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The Equalizer: Three U.S. soccer players distinguish themselves at the Confederations Cup
USA's Benny Feilhaber, center, vies for the ball with Brazil's Felipe Melo during their Confederations Cup final soccer match at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sunday, June 28, 2009. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
The exhilarating U.S. run in the Confederations Cup, which ended on Sunday with a 3-2 loss in the final against Brazil, provided a much-needed boost for the team’s profile in this country.
But as the fanfare for our boys in white inevitably subsides, what can be taken away from the team's performance in South Africa? For all the sudden coverage it received stateside, the tournament was no more than a dress rehearsal for next summer’s World Cup, another trial on the road to the big stage.
For the U.S., games against Brazil, Italy, and Spain, as well as a do-or-die match against Egypt, were a valuable crucible through which certain unproven players could make their case to head coach Bob Bradley for 2010.
One of the most impressive performers was defender Jay DeMerit. Throughout the tournament, DeMerit stood tall against some of the most accomplished strikers in the world, throwing himself into unenviable positions to disrupt opposing attacks with a palpably steely edge. Against Spain, DeMerit’s boot was omnipresent, always sticking in to block a shot or deflect a pass. The starting job in central defense alongside Oguchi Onyewu now seems to be his to lose before next summer.Also elevating his stock was Charlie Davies. Already a star for his club Hammarby in Sweden, Davies is still a relative newcomer to the national squad. But he looks set to help fill the void left at forward since Brian McBride retired from international soccer.
Though Jozy Altidore, the poster-boy for American soccer’s future, gets all the attention, Davies is currently the more refined player. He caused all sorts of problems for defenses with his pace, showed comfort with the ball at his feet, and was willing to scrap in the box, as he did for his goal against Egypt.
Another periphery player that impressed was midfielder Benny Feilhaber. After a spectacular goal in the 2007 Gold Cup, a string of injuries pushed him out of the national team picture. But Bradley’s admiration for the 24-year-old is plain, as are the reasons for it.
In a midfield that tends towards hardiness and grit, the Brazilian-born Feilhaber adds a needed bit of finesse. He was calm on the ball, showed a good passing eye and made a skittering, dribbling run to help set up the team’s second goal against Spain.
Though the tournament ended in heartbreak, the emergence of these players gives the team added hope as it prepares for the next big tournament in South Africa.
Tags: brian mcbride, jozy altidore, benny feilhaber, charlie davies, jay demerit, spain, soccer, united states, egypt, brazil, confederations cup, south africa
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Fourth round goes forth: Men and women in round of 16 play today for quarterfinal berths at Wimbledon on Monday
Novak Djokovic has flown under the radar at Wimbledon so far despite a strong first week. (Getty Images)
The tournament’s middle Sunday allowed Wimbledon’s lawns to rest yesterday before the flurry of second-week matches.
Here is a look at today’s men’s fourth-round contests, which will set the quarterfinal matchups.
Lleyton Hewitt AUS vs. Radek Stepanek CZE (23)
In their first meeting since 2003, the rejuvenated Australian, a Wimbledon winner in 2002, has an edge over the wily Czech. Hewitt wins in 4 sets
Tomas Berdych CZE (20) vs. Andy Roddick USA (6)
Underachieving talent Berdych’s brittleness, combined with Roddick’s inspired play, is the American’s ticket to a fifth Wimbledon quarterfinal. Roddick in 3
Andy Murray GBR (3) vs. Stanislas Wawrinka SUI (19)
The British hope’s draw remains relatively fright-free in the round of 16 as Murray contests another late-afternoon match on Centre Court. Murray in 3
Juan Carlos Ferrero ESP vs. Gilles Simon FRA (8)
The back-from-the-irrelevance Spaniard (Ferrero won the 2003 French Open) encounters the moody Frenchman in a toss-up. Ferrero in 5
Igor Andreev RUS (29) vs. Tommy Haas GER (24)
The capable Russian has no particular edge over nice-guy Haas, a 31-year-old who is healthy and peaking on grass at the right time. Haas in 4
Dudi Sela ISR vs.Novak Djokovic SRB (4)
The 5-foot-9 Sela will not enjoy chasing Djokovic’s booming serves and ground strokes. Djokovic in 3
Fernando Verdasco ESP (7) vs. Ivo Karlovic CRO (22)
Verdasco’s fine return game won’t halt the ace-dealing Croat with poor all-around skills. Karlovic in 4
Robin Soderling SWE (13) vs. Roger Federer SUI (2)
A French Open final rematch again favors the Swiss, a five-time champion on these lawns. Federer in 4Oudin impresses
Finally, attention must be paid to an American women’s player not named Serena or Venus Williams. Bursting into the ranks of real-deal U.S. talents is Melanie Oudin (below), the teenager from Georgia who upset former No. 1 Jelena Jankovic of Serbia on Saturday. If the unflappable Oudin (“oo-DAN”) is truly a Wimbledon title contender, she will work more magic against 11th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland today. “My goal has always been, since I was little, to become No. 1 in the world one day,” the breathless 17-year-old said on Saturday.
Tags: lleyton hewitt, radek stepanek, tomas berdych, andy roddick, andy murray, stanislas wawrinka, juan carlos ferrero, gilles simon, igor andreev rus, tommy haas, dudi sela, novak djokovic, fernando verdasco, ivo karlovic, robin soderling, roger federer, melanie oudin, venus williams, jelena jankovic, agnieszka radwanska, wimbledon, tennis
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Report Card: Mets counting on a few utility guys
Shortstop Alex Cora’s defense and timely hits have helped the Mets compensate for Jose Reyes’ absence. (Getty Images)
With a hail storm of injuries to their stars, the Mets have come to rely on a group of utility players who have seldom, if ever, been everyday major league starters.
Here’s a look at these suddenly crucial members of the team.
Alex Cora, SS, 33
Filling in for Jose Reyes as well as any journeyman could, Cora is a slick fielder and run producer (six sacrifice bunts). He singled in a run each in the sixth and eighth innings of the Mets’ scrappy 6-4 win against St. Louis on Monday.
B-
Omir Santos, C, 28
The burly Santos beat out Ramon Martinez for the backup catcher spot. He can swat for power (4 HRs, 23 RBIs) and, hitting .290, feather his swing to get on base. Santos had played only 11 major league games, with Baltimore in 2008, before this season, but his age has been apparent in his mature management of the Mets’ changeable pitching staff.
B+
Jeremy Reed, LF, 28
Reed took over in left field for patient young hitter Daniel Murphy. While the 24-year-old Murphy has held down first base defensively and stayed in the flow offensively in Carlos Delgado’s place, true day-to-day competency has eluded Reed. Hitting .288, he’s good for the occasional timely hit at the end of the batting order.
C+
Fernando Tatis, utility, 34
Coming off a fine 2008, Tatis’ play has been abysmal in 2009. Batting .248, he has grounded into six double plays. For the most part, the Mets stash Tatis on the bench as a backup at 1B, 3B, LF and RF.
D+
Fernando Martinez, CF, 20
Until Carlos Beltran returns in about two weeks, the Mets’ super-prospect captains the outfield. Batting .185, F-Mart must continue to adapt to major league pitching and improve his dedication to the game.
INCOMPLETE
Tags: alex cora, fernando tatis, fernando martinez, jeremy reed, omir santos, new york mets, jose reyes, carlos delgado, carlos beltran, ramon martinez, baseball
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Off and running: Steals on the rise
Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford could become the first player since Rickey Henderson in 1988 to steal 90 bases. (Photo by Getty)
Check the runner at first. For the first time in years, chances are good he’ll be running.
The stolen base has re-emerged this season as a major part of America’s favorite pastime. And the reason that this once-dying art form has returned is largely believed to be the same reason that led to its decline earlier this decade: steroids.
Fueled by the steroids era, baseball saw all-time highs earlier this decade in its power numbers but also its lowest stolen base totals since the early 1970s.
This season, major league teams are on pace to steal 343 more bases than in 2008, and the league as a whole should easily surpass 3,000 steals for the first time in nine years.
“I think people were so infatuated with the home run,” said Tampa Bay Rays speedster Carl Crawford. “Now that the home run totals are going down a little bit, the stolen bases are getting everyone a little bit more excited.”
Crawford, who set a modern-day record last month by swiping six bags in a game, leads the majors with 36 steals and could be become the first player to snatch 90 bases since Oakland’s Rickey Henderson in 1988.
“Maybe it’s because the hitting numbers are down and guys are trying to manufacture more runs,” Yankees pitcher Andy Pettitte theorized earlier this month. “But it doesn’t seem like it because you’ve got guys sitting with almost 20 homers already two months into the season.”Pettitte is right. While homers are not nearly as prevalent as they were five to 10 years ago, they are up slightly from last season, meaning this year’s rise in kleptomania may be driven in part by a myth among big-league managers who are increasingly looking to move runners into scoring position.
“What you have is the perception — that because we have a testing program and nobody’s on steroids — there’s less power,” said Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus, which analyzes baseball statistics. “That’s not actually true.”
Surprisingly, the American League – which usually trails the National League in steals because it uses the designated hitter – is almost single-handedly responsible for this year’s surge in thefts.
Sheehan noted that not only are players running more, they are becoming more efficient at swiping bags. The American League is stealing bases at a .756 success rate, which would tie a record set by the National League in 2007.
“I think teams have gotten much better at timing pitchers’ moves, figuring out how fast a catcher can get a throw down,” Sheehan said. “It’s not a technological advancement. It’s an evolution of the game. ”
Tags: stolen bases, yankees, major league baseball
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Fantasy Reality: Three strategies for three fantasy teams in need of improvement
Don't find yourself waiting for Ichiro's next 20-game hitting streak. Find ways to improve your team. (Getty Images)
Special to amNewYork
Owners should always look to position their teams, whether it's attempting to conquer first place, joining the league's upper class or simply transforming the roster to out of last place.
Here are three such scenarios from three leagues in which I play (note: standard scoring is AVG, R, HR, RBI, SB, W, ERA, WHIP, K, SV):
The push to first place
Yahoo rotisserie, 12-team keeper, daily roster changes, standard scoring, 14 active players offense, 9 active pitching
Team: Frozen Rope, Tied for 2nd (83.5 points -- leader is at 97.5)
Strength: Starting pitching (Zack Greinke, Chad Billingsley, Yovani Gallardo), speed (B.J. Upton, Juan Pierre) and run production (Evan Longoria, Adam Dunn, Brad Hawpe) have enabled FR to dominate in most categories.
Weakness: It's undoubtedly been a lack of home run production (tied for last) and, to a lesser extent, batting average (seventh).
Makeover: It's too ambitious to try to win every category. FR, who is fourth or better in six of 10 categories, might have to live with a life at or near the HR cellar. He's 15 homers behind the next closest team, so it's more sensible to focus on improving batting average. Seven points separate third place from FR's seventh spot. Annual average killers Dunn and Mike Cameron should be offered to other power-hungry squads for more reliable hitters, such as James Loney or Johnny Damon. The point is to maximize the categories where you can gain the most ground.Gaining ground on the league's elite
CBS rotisserie, 12-team single-year, weekly roster changes, standard, 14 active offense, 9 active pitching
Team: RotoTommy, 5th place, 69.5 points (teams above him have 75, 82.5, 83 and 92.5 points)
Strength: Clearly hitting, as RT has 51 of his points from offense. A lineup core of Longoria, Dunn, Brian Roberts and Ryan Braun is quite imposing.
Weakness: Starting pitching. Despite holding third place in saves, RT is third or worse in the four other pitching categories.
Makeover: A simple balancing of the roster must be made. This is a perfect example of dealing from a strength, since a depth-challenged free-agent list makes trading a necessity. RT is fine with Mark Buehrle, Gil Meche and Edwin Jackson as the three through five starters, but he needs two frontline hurlers. He could trade Nate McLouth to outfielder-needy Fat Drunk Guys for Josh Johnson (2.76 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 7.6 K/9). Unless RT wants to offer one of his sluggers to hitting-deprived Rooting Rebels for Billingsley or Roy Halladay (temporarily sidelined with a strained right groin), he should propose Roberts and Andrew Miller (1.50 WHIP, 7.2 K/9) for Matt Garza (1.19 WHIP, 7.8 K/9) and Chris B. Young. To gain ground in pitching, RT needs to find good strikeout artists who won't harm his already poor pitching averages. Johnson and Garza are the solutions to his pitching problem.
A move from the league's cellar
ESPN head-to-head, 12-team keeper, daily roster changes, standard (except OPS instead of AVG), 9 active offense, 6 active pitching
Team: Catchers In The Rye, Last place in AL 35 GB
Strength: Looking forward to Ichiro's next 20-game hitting streak — that's it.
Weakness: His decision-making has been positively Brett Favre-like. He has five hitters riding the pine — all outfielders — with the minimum six pitchers.
Makeover: The first order of business is to transfer Ichiro and Matt Holliday from the bench to the starting lineup. Never sit your best players if they're healthy. From there, CITR should trade his leftover OFs (Nick Swisher, Rick Ankiel) for starters or simply drop all the excess hitters if there's no trade market. The bench should be cleared for free-agent starters Francisco Liriano (3.00 ERA, 1.17 WHIP last two starts), Randy Johnson (8.2 K/9) and Ricky Nolasco (2.77 ERA, 13/4 K/BB last two starts). Since position players are in the lineup every day, it's better to stock the bench with pitchers, who can provide continual wins and strikeouts. Furthermore, the catcher (free agent Chris Iannetta for Ryan Hanigan) and utility (Aubrey Huff, who hits better post-All-Star break, for Nyjer Morgan) spots must be upgraded.
Tags: ichiro, adam dunn, fantasy baseball, roy halladay, matt garza, andrew miller, gil meche, edwin jackson, mark buerhle, josh johnson, nate mclouth, evan longoria, nyjer morgan, aubrey huff, chris iannetta, brian roberts, ryan braun, zack greinke, chad billingsley, yovani gallardo, b.j. upton, juan pierre, brad hawpe, fantasy mlb
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Column: This Subway Series comes right on time
The Mets' David Wright and the Yankees' Derek Jeter, pictured last summer, are set for their first interleague game of 2009, this Friday at Yankee Stadium. (Getty Images)
Each team has had its streaks and skids, its bouts with injury and hard luck that draft the early narrative of a season and harden a team’s identity.
One-third of the way through their 2009 campaigns, the Mets and Yankees now must measure up against each other — more for the New York fan’s benefit than for their own.
Neither team’s supporters care particularly much for their crosstown rivals, but that is not to say the Mets and Yankees are nemeses. They are two grand, parallel stories that seldom converge except in the New York baseball fan’s subconscious, and, by force of scheduling, for six games in June.
This year, the enigmatic Mets and the armor-chinked Yankees are already striving hard for the top of their divisions, but regular-season failures less than nine months old haunt them still.
As our two clubs pause for a June clash in the Bronx, we revel as two new stories unfold together.
Tags: new york yankees, new york mets, david wright, derek jeter, bronx, yankee stadium, interleague play, subway series, baseball
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Fantasy Reality 5 players who are still buy-low opportunities
The Colorado Rockies' Garrett Atkins (Getty Images)
Special to amNewYork
Fantasy baseball owners looking for a way to jump-start their teams will often probe their league's free-agent list. Instead, they should be looking at opposing rosters for an underperforming player. Here are five:
Geovany Soto, C, Chicago Cubs
.218 AVG, 2 HR, 14 RBI, .622 OPS
Coming off his first three-hit performance of '09 on Tuesday, last year's National League Rookie of the Year has been perhaps the most disappointing of a crop of struggling catchers.
That said, he has one major factor in his favor: plate discipline. He's striking out less (21.1 K percentage vs. 24.5 in '08) and walking more (13.9 BB percentage against last year's 11.2 mark).
Think of plate discipline as baseball's version of karma. The more discerning eye a batter shows at the dish, the more likely he is to reap the offensive benefits down the road.
Scott Baker, SP, Minnesota Twins
4-6, 5.59 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
The buy-low window is closing for the righty, who's won three of his past four starts in part by maintaining a 28/2 K/BB ratio in 29 innings.
In trade talks, never mention his recent surge. Maintain a level of skepticism and hope that the Baker owner in your league is still freaked out by his losing record and meteoric ERA.
It's likely he's undervalued anyway, given his status as a Minnesota Twins pitcher not named Francisco Liriano. To that point, the talented Liriano (2-7, 6.12 ERA, 1.58 WHIP) is a good buy to stash for when he turns it on later in the year.Howie Kendrick, 2B, Los Angeles Angels
.235 AVG, 4 HR, 22 RBI, .640 OPS
His minor league career batting average (.360) and his average through his first three big league campaigns (.306) suggest he's hit near rock bottom.
What's ironic is that Kendrick's hitting ability was never in doubt in past years — his ability to stay healthy was. Now that he's been relatively injury-free, the bat is holding him back. He might never be even a 15/15 player, but he should be a .300 hitter the rest of his career.
Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins (.230 AVG, 4 HR, 20 RBI) is another buy-low candidate, although his name recognition might preclude owners from trading him below market value.
Ricky Nolasco, SP, Florida Marlins
2-6, 8.17 ERA, 1.82 WHIP
There are times when the price for a player is so low that the benefit of his potential is worth more than the player(s) you would have to give up. In regards to 26-year-old, who was hyped as a sleeper pick by many experts during the preseason, his lowly '09 numbers can't get much worse.
The potential he showed last year (3.52 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, 7.9 K/9) makes it worth taking a chance on him. Unless your league's Nolasco owner has Zen-like patience, it's likely he's very much available.
Garrett Atkins, 1B/3B, Colorado Rockies
.194 AVG, 5 HR, 21 RBI, .578 OPS
Talk about a Rocky Mountain Horror of a season. The third baseman hasn't seen his batting average climb into the .200s since May 13.
Yet, there are two significant reasons you should trade for him: 1) He's been incredibly unlucky, sporting just a .203 batting average on balls in play (his career average is .312), and 2) He's averaged 25 homers and 110 RBIs the last three seasons.
A cynic would validate his current slump by pointing out his numbers have declined each of the past two years. Cynics don't often win fantasy championships, though. Owners with the sensibility to recognize and acquire underperforming players do.
Home/away splits
John Maine, SP, New York Mets
4-1, 2.48 ERA, 1.07 WHIP at home; 1-3, 6.34 ERA, 1.65 WHIP on road
Melvin Mora, 3B, Baltimore Orioles
.320 AVG, .791 OPS, 12 RBI at home; .194 AVG, .511 OPS, 3 RBI on road
Gavin Floyd, SP, Chicago White Sox
3.00 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 9.2 K/9 at home; 7.97 ERA, 1.66 WHIP, 6.7 K/9 on road
Nick Swisher, 1B/OF, New York Yankees
.190 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI at home; .303 AVG, 9 HR, 28 RBI on road
A.J. Pierzynski, C, Chicago White Sox
.202 AVG, .581 OPS at home; .375 AVG, .931 OPS on road
Tags: garrett atkins, howie kendrick, ricky nolasco, geovany soto, scott baker, jimmie rollins, francisco liriano, john maine, melvin mora, gavin floyd, nick swisher, a.j. pierzynski, fantasy mlb
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Preps to watch: Five stars of the future emerge from NY playgrounds
High-school football star Torian Phillips of Port Richmond on Staten Island is headed to Syracuse University in the fall of 2009. (RJ Mickelson/amNY)
From the fields and courts of New York they came: Hall of Famers Lou Gehrig, Sandy Koufax and Whitey Ford of the major leagues; NFL quarterbacks Sid Luckman and Vinny Testaverde; NBA greats Bob Cousy, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bernard King.
Here is amNewYork’s selection of five of the brightest young prospects emerging from today’s New York sportscape.
FOOTBALL
Torian Phillips, Staten Island
New York’s top football recruit may find himself challenged at Syracuse this fall. But Big East competition is what Phillips wants out of his full-ride scholarship.
“I want to see how fast the comp level is,” said the two-way star, who led Port Richmond (13-0) to the Public Schools Athletic League title last fall as a running back, defensive back and return specialist. “I heard it can sneak up on you.”
While the Orange plan to use Phillips on defense, he rushed for 1,486 yards and scored 34 touchdowns as a senior for the Red Raiders, including a record-tying four TDs in the championship game.
“I like scoring touchdowns,” Phillips said. “But defense is good because when you stop a touchdown, sometimes it feels better than scoring.”
This winter, Syracuse sent the 5-foot-10, 175-pounder a workout plan to help him add some college-level bulk. (He aims to add 10 pounds.)
“Torian is a better kid than he is a football player,” said his coach at Port Richmond, Louis Vesce. “I’ve never had an All-Star like that — the best player in the city — conduct himself so well. He did it all very humbly, didn’t ever put himself above the team.”
BASKETBALL
Lance Stephenson, Brooklyn
A Coney Island phenom in the tradition of Brooklyn-born guards such as Stephon Marbury and Sebastian Telfair, Stephenson is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound swingman with preps-to-pros flash and talent.
The 18-year-old already has national exposure. Long ranked as a top college recruit, Stephenson has been featured in two documentaries, including an Internet-only production at BornReady.tv that offers an unstinting, 20-episode chronicle of Stephenson’s junior year at Abraham Lincoln High School. It lays bare his raw emotions and ability, as well as the enormous pressure on him.
In March, Stephenson led the Railsplitters to a record fourth straight PSAL Class AA boys championship. He averaged 31.9 points and 12.8 rebounds as a senior and became the state’s boys career scoring leader.
Stephenson has dithered about his college choice recently (Arizona and Maryland seem to be the most probable destinations). Wherever he ends up seems likely to be a one-year stopover before Stephenson makes himself eligible for the NBA draft.TENNIS
Gail Brodsky, Brooklyn
The Brighton Beach-raised tennis prodigy, who turned 18 last Friday, is at a crossroads in her young career.
Born in Ukraine and raised here since she was 5, the 2008 USTA Girls’ 18s champion made her main-draw U.S. Open debut in August, when she held a set point in the first round against No. 13 Agnes Szavay before losing. She turned pro this season.
“She’s dynamic,” said Mark Weil, who has trained her at his tennis academy in Ojai, Calif., of Brodsky’s game. “Huge firepower on both groundstrokes. The challenge has been putting her game together to beat girls at a very high level. Mentally, that’s now starting to catch up with her physical abilities.”
Hoping to improve her ranking, currently No. 362 on the Sony Ericsson WTA Tour, the 5-foot-5 baseliner has begun traveling to tournaments alone (without her coach-father, Eduard) and working with a new coach, Lenny Schloss, in South Carolina.
BASEBALL
Mariel Checo, Brooklyn
Tuesday night was shaping up to be a big one for this right-hander with a 96 mph fastball and 0.44 ERA.
Norman Thomas’ 6-foot-3 senior ace was set to start in the PSAL championship game against Monroe at KeySpan Park in Coney Island last night, even as he was seen as a viable candidate to be picked in the MLB’s First-Year Player Draft — also last night.
SOFTBALL
Amanda Annicaro, Queens
When Benjamin N. Cardozo (19-0) visits five-time city champion Tottenville (20-0) on Staten Island to play their PSAL semifinal at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, junior Cardozo starter Annicaro will try for her city-best 17th victory.
Annicaro’s 0.88 ERA over 88 innings for the Judges attests to her unflinching control of games.
Tags: amanda annicaro, torian phillips, louis vesce, mariel checo, benjamin n. cardozo, norman thomas, gail brodsky, lance stephenson, tottenville, eduard brodsky, port richmond, stephon marbury, sebastian telfair, high-school sports
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Shorter walls to blame for Yankee Stadium home run derby: Report
Johnny Damon homers Monday against Tampa Bay (Getty)
Blame the home run derby at the new Yankee Stadium on the walls not the wind, a report released yesterday by Accuweather.com says.
Open now for two months, the Bombers’ new home in the Bronx is poised to set a record for long balls with already 105 hit this season, puzzling fans and experts alike.
While some of speculated wind patterns are to blame, the report says it’s the height of the outfield walls that’s a leading cause.
“Not only is the famed short porch even shorter in the new stadium, but the walls themselves are not as tall,” the report says.It notes that while the dimensions of the stadiums are identical, the new park is lacking the wall curvature of the old one, resulting in a “right field that is shorter by 4-5 feet on average, but to 9 feet in spots.”
Taking into account the dimensions of the field and wall height, AccuWeather.com has calculated that 19 percent (20 out of 105) home runs would not have flown out of the old stadium.
Furthermore, the report says that there’s been no change in the wind speed that has caused the homer onslaught.
The Yankees were unavailable to comment on the report by press time.
Tags: yankees
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Roger Federer earns his career Grand Slam at the French Open
PARIS - JUNE 08: Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his French Open winner's trophy at the Arc de Triomphe on June 8, 2009 in Paris, France. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
The tension was gone and Roger Federer was serene.
The coveted trophy that had eluded him longest — and might have forever, it often seemed — was finally his, ready to join the Swiss star’s crowded trophy case.
“It’s maybe my greatest victory, or certainly the one that removes the most pressure off my shoulders,” the 27-year-old Federer said yesterday after winning his first French Open title. “I think that now and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace, and no longer hear that I’ve never won Roland Garros.”
Federer’s 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 triumph over 25th-ranked Robin Soderling, under a consistent drizzle, was heavy with the weight of history. After three years of losses in French Open finals against Rafael Nadal, Federer secured his place as perhaps the greatest player ever to compete in men’s tennis.
This major men’s singles title, Federer’s 14th, tied him with Pete Sampras for most all-time, and his victory on red clay made him the sixth man to win each of the four majors. His predecessor on that list, the 1999 French Open winner, Andre Agassi, handed Federer the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
“I’m so happy for you, man,” Agassi said.
It was a sentiment shared by the boisterous crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier, where nervous backers cheered the Swiss from the first ball to the final game, clinched with a 127 mph service winner.
The 24-year-old Soderling shocked the top-ranked Nadal in the fourth round last Sunday. But Federer did not fall in line with other higher-ranked foes done in by Soderling’s cross-court power and steady placement; the second seed’s unyielding quality of play blunted the Swede’s bid for another momentous upset.
Federer weathered a bizarre episode when a man, later identified as “Jimmy Jump,” intruded onto the court and accosted Federer with Soderling serving at 1-2 in the second set — the match’s longest.
(with reporting from the Associated Press)
Tags: roger federer, rafael nadal, robin soderling, roland garros, french open, jimmy jump, coupe des mousquetaires, court philippe chatrier, pete sampras, andre agassi, tennis
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Reshuffled French Open offers a dodgy assortment of remaining contenders
Top-ranked Dinara Safina of Russia has dominated her competition at the French Open so far, losing only five games in four matches. She plays ninth-ranked Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
With several title contenders and both defending champions eliminated at Roland Garros in recent days, only a handful of the 16 men and women remaining appear able to win the French Open.
Here's a look at a few players who are most likely to take the 2009 French Open singles titles:
From runner-up to front-runner: Roger Federer
Ravenous for his first title in Paris, Roger Federer has won 13 Grand Slams; no one else still in the men’s field even has one.
Federer's difficult keeping his game sharp mounted during the first four rounds. He has already dropped four sets — including the first two against Tommy Haas on Monday — as he prepares to face Gael Monfils in their quarterfinal match on Wednesday.
Roger Federer exalts after defeating Tommy Haas on Monday in the French Open's fourth round, 6-7(4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2. The flipside is that Federer's emotional investment in this tournament has escalated since Rafael Nadal's loss and his various escapes against early-round competition. The circumstances make him the favorite, if an enigmatic one. The Swiss maestro is both the premier player left in the draw and the competitor saddled with the heaviest doubts.Dueling at the top: Serena Williams, Dinara Safina
Second-seeded Serena Williams is tightening her grip on a third consecutive Grand Slam title. On Monday, she easily saw off 11th-ranked Alexandra Wozniak 6-2, 6-1. If we're being real here, Williams is the true No. 1.
Serena and Venus Williams have accounted for 17 Grand Slam titles, three since last summer at Wimbledon. Venus, an early-round upset victim on this trip to Roland Garros, is Serena's doubles partner and, during singles matches, Serena's constant supporter in the Roland Garros stands. Venus, as Serena avows, is the gracious and kind half of their sisterhood. Serena can seem harsh and even undeserving in her public comments, which rarely include credit for an opponents. Recently, she declared that she, not Safina, is the true No. 1 in women's tennis. But Serena's brashness speaks for her undiminished big-time game, which makes her the favorite to win this, and any, Grand Slam tournament.
Top-ranked Safina has one Grand Slam final and no major titles to her credit, but her consistent, elite results that crowned her as the latest women's player to gain the No. 1 ranking. The 2008 French Open finalist, and Marat Safin's 23-year-old sister, could consolidate her No. 1 ranking and status in the Safin family with a winning weekend.
Troublemakers: Andy Murray and Gael Monfils
Between these two young athletes, third-ranked Murray is the superior player. The Scotsman is an all-court tactician who will contend at majors deep into the future. But Monfils is the player of the moment.
The 22-year-old Frenchman demolished Andy Roddick in three blink-of-an-eye sets on Monday, finding winners everywhere he moved. His maniacal speed toward completing the match as night fell on Monday was comical, inconsiderate and scary, all at once. Monfils' switch to a powerful and forgiving Prince EXO3 Rebel 95 racket recently could help push him past Wilson devotee Federer on Wednesday. But Federer will perhaps be his undoing, having beaten Monfils in four sets in last year's French Open semifinals.
Murray plays with the lilting force of an album by Mogwai, a Scottish mood-rock group. Murray has owned Federer (4-0, but never winning in straight sets) since their meeting in Murray's maiden Grand Slam final last September, when Federer outclassed him in straight sets at the U.S. Open. To reach his second major final, where the 22-year-old Murray may be tapped as the favorite, he must emerge from Nadal's bracket. First up is the bold but beatable Chilean striker, Fernando Gonzalez.
Dream runners: Maria Sharapova and Robin Soderling
She is playing her first Grand Slam in a year and has no expectations for herself. He shocked the world by breaking down four-time champion Rafael Nadal. Neither of them seem likely to win a sixth or seventh match in this fortnight.
Tags: prince, roger federer, rafael nadal, robin soderling, maria sharapova, french open, roland garros, gael monfils, andy murray, tommy haas, andy roddick, tennis
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Column: Thrifty Mets missed Manny "Manny Being Banny" Ramirez
Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Manny Ramirez was suspended on Thursday for 50 games by Major League Baseball, the result of a positive test for performance-enhancing drugs. (Getty Images)
Over the long winter, free agent Manny Ramirez seemed like an obvious — and hugely expensive — solution to the Mets’ offensive deficiencies in clutch situations. Here was an all-time great hitter ready to be parked in left field, one who would make the Mets prohibitive World Series favorites.
So why, we wondered, didn’t the Mets pounce when Ramirez’s negotiations with the Dodgers dragged into March?
Why indeed.
Never mind that the Mets, with Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis, would have had enough depth to compensate for the loss of Ramirez for 50 games (had be been caught using performance-enhancing drugs as a $45 million star for the Mets). Never mind his career .315 batting average or his 533 home runs, statistics that qualify Ramirez as one of history’s great right-handed hitters.
As the A-Rod saga has demonstrated, New York doesn’t suffer cheats well.
The twin, high-profile busts of two New York sports icons would have caused the on-field results of both teams to devolve into a kind of hysterical irrelevance. Or if it hadn’t — if either man’s transgression was succeeded by a championship that erased bitter memories — well, that would be the most cynical outcome possible.
Tags: manny ramirez, los angeles dodgers, new york mets, alex rodriguez, a-rod, daniel murphy, fernando tatis
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