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Three trends from the upfront season Kroenke comfortable wearing 2nd hat From the Field of Risk Management Plaintiff seeks documents from FSG Demos key to Microsoft’s MLS deal People: Executive transactions Reinsdorf values people he knows, trusts Racetracks attract music festivals For the WNBA, time for a clutch 3 Super Bowl’s numerals: Still a classic
SBJ/January 7-13, 2013/OpinionPrint All
The board approved a four-tier violation hierarchy for classifying bylaw violations. This replaces the former system of classifying violations as either major or minor, which led to drastically different types of violations being categorized together. Under the new system, violations will be classified under one of the following levels:
I. Severe breach of conduct
II. Significant breach of conduct
III. Breach of conduct
IV. Incidental issues
This new model empowers the NCAA Committee on Infractions with more discretion in determining the severity of punishments, focusing on the substantiality of the recruiting, competitive or other advantage gained.
The board also approved the expansion of the Committee on Infractions from 10 to 24 members. In doing so, the board hopes to increase the efficiency of the investigatory process, which sometimes took years to complete. Finally, the board voted to place more accountability on head coaches, focusing on removing the “risk-reward” analysis that so often has driven head coaches to violate the bylaws. Through its bylaws, the NCAA seeks to eliminate competitive advantages. However, with the increasing commercialization of college athletics, coaches are tempted to act unethically and develop a “win-at-all-costs” mentality.
Unfortunately, it is often the university, along with a new coach, that has to absorb sanctions imposed for the acts of prior coaches. In many instances, universities are left rebuilding while the prior head coach goes unscathed, departing for greener pastures. The new legislation was enacted to help prevent this problem. Now, universities and coaches both may be charged with violations, and, if a coach changes jobs amid an investigation, potential sanctions will follow the coach.
Under the new model, coaches can no longer turn a blind eye to impermissible conduct. Head coaches are now presumed to have knowledge of all actions or omissions in their program and may be penalized individually for violations committed by staff, unless they can prove they took measures to prevent such conduct. As explained by Ed Ray, chairman of the NCAA board, the onus is on the coaches:
“We expect head coaches to provide practices and training and written materials that instruct their assistant coaches how to act. If they’ve done that, it can become mitigating evidence that they shouldn’t be held accountable for what [a member of their coaching staff] did. But head coaches have to have these things in place or the presumption will be that they didn’t care enough to set standards and take responsibility for their programs. If there is no guidance and an assistant goes rogue, then it’s partly the head coach’s fault and he/she should be held accountable.”
Simply stated, head coaches are on notice. No longer will claiming lack of knowledge prevent individual sanctions.
Meeting new demands, obligations
So what are head coaches to do? Years ago, similar language rocked the employment world. In Faragher v. City of Boca Raton, the U.S. Supreme Court held that an employer may be liable for discriminatory acts of its supervisors if it cannot demonstrate that it exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct the behavior. This decision began a renewed emphasis on developing policies and training for the benefit of both supervisors and employees. NCAA head coaches are now faced with the same burden: train staffs or face sanctions.
Head coaches must now act like an employer. First, coaches must develop written policies, promoting an atmosphere of compliance. These policies must include expected behaviors and procedures for reporting potential violations. The policies should also contain anti-retaliation provisions to encourage coaches to report potential violations.
Second, head coaches must ensure that their staffs learn and understand the policies. Successful implementation requires extensive and ongoing training, focusing on the policies and procedures and potential gray areas. The responsibility of training often falls on the university’s athletic compliance staff. However, due to limited resources, many institutions will turn to outside counsel for assistance. Outside counsel, experienced in conducting investigations, will likely bring a fresh and unbiased perspective and can often review policies for deficiencies, assist in implementing procedures, and in developing and conducting training programs.
Finally, head coaches should provide written materials and conduct follow-up training to emphasize new developments and remind their staff of its obligations. They should also conduct occasional meetings to address actual situations to further promote the atmosphere of compliance.
Typically, universities stand to lose in light of NCAA investigations and sanctions; however, head coaches now face just as much pressure. In addition to potential NCAA sanctions, head coaches face potential damage to their personal and professional reputation. With the right preventative steps, head coaches can eliminate these risks and avoid liability. The model is not new. It exists in the employment context.
Head coaches, the time has come to start thinking like an employer.
Gregg Clifton ([email protected]), Paul Kelly ([email protected]) and Bethany Swaton Wagner ([email protected]) are attorneys in the collegiate and professional sports industry group at the national workplace law firm of Jackson Lewis.
> ALL IN WITH TENNIS: Keep an eye on what Emirates is doing around tennis. Just before the new year, the Dubai-based airline agreed to a five-year sponsorship of the ATP that will make it the official airline of the tour as well as the new title sponsor of the ATP rankings. Earlier in the year, Emirates linked with the U.S. Tennis Association to become both the title sponsor of the U.S. Open Series and the official airline of the U.S. Open as part of a seven-year deal valued at nearly $90 million. So while the airline is an active sponsor of futbol and other sports around the world, it is clearly going all in on tennis and building a program around some of the biggest events and series in the sport.
What to look for next? I’m sure many of the U.S. Open Series events where Emirates has begun flying routes will hope for increased local activation, and I wouldn’t be surprised if the airline signs a few players in order to complement its event/series deals. The ATP’s global reach fits nicely into Emirates’ plans, as now the brand will have a weekly global television footprint through ATP Tour Productions television distribution. And the airline will be able to entertain its most coveted and lucrative customer segment — business travelers — in diverse markets throughout the world.
I hear all the time about the declining popularity of tennis, but the ATP’s tournament schedule is geographically diverse, and many of these markets are attractive business travel centers.
Jimmy Haslam, the Browns’ new owner, is reshaping that franchise.
Photo by:GETTY IMAGES
The Cowboys have had a number of talented business executives over the years, but Scheiner was continually referred to me years ago by insiders as someone to watch. The Georgetown Law grad had a big role in almost all of the team’s successful business initiatives, including the financing and construction of Cowboys Stadium.
To work with Scheiner, the Browns tabbed another well-regarded executive, former San Diego Padres senior vice president Brent Stehlik, as the team’s new executive vice president and chief revenue officer. Stehlik is a native of Cleveland who worked with Scheiner in the Cowboys organization before doing several innovative business deals under Tom Garfinkel at the Padres. Both of these young executives have a lot of runway on the business side to mine in Cleveland.
> THE PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: I always keep my eye on stories related to public funding and team/community relations. An important one occurred right before Christmas when a deal was announced in Buffalo where New York state, Erie County and the Bills detailed a 10-year lease to keep the team at Ralph Wilson Stadium. A couple of interesting provisions in the deal: There will be $130 million worth of renovations to the stadium, with the Bills contributing $35 million, a higher team outlay than in previous deals. The state and county will share the remaining $95 million in renovation costs — with $54 million coming from the state and $41 million from the county. There is also a significant penalty on the team — $400 million — if it decides to leave Buffalo before 2023. The one exception is after year seven, when the team would pay only a $29 million penalty. After that year, the penalty would go back to $400 million.
Another story of interest is the tense relationship between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority over who should pay for a planned expansion of Heinz Field. Much of the dispute is over the wording of a contract and the definition of capital improvements, but it still represents a significant outlay of public funds — a reported $35 million if the Steelers win in court — and any time a team is mired in a lawsuit with the city and county it presents image and public relations challenges.
> COLLEGE FOOTBALL TRENDS: If you didn’t catch it, you may want to check our archives for Austin Karp’s analysis of the 2012 college football ratings. The general perception continues to be one of strength around the college game, but while the numbers remain solid, they do hint at clutter, competition and saturation. While NBC saw gains around the success of Notre Dame, all other college football broadcasters saw a decline in viewership for their packages. CBS’s SEC schedule was down 10 percent from last year and 11 percent from 2010, while ABC was also down 10 percent from last year and 11 percent from two years ago. ESPN is off 4 percent for its 68 games from last year, while ESPN2 was down 13 percent for its 61 games.
Compared with the steep drop broadcasters are seeing for their prime-time programming, however, these dips are no reason for concern. There is more college football programming spread across more outlets than ever before, affecting individual network viewership.
> WHAT’S NEXT AT SBJ/SBD/SBD GLOBAL: I wanted to let you know about a couple of new editorial elements we’re working on for 2013. As a complement to our SportsBusiness Daily Global news service, we will produce a special issue focused entirely on some of the major issues, trends and people making an impact on sports business outside of North America. We hope this special supplemental print issue will offer fresh insight into the opportunities across the global landscape. Look for this special issue in September.
Also in September, we will debut the latest event from our conference group by hosting the inaugural Game Changers Summit in New York City. This event, which is an extension of our editorial special section featuring innovative women in the industry, will focus on the key topics that affect women in sports business, from the growing female fan base, to the current status of women in leadership roles in professional, collegiate and Olympic sports, to women’s sports properties themselves. We feel that bringing various constituencies together can help advance the conversation in this vital industry segment. If you have any questions, thoughts or comments about these new elements, please let me know.
Abraham D. Madkour can be reached at [email protected].
THE CATHOLIC CONFERENCE: I had been waiting for this to happen for the past three years or so. The non-football schools in the Big East had been having less and less of a voice in decision-making, and as the focus and geography of the Big East was less and less about them and as criticism of the conference and where it was headed became more and more distracting, it became time to strike out on their own. Remember the conference was originally a basketball-focused group with some of the schools playing football. How it all shakes out in the next 12 to 24 months is anyone’s guess, but we can expect some defections from the Atlantic 10, and a few Midwestern schools to join in. Perhaps Connecticut becomes a basketball-only member — it’s all speculation at this point.
But what if there were a 48-team national conference with four 12-team divisions playing in their own regions and having a conference tournament between the four regional champions with the overall champion receiving the automatic qualifier to the NCAA tournament? All other sports could compete in their home region, and there could be regional and national TV deals. Interesting to consider with Gonzaga, anchoring the West. Loads of possibilities to consider.
A spectator’s eye is drawn to the giant center-hung video board at Cowboys Stadium.
Photo by:GETTY IMAGES
A BOWL FULL: Are there too many bowl games? It’s an interesting question with a complex answer. If you are viewing bowl games as destination games and rewards for teams for regular-season performance, and hoping to sell 90 percent of capacity, then there probably are too many bowl games. If you view bowl games as television content and like the concept of bowl week as a marketing platform, then the number of bowl games might seem just right.
But fans of teams with 6-6 records and even 7-5 records are not traveling to the bowl games. They are disappointed and may elect to spend their travel funds going to a regular-season game in an interesting destination. Remember there are neutral-site games taking place in tourist markets and teams playing in new conferences and at schools that have not been on the schedule in previous years. All of those factors, along with the perception that the bowl our team was invited to doesn’t meet our expectations, paints the picture of continuing low attendance when looking at all bowl games over the course of the bowl season.
HUNTERS HUNT AND FARMERS FARM: They really do. Having worked as an executive in the NBA and having served as a consultant focusing on improving revenue streams for the past 10 years, I can assure you that if a sales department is divided into sellers focusing on new business revenue (hunters) and activators/retention specialists focusing on growing and retaining the current customers through service and activation activities (farmers), your revenue will increase. Why will it increase? Because the hunters are solely focused on finding and developing new business. The farmers are focused on the satisfaction of current clients and making sure that they are happy with what they have purchased and that are their needs are met. That is a pure marketing and service culture.
I can point to the Orlando Magic as doing this better than anyone else. I have had the opportunity to observe and have used the Magic as a model to showcase their approach to my other clients. It’s really simple when you look at the makeup of a great salesperson — focused, aggressive and wanting to hunt big game — a service call is just outside of their DNA. I am sure some of you think otherwise. I am happy to try to convince you.
RANDOM THOUGHTS: Imagine waking up thinking you were playing in a new college football conference and finding out you were playing in the same conference with a different name and the name of the old conference was actually a better description of your new conference? … What effect does the constant changing of coaches and general managers after one or two years have on the development of the fan base in an NFL market? … Running a successful sales department requires a 365-day approach to recruiting potential trainees and having a committed approach to training using internal and external resources. … I think improvisational training is a great asset in preparing a sales team. … Never underestimate the value and impact (positive or negative) of the team owner in your marketplace. Absentee owners (either those who live out of town or those living in town that are not present in their markets) send a strong message that the team isn’t worth their time, causing you to question whether it is worth your time.
Bill Sutton ([email protected]) is the founding director of the sport and entertainment business management MBA at the University of South Florida, and principal of Bill Sutton & Associates. Follow him on Twitter @Sutton_Impact. | http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2013/01/07/Opinion.aspx | 3,418 |
Boom or Bust - what is the trading card markets fate? While it's hard to judge where the sports card market will go, we analyze some of the athletes that have helped cards boom in the past.
News: Panini gets MLBPA License to make baseball cards (without use of MLB logos/uniforms)
Also, some 2011 Topps Finest Cam Newton SuperFractor cards have sold for $3,000+ and his cards are BOOMING after a 400+ yard game in week 1 vrs Arizona.
Usually a jump in demand for sports cards correlates with a spike in popularity of a given player or team. We've seen all kinds of players come through the ranks and drive big money sales for their cards - some have lasted longer than others. Below is a list of players I think have really helped card sales in one way or another. I've probably left off lots of names - but these are the ones that come to mind:
Sustainable BOOM Players:
Ken Griffey Jr
Despite a career that was 'hurt' by injuries - his 1989 Upper Deck Rookie Card created one of the biggest sports card booms of all time.
This Yankees great has won championships and collected 3,000+ hits along the way. His cards will probably always have value.
No one started more games in a row at QB than Favre - & playing for Green Bay made his cards very collectible.
A limited number of rookies make his early cards very collectible - and his autographs is highly sought after.
The worlds greatest basketball player is still hot on collectors feet with his popular shoes & his cards are still highly sought after.
The only thing Kobe hasn't done for the Lakers is get his jersey # on the Staple Center wall, but he'll have that honor one day.
Despite taking a popularity hit when he went to Miami - no basketball collector would mind finding a rare LeBron James card in their collection.
Another guy that's taken a popularity hit in his career. However even if he doesn't bounce back like Kobe - his memorabilia is still highly collectible.
mini BOOM Players
Aaron Rodgers - Blew up after he won a Super Bowl and if he continues his winning ways, he might move up into Favre land.
Blake Griffin - A couple of dunks on people after an entire season off took Blake's cards to soaring highs.
Stephen Strasburg - Blew up ... then blew up his arm. He came back faster than people though - but will he be a star in the MLB?
Vince Carter - After he threw a couple of dunks down in the NBA Dunk Contest, Carter's values sky-rocketed.
Mark McGwire - He, Sammy Sosa and the rest of the MLB blew up the record books ... with help.
Other Retired/HOF Boom Players
Babe Ruth - No player seems to grow in stature as the years go on like Babe ... no one's seen him play, but we'd all like one of his cards.
Mickey Mantle - One of the most popular NY Yakees of all time = collectible cards forever. Topps regularly produces Mantle cards every season.
Hank Aaron - Some people still consider him the HR king, and people pay top dollar for his autographs and cards.
Aikman & Emmitt - Both have had successful careers off the field, but Cowboys fans still remember their great playing days.
Joe Montana - In the Bay Area, there is no one with more championships or fan love than Montana | http://www.sportscardradio.com/index.php/sports-card-show-archive/1057-show-83-sports-cards-boom-1011-black-box-basketball-a-more | 732 |
|Please Note: This item is made-upon-order, therefore requires additional processing time, which is reflected in the estimate above.|
Littlearth’s Quilted Tote is the perfect bag for the fashion-forward sports fan. It combines details like rich satin quilting, faux leather trim and an embroidered team logo to create a tote that caters to both sports fans and discriminating fashionistas. Features embroidered team logo, magnetic snap closure and interior pocket. Measures 16 x 5.5 x 12 inches. | http://www.sportsfanfare.com/pf-52001-orsu-black.html | 111 |
Giants Lose 60-Year Season Ticket Holders: Last Sunday's game was the first time in 60 years that the family of James Sayles did not attend a New York Giants game. Sayles' daughter said that six season tickets at the 50-yard line had been occupied by four generations of her family since 1950. Her father attended his first Giants game in 1930 at the Polo Grounds. The new stadium's charge of $20,000 for permanent seat licenses and an offer of lousy seats in the upper deck drove them off. "All those years, all that loyalty, and what they were telling me was, 'You don't matter,'" she said. "We are no longer Giants fans." Other fans have been a hard sell: The Giants 36-year streak of sellouts -- excluding the strike year -- ended with the game. | http://www.sportsfilter.com/news/15363/giants-lose-60-year-season-ticket-holders | 169 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Atlanta, GA – Wed, January 16, 2008 – SportsInsights.com, the leading online sports betting information service, offers users unique statistical data and game analysis for this weekend’s NFL divisional playoff games. With live online betting tools, sports fans gain better insight for wagering with information at online sports books for free.
Daniel Fabrizio, founder of SportsInsights.com states, “The most lopsided bet game of the weekend is shaping up to be San Diego, receiving over 65% of the bets placed. The public can’t get down fast enough on San Diego, resulting in a 1 ½ line move towards New England. Last week our value indictors pointed towards Green Bay and they covered. This weekend it points towards New England -14.”
Daniel Fabrizio is a respected industry leader in sports gaming. SportsInsights.com was birthed from his desire to provide sports fans a resource to betting information that is unfiltered, independent and accurate. He has earned the respect of leading online sports books and sports fans in his efforts to break down the barriers to winning in the sports betting marketplace. As a result, SportsInsights.com has become one of the top websites for accurate, real-time sports betting information. Daniel also is available to talk about a variety of trends surrounding the NFL Playoff games — from public opinion to legal sports betting. In addition, the media is welcome to use a variety of real-time statistics — either linked to their sports site or in an article upon permission of Daniel Fabrizio and SportsInsights.com.
For more information about Sports Insights, statistical data and online betting tools, please visit http://www.SportsInsights.com .
About Sports Insights
Founded in 1999, SportsInsights.com is a statistical content site that tracks betting activity at major sportsbooks. SportsInsights.com’s unique content and live betting statistics have propelled it to the forefront of the competitive world of sports information. SportsInsights.com uses pioneering betting charts to track the percentage of bets and money placed on every major sporting event. SportsInsights.com is not a sportsbook or a betting/trading exchange site, but has agreements with multiple online sports books to monitor betting activity. All information comes directly from online sportsbooks and represents actual bets placed at the contributing sportsbooks. For more information, visit http://www.sportsinsights.com
For media only – | Contact Us | | http://www.sportsinsights.com/sportsinsights-com-tracks-which-nfl-teams-the-public-is-betting-on-for-divisional-playoff-games/ | 521 |
This year's honorees for Schalmont High School's Alumni Wall of Distinction are Gail DeAngelo, class of 1988; Michael James Mugits, class of 1971; and David Van Patten, class of 1972. They will be inducted during a formal ceremony on Thursday, May 28, at 4:30 p.m. in the Schalmont High School library.
Mugits of Gansevoort was honored for inspiring family, friends and colleagues through his devotion to nurturing the dreams and sustaining the hopes of students. As one of seven children, he faced many challenges growing up.
I had to overcome a number of issues growing up, and I think that if someone spoke to me when I was 10 or 11 and said, 'This is what's going to happen to you someday,' I would [have been] hard-pressed to put a lot of credibility into what they said, said Mugits.
However, it was during his time at Schalmont High School that he made connections with teachers and staff members who supported him and cultivated his self-confidence. He also played on the varsity soccer, basketball and baseball teams, and wrote for the school yearbook.
"The experiences I had in high school equipped me with a broader perspective of how my future could unfold," said Mugits in a statement. "I left feeling well-equipped to walk down the paths of my choice."
From Schalmont High School, Mugits went on to earn a bachelor's degree from the University of Maine at Machias and a master's degree from Plymouth State College. He then became the youngest principal in Maine at the age of 24, and served this role across the country in elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. He said one of his greatest accomplishments as a school principal happened in Texas when he led the transformation of a low-performing, impoverished, inner-city school into a school of achievement and hope, and received the O'Brien Foundation Award for Excellence in Leadership. | http://www.spotlightnews.com/news/2009/may/20/schalmont-school-alumni-honored/ | 410 |
whose hometown is better? - Elsa
I have pictoral evidence. Seriously.
Over the President's Day weekend, Cornelius and I had the opportunity to take a fun little trip. Between Friday and Sunday, we attended three Halifax Mooseheads games; two in Halifax, Nova Scotia and one in Charlottetown, PEI. It was really cool. The Mooseheads are stacked. Jonathan Drouin is mindblowingly good.
One thing we didn't really anticipate about this trip, though, was the fact that we were getting to visit the hometowns of two of everyone's favorite Bruins players: Adam McQuaid (PEI) and Brad Marchand (Halifax)! We didn't think much of it until we got to the Halifax Metro Centre and realized it was the home of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Well.
So we headed over, and the first thing we see is NOT a Brad Marchand Stanley Cup Champs photo, or jersey, or anything....it's this.
Oh right, that guy's from Halifax, too. (And yeah, here's the dryer. It's really bizarre that they have that.)
So we walk through the Hall of Fame, whatever, they've got some stuff up about Glen Murray and about half the hall is Sidney Crosby stuff, whatever whatever. There's literally no Brad Marchand ANYTHING, anywhere. We figured maybe they just hadn't had time to update the place to reflect his amazingness (things move slower in Canada, ok?) but on the way out, tucked away near the exit by some other sports paraphernalia, we found this:
Yeah. No photo of Marchand with the Cup, no actual gear of Marchand's, just a generic flat-brimmed bro hat with a little cardboard label on it. Considering that they managed to acquire the Crosby family DRYER, you'd think they'd be able to put in a little more effort for a guy who's won the Stanley Cup more recently than four years ago.
From there, we headed north over the Confederation Bridge to the sleepy little city of Charlottetown, PEI - home of our very own Adam McQuaid. After watching some P.E.I Rocket hockey for a little while, we realized that the Charlottetown Civic Centre (a tiny affair that holds a whopping 3,700 people!) had its own little local hockey hall of fame. So we checked it out. Immediately upon entering, things already looked more promising than they had in Halifax:
(McQuaid's on the right, in case the woodcut isn't obvious enough.) We walked around the corner, past the giant display of Brad Richards jerseys, and what did we find?
Wow, PEI. Wow. you definitely outdid yourself. A ton of signed photos, including Stanley Cup, childhood, and OHL pictures; a Sudbury Wolves McQuaid jersey; a copy of the Sports Illustrated with Marchand, Tyler Seguin, and McQuaid riding in a sleigh holding the Cup. (Where's YOUR copy of that edition of SI for Kids, Halifax? Yeah. That's what I thought.) That is an awesome tribute to PEI's most recent Stanley Cup Champion and Charlottetown should be commended for epically strong work done. Suck it, Halifax. Prince Edward Island has you beat. | http://www.stanleycupofchowder.com/2013/2/19/4004850/bruins-adam-mcquaid-brad-marchand-hometown-comparisons | 693 |
Jim Souhan analyzes the local sports scene and advises you to never take his betting advice. He likes old guitars and old music, never eats press box hot dogs, and can be heard on 1500ESPN at 2:05 p.m. weekdays, and Sundays from 10 a.m.-noon.
Find him on Twitter
Wrapping up tonight from Target Center. My column for the Wednesday paper centers on Ricky Rubio, who had a brilliant game in the Wolves' 111-100 loss on Tuesday, so I'll touch on other subjects here:
1. It was a pleasure to watch Rick Adelman and Tom Thibodeau, two of the best in the business, run their teams. One of the best things about being a sportswriter is sitting courtside at a good NBA game, and Adelman and Thibodeau are both pros. Both work the refs without embarrassing themselves or trying to show up the refs the way so many coaches do.
I've never understood how coaches can think that showing up refs can be good for them in the long run.
2. Derrick Rose was the NBA's MVP last year, and he's better this year. He looks to distribute more early in games and it's almost unfair for someone with his ability to drive to also be able to rise straight up and hit three-pointers the way he does. I don't know how you defend him.
3. Asked Thibodeau before the game about his stint as a Timberwolves' assistant coach and he raved about Bill Musselman, calling him ``one of the all-time greats.''
4. Rubio is remarkably mature for his age. He knows how to handle himself on the court and with the media. Yes, that can matter.
5. Everyone will be clamoring for Rubio to start, and that makes sense. The problem here, folks, is that the Wolves only have so many good players, and they can play only so many minutes. This is not a deep or talented team. As I note in the column, almost all of their worthwhile players are point guards or power forwards. Love's production and Rubio's ability to run an offense are all that separate the Wolves from an 0-10 start.
6. Yes, give David Kahn credit for trading Mike Miller and Randy Foye for the pick that turned into Rubio. And I'm not even going to mention the Jonny Flynn pick this time.
7. Congratulations to colleague Michael Russo for winning Minnesota sportswriter of the year. Nobody works harder or knows their beat better.
8. Wes Johnson, Wayne Ellington and Darko Milicic just don't look like NBA players. Johnson can't handle the ball or defend (sound like any other Syracuse players who played for the Wolves?), Elllington is a smart player who just isn't dynamic athletically, and Darko is just Darko.
The Wolves play their best with some combination of Rubio, Love, Anthony Randolph, Derrick Williams, J.J. Barea, Luke Ridnour and Michael Beasley on the court, with Anthony Tolliver a necessary evil at center because Darko drags the team down.
I know Beasley is a flawed, goofy, player, but the Wolves need him. They need a guy who can score on his own or with the shot clock winding down, even if the offense stagnates when he's in the game. I can't say I hold out hope that Beasley will become a better all-around offensive player, but given the limitations of the roster, the Wolves owe it to themselves to give him a chance.
I'd like to see a small-ball rotation that allows Love, Williams, Beasley and Randolph to play most of the minutes in the frontcourt, and Barea, Ridnour and Rubio to take most of the backcourt minutes. It's not conventional, but the Wolves' conventional lineup stinks.
Upcoming: Again, my column on the game will be in the Wednesday paper. Wednesday, I"ll be on 1500espn at 2:05 with Reusse and Mackey. Please follow me on Twitter at @Souhanstrib.
Prepping for the Bulls-Wolves game tonight, noticed lots of Bulls jerseys hanging around downtown.
Lot of storylines here tonight, including:
-Derrick Rose continuing to remind us how much better he is than the guy picked right behind him, Michael Beasley.
-Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, the reigning coach of the year, was once a lowly Wolves assistant. If the Wolves hadn't hired someone as accomplished as Rick Adelman, we would be accusing them of letting a good one get away.
-According to Canishoopus, the Wolves are 22-95 with Darko Milicic on their roster. Manna from Somewhere.
-According to espnstats, Ricky Rubio has three of the four double-digit assist games turned in by a bench player in the NBA this season, with Andre Miller owning the other. Rubio also has played more fourth-quarter minutes than anyone else in the NBA, having missed only 7 fourth-quarter seconds.
-According to espnstats, NBA teams are 6-0 this year on the third game of back-to-backs. (Either that or I read that one wrong. Seems very strange). The Wolves are playing a third straight day, following a victory over hapless Washington and an ugly loss in Toronto.
-The Wolves' bench has dramatically outperformed the starters. I blame Wes Johnson and Darko, two guys who I can't see lasting in the NBA.
-Kevin Love ranks first in the NBA with 14.9 rebounds per game. He averaged 15.2 last year when he led the league. But he played with no energy last night in Toronto, which affected every aspect of his game.
Love leads the NBA with nine double-doubles and is the only player to record a double-double in each of his team's games this year.
-Ricky Rubio is 8-for-16 on three-pointers this year. In fourth quarters, Rubio is 16-for-31 with 20 assists. He ranks 11th in the NBA and first among rookies with 7.4 assists per game.
-The Wolves rank first in the NBA in fourth-quarter field goal percentage on defense, holding opponents to 34.3 percent. Last year, the Wolves ranked last in that category in the NBA.
-The Bulls allow 86.6 points per game, second-best in the league behind Philadelphia.
Upcoming: I'll be on 1500espn with Tom Pelissero tonight at 6:40 or so, and I'm on the station every weekday at 2:05 with Reusse and Mackey. Please follow me on Twitter, @Souhanstrib.
Catching up with the sports world after some time away....
1.Just when you thought he might be out of our lives for at least six months, Tim Tebow beats the Steelers with an impressive and dramatic performance, leading to our highly oversimplified national debate. It seems half the country thinks Tebow is an inspirational winner who can't be measured by conventional passing statistics, and half the country thinks he's overrated and lucky.
We tend to do this in sports: Reduce everything to a for-or-against debate that makes for an easy-to-stage TV argument. Here's my not-so-simple view of Tebow:
He's never going to be the kind of precision passer that every NFL GM wants. If you're choosing between the next Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers and Tebow, you'd take the next Brees or Rodgers. But not every team is in a position to make that choice. If you're choosing between Kyle Orton, Brady Quinn and Tebow, why not choose the compelling and entertaining guy who somehow wins games, even if he sometimes wins only because he stays out of the way of the players on his team who actually make a big difference every week?
Also: While I wouldn't want to build a franchise around Tebow, I'd rather have him than the starting quarterbacks for the 10 worst teams in the NFL, That might be faint praise, but it should be part of the debate. You don't have to compare Tebow only with the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL any more than you should be comparing Christian Ponder with the great quarterbacks at this point in his career.
Also: Tebow has a chance to get better. This is where character might matter. He's a gifted athlete with a strong work ethic and a tremendous drive to succeed. Those factors won't enable him to ever complete 70 percent of his passes, but they could enable him to become slightly more accurate as his career progresses.
Finally, Tebow is, beyond a doubt, one of the most entertaining players in a league in which there really aren't all that many interesting people. I don't think he should use his place in the NFL to push his religion on people, but I do find the way he plays and the way people react to him fascinating. So I hope the guy keeps his job as a starter for years to come. Would you really rather watch Brady Quinn? Or Andy Dalton? Or Alex Smith?
The same argument can be made for Joe Webb. If Ponder becomes an efficient passer, then you'd obviously rather have Ponder starting than Webb. But if Ponder fails, and becomes our version of Orton or Quinn, then you can make an argument for a great athlete playing the position and trying to win in an unconventional manner.
2. If his name were anything other than Tubby Smith, would anyone think this man deserved to keep his job? He's lost 14 of his last 15 Big Ten games. He's shown an inability to adapt to injuries and help players get better while they're under his watch. Yesterday, against Purdue, even his vaunted defensive system stunk, allowing Purdue to shoot open three-pointers whenever they wanted.
And can we please re-visit all of the cheerleading from the local media that occured when the Gophers were beating junior-high teams from Winnipeg during their embarrassing non-conference schedule? Please remind me, people, why you were all so impressed? Won't you please admit that you just have no standards?
3. I know a lot of Vikings fans are questioning the Vikings' promotion of Rick Spielman to GM. After all, he's helped shape a roster that has flopped the last two years.
My view: Spielman deserves a shot at this. No one works harder or is more organized. Yes, he's missed on a number of draft picks, but most personnel gurus outside of Green Bay do. I'll say the same thing about Spielman that I said when the Twins made Terry Ryan their GM in 1994: I don't know if he'll succeed, but he's earned this opportunity. While most fans daydream about the Wilfs hiring some personnel magician away from another team, in any organization I like to see loyalty and hard work rewarded.
Of course, Spielman will probably be judged by Christian Ponder's career. If Ponder becomes a good NFL starter, then Spielman will have succeeded on his most difficult and important decision, and will have the opportunity to build around Ponder. If Spielman missed on Ponder, he'll probably be out of a job in two years.
4. I've had a lot of different views of Ricky Rubio over the years. I covered him at the Beijing Olympics, and he was very impressive while playing against the US in the gold medal game. I watched him play in Europe, and thought he had regressed. I watched him in preseason practices, and was newly impressed by his poise and ballhandling.
Just a few weeks into his first NBA season, I'm much more impressed by Rubio than I thought I would be. He's smoother and more efficient than I expected, and he doesn't throw some of the flashy, silly passes that I saw in Europe.
Rubio, Kevin Love and Derrick Williams could be the basis of a playoff team.
Upcoming: I'll be on 1500espn with Reusse and Mackey at 2:05 p.m. today and every weekday. Please follow me on Twitter at @Souhanstrib.
Remember 23 months ago when the Timberwolves were the funniest joke in town and the Vikings had maybe the best team in football?
This weekend, the franchises passed each other, the Wolves heading up, the Vikings landing with a splat.
Throw out whatever qualifiers you want about the Wolves' exhibition opener - facing a bad team, exhibitions are meaningless, etc. - but that was entertaining basketball we were treated to on Saturday night. Rick Adelman, Derrick Wililams, Ricky Rubio, J.J.Barea and a slimmed-down Kevin Love give us five good reasons to care about the Wolves.
And that's not all. You could see Michael Beasley having an excellent year offensively in this system, and at least paying attention on defense. I think this team's biggest challenges will be figuring out what to do at center and shooting guard. Darko and Wes Johnson haven't proved themselves yet.
At center, Love playing inside might often be the answer. The problem for Johnson is that if he can't shine in this system, he's probably not an NBA player. He's got to prove himself quickly.
While the Wolves looked more promising than they have for years, the Vikings embarrassed themselves. This is becoming a trend. They got Brad Childress fired last year with a pathetic performance against Green Bay at the Dome. Now they've turned in three stinkers this season, at Chicago, at Green Bay and now at home on Sunday against the Saints.
I came to Minnesota in 1990 to cover the Vikings. This is easily the worst Vikings team I've ever seen in person. W'hich is amazing, considering this team has three stars in their prime in Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen and Percy Harvin.
I'm about to start working on my column for the Monday paper, and I believe this is the question that needs to be answered: Should anybody's job be safe right now? Leslie Frazier's? Christian Ponder's? Any coach's?
This was a pathetic display. Frazier said after the game that he took responsibility for his team not being prepare. He also said he wants to see how Ponder performs the last two weeks so he can judge him on a larger body of work.
I think Frazier and Ponder both will be trying to save their jobs the last two weeks, even if noone wants to admit that.
Upcoming: I'll be on 1500espn at 2:05 on Monday and every weekday with Reusse and Mackey. Thanks to Terry Ryan for his bluntness when we had him on Sunday Sports Talk this morning.
OK, as usual, the headline is a little strong. What I meant to say is that Tim Tebow isn't the devil. I just think he made a deal with the devil. All this religious stuff is just cover.
Tebow obviously has sold his soul for a few NFL victories. There is no other rational explanation for him going 7-1 while throwing like a drunk Tarvaris Jackson.
On to today's highly irrelevant Local Power Rankings, which are really just a vehicle that allows me to comment on the seven major revenue sports in town:
1. Minnesota Wild.
Duh. Still the No. 1 team in the NHL. I wrote in today's paper how everything is looking up for the franchise, whether you're looking at the standings or young talent or realignment.
I asked Mike Yeo on Wednesday night if he looked forward to playing more games against teams like the Jets and Blackhawks. Yeo said, yes, ``we already dislike the Jets. And we already dislike the Blackhawks.''
The Wild could be quite entertaining for years to come, and I hope they find a way to land Zach Parise, who owns a home in Minnesota and would the front-line scorer this team needs.
2. Gopher hockey
We're seeing slippage. I love the talent on this team but have to be shown that they can gut through the long season and be at their best in the postseason. So far they've been impressive, but I still don't think they're quite playing to their talent level.
3. Minnesota Timberwolves
Yes, the Gopher basketball team has a gaudy record. But just holding intrasquad scrimmages means the Timberwolves have faced tougher competition.
I'll be at Target Center on Saturday night to see the debut of Rubio, Adelman, et al. And I'm as intrigued and optimistic about this franchise as I've been since Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell staged their mutiny.
4. Gopher basketball
Can we please get to the point where the Gophers stop getting praised for playing and beating lousy teams?
The Gophers' nonconference schedule is an embarrassment for the program and an affront to ticket-buyers. I'm not going to take this team seriously until it plays, and wins, a few conference games.
5. Minnesota Twins
While the average ranting fan demands that the Twins make a blockbuster trade or sign a top free agent, realistic observers of the team should be able to recognize that Terry Ryan is having a very good offseason so far.
Bringing Matt Capps back doesn't impress anyone, but Ryan has always believed that competent relievers fluctuate year-to-year, so it's probably a worthwhile gamble. He got rid of Kevin Slowey, which could have the same positive effect on the Twins that the Wild trading Martin Havlat has had. Jamey Carroll is the kind of short-term, inexpensive stopgap that could help the 2012 Twins without busting the payroll or blocking any worthwhile infield prospects. Ryan Doumit is a perfect fit for a team that doesn't know how many games its catcher will catch.
And even for someone who has known Michael Cuddyer since 1997 and thinks very highly of him as a player and a human, the Josh Willingham signing is a winner. Willingham is a similar player to Cuddyer and is less expensive, and Cuddyer's departure brings two draft picks to a Twins franchise desperate to rebuild its farm system.
Ryan has also signed a number of minor-league players who are more talented than their struggles indicate. And remember, Ryan's strength was always finding hidding gems, like Lew Ford, Alexi Casilla, Joe Nathan, Francisco Liriano and Johan Santana.
Also: Bringing back Bill Smith is a winning move for the organization. I don't think he was a natural general manager, but he does good work in Latin America and in Lee County, where he's always had a great working relationship with the stewards of the Twins' spring training ballpark.
Smith is a valuable employee, and it speaks volumes about his selflessness and his relationship with Ryan that he would come back to an organization that just fired him.
A couple of months ago, the Twins' front office looked overmatched. Now the Twins' front office features Ryan as the boss, former Reds GM Wayne Krivsky as a valued adviser, and Smith. Those moves, with the addition of Gene Glynn as the Triple-A manager, should pay dividends. If not this year, then in the future.
6. Gopher football
Jerry Kill hasn't lost a game in a long time.
7. Minnesota Vikings
They need to keep losing and draft Matt Kalil, then land either a speed receiver or quality defensive back at the top of the second round.
The Vikings have a dozen problems to address, but as Jacques Lemaire always said, ``Solve one problem, and two more disappear.''
Upcoming: I'll be at Target Center to watch the new Wolves on Saturday, then at the future site of Zygiopolis on Sunday to watch the Saints and Vikings.
Today, I'll be on 1500espn at 2:05, and sometime tonight (between 6 and 8) with Tom Pelissero. Tom and I will run Sunday Sports Talk from 10-noon on Sunday before the Vikings game (also on 1500espn). My twitter handle is @Souhanstrib.
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Building on the excitement of Red Storm sports, St. John’s will
introduce a new Public Service Announcement during its upcoming
men’s and women’s basketball games that highlights some of the
University’s proudest institutional successes this year.
The PSA will air with games televised on CBS, ESPN networks, MSG
and in other venues. It debuts on SNY’s “Red Storm Report,” at 4:30
p.m. on Friday, February 1. The PSA airs during basketball games
starting Saturday, February 2, when the women’s team faces UCONN
and the men take on Georgetown. | http://www.stjohns.edu/academics/undergraduate/education/currentevents/whats_going_on_in_soe/literacy_alive_week/[email protected]%2Finternal_digest%2Ftodays_highlights%2F130201_new_stj_johns_psa.xml?context_date=2/6/2013 | 144 |
Hockey fans cheer on Team Canada during their game against Team Denmark during World Juniors hockey action at Rexall Place in Edmonton Alberta, Thursday Dec. 29, 2011.
Credits: DAVID BLOOM/EDMONTON SUN/QMI AGENCY
EDMONTON -- In a game that had moths versus windshield written all over it, there wasn't enough wiper fluid in all of Edmonton to clean off the goo.
But despite all the guts, there wasn't much glory to be found for Team Canada in crushing hopelessly overmatched Denmark 10-2 at the world junior championship Thursday.
This was lambs being lead to slaughter and the Canadians simply went about their business with the cold and ruthless efficiency of an executioner.
"It's a hard game to play in when you're expected to win and expected to score a lot of goals," said head coach Don Hay. "It's not easy to do. But we got through the game with no injuries and we got the win."
They had the win after the first period, in which they outshot Denmark 19-3 and built a 4-0 lead, but there were, unfortunately, two more periods to play, which can best be described as a half-interested cat pawing at a half-dead mouse.
"Maybe not our toughest competition," understated Ryan Strome. "But we have to continually strive to be better. None of the games are getting easier from here on in so we have to keep getting better ourselves."
They'd have to play corpses for the next game to be any easier, but all you can do is play who they put in front of you and the Canadians are 3-0 so far, having beaten Finland 8-1 and the Czech Republic 5-0 for a 23-2 margin of victory so far.
Three straight blowouts might not be the best way to prepare for the biggest games of their lives, but what can you do?
"People can look at it however they want, but we've been tested," said Brett Connolly. "The Finns were a great team, the Czechs gave us a good battle, too. We're a good team."
After scoring more goals in the first (four) than Denmark had shots (three), Canada eased up in the second but still managed to score its fifth, sixth and seventh goals of the night.
And that was it, the other team was Dane like dinner.
"It was a tough one for Denmark, coming up from the B pool," said winger Boone Jenner. "But we just tried to keep playing our game, just play simple hockey."
"It's not like we were trying to run up the score," added forward Brendan Gallagher. "We've been on the other side of those, all of us have, and it's not a good feeling."
The Canadians spent the third period trying not to get injured and that was all the opening Denmark needed to strike back. Nicolai Meyer sniped one past Mark Visentin to break the shutout and eight minutes later Emil Kristensen added a second Danish goal.
At that point, Canada got serious again and scored its eighth and ninth and 10th.
"We knew on the bench that we had to get back to work," said Gallagher. "We were a little sluggish and they took advantage of us. They didn't stop working for the whole game. We just went back to the things that made us successful and were able to score some more goals."
So the Canadians are 3-0 so far, with one game left in the round robin -- a New Year's Eve date with the Americans that could either be for first place in the pool, or rendered entirely meaningless if the U.S. loses to the Czech Republic on Friday.
"We'll be ready to roll on New Year's Eve," said Jenner. "It should be a fun game to play in, and a competitive one."
For a change. | http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/sports/archives/2011/12/20111230-020931.html | 815 |
Festival of football kicks off at Tionko-A A +A
Friday, March 1, 2013
THE two-day Philippine Football Federation (PFF) Mindanao Regional Football Festival kicks off at Tionko field today, Saturday.
Davao City's Ramonito Carreon-coached U-11 boys team, Alex Adolfo-mentored U-12 and the U-14 girls of coaches Reynalyn Ravanes and Analou Ingles will play against teams from Davao del Norte and Compostela Valley.
Coaches Ronel Garfin, Ruel Sasuman, Sylvestre Sarco and Sandro Balderas will assist the city's coaches.
Davao Football Association (DFA) general secretary Erwin Protacio, in an e-mailed statement furnished to Sun.Star Davao yesterday, said the Mindanao eliminations is part of the selection process for the boys and girls national teams that will compete in the Asian Football Confederation’s Festival of Football.
He said Dabawenyos Jed Diamante and Javier Romero-Salas formed part of the Little Azkals that played in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia while Patricia Francisco, Joannah Adao, Bea de Luna, Moira Calizo, Arwen Allado, and Joyce Semacio made it to the Philippine U13 Girls Team that saw action in the Girls Festival of Football in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam last year.
"This event will involve 11 a-side games where all players are required to be fielded. Selected players will then undergo skills testing where they will be evaluated by PFF technical director and former men’s national team Coach Aris Caslib," Protacio said.
Caslib will assisted by Mindanao Center for Football Excellence Director coach Percy Guarin and Mindanao Grassroots coordinator coach Albert Ryan Lim.
Published in the Sun.Star Davao newspaper on March 02, 2013. | http://www.sunstar.com.ph/davao/sports/2013/03/01/festival-football-kicks-tionko-270734 | 408 |
Davis, Tappin Remain Undefeated At Nike Kerr-McGee Pro-Am -- December 20, 1999
By Kari Lydersen
Oklahoma City, OK - Josh Davis and Ashley Tappin both completed their multi-event undefeated streaks at the Nike Kerr-McGee Pro-Am today, with Tappin winning the women's 100 yard freestyle in 49.74 and Davis taking the men's 200 back in 1:45.33. Davis, a triple gold medalist at the 1996 Olympic Games, wound up with four wins, having earlier won the 200 and 500 yard freestyle, and the 200 IM. Tappin also finished four-for-four, having earlier won the 50 and 200 free and the 100 fly.
National Resident Team member B.J. Bedford won both of her events, and left Oklahoma City $1,200 richer as a result. Today she took the 200 back in 1:56.44, winning by a full six seconds. Yesterday she won the 100 back.
Jason Lezak and Matt Hooper both logged second wins as well on Sunday. Lezak, representing Irvine Nova, won the 100 free in a very fast 42.63, while Hooper took the 1650 in 15:19.91. No one claimed USA Swimming's offer of an extra $2,500 for an American record in the metric mile--both Hooper and the women's winner, Whitney Lynn (16:54.54) were well off the marks.
Jarod Schroeder and Martin Pepper waged a tight duel in the men's 200 fly, with Schroeder, a National Resident Team member, prevailing in the end, 1:48.80 to 1:49.00. Schroeder had previously taken second in the 100 fly and competed in the 50 free shoot-out.
Jana Krohn, Arizona Desert Fox, won the women's 200 fly in 1:59.41. At the very end of the meet, Natalie Coughlin set the pool record in the event when she stroked a speedy 1:56.35 in a time trial.
The combined team title went to the Little Rock Arkansas Dolphins, with 533 points. The Kansas City Blazers were second with 438.5, followed by the host, Kerr-McGee Swim Club, with 402.
Little Rock won the men's title with 362 points, ahead of Kerr-McGee with 304 and the Blazers with 187.5.
The Blazers won the women's team title with 251 points, with Rockwood second (231) and the Academy Texas Aquatic Champions third (228).
The Little Rock men won every relay, taking both first and second in the 200 free rely and setting a meet record in the 400 free relay (3:03.73). Little Rock coach Paul Blair noted that this is the first major meet his team has competed in since they joined forces with the Kansas City Dolphins (under coach Robert Sturman) and began competing as one team.
"This was a nice coming out party for our new partnership," Blair said, noting that the team shaved for the meet. | http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/1118.asp?q=Davis,-Tappin-Remain-Undefeated-At-Nike-Kerr-McGee-Pro-Am | 645 |
Forget Cesar Cielo (well, not quite...). James The Missile Magnussen is under fire from Aussie teammate James The Rocket Roberts, a man on 47.63 this year over 100m freestyle, that time matching what it took Magnussen to lift the world crown in Shanghai last year.
Magnussen has since moved on. And how: 47.10 ahead of Roberts at Australian trials. Roberts believes what all competitors must: the best is beatable.
"I always say anyone is beatable," Roberts, 21, told reporters at the Australian team holding camp in Manchester. "Anything can happen on any given day and nothing is a certainty in sport. I'm confident of the work I've put in over the past few months and I'm just real excited to get in and race."
Roberts recalled Libby Lenton heading intone Athens 2004 as a threat to gold in the 100m free - and Jodie Henry coming home with the big prize. It can happen. It has happened, Olympic history a high tide of upset come the biggest of moments.
There is no assumption from Roberts that he can will by some fluke: he believes he will need to step up if he wants the prize that Magnussen also has in mind.
"I've been improving at a pretty rapid rate so it's going to be tough to make those big jumps again,'' said Roberts, coached by John Fowlie at the Australian Institute of Sport. | http://www.swimnews.com/News/view/9596 | 299 |
Taiwan’s Chan Yung-jan was defeated by Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova 6-0, 6-2 in the second round of the women’s singles at the Australian Open yesterday.
Cibulkova, seeded 18, broke Chan’s serve immediately, after the latter had squandered five game points. The Slovakian then reeled off six straight games to take the first set in only 31 minutes.
With Cibulkova’s defeat of South Africa’s Chanelle Scheepers 6-0, 6-0 in the first round, she ended up winning 19 straight games at the tournament until Chan halted her run by winning the second game of yesterday’s second set.
However, Chan only managed to win one more game before the 19-year-old from Bratislava wrapped up her straight sets win.
Cibulkova served much better than her Taiwanese opponent, the former’s first-serve percentage was 76 percent, the latter’s only 56 percent.
In another second round clash, Serena Williams gave herself a “D-minus at best” for her 6-3, 7-5 win over Argentina’s Gisela Dulko, ranked 45th in the world.
Elena Dementieva improved her winning streak this year to 12 matches with 6-4, 6-1 win over Iveta Benesova.
Amelie Mauresmo rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Britain’s Elena Baltacha. Mauresmo, a former No. 1-ranked player now seeded 20th, advanced when Baltacha double-faulted on match point.
In the men’s singles, Rafael Nadal got top marks for his second straight match, a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over Croatia’s Roko Karanusic. The Spaniard has dropped only 11 games in six sets and next faces German veteran Tommy Haas, who beat Flavio Cipolla of Italy, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
Fifth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga showed flashes of brilliance and bravery as he survived a 195-minute marathon to down Ivan Ljubicic 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (10/8), 7-6 (8/7), 6-2.
In the men’s doubles, Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun returned to earth with a bump yesterday after his stunning victory over David Nalbandian in the men’s singles the previous day. Teaming up with Germany’s Rainer Schuettler the pair suffered a 6-2, 6-1 thrashing by Pole Lukasz Kubot and Austrian Oliver Marach.
Kubot and Marach wrapped up the first set in only 33 minutes and things were no better for the Taiwanese/German combo in the second as their opponents wrapped up the win in only 67 minutes.
One consolation for Lu is that his short workout yesterday should leave him reasonably fresh for today’s third round singles clash with Tommy Robredo. | http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/sport/archives/2009/01/23/2003434449 | 671 |
Tottenham's late failure to sign Milos Krasic will see the Juventus winger move back to Russia, according to reports in Italy.
Harry Redknapp admitted that he tried to sign Krasic, a long-term target, in a late loan deal on deadline day.
But Spurs could not afford the fee to buy him from Juventus, after the 27-year-old insisted that he would only move to White Hart Lane on a permanent deal.
"I wanted him on loan this time but he didn't want to come and wanted a permanent deal but we didn't have the money," Redknapp confirmed.
It has been reported that the manager will look to reignite the interest when the transfer window reopens in the summer but he may not get the chance.
Former CSKA Moscow star Krasic knows he has no future at Juventus and wants to leave the club as soon as possible.
And, with the Russian transfer window still open until February 24th, the 27-year-old winger is hoping to seal a move back. | http://www.talksport.co.uk/sports-news/football/premier-league/transfer-rumours/1510/71/krasic-set-russia-move-after-failing-seal-spurs-switch | 217 |
Tampa Bay Lightning improvements won't stop at the uniforms as team has big plans for Forum
The Tampa Bay Lightning in a series of announcements is expected to unveil improvements it has planned for the St. Pete Times Forum. Many of the improvements will be ready by next season. Employees, before Tuesday's game with the Maple Leafs, got a quick preview as to what is planned with a presentation by minority owner and CEO Tod Leiweke. There also was a video presentation done with reporters in the press box.
The renovation actually is a continuation of improvements already made. The highlights of the expanded renovation includes changing out all the arena seats, part of making the interior of the arena conform to the team's new blue and white color scheme. An 11,000 square-foot party deck is planned and a pipe organ for in-game entertainment. No word on whether it will match the strength of the organ at the old Chicago Stadium.
The process is part of a housecleaning, so to speak, by Leiweke and new owner Jeff Vinik. It also is a continued sign of the seriousness they have on following through on declarations made when they came on board to give the organization a new look and direction.
Oh, and one other note on the 2-0 win over the Maple Leafs:
Defenseman Matt Smaby was indeed supposed to be scratched for a ninth straight game, coach Guy Boucher said, but was added to the lineup after forward Mattias Ritola did not feel well during warm-ups as the Lightning went with seven defensemen. Smaby played six shifts and 3:44. | http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/lightning/content/tampa-bay-lightning-improvements-wont-stop-uniforms-team-has-big-plans-forum/2048917 | 328 |
An accelerator pedal will not be floored on the track in NASCAR or the Indy Racing League for more than a month, but what portends to be another historic season has already begun, in race shops and garage bays, and in board rooms, attorneys' offices and courtrooms.
Racing will look different by the time 2009 is through, and it won't be dull.
Can Jimmie Johnson do it again?
Absolutely. He tied Cale Yarborough's 30-year-old mark of winning three consecutive championships at NASCAR's highest level and showed no sign of decline. Perhaps most impressive, his No. 48 Chevrolet team recovered from a comparatively poor early performance to peak during the Chase for the Championship. At age 33, with the most successful team (Hendrick Motorsports) and the first crew chief to win three straight titles (Chad Knaus), Johnson is primed to milk this a little longer.
Who can catch Johnson?
Carl Edwards deserved better than a second-place finish in the Sprint Cup chase. The 29-year-old won a series-best nine races, including three of the last four, but he has the misfortune of being very good when Johnson is otherworldly.
How will the flagging auto industry affect racing?
That remains to be seen, but as long as Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are still churning out cars and hoping to sell them to American consumers, they are likely to remain involved. The Big 3 uses NASCAR as a marketing tool and contend they reap a sizable return on the investment.
Are teams in jeopardy?
Yes. Revenue streams are dwindling because Wall Street malaise has either walloped or really worried the Fortune 500 companies that for decades have pumped sponsorship money into NASCAR. Many teams attempted to cobble together multiple partial deals to amass the $20-million to $25-million needed to field one competitive car. Mergers and acquisitions have become a way to survive with no guarantee. Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates and Dale Earnhardt Inc. have melded into one four-car team, but it still lacks full sponsorship on two cars and needs a driver for a fourth. Legendary Petty Enterprises is expected to be absorbed by Gillett Evernham, and the iconic Wood Brothers has committed to just 12 Sprint Cup races next year.
Has Jeff Gordon entered the winter phase of his career?
The four-time series champion failed to win a race this year for the first time since his rookie season, 1993. In 2007 he won six races and appeared to have the title within his grasp with three races left, but Johnson ripped it away. Gordon, 37, and crew chief Steve Letarte struggled for consistency, still qualified for the Chase but were never really a threat to win it. It's unfathomable that Gordon won't rebound and win again. He could pile up enough races to contend again, but a young crop of hungry drivers — especially his teammate, Johnson — is making it tough to burnish his legend before he transitions into a comfortable post-racing life.
Is Tony Stewart in over his head?
It helps that his majority stake in Haas CNC racing was basically a gift, but payroll, bills and taxes will start coming due in a dreadful climate for ownership, especially for a team that's a fixer-upper. Stewart was savvy enough to parlay his clout into a strong second driver, Ryan Newman, and full sponsorships for both before the financial structure of NASCAR's sponsor community began to crater. Stewart-Haas Racing will get by on guile alone for a while, and Stewart, with a large management team, has proved to be an astute businessman.
What does Team Penske do if Helio Castroneves is convicted on federal tax evasion charges?
Penske Performance president Tim Cindric told the St. Petersburg Times that the team would not make a hasty decision on the two-time Indianapolis 500 and Grand Prix of St. Petersburg winner. Castroneves could get prison time if convicted, and his scheduled March trial would leave the Indy Racing League team little time to find a viable option to pair with Ryan Briscoe. Serviceable drivers are available (Justin Wilson and Will Power won races this year), but an intriguing option could be former St. Petersburg resident Sebastien Bourdais, who won a record four straight Champ Car titles before signing with the Toro Rosso Formula One team for last season. His F1 return dependent on bringing his own sponsor, Bourdais told Autosport that he could consider a return to North America. That would be quite a Plan B. | http://www.tampabay.com/sports/autoracing/seven-questions-for-auto-racing-as-it-heads-toward-the-2009-season/949919 | 943 |
Messrs Torres, Suarez and De Gea top the talking points on the latest Football Podcast, which reviews the Merseyside derby and Prem weekend.
The new Football Podcast is now available, with host Simon Wilkes steering you through a wonderful weekend of Premier League action.
Saturday's action served up vital victories for Arsenal, Manchester City and Wigan - but it's Sunday's games that are hogging the headlines as they were as super as that flying fella in blue tights.
Joining Simon this week are fellow journalists Ian Watson, our 'Last Line' goalkeeping guru who reviews David De Gea's technique, and Sam Nightingale, who counts Liverpool among the many teams he supports.
The trio get stuck into the big talking points from the weekend, discussing Fernando Torres' red card at Stamford Bridge, Mark Clattenburg's game-changing decisions, Luis Suarez's celebrations, Mikel Arteta's controversial winner at The Emirates and where Demba Ba will be playing in January.
Let us know your thoughts on the Podcast by leaving a Comment below... | http://www.teamtalk.com/columns/8204893/Fernando-Torres-and-Luis-Suarez-top-the-bill-on-the-new-Football-Podcast | 219 |
Steve Coppell: Oct 1996 - Nov 1996. Coppell left Crystal Palace in
October 1996 to become manager of Manchester City, a job that he would quit
after only six games and 33 days in charge. He cited the pressure of the job
as his reason for leaving the club. His reign at the club is the shortest of
any City manager to date. | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/9729109/The-15-Man-City-managers-outlasted-by-Alex-Ferguson.html?page=-1&frame=2421160 | 77 |
Ibrahimovic inspired Sweden in the inaugural match at the Friends Arena last night after England had led 2-1 at half-time through goals from Danny Welbeck and debutant Steven Caulker.
But after chesting down Anders Svensson's pass and volleying home a 77th-minute equaliser, Ibrahimovic put Sweden ahead with a 30-yard free-kick before serving up the piece de resistance in injury time.
Asked if it was his best international strike, the Sweden captain replied: "No - but it's the one I've enjoyed most.
"When I got the long ball, I saw the goalkeeper come out, and I thought, 'Should I go in for the duel, or wait for him to put it out?'" the Sweden captain said.
"When he put it out, I had it in my mind to score - to try to score. I tried to put it in the goal and when I was on the ground, I saw a defender trying to get it, and I wanted to scream 'No' but the ball went in."
Ibrahimovic did not regard it as his best performance for Sweden, however. That accolade went to his 20th-minute opener, which made him the first player to score at Stockholm's Friends Arena.
"I think I've done many, many great games," said the Paris Saint-Germain striker. It was important to play a good game in the new arena.
"But if you ask me which goal I liked most, I'd say the first goal, because it was a historic goal - the first goal in the new arena."
After the match, England captain Steven Gerrard hailedthe strike as one of the greatest he had seen in his career.
While it ensured Roy Hodgson tasted defeat for the first time since becoming England manager Gerrard preferred to salute the brilliance of Ibrahimovic rather than dwell on disappointment.
“He’s scored one of the best goals I’ve ever seen live,” said Gerrard, whose own achievement in becoming just the seventh England player to reach 100 caps was eclipsed by the Swedish striker’s individual brilliance.
“I still think Zinedine Zidane is the greatest player I ever played against, but Ibrahimovic’s performance tonight was world-class and it was his night. If someone scores four goals, and the way he scored them, it’s up there with the best performances I have ever seen.” | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/england/9679671/Zlatan-Ibrahimovic-claims-bicycle-kick-against-England-is-not-the-best-goal-he-has-ever-scored.html | 514 |
“I’d like these guys, as athletes, to be recognised as household names,” the England coach says. “So if you walked into a school and asked them who was the captain of the England netball team, instead of one child putting their hand up, it would be the whole class.”
The captain of the England netball team is Pamela Cookey. She has been an international player for more than a decade, and on Wednesday evening, at Wembley Arena, will lead her team out against world champions Australia.
She is one of the most respected figures in the sport, but she still has to hold down a full-time job as a manager at Airbus to make ends meet. Last summer, she walked into the Olympic Park as a spectator, took her seat in the Basketball Arena, and watched the Games unfold in front of her eyes.
“Of course we wanted to be part of it,” she says. “We were gutted that we weren’t. Being in our home country as well, it would have been amazing. But we’re not there yet, and that’s not something we can begrudge.”
Netball is not yet played in enough countries to warrant admission to the Olympic family. Cookey and her team-mates know that.
The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year is the closest they are likely to get to the head-rush of London in their own careers. A professional league in the United Kingdom is still some years off. They know that too. But slowly, the times are changing.
For this is not the familiar shoestring symphony of the obscure minor sport. In fact, it is rather harsh on netball to refer to it as a minor sport at all. In terms of participation, it is the biggest female sport in Britain, a fact recognised by Sport England, who awarded it a massive funding rise last month.
Across both genders, it is poised to overtake the likes of cricket and rugby union in the next decade. But the chances are that while you know Kevin Pietersen and Chris Ashton, the likes of Jo Harten and Eboni Beckford-Chambers will still be unknown to you.
At some point between the school gymnasium and Wembley Arena, something has malfunctioned.
“It’s probably to do with the links with the community and the culture,” Mayes says. “People might go to university and there’s not as many outlets to play. So we lose out on players. Also, we lose fans to other sports.
"But women in sport have shifted in the last 30 years. They’re becoming a lot more visual. It’ll be a continual cycle from there.”
Harten, who stands at an imposing 6ft 1in, has seen netball’s potential at close quarters, having played for the Canterbury Tactix in New Zealand.
“Me and Stacey [Francis, a team-mate] were out there together last year. We were having coffee and a bus drove past with our franchise logo. Or you’d post a letter back home, and the cashier would say: ‘Great game the other night!’ To get a tiny portion of that over here would be great.”
This three-match series against the Australians could mark a watershed in the sport’s popularity in this country. On Sunday in Bath, England won a nerve-shredding match 58-53 - only their third win over the world’s best team. Cricket, rugby, the Olympics - is there anything Australia are still any good at?
“Don’t say anything!” Mayes instantly warns the other two, throwing a protective arm across them as she does so.
A former Welsh international, and only 31, there is a quiet, compassionate authority to her leadership that is almost maternal in instinct. She is presently engaged in a PhD at Cardiff Metropolitan University. Her thesis is entitled ‘The Psychology Of The Elite Coach’.
“It’s an auto-ethnography,” she explains in a gallant but ultimately fruitless attempt to make me understand it.
Mayes displays an almost obsessive devotion to her craft, drawing inspiration from great coaches both in her sport and beyond. “I particularly admire Alex Ferguson. The sustainable success at one club for that long is very, very impressive.”
In fact, brains are almost a prerequisite for entry into this England team.
While the coach will soon be a doctor, Harten has a degree in international relations, Cookey one in management. Goal keeper Beckford-Chambers worked as a trainee solicitor while playing in Australia.
“I like to figure out tactical ways of getting around players, rather than physically holding on or sledging them,” Harten explains. “I’d rather be smart about it. It’s a bit like a game of chess.”
In the long run, English netball dreams big: of fully paid-up players, of wall-to-wall superstars, of an army of young talents swelling the national ranks.
For Wednesday night, though, Australia remain the priority. In this most impressive of sports, you see, everything happens in tiny steps. | http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/netball/9819890/Englands-growing-band-of-netball-players-dream-of-being-superstars-and-part-of-the-Olympic-Games.html | 1,116 |
Djokovic Advances After Opponent Hurls at US Open
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has played a lot of tennis this year, taking its ultimate toll in the final at Cincinnati weeks ago where he retired due to a shoulder injury.
On Tuesday at the US Open, Djokovic benefited from a retirement by opponent Conor Niland, an Irish qualifier who quit trailing 6-0, 5-1, and after emptying his stomach contents due to food poisoning.
“I warmed up and got sick everywhere after my 30-minute warmup,” Niland told reporters. “I thought I could bluff my way through but you can’t do that against the No. 1 in the world, I just found out. I thought I was going to vomit after long points. I just felt really, really rotten out there.”
Djokovic didn’t seem to mind the shortened first round that could benefit him during the long fortnight in New York.
“This has been a very long year,” Djokovic said after improving his 2011 campaign to 58-2. “So I really don’t mind that I spend less time on the court…Today I didn’t feel any pain. I served well and I played well, so I have no concern.”
Other Top 10 seeds advancing into the second round Tuesday were No. 2 Rafael Nadal, and No. 5 David Ferrer coming from a set down to beat Igor Andreev.
Ernests Gulbis, who has enjoyed a resurgence of once-promise this summer, provided the biggest seeded upset of the day when he topped No. 16 Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets. Nikolay Davydenko also uprooted a seed, outlasting No. 32 Ivan Dodig 6-2 in the fifth.
Other notable unseeded winners were David Nalbandian over Bobby Reynolds in four, James Blake in four over Jesse Huta Galung, Donald Young, and Nicolas Mahut beating Robert Farah 6-0 in the fifth.
“I think everyone’s light turns on at their own time,” said the embattled American Young, who earlier this year tweeted his disdain for the USTA after being denied a tournament wildcard, and who will next meet No. 14 Stan Wawrinka. “I’m starting to feel like mine is turning on. Yeah, people do it at their own time. Not everybody does it when everybody expects it to be done. I wish it could have been earlier. It’s starting to come now and I’m excited about it…I feel I’m a little more aggressive, able to actually not just play well for a little part of the match but the whole match, which is definitely what you need to do to win matches at this level.”
Blake will next meet Ferrer, and Nalbandian the No. 30 seed Ivan Ljubicic.
Matches to watch for on Wednesday in Flushing Meadows include (4) Andy Murray vs. Indian backboard Somdev Devvarman, (21) Andy Roddick vs. “Iron” Mike Russell in an all-American meeting, Marcos Baghdatis vs. (28) John Isner, and American-to-watch Jack Sock vs. Frenchman Marc Gicquel.
Arthur Ashe Stadium 11:00 Start Time
Kateryna Bondarenko (UKR) v. Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
Somdev Devvarman (IND) v. Andy Murray (GBR)
Venus Williams (USA) v. Sabine Lisicki (GER)
Arthur Ashe Stadium 19:00 Start Time
Andy Roddick (USA) v. Michael Russell (USA)
Anastasiya Yakimova (BLR) v. Maria Sharapova (RUS)
Louis Armstrong Stadium 11:00 Start Time
Madison Keys (USA) v. Lucie Safarova (CZE)
Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) v. Filippo Volandri (ITA)
Coco Vandeweghe (USA) v. Samantha Stosur (AUS)
Marcos Baghdatis (CYP) v. John Isner (USA)
Grandstand 11:00 Start Time
Robin Soderling (SWE) v. Louk Sorensen (IRL)
Marion Bartoli (FRA) v. Christina McHale (USA)
Robby Ginepri (USA) v. Joao Souza (BRA)
Angelique Kerber (GER) v. Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)
Also Check Out:
Del Potro Wins, Nadal Rained Out at US Open
Federer Falls Off Again in SF Loss to Djokovic at Rome
Rafael Nadal Wins First Career French Open Five Setter [Video]
Jankovic Passes on Mixed Doubles Coupling with Murray at US Open
Former French Open Winners Gaudio, Ferrero in Mix at Estoril | http://www.tennis-x.com/xblog/2011-08-30/7822.php | 1,076 |
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Oct 21st, 2008, 02:56 PM
Join Date: Jun 2008
Re: Katarina Srebotnik!
Ai lost her first round match 4-6 / 6-2 / 7-6(8) after 2:40 min of play...doubles match should start at 6PM. Let's hope she's not too exhausted/tired.
Proud member of the Smash 'em Sam family
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Find More Posts by gardengnome3 | http://www.tennisforum.com/showpost.php?p=14284114&postcount=2255 | 108 |
Re: Keep fighting LARS of Indonesia!
Yesterday, November 30, 2006 LARS flew to Doha by Emirates at 3 pm Jakarta time and they arrived at 10 pm Doha time.
I was informed that Lavinia and Sandy are sharing room with another Indonesian athlete, chess young gal prodigy...The Indonesian team are placed at Orchid apartment. Each room can accomodate 3 people.
After Doha, Lavinia and Sandy return to Jakarta and fly again to Hanoi, Vietnam. They will represent Indonesian tennis team with Septi Mende and Dian Anggraini at ASEAN University Games from December 17-23, 2006. That's why, both Lavinia and Sandy withdrew from Dubai 75K.
From juniors rebuilding Indonesia's tennis!!!
Last edited by Shine On Silver Moon : Dec 1st, 2006 at 06:41 AM. | http://www.tennisforum.com/showthread.php?p=9574772 | 181 |
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Fruitful Festival for the Cotswolds
10:00am Thursday 21st March 2013 in Sport
COTSWOLD trainers toasted three victories for their charges at the famous Cheltenham Festival.
Naunton handler Nigel Twiston- Davies enjoyed a fruitful meeting with victories for The New One and Same Difference alongside one second place and two thirds.
The Pertemps Final was the race for Temple Guiting trainer Jonjo O’Neill who bagged a 25-1 winner in Holywell and the fourth-placed Shutthefrontdoor.
David Bridgwater’s star The Giant Bolster finished fourth in the Betfred Gold Cup, while Martin Keighley’s Champion Court managed fifth in the Ryanair Chase.
For Twiston-Davies, he improved on a tough spell which saw the withdrawal of Gold Cup hope Imperial Commander with a lung infection and three other horses hit by a bug.
The New One had no such problems as he beat a strong Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle field by more than four lengths.
The five-year-old (7-2) was led superbly by the trainer’s jockey son Sam to defeat Rule The World for his third victory from four starts this season.
Nigel Twiston-Davies said: “It’s wonderful and, when it’s all in the family, it makes it even better. He’s a real class horse.
“Rock On Ruby went from this race to the Champion Hurdle and it’s definitely possible he’s a Champion Hurdle horse. Aintree is a definite possibility.”
The trainer landed his second winner when Same Difference (16-1) edged out Super Duty in a thrilling Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup finish under amateur Ryan Hatch.
Twiston-Davies said: “He only ran 19 days ago in the Racing Plus Chase so we were always taking a chance it might come too soon, but it obviously didn’t.”
O’Neill opened his account when Holywell broke a frustrating run of second-placed finishes when steered to victory by Richie McLernon.
The trainer said: “It was brilliant.
Richie gave him a great ride and knew what he was doing and it all went the right way for us. The blinkers obviously helped.” | http://www.tewkesburyadmag.co.uk/sport/10301754.Fruitful_Festival_for_the_Cotswolds/ | 536 |
Tag: Nf Network
Dmitry Chaplin, Clint Holmes, Jeff Leibow and More to Take Part in NF Hope Concert
Jeff Leibow, who plays Nick Massi in Jersey Boys at Paris Las Vegas, is producing the 2nd Annual NF Hope Concert, to take place October 21 at 1pm at Harrah's Las Vegas.The concert, which donates proc...
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The MLB Season is almost 1/3 of the way complete and there have been a few surprising teams so far (Indians, Orioles, Nationals). As good as those stories have been, I feel there are a few current minor league players that should be in the majors within the next few weeks. Below is a list of players that should be on your watch list for Fantasy Baseball as these players have the capability of having a similar impact that Bryce Harper and Mike Trout have had on their teams.
Trevor Bauer (Arizona Diamondbacks): Bauer was the 3rd overall pick for the Diamondbacks in the 2011 MLB Draft and it seems that he’s almost ready for the Major’s. His 2011 season got off to a slow start (had a 5.96 combined ERA at A and AA), but in 2012 has bounced back (has a combined 1.60 ERA between AA and AAA) and looks as if he’s almost ready for the majors. With the Diamondbacks already featuring a great deal of depth in their rotation, it seems like Bauer could be a key arm in their bullpen as they make a run at the playoffs.
Predicted call up: Early September
Jacob Turner (Detroit Tigers): Turner had a brief stint with the Tigers last year (started 3 games), and showed that he just wasn’t quite ready for the major at that time. Detroit currently feature’s the best pitcher in baseball (Justin Verlander) to go along with a few pitchers that have the capability of either being great or frustrating to watch. As for Turner, he’s currently ranked as the 12 best prospect in baseball, (according to MLB.com) and has the capability of being a very good number 2 pitcher for a team in the future. With that said, I feel Turner might make the majors this year, just on a different team as I feel the Tigers need a present day number 2 pitcher if they want to make a run at the World Series. Turner currently features a 2.73 ERA between both AA and AAA and has the stuff to become a legitimate Ace in the future.
Predicted call up: Early August
Danny Hultzen (Seattle Mariners): Hultzen was the second overall pick by the Mariners in the 2011 MLB Draft and has the capability of being a top of the rotation starter in the near future. Hultzen didn’t pitch in the minors all of last year but has so far dominated at AA (4-3 with a 1.81 ERA) and seems as if he’ll be the future number 2 starter behind Felix Hernandez. If Seattle decides to bring Hultzen up, I don’t think you’ll see him in a Mariners jersey until the end of the 2012 season.
Predicted call up: September
Tyler Skaggs (Arizona Diamondbacks): The Diamondbacks have a number of very good young arms (Bauer, Skaggs, and Archie Bradley) to go along with a number of young quality arms already on their roster (Cahill, Kennedy, and Hudson). Since entering professional baseball, Skaggs hasn’t had an ERA above 3.29 and it looks like he’ll be a very good left-handed pitcher in the near future. Unfortunately for Skaggs, because the Diamondbacks feature such good depth in their rotation, I don’t believe he’ll make their roster unless they put him in their bullpen. So why did I put him on this list? Because I believe there’s a good chance Arizona will look to acquire a hitter at the deadline (they need offense) and will look to trade one of their good young arms (maybe Skaggs) to acquire this.
Predicted call up: August
Zack Wheeler (New York Mets): At the trade deadline last year, the New York Mets decided to trade Center Fielder Carlos Beltran to the Giants for their number 1 prospect, Zack Wheeler. Now in his 4th season playing professional baseball (after being the 6th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Draft), it finally looks as if Wheeler’s close to reaching the Majors and becoming a quality starter for the Mets in the future. New York has so far had some success from their rotation so far at the early parts of this season; however, it seems like the Mets need an additional starting pitching help if they want to stay in the race in the NL East. If the Mets fall out of the race, I believe they’ll look to trade one of their current starters and give Wheeler a chance by the end of the season.
Predicted call up: August
Anthony Rizzo (Chicago Cubs): The Cubs have had a number of problems with their offense this year (have scored the third fewest runs in the National League) and need a major addition to their offense. With their struggles, this could be Anthony Rizzo’s chance to make the Cubs roster as he’s been tearing-up AAA pitching (.352 Average, 15 Home Runs, and 42 RBI). If the Cubs decide to call-up Rizzo, then they’ll have to make sure they find a space for Brian LaHair on their roster. With LaHair, Rizzo, Castro, and Dejesus in their lineup, I feel the Cubs will have the capability of featuring a much improved offense along with being a vastly improved second half team.
Predicted call up: July
Mike Montgomery: The Royals have a lot of great young talent on their roster; however, the majority of their young pitching prospects are still in the minor leagues (Mike Montgomery and Jake Odorizzi). With that said, I feel left-handed starter Mike Montgomery has great stuff and the capability of eventually becoming one of the best left-handed pitchers in the majors. Once Mike Montgomery shows that he can succeed at AAA, then we’ll start to see him pitching in the majors at Kauffman Stadium. Predicted call up: Late July/Early August.
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New Britain - U.S. Sen.-elect Chris Murphy received his first congratulatory phone call about 15 minutes after the polls closed on election night.
He considered the caller a reliable source. But as Connecticut's incoming junior senator recounted Wednesday, the news he heard seemed too good, too soon.
"I got a call from (Senate Majority Leader) Harry Reid within minutes of the AP calling the race," Murphy, a Democrat, told reporters over his chili dog lunch in a New Britain eatery Wednesday. "He was a little frustrated with me because I wasn't accepting his congratulations. I just couldn't believe that the race could be called as early as 8:15."
The news had sunk in by the time he received a concession call from his Republican opponent, Linda McMahon, an hour and a half later.
According to Wednesday's still-unofficial results, Murphy outpolled McMahon 55 percent to 43 percent with a Libertarian candidate, Paul Passarelli, picking up the remaining votes.
Murphy's 12-point spread was the same margin Democrat Richard Blumenthal enjoyed in the 2010 election against McMahon to succeed then-Sen. Chris Dodd. The Greenwich wrestling mogul spent close to $100 million of her fortune to fund both unsuccessful campaigns.
Murphy, also the state's outgoing 5th Congressional District representative, said he was pleasantly surprised by his large margin of victory, "given how rough the race was."
Pre-election polls showed Murphy with a narrower 6-point advantage on McMahon, who once led the race by as much as 3 points in late August.
"I think in the end, people got sick and tired of McMahon's attack ads, and they wanted a candidate who was talking about ideas and had some substance," Murphy said.
He said he felt the race turning in his favor during the October series of four one-on-one debates.
"Once this campaign stopped being just about 30-second attack ads and started being about a discussion between the two candidates on the issues, people started realizing that there was a real difference," Murphy said.
The future freshman senator plans to return to Washington next week to finish his congressional term. The two parties will be negotiating ways to avoid the "fiscal cliff" of scheduled tax hikes and sequestration budget cuts at year's end.
Murphy will be sworn in in January to replace Sen. Joe Lieberman, who is retiring after four six-year terms.
"There's no way around the fact that with the retirement of Senator Dodd and Senator Lieberman, Connecticut now has two relatively junior U.S. senators," said Murphy, adding that residents should not be worried. "I think that Dick Blumenthal and I are going to be an awesome team for this state. We're going to work our tails off to make sure Connecticut gets its fair share when it comes to money and projects and policies coming out of Washington."
Murphy's future seat was once held by Lowell P. Weicker Jr. of Old Lyme, the former governor and three-term Republican U.S. senator. He lost to Lieberman in 1988.
In an interview Wednesday, Weicker said McMahon's loss came as no surprise. She might have made the race closer if she had boned up on policy particulars and issues since her 2010 loss, he said.
"I think she was a terrible candidate," said Weicker, a former corporate board member of WWE. "I think she was totally unqualified to even be running for the Senate. And I think her campaign was sleazy and negative."
Connecticut's last Republican senator, Weicker believes it is still possible for a Republican Senate candidate to win in present-day Connecticut. But the state party "has obviously drifted way off to the right." To be successful, Weicker said, the GOP must broaden its appeal to minority groups and lower-income individuals.
"It shows how bankrupt the party was that someone with a pile of money could come in and buy the highest nomination that they have to offer," Weicker said. "Nobody had a record, in other words, that entitled them to the Senate position."
Murphy vowed Wednesday to fulfill his campaign pledge to maintain a bipartisan attitude. He said he is willing to strike compromises on tax and spending issues during Congress' forthcoming and high-stakes lame duck session.
"I was always very serious about the fact that Senator Lieberman's seat comes with a responsibility to be one of the people in the Senate who's willing to reach out and work with Republicans," he said.
The fall's bitterly fought contest stirred Murphy's support for a system of public campaign financing for U.S. Senate and House of Representatives races. A system similar to what Connecticut now has would make sense on the federal level, he said.
"I raised $10 million in this race from tens of thousands of people, and Linda McMahon wrote herself one big check," Murphy said. "I think we need to find a different way to finance elections ... that doesn't allow individuals to try and purchase elections and doesn't require nonwealthy candidates to spend all of their time raising money."
Murphy said he has yet to decide which committee assignments he will pursue, or whether he'll upgrade his housing situation in Washington. Since his 2007 swearing-in, Murphy has bedded down each night in his congressional office. | http://www.theday.com/article/20121108/NWS12/311089561/1070/sport09/Definitive-quick-victory-took-Murphy-by-surprise | 1,086 |
June 22, 2011
An interview with Dave Taylor
How are things with you at the moment?
I’m sat outside – it’s 90°C, it’s red hot!
You’re painting such a terrible picture! The great British summer is upon us here - it’s about 9°C and overcast here!
(laughs) Everything’s good. The England tour was very good, I had a good time.
For those don’t know, can you give us a quick recap of how you got involved in the business?
My whole family are wrestlers. My grandfather was a wrestler, my father, my four brothers, were wrestlers. My grandfather went to the Olympic Games, amateur wrestling, twice – 1932 & 1948. My father wrestled for the Olympic Games trials in 1948, but he didn’t make it, so he turned professional. He was 17 at the time and he wrestled until he was 56 or 57. He was British Champion for 17 years – the Lord Mount Evans belt. We’ve still got the belt. He passed away about 10 years ago. All the family were (wrestlers) – my brother Steve, my younger brother Eric & another younger brother called Joe.
Was it assumed that you would become a pro?
Yea…..I started amateur wrestling when I was 15. I won the British Championships at 17 and at 18 I came into this business!
You spent a lot of time in the 80’s & 90’s across the UK and then into Europe. Who were the guys you would have wrestled at the time?
When I first started going to Germany….people won’t even have heard of them! Kojak Mal Kirk was there, Mick McMichael & Jeff Kay were refereeing at the time up there, but they were mostly guys from out there. A Hungarian called Michel Nada, Franz Van Breuden from Belgium, a guy called Jude Harris – he was from Halifax in England – he lived out there. I can’t remember their names now, there were that many! There were a lot of guys out there but they were all European, there weren’t many English guys there. Then after that I worked for a promoter called Salenkowicz, and then after he finished there was Otto Wanz.
From the CWA?
Yea, he started that. Then there was (Dave) Finlay, Tony St. Clair, Danny Collins & myself. There was always a couple of Japanese in every year and like 2 or 3 Americans in, like Bull Power/Vader, John Hawk/JBL, Razor Ramon/Scott Hall, Papa Shango, he came in. There were a lot of guys who came in, but they were learning and that was the best place to learn, in Germany, because you worked every single night. You’d be there 6 or 8 months. When I started going to Germany I’d be there 9 months out of the year - every year for 10 years. It was great! We started off in Germany and then you went down to Austria – Linz, Graz, Vienna – and then back into Germany – Munich, Nuremburg. It was great.
How did the call in the mid 90’s to go WCW come about? Was it a result of your friendship with Regal?
Yea. What happened was I was in Hamburg in Germany, for Rene Lazatez. It was a 6 week tournament in Hamburg and I was finishing for Rene and going to Otto. So it was 6 weeks changing over to doing 7 or 8 months! Rene wasn’t too happy with that, but I said “Look, I’ll get somebody to take my place, no problem.” So I got in touch with (Steve/William) Regal and said “Do you fancy going to Germany?” He said yea, ‘cause that’s the place to start, you know what I mean? I got Regal in there in Germany and Rene liked him. He came and worked with Otto Wanz, and he was there working with us, and then he came to WCW. He’d been there about a year or 18 months and he rang me up……..it was to go Germany! You remember Cactus Jack getting his ear ripped off?
It was on that tour. They called me – would I be able to go out there (to Germany) immediately. It was a Sunday morning & they needed me there for Sunday night. So I went “Yea, I’ll try” and I tried to get a flight. I could not get a flight at all to get out there, so I couldn’t do it. They actually used Alex Wright.
Oh yes, “Das Wunderkind”!
Yea, that’s how Alex Wright got started…..I think (Ric) Flair was in charge at the time – he was the booker – and they came back over here (the USA). Within 3 months Alex Wright was over here and then Regal called me and said “Look, they’re interested in you, do you want to come over?” – I think it was ’96. They were doing the World War 3 pay-per-view, with a 60 man battle royal. I came for a week, did that, went back home & then (Eric) Bischoff called me and said “Do you want a contract? You can come back!” So I went back about a month after and I’ve been here ever since!
You described in our previous interview (December 2010) when we talked about how WCW was going down the tubes in 2000/2001 it was as a result of “…the inmates running the asylum.” Do you have any regrets about your time there?
No I loved it. It’s just that they started paying too much money out for guys. It’s ok if they’re producing – you know, if you’re earning $1,000,000 a year then you’ve got to produce something, haven’t you? But these guys weren’t. They were when they first came in, but then all of a sudden they’re working once or twice in 3 months and they’re getting, like, $32,000 a week and stuff like this, and it was guaranteed money. There was no incentive to work. Even myself – I once sat in my apartment for 3 months doing nothing – and I’m still getting paid – and I told them, I called them every week and said “Look, I’m sitting here every week doing nothing, I want to do something.” “Don’t worry it, you’re still getting paid!” But that wasn’t the point! The point is you want to keep the business going, don’t you? That’s what I thought it was – there were too many guys getting too much money. It didn’t have to be a profitable company, WCW, because (Ted) Turner owned it, they were his TV stations, so it was just a big circle, you know what I mean?
As long as it’s always ticking over it was ok, but then I think when all that money was being paid out for Scott Hall, Nash, Hogan that’s when it started to go down.
If we can fast forward to late 2007. You were aligned with, or were responsible on television, for bringing Drew McIntyre onto the main roster in WWE. How talented do you think he is with what you have seen of him?
Well at the time, they said to me “You’ve got a dark match tonight, your partner’s Drew McIntyre.” I said ok, but I’d never seen Drew, I didn’t know about him. They said to me “How does he work?” and I said “I don’t know. I mean, how would I know? I haven’t been in England for, like, 12 or 15 years!” They sad “You don’t know him?” and I said no, and that was the first time I met him right there and then! They stuck us together in a tag and they liked it, and then they had me being his mentor. I didn’t think he was quite ready, which proved to be right. After they got rid of me they sent Drew down to Tampa. He’s a great lad, he’s a good worker, he’s a good talker – he’s got the whole thing, you know what I mean?
I had seen him, possibly a year before he was signed. I had gone to an independent show here in Belfast – Sheamus was on it as well. You could see that both were trying to get noticed, but I didn’t think at the time they were quite ready to make that step.
The thing is, it wouldn’t matter how good you are, you wouldn’t be ready for this (WWE) when you get here because it’s a totally different ball game. I was training guys in Deep South, the WWE training camp in Atlanta, and when they got called up I’d say “Right, what you’ve got to do now is forget what we’ve taught you! You’ve got to start learning again, because you have to do what they want.” They (the wrestlers) were doing what we wanted at the training camp but you can’t go to Vince and do what we want, you’ve got to do what they (WWE) want. It’s all new learning again. It’s difficult, especially when there’s, like, 60 guys down in Tampa all training and it’s hard to stand out. One of the young guys said to me “The business is good, but it’s not as good as it used to be. I think it’s because when my dad took me to the wrestling show and I looked at wrestlers, they all looked like men! Cauliflower ears, big guys – men!” Now? They look like male models. They’ve all got tremendous bodies, but they belong in a catalogue selling suits or underwear! Twenty years ago they had Rick Rude – he was a big, good looking guy with a fantastic body, but that was one guy!
He was the exception.
Yea. Now, they’re all like that! Everybody’s the same, they’re all like carbon copies of each other. Nobody really stands out. They don’t look like fighters anymore, which they used to do 20 years ago.
Since we last spoke in late 2010 you were on the ROH card in April facing Colt Cabana. How did that come about?
I don’t know, they just called me! I think it might have been something to do with Colt Cabana, he’s a great fan of English wrestling & European wrestling. He was doing some sort of gimmick that nobody could beat him, he’s a technical wrestler…..that’s how I stood up and I went down to him. It wasn’t long, we did about 7 minutes, but I got a standing ovation at the end of the show.
I know that he (Colt) saw it as a great privilege, because as you said he is a big fan of the British style of wrestling.
It’s good when you go in there and get a big pop, but the Ring Of Honor fans, they’re different types of fans. They’re different than WWE, they’re different than anywhere. They all think they’re smart marks, but they’re not. The guys are killing themselves there, smashing each other to bits, and I walked in and I just did a little wrestling match with Colt Cabana and got as much heat as anybody there. Then at the end I got a standing ovation saying thanks for coming, everybody in the arena chanting “Thanks for coming!” and I lost to him, you know what I mean? They weren’t interested in who was winning or losing, it was strange.
Do you think that ROH ultimately sees itself as a feeder for the so called “big two” or do they think they can turn into a viable alternative for the guys in the business?
I don’t know……I was speaking to Nigel McGuiness yesterday (June 19th). What did they (TNA) call him?
Nigel killed himself working for them (ROH) and I told him years ago, I said “Look Nigel, you’ve gotta stop this. You’re going to kill yourself and you’ll have no longevity.” Well, he’s finished. He’s 33 years old. He’s finished. They’ve just let him go from TNA and he’s finished. WWE won’t use him because he couldn’t pass their medical. The guys there (ROH) are good guys, but they’re letting the audience tell them what to do. I’m good friends with Claudio (Castagnoli) and Chris Hero because they came to a wrestling school I used to have, and they asked me what I though of their match. I said “Great, but too much. Too much, and you’re letting the people tell you what to do. They wanna see you go over and land on the concrete on your head and you’re gonna do it.”
I saw that Claudio & Chris had tryouts last week at WWE.
Yea they did, yea. They did very well. I think they’ll be there shortly. They’ll take them, keep them together for 3 months and then split them up. That’s what they do!
As with a few of the guys I’ve been talking to, do you have much residual pain from your years in the business?
After this time in England, I’ve never felt as much pain in all my life! (laughs) I’ve always said it – we’re working, and then you get in a car and drive for 4 hours then when you get there you can’t get out of the thing! Over here (the USA) you work, you go to your hotel, you get a good night’s sleep, you travel the next day. In England, it’s straight in the car, through the night, travel back – I had difficulty walking by the end of 2 weeks! I think it was the training seminars which do it more, ‘cause I get too involved! I’m in that ring, I’m bumping – up and down, up and down – for 3 ½ hours, whereas in a match you’re doing 10, 15, 20 minutes. In a training seminar, you’ve got 20 guys, and because they don’t all watch what you’re doing you’ve got to do it with every single one of them. I thought I was gonna be crippled! In fact, my wife said to me “If you don’t stop this, it’s absolutely stupid. You’re going to be crippled!” But I feel ok now, I’ve had a week off! (laughs) I’m ready to go again.
How do you see your future in the business? Do you think it will be more training?
I think it will be more training. What happens is – I can still do it, it’s just that I don’t have the desire and a lot of the guys I work with don’t know enough to work with them. It’s too hard to work with them. I had one match in England with a guy (a couple of weeks ago) – it was pathetic! He didn’t know anything, and after that match I thought “I can’t deal with this!” Then I worked with Drew McDonald – easy night, great. Then I worked with a guy, I think you call him Paul Grant, and I didn’t know him, and I’m thinking “Oh, I hope this is not the same!” but I enjoyed it that much I said to him “You’ve just stopped me retiring!” I said that three times, because I’m sick of working with people that can’t work and you can’t do it by yourself, it’s impossible. When you get ones that can’t work, it’s too hard, so you just have to smash them to pieces instead of working, but I don’t wanna do that! I wanna work. That’s the problem, (it’s) the same here. I’ve been working a few shows, working with Reid Flair. He’s a nice lad, he’s ok, you know what I mean? But I don’t feel like teaching him how to wrestle! (laughs) If they go to wrestling school, that’s fine, but I don’t feel like going into the ring and dragging each other around. (For me) I think more training……and I saw a few pictures of myself when I was in England and I look like shit! (laughs) When you start thinking to yourself “God, I look like shit!” then you start thinking to yourself “I better stop this!” Even though the crowd’s still with you – when I was in Preston (England) the crowd was good, they were behind me, they were chanting stuff, but I saw some pictures there and I’m thinking “Oh my god! I look my age now!” I think that’s another why you wanna stop. | http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/mehaffy28.htm | 3,879 |
Pittsburgh Penguins' Jordan Staal celebrates his goal in the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers, Thursday, Oct. 8, 2009, in Philadelphia. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS/Michael Perez)
TORONTO - Just like last year, the Pittsburgh Penguins are back on top.
With four wins in their first five games to start the 2009-10 NHL regular season, the defending Stanley Cup champs have taken an early lead in the Eastern Conference standings.
There's a long way to go, but give Pittsburgh credit for avoiding the early headaches of a Stanley Cup hangover that has sometimes plagued past champions.
"There's a lot of hockey left, but we wanted to get off to a good start to the season and keep it going," said Penguins captain Sidney Crosby, who scored two goals to lead Pittsburgh over the host Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Saturday night.
The game against the Leafs was Pittsburgh's third in four days in the middle of a five-games-in-eight-days stretch. It also was Pittsburgh's second contest on a four-game road trip. Add it all up, and the Penguins faced a busy and potentially unforgiving start to the '09-10 NHL campaign.
Pittsburgh has proven to be up to the challenge, however, and the game against the Leafs also was an opportunity to right an old wrong.
"We didn't have a good outing our last time here and we wanted to make sure that didn't happen again tonight," Crosby said.
The previous time the Penguins were in Toronto - Feb. 14 of last season - they blew a 2-1 lead in the third period, allowing five unanswered goals. The next day, Michel Therrien was fired and Dan Bylsma took over as Pittsburgh's head coach. Under Bylsma, the Pens went 18-3-4 down the homestretch of the '08-09 season, and then went on to claim the Cup.
Bylsma wants the Penguins to maintain that high level of play throughout this season.
"We want to concentrate more on our own game," said the Penguins coach. "We have to play our style, play our gamea We don't want to react to what the other team is doing."
Against Toronto, the Penguins were superior all over the ice, but especially on special teams. Pittsburgh was 3-for-5 on the power play while killing off two Leafs advantages.
"You always want your team to respond," Bylsma said. "The last two games, we've been able to do that. We've answered the physical challenge, we've responded on the power play. Tonight our power play was a big turning point in the game."
Prior to beating the Leafs, Pittsburgh nipped their interstate arch-rivals, the Philadelphia Flyers, 5-4 on Thursday. That victory came one day after the Penguins' only defeat of the season, a disappointing 3-0 loss to the visiting Phoenix Coyotes.
"We've got a lot of guys here who are very motivated," Crosby said. "And that's important. We need that effort all the way through the season and the guys really realize that."
AdvertisementThis Week - Subscribe Now | http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/28487-Pittsburgh-Penguins-showing-no-sign-of-Stanley-Cup-hangover-in-early-NHL-season.html | 665 |
Långholmen’s first team travelled out into the countryside to meet old foe Skå, in a clash certainly not expected to be a walk in the park. Despite settling well and dominating the game for the first 20 minutes, the Stripes were unable to convert their chances and paid the price as Skå showed a ruthless efficiency on the counter attack to win 5-1.
Bottles of fizzy rhubarb pop, images of the spritely local ladies team and the silverware of glories past greeted the Stripes in the away dressing room, creating a setting Enid Blyton would be proud of. Sadly the only famous five appearing this afternoon were the home side’s goals that knocked the stuffing out of a Långholmen squad with high ambitions for the season.
The Stripes once again started brightly, pinning their opponents back in their own half and creating a number of good chances. The Skå goalkeeper made two excellent stops from Danny Partridge, and one goal line clearance from Sammba in the first quarter while Långholmen had the upper hand. Partridge was also tripped in the box running through on goal, but the referee waved away shouts for a clear penalty.
Skå play a simple formulaic style, relying on a dangerous aerial advantage at set pieces. And so it would prove to be LFC’s downfall, when they struck first from a corner… the ball delivered long to the back post and nodded in via a deflection. Their second was a swift counter-attack, catching the Stripes midfield on the wrong side on the ball and creating the time and space for a wonder strike that went in off the far post. So 2-0 at halftime, but still the belief that Långholmen could get something from the game with the right attitude and application.
The next goal would prove to be decisive, and it was sadly gifted to the home side moments after the restart following a defensive error; a blocked clearance falling to the Skå man who raced clear and made no mistake with a precise finish. The Stripes pulled themselves together and controlled the game for the next 25 minutes, playing all the football, making numerous good chances and proving their ability to compete at this level – but the result had already got away and the home team looked content to take the sting out of the game.
New signing Hampus Håkansson provided a bright spark in the second period, coming off the bench to display a cultured touch and a seemingly effortless ability to link play. Sammba Sowe also worked tirelessly, causing problems for defenders and offering himself as an outlet all afternoon.
With the game fizzling out in the last ten minutes, the Stripes shipped two more goals to give the score line a somewhat flattering appearance, errors again exposing a soft defensive underbelly. Before the referee awarded the Långholmen a debatable spot kick in the dying seconds that Sammba duly converted.
So a second defeat in as many games for the Stripes, who will be hoping to bounce back from this latest setback in the Cup on Monday night. Thanks to all those supporters who made the journey, we sign off with the encouraging vocals of a certain Northern Irish synthpop band of the l990’s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIj-6fr2SlI
Allen (GK); McDonald (RB), McCormack (D), Mcclelland © (D), Thorell (LB), O’Sullivan (LF), Harkness (CM), Sullivan (CM), Sammba (RF), Burris (CM), Partridge (CF). Subs: Phillips (45), Håkansson (60), Olsson (65), Hentmark (75)
MOTM – Andrew O’Sullivan (as voted by the Skå fans)
Ref Watch – Typical standard of the league. 3/5. | http://www.thelocal.se/blogs/stripesnews/2012/04/22/stripes-punished-by-ruthless-ska/ | 824 |
Two days before they are set to square off in Super Bowl XLVII, brothers and opponents Jim and John Harbaugh spoke to assembled media during a joint press conference in the Big Easy.
"I just want to start by saying what an honor it is for both of us to be here with each other, no question about it," said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. "What a very exciting moment it is, but even more than that, for our families to be here. For our mom and dad, sitting right over there, Jack and Jackie and for Grandpa Joe -- 97-years-old and going strong -- and Bob Sepidi, our uncle, and Chad, our cousin."
After the family shout-outs, the question came up on whether or not the brothers could work together in some capacity.
The elder of the two, John, was expansive and effusive, saying of his sibling, "No question about it and we've had that conversation in the past. It just never really worked out timing-wise. I'd love to work for Jim...it would be the greatest thing in the world. We almost made it happen at Stanford at one time. You always try to get great coaches, and there are none better than Jim Harbaugh, and I mean that seriously. There's no better coach in the National Football League than this guy right here."
To which Jim, the 49ers head coach, stated succinctly: "Definitely, I would work for him."
Both men also spoke about the power and attraction that New Orleans offered as both a city and a championship destination.
"I think our guys really understand the whole dynamic here, just like everybody does. Everybody in America understands (Hurricane) Katrina and New Orleans and the renaissance as you put it and all those things," noted Baltimore's Harbaugh. "We drive the buses to all those different places and we get a chance to look at some of the neighborhoods and things like that. You can tell guys are looking at it. It is important and I have a great respect for the people of New Orleans."
Added San Francisco's Harbaugh: "Just meeting people here with the hospitality has been tremendous. I like the way they talk. There have been a lot of great Super Bowls here -- you look back at the highlights of the 10 Super Bowls that have been played here. Big, big games. The world's biggest sporting event each year and what it has become -- a vision of the fathers of this game and the vision they have for this spectacle. They have mastered that. We're just proud for the awesomeness of every effect that everybody does such an amazing job." | http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/01/2458193/harbaugh-brothers-speak-at-super.html | 541 |
DETROIT LIONS NOTES: Willie Young endures pain; Gunther Cunningham scratches head WITH VIDEO
ALLEN PARK — On a scale of 1-10, Detroit Lions defensive end Willie Young said the pain in his injured finger is 9.999.
He calls it an “owie.” The finger tip on the middle finger of his left hand was cut to the bone. Three weeks later, it’s still oozing.
Defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said he told Young to get it cut off.
“I told him Ronnie Lott cut his off, so cut it off and play,’’ Cunningham said.
It sounded like a joke, but then Young said amputation had been a consideration.
“With the way things are looking right now (it won’t be cut off). Two weeks ago I was like, ‘Yeh, I might have to get rid of that little bugger.’ It’s probably a little better now.’’
“They were talking about cutting it off, because it’s cut down to the bone and hit a couple nerves around there,’’ Young said. Continued...
At the knuckle?
“I don’t know where they was going to cut it, I wasn’t going to ask that question,’’ Young said.
He injured it tackling Green Bay’s James Starks in the Nov. 19 game. He felt pressure when he got to the sidelines, but made the decision to play the second half of the game before he took his size 3X gloves off and had a look at it.
“When I took the glove off this was not what I was expecting to see,’’ Young said. “I was like you’ve got to be kidding me. With the adrenaline going I didn’t feel it until the next day.’’
He said sometimes the pain shoots up his arm and into his chest.
Young didn’t mention this injury to the training staff, but after a week or so they noticed it and got him on antibiotics.
“It isn’t that I don’t trust them, this is my problem, maybe I could have gotten stitches,’’ said Young but he thinks they would have bust open too easily.
He hasn’t missed a practice or any playing time because of his “owie.”
Out of his mind
In the last three games the Lions defense has allowed four touchdown drives in less than five minutes of combined time. Continued...
“I’m going out of my mind, I’ll be honest with you. There are some things happening I’ve never seen before,’’ defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said on Friday.
In the loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, the Lions gave up two touchdown in the final two minutes and lost the game.
Cunningham said the defense had forced seven three-and-outs that game.
“That said, I can not figure out what happens, because we had drives within those games, you can’t go out there six or seven times in a game and go three-and-out and then give up touchdown drives, it just doesn’t work that way,’’ Cunningham said. “There’s something in the water on the sideline I think. We have to figure it out.’’
He doesn’t like to lay blame on one person or position group for that final touchdown on fourth-and-10, but he suggested it was the secondary.
“I’m not sitting here making excuses, but you put one nickel in and he goes down, then you put the next one in who’s never played in there before,’’ Cunningham said. “You can survive things X amount of times.’’
With the number of injured defensive backs, it’s been rough for Cunningham.
Ins and outs
Only three Lions were missing from practice Friday in preparation to play the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
Free safety Louis Delmas (knee), defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch (rest) and defensive tackle Corey Williams (knee). Continued...
Even though the three didn’t practice they are all questionable for Sunday and should have a good chance at playing.
Defensive tackle Nick Fairley who missed Thursday’s practice with a quadriceps injury, was back on Friday and is also questionable.
(Paula Pasche covers the Lions. Follow her on Twitter @PaulaPasche. Read her Lions Lowdown blog at oplions.blogspot.com.)
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We love them. We hate them. We love to suffer over them, but they are our Detroit Lions. Paula Pasche discusses the team fans want so desperately to return to its glory years as they rebuild.
Pat Caputo is a sports columnist for The Oakland Press who covered the Tigers from 1986-98, and the Lions from 1998-2002.
A sometimes-irreverent look at Detroit's Boys of Summer, the Tigers, as they try to win their first American League Central title.
Matt Myftiu is news editor at The Oakland Press and has a background in sports writing and has had an unhealthy addiction to anything NASCAR for more than a decade.
Scott M. Burnstein, covered high school sports for both the Detroit Free Press and the Oakland Press, and is the author of the 2006 regional best-selling book, The Motor City Mafia - A Century of Organized Crime in Detroit.
Chuck Pleiness posts news about injuries, line combinations, transactions, who's starting and who's scratched. Follow the Red Wings along with Chuck Pleiness.
Kosmo is the all-knowing Oakland Press seer, of course.
Paul Kampe, a copy editor and page designer for The Oakland Press, is responsible for laying out the paper, hunting down spelling and grammatical errors and occasionally covering high school sports in Oakland County. | http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/12/07/sports/doc50c25cbf84dde168399899.txt?viewmode=3 | 1,447 |
May 23rd, 2011
Culver Community students “wave their hands up in the air” for the CCHS choral department production of Disney’s “High School Musical” May 28 and 29, in the high school auditorium. Tickets are on sale this week ($5 advance, $6 at the door). Call 574-842-3391 ext. 3118 for tickets, or contact any choral student.
Pictured, from left to right, are Josh Walters, Zach Brewer, Nick Pritz, Larry Clingler, Cassie Cline, AJ Neace, Brittany Jolly, Crystal Looney, and Kevin Hogan.
With the Tri Kappa Chairs for Charity auction now just a month away, creative residents throughout the community are at work getting their chairs ready to donate. One of many that are already complete is this beautiful example by Gary Schaffer. The seat is a painting of the King’s Colors from our first U.S. Flag, The Grand Union 1775.
BREMEN — Even after scoring a victory over the Lady Lions back in April and with a secondary lineup at that, Plymouth’s girls tennis team wasn’t taking anything for granted Friday.
The Pilgrims hit the courts ready to go, beating Bremen in straight sets at four positions and in three sets at No. 1 singles for a 5-0 shutout of the host Lions in the championship match of the Bremen Sectional at DeSantis Courts.
PLYMOUTH — Winning championships never gets old.
Just ask Plymouth’s boys track team.
The Pilgrims won five championships in five events and led the field throughout the night as they coasted to a sixth straight sectional team title on their home turf Thursday night.
Culver Military Academy placed second behind the defending champs, while Culver Community was fourth and Triton was eighth at the 10-team meet.
MISHAWAKA — Bremen’s Josh Brenneman earned three top-four finishes, while three area athletes made the cut out in the high jump, and one John Glenn sprinter made it out in the 200-meter dash at the Penn Boys Track Sectional Thursday.
Brenneman finished second in the 300 hurdles with a time of 39.97, placed third in the 110 hurdles with a 15.48 and earned a second runner-up finish in the long jump with a leap of 21’03.5” as the most decorated area athlete at the Penn meet.
BREMEN — Between the rain-outs this spring and their tennis draw, the Lady Pilgrims are smack dab in the middle of a pretty busy stretch.
The Northern Lakes Conference Tournament Saturday, then three straight matches in as many days this week.
It’s a good thing then, they made such short work of Triton.
Plymouth wasted little time versus the Trojans, whitewashing the challengers 5-0 in a little over an hour in the opening round of the Bremen Girls Tennis Sectional at DeSantis Courts Wednesday.
Culver's annual Tour de Max bicycle tour through Marshall County, sponsored by Culver Tri Kappa, will take place this Saturday, May 21. All rides begin at the Culver Beach Lodge, 819 E. Lake Shore Drive. Registration and check-in will be open from 7 until 9:30 a.m. at the Beach Lodge. However, those planning to ride 63 miles are asked to leave no later than 8 a.m. SAG stops will be open for a set period of time based on these departure times.
PLYMOUTH — The Plymouth Community School Corporation announced former North Judson-San Pierre coach Ryan Bales as the Pilgrims’ new head boys basketball coach Tuesday.
Bales has experienced success as both a player and as a coach. He is a graduate of North Judson where he led his team to a regional championship in 1995. After graduating from Judson, Bales enrolled at Bethel College, where his teams were three-time conference champions and two-time national champions. He was inducted into the Bethel College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.
May 16, 2011
PLYMOUTH — William Tallarita, 81, of Plymouth died May 16, 2011 of natural causes at his residence.
He is survived by: his wife, Sylvia Tallarita of Plymouth; daughter, Elizabeth Tallarita of South Bend; sons, Anthony Tallarita of Bremen, and Nicholas (Lynda Kay) Tallarita of Plymouth; sister, Mary Bartholomew of California; brothers, Lawrence Tallarita of Illinois, and Domenic Tallarita of California; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation is Thursday, May 19, 2011 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, Plymouth.
PLYMOUTH —The 2011 Washington Elementary Health Fair was a learning opportunity not only for elementary students, but also for the volunteers running the fair.
Junior and senior high health students of Crossroads Academy created booths and activities used for the fair, and formed teams to teach the elementary kids important health information. The high school students picked the topics for the activities, ranging from dental health to bullying. At each station, the elementary students had the opportunity to complete a hands-on activity to receive a prize. | http://www.thepilotnews.com/archive/all?page=434 | 1,190 |
Omar Bigelow scored 20 of his game-high 24 points in the second half and Williams High School captured a come-from-behind victory against visiting Rockingham County 54-50 in a Mid-State 3-A Conference boys’ basketball game Thursday night.
Trailing 32-26 at half, Bigelow accounted for all 15 of the Bulldogs’ third-quarter points as Williams cut the Cougars’ lead to 42-41 heading into the final quarter.
The Bulldogs (3-12 overall, 2-5 Mid-State 3-A Conference) continued the rally in the fourth quarter as Williams grabbed a five-point lead and held on with free throws for the final margin.
Alan Sharpe added 11 points and Elijah Moore chipped in 10 for Williams.
-- JORDAN-MATTHEWS 56, BARTLETT YANCEY 46: At Yanceyville, Bryson Bittle had 16 points, Casey Golden 12 and Antoine Williams 10 as visiting Jordan-Matthews raced past Bartlett Yancey in a Mid-State 2-A Conference game.
Seth Hancock hit four 3-pointers and finished with a team-high 16 points and Marquis Mims added 10 for the Buccaneers (1-15, 0-7).
-- BURLINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 59, AMERICAN HEBREW ACADEMY 31: Andrew Carden scored 16 points and had 11 rebounds and teammate Romeo Ferguson joined Carden with a game-high 16 points as BCA cruised in the Triad Athletic Conference contest.
Josh Folwell round out the double-figure scoring for the Royals with 11 points.
Jamison Jeffers dished out 12 assists for BCA (11-5, 6-0).
Dejea Scott scored a game-high 12 points and Sarah Davis drained three 3-pointers to lead Williams High School past visiting Rockingham County 38-36 in a back-and-forth Mid-State 3-A Conference game.
The Bulldogs (10-7, 4-3) outscored the Cougars 12-6 from the free-throw line with a 12-for-16 effort.
Cassiday Jordan scored 10 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for Williams. The Bulldogs led 22-19 at halftime.
Mikayla Moore and N’quierra Hammock scored nine points apiece to led Rockingham County (9-8, 2-5).
-- EASTERN ALAMANCE 63, WESTERN ALAMANCE 18: At Mebane, Jaimee Cousin led a balanced scoring attack with 15 points and the Eagles won by at least 20 points for the third game in as many nights.
“I was worried a little bit about a letdown after a big win,” Eastern Alamance coach Tim Krotish said, with his team coming off a victory against Eastern Guilford on Wednesday night. “I thought they came back and played hard, especially playing three nights back-to-back, fatigue can be a factor.”
Fatigue wasn’t much of a factor as 12 players scored for the Eagles (14-4, 7-1).
Kierra James led Western Alamance (3-15, 1-7) with 11 points, scoring all eight of the Warriors’ second-quarter points.
-- BURLINGTON CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 43, AMERICAN HEBREW ACADEMY 24: Alanie Welch hit four 3-pointers and led all scorers with 17 points as the Royals picked up their first Triad Athletic Conference victory against visiting American Hebrew Academy.
Haley Stokes added 10 points, 11 steals and seven assists while Brittany Barrett pulled down nine rebounds for BCA (2-10, 1-3).
The Royals pulled away with a 22-8 second-half run.
Cori Faerman led American Hebrew Academy with 10 points. | http://www.thetimesnews.com/sports/high-school-sports/roundup-williams-bca-teams-win-league-games-1.84252 | 814 |
Afer being 11 years Russian head coach. (For political reasons that will never be mentioned officially.)
The news came 2 hours ago; no statements yet.
However this was not unexpected. End 2011, he was politically involved in the presidentional campagne in Georgian break away region South Ossetia where he is native of. He supported a presidential candidate from what is called "the opposition" there, not the Kremlin backed candidate. "His" candidate won the elections, over 60%; less than 30% voted for the Kremlin man. Moscow strongly disliked this (like everything happening against its will); the elections were declared "unfair" and annuled. In January, Tedeev was arrested; later released to go to Yarygin tourney.
Yesterday the de facto winner of the election was arrested; today Tedeev got dismissed. | http://www.thewrestlingtalk.com/forum/freestyle-and-greco-roman-wrestling/216534-russian-coach-tedeev-dismissed.html | 172 |
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- At 6 foot 10, Bobby Portis definitely stands out among a crowd. A player with this physique, nearly 7 feet, a ridiculous wing span and weighing in just over 200 pounds, he fits the mold of a promising basketball player.
Portis verbally committed to the University of Arkansas as a 10th grader. That decision wasn't made official until November 16th, earlier this year, when signed his national letter of intent.
When he gets to Fayetteville next season, Portis hopes to have an immediate impact.
"My first year, I just want to work hard to get into the rotation. And then try and make my way up to the starting lineup. I want to start. And I want to just like help the team in any way possible," says Portis.
But that's the future. What about now? What about expectations for this season at Hall High where he's a senior on the boy's basketball team?
"This season I wanted to win the conference championship first then win state championship. When I think about, I never really heard of a 4-peat. So, if we can get that done that will be something special."
There are few obstacles, Portis says, that could get in the way.
"We've gone through some adversity right now because AB [Anthony Black] and Gregg [Easter] came from different schools and they don't know our system yet right now. We're telling everybody to buy into the system so we can be one."
Luckily, head coach Jon Coleman has some experience with helping players work through adversity. In fact, Portis says his head coach is the main reason he stuck with basketball early on.
"[Coach Coleman is a] pretty big influence. He kind of made me hungrier in my 10th grade year because I didn't play that much. That kind of made me like more hungry and like a better basketball player."
But he's got some personal goals he hopes to achieve outside of the classroom before heading to Fayetteville.
"I also wanted to be in the Jordan Brand Classic game and the
McDonald's game in Chicago. I haven't been selected yet for the McDonald's game. But I made the Nike Hoops Summit."
Though he's 6-10, Portis knows he's has to work hard to gain weight and increase his physicality on the court.
"I'm like 210-215. It's just hard work."
So what's a typical work out like for a kid of his caliber?
"With Coach Marcus [my workout consists of going] to the gym. I jump rope for like 5 minutes, so I can warm my legs up a little bit. Then I'll stretch when I'm done with my warm up. We'll do like planks. And then we'll do some form shooting. Then we'll start doing some weight lifting to get my core right. Then we'll start doing like our normal work out."
That hard work is sure to pay off. But as much as he looks forward to the future, Portis keeps coming back to one main goal.
"Right now I'm just focusing on my high school, prep career, right now because I'm trying to get this 4th straight championship. And that's kind of on my head like every day. That's all I think about, getting that 4th ring." | http://www.thv11.com/sports/article/240246/56/Bobby-Portis-Standing-tall-above-the-rest | 707 |
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Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers' impresses at Inter Counties Cross Country Championships
3:30pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in Sport
Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers were well represented at the Inter Counties Cross Country Championships and Michael Callegari continued his excellent season with a fifth-place finish.
His final position in the men’s Under-20 race should be good enough for a spot in the Great Britain team for the World Cross Country Championships in Poland.
Lizzie Bird came home in 13th in the Under-20 women’s race, while in the senior women’s race Rachel Felton took 18th and Amy Campbell was 23rd.
In the Under-13 boys category, Thomas Fulton (11.08) was 46th, Jeremy Dempsey (11.13) took 58th, Elliot Dee (11.38) came home in 122nd and Nathan Fernandes crossed the line in 245th (12.18).
Harriers’ only representative in the Under-13s race was Jessica Hurley and she finished 151st in 12.53. Jamie Dee claimed 46th in the Under-15 boys and Nathan Davies (18.04) was 152nd.
In the Under-17 event, Liam Dee (19.15) took 31st, Mark Pearce (19.29) was 46th, Sam Wilson finished 109th, Sam Griffiths came home in 114th and Rory Mudd stopped the clock in 20.28 for 148th.
While Callegari claimed fifth in the Under-20 men’s race, Phillip Crout was 48th in 26.50, while Ashok Mathur stopped the clock in 28.08 for 105th. Richard Johnson took 162 in 30.15.
In the senior men’s event, Frank Bailey came across the line in a time of 36.42 which earned him 58th place | http://www.times-series.co.uk/sport/10290572.Callegari_shines_at_Cross_Country_Championships/?ref=rss | 421 |
They've often praised themselves for staying close instead of caving like the Warriors of the past.
But Friday's performance in Denver looked more like the old Golden State than scrappy squad that won seven of the first 12. The Warriors lost 102-91 at Denver. But it looked worst than the score might indicate.
Instead of getting revenge on the team that handed them a heart-breaking double-overtime loss at Oracle Arena on Nov. 10, the Warriors got spanked.
"Needless to say, especially after our last game against them, they're not our favorite team," forward David Lee said of the Nuggets after he finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds.
The Warriors (7-6), who host Minnesota on Saturday, were outscored by 17 in the second half. They looked downright silly much of the fourth quarter, thanks to unforced errors and defensive lapses that led to highlights by Denver swingman Andre Iguodala and center JaVale McGee.
The Warriors shot 36.8 percent in the second half and went down without much resistance, which had been unusual for this Golden State squad.
"The third quarter," coach Mark Jackson said, "we didn't match their intensity, we didn't take care of the basketball, we were not committed to getting back in transition. I'm disappointed we came out of the locker room in the third quarter. And it snowballed from there.
Golden State all but played without point guard Stephen Curry,
"I was kind of back-and-forth off the bench in the first half," Curry said. "But that's no excuse. I've got to be more aggressive, whether I'm shooting or making plays."
His teammates picked up the slack in the first half. But in the second half, not so much.
The Warriors led 53-47 despite point Curry not even taking shot and playing just 13 minutes because of foul trouble.
How did Golden State do it? Guard Klay Thompson got hot, knocking down four 3-pointers en route to 16 first-half points. Lee was giving the Warriors an inside presence, knocking down half of his 12 shots.
Whatever momentum the Warriors had entering the locker room with a lead was gone quickly after they emerged.
"I think, ultimately, we were fortunate to be up at halftime," Jackson said. "To me it was fool's gold. They outplayed us but we had the lead. And we didn't respond in the third quarter. Simple as that." | http://www.timesheraldonline.com/sports/ci_22058391 | 513 |
Kayne West has agreed with his critics about his MTV Video Music Awards stage invasion.
Kanye West has said he feels "ashamed" after his antics at the MTV Video Music Awards.
The rap star attracted widespread criticism after interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the ceremony by taking the microphone from her to insist Beyonce should have scooped the female video prize.
Appearing on the Jay Leno talkshow, West said things have been "difficult" since the incident, leading him to apologise to Swift on his blog.
He also told the talkshow host: "I immediately knew in the situation that it was wrong, and it wasn't a spectacle or just - you know, it's actually someone's emotions, you know, that I stepped on."
The 32-year-old also agreed with the numerous critics of the outburst, saying that his behaviour was rude and he is upset that his actions could have hurt Swift.
Other winners at the MTV Video Music Awards included Green Day, Beastie Boys, Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Britney Spears.
News brought to you by Tourdates.co.uk bringing the latest in Free Music Downloads. | http://www.tourdates.co.uk/news/14729-kanye-west-ashamed-over-outburst | 240 |
Coyle is spoiled for choice in central midfield with Muamba, Stuart Holden, Mark Davies and Tamir Cohen competing for places.
He said: "Fabrice is improving all the time. He has shown that with his performances this season. He has tremendous athleticism.
"I think he would love to score more goals. It is great there is a lot of competition in the middle of the park." | http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/bolton-boss-coyle-delighted-improving-muamba-1317031 | 82 |
Manchester United’s new deal for Patrice Evra is indication of their failure to find his successor.
The Independent says Evra is set to be offered a 12-month contract extension at Manchester United.
United have not found an adequate replacement for Evra. Fabio da Silva, currently on loan at the Premier League's bottom side Queen's Park Rangers, has not demonstrated that he is ready to return to Old Trafford and step up.
Neither has Alex Buttner suggested that he is anything more than back-up material for Evra. United's decision to lay out £4m to the Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem for the 23-year-old, who did not set the world alight in his three years there, has puzzled some observers in the Netherlands. | http://www.tribalfootball.com/articles/man-utd-hand-evra-new-deal-over-failure-find-replacement-3853601 | 160 |
The Rugby League Tours and Travel Specialists - Unique Travel for the Passionate. If you love rugby league like we do and want to travel give us a call - we're here to help.
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The Rugby League Experience specialises in providing affordable rugby league tours, travel and ticket packages for rugby league fans, clubs, schools, sponsors, players and thier families. We have sponsored and supported rugby league for years. If you love rugby league like we do and want to travel give us a call - we are here to help get you to any rugby league event you want.With 20 years travel industry experience and can offer you flexible travel at the best prices. Our tours include unique rugby league experiences - see our website for the latest tours and travel packages. | http://www.truelocal.com.au/business/the-rugby-league-experience/alexandria | 491 |
In the first elimination game versus Maine, UAlbany (36-13) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Great Dane catcher Kylie Apostolina began the inning with a single to left field. Then second baseman Katie Wambold reached on a throwing-error by Maine's third baseman Magaret Hilton, which allowed Apostolina to score from first.
UAlbany's first run was the only run it would need as Brittany MacFawn (19-6) pitched her ninth complete-game shutout. MacFawn would not allow a base runner past first in seven innings.
Maine broke up MacFawn's no-no in the bottom of the fifth, as designated player Davis hit a seeing-eye single through the left side. The UAlbany sophomore pitcher allowed just three base runners while striking out eight.
UAlbany would grab an insurance run in the top of the seventh to go up 2-0. Lauren Alcorn reached on a fielder's choice, Christina Patrick came in to pinch-run for Alcorn, Mel Herndon pushed Patrick to second with single up the middle then Vicky McFarland drove in Patrick with an RBI-single up the middle.
Game two's elimination game versus Stony Brook, Brittany Schwieger (15-5) was in the circle for UAlbany facing Allison Cukrov (26-9). These two matched up in the second game of the doubleheader in the regular season with Cukrov getting the better of Schwieger, 3-1.
However, the Great Danes would give plenty of run support for their pitcher Schwieger, jumping out to an early 6-2 lead through three innings.
In the bottom of the first, UAlbany would score two runs without recording a hit. The Great Danes would put runners on through walks and fielder's choice, as Apostolina would record an RBI by getting hit by a pitch and Katie Wambold would follow with a fielder's choice RBI.
Stony Brook responded in the top of the second with two runs of its own to tie the game, 2-2. Bernadette Tenuto continued to swing a hot-bat as she notched the game's first home run and then teammate Lauren Maloney drove in a run off a double to center.
The Great Danes would then add four more runs in the bottom of the third to extend its lead to four, 6-2. Diane MacDowell led the inning off with a double to right field and was followed by an RBI-triple to left by Taylor Franich.
After Franich's triple, Charlise Castro drew a walk and Apostolina would bring in Franich with an RBI-single to left. Apostolina's single would be the end of the day for Stony Brook pitcher Cukrov.
Wambold would add the final run of the inning with single through the left side.
Stony Brook looked to make a comeback, scoring three more runs, one in the fourth and two in the fifth. Shayla Giosia added both runs in the fifth with her first home run of the game to left field.
But in the bottom of the seventh, UAlbany's Brittany MacFawn came in to shut the door on Stony Brook to grab her first save of the season. MacFawn had help in the field with one out and a runner on second, Giosia would hit a liner to Alcorn which she ended up doubling up the runner at second to end the game. | http://www.ualbanysports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_LANG=C&SPID=8002&ATCLID=205426804&DB_OEM_ID=15800 | 743 |
Plutko Leads No. 16 UCLA Baseball to 2-0 Win at No. 9 Georgia
March 9, 2012
ATHENS, Ga. - Adam Plutko threw his second career complete game shutout, striking out 11 batters with no walks, as the No. 16 UCLA baseball earned a 2-0 win against No. 9 Georgia before 1,947 fans at Foley Field on Friday night.
Plutko (2-1) earned the victory, scattering just five hits to lift the Bruins (10-3) to their seventh straight win in the opening game of a three-game non-conference series.
"Tonight's win was a great start for our team," said Plutko, a sophomore right-hander from Upland, Calif. "Georgia is a very talented team and they have great hitters. I felt good on the mound. It was a good matchup the whole night. It's one game for us, and we need to move on to tomorrow."
Plutko did not allow any hits from the second through fifth innings and retired Georgia (11-3) in order in a 15-pitch ninth inning. UCLA recorded its second shutout in as many games, after having blanked UC Riverside, 4-0, on Tuesday evening in Los Angeles.
Georgia's Alex Wood (3-1) was tagged with the loss, surrendering two runs and six hits in 6.2 innings. The 6-foot-4 left-hander logged five strikeouts and one walk in his fourth start of the year.
Brown's two-run home run to left field in the fourth inning came after Gelalich reached base with a single through the left side of the infield. Brown went 1-for-3 with two RBI, launching his second career home run.
Gelalich hit safely in each of his four at-bats and had one double, lifting his batting average to a .478 mark.
Kevin Williams elevated his batting average to a team-high .483 clip, going 2-for-3 with one double and one walk.
Georgia's Nelson Ward went 2-for-4 at the plate as the Bulldogs' leadoff hitter.
UCLA and Georgia return to action Saturday afternoon at 11 a.m. (PT)/2 p.m. (ET). That contest will be televised by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast. Sunday's series finale is slated to begin at 10 a.m. (PT)/1 p.m. (ET).
Game Notes: UCLA's pitching staff has logged 23.1 consecutive scoreless innings, dating to the top of the fourth inning of an 11-2 win over Sacramento State (March 4) ... the Bruins have used eight pitchers through their scoreless innings streak ... Tyler Heineman, Jeff Gelalich and Cody Keefer have reached base safely in each of UCLA's 13 games ... Adam Plutko's previous complete game shutout came in UCLA's 4-0 win at Oregon on May 8, 2011 ... Plutko lowered his earned-run average to 2.13 ... Heineman's 12-game hitting streak came to an end ... a leadoff single by Nelson Ward in the bottom of the sixth marked Georgia's first hit since its second batter of the game ... UCLA stranded 10 runners on base while Georgia left six runners on base.
CLick for Bruin Video | http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/030912aaa.html | 695 |
Soccer playoff race down to wire
It's a soccer doubleheader pitting Cy-Fair and Langham Creek on Friday, March 11, at the Berry Center, and the boys nightcap contest is a matchup of two of the six teams that are in a tight battle for four postseason berths.
It's also the only meeting between Cy-Fair and Langham Creek during the district's split-zone schedule, and the winner could have an important tiebreaker in hand when the playoff race winds down later this month.
ABOUT THE GAME
• Matchup: Cy-Fair vs. Langham Creek
• When: 7 p.m. Friday, March 11 (girls play at 5 p.m. at Berry)
• Where: Berry Center Stadium
• What's at stake: Playoff positioning in District 17-5A boys soccer
• Cy-Fair players to watch: F Carlos Mendoza, F Xavier Jimenez, M Jasiu Zawitkowski, GK Sam Potter
• Langham Creek players to watch: GK Nick Boardley, F Ryan Lewis, M George Boardley, D Alan Ramirez, D Regan Lindsey, M Emerson Ornstein
• Cy-Fair: Through seven 17-5A matches, the Bobcats had a district-best 16 points with a 5-1-1 league record (three points for a win, one for a tie). Cy-Fair owned victories against Jersey Village 2-0, Cy Ridge 3-2, Cy Creek 3-1, Cy Ranch 5-0 and Cy Springs 2-0, and had lost to Cy Woods 2-0 and tied Cy Lakes 1-1 ... Cy-Fair hosts Jersey Village at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, before taking on Langham Creek ... The first-place Cy-Fair girls meet Langham Creek at 5 p.m. Friday, March 11, in the first half of the twinbill at Berry.
• Langham Creek: The Lobos recorded a 3-2-2 district start (11 points) with wins over Cy Lakes 3-1, Cy Falls 1-0 and Cy Ridge 2-0, losses to Cy Springs 3-1 and Cy Creek 4-1, and 0-0 ties with Cy Woods and Cy Ranch ... Through seven games, the Lobos trailed Cy-Fair, Cy Creek (4-1-2, 14 points), Cy Falls (4-1-2, 14 points) and Cy Springs (4-2-1, 13 points), and held a narrow lead over Cy Lakes (2-1-4, 10 points) for fifth place (the top four advance to the playoffs) ... Langham Creek is in action at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, at Cy Lakes before battling Cy-Fair.
Local Advertising by PaperG | http://www.ultimatecyfair.com/stories/235598-sports-soccer-playoff-race-down-to-wire | 587 |
NEWARK, N.J., Dec. 23 (UPI) -- Martin Brodeur was perfect in the shootout Friday after surrendering a three-goal lead in the third period, lifting New Jersey to a 4-3 win over Washington.
Brodeur evened his record at 9-9 this season and boosted his NHL all-time record victory total to 634.
Kovalchuk, Alexander Urbom and Adam Henrique all scored for the Devils in the second period and Brodeur had a shutout working into the third.
The Capitals then beat Brodeur three times in the final stanza, Brooks Laich scoring once and Jason Chimera twice. Chimera's second goal of the game and 13th of the season came with 1:42 left in regulation.
Michal Neuvirth made 25 saves for Washington, which has lost three of its last five.
New Jersey has an 8-1 record in shootouts this season including six victories in a row.
Washington has a 5-6 record since Dale Hunter took over as coach Nov. 28.
|Additional Sports News Stories|
MONTE CARLO, Monaco, May 25 (UPI) --Nico Rosberg will be on the pole for the third time this season when the Formula One Monaco Grand Prix takes place this weekend.
JAKARTA, May 25 (UPI) --South Korean pop star Psy will perform in Indonesia at a concert celebrating diplomatic ties between the two countries, his management agency said Saturday.
COLOGNE, Germany, May 25 (UPI) --An Apple-1 computer, which sold for $666 when it debuted in 1976, sold for a record $671,400 Saturday at auction in German, the auctioneer said. | http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/12/23/NHL-New-Jersey-4-Washington-3-SO/UPI-59441324696999/?rel=70661324703265 | 360 |
UPMC Becomes Official Sports Medicine Provider For Duquesne University Athletics
PITTSBURGH, December 8, 2003 University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Sports Medicine has become the official sports medicine provider for Duquesne University's department of athletics.
Christopher D. Harner, M.D. , professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , and medical director of the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine , has been named head team physician of Duquesne Universitys athletic department. UPMC primary care sports medicine physician Eric Anish, M.D., has been named assistant team physician; and Joe Gatti, a certified athletic trainer at UPMC for three years, has been named head athletic trainer for Duquesne's football and wrestling teams. Drs. Harner and Anish and Mr. Gatti, along with UPMC sports medicine physicians, trainers and physical therapists, are working with Duquesne's staff of four certified athletic trainers to provide sports medicine coverage for more than 500 student athletes involved in 22 sports, including its NCAA Division I-AA championship football and Division I men's and women's basketball teams.
In addition to game coverage, UPMC operates a twice-weekly injury clinic on Duquesne's campus as well as pre-season physical examinations and musculoskeletal screenings.
We are very pleased to provide UPMC Sports Medicines dedicated staff and world-class facilities and establish a long-term relationship with Duquesne University's excellent student athletic programs, said Dr. Harner.
UPMC has a reputation of providing quality sports medicine services to collegiate and professional sports teams. They are a nationally recognized leader in sports medicine and we are excited about the partnership, said Brian Colleary, director of athletics at Duquesne.
UPMC employs 44 certified athletic trainers and seven graduate assistants who provide sports medicine care to 39 area high schools and eight local colleges and universities. UPMC has the regions largest staff of athletic trainers, physical therapists, physicians and other sports medicine specialists who attend to the daily sports medicine needs of UPMC-contracted schools as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. In addition to professional, elite, scholastic and amateur athletes, the centers staff also treats many non-athletes with musculoskeletal injuries related to physical activity. For more information, please access http://sportsmedicine.upmc.com/. | http://www.upmc.com/media/NewsReleases/2003/Pages/duquesne-university-athletics.aspx | 515 |
Lochte and Franklin Headline the Minneapolis Grand Prix, November 9-11
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Olympic gold medalists Ryan Lochte (Daytona Beach, Fla.), Missy Franklin (Centennial, Colo.), Conor Dwyer (Winnetka, Ill.) and Claire Donahue (Lenoir City, Tenn.) will compete at the Minneapolis Grand Prix, November 9-11. The event is the first event in the six-meet 2012-2013 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series and will take place at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
The competitive field will also include Olympians and National Team members Jimmy Feigen (San Antonio, Texas), Garrett Weber-Gale (Milwaukee, Wis.), Chloe Sutton (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Scott Weltz (San Jose, Calif.) and Dagny Knutson (Minot, N.D.). Minnesota native and National Teamer David Plummer (Oklahoma City, Okla.) will also swim in the three-day meet which will be contested in short course yards.
The Minneapolis Grand Prix will mark the first stop of the 2012-2013 USA Swimming Grand Prix Series. The Series will conclude June 2, 2013 in Santa Clara, Calif., and will also feature stops in Austin, Texas, Orlando Fla., Mesa, Ariz., and Charlotte, N.C.
Preliminary heats in Minneapolis will start at 9 a.m. CT, Friday through Sunday, with finals beginning at 6 p.m. CT. Visit www.usaswimming.org for a complete schedule of events. Tickets may be purchased at the door. USA Swimming will also provide a live webcast of the event online.
The USA Swimming Grand Prix Series serves as an opportunity for swimmers to race against some of the best competition in the country as they continue their preparation for the 2012 FINA Short Course FINA World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey as well as the 2013 Phillips 66 National Championships in Indianapolis, Ind. | http://www.usaswimming.org/ViewNewsArticle.aspx?TabId=1422&itemid=4828&mid=9393 | 411 |
West Virginia (19-9)@
Thursday, February 26
Fifth Third Arena
18 pts, 20 fg%, 91 ft%
22 pts, 82 fg%, 67 ft%
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The return of Bob Huggins to Cincinnati was an unsuccessful one, as the Bearcats dismissed their former coach and the West Virginia Mountaineers, 65-61, in Big East Conference action at Fifth Third Arena.
Yancy Gates led the way for Cincinnati (18-10, 8-7 Big East), as the big man came off the bench to post a double-double consisting of 22 points and 11 rebounds. Deonta Vaughn added 13 points and five assists for the Bearcats as they snapped a two-game slide.
The top performer for WVU (19-9, 8-7) was Alex Ruoff, who finished with 18 points, despite shooting just 3-of-15 from the field, including 2-of-11 from behind the arc. Devin Ebanks registered a double-double of 12 points and 14 rebounds, while Kevin Jones also contributed 12 points in the setback.
The Mountaineers came out of the gates with a 10-4 lead, but the Bearcats were able to regroup by using a 13-2 run of their own to take a 17-12 lead at the 12:46 mark in the first half.
The Mountaineers returned the favor with a 15-2 run, giving them a 27-19 advantage with a little over eight minutes left in the first frame. The two squads battle back and forth for the remainder of the period, but it was the Mountaineers who went into the break with a slim 33-32 advantage.
Cincinnati led by as many as 10 points in the second frame, and although the Mountaineers fought back to within a point twice in the final two minutes, the Bearcats were able to hold on for the four-point win.
Cincinnati's bench tallied 31 points in the contest, while West Virginia's reserves posted just 16.
It was a bittersweet return for Huggins who saw his team fall, but also had a chance to return to a place that was so dear to him. Huggins is in his second season in Morgantown after posting a 399-127 mark in 16 seasons with the Bearcats. | http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaab/game/recap/l.ncaa.org.mbasket-2008-e.38509/ | 489 |
UC Riverside (9-14)@
Cal. St.-Fullerton (11-11)
Saturday, February 06
35 pts, 62 fg%, 100 ft%
16 pts, 71 fg%, 80 ft%
Fullerton, CA (Sports Network) - Kyle Austin poured in a game-high 35 points and collected 11 rebounds to lead the UC Riverside Highlanders to a 76-59 victory over the Cal State Fullerton Titans in Big West Conference action at Titan Gym.
Larry Gurganious hauled in 11 rebounds as well in the win for UC Riverside (9-14, 3-8 BWC).
Aaron Thompson scored 16 points and grabbed eight boards to lead the way for Fullerton (11-11, 5-5), while Jacques Streeter and Bryce Webster tallied 13 and 11 points, respectively.
The Highlanders shot at a 50.0 percent pace from the floor during the opening period of play to earn a 36-27 halftime lead.
In the second half, the Titans were held to just 34.8 percent from the floor as the Highlanders earned a 17-point win.
The Highlanders controlled the glass in the win, besting Fullerton in the battle of the boards by a 39-24 margin.
Officials: Newton Chelette, Rich Kollen, Ralph Schemel | http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaab/game/recap/l.ncaa.org.mbasket-2009-e.46578/ | 272 |
Ark.-Little Rock (7-17)
Thursday, February 11
20 pts, 62 fg%, 100 ft%
15 pts, 56 fg%, 60 ft%
15 pts, 40 fg%, 100 ft%
Little Rock, AR (Sports Network) - Rudy Turner scored 20 points and pulled down eight rebounds to lead the Warhawks of UL-Monroe to a 67-64 win over the Trojans of Arkansas-Little Rock in Sun Belt Conference play at the Jack Stephens Center.
Also scoring in double figures for the Warhawks (11-14, 6-8 SBC) were Dynile Forbes and Lawrence Gilbert with 16 and 10 points, respectively, in the team's second straight victory. Gilbert, who shot just 4-of-15 from the floor and 1- of-7 behind the three-point line, also cleared nine rebounds to lead the way on the glass.
The Trojans (7-17, 3-10), losers of two straight, were paced by Alex Garcia- Mendoza and Solomon Bozeman with 15 points and six rebounds each, while Matt Mouzy contributed 13 points off the bench.
Both teams shot just 29.6 percent from the field in the first half, but because ULM was a mere 1-of-12 behind the three-point line the visitors trailed by a basket at the break, 24-22.
In the second half both squads rebounded and hit better than 46 percent from the floor, but it was 14-of-17 shooting at the charity stripe that put the Warhawks into the win column.
ULM picked up the victory despite shooting only 4-of-20 from three-point range and turning the ball over 16 times on the night.
Officials: Mark Whitehead, Craig Murley, Kerry Sitton | http://www.usatoday.com/sports/ncaab/game/recap/l.ncaa.org.mbasket-2009-e.48323/ | 374 |
The Washington Nationals shouldn't have to talk about Stephen Strasburg again -- until their season ends.
And if it ends short of the World Series championship, well, bring on the inevitable "what ifs."
After all, the Nationals have the best record in the major leagues and are looking at home-field advantage through the World Series. They'd like to think removing Strasburg from the rotation and the equation doesn't end their chances.
"This team is battle-tested," general manager Mike Rizzo says of a group that has brushed off every challenge in a National League East race that is all but decided. "They're a terrific major league ballclub with great makeup and guys that know how to prepare for the games, and you could tell by the product on the field."
If the incessant Strasburg analysis and commentary were indeed a distraction that contributed to the end of his season last week, it certainly didn't permeate the clubhouse. If anything, Strasburg and fellow wunderkind Bryce Harper helped create the buzz that has helped the Nationals thrive this season.
"The whole mentality of the club is different," says John Lannan, who will take Strasburg's place in a rotation that remains the hardest throwing in the majors even without Strasburg. "That's what this town wanted and deserved -- a winning brand of baseball. Bryce and Stephen create buzz without doing anything, just with the way they play the game."
The entire team continues to play as well as any in the majors. On the day they learned the Strasburg shutdown was in place, they waited out a 2½-hour rain delay in the ninth inning, immediately tied their game with the Miami Marlins and won it in the 10th.
The excitement continues.
"I don't think it'd be as elevated as it is if we weren't 30 games over .500," third baseman Ryan Zimmerman says. "If we're 20 games under .500, I don't think they'd come out to see Strasburg pitch, to see Bryce play."
Depth in the rotation
Often lost in the team's success this year is the role played by a roster that became deeper and more talented coming into the season. The majority of the team is homegrown, but Rizzo, who built his management credentials running the Arizona Diamondbacks farm system, used depth in the Nationals system to add the likes of Gio Gonzalez, who became the unofficial ace of the rotation.
That rotation -- even without Strasburg -- is the Nationals' biggest reason for continued confidence and optimism.
"Power arms, power arms -- that's what translates in the postseason," says Braves third baseman Chipper Jones, whose team futilely has chased the Nationals all but 10 days this season and non-stop since May 23. "Show me a team with at least two power arms at the top of their rotation, and I'll show you a team that's more than likely going to go a long way in the postseason. These guys have a bunch of 'em. As far as a staff one through five, there really is no comparison in baseball."
Now it's one through four, which is plenty for the postseason. Whether it's Lannan who takes the rest of Strasburg's starts or Chien-Ming Wang, who is close to returning from injury, the fifth spot should matter little in October.
Yes, Strasburg leads major league starters this season with an average 95.8-mph fastball, but Jones is right about the rest of this rotation.
Jordan Zimmermann ranks third in the NL at 93.8, Gonzalez fifth at 93.4 and Edwin Jackson sixth at 93.3. By comparison, the closest any other playoff contender in either league can come to matching the Nationals' power-pitching depth are the Cincinnati Reds, who have Mat Latos, Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto 11-12-13 in NL fastball velocity.
But could the youngish Nationals rotation -- Jackson is the old guy at 29 -- fade as the long season takes its toll? Not likely, apparently. Over the 30 days ending Sept. 7, Zimmermann ranked fourth in the NL in average fastball velocity, Gonzalez fifth, Jackson sixth and Ross Detwiler, the other member of the rotation, eighth. Oh, and Strasburg still was first.
No, fatigue doesn't seem to be an issue any more than how the Nationals are showing they're not fazed by the playoff-race pressure cooker.
'This is very fresh'
Obviously, the game is much more than pitch speed -- and the Nationals are hanging tough with the rest of it.
Over the same 30 days, the Nationals had three pitchers among the NL top 12 in wins above replacement for starters, according to FanGraphs. Jackson tied for third, Gonzalez tied for seventh and Detwiler tied for 12th. The Philadelphia Phillies, not playoff factors, are the only other team with three pitchers in the top 20.
"We're lucky we pretty much have five aces," Zimmerman says. "Fans get more excited to see one player, and the pitcher's the only guy who gets a chance to do something. He touches the ball every time. It's like going to see (Green Bay Packers quarterback) Aaron Rodgers, I guess, in football."
And offensive balance is kicking in at the right time. Over the past month, four Nats are in the NL top 25 in on-base-plus-slugging. Scroll down a bit from the top and you'll find Harper 20th, Jayson Werth 21st, Danny Espinosa 22nd and Zimmerman 24th. That's depth without any one of them carrying the team.
By comparison, no other NL team has four players in the top 25, but Cincinnati (Jay Bruce first, Todd Frazier sixth and Ryan Ludwick eighth) has three, as do the Los Angeles Dodgers (Hanley Ramirez 14th, Juan Cruz 15th and Andre Ethier 25th).
Yes, the bullpen is untested and sometimes erratic. And Nationals hitters likely will have the highest strikeout rate of any team in the postseason unless the Pittsburgh Pirates get in.
But the Nats also strike out people (third-highest rate in the majors), and when they don't, the fielders make the plays (second in team defensive zone rating).
The most significant question about the Nationals could be a lack of experience in the postseason.
But they've already pretty much answered the question of which could be more detrimental -- battling for a division title with little such experience or second-place Atlanta's experience, albeit the devastation of blowing a big lead for a playoff spot last season.
"This is very fresh," says Nationals manager Davey Johnson, who adds he monitors his clubhouse but has seen little reason to worry.
"A lot of the young guys were rushed up here, but all the parts were basically here. The persona on this team -- they're all good-looking, they're all athletic, their makeup is all off the charts. They work too hard. They try too hard. The personality is a grinder personality."
Adding some swagger
Winning makes it all so much easier.
"When you're winning, it's hard not to have that confidence," Jackson says. "You don't have to push it. The guys you have in this clubhouse, they want to win."
Their longest losing streaks this year have been five games -- twice.
The first time, in April, they won their next four. It happened again near the end of August.
"The joy for me has always been seeing each of the 25 guys play up to their capabilities," Johnson says. "If they do that, the wins and losses take care of themselves. I don't want to change things with anybody. They know themselves best. I'll worry about how it all fits together. Sometimes I have to have conversations with them because they're too hard on themselves. Don't try to do too much."
Zimmerman, a National since 2005, is assured of his first winning season. He sees a clear change.
"Everyone gets along real well," he says. "When it's time to play, it's time to play. Every team in the past here, if someone were to come up and say something, people were all so worried about whether they were going to be here or whether they were going to play, they thought everyone was out to get them. We've gotten away from that now."
And Johnson has fostered not only confidence but some swagger. "Davey's more of a vocal (guy), 'Hey, we're not going to get walked on,'" Zimmerman says. "That's in the past. We know that. But we don't have a very loud or controversial team. We just kind of go along."
The closest thing to brash or controversial is Harper, but Zimmerman says the teenager's reputation is undeserved.
"People have this perception of him that social media and everyone who doesn't know him have created," Zimmerman says. "He's the first one to go through that in our sport. So anyone who knows baseball has known him since he was 12 -- that he's arrogant, he's cocky, does whatever he wants, has never had to work for anything, he gets everything handed to him, and that's what everyone thinks. Everyone wants to dislike him."
Harper has won over his teammates and the opposition.
"He's very, very professional and very hungry," Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen says. "We need that. Baseball needs that."
More important in the short term is that Harper has reversed a downward trend that might have indicated his first time through the long major league season was draining. His batting average dipped to .245 in mid-August after a 15-for-98 stretch.
But he's batting .327 in the 27 games since, with nine of his 19 homers.
That's just another entry on the list of things the Nationals are proving this season.
There's one left.
And with Strasburg finished for the season, from here on it's all about showing the world they can win anyway. | http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/nationals/2012/09/16/nationals-ready-to-put-mettle-to-pedal/1573835/ | 2,089 |
By LUKE MEREDITH, Associated Press
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With the majority of conference regular-season games in the books, the SEC again holds national bragging rights.
It appears that for the second year in a row the powerful SEC will be the only league in the country to send a team to the national title game.
The winner of next week's SEC title game will almost certainly face independent Notre Dame in the championship game, in search of the SEC's seventh consecutive national title.
But the SEC isn't the only team poised to make noise in the postseason.
BALANCED BIG 12: Though the Big 12 still has one week of games left, it already has qualified nine of its 10 members for bowl games.
Only woeful Kansas won't go to a bowl game this season — a sign that the league is as deep as it's ever been.
Kansas State can win the league on Saturday with a win over Texas, and Oklahoma can swoop in and steal the title with a win at TCU and a loss by K-State. Whoever wins the Big 12 will be joined by a ton of familiar faces in December and beyond.
The league has three six-win teams; Iowa State, Baylor and West Virginia. Oklahoma State, TCU and Texas Tech already have reached seven wins.
The Big 12's 90 percent success rate with bowl eligibility is by far the best in the country — and perhaps proof that 10 really is the perfect number of teams for the league.
PAC-12 IS BACK: The Pac-12 also had a strong season, perhaps stronger than many thought it could.
The league will send eight teams to the postseason, just one shy of what the SEC and Big 12 will provide during the bowl season. The Pac-12 also will likely get two teams into the BCS, with either Stanford or UCLA headed to the Rose Bowl and 11-win Oregon looking like a solid BCS at-large pick.
And the Pac-12 won't send any .500 teams to the postseason, as every bowl-eligible team has won at least seven games.
BIG TEN BUST: The Big Ten is lucky it added Nebraska before the 2011 season.
Without the Huskers, the league wouldn't be sending a single 10-win team to the postseason.
The bowl ban on undefeated Ohio State left Nebraska (10-2, 7-1) as the only squad with at least 10 victories and the opportunity to get a few more. Northwestern is next with nine wins, but the Huskers will have to play a 7-5 Wisconsin team that finished just .500 in the league in this weekend's title game.
How bad has the Big Ten been this season?
The league has just six bowl eligible teams — one less than the Mid-American Conference.
The SEC has six teams that have won at least 10 games.
AC-SEE YA: The ACC came into 2012 with a significant amount of buzz largely centered around the national title hopes of Florida State and the prowess of Clemson.
The Seminoles and Tigers each reached 10 wins, but each received a harsh dose of reality over the weekend from SEC rivals. Florida and South Carolina went on the road and beat the rival Seminoles and Tigers, respectively, by double digits on Saturday.
Florida State and Clemson both finished a league-best 10-2 overall. But thanks to sanctions at North Carolina and Miami, North Carolina State is currently the only other bowl-eligible team from the ACC with a winning record.
EXTRA POINTS: Utah and Colorado have each played two full seasons in the Pac-12, and neither has racked up a winning record in league play yet. ... A BCS buster from a smaller conference never quite materialized. The Mountain West, Conference USA and the Sun Belt don't currently have any 10-win teams. The MAC has two 11-win teams, Northern Illinois and Kent State, and they'll meet Friday night in the league title game. But the Huskies lost to a bad Iowa team and Kent State lost to a very bad Kentucky team. ... Southern Miss (0-12) finished as the only FBS team without a win in 2012. UMass, Akron, Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico State all won just once. | http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2012/11/26/sec-holds-national-bragging-rights-yet-again | 880 |
U.S. U-17 MNT Travels with 20-Man Roster For Aegean Cup 2012 International Youth Tournament
The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team traveled to Manisa, Turkey, on Saturday to compete at the Aegean Cup 2012 International Youth Tournament. During the first foreign trip of 2012, the 20-player roster will face Turkey, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
Jan. 14, 2012
© U.S. Soccer
CHICAGO (Jan. 14, 2012) – The U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team traveled to Manisa, Turkey, on Saturday to compete at the Aegean Cup 2012 International Youth Tournament. During the first foreign trip of 2012, the 20-player roster will face Turkey, Denmark and the Czech Republic.
Of the 20 players traveling to Turkey, 17 featured at the 2011 Nike International Friendlies in December, including all five of the U.S. goalscorers: Rubio Rubin, Wesley Wade, DeAndre Robinson, Tyler Turner and Junior Flores.
Traveling with the squad for the first time are defender Jorge Miranda, midfielder Aaron Meyer and forward Lawrence Taiwo.
The U.S. Soccer Development Academy is well-represented on the trip, with 16 players hailing from Academy clubs. New York Red Bulls leads the pack with four players on the roster.
U.S. Soccer’s U-17 Residency Program features 32 of the country’s top players in the age group converging and training daily in Bradenton, Fla. The team is at the beginning of a two-year cycle that will culminate with the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, with the goal of qualifying for the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates. The U.S. is the only nation to have qualified for all 14 previous editions of the FIFA U-17 World Cup and is coming off a Round of 16 appearance in the 2011 event in Mexico.
U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Roster by Position
GOALKEEPERS (2): Paul Christensen (Seattle Sounders; Woodinville, Wash.), Evan Louro (New York Red Bulls; South River, N.J.)
DEFENDERS (6): Adonis Amaya (Chivas USA; Westminster, Calif.), Connor Donovan (NC Alliance; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Jorge Miranda (Real So Cal; Van Nuys, Calif.), Shaquell Moore (Cobb FC; Powder Springs Ga.) John Requejo Jr. (Real So Cal; Carpinteria, Calif.), Tyler Turner (South Central Premier; West Haven, Conn.)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Steven Echevarria (New York Red Bulls; Slate Hill, N.Y.), Junior Flores (McLean Youth Soccer; Manassas Park, Va.), Angel Heredia (San Jose Earthquakes; San Jose, Calif.), Guyllain Kabala (New England Revolution; Manchester, N.H.), Christopher Lema (New York Red Bulls; Ridgefield, N.J), Aaron Meyer (FC Dallas; Carrollton, Texas), Rubio Rubin (Westside Metros; Beaverton, Ore.)
FORWARDS (5): Corey Baird (San Diego Surf; Escondido, Calif.), DeAndre Robinson (Concorde Fire; Atlanta, Ga.), Lawrence Taiwo (NC Alliance; Raleigh, N.C.), Wesley Wade (New York Red Bulls; South Orange, N.J.), Dembakwi Yomba (Concorde Fire Academy; Lithonia, Ga.)
U.S. Under-17 Men’s National Team Aegean Cup 2012 Schedule
Jan. 17 Turkey
Jan. 18 Denmark
Jan. 20 Czech Republic | http://www.ussoccer.com/News/U-17-MNT/2012/01/U17-MNT-Travels-to-Aegean-Cup.aspx | 786 |
Stanford Swim Camp Ted Knapp Sessions Stanford, California
Located only 30 minutes south of San Francisco on the beautiful Stanford University campus, the Stanford Nike Swim Camp directed by Ted Knapp is designed to help competitive swimmers from around the world improve their stroke technique.
Upon arrival at camp, campers are placed in groups with other swimmers having similar abilities and goals. Our camp staff will do their best to accommodate your needs, keeping in consideration your experience and desire to improve.
- For competitive swimmers ages 9-18
- Camp focuses on technique and drill instruction covering all four strokes, starts and turns.
- 10:1 camper to staff ratio and 24 hour supervision
- Two daily water sessions; one daily dry-land session (except first and last day)
- Above water videotaping and stroke analysis
- Fun evening activities each night; BBQ for campers and parents followed by a talk with Ted Knapp
- Every camper receives a Nike Camp T-shirt and Nike Swim Cap
- Every camper is eligible to receive merit-based prizes during camp
Campers train daily in the Avery Aquatic Complex, featuring 2 Olympic sized pools and a diving pool with platform. This is one of the most state of the art swimming facilities in the United States and served as the training site for the 2004 and 2008 Olympic teams. Every camper has the opportunity to work with Ted Knapp, as he is on the pool deck during each swim session.
This camp is open to any and all entrants. For your safety and benefit, we recommend you have competitive swimming experience (e.g. U.S.S. age group, national qualifiers, high school swimmers, or summer league swimmers) and can swim at least 50 meters in all four competitive strokes: fly, back, breast and freestyle.Meet your coaching staff
Ted Knapp was named the head coach for the Cardinal Swim program in May, 2012 after serving 28 years as an assistant under Hall of Fame coach Skip Kenney. He is in his 29th season with the Cardinal in the Fall of 2012. He spent 11 seasons prior to his promotion as the team's associate head coach.Read Full Bio
In the spring of 2011, Knapp was named the inaugeral winner of the national assistant coach of the year, presented by collegeswimming.com, for his dedication to the sport.
Since coming to The Farm, Knapp has played an influential role in Stanford capturing seven NCAA championships and a Pac-10 title in every year that he has been a coach. Knapp assists in all phases of the program, including daily workouts, team travel, and is involved in all swim recruiting. In addition, he supervises all dry-land training and the team's strength program.
Knapp has also been involved with various national teams for the past two decades. He was the head men's manager to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team. He was the men's manager at the 1998 Goodwill Games in upstate New York, and the U.S. Junior team in Rome in 2002. Knapp was named as the assistant manager at the 2005 U.S. World Championships in Montreal, Canada and at the 2007 U.S. World Championships in Melbourne, Australia. In addition he was the talent stats for NBC's Triplecast at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona and the on-deck red hat for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
Over his tenure on The Farm, Knapp has coached 10 different swimmers, who have set 20 world records. Most recently, graduate Paul Kornfeld, who was a part of the record-setting 400 medley relay team, swimming the breaststroke for Canada in the summer of 2009.
He has also coached 19 Olympians, representing eight countries. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, David and Jason Dunford, Phillip Morrision, Tobias Oriwol and Ben Wildman-Tobriner all represented their countries. Former Olympians have included Pablo Morales, a three-time gold medalist in the 1980's and 1990's; Jeff Rouse, a three-time gold medalist over two Olympics in 1992 and 1996; two-time Olympian and two-time silver medalist Markus Rogan this decade; and Wildman-Tobriner, who won gold in Beijing in 2008. He has also coached numerous NCAA Champions, 27 swimmers, totaling 67 individual titles, most recently Chad La Tourette and Eugene Godsoe at the 2010 Championships. Morales accumulated a Stanford record 235 points in the mid 1980s, as well as 11 individual titles.
A 1981 graduate of Stanford with a B.S. in civil engineering, Knapp was a four-year letterman, specializing in the freestyle events. In his junior season (1979-80), Knapp earned All-America status as he anchored the Cardinal 400 medley relay squad to an 11th place finish at the NCAA Championships. A competitive swimmer for 13 years before entering the coaching profession, Knapp also participated in the 1980 U.S. Olympic trials.
Kathy Walker spent the last 10 years at the College of Saint Benedict as head coach. Currently she is enjoying her first year as aquatics coordinator and head swimming coach at The American International School of Muscat in the Sultanate of Oman. Additionally since 1999 she has been the Director of the Stanford Swim Camp.
Day Camp Details
• Each day please bring a Bag lunch
Overnight Camp Details
* There is a $100 overnight fee to stay in-between sessions
Double Rooms Only. Campers are assigned by age and roommate requests. If you have a roommate request, and have not already given it to us, please call 1-800-645-3226 or email [email protected] no later than 14 days before the start of camp. If you don't have a roommate request, you will be paired with someone near your age.
Sample Daily Schedule
- 7:00 am Breakfast
- 7:30 am Extended Day Campers arrive
- 8:00 am Morning swim session
- 10:30 am Dry Land and Flexibility session
- Noon Lunch, rest and free-time
- 2:00 pm Afternoon swim session
- 5:00 pm Dinner and rest
- 6:30 pm Evening activities, games, camp store
- 8:00 pm Extended Day Campers depart
- 10:00 pm Lights out! | http://www.ussportscamps.com/swim/nike/stanford-swim-camp-ted-knapp/ | 1,317 |
Jamar Taylor blazed through the 40-yard dash.
He sped through the short shuttle.
By the time the Helix High graduate finished his workout Tuesday in Indianapolis, a record was broken.
"I had probably like 50-something (text messages),” Taylor said in a phone interview. “The most I ever had."
Taylor created a stir, and more importantly, the ex-Boise State cornerback strengthened his draft portfolio, solidifying the case for his name to be called no later than April 26, the second day of the NFL Draft.
Do what he did to conclude the NFL Combine, and yes, people will talk.
Taylor ran a 4.39 in the 40 and 4.06 in the short shuttle, each tied for fourth fastest at his position. He completed the three-cone drill in 6.82 seconds, tied for eighth quickest.
"I think what my 40 showed is that I can run," said Taylor, whose 22 reps on the 225-pound bench press Monday paced the combine's cornerbacks. "I know a lot of people doubted me. 'Can this guy run?' I think today, that's something I definitely proved. I do have top-end speed."
The 2008 Helix graduate had five formal interviews in Indy and a host of others at last month's Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
The Chargers are among the ones he spoke to last month. | http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/feb/26/jamar-taylor-nfl-combine-40-helix-high-boise-state/ | 292 |
Third Quarter: Christian 7, Bishop's 3
Lawrence Walker scores on a 6-yard run to put Christian ahead with 7:02 remaining in the third quarter. A long pass play from Erick Allen to Manny Walker helps set up the Patriots' TD.
Posted by Jess Kearney at December 7, 2007 11:37 AM
Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent those of SignOnSanDiego or The San Diego Union-Tribune | http://www.utsandiego.com/sports/weblog/2007/12/third_quarter_christian_7_bish.html | 92 |
Mite - Week Ending Dec 14
HAVE A HAPPY AND HEALTHY HOLIDAY SEASON!!!!
Lexington/Bedford had a win and a wild tie. Ryan Flynn wore the hat and had an assist in a 4-1 victory over Chelmsford – and L/B pulled off a dramatic last-minute rally with three goals in the final 52 seconds for a 5-5 tie with Wilmington. Noah Parenti (2-1-3) scored with :52 left and Flynn scored his second goal with :21 left and his third with :02 on the clock for the tie; Mike Ducharme and Tim Kippenberger with two goals apiece and Tom Robarge with two assists for Wilmington;
Bobby McCloskey scored twice and Marblehead beat Stoneham , 3-0 (coaches, a goalie or goalies for the shutout????); Jake Moniz pitched the shutout and Mike Bernardinelli scored in the second period as Wakefield edged Newton, 1-0; Tyler Buonopane had the tying goal with 7:08 left and Mike Roche posted 1-3-4 as North Andover pulled out a 4-4 tie with Cape Ann, which got two goals from Chris Powers; Eric Lester scored five goals, three on a natural hat trick, and had two assists in Methuen’s 7-0 win over S&S; Kelly Browne had 1-1-2 and Katerina Nikolopoulos two assists in Burlington’s 4-2 victory over Winchester; Chris Ervin scored twice and Chelmsford beat Melrose, 6-1; Joel Hanley had 2-1-3 and Brendan Yournell and Robbie Kozlowski shared the shutout in Arlington’s 4-0 victory over Waltham; and Logan Thornton had the winner with 1:16 remaining, Mike Tobin posted 2-1-3, Nick Burpee 1-1-2 and Jack Geiger two assists as Reading overcame a four-goal game by Tyler Manzi and edged Woburn, 6-5.
Peabody came through with a win and a tie against Burlington . Sullivan Marino wore the hat and Caleb Dollin scored twice in a 7-2 win – and Russo scored with 1:10 left to answer a Marino goal from earlier in the third period and give Burlington a 1-1 tie;
Evan Rago wore the hat and had three assists, CJ Graffeo posted 1-4-5, Chris Heffernan 2-1-3, Ian Worthley two goals and Rich Pagliuca two assists as Saugus nipped Wakefield, 8-5, despite 2-1-3 by Jake Nardone and 1-2-3 by Colin Jaena; Bill McCann scored the winner with 1:24 remaining and Jay Schille scored twice as North Reading nipped Agawam, 5-4 – No. 11 with two goals in the loss; Luke Evangelista delivered 1-3-4, Cory Cherico 2-1-3, Bryce Costin two goals and Andrew DiMento 1-1-2 in Winthrop’s 6-1 victory over the Wizards; Nick Rheaume posted a natural hat trick, Conner Rinklin and John Kuta both had two assists and Jack Keeler lost a shutout bid when Connor Fu scored with :32 left in Andover’s 4-1 win over Newburyport; Sam Rennick scored with 5:16 left to give Triton a 2-1 decision over the Blizzard; Tom Hassett wore the hat and Greater Lowell stopped Wilmington, 5-2 – Kyle Bolis with 1-1-2 for Wilmington; and Tommy Craig wore the hat in Tewksbury’s 6-4 victory over Reading, which got a hat trick and an assist from Brendan Fay and 1-1-2 from Jack Stanton.
Waltham earned a win and a tie. Connor Blanchard had four goals and an assist, including a natural hat trick in a 3:08 span, two in 18 seconds, Brian Pescatore scored twice and Sydney MacPherson added two assists in Waltham’s 7-4 win over Lynn, which got a hat trick from Connor Donovan – and Noah Melker scored the tying goal scored with 8:22 left and Luke Beckstein had 1-1-2 as Nashua pulled out a 2-2 tie with Waltham;
Tim Mazzei and Tim Quigley both scored twice and Brendan Pigott posted 1-1-2 in Arlington’s 8-3 win over Beverly; William Leary wore the hat and had an assist to lead Newton to a 6-3 victory over Masco, which got two goals from Jared McKenna and 1-1-2 from Kyle Gaffey; Pat Birmingham scored four goals, including a natural hat trick over 5:39 in the third period, as Amesbury beat Danvers, 5-3, despite two goals by Jack Thibodeau; Chris Flannery scored four goals, Robert Brandano also wore the hat and Robert Sazo had two assists in Lynnfield’s 8-1 handling of Haverhill; Drew Tardif pitched a shutout and Mike Walsh assisted on both goals in Winchester’s 2-0 victory over Tewksbury; and Julian Steed and Andrew Thomas both had 1-1-2 in Woburn’s 6-1 win over Tewksbury.
Mason Healey came through with two goals and an assist to lead a balanced attack, Matt Diprizio, Mason Drouin and Nick Fallon all also scored twice and Hunter Healey and Pat Cohen both had 1-1-2 in Salem’s 10-2 handling of Agawam; John Shea scored with 18 seconds left to give Watertown a 2-1 decision over Stoneham; and Collin Hart scored two goals in a span of 1:28 in the third period and Dean Mellor also scored twice in Marblehead’s 6-3 victory over Andover.
Connor McCarron erupted for five goals and an assist to lead Peabody to a 9-5 win over S&S, which got 2-1-3 from Drew Olivieri and two goals from Chris Calautti; Nolan Sullivan wore the hat in Wilmington’s 5-1 win over North Reading; Chris Bungard wore the hat, John Roark had 2-1-3 and Ben Pitts, Zach LeTendre and Colin Gleason all had two assists in Chelmsford’s 9-2 triumph over Newton; Andrew Patrie wore the hat, Colin Reiling scored twice and Bill Norcross added two assists in Lynn’s 9-3 win over Cape Ann, which got two goals from Sam Mellen; Joe Deeb scored with 1:59 left to give Winthrop a 2-2 tie with the Andover Girls, who got 1-1-2 from Emma Feeney; Solimine scored four goals and assisted on another, Lopardo posted 1-2-3 and Pevey pitched a shutout in Masco’s 8-0 win over Medford; and Jack McDonough was in goal for Winchester and Sam Bianchi for North Andover in a 0-0 tie.
Nashua won twice. Elise Yabroudy snapped a 1-1- tie with 21 seconds left in the second period of a 3-1 decision over Portland – and Jake Kelleher wore the hat and Yabroudy scored twice in a 5-2 victory over Reading; Seamus McAvoy scored twice and Melrose defeated Burlington , 3-0 (coaches, a goalie or goalies???); Eric Donlan scored twice and Nick Wang had two assists in Newton ’s 3-0 triumph over Methuen (coaches, a goalie or goalies???); R. Paolo delivered 2-2-4, Delvecchio wore the hat and D. Paolo scored twice as Saugus beat Masco, 9-3 – Anthony Cafarelli with two goals for Mascol and Matt Sartori and Tyler Veerman each had 1-1-2 in Wakefield’s 6-0 victory over Stoneham (coaches, a goalie???)
– MIKE SHALIN, [email protected] | http://www.valleyhockeyleague.com/content.php?id=1662 | 1,745 |
Tuesday, March 08, 2011
Valparaiso junior guard Brandon Wood (Kokomo, Ind./Kokomo [Highland C.C./Southern Illinois]) represented the Crusaders on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team after averaging 24.7 points per game on Valpo's run to the league semifinals.
Wood kicked off the tournament with his first career double-double, posting 20 points and 13 rebounds, as well as five assists, in the Crusaders' first-round victory over Youngstown State. He then posted his fifth career 30+ point effort, hitting seven second-half 3-pointers en route to 30 points in Valpo's quarterfinal win over Detroit. Wood concluded the tournament with a 24-point game against host Milwaukee in the semifinals, 16 of which came in the final 20 minutes.
Wood was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Butler's Matt Howard (MVP), Shelvin Mack and Shawn Vanzant and Milwaukee's Anthony Hill.
|Copyright ©2013 Valparaiso University Athletics. All Rights Reserved.||www.ValpoAthletics.com| | http://www.valpoathletics.com/news/archives-print/2010-11/10593/wood-named-to-hl-all-tournament-team/ | 231 |
A B.C. woman who is battling cancer wants Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo to know that he has made the most important save of all: Her life.
Desperate to find motivation to help her cope through draining rounds of thyroid cancer treatment, Leigh Maureen Thornton turned to her love of hockey.
Thornton, 38, a nurse who lives in Victoria, has had a tough time with her health since she was a child, including having Crohn’s disease. She thought she’d had her share of illness in life, but then her health worsened and in 2011, doctors told her that she had thyroid cancer and that it had metastasized into her lymph nodes.
She was terrified. Ever the cheery optimist, Thornton now felt crushing defeat and didn’t think she had the mental strength to endure surgery and radioactive isotope therapy.
“You hear the word cancer and you think death sentence,” she said, in an interview Saturday. “I felt like I had been beaten back so many times in my life, and how much can one body take anyway?”
Housebound and without a voice for 10 months because of damage to her right vocal cord caused by surgery, Thornton watched a lot of TV during recovery, mostly hockey and hockey interviews.
In the fall of 2011, she watched as Luongo continued to endure the backlash from that summer’s Stanley Cup loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.
She was shocked by how much vitriol fans hurled at the goaltender over his performance, when really, she said, he is “the embodiment of determination.”
She began to imagine that Luongo was playing hockey as if he was trying to save his life — and it helped her to visualize fighting for her own.
“I was reading all the criticism, and there was so much negativity, almost bullying ... yet under all that pressure he was so mentally strong and poised,” she said.
It was then she told herself that if Luongo could block out all that negativity from people all over the country, then perhaps she could block out the negative thoughts about dying and focus on her goal to survive.
As she waits for a body scan in March to find out whether she is cancer free, Thornton wanted to thank Luongo. So she wrote him a letter and posted it on Facebook, hoping he might see it one day.
In the poignant letter, she says she drew strength from watching him pick himself up every time he was defeated.
“I wanted so badly to pull through [the cancer] but felt no strength inside me, however I watched you play hockey in such a way as if you were trying to save your life,” she wrote.
“I drew strength from your strength. You were poised when things were tough. You made me see I could keep it together too.”
In closing the letter, Thornton writes to Luongo: “You may not know this but you made another save ... My Life.”
Although she has yet to find out whether the cancer is gone, Thornton said her doctors have told her that her blood work looks good, she feels healthy and has more energy, and doesn’t have any of the symptoms of cancer.
And who knows, said Thornton, maybe if the fans stopped complaining all the time and booing Luongo on the ice, he would play better. “People don’t feed off bad energy, it just brings you down,” she said.
Thornton also credits the support from her mom, dad and brother as well as friends for helping her pull through.
“The body follows the mind, so I decided I have to remain positive. If you are positive and so are the people around you, your body feeds off that,” she said.
Stephanie Conrad, a childhood friend from Ucluelet, described Thornton as someone of enormous strength who, despite having to overcome so many health struggles, always has “such a positive attitude.”
Here is the letter:
I am sure you’ve heard this a million times before, so I struggle with how to [start] out here.
You are,”Number 1,” to me in so many ways.....
Of course, you are the greatest goalie there ever was or is.
Your love for the game of hockey is palpable.
You wear your heart on your sleeve when it comes to what you do.
And for that, here in Canada, thank you.
You show the class and grace of a professional athlete at all times;
Qualities such as these, to me, make you stand out even more positively and you make such a great role model for the youth of today.....
But more importantly.....
You. (and this is where I get choked up), are the embodiment of DETERMINATION.
Why? Because while you kept picking yourself up each time you felt defeated, I watched you while I battled this evil existence known as cancer. (I purposefully did not capitalize the word cancer so as to not give it more power).
You see, I was knocked down so many times previous to this cancer that I was desperately seeking any source of possible motivation. I wanted so badly to pull through it but felt no strength inside me, however I watched you play hockey in such a way as if you were trying to save your life.
I drew strength from your strength.
You were poised when things were tough,
You made me see I could keep it together too.
I want the world to know that while many may criticize you for the times you didn’t make saves,
there was AT LEAST one girl who was not only praising your ABILITY, but feeling your determination and grit and being inspired.
I want the world to know that while they criticize or focus on what didn’t go right in a hockey game, there are more important things to think about like the strength of the human spirit, the ability to inspire each other, and the fact that with a bit of teamwork and humanity, we can all get through challenges in life.
... And lastly, you may not know this but you made another save....My Life.
Leigh Maureen Thornton | http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/Victoria+woman+battling+cancer+writes+poignant+letter+thanks+Roberto+Luongo+saving+life/7910973/story.html | 1,296 |
A closer look back at each of Canada’s bronze medallists at the Vancouver Olympics:
Speed skating, 5,000 metres
Clara Hughes certainly knows how to go out with a bang.
The longtime member of the Canadian speed-skating team wrapped up her Olympic career on Day 13 by winning the bronze medal in the women’s 5,000-metre event at the Richmond Oval.
“It’s a nice bonus to have earned one of those beautiful medals,” said Hughes, of Glen Sutton, Que. | http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/olympics-anniversary/Canada+Olympic+bronze+medallists/4231362/story.html | 115 |
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As unlikely as it was for Rocco Mediate to end up in a playoff with Tiger Woods to determine the 2008 U.S. Open champion, it was more unlikely Matt Achatz was there working as Mediate's caddie.
Six months before that memorable Monday playoff at Torrey Pines, Achatz was working as a club caddie at Sherwood Country Club when Mediate called and offered him a chance to caddie for him at the Phoenix Open.
Achatz, 33, jumped at the offer and proceeded to make the most of his opportunity.
Achatz helped Mediate make his first cut of the season in Phoenix. Two weeks later the duo did it again at the Northern Trust Open at Riviera. Achatz's contributions earned him the full-time gig carrying Mediate's bag.
But even then, not even Achatz could have imagined what kind of changes would take place in his life, thanks in large part to that magical week at Torrey Pines.
"The whole experience has changed everything," Achatz said. "I was in debt $50,000 from school loans and playing mini tours and now that's gone.
"... So many people come up to me and say, ‘Congratulations, great job.' That was amazing. From that aspect, it's changed it (his life) completely."
The whole week was something a Hollywood screenwriter would have had a hard time dreaming up. Mediate barely even qualified for the Open, earning a spot in a playoff the week before.
But somehow, some way, Mediate and Achatz teamed to create a story that will forever be remembered by golf fans, especially the Monday playoff.
"Here are Tiger and Stevie (Williams), who have played Torrey so many times together, "Achatz said. "And there's me, seeing Torrey for the first time and it being my first time walking inside the ropes at a U.S. Open.
"It was incredible to do what we did. And to watch Rocco play his heart out and come so close to winning was awesome. I'll never forget it."
And it all might have never happened had not been for a twist of fate.
Every summer Achatz, a former mini-tour player from Michigan, worked nights as a waiter in the Hamptons and spent days as a club caddie at East Hampton Country Club.
In late fall, Achatz and his caddie buddies would head to Florida, where Achatz worked as a caddie at the exclusive Calusa Pines Golf Club in Naples, Fla. Achatz followed this routine for several years, but last October, for reasons he can't explain, he had a change of heart.
Instead of going back to Florida, Achatz headed west for California. He knew no one here, and had no job lined up. But that didn't stop Achatz from taking the plunge.
It turned out to be a life-changing decision.
Achatz landed a caddie job at Sherwood Country Club, where he quickly became actor Craig T. Nelson's regular looper.
"Sherwood is a beautiful place and has a great membership," Achatz said. "I was so happy they took me in. They made me feel part of the family right away."
During the week of the Target World Challenge, Achatz discovered Mediate was scheduled to play in the Wednesday Pro-Am. Achatz, who had been a regular caddie for Mediate at Calusa Pines, called him up and asked if he was bringing his regular caddie.
Mediate told him no, and asked Achatz if he wanted the bag for the day.
"Rocco's physical therapist, Cindy Hilfman, was there and we had instant connection," Achatz said. "We had so much fun on course that day, she asked Rocco, ‘How come Matt is not your regular caddie?' ''
When Mediate and his former caddie split, he and Hilfman were talking about possible replacements and she suggested Achatz.
When he arrived in Phoenix, Achatz figured since he had never caddied on the PGA Tour, Mediate wouldn't trust him to give him yardages or help read putts.
Achatz was wrong.
"He made me pick clubs, and asked for my advice on the greens," Achatz said. "I guess since it was tryout, Roc wanted to see if I could step up to the plate.
"I wasn't nervous or scared because in golf I've always been pretty confident about my ability to read greens and help a guy around the golf course."
Achatz admits Mediate is probably the only player on the PGA Tour who would give such an opportunity.
"Rocco is an exceptional person," Achatz said. "He's very fun to caddie for. We're very comfortable with each other."
Achatz got a chance to show off his golf skills at the ADT Skills Challenge, a made-for-television contest that will be broadcast on Dec. 27-28.
Mediate and Achatz teamed to win four of the eight skills competitions for $230,000, but were surpassed by the Greg Norman and his son in the final challenge. Achatz won the most challenges among all the participants, taking three of the eight competitions. He won the bunker event by holing out.
"As far as me playing, it was the greatest day of my life," Achatz said. "I was really nervous the first couple shots, but once I realized how cool everyone was, it was all right."
Mediate is playing in this week's Skins Game, one of a number of special events he will play in. Unfortunately, one he won't be at is the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood.
"I am very disappointed we didn't get a spot," Achatz said. "After what happened at the Open, I thought it was a natural.
"For me it would have been the coolest thing, because I started my year at Sherwood and could have ended it there." | http://www.vcstar.com/news/2008/nov/26/productive-partnership/ | 1,326 |
Fertittas buy online gaming company
29 October 2011
- More gaming stories (10-3-2011)
Fertitta Interactive, the online gambling company established last year by the family who owns Station Casinos, announced it has bought California online gaming company CyberArts Licensing LLC.
The Internet start-up is trying to position itself in front of its competitors in anticipation of online gambling being legalized in the United States.
CyberArts creates Internet and mobile gaming sites for casino operators. The Fertittas hope to parlay their purchase into an online poker site when the federal government approves the activity — a development that many industry observers believe is imminent.
“Fertitta Interactive fully supports the federal regulation of online poker in the United States,” Lorenzo Fertitta said in a statement. “In CyberArts, we found a leader in the development and design of online gaming software with an exemplary track record of regulatory compliance. We will be working on new and innovative products with the goal of ultimately providing consumers with the best online gaming experience in a safe and secure environment.”
Earlier this year, Fertitta Interactive entered into a partnership with Full Tilt Poker. But that alliance could hurt the company since Full Tilt Poker was named in an indictment accusing it of laundering billions of dollars through sham companies to circumvent the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act. While CyberArts is based in Oakland, Calif., it has never accepted bets from U.S. customers.
Fertitta Interactive is owned by brothers Frank Fertitta III and Lorenzo Fertitta, owners of Station Casinos, and Tom Breitling and Tim Poster, former owners of the Golden Nugget. The amount the company paid for CyberArts was not disclosed.
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Will online gaming hurt brick-and-mortar casinos? | http://www.vegasinc.com/news/2011/oct/29/fertittas-buy-online-gaming-company/ | 565 |
Football sim enhanced and updated ready for the 09/10 season.
Latest Articles for FIFA 10
article : Things we love/hate about football games
The ups and downs of playing the virtual beautiful game.
Mass Effect 2 over 1.6 million, Dante and Army of Two around a million.
Sales up 56% as it dislodges Just Cause 2.
Becomes the biggest release of the year so far.
Sales drop 64% in second week.
'Unbelievably difficult' for sports games to get the review scores FIFA 10 managed, says EA Sports chief. | http://www.videogamer.com/ds/fifa_10/ | 121 |
Former All-American and Villanova standout Rory Rogers enters her fourth year as an assistant coach for the field hockey team for the 2010 season.
Helping in all facets of practice, game and player development, Rogers specializes in coaching the Villanova offense under head coach Joanie Milhous. Most recently, Rogers tutelage can be seen through the accomplishments of Lauren Wuzzardo and Dana Ramsden, both of whom were named to the 2008 and 2009 All-BIG EAST Second Team, Longstreth/NFHCA All-Region Second Team and the All-Philadelphia Team for the second consecutive year under Rogers teaching.
During her four years on the Main Line, Rogers left her mark in the field hockey record books in addition to serving as a team captain. In Villanova's historic 2005 season, Rogers led a record-breaking squad to an outstanding 15-5 record and powered the team to their first regular season BIG EAST Championship and first-ever national ranking.
That same year, Rogers was selected as the BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year in addition to being named to the All-BIG EAST First Team for the second time in her career. Following the conclusion of her senior campaign, Rogers was also chosen to play in the prestigous NFHCA Division I North/South Senior All-Star Game.
As a forward, Rogers shouldered a majority of the scoring responsibilities for the Wildcats. She is currently tied for third on Villanova's all-time list with 46 career goals and is the third highest career points leader in Villanova history with 111 points.
Rogers currently resides in Rosemont, Pa. | http://www.villanova.com/sports/w-fieldh/mtt/rogers_rory01.html | 336 |
SIOUX CITY, Iowa
The Youngstown Phantoms scored three times in the final 4:16 to earn a 4-1 exhibition victory over the Green Bay Gamblers on Saturday, the final day of the USHL Fall Classic.
First-year winger JJ Piccinich snapped the 1-1 tie by stretching his stick out on the backhand to redirect a point-shot five hole on Green Bay netminder Cam Hackett.
“It was a pretty unbelievable feeling,” Piccinich said. “I’m just glad we got the win and I could help the team out.”
Fifteen seconds later, Sam Anas led a quick counter ttack and hit Austin Cangelosi on the backdoor for an easy score.
“One of the most important shifts you’re going to play in a game is after you score a goal or give up a goal — how you respond,” Noreen said. “We went with a veteran line and Sammy and Cange went out and did their job.”
Eric Sweetman added an empty-net goal.
“We were tied for two periods today and it was good to see how our guys responded to that,” Phantoms head coach Anthony Noreen said. “We gave a lot of guys some opportunities that they hadn’t had in this league before. I thought was a good experience.”
Markus McCrea also scored for Youngstown, which finished the Fall Classic with a 2-1 record and the preseason 3-2-0.
Goaltender Patrick Spano stopped 16 of 17 shots.
Matt Weis put Green Bay in front on the first shot of the game when he rang the puck off the crossbarat 1:10 in to the game.
McCrea knotted the game at the 14:29 mark. Alfred Larsson forced a turnover and hit McCrea along the left-wing wall and the brawny winger beat Hackett with a low wristshot.
“From what we saw in two games, [McCrea] plays our game to a tee,” Noreen said. “He’s not afraid to mix it up and get his nose dirty. It’s always good to see guys like that get rewarded with a goal.”
Brendan Lemieux had a chance to give the Gamblers the lead early in the third period when he found himself on a breakaway, but Spano stoned him with a kick save on the initial shot and the rebound. | http://www.vindy.com/news/2012/sep/23/phantoms-close-classic-with-win-over-gam/?newswatch | 539 |
2013 Soccer signees: Simone Charley
Feb. 22, 2013
This week we head south down Interstate-65 to introduce the second member of Vanderbilt's 2013 soccer recruiting class, a two-sport star from Spain Park High School south of Birmingham, Ala.: Simone Charley.
Charley is a five-year starter for Head Coach Robert Starr at Spain Park High School. She helped the Jaguars win three consecutive state championships from 2009 to 2011. As a sophomore, Charley was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for girls soccer in the state of Alabama.
A two-time first-team All-State selection, Charley was named the Birmingham News Female Athlete of the Year in 2012. The forward has led the Jaguars in scoring the past three seasons and had totaled 87 goals and 41 assists through her junior campaign.
At Vanderbilt, Charley plans to compete in both soccer and track and field, just as she has throughout high school. She was the first female at an Alabama high school to triple jump over 40 feet and has captured a total of four state championships in the event at indoor and outdoor competitions. Charley plays her club soccer for the Birmingham Legends. She won a state championship in 2011 as part of John Markey's '94 squad before joining Jeremy Hampton's '95 side last year.
Charley has a family tie to Vanderbilt and Commodore coaches credit her cousin, 1999 VU graduate and football letter winner Damien Charley, with first alerting them of his Simone's talent.
"It says a lot about Vanderbilt that Damien would take the time to stop by and bring Simone to our attention," VU Head Coach Derek Greene said. "I know he's excited. And we are equally thrilled to have Simone joining us."
On top of her athletic prowess, Charley has an excellent academic record at Spain Park. She was named the school's Student of the Year in 2010 and is a member of multiple academic honor societies.
Personal: Simone Naomi Charley... Born Feb. 4, 1995, in Boston, Mass.... Daughter of Sharon and Bobby Charley... Youngest of three siblings... Sister, Nicole, is a triple jumper at Auburn... Brother, Myles, is a triple jumper and long jumper at Troy... Cousin Damien Charley played football at Vanderbilt from 1995 to 1998... Plans to major in psychology at Vanderbilt.
Coach Greene on Charley:
"There will be a theme in this class: athleticism and speed. Simone is special. The first time I saw her play I walked away from the field saying, 'Wow. We have to get this kid.'
"Simone has great speed, she's great in the air and is very skillful. She brings a sophistication and knowledge to the game that typically you don't see unless a kid is competing at the highest youth level.
"Simone has every characteristic you want, not only as a soccer player but also as a student-athlete and as a person. She's a high-character kid who works so hard, as evidenced by her success as a two-sport athlete. She is already a strong enough triple jumper to score points for our track team, and I know they're excited about her. We're excited for Simone to have this opportunity, as I know that competing in both sports was important to her and her family."
Women's Soccer Headlines | http://www.vucommodores.com/sports/w-soccer/spec-rel/022213aab.html | 689 |
Chess Grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov Returns to Campus
by Karen Handley
October 15, 2007
Chess Grandmaster Gregory Kaidanov will return to the Wabash College Campus Tuesday, October 30 for a blindfold and simultaneous speed chess games.
Kaidanov, who visited Wabash in 2002 and 2005, became a Grandmaster in 1988. The Russian native lives in Lexington, Kentucky, teaches private chess lessons, competes in national and international tournaments, and gives exhibitions across the country.
Kaidanov will play a blindfold speed game at 7 p.m. in the Baxter Hall Lovell Lecture Hall on Tuesday then move to the Detchon Center International Hall for an 8 p.m. exhibition against 30 opponents.
He will play the blindfold game with five minutes to complete all his moves. Any move, all done from memory, that is illegal results in a forfeit. After he completes the game, he will replay the match from memory and comment.
Kaidnov will then go across campus and play 30 games simultaneously. He will follow that by playing 4 games of timed chess, running from board to board to conserve the time he is allotted to make his moves.
The Berdichev (Ukraine) native started playing chess at age six, learning from his father. He and his family visited the U.S. as tourists in 1990 and eventually settled in Kentucky.
His list of accomplishments is impressive: Boys under-14 Russian Federation Champion, 1972; Master, 1978, International Master, 1987, Grandmaster, 1988; World Open Champion, 1982, US Open Champion, 1990; tied for first in National Open in 1990, 1992, 1994, 1999; U.S. team member in 1998 World Chess Olympiad; U.S. team member in World Chess Olympiad, 2000.
Kaidanov's appearance is sponsored by the Wabash College Lecture Committee. | http://www.wabash.edu/news/displayStory_print.cfm?news_ID=5091 | 400 |
Charles Henderson Football Players Mourn Loss of Teammate
The Charles Henderson Football team in Troy is mourning the loss of a teammate who died in a car crash yesterday in Crenshaw County.
17-year-old Noah Allison was killed in the wreck on Highway 29 outside Luverne.
He was a rising senior, and today, in his memory, his teammates hung his jersey in his locker.
"Noah worked hard on the field, but like once you got out of high school, outside of practice, he was a relaxed person. Really goofy," says teammate William Edwards.
This is the third loss the team has had to cope with in the last 13 months.
Last summer, teammate Ronnell Moore was killed in a car accident and Defensive Coach Tyrone Black died of natural causes in October. | http://www.waka.com/news/troy-news/CHHS-Football-Players-Mourn-Loss-of-Teammate-163648236.html?skipthumb=Y | 166 |
Colombian runner banned 2 years for doping
MONACO (AP) — Track and field's governing body says Colombian runner Diego Palomeque has been suspended for two years after failing a drug test at the London Olympics.
Palomeque had a positive testosterone reading in an out-of-competition test in the Olympic Village on July 26 and was barred from the 400-meter heats.
In releasing its latest list of doping cases Tuesday, the IAAF said Palomeque is banned until Aug. 8, 2014.
During the London Games, the IOC also asked Colombia's Olympic committee to investigate Palomeque's coach, Raul Diaz Quejada, regarding injections given to the runner. | http://www.waka.com/sports/sports-ap-feed/188845321.html | 144 |
However, the Warriors boss has admitted he was also busy planning for the new Guinness Premiership campaign and even took time out of his pre-arranged holiday to meet some of the leading teams in Queensland.
"The actual trip to Australia was a long standing engagement which I arranged when I was at Doncaster Knights. I was going out to see my son play in the Student Rugby World Cup but ended up coaching the team, so there was not much of a holiday there," said Griffiths.
"One of the real positives from my trip was, on my days off, I visited Queensland Reds, watched the Brisbane Broncos train and met up with the Gold Coast Titans coaching staff together with some friends who are coaching in Queensland.
"The Reds visit was particularly fruitful as we watched video clips of matches played under the new laws and a possible link between the two clubs was also discussed. Queensland were very helpful and I chewed the fat with Mark Bell, the forwards coach, for a couple of hours and I know Chris Latham is bringing over some more footage with him.
"The new laws are coming in but Warriors have been doing their homework and I believe we are very close to being on the same wavelength as our Southern Hemisphere counterparts.
"We've scrutinised every game out there from the Currie Cup to the NPC and Tri-Nations because you want to be one step of the rest. We have done a lot of video research and match analysis. During the pre-season games we will see what works for us and then hit the ground running come day one in the league.
"I just want the one percents I have brought back to help the team get even better and improve for the massive challenges ahead."
Griffiths also met with new signing Chris Latham on several occasions before his arrival at Sixways Stadium early next month.
And the Head Coach admits he was delighted by the attitude of the fullback who is out to impress from day one at his new club.
"I met with our new signing Chris Latham and he appears the consummate professional and is raring to go and get across to meet his new team-mates," added Griffiths.
"Chris knows he only has one chance to make a good first impression and he plans to really show the supporters from the start that he is here to perform and get results for Warriors. He wants to put his stamp down on things and show his value to the team, both on and off the field.
"I also mentioned Chris Pennell to him and he is relishing the opportunity of being a real role model to him and helping bring on his game. Chris Pennell is also looking forward to working with Latham, he is a confident boy and really plans to battle hard for that starting fullback spot." | http://www.warriors.co.uk/news/2778.php | 568 |
NAPLES, FLA. (AP) - Alarm bells went off when the best golfers no longer were Americans, whether the measure was a ranking or simply who kept winning the majors.
That was the LPGA Tour a generation ago.
It took awhile for the men to experience the same shift to a more global game, such as Europeans occupying the top four spots in the world ranking at the end of last year, or the Americans getting shut out of six straight majors. Or the time Lee Westwood, whose humor can be vastly underrated, was speaking at a dinner when he mentioned Steve Stricker winning the previous week at the John Deere Classic. Looking at PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, he said, “Nice to see an American win on your tour.”
The next cause for concern in women’s golf was having to leave home to build a schedule.
It looks like the LPGA Tour again was ahead of its time.
The women finished a whirlwind _ not to mention worldwide _ schedule over the last three months by going from Virginia to England to Alabama in consecutive weeks, and then ended its season with three straight tournaments that took them from Japan to Mexico to Florida.
This might not have been what Karrie Webb had in mind when she moved halfway around the world for a Hall of Fame career on the LPGA Tour. Her rookie season, there were 34 events on the LPGA Tour schedule, all but four of them in the United States. This year, 12 of the 27 official events were outside the country.
“I envisioned playing most of my career in the U.S.,” she said. “Even for me, coming from Australia, it was a bit of an adjustment. But I realized that’s where the money is. It will take many years to get the economy back to where it was for us to have a luxurious schedule in the U.S. There’s money in Asia and a lot of interest in golf. I was OK with it then. But learning more from being on the (LPGA) board, having Asian events helps the health of our tour.”
Cristie Kerr put it more bluntly, as she always does.
“We were definitely ahead of the curve,” Kerr said. “Without that, our tour might have gone away. We have a lot to be thankful for of the Asian countries.”
The LPGA Tour’s worldwide schedule used to be seen as a stigma. Now it is a way of life for them.
And it’s getting that way for others.
The European Tour had no choice but to follow the money when economies faltered. Just look at the last 10 years. About 65 percent of its tournaments in 2002 were played in Europe, including seven in England. This year, only 47 percent of the tournaments were held in Europe.
There were as many tournaments in China as there were in Scotland this year. There were as many tournaments in Dubai as there were in England. And the country that held the most official events on the European Tour? That would be the United States (with three majors and three “World” Golf Championships).
“It was clearly a stigma,” LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan said. “But I said this to our players and our staff, `Gang, I promise you the rest of our sport is going to follow.’ Unfortunately, we’re going to be the model. We’re going to make all the silly mistakes. But you can’t go back.”View Entire Story
'Your papers, please' must never be heard in America
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
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Reflections on raising families in a holistic way -- with a focus on nutrition and alternative health.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
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Cinco de Mayo on the Mall | http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2012/nov/20/lpga-tour-ahead-of-the-curve-on-global-travel/ | 904 |
Tributes to the man credited with bringing football back to Baltimore went on throughout the weekend and continued during Art Modell's funeral, where he was remembered by family and friends as a caring man who loved to smile and make people laugh.
Hundreds attended Modell's funeral Tuesday morning at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation to say goodbye to the former Ravens owner and support his family.
Rabbi Andrew Busch presided over the funeral. He said whenever he and Modell would visit, theology, football or world matters were never really discussed, but they did trade lots of jokes. He said Modell was always curious about the people he met, their families and what was going on in their lives.
"He wanted to just interact with other people. He was warm. In Yiddish, we would call him a mensch, which is just a good, upright person," Busch said.
Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, who has been with the team since Modell brought it to Baltimore, took the podium at the funeral to remember his friend.
"Modell had a vision to change the way people thought about opportunities in life," he said. Lewis said there wouldn't have been a Ravens franchise if it weren't for Modell's vision.
Lewis joked that he used to want to be like Modell because he was always trying to figure out what fragrance the owner was wearing. He said people knew when Modell walked into a room and when he walked out.
"When we leave this earth, we’re supposed to rejoice. This man lived a life that should make everyone in this room smile and find a different way to impact somebody along the way. Because when it all settles, what will your legacy be?" Lewis said to the crowd.
David Modell, Art's son, took the podium next, making much of his speech a continuation of a letter he had written to his mother, Patricia, when she died in October 2011. He thanked her for bringing his father into his life.
"What you didn’t realize at the time was that you were giving me a wonderful father, a dear friend and my one true hero," David Modell said. "It would be easy to claim he was my hero. … His greatest attribute was his kindness, sense of humor, gentlemanliness and his respect of others. They were best exemplified in his quieter moments and were forged early." | http://www.wbaltv.com/news/sports/Art-Modell-remembered-for-his-kindness-humor/-/9379464/16553286/-/utu9me/-/index.html?absolute=true | 491 |
Posted: Aug 22, 2011 6:11 PM by Kristy Davis
Updated: Aug 22, 2011 6:52 PM
BATON ROUGE - New Baton Rouge Police recruits practiced their drills in an un-air conditioned gym on the first day of the city's long-awaited police academy.
"So far since this morning they've absolutely shocked me and surprised me, but in a good way," said Cadet Chris Beall.
It took two years, a new police chief, and more than $2.6 million to reach this point. Chief Dewayne White says the lack of recruits stretched current officers thin, keeping officers from community policing.
The 25 new recruits will mean more help to the force, and peace of mind for people like Greg Frank who just moved to Baton Rouge.
"It gives me a little comfort, just having the visibility," he said. "The presence I think is a good thing."
Chief White said even with the new class of cadets, he needs more officers to make community involvement a priority.
White will meet with the mayor, sheriff, and area pastors in September to discuss crime in the city. He's also advocating a mentorship program allowing police officers to mentor kids in the community. | http://www.wbrz.com/news/police-academy-back-in-br-after-2-year-absence/ | 255 |
The University of South Dakota football team will open its 2014 season at the University of Oregon.
Paul Menard has signed a multi-year extension with Richard Childress Racing to drive the No. 27 Chevrolet in the Sprint Cup Series, the team announced on Friday.
Former Chicago Bears offensive tackle Dick Evey passed away at the age of 72 on Thursday.
Milwaukee Brewers closer Jim Henderson will miss at least two weeks after being placed on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with a strained hamstring.
New Orleans Pelicans point guard Greivis Vasquez will reportedly undergo surgery Friday to remove loose particles from both ankles.
After an absence of more than four playoff contests, defenseman Dennis Seidenberg was back in the lineup for the Boston Bruins for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Saturday. | http://www.wdef.com/sports/cfootm/l.ncaa.org.mfoot-2012-e.36106/game.aspx?view=3 | 161 |
It was the middle of the night, Oscar Pistorius says, and he thought an intruder was in the house. Not wearing his prosthetic legs, feeling vulnerable in the pitch dark and too scared to turn on the lights, the track star pulled his 9mm pistol from beneath his bed, moved toward the bathroom and fired into the door.
It was only after he called to girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp -- whom he thought had been in bed beside him after a quiet evening -- that he realized something horrible might have happened, he told Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair in a statement read by his lawyer during his bond hearing Tuesday. Prosecutors dispute the version of events that Pistorius detailed in his statement.
Pistorius says he broke down the locked bathroom door -- at one point in the statement saying he kicked the door in, at another saying he used a cricket bat to break it down -- then scooped up the mortally wounded Steenkamp and carried her downstairs after for help.
"I tried to render the assistance to Reeva that I could, but she died in my arms," he said in the statement. "I am absolutely mortified by the events and the devastating loss of my beloved Reeva."
While prosecutors and defense lawyers agree Pistorius shot Steenkamp, the track star denied intentionally killing her, in the statement read Tuesday.
Prosecutors say they believe Pistorius put on his prosthetic legs, picked up his gun and walked to the bathroom where Steenkamp, 29, had locked herself -- apparently after a heated argument -- and shot at her four times.
Three of the bullets struck Steenkamp, who died soon after. Her funeral was Tuesday.
Pistorius spent much of the hearing sobbing and heaving at the mention of his girlfriend's name, at one point forcing Nair to stop the proceedings to ask him to compose himself. His family stood nearby, huddling during breaks and appearing to pray. During parts of the hearing, Pistorius' brother placed his hand on the suspect's back.
During Tuesday's hearing, Nair upgraded the charge against Pistorius to premeditated murder, saying he could not rule out the possibility that the track star planned Steenkamp's death. But Nair said he will consider downgrading the charge later.
The allegation of premeditation makes it more difficult for Pistorius' attorneys to argue he should be released on bail pending trial. To win bail, the defense must argue that "exceptional circumstances" exist that would justify Pistorius' release. | http://www.wdsu.com/news/national/Pistorius-details-night-of-girlfriend-s-death/-/9853500/18979418/-/11n4e5jz/-/index.html | 517 |
LIONS boss John Hughes has admitted the club treated David Sinclair badly.
The 21-year-old was dropped by Livingston last week after his contract expired before the season ended.
The holding midfielder then took to Twitter in anger and posted the message: “Really disappointing that after nine years at the club nobody had [the] courtesy to speak to me and let me know what was happening with my future.”
He added: “Going to miss all the boys at Livingston, had some great times there.”
Sinclair left the club last week along with Jonathan Brown, Michael Scott, Bryce Naples and David Aitken.
And Hughes admits the club should have spoken with Sinclair beforehand.
He said: “I’ve got to put my hands up and say we could have dealt with his situation better.
“It was badly handled. We should have communicated with him better and earlier.
“We didn’t have the finances in place to keep him but the club could have done better. It’s something we’ll have to learn from.
“It has been disappointing how the situation has ended but his ability isn’t in doubt.
“He’s a very talented player.”
While Sinclair heads for the door, Livi have extended the contracts of four of their players while three other deals are still to be confirmed.
Ross Docherty, Ross Gray, Andy Russell, and Kevin McCann have all penned one-year deals.
And Yogi is delighted to have the four youngsters on board for another season.
He said: “It’s pleasing to know they are staying with us.
“There isn’t a lot of money going around at the club but I think they see what we are trying to achieve and what we can offer them.”
The rest of the deals are still being thrashed out and final decisions are to be announced later this week.
For more Livi news, see page 53. | http://www.westlothiancourier.co.uk/west-lothian-sport/top-seven-sport-stories/2012/05/10/livingston-drop-david-sinclair-but-keep-four-others-62405-30933917/ | 422 |
Thursday, October 11, 2012
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - Students in the Westminster College "Strategic Management" capstone course recently placed in the Top 100 in their game-to-date performance in a global simulation known as the Business Strategy Game.
The students are competing with over 2,800 teams from 200 colleges and universities around the world. Each week of class simulates a year in the life of the organization that student teams manage. Westminster's team "Andes Athletics" placed 55th in their game-to-date performance in the last week of September and 98th in the first week of October.
The co-managers for Andes Athletics are Andrea Ridge and Troy Zema. Ridge, a senior business administration major, is a daughter of Allan and Susan Ridge of North Tonawanda, N.Y. and a graduate of Starpoint High School. Zema, a senior business administration major, is a son of Matthew and Nancy Zema of Sarver and a graduate of Freeport Area High School.
"I can't tell you how proud I am of Andrea and Troy," said Dr. Jacque King, assistant professor of business and course instructor. "I first met them in the "American Workplace" course and have watched both Andi and Troy grow into the leaders they are today. Westminster College is a better place because of students like Andrea and Troy."
"This is a credit to the caliber of education the students are getting at Westminster College and the caliber of professors who teach them," King continued. "We as a community of educators should be proud of team Andes Athletics and their accomplishments. We have seven more weeks in the competition and I expect more will hit the Top 100 as well."
During the game students operate an athletic footwear company and compete against other footwear companies in North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Each company has co-managers that are responsible for making decisions on production operations, upgrading plants and expanding or reducing plant capacity, worker compensation and training, pricing and marketing, and more.
According to the Business Strategy Game website, "The competitive nature of a strategy simulation arouses positive energy and steps up the whole tempo of the course by a notch or two. The healthy rivalry that emerges among the management teams of competing companies stirs competitive juices and spurs class members to fully exercise their strategic wits, analytical skills, and decision-making prowess - much more so than occurs with many other types of assignments."
The business administration major at Westminster is under the Economics and Business Department, and addresses marketing, finance, human resource management, and business strategy. Recent graduates have found employment with PNC Financial Services, Moody Investor Services, Ernest & Young LLP, and more. Furthermore Westminster graduates have recently held or are currently holding six seats on corporate boards of directors, over 40 presidential positions, and more than 30-vice-presidential positions in corporations such as Aetna, Alcoa, Citigroup, Columbia Gas, Fireman's Fund, General Electric, Liberty Mutual, Mellon Bank and PNC.
The final component of liberal studies is the senior capstone course. The capstone is at least a four-semester-hour course within the major designed to provide an opportunity for students to evaluate and assess the strengths and limitations of their major field. Additionally, the capstone experience permits opportunity for structured reflection on the value of education in and beyond the major and provides another chance to strengthen communication and problem-solving skills.
The Strategic Management capstone course specifically focuses on general management skills involved in choosing an organizational strategy, committing critical resources to implementation, and appropriately reevaluating that strategy as internal and external organizational environments change. The course integrates the major business functions using top management's generalist views. The primary method of instruction is case analysis.
Contact King at (724) 946-7163 or email for more information.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College ranks first in the nation as "Best College for Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," according to Forbes.com. Westminster is a top-tier liberal arts college and a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Best Colleges guide. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 377 Colleges" by The Princeton Review, and is named to the President's Honor Roll for excellence in service learning.
Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 42 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus. Visit www.westminster.edu/advantage to view "Advantage: Westminster" A Strategic Plan 2010-2020. | http://www.westminster.edu/news/releases/release.cfm?id=4059&dept=econ | 973 |
Gossip Girl Season 6 Spoilers: First Look at Serena and Her New Love Interest (PHOTOS)
We already know that Serena (Blake Lively) is getting a brand new love interest in Gossip Girl Season 6, and one who “has the potential to sweep [her] off her feet” at that! He’s played by Barry Watson (dreamy oldest son Matt Camden, of 7th Heaven fame), so we were already pretty much in love with the character before we even saw him on set. Now, Barry and Blake are both filming scenes in NYC. Take a look at all the pics!
Want more Gossip Girl goodness? Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter! You know you love us. XOXO | http://www.wetpaint.com/gossip-girl/gallery/gossip-girl-season-6-spoilers-first-look-at-serena-and-her-new-love-interest-photos | 157 |
ORCHARD PARK, NY-- 2 On Your Side has learned that Buffalo Bills' owner Ralph Wilson is in the hospital.
A Bills' spokesperson did not tell us why Wilson, 93, was in the hospital, but that he was in good condition. A source says Wilson has a mild infection and is expected to discharged soon.
Wilson was well enough to attend a dedication in early August of a new center named in his honor on the grounds of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
It was nearly a year ago that the Bills' owner suffered a broken hip.
Wilson, who will turn 94 in October has been noticeably absent from Bills' games over the past year. He missed his first home game in 52 years last year because of the broken hip. | http://www.wgrz.com/news/article/179880/37/Bills-Owner-Ralph-Wilson-Hospitalized?fb_xd_fragment= | 159 |
Djekanovic happy to be home
This time last year, the Serbian-born shot-stopper looked set to help the Whitecaps defend their 2006 United Soccer Leagues First Division title. That all changed in late April when Canadian rivals Toronto FC signed the 25-year-old for their inaugural season in Major League Soccer after agreeing an undisclosed fee with Vancouver for the keeper. Though he made eight appearances for TFC last season, Djekanovic was released by the MLS club in the autumn.
After leading the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds to a second Canadian Interuniversity Sport national championship title in three years last November, Djekanovic has returned to what is a new-look Whitecaps squad under the guidance of head coach Teitur Thordarson. The Delta, BC, native is impressed with the spirit he has seen in the team so far. "It's a good group of guys and there are gelling really well," Djekanovic told whitecapsfc.com. "I think the coaching staff is helping with that. Teitur has the experience of being a player, so that helps, while his assistant Todd Wawrousek has been a positive influence as well."
With goalkeeping being a specialized role, Djekanovic has been working closely with the club's new goalkeeping coach Mike Salmon. The Englishman brings a wealth of experience to the role, having played for several professional clubs in the UK and as a coach at English Premier League giants Arsenal. "Jay and I are doing things with him that I've never seen before," Djekanovic said of Salmon. "Mike is very organized and pays a lot of attention to detail. It shows his professionalism when you show up for training every morning and you see everything set up 15 to 20 minutes before practice."
With only one starting position available in goal, Djekanovic will be contesting for the club's number one jersey with another former MLS keeper in Jay Nolly. Though he knows they are competing for the role, Djekanovic has enjoyed training with the former Real Salt Lake and DC United man. "Jay is a classy guy," he said. "I think we both have had the same career paths, having been around either Major League Soccer or the USL First Division, but not having played as much as we hoped. If either one of us were not here in Vancouver, it would have been easier for us to be a number one with any club in this league. We are both going to push for that number one spot, but at the same time, there is a lot of mutual respect between us and a good friendship off the field."
Returning with Vancouver will allow Djekanovic an opportunity to face his old club Toronto FC in the new CONCACAF Champions League qualifying tournament this summer. Though he expects two tough games against TFC, the Whitecaps keeper feels USL-1 rivals Montreal Impact may be slight favourites to claim the honour of Canada's top professional club in 2008. "Montreal has put a lot of money into their preseason," noted Djekanovic. "They have a good team and will always be tough to play, so I would put them as pre-tournament favourites right now. Overall, I think it's going to be very tight, as I can see lots of drawn matches in the competition."
The Impact are also widely touted as one of the favorites for the USL-1 title in 2008. For Djekanovic, the keeper also sees defending league champions Seattle Sounders be one of the teams to beat in the upcoming campaign. "From what I saw of Seattle in preseason, I think they are going to be a tough team to play," he admitted. "They're well organized and play nice soccer. Portland Timbers should also have a good side, and from what I've seen, I expect Charleston to be really well organized defensively with the additions of Marco Reda and Jack Stewart. With former Canadian international defender Mark Watson in their coaching staff, I would see them being a tough team to play and create scoring chances against."
The Whitecaps open the 2008 regular season at Swangard Stadium with an all-Canadian tilt versus the Montreal Impact on April 12. Season tickets are on sale now and start at $199. All season tickets include a bonus ticket to this year’s international friendly. For more information, CLICK HERE or call the Whitecaps office at 604.669.WAVE (9283). | http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2008/03/djekanovic-happy-be-home?quicktabs_mls_standings_quicktabs=western&quicktabs_club_news_qt=2 | 915 |
Only one week until First Kick
Today marks only one week until Vancouver Whitecaps FC kick off the 2013 MLS season. With back-to-back home matches, Vancouver will open the season on March 2 against rivals Toronto FC, followed by Columbus Crew on March 9. Leading up to these matches 'Caps players will be participating in a number of events around Vancouver to get fans hyped up and excited about the upcoming season.
Monday through Thursday next week, between 7 to 9 a.m. PT, 'Caps players will be serving coffee and mingling with guests at Tim Hortons locations around Vancouver. Catch midfielder Bryce Alderson on Monday, February 25 at the Granville and Nelson Street Tim Hortons, or swing by the corner of Pender and Abbott Streets on Tuesday to meet striker Omar Salgado. On Wednesday share a coffee with defender Jordan Harvey at Royal Centre on Burrard Street, or on Thursday with goalkeeper Brad Knighton at the Tim Hortons near the West Georgia Skytrain Station.
You will also have the chance to meet Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi, who will join players at Tim Hortons on Monday and Wednesday, and club ambassador Carl Valentine who will be on-site Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.
On February 27, Whitecaps FC will be supporting National Pink Shirt Day. 'Caps staff and special guests will be sporting pink shirts around the streets of Vancouver to support and raise awareness for anti-bullying across the country.
On Wednesday, February 27, Whitecaps FC will also unveil the club's new primary kit. Fans can tune-in and watch the unveiling live on Wednesday by visiting whitecapsfc.com starting at 6 p.m. PT.
If we haven't already convinced you to join us for the first two home matches, here are 10 other reasons to attend...
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have won each of their home opening matches since the club joined Major League Soccer in 2011
Whitecaps FC have, so far, won five out of six preseason matches
Whitecaps FC have recently signed English Premier League veteran Nigel Reo-Coker
Returning ‘Caps striker Darren Mattocks netted an awe-inspiring hat-trick in the first 15 minutes of preseason action against New England Revolution
Newly acquired ‘Caps midfielder Daigo Kobayashi placed an amazing flying volley past the Charleston Battery in the preseason Carolina Challenge Cup
Our All. Our Honour. Whitecaps FC players are dedicating their all, whether on the pitch or in the community, on their honour for the sport, the fans, and the city of Vancouver.
With 21,000 seats, a 47-metre high retractable roof, and the largest centrally hung video board in Canada, you can watch BC Place come to life, rain or shine
The Southsiders, Rain City Brigade, and Curva Collective supporters groups are gearing up with new chants and cheers
Season tickets start at just $349 and student season tickets at only $199 – make sure you don’t miss a moment of the action
- Single Match tickets start at only $20 plus tax per seat and are selling fast!
Book your seats today for the ‘Caps home opener and the match on March 9 by visiting ticketmaster.ca/whitecaps or Charge-by-Phone at 1.855.6.GO-CAPS (1.855.646.2277).
For more information on season tickets, student season tickets, 9 Packs, and group rates please visit www.whitecapsfc.com/tickets. | http://www.whitecapsfc.com/news/2013/02/only-one-week-until-first-kick?quicktabs_club_news_qt=0 | 732 |
MONTAGUE — Montague football star Brandon Moore announced last week that he has verbally committed to play football at Division II Ferris State University next season.
Moore received a full scholarship offer to attend the school, which is coached by former Muskegon High football coach Tony Annese. Annese is friendly with Montague coach Pat Collins as well as assistant Bob Peterson.
“Part of that comfort level for him is the network of coaches he’s looking to as mentors,” Collins said. “The relationship maybe made Brandon feel comfortable, but ultimately he felt most comfortable with Ferris State.”
Moore, who will play wide receiver in college after playing mostly at quarterback his senior year, had also received Division I attention, but Collins said Ferris State’s full-ride offer was better than the offers Moore was getting from Division I schools.
The commitment does not become binding until National Signing Day, Feb. 6, but Collins said there is most likely only one school that could change Moore’s mind on Ferris.
“One that he really likes is Michigan State,” Collins said. “He likes the coaches there too and likes the campus and the chance to be in that arena, in a Big Ten school, is a big deal. He thinks highly of that but they haven’t offered him a scholarship,”
Regardless of what the Spartans choose to do, Collins is pleased that his player will have the chance to get a free education.
“It’s really what it’s all about for me, with all our student-athletes at Montague,” Collins said. “It’s awesome to know Brandon will have this opportunity. He could have a great future ahead of him.” | http://www.whitelakebeacon.com/news/29358-montagues-moore--commits-to-ferris-state | 374 |
England coach Stuart Lancaster is confident Ben Morgan will play some part in the RBS 6 Nations as the Gloucester number eight continues his recovery from an ankle problem.
Morgan was injured in the opening-day victory over Scotland and has been pencilled in to return against Italy on March 10. The 23-year-old has joined fly-half Freddie Burns on the sidelines, with his Gloucester team-mate receiving treatment for a knee problem.
"Morgan and Burns are making slow progress," Lancaster said. "Freddie is further down the line, but they won't play this weekend so it will be another week or so."
He added: "Ben will be fine. It's an ankle injury similar to the one Manu Tuilagi had. Manu was out for four or five weeks and Ben will be about the same.
"He wants to get himself right so he can push for selection against Italy."
Centre Jonathan Joseph has been ruled out for two weeks with a toe injury, but full-back Ben Foden has made good progress in his battle with ankle damage and will play for Northampton against Bath on Saturday.
Fly-half Toby Flood and flanker James Haskell missed training on Monday because of a tight calf and flu respectively. England resume their Six Nations against France on Saturday as the only team still capable of winning the Grand Slam.
Les Bleus limp into Twickenham on the back of successive defeats to Italy and Wales and with coach Philippe Saint-Andre under attack over selection, but Lancaster insists they remain formidable opposition.
"If you look at their performances in the autumn, the three wins over Samoa, Argentina and Australia show they are not a bad side," he said.
"They beat Australia 33-6 and Australia then beat us. While we'll take something out of their first two Six Nations games, we'll also take something out of those autumn internationals and make sure we're ready for them." | http://www.wirralnews.co.uk/wirral-news/uk-world-news/national-sport/2013/02/18/lancaster-morgan-making-progress-80491-32832318/ | 398 |
WSC would like to recognize and congratulate Senior Hockey A/B players Ross Cowan and Rich Podulka who participated last weekend at the World Pond Hockey Championships in Plaster Rock, New Brunswick. Cowan and Podulka (Penn State ice hockey alumni and 10+ year members of WSC) played on “Team Kingpin” together. Their squad finished as the 24th ranked team out of 132 posting a 5-1 record. They lost in the final round of 32 to a team out of Toronto. For more information on the tournament check out www.worldpondhockey.com. Congrats again to Paul, Rich and Ross!
Congratulations to the the 2009-2010 WSC Senior A team who defeated Washington, DC on Saturday 4-2 in the championship game of the MASAL. The tourney was held in Baltimore, MD. The A’s went undefeated this season in this league which is the first time this has ever happened in the MASAL, and maybe the first time the A team has run the table ever in club history including a championship win as well. It was quite a season!
By winning the regular season championship, WSC has earned the right to host this tourney next year. It will surely be an awesome event! | http://www.wissskating.com/hockey/senior-hockey/ | 261 |
Plymouth senior running back Kendrick Pitt is our newest WITN Pepsi Player Of The Week.
Pitt has been close to a state championship in multiple sports. His experience in those big games is fueling his fire in his last go round with the Vikings.
Plymouth is once again in the hunt for a conference title at 8-1. If they're to make it back to the final game of the year, Pitt will be one of the players to help get them there. | http://www.witn.com/sports/footballfriday/headlines/Player-Of-The-Week-Kendrick-Pitt-174500251.html | 99 |
LEXINGTON, Ky. Tyler Portwood scored ten points to help Scott County cruise past Oldham County 59-to-47 in the first round of the boys' state basketball tournament.
The win was the eighth in a row for Region Eleven champion Scott County.
Bud Mackey and Matt Walls added nine points each for the Cardinals, who led by as many as 29 in the second half.
Scott County head coach Billy Hicks played only one starter, Cam Hundley, during the final eight minutes.
Billy Payne had 15 points and 12 rebounds for Oldham County.
Turnovers and bad shots marked a bad second quarter for Oldham County, which made just two field goals and two free throws in the period for six points. | http://www.wkyt.com/sports/headlines/6622177.html?site=mobile | 152 |
DEXTER, Maine (NEWS CENTER)-- More than 10 students from Dexter Regional High School have been suspended after the high school's principal said a hazing incident took place during a football banquet, that turned into a lock-in sleep over at the school November 16th and 17th.
Principal Stephen Bell said around 5 o'clock in the morning on November 17th, several members of the school's football team were involved in hazing incidents that were in violation of the schools hazing policy.
"It was a very serious incident. When we got knowledge of it we started the process on Monday morning when we got back to school, interviewing a lot of kids starting with the victims working our way backwards all the way through the parents," Bell said.
Bell said all of the kids involved are minors. He declined to go on record to say what exactly happened, but the school is working with the police department, which is investigating.
"That's gonna take a long time that debriefing process in asking those honest questions of ourselves, the administrators, the teachers, the parents, the coaches, even the kids themselves that were there. 'How did this happen? Where did this come from?'" Bell said.
According to Bell, those involved were suspended from school and other athletic activities. Suspensions from school ranged from one to 10 days. Athletic suspensions ranged from one week to more than a month.
"These kids had the handbook from day one. They know what the hazing policy is," Bell said
Bell said he was surprised when he found out what happened, but he hopes the school uses this as a lesson so it doesn't happen again.
"We want this to be an educational opportunity. At the end of the day that we learn from this as a school as a community that something positive comes out of this," Bell said.
Dexter Police Sgt. Alan Grinnell said the case is being investigated and there could be criminal charges pending the results of the investigation. Grinnell also declined to comment on what incidents took place. | http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article/223017/2/Several-Dexter-Regional-High-School-students-suspended-for-hazing-incident | 422 |
Wisconsin news anchor Jennifer Livingston has become an internet sensation -- and inspiration -- after responding on television to a email from a viewer about her weight.
The viewer wrote that he was "surprised that her physical condition hadn't improved for years," and that she was not being a good role model to young girls.
In response, rather than quietly replying to the email, Livingston, an anchor at La Crosse TV station WKBT-TV, took four minutes on-air to firmly take a stand.
Livingston acknowledged that she is overweight but followed by asking the viewer, "Are [you] pointing out something that I don’t see? You don't know me, so you know nothing about me but what you see on the outside, and I am much more than a number on a scale."
Livingston then used the opportunity as a platform to address young victims of bullying by saying, "do not let your self-worth be defined by bullies. Learn from my experience.”
The station later posted a response from the viewer, identified as Kenneth W. Krause, which read, "Given this country's present epidemic of obesity and the many truly horrible diseases related thereto, and considering Jennifer Livingston's fortuitous position in the community, I hope she will finally take advantage of a rare and golden opportunity to influence the health and psychological well-being of Coulee Region children by transforming herself for all of her viewers to see over the next year, and, to that end, I would be absolutely pleased to offer Jennifer any advice or support she would be willing to accept." | http://www.wlky.com/news/entertainment/Wisconsin-anchor-responds-to-email-about-her-weight/-/9365716/16830390/-/gpqocpz/-/index.html | 325 |
Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - The New England Revolution made 19 roster
moves Friday, most notably declining the contract option on midfielder Benny
Feilhaber for next season.
The 27-year-old Feilhaber, who has played 39 times for the United States,
joined New England in 2011 and combined for five goals and nine assists in 52
appearances for the club over two seasons.
New England also declined options on midfielders Fernando Cardenas and Blair
Gavin, and goalkeeper Tim Murray.
The Revolution exercised contract options on 15 players: goalkeepers Matt Reis
and Bobby Shuttleworth, defenders Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Stephen
McCarthy, A.J. Soares and Chris Tierney, midfielders Ryan Guy, Lee Nguyen,
Sainey Nyassi, Clyde Simms and Juan Toja, and forwards Diego Fagundez, Dimitry
Imbongo and Saer Sene.
The Sports Network | http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=210771 | 206 |
During the offseason Landon Cassill decided to part ways with BK Racing where he raced the full 2012 Sprint Cup Series in the No. 83 Toyota. Cassill did not find a ride for the Daytona 500 but on Wednesday it was announced that he has a ride with Circle Sport, LLC.
He will pilot the No. 33 Circle Sport entry this weekend at Phoenix International Raceway. The entry will have sponsorship on the Chevrolet SS from Moon Shine Wildfire Camo for the Subway Fresh Fit 500 on Sunday.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge of helping advance Circle Sport to the next level of competition in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series,” Cassill said. “I have been a part of and understand what it takes for an upstart organization to compete in the Cup Series. They have an established relationship with RCR (Richard Childress Racing) that I believe will help us, and with the right marketing partners – a company that wants to grow their involvement in the sport – I believe we have just the right opportunity for them with the No. 33 Chevrolet.”
It looks as if Cassill will be the driver for Circle Sport in the No. 33 every week they race under the Circle Sport banner. The No. 33 was used by Richard Childress Racing to field a car for Austin Dillon in the Daytona 500 with Joe Falk listed as the owner. Dillon has some more races scheduled in the No. 33 later this year.
Joe Falk is the owner of the Circle Sport team, which is in its second year as an organization. In 2012 the team competed in 20 races. Austin Dillon raced at Michigan, Tony Raines in two races, Cole Whitt in two races, and Stephen Leicht raced 15 times on his way to winning the Rookie of the Year honors. The team start-and-parked in most events.
“I have watched Landon progress as a race car driver, and it was his qualifying efforts in our Cup car in 2010 and 2011 that caught the eye of James Finch and earned him his first big break in NASCAR’s premier series,” Falk said. “Landon has a tremendous amount of potential and we believe we’re building a program that will allow him to showcase his talents. He has driven for the likes of Hendrick Motorsports and Dale Earnhardt Jr., and we feel that his experience will help our transition to the new Gen-6 race car. As we continue to build our program, we are still actively seeking marketing partners that want to grow with us and reach NASCAR’s 75 million fans through our various price points and sponsorship options.”
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- Landon Cassill Leaves BK Racing to Persue Other Opportunities
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- Rick Crawford Picks up Truck Ride at Daytona
Short URL: http://sport-ne.ws/ql6 | http://www.worldmotorsports101.com/2013/02/27/landon-cassill-picks-up-sprint-cup-series-ride-with-circle-sport/ | 642 |
Former New York Knicks guard Ray Williams died on Friday at the age of 58.
He had been battling battling colon cancer at Manhattan's Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
Williams was the 10th overall pick in the 1977 draft, taken by the Knicks.
He played 10 NBA seasons, including two stints with the Knicks.
The 6-foot-3 Williams had career averages of 15.5 points a game and 5.8 assists a game.
Williams had difficulties after he retired. He was bankrupt and homeless for periods, which led to his wife and children leaving him.
---Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol were scheduled to be in the Los Angeles Lakers' starting lineup for their game Friday night against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center.
Both players made it through practice Thursday without issue, ESPN.com reported.
A foot injury has sidelined Gasol since Feb. 5. A sprained ankle and the flu have slowed Bryant for the past week.
---All-Star point guard Tony Parker, who was been out because of a severely sprained left ankle since March 1, was expected to play Friday night against the Utah Jazz. | http://www.wpbf.com/news/sports/NBA-roundup-Former-Knick-Ray-Williams-dies/-/8789130/19434318/-/2644o8/-/index.html | 235 |
Originally Posted by Aid180
John Cena will be an honorary captain for the Jets this Sunday against the Colts at MetLife Stadium, the home of Wrestlemania 29. Obviously a promotional thing, but a John Cena and Tim Tebow conversation would probably kill people with kindness.
Should have him as honorary captain for the Patriots, more in tune with his roots but since he's going to do the Jets game, plug him in at RB & let him & Tim run the Wildcat. The result? A TD so epic it ends the game by default. | http://www.wrestlingforum.com/sports/631008-nfl-thread-ravens-super-bowl-champions-305.html | 111 |
In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, Lance Armstrong has admitted using performance-enhancing drugs while cycling. He's already been stripped of his seven Tour de France titles and this week had to give back his Olympic bronze medal.
But he still must face judgment from a different group of fans: those who have personal experience with cancer.
Armstrong, founder of the cancer charity Livestrong and a survivor of testicular cancer, is still a hero to some cancer survivors. But others express a mix of emotions and are trying to distance their support of his cancer efforts from their anger about his cheating.
Bob Denton, 64, of Tucson, Arizona, said he was surprised that the disgraced cyclist appeared, in his view, "honest but insincere" in his apology in the interview, as if "whatever he was admitting was for his own benefit."
But Denton doesn't hold that, or the doping, against Armstrong. In Denton's mind, Armstrong is still a winner.
"Really, compared to the life and death issues of cancer that Lance has embraced, cheating in the Tour is small potatoes," Denton said in an e-mail.
Denton, who cycles as a hobby, has worn a Livestrong wristband every day since 2004, even at business meetings. He sent an iReport to CNN.com about it, too.
He had known Armstrong only in the context of cycling before getting a wristband at a 100-mile bike ride in Florida, which prompted him to research Armstrong's battle with cancer. At that time, he saw the wristband as a symbol of "Lance's total victory over adversity."
"When I would be exhausted trying to keep up with the pace line, I'd look down at that yellow band and get my second wind," Denton said.
The wristband took on a different meaning when Denton developed a cancerous tumor at the base of his tongue in 2009. Then, the wristband became an inspiration for him to overcome the illness. | http://www.wtae.com/news/health/Cancer-survivors-mixed-on-Armstrong/-/9680940/18184926/-/7jufciz/-/index.html | 417 |
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame won't have veteran safety Jamoris Slaughter back as the Fighting Irish try to build on their best season in 19 years.
The university said Thursday it had received word from the NCAA that Slaughter's appeal for a sixth year of eligibility had been denied after he tore his left Achilles tendon in the third game of the season. The Irish had hoped Slaughter would provide a veteran presence in the secondary. Coach Brian Kelly issued a statement on Thursday wishing Slaughter well.
"Jamoris is a first-class young man and most importantly leaves Notre Dame with his degree. We wish him all the best as he now pursues his dream of playing in the NFL," he said.
Slaughter sent a tweet out Wednesday indicating he had received the news: "It's been great ND! Hey you know what they say when one door closes another one opens! (hash)NFLDREAMING"
Slaughter, who did not play as a freshman, was injured in a 20-3 victory over Michigan State. With the loss of Slaughter and starting cornerback Lo Wood in the preseason with his own Achilles tendon injury, the Irish were thought to be vulnerable in the secondary, starting three players who were recruited to play on offense. Slaughter's injury forced the Irish to use sophomore Matthias Farley, a converted wide receiver, at safety.
Farley finished eighth on the team with 49 tackles and an interception and the secondary played well enough to help the Irish to a 12-0 finish in the regular season and a spot in the BCS title game, which Alabama won 42-14.
The Irish should be deeper in the secondary next season, even though they lose senior safety Zeke Motta. Wood is expected back at corner and the Irish return safety Nicky Baratti, who had eight tackles as a freshman. They also signed four defensive backs in the incoming freshman class, including five-star safety Max Redfield of Mission Viejo, Calif.
Slaughter, who is from Stone Mountain, Ga., started 19 games in four seasons and played in 39, finished his career with 98 tackles, two interceptions and two sacks. Slaughter issued a statement saying he knew a sixth year "was far from a guarantee."
"It is sad to know that my time at Notre Dame as a football player is complete, but it doesn't lessen my love for this university and its football program," he said. "This decision simply begins the next chapter of my life and I'll be forever grateful for my coaches, teammates and all the Irish fans that supported me throughout my career."
Slaughter has been invited to the NFL Combine later this month in Indianapolis.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Morgan Freeman can't stay awake during a TV interview. (Video)
The Nickelodeon star's antics continue in New York City.
"Sulu" weighs in on the actor filling his shoes in the new "Star Trek."
A Philadelphia bicyclist has teamed up with a cat for tandem rides. | http://www.wtop.com/357/3225571/NCAA-denies-6th-year-for-ND-safety-Slaughter?nid=1229 | 633 |
Raliegh, NC (Sports Network) - The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets embark on their
first road trip since November, as they take on the 20th-ranked NC State
Wolfpack in ACC action at PNC Arena in Raleigh on Wednesday.
Brian Gregory's Yellow Jackets are off to a 10-3 start, marking the team's
best 13-game start since the 2009-10 campaign. Despite the team's strong
beginning, Tech had a six-game win streak snapped in its ACC opener on
Saturday, falling at home to Miami-Florida, 62-49.
Mark Gottfried's Wolfpack were supposed to be the team to beat in the ACC and
began the 2012-13 season in the top-10. However, a couple of losses in
November to current top-25 foes Oklahoma State and Michigan tempered the
enthusiasm. The Wolfpack have rallied since then though, with wins in each of
the last eight games, including a 78-73 road win at Boston College to open up
NC State holds a 51-37 edge in the all-time series with Georgia Tech and has
won two of the last three meetings. The two squads split the season series a
year ago. Overall, NC State holds a 29-9 advantage in games played in Raleigh.
Tech has piled up the wins due to stifling defensive play. The team ranks
second in the ACC and sixth nationally in scoring defense at 54.2 ppg.
Opponents are only shooting .356 from the floor, good for third in the ACC
and eighth nationally. The defensive efforts have been needed, as scoring has
been hard to come by. The Yellow Jackets rank 11th in the ACC and 231st
nationally in scoring at a modest 65.4 ppg. Freshman swingman Marcus Georges-
Hunt is currently the only Yellow Jacket with a double-digit average at 11.2
ppg. Three others are close to the mark however, in Robert Carter Jr. (9.8
ppg), Mfon Udofia (9.7 ppg) and Kammeon Holsey (9.5 ppg).
Tech struggled to find its rhythm against Miami, as the Hurricanes held the
Yellow Jackets to their lowest scoring output of the season. The team
connected on just 17-of-52 shots from the floor (.327) as well as getting
dominated on the boards (40-29). Udofia and Holsey netted 10 points apiece to
pace the team in the loss.
The Wolfpack got a balanced effort all the way around, as six players notched
double figures in the win over Boston College last weekend. Rodney Purvis led
the way with 19 points. Lorenzo Brown added 14 points and dished out eight
assists in the win. Richard Howell recorded a double-double with 12 points and
11 rebounds. Scott Wood also finished with 12 points, while T.J. Warren and
C.J. Leslie tacked on 11 and 10 points, respectively.
NC State is an extremely dangerous team, averaging 81.2 ppg (11th nationally),
while leading the nation in field-goal percentage (.531). The scoring depth is
vast, with five players currently netting double figures, led by Leslie's 15.4
ppg. Warren is next in line, averaging 13.4 ppg off the bench. Howell is the
team's muscle in the paint (13.2 ppg, 9.7 rpg). Wood (11.6 ppg) is the team's
top 3-point threat (35-of-81). Brown is an All-American candidate at the
point, with the ability to both score (11.6 ppg) and get his teammates
involved (6.4 apg).
The Sports Network | http://www.wtsp.com/sports/ncaabasketball/article/291124/266/ACC-action-pits-Georgia-Tech-at-NC-State | 800 |
(Sports Network) - Dwight Howard was a six-time All-Star and captured NBA
Defensive Player of the Year three straight times as the centerpiece of the
Following a tumultuous and public divorce with the Magic, Howard found a new
home with the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team deal over the summer and gets
a crack at his former club Sunday night at Staples Center.
Howard averaged 18.4 points, 13.0 rebounds and 2.16 blocks in 621 games since
the Magic selected him with the first overall pick of the 2004 draft.
"Dwight Howard accomplished tremendous success on and off the court during his
eight years in Orlando," Magic GM Rob Hennigan said at the time of the deal.
The chiseled center is currently posting averages of 18.6 points, 11.1 boards
and 2.81 blocks for the Lakers, who will close out a three-game homestand
Sunday and are 7-4 as the host. In Friday's 122-103 victory over the Denver
Nuggets, Howard was a beast with 28 points and 20 rebounds. It was the 42nd
20-point, 20-rebound game of his career.
Antawn Jamison scored a game-high 33 points and Kobe Bryant ended with 14 in
the win. L.A. led by as many as 21 and had a 61-47 advantage in bench points.
The Lakers stole the show from beyond the arc, knocking down 17-of-33 3-
pointers (51.5 percent).
"It was a total team effort," said Lakers reserve guard Jodie Meeks, who
buried seven 3-pointers for 21 points. "I thought I played pretty well,
knocked down open shots, and played hard."
The Lakers, 7-4 at home and third in the Pacific Division, tied a franchise
regular-season record in a regulation game with 17 successful shots from
downtown and improved to 3-3 under coach Mike D'Antoni.
Los Angeles has won two of three games and was coming off a loss to Indiana in
which it registered just 77 points (79-77). The Lakers had 71 points in the
first half versus the Nuggets, whose 16 turnovers led to 24 L.A. points.
Following Sunday's game versus the Magic, D'Antoni's squad will play three
straight and seven of eight games on the road. In other team news, Metta World
Peace is two 3-pointers shy of 1,000 in his career. He's also 33 points short
of 12,000 and six rebounds away from 4,000 for his career.
Orlando just went 2-3 on a five-game homestand and will begin a five-game
western trek Sunday against the Lakers, Warriors, Jazz, Kings and Suns.
The Magic suffered their third straight loss with Friday's 98-86 setback to
the Brooklyn Nets as Glen Davis scored a team-high 16 points and E'Tuwan Moore
added 13 points. Andrew Nicholson and Nikola Vucevic, who was involved in the
deal for Howard, both had 12 points.
"We had great effort and energy at the beginning of the game," Magic coach
Jacque Vaughn said. "But, we have to get to a point where that is sustained
for 48 minutes."
Orlando trailed by as many as 20 points during the second half. Magic guard
Jameer Nelson missed the game with an Achilles issue and is questionable
against the Lakers. The Magic are 1-6 without Nelson in the lineup.
The Magic are near the bottom in the league with 91.1 ppg. However, they are
4-1 this season when scoring 100 or more points.
Orlando won the only meeting with the Lakers last season, recording a 92-80
victory Jan. 20 in central Florida. Mainly because of Howard, the Magic have
won three of four and six of the last nine matchups with the Lakers. Orlando,
though, has dropped 12 of its last 14 as the visitor in this series.
The Sports Network | http://www.wtsp.com/sports/nfl/article/285120/265/Lakers-Howard-set-to-face-Magic | 856 |
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WUSA) -- This Sunday is a HUGE football day for our D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area.
At 1 p.m. Sunday on WUSA9, the Baltimore Ravens host the Indianapolis Colts in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Then, at 4:30 p.m., the Washington Redskins will take on the Seattle Seahawks in Landover, Md. in the first round of the NFC playoffs.
But the football doesn't stop after the Redskins game. From 8 p.m.-9 p.m. Sunday night on WUSA9 we'll have a special Ravens/Redskins playoff edition of Game On!
Kristen Berset, Dave Owens and the rest of the Game On huddle will wrap up week one of the NFL playoffs and will provide full, in-depth post-game coverage of the games in Washington and Baltimore.
So after you watch the Ravens and Redskins take care of business against Indy and Seattle, flip on over to WUSA9 to see a full hour of extensive post-game coverage of our local teams. | http://www.wusa9.com/sports/article/236302/25/Special-Ravens-Redskins-Playoff-Edition-of-Game-On-This-Sunday | 225 |
Providence, RI (Sports Network) - Matt Sullivan scored a game-high 27 points
and nailed a clutch 3-pointer as the Brown Bears rallied for a 58-55 win over
the Columbia Lions in an Ivy League thriller at Pizzitola Sports Center.
Cedric Kuakumensah added 19 points and seven rebounds for Brown (9-12, 3-4 Ivy
League) which snapped a three-game losing streak.
Steve Frankoski netted 20 points and Alex Rosenberg registered 13 for
Columbia (10-11, 2-5) which has lost five of its last six games.
Though Columbia shot just 38.5 percent from the floor in the first half the
Lions limited Brown to eight field goals on 30.8 percent shooting. Columbia
led 31-20 at the break.
Sullivan took over the second half scoring 21 points while hitting 4-of-5 from
beyond the arc including a 3-pointer with 10 seconds left that gave Brown a
56-55 lead. After John Daniels missed a layup on the other end Kuakumensah
nailed a pair of free-throws, Brown advantage grew to 58-55. Alex Rosenberg
was fouled on the Lions next possession and missed on the free-throw attempt
but the Lions were unable to secure the rebound.
Brown outscored Columbia, 38-24, in the second half by shooting 61.1 percent
from the floor while holding a 12-3 edge in points from the free-throw line.
The Sports Network | http://www.wusa9.com/sports/college/basketball/article/243674/306/NCAA-Game-Summary---Columbia-at-Brown | 324 |
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