What a finish!
The UT Lady Longhorns won their first-ever Big 12 Conference tournament championship on Sunday afternoon in about as dramatic a fashion as possible, with goalkeeper Dianna Pfenninger stopping Colorado's final two penalty kicks to win the game in a 5-4 shootout, after a 1-1 tie after regulation and two overtime periods.
That should be plenty to earn the Horns an NCAA subregional host bid; see you at Myers Stadium next Friday and Sunday?
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Posted by Nick Barbaro on Sun Nov 5
Toros' Draft Picks
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No. 1 man Darius Washington
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The D-League held its annual draft this past Thursday, and the Austin Toros made Darius Washington their No.1 pick and the 10th pick overall. Washington, a six-foot-two-inch point guard from Winter Park, Fla., played his college ball at the University of Memphis, where he averaged 14.4 points and 3.5 assists a night. He earned First Team All Conference USA honors his sophomore year and was a finalist for the Bob (“The Cooz”) Cousy Award, which recognizes either the best point guard in the country or the player with the lousiest nickname. Coach Dennis Johnson says that Washington will play a vital role as a playmaker for the Toros, something he says the team was lacking last season, and calls the 20 year-old a “pass-first guy” and a “leader on the court.”
Here are the Toros’ other nine draft picks:
B.J. Elder (Georgia Tech)
Brock Gillespie (Rice)
Walt Walters (Cleveland State)
Justin Bowen (Illinois-Chicago)
Rod Benson (California)
Tedric Hall (Gulf Coast Community College – Florida)
Dustin Brown (Loyola Marymount)
Ty Thomas (Concordia – Minn.)
Melvin Scott (North Carolina)
These 10, along with the final winners of the open tryout, two allocated players, and four returning Toros, will head to training camp next week to fight for a spot on the team’s final 10-man roster. Those who don’t make it will go back into the D-League players pool and await their next chance at glory.
Posted by Josh Rosenblatt on Sat Nov 4
Toros Tryouts: Day Two
Some of the unlucky and unchosen
When I walked into the Delco Activity Center for the second day of the Austin Toros open tryouts, I made two quick observations: one, the tension and competitiveness among the players had been ratcheted up from the previous day to almost unbearable levels; and two, I had no business being awake at 9 o’clock in the morning. Normally 9 o’clock would mark the halfway point of my nightly dance with the sandman, but no one ever said the life of a sports blogger was a warm slice of chocolate cake, and I’m willing to make sacrifices, so I beat back my lingering exhaustion to put pen to paper and bring you my observations from the final day.
There were now about 30 guys left on the court, and coaches Johnson, Knight, and Collier were doing their best to break them on the rocks when I walked into the gym. They had been split into three groups. Collier was bellowing like a weight-training coach, demanding more effort from the centers as they practiced post-up drills and battled down low for rebounds and lay-ups. Standing 15 feet away I could hear their bodies pounding into one another as they fought for position below the basket, and I thanked the fates I was a writer. Down at the far end of the gym, Knight was running drills with the guards, working them over and over again on their cross-overs, lay-ups, and rebounds. Like Collier, Knight bellowed at his players throughout the drill, and I could hear every word he said, regardless of the distance. Which only served to emphasize the distinctive coaching style of Dennis Johnson, who was working with the forwards. Johnson’s style, like it had been the day before, was patient and reserved, quiet almost to the point of inaudibility, with a focus on fundamentals and the unwavering and unquestioned principles of basketball technique and knowledge. The players crowded around the NBA legend, straining to gain a little knowledge at the feet of a master.
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Posted by Josh Rosenblatt on Sat Nov 4
It's Payback Time
John McNabb is off to a solid start with five points in four games
Photo courtesy of the Austin Ice Bats
Things started out well enough with the Ice Bats winning their season opener against the Bossier-Shreveport Mug Bugs 3-2 in their new Bat Cave, the Chaparral Ice Center, but last weekend's home-road-home series proved to be a disaster. With two losses and an overtime loss Austin was only able to secure one of a possible six points in the three games. Not to fear Ice Bats fans, two of last week's opponents (the Laredo Bucks and the Corpus Christi Rayz) will be in town this weekend allowing for the last-place Bats to enact some much-needed revenge against two divisional foes. With six of their next nine games following this homestand being played on the road, these games are about as important as they get with it being only four games into the CHL season.
Right-winger John McNabb is the Bats current point leader with five (two goals and three assists) while center Aaron Davis leads the team with three goals. Miguel Beaudry has resided between the pipes for three of their four games this season. His record stands at 1-1-1 with a respectable 2.91 GAA and 0.901 SV% having surrendered nine goals on 91 shots. Friday's game vs. the Bucks features my favorite promotion of the year, Trading Card Night.
Vs. Laredo: Fri., Nov. 3, 7:30pm. Vs. Corpus Christi: Sat., Nov. 4, 7:30pm. Chaparral Ice Arena, 14200 N. I-35, 252-8500. $15-35. For more, see their Web site.
Posted by Mark Fagan on Fri Nov 3
Pilgrim in an Unholy Land: Notes of a Lonely Cowboy
Everyone seems scared of my Oklahoma State Cowboys. Let me tell you, I’ve seen this team, up close and in person. Make no mistake – they will beat someone this Saturday. The question is who? It could, just maybe, be the high and mighty Longhorns. State has knocked off bigger game: even Texas fans remember the Cowboys’ beatings of the very teams Mack Brown & Co. were regularly embarrassed by in Bob Stoops and those hated and feared Oklahoma Sooners.
It could be that Oklahoma State comes waltzing across Texas and winds up beating the No. 4 team in the land. But it will more likely be themselves the Pokes lay waste to.
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Posted by John Razook on Fri Nov 3
Good Week for Texas Soccer:
Longhorns Beat A&M;
Dynamo Advance in MLS Playoffs
The UT Lady Longhorns finished off the regular season in fine style Friday night, dumping fifth-ranked Texas A&M;, 1-0, with a late header from defender Kasey Moore. The rivalry game, played in front of the third-largest crowd in UT soccer history, pushed the Horns to 15-3-1 and a No. 7 national ranking. As we go to press Wednesday, the Horns are playing Nebraska in the Big 12 conference tournament in San Antonio.
UPDATE: UT beat Nebraska, 1-0, and will play Oklahoma State on Friday.
If they make it past that, they'll take on the OU/Oklahoma State winner at 7:30pm Friday, Nov. 3, with the conference championship game set for 1pm Sunday, Nov. 5. Blossom Soccer Stadium, Jones Maltsberger Road, just north of the San Antonio Airport. $6.Get more info at TexasSports.com
The Houston Dynamo advanced to the MLS Western Conference finals on Sunday, with a great comeback against 10-man Chivas USA, and a winning goal in the dying moments of extra time. With the underdog Colorado Rapids knocking off FC Dallas, the Dynamo host the conference championship, 6pm this Sunday, Nov. 5, at the University of Houston's Robertson Stadium. Ticketmaster for advance tix; see the Houston Dynamo Web site for more info.
In the east, it's the New England Revolution at DC United, Sunday, Nov. 5, 3pm, live on ESPN2.
Posted by Nick Barbaro on Thu Nov 2
Champions League
Game Day 4
Wednesday's Action
Arsenal did everything but score in Wednesday's Champs League action, and so find themselves with everything to play for in the final two Group G games. Elsewhere, Lyon and Real Madrid clinched the top two spots in Group E; both Manchester United and Celtic Glasgow lost in Group F, as Benfica and FC Copenhagen fought back to stay alive; and AC Milan got a Kaka hat trick in handling Anderlecht easily and clinching Group H.
Click below for full results and standings.
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Posted by Nick Barbaro on Wed Nov 1
More Like the Pink Panthers! (Sorry I'm Not as Funny When They Win)
What's more awkward than Steve Martin hooking up with Beyoncé? Try a tender celebration sideline kiss from Bill Parcells.
This Sunday's game against the Panthers was like my dream come true, complete with the disturbing gay undertones. Seriously, what was going on with Bill Parcells playing Seven Minutes in Heaven on the sidelines this week? Sure scoring 25 points for a come-from-behind win is exciting, but I haven't seen that many awkward old-man kisses handed out since my grandpa was in town.
The real credit for the win goes to the Dallas defense, which allowed only 204 yards and 16 first downs, and the Julius Jones/Marion Barber double team, which combined rushed for 156 yards and three touchdowns.
Drew Bledsoe, for his part, has not yet figured out how to throw an interception from the sidelines.
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Posted by Jeremy Martin on Tue Oct 31
'The Sporting Life': It’s Game Time, Baby …
It was midway through the third quarter of a very interesting Nebraska-at-Oklahoma State football game this past Saturday when I received a phone call from my friend Brent.
“You’ll never believe what’s just happened,” he said, and I could tell from the excitement in his voice that, for once, it had nothing to do with women. “I just won 1,500 bucks.”
“What did you do,” I asked. “Buy a scratch-off lottery ticket?”
“No,” he replied. “There is no lottery in Mississippi. The Republicans would never allow it.”
I remembered at once that my friend had recently moved to a state controlled by some of the most wicked white men gathered in a single area since the fall of Nazi Germany.
“I was playing a trivia game at my new favorite bar,” he continued. “You know those machines that allow you to play against other people? Well, it turns out that on some of 'em, you can play against people in other bars, in other states. I got in a game that offered cash prizes and actually won.”
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Posted by John Razook on Tue Oct 31
Barca Pain in Champs League
A dramatic late equalizer from Ivorian star Didier Drogba put Chelsea in the driver's seat in Champions League Group A, and dropped defending champion Barcelona into the danger zone, as the top two teams on the continent fought to a 2-2 draw in the Catalan capital on Tuesday. Barca now faces a must-win against German side Werder Bremen in two weeks.
Meanwhile, a handful of teams clinched spots in the round of 16: Bayern Munich in Group B, with a lackluster scoreless draw against Sporting Lisbon, Liverpool and PSV Eindhoven in Group C, eliminating Bordeaux and Galatasaray, respectively, and Valencia in Group D, with a tough 2-2 draw in Ukraine.
Click below for the up-to-date standings, and a look at tomorrow's action in Groups E-H.
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Posted by Nick Barbaro on Tue Oct 31
One-Carr Accident, Carr Runs Out of Gas, etc.
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Houston's new No. 1?
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Photo by Bill Baptist courtesy of the Houston Texans
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The Houston Texans may have to come to terms with the fact that David Carr is not the franchise QB that they have been counting on him to be. After re-signing Carr in the offseason and thereby passing up Vince Young, Jay Cutler, and Matt Leinart in the draft, the Texans placed all their hopes in Carr and the tutelage of first-year head coach Gary Kubiak. While Carr's play has improved under Kubiak, he is still prone to turning over the ball, the most heinous sin an NFL QB can commit. Carr turned the ball over three times last Sunday, including a crushing fumble with eight seconds left in the first half that Tony Brown ran 40 yards into the end zone.
Replacing Carr in the third quarter of the Texans 28-22 loss to VY and the displaced Oilers, Sage Rosenfels completed 18 of 25 for 186 yards and three TD passes.
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Posted by Mark Fagan on Mon Oct 30
Back to the Drawing Board
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The New Orleans Saints typically don’t fare well in games following a bye week. The extra preparation time tends to give both coaches and players just enough rope to hang themselves. Sunday against the visiting Baltimore Ravens, the Saints did everything they could in an all-out attempt to shed their newfound reputation as a surging division leader. Running back Reggie Bush not only coughed up an early fumble, but also threw an interception on a halfback pass play that fooled not a single Ravens defensive player. Quarterback Drew Brees suffered through what Saints fans can only hope was his worst game of the season, throwing not just one, but two interceptions that were returned for 12-yard touchdowns by Ravens defensive backs. Why head coach Sean Payton decided it would be wise to underutilize running back Deuce McAllister in favor of trick plays and ill-advised passes up field only shows that the Saints went into the game with a lack of confidence.
For more on the Saints, UT football, and high school football ...
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Posted by Robert Gabriel on Mon Oct 30
'Pig Skinny': BCS Analysis
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Peter Applejack, er ... Colt McCoy
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Take a look at the BCS Standings. With Oregon State's upset of USC on Saturday, the Ohio State/Michigan game (in two weeks) and this Thursday's West Virginia/Louisville games loom as virtual semifinal matchups. The only real hitch being that West Virginia and Louisville both have games with Rutgers and Pitt. As for the Texas Longhorns, I say they're out of it. Ohio State, Michigan, Florida, Auburn, and Notre Dame will all get in with one loss before Texas will, because of the Longhorns’ weak schedule. Not to mention that they're 112th in the nation in pass defense and don't deserve to be anywhere near the BCS championship game, except, maybe, ironically, to play in Fiesta Bowl One on New Year's Day against Boise State. Enjoy. If I were a Longhorn or a fan, I think I'd rather go to the Holiday Bowl and at least get in some beach time. I will also take this opportunity to predict that Nebraska or Missouri will win the Big 12 championship game, and Texas will end up in the Cotton Bowl against the SEC runner-up. Enjoy.
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Posted by Taylor Holland on Mon Oct 30
Ruck Feplay: Can’t the Refs Get It Right the First Time?
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The only time I laughed during the clash of the Longhorns and Red Raiders was at a shirt in the stands. It read “Tuck Fexas.” Now that spark of creativity is a natural for Panhandle folks, who claim Buddy Holly and the Flatlanders as their own. Of course, who wouldn’t be creative when the goal is to get the hell out of the flat, blustery nowhere as quick as you can? Out-of-town Texas Tech frosh are quickly clued in to the need for Chapstick and the cruel, cruel trick of keeping all of the booze stores outside the city limits. Talk about a dry town.
But that’s not what I’m writing about here. I’m interested in the new instant replay rule, which reared its ugly, dust-blown head one too many times during the game. Count 'em. Six disputed calls reconsidered. Five of them stood. The other, a touchdown run by Texas QB Colt McCoy, was inconsequential as the Horns punched it right in for a score.
Sigmund Freud, when he wasn’t talking about your attraction to your mother, called our fixation with technology the “prosthetic god,” and opined that what we think will make our lives simpler, actually mucks up the works. So it is with instant replay. Perhaps the money would be better spent training refs to make the right call the first time. Oh, wait, they did five times out of six and the sixth didn’t matter.
Plus the human element has not been removed. The disputes now are about when to call for a review or fouls missed entirely. It’s a game after all. Why should we figure machines are going the make the results clear? Next thing you know we’ll make all of our voting machines electronic. Oops. Forget I said that.
I’m interested in what you, dear readers, think on the subject. Fire away.
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Posted by Joe O'Connell on Mon Oct 30
Game 5 in What for the Most Part Are Pretty Crappy Pictures
One man's worst World Series ever is easily among another man's Top 10 nights of his life.
I'll let LOOGY (Lefty One-Out Guy) Randy Flores sum it up: "We beat the team with the best pitching [San Diego Padres]. We beat the team with the best hitting [New York Mets]. And we beat the team with the best story [Detroit Tigers]," he told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
The St. Louis Cardinals are Major League Baseball's 2006 World Champions. I was there to see this become a reality – an unreal experience – and now I return to reality. I am very much looking forward to refocusing on a few other things in my life, like showing up for work and talking to people wearing colors other than red. I might also quit drinking.
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Posted by Shawn Badgley on Sun Oct 29
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updated 10/29/06
updated two days ago
updated 10/27/06
updated 11/03/06
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updated yesterday
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updated 10/31/06
Sports Features
BY JOE O'CONNELL
Fathers, children, and when glorious runs come to their ends
BY KEVIN BRASS
Alan Zinter of the Round Rock Express still lives the big-league dream
BY KEVIN BRASS
For the Austin Outlaws, the game is the only thing
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