Jake Shields will square up with current UFC Welterweight champion Georges “Rush” St. Pierre in a five round battle in Toronto, Ontario at UFC 129 on April 30.
Shields, who hasn’t lost a fight six years, since December 14, 2004 to be exact, is looking to claim his fifth professional mixed martial arts title. He already holds belts in Strikeforce (Middleweight), Elite Xtreme Combat (Welterweight), Professional Shoto Japan (Middleweight), and Rumble on the Rock (Welterweight tournament winner).
Georges St. Pierre taking down Thiago Alves. Photo from sportsnickle.com
“I’ve been in these other shows and heard everyone say GSP is the greatest,” said Shields in a MMA News Leak interview. “When I was over in EliteXC beating everyone else, when I was in Strikeforce beating everyone else, at Rumble on the Rock and everyone kept on talking about GSP, I kept on winning and winning and beating good competition. I’ve been looking at this guy and wanting to fight him for years.”
In fact, Shields has kept winning and winning. Since 2004, he has been on a winning streak, defeating fighter after fighter. And now, with all his hard work paying off, he finally gets the shot to hold the title in the most reputable promotion.
“To become the UFC welterweight champion would mean everything to me,” said Shields. “This is what I’ve spent my last 11 years pursuing with all my energy.”
On the other side of the octagon, Georges St. Pierre has now defended his Welterweight title five times since 2008, when he took it from Matt Serra with a TKO due to knees to the body in the second round and is looking to make it a sixth time.
“Jake Shields is the most dangerous guy that I have fought so far but in a different way than most of the guys I have fought,” said St. Pierre to SportsRaidoInterview.com. “A lot of the guys I have fought in the past have a punchers chance. Everybody says you have to watch out for one thing, but Jake Shields has different tools than most of the guys that I have fought.”
One thing that Jake Shields is know for is his grappling. Shields has a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and was a Division II wrestler at San Fransisco State University.
Randy Couture landing a punch on Tim Silvia. Photo from bleachreport.com
“He’s a very good grappler, probably the best jiu-jitsu guy in the sport, plus now he’s been working very hard on his Muay Thai, so he’s the kind of guy who’s going to try and knock me out standing up and try and submit me on the floor. I have to watch out for a lot of things,” St. Pierre said.
Also, history will be made at UFC 129, when Randy “The Natural” Couture (47) makes his farewell, fighting Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida in Couture’s last fight of his career.
Couture began his mixed martial arts carerr at UFC 13 in 1997 and is currently 19-10 (Las Vegas Sun). He has been champion in both the Heavyweight and Light-Heavyweight division.
“Win, lose or draw, it doesn’t really factor into the equation,” Couture said. It’s about where I’m at in my life. I’ve been doing this for a long time.”
Machida, who was a former Light-Heavyweight champion, is set to make his way back up the title contender ladder.
“I feel like Randy Couture has built a history in this sport and helped build the sport to what it is today,” Machida said through a translator. “It’s an honor to be able to fight him. Out of respect, I want to give my best to Randy Couture on that night.”
“I watch Nascar as much as I can and try to fit it into my schedule.”
Though the opinion may vary when it comes to who’s the best driver, all fans have one thing in common and that is the love for Nascar.
But everyone does have a favorite driver.
“My favorite racer is Dale Earnhardt Jr., he is a great driver and seems like a nice guy,” claims Borden.
Preparation for watching the big race is key. You need the right snacks or food to intertwine with a drink to create the perfect meal to go with the race. Ian Borden buys a lot of snacks before each race.
“The best part are the crashes,” Borden said with high energy.
It seems many students at Penn Manor like Nascar. But they’re not always eager to admit it.
One local Nascar fan requested to remain anonymous. She didn’t want her name used but she said she thinks Nascar is good for her family.
“I like Nascar because my family and I watch it and it brings us closer,” said the freshman at Penn Manor.
Once again Dale Earnhardt Jr. comes into play.
“My favorite racer is Dale Earnhardt Jr. because my grandma really likes him and it rubbed off on me,” said the girl who makes wings and orders pizza before each race with her family.
“Some crashes are cool but when somebody gets hurt, it’s not too cool,” said the girl.
Nascar is a popular sport among American citizens. There are many fans to the Nascar world. Some are huge fans and some just watch it because it’s enjoyable.
Whatever the case may be, it’s safe to say that Nascar will be around for a very long time.
That’s the only way to describe the NBA Playoffs. The Playoffs have been exciting but predictable for the last decade. A lot of Duncan and the Spurs, Kobe and the Lakers, and LeBron James attempting to carry a team on his back to the promise land.
Not this year.
The Playoffs are up for grabs to any team who’s hot and can seize the opportunity; although, the reliable, veteran teams are still very much in contention to win the NBA Finals.
Miami Heat – After all of the preseason hype, the speculations, the Big Three (LeBron, D-Wade, Bosh) dancing on stage like pop superstars, and a general arrogance that has rubbed many people the wrong way, they have actually performed well. They haven’t lived up to the expectations of some, though.
NBA on ABC commentator Jeff Van Gundy is a part of that some.
“They will break the (Michael Jordan Bulls’) single-season win record (of 72),” Van Gundy told Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. “And I think they have a legit shot at the Lakers’ 33-game (1971-72 winning streak) as well. And only the Lakers have even a remote shot at beating them in a playoff series,” Van Gundy predicted.
Extreme expectations go hand-in-hand with extreme talent. The Heat signed LeBron James and Chris Bosh during the off-season to maximum contracts (max allowed with salary cap), to go along with former Finals MVP Dwayne Wade.
James and Wade are second and fourth in points-per-game, respectively. They share the perimeter scoring load and they work well together. The Heat have no problem with playing transition basketball. The combination of LeBron’s court vision and basketball IQ, along with Wade’s athleticism and craftiness, makes for a lethal combination in the open court.
But it’s not all glamor and glitz in Miami.
The NBA Finals trophy is what every player dreams about. Photo credit http://sports.dailycontributor.com.
The Heat struggle against the best teams in the league. They are 2-8 against the top 5 teams. Their half-court offense looks stagnant at times, partly because the Heat are the oldest team in the league. Besides the Big Three and Mario Chalmers, the Heat are old, slow and lack explosiveness. Regardless, The Heat are 6th in team defense and have athletes that can defend multiple positions, but can they get past the Celtics or Bulls with a 7-8 man rotation?
X-FACTOR – Chris Bosh. Without Bosh, the Heat would run a strictly perimeter offensive set, and frankly, it looks like Wade and LeBron sometimes forget Bosh is on the court. Perhaps he just isn’t working hard enough without the ball – either way, they need to get Bosh in pick & pop, pick & roll, and post-up situations. He is multidimensional in the post, with the ability to fade, pull up, or take most big men off the dribble. They need him to be aggressive.
San Antonio Spurs – The San Antonio Spurs organization has been a model franchise for over a decade. They make savvy draft picks, keep their star players happy, and they have arguably the best coach in the league, Greg Popavich. “Pop” has been around for decades and has won four championships with the Spurs.
This year is no different. The Spurs have the NBA’s best record, despite being the sixth oldest team in the league. The Spurs continuously prove that in order to be a great NBA team, you have to be well-rounded.
Tim Duncan lives basketball. He is fundamentally sound in every way, but Duncan is at a career low in scoring at 13 points per game and now relies on the French point guard Tony Parker to pick up most of the scoring. Parker runs the show for the Spurs, and he does it efficiently. Manu Ginobili is very shifty around the rim and has out-of-the-gym range. And when it’s crunch-time, Ginobili never shrinks under pressure. Expect him to be taking to clutch shots for the Spurs.
San Antonio’s one and only weakness is their lack of size. They are weak at the center position, and will be bullied by bigger teams, like the Thunder and Lakers. Although, their experienced line-up should give them an advantage.
X-FACTOR – Richard Jefferson. The Spurs need Jefferson’s energy, athleticism, and three-point shooting ability. Jefferson is shooting 43% from beyond the arc, which is 9th in the NBA. When he’s knocking down open shots and playing well, the Spurs will be hard to beat.
MVP canidate Derrick Rose attacks the hoop.
Chicago Bulls – The Bulls are for real. Losing four of five to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the first round last year put a chip on MVP candidate Derrick Rose’s shoulder. Rose, Carlos Boozer and Joakim Noah are one of the best “big three’s” in the NBA.
First year coach Tom Thibodeau is a defensive genius, coming from the Boston Celtics coaching staff. Ranked first in opponents points allowed, the Bulls play lock down “D.” Noah is the anchor of the defense and averages 12 rebounds a game. Luol Deng is an experienced player with a great basketball IQ. He makes the right decisions with the ball and has very polished game compared to other third scoring options around the league.
X-FACTOR – Carlos Boozer.He has struggled with staying healthy this year, but when he is on the court, the Bulls play much better. Rose and Boozer work well together, even with the limited number of games they’ve played on the same court. Look out for the D-Rose and Boozer pick & roll in the Playoffs.
Boston Celtics – The Celtics are back and they’ve added some new pieces, but it starts and ends with All-Star point guard Rajon Rondo. Leading the NBA in assists, he distributes the ball effortlessly to his co-stars. All-stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and sharpshooter Ray Allen know what to do when Rondo gets them the ball in their spots.
Although, the Celtics did make some questionable off-season and in-season transactions. The roster additions of Jermaine O’Neal and Shaquille O’Neal brought height and experience, but they both have a lot of wear and tear. Injuries plague the two, and the Celtics need back-up big men who are reliable during Playoff time. The acquisitions of Jeff Green and Nenad Kristic provide the front court with skill, but they gave away the toughness of Kendrick Perkins, and the energy and streaky scoring ability of Nate Robinson.
Still, the Celtics lead the league in team defense, giving up only 91 points a game. We’ll see if the Celtics can make it back to the Finals with their new-look squad.
X-FACTOR – Paul Pierce. He has been with this team since the very start. He was in Boston when they could barely win 30 games in a season. Now, they are perennial Finals contenders. They need Pierce to be there in the clutch. His patented step back at the elbow is practically impossible to defend. So, when there’s five seconds left in the game and the Celtics are down by one, you already know who’s taking the last shot.
Kobe passes to Pau Gasol for a layup. Photo credit: life.com.
Los Angeles Lakers – The Lakers are back-to-back NBA champs, but can they get the three-peat? Kobe Bryant, also known as Black Mamba, is the best closer in the Game. Best player ever? Still to be determined. A sixth ring to tie Jordan and his second three-peat wouldn’t hurt his legacy. He is still the most skilled player in the NBA and he plays his best during the Playoffs.
Ron Artest, strong as an ox, gives the NBA’s elite scorers’ nightmares about facing him the next day, but he has the basketball IQ of a brick. Derek Fisher, a defensive liability whenever he is on the floor, but that awkward looking, over-the-left-shoulder jump shot always somehow finds the bottom of the net.
Now, Andrew Bynum is a whole new monster for the Lakers. 11 points and 9 rebounds a game, is great for any team’s starting center. He’s shooting 57% from the floor, which means he’s only taking what the defense gives him, and that’s perfect for the Lakers – especially when he’s paired with a forward as skilled as Pau Gasol. The two seven-footers dominate the paint in two completely different ways, that’s what makes the Lakers so special. The finesse and soft touch near the rim of Pau Gasol is unmatched. Plus he can step out to around 20 feet and knock down the face up jump shot.
The Lakers’ weakness is bench play. Besides Lamar Odom, they can’t rely on any of their bench players. Kobe and Gasol may be stuck with carrying too much of the scoring load. Also, Andrew Bynum’s health has been an issue all year. He has had knee troubles, and is in a constant struggle to stay healthy.
X-FACTOR – Lamar Odom. When he’s playing at the top of his game, there’s not a team in the NBA that can win four out of seven against the Lakers. Having one of his best statistical seasons as a pro, Lamar has really improved his shot selection and is shooting a smooth 54 percent. His versatility is unmatched. He can guard three positions easily and five against most teams.
The Penn Manor Boys Volleyball team took down Ephrata in Tuesday night’s section one match-up.
It was hard to predict how the Comets would match up with the much bigger Ephrata team. Ephrata senior, David Witmer, leads the LL League in solo blocks with 48, and he had a match-high 6 last night.
Carrying a stat line of 25 digs for the Comet boys was sophmore Mark Dano, who was later awarded the game ball by head coach Chris Telesco.
Nearly halfway through the second game of the match, Coach Telesco pulled junior outside hitter Dylan Weber out of the game and the team, for a while, looked lost. It wasn’t until the end of that game that the boys reacted to the change. Down 20-23 in the second game, the Comets rallied back to take the game 25-23.
Sophomore Mark Dano helped provide defense support and left the match with 25 digs and the game ball.
The Comet boys gained momentum with this win, and leveled the playing field in the section, as Penn Manor, Ephrata, and Warwick are all tied for second in section 1 with a record of 4-2.
Hopefully for the Comets this momentum will carry them through the next couple of games as Telesco will be in Hawaii with the chorus for the next few days.
There you are, flipping through the channels trying to find something to watch when suddenly you see a white ball traveling 90 miles per hour into the back of a net as the goalie lunges but misses the save.
It’s lacrosse and it’s on TV.
Lacrosse is one of the fastest growing sports played. According to US Lacrosse, the national governing body of lacrosse, the sport has grown 89.3 percent in the first six years US Lacrosse was established. For this reason lacrosse is being shown on television more than in the past.
Photo Courtesy of CollegeLacrosse2010.com
“Lacrosse in growing at about 10 percent per year from 2001 to 2009,” said Chris Snyder, Manager of Coaches education and Training for US Lacrosse and a former Penn Manor lacrosse coach. “The expectations for more recent years are much bigger. The numbers will be out around May 15.”
A couple years ago, lacrosse was almost nowhere to be found on TV. The sport was still growing in popularity but not everyone paid attention to it.
The VERSUS Network was the first network to show lacrosse. They aired NLL games or National Lacrosse League. NLL is an indoor lacrosse league played in a hockey rink. The stadium puts turf over the ice. The game is fast paced with a lot of hitting, scoring, and offensive tricks.
The NLL has ten franchises playing major North American arenas: Boston Blazers, Philadelphia Wings, Buffalo Bandits, Toronto Rock, Colorado Mammoth, Minnesota Swarm, Washington Stealth, Rochester Knighthawks, Edmonton Rush and Calgary Roughnecks. The NLL has averaged more than 10,000 fans per game over the last six years
Photo Courtesy of SimplyLacrosse.com
“Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport and the NLL features the most talented, toughest lacrosse players in the world.VERSUS is the perfect broadcast partner for us to showcase our dynamic league to a national audience,” said NLL Commissioner George Daniel. (Interview on VERSUS.com)
This year VERSUS will show nine games, plus the All-Star game at the end of the year.
“We are very excited to announce this new partnership with the National Lacrosse League and to be able to televise this fast growing sport on one of the fastest growing sports cable networks in the country,” said Jeff Goldberg, Vice President of Programming for VERSUS. (Interview on VERSUS.com)
Goldberg isn’t the only one who is excited about the deal. “It’s enjoyable. It’s something new and different,” said senior lacrosse player Mark Curtin.
Curtin agrees the sport is growing in popularity on television.
According to laxbuzz.com, in 2000, between ESPN, Time Warner, CSTV/CBS College Sports and CN8 there were 14 NCAA men’s and women’s lacrosse games and 2 MLL (Major League Lacrosse) games aired. In 2005 there were 55 NCAA games and 8 MLL. Just three years ago in 2008 the numbers jumped to 91 NCAA games as well as championship tournaments and 22 MLL games. Not to mention the NLL games aired.
“The sport is growing so fast the number of coaches required for the whole nation is increasing at 30 percent per year,” said Snyder. “Demand grows faster than we have resources to use.”
“Well hit to deep left field. Goodbye! Way, way outta here! ”
The Penn Manor baseball team has came out of the gate with a rough start (2-5), but they have inspirations to make a turn-a-round and improve their upsetting record.
The team is struggling but they’re only a few clutch hits from being a 6-1 team.
Zach Rayha, senior second baseman with no errors this season, is working with such a young team.
“The main thing is just communicating with everyone and knowing what to do when the ball is hit,” Rayha insisted.
The comets are in the heart of their schedule as they’re in league play although they’ve been struggling within their division going 0-3, but look to acquire their first division victory against McCaskey high school.
The team will need a few sparks with rising stars from the squad from Sophomores Zak Burke, Darren Weidman and Alex Quinn.
Burke and Quinn both developed into great basketball players and have plenty of potential to take it to the baseball diamond to help the Comets program this season along with leading the team in future seasons.
The 2-5 record is misleading for the bunch as they have an opportunity to reach districts, according to Rayha.
“We still got a good shot at districts. We just need clutch hitting; defensively, we’re fine,” he said.
Tyler Beckley has distinguished himself as the ace of the team with his consistency of hitting his spots well on the corners.
Beckley hasn’t taken any advantages from playing as he understands this could be the last strikes of his life. He plans to attend Mansfield University as a student.
Another player who has been marking up the stat sheet is junior Joe Witmer.
Witmer has been working in as the closer and has been extremely productive. His go-to pitch has been the curveball down the stretch and seems to locate the strike zone even more-so than his fastball.
Cameron Gallagher, a Manheim Township stud athlete with hopes of attending the majors after getting drafted was sat down by Witmer from the nasty curveball.
Penn Manor looks to put together all their talents with the remaining games to rise to the top of the division as they have a shot against all of Section 1 one more time.
After McCaskey, the bunch will take on rival Hempfield on Thursday, April 14. Hempfield should be a true test as they’re 3-1 in division play.
Penn Manor winter athletes excel in county, with 5 athletes being nominated to Lancaster Newspaper’s winter sports all-star edition.
Seniors; Coty Johnson, Bobby Rehm, Evan Singleton, and Jess Burkhart and junior Brendan Yarnell were mentioned in today’s paper.
Coty Johnson and Brendan Yarnell brought the bowling team 2 championships, as Coty Johnson was the L-L League singles champion and Brendan Yarnell was the District III singles champion.
Bobby Rehm wrestling in the 2010 AAA PIAA state tournament. Photo Courtesy pennlive.com
Bobbby Rehm finished his Penn Manor wrestling career with a record of 132-37 in the 125-lb weight class, and 49-3 coming in his senior season. Bobby earned 3 championships this year, winning the L-L League, AAA Sectionals, and District III. He finished 5th in the AAA PIAA State tournament.
Evan Singleton also had a good senior wrestling season, finishing the season with a record of 38-8 in the 285-lb weight class.
Jess Burkhart was the lone Penn Manor swimmer in today’s paper, Burkhart finished 6th in District III 50 meter freestyle with a time of 24.61 seconds.
Dan Elliot was also nominated to the 1st team all-section 1 team. Marc Summy had an honorable mention.
A great season and one win away from yet another NCAA championship fell short for the Huskies.
A tough Notre Dame team came ready to tackle the Huskies came out on top with a 72-63 victory over the dominating UConn women who were chasing their third straight title couldn’t handle Notre Dames forward Skylar Diggins.
Digging had a season high Sunday night April third with 28 points, 4 rebounds 6 assists, 2 steals to lead her team to the NCAA championship game against Texas A&M.
“I thought Skylar was just amazing, simply amazing today,” Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said in an interview after the game.
Notre Dame logo Photo by google.com
“I don’t know that you could wish for somebody better to spend four years with,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said of Maya Moore in an interview after the game. “I don’t think she needs to hang her head one bit.”
Moore had a game high of 36 points couldn’t get her team involved because of tough defense by Digging.
“She ran the team, she scored, she made good passes, good decisions,” McGraw said of Diggins in an interview after the game. “She’s an amazing talent and there’s probably nothing she can’t do when she puts her mind to it.”
UConn is a hard team to beat but anything can happen when you play great defense on the all star forward Maya Moore and make her take over and stop her from getting her team involved.
UConn logo Photo by google.com
Trailing 34-26 early in the second half, Diggins’ three-point play started a 15-4 run by the Irish. Devereaux Peters’ added her own three-point play that gave Notre Dame a 38-37 advantage their first lead since midway through the first half.
“I thought they were much more the aggressive team in taking the ball to the basket,” Auriemma said in an interview after the game. “They’ve been a great team all year. It’s their turn.”
Now with a tough loss for UConn Notre Dame will be in the championship game tomorrow April fifth against Texas A&M to see how is the NCAA women basketball champion.
Rewind the clock about 11 months. The Philadelphia Flyers just shocked the world with their stunning performance on their road to the Stanley Cup finals with dramatic wins over Boston and New Jersey, where they fell short to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Now fast-forward to present day.
With a Stanley Cup appearance on their backs from last year, the Philadelphia Flyers have a lot of expectations to live up to in the short-coming playoff season. The Flyers will close out the regular season with back-to-back games tonight and Saturday against their first-round playoff opponent, the Buffalo Sabres tonight and the New York Islanders the following day.
Scott Hartnell with a vicious check on the Blackhawks. Photo by Suchat Pederson
The Flyers throughout the regular season held the first place spot in the Eastern Conference. But with the loss of Chris Pronger, Flyers star defender who suffered a broken hand in February, their season took a turn for the worst.
The Flyers are currently on a four-game losing streak and even worse, have lost the last six home games. From this drought, the team lost their first place spot to the Washington Capitals, who are led by captain Alexander Ovechkin.
“It’s always good to talk about what needs to be done, but talk is cheap,” Pronger said in an interview with Dan Gelston, AP Sports Writer for Yahoo Sports. “We’ve got to go out and prove it on the ice.”
Throughout all of this struggle, there is still hope for this Philadelphia team. If the Washington Capitals, who are on a four-game winning streak, lose to Florida in regular time, the Flyers can steal back their first place spot.
“We’ve been waiting for eight months to get to the playoffs,” Flyers forward Scott Hartnell said. “Seven months out of those eight, we’ve been great. This last month, we’ve not been great. Maybe it’s a lull before we get jacked up again.”
Flyers celebrating a goal. Photo by Mel Evans
One thing that is for sure about the Flyers postseason, is the man in front of the net.
Head coach Peter Laviolette has already posted that goalie Sergei Bobrovsky will be getting the start in game one. The rookie goaltender has had an outstanding year with 28 wins, a .917 save percentage and a 2.51 goals-against average. Bobrovsky is getting the start over last years standout goalie Brian Boucher.
“Paul (Holmgren) made the decision yesterday was the time for (Leighton) to come back up here,” Laviolette said. “He gives us more depth in that spot with his experience. But to start the playoffs, Bob will be the guy in net.”
For the Flyers, it’s gut-check time and no one sums it up better than Danny Breier, Flyers right wing.
“I think it needed to be done. But, at the same time, it is time to stop talking and start acting it out on the ice,” Briere said. “There were lots of little things that needed to be said. That’s step one. Step two is to finish it strong. And step three will be to start the playoffs.”
Penn Manor is trotting toward a day of family, fitness and fun.
A “leisurely walk/jog and wellness experience for all ages,” according to the event’s organizer, will be held for PM students, staff and community members on Saturday, April 16.
The Comet Trot is coming to Penn Manor
“The district’s first Comet Trot was in November of 2009. Since that time a number of district employees (including the wellness committee) have been reflecting on how we can better an already successful event. In the past few months, these same individuals as well as community sponsors have been working hard to plan for an exciting day of wellness.” said Jason Binkley, coordinator of the Trot.
The benefits of the Comet Trot will go to the PM Family Fund and families in need within the Penn Manor School District.
Local businesses are giving support towards the event.
Ann Letort Elementary PTO, Millersville Subway and John Herr’s Village Markets are three of the 19 businesses sponsoring the Trot.
According to Binkly, Lancaster General Hospital will be performing height, weight and body mass index screenings. LGH will also have an interactive booth with activities like
Hidden Pitfalls- sugar, salt and fat- displays that show the fat, sugar and salt content that make up some of our common foods.
Grip Strength- A grip test offered to participants and the table will also offer information about exercise.
Steps to a Healthier You- A display of the food pyramid, the right portions of food that should be eaten and daily exercise activities.
Binkly is expecting a great turnout.
“My expectations are that the school district and our community members can come together for a fun filled day of wellness. It is also my expectation that we will be able to make significant contributions to the PM family fund at the completion of the event.” said Binkley.
The trot will begin at 10:30 a.m. and end at 1 p.m., rain or shine. The cost is $3 for adults and $1 for students.
