thesportsfag | my gay sports blog

Both Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick are injured and out at the Australian Open.

Andy Murray Advances to Semis
Nadal, who wasn’t able to continue through the same knee tendinitis that left him unable to defend his Wimbledon title last year, withdrew during the third set against Brittain’s Andy Murray, with Murray leading 6-3, 7-6 (2), 3-0.

It’s not like Murray only won because of Nadal’s injury, Murray was in total control of this match.

Marin Cilic Outlasts Roddick
Andy Roddick battled through a shoulder injury but lost 6-2 in the fifth set to 21-year old Croatian Marin Cilic and will now face the 22-year old Andy Murray.

Remaining Quater Final Matches
On the other side of the draw we’re looking forward to a possible Federer vs Djokovic match up in the other semi final. Federer must get past 6th seeded Nikolay Davydenko and Djokovic will take on the 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga later today.

When the college basketball rankings are announced this week, Kentucky will be No. 1 for the first time since 2003.

Texas assumed the No. 1 ranking last week but dropped games at Kansas State and Connecticut this week while the Wildcats undefeated run continues under first-year head coach John Calipari.

Just four games into the conference schedule there’s little doubt as to who’s gonna win the SEC and breeze into the NCAA tourney. The only question that remains is when will Kentucky be forced to vacate these wins under the weight of an NCAA investigation.

How serial con artist John Calipari, the only coach to have Final Four appearances vacated at two different schools, is allowed to coach is beyond me. Even more puzzling is why a school would allow this guy to be a leader of young men. I’m on board with Bobby Knight on this one.

Roddick Advances
Andy Roddick joined Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the 2010 Australian Open with a grueling five set victory over Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez.

Roddick, the only American left in the draw, won on his third match point when Gonzalez double-faulted. Next up for the worlds No. 7-ranked player will be Croatian Marin Celic, who defeated U.S. Open champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.

Andy Murray breezes
World’s No. 5-ranked player Andy Murray breezed in a straight sets victory over 6-foot-9 American John Isner 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 and moved into the final eight for the first time at the Australian Open. Murray hasn’t dropped a set in his last four matches.

Hewitt vs Federer
Later today No. 1-ranked Roger Federer will take on Australia’s last chance to win it’s own championship when he battles home country favorite and No. 22-ranked Leyton Hewitt.

Preseason odds to win the 2010 World Series via Bodog

American League East
New York Yankees 11/4
Boston Red Sox 11/2
Tampa Bay Rays 27/1
Toronto Blue Jays 100/1
Baltimore Orioles 100/1

American League Central
Minnesota Twins 25/1
Detroit Tigers 27/1
Chicago White Sox 30/1
Cleveland Indians 60/1
Kansas City Royals 75/1

American League West
Los Angeles Angels 14/1
Seattle Mariners 18/1
Texas Rangers 20/1
Oakland Athletics 70/1

National League East
Philadelphia Phillies 11/2
New York Mets 15/1
Atlanta Braves 18/1
Florida Marlins 25/1
Washington Nationals 125/1

National League Central
St. Louis Cardinals 13/1
Chicago Cubs 18/1
Milwaukee Brewers 40/1
Cincinnati Reds 45/1
Houston Astros 75/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 125/1

National League West
Los Angeles Dodgers 12/1
San Francisco Giants 16/1
Colorado Rockies 18/1
Arizona Diamondbacks 50/1
San Diego Padres 75/1

During his introductory press conference at USC, Lane Kiffin said that Tennessee is one of the top ten coaching gigs in the country, but apparently Duke head coach and two-time former Tennessee Vol assistant David Cutcliffe doesn’t agree with the chosen one.

Cutcliffe announced today that he will remain at Duke. With Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and Air Force coach Troy Calhoun also removing their names from consideration, Tennessee Athletic Director Mike Hamilton is scrambling to find a new head coach as national signing day approaches.

Apparently, the sticking point with Cutcliffe was over assistant coaches that would be held over from the Lane Kiffin fiasco. Seems to me that if Cutcliffe was your man you’d let him hire his staff.