Maria Sharapova beat Kristina Barrois in France

Maria Sharapova, the 3 time Grand Slam Singles champion and a former world rank number one, cruised in the 22nd WTA Tour title tournament in France as a wild card at the Internationaux de Strasbourg. Maria had just recovered from a two month sideline, due to a recent elbow injury to beat Kristina Barrois from Germany by straight sets of 7-5, 6-1.

The 6'2 Maria who now ranks no. 13 as of May 3, 2010, struggled with Kristina's single handed backhand. Barrios kept the ball too low for her to reach that resulted for her to fall behind 5-3 in the early sets. After the confident Barrios took the lead, Sharapova won straight 7 games and eventually beat out Kristina by winning 10 of the final 11 remaining sets of the match. She also won in Memphis by not dropping a single set in Febraury, giving her second title this Year.

After an early upset and surprising loss in Madrid, she requested in this tournament to particapate as a wild card. This request was to mainly work on her game and be prepared for the much anticipated and upcoming important French Open. Although beauty still matters to her, she insisted on different occasions that she wants to be more committed in what mattered to her most, which is being on top of her game once again.

Her gruesome last year's 6-0, 6-2 lost against Dominika Cibulkova in the quarter finals after winning 3 set matches of the first four rounds is something she want to erase by having a a great awesome year. She would likely face the 19 year old Ksenia Pervak, the Russian qualifier in the first round of her camapaign in Paris.

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Maria Sharapova beat Kristina Barrois in France

NFL Draft Bust Jamarcus Russell released by Raiders

On the Latest Sports News with JaMarcus Russell’s career in Oakland, the Raiders officially released him on Thursday. The Raiders made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 NFL draft.

For three years playing as a starting QB for the Raiders, he only managed to win seven times. Although technically decision were already made by skeptics two weeks since Oakland acquired Jason Campbell from Washington to take over at quarterback.

Al Davis may have become loveless to the stronged armed but unproductive player he drafted in 2007. This verdict might make him the NFL’s biggest draft bust to date, paying him more than $39 million for three years of service. He would now be joining the likes of Ki-Jana Carter, Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Charles Rogers, Tony Mandarich, and Heath Shuler on that list.

On the last week’s minicamp, Russell told that he would keep showing and coming to work until they told him to stop. In the first five practices, he looked pretty decent but in the weekend he got less work and eventually cut ties with him. “We wish him well,” John Herrera said, senior executive of the Raiders.

Russell got paid $36.4 million by the Raiders through last season. Even though they still owe him $3 million more, making his total earnings at about $39.4 million. The team was still able to save $6.45 million by cutting him before the 2010 roster inclusion deadline. Since the start of the 1967 common draft only Indianapolis top pick Steve Emtman in 1992 was released this quickly after three seasons in the NFL, but that was due to injuries. He played his three seasons with Miami and Washington.

Besides winning for only seven games for 25 starts, he extended the Raiders and NFL-worst streak to loose atleast 11 games for seven straight seasons. It still a blurr for now whether any team will give Russell another shot since he's only 24.

Russell won only seven of his 25 starts as the Raiders extended an He completed just 52.1 percent of his passes in his career with 18 touchdowns, 23 interceptions, 15 lost fumbles and a passer rating of 65.2. That means Russell has been paid more than $5 million per win, more than $2 million per touchdown pass and more than $100,000 per completion.

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NFL Draft Bust Jamarcus Russell released by Raiders

Jamarcus Russell could be Released by Raiders Soon

JaMarcus Russell, a former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL during 2007, might be on the verge of getting cut from the Oakland Raiders Roster soon. Just 12 hours earlier, Espn anounced the Latest Sports News report that Russell was set to be cut. Eventually making the Raiders to take a financial risk that is hard to swallow.

But the Raiders having a $39 million investment on him makes it uneasy for them to cut the quarterback just yet. Since the beginning of the trade for Washington Redskins' QB Jason Campbell on Saturday, Russell became the expensive man out for the Raiders. Russell is still owed $6.45 million by Oakland if he stays with the team roster this season.

Al Davis , Oakland's Managing General Partner, could be working to get Russell to take a pay cut before trainingcamp. If Jamarcus, also known as J-Rock, would agree and be at training camp, people can see firsthand if he really weighs 300 pounds, as has been reported.

Last season, after being fined, appearing overweight at training camp, he turned in the worst season by an NFL quarterback in 11 seasons. Teammates have openly questioned his work ethic. Russell only completed 48.8 percent of his passes, with three touchdowns, 11 interceptions and a 50.0 passer rating. He still has $3 million guaranteed this year to go along with a previous $36.1 million paid. He is 7-18 in 25 starts in the NFL.

Although Tom Cable, Raiders head coach, said this weekend that he's not ready to part off with the former No. 1 overall pick. He still consider for Russell to compete for the starting QB job along with Jason Campbell, Bruce Gradkowski, Kyle Boller and Charlie Frye, Cable said.

"What it comes down to is that we've got five quarterbacks now and we're going to have a great competition. There will be some decisions to be made here in the next month or so."

One of those decisions could be whether Russell and his hefty contract remains on the roster. If Russell were to get hurt during a Raiders practice in the offseason or preseason, his full salary would be guaranteed. But for now, Cable is maintaining that the team won't give up on the QB who's won just seven games in his three-year career.

It would be most difficult for Davis to cut Russell knowing that he backed the strong-armed quarterback in a public feud against coach Lane Kiffin, resulting for firing the head coach then, back in 2008. Davis had drafted Russell despite his coach's protests.

"He is a great player. Get over it and coach this team on the field," Davis read from a letter he sent Kiffin before the firing.

Last year, Davis shown some signs that he lost his patience and allowed coach Tom Cable to bench Russell midway through the season. The Raiders had no comment, and neither did Ethan Lock, Russell's agent.

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Jamarcus Russell could be Released by Raiders Soon