metroAtlanta.com » AJC Sports

Family, friends mourn ex-Hawk Lorenzen Wright

admin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:33:38 +0000

Relatives and friends of Lorenzen Wright gathered Wednesday and grieved for the former NBA player who has been missing for 10 days, as police investigated the discovery of a man's body outside of Memphis.

What does Atlanta’s soccer future hold?

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:25:17 +0000

The future of soccer in Atlanta, which could include hundreds of millions of dollars in World Cup windfall, depends upon many things, according to various sports executives and people familiar with the Atlanta market.

Justin Garrett, Tucker’s ‘other linebacker,’ commits to Auburn

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:55:59 +0000

As several college football programs have learned, James Vaughters is not the only big-time linebacker at Tucker High. And while Justin Garrett may not have 40 offers like his ballyhooed teammate, he’s good enough to have attracted the attention of almost every ACC and SEC school.

Auburn was among those sold on Garrett. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound linebacker accepted a scholarship offer from the Tigers on Tuesday.

“Yep, Auburn got him,” Tucker coach Franklin Stephens said Wednesday. “He committed yesterday.”

So what did the Tigers get in Garrett?

“Him and Vaughters are different players,” Stephens said. “Both play linebacker, but they’re different kinds of linebackers. James is a little bigger (6-3, 230). Justin started out for us playing in the secondary for two years. We needed to move him up to linebacker last year and he just flourished.

“We had all these people coming in to see James and I’d tell them, we’ve got another good linebacker you need to look at, too. He’s 6-2, 195 …

Witness: Atlanta kickboxer’s emergency transport delayed

admin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:43:26 +0000

The Atlanta woman who died Tuesday after she was knocked unconscious during an amateur kickboxing tournament in Orlando wasn't taken to a hospital for an hour, a kickboxing coach at the event said.

Lyttle lifts Dream over Shock 105-89

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 20:56:07 +0000

TULSA, Okla. - Sancho Lyttle had 20 points and 14 rebounds and Iziane Castro Marques scored 23 points to help the Atlanta Dream beat the Tulsa Shock 105-89 Tuesday.

Where is James Wilder Jr. and why no Ten@10?

admin — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 19:59:34 +0000

Sorry there was no Ten@10 or any other posts today. Unfortunately my wife had to be hospitalized yesterday and I’m having to tend to her needs right now. The AJC Recruiting Blog will resume asap.

In the meantime, just to keep the conversation going, what do you think it means that James Wilder Jr. did not show up at Florida’s “Friday Night Lights” camps this past Friday? Word is Jimbo Fisher kept Wilder and his family held up in Tallahassee at Florida State. Think it means nothing or shows a crack that FSU or Georgia could exploit?

And speaking of Wilder, one commenter asked, if you’re Georgia would you want Wilder at the expense of Isaiah Crowell of Carver-Columbus? They’re two different kinds of backs.

Like I said, we’ll try to get things up and running full steam as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience.

Chip

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E-mail specific recruiting questions to me at AJCrecruiting@yahoo.com. I’ll answer them in the “Mailbag” each …

Hawks official on missing Wright: ‘Don’t know what to make of it’

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:21:47 +0000

Family hasn't heard from long-time NBA player Wright since July 18.

Ex-Laker Josh Powell signs with Hawks

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 22:40:06 +0000

The Hawks on Monday announced the signing of an ex-Laker center. No, not Shaquille O'Neal, rumored to be coming to Atlanta.

Heyward, Strasburg in middle of intriguing rookie of year race

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 20:10:31 +0000

WASHINGTON -- Two months ago, it was hard to imagine Jason Heyward having much competition for the National League rookie of the year award.

Stephenson’s Jared Boyd finds everything he wants at Duke

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 19:48:07 +0000

Jared Boyd goes against Stephenson teammate Kadetrix Marcus in a recent 7-on-7 practice. (Photo by Rusty Mansell/247Sports.com)

Look out for the football-playing Duke Blue Devils.

That’s a word of warning from Stephenson cornerback Jared Boyd, who became commitment number 19 for the Blue Devils this past weekend. Coach David Cutcliffe has since picked up a 20th verbal for the Class of 2011 – from another cornerback named Tin Burton from Florida — and that’s one of the reasons Boyd says Duke will soon be a team to contend with in the ACC.

“I think they’re starting a new era at Duke. I really do,” said Boyd, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound defensive back who counts Georgia Tech among his multiple scholarship offers. “I think Coach Cutcliffe is turning it around at Duke they’re getting ready to make a move in the ACC. They’re going to be contending for championships soon. I honestly believe that.”

So sincere is Boyd that he committed to the Blue Devils while on a visit this weekend. He …

ESPN report shows food-safety violations at ATL sports venues

admin — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 14:46:09 +0000

How safe is that $5 hot dog? ESPN wanted to know. So the network's "Outside the Lines" analyzed 2009 food service inspections for every major-league stadium.

Braves squander chances, fall to Marlins in 11 innings

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:16:22 +0000

MIAMI -- It was a wild series and maybe a wake-up call. After riding the low of a passed ball that led to a loss and the high of winning one on a pinch-hit grand slam, the Braves wanted off the emotional merry-go-round.

Fans Guide: Falcons Training Camp

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:11:13 +0000

When: Players report Thursday. Practice starts at 8:30 a.m. Friday and is open to the public. The camp includes 15 two-a-day sessions.

Teams calling about Braves’ bevy of pitching prospects

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:40:51 +0000

The Braves have four pitchers 25-or-under playing prominent roles on their major league staff, and Tommy Hanson , Jair Jurrjens , Kris Medlen and Jonny Venters are costing the team barely $1.7 million combined.

Stephenson’s Cunningham signs with Patriots

admin — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 12:49:19 +0000

Jermaine Cunningham, the Stephenson High and Florida grad, has agreed to a four-year deal with the New England Patriots.

Kaye Cowher, wife of former Steelers coach, dies at age 54

admin — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:31:33 +0000

Kaye Cowher, the wife of former Steelers football coach Bill Cowher, died Friday in her native North Carolina after losing a battle with skin cancer, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported .

GSU coaches prep for transfer influx

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:24:48 +0000

It's not that John Bond has never taken on transfers. "We've had a transfer or two at places, but that's it -- a transfer or two," said Bond, the offensive coordinator for the Georgia State football team.

Isner, Roddick highlight quarterfinal matchups

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:06:45 +0000

John Isner and Andy Roddick are the marquee names for Friday's matches at the Atlanta Tennis Championships in Johns Creek.

Mailbag: Crowell vs. Wilder, recruiting hostesses and what it takes to get noticed

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 10:36:22 +0000

THE MAILBAG:

Peter of Charleston, S.C., asks: Has UGA said how many running backs they will take in 2011? Which back do you think fits better, James Wilder Jr. or Isaiah Crowell?

Chip: Georgia has not said how many backs it will take but I’m still waiting for their call. In the meantime, I believed they’d sign at least two even before Dontavius Jackson’s DUI and subsequent decision to leave. The Bulldogs made it clear from the beginning that Crowell was their A-number-one target in this class, but that was before they knew they’d get this far with Wilder. So I’d call them 1A and 1B at this point.

James Wilder Jr.: Hard to top this guy. (Photo by Tim Casey/GatorCountry.com)

Regardless, the Bulldogs have never banked on one back under coach Mark Richt. If you look at his years at Georgia, they average right at 2,000 yards rushing every season no matter who’s the primary ballcarrier. And the majority of the time those carries are spread somewhat evenly between two or three …

Francoeur subject of trade speculation

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:54:16 +0000

Could Jeff Francoeur be on the move again? The New York Post reports that the New York Mets are trying to trade the struggling right fielder and that a deal could happen by this weekend.