Graeme McDowell storms to French Open

GRAEME McDowell produced a final round four-under-par 67 to lead home the field by four strokes to become the first Northern Irishman to win the French Open.

2010 U.S. Open champion finished the tournament with a total of nine-under-par 275 in the final round at first strained finally be showing a man with McDowell cantering home to pick winners cheque 500,000 euros ($ 711,000).

Nearest rival at Le Golf National, Richard Sterne of South Africa, who held the lead after nine holes before collapsing down the stretch and finishing with three bogeys in six holes.

McDowell rock solid game only for four bogeys throughout the tournament was the second victory of the year basic.

Sterne settled for second on five-under-par 279.

English and Spanish Graeme Storm Eduardo De La Riva has been paired together for the final round and both men fired 69S two-under-par to claim part of the third place at four-under.

“I've always felt that this golf course is one I can get around well. And coming into this week has been a bit strange for me, too many missed cuts and a little bit inconsistent,” said McDowell.

“I felt my confidence coming back and hit the ball beautifully Thursday, Friday, Saturday. And today I was very realistic about my chances.”

Sterne led by one shot after a see-saw nine holes before McDowell birdied the 10th to draw level and is seen as South Africa drives tee shot on the 11th into the rough.

With no obvious side green, Sterne did well to get the pin 40 feet before getting into the first two bogey afternoon, McDowell put back in the driving seat at eight under.

The 31-year-old from Pretoria, looks certain to lose more ground on 13 when he sliced ​​a second shot into the water but fine approach shot 25 feet to save par prevent a back.

McDowell, who is looking for sixth win in eight games play a stroke when leading after three rounds, and Sterne then heading towards what most players have described as the toughest four finishing holes on the European Tour.

Both players pared 15 before the treacherous past three16th produced another swing on luck to McDowell.

His tee shot missed the green before leaving lucky bounce the ball in a position where he was able to two-putt for par.

Sterne Meanwhile, the pressure took its toll when he missed the 10-foot putts for par and second bogey in five holes ahead of McDowell handed two shots with two holes to play. He never looked back.

McDowell's win following his victory earlier this year at the Volvo World Match Play Championship and put him in second place in the Race to Dubai at 1530715 €, just 27,185 behind U.S. Open champion Justin Rose.

News from: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/golf/graeme-mcdowell-storms-to-french-open/story-fnaxw0m2-1226675818685

By: YC

JILL PAINTER: Kobe Bryant not worried about Dwight Howard or his Achilles

GOLETA - Kobe Bryant walks around without a limp and a funny look the same questions that accompanied doubt whether the Lakers will be a championship contender in the era after Dwight Howard.

That's more like Bryant Lakers fans have come to know and love. Bryant is on the road to recovery from Achilles tendon surgery and clearly is ready to move past the Howard era. He did not dissect and wonder and reeling over what the Lakers can do to keep Howard fragile here.

"You think once a guy goes someplace else I'm going to waste my time trying to figure out why that happened?" Bryant said.

Believe him. He was over Howard as fast as he could hit that unfollow link on Twitter.

On Wednesday, Bryant started a basketball camp on the campus of UC Santa Barbara announced his theme for the week: the challenge. He lived with the theme of each session restoration, and has just been through the ringer Howard independent agency with the rest of the NBA.

Young campers praising walk to midcourt at the event, a move that looks like he can dial into the sprint to the hoop and dunk with authority in the blink of an eye.

“He could shoot”, he said, but he's not yet.

"We just don't trust that the tendon is holding," Bryant said. "Typically, it's four months minimum until the tendon is holding, and it's not going to overstretch. We'll just wait until that window."

Bryant is progressing faster than was expected, he said, but we still don't have a return date. Faster is better for the Lakers, who return essentially the same team, only without Howard and with Chris Kaman. They're better off without all that Dwightmare drama.

Bryant will walk and talk with campers, but there won't be any show-and-tell drills.

"The Lakers would have a heart attack," Bryant said. "I'll just kind of be walking through showing them things."

One of the things that he wanted to emphasize to them is competition. Not afraid to be competitive. He told the camp he wanted them to work on things they do not already know how, like dribbling with their left hand, instead of doing what they already controlled.

Competing in Los Angeles is not for Howard. Howard could not hack the pressure. Why else would he walk away from $ 30 million more than he got with the Rockets and the opportunity to play with Bryant?

Asked if he didn't think Howard was mentally tough enough to be a Laker, Bryant said: "I don't really know about that. Everybody is cut differently. He has his way of leading that he feels would be most effective and works for him.

"Obviously, the way we've gone about it with this organization and the leaders we've had -- myself, Magic and Kareem -- we've done it a different way."

Bryant’s media session here is more about Howard than anything, and that's the way it should be. Especially after Bryant posted a photo snarky of himself and Pau Gasol and the Lakers heart (written in Spanish) on it, as if a fine shot at Howard. He also unfollowed Howard on Twitter, though he laughed when asked about the famous unfollow.

"Listen. It's just me. That's how I am," Bryant said. "I have a hard time following people that want to beat us. I have a hard time doing that.

"Not to say we're not friends or I don't respect him. It's just that I have a hard time doing that."

Reportedly, Bryant had challenged Howard in the Howard meeting with Lakers' brass. Steve Nash did not feel as if the Lakers had a shot and was surprised Howard did not feel his teammates had his back.

Bryant gave us a view of the meeting he walked into recently.

"I didn't know what to expect, to be honest with you," Bryant said. "I walked in there and everybody is sitting down and everybody is quiet. I didn't know what the hell was going on. Everybody was dead-ass serious. It was pretty funny to me. I didn't have a sense one way or the other. I felt it was a good conversation."

It wasn't good enough for Howard to return to the Lakers in the end.

The Lakers' public fawning over Howard -- complete with the "StayD12" billboards, both stationary and movable -- didn't appear to anger Bryant.

"It's fine. What the hell do I care?" Bryant asked. "I think it's great.

"If you want a player back, you have to do whatever you can to bring him back."

And that's why the Lakers' physical therapist, Judy Seto, is traveling with Bryant everywhere he goes, in an effort to bring Bryant back from injury sooner rather than later.

He's the important piece to the Lakers puzzle. The pieces surely won't equal a championship this year, to which Bryant responded: "I'm going to fold the tent and white flag it. We have no shot."

Denote heavy sarcasm.

With the salary cap freed and free agents like LeBron James available in 2014, anything is possible.

No more limp. No more Howard. With a healthy dose of Bryant's competitive talk. The Lakers star is on his way back.

News from: http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_23638099/painter-kobe-bryant-not-worried-about-dwight-howard

By: YC

Derek Jeter to return to Yankees lineup Thursday against Royals: report

MOOSIC, Pa. — The Yankees ship will once again be steered by The Captain.

On Thursday Derek Jeter will be wearing pinstripes for the first time since suffering a broken ankle against the Detroit Tigers in Game 1 of the 2012 ALCS, according to a FoxSports.com report. He is expected to be penciled in as the shortstop or designated hitter when Andy Pettitte takes the ball for the Bombers against Kansas City's Ervin Santana at 1 p.m. in the Bronx, says the report, which cites Major League sources.

Although the report was originally expected Jeter to be back on Friday, the Yankees must have seen something in the final game with Triple-A rehab Scranton-Wilkes/Barre on Wednesday night.

Yankee captain appeared to move well on the ankle twisted and has broken on his left, but he experienced moments between seven chance of rust resistance in seven innings - including a throwing error - in the Scranton / Wilkes-Barre 's 5-1 loss to Rochester.

“I felt good. A lot of different situations happened, but everything was great,” said Jeter, who left the game following a 21-minute delay in the bottom of the seventh inning caused by a power outage at PNC Field. 

“There were a couple of different types of plays... Just a little timing was off. But it was good to do an array of things in the field.”

After the game, Jeter wouldn’t disclose his immediate plans for the next two days, saying, “I ain’t getting in trouble, man.”

Joe Girardi also was coy following the Yankees’ 8-1 win over Kansas City at the Stadium, adding, “I know there’s reports out there. We evaluate it every day and let’s just see where he’s at.”

Earlier, the manager has insisted that the Yankees needed to see Jeter play long innings in the field in back to back games before deciding when their captain will make his season debut. If he does play Sunday, that will not be the case.

13-time All-Star made some good plays on the ball he had to charge a fee, but he committed a throwing error in the fifth inning and survived longer when first baseman Dan Johnson scooped his throw bounced in the first. He also double clutched flip to second base in a game that has scored a hit, and he threw late to third on a grounder in the hole.

 “I think I worked in Florida about 20, 30-something days in a row. I’ve been out there back-to-back days, just not back-to-back games,” Jeter said. “So I don’t look at it as a hurdle. They may, but I don’t.”

Jeter also said he did not talk with General Manager Brian Cashman because he admitted he pleaded his case that he felt ready to return before the third match here on Monday.

“Derek would have had himself here last week,” Girardi said. “That’s the bottom line. You have to trust the people that are watching him. There’s not really a lot of (pleading) going on. It’s just he has to play in some games.... We all understand that and we have to make sure he’s ready.”

Jeter, who went hitless in three trips (one strikeout) falls to 1-for-9 with four walks over four appearances recovery, acknowledging the problem persists attack Yanks' without some full-injured has made it more disappointing that he is not yet back in the Bronx before Thursday.

“Of course, the team goes undefeated, I still want to be there, but yeah, you’d like to think you can help,” Jeter said.

“I think all things considered, our team’s done a pretty good job. We’ve had a lot of injuries, a lot of player movement, but I think we’ve held our own.”

                                                                                                       
News from: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/jeter-back-to-back-coming-back-article-1.1395585#ixzz2Yj8kmNQ9

By: YC

Squash: Rachel aims to claw her way back

PETALING JAYA: Top junior Rachel Arnold did not enjoy the best of times at the Asian Junior Squash Championships last month.

So, she cannot wait to make up for the Women's World Junior Championships in Wroclaw, Poland, from July 16 to 27.

The 17-year-old came close to scoring an upset over top choice Anaka Alankamony India in the last quarter of the Under-19 category, but, despite holding a 2-1 lead, she allowed her opponent to come back strong to win in five sets.

Frustrated and unhappy, she is not eager to do better when he makes his world junior debut.

It will not run smoothly for the ninth to the 16th seed, however, because even though the first round bye she attracted to meet Asian Junior Under-17 champion Effluent Shan Choi Hong Kong in the second round.

Victory will see United face Maria Elena Ubina in the third round, with a potential clash against fifth-seeded eighth joint Mariam Ibrahim Metwally Egypt in the last 16.

“It was quite a disappointing Asian Juniors for me because I was nearly through to the semi-finals. But Anaka was simply the better player on that day and I made too many mistakes,” said Rachel.

“I’ve learned a lot from that defeat and I’m quite sure I will not make the same mistakes.

“As for the World Juniors, I’m quite excited as it’s my debut. I’m also a little nervous because there’s also the team event ... which adds more pressure.”

Team events range from 22 to 27 July, a day after the end of the individual competition. Malaysia is ranked sixth in 2011.

“I played in the team events in Sukma and also the Asian Juniors, but the world juniors will be a different challenge,” said Rachel.

“Luckily, I’ll have Vanessa (Raj) and Celine (Yeap), who played in the 2011 World Junior Championships, with me and I can get some pointers from them,” said Rachel.

The fourth member of the team will be 14-year-old S. Sivasangari.

News from: http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Squash/2013/07/10/Rachel-Arnold-on-WJ.aspx

By: YC

Cavendish sprayed with urine by angry fans at Tour de France

(CNN) -- The Tour de France remains one of the few prestigious events where spectators can almost reach out and touch the riders -- or throw urine on them as Mark Cavendish found out Wednesday.

The British rider, who has been cleared of any wrongdoing following a collision with Tom Veelers just 24 hours before, was the target of angry fans as he rode through the 33 kilometer individual time trial between Avranches and Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy.

Highly fragmented cycling fans spilt over Cavendish - with some unimpressed by his perceived arrogance and a huge ego, while others prefer an insatiable desire to win.

Cavendish refused to talk about the incident after being splashed with urine by angry viewers in the evening he will soon want to forget.

Omega Pharm his teammate Tony Martin won the 11th stage with Chris Froome keeps the yellow jersey, but it was Cavendish who was again in the limelight.

"It is disappointing to hear about one individual like that," Froome told reporters of the incident after extending his lead to three minutes and 25 seconds.

"That's one of the beauties of our sport. Anyone can come and watch at the side of the road and enjoy the excitement and really get close to the top riders in the world.

"Mark is one of the big characters in the sport, and some people love him, some people hate him.

"But to do something disrespectful like that, that's really sad. It ruins the whole atmosphere."

Although it is considered a first-time riders were attacked in such a way that during the Tour, there are other instances where riders have been abused.

In 1975, Eddy Merckx was punched in the kidney in order to claim his sixth Tour victory, while Lance Armstrong was given a bodyguard in 2004 after suffering a death threat.

Cavendish has endured a miserable couple of days, missed winning the 25th stage on Tuesday, while slipping 103 points behind green jersey leader Peter Sagan.
Meanwhile, Omega Pharm team manager Patrick Lefevere revealed that Cavendish feeling 'sad' after the incident.

"I regret this, I always felt that cycling fans were gentlemen, enthusiastic people," he told reporters

"Mark is sad, he's not upset, just sad. I cannot blame anyone, there are 100,000 or 200,000 people on the road, and one person decided to do this."

Martin claimed an expected victory on the road in the time trial after finishing 12 seconds ahead of Froome.
He had won his previous nine time trials in all competitions, finished the course with the third fastest time ever recorded on the Tour.

When Froome appeared to be challenging for victory as the German revealed he began to worry.

"To be honest, I'd almost given up hope of the stage win," he told reporters. "It was starting to look very disappointing when I saw Chris beat my times at the intermediate check.

"I nearly started to cry. I couldn't believe it. I expected that Froome might get to within 30 seconds or something like that but not beating me at the intermediates.

"Now I'm really happy and maybe it's nicer to win this way."

News from: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/10/sport/cycling-cavendish-tour-de-france-urine/index.html?hpt=isp_c1

By: YC

Luna Rosa boycotts opening race of Louis Vuitton Cup

The Traditional bickering over the America’s Cup rules marred since the beginning of the Louis Vuitton on Sunday.

The Italians Luna Rosa pulled out from their first races with Emirates Team New Zealand in protest over the rule changes.

In order to officially win the first of several America’s Cup challenger trials Kiwis therefore sailed the San Francisco race course alone.

Changes in the rules for AC72 impressive twin-hulled boat was recommended after British Olympian Andrew Simpson was killed in an accident in May that also damaged the Artemis Racing’s boat.

A jury hearing for the Italian’s protests was not scheduled until Monday – a day after the opening race.

Swedish-based Artemis Racing is now in a race against the clock to prepare for their new boat for competition in two weeks time race.

Artemis completed three challengers who from the Louis Vuitton Cup round robin series.

The leading team after five rounds-robins will lead to the end and leaving the other two to compete in the semifinals starting August 6.

The winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup will face Oracle Team USA in the 34th America’s Cup beginning Sept. 7.

The race between Emirates Team New Zealand and Italy’s Luna Rosa is scheduled for Saturday for the second round robin race.

News from: http://www.euronews.com/2013/07/08/luna-rosa-boycotts-opening-race-of-louis-vuitton-cup/

By: YC

BACKING IT UP

WITH TATE HURT, STAMPEDERS’ GLENN GETS THE CALL IN MONTREAL

CALGARY- the Calgary Stampeders starting quarterback Friday against the Montreal Alouettes will played by Kevin Glenn.

John Hufnagel the head coach and general manager for Stampeder his backup will get the start in Montreal.

No. 1 quarterback Drew Tate has a strained forearm muscle in his throwing arm.

In this practice week Tate hasn’t thrown the football.

Calgary and Montreal are both 1-1.

News from: http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=427409

By: YC

Albert Ramos ousts Tommy Robredo

STOCKHOLM -- Former Champion Tommy Robredo twice in a row lost to Spanish compatroit Albert Ramos 6-3, 6-4 on Wednesday at the Swedish Open Season.

Rebredo didn't reach a break point against Ramos during the fourt-seeded.

Grigor Dimitroy rallied to beat Filippo Volandri 2-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Dimitroy also recovered from a set in winning the first round against Elias Ymer.

Argentines Juan Monaco and Carlos Berlocg earned sports in the quarterfinals after beating Henri Laaksonen and Blaz Kavcic, respectively.

Tomas Berdych and Nicolas Alomagro will begin play on Thursday.

News from: http://espn.go.com/tennis/story/_/id/9466614/albert-ramos-ousts-2-champ-tommy-robredo-swedish-open

By: YC

Emirates Queen is set to tackle the Darley Yorkshire Oaks following her victory in the Lancashire version at Haydock on Saturday.

Trainer Luca Cumani came good in some style at the Merseyside track and has confirmed the Group One over a mile and a half at York on August 22 as the next target for a half-sister to Dubawi.

“It was very good and we’re very pleased with her.” said the Newmarket handler.

“She’s come out of the race well and it’s the Yorkshire Oaks next.”

News from: http://thesun.nagme.com/news/article/9528#sthash.wf1A0wmE.dpuf

By: YC

MotoGP: Valentino Rossi claims first win since 2010

Valentino Rossi claimed his first win since 2010 with victory at the Netherlands Grand Prix as Jorge Lorenzo took fifth despite a broken collarbone.

The champion Rossi, 34, dominated from the front after taking the lead on lap six at the Seven-time MotoGP raced.

Marc Marquez was second and Britain's Cal Crutchlow was third after starting from pole for the first time.

However, there was a disappointment as for the championship leader Dani Pedrosa could only took the fourth place.

Repsol Honda man was expected to take full advantage of the injury Lorenzo, with world champion passed fit to race only on Saturday morning had surgery on Friday following a 120mph practice crash.

And Pedrosa seemed to be on track for a third win of the season as he controlled pace in the opening round, only to Rossi began reeling him in.

Assen which stands erupted when Italy finally came through, as he chased his first victory since the MotoGP Malaysian Grand Prix two and a half years ago.

"I'm very happy and I can't believe the victory after a lot of time," Rossi said. "I worked very hard and never gave up.

"We made a big step forward with the race and I rode better."

Pedrosa falls back as he struggled with the front end of the bike. He began to be taken over by fellow countryman Marquez - who himself riding with a broken leg and fingers - with nine laps to go, and he burned before Crutchlow.

With Rossi also clear, at the end of the fun comes as Britain tries to find a way past the Spanish rookie, the battle does not end until the penultimate lap when Crutchlow lightly clipped the Spainiard’s read wheel and had to fall back.

Although the third podium for Crutchlow campaign, 27-year-old lament another poor opening period, after becoming the first British MotoGP rider in more than a decade to reach the pole position.

"It was too little, too late again," Crutchlow said. "We cannot ride for the first 10 laps, then come strong at the end.

"I am pleased for Valentino Rossi - I wish it was me but my time will come."

Lorenzo, who was doubled over with pain as he struggled off his bike in the pit lane after a gritty fifth place, restricted title rival Pedrosa to a nine-point lead at the top of the standings.

In Moto2 Spaniard Pol Espargaro triumphed to reduce British rider Scott Redding's advantage to 30 points. Switzerland's Dominique Aegerter took the final spot on the podium after leading earlier in the race.

In Moto3, Luis Salom increased his championship lead to 10 points with victory after Maverick Vinales lost the lead by running wide in the final moments of the race.

News from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/23110470

By: YC

Federer facing new world order

As Britian continues to celebrate Andy Murray's Wimbledon title, things aren't going quite as well for roger Federer.
Federer, who owns a men's record 17 Grand Slam titles in 10 years, his world ranking dropped to the lowest when the new standings released Monday.
Switzerland fell from third to fifth place in his Sergiy Stakhovshy upset loss to the second round at Wimbledon after he last held in June 2003, when he was not a big slam winner ranked match.

Federer. from his 32-year-old birthday month, responded to defeat into one pair of small clay tournament in Europe in an attempt to reverse the destiny.
He was sixth in the standings calender year, with the top eight to win a berth in the Finals in London.
Federer will play in next week's tennis tournament in Hamburg, Germany, before the election of the Swiss Open in Gstaad in the next week.

"I'm really looking forward to playing in front of my home fans in Gstaad this summer." Federer told his website this month. "I have got a lot of great memories of the tournament in the mountains of Switzerland."
Federer last played in Gstaad in 2004, winning the event for the only time. He lost his first four matches there before reaching the final in 2003 a week after his maiden grand slam triumph at Wimbledon.
While Federer frets over his drop in the rankings, man of the moment Murray is very much on the up.
He has spectacularly recovered- with the help of coach Ivan Lendl-- from losing his first four grand slam finals and in the 2011 semifinals at Wimbledon to Rafael Nadal when he was firmly in control.
He has now captured the last three Grand Slam event, he had participated in, and replace Federer to become the world's best grass court players, also claimed that in 2012 and Wimbledon in the Wimbledon warm-up last month Olympic gold medal in London.
"Under pressure right now Andy has two majors and a gold medal," his coach Ivan Lendl told British newspaper the Telegraph as he reflected on Murray's Wimbledon victory over Novak Djokovic on Sunday.

"Novak is a great player, don't get me wrong. He has had a phenomenal last 12 months, basically since the start of 2011, so the rankings look at all of that.
" {But} if somebody has two majors and an Olympic gold medal, and everybody else has only one major..." Lendl added, before tailing off. "Everybody can make their own opinion on that."

News from: http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/09/sport/tennis/federer-rankings/index.html?hpt=ite_t1

By.WK

Robertson Makes Bendigo Breakthrough

Neil Roberts reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Goldfields Open for the first time with a score 5-3 victory over Jamie Cope in Bendigo.

Melbourne local Roberts on rate lifted this trophy, snooker, one of his greatest goals, but in the past two years, he has lost in the last 16 stage, Dominic Dale and Mark Davis. Today, it is the third time lucky number one, he set up a last eight clast with Joe Parry pr Bingham.

After losing the first frame on science, Roberts on won the next five years four break 82, 83 and 91. Deal with the gap under the black, making it 4-3, but in the eight 68 favorite to seal the victory.

"It was a good performance and hopefully by the time the quarter-finals start i will be back to 100 per cent health," said Robertson, who has been suffering from a cold." Jamie played well so i was very pleased to get the match finished. When he won the seventh frame i did fear losing in the last 16 again. I scored heavily and on another day i might have had three or four centuries break."

Dominic Dale beat Fergal O'Brien 5-2 with top breaks of 54, 54, 69 and 84 and now meets Shaun Murphy or Marco Fu.

News From: http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3233963,00.html

By. WK

Pit-lane safety to be reinforced after Nurburgring incident

In last weekend's German Grand Prix in which a photographer was injured flywheel events, Formula One racing's governing body, the FIA, has announced the event marshals and team personnel currently in the pit lane immediately outside of any prohibition race and qualifying. Accredited media access will be restricted to the pit wall.

Nurburging event occurs, after the pit stop, Red Bull's Mark Webber racing wheels came off, but he made his way to the pit lane exit. Loose wheel strikes TV cameraman injured results. He is expected to fully recover.

To reduce the risk of similar accidents in the future, two rules changes, since the plan to be implemented in 2014. the time, the next one in 2013. A car stopped all team staff will be required to wear head protection, and in the race the pit lane speed limit will be reduced from one hundred km/h 80 km/h (except Melbourne, Monaco and Singapore, because the restrictions will trace configuration maintained at 60 km/h).

The FIA is also expecting a written report from Red Bull Racing which will be shared with other teams in order to help improve pit-lane safety.

News from: http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2013/7/14791.html

By: WK

The Odds Are Ever in Their Favor

The archery instructor Patricia Gonsalves aims to please, so these days it's out with the bull's-eyes, in with the squirrels'eyes.

"A couple of years ago, if I ever put up an animal target, all the girls would go, 'Eww, that's so gross," said Ms. Gonsalves, of Vancouver, British Columbia, who spends hours hand-painting her squirrels. "Now I do, and they're like: Cool. Can you shoot an apple out of a pig's mouth like Katniss did?"

Katniss, of course, is Katniss Everdeen, the bow-wielding heroine of "The Hunger Games" trilogy of young adult novels. The 16-year-old warrior, played on-screen by Jennifer Lawrence, is such a good shot that she hits squirrels in the eye - and such a big shot that she is the major cause of waiting lists for archery lessons from coast to coast.

Archery blip enjoy popularity in the last movie- "Lord Of The Rings" trilogy and the various iterations of Robin Hood Lord often mentioned- but no major or persistent current surges. Movies do not ever resonate more with the girls, he is now often taught in a changing of Katniss side braid hairstyle.

"Katniss has helped give archery a hip factor it's just never had before," said Teresa Iaconi, the spokeswoman for USA archery, which fields the Olympic team. "No disrespect to Kevin Costner" - the star 1991's "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," she added, "but he was an old guy in tights."

Stacy Smith, 16, Smith Station, Alabama, has been around hunting her entire life. She wanted to shoot a bow "is my dad thing," she said, until she saw Katniss. :I thought it was cool, she can protect themselves," Ms.Smith said.

Lauren Tang, 14, of Delta, British Columbia, considered archery after reading the series, but the sport became a must-try for her after Katniss shot the apple on-screen. "If anything ever happens, I could survive in the wilderness," said Lauren, who attended a four-day intensive camp in July with her best friend, Alli Petheriotis.

Boys, meanwhile, appear hero worship "Eagle Eye" from this year's movie "The Avengers" - archery arrows slings and more teachers upset. Although Katniss and merida are "awesome" form, Jeremy Renner Hawkeye "is terrible," Ms. Gonsalves said that in her 20 years of teaching, has accumulated 45 minutes  reel Hollywood archery taboo. "If they try to shoot like him, and we spent the whole rescue the arrow from the ceiling.

The Child-archer craze is also spurring adults to try the sports.

News from: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/29/fashion/hunger-games-heroine-helps-make-archery-hip.html?ref=archery

By: WK

Martin Laird looks forward to Scottish Open at Castle Stuart

Laird, to compete on the PGA Tour, is based in the United State, as an ideal preparation for public occurred in Muirfield, further down the east coast of Scotland, one week after seeing the game.

30-year-old Glasgow Fort Stewart's hope the weather will give his fellow competitors tasted the "real link" gold.

"Last year in the final round it finally blew with the kind of strength and direction you expect and the course played hard so if we get a bit of wind up here it will be good," he said.

"But i'm sure with the weather we've been having the greens will be firm and fast and play like a true link course- which is a great warm-up for next week."

Laird also hopes to emulate Wimbledon champion Andy Murray, his compatriot, remember to open a Scottish summer sports and victory.

"When you think if how hard he (Murray) has worked and how it made it his mission to win, it can't help but give you pride both as a Scot and a Briton," he added.

"Winning Wimbledon is the pinnacle of tennis just like winning The Open is the pinnacle of golf and if i could hopefully do that next week it would be great to have two Scottish winners in the space of a few weeks."

News from: http://www1.skysports.com/golf/news/12176/8814714/Martin-Laird-looks-forward-to-Scottish-Open-at-Castle-Stuart

By: WK

Tour de France: Kittel strikes again

Germany's Marcel Kittel celebrated his second stage win of the Tour de France on Tuesday after the Argos-shimano rider triumphed in a lively bunch sprint to the line in Saint-Malo.

Stage ten of the race took the peloton over 197 kilometers of through the Brittany countryside.

The day's ride was animated by a five-man escape which were caught with 6 kilometers to go as well as a high-speed crash in the twisty run-in to the line.

Mark Cavendish fell out of contention for the win after bouncing inton Tom Veelers, who astonishingly was the only one to hit the deck in the middle of the bunch.

HOwever, out the door, Kittel outsprinted fellow German Andre Greipel 100th edition of the most prestigios cycling race, took his second victory.

Despite the high-speed collisions, UK Cavendisk did manage to get back on track sprint rival Slovak Peter Sagan in the front row of the podium in third place rounding.

Surprisingly Veelers escaped without serious injury.

The leader's yellow jersey one minute and 25 seconds clear of Spaniard Alejandro Valverde by team Shy's Chris Froome crossed over safely in the pack to retain.

Froome will now look to inflict some damage on his overall rivals in Wednesday's 33km individual time trial to Mont-Saint-Michel.

News from: http://www.euronews.com/2013/07/09/tour-de-france-kittel-strikes-again/

By: WK

Kimi Raikkonen: Lotus move to convince driver not to join Red Bull

Lotus are trying to convince Kimi Raikkonen he should stay on next season rather than move to Red Bull.
With Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricardo, Kimi Raikkonen, Mark Webber is, who left the Red Bull Formula One seat was empty candidata.
Team boss Eric Boullier told BBC Sport: 'In two consecutive years, we have closed the gap with Red Bull, he wanted to know whether we will continue to adhere to this.
"Our technology portfolio, we will discuss."

"Raikkonen is mature enough to decide for himself what is the right thing to do"
Boullier said he expected a decision "before August".
"He is mature enoguh to decide for himself what is the right thing he need to do,"
Boullier said. "There are some upsides to going to Red Bull and some downsides as well."
After nine of 19 games last seasons, the Finns are third in the standings, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel and seven adrift behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso 41 points.
Moreover, Boullier has to convince Raikkonen that the loss of highly rated technical director James Allison will not harm the team's prospects. Allison is expected to join Ferrari.
Boullier also confirmed that the team has been late playing his wages, unpaid since the beginning of the industry source said Raikkonen.
"It was paid late. yes, "Boullier said. "But it has been paid. We have to if we want to keep him."
Asked if Raikkonen's salary was now up to date, Boullier replied: "YES".
Red Bull have said they will decide by the end of August whether Raiiknonen or Ricciardo would be a better choice to partner world champion Sebastian Vettel.

The other Red Bull junior driver at Toro Rosso, Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne, is out of contention.
Both choices have pros and cons for the teams.
Raikkonen, as world champion and winner of 20 grands prix is a known quantity, who is fast and consistent but may not be as engaged technically as Red Bull would like.
Ricardo has shown promise, qualifying some impressive performances, but in his craft, consistency and processing capabilities pressure and Vettel partner, and is expected to implement ion the field in front of a problem.
Raikkonen has to weight up the benefits of a potentially faster car against the prospect of taking on Vettel in the same team.

While Lotus want to keep Raikkonen, there are no doubts about the future of his team-mate, Franco-Swiss Romain Grosjean, who finished the strong third in Germany but has been inconsistent this year after a  crash-strewn debut full season in 2012.
Grosjean's presence brought a guarantee from he French oil company Total,said to be worth around 5 million sponsorship.
German Hulkenberg, his Sauber relationship has deterriorated since he joined them this season, is keen to move to Lotus.
Williams driver Maldonado is also linked with the team, but Williams sources said his contract was no way out.

Maldonado is linked to the team's sponsorship deal with Venezuelan oil giant PDVSA, which is worth 30 million a year and runs until the end of 2015.

News from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/23238016 

By. WK

Kop hit by Luis stun Gunn

JumpSports last week revealed how bookies had stopped taking bets on Suarez moving to the Emirates after a flurry of punter activity.

Suarez wants to leave Liverpool and return to a top team in the Champions League.

Uruguay ace insists Confederations Cup after his long rest, he will be return to his pre-season training.

But the controversial striker has today sensationally admitted that he is flattered to be in the Gunners' summer spending plans.

Suarez said: My agent in charge everything, he knows what i want and what i need. I am resting and relaxed. I am due back on July 21.

"It is good to know that i am still valued by teams like Arsenal, one of the top teams in Premier League.

"Now there are two or three options let me to choose and the club knows.

"There are no offers yet but Liverpool Football Club know exactly what is going on about what i want. A phone call caould change everthing.' 

News from: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/5005238/Luis-Suarez-Arsenal-talk-is-flattering.html#ixzz2YZR1tzEK

By. WK

A doubles letdown

Petaling Jaya: The doubles pairs were the biggest let down as Malaysia crashed 3-1 to Japan in the quarter-finals of the Asian Junior badminton championships at the Likas Indoor Stadium in Kota Kinabalu.

Traditional Malaysian produced strong doubles partnerships, especially in the junior high school level- and Chen Chong Ming-Jeremy Gan (1997), Chong Ming-Teo Kok Seng (1998), Koo Kien Keat-Ong Soon Hock(2002) and Mak Hee Chun-Teoh Kok Siang (2008) have won the Asian junior titles. 

But since Nielsen HEG- Teo Ee Yi won easily in the 2011 World Youth Championship, has been a lapse of quality and showed yesterday.

In mixed doubles, Chua Khek Wei-Yap Cheng Wen blew lost the first game 20-18 lead 20-22, 17-21 Japan's Hashiru shimono-Wakana length of the original although the top junior ace Song Yu Master brought back to Malaysia beat Inoue Take the levels 21-16, 21-15.

But Darren isaac Devadass-Ong Yew Sin muffed their chances as they went down in three games to Yugo Kobayashi-Takuro Hoki in the boys' doubles.

National junior doubles coach Pang Cheh Chang believes that his charges shot themselves in the foot by failing to execute their game plan properly.

"It's quite disappointing to lose to japan,especially since they were beaten 5-0 by Thailand yesterday," said Chen Chang.

"Khek Wei-Cheng Wen had the advantage in the first game, instead of going for the safe shots, they decided to be too fancy and ended up losing. Darren-Yew Sin were too defensive in the deciding rubber and that gave the advantage to the Japanese.

Meanwhile, in the semi-finals, China reaffirmed their ascend back to the top by crushing Japan 3-0. They will take on South Korea, who defeated Indonesia 3-1, for the title.

News from:http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Badminton/2013/07/09/Doubles-letdown-in-Asian-Juniors.aspx

By. Wk

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Steve Nash's soccer Showdown NYC to air Tuesday on cable channels

His sixth years - Steve Nash Foundation's showdown held in New York, a charity soccer for giving some benefit to the improper children, June 26 at Sara D. Roosevelt Park.

Time Warner Cable Sports Net and Time Warner Cable deported will televise the event as one-hour specials (English/Spanish) at 7 p.m Tuesday, including the full game and a behind-the-scenes look at the event.

Nash was joined on the soccer pitch by NBA players Joakim Noah and Marco Belinelli -- along with soccer stars Giuseppe Rossi, Massimo Ambrosini, Emmerson Boyse, Richie Williams, Sacha Kljestan, Sammy Ameobi, Oguchi Onyewu, Simone Sandri, Mikel Alonso and Stuart Holden.

Baron Davis attended  but he didn't play for his team.

Steve Nash will be host his first showdown in Los Angeles, and it is on Sunday at 6.30 p.m. It will be held at Red Shield Community Centre, open to public.

Both Time Warner Cable Sports Net and Deports will also air similar Showdown LA specials at a later date.

News from: http://www.latimes.com/sports/lakersnow/la-sp-ln-steve-nash-showdown-20130708,0,875117.story 

By. Wk

Barca agree to sell Spain's Villa to Atletico

MADRID: Atletico Madrid has reached an agreement to sign in Spain striker David Villa from Spanish giants Barcelona on Monday, in what could be one of the best bargain deals of the closed season.

The 31-year-old, Spain’s all-time leading scorer, will move for a fee of up to 5.1mil (US$4.38mil) with Barcelona reserving 50% of the rights over any future transfer.

Atletico will pay 2.1mil this season, a further 2mil if the player continues to play at the Calderon in the 2014-15 season, and another 1mil if he extends his contract to 2016, Barcelona mentioned in a statement.

“The agreement and the signing of Villa as a new player at Atletico will be formalised after the player has taken a medical,” Atletico said on their Twitter.

The arrival of young Brazil forward Neymar at the Nou Camp had threatened to push Villa even further out of the reckoning in Tito Vilanova’s side, after a season where he struggled to hold down a regular first team place.

With the World Cup finals coming just around the corner in Brazil next year, Villa will be keen to make sure he is playing regular football at the best he can.

The signing is something of a coup for King’s Cup winners Atletico, who were looking for a replacement for Colombia striker Radamel Falcao after he left to join big-spending Monaco.

Atletico finished third in La Liga last season and qualified for the Champions League groups stage, but the cash-strapped club looked to be at the back of the queue as Villa was linked with interest from clubs in England.

Villa has played for Sporting Gijon, Real Zaragoza and Valencia, who he left for Barcelona in 2010 for 40mil.

He scored 48 goals in 119 games with the Catalans, including one in the Champions League final against Manchester United in 2011, and helped them win two La Liga titles.

At international level, he helped Spain win Euro 2008 and the World Cup in 2010, finishing as the side’s top scorer at both tournaments.

He missed Euro 2012 as he recovered from a broken leg suffered in the Club World Cup at the end of 2011, but remains his country’s all-time leading scorer with 56 goals from 92 appearances.

One of his first official games for Atletico could be against Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup next month.

News taken from : http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Football/2013/07/09/Barca-agree-to-sell-Spain-striker-Villa-to-Atletico.aspx
By DT

Long jumper Watt out of world championships

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Olympic long jump silver medalist Mitchell Watt is to miss this year's world championships in Russia after a season due to an injury, the Australian mentioned on Tuesday.
Former world number one Watt, who was runner-up to Briton Greg Rutherford at the London Games, said he would not be able to compete at his best in Moscow in August and needed more time to get fit once again.
"I have been battling ankle and Achilles pain across my early season and this has caused continued trouble for me in practice and competition," the 25-year-old said in a news release.

"I'm not someone that just wants to show up at an event and given these circumstances I will not be 100 percent competitive this season and need more time to overcome the issue," added Watt, who also won silver and bronze medals at the 2011 and 2009 world championships.

Watt had targeted 2014 for his return to major competition and will remain in Australia to until he recovers into full health.

"I'm only 25 and I have already been fortunate enough to win four major championship medals but this was a very tough call," he said of missing the August 10-18 championships.

"That said, we made the same decision in 2010 when I didn't compete at the World Indoors and I went on to jump an Australian and Oceania record later in that season.

"I'm already looking forward to being pain free and ready for the World Indoors early next year and the Commonwealth Games as well."

News taken from : http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Other-Sport/2013/07/09/Long-jumper-Watt-out-of-world-championships.aspx


By DT

Formula One mulls tighter pitlane safety

LONDON: Formula One pitlane television crews will have to film from the pit wall during races in future after a cameraman was hit and injured by a bouncing wheel in Sunday’s German Grand Prix, Bernie Ecclestone said on Monday.



Mechanics wear helmets during pitstops but others in a very controlled group given access to the pitlane – such as the media – do not and there were calls at the Nuerburgring for much tighter procedures.

Cameraman Paul Allen was filming for Ecclestone’s Formula One Management (FOM) and the commercial supremo said the incident, caused by a wheel coming off Mark Webber’s Red Bull as the Australian pulled away from a pitstop, had been “just one of those things”.

“There was a whole bunch of mechanics and the tyre could have hit any one of those guys,” Sky Sports television, which shares British broadcast rights with the BBC, quoted the 82-year-old as saying.

“The cameraman just happened to be looking the wrong way at the wrong time. In future, all our camera crews will only be allowed to film from the pit wall.”

Allen was brought to hospital with a broken collarbone and fractured ribs. FOM said in a statement that he was receiving medical care and was expected to be back in full recovery.

Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, whose mechanics evaded the wheel, said it was time for a rethink.

“Everyone in the pitlane should have a helmet on,” he said. “It is certainly worth reviewing the whole thing.”

Red Bull boss Christian Horner, whose team were fined heavily by stewards for the unsafe release, agreed.

“These cars have so much energy in them and it is a timely reminder that things can go wrong,” he said after his triple world champion Sebastian Vettel won his home race at the Nuerburgring for the first time.

“The mechanics wear safety gear and helmets. Maybe it is time that we looked at safety equipment for the other operational people working in the pit lane.

“The camera guys are getting close to the action. They are getting some great pictures but it is still a dangerous environment,” he added.

Tyre changes are now quicker than ever, regularly under three seconds, and pitstops are also more frequent because the 2013 Pirelli tyres are less durable than last year.

Allen was very lucky that the tyre struck him on the back and not on his head.

During this season there has already been one racetrack casualty, at last month’s Canadian Grand Prix when  marshal Mark Robinson was killed by being ran over by a recovery tractor removing a car from the side of the track.

The two previous Formula One race weekend casualties involved trackside marshals being struck on the head by wheels flying off cars – Paolo Ghislimberti in Italy in 2000 and Graham Beveridge in Australia in 2001.

Tethers were introduced after Ghislimberti’s death to prevent wheels from flying off cars in accidents but Webber’s was never properly put on.

Television camera crews at the Le Mans 24 Hours sportscar race, where there is also a chance of a flare-up as cars are being refueled, wear light protective equipment as well as overalls.

News taken from : http://www.thestar.com.my/Sport/Motorsport/2013/07/09/Formula-One-mulls-tighter-pitlane-safety.aspx

By DT