Armstrong Officially Charged With Doping
by Cheval John
Seven time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has officially been charged with using performance-enhancing drugs today by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USDA).
Armstrong, a cancer survivor, could face a lifetime ban from cycling competitions if he is found guilty and could be stripped of his seven titles in the process.
The USDA letter, obtained by the Associated Press, accuses Armstrong of using and promoting the use of a blood booster EPO, blood transfusions, testotorone, human growth hormone and anti- inflammatory steroids.
The news was first reported by the Washington Post earlier today.
Armstrong in a statement maintains his innocence of using any drugs and that he was clean this whole time.
The case was investigated by federal criminal investigators for two years, but they did not find any reason to believe that Armstrong was using drugs.
Officials from the USDA says that they will pursue charges against Armstrong despite the conclusion of federal criminal prosecutors.
Armstrong participated in the St. Croix 70.3 Ironman Triathlon earlier this year after retiring from cycling last year.
He was training for another triathlon in France when he heard the news and is now banned from competition.
Bearkats’ Run Come To An End
by Cheval John
Houston, Texas- After defeating No.1 Rice Owls by the score of 4-1, the SHSU Bearkat baseball team’s goal was to win two from the Arkansas Razorbacks in order to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals that will begin this weekend.
But the challenge was too much as the Razorbacks defeated the Bearkats by the score of 5-1 to win the Houston Regional and advanced to the Super Regionals.
They came out of the gate in the first inning and scored two quick runs that gave them a 2-0 lead.
The runs came on a Bearkat throwing error that allowed Dominic Ficociello to score from third and an infield RBI single by Bo Bingham.
They increased the lead by the score of 3-0 on a RBI double by Joe Sorrano.
They added two more runs in the top of the fourth and sixth inning, respectively to extend their lead to 5-0 and put the game out of reach for the Bearkats.
The Bearkats finished their season under first-year head coach David Pierce with a 40-22 record, a regular-season Southland Conference title, their first since 1989 and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, their seventh in the twenty-six year history at the NCAA Division I level.
No.3 Bearkats Advances To Championship Round Of Houston Regional
by Cheval John
Houston, Texas- No.3 Sam Houston State Bearkat baseball team eliminated the No.1 Rice Owls by the score of 4-1 to advance to the championship round of the NCAA Baseball Championship Houston Regional.
It was the biggest win of the year for first-year head coach David Pierce, who spent 9 years as an assistant to Rice head coach Wayne Graham, out coached his teacher and have taken the Bearkat baseball program to another level.
The Owls, who was favored to win the regional and make a run at the College World Series, scored a total of five runs in three games.
They could not overcome a strong pitching performance by starting pitcher Michael Oros and key defensive plays by the Bearkats.
They were looking to pounce on the Bearkats in the top of the first inning when Christian Stringer walked and J.T. Chargois reached on a error by third baseman Kevin Miller.
With two outs, Michael Fuda issued a walk to load the bases.
But Oros got Michael Ratterree to fly out to center fielder Colt Atwood to end the threat.
The Bearkats capitalized and scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning that made it 1-0.
Corey Toups started the inning with a single and stole second base to put himself in scoring position.
He advanced to third on a ground out to first base by Atwood and scored the first run on an error by second baseman Stringer that allowed Luke Plucheck to reach first.
Plucheck was credited with the RBI.
The Bearkats increased their lead to 2-0 in the bottom of the fourth inning on a RBI single by Atwood.
The Owls made things interesting in the top of the fifth inning as they cut the lead to 2-1.
With two runners on, Jeremy Rathjen hit a drive to left field that went off the glove of Plucheck at the wall.
Stringer scored easily from second base, but Chargois was thrown out at home as he tried to score the tying run.
They tried again in the top of the seventh inning when Stringer hit a one out single up the middle.
He advanced to second on a error by O’Hearn that allowed Chargois to reach first on a fielder’s choice.
Oros settled down and got the final out to end the Owl threat.
They had something going in the top of the eighth inning when Ratterree led off with a single to left field.
The Bearkats got two quick outs as Hale thrown out Ratterree and struck out Lewis.
Geoff Perrott followed with a two out double to keep the Owls rally alive.
But, Oros got Shane Hoelscher to fly out to Atwood and snuffed out the rally.
That turned out to be important as Anthony Azar’s two out, two-run single gave the Bearkats a 4-1 and put the game out of reach for the Owls.
Oros pitched eight strong innings and got the win. He struck out five batters and gave up a run.
Michael Burchett got his 10th save of the season.
The Bearkats (40-21), who earned an at-large bid in the tournament, will face the Arkansas Razorbacks in the championship round tonight at 6 p.m.
If they beat Arkansas, then they will play again tomorrow at 6 p.m., but if Arkansas wins, then they will move on to the NCAA Super Regional.
Take The Money And Run
by Cheval John
Normally, I am for coaches who stay with one team for an extended period of time in order for players to be successful on the field.
Today, you see coaches leaving a highly successful team for their “dream job”.
In soccer, that is no different as coaches changes teams every year because they either did not reach the expectations of the owners, fans, etc. or they wanted to coach at a well known club, like Real Madrid.
In the case of Roberto DiMatteo, interim head coach of Chelsea, there is every reason why he should get the job.
For starters, after being named interim of the club, he led the team from the brink of elimination against Napoli in the last of 16 in the UEFA Champions League Tournament to winning the tournament final in dramatic fashion against Bayern Munich in Munich, Germany.
With that said, I am going to say something that will be a shock to many.
Di Matteo should leave the club as soon as possible and try to get a job somewhere else.
The reason is because Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich.
Though the club has taken off to new heights since he became club owner in 2003 by winning three English Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the UEFA Champions League Title.
On the flip side, he has fired six head coaches in the last nine years during that stretch including Andres Villas-Boas.
The latter happen during the 2011-12 season that opened the door for Di Matteo to replace him and lead the team to one of the biggest turnarounds in sports history.
The question looms around if he will be named head coach on a permanent basis.
If Abramovich offers the position, Di Matteo should turn it down because if he doesn’t build upon the success from this past season, there is no doubt that Abramovich will sack him when things are not going well for the club.
So to Di Matteo, take the money and run.
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