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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Tiger Woods picked up right where he left off last week — at the top of the leaderboard.

Dubai Desert Classic
Leaderboard

1. Woods (-7)
T-2. Milkha Singh (-5)
T-2. Edberg (-5)
T-2. Jimenez (-5)
T-2. 8 others (-5)

• Complete scores

Woods, who won the Buick Invitational on Sunday by eight strokes, shot a 7-under 65 Thursday to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic.

“I played well today, just a bunch of good golf shots,” Woods said after his bogey-free round at the Emirates Golf Club.

Eleven players, including Miguel Angel Jimenez and Abu Dhabi Golf Championship winner Martin Kaymer, were tied for second at 67. Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia and defending champion Henrik Stenson were tied with 10 others another stroke back.

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Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

After dominating the Buick Invitational in his first action of 2008, Tiger Woods started strong in Dubai on Thursday.

Woods said he played better in Dubai than he did last week at Torrey Pines.

“I had two good days of practice the last couple days and started to hit the ball a lot better than I did last week,” said Woods, who won the Dubai tournament in 2006.

Last year, Woods was plagued by poor putting and finished third here. He missed a few chances Thursday, but wasn’t complaining.

“I had a couple of good opportunities to make some putts and just kind of ran them over the edge, but overall today was just — couldn’t ask for a better start,” the world’s No. 1 player said.

Jet lag also didn’t appear to bother him.

“The better shape I’ve gotten, the easier it is. I don’t usually have a problem. It usually takes me maybe a day and I’m good to go,” said Woods, who arrived in Dubai on Tuesday after flying halfway around the world to the oil-rich United Arab Emirates.

Woods’ dominant win at the Buick Invitational was his fourth straight and 62nd career title, tying Arnold Palmer for fourth place on the PGA Tour list. If he triumphs in Dubai, it will be his seventh win in eight starts.

Smiley: Hello, Dubai!

After traveling halfway around the world, Bob Smiley got a closer look at Tiger Woods, some reality TV stars and a no-no in the press center. Story

“He’s playing at a very good level at the moment,” Garcia said. “We know that the only thing we can do is keep trying, keep trying, keep playing our hardest and, you know, try to challenge him as much as possible.”

Kaymer had been trailing Woods by one until he bogeyed the final hole.

Jimenez had a hole-in-one on the seventh.

Ian Poulter, who caused somewhat of a stir Wednesday by saying he was the only player capable of challenging Woods’ supremacy, shot a 2-under 70. On Thursday, Poulter said he was miquoted in the Golf World (U.K.) story.

Colin Montgomerie, who played in the same pairing with Woods, banged his driver on the turf after hitting a wayward shot at the ninth hole. Though the Scot made four birdies, he also had two double-bogeys — including at the ninth — to finish at 72.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Source: Woods has two-shot lead after Dubai first round

PLAYERS who start melees will be slugged with bigger fines in 2008, following an Australian Football League tribunal review.

A new offence of "misconduct - instigator of a melee” has been added to the charge sheet for the upcoming season.

It has been set with an initial penalty of $2400 ($1800 for an early guilty plea), rising to $3600 ($2700) and $4800 ($3600 for an early plea) for further offences.

Sanctions for players involved in melees have been decreased to $1600 ($1200 for an early plea), $2800 ($2100) and $4000 ($3,000).

"It was determined that the role of an instigator of a melee should be recognised with more serious action against that particular player, and this now means that a player who starts a melee can be found guilty of both instigating it, and being involved in a melee, while there is a lesser penalty for other players,” said AFL general manager of football operations Adrian Anderson.

In other changes, the words "unreasonable and unnecessary contact to the face” were added to the wording of the misconduct offence for eye-gouging.

Anderson or the tribunal chairman can also now take action against any person who does not co-operate with the tribunal.

Anderson said the changes for 2008 were minor.

"The AFL will continue to examine its tribunal system each year, to see if we can continue to improve our processes, but we have been extremely pleased with the support received from the clubs and the player group,” he said.

AAP

Source: AFL crackdown on melee starters

Sooners enter duel meet ranked sixth as the Cornhuskers travel to Norman ranked No. 12.

Jan. 31, 2008

 OU Gymnastics Double Dual vs. Nebraska  Date  Friday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m. CT  Location  Norman, Okla. | Lloyd Noble Center   Tickets  OU Athletics Ticket Office | Call (800) 456-GoOU  Online  Live Webcast on Oklahoma All-Access | Free Live Stats   Promotions  50-Cent Hot Dog Night, Giveaways, Autographs 

NORMAN, Okla. - The University of Oklahoma women’s gymnastics squad hosts Nebraska in the team’s 2008 home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday at the Lloyd Noble Center in a dual meet with both school’s men’s squads.

No. 6 OU enters the meet with a 8-0 record, fresh off a season-high team score of 196.550 in last Sunday’s competition at West Virginia.

The Sooners are led by senior All-American Kiara Redmond-Sturms who earned her second-consecutive Big 12 Gymnast of the Week honor for her efforts in the win, as the Los Angeles, Calif., native won her fourth-straight all-around, vault, bars and floor title.

Redmond-Sturms enters the meet ranked No. 1 in the nation on the floor exercise, with a season-average score of  9.931. 

Twelfth-ranked Nebraska travels to Norman with a 3-1 overall record, 2-0 in Big 12 matches. The reigning Big 12 Champions, Nebraska’s only loss on the year is to second-ranked Utah.

The Cornhuskers are led by senior Emily Parsons, who shared Big 12 Gymnast of the Week honors with Redmond-Sturms, after her efforts in the NU win against conference-rival Missouri.

Billed as “Youth Gymnastics Night,” children in attendance will receive free OU gymnastics bracelets and can register to win an OU bicycle which will be given away following the meet.  In addition to OU men’s and women’s gymnastics posters, the first 500 fans into the Lloyd Noble Center will be given free OU gymnastics T-shirts and 50-cent hot dogs will be sold while supplies last.  Following the meet, both Sooner squads will sign autographs on the upper concourse. 

Tickets will be available Friday night in the East lobby of the LNC of by calling the OU Ticket Office at 325-2424, or toll free at (800) 456-GoOU.  General admission tickets are $7 and $5 for youth.  Admission to the event is free to OU students with a student ID.

  Women’s Gymnastics Notes
LOOKING BACK:                              
The Oklahoma women’s gymnastics squad won all four event titles for the fourth consecutive meet en route to a season-high team score of 196.550 as the Sooners bested No. 33 West Virginia (192.7), George Washington (192.05) and William & Mary (187.45) in Morgantown, W. Va., on Jan. 27.

The Sooners posted a season-high team score of 49.375 on floor while tying season bests on vault (49.075) and bars (49.2).

Senior All-American Kiara Redmond-Sturms won her fourth consecutive all-around title with a score of 39.525, that included wins on vault (9.875), uneven bars (9.9) and floor (9.925).

BIG 12 BATTLE:
Nebraska enter Friday’s contest with two of the top six scores in the NCAA this season.  Both squads are coming off of season-high team scores as the Sooners posted a 196.550 in their weekend sweep of West Virginia, William & Mary and George Washington, while the Cornhuskers bested conference-rival Missouri by a score of 196-675-195.350 in Lincoln, Neb., last Friday.

TENTATIVE OKLAHOMA LINEUP

VAULT                         
1. Jessica Kinder
2. Haley DeProspero
3. Jackie Flanery
4. Mary Mantle
5. Natalie Ratcliff
6. Kiara Redmond-Sturms

BARS                         
1. Ashley Jackson
2. Jackie Flanery
3. Haley DeProspero
4. Hollie Vise
5. Stephanie LoPiccolo
6. Kiara Redmond-Sturms

Beam                         
1. Kristin Smith
2. Ashley Jackson
3. Stephanie LoPiccolo
4. Hollie Vise
5. Haley DeProspero
6. Kiara Redmond-Sturms

Floor                         
1. Kristin Smith
2. Jessica Kinder
3. Haley DeProspero
4. Jackie Flanery
5. Ashley Jackson
6. Kiara Redmond-Sturms

All-Around                         
1. Kiara Redmond-Sturms
2. Haley DeProspero 

NEW YEAR, SAME RESULTS
Following her all-around title that propelled OU to its highest score of the 2008 season, gymnast Kiara Redmond-Sturms was named co-Big 12 Gymnast of the Week by the league Tuesday, sharing the honor with Nebraska’s Emily Parsons.

It marked the second consecutive week that the senior All-American had earned the accolade. 

The Los Angeles, Calif., native won her fourth straight all-around title as the Sooners coasted to wins over West Virginia, GWU and William & Mary in Morgantown, W. Va., on Sunday.

Champion on vault (9.875), bars (9.9) and floor (9.925), Redmond-Sturms finished second on beam to teammate Hollie Vise in the only event she didn’t win.

Her four sole wins over the weekend were the most of any Big 12 Conference gymnast.

The senior All-American leads the country on floor with an event average of 9.931 and also holds top-10 rankings in the all-around (No. and on vault (No. 9). 

Redmond-Sturms has won every all-around (4), vault (4), bars (4) and floor (4) title on the year. 

THE BEAM QUEEN(S)
OU junior Haley DeProspero won the beam title at the first three 2008 meets for the Sooners. Her season average of 9.856 on the apparatus ranks sixth in the nation.  The McKinney, Texas, native has company though.  Hollie Vise earned the first event title of her career after a 9.85 on beam at West Va., a week after being named the Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week.

AMONG THE BIG 12’s BEST
Leading OU in its win over TWU, Sooner gymnasts Kiara Redmond-Sturms and Hollie Vise were honored as Big 12 Gymnast and Event Specialist of the Week, respectively, the conference office announced Jan 23.

Redmond-Sturms won her third all-around title of the season with a career-high 39.65, the second-highest mark in OU women’s gymnastics history. Highlighted by a career-high 9.95 in the win on the floor exercise, the Los Angeles, Calif., native also earned event titles on bars and vault against the Pioneers.

The five-time All-American leads all Big 12 opponents on bars, floor and the all-around average.

It marks the second time Redmond-Sturms has garnered Big 12 honors. She was named the event specialist of the week on Jan. 31, 2007, after posting a perfect 10.00 on vault in the Sooners’ wins over TWU, George Washington and Centenary.

Capped off by career high’s in both events, Vise finished second on beam (9.9) to teammate Redmond-Sturms and third on the uneven bars (9.825) against TWU to earn her first weekly honor. The Dallas, Texas, native’s 9.9 on beam tied for the second-highest non-OU beam score this season in the Big 12.

REGULAR SEASON SENSATIONS
OU has won 21 of its last 22 regular-season matchup’s dating back to Jan. 19, 2007.
Winners of all regular season meets on the year, the Sooners last regular season defeat was to Stanford on March 9, 2007 in Palo Alto, Calif.

NO. 6
The OU women’s gymnastics squad jumped to sixth in the latest GymInfo rankings, released Monday.  The Sooners cruised past host West Virginia, George Washington and William & Mary in Morgantown, W. Va., on Sunday after posting a season-high team score of 196.550.

The Big 12 features three teams ranked in the top-15, led by Oklahoma’s sixth-place standing. Nebraska, who OU faces in its home opener on Friday, is ranked 12th.  Missouri stands three spots back at No. 15.

The Sooners are No. 3 in the country on the floor exercise after posting a season-high team score of 49.375 in the event on Sunday.

OU leads all Big 12 foes on bars, floor, beam and team score.

On bars, the Sooners hold four of the top-5 spots in the conference with Redmond-Sturms ranked first (9.862), Stephanie LoPiccolo fourth (9.819) and Ashley Jackson and Hollie Vise tied for fifth (9.775).

DeProspero is second in the conference on beam while Vise stands third (9.831).

Redmond-Sturms (No. 1), Jackson (No. 3) Jessica Kinder (No. 4) and Jackie Flanery (No. 6) hold top-six rankings on the floor.

COMING UP NEXT…
After the NU meet, the Sooners hit the road for the fifth time in six meets as OU travels to Denver, Colo, on Feb. 9, to face DU. The meet against the Pioneers is slated for a 7 p.m. (CST) start.

Impact Performer 

Kiara Redmond-Sturms | Sr. | Los Angles, Calif.
The senior All-American leads the country on floor with an event average of 9.931 and also holds top-10 rankings in the all-around (No. and on vault (No. 9). 

Redmond-Sturms has won every all-around (4), vault (4), bars (4) and floor (4) title on the year. 

SOONERS OPEN SEASON RANKED NO. 8
The Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team was ranked eighth in the preseason GymInfo Coaches Poll, the second-highest ranking of any Big 12 team.

The Sooners return All-Americans Kiara Redmond-Sturms and Stephanie LoPiccolo from a Sooner squad that finished eighth last season at the NCAA Championships under first-year head coach K.J. Kindler, marking a program-best.

OU returns 11 letterwinners from last season’s squad that went 20-8 and finished second in the Big 12. 

KINDLER SIGNS THREE FOR 2008
The Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team posted its best finish in NCAA history last spring and recruits are taking notice. Head coach K.J. Kindler announced one of the most decorated classes in OU history during the early announcement period, signing three gymnasts to National Letters of Intent.  Megan Ferguson, Natasha Kelley and Sara Stone will join the Sooners in the fall of 2008.
 
“We feel that this signing class will be instrumental in the future of the Sooner Gymnastics Program,” said Kindler.  “Megan, Natasha and Sara bring with them numerous accolades including many National titles both in the Elite arena and at the Junior Olympic level.  All three of these women have displayed an absolute desire to be Sooners and we salute their enthusiasm for the University and our program.”
 
Ferguson, a Level 10 from Blue Valley High School in Olathe, Kan., trains at Eagles Gymnastics, the former club of current OU gymnast Jacqueline Flanery.  Ferguson was two-time Junior Olympic Nationals beam champion and five-time J.O. Nationals qualifier. She has dominated state competition, winning the level 10 all-around title in 2005, `06 and `07 while sweeping every individual event honor all three seasons as well.

Kelley enters the OU program as a four-time U.S. National Team member.  The senior elite gymnast from Katy, Texas, has found success on both the international and national stage, finishing second in the all-around of the 2006 Visa Championships, after capturing the all-around title a year prior in the junior division of the Visa Championships. In her `06 Visa Championships runner-up finish, Kelley finished second on the uneven bars and beam, and fourth on the floor exercise.  Kelley shared all-around honors at the 2006 U.S. Classic, placing first on the uneven bars, second on vault and fourth on beam and floor. At the 2007 Visa Championships, Kelley finished 10th in the all-around after placing sixth on the beam and ninth on the uneven bars. On the International stage, Kelley won the all-around title at the 2007 Houston International Invitational, placing first on the beam, floor, uneven bars, and second on the vault.  The 17-year old placed second at the 2007 Tyson American Cup and fourth in the all-around of the `07 USA vs. Great Britain International Competition in Lisburn, Ireland. She also captured all-around titles at both the `05 Junior Gymnastics Competition in Yohohama, Japan, and the Olympiad Elite in Ensenada, Mexico, a year prior.  Kelley helped the U.S. squad to a silver medal at the 2006 World Championships as a finalist on floor.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Stone is a member of Metroplex Gymnastics where she is coached by Bryan Streeter, Dave Marus, and Jana and Marcus Harlin.  The Spring Creek Academy senior and junior elite gymnast is a two-time qualifier for the U.S. Classic. She won the all-around title at the 2005 Metroplex Challenge and won the beam title at the 2006 level 10 Texas state competition.

Source: OU Hosts Nebraska in Home Opener

ESPN and ABC have made the speculation official, Dave O’Brien and Eric Wynalda are no longer commentators for their soccer broadcasts. This includes MLS and US soccer matches.

Replacing them will be JP Dellacamera doing play by play and John Harkes with analyst. The rest of the team will be Allen Hopkins (sideline reporter), Julie Foudy (studio Analyst) and Rob Stone who will sub in for Dellacamera.

I really like this lineup. Dellacamera knows the game well and can call a fine match while Harkes should be able to explain why things are happening without looking to pick fights about every little thing.

One little bit of interest, Bruce Arena is nowhere on the list. Bruce has a lot of knowledge but his broadcast skills needed some serious work, so I’m happy about this.

Labels: 2010 World Cup, Dave O’Brien, Eric Wynalda, ESPN, John Harkes, JP Dellacamera, MLS, Television, US Soccer

Source: New broadcast team for US and MLS soccer - Dave O’Brien is out

VINA DEL MAR, Chile - Italy’s Fabio Fognini reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final Thursday, beating Spanish qualifier David Marrero 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in the second round of the Movistar Open.

Fognini, who eliminated second-seeded Juan Ignacio Chela in the first round, will meet another Spaniard, Santiago Ventura, in the quarter-finals. Ventura squandered a 5-1 lead in the third set and three match points before putting away 2007 quarter finalist Sergio Roitman of Argentina, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4).

In another second-round match, Argentina’s Carlos Berloq beat Peru’s Luis Horna 7-6 (3), 3-6, 7-6 (3). 

Source: Fognini reaches quarters in Chile

Angola Advances

KUMASI, Ghana - Angola and Tunisia both advanced to the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations on Thursday after a 0-0 draw.

The result was enough to send both teams into the last eight with five points, with Tunisia finishing at the top of Group D on goals scored.

Senegal, a semifinalist two years ago, and South Africa were eliminated following a 1-1 draw in Kumasi.

"We did our best," said Senegal coach Lamine Ndiaye, who took over following Henryk Kasperczak’s resignation Monday. "The performance was just not good enough."

Related Info

• Schedule and Results
• Photo Gallery - African Cup of Nations

Angola will next meet defending champion Egypt on Monday while Tunisia takes on Cameroon on the same day.

Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Guinea and host Ghana have also qualified for the last eight.

South Africa took the lead in the 15th minute when Elrio van Heerden converted Tim Modise’s cross from the left wing, but Henri Camara replied for Senegal in the 40th by scoring from the edge of the box after Aaron Mokoena had failed to make a clearance.

"I was happy with the performance in the first half," South Africa coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. "This was good experience for the young players but it’s unfortunate we have to go home early."

Angola, which is making its fourth tournament appearance, has never gone beyond the first round.

"This game was very tactical," Angola coach Luis Oliveira Goncalves said. "The result is fair because the best two teams in the group advanced."

Goncalves and Egypt’s Hassan Shehata are the only African coaches to advance. The remaining six are either French or German.

In Tamale, Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre left top scorer Francileudo Santos on the bench, preferring Issam Jomaa in attack.

Sabeur Frej headed wide from a corner in the seventh minute, and Amine Chermiti forced a save from Angola goalkeeper Lama in the 16th.

"Although we were not able to perform very well, we are qualified for the next round," Tunisia coach Roger Lemerre said.

Nsimba Baptista had Angola’s best chance of the first half when he ran through on goal but could only direct a weak shot straight at goalkeeper Hamdi Kasraoui.

Source: Draw gets Tunisia, Angola into quarters

Gilberto’s Hertha contract was due to expire in the summer

Totttenham have completed the signing of Brazilian left-back Gilberto from Hertha Berlin for a reported 1.9m.

The move had looked in doubt earlier on Thursday after problems with the 31-year-old’s medical but those difficulties have now been resolved.

Gilberto, who played for Brazil at the 2006 World Cup in Germany and has won 27 caps, can also play in midfield.

He spent three and a half years in Germany after his move from Sao Caetano, making 101 appearances.

The player was out of contract at the end of the season and Hertha had released a statement insisting he would be staying in the Bundesliga, with some reports suggesting complications with his medical.

Tottenham have already signed Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate, Rangers full-back Alan Hutton and Cardiff’s Chris Gunter during the January transfer window.

Source: Tottenham sign defender Gilberto

Bucknell head men’s basketball coach Pat Flannery is continuing to undergo medical testing after removing himself from the bench due to illness in the second half of Wednesday’s home game against Lehigh.

Flannery was admitted to Evangelical Community Hospital on Wednesday evening. As of late Thursday afternoon, he was doing well and listed in satisfactory condition while still undergoing further testing and evaluation. Since this is a personal medical situation, Flannery and his family are requesting any further details be kept private at this time.

Thursday was a scheduled off day for the team, and the rest of the coaching staff spent the day preparing for Bucknell’s next game, which is Sunday at noon against Army at Sojka Pavilion.

Source: Bucknell Men’s Basketball Coach Pat Flannery Continues Medical Evaluation

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Adam “Pacman” Jones is busy clearing away the legal problems that led to his suspension from the NFL.

His biggest challenge may be proving he can control himself.

Suspended for the 2007 season, the NFL will review Jones’ status after the Pro Bowl. But commissioner Roger Goodell has said actions, not words, speak loudest.

A Tennessee judge dismissed two misdemeanor charges Thursday from an incident Aug. 25, 2006, leaving only one criminal charge still pending against him in Georgia. But Jones didn’t help himself by being in an Atlanta strip club Jan. 3 while the Titans were prepping for a playoff game.

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AP Photo/Mark Humphrey

Pacman Jones was spared charges in Tennessee when a district attorney and judge decided he has been punished enough.

An attorney who asked that Jones be arrested for allegedly punching her withdrew her request Jan. 16. Atlanta police said Thursday they will not investigate Jones without the victim’s help.

Worrick Robinson, one of Jones’ attorneys, said the issue of the cornerback being in a club remained and that there’s no excuse for that.

“He’s a grown man. … But he’s got to take responsibility for his actions. When he’s asked, he’s going to have to step up and say he was there, that there is no excuse,” Robinson said.

Goodell’s strict standards are well documented.

Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman is hoping for full reinstatement by April after sitting out the last two seasons.

Originally suspended the first four games of the 2006 season for skipping a drug test, the punishment was extended to a full season after a drunk driving arrest. Two Georgia men accused Thurman of kicking and hitting them at a party last June. No charges were filed, but Goodell turned down Thurman’s request to reinstate him for last season.

The Titans might not want Jones back.

They went from giving up the most yards defensively in the NFL with Jones in 2006 to fifth best and a 10-6 record with a playoff berth without him. A video popped up recently on the Internet showing Jones saying he saw himself in Dallas with a couple Pro Bowls in two or three years.

Jones did not comment Thursday when asked if he had done enough to be reinstated. Robinson said the video was shot last summer when Jones was upset at not being allowed to take part in training camp.

“He still considers himself to be a member of the Titans’ team until he’s told otherwise. We don’t have any reason to think otherwise. But again, he’s got to be reinstated before that hurdle can be crossed,” Robinson said.

One step in that direction came with the dismissal of misdemeanor public intoxication and disorderly conduct charges stemming from an incident Aug. 25, 2006, outside a club in this Nashville suburb.

Jones had been upset over his missing wallet and was arrested after cursing at officers before leaving.

With Jones’ no contest plea in Las Vegas on Dec. 6, he now has only one pending charge of felony obstruction left in Georgia from a February 2006 encounter with a police officer. A hearing in that case has been postponed until March.

The most authorities here could have punished Jones was a $50 fine for each charge, and District Attorney William Whitesell said the Titans cornerback had been punished much more for his behavior through the league’s suspension.

He missed out on $1.29 million in base salary.

This case had been settled a year ago. Jones had to pay court costs and go through anger management with the judge telling him to stay out of trouble for six months.

But Las Vegas police named Jones as the person who incited a fight inside a strip club on Feb. 19, 2007, that led to a triple shooting that left one man paralyzed. Whitesell argued last July that Jones being charged in Nevada was enough to show that the cornerback did not follow the agreement.

Jones pleaded no contest Dec. 6 in Las Vegas to conspiracy to commit disorderly conduct in a plea deal reducing two felony charges.

Before dismissing these charges, the prosecutor asked Jones to apologize to the officer in writing, which he did.

“Mr. Jones hopefully has learned something and been punished enough,” Whitesell said.

The judge also asked Jones to speak to the court, and the cornerback said he has learned a lot about dealing with others and how to conduct himself.

“It won’t happen again,” he said.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Source: Judge: Pacman punished enough, charges dropped