LOS ANGELES - Dean Lombardi has the job of rebuilding
the Los Angeles Kings.
Lombardi on Friday was hired as the Kings' new president and
general manager. The hiring of Lombardi comes three days after
Dave Taylor was fired as GM, along with the Kings' entire
interim coaching staff.
"I'm excited about the opportunity I have been given here with
the Kings," Lombardi said. "I chose Los Angeles because I feel
there is a solid foundation to build upon and the chance to work
in a market that is recognized around the league as one that is
filled with passionate fans who feel a great excitement around
their team."
In Los Angeles, Lombardi takes over a team that has not made the
playoffs the last three seasons, and has won just one
postseason series in the past decade.
"The recent changes have not been easy," Kings owner Tim Leiweke
said. "But after making some difficult decisions, we wanted to
find somebody who brought a new level of intensity and fresh
vision toward the organization."
Lombardi, 45, has 13 years of front office experience, including
seven campaigns as GM of the San Jose Sharks, where he is
credited with building the franchise into a contender. He spent
the last two seasons as a scout for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Federer reaches first Monte Carlo semifinal
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MONTE CARLO, Monaco -- Last year, Roger Federer had a
most disappointing quarterfinal at the ATP Masters Series Monte
Carlo. He had a much better result against David Ferrer on
Friday.
The world's top player, Federer reached the semifinals of the
$2.45 million claycourt event for the first time with a 6-1, 6-3
victory over Ferrer, the eighth seed from Spain.
Federer blew three match points in a quarterfinal loss to
Richard Gasquet here last year. However, the Swiss star was
dominant Friday as he extended his record streak to 28 straight
wins in Masters Series events and improved to 32-1 on the year.
Federer, who also posted a 6-1, 6-4 win over Ferrer in the
semifinals of the Masters Series event in Miami earlier this
month, awaits 12th-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez, who downed
No. 4 Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia, 7-5, 6-1.
Second seed Rafael Nadal - the only player to beat Federer this
year - moved a step closer to defending his title here with a
resounding 6-2, 6-1 rout of No. 6 Guillermo Coria of Argentina.
The 19-year-old Spanish lefthander, who won his 40th straight
match on clay, beat 2004 champion Coria in last year's final.
This time around, Nadal dropped the first two games of the match
before rallying to win 11 straight games to take firm control.
Nadal will face seventh-seeded Argentine Gaston Gaudio in the
semifinals after the 2004 French Open champion rolled to a 6-1,
6-3 triumph over 15th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo in Friday's
opening match.
After dropping his first three career meetings with Gaudio,
Nadal has won the last two encounters, including a convincing
6-3, 6-0 victory in the quarterfinals of this event last year.
Jackson to open U.S. Fed Cup tie vs. Germany on Saturday
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ETTENHEIM, Germany - United States captain Zina
Garrison doubtless hopes Jamea Jackson will not have time to get
nervous.
Making her Fed Cup debut, Jackson opens the Americans'
best-of-five first-round tie against Germany when she takes on
Anna-Lena Groenefeld on Saturday.
Veteran Jill Craybas will face German Julia Schruff in the
second match. Craybas beat Schruff in the third round at Amelia
Island, Florida last month.
With Lindsay Davenport and Serena and Venus Williams all
injured, Garrison had to turn to Craybas, 31, and youngsters
Jackson (19), Shenay Perry (21) and Vania King (17) for the
claycourt tie.
Craybas is ranked just 39th in the world, but she has the best
ranking of any player on the U.S. squad. She reached the
quarterfinals last month at Amelia Island after knocking off
Schruff.
"I don't feel any pressure," Craybas said. "It is a great
honour for me to play for my country. We practiced well. The
atmosphere in the team couldn't be better. We have a young and
hungry team and I think the Fed Cup is a great opportunity to
show what we are capable of."
The German team is comprised of Groenefeld, Schruff, Martina
Muller and Jasmin Woehr. Groenefeld is ranked 14th in the world
and Schruff 52nd.
On Sunday, Groenfeld opposes Craybas in the opening
reverse-singles match, with Schruff scheduled to follow against
Jackson, who is 75th in the world. Were the tie to come down to
the fifth match, Muller and Woehr would take on Perry and King,
though German captain Barbara Rittner admitted Groenefeld
likely would be a last-minute substitute.
"I think we are little bit the favorites," Rittner said.
"Everybody said now we have a big chance to beat the USA."
The U.S. has won 17 Fed Cup titles but none since 2000. The
Americans are 6-4 in the competition against the Germans but
have lost the last two meetings, in 1987 and 1992.
The winner will face either defending champion Russia or Belgium
in the semifinals July 15-16. The losing squad will compete
the same week in a World Group Playoff to try and stay in the
eight-country World Group for 2007.
In other ties, Spain hosts Austria and Italy visits France.
Owen leader in clubhouse, Appleby on course at Houston Open
-----------------------------------------------------------
HOUSTON - Those who didn't finish the second round of
the $5.5 million Shell Houston Open before the sun went down
Friday will have to return shortly after the sun comes up
Saturday to finish.
Greg Owen is glad he isn't one of them.
Owen is the leader in the clubhouse after shooting a
course-record 7-under-par 65 in the second round at Redstone
Golf Club. He is at 10-under 134 and finished, while 44 golfers
did not as the second round was suspended due to darkness.
Stuart Appleby is 11-under with two holes remaining. Trevor
Immelman is three strokes behind Appleby at 8-under after
shooting a 67. Mathias Gronberg and Jerry Smith completed their
rounds and are at 7-under 135.
The suspension was due to an early morning thunderstorm that
delayed the beginning of the second round for 2 1/2 hours.
Appleby will begin his day Saturday with a 54-foot eagle putt on
the 557-yard eighth hole.
"We definitely couldn't get to nine," Appleby said. "There's no
point in pushing it. We'll just have to come back."
Appleby, who was playing with K.J. Choi and Ben Curtis, was a
bit aggravated that his group wasn't able to play in under five
hours.
"The group in front of us finished," Appleby said. "They were
just a lot quicker than us, I think. They pushed and knew they
could get across the line and get their cards signed."
When Appleby and the 43 others stranded at sundown complete
their second rounds, a cut line will be established and the
third round will begin, with golfers going off two tees in
threesomes.
"We always knew we were going to finish," Owen said. "We've had
a great time. We just ambled along, it seemed, but we played
nice and quickly as we were out in front of the field."
There was a little cause for concern when Owen and his playing
partners got midway through the back nine.
"The last six holes were really slow," Owen said. "It's nice to
finish and know that the job is done for the day and starting
fresh."
Owen certainly can sympathize with Appleby.
"Nobody wants to do it, obviously," Owen said. "It's a lot
easier to stay in bed and just start from the first tee. But
it's a case of you've just got to do it and you've got to be
professional about it."
Gronberg, who had an early tee time and was able to finish well
before dark, also was thankful. He planned to watch a minor
league hockey game with friends and relax before having to come
out to the course.
He might have wanted to keep playing. He hit all 18 greens in
the second round en route to a 69.
"I was talking with my playing partners about how rarely we do
it," Gronberg said. "We're supposed to be professionals, but at
least for me it's like maybe a year in between or two years
since I did 18 greens."
Appleby began the day as the leader and did nothing to
relinquish his title. He began on the back nine and shot a 33
to get to 9-under, then made birdies at the fourth and sixth
holes to get to 11-under.
If Appleby plays his remaining two holes at 1-under par, he will
shoot his second straight 66.
"I think if you are playing well and put the ball in position, a
score is there to be had," Appleby said. "You have to play
pretty well to shoot a real low one, but 6- or 7-under is a
tremendous score."
Owen's score could have been lower if some of his putts on the
front nine went in.
"I was just hitting good putts but just not quite hitting them,"
Owen said. "They've got to be perfect, the greens are so
pure."
The putts began to fall on the back nine. Owen finished his last
six holes with five birdies and a par.
"I felt like I hit a lot of good putts," said Owen, who finished
with 26. "The quality of putting is a lot better now. I don't
feel like I've hit a bad putt."
No Sorenstam runaway as Yim grabs lead at Charity Championship
--------------------------------------------------------------
STOCKBRIDGE, Georgia - Annika Sorenstam still is in
good position to win the Florida's Natural Charity Championship.
Just not as good as last year.
Sorenstam is at 9-under-par 135, three shots off the pace, while
Korea's Sung Ah Yim found her game and the top of the
leaderboard after Friday's second round of the $1.4 million LPGA
event.
Yim fired an 8-under 64 and has a one-shot lead at 12-under 132.
Jee Young Lee is second at 11-under after signing for a 65 and
Hee-Won Han and Karrie Webb are tied for third at 10-under.
"I am in good position and I am looking forward to the weekend,"
Sorenstam said. "Hopefully I can continue to hit the way I have
and just make a few more putts."
The defending champion, Sorenstam entered Friday one shot off
the lead but was unable to separate herself from the field as
she did last season. A year ago, Sorenstam faced the same
deficit after the first round before firing an 8-under 64 and
ending the day with a six-shot lead. The Swedish star went on
to a 10-shot victory.
On Friday, Sorenstam had a pair of birdies on each side and gave
back a shot at the par-4 12th, where she was unable to get
up-and-down after a short approach. She finished with a 69 and
is tied for fifth with Brittany Lang (67).
"I thought I played well today," Sorenstam said. "I didn't score
as well, but I had a lot of chances and am very happy with my
game."
Yim started the season by finishing eighth at the SBS Open, then
hit the skids. She missed the cut at the next two events and
has finished no better than 32nd in three events since.
"I had a bad couple of weeks before this week," she said. "I
just have to concentrate and focus on being comfortable. I
still have two days to go."
Yim got going with a birdie at No. 2. After a three-putt from
15 feet led to her lone bogey of the day at the fifth, she
responded with an eagle at the par-5 sixth. She closed the
front side with a pair of birdies and added four more coming in.
"I had just one miss, the bogey, but it was a very, very good
day," Yim said. "My irons were very good, on a few shots I was
really close to the pin and my putting is very good."
Maria Hjorth and Cristie Kerr shared the lead after Thursday's
opening round at 7-under but neither was able to get anything
going Friday at the Eagle's Landing Country Club. Hjorth
dropped to a tie for 16th at 6-under after a 1-over 73 and Kerr
signed for a 75 and is 35th at 4-under.
Still in search of her first career victory, tour starlet
Natalie Gulbis fired a 69 and is in a group of five at 8-under.
Haas grabs two-shot lead at Legends of Golf
-------------------------------------------
SAVANNAH, Georgia - Jay Haas was not on his game last
week. He seems to have rectified the situation.
Haas fired seven birdies and finished at 6-under-par 66 on
Friday to take a two-shot lead after the opening round of the
$2.5 million Legends of Golf.
Looking for his third career Champions Tour victory and first of
the season, Haas missed the cut last week at the Verizon
Heritage on the PGA Tour. He bounced back to card his lowest
round since the season-opening MasterCard Championship.
Ireland's Mark McNulty, Tom Wargo, Jerry Pate and Gil Morgan are
tied for second at 4-under 68. Bob Murphy and Craig Stadler
are another shot back at 3-under.
Haas started his round with a birdie and made the turn at
2-under. He fired back-to-back birdies at Nos. 10 and 11 and
again at Nos. 14 and 15. Haas made his lone bogey at the par-3
fourth, but he bounced right back with a birdie at the fifth.
Defending champion Des Smyth is among a group of eight at
2-under.
The par-72 layout at Westin Savannah Harbor Golf Resort plays at
7,087 yards.
First prize is $395,000.
Redskins sign WR Lloyd to multi-year extension
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ASHBURN, Virginia - Brandon Lloyd did not even need to
play in a game with the Washington Redskins to earn a new
contract.
A month after acquiring Lloyd from the San Francisco 49ers, the
Redskins on Friday signed the wide receiver to a long-term
contract extension.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 6-foot, 192-pound Lloyd spent the first three seasons of his
career with the 49ers, leading them in catches (48), receiving
yards (733) and touchdowns (5) last season. The Redskins
acquired him from the 49ers on March 11 for a third-round pick
in next week's draft and a fourth-round pick next year.
Bengals sign QB Wright to one-year deal
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CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Bengals have turned to an
AFC North Division rival to find a backup for Carson Palmer.
The Bengals on Friday signed quarterback Anthony Wright, who had
been with the Baltimore Ravens, to a one-year contract.
Entering his eighth season, Wright played in nine games,
starting seven, for the Ravens in 2005, setting career highs in
passing yards (1,582), attempts (266), completions (164) and
completion percentage (61.7) while filling in for the injured
Kyle Boller.
"The signing of Anthony brings us a quarterback who has started
and won games in the NFL," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. "He
is also competitively familiar with the teams in our division."
Wright will compete with Craig Krenzel and Doug Johnson to be
the backup to Palmer, who had a breakthrough season before
getting injured in the Bengals' playoff loss to the eventual
Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Palmer is recovering
from reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
Jon Kitna had been Palmer's backup before signing with the
Detroit Lions earlier in the offseason.
Eagles extend contract of team president Banner
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PHILADELPHIA - After a disappointing season, the
Philadelphia Eagles need to rebuild. The team made sure Joe
Banner will be one of the architects of that process Friday.
The team announced that it has extended the contract of its team
president through the 2010 season. Financial terms were not
disclosed.
Since Banner was named team president on August 1, 2001, the
Eagles have won four division titles and an NFC championship.
Banner is widely respected around the NFL as one of the top
managers of the salary cap. His expertise on the matter was
sought out by the Philadelphia Flyers last year when the NHL
implemented a salary cap.
Banner, who has overseen the day-to-day operations of the Eagles
since May 6, 1994, will help the team try and rebound from a
disappointing 6-10 season starting with the NFL draft on April
29.
Velazquez released from hospital, may miss Kentucky Derby
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LEXINGTON, Kentucky - Jockey John Velazquez was
released from the University of Kentucky Medical Center on
Friday, one day after a nasty fall that may keep him from riding
in the Kentucky Derby and perhaps the entire Triple Crown.
According to a statement from the hospital, Velazquez - the
Eclipse Award winner in 2004 and 2005 - was treated for injuries
to his chest and right shoulder after his mount Up an Octave
broke down and fell about 100 yards after winning the $110,600
Forerunner Stakes at Keeneland on Thursday.
Dr. Bernard Boulanger said Velazquez's prognosis for a full
recovery is good, but it is unclear when he will be able to
return.
"How long he will be sidelined is fully dependent on how his
body heals," Dr. Boulanger said.
Earlier Friday, Velazquez's agent, Hall of Fame former jockey
Angel Cordero Jr., told www.drf.com that Velazquez suffered a
fractured scapula.
"He's pretty sore everywhere, but he's very lucky," Cordero told
the site. "That is one of the ugliest spills I've ever seen."
Up an Octave suffered a compound fracture of the left front leg
and was euthanized on the turf course.
Harvick wins NASCAR Busch Bashas' Supermarkets 200
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AVONDALE, Arizona -- Kevin Harvick survived a flurry of
late caution periods to become the first two-time winner on the
NASCAR Busch Series this season, capturing the checkered flag in
Friday's Bashas' Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway.
It was the second straight victory for Harvick, who won last
weekend's Pepsi 300 at Nashville Superspeedway. He recorded his
19th career Busch victory and increased his lead over Clint
Bowyer in the series standings to 289 points.
The 2001 series champion, Harvick led the final 51 laps to win a
green-white-checkered flag finish in a Chevrolet Monte Carlo.
"This thing was off a little bit at the beginning with a set of
tires but second time on pit road, these boys were beating Cup
pit crews off pit road," Harvick said. "It's a lot easier to
lose the points than gain the points."
Team owner Richard Childress was not at the race as he continues
a hunting trip in Africa.
"It's a lot of fun. It's the first time we've ever won two
Busch races in a row," Harvick said. "If we can keep doing
this, he can just keep on hunting."
Reed Sorenson finished second in a Dodge Charger and was
followed by the Dodges of Carl Edwards and Kurt Busch. Mark
Martin rounded out the top five in a Ford Fusion.
In a sloppy race which featured four cautions in the final 27
laps, Harvick owned a slight lead over Martin, Shane Leffler,
Bowyer and Sorenson with 18 laps remaining.
But Paul Menard ran into the back of J.J. Yeley two laps later,
sending Yeley spinning into the first-turn wall.
Menard was in another multi-car crash with 11 laps left,
prompting yet another yellow flag.
The green flag waved with six laps to go and Harvick drove away
from the field.
But with three to go, David Gilliland smacked the wall coming
out of the fourth turn. He ricocheted into Bowyer's car, sending
it spinning into the wall and setting up the
green-white-checkered flag finish.
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