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Sports Briefs: Super Bowl will feature The Who
By The Associated Press
Friday, November 27, 2009 | No comments posted.
NEW YORK — The Who will perform at halftime of the Super Bowl this season.
The NFL announced during Thursday’s game between the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys that the longtime rock band known for classic hits such as “Pinball Wizard” and “Baba O’Riley” will play Feb. 7 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.
Driven by singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend, the band’s two remaining original members, The Who gained fame in the mid-1960s and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Recent halftime acts at the Super Bowl have included Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince and the Rolling Stones.
TENNIS
Murray edged out at ATP World Tour Finals
LONDON — Juan Martin del Potro squeaked into the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals by beating Roger Federer 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3 — the slimmest possible margin to advance and knock Andy Murray out of the tournament.
The result means del Potro and Federer both advance after a three-way tie in Group A, with Murray’s elimination literally coming down to the last game after three rounds of group matches.
All three players finished the round-robin stage with two wins and identical 5-4 set records, but Murray had the lowest percentage of games won. Had del Potro lost just one more game against Federer, Murray would have advanced at the Argentine’s expense.
Murray beat Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3) earlier.
BASEBALL
Announcer does not plan to rejoin Yankees
NEW YORK — Bob Sheppard has no intentions of returning to his longtime job as the public address announcer at Yankee Stadium, MLB.com reported.
Sheppard, who is 99, hasn’t worked a game since late in the 2007 season due to illness.
When contacted by The Associated Press, Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said the team had no announcement or comment at this time.
Famous for his distinct and resonant tones, Sheppard became the PA announcer at the old Yankee Stadium in 1951. Decades later, Reggie Jackson gave him the nickname “The Voice of God.”
Sheppard has called out names from Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle to Derek Jeter over the years. For the final game at the old park in 2008, he recorded a greeting to fans and the introduction of New York’s starting lineup.
Paul Olden took over as the public address announcer at the new Yankee Stadium this year in Sheppard’s absence. Jim Hall, a longtime backup, filled in for Sheppard late in 2007 and last year.
SOCCER
Chile may be ousted from World Cup
ASUNCION, Paraguay — Chile could be kicked out of the World Cup unless Chilean club Rangers drops a court case by Dec. 3 contesting its disputed demotion to the second division of the national soccer league.
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, said it was notified by FIFA about the possible sanction.
Rangers were deducted three points for using six foreign players — the limit is five — in a league match on Nov. 8. The three points cost them relegation to the second division, and last week they appealed the case to a Chilean court.
Chile, which has not played in the World Cup since 1998, is one of five South American nations that have qualified for next year’s tournament in South Africa.
BASKETBALL
Shaq pays for funeral of slain girl
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Basketball star Shaquille O’Neal paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl after being moved by national news coverage of the case of Shaniya Davis, who police say was kidnapped and killed.
The Cleveland Cavaliers player was touched by the stories he saw and got in touch with the family to see what he could do to help, a spokeswoman for O’Neal said.
More than 2,000 people attended the girl’s funeral Sunday. Her body was found Nov. 16 beside a rural road.
Her mother, Antionette Davis, who had reported the child missing six days earlier, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution. Mario McNeill is charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in the case.
Brown urges Iverson to keep playing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Larry Brown has a message for Allen Iverson: don’t give up.
Iverson’s former coach said Friday he thinks the 10-time All-Star “still has a passion to play” and shouldn’t retire. An online report this week indicated Iverson had decided to end his career after receiving little interest from NBA teams.
Brown, now coaching the Charlotte Bobcats, said he has talked to Iverson’s agent and is seeking to get in touch with him directly. Brown said he understands that “it’s a pretty humbling thing” that teams haven’t jumped to sign him since he was waived by Memphis on Nov. 17.
Commentator Stephen A. Smith published a statement on his Web site Wednesday attributed to Iverson that said he planned to retire.
The NFL announced during Thursday’s game between the Oakland Raiders and Dallas Cowboys that the longtime rock band known for classic hits such as “Pinball Wizard” and “Baba O’Riley” will play Feb. 7 at Dolphin Stadium in Miami.
Driven by singer Roger Daltrey and guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend, the band’s two remaining original members, The Who gained fame in the mid-1960s and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.
Recent halftime acts at the Super Bowl have included Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Prince and the Rolling Stones.
TENNIS
Murray edged out at ATP World Tour Finals
LONDON — Juan Martin del Potro squeaked into the semifinals of the ATP World Tour Finals by beating Roger Federer 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3 — the slimmest possible margin to advance and knock Andy Murray out of the tournament.
The result means del Potro and Federer both advance after a three-way tie in Group A, with Murray’s elimination literally coming down to the last game after three rounds of group matches.
All three players finished the round-robin stage with two wins and identical 5-4 set records, but Murray had the lowest percentage of games won. Had del Potro lost just one more game against Federer, Murray would have advanced at the Argentine’s expense.
Murray beat Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (3) earlier.
BASEBALL
Announcer does not plan to rejoin Yankees
NEW YORK — Bob Sheppard has no intentions of returning to his longtime job as the public address announcer at Yankee Stadium, MLB.com reported.
Sheppard, who is 99, hasn’t worked a game since late in the 2007 season due to illness.
When contacted by The Associated Press, Yankees spokesman Jason Zillo said the team had no announcement or comment at this time.
Famous for his distinct and resonant tones, Sheppard became the PA announcer at the old Yankee Stadium in 1951. Decades later, Reggie Jackson gave him the nickname “The Voice of God.”
Sheppard has called out names from Joe DiMaggio to Mickey Mantle to Derek Jeter over the years. For the final game at the old park in 2008, he recorded a greeting to fans and the introduction of New York’s starting lineup.
Paul Olden took over as the public address announcer at the new Yankee Stadium this year in Sheppard’s absence. Jim Hall, a longtime backup, filled in for Sheppard late in 2007 and last year.
SOCCER
Chile may be ousted from World Cup
ASUNCION, Paraguay — Chile could be kicked out of the World Cup unless Chilean club Rangers drops a court case by Dec. 3 contesting its disputed demotion to the second division of the national soccer league.
CONMEBOL, the governing body of South American soccer, said it was notified by FIFA about the possible sanction.
Rangers were deducted three points for using six foreign players — the limit is five — in a league match on Nov. 8. The three points cost them relegation to the second division, and last week they appealed the case to a Chilean court.
Chile, which has not played in the World Cup since 1998, is one of five South American nations that have qualified for next year’s tournament in South Africa.
BASKETBALL
Shaq pays for funeral of slain girl
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. — Basketball star Shaquille O’Neal paid for the funeral of a 5-year-old North Carolina girl after being moved by national news coverage of the case of Shaniya Davis, who police say was kidnapped and killed.
The Cleveland Cavaliers player was touched by the stories he saw and got in touch with the family to see what he could do to help, a spokeswoman for O’Neal said.
More than 2,000 people attended the girl’s funeral Sunday. Her body was found Nov. 16 beside a rural road.
Her mother, Antionette Davis, who had reported the child missing six days earlier, is charged with human trafficking and child abuse involving prostitution. Mario McNeill is charged with murder, rape and kidnapping in the case.
Brown urges Iverson to keep playing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Larry Brown has a message for Allen Iverson: don’t give up.
Iverson’s former coach said Friday he thinks the 10-time All-Star “still has a passion to play” and shouldn’t retire. An online report this week indicated Iverson had decided to end his career after receiving little interest from NBA teams.
Brown, now coaching the Charlotte Bobcats, said he has talked to Iverson’s agent and is seeking to get in touch with him directly. Brown said he understands that “it’s a pretty humbling thing” that teams haven’t jumped to sign him since he was waived by Memphis on Nov. 17.
Commentator Stephen A. Smith published a statement on his Web site Wednesday attributed to Iverson that said he planned to retire.
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