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Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh will return to the lineup Thursday night at the Garden, Rick Nash also expects to play, and Michael Del Zotto’s status is unknown for the team’s third and final matchup of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Fourth-liner Arron Asham (back) is expected to miss his fourth straight game, while defenseman Matt Gilroy (flu) will sit out after playing in 12 straight following six healthy scratches to open the season. That will keep Steve Eminger on the blue line after his 20-plus minute, one assist performance in a return to the lineup in Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets. Henrik Lundqvist, who is looking to return to form after surrendering a soft game-winning goal to the Jets’ Evander Kane, will get his second straight start. Nash (undisclosed injuries) said he expects he’ll be ready to play but that he’ll test himself in warmups just to make sure he feels as well as he did Thursday morning. Nash has missed four straight games, and the Rangers have an 0-3-1 record without him. | http://www.wpbf.com/news/sports/Ryan-McDonagh-playing-Rick-Nash-expects-to-return-also-but-will-test-himself-in-warmups/-/8789130/19125628/-/sb2j51z/-/index.html | 243 |
IOC leaders dropped wrestling from the Olympic program on …
Kerri Walsh Jennings of the United States leaps in the air after beating China at the 2012 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, in London. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
IOC leaders dropped wrestling from the Olympic program on …
The Penn State child sex abuse scandal was selected as the …
A look back at some memorable images of 2012.
List reveals political battles were more important than …
The Olympic flag touched down on Brazilian soil on Monday, …
Updated: Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012, 8:24 AM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 08 Aug 2012, 8:24 AM EDT
LONDON (AP) — The beach volleyball title is staying in the United States. That's for certain.
The big question now is which team gets the gold.
A few hours after twice-defending champions Kerri Walsh Jennings and Misty May-Treanor beat China, first-time Olympians April Ross and Jennifer Kessy joined them for an all-American final. With a win on Wednesday night, Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor would further cement their status as the most-decorated women's team in the brief history of Olympic beach volleyball.
"We want to seal the deal that we're the best team that's ever happened," Walsh Jennings said Tuesday night after the two-time gold medalists advanced to their third consecutive Olympic final with a 22-20, 22-20 victory over China. "I want to win tomorrow for us. ... This will be our last match together, so we want to go out on top."
Ross and Kessy are merely trying to be No. 1 in their home country.
"We're always trying to prove ourselves," Ross said after beating top-seeded Brazil. "Misty and Kerri have set the bar so high, and it's not just against us. It's against the world."
Prince Harry is expected to attend the gold-medal game, following Prime Minister David Cameron by one night to the stands at Horse Guards Parade that also have hosted such luminaries as Bill Gates, Prince Albert of Monaco, London Mayor Boris Johnson and a handful of NBA stars from the U.S. men's basketball team.
But, so far, most of the visitors have come to see Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor.
"With that match," Kessy said, "I don't think we have to prove ourselves any more. If anyone says, 'Who's the other team,' they didn't watch that game."
Ross and Kessy rallied from a first-set loss and a four-point deficit in the second to beat reigning world champions Juliana and Larissa 15-21, 21-19, 15-12. The Brazilians will play in the third-place game against China's Xue Chen and Zhang Xi, who are trying to repeat their bronze-medal finish from Beijing.
Despite a medal shutout by the American men, the United States has clinched multiple beach volleyball medals for the fourth time in five Olympiads since it became a recognized sport in 1996.
"This has been everyone's goal since the beginning: to get the two U.S. teams in the final together," Kessy said. "I can't believe we're going to be on that podium — either gold or silver. It hasn't sunk in for me yet, probably because our job isn't done yet."
Already the most-decorated team in the brief history of Olympic beach volleyball, Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor also are guaranteed at least a silver medal. No one — man or woman — had ever won two beach volleyball gold medals before they became repeat champions in Beijing.
And, until now, no woman had won three Olympic medals of any color.
"I had a picture in my head at the beginning of the season of how I wanted us to play, and we're living that picture," Walsh Jennings said. "But it's not over yet."
Earlier Tuesday, Brazil's Emanuel and Alison defeated Latvia to advance to the men's gold-medal game. They will meet the German team of Julius Brink and Jonas Reckermann, who beat Reinder Nummerdor and Rich Schuil of the Netherlands 21-14, 21-16 in the final match of a rain-soaked night.
"They have been the most dominant team on the tour the last 2½ years. I can talk positive about this team for a half-hour," Brink said of the Brazilians. "Emanuel is a legend, and he's still playing at a high level."
Walsh Jennings and May-Treanor won gold medals in Athens and Beijing without ever losing a match — in their first two Olympics, they never even lost a set — and they ran their unbeaten streak to 20 in a row with Tuesday's victory. But they gave up the first three points of the semifinal and fell behind 13-7 in the first set.
China saved two set points before Xue put one into the net tape to give the first set to the Americans.
The Americans held a slim lead most of the second, but China took the lead 17-16 and forced the Americans to take a timeout. Trailing 19-18, May-Treanor ran far behind the end line to retrieve an errant pass and bumped it toward the net — too close — forcing Walsh Jennings to slide under the net, delicately bumping the ball over and to an unoccupied area on the Chinese portion of the court.
May-Treanor, who is retiring from international play after the Olympics, said she overshot it.
"They're a great team. They make you do crazy stuff like that," Walsh Jennings said. "That was just funky. Misty ran down the ball and I think I got a little lucky on that one. But you need luck and I think you create your own luck, and that's what you get when you don't give up. But I can't take real credit for that. That's not skill."
In the early men's semifinal, the reigning world champions from Brazil beat Martins Plavins and Janis Smedins 21-15, 22-20 to clinch no worse than silver. It's Emanuel's third straight medal, but a first for Alison.
"I have been dreaming about this since I was a child," Alison said.
"Today I can finally say I am an Olympic athlete with a medal. But I am still dreaming about the gold."
Ground rules for posting comments: No profanity or personal attacks. Please comment on the subject of the story itself. If you do not follow these rules, we will remove your post. Keep it civil, folks!
Our commenting section is powered by IntenseDebate. If you registered for an account but didn't receive a verification e-mail, check your spam folder or click here for more information. For additional technical help, click here. | http://www.wpri.com/dpps/sports/summer_games/2-us-womens-teams-to-play-for-olympic-beach-gold-sp12-jgr_4289551 | 1,451 |
Loeb, who can win a ninth WRC drivers’ crown on Rallye de France Alsace next week, will only contest a partial WRC campaign with the factory Citroen team next year as it works towards a possible FIA World Touring Car Championship programme from 2014 with Loeb potentially at the wheel of one of its challengers.
Speaking at the Paris Motor Show yesterday, Loeb said: “On the one hand I thought about calming things down and stopping, but on the other hand I didn't want to feel like I was retired. So now we have a new challenge and a different style of driving, about which myself and Citroen still have a lot to learn, and that is very exciting.”
Of his decision to reduce his WRC schedule, the 38-year-old added: “The driving bit is the strongest part of rallying: in terms of the sensations you feel and the way you have to improvise with the car. But then again I’ve been there for a number of years and won everything. Now there is the opportunity of a new project with Citroen, who I’ve won everything together with in rallying, and that is the ideal solution.”
Who should replace Loeb full time at Citroen? WRC.com has compiled a shortlist of 10 drivers that could partner Citroen’s new team leader Mikko Hirvonen in 2013 and now is the time to register your vote. Simply click here to vote and keep visiting WRC.com for more polls. | http://www.wrc.com/news/archive/loeb-stopping-was-not-an-option/?fid=17529 | 323 |
Backstage Update: WWE Unifying Titles? + WWE Cable Network
-- WWE's planned cable network is still in the works, according to an article on the company's website. While "Setting The Record Straight" against the inaccuracies being reported by Democrats in Connecticut and various media outlets, the company revealed yesterday that it will be adding another 140 employees next year to work on the new cable network. WWE plans to shop the channel around to the national cable television providers next year. | http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2010/1022/533114/ | 97 |
'Generation Me': The 'Backstage Heat' Report Is False
It was reported earlier here on WrestlingINC.com that TNA Wrestling officials were unhappy with Generation Me revealing on Twitter two weeks ago that they would be unable to make their advertised appearance at Against All Odds due to travel issues. Management reportedly felt they should have allowed them to come up with a replacement plan and announce it at once rather than sharing details of their travel problems online. In response to the report, Max tweeted, "All reports out there about us having any type of "heat" are 100% false."
TNA founder Jeff Jarrett responded to his denial, writing, "Really?"
Max then immediately deleted the tweet. | http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2011/0227/536967/ | 143 |
**SPOILERS** Another TNA IMPACT! Report
Match Number One: D'Angelo Dinero and Devon defeated Ink Inc. and Mexican America to become the Number One Contenders for the Impact Wrestling Tag Team Titles. Devon got the victory over Jesse Neal with a spinebuster.
Sting came to the ring in his capacity as the man in charge of decisions in the Impact Zone. Sting asked for the Impact Wrestling World Champion Bobby Roode to come to the ring after he talked about how the inmates were running the asylum. Roode did not seem to be impressed with Sting's request and he told Sting to hurry up. Sting tried to show Roode who was in charge. Roode talked about how Sting should appreciate the things that he is doing as the World Champion, but Sting says that there are consequences for what he has done.
A.J. Styles comes to the ring and Roode talks about how A.J. has Sting fighting his battles for him. Jeff Hardy also comes out and Sting announces that the main event will be a Triple Threat Match between A.J. Styles, Jeff Hardy, and Booby Roode. Sting mentions that the title is not going to be defended in that match.
Impact Wrestling X Division Champion Austin Aries comes out. He says that he is the 'Greatest Man That Ever Lived' and he is even greater than he thought he could be. Aries talked about how he wanted to revitalize the X Division and he has defeated everyone, including Jesse Sorensen. Aries responds to some of the female fans in the crowd. Aries talks about how he wants some new blood and Kid Kash makes his way to the ring.
Kash talks about how Aries walked out on him during their recent tag match. Aries reminds Kash that he is still the X Division Champion. Kash points out that he was the X Division Champion before Aries ever came to TNA. Aries puts the title belt between him and Kash and he gives Kash the opportunity to face him for the X Division Title. Kash shakes Aries' hand and then they both punch each other and Aries is knocked out of the ring.
Match Number Two: Mickie James defeated ODB in a Knockouts Street Fight. Mickie pinned ODB after a spin kick while ODB held a chair. They fought throughout the Impact Zone.
Match Number Three: Impact Wrestling Television Champion Robbie E (with Rob Terry) defeated Rob Van Dam in a Television Title Match. During the match Eric Young came out and distracted the referee and Rob Terry. Christopher Daniels also got involved and gave Van Dam Angel's Wings and placed Robbie on top of Van Dam for the victory.
The Knockouts were in the back washing a car while wearing bikinis. Tara and Angelina Love started arguing and all six women started fighting. Some of the wrestlers watched the attack and tried to play peacekeeper. Impact Wrestling Knockouts Champion and one-half of the Knockouts Tag Team Champions Gail Kim sprayed the women with a hose.
Match Number Four: Impact Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion Bobby Roode defeated Jeff Hardy and A.J. Styles in a Triple Threat Match. Roode pinned Hardy after Jeff Jarrett interfered and knocked Hardy off the top rope when Hardy tried for a Swanton.
Sting stopped Jarrett and told him that he would be facing Jeff Hardy in a steel cage match where the only way to win the match is to escape. If Jarrett wins the match, then Jeff Hardy has to leave the company. If Hardy wins the match, Jeff becomes the number one contender for the Impact Wrestling Heavyweight Title. Karen Jarrett comes out to the ring and Sting announces that at the match between Jeff Jarrett and Jeff Hardy at Final Resolution, Karen is to be handcuffed to Sting. In a match taped for Xplosion, Samoa Joe defeated Douglas Williams by submission | http://www.wrestlinginc.com/wi/news/2011/1129/547122/impact-wrestling/ | 798 |
"Marc is an excellent acquisition for us, one of the best and most consistent performers in the Zurich Premiership last season," said Blues Director of Coaching, David Young. "Marc is a versatile mid-field player and consequently we have had to fight off stiff competition from a number of other clubs to capture his signature."
His sentiments were backed up by Blues Chief Executive, Robert Norster who said: "We look forward to welcoming Marc to the Arms Park as a proven and consistent performer at the highest level. He is an ideal addition to our regional team bringing, as he does, such experience and guile that will enhance the growing quality and strength of the squad."
Stcherbina comes to the Arms Park despite signing a new two-year deal with Northampton at the end of last season. Premier Rugby rules stipulate that only one overseas player is allowed on the pitch in a team at any time during a game. The signing of fly-half Carlos Spencer to replace the outgoing Shane Drahm meant there would be two overseas players in the squad. In simple terms, the rule means Spencer and Stcherbina would not be able to play at the same time.
Saints Head coach Budge Pountney said: "The club is terribly disappointed that Marc has decided to find another club but completely understands his reasons. He is a fine player and a great guy off the pitch and we were only too pleased to renew his contract, especially when we thought Shane would be staying with us.
"Unfortunately, this rule means we could not play Carlos and Marc at the same time and it would be a waste of his talent if he could not play regular first team rugby. We all wish him well."
Stcherbina, who played for Australia A, the Waratahs and Biarritz before coming to Franklin's Gardens, started 29 games for Saints last season - the most by any player in the squad. He made his debut against Bath Rugby on September 4. | http://www.wru.co.uk/eng/news/11989.php | 403 |
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) -- Tom Crean was an anonymous graduate assistant at Michigan State in 1990 when he rented a room from equally unknown Spartans assistant Tom Izzo.
Nearly two decades later, Crean coaches against his mentor, former landlord and close friend for the first time tonight when Marquette plays the Spartans in the first round of the East Regional of the NCAA men's basketball tournament.
The game is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
It will be broadcast on NewsChannel 7 beginning at 6:20 p.m.
Crean says it will be the first time in his life he hasn't been rooting for Izzo to win.
Izzo once had Crean on his staff before Marquette hired Crean in 2000.
Designed by Gray Digital Media | http://www.wsaw.com/sports/headlines/6512437.html?site=mobile | 168 |
Donnie Marbut Talks Cougar Baseball
Dec. 8, 2009
WSU HEAD BASEBALL COACH Donnie Marbut ON 2009 FALL
(On WSU's 2010 Postseason Chances)
(On WSU's Leadership)
(On Student-Athletes Who Could See Expanded Playing Time)
"We expect David Stilley, Chad Arnold and Adam Conley to fill up three of the four spots. The four spots are the first three starters and and our closer. Freshman Travis Cook had a really nice fall. Kendall Mayer, A.J. Carman and Richie Ochoa are all freshmen who showed flashes. The returning guys, Seth Harvey, Connor Lambert, James Wise, Rusty Shellhorn and Spencer Jackson give us 13 arms competing for 8-to-9 solid roles."
(On Position Players)
"We don't have a set nine for our lineup. I think Shea Vucinich will bounce back from a tough sophomore year and be our field general. Travis Coulter is going to be in the lineup somewhere. Our leader in the outfielder is Garry Kuykendall and we expect him to be our leadoff hitter. Jay Ponciano had a nice fall. We know about his bat, now we need him to improve defensively."
"Some of our offensive success hinges on our seniors like Matt Fanelli and Michael Weber taking their games to the next level. Weber missed the fall with injury, but that might have been good for him to take some time off and get healthy. It is hard to win games if you don't have great senior leadership."
"Travis Coulter as a redshirt-senior is a catalyst for us offensively and we know we are going to get. If his arm gets healthy defensively, then we have more flexibility. At times last year, Cody Bartlett and Shea Vucinich were dynamic up the middle defensively. They are so skilled in the middle, they have a chance to be as good of defensive combination as there is in the league."
"In the sophomore class, Kyle Johnson had a great fall and we think he is ready to be an impact player. Tommy Richards had an up and down fall, but we feel good about him as a utility infielder. Patrick Claussen saw significant time last season and is ready to see his playing time increase. Derek Jones did not have the fall he wanted to have, but he is really working on becoming a complete player. He doesn't have to carry a team, he just needs to help us win."
(On WSU's Freshmen)
Official Website of Washington State University Athletics | Bohler Athletic Complex | PO Box 641602 Pullman, WA 99164-1602 | 1.800.GO.COUGS | http://www.wsucougars.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/120809aaf.html | 567 |
Chrissie's Swansong Remembered
Published September 08, 2009 04:32
NEW YORK, NY, USA - It seems like only yesterday, but this year's US Open quarterfinals mark the 20th anniversary of the retirement of one of the sport's towering figures: Chris Evert. On the Louis Armstrong Stadium, the setting of so many great moments in a career that spanned two decades, the 34-year-old American found the net with a forehand return of serve. With that her Fed Cup teammate Zina Garrison advanced to the semis, 76(1) 62.
The gloomy weather suited the occasion, for as 'Chris America' gave a final wave to the adoring New York fans there was barely a dry eye in the house. Even the vanquisher was swept up in the emotion. "I was the one crying at the net because Chris was such a great champion," Garrison recalled. "Chris was consoling me."
While it was no fairytale ending there was no shame in the loss, just the fourth pre-semifinal Grand Slam departure of a stellar - and phenomenally consistent - career punctuated by statistics that may never be bettered.
Evert first captivated the nation in 1971 when she reached the US Open semifinals as a 16-year-old debutante - dubbed 'Cinderella in Sneakers', it took top-ranked Billie Jean King to stop her - and from that point on she only ever failed to reach at least the final four of a major four times in 56 outings. A third round loss to Kathy Jordan at Wimbledon in 1983 finally snapped what remains the Open Era record for most consecutive Grand Slam semis or better - 34, extending from the 1971 US Open through to Roland Garros in 1983.
Along the way there were 18 Grand Slam singles titles, appropriately tied with her great rival Martina Navratilova, and fourth on the all-time list behind Margaret Court (24), Steffi Graf (22) and Helen Wills Moody (19). Seven of Evert's Slams were won at Roland Garros on her beloved clay; six came at the US Open; she won three times at Wimbledon (where she was runner-up no less than seven times) and twice at the Australian Open.
Indeed, Evert lifted at least one Grand Slam trophy a season for 13 years between 1973 and 1986.
She Made it Here, She Made it There, She Made it Everywhere...
Her 154 Tour singles titles second only to Navratilova's 167, Evert still owns the best win-loss percentage in pro tennis history (.900) and boasts the record of any player for a single surface - a 125-match win streak on clay that stretched from August 1973 until May 1979, when Tracy Austin defeated her in a third set tie-break in the semis at Rome.
She won 101 matches at the US Open, still more than any other player, male or female, for just 12 losses. She reached the semis on 17 of 19 visits to New York, first at Forest Hills and then at Flushing Meadows.
Injury kept Evert out of the first two Slams of the season on her final year on the Tour, but she was back at Wimbledon, where she drew on her trademark mental strength - and a dazzling backhand pass down the line - to avert disaster against Italy's Laura Golarsa in the quarters, before succumbing to Graf.
Third on the list of total weeks at No.1 (260) and having finished the season as No.1 five times, Evert walked away from the game if not at her peak, then still very much a member of the elite. As late as 1985, after her stunning win at Roland Garros, she briefly stole the top ranking from Navratilova - and remains the oldest player to ever have held the top spot (at 31 years, 10 months, 7days).
Between 1972 and 1989 she was never ranked lower than No.4 in the world.
Not for her would there be a protracted, sad-to-watch decline; the losses to lesser lights mounted towards the end, sure, but in the 1980s Evert actually remade herself into a more complete player, spurred by the off-court training and on-court attack of Navratilova. Their rivalry would end at 43-37 in Navratilova's favor, including an implausible 60 meetings in finals.
Fittingly, the two stars joined forces to win the Fed Cup for the United States a month or so after Evert's US Open exit, with Evert's final win coming over future Wimbledon champion Conchita Martínez of Spain.
But perhaps the match best worth remembering came the round before that loss to Garrison, when Evert produced a vintage display of pinpoint accuracy to rout a young 12th-seeded Monica Seles, 60 62. It was a match few expected the veteran to win, and a powerful performance that seemed to say: "I would have been great in any era."
Of course, Evert's legacy is not just about victories and statistics. Through it all, she was a key protagonist in the politics of the sport, serving a record nine terms as president of the WTA Players Association. Her mix of athletic achievement, wit, poise and traditional feminine deportment brought glamour to the baseline and provided the sport with a mainstream, crossover star at a crucial time. Most importantly, though, her example - with that peerless double-handed backhand and steely determination to make the most of herself - encouraged countless young girls to take up the game.
Sonyericssonwtatour.com will soon launch new web biographies of the retired greats of our game, starting with former world No.1s from the computer-ranking era: Steffi Graf, Martina Navratilova, Chris Evert, Martina Hingis, Monica Seles, Tracy Austin, Jennifer Capriati, Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario and Evonne Goolagong Cawley. We would like to publish a selection of thoughts, memories or anecdotes on each player, whether from former peers on the Tour, people who work behind-the-scenes in tennis, or indeed fans. Please send submissions (no longer than this paragraph) to Adam Lincoln at [email protected]. | http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/1791204 | 1,324 |
Radwanska & Wickmayer Into Auckland Final
Published January 04, 2013 12:00
The No.3-seeded Wickmayer was the first to move through to the final two, holding off big-serving No.8 seed Mona Barthel, 64 16 76(3). After taking the first set, Wickmayer was blown out in 21 minutes in the second set; but she regrouped just in time for a third set that was dominated by the server, with no breaks at all - in the breaker it was all Wickmayer, who stormed out to a 6-1 lead and hung on.
"It was really tough to get a rhythm on her serve - it's really tough to read, and when she served a bit slower the wind was taking it," Wickmayer said of the Barthel serve, which produced 12 aces. "I managed to stay mentally strong in the tie-break - I'm happy with the way I handled that pressure."
Radwanska, the No.1 seed, followed with another tough win, beating Jamie Hampton, 76(4) 76(3). Playing in her first WTA semifinal, Hampton definitely showed a lot of promise - not only did she hold a set point at 6-5 in the first set, which she double faulted on, but she also went on an incredible run of five games in the second set, going from 0-4 to 5-4, winning 14 of 15 points at one point. But the experienced Radwanska hung on for the victory and snapped up the second final berth.
Radwanska and Wickmayer are 1-1 head-to-head, but Wickmayer's win came when Radwanska wasn't in the Top 5 - Wickmayer is actually a dubious 0-6 in her career against Top 5 players.
"She doesn't give you any free points - she makes you work for every shot," Wickmayer said. "It will be tough to find a balance between being aggressive and not making too many mistakes. But once I find that rhythm I think we're going to have a good match. We'll see - I've got nothing to lose."
"Yanina is a strong player who serves very well," Radwanska said. "I've never been in a final in my first tournament of the year, so it's a good start, and I'm going to do everything in my power to win that match tomorrow. Winning a title is a great thing, especially at a tournament I haven't played before."
The doubles final is also noteworthy in that it features former World No.1 Cara Black, who is playing her first WTA tournament since becoming a mother last spring. The Zimbabwean is unseeded alongside Anastasia Rodionova and they will play No.1 seeds Julia Goerges and Yaroslava Shvedova. | http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/3030238/title/radwanska-wickmayer-into-auckland-final | 602 |
(Sports Network) - The New York Yankees are once again rolling. Today, left-
hander Andy Pettitte tries to pitch them to their fifth straight win and a
three-game sweep of the Cleveland Indians at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees had won 10 in a row before losing the final two games of their
series with the Atlanta Braves. New York, though, bounced back by taking the
final two games of the three-game Subway Series from the Mets and has won the
first two games of this series with the Indians.
The Yanks' starting pitching has been a big reason for their success, and that
has certainly been the case in this series. Hiroki Kuroda gave up a run in
seven innings in Monday's opener, then Phil Hughes tossed eight scoreless
innings in New York's 6-4 victory on Tuesday.
"That's the way it goes sometimes. Other times you have really good stuff and
it's hit all over the place," Hughes said. "I'm happy with the way I located
Hughes (8-6) allowed six hits in his first scoreless outing of the year for
the Yankees, who have won 14 of 17 and 18 of 23 in June to move four games in
front of Baltimore for the top spot in the American League East.
Alex Rodriguez hit his 642nd career home run, and Rafael Soriano had to clean
up a late mess and earned his 16th save with only two pitches.
Jose Lopez hit a three-run homer in the ninth inning for the Indians, who have
now lost a season-worst four in a row. Justin Masterson (4-7) allowed four
runs on seven hits and three walks in six innings but thought he threw the
ball well enough for a better outcome.
"There were a lot of mis-hit balls and not real comfortable swings, which is
exactly what you want. Somehow four runs got on the board," said Masterson. "I
thought we were doing a lot better than that looked."
The Indians have scored only nine runs in their last five games, and they're
scoring 3.9 runs per game this month. Their struggles could continue tonight,
as they are just 5-15 this season versus left-handers.
Pettitte, on the other hand, will try to deliver the Yanks another terrific
showing on the hill, but will be targeting his first win in four starts.
Pettitte lost to the Mets on Friday, surrendering five runs - all in the first
inning - and seven hits in six innings. He is 3-3 on the year with a 3.29 ERA.
"That was the game," Pettitte said afterward. "I blew it from the get-go. I
felt like I got in a pretty good rhythm later in the game. It's frustrating,
that's for sure. "
Pettitte, though, is 3-0 with a 1.27 ERA with 35 strikeouts over 28 1/3
innings in his last four outings at Yankee Stadium.
The left-hander has faced the Indians 20 times and is 8-8 against them with a
4.23 ERA. Pettitte's eight career regular-season wins over Cleveland represent
his lowest total against any AL team.
Cleveland, meanwhile, will counter with righty Ubaldo Jimenez, who is 7-5 this
season with a 4.59 ERA. Jimenez defeated the Houston Astros on Friday with a
solid outing that saw him scatter four hits over 6f 2/3 scoreless innings.
However, he did walk four batters.
Jimenez beat the Yankees the only other time he faced them, limiting them to a
pair of runs and four hits in seven innings last June as a member of the
The Yankees went 4-3 against the Indians last season, including 3-1 in the
The Sports Network | http://www.wtsp.com/sports/mlb/article/261289/263/Yanks-Pettitte-hope-to-break-the-brooms-out-on-Tribe | 817 |
World War II infantry veteran Carrol Walsh, top, hugs Holocaust survivor Paul Arato at a reunion in Queensbury, N.Y., on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2009. Walsh's unit liberated a Nazi train carrying 2,500 Jewish prisoners, including Arato, from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in Germany during the war's waning days (AP/Tim Roske)
HUDSON FALLS, N.Y. (AP) - A World War II veteran from New York whose account of liberating Holocaust victims from a Nazi train led to reunions with the survivors 60 years later has died.
Matthew Rozell, a friend of Carrol Walsh, tells The Associated Press that Walsh died Monday at his home in Sarasota, Fla. The retired New York judge was 91. A cause of death wasn't immediately available.
Walsh and other American soldiers liberated 2,500 Jewish concentration camp prisoners from a Nazi train at the end of World War II.
His story was posted on a website Rozell created for the history class he teaches at Hudson Falls High School in upstate New York.
That led to a series of reunions involving veterans and train survivors in New York, South Carolina and Tennessee. | http://www.wusa9.com/news/military/article/234336/272/NY-WWII-Vet-Who-Liberated-Nazi-Train-Dies-In-Fla | 251 |
When the Blazers got the ball back after a short punt (that may have been tipped), they needed just five plays to travel 64 yards. Change-of-pace back Bashr Coles delivered the big play, a 39-yard run to the Marshall 20. Reaves traveled the final 4 for a 14-7 lead.
Tyler Williams' next punt was certainly blocked, though it managed to go forward 20 yards. Still, UAB took over on its 48 and took just 1:23 to make it 21-7, ending with a 33-yard pass from Brown to Patrick Hearn. How well Baxter would have covered the play we'll never know, as he took a tumble on the turf.
That play came on the first play of the second quarter, and the Herd spent the rest of that time treading water. Cato was flushed out of the pocket on fourth-and-4 at the UAB 25, finally taking a low-percentage shot for Davonte Allen in the end zone. Allen couldn't bring it down, but cornerback Cornelius Richards did.
The Herd's last possession of the half was even more agonizing. Three Grooms runs gave the Herd fourth-and-inches from its 44, and Watson took the handoff to pick up the first down. But UAB defensive end Chris Rabb submarined under his blocker and took out Watson's legs early.
With UAB taking over the MU 44, a Ty Long field goal seemed almost automatic. He hit from 27 yards with 9 seconds left to set the 24-7 halftime score. Marshall was outgained at that point 174-121, and finished with a deficit of 406-337.
Contact Doug Smock at 304-348-5130 or [email protected], or follow him at twitter.com/dougsmock. | http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/201211100122?page=2&build=cache | 383 |
NEW YORK (AP) -- The NFL has suspended New Orleans head coach Sean Payton for the 2012 season, and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is banned from the league indefinitely because of the team's bounty program that targeted opposing players.
Commissioner Roger Goodell will review Williams' status after the upcoming season and consider whether he can return to the league.
Also Wednesday, Goodell suspended Saints general manager Mickey Loomis for the first eight regular-season games of 2012, and assistant coach Joe Vitt has to sit out the first six games.
In addition, the Saints are being fined $500,000 and forfeit second-round draft picks this year and in 2013.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) | http://www.wwaytv3.com/2012/03/21/saints-payton-suspended-for-season-nfl | 148 |
NEW ORLEANS - Police are still looking for four men they say beat another man unconscious after a fight inside of a Bourbon St. club continued out on the street over the weekend.
View the video at the bottom of the story.
The incident occurred around 4:30 a.m. Saturday in the 200 block of Bourbon and was captured on video.
According to police, the four suspects and the victim were kicked out of a night club due to fighting and once outside the argument continued.
Police said the victim continued to act aggressively toward the suspects and he was knocked to the ground and then kicked several times into unconsciousness.
After one of the suspects removed something from the victim's pocket, all of the suspects fled.
Police said the suspects are being sought for simple robbery and aggravated battery.
The victim was released from the hospital Saturday morning and will be re-interviewed by police at a later time.
Subject #1is described as an African-American male, medium complexion, approximately 5’10’ -6’00” tall with an average build and braided hair. He was wearing a light colored long sleeved t-shirt, blue jeans and black shoes.
Subject #2 is described as an African-American or Hispanic male, light complexion, approximately 5’8”-5’10” tall with short hair and a beard. He was wearing a light long sleeved t-shirt and dark blue jeans.
Subject #3 is described as an African-American male wearing a light colored floppy eared winter hat, a green/blue sweat shirt and dark pants.
Subject #4 is described as an African-American male wearing a baseball cap, a zip up jacket, khaki shorts and white tennis shoes. | http://www.wwltv.com/news/crime/Four-sought-in-Bourbon-St-beating-180705541.html | 366 |
DETROIT (WXYZ) - The 7 Action News team has learned two people have been shot on Blackstone Street near Martins Avenue in Detroit.
The two men have been transported to local hospitals. One of the victims was shot in the arm, the other in the back.
Stay with 7 Action News and WXYZ.com for updates.
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
More Detroit Headlines
A sixteen-year-old boy is dead after a shooting in southwest Detroit.
Former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick returns to federal court today.
Police are investigating after a carjacking and police chase ended with deadly crash early Thursday morning. | http://www.wxyz.com/dpp/news/region/detroit/2-people-shot-on-blackstone-street-in-detroit | 159 |
Twitter account of Pistorius' brother hacked
Hacker posted Pistorius would do interviews; Family says that's not true
A hacker falsely posted on the Twitter account of Oscar Pistorius' older brother Saturday that the South African Olympian was going to do media interviews, a family spokeswoman said.
Carl Pistorius didn't post such a tweet, and he and his sister, Aimee, were canceling all their social media accounts Saturday, said family spokeswoman Janine Hills. All three Pistorius siblings live in South Africa, she said.
On Friday, Oscar Pistorius was freed from jail on $112,000 bail eight days after the shooting death of his model girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp, 29.
Pistorius, 26, is charged with premeditated murder in her February 14 death.
"It is most unfortunate that during this sensitive time, someone would choose to hack into Oscar Pistorius older brother, Carl Pistorius' Twitter handle," Hills said in a statement. "Carl did not tweet this afternoon, out of respect to Oscar and Reeva."
Hills said she heard on a South Africa radio station that Carl Pistorius' Twitter account stated that Oscar Pistorius was going to speak to the media.
"This is untrue," Hills told CNN in a separate interview. "I spoke to Oscar myself. He has not spoken to anybody and does not plan on doing any interviews."
The hacking apparently occurred Saturday afternoon, she said.
Meanwhile, Oscar Pistorius' family and friends expressed "immense relief" Saturday about how he was freed on bail, a relative said.
"What happened has changed our lives irrevocably," said Arnold Pistorius, the athlete's uncle, referring to the events surrounding Steenkamp's death.
Oscar Pistorius said he fired his gun because he thought an intruder was hiding in a toilet room inside the bathroom of his Pretoria home, not realizing it was actually Steenkamp inside.
"We are acutely aware of the fact that this is only the beginning of a long road to prove that, as we know, Oscar never intended to harm Reeva, let alone cause her death," Arnold Pistorius said in a statement. "We realize that the law must run its course, and we would not have it any other way."
Copyright 2013 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | http://www.wyff4.com/news/national/Twitter-account-of-Pistorius-brother-hacked/-/9324256/19053710/-/view/print/-/bknn5az/-/index.html | 496 |
|Title:||Assistant Coach/Director Tennis Operations|
Christian Appleman begins his ninth year as assistant coach of the Yale men's tennis team. In addition to his coaching duties, Christian is Yale’s Director of Tennis Operations. Appleman served as men's and women's assistant tennis coach at Penn State from 1994 to 1996. During this time he was also the head teaching professional and director of tennis at the Penn State Tennis Center.
As a student-athlete, Appleman spent four seasons on the PSU varsity tennis team and helped the Nittany Lions win the Atlantic 10 title in 1986, playing alongside two current Division I head coaches: Dwayne Hultquist (Florida State) and Adam Steinberg (Pepperdine). Appleman also played four seasons of varsity basketball, was the basketball team captain in 1988-89 (20-12 record, NIT 2nd round), and graduated with Bachelor of Arts degrees in history and political science in 1990. Appleman has 13 years of Division I men's and women's basketball assistant coaching experience at Penn State, Army and Yale. He has coached in both a men’s (PSU 2001) and women’s (PSU 1992) basketball sweet 16 contest and a pair of men’s NIT final fours (PSU 1998, 2000).
Appleman is married to Erin Appleman, head coach of the Yale volleyball team. They have two children, Emma and Justin. | http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/m-tennis/coaches/appleman_christian?tmpl=/information/directory/bio-template | 300 |
|Hometown:||Buffalo Grove, Ill.|
|High School:||Adlai E. Stevenson|
|Residential College:||Ezra Stiles|
Vault: 9.9 (3/12/2013)
Bars: 9.7 (2/6/2010)
Beam: 9.775 (3/8/2012)
Floor: 9.85 (3/13/2010)
All-around: 38.950 (3/12/2013)
2013: Given an Outstanding Contribution Award … Competed all-around for the Bulldogs in every meet of the season … Won the floor exercise at the Ivy Classic, scoring a 9.800 … Fourth on the floor at the ECAC championship with a 9.800 … Set the school record on the vault with a 9.900 against Bridgeport, Brown and URI … Set a career-high in the all-around during the same meet, totaling 38.950 … Finished third at the ECAC championships on the vault with a 9.775.
2012: Given an Outstanding Contribution Award for her performance ... Competed in the all-around at all but two meets ... Placed first on floor at the opening meet of the season ... Won vault and floor at a dual meet against Penn ... Won the all-around with a career-high 38.775 at the New Hampshire Invitational ... Second on floor and second all-around at the Bulldog Invitational ... Won vault and floor against SCSU ... Placed third on vault and second on beam at the Ivy Classic ... Second on vault, floor and in the all-around and third on beam against George Washington with a career-high 9.775 on beam ... Third all-around against Towson, Penn and George Washington ... Eighth all-around at the ECAC Championships.
2011: Given an Outstanding Contribution Award for her performance in 2011 … Season was cut short by an injury … Placed fourth on floor and second all-around at Springfield … Won floor at Ithaca with a 9.725 … Won vault with a 9.75 and placed third on beam and floor and second all-around at Penn.
2010: Made an immediate impact among arriving at Yale, competing in all four events in every meet during her freshman year and earning the team’s Outstanding Freshman Contribution Award … Twice named ECAC Rookie of the Week, following Yale’s dual meet with Penn and a five-way meet at SCSU … Set a Yale record against Penn on the vault with a 9.85 … Yale’s top performer in the all-around twice during her freshman season, including Yale’s dual with Springfield College, in which she won the all-around.
High School: Feld finished ninth on vault at the 2008 level ten Junior Olympic Nationals … Earned third place on vault and fifth on beam at 2009 level ten regionals … Her team won the Gasparilla Classic and placed second at the Pike's Peak Invitational.
Personal: Majors in biomedical engineering … Why Yale?: “Yale is the perfect blend of academics, athletics and culture. It is a place that truly promotes success in all aspects of life.” | http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/w-gym/2012-13/bios/feld_tara_h26x?view=bio | 667 |
Via Midwest Sports Fans:
There seems to be a lot of hand-wringing about this being a down year for college hoops.
If you define the season by whether or not there is a truly dominant team, I guess that’s a fair statement. If you define the season by sheer entertainment value, however, this one has been pretty darn good.
The same kinds of upsets that are celebrated during the NCAA tournament are somehow being used as an indictment of the 2012-13 season, but I have no complaints about such an unpredictable year.
Well, maybe one.
It makes putting together these bracket projections increasingly difficult, because it feels like virtually everyone lost last week. Throw in oddball profiles such as the one Virginia is building, and this becomes a tall order each Monday night.
Maybe now that we are less than five weeks from Selection Sunday, things will start to sort themselves out. But with the way this season has gone, I doubt it.
The projections below take into account all games played through Monday, Feb. 11.
Last Four In
The Gaels just need to keep winning, and unlike many of their bubble brethren, they are doing just that.
Thursday begins a critical 10-day stretch that features home dates with Gonzaga, BYU and Creighton, with a road trip to Loyola Marymount squeezed in the middle. Going 3-1 in that stretch would give Saint Mary’s a little breathing room. Anything less and things start to get dicey.
Last week’s win against Creighton gave the Sycamores their fourth win against an RPI top 50 team, and they avoided another brutal loss with a one-point victory over Southern Illinois on Saturday.
The neutral court win over a Reggie Johnson-less Miami squad looks better with each passing week, but three losses against sub-150 RPI teams still have ISU in a tenuous position.
For this week, the Sycamores need to avoid road slip-ups against Missouri State and Bradley.
At this point, the Bears have just one win against the RPI top 45, have lost three of four, and have beaten one tournament-caliber team since early December. Their November win over St. John’s is useful for bubble purposes, but that won’t be enough if they can’t start getting wins.
Baylor needs to take care of business at home against West Virginia before a tough road test at Kansas State.
The fact that Jeff Elorriaga missed three of their conference losses helps, but he also hasn’t been particularly productive since returning. As it stands, the Broncos are below .500 in the Mountain West with road games left at New Mexico and UNLV as well as home dates with Colorado State and San Diego State.
If they can win their three other conference games and split those four, their profile would look pretty good. Anything less and they are in serious trouble.
First Five Out
The Cavaliers have the most confounding profile I can remember in recent years (or maybe ever).
On one hand, they are 6-0 against the RPI top 100 with home wins against North Carolina and North Carolina State and road victories over Wisconsin and Maryland. On the other hand, all six losses have come to teams ranked 120th or lower in the RPI, including to sub-300 Old Dominion.
You can’t overlook the good wins or the bad losses, which lands the Cavs directly on the fence without much historical precedent for how the committee may treat them. The next few weeks will be telling with road trips to UNC and Miami as well as a home game against Duke.
Saturday’s home loss to Stanford pushed the Sun Devils out of the field. They have four top-100 wins at this point and just one sub-100 loss — a 17-point home defeat to DePaul. The biggest issue is that nine of their 18 Division I wins have come against sub-200 squads.
With five of ASU’s final seven games on the road, it will be an uphill battle for Herb Sendek’s club. The Sun Devils certainly can’t afford to lose at Utah this week and would be well-served to steal one at Colorado over the weekend.
The Red Storm have won six of their past eight games, including wins over Notre Dame and UConn. However, nonconference losses to San Francisco and UNC-Asheville loom large, as does a disappointing home loss to Rutgers. Similar to ASU, St. John’s has racked up seven of its 15 wins over sub-190 teams.
The remaining Big East schedule will tell the tale, with four games against teams in the RPI top 50 (at Louisville, Pittsburgh, at Notre Dame, Marquette) and a road trip to Providence sprinkled in.
After a home loss to Providence, the Wildcats held serve last week by beating DePaul and South Florida, but neither win really moves the needle for their NCAA hopes.
Victories over Louisville and Syracuse obviously hold a lot of weight, but their next best wins are against St. John’s and St. Joseph’s. Unfortunately, those are somewhat offset by an 18-point loss to Columbia and the fact they were swept by Providence.
This is a huge week for ’Nova with road trips to Cincinnati and UConn on tap.
The Minutemen are quietly 6-3 in the A-10, with two of those losses coming by a combined four points. They are also 6-2 in true road games, but the wins at Northeastern and La Salle are the only ones that hold much weight. UMass is 5-5 against the RPI top 100, but losses against Tennessee in Puerto Rico and at home vs. George Washington certainly don’t help the cause.
Much like Villanova, the Minutemen have a pair of important games this week as they travel to VCU before hosting Temple on Saturday.
Here is how the bids broke out by conference:
Big East (7): Cincinnati, Georgetown, Louisville, Marquette, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse
Big Ten (7): Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Ohio State, Wisconsin
Big 12 (6): Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
Atlantic 10 (5): Butler, La Salle, Saint Louis, Temple, VCU
Mountain West (5): Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV
Pac-12 (4): Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, UCLA
ACC (4): Duke, Miami (FL), North Carolina, North Carolina State
SEC (4): Florida, Kentucky, Missouri, Ole Miss
Missouri Valley (3): Creighton, Indiana State, Wichita State
West Coast (2): Gonzaga, Saint Mary’s
America East: Vermont
Atlantic Sun: Florida Gulf Coast
Big Sky: Montana
Big South: UNC-Asheville
Big West: Long Beach State
Conference USA: Memphis
MEAC: North Carolina Central
Ohio Valley: Belmont
Southland: Stephen F. Austin
Summit: Western Illinois
Sun Belt: Middle Tennessee
WAC: Louisiana Tech | http://www.yardbarker.com/college_basketball/articles/ncaa_tournament_bracket_projections_february_12th/12899821?refmod=yb_art_top&ref_art_id=12216943 | 1,500 |
SAN DIEGO The Diamondbacks are off to the best start in franchise history, and Chris Young is right there with them.
The D-backs have won four straight, Young has hit in four straight, and even party-pooping Petco Park could not hold Young's line drive into the left field seats in the 11th inning off old friend Micah Owings for a 4-2 victory over San Diego on Tuesday.
Young has two doubles, two homers and six RBIs as the D-backs reached 4-0 for the first time in their 15 seasons. They were 3-0 in 2000.
It is safe to say the offseason tweaks Young made to his hitting approach are taking, not that a little review cannot hurt. Young made a quick dash into the clubhouse in the sixth inning to watch his early swings, saw something, and won the game five innings later.
"I was feeling a little bit out of rhythm. I feel like I missed a couple of pitches I should have hit," said Young, who popped up twice and grounded out in his first three at-bats while hitting in the No. 3 hole while Justin Upton rested a jammed left thumb.
"I was kind of dropping under the ball, popping it up a little too much. I just tried to make an adjustment to stay on top of the ball and try to get a little more backspin. I was glad I was able to transfer it. You're not always able to transfer it into a game, at-bat to at-bat, but that's the ultimate goal.
"The ultimate goal is not to be able to make an adjustment game to game. Good hitters out there, they are able to make an adjustment from their first at-bat to their second at-bat. It took me from my first to my fifth, so I'd like to be able to recognize any kind any mechanical breakdown earlier."
Young homered on an 80 mph slider, one pitch after Owings hit Gerardo Parra to open the 11th. Owings likes to pitch inside, and the ball just nicked Parra's jersey to give him first. Manager Kirk Gibson briefly considered a sacrifice bunt, and Young said he believed Owings might have been expecting that.
"I figured he would throw me a strike. Normally in that situation, you might think a guy is going to bunt," Young said.
"He looks the best I've ever seen him. His discipline at the plate looks better. He is swinging at good pitches," catcher Miguel Montero said of Young.
Craig Breslow got his first National League victory with a 1-2-3 10th inning and J.J. Putz recorded converted his third save in as many opportunities this season.
All that came after a quirky beginning for Trevor Cahill, who was making his first start D-backs start in his home town, by the way after being acquired over the winter to deepen the rotation.
Cahill walked five of the first nine batters he faced working on an Edwin Jackson no-hitter, it appeared but had very little trouble once he found the strike zone to keep the D-backs in front through the first six innings
Cahill gave up only two hits and a run, and faced only one batter more than the minimum 11 after giving up his first hit, a double by Chase Headley in the third. Headley scored on a wild pitch and a ground out.
"I didn't really know where it was going," said Cahill, although he left with a 2-1 lead.
San Diego starter Edinson Volquez did not know where he was supposed to go in the first inning, and it cost the Padres two runs.
Willie Bloomquist opened the first with a single to left field and took second when Parra grounded out. With two outs, Montero broke his bat on fastball from Volquez, sending shards of wood toward the mound and the ball toward the hole between first and second. When first baseman Yonder Alonso fielded the ball, he was too far from the bag to beat Montero, and Volquez was still near the mound, apparently distracted by the flotsam.
Paul Goldschmidt made Volquez pay almost instantly, lining a 1-0 pitch deep to left-center field to drive in both runs. It was the kind of mistake the D-backs took advantage of last season, and it did not take them long time this, either.
"That bat just exploded. I think the bat got farther than the ball. It's a knock (hit), so I'll take it," Montero said. "It was good. We took advantage of the little mistakes. I would say that was the difference in the ball game. 'Goldy' came back and got a big hit."
Cahill left after six innings and 104 pitches, and the Padres tied the game on consecutive pitches triple, single in the seventh off Brad Ziegler. Jason Kubel helped shorten the inning when he easily threw out Bartlett attempting to stretch it.
After a walk and a stolen base, Bryan Shaw entered to strike out Will Venable, the first of four straight outs for Shaw. David Hernandez, Breslow and Putz followed with scoreless innings.
The rest was, is, history.
Follow Jack Magruder on Twitter | http://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/diamondbacks_young_remain_on_a_record_roll/10530050 | 1,105 |
Found December 07, 2012 on
Via Football Nation:
Wes Welker really found a home in New England as the go to guy for Tom Brady. He has put up phenomenal numbers as a slot receiver in a prolific offense. He has 9 years in the league, but didn't really take off until coming to New England from Miami.Since 2007 has posted 5 out of 6 seasons at 1,000 plus yards, his best performance coming in 2009 where he exceeded 1300 yards receiving. Even alongside Randy Moss, he managed to catch 112 balls for 1175 yards. Along with Brady, he is sure to be a first ballot HOFer.But 2012 has brought some controversy to one who has not only blown the doors off the competition, but also overcame major knee surgery, to resume, in stride, his prolific career. With his contract expiring, Welker hoped to ink an extension that would make him a Patriot until his mid 30s, letting him retire in the same place he left his indelible mark.That extension never happened, and the organization dubbed him their franchise player, actually increasing his salary for a single season commitment.
And the Patriots could repeat that move again, securing his talents for just one more year, while hedging against any loss in performance over that period.At 32 years of age, Wes might be inclined to think that he can easily perform at the same level. I for one agree. But no one knows what Patriot management thinks. Receivers do tend to lose a step as they move through their 30s.
So, where will Welker land in 2013?My bet is with the New England Patriots.Sure, Miami would love to squeeze the last few ounces of production from "the one that got away". And many teams could benefit from a receiver with his skills, even if the production starts to wane. Can you imagine the immediate improvement for teams like Indianapolis or the New York Jets, or all those sub-500 teams like KC?But Wes will want to play for a contender; and who better than the team that has buttered his bread for the past 6 seasons? He wants to play in New England. It's the best for him and the organization to lock him in through his 35th birthday. With another 100 catch and 1000 yards season, it is truly win-win and would make all of Patriot Nation happy.
BEST OF MAXIM
AROUND THE WEB
Last week: 1 (+0)
Net points per drive: 1.05 (1st)
DVOA: 38.9% (1st)
Weighted DVOA: 39.7% (1st)
C Ryan Wendell: Allowed 1 quarterback hit on 46 pass block snaps, run blocked for 72 yards on 14 attempts
WR Wes Welker: Caught 12 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown on 18 attempts on 44 pass snaps, 5.8 YAC per catch, 2 drops
CB Kyle Arrington: Allowed 3...
Houston Texans QB Matt Schaub will be looking to continue his unbeaten road streak this season as he faces the Patriots on Monday.
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How Tom Brady Can Lean on Aaron Rodgers' Success vs Texans | Bleacher Report: Great scouting work...
Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen added to their family on Thursday night by welcoming their daughter Vivian into the world. In addition to the couple’s first child Benjamin, the Brady clan is growing and in a few short years will likely be ready to take over the world.
Then again, the Brady bloodline could be ready to tackle the sporting universe under a different surname. After...
The Boston Herald was reviewing their transcripts from an interview with Houston Texans safety Danieal Manning when they found this quote from him about beating Tom Brady:“I’m 2-1 with Brady,” Manning said. “Beaten him twice and lost once to him in Chicago. It was a real cold, snowy day and they came with it, they balled out on us.” Manning played for the Chicago Bears...
The AFC East-champion New England Patriots are 8-1 against AFC teams this year, and 4-1 at home. But according to Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak, that doesn't faze his team in the least.Kubiak's division-leading squad has secured itself a playoff spot as well, and at 11-1 and unbeaten on the road, they don't seem to care where they play. “It’s a confidence thing...
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady welcomed his first daughter into the world on Wednesday. Brady's wife, model Gisele Bundchen, gave birth to a baby girl named Vivian Lake. Bundchen delivered the news through Facebook. "We feel so lucky to have been able to experience the miracle of birth once again and are forever grateful for the opportunity to be the paretns...
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife, Gisele Bundchen, have announced the birth of their second child, a girl named Vivian Lake.
Bundchen announced the birth on her Facebook page, saying their daughter was born at home on Wednesday and is ''healthy and full of life.''
''We feel so lucky to have been able to experience the...
BST&N’s Patriots BEATS & TWEETS will keep you updated on all the news OFF the field about your favorite football team. We scour the internets & social media for all the content that will make you the PATRIOTS “INSIDER” around the water cooler.
In this edition: Brady & Gisele welcome a lil lady to the family, Mike Vrabel’s ill advised head butt...
Congratulations are in order for Patriots QB Tom Brady and wife Gisele Bundchen. Gisele gave birth to a baby girl on Wednesday, at their Boston home. Vivian Lake joins brothers, 3-year-old Benjamin Rein and 5-year-old John, whom Tom Brady had with actress Bridget Moynahan to add to the Brady family. “We feel so lucky to [...]
New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady and his supermodel wife, Gisele Bundchen, welcomed their second daughter into the world on Wednesday.
The child, a girl named Vivian Lake, was born at home and is "healthy and full of life", Bundchen said on her Facebook. Bundchen later said on her Facebook, "We feel so lucky to have been able to experience the miracle of...
Gisele Bundchen gave birth to her second child with New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady on Wednesday evening. The couple named their new baby girl Vivian. Brady and Bundchen also have a son named Benjamin who turns 3 on Saturday.
This is Brady’s third child as he also has another son, named John who is 5, with actress Bridget Moynahan.
“We feel so lucky to have been able...
When the 2012 NFL schedule was released back in April, I quickly ran through all of the biggest games that I labeled as can’t miss. But one Monday Night game in particular caught my eye. In early December, the matchup between the Houston Texans and New England Patriots got a big red circle on my personal copy of the schedule. Why? Because it was my belief that one of these two... | http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/new_england_patriots_where_will_wes_welker_land_in_2013/12388405?refmod=yb_art_top&ref_art_id=12356344 | 1,605 |
Posted by Adam Jude
After curtly refusing to comment about Kenjon Barner during a conference call Tuesday, Chip Kelly told a Portland radio station this afternoon that the sophomore running back is “doing good” as he recovers from a concussion suffered against Washington State last Saturday.
“I visited with him yesterday (Wednesday). He was up in the office,” Kelly told KXTG-FM (95.5). “It obviously takes time to recover from that. The biggest thing for him right now is rest. But he’s doing good. I had a good conversation with him.”
Kelly added that he has no say in Barner’s return, and that there’s a set of standards a player must meet before the medical staff clears him, as detailed in Rob Moseley’s story today. | http://www2.registerguard.com/cms/index.php/duck-football/comments/kelly-barner-is-doing-good/ | 178 |
Results tagged ‘ Skydome ’
Since my last blog, the Twins got caught by two hot pitchers in Boston (Bucholz/Lester), then righted the ship by beating up on the Brew Crew over the weekend (taking two of three and coming within a big hit of sweeping).
About three weeks ago, though, I saw my first two games at Target Field…
…and never really commented on the experience. Although I loved the experience and thought that the new digs put the Metrodome to shame, there was just something about it where I couldn’t gush over our new home too much. I think I may have finally figured it out.
In the old days, ballparks were built with all kinds of quirks that made them stand out. Some examples:
Polo Grounds: Almost 500 feet to center field (which featured a garage in the field of play!), and just 250 ft. down the lines (picture a giant horsehoe).
Ebbets Field: A crazy little nook out in center field, a huge wall in right, with band-box dimension all around.
Baker Bowl: ENORMOUS brick wall out in RF that puts even Boston’s Green Monster to shame!
LA Coliseum: Just look at the picture!
Old Yankee Stadium: Monuments and flagpoles IN PLAY; centerfield almost 500 feet deep.
Then, after going through the terrible cookie-cutter stadium movement of the 1980s (Veterans Stadium, Skydome, Astrodome, etc.), ballparks started to improve in fan amenities, but (for the most part) those little quirks/nuances had disappeared. In the past few years, there are only a few stadiums I can recall that really spark my interest:
Wrigley Field: Ivy, brick walls.
Fenway Park: Green Monster, Pesky Pole
Minute Maid Park (?; that’s the name I’ll always remember it as!): CF slope, neat LF architecture.
And, dare I say it…
Metrodome: Vampire seats, Baggie
Basically, my point is this: I really like stadiums with distinct visual features, and I feel as if Target Field is a bit lacking in that area. Besides the patches of Limestone and HD scoreboard (but that doesn’t really count), it feels like “any other great ballpark”. Kind of a double standard, I know, but I guess I am more than a bit of a sentimentalist towards those “good old days” of quirky baseball stadiums.
Preview (26-18, 1st, 1.0 GA DET): AJ Burnett (4-2, 3.86) vs. Scott Baker (4-4, 4.88). Time to create a little bit of new history against the Yanks? I hope so. | http://zkonedog.mlblogs.com/tag/skydome/ | 599 |
Power Failures Can’t Stop San Francisco 49ers From Beating Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3 on ‘Monday Night Football’
San Francisco 20 – Pittsburgh 3
A gimpy Ben Roethlisberger committed four turnovers, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-3 on Monday night. The game was delayed twice due to power outages at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park.The first power failure came prior to kickoff and delayed the game by 20 minutes. The second outage hit at 12:13 of the second quarter. Play resumed 15 minutes later.
San Francisco (11-3) intercepted the ailing Roethlisberger three times, including two passes that were picked off deep in 49ers’ territory. The Steelers’ quarterback played wearing a boot on the severely sprained left ankle he injured last week against Cleveland. Roethlisberger fumbled after being sacked deep in his own territory with Pittsburgh trailing 13-3 in the fourth quarter. San Francisco’s Frank Gore scored on a 5-yard touchdown run five plays later to all but seal the victory.
Pittsburgh (10-4) won the total yardage battle by a 389-287 margin, but was never able to get into the end zone. With the loss, the Steelers remain tied with Baltimore in the AFC North. Pittsburgh was assured of a playoff spot yesterday when Tennessee lost to Indianapolis. The 49ers have already clinched the NFC West title.
San Francisco led 6-0 at halftime on the strength of two David Akers’ field goals. After Shaun Suisham’s 51-yard field goal got the Steelers within 6-3 in the third quarter, quarterback Alex Smith led the 49ers on a 79-yard scoring drive by completing five passes on five attempts, including a 1-yard touchdown toss to tight end Vernon Davis. Davis had three receptions on the drive for a total of 53 yards.
Smith finished with 187 passing yards and the touchdown to Davis, who led San Francisco in receiving with 72 yards on six catches. Gore carried 18 times for 65 yards and the score. Roethlisberger completed 25 of 44 passes for 330 yards and the three interceptions. Pittsburgh’s Jerricho Cotchery caught five passes for 93 yards, while Rashard Mendenhall ran for 64 yards. | http://1037theloon.com/power-failures-dont-stop-san-francisco-49ers-from-beating-pittsburgh-steelers-20-3-on-monday-night-football/ | 479 |
Michael Clarke Duncan, 'Green Mile' actor, hospitalized
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Actor Michael Clarke Duncan was hospitalized on Friday after suffering a heart attack, a spokesman confirmed.
Duncan's publicist Joy Fehily said the 54-year-old actor is in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery. He is being treated at a Los Angeles-area hospital.
Fehily wouldn't confirm a TMZ.com report that Duncan's actress-girlfriend, Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, discovered the former bodyguard in distress at about 2 a.m. in his home and revived him by performing CPR.
Duncan is best known for his performance in the 1999 prison drama "The Green Mile," starring Tom Hanks. The actor has also appeared in "Armageddon," "The Scorpion King," and "Sin City."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The NFL and several manufacturers have focused resources on improving helmet safety. But helmets, Bailes said, may now be part of the problem.
"The helmet has given a false sense of security, and I think for many players it has been a weapon. It has led paradoxically, unfortunately, ironically, to some of the injuries that we are currently seeing," he told "Nightline." I think the helmet as it has evolved in parallel, has led paradoxically to players sticking their head in with a false sense of security."
And while helmets cannot protect the brain within the skull, there is a further problem: What about players like Webster who never experience a career-ending concussion but instead suffer the cumulative effects of up to 50 head collisions per game, season after season?
"I think there is a phenomenon called subconcussive impacts, a subconcussive blow? the question it begs is: does that lead to microscopic damage? Can it lead to that?" Bailes said. "We don't have that definitive answer. But we've got several linemen who did not have career-ending concussions, who were later found at an earlier age to have extensive brain damage."
"Nightline" spoke to Dr. Joseph Maroon, a neurosurgeon and current doctor for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who represents the NFL. He's also a member of the NFL Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Committee.
When asked if he was concerned about that area where an individual isn't concussed but nevertheless has taken repeated blows to the head, Maroon said it's an area that should be more carefully examined.
"I think that's an important observation and consideration. Absolutely, I think that's an important new emphasis on what happens to the brain and head in football," Maroon said.
The NFL says it has implemented several safety regulations to protect players in the event of an overt concussion.
"It clearly has instituted educational programs to inform the athletes, the players, the coaches, and the trainers, of just what is a concussion and of the long term consequences of concussion," said Maroon. "It's instituted a whistle-blower hotline so that if any athlete feels like he is being pushed back into play too soon, he can directly report this anonymously to the NFL."
In a statement provided to "Nightline," the NFL said: "We have more resources than ever devoted to the care of this injury and to the education of players and their families, as well as coaches and team personnel. ... Hundreds of thousands of people have played football and other sports without experiencing any problem of this type. There continues to be considerable debate within the medical community on the precise long-term effects of concussions and how they relate to other risk factors, including pre-existing conditions or family history."
But the issue of subconcussive blows to the head is far more problematic to address because no method of measuring them currently exists.
"I think there is yet more to learn. And I think the phenomenon of subconcussive impacts is important to understand," Bailes said.
A phone survey commissioned by the NFL and completed at the University of Michigan found that pro football players are 19 times more likely to be diagnosed with dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other memory-related illness than the same 30- to 49-year-old-age group in the general population. | http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/research-finds-football-lead-brain-injury/story?id=8838451&page=3 | 693 |
Before Newt Gingrich dominated the South Carolina primary, a so-called super PAC supporting him spent millions of dollars savaging Mitt Romney in negative ads and fliers.
A driving force behind that super PAC is Sheldon Adelson, a Las Vegas casino tycoon who has translated his deep friendship with Gingrich into a financial bonanza to buoy his candidacy. Adelson gave the PAC, Winning Our Future, $5 million just before the South Carolina primary, and this week, his wife gave the group another $5 million.
The Adelsons make Mitt Romney look like Tom Joad. Adelson, the eighth-richest American, is worth more than $20 billion. He built the iconic Venetian hotel (and another in Macao to match) and has given to a host of Jewish causes — in addition to funding a nonprofit group that led to Gingrich's presidential run.
Adelson met Gingrich when he was the speaker of the House, and they bonded over their dedication to support Israel as Congress debated passing a bill that would encourage the American Embassy in Tel Aviv to be moved to Jerusalem, the capital. Since then they've been friends, with obvious benefits.
"He admires and likes Newt for his intellect and his creativity, and those are two traits that are very strong with Sheldon himself," said Robert List, a former governor of Nevada who was Adelson's legal counsel when he acquired the historic Sands Hotel. "It's no surprise that he's liked Newt from the beginning."
In October, Adelson attended a fundraiser for Gingrich at a Las Vegas restaurant owned by George Harris, a former political consultant who worked for the casino baron for years and ate lunch with him every day. They raised $60,000 for Gingrich.
Next week, Gingrich is due back at the restaurant, and so is Adelson, Harris said. Nevada's Republican caucus is Feb. 4.
"Sheldon Adelson — if he said he's going to do something, he does it," Harris said. "He's a humongous supporter of Newt. They're friends. They're buddies. It's a true relationship."
The money that the Adelsons have given to Winning Our Future is double what the super PAC has already spent to support Gingrich, which is just over $5 million as of Wednesday. It's unclear how much money the group has ready to spend, because super PACs aren't required to report how much they've raised until the end of January — after the four first primary contests.
Lifted by the donation from Adelson's wife, Winning Our Future is placing a big bet on the Florida primary, spending $6 million to run a TV ad that demonizes the health care plan that Romney led in Massachusetts.
The plan is awfully similar to what happened in South Carolina, where Romney's lead over the other candidates shrank by the day as the pro-Gingrich super PAC crowded the airwaves with anti-Romney commercials. Now the PAC is spending much more in Florida, though the Adelsons are said to have asked that the ads be positive.
"He wants to advance Newt's cause," List said. "He'll do what he can to help."
Gingrich was seen as a serious candidate only recently, months after Adelson first attended that Las Vegas fundraiser for him in October. The headlines were about Romney, and Gingrich was being called a long-shot. In some ways, Adelson's friends saw a parallel to a meeting with his senior staff when he was describing his vision to build a "new Las Vegas strip" in Macao. | http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/gingrichs-rise-billionaire-pal-sheldon-adelson/story?id=15438514 | 730 |
WACO — Baylor forward Perry Jones III is skipping his final two seasons of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.
Jones made the announcement Monday in a statement issued by the school.
He had returned for his sophomore season after being projected as a top pick last year.
Instead of becoming Baylor’s first one-and-done player, Jones sat through a five-game suspension to start his sophomore season after the NCAA determined he accepted improper benefits before coming to Baylor.
The school’s first preseason Big 12 Player of the Year averaged 13.5 points and 7.6 rebounds as the Bears reached the regional finals in the NCAA Tournament before losing to national champion Kentucky.
As a freshman, Jones averaged 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds. | http://amarillo.com/sports/college-sports/2012-04-09/bears-standout-jones-enter-draft | 156 |
ATLANTA -- The Pittsburgh lineup doctor was in. And Pirates manager Clint Hurdle wrote out the right prescription Monday to heal the deal.
He pored over his charts and videos, mixed and matched and shuffled. Josh Harrison and Yamaico Navarro went in, Pedro Alvarez was the one left-handed batter who stayed in. At first, it wasn't clear whether Hurdle was trying to solve Atlanta southpaw Mike Minor, or to please him.
Because, what resulted was a Pirates lineup that had the undesirable Mendoza Line on its wish list. Three entries were batting well below .200, with another (Alvarez) right on the line.
The method to Hurdle's madness became quickly and dramatically clear, as the Bucs leveled the Braves, 9-3, with major contributions from each of those who started the game on the so-called Interstate (a batting average that begins with "1").
That's right. After a team-record, season-opening 21 straight games without topping five runs, the Bucs soared over it with the lineup stitched together by Dr. Hurdle.
"Ecstatic!" was Hurdle's first response when asked about that very crooked number put on the scoreboard by his makeshift lineup. "You know, sometimes it happens like that. I give credit to my coaching staff -- they pushed me in that direction."
The 10-12 Pirates have alternated wins and losses for 11 straight games, their longest see-saw ride since doing so for 12 consecutive games from May 26-June 7, 2002.
Harrison's single in the third got the Bucs on the board for the first time.
Alvarez continued to careen in his U-turn, pulling the lefty Minor into the right-field seats for the tie-breaking two-run homer in the fourth.
Navarro drilled his two-run homer in the sixth-inning that cleared the five-run bar for the first time, and he drove in a third run on a seventh-inning grounder.
Harrison and Navarro, who entered batting a combined .097 in the series (3-for-31), went 3-for-8 with four RBIs between them.
And all along, James McDonald benefited from an offensive awakening he, in a sense, had inspired.
"We can't take anything away from James -- he pitched a great game and kept us in it," Harrison said. "But me and Yamaico came up in some pretty big situations, and were able to deliver timely hits."
McDonald went 7 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while setting a pair of career highs: 10 strikeouts and 114 pitches. He'd previously reached nine K's and had twice hit the 109-pitch mark.
"There's no difference from 90 to 115. It feels the same," said McDonald, whose quiet demeanor fails to convey the personal satisfaction he is feeling over his ongoing maturation as a reliable big league starter.
The second inning was huge for McDonald. Not only because he already trailed 2-0 -- on Freddie Freeman's two-run homer in the first -- but because the Bucs needed a jolt after misfiring on a favorable scoring opportunity in the top of the inning. Men on first and third, no outs -- and it imploded on Navarro's popout and Alvarez's double-play grounder.
After the Braves put men on second and third with one out, McDonald had to respond in kind. And he did. He threw a called third strike to Minor, then got Michael Bourn to ground to second.
"Anytime you get out of a tough situation, it's a big turning point. It's good for the team," McDonald said.
"That was big for him," Harrison nodded. "He was battling and we knew it was only a matter of time until we got something going. We were getting opportunities and it was just a matter of cashing some of them in."
The Pirates' offense immediately answered the reveille sounded by McDonald. Harrison's RBI single and Andrew McCutchen's sacrifice fly comprised the game-tying third. When Navarro singled and Alvarez followed with his fifth homer in the fourth, the Bucs had a 4-2 lead.
Pulling that shot off a tough left-hander was the latest, loudest sign of Alvarez's awakening. It was only the second homer Minor has allowed to a lefty hitter in 127 career at-bats.
"I know his swing and I know how good he is," Minor said of Alvarez, his former college teammate at Vanderbilt. "The last couple games he hit doubles and now he homered. I think he'll come around."
Splitting the four-game series with the Braves -- who entered it having won 14 of 18 -- sent the Pirates on to St. Louis in a good frame of mind.
"I'll tell you what pleases me," Hurdle said. "By the 12th pitch of the game, we're down 2-0. Then we have a golden opportunity to come back, and we miss it. Then we get another shot, and we come back again, tie it, go ahead -- and add on."
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://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_04_30_pitmlb_atlmlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=pit | 1,130 |
White Sox acquire Youkilis from Red Sox
In return for third baseman and cash, Boston gets Lillibridge, Stewart
CHICAGO -- It was quite a finish to the homestand Sunday afternoon for the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field.
They claimed a 1-0 victory in 10 innings over the Brewers. They regained first place in the American League Central with Cleveland's loss. And they got what appears to be an upgrade at third base, acquiring Kevin Youkilis in a trade with the Red Sox in exchange for utility player Brent Lillibridge and Minor League right-handed pitcher Zach Stewart.
Boston also will pay approximately $5.6 million of Youkilis' remaining salary.
This 2012 White Sox mix of contending for the playoffs while developing young talent took a decided turn toward the postseason.
"We just thought at this time it was necessary and necessary to do it sooner rather than later," said White Sox general manager Ken Williams of the Youkilis trade. "I just got off the phone with him. He's very excited to join our club. He has a little edge to him which I like. I think he's going to fit in just fine with our ballclub."
"Just a gritty kind of player and we're happy to have him," said White Sox captain Paul Konerko of the Youkilis addition. "I think it could be a real steal when we look back on it."
Youkilis, 33, figures to move immediately into the starting third-base role vacated by Brent Morel, who's recovering from a lower lumbar strain. Veteran Orlando Hudson, who joined the White Sox on May 22 as a free agent, has started 25 games at third base, marking the first 25 big league games he has ever played at that position over his 11-year career.
While the White Sox have a 14-11 record with Hudson in the lineup, he is hitting .170 since coming to Chicago and his defense has been an understandable work in progress. Eduardo Escobar has played 10 games at third and carries a .203 average, but both he and Hudson will now move into utility roles.
Escobar will see outfield time due to Lillibridge's departure. Hudson, meanwhile, handled the change with great class and dignity, after Williams praised him for the effort he put forth at an unknown defensive spot.
"If I was a GM, I'd make the same trade," said the 34-year-old Hudson. "I'm not the best third baseman over there, plus I'm not swinging the bat well, so definitely I'd make the same trade."
When asked if he wanted to stay with the team, Hudson laughed and added, "I've got a job. Kenny, he's the man, so whatever decision he makes... But I've got to thank him, first of all, for getting me over here and giving me a chance. If things are different, no hard feelings. I enjoy the guys here, and the coaching staff's great."
With a .233 average and 15 RBIs, this present campaign has not been a particularly good one for Youkilis. The career .286 hitter with a .388 on-base percentage was sidelined by a back strain from May 2-21 and has not exactly seen eye-to-eye with new manager Bobby Valentine.
Rookie Will Middlebrooks claimed the Red Sox starting third-base job, making Youkilis expendable. The White Sox hope a change of scenery will bring back the previous form that sent Youkilis to three All-Star Games, complemented by that edge spoken of by Williams.
"He wants to come in and he wants to prove some people wrong," said Williams with a smile, adding that he couldn't say exactly what Youkilis said in their phone conversation.
"We're happy that he's going to get a fresh start and hopefully a chance to play in Chicago," said Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington of Youkilis. "He did a lot of good things for this organization and for the bulk of the time here, he really embodied a lot of the things we believe in as a player. We'll wish him well, except when he's playing against us."
Cherington talked to Youkilis two or three days ago to tell him that they were talking to teams. He then informed Youkilis Sunday of the deal, with Youkilis leaving Fenway Park to a hero's farewell.
Williams admitted the financial component, in regard to how much of Youkilis' remaining $8 million was to be picked up, served as a major factor.
"Let's just say that the deal made sense from a player's standpoint, a talent standpoint, and a financial standpoint for us," Williams said.
"You've got to give up good players to get a player," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "Lillibridge, as much as we hate seeing him go, because he does a lot of things for us that are positives, you have to do that to be able to get a good player and Youk's a pro. He's been there and he's done it."
Youkilis figures to take a regular spot in the starting lineup, beginning with the White Sox series opener at Target Field Monday. But the road is about to get tougher for the upstart White Sox.
They have four games at Yankee Stadium at the end of next week, followed by a first-half-ending homestand against Texas and Toronto. The second half begins with an immense challenge -- of the 19 games to be played through the July 31 non-waiver Trade Deadline, 16 will be on the road.
During that time, the White Sox will travel to Kansas City, Detroit, Texas and Minnesota. There also are four games to be played at Fenway from July 16-19, with Youkilis getting a chance to make a quick return to the place where he helped the Red Sox win World Series titles.
As far as possibly adding another pitcher or another player overall, Williams indicated any additions could just as well come from within the system as through a trade. But the developing White Sox clearly are making their move.
"At this point and time we owe it to our fans and the men in that clubhouse in uniform to try to exhaust ourselves to be the best team we could possibly be," Williams said. | http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120624&content_id=33859202&vkey=news_cws&c_id=cws | 1,321 |
ESPN analyst Mark Dixon has added sideline reporter and play-by-play caller to his list of titles. He patrolled the sideline of No. 5 Johns Hopkins’ 15-6 rout of Siena on Friday and will provide analysis for the Moe’s Southwest Grill Classic doubleheader in Jacksonville on Sunday involving No. 10 Denver against No. 18 Penn State and No. 15 Ohio State against Jacksonville. The former Blue Jays midfielder, who can be followed on Twitter at @DixonLacrosse, discussed his thoughts on the pace of play, Duke’s loss to Denver and one team that's not getting enough attention.
What resonated with you the most from the first full weekend of college lacrosse?
I think pace of play was really, really good. If you look at the scoring, you had Denver-Duke which was 14-12, and the Bryant-Colgate game was 14-13. So I think the intention of the new rules to increase pace of play has had its desired effect. Individually, look at the shooting numbers. [Johns Hopkins senior midfielder] John Ranagan took 11 shots against Siena and got three goals. [Senior attackman] Logan Schuss from Ohio State took 17 shots and scored seven. The good offensive players are getting their looks, and – not that those two have ever been bashful about taking shots – I watched the [Johns Hopkins] game, and with Ranagan, I think maybe with one or two, you were like, ‘Eh, I don’t know about that.’ But the majority were good, quality shots. I talked with [coach] Nick Myers this morning over at Ohio State, and he said the same thing about Logan Schuss. Maybe one shot was something that he’d like to have back. But they’re good, quality shot opportunities, and I think that’s the biggest thing that stuck out this weekend – the number of shots that were taken, the number of quality shots and the pace of play. People really seemed to be pleased with that. I guess on the flipside, especially with the Hopkins game being on ESPNU, a number of people were bellyaching about the hit calls and the amount of flags. They felt like that offset the pace of play a little bit.
Did you feel like the penalties slowed the tempo?
I’m a referee, and I know where the refs are coming from. We have been mandated this year – it’s a point of emphasis – to call hits to the head and neck area. So to me, no. You’re officiating the game the way you’ve been told to officiate. Officials don’t make the rules. We just enforce them. The coaches make the rules, the committee approves them, but they listen to coaches, and we’re just doing what the coaches have been asking us to do, and that’s to protect the players. If you look at college football and pro football, they’re protecting their players as well in the head and neck area. To me, were some of the calls questionable? Maybe. But it’s gotten to the point where it’s better to justify yourself making a call versus a player getting hurt by taking a shot to the head and then answering the question, “Why didn’t you call it?” That question could come from your assigner, it could come from the coach, it could come from the parents of a player who may end up injured. So to me, it is what it is, and it’s not going to go away, and players have to adjust.
No. 10 Denver knocked off No. 6 Duke, 14-12, on Saturday. How significant is that win for the Pioneers and how significant is that loss for the Blue Devils? | http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2013-02-11/sports/bal-qa-with-espns-mark-dixon-20130211_1_espn-analyst-mark-dixon-john-ranagan-blue-jays-midfielder | 805 |
(David Shields/For the Tribune)
When the University of Virginia was considering whether to offer a lacrosse scholarship to Grayslake North's A.J. Fish, they requested film of Fish playing quarterback for the Knights.
Fish is hoping to find a college football coach with the same reaction.
Though he's a high school All-American with lacrosse in his blood — his father Brad played at Rutgers and is the head coach at Grayslake North — he didn't grow up loving the sport.
Fish is having so much fun putting up video game numbers on the gridiron for the surprising Knights (3-1), lacrosse at Virginia suddenly has become an extremely attractive fallback option.
Still relatively unknown in football recruiting circles, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Fish is hoping to land a scholarship to play quarterback for a Division I school before the Nov. 14-21 early signing period for lacrosse.
"Right now I am committed to Virginia for lacrosse," A.J. Fish said. "I had to make that commitment or they would have offered the scholarship to someone else.
"Hopefully, if I keep playing like I am now, something will happen. Some of it is my fault. I didn't put myself out there (this summer) because I was focused on my commitment toward lacrosse."
Brad Fish didn't force lacrosse on his son when he founded the Grayslake Youth Lacrosse Association eight years ago, but he "wasn't exactly a willing participant."
A.J. excelled at baseball, basketball and football, and it wasn't until eighth grade that he took a sincere interest in lacrosse.
He became a varsity quarterback as a sophomore and had a big junior year, but lacrosse gave him the best opportunity to fulfill his dream of being an athlete at a big-name university.
After leading the Knights to the Class B state championship last spring, he was one of 10 juniors selected to play in the Champion All-American Showcase in July.
He traveled east to play lacrosse throughout the summer rather than participate in the football recruiting circuit, and he committed to Virginia.
Then came time for football, and "all of a sudden he goes gangbusters," Brad Fish said.
In just four games, he's thrown for 894 yards and four touchdowns while completing 70 percent of his passes. He's also run for 662 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Grayslake North doesn't play the most difficult schedule, but Fish made a statement by throwing for 323 yards and rushing for 153 in a 56-21 victory against a good Jacobs team.
"That game against Jacobs, the light switch really went on for him," Brad Fish said. "That gave him more confidence, and he decided he wants to see what happens with football.
"It will be interesting to see how this plays out. If (a football scholarship) doesn't happen, he's not going to be crushed. He's a three-sport athlete, and he loves whatever sport is in season. He loves football, he loves playing hoops and he loves lacrosse."
A.J. Fish by the numbers
2012: 894 yards, 4 TDs passing; 662 yards, 15 TDs rushing. | http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-09-20/sports/ct-spt-0921-prep-foot-feat-1-fish-grayslake-north-20120920_1_college-football-force-lacrosse-champion-all-american-showcase | 671 |
A 56-year-old bicyclist in Allentown was in stable condition Tuesday morning, a day after he was found badly injured on the city's north side, police said.
Douglas Long, an Allentown resident, was found at 9:20 p.m. in the 1100 block of N. Dauphin Street, on the east side of the Lehigh River. He appeared to have been riding north.
Long suffered a severe head injury, police said, and was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in serious condition. He was upgraded to stable condition on Tuesday.
"A passer-by found the victim on the side of the road in a fetal position," city police Capt. Daryl Hendricks said. "He was about 100 yards south of Catasauqua."
How the bicyclist was injured was a mystery. His bicycle frame was not damaged, so investigators were looking into the possibility he hit a large pothole in the dark, or swerved to miss a large pothole and lost control of his bicycle.
Long's bicycle had the required lighting and he was wearing reflective clothing, Hendricks said. But late Monday, police had not found his helmet, if he had one.
— Frank Warner | http://articles.mcall.com/2012-06-19/news/mc-allentown-bicyclist-hurt-on-dauphin-20120619_1_bicyclist-stable-condition-roadside | 257 |
On a crisp Thursday night, though, Howard hardly looked like the same man that once won the MVP award, let alone the man who once played here at FirstEnergy Park, home of the low-single-A BlueClaws.
Howard, beginning his minor-league rehabilitation from a surgically repaired left Achilles tendon, worked here in 2002, hit 19 homers, and had his No. 29 retired on the center-field wall.
Howard, as the designated hitter, went 2 for 4 with a sacrifice fly and three RBIs as the BlueClaws walked off with 7-6 win. But he connected well with only one pitch, slapping three grounders to nearly identical locations a few feet right of second base in his first three at-bats and striking out in his fourth at-bat.
Howard maintained he was pleased with the grounders.
"A hit is a hit, man," Howard said. "I had a good approach in those at-bats, trying to go up the middle, and that's what I did. The shift was just a little different here. They had the shortstop out high-fiving the centerfielder tonight."
In the bottom of the ninth, with the bases loaded and one out, Howard lifted a 3-1 pitch high to left field. But it died at the warning track for a sacrifice fly. The next batter, Chris Duffy, who resembles Howard, delivered a game-winning single.
Howard was forced to sprint on his third at-bat and didn't show signs of a limp, though his running looked hobbled and forced, likely because of his long layoff. After a single up the middle in his second at-bat, Howard took off on a 3-2 count with two outs and again looked awkward.
"The running portion was the biggest," Howard said. "I didn't really think about it once the game got going. The adrenaline kicked in, and natural instinct kind of took over."
It's not clear yet when Howard will move up past low single-A. He'll be back here Friday playing first base for the first time.
After a long stay at extended spring training, Thursday night was his first official rehab assignment.
"I have been patient for eight or nine months," Howard said. "Another week or two isn't going to kill me. Of course you want to be up there as soon as you can, but I'm not going to rush myself back."
In his first at bat, Howard grounded out to the shortstop, who was playing a few feet right of second base and fielded the ball on the outfield grass. Howard knocked a grounder up the middle in his second at-bat for a single. In his third at-bat, Howard drove in two runs with another ground ball single to the right side that was fielded by the shortstop who couldn't get a clean throw off.
Before the game, Howard took batting practice and fielded ground balls with the team.
This is the same field where his pro days picked up steam. This is the same player who once hit 58 home runs in a single season. But on Thursday night, he looked like a low Class-A designated hitter with an awkward run and waning power – even if he claims he was happy with his three grounders. | http://articles.philly.com/2012-06-29/sports/32458064_1_bat-ryan-howard-phillies-hope | 672 |
FORT LAUDERDALE — The Poker Run isn't a race, but it certainly sounded like one on Friday when 15 high-performance boats - most with their mufflers turned off - roared through the Port Everglades Inlet.
The white water churned up by the powerful, sleek vessels made the inlet rougher than the Atlantic.
"They love the speed, the open water, the freedom," said Tod Owen, one of 37 powerboat captains participating in the 10th annual Poker Run. "It's the last frontier, other than space."
Everglades Marina, a high-performance boat dealer in Fort Lauderdale, sponsors the Poker Run every Easter weekend for its customers.
It works this way: Each boater collects a playing card - sealed in an envelope - at five different marinas or resorts between Fort Lauderdale and Key Largo.
The first card is handed out at Everglades Marina. The first stop was Shooters restaurant in North Miami Beach for brunch. Gilbert's, a Key Largo marina, was the next stop. Then it was off to Holiday Isle in Islamorada for a barbecue. The final stop, about 4 p.m. Friday, was at the Marriott Key Largo Bay Beach Resort.
Later tonight, each boat's cards will be overturned. As the poker hands begin to unfold, wagers are made. The highest poker hand takes all.
"The pots range anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the size of the fleet," said Owen, a Washington, D.C., lawyer who lives part time in Fort Lauderdale.
Said Robert Carlson, the marina's director of sales, "The best hand, not the fastest boat, wins the rally."
The first leg of the Poker Run started Thursday when 22 boats left Everglades Marina for the six-hour trip to Key Largo. On Friday at 10 a.m., the remaining 15 boats departed.
Norval Stahly and Ralph Martin, co-owners of Everglades Marina, said the Poker Run started in 1985 when 17 high-performance boats first made the 150-mile trip.
Martin said the idea behind the Poker Run, which is common in motorcycle rallies, was to encourage their customers to use their boats more.
"I'd sell boats to these guys and they wouldn't go anywhere," Martin said.
Jerry Ippolito, a Boca Raton liquor store owner, made his first Poker Run on Friday aboard his new boat, Liq-Her, a 32-foot Fountain with twin 415-horsepower engines.
"I want to use it more than up and down the Intracoastal," Ippolito said.
Besides the chance of winning, today's poker awards are given to the owners of the first and last boats to arrive. Dubious achievements, such as the "High and Dry Award," and the "You Should Have Trailered It Award," are also handed out.
Ranging in size from 35 to 40 feet, the vessels are all high-speed offshore performance boats. Some are Cigarettes or Bajas. Some are Apaches or Fountains. They all share two traits: speed and cost.
The boats range in price from $125,000 to $750,000. The average high-performance boat can reach speeds of 70 mph but many run faster.
"[The boats' owners are) people that like to drive," Carlson said. "People say, `What do you do out there?' You can't fish. You can't dive.' It's the sport of it. You have to constantly read the water. Constantly."
A veteran Poker Run participant is Steven Goodman, 40, owner of Portsmouth Paper Co. in New Hampshire. He also owns Paper Boy IV, a 38-foot-high performance vessel.
"It's for the fun of it all," said Goodman, who was making his sixth Poker Run. "It's a lot of fun running with other boats."
As the 15 vessel operators who left Friday raced south a mile off north Dade, Owen, at the helm of his 33-foot Sonic, Bad News Travels Fast, inched his throttle forward to increase its speed.
When later asked what his boat's top speed was, Owen said, "I don't know. I never look. I'm just along for the ride." | http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1994-04-02/news/9404010823_1_high-performance-boats-boats-range-poker | 909 |
''I prepared for it in Game 6 to play the whole game,''… (Reuters )
Miami — LeBron James has often said he's willing to do whatever it takes to win.
So it comes as no surprise he said after the morning shootaround he was willing to play 48 minutes against the Boston Celtics Saturday in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals. The winner advances to meet Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals, which begin Tuesday.
"I prepared for it in Game 6 to play the whole game," James said. "[Coach Erik Spoelstra] only gave me a couple minutes there. I'm focusing on not coming out."
James is coming off a 45-point effort in Game 6 that tied the series at 3. He played 44 straight minutes before leaving when the game was already decided. Spoelstra tried to substitute James in the third quarter, but he waved it off.
"Yeah, he tried to take me out but I wasn't ready to come out," James said.
James played with an emotionless facial expression, a look teammate Mario Chalmers referred to as "ugly' in the post-game. James set the record straight, saying the description was off base.
"That's never happened in my life," James said. "Focused look, I'll take that."
The Heat are trying to secure a second consecutive spot in the Finals while the Celtics are going for their third appearance since 2008. Spoelstra said he will announce at game-time if forward Chris Bosh will start. He has come off the bench the past two games since missing nine straight because of strained lower abdominal muscle.
"It's totally irrelevant," Bosh said of whether he starts. "I think it will be irrelevant for us as long as we're playing. It really doesn't matter to me. I just want to be out there
I think we have a good thing going right now and I will continue to come off the bench as long as it's good."
With James and Bosh in comfort zones, the remaining Big Three member is trying attain similar status. Although productive for stretches, guard Dwyane Wade has struggled throughout the series with slow starts.
"I know everybody looks at that final line on the box score and that's the only thing people are concerned with," Spoelstra said. "He made big plays. He played the game that allowed us to win."
Wade said part of the difficulty is the Celtics double-teaming him in the first half. It has disrupted his rhythm and forced him at times to defer to James.
"It's not the easiest thing to do," Wade said of facing double-teams. "
When you get looks that you normally knock down, you're so used to being doubled that you're out of your rhythm. But you know what, you just got to stick with it. I've had better second halves than I've had first halved. If I can pick one, I'd pick the second half." | http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2012-06-09/sports/sfl-lebron-james-game-7-minutes-0609_1_coach-erik-spoelstra-celtics-mario-chalmers | 613 |
The Gustavus women’s swimming and diving team compiled 114 points to finish in eighth place, while the men’s swimming and diving team scored 23 points and finished 23rd at the 2010 NCAA Swimming and Diving Championships held in the Aquatics Center on the campus of the University of Minnesota on Saturday. The women’s team’s eighth place finish is the best finish at the NCAA Championships in the history of the program.
Skylar Davis had the top Gustavus finish of the NCAA Championships by taking third in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 15:39.12. Skylar became a four-time All-American in the 1650 freestyle, making the podium in the top three for the first time in his four-year career at Gustavus.
Whitaker finished in seventh place in the 1650 freestyle, receving All-American honors in the event and finishing with a time of 15:46.99.
Carley Mosher turned in another top ten performance with a seventh place finish in the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:03.78. Carrie Gundersen placed 13th in the 1650 freestyle with a time of 17:13.07. The women’s 400 free relay team of Mosher, Dajana Vidovic, Jonna Berry, and Carrie Gundersen placed 10th with a time of 3:30.34. The 400 free relay team broke the school record.
Other Gustavus finishes included Vidovic taking 36th (53.05) and Sarah Hund taking 41st (53.40) in the 100 freestyle. Maggie Hansvick also added a 16th place finish in the 200 breaststroke with a time of 2:26.83, while Anika Erickson finished 21st in the same event with a time of 2:24.49. | http://athletics.blog.gustavus.edu/2010/03/20/gustavus-womens-swimming-diving-finishes-ninth-mens-swimming-diving-finishes-23rd-at-2010-ncaa-championships/ | 382 |
Red-Hot Second Half Leads Polar Bears to Win Over Mariners
BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College men's basketball team shot 57% from the field, including a scalding 64% in the second half, en route to an 83-68 win over Maine Maritime Academy on Tuesday evening at Morrell Gymnasium. The Polar Bears snap a brief game losing
streak to improve to 4-2 while the Mariners fall to 3-5 this season.
Will Hanley led Bowdoin with 18 points and nine rebounds and seven assists while Randy DeFeo connected on four three-pointers and scored 16. Justin Nowell also pitched in 16 points and five assists while Ryan O'Connell netted 14. Shawn Dostie led Maine Maritime with 20 points and seven boards. Ryler Pineo scored 11 and Ben Russell had 10 for the visitors.
A high-scoring first half saw 14 points from Dostie keep Maritime within shouting distance, as the Mariners trailed by five points, 42-37 at the break. The Polar Bears widened their lead after connecting on five of their first six shots and going on a 12-2 spurt to open the stanza. Bowdoin led by as many as 21 points on their way to the win.
The Polar Bears held a 42-23 advantage on the glass and collected 14 steals in the win. Bowdoin will return to action Thursday at Colby-Sawyer before returning to Morrell Gymnasium on Saturday when they host Colby at 4:00 p.m.
Photos courtesy of Brian Beard and Creative Images Photography | http://athletics.bowdoin.edu/sports/mbkb/2010-11/releases/20101207lj1fwc | 330 |
|Lions join EMCC women in MACJC state hoops tournament semifinals|
ELLISVILLE, Miss. – Bolstered by a season-high 13 made 3-pointers, the third-seeded East Mississippi Lions claimed a 91-85 first-round victory over second-seeded Mississippi Gulf Coast Tuesday afternoon at the MACJC State Basketball Tournament being held at Bobcat Gymnasium on the Jones County campus.
With Tuesday’s win, the EMCC men will join the Lady Lions in Wednesday’s semifinal-round action on the JCJC campus. The Lions will take on Copiah-Lincoln at 2 p.m. in men’s action, followed by the EMCC women against host Jones County at 5 p.m. The EMCC men swept Co-Lin in two previous meetings on the year, while coach Sharon Thompson’s top-seeded and 21-4 Lady Lions swept the Lady Bobcats during the regular season.
All of this week’s state tournament games are being televised on www.jcjc.tv. Fans can also access the games by logging onto www.jcjc.edu and clicking on the state tournament link.
In their opening-round tournament contest against Mississippi Gulf Coast, coach Mark White’s 16-9 Lions used an early 15-3 run to go from a 9-2 deficit to a 17-12 lead by the 13:08 mark of the first half. Sophomore Larry Foster of York, Ala., ignited EMCC’s early spark by hitting three consecutive three-point attempts. The Bulldogs made a bid to gain some breathing room late in the opening half, but Terence Bennett’s three-point play with 30 seconds left and Darian Donald’s trey at the halftime buzzer trimmed EMCC’s deficit to just a single point at 41-40.
Following a pair of lead changes to begin the second stanza, the Lions used a pair of 7-0 spurts to move ahead, 59-50, with 11 minutes remaining. After Cordell Pope’s back-to-back triples cut the deficit to three points (59-56), Coco Ware’s 3-pointer ignited a 10-2 EMCC rally that put the Lions in front by 11 points (69-58) with just over eight minutes left. However, Gulf Coast took advantage of four consecutive East Mississippi turnovers by making an 11-3 run to pull to within three points (72-69) with 4:19 left in the game.
The Lions responded with a Donald put-back basket and Foster’s lone two-point bucket of the game to go back on top by seven points (76-69). The Bulldogs answered with two free throws and a leaning jumper by Isaiah Jackson to get to within three points by the 2:50 mark. On his way to a season-high 20 points on 6-of-8 three-point shooting, Foster came up big with two clutch 3-pointers down the stretch to help EMCC mount an 84-75 advantage. The Bulldogs made one last attempt to cut into the deficit by scoring four straight points, but the Lions countered with timely 7-of-8 free-throw shooting over the final 40 seconds to pull away with the six-point triumph.
As a team, EMCC’s 13 made 3-pointers against Gulf Coast bettered the team’s previous season-best mark of 11 treys made during a November home loss to Pearl River. For the game, the Lions were 13-of-27 (48%) from beyond the arc, including 8-of-14 (57%) three-point accuracy during the second half against MGCCC.
In addition to Foster’s team-high 20 points, East Mississippi received 19 points apiece from Starkville’s Coco Ware and Donald of Columbus’ Caledonia High School. Bennett was also in double figures for the winners with 11 points, while Woodie Howard of Starkville just missed a double-double with nine points and a game-most dozen rebounds.
The 16-9 Bulldogs were led by Jackson and Justin Ray with 31 and 25 points, respectively.
|Last Updated ( Tuesday, 24 February 2009 )|
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13, Saturday, Men's Lacrosse vs. Va. Wesleyan 7 p.m.
14, Sunday, Softball vs. Roanoke 1:30 p.m. (DH)
17, Wednesday, Softball vs. Sweet Briar 3 p.m. (game 1 only)
17, Wednesday, Women's Lacrosse vs. Va. Wesleyan 6 p.m.
20, Saturday, Baseball vs. Bridgewater noon (DH)
20, Saturday, Men's Lacrosse vs. Hampden-Sydney 7 p.m.
29, Monday - ATHLETIC AWARDS BANQUET
8, Wednesday - NCAA MEN'S LACROSSE FIRST ROUND, St. Mary at LC 7 p.m. | http://athletics.lynchburg.edu/information/webcasts | 250 |
Written by Sean Dahlin
MOREHEAD, Ky.—The Southern Virginia University football team opened its 2012 season with a loss on the road Thursday evening as Morehead State defeated the Knights 55-0.
Southern Virginia (0-1) came up short against the Eagles (1-0) in the season opener giving the Knights football program a 1-9 all-time program record in season openers, including a 1-6 mark for road openers.
NCAA Division I FCS-foe Morehead State jumped out to a 24-0 lead after the first quarter of action and continued to roll on the offensive side of the ball as Eagles quarterback Zach Lewis finished the day 16-for-22 with 4 passing touchdowns and one score on the ground.
The Knights were unable to reach the end zone in their 2012 debut although freshman quarterback Andy Jones (Salt Lake City, Utah) led the offense into Morehead State territory on three separate occasions during his first collegiate start.
Southern Virginia advanced the ball as far as the Eagles' 12-yard line on a 14-play, 49-yard drive in the second quarter, however, the Knights were unable to come away with any points before time ran out in the first half.
Jones completed 11 of his 19 pass attempts for 89 yards with no touchdowns and one interception on the evening while his primary target for the game, wide receiver Cameron Williams (Sacramento, Calif.), captained the receiving corps with 6 receptions for 60 yards.
Sophomore running back Jerry Washington (Gloucester, Va.)—Southern Virginia's leading rusher in 2011—added a hard fought 53 yards on 22 carries against Morehead State's defense.
On the defensive side of the ball, junior defensive back Jacob Palmer (Alpine, Utah) tallied a team-high 8 total tackles (3 solo, 5 assisted) for the Knights.
Senior punter Brenton Estorffe (Mooloolaba, Australia) had a solid outing on special teams, pinning the opposing Eagles twice inside their own 15-yard line and punting the ball six times for a game-high 40.7 yards-per-punt average.
Southern Virginia finished the season opening game with 171 total yards on offense while the Eagles tallied 499 total offensive yards.
With Thursday's loss, Morehead State moves to 3-0 all-time against Southern Virginia with the Eagles defeating the Knights in previous meetings in 2008 (6-49) and 2009 (10-61).
Southern Virginia football will look to regroup from Thursday's loss before hosting North Carolina Wesleyan in its 2012 home opener at Robert E. "Bobby" Williams Field on Sep. 8 at 7 p.m. EDT. Southern Virginia's home opener will also be its only night home game of the season. | http://athletics.svu.edu/sports/fball/2012-13/releases/20120831h2axgi?dec=/printer-decorator | 572 |
2 ECAC Championships - 8 ECAC Tournaments
- 1 NEWMAC Regular Season Title
Register for the 5th Annual Lyons Athletic Club (LAC) Golf
Tournament on Monday, August 12, 2013. Click here to register: LAC Golf Tournament.
Team Game Records | http://athletics.wheatoncollege.edu/sports/mbkb/records/index | 58 |
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It really is 60 feet, 6 inches from the mound to home plate.
Every pitcher knows this, but sometimes young pitchers need a reminder. So following batting practice before the first game of every road series late last season, closer Jonathan Papelbon walked the rookie relievers to the mound to give them a look at what they will see if they pitch.
"That way, it's not your first time on the mound the first time you come into the game," left-hander Jake Diekman said on Monday at Bright House Field. "The biggest thing was going into ballparks you've never been in before. Getting thrown in that way, it's a completely different atmosphere. Like at home, I was so comfortable. But on the road, sometimes it's deceptive. Sometimes it seems farther than it is."
Diekman went 1-1 with a 3.95 ERA in 32 appearances as a rookie last season, but said he felt more comfortable the more he pitched and the more ballparks he experienced. Diekman looked brilliant at times, averaging 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings, while looking wild at others, averaging 6.6 walks per nine innings. The Phils love his potential, but manager Charlie Manuel put it best last week when he said if Diekman just learns how to throw the ball over the plate, they will have something good.
Diekman has stiff competition for a job. Papelbon, Mike Adams, Antonio Bastardo and Chad Durbin are locks, which leaves a good group of talented pitchers fighting for three spots. Diekman's top competition figures to be left-handers Jeremy Horst and Raul Valdes, because the Phillies need at least a second left-hander in the bullpen. But a group of talented right-handers will make things interesting.
"I think it'll be fun, because we all really, really know each other, but secretly we're all really competitive," Diekman said. "We're cordial and nice to each other, but I think we all know what's on the line."
For Diekman to make the team, he needs to throw strikes. His 6.6 walks per nine innings were more than double the league's average (3.05 walks per nine innings). Diekman needs to do much better. He knows it.
"I feel like that's the biggest thing for me," Diekman said.
Diekman spends his offseasons in Nebraska, so fortunately he had time to work on his craft.
"On Saturdays, I don't know what you're doing if you're not watching the Husker game," he said. "During the week, there's nothing to do."
So Diekman went to an indoor training facility in his hometown and started to throw. And because this was the first offseason he did not play winter ball or throw in instructional league, Diekman started his work earlier than normal. He spent a lot of that time improving his mechanics.
"I finally realized I've only been doing this for three-and-a-half years," Diekman said, referring to his sidearm delivery. "I changed in '09. I'm like, 'OK, until I was 22, I pitched one way. I better catch up to the reps I took for that.' So I fine-tuned my line to home plate. I guess that was the biggest thing. I can see [the difference] from the offseason. My mechanics are so much more consistent now than when I left."
That would make pitching coach Rich Dubee very happy if it's true. But even then, Diekman will have to pitch well in camp to make the team.
"I had ups and downs, but at the end of the year, it started to be on an even keel," Diekman said. "That's the way I took it into the offseason, just take the last month you were up here."
Todd Zolecki is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130218&content_id=41760442&vkey=news_phi&c_id=phi | 859 |
This franchise lives and dies by its gameplay, and on that front, it does not disappoint.
- Gameplay engine continues to be the most realistic out there
- New passing and play-calling systems are fantastic additions
- Great in-game visuals
- Franchise is the deepest and most enjoyable it's ever been
- Game's still only $20.
- Menu systems are confusing and ugly
- Commentary is a big step down from previous years
- A few bugs and glitches mar an otherwise excellent experience
- New goalie controls aren't useful.
Fans of the 2K brand of hockey have gotten pretty used to the franchise consistently pushing upward in terms of quality in recent years. The series hasn't really had an off year since 2K2, and the last two games--the first and last two to bear the full ESPN license--were absolutely superb. As with all things, though, change is inexorable. ESPN has gone the way of EA, and the NHL itself is something of a different animal now, with new rules, largely different rosters than the ones people were familiar with before the lockout, and an air of uncertainty going into the newest season. Perhaps because of all these fundamental shifts, NHL 2K6, 2K Sports, and developer Kush Games' latest game also feels a little bit off. The lack of the ESPN license and an aging graphics engine leaves the NHL 2K6 lacking its once-heralded presentational components. Plus, only the new NHL rule changes made it into this year's game. The roster changes did not. But as we've said before, this franchise lives and dies by its gameplay, and on that front, it does not disappoint.
For 2K6, the developers have actually thrown together quite a number of new gameplay features. We say thrown together, because in some ways the gameplay feels more chaotic due to all these new components, some of which are excellent, and some of which are not. Starting with the positives, the best new aspect of the game is the new pro control passing system. One of the problems with setting up good plays in hockey games has been trying to accurately pass to all the right players in a proper succession. This has been nearly impossible with the standard passing mechanics. Here, you can simply click the right analog stick, and button icons will appear above each of the other four players on the ice. You need only press the corresponding button, and the pass will be sent to the right player. This gives you the ability to create lengthy strings of passes that can be especially effective on power plays. The defensive artificial intelligence won't just let you pull these plays off easily, of course, but if you can get past them, you can pull off some extremely satisfying goals. The one annoying thing about this feature is that you have to reclick the button to bring up the icons after every shot attempt. Maybe an option to just leave them on indefinitely would have been a good idea. But, even with this one minor gaffe, the feature is great.
Another great idea added into this year's game is on-the-fly play-calling. The D pad is utilized here to let you tell your team exactly what you want it to do. This works on both offense and defense, and by pressing specific directions you can have your team do everything from crash the net and screen the goalie to clearing the front of the net and collapsing. When these plays work, they're immensely effective, as the AI does pretty much exactly what you tell it to do. We did run into some instances, though, where it seemed like defensemen in particular weren't quite doing their part on offensive plays, like crashing the net. They definitely come in closer when you ask them to, but they still hover very close to the blue line inside the offensive zone, and trying to utilize them without controlling them directly can be a hassle. But apart from these hiccups, the new play-calling system is a welcome addition.
Yet another good idea that isn't perhaps as well-put-together as it could have been in this year's game is the new enforcer system. Every NHL team has at least one serious tough guy who loves to intimidate the other team's players through rough play and occasional brawls. NHL 2K6 calls these players out by slapping a fat E icon on them that's impossible to miss while you play. If your enforcer does his job especially well while he's on the ice, then opposing players may become intimidated, which is denoted by a big I icon for said player. Intimidated players will also take hits to their stats, most noticeably speed, for some reason. It's kind of odd that a player frightened by the presence of an enforcer would suddenly slow down--if anything, you'd think he'd want to speed up to stay out of the enforcer's way. Apart from that weird bit, the mechanic makes sense and works. The unfortunate thing, however, is that there's never any recourse. The enforcer from the team with the intimidated player never comes out and tries to start a fight--at least, not on the default settings. Fights are incredibly rare in the game, and when they do happen, they aren't much fun. Then again, 2K's fighting model has never been very good, although fights should still happen with far more frequency than they do in 2K6.
The last big change to 2K6's gameplay is the most incidental, which is interesting, since it involves the new goalie controls. It's a feature that seems like it ought to be a bigger deal, since Marty Turco is on the cover, and he's the first goalie to be on an NHL cover in ages. As it is, Kush has managed to make the act of playing the goalie manually much easier; it just hasn't made it more fun. The new goalie controls are highly simple. All you have to do is tap the right analog stick right or left to dive, tap it down to drop into the butterfly stance, tap up to poke-check the puck, and do a single button press to simply drop into the best save stance for the situation.
Control-wise, these functions do precisely what they're supposed to do. But ultimately they're defeated by the unwavering truth, which is that no game has managed to make playing a goalie useful, since no camera angle in the game does a good enough job of letting you actually see what's going on. Yes, the control functions are more fluid and useful here, but that's all completely negated when the camera isn't even close to being on the goalie. For example, an opposing forward rips a slap shot from near the blue line, and gets it in just because you couldn't even tell where your goaltender was on the ice. Yes, you can hold down the right trigger button to make the game auto-position your goalie, but this function isn't quick or intuitive enough to handle rebounds or quick one-timers. And any time you regain possession of the puck, you automatically transfer to the puck-handling player. It takes half a second of reaction time to switch back to the goalie if you want to, which leaves you seriously vulnerable during that time. Maybe it's time for Visual Concepts to bring back the old NFL first-person mode for the purposes of goaltending, because that seems like the only way it could be done well. What has been done here is an improvement from the utter uselessness that was goalie control previously, but it's still not a huge improvement. Fortunately, this is also the most easily ignored new feature of the game, as semiautomatic goalie control is still on by default, meaning you never have to touch it if you don't want to. | http://au.gamespot.com/nhl-2k6/reviews/nhl-2k6-review-6132528/ | 1,583 |
An NFL fan fell to his death while attending a Houston Texans preseason game on Thursday. The 25-year-old fan fell an estimated 60 feet off an escalator at Reliant Stadium in Houston. The death is being considered accidental.
A view of the field at Houston's Reliant Stadium, where a 25-year-old NFL fan fell to his death on Thursday night.
The fan fell to his death after a game between the Texans and the Minnesota Vikings, according to the Associated Press.
The man was identified as Jonathan Kelly by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, the Houston Chronicle reported.
A Houston police representative, John Cannon, could not verify the circumstances of the fall, as they are still under investigation.
"[The victim] was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital after we had had some fans get the attention of some Houston police officers who were nearby where the body fell," Cannon said.
According to the Houston Medical Examiner's Office, the fan survived the initial fall, but ultimately died in a emergency room at the hospital.
It is likely the operators of Reliant Stadium will take measures to ensure that no more fans can fall from a dangerous height at the arena.
When Shannon Stone fell 20 feet onto concrete from the left field stands at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, last year, the ballpark erected railings across the field. The stadium's operators also commissioned a statue of Stone and his 9-year-old son Cooper in front of the home-plate gate at the park.
To contact the editor, e-mail: | http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/379646/20120901/nfl-fan-falls-death-houston-texas-football.htm | 318 |
LINCOLN, NE (WHBL) - For most of the first half it looked like the Wisconsin Badgers were back to their old, dominating ways. It didn’t last. Nebraska scored the last 20 points of the game in the Big Ten opener for both teams, taking a 30-27 decision at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. Wisconsin held leads of 20-3 and 27-10, but third-year starting quarterback Taylor Martinez lead his team on four straight scoring drives in the second half. Martinez finished with 107 yards and a touchdown rushing, plus 181 yards and two TDs through the air. Nebraska led for the first time in the game when kicker Brett Mahr scored the game-winning points on a 41 yard field goal with 9:41 to play. Danny O’Brien replaced starting quarterback Joel Stave for the Badgers and led his team on a drive in the final three minutes, but Montee Ball fumbled the ball on a fourth-and-one and the Cornhuskers ran out the clock. Stave passed for 214 yards and a long touchdown to Jared Abbrederis. Ball scored twice, but was held to 90 yards rushing on 32 carries. | http://b93radio.com/news/articles/2012/sep/30/badgers-blow-lead-lose-to-nebraska/ | 240 |
They’re building a fortress, one line at a time.
For a team that’s been through a lot of change this season, the four defensive backs have proved to be a strong and solid aspect of the men’s soccer team.
Senior Kyle McCrudden, junior Arnel Zahirovic, and freshmen Blake Succa and Luke Goodnetter team up to give the Badgers a consistent defense that can keep opponents away from the net.
Just last weekend the Badgers only let through one goal in a two-game stretch. It was a rare occurrence on the weekend for the opponent to get as close to the goal as San Diego State was able to.
Even from the beginning head coach John Trask knew he wanted to get the defense right.
“At the beginning of this whole thing we talked about how we have to get the defense right first,” Trask said last weekend. “[Zahirovic, McCrudden, Goodnetter, and Succa] I like that package back there.”
The players seem to agree.
Succa feels they’ve got the right guys in the mix and that they work well together.
“What we try to do most of the time is keep the ball around the back and keep the ball for our team so then we can go forward with it and play it in the midfield and then get them going,” Succa said. “As far as winning the balls in the air that’s more of the center backs — [Zahirovic] and McCrudden do a good job of that.”
“I’d say we’re all pretty big back there. We’re all about 6-foot or so,” McCrudden added.
But for a line that looks so solid and meshes very well, it’s hard to believe three of the four of them are new to the team.
“We definitely played well last weekend together,” Succa said. “When we first started playing together it was a little different. [Zahirovic] is from Australia — he’s been here for awhile in the States — but it was definitely weird playing with him, but as we’ve been playing we’re definitely getting used to each other.”
As far as improvement goes, the defense looks like the main part of the team that has really clicked together, now they feel they need to get to that point where they help senior goalie Ryan Vint get shutouts.
McCrudden, the only returner on the line, believes their solidarity simply comes from knowing the principles of defense.
“It’s just defending,” McCrudden said. “Good principles, we worked on that in the spring — pretty much all spring, everyday, all preseason. As long as we’ve got our principles down. We’re defending well as a unit ( … ) Shut outs every game, that’s what we shoot for.”
After getting the principles down comes the chemistry on the field. In a defense with three newcomers the chemistry surprisingly already be there.
“That’s a definitely a positive,” Zahirovic said. “I still feel like we still have a long way to go getting the chemistry right, but so far so good. I feel like every game we feel like we’re developing more and more. We’re clicking together. That’s a big plus for us so far, and we’re going to need that coming into the season.”
While Trask is looking to build a fortress at home, he’s certainly started to lay the foundations with his defense.
The line showed they’re tough to get past, rarely letting the opponent near the six-yard box, or much less past the 18-yard box.
“I’d say it was a pretty good fortress,” Trask said last weekend. “I didn’t see them get that many chances on our goal. That’s what building that fortress is.” | http://badgerherald.com/sports/2010/09/22/badgers_backline_lay.php | 879 |
ARLINGTON -- Rangers manager Ron Washington loaded up his lineup with right-handed hitters for Friday's American League Wild Card game against left-hander Joe Saunders and the Orioles.The lineup included Geovany Soto at catcher, Mike Napoli at designated hitter, Michael Young at first base and Craig Gentry in center field. Josh Hamilton, who was in left field, was the only left-handed hitter in the Rangers' lineup. David Murphy and Mitch Moreland were on the bench. Murphy had been playing against left-handers for most of the second half but finished the regular season with five hits in his last 30 at-bats.
"He's not swinging the bat like he was," Washington said. "The main thing is getting those young legs in -- Gentry running balls down in center field -- and putting as many right-handed hitters as possible in there against Saunders."During the regular season, Saunders held left-handed hitters to a .199 batting average, while right-handers hit .307 off him.
Murphy is 0-for-4 in his career off Saunders, while Gentry has never faced him. Neither has Napoli, who played with Saunders while they were with the Angels. Soto is 4-for-6 with a home run.
Rangers still believe Hamilton will carry them
ARLINGTON -- Despite Josh Hamilton's recent struggles, the Rangers are confident that he will play a big part in their postseason success again this year.Hamilton did not homer in his last nine regular-season games, had two hits in 13 at-bats when the Rangers were swept by the A's in their last series, and dropped a routine fly ball that allowed the A's to take a 7-5 lead in the regular-season finale on Wednesday. But Hamilton's 43 home runs and 128 RBIs this season, both ranking second in the Majors, -- along with the role he played in each of the last two trips the Rangers have made to the World Series -- leave his manager and teammates unconcerned. "We're certainly looking tonight to jump on his back and take a ride," manager Ron Washington said. "There's no reason to think that Hamilton isn't going to show up for us now. ... He can take a ballgame over, and you never know what that day is going to be. I'm a very optimistic guy and I believe that today is the day we can jump on Hamilton's back." Hamilton hit .357 with six homers and 12 RBIs this season against the Rangers' Friday opponent, the Orioles. Four of those home runs and eight RBIs came in one game, a 10-8 win on May 8. "We obviously depend on Josh a lot," Michael Young said. "As far as the end of the regular season, it's not on Josh. If it was on any of us, it wouldn't really matter right now anyway."
Rangers deal with unique Wild Card format
ARLINGTON -- The Rangers are the host team for a first in American League playoff history. Texas and Baltimore are the first two teams to meet in the new AL Wild Card Game. Both teams, after winning 93 games during the regular season, enter the postseason facing a one-game, win-or-else playoff."I really don't know how it feels because I haven't tried to put too much emphasis on it other than the fact that let's come out here and prepare and try to just got out here and play our game," manager Ron Washington said. "I know the implications if things don't go the way we would like them to go. "I feel pretty good about my club. I walked through the clubhouse. I didn't see anything different than what they've been doing all year. I think we know what's at stake." General manager Jon Daniels said Friday felt like the playoffs only with a little bit different feel to it. "It's great for the fans," Daniels said. "It's great theater. As an industry, we're getting everything we wanted out of it."
Harrison available out of bullpen for Wild Card game
ARLINGTON -- Matt Harrison, who would be the Rangers' Game 1 starter should they advance to the American League Division Series, was in the bullpen for Friday's Wild Card game against the Orioles.
Harrison is one of four left-handers available, along with Robbie Ross, Michael Kirkman and Derek Holland."I might use him for an inning, it might be multiple innings or it might be a hitter," manager Ron Washington said. The Rangers have six right-handers in the bullpen. Mike Adams is not one of them. Adams is still working through his physical issues, and it does not look like he will be available in the ALDS if the Rangers advance. He has not pitched since Sept. 27 and has not thrown off a mound since then. The Rangers also decided to put side-arming right-hander Yoshinori Tateyama on the active roster over hard-throwing righties Tanner Scheppers and Mark Lowe.
Tateyama is one of six right-handed relievers, along with Koji Uehara, Alexi Ogando, Roy Oswalt, Scott Feldman and closer Joe Nathan. Right-handers hit .225 off Tateyama during the regular season."Tateyama gives us a different look," Washington said. "He's tough on right-handers."
Because teams can change their rosters before the ALDS, the Rangers did not have to include starters Ryan Dempster and Martin Perez on the active list Friday. Instead, Washington opted for more reliever options in case he gets in a "chess match" with Orioles manager Buck Showalter. Washington would prefer that starter Yu Darvish goes out and dominates."I'm not smart enough to play chess, because I don't know how to play chess," Washington said.
Rangers reliever Alexi Ogando turned 29 on Friday. Jurickson Profar is on the active roster for Friday night and, at age 19 years, 228 days old, he would be the eighth-youngest player to appear in postseason. Mike Olt, who is dealing with inflammation in his right heel, was not active for Friday's game. Daniels said that Olt will not be 100 percent again until Spring Training but could be an option for the playoffs if the Rangers advance.
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121005&content_id=39510754¬ebook_id=39510756&vkey=notebook_tex&c_id=tex | 1,352 |
DYER BROOK, Maine — Southern Aroostook High School baseball coach Murray Putnam, whose 44-year tenure includes nearly 480 victories and five state championships, has been placed on paid administrative leave by school officials.
“At this point that is accurate,” acknowledged Putnam, who said he has been on leave since May 15.
Putnam declined to discuss specifics of the situation but reports have surfaced that it might concern a possible hazing incident during the team’s annual preseason trip and the publishing by players of inappropriate photos on Facebook. Putnam is not believed to have been directly involved but as the head coach has oversight responsibilities over the team.
“At this point I really would prefer not to make any further comment,” Putnam said.
RSU 50 interim superintendent John A. Doe issued the following statement:
“I can’t comment on any specific personnel matter,” he said. “What I can say is that the number one priority of RSU 50 is the safety and well-being of its students.
“Any time there are allegations impacting this important priority we take them very seriously, investigate them fully and take prompt action to resolve them.”
Putnam said he has received no indication about when the matter might be resolved and if the administrative leave — which also involves his position as athletic director at the school, a post he has held for the last 39 years — might be lifted.
“I haven’t had any conversation with anyone about that,” said Putnam, who formally retired from education in 2008 and now is paid a stipend for his work as athletic director and a stipend for his baseball coaching duties.
Putnam has coached high school baseball in the region since 1968, when he took over the program at the former Oakfield Community High School.
When that school and several others were consolidated into Southern Aroostook during the 1970s, he moved to the combined school and has remained there ever since.
Putnam has guided the school’s baseball team to 10 Eastern Maine championships and Class D state titles in 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1999.
Southern Aroostook — which serves the communities of Crystal, Dyer Brook, Island Falls, Merrill, Oakfield and Smyrna — has remained among the elite baseball programs in Eastern D in recent years, advancing to the regional championship game in 2008 and to the semifinals in 2010 and 2011, when the Warriors compiled a 15-2 record.
This spring the team is 9-3 and ranked second in Eastern Maine Class D, with its regular-season finale scheduled for Saturday at home against Woodland on the Murray W. Putnam Baseball Field.
Among his individual honors, Putnam is a 2002 inductee into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame and the recipient of the 2006 State Award of Merit from the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
Putnam hopes to be able to return to the Warriors’ bench.
“I would like to see the kids play ball,” said Putnam, who has missed his team’s last three games, two against top-ranked Central Aroostook of Mars Hill that the Warriors split as well as a victory over Greater Houlton Christian Academy on Tuesday.
“That’s the major reason for my being involved in any of this stuff for all these years.”
The Warriors are being coached by Robert Betschner, who had been the school’s softball coach, while Southern Aroostook principal Jon Porter is handling the athletic administrator’s duties. | http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/23/sports/longtime-southern-aroostook-baseball-coach-murray-putnam-placed-on-leave/print/ | 756 |
17 February 2007
UGANDA : Indoor league
BASKETABALL-Starting this season, the national basketball league games will be played at the indoor stadium at Lugogo. FUBA president Ambrose Tashobya confirmed that most of the league games will be played indoors other than the traditional YMCA courts. “YMCA has been more of a home ground but there is need to have our players get used to indoors,” he said. | http://basket-in-africa.blogspot.com/2007/02/uganda-indoor-league.html | 98 |
Down the stretch, St. Viator coach Mike Howland understandably had a lot of confidence in his group on the floor.
And thats because over the last few years, seniors Kevin Hammarlund, Mayo Arogundade, Patrick Martin, Hugh Masterson and junior Ore Arogundade have developed quite a bit of chemistry with one another.
Just two years ago, the group was the starting five of a sophomore team that went 23-1.
Last season, all except Ore Arogundade made up a strong second unit of a Lions squad that won a regional championship.
In Thursday evenings Class 4A Waukegan sectional semifinal, those five ensured the Lions would go one step further than last season as No. 3 seed St. Viator made all of the big plays down the stretch to come from behind and beat No. 2 seed Zion Benton 65-62.
St. Viator (21-8) advances to its second sectional final in school history and will play No. 1 seed Stevenson (26-4) tonight.
Theyre resilient and we had a gut-check moment when I laid into them pretty good, Howland said. It was up to them respond, and they go out there and make big plays. The credit is spread all across the board.
We can all calm each other down, and we were able to use that tonight, even when we got down, said Hammarlund, who blocked Gabriel Ramirezs potential game-winning 3-point attempt with 4 seconds left.
We hit some huge shots, stuck together and got this win.
Stopping Zion-Benton superstar Milik Yarbrough was nearly impossible all night as the junior scored a game-high 39 points, including 23 straight for the Zee-Bees at one point in the first half.
After Yarbroughs old fashioned 3-point play gave him 35 points on the night and put Zion-Benton (25-6) up 53-47 with 7:15 left, Mayo Arogundade had a suggestion for Howland.
I told (Howland), Let me guard him. Whats the worst that can happen?
The 5-foot-11 senior point guard bodied the 6-foot-6 Yarbrough and held him to just 4 free throws the rest of the game.
That was not a coaching decision that was a Mayo decision, Howland said. He came over to me and goes, I want Milik. I said Fine, go for it, because we sure hadnt figured it out yet.
Obviously he has a couple of inches on me, couple pounds, but I tried to use my strength and quick feet, Mayo Arogundade said. Its all about just wanting it. Thats what crosses over to playing good defense.
With Yarbrough held in check, St. Viator went to work on the offensive end. Two free throws from Ore Arogundade, who scored 20 points and was 9-for-9 at the free throw line, kickstarted a 7-0 run that also included one of Hammarlunds 3 3-pointers.
Trailing 57-56, Martin (20 points) attacked the basket for a beautiful left-handed layup, plus a foul. He hit the ensuing free throw and after Yarbroughs two free throws resulted in the tenth tie of the game, Martin eyed his biggest shot of the night.
After a jab step at his defender, Martin had just enough room to get off a deep 3-pointer from the top of the key and after it swished through the hoop, the Lions held a 62-59 advantage with 1:20 left, a lead they wouldnt relinquish.
I actually didnt realize how far back I was until people told me it was like an NBA 3, Martin said of his fifth and final 3-pointer. I was just feeling it.
Hammarlund scored 7 of his 13 points in the third quarter to keep the Lions close. In addition to his defensive contributions, Mayo Arogundade had 9 points and 6 assists.
The toughest guys always come out on top, said a smiling Mayo Arogundade as he headed to the locker room.
St. Viator High School
Zion-Benton Township High School
Conference: East Suburban Catholic
- Images: Stevenson vs. St. Viator
- West Aurora knocks out Benet
- North Chicago stops Carmel
- More hoops for Morrissey, Stevenson
- Images: Carmel vs. North Chicago
Conference: North Suburban Lake
- Green blossoms quickly at Stevenson
- Knar retires from coaching at Mundelein
- Simeon completes 4-peat against Stevenson
- Images: Stevenson vs. Simeon boys basketball
- Images: Stevenson vs. Edwardsville, boys basketball | http://basketball.dailyherald.com/story/?id=464769 | 1,004 |
Each spot on your roster (not each player) allows for a maximum
number of games played.
This table shows you how many of each you have used, how many you have
remaining, your projected pace and the maximum allowed.
Once you exceed the maximum, you will no longer accumulate stats for the | http://basketball.fantasysports.yahoo.com/nba/81832/11/positioncaps?date=2012-12-09 | 64 |
Winning the lottery was the easy part. Now the Cleveland Cavaliers must figure out how to build around the No. 1 and No. 4 overall picks. As ESPN Insider's Chad Ford noted in his postlottery mock draft, the Cavaliers very well could make Duke point guard Kyrie Irving the first selection in next month's draft. Irving is a talented prospect who put up impressive statistics when healthy as a freshman, but he won't solve all of Cleveland's problems. In fact, his presence might create some issues that the Cavaliers would need to resolve.
For starters, the addition of Irving would create a logjam at the point, a position that wasn't as bad as Cleveland's record might have people assume. As part of the deal to get the pick from the Los Angeles Clippers that jumped to No. 1 in the NBA draft lottery, Cleveland had to take on veteran point guard Baron Davis. Despite missing time because of back and knee injuries, Davis played quite well after the trade, posting a 19.3 player efficiency rating with the Cavaliers--his best mark since 2007-08, his last season with the Golden State Warriors. And when Davis was out of the lineup, Ramon Sessions was excellent as Cleveland's starting point guard. Sessions averaged 19.9 points and 8.8 assists in February and was one of the league's best players in the month.
Between Davis and Sessions, then, point guard was actually the Cavaliers' strongest position. Irving has much more upside, but in the short term, the 19-year-old rookie will have a tough time playing much better than Davis or Sessions.
Although Davis is big enough to play some shooting guard, as he did occasionally alongside Sessions this past season, Cleveland likely wouldn't keep all three players. Davis, who has two years left on the lucrative deal he signed with the Clippers, will be difficult to trade. That means Sessions could be dangled as the Cavaliers try to add talent at other positions. At the right price, Sessions could be a steal, but it's crucial that he lands in the right system. Sessions is a pick-and-roll savant who has thrived when turned loose in the two-man game. When asked to play off the ball during his lone season with the Minnesota Timberwolves, however, Sessions floundered.
If the New York Knicks can find enough assets to offer from a group including Toney Douglas and Bill Walker, they might be an interesting destination. Dan D'Antoni, the brother of and assistant to Knicks head coach Mike D'Antoni, coached Sessions in AAU ball, and the D'Antonis have wanted to get him in their point guard-friendly system. Sessions would be a worthy heir apparent to an aging Chauncey Billups.
It's clear what Cleveland will seek in exchange for Sessions: wing players. As explained in last week's ranking of the league's worst positions, the Cavaliers struggled at shooting guard and small forward. No one currently on the roster has definitively shown the ability to start at either position for the next playoff-bound Cleveland team, and acquiring two of the top four picks in this year's draft will do little to change that because so little wing talent is available.
Instead, Ford has the Cavaliers drafting Kentucky recruit Enes Kanter with the No. 4 pick. Like Kanter, most of the players Cleveland likely will consider with its other lottery pick are teenaged international big men. In the short term, the No. 4 pick probably will not crack the Cavaliers' starting lineup, which features incumbent posts J.J. Hickson and Anderson Varejao. A talented youngster would be an upgrade over backup Ryan Hollins but wouldn't do much to move the needle for Cleveland next season.
The Cavaliers could help themselves out in free agency, but they must consider their long-term future. Davis and Varejao are the only Cleveland players scheduled to make more than the league's average salary beyond next season, when Antawn Jamison's contract will expire. Unless the Cavaliers can add impactful pieces to their youthful core of this year's lottery picks and Hickson, they would be wise to stay quiet in free agency and let the trade exception acquired for LeBron James and Jamison's expiring contract lapse. Cleveland is years away from competing in the Eastern Conference, having finished 18 games out of the playoffs, and should not worry about a quick fix even if it means another season with 50-plus losses.
- Tuesday's other big lottery winner was the Minnesota Timberwolves. Minnesota earned the second pick in a draft with two consensus top picks: Irving and Arizona forward Derrick Williams. It's not clear how Williams fits into a Timberwolves frontcourt that already features two young starters in Michael Beasley and Kevin Love, not to mention reserve Anthony Randolph. Like the Cavaliers, the Timberwolves won't be able to fill their biggest hole (shooting guard) with the pick, which could lead Minnesota to dangle the No. 2 pick to teams that are more in need of Williams' efficient scoring.
- Assuming Irving and Williams go with the first two picks, the draft will start to get more interesting when the Utah Jazz pick at No. 3. In addition to the international big men, the Jazz could consider college guards Brandon Knight and Kemba Walker. As with Cleveland, Utah is just beginning the rebuilding process, and although the Jazz have more pieces in place--including established starters Devin Harris, Paul Millsap and Al Jefferson and last year's No. 3 pick, Derrick Favors--the team is far enough from competing that moving up in the lottery doesn't change the likelihood that Utah will be back in the lottery a year from now.
A version of this story originally appeared on ESPN Insider .
Kevin Pelton is an author of Basketball Prospectus.
You can contact Kevin by clicking here or click here to see Kevin's other articles. | http://basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1725 | 1,195 |
September 8, 2010
New Zealand big man Adams excited for Pitt
Prior to this summer, not many people were aware of Steven Adams outside of New Zealand. In fact, Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon might have been the only one. But Dixon used his connections to land the 2012 center prospect, and now Adams is ranked No. 46 in the class. He spoke to PantherLair.com about Pitt, playing in the U.S., and his future plans.
...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial | http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&script=content.asp&cid=1123504&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid= | 115 |
April 18, 2008
He is a Pitt kind of player
Early forecasts for the 2008-09 have the Pitt basketball team nationally-ranked once again. One forecast by brackatoligist Joe Lunardi has Pitt as a No. 1 seed in next year's NCAA tournament. He might be getting a bit ahead of himself as we still have to sort out which underclassmen will enter the NBA draft including Pitt's Sam Young.
Some Pitt fans are already worried about where the Panthers will get help as backups up certain positions and that is a good sign. One of the players that might give Coach Dixon help of the bench is incoming freshman Nasir Robinson (6' 5" 210).
...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now for a FREE Trial | http://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/barrier_noentry.asp?ReturnTo=&script=content.asp&cid=798862&fid=&tid=&mid=&rid= | 163 |
2008 Olympic Gold Medalist Lori Chalupny Joins Women's Soccer Staff
St. Louis, Mo., August 10, 2011 — Washington University in St. Louis women’s soccer coach Jim Conlon has added 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist and St. Louis native Lori Chalupny to his staff for the 2011 season. Chalupny joins 2006 Washington University graduate Stephanie Ackerman as an assistant coach for the Bears.
Chalupny is in her second season playing for the Atlanta Beat in the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) and played two seasons with the St. Louis Athletica. Chalupny was a member of the 2002 United States Under-19 World Championship Team and has earned 92 caps with the U.S. National Team. She played in four games for the U.S. in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, and scored in a 4-2 victory over Japan in the semifinals.
Chalupny played soccer at Nerinx Hall High School in St. Louis, and was a three-time all-ACC and All-American selection at the University of North Carolina. She graduated from UNC with a degree in exercise and sports science in 2006.
“We are extremely excited to have Lori joining the Washington University women's soccer family. She is a wonderful person with great character,” said Conlon, who enters his fourth season on the Danforth Campus. “Lori is a perfect role model for student-athletes and will bring a wealth of knowledge to the field while helping our recruiting and day-to-day activities."
Washington University opens the 2011 season at home on Thursday, Sept. 1, at 7:30 p.m., against NAIA Missouri Baptist University. The Bears return 23 letterwinners and 10 starters from last year’s team, which advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament and posted an 11-8-2 overall record.
Head shot photo credit: David Todd
Action shot photo credit: Perry McIntyre | http://bearsports.wustl.edu/Sports/Content/Pages/wsoc8-10-11.aspx | 414 |
Pics: Reggie Bush Dating Kim Kardashian Look-A-Like Melissa Molinaro
If only Reggie Bush got this much attention when he is playing football. In a way he is like Kardashian, much more hype than substance.
He was allegedly dating a Taz Angel, but he was spotted with a Kim Kardashian look a like. You know Melissa Molinaro from the Old Navy commercial.
She is a cute, she is no Kim Kardashian, but I am not mad at Reggie, if you can’t have the real thing just get the store brand cereal for your squad. | http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2011/06/pics-reggie-bush-dating-kim-kardashian-look-a-like-melissa-molinaro/?pid=3283 | 120 |
Saints Football: How Should the New Orleans Saints Split Carries in 2012?
Most teams have only two backs they would even consider throwing on the field for any significant stretch of play. And often only one of those particular guys is the kind of talent that legitimately scares defenses.
The Saints have four backs they’ll throw on the field at any time, in almost any situation. And every one of them scares the crap out of defensive coordinators.
Of course each one has a particular skill set that in the past Sean Payton and Pete Carmichael have utilized to maximize the abilities of each. For instance, Darren Sproles is clearly the guy you want to line up all over the field.
To a degree Pierre Thomas can be used in a similar function. But his most valuable asset for the team is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and run between the tackles in short-yardage situations.
Chris Ivory isn’t much of a pass protector or receiver, but he has great speed to get to the edge of a defense and threaten it for a big play each time he touches the ball.
Finally Mark Ingram is in many ways the most complete back—almost a Deuce McAllister clone with his ability to run effectively in the base package, pass protect and create lanes in check down situations for Drew Brees.
Each of those assessments is based on past performance. And past performance is generally the best indicator of future success, or lackthereof.
Here is the statistical data to show the effectiveness of each player as a runner (statistics from 2011 regular season).
Statistics courtesy of nfl.com/neworleanssaints.
The nice thing about statistics is that they reveal the final results of what took place. And they are a good indicator of what will take place in the future. But they are not wholly sovereign.
If they were, you'd look at Darren Sproles' 6.9 yards per carry figure and assume the Saints should hand him the ball 75 percent of the time. The statistics are nearly incapable of revealing the truth that Sproles was effective in the run game primarily because of the relative lack of carries.
A high percentage of his carries came in long-yardage situations and/or third down situations when the defense was clearly expecting pass plays. Many of his carries were inside zone plays or stretch plays to the outside designed to use his quick cut athleticism and speed.
Clearly he is not built to hold up for 15-plus carries per game. Instead the Saints are, and will continue to be, wise to give him six-to-eight carries per game and watch his yards per carry average stay close to the 6.9 of 2011.
In much the same way, Mark Ingram looks like a horrible running back based on his yard per carry average. But as shown here, Ingram was not as bad a year ago as the statistics seem to suggest.
Ingram provided a number of big plays in 2011 in the 10 games he was featured. Of course health concerns abound as Ingram enters his sophomore campaign at the NFL level, but if healthy, Ingram is the No. 1 back on this team.
He is the type of runner who needs the carries to gain his rhythm and feel for the game. Plus the added carries give him more opportunities to hit a big run and simply keep the chains moving.
As the true starting back, Ingram should be given 15-20 carries per game. That will allow him to hit one or two big runs and hit a number of other productive chain-moving efforts.
As for Pierre Thomas, we've already mentioned his greatest value to the team is in the passing game. That said, he is a great in-between-the-tackles runner who excels in short-yardage situations.
He needs to register 10 carries every game, with approximately eight of them coming in short-yardage and goal-line situations. If he hits that 80 percent mark it means two very positive things for the Saints' offense.
First, it means the team is keeping the chains moving on first and second down. Second, it means the team is getting to the red zone and in scoring position regularly.
And the result should be a high conversion percentage since Thomas is one of the league's finest short-yardage backs.
Finally there's an interesting dilemma for the Saints and as the one writing this column. That is of course, what to do with Chris Ivory? Does he play and get carries? Does he even make the roster?
I've spoken ad nauseam this offseason about how Chris Ivory should be dealt or waived for the sake of the cap and the future of the Saints' organization. Most likely he would command a fifth or sixth round pick in the draft should he be dealt to a running back-starved team.
But for the sake of argument here, let's assume the Saints elect to keep him on the roster. In that scenario the Saints would maintain that awkward stutter dance where Ivory is clearly worthy of carries, but not the best option due to his ineffectiveness in passing game.
He likely waits until one of the top three miss a game before seeing the field and getting carries. And that of course is not the ideal scenario for anyone involved.
If he were to replace Ingram (seemingly the most likely circumstance) he'd probably get the 15 carries Ingram should be getting.
If he were to replace Thomas, the team would be screwed since they'd have no legitimate short-yardage back. Ivory and Ingram could try to replace Thomas but would invariably not do a good enough job.
And if he were to replace Sproles, Thomas would essentially take over Sproles' role in the offense and the team would slide Ivory into Thomas' departed role.
Of course the team could elect to replace Ivory with rookie Travaris Cadet. Doing so would eliminate the awkwardness that exists when a player of Ivory's caliber is sitting in team warmups on the sideline for multiple games while healthy.
Cadet would be more than happy to show off on the practice squad and scout team while waiting for an injury to get in a regular season game.
Overall though, the main point is this. The Saints under Pete Carmichael ought to run the ball 35-plus times per game in 2012. In 2011, they won every game in which they ran more than 25 times.
But with less explosion at the receiver spot, the running game has to pick up the slack. And that's exactly why Ingram, Sproles and Thomas need to combine for 35-plus carries. They are all explosive with the ball in their hands.
For the sake of argument we can all agree that swing passes, screens and the like in many ways count as running plays. So even if the team does not have a literal 35 rushing attempts it needs 35 'real runs'.
Who should be the Saints' primary ball-carrier (50% or more carries)?
That will allow Drew Brees to operate with the clean pocket that playaction and effective running creates. It makes the offensive lineman's job easier. And it makes the pass offense less predictable.
Of course it's all a lot easier said than done, especially if the team finds itself in a desperate situation such as down 10 in the fourth quarter.
That's why running early and often is the key. That's when Mark Ingram's presence is so important. And that's what will allow for Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas to be most effective as well.
If the running game is flowing, the rest of the offense will. That's the Saints' formula, or it should be, in 2012.
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Amico: Spurs a Frontrunner for Greg Oden
Size and defense were problems for the San Antonio Spurs before the Los Angeles Lakers traded for Dwight Howard. That trade made it even more important for the Spurs to improve their interior defense, whether that be from guys like Tiago Splitter getting better or from the team picking someone up through trade or free agency. We've heard the name Andray Blatche and there are still guys like Darko Milicic out there. Early Wednesday morning Fox Sports' Sam Amico tweeted another possibility, this one with the biggest boom or bust potential of them all...
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Fighters Should Never Use Death as a Promotional Tactic
There's no question that, like Chael Sonnen, Ronda Rousey knows her way around a microphone.
She's good at building up fights, plain and simple. Her trash-talking ways are responsible—even more so than her awesome fighting skills and her beauty—for her meteoric rise to the top of mixed martial arts. It was just March 2011 that she made her professional debut, and just over a year later she's the Strikeforce bantamweight champion and a media darling.
But lately, it feels like Rousey is going overboard. That was certainly the case at Thursday's pre-fight press conference in San Diego, where she unleashed the following gem:
If I get her in an armbar, I'm going to try to rip it off and throw it at her corner...If I get her in a choke, I'm going to hold onto it until she's actually dead. And if I get a knockout, I'm going to go all the way. I'm going to try to pound her face into the ground and she's depending on the competence of the California (State) Athletic Commission to walk out of that cage alive.
Look, I'm fine with a little trash-talking. We don't get a ton of it in the sport, so it's a refreshing change of pace when it does happen. I'd prefer that it developed naturally instead of being forced, but I'll take what I can get.
But there is a line, and saying you're planning to kill your opponent is close to it. But I can understand the situation, what with the heat of the moment and all that jazz. But going into explicit detail about how you plan on doing it, like Rousey did? That's crossing the line. No question about it.
I'm sure you remember the time Frank Mir said he planned on making Brock Lesnar the first fighter to die from Octagon-related injuries. That one didn't go over too well with the brass at Zuffa. Mir was forced to apologize for the comment, and Dana White publicly scolded Mir as well.
I don't know if anyone at Zuffa took Rousey aside and told her to chill out. If they didn't, they probably should. Build up a fight all you want, but don't wish death on your opponent. That's asking for trouble, and it doesn't exactly reflect well on the company you work for or the sport as a whole.
Rousey has it all: the skills, the looks and the promotional talent. She's a goldmine. But stuff like this will turn off fans even as she attempts to earn new ones.
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Which Rookie Quarterback Will Go Farthest in the Playoffs?
This week on Bleacher Report's Behind the Mic, Phil Simms predicts which rookie quarterback will take his team farthest in this year's playoffs.
Will Andrew Luck and the Colts continue their magical run? Can Robert Griffin III lead the Redskins deep into the playoffs, or will Russell Wilson and his Seahawks dash their playoff hopes?
Watch now to find out which rookie QB Phil thinks will take one step closer to a Super Bowl championship.
Don't forget to tune into Behind the Mic every week, only on Bleacher Report.
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Who Will Be the First Rookie QB to Win a Super Bowl: Luck, RG3 or Wilson?
Rob Carr/Getty Images
And given each of their immediate success, Super Bowl expectations become the next level for these young signal-callers. The obvious question: Who takes home the Vince Lombardi Trophy first?
Well, aside from each rookie's ability, other factors such as divisional and conference competition are of great significance. In addition, the personnel surrounding each quarterback and future schedules will impact as well.
Could this January be the first to feature a rookie quarterback in the Super Bowl? Regardless, all three have presented the potential to eventually win on the NFL's biggest stage.
Andrew Luck, Colts
Luck entered the toughest of situations.
Inheriting a team that finished 2-14, Luck immediately flipped the Indianapolis Colts into a postseason contender. Going 11-5, Luck had Indy ranked No. 7 in passing offense and took second in the AFC South.
The real determining factor, though, came from the Colts winning nine games that were decided by seven points or less. Luck was simply clutch and Indianapolis will certainly continue to build successfully around him.
Unfortunately he is not backed by a strong defense.
The Colts ranked No. 21 in points allowed per game (24.2) and were No. 26 in total defense. Considering other AFC offenses that are helped by a strong defense—Denver, Cincinnati, New England and Houston—Indy won't make a deep postseason run without it.
Robert Griffin III, Redskins
Griffin was the most electrifying player to watch throughout the 2012 NFL season.
His dual-threat versatility kept opponents falling for fakes and before we knew it, Griffin was down the sideline with a big run. And when out of the pocket, he forced linebackers to respect the scramble.
In turn, that created wider zones for his receivers and ultimately, a 65.6 completion percentage. Rarely turning the ball over, Griffin led the Washington Redskins to a 10-6 record and ranking No. 4 in points per game.
This high-powered attack will keep NFC East defenses off balance each year, so expect the Redskins to always be putting up points. Much like with Luck and the Colts, however, Washington's defense must improve.
Allowing an average of 24.2 points per contest this season, the Redskins were exposed against more efficient offenses such as the Saints, Bengals and Falcons. Include any team with a strong defense and Washington will have a tough time scoring; Just as we saw against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 8.
Russell Wilson, Seahawks
Among the three rookie quarterbacks in this postseason, Wilson is on the most complete team.
The Seattle Seahawks closed out at 11-5 and earned the NFC's No. 5 seed. Even if we flip the Seahawks' controversial win over the Green Bay Packers to a loss, Seattle still makes the postseason.
As the season progressed, Wilson and Co. logged key conference wins over the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings. Seattle's defense ranked No. 1 in points allowed (15.3) and No. 4 overall. So, Wilson was fortunate to receive assistance from arguably the best defense in pro football.
At the same token, Wilson tossed 26 touchdowns to only 10 picks and sported a 64.1 completion percentage. He was sacked just 33 times and added 489 yards rushing with four scores.
Wilson is a true pocket-passer that knows how to spread the field, work off play-action and possesses pinpoint marksmanship. The lone downside of Seattle is its inability to win divisional road games (0-3).
Who wins a Super Bowl first?
Who Wins a Super Bowl First?
Wilson and the Seahawks will be the first to win a Super Bowl from this group.
And it comes down to the players surrounding Wilson.
Based on their abilities alone, Wilson, Luck and Griffin are virtually the same. Each are mobile, present a strong arm, read well pre-snap and are spot on with accuracy.
Seattle, though, fields a significantly better defense to consistently stifle any opposing offense. As a result, Wilson does have a bit more room for error and much less pressure to produce. Lest we forget about Marshawn Lynch: One of the NFL's top ball-carriers.
Luck and Griffin have to carry their teams, period.
Wilson would be able to carry Seattle, but he just doesn't have to. He can rely on a slower game tempo and ground attack to set up the pass. Without question would Luck and Griffin see similar results had they been selected by Seattle, and Wilson would do just fine in Indy or our nation's capital.
The distinction comes from a traditional running game with Lynch and a stellar defense. Seattle brings both and Wilson's efficiency takes the Seahawks to greater heights at a quicker pace.
Follow John Rozum on Twitter.
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Manchester United: Set to Struggle Next Season?
While pondering the upcoming Premier League season I came to a very delightful and exciting conclusion:
Manchester United are in a world of trouble.
Lets just start with Cristiano Ronaldo. He was hands down the best player on Manchester United's squad, he is only 24-years-old, and has a very very bright future. I personally do not like Ronaldo one bit. He is arrogant, cocky, he dives, he cries.
He's just plain annoying.
But I cant knock his talent. He, Messi, and Kaka are the best.
He is now gone. How are Manchester United going to make up all those 25-45 goals a season from him. He could have added those numbers to their squad for eight more years!
Now for Tevez. Manchester United really messed up. He was treated horribly by the club, gives his heart and soul every game, and will be missed. Man United fans cannot be happy with having Berbatov as their #2 striker.
That is a lot of talent gone from their team.
Man United have another big problem: AGE.
Ryan Giggs - 35
Paul Scholes - 34
Ferdinand - 30 (Although still very effective)
Van Der Sar - 38
Gary Neville - 34
Berbatov, Park, and Evra are each 28 as well.
This squad isn't getting any younger.
Anderson, Rooney, Nani, and Rafael are good prospects though.
They are all great players with potential but they are not a squad that will make it to the Champions league final next year.
Manchester United are in trouble my friends, and I love it.
They MUST, I repeat, MUST sign either Ribery or Benzema.
I would take Benzema if I were Fergie. He is young, talented, quick, and will be the next world superstar. One of these signings would be good, but they need both to contend in my opinion.
Manchester United are aging, in huge financial debt, lost two of their top five players, and are in big big trouble. I have my money on them not winning the Premier League or Champions league next year. What are your thoughts?
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The All Post-Lockout Team: Southeast Division
Line One: Alex Ovechkin - Eric Staal - Ilya Kovalchuk
The top line of the Southeast features three young stars with future captains written all over them.
In Washington, the transformation of the Capitals from cellar-dwellers into legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference is largely credited to Russian superstar Alexander Oveckin.
The 2004 first overall pick has delivered the goods to Washington, and then some. His 420 points in 324 career games are putting him on pace to take over former teammate Sergei Federov as the greatest Russian to ever play in the NHL.
Ovechkin has already given his heart and soul to the Capitals, as he is under contract in the Nation's Capital until the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.
On the topic of great young Russian stars, you can't forget about one of the most dangerous shooters in the NHL, Ilya Kovalchuk. Seemingly forgotten due to being stuck with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk's numbers speak for themselves.
The 26 year old winger has put up four straight 40+ goal seasons since the lockout and may be the biggest prize at the 2010 trading deadline or free agency.
Centering this line is the best of the Staal's, Carolina Hurricanes' alternate captain and NHL08 coverboy Eric Staal. During his tenure with the 'Canes, Staal has become a model of consistency in Raleigh, with 70 points or more in the four seasons since the lockout.
His best season came during the Hurricanes push to their first Stanley Cup victory in franchise history, as Staal's 100 point season provided Carolina with an added weapon in their arsenal.
Line Two: Alexander Semin - Vincent Lecavalier - Marty St. Louis
Although Semin has officially made the jump from playing on both wings to becoming a full time right wing, his stats put him worthy of second line minutes on the left side. Semin's three straight seasons of 25+ goals and knack for scoring clutch goals has made him a lethal weapon playing with Oveckin.
On the right side is Tampa Bay Lightning forward and one of the NHL's fastest skaters, Marty St. Louis. Despite his 5'7" stature, St. Louis has been a prime example of the rise of smaller players in the new NHL. St. Louis has chipped in an average of 81 points per season, along with a total of 23 game winning goals in the four years since the lockout.
2008-09 was a trying year for Bolts center Vincent Lecavalier, as the Lightning captain posted his lowest point total since the 2003-04 season. Even with this bad season, Vinny has averaged 39 goals a season since the 2005-06 season.
Despite rumors that the Quebec native was heading home in a trade to the Montreal Canadiens, Lecavalier remained in Tampa and is looking for a rebound year for the rebuilding Bolts.
Line Three: Erik Cole - Nicklas Backstrom - Nathan Horton
It seems as if Erik Cole was born to wear that (horrible) 'Canes logo on the front of his jersey. After heading to Edmonton in the off-season, the New York native struggled to produce with the Oilers and was sent back to Carolina, where he seemingly returned to where he left on in Raleigh.
Cole went on to score 15 points in the 17 games he played with the Hurricanes. During his original three stint with the Hurricanes from 2005-06 to 2007-08, Cole never finished with less than 51 points and was one of the Cardiac 'Canes go-to players when they were in need of a big goal or play.
At just 21 years old, it's surprising to see the development Nicklas Backstrom has gone through for the Capitals. The Capitals' first round pick from the 2006 NHL Draft has without question benefited from playing along with Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin.
But in just two years he's become the captain of the Caps' lethal powerplay. His 42 points on the man advantage and his 38 even strength assists are showing what the future holds in store for this playmaking center.
For the Florida Panthers, many things have gone awry as of late. Following a trade of Roberto Luongo, this team was officially in a rebuilding mode. Through this rebuilding in the Sunshine State, a bulky right winger by the name of Nathan Horton has stood out on the ice for the Panthers.
The third overall pick of the 2003 Draft has been a solid contributor when healthy, as he posted two straight 62 point seasons before being held to just 45 in 2008-09, when injuries limited him to 67 games.
Line Four: Cory Stillman - Rod Brind'Amour - Ray Whitney
This fourth line of forwards features some Stanley Cup Playoff heroes in Raleigh.
Cory Stillman performed exceedingly well in the 'Canes Cup run of '06, where he put up 26 points in 25 playoff games. Even after that, Stillman's presence on the wing provided solid scoring depth for Carolina.
Following a short stint with the Ottawa Senators, Stillman returned back to the Southeast, this time with the Florida Panthers.
Centering the line is captain of the Hurricanes and in my book, captain of this squad, Rod Brind'Amour. Like many of the 'Canes on this team, Rod's best year came in the 2005-06 season, where he eclipsed the 70 point total for the first time since the 1998-99 season.
He's also won two Selke Trophies with the 'Canes since the lockout and has remained to be one of the Conference's best two-way players.
Ray Whitney, a mainstay in North Carolina as an alternate captain and powerplay threat, has made a name for himself in the state that's made hockey seem relevant in the South. Whitney's averaged nearly a point per game in Carolina and has scored 26 points in 42 playoff games with the 'Canes.
EXTRA SKATER: Mark Recchi & Vinny Prospal
Mark Recchi, although never spending a full season with any team in the Southeast, has contributed strongly throughout his time in the warm weathered regions of the division.
In a total of 115 games between the Thrashers, Hurricanes and Lightning, Recchi has posted 63 assists and 29 goals.
The addition of Recchi in 2005-06 gave the Hurricanes an added push towards the Stanley Cup, a move that the Boston Bruins tried duplicating in 2009.
On the wing is former 'Bolt-turned-Ranger, Vaclav, or Vinny Prospal. The Czech forward's best season was in 2005-06, where he scored 25 goals along with 55 assists.
After a trade sent the 34 year old to Philadelphia in 2008, Prospal's tenure with the Lightning seemed to be over. However, Prospal returned in 2008-09 and contributed 45 points in 82 games before being bought out this summer.
Defensive Pairing One: Mike Green - Jay Bouwmeester
Nobody could have said they saw what was coming in the case of Mike Green. The praise was high for the 29th overall pick in the 2004 Draft was high, but in 2008-09, incredible is an understatement when talking about his accomplishments.
Mike Green scored 73 points in 68 games, including an NHL record streak for defensemen when he scored a goal in eight straight games. The season earned Green a Norris nomination and at just 23 years old, and he has all the makings of a star in the NHL for years to come.
The third overall pick from the 2002 NHL Draft, the expectations of Jay Bouwmeester were that he was going to be the face of the franchise as they would go on to vitalize hockey in Florida.
However, the Panthers failed to make noise into the NHL Playoffs with the large puck mover despite the contributions of Jay-Bo. Since the lockout, Bouwmeester has been the face of the Panthers, considering he played in all 82 games of the season throughout those four years.
When the Panthers hung onto to the 25 year old during this year's trading deadline, the move was a sign that the Panthers felt they could make the playoffs and keep Bouwmeester in Miami. Bouwmeester's now a Flame, but his stats in the Sunshine State can't be disregarded, as the defenseman has averaged 30 assists a season since 2005.
Defensive Pairing Two: Dan Boyle - Niclas Havelid
Although never being the puck-moving d-man that the Thrashers need, the defensive game put in place by Niclas Havelid in Atlanta was nothing sort of spectacular.
Despite a trade that sent him to New Jersey, Havelid still led the Thrashers in blocked shots in 2008-09 with 167, 37 more than the second closest. During his three and a half seasons in Atlanta, the Swedish defenseman averaged 191 blocked shots and chipped in at least 14 points or more in all four seasons.
After winning the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2003-04, Dan Boyle seemed to be one of the bright spots of the future for the Bolts. When play resumed in 2005-06, Boyle appeared to become even stronger and more offensively skilled.
He followed a 53 point campaign in 2005-06 with a 63 point season in the following season. However, injuries held the compact defenseman to just 37 games in 2007-08, where he chimed in for 25 points.
In the offseason, a trade sent Boyle to San Jose, where he went on to post All-Star numbers and is currently the leading candidate to take over as captain of the Sharks.
Defensive Pairing Three: Frantisek Kaberle - Garnet Exelby
Frantisek Kaberle is certainly overshadowed by the much more sought after Tomas Kaberle, but that's still not a knock on the defenseman often paired on Carolina's third pairing.
Kaberle's 82 points in four seasons with the 'Canes is solid for someone's who production dropped rapidly due in large part to a lack of ice time.
Every team needs their tough guy right? Insert Garnet Exelby. The Thrashers blue-liner has been the team leader in hits since the lockout and fits this squad perfect as a sixth defenseman.
Although Exelby will be wearing a blue and white jersey as a trade sent the 28 year old to Toronto this off-season, the hits are still sure to be dished out handily.
EXTRA SKATER: Paul Ranger
When healthy, the skills of Paul Ranger provide a great option as a seventh defenseman on this squad. Before injuries plagued the 24 year old's 08-09 season and limited him to just 42 games, Ranger had played in at least 70 games or more in the last three seasons.
In those three seasons, Ranger averaged just under 26 points a season and is a more than adequate option on the Bolts blue-line.
Goaltenders: Cam Ward & Tomas Vokoun
The nod for starter goes to Cam Ward, hands down and without question. The Hurricane netminder has been a large factor in the post-lockout success of the Carolina-based franchise.
His career stats thus far have been impressive, but not nearly as impressive as his post-season numbers. In 41 career playoff games, Ward is 23-18 with a 2.38 GAA.
Backing him up is Panthers crease-protector Tomas Vokoun. Although Vokoun has spent just two seasons in Florida, his numbers on a rather poor offensive team merit him worthy of a spot.
Following an All-Star season in Florida, Vokoun built on those numbers and posted another solid season for the Cats, where he finished second in the NHL for save percentage.
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Is Chris Bosh The Answer for the Rockets?
Normally offseason and trade rumors begin to heat up as the playoffs dwindle down and the NBA Draft approaches. For the Rockets, the rumors and speculation have already begun.
In one of the most anticipated free agent classes of all time, one star has captured the headline in Houston: power forward Chris Bosh.
For those who don't know, on his personal Twitter account, he asked fans where he should go next season. He would later rephrase the question to ask whether he should stay or leave, but all signs point toward Chris Bosh being in a different uniform come November. His possible destinations include Miami, New York, and Chicago via free agency, but the Rockets have emerged as a potential suitor through a sign-and-trade deal.
It comes as no surprise for Rocket fans, as the stockpiling of picks and youth accumulated over the years was something cooking in store for something greater. A team like Toronto that could potentially lose Bosh for nothing would quickly be in desperation mode looking for sign-and-trade venues that Bosh would accept.
With that being said, they would almost have to strongly consider a package around that youth, such as Jordan Hill, expiring contracts, potential lottery picks, and potential filled prospects like Ariza and Budinger.
For Bosh's case, he could team up with the likes of Wade in Miami or Rose/Noah in Chicago. But with the Rockets, he'd get an overall more balanced team with the likes of Brooks, Martin, Ariza, Battier, and the awaited comeback of Yao Ming. But most importantly, he'd have the opportunity to return back to his home state in Texas and become the best player on the team.
But the Rockets would face a possible dilemma with Luis Scola being a restricted free agent himself. Coming off his best season with averages of 16 points and 8 boards on 52 percent shooting, the Rockets are certainly not lacking talent at the power forward position.
It'd seem unlikely that he would stay if Bosh were to come to Houston, but Luis recently commented on the situation:
"Chris Bosh is a great player, an All-Star, a 20-10 guy," said Scola. "I know people who play with him on the same team, and everybody says he's a great teammate. You always want a great player and a great teammate and a 20-10 guy on your team. Winning is always first."
We can interpret it different ways or that Scola is being diplomatic about the situation, but would the Rockets be willing to pay him $8-10 million for being a mere backup? As great as Bosh would be, the Rockets would have bigger needs—more specifically a backup center that could step in and start if Yao were to prove unstable once again.
Then there's the counter-argument that the Rockets could run a three-man rotation with Scola, Yao, and Bosh, but much like the Raptors and what the Rockets faced last season, the defensive intimidation on the inside would be minimal.
Frankly the Rockets already have enough scoring, and in a team setting where Bosh would likely take on a lesser offensive role, how much better is Bosh for the Rockets compared to the production Scola provided, especially post All-Star break?
Don't get me wrong, Bosh is a considerably better player than Scola and is one of the better players in the league. But if Yao were to regain form, both Scola and Bosh provide a reliable mid-range jump-shot, an underappreciated post-game, and solid rebounding.
But if we've learned anything over the years, if you can acquire an All-Star caliber player without giving up assets, you acquire them first and worry about fit later.
The ultimate point of the tale is while I feel the reports of Bosh being the top priority in the offseason are valid, based on the recent moves made by Rockets' General Manager Daryl Morey, if there's anything we've learned, it's to expect the unexpected.
Chuck Hayes Back, Rockets Willing to Spend
The Rockets will be picking up Chuck Hayes' team option for the 2010-2011 season worth $2.3 million.
The news comes as no surprise, as the league's shortest center was a consistent force in the Rockets' attack last season. His post defense and basketball IQ exemplified his game further than his mere 4.4 point per game and 5.7 rebound per game average.
With Yao's expected comeback, Hayes' role is expected to be reduced, and he will likely be moved back to his more natural power forward position. He'll provide much needed depth and toughness coming off the bench.
The only doubt towards the Rockets not picking up Hayes team option would be a possible reluctance on spending on the luxury tax. However, Daryl Morey recently claimed on 790 that Les has given him the green light to spend and improve on the team, which further proves the Rockets will be active players in this years offseason frenzy.
Rockets Workout Yesterday
The draft is only a month away, and it's that time of year again where front offices are busy scrutinizing and extensively researching on possible collegiate and foreign athletes building their draft board to help improve on the team.
Yesterday, May 7, 2010, the Rockets had six of those prospects in town, among which included: center Brian Davis from Texas A&M, guard Demetri McCamey from Illinois, guard Manny Harris from Michigan, forward Latavious Williams from Tulsa of the NBA Development League, forward Jajuan Johnson from Purdue, and guard Kelvin Lewis from the University of Houston.
A wide variety of prospects might hint the Rockets are looking purely from a talent standpoint rather than reaching on a big that potentially wouldn't pan out.
That's if the Rockets end up keeping the pick.
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Hunt for Boston Red SoxTober: Does Faint Wild Card Gap Prolong Life Support?
The Boston Red Sox are not your garden variety "drop dead and stay dead" team late in the season, at least not in the Tito Francona era.
Bizarre occurrences have a certain fondness of popping up in September heading into October months.
Terry Francona merits an insane measure of praise for the Red Sox preservation of a potential playoff run, but plugging the young farm hands into the everyday lineup is only half of the equation. Stepping up and taking full advantage in producing in the lineup is a completely difficult task to ask out of green talent fresh off the farm.
So far so good; do the best you can with what you have to work with.
Boston’s minor league system can go toe-to-toe, maybe even mowing down all other farm systems in the majors period.
Twenty-two games remain on the Boston Red Sox regular season schedule. Following last night’s 11-5 five home run-filled outburst versus the AL Wild Card-leading Rays, Boston climbed to within 6 ½ games of Tampa Bay. Stacking on, Boston it’s reclaimed a half game lead over the frequently shifting Chicago White Sox.
With the prospect of piecing together a last gasp run, the Boston Red Sox margin for error nears zero, but a sense of urgency singed in a usual suspect leaves a certain “what if” in the minds of other playoff contenders.
Stranger things have happened in the past.
Shortstop Marco Scutaro is currently gutting out an excruciating rotator cuff injury while sustaining the most consistency in Red Sox hitters outside of Adrian Beltre. Scutaro (9,10) homered twice piling on in last night’s come from behind victory in the rubber game against division rival Tampa Bay.
Terry Francona’s offense carries on their torrid tempo marching in the run production parade with help from the white hot Victor Martinez. David Ortiz, J.D. Drew, and Adrian follow V-Mart in a resurgent hitting practicum as of late.
Boston’s obvious ache keeping them from gaining precious ground is the horrendous performance of their bullpen.
Analysts and other writers have repeatedly mentioned the demeanor of the formally unfailing execution of free spirit closer Jonathan Papelbon, described as checking out.
Sadly, they may perhaps hit the nail on the head. However, dealing Manny Delcarmen to the Colorado Rockies patches a gaping hole in a swiftly leaking setup man setting.
Do you really see the Tampa Bay Rays overtaking the New York Yankees for good to win the American League East crown?
No, not when Yankee hitters have an addiction to dead of the ninth inning dramatics.
Until that third out is recorded, disregard the assumption the Yankees are done from game to game. The Yankees will hold on to win the American League East easier than most think. There’s too much fire power and clutch play despite the next gear the Rays have hit up to this point.
Major League Baseball’s postseason fires out its first pitch on October 6.
Not much time left.
The question isn’t, “Do the Red Sox possess the intestinal fortitude to survive the final stretch gauntlet?”
Quite the contrary.
Does time permit the Red Sox from digging deep into their innermost section of the intestinal track to maintain the fraught excavation it takes to make the run.
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In the Toyota Center visitors’ locker room after the Rockets’ win on Monday, Grizzlies players were asking when they would be back.
Having twice blown out the Rockets in Memphis, they clearly believed they blew the game on Monday, falling apart at the start of the fourth quarter and falling short in the final minutes. But their interest in the schedule – they return March 30 – was about something else.
The Grizzlies wanted to lock up the tie-breaker with the Rockets on Monday. More than break a five-year losing streak in Houston, a win would have given them the tie-breaker should they be in a two-team tie with the Rockets and another conference win should there be multiple teams tied.
“They showed more energy and wanted to make it a 2-1 series for the season,” Memphis guard Tony Allen said.
It might seem a bit early to think that way, but after 33 games, the season is half over. The teams came in to the game tied in sixth. The Western Conference race is so tight, the team currently in ninth (Portland) is 3.5 games from homecourt advantage in the first round. And that’s with a few teams out of the top eight (Portland, Utah) fading lately.
The Rockets are alone in sixth at the midway point of the season, just a half game behind the Lakers and 1.5 from moving into the top half of the playoff pack. But they are also just 2.5 games the other direction from back in the lottery.
The Western Conference playoff race is likely to remain at least as tight. It will probably get tighter. There is a pretty good chance the team that just misses the playoffs – and no team has missed the playoffs with winning records as often as the Rockets – will be left out in a tie breaker.
The Rockets are 13-12 in the Western Conference after sweeping the Utah-Memphis home back-to-back. After heading to the break with a game against the 76ers and returning for another home game against the Raptors, the Rockets face the Jazz, Nuggets and Clippers.
As much as every game is crucial, potentially the difference between making the playoffs and picking 14th in the draft again, those Western Conference games are especially vital because each loss could be a victory for a team fighting for a playoff spot.
The Grizzlies had that on their mind before they left Toyota Center, already looking forward to when they will return. | http://blog.chron.com/ultimaterockets/2012/02/at-seasons-midway-point-rockets-get-a-taste-of-playoff-chase-to-come/ | 502 |
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has released this new ad in the Connecticut Senate race that highlights Republican millionaire and former wrestling CEO Linda McMahon’s dangerous plans that could end Social Security and Medicare. McMahon told Tea Partiers that she wants a “sunset provision” for Social Security and that she is open to Paul Ryan and Mitt Romney’s plans to end Medicare’s guaranteed benefits. Both of McMahon’s plans would hit middle-class seniors with devastating consequences.
“Linda McMahon doesn’t need Social Security. She’s worth millions. Maybe that’s why she’s called for a ‘sunset provision’ for Social Security,” says the ad’s narrator before replaying McMahon’s remarks to Tea Party activists about “sunset” provisions. “That could end Social Security and we’d have to fight to renew it. McMahon’s also open to ending Medicare’s guaranteed benefit, just like Romney and Ryan,” the narrator continues. “Linda McMahon: in it for herself, not for you,” the ad concludes.
MCMAHON DOESN’T NEED SOCIAL SECURITY BECAUSE SHE IS WORTH $238 MILLION
According To Her Personal Financial Disclosure, McMahon Is Worth $238 Million. In September 2012, the New Haven Register reported that McMahon’s “personal financial statement, filed with the U.S. Senate, estimates her worth at $238 million.” [New Haven Register, 9/21/12]
MCMAHON CALLED FOR A SUNSET PROVISION FOR SOCIAL SECURITY AT A TEA PARTY FORUM
McMahon Said She Believed In Sunset Provisions For Programs Like Social Security. In September 2012, WFSB reported that “months ago, Linda McMahon was at a Tea Party event in Waterford, where she said she believed in sunset provisions for programs like Social Security.” [WFSB, 9/27/12]
Headline: Linda McMahon Proposed Social Security “Sunset” At Tea Party Forum. [Huffington Post, 9/26/12]
Huffington Post: McMahon Proposed A “Sunset Provision” To Social Security At A Tea Party Town Hall In Waterford, CT. In September 2012, the Huffington Post reported, “In little-noticed remarks at a Tea Party town hall meeting earlier this year, Republican Connecticut Senate candidate Linda McMahon proposed introducing a ‘sunset provision’ into the Social Security Act. McMahon, the former CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment, has consistently dodged questions about cutting government entitlement programs in her two Senate runs. Speaking before a group of Tea Party supporters in Waterford, Conn. on April 20, however, McMahon said she would consider making major changes to Social Security, from raising the retirement age to means-testing benefits. She also proposed introducing a ‘sunset provision’ — the legislative term for putting an expiration date on a law unless it is renewed.” [Huffington Post, 9/26/12]
McMahon On Social Security Solvency: “I Believe In Sunset Provisions When We Pass This Kind Of Legislation, So That You Take A Look At It 10, 15 Years Down The Road To Make Sure That It’s Still Going To Fund Itself.” At an April 2012 Tea Party town hall in Wallingford, CT, McMahon received the question, “Do you believe that Social Security and Medicare are in financial trouble, and if so, what would you do to strengthen them?” McMahon responded, And I think that we’re going to have to do that in a bipartisan fashion in Congress. We cannot continue doing things the way we are doing with Social Security. We’re just simply going to be bankrupt. And I do believe that, that there are ways to look at, you know, what we’re trying to do when we put Social Security in place? We didn’t go back and review it. In other words, I believe in sunset provisions when we pass this kind of legislation, so that you take a look at it 10, 15 years down the road to make sure that it’s still going to fund itself.” [CT 2nd District Tea Party Patriots Meet & Greet, Waterford, CT, 4/20/12]
SUNSETTING LEGISLATION MEANS ENDING IT ON A SPECIFIC DATE AND FORCING IT TO BE REAUTHORIZED IN ORDER TO CONTINUE.
Reporting On McMahon’s Comments On Sunsetting Social Security, WFSB Noted That A Sunset Provision “Usually Means That It Ends At Some Point.” In September 2012, WFSB, reporting on McMahon’s comments on sunsetting Social Security, noted that a sunset provision “usually means that it ends at some point.” [WFSB, 9/27/12]
Reporting On McMahon’s Comments On Sunsetting Social Security, The New Haven Register Noted That To Sunset Legislation Means To End It On A Specific Date And Force It To Be Reauthorized In Order To Continue. In September 2012, the New Haven Register, reporting on McMahon’s comments on sunsetting Social Security noted that“to sunset legislation means it ends at a specific date and to continue such a program, it would need to be reauthorized.” [New Haven Register, 9/27/12]
MCMAHON SAID SHE WAS OPEN TO ENDING MEDICARE’S GUARANTEED BENEFIT, JUST LIKE ROMNEY AND RYAN
McMahon Said She Would Be Open To Privatizing Medicare, Possibly With A Voucher Program, A Plan Supported By Mitt Romney’s Running Mate, Paul Ryan. In September 2012, WFSB reported that McMahon “said she would be willing to look at privatizing Medicare, possibly with a voucher system, a plan supported by Mitt Romney’s running mate, Paul Ryan.” [WFSB, 9/27/12]
Mitt Romney Said His Plan For Medicare Was “The Same” As Paul Ryan’s. “In an interview with ABC Green Bay affiliate WBAY, GOP presumed presidential candidate Mitt Romney says, ‘Actually, Paul Ryan and my plan for Medicare is the same. If not identical, it’s probably close to identical.’” [ABC News, 8/16/12]
AARP: Paul Ryan Budget’s Medicare Voucher Plan Removes Medicare’s Promise of Secure Health Coverage. “On Medicare: “By creating a ‘premium support’ system for future Medicare beneficiaries, the proposal will increase costs for beneficiaries while removing Medicare’s promise of secure health coverage—a guarantee that future seniors have contributed to through a lifetime of hard work.” [AARP, 4/7/11] | http://blog.ctnews.com/kantrowitz/2012/10/06/linda-mcmahon%E2%80%99s-dangerous-plans-could-end-social-security-and-medicare/ | 1,475 |
The Wilton boys lacrosse team is the final winner this school year of the Overtime FCIAC Team of the Week award.
The Warriors will receive T-shirts courtesy of BlueStreak Sports Training, Garden Catering, Karl Chevrolet, Innovative Health & Rehabilitation, Chelsea Piers, New Balance of New Canaan and the Stamford Advocate.
In addition, the Warriors’ Chris Nugent was inadvertently omitted as a finalist for the BlueStreak-Overtime FCIAC Spring Male Player of the Year. The vote begins on Sunday.
We will resume the Team of the Week award in September.
A week from Sunday, we will hold the final votes, for the Overtime Spring Coach and Team of the Year.
(Become a fan of the Overtime blog Facebook page by clicking on the Facebook symbol at the bottom of this post. Follow me on Twitter by clicking on the Twitter symbol at the bottom of this post.) | http://blog.ctnews.com/overtime/2012/06/06/wilton-boys-lacrosse-team-overtime-team-of-week-nugent-male-player-of-year-finalist/ | 195 |
New Format and Chefs’ Takes — Star Commentary by Maria Russo in Food Network Star, May 16, 2012
- Comments (250)
The eighth season of Food Network Star may have only just begun, but it is already off to an intense start. We know that you all had a lot to say about the jam-packed premiere episode, particularly in regards to the new style of Star and this season’s opponents. Fans Tweeted @FoodNetwork, left messages on our Facebook page and commented on our Star Talk blog to share initial reactions to and thoughts on the premiere.
During our premiere Twitter party, many fans told us they're pleased with the new mentoring aspect of the show and are excited to see how it impacts the competition, while others simply voiced their excitement about an extra Mother's Day present: two hours of Star!
Virginia stopped by the blog to comment: "I like the new format and agree with the several people who commented on the benefit of additional 'one-on-one' time with the mentors. It's also interesting and entertaining to see Alton, Bobby and Giada in these roles.”
Iaini70119 added that “it will be interesting to see the differences in the mentors’ coaching styles.”
The mentors themselves joined the Twitter party during Sunday night’s episode, each supporting his or her team and engaging in a little friendly competition:
Giada used Twitter to explain to fans her camera-focused Star strategy:
Now that you’ve seen the finalists in action and have gotten to know the mentors’ coaching styles, how do you think the remaining 14 contestants will fare in the competition? Which finalist can attain that coveted balance of over-the-top cooking chops and dynamic camera presence? Tell us in the comments below, join the #Star conversation on Twitter and Facebook, and cast your Fan Vote up to 10 times per day. | http://blog.foodnetwork.com/star-talk/2012/05/16/new-format-early-favorites-and-chefs-takes-star-commentary/comment-page-9/ | 395 |
It is so much fun that everyone decided to spread things out over two days.
Two dual meets dominated the Section II wrestling weekend starting tonight as the Shenendehowa and Columbia duals both start tonight and spill over into Saturday.
The best wrestling of either tournament is concentrated in rounds four and six in Clifton Park where Shenendehowa will face Section VIII’s Wantagh (Saturday around 11:15 a.m.) and then Section IX’s Warwick (Saturday around 2:45 p.m.).
Also participating in the Shen tournament are: Half Hallow Hills West (Section XI), Waverly (Section IV), Fairport (Section V), Plainedge (Section VIII), and Monsignor Farrell (CHSAA).
The Columbia dual meet starts tonight as well and features mostly Section II talent.
The Saratoga and Shenendehowa ice hockey teams are part of the 11th annual Don Kauth Memorial tournament this weekend. The tournament is named for the Saratoga father who was killed in the Sept. 11 terror attacks.
Tonight, Saratoga plays Mamaroneck at home, while Shen hosts St. Joe’s. The teams switch and both second round games are Saturday afternoon at Weibel. | http://blog.timesunion.com/sidelines/2011/12/09/columbia-shenendehowa-duals-dominate-wrestling-weekend-while-don-kauth-tourney-on-the-ice/ | 259 |
More than 300 wounded, ill and injured Marines are currently competing in seven Paralympic sports at the 2nd Annual Marine Corps Trials in Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The Marines are hunting for 50 of their best to represent them at the Warrior Games in Colorado Springs later this year.
The Corps won the Games for the last two years, beating out all other branches of the service.
“This year it’ll be no different,” said Col. Jay Krail, Executive Officer of Wounded Warrior Regiment. “The first year we didn’t even bring a complete team and we won. Now there’s more interest, and with more interest comes better athletes.
Krail realized right away the benefit of holding trials, and participation doubled this year.
“With trials we’re not only able to build our best team possible,” he said, “We’re also able to provide eight days of clinic where athletes get instruction from world-class coaches.”
The Marines even invited veteran athletes from seven allied countries to challenge them even more.
“We fight together and we recover together,” said Michael Wieger, Germany team coach. “It’s good to get the experience from other countries, because things they are doing to recover are things we can do back home in Germany.”
Wieger was also impressed by the presence of USO San Diego, with more than 50 hard-working volunteers handing out protein bars, water, energy drinks and other snacks at each competition venue.
“Americans do it right. Troops are finding support by their families, by the communities, and volunteers who are doing this mostly on their own expense. That is a real good morale-booster. There are other countries who sure can learn from it.”
The trials conclude tomorrow, and the All-Marine team should be finalized and announced within a week. For results, information and photos, follow the Wounded Warrior Regiment on Facebook. - Joseph A. Lee, USO Staff Writer | http://blog.uso.org/2012/02/21/marine-corps-trials-build-more-than-just-a-team/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=104f7cb3e5 | 430 |
ATHENS – It has been an emotional couple of days for Ronald Jenkins and his wife Phyleshia. But they have a good attitude about it.
Of dropping off his son Jordan Jenkins at UGA this week and leaving him behind to try to fulfill a dream, Ronald Jenkins quipped, “Well, our grocery bill will be considerably less.”
That’s true. But the reality is, it is a watershed moment for players and parents when these kids start their college football careers. It’s exciting and nerve-racking for both. And the process the Jenkins are going through is being repeated about 14 times over early this week. That’s how many new Bulldogs are showing up to begin classes by Friday and off-season workouts sometime next week.
Three of Georgia’s 19 signees enrolled in January and have been with the team for six months now. Two others — defensive tackle John Atkins and defensive end Leonard Floyd — are still working out their academic requirements, as detailed HERE on the AJC Recruiting Blog.
But 14 others were being dropped off Monday and Tuesday, moving into the East Campus Village dormitory and going through orientation this week.
These, as they say, are interesting times.
“It’s a special experience,” said Ronald Jenkins, whose son was considered one of the top recruits in Georgia for 2012. “You think about back in the day when they were young and watching them play. To finally get to where they’re playing on a college scholarship and playing for a big-time program is humbling.”
The Jenkins have been staying at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education since Monday. They’ll drive back to Harris County on Wednesday as empty-nesters. Their daughter Aysha left for Albany State last year.
Much will be on their minds on the way home.
“You wonder about how he adapts to the college life and being independent, going to classes and working hard on the football field and how he combines all that together,” said Jenkins, who met his wife at the University of Washington. “It’s a big phase for kids, to step out there and start going to classes and getting into the workout program and stuff like that.
“My thing is I just want him to stay focused and work hard. Like I’ve always told him, ‘when you’re doing well and you know you haven’t done your best, then you know you still have work to do. You don’t ever allow an opportunity in life to have regrets because you feel you could have done better in something because you got content.’ Being in the SEC, there’s some tough competition out there and you have to work hard for anything you want.”
There’s another transition signees must make. Until now, they’ve been wooed and charmed by college coaches. Their future encounters will be mostly of the in-your-face variety.
“We’ve talked about that,” Ronald Jenkins said. “He prefers to have somebody in his face pushing him. If he does it right, he’ll be fine. If he doesn’t do it right, he’ll get chewed. That’s the way he prefers to be coached, to tell you the truth.”
Starting tomorrow, it will be up to Jordan Jenkins and 13 others to deal with the transition. Ronald Jenkins believes his son is up for it.
“It seems like he’s looking forward to it,” he said. “I haven’t seen anything but smiles on his face. He’s happy to be here.”
– Chip Towers, The UGA Blog | http://blogs.ajc.com/uga-sports-blog/2012/06/05/new-bulldogs-prepare-to-make-adjustment-college-football-life/?cp=1 | 798 |
Kicking off Game Two discussion early 'cause we've already got a bunch of news.
The Detroit Red Wings will remain without the services of defenseman Brian Rafalski, out with an upper-body injury. He also missed Game One. It looks like Chris Chelios will continue to play on the third defensive pairing but the Red Wings pretty much rotated five defensemen in the first game of the series anyway so he'll likely see limited use.
Mike Brown will be back in the Anaheim Ducks lineup, having escaped without a suspension after his hit on Jiri Hudler in Game One. I said after the game that I didn't expect him to be suspended but it's still frustrating to see the NHL be so inconsistent on the matter.
Anaheim head coach Randy Carlyle says the Brown hit was clean and that it was the Red Wings who were playing dirty. He says that Niklas Kronwall should have been suspended for a hit on Ryan Carter but conveniently failed to produce video evidence of the infraction. Of course, I can't imagine how hard Kronwall must have hit Carter for Carlyle to think it was suspension-worthy but Brown's hit wasn't.
Oh, yeah, a little-known NHL rule says only the big, strong Canadian boys are allowed to hit, so it's automatically an offense if Kronwall kicks some ass.
Game Two, Sunday afternoon, NBC. Kill me now. | http://blogs.detroithockey.net/misconduct/2009/05/02/rafalski-rests-brown-back-carlyle-complaining.php | 287 |
RILEY OPENS DOOR TO COACHING HEAT AGAIN: Finally, some big news involving a local team executive not having to do with asking if a player's mom was a prostitute! Heat president Pat Riley said today he'll do whatever it takes to make Miami a champion again -- and did not rule out the possibility that could mean him coaching again. Doesn't mean it's likely. But the possibility is out there now. Here is my column on this, online now and shipping to Tuesday's paper. Meantime take a dip in our poll and tell Riley what you think. And tell us why.
DOLPHINS POLL. BECAUSE SPARANO SAYS THE SEASON HAS STARTED: I know it's only May, and barely that. But Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said that to him the weekend rookie camp just ended is the official start of preparation for the 2010 season. So there you have it. Time for an early gauge of what Dolfans are thinking about the coming season. I look at seemingly soft schedule and can easily envision 10 wins. Others are not so optimistic. For example, ESPN's updated, post-draft Power Rankings have Miami slotted an uninspiring 22nd, well back of both the Jets (8th) and Patriots (9th). Where do your expectations fall and why? Remember, it's not what you are hoping for, but what you realistically envision.
DEZ BRYANT'S MOM CONTINUES TO EMBARRASS HERSELF: Angela Bryant is demanding an apology now from Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland over his "was your mom a prostitute" question -- as if his earlier public apology was not all-encompassing enough for her. Well it now is revealed Angela's druggy past was not so much in the past after all. She was arrested in April 2009 for selling crack cocaine to undercover informants and found guilty in August and sentenced to 10 years' probabation. She's lucky she isn't back in prison. Two thoughts here. One, Ireland and the Dolphins have apologized enough. Period. Two, Dez should pay his mother to shut the [bleep] up and not be seen in public. She is an embarrassment. The "was your mom a prostitute" question should be more insulting to prostitutes than to her.
MOMENTUM FOR MAYWEATHER-PACQUIAO: Am told Floyd Mayweather Jr. (pictured) dominated Shane Mosley Saturday night (I missed it; was at a wedding). Now the ultimate bout -- Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquia -- is gaining momentum and should happen. I'm always waiting for the return of the heavyweight division to rescue boxing, but who needs it? I think Mayweather-Pacquiao will set PPV records and remind everyone that the Sweet Science still is embedded in our national psyche in a way that mixed martial arts isn't, and won't be.
ON ARIZONA IMMIGRATION LAW: I'm conservative on illegal immigration. Think it's a big problem and a drain on America's economy. Think we should protect our borders. But even from that vantage, I think Arizona's controversial new anti-immigration law is shockingly over-the-top and must be rescinded. It is racial profiling at its worst. I'm glad to see some of the Diamondbacks' six Latino players speaking out. I think sports can wield some leverage here in helping to nudge Arizona forward into the 21st Century.
IT'S NOW THE EX-FED EX ORANGE BOWL: SportsBusiness Journal reporting today (click here) that FedEx is ending its 21-year run as title sponsor of Miami's Orange Bowl Classic, the longest such partnership of any BCS bowl game. The good news? It's now the splendidly unadorned Orange Bowl Classic, at least temporarily. The bad news? Naming rights are for sale and some new corporate sponsor will jump in soon.
OH, CANADA? NO, CANADA!: Click here for the bizarre tale of Canadian youth-hockey coaches who thought it was roaring funny to give beer to 9- and 10-year-old players after a game. I think this is an outrage. What a waste of perfectly good beer.
FAREWELL, JEFF FEAGLES: Venerable ex-Miami Hurricane finally retires after 22 NFL years. Nobody punted more times (1,713) for more yards. He leaves third in all-time in games played (352). Only George Blanda and kickers Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson played more seasons. Hall of Fame? Doubt it very much. Only two Pro Bowls for Feagles (pitcured). Plus he's a punter! But what a remarkable career. His rookie season was 1988. Recent Dolphins' top draftee Jared Odrick was then not yet 1 and literally learning to crawl.
THE LIST: MOST NO. 1 RECORDS: The top 10 music artists ranked by most No. 1 singles on Billboard pop music charts. Asterisks indicate artists whose music would be found on my iPod:
18 Mariah Carey
17 Elvis Presley*
13 Michael Jackson*
11 Whitney Houston
10 Stevie Wonder*
10 Janet Jackson
9 Bee Gees*
9 Elton John* | http://blogs.herald.com/random_evidence/youth-sports/ | 1,093 |
NFL, South Florida Super Bowl XLIV Host Committee and Dolphin Stadium officials officially unveiled the logos for next year’s Super Bowl and Pro Bowl on Wednesday.
They also announced the “Your Seat, Your Price” program that allows Dolphins season ticket holders to lock in the same seats they have during the season for the 2010 Pro Bowl at the same regular season price. Those tickets are to go on sale in July. Regular Pro Bowl subscribers (yes, apparently there are people who buy tickets to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii every year) also get priority. After that, the general public can buy tickets, starting in October, but anyone seeking tickets should register their interest now at miamidolphins.com/2010ProBowl.
Tickets for the general public are only expected to be slightly more than the Dolphins regular season price with most seats selling for less than $100, NFL Senior Vice President of Special Events Frank Supovitz said. The idea, he said, is to try to attract as many fans as possible, who might otherwise be shut out from the Super Bowl.
“There will be some people who will be lucky enough to score tickets to both, but by and large, it will be two different audiences,” said Supovitz, who was sporting a Super Bowl XLI tie honoring the last Super Bowl in South Florida in 2007. “The Super Bowl is a higher priced ticket, the Pro Bowl really is meant to be open to everyone, the whole idea was to bring more fans to the Pro Bowl and more fans to the stadium than we’ve ever been able to do.”
Next year, the Pro Bowl is being held Jan. 31 at Dolphin Stadium – marking the first time it’s being held outside of Hawaii since 1979 – a week before the Super Bowl, which we be played at the Miami Gardens venue on Feb. 7. The game will move back to Hawaii in 2011 and 2012. The game is expected to have a regular presence in Hawaii, but also could move to other cities in the continental United States, Supovitz said.
Pairing the two games together and holding the Pro Bowl before the Super Bowl, Supovitz said, will provide the community with a longer period of football and festivities.
“Our hope is to capture the fervor and the passion of the football fan, while it’s still at its height,” Supovitz said.
He said the Super Bowl attracts as many as 150,000 visitors who pump $350 million to $500 million into the host community’s economy. He said he does not know the economic impact of the Pro Bowl, but it is expected to draw more local fans.
Other changes planned for next year’s events include an area called “NFL Plaza,” which will replace the NFL Experience theme park area just next year. The Plaza will be open on Pro Bowl Sunday and will serve as a gathering area for activities, merchandise sales and stadium tours. Supovitz said with the Super Bowl last in South Florida in 2007, the league wanted to provide different types of activities. Next year will be South Florida’s record-breaking 10th time hosting the Super Bowl.
The NFL Flag National Championship will be moved to January and South Florida – from November at DisneyWorld -- during the festivities with the winners among the 9- to 14-year-old players being honored on the field during the Pro Bowl. The region will also host Super Bowl Saturday Night – an event started in Arizona two years ago. The free night of football, fireworks and music is expected to attract tens of thousands of fans. The location has not yet been announced.
South Florida is competing against New Orleans and Arizona to host the 2013 Super Bowl. NFL owners will make a decision later this month.
But don’t expect a Super Bowl in London anytime soon, despite a number of reports. Supovitz said conversations have taken place with London officials about the bidding process, but nothing more.
“That’s where discussions began and ended,” he said. “We’ve had discussions with them. Nobody’s set any timetable. Nobody’s set any objectives to bring a game there anytime in a specific year. There’s been a lot reported there has been. None of those conversations have happened.”
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> Discuss this entry | http://blogs.trb.com/sports/custom/business/blog/2009/05/ | 939 |
Not the Front Page: Telesco learned well from Polian By Scott Kaplan 3:06 p.m.Jan. 10, 2013 Team building!Tom Telesco, the Chargers' new general manager, took to the podium earlier this week, and the key phrase he used was "TEAM building."Telesco went on to explain that everything he knows about how to build a team, he learned from his mentor Bill Polian.Polian has known Telesco since his high school days in Buffalo, where Tom grew up with Bill’s sons. When Telesco decided to get into scouting, it was Polian who hired him in Carolina, then took him for the ride to Indy.During that time, Telesco was getting his Ph.D. in football from one of the original "football guys."To understand what Telesco meant about "team building," we went to the source: Bill Polian.Bill, we asked, what did Telesco mean when he used this phrase?Polian then explained why the Chargers hired Telesco, because he will be the anti-A.J. Smith.According to Polian, the general manager must set a tone within the organization of communication and respect. Polian described how the GM must work hand in hand with the head coach building the roster. The GM need not dictate who is in or out, rather consult with the coach as to who the coach needs or wants.Perhaps, had A.J. been a better student of Bill’s, and he had the chance to be that in Buffalo, he might have consulted with the coach about decisions on key players, and many of them might still be wearing a Chargers uniform.On the communication front, Polian went on to describe an open-door policy in which players, coaches, trainers and even ball boys, could stop by and talk to the GM.That didn’t happen with the prior regime, as described by Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers last week, when he said he had virtually zero relationship with A.J.Point is, this young man, Tom Telesco, will take the Chargers organization, based on who he learned from, and make everyone within it feel like they have ownership, whereas we know how the last GM ruled.This phrase "team building" is likely what convinced Chargers President Dean Spanos to hire Telesco. Spanos knew there was a lack of organizational unity."This job isn’t just about picking players," Spanos said. "How do you make it all work? How do you unify the team? I don’t think we had that.”You didn’t have that Dean, but you have it now! | http://bolttalk.com/threads/team-building-stupid.27684/ | 558 |
Everett’s John Montelus pointed in right direction
This story is from BostonGlobe.com, the only place for complete digital access to the Globe.
EVERETT — Thirteen-year-old John Montelus looked into the mirror and saw someone who was lost. His grades were the type that tempt kids to intercept the mail when the report card comes home. He was immature. He was the only child of a single parent growing up in Everett. And because of his weight, he was not allowed to play football.
Mike Milo, an assistant since coach John DiBiaso took over the Everett High football program in 1992, looked at the 13-year-old Montelus and saw a lot of the same things Montelus saw in himself. But Milo, in the most caring way possible, was shallow.
He ignored the goofiness. He ignored the troubling childhood. And what he saw was a 6-foot-2-inch, 175-pound Gumby-like frame on a kid who lived off cheeseburgers, yet still had a lot more growing to do.
“Coach Milo said I was going to be good,” Montelus said. “He promised me. Said I was going to be real good, get a scholarship and everything. He said, ‘If you really push yourself, you can be like this, or be like that.’
“Look at me now.”
In three years as an offensive tackle for Everett, Montelus, who just turned 17, has never allowed a sack, according team coaches. He is projected as a guard in college and Rivals.com rates him as the No. 1 prospect at the position in the country. He has protected the most prolific quarterback in Massachusetts high school history (Jonathan DiBiaso). And he has collected stacks of scholarship offers from some of the best Division 1 college programs.
He finally settled on No. 1-ranked Notre Dame.
“Basically,” Montelus said, “there are things you never thought you were going to be.”
Fitting the mold
John DiBiaso makes a habit of going to the middle school each year and give his usual speech. He looks for kids he could envision suiting up in a Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium. These potential athletes are reminded of the Everett football tradition as they consider their options before high school. He emphasizes that the football team needs these kids.
And then there are the kids who need football.
Montelus, who had been raised by his mother, Eldrige Fabre, fit the mold of the latter.
“I met one of John’s teachers,” DiBiaso said. “They brought me up to him and said, ‘Here’s a kid that could use playing football. It would be good for him.’
“I talked to him. That fall he showed up. The rest was history.”
Montelus and his mother don’t have much of a family, but they have always stuck together. Milo said Montelus’s father now lives in Canada and John visits him infrequently.
“The difference in this story from the Michael Oher story is the mother abandoned [Oher],” DiBiaso said. “John’s mother has been there for him. She’s the most important person in his life.”
Because of his self-described “childhood chunkiness,” Montelus was not allowed to play football, with his weight well over the limit that Pop Warner leagues have for safety reasons.
Montelus lost weight before high school and was sent to the freshman team and told to be an offensive lineman. He went to some practices, but didn’t play much.
“My freshman year I didn’t listen to nothing,” he said.
“We used to push him around on that team,” said Everett senior Gilly DeSouza.
But Milo had been around long enough to know talent was being wasted. So he made the call to the only person that could help.
“I called his mother up,” Milo said. He recounts the conversation:
“He’s got to eat more,” Milo told her.
“Why does he got to eat more?”
“You want him to go to college for free?”
“Well then,” Milo said. “He’s got to eat more.”
By the time his sophomore season came around, Montelus had become a regular at the gym and a stranger at McDonald’s. He was eating nothing but his mom’s groceries (protein, protein, protein) and following Milo’s workout orders. Montelus asked his mother if she needed him to get a job in the offseason, but she assured him she would take care of the bills.
Montelus was instantly transformed.
He pushed his weight up to about 255 — an 80-pound gain in less than 12 months — and won the starting left tackle job in the fall. “Big John” finally earned his nickname.
“We do a lot of work in the offseason,” Milo said. “So we sat down with him and let him know what he could be if he wants to be something. You can’t teach height. That’s all they look for now. I’ve had guys that can drive people 50 yards off the ball but if you’re not 6-5 now they don’t even look at you.”
After his sophomore year, Montelus had four Division 1 scholarship offers.
“I was like, ‘I’m going to try to go even harder my junior year and get more,’ ” he said.Continued... | http://boston.com/sports/schools/football/2012/11/27/everett-john-montelus-transformed-himself-into-division-college-football-player/wfsJ7SB55yHCN4KTMvFoSP/story.html | 1,260 |
The second-seeded Brainerd Warriors will host the No. 7 Monticello-Annandale-Maple Lake Moose in the quarterfinals of the Section 8-2A tournament at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Brainerd Area Civic Center.
The Moose (11-14-1) advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating No. 10 Becker-Big Lake 7-1 in a play-in game Saturday. Reese Carstens and Colton Jones each scored two goals for the Moose, who broke open a 2-1 game with a 5-goal final period. Drew Bockman added a goal and two assists and Darien Jones stopped eight shots for the Moose.
Brainerd (19-5-0) beat the Moose 6-2 Jan. 5 in the regular season at Monticello. The teams have played four times in all, with Brainerd winning all four times.
The Warriors, who have won four straight games, are led in scoring by Cole Smith and Logan Rivard with 39 points apiece. Smith has scored 21 goals and collected 18 assists; Rivard has 19 goals and 20 assists.
Jake Ellingson follows with 36 points (17-19) and Chris Pohlkamp has contributed 28 points (10-18).
Goalie Kyle Helmberger has compiled a 17-5-0 record. In 1,088.35 minutes, he has a 2.34 goals-against average and .907 save percentage.
Colton Jones leads the Moose in scoring with 11 goals and 12 assists. Robbie Stromme has added 15 goals and 7 assists and Carstens 10 and 9.
In net, Darien Jones has an 8-12-1 record. In 23 games, he has a 3.36 goals-against average and .877 save percentage. Backups Austin LeBrun and Nathan Isaacson have each played in two games. | http://brainerddispatch.com/sports/2013-02-18/boys-hockey-warriors-host-moose-section-quarterfinals | 392 |
Fixture: Feb 18th vs Llandaff North (A)
Llandaff North RFC - Location:-
42 Radyr Road
T: 029 2056 1803
The Sports Club travelled to Llandaff North hoping to continue their in-form, post Christmas playing style. And hoping to improve on the hard fought 25-25 result when they played Llandaff North in October.
They took the field with a side quite capable of doing that, but could not have had a worse start when returning centre Michael ‘The Mountie’ John had his clearance kick charged down by the home side’s center, Chris Gordon, who easily touched down but outside half Chris Burke failed with the conversion attempt. Normally this sort of poor start would galvanise a side and give them a ‘wake-up’ call, but it was not the case and the Sports conceded another easy try taking the lead to 10-0 after just 15 minutes.
As the Sports began to exert some pressure on the home defence a high tackle by Llandaff’s center Tuinasakea earned him the first yellow card of the match. The penalty awarded was
converted by Josh Davies to reduce the lead. Just before half time it was another yellow card, this time for number 8 player/coach Gavin Lucas. He was a key player in the Llandaff pack as he had been when at the Bandstand field and this was an opportunity for the visitors to get back into the game.
With the start of the second half came a replacement for the Sports when Jay Dent had to leave the field to be replaced by player/coach Rhys Dowling. No sooner had he taken the field and he was judged to have been over robust in rucking at the loose and he saw ‘yellow’ as well.
The penalty through Chris Burke took the lead to 13-3. It was a scrappy, untidy game and when prop Mike Fussey fouled Nathan Townley off the ball his yellow card reduced Llandaff to 12 men for a few moments. Although the Sports made good effort to pressurise the Llandaff line their defence was good and overall had 70% of the territory and 50% of possession, which was enough to give them greater opportunities to capitalise on.
Llandaff then produced a strong driving maul and ruck it was their scrum half John Osborne who was at hand to finish the move off with a well taken try that Burke converted. Although the disruption of not playing for a few weeks is obvious, the Sports will be disappointed at this performance and look to improve before they travel away to Abecwmboi on March 3rd.
The Sports host a re-union Club Dinner at 7pm on March 16th at the Heronston Hotel with Graham Price as guest speaker and invite past payers to contact any of the committee if they want to join them. | http://bridgendsportsrfc.com/fixture/258/ | 603 |
Campbell Steps Up after Marchand Leaves Game
When Brad Marchand left the game after colliding with the boards, Gregory Campbell stepped up to help the B's get the win
Dennis Seidenberg, for one, missed two games with a lower-body injury in January that he said he “definitely” could have been playing with if it was playoff time.
“Well you have to be [cautious] - I mean, it’s a short season with a lot of games in a short period of time, so you have to be smart about your little problems that you have going on," he had said.
So when Saturday night's game in Toronto was nearing the 6:30 mark of the second period - with the B's up 1-0 over the Maple Leafs thanks to Chris Bourque's first goal in the spoked-B - and Brad Marchand took a tough slide into the boards, it was the cautious approach that ensued.
After a clean, hard faceoff win by Patrice Bergeron in the B's zone, the puck went right onto the stick of Tyler Seguin, who pushed the puck up ice to Marchand racing down the left wing. No. 63 then cut towards the net, collided with Leafs' defenseman Mike Komisarek, got caught on James Reimer' right skate and was catapulted into the boards.
The puck had ended up bouncing off of Seguin's skate and into the back of the net, but it was deemed "no goal," as the referee was the in the process of whistling the play dead following the incidental contact between Marchand and Reimer.
Marchand was slow to get up, and cradled himself to the bench - he ended up taking a couple of shifts and then went to the dressing room.
“Yeah, he was,” Julien told media following the game, when asked if Marchand had been cleared to play following the collision in the second period, since he went back onto the ice. “I’m actually the one that looked at the clock, there wasn’t much time left and I said, let’s just wait until the period ends and let’s just evaluate you there because he wanted to keep going and it wasn’t to the point where he couldn’t play in a pinch.”
But after evaluation, Coach Julien and the B's staff determined that Marchand's recovery was most important, and the winger did not return for the rest of the game.
“It was a cautionary move on our part and instead of making the situation worse, we said let’s pull him back,” said Coach Julien. “We don’t want to lose players for long-term injuries by pushing through a minor one and we hope that after he gets re-evaluated and things settle down, that he’ll be better quickly.”
“But like I said, we don’t want to lose players long-term and so sometimes we’re being over cautious.”
In Marchand's absence (amidst the already absent Shawn Thornton and Dan Paille), Chris Bourque momentarily filled in on the second line with Patrice Bergeron and Tyler Seguin - and then it was center Gregory Campbell who filled in on the wing.
"Yeah, what can you say, Marchy’s a tough guy to replace and I wasn’t trying to replace him. I was just trying to fill a void and help the team win," said Campbell sitting in his locker room stall at the ACC following the game. "To see Marchy hurt is not something – it’s not a good feeling for our team."
"We take pride in everybody being able to fill different roles in different spots and help the team win."
Campbell's season-high ice time had been 12:01 heading into Saturday night, and with the extra role asked of him, he ended the night with 14:21 in ice time, not to mention his contributions all over the ice, with two shots, two hits, one of the B's 22 blocked shots, and going 75-percent on the faceoff dot.
No. 11 was once again instrumental on the penalty kill Saturday, helping the B's kill off four penalties, especially at times early and late in the periods. He finished with 3:13 ice time on the PK, trailing only Zdeno Chara (3:46).
When Dennis Seidenberg was called for hooking wit 8:36 to go in the third period, Campbell first stickhandled with the puck in the right corner behind Reimer as time ticked off, and then later in the penalty kill, made a diving sweep to clear the puck - just two of the moments that Coach Julien noticed throughout the game.
"He played a really solid game for us and that’s what Gregory is capable of doing," said Coach Julien following the game. "He’s a very versatile player, he can play center, he can play the wing, he’ll block shots, he’ll do whatever it takes, and the more I finally get him in those situations, when you’re asking him to step up, he does a really good job."
The Bruins have the day off Sunday, but will return to the ice on Monday at Ristuccia at 10:30 a.m. - follow live updates from practice on Twitter @NHLBruins ^CS, as we'll hopefully have an update on Marchand's condition. | http://bruins.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=653878&cmpid=rss-switaj | 1,171 |
The National Track Championships – Ben Abels
What an honour to be selected as part of the Victorian team for the National Track Championships. We flew out of Melbourne bound for Adelaide on January 24. We had two days of training and two days to get used to the heat. The racing started on Australia Day. Thank goodness for the ice baths and the ice vests! Our accommodation was luxurious and the venue was only a 20 minute ride away; although we were driven most of the time as it really was too hot – 35⁰.
My first race was the kilo and there I was sitting in the pitts, not far from Shane Perkins and Jason Niblet. There I was ready to ride against some of the best men in the world: the new kid on the block and the youngest. I wasn’t going to be intimidated! It was my turn to ride the kilo. I had to stay calm. Out I went and my time: 1:05.400. Not bad considering it wasn’t my favourite event. I came in 6th overall. I could do this.
The next day was the Flying 200. Here I had to race against Perko, Nibo and The Bird Man (Alex Bird), amongst others. Nervous – I think so! But I had Carl there talking through the race plan. I made the cut off and was into the elimination sprint. My rival thought he could intimidate me, but I managed to get into the Quarter Finals. Wow – I had made the Quarter Finals. But I wasn’t allowed to get too far ahead of myself. However, I had already achieved more than I thought I could possibly do. Unfortunately I have to report that experience won over youth and exuberance. I lost in the quartes to the eventual Australian Champion – Alex Bird. Hey, but so did Perko!
What an experience. | http://brunswickcyclingclub.com/post/2012/02/the-national-track-championships-ben-abels/ | 389 |
Activity Expenditure Details
Calories burned with Rugby
700 calories per hour
Assuming a body weight of: 70 kg
This is equivalent to eating any of the lines of the following table.
|2.6||Grande Starbucks Caffe Latte - Made with whole milk||272|
|1||McDonald's Big Mac - With cheese||704|
|8.9||Glasses of wine (3.5 fl oz)||79|
|3.4||Cans of Coca-Cola||207|
Join Calorie Count - it's easy and free! | http://caloriecount.about.com/calories-burned-rugby-a434 | 122 |
Walk in the footsteps of UCF Knights and experience
the intense and competitive environment that has forged...
9 Conference Titles
11 NCAA Post-Season Appearances
Elite 8 in 2011
National Ranking as high as #6 in 2012
With U.S. National Team and professional expertise, Amanda Cromwell has her camp staff train campers as if you were part of this strong history and winning tradition. Currently she ranks among the top-25 winningest active coaches and top-30 all-time winningest coaches in NCAA history. Whether you are a forward, midfielder, defender or goalkeeper….BE READY for a training experience like never before! | http://centralfloridasocceracademy.com/index.php?topic=About%20Us&subtopic=Facilities&col=3 | 133 |
Hart to be sidelined four months after knee surgery
First baseman undergoes procedure after second opinion; Gamel to fill in
MILWAUKEE -- Brewers first baseman Corey Hart is expected to be sidelined four months after undergoing right knee surgery on Friday morning.
Dr. William Raasch, the team’s head physician, repaired a small tear to Hart’s meniscus and debrided the knee joint, removing damaged tissue to heal the surrounding tissue.
The same surgery had originally been scheduled for Tuesday, but was delayed while Hart sought a second opinion of his MRI scan from Vail, Colo.-based specialist Richard Steadman.
Hart has been a fast healer in the past, including last spring when he had March 6 surgery to repair two cartilage tears in the same knee and was ready by Opening Day. Hart was the right fielder then, but later moved to first base after Mat Gamel was lost in early May to a torn ACL. Now, it’s Gamel’s turn to replace an injured Hart, at least to begin the season.
If he misses four months, Hart, the Brewers’ longest-tenured player, would be game-ready by the end of May, giving him at least four months to re-establish his value entering free agency. He is in the final season of a three-year, $26.5 million contract and expressed interest last year in another extension, but the Brewers and agent Jeff Berry never progressed past informal talks.
Hart batted .270 in 2012, with 30 home runs and 83 RBIs in 149 games. After making the successful move to first base, he played through some swelling in his right knee that manager Ron Roenicke attributed to Hart’s aggressiveness in kneeling and diving for throws in the dirt.
The Brewers had penciled in Hart as their first baseman for the start of 2013 before he experienced renewed swelling in his knee during offseason workouts. Now that duty falls to Gamel, 27, a left-handed hitter who is back to 100 percent after his own right knee surgery last May.
Also on Friday, the Brewers announced they had agreed to terms on 2013 contracts with seven players already under club control: Catcher Martin Maldonado, pitchers Nick Bucci and Jim Henderson, infielders Scooter Gennett and Taylor Green and outfielders Khris Davis and Josh Prince. Twenty-five members of the team's full 40-man roster are now signed for next season. | http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130125&content_id=41166352&c_id=mil | 507 |
Pujols falls in Derby's second round
Cardinals first baseman ties for third place with 13 home runs
SAN FRANCISCO -- Albert Pujols got one reprieve, but not a second.
Pujols fell two home runs short of advancing to the finals of the State Farm Home Run Derby on Monday night, finishing with nine homers in the second round and 13 total. He tied for third place with Matt Holliday, while Vladimir Guerrero topped Alex Rios in the finals.
Pujols' last swing nearly left the field of play at AT&T Park, bouncing harmlessly on the warning track as his son, A.J., tried to urge it over the wall. It was the second time Pujols finished a round with a ball that came within a few feet of clearing the fence.
A.J. Pujols gave his father a fist-pump for good luck after out No. 9 of the second round, and dad drilled two long balls after that. He couldn't get the third and fourth he needed to advance, but the elder Pujols was grinning afterward just the same.
"I'm happy because my boy is happy," Pujols said. "I wanted to dedicate the trophy to him. ... I just wanted to do it for him. It means a lot to him. I knew it was going to be a big thing for him. I tried to do my best to do that, but I had a good time."
The slugger swung almost exclusively to left field, pulling 12 of his 13 homers. Only his first dinger went anywhere but left, flying to almost straightaway center.
That marked a change from Pujols' outstanding showing in the 2003 Derby at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. In that event, the slugger peppered balls to all fields, with plenty of dingers going to center and right field.
Home run totals were down early in the event, as a difficult sun made it tough for hitters to see the ball. As the shadows crossed the field, the conditions finally began to favor hitters, and the show was on. Pujols hit four homers in the first round, two in a Swingoff to advance to the second and nine in the third.
"He got a little tired," said Cardinals first-base coach Dave McKay, who pitched to Pujols. "Earlier, nobody could see the ball. It was real bright. Then you had the shadows. And it wasn't until later where you could see the ball, and then you started to see some home runs."
Pujols almost didn't survive the cut in the first round. He finished tied for fourth place out of eight with the Twins' Justin Morneau, advancing to a five-out Swingoff.
In previous years, Pujols would not have advanced due to the tiebreaker, which used to be based on a player's regular-season home runs to date. Morneau hit one long ball in his five outs, while Pujols went deep on his first two swings of the "extra inning."
Despite a long layoff before the second round, Pujols seemed to carry some momentum. He took three pitches, went deep on consecutive swings, took another pitch and smoked another long ball just inside the foul pole.
Then the jinx came, as announcer Chris Berman noted that Pujols had yet to make an out in the second round.
"That's like saying this guy has a no-hitter in the fifth inning," McKay said.
After the pronouncement, Pujols made outs on six straight swings before he finally regained his home run groove. He hit his fourth and fifth shots of the round, took his seventh out, and then absolutely destroyed a ball that landed foul but almost in the upper deck for the eighth out.
Two more homers after that gave Pujols seven for the round, but out No. 9 soon followed. A.J.'s good-luck fist-pump gave him a surge, but it wasn't enough.
"I had fun," Pujols said. "I'm glad that I got a second chance to be in the second round and to put on a show for the fans. I had the opportunity to advance, but it was pretty tough."
In the first round, Pujols took three straight pitches before his first swing, the home run to center. His next two swings resulted in solid line drives, but in the Home Run Derby, solid liners count as outs. Pujols' third out came on a ground ball before he hit a 423-foot shot into the left-field stands. A foul ball was followed by three more line-drive outs before Pujols hit No. 3, which soared 435 feet into the seats in left.
Out No. 8 came on a foul ball, and then Pujols hit his fourth and final home run to left field. He slapped a chopper to the left side for out No. 9 before coming ever so close on his last swing. Out No. 10 flew majestically but fell on the warning track just a couple of feet in front of the left-field wall.
Pujols' 15 homers traveled an average of 433 feet. His longest shot was a 469-footer in the Swingoff round that landed on a walkway in between the left-field bleachers and the stands down the third-base line.
Matthew Leach is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070709&content_id=2078803&vkey=allstar2007&fext=.jsp | 1,151 |
DENVER -- The sale of the Dodgers did not close Monday as agreed upon through the bankruptcy court, but the $2.15 billion deal with Guggenheim Baseball Management is not in jeopardy and is now expected to close on Tuesday, according to the Los Angeles Times.Based on a settlement with Major League Baseball and overseen by the bankruptcy court, owner Frank McCourt had until Monday to close the sale. McCourt also was required to pay his former wife, Jamie McCourt, a $131 million divorce settlement on Monday. Guggenheim also paid $150 million for a 50-percent interest in the property surrounding Chavez Ravine and the stadium parking lots, in a joint venture with McCourt. Mark Walter, CEO of Guggenheim Partners, will be the controlling partner; longtime sports executive Stan Kasten will be president and CEO; and former Lakers great Magic Johnson is a part-owner who will have a public role. The investor group includes Mandalay Entertainment chairman Peter Guber, Guggenheim Partners president Todd Boehly and Texas energy investor Bobby Patton.
Ken Gurnick is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120430&content_id=30073582&vkey=news_la&c_id=la | 248 |
Now that the ink is finally dry on the Milton Bradley contract, the Chicago Cubs are pondering the effect of Bradley’s presence in a lineup that badly needed his left handed bat. They’ll also get his right handed bat, as Bradley is a switch hitter, providing yet more flexibility for Manager Lou Piniella, who likes to mix and tweak his lineups up like a mad scientist. But what do we really want to know about Milton Bradley? Well here are the top 4 things we all want to know:
Chicago Cubs general manager Jim Hendry, left, introduces outfielder Milton Bradley as the newest member of the baseball team at a news conference Thursday, Jan. 8, 2008 in Chicago. Bradley, formally with the Texas Rangers, signed a three-year contract with the Cubs. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
1. How will Milton Bradley’s fiery, sometimes volatile temperment fit into the laid back Cub locker room? Bradley is definitely an emotional player. He plays with a fire that is certainly recognized and appreciated by his teammates, managers, coaches and front office management. Bradley gave fans a glimpse of his persona in a New York Times blog on his first All-Star appearance in 2008. He is also known for wildly volatile incidents, such as:
- Spitting gum at an umpire while with the Montreal Expos
- Dugout altercation with Cleveland Indians manager Eric Wedge
- Throwing a bag of baseballs onto the field at Dodger Stadium after an ejection
- Throwing a water bottle in the direction of a fan
- Three incidents of domestic violence complaints in 2005 (no arrests were made)
- Altercation with Los Angeles Dodgers teammate Jeff Kent
- Public altercations with Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane
- Attempt to confront Kansas City Royals announcer Ryan Lefebvre, whom Bradley felt had made derogatory remarks about him during a broadcast.
Whichever way the wind blows could blow the fine line between fiery and volatile for Milton Bradley. Either way, it makes for a most interesting upcoming 2009 season for the Cubs, manager Lou Piniella, fans, and media.
2. Bradley is an OBP machine. He knows how to get on base. His OBP for his career is .370. His last 6 seasons OBP: .436, .402, .370, .350, .362, .421. For those non-Sabremetricians, these numbers are completely off the charts. By comparison, in 2008, no Cub regular had a higher OPS and no Cub has a career OBP higher than Bradley. Furthermore, Bradley’s 80 walks would be second only to RF Kosuke Fukudome, who happened to play 24 more games than Bradley.
3. Bradley’s 3-year, $30M contract with the Cubs is the first multi-year contract he’s signed in his career. The Cubs are the 7th team in 10 seasons for Bradley. While the Cubs are the first team to offer a multi-year contract, Bradley picked the right season to blossom. There is concern that Bradley played only 20 games in the field last season, serving the Texas Rangers primarily as a DH, so Bradley will have to polish his fielding skills to prevent becoming a defensive liability in an otherwise strong Cub outfield.
4. To most who know and have played with Milton Bradley, he is seen as a positive influence in the locker room and on the field. Despite his altercations and volatility, most everyone that has been associated with Bradley had nothing but kind words for him.
In a recent Chicgo Sun-Times article discussing the Bradley signing by the Cubs, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington stated:
”He’s a class act,” Washington said Friday by phone. ”A winner. The Chicago Cubs really made a very good move in bringing him in. He will make their team better.”
The article continues with another glowing comment by a former manager, San Diego Padres Bud Black:
San Diego Padres manager Bud Black coached Bradley for only 42 games in 2007, and wish he’d had him the entire season.
”I love him,” Black said by phone. ”He was great for us. After we acquired him from Oakland [in June] he was an integral part of our club during the second half of the season. He was well received by the guys and the coaching staff.”
Lou Piniella might be the perfect manager for Milton Bradley to play for. Piniella is a veteran, highly respected manager who certainly can appreciate a fiery side of a player, especially one of Milton Bradley’s reputation and pedigree. Piniella will know exactly how to give Bradley slack and when to reign him in. This could be the season that Bradley puts it all together with yet another huge breakout season.
Cubs GM Jim Hendry has taken a huge and potentially risky step in signing Bradley to a lucrative deal. Remember, Hendry had to clear payroll by trading Cubs fan favorite and quite possibly, the 2008 Cubs team MVP Mark DeRosa as well as let closer Kerry Wood walk to the Indians in order to make the Bradley deal fit into the financial structure of the team. All this will be a distant memory if Bradley is able to have a monster full season of successful baseball, with an added new maturity level with no volatile incidents, bring a more balanced lineup for the Cubs, and be a player on what hopes to be a World Series title.
Then again, Milton Bradley could be the undoing of all that is good in Cubdom — whichever way the winds of fate blows, 2009 will be an interesting, eagerly anticipated baseball season on the North Side. | http://chicagosportsmaven.com/tag/jim-hendry/ | 1,178 |
Behind a healthy dose of rushing, featuring Russell Washington, the Harrells Christian Crusaders earned a 86-49 victory over Ravenscroft Friday, winning the conference championship.
In addition to Washington, who finished the game with a jaw-dropping 34 carries for 471 yards, Channing Kell (13-111) and Kelly Nelms (8 for 146 yards) led the way for the Crusader offense Friday.
Harrells opened the game with a 7 play, 99 yard drive that set the tone. Although the next 10 scoring drives were equal with each team scoring twice, the Ravens scored four consecutive times in the second quarter.
But the Crusaders fought back with only 2:33 left until the half, Harrells answered by scoring three more times before the half, leading 49-35.
Harrells dominated in the third to put the game out of reach. In the end, the Crusaders controlled the ball by possessing it for over 30 minutes; Ravenscroft’s offense had the ball for approximately 18 minutes.
On defense, Nelms led the way with 9 tackle. Other defensive leaders were: O.H. Rouse had 7; Kelly, 5; Fredrick Strickland, 5; Justin Smith, 4; Patrick Walker, 3; and Zack Carlton, 3. | http://clintonnc.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Harrells+wins+conference+championship%20&id=20632774 | 271 |
THE HIDDEN WEAPON OF YOUR 2010 A’S
Even though our road trip
finale at Fenway Park may have resembled pinball more than baseball–a combined 17
runs and 32 hits spewed off the bats of the A’s and Red Sox–I’m here today to
discuss the most unsung facet of our team:
In this new age of baseball,
where power hitting is declining and there’s a resurgence of dominant pitching,
it would appear that general managers like Billy
Beane are placing a higher premium on speed and defense. You may not see a remix of the Los Angeles
Dodgers, circa 1963, or the St. Louis Cardinals, circa 1985. However, over the course of a 162-game
schedule, we should not underestimate the value of great glove work.
It can and will make a profound impact on the final
standings. As I mentioned in an early
offseason blog, the acquisitions of Kevin Kouzmanoff and Coco Crisp signaled a
clear sign that Billy was making every effort to fortify our defense. And, judging by our current team fielding
percentage, not to mention the improved range of many of our fielders, this new
emphasis is paying big dividends and, perhaps, helps explain how we’re flying
home tonight tied for first place in the AL West.
After all, look around the
infield–Kouz has reeled off 24 consecutive errorless games and seems to make all the tough plays at third base,
especially with runners in scoring position and the game on the line. Cliff Pennington is a fielding machine at SS,
ranking third in the AL
in fielding percentage in his first full season with the team. Mark Ellis owns one of the best career
fielding percentages for a second baseman in major league history, and when he
was on the DL this year, Adam Rosales was nothing short of brilliant as his
replacement, joining Dustin Pedroia as the only two second basemen in the
majors yet to make an error this season.
And while Daric Barton has seven errors pinned to his name, that does
not tell the whole story. He’s made
spectacular plays daily–he may turn the 3-6-3 double play as well as anyone in
baseball–and has also been an ironman in starting every game this year. Then you look behind the plate and see
Suzuki. Enough said.
And while we would be exceptional
if Crisp was healthy and patrolling center field, manager Bob Geren still runs out one of the league’s better
defensive outfields in Rajai Davis in center, Ryan Sweeney in right, and Gabe
Gross in left. Sweeney was a human
highlight reel last year, and while he hasn’t been quite as spectacular this
season, he’s been every bit as effective with his polished play and rifle arm
in right. Davis simply outruns the baseball in center.
He also sports a very underrated throwing arm, not only in strength but
also in accuracy. And Gross has been a
revelation in left during the road trip.
His leaping over-the-fence robbery of a certain home run by Gerald Laird
in Detroit Saturday, and then his on-the-money throw that cut down Brennan
Boesch in the Tigers’ finale were both defensive gems. And when he replaced a woozy Sweeney midway
through yesterday’s finale, Gabe uncorked another beauty that cut down Darnell
McDonald trying to score from second on a single. In fact, he became only the 4th
outfielder in last 20 years to have an assist from two different OF positions in the
Add this kind of stellar
defense to an emerging young pitching staff that, despite a few bumps on the
road trip, must be considered one of the AL’s
best, and timely hitting may be all required for this club to stay in playoff
contention. Yes, playoff contention. | http://clubhouseconfidential.mlblogs.com/2010/06/04/the-hidden-weapon-of-your-2010-as/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=c7a699f16c | 855 |
With the Southland possibly realigning by purging its non-FB schools and taking 4 FB-playing schools that would move up from DII (see: http://collegesportsinfo/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1662&start=0#1195883516
), This might start a domino effect in DII.
First, the Oklahoma schools in the Lone Star Conference (plus Panhandle State from Heartland and NW Oklahoma from NAIA) band together and reform the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference. The Lone Star Conference, left with 6 schools (since 3 others would be moving up to DI), would see some new members come up from DIII - Trinity (TX), Sul Ross State, Hardin-Simmons, and Mary Hardin-Baylor. This brings the Lone Star Conference to 10 schools, and only 1 outside of Texas (Eastern New Mexico).
The Arkansas schools in the Gulf South Conference should also separate and reform the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference. The GSC, would be down to 7 members (as Delta State would also leave for DI), and only 4 playing football - this prevents the GSC from sponsoring football. Of course, the GSC could add North Greenville and UNC-Pembroke as football-only members (UNC-Pembroke would remain in the Peach Belt for other sports), while North Greenville joins Conference Carolinas in other sports.
In a few years, Newberry should move up to DI to join their rivals Presbyterian in the Big South.
Recently, the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference has been burned by 2 non-Michigan schools: Gannon and Mercyhurst, which are joining the PSAC (originally exclusive to those schools in the PSSHE). Given that, Ashland, Findlay, Lake Erie, and Tiffin might just burn the GLIAC as well to join the Great Lakes Valley Conference. If Missouri S&T does rejoin the MIAA (see http://collegesportsinfo/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1671&start=0#1197372172
) and Kentucky Wesleyan goes DI and the OVC (which would be a great idea since their men's hoops program is among the best in DII), and Rockhurst goes to the Heartland Conference to replace Panhandle State, the addition of the Ohio schools would bring the GLVC back to 14, and allow them to sponsor football, taking over the remainder of the Great Lakes Football Conference (I have Central State going to the SIAC to join other HBCUs: see http://collegesportsinfo/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1680
), and Indianapolis would also leave the GLIAC football conference, thus 7 schools would play in the GLVC for football:
Quincy (leaves NAIA and Mid-States FB Assoc.)
St. Joseph's (IN)
And then you have Colorado College moving up to DII and the RMAC. | http://collegesportsinfo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=1681&p=38388 | 624 |
PHILADELPHIA -- Before Wednesday night's game against the Dodgers, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel spent most of his nearly 20-minute dugout chat hitting on his struggling offense.
He noted his team doesn't hit for power nor has the speed needed to play small ball.
Both areas for the Phillies happened to be at the center of the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, which concluded Wednesday.
"We went out and got what we thought we needed to get early," Phillies director of scouting Marti Wolever said.
No, Larry Greene -- the No. 39 overall pick on Monday -- won't be coming to Citizens Bank Park anytime soon.
Nor will Roman Quinn, the speedy shortstop taken in the second round Tuesday along with third baseman Harold Martinez of Miami.
But the Phillies believe they've done quite well addressing needs for a team that has a myriad of aging infielders who have a lot of big league miles on them.
"We came to the conclusion that it has been over the last several years very difficult to find a position player," Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. "Our first three guys are position players that we think have some ceiling to, some power, some speed. Other than the first guy, guys who can play in the middle of the field, which is important."
Greene, a left-handed corner outfielder, hit .562 with 11 doubles, one triple, 19 home runs, 52 RBIs, 58 runs scored and 13 stolen bases this season for Berrien County High School in Nashville, Ga.
He's committed to Chipola Junior College in Marianna, Fla., but he sounded like he wanted to sign, and the Phillies seem confident a deal can be reached.
The Phillies wrapped up their Draft taking advantage of a deep pitching board.
In total, 11 of the Phillies' 20 picks on Day 3 were pitchers.
But the area of need entering this year's Draft was infielders, and the Phillies struck early.
"We're very happy," Wolever said. "We got some hitters. We got some offensive guys right out of the gate, some guys who can run and have power."
Deep in the Draft, Phillies fans saw a familiar name come off the board in Andrew Amaro, the nephew Amaro Jr.
The Phillies' 47th-round pick projects as a second baseman or center fielder and has been committed to Maryland for a year-and-a-half, where he'll likely attend, Ruben Amaro said.
"Speed's probably his tool," Amaro said.
Also, Kolya Stephenson, a right-handed pitcher and son of Phillies manager of video production Dan Stephenson, was taken with the final pick of the Draft.
Nate Mink is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110608&content_id=20215934&vkey=draftcentral2011 | 594 |
Millions Tune In to WWE
MEXICO CITY, Mexico, October 27, 2008 -- The network premieres of WWE Friday Night SmackDown and WWE RAW were a knock-out resulting in staggering TV audience numbers across Mexico. Both SmackDown and RAW experienced the highest audience for a television program in prime time on their respective stations from October 3 to 19, 2008.
The household rating for the Friday, October 3 debut of WWE SmackDown was 10.14%, which means that more than 1.2 million TV households were watching. The WWE SmackDown audience continued to grow with the Friday, October 10 show, delivering 10.18%, representing over 1.2 million TV households. This past Friday, October 17, the show delivered 9.31%, with over 1.1 million TV households tuning in. WWE Friday Night SmackDown airs weekly on Azteca 7 at 10pm 9 (CT).
On Sunday, October 5, the TV household rating for the premiere of WWE RAW was 8.15%, which means that more than one million TV households were watching. WWE Raw continued to deliver strong audience on Sunday, October 12, delivering 6.9%, representing over 868,000 TV households. This past Sunday, October 19, the show delivered 7.48%, with over 940,000 TV households tuning in. WWE Raw airs on Galavision 9 every Sunday at 5:30 PM (CT).
“We are ecstatic with the TV ratings for the debuts of WWE RAW and Friday Night SmackDown since we launched on open TV in Mexico,” stated Shane McMahon, Executive Vice President, Global Media for WWE. “I would like to thank our TV distribution partners, TV Azteca and Televisa. These partnerships allow WWE the maximum TV household penetration in Mexico. More importantly, I’d like to thank our fans in Mexico for consistently showing such enthusiasm and support for the WWE brand and our Superstars”.
Source: IBOPE AGB Mexico, Television Audience Measurement,MSS October 3-5, 2008; provided by MindShare Mexico.
About World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc.
Media Contacts: Julio Gil (Edelman) 55 5350 1523
Cynthea Galbraith (WWE) 416-847-8348
Investor Contact: Michael Weitz (WWE) 203-352-8642
Trademarks: All WWE programming, talent names, images, likenesses, slogans, wrestling moves, trademarks, copyrights and logos are the exclusive property of World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All other trademarks, logos and copyrights are the property of their respective owners.
Forward-Looking Statements: This news release contains forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which are subject to various risks and uncertainties. These risks and uncertainties include the conditions of the markets for live events, broadcast television, cable television, pay-per-view, Internet, feature films, entertainment, professional sports, and licensed merchandise; acceptance of the Company's brands, media and merchandise within those markets; uncertainties relating to litigation; risks associated with producing live events both domestically and internationally; uncertainties associated with international markets; risks relating to maintaining and renewing key agreements, including television distribution agreements; and other risks and factors set forth from time to time in Company filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results could differ materially from those currently expected or anticipated. In addition to these risks and uncertainties, our dividend is based on a number of factors, including our liquidity and historical and projected cash flow, strategic plan, our financial results and condition, contractual and legal restrictions on the payment of dividends and such other factors as our board of directors may consider relevant. | http://corporate.wwe.com/news/2008/2008_10_28.jsp | 774 |
As long as LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are on the floor (and maybe a ref), the Miami Heat always have a chance, a win voucher to redeem. Last night, they cashed that per diem again with an 83-80 series clinching win over the Bulls. Did the Heat win or did the Bulls lose? Both. Chicago took a 5 point lead into the fourth quarter and led 77-65 with three minutes and change to go. A flurry of points later, including a brow-raising 4-point play by Wade and a pull up three and jumpshot by James, the stunned Bulls were gulping air, trying to figure out where the game went. Derrick Rose’s play down the stretch didn’t help. His two turnovers, two blown shots, and a missed free throw in the waning minutes hastened the collapse.
The Heat got plenty of production from its Big Three. LeBron scored 28 to go along with 11, 6, 3 and 2 in a pair of Black/White-Red Nike LeBron 8 PS‘s. Wade stepped out in Black/Red Jordan Fly Wade‘s for 21, and Chris Bosh held down the interior with 20 and 11 in the Nike Air Max Hyperdunk 2010. The Bulls’ lack of scoring options got exposed yet again. Rose (adidas adiZero Rose 1.5) put in 25 on 9-29 shooting, and the only other Bulls in double figures were Luol Deng (Nike Air Max Fly By) with 18 and Ronnie Brewer (Nike Hyperdunk 2010) with 10.
With Chicago’s best record/MVP/Coach Of The Year season kaput, Bulls fans now have to wait indefinitely for revenge. As for Miami, the Heat open the 2011 NBA Finals Tuesday at home against the Mavericks. Do LeBron and Wade have special kicks coming for the big stage?
Ponder the possibilities as we check out scenes from the Game 5 Bulls meltdown/Heat comeback in NBA Kicks… | http://counterkicks.com/2011/05/nba-kicks-bulls-get-heat-stroke-and-die/ | 411 |
Not even an injured LeBron James could slow down the Miami Heat. Despite a 40-plus point playoff record from OKC guard Russell Westbrook, the Heat defeated the Thunder 104-98 now just one win away from winning their first championship in the LeBron James era. Westbrook played one of the most memorable NBA Finals performances with 43 points 7 rebounds and five assists but made a bad foul when he injured Mario Chalmers following a game deciding jump ball. After a three point basket from a limping James, Heat guard Mario Chalmers kept his team in the game with a total of 25 points. Miami play again at the American Airlines arena on Thursday night in what can be the day Lebron has been chasing for nine seasons.
In the MTV News Hip-Hop Finals Eminem continues to dominated in the now lopsided match against Rick Ross and his Maybach Music Group. From the gate Maybach has been dealt a severe blow from Shady and has yet to recover. Shady 2.0 now leads MMG with 94% of the votes.
Two months of non-stop hip-hop action between some of the biggest and the best rap crews out culminated in the ultimate showdown between Eminem's Shady 2.0 and Rick Ross' budding Maybach Music Group empire. It was a hard fought battle on the road to the MTV News Hip-Hop Finals but the two respective crews managed to sustain the wraths of powerhouse rap crews including Roc Nation, TDE, G.O.O.D. Music, Diplomats, G-Unit, Taylor Gang, Odd Future, Grand Hustle and more.
The NBA Playoffs is expected to be a historical one with the Finals kicking off tonight between the Miami Heat and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Commissioner David Stern couldn't ask for a better NBA Finals with the leagues MVP Lebron James and 2011-2012 scoring champ Kevin Durant. Outside of the two superstars, marquee guards Dwyane Wade and OKC's Russell Westbrook are expected to have a legendary match of their own. And lets not forget about the third tier players, Chris Bosh and the bearded James Harden.
We examined the past year in hip-hop and identified the game’s 16 most dominant crews. Then we split them up into our either our Swagged-Out Conference or Baller Conference and created match-ups where you the fan can determine the winner based on your, votes. So while the NBA sets forth to determine who the best ball team of the year is, RapFix is on a mission to find out who the best team in rap in our MTV News Hip-Hop Playoffs!
A championship team is only as good as its weakest link, so we analyzed talent, sales success and overall influence to determine our 16 rap teams and come up with the proper seeding.
It’s not up to us, it’s up to you guys. Fans get to vote in order to determine who hip-hop’s ultimate crew of 2012 will be?
Be sure to check back with our RapFix blog daily as we update you on who will walk away with the hip-hop crown. Game On!
Voting is open now for the finals! Be sure to use the hashtag #hiphopplayoffs | http://crazebase.com/music/miami-heat-defeat-okc-one-away-from-championship-shady-2-0-continues-to-dominate/ | 660 |
Notes: Casey realistic about bonus chance
SHANGHAI – Mathematically, Paul Casey is very much in the hunt for the Race to Dubai on the European Tour, at No. 5 in the standings with the top five players separated by about $350,000.
Realistically? That’s a different story.
Right when he was reaching the peak of his game, with three victories this year that took him to No. 3 in the world ranking, Casey sustained a rib injury that kept him out for three months. He returned last week in the World Match Play Championship, losing all three of his matches.
Asked if he had given up hope on the $1.5 million bonus, Casey smiled Tuesday and said, “No.”
“But I need to win an event,” he added. “And when you’re up against this quality of field and you’re not 100 percent, it’s difficult.”
Even so, he wasn’t complaining.
Casey felt good to simply get back into competition after not having played a full round since the British Open at Turnberry. He had been gone so long that when he arrived in Spain for the Match Play, he forgot to register.
He tore a muscle near his 10th rib on the right side, which required rest – lots of rest. Casey missed a World Golf Championship and the PGA Championship, and the entire FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour.
“I went six or seven weeks when I didn’t pick up a club at all,” Casey said. “But I regained my love of the game. I’m not qualified to do anything else. In a way, I relearned how to play. The week before Match Play, I was enjoying going to the golf course every day. Without injury, I should do it again.”
Casey described his health at about 70 percent. Even now, he comes out of a few shots, and he has yet to hit a shot from the rough since his return, mainly because the Finca Cortesin course in Spain had none.
“I’m setting smaller goals,” he said, noting that the Race to Dubai was part of a bigger picture.
After the HSBC Champions, Casey is headed for the Hong Kong Open, then the Dubai World Championship. He also plays to play the Chevron World Challenge in California, hosted by Tiger Woods, a chance to try new equipment – and grooves – for next year.
Next year will arrive sooner than usual. His victory in the Houston Open made him eligible for the winners-only SBS Championship at Kapalua. Casey wasn’t sure he would be able to play until realizing there was a week between Kapalua and getting halfway around the world for the Abu Dhabi Championship, where he is defending champion.
• • •
OVERLOOKED: Rod Pampling went nearly 10 years between victories in his native land, winning the Australian Masters last year at Huntingdale. Just his luck, his return next week to Melbourne as the defending champion coincides with the return of another player.
Tiger Woods is competing Down Under for the first time since 1998, and the first time in a regular tournament since 1996. That makes Pampling the most forgotten defending champion since Nick Price at the 2003 Colonial, which featured Annika Sorenstam.
Pampling was asked if anyone even knew he was the defending champion.
“My mom and dad do,” he said. “My brothers don’t.”
Woods agreed to play the Australian Masters – along with a $3 million appearance fee – in March. Woods and Pampling often play practice rounds together at the majors, and when they ran into each other that spring, Pampling offered a sarcastic thanks.
“I did mention to him that it’s my first time in 10 years since I won a tournament at home and I’m getting no recognition,” he said. “But hey, it’s huge news. It’s been a long time since he’s been down there, and his game has improved a little. I guess he’s worth going to see.”
All is not lost. Pampling has been invited to a dinner Tuesday night, and he does have some other media obligations.
“It’s going to be great having Tiger there,” Pampling said. “Look, whoever the defending champion is, when you have Tiger in the field, it doesn’t matter who you are, where you are in the ranking or what tour you’re on.”
• • •
LOCAL CADDIE: Jerry Kelly didn’t need to see the sand painted red in the bunkers to feel like the HSBC Champions was a new experience. He has broken out a new set of Cleveland irons this week, and he has someone new on the bag.
“Got my new sticks, and my caddie in red,” he said.
Turning over his shoulder, he motioned to the local caddie he has hired for the week – Anna Zhu, who stands about 5-foot-1, and works at the Sheshan International Golf Club, where caddies wear red coveralls.
Kelly’s regular caddie, Eric Meller, is recovering from knee surgery.
“Been a while since I did my own (yardage) numbers,” Kelly said.
• • •
RYDER CUP UPDATE: U.S. players only earned Ryder Cup points this year at the majors, which is why the standings going into 2010 look so peculiar. Lucas Glover tops the standings, followed by Stewart Cink, Tiger Wood, Phil Mickelson and Kenny Perry.
That’s no typo at No. 6 – Tom Watson, who lost in a playoff at Turnberry. The last time Watson was involved in the Ryder Cup was in 1993, when he was the U.S. captain and caused a stir by having his players decline to sign dinner menus.
Tied for eighth is Ricky Barnes and David Duval – they tied for second at the U.S. Open and both are in jeopardy of losing their PGA Tour cards next year.
That all is most likely to change next year.
• • •
DIVOTS: Mark O’Meara and Ben Curtis will play next week in the Hong Kong Open, which already has a strong field with so many top players from Europe in the final event before the Dubai World Championship. Curtis currently is No. 75 in the Race to Dubai standings, and needs to get into the top 60 to qualify for the final event in Dubai. ... The AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am has received approval to lower its field from 180 players to 156 players in February. ... Jiyai Shin has won the Louise Suggs Award as the LPGA Tour’s rookie of the year. Shin also is leading in points for player of the year as she tries to become the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both awards in the same season.
• • •
STAT OF THE WEEK: Stuart Appleby did not qualify for the HSBC Champions, the first time he has not competed in a World Golf Championship since the series began in 1999.
• • •
FINAL WORD: “There’s no such thing as a performance-enhancing drug. It might make you strong, but I’m not sure it makes you a better golfer. If there’s a drug out there that helps you make a 3-footer, I’d like to know what it is.” – Paul Goydos. | http://[email protected]/news/2009/nov/03/notes-casey-realistic-about-bonus-chance/ | 1,633 |
BALTIMORE, MD -Johns Hopkins senior quarterback Hewitt Tomlin(Jackson, TN/Trinity Christian) has been named the ECAC South Co-Offensive Player of the Week after he guided the Blue Jays to a 47-6 win over Dickinson last Friday night. Tomlin, who shares the award with Brockport's Jake Spalik, was previously named the Centennial Conference Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts against the Red Devils.
After missing the previous two games, Tomlin returned against Dickinson and was 25-of-38 for 390 yards with two touchdowns and one interception while also rushing for a touchdown in the victory. The 390 yards passing ranks as the third-highest single-game total in school history, while the 390 yards of total offense also checks in at number three all-time in JHU history.
Tomlin further etched his name in the Centennial Conference record book in the victory, becoming the league's career leader in total offense (9,154) and 300-yard passing games (10). He also became just the fourth quarterback in CC history to throw 60 or more career touchdown passes as his two pushed his career mark to 61.
With his effort against Dickinson, Tomlin is now 90-of-136 for 1,163 yards with 11 touchdowns against two interceptions on the year. He currently leads the Centennial Conference in total offense (290.5 yards per game), passing (290.8) and completion percentage (66.2%). He also ranks second in pass efficiency (163.4) and touchdown passes, while directing an offense that ranks second in the Centennial in scoring (41.7) and total offense (487.0).
Johns Hopkins (6-0, 5-0 CC), which is currently ranked 14th in the nation and tied the school record with its 11th straight win last Friday against Dickinson, travels to Gettysburg on Saturday (Oct. 22) for a key Centennial Conference game against the Bullets (4-2, 4-1 CC).
- 30 - | http://d3football.com/seasons/2011/contrib/20111020b6ea9t?dec=/printer-decorator | 421 |
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
ESPN Halfway Home In Year Five
Five races down, five races to go in this season's Chase for the Championship. NASCAR has put the TV coverage of the final ten races in the hands of ESPN since 2007. Originally distributed on ABC, the coverage of all but one Chase race has migrated to cable TV. NASCAR has come home to the mothership.
It's been a long and winding road for the powerful media company since returning to the sport. This season has seen the lap-by-lap announcer changed days before the Sprint Cup Series coverage, free online streaming of cameras added and side-by-side commercials used in the second half of all the Chase races.
It was Dr. Jerry Punch and Rusty Wallace who first welcomed viewers to the Chase in 2007. Brent Musburger was the master of ceremonies in his sneakers. The coverage was overblown, scripted and awful. ESPN upset the drivers, NASCAR and lots of fans.
This season Allen Bestwick completed the cycle of working his way back from a Nationwide Series pit road reporter to calling every lap of the Chase races. He is now the face of the NASCAR on ESPN franchise. His TV comeback has been nothing short of amazing.
Dale Jarrett and Andy Petree have teamed in the booth as analysts for several years. Petree is an original member of that team and has quietly and professionally been supplying information and opinions even as on-air personalities came and went.
Punch returned to pit road and brought a quick return to dignity for a crew that struggled in the early years. Limited amounts of ESPN practice and qualifying coverage meant that Jamie Little, Vince Welch and Dave Burns were not the faces Sprint Cup Series teams had been talking to since February.
Now called the Tech Garage, Tim Brewer has been trying his best to use an assortment of NASCAR-related props to offer examples of issues drivers experience at the races. While his response to specific on-track issues is outstanding, the endless repetition on the very basics of the sport is equally infuriating.
ESPN's answer to the Hollywood Hotel has been the Infield Pit Studio. Faces appearing in the host chair have included Musburger, Chris Fowler and Suzy Kolber. A while back, Bestwick was promoted from pit road and immediately put things in order. This season, Nicole Briscoe has stepped into that role for the Chase.
Over the years, ESPN has defined a production approach to the Chase races. It has been nothing short of a painful process. From flashy music videos, scripted stories and endless self-promotion has emerged a style we call "hyper-tight."
While SPEED's focus during the truck races is keeping a good chunk of the field in each camera view, ESPN's Chase approach is the opposite. During green flag action, the coverage is dedicated to one or two cars at a time. Often, the camera moves to cars that are not racing each other, but are rather part of the ESPN "storyline" for that event.
It's unfortunate that so much of the actual racing for position is never seen on TV. The shift from simply trying to show the best racing on the track to following the Chase drivers almost exclusively has been rough. It's a formula being repeated this season.
ESPN did not switch announcers, allow online streaming and provide side-by-side commercials because things were going well. Back in 2008, the first five Chase races averaged about 6 million total viewers for each telecast. This season, that number is 4 million. Click here for a ratings chart from ESPN-owned Jayski.com.
Back in 2007, media writer Phil Mushnick of the New York Post was begging ESPN to "fix" Monday Night Football. His complaints were too many voices, too many stats, too many graphics and endless ESPN cross-promotion. "It's a must-see game delivered in a can't-stand TV package," he said.
After five years of fine-tuning, ESPN still brings 11 on-air voices to each Chase race. The in-race graphics are sometimes four different rows of information moving at different speeds in different colors. Despite the fact that points are only awarded after the race, the network hammers "points as they run now" endlessly.
Fans continue to flock to the Internet for sources of information during the Chase races. In the final ten events, drivers not in the Chase simply no longer exist for ESPN unless leading the race. The problem is the fans do not change drivers in mid-season. TV does not seem to understand that driver loyalty is a trademark of the fan base.
In these final five events, it should be interesting to see if ESPN steps outside of the box and tries some new approaches to race production. With a strong lead announcer, a solid infield host and plenty of technology, the opportunity to simply show TV viewers more cars racing at speed on the track might be a good idea.
Instead of the telescope intensity of the "hyper-tight" coverage, Talladega might be a great first opportunity to take a step back and let fans see what is going on from a broader perspective. We will all find out together on Sunday afternoon.
What is your opinion of the Chase race TV coverage this season? To add your comment, just click on the comments button below. We would ask for this topic that you limit your comments to the last five races. Thanks as always for taking the time to stop by. | http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2011/10/espn-halfway-home-in-year-five.html?showComment=1318929383336 | 1,113 |
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