Bradley Gets Extension

Announced late last night, USA Soccer announced that it was retaining head coach Bob Bradley for another four year cycle and for 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Bradley, who led the USA out of the group stage in this year's World Cup before the team fell to Ghana in the Round of 16, was not expected to return as coach, as many thought that international coach Jurgen Klinsmann might get the job. To me, this shows the faith the U.S. national team have in Bradley to continue to build on this year's success. However, his roster decisions before and during the World Cup (leaving off Brian Ching for Hercules Gomez/Edson Buddle, neither of whom played well, reinserting Ricardo Clark into midfield for Ghana game, etc) made me want to start anew.

Martin Kaymer Wins PGA Championship in Playoff

At the season's final major at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin, Martin Kaymer of Germany emerged as winner of the 92nd PGA Championship, edging Bubba Watson in a three-hole playoff.

Kaymer, who won his first major title, made a 15-foot par putt on the 72nd hole to tie Watson for the clubhouse lead at 11-under par, forcing the playoff.

American Dustin Johnson looked to join the pair as he birdied #17. However, his drive on #18 went well right of the fairway into a crowd of spectators. Not knowing that he was in a bunker that people had been walking in all week, Johnson ground his club into the sand before hitting his second shot into the rough behind the 18th green, eventually bogeying the hole and forcing what seemed like a three-man playoff. However, the PGA enforced a two-shot penalty on Johnson for the grounding, causing him to fall back to 9-under in a tie for fifth place.

In the playoff, Watson birdied the first hole at #10, while Kaymer answered with a birdie at #17. On the third playoff hole at 18, Watson's second shot was well short of green and fell into Seven Mile Creek. From there, Kaymar just needed bogey for the win and he calmly tapped in from two feet.

"I don't realize what happened," Kaymer said. "I just won my first major. I've got goose bumps just talking about it." Kaymer's win also moves him up to #5 in the world golf rankings and earned him $1.35 million.

Rockets Trade Ariza to Hornets

In a four-team trade announced today, the Houston Rockets traded forward Trevor Ariza to the New Orleans Hornets. In exchange, the Rockets get shooting guard Courtney Lee from the New Jersey Nets. The Nets receive power forward Troy Murphy from the Indiana Pacers, while Indiana gets point guard Darren Collison and forward James Posey from the Hornets.

For the Rockets, this trade is a salary dump for a team that was over the cap because of their recent signing of center Brad Miller and re-signings of forward Luis Scola and guard Kyle Lowry. In total, Houston will save $10 million in salary and luxury tax for Ariza, but do lose his perimeter defending on a team that was one of the worst in the NBA in overall defense last year. Lee averaged 12.5 PPG for the Nets last season.

For the Hornets, this is a head-scratcher as Collison (12.4 PPG, 5.4 APG) was one of the top rookie point guards in the league last year after filling in for the injured Chris Paul. Ariza, who averaged a career 14.9 PPG for Houston last season, however, does fill a need at SF for New Orleans, and strengthens their commitment to Paul long term.

The Pacers finally get the point guard they have needed for a long time in Collison, while the Nets get a veteran big man in Murphy (14.6 PPG, 10.2 RPG) to help the front line in New Jersey.

2010-11 NBA Schedule Released

The NBA released its full schedule today, one week after announcing the marquee national TV matchups for the season. The season starts on Tuesday, October 26 with a TNT doubleheader. The Eastern Conference champion Boston Celtics will host LeBron, Bosh, Wade and the Miami Heat at 6:30 P.M. CT. They will be followed by the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers receiving their championship rings against the Houston Rockets at 9:30 P.M. CT. Meanwhile, the much anticipated LeBron return to Cleveland will be December 2 on TNT at 7 PM CT, while the Christmas Day doubleheader on ABC pits the Celtics and Orlando at 1:30 PM CT and the Heat and Lakers at 4 PM. See full schedule at NBA.com.

Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010

Russ Grimm G Washington Redskins 1981-91
Rickey Jackson LB New Orleans Saints 1981-93
Dick LeBeau CB Detroit Lions 1959-72
Floyd Little RB Denver Broncos 1967-75
John Randle DT Minnesota Vikings 1990-2000
Jerry Rice WR San Francisco 49ers 1985-2000
Emmitt Smith RB Dallas Cowboys 1990-2002

In what is being called the greatest class ever, congratulations to the newest class of inductees into the hall.

A-Rod Hits #600

Today at the new Yankee Stadium, Alex Rodriguez became the seventh player in major league baseball history to hit 600 career homeruns. Of the seven, Rodriguez is the youngest ever to reach that milestone, at 35 years and 8 days (Babe Ruth 36 yrs, 196 days). A-Rod took Blue Jays starter Shawn Marcum deep in the first inning 417 feet into Monument Park in centerfield. Of course this is a great accomplishment for one of the best hitters in this generation, but to me, the stain of A-Rod's steroid use will forever stain whatever accolades and awards he has and will win in his career.