Sports Articles

2010-05-26 | Jim Murphy

Steve Nash had surgery on Monday to repair a broken nose, but it didn’t appear to cause him any problems in the Phoenix Suns’ 115-106 win over the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference Finals. Nash had 15 points and 8 assists as the Suns tied the best of seven series at two games apiece. Game 5 is set for Thursday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

2010-05-25 | Jim Murphy

England faces some very high expectations heading into next month’s World Cup—soccer betting odds indicate that they’re the third favored choice to win the tournament. For that reason, there wasn’t much celebration over a 3-1 victory over Mexico in a tune up match at London’s Wembley Stadium. Despite a convincing victory, British media is making more of the ‘Three Lions’ slow start to the contest and voicing concern that a similar performance in South Africa could be fatal.

2010-05-24 | Jim Murphy

Inter Milan wrapped up their most successful season in history on Saturday, beating Bayern Munich 2-0 to clinch the Champions League title. Diego Milito scored both goals for the Italian side, who became the first team in their country’s history to win three championships in one year as they added the Champions League crown to their Coppa Italia and Serie A titles. Internazionale’s inimitable field general Jose Mourinho became only the third coach to win the European title with two different clubs.

2010-05-21 | Jim Murphy

The Los Angeles Galaxy have dominated the early play in the US Major League Soccer season, posting the league’s best record with an impressive +14 goal differential. Despite this success, they approached their road game at struggling FC Dallas with some trepidation. The Galaxy are without their two best players, as Landon Donovan and Edson Buddle are away with the United States national team preparing for World Cup competition. While it certainly wasn’t ‘a game for the ages’, the Galaxy were able to take care of business and eke out a 1-0 victory. Mike Magee provided the only goal of the contest, which enabled his team to remain undefeated on the season.

2010-05-20 | Jim Murphy

Despite being outplayed by Atletico Madrid, Sevilla used a goal early in the game and another in stoppage time to win the Copa Del Rey by a final score of 2-0. Madrid defeated English Premier League entrant Fulham last week to win the Europa League title, but were unable to add Spain’s top club championship to their collection. Sevilla ended their season very strong as well, earning Champions League qualification on the final weekend of La Liga play.

2010-05-18 | Jim Murphy

It’s nothing unusual for a player to want to rework his contract or request an extension after the season is over. AC Milan’s Oguchi Onyewu—who goes by the nickname ‘Gooch’—did just that, approaching team management and working out a one year contract extension. What is usual is that Onyewu asked to play the additional year for free. AC Milan agreed to those terms, extending Onyewu’s deal and honoring his request that he not receive a salary for the final year on his contract.

2010-05-17 | Jim Murphy

In a matchup between the top and bottom team in the English Premier League, Chelsea defeated Portsmouth 1-0 to win the FA Cup. It was far from an easy victory, and although Chelsea dominated play they squandered numerous chances to extend the score including a missed penalty kick. Portsmouth also missed a penalty kick that could have drastically changed the outcome of the game. Ultimately, the deciding goal was scored by Chelsea’s Deider Drogba at the 59 minute on a 20 yard free kick.

2010-05-17 | Jim Murphy

After a series of setbacks for David Beckham in his recovery from a torn Achilles’ tendon there was good news this weekend—his rehab is coming along ahead of schedule. The former England captain is now expecting to return to action in September, which will allow him to compete in a good portion of the US Major League Soccer season. Originally, the prognosis was that he’d miss the entire MLS season but according to Beckham he’s now two months ahead of schedule in his recovery from the injury.

2010-05-17 | Jim Murphy

Inter Milan experienced some anxious moments against relegation bound Siena on Sunday, but after a scoreless first half were able to secure victory by a 1-0 margin. Diego Milito’s goal at 57 minutes was the only score of the game but it was all Inter Milan needed. The win also gave them the Serie A title by 2 points over AS Roma, who also won on Sunday. Inter has now won five straight Scudetto titles and can win their third major championship of the year if they can defeat Bayern Munich in the Champions League finale.

2010-05-14 | Jim Murphy

Wayne Rooney has been hampered by a spate of injuries in the past several months, and most recently limped off the pitch late in Manchester United’s final game with a flare up of his groin injury. On Thursday, he sought to ease concerns that he won’t be in top shape for England’s World Cup run which begins on June 12 against the USA. Rooney emphasized that he’s fine despite his early exit from the Premier League finale and added that he expects to play in England’s World Cup warm up games as well.

2010-05-13 | Jim Murphy

The Super Saver secret is out, and Preakness betting fans shouldn’t expect anything near the 8-1 price they got for his win in the Kentucky Derby. The field for the second leg of the Triple Crown was finalized Wednesday at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland and post positions assigned to the twelve horses entered in the field. Super Saver drew post position #8, and has been installed as the morning line favorite in the May 15th race.

2010-05-12 | Jim Murphy

While the elite teams of the English Premier League aspire to championships and European tournament play, the lower level clubs are often content with mere survival. This season, however, avoiding relegation wasn’t enough for West Ham United. On Tuesday, team manager Giafrance Zola was ‘released from his contract’ following a meeting with managing director Karren Brady. According to team owner David Sullivan, the club is now looking to move quickly in naming a successor.

2010-05-10 | Jim Murphy

Less than a month ago, Eskendereya was on top of the horse racing world as the presumptive favorite in the Kentucky Derby. Then came the shocking news that he would not be running in the race due to a leg injury, but owner Ahmed Zayat and trainer Todd Pletcher said that the horse’s future in the sport would be determined at a later date. This past weekend, Zayat announced that Eskendereya would be retired to stud and that he’d sold an interest in his equine investment to Jess Jackson, best known as the principle owner of super filly Rachel Alexandra and two-time Horse of the Year Curlin.

2010-05-10 | Jim Murphy

Chelsea needed a win over Wigan to clinch the Premier League title, and the Blues scored early and often to wrap up the championship with an 8-0 rout. Didier Drogba scored a hat trick to win the Premiership goal scoring title with 29, 3 more than Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney. Chelsea finished the season with 103 goals and became the first team to exceed one hundred for the season since Tottenham did it in 1963-64.

2010-05-10 | Jim Murphy

Bayern Munich clinched their 22nd German Bundesliga soccer title on Saturday, using a 3-1 victory over relegation bound Hertha Berlin to claim the crown. As it worked out, they didn’t even need the victory. Bayern entered the contest leading the league by three points, and would have won the title regardless of their game’s outcome due to second place Schalke’s scoreless draw with Mainz. Bayern Munich also held a 17 goal advantage over their rivals, meaning they would have won the tiebreaker had the top two teams finished with the same number of points.

2010-05-07 | Jim Murphy

The Detroit Red Wings entered Thursday’s home game against the San Jose Sharks with their backs against the wall, trailing 3 games to none in their best of 7 Western Conference Semifinal series. Thanks to a career game from Johan Franzen, Detroit lives to fight another day. Franzen scored four goals and added two assists as the Wings used a five goal first period to rout the Sharks 7-1. The series now shifts back to California for Game 5 on Saturday.

2010-05-06 | Jim Murphy

Inter Milan’s Diego Milito scored the only goal of the match to hand AS Roma a 1-0 defeat and give his team their sixth Coppa Italia championship and first under team manager Jose Mourinho. Internazionale controlled play in a very tactical game, scoring their eventual game winner right before halftime and easily handling Roma in the second half. This is the first of a potential three championship season for the team—they have a two point lead over Roma in Serie A play and will compete in the Champions League final against Bayern Munich later this month.

2010-05-04 | Jim Murphy

Chelsea’s lead in the English Premier League standings may be down to only a single point, but they have now jumped their biggest remaining hurdle as the season winds down. On Sunday, Chelsea capitalized on a mistake by Liverpool in the first half en route to a 2-0 victory at Anfield. Although Manchester United also won on Sunday, Chelsea’s fate is in their hands and they can clinch the Premiership title with a home victory over Wigan in their final game.