AP-The New Orleans Hornets have fired coach Byron Scott and named general manager Jeff Bower as his replacement.
In a statement released Thursday owner George Shinn said the move gives the Hornets the best opportunity “to reach our goals this season.”
The Hornets also announced that former New Orleans head coach Tim Floyd, who Scott replaced, will be one of Bower’s top assistants.
New Orleans lost 124-104 at Phoenix on Wednesday, falling to 3-6 to start the season.
When Byron Scott took over as coach following the 2003-04 season, he was the Hornets’ third coach in three seasons. He was the NBA coach of the year in 2008, when Chris Paul led the Hornets to a 56-26 record.
The Professional Bull Riders, Inc. Built Ford Tough World Finals came to a close yesterday night with an unsurprising end. Befor the finasl, J.B. Mauney, a contender for the title, lead the brackets in winnings. Pointwise however, the quiet Kody Lostroh was the favorite.
Lostroh has been number one in the standings all season, and was unaware upon entering the Built Ford Tough Championship Round that he had already earned the gold buckle. The 24-year old Colorado cowboy is quiet and media-shy, but his riding (called “flawless” by rodeo great, Ty Murray) allows him to walk the walk without having to talk himself into his Champion status.
Battling a torn tendon in his elbow and the doctors who wanted to operate on it, Lostroh “put [his injury] in God’s hands and went on with [riding].” That was last April. Today, after winning the World Finals, he’s allowing the operation to go forward– now that it can’t interfere with his riding.
For the win in the Finals, Lostroh finished the season with 16,640 points, 594 ahead of Mauney, who finished second for the second consecutive year. According to PBR rules, even in a worst-case scenario, meaning Mauney received the maximum points possible and Lostroh the fewest possible, Lostroh would have won by 88 points.
Yankee Celebration
AP-Paint the town in pinstripes! Nearly a decade after their dynasty ended on a blooper in the desert, the New York Yankees are baseball’s best again.
Hideki Matsui tied a World Series record with six RBIs, Andy Pettitte won on short rest and New York beat the Philadelphia Phillies 7-3 in Game 6 on Wednesday night, finally seizing that elusive 27th title. It was the team’s first since winning three straight from 1998-2000.
Matsui powered a quick rout of old foe Pedro Martinez – and when Mariano Rivera got the final out it was ecstasy in the Bronx for George Steinbrenner’s go-for-broke bunch.
What a way for Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter and crew to christen their $1.5 billion ballpark: One season, one championship.
And to think it capped a season that started in turmoil – a steroids scandal involving A-Rod, followed by hip surgery that kept him out until May.
Continue reading 'Yankees Win World Series 2009'»
Comments (0) 
