| Lions find yet another way to lose opener at Bears 19-14 It's a standard quip about any perennially losing team: The Detroit Lions, 2-30 the previous two seasons, invent new ways to lose each week. ... rssfeeds.usatoday.com |
Williams fights back to dent Ding • Welshman comes back from two-frame deficit• Career revival continues in GlasgowMark Williams, a feelgood story in a sport badly in need of them, continued his rejuvenation from washed-up has-been to fully restored title contender by beating Ding Junhui 3-2 in the 12Bet.com World Open.As Christmas 2007 approached, Williams slumped to 47th in the provisional world rankings, his glory days of Crucible, Masters and UK Championship triumphs replaced by a series of demoralising defeats by inferior opponents.Williams, twice world champion, was at a career crossroads. Having realised moping around was achieving nothing, the Welshman rededicated himself to practice and six months ago took his most significant recovery step by winning the China Open in Beijing.His victim that day was Ding Junhui and in Glasgow today, China's leading player again fell victim to Williams, who became the first player in 36 matches at the World Open, with its sprint distance matches, to overturn a 2-0 deficit."I was so low three years ago. There are times now I have to pinch myself that I'm back," said Williams, 35.Ding had two opportunities to win the closing frame but squandered both, first with a clumsy positional shot, the second by missing the green to a middle pocket.Snookerguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
US team has to buy new rain gear at Ryder Cup By DOUG FERGUSON 2010-10-01T13:08:42ZNEWPORT, Wales (AP) -- The U.S. rain gear at the Ryder Cup is no longer a fashion faux pas.... hosted.ap.org |
Buchanan: Pietersen could be weak link • Former Australia coach sees Pietersen as weak link• Buchanan says Pietersen's strength and unity will be testedJohn Buchanan, the former Australia coach, believes Kevin Pietersen could be a "major problem" in England's Ashes campaign if he fails to rediscover his batting form.Buchanan, who was the coach when Australia lost the Ashes in England in 2005, said: "Pietersen is a quality player and he could be an incredible strength for them but, if he's not scoring runs, he could become a major problem for the batting line-up and the entire team. Andy Flower has been trying to work on that."Pietersen's maiden Test century five years ago was against Australia at The Oval in the drawn match that secured England their first Ashes winning series since 1987. In the 12 Tests he has played against them he averages more than 50 with the bat. Buchanan, though, is not sure that will matter when the sides meet again this winter. The first Test of the Ashes series starts in Brisbane on 25 November."Pietersen hasn't done himself or the team any favours with his recent Twittering," he added in the Wisden Cricketer. "Two of the things that will be tested in Australia are strength and unity and clearly he hasn't understood his role within the team yet."Despite his misgivings over Pietersen, Buchanan believes England can be "world leaders within the next three years" and possess mental strength missing from previous sides."They seem to have a new mental toughness and they are more consistent, except for the odd glitch, which is mainly Kevin Pietersen. They need to retain this united spirit and sense of purpose. England teams in the past would often be beaten before the Test started. They didn't believe in themselves, even when they were ahead, but they are better at handling that now."Kevin PietersenAshesEngland cricket teamAustralia cricket teamCricketguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Auburn-LSU: Last of SEC's unbeatens meet By JOHN ZENOR 2010-10-22T13:58:08ZAUBURN, Ala. (AP) -- Lucky, plucky or just plain good?... hosted.ap.org |