| Brown begins semi-final mind games • Huddersfield coach claims his side and Wigan hold advantage• Both sides came through sudden-death wins to reach semisHuddersfield's coach, Nathan Brown, has started the mind games ahead of this weekend's Super League semi-finals by claiming that his own team and Wigan have the advantage over last year's finalists Leeds and St Helens.The Rhinos and Saints, who have contested the last four Grand Finals, had last weekend off after winning their opening qualifying play-off ties to earn home semi‑finals. But Huddersfield and Wigan are battle-hardened and buoyant after impressive sudden-death wins.Huddersfield aim to follow up their surprise win at Warrington by defeating St Helens at Knowsley Road on Friday to reach their maiden Grand Final, and Wigan play at Leeds, the defending champions, the following day."Two weeks ago, if someone had said you could have the week off, you'd take it obviously," Brown said. "But I think you have an advantage if you play and win and come through injury-free because you keep your momentum going. There is nothing like playing and I think for us and Wigan we have a clear advantage over the other sides this week."The other thing for St Helens is that they didn't make the Challenge Cup final and is this going to be the first St Helens team not to make a final in the Super League era? All the pressure is on them – there is nothing on us because nobody expects us to win. Over the years they've built up a tradition of winning and so there is a lot of weight on a lot of people's shoulders, whereas we're going there as underdogs."Super LeagueRugby leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Gould's late FG for Bears beats penalty-prone Pack By ANDREW SELIGMAN 2010-09-28T11:14:23ZCHICAGO (AP) -- Still doubting the Bears? Jay Cutler threw for 221 yards, Brian Urlacher forced a key fumble and Chicago took advantage of a team-record 18 penalties by the Packers to beat Green Bay 20-17 on Monday night.... hosted.ap.org |
Am. Airlines Center adds young nightclub American Airlines Center has opened a new streetside nightclub attached to the arena, the latest entertainment space at a big league sports facility designed to entice a younger, trendier crowd to stay beyond the game’s end. feeds.bizjournals.com |
Harrington finally wins another title • Padraig Harrington wins Asia Tour event• Twenty-under total brings victory by three shotsPadraig Harrington has won the Iskandar Johor Open, his first tournament title in two years. The three-times major champion shot a three-under 69 in the final round for an overall 20-under-par 268 at the Asia Tour event."There's no doubt that it was my week to win," the Irishman said. "If you had followed me for the four days, I don't think anyone would have questioned that my name was written on the trophy before the tournament started. I hit some good shots and had a few breaks."Harrington, who was part of Europe's Ryder Cup winning team at Celtic Manor this month, went into the final round with a five-stroke lead. He ended three shots clear of Noh Seung-yul of Korea at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club in Malaysia's southern Johor state.Harrington's last victory came in 2008 at the US PGA Championship. This was his third Asian Tour title, after wins in Taipei and Hong Kong."Two years is a long time, especially when you're reminded every week you play," Harrington said. "It's nice and very important for me to win. It's somewhat a monkey off your back."The 39-year-old was making his debut in the event. In the final round he had three straight birdies from the second hole but he shot two bogeys in his closing three holes.The 19-year-old Noh retained the Asian Tour Order of Merit title after a 65. He moved to five-under for the round through 11 holes but a bogey on 13, where he found water with a drive, ended his challenge. Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan finished four strokes back after a 68 which included a double bogey on the seventh hole."Padraig was in good form. There were no par fives for him as he played them like par fours," the 36-year-old Lin said.Singapore's Mardan Mamat was fourth and Kiradech Aphibarnrat of Thailand and the Australian Scott Barr shared fifth place.Padraig HarringtonGolfguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
McCoy favourite for sports personality • Poll: Who is your choice to win the 2010 award?• In pictures: The lowdown on the 10 candidatesAfter Ryan Giggs unexpectedly stole the show to claim the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award last year, footballers are conspicuously absent on the 10-strong BBC shortlist in 2010. That will come as no surprise following England's disastrous World Cup performance in South Africa and a myriad unwelcome sex-scandal headlines; instead the shortlist represents the major triumphs of the year – from the Ryder Cup winners Graeme McDowell and Lee Westwood to Jessica Ennis's domination of the heptathlon and the pentathlon for a second year in a row.It is the jumps jockey Tony McCoy, though, who is the bookmakers' tip to take the BBC title. In April the 36-year-old finally won the Grand National at his 15th attempt, adding this piece of silverware to an incredible collection that includes a record 15 champion jumps jockey titles and more than 3,000 winners. Should McCoy also win the BBC award, the votes will no doubt reflect his entire career achievements as much as recognising a successful 12 months – a sentiment that would echo Giggs's victory in 2009.McDowell is likely to be a frontrunner in the voting after a scintillating year from the golfer that included winning the US Open – the first European to do so since Tony Jacklin in 1970 – and helping to clinch victory over the US Ryder Cup team in October. McDowell played in the final singles match of the competition, hitting a birdie on the 16th green to secure his lead and retain it in a match that was all about holding his nerve.Should the England bowler Graeme Swann perform well at the Ashes in the lead-up to the vote he could swing the poll – his Twitter feed has almost 100,000 followers. The cyclist Mark Cavendish, who also made the shortlist last year, repeated his success in 2010 with an impressive five stage wins in the Tour de France and a points jersey at the Tour of Spain, the first Briton in 21 years to earn the sprinters' title at a grand tour.Only two women are on the list, which some may feel is a slight on the many British sportswomen making their mark in world-class competition. Beth Tweddle, who came third in the 2006 BBC poll, won her third world title this year, confirming her status as Britain's most successful gymnast in history, surely deserved a mention, as did the road cyclist Emma Pooley, who won her first world title in the time trial in September along with a string of other prominent races to stake her claim. But Ennis and Amy Williams certainly deserve their places.Following on from Ennis's world title last year the Sheffield-based heptathlete was once again in winning form in 2010, claiming the world indoor and European titles, setting championship records in each, while Williams's Olympic gold in the skeleton was the first individual British Winter Olympics gold medal in 30 years.At 50 years old, Phil "The Power" Taylor, who was crowned world champion for the 15th time in his career this year, is the oldest personality on the list, while the 16-year-old diver Tom Daley – twice the winner in the Young Sports Personality of the Year contest – is the youngest having secured individual and pairs gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi.The only name on the list that may cause some consternation is the boxer David Haye, whose world title fight against an ageing Audley Harrison this month was widely scorned.The awards ceremony will be held in Birmingham on Sunday, 19 December.The Sports Personality shortlistMark Cavendish, Tom Daley, Jessica Ennis, David Haye, Tony McCoy, Graeme McDowell, Graeme Swann, Phil Taylor, Lee Westwood, Amy WilliamsBBC Sports Personality of the YearGraeme McDowellTony McCoyGraeme SwannBeth TweddleEmma PooleyJessica EnnisAmy WilliamsAnna Kesselguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |