Month: September 2017

PURE INSURANCE CHAMPIONSHIP: Langer jumps into lead

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Photo credit: PGA Tour Champions (@ChampionsTour)

By Jeremy Harness

Golf can change dramatically from one day to the next, and Saturday’s second round at the PURE Insurance Open at Pebble Beach showed that.

Bernhard Langer, who entered Saturday’s second round behind only one stroke, did not light it up like he and first-day leader Scott McCarron did on Friday, but he was proficient enough to grasp hold of the top spot heading into the final round Sunday.

Starting on the 10th hole Saturday, Langer got off to a bit of a slow start, bogeying his seventh hole before picking up a birdie at the scenic par-5 18th to draw even for the round.

Then he really picked things up on his back nine. He ran off three birdies in a row at holes two through four before picking up shots on both the sixth and eighth holes to finish with a round of 67 and a one-shot lead.

To accomplish this, he hit 9 of his 14 fairways as well as hitting 14 of his 18 greens in regulation in the second round. He made four fewer birdies on Saturday, but he did a much better job of getting up and down, as he recorded only one bogey.

McCarron, meanwhile, did not get any momentum at all, and by shooting an even-par 72, he lost quite a bit of ground to the field, as he is now four strokes back at eight-under in a tie for the fifth position.

Vaulting into the second spot and only one stroke back of Langer is Kenny Perry, who shot a nine-under 63 on Saturday. He shook off a bogey on his first hole and birdied four of the next eight holes. He then picked up even more steam with an eagle at the par-5 second before he birdied the fourth and ran off three birdies in a row at holes six through eight.

Scott Parel sits one shot behind Perry after his second-round score of 66 while Jerry Kelly, who came within a shot of winning the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship last year, is three shots behind the lead after his 66 on Saturday.

14 losses and counting: Cal mistakes undo upset bid against No. 5 USC

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Southern California quarterback Sam Darnold (14) scrambles from California’s Alex Funches, right, and James Looney, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, in Berkeley, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Morris Phillips

BERKELEY, CA–The list of things the Golden Bears did well on Saturday afternoon against mighty USC was lengthy, longer than any pundit who picked the Bears 12th in the Pac-12 could have envisioned.

The Bears were engaged and prepared with Justin Wilcox and defensive coordinator Tim DeRuyter creating an aggressive attack that had Heisman hopeful quarterback Sam Darnold on his heels. Cal’s running game was effective in both halves. Ross Bowers made some big throws. Receiver Kanawai Noa had his coming out party. Devante Downs’ play continued at an all-conference level.

And the scoreboard remained manageable through the first half, and into the scoreless third quarter.

But a missed field goal, a glut of late USC interceptions doomed the Bears, who fell 30-20, their 14th consecutive loss to the Trojans, dating back to 2004. For the Trojans, it was a second straight great escape, as they emerged 4-0 and squarely in the national title picture.

“They’ve been a rough two games but we’re 2-0 in that stretch and that’s all that matters to me, and that’s all that matters to this team,” Darnold said referencing USC’s thrilling overtime victory over Texas last week.

Darnold was pressured frequently as Cal threw all their attention towards USC’s best player, who was minus tailback Ronald Jones and receiver Steven Mitchell, Jr. Wilcox, the former USC assistant, proved his familiarity with the Trojans’ attack by shutting down the run game early. Against the pass, Wilcox masked his familiarity to the USC coaches by deftly throwing in wrinkles presumably cooked up by defensive coordinator DeRuyter, who was previously the head coach at Fresno State.

That mix proved Cal to be well-coached and prepared, but over the course of 60 minutes, the superior talent of USC turned the tide. Nothing new for the Trojans, who took control of games against Western Michigan and Texas, after uninspired play through three quarters.

Golden State Warriors report: Curry not invited to Trump White House

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President Barack Obama welcomes the 2015 NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry The Golden State Warriors visit the White House, Washington DC, America – 04 Feb 2016 (Rex Features via AP Images)

By Jerry Feitelberg (SRS Staff writer)

OAKLAND–President Trump told the Golden State Warriors in a tweet that they were no longer welcomed to visit the White House and that the reigning NBA Champs were no longer invited for the presidential ceremony of honoring the top NBA team. Trump apparently offended by a recent comment by Warriors star Stephen Curry when he said that he did not agree with Trump’s policies. Trump in turn said “Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team,” Trump tweeted. “Stephen Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!”

Curry also had a problem with Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank who sat on Trump’s advisory board and because he uses the Under Amour product and considered some of the things that Trump said about race and police brutality he thought endorsing Under Armour was a huge conflict of interest. At the time Plank called Trump “a real asset” and Curry said, “if you remove the ‘et’ from asset.” Plank and Under Armour with the rest of the advisory board were dismissed by Trump after board members said they were going to leave the board after Trump said that the rioters in the Charlottesville riots which included KKK and Nazi members and counter protesters were “both wrong on both sides.”

Golden State released a statement to the media Saturday afternoon saying they will use their designated visit to the White House instead doing community work in Washington DC with local youth and other DC community groups during their off day trip before they play the Wizards. The Warriors also said in the statement, “In lieu of a visit to the White House, we have decided that we’ll constructively use our trip to the nation’s capital in February to celebrate equality, diversity and inclusion — the values that we embrace as an organization,” said the Warriors.

Curry had stated on Friday that he had no interest in going to the White House and that the team were planning to meet to discuss whether to go or not but Trump had disinvited them over the weekend before the team was able to meet.

 

 

 

Stanford Cardinal Podcast with Matt Harrington: Shaw to use Perez and Alfieri at linebacker with Barton hurt; A lot riding on Chryst and offense against UCLA

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Stanford quarterback Keller Chryst throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against San Diego State Saturday, Sept. 16, 2017, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

On the Stanford Cardinal Podcast with Matt:

1 Matt takes a look at a play that Stanford had the ball at fourth and one at the San Diego State Aztecs that they chose to kick instead of play and the Cardinal lost a close game in which they were the favorites to win

2 Linebacker Sean Barton is out with an injury so Stanford Head Coach David Shaw has made a move with Barton who was out of last week’s game in San Diego with a injury. Shaw played Jordan Perez and Joey Alfieri who will take up more playing time with Barton out at the linebacker position.

3 Walker Little who plays right tackle was key in assisting running back Bryce Little particularly on a 51 yard carry. Little also assisted on two more long carries can he make the difference against UCLA at Stanford Stadium Saturday night

4 UCLA comes to Stanford this Saturday and Matt tells you how this game will shape up

Matt Harrington does the Stanford Cardinal podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: Carlos Beltran donates $1 million dollars to Puerto Rico

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Houston Astros designated hitter Carlos Beltran (15) makes contact in the fifth inning during an MLB game between the Houston Astros and the White Sox at Minute Maid Park, Thursday, September 21, 2017. Chicago White Sox defeated Houston Astros 3-1. (Photo by Juan DeLeon/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

By Amaury Pi Gonzalez

Los Angeles– Hurricane Maria devastated the Caribbean Island of Puerto Rico and players in the major leagues born in Puerto Rico are raising money to help in the reconstruction. I spoke with Los Angeles Angels catcher Martin (El Machete) Maldonado “Todos estamos unidos para ayudar en todo lo que sea posible, dinero, suministros de ayuda, de construccion, lo que sea” Translation: “We are all united to help in whatever we can, with money, help, even construction materials, whatever it takes”.

Carlos Beltran, veteran of the Houston Astros who won the American League West is going to the playoffs and Beltran donated $1 million from his own pocket, motivating many other players from Puerto Rico to start raising funds for the cause, guys like Carlos Correa a great young shortstop of the Astros as well as Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians, reigning champions of the American League Central Division and American League champions of 2016. Carlos Beltran has played for 19 years in the major leagues, with close to 500 home runs he is one of the most prolific switch-hitters in history and a sure thing to be enshrined someday in Cooperstown.

Many other players born in Pueto Rico have also donated money from their own pockets like Los Angeles Dodgers Enrique (Kike)Hernandez who pledged $10,000. Yadier Molina, born in Puerto Rico considered the best catcher in baseball is also raising money for the worthy cause. There has never been a disaster of such magnitude in Puerto Rico as the category 5 Hurricane Maria (Cat 5 is the strongest category for a hurricane considered catastrophic) hit that island right on the nose and now all Puerto Rican players are united, together with the US government/FEMA in campagins to collect money for the reconstruction in Puerto Rico.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Puerto Rico.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the Spanish radio talent for the Oakland A’s, the Spanish TV talent for the LA Angels, and does That’s Amaury’s News and Commentary each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Categories MLB

PURE INSURANCE OPEN: McCarron takes first-round lead

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Photo credit: Golf Feeds (@golffeeds)

By Jeremy Harness

Professional golf is back at Pebble Beach, and this time around, the weather is a whole lot better.

When the PGA Tour made its annual stop in the Monterey Peninsula back in February, the wind and rain wreaked havoc in the first two days of the event before things cleared up for the weekend.

There have been no such weather worries this week, and there do not figure to be any through the weekend, either, and the folks in the PGA Champions Tour – formerly known as the Senior Tour – are taking advantage.

During Friday’s first round, Scott McCarron grabbed the early lead at the PURE Insurance Championship, previously known as the Nature Valley First Tee Open, shooting an eight-under 63 to go into the weekend with a one-stroke advantage.

Playing at Poppy Hills, which was just remodeled last year, McCarron birdied the first two holes of his round before recording an eagle at the par-4 fifth to get to four-under. He suffered a bogey at the par-3 sixth but quickly rebounded with two more birdies on the front nine.

He then played a clean back nine, which included three more birdies to finish out his round.

He was very accurate off the tee on Friday, hitting 11 of his 13 fairways, and he was even better getting to the dance floor, as he hit 16 of his 18 of his greens in regulation to set himself up for the round that he had.

One stroke behind McCarron is Germany’s Bernhard Langer, a multiple Champions Tour winner who fired a seven-under 64 and made 10 birdies, the most in the field thus far. However, keeping him out of the lead was the three bogeys the he suffered, one on the front nine and two more on the back nine, including one at the par-5 18th to close out his round.

Kevin Sutherland is currently two shots behind Langer, and there are four players ties for fourth place at four-under.

Dodgers win fifth division championship;Giants drop 4-2 contest to open series

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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Logan Forsythe sprays sparkling wine in the locker room after the Dodgers won the NL West title with a 4-2 defeat of the San Francisco Giants in a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

By Jeremy Kahn

On the same day that the Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans celebrated Tommy Lasorda’s 90th birthday, the team celebrated something else with their win.

Cody Bellinger hit his National League rookie record 39th home run, helping the Dodgers to a 4-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants at Dodger Stadium.

With the victory, the Dodgers clinched their fifth straight National League Western Division Championship.

The Bellinger home run off of Jeff Samardzija in the bottom of the third inning, broke a 1-1 tie and gave the Dodgers the lead for good.

Bellinger broke the record of Wally Berger of the Boston Braves in 1930 and tied by Frank Robinson of the Cincinnati Reds. The major league held by Mark McGwire, who set the record while playing for the Oakland A’s in 1987 with a total of 49.

Rich Hill won for the 11th time this season, as he allowed just one run and five hits in six innings of work. Hill also added five strikeouts and a huge double.

Hill hit his first double in 10 years to score Logan Forsythe, who doubled himself. Corey Seager then walked and Bellinger launched a Samardzija pitch into the right-center field bleachers.

Samardzija lost for the 15th time on the season, as he gave up four runs and five hits and the Giants have lost their most games since 1996 with the 94 losses.

The Giants took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning, as Gorkys Hernandez reached on a bunt single, stole second and then scored on a Buster Posey single.

NOTES: Madison Bumgarner goes to the mound on Saturday night, as he looks to stop a four-game losing streak and the Giants have not won a Bumgarner start since defeating the Miami Marlins on August 15.

The Dodgers will send Hyun-Jin Ryu to the mound, as he looks to his improve his strong streak down the stretch. Ryu is 3-1 with a 2.62 earned run average in his 11 starts.

Austin Slater could be out for a couple of days with a sore right hip flexor.

Graveman Ends Rangers Streak at four, A’s Win 4-1

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Blake Treinen works against the Texas Rangers during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

By Matthew T.F. Harrington

The Oakland A’s snapped the Texas Rangers’ four-game win streak Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum, beating the Rangers 4-1 to dampen their foe’s Wild Card hopes. Kendall Graveman fired seven innings of one-hit ball and Matt Olson hit his 24th homer of the season.

Graveman scattered just six hits, including a solo homerun to Shin-Soo Choo in the top of the third to pick up his 6th win of the season. Olson staked Graveman to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second, blasting a right field line drive home run off Rangers starter Nick Martinez that also scored Khris Davis.

The A’s added a run in the bottom of the third after Jed Lowrie’s RBI single, then added another on a Matt Joyce run-scoring single-bagger for a 4-1 lead. Graveman would walk just three and punch out four to hang on for the win.

Chris Hatcher pitched a perfect eighth inning, his 11th straight scoreless frame, then Blake Treinen managed to walk the tight rope, allowing two hits but striking out two for his 13th save. The Rangers send Miguel Gonzalez to the hill hoping to cut into the 3.5 game Wild Card deficit Saturday while Oakland counters with Sean Manaea.

Sports Headline Podcast with London Marq: Young Yankees fan recovering after taking line drive in the head; Sharks having success in first two pre season games; plus more headlines

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Baseball fans reacts as a young girl is tended to before she is carried out of the seating area after being hit by a line drive in the fifth inning of a baseball game between the New York Yankees and Minnesota Twins, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017, at Yankee Stadium in New York. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

On the Sports Headline Podcast with London:

1 MLB is not brushing the head injury of the young 13 year old girl aside as she was struck in the head with a 105 MPH line foul off the bat of New York Yankee hitter Todd Fraizer. MLB is now mandating netting from one dugout around from home plate to the end of the other dugout. The latest report the girl is making a good recovery. She is currently staying in a New York hospital.

2 Boxer Andre Ward who announced his retirement this week hangs em up after going a career 32-0 and 16 KOs the former Olympic Gold medal winner had boxed since 2004

3 The San Jose Sharks first week of pre season hockey are already 2-0 and have scored five goals in each of their first two games. After watching those first two games head coach Peter DeBoer has a crop of young players to choose from

4 The Oakland Raiders at 2-0 get set for week three in Washington for Sunday Night Football. Oakland’s offense prowess has been off the charts and Derek Carr with one of the best quarterback ratings in the NFL will be under center for this one

5 The San Francisco 49ers at 0-3 are coming off another loss from Thursday Night Football to the Los Angeles Rams in a three point decision 41-39. They’re next game is in Arizona Sunday October 1st.

London Marq does the Sports Headlines each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

 

 

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon: Conley will play third string corner on Sunday Night Football; Cooper, Cook, and Washington coming off injuries

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AP File Photo: Oakland Raiders cornerback Gareon Conley tosses a ball during NFL football practice on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at the team’s training facility in Alameda, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Oakland Raiders Podcast with Joe Hawkes Beamon:

1 After missing all four pre season games and the season opener cornerback Gareon Conley was in the lineup and looking good against the New York Jets

2 Conley allowed one pass completion and got more playing time when Sean Smith missed the Jets game two weeks ago at the Oakland Coliseum due to a neck/shoulder injury

3 Conley it was reported could get back in the lineup as the third cornerback on Sunday behind starter Dave Anderson and TJ Carrie

4 With injuries to wide receiver Amari Cook (knee), tight end Jared Cooper (shoulder), running back DeAndre Washington (hamstring) were limited in practice Thursday

5 Going into Washington quarterback Derek Carr looks like his confidence is right on track and the Raiders could very well be looking at their fourth straight win.

Joe Hawkes Beamon does the Raiders podcasts each week at http://www.sportsradioservice.com