By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The star New York Yankee relief pitcher Panamanian Mariano Rivera picked up his 10th save of the 2008 Major League Baseball season on Saturday, 10 May 2008, against the Cleveland Indians. He gave up a lead-off single but that base runner was then turned in a double-play with the next batter. Mariano shut down the side, securing the win for the Yankees, picked up his 453rd career save, and preserved his 0.00 ERA. In the last eleven years, 1997 through 2007, Mariano Rivera has averaged 39.8 saves per season. Over those same eleven years he has averaged 64.2 appearances. In other words (doing the math) he usually has a 61% conversion rate (saves over appearances.) So far in 2008 he has racked up 10 saves in only 14 games, or a 71% conversion rate. Numbers - he's ahead of his normal pace. This could be a banner year for Mariano Rivera.

Copyright 2008 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 - The New York Yankees star relief pitcher, Panamanian Mariano "Sandman" Rivera, picked up his 9th save of the 2008 season this afternoon. Jason Giambi, Johnny Damon, Robinson Cano and Wilson Betemit all connected for home runs in the Yankees' 6-3 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Mariano Rivera came on in the 9th inning and gave up one solid double to Cleveland's Ben Francisco, just barely two feet short of being a home run that would have spoiled Rivera's still perfect 0.00 ERA. Francisco made very solid contact for a stand-up double but none of the other Cleveland batters could come through against Rivera at Yankee Staduim in the top of the 9th, as Mariano put another save in the books. As a side note, today Mariano Rivera appeared in his 800th career game (all as a New York Yankee). (more)

sportsya.com - Chile, which will face Guatemala next June 4 in a friendly, will also meet Panama three days later before the South American Qualifiers, which you can follow on JumpTV. Even though both friendly games will be held at Chile on June 4 and 7 respectively, the venues are not known yet. In fifth round at the South American Qualifiers, Chile must meet Bolivia on June 15, and Venezuela four days later; as a result, the Chilean Soccer Federation intends to play one of the friendly games in Calama (2,660 meters over the level of the sea), if Bolivia is authorized to host the game against Chile. Still, Guatemala and Panama officers ruled out this chance due to the long trip (Calama is located 1,560 away from Santiago), so they want to play in the capital city of Chile or any other city around there. (more)

By ED FOUNTAINE for the New York Post - May 6, 2008 -- THEY murdered that poor filly, Eight Belles, in the Kentucky Derby, and someone has to take the fall. Why not her jockey, Gabriel Saez, a 20-year-old kid from Panama? So says PETA, which descended on the tragedy like vultures before Eight Belles' body was even cold, petitioning the Kentucky Horse Racing Authority to suspend Saez pending an investigation into the horse's death. Eight Belles, PETA said, was "doubtlessly injured before the finish" but Saez "mercilessly" whipped her to death. (more)

By Mike Jensen for the Philadelphia Inquirer - LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The jockey of Eight Belles said he felt his horse start to "gallop funny" yesterday after getting past the wire in the Kentucky Derby. "I tried to pull her up, but she went down," Gabriel Saez, a 20-year-old from Panama, said just outside the jockeys' room at Churchill Downs. A filly based at Delaware Park, Eight Belles had just finished second, 43/4 lengths behind the favorite, Big Brown, in this country's biggest horse race. Galloping out a good quarter-mile after it was over - part of the normal throttling-down after every horse race - Eight Belles went down because she had suffered fractures in both front legs. A bone had broken through the skin on her left leg. (more)

By Anthony Coleman for eastsideboxing.com - I’ve been watching Boxing all of my life and for the last six years, it has probably been my favorite sport, and in that time, I’ve come to immerse myself in the history of this great sport. As a result, I’ve amassed a lot of knowledge which challenged or changed what I thought I knew about Boxing. I learned that Boxing doesn’t begin and end with Muhammad Ali, no matter how many times ESPN will try to convince you otherwise. I learned of the greatness of Henry Armstrong, the man responsible for the sport’s greatest achievement: Holding three world titles, in three different weight classes at the same time. But the most surprising thing that I discovered during my research was the deep reverence of one boxer: Roberto Duran. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - The Yankees future hall of fame star relief pitcher, Panamanian Mariano "Sandman" Rivera, picked up his 8th save (451 career) yesterday in the Yankee's game vs. the Seattle Mariners. In eleven games Mariano has pitched 12 innings, has given up just four hits and no runs, preserving his 0.00 ERA. Mariano still needs 27 more to tie Lee Smith on the 2nd all time career saves list at 478. Trevor Hoffman, who is 40 years old and still throwing for the San Diego Padres, leads the all-time list with 529 total and has 5 saves so far in 2008. Mariano trails Hoffman right now by 78.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Senior Master Sgt. Raymond Sarracino - U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs, Panama City, Panama – Former Major Leaguer Elias Sosa, Major League Baseball’s coordinator for the Latin American section of their International Baseball Envoy program is currently on tour with the U.S. Southern Command All-Stars baseball team. They left Miami on April 22, beginning their three country goodwill tour in the Dominican Republic. They are in Panama until Friday, and then move to Nicaragua where they wrap up their tour May 7. The tour has included games against national federation teams in each country, as well as a number of youth baseball clinics. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Yesterday the US Military All Star Baseball team played a goodwill game vs. the Panamanian All Star Team in the Rod Carew National Baseball Stadium in Panama City. It's a long story, but in fact this team is not the "real" Military All Star team but rather it is a collection of the guys who were available for this trip, who could be released by their units, who were not on assignment, who had current passports, etc. Navy Lieutenant Commander Terry Allvord is the founder and general manager of the U.S. Military All-Stars and the Red, White & Blue Tour of America, which began 18 years ago, says they had 127 players go through the team last year. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Yesterday the US Military All Stars played a game against the Panamanian All Stars at the Rod Carew National Baseball Stadium. The Panamanian team was coached by former Panamanian major league player Olmedo Saenz. The Panamanians drummed the US team 16-3 in an exhibition goodwill game. After the game and while driving on the way home I listened to a radio interview in Spanish with Olmedo, and the person conducting the interview tried to lure him into making statements regarding several controversies, all of which he side-stepped like a perfect gentleman. My video interview with him follows below, taped on the field during the exhibition game. (more)

By Omar De La Cruz for the Panama America - The US Military's All Star Baseball team was at the Rod Carew stadium yesterday afternoon for a practice session to prepare for their game which will be held today (Wednesday, 30 April 2008) at 4:00 pm. The US Southcom baseball team will play against a Panamanian All Star team managed by Olmedo Sáenz. According to Elías Sosa, the coach of the US team, the objective of this game is to share a moment of comradeship and brotherhood.

Daily Mail - Panama defender Felipe Baloy plays down rumors of a switch to Arsenal this summer. Panama defender Felipe Baloy claims to be in the dark about reports linking him with Arsenal. The �27-year-old, who plays for Mexican side Monterrey, has been touted with a switch to London but he said: "They are just rumors so far, I have not had anything confirmed."

PANAMA, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Fencing athlete Jesika Jimenez earned Panama's third Beijing-2008 Olympic pass on Sunday at the fencing pre-Olympic tournament held in Mexico, the local press said on Monday. "I am happy for this achievement, because it was not easy, but the goal was accomplished," said Jimenez to the local daily "La Prensa" shortly after receiving her gold medal. Jimenez earned her pass in the women's individual sword fencing event after she defeated Venezuelan Maria Martinez 15-14 after a hard fought battle. Meanwhile, the International Fencing Federation stated that Jimenez earned her Olympic pass after overcoming the first round and afterwards defeating Puerto Rican Alexandra Melendez in the quarter finals and later defeating Chilean Caterin Bravo in the semifinals. (more)

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - For some goofy reason I've decided to watch Mariano Rivera's "save count" rather closely this season. Right now (today, 27 April 2008) Mariano Rivera has 449 career saves and is in third place on the all-time list. I expect this season he will move past Lee Smith who is in second place with 478. Mariano needs just 29 more to tie Smith, and in 2004 he threw a career best 53. The #1 all time save leader is Trevor Hoffman with 528 who remains active with the Padres.) Rivera has now appeared in just eight games of the 25 the New York Yankees have played thus far in the 2008 season. In those he has 6 saves, pitched 9 innings, has given up only four hits and maintains an ERA of 0.00. The other two games in which he appeared the team was not in a save situation so they don't count. The "Sandman" continues his unquestionable march toward the Hall of Fame, putting opposing batters to sleep with his signature cut fastball. Check out the YouTube tribute videos below. G'night...

Copyright 2008 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 - Boxing is important to Panamanians. They have had more than their fair share of world champions, and Roberto Duran might be more famous than Manuel Noriega. In any case next month two Panamanian fighters will be in title fights. On 24 May 2008 at Isla Margarita in Venezuela Panama's Celestino "Pelenchin" Caballero will fight Venezuela's Lorenzo Parra for Caballero's WBA Super Bantamweight title. One week later on 31 May 2008 at Nordhein-Westfalen in Germany, Wladimir Sidorenko of Germany will fight Panama's Anselmo "Chemito" Moreno for Sidorenko's WBA bantamweight title. Moreno has a great shot - he's only 22 years old, has been in 23 fights, has won 21 (eight by KO), lost one by decision (never been knocked out), and has had one draw. So next month we might see one champion defend his title and another new champion crowned.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

By Chris Kraul, Bogota Bureau LA Times - The U.S. Armed Forces' Southern Command based in Miami is sending a team of enlisted Military All-Stars on a goodwill tour from April 27 to May 7 to Panama, Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. They will be managed by former L.A. Dodgers star Pedro Guerrero. The tour is sponsored by the U.S. State Department and Major League Baseball and will include free clinics for local youths. It's designed to win hearts and minds, much like Southcom's annual delegation of doctors, nurses and dentists, which visited Panama, Colombia and other countries last year.

By Roberto E. Quelne for La Estrella - "Irving is obsessed with winning a gold medal for Panama in the Olympic Games in Beijing," said David Saladino, the father of the world's top rated long jumper, upon hearing the news that the International Olympic Committee had lifted the restrictions placed against Panama in July 2007. Saladino has won every event in his specialty and the only thing missing is a gold medal from the Olympic Games. Right now the "Colon Kangaroo" is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he is training in double shifts to prepare for his next outing in June 2008 for the League of Gold which will be held in Berlin.

By Robert Coster for Fightnews.com - The April 19th bout staged to take place in Haiti between WBC light flyweight champion Edgar Sosa and challenger Carlos Melo of Panama is being viewed as a momentous event in the Caribbean nation since it will be the first ever boxing title fight to be held there. "There is great enthusiasm for the event not only because Sosa - even though Mexican - is a very popular figure here, but because two Haitian-origin American boxers will be competing for regional titles," says promoter Jacques Deschamps. Daniel "The Haitian Sensation" Edouard will meet Eduardo de La Cruz of Panama for the WBC Latino middlewight title while young super middleweight Anthony Greenidge (whose mother is Haitian) will face up against Dominican boxer Aneudis Marte for the WBC CABOFE crown. Deschamps also announced what he calls "two Latino wars" between jr featherweight, WBA #3 contender Ricardo" El Maestrito" Cordoba of Panama against Jose Lopez of Venezuela and Joel Cerrud of Panama vs Angel Granados of Venezuela at 135lbs. Closing the show, 18-year-old Haitian-American welterweight prospect Michael Jean will clash against Dominican rival Jovanny Acencio Fernandez. "The event will be covered by foreign press members coming from the United States, France, Mexico amd Panama, which is of great satisfaction to me and those who are going through the financial sacrifice to put up a card of this importance in Haiti," comments Deschamps. "We are also hoping to have international TV coverage of the event."

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Mariano Rivera (a.k.a. "Sandman"), the Yankee's star closer from the little fishing village of Puerto Caimito along Panama's Pacific coast, racked up his third save today in the Yankee's 2-0 win against Tampa Bay. He is leading the league with a 0.00 ERA and continues to shut down the opposition in the very early part of his fourteenth season with the New York Yankees. He's been averaging 39.8 saves per year since 1997 and has been a cornerstone of the Yankees' success.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

La Critica - Well-known American boxing promoter Don King arrived to Panama this Friday accompanied by members of the company owned by Juan González and Dana Jameson to meet with high ranking officials from the World Boxing Association, according to reports. Don King was seen yesterday in the Marriot Hotel in the banking district waving several little Panamanian and American flags. The boxing tycoon met yesterday with Rogelio Espiño, José Oliver Gómez and Antonio Cristóbal. The agenda of the meeting is unknown at this moment but one of his escorts mentioned Don King asked about Panamanian boxer Vicente Mosquera and his former promoter Luis Spada. Other reports indicate boxing promoter Rogelio Espiño wants to take Don King to visit "El Loco" at the El Renacer prison. Apparently there will be an important meeting today among the leadership of the World Boxing Association, but the subject of this meeting is unknown. There was also supposed to be a press conference today Saturday.

International Herald Tribune - TUCSON, Ariz.: Manny Corpas considers himself a quiet person who'd rather blend in than stand out. That's been difficult for him to do after his breakout season as the Colorado Rockies' closer. Corpas couldn't even venture out over the offseason without being mobbed by fans seeking autographs. He has become as popular around his hometown of Panama City, Panama, as Mariano Rivera. Not that he's ready to lump himself into the same category as the dominant Yankees closer, who's had at least 28 saves in each of the last 11 seasons. "Mariano is Mariano," Corpas said through interpreter Joe Diaz, the team's assistant director of clubhouse operations. "I'm me. I don't like to compare myself." (more)

Surfersvillage Global Surf News - After a 15-hour highway bus trip, the selected members of the Costa Rica National Surf Team arrived in Playa Venao, Provincia de Los Santos, Panamá, to begin the Third Central American Surf Championship 2008. Today, the team, made up of 15 members in the divisions of Open, Junior, Women, Bodyboard, Bodyboard Women’s, and Longboard, made its first practice at the competition’s staging area at Venano, where the conditions were very good. With waves of 4 to 6 feet and strong offshore winds, the Ticos worked with the single goal: to take back to their country the third consecutive Central American Surf Championship trophy in the three years the country has participated in the regional tournament. (more)

TAMPA, Fla. (AP)—Freddy Adu scored on a penalty kick in the 42nd minute to help the United States’ under-23 team beat Panama 1-0 on Thursday night in the second round of Group A pool play in CONCACAF Olympic qualifying. The Americans, coming off a 1-1 tie with Cuba on Tuesday, improved to 1-0-1, while Panama dropped to 0-2. The top two teams in the group will advance to the March 20 semifinals in Nashville, Tenn., along with the top two from Group B. The finalists will earn spots in the Beijing Olympics. The United States will finish group play Saturday against Honduras (2-0). Panama, which cannot advance, will play Cuba (0-1-1) on Saturday. If Cuba loses or ties, the U.S. automatically advances. Honduras already has clinched a spot in the semifinals. (more)

USA Today - Seven members of Cuba's under-23 soccer team defected this week after a game against the United States in Florida, The Miami Herald reports. "We were sitting down to eat and we slipped out a side entrance of the hotel and ran for it," Yenier Bermudez, the team captain, tells the St. Petersburg Times. The players say they want asylum -- and a chance to play for a Major League Soccer team. One pro franchise, Miami FC, tells Reuters that it will give the players a shot. "The loss of seven players cast into doubt whether the Cuban squad will be able to field a team for Thursday's 5:30 p.m. match against Honduras and continue in the qualifying tournament for the 2008 Olympics," the Herald says. "Eleven players remain on the Cuban roster, and one -- forward Roberto Linares -- is ineligible to play against Honduras because he is suspended with a red card from the USA match." Editor's Comment: Panama's upcoming game against Cuba just got easier.

Soccer365.com - After being pulled at halftime of their 1-1 draw to open Olympic qualifying, U.S. Under-23 strike ace Josmer Altidore's availability for Thursday's match with Panama is in question. "Jozy got knocked a couple times," U-23 coach Piotr Nowak told reporters after the game. "We did talk to our doctors, and talked to Jozy." "There's some precautionary stuff as we have another two games," he added. "Hopefully, he'll be ready for Thursday."

By DON WINNER for Panama-Guide.com - Another Panamanian expression in Spanish - "Jugaron como nunca para perder como siempre." (They played like never before to lose as they always do.) This morning Panamanians are awakening to the news the national soccer team lost 0-1 against Honduras last night in a qualification game for the Beijing Summer Olympics. Eight teams are playing through two groups - six will be eliminated and two will advance to the Olympics. Panama is in a four team group that includes the United States, Cuba, and Honduras. This Spanish expression is often heard in Panama, used in desperation after watching a sports team play their hearts out only to lose in the end of the game. And, it's usually said as a joke in an attempt to lessen the desperation. In the game vs. Honduras the opposition scored in the last two minutes of the game, and then Panama had a free kick hit the crossbar that would have tied the game. So now Panama is in last place in their group. The US and Cuba played last night and tied.

Copyright 2008 by Don Winner for Panama-Guide.com. Go ahead and use whatever you like as long as you credit the source. Salud.

The Canadian Press - TAMPA, Fla. — Hendry Thomas scored in the 90th minute to lead Honduras to a 1-0 win over Panama in the first round of Group A play in the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Olympic Qualifier Tuesday. Left unmarked 10 yards in front of the goal, Thomas took a pass from Oscar Morales, turned and fired with his right foot into the left side of the net. Not long after his score, Panama nearly tied it. But in stoppage time, a free kick from 25 yards out by Nelson Barahona hit the crossbar. Gabriel Torres attempted to knock in the rebound, but his shot was punched over the net by Honduras keeper Kevin Hernandez to preserve the lead. (more)

By Melissa Segura, SI.com - He tried -- really tried -- to get it right, to be the good guy. It seemed like such a good idea when Manuel Corpas scooped up all the dirty clothes from the floor of the Panama City hotel room he was sharing with his girlfriend, stuffed one bag with his clothes, another with hers, and took a cab to a nearby laundromat. The couple had been staying at a hotel near his childhood home partly because the renovations he'd paid for left little room for them and partly because, for the first time, he could afford a nice room. His girlfriend, Amy Spanier, had gone to the hotel gym. Manuel wanted to surprise her when she came back, to show her how much he appreciated those moments back in 2006 when she would be stuck in his apartment stairwell of their building in Tulsa, Okla., wondering how she was going to move their double bed all by herself because he'd been promoted to Colorado Springs, and when she had to explain to her employer and the apartment manager only a week later that they were moving again, because Corpas had been called up to the major leagues. Taking care of her laundry seemed like the least he could do. (more)

Panama, Mar 2 (Prensa Latina) Panama announced the sub-23 soccer team with which it will look for its ticket for the Olympic Games in Beijing, China, in the regional pre-Olympic tournament scheduled from March 11 to 23 in several US cities. The list of the players reaches 20, and it is only pendent of the selection of a third goal keeper, according to the list given by head coach Alexander Guimaraes (Brazil). Four Panamanian players now playing for foreign clubs are included: Roman Torres and Gabriel Torres, from La Equidad, Colombia; Jose Venegas, from Santos, Costa Rica and Nelson Barahona, from Fenix, Uruguay. The rest of the players play for Panamanian teams. Panama will make its debut against Honduras on March 11, to match US on March 13 and close its classification stage program matching Cuba on March 15.

Sportsnet.ca - Canada's men's national team announced today that it will face Panama in an international friendly match on June 6, 2008 in Panama City. The match will be played at the Rod Carew National Stadium with a 20.30 kick-off. The friendly will act as a tune-up to their first 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier in Saint Vincent & the Grenadines on 15 June. "The Panama game will be part of our preparations for the qualifying process through 2008," says head coach Dale Mitchell. "It will provide us with a quality CONCACAF opponent in a tough place to play." This will be the first "friendly" match between the two sides, although they have faced each other four times in FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (1996 and 2000). Canada posted draws in both of their visits to Panama City (0:0 in 1996 and 2000), but came away with victories in both matches at home (3:1 in Edmonton and 1:0 in Winnipeg). Mitchell is currently preparing for the upcoming run to the FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010. While CONCACAF's first phase of 2010 World Cup Qualification began in February, Canada will wait until the second phase to play their first two games against Saint Vincent & the Grenadines.