Search is not available for this dataset
text
stringlengths 114
528k
| url
stringlengths 16
403
| token_count
int64 33
125k
|
|---|---|---|
Alternates play waiting game at U.S. Open
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – When Robert Allenby made his way to the first tee a short while ago, it wasn’t the best of news for alternate Jarrod Lyle. Allenby, a good friend of Lyle’s and a fellow Aussie who is nursing a sore, taped left wrist, was a doubtful starter, and one of the main players on Lyle’s “watch” list as he wonders if he will get a shot today to play in the 110th U.S. Open.
There are a few alternates on site here at Pebble Beach, and all they can do is sit. And wait. And hope. All can hit endless balls on the practice tee, but none was allowed to play the golf course the past few days, instead relegated to walking it, trying to prepare best they could to be mentally ready if the shot does arrive.
For alternate Brad Wright of Cambridge, Ohio, traveling to the Open this week meant missing his college graduation. When Wright’s class at Ohio State received diplomas on Sunday, he was on a plane bound for San Francisco.
“That was difficult for my parents, definitely,” said Wright, 24, who earned a business degree in Logistics. “But this is what I want to do in life, and for me, school was a step in the process. I just turned pro, and coming straight here to the U.S. Open and not stopping in any of the ‘middle leagues,’ it’s a great confidence-booster for me.”
Since the finish of school this spring, Wright has played a couple of small mini-tour events around Ohio, and hopes to be granted an exemption into the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Inviational in Columbus July 22-25. After that, it will be a series of Monday qualifiers on the Nationwide and PGA tours. He’d sure love to get his career jumpstarted with a start today at Pebble Beach, and that’s why he made the long trip.
“There wasn’t much of a decision to make – I was going to come here,” he said. “You don’t know how many opportunities you’ll have to play in a U.S. Open, and I wanted to be as prepared as I could be.”
Wright was one of 59 players who tried to land one of three available spots at Springfield (Ohio) Country Club. He shot 9-under 135 to tie for second with young South Korean standout Seung-Yul Noh and Erik Compton, a three-time heart-transplant survivor from Florida. (England’s Brian Davis was the medalist.) Noh, Compton and Wright played off for two spots. Noh birdied the first extra hole; Compton eventually earned the final spot with a par at the third playoff hole.
“It’s tough being an alternate, but it’s on me,” Wright said. “I had an 8-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole, and had I made it, I wouldn’t be in this situation. But I think it’s just a matter of time for me. I need to build the trust and consistency in my game, and hopefully I’ll be out here playing with all these guys pretty soon.”
Pretty soon. However, barring some stirring developments and a couple withdrawals, probably not today. | http://golfweek.com/news/2010/jun/17/alternates-play-waiting-game-us-open/?BLOG-TourBlog | 746 |
Welcome to www.grid-iron.org
Free online american football manager game
Grid-Iron is an American Football simulation game where you take charge of a small team with only a bunch of local players, start-up finances and basic facilities. Your goal is to bring glory and fame to that team and ultimately win the American Football League of Champions (AFLC). This is not an easy task though, and you will have to do your best in order to utilize your marketing and tactical skills (in competition with many other keen managers around the Globe).
The game has no ending as such, and it is played in one big Grid-Iron world, so all the results, competition standings, promotion/relegation and other records are passed from one season to another, and all the managers are playing against each other.
You don't need to download anything, you can play for free, and all you need is one of the popular browsers and a few minutes of your time.
Ready to start? Click here to register and start your way towards the glory in one of the most popular sports on the planet. | http://grid-iron.org/index.php?page=club&team_id=4503 | 228 |
Georgia Southern Wins 2012 SoCon Women’s Soccer Championship in Penalty Kick Shootout
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Forward Courtney Collins
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Goalkeeper Katie Merson
VIDEO: Post-match interview with Defender Zoe Van Gorder
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. – Georgia Southern capped of a historic SoCon Tournament run on Sunday afternoon by clinching the Eagles’ first league title and a trip to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. The eighth-seeded Eagles won the league title in a penalty kick shootout, 5-4, over third-seeded Furman after the match was drawn, 0-0. Sydnie Van Curen netted the winning spot kick after 110 minutes of scoreless regulation and overtime play.
“Our path to the championship was a long strange trip, but it built our character and probably was the reason for our success,” said head coach Lindsey Vanderspiegel. “We told the team that the hardest part was making the tournament. Once we did we get in, we knew the tournament could be ours. We never felt like an eighth seed, it was really just a number to us. We just looked at the opponent and tried to take it one game at a time.”
Just after the half-hour mark, a well-placed through ball from Stephanie Gratto found Van Curen on a breakaway. The sophomore struck the ball just outside the penalty area, but her shot sailed just over the bar as the match remained tied despite the Eagles pressuring the Paladins in the early minutes.
In the 74th minutes, Georgia Southern had another chance that went just wide of the post. Courtney Collins got on the end of a arcing through ball at the edge of the six-yard box. The senior’s shot beat the Furman keeper, but swerved just wide of the post, going for a goal kick.
With 10 minutes left in regulation, goalkeeper Katie Merson made her biggest save of the season when she denied a Paladin shot from point blank range, keeping the score level at 0-0.
“I feel like we created a good number of opportunities tonight,” said Vanderspiegel. “We kept knocking on the door offensively. I’m glad that our team didn’t set back and make the game into a defensive battle.”
With three minutes left in the second half, Merson made another superb save to deny Furman’s Stephanie DeVita who was named SoCon Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year this season. The Eagles got one more attack before the final whistle in regulation, but were unable to find the back of the net.
In the final minute of the first overtime period Georgia Southern had another chance which found the mitts of the Furman goalkeeper. Nora El-Shami delivered the ball perfectly to the center of the box, but the ensuing shot found the goalkeeper as the teams remained scoreless through 100 minutes of play.
Neither team was able to score in the second overtime, forcing the match to penalties for the first time since 2008 in the title game and the first time in Georgia Southern program history.
In the penalty shootout the first three kick takers made their attempts to make it 3-3 through as many rounds. McKenna Storey missed her attempt as did Furman in the fourth round. Zoe Van Gorder took Georgia Southern’s fifth attempt and made her penalty, as did Furman to send the match to a sixth round. Cori Dulmage had her attempt saved, but a miss by Furman in that round gave Van Curen a shot. She converted her attempt, while a miss off the crossbar by Furman gave the Eagles their first SoCon Championship in program history.
That’s a tough way to go out for Furman, but I’m so proud of our seniors coming together to get the win,” said Vanderspiegel. “Katie Merson was phenomenal for us tonight and our defense played a lights-out game to get the win.”
The Eagles became the first eighth-seeded team to reach the SoCon Tournament Final in league history. The previous low seed to reach the final was Davidson in 2009, reaching the final as the fourth seed in the four-team tournament.
Overall, Georgia Southern was out-shot 16-6 in the match, but the stellar play of Merson helped the Eagles lift the trophy. She made six saves in the contest and picked up SoCon Tournament Most Valuable Player honors. Joining Merson on the All-Tournament Team are Nora El-Shami, Emily Hirano and Zoe Van Gorder.
The Eagles advance to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history with a 10-7-5 overall record. Fans can find out the Eagles’ destination on the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on NCAA.com. The broadcast is set for Monday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. Fans can watch the broadcast with the team in the Bishop Field House at Paulson Stadium on Monday afternoon.
- Category: Women's Soccer
- Published on Sunday, 04 November 2012 18:25 | http://gseagles.com/sports/womens/soccer/headlines/12428-georgia-southern-wins-2012-socon-women-s-soccer-championship-in-penalty-kick-shootout | 1,085 |
2002 State Champions to be honored at halftime this week
The team that started it all for the Guthrie football program will be recognized for their accomplishment of winning the school’s first-ever state championship.
The 2002 state championship football team (12-2) will be honored and recognized at halftime of Friday night’s Guthrie and Carl Albert game. All former players are to meet in the south end zone in the first half and find Maggie Wade, who will organize the event.
The 2002 BlueJays won their last 10 games that season, including a 16-13 win over heavy favorite Booker T. Washington in the state finals, after beginning the season just 2-2.
It was the second season for head coach Rafe Watkins.
After losses to Shawnee and Douglass, the 2002 squad went on a magical run starting with a Senior Night 22-19 overtime win over Carl Albert as Russell Rush drilled the game winning field goal.
The play-off run included wins over Ardmore, Tulsa East Central, Chickasha and Tulsa Washington.
Ardmore was as big and athletic as anyone in the state, but the Jays controlled the game with a 29-12 home win. The town of Guthrie was in a buzz as the team next headed off to Tulsa.
East Central jumped out to an early lead, but Keenan Webb’s second touchdown score gave the Jays the lead for good in a 27-13 win setting up a semi-final match-up with Chickasha.
After a tour of the Oklahoma University football facilities and pep talk from head coach Bob Stoops and Trent Smith. Smith told the Jays, “Nobody loses in our locker room, so win!”
That’s exactly what they did by a slim 23-20 margin. Demarko Jones tied the game up at 13-13 and took the lead for good when Jones found Webb for a touchdown reception.
In the finals against top-ranked and undefeated Booker T., the Hornets were headlined by current NFL players Felix Jones and Oklahoma Player of the Year Robert Meachem, to go along with former OU wide receiver Quinton Chaney, the BlueJays never once trailed on the score board at Lewis Field in Stillwater.
Guthrie jumped out to a 16-0 lead and held on for a 16-13 win for the program’s first state championship. | http://guthriesports.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/2002-state-champions-to-be-honored-at-halftime-this-week/ | 493 |
Cory Gearrin Called Up To Atlanta, Jair Jurrjens Sent Down To Gwinnett
(Photo courtesy of Kyle Hess)
Many people assumed that Cory Gearrin would eventually get the call to the big leagues and the Atlanta Braves. However, nobody assumed it would be for the demotion of Jair Jurrjens to Triple-A Gwinnett. Needless to say, this was the Atlanta Braves most recent transaction.
This season, Cory Gearrin has made huge strides in his development toward becoming a Major League pitcher. Currently, the right-hander is 1-0 and possesses a 0.00 ERA in 12.1 innings of work in Triple-A. Gearrin has recorded two saves and struck out 15 hitters, while walking just two this season. He has been used predominantly in the closer or set-up role for the G-Braves. More than likely, he will be used for middle relief for Atlanta until his role becomes more apparent.
Jair Jurrjens (0-2) on the other hand has not had as much success as Gearrin early-on this season. The righty presently owns a 9.37 ERA, alongside allowing 30 hits through 16.1 innings pitched this year. Jurrjens has allowed 17 earned runs and five home runs, while he has struck out eight batters and walked 10 so far.
Cory Gearrin was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fourth round of the 2007 MLB Draft. He has worked himself up through the levels of the Braves organization, as he started in Danville with the Rookie-Braves in 2007. He then split time between Rome and Myrtle Beach in 2008 before spending most of the 2009 season with Double-A Mississippi. The right-handed reliever spent a majority of the past two years with the Gwinnett Braves in Triple-A.
Last season, Gearrin was called up to Atlanta where he appeared in 18 games for the Braves. In 18.1 innings of relief, the righty allowed 16 earned runs off 17 hits. He did strikeout an impressive 25 hitters, while walking 12 in his short-stay with the big club. This trip, the Braves No. 12 ranked RHP prospect is prepared to stick around. However, it is Gearrin’s job to adjust on the fly. He will be prepared to do whatever the Braves ask of him.
By: Tony Piraro | http://gwinnettbravesblog.mlblogs.com/2012/04/24/cory-gearrin-called-up-to-atlanta-jair-jurrjens-sent-down-to-gwinnett/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=81d32a40f7 | 493 |
For Immediate Release
Minigolf Report – BMGA English Open
On Sunday 10th May Luton Minigolfers Richard and Emily Gottfried travelled to Hoveton in Norfolk to compete in a field of 37 players in the BMGA English Open. The competition was played over 54-holes at the 18-hole Adventure Golf course at Wroxham Barns.
Richard finished in 16th place after rounds of 39 (+3), 38 (+2) and 40 (+4) for a total of 117 (+9), including five holes-in-one.
Emily Gottfried finished in 28th spot after rounds of 43 (+7), 46 (+10) and 38 (+2) for a total of 127(+19), including four holes-in-one.
The tournament was won by Nick Chitty with a total of 95 (-13). Nick also broke the course record with a round of 29 (-7), beating the previous record which was 34 (-2) and set by Richard in August last year.
Richard said “Last year I was 4th in the English Open so I was hoping for a good finish this year but it just wasn’t to be. I started the day with a four on a hole I should have Aced and didn’t play my best after that. It wasn’t my worst performance, but it was far from my best” | http://hamandeggerfiles.blogspot.com/2009/05/minigolf-report-bmga-english-open.html | 286 |
Havre Daily News
After just two seasons as the head coach of the Havre High girls basketball team, Havre native and former HHS great Jason Wirt is stepping down from the Havre High girls program in order to accept a position as assistant principle and activities director at Corvallis High School.
“It was a tough decision for me to make because I really enjoy coaching and I enjoyed working with the kids that I coached over the last two years,” Wirt said. “But this is a great chance for me to advance my career. It was just too good of a position to pass up. I mean I could have passed it up, but an opportunity this good might not come up again for a while. You never know when things like this are going to come along. I just couldn't pass up the opportunity.”
Wirt led the Ponies to a 15-6 record in the 2005-06 season. The Ponies started off 2-4, then reeled off 11 straight wins before losing to Browning in their regular season finale.
The Ponies entered the Central A Divisional tournament as the No. 2 seed and a favorite to qualify for the Class A state tournament. Unfortunately, the Ponies lost an overtime heartbreaker to Livingston in the semifinals. Havre rebounded to win its next two games to finish third, but the Ponies didn't get a chance to challenge so their hopes of a state tournament berth were dashed.
“The thing that made the decision tough was that by taking the job I would have to give up coaching, and that was hard for me,” Wirt said. “It's tough to leave the kids because I have really enjoyed working with them.
“What makes it even tougher is that there are a lot of girls coming back, “ he added. “There are eight girls coming back that played varsity last season and that made the decision extremely difficult.”
Wirt was hired as head coach after the 2003-04 when longtime HHS girls head coach Dennis Murphy retired. Living up to Murphy's legacy was not going to be easy, but in his two years on the job Wirt brought a new level of enthusiasm to the program.
The team struggled in his first season, but he had a young team that he was molding for the future. The team flourished this year under Wirt's watchful eye, and with a number of promising players coming back, the Ponies seemed to be set up for a successful run over the next few years.
“It was tough taking over for Dennis Murphy because of all the great things he did while he was the head coach. So I just tried to come in and do the best job I could,” Wirt said. “I think that after this season we were starting to put something together, which made it so tough for me to make this choice. The future is bright for this program and hopefully the new coach, whoever it is, can keep it going.”
By accepting the job as assistant principle and activities director at Corvallis, Wirt has essentially ended his coaching career. His new responsibilities will be far too time consuming to even think about coaching, and with him being activities director in Corvallis, there would be an obvious conflict of interest.
“I knew when I made the decision that I probably wouldn't be able to coach again,” Wirt said. “But that is something I can live with. I am still going to be working with activities and now my job is to make sure that the activities are run the right way. In education you are always looking to move up the ladder and this is definitely a step up for me. I had to take this step to get my career going in the direction that I want it to.”
Wirt didn't rule out ever returning to coaching, but he says the odds are slim.
“Probably the only way I would ever get back into coaching is if administration doesn't work out for me,” Wirt said. “I really enjoyed coaching and I tried to make the game fun and enjoyable for the kids. I wanted them to work hard and learn to play together and they did that. Hopefully, the kids had a lot of fun playing basketball, and more importantly, hopefully they learned something about life and being a good person.” | http://havredailynews.com/cms/news/story-143475.html | 912 |
Team Canada's defense in 2014
View Single Post
05-06-2010, 02:33 PM
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Coyotes Bandwagon
Originally Posted by
What's sure is that with a defensive roster like that, you cannot be beaten.
Funny ... I would have said the same thing about Slava Fetisov, Alexei Kasatonov, Valeri Vasiliev, Vasili Pervukhin and Zinetula Bilyaletdinov ...
The lineup you're rolling out really is no better than the Pronger / Doughty / Seabrook / Keith / Niedermayer / Boyle / other guy lineup Canada played in 2010, a team that was beaten soundly once and taken to overtime in the final.
Not sure what the point of this thread was, but nobody is unbeatable, especially four years before the tournament. Let's tap the brakes on this sort of talk.
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by ck26 | http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showpost.php?p=25665105&postcount=39 | 207 |
: Value of:
Grabner to NJ
View Single Post
12-02-2012, 03:28 PM
Join Date: Mar 2002
Originally Posted by
What would it take for NJ to get Grabner, preferably based around NJ's defensemen and/or defensive prospects?
In a recent wfan interview, Wang said he think his current group can make the playoffs. His D has been revamped with Vis/Carkner/likely Donovan joing Streit/Hamonic/MacDonald and the isles are expected to give Nabokov the bulk of the starts.
Isles won't be looking for picks/prospects, for a young player who's scored 54 goals over the last 2 seasons.
Does NJ have a young, established top 4 defenseman to offer?
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by CREW99AW | http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showpost.php?p=56188233&postcount=15 | 176 |
Why hasn't Jakub Kovar been signed?
View Single Post
02-12-2013, 12:12 PM
Join Date: Jan 2011
I think the Flyers still hold his rights due to lack of an transfer agreement between the NHL with the Czech league, maybe someone more familiar with the legal aspects can confirm...
I guess sometimes a certain player is just not that interested in coming to NA, or maybe it's the Flyers organization that is not exactly famous for developing young goalies.... it's hard to imagine that with our current prospect pool they would not even invite him to training camp if he or his management asked them to (not sure if they could sign him to a PTO or anything similar?) to see what he can do.
View Public Profile
Find More Posts by dats81 | http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showpost.php?p=59558039&postcount=15 | 164 |
Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services:
Want to set your local edition?
Select your location for more focused local news coverage when you visit mlive.
Don't worry. You can change this setting at any time to another local edition.
Hampton Township -- Caro boys basketball coach Josh Hahn has his squad shoot free throws immediately after running sprints as part of every practice.
Friday night at Essexville Garber, it paid off.
The Tigers converted 14-of-16 shots from the line in the fourth quarter and claimed a 59-48 win over the Dukes. And in doing so spoiled Garber’s bid for its first Tri-Valley East Conference win.
“We do simulations like this,” Hahn said. “We do it after runs and sprints so we’re tired and they know what it’s like.”
Overall, Caro shot 20-for-27 from the charity stripe. In contrast, the Dukes were 3-for-12. Caro junior Chadrick Bennett was 0-for-4 from the free throw line in the first half, but helped seal the win by making all six of his attempts in the fourth.
“I gave him a hard time at halftime because he’s about a 90 percent shooter,” Hahn said. “We pride ourselves on making free throws when they count, and the kids did a really good job tonight.”
Garber pulled to within three points at the beginning of the fourth quarter but couldn’t get any closer. Garber falls to 0-5 in the TVC East, 2-6 overall, while Caro evens up it’s conference record at 3-3 (3-7 overall).
“What’s happening is we’re playing against a lot of teams that want to play zone against us,” Garber coach Devon Gilliam. “I think they know we’re athletic and they don’t want to guard us one-on-one.”
What that meant Friday night was a lot of open three-point attempts, but only five makes for the Dukes.
“Right now I’m pleased with where we’re at,” Gilliam said. “And those shots, they’re going to start falling for us. We haven’t played our best yet.”
The Tigers never led by more than 11 points. And Garber cut the lead to six or less on several occasions in the second half. But every time Garber made a run, Caro responded with a run of its own.
“Basketball is a game of runs,” Hahn said. “And you’ve got to answer. Our problem is at times our offense has stalled out. Tonight we were more patient and we got better looks.”
Making matters worse for the Dukes, starting guard Simeon Barry took a shot to the mouth in the first half and didn’t play after halftime. But on a positive note, a pair of transfers made their debut Friday night. Juniors Tory Flowers and Isaac Smith, transfers from Bay City Central, both cracked the starting lineup. And Flowers scored a game-high 18 points.
“It’s just a matter of us getting everyone on the court at the same time and putting it together,” Gilliam said. “It’s eventually gonna come.”
Garber led 11-9 in the first but Caro took control of the game with a 13-0 lead to finish out the quarter. The Tigers held a 26-20 lead at the break.
“We’re really just trying to put together a complete game,” Hahn said. “We’ve had pieces of a game, but tonight we put together a full game.”
Dustin Koelzner and Jordan Bills scored 15 points apiece to lead Caro. C.J. Glaza added 14 and Blake Oakes tallied 10 for the Dukes. | http://highschoolsports.mlive.com/news/article/-1828650914912668595/caro-boys-basketball-comes-up-big-at-the-free-throw-line-down-the-stretch-to-ice-garber/ | 870 |
Colleges lining up for De La Salle guard Tate
Updated: September 24, 2012 6:25AM
De La Salle sophomore Jaylon Tate is turning heads with a strong start to the spring AAU season.
“Jaylon is a big point guard with long arms and an ability to run a team,’’ Scout.com’s Brian Snow said. ‘‘He has been coming on lately, and could be emerging as one of the better floor generals in the 2013 class.”
The 6-2 Tate led his Meanstreets 16U team to back-to-back titles at the prestigious Boo Williams
Invitational as well as the Battle for the Arch last weekend in St. Louis. Playing with Simeon’s Kendrick Nunn and De La Salle teammates Alex Foster and Alvin Ellis, Tate has plenty of options to choose from with the ball in his hands.
“They played well together last year, and now I’m coming in and just trying to fit in and play hard,” Tate said of playing with Meanstreets. “[Our relationship] is really strong. We know each other, and I play with some of those guys at De La Salle. It’s only making us stronger to play together this summer.”
The sophomore core of Tate, Ellis and Foster will take over a De La Salle team that will lose much of its identity with the loss of Illinois recruit Mike Shaw.
“I’m starting to be more of a leader and being more vocal,” Tate said. “I’m also trying to work on my jump shot.”
While Tate is taking the transition to team leader at De La Salle seriously, colleges also have begun to take his recruitment seriously.
“I have an offer from Northwestern, and I’m hearing from Illinois, Purdue, Ohio State, Xavier, Michigan, Florida [and] Marquette,” Tate said.
Tate knows what he is looking for when he commits.
“I’ve got to have a strong relationship with the coach, strong academics, a good basketball team and a good environment that makes me feel like home,” Tate said. | http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/sports/boysbasketball/4940967-394/colleges-lining-up-for-de-la-salle-guard-tate.html | 472 |
Loyola slowly filling in missing piecesOak Park, 09/17/11--LA's Shannon Jacobs and Riley Miller battle USM's Jenna Seter for control of the ball. Loyola Academy played University School of Milwaukee Saturday morning in the Eighth Annual Huskie Field Hockey Invitational. | Jon Langham~for Sun-Times Media
Loyola doesn’t want to be judged right now.
The Ramblers hope to show what they have next month when the state field hockey playoffs start.
After all, Loyola lost seven starters from its third-place team, and coach Kristen Provencher believes this is a rebuilding year.
At Oak Park-River Forest’s invitational last weekend, the Ramblers went 1-1-2, earning their only win in the final game of the tournament against Mercy (Ky.).
“Our team hasn’t been as good as we expected,” said senior Adelaide Hake, who assisted on the team’s first goal in the 3-2 victory. “We’ve started off slow with some new girls, but we are figuring it out.”
Jamie Stoner scored twice in the final game, and Natalie Lynch added the other goal.
Loyola, which enters this week 6-5-2, has time on its side.
“I’m definitely optimistic,” said Provencher, whose club beat Lake Forest on Sept. 7 and lost by one to New Trier in the season opener. “I’m realistically optimistic.”
The Ramblers went 0-1-2 in pool play before taking on Mercy in a crossover game. Lake Forest went 5-0 and won the title with its win over Sacred Heart (Ky.), the one of the favorites at the tournament.
“This was not a good representation of who we are as a team,” said Hake.
Hake is one of the few starters back for the Ramblers. Mary Mahoney and Gigi Patton are two other veterans, but Patton didn’t play the last game because of a concussion.
“They are all game-changers,” Provencher said. “We need to fill some spots.”
One rookie who’s already contributed is Riley Miller. The freshman is playing left back, one of the most challenging positions on the field.
“That’s pretty rare,” the coach said of starting a freshman.
Loyola was scheduled to play New Trier on Tuesday, Glenbrook South on Friday and Lake Forest on Saturday.
“It’s always good to play against teams outside of Illinois,” Provencher said. “We hung in there against these teams, but we didn’t play our best. We still learned some things about ourselves.” | http://highschoolsports.suntimes.com/sports/othersports/7758993-393/loyola-slowly-filling-in-missing-pieces.html | 603 |
Astros' Springer homers, plates four for Solar Sox
Borchering, Ynoa also go yard; Orioles' Schoop collects three hits, three RBIs
George Springer is not in the Arizona Fall League to make one big adjustment with his swing. He's there to make a lot of little ones.
Slotted at designated hitter, Springer reached base four times and drove in four runs Friday afternoon as the Mesa Solar Sox cruised to a 12-6 triumph over the Surprise Saguaros on day four of AFL action.
The Astros' No. 3 prospect smacked an RBI triple in the third inning and three-run homer in the fifth -- his first two hits in his third Fall League game.
"It was a 2-1 count and I was just looking for something to drive, get a good piece of the barrel on it," Springer said of his blast off Rangers reliever Ryan Rodebaugh (0-1). "I believe it was a cutter -- I was thought it was a slider, but they told me it was a cutter. I saw off-speed pitches in that count in my first at-bats, so I was just slowing everything down and getting a good pitch to hit."
Springer, a 2011 first-round Draft pick, enjoyed a strong first full season in the Minor Leagues. The 23-year-old batted .302 with 21 doubles, 10 triples, 24 homers, 87 RBIs and 32 stolen bases in 128 games at Class A Advanced Lancaster and Double-A Corpus Christi. He also struck out 156 times in 506 at-bats but has no major mechanical changes on his mind.
"The guys here [in the AFL] that are in the 'pen and starting games are really talented, so not being on field allows you to focus in on mistakes made in your first at-bat and make adjustments, especially against these guys, who are top notch," said Springer, who walked twice and scored three times.
So he doesn't mind taking a break from the outfield, where his defense is top notch?
"That is no problem for me," he said.
The Solar Sox also had help from D-backs-turned-Astros prospect Bobby Borchering, who hit a two-run homer in the five-run third. Dodgers second baseman Rafael Ynoa went deep in the sixth, while Orioles' No. 3 prospect Jonathan Schoop collected three hits and three RBIs.
Saguaros center fielder Darrell Ceciliani (Mets) homered and singled, while Red Sox's No. 4 prospect Bryce Brentz also left the yard in the losing cause.
Solar Sox starter Andres Santiago (Dodgers) was charged with four runs on four hits over three innings. Saguaros counterpart Joe Van Meter (Rangers) gave up two runs on four hits over 2 1/3 frames. Neither hurler factored in the decision.
The win went to Dodgers left-hander Chris Reed (1-0), who gave up a hit in a scoreless fifth. | http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121012&content_id=39753610&vkey=news_hou&c_id=hou | 630 |
Bucs extend Hurdle's contract through next season
Manager feels 'privileged' to have chance to complete turnaround in Pittsburgh
BRADENTON, Fla. -- Clint Hurdle has gotten an extended chance to see through the rebirth of the Pirates, who announced an extension to his contract as manager on Tuesday.
Hurdle, 55, was approaching the final year of the three-year contract he signed in November 2010. The '14 option in that agreement has been exercised, and added was a club option for '15.
"I feel privileged to have the opportunity to continue and finish what we started," said Hurdle. "There's no place I would rather be than in a Pirates uniform. I'm very humbled, and really look forward to the challenge in front of us."
Should he finish out the length of the contract, including the option year, Hurdle would become the first manager to serve a five-season stint with the Bucs since Jim Leyland from 1986-96.
"We feel it's a good match, with my situation," said general manager Neal Huntington, himself given an extension through '14 with an option for '15 late during the '11 season. "This is something we all felt more comfortable with.
"This is a conversation we've pretty much had since the day we hired him: When is the right time to put that extra year in place? And we felt now is the right time," Huntington added.
It was a quick process. According to Hurdle, the subject was first raised about a week ago, when Spring Training camp opened, and the conversations leading to the agreement occurred within the last 48 hours.
"There weren't really a lot of negotiations," Hurdle said. "A contract needs to work for everybody: For Bob [club chairman Bob Nutting], for Neal, for myself and for the coaching staff and players."
"Clint Hurdle has played a significant role in the transition of an organization that has improved at the Major League level by 22 wins over the past two seasons," Huntington had said in a statement accompanying the announcement. "Clint's leadership, infectious positive energy, passion and knowledge transcend the clubhouse and we believe he is the right man to help us return championship-caliber baseball to Pittsburgh."
Hurdle's Pirates reached a peak of 16 games over .500 last season, when they sported a winning record for a stretch of 107 days through Sept. 18, though ultimately the club finished with a losing record for a 20th consecutive season.
However, the 79 wins marked an improvement over the 72 wins of '11, which came following 105 losses in the season before Hurdle's appointment.
Hurdle's rally cry in '12 following a similar late-season fade in '11 had been, "Finish!"
With 685 wins as a big league manager, Hurdle will enter the season 15 shy of becoming the 11th active manager with at least 700 wins in the Major Leagues.
"We love Pittsburgh, absolutely," Hurdle said on Monday, including wife Karla and younger children Madison and Christian in that sentiment. "This is your opportunity to be a small part of a group accomplishing a goal. From the first day I took this job, I said I wanted to reconnect the city with its baseball team.
"There's still unfinished business, we haven't yet gotten where we want to get, but I think we did reignite the fan base to some degree."
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com and writes an MLBlog Change for a Nickel. He can also be found on Twitter @Tom_Singer. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130218&content_id=41751318&vkey=news_pit&c_id=pit | 772 |
3/30/2013 | Asdrubal returns to lineup for Tribe
Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was back in the starting lineup against the Reds on Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark in the last Spring Training game for both teams.
3/30/2013 | Quentin's focus shifts away from injured knee
Carlos Quentin has made significant progress with his surgically repaired knee, which is no longer as balky as it was in Arizona. On Friday, he played in this third game in as many days.
3/30/2013 | Padres officially tab Ross as fifth starter
The worst-kept secret of Padres camp became official on Friday when Padres manager Bud Black named Tyson Ross as the fifth starter in the rotation.
3/30/2013 | Porter leaning on Wright to lead young group
Manager Bo Porter is counting on Wesley Wright to be a leader in the Astros' bullpen. Wright, although only 28, is the longest-tenured player on the roster.
3/30/2013 | Leyland: Verlander's deal great for club, pitcher, fans
A day after the Tigers and ace Justin Verlander agreed to a record-breaking contract extension, Detroit manager Jim Leyland chimed in on the idea of having Verlander in a Tigers uniform for, potentially, his entire career.
3/30/2013 | Young relief corps could be key to Rangers' bullpen
Joe Nathan and Jason Frasor are the two veterans in the bullpen and the Rangers have an idea of what they can do. But manager Ron Washington admitted his bullpen's effectiveness could depend on how fast his young relievers grow up.
3/30/2013 | Gattis, Uggla turn on power against Future stars
Evan Gattis and Dan Uggla smacked two of the Braves' three homers, while Mike Minor logged four scoreless innings in a 10-0 win over their Future stars on Saturday in an exhibition contest at Trustmark Park in Pearl, Miss.
3/30/2013 | Moore solid as Rays knock three homers in spring finale
Rays lefty Matt Moore and Tigers right-hander Doug Fister didn't put up dazzling Spring Training numbers, but Saturday, both could say that they went into the regular season on a relatively high note, as the Rays tied the Tigers, 3-3, in both teams' final spring game
3/30/2013 | McLouth's two jacks back strong effort from Gonzalez
Consider Nate McLouth ready for Opening Day. The center fielder slugged a pair of home runs in the Orioles' 7-1 win over the Mets in the clubs' final Grapefruit League game on Saturday at Ed Smith Stadium.
3/30/2013 | Pearce edges Jackson for O's final roster spot
Conor Jackson termed it a heavyweight bout. On Saturday, Orioles manager Buck Showalter declared Steve Pearce victorious in the battle for the club's final roster spot. Jackson will head to Triple-A Norfolk.
3/30/2013 | Noonan wins spot on Giants roster
Nick Noonan, who had two hits and an RBI on Friday night, found out after the Giants' 3-1 victory that he had earned a spot on the Opening Day roster, his first after six years in the Minor Leagues.
3/30/2013 | Marte closing in on roster spot
The D-backs trimmed their roster further after Friday's game against the Reds, optioning outfielder Tony Campana and left-hander Joe Paterson to Triple-A Reno, while reassigning catcher Tuffy Gosewisch and right-hander Nelson Figueroa to Minor League camp.
3/30/2013 | Zito outduels Griffin as Giants top A's
Buster Posey, fresh off finalizing a $167 million extension, had a pair of hits, and Barry Zito allowed on run in 5 1/3 innings in his final exhibition appearance as the Giants defeated the A's, 3-1, on Friday night.
3/29/2013 | Giants reward Posey with $167M extension
The value to the Giants of former Rookie of the Year, defending MVP and two-time World Series champion Buster Posey was acknowledged Friday with a $167 million contract extension that will keep the catcher in San Francisco through at least 2021.
3/29/2013 | Ryu has sights set on Rookie of the Year Award
Dodgers starting pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu has high aspirations for his first season in the Major Leagues. The Korean hurler wants to be the National League Rookie of the Year.
3/29/2013 | Rangers rally after Ogando's sharp outing
The Rangers rallied from being down 3-0 and defeated the Padres, 5-4, before an announced 34,641 fans at the Alamodome on Friday night.
3/29/2013 | D-backs confirm Ross to open season on DL
In an expected move, D-backs manager Kirk Gibson confirmed Friday that outfielder Cody Ross will start the regular season on the disabled list.
3/29/2013 | Wilson announces 'Season of the Whiff'
Head & Shoulders and their new "Mane Man," Angels pitcher C.J. Wilson, announced their plans to team up with Old Spice to help inner-city baseball programs around the country.
3/29/2013 | Indians trade Jeroloman to Bucs for cash
The Indians traded catcher Brian Jeroloman to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday for cash considerations.
3/29/2013 | Nakajima likely heading to DL as A's finalize roster
Oakland manager Bob Melvin said Saturday it is "very likely" that shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima will start the season on the disabled list as he recovers from a hamstring strain.
3/29/2013 | Scioscia excited about more than Halos' stars
In the past 16 months, the Angels have signed two bona fide superstars to nine-figure deals and seen another emerge from their farm system. So, Mike Scioscia's expectations for his club should be larger than ever. Right?
3/29/2013 | Colvin sent to Minors as Rockies set roster
The versatility of Jordan Pacheco, Eric Young Jr. and Jonathan Herrera, plus a rough spring offensively, added up to a surprise demotion to Triple-A for outfielder-first baseman Tyler Colvin, as the Rockies on Friday announced their 25-man active roster for Monday's season opener at Milwaukee.
3/29/2013 | Busch to host Man City, Chelsea match in May
Busch Stadium will host two of the most storied clubs in the English Premier League this spring, when Manchester City and Chelsea play in St. Louis at 7:30 p.m. CT on May 23.
3/29/2013 | Reds planning final roster cuts Saturday
The Reds spring roster remained heavy with 34 players on Friday, which means plenty of trimming must be done to reach the 25-man limit by Monday. Reds manager Dusty Baker said he hoped to have the final decisions on Saturday.
3/29/2013 | Murphy, Cruz enter season without extensions
The flurry of contract extensions that swept through baseball in the final days of Spring Training did not reach the Rangers. Outfielders David Murphy and Nelson Cruz are going into the season unsigned beyond this year.
More Results >
© 2001- MLB Advanced Media, L.P. All rights reserved.
The following are trademarks or service marks of Major League Baseball entities and may be used only with permission of Major League Baseball Properties, Inc. or the relevant Major League Baseball entity: Major League, Major League Baseball, MLB, the silhouetted batter logo, World Series, National League, American League, Division Series, League Championship Series, All-Star Game, and the names, nicknames, logos, uniform designs, color combinations, and slogans designating the Major League Baseball clubs and entities, and their respective mascots, events and exhibitions. | http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/search_archive.jsp?c_id=mlb&team=mlb&year=2013&month=03&category=news_features&columnist=null&categoryLabel=News+and+Features&pg=3 | 1,641 |
The North Jersey Tri-County Conference held its first-ever championships (and quite possibly its last as well) Tuesday at Garret Mountain in Woodland Park. The area was well represented by some solid performances, highlighted by the North Bergen girls winning the Hudson larger schools team title, the school’s first girls’ team title of any kind since 2002.
Led by senior Ybrahina Cohen, who finished third overall in 22:12, and junior Nicole Ortiz, who was fifth in 22:41, the Bruins outdistanced second place Kearny by only four points.
“I just had a feeling that we had a chance,” said North Bergen fourth-year head coach Colleen Conroy. “I saw the other times of the other teams and thought we had a shot. The girls all run in a pack together, and they did what they had to do. They were consistent. Their times have been improving all year, but these were the best times they had at Garret Mountain. We’re really excited. The girls have worked hard and they are thrilled and ecstatic to win this championship. It’s really a big step.”
Senior Janel Alvarez was seventh, followed by her teammate, sophomore Estefania Osorio, who hit the line just 7 seconds apart.
Senior Meghan Donovan of St. Dominic Academy won the race individually in 21:04.
The large school boys’ team title was captured by Dickinson, which did the same thing last year in winning the old HCIAA title, running as the “Wolf Pack,” as they like to call themselves.
The Rams easily outran runner-up Memorial, 29-55.
While North Bergen’s brilliant Danny Rondon bounced back from a sub-par performance at Holmdel last week to win the race in 16:30, the next three finishers were all Dickinson runners, namely junior Jose Rivera (17:13), senior Pedro Claudio (17:14) and junior Jose Veras (17:29). Senior Tarick Awad was sixth, just a few seconds behind his teammates, so the Rams had four of the top six finishers. That’s pretty impressive.
In the smaller schools’ division, Mohamed Merdan of County Prep won the boys’ race in an impressive 16:35, with McNair Academic earning the team title, thanks to a dominating performance, where the Cougars’ top seven runners finished among the top 10, led by Chris Farao (third, 17:53) and Kevin Ratigan (fourth, 18:16).
In the small schools’ girls’ race, sophomore Fawzia Kheir took top honors in 22:12.
Needless to say, it was a fine showing from the local schools, as they prepare for the Hudson County Track Coaches Association championships next Saturday at Bayonne County Park…
There were some important items from the local world of high school football over the weekend.
Secaucus might have lost starting quarterback Niko Petruzzella to an injury, but sophomore Sean Egan filled in and threw three touchdown passes in the Patriots’ 57-6 thrashing of Wallington. Two of Egan’s passes went to Matt Traynor and the other went to the best name in all of Hudson County sports, Angelo Abdellatif, had the other.
The Patriots also had more than 300 yards rushing, with Joe Impreveduto rushing for 164 yards and three touchdowns and Eddie Delgado adding 149 yards more, easily the most impressive rushing performance by coach Charlie Voorhees’ team in recent memory…
St. Peter’s Prep trounced Union City, 50-0, with quarterback Raphael Ortiz continuing his brilliant play, passing for 155 yards and two touchdowns. His main target was Brendan Dolaghan, who had four receptions for 100 yards…
It’s not too early to start thinking about the upcoming NJSIAA football state playoffs.
Here’s an update on the power point situation. In North Section 2, Group I, Secaucus is fourth with 43 and Hoboken is eighth with 22.
In Section 2, Group II, undefeated Lincoln is sitting pretty in second place with 60 points, trailing only Summit for the top seed.
In Group III, Ferris once again finds itself in a pickle. The 3-2 Bulldogs are currently in seventh place with 44 points, so they will need to keep winning and get some help to secure the elusive playoff berth that faded away the last two seasons.
In North Section 1, Group IV, North Bergen looks solid in fourth place with 50 points. The Bruins can certainly help their cause this week with an upset win over the Marauders of St. Peter’s Prep, who are currently seventh in Non-Public Group IV. This weekend’s game will be crucial to both local teams’ state playoff hopes.
The only other local squad who can think about the playoffs this season is St. Anthony, which sits second in Non-Public Group I, far behind perennial top seed Paterson Catholic….
The Hudson Reporter Top Five: 1. St. Peter’s Prep (3-1). 2. Lincoln (5-0). 3. North Bergen (4-1). 4. Secaucus (4-0). 5. Hoboken (2-2)….
Local boxing hero Tomasz Adamek, who was featured prominently in the new issue of the Jersey City Magazine, wrapped up his local training schedule last weekend and headed to Poland to fight former local resident Andrew Golota in a Polish heavyweight extravaganza Oct. 24…
Here’s a great way to end this week’s editions. Last Friday night, the New England Basketball Hall of Fame held its annual induction dinner. Three Hudson County hoop legends were among those honored, namely John Wendelken, Gordon Chiesa and the late Tony Nicodemo. Tony Nicodemo, Jr. accepted for his father, Tony “the Tiger,” who was the long-time athletic director at St. Mary’s High School in Jersey City. All three men were hugely successful in basketball and deserved their place among the legends of New England. Another Hall member, current UConn assistant and Jersey City native George Blaney, served as a presenter. Needless to say, it was a great night for Hudson County basketball, albeit in New England. Congrats to all three honorees… -- Jim Hague Jim Hague can be reached at [email protected]. | http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/4006921/article-TASTY-TIDBITS-10-18-2009-Fine-cross-country-performances-at-NJTCC-meet-Power-point-update--football-performances-of-note- | 1,371 |
London: 'Lord of the Rings' star Ian McKellen says returning to New Zealand to shoot 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' felt like he was going home.
The 73-year-old actor, who is battling prostate cancer for seven years, reprised his role as Gandalf the wizard from Peter Jackson's award-winning 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy in the prequel film, reported Femalefirst.
"It was like going back home, really. It was more of the same, which is what was required, but it wasn't boring. I mean, a whole new set of circumstances and a new Bilbo (Baggins) to play with in Martin Freeman, and all those 13 dwarves, and a new aspect of the story," he said.
The 73-year-old actor reprised his role as Gandalf the wizard from Peter Jackson\'s \'Lord of the Rings\'.
The film had a royal premiere yesterday and was attended by Prince William. | http://ibnlive.in.com/news/the-hobbit-an-unexpected-journey-was-like-homecoming-ian-mckellen/310423-8-67.html | 205 |
For most professional clubs, July is the busiest month of the offseason — and maybe even the entire year. Each team battles to secure players from the long list of free agents, and it can seem impossible to keep up with all that is happening from day to day.
But, as my partner Ryan Henning has pointed out before, once the free agent rush is over, the offseason can be a slow period for hockey fans. That is no different this year, but the good news is that recently teams have made some moves in the forms of contract extensions. So let’s take a moment to look at a few of the agreements that have been made.
Max Pacioretty, Montreal Canadiens
Perhaps the biggest and most recent extension in the league went to the young standout for Montreal. Pacioretty has reportedly agreed to sign a six-year extension, which will leave him with the Canadiens until he is a 29-year-old.
This is a smart move from Montreal, since he was the teams leading scorer with 65 points this past season. He also won the Bill Masterton Trophy for perseverance, determination and dedication to hockey. Simply put, Pacioretty is the right guy to lead this club for the foreseeable future — even if it does cost the Canadiens about $27 million to keep him around.
Jean-Sebastien Giguere, Colorado Avalanche
Apparently the Avalanche are convinced that a veteran presence between the pipes is pivotal in their postseason run in the upcoming season because Giguere will be back. The 35-year-old agreed to a one-year extension on Monday, which will keep him in Colorado until the end of the 2013-14 season.
Similar to the extension above, I like this move. Giguere played in just 32 games last season, but he posted a very impressive 2.27 goals against average. If he can continue to play at this level, he works as an excellent stabilizing agent when the youngster Semyon Varlamov struggles.
Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes
The ‘Canes have been busy this offseason, and that trend continued a few days ago when Skinner had his contract extended through the 2018-19 season. If you remember, he was given the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s rookie of the year in 2011 when he scored 63 points on 31 goals and 32 assists. Unfortunately, due to some missed time on the ice, he saw that number dip below 50 in year number two.
Carolina believes that Skinner could be a centerpiece of what is quickly becoming a very dangerous offensive attack. The Hurricanes added Alexander Semin and Jordan Staal earlier in the offseason, so you’d have to think this extension is the metaphorical icing on the cake.
Follow me on Twitter: @Ryan_Boyd22 | http://iceinsiders.com/2545/nhls-latest-theme-contract-extensions/ | 574 |
Pettitte feels for his friend Clemens
Yanks lefty has hard time watching ex-teammate during ordeal
TAMPA, Fla. -- Andy Pettitte said that he has trouble watching Roger Clemens' ordeal, but is not surprised to see perjury charges being considered against his friend and former teammate.
"I don't like anything that's going on," Pettitte said Thursday. "I cannot stand it. I've told y'all how I feel about [Clemens]. It's like a part of my family that's having to go through this."
As doubts circulate regarding the truthfulness of Clemens' testimony at a Feb. 13 Congressional hearing, the Justice Department has been asked to investigate the seven-time Cy Young Award winner's repeated insistence that he never used anabolic steroids or human growth hormone.
Those claims are contradicted by Pettitte's testimony provided for Congress, in which he said that Clemens admitted in 1999 or 2000 that he had taken human growth hormone. Clemens claimed at the hearing that Pettitte "misremembered" the alleged conversation.
At Spring Training with the Yankees, Pettitte said that he knew further charges against Clemens would be possible.
"To tell you the truth, as far in my mind, I was prepared it might happen," Pettitte said. "I hate it and there's nothing else I need to say. I think everyone realizes how I feel about this whole situation.
"I've got one concern right now and that's trying to help this team. That's what I'm trying to get my mind on."
Pettitte's testimony was not the only evidence against Clemens raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill. Former Yankees teammate Chuck Knoblauch also discredited Clemens, as did as medical records from the teams for whom Clemens has played.
The 35-year-old Pettitte has admitted to using human growth hormone on three occasions during his playing career -- twice in 2002 and once more in 2004.
Pettitte said he has not spoken with his lawyers about the possibility that he may be called again to testify. He believes that the Justice Department's investigation will be a lengthy process, which could spare him from having to leave the Yankees during the season.
"Until somebody tells me to go somewhere, I can't do anything," Pettitte said.
Teammate Mike Mussina said on Wednesday that Pettitte will have trouble avoiding the controversy even if he is not called away from the club.
"Every city we go to, it's going to be asked again," Mussina said. "I'm sure if they start doing an in-depth investigation, they're going to come up with more and more things and more questions. I'm just hoping he can deal with it and still do what he wants to do on the mound."
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Wednesday that he hopes the Justice Department will schedule any potential appearance around the baseball schedule.
"It's unfortunate," Girardi said. "My hope is it will [happen] in the offseason and he'll be able to concentrate on his work. I know, obviously, we consider baseball extremely important and we would just hope that they'd do it in the offseason if he's going to be subpoenaed and testify."
Pettitte, who signed a one-year, $16 million contract with the Yankees shortly before the release of the Mitchell Report, said he is not concerned about how he will be received following his testimony.
"I don't feel like I'm some kind of hero in this thing at all," Pettitte said. "I've made mistakes and I've admitted to them. However people want to handle that, that's how they'll handle it.
"I can't change what they're going to think of me and how they're going to feel about me. I've been honest with everything, and whatever repercussions that brings me as far as fans or whatever, I'll have to deal with that. I know I feel better that it's all over and that I told the truth."
Bryan Hoch is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080228&content_id=2393928&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | 866 |
Please remember that the team names listed below are provided by our members to KCBS. Each team listed has at least one KCBS membership tied to that team name. No team names outside of our membership base are listed below. If you are a member of KCBS and wish to add your team name to this list, then you can use this Official KCBS Team Registry as the first place to start. Once you find that your team name is not in the KCBS database, you can submit your name request to the KCBS office. KCBS will review your request and add your team name with your membership information into our system. Except for the member’s name and team name, the accuracy of the data is based on information provided by the member listed. Therefore, KCBS cannot guarantee all the information shown.
KCBS does not have the legal right to grant exclusive use of any name, trade name or trademark. KCBS however does ask its members to use an identifier for use by KCBS, in order that we do not have teams with the same name or confusing names, in our “Team of the Year” program. KCBS assumes no liability for duplicate named teams, and does not have the right to enforce any rights between teams with similar names. | http://kcbs.us/teams.php?page=6&alph=S&id=68793 | 258 |
Bucs to sign Correia to a two-year deal
After a busy first day at the Winter Meetings, the Pirates already reached a tentative agreement with Scott Olsen and now, according to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick the Pirates are close to a two-year $8 million deal with Kevin Correia.
General manager Neal Huntington confirmed interest in Correia, but didn’t answer more.
“There is nothing official to report at the present time,” Huntington said. “We are engaged in conversation and are optimistic, but nothing has been finalized.”
Correia, 30, went 10-10 with a 5.40 ERA in 28 games (26 starts) for the Padres during the 2010 season. Correia pitched 145 innings while walking 64 and striking out 115. 2009 was a better year for Kevin, he struck out 142 and walked 64 through a career-best 198 innings. He finished with a 12-11 record and a 3.91 ERA.
Don’t expect the Pirates to be done yet. They are continuing to peruse more pitching as well as a right fielder/first baseman and a shortstop.
“You ideally want to go [to Spring Training] with more than five guys,” Huntington said, commenting on the need to improve the starting pitching depth. “With the young guys coming, and with some of the guys we’ve got under contract and with some of the guys we’re talking about trying to acquire, we may have a pretty good competition in Spring Training.” | http://kristylovesherbuccos.mlblogs.com/2010/12/07/bucs-to-sign-correia-to-a-two-year-deal/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=ea0388e61b | 329 |
This Weekend In Sports: NBA All-Star Game and The Sprint Unlimited
An interactive NASCAR race and the NBA All-Star Game are the best offerings on a light sports calendar. Here’s what to watch this weekend:
Friday, Feb. 15
(15) Georgetown at Cincinnati
Fifth Third Arena, Cincinnati; 9 p.m. (ET) on ESPN
Fifteenth-ranked Georgetown (18-4, 8-3 Big East) heads to Ohio for a tough Big East road game against formerly-ranked Cincinnati (19-6, 7-5 Big East). Otto Porter is the Hoyas’ leading scorer with a 15.3 points per game average, while Sean Kilpatrick paces the Bearcats attack with 18.2 points per game.
Saturday, Feb. 16
(16) Pittsburgh at (18) Marquette
BMO Harris Bradley Center, Milwaukee, Wisc.; 1 p.m. (ET) on CBS
Two ranked Big East teams battle just a few weeks before the conference tournament, as No. 16 Pittsburgh (20-5, 8-4 Big East) visits No. 18 Marquette (17-6, 8-3 Big East). The Panthers have a balanced offensive attack with three players scoring just over 10 points per game. Guard Vander Blue is the Golden Eagles’ high scorer, averaging 14.6 points per game.
NBA All-Star Saturday
Toyota Center, Houston; 8:30 p.m. (ET) on TNT
NBA players from the East and the West duel in the Shooting Stars, Skills Challenge, Three-Point Contest and Slam Dunk Contest. James White of the Knicks and Gerald Green of the Pacers are among the dunk contest favorites, while Stephen Curry of the Warriors and Steve Novak of the Knicks are among the best in the 3-point contest.
The Sprint Unlimited
Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach, Fla.; 8:29 p.m. (ET) on FOX
NASCAR’s 2013 season is little more than a week away. The drivers will prepare for the campaign with a pre-season, non points race that features many parameters — pit stops, segments and lineups among them — decided by the fans. Kyle Busch won last year’s event.
Sunday, Feb. 17
(13) Ohio St. at (20) Wisconsin
Kohl Center, Madison, Wisc.; 1 p.m. (ET) on CBS
Ranked Big Ten foes face off in Madison, as thirteenth-ranked Ohio St. (17-6, 7-4 Big Ten) travels to No. 20 Wisconsin (17-7, 8-3 Big Ten). Coach Thad Matta’s Buckeyes rely on the scoring of Deshaun Thomas, who leads the team with 20.1 points per game. The Badgers have the conference’s best defense, allowing just 56.5 points per game.
NBA All-Star Game — Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference
Toyota Center, Houston; 8 p.m. (ET) on TNT
The best players in the NBA as voted on by the fans and selected by coaches meet in Houston in the annual exhibition that usually offers plenty of offense and little defense. Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra guides LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the rest of the East, while Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs helms the West with Kobe Bryant, Blake Griffin, Kevin Durant and others. | http://ksisradio.com/this-weekend-in-sports-nba-all-star-game-and-the-sprint-unlimited/ | 719 |
BYU DE Ezekiel Ansah is an impressive physical specimen. A native of Ghana, he is still relatively new to the sport and was a track and field athlete before playing football. There are some intriguing physical attributes here at work because he has the elite athleticism and frame to support more bulk. At 6’6 and 270 pounds, he offers positional flexibility because he is such a terror matchup wise. I liken Ansah a bit to Jason Pierre Paul because of his raw athleticism and long-limbed frame. His long arms can easily swat passes and his impressive first-step quickness make him an intriguing pass -rushing prospect. J.J Watt uses his long arms to help Houston win football games while making fans forget about former Number one pick Mario Williams. Ansah is a guy I have been watching this season and I like him because he makes so many plays in pursuit in addition to his developing pass rushing prowess. He is around the ball, chasing down backs on screen passes. He runs like a gazelle, attributable to his background as a sprinter on the BYU track team. It is a pass happy league and you need explosive defensive talents to make impact plays. Ansah can make those disruptive impact plays. I remember many years ago while watching the broncos play the patriots on CBS. Analyst Phi Simms said, “Sacks are overrated” meaning that passes deflected are just as valuable when it comes to winning games. The ceiling for Ansah is high as evidenced by the comparisons to guys like Chandler Jones, Jason Pierre Paul and JJ Watt. But even if he doesn’t quite get there, he can still be a valuable pass rushing threat like a Lance Johnstone from several years ago. While he may need to learn a few pass-rushing nuances to become well-rounded at the next level, his extraordinary athleticism will make him an attractive choice for teams starving for a difference maker in the first round. He has only been playing the game for a few years but he plays with aggressiveness and a high motor. The intangibles are there. If you are unfamiliar with Ansah, you should remember the name because not only will he continue to contribute as a part of a very good BYU defensive unit, he has the raw physical tools to excel at next year’s Combine and position himself for a nice paycheck. | http://leviscatchingradius.areavoices.com/2012/11/15/nfl-draft-primer-21/ | 479 |
No. 5 Midwestern State 64, A&M-Commerce 52
Location: Allen Event Center * Allen, Texas
Records: A&M-Commerce (10-17); Midwestern State (24-3)
ALLEN, Texas – For the first half of its Lone Star Conference quarterfinal, A&M-Commerce had fifth-ranked Midwestern State right where they wanted them, facing a seven-point deficit at the half. But hot shooting by the Mustangs in the second half proved to be too much as the Lions' upset bid comes up short with a 64-52 defeat at the Allen Event Center.
"Coming in, our game plan was to control the tempo of the game and keep it low scoring," said head coach Sam Walker. "We knew that if this game turned into an up-and-down, run-and-shoot, it would favor them, and they just made big shots when it counted. I'm extremely proud of this team for what has been a roller coaster season. Through all the adversity and injuries and tribulations this team had to battle through, they never once flinched and never once lost focus. It has been an honor to coach this team this year and I hope they realize what an incredible season it has been."
Playing the final game of his A&M-Commerce career, Brad Hambrick did everything he could to help will the Lions to victory, finishing with 18 points while playing his fifth-straight complete game. Quince Jackson played a key role for the Lions as well, matching his career-best with 12 points off the bench with five rebounds while Preston Whitley added 10 points and six boards for the Lions.
Esteban Arriola finished with seven points and seven rebounds for A&M-Commerce. A major factor on the night was Desmond King being held to just two points on 0-of-13 shooting, although King did pull down a team-best 10 rebounds.
A&M-Commerce came into the conference tournament as the league's hottest team, having to win its final three games of the season just to qualify for the postseason. The high level of play continued into the first half as the Lions controlled momentum early, playing tough defense while hitting key shots when it counted.
With the game tied at 19-19 with just over three minutes remaining in the half, the Lions began to make their surge, outscoring the Mustangs 7-0 to close out the half, taking a 26-19 lead into intermission. They held the lead despite shooting just 28 percent from the floor (7-of-25) while hitting just one of their five three-point attempts.
The Lions maintained their seven-point advantage through the early part of the second half, holding a 34-27 lead with 12:35 remaining in the contest. But Midwestern State began to make its surge, hitting a handful of three pointers well beyond the arc to spark a 21-7 run that covered just over three minutes, taking a commanding 48-41 lead with 8:41 remaining.
A&M-Commerce continued to fight as a three from Hambrick cut the deficit to four at 48-44, but that would be as close as the Lions would get as the Mustangs used a 10-3 run to get on top by double digits at 58-47 before closing out the door on the Lions' dramatic season with the 64-52 victory. The Lions matched their 26-point first half performance, but it was a 45-point second half by Midwestern State that propelled the Mustangs to their third victory of the year over the Lions and their 10 th-straight over A&M-Commerce.
The Lions struggled all night from the floor, hitting just 25.5 percent of their shots (14-of-55) and 27.3 percent of their three-point attempts (3-of-11). A&M-Commerce hit 21-of-33 free throw attempts, but had a handful of crucial misses down the stretch.
The loss closes the door on A&M-Commerce's dramatic end of season run as the Lions had to win their final three games, including a pair on the road, simply to qualify for the Lone Star Conference tournament. For the three Lion seniors (Hambrick, King and LaBree Sledge), it was not the way they wanted their career to end, but coach Walker expressed his appreciation for each of their efforts.
"It hurts right now, but hopefully in a few days they will get a chance to reflect back on the impact they have made on this program," Walker said following the game. "These guys have given it their all, and I couldn't be more proud to stand next to them. Without them, A&M-Commerce's basketball program wouldn't be where it is today, and it has been an honor to coach these young men." | http://lionathletics.com/sports/m-baskbl/2011-12/releases/20120301txzjvr?dec=/printer-decorator | 1,002 |
Activities for arm-chair athletes – and the athletic kind of athletes
Many know Calgary as the gateway to Rocky mountain adventures. You’ll find just as much excitement as a participant or spectator within the city limits. Rock climbing, bull riding, hockey, mountain biking, lacrosse and every kind of snow and ice sport are the local specialties.
GET YOUR GAME FACE ON and head to McMahon Stadium to watch the Calgary Stampeders take on their fiercest rivals. Look for Quick Six the touchdown horse running down the sidelines after the Stamps score, catch a mini-football, join in the tailgating festivities and cheer hard and loud for the Red & White!
They shoot, they score! Head to a Calgary Flames game to see your National Hockey League favourites in action. When the Calgary Flames score a goal at the Scotiabank Saddledome, actual flames shoot up toward the ceiling.
Are you looking for a hard-hitting, action packed way to spend your winter? Cheer alongside some of the fiercest lacrosse fans in the league at one of the most exciting games in the City of Calgary.
Open to spectators and horse enthusiasts from around the world, this picturesque complex has captivated the worldwide audience of the sport of show jumping.
You don't have to go far to find a place to reel in your catch of the day. Calgary's Bow River is world-renowned for its trout fishing, and you'll find other great trout-filled lakes in the area.
Skate on the ice of Olympic champions. The Olympic Oval is a world class speed skating and high performance sport facility offering more than 50 public skating sessions on a 450 metre ovalice surface.
Floating on the Elbow River
Grab an inflatable boat or air mattress and sit back to enjoy scenic views of the City of Calgary while floating on the inviting Elbow River. The Elbow River float is a relaxing summertime ritual in Calgary. Be safe, wear a life jacket.
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Imagine floating high in the air over Calgary, taking in the city skyline, Rocky Mountains, and rolling foothills. Enjoy the hot air balloon ride as you take in this unique perspective.
Shaw Millenium Park, heaven for skateboarders
You’ll find stairs, roll-on rails, ledges, bowls, half-pipes, a fun box, roll-ins, wall rides and even a 30’ full-pipe at the largest skate park in North America. From beginner to expert, with more than 88,000 sq. feet of concrete to choose from, there is something for everyone.
Whether your idea of excitement is being atop a galloping polo pony in pursuit of the ball or closer to the ground as a divot-stomping spectator, sprawling over 200 acres along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the Calgary Polo Club is worth checking out.
Go ape as you dangle, scale, and ascend the Calgary Climbing Centre’s two indoor climbing gyms. If Mother Nature‘s playground is your preference, Rocky Mountain climbing tours will fix any adrenaline craving.
Grab your mountain bike and hit the 25km of trails hard and fast at Canada Olympic Park. Most of them point downhill, so hold on tight! Get lots of runs in as a high-speed chairlift takes you back to the top.
Biking, Walking, Running the Trail System
With over 500 km of pathways within Calgary’s city boundaries, walking, jogging, and cycling are the most popular activities on the city's pathways. People of all ages enjoy for exercise, recreation and/or commuting to and from work or school.
Glenmore Reservoir - Sail/Canoe/Kayak/Bike
The Elbow river that flows beneath Glenmore Trail, past Heritage Park and around the bend to scenic Weaslehead Flats not only provides half a million Calgarians with drinking water, it also provides a plentiful source of family summer entertainment including sailing,canoeing, kayaking and biking.Biking, walking, running the trail system. | http://m.visitcalgary.com/explore-calgary/itineraries/sports-adventure?ref=9422%2Fitineraries%2F2&device=mobile | 848 |
Preventing the most common chronic childhood disease takes less than 5 minutes a day—and it could be something you regularly remind your kids to do already.
This pervasive threat to children’s health is tooth decay, and the numbers are rising—even though cavities are largely preventable. In fact, a shocking new survey just released by the Ad Council shows that only 44 percent of American kids brush their teeth two or more times per day, leaving the majority of kids at high risk for costly and painful dental problems.
Originally published Saturday, June 23, 2012 at 4:47 PM
By Jerry Brewer
Seattle Times staff columnist
Brett Brungardt likes to joke about his failures as a strength and conditioning coach. It’s funny because he didn’t really fail; he was just the victim of deceptive testing.
“I came to the realization that I wasn’t a very good strength coach because, every year, the head coach in whatever sport I was working with, would come to me and say, ‘What’s so-and-so benching? What’s his 40 time? What’s his vertical?’ ” said Brungardt, whose 25-year career in professional and collegiate sports included a stint at Washington from 2002 to 2008. “I’d look it up and recite where he was. And the coach would say, ‘When I recruited him, he was benching this or running 4.5 40-yard dash. And it’s still the same. Why isn’t he better?’ I’d just shake my head. During the recruiting process, coaches weren’t getting reliable information.”
Throughout his career, Brungardt kept those stories in the back of his mind. Between chuckles, he often pondered what he could do to get less biased information. Four years ago, after leaving Washington, he traveled the world in pursuit of better ways to test. Then he decided to start his own business, Basic Athletic Measurement, which marries training and technology to evaluate athletes more accurately.
BAM testing is a local hidden gem that is growing in popularity. The NBA uses Brungardt and his team to measure draft prospects. Brungardt oversees the testing at all the major pre-draft events, including the NBA Draft Combine, Portsmouth Invitational and Eurocamp.
Introducing…Stephanie Wilson, LMP! Stephanie has been a great massage colleague of Katy’s since school and she highly admires Stephanie’s work. We’re so happy to have her with us so please check out a massage with her at this great price. Her work is deep tissue with a great curiosity for body mechanics and fascia- excellent to see her for mysteries of the athletic body you’d like to explore. Ironically, now all three massage therapists at the MAC are from Alaska! Interesting. On that note, Crystal will be leaving us in June to head back to Alaska so wish her well when you see her. Katy will be on maternity leave from April- mid May with a baby boy on the way.
Come on in for a session to work out those achy muscles that have been working so hard lately. You deserve it!
- At the MAC Th & Sats
- Deep tissue massage, myofascial work, injury treatment, Reiki
- At the MAC Mon, Tues & Sats
- Deep tissue, injury treatment
JASON GAY, JANUARY 5, 2012
This is the time of year when even people who hate the gym think about going to the gym. Many of us are still digesting whole floors of gingerbread houses, and jeans that fit comfortably in October are now a denim humiliation.
Sweating is a good way to begin 2012. Exercise, like dark chocolate and office meetings that suddenly get canceled, is a proven pathway to nirvana. But if you’re going to join a gym—or returning to the gym after a long hibernation—consider the following:
1. A gym is not designed to make you feel instantly better about yourself. If a gym wanted to make you feel instantly better about yourself, it would be a bar.
2. Give yourself a goal. Maybe you want to lose 10 pounds. Maybe you want to quarterback the New York Jets into the playoffs. But be warned: Losing 10 pounds is hard.
By Adam Campbell, Men’s Health
Wed, Nov 23, 2011
The fitness industry is a crazy business, especially when it comes to abs. For example, if you want to reveal your six-pack, you generally have two product choices.
1. The too-easy-to-work method.
You know this better as “5-minute abs!” or some such hype. But if this approach were really effective, even Chris Christie would have a washboard.
2. The so-hard-it-has-to-work method.
Think 60 to 90 minutes of exercise, 6 days a week. Now if you have the time and energy for this kind of regimen, we commend you. But plenty of people are missing one or the other. And that’s just reality, not a cop-out.
So we wondered: Could there be an ab-sculpting program that actually works and is doable for most people? For the answer, we turned to Mike Wunsch, C.S.C.S., and Craig Rasmussen, C.S.C.S., creators of Men’s Health’s newest fat-loss plan, 24-Hour Abs! The answer: “Absolutely,” says Wunsch, who teams up with Rasmussen to design the workout programs at Results Fitness in Santa Clarita, California. “That’s exactly how we make our living.”
One important fact about Results Fitness: Even in a recession, this Southern California gym has expanded. Twice. Why? Because its trainers have developed a fat-loss formula tailored specifically for busy people. (Read: mostly everyone.) The requirements are simple: 30 to 40 minutes a day, 3 days a week. So how do these trainers do it when so many others have failed? They threw out the old guidelines. The new ones they’ve created are based on 21st-century science and the methods that work best with their clients. Now you can benefit, too.
By Julie Upton, RD, Prevention
Mon, Nov 21, 2011
An extra serving of sweet potatoes, a sliver of pecan pie, a Campari cocktail or two. By itself, each of these festive splurges seems so innocent. But like holiday presents, dietary indulgences come at a cost. Most of us never lose the 1 to 2 pounds we gain between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve–and over the years, they add up. The damage is even worse when December’s hearty eating patterns take hold and last well into spring, as they often do.
That is why we developed this 3-day quick weight loss plan–to get you out of party excess mode and put you on a healthy eating track for the new year. It’s simple, fast, and effective. Stick with it and you will have those extra pounds gone before you take down a single decoration.
Goal #1: Break the Sugar Cycle
The Splurge: Those dreams of sugarplums dancing in your head may be more like a nightmare brought on by too many sweet treats. While experts used to dismiss the notion of sugar addiction, a growing body of research suggests that the sweet stuff can hijack the same brain circuitry that’s affected by drugs and alcohol, leading to a vicious cycle of cravings and binges. And holiday desserts with high levels of both sugar and fat provide a double whammy. The sugar hooks you, while the fat piles on the pounds.
The Solution: Eliminate desserts that are rich in sugar and fat for at least 3 days–7 to 10 would be even better. This will help quell cravings while you start to reestablish a taste for naturally sweet foods, such as fruit and starchy vegetables.
The Editors of Men’s Health
Fri, Sep 30, 2011
A fighter’s body should be a streamlined machine, as lean and muscular as it needs to be—no more, no less. That requires efficient training, says mixed martial arts trainer Chad Waterbury, M.S., author of Huge in a Hurry. This cutting-edge workout develops upper-body strength, size, and endurance simultaneously, packing so much exercise into just 15 minutes that you’ll shrink your waistline in the process. And to find out the regimen and training secrets that turned welterweight king Georges St-Pierre into a champion, read The Ultimate Fighter Workout.
Start with 6 reps of each exercise, with no rest between moves. Then do 5 reps of each, and continue to count down until you do 1 of each. If you complete the workout in less than 15 minutes, add a rep to your first set next time—so you’ll start with 7 instead of 6. If you can start with 8 reps and finish in 15 minutes or less, consider yourself ready to rumble.
1 Judo pushup
Start in a modified pushup position, with your hands directly beneath your shoulders and your feet far enough forward that your hips rise. Now lower your body until your chin nearly touches the floor. In a continuous motion, raise your head and shoulders while lowering your hips until they almost touch the floor. Reverse the move to return to the starting position. Want to see more variations of this classic exercise? Then try out these 14 Smart Pushup Improvements.
Are you still using the leg-curl machine? Then you should know this: “It’s not the best way to work your hamstrings,” says Alwyn Cosgrove, C.S.C.S., Men’s Health fitness adviser and co-owner of Results Fitness in Santa Clarita, California. “In fact, it’s not even close.”
A quick explanation: The leg-curl machine targets your hamstrings because it requires you to flex your knees against a resistance. This is called knee flexion. (Get it?) Knee flexion is certainly one of the jobs of your hamstrings — but it’s not the most important one. At least not in terms of why you need your hamstrings to be strong in the real world. (For a real-world fitness plan that fits even the busiest schedule, try The Zero Excuses Workout.)
“The main function of your hamstrings is to extend your hips,” says Cosgrove. If you need a visual, think of the movement you use when you thrust your hips. An example: When you sprint, you forcefully thrust — or extend — your hips each time you push off the ground with your foot. This helps you propel your body forward.
You perform hip extension in plenty of exercises — the stepup, deadlift, Romanian deadlift, hip raise, and even the squat, to name a few. So if you want to strengthen your hamstrings, these exercises are all better choices than the leg-curl machine. After all, you rarely have to flex your knees against a resistance in every day life.
That said, if your knee flexion is weak, it’s certainly smart to strengthen this function of your hamstrings. However, there’s an even better exercise for this than the leg-curl machine. It’s called the Swiss-ball hip raise and leg curl. This movement actually requires both knee flexion and hip extension. So it works two of your hamstring functions at once. “It doesn’t matter that you aren’t ‘isolating’ knee flexion,” says Cosgrove. “With this exercise, the weakest link automatically gets the best training effect.” (Make sure The 8 Scariest Restaurant Meals aren’t the weak link in your diet.)
And though you may think it’s a simple movement, few people in the gym get this exercise right. So watch the video below to learn how to do the Swiss-ball hip raise and leg curl with perfect form.
Oh, and a note to those who feel this exercise is too easy. Remember: You can always use progressions to make an exercise harder. In this case, you can perform the same movement, but with just one leg on the ball instead of two. (You hold the other in the air.) That’s tough by almost anyone’s standards.
Want to learn more great moves to sculpt your body? Then check out The Men’s Health Big Book of Exercises and The Women’s Health Big Book of Exercises, where you’ll find full-color photos of more than 500 exercises, and dozens of great workouts.
December 5, 2011 – Seattle – Magnuson Athletic Club (MAC) is pleased to announce Brian Sutton – one of Seattle’s sought after group fitness instructors and designer of Lifestyle Integrated Fitness Training (LIFT) fitness program has joined the MAC sport training team. Sutton will serve as a personal trainer.
“Brian brings a high level of knowledge and passion for fitness to the MAC. He brings a skill set to help people of all fitness levels reach their full potential. The community has gained a great resource with Brian joining the MAC team,” said Preston Crouser, Head MAC Trainer.
Sutton brings twelve years of experience and an extensive resume of specialty training to the MAC, including a Masters in Exercise Science, strength and conditioning coaches certification and personal trainer certification through the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). He is a co-founder of LIFT in New York, and has been a Keynote speaker for the United States Tennis Association (USTA). Utilizing an array of his own original programs along with other proven techniques, Sutton has nurtured active adults and recreational athletes, as well as high school, collegiate and pro athletes.
The pleasures of the holiday season are many but the pain can be equally powerful come January when we realize the damage we’ve done. This year wouldn’t it be nice to not have regrets for a change? We asked celebrity fitness and nutrition experts– the pros who keep Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Jennifer Aniston in line–to give us their tips for getting through the holidays without those extra 10 pounds. Are you in?
BOBBY STROM, celebrity trainer who has worked with Jessica Biel and Britney Spears and whipped Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively into shape for “Green Lantern”
“Give yourself one meal a week. Christmas dinner is only one meal, not a three day long event. For that one meal, say, ‘I’m going to have some candied yams and pumpkin pie and potatoes.’ That’s it. Doesn’t mean you eat like crap for the whole day. Before you eat something think, ‘If it’s not worth it, don’t waste it.’ If someone says, ‘You have to try this cake it’s awesome!’ Ok, maybe it’s worth the calories. But picking at a bowl of pretzels—that’s not worth the work you’ll have to do to take it off.”
GUNNAR PETERSON, celebrity trainer who keeps Kim Kardashian and Sofia Vergara in good form, and helped Jennifer Lopez train for a triathlon after having twins
“Get a training partner for these six weeks who will help motivate you to get up and out of bed. And get it done early. Set your alarm for an hour earlier—or even 30 minutes. You’ll make better choices for the rest of the day. And at night, you’ll be less likely to stay out too late because you’ll have to get up early. Mindset is also incredibly important. You have to mentally set the table. You will not gain weight. You’ve got to know it to make better choices. Draw a line in the sand.”
Fitness Innovator, Katherine Kaufman Joins Magnuson Athletic Club Leadership Team. Kaufman Will Deliver Challenging, Yet Flexible Programs to New Club’s Growing Membership.
November 23, 2011 – Seattle – Magnuson Athletic Club is pleased to announce Katherine Kaufman – one of Seattle’s most sought after group fitness instructors, and designer of the C.U.T.™ exercise program has joined the MAC leadership team. Ms. Kaufman will serve as Operations and Membership Development Director.
“We are thrilled to have Katherine join the MAC team. She has a contagious passion for fitness. She has connected with the community as a group fitness instructor and
trainer. She will be a great collaborator in developing the MAC vision,” said Tarn Sublett, MAC General Manager.
Our very own Breanne Curran gives us some tips on how to intensify your abdominal workouts and a quick nutrition tip too!
By GINA KOLATA
Published: September 19, 2011
The trained bicyclists thought they had ridden as fast as they possibly could. But Kevin Thompson, head of sport and exercise science at Northumbrian University in England, wondered if they go could even faster.
So, in an unusual experiment, he tricked them.
In their laboratory, Dr. Thompson and his assistant Mark Stone had had the cyclists pedal as hard as they could on a stationary bicycle for the equivalent of 4,000 meters, about 2.5 miles. After they had done this on several occasions, the cyclists thought they knew what their limits were.
Then Dr. Thompson asked the cyclists to race against an avatar, a figure of a cyclist on a computer screen in front them. Each rider was shown two avatars. One was himself, moving along a virtual course at the rate he was actually pedaling the stationary bicycle. The other figure was moving at the pace of the cyclist’s own best effort — or so the cyclists were told.
In fact, the second avatar was programmed to ride faster than the cyclist ever had — using 2 percent more power, which translates into a 1 percent increase in speed.
Welcome Crystal Mappala to our MAC team!
We’d like you to get to know Crystal and her excellent massage work by coming in for a massage with her. Through October, if youmention this post, you’ll receive a $50 one hour massage that’s $25 off of our full priced hour. Also try a 90 minute massage for only $75! Awesome. Crystal accepts insurance for billing including Premera, First Choice, Aetna and others. You can book with her online starting Saturday, September 3rd. Her massages are a great blend of deep work and flowing relaxation, perfect for any athlete or aching body.
To learn more about Crystal, visit her page on our website here
Last Weekend I gave this one a try and it was a success. I doubled it and added some spinach to carry me through the work week as lunch , I added turkey breast and crackers for a complete lunch. But my friends last weekend loved this as well.
Jicama-Watercress-Avocado Salad with Spicy Citrus Vinaigrette, Serves 6-8.
Jicama, is also known as the mexican Turnip. I think it tastes like a hybrid of an apple and a potato. Sweet, refreshing, crunchy and a little starchy. It is a good source of Potassium, Fiber and Vitamin C. This salad is a sort of Thai fusion using ingredients that are not hard to find. Dressing has a small spicy kick from the Hot Chile oil, but not too intense. Avocado and Peanuts make it a meal of it’s own, filling enough for a summer lunch or dinner.
A new study reinforced what physical therapist have long suspected: Massage, when coupled with traditional medical treatment, provides significant relief from chronic back pain. The 400-person study was conducted by Seattle’s Group Health Research Institute.
When Nobuku Anderson walked into her home, she knew something was wrong. She had pushed her luck trying to carry the wine case purchased earlier that day. Almost immediately, pain seized her. Collapsing to the floor, crying, she inched toward the phone.
This was the first time in the decades she has been managing her back pain — the result of years of tennis, golf and “the crazy high heels you wear when you’re young” — that she couldn’t move.
Knowing Shelby Burford is a little like knowing Forrest Gump. The stories never stop.
I first met Burford in January, after I learned about how he had printed his abridged résumé on cocktail napkins and passed them out to fellow passengers on his flight to Seattle.
Burford, 22, chose to move to Seattle from his native Kansas City because of its entrepreneurial spirit. I guess Burford, a Baylor University marketing grad, figured he’d get started before he even hit the ground here.
I wrote a column then about Burford and his unique job search six months ago.
The other day, I met with Burford to see if his napkins had allowed him to wipe the floor with all the other folks trying to find work in times like these.
Last week the New England Journal of Medicine published a study following over 100,000 people over 20 years to quantify just how bad certain foods are. The short answer? Just what you think — fried foods, refined grains, and potatoes are the bad guys in your diet. An extra serving of french fries, for example, was associated with over three pounds of weight gain for each four-year study period.
Of course, what we eat isn’t the only culprit in what’s making us fat. Read on for the top lifestyle practices that researchers found were bad for you.
I find it interesting to know a bit of the story behind a food. Somehow it seems to make a healthful food taste that much more delightful. That applies to a fruit that I spoke about in a recent video appearance: pineapple. Lately, I feel like a head cheerleader for this unique fruit! Here are 10 reasons why:
1. Pineapple is a symbol of hospitality.
2. Each fruit usually weighs a few pounds, but can weigh as much as a hefty 20 pounds.
3. Pineapple won’t continue to ripen once it’s picked, no matter what you try to do to it. So to determine if it’s ripe, smell the bottom for sweetness; it should have a faint pineapple scent, but it shouldn’t smell too perfumey.
Sometimes a girl just doesn’t have the time (or money) to do a two-hour workout, hire a personal chef and devote endless hours to primping. We rounded up fitness pros, makeup mavens and lifestyle experts to spill their personal shortcuts to looking — and feeling — their best. With these beat-the-clock secrets, you’ll feel confident and wonder what to do with all that newfound free time.
HIIT the Gym
Scorch calories with HIIT, high-intensity interval training. The result is a stronger, sculpted you. According to Anthony Nehra, a New York personal trainer and author of TheFitFeed.com, the method focuses on working at a very high-intensity level for a short period of time, then recovering at a low level. Beginners: Aim for a 30-second sprint followed by a two-minute recovery walk.
Find the Right Support
A properly fitting bra will lift breasts, making you instantly appear taller and thinner, says Susan Nethero, owner of Intimacy Boutiques. The right support can also make back fat disappear instantly, since bulges are commonly caused by ill-fitting bras.
Keep Your Perfect Smile
Brush your teeth at least twice a day, floss and use a rubber-tipped gum stimulator to keep stains from building at your gum line, advises Hugh Flax, a dental surgeon. Also avoid stain-makers like blueberries, red wine and coffee.
SUPER FOODS = SUPER POWERS!
What makes Super Hero’s Super? I will teach kids how they can be healthier, stronger and smarter by the foods they put into their bodies and the activities they choose. Establish healthy building blocks for their lives. Make your kids healthy the fun way!
Warning! Side Effects may include:
Interest in nutritious foods, increased happiness, less picky eating, increased activity level, less colds and flus, decreased crabbiness, urges to cook and prepare foods at home. Better nourishment into their teen and adult years.
Kids : Thursdays 4:30 PM
Healthy knees are important to your well-being, but painful injuries like “runner’s knee,” ACL tears and tendonitis are all too common. In fact, women are more likely than men to suffer serious knee trouble. Read how the knee works, what can go wrong and how to prevent getting hurt. Plus, learn how to strengthen leg muscles and reduce pain with a knee workout…
Although they’re the largest joints in the body, your knees are also among the most vulnerable to injury. And women face a higher risk, especially if they’re active.
But if you take precautions, you can reduce the likelihood of painful or even debilitating damage.
“Knee injuries generally fall into two categories: macro traumas and overuse injuries,” says John Hurley, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Summit Medical Group in Morristown, N.J.
Macro trauma includes tearing of a tendon or cartilage, usually the result of turning and twisting during running or sports. A tear can also occur when you stop short with feet planted in one direction and the knee forced into a different direction.
An overuse injury, on the other hand, often occurs from asking too much of your knees without enough rest.
And while they’re not completely preventable, both kinds of injury can usually be avoided with proper care.
Get out of that chair and move
New exercise guidelines released by the American College of Sports Medicine Tuesday may be more detailed than the last, but don’t worry — the overriding message is that pretty much any kind of activity is better than sitting on the sofa.
Thanks to copious new research the guidelines, last updated in 1998, got an upgrade. The 150-minute or more per week rule for cardio is still there, as is information on strength training. Perhaps the biggest change is the relaxing of stringent exercise guidelines, says Carol Ewing Garber, ACSM vice president and associate professor of movement science at Columbia University. The previous approach emphasized reaching goals for cardio and strength training, a la, “You must do this or you won’t improve your fitness and health,” Garber says. Sure, it would be great for people to reach those goals every week, but that probably won’t happen. “Research now supports the fact that you can do less than what’s recommended and still get benefits. Your weight may stay the same, but your overall health may improve.”
Don’t undo your hard work in the gym.
Barbeques are such an easy summer get-together. We usually find ourselves snacking throughout the evening and eating more than we are happy with. Skip the snacking and go straight for the dinner as soon as food is off the grill. Save yourself and step away from the spread, which is usually loaded with sodium and sugar. Sip unsweetened ice tea and club soda to keep your calorie count down. Curious about what all those condiments add up to? Allan Borushek, author of Calorie King Counter and Fat and Carbohydrate counter itemizes them up for us: | http://macseattle.wordpress.com/author/troof15/ | 5,890 |
So far, the Marietta High football team is enjoying a productive preseason on the gridiron.
Before kicking off the 2011 campaign in a non-league game versus visiting Morgan High at Don Drumm Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 26, the Tigers are scheduled to play their the third and final scrimmmage against John Marshall at 7:30 p.m. Friday in Glen Dale (near Moundsville, W.Va).
The Monarchs, 2-8 in 2010, are coached by Dan Wilson and quarterbacked by senior Aaron Fonner who had 2,418 total yards, 23 total touchdowns last season. Capping last year, he helped engineer John Marshall's upset of Parkersburg South.
Fonner is also one of JM's leaders on defense with 68 tackles, seven sacks, and an interception in 2010.
"This is a large (Class) AAA high school, and they are consistent performers," said Marietta first-year head football coach Bob Springer. "The Tigers will have their hands full on Friday."
Already, though, Marietta has outplayed two good opponents, Athens and Ripley (W.Va.), in practice games.
Against the Bulldogs in a season-opening scrimmage at Don Drumm on the morning of Aug. 10, 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior tailback Dedder Baker scored on two long touchdown runs, and Justin Futrell passed for another TD to Mitchel Gearhart to spark the Tigers' offense.
Defensively, Marietta played like it was a first scrimmage but did not allow the Athens varsity to reach paydirt.
"We must pick up the tempo and fly to the ball," said Springer of the orange and black defense.
Well, at Ripley on Saturday, Aug. 13, Marietta did just that and in the process impressed the coaching staff.
"The greatest improvement took place with our defense, which took major strides compared to the Athens scrimmage," Springer said. "Coach (Adam) Eichhorn and Coach (Lucas) Stanton have been installing their version of the 4-4, and it was exciting to see the defense coming along so fast.
"Neither coach was totally pleased, but improvement is improvement.
"It was obvious that the 'D' was making better reads and moving to the ball with force. There's still room for improvement."
Springer and his staff singled out several defensive players for praise against Ripley. They were Matt Thompson, who had a pick; Tanner Leach (linebacker) , Will Cogswell (line), Nick Spurr (corner), Austin Gaskins (inside linebacker), and Baker (free safety).
Offensively, Marietta pretty much had its way with Ripley as Baker and Gearhart each scored two touchdowns. Futrell threw for one TD pass to Gearhart.
"It was a day to hone our running game," Springer said. "Futrell's leadership and calmness was excellent."
Springer was also impressed with the MHS offensive line, especially with the blocking of 6-1, 235-pound sophomore Jon Hedrick and 5-11, 290-pound junior Eddie Kimbrough.
"The offensive line is beginning to take form," the Marietta head coach said. "Yet, the battle for a starting position will go into next week."
Springer said that everybody played against Ripley, which was playing its first practice game of the season. | http://mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/538029/A-good-Preseason--MHS-scheduled-to-scrimmage-at-John-Marshall-on-Friday-night.html?nav=5027 | 724 |
Chipper feeling expected day-after soreness
When Chipper Jones arrived at the park today, his surgically-repaired left knee was providing the kind of pain he expected to feel the day after playing defense for the first time in nearly seven months.
As for most of the rest of his body parts, they seemed to be much sorer.
“I’m sore,” Jones said with a smirk and chuckle. “My hamstrings, my quads, everything.”
Even while saying that his hamstrings were “really barking”, Jones planned to serve as the designated hitter in Friday afternoon’s game against the Blue Jays at Disney.
While playing third base Thursday for the first time since tearing his left ACL on Aug. 10, Jones grabbed one pop fly and snared a grounder. That was the only action he saw during his four-inning stint at the hot corner.
But as his legs were reminding him Friday, they still felt the effects of him flexing his leg muscles with every pitch and pushing off either leg in reaction to every batted ball.
“You can’t simulate playing a game,” Jones said. “You can go out and work out and do everything you think is going to prepare you for a game and it just doesn’t work….During the game, you’re doing squat after squat after squat.”
While he would have appreciated the chance to avoid this “sore muscle” pain, Jones was pleased that his knee seemed to fine when he awoke Friday.
“The knee is fine,” Jones said. “I didn’t have any more or less fluid in my knee than I have any other morning.”
Jones will have a chance to watch Mike Minor pitch against the Blue Jays this afternoon. Meanwhile Martin Prado will be in Viera playing third base and getting a chance to see Brandon Beachy attempt to improve his positioning in the battle against Minor for the rotation’s fifth spot.
Earlier this week, Jones said he is among those who feel Beachy has a bright future. He likes the right-hander’s command and makeup.
Speaking of futures, the Braves have brought some of their top prospects over from Minor League camp to serve as extras in today’s game.
Well Todd Cunninghman, who was selected in the second round of last summer’s First-Year Player Draft, was going to serve as an extra until Eric Hinske was scratched from the lineup (vs. Blue Jays) Friday morning. Cunningham will make the start in left field.
One year after giving him a $1.6 million signing bonus, the Braves welcomed Edward Salcedo to the big league clubhouse to serve as one of the extras against the Blue Jays. The 19-year-old shortstop experienced some growing pains while hitting .197 in 54 games with Class A Rome last year.
Other extras vs. Blue Jays are infielders Phil Gosselin, Joe Leonard and outfielders David Rohm and Kyle Rose.
Matt Lipka, the club’s top selection in last summer’s First-Year Player Draft, will serve as one of the extras in Viera. Outfielders Cory Harrilchak and Adam Milligan and first baseman Joseph Terdoslavich fill out this group of extras.
There will be interest surrounding the battle Minor and Beachy are staging for the rotation’s fifth spot. But it will also be interesting to see how Craig Kimbrel fares today in Viera. The young reliever bounced back from a rough debut with a strong showing against the Red Sox Wednesday.
Kimbrel showed a pretty good fastball against the Red Sox Wednesday. But it appeared he’s still trying to find a feel for his breaking ball.
Braves general manager Frank Wren’s son Kyle has made good early impressions while serving as Georgia Tech’s starting centerfielder and leadoff hitter. Check out this wall-jarring catch he recently made against St. John’s.
TODAY’S LINEUP vs. Blue Jays
Mycal Jones 8
Alex Gonzalez 6
TODAY’S LINEUP @ Nats
Wilkin Ramirez DH
Diory Hernandez 6 | http://markbowman.mlblogs.com/2011/03/04/chipper-feeling-expected-day-after-soreness/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=eb9f8a7f00 | 896 |
Tony Alberts named new head coach of Marshall girls’ tennis team
Previously an assistant coach at MHS in football, softball, Alberts to replace Knudson as tennis coach
January 31, 2013
By Matt Dahlseid [email protected] MARSHALL — Tony Alberts arrived in Marshall in 2009 and dove into coaching right away....
No comments posted for this article.
Post a Comment
News, Blogs & Events Web | http://marshallindependent.com/page/content.comment/id/538193/Tony-Alberts-named-new-head-coach-of-Marshall-girls--tennis-team.html?nav=5021&sortTypeOrder=2 | 102 |
Victory Parade Banners Stolen
Eleven Superbowl banners were nicked. Had to be an inside job, right? Wait a few days and check EBay, it’s almost a certainty.
Double Superbowl Winner Andre Frazier Resigned
He was a UDFA signing in 2005 who managed to stick around. Kudos to Frazier, the Steelers need their role players.
Frazier sacks Gradkowski
James Harrison Will Seek Free Agency After ’09 Season
He will if he wants. You gonna change his mind? The pending contract extension for Mr. Harrison has generated nervous anticipation among the Steeler faithful. Will he resign? How much will he demand? Will the Steelers let him walk?
James Harrison wants you to shut up
Three Fifths of Superbowl Winning Offensive Line Extended
Steeler Nation is overjoyed. Two contract extensions and one franchise tag later insure the same five men will return to stand next to each other again. How would you describe it? Oh, I have it … will return to break the sacks allowed record, but in a bad way.
Have a chuckle with Rotoworlds’ Offensive Line Ranking.
Pittsburgh's line gets somewhat unfairly criticized for yielding sacks because no QB hangs in the pocket (often with success) like Ben Roethlisberger. Rashard Mendenhall's addition should make the group look better because he'll likely be a better inside runner than Willie Parker and will pick up the blitz. | http://maximumgrilledsteelers.com/mgsblog/2009/03/in-the-news-friday-the-13th/ | 302 |
John Washington 2013
John graduated in 2010 from La Joya HS, Avondale, AZ. At 6’7”, 175, he is extremely athletic and runs the floor well. He led the state of Arizona in blocked shots per game in high school in his senior year and is a real leaper.
Washington started for the Marauders early in the season but his playing time decreased as the season wore on. His energy level did not reach the coaching staff’s expectations.
Washington has improved his ball handling, outside shooting and there is no question that he has the physical skills to play college basketball at a high level. To increase his playing time in his sophomore year, John will have to become more agressive in his attitude on the floor and prove to the coaches that he can dominate his opponents.
July 2012 Summer
Washington has exploded out of the blocks this summer and is showing the coaching staff and university recruiters his rebounding, speed, shot blocking, and improved mid-range jumper. Currently he the the 6th man. If this continues, he will be a huge help to AVC this year and a great pick up for a univesity scholarship. | http://melgru23.com/team-2011-12-2/1-team-2012-13/john-washingtonsophomore/ | 243 |
3 Pieces of Crow Pie With LOTS of BBQ
Michigan 28 – Turley U 7
Thankfully, Kyle Turley most probably left Michigan Stadium with some piddly meaningless excuses as to why his Aztecs didn’t get the revenge he so ignorantly publicized during the week leading up to the game – and he bailed on a supposed scheduled call with 97.1 this morning. Should Michigan have lost that game, giving that lunatic more ammunition to open his mouth would have been as annoying as State fans thinking they have a legit program.
Let’s look at our 3 pieces of Crow Pie after a solid victory on Saturday …
1. The D Has a Pulse
So, we are now in October. Michigan is 4 and 0 and this September-to-October transition has an all too familiar feeling. There’s a lot to take away from the first four games in Brady Hoke’s book as Michigan’s head coach. “This year is different” is going to be the theme going forward for Michigan’s players as the media will assuredly pepper the players with questions on what they are doing to make sure the B1G conference schedule isn’t a failure.
But the deal is – this Michigan team is quite different than each of the 2009 and 2010 versions, but I’m not sure it’s going to make too much of a difference against the top teams in the conference. You’re seeing improvement in key areas – umm, last year’s D brought back memories of Friday nights where they play high school football. Right? Right. Last year’s defense was so pathetic at times that I’m confident I’ve seen high school defenses that appeared to tackle and play better. Now, this year’s defense actually has a pulse. This year’s defense is actually making some positive, game-impacting plays that were non-existent last season. Game adjustments. This year’s defensive coordinator uses in-game adjustments and his brain, not stuffed animals and terrible alignments.
So, this year’s defense is different, better, more skilled, more talented, more experienced, and better coached. Now, I probably need to pump the brakes a little bit. Michigan knew every little nuance about San Diego State and had them completely dialed up. Nevertheless, through four games, Greg Mattison has shown his ability to coach and make adjustments — something that has been absent in Ann Arbor for a number of years.
2. Denard’s Arm Will be … Ok?
Denard had yet another dismal day throwing the ball. His stat line …
8 Completions – 17 Attempts – 2 Interceptions – 93 Yards
Now, if Koger catches a couple balls Denard is over a 50% completion mark and probably over 100 yards on the day, but I am perplexed. Denard is missing throws he had no problem connecting on at times last season.
Michigan WILL need Denard’s arm to come through in B1G play, but that’s not to say that Michigan hasn’t needed Denard’s arm to date. Like, you know that one game a couple weeks ago under those new Michigan Stadium lights? So, I think people need to chill out a little bit on Denard’s arm. His stat line always seems to look worse than how Denard looked in the game. If Denard can stop overthrowing guys over the middle – this would still be an issue, but slightly less of one. His deep balls are a different story, which have been short, rarely on target, and mostly thrown long.
What should worry every Michigan fan, and coach for that matter, is that Denard is killin’ it with his legs. But here’s the thingy, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio State, Nebraska and those other B1G teams recruit a bigger, faster, and heavier front seven than the likes of Eastern Michigan and San Diego State.
3. Fitz Touss and V Smoov
I’m just a huge fan of these two. I’m a softee for Vincent Smith. He looks much faster to me this year and back to his form towards the end of the 2009 season before he was injured in the season finale. I think V Smoov is a different player this year. He can squirt through some traffic without the defense even realizing what is going on. And that fumble he had – more of a fluke than anything. Smoov has tight ball security and he is so damn small it’s hard to pop the rock out.
Then you have Fitz. I don’t think we’ve seen what Fitz is capable of yet. The dude keeps his legs churning and gets solid yards in between the tackles and through traffic. With these two guys in the backfield – Michigan is better off than they have been in a handful of years back there assuming they can both stay healthy through the meat of the B1G schedule.
Photo cred: Detroit News. | http://mgofootball.com/2011/09/26/3-pieces-of-crow-pie-with-lots-of-bbq/ | 1,063 |
Anyone else sick of hearing about Iowa? Luckily we have plenty of….SPORTS!
The Heat come back tonight, the Dolphins continue their bumbling coaching search, and why the Orange Bowl should be thrown out of the BCS.
Let’s drop this faster than Rick Perry’s campaign.
If you haven’t heard, or yet been interviewed, the Dolphins continue to look for a head coach.
But if you thought the Fins were dysfunctional before, just wait.
They’re running two parallel coaching searches by a general manager and a would-be team president.
If Carl Peterson lands Jeff Fisher or Jim Haslett, he’ll take over as team president.
If he doesn’t, then we’re going to have to live with a Jeff Ireland hire of a coach he can run roughshod over.
Memo to Dolphins fans…pray Jeff Fisher takes the job.
But if you’re Fisher, why would you come here other than for money?
It’s a horribly run organization from the top with the owner all the way through the front office.
The cap space won’t be near what you will have in St. Louis.
You don’t have a franchise quarterback, the Rams do.
It’s really a no-brainer for Fisher to go somewhere else.
And it’s exactly why Stephen Ross has no business owning an NFL franchise.
He’s become the biggest joke of an owner in the NFL. He’s unseated Mike Brown of the Bengals as far as poor ownership.
He’s screwed up two coaching searches and people in the closed business of the NFL talk and know just how much of a jumbled mess the Fins have become.
Here’s why Ireland shouldn’t be in charge.
His first two interviews are Todd Bowles and Dave Toub.
Dave Toub? Wasn’t he a character on House?
Bowles received a customary interview to satisfy the Rooney Rule while the team looked elsewhere.
Look, Peterson was a genius to start out in Kansas City, but then ran the team into the ground at the end.
Maybe the Fins can strike gold to start with this time.
What I can tell you is that if the Fins were sick of mediocrity before, just keep Ireland in charge and becomes the Cowboys B-team for another year.
Jeff Fisher, caveat emptor man, caveat emptor.
Heat: (vs. Indiana Pacers, 7:30 p.m., Sun Sports)
The Miami Heat hit the floor again tonight to battle the Indiana Pacers.
But make no mistake about it, this is not the Pacers of the past.
They have six players averaging double figures this year and have built a stout front line in Roy Hibbert and David West.
West has been the key to getting the team going as he brought veteran leadership to the very young squad.
He’s freeing up Hibbert to grow more and the tall center is averaging 12.6 points and 9.6 rebounds per game.
The Heat have been relying on the offensive prowess of LeBron James and his fellow Big Three members to pick up the slack.
D-Wade has been hampered by a foot injury the last few days, and regardless of what he says, it’s affecting his game to a degree.
Chris Bosh is quietly putting together a solid campaign averaging 18.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game.
But I really am sold on Norris Cole for the Heat.
I said before the season he could be a huge difference maker for the team and through the first week, I’ve been prove right.
He’s shooting better than 50 percent from the field and averaging 11.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game.
His keeps his foot on the floor and isn’t afraid of the big stage.
And he’s not even starting.
I would like to see more development out of Shane Battier into the offense, but that will come I think as he adjusts to the new offense and shakes off the rust.
For all you James Jones fans, get your fix now, because when Mike Miller is cleared, he’ll take Jones’ minutes.
That also means the Heat are going to be playing more small ball after that.
It’s what will carry them to a title, that is unless Eddy Curry is the 15 point 10 rebound player he was before he got lazy and fat.
What to watch for tonight: how the Heat respond when the Pacers throw up a zone defense. And they will throw a zone up early and often.
Orange Bowl: (8:30 p.m., ESPN)
Ah yes, the Orange Bowl, also known as the forgotten BCS bowl game.
Tonight we’re treated to the stellar matchup of West Virginia versus Clemson.
Otherwise known as the “Is there basketball on somewhere bowl.”
Here’s what bugs me so much about the Orange Bowl.
I love the history of the game, the National Championships decided here in South Florida. Nebraska, Oklahoma, USC, etc roaming the field.
Instead, we’ve been treated to mediocrity because the bowl is aligned with the Big East and the ACC.
Arguably the two worst conferences in the BCS.
It’s sad to see what was once a proud game reduced to what it’s become.
It’s the fault of the BCS and the Orange Bowl for having forced tie-ins into the game.
Both schools will likely lose millions of dollars coming to play in the game.
That’s the fault of the BCS which forces schools to buy 17,500 tickets to their respective game.
South Florida loses out on the prestige of hosting a top-flight bowl like the Rose, Fiesta, and Sugar Bowl have been.
Unfortunately, the Orange Bowl is the definition on why the BCS should be done away with and the playoff finally brought to the FBS.
The Orange Bowl has no business being a top-flight bowl as long as it’s tied to the ACC and the Big East.
The Big East doesn’t deserve a place in the BCS, and the ACC should be on notice as well.
Now, as for the game, if you like defense. DON’T. WATCH. THIS. GAME.
On the other hand, if you like wide-open offense like you’d see if say, Baylor played Oregon, then this is your game.
Both teams have high-flying attacks that can put a bunch of points on the board in a big hurry.
Geno Smith, from South Florida, will lead the Mountaineers against Tajh Boyd’s attack from Clemson.
Keep an eye on Watkins for Clemson and Bailey for W. Virginia, as both can torch the opponent’s secondary.
If the over/under is less than 50 points…..take the OVER. | http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/01/04/sports-agenda-for-wednesday-1312/ | 1,487 |
MILWAUKEE -- For the third straight season, the Brewers are removing left-hander Manny Parra from the starting rotation.The team bumped Parra to the bullpen beginning Wednesday night, and fellow lefty Chris Capuano will assume Parra's spot in the rotation starting Saturday against the Pirates. Capuano, who made a comeback this season from his second Tommy John elbow surgery, had been pitching in relief since a July 19 start -- and win -- in Pittsburgh. "He deserves a chance to get out there and get a few starts in him," manager Ken Macha said. "We'll see how he's coming along with his track back to being a starting pitcher. "Manny, he's had his problems a little later in the game for the most part. That's just a hurdle he's going to have to get over if he's going to be a starting pitcher." In 2008, the Brewers bumped Parra to the bullpen in September. Last June, they optioned him to Triple-A Nashville during a tough stretch. Asked whether he still viewed Parra's niche as a starting pitcher, Macha said, "We'll see how he does out of the bullpen." "It's their decision," Parra said. "It doesn't matter what I think of it, really. I really don't have much to say about it. I'll just go do my job."
Parra's loss to the Padres on Sunday left him 3-10 with a 5.65 ERA this season, including 2-7 with a 6.19 ERA in his 16 starts. He didn't record an out in the seventh inning of any of his starts.Macha insisted there were areas of improvement from 2009, when Parra won 11 games despite a 6.36 ERA that was worst in the National League among pitchers who worked at least 120 innings. Parra's delivery is more consistent, according to the manager, and his curveball was generally more effective. "The results weren't there," Macha said. "When we talked to him, he pretty much voiced that, saying, 'It's about production at this level and I'm not giving you any wins.'" Both pitchers face offseason question marks. Capuano is a free agent and has made it clear he'd like to be a starter going forward. Parra is eligible for arbitration for the first time. "I had the experience in 2007 where I struggled in the second half and ended up going to the bullpen for the last part of the year," Capuano said. "Manny has thrown some really great games this year, and the games that haven't gone his way, it's like he's one hit away or one pitch away from having a really great game. All of us who are starters can relate to stretches like that. "He's young, he's got great stuff, he's got an electric arm. I think he's going to be OK in the long run."
Capuano gets his wish to start
MILWAUKEE -- Chris Capuano said he wanted to be a starter again. He didn't have to wait long.The left-hander will replace Manny Parra in Milwaukee's starting rotation beginning Saturday and will get a series of starts as the Brewers evaluate him ahead of an interesting offseason. Capuano has had past success as a starter -- he was 18-12 with a 3.99 ERA in 2005 -- but that was long before his second Tommy John surgery. He will be eligible for free agency this winter. "I was hoping for a chance to start before it got too late in the year," Capuano said. "I'm excited for the opportunity." Capuano will get "a number of starts," manager Ken Macha said. The Brewers do not currently plan to promote any starting pitchers when rosters expand on Sept. 1. In his two starts and 15 relief appearances this season, Capuano is 2-2 with a 3.72 ERA. "Not too much is going to change," he said. "We're just going to have to get the pitch count a little bit. The other night when I went 3 2/3 [innings in Friday's win over the Padres], getting up four times, I felt strong the whole way through. The start I had in Pittsburgh, too [on July 19], I felt good getting up and down for those five innings. I'm just hoping to go five or six my first time and build on it. "From my perspective, one of my goals was to build up my innings and get back into the rotation at some point. I'm thankful they're giving me the opportunity."
Brewers, prospect Odorizzi take long view
MILWAUKEE -- There might have been some drama in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, after Brewers pitching prospect Jake Odorizzi preserved his no-hitter through eight innings on Tuesday night, but back at Miller Park, there was no doubt about it.Odorizzi was absolutely not going back out for the ninth. The 20-year-old right-hander was supposed to be on a limit of 105 pitches, but his 28-pitch eighth inning pushed him well over that mark. Word during the game broadcast was that Odorizzi threw a total of 107 pitches, but the official report from the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers' medical staff was that he threw 117. So Odorizzi made way for right-handed reliever Adrian Rosario, who finished the no-hitter and a 3-0 win. Odorizzi watched the final three outs from the top step of the dugout. "I was fired up at the moment," Odorizzi told the Cedar Rapids Gazette. "Wasn't too happy about it then they told me how many pitches I had. You just have to let it go. Your career is more important than just one game." Lee Tunnell, the Brewers' Minor League pitching coordinator, was on hand for the game and consulted with Timber Rattlers manager Jeff Isom before pulling the plug on Odorizzi, a supplemental first-round Draft pick in 2008. "He had good stuff, and was free and easy the whole way," said Brewers farm director Reid Nichols. "If Lee wasn't there, they would have been on the phone telling us, 'We're coming up on this inning, this is where we are [in terms of pitch count].' They are very good about that procedure."
Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said he did not anticipate Odorizzi's next start being impacted by Tuesday's longer-than-usual effort. It helps that the Timber Rattlers have been juggling their starting rotation this month, giving Odorizzi seven full days of rest before each of his past two starts.Nichols was not surprised to see Odorizzi involved in a no-hitter. "He's a big league pitcher," Nichols said. "He just needs some experience."
Weeks: No in-season contract talks
MILWAUKEE -- It remains to be seen whether Brewers general manager Doug Melvin and the new representative for second baseman Rickie Weeks are able to find any common ground on a contract extension. But there's one thing that Weeks and Melvin appear to agree upon."After the season," Weeks said. "I don't want to think about anything right now other than finishing the season strong." The Brewers are interested in gauging Weeks' interest in an extension and had preliminary talks with agent Lon Babby along those lines, but Babby left the business this year to become president of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. Weeks only recently chose a new agent, Greg Genske. There's no rush to negotiate. Weeks, who is earning $2.75 million in 2010, is arbitration-eligible this winter for one last time. He's on track to reach free agency following the '11 season.
Adam McCalvy is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100825&content_id=13922456¬ebook_id=13922458&vkey=notebook_mil&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil | 1,646 |
Hot Stove: Few moves on Black Friday
Day after Thanksgiving yields minor deals, little scuttlebutt
At the risk of wearing out the Thanksgiving analogies -- the day after was devoted to leftovers around the Hot Stove.
There actually was one trade and one signing on Friday, though both of the decidedly below-the-radar variety.
The World Series champion Phillies inked a right-hander who has logged nine Major League innings since 2005, none last season. But the contract for Mike Koplove, 32, came with an invitation to Spring Training -- and with the implied promise that he could turn into 2009's Chad Durbin.
Koplove spent 2008 pitching for the Dodgers' Triple-A club in Las Vegas, where he had a 3.46 ERA in 41 relief innings spanning 54 2/3 innings. His most recent big league sighting was in Cleveland in 2007, when he made five appearances for the Indians.
In the day's one exchange, the Red Sox acquired Wes Littleton from the Rangers, who had designated the right-hander for assignment on Nov. 20. Boston will owe either a player to be named later or financial considerations for Littleton, who had no record with a 6.00 ERA in 12 relief appearances in 2008.
Ken Griffey Jr.'s agent, Brian Goldberg, told MLB.com that he is drawing the interest of nine teams, six of them American League clubs that doubtless envision the 39-year-old 10-time Gold Glove winner as a designated hitter.
Griffey is fifth on the all-time homer list with 611, and according to Goldberg, "realizes that he probably would be a middle-ground guy when it comes to salary."
In other developments, a reported shoulder injury suffered while pitching in the Venezuelan Winter League could make it even more challenging for Freddy Garcia to land a 2008 big league contract.
Garcia, a free agent, was in the process of continuing a comeback begun late last season with the Tigers, for whom he made three starts after rehabilitating a shoulder injury.
And, finally, out of Houston came one of the first confirmations of the slumping economy influencing a team's offseason agenda.
Astros GM Ed Wade, who had previously indicated his intent to bargain hard to re-sign left-hander Randy Wolf, informed his agent, Arn Tellem, that he was pulling back. Wade said at the present time he wasn't prepared to "move forward" on negotiations for Wolf, who went 6-2 after the Astros acquired him from San Diego in a late-July trade.
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081129&content_id=3695584&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp | 561 |
Jason Heyward hit his way through the final week of Interleague Play like it was Little League, earning the first National League Player of the Week Award of his career.
The Braves' 22-year-old outfielder led the NL with a .522 average (12-for-23) and 1.130 slugging percentage in six Interleague games last week. He recorded 12 hits, bashed three homers, scored nine runs and racked up 26 total bases -- all tied for first in the NL -- and his .542 on-base percentage was fourth in the league.
Heyward recorded a hit in all six of Atlanta's games against the Yankees and Red Sox, putting together a pair of two-hit games and two three-hit games. He knocked a game-winning RBI single in Yankee Stadium on Tuesday night then hit two homers Wednesday, his third career multihomer game, as he helped the Braves beat the Yankees, 10-5. He went 3-for-4 with an opposite-field shot over the Green Monster on Sunday, following up Friday's 3-for-4 performance with two doubles in a 4-1 Braves victory.
After a disappointing 2011 season, Heyward was hitting just .233 with a .327 on-base percentage and .413 slugging percentage through the end of May. He has completely turned it around in June, however, posting a .391/.417/.754 batting line with five homers and 12 RBIs.
Over the last week, Heyward raised his batting average on the season from .252 to .278 and his slugging percentage from .445 to .510. | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120625&content_id=33904456&vkey=news_atl&c_id=atl | 331 |
KANSAS CITY -- The image is one that those in Pittsburgh have been envisioning for nearly a year now.
Stud pitching prospects Jameson Taillon and Gerrit Cole, standing side by side, fielding steady media requests, organizing their equipment in adjacent lockers in a Major League clubhouse.
Consider Sunday a dress rehearsal.
Cole, the top pick in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, and Taillon, the No. 2 overall selection in 2010, interrupted their ascensions to Pittsburgh by appearing on a national stage Sunday. Teammates at the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, Cole and Taillon -- the top two prospects in the Pirates' system as ranked by MLB.com -- were showcased as the gems of the organization's last two Draft classes.
Cole appeared in the second inning and recorded two quick outs, the first a swinging strikeout on a 99-mph pitch. He walked one and allowed a homer to Cubs prospect Jae-Hoon Ha before ending his appearance with another strikeout. He reached 100 mph on the radar gun.
Taillon allowed one run and a pair of doubles in the sixth, his only inning of work. He threw several fastballs that clocked in at 98 mph.
The two right-handers represent a combined $14.5 million investment by Pittsburgh, though both seem to have willingly embraced the pressures and expectations that come with that. And they, too, have already begun to dream about what it will be like when they constitute two-fifths of the Pirates' rotation.
"There will be times when we are watching a Pirates game and think that a couple years down the road that could be us up there," Taillon said. "It's something that we don't talk about that much, but we definitely envision it."
They share not just dreams, but also the burden that comes with shouldering the first-rounder label. Over the past few months, they've also shared something else: advice.
It was natural that the two became warmup partners during Spring Training, once Cole joined Taillon in Minor League camp. A few days in, Cole approached Taillon with a suggestion.
He told Taillon to step back 20 more feet -- from 50 to 70 -- when throwing his changeup during morning long-toss sessions. Cole then instructed Taillon to throw his changeup as hard as he could, like he would a fastball, without worry about it bouncing or hitting someone.
"That," Cole told him, "is how you're going to get comfortable doing it."
Taillon agreed to make the change and, once he did, found that he was finally able to lock in at an ideal arm speed. A pitch that he considered good enough in high school is now one of his most relied upon. Taillon says he throws about 15-20 per start.
As for Cole, he took to suggestions that Taillon made about routine.
"We're pretty good friends," Cole said. "We go back and forth a lot on pitching. It was nice to play with him down in [high-A] Bradenton and hopefully he'll be with me in [Double-A] Altoona soon."
The two were teammates for the first time in April, when both were assigned to high-A. Cole, 22, has since moved up a level. All along, Cole expected to make the quicker climb, given that he was drafted out of college.
That said, Taillon, 21, might not be far behind. The Pirates have not ruled out having him end the season in Altoona.
"Their development is important to the organization because both guys have a chance to be impact pitchers -- and impact players are the separators for a championship organization and pitching wins championships," assistant general manager Kyle Stark said. "We obviously need more than these two guys, but they certainly could be important contributors to what we're doing."
Cole wrapped up a 13-start stay in high-A with a 5-1 record and 2.55 ERA. He struck out 69 and walked 21 in 67 innings pitched. He has made three Double-A starts since the promotion, though he had to exit one prematurely after being struck by a line drive.
Cole has given up six earned runs in his first 11 2/3 innings at the Double-A level.
"In high-A, it was more about mechanics and execution," Cole said. "In Double-A, it's more of a chess match. As long as I'm myself and I can take care of what I can take care of, it's the same game."
Taillon, who is 5-6 with a 4.05 ERA in 16 starts with Bradenton, has been challenged to mix pitches better this year. He has also lost the reins of a strict pitch count. While his workload is still closely monitored, the fact that Taillon extended himself through 92 2/3 innings last year gives him the freedom to pitch deeper into starts this season.
"At the end of the day, you go back down to the Minor Leagues and you're another guy," said Taillon, downplaying his status. "I've loved it. It's a challenge to get better every day. The Minor Leagues are kind of a funny thing. I've embraced it. It's been two good years, and I've come a long way as a pitcher."
The 83rd Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. Pregame ceremonies begin at 7:30 p.m. ET. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and Sirius XM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Game coverage.
Fans will also have the opportunity to participate in the official voting for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player presented by Chevrolet via the 2012 MLB.com All-Star Game MVP Vote during the All-Star Game on MLB.com.
Jenifer Langosch is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, By Gosh, It's Langosch, and follow her on Twitter @LangoschMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120708&content_id=34706424&vkey=news_pit&c_id=pit | 1,305 |
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The first lineup of the season had Tyler Greene hitting leadoff for the Astros on Saturday, and it's a good bet whoever wins the starting shortstop job -- Greene or switch-hitting Marwin Gonzalez -- will be the team's leadoff hitter.
Greene has hit leadoff only 23 times in his brief Major League career, and he's not your prototypical leadoff hitter. Still, he has some speed and more pop than you'd normally find in a No. 1 hitter.
"The No. 1 and No. 2 spots have always been where I've been coming up through the Minor Leagues, so it's something I'm used to," he said. "I love being at the top because you set the tone and can get on base for the big guys to drive you in, and it really allows me to use my speed and steal some bags."
An advantage to hitting first on an American League club is you won't usually be following the pitcher in the lineup.
"The pitcher kind of throws wrinkles into the order of things a little bit," he said. "Now it's just go out and play and have a productive at-bat."
Correa prepared, undergoes first spring workout
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Shortstop Carlos Correa, the No. 1 overall pick in last year's First-Year Player Draft, hit the field Saturday in Kissimmee for his first official workout of Spring Training. He's one of 20 players taking part in a Minor League minicamp.
"I feel really good," said Correa, ranked by MLB.com as the Astros' No. 2 prospect. "I prepared myself in the offseason. I feel like I'm in my best shape physically and mentally, and I feel prepared for this season. I'm starting to know what I'm facing now after going through my first year. Now I'm starting to know how it works, so I feel really prepared."
Correa, 18, got off to a slow start when he made his professional debut last year but rallied to hit .232 with two homers, five stolen bases and nine RBIs in 39 games for the Gulf Coast League Astros. He finished the year with Greeneville of the Appalachian League and hit .371 in 11 games.
The question now is whether Correa will begin the year at a full-season club or stay at extended spring training and join a short-season club. Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Correa's goal is to start at Class A Quad Cities, but that might be too aggressive.
"High school kids out of the Draft should probably start in extended for a month or so because it's a good opportunity for them to really get going before they hit a full-season club," he said. "We're going to be very cautious with him and see. We also have a lot of players from last year's Draft we feel are ready to move to that level."
Luhnow said Correa, who will probably be in big league camp next year, will likely get some at-bats in Major League Spring Training games this year.
"I'd like to get him that exposure," he said. "I think it's good for him to get a taste of it and let him come in and be the extra guy and get a couple of pinch-hits. That's a good experience for a young player."
Depth gives Astros Minors pitching puzzle to solve
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- With the Astros having added significantly to their starting pitching depth in the offseason, general manager Jeff Luhnow said the club might get creative in how it uses starting pitchers in the upper levels of the Minor Leagues when the season starts.
The Astros, who have 16 starting pitchers in camp, could use tandem starters at the beginning of the season in Triple-A and Double-A, meaning two starters could pitch in the same game. One would start the game and be followed by the other, giving everyone a chance to get innings.
"We're going to have to get creative about how we utilize the pitchers at the top two levels or players are going to have to repeat a level they might not otherwise have to," Luhnow said. "I'd rather have this problem than what we faced last year, which was giving innings at Double-A and Triple-A to players that weren't a part of our future."
Luhnow used tandem starting pitchers while he was farm director in St. Louis.
"It worked well at the beginning of the year to give everybody innings," he said. "There's some separation that usually occurs after the first month or so. It's something we're going to discuss. It's not ideal because players aren't used to it and they don't get the traditional wins or losses like they would for a normal starter, but they do end up getting roughly the same number of innings."
If the Astros open the season with a rotation of Bud Norris, Lucas Harrell, Jordan Lyles, Philip Humber and Erik Bedard, they could have Jarred Cosart, Brad Peacock, John Ely, Alex White, Jose Ciserno, Ross Seaton and Brett Oberholtzer competing for innings at Triple-A.
"I like the way we went out and got some veteran free-agent guys and have some guys coming through the system," Triple-A manager Tony DeFrancesco said.
Porter continuing coaching duties as manager
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Astros manager Bo Porter received a text message early Saturday from Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, who joked that he missed him throwing batting practice, which he did the previous two years as Washington's third-base coach.
Porter still plans to continue throwing batting practice as manager with Houston, and he threw it to the first hitting group prior to his Grapefruit League managerial debut on Saturday.
"I love throwing batting practice," he said. "I love hitting fungos. It gives you an opportunity to evaluate. You can find out a lot throwing batting practice to a guy and hitting ground balls. I told our entire staff, 'I will not do anything differently than when I was a coach.' I will have the same responsibilities. I'm in this thing just like they are."
Porter was eager for games to finally get under way, but he said his first game as manager didn't carry any significance for him.
"I think I'm more excited for the players," he said. "They worked extremely hard this offseason, they worked hard in Spring Training and we get a chance to go out and play against an opponent."
• Porter will stay in Kissimmee for the team's split-squad game Tuesday against the Tigers, with bench coach Eduardo Perez heading to Port Charlotte for the other game against the Rays.
• The Astros have received permission from Major League Baseball to wear their blue batting jerseys with the rainbow under the arms for Sunday games and other selected games. They were originally only going to be used for batting practice and Spring Training games, but the team likes the look so much it will wear them in regular-season games.
• Former Astros general manager Ed Wade, who was responsible for adding several of the team's current top prospects while he was GM in Houston, was in Clearwater on Saturday. He's a scout for the Phillies, a team for which he was the general manager prior to coming to Houston. | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130223&content_id=41912048¬ebook_id=41912160&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou | 1,534 |
6/27 Are the Cubs buyers or sellers?
The trade deadline is July 31 but it was a topic posed to some Cubs players after Monday’s 7-3 win over the Rockies. Will the Cubs be buyers or sellers? Aramis Ramirez said the front office will do what’s best for the team.
“We haven’t been healthy,” Ramirez said. “Right now we’re playing better but we’re missing Marlon Byrd and [Darwin] Barney [who are on the DL].”
Pitcher Matt Garza ignores the talk.
“I know what my job is and that’s to pitch and get outs,” he said. “None of that stuff concerns me. If my name gets called, it gets called. I’m just going to keep going out there and keep pitching.”
Carlos Pena has been red-hot lately. Maybe he’ll draw interest? He doesn’t think about such things.
“Not at all,” Pena said. “I’m a Cub. I don’t even look that far ahead. In my mind, I’m a Cub until the end.”
Does he feel the Cubs can still make a run in the NL Central?
“We still have faith in this ballclub,” Pena said. “Everyone here believes we can do it. We undrstand we need to play today’s game today. I think we’re playing great baseball in the last few weeks. Now we have to make the sure the tight ballgames go our way.”
– Carrie Muskat | http://mlb.mlblogs.com/2011/06/27/627-are-the-cubs-buyers-or-sellers/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=c1c9c39881 | 362 |
Blue Jays shuffle the deck
Here are today’s roster moves by the Blue Jays:
FROM TRIPLE-A LAS VEGAS:
3B Edwin Encarnacion (contract selected), LHP Marc Rzepczynski (recalled)
TO TRIPLE-A LAS VEGAS:
3B Jarrett Hoffpauir (optioned)
TO 15-DAY DISABLED LIST:
RHP Shaun Marcum (right elbow inflammation)
TO FREE AGENCY:
OF Jeremy Reed (outrighted; refused assignment)
In a perfect world, Hoffpauir would have hit better out of the gates in his first stint with the Blue Jays, giving Encarnacion more time to work on his consistency at the plate and in the field at Triple-A. Unfortunately for the Jays, the entire offense has gone missing and Hoffpauir was not contributing much with the bat.
The fact that Encarnacion hit well with Vegas (.438 in seven games) should not surprise anybody. It’s a hitters’ league and he’s got legitimate power. It’s those five errors (granted, I didn’t see them to guage them accurately) that create more concern for me. With the Jays’ offense tanking, though, promoting EE makes sense.
The Jays do not seem to believe that Marcum’s injury is anything that should cause much concern. They feel, with the All-Star break, it’s a good time to give him some rest if he’s complaining of some mild soreness. So, Rzepczynski gets a look and maybe he stays if Jesse Litsch continues to be inconsistent.
The Jays needed to outright Reed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Encarnacion. If you remember, Encarnacion was designated for assignment, cleared waivers and then outrighted to Vegas. Jays said it was a paperwork move to clear a spot for RHP Scott Richmond, who had been on the 60-day DL. Richmond, as it turns out, is currently on the 7-day DL in the Minors. Reed chose not to accept the assignment to see what other jobs might be out there. | http://mlbastian.mlblogs.com/2010/07/02/blue-jays-shuffle-the-deck/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=f35e2c39af | 467 |
Knights End Season with Loss at Northwestern
ST. PAUL – The MLC men’s basketball team closed out its season with a 71-48 loss at Northwestern Saturday night.
The Knights scored the first two points of the game, but it would be all Northwestern the rest of the way. The Eagles went on a 22-2 run to take a 22-4 lead, and held MLC to 13 points in the first half on the way to a 21-point lead at the break.
MLC played the Eagles even for much of the second half, but never made a run that cut into to the NWC advantage on the way to the loss.
Much like the first meeting between the two teams this season, Northwestern did much of its damage from beyond the three-point arc, going 13-31 for the game while holding MLC to 1-9 from distance for the game.
As he did for much of the season, Galen Holzhueter led the Knights offensively with 14 points. He also led the team with nine rebounds.
Joining him in double figures were Justin Danell and Justin Eternick with ten points apiece.
With the loss, MLC ended its season with a record of 2-22 overall and 2-12 in the UMAC, while Northwestern improved to 15-10 on the season and 10-4 in league play. | http://mlc-wels.edu/home/athletics/menssports/bballm/news/knights-end-season-with-loss-at-northwestern/ | 284 |
Jones dominated fellow light heavyweight Brandon Vera in the main event of the UFC’s Versus debut in Broomfield, Colorado, tossing the former heavyweight standout to the ground before going on the offensive from the top position and ultimately connecting with a hard elbow near Vera’s eye that was the beginning of the end.
With a likely facial fracture, Vera immediately covered up and Jones landed several more strikes before the referee stepped in to stop the contest.
The 22-year-old Jones improves to 9-1 with the most-impressive victory of his young career, rebounding from a controversial DQ loss to Matt Hamill, while Vera, who lost a point due to an illegal upkick earlier in the first, falls to 11-5 after suffering his second straight loss.
In the UFC on Versus 1 co-headliner, the upcoming knockout artist dos Santos continued his run of impressive victories, earning a first-round KO of fellow heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga. After a tentative start, dos Santos countered a Gonzaga kick, flooring the fellow Brazilian before followed him to the ground and finishing him with powerful ground and pound.
With the win, dos Santos improved to 11-1, with stoppages in all five of his UFC bouts, and a showdown with fellow contender Cain Velasquez is likely ahead, while Gonzaga will look to bounce back after dropping two of his last three fights.
Also on the main card, Cheick Kongo roughed up Paul Buentello, eventually forcing the veteran heavyweight to submit to the punishment early in the third, while Alessio Sakara spoiled James Irvin’s middleweight debut, connecting with a punch to the eye in the first that ended Irvin’s night early.
Relegated to the evening’s preliminary card, popular lightweight Clay Guida rebounded from back-to-back losses with an arm triangle submission of Shannon Gugerty, while first-round knockouts by John Howard and Brendan Schaub also highlighted the prelims.
The undercard also included decision win for Vladimir Matyushenko, Mike Pierce, and Jason Brilz, while an ankle injury ended Duane “Bang” Ludwig’s night early, giving Darren Elkins a victory in his UFC debut.
The complete results for “UFC on Versus 1: Vera vs. Jones” were:
- Jon Jones def. Brandon Vera via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 3:19
- Junior Dos Santos def. Gabriel Gonzaga via KO (punches) – Round 1, 3:53
- Cheick Kongo def. Paul Buentello via submission (strikes) – Round 3, 1:16
- Alessio Sakara def. James Irvin via TKO (punch to eye) – Round 1, 3:01
- Clay Guida def. Shannon Gugerty via submission (arm triangle) – Round 2, 3:42
- Vladimir Matyushenko def. Eliot Marshall via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 30-27)
- Darren Elkins def. Duane “Bang” Ludwig via TKO (injury) – Round 1, 0:44
- John Howard def. Daniel Roberts via KO (punch) – Round 1, 2:01
- Brendan Schaub def. Chase Gormley via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:47
- Mike Pierce def. Julio Paulino via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Jason Brilz def. Eric Schafer via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Pictured: Jon Jones | http://mmafrenzy.com/13665/ufc-on-versus-1-results-jones-stops-vera-dos-santos-kos-gonzaga/ | 770 |
Renan Barao made a successful defense of his interim bantamweight belt tonight at the UFC on FUEL TV 7, while also extending his winning streak to 20. As the bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz heals from injuries, the interim champ took the opportunity to make a rare interim title defense while furthering his legacy
Tag: Renee Forte
The UFC returns to the UK this weekend as Renan Barao defends his interim bantamweight title in the UFC on FUEL TV 7 main event. While bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz continues to heal, Barao will take on Michael McDonald in his first title defense.
The UFC is back in Rio tonight with a card full of Brazilians looking to put on a performance for the fans at UFC 153. The Brazilian fans saw the card get hit by the injury bug that scrapped the top two fights on the card but ultimately got more then they could have ever hoped for tonight.
Back again with another 8-Bit MMA Poster for this Saturday’s UFC 153: Silva vs. Bonnar. This card has been through numerous changes and injuries but somehow still managed to put on a decent card for Brazil and MMA fans all around the world.
The UFC will be in action for the fourth consecutive weekend when they return to Brazil for UFC 153 this weekend. The fight card has gone through a serious face lift since the original UFC 153 fight card was announced, especially the top three bouts.
The UFC will return to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on October 13th with UFC 153: Aldo vs. Koch. Tickets for the event will go on sale this Thursday August 23rd and the complete UFC 153 fight card has now been finalized. The card will take place at the HSBC Arena, which held the successful UFC 134 and UFC 142 events.
The first ever international edition of The Ultimate Fighter reality series premieres tonight. The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil will air in Brazil on Globo however it will be streaming in North America on TUF.TV at 9pm PT / 12am ET. TUF: Brazil will not be live like the TUF Live: Team Cruz vs. Team Faber, instead it will bring back the old format of being taped like the previous 14 seasons. | http://mmavalor.com/tag/renee-forte/ | 456 |
ATLANTA (AP) — Jay-Z is taking another step into the pro basketball realm: The Grammy-winning rapper and minority owner of the Brooklyn Nets will serve as the executive producer for the coming "NBA 2K13" video game.
2K Sports announced the partnership with Jay-Z on Tuesday. The rapper, who designed the Nets new logo and color scheme, selected 24 songs for the soundtrack, and offered input for the game's interactive in-game menus and other visual presentations.
Jay-Z said in a statement that his involvement was a "unique opportunity" to collaborate and help produce "NBA 2K13," the latest installment of the best-selling basketball video game franchise. Last year's game sold more than 5 million copies.
"This has been a unique opportunity to collaborate with 2K Sports and be a part of one of the best sports video games in history," Jay-Z said. "NBA 2K13 will be the next evolution in sports and basketball culture, and I'm ready to usher in the new era of the franchise."
Some of the songs featured on the game's soundtrack are Jay-Z's "Public Service Announcement," Kanye West's "Amazing," Coldplay's "Viva La Vida," Roy Ayers' "We Live in Brooklyn, Baby," U2's "Shove It," Nas' "The World is Yours" and an instrumental version of Meek Mill's "Ima Boss." Other music acts featured are Too Short, Eric B. and Rakim, The Hours, Phoenix, Puff Daddy and the Family, Daft Punk, Santigold, The Dirty Projectors, Justice and Mobb Deep.
"He's been unbelievably involved," said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing at Take-Two Interactive Software Inc.'s 2K Sports division. "We've had hour-long sessions and his input has been super valuable. He put together an amazing job creating the soundtrack, and was very integral in the creative visual process of the game. He's a true artist."
The game, which will feature Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin on the front cover, is expected to go on sale Oct. 2.
Follow Jonathan Landrum Jr. on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mrlandrum31 | http://music.yahoo.com/news/jay-z-serves-exec-producer-nba-2k13-game-235534158.html | 471 |
Hart to Hart
Kevin Hart had a tough outing on March 8 against Texas. The Cubs right-hander gave up four runs on two hits and two walks in one inning. In his last two games, he’s struck out six over 2 1/3 innings and has not given up a hit, run or walk. What’s the difference? He’s taken a “less is more” approach and made sure he’s not overthrowing.
It’s working, and Hart feels a lot better about his pitching lately.
“You can exhale a little because you’re throwing the ball the way you feel like you’re capable of doing,” he said. “I’ve done it before. Consistency has been my focus here in Spring Training. You know it’s early in the season and you know there will be times when everything isn’t perfect. The more you go through Spring Training, the better you want to get the closer the season gets.”
– Carrie Muskat | http://muskat.mlblogs.com/2009/03/16/hart-to-hart/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=bbf4ba6a50 | 225 |
A 24-year-old-man has serious, potentially life threatening injuries. He was stabbed in the chest while cycling at Fish Creek Park. It happened around 5:30 p.m. while two seperate groups were riding bikes in Fish Creek Park. As they came across each other, one group asked the other to move and was told no. Read story on ctvcalgary.ca
If you are on the scene of breaking news and can capture it with your mobile phone,
then send your pictures or video directly to us at [email protected]
Your pictures or video may be selected for use on CTVNews.ca or other Bell Media websites, in Bell Media television or radio programming, or other Bell Media programming services. If you submit a picture or video, you do so in accordance with the MyNews Terms and Conditions. | http://mynews.ctvnews.ca/mediadetail/7495285?collection=583&q=+&offset=5&siteT=calgary | 175 |
The three Baggett sisters (Ashlyn, Caitlyn, and Allison) combined for 11 of the Cowgirls (12-9, 7-3 SLC) 3-pointers. Caitlyn was 3-3 and Allison was 2-8 on the day.
Jasmine Upchurch tied Ashlyn Baggett for the game-high with 24 points. Upchurch was 9-18 from the field and 6-7 from the free throw line. Janelle Perez was the second leading scorer for NSU (7-13, 3-7 SLC) with 11 points.
“You have to give them credit, they shot the ball extremely well today,” said co-head coach Brooke Stoehr. “When you knock down that many shots, things are going well for you.
“I felt they got a couple of open looks early, and they just got into rhythm,” she said. “We have to do a better job of closing out on our switches. We just have to do a better job defensively. “
McNeese had four players in double-figures with Ashlyn Baggett’s 24 points. Caitlyn Baggett scored 13, Cecilia Okoye had 11, and Allison Baggett finished with 10 points.
Upchurch was the game’s leading rebounder with seven and Danielle Westerfield grabbed six boards in her third start of the season.
The two teams finished with 13 turnovers each, but the Cowgirls were able to capitalize for 19 points compared to the six NSU scored.
NSU will return home for Thursday for the annual Chili Cook-off when it takes on Oral Roberts at 5:30, and then Saturday when the Lady Demons take on Central Arkansas in Prather Coliseum. | http://natchitochestimes.com/pages/full_story_2/push?article-Cowgirl%E2%80%99s+3-point+surge+leads+McNeese+State+past+Lady+Demons+to+drop+3-7+in+SLC%20&id=21631348&instance=nsu_sports | 371 |
NEW ORLEANS -- In meetings prior to the 2009 draft, former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan told colleagues the player coming out of college who might become the best NFL player was Michael Crabtree.
And he also believed the 49ers could sit tight with the No. 10 overall pick and still land the Texas Tech wide receiver.
Crabtree was coming off foot surgery, which prevented him from taking part in the NFL scouting combine or working out for teams before the draft.
But what seemed to damage his draft stock more than his physical condition was a reputation that quickly developed in predraft visits to the Cleveland Browns, St. Louis Rams and the ESPN studios in Bristol, Conn.
Reports circulated that Crabtree rubbed people the wrong way on those visits. He widely became known as a "diva."
"Can you describe diva to me?" Crabtree said Tuesday, remembering his name associated with the unflattering term. "I don't understand.
"I can't see me being a diva. I've seen commercials where a guy eats a Snickers and he turns into a diva because he's hungry or something like that. But I don't know what a diva is."
The term diva is associated with a female performer who is extremely talented as well as being egocentric and high-maintenance. Those who know Crabtree maintain that he's more shy than aloof.
His reputation took a further hit when he was embroiled in a contract stalemate as a rookie and missed the first five games of his rookie season. When he finally signed, Crabtree reported to the 49ers in great shape and caught 48 passes in 11 games.
Crabtree has distinguished himself for his work ethic and being a good team player during his four seasons with the organization.
Aside from an on-field training camp argument that tight end Vernon Davis instigated in 2010, Crabtree has steered clear of controversy while with the 49ers. His biggest problem came recently when was accused of sexual assault.
Crabtree played in the NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons two days after being interviewed by San Francisco police. On Friday, the district attorney's office cleared Crabtree of any wrongdoing after an investigation.
[REWIND: No charges filed against Crabtree]
"I knew that whole time," Crabtree said. "But it was something that we had to deal with. I respect the system and whatever they had to do."
Crabtree said the situation was not on his mind in the 28-24 victory over the Falcons -- a game in which he caught six passes but also fumbled at the goal line in the fourth quarter.
"No, not at all," he said. "I was disappointed with the allegations, but at the same time I had to deal with it."
Crabtree dealt the first three seasons of his NFL career with the expectations that came with a storied college career and being a top-10 draft pick. Crabtree seemed to benefit more than anyone on the 49ers from the mid-sesason quarterback switch from Alex Smith to Colin Kaepernick.
Crabtree caught 85 passes for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns in the regular season. In two postseason games, Crabtree has 15 receptions for 176 yards and two touchdowns.
And, now, the player who clashed with Crabtree is happy to call him a teammate. Davis got on Crabtree in 2010 about not playing in the exhibition season. In fact, Crabtree did not play in any preseason games in his first three seasons due to his contract issue, a neck injury and foot surgery.
The past two seasons, Crabtree has replaced Davis as the 49ers' go-to receiver. And that seems OK with Davis.
"I think that Michael Crabtree has done a terrific job as far as stepping up and becoming a leader," Davis said. "He's been through a lot as well. It takes time for a guy to come in and be successful. You have to go through some things first before you can reach your highest peak. So I think that he's been patient as far as that."
That patience is paying off for the 49ers.
On draft day, many thought Crabtree would be heading to the Raiders. Instead, Al Davis surprisingly selected wide receiver Darrius Heward-Bey with the No. 7 overall pick.
As he faced the media before Super Bowl XLVII, Crabtree was asked if he was happy the Raiders passed him up.
"I'm happy the Niners picked me up," he said. | http://nbcbayarea.csnbayarea.com/blog/matt-maiocco/crabtree-sheds-diva-label-delivers-potential | 934 |
Justin Bieber is most tweeted celeb in 2012
Posted December 11, 2012
Justin Bieber is still the king of the Twitterverse, but in 2012, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson, Liam Payne and Niall Horan's number of Twitter followers went One Direction: Up.
Each of them had the biggest percentage increase in Twitter followers among celebrities for the year, with Horan leading at 712%, according to exclusive data released by Twitter.
The most tweeted about celebrities of the year? Bieber, One Direction's Zayn Malik, Demi Lovato, Styles and Tomlinson.
For Twitter-loving celebrities, 2012 was all about bringing their legions of followers deeper inside for a more direct connection to the fan experience, says Twitter senior manager Rachael Horwitz.
"It was really exciting to see a legend like Neil Young join Twitter and spend time answering questions from fans," says Horwitz. "People have been fans of his for decades, so to just be able to reach out directly to him is one of those moments (where) Twitter is bringing you closer to a legend."
Those kinds of star/fan moments are even more regular among celeb super-users such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Bieber, whose Twitter tribute to a young fan who passed away in September was the most retweeted pre-election message of the year.
"That tweet was something beyond his music. It was him and his fans saying goodbye to one of their own and it clearly resonated with folks," says Horwitz.
In 2012, fans also experienced more celeb-to-celeb interactions, as they were able to "eavesdrop" on conversations between stars.
"I would never be in a situation where I could sit in on a conversation with Albert Brooks and Steve Martin, but they talk to each other all day on Twitter," Horwitz says. "There was a really fun moment in May, where Drake tweeted, 'The first million is the hardest,' and T. Boone Pickens responded, 'The first billion is a hell of a lot harder.' Not only are you watching two celebrities have a conversation you wouldn't traditionally be exposed to, but we're also bringing celebrities together (who) you would never imagine talking to each other."
Latest in Entertainment | http://neworleans.metromix.com/entertainment/3318976 | 463 |
Nikolay Davydenko is at the centre of fresh controversy after losing to Marcos Baghdatis at the Paris Masters.
Davydenko was bemused by the disintegration of his serve
The world number four was told by umpire Cedric Mourier to "try your best" after the official questioned why he was serving so many double faults.
At the St Petersburg Open, Davydenko was fined $2,000 (£976) for not trying hard enough against Marin Cilic.
He is being investigated by governing body the ATP over an August match that featured irregular betting patterns.
Online betting exchange Betfair voided bets on that match, in Poland, between Davydenko and the 87th-ranked Argentine Martin Vassallo Arguello.
In St Petersburg last month the Russian protested his innocence and, after his 6-2 6-2 defeat on Thursday, when Baghdatis asked him "What's wrong?" he replied "I don't know".
I need to find what's the reason I cannot really serve
He served 10 double faults and was broken five times by the Cypriot in a match that lasted one hour and 13 minutes.
BBC Radio 5 Live tennis correspondent Jonathan Overend said: "Davydenko was jeered at times during this pathetic effort in defence of his title.
"He hit three double-faults in his opening service game of the second set and amazingly another three in his subsequent service game.
"At one change of ends the umpire, Cedric Mourier, asked the Russian why he was serving so badly. Davydenko seemed to shrug his shoulder as if to say, 'what can I do?'
"'Serve like me,' the umpire was heard to answer back.
"It's not unusual for players to banter with umpires at the change of ends but in the current climate the Russian should expect some serious questions."
Davydenko admitted afterward he feared getting an official warning from the umpire.
"He just asked me what was happening. I told him I couldn't explain," he said.
"I cannot serve. That was happening in St Petersburg. I don't have pain really. I have no pain in my elbow. I need to find what's the reason I cannot really serve."
Baghdatis said: "He didn't serve well but he played well, but I was not thinking about the stories and rumours about him.
"I don't know if they are true or not. I needed to be focused and play well. That's what I did."
An ATP spokesman told BBC Sport: "What was said between Cedric Mourier and Nikolay Davydenko was a normal exchange between an umpire and player and the ATP will not be taking the matter any further." | http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/tennis/7073200.stm | 577 |
Colerain senior Milton Davis, pictured playing for the Cardinals last season, is fifth in the GMC with 16.4 points per game.
Milton Davis found out quickly how tough a basketball league the Greater Miami Conference can be.
The Colerain High School senior, who transferred from Summit Country Day before his junior season, had to adjust to new teams, deeper rosters and different defenders.
That meant learning to create his own shot because, as Davis knew, nothing was going to come easy. ... | http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20130216/SPT0301/302160118/ | 104 |
Former Miami University star Andy Miele, right, now with the Phoenix Coyotes, helps goalie Mike Smith clear out a rebound after a shot by New Jersey Devils center Adam Henrique, middle, on Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz.
- Filed Under
Short of breaking camp with the Phoenix Coyotes, Andy Miele could not have reached the National Hockey League much faster.
The reigning Hobey Baker Award winner from Miami University played in just four games with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League before the Coyotes called him up Oct. 21. Two days later, Miele was on the West Coast making his NHL debut against the Anaheim Ducks.
"I was definitely a little bit nervous but excited at the same time," he said. "It's something that I've been looking forward to doing my whole entire life - playing in the NHL." ... | http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111102/SPT/111030367/Miami-star-Andy-Miele-makes-fast-move-to-NHL?odyssey=tab%7Cmostpopular%7Ctext%7CSPT&nclick_check=1 | 183 |
Dec. 24th, 2010 12:18 am
Activision has announced the release of two new downloadable track packs for DJ Hero 2 and Guitar Hero: Warriors of Rock. Fans of Guitar Hero can now snag a three track Kiss pack for 440 points while DJ Hero fans can download a new Linkin Park/Jay-Z pack for 640 points.
Both packs include 3 tracks and individual songs can be purchased instead of the full pack should you so desire them. Check out the full listings below.
Kiss Track Pack For Guitar Hero
"Rock And Roll All Nite"
"Detroit Rock City"
"Calling Dr. Love."
Linkin Park Track Pack For DJ Hero 2
"The Catalyst (Does It Offend You, Yeah? Remix)"
"When They Come For Me"
Source: Press Release | http://news.teamxbox.com/xbox/23367/New-DLC-Available-for-DJ-Hero-2-and-Guitar-Hero/ | 168 |
WVU may add new wrinkles
July 25, 2012
The last time West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen coached in the Big 12, he was the offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, so he was not a part of the league’s annual Media Day event....
No comments posted for this article.
Post a Comment | http://newsandsentinel.com/page/content.comment/id/563417/WVU-may-add-new-wrinkles.html?nav=5064&sortTypeOrder=2 | 70 |
MORGANTOWN-We've all heard the old saying, "the buck stops here".
That will indeed be the case with the defense at West Virginia University, which will be switching from the 3-3-5 stack alignment to a more conventional 3-4/4-3 lineup when it opens the 2012 campaign against Marshall in the Friends of Coal Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 1.
"There will be a lot of pressure, but we are going to go out there and play football the way we've been taught," explained redshirt junior Tyler Anderson. "The new scheme allows us to be a little more flexible, but it also puts a lot more pressure for those of us playing the 'buck' because we have to be able to rush the quarterback as well as drop back in pass coverage."
Anderson was one of four players that came out of the spring in line to see playing time at the position. Redshirt sophomore Jewone Snow, who has seven starts under his belt, topped that list with senior Josh Francis, Anderson and redshirt junior Chidoziem Ezemma rounding out the group.
"I played d-end in high school," said Ezemma. "But, I'm more of a buck as far as physically. I'm comfortable doing both so whichever one he (defensive line coach Erik Slaughter) wants me at is fine with me."
The new position, as well as the new coaching staff, has resulted in a different coaching style. Defensive ends and bucks work on drills that place a larger emphasis on agility while nose and defensive tackles concentrate more on power moves.
"We like to divide them up that way in drill work, because the run responsibilities are the same (for the ends and the bucks)," said Slaughter. "The thing the buck has to do in addition is pass cover, but that will come later."
The first year defensive staff also has changed up the way players lifted during the summer.
"They (the coaches) actually made it harder for the linebackers," said Ezemma. "The workouts are more like what the linemen did last year. We have been throwing up a lot of weight and we've been doing more things with our hips."
Whether the new workouts, or the new scheme, accomplish their goals won't be known until the season begins. Or will it?
"With our defense going up against our offense we are facing one of the best in the country," said Anderson. "They can be put right up there with the best offenses in the Big 12. We see people like Tavon (Austin) and Geno (Smith) playing their positions.
"Once you see that, you don't get to see a lot more better. Once you've seen that, you've seen it all."
The new system does allow for more up field attacking and a chance for defensive linemen to get into the backfield and make plays. But, it is not an all-out blitz. Linemen, especially the bucks, will still have assignments and responsibilities.
"Everyone has a gap no matter what defense you play," said Slaughter. "Our deal here is we're more of an attacking, shading style than they played last year. But, it's still press, get off of the block and make a tackle."
If the defense can accomplish that, then the 'buck' truly will stop in Morgantown. | http://newsandsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/563856/Mountaineers-will-sport-new-look-on-defense.html?nav=5063 | 694 |
Oops: CNN, WaPo Jumped on CAIR's License Plate 'Hate' Theory, Now Disproved
Anchor Rick Sanchez devoted a brief on his Rick's List program on Tuesday to presenting CAIR's side of the story on the controversy. After showing a picture of the pickup truck and the plate in question, as well as the anti-Islamic message on the truck's tailgate, Sanchez explained that "CAIR...also noticed the vanity license plate. It reads '14CV88.' CAIR says that is a coded hate message. We're told the number eight is for the eighth letter in the alphabet, 'H.' Two eights equals 'H.H.' for 'Heil Hitler.' Fourteen represents imprisoned white supremacist David Lane's motto about securing the future for white children." The anchor didn’t mention the owner’s side of the story.
Did anyone at CNN or the Washington Post consider the possibility that the story was underbaked until they communicated with the driver? Did they consider someone might find the driver and his truck and be spurred to angry talk and/or violence based on the media’s incomplete accounts? The Washington Post, at least, printed an update on Thursday to their initial article from the 22nd (the ball, obviously, is also in Sanchez's court now, as well, especially since he went after NewsBusters for not calling him before we took the "cheap shot" at him). The Post's Brigid Schulte returned to the scene of her incomplete story and provided the driver’s perspective in her Thursday article, "Virginia driver denies license plate had coded racist message."
Douglas Story, a Chantilly dump truck driver for the Virginia Department of Transportation, says he wanted to grab people's attention when he paid $224.90 to have a mural of the burning World Trade Center detailed onto the tailgate of his Ford F-150 along with a sticker that reads: "Everything I ever needed to know about Islam I learned on 9/11."Story's account does seems to square away. Both Stewart and Earnhardt Jr. did indeed change their numbers in the middle of 2008. Also, Schulte's Washington Post article from April 22nd, which quoted Hooper, gave the impression that the CAIR spokesman profiled the Virginia man (Schulte also only provided the advocacy group's side of the story in this initial article).
But he got more than he bargained for when a photo of his pickup went viral on the Web last week. Motorists and Muslim groups complained that his Virginia vanity license plate -- 14CV88 -- was really code for neo-Nazi, white supremacist sentiments. The state Department of Motor Vehicles voted last week to recall Story's plates and force him to buy new ones.
"There is absolutely no way I'd have anything to do with Hitler or Nazis," Story said Wednesday. He contacted The Washington Post after an article about his plate appeared last week; the state, citing privacy rules, had declined to release the identity of the plate's owner. "My sister-in-law and my niece are Jewish. I went to my niece's bat mitzvah when she turned 13 three years ago. Does that sound like something an anti-Semite would do?"
Story says the numbers 14 and 88 on his plate were not references to a white power slogan or "Heil Hitler," as the Council on American-Islamic Relations theorized, but an homage to his favorite NASCAR drivers: Tony Stewart, who drives car No. 14, and Dale Earnhardt Jr., who drives No. 88.
Story applied for the vanity plate in March 2009, shortly after Earnhardt changed his car number from 8 to 88 and Stewart changed his from 20 to 14.
CAIR spokesman Ibrahim Hooper said his group looked into the meaning of the numbers 14 and 88 after receiving complaints about Story's license plates....Hooper said he doesn't buy Story's version "given the overt anti-Muslim bigotry displayed on the truck and the Confederate flags and their historic connotation of racism....
Story received a certified letter last week from the DMV ordering him to get new plates. And his boss told him that he could no longer park on VDOT property with the anti-Islam mural. So Story spent an afternoon getting new randomized plates and peeling the mural off by hand.
"I feel naked," he said.
Hooper at first thought the picture [of Story's truck] was a Photoshopped hoax. But when he called the DMV and discovered the plate was registered in 2005 to a Ford F-150 pickup truck, Hooper started to worry.Neither the Washington Post nor CNN made the effort when they ran their initial stories to provide Story's side of the controversy. They could have been thwarted by the privacy rules, but they unquestioningly ran with CAIR's take on the license plate.
"If the license plate had been on a VW Beetle with nothing else on it, or a Volvo station wagon, no one would probably have noticed," said Hooper. "But when the Confederate flag is thrown in...it shows the convergence of anti-government and anti-Islamic sentiments that unfortunately seem to be growing." | http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-balan/2010/04/29/oops-cnn-wapo-jumped-cairs-license-plate-hate-theory-now-disproved | 1,068 |
Gloria Arroyo looks healthy, says sisterBy Tonette Orejas
Inquirer Central Luzon
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Officials close to Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo have claimed that her hair had gone silver, and that she had turned gaunt and had “shrunk in size.”
But her half-sister, Cielo Macapagal-Salgado, said Arroyo looked healthy on Wednesday when they had lunch and prayed together at the latter’s residence in La Vista, Quezon City.
“She looks OK, except for the brace. She can eat, walk and talk,” Salgado, a former vice governor of Pampanga province, said.
The steel brace serves to support Arroyo’s neck and head. She has been wearing it since her discharge from St. Luke’s Medical Center where she underwent a series of spinal surgeries.
Salgado claims to have survived two forms of cancer through intense prayer. Arroyo is a Marian devotee.
Until recently, the sisters had been estranged because of politics and alleged sibling rivalry.
Arthur Macapagal, Salgado’s younger brother, had offered to serve as liaison between the half sisters, and eventually succeeded in connecting them.
“We prayed together,” Salgado said. “I was happy to be with her even for two hours. We talked mostly about health and family.”
Salgado said she had no information as to when Arroyo would leave for medical treatment abroad.
“I pray she will be able to find the doctors who will be God’s instrument for her healing when she goes abroad,” Salgado said.
A local official who visited the former President last week claimed that Arroyo could no longer have her hair dyed because her doctors had advised her against moving her head and neck.
The official said he tried to hide his tears when he saw Arroyo’s condition.
But Salgado said her sister’s hair was jet black during her visit.
Originally posted at 11:38 pm | Thursday, October 27, 2011 | http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/83993/%E2%80%98gloria-macapagal-arroyo-looks-okay-except-for-the-brace%E2%80%99-says-half-sister | 465 |
Brad Keselowski quickest in Sprint Cup practice
Texas Motor Speedway notebook: Danica Patrick chasing a top-10 season in the Nationwide Series
NewsOK Related Articles
On Sunday, Patrick will make her ninth career start in the Sprint Cup on her first weekend with new crew chief Tony Gibson. The pair will have two Cup races this year to prepare for next season together.
“These two races will be crucial in gaining a head start,” Gibson said. “So over the winter we can make plans and do some testing and get further down the road for us. She has the capability of winning races. She's a winner, so we don't have to teach her how to win.
“We just have to make sure that our team is solid and can comfort her and give her the things she needs to win in the Cup Series.”
NEWMAN IN NATIONWIDE
Ryan Newman was among 11 Sprint Cup full-timers driving in the Nationwide race Saturday night, but Newman isn't a regular double-dipper.
This was his second Nationwide appearance since October 2010. As the ninth different driver to pilot the No. 30 Chevrolet this season, he finished 19th.
SUPPORT FOR SANDY VICTIMS CRASHES NASCAR SITE
In support of victims of Hurricane Sandy, NASCAR set up a website on its community service page, NASCAR.com/Unites, to raise funds for relief efforts.
The storm impacted people from the New England area down to North Carolina, where many NASCAR organizations are housed. Supporters overwhelmed the donation page after it opened, briefly causing the website to crash. | http://newsok.com/brad-keselowski-quickest-in-sprint-cup-practice/article/3725448/?page=2 | 336 |
OU vs. ULM
Oklahoma's Buddy Hield (3) guards Louisiana's Marcelis Hansberry (3) during a men's college basketball game between the University of Oklahoma and the University of Louisiana-Monroe at the Loyd Noble Center in Norman, Okla., Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012. Photo by Garett Fisbeck, The Oklahoman
Message Sent Successfully
Be Sure to Check Out Our Top Headlines
Back to share with a friend form.
Add More Recipients
Send me a copy of this email. | http://newsok.com/photo/uid/16985c222b4c5f8711489356854afcae/?galleryId=6027820 | 117 |
Zack Greinke hit hard in 2nd start for Dodgers
"I swung and fouled a changeup," Kemp said. "Last year, that would have made my left shoulder hurt. I didn't hurt today. That's a really good sign that my shoulder is well and responding to the rehab."
Mattingly wants to ease Kemp into the lineup. He's not expected to play Saturday against the Los Angeles Angels, but could be back in the batting order Sunday against Cleveland at Camelback Ranch.
"That last at-bat, I wish I had gotten some (RBIs) or something," Kemp said. "You never like to strike out. But it's only the second at-bat."
Logan Forsythe singled and scored the go-ahead run in the ninth for the Padres on a balk by Zach Lee.
NOTES: Dodgers LF Carl Crawford is frustrated that he has yet to play in a spring training game. He was supposed to make his first appearance Friday, but it's now expected to be delayed a week because of nerve irritation in his left arm. Crawford had surgery on his throwing elbow in August. "Personally, I've been so anxious to get back out there," he said. "But my time will come." ... Dodgers RF Andre Ethier sat out because of a blister on his right hand that gave him trouble last season. INF Justin Sellers also didn't play. Sellers had an in-grown toenail removed two days ago. ... Dodgers great Sandy Koufax left camp Thursday after working with the pitchers. "I hate to see him go," Clayton Kershaw said. "It's great to talk to him. I hope he comes back sometime during the season." | http://newsok.com/zack-greinke-hit-hard-in-2nd-start-for-dodgers/article/feed/507995/?page=2 | 353 |
Slump won't alter Duncan's approach
Yankees slugger sees similarities between Minors and Majors
NEW YORK -- Shelley Duncan, a sensation at the plate and a hit with Yankees fans for his intensity and enthusiasm after being called up to the Majors last season, is dealing with his current struggles the same way he would if he were still in the Minor Leagues.
Duncan, who has recorded a hit in each of the past three games he has played, entered Saturday batting .190 with one double and one RBI across 21 at-bats in limited playing time with New York this season. The first baseman batted .257 with seven homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games with the Yankees last season after slugging 25 homers in 95 games at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
"There are two kinds of adjustments to make," Duncan said before the Yankees hosted the Mariners at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. "One is adjustments within. You need to make those adjustments the same way you would at any level.
"And there's the adjustment to how they pitch you, what the pitcher has and how he is attacking you -- that sort of stuff.
"You need to differentiate between the two. When a pitcher is carving and make you look silly, a lot of times it's nothing to do with yourself, so you don't need to worry about it. There is no need to get panicked."
Duncan, the son of former catcher and current Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan and the brother of Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan, said he's sometimes making outs on tough pitches and simply having tough at-bats.
"You don't have to make adjustments," Duncan said. "It's a feel. You mentally look at it objectively and analyze how you are being approached ... the results, how you take pitches, how you see the ball, if the contact you are making is the way you want to make contact."
For now, at least, Duncan seems at peace and is content.
"I think people who come up here and maybe think it's different, I think that's where they get in trouble," Duncan said. "Really, it's the same. Your objective at the plate is to get a good pitch and hit it hard somewhere."
Kit Stier is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080503&content_id=2633409&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy | 492 |
February 25 2013 09:14AM
PDO doesn't stand for anything, but that doesn't mean we can't learn anything from adding up the overall shooting and save percentages for a team at even strength. A layman's explanation for 'PDO' and why we use it can be found here over at the Backhand Shelf. Basically, if a team is playing with a PDO number way higher than 1.000, they're producing above their expected output. If a team is playing with a PDO number below 1.000, they're producing below their expected output. Over the course of a long season, the number will generally correct itself.
|Team||Team Shooting %||Team Save %||PDO||Fenwick Close %|
Because our sample size is now large enough, I've added Fenwick Close % to the table. Fenwick Close is the rate of all unblocked shots in "score close" situations directed by a team at the opponent's net. Anything over 50% is considered "plus-possession". This metric does correllate very strongly with zone time. The numbers for each team can be found here.
One thing that happens every year in the NHL is a team jumps out to a really hot start despite a real low puck possession rate and a high PDO. Last season it was Minnesota (crashed in the second half). Before that, it was Dallas (crashed down the stretch) and the year before, Colorado (crashed down the stretch). There are some good candidates for that this year, but no team's record is more of a house or cards than the Anaheim Ducks. They lead the league in shooting percentage and an anonymous Swedish goalie played lights out for them at the start of his NHL career. Since the season is so short, the Ducks probably have enough points to make the playoffs right now even as they flame out, but I don't think they'll win their division.
Chicago, "unbeaten" despite having lost three games, can cushion their regression since they're also a pretty good Fenwick Close club. People keep asking if they're for real and the answer is "well, no and yes". "No" because no team is good enough to go through a whole season without a regulation loss. "Yes" because they've been a real good team for the last few seasons. Look at the difference between being a good team and a bad team when it comes to a good PDO stretch: Chicago are unstoppable, while Toronto is 7th in the conference.
Montreal's Fenwick Close record is a tad dubious. I made the same point with Calgary last week: They've played 12th home games wherein they've amassed a much better Fenwick record (57.06%) than in their 6 road games (44.68%). Teams do play slightly better at home, so sometimes these early records can be distorted by a team playing an uneven schedule at the start of the season.
That in mind, the Los Angeles Kings have played 11 road games and 5 home games. They lead the league in puck-possession. They're also close to going on a Chicago-style run. Compare their numbers to last week's stats: their goaltending has improved by 12 points and their shooting has improved by 8 points, and they've gone from 30th to 26th in PDO and won a couple of games. St. Louis is on the verge of breaking out too. Edmonton should start scoring any day now. The hockey Gods are fickle, after toying with our emotions and giving Jordan Eberle a goal every time he took five shots last season, they've stripped the Oilers' ability to score goals. | http://nhlnumbers.com/2013/2/25/pdo-numbers-by-nhl-team-feb-25 | 755 |
On Sunday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said, "I love the players" in an interview with a Winnipeg newspaper.
But it continues to be an unrequited love as another NHL player, the Florida Panthers' Kris Versteeg, used a radio interview to say Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly are cancers.
He said it was time for both of them to leave the game.
While Bettman uses a threat of a $1 million fine to keep owners and team executives from saying anything inflammatory during the negotiations, players have regularly criticized him throughout negotiations to reach agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement.
"I'm really frustrated," Versteeg said on TSN 1050 Monday afternoon. "It's not good. You do try to look at the best-case scenarios moving forward once the CBA does get done, and you've gotta look for the cancers and you've gotta cut out the cancers and I think that when you look at Bill Daly and Bettman, they've been polluting this game for far too long."
His attack came a few days after Detroit Red Wings defenseman Ian White said he believed Bettman was an idiot.
Bettman has taken the high road over the verbal shots he has taken from the players. He has said essentially that harsh rhetoric often happens in labor negotiations. His professed love for the players came in response to a question about the criticism he is receiving.
"By the way, I love the players," Bettman said. "Nobody should think for a moment that I don't."
But there are team officials around the NHL who have privately expressed disappointment about players directing personal attacks toward Bettman.
Just as players rallied around Donald Fehr after an anonymous NHL figure accused the union leaders of not telling the entire story to his players, some league and team personnel say the attacks toward Bettman have also unified owners.
The most widespread reaction to the players' attacks from all corners is usually simply to ask: How does this help the situation?
"It's getting a little personal," Vancouver Canucks goalie Cory Schneider told Sportsnet. "We'd like to think we are adults and can handle this in an appropriate way.
"It's easy to direct your anger toward one person because he represents the owners and the owners aren't allowed to speak. I don't think we condone that but at the same time, it's a heat-of-the-moment mistake and I don't think anyone takes it personally."
At the very least, Versteeg is guilty of bad timing as his blast occurred hours before Bettman and Fehr and others are going behind closed doors at 7 p.m. ET in New York in an effort to bring peace to the hostile negotiations that threaten the 2012-13 NHL season. The lockout is now in its 65th day.
One of the greatest sources of criticism toward Bettman centers on a decision he made that has benefited players. Fans seem to like to grumble about Bettman's decision to expand from 26 to 30 NHL teams. Had he not done that, there would be 92 fewer players mad at him today.
Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com
Read the original story: Gary Bettman called cancer in latest player attack | http://nky.cincinnati.com/usatoday/article/1715661&usatref=sportsmod?odyssey=mod%257Cnewswell%257Ctext%257CReds%257Cp | 662 |
Shower for 75: Olympic cleaners live dirty lives in campsite7/16/2012
While athletes competing in the London Olympics can enjoy state-of-the-art luxurious living conditions in the Olympic village, spare a thought for some of the labor force. According to a British newspaper investigation, cleaners drafted in to work during the games are staying in an overcrowded and dingy campsite which has been left flooded by the heavy rains affecting London this summer. Workers will reportedly sleep in dormitories for 10 people and share bathrooms for 25 people, with an astounding 75 to each shower. One worker said the conditions reminded her of a ‘prison camp.’ Craig Lovett, of Spotless International Services which runs the camp, responded: “This is not a prison. Nobody is forced to stay there.” [Source]
What do you think about these living conditions? | http://now.msn.com/shower-for-75olympic-cleaners-live-dirty-lives-insqualid-ampsite?_p=b39e2220-a0e3-47cd-9f8c-50bb4114d4ac | 181 |
In a season that hasn't been as successful as the Pirates hoped it would be, rookie Zach Duke has given Pittsburgh a reason to be positive for the future.During the month of August, Duke has especially impressed. The Pirates left-hander went 3-0 over five starts and was voted the National League Rookie of the Month for his effort. "He's got the whole package," said former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon. "He's got stuff. And along with the stuff, he has the mental makeup. Those are the types of guys that you build around and get excited about." Duke led all rookie starters with a 2.83 ERA and finished the month with 28 2/3 innings pitched, allowing nine runs on 27 hits, and striking out 17. He outpaced stiff competition for the award. Other rookies considered included Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur (.312, four homers, 15 RBIs), Philadelphia's Ryan Howard (.307, five homers, 16 RBIs), and Florida's Jason Vargas (4-2, 4.46 ERA). "I expected to have some success, but this has really surpassed every expectation that I had," Duke said. "I'm kind of on cloud nine right now, and I'm very confident. But I'm not going to get complacent. I still have a lot of work to do." Duke is 6-0 on the season with a 1.81 ERA in 10 starts, including 44 strikeouts to just 16 walks over 59 2/3 innings. He also became the first Pirates rookie to win his first six decisions, all as a starter. "I don't think I've seen a kid as young as he is, as poised as he is in my 10-year career," Pirates reliever Rick White said. "He's phenomenal. He's real relaxed. He doesn't go with whatever the catcher puts down, he has an idea." He assembled a string of nine consecutive scoreless innings before leaving a game against the Cardinals on Aug. 23 with a sprained left ankle and was placed on the 15-day disabled list the next day. Though there is less than a month before the end of the season, Duke is working hard to get back into the Pirates rotation and is expected to be ready to pitch when he is eligible to come off the DL on Sept. 8. "My motto as I was coming up was, 'Hard work can beat talent if talent doesn't work hard.' That's kind of what I've worked at," Duke said. "There are lots of players with more talent than me. But I refuse to be outworked."
Andrew Worob is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20050906&content_id=1199179&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit | 553 |
- Michael Phelps Not planning a comeback for the 2016 summer gamesPosted 3 days ago
- Late Magic Wins Series for the PhilliesPosted 3 days ago
- Phillies Week 7 In ReviewPosted 3 days ago
- Union Tough Out Second Straight Win Against FirePosted 5 days ago
- Match Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire, IIPosted 6 days ago
- Donovan, Galaxy Embarrass Union 4-1Posted 7 days ago
- BREAKING: Union Trade Gabriel Farfan to Chivas USAPosted 9 days ago
- McNabb to Retire as an EaglePosted 9 days ago
- Phillies Week 6 in ReviewPosted 11 days ago
- Desert StormPosted 11 days ago
From the Editor: February Blues
- Updated: February 3, 2013
I can’t believe it’s February already! Just think, in one month, I’ll be back at PPL Park for opening day kick off as the Union take on Sporting Kansas City! Oh wait…I’m missing opening day. You get to that age where everyone is getting married and alas…there is a wedding. No worries though, as I’ll be headed to Colorado for the Union’s away opener the next weekend. But that’s still over a month away. What’s going to hold me over until then?
The truth is, February could have been worse than how it’s shaping up to be. There could have been no NHL, but luckily, the NHLPA and the league put their selfish needs aside and came to terms. Sure, it’s only a 48 game season, and whoever wins the Stanley Cup this year will know in their hearts that it’s only half a championship. Then there is the Flyers lack luster play to open up the season. You know what though? Who cares? There is hockey and you get to watch it. It’s better than no hockey at all.
Of course today is Super Bowl Sunday, marking the end of the NFL season. Monday will mark a day of depression for most, but for those of us lucky enough to watch EPL or any other European football (soccer for those who are still confused) league, we have about 14 more games to look forward to.
Yes, February definitely gives hardcore sports fans a case of the blues, but looking to the future is what is important here. As I said earlier, the Union season is less than a month away. If you’re not a soccer fan, you can breathe easy; pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training in just nine days which means Phillies baseball is on the horizon. Speaking of the Phillies, I have a special announcement to make today. I’d like to formally welcome Chris Baldino to the Philly Sports Live family. Chris is going to be one of our new staff writers covering the Phils.
Another announcement you say? Why yes! February will also mark the debut of the much anticipated Philly Sports Live Soccer Desk Podcast, which will be hosted by myself and Soccer Desk staff writer Richard McGovern. If all goes well with our venue meeting tomorrow, we’ll have an announcement on Tuesday, so stay tuned.
As always, we value your feedback. Have something you’d like to see or have us cover? Shoot us email at [email protected] or mention us on Twitter @PhillySportLive. Meanwhile, we want to know your Super Bowl picks! Make sure to let us know who you have walking out of the Super Dome with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Not watching the Super Bowl? There’s always the Puppy Bowl.
Have a great February everyone! See you in March!
All the Best,
Julian Brown, Editor in Chief | http://phillysportslive.com/from-the-editor-february-blues/ | 779 |
- Michael Phelps Not planning a comeback for the 2016 summer gamesPosted 3 days ago
- Late Magic Wins Series for the PhilliesPosted 3 days ago
- Phillies Week 7 In ReviewPosted 3 days ago
- Union Tough Out Second Straight Win Against FirePosted 5 days ago
- Match Preview: Philadelphia Union vs. Chicago Fire, IIPosted 6 days ago
- Donovan, Galaxy Embarrass Union 4-1Posted 7 days ago
- BREAKING: Union Trade Gabriel Farfan to Chivas USAPosted 9 days ago
- McNabb to Retire as an EaglePosted 9 days ago
- Phillies Week 6 in ReviewPosted 11 days ago
- Desert StormPosted 11 days ago
The Philadelphia Union trade forward Lionard Pajoy to D.C. United for midfielder Danny Cruz
- Updated: August 17, 2012
The Union sent Lionard Pajoy to D.C. just three days before the two teams meet in a rival match at RFK. Philadelphia in exchange will receive the Danny Cruz a 22-year old midfielder who entered the MLS with Houston in 2009 and was dealt to D.C. in the off season. The style the Union have been playing with Coach John Hackworth at the helm didn’t seem to fit Pajoy. His (Pajoy) minutes and production have dropped since the team parted ways with Coach Peter Nowak on June 13.
John Hackworth addressed Pajoy leaving and some reasoning behind the move,
“I’d like to thank Lionard for his time with us. He’s been a fantastic professional.”
“But this opportunity, to bring in a player of Danny’s quality, was one that we simply couldn’t pass up.
This trade brings in a player (Cruz) that Hackworth coached in the 2007 Under-17 World Cup, a team that included now Union teammates keeper Zac MacMath and defender Sheanon Williams. Adding a player Hackworth coached does help speed up the process that Cruz will go to adapting to his new team. Hackworth only spoke briefly about that, “He is a young and very healthy player with a lot of youth national team experience and he’ll fit into our style very well.” “Danny gave us a tough time every time he played against us. He personally was very difficult to deal with and with that in mind, I think he’ll be a real asset to us – both now and for years to come.”
Danny Cruz coming to Union with a smaller frame at 5′ 8″ does add concern about playing with an already vertically challenged midfield.Speaking with Jonathan Tannenwald, sports producer for Philly.com, he commented on why Cruz was brought to Philadelphia, “Because Cruz can play wider than the other guys. Also it gets rid of Pajoy, who has been a bust.”
Cruz was drafted in the third round (41st overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft by the Houston Dynamo. He scored his first goal for the Dynamo against DC United during his pro debut on March 28, 2009. In the 2011 season Cruz played a key roll in Houston’s run to the MLS Cup as he started in all four playoff games. This includes both playoff games that Union faced Houston last season. In January 2012, Cruz was traded from Houston to D.C. United in exchange for allocation money. This season with D.C. United Cruz has started 12 of the 16 games he has appeared in and has 1 goal and 2 assists on 16 shots.
The numbers are hard to hide with Pajoy, a first year forward with Philadelphia. He started 16 of the 20 games he played and only scored 5 goals on 36 shots. Whereas Jack McInerney half the minutes and has 4 goals on 12 shots. The Union will also have an open an international roster spot since Pajoy is from Columbia and Danny Cruz is American by his birth in Virginia. Also from speaking with Jonathan Tannenwald, this move is a finical benefit to the Union as Cruz’s annual guaranteed compensation is $106,500 to Pajoy’s $195,000.
Friday at PPL Park the Philadelphia Union will hold a press conference with Coach John Hackworth to introduce Danny Cruz to the media. | http://phillysportslive.com/the-philadelphia-union-trade-forward-lionard-pajoy-to-d-c-united-for-midfielder-danny-cruz/ | 888 |
Results tagged ‘ Nate McLouth ’
Harsh words? Maybe he always came off as a nice guy in Pittsburgh, but since his trade last June he has done nothing but trash the team I love.
It hurts to hear one of my favorite players of the last few years go off like that and I agree he does have a point.
Jason Bay too was traded somewhat unexpectedly, he still raves about his playing days in Pittsburgh. I just cannot respect a guy (McLouth) who does not respect the team that brought him up.
I am bringing this up again because ironically enough the Braves faced the Pirates today. McLouth would not only go up against his former team, but bat against the man he was traded for, pitcher Charlie Morton.
McLouth wasted no time sending a message. He lit up the scoreboard with a solo homerun to lead off the ball game. The Buccos got the last laugh when they won 7-6 over the Braves.
The win was surely welcomed for a ball club who has lost seven of their last ten. The ‘W’ puts the Pirates at 6-12-1 for the spring training tilt.
With just a mere ten days before Opening Day at beautiful PNC Park, there is something just a little more important along the way. The SWEET 16.
Tonight West Virginia and Washington do battle at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse, NY. The third round of NCAA tournament action tips off. The scene around Morgantown today and all throughout the month of March has been one of anticipation. We want it! A National Championship that is.
The Huskies and Mountaineers are a good matchup in that UDUB instills a run and gun offense while WVU plays lockdown defense. It is an 11th seed (wash.) vs. a 2nd seed (WVU). Many pundits across the country are picking the Huskies for the upset. In fact and ESPN.com poll says 32% are labeling this as the upset of the night.
I respectively disagree.
West Virginia will be without starting point guard Darryl ‘Truck’ Bryant, but that is okay. He has a foot injury and has not been playing his best in the postseason. Joe Mazzulla will step in nicely. He has starting experience and may play the best defense on the team. Mazzulla also has a unique tie-in with the Pirates. He was arrested in PNC Park two summers ago for dissorderly conduct. Not the brightest move and I cannot really stand up for him here but it has shadowed his illustrious Mountaineer career.
I hope those of you following the tournament get to tune into this game tonigth at 7:30 on CBS. I hope your brackets are still in tact and that you picked West Virginia to go far. I surely did. Tonight will prove to the country that WVU is for real and that we really will make noise on our way to the Championship game.
photo credits: dontveret.com, i.cdn.turner.com, fromthedugout.com, msnbc.com, cbc.com
Two games in. Two losses
The Pirates lost 2-4 at the hands of Atlanta on Thursday. The Pirates have put up miniscule hits these past two days, recording just four against the Braves. Compared to the five hit by Atlanta, I guess it should not be too big of a talking point.
Two of the Bucs reaching base safely were new additions. Ryan Church and Bobby Crosby.
Church got the start in right field, but should not be too commended for his effort. He struck out twice while getting his single in three at bats. Over the weekend I called in to a local sports talk station. The guys were talking about off-season accquisitions by the Pirates and failed to mention Church. I chimed in expressing my interest in him and that he could be a central part to our team. They agreed and complimented me, a good feeling considering I am not a frequent caller to these type of shows. I normally just like to sit back and listen. The show was Sunday during an intermission of the USA-Canada hockey game and I was lucky enough to be directed straight to the show. I did watch the game and if anybody else did I hope you were listening intently at the very beginning of the first period. Announcer Doc Emerick dropped a Pirates mention saying “I bet the Pittsburgh Pirates are glued intently to this game.” Perplexed I was, but later found out Emerick is a huge Pirates fan. The New Jersey Devils announcer earned major points in my media heroes book.
Crosby had a decent day at the plate. With two outs in third he ripped a single through the infield bringing in a run. It was the first tally mark of the afternoon for the Pirates. It was the only noise he would make in his three at bats.
Andy LaRoche hit the first homerun of the Spring Training season for Pittsburgh. His solo shot in the 7th was the only other productive at bat in the contest.
The underlying storyline heading into this ballgame was the matchup against former Pirate centerfielder Nate McLouth.
The 2008 Gold Glove winner was the first Pirate traded in last summer’s infamous fire sale. A shocking move to the city of Pittsburgh and the entire baseball world as McLouth just inked a long term deal with the club in the offseason.
In an interview with Jennifer Langosch Nate announced his disdain for the Pirates organization. Here is a sample of what he said.
It feels good to be in an organization this year that’s going to be in a playoff hunt and not have to talk about ‘We hope years down the road …’ and things like that. It’s good to have that feeling in Spring Training.
It was tough, but I was kind of lucky that I was the first one to get sent out and I didn’t have to deal with it the whole summer.
If I was in Nate’s position, I certainly would be a bit ticked and I understand what he is saying. At the time I was unsure of the trade, but it can pay big dividends for the Pirates. We got a starting pitcher (Charlie Morton) and a centerfield prospect (Gorkys Hernandez) out of the deal. It makes me happy theat McLouth is not down playing that situation. He truly wanted to be a Pirate and felt betrayed by the organization. Some say it is still a stupid move, but it really was not.
Our outfield now is one of the youngest and most talented in the National League. McLouth refused to move to left field when Andrew McCutchen would be promoted and that may have pre-empted the trade in the first place. McLouth’s numbers also dropped considerably when he was in the ATL.
In 85 games with the Braves, McLouth batted a mediocre .256 and hits 11 home runs, bringing his total up to 20 for the year. His on base percentage dropped a handful of points from the year before and his OPS was .773, the second lowest in his five year career.
It is hard to tell what the short and long term effects of the trade will be. The duo the Pirates recieved from Atlanta has yet to pan out. In sort of a fitting manner, it was Morton that started the game for Pittsburgh. He had control issues walking three batters (including McLouth).
photo credits: piratereport.com, coxnewsweb.com
Baltimore is up next! Bucs-O’s Friday at 7p.m.
Before the ball drops and “Auld Lang Syne” is blared over the speakers it is only right to reflect on what this past year has held. Not to mention just this year, but a whole decade of memories that have played out right before us. These ten years have been special and and happy. The same can not be said for this last decades Pittsburgh Pirates team. Lets just say the 60′s and 70′s will forever remained untouched in terms of Pirate supremacy. These past ten years have been below dismal and hard to bear, but if there was to be a Most Valuable Player throughout the decade, I give it to the fans of Pittsburgh. Yes we remain near dead last in terms of overall attendance year in and year out, but can you blame ‘em? With two championship sports team playing in the same city the Pirates have steadily declined in popularity, however the loyal fans remain. Whether they’re enjoying a $4 bleacher seat on a Sunday afternoon, listening to Bob Walk and Greg Brown on the radio while riding in the car, or raising the jolly roger in their own front yard after a Pirates win, the fans are here, anticipating the next 60′s and 70′s-esque decade. Until then I implore you to reflect on what was the 2000′s in Pittsburgh baseball lore. These fine players made us proud and actually gave us something to cheer about.
STARTING PITCHER: Zach Duke
As the lone representative from the current Pirate squad, Zach Duke stumbles into the Ace role of the 2000′s. The hype surrounding Duke back around 2003 was unparalled with nearly every publication ranking him as the Pirates best pitching prospect in quite sometime. He arrived in 2005 and was everything the doctor ordered. Duke went 8-2 with a 1.81 ERA. It looked like his reign was just beginning. However, since then Duke has not had a winning season and has been a mediocre pitcher compared to most in the league. Last year he went 11-16 with an ERA just over 4. Sad to say but it really was his best year since his rookie campaign. He has shown signs of improvements with his fastball and can really be a reliable starter. At just 26, he is still a major part of the Pirates future. There was talks of shopping him around this winter but expect to see him back
Honorable Menions: 1) Kip Wells, 2) Oliver Perez
CATCHER: Jason Kendall
His trademark scowl and unique batting stance, Kendall was a staple of leadership for the Pirates. He had an image Pittsburghers ate up as he became an all time favorite in the hearts of fans. He hustled and bustled his way around the basepaths and was a brick wall behind the plate. He lacked power but always flirted around and above a .300 batting average. He was one of the longets tenured Pirates having been drafted in 1993 before being traded in 2004. He helped usher in PNC Park and lead hope for the future-a future that never came.
Honorable Mentions: 1) Ryan Doumit, 2) Cody Ross
FIRST BASEMAN: Craig Wilson
Probably more famous for his long golden locks of hair than his play on the field, Wilson was a hard-nosed reliable players. Yeah he struck out a lot, 427 times in five seasons in Pittsburgh, but he was a power threat in the lineup (a rarity for the black and gold). Wilson had a monster year at the plate in 2004. The California Crusher belted a career high 29 homers and drove in 82 RBI. He also had 148 hits in that year. He always hit around 15 home runs a year and was versitile having played the outfield and 1B as well.
Honorable Mentions: 1) Adam LaRoche, 2) Sean Casey
SECOND BASEMAN: Freddy Sanchez
One of the most likeable guys to ever don a Pirates jersey, Sanchez played his heart out everytime he stepped on the field. He is a talented fielder and a star at the plate. He very well could be one of the most well rounded second basemen of the decade in the whole league. Coming over from Boston via trade in 2004, he was a relatively unknown prospect but said to have decent potential. He surely exceeded expectations in 2005 when he stepped right in and batted .291 in his first full season in the league. From there Sanchez took Pirates fan on the ride of their lives. The very next year Sanchez took home the National League batting crown hitting .344. He struggle din his last year as a Pirate but he still has some good years left in San Fran.
Honorable Mentions: 1) Jose Castillo, 2) Pokey Reese
THIRD BASEMAN: Aramis Ramirez
Often times criticized, often times praised, Ramirez never could quite find his niche in Pittsburgh. It never did stop him from putting up good numbers. Coming into the league as a scrappy 19 year old in 1998, he was a major performer christening PNC Park in 2001. A-Ram went off batting .300 with 34 HRs and 100 RBI. It looked like the Pirates finally found an uprising star to build around. However he went through slumps the following year with just a 2.34 BA. His trade in 2003 to the Cubs was the first of many “salary dumps” fans would have to endure throughout the decade.
Honorable Mentions: 1) Jose Hernandez, 2) Andy LaRoche
SHORTSTOP: Jack Wilson
Jumpin’ Jack Flash. A name forever synonoumous with the Pittsburgh baseball club. Words simply cannot describe Wilson’s effort, desire and heart. Game in-game out it always was expected to see his uniform dirty. Wilson had tremedous range at SS. Turn on Baseball Tonight and Wilson is seen on Web Gems with his tremendous glove work. Kendall may have been a clubhouse leader at the beginning of the decade but this was Wilson’s team during the waning years. His production is underrated amongst the entire league. He wasn’t the best at the plate with a career .269 but he could do everything asked of him. His presecence was always missed in the lineup when he was injured and now no longer part of the Pirates, he simply can never be replaced. Honorable Mentions: NONE
LEFT FIELDER: Brian Giles
Named to the All-Decade MLB team for a reason, Giles patrols LF for the Pirate’s decade team as well. A dead heat between him and Jason Bay, Giles gets the upper hand due to statistical better seasons with the Pirates. Bay is surely the better player-post Pittsburgh and may have been in the black and gold as well. However, numbers don’t lie and Giles had some of the best out of any Pirates player ever. Four straight seasons of 30+ home runs, three straight .300 batting average season-unheard of numbers for a Pirate. But the best decision the Pirates made during the decade was trading Giles for Bay and Oliver Perez.
Honorable Mentions: 1) Jason Bay, 2) Nyjer Morgan
CENTER FIELDER: Nate McLouth
An all star and a gold glover, Nate truly was Great during his four and a half year tenure in Pittsburgh. McLouth was used as a bench player primarily in his first two seasons, he just needed a bit of playing time to show he truly belonged. He was a speedy center fielder who played impeccable defense and was rewarded with the gold glove following the 2008 season. 2008 was really his attention grabbing campaign. McLouth knocked 21 home runs and batted a solid .276. The power shown surprised many fans and notched him a spot on the National League All Star team. In the game he threw out Dioneer Navarro at the plate and his arm surprised the baseball world. He ended up racking up good numbers for the year finishing up in Atlanta in 2009 after hitting nine homeruns in 45 games in Pittsburgh.
Honorable Mention: 1) Andrew McCutchen, 2) Tike Redman
RIGHT FIELDER: Reggie Sanders
Though he played just one season in Pittsburgh, Sanders patrolled the gaping hole that is RF for the Pirates masterfully. It has been tough to find a solid player to be a right fielder for the Pirates, but Sanders brought fanfare in 2003. He was an off season acquisition along with Kenny Lofton. These two aging vets breathed a new life into the club and brought greater attention to the team. Playing 130 games Sanders hit 31 home runs and hit for a .281 batting average. He had quite the high OPS at .912 and was a threat at the plate at any given time. What really sets Sanders in a class of his own is his own poise. He was a great guy off the field. Having only been in Pittsburgh one season, you would have assumed he was a local citizen all his life.
Honorable Mentions: 1) Xavier Nady, 2) John Vander Wal
RELIEF PITCHER: Mike Williams
The “Cardiac Kid” played with fan’s emotions for five years as a Pirate. He was a reliable closer, but seemed to take forever in mowing down the last three outs of a ball game. It wa sthe way he worked giving up doubles, walking batters, loading the bases. It all came together as a whole mismatch, but he eventually would get the job done. He had two tenures as a Pirate, 1998-2000 and 2002-2003. In 2002 he went down in the Pittsburgh record books with 46 saves in a season, a team record. The flamboyant Virginia Tech grad was infamous for snubbing West Virgnia fans hunting for autographs.
Honorable Mentions: 1) Matt Capps, 2) Mike Fetters
Yep, there ya have it. Some players you have heard of, some you have not. They all do have one thing in common, none of them ever gave the Pirates a winning season. A few of them played together but still couldn’t get the job done. It is hard to tell whether or not this starting lineup would compile a competitve team with a shot at the playoffs, let alone a .500 season. I wouldn’t bet on it.
Words can’t describe how weird it is for me to look at that picture and accept the fact that Nate McLouth is no longer a Pittsburgh Pirate. After 10 years with the Pirates organization, McLouth is now playing centerfield for the Atlanta Braves.
I wish Nate all the best in his tenure in Atlanta, chances are he will be there for quite some time. He is under contract for the next 3 years and when the ATL front office realizes how important he is to their team, they should lock him up for an additional 3 or so years. McLouth has the ability to remain a Brave and become quite the legend. He may never be the best of teh best, but keeping up with his solid all-around style of gameplay he will surely never be forgotten when wearing the Blue and Red.
I might be getting a little ahead of myself here just a bit. It is still very tough to swallow after seeing and getting used to this
for the better part of the last 4 years. His boyish face, sheepish grin, and bleach blonde hair have been a staple in the Pirates clubhouse and Pittsburgh community for nearly half a decade. Nate had a program he ran at every game called “Nate’s Lucky 13” He would bring in 13 underpriveleged kids from the urban areas of the Burgh and allow them to take part in the baseball experience. These kids normally would not have a chance to go see a live MLB game so Nate would take it upon himself to show these youths a good time. He took them behind the scenes at PNC Park and down on the field for pre-game warmups. They also recieved good seats and custom T-shirts. Nate is a great guy and a player that the Atlanta community should warm up to as well.
Well enough is enough, he’s gone and he ain’t coming back. Instead of visiting Western, PA, the Pirates trekked to Georgia to take on the Braves in a 4 game series. The opening game of the series was very thrilling going 15 innings. The Pirates wound up losing the game 7-6 in the bottom of the 15th but nonetheless, they stuck in there and never backed down.
The Pirates-McLouth reunion was overshadowed by the fact that Braves manager Bobby Cox earned his 2,000 win as a Brave. McLouth took advantage of his old team by ripping three hits including his first homerun in Atlanta, his tenth of the year.
For Pittsburgh, McLouth’s replacement Andrew McCutchen had quite the noteworthy game as well. Cutch had 4 hits, 2 of which were doubles. In my last entry I vented about how important he needs to be in regard to the future of the Pirates organization. He showed last night that he can be looked to as a form of support and he will carry the torch. Although the Bucs lost he put up them numbers that should have put them in a position to win. It was pretty fitting that McCutchen went off like he did playing against McLouth.
PHOTO CREDITS: ap photos off espn.com
I’m loving the props on the mlblogs home page. Matt Weiters got some recognition for making his debut and now Andrew McCutchen graces the cover.
As we all know by now Nate McLouth was traded to the Braves in exchange for prospects. The dust has finally settled and the fact that hes gone has set in. Fans and players alike were equally shocked and held in disbelief by the trade. In this article off espn.com, Pirates players vent about their frustrations with the front office.
Its good to see the players have so much dedication for a teammate. It shows that the players here in Pittsburgh strive to do the best they can to give the fans something to cheer about. I think the team will be brought closer together with the events that occured and pull it all together.
But the sun will always rise and it surely did yesterday afternoon in Pittsburgh.
Cutch is here and the future surely is NOW.
McCutchen impressed on his opening day going 2-4 with and RBI. He showcased his speed by stealing a base an scoring two runs. He along with Nyjer Morgan both celebrated the day and showed the Mets that speed definately kills as the Bucs downed the Metropolitans 11-6.
Jon from the Mc Effect was at the game and had the time of his life. He has a nice rundown of the days events over on his blog, be sure to check it out. http://eatsleepmlb.mlblogs.com
The Pirates are now inching closer and closer to that coveted .500 mark. WIth a new sense of identity and Cutch the boy wonder in teh lineup on an everyday basis watch for Pittsburgh to deliever and prove to the baseball world that they can win.
After Day 1 of the McCutchen project PNC Park was able to
RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER…25-28
- 2008 Gold Glove winner
- 2008 All-Star
- 46 doubles in 2008
- 2008 Roberto Clemente Award winner
- Allegheny River splash ball
Shock. I was in complete and udder shock upon hearing the news that Nate McLouth was traded to the Atlanta Braves. Our cornerstone player, fan favorite and all around best player has been dealt away. I just don’t get it.
I’m all for improving the team. I want more than anything for the Pirates to win. I just felt lied to and dissrespected as a Bucco fan for the event that just occured. GM Neil Huntington, pictured to the left of Nate, claimed that he was a part of our winning future. He was a building block for the Pittsburgh turnaround, Not so much anymore. Gorkys Hernanadez, Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke will now be part of that glorious future. Ever heard of them? Me niether.
The Pirates play third fiddel in the city of Pittsburgh. The Steelers come first, the Pens come second, the Pirates come third. Its almost like the world has been turned upside down in the Steel City when the baseball team is brushed off. Now that the most recognizable player has been traded again, who can the casual fans identify with? They abided in Jason Bay-traded away. Brian Giles-traded away. Aramis Rameriz-traded away. While Bay, Giles, and Rameriz were traded away for younger talent, money was also in issue in each of the trades. McLouth is affordable. He was signed through 2011 making just in the low millions. WHile he was probably traded awya for upper-level prospects, we have enough. I guess you can never be too cautious about the future, but when management claims to want to win NOW, how is this move justified? I just don’t see it, and if I can’t see it, the casual fans of Pittsburgh surely wont be able to either.
Well Nate I guess Green Day said it best…
IT’S SOMETHING UNPREDICTABLE, BUT IN THE END ITS RIGHT…
I HOPE YOU HAD THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER…21-24
Freddy Sanchez went bonkers at the plate going 6-6 with 3 RBI and a homerun. Nate McLouth added a homerun as well and the Pirates beat the Cubs 10-8 at Wrigley. Andy LaRoche also enjoyed contributing to the offensive explosion. He now has a ten game hitting streak with his 3-hit performance on Memorial day.
Paul Maholm started the game for Pittsburgh but Tom Gorzelanny picked up the win. Sean Burnett earned his first career Major League save. Long overdue for a guy who was supposed to be a cornerstone to the Bucs future pitching staff way back in 2003. He only was given the reins last night after Matt Capps was struck with a Geovanny Soto line drive. Capps was pulled from the game and taken to teh hospital for X-rays, they came back negative. (GOOD SIGN).
Just like the rest of the Major League Baseball team the Pirates took part in Memorial Day festivities.
By adorning the red caps the Bucs did not match at all. The ***** Eye for the Straight Guy folks would have a field day making over this uniform combination. But what matters is that those who fought to serve our country were honored. I for one really like the hate. I’m a sucker for flashy hats and that one that Jack Wilson is wearing in the picture to teh right is just that-flashy. I may have to take a trip to the mall and hit up Lids. It would go well for my summer wardrobe, plus it would come in handy come 4th of July.
The Pirates weren’t the only ones in the patriotic spirit yesterday.
Although he was the “Southside Slugger” in rocky 3, Clubber Lang appaered on the other side of town. The beloved Mr. T was on hand decked out in perfect Red White and Blue attire to throw out the first pitch in the ballgame. Still looking buff-minus the earings he delievered a perfect strike across the plate.
This is not what I hope to see this week. The road trip to Chicago has not been as friendly as hoped for the Bucs. Sunday was an exciting come from behind thriller as the Pirates won 4-3 thanks to a tying homerun by Jack Wilson, his 1st of the season. And the ultimate winning run scored by Nyjer Morgan and hit by Delwyn Young. All the damage was done with the game on the brink in the top of the ninth.
The Pirates only managed 2 hits against Sox pitcher Gavin Floyd in Fridays 2-0 loss. A different story in the pivital game three. Sunday’s win gave the Pirates 16 hits en route to their 20th win of the season.
Pittsburgh now sits at 20-24 on the year and face the Cubs. I have to applaud whoever does the scheduling of teh season games. To hav ethe Pirates stay in Chicago for a six game stretch was very convienent. I’m sure the players appreciate not having to travel across the country but rather across town. I wonder if they just stayed in the hotel this past week? Doubtful because Chicago is a huge city, but nontheless it is a good move.
The Pirates now face the Cubs in an interesting crossroads. The Cubbies have lost 7 in a row. This could be both an advantage and disadvantage facing Pittsburgh. Can the Pirates kick Chicago while their down? Or will Chicago be hungry and feeding on the Pirates?
With all these questions upon us lets take a look at some of the images from Sunday’s dramatic victory at U.S. Cellular Field.
Eric Hinkse filled in at first base for Adam LaRoche. Hinske did things in a big way hitting a ground rule double in the first and a solo homerun in the 8th. The HR was his first of the year. Hinske’s performance should dictate more playing time at first base or anywhere on the diamond.
Starting pitcher Jeff Kaaaaaaarstens had one of his best outings of the year. (I add the aaaaaaar for the dynamic Pirate-sounding effect. Works dont it?) 5.1 innings pitched, 5 hits and 3 earned runs was his stat line. A no-decision but he definately allowed the Bucs to stay in the game.
Jack Wilson connects for his homerun in the top of the ninth. It was his first of the year and it could not have come at a more opportune time. The dinger tied the game at 3 and ultimately boosted the Pirates to score the winning run a few batters latter.
Nyjer Morgan crossed the plate for that winning run thanks to the RBI at the hands of Delwyn Young. The look in Morgan’s eyes and expression on his face sum up the feeling of winning that every player feels after a crucial moment. Morgan, a sprakplug in his own right will help instill the positive and most importantly winning mentality in the minds of the players to continue to win vicoriously.
Outfielder Nate McClouth, Morgan and Brandon Moss gather to celebrate the 4-3 vicotry after Matt Capps shut down the WHite Sox 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth. Capps struck out the side en route to his 9th save of the year.
After singing the Blues while witnessing 2 straight losses, I was signing the praises of the Bucs while watching this game on my couch, all part of my ideal lazy Sunday type of afternoon. As this week continues in Chicago I hope to see more jubilation in part to Buc victories, theres nothing like a good win to make your day alot better.
PHOTO CREDITS: allposters.com, espn.com
5…5 WINS…5 WINS IN A ROW!
It was a pitcher’s duel throughout the course of nine innings but the Bucs pull off another win, 2-1 over the Nats.
The Bucs played small ball to move rnners over with Delwyn Young, Freddy Sanchez and Nate McClouth all collected singles in the last frame. The offense was not there for the Pirates or the Nationals all game. Pittsburgh left 13 men on base, 9 times out of ten you lose a game when you leave that many on base. Thank goodness for John Russel’s crew, they were playing Washington.
The Nats are losing by the pound these days. Alot of the blame needs to be placed on their atrocouis bullpen. The Nats pen is 1-15 when givin the opportunity to win a game. John Hanarahan picked up the L for the Nats yesterday. An era of 6.97 and an 0-2 record just won’t cut it if you’re trying to win ballgames.
The losing tendency is wearing off an outfielder Adam Dunn. The offseason acquisition must really be rethinking signing with the club.
“I’m tired of talking about losses, period,” he said.
“You can only say the same thing over and over and over before you get fed up with it, and that’s kind of what’s going on right now.”
The opposite feeling is abounding over at the Pirates camp.
”It’s unbelievable. You can just feel the electricity in the clubhouse,” John Grabow said after he picked up his second win of the season to remain undefeated. “It’s so awesome knowing that when you win, how much it changes the mood. Everybody’s a lot more confident. When you come to the field and you’re expecting a win, it makes all the difference.”
With the Buc’s on a brink of a 4-game sweep. Fans are ready but quite hesitant to jump on the bandwagon. The brroms will surely be out in the capital tonight. From watching the series on FSN Pittsburgh there seems to be a large contingency of “Burghers cheering on the Bucs at National’s Park. The drive to D.C. is not very far and fans must be taking advantage of the short trip to take in a game as well as a history lesson about America.
Posters on the Pirates message board on piratec.com claim that a large population from the Steel City migrated to the east for work in the latter part of teh ’70s. After being in Baltimore myself last year for an Orioles-Pirates game I can definately agree. There were many many Buccos fans joining me to cheer on the Pirates. It’s laways nice seein us Pittsburgh fans invading another teams stdium. We surely get enough of them at PNC Park in the summer when Cardinals, Cubs and Philies fans invade the Park.
OH and by the way…
RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER…19-21
QUOTE CREDIT: espn.com/AP report
RAISE THE JOLLY ROGER…3-2
Scrappy, hard-nosed, intrepid—> three words you would used for a football player, James Harrison or Ben Roethisberger perhaps. On Saturday those three adjectives switched sports and fit a baseball player to a T. Nyjer Morgan continued his streak of contingency by going 3-4. Morgan notched a triple and a pair singles while stealing two bases. Perfect fantasy numbers for you gurus out there. Those numbers were quite frankly outstanding and good enough for a 10-2 Pirate win over the Cincinatti Reds. .
The bats of the whole lineup were out in full force. Nate McClouth went 2-3 with 3 RBI and went deep in the top of the first with a 2-run homer, his second of the year.
The big sticks hammered Cinci reliever Mike Lincoln in the top of the ninth innings. Ryan Doumit went deep for a grand slam and Adam LaRoche follwed suit with a solo shot of his own.
Without the ingenious play of Morgan on the base paths the grand slam would have been an after thought. Morgan used a hard slide into second base to break up a would be double play. Earlier in the game the instincts of Morgan shone once again as he topple over Cinci catcher Ramon Hernandez breaking up what could have been a close play at the plate.
I’ve priased Morgan for his opening series heroics but he proved today that hard play will be the norm for our starting left fielder. It’s great to see him giving his all out there and enjoying playing the game.
With all the praise for the offense it should go without saying that the starting pitching really gave the Pirate’s the upper hand. Paul Maholm was sharp, just as he was in his opening day appearance. The Mississippi native went seven innings only allowing three hits. Nasty stuff was thrown from his arm all day and his control was spot on, only walking three batters.
On Easter Sunday the Bucs will battle the Reds agin for the final game of teh rain shortened series. Only 2 days ’til the PNC Park home opener. So Pumped and ready to take in the game at the most beautiful park in all of baseball.
Jolly Roger photo- uts.cc.utexas.edu | http://pittpeas.mlblogs.com/tag/nate-mclouth/ | 7,603 |
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins added another piece to their rotation, agreeing to terms with right-hander Mike Pelfrey on a one-year deal on Sunday. Pelfrey is set to earn $4 million with $1.5 million in performance incentives.
The Twins officially announced the move Thursday morning after Pelfrey passed his physical.
Pelfrey, 28, had a strong start to the 2012 season with a 2.29 ERA in three starts with the Mets before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow May 1. He was non-tendered by the Mets after the season, making him a free agent, but he's expected to be healthy by Opening Day, according to Twins general manager Terry Ryan.
"We like the guy's stuff," Ryan said. "We like his makeup. We think he fits in here well. We brought him on certainly to be one of our starters."
The 6-foot-7, 250-pounder has a career 50-54 record with a 4.36 ERA, 506 strikeouts and 318 walks over 896 1/3 innings, all with the Mets.
The sinkerballer's best seasons were in '08, when he had a 3.72 ERA in 200 2/3 innings, and in '10 when he had a 3.66 ERA in 204 innings. His last full season came in '11, when he had a 4.74 ERA in 193 2/3 innings. But Ryan said he remains hopeful Pelfrey can return to his form from '10.
"He throws hard," Ryan said. "He's got pitches. Going back, he didn't pitch this year except for about two or three starts. He was off to a pretty good start, but unfortunately it wasn't meant to be because of Tommy John. The previous year he had a down year. But he does give you innings and gives you starts. He's only 28. So we're hoping we're reverting to 2010, when he had a very good year with the Mets."
Before undergoing Tommy John surgery, Pelfrey proved to be durable, throwing more than 180 innings in four straight seasons. He's regarded as a ground-ball pitcher and keeps the ball in the ballpark, which should help a staff that gave up the second-most homers in baseball last season despite playing at spacious Target Field.
"I really believe this ballpark is suited to what he can do," Ryan said. "I don't refer to that too much, because the Mets ballpark in 2011 was similar to this one. So I'm not going to pretend like the ballpark will be the cure-all for everything, but we do like his stuff."
Pelfrey is expected to join a Twins rotation that includes Scott Diamond, Vance Worley and Kevin Correia. Prospect Kyle Gibson, who is also coming off Tommy John surgery, is another candidate to start the season in the rotation.
But the Twins will be more cautious with Gibson because he hasn't thrown as many innings as Pelfrey.
"He'll be a little different than Gibson because he's hit that 200 mark a few times in his career," Ryan said. "He's pitched at least 180 innings quite a few times."
Ryan added that he might not be done adding starting pitching, as the Twins are still on the lookout to improve a rotation that finished with the second-worst ERA in the Majors last season.
"I think we have to continue to look," Ryan said. "Whether we secure another guy or two, I'm not positive, but we certainly have to continue to look." | http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121216&content_id=40670830&vkey=news_min&c_id=min | 744 |
The players are all freshmen. Defensive back Janzen Jackson, 19, and wide receiver Nu’Keese Richardson, 19, and defensive back Michael Edwards, 18, are charged with three counts each of attempted armed robbery.
A fourth suspect, Marie Montmarquet, 21, faces similar charges and is also being held on drug charges.
Richardson and Edwards were held on bonds of $19,500 each. Jackson’s bond was set at $15,000.
Police say three men, Corey B. Zickefoose, 20, Benjamin J. Everett, 20, and Corey M. Smith, 18, were sitting in a 1998 Hyundai Elantra at Pilot on Cumberland Ave.
The men said they were parked next to a light blue Toyota Prius when one of the four suspects approached their car holding a semi-auto handgun.
The victims told police the man opened the driver’s door and ordered the three to “Give me everything you have.” A second suspect then went to another door of the car and said, “Give us everything you’ve got.”
When the victims showed their wallets to the suspects to prove they didn’t have any money, a third suspect arrived, saying, “We’ve got to go.”
The victims said the suspects got in the Prius, which went southbound on Volunteer Blvd West. They said a woman was driving and three men were in the car.
Using descriptions from the victims of the suspects and their vehicle, police later spotted the suspects near Gibbs Hall on the UT campus, still in the Prius, and stopped it.
Officers saw two black hoodies on the back seat. Under the back seat, they found a black, CO2 powered pellet gun. In the glove box, officers found a marijuana grinder.
A search of the suspects revealed a plastic baggie with what was believed to be marijuana in Montmarquet’s jacket pocket.
Montmarquet later said the marijuana grinder belonged to her.
Police confiscated the hoodies, the pellet gun, the marijuana and the marijuana grinder. The Prius was towed to the city impound lot.
The four were taken back to Pilot where the victims identified Edwards and Richardson as the two who demanded money. Jackson was identified as the suspect who said they had to go.
The police report said two other people, Charles Miller and Carly Hair, witnessed the incident and gave police the same description of the event as the victims.
“At this time, we are currently evaluating the circumstances surrounding an incident involving Mike Edwards, Janzen Jackson and Nu’Keese Richardson,” UT Men’s Athletics Director Mike Hamilton said in a statement released Thursday. “Any decisions or comments regarding their status will not be made until the evaluations are complete.”
Late Thursday head coach Lane Kiffin said he was not sure of the playing status of the players and was still looking into the incident.
Former head coach Phillip Fulmer “will have no comment,” according to his attorney, Jeff Hagood.
Jackson is a 6′, 180 pound defensive back from Lake Charles, Louisiana. He was rated as the no. 2 cornerback in the 2009 class by Rivals.com.
Richardson is a 5’10″, 165 pound wide receiver from Pahokee, Fla. He was rated as the no. 9 wide receiver in the 2009 class by Rivals.com.
Edwards is a 5’10″, 170 pound defensive back from Cleveland, Ohio. He was rated as the no. 48 cornerback nationally by Rivals.com.
“When I drop them off at school I expect them coming into a safe environment and have teachers in their right mind,” said Jessica Smith, a concerned parent.
Police say 42 year-old Marietta Abner was not in the right state of mind for teaching her special education class Monday.
School officials contacted the school resource officer after they suspected Abner had come to work under the influence.
“She was suffering from slurred speech, poor balance, several other indicators that led him to arrest her for public intoxication,” said Manchester Police Chief Jeff Culver.
Manchester police say Abner was also in possession of prescription pills in an improper container. Some of the pills are believed to be Suboxone – which is used to treat opiate addiction, and Klonopins – an anti-anxiety drug.
Abner was arrested and charged with public intoxication and two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
“I love the school,” said Smith, “I wouldn’t want my kids going anywhere else, but it shocks me about what happened.”
Abner is out on bond and is scheduled for an arraignment Thursday.
School officials say they are still deciding what action to take in regards to Abner’s employment
Police say the suspect is in custody and charged with murder in the death of 17-year-old Marcus Alloway. Police are not releasing the name of the suspect.
Authorities say five others were wounded during the shooting at the party early Tuesday morning, including a 46-year-old security guard and four teenagers.
Police say two people tried to enter the party but were told they could not because they didn’t have an invitation. Police say one of them shot the security guard and then began firing into the party.
The group is also accused of identity theft, and police in both cities are trying to find the victims.
A Chicago mother, along with her boyfriend and his mother, were all in jail in Ohio Thursday. Police arrested them this week in Parma, which is about nine miles south of Cleveland.
Police say the shoplifting ring involved the mother’s two children, and one detective called the scheme pathetic.
Parma police say Amina Frye’s 10-year-old daughter helped her 8-year-old brother steal a handful of expensive, designer hats with their mother’s approval. At least one alleged theft was caught on surveillance tape.
“It’s obvious from the video that mom knew what the kids were doing,” said Detective Marty Compton, Parma police. “I mean, the kid walks up within four feet of mom, the sister, in plain view of mom, hands him a shopping bag, and he stuffs $225 worth of hats into it.”
It took place at a Macy’s store in Parma, Ohio. Police say the 34-year-old mother is just one link in a shoplifting ring.
When the store’s security guards confronted Frye, police say she got into a fight with them, and another suspect – 64-year-old Diana Burton – jumped in as well. Authorities say Burton’s son, Donald Burton, who is Frye’s boyfriend, punched one security guard in the face.
“These three all have identification that hands them back to Chicago, and Diana Burton has a history that gives us 32 aliases,” Compton said. “So they’ve been around the block before.”
Following the fight, the three adults and two children left the store and were about to take off in a 2009 Chevy Suburban. Police say they arrested everyone on the spot. Inside the vehicle, Parma detectives say they found credit cards, gift cards and what’s believed to be stolen property.
“As the result of the arrest, we’ve determined that we can probably ties these people to crimes in Chicago and Cleveland and God only knows what points between,” Compton said.
Parma police say there could be dozens of victims. They’ve already identified four alleged victims in Chicago. The three adults will be in court Friday in Ohio.
In the meantime, police say the boy and girl were taken into protective custody and have been released to a relative who lives in the Cleveland area.
So he called the only number that worked: 911.
“Basso states that he was going to do his laundry today but was informed that the washer was inoperable,” Tampa police Officer Vivian Frauenfeld wrote in an incident report. “Basso decided to make some breakfast, then went into the shower to have some fun.”
That fun, Frauenfeld wrote, included calling a 911 operator, making several sexual comments about her body before asking whether he could come over to her house and have sex with her.
After being arrested, Basso said he “did not think he would get into trouble for calling 911,” Frauenfeld wrote. Basso admitted he has made obscene calls to 911 in the past, but he has never been caught because he uses a false name and address when calling.
Police responded to Basso’s residence, at 4204 N. Nebraska Ave., shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday after complaints by the 911 operator, according to the report. When they arrived at the rooming house, police found two men who led them to a bathroom where Basso was. The door was locked, police said.
Basso was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of making a false 911 call, according to Hillsborough County jail records. He remains in jail with bail set at $500
Only one robbery occurred in the same area in the previous three weeks, the statistics show.
While police and university officials expressed concern Thursday about the spike, the statistics also show that crime in the area near campus is down about 7.3% since the school year began when compared with the same period last year.
The statistics track an area bordered by E. Edgewood Ave. to the north, E. North Ave. to the south, the Milwaukee River to the west and N. Lake Drive to the east.
Two armed robberies and an attempted armed robbery occurred within about 40 minutes early Tuesday south of campus, prompting UWM Chancellor Carlos E. Santiago to send an e-mail about the spike to the university’s students.
Last week, Santiago requested a meeting with Milwaukee Police Chief Edward A. Flynn to discuss safety and crime-fighting efforts in the area near campus. The two have agreed to meet but have not yet set a date, police and university officials said.
UWM police began expanded patrols of neighborhoods near campus Tuesday, university spokesman Tom Luljak said.
Milwaukee police also have expanded their patrols in the area, Capt. Patrick S. Mitchell said. Mitchell commands the department’s 1st District, which consists primarily of Milwaukee’s downtown and east side.
No arrests have been made in connection with Tuesday’s robberies and attempted robbery, in which a group of four males targeted pedestrians, Mitchell said.
The same group is believed to have committed a robbery near S. 13th St. and W. Cleveland Ave. just before the robberies near UWM, Mitchell said.
Six people have been arrested since Oct. 22 in connection with crimes committed near the university, said Milwaukee police spokeswoman Anne E. Schwartz. Three people were arrested on suspicion of robbery, and three were arrested for allegedly using stolen credit cards, she said.
University and police officials stressed Thursday that people who live near UWM should be aware of the crimes but not overly concerned for their safety.
“The reason we became alarmed is because of the rapid succession of robberies in such a short period of time, and the fact that many of them unfortunately had UWM students as victims,” Luljak said. “We do not want to panic or alarm people. We don’t think that we’re in a crisis situation, but it is troubling to see this sudden spike in that one crime category.”
Increased patrols in the neighborhoods near campus should reassure residents, Mitchell said.
“This area right now is experiencing a heightened level of fear,” he said. “That’s why we want to get into the neighborhoods and show that the police are here in force, both between the university police and the Milwaukee police. We want to do everything we can to reduce that level of fear.”
UWM sophomores Brad Wessling and Rob Van Dyke said they have noticed more police patrolling their neighborhood south of campus this year.
But Leon Lynn, who lives west of campus, said he has seen fewer squad cars patrolling his neighborhood since the city’s Police Department reconfigured its district boundaries in July
Battiste said he was leaving to become the chief probation officer at the Strickland Youth Center in Mobile.
Battiste, who came to Prichard after working 17 years at the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office, said he was not asked to leave the department.
He also said the fact that the city filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection about two weeks ago did not impact his decision.
“The city bankruptcy is not something that prompted me to make this move,” Battiste said. “It’s just a tremendous opportunity to go and be a part of the program.”
In a letter dated today but delivered to Mayor Ron Davis and City Council members Thursday, the chief said that his resignation would take effect Dec. 13.
“I have spent much time praying for guidance in this decision,” Battiste wrote in the letter.
After former Chief Sammie Brown left in early 2005, Davis, a former Mobile County sheriff’s deputy who knew Battiste through the Sheriff’s Office, asked the City Council to select Battiste as the city’s chief.
At the Sheriff’s Office, Battiste became the first black officer to be promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and he was named Deputy of the Year in 2003.
Former Assistant Chief Yvonne Baldwin served as acting chief for about five months before Battiste was hired.
Last year, Baldwin won a gender discrimination lawsuit in which she claimed the city offered her the chief’s job under less-favorable terms than her predecessor.
The city has yet to pay the judgment, and included the more than $300,000 owed to her on a list of creditors in a recent motion in the bankruptcy petition.
Battiste signed a $66,000-a-year contract with the city in Oct. 2005.
Davis could not be reached for comment Thursday.
Marvin Whitfield, who ran much of the department’s day-to-day operations until he left earlier this year, said that the city will be hard-pressed to find someone who can fully replace what Battiste brought to the table.
“The city is losing a great steward in law enforcement and relating to the community,” he said. “I’m hoping and praying that they will be able to find someone who can step in, but it’s going to be hard.”
Jimmie Gardner currently serves as assistant chief.
Pat Mitchell, the mayor’s chief of staff, who formerly served as a police administrator, said Battiste’s replacement had not been selected.
When asked whether he would take over, Mitchell replied, “Perhaps. But I will tell you this, everything will be flowing smoothly.” | http://privateofficernews.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/ | 3,194 |
SEARCHING FOR A LINEUP
Given the situation, Mike Mularkey said it’s too early to know for sure.
That’s the nature of NFL injuries, which is why the Jaguars’ head coach four days before Sunday’s 2012 regular-season home opener said he doesn’t yet know absolutely who will start along a beat-up offensive line.
“We’re talking,” Mularkey said Wednesday as the Jaguars prepared to play the Houston Texans at EverBank Field Sunday at 1 p.m.
The discussions largely center around the status of starting guard
Bradfield, like running back
The team acquired tackle
“We always look at numbers where we’re short or we have injuries or possible guys that are going to be out,” Mularkey said. “Every day I sit and do the depth chart and go ‘if this happens, this is going to take place and if that takes place, this is what’s going to happen.’ There are some scenarios that we’re planning on.
“Some of that has to be based on how the week of practice goes. I don’t want to do it today because today is just too early in the week for me to make those predictions. We do have some ideas of what’s going to happen if some of those guys don’t play.”
READY FOR WHATEVER
As Mularkey sees it,
Unsurprisingly, Jones-Drew has no problem with that.
Jones-Drew, the NFL’s leading rusher last season, rushed 19 times for 77 yards and caught three passes for 18 yards last week against Minnesota a week after returning from a 38-day holdout. With Jennings’ status uncertain for Sunday, Mularkey said Jones-Drew likely will have a larger work load.
“A lot of it is based on how the game is going,” Mularkey said. “He’ll see extensive play compared to what we had planned for last week’s game, but I’ll never put a number on it because it may be more if we need more. It will be less if we don’t. I don’t keep a number count on carries.”
Mularkey said Jones-Drew seemed in “pretty good shape” for the opener considering his holdout.
“I think it’s a gradual thing,” Mularkey said. “I don’t know if one week’s going to get him into the top where he was last year at his highest level of fitness. I think some of those runs may have broken free maybe if he had been here earlier. I was very pleased with the production that he did have, and as hard as he ran was unbelievable. I think it’s going to get better and better.”
Jones-Drew, who joked last week that he was ready for 80 carries in the opener if necessary, said he was ready for whatever number of carries he receives.
“It depends on how many plays we get, is how many carries I’m ready for,” he said. “We’ll see how increased it is. I definitely didn’t think it was going to be what it was last week, but that’s how it happened and we just got to adjust so we’ll see how it goes this week.”
“I think we have to learn those things. We have to learn how to win the close ones in all phases. We’ve got to be better somewhere in all three phases. I think there’s a process to learn how to win and be a consistent winner. I do.”
“They’re a great defense and they pride themselves in getting pressure on the quarterback. They have a great defensive line, linebackers and a secondary, so it’s going to be a good game for us. We’ll definitely have to play our A-game but we’re excited for this opportunity.”
“I feel fine. Obviously, you’re going to be sore after (a game). Now I’m not sore, but on Monday I’m pretty sore from obviously taking hits. I haven’t been hit in the whole season but it’s gone away. (I’m) ready to go against another physical team and get ready to go back out there.”
The Jaguars will hold a non-padded practice Thursday in preparation for the 2012 regular-season home opener against the Houston Texans Sunday at 1 p.m.
Wide receiver Cecil Shorts may have earned more opportunities. Shorts, a fourth-round selection in the 2010 NFL Draft from Mount Union who caught two passes for 30 yards and a touchdown last season, caught four passes for 74 yards in the regular-season opener. One of those was a diving, 38-yard touchdown that gave the Jaguars the lead with 20 seconds remaining, and another was an impressive third-down reception on which he battled through a tackler for an eight-yard first down. Mularkey said Shorts has benefitted from the coaching of wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan this season, and that “He wants to do good and he’s made some big plays. He’s made some of those catches so when the ball’s been up he’s confident and so is the quarterback to throw it to him. That has a lot to do with it. It’s that trust level.” Mularkey, asked if Shorts’ snaps could increase, replied, “He may have more plays in the game. Yeah, we may find ways to get him into the game.”
* Jones-Drew said while the team has had to shuffle players along the offensive line, changing personnel in front of him isn’t a huge issue. “We all practice,” he said. “Sometimes there’s guys taken out, guys put in. The offensive linemen as a group, they block the same, so we just want to continue to work on that. I will never talk about injuries but the offensive line we’ll be fine. We’ll definitely be okay.”
* The Jaguars registered two sacks Sunday against Minnesota, with Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder throwing for 192 yards in the second half after throwing for 78 yards in the first half. Both of the team’s two sacks came in the second half, with a sack by defensive tackle
* Considering the numerous foot and ankle injuries sustained by the Jaguars in training camp and this season, Mularkey said the Jaguars are investigating many areas to determine a reason. “We’re looking at it all,” he said. “We’re looking at shoes. We’re looking at surfaces that they’ve been on, prior injuries. We’re looking at everything of why we’ve had an epidemic of those kinds of injuries this season. Yeah, we’re looking at everything.” | http://prod.www.jaguars.clubs.nfl.com/news/article-JaguarsNews/Inside-the-Jaguars/2ed1cc52-236c-44fc-811b-aca30a2cebf1 | 1,517 |
Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis had a bad day Thursday when he was widely mocked over a report that he called Drew Brees merely “very good” and not “great,” and then a worse day Friday when reports emerged that he had lied to his boss and the NFL about the Saints’ bounty program. He’s going to have a lot of damage control to do in the weeks ahead about the bounty issue, but first he tried to do some damage control about Brees.
The New Orleans Times-Picayune interviewed Loomis about the Brees report before the bounty report came out, and Loomis said he thinks Brees is better than just “very good.”
“I have always thought of Drew as a great player. Always,” Loomis said.
Loomis then offered a not-so-subtle reminder that there was a time, in 2006, when most of the NFL thought Brees’s injured shoulder would prevent him from ever being a great quarterback, and that Loomis led the way in the Saints signing him.
“Even when his shoulder was damaged I thought he was a great player. That’s why we wanted him, and it’s ridiculous for anyone to think otherwise,” Loomis said.
Loomis said Brees is a valuable player and “we’re trying to pay him accordingly.”
Given the kind of trouble Loomis and the Saints appear to be in right now, it would be wise from a P.R. perspective to get their best and most popular player signed soon. And to pay a great player like a great player. | http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/03/mickey-loomis-drew-brees-is-great/ | 350 |
After the trading deadline, every player who is released by a team must pass through waivers, no matter how many years of service the player has.
As applied to Tuesday’s surprise decision by the Eagles to cut defensive end Jason Babin, it means that the other 31 teams will have dibs, based on the current waiver priority.
NFL spokesman Randall Liu has tweeted the top 12 on the priority list: 1. Chiefs; 2. Jaguars; 3. Eagles; 4. Raiders; 5. Browns; 6. Panthers, 7. Chargers; 8. Bills; 9. Titans; 10. Lions; 11. Cardinals; and 12. Jets.
Babin, who entered the league in 2004 as a first-round pick of the Texans, will draw the interest of teams with 4-3 defenses that may be looking for a relatively inexpensive pass-rushing punch. Though he had only 5.5 sacks this year, which possibly was fueled by a calf injury that caused him to miss most of training camp and the preseason, Babin has shown that he can get after quarterbacks — especially via the “wide nine” defensive line formation.
Last year, the first of his second tour with the Eagles, Babin had 18.0 sacks.
Of the teams in the top 12 of the waiver priority list, the Browns stand out out because Babin was signed by the Eagles when Cleveland CEO Joe Banner served as president in Philly. If, however, there were reasons unrelated to performance that prompted the decision to part ways prematurely with Babin, Banner likely will be privy to that info. (That said, the Eagles would be wise to not say anything to discourage any team from taking Babin’s contract off their hands; if he’s claimed, they avoid $1.69 million in potential termination pay.)
The Lions use the “wide nine,” and Detroit currently faces the departure of Cliff Avril via free agency. With plenty of other Lions due to become free agents, it could sense to pick up Babin under a deal that pays $4.325 million in 2013, $6.175 million in 2014, and $6.15 million in 2014.
The fact that Babin’s primary experience comes as a 4-3 defensive end doesn’t rule out 3-4 teams, where Babin would be converted to an outside linebacker.
And even though some of the better teams could be eyeballing Babin as a valuable addition for the stretch run, Babin’s contract could be a prudent investment for bad teams that are trying to become competitive via proven veterans who are reasonably-priced.
For the Eagles, the decision will result in a $900,000 cap charge in 2013, based on Babin’s $1.5 million signing bonus. It’s a relatively small amount for a franchise that could shed $30 million from the books next year by cutting Mike Vick and Nnamdi Asomugha. | http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/27/babin-contract-could-be-a-bargain-basement-waivers-claim/related/ | 614 |
Feb 6, 2011, 5:00 PM EDT
The Central Division-leading Detroit Red Wings and Northeast Division’s top team the Boston Bruins will square off in a home-and-home series next weekend, with Sunday’s game being the next NBC Game of the Week.
The two teams can bring offense and great defense to the table, as the Bruins sport mammoth defenseman Zdeno Chara while the Red Wings employ age-less wonder Nicklas Lidstrom. Tim Thomas will be put to the test against Detroit’s creative (if currently struggling) attack while Jimmy Howard will be tested by red-hot Patrice Bergeron and the varied Bruins offense.
These teams don’t meet often, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that the two could square off in this year’s Stanley Cup finals.
Doc Emrick and Eddie Olczyk provide a preview for this intriguing matchup, which will take place at 12:30 pm ET at Joe Louis Arena.
- Couture accuses Kings captain Brown of diving 30
- Three reasons why the Rangers might buy out Richards 16
- Richards made a healthy scratch for Game 4 30
- Don Cherry: Canucks GM Gillis threw coaches ‘under the bus’ 24
- Playoffs Tonight: Bruins know series vs Rangers isn’t over 19
- Sens’ Alfredsson: We probably won’t win this series 20
- Discuss: Penguins overwhelm Senators to take Game 4 75
- Report: NHLPA director Fehr wants to address issue of fighting 103
- Gillis: Vigneault fired because results weren’t there 21
- Official: Canucks fire head coach Vigneault, assistants Bowness and Brown 33
- Report: NHLPA director Fehr wants to address issue of fighting (103)
- Discuss: Bruins rally in third, take 3-0 series lead (99)
- Question for commenters: What, if anything, needs to be done about the officiating? (99)
- Discuss: Detroit takes 2-1 series lead vs. Chicago (95)
- Video: Crosby scores hat trick, hits playoff milestone against Senators (91)
- Lochte says Phelps will return soon
- Tebow fact: He reminds Chuck Norris of Chuck Norris
- LeBron stuns Pacers with OT winner in Game 1
- HBT: Astros vendor fired after taking food into bathroom
- Pens overwhelm Sens, take 3-1 series lead
- Tiger calls Sergio's comments inappropriate, hurtful
- Bears great Urlacher announces retirement | http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/06/video-doc-emrick-and-ed-olczyk-preview-next-weeks-game-of-the-week-between-detroit-and-boston/ | 531 |
Dec 27, 2011, 1:11 PM EDT
Mike Green‘s bad groin is just about healed up and he could be back in action for the Capitals as soon as Friday.
CSNWashington.com’s Chuck Gormley reports from Caps practice this morning that Green was taking regular turns on the power play and that Green says he “just needs to get his lungs and legs back” and he’ll be ready to go.
“I think I’m going to have to be cognizant of this through the rest of my career, probably,” Green says. ”…I don’t think I’ll be 100 percent for a long time.”
Well that’s not encouraging for either Green or the Capitals.
As we’ve seen, the Caps are worse off without Green on the blue line to provide their power play with a true No. 1 guy to run things and their offense just doesn’t click as well without him. Green’s absence isn’t the only thing holding the Caps back, they’ve got other issues too, but without Green they’re not the same.
Besides, who else is there to ride a Vespa scooter to and from practice without him?
- Couture accuses Kings captain Brown of diving 30
- Three reasons why the Rangers might buy out Richards 16
- Richards made a healthy scratch for Game 4 30
- Don Cherry: Canucks GM Gillis threw coaches ‘under the bus’ 24
- Playoffs Tonight: Bruins know series vs Rangers isn’t over 19
- Sens’ Alfredsson: We probably won’t win this series 20
- Discuss: Penguins overwhelm Senators to take Game 4 75
- Report: NHLPA director Fehr wants to address issue of fighting 103
- Gillis: Vigneault fired because results weren’t there 21
- Official: Canucks fire head coach Vigneault, assistants Bowness and Brown 33
- Report: NHLPA director Fehr wants to address issue of fighting (103)
- Discuss: Bruins rally in third, take 3-0 series lead (99)
- Question for commenters: What, if anything, needs to be done about the officiating? (99)
- Discuss: Detroit takes 2-1 series lead vs. Chicago (95)
- Video: Crosby scores hat trick, hits playoff milestone against Senators (91)
- Lochte says Phelps will return soon
- Tebow fact: He reminds Chuck Norris of Chuck Norris
- LeBron stuns Pacers with OT winner in Game 1
- HBT: Astros vendor fired after taking food into bathroom
- Pens overwhelm Sens, take 3-1 series lead
- Tiger calls Sergio's comments inappropriate, hurtful
- Bears great Urlacher announces retirement | http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/12/27/mike-greens-groin-is-feeling-better-but-might-not-be-100-percent-for-a-long-time/ | 595 |
When — and it increasingly looks like when and not if — ace Chris Carpenter makes an appearance for the Cardinals this month, he will move directly from disabled list to wild-card race without the benefit of a rehab assignment or exhibition appearance.
"Fun isn't it?" he said.
Carpenter threw 51 pitches during three simulated innings against teammates Tuesday at Busch Stadium. The righty, who had surgery in July to alleviate the choking of nerves near his right shoulder, is building his pitch count with each outing in an effort to rejoin the rotation before the end of this regular season. General manager John Mozeliak called that option "in play," and the Cardinals are open to using Carpenter as a starter down the stretch.
Carpenter builds pitch count
St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Sep 5 | http://prosportsdaily.com/articles/carpenter-builds-pitch-count-10677.html | 165 |
Perhaps the most interesting "sidebar" story to emerge from the Red Wings' 4-3 OT loss to the St. Louis blues involved Red Wings coach Mike Babcock's declaration that his team's personnel changes (see; no Nicklas Lidstrom, Brad Stuart or Brian Rafalski, with no real replacements found) and injuries on defense (see: Brendan Smith, Carlo Colaiacovo, and at times this season, Jonathan Ericsson and Ian White) has required the Red Wings to adapt their puck possession system to accommodate a less-skilled puck-moving defensive corps.
Babcock doesn't believe that the team needs to abandon the system of puck possession hockey that's worked for almost twenty years and eighteen-and-a-half seasons, but Babcock told the Windsor Star's Bob Duff that his team plays a slightly different brand of "Red Wings hockey" now:
The Joe Louis Arena crowd went wild as former captain Nicklas Lidstrom was shown seated in the private suite of Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch at Joe Louis Arena during Wednesday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the St. Louis Blues.
It was recently-retired Lidstrom’s first chance to see how his old team is getting along without him, and it was likely an eye-opening experience. Minus the seven-time Norris Trophy winner, Detroit’s system now is about short passing plays, and tighter gaps between the forwards and defence.
"We have to be,” Wings coach Mike Babcock said. “We’ve got to be tight, tight, tight. I’ve always wanted it, but we could get away with it before.”
Red Wings coach Mike Babcock’s preaching a new puck possession mantra
kuklaskorner | Feb 14 | http://prosportsdaily.com/articles/red-wings-coach-mike-babcocks-preaching-a-new-puck-possession-mantra-230749.html | 376 |
BBC Breakfast News featured a round-up of Movember
to celebrate the success of the campaign. Journalist, Peter
Clarke, who sported a Mo for the month, spoke about losing his
mother to breast cancer, as well as the need to raise awareness of
prostate cancer. Celebrity moustached man, Dick Strawbridge, was
also interviewed about his famed Mo and his support of The
Prostate Cancer Charity. | http://prostatecanceruk.org/news/news-feed?page=2&year=2010&month=12 | 90 |
Baylor's big hurdle not Tech, but focus
That's the test Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium when the Bears (7-3, 4-3 Big 12), fresh off last week's incredible takedown of the Oklahoma Sooners, face a Texas Tech Red Raiders squad (5-6, 2-6) desperate to end a death spiral that started the week after its shocking upset of the Sooners more than a month ago.
"It won’t be hard at all," quarterback Robert Griffin III said of his team's ability to put OU behind and focus on the task at hand. "The thing is the guys immediately after the game were talking about the next game because we know how it is. You can enjoy the victory the next night and all Sunday when you wake up and you come to lift weights and watch film; it’s onto the next one. That’s the way we look at it."
The Bears have some monumental goals ahead of them in the final two regular-season games, plus a bowl game. A win Saturday gives this team an eighth win for the first time since 1991. Think about that, a 20-year span between eight-win seasons. Baylor finishes the season next week at home against a Texas Longhorns team that seems to be regressing offensively and could have all kinds of problems keeping up with the Bears' Heisman Trophy candidate.
Not to get too far ahead, but a 10-win season is a possibility. A Baylor team hasn't done that since it won the Southwest Conference in 1980 (A nine-win season was last accomplished in 1986). That's a lot to think about for these Bears, who were 7-2 a year ago and then closed the season by losing four in a row. The last game they won in 2010 was in Austin against the Horns and the next week Baylor was crushed in Stillwater by the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
The Bears nearly let a huge opportunity slip away a few weeks ago. After a big Homecoming win over the Missouri Tigers, Baylor played at the downtrodden Kansas Jayhawks and surprisingly needed overtime to get a 31-30 win.
"Our guys are doing a great job of making sure they stay focused," Griffin said. "They came back to work on Sunday ready to go and that’s a big thing. It shows a lot of maturity and leadership, so Texas Tech will not be taken lightly, and we realize that the most important game, the next important win is the next one and that’s what we’re going to go and do."
103.3 FM ESPN PODCASTS
Play Podcast Kirk Herbstreit joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss Bob Stoops' recent comments about the SEC and the pending college football playoff, what appears to be an unpredictable Big 12 in 2013, how the Aggies will handle expectations and more.
Play Podcast Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin talks about the improvements being made to Kyle Field, what those improvements will to for the program, the success of last year, Johnny Manziel's offseason and the expectations for the Aggies in 2013.
Play Podcast Scott Van Pelt and Ryen Russillo talk about Texas A&M's decision to expand its stadium and say although the Aggies had a fantastic year, the school must also be careful not to overextend its resources based on a single hot stretch.
Play Podcast Baylor head coach Art Briles joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss what kind of player the Cowboys are getting in Terrance Williams.
Play Podcast Arlington and Texas A&M product Luke Joeckel, the potential No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, joins Ian Fitzsimmons and Richard Durrett to discuss the draft, coaches and advice from his dad.
Play Podcast Florida Gulf Coast athletic director Ken Kavanagh joins Fitzsimmons & Durrett to discuss his school's Cinderella story and playing in the Sweet 16 at Cowboys Stadium.
Play Podcast Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby joins Fizsimmons & Durrett to discuss Cowboys Stadium as a venue, the state of Big 12 basketball, the new 2014 college football format, why there's no hurry to have a Big 12 football championship and much more.
Play Podcast Jay Bilas joins Fitzsimmons and Durrett to discuss the remaining 16 teams in the NCAA tournament, the intrigue surrounding the Northwest Region and the excitement over FGCU, even though a similar story happens every year. | http://proxy.espn.go.com/blog/dallas/colleges/post/_/id/4675229/baylors-big-hurdle-not-tech-but-focus | 919 |
If the early returns are any indication, the North Little Rock Charging Lady Wildcats have some serious potential.
One example that could be cited for such and argument could be the 3-0 tournament showing last weekend beating some top-notch competition including a 4-2 win over White Hall to win their tournament title.
That win was preceded by wins over Lake Hamilton, who lost just one from their state championship team from last year, and Bald Knob.
The Lady Charging Wildcats have done it with the pitching of Katy Wynne who has averaged nearly eight strikeouts per game so far this season including a 12 strikeout performance against Cabot last week.
Wynne’s domination in the circle seems to revolve around a devastating changeup.
“She can throw 60 (mph),” Cantrell said. “She changes speeds real well and hits her spots.”
Wynne allowed just two runs in three tournament outings last weekend.
But Cantrell said his team doesn’t just rely on the circle.
“We are not one dimensional,” Cantrell said. “We pitch well, we play good defense, and we can hit.”
North Little Rock scored 14 runs in five innings last week on 15 hits. They scored six runs against the aforementioned Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves.
“They have bought into the team first concept,” Cantrell said.
A team first concept that may put them right back to where they have been accustomed—competing for a state title. | http://pulaskinews.net/north-little-rock-times/sports/local/north-little-rock-softball-cats-gets-hitting-hits-runs.html | 319 |
Shahbulat Shamhalaev ate something that did not agree with him.
Suffering from food poisoning, the 29-year-old Russian was forced to exit his bout with Rad Martinez in the Bellator Fighting Championships Season 7 featherweight tournament final at Bellator 83 on Friday at Caesars Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
“He’s been throwing up most of the day,” Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney said. “He was throwing up in the locker room. The commission saw him, and, of course, it’s incumbent upon them to look out for the safety of the fighters.”
Leone upends former champion Makovsky
World Extreme Cagefighting veteran Anthony Leone upset former Bellator champion Zach Makovsky by split decision in a bantamweight showcase. All three judges scored it 29-28: William Mason and Cardo Urso for Leone, Michael Barry for Makovsky.
Leone (12-5, 2-2 Bellator) was superior in the scrambles and in the clinch, perhaps catching Makovsky — who wrestled collegiately at Drexel University — by surprise. The stage was set early, as Leone answered a single-leg takedown in the first round by immediately returning to an upright position. From there, he sapped Makovsky’s spirit in the clinch, mixing in combinations when the chance arose.
Makovsky (14-4, 6-2 Bellator) struck for a pair of takedowns in round two but failed to capitalize on them, as his relentless foe either rose to his feet or moved into top position. The third round was clearly Leone’s, as he scrambled on top after a failed guillotine choke attempt, twice passing the Makovsky guard into side control.
“I feel amazing,” Leone said. “I love the judges tonight.”
Eye chokes Gurgel unconscious
Strong Style Fight Team representative Jessica Eye rendered Bellator women’s 115-pound champion Zoila Frausto Gurgel unconscious with a standing arm-triangle choke 58 seconds into the first round of their featured matchup. The non-title bout was contested at 125 pounds.
“I’m prepared because of my camp,” Eye said. “This is a long time coming.”
The Ring of Combat veteran met Gurgel in the center of the cage and clobbered her with a pair of right hands — one standing, the other on the ground — during their initial exchange. Eye (9-1, 4-0 Bellator) moved immediately to the clinch as the wobbled champion rose to her feet, cinching the choke against the cage. After a brief struggle, Gurgel (12-2, 6-1 Bellator) went limp, and the fight, along with her seven-fight winning streak, was done.
“I was kind of like an anaconda; I just kept getting tighter and tighter,” Eye said. “I didn’t want to let go until someone told me to.”
TUF alum Rivera notches decision; Horcher stays undefeated
In preliminary action, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 14 alum Jimmie Rivera captured a unanimous verdict from Jesse Brock, earning 29-28, 30-27 and 30-27 marks from the cageside judges; Blackman MMA prospect Darrell Horcher kept his perfect professional record intact with a unanimous nod over Chris Liguori, sweeping the scorecards by identical 29-28 scores; UFC castaway Mike Wessel defeated Belarusian heavyweight Alexei Kudin by unanimous decision, taking 29-28 verdicts on all three scorecards; Terrell Hobbs submitted Brylan Van Artsdalen with a rear-naked choke 3:07 into the first round of their featherweight tilt; Philadelphia-based Tuan Pham handed Matthew Lozano his first career loss with a unanimous decision in their catchweight affair, securing 29-28 scores from all three judges; and Claudio Ledesma picked up his fourth win in five outings with a unanimous nod over David Harris at 135 pounds: 30-27, 30-27 and 30-27.
Story provided by Sherdog.com. | http://punch.ocregister.com/2012/12/07/mma-shamhalaev-knocked-out-of-bellator-83-by-food-poisoning/21264/ | 892 |
PWA POZO WORLD CUP
DAY 5 : IBALLA STEALS THE CROWN, AS KOSTER REMAINS THE KING OF POZO
Day five of the PWA Gran Canaria Wind & Waves Festival delivered some absolutely epic conditions, as the wind rose above fifty knots for the second day in a row and the waves continued to pummel into the bay of Pozo. Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne) created a piece of windsurfing history today, as she became the first person to defeat her sister, Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne), in Pozo since 1999. The prize giving ceremony that followed was a hugely emotional affair as the twins celebrated the success of the event as well. Meanwhile, Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins), successfully defended his Pozo title by defeating Victor Fernandez (Fanatic / North) in the men’s winners’ final to complete an enthralling day.
Men’s Double Elimination
Men’s Winners’ Final
The double elimination winners’ final once again saw Philip Köster taking on Victor Fernandez. The final, fittingly, proved to be one of the heats of the contest as both men saved their best until last. Köster came out with all guns blazing right from the word go as he launched into a massive double forward directly in front of the judges. Fernandez didn’t have the ideal start as he fell on a stalled forward, however after a quick equipment change he was soon back out and absolutely ripping. Despite landing an absolutely colossal one-handed one footed backloop, several perfect goiters and a double forward of his own, there was nothing the Spaniard could do to stop the eighteen year old from marching to victory for the second successive year. Köster showed the sort of form we know he is capable of and he delivered a truly breathtaking display to clinch the title. Clearly not content with his earlier perfect double forward loop Köster wasted little time in setting the record straight as he launched into a spectacular planing double forward. From this point on the wonder kid was unstoppable. By the end of the heat Köster had landed monstrous backloops, amazing, almost air-wave 360s and an incredible reverse. As if this wasn’t enough, Köster then landed the first ever double backside 360 in a heat to leave the crowds and judges mesmerized. His awe-inspiring display was soon rewarded with the news that he had defeated Fernandez.
Philip Koster speaking after defending his Pozo title:
“I’m super stoked to win in Pozo for the third time of my life. Luckily for me I sailed my best heat of the competition in the final against Victor. He was pulling off great moves and trying some crazy stuff like goiter-takas. I’m also really grateful to Iballa and Daida Moreno for making the event happen because without them we wouldn’t be here today.”
Before the winners’ final Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins) was a man on a mission, as he fought his was back through the double elimination to finish in fourth place overall. The Brit won five successive heats as he continued his outstanding form from yesterday. Firstly Swift defeated Klaas Voget (Fanatic / Simmer / MFC), as he landed no fewer than three double forwards to secure the opportunity to take on Marcilio Browne (Goya / MFC), after the Brazilian managed to defeat the form man from yesterday Alex Mussolini (Tabou / Gaastra), by unleashing perfect double forwards, big backside 360s and fully planing forwards off the lip. Swift and Browne had spent the last month in Pozo training with each other, so this heat was always going to be an intense affair as the training partners went head-to-head. Browne didn’t sail quite as well as in his previous heat but you can take nothing away from Swift, who landed yet more amazing double forwards and some outstanding wave 360s to exact revenge on Browne, after the Brazilian had knocked him out in the single elimination. Swift delivered one of the performances of the contest in his next heat against Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360). The Brit had been sailing out of his skin beforehand but he continued to raise the level of his sailing. Swift and Bruch both opened the heat with quite brilliant double forwards but the Brit soon stole the show as he landed the most audacious pushloop-forward to rightfully receive the highest jumping score of the competition with a massive twelve points. This left Bruch needing a minor miracle to defend his fourth place but unfortunately for him it wasn’t to be. Up next for Swift was the local boy Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC), however on this occasion this proved to be a step too far for Swift, as the Canarian showed his determination to secure his place on the podium for the second year in a row. The highlight of the heat belonged to Ojeda, who landed a massive double forward to take control of the tie and in doing so Ojeda guaranteed himself third place. Victor Fernandez was able to hold off the Canarians challenge in the very next round, as the top three remained unchanged from the single elimination and last year.
Women’s Double Elimination
Daida Ruano Moreno successfully defeated Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne) to set up another all Moreno final against her sister Iballa. Both women crashed their opening backloops as they battled to hold on to their three-meter sails. Daida soon settled into her rhythm though as she landed a brilliant stalled forward and a super tweaked pushloop to put the pressure on her sister. Iballa responded with an awesome table top forward but she couldn’t quite link together her waves as she tried to land goiters and wave 360s. It was quickly revealed that the Moreno twins would have to sail again to settle the title once and for all.
As we headed into the super final you could feel the tension building both on the beach and on the water. Credit must go to twins as they managed to keep their composure under the most intense pressure imaginable. The action that followed was more than worthy of the occasion. Iballa settled her nerves straight away with a perfectly executed pushloop, whilst Daida hit back like the true champion she is by delivering a text-book backloop and a super brave stalled forward in the nuclear winds. Iballa though was concentrating solely on her own heat and she soon launched into an amazing frontside aerial, which was the best turn of the day, bar none, to edge ahead in an otherwise inseparable encounter. Daida responded with her own trademark backside aerials and super tweaked pushloop, but it wasn’t enough to stop Iballa from reigning supreme as she landed an astronomical backloop to become the first person in thirteen years to steal the Pozo crown from Daida‘s claws, and in doing so, Iballa, created her own piece of windsurfing history.
Iballa Ruano Moreno speaking after her monumental victory:
“I’m really, really happy. I feel like I sailed a really good heat, I was maybe a little lucky and Daida was sailing amazing as always, but when I’m on the water I don’t compete against her, I compete against myself. I think it was incredibly close and maybe things would’ve been different if Daida had landed the pushloop tabletop.”
Earlier in the double elimination Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg) fought her way into fourth place after demonstrating her outstanding wave riding skills and trying wave 360s and goiters, as she pushed herself to the limit. Wahl was able to defeat Carmen Afonso Martin, Astrid Muldoon (Fanatic / North) and Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North) before Karin Jaggi halted the German’s progress. The form she showed here in Pozo makes her a major threat in Tenerife and she’s certainly one to watch.
Tomorrow’s forecast has less wind predicted than the last couple of days, which may be no bad thing, so the registration for a possible super session will take place between 12pm and 12:30. With the action commencing from 1pm. Be sure to tune into www.pwaworldtour.com to see the most radical sailors in the world going as big and as extreme as they possibly can.
Results After Double Elimination - Men’s Wave
1st Philip Köster (Starboard / NeilPryde / Maui Ultra Fins)
2nd Victor Fernandez Lopez (Fanatic / North)
3rd Dario Ojeda (Tabou / Gaastra / MFC)
4th Robby Swift (JP / NeilPryde / Mystic / Maui Ultra Fins)
5th Dany Bruch (Starboard / Severne / AL360)
Results After Double Elimination - Women’s Wave
1st Iballa Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne)
2nd Daida Ruano Moreno (Starboard / Severne)
3rd Karin Jaggi (Patrik / Severne)
4th Steffi Wahl (Patrik / Sailloft Hamburg)
5th Laure Treboux (Fanatic / North)
Scope The Action
For information on all the entrants, and to keep up to date with every piece of the action, navigate to www.pwaworldtour.com
Here you can use our:
Live streaming service
Live ticker service for heat-by-heat bulletins
• Check live elimination ladders
• View results
• Read daily news summaries
Browse awesome action photo galleries
There are also dedicated websites at all of the following:
Event Website http://grancanariawindandwavesfestival.com/
Event Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/GranCanariaWindWavesFestival Event Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/GCWindWavesFest
Event YouTube http://www.youtube.com/GCWindWavesFestival
Event Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/gcwindwavesfestival/
Or for more information, please contact the PWA office via [email protected] | http://pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=35&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2384&cHash=53c63551e35c0ab9d18d03a65710b5ca | 2,216 |
Results tagged ‘ Cubs ’
There aren’t a whole lot of things that Mr. Lung and I agree on. Or rather, we generally agree on the big picture things (capitalism is generally preferable to communism) while disagreeing on the smaller things (no, the dead ball era was not a superior form of baseball). However, we usually agree that Cubs fans are the Midwest’s intellectual neanderthals.
Turns out we might have been just slightly off on that. Or maybe “Cubs Fan 77″ is simply the exception that proves the rule. Either way, Mr. 77 pretty much calls it exactly the way I see it.
Call me crazy but there’s a part of me that kind of wants to see Mr. Paul’s house. I’m pretty sure it would like something like this:
For all of the sCrUBS fans chugging the Theo Epstein Kool-Aid, talking about how the “Cubs Culture” is “changing” and how “new leadership” is taking them in a “new, respectable direction”, just remember: Jeff Samardzija isn’t drinking it.
Hate me ‘cuz I hate the Cubs, just don’t hate me ‘cuz I’m right.
- – -
HOLLA BACK, Y’ALL!!!
It’s time for THE FILIBUSTER to settle back in the Sunday slot at RSBS! The Interns are excited. Mr. Krause is excited. And I AM EXCITED TOO! No matter what the query, send it to [email protected] and we’ll let you know what we think.
In an election year, it should be no surprise that we US Americans are being bombarded with a barrage of twisty little lies. Whether it’s the Obama camp’s magical math making unemployment numbers “plummet” or Rick Santorum and his imaginary friend pretending that the whole American Revolution and subsequent Constitution thingy isn’t really what it seems, we cannot escape the onslaught of fibbery.
But such fibbery is expected from the political lot. It is when such vitriol enters the baseball universe that I get extremely pissy.
“We were able to get through this because I am innocent and the truth is on our side.”
– Ryan Braun
Um… no. You were able to get through this ‘cuz you’re a multi-millionaire with legit counsel and a Mark Fuhrman wannabe handling your bodily fluids under the direction of King Bud. Exoneration in this case does not equal innocence, Mr. Braun. It merely suggests there is reasonable doubt. You still got more testosterone in you than Kim Kardashian at the NBA All-Star Game. And it seems just as… icky.
“My loyalty is here (Texas). This is where I’ve been, this is where my family has been. I would love to be here.”
– Josh Hamilton
Now I don’t want to go picking on Josh Hamilton because he’s not very bright, but I do want to pick on him for spittin’ the same stupid lie as every other potential free agent baseballer lookin’ to get paid: ENOUGH ALREADY. “My loyalty is here”… pshh. PLEASE. Your loyalty is wherever they pay you the most. That’s how it works and we all know it. Your family is not going to have too much of a problem moving to a different city to chase that pay-puh. Determine who will give you the most money with the most years and that’s where you’ll go. To say anything different is a slap in the face of cold, hard fact. I’m an adult. I can handle the truth. Maybe.
“The guy (Alfonso Soriano) works his butt off all the time.”
– Dale Sveum, Cubs Manager
Okay, Dale. I’m gonna help you out with this one. YOU NEED SOME NEW GLASSES, BRO. See, I’ve been following Sori’s career since he was a young pup. And from New York to Texas to D.C. to the Chi, Alfonso Soriano is THE LAST PERSON ON THE PLANET I would say “works his butt off all the time.” ESPECIALLY while in Chicago. In fact, there is an entire faction of Cubs fans who want him crucified! They wouldn’t flinch an inch if Sori ceased manning left field tomorrow. Forever. For good. Why, Mr. Sveum? Because Alfonso Soriano is the absolute KING of lollygagging. His defense is atrocious and he is NOTORIOUS for gazing at might-be homeruns that are actually doubles that drop in for long singles because he doesn’t hustle out of the box.
If you’re here to fix the Cubs, Mr. Sveum, you might want to know what they’ve been used to the last 103 years: PAIN. SUFFERING. AGONIZING PAIN AND SUFFFFFFFFEEEEERRRRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING.
Hate me. Fine. Just don’t hate me ‘cuz I’m right.
This has been a traumatic offseason for my good friend Mr. Lung. Not only did Tony LaRussa follow his World Series victory with the news that he was retiring from the team, this same TLR has now shown up in the Detroit Tigers’ camp to assist during spring training. But of course that all pales in comparison to Pujols’ treason. Not to mix too many metaphors but Pujols’ betrayal for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver has left Jeff muttering “Et tu, Albert?”
But there’s good news! It turns out that scientists may soon be able to help Jeff erase those memories (It’s a long article but worth reading) and return to the halcyon days of his 2011 post-Series ecstasy. If that doesn’t work, we can always hope that maybe Albert pulled a Fausto Carmona and won’t be able to perform in an Angels’ jersey. I mean, it could be worse. He could have gone to the Cubs, right? I don’t know if there’s any pill that could have helped with that.
I’ve lost my…
Rooster Cogburn, my John Mclane, my Jules Winnfield.
I lost Whitney this year AND my all-time favorite Cub, Aramis Ramirez. Armariezz. THAT’S WHAT I CALLED HIM. Didn’t call him A-RAM OR ARAMIS. I always called him Armariezz. THAT WAS HIS NAME. I wish Whitney and Aramis had things to sing together to the Brew Crew but she’s got better things to do now than hang out in MlilaAAAAuwaaakayyy…
Since I can’t hang with Armariezz anymore then I wanna hang with Adrien Brody, Andre 3 Million and Gael García Bernal from that Gillette commercial. That’s a bad@$$ club!
So much hipper than when they had Federer, Henri and Tiger. Can’t believe it happened.
Follow Johanna on Twitter!
For the Love of the Game/Slaying the Dragon
I don’t know tidily snot.
For as much as I don’t know about stats, player history, and some of the marquee moments, I do have the love. Even with my rampant stupidity of baseball knowledge, I have the love.
When I’m not sitting with my friend Jeffy at a game or on his couch, him schooling me, I have the love.
It’s been said many times here at Setting the Mahmud that the NBA is my true sport, but even I admit: there is nothing like baseball. I reminded myself of this the other night while watching For the Love of the Game. The pain of Kevin Costner’s character is so real and true to life it’s uncanny. The pain of ending a career. The pain of romance gone bad. Pain of failed goals. But despite all that, you might still have a friend who believes in you, which summons the strength to get your mojo back.
These are trying times in Chicago. Both ball clubs will probably be bad this year. It’s January. It’s cold. Sometimes, like a ballplayer, you wish you could just be traded to another team, in another (warmer) city. But that’s not how life works. You have to take what you have and make it great. Baseball life can be like a swinging bass line or a blistering hot trumpet solo. We swing high and we swing low. Players leave, lovers leave, and sometimes you’ll get your heart broken. Being a fan can be turmoil.
And sometimes just maybe you’ll play life well enough to win it all. It’s a noble game. A pureness that wraps around you like a warm embrace holding you tight, one that doesn’t let go. It’s a timeless art that makes you feel like you’re wearing wings.
Beware of the darkness that lies in the cave of your life. Slay the dragon. It can make you feel weak. It can break you if you let it. It can make you feel like a sucker. Accept that pain is part of the process of baseball, part of LIFE.
And let’s heal together. The Cubs will be great someday. The White Sox will be great again too. It will be cathartic and it will be grand.
Follow Johanna on Twitter!
Rool: [to the tavern cat ) You are so beautiful! Your eyes! Your whiskers! I have to kiss you!
My behavioral standards have long kept me from attending the Cub’s Convention. Sorry. Sometimes you gotta rob a cop, pee on Ronny Woo Woo and knock out Sam Zell! BUT, I still have my SPIES so I know…
Kerry Wood and his pocket missile are back!
I’d like to see how the sausage is made, Mr. Epstein.
I suspect Wood will probably be gone at the trading deadline to a real contender, but dumb Cubdom is happy for the moment. Yes, Theo let me down a little by letting the children have their hero back. But oh well.
OK KIDS LET’S HAVE A PIZZA PAHHHTYYY!!!!
What is this? Contenders might be looking for someone just like him if he can still bring the goods in the 6th, 7th, 8th innings.
I understand that Woody wants to be the next Mr. Cub but why not end your career with a winner? He’ll get what he wants when he comes back at the end. It’s his choice, I guess.
Follow Johanna on Twitter!
That guy in the pointy hat made another statement on gay marriage recently, saying it is “one of the most serious threats to the traditional family unit” and that it undermines “the very future of humanity.”
Hmm. I can think of a bazillion things that are a far greater danger to the very future of humanity, like, protecting monsters who rape children, making it illegal for someone to marry whom he/she loves, and not challenging a discourse that is solely based on bronze age delusions “encouraged” by an invisible sky daddy.
Two More Years of Bud Selig
Ugh. Really? If only MTV could rock the MLB owners’ vote. No more King Bud! Things have gotten better recently, yes, but there are at least three egregious errors committed during his reign that demand a new king: 1) Not addressing the PED issue until it was too late 2) the ongoing All-Star Game yields World Series home field advantage fiasco and 3) being the last of the big four to launch its own network (seriously, it’s sad when the NHL beats you, at anything).
Also, I can think of at least three perfect candidates for the commissioner’s job: Joe Torre, Bob Costas and ME!!!
Between Mitt, Santorum and a bevy of derailed crazy trains, I can only shake my head as I watch the Republican party fall deeper and deeper into delirium. If only our political leaders would take a page out of Aussie PM Bob Hawke’s book:
Now THAT, my friends, is a dear leader.
The above picture is one of the remaining relics from that year 2000 sketch production extraordinaire staged at Kalamazoo College that brought its fans FUN, LAUGHS and FREE PUDDING. (Not kidding, we actually served free pudding to all patrons.)
Of course, dear readers galore know what eventually became of my persnickety and oft lugubrious colleague, Mr. Krause and I. Y’know, how we blew up the internets with our unique take on the baseball-politico world and all. But what of that crouching fella in the middle there?
That’s Jordan Klepper.
And here is Mr. Klepper, recently, with the lovely Laura Grey.
STILL KICKIN’ COMEDY TAIL!
Mr. Klepper grew up a huge Ryne Sandberg fan, and while living in The Chi, he wore his Cubs hat proudly. But then he moved to New York, and after a couple of Mets games we took in last summer, I couldn’t help but notice him salivating all over R.A. Dickey.
PS. The dude with the do-rag is Nick. I have no idea where or what he is doing in the world today but I’m sure he’s rockin’ it ‘cuz he was super cool back in school.
PPS. Yes. Mr. Krause is doing “the double handed shocker”.
“ No one in Russia believes in god.”
You know why? Because it’s cold! It’s cold there like it’s cold in Chicago right now!!
I know it’s not manly to act depressed while living in a wonderful place like this but, it’s cold. AND I’M NOT A REAL MAN.
Despite my depression, I know one thing that will bring me happiness. MONEYBALL PART TWO: EPSTEIN BRINGS THE PAIN! The Cubs win it all and Matt Damon stars as Theo Epstein. I’ve already completed the first scene:
I can tell you the license plate numbers of all six cars outside. I can tell you that our waitress is left-handed and the guy sitting up at the counter weighs two hundred fifteen pounds and knows how to handle himself. I know the best place to look for a gun is the cab or the gray truck outside, and at this altitude, I can run flat out for a half mile before my hands start shaking. Now why would I know that? Because my name is Theo Effin Epstein. THAT’S WHY.
Follow Johanna on Twitter! | http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/tag/cubs/page/2/ | 3,293 |
Robert Griffin III Enters NFL Draft; Why the Colts Should Pick Griffin Over Andrew Luck
Robert Griffin III has decided to forgo his senior season at Baylor University to enter the 2012 NFL Draft. Griffin surprised the nation when he upset Andrew Luck in December to become the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner.
Although Griffin had a better year statistically than Luck, reports have surfaced that the Indianapolis Colts will select Luck over Griffin with the No. 1 pick overall in April’s NFL Draft.
That would be a mistake. Luck represents the traditional drop back quarterback, but he’s a one-dimensional player.
With the success of mobile quarterbacks such as Cam Newton, Tim Tebow and, to an extent, Michael Vick, it’s better to invest in a dual-threat who can confuse defenses. Griffin ran for nearly 700 yards in 2010 and scored 10 touchdowns.
But he was equally impressive when passing. He threw for 37 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Luck also threw for 37 touchdowns, but he threw 10 interceptions and had a lower completion percentage than Griffin.
Tony Dungy, the former Colts coach who won the Super Bowl in 2007, even suggested picking Griffin over Luck. “I like those mobile guys,” Dungy told Dan Patrick. “He can supply an extra dimension. He’s intriguing to me. I like Robert Griffin.”
As the debate rages on, check out Griffin’s and Luck’s highlights and choose which quarterback would be ideal for the Colts. –amir shaw | http://rollingout.com/sports/robert-griffin-iii-enters-nfl-draft-why-the-colts-should-pick-griffin-over-andrew-luck/ | 316 |
Results tagged ‘ johan yan ’
PCL Top 20 Prospects
Baseball America announced its Top 20 Pacific Coast League prospects Monday. Outfielder Leonys Martin, a Round Rock Express member each of the past two seasons, was ranked 17th on the list. He was the lone Express/Rangers player listed.
Martin hit .359 (83-for-231) in 55 games for the Express this season with 12 homers, 42 RBI, 18 doubles, two triples, 48 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. He also had seven outfield assists. His batting average is the best in Round Rock’s Triple-A history among players with at least 200 at bats, eclipsing Brian Barden’s .357 mark from last season.
Signed by the Rangers in after defecting from Cuba the previous summer, Martin began his professional career at Double-A Frisco in 2011 before joining the Express in mid-July. He hit .263 (46-for-175) in 40 games with Round Rock that season, collecting 17 RBI, seven doubles, 27 runs and nine stolen bases.
Martin appeared in 24 games with the Rangers this season, going 8-for-46 (.174) with six RBI, five doubles, two triples, six runs scored and three stolen bases. He made his major league debut Sept. 2, 2011, and hit safely in a pinch-hit role. Martin played in eight games for the Rangers in 2011.
With the Rangers season complete, Martin is playing the Dominican Winter League, which opened its season Sunday. Martin was 1-for-3 with two walks, two stolen bases and three runs scored for Licey.
Rangers in Winter Leagues
Several Rangers farmhands other than Martin are in Winter League Baseball this offseason. … Mike Olt, who made his major league debut this season, will report Licey in the coming days. … First baseman Chris McGuiness was named Arizona Fall League Co-Player of the Week, sharing the honor with Houston Astros prospect Jonathan Singleton. McGuiness is with the Surprise Saguaros; he was 7-for-18 with two homers, six RBI, two doubles and two runs scored. A 13th-round pick of Boston in 2009, McGuiness was acquired by the Rangers in the 2010 Jarrod Saltalamacchia trade. He hit .268 with 23 homers and 77 RBI in 123 games with Double-A Frisco this season. … Shortstop Luis Sardinas also is off to hot start with Surprise, going 4-for-9 with three runs scored in two games. … A pair of 2012 Express members are in the Dominican Winter League in addition to Martin. Catcher Robinzon Diaz is with Gigantes del Cibao, while pitcher Johan Yan is with Aguilas Cibaenas. … Much heralded outfielder Engel Beltre also is playing with Licey in the DWL.
Dallas Morning News sports writer Gerry Fraley recently reported that 2012 Express member Luis Hernandez declined an outright minor-league assignment, opting instead for free agency. Hernandez hit .262 (136-for-519) in 129 games for the Express this season with eight homers, 70 RBI, 23 doubles, six triples, 64 runs scored and nine stolen bases. He hit .302 (55-for-182) after the All-Star break, including a .390 mark (41-for-105) in 24 games during August. Hernandez played two games and garnered two plate appearances (both outs) with the Rangers in late August.
16 August 2012 | Aces Ballpark | Reno, Nev.
Records: Express (59-67), Aces (71-55)
- Julio Borbon leadoff triple in 10th inning … scored on errant pickoff throw from Reno catcher Ryan Budde
- Round Rock leads series 3-0
- Clinched second straight series … improved to 4-0-2 in last six series
- Express riding six-game winning streak
- Series finale Friday at 9:05 p.m. CDT
- Friday’s scheduled starters: RR – RHP Greg Reynolds (10-7, 4.90 ERA); RENO – RHP Trevor Bauer (4-1, 2.85 ERA)
ROUND ROCK won 16 of last 22 (league-best record during that time) … improved to 18-8 since five-run, ninth-inning rally July 22 vs. Omaha … won 12 of last 15 road games … season-best, six-game road winning streak … improved to 20-15 since All-Star break … extended franchise record with fifth straight nine-plus run game … eight of nine starters hit safely … 56 runs, 85 hits over last five games … 10-plus hits in six straight games … nine-plus hits in nine straight games (.352, 125-for-355) … improved to 13-0 since All-Star break when scoring at least seven runs … improved to 15-15 in one-run games, 8-3 since All-Star break … fourth straight victory in one-run games … improved to 6-4 in extra-inning games (3-1 on the road).
ZACH JACKSON (no-decision) left game leading 5-3 … held opponent to three or fewer earned runs in nine of last 10 starts (4-4) … allowed three or fewer earned runs in sixth straight start … second no-decision in last 16 outings (15 starts) … Express won his fifth straight start.
JOE ORTIZ earned first career Triple-A win.
JOHAN YAN earned first career Triple-A save.
JULIO BORBON (4-for-6) three-game hitting streak (.467, 7-for-15) … second straight multiple-hit game … first four-hit game since July 25 vs. Albuquerque (fourth of season) … seventh triple, tying for second-best season total in Express history.
LUIS HERNANDEZ (4-for-5, walk) extended hitting streak to 12 games (.482, 27-for-56) … 10th multiple-hit outing during streak … second four-hit game of season (June 29 vs. Nashville) … scored in fifth straight game.
JOEY BUTLER (3-for-6) five-game hitting streak (.346, 9-for-26) … first game with three-plus hits since five-hit effort July 18 at Nashville … hit safely in 11 of last 13 games (18-for-56) … at least one strikeout in 10 straight games (14 strikeouts) … sixth straight multiple-strikeout game, seventh in last eight games.
BRAD NELSON (0-for-6) hitless with at least five at bats for only second time this season (July 2 vs. New Orleans) … first 0-for-6 game since July 2, 2011 vs. Nashville.
RYAN SPILBORGHS (1-for-4, walk) six-game hitting streak (.320, 8-for-25) … first home run since July 30 at Memphis (12 games, 46 at bats) … third homer in last 67 games, 254 at bats … first game with four-plus RBI since Aug. 22, 2011 vs. Salt Lake (with Colorado Springs).
BRANDON SNYDER (1-for-5) extended hitting streak to eight games (.353, 12-for-34) … first homer with Express … scored in fifth straight game … hit safely in 11 of 12 games with Express.
YANGERVIS SOLARTE (1-for-4, walk) hit safely in six of last seven games (12-for-31).
ALBERTO HERNANDEZ (3-for-5) first game with Express … first three-hit game since May 30 with Rangers (vs. Seattle).
KOYIE HILL (1-for-5) hit safely in each of first two games with Express. | http://rrexpress.mlblogs.com/tag/johan-yan/ | 1,665 |
The World Cross-Country Championships take place in March in Poland.It will be his sixth showing at Worlds as a senior.
Australia’s Collis Birmingham did what he had to do in order to qualify for the World Cross Country Championships. The Australian put on a tremendous kick at the men’s 12K selection race in Canberra on Sunday.
He was joined by Brett Robinson and Liam Adams at the halfway mark, before Birmingham made his move and took off ahead of his competitors.
“It didn’t feel like I was running any faster,” Birmingham later said of his decisive move.
His winning time was 34:21 in the race that wound through Stromlo Forest Park.
Birmingham has now been selected to the team six times as a senior. The highest placing that he’s achieved in the world championships was 29th in Amman, Jordan four years ago.
For More: IAAF | http://running.competitor.com/2013/01/news/birmingham-makes-australian-xc-team_64764 | 193 |
STATESBORO – Tom Kleinlein, deputy athletic director at Kent State University, was introduced Monday evening as Georgia Southern University’s new athletic director, concluding a national search.
During remarks at a news conference to announce Kleinlein’s appointment, Georgia Southern President Brooks Keel described the Kleinlein as someone who not only understands the competitive and business aspects of managing a growing athletics department, but also the focus on academics.
“Tom Kleinlein brings a great deal of experience and enthusiasm to Georgia Southern University," Keel said. "Our goal is to make sure that our student-athletes not only win on the field, but in the classroom. We’re excited to welcome Tom and his family to the Eagle Nation and I am confident he will lead our athletic teams and department to the next level, both on and off the field.”
Kleinlein said: “I am very excited to join the Eagle Nation and am honored to serve as Georgia Southern University’s athletic director. This job can be summed up in one word: opportunity. The tradition and success that Georgia Southern has become so well known for will serve as the foundation as we build for the future. I am looking forward to working with President Keel, the university’s leadership, our coaches, staff and student-athletes and I am looking forward to meeting all of our fans, alumni, sponsors and donors.”
Kleinlein joined Kent State in 2010 and was responsible for the management of the athletic department’s revenue generation component and coordinated the department’s efforts with institutional advancement, enrollment management and student affairs. He also served as the direct sport supervisor for football along with men’s and women’s basketball while directing many of the day-to-day operations of the department.
He led the university’s relationship with IMG College, the marketing department, ticket office, facilities, strength and conditioning and game day management operations.
Prior to joining Kent State, he served as associate athlete director for football under head coach Dennis Erickson at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. from 2005-10. Earlier in his career, he served as assistant athletic director for football operations at Rutgers University. Prior to that, he worked at his alma mater, Wake Forest University, as an academic counselor and then assistant director of football operations.
A four-year letter winner as an offensive lineman at Wake Forest, he earned a bachelor’s degree in history. He later earned a master’s in education curriculum and instruction from Arizona State. He and his wife, Tara, have two sons – Austin and Mason.
Read more in Tuesday's editions of the Savannah Morning News and at savannahnow.com/sports. | http://savannahnow.com/latest-news/2012-11-12/tom-kleinlein-georgia-southerns-new-athletic-director | 569 |
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Jerodis Williams rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns as Furman upset Wofford 26-21 on Saturday, snapping the Terriers' four-game winning streak.
Williams had TD runs of 4 yards and 1 yard to give the Paladins (4-3, 3-2 Southern Conference) a 13-7 halftime lead in South Carolina's oldest rivalry dating back to 1889.
After Chris Forcier's 2-yard scoring pass to Colin Anderson for Furman, kicker Ray Early missed his second extra-point attempt of the game.
Wofford's Eric Breitenstein, who rushed for 129 yards, capped a 58-yard drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 19-14, but the Paladins answered with Tersoo Uhaa's 3-yard TD for a 26-14 lead.
Wofford (5-2, 3-1) got within five again on Breitenstein's 2-yard touchdown with 4:47 to play, but lost a yard on its final possession.
The Paladins, coming off a 50-20 loss to Georgia Southern, ended a two-game skid. | http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=312950231 | 251 |
|All Sports|||||Scoreboard|||||Stats|||||Standings|||||Teams|||||Players|||||Player News|||||Injuries|||||Transactions|
By ALAN FERGUSON
(AP) -- Following one of the most successful road trips in team history, the Golden State Warriors are eager to keep proving they're one of the elite teams in the Western Conference.
The Warriors will try to avoid losing their edge during a home-heavy stretch that begins Tuesday night against the conference's last-place team, the New Orleans Hornets.
After losing to Orlando on Friday, Golden State (16-8) bounced back the next day with a 115-93 victory over Atlanta to cap a 6-1 trip. The Warriors won six games on a road trip for the first time in franchise history and finished above .500 on a trek of seven games or longer for the first time in 42 years.
"It was important for us to do that to show that we're for real and we're going to be here for the long haul," coach Mark Jackson said.
David Lee had his seventh consecutive game Saturday with at least 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Stephen Curry had 18 points, 11 assists and eight boards.
"It was a big win for us," Curry said. "We're excited to get home and looking forward to Tuesday when we play New Orleans. Hopefully, we can keep the momentum rolling.
The Warriors will play eight of their next 11 at Oracle Arena and would appear to have a good chance to get that stretch off to a winning start as the Hornets (5-18) arrive in Oakland having lost 16 of 18 and seven in a row.
They missed an opportunity to end that skid Sunday after Portland rookie Damian Lillard hit a 3-pointer with 0.3 seconds left to put the Trail Blazers up by three. New Orleans curiously didn't let Ryan Anderson try for a career high-tying eighth 3-pointer and instead had him pass to Lance Thomas for an alley-oop layup to end a 95-94 defeat.
"You need .04 to get the shot off, so we just ran a play for execution. There was not time for us to get a shot off, with them grabbing and holding Ryan it was going to be tough for him to get a shot off, so we were working on execution," coach Monty Williams said. "It was a situation where we worked on something we would need in the future."
Anderson finished with 26 points. Greivis Vasquez had 23 points and 11 assists, but No. 1 overall draft pick Anthony Davis was the only other player in double figures. Davis had 15 points, his best showing in four games since returning from an ankle injury.
Davis, who has been playing exclusively off the bench since coming back, will next try to help the Hornets avoid a season-high eighth straight defeat by leading them to their third win in a row over the Warriors.
Curry, though, missed both of those games because of an ankle injury, and Lee had to sit out an 83-81 loss April 24 with a strained groin and stress reaction.
Two New Orleans players who scored 20 points in a 102-87 win at Golden State on March 28 now play for the Warriors. Jarrett Jack is averaging 13.8 points and 5.3 assists off the bench over the last 10 games, while Carl Landry scored 19 points as a reserve Saturday.
The status of Golden State's starting center Festus Ezeli is unknown for this game because of a bruised knee, and Andris Biedrins could start in his place again.
Updated December 17, 2012 | http://scores.nbcsports.msnbc.com/nba/preview.asp?g=2012121809&home=9&vis=3&final=true | 750 |
|All Sports|||||Scoreboard|||||Stats|||||Standings|||||Teams|||||Players|||||Player News|||||Injuries|||||Transactions|
|Apr. 16 1:52 PM PT2:52 PM MT3:52 PM CT4:52 PM ET20:52 GMT4:52 AM 北京时间1:52 PM MST3:52 PM EST0:52 UAE (+1)16:52 ET - Reimer finished with 32 saves in a 2-0 win over New Jersey on Monday.
Analysis: It was Reimer's third shutout of the season. He's 4-0-1 with a 1.38 goals-against average over his last five starts.
|Apr. 14 2:15 PM PT3:15 PM MT4:15 PM CT5:15 PM ET21:15 GMT5:15 AM 北京时间2:15 PM MST4:15 PM EST1:15 UAE (+1)17:15 ET - Reimer finished with 36 saves in a 5-1 win over Montreal on Saturday.
Analysis: Reimer is 3-0-1 with a 1.72 goals-against average over his last four starts.
|Mar. 31 12:09 PM PT1:09 PM MT2:09 PM CT3:09 PM ET19:09 GMT3:09 AM 北京时间12:09 PM MST2:09 PM EST23:09 UAE15:09 ET - Reimer made 31 saves for his second shutout of the season and the Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Senators 4-0.
Analysis: Reimer is 10-1-4 with a 2.44 GAA in his last 15 games (14 starts).
|Mar. 24 12:12 PM PT1:12 PM MT2:12 PM CT3:12 PM ET19:12 GMT3:12 AM 北京时间12:12 PM MST2:12 PM EST23:12 UAE15:12 ET - Reimer made 31 saves Saturday in a 3-2 win over Boston.
Analysis: Reimer is 8-1-2 with a 2.78 GAA in his last 11 starts.
|Mar. 10 12:26 PM PT1:26 PM MT2:26 PM CT3:26 PM ET19:26 GMT3:26 AM 北京时间12:26 PM MST2:26 PM EST23:26 UAE15:26 ET - Reimer made 37 saves in a wild 5-4 SO loss to the Pens on Saturday.
Analysis: Reimer's six-game win streak ended, but hey, 6-0-1 in seven games should ease those fantasy wounds for any owners.
|Mar. 7 11:55 AM PT12:55 PM MT1:55 PM CT2:55 PM ET19:55 GMT3:55 AM 北京时间12:55 PM MST2:55 PM EST23:55 UAE14:55 ET - Reimer continued his impressive play Wednesday, making 39 saves in a 5-4 win over Ottawa.
Analysis: Reimer has now won six consecutive starts despite allowing four goals in two of his last three games.
|Mar. 5 6:42 AM PT7:42 AM MT8:42 AM CT9:42 AM ET14:42 GMT10:42 PM 北京时间7:42 AM MST9:42 AM EST18:42 UAE9:42 ET - Reimer made 28 saves Monday in a 4-2 win over New Jersey.
Analysis: Reimer has now won five consecutive starts while posting a 2.04 GAA. Fantasy owners should continue to ride with him until he cools off.
|Feb. 11 4:59 PM PT5:59 PM MT6:59 PM CT7:59 PM ET0:59 GMT8:59 AM 北京时间5:59 PM MST7:59 PM EST4:59 UAE (+1)19:59 ET - Reimer returned to action, but was pointless in 61 minutes of a 5-4 overtime win over the Islanders on Thursday night.
Analysis: Reimer hadn't played since straining his MCL Feb. 11.
|Feb. 10 1:28 PM PT2:28 PM MT3:28 PM CT4:28 PM ET21:28 GMT5:28 AM 北京时间2:28 PM MST4:28 PM EST1:28 UAE (+1)16:28 ET - Reimer made 37 saves to lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 6-0 win over Montreal on Saturday.
Analysis: Reimer was 4-3-0 with a 2.61 goals-against average before recording his seventh career shutout and his first this season.
|Feb. 8 1:12 PM PT2:12 PM MT3:12 PM CT4:12 PM ET21:12 GMT5:12 AM 北京时间2:12 PM MST4:12 PM EST1:12 UAE (+1)16:12 ET - Reimer made 23 saves Thursday in a 3-2 win over the Jets.
Analysis: Reimer has a 2.61 GAA and that's not too shabby.
|Feb. 3 1:47 PM PT2:47 PM MT3:47 PM CT4:47 PM ET21:47 GMT5:47 AM 北京时间2:47 PM MST4:47 PM EST1:47 UAE (+1)16:47 ET - Reimer made 33 saves Saturday in a 1-0 loss to Boston.
Analysis: Reimer had won three of his first four starts. "James Reimer gave us a chance," Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle said. "That's all you can ask of your goaltender. I thought he made some big stops."
|Feb. 1 11:26 AM PT12:26 PM MT1:26 PM CT2:26 PM ET19:26 GMT3:26 AM 北京时间12:26 PM MST2:26 PM EST23:26 UAE14:26 ET - Reimer made 20 saves Friday in a 3-2 win over the Caps.
Analysis: Reimer has won three of four starts and has been solid and professional in the early season. He could be a solid bargain buy at the right price. | http://scores.nbcsports.msnbc.com/nhl/playerstats.asp?id=4369&team=21 | 1,380 |
KC Joyner spotlights seven rookie running backs with the highest fantasy value for the 2013 NFL season, including Denver's Montee Ball and Green Bay's first-year duo of Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin.
After a breakout performance Sunday, Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas just might be this season's Hakeem Nicks. Plus, KC Joyner pinpoints eight other pass-catchers whom fantasy football players should pick up while they still can.
KC Joyner's weekly fantasy column devoted to receivers targets players who can help your fantasy team, depending on how far ahead -- or behind -- you are in the standings. Follow his advice and enjoy the benefits on your team. | http://search.espn.go.com/cincinnati-bengals/kc-joyner/insider-only/fantasy/4294588851-83-60 | 141 |
FILTER BY DATE
3 results for "english soccer"
Marcotti, Nicol and Mariner on Ferguson's retirement and Chelsea's draw with Tottenham.May 08, 2013
Ray Stubbs is joined by John Barnes, Kevin Keegan and Craig Burley who answer your questions tweeted into @ESPNUKFebruary 02, 2013
PFA chairman Clarke Carlisle, Gab Marcotti and Shaka Hislop discuss racism in the English Premier League. In part 1, the panel address the scale of the issue.November 04, 2012 | http://search.espn.go.com/english-soccer/videos/more-than-4-minutes/*/6-87-91 | 108 |
FILTER BY DATE
2 results for "medal of freedom"
Getting closer to game day ... Penn State looks for a much-needed signature win. Weather is forcing Penn State to close some grass parking lots around Beaver Stadium. JoePa is nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Lions assistant Jay P...Blog | September 08, 2011 | http://search.espn.go.com/medal-of-freedom/stories/adam-rittenberg/5-4294598642 | 70 |
Dylan Fritelli's clutch shot to win the NCAA golf title saved the ending to a down year for the Longhorns' sports teams.
Texas was down, and the young Longhorns were struggling. Rick Barnes got tough, and in getting Texas to the tournament, might have turned in his best effort.
After battling through a tough season, Rick Barnes cobbled his team together to reach the NCAA tournament for the 14th straight year.
Desperation can make for strange bedfellows. That said, the pillow talk between Texas' Rick Barnes and Oklahoma's Lon Kruger is about just who is more desperate.
For the freshman-laden Longhorns to make the NCAA tournament, the Big 12 math looks simple. | http://search.espn.go.com/ncaa/hornsnation/carter-strickland/college-basketball/144-4294598136-27 | 148 |
FILTER BY DATE
3 results for "ncf"
Craig Haubert breaks down changes in the RecruitingNation class rankings in the wake of the new ESPN 300, including a complete scramble of the top three.January 10, 2013
In this segment of RecruitingNation 411, Kipp Adams from DawgNation and Corey Long take a look at what the commitment of Robert Nkemdiche means for LSU and Alabama, and where two hot prospects from Florida will be playing their college ball.June 22, 2012
Tom Luginbill breaks down the recruits that moved up the most in the June 6th update to the ESPN150 rankings.June 05, 2012 | http://search.espn.go.com/ncf/videos/college-football/florida-gators/ryan-green/6-28-4294876491-4294951308 | 138 |
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Twins shook up their coaching staff on Thursday, as they did not offer 2013 contacts to bullpen coach Rick Stelmaszek, third-base coach Steve Liddle, first-base coach Jerry White and head athletic trainer Rick McWane.
Additionally, the Twins reassigned hitting coach Joe Vavra to a new role as infielder instructor while also reassigning bench coach Scott Ullger to a new role as outfield instructor. Manager Ron Gardenhire will remain in his current role as well as pitching coach Rick Anderson.
General manager Terry Ryan was not available for comment, as he is slated to meet with the media on Friday along with owner Jim Pohlad and president Dave St. Peter.
The moves come a day after the club finished with the worst record in the American League for a second straight year. Ryan met with all of the coaches individually on Thursday.
Stelmaszek was the longest-tenured member of the staff, as he completed his 32nd year as a coach with the Twins. He got his start in the organization as the manager of Class-A Wisconsin in 1978 before joining Minnesota's coaching staff in 1981.
Liddle, who had been with the organization since 1987, was the club's third-base coach for the two seasons after serving as bench coach for the previous 10 years. He also served as Twins Minor League Field Coordinator from '99-01.
White joined the Twins organization in '87 as a Minor League instructor before joining the Major League staff as first-base coach in '98. He played in parts of 11 big league seasons with the Expos and Cardinals.
McWane spent 24 seasons in the Twins organization and the last eight as the head trainer after serving as the Triple-A trainer from '96-01 and Twins assistant trainer from '02-04.
Vavra, meanwhile, became Minnesota's hitting coach before the 2006 season after serving as the Twins' Minor League field coordinator from 2002-05. The Twins finished this season with the eighth-most runs in the AL out of 14 teams.
Ullger served as bench coach for the last two seasons after serving as third-base coach from '06-11. Ullger, who was drafted by the Twins in 1977, also served as Minnesota's hitting caoch from '99-05.
Candidates for promotions include Triple-A Rochester manager Gene Glynn, Triple-A hitting coach Tom Brunansky and Triple-A pitching coach Bobby Cuellar. Hall of Famer Paul Molitor is also a candidate to join the staff. | http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121004&content_id=39488664&vkey=news_min&c_id=min | 530 |
A must-have item for the NHL® fan in your life, this Forever Collectibles® Tyler Seguin bobblehead offers a whimsical way to show spirit for the Boston Bruins. The durable resin Seguin model is mounted on a clear platform, and his name is prominently displayed on the front.
Country Of Origin: China
- Resin bobblehead
- NHL® player mounted on clear platform
- "Tyler Seguin" displayed on base
- Officially licensed
- Made in China | http://shop.nhl.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12973103 | 106 |
First there was the physical pain. It turns out that the experience of having a 201-pound man dive into your planted left leg from the side, forcing your knee to bend in a way knees are not made to bend, is excruciating. "I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy," says Adrian Peterson, the owner of the knee in question.
Worse, though, was the psychological pain. Even as he fell to the turf against the Redskins at FedEx Field last Dec. 24, Peterson—who was 26 and had been at the peak of his physical ability a second before—began to understand what had just happened to him in the penultimate game of a desultory 3--13 season. "I knew my ACL was outta there," he says, a diagnosis that would be confirmed on the field by a test called the Lachman maneuver, administered by Vikings team doctor Joel Boyd. A tear of the anterior cruciate ligament is among the cruelest injuries any athlete can suffer. It takes most running backs a full calendar year to return to the field and another year to regain their previous form. Even in an age in which surgical and rehabilitation techniques have seen major advances, many backs are never the same, and Peterson knew it. "Why me?" he said repeatedly as he gripped the arm of the team's athletic trainer, Eric Sugarman.
As Peterson sat with both legs propped up on a padded table in the visitors' training room, straining to follow the events of the game through the distant roars of the crowd, with his left knee burning and throbbing and entombed in a brace, he thought about two things. The first was a boy he had noticed in the stands when he ran out onto the field two hours earlier. The fan was wearing a replica of Peterson's purple number 28 jersey and held a sign saying that what he wanted for Christmas was the running back's autograph. "I get a good feel on people when I see their face, their expression, the energy they have," Peterson says. "He was full of joy and happy."
"I'll get you after the game," Peterson had called out to the boy. "I promise. I'll get you."
He would not be on the field after the game, of course, so Peterson asked Jeff Anderson, the Vikings' VP of communications, to get the jersey from the boy and bring it to him. MERRY CHRISTMAS 2011, he wrote on the 2, and signed his name, careful not to twist too much while he wrote as to disturb his destroyed knee. On the white 8 he inscribed ALL DAY/GOD BLESS.
Peterson's second thought was that he would not just return to being the best running back in the world, which he'd been less than an hour before; he'd be even better, and he'd do it not in two years, or in one, but in 263 days—in time for the Vikings' 2012 season opener. "It was remarkable to see how quickly he was able to digest it, get his mind around it and move forward," says Sugarman. "I don't remember anyone ever looking forward that quickly."
"My mind just clicked over," Peterson explains. "I'll come back. I'll bounce back better."
Now that Peterson is 14 games into one of the most stunning comebacks any NFL player has ever made, now that, after a phenomenal 212 yards on 24 carries in a 36--22 win at St. Louis, he is just 188 yards from becoming the seventh man to rush for 2,000 in a season and has a realistic chance of breaking Eric Dickerson's NFL single-season record of 2,105, the world knows what that young boy learned last Christmas Eve: If Adrian Peterson says he's going to do something, he will do it.
The stories Peterson's teammates like to swap about him make it sound as if the Vikings' locker room is home to some sort of benevolent superalien. He is one of them—Peterson is extremely well-liked, even though he is the big star on a humble, small-market team—but he will often do things to remind them that he is different from them, too.
There are, for instance, stories about his diet. He is one of the world's fittest athletes. His body fat is 5.3%, meaning that 208 of the 220 pounds on his 6'1" frame are lean mass, the same, says Vikings strength coach Tom Kanavy, as an average 250-pound linebacker. But Peterson does not just have a sweet tooth—he has a mouth full of them. There was the Bible study session a few years ago to which Peterson brought a tube of raw cookie dough. He proceeded to peel back the wrapper like a candy bar and eat it all. Then there was the legendary snack he consumed on the evening of Oct. 13, 2007, at the team hotel in Chicago. Peterson filled a large Styrofoam takeout container with scoops of ice cream and slices of cheesecake. "He just hammered the whole thing," reports linebacker Chad Greenway. The following afternoon Peterson ran for 224 yards against the Bears. "It's like in Back to the Future when they're dumping garbage into the DeLorean for fuel," says Kanavy, who makes certain to note that these were anomalies and that Peterson's diet is typically very nutritious. | http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1206628/index.htm | 1,106 |
|Born||April 15, 1974
Davison, MI, USA
|Height||5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)|
|Weight||201 lb (91 kg; 14 st 5 lb)|
|National team||United States|
|NHL Draft||217th overall, 1994
Timothy Thomas, Jr. (born April 15, 1974), called The Tank, is a American professional ice hockey goaltender under contract with the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was raised in Flint, Michigan and played college hockey for the University of Vermont for four years from 1993–1997, during which, he was selected 217th overall by the Quebec Nordiques in the 1994 NHL Entry Draft. He played for several years in the minor leagues and Europe before becoming the Boston Bruins' starting goaltender. He, along with Manny Fernandez, is the current holder of the William M. Jennings Trophy. Thomas is a two-time NHL All-Star, and was the winner of the 2009 Vezina Trophy as the league's best goaltender. The Bruins suspended Thomas for not reporting to training camp and he was traded to the Islanders for a conditional 2nd round pick in either 2014 or 2015. | http://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Thomas_(ice_hockey) | 247 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.