By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – PHILADELPHIA — A source requesting anonymity says Panamanian catcher Carlos Ruiz and the Philadelphia Phillies have agreed to an US$8.85-million, three-year contract that avoids salary arbitration. The source spoke on condition of anonymity Monday because the team had not yet announced the deal. The contract includes a $5-million club option for 2013 with a $500,000 buyout. Ruiz batted .255 with 43 RBIs and a career-high nine homers last season. He has a .303 post-season average after starting every Phillies playoff game the last two years for a team that reached the World Series twice, winning in 2008. Ruiz was the last Philadelphia player in arbitration. His deal was first reported by MLB.com.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The Bleacher Report recently published a list of "The 20 Hottest Women to Watch on Sports TV." Coming in at #17 on their list was Panamanian born Sage Steele. Sage Steele was born in Panama in 1972. She was born to an American Army family serving in the Canal Zone. Her father would be stationed all over the world during Sage's childhood. She attended high school in Colorado Springs, Colo., and Carmel, Ind. Sage joined ESPN in 2007, and can be seen anchoring Sports Center rather frequently. She came to ESPN after working at Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic in Bethesda, Maryland, where she was an anchor and reporter for the network's nightly local sports news program, SportsNite.

   

By Ken Bradley, Sporting News - On a team full of superstars, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera went about his usual way in 2009, dominating opponents and helping New York claim its 27th World Series. Because of his performance—44 saves, 1.76 ERA and five more postseason saves — Rivera is Sporting News' Pro Athlete of the Year. In 15 seasons with the Yankees, Rivera has been an integral part of five World Series titles. He told Sporting News that the nine years since the previous championship was tough to handle. "It felt long—especially the year 2008 when we didn't even make the playoffs. That was horrible," Rivera told Sporting News' Steve Greenberg in a one-on-one interview at his Rye, N.Y., home. Among the other things Rivera told SN: On being able to peak at the most important time of year, even at his age: In the playoffs, you're talking about something that not many players have the opportunity to be in -- and I'm talking about great players, not just average players. And I've been blessed to be able to be in the playoffs for many years and do the job in all those years. I think that says it alone -- it's the playoffs. You don't want to miss that; you want to be in the middle of it. And when you realize that's your makeup, your ability, your mind, your mentality, you just want to keep going and going and going and never stop. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (313 words)

Since the Fifa World cup draw 2010, searches for the current team rankings are soaring sky high, here they are: Team 1 Spain 2 Brazil 3 Netherlands 4 Italy 5 Portugal 6 Germany 7 France 8 Argentina 9 England 10 Croatia 11 Cameroon 12 Greece 13 Russia 14 USA 15 Mexico 16 Côte d’Ivoire 17 Chile 18 Switzerland 19 Uruguay 20 Serbia 21 Australia 22 Nigeria 23 Czech Republic 24 Ukraine 25 Israel 26 Denmark 27 Bulgaria 28 Algeria 29 Egypt 30 Paraguay 30 Norway 32 Romania 33 Slovenia 34 Slovakia 35 Ecuador 36 Republic of Ireland 37 Ghana 38 Honduras 39 Northern Ireland 40 Colombia 41 Turkey 42 Sweden 43 Japan 44 Costa Rica 45 Latvia 46 Scotland 47 Mali 48 Gabon 49 Burkina Faso 50 Venezuela. 51 Bosnia-Herzegovina 52 Korea Republic 53 Tunisia 54 Finland 55 Hungary 56 Poland 57 Bolivia 58 Canada 59 Benin 60 Lithuania 61 Bahrain 62 Austria 63 Iran 64 Belgium 65 Saudi Arabia 66 FYR Macedonia 67 Morocco 68 Cyprus 69 Panama 70 Peru 71 Togo 72 Mozambique 73 Montenegro 74 Jamaica 75 Guinea 76 Uzbekistan 77 New Zealand 78 Uganda 79 Wales 80 Belarus 81 Trinidad and Tobago 82 El Salvador 83 Oman 84 Korea DPR 85 Haiti 86 South Africa 87 Qatar 88 Iraq 89 Senegal 90 Zambia 91 Syria 92 Iceland 93 Moldova 94 Angola 94 Malawi 96 Cuba 97 China PR 98 Albania 99 Armenia 100 Congo. 101 Cape Verde Islands 102 Estonia 103 Kuwait 103 Grenada 105 Kenya 106 Tanzania 107 Thailand 108 Zimbabwe 109 Congo DR 110 Rwanda 111 United Arab Emirates 111 Singapore 111 Sudan 114 Namibia 115 Barbados 116 Azerbaijan 117 Guyana 118 Libya 119 Kazakhstan 120 Faroe Islands 121 Botswana 123 Gambia 123 Antigua and Barbuda 124 Burundi 125 Georgia 126 Guatemala 127 Indonesia 128 Jordan 128 Luxembourg 130 Vietnam 131 Ethiopia 132 Yemen 133 Fiji 134 Nicaragua 135 Myanmar 135 India 135 Equatorial Guinea 138 Swaziland 139 New Caledonia 140 Turkmenistan 141 Hong Kong 142 Sierra Leone 143 St. Vincent and the Grenadines 144 Suriname 144 Bermuda 146 Maldives 147 Lebanon 147 Chad 149 Malta 150 Lesotho. 151 Eritrea 152 Malaysia 152 Liechtenstein 154 Sri Lanka 155 Madagascar 156 Kyrgyzstan 156 Vanuatu 158 Liberia 159 St. Kitts and Nevis 160 Chinese Taipei 161 Pakistan 162 Puerto Rico 162 Tajikistan 164 Niger 165 Philippines 165 Bangladesh 167 Somalia 168 Netherlands Antilles 169 Mauritania 170 Mongolia 171 Solomon Islands 172 Cambodia 173 Belize 173 Laos 175 Palestine 176 Nepal 177 Bahamas 178 Comoros 179 Turks and Caicos Islands 180 Seychelles 181 Dominican Republic 182 Mauritius 183 Samoa 184 Cayman Islands 185 Guam 185 Djibouti 185 Cook Islands 188 St. Lucia 189 Macau 190 Guinea-Bissau 191 Tonga 192 Brunei Darussalam 192 Afghanistan 192 British Virgin Islands 195 Tahiti 196 Bhutan 197 Dominica 198 Aruba 199 US Virgin Islands 200 Timor-Leste 200 Central African Republic 202 Andorra 203 San Marino 203 Anguilla 203 Montserrat 203 American Samoa 203 Papua New Guinea.   

Bad Left Hook.com - Interim WBA featherweight titlist Luis Concepcion was on his home turf at Arena Roberto Duran in Panama City, and it showed as he dominated Mexican veteran Roberto Leyva over the first three rounds, and then knocked him out hard in the fourth to retain his belt. Concepcion (19-1, 14 KO) looked very sharp the entire fight, and 24-year old showed he's going to be a fighter to be reckoned with at 112 pounds. Leyva (26-10-1, 21 KO) is certainly not a world class fighter, but he wasn't even in the fight. To be fair to Leyva, part of that could be explained by the fact that he hasn't made 112 pounds in years now. The last time he fought that low, he was actually at 108 to challenge Edgar Sosa for a title in 2007. In the three fights since then, he's fought at 115 against Benjamin Garcia, 118 against Z Gorres, and all the way up at featherweight (126) in September against Omar Soriano. That fight with Soriano was also Leyva's first win since 2007. Overall, Leyva has lost 10 of his last 15 fights. The knockout blow in this one came with Concepcion's back to the ropes. The Panamanian threw a left hand, and then a short, perfectly-timed right came in immediately after, knocking Leyva to the canvas and ending the fight.

On the undercard, 108-pound prospect Luis Rios improved to 11-0 (6 KO) with a decision win over Carlos Melo (19-10, 2 KO). Melo challenged Edgar Sosa for a title earlier this year and was stopped in four. In this fight, it appeared as though Rios, just 19 years of age, had trouble coping with a fighter as experienced as Melo. Melo isn't a star or anything, but he's been around the rings. Melo appeared unfazed by anything Rios threw at him until the last three rounds or so of the fight, when the smaller Melo (who gave up at least three inches of height) seemed to tire and lose whatever zip he ever had on his punches. Bad Left Hook scored the fight a 95-95 draw after ten, but it was Rios who closed the fight strong.

21-year old Panamanian junior bantamweight prospect Ricardo Nunez (17-1, 15 KO) put a licking on veteran Juan Francisco Centeno (16-14, 8 KO). Nunez dominated the first round, then decked Centeno three times in the second. After two more knockdowns in the third, the referee mercifully called an end to the shellacking.

We'll be back with two more cards of live coverage tomorrow, including what appears to be the final boxing show that will air on ITV in England for the foreseeable future. In that main event, Darren Barker meets late substitute Danny Butler. Then tomorrow night, it'll be the HBO double-header headlined by the Lucian Bute-Librado Andrade rematch, as well as the intriguing fight between Joan Guzman and Ali Funeka.   

BY SEAN BRENNAN - DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER - Derek Jeter was fielding some last questions before disappearing into the night to celebrate his fifth World Series championship when he was asked if the outcome of Game 6 was a lock when he heard "Enter Sandman" begin to play as Mariano Rivera jogged to the mound. "Yup," Jeter answered quickly. "Game is over. When he comes in, that's when the game is over. It's over in everybody's mind. He's human. He's going to give up some runs here and there, but a four-run lead? We could have gone and played another nine innings." So when Rivera declared to the crowd of 50,315 delirious Yankees fans soaking in the post-game celebration that he wanted to pitch "another five years," it brought one of the loudest roars on a night full of them. "I'm serious," said Rivera, who closed out the postseason with five saves, including two in the Fall Classic, and a 0.56 ERA. "I hope the organization does whatever it takes to bring me back. I know I have another year on my contract and whatever happens, happens. I feel good. When you win - especially the way that we won, with a lot of adversity - to win it like that for the city of New York, it's special." Rivera, 40 in three weeks, was the only one of the eight closers in the postseason not to falter on October's big stage. Not a surprise, given his Hall of Fame credentials. But when he dropped a bombshell on ESPN in the wee hours of Thursday morning, saying he had pitched with an injury - "My side was killing me. I don't know how I finished. I have some ribs (problems) going on, some injury there" - it just added to Rivera's legend. "He's the best at what he does," Jorge Posada said. "I think he's the best to ever do it." (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (164 words)

By Reid Cherner & Tom Weir for USA Today - Good morning. For those who had to get up early today, you could have gone to sleep after the seventh inning of Game 2 in the World Series. That is when Yankee manager Joe Girardi phoned the bullpen and asked if Mariano was home. Just like Joe Torre before him, Girardi saves some special love for Mariano Rivera. Two innings later the Yankees, who got a tremendous game from starter A.J. Burnett, had tied the World Series 1-1 and Rivera continued to make history. Since 1996, there have been 23 postseason saves of at least two innings. Rivera has 14 of them. He has 38 post season saves, 10 of them in the World Series. He has an earned run average of 0.48 at Yankee Stadium(s). "He's special. Nobody does what he does," Derek Jeter said. "He wants to win, and he'll do whatever it takes. If someone wanted him to start, he'd go out there and start. He's unique, once-in-a-lifetime." There have been great performers in World Series history by both pitchers and hitters. Christy Mathewson pitched 10 complete games and four shutouts. Mickey Mantle had 18 home runs and 40 RBI; Whitey Ford won 10 times and Bob Gibson won seven consecutive games while Reggie Jackson had a .755 slugging percentage and Lefty Gomez never lost a game (6-0). Comparing players from different eras and at different positions is a silly exercise. So of course we start the morning off in a silly mood. Is Mariano Rivera the Most Valuable Player in World Series history?   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Received last night via email: "Don, Hope you are doing well. I'm sure I am one of the biggest sports nuts who is a follower of Panama Guide. Concerning Panamanians facing each other in the World Series, it has happened 3 times before. 1st time was in 1971 when the Pittsburgh Pirates of Manny Sanguillen and Rennie Stennett beat Ruthford "Chico" Stennett and his Baltimore Orioles. 2nd time was in 1998 when Mariano Rivera and Ramiro Mendoza and the Yankees beat the San Diego Padres and Marianos' cousin Ruben Rivera. Ruben was actually a big part of that team. 3rd time was in 1999 with Mariano and Ramiro with the Yankees again beating the Atlanta Braves and Bruce Chen who was not active during that series. This info was in yesterday's edition of "Mi Diario". This time may be the last time for many years, unless the Yankees and Phillies and therefore Mariano and Carlos meet again in the next few years, due to the lack of many Panamanians coming into the majors. It seems like the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's were the golden age for Panamanians in the Major Leagues. It seems as though with the absense of the US military, more young Panamanians are more "Latinized" and play more futbol than baseball. Many of the great Panamanian players were from the Canal Zone and were Afro-Antillanos like Humberto Robinson, Allen Lewis and Ben Oglivie. Most of these young athletes seem follow the example of the Dely twins today. I hope I am wrong on this and there will be many more. Well. Enjoy the series Don, and the Giants better beat the Eagles this Sunday! Sincerely, Michael Shounder candacr@yahoo.com"

Wow -- Thanks a million, Michael. I suffered through that "game" last night and I hope the Yankees will find their bats sometime before the Series is over. Thanks again for the information about Panamanians going head-to-head in the World Series.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Brace yourselves - I think we're in for a first. Tonight the first game of the 2009 World Series will be played, starting at 6:57 pm local time. The Philadelphia Phillies will face the New York Yankees and there's a Panamanian starring on both teams. That's the part that might be a first - has there ever been a World Series with a Panamanian playing on both teams? I don't know, and I doubt it, but no matter what it's still a great story. Phillies fans will scream "Choooooooch" every time catcher Carlos "Chooch" Ruiz steps up to bat. Yankees fans will erupt in the 9th inning the instant they hear the first notes of Metalica's "Enter Sandman" on the stadium loudspeakers - the signature marking the entrance of Mariano Rivera - who will then proceed to shut down the opposition, turn out the lights, and put the Phillies to sleep until another day. No matter what happens, these are two very evenly matched teams and the games should be great. I'm really looking forward to it. And the fact that no matter what a Panamanian will bring home a ring is just an added bonus. Mariano already has four (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000) so he still needs "one for the thumb."

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DOM AMORE for The Hartford Courant - NEW YORK - CC Sabathia had his son, CC Sabathia III, on his knee as he talked about winning MVP of the ALCS. "We came in here with a goal in spring training of winning a championship and we're a step closer," said Sabathia, who will undoubtedly start Game 1 of the Word Series against the Phillies on Wednesday. "It's really not a surprise that we're here. I hate to sound like that, but we're really a good team." Sabathia pitched 16 innings in his two starts in the ALCS, giving up nine hits and two runs, one in each game. In his three postseason starts, he is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA, a complete reversal from his past postseason appearances — he carried a 7.92 ERA from 2001, '07 and '08 into this October. "You go in there, you see Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte, Jorge Posada," Sabathia said. "Those guys have been through this situation a lot. You have to lean on those guys and talk to them in situations." Phillies manager Charlie Manuel named Cliff Lee as his Game 1 starter. Lee has gone 2-0 with an 0.74 ERA in three postseason starts this year. Mo For Two - Mariano Rivera has 37 postseason saves, which is 21 more than any other closer in MLB history. Brad Lidge of the Phillies is second. With his two innings Sunday night, Rivera also has 13 saves in which he has pitched two innings. Prior to Sunday's game, Rivera made a point of talking to Phil Hughes about relief pitching in the playoffs. Rivera, who was in Hughes' setup role in 1995 and 1996, has often talked with young relievers about mental toughness and having a "short memory." "To me, it comes from the best," manager Joe Girardi said, "a man who has had more success this time of year than anyone." Hughes, who stabilized the Yankees bullpen when he assumed the eighth-inning role in June, has not yet had a clean inning in the postseason. Hughes gave up the tying and winning runs in Game 5 on hits by Vladimir Guerrero and Kendry Morales. He did not pitch in Game 6 Sunday. Angels Get Sloppy - The Angels walked nine batters and made two errors in Game 6, in which the Yankees also got nine hits. The Yankees left 12 on base, and hit into three double plays. ... Hal Steinbrenner was among the large ownership/management contingent taking part in the clubhouse celebration. He had high praise for Andy Pettitte. "He's the guy you want out there pitching Game 6," Steinbrenner said. Mayor Michael Bloomberg was also in the clubhouse. ... Girardi stayed with his lineup, including Nick Swisher in right field. Swisher, looking to regain his mojo, did regain his Mohawk, the hairdo he sported early in the season. He went 1-for-3 with a run in Game 6 and is 4-for-32 in the playoffs.   

By KEN DAVIDOFF for Newsday - ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Major League Baseball’s Department of Operations has investigated the available video and still photographs surrounding the “Mariano Rivera spitball” controversy, and has found no evidence that the Yankees’ closer actually spit on a baseball, an MLB spokesman said Tuesday. The controversy, sparked by the Angels blog “Halos Heaven,” concerned Rivera’s entry to Monday’s American League Championship Series Game 3. Fox video showed Rivera, after completing his warmup pitches, turning away from home plate and spitting toward the ball. However, the video didn’t make clear where the spit landed. The commissioner’s office felt compelled to investigate, given the fury surrounding the accusation, yet the lack of a smoking gun essentially ended the query in a few hours -- short of new evidence surfacing.   

PHILADELPHIA -- As legendary broadcaster Harry Kalas proclaimed "The Philadelphia Phillies are 2008 world champions of baseball," Brad Lidge fell to his knees and seconds later found himself engulfed by the embrace of Carlos Ruiz, whose playoff success has led fans in Philadelphia to begin referring to the calendar year's 10th month as Chooch-tober. Nicknamed Chooch by his Phillies teammates, Ruiz has successfully filled the role of unsuspecting hero during the two most recent Octobers. While playing in the cinematic home of Rocky Balboa, the Phillies catcher has established himself as the underdog that fans cheer and a favorite teammate who has matured into one of the quiet leaders of a Philadelphia clubhouse filled with superstars. "Chooch, he's loose," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "He likes for you to kid and play with him some and things like that. But at the same time, he's very serious. And he's grown into gaining [the] respect of our pitchers and our team." At the meager cost of just $8,000 in 1998, the Phillies signed the 18-year-old second baseman from Panama. Over the course of the next 11 years, they saw their youngster persevere through the Minors and develop into a legitimate Major League catcher, who has drawn the respect of Joe Torre, who was an All-Star catcher long before he became a Hall of Fame-caliber manager. "He's that guy that seems to be that pain in the neck, or some other part of your body," said Torre, whose Dodgers have seen Ruiz hit .385 and produce a .500 on-base percentage against them during each of the past two National League Championship Series. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (839 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Carlos Lee plays left field with the Houston Astros, and the 33 year old from Aguadulce in Panama now has 102 runs batted it (RBI) on the season. This is the third consecutive season Lee has gotten 100 RBIs or more for the Houston Astros. He now has 1,103 for his career and is 191 on the all time leaders list so he still has a ways to go - first place is Hank Arron with 2,297 and second is Babe Ruth with 2,217. Anyway, Houston finishes off the 2009 MLB season with two games today and tomorrow against the New York Mets, so Carlos Lee will have a few more opportunities with a bat in his had to add to the total.    

By BEN WALKER - NEW YORK (AP)—Even before Mariano Rivera fielded the final ball, the party started for the New York Yankees. Catcher Jose Molina leaped up from behind the plate the moment Jacoby Ellsbury tapped softly back to the mound, then the celebration really got going. Absent from the playoffs last year, the Yankees let loose Sunday after clinching the AL East title and home-field advantage throughout the postseason with a 4-2 win over Boston. “Everything is clicking right now,” winning pitcher Andy Pettitte said. “When you miss out, it makes you a little more hungry to get back there.” Soaked to the skin with champagne, Mark Teixeira stood on the giant “NY” logo emblazoned on the soggy clubhouse carpet and shouted like crazy. “Tastes good!” he hollered. Favored to win the World Series since opening day, Derek Jeter, Rivera and a roomful of All-Star multimillionaires acted like playoff rookies after posting their major league-leading 100th victory. They chanted, jumped around and absolutely drenched their high-tech clubhouse—plastic sheets covered the computer screens in every locker and flat-screen TVs overhead. Teixeira and many others wore swimming goggles to stave off the sting—of victory, that is. “I think the way last year ended left a bad taste in all our mouths,” manager Joe Girardi said. “There’s a lot of excitement. This has been a fun group, and they enjoy it.” Hideki Matsui’s go-ahead single in the sixth inning energized the fans and put them on notice that a party was coming. The first real bash at the new Yankee Stadium began with a real familiar scene—Rivera on the mound, closing out another clincher. Nick Swisher wasted no time putting on an AL East Champions hat. The crowd gave a standing ovation as the Yankees began walking off the field, with Jeter at the front and several teammates pulling on gray championship T-shirts. “Winning a championship is what I came here for,” pitcher CC Sabathia said. “It definitely feels good—first one in pinstripes, first one in the new stadium, first celebration.” The three-game sweep extended the Yankees’ winning streak to five. They finished 9-9 against Boston this year—startling since New York lost the first eight matchups. “We’re going to see them again down the road, we have a feeling,” slugger Alex Rodriguez said. Despite the defeat, the Red Sox remain in firm control of the wild-card race. Their magic number is two to beat out Texas for the final playoff spot. Boston manager Terry Francona was hardly surprised the Yankees bounced back after last year’s playoff miss. “I think I actually made the comment that they’d get aggravated and spend a billion dollars. I was half-right. They have a good team and that’s an unbelievable regular season,” he said.

Editor's Comment: The Yankees players and fans recognize the value of having Panamanian Mariano Rivera as their closer - they simply love him in New York. With this win the Yankees have clinched the AL East but they still have six more games to play to finish out the season. So far Mariano Rivera has 44 saves this year, which represents one of the best seasons of his stellar 15 year career. His only better outings were 53 saves in 2004, 50 in 2001, and 45 in 1999. On the Trevor Hoffman hunt, Hoffman now as 590 career and will need next season to become the first player to ever reach the 600 mark. Mariano Rivera now has 526 and remains 64 behind Hoffman, who has been pitching for two more seasons than Rivera. Then its on to the post season, where Mariano Rivera will add to the records he already holds.   

By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com NEW YORK -- In the hours before Mariano Rivera caught a ceremonial first pitch from Panama President Ricardo Martinelli on Friday, it was brought to Rivera's attention that Martinelli might be just as starstruck by one of Panama's biggest celebrities as Rivera was by the president. "I hope so," said a bashful Rivera. Not long after, two of Panama's most famous citizens finally met -- Martinelli tossing out a first pitch to Rivera, who greeted his country's newly elected leader halfway to the Yankee Stadium mound. "It's special," Rivera said of the meeting with Martinelli, who wore a No. 42 Yankees jersey to the game. "It's good to have a chance to meet my president and have a little conversation with him." Martinelli, a Panamanian supermarket mogul and former chairman of the Panama Canal Authority board, was sworn in as president in July. The meeting was Rivera's second with a president this season. At the All-Star Game in St. Louis in July, Rivera and the rest of the game's participants had an opportunity to meet United States President Barack Obama, who threw out the ceremonial first pitch at Busch Stadium. Friday's event was part of Hispanic Heritage Month at Yankee Stadium, which will continue on Saturday, when U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor also throws out a ceremonial first pitch. The celebration will conclude Monday, when the Yankees present their annual Hispanic Heritage Month Community Achievement Awards prior to their game against the Royals.   

NEW YORK — Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor is coming off the bench — and heading to the mound at Yankee Stadium. Sotomayor, a Yankees fan from the Bronx, is scheduled to throw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday before New York's game against Boston. As a U.S. District Judge in 1995, Sotomayor issued an injunction that led baseball players to end their strike after 7 1/2 months. Sotomayor will throw out the pitch as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. Panama President Ricardo Martinelli is to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Friday's series opener.   

SEATTLE - Ichiro Suzuki hit a two-out, two-run homer off New York closer Mariano Rivera and the Seattle Mariners stunned the Yankees 3-2 on Friday night. Pinch-hitter Mike Sweeney kept the ninth inning alive with a two-out double to deep right-center field. Suzuki then jumped on the first pitch from Rivera for his 10th homer of the season and second straight day with a game-winning hit. Suzuki had the winning hit in the 14th inning of Seattle's 4-3 win over Chicago. It was Suzuki's third career hit off the Yankees' closer. It was Rivera's second blown save of the season, having allowed a two-run homer to Boston's Jason Bay on April 24. Suzuki's homer made a winner out of Seattle ace Felix Hernandez, who pitched a seven-hitter. (Editor's Comment: It would take someone like Ichiro Suzuki, who currently has more hits this year (209) than any other player, to give Mariano Rivera only his second blown save this season. Suzuki is batting .357 second only to Joe Mauer who is batting .373, but with more than 120 fewer at bats than Suzuki.)   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Mariano Rivera, the star closer for the New York Yankees, recorded his 40th save of the 2009 Major League Baseball season on 14 September in the Yankee's 5-3 win over the LA Angels. In this outing Mariano Rivera gave up a rare walk to Figgins, only the 11th this season. The three other batters he faced all grounded out. With 40 saves this season, Mariano Rivera is in second place in the majors, behind Brian Fuentes who has 41. This is the seventh time in his career that Rivera has gotten 40 or more saves in his 15 year career - the last time was in 2005. On the Trevor Hoffman watch, who has 32 saves so far this year and 586 career;

• "Trevor Hoffman wants to return to Milwaukee - By Mark Miller - Men's Health magazine ranked Milwaukee the 68th best sports city in America this year (and 13th best for recycling!), but apparently if you ask Milwaukee Brewers closer Trevor Hoffman(notes) where it falls on his list for places to play next year, it comes in first. The former San Diego Padres legend, where he spent 16 years, apparently wants to play for Milwaukee again next year, according to MLB.com. "I don't want to start over in an another organization, I can tell you that," Hoffman told MLB.com. His one-year contract runs out at the end of the season. The two sides had apparently discussed a club option for 2010, but the soon-to-be 43-year-old wouldn't sign that since this would be the first time he was away for this long from his wife and three boys. Hoffman only needs 15 saves to become the first closer ever to have 600 saves so be sure he's signing somewhere next season."

Still 64 Behind Hoffman: Today Mariano Rivera is still trailing Trevor Hoffman by 64 career saves. Sooner or later that geezer Hoffman will have to hang up his cleats, and then it will take Mariano Rivera another season or two to first catch and then pass him for all time career saves. It's just a matter of time, Hoffman, just a matter of time...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By Aurelio Ortiz G. for Mi Diario - Saturday night another mother cried for her son in Multi Number 2 in the area of Cabo Verde in Curundú. Fortunately, this time the tears shed were not of sorrow but of joy. On that night Mrs. Cecilia received the call she had been awaiting for so long - her son Luis Durango told her over the phone that he had been promoted from the Minor Leagues to play for the San Diego Padres for the rest of the 2009 Major League Baseball season. "When I told my mom the news, she began to cry, and I cried too," said Luis to Mi Diario yesterday from the city of San Antonio, from where he traveled yesterday afternoon to join his team in San Diego. Born and raised in one of the "red zones" of Panama City, Durango proved there are no barriers that can keep a man from achieving his dreams. Of small stature (5'10''feet) and without the athletic prototype of a regular player, but with impressive speed in his legs and great skill to hit, Durango today could become the 50th player born in Panama to play in the best baseball league in the world. "People said I could not reach the majors because of my size, but they can not imagine what a player wants," said the fielder who never learned to use a firearm, as did many other children who grew up with him in Curundú, and who have since paid the consequences of those misdeeds. About the signing - Luis recalled that during his youth he tested with several organizations, but they always refused to sign him for one reason - his short stature. "They saw me and they told me I was little and skinny, they said I was not going anywhere, until Robert Rowley and Richie Montenegro gave me the opportunity, they supported me and were always with me," said the athlete who signed for just $12,500. As usual, major league organizations require their players to dress a certain way and this has brought an extra expense to Durango. "What happened is that since I thought they were not going to bring me up, I had already sent two suitcases with all of my clothes to Panama, and all I had left was two shirts, but no matter because tomorrow I'll go buy some shirts and a couple of suits," said Durango, who added that fortunately he has already learned how to use credit cards.   

BY MATT GAGNE - DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER - Taking the mound for the first time in nearly a week, Mariano Rivera raised a few eyebrows by issuing a leadoff walk in the ninth inning of Monday's day game, but the Yankees' closer ultimately erased any doubt about his left groin, which caused him to miss four games on the Yankees' most recent road trip. After walking Pat Burrell on five pitches, Rivera struck out Evan Longoria with a 91-mph fastball, then broke Gabe Gross' bat with an 89-mph cutter, inducing a weak popup to third. Showing no hitches or hesitation in his delivery, Rivera wrapped up the Bombers' 4-1 victory with three straight cutters to Akinori Iwamura, who swung and missed on the final two offerings. "I was kind of tentative with the first batter, trying to see how it was. But after that, it was nothing," Rivera said of the injury. "It was more mental, just feeling how I was, but it responded real well. I'm not going to worry about it. I threw enough pitches to test it, so it was fine." Making his 907th career appearance, which moved him past Cy Young for 20th place on baseball's all-time list, Rivera recorded his 39th save in 40 opportunities this season. The time off didn't affect his momentum, as Rivera set a career high by converting his 35th consecutive save opportunity. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (213 words)

By RingTV.com editors - Golden Boy Promotions is co-promoting the 19th-annual WBA "KO Drugs" event from Roberto Duran Arena in Panama City, Panama on Saturday, Sept. 5. The card, headlined by the Luis Concepcion-Omar Salado WBA interim flyweight title bout, will be televised on the HBO Plus monthly series "Next Boxing Generation". Panama's Concepcion (17-1, 12 knockouts), THE RING's No. 9-rated flyweight, has won 14 consecutive bouts since suffering the only loss of his career, a four-round decision in his fourth pro bout. Among the talented 23 year old's victories is a fifth-round KO of former title challenger Juan Esquer last August. Mexico's Salado (21-1-2, 12 KOs) held former beltholder Ulises Solis to a draw in an IBF 108-pound title bout in 2006. The 29 year old has won two fights since suffering his only loss to Ring-rated contender Julio Miranda last May. In the televised co-feature bout, former WBO 122-pound titleholder Daniel Ponce De Leon will take on Panama's Roinet Caballero in a 12-round WBA featherweight title elimination bout. Mexico's De Leon (36-2, 31 KOs) has won two bouts against quality opposition since suffering a first-round KO to Juan Manuel Lopez last June. Prior to that loss, the powerful southpaw made six defenses of the WBO title. Caballero (27-8-1, 19 KOs) had some rough times in his early years as a professional, but since 2005, the 25 year old has been nearly unstoppable, winning 18 of 19 fights, with 14 devastating knockouts along the way. His only loss in the last four years was to longtime WBA titleholder Chris John. "I'm ready to fight for another world championship and nothing is going to stand in my way," said De Leon, who is promoted by Golden Boy Promotions. "I know Caballero is a tough fighter, but I will not let him stop me from getting the chance to fight for another title. Right now he is in my way...on September 5th, I will move him out of my way." The WBA's "KO Drugs" event has a rich history in South America, where it has hosted some of the most accomplished champs and promising up-and-comers of the past two decades, including former heavyweight champ Michael Moorer, two-division titleholders Edwin Valero and Jorge Linares, and current 140-pound contender Marcos Maidana.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Panamanian Mariano Rivera, the star closing pitcher for the New York Yankees, picked up two more saves in two days against the Baltimore Orioles, brining his season total up to 38 thus far. With about a month to go in the regular season, Mariano needs just one more save to equal his 2008 mark of 39, and right now with 38 he leads the league, followed by Brian Fuentes with 37. The New York Yankees as a team also lead the league with the most saves as a team with 42. In the strategic race against Trevor Hoffman for the most all time career saves, Hoffman has 29 thus far in 2009 and 583 career. Rivera now has 520 career saves, or just 63 less than Hoffman. The Yankees are in first place in the AL East, 6.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, and they also have the best record in baseball with 84 wins and 48 losses.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Mexicali, Mexico (Sports Network) - Panama's Celestino Caballero kept his WBA Super World super bantamweight and IBF super bantamweight titles after challenger Francisco Leal retired in the eighth round. Leal (14-5-2) retired 10 seconds into the eighth round as Caballero (33-2) kept his titles.   

(CP) – GUADELAJARA, Mexico — Canada's men's team scored a straight sets victory over Panama Saturday at a qualification tournament for the 2010 world championship. Set scores were 25-18, 25-10, 25-14 and coupled with Mexico's 3-2 win over the Dominican Republic, both Canada (2-0) and Mexico (2-0) claim the two available berths to the 2010 world championship in Italy, which will be held next September. Dallas Soonias led Canada with 15 points from 13 kills, while Adam Simac and Alexandre Gaumont Casias both contributed with 10 points each. "The team was very serious in our approach tonight since the tiebreaker in FIVB events is not sets average but points average and we would not know the Mexico - Dominican results until later in the evening. So every point was crucial and we needed to keep our focus," said head coach Glenn Hoag. "Our focus now is on tomorrow's match versus Mexico and winning this tournament. Canada takes on Mexico Sunday for the tournament title. At Tijuana, Mexico, Canada's women's volleyball team defeated Trinidad and Tobago in straight sets 25-14, 25-20, 25-21 at the NORCECA women's qualification tournament. Canada was led by Tiffany Dodds with 15 points from 11 kills, two blocks and two services aces. Tonya Mokelki contributed with 10 points, all from attack kills. "We played a very good first set tonight," said head coach Arnd Ludwig. "In set 2 and 3 we did not do much more than necessary to keep control of the match. Our block was were very good during the whole match." Canada (2-0) now faces Mexico (1-1) in Sunday's final match, and a win will secure first place in the 2010 world championship.   

By Alejandro Tostado - saddoboxing.com - At The Arena in Mexicali, Mexico last night, Celestino Caballero took out local borderlands man Francisco Leal in the eighth round of their IBF/WBA super bantam title fight. Mexicali grafter Leal was the very picture of a Cinderella story going into his first title challenge as the four year pro hadn't come anywhere close to world class prior to this surprising opportunity. Still, Leal had proven his meddle on the highly competitive Mexican scene since a young age and could count on the Mexicali crowd to cheer him on once the bell rang. That certainly did happen and the vociferous audience support probably helped Leal survive as long as he did against towering 5'11 tall double champion Caballero. Going into this bout, Caballero had a lot to prove as the Panamanian hadn't exactly looked his best in his last title defense when he barely scraped by with a split decision victory over Jeffrey Mathebula in April. Since Caballero won the WBA crown in 2006, only Mathebula and Jorge Lacierva had managed to go the distance with "Pelenchin" and it was a testament to Leal's toughness and heart that he managed to make it to 0:10 of eighth round against one of the top super bantams in the world. On the undercard, Ana Marie Torres, 19-3-2 (11), of Mexico City retained her WBC Female super bantam belt for the second time with a 99-91, 97-94 and 96-94 points verdict against American tourist Ava Knight, 5-1-2 (2), after ten rounds.    

By Pirjo Raits - Sooke News Mirror - Leah Oke: One of Canada’s best surfers. The powerful waves at Sombrio Beach cradled Leah Oke in their swells, nurturing the young surfer and pushing her until she became one of Canada’s top female surfers. Leah is one of several surfing children of the Oke clan. She spent her young life at Sombrio Beach with the beckoning waves at the doorstep of her home. For 16 years, the Oke family held court on one of the most beautiful surfing beaches in Canada. In 1997 the province forced the legal and non-legal squatters off the property and turned it into Juan de Fuca Provincial Park. “It was definitely a cool spot to grow up, but I’m glad we got out when we did, it was life in a fishbowl,” said Oke of her years at Sombrio. Now 24-years-old, Oke is ranked as one of the top three female surfers in Canada, travelling far and wide to catch the waves. She said she started surfing at about six-years-of-age and has been surfing ever since. “Being on the water and in the ocean calms me, rejuvenates me,” said Oke. Being a professional surfer is hard work, especially in Canada which is not really known as an international surfing capital like Hawaii or Australia. The biggest and best waves are in the winter, a time when only the most passionate head for Sombrio, Jordan River or Tofino. “We have good waves here,” she said. “They are the same waves as Hawaii, although they are sheltered in the strait.” In the summer local surfers head for the tropics. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (387 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Panamanian Irving Saladino - the "Colon Kangaroo" - is jumping right now in Berlin on channel 4. He just faulted on his first attempt. If he wins a Gold Medal, Monday will be a national holiday.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

BERLIN -- Usain Bolt has set a world record of 19.19 seconds in the 200 meters at the world championships, adding to the gold he won in the 100. Exactly one year after taking gold at the Beijing Games with a record of 19.30, Bolt had an even greater run Thursday. He shaved 0.11 seconds off his previous mark, as he did in setting the record in the 100 on Sunday. Alonso Edward of Panama was second, a distant 0.62 seconds behind. Wallace Spearmon of the United States took the bronze. Defending champion Tyson Gay was out with an injury. (Editor's Comment: - This was a "stop the presses" moment for Panama. Alonso Edward winning the Silver Medal was huge. Irving Saladino qualified today for the finals tomorrow.)   

PANAMA CITY, Panama (AP) — Arabe Unido of Panama routed Mexican club Pachuca 4-1 on Wednesday in a Group A match in the CONCACAF Champions League. In the first group stage match for both clubs, Arabe Unido dominated from the start with Orlando Rodriguez giving the club the lead in the 24th minute. Victor Rene Mendieta added another just before the end of the half. Manuel Mosquera made it 3-0 in the 72nd minute. Paul Aguilar cut the lead to 3-1 in the 77th minute, before Raynaldo Lewin sealed the win for Arabe Unido in the 88th. Pachuca rested many of its regular starters, saving them for league play this weekend.   

By Rey Danseco for Boxingscene.com - FORMER two-time world champion Roberto “La Araña” Vasquez of Panama has promised to making a great fight by beating fellow world rated Drian “Gintong Kamao” Francisco at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City, Metro Manila, Philippines on Oct. 3. At the wake of his fellow Panamanian boxing hopeful, Jose “Maco” Arboleda, Vasquez declared that he will dedicate his victory in his Philippine debut to his fallen friend. The Vasquez-Francisco collision will be for the vacant WBA International super flyweight title. The winner of this bout may be set up for a world title fight. "It’s unfortunate that we lost a friend and a potential world champion. That’s why I promise to him to work hard and then win in the Philippines against Francisco,” said Vasquez who is ranked No. 8 compare to No. 6 of Francisco, in Spanish. Arboleda was one of the two passengers who died at the scene when his bus involved in a crash recently in Panama. Three people were killed and 30 were injured when one the buses overturned on the roads leading to the Kuna Nega neighborhood towards the Centennial Bridge. The accident occurred when the driver tried to close the door while driving and lost control of the bus. Arboleda died from internal hemorrhages at the Santo Tomas Hospital. Vasquez is training in Panama City while Francisco is working out at The Touch Gloves Boxing Gym in Barangay Subic, Agoncillo, Batangas. Earlier, Francisco predicted a knockout win inside six rounds. He said, Vasquez is open for a hook in the right side of the face and his body remains a suspect.   

By Karolos Grohmann BERLIN (Reuters) - Triple Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt breezed into the world championship 200 meters final on Wednesday, needing only an opening 30-meter burst to establish his dominance in the semi-final. The Jamaican was in no mood for pre-race showboating, quickly carving out a lead before easing off in the straight and trotting over the finish line with the best overall time of 20.08 seconds. He was quickly back to his usual self after the race, throwing his vest into a group of cheering girls. American Shawn Crawford, who won silver at the Beijing Olympics behind Bolt, had to work hard to come in third following Panama's Alonso Edward who clocked 20.22. The 19-year-old Edward has run the fourth best time this season of 20 seconds flat and, with American world champion Tyson Gay injured, could be in medal contention come Thursday's final. American Wallace Spearmon, who lost his Beijing Games bronze medal after stepping out of his lane, was untroubled, comfortably winning his heat with 20.14, joined by Jamaican Steve Mullings. Mullings, banned for doping for two years before resuming his sprinting career in 2006, was impressive in the first 100 before easing off to finish just ahead of American Charles Clark and Ramil Guliyev from Azerbaijan who both also went through. (Editing by Alison Wildey)   

[image1_right] By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The star closing pitcher for the New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera, now has 33 saves this season. He picked up #33 on Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays. Rivera came into the game in the top of the 9th inning with the Yankees leading 7-4 and managed the save, but not without first giving up a meaningless deep homer to straight center field by Blue Jays third baseman Edwin Encarnación. In typical Mariano Rivera fashion, he also gave up a hit, struck out two batters, and then got a rolling grounder to finish off the side. With 33 saves Mariano Rivera still has the most in all of baseball, and the Yankees lead the league as a team with 37. Of note, Trevor Hoffman has not picked up a save in nine days and he's still stuck at 25, primarily because the Milwaukee Brewers he's now playing for suck. While the Yankees are on fire, having won nine of their last ten games (including a four game sweep of their hated rivals the Boston Red Sox), the Brewers have one foot in the grave in the National League Central, and are 7.5 games out of first place. And while the Yankees have won 71 games thus far, the Brewers have only won 55, meaning Martino Rivera has had many more save opportunities than Trevor Hoffman. And that's your Mariano Rivera update for today. Don't worry, football starts soon, and when that happens I'll forget all about baseball... Hey, are there any Panamanians playing for the New York Giants?

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By Graham Houston for Fightnews.com - Nonito Donaire has emerged as one of the stars in the lighter weight divisions, a classy boxer-puncher who went to a new level in his last fight when demolishing the previously unbeaten Raul Martinez in four rounds to retain his IBF flyweight title. Donaire moves up in weight on Saturday when he meets Panama’s Rafael Concepcion for the vacant WBA interim 115-pound championship on Top Rank’s “Pinoy Power” PPV show in Las Vegas, and after the way he blazed through Martinez it is difficult to see any result other than a convincing win for the Filipino who lives in San Leandro, CA. Concepcion is tough and game, though, and he pulled off an upset in the Philippines last year when he outlasted and overwhelmed A.J. Banal in 10 rounds. This fight is essentially a showcase for Donaire, but the hope is that Concepcion can be competitive and bring out the best in the “Filipino Flash”. One thing we know about Concepcion is that he comes to fight. He was very game in defeat against Jorge Arce in Mexico last September, wobbling the popular “Travieso” with a left hook in the fourth but getting worn down to the point where his corner retired him after the ninth round. (more)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (321 words)

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panamanian super bantamweight Jose "Maco" Arboleda has died from injuries suffered when the bus he took to training crashed over a cliff, media reported. Arboleda, who was 27, suffered stomach and lung injuries in the crash on Friday morning and died 22 hours later, the Panamanian newspaper El Siglo said on its website (www.siglo.com). He had a 23-4 record with nine knockouts and two draws.   

By Elizabeth Garrido A. for La Prensa - Rogelio Espiño, the manager of Panamanian boxer José Maco Arboleda, today deplored his death and said "I hope this (his death) will help to open the eyes of the authorities so that Panamanians do not continue to die useless deaths thanks to these people who consider themselves to be above the law." Espiño was present this morning at the Santo Tomas Hospital where Arboleda died at 4:00 am, according to the doctors who were attending him after he suffered an abdominal trauma affecting his liver that landed him in the intensive care unit. Arboleda is the third person to have died as a result of the fatal bus accident that occurred yesterday morning, when a bus from the Kuna Nega - Villa Cárdenas route overturned near Cerro Patacón on the road that leads towards the Centennial Bridge. Espiño said the boxer's death caused him "much anger and made him feel impotent" because he "was killed in a very unfortunate manner." Speaking to TVN Noticias on Channel 2 this morning, Espiño said that during the day today they would be making arrangements for Arboleda's funeral.    Click Here To Read The Full Article (221 words)

By Manuel Vega Loo for La Prensa - Euclides Arboleda, the father of Panamanian boxer José Maco Arboleda, said his son has been transferred to the Intensive Care unit, but he is in very serious condition with a reserved prognosis. "The doctor told me that he was going to be taken to the Intensive Care unit with a very large amount of bleeding in the liver, where they left some gauze to see if the bleeding could be stopped," said the father to the members of the media outside of the Santo Tomas hospital. He added that the doctor told them if they were unable to stop the bleeding then "we should expect the worst." Arboleda is one of the victims of the bus accident this morning, on the bus that was on the route from Kuna Nega to Villa Cárdenas. It was reported there are three others who were seriously wounded, and the passengers with minor injuries were treated and released. There is one child hospitalized in the Hospital del Niño. Relatives of victims have asked for the donation of several pints of blood. (See Comments)   Click Here To Read The Full Article (221 words)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Mariano Rivera, the star closing pitcher for the New York Yankees, has already racked up 31 saves in the 2009 Major League Baseball season. Consider this - the New York Yankees as a team now have the most saves of any team in baseball with a grand total of 35, meaning somebody else got the other four. What, did Mariano have a cold or something? And predictably, Mariano Rivera as an individual now has the most saves of any pitcher in baseball this season, both American and National leagues. In his 31 saves he's pitched a total of 46 innings and thrown 50 strikeouts while giving up only 35 hits and 6 walks. The Yankees, who are now in first place in the AL East and 2.5 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox, still have 54 regular season games left to play. Predictably, when the Yankees are playing well as a team and winning, then Mariano gets more saves because his team presents him with more save opportunities. If Mariano Rivera (and the Yankees) maintain this pace he could finish out the year with 46 saves or more, another dominating year for the 39 year-old right handed pitcher. In the Trevor Hoffman vs. Mariano Rivera duel for first place on the all time career saves list, Hoffman, who will turn 42 in October, has 25 saves this season and 579 career, or 66 more than Mariano River who now has 513 total. When Hoffman finally retires, it will probably take Mariano Rivera another 1.5 seasons to catch and then pass Hoffman to take possession of this amazing pitching record, a feat I expect he will accomplish in July of 2011. Even if you're not a Yankee's fan, or a fan of baseball for that matter, it's still worth it to tune into a Yankee's game in the 8th inning if they are winning, just watch one of greatest athletes in the history at work. Look for broken bats, a strikeout, he might give up one hit, a fly ball, then a grounder to retire the side. I've seen it happen so many times it's become machine-like. Goodnight, Irene, the Sandman is here...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

Karyn Saunders, 39, Canadian, an IT Recruiter with clients in Canada and the US and a Life Coach, who is now living in Hacienda Pacifica, Panama is in training to run in the Panama City International Marathon to be held, Sunday, August 9. People from around the world arrive in Panama to attend this thirty three year old event, which is considered to be the 26th most popular marathon in the world and is a qualifier for the Boston Marathon. The Panama City International Marathon was featured in the Sportfilm's movie, Marathons of the World. Karyn will be running the half marathon, which covers a little over 13 miles (22 kilometers) along Balboa Avenue from Punta Pacifica to Casco Viejo and back. The race starts at 6:30 am. She will be running in the women’s category for her age group. Read More   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The star closer for the New York Yankees, Panamanian Mariano Rivera, picked up save #29 for this season on 26 July against Oakland. He now has 511 career saves and remains in second place lifetime, 65 saves behind Trevor Hoffman who has 576. Just think, in about two years Hoffman will be retired and Mariano Rivera will close in on the record, first tie and then pass Hoffman. This feat, when he finally gets there, will make Mariano Rivera a household name all over the world. He's famous now because of his killer cut fastball. But this record will stand for a long, long time.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.    

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Blas Perez is relatively famous in Panama. He's a forward for the Panama mens' national soccer team, and he also plays for the Club de Fubbol Pachuca in Mexico. Yesterday a news story came out saying he was supposedly intercepted by two other cars that crashed into his car (a Nissan Z350) and shot at him, supposedly to either rip him off, steal his car, of kidnap him. Now several holes are appearing in his story and according to reports and his own statements he was in a casino partying all night long before the accident. According to police Blas Perez had the smell of alcohol on his breath and an breathalyser test confirmed he had been drinking. There were no bullet holes in his car, and he was also seen looking for his handgun in the weeds by the side of the road at 5:45 am. He now says he can't remember if he left the gun at the casino, in the car, or in the weeds by the side of the road. Huh? Don't worry, the DIJ is investigating.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - New York Yankees star closing pitcher, Panamanian Mariano Rivera, picked up two more saves in recent days and now has a total of 28 this season. It's an interesting number because that's how many saves Rivera earned during the entire 2002 season. As of today the Yankees have 68 games left to play on their regular season schedule which ends on 4 October. So far the Yankees have already played 94 games, and with a record of 57-37 they sit perched at first place in the AL East. Crunching the numbers, if Mariano Rivera maintains this pace he could end the season with a total of 49 saves which would be the third best season of his career (he had 50 saves in 2001 and 53 in 2004.) And of course he would also be in easy reach of a "best ever" season if he could get to 54. In the race against Trevor Hoffman, as of today Mariano Rivera has 510 career saves, or 66 less than the first place record total of 576 career saves for Hoffman. Sooner or later that geezer Hoffman will retire, allowing Rivera to catch up...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

(AP) – RETHIMNO, Crete — American hurdler Lolo Jones has won the women's 100-meter hurdles in a world-leading 12.47 seconds at the Vardinoyiannia track meet. Jones, who fell in the semifinals at the U.S. trials and failed to qualify for next month's world championships, controlled the race Monday from the start and ran close to her personal best of 12.43. Debbie Ferguson-McKenzie of the Bahamas also ran a world-leading time, winning the women's 200 in 22.33. In the men's 200, 19-year-old Alonso Edwards of Panama won in 20 seconds flat, shattering his previous best of 20.34. Edward beat Steve Mullings of Jamaica by one-hundredth of a second.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Mariano Rivera is on pace to have one of the best seasons of his career. After coming off of the All Start break, where he set another record as being the only pitcher in history to have saved four All Star games, Rivera racked up three more saves in three consecutive days on July 17, 18, and 19 against Detroit. He now has 26 saves this season and 508 for this career, still 67 behind all-time leader Trevor Hoffman. Rivera averaged 39.75 saves per season from 1997 through 2008 and he's on a pace to break his own personal best of 53 saves in a single season which he did in 2004. And this might sound obvious but Mariano Rivera racks up more saves in seasons when the NY Yankees are winning more games and they are doing pretty good this year, just one game behind the Boston Red Sox at this point in the season. Even more incredible is that Mariano Rivera now has the second-most saves this season at 26, just two behind league leader Brian Fuentes of the Los Angels Angels with 28.

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.   

By JERÉ LONGMAN - PHILADELPHIA — In a contentious, foul-plagued match, it seemed fitting that Saturday’s quarterfinal between the United States and Panama in the Gold Cup was decided by a penalty kick at the end of the first overtime. In the 105th minute, the substitute American forward Kenny Cooper was kicked in the midsection by Panama’s Roman Torres, who awkwardly attempted to clear the ball inside the penalty area. The resulting penalty kick by Cooper became the crucial goal for the United States in a 2-1 victory before 31,087 at Lincoln Financial Field. Cooper, who entered in the 77th minute with the score tied at 1-1, took a 10-yard run up to the ball, hesitated slightly before striking it and barely kept the shot on target. Jaime Penedo, Panama’s goalkeeper, guessed correctly, diving to his right. But the ball eluded him, struck the base of the left goal post and deflected into the net to give the Americans the eventual victory. (more)    Click Here To Read The Full Article (653 words)

By Paul Kennedy [GOLD CUP] The USA rallied from a goal down to beat Panama, 2-1, in overtime and advance to the semifinals of the Gold Cup against Honduras on Thuesday. Kenny Cooper converted the winning penalty kick after he was kicked high in his chest by defender Roman Torres in the area. Kyle Beckerman had tied the score four minutes into second half and the USA pressed for the winner against the Canaleros, whom it has been in the knockout stage of the last three Gold Cups. The USA had a 16-3 edge in shots on goal but couldn't get the second goal in regulation. "It was a challenge to the team to be in that spot at halftime and I still felt good that the response was strong," said U.S. coach Bob Bradley. "When we didn't finish the game in regulation, you still got a sense the mentality was "we're going to take care of this thing. The players deserve a lot of credit for that." Panama's Blas Perez had scored in first-half stoppage time, shortly after U.S. captain Jimmy Conrad was injured when he butted heads with a Panamanian defender. Clearly shaken, Conrad was taken off the field and replaced by Clarence Goodson. Perez and Panama captain Felipe Baloy were ejected at the end of the game for arguing with referee Benito Archundia.   

SignOnSanDiego.com - Worn down and undermanned, the United States found a way to rally. Now the Americans remain in position to win their third straight CONCACAF Gold Cup. Kenny Cooper converted a penalty kick in the 105th minute, giving the two-time defending champions a 2-1 victory over Panama and a semifinal berth against Honduras, which beat Canada 1-0 in the opener of yesterday's doubleheader in Philadelphia. With just one regular in the starting lineup and down a goal early, U.S. coach Bob Bradley told his team at the first break that it was time to get going and play like defending champions. “Bob told us, 'All right, we're in a tough one,' ” midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. “He told everybody to step up and play better, and we'll get our chances.” Blas Perez put Panama ahead in first-half stoppage time, but Beckerman tied the score in the 49th. In today's quarterfinal doubleheader, Guadeloupe meets Costa Rica and Mexico faces Haiti in the first sporting event at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium in Arlington, Texas. The semifinals are Thursday in Chicago.   

By DAN GELSTON - PHILADELPHIA -- With just one regular in the starting lineup, the United States rallied past Panama into the semifinals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Kenny Cooper converted a penalty kick in the 105th minute, giving the two-time defending champions a 2-1 victory and a semifinal berth against Honduras, which beat Canada 1-0 in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader. Blas Perez put Panama ahead in first-half stoppage time, but Kyle Beckerman tied the score in the 49th. In Sunday's quarterfinal doubleheader, Guadeloupe meets Costa Rica and Mexico faces Haiti in the first sporting event at the Dallas Cowboys new stadium at Arlington, Texas. The semifinals are Thursday in Chicago.   

CityPaper.net - The U.S. men's national team shook up the soccer world a bit at the Confederations Cup last month by beating formerly top-ranked Spain in the semifinals prior to nearly knocking off current No. 1 Brazil in America's first-ever major FIFA competition final. This means the team's 2010 World Cup chances look brighter than ever, as the U.S. demonstrated a stout defense and a (finally) potent attack, proving they could thrive against top competition. While the Gold Cup, a regional tourney featuring the best of North and Central Americas and the Caribbean, is not the sexiest of events, it gives the national team a chance to acquire much-needed depth for next year, as the squad's lower-tier players get valuable minutes. Tonight, they'll take the pitch at Lincoln Financial Field at 8 p.m. against Panama, preceded by another quarterfinal match between Canada and Honduras. Many of the Gold Cup teams are not top-flight, but expect a vibrant, 700-Level-rivaling display of passion in the stands from fans while their national teams battle for respect. Panama should prove tough, as they came close against the U.S. in the 2007 Gold Cup Quarterfinals as well as in the 2005 Final. The double billing serves as a primer for what MLS is calling a "Summer of Soccer," a massive number of games at club and international levels, featuring worldwide stars, meant to cultivate the stateside fan base for the game. So get down to the Linc and get patriotic.   

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Today's the big game. The Panamanian national men's soccer team will face the USA tonight in a Gold Cup quarterfinal game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. If you're here in Panama the game should be easy to find on television. The returning champions, the U.S. Men's National Team, will take on Panama in the prime-time match at 8 p.m. Honduras will battle Canada in the first quarterfinal, which kicks off at 5 p.m. Note: Times mentioned above are Eastern Standard Time, which means the Panama- USA game starts here in Panama at 7:00 pm local. This is a great opportunity for a night out. You can catch the game at any of the larger bars with big-screen televisions, as well as in the sports books of the casinos and the like. No one is expecting Panama to win this match, simply because the USA soccer team is playing better than ever and Panama is quite simply outclassed. But, anything can happen, that's for sure. If Panama wins, then there will be huge celebration...

Copyright 2009 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.