faultygem84: October 2010

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Twins Angela and Amber Cope Make Historic NASCAR Start at Martinsville

Filed under: Camping World Truck Series, NASCAR

For the first time in NASCAR history, a set of twins competed together in a national division in the Camping World Truck Series race Saturday at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.

For 27-year-old identical twins Amber and Angela Cope, the prime-time debut was a decade in the making.

Amber Cope, driving the No. 6 Dodge, finished 26th, three laps down, while Angela Cope was involved in two incidents within 18 laps of each other early in the race and finished 30th, six laps down. Series veteran Ron Hornaday won the race.

But the Cope twins are far more interested in the future opportunities their debut may create than in the history they made.

The nieces of 1990 Daytona 500 winner Derrike Cope (shown at right with their uncle) hadn't competed in over a year before Saturday's race, the sagging economy having made it tough to find sponsorship to fund a two-car program.

So while the publicity and headlines can't hurt, the real goal for the Copes Saturday was the more modest: gain of seat time and turning heads.

"The twins are smart, attractive and have talent,'' Derrike Cope said. "And they understand that there is a learning process associated with being successful.

"The girls know this is do-or-die. They have to perform. They have to make it happen.

"Our hopes are that people will stand up and take notice. We're just trying to get in position so this can escalate, to get the opportunities in front of us.''

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/23/twins-angela-and-amber-cope-make-historic-nascar-start-at-martin/

Jill Wagner Joanna Krupa Joanne Montanez

There's No Place Like Home for Heat

Filed under: Heat, Magic

MIAMI -- The city of Miami had to wait 113 long days since the biggest prize in 2010 NBA free agency, LeBron James, announced his intentions to join Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh to play for the Miami Heat for this night. The fans couldn't even enjoy a sneak preview of what was to come when Wade went down with an injury three minutes into the preseason at home against the Detroit Pistons. But the wait to see their home team finally playing their stars at the same time for a full game while making a quantum leap in team chemistry made it all worth it.

"The crowd was amazing," remarked Wade after the game. "We were very satisfied with the energy and the atmosphere that was in the building tonight. When they come out that way and support us we want to give them our best effort. And that's what we did."

The media earlier in the day pounced on the news that a couple of hundred tickets were still available for the game several hours before tip-off, leading many to speculate that it wouldn't be a sold out event. Those concerns were officially put to rest by the punctual and rowdy crowd that had the arena shaking with each basket the Heat made. And yes, the arena was officially listed as a sellout with 19,600 in attendance.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/theres-no-place-like-home-for-heat/

Shiri Appleby Sienna Guillory Sienna Miller

Buster Davis Inactive as Chargers Enter Game Against Titans Thin at WR

Filed under: Chargers, AFC West

Chargers wide receiver Buster Davis will be inactive with a rib injury Sunday.

That's not good news for a team that is lacking experience and depth at the wide receiver position entering its home game against the Tennessee Titans late Sunday afternoon.

Davis was among the Chargers' inactives, as was wide receiver Malcolm Floyd (hamstring) and Legedu Naanee (hamstring), and as Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune reported, that left Patrick Crayton as the Chargers' only healthy veteran receiver. The active receivers had a total of 21 career receptions entering Sunday.

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/31/buster-davis-inactive-as-chargers-enter-game-against-titans-thin/

Naomi Watts Natalie Imbruglia Natalie Portman

The Big East Championship Now Runs Through Pittsburgh

Filed under: Louisville, Pittsburgh, Big East

PITTSBURGH -- The Big East championship now runs through Pittsburgh. Shaky in non-conference play, the Panthers' steely efforts through three weeks of conference play are an appropriate fit for the people of their hometown who anticipated big things in 2010.

First, they thrashed Syracuse 45-14, not that a victory like that could make waves several weeks ago, before the Orange's dramatic rebirth. Then, they manhandled an emotionally drained Rutgers 41-21. And Saturday, they dented another conference foe, this time red-hot Louisville, 20-3.

Making the most of its "second season," the Panthers own the Big East's only unblemished conference record at 3-0, and own the head-to-head tiebreak against surprising Syracuse. Barring an epic late-season collapse, they look like the runaway favorite to capture the Big East crown and head to an amusing, controversial BCS bowl appearance.

Weak quarterback play has stymied nearly every offense in the conference, but the Panthers' Tino Sunseri, in just his 8th career start, has turned himself into a difference-maker. Standout tailbacks Dion Lewis and Ray Graham certainly had their fair share of yards and touches, but it was Sunseri who finally put the offense on his back. A 13-yard scramble on the Panthers' opening drive revealed a new dimension in Sunseri's game.

Earlier in the season, Sunseri struggled to connect with his receivers, and only kept the passing game alive with the occasional deep ball. That was the pattern for several weeks before piecing together elements of an intermediate passing game against Florida International, Notre Dame and Syracuse, in succession. He added a short passing element in finding fullback Henry Hynoski seven times against Rutgers last week.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/the-big-east-championship-now-runs-through-pittsburgh/

Jennie Finch Jennifer Aniston Jennifer Gareis

FC Dallas holds serve at home after Avila's late goal deals RSL 2-1 defeat

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/YfbmXjkdCZo/fc-dallas-holds-serve-at-home-after-avilas-late-goal-deals-rsl-2-1-defeat.html

Melissa Sagemiller Mena Suvari Mia Kirshner

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.

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

Veronica Kay Veronika Vaeková Victoria Beckham

Report: Jeff Gordon's New Sponsorship Deal to Be Announced Wednesday

Filed under: Jeff Gordon, NASCAR Sponsors, Sprint Cup, NASCAR

The AARP Foundation and Jeff Gordon will team up in 2011, with the charity arm of the retired persons organization becoming the primary sponsor on Gordon's No. 24 Chevrolet for most of the NASCAR Sprint Cup races to promote a major anti-hunger campaign, the Charlotte Observer reported Monday.

The paper reported that the campaign will be coordinated by the foundation and will eventually involve other companies.

The new deal, however, doesn't mean that fans will no longer see Gordon's longtime primary sponsors, Dupont and Pepsi, on his No. 24 Chevrolet. Those two powerhouse companies are expected to sponsor the races that AARP Foundation doesn't cover, the Observer said.

More details of the sponsorship are expected to be announced at a Wednesday news conference.

Dupont is one of NASCAR's longest-running and most dedicated sponsors.

If Dupont steps away completely from some of the 2011 races, it will be the first time since the company began sponsoring Gordon beginning with his very first race at Atlanta at the end of 1992.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/25/aarp-jeff-gordon-sponsorship-deal-to-be-announced-wednesday/

Leila Arcieri Lena Headey Leonor Varela

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Timeline: Kasey Kahne's First Seven Years in NASCAR

Filed under: Kasey Kahne, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, Gillett-Evernham Motorsports, Hendrick Motorsports, Red Bull Racing, NASCAR

Kasey Kahne, who was released Wednesday night as the driver of the Richard Petty Motorsports No. 9 Budweiser Ford, came on the scene in 2003, when RPM was still Evernham Motorsports.

In the seven years since, he's racked up 11 victories, including an impressive six victories in 2006.

But Kahne was a lame duck at RPM, and he and longtime crew chief Kenny Francis had previously announced their intentions to race for Red Bull Racing in 2011 as a stopover point before Kahne's move to Hendrick Motorsports' No. 5 car in 2012.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/21/timeline-kasey-kahnes-first-seven-bumpy-nascar-years/

Lauren Conrad Lauren German LeAnn Rimes

Mike Maddux: Bud Selig Is Rangers 'MVP'

by Jeff Fletcher

Filed under: Mariners, Rangers, MLB Biz, Sports Business and Media

SAN FRANCISCO -- Eyes were opened around baseball when the Rangers, who at the time were in bankruptcy court, were allowed to take on salary to get Cliff Lee in a July trade, and Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux admitted on the eve of the World Series that it was a lucky break.

"I've got to say our MVP is Commissioner Selig, for letting us operate without a checkbook," Maddux said. "He's got to be one of the unsung heroes of baseball, at least as far as the Rangers are concerned."

Lee, who will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Giants on Wednesday, was obviously one of the keys to put the Rangers over the top.

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/26/mike-maddux-bud-selig-is-rangers-mvp/

Garcelle Beauvais Genelle Frenoy Georgianna Robertson

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/

Minka Kelly Minki van der Westhuizen Miranda Kerr

The Works: Where Is the Love?

by Bethlehem Shoals and Tom Ziller

Filed under: Kings, Nets, Nuggets, Pistons, Timberwolves, NBA Referees, Sports Business and Media, The Works

In The Works today: interrogating NBA finance; how the techs were won; the cool, cool world of Melo's free agency; and the League Pass Cup begins.

But first, the season's first big question about the Minnesota Timberwolves, featuring their one good player.

New Dawn Fades

The season is exactly one game old for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Kevin Love is already getting disrespected by his coach. Fitting that Love's new blog for GQ is called Love Will Tear Us Apart, because he's doing just that to the Twin Cities. Wolves coach Kurt Rambis sat Love for the final 8-1/2 minutes of Minnesota's tight opening night game against the Kings (who were without star guard Tyreke Evans). Why, pray tell?

He told reporters he liked what Anthony Tolliver was doing defensively. So he sat his best player.

The opponent Rambis needed Tolliver for was Carl Landry, who ended up dropping seven points in less than nine minutes in the fourth on Tolliver. The supposedly great defensive team Rambis wanted to put on the floor when Love came out allowed 18 points in 16 possessions (before the Wolves were forced to foul with 23 seconds left). Again, Landry had seven of those and rookie center DeMarcus Cousins added another five. That's 12 of the 18 points through the critical stretch of the game against Rambis' defensive frontline that Love is apparently too poor a defender to be featured in.

In the end, Tolliver played 28 minutes to Love's 24, and I'm sitting here wondering how long it will be until K-Love is run out of town the way Al Jefferson was. Think about it: Minnesota traded Big Al for two mid-to-low first-round picks and Kosta Koufos because Al and Love couldn't play together. In the first game of the post-Al era, Love is benched because he can't defend Carl Landry. Meanwhile, the replacement has trouble guarding Carl Landry because -- surprise! -- Carl Landry is a pretty good scorer.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/the-works-where-is-the-love/

Isla Fisher Ivana Bozilovic Ivanka Trump

It is finished

You never know what moments are going to change your life. For D.C. United and, really, for soccer fans across the United States, one such moment came on August 7, 1996. Just four minutes after kickoff on that summer evening, a young Bolivian player named Jaime Moreno scored for D.C....

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/13841

Drew Barrymore Ehrinn Cummings Elena Lyons

Warriors' Golden Start Fuels Early Optimism

Filed under: Clippers, Lakers, Warriors, NBA Rumors

OAKLAND, Calif. - Joe Lacob sat courtside at Oracle Arena on Friday night, clapping like the rest of the 17,408 in attendance during the home team's raucous rout of the Clippers, while the other team's mascot danced on the logo of the Golden State team he is expected to soon own.

It wasn't Clipper Darrel doing the boogie, though, so none of the locals had their blue-and-gold sensibilities offended. Quite the opposite, in fact. It was Lou Seal of the San Francisco Giants, visiting on a day off from his latest World Series shift in this baseball-crazed region.

While Lacob surely isn't delusional enough to be envisioning a trip to basketball's ultimate stage -- the NBA Finals -- this season, the Warriors did indeed keep the Bay Area party rolling in a 109-91 win that set local history.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/30/warriors-golden-start-fuels-early-optimism/

Shana Hiatt Shania Twain Shanna Moakler

Well-Traveled Colby Lewis Holds Texas' Hopes in Game 3

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

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Eight and a half years ago, Colby Lewis took the mound in a spring training game in Tampa, Fla., and blew away the Yankees. He faced seven hitters, retired them all, struck out three, hit 97 mph on the radar gun and showed a big, hard curve.

And with that, Lewis, at 22, clinched a spot on the Rangers roster.

Fast forward to Saturday, and Lewis has been handed the responsibility of saving Texas' chance at its first World Series title as the starter for Saturday's Game 3 against San Francisco.

It was a long trip, literally and figuratively, from hot prospect to a true pitcher who this postseason is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in three starts.

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/well-traveled-colby-lewis-holds-texas-hopes-in-game-3/

Amber Arbucci Amber Brkich Amber Heard

JaMarcus Russell Cleared of Felony Drug Charge

Filed under: Raiders, NFL Police Blotter, NFL Quarterbacks

MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -- An Alabama grand jury declined Friday to indict former Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell on a felony drug possession charge related to a drink containing codeine syrup found at his home.

Defense attorney Donald Briskman said the prosecution office handling the Mobile County grand jury confirmed that no indictment was included with its report. He said that means the grand jury decided there was not sufficient evidence to keep the case from being dismissed.

He said Russell was excited by the development and looks forward to returning to the National Football League.

"He's working out. I talked to his agent. That's always been the plan," Briskman told The Associated Press. "This helps enormously."

An official with the Mobile County District Attorney's office handling grand jury matters did not immediately return a call Friday.

Russell was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, a drink containing codeine syrup, when Mobile County sheriff's officers raided his home July 5. The defense contended the drink belonged to another person in Russell's home, where several people had gathered after the July Fourth holiday.

Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/jamarcus-russell-cleared-of-felony-drug-charge/

Natassia Malthe Nelly Furtado Nichole Robinson

Friday, October 29, 2010

Wolves Suspect Blazers Withheld Knowledge of Martell Webster's Injury

Filed under: Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, NBA Injuries, NBA Rumors

The Timberwolves traded for Martell Webster back during the Great Small Forward Rush of 2010. Jest aside, Minnesota was awful on the wings and in the backcourt last season. (And also at center and, according to some, at coach and general manager.) It made sense that Wolves GM David Kahn would seek to improve his top-line talent and depth in the backcourt, and Portland made the young veteran Webster, a sharp shooter and solid defender, available in exchange for a mid-first round pick.

That is how the Blazers came to acquire Luke Babbitt and how Webster became the de facto starting small forward of the Wolves.

Only Webster isn't playing. He had surgery Monday to correct a back injury, and he'll miss the first six weeks of the season. When was his back injured? Well, that's a question that has the Timberwolves concerned and quite possibly angry.

Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports via an anonymous source that the Wolves have asked the NBA to investigate whether the Blazers traded Webster knowing that he had an injury that would require surgery. TrueHoop's Henry Abbott essentially confirmed the news in a discourse with an unnamed Wolves official. Abbott goes on to both point out that this is exactly what physical examinations are all about and that at least one unnamed NBA executive is laughing about the latest Wolves folly.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/wolves-suspect-blazers-withheld-knowledge-of-martell-websters-i/

Kim Kardashian Kim Smith Kim Yoon jin

Elias Free-Agent Compensation Rankings Are Out; Here's What to Know

Fans of the Giants and Rangers have plenty to keep them occupied right now, but fans of the other 28 teams in the league are looking for a little something to keep baseball on their minds. The Elias free-agent compensation rankings should do the trick.

For those unfamiliar with the process or just rusty after a year not thinking about it, the Elias Sports Bureau ranks all the players in the major leagues over the last two years and assigns them as Type A, Type B or none.

Assuming they are offered arbitration by their old teams, free agents designated Type A bring back two draft picks -- a first or second rounder, which comes from the signing team, plus a sandwich pick between the first and second rounds -- if they sign elsewhere, while Type B players bring back one sandwich round pick.

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/10/29/elias-free-agent-compensation-rankings-are-out-heres-what-to-k/

Kate Hudson Kate Mara Kate Moss

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/

Kelly Hu Kelly Monaco Kelly Ripa

Greece's basketball season is off to a terrible, terrible start. If you're worried about the NBA's labor issues, the Greeks have lapped their American counterparts in terms of sheer absurdity.

The players union for Greek's league called a strike last week. One problem: Not everyone was on board. Players for the top-drawer teams -- Panathinaikos and Olympiakos -- broke picket lines to play as the league opened. Panathinaikos, which has won eight straight Greek titles and won Euroleague in 2009, played against PAOK Thessaloniki Saturday. PAOK, however, is captained by Lazaros Papadopoulos, the president of the players union.

So how did PAOK handle it? Did the team refuse to play? Well, most of the team -- every Greek player on the roster -- refused to dress. Five players on the roster who aren't Greek natives (including four Americans) did play. Panathinaikos still went ahead, and beat PAOK by 47 points. But that doesn't mean Papadopoulos and his striking teammates didn't show up to the arena. They did, in street clothes, apparently to confront Panathinaikos' players, and were met by riot police. Papadopoulos was reportedly arrested later at an airport.

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/10/24/greek-basketball-in-labor-turmoil/

Julia Stiles Julianne Hough Julie Benz

Big East Report: Conference Balance Turns to Chaos

Filed under: Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, West Virginia, Big East

I wrote last week that the Big East is the nation's most balanced conference, the idea being that top to bottom there is quality competition with few tomato cans to kick around. Sure enough, last weekend delivered plenty of evidence as the offensively inept duo of Syracuse and South Florida found some offensive religion in taking down favored West Virginia and Cincinnati.

The thing with balance is it implies some kind of order or stability. What has happened now in the Big East is the opposite as nearly every school has gently gone up and down with the regularity of the tides. This is not only balance, but imbalance, and chaos. As disappointing as Connecticut has been, one can't help but wonder if it isn't the next seemingly dormant conference team to bring a Pittsburgh or Cincinnati kicking and screaming back to the pack.

All the while, the rest of college football laughs, or worse, questions the Big East's status as a BCS automatic qualifier.

Louisville

Following its 26-0 shutout over Connecticut, it may be time to pay attention to 4-3 Louisville. The whitewashing was its second of the season, and its first conference victory. "It was an outstanding team victory in all phases of the game," said first-year coach Charlie Strong. That is precisely what you want to hear from a coach following a victory, and about as high of praise as you'll ever see offered from most.

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Source: http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/big-east-report-conference-balance-turns-to-chaos/

Diane Kruger Dido Diora Baird

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Vikings vs. Patriots Preview, Score and More

Filed under: Patriots, Vikings, AFC East, NFC East

Randy Moss is coming back to New England on Halloween dressed as a Minnesota Viking, and there will no doubt be lots and lots of Moss masks in the stands at Gillette Stadium when the Vikings and Patriots take the field. Whether or not Moss' knowledge of New England's offense will help Minnesota's defense on the road and his familiarity with the Patriots' secondary will help him get open easier remains to be seen.

The return of Moss overshadows one of those classic showdowns between two future Hall-of-Fame quarterbacks in the Vikings' Brett Favre -- should he extend his streak of consecutive games started despite a broken ankle -- and New England's Tom Brady. Normally, this storyline would be getting the kind of hype John Elway vs. Joe Montana got back in 1994.

Minnesota, having already lost to two AFC East teams (Miami and the New York Jets) sits at 2-4 and is in desperate need of a victory to keep pace with Green Bay and Chicago in the NFC North and might need to utilize running back Adrian Peterson in this one. The Patriots have the same overall record as the Jets at 5-1 but are a half game back in the division having lost to New York, and are intent on showing Moss and the rest of the league they can still light it up on offense without their big-play former receiver.

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/vikings-vs-patriots-preview-score-and-more/

April Scott Arielle Kebbel Ashanti

WonderTor: German Scores Goal From 61 Meters in Cup Upset

Filed under: European Soccer, Bundesliga (Germany)

FanHouse stumbled across this incredible video from a German Cup game this week and thought we'd share it.

The star of the show is Michael Stahl, a 23-year-old midfielder who plays for TuS Koblenz, a modest third-division club based in the picturesque city at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

Koblenz was hosting fallen power Hertha Berlin in a round-of-32 game on Tuesday. Hertha, the capital's largest club, went from championship contenders in the spring of 2009 to relegated in the spring of 2010. It's currently leading the 2. Bundesliga and is a safe bet for promotion.

The Berliners surely regarded this season's Cup as a chance to remind the Bundesliga powers that last season was a fluke, and that it would be contending again in 2011-12. But thanks in large part to Stahl, Hertha's Cup run is already over.

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/10/28/wondertor-german-scores-goal-from-61-meters-in-cup-upset/

Grace Park Gretha Cavazzoni Gwen Stefani

Golf Notebook: Fred Couples Cashing In

Filed under: LPGA, PGA, Golf Odds and Ends

You know all about Fred Couples.

You recall that he's a former No. 1 ranked player in the world, winner of 15 PGA Tour events, including a Masters. He's a two-time Player of the Year, five-time Ryder Cup player and recent Presidents Cup captain.

But this is going to shock you: this year as a Champions Tour rookie Couples has won $2,271,894, the most he's ever earned in any season as a professional. And you still want to make jokes about "geezer golf?"

Sunday afternoon at The Woodlands outside Houston, Couples won his fourth senior title of the year.

In the Administaff Small Business Classic, he shot a tournament-record, final-round 63 that included a double bogey to finish seven shots in front of runner-up Mark Wiebe. After beginning the day two shots out of the lead, Couples finished with a back-nine 29. Along the way he used only 24 putts.

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/10/26/golf-notebook-fred-couples-cashing-in/

Charlies Angels Charlize Theron Chelsea Handler

Ashley Phalen Killed in Driving Experience Crash at Auto Club Speedway

FONTANA, Calif. (AP) -- A woman crashed a replica Indy race car into a wall at a high rate of speed and died while taking part in the Mario Andretti Driving Experience at a Southern California motor speedway.

The San Bernardino County coroner's office says 24-year-old Ashley Phalen of Los Angeles was killed early Friday when her vehicle slammed into a wall and overturned at the Auto Club Motor Speedway in Fontana. She died at a nearby hospital.

Phalen was participating in what is described on andrettiracing.com as the "World's Fastest Racing Experience." The website says people can drive a race car with 600 horsepower for an eight-minute session and reach speeds up to 160 mph.

The San Bernardino Sun reported that the crash occurred at 9:32 a.m. PT Friday and that the car struck an inside wall before overturning.

An after-hours phone message for the Andretti Driving Experience wasn't immediately returned.

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/16/woman-killed-in-driving-experience-crash-at-auto-club-speedway/

Sanaa Lathan Sara Foster Sara Spraker

What's next for Jaime?

Now that his playing days with D.C. United are over, everybody is looking for the answer to the important question, ?What will Jaime do now?? To shed some light on the subject, we asked Jaime and Louise that very question.

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/13491

Shanna Moakler Shannon Elizabeth Shannyn Sossamon

Vasquez ousted as Chivas USA head coach after one season

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SoccerByIves/~3/aIiN-jNW7Tk/vasquez-ousted-as-chivas-usa-head-coach-after-one-season.html

Shania Twain Shanna Moakler Shannon Elizabeth

Jimmie Johnson's Third Place Increases His Championship Lead

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Jamie McMurray, Jimmie Johnson, Kyle Busch, Chase for the Sprint Cup, Sprint Cup, NASCAR, Charlotte Motor Speedway

CONCORD, N.C. -- It may have been a familiar car up front in Saturday's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, but it was hardly just another hum-drum NASCAR championship effort.

Jimmie Johnson finished third behind winner Jamie McMurray and the night's most dominant driver, Kyle Busch, and still extended his NASCAR Sprint Cup championship lead to 41 points over second place Denny Hamlin. Most disconcerting to his competition is the fact the four-time defending series champ scored the finish despite an early race spin, pit road collision and uncharacteristic pit stop bobble.

"Ah, Superman; he woke up,'' Busch said at one point midway through the race while exchanging the lead with Johnson, who had just overcome a series of early race setbacks.

With five races remaining in NASCAR's 10-race Chase for the Sprint Cup playoffs, Johnson has clearly established himself as the odds-on favorite, man-to-beat for an unprecedented and unthinkable fifth consecutive title.

"We've had a little more drama in this situation than we would have wanted to,'' Johnson's crew chief Chad Knaus offered Saturday night. Yet somehow, even nights like this haven't derailed his title hopes in the least.

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/17/jimmie-johnson-rallies-for-third-place-finish-increases-champion/

Mena Suvari Mia Kirshner Mía Maestro

PGA Tour Taps Into Asian Market With CIMB Asia Pacific Classic

Filed under: PGA, European Tour

The focus of the golf world shifts to Asia with the first of two high-profile tournaments taking place on the growing golf continent this week.

While the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic in Malaysia might not have any bearing on the 2010 season, the significance of this week goes beyond money lists or standings. The globalization of the game will be on full display at the first PGA Tour-sanctioned event in Southeast Asia.

The event, which is also sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Association of Malaysia, only consists of a 40-player field, but it will be filled with some of the top international players in the sport. The invitation-only tournament is made up of the top 25 players from the PGA Tour's final FedExCup standings, top 10 players from the current Asian Tour Order of Merit and five players under sponsor's exemption.

The strength of the play from the Far East is evident by the players represented this week. Y.E. Yang, the continent's only major winner, and K.J. Choi, a seven-time PGA Tour winner pictured above, are the most familiar names to American fans, but keep an eye on Noh Seung-Yul. The 19-year-old leads the Asian Tour in earnings, scoring average and birdie average. The common theme from each of them has been the importance of this event and what it means in furthering the development of Asian golf.

"This is definitely a good idea and to have the PGA Tour partner with the Asian Tour and the Asian Tour partner the PGA Tour. It reflects how much the Asian Tour has made big strides for golf in Asia," Yang said. "This being a benchmark event, hopefully the same type of events can spread and proliferate themselves around Asia."

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/10/27/pga-tour-taps-into-asian-market-with-cimb-asia-pacific-classic/

Milla Jovovich Minka Kelly Minki van der Westhuizen

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Buffalo Bills CB Terrence McGee Getting Closer to Returning

Filed under: Bills

The Buffalo Bills might be getting some much-needed help in the secondary for Sunday's game at the Kansas City Chiefs as cornerback Terrence McGee's back injury appears to be a lot better.

Brian Galliford of buffalorumblings.com reported on the progress of McGee and the other injured Buffalo players Wednesday. McGee was listed as limited in practice on the team's official injury report along with linebacker Keith Ellison (knee). Offensive tackle Demetrius Bell (knee), safety Jairus Byrd (thigh) and offensive tackle Cornell Green (knee) all did not practice.

McGee has not played since Week 3 and Ellison has missed the last two games with his knee injury. In McGee's absence, Leodis McKelvin and Drayton Florence have tried to hold down the fort in the secondary and have had some problems for the 0-6 Bills. Bills coach Chan Gailey said during his Wednesday press conference that he expects McGee to be able to participate in a full practice before the week is out.

For the Chiefs, safety Reshard Langford (ankle), guard Ryan Lilja (hand) and rookie wide receiver Dexter McCluster (ankle) all were limited in practice.

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/27/buffalo-bills-cb-terrence-mcgee-getting-closer-to-returning/

Julianne Hough Julie Benz Julie Berry

Louise Moreno - Jaime's better half

Yesterday marked the end of an era in D.C. United and Major League Soccer. Jaime Moreno will never play for D.C. United again. As hard as it is on the organization and the fans, the sentiment pales in comparison to what Jaime?s family must be going through. Louise Moreno took some...

Source: http://dcunited.com/node/13490

Yvonne Strzechowski Zhang Ziyi Zoe Saldana

Alex Smith Out 2-3 Weeks, Troy Smith to Start for 49ers

Filed under: 49ers, NFC West, NFL Quarterbacks

Alex Smith won't take the field as the 49ers' starting quarterback this Sunday in London. And beyond.

The former No. 1 overall pick will miss two to three weeks with a separated shoulder suffered last week against the Panthers, Mike Singletary revealed Wednesday. David Carr took Smith's place against the Panthers Sunday, but he's been passed over in favor of Troy Smith, who gets the starting nod this Sunday.

"Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win this game," Singletary said. "He has enough of the offense to play." Singletary continued about the move to start Smith instead of Carr, another former No. 1 overall pick: "I talked to David Carr about it. He understands."

Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/10/27/alex-smith-out-2-3-weeks-troy-smith-to-start/

Lily Allen Lindsay Lohan Lindsay Price

Video: Real Salt Lake, Idle Columbus Crew Win Big In Champions League

Filed under: International Soccer, MLS, Columbus Crew, Real Salt Lake

Tuesday night in the CONCACAF Champions League was borderline historic for MLS. Real Salt Lake continued its dominance at Rio Tinto Stadium and defeated Mexican power Cruz Azul, 3-1, before a crowd exceeding 20,000. While the Columbus Crew won without even taking the field.

Salt Lake (4-1-1) clinched Group A with the victory and became the first of the 14 MLS teams to play in the expanded continental tournament to win its first-round group.

"It's a step in the right direction," RSL coach Jason Kreis said of the historic distinction. He made a similar point about winning the MLS Cup title last year.

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/10/20/video-real-salt-lake-idle-columbus-win-big-in-champions-league/

Marley Shelton Mary Elizabeth Winstead Megan Ewing

Europe Enjoys Ryder Cup Win as US Comeback Falls Short

Filed under: Ryder Cup

NEWPORT, Wales -- It was easy to suggest the concession, even if in a metaphoric sense, was being made when the United States arrived for the Ryder Cup's first Monday finish in history wearing all black.

After a week at Celtic Manor fashioning color schemes that included shades of lavender and cornflower, the Americas suddenly showed up for the rain-delayed final day dressed for a funeral.

The surprise, however, was America had plenty of life left. Unfortunately, the Yanks already had dug themselves a grave too deep from which to escape.

What a waste of some amazingly good golf.

"Even heading into today when we were down, we just knew we were going to win, and we didn't," Phil Mickelson said. "And that's what's hard because we were so close. And every one of us can look back on a match and say that this could have been the deciding factor."

Video: Tiger Woods Drains 133-Yard Eagle
More: Ryder Cup Final Scoreboard | Photos

Woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Europe won the Ryder Cup for the sixth time in eight years and it could hardly have been more exciting -- or, for the Americans, disappointing.

Beginning the day with a three-point advantage and on the verge of a run-away victory, the Europeans chewed their fingernails down to the second knuckle before escaping with a 14 1/2-13 1/2 win.

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Source: http://golf.fanhouse.com/2010/10/04/europe-wins-ryder-cup-as-us-comeback-falls-short/

Blake Lively Blu Cantrell Bonnie Jill Laflin

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Sees a Glimmer of Racing Sunlight

Filed under: Dale Earnhardt Jr., Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR Fans, Sprint Cup, Danica Patrick, NASCAR

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- The legions of fans of Junior Nation rose as one on lap 285 of the Tums Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway Sunday, waving the little green flags passed out by the race sponsor and screaming their lungs out against the din of the more than three dozen race cars circling the half-mile track here.

Their man, Dale Earnhardt Jr., had clawed his way to the front and taken the lead from Jeff Gordon during a green flag run at the midpoint of the NASCAR Sprint Cup race.

And he led 90 of the next 93 laps -- more than his total for the entire year before Sunday's race. Coming into Martinsville -- where Earnhardt has never won -- he had led a total of 71 laps in five races.

But after more than doubling his laps led total Sunday, Earnhardt was only partially satisfied. He faded during the long green flag run over the final 98 laps and finished seventh.

"Well, this isn't quite good enough," Earnhardt said. "We have to run way better than this. I can come in here and get a top-10 unless we have a major, major issue in the setup."

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/10/24/dale-earnhardt-jr-sees-a-glimmer-of-racing-sunlight/

Hilarie Burton Hilary Duff Hilary Swank