Archive for category International Sports
Jamaican Sensation | Jerome Jordan Interview
Posted by ShopinJA in International Sports, Sports Center on June 28th, 2010
Jerome Jordan, a native of Jamaica, picked up the game of basketball at a late age. Attending Tulsa, where he has played for four years, he has grown by leaps and bounds. Known primarily as a defensive player capable of blocking or altering virtually any shot, the “Jamaican Sensation” has focused on preparing himself for the NBA game the past few years.
Jordan has flown somewhat under the radar due to playing in a mid-major conference. At Tulsa, he set conference records for most blocks in a game, most blocks in a Conference USA Tournament, and has more blocks in his career than any other Conference USA player. Jordan led his team to a CBI Championship (where he was named MVP). He stayed at Tulsa for his senior year in order to prepare himself for a pro career. The time has come for him to enter the draft and begin that career. Jordan was gracious enough to talk to Eric Yearian about his draft preparation and what he expects from the NBA.
NBADraft.net: Playing at Tulsa, you didn’t get a lot of chances to play in front of a national audience. How would you describe your game to somebody that hasn’t seen you play?
Jerome Jordan: I think I can get a lot of stuff done on the court. At the defensive end: block shots, rebound, able to move pretty well, able to, you know, I can guard a couple positions, I’m more mobile, [I can guard] fours, and fives, even probably some threes. On the offensive end, you know, I can mix it up, go down low, score with my back to the basket, step away from the basket shoot from 15-17 feet.
NBADraft.net: Are there any NBA players that you would compare yourself to?
Jerome Jordan: I try to watch Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan, I try to pick up little things from them. They have different styles, Kevin Garnett plays with a lot of power, he can definitely shoot it, has a lot of skills. Tim Duncan is more finesse, but he gets the job done as well. So I watch both of them guys.
NBADraft.net: One of the things that a lot of NBA general managers are reluctant to do is draft someone who stayed for their senior year in college. But with you, it’s kind of different because you’ve only been playing basketball for a handful of years, so how do you think having that mix of experience and potential works to your benefit?
Jerome Jordan: I think it helps a lot. I started [playing basketball] later, so I think my ceiling is still very high. I try to learn new stuff everyday, watching the playoffs right now, picking different people’s brains that I come across everyday, I think my ceiling is still high. I think I’ve learned a lot the last 4 years and I just keep getting better.
NBADraft.net: You mentioned getting better, what are some of the things that you are really working on, as far as your game, in getting ready for this draft and starting your career?
Italy: From Heroes to Zeroes
Posted by ShopinJA in International Sports, Sports Center on June 24th, 2010
Three quick thoughts after Slovakia’s 3-2 victory over Italy in Group F:
Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
1. Italy didn’t wake up in time. Throw out the final desperate 10 minutes, when Italy pressed forward with abandon, and the lack of urgency that scarred Italy’s first two games in the World Cup was omnipresent. It was as if the Italians felt they could wait until the final moment to turn on the winning switch. There are a million reasons why Italy lost — injuries to goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and playmaker Andrea Pirlo, the failure to fully transition to a younger generation of players, etc. — but Italy’s group was still soft enough and its talent deep enough to get through. That the Azzurri fell to fourth in the group had more to do with a lack of motivation than a lack of talent.
2. Nothing Marcello Lippi tried sparked his team. Italy’s manager made two changes to the starting lineup, dropping Albert Gilardino and Claudio Marchisio for Antonio Di Natale and Gennaro Gattuso. Di Natale missed on two decent chances in the first half and Gattuso was thoroughly ineffective. At halftime, Lippi dropped Gattuso for Fabio Quagliarella (who stunningly had yet to play in the tournament) and swapped defender Domenico Criscito for Christian Maggio. That didn’t jumpstart the team, so Lippi played one final, desperate card: He brought on Pirlo, who has been battling a calf injury and hadn’t played all tournament. Pirlo’s first contribution was to miss a ball and let it roll out of bounds, a sign of his rust. He did play some telling balls, but it wasn’t enough.
3. Slovakia won the physical battle. It was always going to be a grind; both teams aren’t afraid to mix it up. But it was striking how much Slovakia out-muscled the Italians, particularly in the first half. Robert Vittek, who scored Slovakia’s first two goals, manhandled Italy’s back line, shaking off his reputation as a player who struggled to score for his country. In a game with no shortage of yellow cards (eight), fouls (37) and hard challenges, the Slovakians were never intimidated, and it was their defense, not the vaunted back line of Italy, who played organized and strong.
Source: SI.com
Serena Williams Outburst: Fine vs. Suspension
Posted by ShopinJA in International Sports on September 14th, 2009
It has been revealed that Serena Williams has been fined for her outburst during her Semi final match with Kim Clijsters at the U.S Open over the weekend.
As reported from the BBC, Serena Williams was handed a $10,000 fine by the US Open organizers. She has also been handed a $500 fine for her racket abuse that occurred during the same match.
It is now thought that Williams could face further action, in the way of a suspension in future Grand Slam events.
The big talking point here though, is whether $10,000 is really enough punishment for her actions. We say this, as Serena would have pocketed $455,000 for her run in the singles and doubles at this year’s US Open, so $10,000 would be simply play money to her.
Let us know if you think she has been let off the hook gently with that small fine, or if you think further action should be taken against her.
Usain Bolt, Fastest Man Alive !!
Posted by ShopinJA in International Sports on August 16th, 2009
Usain Bolt Sets a new Mens 100m World Record with an official Time of 9.58secs
Bolt was in devastating form here on Sunday with a stunning World Record Championships.
In one of his best starts ever, Bolt had things under control from early and was alone by the midway stage, which he had time to look both sides.
And even as he approaches the finish line, Bolt was looking at the clock, which later triggered a huge celebration.
Asafa Powell, who finished third in 9.84, joined Bolt in the celebration.
“I knew I was ready,” said Bolt who improved his previous 9.69secs world record, which gave him gold at last summer’s Olympics.
“I knew if I execute my race I would have this race,” he added.
American Tyson Gay was also impressive for 9.71, a new national record.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Daniel Bailey, Bolt training partner, was fourth in 9.94
100m Finals Held @ The Aug. 16, 2009 World Champs in Germany.
Perfect timing: Bolt shows off his new world record in the Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany. Photo: REUTERS
Serena seizes crown from Venus
Posted by ShopinJA in International Sports on July 4th, 2009
Saturday, 4 July 2009 | Written by Ronald Atkin
This time the Williams family battle, so often conducted on the lawns of the All England Club, went the way of Serena as she removed the ladies’ singles championship from the custody of her older sister Venus. In straight sets, too, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2 in 87 minutes.
Serena shows her trophy to the crowd | © Reuters / T Melville
Serena had been saying from the start of these Championships that it was her turn to win Wimbledon. And since the Williamses have turned this event into a private affair, the only one she really needed to defeat was Venus.
The job was accomplished in typical powerful style, with Venus so worn down that her own game collapsed spectacularly from 2-2 in the second set. This was Serena’s third Wimbledon title and 11th Grand Slam and was ample amends for her loss to her big sister 12 months ago. It was well deserved as Venus admitted, saying: “Serena had the answer for everything and played the best tennis today, so congratulations.”
Serena expressed disbelief that she was finally holding once more the trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, which might have been named for her sister, who has won it five times, and paid full tribute: “Venus is the greatest on this surface.” At which they both went off for a rest before playing the doubles final.
Today, the Fourth of July, America’s Independence Day, Venus was far from the best. Her progress to the final had been more impressive, contained fewer games and less stress, but there was not enough in the tank today once the match hit its stride.
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