• Home
• About TBSD
• Copyright
• Privacy

• Baseball
• Football
• Hockey
• Other Sports
• Top Story

Subscribe

Smith and Thomas Lead Hall Class

TAMPA, FL – Perhaps Rich Eisen of the NFL Network summed it up best when he called it a “goose bump moment.” Two of the six names in the 2009 class are no longer with us, but will still represent the sport they played when they are officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Bob Hayes, the former Dallas Cowboy wide receiver who died in 2002 at the age of 51 after suffering liver ailments, prostate cancer and kidney failure, left his sister Lucille Hester a note for her to read for him “in case this day ever came.” When she finished, Eisen made his statement and there was not a hush in the overcrowded auditorium at the Tampa Convention Center.

Kansas City Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt remembered more than just Derrick Thomas’s football prowess, stating that he was a “Hall of Famer off the field, as well.” Thomas, who averaged one forced fumble out of every four games during his career, had his life cut short while he was still an active player when he died in an automobile accident nine years ago.

“When Derrick’s dad was shot down in Vietnam in 1972, oddly enough the code name for the operation was ‘Linebacker Two,’” continued Hunt, commenting on the position that Thomas would end up dominating in the 1990s.

“Derrick Thomas was the cornerstone of the modern era of the Kansas City Chiefs,” he said.

Bruce Smith, who was elected in his first year of eligibility, remembered Thomas as being “an incredible player and an incredible person.” The bruising defensive end, who is the all-time career sacks leader with 200, became emotional when he spoke about his morning.

“I just had a moment,” the 19-year veteran said, “wishing that my father was still here. He would have been so proud.” Unable to hold back his tears, he then admitted, “Some may look at this as a sign of weakness. I cry because I’m not less than a man but because I am a man.”

Another player getting in his first year on the ballot was Rod Woodson, who starred playing in the secondary of four different franchises. Eisen, his colleague on the NFL Network said, “For the last five years, we always referred to him as ‘Future Hall of Famer Rod Woodson’ and he didn’t want to hear it.”

That will no longer be necessary and the humble Woodson thought back what drove him. “I didn’t start playing football because I wanted to be in the Hall of Fame,” he said. “I started playing because my brothers played it.” Woodson was named to the 1990s all-decade team, mainly from his years in Pittsburgh.

Unable to attend was Minnesota Vikings offensive lineman Randall McDaniel, but via telephone he gave credit to the two most important people in his life. “I’ve got to thank my folks for raising me the right way.”

Joining Smith representing the Buffalo Bills is 90-year-old Ralph Wilson, Jr., the team owner and president since 1959 when he was a member of the original group that formed the American Football League. Known as the NFL’s Voice of Reason, Wilson was at a loss for words.

“I don’t know what to say, but you’ve got to say something,” he said. “It’s a tremendous honor.”

It was also announced that this year’s Hall of Fame Game on August 9 will be between Buffalo and the Tennessee Titans, formerly an original AFL franchise, the Houston Oilers, in celebration of the 50^th anniversary of the old “rival league.”

The younger Hunt spoke of his late father Lamaar – who was the founder of the AFL – and what he would think of the half-century milestone and Wilson’s enshrinement the same day.

“I know that my dad is looking down and smiling at his old club buddy.”

Add Thomas and Hayes to that list of people looking down and smiling on this day.

Maynor Leads Second Half Surge as VCU Edges Hofstra, 66-62

HEMPSTEAD, NY – Senior guard Eric Maynor exploded for 21 of his game-high 33 points in the second half, erasing a double-digit Hofstra lead as the Pride dropped a 66-62 decision to CAA-rival Virginia Commonwealth University Saturday afternoon at the Mack Sports Complex.

Sophomore guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY) scored a team-high 22 points for the Pride and sophomore guard Nathanial Lester (Brooklyn, NY) finished in double-figures for the third straight game, chipping in 12 points. But it wasn’t enough to extend the Pride’s winning streak to five, as Hofstra fell to 14-8 and 6-5 in the CAA with the defeat.

Hofstra also lost for just the second time this season in games decided by five points or less, dropping to 9-2.

Maynor was the difference-maker, erasing a 58-all tie by scoring six straight points down the stretch to help the Rams improve to 16-6 and 9-2 in the conference. VCU entered the matinee just a game behind Northeastern for first place in the CAA.

Hofstra led by as many as 12 points before freshman guard Bradford Burgess (11 points) and Maynor, the reigning CAA Player of the Year, mounted the comeback. Burgess hit a three-pointer near the top of the key to tie it at 58 with 4:16 left.

VCU rode Maynor to a six-point lead after he hit a free throw, buried a three-pointer and added a jumper on the Rams subsequent trio of possessions, moving the Rams ahead 64-58 with 1:42 left. After making a free-throw, Maynor stole a pass-at midcourt and raced in for an uncontested lay-up to build the lead to three. On the other end of the floor, Maynor blocked Jenkins’s driving attempt and secured the win by hitting a deep three-pointer from the left wing make it 64-58.Jenkins added four free throws afterwards, but the Pride never got closer than 66-62 with a half-minute showing on the clock as it missed three shots in the final 20 seconds, including two three-pointers to try to cut the lead to one.

Maynor and Jenkins entered the contest as the conference’s top two scorers and served as their offense’s focal points. Fresh off a career-high 33 point-effort in a last-second win over UNC Wilmington, Jenkins notched his 10th 20-point game of the season, adding six rebounds and three assists.

VCU came out strong in the second half after the Pride led 36-29 at the break. Sophomore forward Larry Sanders scored back-to-back baskets in the paint, pulling the Rams to within 42-39 with 13:13 left. Jenkins responded with a three-pointer right in front of the Pride bench and Tony Dennison added a driving reverse lay-in on the next possession to build up the lead.

Maynor scored the game’s next seven points, hitting a top-of-the-key three-point near NBA range to tie it and followed a Pride turnover by drilling a jump shot to give VCU a 48-46 lead with 10:54 remaining, marking the first time the Rams led since the second minute of the contest.

Playing man defense, Jenkins held Maynor scoreless through the first 10 minutes before the country’s 11th-leading scorer heated up. Maynor was off from the floor in the first half (2-8) yet converted all seven of his free throws to tally 12 points at the break.

Jenkins’ jumper built a 28-16 lead with 5:20 left in the first half, Hofstra’s largest of the game. VCU posted a modest 5-0 run to close the gap before Hofstra started driving to the lane, converting on its last five foul shots. Maynor cut into the deficit before the buzzer, drawing a foul on junior guard Cornelius Vines (Syracuse, NY) from beyond the three-point arc. Maynor hit all three of his free throws with 2.2 seconds left, though the Pride still entered the break with a 36-29 edge.

Maynor has a chance to be selected in this year’s NBA draft. That would follow in the career path of former Pride great Craig “Speedy” Claxton, who had his No. 10 retired in a pregame ceremony. Claxton, currently with the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, was drafted by Philadelphia in the first round of the 2000 draft after a stellar career for Hofstra.

Now 30 years old, the Hempstead native led his hometown school to the NCAA Tournament in 2000 and still holds the team record for career assists (660), steals (288) and ranks sixth all-time in points (2,015).

Claxton, who won a championship ring with the Spurs in 2002-03, is the third Hofstra player to have his jersey retired this season. Claxton (1996-2000) joined Bill Thieben (1953-56) and Steve Nisenson (1962-65) in being honored with a banner hanging from the Mack Sports Complex’s rafters. Rich Laurel (1973-77) will join the list later this year.

Hofstra will be off the next two days before traveling to Virginia to take on another challenging conference opponent in George Mason Wednesday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

Hofstra Pride at the Super Bowl

Former Hofstra offensive lineman Willie Colon will look to become just the fourth Pride alumnus to capture a Super Bowl ring if his Pittsburgh Steelers beat the underdog Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII Sunday in Tampa Bay.

Colon started all 33 games at right tackle his last three seasons at Hofstra from 2003-05, earning first-team I-AA All-American honors after his senior season. The Bronx native got the attention of the Steelers, which drafted Colon in the fourth round and made him its starting right tackle with two games left in his rookie campaign.

After being inactive for the first 14 games of his professional career, Colon has started every game at right tackle since then, helping Pittsburgh move within one game of winning its NFL-record sixth Super Bowl title. Speaking to reporters from Raymond James Stadium, Colon said the offensive line is looking to show the world it is not a liability despite taking criticism during the regular season.

“As a unit we have been through so much,” Colon said. “From injuries to guys dealing with serious off- the-field issues, from our unit getting bashed week in and week out no matter how good or bad we played. From a standpoint all that fire that we took motivated us to get better. We all came together as a unit and realized we all had to be accountable for ourselves.”

Colon will be charged with keeping quarterback Ben Roethlisberger upright and springing running back Willie Parker for big gains. The 25-year-old came to the Steelers the year following the franchise’s Super Bowl XL victory against Seattle in 2006 and said even with the veterans around to give advice, he will still be nervous come opening kickoff.

“I think every day that goes by the tension builds up more and more,” Colon said. “My biggest thing is the ability to calm down and open my eyes. I get so worked up. When I am on the sideline about to go on I have to suck it in, leave it out and realize it is a regular game so I can execute. For me personally, this is a great experience, but I don’t want to go home without the trophy so I am going to be as much of a help as I can.”

Only three other former Hofstra players have played a role on a Super Bowl contender. John Schmitt, who had his number retired at James M. Shuart Stadium in the fall, was the starting center for the Jets during one of sports’ most famous championship games, anchoring a line for Joe Namath in Super Bowl III.

Schmitt (class of 1964) was joined on that Jets team by defensive back Mike D’Amato, who graduated Hofstra four years after Schmitt and was a rookie on a Gang Green team that shocked the heavily favored Baltimore Colts at the Orange Bowl.

After watching his No. 77 go up on the façade of Margiotta Hall during the Pride’s homecoming win over Rhode Island, Schmitt said he was proud of becoming the first Hofstra player to make it to the NFL and still wears the ring from what is still the only title in Jets history. Schmitt played for the Jets from 1964-73 and was named to the All-Pro team in 1968 and 1969.

“I just wanted to make the team,” Schmitt recalled about his first training camp. “No one from Hofstra had ever made anything.

“When the Jets signed me, they didn’t need any tackles. They needed me as a center, but I had no knowledge of how to play or snap field goals; anything like that. It was a heck of an adjustment. Nobody helps you when you go to the pros.”

Nearly 40 years later, receiver Ricky Bryant earned a championship ring with the Patriots, playing on New England’s practice squad during the 2004 season, which culminated with a victory over Philadelphia in Super Bowl XXXIX.

The Pride could add a fourth name to its list of NFL champions. Dave Cohen, Hofstra’s head coach, came to Hofstra the year after Colon graduated. But Cohen was Delaware’s defensive coordinator in 2005, when the Pride out-lasted the Blue Hens, 10-6. Having to game-plan against Colon as a coach for a conference rival showed Cohen the lineman’s potential for succeeding at the next level.

“I knew coaching against Will in 2003, 2004 and 2005 that he was special,” Cohen said. “Will was a dominating player from the time he was a sophomore and has enjoyed equal success since his graduation in the NFL.”

Former Hofstra coach Joe Gardi, whose last season as Colon’s senior year, helped the Cardinal Hayes High School pass-rushing force switch from the defensive line to the offensive side. Colon red-shirted his first season and played in just one game as a freshman before becoming a stalwart on the right side starting his sophomore year.

“It was great for me at Hofstra,” Colon said to Newsday earlier this week. “I came away with so much, and now here I am, at the center of the [football] world. . . . Go Hofstra.”

Colon and New Orleans Saints receiver Marques Colston were each drafted out of Hofstra in 2006. Colon made the playoffs in his second year and Colston has amassed 3,000 receiving yards and set a league record for most receptions by any player in their first two seasons with 168.

“It is an honor for the Hofstra football family to have one of our own to be starting in the upcoming Super Bowl,” Cohen said. “Willie Colon represents what Hofstra Football stands for: earning a degree, being a good person and having great work ethic.”

Colon credited his family’s support for putting him in position to possibly hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy and reach the pinnacle of his profession.

“It’s a dream come true,” he said. “I was a project kid, growing up on the streets and running the streets in New York. But I’m just sticking to my dream and am staying good to myself. It’s a blessing. I give much credit to my mom for sticking by my side through the rough times. I know people from back home are cheering me on.

“My father is Puerto Rican. He’s a proud Hispanic who raised me to be proud of our last name and be proud of where we came from. Everywhere I go I try to represent somehow, some way not only for my family but for the Latino community. Everything is going well for me right now.”

Failing Economy Noticeable in Tampa

TAMPA, FL – Just like Superman’s one weakness, kryptonite, the financial situation has obviously affected the NFL. For anyone who has attended the game – and the week leading up to it – in the past, there is something definitely missing this year in Tampa.

Excuses? Let’s start with the non-juicy match-up of Arizona and Pittsburgh. Would things be different if, let’s say, Philadelphia or Dallas were representing the NFC? Maybe, but as of Friday afternoon, the game wasn’t even sold out yet. That is unfathomable in this day and age, but maybe it’s not.

Another reason? Well, the weather has not exactly been Florida-like, with heavy rain Thursday into Friday. But two years ago in Miami there were periods of heavy showers (especially during the game) and a year ago, the Arizona desert was experiencing abnormal low temperatures.

So everything points to the struggling economy. Even the so-called ‘rich’ folks have been scarce. The annual Playboy party is not happening and the familiar faces in the street and Media Center have been in hiding, as well. No Adam Sandler or Frank Caliendo, and as far as the athletes go, no Namath, Shula or Montana, either. The NFL Network’s set in the middle of the room did not have the same line-up of stars waiting for their turn to be interviewed, as did the radio tables, which included Chris “Mad Dog” Russo from Sirius/XM and Michael Kay from ESPN Radio.

No knock on Jim Kelly, Justin Tuck or Joe Theisman, but none of them are “Broadway” Joe.

Serena Wins Fourth Aussie Open

If there was such a thing as perfect, Serena Williams was pretty close in conquering Russian Dinara Safina 6-0, 6-3 to claim her fourth Australian Open before a capacity Rod Laver Arena Saturday night.

Whatever it is about odd years, the 27 year-old American reclaimed the world’s No.1 ranking by putting on a stunning display of championship tennis that’s made her a great grand slam champion. She’s now won the Australian Open title in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009 also doubling the trophy case by teaming with older sister Venus Williams to win women’s doubles as well in 2001, 2003 and sweeping past Ai Sugiyama and Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-3 the previous day.

The four Australian singles titles allowed her to join the likes of Margaret Court, Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Steffi GrafMonica Seles for most wins in Melbourne during the Open Era. Not only did she join this exclusive group but also with her 10th major became the fourth woman in the Open Era to reach double digits trailing the great Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert (18 each) along with Graf, who holds the record with 22. and

“I idolized Steffi Graf growing up and Martina Navratilova was my role model, so when I think of those names I can’t even think of myself there. But people are starting to think about me that way, and that’s just uber-cool,” a respectful Williams expressed of being mentioned in the same breath.

“I was a little nervous actually going into the match against Dinara, then I told myself that I had nothing to lose even though everyone was putting the pressure on me. I didn’t want to lose that focus. Dinara’s a warrior, and she never gives up.”

Having been in a zone helping carry big sis to the double crown leaving her to heap praise, an extremely focused Serena was able to carry it over into the singles final versus the talented No.3 seed Safina. The younger sister of Marat Safin had gotten to this point by outlasting tournament story Jelena Dokic in three sets and then straight setting countrywoman Vera Zvonareva.

One area the physically gifted 22 year-old who was a runner-up at Roland Garros last year and took a silver medal in Beijing she was struggling in was her serve with an awkward delivery causing numerous double faults even in previous wins making life difficult just to make it to this point.

Unfortunately, that proved to be her undoing against a razor sharp Williams who was firing on all cylinders from the outset breaking all three times in a dominant first set that lasted only 22 minutes. Early on, Safina double faulted three times leading to a first break. When she was getting serves in, they were getting pummeled by the game’s best returner who greeted a few rudely smacking return winners from both sides.

Just how dominant was she in the opening set? Safina only won eight total points with a very accurate Serena accumulating 12 of 23 winners with little her overwhelmed opponent could do.

When an errant Safina forehand hit the net, the set was mercifully over with it reminding many of how Williams dismantled Maria Sharapova 6-1. 6-2 in the same match two years prior limiting her to just three games.

The resilient Russian didn’t give up attacking and breaking Serena in the opening game of the second set producing some of her best tennis including a backhand winner and return backhand crosscourt off a short second serve to the crowd’s delight.

The growing question was could she make it a match by holding? Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be as Williams continued her all out assault to break back. She then backed it up with a love hold booming her first serve. Not stunningly, she was nearly perfect taking 20 of 21 points (95 percent) on first serve for the match.

Safina couldn’t recover getting broken a fifth consecutive time before Williams had another easy hold to go up 4-1- two games from winning her 10th slam and reaching No.1 again for the third time.

Even when she competed striking the ball hard to win some points, you never got the sense Safina could comeback. By the time she held for 2-4, it was too little too late against a player who as she noted during the postmatch interview on court was, “Too good.”

To her credit, she forced Williams to serve it out. Serena calmly did just that setting up triple championship point before claiming her fourth Aussie crown when a Safina backhand drop shot went just wide allowing the great champion to bend down and smile clenching her fists.

It was a muted celebration exhibiting class after how she outclassed a quality opponent who should be back competing for other slams perhaps even winning one this year. It just wasn’t to be on this day.

“I absolutely, clearly, love playing here,” a very happy Williams said appropriately adding:

“You guys root for me so much. I don’t get that everywhere. So thank you so much.”

Who could disagree?

Federer Faces Nadal In Final

It will once again be the best rivalry in sports renewed when Roger Federer takes on Rafael Nadal in a battle between the now No.2 13-time slam winner versus the No.1 ranked five-time slam champion.

Plenty will be on the line with the 27 year-old Federer aiming to match American Pete Sampras by winning his 14th grand slam. Nadal, who spoiled the party dethroning Roger at Wimbledon in a memorable five-set epic will again be standing in the way trying to win his first ever slam on a hard court.

Can the 22 year-old Spaniard who’s made life miserable for Federer add to an impressive 12-6 career record including 4-2 at slams by beating him on a neutral surface?

The bigger question is what will Rafa have left in the tank after outlasting fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the longest ever men’s match at Melbourne Park winning it 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (2), 6-7 (1), 6-4 with it lasting five hours and 14 minutes?

The amazing aspect is the 14th seeded Verdasco who had the best slam result of his career ousting No.4 Andy Murray in five and last year’s runner-up No.5 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four somehow lost despite a ridiculous 95 winners while Nadal countered with 52.

Unfortunately, he double faulted on match point concluding the dramatic semifinal.

Nadal committed just 25 unforced errors while Verdasco made 76 in a match people are still talking about for the quality of play with neither Spaniard giving an inch during lengthy rallies.

So, can Nadal bounce back from a shorter recovery with a well rested Federer having more than a day extra to prepare after taking down Andy Roddick in straights needing just over two hours?

The pressure will squarely be on Federer when they take the court with  legend Rod Laver in his arena looking on.

The big match is set for 3:30 AM Sunday morning on the East coast or 12:30 AM Pacific. That’s 7:30 PM Australian time. So, get out the caffeine and tune into ESPN2. If you can’t stay up, they’ll replay both women’s and men’s finals at 3 ET Sunday afternoon.

Federer Downs Roddick Again

Roger’s still got it. Not that the 13-time slam winner ever lost it.

Pitted against America’s best Andy Roddick renewing a one-sided rivalry though last year in Miami proved different for only the second time in 17 meetings, Roger Federer rose to the occasion again ousting the No.7 seed in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 advancing to his fourth Australian Open Final- one huge win away from matching American great Pete Sampras for the most grand slams won by a male tennis player.

It was the 27 year-old Swiss former No.1 who ceased early control breaking Roddick in the third game producing the kind of tennis fans have grown accustomed to passing the game’s biggest server with ease to the tune of 51 winners.

Even after Roddick saved a couple and looked in position to fight off a third straight, a hustling Federer slid across in time ripping a forehand winner down the line. It was that kind of night with the No.2 seed even having success with challenges winning consecutive points on his serve while already up two breaks.

Normally, the man known as The Maestro doesn’t like the challenge system preferring to leave it up to the linesmen and chair umpire for overrules. But on a night he could do little wrong, Federer was even perfect on challenges getting more than half a dozen right to Roddick’s chagrin.

When he wasn’t having challenge success, he was deliberately daring Roddick to come in by using short low spinning backhand replies so he could set him up for the kill. In a brilliant opening set, Federer’s forehand was on producing 11 winners while his opponent struggled early.

However, this wasn’t like Juan Martin Del Potro as Roddick ratcheted up the serve nailing five of eight aces in a much more competitive second set. He even dug out of triple break point during the first game serving large and coming up with the right stuff to keep the pressure on Federer.

The problem was Federer was having even an easier time holding winning 83 percent (52 of 63) on his first serve along with a respectable 58 percent (19 of 33) on second serve for the match. While Roddick struggled during service games facing 13 break chances, the efficient Federer only gave him three cracks and each time they were only one in a game which wasn’t enough given the three-time Australian Open winner’s penchant for serving aces to climb out of trouble.

Still, a more aggressive Roddick continued to press on attacking the net though without great success (21 of 42). The second set remained tight with the 26 year-old Austin, Texas resident holding for 4-3. With a couple of big returns setting up winners in the next game, he was two points from breaking and getting a chance to serve it out and level the match.

But a resilient Federer dug out of trouble without facing a break point eventually reversing the pressure and then breaking Roddick at love in the 11th game to lead 6-5. He served it out for a commanding two set lead.

Unlike the one sided match they had two years ago in the same semifinal, Roddick didn’t go away playing even better in the third set holding more easily and hitting even bigger during rallies with some success to the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd’s delight. His best moment came midway through the set when during a great rally, he surprised Federer with a topspin backhand drop shot winner out of his reach smiling even remarking that he got him with the kind of shot Roger can pull off.

Still, Roddick couldn’t capitalize with Federer going down the tee for aces even doubling up in that department by a 16-8 margin.

It continued to be a test of wills with each player protecting their serve as if it were a game of chess. Roddick had a slight opening up 5-4 and two points away from the set but Federer saved his best serving for those moments winning challenges and taking the next three points to hold for five all.

Sensing the kill, he turned on the switch nailing a backhand and forehand pass in succession taking the first couple of points on Roddick’s serve to groans from the crowd. He’d eventually setup two break points but a game Andy wouldn’t crack just yet coming through with a couple of winners including a putaway.

However, Federer finally converted on another chance ripping a backhand pass which Roddick could only get a stab at the net helplessly watching it sail long giving Roger his fourth break of the match.

After Roddick took the first point, Federer won the next three setting up two match points. During an extended rally, he finished it in style slugging a forehand winner up the line to clinch victory with a pump of the fist before being congratulated by a classy Roddick at the net.

With legendary Rod Laver in the building, Federer moved one step closer to tying Sampras’ 14 slams. Could his next opponent be No.1 ranked Rafael Nadal which would elevate their rivalry even further setting up the first ever battle for a major on a hard court?

We’ll just have to wait and see. Nadal will take on fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco later tonight with the improving No.14 seed playing the best tennis of his career ousting last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets the day before 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Hofstra Hosts VCU on Sunday

HEMPSTEAD, NY – The Hofstra Men’s Basketball program (14-7, 6-4 CAA) will look to continue its recent late-game magic when it hosts a key CAA game against preseason favorite Virginia Commonwealth (15-6, 8-2 CAA) on Saturday at 12 noon.

The game will be sponsored by State Farm and will feature a pre-game ceremony to retire the jersey number (10) of former guard Craig “Speedy” Claxton, who played at Hofstra from 1996-2000. Claxton is one of only six players in school history to score 2,000 career points (2,015) and is the program’s all-time leader in both assists (660) and steals (288) and was a two-time Player of the Year selection in the America East Conference (1998, 2000). He was also named the 2000 winner of the Haggerty Award, given to the top player in the Metropolitan New York area, after leading Hofstra to an America East Conference championship and its first NCAA Division I tournament berth in 23 years.

Hofstra is riding a four-game winning streak in which it used plenty of late-game heroics to pull out some dramatic victories. The Pride has trailed in the final minute in three of those four wins, and has used baskets in the final two seconds to win each of the last two contests. On Saturday, sophomore guard Charles Jenkins (Queens. NY) went coast-to-coast to score with 1.9 seconds left and give the Pride a 69-68 win over James Madison. On Wednesday, with the score tied, junior guard Tony Dennison (Long Island City, NY) stepped in and stole a pass in the closing seconds, and senior forward Arminas Urbutis (Kaunas, Lithuania) scored on a put-back at the buzzer to give Hofstra an 80-78 win.

The streak started on Jan. 17, when Hofstra trailed by one against Northeastern with a minute to play, before Jenkins forced Huskies guard Matt Janning into a wild miss, then made two foul shots to put the Pride ahead to stay as it captured a 57-52 victory. It remains Northeastern’s only conference loss this season, as the Huskies took over sole possession of first place at 9-1 with a win at VCU on Tuesday, which dropped the Rams to 15-6 overall and 8-2 in conference play.

Overall this season, Hofstra is 9-1 in games decided by five points or less, including five wins in which it trailed in the final minute (the Pride’s first two wins of the year over Western Michigan and East Tennessee State also came after Hofstra trailed in the last minute of play). Jenkins put Hofstra to stay in the first four of them, as well as breaking a tie with 1:19 to play in a win over Manhattan on Nov. 29, and tied the game against UNC Wilmington with a foul shot with 34 seconds to go before Urbutis scored the winning points at the buzzer.

One of the other storyline for the Pride in the last week has been the emergence of sophomore guard Nathaniel Lester (Brooklyn, NY) as a secondary scoring option to Jenkins. Lester had a season-high 11 points in the win over James Madison on Saturday, then passed that with 18 points in Wednesday’s win over UNC Wilmington (his double-team of point guard Chad Tomko also helped produce the turnover that led to the game-winner).

Hofstra and VCU met earlier this season in Richmond, with the Rams coming away with a 68-60 win on its home floor. Senior guard Eric Maynor, the defending CAA Player of the Year, led the way for VCU with 21 points, while Larry Sanders added 16 points and 13 rebounds.

The Rams were the preseason favorites to win the CAA after back-to-back regular season titles in each of the last two years. Everything revolves around Maynor, who averages a CAA-best 22.7 points and 6.0 assists per game. Sanders averages 10.9 points, 7.4 rebounds and a CAA-best 2.7 blocks, while sophomore guard Joey Rodriguez is also in double figures at 10.3 points per game. The Rams’ primary weakness is depth as only eight players are in their current rotation.

Pride Wins Fourth Straight

Wilmington, NC - Senior forward Arminas Urbutis (Kaunas, Lithuania) scored a put back at the buzzer after a key steal from junior guard Tony Dennison (Long Island City, NY) to give Hofstra an 80-78 win over UNC Wilmington on Wednesday at Trask Coliseum.

Sophomore guard Charles Jenkins (Queens, NY) had a career-high 33 points and Dennison (Long Island City, NY) scored all 10 of his in the second half and set up the winning points with his defense. Sophomore guard Nathaniel Lester (Brooklyn, NY) added a season-high 18 points.

With the win, Hofstra improves to 14-7 overall and 6-4 in the Colonial Athletic Association, while capturing its fourth straight victory. UNC Wilmington falls to 5-17 overall and 2-8 in the CAA with the loss.

Hofstra trailed by three points (78-75) with 1:34 to go after two foul shots from sophomore guard Chad Tomko, but Dennison came up with a key step-back jumper to cut the lead to 78-77 with 1:13 to go. UNC Wilmington guard Devon Moore then turned the ball over when he dribbled off his leg and Jenkins was fouled on a drive with 34 seconds left. He made one of two to tie the game, and UNC Wilmington took its final possession with the shot clock off.

The Seahawks called their final time out with 12 seconds left, but the Pride caught them off guard when they trapped sophomore guard Chad Tomko as he crossed midcourt. Tomko was hemmed in on the sideline and tried to throw a bounce pass to the middle of the floor, but Dennison read the play and stepped in for a steal. Dennison drove into the paint and collided with Tomko before ending up on the floor with the ball in his hands. Not knowing how much time was left, he tried to shoot while sitting on the ground underneath the basket and left the ball short, but Urbutis was trailing the play, grabbed the ball out of mid-air and hit an uncontested lay-up as the horn sounded to give the Pride another dramatic win.

Hofstra is now 9-1 this season in games decided by five points or less, including the last two which were decided in the final seconds. On Saturday, Hofstra defeated James Madison 69-68 on a five-foot jumper with 1.9 seconds left on the clock.

Neither team led by more than four points until 8:19 left in regulation, when junior guard Cornelius Vines (Syracuse, NY) hit a three-pointer from the left wing to put Hofstra ahead 67-61, capping off a 7-0 run. Dennison started the run with back-to-back baskets on drives into the paint. However, junior guard Montez Downey, who had all 17 of his points in the second half, hit a three-pointer and then made three foul shots after fouled in the act behind the arc to tie the score quickly back up at 67-67.

UNC Wilmington held a 41-38 lead at the half, as the Pride trailed at the half for the fourth straight game during its current four-game winning streak. Neither team led by more than four during the opening stanza, as Jenkins had 16 points on four three-pointers and four foul shots and UNC Wilmington guard Chad Tomko nearly matched him with 15 points.

Jenkins’ previous career high was 31 points, set earlier this season against East Tennessee State. Lester’s 18 points marked the second straight game he scored his season high, as he had 11 points in Saturday’s win over James Madison. His career high was 20 set last year against Stony Brook.

Hofstra will next be in action when it returns home to face VCU on Saturday at the Mack Sports Complex for a 12 p.m. contest, which will be sponsored by State Farm. Former Hofstra guard Craig “Speedy” Claxton will have his jersey number (#10) retired prior to the game, which will be televised locally on the MSG+ Network.

Federer Dodges Bullet

For two sets, Roger Federer couldn’t do anything with Tomas Berdych. It was the younger 23 year-old Czech who seemed to finally have all the right answers getting within a set of snapping a seven-match losing streak to the 13-time slam winner.

The last time he prevailed was when he was a teenager during a 2004 Olympics upset preventing Federer from even medaling in Athens.

Unfortunately, nerves got the best of Berdych dropping the third set before Federer steadied in time coming back from two sets for just the fourth time in his illustrious career pulling out a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 Round of 16 win advancing to the Australian Open quarterfinals.

“You’ve got to hang in there, there’s no other solution,” a relieved Federer said later. “Tried to weather the storm. He was hitting the ball so heavy and so hard. He pushed me to the limit.”

It was the aggressive nature of the dangerous No.20 seed which put the three-time Australian Open champ in such a huge hole. Berdych has always had the ability to be a top five player but never the consistency. However, on this day he was in top form outslugging Federer from the baseline ripping rockets from both sides of the racket for winners.

Berdych broke Federer right away and got a key insurance break needed to help put away the opening set. The second saw the 27 year-old Swiss break early but before he could sustain it, his focused opponent broke back keeping it on serve.

Part of Roger’s problems were due to his bread and butter forehand going off which made it even more difficult to deal with an accurate Berdych. Though he saved two break points before holding in the 11th game, the set eventually went to a tiebreaker.

Entering it, Federer had won four of the previous five versus the same foe but this time, it was Berdych who had all the answers getting a minibreak lead before sealing it with a cross-court forehand winner pumping his fist.

Trailing by two sets, Federer twice broke Berdych but once again relinquished them in uncharacteristic fashion. But with a real opportunity to pull off the biggest win of his career, the younger Czech tightened up handing the seventh game over with three bad volley miscues including an overhead he bounced into the net to give a relieved Federer another chance. This time, he made good holding twice more including three aces in the 10th game to get back in the match.

Berdych began to become rattled following a crucial Deuce point in which he thought his forehand caught part of the line. However, his challenge couldn’t be overturned due to a rare technicality with the system which wasn’t working. It looked like it missed but an upset Berdych debated the call with the chair umpire before netting a volley to give Federer an early break in the fourth set.

One huge difference compared to the first couple of sets was Federer’s accuracy. He began getting Berdych in longer rallies due to outstanding defense with the strategy paying dividends with his opponent cooperating. Berdych committed 32 of 42 unforced errors in the last three sets while Roger made just 15 of 40 the rest of the way.

Beginning to wear down, Berdych called the trainer to tend to a left hamstring during a changeover near the end of the set. When he returned, he went back to his go for broke plan slugging the ball as hard as possible for winners. It nearly paid off but a resilient Federer fought off two break points dialing up his serve before drawing a long reply to square the match letting out a loud scream along with a double pump of the fists.

With his opponent broken, Federer loosened up saving his best tennis for the final set breaking Berdych twice to go up 4-0 before holding twice more. The end didn’t come easy as he blew three match points even double faulting to give his opponent one last look at a break chance.

However, in typical fashion he got a service winner and then followed up with two aces including one out wide on his fourth match point to finally clinch victory letting out a loud scream to cheers from the Rod Laver Arena capacity crowd.

“I enjoy those kind of fights. It doesn’t happen all the time. It’s always special,” Federer expressed after rallying from two sets down for the first time since 2005 against Rafael Nadal in Miami.

“I hope it’s a good omen. I feel like I could play a couple more sets, so that’s a good sign.“

The match took three hours and 28 minutes to complete but Federer looked like he would’ve gone even longer keeping a streak of quarterfinal appearances in slams alive extending it a record 20. His last defeat this early came at the hands of former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten in Roland Garros back in 2004 of Round Three.

Federer will get another stiff challenge when he draws talented 20 year-old Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. The No.8 seed cameback from a set defeating promising Czech Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

While it was anything but routine for the Federer Express, American Andy Roddick continued to roll along straight setting Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3. The seventh seed who’s only dropped one set in making the Final Eight had 13 aces to none also playing solid baseline tennis converting five of seven break chances punctuating victory with a nice forehand service volley winner before raising his arms in salute.

Roddick has had a pretty easy draw aside from a solid second round challenge from wildcard Xavier Malisse. However, business should pick up for the charasmatic 27 year-old former 2003 U.S. Open champ where he’ll await the winner between defending champ Novak Djokovic and former Aussie runner-up Marcos Baghdatis who’s been in fine form since trailing Robin Soderling a set and two breaks in Round Two.

If the unseeded Cypriot brings his ‘A’ game, he could challenge Djokovic. If not, a juicy quarter between the 21 year-old Serb and Roddick would be on tap with possibly Federer waiting in the semis.

Jankovic Upset: The biggest upset of Day Six took place on the women’s side with No.1 ranked Jelena Jankovic bowing out in disappointing fashion falling to No.16 Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-4.

With the Serb’s game not there, it was her 24 year-old opponent who took early control jumping out to a 5-0 lead using her power game to pull off the upset. She doubled Jankovic in winners (34-17) while finishing off 10 of 12 points at net.

In particular, Bartoli punished Jankovic’s second serve winning a ridiculous 71 percent (17 of 24 points) on her way to five breaks.

“I was really confident because I played really well [in] my last match against (Lucie) Safarova,” the pleased former 2007 Wimbledon finalist noted to the AP. “I knew I could beat Jelena on a good day, it was just a matter of executing it … play the right shot at the right time and doesn’t make too much mistake[s].

“I was not overwhelmed by the situation, and I just went for my shot[s] and everything went in today. It was just a great match.”

Meanwhile, it was a setback for Jankovic who still has yet to breakthrough at a major and entered off her best result making her fist final losing to American Serena Williams in a very competitive straight set effort at the U.S. Open.

“I just started slow. I … was completely not moving my feet. I was late on many shots. I was really not there, for some reason,” Jankovic lamented.

“I don’t know why. When I tried to focus and get into the match, things just didn’t work out for me.”

She paid plenty of credit to her game opponent:

“I thought, you know, just my opponent was … on fire today, and she was hitting everything and really went for her shots. Most of those were going in.”

Instead of continuing the pursuit for her first major, that will wait until Paris. Bartoli will next meet No.7 Russian Vera Zvonareva, who ousted countrywoman Nadia Petrova (10) in two close sets 7-5, 6-4 to setup a quarterfinal match.

Meantime, No.3 Russian Dinara Safina was almost an upset victim herself but found a way to comeback from two breaks and match points down in the third defeating No.15 Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

The recently turned 19 year-old Cornet who already had set a new career best in slams making the Round of 16 just couldn’t put away Safina, who twice had amazing comeback wins last year in Paris including one versus Maria Sharapova.

Might it have helped? By her reaction, you couldn’t tell:

“I am so lucky that I’m in the quarterfinals, she was one point away,” the younger sister of Marat Safin pointed out in overcoming eight double faults and 52 unforced errors. “My heart is still pumping so hard.”

No matter how she got there, she’ll await the winner between feel good story Jelena Dokic and talented Russian Alisa Kleybanova with the latter leading 5-4 in the first set.

Next Page »