After losing out on prized free-agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to the Philadelphia Eagles, the New York Jets are looking to retain Antonio Cromartie. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Jets are "closing in" on a deal with Cromartie, whom the team signed last offseason to complement Darrelle Revis at the other cornerback position. The Jets should have plenty of cap room to re-sign Cromartie after the team made Bart Scott, Calvin Pace, LaDanian Tomlinson and Brandon Moore take pay cuts in order to free up money to throw at Asomugha. Cromartie started 15 games in New York last season, recording 42 tackles and three interceptions.
General
Dimitrov sends Haas packing
Seventh-seeded Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov and US teenager Ryan Harrison led the youth movement in evidence on Tuesday at the ATP Los Angeles hardcourt tournament. Dimitrov, 20, made short work of two-time Los Angeles champion Tommy Haas, downing the 33-year-old German veteran 6-3, 6-2 in 66 minutes. The Bulgarian arrived in Los Angeles at a career-high 57th in the world rankings and aiming to improve on two quarterfinal appearances on the ATP Tour this year. Harrison, 19, celebrated his move into the world's top 100 with a three-set first-round victory over Richard Berankis. Harrison, who reached his first career semifinal in Atlanta last week, rallied from a set and a break down to notch a 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-3 victory over Lithuania's Berankis, who is
Russell ousts Tursunov in LA
Michael Russell provided an upset on the opening day of the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles, ousting sixth-seeded Dimitry Tursunov 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-2 on Monday. The American, ranked 110th in the world, overwhelmed his 46th-ranked opponent and set up a second-round clash against either compatriot Ryan Harrison or Lithuania's Richard Berankis. The result should open up that quarter of the draw for third-seeded Marcos Baghdatis, who received a bye to the second round. Another American to win was Ryan Sweeting, who beat Somdev Devvarman 6-4, 7-6 (6), avenging a first-round loss to the Indian at Atlanta a week ago. Sweeting's second-round opponent will be either eighth-seeded Igor Kunitsyn, or the hard-hitting Fernando Gonzalez. Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan beat wildcard Robby Ginepri of the US
Del Potro laying foundation for US Open return
Juan Martin del Potro can't wait to get back to the US Open, scene of his breakthrough Grand Slam triumph in 2009, but first he'll try to take care of business in a return to US hardcourts at Los Angeles. "I am very excited to come back to New York," said del Potro, who didn't get a chance to defend his title at Flushing Meadows in 2010 after a wrist injury cut short his season. "If I could start to play tomorrow I would. First I have very important tournaments before. "This tournament it's important for me – it will be my first tournament after clay and grass season." The Argentinian is the second seed behind American Mardy Fish in the $ 619,500
Azarenka, Sharapova, Serena headline Stanford
Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova head the field for the WTA hardcourt tournament that starts on Monday with Serena Williams lurking dangerously as her injury comeback continues. Eight of the world's top 20 will take part in the WTA Tour's first premier level tournament since Wimbledon, which marks the start of the women's build-up on American hardcourts to the US Open. Belarusian Azarenka and Russian Sharapova, ranked four and five in the world, are the top two seeds. They'll be vying to reprise their meeting in the final last year, when Azarenka triumphed for the title. Both arrive in northern California fresh from strong runs at Wimbledon, where Sharapova fell in the final to Petra Kvitova but said her first appearance in seven years
West Football All-Stars Win Again
In the 63rd Annual East-West Senior All-Star Football game the West defeated the East 19-7 on Wednesday at Jamieson Stadium at Grimsley High School in Greensboro. The West leads the all-time series 37-25 with one tie, won its second consecutive game against the East. John Knox II from Salisbury ran for 111 yards and scored on a 50-yard pass play. West Defensive lineman Stephen Burns from Alexander Central sacked the East quarterback on the very first play of the game. The West had three players from the high country, Burns, Dustin Anderson from Asheville High School and DJ Mouzon from Hickory. And head coach Tom Harper of Alexander Central was an assistant for the West.
Player Rep: NFL Players Upset With Owners’ Tactics, Unsure When They’ll Vote to End Lockout
by Jeff Howe on Fri, Jul 22, 2011 at 12:07AM Just when the two sides were starting to get along, the NFL's labor situation has gotten ugly yet again. The players were absolutely livid with the owners Thursday night, and as such, the league's player representatives knew within an hour of their conference call that they wouldn't be voting to ratify a settlement to end the lockout, according to a player rep who was on the call.There's a "good chance" the players reconvene for another call Friday, but the player rep had "no idea" if the players would be ready to vote then.Earlier Thursday, the owners approved the proposal by a 31-0 vote (the Raiders abstained), and they left