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Braves Win, Uggla Continues Streak 08/09/2011
MIAMI (AP) -- Dan Uggla extended his hitting streak to 29 games and Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer to help the Atlanta Braves beat slumping Florida 8-5 Monday night, dropping the Marlins to 0-5 on their homestand.
Uggla beat out a grounder to short for an infield single in the fifth inning to extend the longest active hitting streak in the majors. He's tied with Rowland Office for the second-longest streak in franchise history behind Rico Carty's 31 in a row in 1970.
After Uggla and Chipper Jones singled in the fifth, Gonzalez hit his 10th home run off Brad Hand (1-4).
Uggla added a sacrifice fly in the sixth against his former team. Atlanta's Michael Bourn drove in a run with his 30th infield hit, most in the NL. Freddie Freeman, whose career-best 20-game hitting streak ended Sunday, had a two-run single.
Derek Lowe (7-10), who had lost his past three starts, allowed two runs in six innings. Craig Kimbrel struck out the only two batters he faced for his 35th save in 40 chances.
Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez missed the finish. He was ejected for the third time this season for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout in the fourth inning.
Freeman was ejected for the first time in his career when he complained after being called out on strikes in the eighth.
Not that many calls seemed to go the home team's way. Despite a suggestion by Marlins manager Jack McKeon that his players wear road uniforms, they opted for white and fell to 24-37 in home games. They're 31-23 on the road, the largest such disparity in the majors.
The short-handed Marlins were without three starters injured in the past week - Hanley Ramirez, Omar Infante and Logan Morrison. That further hampered an offense that has scored 24 runs in 10 games against Atlanta this season.
Florida trailed 8-2 in the eighth inning before Greg Dobbs hit his fifth home run and John Buck hit his 12th.
The Braves came in batting .222 against left-handers, but they totaled nine hits and seven in five innings off Hand. The rookie took some consolation from getting his first career hit and scoring his first run.
Atlanta took the lead for good with four runs in the second, all with two out. Bourn singled in the first run, Martin Prado doubled home another and Freeman hit a two-run single.
-- NOTES: Braves C Brian McCann (strained oblique muscle) took batting practice for the first time since his injury and may be activated Friday, the first day he's eligible to come off the disabled list. ... LF Morrison (swollen right knee) was held out of the starting lineup but might return Tuesday. SS Ramirez (left shoulder) said he's improving but doesn't expect to play Tuesday. ... An official scoring change made hours after Sunday's Marlins-Cardinals game helped RHP Javier Vazquez's ERA. A double by the Cardinals' Corey Patterson was changed to an error on Morrison, making the three runs that subsequently scored that inning unearned. ... The Braves' Brandon Beachy is scheduled to pitch Tuesday against the Marlins' Clay Hensley in a rematch of the game July 29, which Atlanta won 5-0.
Hawks Have New Owner 08/09/2011
ATLANTA (AP) -- An emotional Alex Meruelo had to fight back tears as he talked about what it to means to be the NBA's first Hispanic team owner.
His voice cracked as he talked about having dreamed of this day.
"I think we all do as boys - that I would one day play in the NBA," said Meruelo, a California developer and pizza chain owner.
Meruelo, the son of Cuban immigrants, vowed to do everything he can to bring a championship to Atlanta if his deal to become the majority owner of the Hawks is approved by the NBA.
He became emotional again when he slipped on a red Hawks cap.
"I wasn't quite fast enough, tall enough or quick enough, so those dreams didn't quite get me that far," he said. "But those dreams brought me the burning desire to be involved in the NBA. It's something I've always wanted my entire life to somehow be a part of the NBA."
Meruelo, 48, will have controlling interest of more than 50 percent of the Hawks, who will remain in Atlanta. The deal also includes operating rights to Philips Arena.
Citing the NBA lockout, Meruelo would not discuss details of the agreement, including the purchase price.
He confirmed members of the current ownership group, including majority owners Bruce Levenson and Michael Gearon Jr., would retain minority shares "for a period of time."
Levenson and Gearon did not attend Monday's news conference.
Meruelo said "it's a privilege and I'm honored" to be the league's first Hispanic majority owner.
"I think it means a lot," he said. "Me being Hispanic, being first is really touching. I hope to do the right thing. I just want to make sure I make them proud."
He answered a few questions from a Spanish-speaking reporter in Spanish after apologizing "I'm not the best, but I'll do my best."
He said he has been influenced by Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno, who is of Mexican descent and is the first Hispanic owner of a major sports team in the United States.
"There's no question, he's a role model," Meruelo said. "He's the first Major League Baseball owner. He's done a great job. My hat's off to Arte. I've never met him. I look forward to hopefully meeting him soon. I can just say he's done a great job with the Angels. I'm very proud of him. I only hope to do the same."
Meruelo said he will spend as much time as necessary in Atlanta.
He said he "will work my tail off" to earn the respect and trust of Atlanta fans.
Meruelo was born in New York and raised in California.
Asked if he was a Knicks or Lakers fan, he said "I'm a Hawks fan, 1,000-percent Hawks fan."
"I can't promise you a championship tomorrow, but I can promise you that I will never give up," he said.
The Hawks have made the playoffs the past four seasons, including three straight second-round appearances.
Meruelo acknowledged that buying a team during the lockout which threatens the 2011-12 season gave him cause for concern.
"You're always hesitant, right?" he said. "It's the unknown that makes you uncomfortable, but at the same time I just see a tremendous amount of opportunity and growth in this sport."
Hawks general manager Rick Sund said he was impressed by Meruelo's energy.
"I think his enthusiasm about winning and his focus about wanting to bring a championship here are all just great things and are very exciting for everybody here," Sund said. "He's just very, very genuine."
The current ownership group also recently sold the NHL's Atlanta Thrashers to a group that moved the team to Winnipeg. Meruelo said he didn't discuss buying the Thrashers.
"My focus is with the basketball team and that's with my heart and my soul and that's where I want to be," he said. "Just one focus. Basketball."
Hawks Hall of Famer Dominique Wilkins, who introduced Meruelo, called the new owner "a true basketball fan."
"His record has shown in life that he's a winner and so we welcome his winning spirit here in Atlanta," Wilkins said.
Meruelo heads the Meruelo Group, a Downey, Calif.-based investment firm. The firm recently acquired the Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno, Nev., for a reported $42.45 million.
He also founded La Pizza Loca, which has over 50 franchised and company-owned restaurants in Southern California, catering to the Latino community, according to the Meruelo Group website.
"I think the common theme is I look for opportunities," he said. "In this case, it's really a dual thing, the opportunity and the love of the sport that brought me so close to this. ... I would say I'm a very hands-on individual. I'm very tied in to every business I'm involved with. I will do no different here."
Georgia Tech Responds to NCAA Punishment 07/15/2011
ATLANTA (ramblinwreck.com) - The National College Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Committee on Infractions has found the Georgia Institute of Technology men's basketball and football programs have committed violations of NCAA regulations.
The Institute was cited for a lack of cooperation during the investigation, a failure to meet the conditions and obligations of membership and preferential treatment violations. There were additional violations in the men's basketball program related to rules stemming from a nonscholastic basketball tournament conducted on the Institute's campus, which the public report further details.
"Georgia Tech is committed to the integrity of its athletics program, including full cooperation and support of the NCAA," said Georgia Tech President G.P. "Bud" Peterson. "Given the information we had at the time, I believe we took reasonable and appropriate steps to determine the proper course of action and acted in good faith. Looking back, there are things we could have done differently. Because of our unwavering commitment to NCAA compliance, we have already taken a number of steps to address perceived shortcomings, hopefully ensuring that our programs remain beyond reproach."
After being notified of the allegations in November 2009, Georgia Tech conducted its own internal investigation, forming a committee made up of faculty, staff and external counsel that made recommendations based on available information and the internal investigation findings.
As a result of this exhaustive review process and because of Georgia Tech's steadfast commitment to compliance, the Institute completely revamped and enhanced its athletic compliance operation and staffing. Changes include a greater investment in experienced staff, training and awareness among staff and student athletes.
Penalties include:
• Public reprimand and censure.
• Four years of probation from July 14, 2011, through July 13, 2015. The report further details this probation.
• A $100,000 financial penalty.
• A reduction of two men's basketball recruiting days during the 2011 summer evaluation period (self-imposed by the Institute).
• A limit to 10 official visits for men's basketball for the 2011-12 and 2012-2013 academic years.
• A vacation of all contests won by the football team during the 2009 season after November 24, which is when the university was alerted to the potential eligibility issues.
The Institute is considering options including whether to appeal the NCAA decision.
"I want to reemphasize Georgia Tech's unwavering commitment to compliance and our commitment to the conditions and obligations of membership of the NCAA," said Peterson
Caleb King Going Pro 07/13/2011
ATLANTA -- Former Georgia tailback Caleb King says he is entering the NFL's supplemental draft.
King, who would have been a senior, was declared academically ineligible for the 2011 season on Friday. He finished spring drills as Georgia's starter.
King said Tuesday in a statement released by Georgia he is looking forward to the opportunity to continue his career in the NFL.
King rushed for 430 yards with two touchdowns on 80 carries in 2010. He started in 10 of his 29 games at Georgia and rushed for 1,271 yards. He set a career high with 166 yards rushing against Georgia Tech in 2009.
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