PHOENIX – Known for his work ethic, intensity and good nature as a four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, retired Arizona Cardinals player Ron Wolfley and his business partners are proud to announce the Grand Opening of Wolfley’s Neighborhood Grill, scheduled for September 7, 2010.
Located in north Phoenix at 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Wolfley’s is the newest member of the Desert Ridge Marketplace community. The 4,900 sq/ft restaurant has been thoughtfully planned with a comfortable interior design, three patios, two fireplaces and will feature 22 giant LCD screens and four HD projection areas for a superior sports viewing experience.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be opening Wolfley’s Neighborhood Grill,” said Ron, whose resume includes a 10-year NFL career and 15 years in broadcasting including time with 620 AM KTAR Radio and as radio color analyst for Arizona Cardinals games. “People who know me know I hold myself to a high professional standard while also having a lot of fun and keeping things light. It’s those same principles that will serve as the foundation for Wolfleys.”
Wolfley and his team will bring a commitment to providing an exceptional menu of All-American classics based on high quality ingredients, freshness and especially value. In fact, menu items will start as low as $2.95 and most items will be in the $8 – $12 range. The menu will feature appetizers and small bites ranging from ahi tuna and filet mignon sliders to bruschetta, golden ravioli, and mac and cheese. There will also be an assortment of soups and salads, burgers, sandwiches and pizzas, as well as entrée items ranging from rib eye and New York strip steaks to BBQ ribs, grilled salmon, jambalaya and chicken piccata. There will also be extensive and creative Kids Menu.
In this food-first endeavor, it’s critical that all parts of the menu development, recipes, procedures, presentations and service be at an optimal level. Leading Wolfley’s food program will be its culinary partner, Steve Petrie. Petrie is a highly accomplished industry veteran who for many years was the corporate development and training chef for Jillian’s (now owned by Dave and Busters). Additionally, he has worked on many independent restaurant ventures around the country under the direction of Vucurevich Simmons Advisory Group.
Operated in a professional and responsible manner, Wolfley’s will be committed to providing warm, friendly service in a comfortable and inviting environment. Enter long-time Valley restaurateur Brian Adams, Wolfley’s operating partner. With more than 15 years of industry experience, Brian will bring the same level of customer service and attention to detail as he did as an original partner of Sapporo in Scottsdale and during his many years managing within the Mastro’s Group.
At the very core of its philosophy, Wolfley’s believes in the importance of giving back to the community. As such, Wolfley’s will donate 50 cents to charity for every kid’s meal purchased, alternating between the 100 Club of Arizona and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Phoenix. The 100 Club is a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to families of public safety officers and firefighters who have been seriously injured or killed in the line-of-duty. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Phoenix provides structured, comprehensive development programs for 35,502 youths in grades K – 12 at its 12 clubhouses.
Wolfley’s hours of operation will be Monday – Thursday, 11 AM – 12 midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 AM – 1 AM; and Sunday, 9 AM – 12 midnight during the NFL season. For those NFL Sunday mornings, Wolfley’s will be serving up a tasty breakfast menu which will include omelets, breakfast burritos, French toast, pancakes and more.
The Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame will open its doors to eight former student-athletes in 2010, Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Tuesday.
The 2010 class includes student-athletes Kellee Booth (Women’s Golf), Amanda Burbridge (Volleyball), Paul Casey (Golf), Shawn Charles (Wrestling), Aaron Cox (Football), Attila Czene (Swimming), Eddie House (Basketball), and Dwight Phillips (Track & Field). All inductees will be honored at the Hall of Fame football game on September 25 vs. Oregon at Sun Devil Stadium/Frank Kush Field.
Kellee Booth
Women’s Golf/ 1995-1999/ Inducted 2010
Booth established herself as one of the top amateur golfers in the country while at Arizona State University. A first-team All-American from 1995-1996 and again in 1998, Booth was also the 1997 Dinah Shore Award winner and 1998 Honda Award Winner for Golf, and led her teams to NCAA team titles in 1995, 1997, and 1998. The Coto de Caza, Calif., native was also an Academic All-American at Arizona State University from 1996-1998. In her final year at ASU, Booth won the 1999 South Atlantic Amateur, Doherty Cup, Women’s Western Amateur and Trans National Amateur. Kellee was a member of the 1996 and 1998 U.S. Curtis Cup and World Amateur teams. In 1997 she received the Dinah Shore Award, the 1998 Marilyn Smith award and in 2000 she received the Chick-fil-A Charity Championship Nancy Lopez Award, which is given to the top amateur from the previous year, for her accomplishments in 1999.
Amanda Burbridge
Volleyball / 1997-2000/ Inducted 2010
Burbridge finished her career as a Sun Devil ranked third all-time with 1,597 career kills, including a school record 599 during her senior season in 2000. She led ASU in kills in three of her four years as a Sun Devil, ranks 11th with 1,060 career digs, and is still the ASU Volleyball record holder for kills in a match (39,38) and single season kills (599). Amanda is one of only ten players with 1,000 digs and kills in a career in ASU history. The Chaparral High graduate was a 2001 Pac-10 medal award winner, two-time Academic All-American. and a ASU Scholar athlete and first team all Pac-10 all four years she was a Sun Devil. Amanda graduated in 2000 Cum Laude with a degree in Sociology and returned to ASU to get her Masters in Secondary Education. Amanda is currently the Women’s Volleyball coach for Phoenix College and the Co-Founder of Arizona United Volleyball.
Paul Casey
Golf / 1997-2000/ Inducted 2010
Casey was a three-time Pac-10 men’s golf champion and three-time All-American during his time at Arizona State. Casey shot a 67 in the final round in the 2000 Pac-10 Men’s Golf Championship to break Tiger Woods conference par-72 mark and win his third straight Pac-10 title. Casey also led ASU to its sixth-straight league title in 2000, as the Sun Devils shot 56-under 1,384 (339-351-342-352) to also set Pac-10 records for low score and best score under par. He finished at 23-under 265 (66-65-67-67) and broke Woods’ 18-under 270 set in the 1996 Championships at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, Calif. (61-65-73-71). Paul shot a 15-under 265 at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Seattle on the par-70 course in 1999, including a NCAA record 60 in the final round. Casey ended his career with six championships, tied for third on the ASU wins list as he passed 1993 NCAA Champion Todd Demsey, who had five. The Gloucestershire England native currently has 11 wins since joining the PGA tour in 2000.
Shawn Charles
Wrestling/ 1989-1992/ Inducted 2010
Charles was Arizona State’s first four-time wrestling All-American and was a two-time Pac-10 individual champion (1992 and 1993) at 126 pounds. A two-time NCAA finalist, Charles helped the Sun Devils to a second-place finish at the 1990 NCAA Championships as well as three Pac-10 titles (1990, 1991, 1993). He collected 103 victories in his collegiate career, ranking him tied for 19th on the program’s all-time wins list at Arizona State. He also ranks 19th in career dual-match victories after he posted a 44-15-5 record in those matches. Charles also was a two-time competitor in the East-West All-Star Dual and captured the Las Vegas Invitational twice while also finishing second at the prestigious Midlands Championships once during his Sun Devil career. After several coaching stops in wrestling powerhouses like Iowa State and Oklahoma, Charles was named head coach of the Sun Devils in 2009.
Aaron Cox
Football / 1984-1987/ Inducted 2010
Cox was a part of three bowl teams while at ASU, including the 1986 team that defeated Michigan 22-15 in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1, 1987, a game that saw him catch six passes (all for first downs) for 104 yards. He was a two-time AP Honorable Mention All American during his time at ASU, and still holds the record for longest completed pass from scrimmage (95 yards), and receiving yards by a freshman (159 vs. Florida State) and ranks fourth on the career all time receiving list with 2,692 yards. Cox was the 20th overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft by his hometown Los Angeles Rams and played with them from 1988-1992. He finished his career as a Indianapolis Colt in 1993.
Attila Czene
Swimming / 1999-2000/ Inducted 2010
In 2000, ASU welcomed two-time 200 IM Olympic medalist Attila Czene to its roster and the team flourished, placing among the nation’s top-10 for only the third time in nine years. In his only season as a Sun Devil, Czene was member to three school record-setting relay teams and added two individual ASU records. Tying the world record in the short-course 200m IM (1:42.72 converted), Czene became only the sixth NCAA champion in ASU men’s swimming and diving history.
Eddie House
Basketball/ 1996-2000/ Inducted 2010 House earned the Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 2000, becoming the first Sun Devil to earn the honor. He was one of the best-known players in the nation his senior year, led by his Pac-10 record matching 61-point outburst at California on Jan. 8 in a 111-108 double-overtime win. It marked just the sixth time since 1978 that a player had more than 60 points in a game involving two Division I teams. The 61 points matched Lew Alcindor’s mark set in 1967.The first Pac-10 player to notch four 40-point games in one season as he had 46 vs. San Diego State, 42 vs. Penn State and 40 vs. UCLA, House ended his career season as the nation’s fourth-leading scorer at 23.0 ppg. He joined Gary Payton as the only players in Pac-10 history to record more than 2,000 points and 250 steals during their collegiate careers. He earned All-Pac-10 honors twice in his career and was selected in the second round (37 overall pick) of the 2000 Draft by the Miami Heat and won a World Title with the 2008 Boston Celtics.
Dwight Phillips
Track and Field/ 1999-2000/ Inducted 2010
Phillips was a both a star on the track and in field competitions during his two years as a Sun Devil after transferring from the University of Kentucky. In 1999 he captured conference crowns in both the long and triple jump and was the first person to win both those titles in the same year since Oregon’s Latin Berry in 1988. He broke Kenny Frazier’s 15-year-old school record in the long jump with a leap of 26-10, eighth best in Pac-10 history and a Pac-10 Championships record and it was the best jump in the Pac-10 since 1991. Phillips tied for the longest collegiate jump in 1999. Phillips earned two more All-America honors as he finished as the national runner-up in the long jump and eighth in the triple jump in the indoor 2000 season, and set a school record in the long jump at the national meet with his leap of 8.11m in that same season. He finished out his career as the national runner-up in the long jump for the second time in the 2000 outdoor season with a leap of 26-7.75 at the national meet and also earned All-America honors with the 4×100m relay team after a fourth-place finish at the national meet. Following his collegiate career, Phillips placed eighth in the long jump at the 2000 Sydney Olympics before taking gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Phillips also has won three other world titles in the long jump since 2000.
For a complete list of ASU Athletics Hall of Fame inductees please visit:
Most NFL fans already knew Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald is a freak. The All Pro proved the point further in this exhibition for ESPN’s Sports Science where he catches passes upside down, many with one hand. Amazing.
When it was announced that Mark Cuban was finished with his pursuit to purchase the Texas Rangers, one thought quickly came to mind, “I wish he would buy the Phoenix Coyotes.”
At first the idea may sound outlandish but let’s lay the facts on the table because the pairing could be great for both parties.
The mantra in business or investing is to buy low and sell high. Well, there is no franchise in any of the major sports that will come at a bigger bargain today than the Phoenix Coyotes and there is plenty of upside.
Let’s first spell out the appeal to buying the Coyotes:
Affordability:
Buying an NHL team would come at a fraction of the investment involved in buying an MLB franchise. The Coyotes reportedly are expected to sell for somewhere in the $140-$160 million range or about 3 ½ times less than the cost of the Texas Rangers.
Plus, since the Ice Edge deal appears to be perilous at best and they lost their exclusive negotiating rights, any interested buyer would hold serious leverage in lease negotiations with the City of Glendale who has $25 million to lose this year and many more millions if the team relocates. After all, Jerry Reinsdorf was considered a serious buyer and his bid consisted of no out-of-pocket investment. And if another partner is needed, TV producer Jerry Bruckheimer is a hockey nut who is dying to buy a team.
Misconception:
Media outside of Phoenix pan the market as unable to support an NHL franchise, when those who have followed the club closely know that is untrue. The Coyotes have been snake bitten by poor ownership since coming to Phoenix in 1996, which led to a compounding of errors that put the Coyotes in their current situation.
Take a look at this track record of Coyotes ownership:
Richard Burke/Steve Gluckstern: This duo only moved the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix because Burke was unable to get an arena deal done in his hometown Minneapolis and Phoenix was the only city with an NHL-ready arena – or so they thought. It turns out team President Shawn Hunter among others failed to notice that 4,400 seats at America West Arena had an obstructed view of the ice.
This issue along with having to share arena sponsorship revenue with Jerry Colangelo’s group who owned and operated the arena, along with playing second fiddle to the Suns for quality weekend dates put a financial squeeze on the franchise. Then, Gluckstern bailed on Burke to buy the NY Islanders, leaving Burke high and dry. Burke had no choice but to sell since he couldn’t carry the financial burden himself, which brings us to the next ownership group.
Steve Ellman: To his credit, the Coyotes would have relocated to Portland, Oregon if not for Ellman. However, his motive to buy the Coyotes was simply to leverage the team to secure the development of the Westgate Entertainment District in Glendale. He didn’t want to be a sports owner. Mission accomplished. Unfortunately, his chip in getting the deal done was Wayne Gretzky who, along with Ellman, led the organization into a state of disarray. Ellman saw the writing on the wall, which led to the next ownership debacle.
Jerry Moyes: A lifelong Glendale resident, Moyes’ heart started out in the right place. Moyes, a minority owner that Ellman brought in to add capital, essentially traded his interest in Westgate for Ellman’s ownership in the Coyotes to protect his initial investment and keep the team in his hometown. Unfortunately, problems with Moyes’ trucking business, and bleeding the Coyotes to line his own pockets and his trucking company coffers, in addition to further ineffectiveness as a coach and executive by Gretzky, pushed the Coyotes to the brink of insolvency.
The Phoenix Coyotes have never had truly engaged ownership to give the team a chance to meet its potential, so imagine the possibilities if an innovative and attentive owner took the reins and built the franchise properly.
Tourism:
Phoenix becomes a haven for tourists during the winter as the Valley is swarmed with snowbirds. The majority of them come from Canada, and other hockey mad regions such as Michigan, Illinois and Minnesota. They go to games, especially games featuring their hometown team.
Jobing.com Arena:
The Phoenix Coyotes play in a beautiful arena that is very hockey friendly and is only six years old.
Strong hockey operations core:
The Phoenix Coyotes have the best head coach and best general manager in the NHL. Dave Tippett won the Jack Adams Award as coach of the year last season and GM Don Maloney won the inaugural GM of the Year Award. The team is in good hands.
Momentum:
The Phoenix Coyotes are coming of their most successful regular season in franchise history, despite facing the uncertainty of the bankruptcy proceedings, potential relocation and a small payroll. The team finished among the top teams in the NHL and made the postseason for the first time in 8 years.
Kids:
When the Coyotes came to Phoenix in 1996, many people said one of the results would be substantial growth in youth hockey in the market. That has proven correct as Phoenix is now home to a vibrant youth, junior and high school hockey base. This generation of young Coyotes fans will carry the franchise forward when they grow up and become ticket buyers.
ESPN:
There are many hints and indications that it is only a matter of time until the NHL ends up back on ESPN. When that happens, the profile of the league, as well as revenue from a new TV deal, will increase, which will benefit every team in the NHL.
Labor strife:
Both the NBA and NFL are facing likely work stoppages for the 2011 season, which will leave the NHL as the lone major league standing. This will force the sports media to shine more of a spotlight on the league and its teams.
Track record:
Other NHL teams have faced similar situations, only to turn around and enjoy great success. When Henry Samueli bought the Anaheim Mighty Ducks from Disney in 2005, they won the Stanley Cup two years later. The Buffalo Sabres were in bankruptcy and looked like they would fold. They were sold and reached the Stanley Cup finals a couple years later. The Pittsburgh Penguins have been in bankruptcy twice, but have also won three Stanley Cups in four Finals appearance. We’ve seen the renaissance with the Dallas Mavericks. A turnaround in Phoenix can be done as well.
TV:
The plan was to combine the Rangers with the Mavericks and perhaps form another regional sports network. How about an NHL team partnered with an MLB team? With the way the team has operated the last few years, it seems like at some point the Diamondbacks will completely self destruct and they are on the market. Once their deal runs out with Fox Sports Arizona, the teams could be combined and serve as the centerpiece programming for another regional sports network in Phoenix.
There are also challenges for a new owner to overcome but there are solutions.
The business side needs to be rebuilt as the Coyotes brand took a beating last year. Reports are that ticket sales are healthy to date but they can still be better. Also, sponsorships took a deep hit last year as house ads filled a large portion of the boards advertising. A high profile owner would bring a lot of cache back to the club and make the Coyotes a franchise brands want to align themselves with.
Phoenix has all four major sports leagues, a Division I athletic program, NASCAR, PGA and more, so there is a lot of competition for the corporate sponsorship dollar. With that said, the timing is right for the Coyotes to grab more market share as the Suns, Diamondbacks and ASU all appear to be at the beginning of a multi-year slide on and off the field/court.
There is also a large segment of sports fans who are accustomed to the Phoenix lifestyle of not having to drive far for anything, so driving 30-45 minutes from the East Valley to Glendale seems like and arduous task on a weeknight. This is easily fixed by having the NHL award more weekend homes games. Also, the snowbirds who attend games tend to be better hockey fans, so they don’t mind the drive. Of course, winning makes the drive more palatable too.
Finally, the Coyotes are an NHL team in a busy sports market so the sky is not the limit on revenue. The team can be a mid-market team but that means there is little room for error. With a strong core in hockey ops and an overhaul on the business side, this too can be overcome.
This team is like a business that puts together a couple of winning quarters after years of struggle and the stock is just beginning to climb. All it takes is a visionary to come in, buy the team and give the franchise the direction it has lacked since moving to Phoenix. The Coyotes should only be so lucky to have that visionary be Mark Cuban.
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As the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule is unveiled, there have been some changes including some tracks hosting one race instead of two. On Tuesday, Phoenix International Raceway announced they will continue to host two annual Sprint Cup races, only with a twist.
As part of the NASCAR’s schedule realignment, Phoenix International Raceway’s SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will move from April to February 27 – just one week after NASCAR’s largest event, the Daytona 500. PIR will look to capitalize on the season-opening excitement of Daytona with a new Sunday day-race format, allowing fans to take in the 500 km race in Phoenix with a more traditional local start time of 1 p.m. The SUBWAY Fresh Fit 500 will be televised nationally on FOX.
Phoenix will continue to host the semi-final race in NASCAR’s playoffs – the Chase for the Sprint Cup – on November 13. The Kobalt Tools 500, a race in which fans have come to expect heavy championship implications, also starts at 1 p.m. locally and will be televised nationally on ESPN. NASCAR will conclude its season the following week at Homestead Miami Speedway in Florida.
“Phoenix will be the first and last stop NASCAR makes in the West,” Sperber said. “It’s a great privilege for us to help celebrate the excitement of a new season in February and to help crown season champions as the year winds down with the Chase in November.”
Phoenix International Raceway is one of just 13 NASCAR facilities to be awarded two Sprint Cup weekends in 2011. Past studies conducted by Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business for PIR have indicated that the economic impact of hosting two NASCAR Sprint Cup weekends annually in Phoenix exceeds $400 million.
“The State of Arizona is well aware of the tremendous economic impact that comes along with hosting a NASCAR weekend in the Valley of the Sun,” Sperber said. “The fact that Phoenix International Raceway has been confirmed to host two Sprint Cup events provides a shot-in-the-arm for our local economy at a time when it’s most needed.”
Phoenix International Raceway will release information about its 2011 NASCAR Nationwide Series, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series and NASCAR K&N Pro Series West events at a later date. NASCAR is expected to release the entire 2011 Sprint Cup Series schedule in coming weeks.
Thank you. Of all the guys I probably could have picked, I knew picking Joe would start me out being a little bit emotional, but with the humidity and some of the pollen, if I start to tear up a little bit, that’s the reason why (smiling).
First off I’d like to thank the Hall of Fame committee. I want to congratulate my fellow members of the Class of 2010. I want to say congratulations to the members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame that are sitting up here. I want to say thank you for setting a standard for the rest of us. Thank you for protecting the integrity of the game. Thank you for all the great memories of this sport.
It’s a privilege to play in the NFL. It’s been a privilege to coach in the NFL. It’s an honor to be selected here in Canton. Thank you.
“Growing up,” said Russ Grimm, “I dreamed of playing college football. In college, I dreamed of playing pro football. When I was in the NFL I dreamed of winning Super Bowls. But I never dreamed I would be standing here today.”
I’d like to thank all the owners, especially the Cooke family, Dan Snyder, the Rooney family, and the Bidwill family. I’d like to thank the commissioner. I’d like to thank all the players, past and present, those I played with and those I played against, for making the NFL a special place.
Growing up, I dreamed of playing college football. In college, I dreamed of playing professional football. When I was in the NFL, I dreamed of winning Super Bowls. I dreamed of winning championships. But I never dreamed that I’d be standing here today. I want to make sure that I thank the people that made this possible.
First off, I want to thank my two best fans, my two best coaches, my two best friends, mom and dad. They made sure I had all the spikes that I needed. They got me to all the practices. They got me to all the games.
I’d come home from those games, and my mom would be up on that chair giving me her post-game speech on what I did right, on what I did wrong, and my dad would just sit there smoking that cigarette on telling me what I needed to do to get better. But they taught me family values, they taught me how to respect others, they taught me how to compete and how to be thankful for what I have. Thank you very much.
I want to say thanks to Karen and my kids, Chad, Cody, Devin, Dylan, for all the sacrifices they made. Proud of you.
I’d like to thank my brothers Dave and Donn, my sister Carol Sue for their interest they’ve showed throughout my career. I’d like to thank you Stacey for putting up with me, putting this weekend together. It’s been special.
I’m proud to say that I’m from a small town in Western PA. That’s right. It’s a special part of the country, like here, where the knowledge and the support for the game of football is unmatched. They fill the stadiums on Friday night, Saturday afternoons and Sundays. You created an excitement that growing up as a young man I wanted to be a part of. Thank you very much.
Scottdale, PA, I will always call you home. Thank you for all your support.
Southmoreland High School, my coach John Bacha, the administration, the teachers, thank you for creating a strong, healthy, positive environment for myself and the students of Westmoreland County.
The class of ‘77, we graduated singing Free Bird. If I leave here tomorrow, would you still remember me? Not only did you remember me, you took a special interest, you stayed in touch, you supported and followed my career. For that, I will always remember you. Thank you.
University of Pittsburgh, I played quarterback and linebacker in high school, I went to the University of Pitt as a linebacker. After my sophomore year, Jackie Sherrill called me into his office and told me that we had a lot of seniors graduating on the offensive line and he thought it would be an opportunity for me to switch over and play center.
I told him I never had my hand in the dirt, that I’d just stay at linebacker.
He lifted his eyes up and looked at me and he said, son, I’m not asking.
So I moved over. I wasn’t very happy about it. But I had a great offensive line coach named Joe Moore. He knew I wasn’t happy. I didn’t like the transition. But he called me in one day, sat me down, talked about it, told me that I was a football player and I should play whatever position that they thought I was best capable of playing. He told me that playing offensive line, there’s no greater feeling than to be able to move a man from Point A to Point B against his will. I tried it; I liked it; and I was playing offensive line (smiling).
I was fortunate enough to play on a lot of great teams with a lot of great football players, built a lot of friendships. Thank you, Jackie Sherrill. Thank you, Joe Moore. Thank you to all the guys at the University of Pittsburgh.
I got drafted by the Redskins in ‘81. I’m a true believer that if you work hard and you have the talent necessary, good things are going to happen. But I’m also smart enough to realize you have to be a little bit lucky and get the right opportunity.
I was selected to a team that had a new head coach in Joe Gibbs, a staff that included Joe Bugel, and a lot of talented players selected by Bobby Beathard. We struggled early, started winning some games. We finished 8-8 the first year. The next year was the first of three Super Bowl wins. In my 11-year career, we won a lot of football games.
Through that time I was fortunate because I played with some great veterans, I played with some good young players, I played with some smart veterans. But I’m sitting there an offensive linemen, usually have no stats. Offensive linemen go unnoticed. I know I didn’t get here by myself, all right?
Joe Gibbs, thank you very much. Joe Bugel, you’re special. You always will be. Bobby Beathard, thank you.
Next I want to mention a few guys that made it possible for me to be here today, a group of guys that grew together, worked together, played together, raised families together, celebrated together, guys that I consider family, a group known as the Hogs. Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic, Mark May, Fred Dean, Donnie Warren, George Starke and Rick Walker. Your names are going to be embroidered on the inside of this jacket so I always remember the things we went through, the tough times we had and the good times we celebrated.
Mark Schlereth, Raleigh McKenzie, Jim Lachey, Jim Hanifan, all the guys I played with up front, thank you very much and thank you for the memories.
Last but not least, to burgundy and gold fans, there’s many a time when I closed my eyes and I picture myself still putting on those pads at old RFK Stadium, and those stands are rocking up and down and 50 some thousand chanting, We want Dallas. I can hear the diesel horns blowing when 44 was carrying the football, and I remember standing there in the pouring rain when everyone was throwing the seat cushions down on the field in the playoff game versus Atlanta.
You provided a lot of memories for me and my teammates. You made playing for the Redskins special. You created an atmosphere on game day that was second to none. The support you showed, the enthusiasm you had, the love you displayed for those teams will always be remembered. Thank you very much.
To all football fans, no matter who you root for, no matter what level, you’re the reason we play the game. Thank you very much.
By Nicole Morell, SportsForce
www.sportsforceonline.com
As we all know by now, social networking sites are considered a part of the daily routine of most peoples’ lives. When anything good, bad, exciting, or sad happens, our first thought is to write about it on Facebook, Twitter, or a blog. But before being too hasty and writing anything that may be on our mind, everyone should consider the pros and cons of social networking. For student-athletes, especially, social media sites can either make you or break you when moving forward.
Everything You Say and Do Can Be Seen
Nowadays on social networking sites, there are tons of privacy settings you can play with. You can choose to show every little detail on your profile to anyone that stumbles across it, or you can choose to hide everything so only friends can see. But just because you hide everything doesn’t mean that people still can’t see what you are saying and doing. Information you share with friends, like pictures and comments, can be seen on your friends’ pages if they do not have everything hidden. Also, there are many companies, as well as professional and college teams, that admit to making fake profiles and befriending potential prospects so they can get a feel of what you are like off the field. This is why you should always be cautious with what you are putting on the internet, because you never know who may see it.
Learn From Others’ Mistakes
Unfortunately, there have been many times a student-athlete has gotten in trouble for things they posted on social networking sites. One example is former University of Texas center, Buck Burnette. After Barack Obama was elected president, Burnette wrote a status that included racist vocabulary. The next day, Coach Mack Brown released him from the team. Even things you say that may not sound offensive at all can potentially get you in trouble. Ask former San Diego Chargers cornerback, Antonio Cromartie, who made a comment on Twitter about the training camp food, and was then fined for it. These are examples of why you need to be careful about the things you put on your social networking sites. One wrong statement or picture could affect your whole entire career.
Use These Sites For What the Name Comes From: Networking
With the popularity of social networking sites, college recruits are now using them to get in contact with and get a better idea of what a prospect is all about. Social networking profiles are great tools for coaches to find athletes they are interested in and get to know them. It’s also a great way to talk to current athletes that play at schools you are interested in and get their input on the program.
Social networking sites need to be used with caution by student-athletes. Use it for the purposes it was made for: to connect with friends and network. Remember, the internet is available to the public, so let your social networking sites be a positive representation of you.
With Luis Gonzalez again part of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and his number 20 being retired on August 7, now seemed like a good time to reflect on some of the most memorable moments during Gonzo’s tenure as a player with the team.
World Series Winner
This one is a no-brainer as the game-winning opposite-field bloop single in the bottom of the ninth in Game 7 of the 2001 World Series is the defining moment in Gonzo’s career and D-backs franchise history. The hit came against New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and capped off a historic season for Gonzo and the D-backs.
Power Surge
Gonzalez showed uncharacteristic power during the magical 2001 season by belting a career-high 57 home runs and becoming just the 19th player to top 50 in a season. The output was 26 more than his previous high and he never hit more than 28 in a season after that. Whispers continue that Gonzo may have had some chemical help in the achievement. Even D-backs owner Ken Kendrick recognized the whispers but nothing has been proven to date.
Amazing April
Gonzo’s 57-home run season in 2001 was sparked by a remarkable April, which saw him tie Ken Griffey for the Major League record for the most home runs in the month with 13. The outburst was contrary to Gonzo’s track record so a pull back from the hot start was expected but it never happened.
Derby Champ
Gonzalez used the 2001 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby, as his coming out party by defeating defending champ Sammy Sosa to claim the title. Gonzalez brought his own batting practice coach to pitch to him, crediting Jeff Motuzas with helping him win. Gonzo had 35 home runs at the break, trailing only Barry Bonds’ 39 and this performance on the national stage gave Gonzalez a share of the spotlight for the remainder of the season.
Good Guy Award
Gonzalez won the 2005 Branch Rickey Award for community service for devoting more than 1,000 hours and generating more than $1 million in contributions for Arizona charities. Among the charities that benefited from Gonzalez’s help include Kids Going Gonzo for School, Arizona Quest for Kids, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Brain Injury Foundation.
The Hits Keep Coming
Diamondbacks fans didn’t know what they got when the team acquired Gonzo from Detroit for Karim Garcia but they quickly found out the deal was a steal. The new left fielder opened his first season with the team with a 30-game hitting streak. It was the longest streak in the National League in 10 years and ended on May 19, 1999 in an 8-3 loss to San Francisco.
On Cycle
On July 5, 2000, Gonzalez becomes the first Diamondback to hit for the cycle‚ hitting a double in the first inning‚ a single in the third‚ a triple in the eighth‚ and a home run in the ninth. Gonzalez is just the ninth player in MLB history to both hit for the cycle and have a 30+ game hitting streak.
Gum Sum
During the 2002 season, Gonzalez received unwanted publicity after a discarded piece of gum he chewed during a spring training game was sold for $10,000. The piece of gum that was bought was actually the second piece connected to Gonzo. The original wad of gum was posted for auction on eBay by a seller who claimed they got the game-chewed gum from a security guard who handed it him after Gonzo threw it to the side during a Cactus League game.
Automatic Hero
Gonzo was often a hero for the Diamondbacks on the field but he took that image a step further when he helped rescue some trapped motorists from a car following an accident outside Chase Field. Gonzo was on his way to the ballpark for a game when he saw the collision and immediately offered his help.
No Corny Honor
When it was announced Gonzalez would not be returning to the Diamondbacks, Mark Schnepf decided to honor him by carving Gonzo’s likeness into his cornfield at Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek. Gonzo was surprised when, while flying in by helicopter for what he thought was a public-service announcement, he spotted his face in the cornfield maze below.
ESPN announced the fall schedule for its 30 for 30 film series, which includes a film that was directed by Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash.
Nash is making his directorial debut in the film Into the Wind, which details the life of famed Canadian marathoner Terry Fox. The film, which was originally titled Marathon of Hope, premiers on ESPN on Tues., Sept. 28, at 5 p.m. Arizona time and on ESPN2 at 8 p.m.
ESPN provided the following film description:
In 1980, Terry Fox continued his fight against bone cancer with the pursuit of a singular, motivating vision: to run across Canada. Three years after having his right leg amputated six inches above the knee after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, Fox set out to cover more than a marathon’s distance each day until he reached the shores of Victoria, British Columbia. Anonymous at the start of his journey, Fox steadily captured the heart of a nation with his Marathon of Hope. However the 21-year old BC native’s goal was not fame, but to spread awareness and raise funds for cancer research. After 143 days and two-thirds of the way across Canada, with the eyes of a country watching, Fox’s journey came to an abrupt end when newly discovered tumors took over his body. Two-time NBA MVP, proud Canadian, and first-time filmmaker Steve Nash will share Fox’s incredible story of perseverance and hope.
“I remember being a six-year-old boy and waking up every morning and rushing to the TV to see where Terry was that day,” has said. “To see him running or hobbling across our country for the spirit of community and looking out for others was something that has stuck with me ever since. To see his face hiding the pain and to hear his words disguising the sacrifice was as motivating and as educational an experience as I’ve ever had. To be able to tell this story again, to Americans who love an underdog and a story of overcoming and struggle, is something any new filmmaker would love.”
By Nicole Morell for SportsForce
www.sportsforce.com
Working towards a goal or a dream can be incredibly taxing. We understand our clients are working towards the goal of playing their sport in college. Early practices, late practices, double sessions, weight training and more, plus academics, work and a social life are a lot to fit in for the student athlete. Many athletes do an excellent job of creating a balance of the many demands in their life. But sometimes, becoming burnt-out may seem unavoidable.
Check In With Yourself
Only you can know if you’re headed for a burnout. Every now and then, do a mental check-in to make sure your head is still in the game and you’re still on the path you want. Are you overtired? Are you stressed out? Is your schedule out of control? Take some time to do inventory of your day to day life and ensure you are happy and still working towards a goal without overworking yourself.
Continue Playing All the Sports You Love
There is much debate on specializing within the world of student athletes. Essentially, there are two schools of thought. Some may argue that only focusing on one sport is the best way to ensure a college roster spot, while others say playing multiple sports looks best to coaches. Many, however, will agree that playing multiple sports helps to avoid the burnout. If you like soccer and baseball, play both if possible. The switch between sports can help to avoid a burnout and shows coaches dedication on another level as well as an ability to balance.
Take a Break
While there is the opportunity to play your sport year round between club teams, camps and high school, it is important to take some time off. Take a few days or even a week to rest your body and mind. When you get back to your sport and training you will feel that much more energized!
Reassess ad Reorganize
Sometimes you don’t just need a break, but you need to shake things up completely. Would getting your workouts in in the morning free up more time for homework at night? Is it really necessary to stay out really late on Friday night to be dragging for Saturday morning practice? Along with checking in with yourself, sometimes you need to reorganize and prioritize things in your training plan. This can range from checking how you are fueling your body to what time makes the most sense for you to squeeze in a weight training session so you still have a social life. See what works for you!
Enjoy
It’s pretty hard to burn out on fun. As long as you are enjoying the journey as a student athlete, keep working hard. Some athletes may never feel burnt out. As long as you’re still enjoying yourself and training the best you can, keep moving towards your goals!
Full coverage of Arizona State University women’s basketball and baseball will remain on KDUS (The Fan AM 1060) for the next three years, according to officials with ASU Athletics and ISP Sports, the multimedia rights holder for Sun Devil Athletics.
The new multi-year agreement includes live game coverage throughout both the basketball and baseball seasons, as well as the popular weekly call-in shows featuring both sports’ head coaches – “Sun Devil Fast Break with Charli Turner Thorne” and “Dugout Chatter with Tim Esmay.” All production and sponsorship opportunities surrounding the broadcasts will be managed by ISP.
“We are pleased to announce this continued association with KDUS at an exciting time for Sun Devil baseball and women’s basketball,” says Lisa Love, Vice President for Athletics at ASU. “KDUS Program Director Angel Velasquez is excited about the partnership and has always supported Sun Devil athletics.”
Velasquez echoed Love’s enthusiasm with the new agreement.
“We are thrilled to have ASU women’s basketball and baseball return to The Fan,” Velasquez said. “Both sports have been with us for many years and we are happy to provide fans with the same radio home for Sun Devil women’s basketball and baseball throughout the years.”
The Diamondbacks are a sinking ship and are doing the equivalent of throwing their heaviest items overboard. For the skidding franchise, that means unloading players with costly contracts in exchange for cheaper players in an effort to rebuild. The first deck chair went over the rail with the Conor Jackson trade, followed by the firings of GM Josh Byrnes and Manager A.J. Hinch and then the Dan Haren trade. However, this is only the beginning. MVP Magazine has identified the other Diamondbacks who likely face a uniform change by the July 31 non-waiver MLB trade deadline and their potential destinations.
Stephen Drew, SS Drew’s primary fault is he hasn’t lived up to lofty expectations and is the type of player who would be appreciated elsewhere. With arbitration looming this offseason, the Diamondbacks would like to avoid that and get something for him now beyond compensatory draft picks. Tony Abreu could replace him. Potential destinations: Minnesota, St. Louis, LA Angels, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle.
Kelly Johnson, 2B
Johnson was signed to only a one-year contract, making him an attractive rental player. He has good overall numbers from a strong April but has faded since. The Diamondbacks won’t resign him anyway with Tony Abreu likely to start at second base next season. Potential destinations: Minnesota, NY Mets, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Chicago White Sox.
Adam LaRoche, 1B
LaRoche was signed to only a one-year contract, making him an attractive rental player. Plus, he is a notorious strong second-half player, which makes him even more appealing. Brandon Allen has played well in the minor leagues in June after returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out for a month. This is an opportunity to see if the promising slugger is their first baseman of the future. Potential destinations: LA Angels, Texas, Boston, San Francisco.
Chris Snyder, C
The only way the Diamondbacks will move Snyder is to pay some of his salary as he is due a ridiculous $9 million for the rest of this season and next season. There should be a market for him and many teams need a catcher. Potential destinations: Boston, Texas, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Seattle, Detroit, Milwaukee, Houston.
Brandon Webb, SP
Webb is the ultimate rental player. He comes relatively cheap for a pitching ace but doesn’t come without risk depending on when the former Cy Young Award winner returns from shoulder surgery. A contending team with deep pockets would be wise to take a chance that he could help down the stretch and during the postseason. Potential destinations: NY Yankees, NY Mets, Texas, Atlanta, St. Louis, Minnesota, Detroit, LA Angels, Tampa Bay.
Chris Young, CF
If you believe in selling high, then now is the time to trade the enigmatic Young. His ceiling is high but so is his salary so that makes him a likely trade piece. Young’s renaissance at the plate along with his reliable glove will make him an attractive building block for a team needing a center fielder. Potential destinations: Boston, Atlanta, NY Mets, Milwaukee.
By Alyssa Sobolik, SportsForce
www.sportsforceonline.com
School is out for the summer! Now it is time to redirect your focus to life beyond high school. But for athletes who are aspiring to play a sport in college, summer is no snooze. It is time to work hard, get seen and see schools. So what do you need to do and when do you need to do it?
So you just survived your first and second year of high school (phew) and the thoughts of college are beginning to creep into your head. Where do I want to go? What do I want to study? What classes do I need to get into certain schools? As all of this can be somewhat overwhelming, let’s just focus on one aspect at a time.
Freshman/Sophomore/Junior Summer
This is the best time to really get around and see campuses. Loving the school you go to, regardless of sports, is very important. So if you are traveling around to play in tournaments, going on vacation, or visiting family and friends, take advantage of the travels to go see the local colleges to check out the campus and area. While there you can take a campus tour and if you have given a heads up to the coach of your sport, you can even go in and meet with them.
Remember, they cannot call you or contact you in any way, but you can call or email coaches whenever you want. Introducing yourself and making contact with coaches is a great way to increase your exposure to coaches and learn more about programs.
Unofficial Visits:
Try to set up a time to meet with coaches and they might even take you around the campus themselves! Don’t just pop in on a coach without giving them a heads up via email and/or a phone call. Be respectful and they will likely take a little time to meet with you.
This elimination period will be helpful as you enter your junior summer as that is the time when you need to really narrow down your schools and begin to target your goals. By seeing the campuses alone, you will be able to eliminate many schools, thus leaving you with a more reasonable list to deal with.
Benefits of Summer Camps
• Train and work on sports specific skills with highly qualified coaches
• Interact with college coaches and maximize exposure
• Get the experience of living and rooming on a college campus
• Narrow down your list of potential college programs
Summer camps are also very important. While all of your friends are going to Camp Nowhere for fun and kayaking, you need to be going to sports camps for a school that you are strongly interested in. Not only will the camp help improve your skills, but it will give you the most intimate interaction with the college coaches and some of the current players, as they tend to work camps. You will live on campus, interact with and be trained by the coaches, as well as be a part of high intensity competition. It is not only a great way to get to know their style of coaching, but for them to get to know you as a player and whether you will fit in with their program, and vice versa. Select a few college camps that would be great potential all-around college choices for you.
To get more advanced recruiting tips, strategies and advice visit our website and sign up for our complimentary SportsForce College Recruiting Guide and updates below.
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The SportsForce team, which is comprised of former college and professional athletes and coaches, is relentlessly committed to providing an ongoing education to help you best navigate your journey as a student-athlete, parent or coach to reach your potential.
Article courtesy of SportsForce, home for professional and affordable College Sports Preparation and Recruiting Education, Tools, Tips, Online Profiles, Highlight Videos and Premium Services.
Phoenix Coyotes Assistant General Manager and General Manager of the San Antonio Rampage Brad Treliving announced today that the Coyotes have officially named Ray Edwards as head coach of the Rampage, the Coyotes’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. In addition, Treliving also announced that Jeff Truitt has been hired as assistant head coach of the Rampage.
Edwards, 40, helped guide the Rampage to a 30-23-3-6 record last season after being named as interim head coach on Nov. 23, 2009. Under Edwards’ leadership, San Antonio finished the 2009-10 campaign tied with the Hershey Bears for the best power-play percentage in the AHL at 20.7% and led the AHL in home power-play percentage at 25.6%, both of which were franchise records. In addition, he helped several of the Coyotes’ prospects shine including Kyle Turris and Brett MacLean. Turris collected 49 points (19-30-49) in his last 56 games and 32 points (13-19-32) in his last 30 games while MacLean registered 51 points (22-29-51) in his last 58 games.
Edwards, who joined the Rampage as assistant coach on Aug. 21, 2007, helped coach the Rampage to their most successful season in franchise history with 42 wins and 94 points during the 2007-08 campaign. Prior to joining the Rampage, Edwards coached in the Central Hockey League (CHL) and East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) for seven seasons and guided the CHL’s New Mexico Scorpions to the Conference Finals in 2006-07.
Prior to working in New Mexico, Edwards led the San Angelo Saints to the CHL President’s Cup Playoffs in each of his two seasons with the team. Edwards was named the CHL’s Coach of the Year in his first season with San Angelo after guiding the Saints to a 35-point turnaround and a Southwest Division title.
A native of Wasaga Beach, Ontario, Edwards began his coaching career at the age of 28 as one of the youngest coaches in professional hockey when he took the reins of the ECHL’s Huntington (W.Va.) Blizzard in 1998. The following season, he led the Blizzard to their most successful season ever with a 35-25-10 record.
As a player, Edwards recorded 174 points (83 goals, 91 assists) and 1,253 penalty minutes in 309 games over seven seasons in the ECHL. He attended National Hockey League training camps with Los Angeles, Chicago and Ottawa.
Truitt joins the Rampage after spending the 2009-10 season as Director of Hockey Operations for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Prior to working with the Warriors, Truitt spent the past two seasons coaching in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons. On June 17, 2008 Truitt was promoted from assistant coach to head coach, becoming the 10th head coach in Falcons franchise history.
Truitt entered the pro coaching ranks following an outstanding junior coaching career with the Kelowna Rockets (WHL). The native of Rosetown, Saskatchewan left Kelowna after seven seasons as a member of the team’s coaching staff, including three seasons as head coach. Truitt joined the Rockets in 2000-01 and served four seasons (2000-01 to 2003-04) as an assistant coach.
In his three seasons as the Rockets’ head coach, Truitt compiled a 113-76-18-9 record, winning one WHL championship and advancing to the Memorial Cup tournament in 2005. During the 2004-05 season, Truitt guided the Rockets to a 45-13-12-2 (.722) record and a second place finish in the league’s British Columbia Division, before going 16-8 in the post-season to win the WHL championship. With the victory, Truitt and the Rockets advanced to their third consecutive Memorial Cup tournament.
During his seven seasons on the Rockets’ coaching staff, Truitt helped guide Kelowna to two WHL championships (2003, 2005), two WHL regular season titles (2003, 2004), three consecutive trips to the Memorial Cup tournament (2003, 2004, 2005) and one Memorial Cup championship (2004).
Truitt also has international coaching experience with Team Canada. He served as video coach for the silver medal winning 2004 Canadian National Junior Team, was an assistant coach with Canada’s gold medal winning Under-18 Team in August 2006 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and most recently, he was an assistant coach with Canada’s World Under-18 team that placed fourth at the 2007 world tournament in Finland.
The Diamondbacks brass deserves a lot of credit for firing both general manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch Thursday night.
Owner Ken Kendrick and his partners along with CEO Derrick Hall took a major financial hit by eating approximately $7 million from the remaining five years on Byrnes contract and nearly three years on Hinch’s deal. However, the financial losses they would have incurred by remaining with the status quo would have been much worse as the mass exodus of fans and sponsors from Chase Field continues.
“I appreciate the commitment and dedication that Josh and A.J. demonstrated during their tenures,” D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick said in a statement. “Their dismissal is a significant decision, but one that we find necessary in order to achieve a direction of winning consistently on the field again.”
The front office has had an air of trying to reinvent how an organization is run, beginning with the hiring of Byrnes who brought in a hybrid philosophy of sabremeterics and conventional baseball wisdom. Unfortunately, this lead to many head scratching moves that included gutting the bullpen, never securing a long-term solution at second base and signing many young players to long-term contracts after one quality season.
Byrnes was a disciple of former Cleveland GM John Hart, who made the same mistake of committing too much money to unproven players when he was with the Indians in the early to mid 90s, which eventually led to his firing.
Another major Byrnes flub was hiring AJ Hinch as manager when he was manager of minor league operations. Hinch had no managerial experience at any level. In fact, he was on the career track to eventually become a GM not manager.
Byrnes seemed to show defiance and smugness by signing Hinch to a four-year contract. The deal along with the now historic utterance of the term “organizational advocacy” reeked of Byrnes thinking he was the smartest guy in the room.
Hinch was a disaster since day one. He made many moves that reinforced his inexperience and managing a bad team never gave him a chance to truly learn on the job. The last straw may have been earlier in the week when he elected to let pitcher Dontrelle Willis hit with the bases loaded in a one-run game instead of pulling him for a pinch hitter. Willis got out and the Diamondbacks failed to score after loading the bases with no out. Hinch obviously had no faith in the bullpen, which is why he made the move as well as partially why he made the controversial decision to let Edwin Jackson throw 149 pitches in his no-hitter last week.
Hinch is a bit of a fall guy in the deal as he had less than a year to prove himself as the team is not very good but there were also no indications that he could handle a good team either. The team was 89-123 under his guidance and the team never won more than five in a row.
The house cleaning is expected to continue throughout the month of July until the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31. Numerous players could be on their way out as the front office is obviously determined to start over.
Finding capable replacements is vital for Kendrick and Hall. They named Jerry DiPoto as interim general manager but he is considered a rising executive and a hot GM candidate, who may end up shedding the interim title sooner than later. Logan White and Kevin Towers could also be replacements. White has ties to Hall and Towers did an excellent job in San Diego until ownership forced him to gut the team. He also knows how to put together a winner with a mid-level budget and was only fired from the Padres when Jeff Moorad took over as owner and brought in his own guy.
Kirk Gibson was named interim manager but this team needs someone with experience in this position. Gibson brings the fire the team needs but someone like Bobby Valentine would be an excellent replacement for a franchise looking for experience, a winning track record and a take-no-crap attitude to shake the funk from underachieving sulkers like Stephen Drew and Justin Upton.
Unfortunately, the franchise had capable people for both positions but elected to let Mike Rizzo go to Washington where he is rebuilding a losing franchise and Bob Melvin, who was essentially fired for being too nice for a team of young players who had a sense of entitlement.
It takes a lot of nerve for the Diamondbacks front office to admit their mistakes and make the changes that have occurred to this point. However, recognizing your mistakes is only half the battle. The key is to not repeat them.
By Ron Matejko, MVP Magazine
Photo By Dave Arnold, USA Hockey
Arizona has come a long way in producing hockey talent with the Valley seeing a boom in youth and junior hockey players since the Phoenix Coyotes arrived in 1996. While the area is not a hotbed, it is beginning to generate a steady stream of players who are earning college hockey scholarships with a few even being drafted by the National Hockey League.
The latest prospect is Paradise Valley native Luke Moffatt, who entered last season as one of the top ranked 1992-born forwards in the United States. The 6-1, 187-pound center ranked 95th among all North American born skaters in the final Central Scouting Service rankings with projections seeing him selected anywhere from the third round on.
“It’s not a hockey hotbed, but hockey just stuck with me and I loved it ever since,” Moffatt told the Toronto Star. “I just remember loving the learn-to-skate program, then house league, then you’re moving up the ladder.”
The power forward dropped 20 spots from the midterm rankings, as his 15 points in 28 games for U.S.A. Hockey’s elite National Team Development Program was below the lofty expectations many held.
Despite that perception, the former Phoenix Firebird hopes to become just the fourth Arizonan drafted in the NHL joining Phillip Samuelsson (2nd round, 2009), Dusty Collins (5th round, 2004) and Jim Brown (5th round, 1979). FYI, David Spina was not drafted and signed his first pro contract as a free agent.
After spending two years with Team USA, Moffatt will play this fall at the University of Michigan after turning down offers from other elite programs including Boston College, Maine, Notre Dame, and Colorado College. He decided to go the NCAA route, like his father Kenny who played at NAU, despite being selected second overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the Western Hockey League bantam draft last summer.
Moffatt is projected to be drafted anywhere from the fourth round on.
The 2010 NHL Draft will be held June 25-26 at Staples Center in Los Angeles. The first round will take place on Friday (VERSUS, 4 p.m.) and rounds 2-7 will be conducted on Saturday. The NHL Network will have live coverage on Saturday beginning at 10 a.m.
Scouting Report:
Very high-energy…does a very good job attacking the puck on defense…very strong on his skates…does all the little things right and the puck seems to find him…has offensive skills, may just need some more confidence to really shine…draws comparison to Daniel Briere.
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PHOENIX COYOTES SELECTIONS IN THE 2010 NHL ENTRY DRAFT
Watch a highlights video of University of Miami power forward Dwayne Collins, whom the Phoenix Suns selected with the 60th overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Watch an NBA Draft Combine interview and feature video about the Phoenix Suns new player, Gani Lawal, the power forward out of Georgia Tech who they selected with the 46th overall selection in the 2010 NBA Draft.
Phoenix Coyotes Captain Shane Doan has been named as the winner of the 2009-10 King Clancy Award.
The King Clancy Memorial Trophy is an annual award given to the player who best exemplifies leadership qualities on and off the ice. The award is presented by the U.S. Army, and several soldiers marched on stage to hand Doan his trophy.
Doan has served as captain of the Coyotes for the past six seasons and has ingrained himself in the Arizona community ever since the organization moved from Winnipeg in 1996-97. He has established himself as a leader both on and off the ice and for years has been considered one of the most respected players in the game, as evidenced by his being selected as Team Canada’s captain at the World Championships for three straight years (2007-09).
Through a bankruptcy proceeding and relocation rumors to a coaching change late in the preseason, Doan kept the Coyotes together this year as they reached new heights on the ice, shattering the franchise records for wins (50) and points (107) in a single season. But most notably, amid the off-ice turmoil, Doan led his team to a place no one expected them to reach a year ago: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His commitment to his teammates, franchise and Coyotes fans was most evident when, on Dec. 17, Doan became the 42nd player in NHL history to play 1,000 games with one franchise and the 24th player to do it with the team that drafted him.
In the Arizona community, Doan has long been considered one of the most selfless professional athletes in a city that is home to four major professional sports teams. He serves as an ambassador for Coyotes Charities and works with a number of organizations including the United Blood Services, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Rescue Mission and Flashes of Hope, a nonprofit organization that arranges for professional photographers to visit terminally ill children and take uplifting family portraits.
Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett has captured the Jack Adams Award as “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success,” as selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
Tippett was a near-unanimous selection, receiving 57 of 59 first-place votes for 291 points. Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators and Joe Sacco of the Colorado Avalanche garnered 60 and 51 points, respectively.
Hired just days before the start of the regular season, Tippett led the Coyotes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002 by posting a 50-27-5 record for 107 points. The club posted an NHL-best 28-point gain over its 2008-09 total, edging Colorado’s 26-point improvement, and set franchise records for wins and points in a season, home wins (29) and longest home winning streak (10 games, Nov. 21 to Dec. 29). The Coyotes ranked third in the NHL in team defense (2.39 goals/game), up from 24th in 2008-09 (3.04), and were sixth in the League in penalty killing (84.5%).
The Coyotes registered a 14-win and 28-point improvement over 2008-09 while scoring 17 more goals and allowing 50 fewer goals. One other significant area of improvement came on the penalty kill, where the Coyotes improved from 28th in the League at 76.8 percent last season to sixth in the League at 84.5 percent. In addition, the Coyotes allowed the fewest goals (202) of any Western Conference team this season.
Tippett, 48, earned his 300th career coaching win Jan. 21 against Nashville. Since the start of the 2002-03 campaign, when he coached Dallas, Tippett ranks second among all NHL coaches in victories with 321, trailing only Mike Babcock of Detroit (326).
Tippett became the 17th head coach in Coyotes/Jets franchise history when he was hired by the Club on Sept. 24, 2009 after spending the previous six seasons as head coach of the Dallas Stars. In seven seasons as an NHL head coach, Tippett has guided his teams to the playoffs six times while compiling a record of 321-181-72. During that span, Tippett has registered the second-most victories among all NHL head coaches.
Tippett is the second Coyotes coach to win the Jack Adams Award, joining Bob Francis (2001-02).
A Jack Adams finalist for the first time, Tippett’s highest previous finish in coach-of-the-year voting was fifth with the Dallas Stars in 2002-03, his rookie NHL season behind the bench.
Arizona State University football and men’s basketball broadcasts will remain on “Sports 620 KTAR” in Phoenix for the next five years, according to officials with ASU Athletics and ISP Sports, the multimedia rights holder for Sun Devil Athletics.
The new multi-year agreement also includes special feature programming throughout the athletic year provided by the Sun Devil ISP Sports Network, which will handle all production and sponsorship opportunities surrounding the broadcasts.
“We are very enthusiastic to be able to continue our partnership agreement with Sports 620 KTAR and Scott Sutherland,” Lisa Love, Arizona State Vice President for University Athletics, said. “This agreement provides continuity for us, our sports programs and our fans, by remaining on KTAR 620 AM, News/Talk 92.3 and KMVP-AM. The audience reach, KTAR’s top ratings and their credibility in the market are tremendous features of this partnership.”
When scheduling conflicts occur with KTAR-AM, Sun Devil programming will be carried on “News/Talk 92.3 KTAR” or KMVP-AM (860) which, along with KTAR, are members of the Bonneville International Phoenix Radio Group.
“The team at Bonneville has been great to work with,” Mike Kohler, General Manager of the Sun Devil ISP Sports Network, said. “We are certainly excited with this new partnership for the next five years and are thrilled to continue broadcasting ASU football and men’s basketball on KTAR.”
Sutherland, Vice President/Market Manager of Bonneville, was very pleased with the announcement as well.
“Arizona State University and KTAR have enjoyed a wonderful partnership spanning over three decades,” Sutherland said. “Both Coach (Dennis) Erickson and Coach (Herb) Sendek have their respective programs headed in a positive direction and we are hopeful that this new agreement with the University and ISP will give our listeners the opportunity to listen to a Pac-10 title run on KTAR.”
The Sun Devil network is entering its second year under the management of ISP, the nation’s premier collegiate sports marketing company, which produces radio networks for more than 40 major college athletic programs across the country, including other Pacific-10 Conference members California, UCLA, Washington and Washington State.
Two former Diamondbacks coaches were among the Florida Marlins coaching casualties Wednesday, as bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley were blown out with manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Many Marlins observers were surprised Tosca wasn’t named interim manager but that may just open a future opportunity for him … as the next manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Tosca has already replaced an unsuccessful, green manager when he took over the reigns of the Toronto Blue Jays in June 2002 for Buck Martinez who moved from the broadcast booth to the dugout despite no previous managerial experience.
Tosca had immediate success and managed the Blue Jays from 2002-2004 and compiled a 191-191 record, including two third-place finishes. Many would consider that a win as the American League East is dominated annually by the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox with the Tampa Bay Rays recently joining the fray.
The Cuba native was part of the Diamondbacks original coaching staff, serving as Buck Showalter’s bench coach for three seasons. He left the organization for the Toronto job before returning as Bob Melvin’s third-base coach in 2005-06.
If the Diamondbacks decide to fire manager A.J. Hinch after this season and want someone with MLB managerial experience who would not only come cheap, but also has ties to the organization, then Tosca may be their man.
Arizona State University sophomore middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been named as a First-Team Preseason All-American by Sporting News for 2010.
Earlier this week, Burfict was named to the watch lists of the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award.
Burfict (Corona, Calif./Centennial High School) is an athletic and powerful linebacker who has displayed dominance on the field since the first game of his career in 2009. He had one of the most productive freshman seasons in school history in which he was named Pacific-10 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year. Selected to the Freshman All-American Team by CollegeFootballNews.com and to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, Burfict also was named a Freshman All-American by Scout.com and earned a spot on The Sporting News All-Pac-10 Freshman Team.
Burfict, who earned the starting middle linebacker spot in the fourth game of the season, finished his freshman season second on the team in total tackles with 69 (40 solo). He added seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He led the team with two fumble recoveries and was tops among all linebackers with five pass breakups. Burfict appeared in all 12 games of the season and started the final nine. He led the team in tackles in five games and collected a season-high 11 tackles (three solo) and one and half tackles for loss at Georgia on Sept. 26.
The 2010 Outland Trophy Watch List has been announced by the Football Writers Association of America and Arizona State University junior defensive tackle Lawrence Guy is one of 63 student-athletes highlighted. The prestigious list gives college football fans the first glimpse at a great crop of college offensive and defensive tackles, offensive guards and centers.
The FWAA All-America Committee will select three finalists in late November and eventually the overall winner.
Guy (Las Vegas, Nevada), 6-5, 300, is a big, athletic defensive tackle who has had two outstanding seasons in a Sun Devil uniform. An excellent pass-rushing force along the defensive line, Guy causes fits for opposing offensive linemen and wreaks havoc in the backfield for quarterbacks and ball carriers. He started 11 games at defensive tackle in 2009 and played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2008, moving into the starting lineup for the final eight games. He was named to several Freshman All-America teams, including Honorable Mention All-Pac-10.
Guy has 81 tackles in two years, including 17 tackles for losses (minus 61 yards) and 6.5 quarterback sacks (minus 43 yards). He also has recovered two fumbles and caused another.
The Outland Trophy, presented annually since 1946, is the third-oldest award in major college football. The Outland Trophy is named after the late John Outland, an All-America linemen at Penn and Kansas at the turn of the century. The 2010 winner will be announced on The Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show on December 9.
The Outland Trophy presentation banquet, sponsored by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee, will be on January 13, 2011 in Omaha, Nebraska.
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy Award Committee has released its watch list for the 2010 Bronko Nagurski Award and Arizona State University sophomore middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict is one of the student-athletes highlighted.
74 student-athletes are on the watch list whose winner is awarded annually to the nation’s best defensive player by the Football Writers Association of America and the Charlotte Touchdown Club.
Earlier, Burfict was named to the watch list of the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award.
Burfict (Corona, Calif./Centennial High School) is an athletic and powerful linebacker who has displayed dominance on the field since the first game of his career in 2009. He had one of the most productive freshman seasons in school history in which he was named Pacific-10 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year. Selected to the Freshman All-American Team by CollegeFootballNews.com and to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, Burfict also was named a Freshman All-American by Scout.com and earned a spot on The Sporting News All-Pac-10 Freshman Team.
Burfict, who earned the starting middle linebacker spot in the fourth game of the season, finished his freshman season second on the team in total tackles with 69 (40 solo). He added seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He led the team with two fumble recoveries and was tops among all linebackers with five pass breakups. Burfict appeared in all 12 games of the season and started the final nine. He led the team in tackles in five games and collected a season-high 11 tackles (three solo) and one and half tackles for loss at Georgia on Sept. 26.
The FWAA and the Charlotte Touchdown Club will announce five finalists for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy on November 18.
Are you looking to feel more confident as you look to prepare for college sports and the recruiting process? At SportsForce we hear many different questions, opinions and stories from student-athletes, parents and coaches all the time.
Here are some of the most common college sports recruiting questions our staff receives:
When do college coaches start recruiting?
What are college coaches looking for?
How can we maximize exposure to college recruiters?
What do we need to do and when do we need to do it?
What about the SAT, ACT, financial aid, NCAA Eligibility Center, etc…
Here are two simple and proven ACTION STEPS you can use today to begin taking control of your sports career and college sports goals.
Step 1: Student-athlete assessment
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Ask yourself “What type of college experience am I looking for?”
Attention student-athletes:
You need to reflect on what type of experience you are looking for. Write your thoughts down in a casual format (bullet points are fine) and be able to verbalize what type of college experience you are looking for.
Attention parents:
We recommend parents asking this question and letting your son or daughter answer this question with no undue pressure. See if your student-athlete can describe the type of experience they are looking for.
GOAL = To get a clear idea of what college experience you want as a student-athlete.
2. What are your key college decision factors?
Create a list of all of the key decision factors and give 1 to 5 points for each decision factor (5 being an extremely important decision factor). We recommend doing this on a spreadsheet and then ranking the potential colleges you are interested in by using this system to create an overall point total for each school.
Potential decision factors including: Academics (Majors offered, career development, alumni), Athletics (level of competition, W/L record, tradition), Social environment, Size of school, Public vs. Private, Cost, Location, Coaching Staff, Intuition (gut feeling, emotional connection)
GOAL = To have a proven ranking and college decision making system to know what potential colleges you are really interested in.
To accelerate your education on the college sports preparation and recruiting process I recommend signing up for our FREE SportsForce College Sports Recruiting Guide.
To get access to more advanced college recruiting tips, strategies and advice visit our website and RESOURCES section.
Article courtesy of SportsForce, Home for professional and affordable College Sports Recruiting Tools, Tips, Online Profiles, Highlight Videos and Premium Services.
Phoenix Coyotes President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced Thursday the Coyotes 2010-11 preseason schedule.
The Coyotes will open the eight-game preseason schedule on Tuesday, Sept. 21 when they travel to Anaheim to take on the Ducks at 7 p.m. Phoenix will play two split-squad preseason home games at Jobing.com Arena on Thursday, Sept. 23 vs. Los Angeles and Saturday, Sept. 25 vs. San Jose.
In addition to their road game on Sept. 21 at Anaheim, the Coyotes will also play at Los Angeles (split-squad) on Sept. 23 and at San Jose (split-squad) on Sept. 25, at Calgary on Sept. 28 and at Edmonton on Sept. 29.
The Coyotes will conclude their preseason schedule when they face off against Dinamo Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) at Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia, on Oct. 6 in an exhibition game as part of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Challenge.
The Coyotes will officially announce their 2010-11 regular season schedule on Tuesday, June 22.
The complete preseason schedule is listed below:
PHOENIX COYOTES 2010-11 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
Date Opponent Location Local Time
September 21, 2010 Anaheim Ducks Honda Center 7:00 p.m.
September 23, 2010 *Los Angeles Kings Jobing.com Arena 7:00 p.m.
September 23, 2010 *Los Angeles Kings STAPLES Center 7:30 p.m.
September 25, 2010 *San Jose Sharks Jobing.com Arena 7:00 p.m.
September 25, 2010 *San Jose Sharks HP Pavilion 7:30 p.m.
September 28, 2010 Calgary Flames Pengrowth Saddledome 7:00 p.m.
September 29, 2010 Edmonton Oilers Rexall Place 7:00 p.m.
Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced Thursday that the Coyotes have re-signed defenseman Adrian Aucoin to a two-year contract.
“We are very pleased to have re-signed Adrian to a two-year deal,” said Maloney. “He is an intelligent, puck-moving defenseman who brought tremendous leadership to our dressing room last season. We are looking forward to having him continue his career with the Coyotes.”
Aucoin, 36, registered 8-20-28 with 56 penalty minutes (PIM) while appearing in all 82 games for the Coyotes last season, his first with the team. Aucoin also scored six shootout-winning goals last season to lead the entire NHL while his 28 points ranked 4th among Coyotes defensemen. He also ranked 2nd on the Coyotes in average time on ice (22:33). In addition, Aucoin appeared in all seven of Phoenix’s postseason games, collecting two assists and 10 PIM.
In 2008-09, Aucoin registered 10-24-34 and 46 PIM with the Calgary Flames, ranking him 2nd among Calgary defensemen in goals, assists, points, shots (126) and average time on ice (22:17). During the 2007-08 season, Aucoin finished second among Flames defensemen in goals (10), assists (25), points (35) and ranked 3rd on the team in plus/minus (+13) and 5th in power-play goals (5).
The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Aucoin has appeared in 933 career NHL games with Vancouver, Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders, Chicago, Calgary and the Coyotes, collecting 116-248-364 with 683 PIM. He has also recorded 6-13-19 and 32 PIM in 47 career playoff games. Aucoin was named the Chicago Blackhawks captain during the 2006-07 campaign, collecting 4-12-16 in 59 games.
The native of Ottawa, Ontario also represented the Islanders in the 2004 NHL All Star Game.
A busy Tuesday in Phoenix sports continued with the surprise announcement that Steve Kerr will not return as the Phoenix Suns general manager after his contract runs out on June 30.
The move came as a surprise considering the Suns unexpected run to the Western Conference Finals but with his contract expiring in two weeks, a move would have to come now if one was to be made. The Arizona Republic reported Kerr will remain with the team through the NBA Draft on June 24 and maintain his ownership stake.
620 KTAR reported that Kerr wanted to be closer to his family and watch his high school senior son play hoops while returning to TV. That is often a convenient excuse when a position change is made because it is hard to argue. Another thought is perhaps Kerr and Suns owner Robert Sarver had differing opinions on whether to resign Amare Stoudemire and/or for how much. Another idea is Kerr wanted more to resign as GM than Sarver was willing to pay.
Kerr’s tenure will be remembered as one that appeared to never get fully on track as Sarver imposed strict and tight budget restraints and was hands on with many personnel decisions.
Kerr was widely respected for his knowledge of the game when he took the job after serving as an adviser for Sarver after he bought he team in 2004. However, Kerr never got to fully stretch his basketball legs and the team suffered with roller coaster performances during the last couple of seasons. Kerr appeared to have the team on the right track, however the immediate future of the team is tied to whether Stoudemire returns.
Sarver said he would consider in house candidates with long-time executive David Griffin a leading option within the franchise. Whomever Sarver hires, will be the his fourth GM in six seasons as owner.
The trade of Conor Jackson to Oakland on Tuesday will accomplish a couple of goals for the Arizona Diamondbacks and both of them are good.
First, the team moved an under-performing player who is playing out of position and is nothing more than a doubles hitter who can hit for average when everything is going right. The problem is, nothing has gone right for Jackson during the last two seasons. At his best he was a 15HR, 75RBI, .290 hitter. Serviceable but not ideal production from a corner outfielder. Now the Diamondbacks can give Gerardo Parra regular playing time. This will inject more speed, power and average into the lineup while also sending the message that the team is no longer so attached to their young players that dead wood won’t be moved.
It doesn’t hurt that the team will save anywhere from $1 million to $1.5 million depending on when Demel joins the D-backs. For Jackson, the trade represents a return home as he went to school in the Bay Area at the University of California.
The acquisition of reliever Sam Demel was a good one. The only problem is he isn’t a right hander, but at this point, any help in the porous bullpen will be welcomed with open arms. Demel has been successful at every level and is major league ready. He has recorded 200 strikeouts and only 90 walks in 180.2 innings throughout his pro baseball career. Demel was biding his time in Triple-A Jacksonville because Oakland has such a deep and talented bullpen. Now he’ll get a chance to contribute at the major league level immediately. Demel and Heilman will at least give Arizona two reliable arms out of the bullpen. Finding a closer is the next quest and Bobby Jenks could be the solution if Arizona wants to pay the White Sox closer, who looks like a probable trade deadline casualty. Heilman isn’t the answer as he has already failed as a closer elsewhere.
With Demel as the first choice in the seventh inning and Heilman in the eighth, the Diamondbacks could go a long way toward improving with a reliable closer. This team really isn’t as bad as it is made out to be. The club would be within striking distance of first place if the bullpen didn’t lose so many games. A strong bullpen was why the team overachieved in 2007 and a weak bullpen is why the team is underachieving in 2010. While there are many who are calling for a major overhaul, that isn’t necessary and the Jackson trade was the first step back to respectability.
During the post-game discussion about the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup victory Wednesday night, former Phoenix Coyote Jeremy Roenick broke down and cried on national TV. Is he a crybaby or just having a genuine emotional moment?
Keep in mind, Roenick played a 21-year NHL career and only reached the Stanley Cup Finals once, failing to win in 1990 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. he also played for Chicago for eight seasons.
Former Phoenix Coyote Dan Carcillo skated around like a runaway train during most of the Stanley Cup Finals, as evidenced here when he wiped out his Philadelphia Flyers teammate Jeff Carter with a reckless check.
The 2010 MLB Draft is June 7-9 and while this may be a down year for top-flight talent from Arizona, the state will again provide a bumper crop of quality players to choose from. The draft is 50 rounds so more than 1,500 players will be selected. Here are just 15 of the names with local connections that should be called at some point during the three-day affair.
Seth Blair, RHP, Arizona State – Blair thrived as an unexpected ace for ASU following the season-long injury to Josh Spence. Consistently hits mid-90s on the gun and should go in the second or third round.
Jordan Swagerty, RHP, Arizona State – This draft-eligible sophomore was both a catcher and relief pitcher but his future is on the mound. Swagerty has three solid pitches and good command and could reach the majors quickly.
Josh Spence, LHP, Arizona State – The Australia native returned to ASU for his senior year despite being selected by the Angles in the third round last year. Spence lost the 2010 season to an arm injury but he is too talented to drop very far.
Sammy Solis, LHP, University of San Diego – As a quality lefthander, the former Agua Fria H.S. star will definitely draw interest despite a previous back injury. He isn’t projected as a future star but a solid addition to an MLB staff.
Kevin Rhoderick, Oregon State – Rhoderick was an ace starter with Horizon H.S. but has shined as a reliever in college. He can hit 94 with his fastball and has a good change up. Rhoderick was selected in the 18th round by Detroit in 2008.
High School
Taylor Lindsey, SS, Desert Mountain – Arguably the state’s best player, the ASU-bound Lindsay batted .557 batting average with 14 HRs and 48 RBIs. A position change may be in the future for the two-time All-Arizona and Region Player of the Year.
Watch a video of Lindsey showing off his skills. Watch video.
Travis Flores, 1B, Desert Ridge H.S.- The ASU-bound powerhouse batted .505 with 60 RBI and an amazing 1.140 slugging percentage. He recently won a home run derby featuring 70 of the top H.S. players in the nation, including a 471-foot blast. Recently featured in Sports Illustrated.
Doug (D.J.) Peterson, SS/3B, Gilbert H.S. – The UofA-bound slugger combines very good power with a keen batting eye, as evidenced by his 34 walks. Peterson should be selected around the 10th round.
Watch video of Peterson hitting, fielding and running.
Jake Cole, RHP, Tucson Sahuaro H.S. – The North Carolina bound hurler is arguably the top pitcher in the state. The 6-4, 235, hurler is also a powerful hitter and may make an eventual move to first a la Ike Davis. Cole was also drafted by the Western Hockey League in 2006.
Konner Wade, RHP, Chaparral H.S. – A good two-way player but a higher prospect as a pitcher. The UofA-bound Wade has a good fastball and curve and moves the ball around well. A longer term prospect but he has a high ceiling.
Junior College
Sam Lind, SS, Central Arizona CC – Lind was co-Player of the Year in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference after batting .404 with five home runs and 57 RBI. He also has a good glove and strong arm.
DeMarcus Tidwell, OF Yavapai, AZ – One scouting service has the Mississippi native ranked as the top ranked junior college player from Arizona. Tidwell is a great athlete with excellent all-around tools. He was also a highly-regarded football prospect.
Chris Joyce LHP, Central Arizona CC – Joyce was 12-3 with a 2.36 ERA and struck out 95 in 92.1 innings but he did also walk 53. Joyce was drafted in the 10th round by the Dodgers in 2008.
Anthony Haase, RHP, Cochise CC – Haase was co-Player of the Year in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference after going 13-3 with a 1.62 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 100 innings. He was drafted in the 38th round by Tampa in 2008.
Tyler Bremer, RHP, Yavapai CC – The Baylor-bound righty transferred to Yavapai from UC Davis. A good season put Bremer on the radar and he will turn pro if he is drafted high enough and signs.
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The Web site orangebloods.com is reporting that the Pac-10 is going to offer six Big 12 schools an invitation to join the conference.
The Pac-10, which is holding its annual meetings in San Francisco this weekend, would invite Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Colorado into what would become a two-division conference. The six new teams would be paired with Arizona and Arizona State.
If this happens, ASU will have a great home schedule but Sun Devils fans can forget about winning another Pac-10 title for quite a while.
The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes Captain Shane Doan has been named as one of three finalists for the 2009-10 Mark Messier Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual as a superior leader in hockey and as a contributing member of society. It honors an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes.
Sidney Crosby of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres were also named as finalists for the Mark Messier Leadership Award.
Mark Messier, a six-time Stanley Cup champion and 16-time NHL All-Star in his 25 NHL seasons who is widely viewed as one of the greatest sports leaders of all time, solicits suggestions from club and League personnel and NHL fans through NHL.com in compiling a list of potential candidates. However, the selection of the three finalists and the ultimate winner is Messier’s alone.
The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 23, during the 2010 NHL Awards that will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in Canada.
Doan has served as captain of the Coyotes for the past six seasons and has ingrained himself in the Arizona community ever since the organization moved from Winnipeg in 1996-97. He has established himself as a leader both on and off the ice and for years has been considered one of the most respected players in the game, as evidenced by his being selected as Team Canada’s captain at the World Championships for three straight years (2007-09).
Through a bankruptcy proceeding and relocation rumors to a coaching change late in the preseason, Doan kept the Coyotes together this year as they reached new heights on the ice, shattering the franchise records for wins (50) and points (107) in a single season. But most notably, amid the off-ice turmoil, Doan led his team to a place no one expected them to reach a year ago: the Stanley Cup Playoffs. His commitment to his teammates, franchise and Coyotes fans was most evident when, on Dec. 17, Doan became the 42nd player in NHL history to play 1,000 games with one franchise and the 24th player to do it with the team that drafted him.
In the Arizona community, Doan has long been considered one of the most selfless professional athletes in a city that is home to four major professional sports teams. He serves as an ambassador for Coyotes Charities and works with a number of organizations including the United Blood Services, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix Rescue Mission and Flashes of Hope, a nonprofit organization that arranges for professional photographers to visit terminally ill children and take uplifting family portraits.
Voting for this new award was conducted among the 30 Club General Managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media at the conclusion of the regular season.
Maloney accepted the award in front of his peers at the NHL General Managers meeting held annually during the Stanley Cup Final. Maloney, George McPhee of the Washington Capitals and David Poile of the Nashville Predators were identified as the three finalists for the trophy last month.
Maloney, in his third season as General Manager of the Coyotes, steered the club through an uncertain and turbulent off-season, charting the course for the most successful regular season in franchise history. His biggest move was hiring head coach Dave Tippett, who guided the Coyotes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002 by posting a 50-25-7 record for 107 points and setting franchise records for wins, points and home wins (29) in a season.
Maloney added several players to the Coyotes roster over the summer, acquiring Radim Vrbata, Sami Lepisto, Lauri Korpikoski and Jim Vandermeer through trades while signing veteran free agents Adrian Aucoin, Vernon Fiddler, Jason LaBarbera, Taylor Pyatt and Robert Lang. Those players joined a veteran core that already included the likes of Shane Doan, Ed Jovanovski, Zbynek Michalek and Ilya Bryzgalov.
With the Coyotes already enjoying a breakout season, the acquisitions of forwards Lee Stempniak, Wojtek Wolski and Petteri Nokelainen plus defensemen Derek Morris and Mathieu Schneider at the Mar. 3 trade deadline propelled the club to even greater heights as Phoenix won nine consecutive games following the trade deadline (Mar. 4-21) to tie a club record. Stempniak was named the NHL’s First Star for the Month of March after leading the League with 13 goals in 14 games following his acquisition while Wolski recorded 18 points (6-12-18) in 18 games with the Coyotes.
Maloney, 51, completed his third season in Phoenix after joining the Coyotes on May 29, 2007 following 10 years in the front office of the New York Rangers.
The D-backs on Tuesday acquired former All-Star pitcher Dontrelle Willis and cash considerations from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Billy Buckner. Willis, a 28-year-old left-hander, has compiled a 70-62 record and 4.06 ERA in 186 games during eight Major League seasons with the Florida Marlins and Tigers.
Willis was the National League Rookie of the Year after posting a 14-6 record and 3.30 ERA with 142 strikeouts in 160.2 innings for the World Champion Marlins in 2003. Willis also finished second in Cy Young Award voting in 2005 after posting career bests with 22 wins, a 2.63 ERA, 170 strikeouts and 236.1 innings pitched for Florida. This year he has a 1-2 record and 4.98 ERA with 33 strikeouts and 29 walks over 43.1 innings in nine games.
Comment: This trade is just an exchange of pitchers with bad numbers. Willis has been riding the reputation of his good rookie season for years and the D-Backs are just the latest team to hope he can recapture some of that glory. Meanwhile the Diamondbacks are giving up on yet another young arm. If nothing else, the gregarious Willis will loosen up a tense locker room. This move is just an example of reshuffling the chairs on the Titanic and the Diamondbacks are a sinking ship.
Thursday night’s Game 5 of the Western Conference Finals of the 2010 NBA Playoffs between the Suns-Lakers scored big in ratings, garnering a 20.8 rating and 34 share on TNT. In other words, one out of every three households watching television tuned in to the game.
This was the Suns’ highest rated game since May 16, 2007 when the team took on the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals (23.0 rating, 34 share).
The Suns are set to take on the Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals on Saturday, May 29 at US Airways Center. The game will be broadcast nationally on TNT. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.
The Phoenix Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes will both face off against Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) opponents in exhibition games as part of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere Challenge.
Staged by the NHL and NHLPA in cooperation with the KHL, the Coyotes will play against Dinamo Riga at Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia on Wednesday, Oct. 6. Dinamo Riga plays in the Bobrov Division of the KHL’s Western Conference.
The Phoenix Coyotes will open their 2010-11 NHL regular season against the Boston Bruins at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10.
This will be the first time in 20 years that the NHL returns to Russia or Latvia for exhibition games. In September 1989 the Washington Capitals and Calgary Flames conducted a pre-season tour of the Soviet Union which included four games against Soviet National League clubs. Games were played in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Riga. The NHL clubs finished with a combined 6-2 record against the top Soviet teams, including the Red Army club and Dynamo Moscow.
In September 1990, the fabled Montreal Canadiens, one of the League’s Original Six franchises, joined the Minnesota North Stars in traveling to the Soviet Union for the “Friendship Tour ‘90″. Again, games were played in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Riga and again they were enthusiastically greeted by the Soviet public. However, this time the Soviet National League teams proved to be stronger, finishing with a 5-3 record against their NHL counterparts.
More information on 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere will be released at a later date, including ticket information, broadcast information, training camp schedules and preseason schedules.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke to the media Friday for his annual pre-Stanley Cup Finals state of the NHL address. Among the topics he discussed was the Phoenix Coyotes ownership situation and he shed some light on a few aspects of the ongoing sale of the franchise.
“The Coyotes are staying in Phoenix,” Bettman said. “Glendale. And I know there’s been a lot of discussion about this point about artificial deadlines, which may or may not have been imposed. They weren’t. What happened here was, it became clear that the City of Glendale could not do everything, accomplish everything that it was promising to do in time for a new buyer to close, in time for us to be comfortable for this coming season.
“So we went to the City of Glendale and said — and I think people tend to forget this, we have a lot of money invested in the Coyotes as a League right now, almost as much as the city has invested in the building – we’re prepared to stay for another season if we have to. But if you can’t accomplish all the things that you’re promising to accomplish that will enable a buyer to close, then we want to be indemnified for our losses this season, because we’re going to stick around in the belief and expectation that you’re going to get everything done that you’re promising to get done. And the City of Glendale was prepared to do that. Their hope and expectation is that they will conclude a building arrangement with a prospective purchaser. They’re talking to three groups right now. In the next few days, few weeks, and that this franchise will ultimately be able to be sold over the summer. That is my hope. That is my expectation.
“There was also a lot of speculation, and I’ll address it now, about what would have happened if the City of Glendale didn’t step up as they were prepared to do to support the franchise for next season, and what we would have done with it. We would have been forced, we would have had no choice but to move it. There has been a lot of speculation about Winnipeg. Winnipeg did make a bona fide offer. We never concluded a deal. That offer was made by Mark Chipman and David Thomson as partners in True North.
“They are very comfortable with the process. They understood that the likelihood was that the team was going to be remaining in Phoenix. They wanted us to know of their interest, and they have told us they are prepared to be patient.”
The first-ever Arizona State player to be named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Tillman is the sixth Sun Devil to be named to the College Football Hall of Fame.
Selected from a ballot of 77 All-America players, Tillman now joins former Sun Devil coaches Dan Devine, Frank Kush and John Cooper and student-athletes defensive back Mike Haynes, wide receiver John Jefferson, offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, linebacker Ron Pritchard and quarterback Danny White as representatives of Arizona State University in the College Football Hall of Fame. In all, ASU has nine former football coaches or student-athletes in the College Football Hall of Fame.
Joining Tillman in the Class of 2010 are players Dennis Byrd (North Carolina State, 1964-67), Ronnie Caveness (Arkansas, 1962-64), Ray Childress (Texas A&M, 1981-84), Randy Cross (UCLA, 1973-75), Sam Cunningham (USC, 1970-72), Mark Herrmann (Purdue, 1977-80), Clarkston Hines (Duke, 1986-89), Desmond Howard (Michigan, 1989-91), Chet Moeller (Navy, 1973-75), Jerry Stovall (LSU, 1960-62), Alfred Williams (Colorado, 1987-90) and coaches Barry Alvarez (Wisconsin, 1990-2005) and Gene Stallings (Texas A&M, 1965-71 and Alabama, 1990-96).
In addition to Hall of Fame enshrinement, Tillman will be honored posthumously at an ASU football game this fall.
A two-time First Team Academic All-Pac10 selection, Tillman led the Sun Devils to the 1996 Pac-10 title and a berth in the Rose Bowl. Named team MVP in 1997, Tillman finished his ASU career with 230 career tackles. He was named Sun Bowl MVP in his senior season and has since been inducted into the Sun Bowl Hall of Fame. Tillman was also named the 1997 Sporting News/Honda Scholar Athlete of the Year.
Drafted by the Arizona Cardinals in the 1998 NFL Draft, Tillman spent three seasons in the NFL before enlisting in the U.S. Army. Tillman, a U.S. Army Ranger, served tours in Iraqi Freedom (2003) and Operation Enduring Freedom (2004) before he was tragically killed. Following his death, he was awarded a Purple Heart by the U.S. Army and a Silver Star by the U.S. Military. Tillman was posthumously honored with the NFF’s Distinguished American Award in 2006.
The Pat Tillman Foundation was established in his name to promote scholarship, the sprit of community service and supporting veterans, active service members and their dependents. Its signature event, Pat’s Run, attracts more than 27,000 participants each year. He is survived by his wife Marie.
USA Swimming revealed a list of 46 coaches who have received a lifetime ban or permanently resigned membership, most for sex-related offenses, including two with Arizona ties.
Charles Arabas and James Pooler, who both faced charges for sexual misconduct are the two Arizonans who were included on the list.
Arabas faced trail in 2003 on 19 felony counts of sexual abuse with female members of a high school swim team he coached in Flagstaff, Ariz. He was also worked as manager of Wall Aquatic Center at Northern Arizona University. Click this link for details of the charges: Arabas
Pooler, a former USA Swimming chair for Arizona Swimming, was suspended for sexual misconduct in August 2008.
USA Swimming has come under increasing scrutiny for its handling of sexual abuse, with some critics claiming that it covered up wrongdoing by prominent coaches and fostered an environment that allowed youth swimmers to be harmed.
The Associated Press reported that in a plan released last month, USA Swimming said it will develop comprehensive guidelines for acceptable coaching behavior; enhance the system for reporting sexual abuse to the organization and law enforcement; determine if improvements need to be made in the current system of background checks; and develop stronger ties with local clubs that are responsible for hiring coaches.
Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced Monday that the Coyotes have signed defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to an entry level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Ekman-Larsson, 18, was drafted by the Coyotes with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In 42 games this season with Leksand of Sweden’s second-highest professional league, Ekman-Larsson recorded 9-18-27 and 98 penalty minutes (PIM). A native of Karlskrona, Sweden, Ekman-Larsson helped lead Sweden to the bronze medal at the 2010 World Championship in Germany, recording 1-2-3 in nine games. He also represented Sweden in the 2010 World Junior Championship and won a bronze medal, collecting 2-3-5 and a +5 rating in six games. His five points ranked T-5th among all defensemen in the tournament and 1st among Swedish defensemen.
Last season, Ekman-Larsson appeared in 39 games with Leksand as a 17-year-old, where he recorded 3-14-17 and 32 PIM. The youngest player on his team, Ekman-Larsson also led the league with a +44 rating. The 6-foot-2, 176-pound defenseman represented Team Sweden at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship, collecting 2-6-8 in six games, helping Sweden to a fifth place finish.
MR. MAY HEATING UP
RF Justin Upton hit .429 (9-for-21) during the recent 5-game road trip and has collected hits in 14 of 18 games this month while batting .310 (22-for-71) with 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 homers and 11 RBI…he has raised his season average to .256 after batting only .213 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI in April…he had a similar slow start last season, batting .250 with 2 homers and 8 RBI in April prior to batting .373 with 7 homers and 21 RBI to win NL Player of the Month honors in May.
RIGHT-SIDE PRODUCTION
1B Adam LaRoche (6 HR, 28 RBI) and 2B Kelly Johnson (12 HR, 25 RBI) have combined for 18 home runs and 53 RBI, tops among all first base-second base combos in the NL…the Phillies’ Ryan Howard (7 HR, 30 RBI) and Chase Utley (9 HR, 22 RBI) rank second with a combined 16 homers and 52 RBI, while the Marlins’ Dan Uggla (11 HR, 27 RBI) and Gaby Sanchez (4 HR, 18 RBI) are third with 15 homers and 45 RBI.
A RUN PRODUCER
CF Chris Young is off to the best start of his career with a .277 average and 28 RBI during the club’s first 41 games…Young, whose 28 RBI rank tied for second on the team with 1B Adam LaRoche behind 3B Mark Reynolds (30), is on pace to drive in 111 runs this season, which would shatter his previous best of 85 in 2008…since 2007, Young is tied with the Marlin’s Cody Ross for fourth among NL center fielders with 223 RBI behind the Mets’ Carlos Beltran (272), Dodgers’ Matt Kemp (244) and Giants’ Aaron Rowand (241).
FASTEST TO 100 HR AMONG 3B
With 99 home runs in 457 games, Mark Reynolds could become the fourth-fastest third baseman in Major League history to reach 100 home runs, placing him among an elite list:
Player, Team Career Games
Bob Horner, Braves 390
Eddie Mathews, Braves 397
Troy Glaus, Angels 456
Mike Schmidt, Phillies 472
THIRD BASE LEADER
Since debuting on May 16, 2007, Mark Reynolds’ 99 home runs lead all NL third basemen, with the Nationals’ Ryan Zimmerman (77) and the Mets’ David Wright (76) second…Reynolds’ 291 RBI rank second behind Wright (312).
JOHNSON AMONG NL’S BEST 2B
Kelly Johnson, the NL Player of the Month for April, is one of the NL’s best second baseman at the dish, ranking first with 12 home runs and a .603 slugging percentage; second with 12 doubles, 25 RBI, 85 total bases and a .959 OPS; third with 28 runs scored; and tied for third with 20 walks.
KENNEDY CLEANING UP TOP OF THE ORDER
D-backs’ RHP Ian Kennedy has had success against opposing lineup’s most potent hitters in the No. 1-4 spots:
Batting Slot AVG AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO
Batting #1 .233 30 7 4 0 0 1 1 8
Batting #2 .161 31 5 2 0 2 5 0 4
Batting #3 .160 25 4 1 0 0 0 2 8
Batting #4 .231 26 6 1 0 3 4 1 7
Batting #1-4 .196 112 22 8 0 5 10 4 27
Batting #5 .261 23 6 2 0 1 1 2 6
Batting #6 .263 19 5 0 0 2 3 4 3
Batting #7 .350 20 7 1 0 1 3 2 1
Batting #5-7 .290 62 18 3 0 4 7 8 10
Batting #8 .167 18 3 1 1 0 1 4 7
Batting #9 .238 21 5 0 0 0 1 0 5
Batting #8-9 .205 39 8 1 1 0 2 4 12
SNYDER’S ERRORLESS STREAK
Chris Snyder’s current 226-game errorless streak is the third-longest streak in Major League history by a catcher:
Player Games Time Span
Mike Redmond 253 July 22, 2004-present
Mike Matheny 252 Aug. 2, 2002-Aug. 1, 2004
Chris Snyder 226 Aug. 22, 2007-present
WORKING THE COUNT
The D-backs lead the league by seeing an average of 4.03 pitches per plate appearance after ranking ninth in 2009 with a 3.83 average…Kelly Johnson is tied for fourth in the league by seeing 4.35 pitches, followed by Mark Reynolds (12th, 4.25), Justin Upton (T14th, 4.18) and Adam LaRoche (T18th, 4.13).
QUALITY AND QUANTITY
D-backs’ starting pitchers have thrown 4 quality starts in their last 6 games and are tied for seventh in the NL with 20 quality starts this year…Dan Haren, Rodrigo Lopez and Ian Kennedy are tied for the team lead with 5 quality starts each…since 2007, the D-backs lead the NL with 288 quality starts.
SNAKE BITES
• Edwin Jackson threw 8.0 scoreless innings with 12 strikeouts in Monday’s win @ Marlins…according to the Elias Sports Bureau, the only other Major League pitcher to record at least 12 strikeouts and not allow a run in a game this season is the Blue Jays’ Ricky Romero, who had 12 strikeouts in a complete-game shutout vs. Rangers last Saturday.
• Among NL teams, D-backs pitchers rank first with 19 hits, third with a .204 batting average (19-for-93) and .227 on-base percentage, tied for third with 3 doubles and tied for seventh with 4 RBI.
By Andrew Beinbrink, CEO of SportsForce
www.sportsforceonline.com
Are you looking to feel more confident as you look to prepare for college sports and the recruiting process? At SportsForce we hear many different questions, opinions and stories from student-athletes, parents and coaches all the time.
Here are some of the most common college sports recruiting questions our staff receives:
When do college coaches start recruiting?
What are college coaches looking for?
How can we maximize exposure to college recruiters?
What do we need to do and when do we need to do it?
What about the SAT, ACT, financial aid, NCAA Eligibility Center, etc…
Here are two simple and proven ACTION STEPS you can use today to begin taking control of your sports career and college sports goals.
Step 1: Student-athlete assessment
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Ask yourself “What type of college experience am I looking for?”
Attention student-athletes:
You need to reflect on what type of experience you are looking for. Write your thoughts down in a casual format (bullet points are fine) and be able to verbalize what type of college experience you are looking for.
Attention parents:
We recommend parents asking this question and letting your son or daughter answer this question with no undue pressure. See if your student-athlete can describe the type of experience they are looking for.
GOAL = To get a clear idea of what college experience you want as a student-athlete.
2. What are your key college decision factors?
Create a list of all of the key decision factors and give 1 to 5 points for each decision factor (5 being an extremely important decision factor). We recommend doing this on a spreadsheet and then ranking the potential colleges you are interested in by using this system to create an overall point total for each school.
Potential decision factors including: Academics (Majors offered, career development, alumni), Athletics (level of competition, W/L record, tradition), Social environment, Size of school, Public vs. Private, Cost, Location, Coaching Staff, Intuition (gut feeling, emotional connection)
GOAL = To have a proven ranking and college decision making system to know what potential colleges you are really interested in.
********************************
To accelerate your education on the college sports preparation and recruiting process I recommend signing up for our FREE SportsForce College Sports Recruiting Guide.
* FREE Sign up click HERE
To get access to more advanced college recruiting tips, strategies and advice visit our website and RESOURCES section.
The SportsForce team, which is comprised of former college and professional athletes and coaches, is relentlessly committed to providing an ongoing education to help you best navigate your journey as a student-athlete, parent or coach.
Article courtesy of SportsForce, Home for professional and affordable College Sports Recruiting Tools, Tips, Online Profiles, Highlight Videos and Premium Services.
The Glendale City Council approved a motion to cover potential losses while the city and league seek an owner to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes by a unanimous 6-0 vote during a meeting Tuesday night.
The official announcement by Mayor Elaine Scruggs was met by a loud applause and cheer by the hundred or so supporters in attendance.
“If the Coyotes were to go away Westgate would be a large open air mall,” said Councilman David Goulet. “We need the Coyotes to be there.”
“If we were not to do this, I think it would be a big step backwards,” said Councilman/Vice Mayor Manuel Martinez. “This is the right thing to do and in the best interests of the city and its citizens.”
City Manager Ed Beasley also said they are on track with negotiations to have the team sold by the NHL deadline of June 30, so they also consider this funding mechanism to be short lived with a cap of $25 million if necessary.
The City will not use taxpayer dollars but instead the Community Facilities District (CFD) introduced during last month’s city council meeting.
The approval held an evil twist of irony as the same city council had a vote last month to decide which proposal(s) they would accept between Ice Edge and Glendale Hockey, LLC which is headed by sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf. The vote went 6-0 in favor of Reinsdorf and 5-1 against Ice Edge.
Ice Edge, LLC is a group of five Canadian and American businessmen including John Breslow, who was a minority owner in the previous ownership group which included Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Moyes.
Tuesday night’s city council vote was necessitated by reports that talks with a group headed by sports mogul Jerry Reinsdorf broke down last week and new demands by the NHL for the city to provide this insurance policy. This also forced the City of Glendale to reconsider the Ice Edge bid as they were the only other group to show interest in purchasing the beleaguered National Hockey League franchise. There were reports that Reinsdorf was out as a potential owner, but it was it was said that both parties are still involved.
While that may be true, the fact that John Kaites of Glendale Hockey was in attendance and sitting with NHL executives while no one from Ice Edge was there.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly was in attendance to address the City Council and take questions while also addressing the NHL fee to cover any losses if an owner is not identified by the end of the summer.
“This is nothing more than an insurance policy which allows us to move forward with achieving an objective and keep the Coyotes where we feel they belong which is in the city of Glendale for the long term,” Daly said.
Daly also said the NHL can work with either group and once an owner is identified, a deal can be put in place in a matter of weeks.
Glendale City Council voting:
H. Philip Lieberman – Yes
Joyce Clark – Yes
David Goulet – Yes
Steve Frate – Yes
Yvonne Knaack – Yes
Manuel Martinez – Yes
The Phoenix Suns surprising sweep over the nemesis San Antonio Spurs has attracted a lot of attention as evidenced by point guard Steve Nash currently ranking among the top 10 trending topics on Yahoo!
Yahoo! trends monitors the most searched topics through their search engine at a given time. There is no particular hot story surrounding Nash so general interest is behind the two-time MVP currently ranking sixth, just ahead of Tiger Woods but a few spots behind Dunkin Donuts.
Hole in space owns the top spot.
Ironically, all of these items have a connection to a hole. Steve Nash has a defensive hole in his game, the black hole in space, donuts obviously have holes in the middle and Tiger Woods … well you can fill in the hole joke there.
Three additional Arizona State University football games in 2010 have been selected for national television, it was announced Tuesday by the Pacific-10 Conference. As of Tuesday, at least four Arizona State University football games will be televised live in 2010.
The Saturday, September 25 home game with the University of Oregon at Sun Devil Stadium will be televised to a national audience by Fox Sports Net. The game will kickoff at 7:30 p.m. Arizona time. The Friday, November 26 contest with UCLA at Sun Devil Stadium also will be shown by FSN, beginning at 1:30 p.m. Arizona time.
ASU’s important non-conference game at Wisconsin on Saturday, September 18 will be televised by both ABC (regionally) and ESPN2 (to the remainder of the country) at 2:30 p.m. local time (12:30 p.m. Arizona time).
Previously, the annual in-state rivalry game as part of the State Farm Territorial Cup Series, between ASU and the University of Arizona, was selected for national television by ESPN at 6 p.m. local time from Tucson on Thursday, December 2.
Now that ABC and ESPN have made their early television selections, FSN/Versus will announce their early selections during the first week of June. Additional ASU football games could be selected then or as the 2010 season progresses.
Arizona State University Head Football Coach Dennis Erickson announced Monday that he has named Perry High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal John Wrenn as Assistant Athletic Director For Football Operations. Wrenn comes to Arizona State for his second tour of duty after having spent the past three years at Perry in Gilbert, Arizona.
Wrenn served as running backs coach and assistant special teams coach in 2006 for former head coach Dirk Koetter.
“I am thankful for the opportunity to return to Arizona State University with head coach Dennis Erickson,” says Wrenn. “Dennis is creating a special program at ASU and it is a dream come true to be able to be a part of that. It is the perfect situation for me. I have coaching and administrative experience and I know this community. I know what it takes to be successful.”
Wrenn compiled an impressive 223-46 won-loss record in 23 years of high school coaching, both at Hamilton High School and in the state of Illinois. He earned state Coach-of-the-Year accolades five times, three times in Arizona (1999, 2003 and 2004) and twice in Illinois. He has earned regional Coach-of-the-Year honors 15 times and was Chicago-area Coach-of-the-Year on four occasions.
Wrenn’s teams competed in the state playoffs 19 times, winning three state championships. His squads were runners-up twice, semi-finalists three times and quarter-finalists four times. Wrenn won 16 Conference/Region Championships.
At Hamilton High, Wrenn’s team posted a 91-11 eight-year record and won two state championships. Twice more his teams made it to the state championship game. His Hamilton resume also includes one state semi-finalist team and two quarter-finalist teams. Hamilton won the region championships five times (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005).
At Perry High, Wrenn provided overall leadership, supervision and coordination of all sports programs. As Athletic Director at Hamilton High, Wrenn hired all coaches, helped develop all athletic facilities and supervised all athletic-related activities. He also served as the Department Head for Physical Education.
Wrenn’s state of Illinois career included a 10-year stint as head football coach at Homewood-Flossmoor High School in Flossmoor, Illinois. His teams there compiled a 99-18 record, including one state championship, nine conference championships, nine state playoff appearances, two state semi-finalists and two quarter-finalists. Wrenn also served as the Assistant Athletic Director at Homewood-Flossmoor in 1995-96.
In 1985-86, Wrenn was the Wide Receivers coach under Mike White at the University of Illinois. The Fighting Illini ranked in the nation’s top 10 in passing that year and played in the 1985 Peach Bowl.
From 1982-84, Wrenn was the Head Football Coach at West Aurora High School in Aurora, Illinois. There, his teams posted a two-year record of 18-11 and won two conference championships and two state playoff berths.
Before a one-year stint at a private company in 1981-82, Wrenn was the Head Football Coach at East Aurora High School for two seasons (1979-81) and posted a 14-5 record, one conference championship and one state playoff appearance.
From 1977-79, Wrenn was an assistant football coach at West Aurora High and served in the same capacity between 1974-77 at Elgin Larkin High School in Elgin, Illinois.
As a player Wrenn was the Most Valuable Player for Western Illinois University in 1972. He lettered there between 1970 and 1973, captaining the teams in 1971 and 1972. He was a Division II All-American and still holds the school career interception record with 18. He is a member of the Western Illinois athletic Hall of Fame and was a Blue Key National Honor Society member.
Wrenn graduated from DeKalb High School (DeKalb, Illinois) in 1969 and was all-conference and all-area in football. He also competed in basketball, baseball and wrestling.
Phoenix Coyotes prospect Oliver Ekman-Larsson will represent Sweden at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, May 7-23.
Ekman-Larsson, 18, was drafted by the Coyotes with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. In 42 games this season with Leksand of Sweden’s second-highest professional league (Sweden-2), Ekman-Larsson recorded 9-18-27 and 98 penalty minutes (PIM). The defenseman also represented Sweden in the 2010 World Junior Championship where he helped lead the team to a bronze medal by recording 2-3-5 and a +5 rating in six games. His five points ranked T-5th among all defensemen in the tournament and 1st among Swedish defensemen.
Last season, Ekman-Larsson appeared in 39 games with Leksand as a 17-year-old, where he recorded 3-14-17 and 32 PIM. As the youngest player on his team, Ekman-Larsson also led the league with a +44 rating. The 6-foot-2, 176-pound native of Karlskrona, Sweden represented Team Sweden at the 2009 Under-18 World Championship, collecting 2-6-8 in six games, helping Sweden to a fifth place finish.
The bid by Chicago businessman and part-time Valley resident Jerry Reinsdorf to buy the Phoenix Coyotes is dead and the city of Glendale has returned to the previously shunned Ice Edge Holdings group in a last-minute bid to keep the team in Phoenix, sources close to the deal told ESPN.
The Glendale City Council is expected to file documents Friday morning accepting a new lease proposal from Ice Edge and agreeing to work exclusively with the group moving forward, sources said.
The desperation move comes less than a month after the Glendale City council voted to deal exclusively with Reinsdorf while rejecting the Ice Edge bid. It appeared that Ice Edge was out for good as their was an unspoken tone of Glendale preferring to work with Reinsdorf who leads Glendale Hockey, LLC. Reinsdorf, who owns the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox, already has a relationship with Glendale following his involvement in the development of Glendale Camelback-Ranch, which is the springing training home of his White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
There was also a strong indication that Reinsdorf was trying to get the franchise at a bottom basement price while committing no cash, instead leveraging a proposed tax district to cover the purchase price with the City of Glendale guaranteeing any losses incurred through the first five years. He also wanted the right to move the team after five years if certain milestones weren’t met.
The Reinsdorf group would make an equity purchase by investing $103 million to purchase the team. A Community Funds District (CFD) would fund $65 million to NHL over three years, along with $25 million per year in an operating loss reserve account capped at $100 million.
The Ice Edge proposal included debt financing through a bank, which the some members of City of Glendale was not convinced they could secure. Ice Edge, LLC is a group of five Canadian and American businessmen including John Breslow, who was a minority owner in the previous ownership group which included Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Moyes. Ice Edge CEO Anthony LeBlanc, who is now a Paradise Valley resident, said that while some bank financing is involved in the purchase, he and his partners will invest tens of millions of their own money. The group is also working to raise between $200-$250 million to not only cover the purchase of any potential future losses and says financing is ready if the Glendale meets the NHL’s requirements.
“It is not our intent to keep the team in Glendale for an additional 24 years, it is our commitment to keep the team in Glendale for 24 years,” LeBlanc said. “We don’t know why the city is considering any offers that would not commit to the keeping the team for 24 years.”
Sources also told ESPN.com the city must guarantee a number of conditions with the NHL, including covering operating losses incurred next season, before the league will consider agreeing to sell the team to Ice Edge. One source said the league wants conditions meant by the end of this week, although NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN.com that timeline is not accurate. It’s believed Ice Edge was waiting for those conditions to be met before signing the agreement with the city.
The puck is in Glendale’s court as the team will be allowed to quickly be sold to David Thomson and moved to Winnipeg if the West Valley community doesn’t agree to the NHL’s terms.
Moyes placed the franchise in bankruptcy last May, which led to an acrimonious court battle throughout the summer. The court allowed the NHL to purchase the team out of bankruptcy on Oct. 27 but the league did not assume the Arena Management, Use and Lease Agreement.
According to the terms of that deal, the NHL will seek an owner outside who could relocate the franchise if they can not find an owner who would keep the team in Glendale by June 30.
Reinsdorf was reportedly minutes from signing a letter of intent to as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was en route from New York to present the paperwork. Bettman was in the air when he was surprised by the unexpected news that the team was placed in bankruptcy.
The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has been named as one of three finalists for the inaugural NHL General Manager of the Year Award for 2009-10. George McPhee of the Washington Capitals and David Poile of the Nashville Predators were also named as finalists for the GM of the Year Award.
Voting for this new award was conducted among the 30 Club General Managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media. The winner will be announced during the 2010 Stanley Cup Final.
Maloney, in his third season as General Manager of the Coyotes, steered the club through an uncertain and turbulent off-season, charting the course for the most successful regular season in franchise history. His biggest move was hiring head coach Dave Tippett, who guided the Coyotes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002 by posting a 50-25-7 record for 107 points and setting franchise records for wins, points and home wins (29) in a season.
Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett has already been named a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, which is given to the NHL Coach of the Year.
Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov has been named a finalist for the Vezina Trophy which is given to the NHL’s Outstanding Goaltender.
Maloney added several players to the Coyotes roster over the summer, acquiring Radim Vrbata, Sami Lepisto, Lauri Korpikoski and Jim Vandermeer through trades while signing veteran free agents Adrian Aucoin, Vernon Fiddler, Jason LaBarbera, Taylor Pyatt and Robert Lang. Those players joined a veteran core that already included the likes of Shane Doan, Ed Jovanovski, Zbynek Michalek and Ilya Bryzgalov.
With the Coyotes already enjoying a breakout season, the acquisitions of forwards Lee Stempniak, Wojtek Wolski and Petteri Nokelainen plus defensemen Derek Morris and Mathieu Schneider at the Mar. 3 trade deadline propelled the club to even greater heights as Phoenix won nine consecutive games following the trade deadline (Mar. 4-21) to tie a club record. Stempniak was named the NHL’s First Star for the Month of March after leading the League with 13 goals in 14 games following his acquisition while Wolski recorded 18 points (6-12-18) in 18 games with the Coyotes.
ESPN has reached a multiyear agreement with the Valley of the Sun Bowl Foundation for exclusive multimedia rights to the Insight Bowl played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. As part of the agreement, the post-season college football bowl game will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU and can be simulcast on ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV through the 2015 season. ESPN previously televised the Insight Bowl from 1992 to 2005.
The 2010 game will be televised live on ESPN Tuesday, Dec. 28, at 10 p.m. ET.
The Insight Bowl will pit the third selection after the BCS from the Big 12 Conference against a third/fourth selection after the BCS from the Big Ten Conference. The Bowl previously had the sixth selection from each conference.
“We are thrilled to have the Insight Bowl back on our networks,” said Burke Magnus, ESPN senior vice president, college sports programming. “This premier matchup between teams from two elite conferences in the Big 12 and Big Ten is a great addition to our extensive bowl schedule.”
Fiesta Bowl Board Chairman Duane Woods said, “This agreement will take the Insight Bowl to a new level. As the only bowl organization to host three NCAA-certified postseason bowl games, we’re proud to team up with ESPN and present a match-up that college football fans won’t want to miss. We’re grateful for the leadership of Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman and the city council in helping the Insight Bowl reach its potential.”
Tempe-based LifeLock, Inc., the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, announced today a strategic partnership with Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill. In an effort to continue its affiliation within the NBA and further enhance its partnership with the Suns, LifeLock will use Hill, recipient of the 2009-2010 NBA Sportsmanship Award, in various marketing efforts across multiple platforms.
In 2007, LifeLock entered into its existing partnership with the Phoenix Suns. The partnership provides many opportunities for marketing the industry leader’s well-known identity theft protection brand. With Hill as LifeLock’s new spokesperson, basketball fans that have followed Hills’ NBA career will have the opportunity to learn more about the crime of identity theft and important protection methods.
“This exciting partnership with Grant Hill gives LifeLock a great opportunity to focus on reaching more consumers with our proactive identity theft protection message,” said Marvin Davis, LifeLock’s Chief Marketing Officer. “Grant provides a strong voice behind our service that will undoubtedly be heard by basketball fans around the country.”
“With increasing threats of identity theft, I look forward to helping LifeLock build on their identity theft protection initiatives,” said Hill. “Educating consumers on ways to help reduce the risk of becoming a victim will be our focus.”
LifeLock’s marketing plans span an array of communications channels, including television, print and digital media. Hill will appear in upcoming LifeLock television and radio advertisements, as well as in print. The organization will also incorporate Hill in promotional events that will help to educate more consumers on the growing crime of identity theft.
Lifelock garnered international headlines last year for its innovative partnership with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. As part of the deal, Lifelock had its company name put on the front of the Mercury’s jersey in place of the team’s name. The deal has since been replicated by other WNBA teams.
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Kelly Johnson has been named National League Player of the Month for April.
In his first month with the Diamondbacks, Johnson had the best April of his career, leading the National League with nine home runs and a .750 slugging percentage. In 22 games, Johnson batted .313 (25-80) with 18 RBI, 17 runs scored and a .404 OBP. His eight doubles were most among NL second basemen while his nine homers tied Steve Finley (2000) and Richie Sexson (2004) for the second-highest April totals in D-backs’ franchise history (Luis Gonzalez’s 13 HR in April, 2001 are first).
The following statement was issued Friday by Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Michael Weiner regarding the immigration law recently passed by the
state of Arizona.
“The recent passage by Arizona of a new immigration law could have a negative impact on hundreds of Major League players who are citizens of countries other than the United States. These international players are very much a part of our national pastime and are important members of our Association. Their contributions to our sport have been invaluable, and their exploits have been witnessed, enjoyed and applauded by millions of Americans. All of them, as well as the Clubs for whom they play, have gone to great lengths to ensure full compliance with federal immigration law.
“The impact of the bill signed into law in Arizona last Friday is not limited to the players on one team. The international players on the Diamondbacks work and, with their families, reside in Arizona from April through September or October. In addition, during the season, hundreds of international players on opposing Major League teams travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks. And, the spring training homes of half of the 30 Major League teams are now in Arizona. All of these players, as well as their families, could be adversely affected, even though their presence in the United States is legal. Each of them must be ready to prove, at any time, his identity and the legality of his being in Arizona to any state or local official with suspicion of his immigration status. This law also may affect players who are U.S. citizens but are suspected by law enforcement of being of foreign descent.
“The Major League Baseball Players Association opposes this law as written. We hope that the law is repealed or modified promptly. If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.
“My statement reflects the institutional position of the Union. It was arrived at after consultation with our members and after consideration of their various views on this controversial subject.”
Phoenix Coyotes forward Lauri Korpikoski will represent Finland at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, May 7-23.
Korpikoski, 23, appeared in 71 games for the Coyotes this season, recording 5-6-11 and 16 penalty minutes (PIM). He also appeared in all seven postseason games for the Coyotes and scored a shorthanded goal.
In 2008-09, Korpikoski appeared in 68 games with the New York Rangers as a rookie, recording 6-8-14 and 14 penalty minutes (PIM). He also collected two assists while appearing in all seven of the Rangers’ playoff games last season. In 139 career NHL games with the Coyotes and Rangers, Korpikoski has recorded 11-14-25 and 30 PIM. He has also collected 2-2-4 in 15 career playoff games.
A native of Turku, Finland, Korpikoski represented Finland at the 2005 and 2006 World Junior Championship tournaments. He helped lead Finland to the bronze medal in 2006 while ranking T-5th in assists (5) among all players in the tournament. He also skated in six games for Finland at the 2004 Under-18 World Junior Championship, notching 5-6-11 and a +7 rating to tie for the tournament scoring lead.
Korpikoski was originally selected by the Rangers in the first round (19th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft and was acquired by the Coyotes from the Rangers in exchange for Enver Lisin on July 13, 2009. Prior to his North American career, Korpikoski played two seasons of professional hockey in Finland.
The Rotary Lombardi Award Committee has released its preliminary watch list for the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award and Arizona State University sophomore middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict is one of the student-athletes highlighted.
Burfict (Corona, Calif./Centennial High School) is an athletic and powerful linebacker who has displayed dominance on the field since the first game of his career in 2009. He had one of the most productive freshman seasons in school history in which he was named Pacific-10 Conference Defensive Freshman of the Year. Selected to the Freshman All-American Team by CollegeFootballNews.com and to the Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America Team, Burfict also was named a Freshman All-American by Scout.com and earned a spot on The Sporting News All-Pac-10 Freshman Team.
Burfict, who earned the starting middle linebacker spot in the fourth game of the season, finished his freshman season second on the team in total tackles with 69 (40 solo). He added seven tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles. He led the team with two fumble recoveries and was tops among all linebackers with five pass breakups. Burfict appeared in all 12 games of the season and started the final nine. He led the team in tackles in five games and collected a season-high 11 tackles (three solo) and one and half tackles for loss at Georgia on Sept. 26.
Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors or by being named to their respective all-conference first team as selected by the conference’s head coaches. The Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List will be updated prior to the start of the 2010 season in order to identify those players who have been selected as pre-season honors candidates.
While the Watch List highlights those players who have already received national recognition, any Division 1 player who meets the requirements is eligible for consideration from the Rotary Lombardi Selection Committee. This committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division 1-A head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters.
The Rotary Lombardi Watch List, intended as a reference tool for the Selection Committee, will be periodically updated and revised through the conclusion of the voting to determine the 12 Semifinalists for 2010.
The 41st Rotary Lombardi Award will be held on December 7- 8, 2010 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas. For more information on the two-day schedule of events, please visit www.rotarylombardiaward.org.
Camelback Ranch-Glendale CBR-G, the spring-training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, will host the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) 5A-I and 4A-I baseball tournaments from May 4–15.
Qualifying teams in each classification will play at least 14 games at CBR-G during the 12-day span, culminating in the two championship games at 3 and 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 15.
All games will be played in CBR-G’s stadium, the largest in the Cactus League.
The two championship games also will be webcast live at www.aia365.com.
Ticket prices are $10 for adults and $6 for high school students with identification. Children 5 and younger will be admitted free.
CBR-G President and General Manager Jeff Overton offers, “We are thrilled to bring the state baseball tournament to beautiful Camelback Ranch-Glendale, the most visited spring-training facility during the
2010 Cactus League season, and the City of Glendale for the first time. It is a privilege to provide aspiring athletes the opportunity to play in the same stadium where big leaguers play.”
Glendale City Manager Ed Beasley adds, “The City of Glendale is proud to host the AIA high school baseball tournaments at Camelback Ranch-Glendale.
This continues our tradition of hosting AIA youth events in our community and reaffirms Glendale’s commitment to being the home of youth sports in the Valley and Arizona. Our partnership with the AIA has allowed us the chance to give young athletes and their families many memorable experiences, and we are thrilled to provide the opportunity for these students to play in a state-of-the-art facility that is shared by some of the greatest players from major-league baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox.”
In addition to Camelback Ranch, a portion of the early-round 4A-I and 5A-I baseball tournament games will be played at Phoenix Municipal Stadium and Surprise Stadium.
For the complete AIA baseball schedule and locations, visit the tournament guides section of www.aiaonline.org or the brackets section of www.aia365.com.
USA Hockey announced Thursday that Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle will represent Team USA at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, May 7-23.
Yandle, 23, appeared in all 82 regular season games for the Coyotes this season, recording 12-29-41 with 45 penalty minutes (PIM) and a +16 rating. Yandle set new career-highs in goals, assists, points, PIM, plus/minus, games played, power play goals (5), game winning goals (2) and shots (145) while leading all Coyotes defensemen in scoring. His 41 points also ranked T-23rd among all NHL defensemen this season. During the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Yandle ranked T-2nd on the Coyotes with five points (2-3-5) in seven games.
A native of Boston, Mass., Yandle has appeared in 201 career NHL games with the Coyotes, collecting 21-64-85 and 104 PIM. He has also registered 7-41-48 in 99 career American Hockey League (AHL) games with San Antonio and appeared in the 2007 AHL All-Star Game. Prior to his professional career, Yandle played one season for Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) and was named the Canadian Major Junior Defensemen of the Year after recording 25-59-84 in 66 games.
Yandle, who was drafted by the Coyotes in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2005 Entry Draft, will be making his first appearance with Team USA.
The National Hockey League announced Wednesday that Phoenix Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett has been named as one of three finalists for the 2009-10 Jack Adams Award, which is presented to the head coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success.” Joe Sacco of the Colorado Avalanche and Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators were also named as finalists for the Jack Adams Award.
Members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association submitted ballots for the Jack Adams Award at the conclusion of the regular season, with the top three vote-getters designated as finalists. The winner will be announced Wednesday, June 23, during the 2010 NHL Awards that will be broadcast live from the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel Las Vegas on VERSUS in the United States and on CBC in Canada.
Hired nine days before the start of the regular season, Tippett led the Coyotes to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2002 by posting a record of 50-25-7 for 107 points. The club posted an NHL-best 28-point gain over its 2008-09 total, edging Colorado’s 26-point improvement, and set franchise records for wins and points in a season, home wins (29) and longest home winning streak (10 games, Nov. 21 to Dec. 29). The Coyotes ranked third in the NHL in team defense (2.39 goals per game), up from 24th in 2008-09 (3.04), and were sixth in the League in penalty killing (84.5%).
The Coyotes registered a 14-win and 28-point improvement over 2008-09 while scoring 17 more goals and allowing 50 fewer goals. One other significant area of improvement came on the penalty kill, where the Coyotes improved from 28th in the League at 76.8 percent last season to sixth in the League at 84.5 percent. In addition, the Coyotes allowed the fewest goals (202) of any Western Conference team this season.
Tippett, 48, earned his 300th career coaching win Jan. 21 against Nashville. Since the start of the 2002-03 campaign, when he coached Dallas, Tippett ranks second among all NHL coaches in victories with 321, trailing only Mike Babcock of Detroit (326).
Tippett became the 17th head coach in Coyotes/Jets franchise history when he was hired by the Club on Sept. 24, 2009 after spending the previous six seasons as head coach of the Dallas Stars. In seven seasons as an NHL head coach, Tippett has guided his teams to the playoffs six times while compiling a record of 321-181-72. During that span, Tippett has registered the second-most victories among all NHL head coaches.
Tippett would become the second Coyotes coach to win the Jack Adams Award, joining Bob Francis (2001-02).
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds has been named National League Player of the Week for the period of April 19-25, 2010.
Reynolds had a Major League-best 11 RBIs last week, while clubbing three home runs and hitting .421 (8-19). The 26-year-old also posted a .500 on-base percentage and slugged 1.000. Reynolds hit safely in all five of the games he played this week, including two multi-hit performances. On Sunday, the right-handed slugger hit a home run and drove-in four, including the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning, en-route to an 8-6 victory over the Phillies.
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Tennessee defensive tackle Dan Williams with their first round pick of the 2010 NFL Draft, 26th overall.
Williams was expected by most to go within the top 15 picks, even as high as top 120 in some mock drafts.
The 6-2, 325-pounder is heralded for his run stop ability, non-stop motor and versatility. Williams can play nose tackle in the 3-4 or defensive tackle in the 4-3. Either way, DT Darnell Dockett has to be thrilled with his new defensive linemate.
The Arizona Cardinals introduced a third jersey during the team’s NFL Draft party Thursday afternoon.
Cardinals 2009 first-round pick, running back Beanie Wells modeled the new jersey, which is predominantly black with white numbers and some white trim. The trademark cardinal red has a minimal presence with thin trim along the sides and neck. The jersey is pretty slick looking and should prove popular with fans.
This is the first alternate jersey for the NFL’s oldest team. In fact, until 2005, the Cardinals went more than a century without a major change in its look. The NFL was the last league to adopt alternate jerseys, doing so in 2002. The Arizona Cardinals are the final team to produce an alternate jersey, or “fashion jersey” and have never worn a third jersey other than the 1994 anniversary season.
According to NFL rules, the Cardinals can wear the jersey three times next season, once during the preseason and twice during the regular season. Teams are also permitted to wear alternate jerseys as often as desired in playoff games.
Photos: Beanie Wells (top) azcardinals.com, Larry Fitzgerald (left) via Twitter, Adrian Wilson (right) Arizona Cardinals.
The NFL Draft takes place from April 22-24 in its first year of the new three-day format. There aren’t many NFL Draft prospects with roots to the Valley, but what the group lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. MVP Magazine provides a look at the NFL Draft prospects who played high school football in Arizona.
Danny Batten, DE/LB, South Dakota State, Mesa (Mesquite H.S.)
Ten teams visited Batten’s Pro Day. An accomplished, versatile player but at Division I-AA. Projected 7th round.
Kyle Calloway, OL, Iowa, Vail, AZ
Huge at 6-7, 323 pounds. A steady, versatile offensive linemen who should have a solid NFL career. Projected 6th round.
Everson Griffen, DE, USC, Avondale (Agua Fria)
First-round talent, but inconsistency and question about work ethic may cause him to drop. Could be a star NFL pass rusher. Projected 1st round.
Max Hall, QB, BYU, Mesa (Mountain View)
NFL teams rarely draft a QB that is only six-feet tall with questionable arm strength. Hall hopes Drew Brees’ success will reflect on his potential. Projection 4th round.
Keaton Kristick, LB, Oregon State, Fountain Hills (St. Mary’s)
A smart, active player but lack of ideal size and strength will hurt draft value. Projected 7th round.
Shelley Smith, OL, Colorado State, Phoenix (Westview)
Good strength and footwork with the ability to be a pulling guard. Some scouts questions his physical play at the point of attack. Projected 6th round.
Ekom Udofia, DL, Stanford, Scottsdale (Chaparral)
A strong, passionate player with good natural instincts who can take up multiple blockers. Better than his numbers indicate. Projected 6th round.
The NFL Draft takes place from April 22-24 in its first year of the new three-day format. The Valley will be well represented with a handful of prospects from Arizona State University.
ASU has produced its share of stud NFL Draft prospects but this year isn’t one of them. No ASU player figures to be drafted before the fifth round although there are a few players who could go on to have solid NFL careers. Only time will tell if any of them becomes a standout like former Sun Devils Terrell Suggs, Zack Miller or Jake Plummer.
Player POS Projection Comment
Thomas Altieri C Undrafted Knee injuries plagued this talented center.
Dexter Davis OLB Rd. 6 3.5 sacks as a senior will hurt draft value.
Shaun DeWitty RB Undrafted Fast but not an NFL back.
Travis Goethel ILB Rd. 7 An underrated player whose stock is rising.
Shawn Lauvao OG Rd. 4 An anchor on a poor offensive line.
Ryan McFoy SS Undrafted Solid ASU career, but won’t be drafted
Chris McGaha WR Rd. 6 Sure hands, athleticism too good to ignore.
Dimitri Nance RB Undrafted Solid career but never met expectations.
Mike Nixon OLB Undrafted Age works against a talented overachiever.
Danny Sullivan QB Undrafted Never got on track in his one year as starter.
Jovon Williams FB Undrafted Versatile but not an impact player.
Kyle Williams WR Rd. 7 Speed and athleticism may get him drafted.
Jarrell Woods RB Undrafted Only had 18 carries in three years at ASU.
The WhiteOut is a tradition where Phoenix Coyotes fans dress in white clothing for all home playoff games. The tradition was created in Winnipeg when the team was known as the Jets, and carried over to Phoenix when the franchise moved to the Valley in 1996 and became the Coyotes.
► The WhiteOut was created by the Jets’ front office prior to the 1985 Playoffs, and the fans carried it on for each playoff season that followed.
► The first-ever WhiteOut took place on April 10, 1985 at Winnipeg Arena as the Jets defeated the Flames 5-4 in overtime, and the Jets went on to record their first playoff series win.
► The first WhiteOut in Phoenix took place on April 20, 1997 as the Coyotes defeated the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 4-1 in Game 1 of their first round series.
► The first WhiteOut in Glendale was also the first regular season WhiteOut in franchise history as the Coyotes hosted the “Welcome Back WhiteOut” in the 2009-10 Home Opener at Jobing.com Arena on Oct. 10, 2009.
► The first playoff WhiteOut in Glendale took place April 14, 2010 when the Coyotes defeated the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in Game 1 of their Western Conference Quarterfinal Series and will continue this Friday when Phoenix hosts Detroit in Game 5.
► Last Wednesday’s Game 1 WhiteOut was the first playoff WhiteOut for the Coyotes since April 24, 2002.
► There has been only one Game 7 WhiteOut in team history: May 4, 1999 vs. St. Louis (L, 1-0 OT).
► The player who has appeared in the most WhiteOut games in franchise history is Teppo Numminen, who was inducted into the Coyotes Ring of Honor earlier this year.
As the Phoenix Suns were rolling to a 119-90 win in Game 2 of their NBA Playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers, their television rating on FOX Sports Arizona reached a level that has been seen only once before in the history of the network.
According the Nielsen Media Research, the telecast generated a 9.0 rating/14 share in the Phoenix market, which means that an average of 162,234 households watched the game. The 9.0 rating ties the highest rating ever for a Phoenix Suns game on FOX Sports Arizona, matching the same figure that was recorded when Shaquille O’Neal made his Suns debut against the Los Angeles Lakers on Feb. 20, 2008.
Further, the 9.0 rating for last night’s game is now the No. 1 all-time mark for a Phoenix Suns playoff game on FOX Sports Arizona. It eclipsed an 8.0 rating that was received for a game against the San Antonio Spurs on April 25, 2008.
Last night’s game was the second-highest rated program in Phoenix market for the entire day. At the Suns & Trail Blazers game’s peak, it turned in a 10.4 rating (187,470 households) and FOX Sports Arizona’s Qwest Suns Live post-game show did a 5.0 rating (90,130 households).
The Phoenix Suns return to FOX Sports Arizona for Game 5 of the series on Monday, April 26. The Suns Live pre-game show starts the night’s coverage at 7 p.m.
The Arizona Cardinals 2010 National Football League schedule has been released.
Based on last year’s record, the Cardinals have what appears to be an easy schedule as their opponent finished a combined 114-142 in 2009 and only four of the teams reached the playoffs last season.
The Cardinals open on the road against St. Louis and play three of their first four games away from University of Phoenix Stadium but close with four of six at home. The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints come to Arizona in Week 5.
Arizona will also play two prime time games with a Monday night contest on Nov. 29 and a Christmas Day tilt against Dallas.
2010 Arizona Cardinals schedule:
Week 1 Arizona at St. Louis, Sunday Sept. 12, 1:15PM
Week 2 Arizona at Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 19, 10AM
Week 3 Oakland at Arizona, Sunday, Sept. 26, 1:15PM
Week 4 Arizona at San Diego, Sunday, Oct. 3, 4:15PM
Week 5 New Orleans at Arizona, Sunday, Oct. 10, 1:05PM
Week 6 BYE
Week 7 Arizona at Seattle, Sunday, Oct. 24, 4:05PM
Week 8 Tampa Bay at Arizona, Sunday, Oct. 31, 2:15PM
Week 9 Arizona at Minnesota, Sunday, Nov. 7, 11AM
Week 10 Seattle at Arizona, Sunday, Nov. 14, 2:15PM
Week 11 Arizona at Kansas City, Sunday, Nov. 21, 1:30PM
Week 12 San Francisco at Arizona, Monday, Nov. 29, 6:30PM
Week 13 St. Louis at Arizona, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2:15PM
Week 14 Denver at Arizona, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2:15PM
Week 15 Arizona at Carolina, Sunday, Dec. 19, 1PM
Week 16 Dallas at Arizona, Saturday, Dec. 25, 5:30PM
Week 17 Arizona at San Francisco, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2:15PM
The Associated Press is reporting that Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan will miss Game 4 of the Western Conference playoffs against the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night because of an upper-body injury.
The Coyotes’ captain left Game 3 on Sunday when he stumbled over Detroit goalie Jimmy Howard and went crashing into the boards during the second period. Doan hit his right shoulder hard against the boards, which is strongly considered to be the source of his injury.
Phoenix Head Coach Dave Tippett said Doan remains day-to-day.
Vernon Fiddler, who missed Game 3 with a shoulder injury, will return to the lineup for the Coyotes. They lead the first-round series 2-1.
Excitement for the Phoenix Coyotes is sweeping the state of Arizona and their success is resulting in television ratings for the team that haven’t been seen in nearly 11 years.
According to Nielsen Media Research, last Friday’s Game 2 of the Phoenix Coyotes/Detroit Red Wings NHL Playoff series generated a 4.7 rating/8 share on FOX Sports Arizona. That rating is second best all-time for the Coyotes on the network and highest since May 4, 1999. The 4.7 rating means that an average of 84,722 Phoenix households watched the game.
In addition to generating this historic rating, the game was the top-rated program in the Phoenix market for the entire day part. The telecast peaked at a 6.6 rating in 9:30 pm quarter hour (118,971 households).
The last time the Coyotes had a rating higher than this was for Game 7 of their 1999 NHL Playoff Series against the St. Louis Blues. That game did a 6.1 rating, which is the best rating ever for the Coyotes on FOX Sports Arizona.
The Coyotes will look to take a 3-1 series lead over the Red Wings tomorrow when Game 4 of the series is televised on FOX Sports Arizona and FOX Sports Arizona PLUS at 3:30 p.m.
Former Arizona State and Chaparral (Scottsdale) High School star Ike Davis was called up from Triple-A Buffalo today and will make his major league debut with the New York Mets Monday night.
Davis, became a fan favorite during his strong performance in spring training and will play first place for the Mets (4-8) who are desperate for help at the position.
Davis was selected 18th overall in the 2008 MLB Draft out of ASU where he was a first team Pac-10 Conference selection three straight years and signed a contract for $1.575 million. He played in Brooklyn during his rookie season and failed to homer in 215 at bats. Questions arose about his ability to adjust to professional pitching after starring as both a first baseman and pitcher with the Sun Devils. Davis rebounded during his second pro season with 20 home runs.
Davis, 23, hit .364 (12-33) with three doubles, two home runs and four RBI in 10 games with the Bisons. He drew nine walks and was tied for the best on-base percentage in the International League (.500). The 6-4, 215-pounder reached base twice in nine of his 10 games with Buffalo and was in the midst of a seven-game hitting streak (.348, 8-23).
He hit .480 (12-25) with seven runs scored, three doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI, three walks and eight strikeouts in 12 Spring Training games for New York. Despite the strong spring, the Mets decided to use a platoon with Mike Jacobs and Fernando Tatis in place of the injured Daniel Murphy. Jacobs was designated for assignment on Saturday to make room for another call up, clearing the path for Davis’ callup.
The Mets had hoped to allow Davis more time to develop in Triple-A, but the Jacobs-Tatis platoon had not been productive. Before Saturday night’s game, Mets first baseman were hitting a combined .143, with one home run and three RBI on the season.
The Mets 2009 Sterling Organizational Player of the Year combined to hit .298 (128-429) with 58 runs scored, 31 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs and 71 RBI in 114 games for St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League and Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League last year.
In September, 2009, he was a key member of the United States Gold Medal World Cup team. Davis batted .333 (10-30) with two doubles, a triple and three RBI. He delivered three straight game-winning RBI leading up to the Gold Medal game.
Davis led Chaparral to three state titles under Head Coach Jerry Dawson and was selected in the 19th round (568 overall) by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the 2005 MLB Draft before electing to play at ASU.
Davis, who was a bat boy for the Phoenix Firebirds, is the son of former major leaguer Ron Davis, who pitched 11 seasons in the majors, including with the Yankees from 1978-81.
As expected, Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, which is presented annually to “the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position” as voted by the general managers of each of the 30 clubs.
“You’ve got to improve yourself every day,” Bryzgalov said on the eve of Phoenix’s first playoff game since 2002. “…You’ve got to develop yourself to be the best. Only this … can bring you postseason trophies like the Stanley Cup.”
Bryzgalov is coming off a tremendous regular season where he was the most valuable player on a Coyotes team that enjoyed its best season in franchise history. With Bryzgalov minding the net, Phoenix set franchise records for wins (50), home wins (29) and points (107) while registering a 14-win and 28-point improvement while allowing 50 fewer goals than the previous season.
Bryzgalov also enjoyed a career year, setting franchise records for wins (42), which ranked third in the NHL. He also recorded a career-high eight shutouts, tying Nikolai Khabibulin’s franchise record. Bryzgalov also set career highs in games played (69) goals against average (2.29) and save percentage (.920), all of which ranked among the leaders in the NHL (SOs 2nd, GAA, 6th). Behind his play, the Coyotes allowed the fewest goals in the Western Conference.
“He’s been so good and so consistent,” captain Shane Doan said. “And when Bryzy is really, really good, it looks so easy. I think sometimes he doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he makes it look so easy. He’s so square, and he’s so solid with his technical game. He just continues to be our best player.”
The Togliatti, Russia native played in the 2010 Winter Olympics for Russia.
Bryzgalov was acquired off waivers by the Phoenix Coyotes on Nov. 17, 2007.
Buffalo goaltender Ryan Miller and New Jersey Devils netminder Martin Brodeur were the other Vezina finalists.
The only other goaltender in Coyotes team history to place in the top three in Vezina voting is current Coyotes goaltending coach Sean Burke, who placed third in 2002 behind Jose Theodore (Montreal) and Patrick Roy (Colorado).
Bryzgalov has a chance at also being named among the finalists for the Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the NHL’s Most Valuable Player. The Hart Trophy finalists will be announced on April 29.
Phoenix Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett is a front runner for the Jack Adams Award, which is awarded to the NHL’s top coach. Those finalists will be announced on April 28.
All award winners will be announced on June 23 during the 2010 NHL Awards Show in Las Vegas.
Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov is having such a special season he may accomplish something many of the National Hockey League’s greatest goaltenders failed to accomplish.
During the 93-year history of the NHL, only seven goaltenders have won the Hart Trophy, which is defined by the NHL as the player who is most valuable to their team.
Goaltenders annually receive the Vezina Trophy to recognize best in breed, but there have been rare occasions where their play has been so vital in the success of their team, that the Hart Trophy is awarded to recognize the effort. Most recently, Jose Theodore won both the Vezina and Hart Trophies in 2002. Dominik Hasek (pictured right) won both trophies in 1997 and 1998. Bryzgalov’s statistics are comparable to both players during their MVP seasons.
“He’s been so good and so consistent,” said Coyotes captain Shane Doan. “And when Bryzy is really, really good, it looks so easy. I think sometimes he doesn’t get the credit he deserves because he makes it look so easy. He’s so square, and he’s so solid with his technical game. He just continues to be our best player.”
Building the case
Bryzgalov’s impact on the Coyotes’ record-setting season is undeniable. The team leads the NHL in both wins after regulation and shootout wins, and are among the leaders in one-goal victories … all a direct reflection of superior goaltending in high-pressure situations.
Individually, Bryzgalov ranks among the league leaders in wins, goals against average, shutouts and shootout wins and shootout save percentage. The turnaround is even more impressive considering Bryzgalov’s mental struggles in the second half of last season.
Because of his performance, the Coyotes outscored their opponents by 23 goals despite ranking among the worst teams in the league in total goals scored, power play percentage. In fact, no one who has been on the Coyotes all season ranks in the Top 70 in NHL scoring.
His nine wins in October were vital to the Coyotes’ strong start and they haven’t looked back. This was extremely important after the franchise was dragged through bankruptcy court last summer and the franchise was in dire need of good news for its eroded fan base.
The Coyotes excellent on-ice performance this season has led to interest from at least two potential buyers and a playoff berth which will add much needed millions to the coffers while reducing the operational losses.
The competition
History is against Bryzgalov as the Hart Trophy is usually won by a forward, particularly a center. However, the only forward that may have an edge on Bryzgalov for the Hart Trophy is Vancouver center Henrik Sedin.
Two-time defending MVP Alex Ovechkin missed 10 games this season, three to two suspensions, and Washington, which is loaded with offensive talent, went 7-2-1 without him. The 2007 NHL MVP, Sidney Crosby, set a career high in goals this season but he is surrounded by a lot of talent on the Pittsburgh Penguins and Sedin is more deserving. Buffalo goalie Ryan Miller will also gain consideration but the Sabres have more scoring and have not won as much as Phoenix despite playing in a weaker division.
Two other factors that may play against Bryzgalov are his playing on the west coast and the interpretation of most valuable player, which is wrongly defined oftentimes as the best player.
Admittedly, the odds are against a goaltender winning the Hart Trophy but there are many factors falling in favor of Bryzgalov in addition to his on-ice play. One good sign is that Bryzgalov was leading a vote for the Hart Trophy on the Orange County Register Web site ahead of Miller, Crosby, Ovechkin and Sedin. Also, other hockey columnists have begun writing that the Yotes netminder should be considered for the award.
We’ll find out on April 29 if Bryzgalov will even be one of three finalists for the Hart Trophy, although he’s considered a slam dunk as a Vezina finalist when they are announced on Monday April 19. His post-season performance isn’t supposed to impact voting either way, but there is no doubting that a strong playoffs will help his cause. However the voting shakes out, Bryzgalov has had a tremendous season that Coyotes fans won’t soon forget.
Camelback Ranch-Glendale (CBR-G) recently concluded its second season as the spring home of the Chicago White Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers.
“We are pleased with the strides we continue to make, the attendance we continue to enjoy, and the attendance records our fans continue to set,” offers first-year CBR-G President and General Manager Jeff
Overton. “The beauty and comfort CBR-G affords together with free parking and our unique 141-acre stroll-around campus that provides unparalleled fan access combine to offer a one-of-a-kind spring-training experience.”
Single-Game Attendance — In only two years, CBR-G has hosted five of the 10 largest crowds (see below) in Cactus League history, including four in 2010 which all set the Cactus League single-game attendance record.
The top seven single-game attendance figures in Cactus League history, including four at CBR-G, were established in 2010.
Top 10 Cactus League Single-Game Attendance Records
No. Opponents Site Date Attendance
1. Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners Peoria March 28, 2010 13,629
2. Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Dodgers Glendale March 27, 2010 13,583
3. San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers Glendale March 20, 2010 13,506
4. San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs Mesa March 27, 2010 13,462
5. Arizona Diamondbacks @ Seattle Mariners Peoria March 20, 2010 13,444
6. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox Glendale March 19, 2010 13,413
7. Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers Glendale March 18, 2010 13,391
8. Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners Peoria March 12, 2004 13,366
9. Chicago White Sox @ Chicago Cubs Mesa March 27, 2009 13,327
10. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox Glendale March 21, 2009 13,311
Total Attendance — CBR-G welcomed 206,136 fans in 2010, an average of 7,635 fans per game, a slight increase over the 2009 inaugural-season average of 7,624.
In 2010, the Dodgers drew 124,502 (8,893) fans, the White Sox attracted 81,634 (6,280) patrons.
“In the challenging economy facing all MLB teams this spring, we are grateful to our fans for their continued support,” Overton adds. “We look forward to welcoming our fans back to Camelback Ranch-Glendale in 2011 and beyond.”
After a one-year absence, the Arizona Rattlers returned to action this month as a member of the new Arena Football One. Only, this team is nothing like the one most Valley fans remember as the version of the Rattlers features almost an entirely new cast.
The Rattlers return is strikingly similar to the television series Saved by the Bell. This popular Saturday morning show was a must-see for teens who became familiar with high-school aged characters such as Zack Morris, Kelly Kapowski and AC Slater. These players made up the core of the cast for numerous years, at least until they became too old for their roles and the show was eventually canceled.
The program was brought back a couple of years later, under the title Saved by the Bell: The New Class. The show kept the same title but featured a mostly new cast that lacked the familiarity and bonds that were present with the original cast.
Such is the case with the Arizona Rattlers who are a few years separated from the departures of stalwarts such as Sherdrick Bonner, Randy Gatewood and Hunkie Cooper. The new Rattlers do have Danny White as its president, but like Mr. Belding in Saved by the Bell, he was just the leader of the players.
“The Rattlers are back and better than ever,” said White. “This will be one of the premier teams in the Arena Football One. There’s a great tradition of arena football here in Phoenix, and I look forward to helping bring that tradition back to our fans.”
The Rattlers have numerous other obstacles facing a long-term run. Like the nature of TV, which was much more competitive when Saved by the Bell returned, the Rattlers face a competitive Valley sports marketplace. Sponsorship dollars, ticket sales and media coverage are going to be tough to come by in this economic climate and in a market with many sports and entertainment choices.
The fact that the team made a late decision to give away all of its tickets for the April 17 home opener is not a good sign. The game attracted nearly 15,000 fans, obviously with hope many will return as paying customers but that just doesn’t happen.
The Rattlers are owned by a 13-person group which will help spread the financial responsibility, but none of the 13 is named Colangelo or Sarver. Without that relationship, playing home games at US Airways Center is going to be more expensive and sponsorships tougher to come by.
During the franchise’s peak years in the 1990s, the Rattlers regularly attracted well above 10,000 fans for its home games. The team drew a fraction of that the last two seasons prior to the one-year hiatus and there is no reason to believe that trend will reverse itself.
The cost-effective business model for Arena League One franchises will help the bottom line but not enough for the Rattlers to make a long-term go at it. We’ve seen many second tier or niche franchises in numerous sports come and go and the Rattlers will be no different. They may last two or three years before the inevitable happens.
The Arizona Rattlers once had a rabid fan base that gravitated toward their stars. However, those times have come and gone. Like the television show that comes back trying to regain ratings of years gone by, a change in cast will be one of the many reasons why the Rattlers have lost their bite.
When former ASU trainer Perry Edinger developed Pat’s Run in 2004, organizers were happy the fund-raising event attracted about 4,000 people. Since then, the annual 4.2-mile run/walk held in honor of former ASU an Arizona Cardinals star Pat Tillman has grown significantly and the 6th annual run on April 17 will attract more than 25,000 runners.
In addition to the Tempe-based run, which ends at the 42-yard line in Sun Devil Stadium, thousands more will participate in the 13 shadow runs around the country, which are organized by ASU Alumni charter members.
Funds raised from the run will go to the Pat Tillman Foundation to provide support for the Tillman Scholars – ASU and Tillman Military Scholars programs. Pat’s Run has also turned into an opportunity for military personnel to reunite and others to show appreciation for their service.
In April 2004, after Tillman died while serving with the 75th Ranger Regiment in Afghanistan, his family and friends established the Pat Tillman Foundation.
FOX Sports Arizona’s string of 23 possible game telecasts in 16 days got off to a flying start last night when the Arizona Diamondbacks/Los Angeles Dodgers game (April 15) generated the D-backs highest television rating of the season.
According to Nielsen Media Research, the FOX Sports Arizona telecast recorded a 5.3 rating/9 share in the Phoenix market. That rating means that an average of 95,537 households watched the 11-inning game telecast. The rating peaked at a 6.6 rating in the 9:45 quarter hour (118,971 households). At the time of its peak rating, it was the most-watched program in the market.
FOX Sports Arizona’s unmatched television coverage of one of the most exciting times in Arizona sports history rolls on tonight with two telecasts at the very same time. Game 2 of the Phoenix Coyotes/Detroit Red Wings NHL Playoff series will be televised on FOX Sports Arizona. Coverage begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Qwest Coyotes Live pre-game show.
Meanwhile, fans can watch the Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres game on FOX Sports Arizona Plus. That contest begins at 7 p.m. For a complete list of what channels FOX Sports Arizona Plus can be seen, log onto www.foxsportsarizona.com
The Reno Aces, Triple-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, played an exhibition game against the University of Nevada at Aces Ballpark to kick-off the 2010 season. Between innings, the Aces mascot, Archie, and University of Nevada mascot, Wolfie, danced atop the dugout for fans. Wolfie started his dance atop the dugout. He finished his dance inside of it.
The Phoenix Suns have announced the following local broadcast schedule for the First Round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs. All First Round games will be available locally on either Fox Sports Arizona (FSAZ) or KUTP (MY45).
Game 1 – Sunday, April 18 Portland at Phoenix 7:30PM FSAZ
Game 2 – Tuesday, April 20 Portland at Phoenix 7:00PM FSAZ
Game 3 – Thursday, April 22 Phoenix at Portland 7:00PM MY45
Game 4 – Saturday, April 24 Phoenix at Portland 1:30PM MY45
Game 5 * Monday, April 26 Portland at Phoenix TBD FSAZ
Game 6 * Thursday, April 29 Phoenix at Portland TBD MY45
Game 7 * Saturday, May 1 Portland at Phoenix TBD FSAZ
*If necessary
Fans interested in listening to Suns playoff games via the radio are encouraged to tune in to Sports 620 KTAR. Hispanic broadcasts will be available on KSUN – Radio Fiesta 1400 AM.
Tickets for Games 1 and 2 of the First Round of the 2010 NBA Playoffs are still available, and can be purchased online at suns.com/playoffs, by phone at 1-800-4-NBA-TIX, at the US Airways Center ticket office and at all Ticketmaster locations.
Prior to Game 2 on Tuesday evening, FSAZ will debut “The Life of Amar’e Stoudemire” at 6:00 p.m., followed by the Suns Live pre-game show at 6:30 p.m.
During a council meeting Tuesday night, the Glendale City Council authorized City Manager Ed Beasley to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Glendale Hockey, LLC, a group led by Jerry Reinsdorf.
Four members of the City Council voted for Reinsdorf while two council members voted for both Reinsdorf and Ice Edge, LLC. Council member Joyce Clark, who represents the Yucca District, which houses the arena, called Ice Edge’s insistence to have Glendale financially responsible for guaranteeing their purchase a “deal breaker.”
Glendale mayor Elaine Scruggs was in Washington DC with a contingent of local politicians. She submitted a statement regarding the topic but did not throw support behind either MOU. Clark criticized Scruggs for missing such an important vote.
The Glendale Hockey MOU will be forwarded to the National Hockey League (NHL) for their consideration. The MOU provides the guidelines under which a contract is negotiated.
Glendale Hockey, LLC is a group led by Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns the Chicago Bulls and Chicago White Sox. Reinsdorf, who is a part-time Valley resident, already has a relationship with Glendale following his involvement in the development of Glendale Camelback-Ranch, which is the springing training home of his White Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ice Edge, LLC is a group of five Canadian and American businessmen including John Breslow, who was a minority owner in the previous ownership group which included Wayne Gretzky and Jerry Moyes.
It was Moyes who placed the franchise in bankruptcy last May, which led to an acrimonious court battle throughout the summer. The court allowed the NHL to purchase the team out of bankruptcy on Oct. 27 but the league did not assume the Arena Management, Use and Lease Agreement.
According to the terms of that deal, the NHL will seek an owner outside who could relocate the franchise if they can not find an owner who would keep the team in Glendale by June 30.
Reinsdorf was reportedly minutes from signing a letter of intent to as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman was en route from New York to present the paperwork. Bettman was in the air when he was surprised by the unexpected news that the team was placed in bankruptcy.
It was pointed out that the Reinsdorf proposal does not have and out clause. That technically is true but a Community Facilities District (CFD) will be formed and it does include a recourse clause that will be reviewed after five years. The CFD is the independent third-party which collects revenue to assure the financial stability of the team and assures Glendale Hockey that they won’t lose any money from their initial investment. The City Council made it a point to mention several times that taxpayer money and the City of Glendale money is not on the line.
The recourse clause consists of three parts:
*Buyers have recourse ONLY IF the CFD does not fulfill funding obligations AND team has operating losses.
*City will have access to independent review by NHL to audit team operations and assure reasonable standards are achieved.
*City has protective remedies: Fund amount of shortfall (i.e. new revenue); or Find new buyer for team.
So while this is not an “out clause” the franchise could be relocated after the 2014-15 season.
The Reinsdorf group would make an equity purchase by investing $103 million to purchase the team. The CFD will fund $65 million to NHL over three years, along with $25 million per year in an operating loss reserve account capped at $100 million.
The Ice Edge proposal included debt financing through a bank, which the some members of City of Glendale was not convinced they could secure. The proposal would require city resources and taxpayer to satisfy the bank, which went against the parameters for purchase requested by the city. This proved to be the undoing of the Ice Edge bid int he City Council’s eyes.
Ice Edge CEO Anthony LeBlanc, also stated that the group would be willing to strike the clause in the MOU that could require taxpayer funds to guarantee the bank loan.
City manager Ed Beasley stated it was too late in the process to make the request and he didn’t know how that would affect other numbers in the proposal. Plus, it could delay the process which is under a tight time frame set forth by the NHL and bankruptcy process to have a new owner in place.
LeBlanc who mentioned he is now a Paradise Valley resident, said that while some bank financing is involved in the purchase, he and his partners will invest tens of millions of their own money. The group is also working to raise between $200-$250 million to not only cover the purchase of any potential future losses.
“It is not our intent to keep the team in Glendale for an additional 24 years, it is our commitment to keep the team in Glendale for 24 years,” LeBlanc said. “We don’t know why the city is considering any offers that would not commit to the keeping the team for 24 years.”
Glendale Hockey Partner John Kaites addressed the City Council but only proclaimed appreciation for the process.
Heather Schroeder, president of the Phoenix Coyotes Booster Club, was among the 25 fans, many of whom were wearing Coyotes jerseys, who spoke to the City Council. She presented a petition of more than 1,000 Coyotes fans who want to see the team remain in Glendale.
“Hockey isn’t just a game. It’s a way of life,” said one fan. “It would be like taking away food to some people.”
This is how the City Council voting broke down:
H. Philip Lieberman – Both
Joyce Clark – Reinsdorf, Glendale Hockey
David Goulet – Both
Steve Frate – Reinsdorf, Glendale Hockey
Yvonne Knaack – Reinsdorf, Glendale Hockey
Manuel Martinez – Reinsdorf, Glendale Hockey
“This one (MOU) tonight gave me more problems that any single one I have voted in the city of Glendale,” said Councilman Lieberman, a 19-year City Council member. “There are flaws in both contacts that should be corrected and hopefully will be corrected, The prime objective is to keep the team here and I am going to vote for both MOUs for the city to accept.”
The National Hockey League announced today that the Phoenix Coyotes will select 13th at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on Friday, June 25 (round one) and Saturday, June 26 (rounds 2-7).
In addition, the Coyotes also possess their own first round pick, which will be determined at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup playoffs, giving the Coyotes two first round picks in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The Coyotes originally acquired Calgary’s first round pick along with Mathew Lombardi and Brandon Prust from the Flames on Mar. 4, 2009 for Olli Jokinen and a third round draft choice in the 2009 Entry Draft.
The Coyotes draft position was determined by the NHL on Tuesday after the league conducted a Draft Drawing. The Draft Drawing consisted of a weighted lottery system that determined the order of selection for the first 14 picks of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.
The results of the Draft Drawing, and the order of selection for the first 14 picks of the 2010 Entry Draft, are as follows:
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Boston Bruins (from Toronto)
3. Florida Panthers
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. New York Islanders
6. Tampa Bay Lightning
7. Carolina Hurricanes
8. Atlanta Thrashers
9. Minnesota Wild
10. New York Rangers
11. Dallas Stars
12. Anaheim Ducks
13. PHOENIX COYOTES (from Calgary)
14. St. Louis Blues
The remaining positions are determined at the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Drawing was conducted at the NHL’s New York office and the results were televised live on the 2010 LG NHL Draft Lottery on TSN in Canada and VERSUS in the U.S. The results also were streamed live on NHL.com, available on-demand at TSN.ca and broadcast live on SIRIUS XM Satellite Radio.
Fourteen balls, numbered 1 to 14, were placed in a lottery machine. The machine expelled four balls, forming a series of numbers. The four-digit series resulting from the expulsion of the balls was matched against a probability chart that divided the possible combinations among the 14 participating clubs. The chart showed that the Oilers had been assigned the numbers (4-8-1-2) that were expelled.
The Draft Drawing is a weighted system to give the teams that finished with the fewest points during the regular season the greatest chance of having their combination selected. The Oilers finished the regular season with the fewest points in the League (62) and were assigned the greatest number of combinations, representing a 25% likelihood that their combination would emerge.
Aside from a realistic shot at playing for the Stanley Cup, the most exciting aspect of the Phoenix Coyotes playing in the NHL postseason is the return of the WhiteOut. Fans got a taste of the tradition for the Coyotes home opener but this is the first playoff WhiteOut since 2002.
Because of the eight-year absence of the WhiteOut many fans are unfamiliar with the tradition and how it got started. They might know the WhiteOut was started by the Winnipeg Jets and was inherited by the Valley when the franchise relocated to Phoenix, but that is it.
History
The original name of the promotion is the Winnipeg WhiteOut. The idea was born as a copycat response to the Calgary Flames “C” of Red, when the two teams played during the 1987 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Going back further on the ancestry trail, the tradition of the “C of Red” dates back to the 1986 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Edmonton Oilers, when their fans wore hats promoting “Hat Trick Fever” in their quest for their third straight Stanley Cup.
For the “C” of Red, Flames fans wore red in recognition of the color of their home jersey. The Jets responded to by creating the WhiteOut where their fans wore white, creating an amazing visual. Winnipeg beat Calgary in the series and the WhiteOut continued to the next series against the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers, who dispatched the Jets.
Despite the disappointment, the WhiteOut continued on and became a staple of each Jets postseason. Unfortunately for Winnipeg, the team never won another postseason series.
Relocating the tradition
When the Jets moved to Arizona in 1996, the WhiteOut followed. The Coyotes reached the playoffs five times in their first six seasons and the inherited tradition became a staple in the Valley. Unfortunately, so did the postseason futility as the Coyotes entered this postseason seeking their first series win.
Numerous copycats have sprung up in recent years with many professional and college sports teams holding their own version of a WhiteOut. Things turned nasty in 2006 when Penn St. promoted their own WhiteOut for a football game. It turns out the Coyotes hold a trademark on the term WhiteOut and the university was infringing upon it. The Coyotes contacted the athletic department and they agreed to let them use the term for the one game. The next year, Penn State tried trademarking “Penn State WhiteOut” and the Coyotes put a stop to it and the promotions name was changed to White House.
Bitterness
If there is one thing Canadians hold dear to their heart, it is the tradition of hockey in their country. Winnipeg resident are still bitter about the WhiteOut continuing for a team based in a desert. That fact isn’t lost on the Coyotes who explored the creation of the Sandstorm where fans would wear brown, but fortunately that idea was discarded.
The WhiteOut tradition hasn’t totally abandoned the Winnipeg market as it lives on with the American Hockey League’s Mantioba Moose.
It will be interesting to see what happens to the WhiteOut if the NHL ever returns to Winnipeg.
Phoenix Coyotes President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced today that the Coyotes’ opening game of their first round playoff series versus the Detroit Red Wings will be televised live on 3 TV (KTVK) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 14. All of the game coverage will be produced by FOX Sports Arizona.
“Following a tremendously successful regular season, we felt that it was very important to broadcast the first-ever playoff WhiteOut at Jobing.com Arena to as wide an audience as possible in order to reward our wonderfully supportive fans throughout the state of Arizona,” said Moss. “We would like to thank our partners at FOX Sports Arizona and KTVK for helping to make this a reality.”
“I want to thank the Phoenix Coyotes and KTVK for helping us make this important game available to more fans across the state of Arizona,” said Mike Connelly, FOX Sports Arizona Senior Vice President & General Manager. “I know fans will appreciate the local telecast done by our production team that has been with the Coyotes every step of the way during this amazing season.”
The Coyotes’ television broadcasting team of play-by-play announcer Dave Strader, color analyst Tyson Nash and host/reporter Todd Walsh will bring Coyotes fans all the action.
FOX Sports Arizona will televise Game 2 of the series on Friday, April 16. The pre-game show begins the coverage at 6:30 p.m. The network will also televise Game 4 on Tuesday, April 20, at 3:30 p.m. If necessary, FOX Sports Arizona will also televise Game 5 and Game 7.
Below is the complete local and national broadcast schedule for the Coyotes-Red Wings series.
Game Day/Date Location Time (Phx) Network TV
1 Wed., Apr. 14 Jobing.com Arena 7:00 p.m. 3 TV/Versus/TSN
2 Fri., Apr. 16 Jobing.com Arena 7:00 p.m. FS-AZ/Versus/TSN
3 Sun., Apr. 18 Joe Louis Arena 12:00 p.m. NBC/TSN
4 Tues., Apr. 20 Joe Louis Arena 3:30 p.m. FS-AZ/TSN
*5 Fri., Apr. 23 Jobing.com Arena 7:00 p.m. FS-AZ/Versus/TSN
*6 Sun., Apr. 25 Joe Louis Arena 11:00 a.m. NBC/TSN
*7 Tues., Apr. 27 Jobing.com Arena TBD FS-AZ/TSN
The National Hockey League announced today the 2010 Stanley Cup playoff schedule for the Conference Quarterfinal Round. The Phoenix Coyotes will open the first round against the Detroit Red Wings at home beginning Wednesday, April 14. Game time for Game #1 is 7 p.m. at Jobing.com Arena. Game #2 will take place on Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m.
SERIES H
#4 Phoenix vs. #5 Detroit Network
Wednesday, April 14 at Phoenix, 7:00 p.m. VERSUS
Friday, April 16 at Phoenix, 7:00 p.m. Fox Sports AZ
Sunday, April 18 at Detroit, 12:00 p.m. NBC
Tuesday, April 20 at Detroit, 3:30 p.m. Fox Sports AZ
*Friday, April 23 at Phoenix, 7:00 p.m. Fox Sports AZ
*Sunday, April 25 at Detroit, 12:00 p.m. NBC
*Tuesday, April 27 at Phoenix, TBD Fox Sports AZ
If the series goes a full seven games, FOX Sports Arizona will televise Games 2, 4, 5 and 7. NBC has exclusive television rights for Games 3 and 6. Versus will carry Game 1.
Spring NASCAR race at PIR lengthened to ensure racing under the lights
By Ron Matejko
MVP Magazine
Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images for NASCAR
There will be a lot of new features unveiled on April 10 when NASCAR visits Phoenix International Raceway for the first evening event of the season; namely a new distance, new pit-stop schedules, new fuel cycles and a new name.
The brand new Subway Fresh Fit 600 will be the longest Sprint Cup event in track history, featuring 63 more laps (100 km). This race which was formerly known as a Subway Fresh Sit 500, is measured in kilometers, not miles, which is why the race hasn’t increased by 100 laps at the one-mile track.
“Racing is as much about strategy as it is about pure speed,” said PIR President Bryan Sperber. “This new distance ushers in a whole new race at PIR and will likely jumble the conventional wisdom about who can win at Phoenix.”
The addition of 63 laps ensures that PIR’s April race maintains its spot as the first official night race of the NASCAR Sprint Cup season again in 2010. For consistency, NASCAR moved to standard race start times in 2010 and PIR’s extra laps will make certain that the Sprint Cup race, which starts at 4:30 p.m., will run well into the night under the desert sky.
The 375-lap race will be the longest scheduled Sprint Cup event in track history, as each of PIR’s 27 Sprint Cup races dating back to 1988 were originally slated for 500k (312 laps) from green flag to checkered flag. PIR’s November NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race will maintain its distance of 312 laps – approximately 500 kilometers.
NASCAR also recently announced that the “wing” on the rear deck of Sprint Cup cars would exist no longer and a new, more traditional spoiler will debut on the rear deck of Sprint Cup cars at the Subway Fresh Fit 600.
“The wing wasn’t accepted as widely as we had hoped it would have been by competitors and fans alike,” said Robin Pemberton, Vice President of Competition for NASCAR. “After much effort we started looking and decided to go back to the spoiler.”
The spoiler’s return is just one of many changes NASCAR made to increase excitement this season. Other moves include a decision to allow drivers to self-police each other, which will lead to more aggressive driving, in addition to allowing multiple green-white-checkered finishes to ensure a race ends under a green flag.
For more information, visit www.PhoenixRaceway.com/600UndertheLights.
It’s one thing to jump in the car on a beautiful spring day in Arizona and take a ride with the family. The bar is raised exponentially on the whole experience if you have a chance to cruise around the most picturesque parts of the state in a rare vintage automobile.
The Copperstate 1000 offers that opportunity to the select few each year who participate in one of the premier car road rallies in North America. The Men’s Arts Council created the Copperstate 1000 in 1990 as a fundraiser for the Phoenix Art Museum, where the finest vintage automobiles in the world grace the scenic highways of Arizona during this annual four-day event.
The beauty of the Copperstate 1000 is the shared celebration of the automotive cultural legacy by car owners and enthusiasts who appreciate the finest working examples of vintage, sports, muscle, racing, classic and grand touring automobiles manufactured before the 1973 model year.
Collector car enthusiasts can attend the free Copperstate Field of Dreams from 8 a.m. to noon on April 11 where the cars participating in the rally meet for a public viewing before embarking on the leisurely 1,000-mile journey throughout the state of Arizona.
Get an up close look at a venerable museum of more than 70 of the finest vehicles ever produced from luxury car makers such as Aston Martin, Ferrari, Bentley and Jaguar to name just a few. The combined value of these automobiles tops $250 million dollars.
Two potential buyers have submitted Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) to the city of Glendale to purchase the NHL Coyotes to keep the team in Glendale, Arizona.
This next step continues the process of ensuring the Coyotes stay in Glendale for the remainder of the lease at Jobing.com Arena.
We thank the citizens and fans for their continued support as the city and the NHL continue to work through this process to keep the Coyotes in their hometown of Glendale.
Keeping this playoff-bound team in Arizona is beneficial to both the regional and statewide economy and is excellent news for Valley sports fans.
Next Steps:
The Glendale City Council will vote on the MOUs at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13.
The council will consider the agreements based on the four goals they set. Those goals are:
-Keep the team in Glendale
-Share in any new revenue streams
-Not adversely affect the current revenue stream
-Not adversely affect the city’s debt structure
Approved MOUs will be forwarded to the NHL for a final decision. The NHL will determine the new owner based upon the league’s factors and criteria. After a selection is made, the city will continue to negotiate the additional necessary agreements.
Glendale remains committed to ensuring the citizens’ and stakeholders’ best interests are at the forefront of any negotiations.
Arizona State University and the University of Texas at San Antonio have scheduled a future home/home series in football, Vice President for University Athletics Lisa Love announced Friday.
The games will be played on Saturday, September 17, 2016 at the Alamodome in San Antonio and on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at Sun Devil Stadium/Kush Field in Tempe.
“This is a series that fits several criteria that we have in football scheduling,” says Love. “It is important for us to schedule home/home series with schools that are located in the Western portion of the country. And what a fantastic travel destination the city of San Antonio is for our fan base with the River Walk and the Alamodome. The series fits well with the other non-conference games that we have in those years. The University of Texas at San Antonio is a very nice addition to our future schedules, which already include Notre Dame, LSU, Wisconsin, Colorado, Missouri and Illinois.”
UTSA, which signed its first ever recruiting class in February, 2010 under new head coach Larry Coker (formerly of Miami), will play two years as an FCS Independent, beginning in 2011. It then will notify the NCAA in June, 2013 of its intent to advance to the Football Bowl Subdivision in 2015. The Roadrunners will comply with FBS standards during the 2013 and 2014 seasons, then will seek full FBS membership and bowl eligibility in 2015.
In March, UTSA announced a series with Baylor University, its first-ever football series with an NCAA FBS opponent. UTSA is currently in discussions with several FBS schools for future football series, including schools in the Big 12 Conference and the Pacific-10 Conference.
The addition of the UTSA series completes the schedule in 2016. That schedule is listed below.
2016 ASU Football Schedule
Sept. 3 — Northern Arizona
Sept. 10 — LSU
Sept. 17 — at Texas-San Antonio
Sept. 24 — Stanford
Oct. 1 — at Oregon State
Oct. 8 — Bye date
Oct. 15 — at USC
Oct. 22 — Oregon
Oct. 29 — at Washington
Nov. 5 — Washington State
Nov. 12 — at California
Nov. 19 — UCLA
Nov. 26 — at Arizona
2018 ASU Football Schedule (non-conference only)
Sept. 1 — Texas-San Antonio
Sept. 8 — Open date
Sept. 15 — Colorado
Sports fans oftentimes search for ways to bring themselves closer to the sports they enjoy. Mesa resident Jim Mello has used his artistic talent to serve that purpose. For more than 20 years, Mello has drawn athletes as a tribute to those who he has enjoyed throughout his life. From legends such as Jerry Rice and Charles Barkley to current Arizona Cardinals such as Larry Fitzgerald and Adrian Wilson, Mello has amassed an impressive portfolio.
These drawings have reaped many rewards for Mello as they have brought him closer to his family, closer to the sports he loves and closer to the athletes he admires. Recently Mello had an opportunity to present many Cardinals with original drawings and many of them currently hang in the players’ homes.
MVP Magazine recently spoke with Mello who shared why he started drawing athletes, his inspiration for selecting subjects and then he offered a peek at his impressive portfolio.
Experience the first ever fully interactive sports magazine.
Not only can you read the stories in MVP Today, but they actually come to life. You can watch video, listen to interviews, or view a slideshow, all within the design of a story.
Matt Helm was a fictional U.S. government counter-agent, who was featured in dozens of books and movies from the 1960s to the 90s. The Arizona Diamondbacks prospect who shares the same name, has been working on writing his own story since being selected by the team in the seventh round of the 2009 MLB First Year Player Draft.
The former Hamilton High School star third baseman was considered a second-round talent at the beginning of last season but he dropped after missing most of his senior year with injuries. However, Helm has worked hard since then to prove the pick was a wise one as he passed on going to the University of Arizona and signed a pro contract at the Aug. 19 deadline, which included a $500,000 signing bonus.
With little time remaining in the minor league baseball season, Helm only made a 16-game cameo with Yakima of the Rookie Pioneer League. The rust showed at first but he bounced back and finished third on the team with a .291 average with a home run and five RBI.
The 6-2, 210-pound Helm is considered a good hitter with solid power potential. He will likely play A-ball this season and will work more in left field to speed up his ascent in the system.
MVP Magazine caught up with Helm in between workouts at Athletes Performance and discussed what lies ahead for the promising Diamondbacks prospect.
Note: This article originally ran in the March issue of MVP Magazine, which can be read at www.MVPtoday.com.
Cox Communications announced that customers in Phoenix will have exclusive access to the innovative 3D coverage of the Masters Tournament from Augusta National Golf Club. Beginning Wednesday, April 7th the Masters 3D programming can be viewed on 3D television sets and will be available on Cox channel 700 at no additional cost. This event is being offered exclusively by cable providers.
“Cox is excited to offer our customers access to this innovative television event, bringing our customers the latest in video technology,” said Steve Rizley, General Manager & Sr. Vice President Cox Arizona. “The Masters in 3D is available exclusively to Cox customers in Metro Phoenix.”
Cox customers will need a 3DTV and a Cox HD or HD/DVR receiver to access the 3D programming. The TV manufacturer’s specified 3D glasses will also be required to view the content in 3D. The receiver must be connected to the 3DTV via HDMI. Those customers will then be required to tune to channel 700, and change the setting on their 3DTV to 3D format or 3D mode.
Live 3D coverage starts Wednesday, April 7, 3-5PM EST, with the Par 3 Contest and continues with the Masters Tournament Thursday, April 8 through Sunday, April 11 with two hours each day (live tournament coverage starts: Thurs & Fri: 4-6PM EST, Sat & Sun: 5-7PM EST).
Multiple 3D cameras will be placed strategically throughout the course at Augusta National, with a focus on the second nine. Viewers will be better able to depict the many subtleties and elevation changes of the course’s grounds.
In addition to the 3D channel, customers can access Masters content via the On DEMAND library on Channel 1. Content includes replays of each day’s 3D telecast, highlights, greatest moments of the Masters 1950s through the 2000s, 2009 Par-3 Contest and BBC Masters Anthology among other content.
Bud Light Golden Wheat presents Smash Mouth performing on the main court immediately following the Suns-Rockets game on Sunday, April 11. The concert is free to all Suns ticket holders.
Collectively, Smash Mouth has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. Along with their number one hits – “Walkin’ on the Sun” and “All Star” – they have consistently impacted radio with other recognizable hits like “Then the Morning Comes,” “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby,” and a cover of The Monkees classic “I’m a Believer,” which was prominently featured on the “Shrek” soundtrack (4, Billboard Adult Top 40).
With the release of their fifth studio album – “Summer Girl” – the guys decided to part ways with their longtime label, Interscope, in order to form their own company, Beautiful Bomb Records, and put forth the lessons they’ve learned by self-releasing the new material with the help of Red Distribution (Sony/BMG). By releasing “Summer Girl” on their own, the band is making good on a decade long promise of doing things their own way.
“Summer Girl’s” first single “Story of My Life” reached the Top 20 at Hot AC radio; and the second single “So Insane” was featured on the soundtrack for the major motion picture “Zoom” starring Tim Allen and Courtney Cox.
A limited number of tickets are still available to catch the Suns as they take on the Houston Rockets on Sunday, April 11. Fans interested in tickets should call 1-800-4NBA-TIX or visit Suns.com to purchase tickets.
According to Nielsen Media Research, last Saturday’s Phoenix Coyotes/Edmonton Oilers telecast generated the highest rating for a Coyotes game on FOX Sports Arizona since the 2003-04 season.
The April 3 telecast recorded a 1.34 rating/3 share, the best figure for the team on its television partner since a 1.68 rating/3 share against Minnesota on Jan, 9, 2004. That game featured Brian Boucher setting an NHL record with his fifth consecutive shutout.
The 1.34 rating on Saturday means that approximately 24,154 households in the Phoenix market were tuned into the sold-out game at Jobing.com Arena that was played in front of 17,143 fans. The game had a 1.86 peak rating (33,528 homes).
The NHL Playoff bound Phoenix Coyotes play on FOX Sports Arizona twice this week as they close out the regular season on Saturday. Wednesday’s game versus Nashville will be a tape delay telecast at 11 pm and Thursday’s game at Los Angeles can be seen live at 7:30 p.m.
Former ASU ace Mike Leake has been named the Cincinnati Reds’ fifth starter.
The Reds selected Leake with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft out of Arizona State, but he did not play professionally last summer. He received a $2.27 million bonus when signed on Aug. 15. The 22-year-old Leake beat out Travis Wood, the Reds second pick in 2005, and Cuba defector Aroldis Chapman, who was eliminated from the competition because of soreness in his lower back.
Since the amateur Draft began in 1965, only 20 players had skipped the Minor Leagues and debuted in the Majors — the last being outfielder Xavier Nady with the Padres after he was picked in 2000. Fellow Sun Devils Bob Horner (1978) and Eddie Bane (1973) also turned the trick.
The last pitcher to make the leap was Ariel Prieto, who went through the 1995 Draft, but was older and had pitched in Cuba before defecting. Darren Dreifort was picked by the Dodgers in ‘93 and went straight to the big leagues in ‘94, although he was sent down later that season.
“I had the inner confidence that it was going to happen,” Leake told MLB.com. “I had to just keep it in me and not let anyone else see that I was thinking that. It’s a quiet confidence I have that I try not to let people see. I go about my business.”
In six spring games, including two starts, the right-handed Leake was 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA, 16 hits, four walks and 10 strikeouts over 18 innings. The 5-foot-10 right-hander tipped the scales in his final outing vs. the A’s on Wednesday, when he allowed two earned runs and four hits with one walk and two strikeouts.
Tickets will go on sale to the public on Monday, May 3 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time online at ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, and at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden box office. Prices range from $10 to $100.
“NBA fans in the Coachella Valley will see two of the NBA’s most popular and entertaining teams square off in the world’s most picturesque outdoor setting for basketball,” said Rick Welts, President and CEO of the Suns.
“We are pleased to partner for the third consecutive year with the NBA and the Phoenix Suns organization to bring this distinctive game to TNT,” said David Levy, President of Sales, Distribution and Sports, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. “The outdoor game has proven to be a unique and fun experience for not only the players but also for our viewers and crew. We look forward to returning to Indian Wells in October with our NBA on TNT crew for this year’s game between the Suns-Mavs.”
Suns ownership partner and Rancho Mirage local resident Dick Heckmann said, “Not only are we proud to be bringing the Suns back to the Valley, we are excited that this event will be helping local high schools raise much needed funds at a critical time.”
On October 11, 2008 the NBA hosted the first outdoor game of the modern era, which featured a preseason showcase between the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The sold out event, known as the AutoTrader.com Open, saw the Denver Nuggets outlast the Phoenix Suns, 77-72. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Phoenix Suns 104-101 in the second AutoTrader.com Open held on October 10, 2009.
“We are very excited to be continuing our partnership with the Phoenix Suns in hosting the matchup,” said Steve Simon, Chief Operating Officer of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. “With the Dallas Mavericks coming to town and more area high school basketball programs involved, this year’s game will be the best yet.”
Southern California’s Santa Rosa Mountains provide a breathtaking backdrop to the 80-acre complex that will host the event. The 16,000-seat stadium is an NBA-style arena with no roof that annually plays host to one of the world’s major tennis tournaments, the BNP Paribas Open. Fans from Phoenix who wish to attend the game can reach Indian Wells in less than a four-hour drive.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA — The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes right wing Lee Stempniak has been named the NHL’s First Star for the month of March. Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard was named the second star while Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin was named the third star.
Stempniak scored an NHL-leading 13 goals in 14 games with the Coyotes following his acquisition from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Mar. 3 trade deadline. He also added three assists and a +7 rating with his new club, helping the Coyotes (47-25-6) post a nine-game winning streak, set single-season franchise records for victory (47) and point (100) totals and secure their first berth in the Stanley Cup Playoffs since 2002.
Stempniak scored just 6:13 into his Coyotes debut in a 3-1 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Mar. 4 and went on to notch two-goal games in victories over the Vancouver Canucks (4-3, Mar. 10), Carolina Hurricanes (4-0, Mar. 13), Chicago Blackhawks (5-4, Mar. 20) and Avalanche (6-2, Mar. 27). The 27-year-old native of West Seneca, NY has matched his single-season career-high in goals (27), set with St. Louis in 2006-07. For the season, Stempniak has registered 27-19-46 in 76 games with Phoenix and Toronto.
There is no more giving group of people than those who serve in the fire and police department. Each day, these people willingly put their lives on the line when called upon in the name of protecting and serving the community.
You would think a day off would be an opportunity to be selfish and take care of themselves, but for many, the extra time offers another chance to continue giving back to the community. One way is through the Phoenix Thunder, a tackle football team made up of members from the fire and police departments and paramedics.
The Thunder is more than an excuse for many ex-jocks to strap on the pads one more time, it is a non-profit organization that travels across the country to play games and raise money for local charities. Other teams are in New York, Chicago Los Angels and many other major markets. The Thunder will play six games this season which began in March.
This year, the Thunder is raising money for the Miller family. The matriarch, Kim, lost a battle with colon cancer, and her husband Deron, a Goodyear police sergeant, is raising their three children. All the money raised will go towards the children’s college education.
MVP Magazine recently spoke with Chuck Walton, who is the president of the Phoenix Thunder and a 17-year veteran of the Phoenix Fire Department.
A book written by former Greenway High School and Grand Canyon University star Tim Salmon called Always an Angel: Playing the Game with Fire and Faith hits bookstores April 1.
For the first time, Tim Salmon opens up about his hardships growing up and how a grandmother’s faith set the stage for his remarkable career. When he became an Angel in 1992, the team had an ingrained culture of losing. By the time he retired, they were one of baseball’s elite teams. Salmon recalls the exploits of teammates Garret Anderson, Chili Davis, Chuck Finley, and Jim Abbott, who symbolized the grit and spirit of a team struggling for an identity.
Salmon, known as King Fish, was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1986 out of Greenway H.S. but elected to play at Grand Canyon University instead. Three years later, he owned Grand Canyon career records for home runs (51), RBI (192) and runs (225). He was also second in all-time batting average (.383) and hits (229). In 1989, Salmon was drafted by the California Angels. He was named Minor League Player of the Year in 1992 and American League Rookie of the Year in 1993.
Salmon played his entire 14-year career with the Angels and was a member of their 2002 World Series championship team. When he retired following the 2006 season, Salmon held the franchise record for most home runs (299), walks and slugging percentage while finishing second in RBI. As a pro, Salmon continued to give back to his alma mater, donating the funds for the Tim Salmon Baseball Clubhouse and for scholarships in the College of Business and the College of Education. Salmon was inducted into the Grand Canyon University Hall of Fame on Jan. 29, 2010.
A story in today’s Phoenix business Journal reported that the NHL already as a contingency ownership plan if the league does not find a local buyer by June 10. The story prompted a comment from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.
Daly released the following statement:
“In response to the many inquiries we have received in light of the story in the Phoenix Business Journal this morning, we would like to make clear that at this point in time the National Hockey League has no “deal” in place to move the Coyotes’ franchise to Winnipeg — or to any other city for that matter — in the event a transaction cannot be timely consummated in Glendale. Our focus continues to be on completing a transaction with local ownership that is committed to operating the team in Glendale. Based on the communications and information we are receiving on a regular basis, the stakeholders involved continue to express a high level of confidence that that can be successfully achieved. We will not focus on completing arrangements for one or more alternative option(s) until such time as it may become necessary.
“With respect to Winnipeg and Messrs. Chipman and Thomson, we have had ongoing discussions over time regarding their potential interest in owning an NHL franchise (as we have had with a number of other individuals and cities around North America) and potentially bringing an NHL franchise back to Winnipeg. It remains an intriguing possibility and one we would consider given appropriate circumstances, but there is nothing new to report on that front at this time.”
World Wrestling Entertainment made history Sunday night at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, as WrestleMania XXVI grossed $5.8 million, becoming the highest grossing and attended entertainment event ever held at the stadium.
The previous record was a U2 concert on October 20, 2009 that attracted 50,775 fans and grossed $4.9 million. 72,219 fans from all 50 states and 26 countries attended the sold out event, outdrawing Super Bowl XLII (71,101 attendance) in the same building.
WWE’s annual pop-culture extravaganza was broadcast around the world on pay-per-view in more than 100 countries and 20 languages.
“WrestleMania XXVI was a tremendous success, and we thank the public and private sectors of Glendale and Phoenix for rolling out the red carpetto WWE and our fans during WrestleMania Week,” said John P. Saboor, Senior Vice President of Special Events, World Wrestling Entertainment. “WrestleMania is an important rite of passage for WWE fans each year, bringing with them a tremendous economic impact to the community.”
Saturday’s attendance of 13,583 for the Seattle Mariners-Los Angeles Dodgers game breaks the Cactus League single-game attendance record at Camelback Ranch-Glendale (CBR-G) for the fourth time in 2010 and the sixth time overall at the second-year facility.
Earlier this spring, the record was bettered on three consecutive days at CBR-G: March 18 (13,391/Chicago Cubs-Dodgers), March 19 (13,413/Cubs-Chicago White Sox), and March 20 (13,506/San Diego Padres-Dodgers).
CBR-G now boasts four of the top five and five of the best eight single-game attendance figures in Cactus League history.
Last year’s inaugural CBR-G season single-game high of 13,311 for the Cubs-White Sox game on March 21 ranks eighth on the all-time Cactus League single-game attendance list.
Top 10 Cactus League Single-Game Attendance Records
No. Opponents. Site, Date, Attendance
1. Seattle Mariners @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale, March 27, 2010, 13,583
2. San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale, March 20, 2010, 13,506
3. Arizona Diamondbacks @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 20, 2010, 13,444
4. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, Glendale, March 19, 2010, 13,413
5. Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale, March 18, 2010, 13,391
6. Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 12, 2004, 13,366
7. Chicago White Sox @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 27, 2009, 13,327
8. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, Glendale, March 21, 2009, 13,311
9. Colorado Rockies @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa , March 24, 2009, 13,289
10. Arizona Diamondbacks @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 28, 2004, 13,171
Wrestling has a long and historic connection to Phoenix dating back to the 1940s when wrestling was a regular event at the old Madison Square Garden in downtown Phoenix. The Valley has previously hosted three WWE pay-per-views and numerous broadcasts of Monday Night Raw and Smackdown. There are a number of connections between the WWE and Arizona.
• Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham (Eldridge Wayne Coleman) is a lifelong resident of Paradise Valley and was a star track athlete at Arcadia H.S.
• Superstar Shawn Michaels was born on Williams Air Force base in Chandler.
• Divas Nikki and Brie Bella (Nicole and Maria Garcia) are from Scottsdale and played soccer at Chaparral H.S.
• Former intercontinental champion Honky Tonk Man is a long-time Gilbert resident.
• Former WWE manager/superstar Armando Estrada owns and operates Baby’s Steak and Lemonade in Glendale.
• Hall of Famer Eddie Guerrero was a Scottsdale resident at the time of his passing in 2005.
• Hall of Famer million Dollar Man Ted DiBiase is from Willcox
• Former WWE superstar Sean Morley is a long-time Phoenix resident.
• Ring announcer and Scottsdale resident Justin Roberts was once involved with Phoenix-based indy promotion Impact Zone Wrestling.
• Superstar Mike Knox also paid his dues in IZW and is a Peoria resident.
• Former WWE personality, current TNA personality, Eric Bischoff is a Cave Creek resident.
• Former Fox Sports Arizona reporter Sean Mooney was an announcer for WWE (then WWF) from 1988-93.
• Play-by-play announcer Todd Grisham was a sportscaster at KOLD-TV in Tucson for five years before signing with WWE in Jan. 2004
• Former WWE superstar The Boogeyman (Marty Wright) was born in Phoenix and still lives in the Valley.
• Tucson resident Reggie Parks has made many championship belts for WWE.
When Prop. 302 was pitched in 2000, one of the primary benefits that was promoted was the construction of a new multipurpose facility in Glendale that would attract numerous high-profile sporting events.
That promise has held true as University of Phoenix Stadium has hosted a Super Bowl, a BCS National Championship game and numerous Fiesta Bowls since opening in 2006. That list of A-list events will grow by one later this month when the stadium hosts WrestleMania 26 on March 28.
“Well, Arizona is an extraordinary place. I don’t have to tell you that,” World Wrestling Entertainment Chairman Vince McMahon said during a press conference last February announcing WrestleMania 26 was coming to Glendale. “Everyone who’s in Arizona knows it is and everyone all over the world knows that Arizona is a very special place. We have a very special event known as WrestleMania so it should be quite the honeymoon and quite the marriage; Arizona and WrestleMania.”
A tourism smackdown
WrestleMania is the centerpiece annual event for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) and it has grown into big business for its host city. In 2007, WrestleMania shifted from an arena event to one that is now held in stadiums and draws more than 60,000 fans. More than a dozen events take place during a week-long festival, attracting fiercely loyal wrestling fans from 24 countries, all 50 states and most Canadian Provinces.
WrestleMania week has developed into a tourism machine that compares with the biggest sporting events out there. A host city can expect fans to stay an average of 3.4 days, book more than 15,000 hotel rooms and bring in an economic impact of $50 million, with more than $7 million of actual tax revenue generated. Plus, WrestleMania is televised in 100 countries, providing the host city with significant exposure.
“This is not a one day event for a few hours, this is a multi-day event that is going to really have an enormous economic impact,” said Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs. “They are going to bring a much needed infusion of revenue but also a lot of excitement.”
“The sports industry has historically been relatively insulated from market trends. But during the last few years, while we’ve been affected, for the events that are out there, like WrestleMania, the attendance and family travel remains high,” added Jon Schmieder, president of the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission. “The Valley has established itself as a player, which is good because the competition is getting higher as other cities see the value of hosting these events.”
The huge impact on tourism and ensuing economic impact has created a competition among cities who want to host WrestleMania. The cities of Glendale and Phoenix went through a year-long bid process before officially landing WrestleMania, and it took the cohesive effort of a large group of leaders in the private and public sectors to make it happen. Ready to rumble
The process to determine a host city for WrestleMania 26 began when WWE sent out its first ever request for proposal (RFP) document in early 2008. The 80-page RFP contains comprehensive information about WWE, the history of WrestleMania, economic expectations for a host city and what WWE seeks from a partnership with the host city.
A local committee comprised of 60 leaders worked together to provide the necessary information and infrastructure, such as hosting facilities, government relations, accommodations, marketing, welcoming, brand awareness and while embracing the WWE and history of WrestleMania.
Phoenix was the first respondent to the document, by issuing to WWE a non- binding statement of intention to bid.
“They engaged us early and often,” said WWE Senior Vice President of Special Events, John Saboor.
WWE then provided a time frame to construct the proposal, which senior leadership reviewed. A group of finalists was selected from that group and WWE conducted site visits to see the locations that would host their key events: WrestleMania, a four-day interactive fan experience called WWE WrestleMania Axxess, a Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Monday Night Raw, a pro-am golf tournament and an art show.
A large delegation from the Arizona group traveled to WWE corporate headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut for a final presentation. After more dialogue between WWE and local Valley leaders, and internal deliberation by WWE senior leadership, Glendale/Phoenix was chosen as the host city for WrestleMania 26.
“They did an exceptional job of delivering their vision for execution of WrestleMania 26 and WrestleMania week in the Valley of the Sun,” Saboor said. “This partnership with Team Arizona has grown in strength since our decision to put WrestleMania 26 there. With each visit, I am more impressed by what the entire region has done to embrace all that is WrestleMania.”
A championship combination
Among the reasons why the Valley won the bid to host WrestleMania 26 was its history in hosting other high-profile sporting events, the collection of new or recently upgraded facilities to host the many WWE events, engagement by high-level corporate and political leaders, a comprehensive and wide-reaching plan to raise brand awareness for WWE and WrestleMania, creation of a new volunteer component and the attractiveness of the area as a vacation destination for WWE fans.
“As a sheer spectator experience, WrestleMania is on par with the Super Bowl, the NBA All-Star Game and NASCAR,” said Steve Moore, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We pursued this event aggressively, and we can’t wait to show off our amazing spring weather to thousands of visiting fans.”
Another major reason was the involvement of the Arizona Cardinals, who stepped forward to act as the local sales and sponsorship arm for WWE as well as managing and operating the golf tournament.
“Whenever an NFL franchise and leading corporate citizen lends its good housekeeping seal of approval, we see that as a positive endorsement and very important advocacy,” said Saboor. “Their participation has been unprecedented and will become a major point of interest for us with future communities.”
Within 30 days following the conclusion of WrestleMania week, Saboor will meet with the local leaders who were responsible for hosting the event in what he expects to be a celebration. He said the partnerships with host cities are meant to continue going forward and they are open to bringing WrestleMania back to a region. Phoenix has already submitted a formal proposal to host WrestleMania in 2013 or 2014 as Saboor said WrestleMania likely wouldn’t return to a city for at least three or four years. The Valley will face competition from many cities including Vancouver, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.
The Valley has become one of the most diverse sports markets in the country and is a premiere destination for hosting the top sporting events. Future events that could come to Phoenix include another Super Bowl, NCAA men’s basketball Final Four and NCAA men’s hockey Frozen Four. Time will tell if these events come here but the team is in place to make the collective effort to land them.
WrestleMania Bid Committee
The local organizing committee, which worked to bring WrestleMania 26 to the Valley, is comprised of 60 local business and political leaders. Listed are some of the central figures.
Elaine Scruggs, Mayor, City of Glendale
Phil Gordon, Mayor, City of Phoenix
Steve Moore, President/CEO, Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau
Marc Garcia, VP, Visitor Marketing and Community Development, Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau
Peter Sullivan, General Manager, University of Phoenix Stadium
Michael Bidwill, President, Arizona Cardinals
Ron Minegar, EVP/COO, Arizona Cardinals
Ralph Marchetta, General Manager, US Airways Center
Karen Foley, General Manager, Dodge Theater
John Chan, Director, Phoenix Convention Center
Tom Sadler, President/CEO, Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority
Jon Schmeider, President, Phoenix Regional Sports Commission
Mark Tudi, President, Sports Careers
Economic Impact
In October, World Wrestling Entertainment released the details of a study they commissioned and was conducted by Enigma Research Corp. The information is based on the economic benefits to Houston, Texas which hosted WrestleMania 25 during the heart of the economic downturn. Listed are some of the key facts.
• $49.8 million of direct, indirect and induced impact derived from spending by non-locals visiting specifically for WrestleMania 25, equating to 600 full-time jobs for the area.
• State governments collected $5.7 million in taxes
• During WrestleMania Week, 86 percent of out of state, overnight visitors, who came in for the festivities, stayed in local Houston area hotels.
• Of those, 67 percent stayed for three nights or more.
• Nearly 75 percent of fans, who attended WrestleMania 25, from outside of Houston traveled by air.
• About 23 percent of fans who came from out of state were from California and New York.
• Nearly 65 percent of fans who attended were between age 10 and 34.
On Wednesday March 24th, the road to WrestleMania stops at Baby’s Steak and Lemonade. Come out and meet WWE superstars Golddust and Dolph Ziggler. These two superstars will be signing autographs from 4-6pm. Not to mention the numerous other superstars that will be stopping by Baby’s Steak and Lemonade all week long.
The Cactus League’s single-game attendance record held firm for six years until the mark was bested on Thursday. The event seemed innocent enough when it was announced, but since then three more single-game attendance records have been announced and we are calling shenanigans.
Thursday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch-Glendale (CBR-G) set a new record after drawing a crowd of 13,391. The previous Cactus League single-game mark of 13,366 was set March 12, 2004 at the Peoria Sports Complex when the Seattle Mariners played host to the Chicago Cubs. The new record garnered a front-page headline on azcentral.com and was recognized by other media outlets as well, bringing good exposure to the ballpark during an otherwise uneventful Cactus League season.
Then, on Friday it was announced that the cross-town rivalry game between the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox at CBR-G set another new record by drawing 13,413. The announcement seemed legitimate as this rivalry is among the most intense in sports and the Cubs are by far the highest drawing Cactus League team both at home and on the road. Again, the record garnered recognition for the ballpark, which could now claim the top two highest attended games in Cactus League history.
Things started smelling fishy on Saturday when it was announced that an afternoon game at the Peoria Sports Complex between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners set the third Cactus League single-game attendance mark in three days after drawing 13,444. The initial instinct was that the crew in Peoria enjoyed being able to market itself as the club that held the record entering this Cactus League season and wanted to hold that distinction again.
Securing sponsorships for the numerous Cactus League ballparks in the Valley is very competitive, especially entering this season when the ad dollars were tougher to come by. Every little edge means a lot.
However, any glow that was regained with Peoria reclaiming the record was short lived as there was still a night game to be played at CBR-G between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres. Guess what happened? Yep. Another record was set with an announced crowd of 13,506.
This game of one-upmanship reeked of a covert competition between two ballparks that each wants to hold the single-game attendance record. The announcement seemed especially fishy since the San Diego Padres were one of the two teams involved. The Padres are a bad baseball team that usually ranks middle of the pack in attendance. A game earlier in the day between the Padres and Chicago White Sox drew less than half than the night game.
In the press release announcing the new, new, new, new record, their was a mention of the temporary mark held by their northwest neighbor in Peoria. It was also mentioned that Camelback Ranch-Glendale now held three of the top five single-game attendance marks and four of the top seven. Think that won’t be in the marketing material for next spring?
Records and numbers have long been manipulated in sports, so such a petty battle such as the attendance record comes as no surprise. The attendance record should come in to question anyway as their is no scientific way to truly determine the actual total number of fans at a game. Coyotes fans have seen for the last two years how attendance numbers are manipulated.
We will never know the truth about the numbers but if anything, this week has given sports fans a glimpse into the game behind the game.
Top 10 Cactus League Single-Game Attendance Records
No. Opponents, Site, Date, Attendance
1. San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale, March 20, 2010, 13,506
2. Arizona Diamondbacks @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 20, 2010, 13,444
3. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, Glendale, March 19, 2010, 13,413
4. Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale, March 18, 2010, 13,391
5. Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 12, 2004, 13,366
6. Chicago White Sox @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 27, 2009, 13,327
7. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, Glendale, March 21, 2009, 13,311
8. Colorado Rockies @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa , March 24, 2009, 13,289
9. Arizona Diamondbacks @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 28, 2004, 13,171
10. San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 20, 2009, 13,162
Phoenix Coyotes President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced today that individual game tickets for potential Coyotes home games during the first round of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs will go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 27.
Fans will have the ability to purchase individual game tickets starting at just $25 to each potential home game of Round 1 of the playoffs at the Jobing.com Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster outlets, www.phoenixcoyotes.com/playofftickets or by calling 480-563-PUCK (7825). In addition, playoff strips, which include tickets to each potential home game throughout the entirety of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the same seat location, are also available. For information on playoff strips, call 480-563-PUCK (7825).
Any fan looking to gain priority over the general public in choosing seat locations for 2010-11 Season Tickets can do so by purchasing full playoff strips or by putting down a refundable $100 deposit toward next season’s tickets. Those who purchase playoff strips can apply any money left over from unplayed home playoff games toward a refundable credit for next season.
The Coyotes are currently in fourth place in the Western Conference standings and have set a new franchise record for most wins in a single season with 44 victories through 71 games.
For more information about Coyotes 2010 Stanley Cup Playoff tickets, call 480-563-PUCK (7825) or visit www.phoenixcoyotes.com.
The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, announced on Friday that Corey Hawkins of Estrella Foothills High School is its 2009-10 Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court, distinguishes Hawkins as Arizona’s best high school boys basketball player.
Hawkins is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award to be announced in March.
The 6-foot-3, 180-pound senior guard led the Wolves (31-1) to their third straight Class 3A state title this past season, averaging 36 points, 10.1 rebounds, 4.6 steals and 3.7 assists per game.
The returning Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year finished his career as the state’s all-time career scoring leader with 3,154 points and also set the single-season scoring record with 1,152 points this winter.
The 2010 Arizona Republic Small Schools Player of the Year, Hawkins scored a season-high 65 points in a win over Chino Valley High on Feb. 2.
Hawkins has maintained a 3.14 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered locally as a youth basketball camp counselor and participated in a humanitarian effort to collect and send shoes to earthquake victims in Haiti.
“Corey Hawkins has a work ethic unlike any player I’ve ever coached and he’s made himself one of the most complete basketball players in the state,” said Estrella Foothills High Head Coach Ty Amundsen. “He has made such an enormous impact on our team and on our program as a whole.”
Hawkins joins recent Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Players of the Year Taylor Rohde (2007-08, Pinnacle) and Jerryd Bayless (2006-07, St. Mary’s) among the state’s list of former award winners.
Hawkins has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball on scholarship at Arizona State University this fall.
Friday’s crowd of 13,413 at Camelback Ranch-Glendale (CBR-G) for the meeting of Chicago’s crosstown rivals, the White Sox and Cubs, set the Cactus League single-game attendance record for the second consecutive day.
Yesterday’s crowd of 13,391 for the Chicago Cubs-Los Angeles Dodgers game bettered the six-year-old record of 13,366 set March 12, 2004 at the Peoria Sports Complex when the Seattle Mariners played host to the Cubs.
CBR-G, the second-year spring home of the Dodgers and White Sox, now boasts the top two and three of the top five single-game attendance figures in Cactus League history. Last year’s CBR-G inaugural season single-game high of 13,311 for the Cubs-White Sox game on March 21 ranks fifth on the all-time Cactus League single-game attendance list.
Meanwhile, the Cubs, who are currently awaiting word on financing for a new spring training facility in Mesa, now represent nine of the top 10 highest attended Cactus League games.
Top 10 Cactus League Single-Game Attendance Records
1. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, Glendale, March 19, 2010, 13,413
2. Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale, March 18, 2010, 13,391
3. Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 12, 2004, 13,366
4. Chicago White Sox @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 27, 2009, 13,327
5. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, Glendale, March 21, 2009, 13,311
6. Colorado Rockies @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa , March 24, 2009, 13,289
7. Arizona Diamondbacks @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 28, 2004, 13,171
8. San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 20, 2009, 13,162
9. Texas Rangers @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 16, 2010, 13,157
10. Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 29, 2009, 13,097
The Phoenix Coyotes extended their winning streak to seven games with a frenzied comeback that saw them score three, third-period goals before beating the Florida Panthers in the shootout, 4-3. The capper was an unlikely 105-foot goal by Radim Vrbata with :59.7 seconds remaining in the game to tie the game at three. Watch video of that amazing goal as well as the priceless reaction by the Panhters fan base and Coyotes broadcast crew.
Phoenix has often drawn comparisons to Los Angeles for many demographic and geographic reasons. When it comes to star power, there is one night each year where the Valley may have its sister city beat and that is during the annual Celebrity Fight Night, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.
This annual black-tie event, which supports the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, features A-listers from sports and entertainment worthy of the red carpet they walk heading in to the event. Celebrity Fight Night is known for its high-profile live entertainment and live auction of unique sports and entertainment memorabilia. The first 15 events have raised nearly $60 million.
This year’s event will be headlined by Glenn Frey of the Eagles and emceed by country music star Reba McIntire. American Idol judge Randy Jackson will introduce featured guest Muhammad Ali, who is celebrating 50 years on the world stage.
Indycar and NASCAR driver Danica Patrick will receive the Muhammad Ali Sports Achievement Award; film producers Jerry Weintraub, will be honored with the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award and Forbes 400 businessman and philanthropist, Walter Scott, Jr., will be recognized with the Muhammad Ali Business Leadership Award.
For the latest news, visit www.celebrityfightnight.org.
The Countdown is on to WWE’s WrestleMania XXVI, and they’re kicking things off with a Smackdown-showing, Superstar-appearing, autograph-signing party to end all parties! Presented by the City of Glendale, Westgate City Center and the University of Phoenix Stadium, the free, family friendly event will give fans their first opportunity to get into full-on WrestleMania mood.
The WrestleMania Kickoff Party at Westgate takes place March 19 from 6-10 p.m. and will include Superstar and Diva appearances, autograph signings, live entertainment, prizes, face painting … even a chance to win floor-seat tickets to the March 28 WrestleMania event at University of Phoenix Stadium. And to set the scene, Westgate will be showing SmackDown on its 30-by-50-foot Plaza LED screen (the LAST televised WWE event before to the self-proclaimed Super Bowl of professional wrestling).
Thursday’s matchup between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers at Camelback Ranch-Glendale set a new Cactus League single-game attendance record after drawing a crowd of 13,391.
The previous Cactus League single-game mark of 13,366 was set March 12, 2004 at the Peoria Sports Complex when the Seattle Mariners played host to the Chicago Cubs.
Last year’s Camelback Ranch-Glendale inaugural season high of 13,311 for a Cubs-Chicago White Sox game on March 21 ranked third in all-time Cactus League single-game attendance entering the 2010 season.
Friday’s Cubs-White Sox game at Camelback Ranch-Glendale also is sold out.
Top 10 Cactus League Single-Game Attendance Records
No. Opponents, Site, Date, Attendance
1. Chicago Cubs @ Los Angeles Dodgers, Glendale, March 18, 2010, 13,391
2. Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 12, 2004, 13,366
3. Chicago White Sox @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 27, 2009, 13,327
4. Chicago Cubs @ Chicago White Sox, Glendale, March 21, 2009, 13,311
5. Colorado Rockies @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa , March 24, 2009, 13,289
6. Arizona Diamondbacks @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 28, 2004, 13,171
7. San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 20, 2009, 13,162
8. Texas Rangers @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 16, 2010, 13,157
9. Cleveland Indians @ Chicago Cubs, Mesa, March 29, 2009, 13,097
10. Chicago Cubs @ Seattle Mariners, Peoria, March 23, 2002, 13,060
The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes forward Lee Stempniak has been named the NHL’s Second Star for the week ending Mar. 14.
Vancouver Canucks forward Mikael Samuelsson was named the first star while Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne was named the third star.
Stempniak scored five goals in three games last week, all victories, helping the Coyotes (42-22-5) continue their roll toward the best regular season in franchise history. Stempniak began the week by notching two goals plus a shootout tally in a 4-3 victory over the Vancouver Canucks on Mar. 10. He recorded two goals, including the game-winner, in a 4-0 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Mar. 13 and scored once in a 3-2 shootout win over the Atlanta Thrashers on Mar. 14.
Since being acquired from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the Mar. 3 trade deadline in exchange for defenseman Matt Jones, a fourth round choice and a seventh round choice in the 2010 Entry Draft, Stempniak has six goals and one assist in five games with the Coyotes, helping the team to a five-game winning streak. Stempniak has also recorded at least one point in each of his five games with the Coyotes, who have won 13 of their last 17 games.
Note, courtesy ESPN: Lee Stempniak, who scored in the third period of the Coyotes’ 3-2 shootout victory at Atlanta, has scored six goals in five games since joining Phoenix at the trade deadline. Stempniak is only the second player in franchise history (for either the Coyotes or the Winnipeg Jets) to score more than five goals in his first five games with the team. The first was Mike Gartner in October 1996 (6 goals).
The Phoenix Coyotes defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 4-0 tonight to win their 41st game of the season, marking their highest win total in a season since moving to Phoenix in 1996.
The previous record for wins in a season by a Coyotes team was 40, set in 2001-02 when the team finished with a record of 40-27-9-6. The Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets franchise record for wins in a season is 43, set by the Winnipeg Jets in 1983-84. Through 68 games this season, the Coyotes have compiled a record of 41-22-5.
Ilya Bryzgalov also recorded his NHL-leading eighth shutout of the season in tonight’s victory, tying him with Nikolai Khabibulin for most shutouts in a single season by a goaltender in franchise history. Khabibulin registered eight shutouts for the Coyotes during the 1998-99 campaign
The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) is making a stop in Glendale, Ariz., for the Glendale Invitational, the 11th stop on the elite 2010 Built Ford Tough Series.
The Top 40 bull riders in the world will invade Jobing.com Arena on Saturday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, March 14 at 2:00 p.m. for two nights of world-class bull riding. The event will showcase the world’s best riders going head-to-head with the top bulls the PBR has to offer.
Expected to compete in Glendale are current world leader J.B. Mauney (pictured above, Mooresville, N.C.); 2010 Iron Cowboy champion and current #2 in the world Valdiron de Oliveira (Aparecida de Goiania, GO, Brazil); USA World Cup Team Member Austin Meier (Kinta, Okla.); PBR fan favorites McKennon Wimberly (Cool, Texas), Skeeter Kingsolver (Mclouth, Kans.), Jody Newberry (Ada, Okla.), and Ryan McConnel (Colgate, Okla.); and current #3 in the world, Travis Briscoe (Edgewood, N.M.).
The Glendale Invitational will consist of three rounds of competition, with the first two rounds featuring the Top 40 bull riders matched against the PBR’s rankest bulls. The scores from the two rides will be combined and the riders with the top 15 scores will advance to the Built Ford Tough Championship Round after intermission on Sunday. In the end, the cowboy with the highest total score on three bulls will be declared the winner!
For more information on the Professional Bull Riders, visit www.pbr.com.
Arizona State University and the University of New Mexico have scheduled a future home/home series in football, Vice President for University Athletics Lisa Love announced Friday.
The games will be played on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at University Stadium in Albuquerque and on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at Sun Devil Stadium/Kush Field in Tempe.
“This is a series that we have been working on for quite some time,” says Love. “It is important for us to schedule home/home series with schools that are located in the Western portion of the country. Our fans can travel to watch the Sun Devils play in Albuquerque with a manageable drive or a short flight. The University of New Mexico is a very nice addition to our future schedules, which already include Notre Dame, LSU, Wisconsin, Colorado, Missouri and Illinois.”
ASU and New Mexico have met 28 times on the football field. The Sun Devils hold a 22-5-1 advantage in the series, including a 12-1-1 record at home. ASU has won 17 straight in the series, which dates back to 1932. New Mexico’s last win was in 1942, 35-7, in Albuquerque.
The two schools have not met on the football field since 1977, but did every year between 1965 and 1977 when both were members of the Western Athletic Conference.
The addition of the New Mexico series completes the schedules in 2014 and 2015. Those schedules are listed below.
2014 ASU Football Schedule
Sept. 6 — Weber State
Sept. 13 — at New Mexico
Sept. 20 — Washington State
Sept. 27 — at Oregon State
Oct. 4 — at California
Oct. 11 — Bye date
Oct. 18 — UCLA
Oct. 25 — Notre Dame
Nov. 1 — at Washington
Nov. 8 — Stanford
Nov. 15 — Oregon
Nov. 22 — at USC
Nov. 29 — at Arizona
2015 ASU Football Schedule
Sept. 5 — New Mexico
Sept. 12 — at LSU
Sept. 19 — Cal Poly
Sept. 26 — Oregon State
Oct. 3 — at Washington State
Oct. 10 – Bye date
Oct. 17 — California
Oct. 24 — at UCLA
Oct. 31 — Washington
Nov. 7 — at Stanford
Nov. 14 — at Oregon
Nov. 21 — USC
Nov. 28 — Arizona
The National Football Foundation released its 2010 College Football Hall of Fame ballot Thursday and the list included three former ASU Sun Devils a Diamondbacks coach and a former NAU Lumberjack.
The three ASU players who are eligible for election into the College Football Hall of Fame are tight end Bob Bruenig, linebacker Pat Tillman and former head coach Darryl Rogers. Arizona Diamondbacks bench coach Kirk Gibson is also eligible form his time as a wide receiver with Michigan. Former NAU running back Archie Amerson is also eligible as part of their Football Championship Subdivision list.
The ballot mailed this week to the more than 12,000 NFF members and current Hall of Famers whose votes will be tabulated and submitted to the NFF s Honors Court, which deliberates and selects the class. Chaired by Gene Corrigan, a former ACC Commissioner and NCAA president, the 13-member NFF Honors Court includes an elite and geographically diverse pool of athletics directors, conference commissioners, Hall of Famers and members of the media.
To be eligible for the ballot, players must have been named a First Team All-America by a major/national selector as recognized and utilized by the NCAA for their consensus All-America teams; played their last year of intercollegiate football at least ten years prior; played within the last 50 years and cannot be currently playing professional football. Coaches must have coached a minimum of 10 years and 100 games as a head coach; won at least 60% of their games; and be retired from coaching for at least three years. If a coach is retired and over the age of 70, there is no waiting period). If he is over the age of 75, he is eligible as an active coach. In both cases, the candidate s post-football record as a citizen may also be weighed.
The FBS Hall of Fame Class will be announced live May 27 from the NASDAQ Times Square site in New York City during a noon press conference and inducted at The National Football Foundation s Annual Awards Dinner on December 7, 2010 at the landmark Waldorf=Astoria Hotel also in New York City. The May 27 press conference has been carried live on ESPNEWS for the past three years, and the same coverage is anticipated again this year.
Bob Breunig, Arizona State – Linebacker — Named 1974 First Team All-America selection…Led ASU to 1972 WAC title and to consecutive Fiesta Bowl wins in 1972 and ‘73… Three-time All-WAC pick who ranks third all-time in career solo tackles (206) and fifth in career tackles (353) at ASU.
Pat Tillman, Arizona State – Linebacker — 1997 First Team All-America… Led Sun Devils to two consecutive bowl berths… First-ever ASU player named Defensive Player of the Year (1997) and led team to 1996 Pac-10 title…Two-time First Team Academic All-Pac-10.
Darryl Rogers- Cal State-Hayward (1965), Fresno State (1966-72), San Jose State (1973-75), Michigan State (1976-79), Arizona State (1980-84) — Took Fresno State to two bowl games. Achieved an unprecedented national ranking at San Jose State…Was Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1977 and National Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 1978…Won the Big Ten title in 1978.
Kirk Gibson, Michigan State – Wide Receiver — Named First Team All-America, led Big Ten in receiving in league play and helped the Spartans to a Big Ten Co-Championship and a No.12 national ranking in 1978…Played MLB for 17 seasons.
Archie Amerson, Northern Arizona – Running Back — Named First Team All-American in 1996…Finished as school’s all-time career rushing leader despite only playing two seasons (3,196 yards)…1996 Walter Payton Award recipient as Division I-AA’s most outstanding offensive player… Led NAU to its first-ever IAA playoff appearance.
The Phoenix Coyotes and Coyotes Charities will auction off special-edition St. Patrick’s Day Coyotes jerseys for each player on the team through NHL.com’s auction page.
Each Coyotes player has autographed a one-of-a-kind St. Patrick’s Day jersey with his name and number on the back. The jerseys will be available for bidding on auction.nhl.com beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 11. The auction will close at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 23.
Proceeds from the auction will benefit Coyotes Charities, which is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life throughout Arizona communities by supporting non-profit organizations that promote healthcare, education, cultural arts and sports-related programs for children.
This is the second time this season the Coyotes are holding a jersey auction as the team did the same with special New Year’s jerseys a few months ago.
The 2011 Arizona State University football schedule has been changed to reflect a favorable home schedule to finish the season, two strategically placed bye dates and maximized potential television exposure, Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Wednesday.
The California at ASU game, originally scheduled for October 22, has been moved to November 26, 2011. The annual rival game with Arizona, originally slated for November 26, has been moved to December 3. The moves create a bye date in the middle of the season on October 22 and one on November 12, prior to facing USC at home on November 19.
These moves represent a portion of several moves that conference schools ASU, Arizona, Stanford and California made to accommodate television exposure and open dates in 2011. The schedule remains subject to change.
Due to the moves, the Sun Devil football team will enjoy a bye date after seven games in the middle of the schedule and an extra week to prepare the USC game and the final three home games.
2011 ASU FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
Sept. 3 — Cal-Davis
Sept. 10 — Missouri
Sept. 17 — at Illinois
Sept. 24 — Washington
Oct. 1 — at Oregon
Oct. 8 — at UCLA
Oct. 15 — Oregon State
Oct. 22 — Bye date
Oct. 29 — at Washington State
Nov. 5 — at Stanford
Nov. 12 — Bye date
Nov. 19 — USC
Nov. 26 — California
Dec. 3 — Arizona
Radio Gold Former Phoenix sports talker launched popular Web site
By Ron Matejko
MVP Magazine
With more than 400 sports radio stations in the United Stations and many local programs on each of those stations, a significant number of live interviews are being conducted each day.
The problem is, unless you are listening to the station at the time of the interview or you surf from station Web site to station Web site with the hope of finding podcasts or archived audio files, the interviews are gone once they are done.
Former XTRA-910 talk show host Jimmy Shapiro not only noticed this, he did something about it and launched the popular sports Web site SportsRadioInterviews.com in October 2008. Since then, Shapiro has built the site into the premier destination for those who want one location to listen to archived sports interviews from around the country.
“I always thought sports radio was an under-appreciated medium that never got due credit for what it accomplished,” Shapiro said. “Many people think it is a place for blowhards who never played sports to give opinions, when in reality there are so many good interviews that happen on sports radio that go to pasture. If you didn’t hear about it, it’s like it didn’t happen.”
Shapiro, who operates his sports PR company out of Seattle, devotes a few hours a day to update the site with a fresh batch of interviews. On one recent day, his posts consisted of interviews from outspoken former NFLers Kyle Turley and Shannon Sharpe, another from NFL legend Fran Tarkenton and another from “Jersey Shore” star Snookie.
In the past, Shapiro did all the leg work to track down interviews to post on the site. Now, he gets a significant number of his interviews from stations who email him hoping to get additional exposure.
“Stations like to be on the site and see their stuff go national,” Shapiro said.
Files are categorized by recent posts, by month, by sport and by team. There is also a search tool in case you just want to punch in a name and see if there are any archived interviews from that person.
SportsRadioInterviews.com has garnered a strong following with more than 50,000 unique visitors a month. The Web site has also been sourced in numerous national media outlets including the New York Times, ESPN, Yahoo and Sporting News, which syndicates his content.
MVP Magazine recently caught up with Scott Bordow, who, in January, began his new position as the high school columnist for The Arizona Republic after 26 years with the East Valley Tribune.
Bordow explained how he ended up with the state’s largest newspaper, reflected on his time with the Tribune and how the digital evolution in media has changed his role as a sportswriter.
MVP Magazine: How did you end up with the Arizona Republic after so many years with the Tribune?
Bordow: Generally, they created a position for me. I’ll be doing what I did with the Tribune, except for high school instead of college and the pros. I am thankful because when the Tribune announced it would close, I thought I would be out of a job. I thought I would have to move or get out of the business but I was lucky that I got this job and I didn’t even have to send out a resume.
MVP Magazine: This move seemed long overdue. Why didn’t it happen sooner?
Bordow: The Republic and I have danced with each other in the past 10 years but there was never a firm offer made. I thought my days of going over there were done. I wasn’t looking to go anywhere until I heard the Tribune was closing and seeing what it had become. I put a lot of heart and soul in that place and to see it change was hard. I’m not sure I would have moved if it wasn’t for the uncertainty of the Tribune. When the Republic called and made me a firm offer, I was thankful.
MVP Magazine: What are some of your favorite memories from your time at the Tribune?
Bordow: I’ll always remember covering the 2001 World Series and the whole playoff run for the Diamondbacks and the backdrop of the terrorist attacks. To go to New York and cover the games at Yankee Stadium and see where the towers were and the tattered American flag was very emotional and an incredible experience.
I also remember a time I had to cover two events and caught a red eye. I was up for 37 hours straight to cover the events. It’s amazing how adrenaline can keep you going.
I also remember the 1993 NBA Finals between the Suns and Bulls; going back to Chicago, and the triple overtime game.
MVP Magazine: What do you take away from your time at the Tribune?
Bordow: I’m proud of a lot of work we did. A couple years ago, Craig Morgan and I did a special six-page section on the use of supplements by high school athletes. The AIA purchased 150 copies of the paper and changed their bylaws to warn kids about the use of supplements.
I am also proud of how from 1983 when I started I worked with people who built a section that was a second-tier sports section into one that could compete with any of the bigger papers around the country. There was a 12-year stretch where we did a hell of a job and I’d like to think I had a small part in that.
MVP Magazine: How important is it for the Tribune to survive so there isn’t just one voice in town among the newspapers?
Bordow: Any market is healthier when it has two newspapers in town. It makes both of them better when they compete. They are challenged to break stories. Any market is hurt when it loses a voice.
MVP Magazine: How has the evolution of digital media changed your role as a sportswriter?
Bordow: The biggest thing is you are on 24-7. Before the internet, you wrote for the next day’s paper and you had a 10:30 deadline. Now you have a deadline whenever you hear about a story. There is more focus on immediacy that is a concern. There is too much emphasis on who is first, instead of being right. Some people throw stuff on internet to be first instead of accurate. The irony is newspaper is struggling at a time they have more readers than ever before.
MVP Magazine: How has digital media changed the way you do your job?
Bordow: Here’s an example. On Monday, (Jan. 18) I was at the MLK Basketball Classic, which featured five games. I went to meet and talk to coaches but I ended up tweeting 36 times and writing four blogs. If you would have told me 15 years ago, I’d be blogging and twittering, I’d have looked at you funny. But there I was. I didn’t write a single story but I blogged and tweeted.
You can read Bordow’s columns in the Arizona Republic and at azcentral.com each Wednesday in the Scottsdale/East Valley section and on Friday in the main section.
Note: This article originally appeared in the February issue of MVP Magazine. To read the current issue, visit www.mvptoday.com.
Experience the first ever fully interactive sports magazine.
Not only can you read the stories in MVP Today, but they actually come to life. You can watch video, listen to interviews, or view a slideshow, all within the design of a story.
The National Hockey League on Friday sued former Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes, seeking to recover more than $61 million over the trucking magnate’s management of the struggling franchise.
The team filed for bankruptcy last May and was bought by the NHL for $140 million in November. That purchase followed a U.S. bankruptcy judge’s rejection of a takeover bid by Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, the co-chief executive of BlackBerry maker Research in Motion Ltd.
Earl Scudder, a lawyer for Moyes, did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday evening. Other defendants in the case are Moyes’ wife and a family trust.
The NHL filed its lawsuit with the New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, where the league is based.
It accused Moyes of violating an agreement he had entered with the league by refusing to fund the Coyotes’ obligations; secretly entering sale talks with Balsillie, who hoped to move the team to Hamilton, Ontario; and filing a bankruptcy petition to accomplish that sale without league approval.
According to the complaint, the NHL is seeking $30 million for violations of the agreement, $10 million for aiding and abetting violations of the Coyotes’ fiduciary duty to the league, $10 million of punitive damages, and $11.6 million to cover amounts that the NHL paid to Coyotes creditors.
The NHL said it may also seek to recover $8 million that represents unpaid salary owed to Wayne Gretzky, the Hall of Fame center and former Coyotes coach. It said whether Gretzky is owed that money will be determined in the bankruptcy case.
In the complaint, the NHL also said it was forced to buy the Coyotes because of the defendants’ actions, and “expects to incur approximately $20 million in losses as a result of that purchase in the current NHL season.”
Moyes and his family control the trucking company Swift Transportation Co.
Arizona Cardinals finally traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin on Friday to the Baltimore Ravens.
In exchange for Boldin and the Cards’ fifth-round draft pick – 159th overall – the Cardinals received the Ravens’ third- and fourth-round picks – 89th and 124th overall. ESPN is also reporting Boldin will receive a three-year, $25 million extension with $10 million guaranteed on top of the one year left (at $3 million) on his current deal.
The Cards’ new fourth-round pick and the Ravens’ new fifth-round pick will be pushed lower in the draft after compensatory draft picks are announced at the owners’ meetings later this month.
Boldin, 29, caught 84 passes for 1,024 yards and two touchdowns last season. Although Boldin has had difficulty staying healthy throughout his pro career, he has amassed at least 1,000 yards receiving in five of his seven seasons.
The Phoenix Coyotes ended up making seven transactions on a very busy trade deadline day. Here is a bullet point list of the seven moves.
Coyotes acquired Derek Morris from Boston for a conditional draft choice in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Morris, 31, has recorded 3-22-25 and 26 penalty minutes in 58 games with the Bruins this season. Prior to this season, Morris spent parts of five seasons (2004-2009) as a member of the Coyotes before being traded to the New York Rangers on Mar. 4, 2009 in exchange for Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes and Dmitri Kalinin.
Coyotes acquired Wojtek Wolski from Colorado for Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter. Wolski, 24, has recorded 17-30-47 and 21 penalty minutes in 62 games this season for the Avalanche.
Coyotes acquired Lee Stempniak from Toronto for Matt Jones, 4th and 7th round draft choice in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Stempniak, 27, has recorded 14-16-30 and 18 penalty minutes (PIM) in 62 games with the Maple Leafs this season to rank 3rd on the team in goals and 4th in points.
Coyotes acquire Petteri Nokelainen from Anaheim for a 6th round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Nokelainen, 24, has appeared in 50 games for the Ducks this season, recording 4-7-11 and 21 penalty minutes.
Coyotes acquire Mathieu Schneider from Vancouver for Sean Zimmerman and a conditional draft choice in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Schneider, 40, has recorded 2-3-5 and 12 penalty minutes in 17 games with the Canucks this season. Schneider is in his 21st NHL season and has appeared in 1,281 career games with Montreal, the New York Islanders, Toronto, the New York Rangers, Los Angeles, Detroit, Anaheim, Atlanta and Vancouver.
Coyotes acquire Alexandre Picard from Columbus for Chad Kolarik. Picard will report to San Antonio (AHL).
Coyotes acquire Miika Wiikman and a 7th round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft for Anders Eriksson. Wiikman will report to San Antonio (AHL).
The Phoenix Coyotes concluded a busy NHL trade deadline day by acquiring its fourth player, Toronto forward Lee Stempniak for a fourth and sixth round pick.
Stempniak is 14-16-30 and a -15 on the season, while failing to live up to expectations while playing a major role in Toronto. Of his 30 points, seven came in two games and he only has three points in his last 13 games.
He had a career-high 27 goals in 2006-07 but has 27 goals in 154 games since then.
The 27-year-old Stempniak will be joining his third team in five NHL seasons. The Buffalo, NY., native was drafted in the fifth round (148th overall) by the St. Louis Blues in 2003.
Stempniak will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
In all the Coyotes added defensemen Derek Morris and Mathieu Schneider and forwards Wojtek Wolski and Stempniak. They moved Peter Mueller, Kevin Porter a minor league defenseman, two fourth round picks, a conditional sixth and a seventh.
The Phoenix Coyotes continued to be the most active team during the NHL trade deadline day by adding more depth on the blueline with the addition of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mathieu Schneider for defensive prospect Sean Zimmerman and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2010.
Schneider, 40, was one of the most talented offensive defensemen in the NHL during his prime and still adds skill on the power play despite being on the tail end of his career.
The Manhattan, New York native brings extensive playoff experience as he has played in 111 postseason games and own a Stanley cup with Montreal in 1993. The two-time all star has also played in three Olympics, so he has plenty of big-game experience.
Schneider had just 5 points in 17 games with the Canucks, and had been playing for their AHL team, the Manitoba Moose, since clearing waivers Jan. 2. In eight AHL games, he had 3 goals and 5 points. In 1281 career NHL games, Schneider has 739 points on 223 goals and 516 assists. He also has 100 career power-play goals.
Schneider was signed by Vancouver to a one-year deal for $1.5 million, so the Coyotes are not making a major financial commitment with this addition.
The Coyotes mark the 10th NHL team Schneider has played for during his 21-year career.
Zimmerman, 22, has appeared in 54 games with San Antonio (AHL) this season, recording 2-5-7 and 75 PIM. In 163 career AHL games with Albany, Lowell and San Antonio, Zimmerman has collected 4-11-15 and 158 PIM.
Phoenix reacquired Boston defenseman Derek Morris and Colorado forward Wojtek Wolski earlier in the day.
The Phoenix Coyotes not only recognized their need for scoring, they did something about it during the NHL trade Deadline by acquiring Colorado forward Wojtek Wolski for Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter.
The Coyotes need for scoring existed all season, but was elevated when leading goal scorer Scottie Upshall went down with a knee injury (torn ACL).
Wolski will fill that void as well as provide an added scoring threat on the Coyotes power play which has struggled during their current stretch which has seen the team lose three straight. he is also very strong on shootouts as he is among the leaders in conversion percentage.
Wolski joins the Coyotes with 47 points in 62 games with 17 goals and 30 assists and is a +15. He will be tied with Shane Doan for the Coyotes team lead in scoring with similar numbers.
“Wojtek Wolski is a terrific young offensive player,” said Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney in a press release. “He is a talented goal scorer that will help us offensively and on the power play. He has great size and is just entering the prime of his career.”
Mueller has had a similar career path to Wolski. Mueller was drafted 8th overall in 2006 and Wolski was selected 21st overall in 2004. Both scored 22 goals during their rookie season. Mueller seems to have lost some of his fire, a claim that could be placed on Wolski following his rookie season, but the Poland native has shed that image since then although he hasn’t quite lived up to the expectations of a first-round pick.
Mueller, 21, has appeared in 54 games with the Coyotes this season, recording 4-13-17 and eight PIM. In 207 career NHL games with the Coyotes, the 6-foot-2, 204-pound Mueller has registered 39-68-107 and 64 PIM. As a rookie in 2007-08, Mueller collected 22-32-54 and 32 PIM in 81 games, all of which remain career-highs.
Wolski is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, so Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney has two months to get a close look at him to decide if he wants to resign the talented forward.
Kevin Porter hasn’t found his way in the NHL since being drafted in 2004 out of the University of Michigan where he was a contender for the Hobey Baker Award. Porter, 23, has played in four games with the Coyotes this season and has also registered 15-25-40 and 31 PIM in 52 games with San Antonio of the American Hockey League (AHL). The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Porter recorded 5-5-10 and four PIM in 34 games as a rookie with the Coyotes last season while also collecting 13-22-35 and 14 PIM in 42 games with San Antonio.
This move follows the reacquisition of defenseman Derek Morris earlier in the day. Maloney has addressed both of the Coyotes primary needs without giving up too many “assets” as he calls his players.
Wolski will immediately have his new loyalty tested as the Coyotes play Colorado Thursday night.
The Phoenix Coyotes made the first move during the NHL trade deadline day by reacquiring defenseman Derek Morris from the Boston Bruins for a fourth-round draft pick in 2011.
Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney said he wanted to add depth on the blueline without giving up a lot and this deal accomplishes that goal.
“We are very excited to have brought Derek Morris back to the Coyotes organization,” said Maloney in a press release. “Derek is a talented, versatile defenseman who will strengthen our blueline. His leadership and tenacity will be welcomed in our dressing room.”
Morris, 31, has recorded 3-22-25 and 26 penalty minutes (PIM) in 58 games with the Bruins this season. Prior to this season, Morris spent parts of five seasons (2004-2009) as a member of the Coyotes before being traded to the New York Rangers on Mar. 4, 2009 in exchange for Petr Prucha, Nigel Dawes and Dmitri Kalinin. Morris finished the 2008-09 regular season with 5-15-20 and 40 PIM in 75 total games with the Coyotes and Rangers. He also appeared in seven playoff games with the Rangers and collected two assists.
During his tenure with the Coyotes, Morris registered 25-68-93 and 278 PIM in 288 games. He recorded at least 25 points in each of his three full seasons with Phoenix and appeared in all 82 games during the 2006-07 and 2007-08 campaigns. He ranked 2nd on the Coyotes in plus/minus (+8) and average ice time (21:42) during the 2007-08 season while recording 8-17-25. In 2006-07, the 6-foot, 221-pound Morris collected 6-19-25 to rank tied second among Coyote defensemen while his 115 PIM marked a career-high. Morris also served as an alternate captain with the Coyotes and was the recipient of the Club’s Man of the Year and Booster Club Awards following the 2007-08 season. He was originally acquired by the Coyotes on Mar. 9, 2004.
Morris spent part of five seasons with the Coyotes before he was traded at the deadline to the New York Rangers in 2008.
The Coyotes have two first-round picks in this year’s draft and are also in need of more offense so another trade is possible prior to the NHL trade deadline, which is 1 p.m. today Arizona time.
The Arizona Diamondbacks have reached an agreement with right fielder Justin Upton on a six-year contract, sources told ESPN.
The deal is worth approximately $51 million, sources told ESPN’s Pedro Gomez.
“Justin, we’ve worked very hard on the relationship, he’s done his part,” Diamondbacks General Manager Josh Byrnes told MLB.com. “What he’s done at his age is Hall of Fame caliber. So the relationship is very strong.”
FoxSports.com first reported that Upton and the Diamondbacks were closing in on a deal, expected to be announced Wednesday.
The contract would cover all three years in which Upton, 22, would be eligible for salary arbitration, as well as his first two years of eligibility for free agency. Without a new deal, Upton would have been eligible for arbitration after this season.
In 2009, Upton hit .300 with 26 home runs and 86 RBIs — all improvements over his 2008 production.
Former Arizona State University graduate assistant Trent Bray has been named Linebackers Coach for the Sun Devil football team, Head Coach Dennis Erickson announced Tuesday.
Defensive Coordinator Craig Bray, whose defense ranked No. 1 in the Pacific-10 Conference last year in total defense (297.6), rush defense (108.6), pass defense (189.0), opponent first downs (15.8) and opponent third-down conversions (29.7), will coach the safeties, with assistance from cornerbacks coach Greg Burns. The Sun Devil defense appeared in three Top 20 categories nationally, including 13th in total defense, 19th in rushing defense and 20th in pass efficiency defense.
Bray will assume the full-time role of coaching the ASU linebackers, a task he is no stranger to as he served as graduate assistant for the linebackers/defense in 2007 and 2008.
Bray enjoyed a stellar playing career at Oregon State University. A member of Dennis Erickson’s 2001 signing class, Bray was a standout linebacker for the Beavers from 2002-2005, staring 34 of 49 career games.
As a junior in 2004, he collected 122 tackles and was named Second-Team All-Pacific-10 Conference. He also earned Insight Bowl Defensive MVP honors by making an Oregon State-bowl record 10 tackles in a victory over Notre Dame.
He was selected co-captain of the Beaver football team as a senior, and he backed it up with another terrific season, recording 116 tackles and earning First-Team all-Pac-10 honors.
Bray finished his collegiate career with 337 tackles, the sixth-highest total in Oregon State history, 29.0 tackles for loss and 10.5 quarterback sacks while making 33 consecutive starts over his final three seasons in Corvallis. He then moved on to the National Football League, where he spent time with the Miami Dolphins and the Houston Texans.
Bray rejoins the Sun Devil football family after spending the past year as an assistant coach (linebackers/quality control) for the California Redwoods of the United Football League.
PHOENIX – Known for his work ethic, intensity and good nature as a four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, retired Arizona Cardinals player Ron Wolfley and his business partners are proud to announce the Grand Opening of Wolfley’s Neighborhood Grill, scheduled for September 7, 2010.
The Arizona State University Sports Hall of Fame will open its doors to eight former student-athletes in 2010, Vice President for Athletics Lisa Love announced Tuesday.
House earned the Pac-10 Player of the Year honors in 2000, becoming the first Sun Devil to earn the honor. He was one of the best-known players in the nation his senior year, led by his Pac-10 record matching 61-point outburst at California on Jan. 8 in a 111-108 double-overtime win. It marked just the sixth time since 1978 that a player had more than 60 points in a game involving two Division I teams. The 61 points matched Lew Alcindor’s mark set in 1967.The first Pac-10 player to notch four 40-point games in one season as he had 46 vs. San Diego State, 42 vs. Penn State and 40 vs. UCLA, House ended his career season as the nation’s fourth-leading scorer at 23.0 ppg. He joined Gary Payton as the only players in Pac-10 history to record more than 2,000 points and 250 steals during their collegiate careers. He earned All-Pac-10 honors twice in his career and was selected in the second round (37 overall pick) of the 2000 Draft by the Miami Heat and won a World Title with the 2008 Boston Celtics.
When it was announced that Mark Cuban was finished with his pursuit to purchase the Texas Rangers, one thought quickly came to mind, “I wish he would buy the Phoenix Coyotes.”
Jerry Moyes: A lifelong Glendale resident, Moyes’ heart started out in the right place. Moyes, a minority owner that Ellman brought in to add capital, essentially traded his interest in Westgate for Ellman’s ownership in the Coyotes to protect his initial investment and keep the team in his hometown. Unfortunately, problems with Moyes’ trucking business, and bleeding the Coyotes to line his own pockets and his trucking company coffers, in addition to further ineffectiveness as a coach and executive by Gretzky, pushed the Coyotes to the brink of insolvency.
Kids:
As the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule is unveiled, there have been some changes including some tracks hosting one race instead of two. On Tuesday, Phoenix International Raceway announced they will continue to host two annual Sprint Cup races, only with a twist.
Thank you. Of all the guys I probably could have picked, I knew picking Joe would start me out being a little bit emotional, but with the humidity and some of the pollen, if I start to tear up a little bit, that’s the reason why (smiling).
I got drafted by the Redskins in ‘81. I’m a true believer that if you work hard and you have the talent necessary, good things are going to happen. But I’m also smart enough to realize you have to be a little bit lucky and get the right opportunity.
As we all know by now, social networking sites are considered a part of the daily routine of most peoples’ lives. When anything good, bad, exciting, or sad happens, our first thought is to write about it on Facebook, Twitter, or a blog. But before being too hasty and writing anything that may be on our mind, everyone should consider the pros and cons of social networking. For student-athletes, especially, social media sites can either make you or break you when moving forward. 
With Luis Gonzalez again part of the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and his number 20 being retired on August 7, now seemed like a good time to reflect on some of the most memorable moments during Gonzo’s tenure as a player with the team.
Gum Sum
ESPN announced the fall schedule for its 30 for 30 film series, which includes a film that was directed by Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash.
Working towards a goal or a dream can be incredibly taxing. We understand our clients are working towards the goal of playing their sport in college. Early practices, late practices, double sessions, weight training and more, plus academics, work and a social life are a lot to fit in for the student athlete. Many athletes do an excellent job of creating a balance of the many demands in their life. But sometimes, becoming burnt-out may seem unavoidable.
Drew’s primary fault is he hasn’t lived up to lofty expectations and is the type of player who would be appreciated elsewhere. With arbitration looming this offseason, the Diamondbacks would like to avoid that and get something for him now beyond compensatory draft picks. Tony Abreu could replace him. Potential destinations: Minnesota, St. Louis, LA Angels, Detroit, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Seattle.
Chris Snyder, C
School is out for the summer! Now it is time to redirect your focus to life beyond high school. But for athletes who are aspiring to play a sport in college, summer is no snooze. It is time to work hard, get seen and see schools. So what do you need to do and when do you need to do it?
Phoenix Coyotes Assistant General Manager and General Manager of the San Antonio Rampage Brad Treliving announced today that the Coyotes have officially named Ray Edwards as head coach of the Rampage, the Coyotes’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. In addition, Treliving also announced that Jeff Truitt has been hired as assistant head coach of the Rampage.
Truitt joins the Rampage after spending the 2009-10 season as Director of Hockey Operations for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Prior to working with the Warriors, Truitt spent the past two seasons coaching in the AHL with the Springfield Falcons. On June 17, 2008 Truitt was promoted from assistant coach to head coach, becoming the 10th head coach in Falcons franchise history.
The Diamondbacks brass deserves a lot of credit for firing both general manager Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch Thursday night.
Hinch was a disaster since day one. He made many moves that reinforced his inexperience and managing a bad team never gave him a chance to truly learn on the job. The last straw may have been earlier in the week when he elected to let pitcher Dontrelle Willis hit with the bases loaded in a one-run game instead of pulling him for a pinch hitter. Willis got out and the Diamondbacks failed to score after loading the bases with no out. Hinch obviously had no faith in the bullpen, which is why he made the move as well as partially why he made the controversial decision to let Edwin Jackson throw 149 pitches in his no-hitter last week.
Kirk Gibson was named interim manager but this team needs someone with experience in this position. Gibson brings the fire the team needs but someone like Bobby Valentine would be an excellent replacement for a franchise looking for experience, a winning track record and a take-no-crap attitude to shake the funk from underachieving sulkers like Stephen Drew and Justin Upton.
Phoenix Coyotes Captain Shane Doan has been named as the winner of the 2009-10 King Clancy Award.
Phoenix Coyotes head coach Dave Tippett has captured the Jack Adams Award as “the NHL coach adjudged to have contributed the most to his team’s success,” as selected by the NHL Broadcasters’ Association.
Two former Diamondbacks coaches were among the Florida Marlins coaching casualties Wednesday, as bench coach Carlos Tosca and hitting coach Jim Presley were blown out with manager Fredi Gonzalez.
Arizona State University sophomore middle linebacker Vontaze Burfict has been named as a First-Team Preseason All-American by Sporting News for 2010.
The 2010 Outland Trophy Watch List has been announced by the Football Writers Association of America and Arizona State University junior defensive tackle Lawrence Guy is one of 63 student-athletes highlighted. The prestigious list gives college football fans the first glimpse at a great crop of college offensive and defensive tackles, offensive guards and centers.
Phoenix Coyotes President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced Thursday the Coyotes 2010-11 preseason schedule.
Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced Thursday that the Coyotes have re-signed defenseman Adrian Aucoin to a two-year contract.
A busy Tuesday in Phoenix sports continued with the surprise announcement that Steve Kerr will not return as the Phoenix Suns general manager after his contract runs out on June 30.
The trade of Conor Jackson to Oakland on Tuesday will accomplish a couple of goals for the Arizona Diamondbacks and both of them are good.
The acquisition of reliever Sam Demel was a good one. The only problem is he isn’t a right hander, but at this point, any help in the porous bullpen will be welcomed with open arms. Demel has been successful at every level and is major league ready. He has recorded 200 strikeouts and only 90 walks in 180.2 innings throughout his pro baseball career. Demel was biding his time in Triple-A Jacksonville because Oakland has such a deep and talented bullpen. Now he’ll get a chance to contribute at the major league level immediately. Demel and Heilman will at least give Arizona two reliable arms out of the bullpen. Finding a closer is the next quest and Bobby Jenks could be the solution if Arizona wants to pay the White Sox closer, who looks like a probable trade deadline casualty. Heilman isn’t the answer as he has already failed as a closer elsewhere.
The Web site orangebloods.com is reporting that the Pac-10 is going to offer six Big 12 schools an invitation to join the conference.
The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes Captain Shane Doan has been named as one of three finalists for the 2009-10 Mark Messier Leadership Award, which recognizes an individual as a superior leader in hockey and as a contributing member of society. It honors an individual who leads by positive example through on-ice performance, motivation of team members and a dedication to community activities and charitable causes.
Voting for this new award was conducted among the 30 Club General Managers and a panel of NHL executives, print and broadcast media at the conclusion of the regular season.
The D-backs on Tuesday acquired former All-Star pitcher Dontrelle Willis and cash considerations from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for right-handed pitcher Billy Buckner. Willis, a 28-year-old left-hander, has compiled a 70-62 record and 4.06 ERA in 186 games during eight Major League seasons with the Florida Marlins and Tigers.
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman spoke to the media Friday for his annual pre-Stanley Cup Finals state of the NHL address. Among the topics he discussed was the Phoenix Coyotes ownership situation and he shed some light on a few aspects of the ongoing sale of the franchise.
The first-ever Arizona State player to be named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year, Pat Tillman is the sixth Sun Devil to be named to the College Football Hall of Fame.
USA Swimming revealed a list of 46 coaches who have received a lifetime ban or permanently resigned membership, most for sex-related offenses, including two with Arizona ties.
Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced Monday that the Coyotes have signed defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson to an entry level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.
By Andrew Beinbrink, CEO of SportsForce
By Ron Matejko
The Phoenix Suns surprising sweep over the nemesis San Antonio Spurs has attracted a lot of attention as evidenced by point guard Steve Nash currently ranking among the top 10 trending topics on Yahoo!
Arizona State University Head Football Coach Dennis Erickson announced Monday that he has named Perry High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal John Wrenn as Assistant Athletic Director For Football Operations. Wrenn comes to Arizona State for his second tour of duty after having spent the past three years at Perry in Gilbert, Arizona.
ESPN has reached a multiyear agreement with the Valley of the Sun Bowl Foundation for exclusive multimedia rights to the Insight Bowl played at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. As part of the agreement, the post-season college football bowl game will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU and can be simulcast on ESPN3.com and ESPN Mobile TV through the 2015 season. ESPN previously televised the Insight Bowl from 1992 to 2005.
Tempe-based LifeLock, Inc., the industry leader in proactive identity theft protection, announced today a strategic partnership with Phoenix Suns forward Grant Hill. In an effort to continue its affiliation within the NBA and further enhance its partnership with the Suns, LifeLock will use Hill, recipient of the 2009-2010 NBA Sportsmanship Award, in various marketing efforts across multiple platforms.
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Kelly Johnson has been named National League Player of the Month for April.
Phoenix Coyotes forward Lauri Korpikoski will represent Finland at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, May 7-23.
Camelback Ranch-Glendale CBR-G, the spring-training home of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox, will host the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) 5A-I and 4A-I baseball tournaments from May 4–15.
USA Hockey announced Thursday that Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle will represent Team USA at the 2010 IIHF World Championship in Germany, May 7-23.
The National Hockey League announced Wednesday that Phoenix Coyotes Head Coach Dave Tippett has been named as one of three finalists for the 2009-10 Jack Adams Award, which is presented to the head coach who has “contributed the most to his team’s success.” Joe Sacco of the Colorado Avalanche and Barry Trotz of the Nashville Predators were also named as finalists for the Jack Adams Award.
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Mark Reynolds has been named National League Player of the Week for the period of April 19-25, 2010.
The Arizona Cardinals introduced a third jersey during the team’s NFL Draft party Thursday afternoon.
The NFL Draft takes place from April 22-24 in its first year of the new three-day format. There aren’t many NFL Draft prospects with roots to the Valley, but what the group lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. MVP Magazine provides a look at the NFL Draft prospects who played high school football in Arizona.
The WhiteOut is a tradition where Phoenix Coyotes fans dress in white clothing for all home playoff games. The tradition was created in Winnipeg when the team was known as the Jets, and carried over to Phoenix when the franchise moved to the Valley in 1996 and became the Coyotes.
As the Phoenix Suns were rolling to a 119-90 win in Game 2 of their NBA Playoff series with the Portland Trail Blazers, their television rating on FOX Sports Arizona reached a level that has been seen only once before in the history of the network.
The Arizona Cardinals 2010 National Football League schedule has been released.
Excitement for the Phoenix Coyotes is sweeping the state of Arizona and their success is resulting in television ratings for the team that haven’t been seen in nearly 11 years.
Former Arizona State and Chaparral (Scottsdale) High School star Ike Davis was called up from Triple-A Buffalo today and will make his major league debut with the New York Mets Monday night.
As expected, Phoenix Coyotes goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov was named one of three finalists for the Vezina Trophy, which is presented annually to “the goalkeeper adjudged to be the best at his position” as voted by the general managers of each of the 30 clubs.
Goaltenders annually receive the Vezina Trophy to recognize best in breed, but there have been rare occasions where their play has been so vital in the success of their team, that the Hart Trophy is awarded to recognize the effort. Most recently, Jose Theodore won both the Vezina and Hart Trophies in 2002. Dominik Hasek (pictured right) won both trophies in 1997 and 1998. Bryzgalov’s statistics are comparable to both players during their MVP seasons.
After a one-year absence, the Arizona Rattlers returned to action this month as a member of the new Arena Football One. Only, this team is nothing like the one most Valley fans remember as the version of the Rattlers features almost an entirely new cast.
When former ASU trainer Perry Edinger developed Pat’s Run in 2004, organizers were happy the fund-raising event attracted about 4,000 people. Since then, the annual 4.2-mile run/walk held in honor of former ASU an Arizona Cardinals star Pat Tillman has grown significantly and the 6th annual run on April 17 will attract more than 25,000 runners.
FOX Sports Arizona’s string of 23 possible game telecasts in 16 days got off to a flying start last night when the Arizona Diamondbacks/Los Angeles Dodgers game (April 15) generated the D-backs highest television rating of the season.
The National Hockey League announced today that the Phoenix Coyotes will select 13th at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles on Friday, June 25 (round one) and Saturday, June 26 (rounds 2-7).
Phoenix Coyotes President and Chief Operating Officer Douglas Moss announced today that the Coyotes’ opening game of their first round playoff series versus the Detroit Red Wings will be televised live on 3 TV (KTVK) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Apr. 14. All of the game coverage will be produced by FOX Sports Arizona.
Spring NASCAR race at PIR lengthened to ensure racing under the lights
Sports fans oftentimes search for ways to bring themselves closer to the sports they enjoy. Mesa resident Jim Mello has used his artistic talent to serve that purpose. For more than 20 years, Mello has drawn athletes as a tribute to those who he has enjoyed throughout his life. From legends such as Jerry Rice and Charles Barkley to current Arizona Cardinals such as Larry Fitzgerald and Adrian Wilson, Mello has amassed an impressive portfolio. 
Cox Communications announced that customers in Phoenix will have exclusive access to the innovative 3D coverage of the Masters Tournament from Augusta National Golf Club. Beginning Wednesday, April 7th the Masters 3D programming can be viewed on 3D television sets and will be available on Cox channel 700 at no additional cost. This event is being offered exclusively by cable providers.
Bud Light Golden Wheat presents Smash Mouth performing on the main court immediately following the Suns-Rockets game on Sunday, April 11. The concert is free to all Suns ticket holders.
Former ASU ace Mike Leake has been named the Cincinnati Reds’ fifth starter.
GLENDALE, ARIZONA — The National Hockey League announced today that Phoenix Coyotes right wing Lee Stempniak has been named the NHL’s First Star for the month of March. Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard was named the second star while Vancouver Canucks center Henrik Sedin was named the third star.
There is no more giving group of people than those who serve in the fire and police department. Each day, these people willingly put their lives on the line when called upon in the name of protecting and serving the community.
A book written by former Greenway High School and Grand Canyon University star Tim Salmon called Always an Angel: Playing the Game with Fire and Faith hits bookstores April 1.
A story in today’s Phoenix business Journal reported that the NHL already as a contingency ownership plan if the league does not find a local buyer by June 10. The story prompted a comment from NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly.
World Wrestling Entertainment made history Sunday night at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, as WrestleMania XXVI grossed $5.8 million, becoming the highest grossing and attended entertainment event ever held at the stadium.
Saturday’s attendance of 13,583 for the Seattle Mariners-Los Angeles Dodgers game breaks the Cactus League single-game attendance record at Camelback Ranch-Glendale (CBR-G) for the fourth time in 2010 and the sixth time overall at the second-year facility.
The Gatorade Company, in collaboration with ESPN RISE, announced on Friday that Corey Hawkins of Estrella Foothills High School is its 2009-10 Gatorade Arizona Boys Basketball Player of the Year.
Phoenix has often drawn comparisons to Los Angeles for many demographic and geographic reasons. When it comes to star power, there is one night each year where the Valley may have its sister city beat and that is during the annual Celebrity Fight Night, which is scheduled for Saturday, March 20 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa.
The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. (PBR) is making a stop in Glendale, Ariz., for the Glendale Invitational, the 11th stop on the elite 2010 Built Ford Tough Series.
The National Football Foundation released its 2010 College Football Hall of Fame ballot Thursday and the list included three former ASU Sun Devils a Diamondbacks coach and a former NAU Lumberjack.
With more than 400 sports radio stations in the United Stations and many local programs on each of those stations, a significant number of live interviews are being conducted each day.
MVP Magazine recently caught up with Scott Bordow, who, in January, began his new position as the high school columnist for The Arizona Republic after 26 years with the East Valley Tribune.
Arizona Cardinals finally traded wide receiver Anquan Boldin on Friday to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Phoenix Coyotes continued to be the most active team during the NHL trade deadline day by adding more depth on the blueline with the addition of Vancouver Canucks defenseman Mathieu Schneider for defensive prospect Sean Zimmerman and a conditional sixth-round pick in 2010.
The Phoenix Coyotes not only recognized their need for scoring, they did something about it during the NHL trade Deadline by acquiring Colorado forward Wojtek Wolski for Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter.
The Phoenix Coyotes made the first move during the NHL trade deadline day by reacquiring defenseman Derek Morris from the Boston Bruins for a fourth-round draft pick in 2011.
Nikolai Khabibulin has been handed an additional charge for a driving under the influence incident in Arizona.
MLBPA Comments on Arizona Immigration Law
April 30th, 2010state of Arizona.
“The recent passage by Arizona of a new immigration law could have a negative impact on hundreds of Major League players who are citizens of countries other than the United States. These international players are very much a part of our national pastime and are important members of our Association. Their contributions to our sport have been invaluable, and their exploits have been witnessed, enjoyed and applauded by millions of Americans. All of them, as well as the Clubs for whom they play, have gone to great lengths to ensure full compliance with federal immigration law.
“The impact of the bill signed into law in Arizona last Friday is not limited to the players on one team. The international players on the Diamondbacks work and, with their families, reside in Arizona from April through September or October. In addition, during the season, hundreds of international players on opposing Major League teams travel to Arizona to play the Diamondbacks. And, the spring training homes of half of the 30 Major League teams are now in Arizona. All of these players, as well as their families, could be adversely affected, even though their presence in the United States is legal. Each of them must be ready to prove, at any time, his identity and the legality of his being in Arizona to any state or local official with suspicion of his immigration status. This law also may affect players who are U.S. citizens but are suspected by law enforcement of being of foreign descent.
“The Major League Baseball Players Association opposes this law as written. We hope that the law is repealed or modified promptly. If the current law goes into effect, the MLBPA will consider additional steps necessary to protect the rights and interests of our members.
“My statement reflects the institutional position of the Union. It was arrived at after consultation with our members and after consideration of their various views on this controversial subject.”
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