2010 Team Reviews: JGR Inches Closer to Title

Filed under: Denny Hamlin, Kyle Busch, Sprint Cup, Joe Gibbs Racing, Joey Logano, NASCAR

As easily the most staunch threat to unseat Jimmie Johnson and Co. from their record-setting run through the previous four seasons, Joe Gibbs Racing takes second spot in our review of the top teams in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series from 2010.

Denny Hamlin (above) delivered the last, best threat to Johnson's run to five consecutive championships at Homestead in November by holding a narrow points lead on the No. 48 before the season finale. However, a risky decision early in the race left Hamlin spinning and scrambling while Johnson cruised to his fifth.

It was a storyline we've seen before from the JGR camp -- most notably in Kyle Busch's 2008 Chase implosion.

Labeling the 2010 season a failure for JGR with one gaffe in one race, however, isn't fair to the otherwise notable successes the team saw during the campaign. Here's a look back, and the reasoning why, JGR was the second-best NASCAR organization in 2010.

2nd- Denny Hamlin [8 wins, 14 Top-5s, 18 Top-10s, 2 DNFs, 12.9 Avg Finish]

 

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Source: http://motorsports.fanhouse.com/2010/12/27/2010-team-reviews-jgr-inches-closer-to-title/

Brown, Shannon Bryant, Kobe Budinger, Chase Butler, Caron Butler, Rasual

Landon Donovan Named US Soccer Athlete of the Year

Filed under: MLS, US Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team, WPS, Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle Sounders FC

It's hard to believe that just six months ago, many were wondering if Landon Donovan would crumble under the pressure of another World Cup.

Instead, he flourished, scoring three goals and leading the U.S. national team to the top spot in a first-round group for the first time in 80 years. For that performance, as well as his leadership on a Los Angeles Galaxy team that won the MLS Supporters Shield, Donovan was named the U.S. Soccer Federation's male athlete of the year on Monday.

Launched in 1984, the award is voted on by fans, journalists and VIPs connected with U.S. Soccer. Donovan also won the honor in 2003, 2004 and 2009. Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller and Donovan were the only men to have won it three times.

 

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Source: http://soccer.fanhouse.com/2010/12/20/landon-donovan-named-us-soccer-athlete-of-the-year/

Balkman, Renaldo Banks, Marcus Barbosa, Leandro Barea, Jose Bargnani, Andrea

Nickey Van Exel, Son of Former NBA Star Nick Van Exel, Charged With Murder

Filed under: Hawks, Lakers, Mavericks, Nuggets, Spurs, Warriors, NBA Police Blotter

Nickey Van Exel, the 20-year-old son of former NBA great Nick Van Exel, is being held on $1 million bond after being charged with one count of capital murder in Dallas, according to police.

Van Exel is being held on the felony count of murdering Bradley Bassey Eyo, described by police as a close friend.

Paul Johnson, the younger Van Exel's attorney, told The Associated Press that Van Exel and Eyo were allegedly playing with a shotgun at a home in Garland, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, when the gun accidentally fired. Johnson further explained that Van Exel "panicked" and moved the body, dumping it less than a mile away in nearby Lake Ray Hubbard.

Nickey Van Exel turned himself into Dallas police on Wednesday and has admitted to the murder, police said, although he insists it was an accident.

"It's a real sad situation," Johnson said. "Emotions are running high, and, obviously, we recognize that some very bad decisions were made on how he responded."

The senior Van Exel played 13 years in the NBA, appearing in 880 games and starting 670. He averaged 14.4 points and 6.6 assists per game in his career and was known as both a clutch shooter and 3-point specialist. He remains ranked No. 6 in NBA history in 3-point field goals made.

Nick Van Exel played for six different teams in the NBA, most notably the Los Angeles Lakers, as well as the Denver Nuggets, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Portland Trail Blazers and retired after a final season in 2005-06 with the San Antonio Spurs.

Nick Van Exel is in his first year as an assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks, where he specializes in player development instruction.

No information has been released yet about a hearing date for the younger Van Exel.

 

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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/12/30/nickey-van-exel-son-of-former-nba-star-nick-van-exel-charged-w/

Battie, Tony Battier, Shane Batum, Nicolas Bayless, Jerryd Beasley, Michael

Saints Play for Playoffs Against Bucs

Filed under: Saints

NEW ORLEANS -- Sean Payton pulled the plug on the New Orleans Saints' regular season at the 11:19 mark of Sunday's finale, even though his team had just kicked a field goal to close within a touchdown of Tampa Bay.

His assistant coaches had an eye on a different scoreboard, the one in Atlanta, where the Falcons were routing the hapless Carolina Panthers by four touchdowns, thus clinching the NFC South Division crown and leaving the Saints locked into the wild-card playoff berth they clinched the week before.

And even though Buccaneers tailback LeGarrette Blount fumbled three plays later to give the Saints the ball at the Tampa Bay 37, it was backup quarterback Chase Daniel -- not Drew Brees -- who took the field with a chance to tie the game.

He didn't. And it didn't matter, either.

At that point, the regular season was over -- and the postseason had begun.

"I understood the reason," Brees said of sitting out nearly the entire fourth quarter of the Saints' 23-13 loss at the Superdome. "It's all about the playoffs. This is what you play for."

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More coverage: Recap | Box Score | Bucs Complete Turnaround

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Source: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2011/01/02/saints-play-for-playoffs-against-bucs/

Ariza, Trevor Armstrong, Hilton Arroyo, Carlos Artest, Ron Arthur, Darrell

LeBron James Doesn't Expect MVP Award for Himself, Dwyane Wade in 2011

Filed under: Heat, NBA Awards

LeBron James made a widely-publicized -- and scrutinized -- "Decision" this offseason to form the "Big Three" with championship goals in mind. Let's give him credit for keeping his expectations for individual accolades in check.

James told a group of reporters on Saturday that he doesn't expect to win the MVP this season -- and he isn't anticipating Dwyane Wade to be in the discussion, either.

"When we (James, Wade, Chris Bosh) decided to come together our Most Valuable Player chances kind of went out the window," James said.

After a shaky, at least from an expectations standpoint, start to the season, the Heat are soaring atop the NBA standings. They've won 17 of their past 18 games, with an overall 26-9 record.

As of Saturday night, Wade and LeBron both are averaging over 24 points per game. James is also averaging over seven assists and nearly seven rebounds per game, while Wade is at four and 6.5, respectively. With the offensive firepower between the "Big Three," it was inevitable that individual point production would dip -- and that's exactly what has happened. This is James' worst scoring output since his rookie season, in which he averaged 21 points per game. It's also the lowest point-production for Wade in three seasons.

"I think they classify it as an individual award," James said. "They look at it like the less help you have, the more numbers you have then the better chance for you to win that award."

James has two MVP awards in his career -- both won in the previous two seasons, but Wade has no regular season MVP awards to date, though he does have an NBA Finals MVP to his name.

"I don't know how you classify the MVP thing," James said. "Do you classify it as most valuable to his team, if you take that person off his team how do they play? Or is it how is he playing numbers-wise? I don't know."

James won the award twice as "the man" with the Cavaliers, but only time will tell if he or one of his teammates earn the honor with all the "help" surrounding them.

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/01/lebron-james-doesnt-expect-mvp-award-for-himself-dwyane-wade-i/

Chandler, Wilson Childress, Josh Clark, Earl Collins, Jarron Collins, Jason

Rafael Palmeiro Continues to Insist He Never Took Steroids

Filed under: MLB Hall of Fame, MLB PEDs

Rafael Palmeiro continues to wave his finger, figuratively anyway, at those who accuse him of using performance-enhancing drugs -- even five years after he tested positive for using steroids.

"I was telling the truth then, and I am telling the truth now,'' Palmeiro told SI.com this week. "I don't know what else I can say. I have never taken steroids. For people who think I took steroids intentionally, I'm never going to convince them. But I hope the voters judge my career fairly and don't look at one mistake.''

The mistake in question was that positive test in 2005, Palmeiro's final year as a player. Now, as then, he says the test was caused by a tainted vial of vitamin B-12 given to him by Orioles teammate Miguel Tejada. Palmeiro was suspended 10 games for the positive test, which came mere months after he testified before Congress that he had never used steroids.

 

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Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/12/29/rafael-palmeiro-continues-to-insist-he-never-took-steroids/

Blatche, Andray Bledsoe, Eric Bogans, Keith Bogut, Andrew Bonner, Matt

Ranking the NBA's Most Improved Player Candidates

Filed under: 76ers, Bobcats, Bulls, Cavaliers, Clippers, Jazz, Knicks, Lakers, Pacers, Timberwolves, Trail Blazers, Warriors, Wizards, NBA Awards, NBA Rumors, Thunder

Talent is one thing. Work ethic is another.

It's a creed that is as true in the NBA as anywhere else, and the Most Improved Player award is often the place to find a young player who has applied both key elements in a most admirable way while becoming a far more relevant member of the league.

Unless you're Bobby Simmons.

Leave it to a Clipper to mess with a good trend. The 2004-05 MIP award winner has fallen completely off the NBA map since he more than doubled his scoring average from one year to the next (7.8 points per game in 2003-04 to 16.4). Yet aside from that aberration, it's a quality cast of characters that has earned this trophy.

There's no shortage of worthy candidates in this year's race, too, including one who has a chance to right the Simmons wrong. Clippers guard Eric Gordon has seen a Simmons-like spike in his already-impressive production, going from 16.9 points per game and 44.9 percent shooting in his second season to 23.8 points per game on 46 percent shooting while proving a worthy running mate to Rookie of the Year leader Blake Griffin.

Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/01/01/breaking-down-the-nbas-most-improved-player-candidates/

Butler, Caron Butler, Rasual Bynum, Andrew Bynum, Will Calderon, Jose