GameTime Sports Blog

Nifty assist: NHL player picks up hitchhiking Bono

2011-06-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) - This was one nifty assist by an NHL player.

Edmonton Oilers center Gilbert Brule stopped this week to pick up a most unlikely hitchhiker - rock star Bono.

The U2 frontman and his assistant were walking in West Vancouver, British Columbia, on Tuesday when they got caught in the rain. Fortunately for them, Brule and his girlfriend were driving by, taking their German shepherd to a park.

Bono hopped in for a ride. To thank them, he offered Brule and his girlfriend backstage passes for the U2 concert Wednesday night at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium. The couple sold their tickets to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals between Boston and Vancouver, took a flight back to Edmonton and went to the show with Brule's mom.

"I like people who play ice hockey - they stop for hitchhikers. I know this from experience," Bono told the concert crowd.

"I was hitchhiking in Vancouver yesterday, actually I was! And this guy and his girlfriend picked me up. He was cool, an ice hockey player, his name was Gilbert Brule as it happens, I'm so grateful I've decided I want to be Gilbert Brule."

With hockey on his mind, Bono compared his bandmates to former Oiler greats, calling The Edge, "The Wayne Gretzky of U2."

"We go to walk our dog and Bono ends up in our car," Brule told the Edmonton Journal.

The 24-year-old Brule missed half of this season because of illnesses, intestinal problems, a sprained ankle and a concussion.

Crosby starting off-ice workouts

2011-06-02T13:40:00.000-07:00

Sidney Crosby met with Dr. Michael Collins, the specialist who's been monitoring his condition since he sustained a concussion in January, on Tuesday and is starting his summer program of off-ice workouts. Penguins General Manager Ray Shero said Crosby will be joined by his longtime personal trainer for the next 2-3 weeks as he works back into his routine in his hometown of Cole Harbour, N.S.

"I met with Sid Wednesday before he left for home and talked to Dr. Collins," Shero told the Penguins website. "(Crosby) will resume his workouts and get back into his program in Cole Harbour."

Crosby, who spent the past three weeks on vacation, will not start on-ice workouts until late July or early August, which is his normal offseason workout schedule.

"Everything will be closely managed by Dr. Collins in terms of his progression leading up to him getting on the ice later in the summer per his usual routine," Shero said.

Crosby did not play after being diagnosed with a concussion after hits by Washington's Dave Steckel and Tampa Bay's Victor Hedman in the Penguins' first two games in January. He skated with the team in non-contact practices at the start of the playoffs but had to stop when he experienced headaches.

Both the team and Crosby have said they expect him to be able to play in 2011-12.

Nowitzki says finger not hurting him, can catch and dribble

2011-06-02T12:14:00.000-07:00

MIAMI (AP) -- The only problem Dirk Nowitzki is having with his injured finger is finding a comfortable way of protecting it.

At a shootaround Thursday, about nine hours before Game 2 of the NBA finals, Nowitzki wore a hard splint on the back of his left middle finger, secured by a few strips of white tape around the side. It was at least the third wrap the Mavericks' star has tried since tearing a tendon near the fingernail in the final minutes of Game 1.

"I'm going to try something just now, try something tonight during warmups," Nowitzki said. "It'll be OK. The main thing is I still want to feel the ball in that hand. So I don't want to put too much tape over it. We'll find something that can protect it from the back and still be able to feel the ball." Nowitzki shoots with his right hand, so he's not worried about the injury affecting his shot. But he likes to dribble with his left, and often takes lefty layups, which is why he needs to keep tinkering until he gets the best setup.

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Stanley Cup Game 1 earns best rating since 1999

2011-06-02T12:11:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (AP) - The opener of the Stanley Cup finals drew the best preliminary rating for a Game 1 in 12 years.

The Vancouver Canucks' last-second 1-0 win over the Boston Bruins earned a 3.2 overnight rating and 6 share on NBC on Wednesday. That's up 14 percent from last year's Philadelphia-Chicago Game 1 and the highest since a 3.7 for Buffalo-Dallas in 1999.

The rating was boosted by heavy interest in Boston's large market, which posted a 25.5/39, topping the 19.1/34 for Game 1 of last year's Celtics-Lakers NBA finals.

The rating was 113 percent higher than the first game on NBC the last time a Canadian team was in the final. Ottawa-Anaheim in 2007 drew a 1.5/3.

Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program. Shares represent the percentage of all homes with TVs in use at the time. Overnight ratings measure the country's largest markets.

With days to go, Round 1 Draft projections

2011-06-02T11:31:00.000-07:00

On the one hand, it seems like it's so close to Draft Day. After all, Monday is but a few days away. On the other hand, there's still so much to be determined that in some ways it still seems too early to figure out who's going where in the first round.

Live coverage of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft begins with a one-hour preview show on Monday at 6 p.m. ET on MLB.com and MLB Network, followed by the first round and supplemental compensation round. MLB.com will provide exclusive coverage of Days 2 and 3, Tuesday and Wednesday, featuring a live pick-by-pick stream, expert commentary and Draft Tracker, a live interactive application that includes a searchable database of every Draft-eligible player. You can also keep up to date at Draft Central and by following @MLBDraft on Twitter. And get into the Draft conversation by tagging your tweets with #mlbdraft.

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Fascinating facts from Wednesday's games

2011-06-02T11:28:00.000-07:00

Exactly one-third of the way through Pittsburgh's season, Kevin Correia is halfway to a Pirates pitching mark which has stood for more than 80 years.

In limiting the Mets to two runs in six innings Wednesday during the Pirates' 9-3 win at Citi Field, Correia picked up his Major League-leading eighth victory, seven of which have come on the road. Over the past 20 years, only one Pirates hurler has had more road victories in an entire season -- Tom Gorzelanny, with eight in 2007.

In 1928, the Pirates' Burleigh Grimes led or was tied for the National League lead in wins (25), games (48), starts (37), complete games (28), shutouts (four) and innings (330 2/3), and he finished third in the Most Valuable Player Award voting behind Cardinals first baseman Jim Bottomley and Giants third baseman Freddie Lindstrom.

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Cottrell has no pity for players unhappy with rules on hits

2011-06-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Ted Cottrell used to coach defense in the NFL.

The former defensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings and San Diego Chargers used to help players find the most effective way possible to get other players to the ground, preferably without the ball. He encouraged hard hits, while constantly aware that hitting too hard or any contact involving helmets could result in a penalty.

Some Pittsburgh Steelers players have been particularly vocal about the rules because the legislation clearly was made with the Steelers' defense in mind -- especially the part that calls for teams to be punished for repeat offenses by their players (such as linebacker James Harrison, who has tweeted his objections).It's because of that background that Cottrell, now an NFL appeals officer for fine challenges, doesn't have a whole lot of sympathy for players or coaches who complain about the league's rules changes designed to minimize dangerous blows.

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Ward says taking violence out of football an impossible task

2011-06-02T09:59:00.000-07:00

Hines Ward isn't taking the NFL's new rules on flagrant hits as personally as other Pittsburgh Steelers, but he said in a recent interview with WCNN-AM in Atlanta that the guidelines clash with the physical nature of the sport.

All 32 owners voted at last week's NFL Spring Meeting in Indianapolis to punish teams if their players commit multiple flagrant hits that result in fines."I understand where they're coming from, but at the same time, you can't protect football," said the wide receiver, who has taken and doled out his fair share of hits during a decorated 13-year NFL career. "It's a violent sport. If you want to protect it, we need to play flag football.”

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Tornadoes miss Hall of Fame, slam into Springfield

2011-06-02T09:48:00.000-07:00

BOSTON -- The city of Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball, was devastated by a series of powerful tornadoes that ripped across the Connecticut River then tore through downtown Springfield, West Springfield and its neighboring towns in western and central Massachusetts between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Reports from the staff of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame were that no damage was inflicted to the museum itself. But just blocks away in the downtown area of the city, buildings were torn apart and debris was tossed as the storm formed quickly then twisted its way through the towns of Ludlow, Palmer, Munson and Sturbridge, Mass.

The Central and Western Massachusetts chapter of the American Red Cross is working from their headquarters in Springfield and utilizing the Mass Mutual Center, the home of the NBA Development League's Springfield Armor and Springfield Falcons minor league hockey team, as a shelter. The chapter's Facebook page is asking area residents to be patient early Thursday as authorities survey the damage and downed trees and power lines. At least three blocks of downtown Springfield are structurally unsound and many homes were lifted off their foundation. Click here for info.

Deval Patrick, the governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has declared a state of emergency and the national guard was activated to assist in securing the areas devastated by the storm. As of 5 a.m., four deaths have been reported and search crews were going door-to-door to reach other possible victims.

To donate money to help the victims of the storm, please visit the Western Massachusetts chapter of the Red Cross online.

Lakers' Gasol ready to play for Spain at 2011 Euros

2011-06-02T09:46:00.000-07:00

MADRID (AP) -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Pau Gasol says he wants to play for Spain at this summer's European Championship.

Gasol confirmed his availability for the defending champions on Wednesday after missing last year's World Championship in Turkey, where Spain finished sixth.

According to the Spanish basketball federation's website, Gasol says that "if the coach feels he can count on me then I want to help the team win another European'' title.

Gasol helped Spain to a 2006 world title and a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics.

The decision comes after the Dallas Mavericks swept Gasol's Lakers 4-0 in the conference semifinals of the NBA playoffs.

The Euros will be played in Lithuania from Aug. 31 to Sept. 18.

Lights-out pitching highlights tight AL West

2011-06-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

Pitching is proving to be the great equalizer in baseball's smallest division.

As play came to an end on Wednesday, the four teams in the American League West were separated by a mere 3 1/2 games in the standings. No other division is so tightly packed, but no other division has such a high level of quality starting pitching as in the AL West. That's why these four teams are changing places in the standings almost on a nightly basis and may continue to do so through the summer.

"The starting pitching in our division is the best in the league," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Right now, everyone's bunched up. I've always said we have the most competitive division, top to bottom."

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Buffalo Sabres sign 2010 first-round pick Mark Pysyk to three-year deal

2011-06-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Sabres signed 2010 first-round pick Mark Pysyk to a three-year entry level contract Thursday.

The 19-year-old defenceman was selected 23rd in last year's draft. Pysyk captained the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western Hockey League in 2010-11, registering six goals and 34 assists in 63 games.

"Mark is a very intelligent hockey player who has played in all situations in junior," Sabres general manager Darcy Regier said in a release. "He is a very strong skater with good puck moving abilities, and is developing into a very solid two-way defenceman."

The Edmonton native, who rebounded from a foot injury in 2009-10, scored 19 goals and 68 assists in 187 career games with the Oil Kings.

2011 Free Agent Tracker

2011-06-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

The 2011 Canadian Football League free agency period officially began at 12:01am ET on Wednesday, February 16. Below is a list of players who became CFL Free Agents at that time, or would have had they not been re-signed or released prior to the 12:01 deadline.

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Both sides meet for several hours to discuss labor issues

2011-06-02T07:52:00.000-07:00

MIAMI (AP) -- Commissioner David Stern felt there was progress. Union executive director Billy Hunter said he is "hopeful."

So a month before a potential lockout, there was some reason for optimism about the NBA's labor situation.

Representatives of the league's owners and players met for about four hours Wednesday and will get together twice next week in Dallas as they try to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires June 30.

"I'm hopeful, and we know that the pressure's building, and if anything's going to happen, it's got to happen between now and (June) 30," Hunter said. "And so we're really going to make every effort to see if we can reach a deal."

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Angels' flight makes emergency landing at LAX

2011-06-02T07:45:00.000-07:00

The Angels wrapped up their series in Kansas City on Wednesday afternoon, but the club endured a rocky conclusion to its flight back to Orange County. According to the Los Angeles Times, the club's charter flight made an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport upon a report from the flight deck of a potential hydraulic problem. There are no reports of injuries.

Initial reports state that the crew questioned whether the plane could safely land at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, so the flight was redirected to LAX, where the longer runways would allow for more room to come to a stop. The Boeing 737, carrying 51 players and staff, plus crew, landed before 9 p.m. PT, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor reported.

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Goaltenders Thomas, Luongo near-flawless in Stanley Cup opening game

2011-06-02T07:39:00.000-07:00

The Vancouver Canucks opened the Stanley Cup final with a 1-0 victory over the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night. Here's a report card on the two teams (with performance ratings on a one-to-10 scale):

Goaltenders

Boston: Tim Thomas was 19 seconds away from a sixth straight period without allowing a goal, but had no chance when he was finally beaten by Raffi Torres on a tic-tac-toe play in the final minute. Thomas at his sprawling best was the reason the game was close as Vancouver's high-speed attack controlled stretches of the game, especially in the third, which was highlighted by a stop on a Jannik Hansen breakaway. He faced 34 shots. 9.

Vancouver: Roberto Luongo was sharp during an early Boston two-man advantage and he ended up with 17 first-period saves. He never looked out of control and used his quick legs on a handful of chances when it looked like the Bruins may steal a Game 1 victory. Thomas had more difficult saves to make, but it was a mistake-free 36-stop shutout for Luongo. 9.

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Giguere recovering from surgery, not sure where he'll play next

2011-06-01T15:12:00.000-07:00

J.S. Giguere moved out of his Toronto home over the weekend and isn't sure if he'll be back.

The 34-year-old goaltender is at a crossroads in his NHL career as he prepares to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. At this point, there's little he can do but sit and wait before finding out if he'll be back with the Maple Leafs next season or playing elsewhere.

"Hockey has given me a lot of good things in my life and we'll see where it brings me now," Giguere said Wednesday from Montreal. "I started playing in the NHL when I was 19 ... and it's the first time in my life that I'm a free agent so I can say that I was really truly blessed. I had 10 wonderful years in Anaheim and a couple good years in Toronto.

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Rockets hire Hall of Famer McHale as next coach

2011-06-01T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Rockets made it official Wednesday that McHale will take over for Rick Adelman, who left the team days after his fourth season in Houston.

McHale spent 15 years with the Timberwolves in his native Minnesota. The Hall of Famer was let go in 2009 and has recently served as a TV analyst. Reports last Friday said he was taking the job.

He will be introduced at a news conference in Houston on Friday.

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Bourn's late hit gives Astros sweep of Cubs

2011-06-01T15:05:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO -- After being swept at home by the D-backs, the Astros came to the Windy City looking for answers.

Evidently, they found what they were looking for, doing a complete reversal against the Cubs, sweeping a three-game series by taking Wednesday's finale, 3-1, in front of 31,340 at Wrigley Field.

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Morales has splint removed from left ankle

2011-06-01T15:03:00.000-07:00

KANSAS CITY -- Kendrys Morales, who has been recovering from left ankle surgery, had a splint removed on Wednesday and will be in a hard cast until June 10.

The Angels said Morales will be re-evaluated at that time.

Morales hit .290 with 11 homers through 51 games in 2010.

Montreal Canadiens veteran Gill happy to settle for one-year contract

2011-06-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

BROSSARD, Que. - Hal Gill was hoping for another two-year contract, but the veteran defenceman was glad to settle for one with the Montreal Canadiens.

The six-foot-six Gill, who has become a mentor to young blue-liners like P.K. Subban, signed a deal that will pay US$2.25 million for the 2011-12 season, the same salary he earned the last two years in Montreal.

He could have become an unrestricted free agent on July 1 but decided not to enter the market.

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Bautista leads, but Yanks rack up All-Star votes

2011-06-01T13:25:00.000-07:00

Jose Bautista -- who leads everyone in home runs -- also leads everyone in votes, altruistic Rangers veteran Michael Young is in contention to earn a start at a third different position and former National League first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is in a dogfight in his new neighborhood.

Those trends highlight the first weekly update on voting for the 2011 American League All-Star starting players -- also known at this early juncture as Team Bombers.

Members of the New York Yankees hold leads at six of the nine positions -- all except designated hitter, where Young has a slight lead over mainstay David Ortiz -- and in two-thirds of the outfield, where Bautista and Texas' Josh Hamilton surround the Yankees' Curtis Granderson.

With his 1,261,659 votes, Bautista leads all candidates in both leagues. The Toronto outfielder was chosen as an All-Star reserve in the middle of his 54-homer 2010 season, but -- off to a comparable start with 20 homers through May 31 -- he clearly has the voting public's attention this year.

Young has a narrow lead of about 28,000 votes over Ortiz, his fan support not only a reflection of another fine season but possibly also figurative applause for his controversial move to DH. Having already been on six All-Star teams as a shortstop and a third baseman, Young would become a rarity to make it at a third position.

And there is Hamilton, who, despite having recently returned from missing 36 games with a fracture to his left arm, is third in outfield voting, leading All-Star perennial Ichiro Suzuki by fewer than 74,000 votes.

Otherwise, it's New York, New York, as six Yankees with 37 All-Star berths to their credit try to add more spoils:

• At first base, Mark Teixeira (827,247 votes) has a 142,000-vote lead over Gonzalez, who as a San Diego Padre was the NL's starter in each of the last three Midsummer Classics. Furthermore, Boston's new first sacker is crowded by Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, the 2010 starter who is only 7,000 votes behind.

• Second base incumbent Robinson Cano, the only other player to have already exceeded 1 million votes, has doubled up Boston's Dustin Pedroia.

• Shortstop Derek Jeter, gunning for his 12th All-Star spot (and his 3,000th career hit, which should come sooner), has drawn 931,410 votes for a comfortable early lead over Asdrubal Cabrera (672,105), the other half of Cleveland's all-Cabrera double-play combo and the surprising Indians' highest-polling player.

• Thirteen-time All-Star Alex Rodriguez is 190,000 votes up on the Rangers' Adrian Beltre and is seeking his first All-Star start since 2008. The guy who had supplanted A-Rod in the AL's starting lineup, the Rays' Evan Longoria, may have taken a ballot-box hit due to his month-long absence with an oblique injury but is in the picture.

• At catcher, Russell Martin has regained his cred along with his game. A two-time All-Star with the Dodgers, including the NL's starter in 2007, Martin (843,459) has a lead of a quarter-million votes over three-time starter Joe Mauer, who hasn't played since mid-April due to weakness in his legs.

• Granderson, a 2009 reserve, is having a breakout season certainly deserving of being in contention for his first All-Star start. He is fewer than 6,000 votes shy of a million but is being chased by Hamilton and Suzuki and a strong field behind them.

Fans can continue to cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via your mobile device -- using the 2011 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot Sponsored by Sprint until June 30 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Starting rosters will be announced during the 2011 All-Star Game Selection Show on TBS on July 3. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2011 All-Star Game Final Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

And the voting doesn't end there. Fans will have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet at the Midsummer Classic via the 2011 All-Star Game MVP Vote Sponsored by Sprint.

The All-Star Game, to be played in Phoenix on July 12, will be televised nationally by FOX and around the world by Major League Baseball International. ESPN Radio will provide exclusive national radio play-by-play, while MLB.com will offer extensive online coverage.

2011 AMERICAN LEAGUE ALL-STAR BALLOTING (as of June 1)

CATCHER
Russell Martin, Yankees: 843,459
Joe Mauer, Twins: 593,949
Alex Avila, Tigers: 407,463
Carlos Santana, Indians: 395,892
Yorvit Torrealba, Rangers: 337,737

FIRST BASE
Mark Teixeira, Yankees: 827,247
Adrian Gonzalez, Red Sox: 685,262
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers: 657,594
Mitch Moreland, Rangers: 278,055
Adam Lind, Blue Jays: 256,782

SECOND BASE
Robinson Cano, Yankees: 1,185,952
Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox: 586,361
Ian Kinsler, Rangers: 502,012
Orlando Cabrera, Indians: 384,004
Ben Zobrist, Rays: 352,904

THIRD BASE
Alex Rodriguez, Yankees: 945,127
Adrian Beltre, Rangers: 755,551
Evan Longoria, Rays: 588,463
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox: 491,422
Maicer Izturis, Angels: 199,423

SHORTSTOP
Derek Jeter, Yankees: 931,410
Asdrubal Cabrera, Indians: 672,105
Elvis Andrus, Rangers: 560,309
Yunel Escobar, Blue Jays: 320,874
Erick Aybar, Angels: 215,991

DESIGNATED HITTER
Michael Young, Rangers: 646,979
David Ortiz, Red Sox: 618,609
Jorge Posada, Yankees: 414,733
Travis Hafner, Indians: 407,334
Johnny Damon, Rays: 353,340

OUTFIELD
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays: 1,261,659
Curtis Granderson, Yankees: 994,315
Josh Hamilton, Rangers: 748,240
Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners: 674,406
Nelson Cruz, Rangers: 514,006
Jacoby Ellsbury, Red Sox: 494,721
Nick Swisher, Yankees: 465,984
Grady Sizemore, Indians: 457,185
Carl Crawford, Red Sox: 440,626
Jeff Francoeur, Royals: 407,517
Brett Gardner, Yankees: 370,989
Shin-Soo Choo, Indians: 366,575
Sam Fuld, Rays: 310,520
J.D. Drew, Red Sox: 307,684
B.J. Upton, Rays: 277,173

Super Bowl hangover? Packers, Steelers in no hurry to hit field

2011-06-01T13:24:00.001-07:00

Either the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers know something that numerous other players in the NFL don't, or they're simply comfortable with taking a risk that they might not be as prepared as necessary whenever the 2011 season gets a green light.

As the most recent Super Bowl participants, they automatically command a higher level of respect than the rest of the league. But even before squaring off for the Lombardi Trophy last February, both clubs were widely recognized for mostly doing things right.

The New England Patriots had between 40 and 50 offensive and defensive players on hand for a Wednesday practice. The Carolina Panthers had about 50, from both sides of the ball, show up for a Tuesday workout that they apparently felt was serious enough to keep out the prying eyes of the media.So why aren't the Packers and Steelers among the many teams whose players have organized their own practices during the lockout? Why -- instead of the small periodic gatherings that Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has had with his receivers and a few linemen and the Packers' offensive linemen getting together -- aren't these examples of NFL excellence getting the sort of impressive numbers that other player-run sessions are attracting?

On the other hand, the Steelers' defenders haven't done a bit of group work on their own. And as far as they're concerned, it is, in fact, the right thing to do, especially for a unit with an aging core.

Will they? And how about the Packers, who have a much younger roster and, presumably, a greater need for some level of team-oriented drills?"This time's been good for healing of your bodies," veteran safetyRyan Clark told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "The mental part? We know how to play football. We know how to run Cover 3. That dog blitz will still be deadly. We'll be fine."

It's notable that an increasing number of clubs have seen a rising number of participants in player-only workouts because this is the time of year when team-supervised sessions are in full gear.

For the most part, players followed their typical routines of relaxing through most of February and then working out on their own through March and April. Group sessions started to begin in earnest in May. They are expected to be held through at least the early part of this month as players get a better sense of how court rulings will impact the timetable for the start of the season, which NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and multiple owners insist will begin as scheduled.

Meanwhile, the Packers and Steelers are taking a different approach. Only time will tell if it's the right one.

Bills plan to unveil new uniforms June 24 at public launch party

2011-06-01T13:21:00.000-07:00

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills will unveil their new look with a uniform launch set for June 24 at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

The Bills had announced in February that they were changing the style of their uniforms to the ones they've had since 2002. The team provided no details of the changes, except to say it will retain its logo of a charging buffalo.Fans are invited to attend the launch, which will feature U.S. military personnel involved with the unveiling ceremony.

The Bills are also expected to keep their red, white and blue colors.

Glimpses of the new uniform were accidentally leaked in April when EA Sports released a video on YouTube promoting its Madden 12 video game. The video has since been removed.

Brady, Manning separate themselves from game's best QBs

2011-06-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

1. Manning. No quarterback shares his combination of passing skills and ability to run the offense with as much command as any coach. With Manning, the Colts have had an uninterrupted ride to annual Super Bowl contention. Without him, the Colts ... well, they don't want to think of what it's going to be like with another quarterback.

2. Brady. He is a close second behind Manning, and the Patriots aren't the same without him. But they did manage to have a strong season in 2008 with Matt Cassel at quarterback for most of the season.

3. Rodgers. Great pure passer. He showed that he not only is capable of carrying the the Packers' offense, and the entire team, on his highly talented throwing arm, but he also is able to withstand the enormous pressure of filling the legendary cleats of Brett Favre.

4. Brees. His enormous talent and game-breaking ability are obvious. He is slightly behind Rodgers because he isn't always as consistent as he needs to be. Also, there were too many times last season when the Saints' offense seemed predictable, and Brees is as accountable as Sean Payton to help prevent that.

5. Roethlisberger. He has a unique skill set, the ability to throw effectively and make a wide variety of big plays on the move, to go along with two Super Bowl rings. But the rough edges of his game are why he doesn't rank higher.

6. Rivers. Tremendous pure passer. Needs to demonstrate that he can consistently deliver in the clutch, especially in the postseason.

7. Vick. He has made considerable strides toward being a complete quarterback, and no one on this list can match what he can do on his feet. But he'll need to do some damage in the playoffs to move up.

Nye: Riders rookies facing uphill road at camp

2011-06-01T13:17:00.001-07:00

Jamie Nye
CFL.ca

There is nothing like the first day.

On Wednesday at 2pm the Saskatchewan Roughriders press the refresh button as 2010’s disappointment is officially last year territory and Day One of the 2011 season begins with rookie camp.

For the crop of new comers they should all know what their job is, to make it to Day One of main camp on Sunday and from there try to make a roster that has very little room for new bodies.

Too bad for the Roughrider rookies, their job is going to be nearly impossible to crack the July 3rd opening day roster, especially if they’re an import.

48 players have returned from last year and another nine players have come from other CFL teams, via free agency or trade in the off-season.

So for the newcomers to the CFL there are 57 veterans they need to outwork and outplay to crack the roster or at the very least receive a practice roster invite to collect a pay cheque for the season.

Good Luck!

The likelihood of a rookie making a huge impact on the Riders is slim. The 12th overall pick and Saskatchewan’s first selection, Craig Butler, is already the rookie of the year favourite for the Roughriders, just like Shomari Williams (1st overall in 2010) was last year.

Williams was the only rookie to vote for because he was the ONLY rookie until injuries started piling up for the Riders in late 2010.

It looks like history will repeat itself with so many CFL veterans looking to fill the holes this year.

Butler does come in with many believing he’s athletic enough to start off as a good special teams player and later, back-up in the defensive back field.

If kicker Christopher Milo shows he can boot the ball like a pro, he could very well be the rookie of the year, as Luca Congi’s season remains in question with the terrible knee injury his suffered near the end of the 2010 season and there are still questions on whether import Eddie Johnson can handle all three kicking duties.

We all know Johnson can kick the skin off the football as a punter, but last year it was a bit of an adventure when he lined up for field goals.

Outside of those two, there aren’t many players you see coming to Riders rookie camp that look like they’ll make an impact in their first year until the injuries start piling up. General Manager Brendan Taman and Vice President of Football Operations Ken Miller are clearly more comfortable going with veteran experience over youthful exuberance when filling out a roster.

When the team released Marcus Adams along the defensive line, it appeared as though it was youngster and giant Rodrique Wright’s job to lose.

A week later, they signed Dario Romero, who is a year older than Adams.

Of course having a veteran laden squad isn’t a bad problem to have for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but there is a concern that time is starting to run short on veterans like Gene Makowsky, Dan Goodspeed, Wes Cates and Barrin Simpson.

The team has seen veterans head for the hills over the last few seasons, like Scott Schultz, Eddie Davis and most recently Jeremy O’Day.

So what did Saskatchewan do when O’Day announced his retirement after an all-star career? They signed 34-year old George Hudson as insurance, though it looks like it is time for Marc Parenteau or youngsters like Nick Hutchins or Dan Clark to take over the centre spot.

So you see why rookie camp has taken over a different look than in years past under former GM Eric Tillman, when John Chick, Weston Dressler, Sean Lucas, Lance Frazier and James Patrick came in and were given large rolls right away or at least very early in their CFL careers.

But Taman and Miller’s philosophy, though different, can be defended quite easily with the play of three young men last season.

Jerrell Freeman was in and out of the Riders’ defence last season on a rotation at defensive end and linebacker. When Freeman was given full-time duty in the playoffs he was simply outstanding.

Cary Koch stepped in late in the season and almost stole the rookie of the year nomination away from Shomari Williams. Koch’s talent was showcased with his catch in the back of the endzone at the end of the first half in the West Final.

Byron Bullock, like Koch, didn’t get to shine until late in the season and into the playoffs because of injury, but the player who borrowed money to get to the Riders free agent camp in the spring of 2010 showed that the time he was given to get settled paid off with a strong playoff performance.

The rookies in Saskatchewan will line-up for three days and hype regarding some new faces will definitely heat up in Saskatchewan. But the rookies who make the grade will need the same patience the previous three players showed as the Riders need depth, not instant stardom, from their crop of freshmen.

Although if a star is born, that’ll be nice to.

Riders release Szarka; Rob Bagg hurt

2011-06-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

THE CANADIAN PRESS

REGINA -- Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Rob Bagg has re-injured his knee during off-season training.

He was expected to undergo surgery to repair the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Wednesday. The 26-year-old will be added to the nine-game injured list at the start of the CFL season.

Bagg, a six-foot, 190-pound native of Kingston, Ont., had three touchdowns and 688 receiving yards with the Riders last season.

"This is obviously very disappointing news for Rob and for the club," Saskatchewan general manager Brendan Taman said in a release.

"Rob is a consummate pro and is a leader in our locker-room. While it will be tough for Rob and the entire team to lose him on the field, we look forward to having his positive attitude and influence in the locker-room throughout the year."

Bagg had previously torn the ACL during a game against Calgary in October. He missed the final three games of the season and the Riders' playoff run.

Also Wednesday, the Riders released veteran fullback Chris Szarka. He spent the last 14 seasons with the team.

Szarka, 36, had 439 carries for 1,723 yards and 33 rushing touchdowns over his career for the Riders. He also had 98 receptions for 1,308 yards and five touchdowns.

Shaq announces retirement on short video

2011-06-01T13:11:00.000-07:00

BOSTON (AP) -- Shaquille O'Neal, who struggled to get on the court for the Boston Celtics because of leg injuries, said on Twitter on Wednesday that he is going to retire after a 19-year career in which he won four NBA titles and the 2000 league Most Valuable Player award.

O'Neal sent a tweet shortly before 2:45 p.m. saying, "im retiring." It included a link to a 16-second video in which he says, "We did it; 19 years, baby. Thank you very much. That's why I'm telling you first: I'm about to retire. Love you. Talk to you soon."

An inveterate pranskter who gave himself a new nickname - or several - in each of his six NBA cities, the Big Shamroq did not notify his latest team of his plans. He played just 37 games this year, the first of a two-year deal at the veteran's minimum salary, making just three brief appearances after Feb. 1.

"To my knowledge, he has not informed any of us that he's retiring," Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said.

Heat's Miller plans to play in Game 2

2011-06-01T13:09:00.000-07:00

MIAMI (AP) -- Miami Heat reserve guard Mike Miller is back at practice, less than 24 hours after leaving the arena with his left arm in a sling.

Miller said Wednesday he'll be ready for Game 2 of the NBA finals Thursday against the Dallas Mavericks. He wore a sleeve on his arm during Game 1 and grimaced several times while managing six points and five rebounds in 20 minutes.

Miller missed much of the season with a series of injuries, but was part of a superior bench effort in the 92-84 win over Dallas. The Heat reserves outscored the Mavericks' reserves 27-17 and outrebounded them 15-8.

TV ratings for Game 1 of Finals highest since 2004

2011-06-01T13:06:00.000-07:00

MIAMI (AP) -- Game 1 of the Miami-Dallas matchup in the NBA finals generated a 10.7 overnight rating on ABC, the most for an opening game in the league's title series since 2004.

The network said that's up 3 percent over the numbers generated by Game 1 of the Los Angeles Lakers-Boston Celtics meeting in the finals last year, and up 15 percent over the opener of the Heat-Mavericks series in 2006.

Miami was the highest-rated metered market with a 31.9 rating, up 28 percent over Game 1 of the 2006 finals. Dallas (29.9) was the market watching second-most, followed by West Palm Beach, San Antonio, Memphis, New Orleans and Cleveland -- the city where LeBron James spent his first seven seasons.

Ratings represent the percentage of all homes with televisions tuned into a program. Overnight ratings represent the nation's largest markets.

Canucks fever rising as fans await puck drop

2011-06-01T13:02:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Canucks fever is sweeping across B.C. as anxious fans await the start of the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs against the Boston Bruins.

The game begins at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) on Wednesday on CBC Television.

In offices, team jerseys have replaced business wear, on the streets cars and trucks are sporting flags and some new paint jobs, and thousands of people are making plans to slip out of work early to catch the puck drop.

Even the granite lions that guard the entrance to the Lions Gate Bridge are sporting two custom-made team jerseys.

It's been 17 years since the Canucks last made the final round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, but hopes are high that the team, which finished first in the league this year, will emerge victorious.

Even Premier Christy Clark has gotten in on the action, betting Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick a packet of smoked salmon and tray of Nanaimo bars against his best Boston clam chowder, that the Canucks will take the series.

The loser will also have to pose for photos in the winning team's jersey.

Stanley Cup Showdown on the Left Coast

2011-06-01T12:37:00.000-07:00

Tonight the Stanley Cup Finals get started in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada for all you south of the border). Vancouver's presence marks their first since since the New York Rangers broke their hearts in 1994. Boston hasn't been back since the Edmonton Oilers beat them to win their last cup in 1990.

This year's final is going to be spectacular I think with the edge going to whichever goaltender plays up to his capabilities. Roberto Luongo has been dubbed a playoff choker having been to the playoffs but never reaching the finals. This year he looks stellar and in some game absolutely unbeatable. Tim Thomas has been a rock this season setting a new record for Best Save Percentage and will likely win another Vezina Trophy.

Canuck fans eyes will be on power Forward Ryan Kessler as it is no secret he has been hampered with injuries in these playoffs and we may also see the return of Manny Malhotra to the Vancouver lineup at some point in this series. Mikael Samuelsson is out after having surgery during the Conference Finals. Boston for the most part is healthy as a bear (pardon the pun).

Puck drop is live from Vancouver's Rogers Arena at 8:00 Eastern Time where else but Hockey Night in Canada on CBC.

Welcome

2011-06-01T10:01:00.000-07:00

Welcome to GameTime Sports Blog.

Here we will try to keep you updated on all your favourite sports news, scores, teams, players, etc. You will notice that we are just starting off with the major North American sports at first but as we progress and get a bigger following we will absolutely be moving into all sports worldwide so please join us and watch us grow or come back and join later.

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GSB