Byrd and Telemaque are Okay

LaRon Byrd and Vaughn Telemaque were both injured last week; Byrd during the Saturday scrimmage and Telemaque at practice on Thursday.  Byrd, who injured his left knee, is expected to return to practice, at least partically, this week. Telemaque, on the other hand, is still wearing a neck brace after seeming to have pinched a nerve. Coach Golden says when it comes to the back or neck, he wants to be extra careful so Telemaque will sit out this week. Both will be fine for the season.

Golden also commented that QB Jacory Harris impressed him on Saturday but he and Stephen Morris are neck and neck for their position this fall.

LBJ > Kobe?

Today, Greg Cote tweeted that LeBron James has beaten out Kobe in NBA jersey sales. James is now number one in sales. It is the first time since his rookie season that James is number one. Now, Kobe, who held the number 1 spot last year has fallen to number 2. How long do you think this will last?

Kemba Walker to Throw First Pitch

The Yankees return tonight–weather allowing– to Yankee Stadium after last night’s rain out. Throwing the ceremonial first pitch is Kemba Walker, First-Team All-American point guard for the UConn Huskies. And, of course, the tournament’s most outstanding player who helped the team to win the 2011 NCAA college basketball finals.

Huskies head coach Jim Calhoun said over the weekend at Fenway Park, he wasn’t sure if he could show up tonight because he is a devout Red Sox fan. Regardless, Walker’s UConn teammates will be by his side.

 

The Yankees take on the Orioles for the first time this regular season with whom they have a 1-1-1 preseason record.

Female Reporter Denied Access to Locker Room

According to the Associated Press, a female columnist, Tara Sullivan, of The Record in Hackensack, NJ was denied access to the locker room for a post-tournament interview at the Masters.  Augusta National officials have apologized about the incident, stating that they will work “as hard as we can to make sure it does not happen again”.  Sullivan, along with other reporters, were going to interview Rory McIlroy when the incident happened.

In the past, numerous other female reporters have said that they were allowed access to the locker room for interviews. As we know, if the locker room is open, both men and women reporters are allowed in.

Lady Canes Lose to Sooners in Heartbreaker

The Oklahoma Sooners bumped Miami out of the second round Women’s NCAA tournament tonight in Charlottesville, Virginia.

With just over 3 minutes to go, Miami Hurricanes Shenise Johnson tied the game at 79, and it was anyone’s game.  Unfortunately for Miami, Whitney Hand’s scoring overpowered the ‘Canes in an eventual 88-83 win for Oklahoma.

The Sooners go on to the third round to face No. 2 Notre Dame on Saturday.

UM Women’s Athletics Booming

My beat, UM Women’s Golf, had their first win under new head coach Patti Rizzo this weekend in Kaiwah Island, S.C. The team also won the Edwin Watts Classic hosted by the College of Charleston at Kaiwah Island for the past two years, making this year their third consecutive win.The Edwin Watts Classic is the largest collegiate women’s golf tournament in the country, compiling 33 teams and 173 athletes to compete.

Second place went to Campbell College, who scored nine points below the Hurricanes.

Maria Ronderos, a senior on the team, took home All-Tournament honors.

Next weekend beginning on Sunday, the ‘Canes travel to Weston, Florida to compete in the Sir Pizza Cards Challenge.

The women’s basketball team is also moving into even more prominence, ranking No. 12 this week and tied for the ACC lead with Duke after their win versus Wake Forest. The Hurricanes are still undefeated at the Bank United Center in Coral Gables with 19 wins.

Next for Miami is No. 14 Florida State on Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Bank United Center.

Miami Women’s tennis is not ranked No. 8 according to the Intercollegiate Tennis Association as of last night. The team has moved up four sports since being ranked No. 12 last month.

Bianca Eichkorn leads the team in singles, and is 13-3 in doubles with teammate Anna Bartenstein.

On  Sunday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. the team hosts UCF in a non-conference match at the Neil Schiff Tennis Center in Coral Gables.

UM Alum James Jones to Participate in NBA All-Star Three-Point Shoot Out

University of Miami’s former basketball player and alumnus James Jones will participate in the 2011 NBA All-Star Three-Point shoot out this Saturday evening in Los Angeles.

A Miami native, Jones represents the city with pride. While at Miami, Jones established himself not only as an athlete but also as an academic, earning Big East All-Academic honors for four seasons. On the court while at Miami, James ranks third in consecutive starts with 89, third in blocked shots at 192, and third for games played at 122; all career list highs at the university.

In July of 2008, Jones signed with the Miami Heat, and resigned with the Heat after the first two guaranteed years in July of 2010.

As of early February, Jones ranks 14th in three-point accuracy at 42.7 percent, but his competition is intense. Ray Allen, who broke the record for most three-point shots made on Feb. 10 against the Lakers will also be in attendance. Others in attendance at the Foot Locker three-point shoot out include Kevin Durant, Daniel Gibson, Paul Pierce, and Dorell Wright.

The Shootout will take place at the Staples Center Sat., Feb. 19, 2011.

Lady ‘Canes striving to make history

Since the 1991-1992 season, the Women’s basketball team at the University of Miami holds their second highest ranking at No. 13 (At the end of the 1992 season they were ranked sixth). They are now second in the ACC at 8-2, a huge improvement from last years 4-10 ACC record. This is inevitably putting more pressure on the team.

Do you think the Lady ‘Canes can earn a top ten spot by the end of the season? Will any of the remaining games for the Hurricanes, all in-conference, be a challenge for the team? The team plays Florida State at home on Feb. 24 after losing to the Seminoles back in January along with the men’s team. Will they have the fuel to seek revenge especially because the game is at home this time?