Dar Departs From DePaul

DePaul sophomore Dar Tucker will hire an agent, and forgo his two remaining years of collegiate eligibility to enter his name in the upcoming NBA Draft per www.DePaulBlueDemons.com.

Tucker, a 6-5, 215 pound forward from Saginaw, Michigan, led the Blue Demons in scoring this past season with an average of 18.5 points per game. "I want to thank the DePaul fans for their support the last two years," said Tucker. "I look forward to representing this fine institution on the professional level.”

In 61 appearances with the Blue Demons, Tucker scored 986 points--ranked third in DePaul history for freshmen and sophomores behind Mark Aguirre and Quentin Richardson. Tucker also earned a spot on the Big East All-Rookie Team by averaging 13.6 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game during his freshman season.

DePaul fans are already twittering their concerns for next season.

1. 
   davetorrez ... Dar Tucker... why 14 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   Mike_Thiel RT @BigEastTweets:DePaul sophomore Dar Tucker announced today that he enter NBA draft http://tinyurl.com/cn4fkb Duh-Paul will Duh-suck more! 14 Apr 2009 from iTweet
3. 
   ARealist What?! Our star player Dar Tucker applies for the NBA. We need major changes soon. 14 Apr 2009 from Tweetie
4. 
   NaismithLives Dar Tucker has entered the NBA Draft. Things are officially getting interesting. 14 Apr 2009 from web
5. 
   jtemplon Will DePaul win a game next season? Dar Tucker going pro, signs with agent. http://tinyurl.com/c3strz 15 Apr 2009 from web
6. 
   NaismithLives @collegebb247 Dar Tucker is overestimating the exposure he got when DePaul played in front of 475 fans at MSG for the Big East tourney. 15 Apr 2009 from web in reply to collegebb247
7. 
   jessearendt @NaismithLives is Dar Tucker's best case scenario being a Clipper so he can play the last 6 minutes of blowout and make spectacular dunks? 15 Apr 2009 from web in reply to NaismithLives

Dar Departs From DePaul

"Golden Boy" De La Hoya announces retirement

"The Golden Boy," Oscar De La Hoya, ten-time world champion and a gold medalist in the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, announced his retirement today, per BBC Sport.

After a career in which he went 39-6 with 30 knockouts, and was a champion in six different weight classes, it was hard for De La Hoya to say goodbye to the sport he loved so much. From an outdoor plaza across from the Staples Center where a statue of his person stands, he stated behind tears, "It's over inside the ring for me."

Losing four of his last seven fights, including the 8-round TKO to number-one boxer Manny Pacquiao in December of 2008 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, De La Hoya still had a hard time saying goodbye, going "back and forth" with his decision to stop competing at the highest level.

Even though he will be out of the ring, he still plans to pursue his company, Golden Boy Promotions, a combat sport promotional firm.

While some Twitterers saw this retirement coming for months...

1. 
   CharmedForce Is anyone else surprised that De La Hoya is retiring? Srsly, I thought he already did. 14 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   amanjo De La Hoya officially throws in the towel. After his last fight, I'm only surprised it took him this long to quit. #boxing #sweetscience 14 Apr 2009 from Tweetie
3. 
   kidvicarus Wow! Oscar de la Hoya retired today from boxing...not surprising since he got dominated on in his last fight... 14 Apr 2009 from TwitterBerry
4. 
   lockhartline @headlinenews De la Hoya has been washed up for years, bout time he hung em up!! 14 Apr 2009 from web

...others were bittersweet about the legendary boxer stepping away from the ring:

1. 
   Donnieholic78 gutted that De La Hoya has retired :(...was looking forward to him + Hatton...eventually happening. 14 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   NeRoOfROME missing "The Golden Boy" Oscar De La Hoya.. have a great retirement... You are definetly on my top five pound 4 pound fighters of all time! 14 Apr 2009 from web
3. 
   FlowsWell De La Hoya retires! 1 less reason to watch boxing maybe he or mayweather will come back one day 14 Apr 2009 from mobile web
4. 
   naNYminute Oscar De La Hoya retires from active fighting! A blow to the boxing world. A HUGE fan of the Golden Boy, I lay my head. 14 Apr 2009 from web
5. 
   Crubalo Oscar De La Hoya has retired. He's been my fav overseas fighter since the 90's. He's calling it a day at the right time though. Legend. 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck

Per YouTube user PaulFVillarreal2, here is a clip of De La Hoya's retirement speech.

"Golden Boy" De La Hoya announces retirement

ESPN launches hyperlocal site in Chicago

ESPN launched a new site today to tap into the hyperlocal market with ESPNChicago.com.

The ESPN affiliate is a SportsCenter-style approach to covering Chicago's sports teams: Bulls, Bears, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Fire and Sky.

ESPN Chicago also has coverage of college teams in Illinois, plus Notre Dame, and prep sports in the state too.

The format of the site is set up similarly to ESPN.com, with a blue Chicago skyline background.

Chicagoans and others in the Twitterverse seem enthusiastic about an ESPN site with a Second City twist:

1. 
   p462 The TV suggested I check out espnchicago.com, so I am. Its very nice to have a website dedicated to Chicago sports 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
2. 
   scotts_thoughts gotta admit ESPNChicago.com is pretty cool. hopefully seattle and maybe even vancouver one day. Can't wait for the Cutler coverage, haha. 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
3. 
   QW_Tommy Lovin espnchicago.com, ESPN has done something I love for 1st time in awhile... 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
4. 
   cscottmoody ESPNChicago.com - Finally something other than ESPN NY, er ESPN http://twurl.nl/k523vo 14 Apr 2009 from Tweetburner
5. 
   DailyCubsTalk I love watching the daily Chicago Sportscenter on ESPNChicago.com 14 Apr 2009 from TwitterFox
6. 
   chrisjensen33 My day just got way better, espn has a new website dedicated to chi town sports. www.espnchicago.com yes 14 Apr 2009 from txt
7. 
   michaelshorman espnChicago is online! All da bears, all da time! 14 Apr 2009 from web

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ESPN launches hyperlocal site in Chicago

Former Sun Devils Coach Bruce Synder loses cancer battle

Former Arizona State football coach, Bruce Synder, died yesterday at the age of 69 after losing a 10-month battle with cancer, per ESPN.com.

Synder is most remembered for leading the Sun Devils to an undefeated regular season in 1996 and to the 1997 Rose Bowl. He earned a consensus 1996 national coach of the year award as well as 13 other major coach of the year awards that season -- including the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award.

Additionally, he earned Pac-10 Coach of the Year twice -- at ASU and also at California in 1990. He was recently inducted into the ASU Athletic Hall of Distinction, serving the university's football team as head coach from 1992-2000 with a 126-105-5 record.

Arizona State fans mourned the loss and thanked Synder for his years as a Sun Devil:

1. 
   Electroleon Goodbye to a great sun devil, Bruce Synder was one of the best. 13 Apr 2009 from web
2. 
   oaklandlawyer RIP Bruce Synder, we loved you! 14 Apr 2009 from web
3. 
   teamsantana thinks today's trio of heroes passing was a bit too much at once. R.I.P. Mark Fidrych, Bruce Synder and Harry Kalas! 14 Apr 2009 from web
4. 
   dpatricklewis Good morning all, I just want to say thank you to Bruce Snyder for all those great years of ASU Football. RIP Bruce. 14 Apr 2009 from TweetDeck
5. 
   finishthedrill condolences to family of former ASU HFC Bruce Snyder and the entire Sun Devil family!! 14 Apr 2009 from web

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Last June, Snyder was diagnosed with cancer. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, a son-in-law, two grandchildren, four sisters and two brothers.

Former Sun Devils Coach Bruce Synder loses cancer battle