Eminem Mocks Pitsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger

 "F**k that, I'd rather turn this club into a bar room brawl. Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall"  

That's a line from the classy new Eminem song, "Recovery", which is up for your review at the Sports Betting Unlimited (and very unsafe for young ears, it's worth noting). I'm sure NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is positively giddy with this tune hitting the airwaves in frequent rotation.

If you're scoring at home, we've now seen stories about Ben's mullet, his subsequent haircut, his slow merchandise sales, his sign being taken down at the zoo, and even one of his funded police dogs getting kicked off the force. And that's leaving out about a billion other stories about Ben Roethlisberger that I missed. But for those who cry "overkill" at blogs and media outlets for their coverage of the story, take a look at the most read stories on the Tribune Review's website today.

Three of the top 6, including the top 2overall, are on Pitsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger, and we're almost 2 months removed from the Milledgeville story. People may say they don't care about the story any more and want to move on (as do I - honestly), but actions speak louder than words - and actions are indicating that Big Ben is still the the dominant topic of the day in Pittsburgh.

The story of Ben Roethlisberger's sexual assault allegations has pretty much reached its logical terminus, now that he's been disciplined by the league and the Steelers have opted not to trade him. That doesn't mean that the drama has disappeared from the public consciousness. Indeed, the pop culture first responders have arrived to continue to riff on the salacious details.

Pitsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was accused of the sexual assault in early March, the second time he has face such an accusation in the past year. A college student alleged that the two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback assaulted her at a Milledgeville, Ga. Nightclub.  

Ben Roethlisberger admitted to having "sexual contact" with his accuser, and reports claim that he "aggressively hit" on a bar patron and that the Steeler's bodyguards blocked access to the bathroom in which the assault allegedly took place. 

While Ben Roethlisberger will not face criminal charges, he still could face a suspension or other disciplinary measures from the NFL or Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers quarterback will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell later this week.

Pitsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger will now have to work hard to earn back the respect and trust of Steelers fans, and to live up to the leadership responsibilities we all expect of him. 

In the coming days Ben will meet with Commissioner Goodell to discuss his resolve to abide by the league's personal conduct standards. After consultation with the Commissioner, our organization will determine the next steps in this process.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Ben Roethlisberger for 6 games for violating the personal-conduct policy last week. A 20-year-old woman accused him in Georgia of sexual assault, but the local D.A. decided not to prosecute.

While Eminem is releasing a new album called "Recovery" the song referencing Ben Roethlisberger will not be included. The song was posted at a website co-founded by Eminem's manager.  

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Michael Jordan In Quail Hollow Championship Pro-Am

Reportedly spotted together less than a week ago, the 2 exquisite golf players Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan will go their separate ways for tomorrow’s Quail Hollow Championship pro-am. Michael Jordan opted to team with Fred Couples – a pairing that has its roots at last year’s Presidents Cup, when FredCouples made Michael Jordan a captain’s assistant for the team event at San Francisco’s Harding Park.

They’ll tee off at 12:18 p.m. Tomorrow. Tiger Woods has his usual 7:30 a.m. slot, pairing unknown. Tiger Woods and Micheal Jordan played the 2007 Quail Hollow pro-am together. Peyton Manning was one of tiger Woods’ partners last year.

“Michael and Fred are two great personalities, and I am positive the fans will enjoy interacting with both of them and watching them compete.” golf tournament chief Kym Hougham said and it certainly changes the likely nature of interaction had fans seen Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan together.

It’s been less than a month, remember, since Vanity Fair suggested a former NBA star now a professional golf player Michael Jordan helped nudge Tiger Woods into the multiple-mistress sex scandal that dominated tabloid headlines for weeks and has all but sunk his his marriage. Former Tiger Woods adviser Robert Merchant was quoted in the article as saying he told the golfer long ago to “stay away from that son of a (bleep)”.

According to RadarOnline.com, Michael Jordan spent last Tuesday and Wednesday at Isleworth playing golf with Tiger Woods. The Fred Couples also reportedly joined them, though the report that Couples played 36 holes with the duo in one day raises eyebrows.

Now, a golf player Michael Jordan who bought the Bobcats last month for $275 million, had hoped to be in Orlando on Wednesday for Game 5 of their playoff series. But after the Bobcats were swept by the Magic in four games in the franchise's first playoff appearance, Michael Jordan agreed to play.

It just had a different feel with Tiger Woods playing in an earlier group. "It's not as competitive,Freddie's totally relaxed and enjoying himself and so am I." Michael Jordan said. Micheal Jordan acknowledged he hasn't had as much contact with Woods since his sex scandal hit in November. The Quail Hollow marks Tiger Woods' first event since his return last month at the Masters.

"It's one of those things you can't cure in one moment, It's going to take some time. I think that's what he's been doing — at least from afar where I am. We haven't talked as much as we used to be because I think he's probably trying to get himself right. I'm all supportive of that." Michael Jordan added.

Michael Jordan signed autographs after nearly every hole of his up-and-down round that included some wayward drives early, but also a birdie putt on the fifth hole and driving the green on the par-4 13th.

"His golf game is great, In front of a lot of people it's harder. Of 30,000 people out here, 20,000 are watching Michael. There's a lot of pressure and they're all yelling at him to do this or do that. It's not too focused out there, but it's always fun to play with him." Couples said.

Michael Jordan has even been able to get Couples to buy a couple of season tickets, two of the 845 new orders the Bobcats have closed on as they build off Jordan-fueled excitement, according to team president Fred Whitfield.

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Former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Seized

For UFC fans, his name was remarkable to all UFC fights, a worthwhile fighter and a great defender. However, an issue blown up to ruin his title – Tito Ortiz is among the most decorated and popular fighters in UFC/MMA history. He was the UFC's light heavyweight champion from 2000 to 2003 during the formative years of the sport's dominant promotion, making five title defenses before losing his belt to Randy Couture.

Ortiz, whose nickname is the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy”, is a former collegiate wrestler has been competing in MMA since 1997. He has been in a relationship with a porn star and entrepreneur Jenna Jameson since 2006, and she gave birth to twin boys in March 2009. After his career declined amid several injury problems, including major back surgery, Tito Ortiz left the UFC in 2008 in a bitter dispute with UFC President Dana White, his former manager. 

 

UFC and MMA fighter Tito Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence Monday at the home he shares with Jenna Jameson. According to Police Lt. Mike Reynolds said Ortiz, the former UFC light heavyweight champion, was taken to the Huntington Beach jail and was released after posting $25,000 bail.

Reynolds said police can't make an arrest on suspicion of domestic violence unless there's a "visible injury," and the unnamed victim's injuries met that standard. Reynolds wouldn't elaborate, saying only that Ortiz and the victim have been "extremely cooperative".

Meanwhile, Jenna James go public through the help of TMZ about what happened last Monday; Wearing a wrap on her right elbow, Jenna told reporters Monday that Tito Ortiz had "lashed out" at her, resulting in her father calling 911 and Tito being arrested in Huntingon Beach, Calif., on domestic violence charges.

But after he was released on bail, a teary-eyed UFC warrior Tito Ortiz and his lawyer Chip Matthews held a press conference late Monday in Los Angeles and put the blame on Jenna Jameson.

"Jenna has been fighting a battle with OxyContin addiction for the past year. For Tito and her family this has been an uphill battle. Unfortunately this morning she had a relapse,Tito was trying to help her, she has threatened suicide before. Tito has done everything in his power to protect her privacy and the privacy of their children." Tito Ortiz's lawyer Chip Matthews said.

Jenna Jameson told TMZ, however, that Tito was violent - he "threw me into a bathtub" -- and that he's falsely accusing her of OxyContin addiction because he's "very, very desperate".

On the other hand, As news spread earlier today that UFC light heavyweight Tito Ortiz had been arrested for felony domestic assault against girlfriend Jenna Jameson, we knew it was only a matter of time before we'd hear from White.

Talking to TMZ.com, UFC President Dana White underscored the seriousness of the charges, saying, "Other than going on a killing spree, being accused of domestic violence is the worst thing you can have going for you." Moreover, Dana White remarked that the UFC could release the fighter from the organization for the arrest, saying, "We're gonna be fair, but we could cut him."

 

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Who R U Picking? Mayweather vs Mosley Fight

The most exciting boxing bout between undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley is scheduled on Saturday May 1, 2010. For Floyd Mayweather Jr. his fight against Shane Mosley next month on May 1st might just well be the pinnacle of his career. It’s sad to say, but I think this could be the final really large mega fight of Mayweather’s career. He’s not likely to face Manny Pacquiao in the near future or every because of Mayweather’s demands that Pacquiao take the Olympic style random blood tests, which Pacquiao is totally against and not likely to give into to satisfy Mayweather.

Without a fight against Manny Pacquiao taking place, there really isn’t anyone else with a big enough name to make a huge fight with Mayweather. Heck, it took Mayweather 14 years of his career before he finally faced Mosley. Mayweather probably won’t be taking on any other dangerous fighter like Mosley for the remainder of his career. There really isn’t any big names in the welterweight other than Mayweather, Mosley and Pacquiao. 

The Undercards

Before the fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley happens there will be several top boxing contenders who will show us their skills inside the ring. In the welterweight division, unbeaten Saul Alvarez, 19 years old will fight against the veteran contender Jose Miguel Cotto, the brother of Miguel Angel Cotto in a bout of 10-rounds. In a featherweight match ex-World Champion Daniel Ponce de Leon will fight against Cornelius Lock, also in a 10-round bout. Welterweight Hector David Saldivia will take on Said Ouali in another 10-round bout.

Mayweather - Mosley Score Cards

Floyd Mayweather Jr. has a 40 wins 0 losses with 25 KOs record in 5 division championships while Sugar Shane Mosley has 46 wins, 5 losses and 39 KOs in 3 division championships. With their impressive records, the boxing fans are sure to get an exciting fight between two great fighters

For Floyd Mayweather Jr. always makes sure he has an edge on his opponents. If the guy has speed, he doesn’t have the willpower (Judah). If the guy is bigger, he had better be slower or rustier (De la Hoya and Baldomir). Best of all, Mayweather likes to fight guys his size or smaller. Shane Mosley is none of these things, although Mayweather is clearly banking that he is.

For his part, Sugar Shane Mosley might have lost to Cotto, but only two opponents have truly beaten him: Winky Wright and Vernon Forrest. What those two had in common were substantial advantages in height, reach and overall size coupled with a tight point defense. 

Mayweather is a defensive master, but he uses footwork, head movement and the shoulder roll to stay out of trouble. He also is not bigger than Mosley. Ergo, the two things that give Mosley the most trouble are not a part of Mayweather’s arsenal.

Mayweather - Mosley Tickets

The Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Sugar Shane Mosley tickets are available at www.mgmgrand.com and www.ticketmaster.com for $1250, $1000, $600, $300 and $150. Service charges are not included in the price so be sure to bring in some extra cash to your pocket. Tickets priced $300 and above are limited to be sold at 10 per person and those tickets that are priced at $150 are limited to 2 per person. You can also call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000 if you want to charge the payment with a major credit card.

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Vancouver Canucks Wins In The Nick Of Time

NHL fans roared when the Vancouver Canucks couldn't muster much of an attack for 40 minutes, they once again found a way to hang in like a boxer playing rope-a-dope before delivering a knockout punch against the Los Angeles Kings and clinch their Western Conference quarter-final. When Canucks winger Mikael Samuelsson broke his stick on a snapper from the slot, the puck bounced to Daniel Sedin who snapped a wrister to the short side at 17:57 of the third to snap a 2-2 draw and Alex Burrows then added an empty-netter for an amazing 4-2 victory to claim the series in 6 games.

Game and series over. The Canucks would add an empty-netter, but Sedin's goal was the difference in Vancouver's 4-2 victory in Game 6 against the Kings on Sunday night at Staples Center. In the end it was what good teams do. They don't panic and they seize the moment. Nobody did that better than Roberto Luongo. Playing big in one of the biggest games of his career, the Canucks goaltender lived up to all the hope and hype he generated since landing on Vancouver soil. There was stopping a Jarret Stoll forehand and thwarting an Alexander Frolov backhander off a rebound with the score tied 2-2. There were others, early and often, like a sprawling glove save off Ryan Smyth in the second period.

Trailing 2-1 after two periods, the Canucks clawed back into the game when a pinching Kevin Bieksa took a Daniel Sedin feed from behind the net and snapped a shot between Jonathan Quick's pads at 1:57. It was evident early that this wouldn't be another seven-goal spree or six-goal outburst by the Canucks at they were outshot 16-5 in the opening period. Not only was Luongo peppered early as the Kings held a 6-1 shot advantage before the game was four minutes old, the Canucks responded with their initial power-play opportunity by mustering zero shots and needed seven minutes to generate their second shot.

 

"We know we can be bad for 40 minutes ... and things are going to work out," Daniel Sedin said. This is why the Canucks were able to dent what had been a Kings staple during the regular season. They had not given up a lead after two periods, but they did so twice in the playoffs.

"There's an easy answer: Two of the best players in the league did it,"The Sedin line was tremendous. They won the series. They won the game and each of those games you're talking about made the difference. That's what the best players are supposed to do." Kings Coach Terry Murray said.

That includes Samuelsson. If he keeps this up, maybe he should become an honorary Sedin after joining their line in the third period of Game 4. Just call them the Sedin triplets.

With the Kings' Brown off the ice serving his second penalty of the game, the goal came quickly off the ensuing face-off in the L.A zone after Kings' defenceman Sean O'Donnell couldn't clear the puck. Edler kept it in at the blue line and blasted a shot that Bernier deflected past a screened Quick. The Kings regained the lead after Daniel Sedin was sent off on a tripping call with just over six minutes to go in the second. The home squad used the man advantage to jumpstart their slumbering power play, off another goal thanks in part to a Canucks' skater.

After Smyth whiffed on a one-timer attempt in the slot, Vancouver couldn't clear the puck and a Doughty shot deflected off of Alex Burrows and past Luongo for a 2-1 Kings' lead. The third period quickly saw the game even itself up once more, as well as another first-time playoff goal. Just 1:57 into the final frame, Bieksa pinched into the Kings' zone and one-timed a Daniel Sedin pass between the legs of Quick for the 2-2 goal. 

A penalty to the goal-scorer set up another series of big stops by Luongo, including arguably the Kings' last best chance for Frolov, who was left all alone in front but was denied by a right leg kick save.

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NFL Draft 2010: St. Louis Rams Pick Sam Bradford

Sam Bradford heard his name called as the first pick in the NFL draft, collected a new St. Louis Rams jersey with his surname on the back and took the obligatory pictures with commissioner Roger Goodell. The Rams, desperate for a revival, were undoubtedly convinced. Although St. Louis general manager Billy Devaney wouldn't publicly declare that Bradford was the pick before the draft — even on Thursday, hours before the prime-time event — the team gave the quarterback the heads up. And for weeks, draft analysts projected Sam Bradford as No. 1.

The Rams – who finished a league-worst 1-15 in 2009 and have just six wins in the last three years - were sold. They're prepared to guarantee Bradford upwards of $50 million, and then hand him the keys to a franchise that has definitely fallen on hard times. For Sam Bradford, who stands 6-4 and weighs 236 pounds, it's likely he will take over as the starting quarterback immediately, and he will become the face of the Rams. 

 

Sam Bradford completed 67% of his throws over two-plus seasons at Oklahoma, and his 88-16 touchdown-interception ratio is certainly impressive. He has a big-enough arm, has demonstrated that it's healthy, and as long as he can learn to take better care of his body and avoid the kind of hits that knocked him out of the lineup last year, Sam Bradford should be just fine at the next level.

"That's pretty cool because I know the Big 12 has been getting a lot of slack lately, People for some reason didn't think that we played much football in the Big 12 and sure didn't think we played much defense, so for two defensive tackles to go in the first three picks is a credit to the Big 12." said Sam Bradford, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner.

"That was really cool, I actually still have the Heisman ballot from when they read that off. So I'll be able to add that to the collection and be able to look at it years from now." Sam Bradford added at the backstage.

Still, with the Rams not engaging in serious contract talks with Sam Bradford's agent, Tom Condon, to seal a deal before the draft, the quarterback was only so assured. NFL veterans who have been down this path before, Sam Bradford said, warned him to never rest assured about the selection until it happened. And he listened to that advice.

The predraft highlight? Sam Bradford took the 17-member entourage, which included his parents and grandparents, to the Top of the Rock, an observation deck at the top of Rockefeller Plaza. "It's probably one of my favorite things to do," he said. "You get up there and you can see clear across all of New York City".

With that formality handled, the Rams will get a man eager to get on the field again. The motivation of proving that he's a worthy selection and can make the NFL transition is boosted by the incentive to make his comeback complete from the shoulder injury.

"I'm ready," Sam Bradford said who dressed in a tan suit with a sky-blue shirt accented with a green tie, Sam Bradford sure looked and sounded like a man prepared to face all the pressure and challenges that await. 

 

Does he expect to start on Week 1 as a rookie?

"I can't answer that," he said, chuckling. "I haven't been presented a playbook yet. But I'm going to do everything I can to get on the field as soon as possible."

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UFC Warriors Silva And Maia On Brazilian Talk Show

This weekend's post-fight brawl at the Strikeforce: Nashville event finally edged Anderson Silva's disrespectful performance at UFC 112 out of the media's spotlight. That did not stop MMAFighting.com from getting their hands on a video of an April 18th Brazilian talk show appearance made by Anderson Silva and his UFC 112 opponent Demian Maia. In the following translated quotes from the Domingão do Faustã appearance, Anderson Silva plays it characteristically safe and Demian Maia reacts coolly when questioned of the bout.

Anderson Silva and Demian Maia each complained that he had been disrespected by the other at UFC 112, but a week later the two appeared on a Brazilian television show, shook hands and were civil – if not exactly warm to each other. And Anderson Silva indicated that he doesn't have anything to apologize for in the way he approached the fight with Demian Maia, which has been criticized by many members of the media, MMA fans and UFC President Dana White. 
  

"I think I fought well, executed my game plan and disrupted Demian's game, I couldn't fall to his game because he's a Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist. Even though I train BJJ as well, I don't even come close to his BJJ level.Said Anderson Silva in an interview.

"I have nothing against any of my opponents, have nothing against Demian. I respect his work a lot." Anderson Silva added.

According to BloodyElbow.com the Silva-Maia fight has gotten more attention in Brazil than any other UFC fight in history. Some of that attention has been negative, but Silva was cheered by the crowd when he was introduced on Domingão do Faustão, and he said his antics in the Octagon shouldn't be interpreted as disrespectful toward Maia.

After Anderson Silva said that, Demian Maia was introduced and brought on stage, where he shook hands with Silva and answered questions from the show's host, declining to say whether he was still angry with Silva over the way the fight transpired. 

 

In the teeth of demonstrating quite the opposite at UFC 112, Aderson Silva maintained that he holds no grudges against his opponents and has no problem with Demain Maia in particular. Demain Maia seemed to be a bit less willing to let bygones be bygones and would not give away his personal feelings towards Silva.

"I don't have much to say, it was what happened, The fans saw what happened." Demain Maia said.

All that there is to be said of the bout has been said by now. What is left is to look forward to and ask questions about Silva's next bout with Chael Sonnen. Questions like, will Anderson Silva have an answer for Sonnen's grinding wrestling offense? Or, can Sonnen get inside Silva's striking range without having his face Picasso'd? With their bout rumored to take place at UFC 117 this summer we won't have to wait too long for the answers.

I'll put here my two cents: Anderson Silva needs to get it straight. It's not about showboating per se. Or about trash talking. What it is about is whether it's all in the nature of the sport and ultimately in good fun. Brock Lesnar obviously didn't understand that w/ Mir, and it remains to be seen if he'll pick up on it. The Diazes obviously didn't understand that with Miller and it was a joke that the Strikeforce event turned into a brawl.

But there are plenty of fighters who are pseudo-psychos in a quirky way that works. If Silva had been coming across this way during the fight, or even said things like this after and congratulated Maia for his gutsiness, it'd have been totally different, showboating or not. 


Click the whole interview here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sA2jv71N2gw&feature=player_embedded

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LA Lakers Wins In Game 2; Kobe Bryant Finishes 39 Points

All-Star basketball player Kobe Bryant scored 39 points and the Lakers pushed themselves away from the Oklahoma City Thunder, 95-92, in Game 2 of their first-round series last night at Staples Center. It wasn't easy, the game coming down to Jeff Green's missed three-point attempt at the buzzer, but the Lakers took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. The Lakers, however, took another tight one from the Thunder, Kobe Bryant making 12 of 28 shots and 13 of 15 free-throw attempts, just enough to move age and experience past youth and innocence.

Kobe Bryant had 15 points in the fourth quarter, seven from the free-throw line. Pau Gasol was the only other Lakers player in double-digit scoring, finishing with 25 points and 12 rebounds. Ron Artest missed eight of 10 shots and Lamar Odom missed seven of nine shots. The Lakers could have made things a little easier in the end, but Bryant and Gasol each missed one of two free-throw attempts in the final 15.1 seconds, allowing the Thunder to stay within striking range.

On the Thuders side, Kevin Durant had 32 points and Russell Westbrook had 19 to lead the Thunder. The Lakers led after three quarters, 73-69, but the loudest roar up to that point came when Craig Calloway, a 29-year-old from Compton, won $235,000 by making a halfcourt shot before the fourth quarter in a promotion sponsored by The Mirage hotel. Getting the ball inside was part of the Lakers' game plan after they went over video from Game 1. 

 

Rusell Westbrook carried the Thunder early in the third, and Durant scored their final five points to leave them trailing 64-56 going into the final 12 minutes. Fisher, Artest and Odom were in foul trouble and Bryant scored a single point on a free throw as they played to a draw in the third.

The Thunder outscored the Lakers 26-20 in the second quarter, when Los Angeles got away from the inside game of Bynum and Gasol and settled for jump shots instead. Their 17-point lead dwindled to 47-39 at the break.

Pau Gasol made eight of 14 shots, but Andrew Bynum had only six shots going into the fourth quarter. When he got the opportunities in the fourth, he didn't take advantage, finishing with six points on three-for-nine shooting. Andrew Bynum ignited the Staples Center crowd with a monster one-handed dunk over a defenseless Nenad Krstic in the second quarter that pushed the Lakers’ lead to 17.

The Lakers came out blazing against the overwhelmed Thunder, pounding the ball inside to Bynum and Gasol while shooting 54 percent and taking a 27-13 lead in the first quarter. In the playoffs for the first time since moving from Seattle two years ago, the Thunder shot 26 percent, leading to their fewest points in an opening period all season.

However, Oklahoma City settled down the rest of the way, but never got closer than six points against the defending champions, who are seeking a third straight trip to the NBA finals.

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Edwin Valero Wants To Fight With Manny Pacquiao

Venezuelan boxer Edwin Valero, who committed suicide on Monday in a jail where he was held for killing his wife, was a "sensational" fighter who was being groomed to fight the boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, promoter Bob Arum said who co-promoted Edwin Valero's last two bouts, told Reuters that Valero (27-0) would have made an outstanding opponent for world welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, another of his fighters.

A 28 year old Edwin Valero was the World Boxing Council (WBC) lightweight title though it had recently declared him "champion in recess" after being detained in March for mistreating his wife and then receiving treatment for alcohol abuse. Bob Arum said he did not know Edwin Valero very well, but despite hearing rumors of drug and alcohol troubles for the Venezuelan had not seen evidence of that himself during several meetings. 
 

"He was a sensational fighter, sensational, He was just electric. A complete crowd-pleasing style. I was grooming him as a great future opponent for Manny Pacquiao. That would have been a sensational fight." Bob Arum said in an interview from his Las Vegas office.

"The times I met with him, he was very polite, very reasonable, I had heard stories about drug and alcohol abuse ... but I never realized the magnitude of it. The few times I met with him he seemed perfectly normal." Promoter Bob Arum added.

 Some skeptics may suggest that it is a particularly convenient excuse as Margarito would provide extremely stiff opposition for Manny Pacquiao. Although, that is not the only contentious issue, there seems to be a difference of opinions between Freddie Roach which is Manny Pacquiao’s promoter and Bob Arum who was very keen on Manny Pacquiao meeting Margarito whose also promoted by Bob Arum’s “Top Rank” promotions as his next opponent.

As much as boxing fans have expressed their desperation to see Manny Pacquiao vs. Edwin Valero (27-0-0). However, Manny Pacquiao has a wealth of experience, has fought at the highest level for many years and Edwin Valero is still considered as being relatively untested. Edwin Valero’s last outing against Antonio DeMarco certainly showed his potential against a higher caliber of opponent, but Manny Pacquiao is the top fighter in boxing and Edwin Valero has a long way to go before he can consider himself a true contender to Manny Pacquiao’s Pound for Pound crown.

The Venezuelan boxer Edwin Valero boasts an incredible record, with all of his wins coming by way of knockout, no matter what is said about his potential frailties his record should not be taken lightly, regardless of the opponents he has faced to date.

Bob Arum may not be as enthusiastic about this fight as Freddie Roach, Edwin Valero is surely Arum’s future poster boy and having him systematically taken apart by Manny Pacquiao might not be the best idea. Having said that Edwin Valero has been very vocal in wanting to fight Manny Pacquiao and now that Roach has mentioned his name, the word will travel and I am positive Edwin Valero will pressure Bob Arum to make that fight happen.

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Danica Patrick Finished 16th In the 36th Toyota Grand Prix

Danica Patrick seemed to fall further from relevance. The most popular driver of the IZOD IndyCar Series, and the only woman to win a major closed course car race, Danica Patrick finished 16^th in the 36^th Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach. It's the third time in four races Patrick has failed to finish better than 15^th; she took seventh at St. Petersburg in the second race of the season. Danica Patrick qualified 20^th and was one of only three drivers to incorporate a three-stop strategy.

In her last five races of 2009, she had only one top-10 finish. Though she finished 5^th in the series championship, she was closer to 10th place than she was 4^th place. Over her last 9 IndyCar races, she has two top-10s, including sixth in last year's race at Motegi, site of her historic victory in 2008, when Helio Castroneves ran out of fuel on the last lap. However, seven of her last nine finishes have been 12th or worse. And that doesn't include her performances in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where she finished 35^th at Daytona, 31^stt at California Speedway and 36th at Las Vegas.

And that doesn't include her performances in the NASCAR Nationwide Series, where she finished 35^th at Daytona, 31^st at California Speedway and 36th at Las Vegas. The next race is at Kansas Speedway, where she finished 5^th last year, and then Indianapolis, where she has been exceedingly strong. 

 “Today’s race was definitely challenging, and the result doesn’t show how hard the GoDaddy crew worked. It’s been a frustrating weekend all around for the #7 car. But I’m so happy that my teammate Ryan (Hunter-Reay) won. His win is great for the #37 guys and Andretti Autosport as a whole.” said Danica Patrick, who became a media sensation with a fourth-place finish in her inaugural Indianapolis 500 in 2005.

Danica Patrick's teammate Ryan Hunter-Reay became the first American driver to win an IZOD IndyCar Series race since he won in July 2008 at Watkins Glen, which was his first career victory.

Below are the results Sunday of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach IZOD IndyCar Series event on the 1.968-mile Streets of Long Beach circuit, with order of finish, starting position in parentheses, driver, chassis-engine, laps completed and reason out: 

 

1. (2) Ryan Hunter-Reay, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
2. (3) Justin Wilson, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
3. (1) Will Power, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
4. (8) Scott Dixon, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
5. (6) Tony Kanaan, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
6. (15) Mario Moraes, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
7. (4) Helio Castroneves, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
8. (5) Ryan Briscoe, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running
9. (10) Dan Wheldon, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
10. (16) Mike Conway, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
11. (14) Vitor Meira, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
12. (12) Dario Franchitti, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
13. (11) Hideki Mutoh, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running
14. (9) Marco Andretti, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
15. (17) EJ Viso, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
16. (20) Danica Patrick, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
17. (13) Simona de Silvestro, Dallara-Honda, 85, Running 
18. (19) Takuma Sato, Dallara-Honda, 84, Running 
19. (21) Alex Lloyd, Dallara-Honda, 84, Running 
20. (18) Raphael Matos, Dallara-Honda, 84, Running
21. (7) Alex Tagliani, Dallara-Honda, 65, Contact 
22. (22) Graham Rahal, Dallara-Honda, 58, Contact 
23. (23) Mario Romancini, Dallara-Honda, 58, Contact
24. (24) Bertrand Baguette, Dallara-Honda, 45, Mechanical 
25. (25) Milka Duno, Dallara-Honda, 10, Handling

Ryan Hunter-Reay, is the newest member of the Andretti Autosport quartet, received a bear hug from the CEO in Victory Circle. That meant a lot coming from a racing champion - Michael Andretti.

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