Women’s basketball commemorates successful campaign

It’s taken a while for us to get these pictures onto the site, but here’s all the action from the 34th annual women’s basketball banquet.

Brittany Ford is awarded a commemorative basketball by Coach Cindy Griffin for her 1,000th point.

The team poses for a picture with their letterman gifts.

Assistant coach Stephanie McCaffery poses with senior guard Amy Gillespie and her Loyalty and Leadership Award. Other award recipeints included Michelle Baker for the Roosevelt Hunter Community Service Award, Katie Kuester for the Patricia Ryan Unsung Hero Award, and Shelby Smith for the Reverend Emory Ross Academic Excellence Award.

An emotional Djouara accepts the Chris DiJulia Inspirational Award from assistant Coach Sue Moran and Chris DiJulia, himself.

Moran gives Ashley Logue her award as Most Improved Player. The center also picked up the Big 5’s Most Improved Player honor.

Chris Day presents Brittany Ford with the award for Best Offensive Player.

Gillespie also takes home Best Defensive Player honors, much to her surprise.

Logue takes home the big prize of the night as the team’s Most Valluable Player, awarded by head coach Cindy Griffin.

Mariame Djouara is recognized for her 1,000 career points in her college career, both at St. Joe’s and South Plains Junior College.

Director of Athletics Don DiJulia shares his comments on the team.

Jack Jumper of Athletic Communications was the emcee for the night.

Fastest man on earth drops by Hawk Hill

In what has become somewhat of a yearly tradition, a handful of the biggest track and field stars in the world, including three-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt, descended on St. Joe’s for a warm-up ahead of this weekend’s Penn Relays. Athletes from Jamaica, Canada, Germany, Russia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Team USA were all on campus to use the Finnesey to loosen up before the weekend’s marquee events.

(photos by Luigi Condina ’12, Sam Koch ’11, Tom Hagan ’11, Reid Smith ’11, and John Mullany ’11)

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A Puma commercial? Nope, just another day at St. Joe’s.

Team USA and SJU: a not-so-unlikely combination.

Bolt has time for jokes during warmup.

Team Canada stretches their legs during the session.

Bolt in his pre-warmup gear.

Bolt (blue Puma shirt) and his teammates practice handing off the baton.

Russia’s women’s sprint medley relay also paid Finnesey a visit.

Bolt and a teammate chat strategy.

Bolt leads his team around the corner.

Members of the USA women’s relay contingent were also in attendance.

The practice session drew a crowd of students in between their afternoon classes.

20 points for 20 innings: Mets vs. Cardinals

It may be a little early to dive headlong into the MLB season, but those who waited have missed a classic day.

It starts in St. Louis, with a 2-1 Mets’ win over the Cardinals in 20 innings. That’s right, I said 20. And as a fan of the Cardinals, I was duty-bound to watch every second (except for the three 10-minute naps I took in innings eight, 11, and 13).

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Here are some notes for what you missed (and we’ve got 20 innings to recap, so we’ll be here a while):

– The game was scoreless for the first 18 innings, the longest scoreless game in 21 years.

– The Mets broke through in the 19th inning with a sacrifice fly from Jeff Francoeur, which was answered by an RBI single by Yadier Molina. Jose Reyes hit a sac fly in the 20th to earn the win for the Mets.

Two days, four upsets, seven observations: The Stanley Cup playoffs so far

There really is nothing like playoff hockey: the intensity, the insanity, the towel-waving, whited-out crazed throngs of fans, the collective rise and fall of thousands of hopes and dreams with every hit, carom, and deflection. The difference in the playoff brand of hockey from its regular season counterpart is greater than the change that occurs in any of the other four major sports (with the possible exception of Major League Baseball, but that’s a numbers game of condensing the efforts of 162 games into a mere seven games where talent and ability are more likely to give way to sheer dumb luck).

The hits are harder. Every slap shot has just a little more gusto behind it. Every player is just a little more willing to sacrifice life and limb in the path of a slapper to get that much closer to hoisting Lord Stanley’s Cup. It is, without a doubt, one of the greatest happenings in sport, and it plays itself out over two shiner-filled, scraggly-bearded months.

With two days and seven games of the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs already in the books, I’ve got seven observations—one for each series underway—to whet your appetite for the quest for the most prestigious trophy in sports.

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Sens in Steal City

There’s something amiss about this year’s Pittsburgh Penguins. (Disclaimer: I am a Pens fan who’s watched 65 of their games this year; prepare for more detail than you ever could have wanted.) I thought Pens in six was a pretty safe bet over the Senators, who the boys from the Steel City quickly dispatched two years ago en route to their first of two straight Eastern Conference Championships.

This team just doesn’t have the mojo last year’s Cup winners did, and the first round matchup doesn’t help. If there’s one aspect where the Pens would have an advantage borne out of their experience, it’s their grit, hustle, and ability to pressure a team into mistakes. But Ottawa is one of the grittier teams in the playoffs, and their ability to forecheck effectively against the Pens and grind their attacks to a halt in the neutral zone is a testament to that. It helped that they got a lot of bounces to go their way (see goals 2-4), but they certainly earned the win.

It was to a team that on Wednesday looked like it lost that winning feeling (thank you, Righteous Brothers.) They weren’t able to impose their will, and even when they did, quickly relapsed and were answered by the gritty Sens. The Pens weren’t playing their puck possession, shooting gallery-type game (much to the benefit of a not-so-convincing Brian Elliott in goal). The pace resembled that of a college basketball game in that each team had runs of sustained pressure that may or may not have led to a goal. And like so many college games, the Pens spent so much energy in the fight back that they had to let up on the gas and didn’t have enough to finish the deal.

It’s been a constant theme for the Pens down the stretch. They managed to maintain contact with the top teams in the East, but it was an unconvincing 6-6-3 finish to the season. Three of those wins required overtime, the finish was made to look better thanks to 13 goals over two games against the Islanders, and a 2-0 home loss to the hapless Lightning and a 1-0 loss at a Thrashers team just playing out the string were interspersed in there.

Philly fan thrown up and out of game

If you’ve ever been sickened by Phillies fans, here’s another one that should earn this South Jersey resident a bronzed urinal from the Vet.

At Wednesday night’s Phils-Nationals game, Matthew Clemmens of Cherry Hill, NJ (oh, South Jersey!) was ejected and arrested for a very peculiar reason (and check out the photo tab for his mugshot; he kind of looks like Rosanne Barr after a hockey game). His friend had been ejected from Citizens Bank Park earlier, and deciding that revenge was a dish best served after it had already been digested, forced himself to vomit on a family of nearby spectators, including an 11-year-old girl.

But the joke proved to be on him, as the young girl’s father, Easton, Pa. police captain Michael Vangelo, took umbrage and punched the refunding Clemmens in the face before helping Philadelphia police arrest him. The newly black-eyed Clemmens still had a little guts left, literally, which he shared with the arresting officer.

He was charged with assault and harassment, and has also been recognized by the honor of a “Matthew Clemmens is a Douche” group on Facebook. No word on whether or not he also has ever booed Santa Claus or cheered at opposing players injuries.

– Matthew De George ’10

D’Ambra named St. Joe’s men’s soccer head coach

The search for a new men’s soccer coach at Saint Joseph’s has ended with the return of one of the program’s highest profile alumni.

Don D’Ambra, a long-time star for the Philadelphia Kixx indoor soccer franchise and a 1994 graduate of St. Joe’s is returning to his roots to head up the team that helped catapult him into the pro ranks. He will be unveiled at a press conference on Monday. He’s just the fourth coach in St. Joe’s soccer history, replacing Tom Turner after 26 seasons at the helm.

D'Ambra, in Philadelphia Kixx attire, has been named the new St. Joe's head coach. (photo courtesy of SJU Athletic Communications)

D’Ambra was the face of the Kixx for 14 seasons, the last eight of which he served as a player/coach/vice president of soccer operations. He led the franchise to Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) titles in 2002 and 2007, and one of most recognizable figures for one of indoor soccer’s most popular teams. He also served as Turner’s assistant here at St. Joe’s from 1996-99.

The 37-year-old native of Philadelphia collected 388 goals, 905 points, four All-Star selections, and 119 coaching wins with the Kixx, all franchise highs.

D’Ambra’s time at St. Joe’s was just as illustrious, as his name is on the top line of most statistical categories. He’s the all-time leader in points (102), goals (41), and shots (297). His 15 goals and 38 points in 1993 are the most ever in a single season for a Hawk, and he also holds the third most prolific season (13 goals and 31 points in 1992) in those categories.

He was honored as the 1993 Soccer Seven and Atlantic 10 Player of the Year for the winningest team in St. Joe’s history (12-6-1). D’Ambra was also inducted into the St. Joe’s Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000. He’s the second former Kixx player to join the Hawks’ current coaching staff, with former teammate Drew Kopp also an assistant on the women’s team.

– Matthew De George ’10

PICTURES: St. Joe’s Men’s Basketball celebrates season at banquet

The St. Joe’s men’s basketball season officially came to an end tonight with the annual awards banquet held at the Campion Banquet Center. The marathon event which head coach Phil Martelli likened to an episode of Roots last nearly five hours, only five minutes of which included a highlight video, and saw the team dish out a number of personal accolades and show thanks to the many people involved with the program on and off the court. Here is a gallery of the night’s biggest highlights:

(All photos by Matthew De George ’10)

Esteemed Athletic Director Don DiJulia offers his remarks on the evening.

Senior captain Garrett Williamson takes home the biggest piece of hardware on the night in the John P. Hilferty Memorial Award as Most Valuable Player.

University president Timothy R. Lannon, S.J., offers a few words before dinner.

Phil Martelli tries to slip into the banquet hall under the radar to get the festivities under way.

Former Hawk standout guard Rap Curry welcomes former player and head coach John Griffin into the SJU Basketball Hall of Fame.

Senior managers Brittany Keesling and Molly Porth are honored with the Daniel J. Cummins Award for spirit.

Darrin Govens is the recipient of the William F. Maher Memorial Award for loyalty.

Phil Martelli presents Brienne Ryan with the William J. Bennet Memorial Award for dedication and service to the program.

Bill Phillips, ’02, takes to the podium to speak at his enshrinement into the St. Joe’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

Head Coach Phil Martelli closes the night with some final remarks on the season.

CJ Brown earns the Patrick D. O’Pake Memorial Award as the team’s unsung hero, presented by assistant coach Dave Duda.

Garrett Williamson receives the Robert F. O’Neill Award as the team’s most improved player. He also won this award as a sophomore.

A full house of some 300 people were on hand to celebrate the 2009-10 Hawks.

Pat McGrory, ’94, a former Hawk mascot, is awarded the Michael J. Conway Memorial Award for his work with the Hawk Hoops booster club.

Joe Lundardi, Master of Ceremonies for the evening, gets the night started with a little NCAA Tournament Expansion humor.

Tiger Talk: Translating Tigers’ actions into words

Everybody and their brother has probably already heard at least snippets of Tiger Woods’ first appearance in front of the media today at Augusta. But chances are you haven’t heard the translation of Tiger- speak into what the rest of us can understand.

So here goes the full translation, all 34 minutes of it, taking into account what Tiger’s other actions and choices have said over the last few months.. (Translation in italics; proctoring of Craig Heatley, chairman of the Masters’ Media Committee, removed for brevity’s sake.)

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Tiger: Well, today I got a chance to play with Craig there— — I’m sorry— — Craig— — Freddie. And then Jim joined us on the 13th hole. And it was—s — just, what a great day today. Coming into today, I didn’t know what to respect with regards to reception. And I’ll tell you what, the galleries couldn’t be nicer. I mean, it was just incredible.

And the encouragement that I got, and— — it was just— — it blew me away, to be honest with you. It really did. And, you know, the people here over the years have been extremely respectful. But today was just something that really touched my heart pretty good. I would also like to, I guess, make another little comment before we start.

Dwayne Jones signs with Phoenix Suns

Former Saint Joseph’s forward Dwayne Jones was signed by the Phoenix Suns today, giving the fifth seed in the NBA’s Western Conference depth in the low post for the final five games of the regular season and the playoffs.

Jones, a 2005 graduate of St. Joe’s, made 48 starts this season for the Austin Toros in the NBA Development League, averaging 17.6 points and a league-leading 16.0 rebounds per game. He had 44 double-doubles on the season and scored in double-figures on all but two occasions.

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He was named to the Western Conference All-Stars and scored 13 points and grabbed seven boards in the All-Star game in February.

He passed a physical with the Suns today, and will be available to play in Wednesday’s game against the San Antonio Spurs.

10 things to watch for the upcoming MLB season

As I watch what actually has turned out to be an interesting season opener between the Yanks and the Sox (in the Michael Wilbon voice), I guess there’s no better time than the present to give you my 2010 MLB season preview. Here are 10 storylines to watch as America’s pastime opens 2010 in earnest tomorrow.

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Repeat?

It’s been another busy winter for the Yankees, though this time with a tighter grip on the purse strings. The 27-time World Champs signed former farmhand Nick Johnson as their DH and added journeyman Randy Winn to provide a capable outfielder off the bench. But the other additions came through trades. Curtis Granderson, fresh off a career-high 30 home runs with the Tigers (written as he takes Josh Beckett deep with two outs in the second inning), was brought in for pitchers Phil Coke, Ian Kennedy, and top prospect Austin Jackson. The rotation was strengthened by the acquisition of Javier Vasquez (another former Yankee returning to the Bronx) for misfit Melky Cabrera. Vazquez and the reintroduction of Phil Hughes to the rotation stabilizes the back-end of one of the best starting fives in the AL, while Chan Ho Park and Joba Chamberlain’s return to the bullpen gives them depth there. Despite playing in baseball’s toughest division, the Yanks are still a front-runner to take home another World Series Title.

Phil me up again?