Maria Sharapova is - at 24 years of age - considered a vet on the women's tennis tour. Just don't ask her how she feels about being one of the older players on tour, as I found out when I talked with her before her first match at the Rogers Cup
"I consider myself young still," said Sharapova. "I'm 24. Just because did well when I was very young- when I was 17 - doesn't mean I'm old. I'm answering that question a lot and I'm thinking that's getting old, right?
Point taken.
Sharapova's rise up the rankings has been impressive to watch. She was in a semi-final of the French Open and made it to the Wimbledon final as well. The world No. 1 player in 2005 had to endure shoulder injuries in recent years. She had shoulder surgery in 2008 and only now is she returning to form to again be one of the best women tennis players on the planet.
"It was certainly an injury not many people have come back from, especially tennis players," said Sharapova. "It was tough going into it knowing that was a possibility. It took a very long time. I had hoped it hadn't happened at such a young stage of my career (21) but that's an athlete's life."
Now Sharapova - who was in the final of the Rogers Cup in 2009 - will look to win it while at the same time gearing up for the US Open, an event she won in 2006.
"It's (Rogers Cup) a big event for me. It's a tough draw. You've got to win 6 matches in order to be the champion," said Sharapova. "In leading up to the US Open you want to be in the best shape so it's a really good test for every one."
Wednesday, 10 August 2011
Tuesday, 9 August 2011
Brett Lawrie set for Toronto debut tonight
Say this for Brett Lawrie: He's media savy.
"I'm not a saviour," he said before he played his first major league game for the Toronto Blye Jays in Baltimore last Friday.
He may want to re-think that after his first major league series.
On Friday, the highly touted 21 year-old from Langley BC - who destroyed pitching in AAA Las Vegas - had his first major league hit and rbi in a Blue Jays win. On Sunday afternoon, he hit his first major league home run.
In the post game interview, JP Arencibia, Ricky Romero and Brett Cecil gave him a double shaving cream pie-gatorade shower. Welcome to the bigs, young fella.
In all, Lawrie was 5-11 now he makes his debut in Toronto tonight.
"Obviously it's a plus cause now I know I can stick, I can play with these guys," Lawrie said Sunday afternoon. "I knew before, but it was a question of getting the opportunity."
Lawrie's weekend was made the more special with his parents - Russ and Cheryl - on hand along with his sister Danielle who made the trip.
"After his first game we were back at the hotel sitting and waiting for him and when he walked in he had a smile on his face," said a proud father Russ on Sunday. "I remember that smile when he was 4 or 5 years old. That pretty much told the whole story."
"To step in and do what he did, what can you say? He has tremendous power and he showed a glimpe of that in this series in Baltimore," said manager John Farrell.
Tuesday afternoon Lawrie - acquired in the off season for Shaun Marcum - will play on Canadian soil for the first time as a big leaguer.
It was at Rogers Centre where Lawrie as a youngster took a bunch of dirt from the pitchers mound, with the intention of one day returning as a big league player. Mission accomplished.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," said Lawrie. "There's a lot of people who want to see all of us play. Hopefully I can show something to somebody who hasn't seen me play before."
"I'm not a saviour," he said before he played his first major league game for the Toronto Blye Jays in Baltimore last Friday.
He may want to re-think that after his first major league series.
On Friday, the highly touted 21 year-old from Langley BC - who destroyed pitching in AAA Las Vegas - had his first major league hit and rbi in a Blue Jays win. On Sunday afternoon, he hit his first major league home run.
In the post game interview, JP Arencibia, Ricky Romero and Brett Cecil gave him a double shaving cream pie-gatorade shower. Welcome to the bigs, young fella.
"Obviously it's a plus cause now I know I can stick, I can play with these guys," Lawrie said Sunday afternoon. "I knew before, but it was a question of getting the opportunity."
Lawrie's weekend was made the more special with his parents - Russ and Cheryl - on hand along with his sister Danielle who made the trip.
"After his first game we were back at the hotel sitting and waiting for him and when he walked in he had a smile on his face," said a proud father Russ on Sunday. "I remember that smile when he was 4 or 5 years old. That pretty much told the whole story."
"To step in and do what he did, what can you say? He has tremendous power and he showed a glimpe of that in this series in Baltimore," said manager John Farrell.
Tuesday afternoon Lawrie - acquired in the off season for Shaun Marcum - will play on Canadian soil for the first time as a big leaguer.
It was at Rogers Centre where Lawrie as a youngster took a bunch of dirt from the pitchers mound, with the intention of one day returning as a big league player. Mission accomplished.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," said Lawrie. "There's a lot of people who want to see all of us play. Hopefully I can show something to somebody who hasn't seen me play before."
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Dwane Casey takes over as Toronto Raptors head coach
Dwane Casey seems like a great fit for the Toronto Raptors
.
He is the 8th head coach in franchise history, and like others before him he is preaching a defence first mentality. Will he succeed where so many others have failed?
"I’m passionate about what I do," said the 54 year-old Casey as he was formally introduced on Tuesday.
"When we first started in Dallas three years ago we had a veteran team and I’m getting on the guys, passionate about things, calling out direction, calling out guys during the game and in practice.
"That’s who I am, and players respect that I would never do it in a way to embarrass players, but they know how I feel. I wear my feelings on my shirt sleeves. I bring that energy every day. I’m a hard worker.
"There isn’t a coach in this league who’ll outwork me or our staff."
But can Casey - who was a head coach for a year and a half with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2005- 2007 (career record of 53-69) really make THIS Raptors team - one of the worst in defence in the NBA a season ago- all that much better?
"I refuse to be a part of the choir that says, ‘Andrea cannot play defence.’ I refuse to be a part of the choir that says, ‘Jose can’t keep guys in front of him.’ Or, ‘This team is 30th in the league in defence.’ Because I know they can be better than 30th in the league defensively."
Casey added: "Defensively, I'm going to be a hands on control freak. Offensively I'm going to trust and give them freedom. The players will know how important defence is. I want defence to be fun."
Yup - he said that - playing defence is fun.
"Dwane embodies a lot of the characteristics we were looking for, if not every one, to a T," said Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo.
Casey was an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks for the last 3 seasons, and was instrumental in leading the Mavs to the NBA title earlier this month. His systems shut down the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and the big 3 with the Heat.
In fact hours after the Mavericks won the title, head coach Rick Carlisle called Colangelo selling him on Casey.
"Rick Carlisle said 'Bryan, I want to know what it's going to take to get Dwane that job in Toronto. It's right for him. It's right for you. It's right for the situation. You need to strongly considerate it. I said Rick, first of all congratulations you should be enjoying yourself and not promoting your guys."
"During the playoffs we spliced in some hockey video with our game because we felt like we were playing too soft against Miami to start the series," said Casey. "Got guys checking guys up into the window (glass) and the board and that type of thing. It really set the tone. I don't know a lot about hockey but I know I will learn about it. That's the way we want to play. We want people to feel us when they cut through the lane."
"The key to defence is effort," added Casey. "It's hard play and effort. Once we establish that, that is who we are and that's part of our identify, the defence will come. Are we going to lock down and stop LeBron James each and every night? No it's not going to happen. But we will develop a defensive mentality."
Good luck to Casey who has been a head coach, associate head coach and assistant coach in the NBA in 16 of the last 17 years.
.
He is the 8th head coach in franchise history, and like others before him he is preaching a defence first mentality. Will he succeed where so many others have failed?
"I’m passionate about what I do," said the 54 year-old Casey as he was formally introduced on Tuesday.
"When we first started in Dallas three years ago we had a veteran team and I’m getting on the guys, passionate about things, calling out direction, calling out guys during the game and in practice.
"That’s who I am, and players respect that I would never do it in a way to embarrass players, but they know how I feel. I wear my feelings on my shirt sleeves. I bring that energy every day. I’m a hard worker.
"There isn’t a coach in this league who’ll outwork me or our staff."
But can Casey - who was a head coach for a year and a half with the Minnesota Timberwolves from 2005- 2007 (career record of 53-69) really make THIS Raptors team - one of the worst in defence in the NBA a season ago- all that much better?
"I refuse to be a part of the choir that says, ‘Andrea cannot play defence.’ I refuse to be a part of the choir that says, ‘Jose can’t keep guys in front of him.’ Or, ‘This team is 30th in the league in defence.’ Because I know they can be better than 30th in the league defensively."
Casey added: "Defensively, I'm going to be a hands on control freak. Offensively I'm going to trust and give them freedom. The players will know how important defence is. I want defence to be fun."
Yup - he said that - playing defence is fun.
"Dwane embodies a lot of the characteristics we were looking for, if not every one, to a T," said Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo.
Casey was an assistant coach with the Dallas Mavericks for the last 3 seasons, and was instrumental in leading the Mavs to the NBA title earlier this month. His systems shut down the likes of Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and the big 3 with the Heat.
In fact hours after the Mavericks won the title, head coach Rick Carlisle called Colangelo selling him on Casey.
"Rick Carlisle said 'Bryan, I want to know what it's going to take to get Dwane that job in Toronto. It's right for him. It's right for you. It's right for the situation. You need to strongly considerate it. I said Rick, first of all congratulations you should be enjoying yourself and not promoting your guys."
"During the playoffs we spliced in some hockey video with our game because we felt like we were playing too soft against Miami to start the series," said Casey. "Got guys checking guys up into the window (glass) and the board and that type of thing. It really set the tone. I don't know a lot about hockey but I know I will learn about it. That's the way we want to play. We want people to feel us when they cut through the lane."
"The key to defence is effort," added Casey. "It's hard play and effort. Once we establish that, that is who we are and that's part of our identify, the defence will come. Are we going to lock down and stop LeBron James each and every night? No it's not going to happen. But we will develop a defensive mentality."
Good luck to Casey who has been a head coach, associate head coach and assistant coach in the NBA in 16 of the last 17 years.
Friday, 27 May 2011
Memorial Cup - May 27, 2011
Dave Cameron has had a busy year.
The head coach and General Manager of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors was behind the bench as Canada blew a 3-0 lead to Russia in the gold medal game of the world junior hockey championship.
He then saw and Owen Sound Attack team win game 7 of the Ontario Hockey League championship in overtime .
Now Cameron has his Majors in the semi-final of the Memorial Cup. One win away from Sunday's final. A win away from giving him a title this year.
"The elimination games are always more intense," said Cameron hours before the Majors-Ice semi-final match. "Game on."
Cameron is as intense a coach as you will find, especially on game days.
He is also one of the funniest and this morning he was at it again saying there's nothing like coaching teenagers.
"There's no such thing as you've seen it all," smiled Cameron. "Boydie (Assistant coach James Boyd) and I have a rule called the "seat belt" rule. If two days go by and there are no issues, put your seatbelt on, something's coming!"
"Thats what keeps you young in this business working with these young guys."
"I love coming to the rink and as intense as I get sometimes, I wouldn't change my job," said the 52 year old PEI native. "I consider myself fortuanate. I never take it for granted. I do enjoy it."
"A lot of reporters only see me on game days and sometimes I am really intense," said Cameron. "But there is nobody in hockey that has more fun than I do. I have a wicked sense of humour."
"My theory is if you don't enjoy what you do it is just another job."
Cameron is under huge expectations here, as he has a third chance to end the season on a winning note.
"When I first started I wouldn't have enjoyed the tournament," said Cameron. "As you get older you can sepearte the two."
Right now Cameron is enjoying the Memorial Cup. He would have more fun if he and his team got to celebrate instead of watching someone else bask in victory.
The head coach and General Manager of the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors was behind the bench as Canada blew a 3-0 lead to Russia in the gold medal game of the world junior hockey championship.
He then saw and Owen Sound Attack team win game 7 of the Ontario Hockey League championship in overtime .
Now Cameron has his Majors in the semi-final of the Memorial Cup. One win away from Sunday's final. A win away from giving him a title this year.
"The elimination games are always more intense," said Cameron hours before the Majors-Ice semi-final match. "Game on."
Cameron is as intense a coach as you will find, especially on game days.
He is also one of the funniest and this morning he was at it again saying there's nothing like coaching teenagers.
"There's no such thing as you've seen it all," smiled Cameron. "Boydie (Assistant coach James Boyd) and I have a rule called the "seat belt" rule. If two days go by and there are no issues, put your seatbelt on, something's coming!"
"Thats what keeps you young in this business working with these young guys."
"I love coming to the rink and as intense as I get sometimes, I wouldn't change my job," said the 52 year old PEI native. "I consider myself fortuanate. I never take it for granted. I do enjoy it."
"A lot of reporters only see me on game days and sometimes I am really intense," said Cameron. "But there is nobody in hockey that has more fun than I do. I have a wicked sense of humour."
"My theory is if you don't enjoy what you do it is just another job."
Cameron is under huge expectations here, as he has a third chance to end the season on a winning note.
"When I first started I wouldn't have enjoyed the tournament," said Cameron. "As you get older you can sepearte the two."
Right now Cameron is enjoying the Memorial Cup. He would have more fun if he and his team got to celebrate instead of watching someone else bask in victory.
Thursday, 26 May 2011
Majors and Attack - bad blood continues
Here's hoping Owen Sound and Mississauga meet one more time.
The Majors beat the Attack last night 3-1, forcing Owen Sound to have to play a tie-breaker game tonight against the Kootenay Ice while the Majors will face the winner on Friday in the semi-final.
The bad blood between the Majors and the Attack that came out during the 7 game OHL final is once again on display.
The Attack have lost captain Garrett Wilson for the rest of the Memorial Cup after he suffered concussion like symptoms after taking a 1st period hit from Chris DeSousa of the Majors last night.
Owen Sound will go into an elimination game without their captain and Joey Hishon who was injured earlier in the tournament.
"He put his elbow right into his back, and his head bounces off the glass," said Owen Sound coach Mark Reeds. "Obviously it's a hit from behind. There's different rules and we just want to know how to play. If someone can fill me in that would be great."
"He was in a vulnerable spot," said Attack GM Dale DeGray.
There was no penalty on the play.
The Majors not surprisingly don't see it that way.
"There's hitting allowed in this game," said DeSousa. "It was kind of a freak accident. I think he hit his head on the glass. There can't be a suspension every time someone is hurt."
Majors caoch Dave Cameron said, "You go back to the playoffs, take my comments that I was fined $2,500 for, take the part out about the referees and I stated what I thought about that team. I'm not going to repeat it. When you win say little. When you lose say less."
After his team won game 5 of the OHL final, Cameron was critical of Owen Sound and accused them of diving.
For the Majors and Attack to meet for a 9th time in the last few weeks, Owen Sound will have to beat the Ice. Kootenay will have Brayden McNabb in the lineup and that doesn't sit well with the Attack.
It was McNabb's hit that knocked out Joey Hishon the first time these two teams met.
"Tonight he's going to run the power play, and our best power play guy will watch from his hotel room," said DeGray. "I'm not so sure that's fair."
The odds are against the Attack tonight but you just never know with this team - a team that has been counted out time and time again this season.
"We have a lot of fight in that dressing room," said DeGray.
The Majors beat the Attack last night 3-1, forcing Owen Sound to have to play a tie-breaker game tonight against the Kootenay Ice while the Majors will face the winner on Friday in the semi-final.
The bad blood between the Majors and the Attack that came out during the 7 game OHL final is once again on display.
The Attack have lost captain Garrett Wilson for the rest of the Memorial Cup after he suffered concussion like symptoms after taking a 1st period hit from Chris DeSousa of the Majors last night.
Owen Sound will go into an elimination game without their captain and Joey Hishon who was injured earlier in the tournament.
"He put his elbow right into his back, and his head bounces off the glass," said Owen Sound coach Mark Reeds. "Obviously it's a hit from behind. There's different rules and we just want to know how to play. If someone can fill me in that would be great."
"He was in a vulnerable spot," said Attack GM Dale DeGray.
There was no penalty on the play.
The Majors not surprisingly don't see it that way.
"There's hitting allowed in this game," said DeSousa. "It was kind of a freak accident. I think he hit his head on the glass. There can't be a suspension every time someone is hurt."
Majors caoch Dave Cameron said, "You go back to the playoffs, take my comments that I was fined $2,500 for, take the part out about the referees and I stated what I thought about that team. I'm not going to repeat it. When you win say little. When you lose say less."
After his team won game 5 of the OHL final, Cameron was critical of Owen Sound and accused them of diving.
For the Majors and Attack to meet for a 9th time in the last few weeks, Owen Sound will have to beat the Ice. Kootenay will have Brayden McNabb in the lineup and that doesn't sit well with the Attack.
It was McNabb's hit that knocked out Joey Hishon the first time these two teams met.
"Tonight he's going to run the power play, and our best power play guy will watch from his hotel room," said DeGray. "I'm not so sure that's fair."
The odds are against the Attack tonight but you just never know with this team - a team that has been counted out time and time again this season.
"We have a lot of fight in that dressing room," said DeGray.
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Memorial Cup - May 25, 2011
Joey Hishon will not play tonight when the Owen Sound Attack face Mississauga with the winner going to the semi final at the Mastercard Memorial cup.
The Attack's leading scorer during the regular season is still suffering from concussion like symptoms according to GM Dale DeGray.
"Joey is still a little foggy. He passed his baseline test," DeGray said this morning. "Right now we have to go day to day with him. It's a game - yeah these are important games and he would love to be in them, but until he's ready to go we have to worry about Joey. He has a great career in front of him, he's still day to day, still has some symptoms and needs to be symptom free before."
Hishon took an elbow to his head from Brayden McNabb of Kootenay when the two teams met on Saturday. DeGray vented when asked about the situation with Patrick King of Sportsnet.ca
"Joey Hishon is not enjoying this experience," DeGray said. "Is McNabb? You tell me. Damn right he is. Is that the way it should be? I don't know."
McNabb was given a one game suspension and missed the Ice loss to Mississauga.
"I would have rathered (McNabb) play the other day against Mississauga and help beat Mississauga and not play maybe tomorrow night if we play them," he said. "Maybe that's more of a fair penalty."
"He's feeling better," head coach Mark Reeds said. "It's about the athlete and as a 19-year-old, 20-year-old kid; we're not going to put him in a situation that's going to threaten his livelihood."
Reeds said not having Hishon "messes up your power play and penalty kill" but the Attack missed Hishon for 18 regular season games and managed to play well without him.
"He's been out before and other guys picked up the slack," said goalie Jordan Binnington.
The Attack will need that again tonight.
The loser will have to play in a tiebreaker Thursday against Kootenay.
The Attack's leading scorer during the regular season is still suffering from concussion like symptoms according to GM Dale DeGray.
"Joey is still a little foggy. He passed his baseline test," DeGray said this morning. "Right now we have to go day to day with him. It's a game - yeah these are important games and he would love to be in them, but until he's ready to go we have to worry about Joey. He has a great career in front of him, he's still day to day, still has some symptoms and needs to be symptom free before."
Hishon took an elbow to his head from Brayden McNabb of Kootenay when the two teams met on Saturday. DeGray vented when asked about the situation with Patrick King of Sportsnet.ca
"Joey Hishon is not enjoying this experience," DeGray said. "Is McNabb? You tell me. Damn right he is. Is that the way it should be? I don't know."
McNabb was given a one game suspension and missed the Ice loss to Mississauga.
"I would have rathered (McNabb) play the other day against Mississauga and help beat Mississauga and not play maybe tomorrow night if we play them," he said. "Maybe that's more of a fair penalty."
"He's feeling better," head coach Mark Reeds said. "It's about the athlete and as a 19-year-old, 20-year-old kid; we're not going to put him in a situation that's going to threaten his livelihood."
Reeds said not having Hishon "messes up your power play and penalty kill" but the Attack missed Hishon for 18 regular season games and managed to play well without him.
"He's been out before and other guys picked up the slack," said goalie Jordan Binnington.
The Attack will need that again tonight.
The loser will have to play in a tiebreaker Thursday against Kootenay.
Monday, 23 May 2011
Memorial Cup -Monday May 23, 2011
The Owen Sound Attack will have to beat the top ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League without Joey Hishon.
The Attack will face Saint John tonight in the 4th game of the Memorial Cup round robin tonight with the club's leading point getterduring the regular season and a player who had 24 points during the OHL playoffs.
"He' not playing tonight. He did a basline test today and we'll have to wait on the results from it," said coach Mark Reeds.
Could he miss the rest of the tourmanment?
"I don't know that yet. I'm not going to speculate. That's all I have to say."
"Obviously it's disapointing for him," added the Attack head coach. "Again it's about the athletes that are involved in the game. Obviously he's worked very hard to get to this point, to get to this stage playing for a Canadian championship. I feel for him more than i do for myself. It's about him and he's unable to play tonight."
"He's been out a number of times this year so we just have to flip some lines around. We haven't been afriad to do that all year. We'll make adjustments as we need them."
Saint John comes in having beaten Mississauga in the opening game of the tournament, yet the Sea Dogs insist they can play better.
"We did not bring our "A" game," said defenceman Nathan Beaulieu.
The Sea Dogs say they have a lot more to offer. If that's the case then tonight's game - even without Joey Hishon - should be an entertaining affair.
-
Entertaining is the not the word to desribe Mississauga's win over Kootenay on Sunday. Two teams playing a trapping style of hockey where hard work and defence wins out over high risk offensive plays, made the Majors 2-1 win tough to watch.
It was a big win for Mississauga, which had lost 3 straight games coming in.
``We were feeling the pressure," said Majors coach Dave Cameron. "I felt kind of like it snapped our energy. We were struggling. We were tight."
Funny, because 3 hours before the game Cameron was seen joking around with some members of the media. He was loose but his team was not.
Does a win take off some of the pressure? We'll find out Wednesday when the Majors face the Attack looking for some revenge after losing the OHL final in OT in game 7 on home ice.
"There's a little hate-on from our side because of what they have done to us in the past," said Majors captain Casey Cizikas.
The Attack will face Saint John tonight in the 4th game of the Memorial Cup round robin tonight with the club's leading point getterduring the regular season and a player who had 24 points during the OHL playoffs.
"He' not playing tonight. He did a basline test today and we'll have to wait on the results from it," said coach Mark Reeds.
Could he miss the rest of the tourmanment?
"I don't know that yet. I'm not going to speculate. That's all I have to say."
"Obviously it's disapointing for him," added the Attack head coach. "Again it's about the athletes that are involved in the game. Obviously he's worked very hard to get to this point, to get to this stage playing for a Canadian championship. I feel for him more than i do for myself. It's about him and he's unable to play tonight."
"He's been out a number of times this year so we just have to flip some lines around. We haven't been afriad to do that all year. We'll make adjustments as we need them."
Saint John comes in having beaten Mississauga in the opening game of the tournament, yet the Sea Dogs insist they can play better.
"We did not bring our "A" game," said defenceman Nathan Beaulieu.
The Sea Dogs say they have a lot more to offer. If that's the case then tonight's game - even without Joey Hishon - should be an entertaining affair.
-
Entertaining is the not the word to desribe Mississauga's win over Kootenay on Sunday. Two teams playing a trapping style of hockey where hard work and defence wins out over high risk offensive plays, made the Majors 2-1 win tough to watch.
It was a big win for Mississauga, which had lost 3 straight games coming in.
``We were feeling the pressure," said Majors coach Dave Cameron. "I felt kind of like it snapped our energy. We were struggling. We were tight."
Funny, because 3 hours before the game Cameron was seen joking around with some members of the media. He was loose but his team was not.
Does a win take off some of the pressure? We'll find out Wednesday when the Majors face the Attack looking for some revenge after losing the OHL final in OT in game 7 on home ice.
"There's a little hate-on from our side because of what they have done to us in the past," said Majors captain Casey Cizikas.
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