Clint Bowyer on Top After Wild Talladega Finish

Filed under: Clint Bowyer, Jimmie Johnson, Talladega Superspeedway, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

In one of the most unusual finishes in NASCAR history, Clint Bowyer did his winner's burnout Sunday at Talladega Superspeedway even before he knew he won the race.

NASCAR had to go to the electronic timing and scoring computers as well as video tapes to determine that Bowyer had won the race by virtue of being in front of Richard Childress Racing teammate Kevin Harvick when a crash occurred on the last lap, freezing the field in place at the moment of the yellow flag.

"I didn't even know the caution was coming out," Bowyer told ESPN after the race. "As soon as (a team member) mentions caution, I looked over and thought, 'Am in in the lead?' I thought I was."

It took officlals at least three minutes to make the call, and Bowyer spent some of the time doing a burnout before getting the good news.

Wasn't he jumping the gun? "No way," Bowyer said. "I was going to claim the win right off the bat. Let 'em take it from me. I'm not going to give it to 'em."

Harvick was second, followed by Juan Pablo Montoya, David Reutimann and Joey Logano.

It was a miracle finish for Harvick, who had smashed the front end of his car into the side of Marcos Ambrose's spinning car earlier the race. But Harvick managed to stay on the lead lap while his crew used tape, among other things, to try to effect repairs to the front end. Somehow the repairs did the trick, and Harvick was at the front at the end.

Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/31/clint-bowyer-on-top-after-wild-talladega-finish/

Katie Cassidy Katie Holmes Katy Perry Keira Knightley Kelly Brook

MLS Power Rankings: Week 30

With the playoffs finally looming, there's little change atop Mt. Power Rankings. The Rocky Mountain champs are still tops here too, despite nearly falling flat in Colorado. The Sounders and FC Dallas, meanwhile, took some lumps before the final whistle blew on the season, while New York drops in...

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/13906

Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle

Florida Crushes Georgia in First Cocktail Party Overtime Game

Filed under: Florida, Georgia, SEC

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Maybe Florida and Georgia should be unranked every year. Playing the first overtime game in World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party history, the Gators and Bulldogs dueled through the afternoon and into the night before Florida pulled out a 34-31 victory on Chas Henry's 37-yard field goal.

In a fitting moment, the kick split the uprights where the two fan bases join, red on the left, blue on the right. You didn't even need to watch the football to see whether the kick was good. Georgia fans sank to their seats in defeat while Florida Gator fans leapt for joy.

It was the duality of fandom writ large, the latest loss in a string of Georgia cocktail party losses that seem like they will never end.

And this one may be the cruelest of all.

Trailing 21-7 at the half, the Bulldogs stormed back and tied the game at 24 early in the fourth quarter. Maybe after the 1-4 start, after the suspension of Georgia's top player for the first four games of the season, maybe, just maybe, this would be the Bulldogs year in the end. Just in time for Halloween, maybe the Bulldogs could dress up as cocktail party victors for a change.

But it wasn't to be.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/florida-crushes-georgia-in-first-cocktail-party-overtime-game/

Lori Heuring Lorri Bagley Lucy Liu Luján Fernández Magdalena Wróbel

Monday Movers: Ups and Downs From World of Golf

Filed under: Golf Odds and Ends

Each week, FanHouse will look back on the previous week in the golf world to see whose stock is rising and who will likely be heading back to the range. Ladies and gentlemen, introducing Monday Movers.

On the Rise

Rocco Mediate -- By winning the Frys.com Open, the 47-year-old became the oldest wire-to-wire winner on the PGA Tour since records were kept in 1970. In a dramatic finish, Mediate holed out from 116 yards for eagle to regain the lead and calmly sunk a four-foot par putt on 18 for the one-stroke win. The hole out was his fourth of the week (one each day), including an ace at No. 3 in the first round. His first win on tour since 2002 guarantees his exempt status for two more seasons.

Graham DeLaet -- The former Boise State standout notched his second top-10 finish in three Fall Series starts at the Frys.com Open. His final round 67 tied for the low score of the day and moved him into a tie for sixth place. More importantly, the Canadian jumped from 122nd to 109th on the money list, guaranteeing him a spot on the PGA Tour in 2011. Just a year ago, DeLaet made only one Nationwide start and spent the season on the Sunshine Tour.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/10/18/monday-movers-ups-and-downs-from-world-of-golf/

Brooke Burns Busy Philipps Cameron Diaz Cameron Richardson Camilla Belle

Time to Rethink How We Protect Young Football Players

Filed under: NFL

Dr. Ann McKee, the Boston University School of Medicine expert on football and brain injuries, said Monday on a radio program I participated in that medical science suspects of concussions on the football field what most of us are certain of intuitively:

"Is it more dangerous for a 13-year-old to experience these hits than a 25-year-old?" she asked on National Public Radio's On Point hosted by Tom Ashbrook from Boston's WBUR. "We think that the earlier in life that you experience these hits, the more detrimental they are."

In Friday's wee hours came tragic potential corroborating evidence from the Kansas City area. A senior running back named Nathan Stiles at suburban Spring Hill High School died before the sun came up after collapsing on the sidelines of a game Thursday night.

"It was a screen pass," Nathan's teammate Aaron Barnes was quoted saying Saturday by kctv5.com. "Nate went down to make the tackle, and he dove at his feet. He didn't make the tackle. He got up and he was all shaken up."

Source: http://kevin-blackistone.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/time-to-rethink-how-we-protect-young-football-players/

Ivanka Trump Izabella Miko Izabella Scorupco Jaime King Jaime Pressly

Alex Burmistrov: How the Thrashers Are Using Him

Filed under: Thrashers, NHL Draft, NHL Coaching, Junior Hockey

Atlanta's Alex Burmistrov is one of the young players NHL teams had a decision to make regarding whether or not they would keep him with the big club or return him to his junior team. Doing the latter would save a year on his entry level contract.

By all accounts, Burmistrov has played well enough to stick with the Thrashers for the entire season even though he's recorded just one point -- an assist -- in his first nine games. A lot of times with young players the offense tends to come before the defense. In the case of Burmistrov, it's working the other way around.

Prior to June's draft, when Burmistrov was selected eighth overall by the Thrashers, he compared his game to the two-way prowess of Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk, and that he is "a guy you can count on to be strong defensively."

Playing mostly on a line with veterans Chris Thorburn and Ben Eager, the 19-year-old Burmistrov has proven to be just that, and appears to be spending more time on the attack than chasing the puck in his own zone (and that's a good thing). He's not only logging a respectable amount of ice-time in even-strength situations, he's also been used on Atlanta's second penalty killing unit, averaging close to two minutes of shorthanded time per game, good enough for fifth among all rookie forwards.

His usage through the first nine games is very comparable to the way Atlanta used last year's top pick, Evander Kane, through his initial nine games.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/alexander-burmistrov-how-the-thrashers-are-using-him/

Lily Allen Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Price Lisa Marie Lisa Snowdon

NHL Notebook: Lose the Shootout, Not CHL 9-Game Clause; Best Goaltenders

Filed under: NHL Fans, NHL Coaching, Junior Hockey

The Shootout is Dead

They decided another hockey game with a one-on-one skills competition in Calgary on Tuesday, and it was the perfect illustration of why NHL general managers devalued the shootout in the offseason. The Oilers-Flames game was also the latest example of why the shootout has to go soon.

Down 4-1 to their provincial rivals in the Saddledome, the young Oilers valiantly battled back. The exciting future of the franchise was on display. Jordan Eberle scored with 17 seconds left in the second period to make it 4-2. Magnus Paajarvi and Tom Gilbert tied the game before the third period was half-over. In the thrilling final stanza, Edmonton out-shot Calgary 17-10.

What a wonderful game, the kind of mid-week October dazzler the NHL can proudly point to and say, "How often does the NBA provide this for its fans? How about MLB"?

The overtime was a blast. No, it wasn't a classic display of end-to-end, tape-to-tape magic. Overtime at the Saddledome was chaos, with a handful of scoring chances stopped by Miikka Kiprusoff and Nikolai Khabibulin. When it was over, fans of both teams roared. It was over too soon, which is the problem.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/nhl-notebook-lose-the-shootout-not-chl-9-game-clause-best-goa/

Tamala Jones Tami Donaldson Tamie Sheffield Tara Conner Tara Reed

Broncos vs. 49ers Preview, Score and More

Filed under: 49ers, Broncos, NFL London

Two teams that have been huge disappointments in 2010 have taken vastly different paths to the NFL's annual overseas game. The 49ers have been in England since Monday. The Broncos didn't show up until Friday.

For the Niners, this is a chance to get away from the ignominy of a 1-6 start, to get Troy Smith a start at quarterback in neutral waters with Alex Smith (separated left shoulder) out for at least a couple of weeks. The San Francisco offense boasts great weapons (RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis, WR Michael Crabtree) but not great production.

Denver has twice as many wins as the 49ers at 2-5, but they are just as happy to be away from the States. The Broncos tied a record by giving up 59 points at home last weekend against the Oakland Raiders, so Denver comes into this one looking to rediscover itself across the Atlantic.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/broncos-vs-49ers-preview-score-and-more/

Amy Smart Ana Beatriz Barros Ana Hickmann Ana Ivanovi Ana Paula Lemes

U.S. Women Quietly Begin Qualifying for 2011 World Cup

Filed under: US Soccer, WPS

A decade ago they were all over magazine covers, late-night talk shows, commercials and bedroom walls. Now the U.S. women's national team plays in relative obscurity, drawing crowds in the four figures and struggling to stay relevant as the men capture the headlines.

The possible reasons for that ebb are numerous and do warrant examination. It's particularly poignant on Thursday. As the MLS playoffs kick off outside Denver, the U.S. women quietly begin their quest for a third World Cup trophy in a non-televised tournament in Cancún.

To CONCACAF's credit, the Americans will have to play actual games to qualify. In 2006, the U.S. had to win just one game to earn a berth in the 2007 Women's World Cup -- a very clear message that the entire competition was minor league.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/u-s-women-quietly-begin-world-cup-qualifying/

Shania Twain Shanna Moakler Shannon Elizabeth Shannyn Sossamon Shiri Appleby

Penn State Runs Over Michigan to Give Joe Paterno His 399th Victory

Filed under: Michigan, Penn State, Big 10

Evan Royster became Penn State's all-time leading rusher and backup quarterback Matt McGloin played a nearly flawless game as Penn State defeated Michigan 41-31 in front of a "whiteout" crowd in Happy Valley.

The victory put Penn State coach Joe Paterno one victory short of 400 for his career

Royster was brilliant, carrying the ball 29 times for 150 yards and two touchdowns while running by Michigan's defense like it wasn't even there. It was the performance Penn State fans had been waiting all season to see from the senior running back, who had struggled in several games this season.

McGloin, a former walk-on who started in place of the injured Rob Bolden, spread the ball around enough to flummox the Michigan secondary. After establishing a pattern of throwing a quick out to slot receiver Graham Zug, McGloin started passing to Derek Moye and Devon Smith, left open by Wolverines defensive backs.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/penn-state-runs-over-michigan-to-give-joe-paterno-his-399th-vict/

Thandie Newton The Avatars of Second Life The Pussycat Dolls Thora Birch Tila Tequila

Bob McNair Ordered Sweep of Texans Locker Room for Banned Substances

Filed under: Texans

HOUSTON (AP) - Houston Texans owner Bob McNair ordered the team's staff to go through the locker room to make sure no players are using banned substances.

USA Today first reported the Texans had staff members remove any products from lockers that are not approved by the NFL. Two of Houston's players -- left tackle Duane Brown and linebacker Brian Cushing -- served four-game suspensions for different violations of the league's policy on banned substances.

McNair said Friday he wanted to take a step to prevent future occurrences. He says the Texans have the right to control players while they're in the team's facilities.

"We concluded that one thing we can do is to just go through the locker room and make sure that if anybody is using anything, it's a product from one of the approved manufacturers," McNair said. "That's about all that we can do."

Team spokesman Kevin Cooper said the procedure took place "about a month ago." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the decision "is a club matter."

The NFL Players Association did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/houston-texans-owner-orders-search-of-locker-room-for-players-i/

Thandie Newton The Avatars of Second Life The Pussycat Dolls Thora Birch Tila Tequila

MLSsoccer.com introduces "Pro Soccer Picks" fantasy game

Ready to get your fantasy on?Just in time for the MLS Cup Playoffs, MLSsoccer.com introduces our first fantasy game, Pro Soccer Picks.Playing Pro Soccer Picks is as easy as side-footing in a sitter. All you have to do is make your picks and you?re automatically in contention for some great prizes,...

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/14024

Hilary Duff Hilary Swank Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump

Aaron Goodwin Plans Action Against Arn Tellem for Poaching Al Horford

by Sam Amick

Filed under: Hawks, Sports Business and Media

Poaching has long been a part of the agent industry, with some considering the practice of stealing clients a necessary evil to survive in the business and others deeming it deplorable.

But three months after agent Keith Glass won his courtroom bout with agent Andy Miller in a landmark decision, the case is serving as a segue into a contentious faceoff between two industry heavyweights and might spark change at the institutional level as well.

Aaron Goodwin, 2009

Agent Aaron Goodwin told FanHouse that he plans to file a formal complaint against top agent Arn Tellem with the NBA Players Association in the coming weeks because of how his colleague came to represent Atlanta Hawks forward Al Horford. Horford was represented by Goodwin from the time he was picked third overall out of Florida in 2007 until late June, when he changed agents days before he was eligible to begin discussing a possible extension. The union will rule on whether the case goes to arbitration.

Adding to the mix that Goodwin finds mysterious, the agent who is listed as Horford's representative by the union is B.J. Armstrong, the former player who works for Tellem and has decidedly less experience than Goodwin in dealing with such negotiations. Tellem, however, is nothing short of a top dog in their dog-eat-dog world -- listed by Hoopshype.com as the top grossing agent in the game with 38 players in all (nine All-Stars) and a combined salary total of $181,526,949 among his players.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/aaron-goodwin-plans-action-against-arn-tellem-for-poaching-al-ho/

Melissa Rycroft Melissa Sagemiller Mena Suvari Mia Kirshner Mía Maestro

Stampede at Kenyan Soccer Match Leaves 7 Dead

Filed under: International Soccer

Seven people died in a stampede outside a Kenyan Premier League soccer match on Saturday. The crowd was trying to gain access to the game in Nairobi between two of of the country's most popular teams.

Kenya Red Cross official Taitus Mong Mungo'u said that six people died at Nyayo National Stadium and a seventh passed away after being taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, according to the Associated Press.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/10/23/stampede-at-kenyan-soccer-match-leaves-7-dead/

Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler

Alex Burmistrov: How the Thrashers Are Using Him

Filed under: Thrashers, NHL Draft, NHL Coaching, Junior Hockey

Atlanta's Alex Burmistrov is one of the young players NHL teams had a decision to make regarding whether or not they would keep him with the big club or return him to his junior team. Doing the latter would save a year on his entry level contract.

By all accounts, Burmistrov has played well enough to stick with the Thrashers for the entire season even though he's recorded just one point -- an assist -- in his first nine games. A lot of times with young players the offense tends to come before the defense. In the case of Burmistrov, it's working the other way around.

Prior to June's draft, when Burmistrov was selected eighth overall by the Thrashers, he compared his game to the two-way prowess of Detroit's Pavel Datsyuk, and that he is "a guy you can count on to be strong defensively."

Playing mostly on a line with veterans Chris Thorburn and Ben Eager, the 19-year-old Burmistrov has proven to be just that, and appears to be spending more time on the attack than chasing the puck in his own zone (and that's a good thing). He's not only logging a respectable amount of ice-time in even-strength situations, he's also been used on Atlanta's second penalty killing unit, averaging close to two minutes of shorthanded time per game, good enough for fifth among all rookie forwards.

His usage through the first nine games is very comparable to the way Atlanta used last year's top pick, Evander Kane, through his initial nine games.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/alexander-burmistrov-how-the-thrashers-are-using-him/

Katharine Towne Katherine Heigl Katie Cassidy Katie Holmes Katy Perry

Shriners Open Preview: Rickie Fowler's Chance to Shine

Filed under: PGA

As the PGA Tour enters the final two weeks of its season, players head to Las Vegas for the Justin Timberlake Shiners Hospitals for Children Open in what shapes up to be an exciting tournament.

The field, highlighted by 10 winners on Tour this season, will be taking dead aim at TPC Summerlin. This par 72, 7,243-yard course yielded 1,821 birdies a year ago -- the highest total of any tournament in 2009. Martin Laird, pictured right, recorded two eagles and 23 birdies on his way to a 19-under total and a playoff victory over Chad Campbell and George McNeill.

While both Laird and Campbell return to Las Vegas in 2010, much of this week's attention will be focused on rookie Ricky Fowler. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakout year with five top 5s and a top 25 standing on the money list. A win would make him one of the youngest winners on tour since Tiger Woods notched his first career victory at this tournament in 1996 at the age of 20.

If Fowler can pull off the win, he would be the 10th first-time winner in the tournament's 29-year history. And you have to like his chances. Fowler returns to his home course after finishing fifth in putting last year, so look for him to know use his familiarity with the course to get a leg up on the field.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/10/20/shriners-open-preview-rickie-fowlers-chance-to-shine/

Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti Amanda Swisten Amber Arbucci

One Hot Summer of 'Boys, Have At It' NASCAR Highlights

Filed under: Carl Edwards, Clint Bowyer, Dale Earnhardt Jr., Denny Hamlin, Kevin Harvick, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Nationwide Series, Sprint Cup, Joey Logano, NASCAR

The leaves are changing, and pretty soon it will be getting dark at 5 p.m. and the holidays will be hurtling at us.

We've still got five races to go in NASCAR's Chase to the Sprint Cup championship, and four more in the Nationwide series.

But on this rather slow Wednesday at the halfway point of the Chase, we thought we'd jump back into the summer for a review of some of the highlights and lowlights of those long, sunny, hot days of June, July and August.

The 2010 season will be remembered as a year that the economic downturn hit NASCAR hard, with vast swaths of empty seats at many race tracks. Even Bristol doesn't sell out anymore.

But NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton's open invitation of "Boys, have at it" in January had its effects, too, and throughout the season, the drivers showed a far greater willingness to mix it up on the track, and the NASCAR police stood down and let 'em race.

The results include these top-five candidates below.

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/20/one-hot-summer-of-boys-have-at-it-nascar-highlights/

Ashlee Simpson Ashley Greene Ashley Olsen Ashley Scott Ashley Tappin

Brett Favre Practices, Listed as Questionable for Week 8

Filed under: Vikings, NFL Injuries

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Brett Favre's healing ability has been tested before. It's headed for another down-to-the-wire finish.

The latest will-he-or-won't-he drama in Favre's 20-year career continued Friday when Minnesota listed him as questionable for Sunday's game at New England. The Vikings will wait until the very end to answer the burning question whether their injured 41-year-old quarterback will play.

Favre was on the field for drills Friday, with limited participation in practice for the first time this week. He wore a wrap on his left ankle, which has two fractures that have threatened his NFL-record streak of 291 straight games started.

Coach Brad Childress said he "probably will" wait until the last hours before kickoff to decide. He didn't directly answer a question if he'll base the decision on Favre's recent rough performances or strictly on his health. Earlier this week, Childress said he won't consider the streak when he decides.

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Whitley: Vikings Would Be Crazy to Start Favre
Moss Fined $25,000 for Avoiding Media

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/brett-favre-practices-listed-as-questionable-for-week-8/

Natalie Imbruglia Natalie Portman Natalie Zea Natasha Bedingfield Natassia Malthe

Falcons Flying High Into Bye Week at 5-2, Though Narrowly Avoiding 3-4

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, NFC South

The Falcons are 5-2 at their bye week. They have the NFL's newest superstar, receiver Roddy White. They have defensive end John Abraham, who is a predator again, and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who is Pro Bowl worthy.

They also have head coach Mike Smith, who is managing a team that is building up its resources.

Smith can get agitated on the sidelines during a game and he can throw a fit at practice at a player who is a minute late, but you talk about a consistent approach and humbleness, Smith has it.

The Falcons are two plays away from being 3-4. Do they deserve our trust? Absolutely. This is the NFL, which is a week-to-week existence. The talent is so close, breaks happen. But you have to be in contention and a good team for the breaks to make a difference.

These are seven things -- of the 10 or so -- to really like about the Falcons:

1. Roddy White. The best play he made this season was not catching a pass, but tracking down the 49ers' Nate Clements following Clements' interception in the final minute of the Falcons' Oct. 3 win over San Francisco. White ran down the sidelines and stripped Clements, who only had to fall down and the game was over. White's play was a reflection on the whole team.

2. Roddy White II. He jumped into the national spotlight with that 11-catch effort against the Bengals. He made all the plays, but especially the clutch plays when the Falcons coughed up the big, early lead.

3. The defensive line is rotating eight guys and has a presence. Babineaux, like most defensive linemen, is rated by sacks. It is not a good measuring tool, obviously. He has two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and pushes the pocket back on the quarterback.

4. Abraham has six sacks. He had a down season last year, but an offseason conditioning program has him back banging on quarterbacks.

5. Chemistry on the offensive line. These guys are not stars, just guys working extremely hard. Tyson Clabo and Harvey Dahl were not even drafted. Todd McClure is just about done with his career.

6. Cornerback Dunta Robinson. You wondered when he couldn't get on the field for so long with the hamstring injury in the preseason, but he can play. He is not just a cover corner, but a hitter.

These are five things to wonder about:

1. Left tackle Sam Baker has gotten some penalties. He has been beaten outside by a speed rusher. I'm not sure he is having that good of a season.

2. The Falcons, even with Gonzalez and Michael Turner, have struggled too much in the red zone.

3. When opposing defenses got nasty right back at the Falcons at the point of attack on the run, the Falcons physicality is stalemated. The offensive line has great chemistry and they are hard-nosed, but opponents are fighting back, like the Eagles did. People are learning to try and take away that mental edge.

4. That was 22 points in one quarter the Bengals rung up on the Atlanta defense. If Dunta Robinson, the cornerback, misses any more time, this defense will give up big plays. They do not have a reliable third corner.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/falcons-flying-high-into-bye-week-at-5-2-though-narrowly-avoidi/

Luján Fernández Magdalena Wróbel Maggie Grace Maggie Gyllenhaal Majandra Delfino

Vince Young Likely to Start Sunday Against Chargers

Filed under: Titans, AFC South

Vince Young appears very, very likely to play Sunday against San Diego.

The Tennessee Titans quarterback not only practiced full a second consecutive day Friday, he was listed as probable on the team's final injury report of the week.

"There is a good chance Vince will start," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said.

Young, the Titans' starter in the first five games of the season, missed this past Sunday's victory over Philadelphia after sustaining knee and ankle sprains against Jacksonville Oct. 18.

Meanwhile, linebacker Jamie Winborn (shoulder), cornerback Ryan Mouton (hamstring) and defensive tackle Tony Brown (knee) have been ruled out, Fisher said.

 

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/vince-young-starting-to-appear-very-likely-for-sunday-against-ch/

Ashley Tappin Ashley Tisdale Asia Argento Aubrey ODay Audrina Patridge

Vincent Jackson Finally Signs Tender, Reports to Chargers

Filed under: Chargers

Vincent Jackson ended his lengthy holdout from the Chargers, signing his one-year tender contract on Friday.

The 27-year-old Jackson was a restricted free agent heading into the 2010 offseason, but balked at the initial $3.268 million tender offered by San Diego in hopes of securing a more lucrative, long-term deal. That offer eventually reduced to $583,000 -- 110 percent of what Jackson made in 2009.

Jackson finally signed the smaller contract Friday, though he'll make only a little more than $171,000 on the season. He's ineligible to play for San Diego's next three games because of a team-issued suspension, stemming from the Chargers having to place Jackson on the roster-exempt list during his holdout -- he will be eligible to play again on Nov. 28, when San Diego hosts Indianapolis in a Sunday night game.

Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/vincent-jackson-signs-tender-reports-to-chargers/

Rebecca Mader Rebecca Romijn Reese Witherspoon Rhona Mitra Rihanna

The Works: Miami Heat and L.A. Lakers Previews; NBA Contraction Ideas

by Bethlehem Shoals and Tom Ziller

Filed under: Heat, Lakers, NBA Rumors, NBA Previews, Sports Business and Media, The Works

Today in The Works: we preview the Los Angeles Lakers, review Pro Basketball Prospectus 2010-11 and suggest an alternative to contraction.

But first, all hail the Miami Heat.

The Works Previews the Miami Heat

The Heat enter this season with more hype than Barack Obama and Stephen Strasburg combined. So good are the Heat on paper that just about everyone in the televised media has revolted against the franchise, unwilling to hitch their apple wagons to this star for fear of careening out of orbit. Yes, a team that has struck the fear of God in even Charles Barkley. A week in the clink couldn't even do that!

Resumé: LeBron James has won two straight MVP awards by landslide margins. He, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh have 17 All-Star appearances between them, despite having only played seven seasons apiece. Bosh has averaged 20-10 in three seasons, including the past two. James has one scoring title and a career average of 27.8 points per game, and has not averaged fewer than 27 points a game since his rookie season. Wade has a scoring title and a career scoring average over 25. According to career PER, Wade is the sixth best player of all-time. LeBron is No. 2.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/25/the-works-miami-heat-and-l-a-lakers-previews-nba-contraction/

Veronica Kay Veronika Vaeková Victoria Beckham Victoria Pratt Victoria Silvstedt

MLS Western Playoff Preview: The Sprint to the Cup Begins

Filed under: MLS, FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, Seattle Sounders FC

After playing 30 matches over the course of seven months, eight MLS teams now find themselves just four games away from the league title.

It's like having the eight leading runners in a marathon restart the race 10 yards from the finish line. Absolutely anything can happen, and previous MLS Cup tournaments suggest that it probably will.

In each of the past two years, the eighth seed has advanced to the championship game. In 2008, the New York Red Bulls shocked the Houston Dynamo in the first round, won the Western Conference crown and were defeated by Columbus in the final. Last year, Real Salt Lake turned the tables on the Crew before winning both the Eastern Conference and MLS Cup on penalties. RSL managed just one goal over the 240 minutes of semifinal and final play, yet walked away with the title.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/10/26/mls-western-playoff-preview-the-sprint-to-the-cup-begins/

Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings

Shriners Open Preview: Rickie Fowler's Chance to Shine

Filed under: PGA

As the PGA Tour enters the final two weeks of its season, players head to Las Vegas for the Justin Timberlake Shiners Hospitals for Children Open in what shapes up to be an exciting tournament.

The field, highlighted by 10 winners on Tour this season, will be taking dead aim at TPC Summerlin. This par 72, 7,243-yard course yielded 1,821 birdies a year ago -- the highest total of any tournament in 2009. Martin Laird, pictured right, recorded two eagles and 23 birdies on his way to a 19-under total and a playoff victory over Chad Campbell and George McNeill.

While both Laird and Campbell return to Las Vegas in 2010, much of this week's attention will be focused on rookie Ricky Fowler. The 21-year-old has enjoyed a breakout year with five top 5s and a top 25 standing on the money list. A win would make him one of the youngest winners on tour since Tiger Woods notched his first career victory at this tournament in 1996 at the age of 20.

If Fowler can pull off the win, he would be the 10th first-time winner in the tournament's 29-year history. And you have to like his chances. Fowler returns to his home course after finishing fifth in putting last year, so look for him to know use his familiarity with the course to get a leg up on the field.

 

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/10/20/shriners-open-preview-rickie-fowlers-chance-to-shine/

Dominique Swain Donna Feldman Drea de Matteo Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings

What to Watch For As MLS Regular Season Ends This Weekend

Filed under: MLS, Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes, Seattle Sounders FC

This weekend will see the 2010 MLS regular season come to an end. The eight playoff places are secured, but the final round of matches is far from meaningless. There's still plenty of intrigue in week 30.

With that in mind, FanHouse breaks down the weekend's five most interesting story lines as the regular season's closing bell prepares to sound.

Buddle vs. Wondolowski

Edson Buddle (above) had been atop the MLS goal scoring standings for the entirety of the 2010 season until Wednesday, when San Jose's Chris Wondolowski netted a hat trick against Chivas USA to pull even with 17 goals. Now each striker will have 90 minutes, Wondo against the Kansas City Wizards on Saturday and Buddle against FC Dallas on Sunday, to stake his claim to the golden boot.

Buddle holds the edge on the assists tiebreaker (two to one), but given how the pair has played this season and given what's at stake -- expect at least one of them to find the back of the net.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/10/22/what-to-watch-for-as-mls-regular-season-ends-this-weekend/

Amanda Bynes Amanda Detmer Amanda Marcum Amanda Peet Amanda Righetti

Presidents Bush to Throw Out First Pitches at World Series Game 4

Filed under: Giants, Rangers, MLB Playoffs, World Series

Former Presidents George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush will throw out ceremonial first pitches Sunday before Game 4 of the World Series between the Rangers and the Giants.

George W. Bush was managing general partner of the Rangers from 1989-94 and continued to maintain a partial ownership stake through 1998. He now lives in Dallas and has been a regular presence at Rangers home playoff games. His father, a Houston area resident, is more often seen at Astros games.

Baseball runs deep in the family, though, with a legacy stretching back to the elder Bush's days as a first baseman at Yale.

They won't be the only presidents drawing first-pitch duties this weekend, either. Rangers president Nolan Ryan will do the honors Saturday before Game 3, reprising his not-so-ceremonial fastball that preceded Game 1 of the ALCS against the Yankees.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/presidents-bush-to-throw-out-first-pitches-at-world-series-game/

Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons Elisabeth Röhm Elisha Cuthbert Eliza Dushku

Andrei Kirilenko Not Expecting to Be Traded From Jazz

Filed under: Jazz, NBA Rumors

His name might appear on all sorts of lists of NBA players most likely to be traded. But Utah's Andrei Kirilenko is hopeful he won't be moved any time soon.

"I spoke with (Utah general manager) Kevin O'Connor, and he always said, 'Like, look, don't worry about that. It's all rumors. We're not trying (to trade Kirilenko),''' Kirilenko said in an interview with FanHouse. "I don't have any doubts, Kevin, his words ... (The talk was) about everything. About all the rumors. So I don't have any doubts. Even if it (a trade) happens, I understand business is business. No hard feelings. I've had a great time (in Utah).''

It's understandable Kirilenko, in his 10th season with the Jazz, has had his name surface so much in trade rumors. He's in the last season of a contract that will pay him $17.823 million this season.

Kirilenko hopes the Feb. 24 trade deadline passes with the 6-foot-9 forward still in Utah. He reiterated what he told FanHouse last January, that he wants to return to the Jazz next season and knows it would be at a significant pay cut.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/andrei-kirilenko-not-expecting-to-be-traded-from-jazz/

Mena Suvari Mia Kirshner Mía Maestro Michael Michele Michelle Behennah

C.J. Wilson Aside, Rangers Awesomely Awful in Game 2 Disaster

Filed under: Giants, Rangers, MLB Playoffs, World Series

SAN FRANCISCO -- C.J. Wilson deserves better than to be lumped with the rest of the pitchers wearing Texas uniforms the first two games of the World Series.

Plagued by a blister, Wilson was forced out of Thursday's Game 2 down 1-0 in the seventh inning as the Rangers attempted to bounce back after Wednesday's 11-7 loss to the Giants in the opener.

To that point Wilson had pitched superlative baseball, battling San Francisco's Matt Cain pitch for pitch, save for an Edgar Renteria homer that went out down the left-field line in the fifth inning.

Then entered the Texas bullpen, and it was like the opening day of clown school, minus the floppy shoes.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/c-j-wilson-aside-rangers-awesomely-awful-in-game-2-disaster/

Rachel Weisz Radha Mitchell Raquel Alessi Rebecca Mader Rebecca Romijn

Rick Rypien Vows to Become Better Player After Tussle With Fan

Filed under: Canucks, NHL Fans, NHL Discipline

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Rick Rypien is out to prove that he has more character than people think.

The Vancouver forward, now serving a six-game suspension for an incident with a fan Oct. 19 in St. Paul, Minn., apologized Monday.

"I know what I did was wrong," said Rypien in his first public comments since the incident in a game against the Minnesota Wild in St. Paul.

Calling his actions inexcusable, Rypien, a 26-year-old Coleman, Alta., native said he was in no position to question the length of the suspension handed down by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and chief disciplinarian Colin Campbell. Rypien vowed that a similar incident would never happen again.

 

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Source: http://nhl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/26/rypien-vows-to-become-better-player-after-incident-with-fan/

Josie Maran Joss Stone Jules Asner Julia Stiles Julianne Hough

Sandy Alderson Named Mets' New GM

Filed under: Mets

The Mets filled their general manager opening with the candidate most expected, tabbing Sandy Alderson and his decades of experience in the game to head their baseball operations department.

The team officially announced the hire, which had been reported as imminent earlier in the week, with a brief press release Thursday afternoon. Alderson will be introduced at a news conference at Citi Field on Friday -- an off day for the World Series.

Alderson, who turns 63 next month, first worked in baseball in 1981, when he was hired as the A's general counsel. He took over as general manager two years later and remained at the post until 1997. He moved to MLB's executive offices in 1998, overseeing baseball operations through 2005. He joined the Padres as their CEO that spring, leaving in 2009 after Jeff Moorad bought the team.

He has spent the past year as a lecturer at the University of California-Berkeley's business school.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/sandy-alderson-named-mets-new-gm/

Rachel McAdams Rachel Nichols Rachel Perry Rachel Weisz Radha Mitchell

Stampede at Kenyan Soccer Match Leaves 7 Dead

Filed under: International Soccer

Seven people died in a stampede outside a Kenyan Premier League soccer match on Saturday. The crowd was trying to gain access to the game in Nairobi between two of of the country's most popular teams.

Kenya Red Cross official Taitus Mong Mungo'u said that six people died at Nyayo National Stadium and a seventh passed away after being taken to Kenyatta National Hospital, according to the Associated Press.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/10/23/stampede-at-kenyan-soccer-match-leaves-7-dead/

Nelly Furtado Nichole Robinson Nicky Hilton Nicole Richie Nicole Scherzinger