The United States Equestrian Team (USET) Foundation would like to recognize and honor their 2008 award winners. The following horses and riders have been awarded trophies for their excellence in competition for the 2008 show year.

Wellington, FL’s, Margie Engle took home the John H. Fritz Cup after she won the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) National Show Jumping Championship this fall. Engle rode Hidden Creek’s Quervo Gold and Hidden Creek’s Pamina L to the win in the two-phase class.

The Markham Memorial Perpetual Trophy, donated by Mr. & Mrs. Charles D. Plumb, is given every year to the top young rider under the age of 21 competing in the USEF National Eventing Championship or who places highest in the USET Spring/Fall events. The highest-placed rider in the spring and fall events this year was 18-year-old Madeline Blackman of Ringoes, NJ, with Gordonstown.

There were three other three-day eventing trophies awarded this year as well. The winner of the Pinnacle Cup was Phillip Dutton, who was the highest-placed U.S. rider at the Rolex Kentucky CCI****. Dutton, of West Grove, PA. He won the event on Connaught, owned by Bruce Duchossois. This is the second year in a row that the Pinnacle Cup has gone to Dutton.

Fellow Olympic team member Amy Tryon of Duvall, WA, was a double winner. She won the Gladstone Challenge Trophy at the National Open Spring Championship with Leyland, who is owned by the Nicholson family. She also won the Fall Three-Day Championship with Coal Creek, co-owned by Tryon and Katherine Sullivan.

The USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals are held every year for riders on the East Coast and West Coast. The winner of the West Coast Finals was Hannah Selleck of Thousand Oaks, CA. She was awarded the Denali Memorial Perpetual Trophy, which was donated by Mrs. Maya Z. Hamburger. Her trainer, Karen Healey, was given the Leading Trainer Award, donated by Hugh Cassidy III.

Sophie Benjamin of Rancho Santa Fe, CA, made the trip to Gladstone to win the East Coast Finals and took home the French Leave Perpetual Trophy, donated by the Gerald A. Nielsen family. Her trainer, Stacia Madden, also won the Leading Trainer Award.

The win and trophy for the National Intermediaire I Championship for dressage went to Michelle Gibson of Wellington, FL, and Don Angelo, owned by Diamante Farms. The trophy was donated by Ivan Bezugloff, Jr. Kassandra Barteau of Gilberts, IL, notched her second win in a row on Gabriella at the USEF Dressage Young Rider Championship. For her win, Barteau was awarded the Riders’ Cup/Terry Koenig Memorial Trophy.

The Moore Memorial Trophy is presented every year to the National Champion Pairs Driver. This year’s winner was Lisa Singer of Chadds Ford, PA. Fellow driver Chester C. Weber of Ocala, FL, won the USEF National Driving Championship for Four-in-Hand Teams for the sixth year in a row and took home the Reginald C. Vanderbilt Cup, which was donated by Georgiana and Noel F. Bowers.

The Margo O’Callaghan Trophy, which was originally called the Contenders’ Cup, was presented to Rebecca Hart of Erie, PA. Hart and Norteassa won the USEF National Para-Equestrian Championship this year.

Craig Schmersal of Overbrook, OK, piloted Mr. Dual Rey to the USEF National Open Reining Championship this year and took home the reining trophy to round out a year of top competition.

The USET Foundation would like to congratulate all of the equestrian athletes who competed this year and wish the best for everyone in 2009.

The United States Equestrian Team Foundation is the non-profit organization that supports the competition, training, coaching, travel and educational needs of America’s elite and developing international, high-performance horses and athletes in partnership with the United States Equestrian Federation.

Originally posted by Jennifer Wood.

The “Great Entertainer” has won a stream of accolades following an amazing year.

Wales picked up the Six Nations title; the Triple Crown for beating England, Scotland and Ireland; and the James Bevan Trophy following their memorable 20-15 triumph over Tri-Nations runners-up Australia at the Millennium Stadium 11 days ago.

His region the Ospreys went into the year as Magners League champions, but lost that title to crack Irish province Leinster.

However, Welsh rugby’s big spenders got some consolation for losing their hold on the Celtic crown and bombing out of the Heineken Cup following a stunning upset against English outfit Saracens at Vicarage Road by walloping Leicester Tigers in the Twickenham-held final of the Anglo-Welsh EDF Energy Cup.

And Shane has bagged another three of his own. He was overwhelming winner of the public vote to find the Six Nations player of the tournament, was named International Rugby Board player of the year and, earlier this week, BBC Wales sports personality of the year.

Only three pieces of major silverware are missing from his trophy cabinet: the Heineken Cup, the World Cup and British Lions’ Test series glory.

The 31-year-old winger accepts he might not be around come the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, but is desperate to make next summer’s Lions tour of South Africa.

But, first of all, Williams wants the Ospreys to become the first Welsh team to lift the Heineken Cup – the final takes place in Edinburgh on May 24 next year – and Wales to retain their European crown.

Ospreys continue their assault on the Heineken – no Welsh team has reached the final of the European showpiece since Cardiff were beaten by Toulouse in the final 12 years ago – at Treviso in Italy on Saturday.

They are four points behind leaders Leicester in Pool Three and five points ahead of French club Perpignan, with Treviso yet to get off the mark.

The Ospreys have to finish top of their group to book an automatic place in the quarter-finals of the European jewel.

And Wales’ record try-scorer Shane is convinced they possess the strike weapons – the likes of Lee Byrne, Tommy Bowe, Gavin Henson, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Ian Gough, Marty Holah and Filo Tiatia – to make up for last-term’s Heineken flop.

“We were disappointed last season because we thought we could go on and win it,” said 61-times capped Williams.

The Ospreys had thumped Saracens in the semi-final of the EDF at the Millennium Stadium a fortnight earlier, but were mugged at Vicarage Road in the Heineken.

It cost them a money-spinning Cardiff-staged semi-final with eventual European kings Munster and a potential final in the Welsh capital.

But Shane insists they can consign embarrassing failure at Saracens, which was a major factor in the departure of Ospreys coach Lyn Jones a few weeks later, to the dustbin by conquering Europe this campaign.

“We are a better side this year. We have a lot of strength in depth in this squad,” stressed Williams.

“We were disappointed last season because we thought we could go on and win it.

“The Heineken Cup, in particular, is something we at the Ospreys are targeting this season and it’s something which is certainly missing from my trophy collection.

“If you want to put it into some kind of perspective, someone like Gareth Thomas in 2005, won the Grand Slam with Wales, but he also captained the Lions and lifted the Heineken Cup with Toulouse.

“So there is still plenty for me to aim for. I may not be captaincy material, but it would be great to make a Lions tour of South Africa in the summer and perhaps go one better than ‘Alfie’ and be involved in a winning set-up.

“But, my immediate aim is an obvious one – to take the Ospreys as far as we can in the Heineken Cup and work hard to defend the Six Nations title with Wales.

“This last year has been out of this world for me, to be honest, and it’s pretty difficult to choose a favourite trophy, but, if pushed, I have go to go for both the EDF Energy Cup and the Six Nations trophy.

“Both of those are symbolic of a lot of hard work put in by an entire team … the players, management and staff … at international and regional level with Wales and the Ospreys.

“Seven trophies speak for themselves and tell you what a great year I have had in rugby, but I keep saying it’s not over yet.”

Williams reckons Wales could provide the biggest contingent to next year’s Lions squad, but stressed: “There’s a lot of rugby to be played before then.

“But, yes, I would like to be part of a Lion tour again, a successful Lions tour this time.”

Shane went to New Zealand with the Lions three years ago but they suffered a 3-0 “blackwash” against the All Blacks and he wants to make amends after only appearing in the second Test.

But, he acknowledged, the 2011 World Cup might be beyond him, saying: “I will be 34 then and it might be a step too far for me.

“I would like to be part of a successful Wales team at the World Cup, but we will have to see how my body is, how fit I am and how much I am enjoying my rugby.”
Originally posted by Andy Howell.

Heisman Trophy to be in Green Valley on Thursday

The Heisman Trophy, which will be presented to this year’s best college football player, will be on display at Cole Nissan on Thursday from 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. The 25-pound Heisman Trophy will be in Green Valley as part of ESPN’s two-month Gridiron Blowout Trophy Tour.

Originated from the Bluefield Daily Telegraph

County’s sides continue bid for FA Trophy glory

WITH all but two of the county’s non-league sides already out of the FA Cup, the FA Trophy represents the last chance for Kent’s clubs to embark on the road to Wembley.

An appearance in the final is still a distant hope for the eight sides in first round qualifying action this afternoon, but three wins would put them in the draw alongside well-known Conference sides such as Oxford, Torquay and Wrexham.

The competition is already special for Whitstable Town, who won the FA’s ‘Team of the Round’ trophy a fortnight ago. The Oystermen shook off dreadful early season form to win away to two-time trophy winners Kingstonian in the preliminary round.

It was only the club’s second ever win in the competition and manager Marc Seager is relishing his side’s game against Northamptonshire’s Brackley Town at the Belmont.

He said: “You could say it’s the biggest game in the club’s history. We are playing against a side from a higher level so it’s a huge game and we are looking forward to it. Hopefully the town can get behind us and create a good atmosphere.”

Dover Athletic visit Staines Town in one of the round’s most eye-catching ties. Both sides are in excellent form following promotion last season and make up two of the Ryman Premier’s top four.

The Berkshire side have a cup trophy pedigree and beat Stockport County in last season’s FA Cup trophy en route to the second round.

The competition has taken on greater significance for the Whites, whose FA Cup trophy hopes were ended by AFC Wimbledon on Tuesday night.

Dover manager Andy Hessenthaler said: “The FA Trophy is a big competition and it’s a chance to play at Wembley. I was fortunate enough to be there this year when Ebbsfleet won it so I know it’s a fantastic tournament and one we will take seriously. I haven’t had back-to-back defeats since I have been here and I certainly don’t want it against Staines.”

Originated from Mumbai, INDIA

Tyler Hansbrough, North Carolina’s 6-9 junior All-American from Poplar Bluff, Mo., has been chosen winner of the Oscar Robertson Trophy by the U.S. Basketball Writers Association as the nation’s top college basketball player for the 2007-08 season.

Hansbrough received the trophy at the USBWA’s annual college basketball awards breakfast this morning in San Antonio. Drake coach Keno Davis was presented with the Henry Iba Award as the USBWA’s Coach of the Year and LSU-Shreveport’s Josh Porter was presented with the USBWA’s Most Courageous Award at the breakfast as well.

Selected by the USBWA two years ago as its national freshman of the year, Hansbrough was a dominating force for North Carolina this season, leading the Tar Heels to the NCAA Final Four in San Antonio, a No. 1 ranking in the national polls and a school-record 36 wins.

He was the Atlantic Coast Conference player of the year and led the league in scoring and rebounding with averages of 23.1 and 10.5, respectively.

Hansbrough is the fourth player from North Carolina to receive the USBWA player of the year award. The others are Phil Ford (1978), Michael Jordan (1984) and Antawn Jamison (1998).

This is the 50th anniversary of the USBWA player of the year award. First presented in 1959 to Oscar Robertson, it is the nation’s oldest and only one named after a player.

The USBWA named its player of the year award the Oscar Robertson Trophy in 1998 in honor of “The Big O,” named “College Player of the Century” in 2000 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association was formed in 1956 at the urging of then-NCAA Executive Director Walter Byers. Today, with nearly 800 members, it is one of the most influential organizations in college basketball. For more information on the USBWA and its awards and programs, contact executive director Joe Mitch at 314-795-6821 or 314-421-0339

Originally Written by Joe Mitch, www.sportswriters.net

Former college hockey stars Brett Hull, Brian Leetch and Mike Richter will be enshrined into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame as the Class of 2008 it was announced today by USA Hockey. Providence and Women’s Team USA standout Cammi Granato was also selected, the first female among the Hall’s 134 members.

The quartet will be formally inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in Denver on Friday, Oct. 10, at Magness Arena on the campus of the University of Denver. The following evening — Sat., Oct. 11 — the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game will take place in the same venue, when Denver plays Notre Dame.

“The Class of 2008 is one of the most accomplished groups that’s ever been inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame,” said Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey. “It is indeed with great pleasure that we welcome them to the group of hockey immortals in our country.”

Hull recorded 1,391 points during his more than 20-year National Hockey League career that included stints with five teams. Hull’s 741 career goals place him third all-time in NHL history. In his first full season with the Blues (1988-89), he scored 41 goals and captured the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy. The following year marked the first of three consecutive 70-plus goal seasons, which included a career-high 86 goals in 1990-91 to earn him the Lester B. Pearson Trophy and the Hart Memorial Trophy as the league’s MVP.

Hull helped the United States to an Olympic silver medal at his second Games in 2002 and topped the tournament in scoring as Team USA captured the World Cup of Hockey in 1996, the first of his two World Cup appearances. He also participated in the 1991 Canada Cup and 1986 IIHF Men’s World Championship.

Hull played two seasons at Minnesota-Duluth, where he scored 52 goals in his sophomore season and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award. No college player has scored more goals in single season since.

In 18 NHL seasons, Leetch was an 11-time All-Star, won two Norris Trophies as the league’s best defenseman, captured a Conn Smythe Trophy as the Stanley Cup Playoff MVP and was the Calder Trophy winner as the league’s top rookie. He is one of only five blueliners in NHL history to record more than 100 points in a season and one of seven to accumulate more than 1,000 points in his career (247-781–1028).

In his rookie season with the New York Rangers (1988-89), who drafted him ninth overall in 1986, Leetch put up 23 goals and 48 assists to capture the Calder Trophy. Three years later, in 1991-92, Leetch tallied a career-best 102 points, including a team record 80 assists, to capture the Norris Trophy for the first time. In 1993-94, the Rangers won their first Stanley Cup in more than 50 years. He led the way as the top scorer in the post season and was the first ever American-born player to capture the Conn Smythe Trophy as the MVP of the playoffs.

Internationally, Leetch is one of just 10 American men’s ice hockey players to have competed in the Olympic Winter Games three or more times, as he played for Team USA in 1988, 1998 and 2002. He also represented the United States at three IIHF World Junior Championships (1985-87), two IIHF Men’s World Championships (1987, 1989), one Canada Cup (1991) and twice in the World Cup of Hockey (1996, 2004).

Leetch played one season (1986-87) of college hockey at Boston College and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.

Mike Richter played in 666 games during his 14-year NHL career, all with the New York Rangers. His 301 wins with the team are more than any other Rangers goaltender and he helped the club win its first Stanley Cup in over 50 years.

Playing full-time for the Rangers beginning during the 1990-91 season, he was a finalist for the Vezina Trophy as the league’s top goalie in just his second full season in the NHL. In 1993-94, Richter was selected as the MVP of the NHL All-Star Game and went on to set a Rangers’ single-season record with 42 wins in leading the team to the President’s Trophy and its first Stanley Cup title since 1942. Beyond making a huge impact for the Rangers, Richter also was an integral part of the U.S. program for parts of three decades. He is one of just 10 Americans ever to compete in at least three Olympic Games, including in 2002, when the team captured the silver medal. In addition, he led Team USA to the World Cup of Hockey championship in 1996 and was named the tournament’s MVP. He also played in two IIHF World Junior Championships (1985-86), three IIHF Men’s World Championships (1986-87, 1993) and the 1991 Canada Cup. Richter, a three-time NHL All-Star, played two seasons of college hockey (1985-87) at Wisconsin before beginning his professional career.

Cammi Granato’s extraordinary playing career, particularly at the international level, has played a key role in the growth of women’s hockey not only in the United States, but across the world. At Providence College, she established goal-scoring records and captured ECAC Player of the Year honors from 1991-93.

A 15-year member of the U.S. Women’s National Team beginning in 1990, Granato is the program’s all-time scoring leader with 343 points (186-157) in 205 games. She achieved international fame by captaining Team USA to the gold medal at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, the first time ever women’s ice hockey was included in the Games. Four years later, she captained the United States to the silver medal at the 2002 Olympics. In her last international competition and ninth World Championship, she led Team USA to the gold medal, its first-ever in an IIHF World Women’s Championship. In 2007, Granato received the NHL’s Lester Patrick Award in recognition of outstanding service to hockey in the United States, and, in 2008, she was enshrined into the IIHF Hall of Fame.

Granato was the first woman to be honored with the aforementioned awards and will be the first female to be inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame.

Originally Written by CHN Staff, www.college hockeynews.com

The Real Deal – Wake Forest’s Marcus Tracy could become the school’s first Hermann Trophy winner

Marcus Tracy leads the Wake Forest soccer team with 10 goals and 26 points, which includes six assists.

While watching Marcus Tracy play soccer, it’s easy to envision him in a helmet and pads helping the Wake Forest football team at safety, or lacing up his old basketball shoes and filling in at point guard.

However, Tracy is content with soccer and with trying to help the top-ranked Deacons win another national championship.

He has maintained his high level of play from last season — he was voted the most outstanding offensive player at last year’s College Cup trophy — and has helped Wake Forest to a 13-0 record heading into today’s 7 p.m. match against Duke at Spry Stadium.

Midfielder Sam Cronin, a fellow senior, summed up what Tracy has meant to the program.

“He’s the essence of this team because as many goals as he scores, he’s always looking to the guy who gave him the assist to compliment him,” Cronin said. “He kind of gets the spotlight a lot, but he deflects a lot of that to his teammates.”

Tracy (6-1, 170) leads the Deacons in goals (10) and points (26, with six assists). He has breakaway speed and, Coach Jay Vidovich says, one of the best vertical games in program history.

“In terms of athleticism, I don’t think there’s anybody we’ve had as complete as Marcus,” said Vidovich, who is in his 15th season. “With his air game, he can open it up, he’s technically clean, and he’s a team guy. And athletically, he’s just special that way.”

Although it seems as if there’s nothing Tracy can’t do, there are things he doesn’t like to do. He has a hard time talking about himself. He especially doesn’t like spiders.

Cronin said: “I do know he doesn’t like spiders. And I think off the field, he’s the greatest, nicest guy and is so humble. He’s probably going to be mad that you are even doing a story on him.”

Tracy, who has a chance to become Wake Forest’s first Hermann Trophy winner as the top player in college soccer, was a main cog in the Deacons’ run to their first NCAA championship last fall. He scored three goals in the College Cup trophy, including the winner in the semifinals against Virginia Tech.

There was some speculation that Tracy might bypass his final college season to turn pro — there are as many as 10 former Deacons playing Major League Soccer — but he decided to return.

“We have set higher goals for this team this year,” said Tracy, an economics major who is on schedule to graduate in May. “And (there’s) the degree and how far that can take you in life. These opportunities don’t present themselves all the time, so I talked to all the right people, from my family to the coaches, and I’m happy with my decision.”

Donald Tracy, Marcus’ father, said that his son didn’t think too hard about leaving school early.

“I do know his mother, who is an educator, wanted him to finish his degree,” Donald said of Marguerite, a fifth- and sixth-grade math and science teacher in Newtown, Conn. “And I wanted him to finish as well.”

At Newtown High School, Tracy played soccer and basketball and also ran the 400 meters for the track team. At Wake Forest, Tracy, Cronin and several other soccer players formed an intramural basketball team as freshmen and dominated their league.

“The team was pretty much built around getting the ball to Marcus,” Cronin said.

Tracy said he enjoyed playing basketball again, for at least that one season.

“We didn’t sign up fast enough to be in the ‘A’ division, so we were playing frat kids, and we were just killing people,” Tracy said.

“We were winning every game, but the mercy rule was that if we got up 30, the game was over. It was pretty much like that in about every game.”

Tracy said that the team finally quit the league during the playoffs, because it wasn’t any fun anymore.

“Up until freshman or sophomore year of high school, I was better at basketball than soccer,” Tracy said. “But I don’t look back on that and I don’t have any regrets.… I’m completely happy with how soccer has turned out for me.”

When asked about the Hermann Trophy consideration, Tracy shrugged his shoulders.

“I think for me the biggest thing is to accomplish our three goals, getting the regular-season title, getting the ACC Tournament title and the national title and that would bring recognition to everybody on this team,” Tracy said. “That’s really my focus.”

Originally written by By John Dell, JOURNAL REPORTER

Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby won the Hart Trophy as the National Hockey League’s Most Valuable Player tonight, capping a sophomore season in which he became the youngest scoring champion in major pro sports history and sparked one of the NHL’s most dramatic team turnarounds.

Crosby, who earlier this month was named the youngest team captain in League history, received 91 of 143 first-place votes for 1,225 points in voting by the Professional Hockey Writers’ Association. Roberto Luongo of the Vancouver Canucks, who tallied 25 first-place votes and 801 points, was runner-up.

At 19 years, 10 months, Crosby is the second-youngest Hart Trophy winner in the history of the award, which was introduced in 1924. Wayne Gretzky was 19 years, 5 months old in 1979-80 when he captured the first of eight consecutive Hart Trophies with the Edmonton Oilers.

Crosby finished the regular season with 36 goals and 84 assists for 120 points, winning the Art Ross Trophy as League scoring champion. He took the permanent scoring lead with a career-high six-point night against Philadelphia Dec. 13 and never went more than three consecutive games without a point afterward. The Penguins were 41-10-9 in games when Crosby recorded a point, 6-13-0 when he did not and 0-1-2 when he was out of the lineup.

The Penguins finished the season with a 47-24-11 record for 105 points, qualifying for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2001 and recording a 47-point improvement over 2005-06. Only three clubs in NHL history have posted a bigger gain, most recently the Winnipeg Jets’ 48-point surge from 1980-81 to 1981-82.

Other honorees included Penguins center Evgeni Malkin, who won the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie. Malkin launched his NHL career in memorable fashion, becoming the first player in 89 years to score goals in each of his first six NHL games. Before Malkin, only three players in NHL history had scored at least one goal in each of their first six (or more) games and all did so in 1917-18, the League’s inaugural season. The 20-year-old went on to lead all rookies in goals (33), power-play goals (16), assists (52) and points (85).

Nicklas Lidstrom of the Detroit Red Wings joined an elite group by capturing the Norris Trophy as the League’s outstanding defenseman for the fifth time. Lidstrom becomes the fourth defenseman in League history with as many as five Norris Trophy wins, joining Hockey Hall of Fame members Bobby Orr (eight), Doug Harvey (seven) and Ray Bourque (five). Lidstrom, who earned his fifth Norris in the past six seasons, tied for the League lead among defensemen in plus-minus with a +40 rating, ranked third among all players in ice time per game (27:29) and was fifth among defensemen in scoring with 62 points (13 goals, 49 assists).

Lidstrom’s teammate, Pavel Datsyuk, won his second consecutive Lady Byng Trophy for combining sportsmanship with a high standard of play. Datsyuk led the Red Wings in scoring for the second consecutive season, matching a career high with 87 points (27 goals, 60 assists). His plus-36 rating ranked second on the club and seventh in the League overall.

Another repeat winner was Carolina Hurricanes captain Rod Brind’Amour, who won the Frank Selke Trophy as the League’s outstanding defensive forward. Brind’Amour ranked second among all NHL centers with a 59.2% face-off winning percentage and ranked third among League forwards in average ice time per game (23:19).

The New Jersey Devils’ Martin Brodeur claimed the Vezina Trophy as the NHL’s top goaltender for the third time in the past four seasons following a record-breaking campaign. Brodeur won an unprecedented 48 games, surpassing Bernie Parent’s mark of 47 in 1973-74, led the NHL in shutouts (12), ranked third in goals-against average (2.18) and third in save percentage (.922).

Alain Vigneault of the Vancouver Canucks won his first Jack Adams Award as the NHL’s top coach, edging last year’s winner, Lindy Ruff of the Buffalo Sabres, by eight points (134-126). In his first year behind the Vancouver bench, Vigneault guided the Canucks to a franchise record-breaking season. They improved their wins record to 49 from a previous high of 46 and recorded the highest points total in club history with 105.

Montreal Canadiens captain Saku Koivu accepted the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for leadership and humanitarian contributions to his community. Koivu’s exemplary support of cancer treatment and research — and, more particularly, his personal demonstration of courage as a cancer survivor — is a source of inspiration and pride to his teammates as well as the many thousands of patients and their families who benefit from his generosity.

Boston Bruins center Phil Kessel received the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy for perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey. Diagnosed with testicular cancer in early December, the 19-year-od Kessel played a Dec. 9 game against New Jersey, knowing he would be admitted to the hospital for surgery on Dec. 12. He missed only 12 games before returning to Boston’s lineup.

Four players who received the NHL’s statistic-based trophies June 2 in Ottawa also were acknowledged at the NHL Awards Show this evening: Crosby (Art Ross Trophy), Tampa Bay Lightning center Vincent Lecavalier (Maurice Richard Trophy as goal-scoring leader) and the Minnesota Wild’s Niklas Backstrom and Manny Fernandez (William Jennings Trophy as goaltenders on the club allowing the fewest goals).

The Professional Hockey Writers’ Association (PHWA) cast ballots for the Hart, Norris, Selke, Lady Byng and Calder Trophies. The PHWA also voted on the Masterton Trophy. The 30 NHL General Managers voted on the Vezina Trophy. The NHL Broadcasters’ Association (NHLBA) submitted votes for the Jack Adams Award, and a special panel of representatives from the PHWA and NHLBA chose the King Clancy winner. Voting for these awards was conducted at the conclusion of the regular season.

Balloting results were tabulated by the accounting firm Ernst & Young, with the exception of the Masterton and King Clancy trophies. The results for these awards were tabulated by the PHWA and the National Hockey League, respectively.

Orginally Written by http://penguins.nhl.com

Winning the Heisman Trophy does not guarantee a college football player a long and successful pro career, although every football player would love the bronze statue displayed on their mantle. Even if they do not have a successful career, they could use it like O.J. did as collateral to help pay off civil penalties.

In college football the Heisman Trophy is awarded usually to a quarterback or running back that is playing for a BCS contender. That is why most college football standouts have no chance of being awarded the Heisman Trophy. You can blame this on the American media hype machine.

USC’s John David Booty and Louisville’s Brian Brohm are two quarterbacks with the best chance at winning the Heisman Trophy in 2007. This season both of these quarterbacks lead their teams and have BCS Bowl aspirations. The winner of this race should have the edge for the Heisman Trophy.

West Virginia and Rutgers will give Brohm and the Cardinals a tough fight in the Big East this year. In last year’s Orange Bowl game and with 311 yards against Wake Forest showed that Brian Brohm has a great arm and that he is capable of making things happen. Last season Brohm missed two football games which affected his numbers, and if he starts to miss games this year his Heisman opportunity could disappear.

If you play quarterback at USC it makes you a Heisman contender by default it seems, although Booty is the real deal. In the Rose Bowl last year Booty’s immense skill shined with 391 yards and four touchdowns as they defeated Michigan. If Booty could post some big numbers with far fewer offensive weapons around him, he could get more Heisman votes, and if he gets his team back to the BSC Bowl this year, he could become the fourth player at USC in the last six years to win the Heisman Trophy.

If a quarterback does not win the Heisman, it is a running back that usually walks away with the trophy. Darren McFadden of Arkansas and Steve Slaton of West Virginia are this year’s biggest college standouts in the backfield.

Last year McFadden was the runner-up to Troy Smith, and that makes him the Heisman contender by default. Although, McFadden will have to exceed his numbers this year if he has any chance to win the Heisman Trophy. McFadden with his size, speed and power has the talent to do it this season.

Slaton who has blazing speed and a never-quit attitude, might be the best running back in college football today, and who fights hard for every yard that he obtains. This determination and drive showed up last year as he rushed for an incredible seven yards per carry. If Slaton can repeat these numbers, he should be able to help take West Virginia to the top of the Big East and earn himself valuable Heisman Trophy consideration.

Originally Written By James Murray, Amazines.com

The bottle in his hand was already half-empty, but Cole Hamels seemed a bottomless source of bubbly.

In the soggy celebration of Philadelphia’s World Series championship, Hamels stood before the plastic shield protecting his locker, giddily drenched in sparkling wine. The bottle bore the label of Domaine Ste. Michelle, a French-sounding brand imported all the way from Washington state, and the 24-year-old pitcher had been branded the Series’ Most Valuable Player.

“This will be a trivia question for the next couple hundred years,” Hamels said, happily. “And I get to be a part of it.”

Rancho Bernardo’s precocious left-hander had done nothing of note on the last night of the tournament. He was a uniformed spectator to the three-inning speed date that completed Monday’s suspended Game 5 as a 4-3 Philadelphia victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Yet for a few batters on this brief, bizarre but rain-free evening, Hamels stood to be the winning pitcher on a night he never needed to warm up.

Jayson Werth’s bloop single scored pinch hitter Geoff Jenkins with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to enable the Phillies to break the 2-2 tie Hamels had helped forge Monday night. Hamels was still the pitcher of record, and in line to become the first pitcher to win five starts in the same postseason, until Rocco Baldelli’s seventh-inning home run temporarily re-tied the score.

A couple of hundred years hence, trivia experts may recall that Phillies left-hander J.C. Romero was credited with the victory because Pedro Feliz singled through the Rays’ drawn-in infield to score pinch runner Eric Bruntlett in the bottom of the seventh inning. For contemporary Phillies fans, every detail of this drama will be recounted and savored for generations.

For the first time in 28 years, since Tug McGraw struck out Willie Wilson at a ballpark since imploded, the Phillies are champions of baseball.

Before Saturday’s Game 3, country singer Tim McGraw sprinkled some of his late father’s ashes on the pitcher’s mound at Citizens Bank Park. Last night, Phillies pitcher Jamie Moyer prevailed on the groundskeepers to exhume the pitching rubber for his personal collection.

Hamels, who took home the shinier souvenir, confessed that the time finally hadcome for him to start a trophy case.

“This is the easiest game I ever had to deal with,” he said. “I didn’t have to do a thing, and I was in the starting lineup.”

Hamels had pitched six innings during Monday night’s deluge, and he began last night’s proceedings as the next scheduled hitter. Phillies manager Charlie Manuel chose Jenkins to bat in Hamels’ place, and the pinch-hitter responded with a full-count double to right-center field against Tampa Bay reliever Grant Balfour.

Playing at home, Manuel played for one run. Jimmy Rollins moved Jenkins to third base with a sacrifice bunt. Werth then popped a bloop single just out of the reach of Rays’ second baseman Akinori Iwamura.

“The wind played tricks on Aki big-time,” said Tampa Bay’s Cliff Floyd, the designated hitter idled by National League rules. “ . . . We haven’t played in these type of conditions all year.

“We just didn’t play the same type ball (compared to the regular season). It’s not a frustrating thing. It’s a learning thing.”

One of the harder lessons the Rays learned was taught by Phillies second baseman Chase Utley. After Baldelli’s one-out homer tied the score in the seventh, Jason Bartlett singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Iwamura then hit a ground ball that left Utley no play at first base, but his bluff throw emboldened Bartlett to try to score from second base. Utley’s peg to catcher Carlos Ruiz resulted in a third-out tag play and erased the last Rays player to reach third base.

“I was just running hard and (third base coach Tom) Foley sent me and I tried to score,” Bartlett said. “It’s a hard baseball play. If I’m not hustling, maybe he stops me. But that’s how you should play – hustle all the time.”

Pat Burrell opened Philadelphia’s seventh inning with a double to deep center field, a 1-1 curve ball Tampa Bay reliever J.P. Howell immediately regretted. Replaying the pitch in his mind, Howell thought Burrell was “cheating” on the breaking pitch and would therefore have been susceptible to a fastball.

Bruntlett ran for Burrell, moving to third base on a groundout by Shane Victorino, scoring the winning run on Feliz’s single through the middle.

Phillies reliever Brad Lidge, whose neglected to blow a save all season, closed out the Rays in the ninth, striking out pinch hitter Eric Hinske for the final out.

Hamels was standing on the top step of the dugout when the game ended and was soon in the middle of the celebratory scrum near the pitcher’s mound. His first emotion, he said later, was relief, but there was a lot to the experience he was still trying to process.

“As I go into this offseason and each week creeps closer and closer to a new, fresh season, I might think about it more,” he said. “I know people will look at me differently, probably expect more out of me.”

For starters, they will expect him to get to work on that trophy case.

Originally Written By Tim Sullivan, SignOnSanDiego.com