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Ryan Callahan scored for the fifth time in four days and defenseman Ryan McDonagh snapped a second-period tie to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Sunday.
Kobe Bryant hit a baseline jump shot with 4.2 seconds left and the Los Angeles Lakers wrapped up a six-game road trip by holding on to beat the Raptors 94-92 on Sunday, their eighth victory in nine meetings with Toronto
Arc's five up, five down: After No. 11 Michigan State's 58-48 upset of No. 3 Ohio State, you'd be a fool to discount the Spartans' national title chances now.
Miami coach Al Golden says the worst is behind him, but his headaches figure to continue now that former booster Nevin Shapiro, now in jail, says his involvement with the Hurricanes program will result in stiff penalties.
Eleven shots separated Phil and Tiger Sunday at Pebble Beach as Lefty secured his 40th Tour win. Jason Sobel had hole-by-hole reports.
The United States completed a 5-0 rout of Switzerland in the Davis Cup on Sunday, with 19-year-old Ryan Harrison and John Isner winning closing singles matches.
Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Tessa Worley of France fought off gusting winds to win a second consecutive World Cup giant slalom Sunday in the Andorran Pyrenees. Overall leader Lindsey Vonn was more than a second behind and finished eighth.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
Pro Elite is flexing its newly found muscles with two mixed martial arts shows this week.
Last year the Beverly Hills-based organization gobbled up several mixed martial arts promotion companies both nationally and internationally and they’re eager to show them off in 2008.
First, newly acquired King of the Cage begins it’s first show of the year featuring Charles “Krazy Horse” Bennett in a rematch against Victor “The Boxer” Valenzuela at San Manuel Casino on Thursday Jan. 24. The next day it’s Pro Elite’s own EliteXC showcasing Philadelphia’s Eddie Alvarez against Ebanez of Hawaii in Atlantic City.
“With the acquisitions our talent pool is definitely as good and varied as anybody’s and it is getting stronger all the time,” said Gary Shaw, president of Live Events and EliteXC. “EliteXC is growing and will continue to grow.”
Today, at San Manuel Casino in Highland, Ca., former EliteXC star Bennett faces Valenzuela for the second time in six months. Last August, Valenzuela upset the high-strung Bennett with a nonstop pummeling.
King of the Cage, an organization based out of Corona, California, promotes the MMA card. It’s been successfully promoting MMA shows since 1998 in the United States and overseas.
On Friday, EliteXC unveils newly signed Philadelphia MMA star Alvarez in a loaded fight card that takes place at Trump Taj Mahal Atlantic City Hotel and Casino. The fight card will be shown live on Showtime.
“We’ve earned the respect of fans and media and got the attention of everybody,” said Shaw, who is also a boxing promoter. “Fighters know now there’s more than one organization.”
Shaw’s EliteXC is in a running battle to catch up to Ultimate Fighting Championship and has made some leaps with the assistance of Showtime television.
In the past year the new MMA group has not only acquired other MMA promotions like ICON Sport, England-based Cage Rage and Korean-based Spirit MC, it has also signed several prominent fighters such as Frank Shamrock, Ken Shamrock, Robbie Lawler, Ninja Rua, Nick Diaz, Antonio Silva, KJ Noons, Jake Shields and Kimbo Slice to name a few.
Slice, a streetfighter made famous through videos shown on the Internet, is signed to fight MMA star Tank Abbott on Feb. 16 in Miami.
The Atlantic City fight card this Friday features several other fighters of interest including Boston’s Bobby McMaster (8-2) meeting Bao Quach (11-8-1) of Huntington Beach, Ca., Hawaii’s Kala Kolohe Hose (4-1) challenging Fred Belleton (5-1) of New England, and female fighters Kedzie (9-6) of New Mexico tangling with Tonya Evinger (5-3) of Nevada. A number of other bouts are scheduled.
Many people in the East Coast are anxious to see Alvarez in his first fight with EliteXC.
“The timing and situation of this fight couldn’t be better,” said Alvarez (11-1). “Ebanez is a slugger. He brings it every time. With our styles, it is a really good event.”
Ebanez, based in Hawaii, does most of his training at UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn’s gym. He’s undefeated in his last three fights.
“I like challenges,” said Ebanez, a former football player and boxer. “If there is someone for me to fight, I’ll fight them.”
For information on the Thursday MMA show at San Manuel Casino in California call (800) 359-2464. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
For the Atlantic City show on Friday call (609) 449-1000.
IFL and Bas Rutten
International Fight League announced Wednesday that MMA legend Bas Rutten has been named vice president of Fighter Operations. The position entails overlooking the IFL athletes and serving as a sort of matchmaker and advisor directly under the wings of CEO Jay Larkin.
Rutten, 42, is a former UFC heavyweight champions, a Pancrase champion and currently works as a color analyst for the IFL. He also owns two gyms in Los Angeles and trains several hot prospects including Chris Horodecki, Benji Radach, Jay Hieron and Alex Schoenauer. The Dutch fighter also trains new street-fighting sensation Kimbo Slice.
Wild Bills
Dan Lauzon, who at 18 was the youngest fighter to participate in Ultimate Fighting Championship, headlines an MMA card called Wild Bill’s 13 in Atlanta on Friday Jan. 25.
“Yes, I am the youngest UFC competitor ever,” stated Lauzon who is making his first visit to the Atlanta area. “I live in East Bridgeport, Maine. I train out of Team Aggression and Bishops Boxing.”
Lauzon’s older brother Joe Lauzon fights for UFC.
UFC Fight Night results
Mike Swick (11-2) edged Josh Burkman (20-5) in a welterweight bout at the Palms Casino according to the judges who all scored it 29-28 for Swick. Most felt Swick out-hustled Burkman in a closely contested fight.
Canada’s Patrick Cote (13-4) scored a quick knockout of Drew McFedries (6-3) at 1:44 of the first round of a middleweight engagement. A right hand began the pummeling for Cote.
Lightweight contenders battled with Kurt Pelligrino overcoming a busted lip to halt jujitsu master Alberto Crane at 1:55 of the second round.
In another lightweight meeting, Jeremy Stephens scored a technical knockout over Cole Miller at 4:44 of the second round. A series of blows by Stephens were not contested and the fight was called.
UFC 81
Don’t forget next week Brock Lesnar makes his debut for UFC when he meets former heavyweight champion Frank Mir at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino on Saturday Feb. 2.
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Also, adds UFC president Dana White, Lesnar is a two-time All American in wrestling.
Fights coming up
Thursday Jan. 24 – King of the Cage at San Manuel Casino in Highland, California. (800) 359-2464.
Friday Jan. 25 – Wild Bills Fight Night 13 at Wild Bills in Atlanta, Georgia. (404) 626-2126.
Friday Jan. 25 – Fight Card Entertainment “Collision” at Midwest Conference Center in Northlake, Illinois. (773) 745-1112.
Friday Jan. 25 – EliteXC: Challenger Series at Trump Taj Majal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. (609) 449-1000
Saturday Jan. 26 – Operation Octagon: On Manassa’s Battlefield at Prince William County Fairgrounds in Manassas, Virginia. (703) 870-9735.
Robins: It’s the Year of the Dragon on the Lunar calendar, and this Chinese influence could extend to it also being the year of the Pekingese on the green carpet at the 136th Westminster Dog Show on Tuesday.
NEW YORK (AP) - As the glow fades from the Giants' Super Bowl triumph, some New York sports fans are tuning in to basketball and hockey, with the Rangers in first place and the Knicks' overnight sensation, Jeremy Lin, sparking "Lin-sanity.''
Robins: This year, six new breeds will be making their debut on the green carpet for the Westminster Dog Show, which begins Monday.
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Zambia has won the African Cup of Nations, beating pre-tournament favorite Ivory Coast 8-7 on penalties in a dramatic final at Stade de l'Amitie.
Wesseling: Each NFL team enters the offseason with a series of pressing needs. Sometimes a team can address them all, sometimes they ignore them all. But if a team's smart, they'll listen to us. These are the most crucial aspects for AFC teams.
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