. But he played this game, you know, enough. He knows what to do out there, I'm sure. The power play coach showed him a lot of tape and what we'll try to do. But I won't go in the locker room and tell the guys what to do, that's for sure. If there's something that coaches wants me to do, I will. But otherwise I'm going to stay behind and just be a friend and a teammate.
Q. Is there anything that you do rehab-wise, or do you just kind of stand and wait to see what happens?
KIMMO TIMONEN: There's not much you can do. You can only wait and see what's going to happen. I was asking if any hot stuff or hot packs or stuff like that helps, and it really doesn't. The
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, actually, Mr. Snider, the owner called me last night and said he's going to fly in today, and he's ready to offer me a ride with his plane. So I said I probably can't fly. But then we talked to doctors today and they said yeah, you can fly.
Q. Could you just talk a little about what this news meant to you, how it hit you, and not being able to play in the series?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, it's been a really hard 24 hours. Thursday morning I was still ready to go on the road with the boys, and I got the news that I can't play probably in this series. Probably not the rest of the season. So it was awful. I can't even describe the feeling. But, like I said, it's been a really rough 24 hours.
Q. This team has overcome so many setbacks during the regular season. How do you think the room's going to deal with losing you at this juncture in the season?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, exactly like you said. We face a lot of adversity throughout the year. We lost some key guys for a long period of time. But we were still able to win games. And that tells you what kind of team we have. And I still believe we can get over this for sure.
We've got pretty good players that's can come in and play my role, and play well. And I'm really confident that's going to happen. Hopefully the guys win today.
Q. I know Coach Stevens addressed the team yesterday when he got the news. Were you able to address the team and talk to the guys? And if so, what went down?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I had a chance to talk to a lot of guys now when I got here. Everybody was saying how sorry they are, and it is a bad break. But I said, you know, don't feel sorry for me. You guys have a game tonight and I want to you win.
Q. You've been such an integral voice in the locker room while you were playing. Do you plan on still trying to be around the guys as much as possible or because you're injured, do you need to separate yourself, do you think?
KIMMO TIMONEN: No, I still want to be here. I talked to John Stevens last night, and he said he would like me to come here and be part of the team. When I got the news that I could fly, it was a no?brainer. I want to come here and I want to stay here and I'm flying back Sunday with the team.
So I'm going to be as helpful as I can. And if there's something on the power play and five-on-five play, I will be there if they need my advice.
Q. I'm just curious medically, how scary was it to find this out? And also, I believe this is the second time you've had this. So have they talked to you about maybe doing some tests that makes you see if you have something that makes you more likely to get blood clots?
KIMMO TIMONEN: It is the second time. But the first time four years ago it was a little different. It was superficial blood clot. And it's not a really dangerous, obviously, it's a blood clot. This time it was in the artery not in the vein. The dangerous thing about this is if I kept playing and the clot breaks loose, it could go to my toes and they have to cut my toes off. So obviously you don't want that to happen.
So I met three different doctors yesterday, and everybody said they won't let me play. There are too many risks of that to happen, and I've got to respect their opinion.
Q. Was there any kind of best case scenario given to you about when you could potentially return? Or are you of the mind right now that you won't play no matter how long the team goes?
KIMMO TIMONEN: Well, there's a little hope. I asked the doctors is there any chance I could return this year, and they don't know that. They said it might be two weeks, it might be two months, it might be five months.
It's really individual how the blood thinners are working, and we'll see. We're going to do the check-up every week and see how if it's any smaller or is it any better, and then we'll go from there.
Q. Is there a potential of this ending your career?
KIMMO TIMONEN: What's that.
Q. Could this be a career-ending type thing?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I've heard it is not, but it could have been. So I'm glad we found it earlier than later.
Q. You mentioned that you'd be available for advice to other players, what advice would you give Randy Jones for your position on the power play?
KIMMO TIMONEN: I haven't talked to Randy yet. But he played this game, you know, enough. He knows what to do out there, I'm sure. The power play coach showed him a lot of tape and what we'll try to do. But I won't go in the locker room and tell the guys what to do, that's for sure. If there's something that coaches wants me to do, I will. But otherwise I'm going to stay behind and just be a friend and a teammate.
Q. Is there anything that you do rehab-wise, or do you just kind of stand and wait to see what happens?
KIMMO TIMONEN: There's not much you can do. You can only wait and see what's going to happen. I was asking if any hot stuff or hot packs or stuff like that helps, and it really doesn't. The
Soul signs DB Ward
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - The Soul signed defensive back Nick Ward to the active roster and defensive back Stephen Cason to the practice squad on Friday.
Ward (6’0, 195) joins the Soul after playing three games with the Kansas City Brigade last season, where he tallied 13 1/2 tackles, three interceptions and two passes defended.
Ward played college football at the University of Miami, where he led the Big East Conference with 10.2 yards per punt return in 1998.
Cason played the first half of the 2008 season with the Georgia Force, where he recorded 39 tackles and two interceptions. Cason previously played with the Green Bay Blizzard of the af2 in 2007 where he posted a team-high 113 tackles.
The El Paso, Texas native played collegiately at William and Mary where he recorded 186 tackles and eight interceptions, earning second-team All-Atlantic 10 and All-10 honors.
Earlier this week the Soul released DB Jeremy LeSueur, who appeared on special teams in Philadelphia’s loss to Cleveland last Friday.
Meanwhile, an arbitrator heard New York Dragons defensive lineman John Nix’s grievance regarding his $1,000 fine and one-game suspension, which resulted from a late hit on Tony Graziani during Week 3.
The arbitrator upheld the suspension but reduced the fine to $400.
Nix will be suspended for the Dragons May 18 game vs. Georgia and cannot practice with the Dragons from May 12-19.
Graziani suffered a sprained knee from the Nix hit and has not been healthy since.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - The Soul signed defensive back Nick Ward to the active roster and defensive back Stephen Cason to the practice squad on Friday.
Ward (6’0, 195) joins the Soul after playing three games with the Kansas City Brigade last season, where he tallied 13 1/2 tackles, three interceptions and two passes defended.
Ward played college football at the University of Miami, where he led the Big East Conference with 10.2 yards per punt return in 1998.
Cason played the first half of the 2008 season with the Georgia Force, where he recorded 39 tackles and two interceptions. Cason previously played with the Green Bay Blizzard of the af2 in 2007 where he posted a team-high 113 tackles.
The El Paso, Texas native played collegiately at William and Mary where he recorded 186 tackles and eight interceptions, earning second-team All-Atlantic 10 and All-10 honors.
Earlier this week the Soul released DB Jeremy LeSueur, who appeared on special teams in Philadelphia’s loss to Cleveland last Friday.
Meanwhile, an arbitrator heard New York Dragons defensive lineman John Nix’s grievance regarding his $1,000 fine and one-game suspension, which resulted from a late hit on Tony Graziani during Week 3.
The arbitrator upheld the suspension but reduced the fine to $400.
Nix will be suspended for the Dragons May 18 game vs. Georgia and cannot practice with the Dragons from May 12-19.
Graziani suffered a sprained knee from the Nix hit and has not been healthy since.
Flyers sign a pair to entry level contracts
-Courtesy of the Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed 6’5”, 235-pound left wing Garrett Klotz (KLAWTZ) and 5’11”, 200-pound center Darroll Powe to entry-level contracts, according to General Manager Paul Holmgren.
Klotz, 19, recorded a goal and three assists for four points and 96 penalty minutes in 52 games for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League this past season. Over the last three seasons in the WHL, Klotz registered five goals and five assists for 10 points and 229 penalty minutes in 150 regular season games for the Red Deer Rebels (2005-06) and Saskatoon (2006-07 and 2007-08). He was drafted by the Flyers in the third round (66th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Powe, 22, registered nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points and 133 penalty minutes in 76 regular season games for the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, this past season. He was third on the team in penalty minutes with 133. He also has scored a goal in nine playoff games as the Phantoms currently play the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the AHL’s East Division Finals.
Over parts of the last two seasons with the Phantoms (2006-07 and 2007-08), Powe has recorded 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points and 153 penalty minutes in 87 regular season games. He posted four points (2G,2A) and 20 penalty minutes in 11 regular season games with the Phantoms after joining the team at the completion of his senior season at Princeton University (2006-07).
In four seasons with the Princeton Tigers (2003-04 through 2006-07), Powe registered 28 goals and 32 assists for 60 points and 226 penalty minutes in 120 games. He was a two-time winner of The Richard F. Vaughan Cup (2006 and 2007), which is “awarded annually to that varsity player who best exemplifies perseverance and dedication to Princeton hockey.” He also won The Blackwell Trophy for the 2006-07 season, which is “awarded annually to that member of the Princeton varsity hockey team who in play, sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport.”
The Philadelphia Flyers announced today that they have signed 6’5”, 235-pound left wing Garrett Klotz (KLAWTZ) and 5’11”, 200-pound center Darroll Powe to entry-level contracts, according to General Manager Paul Holmgren.
Klotz, 19, recorded a goal and three assists for four points and 96 penalty minutes in 52 games for the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League this past season. Over the last three seasons in the WHL, Klotz registered five goals and five assists for 10 points and 229 penalty minutes in 150 regular season games for the Red Deer Rebels (2005-06) and Saskatoon (2006-07 and 2007-08). He was drafted by the Flyers in the third round (66th overall) of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Powe, 22, registered nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points and 133 penalty minutes in 76 regular season games for the Flyers’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Philadelphia Phantoms, this past season. He was third on the team in penalty minutes with 133. He also has scored a goal in nine playoff games as the Phantoms currently play the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in the AHL’s East Division Finals.
Over parts of the last two seasons with the Phantoms (2006-07 and 2007-08), Powe has recorded 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points and 153 penalty minutes in 87 regular season games. He posted four points (2G,2A) and 20 penalty minutes in 11 regular season games with the Phantoms after joining the team at the completion of his senior season at Princeton University (2006-07).
In four seasons with the Princeton Tigers (2003-04 through 2006-07), Powe registered 28 goals and 32 assists for 60 points and 226 penalty minutes in 120 games. He was a two-time winner of The Richard F. Vaughan Cup (2006 and 2007), which is “awarded annually to that varsity player who best exemplifies perseverance and dedication to Princeton hockey.” He also won The Blackwell Trophy for the 2006-07 season, which is “awarded annually to that member of the Princeton varsity hockey team who in play, sportsmanship and influence has contributed most to the sport.”
Eagles cheerleaders go green
The upcoming Eagles cheerleader calendar will feature all 38 women on the squad wearing bikinis made of 95% organic cotton and recycled plastic soda bottles as well as jewelry and accessories made from bamboo and other recycled, upcycled and repurposed products such as CDs, computer chips, glass, cable wire, candy wrappers and watch parts.
Additionally, the cheerleaders will be using cosmetics and hair supplies that are earth friendly and locations for the calendar shoot will include an ecological park and alternative energy elements.
Perhaps more importantly, it gives us a chance to post a picture of the girls.
Without Kimmo, the show will go on
By Steven Lienert
The Phanatic Magazine
My Mom is a religious person. So over the years I've gotten used to hearing things like “God may close a door but He always opens a window” or “God only burdens people with things they can handle.”
After hearing about Flyers' defenseman Kimmo Timonen and the blood clot in his ankle that has sidelined him indefinitely, on the eve of the Eastern Conference Finals no less, I think I better park my rear-end in a pew.
Because, at first, I thought that only God could help the Flyers now. After all, Timonen shut down Alex Ovechkin all by himself and, with Evgeni Malkin and Cindy Crosby healthily skating through the first two rounds, the Flyers needed Timonen now more than ever. He is their best defenseman, period.
But then, my Philly-ness kicked in: “What? That's all you got? The boys'll be just fine.”
For Flyers' fans, this is just deja vu all over again. We've been through this before, with Eric Lindros in 2000.
That was the year the Flyers' shipped Rod Brind'Amour to Carolina for Keith Primeau, Lindros was oft concussed and, after he criticized Flyers' management, the organization publicly stripped Lindros of the captain's 'C.' Good times.
Lindros' bruised brain kept him out of the end of the regular season and through the Flyers' playoff run. With him in the press box, however, the Flyers rallied from a 15-point deficit in the standings to win the Atlantic Division and earn the No. 1 seed in the East entering the playoffs.
But without Lindros, the Flyers were supposed to first-round fodder or fade away entirely. Instead, they took a 3 games to 1 lead over the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals. After the Flyers lost Game 5, Lindros returned, much to the fans' delight.
He would surely put the Flyers over the hump, they thought. Instead, Devils' defenseman Scott Stevens ended Lindros' career as a Flyer after a vicious (but legal) check left him in a crumpled fetal position at center ice.
Which brings us back to Timonen. He will be missed – there's no disputing that. But without Lindros or Brind'Amour, the Flyers found a future captain in Primeau (who scored the five-overtime goal to even the series with Pittsburgh in Round 2 that season), goaltender Brian Boucher got hot (he made perhaps the greatest save in Flyers' history against the Devils in the conference finals) and defenseman Andy Delmore played like the second coming of Paul Coffey (the Edmonton years.)
Starting Friday against the Penguins, the Flyers will have to ride another future captain (Mike Richards), another hot goaltender (Marty Biron) and another defenseman will have to play like the second coming of Scott Stevens (that's a lot to ask of Derian Hatcher, Randy Jones, Lasse Kukkonen or captain Jason Smith.)
Without Timonen, the Flyers are supposed to be swept by the Pens and fade into a pleasant memory.
That said, my brain tells me to make my fingers type “The Penguins in Six.”
But I don't wanna --- I just can't. This Flyers team has too much heart, too much moxy, too much resilience.
Flyers in Six.
What? That's all you got?
Steve Lienert can be reached at stevelienert@hotmail.com
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Timonen talks about his injury
Flyers Defenseman Kimmo Timonen - May 8, 2008
Q: What is your reaction to what has happened?
Timonen: “Hugely disappointed obviously. I was not expecting to get this result this morning. It’s the most disappointing thing in my hockey life for sure.
Q: What are the doctors telling you?
Timonen: “It’s a blood clot. They were able to see it really well. They were thinking about a couple of options, either having surgery and try to remove it, but the best option for me I think is going on clot thinners and hopefully those things help.”
Q: Are they telling you how long it might take for the blood clot to thin out?
Timonen: “Nobody knows that, but I started today and we are going to have a check up at the end of next week. Nobody really knows. It’s probably individual how that blood thinner works.”
Q: Emotionally what is this like for you?
Timonen: “It’s an awful feeling. I was expecting to play tomorrow and you go into the hospital to make sure everything is all right and come out knowing that the season is over pretty much. How many times in your life do you get the chance to play in the Conference Finals and maybe the Stanley Cup Finals? So it is the most disappointing moment in my life hockey wise.”
Q: Your team has overcome injuries before. You have been a real key to your team’s success. What do you see happening here?
Timonen: “Exactly like you said, we had some key guys out of the lineup the whole year and now hopefully somebody can take my role. I am sure there is going to be somebody playing really well. I am just hoping this is not a huge distraction for the team because now we are talking about the (Eastern) Conference Finals and hopefully those guys can focus on winning the game tomorrow. I am sure everybody is really focused and ready to go tomorrow.”
Q: How big is the clot?
Timonen: “I was not able to see. It is noticeable, but I cannot say how big it is.”
Q: You have been through a similar injury like this before in Nashville haven’t you?
Timonen: “Like five years ago in a similar situation, I got hit by the puck, same ankle. A lot of pain came and there was a blood clot.”
Q: Do you remember when this injury happened in the game?
Timonen: “It happened the last shift of the game. I think we were killing a penalty or it was 6-on-5 and I think it was (Andrei) Markov who shot it from the point and it hit my ankle.”
Q: What did they do after that?
Timonen: “We treated it like it was a normal bone bruise and it felt like it too. We iced it down and did the exact same thing we do with this kind of injury. In Game 5 in Montreal, I started feeling a little numbness in my toes and I was able to play through it that game and it was a little painful. Sunday we had a day off and Monday we practiced, same kind of feeling, a little numbness on my toes and Tuesday we had a day off and yesterday same kind of feeling and we decided to do a check up and see what is going on there and today we found out.”
Q: Did you have any idea, with a past similar injury, that this could be what it was?
Timonen: “Not at all because last time when I had it five years ago it was really painful, I couldn’t sleep at night and this time I have been sleeping pretty well. This has not been as painful at all like it was five years ago. I wasn’t expecting to get this kind of result.”
Q: What did the doctors tell you in terms of the risk factor if you tried to play and got hit in the same area?
Timonen: “I asked the doctor the worst case scenario what could happen and he said, ‘if you get hit there again the blood clot might break up and go down to your toes and then we have to cut off your toes’ so that is not a very good scenario.”
Q: Where are you right now?
Timonen: “I am at home right now.”
Q: Are you allowed to do any exercise?
Timonen: “I didn’t ask anything about exercise. We are going to do a check up next week and see if it’s any better and kind of go from there.”
Q: What is the best-case scenario?
Timonen: “That hopefully it is better next week. I honestly asked the doctor do you have any hope playing this series and he said only if it really goes well the next week and a half to two weeks.”
Q: Have you spoken to any of your teammates?
Timonen: “I have a lot of text messages, but it’s been a busy day, so I have not had the chance to talk to anybody besides my parents and my brothers. I am going to talk to Sami (Kapanen) probably tonight and I am going to give John Stevens a call tonight too.”
Q: Are you going to make any trips to Pittsburgh or are you going to stay home?
Timonen: “I actually talked to our team guy and I would like to be there tomorrow, but we will see if that is a possibility. I would like to be there that’s for sure.”
Q: Do you still have to ice it?
Timonen: ” No.”
Holmgren talks Timonen injury
Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren On Injury To Kimmo Timonen- May 8, 2008
Q: When did this happen?
Holmgren: “Kimmo (Timonen) was hit with a shot in Game 4 against Montreal. Obviously he played in Game 5 and it continued to bother him. We had an MRI done on him and followed up with a visit to a vascular surgeon (University of Pennsylvania Health System Vascular Surgeon Dr. Ronald M. Fairman, MD) today. There is a blot clot right on the front of his left foot right about where he ties his skates. It’s a quite serious thing. He is on blood thinners and he is not going to be available.”
Q: For how long?
Holmgren: “There is some hope that in a week’s time there might be some improvement, but we will have to see how that goes.”
Q: When was he first evaluated?
Holmgren: “In the training room just like it was a bruise. He was first evaluated yesterday with an MRI, which really didn’t show much. We followed it up to ease Kimmo’s mind and that is when the doctor found a small blood clot. It’s such a funny area that if he ever gets hit there again a lot of problems could arise.
Q: This has to be a crushing blow to your team.
Holmgren: “It is what it is. We have to deal with it. It gives somebody else an opportunity to step up. Everybody else is going to have to do a bigger part and we will see what happens. Obviously you can’t replace a player that does what Kimmo does for us. Somebody else is going to have to step up and the team is gong to have to do a better job of dealing with it.”
Q: Does Jaroslav Modry come back in the lineup now?
Holmgren: “Obviously the two choices are Modry or (Ryan) Parent. I really have not talked to (Flyers Head Coach) John (Stevens) about that, so I don’t know.”
Q: Did Kimmo first complain about this after Game 4?
Holmgren: “It was right at the end of the game and we treated it like you do any other blocked shot in that area, you put ice on it and try to keep the swelling down. I know he played with it in Game 5 and he was complaining about it, but whatever they do to get to play they did and he played very well obviously. It’s continued to bother him more and more each day since that time. We ruled out any kind of a fracture and we started to get him checked out and this is what it comes to.”
Q: Can you describe the size of the blood clot?
Holmgren: “No, I can’t. I don’t know. A blood clot is a blood clot and anytime you are talking about a blood clot, it’s serious. That is why we are dealing with it like we are.”
Q: You said that there was a possibility that he could come back, what medical procedure are you following now?
Holmgren: “Well I don’t know if there is any medical procedure other than right now he is going to be taking some anti-coagulant or blood thinners. The doctor’s feeling is that this will resolve itself over a period of time. How long a period of a time remains to be seen.”
Q: You brought up hope that he could be coming back in…
Holmgren: “I think that might be more of Kimmo’s hope more than anything, which is admirable. Right now we have to view this as he is not a player for us for this series and we are going to have to march on.”
Q: When was the MRI done?
Holmgren: “The MRI was done yesterday.”
Q: When did Kimmo get hit?
Holmgren: “It was late in the game. It was (Andrei) Markov’s shot. I don’t know the time, I know it was late in Game 4.”
Q: Did the doctor give any sort of percentage chance of him being able to come back?
Holmgren: “I didn’t really speak with the doctor. When they first told him that this should clear up within a month or two, in that time frame, and he would be fine, but Kimmo did some how get some glimmer of hope that who knows. They just don’t know how quickly the clot is going to respond to the medicine that he is going to be taking. I think right now it’s right where he laces up his skates. Like I said, I am not going to hold out any hope that he will be back in this series and we will just see after that. If he came back, obviously that would be a hug bonus.”
The Media's love of the Stereotype
By Jared Trexler
The Phanatic Magazine
The media's written word is one walking literary stereotype.
As Philadelphia fades to black only to awake to a stream of cars, flags and tears at Police Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski's celebration of life on Friday, it is the very people that took away that life at the front of a city's unending battle with race.
Homeless people are black.
Murderers are black.
Drug dealers are black.
It's the white collar businessman's logical deduction of the facts. A simple, safe assertion made from a high rise office with an instant coffee coffee machine and a desk chair that doubles as a massage parlor (another stereotype).
White men get all the breaks.
They are rich.
They live in brick houses surrounded by white picket fences.
They coach tee ball.
Cut-and-paste statistics, otherwise known as a myriad of numbers jumbled together to prop up a straw man argument, support such claims. News stories dot the front pages -- articles of the next tax windfall and bank robbery.
The white man is swimming in money. The black man is sitting in jail.
And the woman? She's a bitch (a nasty, web-approved word for feminist) for fighting a system full of predisposed notions and land mines at each street corner. A love of opera and a menstrual cycle make you eligible to "buck the trend" and "become a benefit of the system set up to disenfranchise the powerful and cuddle the powerless."
You think stories about successful women don't portray this stigma because you never read about powerful females. Unless you turn to page 15, behind the black man's crime and the white man's success.
It all goes back to a family structure set up eons ago. The man brings home the bacon. The wife cooks it. And if there is any left over, the black man steals it.
It's disgusting. We are living in a time of unprecedented opportunity. A white woman and a black man are running for the leader of the free world. Both highly intelligent, highly successful, highly ambitious individuals with big hopes and grand dreams.
Yet, instead of soaking in the magnitude of the moment, the media drives a fork into the black church. It plasters exit polls on building walls and airplane banners -- any place where they can scream examples of sexism and racism.
Instead of unifying, the media again divides. It perpetuates the exact preposterous notions printed above. It enables a small, but vocal sector of society who nods at each of the blatantly racist, sexist statements in this text.
And it extends beyond politics. Beyond the streets of a big city or small town. Sports is another example of pre-existing stereotypes which still have not been overcome.
Black men don't play ice hockey because they can't skate.
White men don't make it in the NBA because they can't jump.
Golf and tennis are "white people" sports because they have the money.
Women aren't as good of athletes as men.
I have a news alert for the people who believe those statements.
The NHL's integration has slowly begun. Larry Bird. Tiger Woods. And Rebecca Lobo could kick my ass in the post.
The point is simple. Statistics may back up some of these claims. But those statistics remain only because people aren't doing enough to combat them.
After school programs in bad city neighborhoods is a start. The First Tee golf program is a solid beginning.
And the media can help by driving away such awful stereotypes. They can put stories about those last two programs on Page One.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Jared Trexler is the author of an upcoming novel on Penn State football. He can be reached at jtt128@comcast.net
The Phanatic Magazine
The media's written word is one walking literary stereotype.
As Philadelphia fades to black only to awake to a stream of cars, flags and tears at Police Sergeant Stephen Liczbinski's celebration of life on Friday, it is the very people that took away that life at the front of a city's unending battle with race.
Homeless people are black.
Murderers are black.
Drug dealers are black.
It's the white collar businessman's logical deduction of the facts. A simple, safe assertion made from a high rise office with an instant coffee coffee machine and a desk chair that doubles as a massage parlor (another stereotype).
White men get all the breaks.
They are rich.
They live in brick houses surrounded by white picket fences.
They coach tee ball.
Cut-and-paste statistics, otherwise known as a myriad of numbers jumbled together to prop up a straw man argument, support such claims. News stories dot the front pages -- articles of the next tax windfall and bank robbery.
The white man is swimming in money. The black man is sitting in jail.
And the woman? She's a bitch (a nasty, web-approved word for feminist) for fighting a system full of predisposed notions and land mines at each street corner. A love of opera and a menstrual cycle make you eligible to "buck the trend" and "become a benefit of the system set up to disenfranchise the powerful and cuddle the powerless."
You think stories about successful women don't portray this stigma because you never read about powerful females. Unless you turn to page 15, behind the black man's crime and the white man's success.
It all goes back to a family structure set up eons ago. The man brings home the bacon. The wife cooks it. And if there is any left over, the black man steals it.
It's disgusting. We are living in a time of unprecedented opportunity. A white woman and a black man are running for the leader of the free world. Both highly intelligent, highly successful, highly ambitious individuals with big hopes and grand dreams.
Yet, instead of soaking in the magnitude of the moment, the media drives a fork into the black church. It plasters exit polls on building walls and airplane banners -- any place where they can scream examples of sexism and racism.
Instead of unifying, the media again divides. It perpetuates the exact preposterous notions printed above. It enables a small, but vocal sector of society who nods at each of the blatantly racist, sexist statements in this text.
And it extends beyond politics. Beyond the streets of a big city or small town. Sports is another example of pre-existing stereotypes which still have not been overcome.
Black men don't play ice hockey because they can't skate.
White men don't make it in the NBA because they can't jump.
Golf and tennis are "white people" sports because they have the money.
Women aren't as good of athletes as men.
I have a news alert for the people who believe those statements.
The NHL's integration has slowly begun. Larry Bird. Tiger Woods. And Rebecca Lobo could kick my ass in the post.
The point is simple. Statistics may back up some of these claims. But those statistics remain only because people aren't doing enough to combat them.
After school programs in bad city neighborhoods is a start. The First Tee golf program is a solid beginning.
And the media can help by driving away such awful stereotypes. They can put stories about those last two programs on Page One.
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Jared Trexler is the author of an upcoming novel on Penn State football. He can be reached at jtt128@comcast.net
Flyers' Timonen out with blood clot
By Bob Herpen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen will miss at least the Eastern Conference finals after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his left ankle.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Philadelphia defenseman Kimmo Timonen will miss at least the Eastern Conference finals after being diagnosed with a blood clot in his left ankle.
Timonen blocked a shot during Game 4 of the club's semifinal series against the Montreal Canadiens, and played through pain in the clinching Game 5 last Saturday.
An MRI taken Wednesday revealed no damage, but a vascular surgeon at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania found the clot during an examination on Thursday. Timonen will be placed on blood thinners to try and dislodge the clot, and his return for the series is in doubt.
The 32-year-old Finn recorded six assists in 12 postseason games.
The Flyers open their conference final against the Penguins on Friday at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh.
Rollins to rejoin Phils in San Francisco
Reigning NL MVP Jimmy Rollins is expected to rejoin the Phillies on Friday in San Francisco after missing a month with a sprained left ankle.
“If he’s ready to play, there’s a good chance he will be,” Phils managerCharlie Manuel said after Thursday’s 8-3 loss to Arizona. “He’s the MVP. He’s the shortstop. He helps us, man.”
Soul's Graziani placed on IR
By John McMullen
Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The Soul have placed quarterback Tony Graziani on injured reserve with a nagging sprained left knee.
Graziani initially suffered the injury in Week 3 when he was hit by John Nix of the New York Dragons on a late hit. Graziani tried to return for Week 7’s game in San Jose but was a late scratch when his knee began to swell.
He was then forced into action last week in Cleveland when his backup, Matt D’Orazio, suffered a sprained left ankle.
Graziani has completed 66.7 percent of his passes this season for 1,017 yards with 29 touchdowns and three interceptions. His 122.8 passer rating is the third best in the league.
The Oregon product is now expected to miss at least the next four weeks of action.
Meanwhile, D’Orazio is not listed on the Soul’s injury report this week and is expected to start when the Soul visit the Georgia Force on Monday, May 12.
D’Orazio, an ArenaBowl winning quarterback two years ago, has completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,831 yards with 41 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His 125.9 passer rating is best in the AFL.
Philadelphia Soul/Georgia Force injury report:
Soul:
PROBABLE - WR Kenny Henderson (Clavicle); WR Sean Scott (Ankle); WR Darius Watts (Ankle); DB Dee Webb (Elbow)
QUESTIONABLE - FB/LB John Peaua (Back)
OUT - DB Mike Brown (Hamstring); LB Rod Davis (Elbow); QB Tony Graziani (Knee); DB Brian Mance (Ankle)
Georgia Force:
PROBABLE - DB Cornelius Bonner (Toe)
QUESTIONABLE - DB Willie Gary (Hip)
DOUBTFUL - DB David Crocker (Back); OL Corey Davis (Groin); DB Hamin Milligan (Shoulder); WR/DB Charles Pauley (Thigh); FB/LB Frank Trentadue (Abdomen)
OUT - DL Mike Bozeman (Back); DB James Whitley (Knee)
Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The Soul have placed quarterback Tony Graziani on injured reserve with a nagging sprained left knee.
Graziani initially suffered the injury in Week 3 when he was hit by John Nix of the New York Dragons on a late hit. Graziani tried to return for Week 7’s game in San Jose but was a late scratch when his knee began to swell.
He was then forced into action last week in Cleveland when his backup, Matt D’Orazio, suffered a sprained left ankle.
Graziani has completed 66.7 percent of his passes this season for 1,017 yards with 29 touchdowns and three interceptions. His 122.8 passer rating is the third best in the league.
The Oregon product is now expected to miss at least the next four weeks of action.
Meanwhile, D’Orazio is not listed on the Soul’s injury report this week and is expected to start when the Soul visit the Georgia Force on Monday, May 12.
D’Orazio, an ArenaBowl winning quarterback two years ago, has completed 69 percent of his passes for 1,831 yards with 41 touchdowns and just three interceptions. His 125.9 passer rating is best in the AFL.
Philadelphia Soul/Georgia Force injury report:
Soul:
PROBABLE - WR Kenny Henderson (Clavicle); WR Sean Scott (Ankle); WR Darius Watts (Ankle); DB Dee Webb (Elbow)
QUESTIONABLE - FB/LB John Peaua (Back)
OUT - DB Mike Brown (Hamstring); LB Rod Davis (Elbow); QB Tony Graziani (Knee); DB Brian Mance (Ankle)
Georgia Force:
PROBABLE - DB Cornelius Bonner (Toe)
QUESTIONABLE - DB Willie Gary (Hip)
DOUBTFUL - DB David Crocker (Back); OL Corey Davis (Groin); DB Hamin Milligan (Shoulder); WR/DB Charles Pauley (Thigh); FB/LB Frank Trentadue (Abdomen)
OUT - DL Mike Bozeman (Back); DB James Whitley (Knee)
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Garrett Reid headed to big boy prison
Eagles coach Andy Reid's son, Garrett, was sent to state prison
Wednesday after admitting he smuggled 89 prescription pills into a county jail.
The 25-year-old Reid pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges and could face as much as two years in state prison.
Montgomery County District
Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said Reid could be released earlier to a less restrictive facility if he
is accepted into a drug-treatment program, however.
Reid is already serving time in a Montco jail for a his heroin-induced car crash that injured another driver.
Jail officials claim he smuggled the pills inside in his rectum when he
surrendered last fall.
Wednesday after admitting he smuggled 89 prescription pills into a county jail.
The 25-year-old Reid pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges and could face as much as two years in state prison.
Montgomery County District
Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said Reid could be released earlier to a less restrictive facility if he
is accepted into a drug-treatment program, however.
Reid is already serving time in a Montco jail for a his heroin-induced car crash that injured another driver.
Jail officials claim he smuggled the pills inside in his rectum when he
surrendered last fall.
Noose tightens on WWE's Massaro in call girl scandal
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - When Rolling Stone Magazine reported that World Wrestling Entertainment diva Ashley Massaro was a high-priced call girl for the Bella Models international escort service, the fetching star went into full spin mode.
"Just got buzzed on some BS that is going around," Massaro wrote on her blog. "Don't believe it for a second. Getting in touch with my lawyer as we speak. I'm beyond upset."
Meanwhile, reports came out that a second Ashley Massaro, who is a bikini model from Las Vegas, may have been be the women in question.
But the noose is tightening around the WWE star. The FBI has e-mails between an Ashley Massaro and Bella Models, where the agency made arrangements for Massaro to meet with clients.
The asking price?...$25,000 per night. For comparison, madam Micelle "Nici" Braun even claimed she once brokered a deal with Paris Hilton, who offered to meet any client who paid $10,000 a night.
Meanwhile Rolling Stone contributing editor Michelle Grigoriadis, who penned the piece, stood by it.
"Obviously, I stand by my story," Grigoriadis said. "Massaro is named in an FBI search warrant that was executed on Michelle Braun's property in October, 2007. I have no knowledge of another woman by the same name."
Now, an old ad for Ashley Massaro through Bella Models has been cached. The Web site is no longer operating (the links don't work and the photos have been removed) but lists Massaro's location as New York City.
The WWE star is from Long Island, while the bikini model has never lived on the East Coast.
Also, the escort service was made up almost exclusively of women recruited from the ranks of Playboy, Penthouse, Maxim and the porn industry.
Massaro was involved with Playboy before she joined WWE in 2005, doing a few pictorials in 2003 and early 2004 under the name Ryan Mackenzie.
Other "escorts" mentioned in the story include Playboy playmates Tishara Cousino and Tina Jordan, Penthouse Pet Lanny Barby and porn star Krystal Steal.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - When Rolling Stone Magazine reported that World Wrestling Entertainment diva Ashley Massaro was a high-priced call girl for the Bella Models international escort service, the fetching star went into full spin mode.
"Just got buzzed on some BS that is going around," Massaro wrote on her blog. "Don't believe it for a second. Getting in touch with my lawyer as we speak. I'm beyond upset."
Meanwhile, reports came out that a second Ashley Massaro, who is a bikini model from Las Vegas, may have been be the women in question.
But the noose is tightening around the WWE star. The FBI has e-mails between an Ashley Massaro and Bella Models, where the agency made arrangements for Massaro to meet with clients.
The asking price?...$25,000 per night. For comparison, madam Micelle "Nici" Braun even claimed she once brokered a deal with Paris Hilton, who offered to meet any client who paid $10,000 a night.
Meanwhile Rolling Stone contributing editor Michelle Grigoriadis, who penned the piece, stood by it.
"Obviously, I stand by my story," Grigoriadis said. "Massaro is named in an FBI search warrant that was executed on Michelle Braun's property in October, 2007. I have no knowledge of another woman by the same name."
Now, an old ad for Ashley Massaro through Bella Models has been cached. The Web site is no longer operating (the links don't work and the photos have been removed) but lists Massaro's location as New York City.
The WWE star is from Long Island, while the bikini model has never lived on the East Coast.
Also, the escort service was made up almost exclusively of women recruited from the ranks of Playboy, Penthouse, Maxim and the porn industry.
Massaro was involved with Playboy before she joined WWE in 2005, doing a few pictorials in 2003 and early 2004 under the name Ryan Mackenzie.
Other "escorts" mentioned in the story include Playboy playmates Tishara Cousino and Tina Jordan, Penthouse Pet Lanny Barby and porn star Krystal Steal.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Temple football in danger of being banned from postseason play
The NCAA announced the list of schools and teams, one of which was Temple football, that have posted two consecutive scores of less than 900 on the NCAA’s academic progress report.
A third consecutive score under 900 next year for the Temple football team would ban them from postseason competition.
A third consecutive score under 900 next year for the Temple football team would ban them from postseason competition.
Rollins almost ready to return
Jimmy Rollins, recovering from a badly sprained left ankle, went 2-for-4 with a solo homer in an extended spring game against the New York Yankees Tuesday.
The reigning NL MVP is 6-for-8 with a homer, three doubles and four RBIs in two extended spring training games.
“It’s 90 percent, but it doesn’t bother me,” Rollins told the Associated Press. “You warm it up, then cool it down, but you know it’s there. It isn’t the ligament, but where the bones kind of rub. But that is now problem because I have had that before in different parts of my body."
Rollins is set is to play for Clearwater of the Florida State League on Wednesday and the Phillies want him to play one more rehab game after that.
Comcast announces Flyers conference final coverage
PHILADELPHIA (May 6, 2008) - Comcast SportsNet today announced its schedule of comprehensive Flyers playoff coverage for the 2008 Eastern Conference Finals when the Flyers take on the Penguins in the best-of-seven series.
Comcast SportsNet’s special coverage will include two live 30-minute specials previewing the series, live 30 minute pre game shows and extended post game coverage, special Flyers features during Daily News Live and SportsNite, and an encore presentation of the classic 2000 Eastern Conference Final showdown between the Flyers and the Penguins that defines the rivalry between the two Pennsylvania teams.
Comcast SportsNet’s coverage begins on Wednesday, May 7 at 7:00 pm with the first of two live playoff preview specials entitled Keystone Clash. Also airing Thursday night, Keystone Clash features Michael Barkann, Steve Coates, Al Morganti and Chris Therien in studio, Lance Crawford reporting live from Pittsburgh, and special guests for further Flyers insight. Keystone Clash will break down the Penguins’ strengths and weaknesses, explore the rivalry between the teams, and analyze what the Flyers need to do in order to defeat their cross-state opponent.
Comcast SportsNet viewers can relive one of the most intense, gritty games in the storied Flyers-Penguins history, game four of the 2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals. After dropping the first two games at home, the Flyers headed west to Pittsburgh and took one back in game three. Game four, reairing on Comcast SportsNet on Friday and Saturday, became an instant classic when Keith Primeau scored the winning Flyers goal at 2:35 a.m. during the fifth overtime.
Flyers fans can also go online to www.ComcastSportsNet.com <http://www.ComcastSportsNet.com> for comprehensive Flyers coverage throughout the series. Play-by-play announcer Jim Jackson will host a live web chat to share his insights during each game, as well as during Comcast SportsNet’s pre and post game coverage and both episodes of Keystone Clash, and Comcast SportsNet’s John Boruk will provide Flyers fans live updates as he blogs from his perch in the press box.
Comcast SportsNet’s Flyers ratings surged this season, with regular season ratings increasing 47% to a 2.2 average Nielsen household rating (66,000 households), and playoffs ratings spiking more than 200% over the regular season, averaging a 6.8 Nielsen household rating (202,000 households).
Comcast SportsNet Flyers Eastern Conference Finals Week One Schedule:
Wednesday, May 7 7 p.m. Keystone Clash - Live Flyers Playoff Special
Thursday, May 8 7 p.m. Keystone Clash - Live Flyers Playoff Special
Friday, May 9 3 p.m. Comcast SportsNet Classic: Flyers-Penguins Game Four
5 p.m. Special Playoff Edition of Daily News Live
6:30 p.m. Special Playoff Edition of SportsNite
7 p.m. Flyers Pre-Game Live
Saturday, May 10 4 p.m. Comcast SportsNet Classic: Flyers-Penguins Game Four
2000 Eastern Conference Semifinals
Sunday, May 11 6:30 p.m. Special Playoff Edition of SportsNite
7 p.m. Flyers Pre-Game Live
Rutgers ranked 22nd in Athlon's football poll
-Courtesy of Rutgers University
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 6, 2008) - The Rutgers football team was ranked No. 22 in Athlon Magazine’s Preseason Top 25 poll, which was released today on AthlonSports.com. The Scarlet Knights return 15 starters from last season’s 8-5 squad that won the program’s second consecutive bowl with a 52-30 victory vs. Ball State in the International Bowl.
Senior wide receiver Tiquan Underwood (Lawrenceville, N.J.) is featured on the cover of the Eastern edition of Athlon’s Preview Magazine, which hits newsstands June 6.
Nine players collected Preseason All-BIG EAST honors according to Athlon. Underwood and senior free safety Courtney Greene (New Rochelle, N.Y.) earned First Team All-Conference accolades.
Junior wide receiver Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.), senior tight end Kevin Brock (Hackensack, N.J.), sophomore offensive lineman Anthony Davis (Piscataway, N.J.) and senior defensive lineman Jamaal Westerman (Brampton, Ontario) were named to the All-Conference Preseason Second Team while junior center Ryan Blaszczyk (Medford Lakes, N.J.), senior cornerback Jason McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) and junior punt returner Dennis Campbell (Plantation, Fla.) were Third Team All-Conference selections.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (May 6, 2008) - The Rutgers football team was ranked No. 22 in Athlon Magazine’s Preseason Top 25 poll, which was released today on AthlonSports.com. The Scarlet Knights return 15 starters from last season’s 8-5 squad that won the program’s second consecutive bowl with a 52-30 victory vs. Ball State in the International Bowl.
Senior wide receiver Tiquan Underwood (Lawrenceville, N.J.) is featured on the cover of the Eastern edition of Athlon’s Preview Magazine, which hits newsstands June 6.
Nine players collected Preseason All-BIG EAST honors according to Athlon. Underwood and senior free safety Courtney Greene (New Rochelle, N.Y.) earned First Team All-Conference accolades.
Junior wide receiver Kenny Britt (Bayonne, N.J.), senior tight end Kevin Brock (Hackensack, N.J.), sophomore offensive lineman Anthony Davis (Piscataway, N.J.) and senior defensive lineman Jamaal Westerman (Brampton, Ontario) were named to the All-Conference Preseason Second Team while junior center Ryan Blaszczyk (Medford Lakes, N.J.), senior cornerback Jason McCourty (Nanuet, N.Y.) and junior punt returner Dennis Campbell (Plantation, Fla.) were Third Team All-Conference selections.
Russell making wild claims in Harrison case
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - ABC's Keith Russell made some wild claims regarding the Marvin Harrison case on Miami sports radio Monday.
The 6ABC sports guy told Jason Jackson of WQAM that sources are saying that the man allegedly shot in the hand after leaving Harrison's North Philadelphia bar last Tuesday was there to carry out a gangland-style hit on the Colts' star receiver.
Russell said Harrison was targeted for the sins of his father, who is reportedly incarcerated.
No other media source has hinted at that conclusion and Russell has yet to make the claim anywhere in Philadelphia.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - ABC's Keith Russell made some wild claims regarding the Marvin Harrison case on Miami sports radio Monday.
The 6ABC sports guy told Jason Jackson of WQAM that sources are saying that the man allegedly shot in the hand after leaving Harrison's North Philadelphia bar last Tuesday was there to carry out a gangland-style hit on the Colts' star receiver.
Russell said Harrison was targeted for the sins of his father, who is reportedly incarcerated.
No other media source has hinted at that conclusion and Russell has yet to make the claim anywhere in Philadelphia.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Clemens finally apologizes but not for drugs
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) -In his first comments since the New York Daily News linked him to a series of extramarital affairs last week, Roger Clemens apologized to his family and friends.
(The Phanatic Magazine) -In his first comments since the New York Daily News linked him to a series of extramarital affairs last week, Roger Clemens apologized to his family and friends.
In a statement issued Sunday to the Houston Chronicle, the former pitching star admitted making "mistakes" in his life but continued to deny any use of steroids or human growth hormone.
"I know that many people want to know what I have to say about the recent articles in the media," Clemens said in the statement. "Even though these articles contain many false accusations and mistakes, I need to say that I have made mistakes in my personal life for which I am sorry. I have apologized to my family and apologize to my fans. Like everyone, I have flaws. I have sometimes made choices which have not been right."
Clemens did not confirm any personal relationships in the statement but did address the Daily News report that accused him of beginning a decade-long affair with country singer Mindy McCready when she was just 15 years old.
"Now, I have been accused of having an improper relationship with a 15-year- old girl," Clemens said in the statement. "Nothing could be further from the truth. This relationship has been twisted and distorted far beyond reality. It is just one of many, many accusations that are utterly false."
The Daily News quoted McCready last week as saying she "cannot refute anything in the story" about her relationship with Clemens.
Meantime, Clemens continued to deny the use of performance enhancing drugs.
"I believe my personal life has nothing to do with the accusations of steroid and HGH use," he said. "I have already made clear that I did not use them."
Major League Baseball's investigation into PEDs, spearheaded by former Senator George Mitchell, alleged Clemens used both steroids and human growth hormone.
WWE's Massaro caught in call-girl scandal
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Rolling Stone Magazine is reporting that World Wrestling Entertainment star Ashley Massaro was a high-priced call girl for the Bella Models international escort service in Los Angeles.
The magazine reported details of the FBI's investigation into the service, listing names of Playboy models, Maxim models and porn stars who were used as escorts by the agency, which had several prominent television stars, Fortune 500 CEOs, and athletes as clients and charged up to $25,000 per night.
But, the Massaro outed by Rolling Stone may not be the WWE star. A second Ashley Massaro, who is a bikini model from Las Vegas, may be the women in question.
The FBI did track down e-mails between an Ashley Massaro and Bella Models, with the agency made arrangements for Massaro to meet with clients.
According to Rolling Stone, the FBI found emails in which the company's madam, Michelle "Nici" Braun states: "All I do is make the introductions between famous girls and rich guys who want to meet them. I think the rates I charge are justified just to meet these women, even if nothing happens."
The e-mails in question were dated before Massaro began working for WWE, and she did pose for Playboy on a few occasions under the name of Mackenzie Ryan.
The WWE's Massaro has denied any involvement on a My Space post titled..."False...False...False."
"Just got buzzed on some BS that is going around," Massaro wrote. "Don't believe it for a second. Getting in touch with my lawyer as we speak. I'm beyond upset."
Rolling Stone contributing editor Michelle Grigoriadis, who penned the piece, is standing by it.
"Obviously, I stand by my story," Grigoriadis wrote in an e-mail to Pro Wrestling Insider. "Massaro is named in an FBI search warrant that was executed on Michelle Braun's property in October, 2007. I have no knowledge of another woman by the same name."
Flyers - Pens schedule
2008 EASTERN CONFERENCE FINAL
SERIES M #2 Pittsburgh vs. #6 Philadelphia
Friday, May 9, 2008 Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
Sunday, May 11, 2008 Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
Tuesday, May 13, 2008 Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
Thursday, May 15, 2008 Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
*Sunday, May 18, 2008 Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
*Tuesday, May 20, 2008 Pittsburgh at Philadelphia
*Thursday, May 22, 2008 Philadelphia at Pittsburgh
-National rightsholders NBC and VERSUS in the United States and CBC, TSN and RDS in
Canada will provide exclusive national broadcast coverage of the Conference Finals. All games also will be carried on NHL Radio on Westwood One and XM Satellite Radio.
Former boxer is alleged cop killer
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Levon Warner, one of three suspects in the slaying of police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, was a former heavyweight boxer who once plied his trade at the legendary Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia.
A heavyweight, the 38-year-old Warner (6-5-2) trained at the Kingsessing Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia and was knocked out by Joey Abell in the first round of a fight at the Blue Horizon in September of last year.
Warner has also fought at the National Guard Armory in the Northeast and both Bally's and Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City.
His trainer recommended Warner retire after his loss at the Horizon.
"I wasn't seeing what I wanted to see," Sloane Harrison told the Philadelphia Daily News. "He took some shots. He wasn't boxing like I know he could box. I encouraged him to retire."
Now, the pugilist is behind bars for his role in the murder of Liczbinski after a bank holdup.
One of Warner's alleged accomplices, Howard Cain, was shot to death by police. The other, Eric DeShawn Floyd, is still at large.
(The Phanatic Magazine) - Levon Warner, one of three suspects in the slaying of police Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski, was a former heavyweight boxer who once plied his trade at the legendary Blue Horizon in North Philadelphia.
A heavyweight, the 38-year-old Warner (6-5-2) trained at the Kingsessing Recreation Center in Southwest Philadelphia and was knocked out by Joey Abell in the first round of a fight at the Blue Horizon in September of last year.
Warner has also fought at the National Guard Armory in the Northeast and both Bally's and Caesar's Palace in Atlantic City.
His trainer recommended Warner retire after his loss at the Horizon.
"I wasn't seeing what I wanted to see," Sloane Harrison told the Philadelphia Daily News. "He took some shots. He wasn't boxing like I know he could box. I encouraged him to retire."
Now, the pugilist is behind bars for his role in the murder of Liczbinski after a bank holdup.
One of Warner's alleged accomplices, Howard Cain, was shot to death by police. The other, Eric DeShawn Floyd, is still at large.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Bengals sign former Temple player
The Cincinnati Bengals signed defensive tackle Antwon Burton
Burton is a third-year NFL player who was with the Denver Denver last season, with eight tackles, and finished the season on Denver
De La Hoya - Forbes highlights
Ten-time World Champion Oscar De la Hoya (right) lands a right hand on his way to a unanimous decision victory over former World Champion Steve Forbes (left) on May 3, 2008 in what was the first-ever boxing event at The Home Depot Center Soccer Stadium in Carson, CA.
Ten-time World Champion Oscar de la Hoya (left) lands a left hand on his way to a unanimous decision over former World Champion Steve Forbes (right) on May 3, 2008 in what was the first-ever boxing event at The Home Depot Center Soccer Stadium in Carson, CA.
Ten-time World Champion Oscar de la Hoya celebrates his victory over former World Champion Steve Forbes on May 3, 2008 in what was the first-ever boxing event at The Home Depot Center Soccer Stadium in Carson, CA.PHOTO CREDIT: Tom Hogan/Golden Boy Promotions.
Utley wins NL Player of the Month
Chase Utley of the Philadelphia Phillies has been named the National League Player of the Month for April.
The left-handed hitting second baseman hit .360 (40-111) with 10 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 23 RBI and 25 runs scored in April. His 11 home runs, 85 total bases and .766 slugging percentage all paced the National League.
The two-time All-Star posted 15 multi-hit games, two multi-home run contests and six multi-RBI performances. Utley homered in five consecutive games from April 17th-21st, tying a Phillies record shared by Bobby Abreu (2005), Mike Schmidt (1979) and Dick Allen (1969). The UCLA product, drafted in the first round (15th overall) by the Phillies in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, capped the month with his Major-League leading 11th home run of the year on April 30th vs. San Diego.
The left-handed hitting second baseman hit .360 (40-111) with 10 doubles, a triple, 11 home runs, 23 RBI and 25 runs scored in April. His 11 home runs, 85 total bases and .766 slugging percentage all paced the National League.
The two-time All-Star posted 15 multi-hit games, two multi-home run contests and six multi-RBI performances. Utley homered in five consecutive games from April 17th-21st, tying a Phillies record shared by Bobby Abreu (2005), Mike Schmidt (1979) and Dick Allen (1969). The UCLA product, drafted in the first round (15th overall) by the Phillies in the 2000 First-Year Player Draft, capped the month with his Major-League leading 11th home run of the year on April 30th vs. San Diego.
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Join us on the radio
Join The P
hanatic Magazine's John Gottlieb and John McMullen Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (et) for another edition of Johns on Sports, coming to you live from the studios of WTBQ 1110 AM and 99.1 FM in New York.
Join the program on WTBQ.com, calling in at (845) 651-1110, or writing an e-mail to johnsonsports@gmail.com.
hanatic Magazine's John Gottlieb and John McMullen Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (et) for another edition of Johns on Sports, coming to you live from the studios of WTBQ 1110 AM and 99.1 FM in New York.Join the program on WTBQ.com, calling in at (845) 651-1110, or writing an e-mail to johnsonsports@gmail.com.
Unbeaten no more; Soul fall in Cleveland
-Courtesy of the Philadelphia Soul
CLEVELAND – Marlion Jackson ran for four touchdowns to lead the Cleveland Gladiators over the Philadelphia Soul, 67-55, at Quicken Loans Arena. Raymond Philyaw ended 25-of-30 for 295 yards with five touchdowns and one interception for Cleveland, which improved to 5-4 on the season.
Larry Brackins hauled in career-highs 14 catches for 146 yards with two touchdowns for the Soul, who suffered their first loss of the season. Chris Jackson added eight receptions for 65 yards and three TDs for Philadelphia, which lost for the first time in 10 games this season and had a 12-game regular-season winning streak dating back to last season end. Jackson’s first TD catch gave him 300 for his career, making him just the third player in league history to accomplish the feat.
Matt D’Orazio started at quarterback for the Soul, but left the game with 11:24 left in the third quarter with a left ankle sprain and did not return. He ended 16-of-21 for 141 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He also ran for a score.
Tony Graziani came on for D’Orazio and finished 15-of-23 for 150 yards with three touchdowns and one interception.
Friday, May 02, 2008
Local undrafted NFL free agent update
In case you are wondering where some of the local products who didn't get taken in the NFL Draft ended up, here's you list.
Delaware star RB Omar Cuff inked with the Titans while OT Mike Byrne signed with the Dolphins.
Rutgers LB Brandon Renkart is getting a tryout with Miami and WR James Townsend is trying out with the Bears. DT Eric Foster signed with the Colts and S Ron Girault is with the Chiefs.
Penn State QB Anthony Morelli signed with the Cards, RB Austin Scott is with the Browns, FB Matt Hahn inked with the Raiders and RB Rodney Kinlaw is trying out for the Lions.
Bloomsburg RB Jamar Brittingham signed with the Falcons as did Slippery Rock OT Michael Butterworth.
Delaware State offensive lineman inked with the Lions and Indiana-Pa. OL Rory Thomas is trying out with the Motor City Kitties.
As reported earlier this week by The Phanatic Magazine, the Eagles signed Penn State WR Terrell Golden and Delaware State WR Shaheer McBride.
Delaware star RB Omar Cuff inked with the Titans while OT Mike Byrne signed with the Dolphins.
Rutgers LB Brandon Renkart is getting a tryout with Miami and WR James Townsend is trying out with the Bears. DT Eric Foster signed with the Colts and S Ron Girault is with the Chiefs.
Penn State QB Anthony Morelli signed with the Cards, RB Austin Scott is with the Browns, FB Matt Hahn inked with the Raiders and RB Rodney Kinlaw is trying out for the Lions.
Bloomsburg RB Jamar Brittingham signed with the Falcons as did Slippery Rock OT Michael Butterworth.
Delaware State offensive lineman inked with the Lions and Indiana-Pa. OL Rory Thomas is trying out with the Motor City Kitties.
As reported earlier this week by The Phanatic Magazine, the Eagles signed Penn State WR Terrell Golden and Delaware State WR Shaheer McBride.
WIP reports Colts' Harrison involved in shooting
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison has been accused of being involved in a recent shooting at a Philadelphia area bar he owns.
Anthony Gargano of WIP radio reported that police uncovered a gun registered to Harrison in connection with the incident.
According to Gargano, a fist-fight broke out when Harrison escorted a man out of his bar, called Playmakers. When the man fled, gunfire was exchanged and the man's car was struck by a bullet and his hand was grazed.
Neither Harrison or anyone else has been arrested in connection with the incident but Gargano says the police have at least one witness willing to testify against Harrison.
Anthony Gargano of WIP radio reported that police uncovered a gun registered to Harrison in connection with the incident.
According to Gargano, a fist-fight broke out when Harrison escorted a man out of his bar, called Playmakers. When the man fled, gunfire was exchanged and the man's car was struck by a bullet and his hand was grazed.
Neither Harrison or anyone else has been arrested in connection with the incident but Gargano says the police have at least one witness willing to testify against Harrison.
Soul banged up in secondary
Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The Philadelphia Soul placed defensive backs Mike Brown and Brian Mance on injured reserve Friday, and signed defensive backs Rob Keefe and Jeremy LeSueur.
Brown suffered a hamstring injury on the opening kickoff of the second half of the Soul’s 57-28 win over the Dallas Desperados on Monday and is expected to miss at least four weeks of action.
On the season, Brown has 32 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions. He has also returned 50 kickoffs for 969 yards and three touchdowns.
Mance, who ranks second on the team in tackles with 49 1/2, suffered a fractured left ankle against Dallas after landing awkwardly on his ankle in the third quarter. He is out indefinitely.
Keefe has been the Soul’s practice squad for most of the season but was active for Philadelphia’s Week 8 win over the Columbus Destroyers, playing on special teams and finishing with one-half tackle.
LeSueur, 27, joins the Soul after spending time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and the Denver Broncos. A third-round pick by the Broncos in 2004, LeSueur played collegiately at Michigan.
The Soul also waived defensive lineman Kevin Carberry and offensive lineman Van Nelson from the practice squad. Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The Philadelphia Soul placed defensive backs Mike Brown and Brian Mance on injured reserve Friday, and signed defensive backs Rob Keefe and Jeremy LeSueur.
Brown suffered a hamstring injury on the opening kickoff of the second half of the Soul’s 57-28 win over the Dallas Desperados on Monday and is expected to miss at least four weeks of action.
On the season, Brown has 32 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions. He has also returned 50 kickoffs for 969 yards and three touchdowns.
Mance, who ranks second on the team in tackles with 49 1/2, suffered a fractured left ankle against Dallas after landing awkwardly on his ankle in the third quarter. He is out indefinitely.
Keefe has been the Soul’s practice squad for most of the season but was active for Philadelphia’s Week 8 win over the Columbus Destroyers, playing on special teams and finishing with one-half tackle.
LeSueur, 27, joins the Soul after spending time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and the Denver Broncos. A third-round pick by the Broncos in 2004, LeSueur played collegiately at Michigan.
The Soul also waived defensive lineman Kevin Carberry and offensive lineman Van Nelson from the practice squad.
Brown suffered a hamstring injury on the opening kickoff of the second half of the Soul’s 57-28 win over the Dallas Desperados on Monday and is expected to miss at least four weeks of action.
On the season, Brown has 32 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions. He has also returned 50 kickoffs for 969 yards and three touchdowns.
Mance, who ranks second on the team in tackles with 49 1/2, suffered a fractured left ankle against Dallas after landing awkwardly on his ankle in the third quarter. He is out indefinitely.
Keefe has been the Soul’s practice squad for most of the season but was active for Philadelphia’s Week 8 win over the Columbus Destroyers, playing on special teams and finishing with one-half tackle.
LeSueur, 27, joins the Soul after spending time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and the Denver Broncos. A third-round pick by the Broncos in 2004, LeSueur played collegiately at Michigan.
The Soul also waived defensive lineman Kevin Carberry and offensive lineman Van Nelson from the practice squad. Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The Philadelphia Soul placed defensive backs Mike Brown and Brian Mance on injured reserve Friday, and signed defensive backs Rob Keefe and Jeremy LeSueur.
Brown suffered a hamstring injury on the opening kickoff of the second half of the Soul’s 57-28 win over the Dallas Desperados on Monday and is expected to miss at least four weeks of action.
On the season, Brown has 32 tackles and a team-leading five interceptions. He has also returned 50 kickoffs for 969 yards and three touchdowns.
Mance, who ranks second on the team in tackles with 49 1/2, suffered a fractured left ankle against Dallas after landing awkwardly on his ankle in the third quarter. He is out indefinitely.
Keefe has been the Soul’s practice squad for most of the season but was active for Philadelphia’s Week 8 win over the Columbus Destroyers, playing on special teams and finishing with one-half tackle.
LeSueur, 27, joins the Soul after spending time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and the Denver Broncos. A third-round pick by the Broncos in 2004, LeSueur played collegiately at Michigan.
The Soul also waived defensive lineman Kevin Carberry and offensive lineman Van Nelson from the practice squad.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Eagles sign WR Bowman
The Eagles signed undrafted wide receiver Andre Bowman of Oklahoma State on Wednesday. Bowman has great size (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) and was once projected as a third-round pick until a marijuana possession charge and some slow 40 times knocked him off a lot of team's draft boards.
The Eagles also agreed to terms with the following seven rookie free agents earlier in the week:
Kyle Arrington
Cornerback
5-10, 196
Hofstra
Recorded 30 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF and 1 FR during his senior year at Hofstra. For his career, finished with 2 INTs. Played football, baseball and ran track at Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, MD. As a team captain at DB, led his school to a regional championship as a senior and earned second-team all-county honors. Born 8/12/86 in Accokeek, MD.
Jed Collins
Fullback
6-1, 249
Washington State
Capped off a four-year career at Washington State with career highs in receptions (52), yards (512), and TDs (3) as a senior tight end. For his career, totaled 80 catches for 899 yards and 6 TDs, while scoring twice on the ground. Originally recruited as a linebacker to WSU, played his first two seasons as a fullback and linebacker before switching to tight end prior to his junior year. As a linebacker, earned Division II co-defensive player of the year honors at Mission Viejo (CA) HS, where his team won two Division II state titles and 41 straight games, until losing in the championship game of his senior season. Also played TE and FB in high school. His father, Michael, and brother, Jake, played basketball at Seattle University, while his brother, Lenny, played basketball at Cornell. Earned a degree in accounting. Born 3/3/86.
Franklin Dunbar
Tackle
6-4, 327
Middle Tennessee State
A two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection during his three-year career at Middle Tennessee State, played in 36 games and notched 30 consecutive starts since his freshman campaign of 2005. Earned all-state honors as a senior at Ware County HS in Waycross, GA, after leading his team to a state title. His favorite NFL player growing up was former Chiefs guard Will Shields. Majored in physical education. Born 3/12/85 in Waycross.
Terrell Golden
Wide Receiver
6-2, 216
Penn State
Recorded 735 yards (15.3 avg.) and 5 touchdowns on 48 receptions during his four-year career at Penn State. Posted career highs as a senior in 2007, with 345 yds. and 3 TDs on 30 recepts. Tallied 1,791 yds. and 23 TDs on 75 catches, along with 19 carries for 187 yards and 5 TDs, and 7 returns for 2 TDs in his career at Lake Taylor HS in Norfolk, VA. As a LB and FS on defense, recorded 200 tackles, 15 sacks and 1 INT. Earned SuperPrep All-America and all-state honors as a senior. Was named first-team all-district in basketball as a junior and senior, and also lettered in track. Finished second in the state long jump competition as a junior and was third in both the long jump and triple jump at the state championships as a senior. Earned a degree in labor and industrial relations. Born 12/24/84 in Millington, TN. Full name is Marvin Terrell Golden.
Frantz Hardy
Wide Receiver
6-0, 180
Nebraska
Amassed 54 receptions, 971 yards (18.0 avg.) and 7 TDs during his three-year career at Nebraska. Finished his collegiate career with two of the top five single-game receiving outputs in school history (159 yards vs. Kansas in 2006 and 152 yards vs. Maine in 2005) and registered five career receptions of 55 yards or more. Tied a school record with three TD catches vs. Kansas State in 2007. In 2005, transferred from Butler County (KS) Community College, where he went 34-820-5TD receiving for a team that advanced to the NJCAA championship game. A native of Miami, FL, he is a product of Booker T. Washington HS, where he caught 42 passes for 710 yards and 8 TDs a senior. Earned a degree in sociology. Born 1/6/85 in Miami.
Shaheer McBride
Wide Receiver
6-1, 205
Delaware State
A four-year starter at Delaware State, holds school records in receptions (201) and yards (3,007), while adding 33 TDs. Was an All-Delaware County first-team selection as a senior at Chester (PA) HS, 17 miles south of Philadelphia. Also lettered in basketball and was named 2002-03 conference player of the year, after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Born 2/8/85 in Chester.
Justin Roland
Linebacker
5-11, 242
Kansas State
A two-year letterman at Kansas State, finished 2nd on the team with 70 tackles in 2007, adding 1 sack and 1 INT. Named a 2005 honorable mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection as a sophomore at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, leading the conference with 170 tackles. Was a 2003 first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state performer as a senior at Ponca City (OK) HS. Was also a standout wrestler, winning the 2003 Oklahoma state title in the heavyweight division. Majored in social science. Born 1/14/86 in Ponca City.
The Eagles also agreed to terms with the following seven rookie free agents earlier in the week:
Kyle Arrington
Cornerback
5-10, 196
Hofstra
Recorded 30 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF and 1 FR during his senior year at Hofstra. For his career, finished with 2 INTs. Played football, baseball and ran track at Gwynn Park High School in Brandywine, MD. As a team captain at DB, led his school to a regional championship as a senior and earned second-team all-county honors. Born 8/12/86 in Accokeek, MD.
Jed Collins
Fullback
6-1, 249
Washington State
Capped off a four-year career at Washington State with career highs in receptions (52), yards (512), and TDs (3) as a senior tight end. For his career, totaled 80 catches for 899 yards and 6 TDs, while scoring twice on the ground. Originally recruited as a linebacker to WSU, played his first two seasons as a fullback and linebacker before switching to tight end prior to his junior year. As a linebacker, earned Division II co-defensive player of the year honors at Mission Viejo (CA) HS, where his team won two Division II state titles and 41 straight games, until losing in the championship game of his senior season. Also played TE and FB in high school. His father, Michael, and brother, Jake, played basketball at Seattle University, while his brother, Lenny, played basketball at Cornell. Earned a degree in accounting. Born 3/3/86.
Franklin Dunbar
Tackle
6-4, 327
Middle Tennessee State
A two-time All-Sun Belt Conference selection during his three-year career at Middle Tennessee State, played in 36 games and notched 30 consecutive starts since his freshman campaign of 2005. Earned all-state honors as a senior at Ware County HS in Waycross, GA, after leading his team to a state title. His favorite NFL player growing up was former Chiefs guard Will Shields. Majored in physical education. Born 3/12/85 in Waycross.
Terrell Golden
Wide Receiver
6-2, 216
Penn State
Recorded 735 yards (15.3 avg.) and 5 touchdowns on 48 receptions during his four-year career at Penn State. Posted career highs as a senior in 2007, with 345 yds. and 3 TDs on 30 recepts. Tallied 1,791 yds. and 23 TDs on 75 catches, along with 19 carries for 187 yards and 5 TDs, and 7 returns for 2 TDs in his career at Lake Taylor HS in Norfolk, VA. As a LB and FS on defense, recorded 200 tackles, 15 sacks and 1 INT. Earned SuperPrep All-America and all-state honors as a senior. Was named first-team all-district in basketball as a junior and senior, and also lettered in track. Finished second in the state long jump competition as a junior and was third in both the long jump and triple jump at the state championships as a senior. Earned a degree in labor and industrial relations. Born 12/24/84 in Millington, TN. Full name is Marvin Terrell Golden.
Frantz Hardy
Wide Receiver
6-0, 180
Nebraska
Amassed 54 receptions, 971 yards (18.0 avg.) and 7 TDs during his three-year career at Nebraska. Finished his collegiate career with two of the top five single-game receiving outputs in school history (159 yards vs. Kansas in 2006 and 152 yards vs. Maine in 2005) and registered five career receptions of 55 yards or more. Tied a school record with three TD catches vs. Kansas State in 2007. In 2005, transferred from Butler County (KS) Community College, where he went 34-820-5TD receiving for a team that advanced to the NJCAA championship game. A native of Miami, FL, he is a product of Booker T. Washington HS, where he caught 42 passes for 710 yards and 8 TDs a senior. Earned a degree in sociology. Born 1/6/85 in Miami.
Shaheer McBride
Wide Receiver
6-1, 205
Delaware State
A four-year starter at Delaware State, holds school records in receptions (201) and yards (3,007), while adding 33 TDs. Was an All-Delaware County first-team selection as a senior at Chester (PA) HS, 17 miles south of Philadelphia. Also lettered in basketball and was named 2002-03 conference player of the year, after averaging 15 points and 10 rebounds per game. Born 2/8/85 in Chester.
Justin Roland
Linebacker
5-11, 242
Kansas State
A two-year letterman at Kansas State, finished 2nd on the team with 70 tackles in 2007, adding 1 sack and 1 INT. Named a 2005 honorable mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection as a sophomore at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, leading the conference with 170 tackles. Was a 2003 first-team all-district and honorable mention all-state performer as a senior at Ponca City (OK) HS. Was also a standout wrestler, winning the 2003 Oklahoma state title in the heavyweight division. Majored in social science. Born 1/14/86 in Ponca City.
WWE star arrested for DUI
By John McMullen
(The Phanatic Magazine) - World Wrestling Entertainment star Anthony "Santino Marella" Carelli was arrested Thursday morning and charged with driving under the influence in Tampa, Florida.
TMZ.com first reported that the wrestler was pulled over after cops witnessed his car drifting back and forth. Police indicated Carelli had "bloodshot, watery and glassy eyes" and failed two field sobriety tests -- including one in which he couldn't hold his balance.
Carelli told officers he started drinking at midnight, and had three Miller Lights and a kamikaze.
According to the police report, Carelli was arrested at 6301 West Shore Boulevard in Tampa with a blood alcohol level of 0.061, below Florida's legal limit in 0.08. He was booked in Hillsborough County jail at 4:36 a.m. and later released on $500 bail.
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