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Jun 29, 2011
Clashes between protesters and police continue after sunrise in Cairo with dozens of injuries in which both sides hurled stones at each other
From Olympic swimmer to Princess of Monaco
More Syrian refugees flee into Turkey
Video: UNWTO chief urges UAE to preserve natural environment
Video: Crazy Dunkers in Abu Dhabi
Do you have a story? | http://www.thenational.ae/news/world/egypt-clashes-continue | 74 |
TUCSON, ARIZ. — Mario Martinez didn’t get to attend training camp with Sounders FC last season because he was signed on loan in August.
He didn’t get a full training camp this season either because he missed the opening weeks while playing with the Honduras national team.
But after returning last week, Martinez seems to be making up for lost time after scoring his second goal in as many games to help the Sounders beat the New York Red Bulls, 2-0, in the Desert Diamond Cup on Wednesday.
“Last year it was tough to get him in on a regular basis,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “But you see now his confidence is great. With him being in with us, getting to know the guys it makes it easy to play. Like I told (rookie defender) DeAndre Yedlin: ‘When you’ve got a guy like Mario in front of you, every time you win the ball just play it to him. He won’t mess around with it; he won’t mess it up.’ ”
Martinez said he appreciates his obligations to both club and country.
“It’s a great honor whenever I go down and play for the national team,” he said, with teammate Servando Carrasco translating. “I take great pride in putting that jersey on. But I also know that I have a responsibility here, and whenever the opportunity presents itself and the coach calls my number, I’ll be ready.”
Schmid waited until the second half Wednesday to call Martinez’s number, after he opened the match with a lineup of reserves, some still trying to earn roster spots.
Still, that group grabbed the lead in the 37th minute when Alex Caskey finished after a Travis Bowen shot had drawn goalkeeper Luis Robles off his line.
Martinez came on in the final 30 minutes, when Schmid decided to give his starters some game work.
“The goal really came out of nothing,” Martinez said. “It was kind of a triangle play between me, Mauro (Rosales) and Steve Zakuani. The ball was in the air and I was contemplating whether or not to hit it, and at the last second I decided to hit it and fortunately it went in.”
The win moved the Sounders to 3-0 in the competition and gives them a date against Real Salt Lake (1-1-1) on Saturday for the Cup championship.
Schmid indicated he will turn that game over to the reserves again, because he plans to use his starters Friday in a friendly against Mexican second-division club Veracruz. That game will serve as preparation for Seattle’s CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal opener against Tigres on March 6 in Monterrey, Mexico.
The Wednesday match was played with temperatures in the mid-30s and with snowflakes falling at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium.
“It got slick toward the very end, but not so much prior to that,” Schmid said. “You play in those conditions all the time in Europe, so it’s just a matter of making sure you have the right footwear and being smart about what you do and the runs that you make. I don’t know: snow in Tucson? Next thing you’re going to tell me is its going to snow in Monterrey when we go there.”
Two new players arrived in camp Wednesday: Shalrie Joseph, who was acquired in a Tuesday trade from Chivas USA, and Stephen Okai, a midfielder who had been taken by Philadelphia with the No. 31 pick in the 2013 SuperDraft. Sounders FC acquired a 2014 first round Supplemental Draft pick and a conditional 2015 draft pick from the Portland Timbers in exchange for the rights to defender Mikael Silvestre..Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 [email protected] blog.thenewstribune.com/soccer @donruiztnt | http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/21/2483438/martinezs-goal-helps-make-up-for.html | 853 |
UFC 149 Faber vs. Barao: The Roaring Predictions
We’re a man down, as Sam Brown couldn’t join us for this round of fight picks. Nonetheless, the lovely and talented Ms. Erin Tierney and I will do our best to give you good insights, good picks, and a good read with our latest instalment of The Roaring Predictions.
Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao
Erin: This could be Faber’s time in the spotlight, as discussed in my article from earlier this week, however Barao isn’t to be overlooked easily. The Brazilian is on a 28-fight win streak and can ruin “The California Kid’s” night.
Given that Barao trains with featherweight champ Jose Aldo, who has fought Faber previously in the WEC, it can be certain that winning tips were shared around the gym, especially in regards to the stand-up.
It’s hard to say where this fight will end up. On the ground, Barao shouldn’t overlook Faber’s wresting and submission defence, but it could be in the stand up where we see Faber struggle with quick feet and an aggressive game plan. Pick: Renan Barao via TKO
Spencer: I tend to agree with Erin here. Faber is definitely not to be taken lightly, and he has all the tools necessary to leave Calgary with the interim bantamweight title, but Barao looks just a bit better to me in the areas that will decide this fight.
Speed has been the crucial element in most of Faber’s fights lately; when he’s the faster man, he’s the victor, and when he’s not, he’s not. Barao is quick on his feet, and does a very good job of doing damage without taking much damage, and I think that will be his approach here: get in, land, and get out. Pick: Renan Barao by Unanimous Decision
Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch
Spencer: I’m excited to see Lombard finally make his UFC debut, and believe he has the kind of crazy power that can change any fight on a dime. That said, everyone knows by this point that you don’t stand with the former Bellator champion, and I like the grappling skills Boetsch brings to the cage in his one.
That’s not to say that Lombard doesn’t have a solid grappling pedigree either. Obviously, you don’t make the Olympics in judo without being highly skilled, but we haven’t seen much grappling from Lombard in the last few years, and he’s also been taken down by some guys with lesser credentials than Boetsch.
I believe it’s going to be a grind for “The Barbarian” and he’ll have to be careful not to get caught, but I have a feeling Lombard’s UFC debut is going to end up being a bad memory for the Cuban transplant. Pick: Tim Boetsch by Unanimous Decision
Erin: It’s Hector Lombard finally in the UFC! A highly-decorated and seasoned fighter, Lombard was originally meant to face Brian Stann in this bout until an injury forced Stann off the card. Now fighting Tim Boetsch, it really comes down to how long the fight will last.
Aussies, get ready to join the Lombard train! Boetsch is coming into this fight with wins over Kendall Grove, Nick Ring and Yushin Okami, but will struggle against the Cuban-Australian Lombard. Pick: Lombard by TKO
Cheick Kongo vs. Shawn Jordan
Erin: Shawn Jordan is coming off a highly entertaining fight against England’s Oli Thompson at Sydney’s UFC on FX card, while Kongo suffered a loss at the hands of the “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt at UFC 144 in February. With one fighter looking for redemption and the other to progress in the division, this will come down to who can punch the hardest and outlast the other. Pick: Shawn Jordan via Decision
Spencer: I’m so intrigued by this fight, as Jordan has a ton of natural athleticism and potential, but it taking a big step up in competition going from Thompson to Kongo in just his 17th fight.
Kongo made the mistake of not keeping Mark Hunt out of his face, and he’ll surely have learned from that fight heading into this one. While he’s been around for a long time and has tons of experience, there is something about Jordan and the upside he offers that I can’t get away from. Training at Jackson’s in Albuquerque speeds up his learning curve, and though this is a tough test, I expect him to pass with flying colours. Pick: Shawn Jordan by TKO, Round 2
Chris Clements vs. Matt Riddle
Spencer: This one has Fight of the Night written all over it! Both Clements and Riddle like to stand and trade, which should cause this one to come down to who connects with more power and more frequency, and I think that will be Clements.
Riddle might land the greater number of strikes, but he doesn’t have the same kind of power as the Canadian. Additionally, he tends to stay in the pocket more than he should, and that is a bad idea with Clements, who has serious knockout power. Pick: Chris Clements by TKO, Round 2
Erin: Matt Riddle has a good record in the UFC given that he has had no pro-MMA experience before entering the Ultimate Fighter house in TUF 7, and has taken this fight on just over two weeks’ notice, replacing the injured Siyar Bahadurzada.
Clements, on the other hand, has had a good run of 10-4 before debuting in the UFC with a split decision win against Keith Wisniewski.
Given Clements’ win record of 10 knockouts from 11 wins, he will dominate in the stand up and should take this fight provided it doesn’t end up on the ground. Pick: Chris Clements via KO
Brian Ebersole vs. James Head
Erin: Ebersole is doing the quick back-to-back thing, stepping in for Claude Patrick after beating T.J Waldburger in late June. He is on a four-fight win streak since debuting in the UFC. James Head is also coming off a win, beating Papy Abedi in Sweden at the UFC on Fuel event in April.
I have to give this one to Ebersole due to experience. The only concern would be if “The Hairrow” had too much ‘downtime’ before being called up on short notice but overall I think we will see him control the Octagon for the duration of the bout. Pick: Brian Ebersole via decision
Spencer: This will be a tougher task than people think for Ebersole, who returns just a month after earning his fourth UFC win. Head is a tough kid who debuted at welterweight with a solid performance, and has the benefit of a full training camp.
That being said, the crafty veteran Ebersole should get his hand raised here. Much like his fight with TJ Waldburger, there won’t be much Head can offer than Ebersole hasn’t already seen in his lengthy and prolific career, and he has the overall skill set to handle his business wherever this fight takes place. My one concern is that his gas tank may not be full to start the fight; it’s hard to re-fuel and peak again on this short of a turnaround, so don’t be surprised if Ebersole comes out more aggressive than normal avoid having to brave deep waters. Pick: Brian Ebersole by Unanimous Decision
We’ll be back again in a couple weeks with our picks for UFC 150, and be sure to keep checking out The Roar for all your UFC opinion needs!
Follow Erin Tierney on Twitter: @erinTtweeting
Follow E. Spencer Kyte on Twitter (@spencerkyte). | http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/07/21/ufc-149-faber-vs-barao-the-roaring-predictions/ | 1,754 |
Rockets F Brockman injures eye during workout
HOUSTON (AP) Houston Rockets forward Jon Brockman is expected to make a full recovery after he was hospitalized for a right eye injury sustained during a workout at the Toyota Center.
The 6-foot-7 Brockman, Washington's career leader in rebounds (1,283), was a second-round pick by Portland (38th overall) in 2009.
Brockman was hurt Monday while working with an elastic band used for stretching muscles. The band apparently slipped off his foot and the recoil hit Brockman's right eye.
Brockman was treated at a hospital and released Thursday. The injury did not require surgery, and the team said Brockman will be monitored daily by team doctors. The Rockets set no timetable for his return to basketball activities.
Houston acquired Brockman, Jon Leuer and Shaun Livingston from Milwaukee in a trade for Samuel Dalembert in July. | http://www.thescore.com/nba/articles/339648-rockets-f-brockman-injures-eye-during-workout | 190 |
Reimer expected back tonight vs. Habs
UPDATE: James Reimer is expected to be back in the Leafs' line-up tonight.
Jussi Rynnas back to the Marlies this afternoon. James Reimer returns tonight, likely as a backup.— Jonas Siegel (@jonasTSN1050) February 27, 2013
(Sports Network) - The Montreal Canadiens will try to get on the board in their season series with the Toronto Maple Leafs, as the Original Six rivals get together for Wednesday's battle at Air Canada Centre.
Montreal hosted the first two of five meetings between the clubs this season and lost both in regulation. The most recent encounter on Feb. 9 was ugly as Toronto pounded the Habs 6-0 at Bell Centre. James Reimer earned the shutout with 37 saves and Phil Kessel contributed a goal and two assists to the blowout.
The Maple Leafs have won five of the last eight contests in this historic rivalry, but Montreal has taken two in a row and three of the past four games in Toronto.
One thing that will be different from the last matchup is the Canadiens won't have to face Reimer this time around. The goaltender is close to returning from a sprained left knee, but he is expected to miss Wednesday's game.
Ben Scrivens has made seven straight starts in Reimer's absence and is 4-3-0 in those outings. He turned aside 23 shots on Monday to help the Maple Leafs hold on for a 4-2 victory at Philadelphia.
Mikhail Grabovski scored the eventual deciding goal in the third period and Jay McClement later sealed the win with an empty-netter. Phil Kessel and Nikolai Kulemin also lit the lamp for Toronto.
"You have to give our guys credit," said Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle. "They battled and went toe-to-toe with a pretty good hockey team over there."
Toronto is playing three of its next four games on home ice and has won three straight at Air Canada Centre to improve its record as the host to 4-4-0.
The Canadiens have lost two of their last three contests, but have earned a point in eight straight games (6-0-2) since the Feb. 9 rout against the Leafs.
Montreal dropped a 2-1 shootout decision at Ottawa on Monday. Peter Regin scored the winner in the fifth round of the shootout and Ben Bishop made 44 saves to continually frustrate the Canadiens.
"The result was not in our sight," Montreal coach Michel Therrien said. "Bishop was outstanding. I liked the way we played. We competed, we played hard. We were aggressive on the puck. We had traffic; we hit (three) posts. For me, it always about how we're going to play, and I believe we played a good hockey game."
Andrei Markov scored the lone goal for the Canadiens, while Carey Price stopped 23-of-24 shots in defeat.
Montreal had won three straight on the road prior to Monday's loss. The Habs are 4-1-2 as the guest this season.
Habs forward Rene Bourque is expected to miss a third straight game with a concussion on Wednesday. Forwards Colton Orr and Mike Brown are both questionable for Toronto with lower-body injuries. | http://www.thescore.com/nhl/articles/482629-reimer-expected-back-tonight-vs-habs | 690 |
Enrique blow rocks Reds
JOSE ENRIQUE has been ruled out for six weeks with a hamstring injury.
The Liverpool left-back has impressed in recent weeks after forcing his way back into Brendan Rodgers’ starting line-up.
But the Spaniard now faces a spell on the sidelines after tweaking his hamstring in Sunday’s win against QPR.
Boss Rodgers said: “He will probably be out for up to six weeks.
“It’s a shame because in the game he felt nothing. Sometimes you can enter games and be tight and stiff but he felt great.
“It was unfortunate he has done that because he has looked fantastic in the recent games.” | http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/sport/football/4726724/Jose-Enrique-injury-Liverpool-star-out-for-six-weeks.html | 148 |
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Web Design by JVitals.com | http://www.thespread.com/index.php?option=com_statfeeds_reloaded&view=show&sport=mlb&report=teamreport&sortby=team&Itemid=396 | 191 |
Micah hails Pearce influence
MICAH RICHARDS has thanked Team GB boss Stuart Pearce for being there for him during good times and bad.
The Manchester City defender is one of three over-age players in Pearce's squad for this summer's London Olympics.
Richards, 24, won the Premier League title with City last season but still ranks Pearce as one of the greatest managers he has ever had.
He said: “I’ve always said Stuart Pearce has been outstanding to me. He gave me my debut. When he got the England manager’s job (on a caretaker basis), he played me at right-back.
“He always rings me to see how it’s going. When things are going well, he always rings me, and when things aren’t going so well, he rings me as well.
“He’s definitely been the best manager for me, alongside Roberto Mancini who has given me two cups.
“But Stuart Pearce has been right up there as well.” | http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4434521/Micah-Richards-hails-influence-of-Team-GB-boss-Stuart-Pearce.html | 222 |
Overjoyed Olympic parent Bert Le Clos steals Chad's thunder
Olympic gossip: BBC interview with South African swimmer's dad goes viral
SOUTH AFRICAN swimmer Chad Le Clos had the night of his life as he beat Michael Phelps in the 200m butterfly to win gold yesterday, but his father Bert (pictured) made just as big a splash at the Aquatic Centre thanks to a joyful interview with the BBC. Le Clos Snr could not contain his delight during an impromptu chat with BBC presenter Clare Balding. "Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Unbelievable!" Bert enthused. "It's like I just died and went to heaven... Look at him! I love you. Oh my God."
RECORD CROWD WATCH WOMEN'S FOOTBALL
The record attendance for a women's football match in the UK was shattered as 70,584 people watched Team GB beat Brazil 1-0 at Wembley last night. The previous record of 53,000 was set in December 1920 at Goodison Park when St Helen's Ladies faced off against Dick, Kerr’s Ladies, a factory team from Preston, said The Daily Telegraph.
HEATHER WATSON ANGRY OVER DOUBLES EXCLUSION
British tennis star Heather Watson is angry after she was overlooked as Andy Murray's partner in the mixed doubles in favour of Laura Robson, says the Daily Mail. Watson, who is British number one said she was disappointed as she just "wanted the Olympics to go on". While the official decision was made by Paul Hutchins, head of the British Olympic tennis team, Murray would have had a strong hand in the decision. .
YE DENIES DOPE CLAIMS, CALLS CRITICS 'BIASED'
Ye Shiwen, 16-year-old Chinese swimming prodigy, won her second gold medal last night in the 200m individual medley, and faced the media to deny the doping claims that have followed her since her spectacular win in the 400m medley, reports The Independent. When asked whether she had ever taken a performance enhancing drug, Ye said "absolutely not". She claimed her critics were "biased".
FENCER REFUSES TO ACCEPT 'SPECIAL MEDAL'
South Korean fencer Shin A Lam has hit back at the sport's governing body after it acknowledged "human error" may have cost her an Olympic gold medal and offered a 'special medal' as an apology, reports The Guardian. Shin refused to accept the gesture from the FIE, saying it did not make her feel better "because it’s not an Olympic medal". Shin sat down in a 90-minute protest following her controversial loss to Germany's Britta Heidemann in the women's épée semi-final on Monday night, and then lost the bronze medal match as well.
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY
Bradley Wiggins could overtake Steve Redgrave today and become the most decorated British Olympian if he wins a medal in the men’s individual time trial. His chances are good, and he is expected to become the first Briton to win gold. The action in the men's race begins at 2.15pm. Elsewhere, rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning could pip Wiggins to gold in the women's pair final at 11.50am. Andy Murray and Laura Robson compete in the tennis mixed doubles at 4.30pm. · | http://www.theweek.co.uk/olympics/london-2012/48263/overjoyed-olympic-parent-bert-le-clos-steals-chads-thunder | 714 |
San Jose Sharks tickets are on sale now at TickCo! View the Sharks schedule below and get great tickets for all games at HP Pavilion at San Jose Arena and on the road throughout the regular season and the playoffs! Order Sharks tickets securely online, or by calling us at 800.279.4444.
San Jose Sharks Ticket InformationA success almost from their very beginning in 1991, the San Jose Sharks have never had a drought of more than two seasons without a playoff appearance. Although they have yet to reach the Stanley Cup finals, they have advanced to the Western Conference finals three of the last seven seasons, and both of the last two.The Sharks and in the hunt, and the Pacific Division and the rest of the NHL is their prey! See the action all season long by getting your San Jose Sharks Tickets at TickCo today!San Jose Sharks Tickets On Sale – 100% NHL Tickets GuaranteeTickCo is a trusted provider of San Jose Sharks regular season and Stanley Cup playoff tickets to all Sharks games that are played at HP Pavilion at San Jose Arena as well as on the road—and 100% committed to your satisfaction. We’re confident that you’ll be pleased with your experience every time you buy Sharks tickets from TickCo knowing that we back each purchase with our 100% Buyer Guarantee. Buying San Jose Sharks tickets is easy at TickCo! View the complete San Jose Sharks schedule, choose the game you want to see, then choose the seats you want to sit in using our interactive HP Pavilion at San Jose Arena seating chart. Once the order is placed, your San Jose Sharks tickets are guaranteed to arrive by FedEx in time for the game—guaranteed! It’s just that easy to buy Sharks hockey tickets at TickCo. | http://www.tickco.com/sports/nhl/san_jose_sharks_tickets.htm | 359 |
|Latest Windsor Spitfires Tickets|
Windsor Spitfires tickets at Comerica Park,Detroit,MI on 12/29 3:30AM
|Sun Dec 29 2013||View Tickets|
Details of Windsor Spitfires and the Ticket Luck value
Windsor Spitfires is an ice hockey junior team belonging to “Ontario Hockey League.” Based in Ontario, Canada, the club was founded in 1975, but its history dates back to 1945. The team is currently considered as one of the oldest teams belonging to the league. For more than thirty five years, the club has been considered as one of the most exciting names in the world of junior Ice Hockey league. To catch Spitfires live in the game, book you Windsor Spitfires tickets online today!
Windsor Spitfires’ 1945 era was a decade of success, the team featured four of the players which were later included in Hockey Hall of Fame, and they reached finals of the league two times. The club was then dissolved and remade during 70s, and was granted entry as expansion franchise too. The club came under the ownership of Peter Karmanos in 1984. The new management had the game play thoroughly planned and the plan was carried out successfully, resulting in their winning of 1987-1988 J. Ross Robertson Cup. They also won 35 out of 36 games that they played and were the very first team to remain undefeated throughout the OHL playoffs.
In 2006, it was announced that the ownership and management of Windsor Spitfires is going to change completely. With history in OHL hockey, Warren Rychel, Bob Boughner and Peter Dobrich were included in the new management group with high expectations. The 2008-2009 seasons went very smooth with a total of 57 wins for the team with only ten losses. This was the best ever season for the team. For their overall great record, the franchise was awarded with the Hamilton Spectator Trophy.
In 2009 – 2010 season, Windsor Spitfires returned to the scene with another fifty wins with only twelve losses. Although it was a very impressive record, it wasn’t great enough to win them a second Hamilton Spectator Trophy. In 2010, six of Spitfires players took part in World Junior Ice Hockey Championship in Silver Medalist Canada and Gold Medalist Canada, thus continued Windsor Spitfires’ journey down the road of success.
Till date, Windsor Spitfires have won two Memorial Cups and their current head coach is Bob Boughner. At present, Windsor’s home ground is WFCU Centre (Windsor Family Credit Union). Since the club’s inauguration, it has switched a number of different logos and uniforms. Their existing logo is a fierce looking World War II aircraft in front of a blue and red shield. Their uniform is a vintage jersey of white, cream and blue color.
The club is winner of a number of championships, including, Emms Trophy, Hamilton Spectator Trophy, Wayne Gretzky Trophy and Bumbacco Trophy. If you wish to attend one of their thrilling live games, make sure you book your share of Windsor Spitfires tickets online in advance!
The AAA discount code for the "Windsor Spitfires" event is aaanow | http://www.ticketluck.com/sports-tickets/Windsor-Spitfires/index.php | 661 |
Billiards in Dubai
We try cue sports at Shooters Billiards Café in Dubai Marina Discuss this article
- Picture 1 of 2
Contrary to popular assumption, getting involved with a sport in Dubai doesn’t always involve sprinting up and down Astroturf dripping with sweat, or hurtling around the Autodrome at break-neck speed. For those not blessed with speed or lightning-fast reactions (or who like to take their time weighing up the options and contemplating the next move – preferably in an air-conditioned venue with speedy food and beverage service), Dubai offers many appealing options, including the ever-popular sport of pool.
According to the World Pool-Billiard Association’s first 2012 report, interest in the sport is increasing in the Middle East, and it is hoping to hold more major events in the region in the future. But judging by the consistently busy billiards halls dotted around old Dubai, many of them long-established institutions, the city has had a love affair with the sport for far longer than the WPA might have realised.
New Dubai doesn’t yet have quite as many options, although many residents will have been pleased to see Shooters Billiards Café recently open its doors in Dubai Marina’s The Torch building. Housing nine pool tables and one snooker table, as well as 20 TV screens of varying sizes on which to watch sporting fixtures, the café and sports den is already luring up to 150 guests each night, and hosts weekly tournaments. Though it doesn’t offer a formal teaching programme, when I phone and explain I’d like to learn the basics, 35-year-old American owner Fawaz Wazwaz is more than happy to accommodate my amateur request.
When I poke my head around the door the following Sunday afternoon, I’m greeted like an old friend and introduced to Fawaz’s younger brother, 18-year-old Rod, who Fawaz explains is a far more accomplished pool player, hence will make a better teacher for my short tutorial. To start, he explains that ‘billiards’ is another word for cue sports, and isn’t confined to one particular kind. A billiards hall will usually house both pool and snooker tables, as Shooters does.
As a white-vest-clad Rod leads me to one of the pool tables, Fawaz reappears with a smile to hand me a pink cue, before disappearing again as we get started. Once Rod has finished racking up the balls in a triangle, he leans down, and with a short, sharp tap of the white ball, performs a clean break. Two balls roll into the pockets, and Rod tells me that regardless of whether he has potted solid or striped balls, he can still choose which balls he would like to continue playing. Upon discovering he has potted solids, however, he opts for stripes to give me an easy first run.
Taking my first shot, he instructs me to rest my cue on my left hand on the table, and hold the back end of the cue lower down in my right hand. My first shot is abysmal. ‘Did you notice how you jumped up at the end?’ he notes. ‘You did this…’ Rod straightens his back sharply from bending over the table. ‘Try staying low.’ His advice, though it sounds simple, turns out to be surprisingly good. On my next shot, I hit the cue ball exactly where I intended to – and, to my relief, it smashes one of the coloured balls straight into the pocket.
While I manage to hit a few more good shots during my short lesson, I won’t be signing up for one of the venue’s weekly tournaments just yet – even if there is the chance to win Dhs5,000. But if I’m looking for a night of social, air-conditioned fun that I can get away with calling ‘sport’ without breaking a sweat, Shooters is likely to be at the top of my list.
Dhs70 per hour of play. Open daily 10am-3am. Shooters Billiards Café, The Torch, Dubai Marina (04 368 5645).
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Pay less rent in Dubai The ultimate property guide to help you relocate and save cash | http://www.timeoutdubai.com/sportandoutdoor/features/32554-billiards-in-dubai | 1,432 |
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Barnet Copthall's James O'Shea finishes fourth in debut Paralympics final
James O’Shea was one place away from capping his first Paralympics swimming final with a medal this evening after finishing fourth in the 100m breaststroke SB5 event at the Aquatics Centre.
The Barnet Copthall qualified fifth fastest for the event this morning in a time of 1.39.88 but went more than a second quicker to record a season’s best of 1.38.30 in the event won by South Korean Lim Woo-Guen.
Despite not getting a medal, it is still a superb achievement by the 34-year-old, who lives in Berkhamsted, as he has only been competing for two seasons. | http://www.times-series.co.uk/sport/9912537.Fine_fourth_from_O_Shea_in_first_Paralympics_final/?ref=rss | 185 |
City rout Hibs to go top
Valletta have reclaimed top spot after hammering rivals Hibs 4-1 in today's top-of-the-table encounter.
The Paolites came into the match with a two-point lead over the champions but their hopes of hanging on to their position suffered a blow when Valletta scored two quickfire goals late in the first half.
A third Valletta goal early in the second half ended the game as a contest as the Whites began the new year on a flying note after ending 2012 on a bad one after a 1-1 draw with minnows Rabat Ajax.
Before the game, Mario Muscat, the Hibs captain, walked into the section housing his team's to place a bunch of flowers in memory of Juan Barbara, the young Hibs supporter who died recently.
Valletta coach Mark Miller handed a debut to his three new signings, namely Luke Dimech, Belgian defenderr Jason Lee Vandelannoite and Senegalese striker Demba Toure.
Hibs created the first noteworthy chance after eight minutes when Clayton Failla hit a great pass to release Brazilian Allan Kardeck but the latter rifled over.
Moments later, Ian Azzopardi, the Valletta left-back, cleared the ball away from Kardeck as the latter was about to shoot following a cross from Failla.
The Citizens had to wait until the 17th minute to produce a chance of their own. Denni laid the ball back to William Barbosa from a free-kick but the Brazilian's drive was stopped by Ryan Camilleri.
Valletta goalkeeper Yenz Cini, who replaced the suspended Manuel Bartolo, saved a free-kick by Andrew Cohen.
Scoring chances were few and far between but 10 minutes from half-time, Valletta opened the scoring. Denni tapped the ball home from close ranger after Muscat, under pressure from Toure, failed to hold Ian Zammit's cross from the right.
Two minutes later, Valletta doubled their lead. They were awarded a penalty after Rodolfo Soares was deemed to have hauled down Denni in the box. Zammit converted the penalty.
The second half was only two minutes old when Valletta increased their lead. Ryan Fenech cut into the box from the left before serving the unmarked Denni who tapped home.
Michael Woods made his first substitution eight minutes into the second half, bringing on Udo Nwoko for Farrugia. Three goals down, Hibs found it difficult to make a reaction. On the hour, Zoran Levnaic headed Cohen's corner into the centre of the box and Kardeck's overhead volley was hooked away by the City defenders.
Valletta survived a scare when, in a prolonged raid, Camilleri headed Failla's cross towards the far post and Kardeck nodded the ball past Cini and into the goalmouth but no Hibs player managed to get a touch to the ball.
With 19 minutes remaining, referee Azzopardi further angered Hibs when he awarded a second penalty to Valletta after ruling that Camilleri had lunged into Zammit as the latter tried to connect with a cross from the left. Barbosa made no mistake from the spot.
Valletta threatened again but Fenech's dipping header from the edge of the box came off the crossbar with Muscat rooted to the spot.
Four minutes from time, Hibs scored a consolation thanks to substitute Johann Bezzina who beat Cini with a stunning shot.
In stoppage time, Hibs were reduced to 10 men after Brazilian defender Soares was shown the red card for a second booking.
Valletta's Denni was named BOV player of the match. | http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20130105/football/city-rout-hibs-to-go-top.452079 | 796 |
NEW YORK — The NHL is calling off all games through Dec. 14, plus the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend scheduled for Jan. 26-27 in Columbus, Ohio.
The league made the announcement today, the 69th day of the NHL's lockout of its players.
The new cancelations come as little surprise. The two sides had an unproductive negotiating session on Wednesday that produced no movement to break an impasse over splitting more than $3 billion in revenue and also player contracts.
A total of 422 regular-season games, more than 34 percent of the season, have now been lost.
NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says losing the 2013 NHL All-Star Weekend in Columbus is "extremely disappointing." | http://www.toledoblade.com/sports/2012/11/23/NHL-cancels-more-games-All-Star-game-in-Columbus.html | 146 |
Monday Apr 29
Brandon Snyder and AAA depth.
Brandon Snyder probably isn't going to be a major factor in the Red Sox' season, but he is having a wicked year down in Pawtucket.
The Providence Journal
PawSox add former Ranger, Oriole Snyder
Less than a week ago, Brandon Snyder was getting ready to fly from Phoenix to San Antonio with the rest of the Texas Rangers for two exhibition games against the San Diego Padres.
Over The Monster
Red Sox sign Brandon Snyder, send him to Triple-A
The Red Sox , fresh off their Opening Day victory in New York and just one more day removed from designating Mauro Gomez from assignment, have added a new piece of depth to the Pawtucket Red Sox. | http://www.topix.net/baseball-players/brandon-snyder | 155 |
In a interview with Slam! Sports, WWE Women's Champion Mickie James, had high praise for Trish:
"She's awesome, very professional and very nice, and she's very talented. It's definitely a treat to work with someone who's talented, and they know what they're doing, and they know what they're talking about. It helps out a lot because then you have two minds coming together trying to work something together that's going to be entertaining and tells a story." | http://www.trishstratus.com/news/index.php?news=247 | 100 |
25 Years Ago, Ryder Cup Came of Age
It was 25 years ago, almost to the day, that I got the call. It was my friend Jack Fraser, who called on me at the time from his job at First Boston. Jack and I had played a little golf over the years, and he knew I was a big fan.
Jack said, “Tom, I have two passes to the Ryder Cup Matches this Sunday at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Columbus. It’s the final day. You interested?”
While I admittedly didn’t know much about the Ryder Cup at the time (I knew it was a biennial competition between the US and Europe, and the US usually won), I didn’t have to think too long before giving an enthusiastic yes. After all, I knew it would be two all star teams of the best golfers in the world, and I had been to Muirfield Village twice for Jack Nicklaus’ tournament, The Memorial, and knew that a day walking that course was well worth the drive from Cincinnati.
For those not familiar with the nuances of the Ryder Cup, a quick refresher course is in order.
Unlike most golf tournaments, the Ryder Cup is a team game, not an individual contest. Each team has twelve members.
Also unlike most modern golf tournaments, the format is match play, not stroke play. In a stroke play event, the player’s total strokes over the course of the tournament determines how he fares. In match play, each hole is contested and a point is awarded to the winner of that hole. So if your opponent makes a three on the hole, it doesn’t matter whether you have a four or a nine, you still lose the hole and he gets one point and only one point. When one player leads his opponent by more holes than there are holes left to play, he is declared the winner and his team gets one point. If two players tie after 18 holes, each team is awarded half a point.
But the Ryder Cup isn’t just contested over three days with singles matches. Two of the three different types of games played in the Ryder Cup are two-man team games. In foursomes, played in the mornings on the first two days of the Ryder Cup, two players from each side play a match where each team plays one ball, alternating shots between the two teammates. The better score of the two teams wins the hole in match play format.
In the afternoons of the first two days, two players from each side play a game called fourball, where each player plays the hole and the better score of the US team is compared to the better score of the European team, with the low score winning the hole in match play format.
There are 28 matches in the Ryder Cup; 8 foursomes, 8 fourballs and 12 singles. To win the Cup, a team must win 14 ½ points. For the defending champion to retain the Cup, they need only win 14 points.
The first Ryder Cup Matches were held in 1927 at Worcester County Club in Worcester, MA. The competition was originally between the US and Great Britain, but after a sustained period of US dominance, and at the request of none other than Jack Nicklaus, representation of the British team was extended to continental Europe.
1987, a it turns out, was the year that turned the Ryder Cup from an interesting event that the US dominated into one of the world’s top sporting events. The Europeans won in 1985 at The Belfry in England, dominating the US 16 ½ to 11 ½. It was the first victory ever for the European side (since the British team became the European team in 1979), and first loss for the US since England prevailed in 1957.
So in 1987, the US was out to defend their honor, and also to defend their homeland, as the British/European team had never won on US soil.
Through the first two days, things did not work out as planned for the US squad. Riding a rare 4 point sweep of the afternoon fourball matches on Friday, the European side held a seemingly commanding 10 ½ to 5 ½ lead Saturday night heading into the Sunday singles matches. But the US squad was not going to go away easy.
As my Dad and I entered the grounds at Muirfield Village Golf Club on a beautiful, sun-drenched fall morning 25 years ago, one thing was certain. There was a tension in the air that I had not felt at other golf tournaments I had attended. Something was different. And you could tell it was truly an international event as the chatter from the fans around you came in many different languages.
There was a term at that time called a “Nicklaus Roar,” which was the explosion from a far corner of the course when Jack sank a big birdie putt, particularly on Sundays. It could be heard all around the course and rattled the nerves of his competitors. Even though Jack was the non-playing captain of the US team that day and never swung a club, “Nicklaus Roars” cascaded from every corner of the course as the US team sank their putts to win their holes. Fans of both teams, in contrast to the measured politeness at a typical golf tournament, unabashedly cheered for their team’s successes and their opponents’ missteps, not unlike a European soccer match or a US football game.
The US staged a furious comeback, winning five of the first seven matches and halving one other, to cut the European’s seemingly insurmountable lead to 12-11. But the Europeans won two of the last five matches on the final hole, halved two others, and won for the first time on US soil 15-13.
The 1987 Ryder Cup, with the Europeans winning back-to-back cups, and winning in the US for the first time, upped the ante and turned it into one of the world’s greatest sporting events. And I was lucky to a part of it. | http://www.tusl.com/blog/60/25-years-ago-ryder-cup-came-of-age/ | 1,251 |
NEW YORK -- Nobody was happier about the Hall of Fame shutout than the hall of famers themselves.
Goose Gossage, Al Kaline, Dennis Eckersley and others are in no rush to open the door to Cooperstown for anyone linked to steroids.
Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa: Keep 'em all out of our club.
"If they let these guys in ever -- at any point -- it's a big black eye for the Hall and for baseball," Gossage said in a phone interview with the Associated Press. "It's like telling our kids you can cheat, you can do whatever you want, and it's not going to matter."
For only the second time in 42 years, baseball writers did not elect anyone to the Hall of Fame on Wednesday, Jan. 9, sending a firm signal that stars of the steroid era will be held to a different standard.
The awards and accomplishments collected over storied careers by Bonds, Clemens and Sosa -- all eligible for the first time -- could not offset suspicions those exploits were artificially boosted by performance-enhancing drugs.
"I feel honored to be in the Hall of Fame, and I would've felt a little uneasy sitting up there on the stage listening to some of these new guys talk about how great they were," Kaline said.
Gossage went even further.
"I think the steroids guys that are under suspicion got too many votes," he said. "I don't know why they're making this such a question and why there's so much debate. To me, they cheated. Are we going to reward these guys?"
Not this year,
Bonds received just 36.2 percent of the vote and Clemens 37.6 in totals announced by the Hall and the Baseball Writers' Association of America, both well short of the 75 percent needed for election -- yet still too close for Gossage's taste. Sosa, eighth on the career home run list, got 12.5 percent.
"Wow! Baseball writers make a statement," Eckersley wrote on Twitter. "Feels right."
The results keep the sport's career home run leader (Bonds) and most decorated pitcher (Clemens) out of Cooperstown -- for now. Bonds, Clemens and Sosa have up to 14 more years on the writers' ballot to gain baseball's highest honor.
"Even having just been considered for the first time is already great honor, and there's always a next time," Sosa said in a statement.
Bonds, baseball's only seven-time MVP, hit 762 home runs -- including a record 73 in 2001. He has denied knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs and was convicted of one count of obstruction of justice for giving an evasive answer in 2003 to a grand jury investigating PEDs.
Clemens, third in career strikeouts (4,672) and ninth in wins (354), was acquitted of perjury charges stemming from congressional testimony during which he denied using PEDs.
"If you don't think Roger Clemens cheated, you're burying your head in the sand," Gossage said.
Sosa, who finished with 609 home runs, was among those who tested positive in MLB's 2003 anonymous survey, the New York Times reported in 2009. He told a congressional committee in 2005 that he never took illegal performance-enhancing drugs.
"What really gets me is seeing how some of these players associated with drugs have jumped over many of the greats in our game," Kaline said. "Numbers mean a lot in baseball, maybe more so than in any other sport. And going back to Babe Ruth, and players like Harmon Killebrew and Frank Robinson and Willie Mays, seeing people jump over them with 600, 700 home runs, I don't like to see that."
Gossage, noting that cyclist Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour de France titles following allegations that he used performance-enhancing drugs, believes baseball should go just as far. He thinks the record book should be overhauled, taking away the accomplishments of players like Bonds, Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Mark McGwire -- who has admitted using steroids and human growth hormone as a player.
McGwire, 10th on the career home run chart, received 16.9 percent of the vote on his seventh Hall try, down from 19.5 last year.
"I don't know if baseball knows how to deal with this at all," Gossage said. "Why don't they strip these guys of all these numbers? You've got to suffer the consequences. You get caught cheating on a test, you get expelled from school."
While much of the focus this year was on Bonds, Clemens and Sosa, every other player with Cooperstown credentials was denied, too.
Craig Biggio, 20th on the career list with 3,060 hits, came the closest with votes on 68.2 percent of the 569 ballots, 39 shy of election. Among other first-year eligibles, Mike Piazza received 57.8 percent and Curt Schilling 38.8.
None of those players has been publicly linked to PED use, so it's difficult to determine whether they fell short because of suspicion, stats or the overall stench of the era they played in.
"What we're witnessing here is innocent people paying for the sinners," Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal said.
Hall of Fame slugger Mike Schmidt said that comes with the territory.
"It's not news that Bonds, Clemens, Sosa, Palmeiro and McGwire didn't get in but that they received hardly any consideration at all. The real news is that Biggio and Piazza were well under the 75 percent needed," Schmidt wrote in an email to the AP. | http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_22351222?source=rss | 1,206 |
Published Saturday, 11 August 2012
Luke Campbell of Great Britain (in blue) is declared winner over John Joe Nevin (© Getty)
Campbell claimed the title with a 14-11 victory in front of a 10,000 sell-out crowd at the ExCel arena.
The Team GB boxer landed a superb left-hand counter in the final round to floor his Irish opponent, who had beaten him in 2009 before the Hull man gained revenge with a close win in last year's World Championship semi-finals.
Nevin's tactics seemed to play into the hands of Campbell, who took a deserved 5-3 first-round lead.
An improved showing reduced the deficit to one point going into the final round, but Campbell made sure of the gold with a fine late effort, including the eye-catching counter that sent the Mullingar boxer to the canvas.
Team Ireland finish the Olympic Games with five medals in total - four in boxing, with Katie Taylor clinching gold in the women's lightweight division.
Darren O'Neill, captain of the Irish Boxing Team, has been selected as the Irish flag bearer at the London 2012 closing ceremony on Sunday. | http://www.u.tv/Sport/Nevin-fails-in-boxing-gold-bid/50fcfc26-bea6-49e2-8598-dd32edbfd039 | 239 |
San Diego Tops UC Santa Barbara, 81-63
Dec. 23, 2006
SAN DIEGO (AP) - Gyno Pomare and Ross DeRogatis each scored 19 points as University of San Diego won its seventh-straight game, beating UC Santa Barbara 81-63 on Friday.
With the win, the Toreros improved to 9-4 while the loss snapped the Gauchos four-game winning streak. UC Santa Barbara, which lost its first road game of the season after five wins, is 8-3 overall.
Pomare, who posted a team-high eight rebounds, had 13 points in the first half including a stretch in which he hit five straight. Tied at 21-21 with five minutes left in the first half, the Toreros went on a 14-7 run to take a 35-28 lead at halftime.
Nir Cohen, who missed the last 10 games with a broken left hand, was one of five players in double figures for San Diego. He finished with 10 overall.
DeRogatis, who was saddled with two early fouls and scored just four points over the first 20 minutes, hit his stride in the second half. He made all five of his 3-point attempts, including three in a row as part of a 15-0 Toreros run.
UC Santa Barbara was 2-for-16 from the 3-point line and missed 12 straight in one second-half stretch. | http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/122306aaa.html | 303 |
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. — A late fifth game surge from the No. 11 CSUN Matadors proved to be the deciding factor in a tightly contested win over the No. 9 Gauchos at the Matadome on Friday night. Trailing 11-9 in the decisive set, the Matadors stampeded their way to four straight points and a commanding 13-11 lead. From there, the teams would trade sideout points to a CSUN victory.
The Gauchos (3-2, 1-1 MPSF) loss — their first since the opening match of the season— snapped a three match winning streak. UCSB is now 0-2 in five set matches through the first week of the season. Cal State Northridge improved to 1-1 with the victory.
Game scores for the match went 25-16, 16-25, 25-20, 21-25, 15-13.
The Gauchos were led by sophomore outside hitter Austin Kingi, who finished with 15 kills and seven digs. His brother, libero Chad, anchored the UCSB defense, leading all players with 14 digs.
Freshman setter Jonah Seif continued his impressive early season form, racking up 50 assists and 12 digs for his first career double-double. In limited action, sophomore outside hitter Weston Nielsen maintained his strong play with seven kills and a .455 hitting percentage in two sets. Freshman middle blocker Ryan Hardy recovered from a slight dip in performance against Long Beach State with nine kills and a .500 hitting percentage. Though he had one of his more forgettable attacking nights, senior middle blocker Dylan Davis did lead the Gauchos in blocks with four.
Though the Gauchos outhit and outdug the Matadors, the home team had a clear advantage in the serving and blocking categories. Cal State Northridge accrued 11 aces to the Gauchos four, and also beat them at the net with 11.0 blocks compared to 6.0 blocks. CSUN setter Travis Magorien led all players with three aces, but seven different Matadors were able to claim an ace.
CSUN's offense was led by Brandon LeBrock, who had a match-high 19 kills, including back-to-back kills in the fifth game which sparked CSUN's decisive rally. Jared Moore led the middles with six blocks, two of which were solo.
After a grueling week in which the Gauchos played five matches, UCSB will play just one match next week, as they host the UCLA Bruins at Rob Gym on Friday night. Tickets for that match can be purchased online here. | http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/m-volley/2012-13/releases/20130112qdlptu?dec=/printer-decorator | 549 |
UC SANTA BARBARA
Played in 16 games, starting 11 during her junior campaign...Had a season-high two hits in a win over Tennessee Tech (Feb. 20), going 2-for-3 with two runs, a walk and an RBI...Hit an RBI double in the following game, a win over Kansas (Feb. 21)...Posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage behind the plate...Hit .156 on the season with four RBI.
Played in 20 games starting 24 as a sophomore...Ranked second in the Big West with her 13 runners caught stealing...Batted .263 on the season tallying 15 hits, eight runs, two doubles and 10 RBI...Posted a career-high two hits on two ocassions: against North Dakota (Mar. 9) and Bucknell (Mar. 14)...Went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and a double against North Dakota...Season-high three RBI came against St. John's (Feb. 25)...Had a season-high 10 putouts in 5-4 win over Bucknell.
Played in six games as a true freshman and started four behind the plate...Hit .100 on the season with a .250 on-base percentage...Also recorded a 1.000 fielding percentage with 20 putouts...Posted a season-best 10 putouts in her first collegiate start against Loyola Marymount on Mar. 25...Had her lone hit of the season against Cal State Northridge on Apr. 21.
Hit .465 while playing catcher and outfield at Righetti High School under coach Ric Cornejo...Led her team to back-to-back Pac-5 League Championships in 2005 and 2006...Three-time First Team All-Pac 5 selection and a second team pick following her freshman campaign...Is a three-time All-Santa Barbara County, All-Area and Defensive MVP...Also earned First Team All-CIF and Pac-5 Most Valuable Player honors in 2006 in addition to being named Second Team All-State...Was the junior varsity MVP and Captain's Award winner during her freshman campaign...Also competed in soccer.
Played for Strike Zone 18U, which took third place at the 2005 ASA California State Championship...Coached by Don Ford.
Kelsey Marie Anderson was born on June 18, 1988 in Lompoc, Calif....Is a global studies major at UCSB and is a French minor...Daughter of Tami and Jon Anderson...Has an older brother named Jason...Is nicknamed "Pancho"...If she didn't play softball, she would be out on the soccer field. | http://www.ucsbgauchos.com/sports/w-softbl/mtt/anderson_kelsey00.html?dec=/printer-decorator | 539 |
FC Flora Tallinn 0-0 APOEL Nicosia FC
APOEL Nicosia FC held FC Flora Tallinn to a scoreless draw in the Estonian capital.
The hosts were caught by surprise as APOEL fought hard in the early stages, creating several dangerous chances. Unmarked Barnabas Sztipanovics was disappointed to miss when presented with a clear shot inside the penalty area on 18 minutes.
Flora's midfield play lacked imagination, but after the half-hour mark the Estonians moved up a gear. Raio Piiroja's header flew just wide on 34 minutes, and Meelis Rooba hit a brilliant first-time effort a few moments later only for it to sail narrowly over the bar.
The closing stages of the first half were fiery, with a group of APOEL players involved in a scuffle after referee Tommy Skjerven waved the game on following Cypriot appeals for a penalty. Two bookings cooled the visitors just before the half-time whistle.
On the hour, Tor Henning Hamre and Taavi Rähn made Michael Morphis stretch with successive efforts on goal. But Flora's best chance came a minute later, when Aleksandr Kulik's excellent header went inches wide of Morphis' goal.
APOEL responded well with their outstanding playmaker Kostas Malekkos creating a chance for Sztipanovics - although, again, the Hungarian finished wastefully. In the later stages, the Cypriots were tense as Flora striker Joel Lindpere failed to find the target on three separate occasions.
'Too much respect'
"We've had a very nervous start, and [showed] too much respect for our opponents," said Flora coach Arnpo Pijpers. "It was a good game to watch, despite the fact no goals were scored, and I think the result was fair." Meanwhile APOEL coach Egen Gerard was also content. "We've had good chances early in the game," he said. "We have only trained for five weeks so far, so we weren't fit enough to play the whole game." | http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2002/matches/round=1633/match=69694/index.html | 448 |
Charts are compiled based on results from 1 fights.
|Nickname:||The Karate Kid|
|From:||San Diego, CA. USA|
|Height:||6' 2" ( 187 cm )|
|Weight:||205 lb ( 93 kg )|
Total Attempted Strikes
Types of Successful Strikes
The percentage of total strikes avoided
Grappling Totals by Type
The percentage of total takedowns avoided
When and why did you start training for fighting? I enjoyed success in point karate in the early ‘90s and after accomplishing my goal of being ranked as on of the top fighters in the country, I stopped fighting in 1994 and started spending more time between Hawaii to surf and Lake Tahoe to rock climb and snow board. 7 years later in 2001, a friend enlightened me to the industry’s progress and informed me of a show I could possibly get in. It sounded like a fun new adventure so I joined Todd Medina’s fight school and after less than 3 months of training I had my first match against Amir Rahnavarty. Even though I lost a questionable decision, I had a great time and knew with proper training I could make it to the UFC.
What ranks and titles have you held? 1992 #1 ranked Lt Heavyweight NASKA (North American Sport Karate Association). Numerous national and international wins in sport karate
Do you have any heroes? Lance Armstrong, Laird Hamilton and anyone who ignores the odds or doubts of others and chases their dreams with full force. | http://www.ufc.com/fighter/Jeff-Newton?nd=1 | 322 |
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TRAINING: I have been in training a long time for this fight, as I returned from my fight with Francis Carmont and had to sort out a few minor health issues and then I was back in the gym. I have had some great sparring - a typical day basically covers conditioning work, sparring and working on the technical side of my game - I have had sparring partners who have tried to impersonate Leben - I feel fit and ready
Thoughts on opponent, Chris Leben? I am so excited by this fight - I cannot wait to share the cage with a fighter like Leben, someone who comes to fight and has a lot of respect in the MMA world. I have the utmost respect for what he has achieved in the UFC and how he fights. I want to repay Joe Silva's faith in giving me such a fight by making it an exciting fight for the fans and also putting myself in the frame in the middleweight division.
When and why did you start training for fighting? 2007 – I enjoy the competition.
What ranks and titles have you held? CFC World and European Heavyweight Champion
Do you have any heroes? Fedor Emelianenko
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It has always been my dream and ambition to compete at the highest level and to showcase my skills. I believe that fighting for the UFC is the ultimate, and to fight in the USA before the great people of America fills me with great emotion and excitement. I hope to prove I am good enough for the UFC and to eventually become one of their main fighters. I am very grateful for the opportunity.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? No
What was your job before you started fighting? Door supervisor
Specific accomplishments in pro competition? Six-time Czech Republic national wrestling champion
Favorite grappling technique: Rear naked choke
Favorite Striking technique: Overhand right | http://www.ufc.com/fighter/Karlos-Vemola/media | 402 |
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TRAINING: Morning conditioning, afternoon technique session, evening sparring.
When and why did you start training for fighting? I turned pro in 2007 because I love the competition.
What ranks and titles have you held? Former Sportfight Welterweight Champion.
Do you have any heroes? Roy Pittman
What is your favorite technique? All aspects of Ground and Pound
What does it mean for you to fight in the UFC? It means a lot. I'm really thankful for the opportunity. I think this is a huge step in the right direction for me. I'm excited to be in the show and hope to put on an exciting fight for the fans.
Did you go to college and if so what degree did you earn? Went to Portland State University. No degree.
What was your job before you started fighting? I was a Union Carpenter worker. The biggest project I was a part of was the OHSU Tram that spans across Portland's OHSU campuses. It was a lot of fun and a really unique project to be a part of. | http://www.ufc.com/fighter/Mike-Pierce/media | 226 |
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WOMEN’S SOCCER FALLS TO LOYOLA, 2-0
Freshman Catie Bukowski recorded 10 saves in her first start.
Making her first start in only her second game action, freshman goalie Catie Bukowski (Odenton, Md./Arundel/South
Andrzejewski scored her first goal at the mark on a clear shot from the left side into the right corner of the net. The Greyhounds took a 1-0 lead into halftime and did not score again until the 64:08 mark, when Andrzejewski took a pass from teammate Carolyn Kennington and shot it over Bukowski’s head. Despite playing short for most of the second half after Lisa Jaffa received her second yellow card of the game, Loyola held on to the 2-0 lead for the victory.
The Greyhounds held a 6-1 advantage on corner kicks. Loyola goalie Amanda Piccirilli tallied four saves.
The Retrievers return to action Sunday, Sept. 18, when they travel to | http://www.umbcretrievers.com/sports/wsoccer/release.asp?RELEASE_ID=2148 | 233 |
Florida State Ends Maryland's ACC Title Hopes
Nov. 23, 2008
Record-Setting Smith: By returning five kickoffs for 106 yards versus Florida State, WR Torrey Smith set a Maryland record for kickoff returns yards in a season, now with 860. The previous team record was 847 kickoff return yards by Josh Wilson in 2006.
Great Scott: Despite being only a sophomore, RB Da'Rel Scott has been Maryland's leading rusher in all but one game this season, and Saturday proved no exception. The Terps running back rushed for a game-high 82 yards on 12 carries against Florida State. His 41-yard burst up the middle during the third quarter marked his fifth rush of 35 yards or more this season. His season rushing total of 940 is the most by a Maryland player since Chris Downs rushed for 1,154 yards in 2002, and Scott now owns the 11th-highest single-season rushing total in team history.
Heyward-Bey Leading the Way: WR Darrius Heyward-Bey has been a catalyst for the Terps offense all season, and he continued to produce on Saturday. The junior wideout recorded three receptions for 22 yards. Heyward-Bey, who ranked seventh in the ACC in receiving yards entering Saturday's game, now has caught at least one pass in 33 of the last 36 games dating back to 2006.
Chart Climber: Heyward-Bey has continued his ascent through Maryland's receiving records book this season. With his performance against the Seminoles, he moved into a tie with Frank Wychek for third place in school history with 134 career receptions. Now with 2,041 career receiving yards, Heyward-Bey stands just 18 yards behind Geroy Simon to claim second place all-time at Maryland in career receiving yards.
Interception-Less Streak Ends: When QB Chris Turner's pass was picked off by Florida State DB Kenny Ingram during the second quarter, it ended an impressive streak without throwing an interception. Prior to that play, Turner had attempted 132 passes without throwing an interception and had thrown just one pick in his previous 197 pass attempts.
Terps Tackling Tandem: LBs Alex Wujciak and Dave Philistin have paced the Terps in tackles all season and continued to do so on Saturday. Wujciak and Philistin both tallied a game-high 11 tackles against the Seminoles. They entered Saturday's game ranked second and 12th, respectively, in the ACC in tackles.
Gronk' Goin' Strong: TE Dan Gronkowski continued to serve as a reliable target for Turner during Saturday's game. The senior registered a team-high four receptions for 46 yards during his final game at Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium.
Wise Beyond his Years: DB Anthony Wiseman has developed throughout the 2008 season, his first as a starter, and had one of his better games against Florida State. The junior cornerback notched eight tackles and two pass-breakups on Saturday.
Elementary My Dear Watson: TE Lansford Watson has been relied upon primarily for blocking this season, but he came through with a big catch against the Seminoles. The redshirt freshman took a catch and run a career-long 32 yards during the game's opening drive.
Through the Uprights: PK Obi Egekeze hit 1 of 2 field goals against Florida State. His 34-yarder during the third quarter moved him into a tie with Dan DeArmas (1988-91) for seventh place on Maryland's all-time list with 32 career field goals. He has now connected on 25 of 29 career field goal attempts (.862) during conference play.
Streaks continue: Several Terps extended streaks on Saturday. DL Jeremy Navarre has now played in 47 consecutive games, and his 45 career starts are the most on the team. OL Edwin Williams has now started 36 consecutive games, tops on the offense.
Attendance: A sellout crowd of 51,620 braved the cold weather to attend Saturday night's nationally-televised game. It marked the 20th-largest crowd in the history of Chevy Chase Bank Field at Byrd Stadium and the 15th-largest under Friedgen. | http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/112308aaf.html | 862 |
Winter Camp Registration Now Open!
Dec. 4, 2012
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Registration for the 2013 Maryland Soccer Winter ID One Day Camps is now open!
The one day camps will be offered on January 5, 2013 and January 19, 2013. The camps are designed for the high school aged soccer player who wants to play at the collegiate level. The camp will be held at the University of Maryland Indoor Turf Facility.
Potential campers who are interested in attending Maryland Soccer Winter ID One Day Camps can register by following the link above.
The day camps run from 9 a.m.- 4 pm and cost $150. The Maryland men's soccer coaching staff will run the camps. Current players will also assist with the camps including providing information about their individual recruiting processes.
For more information, please contact Will Swaim, director of soccer operations, at 301-314-7005 or email [email protected]. | http://www.umterps.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/120412aaa.html | 202 |
Men's Soccer Falls in Overtime to Rhode Island, 4-3
KINGSTON, R.I. – The University of New Hampshire men's soccer team fell in overtime to the University of Rhode Island, 4-3. The loss levels the Wildcats at 3-3-2 while the Rams improve to 1-4-2 on the season. Angel Maldonado (Lennox, Calif.), Charlie Roche (Haverhill, Mass.) and David Schlatter (Marlton, N.J.) tallied a goal each in the match for New Hampshire.
Rhode Island opened up the game with a goal by Brett Uttley in the 10th minute of play. Uttley scored when he took a shot from the left side of the box and squeezed it in next to the near post. Mike Casey added to the Rams' lead in the 17th minute when he fired a shot from outside the box and hit the back of the net in the lower right corner. The shot total through the first half was nearly even with Rhode Island edging New Hampshire 7-6.
The Wildcats poured on the offense in the second half, leading to their first goal of the game in the 55th minute. Roche notched the tally when he connected with a set-piece play from Clint Caso (Kinnelon, N.J.) and put the ball away to the right side of the net. New Hampshire tied the game in the 75th minute when Maldonado found a rebound and notched his second goal of the season. With under seven minute remaining in regulation, Schlatter notched his second goal of the season and third of the game for the Wildcats to give them the lead. Schlatter drew Rhode Island goalie Thomas Spenser off his line and beat him to score the goal. With six seconds remaining in the game, Casey tied the game for the Rams to send the match into overtime. The goal came off a cross from Robby Gargaro near the six-yard mark. In the half, New Hampshire tallied 15 shots, eight of which were on target.
In the 103rd minute of play, Matt Ribbens tallied the golden goal needed for the Rams to secure the win. Oscar Soons played the ball to Ribbens who made his way down the field and to the goal. At the end of the match, the score was finalized at 4-3, Rhode Island.
New Hampshire outshot Rhode Island by a total of 22-13 overall and 13-7 in shots-on-goal. Caso paced the Wildcat offense with six shots while Paul Bianchi (Essex, Vt.) and Robert Palumbo (Kingston, N.H.) each tallied four. Travis Worra (Lancaster, Pa.) received his first loss of the season after making three saves on seven shots faced. Spenser played the bulk of the game in net for Rhode Island, however it was Adam Blanchard that received the decision after not allowing a goal in and playing to the end of the match. Spenser made eight saves while Blanchard made one.
The Wildcats return to action when they host Adelphi Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. The game will be played at Cowell Stadium. | http://www.unhwildcats.com/sports/msoc/2012-13/releases/20120918u96jmu | 663 |
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All-Time USA Basketball Women's Roster // Q
All-Time USA Basketball Women's Roster // Q
NOTE Key to event abbreviations can be found at the bottom of the page.
|NAME||AFFILIATION||EVENT||RECORD / FINISH|
|Noelle Quinn||Bishop Montgomery H.S. (CA)||2002 YDF-West||0-5 / Fourth|
KEY TO EVENTS LISTED
- # - Injured
- * - USA Basketball Women's Senior National Team core group member
- X - Following an event listed, an 'x' indicates exhibition games for that event.
- & - Competed in the 1998 pre-World Championship tour, but was injured and forced to withdraw (replaced by Taj McWilliams-Franklin); named to the 2002 World Championship Team, but was injured and forced to withdraw (replaced by Jen Gillom).
- % - Played games with USA Women's National Team, but was not a member of the USA Women's National Team.
- 3x3 YWC – FIBA 3x3 Youth World Championship
- 3x3 WC - FIBA 3x3 World Championship
- 3x3 U18 - FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championship
- FOQ - FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament
- GG - Goodwill Games
- JCUP - R. William Jones Cup
- OLY - Olympic Games
- PAG - Pan American Games
- TOA -FIBA Americas Championship / Tournament of the Americas (Olympic or World Championship qualifier)
- U21 - FIBA U21 World Championship
- U20 - FIBA Americas U20 Championship (U21 qualifier)
- U19 - FIBA U19 World Championship
- U18 - FIBA Americas U18 Championship (U19 qualifier)
- U17 - FIBA U17 World Championship
- U16 - FIBA Americas U18 Championship (U17 qualifier)
- WC - FIBA World Championship
- WNT - USA Basketball Women's National Team (further breakdown below)
- WUG - World University Games
- WYG - World Youth Games
- YOG - Youth Olympic Games
- 1998 SEL - College team tour of Poland, Puerto Rico and Spain, playing against national teams in those respective countries
- 2000 SEL - 2000 Select Team trained and played an exhibition game (lost 97-31) versus 2000 USA Senior National Team in
- 2007 SEL - 2007 FIBA World League Tournament in Ekaterinburg, Russia
- 2010 SEL - 2010 Select Team trained with the USA National Team during its spring training in Storrs, Conn.
- 2012 WNT - Women’s National Team pre-Olympic exhibition games (5-0).
- 2011 WNT ET - Women’s National Team European Tour (Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Hungary)
- 2010 WNT - Competed for USA Basketball in an exhibition game against a team of WNBA stars (won, 99-72)
- 09-12 WNT - Member of the 2009-12 National Team, from which the 2010 World Championship and 2012 Olympic teams will be named.
- 2009 UMMC - Competed in the 2009 UMMC Ekaterinburg International Invitational in Russia (3-0, gold)
- 2008 WNT GLB - Competed in the 2008 Good Luck Beijijng Tournament (4-2, silver)
- 2008 WNT - Played in all or some of the USA's 2008 Spain (2-0) training camp.
- 2007 WNT - Played in all or some of the USA's 2007 College Tour (8-0), 2007 Tour of Italy (4-0) and two exhibition games vs. Australia (2-0)
- 2006 WNT - Played in all or some of the USA's 2006 Spring Training, including two European Tours (6-0) and the Australia-hosted Opals World Challenge (4-1, tournament title)
- 2004 WNT - 2004 Spring Training (Cuba, Europe, USA)
- 2002 WNT - 2002 Spring Training (game vs. WBCA College All-Stars)
- 99-00 WNT - 1999-2000 team that went 29-2 and won the 1999 U.S. Olympic Cup and USA Basketball Invitational titles
- 1999 WNT - 1999 Spring Training (two games vs. Germany)
- 1999 WNT ET - 1999 Winter European Tour
- 1998 WNT - 1998 USA Goldmark Cup Team (Australia)
- 1997 WNT - 1997 Spring training in Canada and Germany
- 1997 WIIT - 1997 USA Basketball International Invitational (Colorado Springs)
- 95-96 WNT - 1995-96 team that went 52-0 prior to the Atlanta Olympics
- The 2008 U.S. Olympic Team won the gold medal in a pre-Olympic exhibition tournament, the 2008 FIBA Diamond Ball Tournament, with a 3-0 record over Australia, Russia and Latvia.
- The 2006 World Championship Team beat Australia 56-49 prior to the Worlds
- The 2004 U.S. Olympic Team posted a 4-0 exhibition slate, winning the Spain International Invitational (3-0) and defeating a WNBA All-Star Team prior to the Olympic Games.
- The 2002 World Championship Team competed in the Opals World Challenge (4-0) prior to the World Championship
- The 2000 U.S. Olympic Team earned a 9-0 exhibition record prior to the Olympics
- The 1998 World Championship Team went 12-1 and earned the Slovakian Grand Prix title prior to the Worlds.
- Sylvia Crawley (7 games), Venus Lacey (6 games) and Val Whiting (8 games) each competed during part of the 1995-96
Women's National Team's year-long tour | http://www.usabasketball.com/womens/women_alpha_Q.html | 1,220 |
San Diego Padres (58-70)@
Arizona Diamondbacks (64-63)
Saturday, August 25
(11-12) 3.72 era
(11-11) 4.44 era
Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) - Clayton Richard pitched eight innings and the San Diego Padres matched a season-high with their sixth straight win, 9-3, over the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday night.
Chase Headley, Carlos Quentin and Yonder Alonso homered off Ian Kennedy, as the Padres won their sixth in a row at Chase Field.
Richard (11-12) gave up seven hits and three runs, including a pair of homers. The lefty has won four of his last five starts, and has pitched at least eight innings in three of those games. He's 5-0 in seven career games against the Diamondbacks.
Justin Upton, who celebrated his 25th birthday Saturday, hit a two-run inside- the-park homer for Arizona. Aaron Hill also went deep for the Diamondbacks, who will try to avoid the three-game sweep Sunday.
Kennedy (11-11) allowed four hits and six runs over 5 1/3 innings to lose for the first time in seven career decisions against the Padres.
Headley homered to right field in the opening inning, but in the bottom of the second Upton got a fortunate bounce to turn it the ninth inside-the-park homer in franchise history.
Paul Goldschmidt walked, and then Upton hit a ball to the 413-foot sign in right-center field. The ball took an odd carom past center fielder Cameron Maybin and Upton scored without a throw to the plate.
Quentin homered to center in the fourth and Alonso started the next inning by taking a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right field.
"When he started out he threw the ball good but obviously the home runs hurt him," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said of Kennedy.
San Diego loaded the bases with one out in the sixth inning and Kennedy walked Yasmani Grandal to increase the margin to 4-2. Alonso followed with a two-run single into right field. Quentin made a tumbling slide at the plate to avoid the tag from Miguel Montero.
A pair of sacrifice flies and a bases-loaded walk in the eighth increased the difference to 9-2 before Hill homered off Richard in the bottom of the inning.
"Defensively it was a great game and when you get lead like we did, it makes things a lot easier too," Richard said.
Umpires: Tim Tschida (H), Jeff Nelson (1B), Chris Guccione (2B), Angel Campos (3B) | http://www.usatoday.com/sports/mlb/game/recap/l.mlb.com-2012-e.33934/ | 563 |
HITS, Inc., Announces Updates on Improvements to Thermal Facility
RELEASE: October 30, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Jennifer Wood
HITS, Inc., is pleased to announce its latest updates on the improvements happening at the HITS Desert Horse Park for the upcoming season. The site will hold the 2009 HITS Desert Circuit, an eight-week circuit of horse shows held from January 20 to March 22. HITS has worked with a committee of horse owners, riders and trainers that compete at the HITS Desert Circuit to improve their facility and give competitors a way to voice their opinions and concerns. Many improvements have been made since last year's show.
One of the most exciting changes to this year's program are the scheduling changes. These include new classes to be featured in the indoor ring in addition to the four World Cup qualifying grand prix events. These new, special classes will bring excitement and fun to the schedule and give riders outside of the high-performance division a chance to compete in the indoor ring.
A total of 16 grand prix events will be held during the eight-week circuit, including the four World Cup qualifiers. The season finale for high-performance riders is the $150,000 grand prix in Week Eight. In addition to these grand prix classes, the Ronnie Mutch Equitation Classic will return for junior riders, and the highlight for hunters will be two installments of the $10,000 USHJA International Hunter Derby.
By having regular conference calls with the committee, HITS has been able to prioritize changes and improvements to the horse show grounds themselves. These include berms placed across the property for wind protection. One berm has been built around the perimeter of the west side of the property. Another is nearing completion in the RV park. The berm between hunter rings 1 and 2 is nearly complete. This new area will house a second VIP area overlooking the hunter rings, and credentials from the main VIP Club will provide access to the Hunter VIP tent as well. The new hunter VIP tent will offer continental breakfast and beverage service, while the Oasis Club will continue to offer a full breakfast and lunch service Wednesday through Sunday.
Due to the new berm between the rings, the lights posts and road have been moved to improve traffic flow. All of the berms that are between hunter rings will be given new grass landscaping to match the grand prix ring berm. In addition to artificial grass surrounding the hunter berms, other landscaping projects are under way for the season. The trees and flowers that were planted over the past two seasons have started to mature and are making the HITS Desert Horse Park bloom beautifully.
Hunter riders will be pleased to know that the footing has been updated in hunter rings 1 and 2. The new footing that was installed matches what was used in the grand prix and indoor rings in 2008, to rave reviews.
The VIP Oasis Club will have wind protection as well this coming year since the north and west sides of the building have been enclosed. HITS has worked with the same builder who designed the club, and it will include windows on the west side so that occupants will be able to view hunter ring 1 as well.
New booths for in-gate personnel are currently being built for every show ring. This will help with organization and safety at the rings.
For those competing in the high-performance divisions, new entry procedures have been implemented. The adjusted policies for nominating high-performances horses no longer have penalties for late nominations or changing nominations. Full details on all the entry policies and the new schedules are available in the 2009 HITS Desert Circuit Prize List
The new temporary stalls and new tents have arrived on the grounds and will be installed and ready for the 2009 circuit. These 2,400 new stalls feature wood and steel dividers and were very popular when they debuted this summer at HITS Saugerties.
Course Decorator Flora Baptiston has been hired for the 2009 circuit. Baptiston was | http://www.usefnetwork.com/news/3787/2008/10/30/hits_inc_announces_updates_on_im.aspx | 820 |
CoachesNet Insider: U-17 MNT Training Journal From Bradenton, Fla.
CoachesNet caught up with U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach Roberto Lopez during a recent training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. For this CoachesNet Insider edition Coach Lopez shows us the training journal the team used for the week long camp.
Oct. 23, 2009
Part 1: CoachesNet caught up with U.S. Soccer National Staff Coach Roberto Lopez during a recent training camp at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. For this CoachesNet Insider edition Coach Lopez shows us the training journal the team used for the week long camp.
Part 2: Coming up next Coach Lopez answers a series of Insider questions.
The mini-camp took place at the same that U-17 head coach Wilmer Cabrera took 21 players to England. The camp in Bradenton was a mixture of training and games that allowed the staff to evaluate individual players within a competitive group setting. Coach Keith Fulk and his staff held each player to a very high standard and the players were constantly held accountable for their performance. The volume and intensity of training was designed and monitored so that the players would always show at their best.
U.S. U-17 Men's National Team Mini-Camp
IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Keith Fulk (Head Coach)
Roberto Lopez (Assistant Coach)
Rene Miramontes (Assistant Coach)
Peter Mellor (Assistant Coach, Goalkeeping)
- The mini-camp was held as U-17 head coach Wilmer Cabrera took 21 players to England.
- All players on the trip to England were born in 1992 except for four who were born in 1993.
- The team used The Chelsea F.C. training grounds in London during their stay in preparation for the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria.
- Assistant coach Keith Fulk stayed in Bradenton, Fla. to train the 19 remaining players, plus a group of 20 players that were invited to the mini-camp.
- All players invited to the mini-camp were born in 1994.
- The 20 players invited to the camp were recruited from across the U.S. and various leagues and teams.
- The primary goal was to identify potential 1994 birth year players that could be considered for residency next January, leading up to The U-17 World Cup in 2011.
- The U-17 staff plans all their activities in a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly manner (as shown in the picture).
Yearly Planning Chart / Conditioning Chart
- With the exception of the second day, training was limited to once a day for 1.5 hours.
- Each warm-up was done in a dynamic manner with emphasis on form and movement that has a direct bearing on the game, as designed by strength and conditioning coach Paul Caffrey.
- Within the training cycle, one session was devoted to technical training to expose weaknesses in that area of the game. Functional training was another component during training, in order to evaluate the principles of attack and defense within their positions both individually and collectively.
- Players were also evaluated in full-sided games; the group was divided into three teams. Inter-squad games were played and on the final day of camp a game was played vs. the IMG U-18 team.
- Players were introduced to active recovery, nutrition, and were shown a presentation on how the U-17 residency program works and given a tour of the IMG facilities.
Day 1: September 22 – Arrival Day
- Players arrived in the evening and were met by U-17 Coordinator Matt Burke and coach Keith Fulk.
- Each player was given a schedule and arranged into their rooms.
Day 2: September 23 - Morning Training
- Dynamic warm-up with the ball,
- Two groups of 18 players in half a field.
- The two groups were separated in the middle by two rows of small hurdles.
- The activity was comprised of one ball per two players. One player had to play the ball through small gates to a teammate. On command the players stretched and jumped over hurdles. The sequence was repeated three times with different variations, A) pass ball though, B) wall pass and C) three fast passes (see diagram).
- The goalkeepers worked separately with coach Peter Mellor.
- Players then broke into two 9v9 cone games (see diagram. One game was supervised by coach Miramontes and the other game by Lopez while Fulk oversaw the whole session. The game itself had three variations A) hit opponents cone and bring back to own end B) hit opponents cone and bring own cone to opponents end and C) place cones where desired, and upon hitting a cone bring back to own side.
- Cool down and stretch.
- Staff met after the training session to review.
Day 2: September 23 - Afternoon Training
- The afternoon session focused on technique.
- The session began with a 5v2 warm-up with dynamic stretching.
- Miramontes had the players in groups of two, with one ball per group, about 15 yards apart from each other. Players were asked to pass and receive the ball using different variations. There was a two touch limit.
- Receive the ball and pass it back with the right foot.
- Receive the ball and pass it back with the left foot.
- Receive the ball with the left foot and pass it back with the right foot.
- Receive the ball with the right foot and pass it back with the left foot.
- Receive the ball, pass it back, spin off and receive and pass back with opposite foot.
- Lopez put the players in groups of four. Two players lined up 10 yards apart and about 40 yards from the other two players in the group.
- Play a short one-two, switch positions and hit a long driven ball on the ground.
- Each exercise ran for eight minutes. Players used only their right foot first and then switched.
- There was a one touch restriction.
- The same exercise was repeated but this time with long driven balls in the air.
- The session ended with a cool down and stretching.
Day 3: September 24
- The warm-up consisted of movement and coordination exercises and stretching.
- Technical work was done in pairs, including receiving with different parts of the body and heading.
- Coach Mellor worked with the goalkeepers.
- The coaching staff organized a 6v6 tournament.
- There were six rounds of games (two teams with a bye each round).
- Each team played four games (five minute games). The first rounds were followed by semi-finals and a final.
- The session ended with a cool down and stretching.
- The staff met to discuss player performances and training mentality.
Coach Fulk addresses the team after the training session
Tour of IMG Facilities
Cool down after training
Day 4: September 25
- Warm-up with IPI Training Coach.
- 1v1’s, 2v1’s, 2v2’s and 3v2’s to goal with goalkeepers.
- Two groups going on simultaneously, one on each half of the field.
- One group was with Miramontes and the other group with Lopez. Fulk observed both groups.
- Cool down and stretching.
- Teams were then divided by the staff based on the performance of each player up to this point in camp.
Day 5: September 26 (inter-squad games)
- Players were divided into three teams.
- Team One and Two Team warmed-up.
- Warm-up was done in a 20’x40’ grid.
- Players were divided into two groups of five plus a neutral player.
- Two balls were used and players moved between each group.
- Passing and moving the ball within the group but with game like intensity (included 2nd cycle of stretching).
- 5v5+1 keep away game (3rd cycle of stretching).
- 5v5+1 line game.
- Players knocked long balls getting themselves ready for kick off.
- The games were 30 minutes long.
- Team One beat Team Two 3-0.
- Team Three warmed up.
- Team One beat Team Three 4-0.
- Team Two beat Team Three 2-1.
- The staff met to discuss the games and to select a squad (based on performance) to face the IMG U-18s.
Day 6: September 27 (game vs. IMG U-18s)
Coach Keith Fulk addresses the team in a pre-game meeting
- Used the same warm-up as the previous day.
- The teams were chosen based on their performance the previous day.
- All games were 30 minutes long.
- Team Three played IMG U-18s to a 0-0 tie.
- Teams One and Two played each other to 0-0 tie.
- Team Two beat IMG U-18s 1-0.
- Team One beat IMG U-18s 2-0.
- A meeting was held with the players to close the camp.
- The staff met to discuss who should to be invited back to a follow-up camp in October.
- Departures in the evening and following morning for players and staff.
End of Camp
Up next coach Lopez answers a series of Insider questions.
Stay tuned for future Insider postings on the U.S. National Teams.
Questions and comments can be directed to [email protected]. | http://www.ussoccer.com/news/coachesnet/2009/10/coachesnet-insider-u-17-mnt-training-journal-from-bradenton.aspx | 2,022 |
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Icons Official UEFA Champions League Gareth Bale Signed Champions League Cleat
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RICHARDSON, Texas (Aug. 25, 2006) — University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) Professor Dr. Tim Redman, founder and director of the university’s internationally acclaimed chess program, received the United States Chess Federation’s 2006 Scholastic Service Award this month at the organization’s annual convention in Oak Brook, Illinois. The award has been presented annually since 1994; this was the first time it was given for achievements in college chess.
At the same time, saying that he wanted to devote more time to teaching, research and writing, Redman announced that he will step down as head of the UTD chess program, effective Aug. 31. He will, however, continue his work in the field of chess and education. Chess and Education: Selected Essays from the Koltanowski Conference, edited by Redman, will be published next month by the UTD chess program.
Redman, a professor of literary studies in UTD’s School of Arts and Humanities and one of the university’s most popular teachers, founded the chess program at UTD in 1996 after having served as advisor to the university’s chess club for a year. Less than a year and a half later, in December 1997, UTD shocked the chess world by finishing second in the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, the most prestigious tournament of its kind held in the Western Hemisphere. Over the next nine years, UTD finished first or tied for first four times in the Pan Am, and in both 2001 and 2002 was awarded the President’s Cup, which goes to the winner of the Final Four of Chess competition – a tournament that UTD created.
Redman also started a national Internet-based college chess league and founded the UTD Grandmaster Invitational, an international event that each December brings some of the best chess players in the world to North Texas for more than a week.
Under the direction of Redman, a two-time president of the U.S. Chess Federation, UTD’s chess program encompassed far more than the team and intercollegiate competition. The program included online chess-in-education classes for teachers, community outreach to inner-city schools (with UTD chess team members serving as mentors), scholarships that took chess performance into account and an academic conference on the use of chess as an educational tool. In only a few years, it became the most comprehensive and innovative university chess program in the country.
Partially in recognition of that fact, the World Chess Federation three years ago named UTD as one of its only two officially designated centers for chess education in the world (Moscow State Social University in Russia was the other university selected). In granting the designation, the federation (Fédération Internationale des Échecs), known as FIDE, named the two schools as CACDEC (Committee for Assistance to Chess Developing Countries) educational centers and charged them with developing categories and standards for university chess programs that offer training to teachers seeking to establish or enhance K-12 chess programs. The goal is to create broader-reaching chess education initiatives throughout the world.
That kind of global recognition for the medium-sized, relatively young university in Richardson was virtually priceless, noted Dr. Michael Coleman, UTD associate provost and dean of undergraduate education.
“Tim helped us tremendously in getting the word out about UTD,” Coleman said. “Chess became a metaphor for academic excellence and intellectual rigor. Our chess team was one of the best – in some years, the best – anywhere, and we were regularly beating the Harvards and Stanfords of the world. And our chess players graduated and often went on for higher degrees. People began to realize that UTD was a serious place where someone could get a superb education at a reasonable price.”
In 2001, after UTD won the Final Four championship for the first time, The Dallas Morning News published an editorial that said, “Six years ago, Professor Redman persuaded school administrators to organize a chess team as a cerebral expression of the school’s growing reputation as a quality, high-tech training ground. Admittedly, chess lacks the national cachet of Saturday afternoon football. But that hasn’t stopped UTD, which incidentally doesn’t have a football team, from taking its pawns and rooks quite seriously. . . . Applaud UTD for a big win this weekend. Then clap even louder for its out-of-the-box thinking to promote learning and life skills on and off the campus.”
Redman, who himself was a member of the national champion University of Chicago chess team of 1974 and 1975, said he was stepping down as director of the program because “the program will benefit from new ideas and new energy.” James Stallings, the program’s associate director, will become director on Sept. 1. Redman said he wanted to devote more of his time to his “day job” as a full professor of literary studies. Redman is an internationally renowned expert on the poet Ezra Pound and is the author of Ezra Pound and Italian Fascism (Cambridge University Press, 1991). He currently is at work on a biography of the poet.
Redman also serves as president of PEN Texas, an international association of prominent literary writers and editors, and was recently elected to the Board of Directors of PEN USA, one of the two national PEN Centers in the United States. Last year he served as chief Texas judge for the PEN Southwest Book Awards (jointly sponsored by PEN Texas and PEN New Mexico).
Redman received a lifetime achievement award from PEN Texas in 2001 for his involvement with the Lone Star Writing Contest, his commitment to the Freedom-to-Write Committee, his biographical work on Pound and his involvement with chess as an educational tool.
“I love chess and always will,” Redman said. “But I am first and foremost a writer, a teacher and a scholar.
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls nearly 14,500 students. The school’s freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university’s website at www.utdallas.edu. | http://www.utdallas.edu/news/archive/2006/redman-resigns-chess.html | 1,366 |
The track and field team is prepared to take the track on Saturday at the Texas A&M Invitational.
The UTEP track and field team will open the indoor season at the Cherry and Silver Invitational.
The UTEP track and field team will compete in the Don Kirby Invitational this weekend.
The UTEP men's 4x400m relay squad clocks in a season-best time at the Texas A&M Invitational on Saturday.
The UTEP track and field team will be competing at the Texas A&M Invitational on Friday.
2012: Indoor: Finished sixth in the triple jump with a personal-best of 14.08m at the Conference USA Championships ... claimed bronze at the Blue and Orange Opener in the long jump with a mark of 6.58m ... recorded a season-best jump of 6.83m in the long jump at the Cherry and Silver Invitational ... participated in the long jump at the C-USA Indoor Championships.
Outdoor: Took silver in the long jump with a personal-best of 7.11m at the UTEP Springtime.
2011: Indoor: Took silver in the triple jump at the Lobo Open with a mark of 13.65m (44-09.50) ... finished fourth at the Texas A&M Challenge in the triple jump, 13.73m (45-00.50) and set a personal-best in the long jump, 6.82m (22-02.50) ... posted a season-high mark of 13.87m (45-06.25) in the triple jump at the UNM Invitational.
Outdoor: Placed fourth at the UTEP Springtime in the long jump, 7.02m (23-00.50) w+2.6 and the triple jump, 14.50m (47-07.00) ... finished third at the Texas Tech Open in the triple jump with a mark of 14.44m (47-04.50) and sixth in the long jump, 6.93m (22-09) w+4.4 ... posted a mark of 6.53m (21-05.25) in the long jump at the C-USA Championships.
Personal:Son of Alfredo and Maria Isabel Estrada ... majoring in psychology ... has two siblings, Abraham and Kennyah ... born October 4, 1991 in El Paso, Texas. | http://www.utepathletics.com/sports/c-track/mtt/andres_estrada_740952.html | 504 |
Darrin Brown, who led La Costa Canyon High to the playoffs all 10 years he was at the school, has stepped down as Mavericks head football coach.
Brown, 40, who is married and has two young daughters, cited family reasons for his decision.
“It’s tough, but it’s time to spend more time with my family,” said Brown, whose daughters are 5 and 2. “They’re gonna grow up fast. I’m a dad, too, and I definitely want to be a good one.”
Brown said his decision was influenced by the deaths of teenagers Chelsea King and Amber Dubois.
“Definitely,” said Brown, who was about to give his youngest daughter a bath when reached last night. “My heart goes out to Chelsea King, her family and friends.
“Every little thing makes you think about family. I think it’s time to go enjoy my little ones.”
Brown’s teams posted an 81-38 record, won five league titles, never suffered a losing season and won the San Diego Section Division I title in 2008, defeating Escondido 45-28.
Brown teaches physical education and business at La Costa Canyon.
Steve Perdue has stepped aside as football and baseball coach at Foothills Christian. Athletic Director Wayne Clark said the new coaches will be Thom Lubic for football and Dave Lewis for baseball.
Four San Diego Section teams are among the state’s Top 20 in preseason rankings released by CalHiSports.com
Poway, the two-time defending section champion in Division I, is ranked No. 2.
Rancho Buena Vista, last year’s runner-up to the Titans, stands No. 5. Vista is at No. 10 and Rancho Bernardo is at No. 15. | http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/mar/10/lcc-football-coach-calls-timeout/ | 390 |
SAN JOSE, Calif.
Corey Perry had a hat trick and Ryan Getzlaf added four assists to lift the Anaheim Ducks past the San Jose Sharks 5-4 on Friday night.
The Ducks have taken two straight preseason games against their division rivals. The Ducks also beat the Sharks 5-2 in Anaheim on Wednesday.
Anaheim opened the scoring on Friday with two quick power-play goals 1:14 apart in the first period.
Perry's first power-play goal came at 4:15 as he got behind the Sharks' defense and was able to tap the puck past goalie Antti Niemi.
Jake Newton was credited with a second power-play goal at 5:29 after his shot from the blue line was deflected by San Jose's Derek Joslin into Sharks' net.
Dany Heatley got the Sharks' first goal with 16.7 seconds left in the first period when he caught Anaheim's starting goalie Curtis McElhinney kneeling off to the side of the net and tipped in the puck.
The Sharks tied the game at 2-2 at 8:29 of the second period when John McCarthy scored on a short-handed goal.
Perry added his second power-play goal to give the Ducks a 3-2 lead at 9:25.
The Sharks' Tommy Wingels scored 54 seconds into the third when he was able to take the rebound of Joe Pavelski's shot and muscle it past the Ducks' second goalie of the night Timo Pielmeier. Pavelski had three assists for the Sharks.
The Ducks retook the lead 4-3 at 4:36 of the third when Perry got his third of the game when he connected on a shot past the Sharks' second goalie of the night, Harri Sateri.
However, San Jose retied it again at 4 at 7:17 of the third when Torrey Mitchell caught Pielmeier leaning the wrong way and drilled the shot in.
Dan Sexton got the game-winner at 15:00 after the Sharks' Justin Braun lost the puck and the Ducks' Jason Blake was able to shovel it to his right wing, who shot it past Sateri.
The first period saw San Jose and Anaheim combine to run up several penalties in a fight-filled frame. The period had five fights break out in a two-minute span midway through the period. The Ducks' Shephane Veilleux and the Sharks' Scott Nichol both earned game misconducts. | http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2010/sep/24/ducks-slip-past-sharks-5-4/ | 511 |
Mar 19 2013
Norwich have failed with an appeal against goalkeeper Mark Bunn's red card in Sunday's Premier League match at Sunderland.
The Canaries confirmed on their website that the Football Association had upheld referee Chris Foy's decision to dismiss Bunn after he was ruled to have handled outside his area in the 30th minute of the 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light.
Bunn will serve his one-match suspension when Norwich face Wigan at the DW Stadium on March 30.
"An appeal by City against the red card shown to Mark Bunn by referee Chris Foy during Sunday's Barclays Premier League game away to Sunderland has been rejected by an independent regulatory commission appointed by the FA," the Norwich statement read.
"Mr Foy dismissed Bunn in the 30th minute of Sunday's 1-1 draw for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, when he charged down a back-header from team-mate Michael Turner outside the box under pressure from Sunderland striker Danny Graham.
"The relevant FIFA law states a player will be dismissed for 'denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball'.
"City appealed to the FA that Bunn had not deliberately handled the ball - but this was rejected and the keeper's suspension for the forthcoming Wigan game will remain in place."
With first-choice goalkeeper John Ruddy sidelined by injury, Bunn's suspension will mean a start for third-choice Lee Camp, who made his Canaries debut when coming on as a substitute at the weekend. | http://www.uxbridgegazette.co.uk/west-london-sport/world-uk-sport/2013/03/19/norwich-fail-in-bunn-appeal-113046-33022254/ | 318 |
|HIGH SCHOOL (PREV. SCHOOL)
Valpo: Played on the Crusaders reserve team as a freshman.
Prep: A two-year letterwinner for the Vikings ... a two-time Olympic Athletic Conference Section Team selection ... received the team's Defense Award as a senior ... a two-time Academic All-State selection ... a member of National Honor Society.
Personal: John is the son of Dan and Lynn Groff ... major is electrical engineering ... born October 14, 1983. | http://www.valpoathletics.com/msoccer/roster/2002-03/1283/jd-groff/ | 101 |
INDIANAPOLIS — INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - No. 1 Indiana will open its season Friday night without two key freshmen players.
On Tuesday, the NCAA suspended 6-foot-8 forward Hanner Mosquera-Perea and 7-foot center Peter Jurkin for the first nine games this season and will require them to repay a portion of the impermissible benefits they received to a charity of their choice.
Enforcement officials at the governing body officials found the players' AAU coach Mark Adams provided them with $9,702 and $6,003 in plane tickets, meals, housing, a laptop computer, a cellphone and clothing. Mosquera-Perea must pay back approximately $1,590. Jurkin must repay $250 to be reinstated.
The NCAA said in a statement Tuesday night both players were qualified to receive the benefits from the nonprofit organization Adams used to help international players obtain travel documents and cover travel costs to the U.S. The problem was that Adams also was considered an Indiana booster because he donated $185 to the Varsity Club from 1986-92, and boosters cannot provide benefits to players.
Adams had been involved in a previous eligibility case that involved an additional $2,655 to former Indiana basketball player Tijan Jobe.
"Despite the minimal nature of Mr. Adams' donations, and the fact that the last donation he made was more than 15 years before he provided expenses to a prospective student-athlete who enrolled at the institution," the NCAA wrote in its letter to the school. "Mr. Adams must be considered a representative of the institution's athletics interests."
The NCAA considers these secondary infractions and credited the university for taking "substantial and meaningful" corrective actions. Those actions included paying a $5,000 fine for failing to properly certify one player before he started competing, suspending communications with Adams and disassociating the program from Adams.
Indiana plans to file appeal the length of the two suspensions later this week, though schools usually win those cases. The players cannot play while the appeal is heard, though they can continue to practice and participate in other team functions.
University officials were informed of potential eligibility concerns for both players in April 2011, the NCAA said, and school officials have been trying to resolve the situation since then.
Indiana officials, said in a statement, that it filed the original case June 22.
The NCAA reinstatement staff made its decision Oct. 29. Indiana then provided additional information Nov. 1, which the NCAA said did not change the original facts that were agreed to by both sides.
Mosquera-Perea is considered one of Indiana's top recruits and is expected to play a big part in this season's push for a national championship. Jurkin is also expected to provide depth on the front line.
If the NCAA ruling stands, neither player could return until Indiana's game Dec. 15 against Butler in Indianapolis.
"This matter was discovered internally and promptly reported to the NCAA," Indiana athletic director Fred Glass said in a statement released by the school. "At the NCAA's direction, we conducted an extensive and thorough review in cooperation and consultation with the NCAA Basketball Focus Group. While I am very disappointed with these circumstances, I am very pleased with the way we have responded and appreciative of the NCAA's professional guidance and assistance. I would also like to thank Mark Adams for his forthright candor and cooperation in this matter." | http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/nov/06/ncaa-rules-2-indiana-players-must-miss-9-games/ | 706 |
How to become a Referee
Interested in becoming an indoor volleyball referee in your area or want to pursue your certification at a higher level? First, read below for the qualifications required to become a certified referee. Secondly, for local, provincial clinic dates and locations, contact your Provincial/Territorial Association and for regional, national and international clinic information, contact [email protected]. Volleyball referees in Canada are governed by policies set forth by VC through the National Referee Committee which in turn works in close co-operation with Regional Officials' Chairpersons (ROCs) in each Region of the Association.
In order to become a "LOCAL" volleyball referee, an individual proceeds as follows:
- Studies and learns the rules of the game;
- Avails himself/herself to call practice games and matches between school, club or other teams, in order to gain some practical experience;
- Attends a referees' clinic sponsored by the Regional Association;
- Submits to written and practical examinations set up by the Regional Officials' Chairperson.
If successful, the official is rated as a "LOCAL" Referee and should make himself/herself available to officiate different types of volleyball matches as frequently as possible.
The next level of refereeing is the "PROVINCIAL". level This usually requires at least one year of experience at the "LOCAL" level and a demonstrated advanced knowledge of the rules.
The next stage of qualification of a referee is a "REGIONAL" Referee, which entails the following:
- Being active as a Provincial Referee for at least one full season;
- Attending an advanced official's clinic for upgrading;
- Written and practical examination for a Regional referee's certificate;
- Approval by National Officials' Committee.
If successful, the official is rated as a "REGIONAL' Referee of VC.
The next level is qualification is as a "NATIONAL" Referee, which requires:
- Being active as a Regional Referee for at least three years;
- Recommendations of the Regional Officials' Chairperson for upgrading, based on activity, qualification and personal abilities;
- Keeping the National Referee Committee advised of assignments at major tournaments as specified.
- Attending designated clinics conducted by certified Course Conductors;
- Submitting to a written and practical examination administered by the National Referee Committee at a major competition recognized for this purpose;
- Approval by National Referee Committee.
If successful, the official is rated as a "NATIONAL' Referee of VC. To maintain this status, the official must remain active and submit for re-evaluation at regular intervals, as prescribed by VC's National Referee Committee.
Additional information and details on procedures and requirements for becoming a certified volleyball official may be secured from the Regional Officials' Chairperson or from the National Referee Committee Chairperson.
The highest qualification for a referee is the "INTERNATIONAL" rating. The requirements include:
- Being active as a National Referee for a number of years;
- Recommendation of the National Referee Chairperson for upgrading, based on activity, qualification and personal abilities;
- Attending a ten day International Referees' Course;
- Submitting to written and practical examinations administered by a member of the International Referee Commission;
- Satisfactory officiating as first Referee, under observation, of seven international matches, within three years of the Referees' Course;
- Has not reached his/her 41st birthday. | http://www.volleyball.ca/content/be-official | 735 |
Tall Maples Program
The Fulltime Training Centre’s Tall Maples program is geared towards identifying athletes who will have an immediate as well as long-term impact on the Beach Volleyball National Team.
This program has been created to address the need to develop taller athletes capable of achieving international success.
The purpose of the program is also to provide athletes who have little to no experience in high performance sport, yet meet the minimum body height criteria the opportunity to centralize at the FTC for a predetermined period and give high performance beach volleyball a dedicated trial.
Minimum body height criteria:
Women - 183cm (6’0”)
Men - 195cm (6’5”)
Athletes accepted into this program will be provided the opportunity to be a dedicated part of the Fulltime Training Centre and work with National Team coaches in attempt to help accelerate the development of the athlete.
Athletes can be identified by filling out the FTC Athlete Introduction Form and by attending an Open Practice and Play Session.
For more information about this program please contact Beach Development Coach Angie Shen [email protected]. | http://www.volleyball.ca/content/tall-maples-program | 238 |
WIMBLEDON, England — The complaint was the same from the two men whose dream of reaching Sunday’s Wimbledon championship was squelched in the semifinals: The ball kept coming back.
“He was everywhere,” said Tsonga, who succumbed in four sets, like Murray, and was left baffled by how anyone could keep pace with Djokovic’s speed and stamina.
It’s no surprise, then, that the players regarded as the best movers in tennis — Nadal, 25, and Djokovic, 24 — advanced to Sunday’s Wimbledon final.
“There are no slow players in the top 10 any more,” said veteran coach Darren Cahill, a tennis analyst with ESPN. “The era of being relatively slow but having a big game is completely gone.”
Tennis, of course, has always had players regarded as great movers — quick, fluid, agile and explosive on court.
Bjorn Borg was among them.
But when Borg and John McEnroe ruled the sport three decades ago, squaring off in the gripping Wimbledon finals of 1980 and 1981, the best movers in tennis were the naturally gifted athletes. They didn’t necessarily work at it.
Back then, tennis players’ training consisted almost exclusively of hitting the ball.
McEnroe, now 52, barely worked out in the gym when he was at the top of his game. He also traveled on his own much of the season. Borg was an anomaly, among the few pros to travel full-time with his coach.
Today, Nadal, Djokovic and the sport’s top players travel with entourages that include coaches, athletic trainers, hitting partners and, on occasion, physiotherapists and massage therapists.
“Times are different,” McEnroe said earlier this week. “We were like one-man bands. Now, all the sudden, players have 10 people around them.”
More significantly, they spend as much time, if not more, developing their speed and conditioning off the court as they do hitting balls on it.
Says Cahill, who coached Andre Agassi late in his career: “All the coaches spend a lot of time working on movement. You back that up with shot selection and what type of shot to play in a defensive position and what to play in an offensive position. But it all starts with movement. If you can’t track down the ball, you can’t stay in the point.”
The top-ranked Nadal, who is seeking his 11th Grand Slam title and third Wimbledon championship Sunday, is a master retriever, wearing opponents down by not only getting to balls but also turning a defensive shot into an offensive shot with brute strength. So, too, is Djokovic, who has lost only once this year in 48 matches.
“His game is really complete defending, and when he attacks, too,” Nadal said of Djokovic. “But in my opinion, his general game — his total game — is really complete. Good serve, very good movements. Very easy. His eyes are very fast, and he can go inside the court very easy playing very difficult shots. “ | http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/wimbledon-2011-rafael-nadal-and-novak-djokovaic-set-to-battle-in-mens-final/2011/07/02/AG0SfjvH_story.html?tid=sm_twitter_washingtonpost | 690 |
A prominent pro-life Catholic says he will be quietly rooting for Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be confirmed to the Supreme Court and said she may even be an improvement over retiring Justice David H. Souter - as both sides of the abortion issue try to discern her position.
William Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, said Judge Sotomayor’s record has more bright spots than conservative Catholics can reasonably expect to get from an appointee of President Obama.
“If the Republicans are smart, they would not fight this one,” he told The Washington Times in an interview Thursday.
“I wish I knew more about her. But from what we know, it looks like she’ll be at least a wash with Souter, and maybe we’ll even see improvement.”
Judge Sotomayor’s record on abortion-related cases is thin and tangential. She ruled on the right of pro-life protesters to sue on charges of police brutality and on a challenge to the “Mexico City policy,” which prevented U.S. government funds from going to aid organizations that counsel for or provide abortions.
The White House said that Mr. Obama did not specifically ask her about her views on the issue but that the president is confident she agrees with him on the fundamental constitutional issues.
But pro-choice groups are uncertain about Judge Sotomayor, and this week they called on senators to ask her directly how she would rule on Roe v. Wade, the 1973 Supreme Court decision that established a constitutional right to an abortion.
“We encourage the Senate Judiciary Committee to engage Judge Sotomayor and any future nominees to the Court on their commitment to the principles of Roe v. Wade,” said Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights. “Anything less threatens not only a woman’s constitutional rights, but her life and health.”
Pro-life groups also said senators should press for answers.
“We believe it is critical that senators thoroughly explore whether Judge Sotomayor believes that Supreme Court justices have the right to override the decisions of elected lawmakers on such issues as partial-birth abortion, tax funding of abortion and parental notification for abortion,” said Douglas Johnson, legislative director of the National Right to Life Committee.
In the protester case, she said the pro-lifers had a right to have their police-brutality claims adjudicated by a jury rather than be summarily dismissed.
In the 2002 Mexico City policy case, Judge Sotomayor rejected claims from the Center for Reproductive Rights and its attorneys, based on both appeals court and Supreme Court precedent.
Although the decision didn’t deal with the fundamental constitutional issue of abortion rights, she said in the Mexico City case that the “Supreme Court has made clear that the government is free to favor the anti-abortion position over the pro-choice position, and can do so with public funds.”
Mr. Obama ended the Mexico City policy soon after taking office this year.
At the White House, press secretary Robert Gibbs said Mr. Obama did not ask Judge Sotomayor about her views on the legality of abortion but asked her enough to be comfortable that she sees the constitutional issues the same way he does. Mr. Obama is pro-choice.View Entire Story
By Rand Paul
Obama acts as though we no longer have a Constitution
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
A politically conservative and morally liberal Hebrew alpha male hunts left-wing viper
A collection of communities writers columns on Benghazi
Positive propaganda for a nation in peril.
Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
NRA kicks off annual convention
California wildfires wreak havoc | http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/29/pro-life-catholic-leader-roots-for-obama-nominee/?page=1 | 801 |
Mason chosen for NRL All Stars
NRL All Stars team
1. Billy Slater (Melbourne Storm). Photo: Getty Images
Controversial Newcastle prop Willie Mason has received a shock call-up to the NRL All Stars team for rugby league's showpiece pre-season clash against the Indigenous All Stars.
Mason was picked by Knights' mentor and NRL All Stars coach Wayne Bennett to face Laurie Daley's Indigenous team at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on February 9.
Both sides have coach's selections to make up the 20-man squads, with Bennett opting for born-again forward Mason and Melbourne star halfback Cooper Cronk.
Daley chose another comeback kid from the Knights, Timana Tahu, as one of his coach's picks and Canberra rookie Jack Wighton.
The majority of the All Stars team is picked by fans, while the Indigenous team features the best indigenous rugby league players in the country.
Wests Tigers star Benji Marshall will again captain the All Stars team, which features Billy Slater at fullback, Souths halfback Adam Reynolds in the No.7 shirt and Parramatta livewire Jarryd Hayne on the bench.
The Indigenous side is led by Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston and features an electric backline including Ben Barba, Justin Hodges, Greg Inglis and Blake Ferguson.
All Stars: Billy Slater (Storm), Akuila Uate (Knights), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Roosters), Josh Morris (Bulldogs), Brett Morris (Dragons), Benji Marshall (capt) (automatic selection) (Wests Tigers), Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs), James Tamou (Cowboys), Cameron Smith (automatic selection) (Storm), Ben Hannant (Broncos), David Taylor (Titans), Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles), Paul Gallen (Sharks) Interchange: Robbie Farah (Tigers), Tim Grant (Panthers), David Shillington (Raiders), Feleti Mateo (Warriors), Jarryd Hayne (Eels) Coach's selections: Willie Mason (Knights), Cooper Cronk (Storm).
Indigenous All Stars: Ben Barba (Bulldogs), Reece Robinson (Raiders), Justin Hodges (Broncos), Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs), Blake Ferguson (Raiders), Johnathan Thurston (capt) (Cowboys), Scott Prince (Broncos), George Rose (Sea Eagles), Travis Waddell (Not contracted), Andrew Fifita (Sharks), Joel Thompson (Raiders), Greg Bird (Titans), Nathan Peats (Rabbitohs). Interchange: Ryan James (Titans), Aidan Sezer (Titans), Joel Romelo (Bulldogs), Jake Foster (Raiders). Coach's selections: Dane Nielsen (Warriors), Timana Tahu (Knights), Jack Wighton (Raiders).
Poll: Does Willie Mason deserve his selection as coach's choice for All Stars?
- Yes, he proved himself again in 2012
- No, he is just a big personality
- Stay out of it, it's Wayne Bennett's choice
Total votes: 1035.
You will need Cookies enabled to use our Voting Feature.
Poll closed 23 Jan, 2013
These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate. | http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/mason-chosen-for-nrl-all-stars-20130116-2ctd9.html | 696 |
Phil Lutton SCOTT PRINCE will never be accused of being a diva.
Phil Lutton Perplexed and defiant, Brisbane Broncos coach Ivan Henjak says he will lead the club next season in spite of "scurrilous" rumours his job is in danger and he has fallen out with his playing group.
Brad Walter and Phil Lutton QUEENSLAND Rugby League officials yesterday refused to guarantee that two players reprimanded for breaching curfew during the Maroons controversial Origin III camp had not jeopardised their...
Phil Lutton From his first day on the job at Red Hill until his last, Ivan Henjak went about his task engulfed by the shadow of a man he could never be expected to replace.
Brad Walter and Phil Lutton The Gold Coast will make rugby league history next season when Skilled Park hosts the inaugural match between the Indigenous DreamTime team and an NRL All Stars.
Phil Lutton BRISBANE BRONCOS great Steve Renouf says the house that Wayne Bennett built has ''crumbled'' in his two-year absence, and only the coach's return to Red Hill can fast-track the club to its former...
Phil Lutton Former Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen has returned fire against suggestions he refused to accept Ivan Henjak's resignation as coach of the Broncos following a damning internal review at the...
Glenn Jackson, Brad Walter, Phil Lutton and Steve Mascord SPECULATION was mounting yesterday that St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett will return to the Broncos next year following the sacking of Brisbane coach Ivan Henjak yesterday.
Phil Lutton The uneasy truce between the rival Queensland NRL bids has come to an explosive end, with the chairman of the Central Queensland bid Geoff Murphy taking aim at the "arrogant and selfish" Brisbane...
Phil Lutton Brisbane Broncos V North Queensland Cowboys
Phil Lutton Twelve months ago, North Queensland loses last night’s game. Johnathan Thurston admitted as much after the game.
Phil Lutton With a player the calibre of Justin Hodges, there are the intangibles; the raw aggression, the swagger, the grunt work from dummy half that regularly sees him among the club's top metre eaters at the...
BRAD WALTER, PHIL LUTTON and GLENN JACKSON JASON TAYLOR'S sacking as South Sydney coach sparked rumours that Brisbane forward Dave Taylor was fishing for a way out of his contract after having second thoughts about leaving the Broncos.
Phil Lutton To say Wayne Bennett going back to the Broncos would have been a step backwards for the club isn't exactly true.
Phil Lutton On two opposing teams, two men called Ben showed exactly why they can be a legitimate force in Origin football, both now and in the future.
Phil Lutton It's so sensible it just might work. Darren Lockyer, the illustrious Australian captain, believes the Anzac Test should be played on - wait for it - Anzac Day.
Brad Walter, Phil Lutton Greg Inglis's former Melbourne centre partner, Dane Nielsen, is set to be a shock replacement for the Test star in Queensland's Origin I side.
Phil Lutton Brisbane rugby league star Karmichael Hunt is switching to play AFL in a move which will rock the NRL to its foundations.
Phil Lutton NOW that's how you break a duck. With an inspired semi-final performance, the Brisbane Broncos have not only booted the Dragons out the post-season back door but slammed it in their face.
Phil Lutton, www.brisbanetimes.com.au Australian captain says he'd be happy to see Lote Tuqiri make a cameo in the NRL for the remainder of the season. | http://www.watoday.com.au/rugby-league/teams/broncos/by/phil-lutton?offset=80 | 771 |
SPORTING Club Albion Ladies roared into the Birmingham County Cup semi-finals thanks to a 9-1 thrashing of Halesowen Town last night.
Although both teams play their home games at The Grove, the Baggies were drawn as the hosts against the Birmingham County Division Two leaders.
And almost 150 spectators enjoyed a goal feast as Natasha Baptiste fired a hat-trick, Robyn James bagged a double, and Sinead Scott, Abbie Pope, Emily Key and Harley Simpson all notched for Dave Lawrence’s side.
He said: “We had really good support and I’m desperate for us to go even further in the competition now.
“We’ve said in the past, when playing lower league opposition, we can’t get complacent and let our levels drop.
“We weathered an early storm from Halesowen and then we played some really good football.
“We exploited the space well and maybe should have scored more.
“We gifted them their goal and to restrict them to just a couple of chances is a good achievement against any opposition.
“It was a really professional performance.”
The draw for the semi-finals has yet to be made. | http://www.wba.co.uk/news/article/sca-ladies-cruise-into-semi-finals-643301.aspx | 264 |
(Sports Network) - The late '80s group Soul to Soul had a joint where lead
singer Caron Wheeler's powerful first line was: "Back to life. Back to
reality." Well that's the tune baseball is pumping through its speakers as it
transitions from the offensive mutation called "The Steroid Era" into a new
The 2012 MLB Playoffs ushered in this new pitching-dominant era with
authority. The World Series was a battle between the pitch potent, light-
lumbered, San Francisco Giants and the golden arms of the Detroit Tigers. On
this World Series stage, stud pitchers will dictate the flow of the show.
The heightened pressure of every playoff pitch and the increased importance of
each run make the World Series a must-see for sports fans. Nail-biting
pitchers' duels highlight the value, intrigue and excitement of low-scoring
games. Taking the juice out of baseball has put the authentic spark back.
In the past half decade, MLB hurlers have regained their mojo, throwing us
back to the pitching-rich seasons of "Bullet" Bob Gibson and Sandy Koufax. The
elimination of rampant steroid use is the biggest reason. Harsher penalties
and public humiliation have been a major deterrent to PED use in baseball. In
2006, suspensions for a positive drug test, was increased from 10 to 50 games.
The Bud Selig-commissioned Mitchell Report in '07 exposed the epidemic, and
damaged the reputations of baseball's biggest stars. Some were even dragged in
front of Congress and exposed as liars.
In the early 1990s the effects of steroids and performance enhancers hit
baseball like a tsunami. Like when crack hit the streets of Oaktown in the
80s. Player usage exploded after the MLB strike of 1994. Home runs swelled to
an average of 1.77 per game by 1996. That number dwarfed the 1.26 per game
average during the last clean era of baseball -- from 1978 to about 1990, when
Hall of Famers like Dave Winfield, George Brett, Eddie Murray and Mike Schmidt
put up "official" power numbers.
The days of Klitschko brothers-looking, 60-homer-hitting droids are over. Just
peep how the numbers have flipped since 2000, when nobody threw a no-hitter.
This season pitchers were "making it rain" like Lil' Wayne, racking up seven
no-hitters and three perfect games. Cain, the starter in San Francisco's Game
7 NLCS, tossed one of those gems. Other pitching accomplishments included
knuckleballer R.A. Dickey's Mets record 44 2/3 innings without allowing an
earned run; and Tampa Rays closer Fernando Rodney setting the Major League
record for the lowest ERA with at least 50 appearances (0.60).
In Y2K there was a whopping 5,693 homers hit in MLB. This season homers
plummeted to 4,934. That's almost 800 less dingers. In 2000, Sammy Sosa led
baseball with 50 homers. At least 10 other players hit 40 that season. By
2008, MLB's top slugger Miguel Cabrera led baseball with just 37 home runs,
and in 2009, Mark Teixeira and Carlos Pena tied for the lead with 39 home
runs. These were the lowest totals for a home run king since 1989. Runs are
also down significantly from 2000 when 24,971 players crossed home plate. This
season, just 21,017 runs were scored. With the decrease in offense, naturally
pitching ERA's dropped nearly a run, from 4.77 to 4.01.
The death of steroids isn't the only factor in baseball's pitching
renaissance. More pitchers are throwing 90-plus mph darts these days, making
life much harder on hitters. FanGraphs ranked all of the pitchers who threw at
least 30 innings in a season and their average fastball velocities. The number
of pitchers with an average fastball velocity of 95-plus has steadily risen
from 11 in 2007 to 35 in just five years.
The expanded pitching repertoire is another reason. Back in the day, most
great pitchers had one or two pitches. Now, any average pitcher probably has
an array of four pitches he can dial up at any time.
Mixing pitches and speeds keeps the best hitters off balance. San Fran's Ryan
Vogelsong executed this to perfection against the Cardinals in the NLCS.
According to BrooksBaseball.net, Vogelsong, a 35-year-old finesse pitcher, had
five pitches poppin' against the Cardinals -- a four and two-seam fastball,
change up, slider and curveball.
The "Pitcher's Paradise" era is dominated by information and mathematical
formulas designed to give managers, pitchers and catchers, an edge on every
pitch. Old-school managers like Detroit's Jim Leyland tend to go with their
gut, and rely less on sabermetrics and dizzying numbers. The use of tracked
information and studying statistical trends has also played a vital role in
the rise of the pitcher. New-age managers like Joe Girardi, are constantly
scouring their notes for a strategic advantage.
The future of baseball is a bright mix of skilled hitters and pitchers playing
a high-stakes game of 60-feet, six-inch chess. When a hitter is at his best,
he'll get his base knocks, but the pitcher remains the most influential
position in a baseball game. If you love the science of pitching and softball
scores just don't sit right, flip on the TV tonight. Baseball's "Pitcher's
Paradise" era will be on full display.
The Sports Network | http://www.wbir.com/sports/pro_baseball/mlb/article/243169/154/MLB-New-Era-Say-goodbye-to-steroids--sluggers | 1,229 |
In a career already groaning under the weight of titles and accolades, Roger Federer joined another exclusive list of tennis luminaries when he beat Andy Murray in this year's Wimbledon final.
In notching up his seventh Wimbledon win a month before his 31st birthday, Federer became the oldest champion since Arthur Ashe in 1975, and only the 11th player in the Open era to win a grand slam in his 30s.
Only Andre Agassi (at the Australian Open in 2001 and 2003) and Pete Sampras (U.S. Open 2002) have achieved the feat this century suggesting that, more than ever, modern tennis is a game which favors the power, agility and the sheer exuberance of youth.
Despite the ambition of those young guns and not forgetting the distractions of a young family, Federer's desire to remain competitive appears undimmed.
After dispatching the then 23-year-old Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the ATP Tour event in Rotterdam last February, Federer said he hoped to be around for another "three, five, six years."
And following his silver medal at the Olympic tennis tournament in August he reiterated that wish.
"I'll be 35 in Rio. I think it's possible, but we'll see how it goes," Federer told CNN.
The Swiss champion isn't the only one enjoying a resurgence in the autumn of his career.
From his perch at the summit of the world rankings -- which he reclaimed after winning Wimbledon -- Federer surveys a top 100 in which almost a quarter (24) of players are over the age of 30.
Five places below the Swiss is Spain's David Ferrer (who turned 30 in February) while lower down lie Jarkko Nieminen from Finland and Austria's Jurgen Melzer.
Read: Tight security in Shanghai as Federer appears after death threat
The 31-year-olds, ranked 35 and 37 respectively, have both won tournaments this year -- the Finn winning the Apia International in Sydney in January while Melzer took the Memphis title the following month.
Germany's Tommy Haas, who turned 34 in April, is currently the oldest player in the top 25. The former world no.2, whose career has been plagued by injuries, started this season outside the top 200, but has shot up the rankings this year to a current high of 21 in the rankings.
The rise was helped, in part, by victory over Federer in the final of the ATP tournament on home soil in Halle last June.
"Maybe 30 is the new 20," the German told CNN's Open Court, not entirely in jest.
"You know, I think a lot of the guys are becoming so much more professional ... everybody is looking more at how physical the game has gotten and how important it is to stay healthy and fit," Haas said.
"Thirty, at the end of the day, is really just a number ... If you really love something and you want to do it the right way, why not do it until you really know you can't do it anymore."
It's a philosophy which Federer shares, Haas thinks.
Read: Behind the scenes with Graf and Agassi
"He's a world-class athlete. He knows exactly what he is doing. He prepares as well as anyone out there ... he doesn't second guess many things, so I'm not really surprised."
Gil Reyes, the feted long-time fitness coach (and friend) to Andre Agassi, says Federer is just a class apart.
"Roger is a perfect athlete -- his movement, his game, his mental, his physical. There's Roger and then there's everyone else," Reyes said.
Technological advances and the physically demanding nature of the modern game have caught up with players less gifted and younger than Federer, says Reyes, leading to lots of wear and tear.
With players hitting that ball harder than ever, there is simply less time to play the next shot, he says.
"You're going to be out of position unless you redirect your body very forcefully and very violently, and that's just taking its toll on our knees and our hips. So you have to counter that and prepare your body for the game," Reyes said. | http://www.wcti12.com/sports/Federer-leads-charge-of-the-old-men/-/13530474/16908834/-/item/0/-/9de2cvz/-/index.html | 884 |
11:17 PM EST, January 16, 2013
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) --
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to stop the execution of a Virginia man who fought to get the death penalty.
The court ruled hours before the 9 p.m. Wednesday execution of 42-year-old Robert Gleason Jr. Gleason was sentenced to death for strangling two inmates while housed in two of the state's most secure prisons.
After each slaying, Gleason vowed to continue killing unless he was sentenced to death.
Former attorneys had asked the court to block the execution.
They argued Gleason was not competent to make the decision to waive his appeals.
They asked to be appointed to his case to order a new competency evaluation, even though two others have proved he was capable of making decisions in his case.
Gleason has chosen to die by electrocution
Copyright © 2013, WDBJ7-TV | http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-inmate-executed-in-virginia-20130116,0,3862212,print.story | 199 |
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Tue October 23, 2012
John Farrell Era Begins for Red Sox Nation
The Boston Red Sox have introduced John Farrell as their new manager.
Farrell appeared Oct. 23 at a news conference with club officials two days after the team announced it had reached an agreement with the Toronto Blue Jays to allow him to leave with one year left on his three-year contract as manager. Farrell said building a strong relationship with the players is a priority. “I will work my butt off to earn their trust, earn their respect and create an environment in the clubhouse that is just that. It’s a trusting one, it’ll be a learning one, and yes, it’ll be a competitive one and hopefully a very successful one as well.”
Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington also emphasized the importance of having a strong relationship with Farrell. “We think he’s the right person to lead the team moving forward. I think it’s important that I have a relationship with a manager that’s strong to the point that you can disagree and be candid with one another and walk away knowing that that relationship is still intact,” Cherington said. “I have a better chance of making good decisions if that relationship allows for that kind of candid discussion and disagreement at times. I feel confident about that with John based on my existing relationship with him.”
Farrell, Boston's pitching coach from 2007-10 under Terry Francona, takes over for Bobby Valentine, who was fired after one of the worst seasons in team history.
Boston Public Radio's Emily Rooney spoke with Roger Abrams, Northeastern University law professor; author of several baseball books including "The First World Series" and "The Baseball Fanatics of 1903" and former salary arbitrator for Major League Baseball about the Red Sox's new skipper. | http://www.wgbhnews.org/post/john-farrell-era-begins-red-sox-nation | 395 |
©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
Read the latest local sports stories by clicking here
|Penn St. President: University Will Honor Paterno
|STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- Penn State President Rodney Erickson says the university is grieving the death of legendary former football coach Joe Paterno and plans to honor him for his contributions to the school.
In a statement released Sunday, Erickson called Paterno "a great man who made us a greater university." Paterno died early Sunday at age 85.
Erickson says Paterno's "dedication to ensuring his players were successful both on the field and in life is legendary." He says PSU will remember his "remarkable life and legacy" and plans to honor him.
The winningest coach in major college football was fired from Penn State on Nov. 9 amid a child sex abuse scandal involving a former assistant. Critics say Paterno should have done more to stop it.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) | http://www.wgil.com/sportsarchive.php?xnewsaction=fullnews&newsarch=012012&newsid=161 | 214 |
MLB Features2012 MLB Power Rankings: July 9th
Barry Larkin to Cooperstown
2012 MLB Archive
Play MLB SimMatchup
Create Your Own MLB Dream Team
WhatIfSports.com utilizes its award-winning baseball simulation engine to present the most comprehensive and unbiased ranking possible of all 30 teams in baseball each Monday during the regular season.
To come up with the rankings, using only their statistical performance to date this season, each team is simulated against every other team 100 times – 50 at home and 50 at the opposing ballpark so that all five pitchers in the current rotation start ten times at each location.
(Note: This means that if a pitcher who was in the rotation was recently put on the DL, he will not be included in the simulations. This is true of position players as well, but an injury to one position player will usually have a lesser impact on the week-to-week results.)
Teams Ranked by Winning Percentage
(everyone plays everyone 100 times)
|3.||Los Angeles Angels||-||58.2||4.5||3.7|
|4.||Chicago White Sox||+1||57.8||4.1||3.4|
|5.||New York Yankees||+1||57.4||5.0||4.1|
|7.||St. Louis Cardinals||+1||54.1||4.6||4.2|
|8.||Boston Red Sox||-1||53.2||4.4||4.2|
|10.||New York Mets||-1||52.4||4.5||4.3|
|11.||Los Angeles Dodgers||-||51.3||3.9||3.8|
|14.||Toronto Blue Jays||+2||50.9||4.4||4.3|
|19.||San Francisco Giants||-4||48.7||3.8||4.0|
|23.||Tampa Bay Rays||-2||46.2||3.8||4.1|
|28.||Kansas City Royals||-3||41.9||3.9||4.7|
|29.||San Diego Padres||+1||41.1||3.4||4.3|
Jake Westrich is the Digital Content Coordinator for WhatIfSports.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. | http://www.whatifsports.com/beyondtheboxscore/default.asp?article=2012MLB_PowerRankings11 | 522 |
A striker from Port Coquitlam, BC, A.J. Lopez joined Whitecaps FC Residency in Sept. 2011 after representing his home province of British Columbia.
A midfielder from North Vancouver, BC, Matthew Miki joined Whitecaps FC Residency in Sept. 2011 after being part of the club’s Prospects program.
VANCOUVER WHITECAPS FC PROSPECTS
From 2009 to 2011, Miki was a member of Whitecaps FC Prospects, where he trained under Residency staff coach Bart Choufour.
Miki played his youth soccer on Metro Vancouver’s North Shore. The midfielder started with North Vancouver’s Lynn Valley Soccer Association, where he played from 2004 to 2010. For the 2010-11 season, Miki was a member of North Vancouver Football Club. During that time, the midfielder earned team and tournament Most Valuable Player honours, and served as a team captain.
The midfielder has attended Boundary Elementary School in North Vancouver, BC, since 2004.
Miki’s favourite team is Spanish and European giants Barcelona, while his favourite player is Brazilian star Ronaldinho. The midfielder would like to play at Barcelona’s Camp Nou home one day. The midfielder is a big fan of his mother’s home cooking. | http://www.whitecapsfc.com/youth/eliteteams/residency/matthew-miki?quicktabs_mls_standings_quicktabs=western&quicktabs_club_news_qt=0 | 268 |
The book cover for “Rocks Across the Pond” shows Detroit Tiger star pitcher Justin Verlander fist pumping young Dallas Bolster of Dundee, Michigan. Dallas’ mother, Renee Bolster, now serves as publicist for Richard and Kathy Verlander.
Richard Verlander knows parents need plenty of help in raising a successful professional athlete.
He should know. He and his wife, Kathy, had plenty of help, beginning with the people of their small Virginia hometown of Manikin-Sabot, in raising arguably the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, Justin Verlander.
They are sharing their experiences over the past nearly 30 years in raising Justin and his younger brother, Ben, in a new book titled, “Rocks Across the Pond.”
And, the couple is coming to Montague Wednesday, Feb. 6, to talk to parents and fans at a book signing at Montague High School.
The Verlanders, who have received the 2008 George and Barbara Bush Little League Parents of the Year Award at the Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA, will also be selling their book at the book signing. And, $5 from each book sale will go to the Montague High School baseball program.
The book signing begins at 6 p.m., followed by a talk by the Verlanders at 7 p.m. The couple will take questions from the audience and sign more books as time allows.
They will also be at Mona Shores High School at 8 a.m. on Feb. 6 for a speech and book signing.
See full story in Beacon print or e-edition | http://www.whitelakebeacon.com/news.php?story_id=29458&storysize=3 | 335 |
Pelini said in a statement immediately after the Cornhuskers' 42-13 win that "everything checked out just fine." He said he planned to work Sunday.
Nebraska spokesman Keith Mann said Pelini was out of the hospital Saturday night.
Pelini began feeling ill during the first half, and a member of the Nebraska medical staff checked Pelini's pulse on the sideline. Doctors treated him in the locker room at halftime.
There was no word on the nature of Pelini's symptoms. Athletic director Tom Osborne said doctors considered the situation serious enough that Pelini needed to be checked out at the hospital. | http://www.whittierdailynews.com/sports/ci_21552187/osborne-says-nebraska-coach-pelini-doing-fine | 127 |
SEATTLE -- The 49ers' 42-13 loss Sunday night to the host Seattle Seahawks came with several ramifications, and none was good for the 49ers' sake.
In the process, the 49ers lost their first (but not last) shot at clinching the NFC West, and they fell out of position for a potential first-round bye in the playoffs. They also saw two key players exit with serious injuries: tight end Vernon Davis (concussion) and wide receiver Mario Manningham (knee).
The 49ers (10-4-1) still can win their second straight NFC West title next Sunday when they host the Arizona Cardinals (5-10). If the 49ers lose, the Seahawks (10-5) can win the division by beating the St. Louis Rams at CenturyLink Field, where they're 7-0 this season.
Both the 49ers and Seahawks already are assured of playoff berths. The 49ers clinched at least a wild-card spot a week ago after defeating the New England Patriots 41-34. The Seahawks earned their playoff ticket with Sunday's prime-time win.
By virtue of their 55-7 win Sunday, the Green Bay Packers (11-4) passed the 49ers for the NFC's second-best record behind the Atlanta Falcons (13-2). The Packers can secure the No. 2 seed next Sunday by either winning at the Minnesota Vikings (9-6) or having the 49ers lose to the Arizona Cardinals (5-10).
In spoiling coach Jim Harbaugh's 49th birthday, the 49ers fell behind 21-0 before this prime-time affair was a minute into the second quarter.
That third Seahawks' touchdown
By the time Sherman intercepted a Colin Kaepernick pass in the end zone early in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks' lead had grown to 35-6. They were the most points allowed by the 49ers since a 45-10 home loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Oct. 11, 2009.
The 49ers defense clearly lacked the leadership and production of injured defensive lineman Justin Smith, whose elbow injury ended his streak of 189 consecutive games.
The Seahawks have won four straight, and they were coming off two other lopsided wins: 58-0 over the Cardinals and 50-17 against the Buffalo Bills in Toronto. Seattle lost 13-6 at Candlestick Park on Oct. 18.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson threw four touchdown passes for the first time in his sensational rookie season, and his elusiveness in the pocket often made 49ers pass rushers look daffy.
Marshawn Lynch, an Oakland native and Cal product, scored touchdowns on the Seahawks' first two possessions to stake them to a 14-0 lead.
Lynch's 24-yard touchdown run gave the Seahawks a 7-0 lead only 1 minute, 12 seconds into the game. Lynch's second touchdown came on a 9-yard pass with only Carlos Rogers in the vicinity. | http://www.willitsnews.com/ci_22251738/san-francisco-49ers-routed-by-seattle-seahawks?source=most_viewed | 608 |
The game ended up being a dud, but the pre-game presentation of all the past Diamond Classic baseball champion coaches was a trip, for me at least, down memory lane. There are 19 different coaches who have won the 50 titles. Grand Ledge's Pat O'Keefe has a slight lead with 20 himself. Seeing guys like Len Lapka, Dave Leisman and Phil Odlum from Waverly was great along with Phil Booth from Lansing Catholic, Jake Boss from Everett and Lansing Catholic, and others. They're older now but then so am I. I pitched twice against Leisman in 1967. I beat him on a no hitter and he got me back in the Classic opener that June. He went on to coach Waverly to the 1982 Classic title.
O'Keefe's record is amazing. Grand Ledge romped 12-2 over Holt but the game was close for five of the six innings. Holt wore down, like it did in the other three losses this spring. Holt went 20-8 with half its losses to Grand Ledge. There's no other team in the area near Grand Ledge in quality and yet the Comets play in a brutal Regional Saturday at Brown Stadium in Battle Creek. It was great for old time's sake saying 'hi' to them all Wednesday night before a terrific crowd. I'd estimate the crowd at just over 2,000 fans. | http://www.wilx.com/blogs/sportsblog/Diamond_Classic_a_Trip_Down_Memory_Lane_123572539.html | 285 |
Browett confident of keeping big names, and Jedinak "happy" at Palace
Crystal Palace co-chairman Stephen Browett says no more first team players will be leaving Selhurst Park in the January transfer window.
After the departure of Wilfried Zaha to Manchester United, with an immediate loan back, David Wright off to Colchester United and Kwesi Appiah on a month’s loan at Yeovil, speculation has been rife over the future of skipper Mile Jedinak.
Fans’ favourite Jedinak has been linked with former Palace boss Dougie Freedman at Championship rivals Bolton Wanderers, as well as Premier League Stoke City – who were reported to have had a £2.5m offer turned down.
However, Browett said: “No first team players will leave the club in this transfer window.
“Obviously, Jedinak is playing well at the moment and we would be surprised if there was no interest in him.
“But we will reject any interest that there is.”
Australian international Jedinak who was signed from Turkish football by Freedman in 2011, has caught the eye with his commanding perfomances in the middle of the park, while contributing two goals to the Eagles’s push for promotion.
Palace skipper Jedinak was happy to confirm his commitment to the Eagles promotion cause ahead of the big London derby on Saturday.
Midfielder and fans’ favourite Jedinak has been linked with former Palace boss Dougie Freedman at Championship rivals Bolton Wanderers, as well as Stoke City of the Premier League – who were reported to have had a £2.5million offer turned down.
However, the 28-year-old said he was focussed solely on the visit of Charlton Athletic to Selhurst Park on Saturday.
“I am at Palace, and I am absolutely happy at being here. As far as I know I am going to here and there is nothing going on at his stage,” Jedinak said.
Palace have picked up two wins in 10 League games since the start of December, and despite defeat at Huddersfield on Wednesday night, Jedinak is confident the tide will turn in the Eagles’ favour.
“I am sure we will turn it around, we’ve been playing in a positive way and if we can continue that then the results will start turning in our favour.
“Derbies can be a catalyst to turn things around. We’ve had a few this season and we’ve been on the end of some good results, so hopefully we can continue that form and kick-start the season.”
With boss Ian Holloway working hard to bring in more names, Jedinak is pleased with the new names already brought in.
Jedinak said: “Jazz Richards has been with us for a few days, you can see he is enthusiastic.
“He is a young fella but he has been around the Swansea set up for some time, so hopefully he can get settled in as soon as possible. I am sure he will be a fine asset.”
With only hours of the January transfer window remaining, the biggest transfer so far has seen Wilfried Zaha move to Old Trafford for a reported £15million, and then be immediately loaned back.
“It is a positive thing all round for everyone involved in the club, not just for Wilf,” Jedinak said.
“The attention has been intense, but now we can move on, we can put it all behind us and we’re just chuffed for him.
“He knows he has a job to do in the next six months, and I am sure he will be focussed on the job in hand.” | http://www.wimbledonguardian.co.uk/sport/football/eagles/10197264.Crystal_Palace_co_chairman__No_more_Eagles_will_be_flying_the_Selhurst_Park_nest/ | 800 |
Chenango Valley Little League Champs is the Chenango Forks 1 (RED) team. They defeated the Chenango Forks 3 (BLUE) team 3 -1 in the championship game on Friday June 20th at the KAA field.
Chenango Valley Little League Champs
By: ciao_bulletSubscribe Channel: Sports Location: Katellville Atheletic Association Field in Katellville NY.
This story is inappropriate and should be flagged for moderation. Please choose from one of the following options: | http://www.wkbw.com/younews/20653614.html?vid=a | 109 |
Richmond, KY (Sports Network) - Led by 21 points from Ian Clark, the Belmont
Bruins downed the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, 85-74, in an Ohio Valley
Conference battle at McBrayer Arena.
For the Bruins (17-4, 8-0 OVC), J.J. Mann added 18 points, Kerron Johnson
finished with 16 points and Trevor Noack chipped in 13 points.
Corey Walden led all scorers with 24 points for the Colonels (16-5, 6-2),
while Mike DiNunno scored 15 points and Marcus Lewis finished with 11 points.
Belmont was on fire to start the game, knocking down 69.6 percent of its
field goal tries, including a near-perfect 7-of-8 from beyond the 3-point arc.
The Bruins used a 14-1 run midway through the first to turn a three-point
deficit into a 10-point lead, and they went into halftime up by double-digits,
42-31. EKU shot the ball well too, making 47.8 percent of there shots from
the field, including 5-of-10 from 3-point distance.
After intermission, both teams continued their hot shooting performances. The
Bruins connected on 65.2 percent of their field goal attempts, including 4-
of-7 from 3-point range. The Colonels did there best to keep it close,
shooting 52.4 percent from the field and draining 6-of-11 from 3-point
distance. Trailing by 12, EKU ran off eight unanswered points to narrow the
gap to four, 75-71, with just under three minutes to play. Johnson answered
that run with a 3-pointer as the shot clock expired to end the Colonels'
comeback bid, as the Bruins remained perfect in conference play and took over
sole possession of first place in the East Division of the OVC.
Belmont had the edge on points in the paint, 30-22, and while the Colonels
had a 19-12 edge in points from the free-throw line.
The Sports Network | http://www.wkyc.com/sports/article/280283/366/NCAA-Game-Summary---Belmont-at-Eastern-Kentucky | 461 |
Taxi drivers and bellboys aren't the only ones going back to school to learn a little English ahead of the 2014 World Cup to be hosted in various cities across Brazil.
In the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte, prostitutes are lining up for free English classes that will be offered by the regional Association of Prostitution starting in March.
"Across Brazil, lots of businesses in the private sector are getting prepared and making their workers more qualified for the Cup. Well, this is a profession, too," Cida Vieira, the president of the association, told CNN in a telephone interview.
In Brazil, prostitution is legal, although sexual exploitation and pimping are not.
"English will be very important to communicate with clients during the Cup," Vieira said. "They'll have to learn how to work out financial deals and also use a specialized vocabulary with sensual words and fetishes."
Vieira said that 20 prostitutes had already signed up, but that she expected at least 300 women to participate in the classes once they started.
The association is in talks with teachers and English speakers to provide their services free of charge, similar to deals they have with doctors and health care workers. The classes would last six to eight months.
Belo Horizonte will host football games not only for the World Cup in 2014, but also for the Confederations Cup, a kind of dress rehearsal that will take place in June 2013. | http://www.wlwt.com/news/national/Brazil-prostitutes-to-enhance-English-skills/-/9837944/18048198/-/caqk1n/-/index.html | 294 |
We've seen him in black and gold for quite a while, but is there a chance that linebacker James Harrison could wind up in purple in 2013? More free-agent speculation that's been popping up this weekend. The Steelers cut loose Harrison, their long-time linebacker who's now 35 years old. Is there a chance he could wind up in Baltimore? The Baltimore Sun reported this weekend that Harrison's agent, Bill Parise, said that his client would certainly take a look at the Ravens. "Baltimore would be a great fit for James," Parise said in The Sun. "They're a contender and a class organization, so James would definitely be interested. I would think they would have a need with the market for [Paul] Kruger." Kruger's looking like he's going to wind up with another team, leaving the Ravens with possibility of losing both him and Dannell Ellerbe -- plus Ray Lewis, who retired at season's end. | http://www.wlwt.com/news/sports/More-speculation-James-Harrison-to-Ravens/-/9837968/19269402/-/14clqyez/-/index.html | 195 |
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The West is best in Southwestern Athletic Conference football.
At least until the East champion changes it.
The West Division representative has defeated the East Division champion in five straight SWAC championship games, and in 11 of the 14 meetings since the game was started in 1999 (West champ Texas Southern later vacated its 2010 title).
Arkansas-Pine Bluff is the defending champ after beating Jackson State, 24-21, in last year's title game.
Having to replenish the offensive and defensive lines in the same season is never easy on a team, but that's the challenge facing the defending SWAC champions at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
Jackson State will look for the offense to carry the team as the defense rebuilds its line. Quarterback Clayton Moore is the returning starter, but redshirt freshman LaMontiez Ivy was one of the more touted recruits in the FCS a year ago, and this year coach Rick Comegy has brought in Ivy's go-to wide receiver from high school, Daniel Moore.
Another East Division member, Alabama State, will try to take the next step after tying for the last two titles but losing the tiebreaker for advancing to the SWAC Championship Game. Coach Reggie Barlow's Hornets, who last made the title game in 2010, is playing a full season in its new stadium for the first time and have a new defensive coordinator in Kevin Ramsey.
Mississippi Valley State is enthused by the work of fourth-year head coach Karl Morgan. The Delta Devils have a spotlight game to open their season - against Florida A&M in the MEAC/SWAC Challenge.
The biggest surprise last season was Grambling State's 1-10 demise after its SWAC championship season in 2011. Coach Doug Williams is creating a lot of open competition and has brought defensive coordinator Dennis Winston, who manned the position under Eddie Robinson in the 1990s, back to the program
Texas Southern, coming off a 2-9 season in coach Darrell Asberry's first season, is not allowed to have spring practices because of NCAA violations. With scholarship reductions and no returning All-SWAC players, the Tigers face another tough season.
OH, YES, THEM AGAIN
There weren't any 1,000-yard rushers in the SWAC last season, but Alabama State touchdown-maker Isaiah Crowell surely will be one this year.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff quarterback Ben Anderson came on strong as a sophomore and earned All-SWAC first-team honors. Joining him in a terrific triumvirate are Golden Lions leading rusher Justin Billings and leading receiver Ladarius Eckwood.
After leading the team in tackles as a sophomore, Prairie View A&M linebacker Jerome Howard is expected to become the Panthers' defensive leader.
Brandon Thurmond of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Joseph LeBeau of Jackson State ranked No. 1 and 3, respectively, in the FCS in tackles for loss last season, but in between the two departed seniors was Mississippi Valley State defensive tackle Robert Simpson, who totaled 22.5 of them.
Jackson State safety Ryan Griffin raised his play in the second half of the season and will be a playmaker this season.
Alcorn State sophomore LaDarrien Davis hopes to become a go-to wide receiver.
True freshman Chuck Baker, who originally committed to LSU, hopes to break into the wide receiver mix at Southern.
Texas Southern, second-worst in the FCS in turnover margin last season, desperately needs more playmakers this season. Defensive back Le Tevin Wilcox had three interceptions, forced two fumbles and recovered a fumble.
Alabama A&M is replacing a four-year starting quarterback in Deaunte Mason. Coach Anthony Jones signed three junior college transfers, led by Kyle Harmyk, to compete with inexperienced returnees Jeremy Isabelle and Brandon Wells.
Alabama State coaches like what they have seen in redshirt sophomore quarterback Daniel Duhart, but transfers Arsenio Favor (Southern Mississippi) and Sam Gibson (Arkansas State) more resemble former signal-caller Greg Jenkins' dual-threat style.
Prairie View has returning quarterbacks. It's just a matter of whether the starter will be the efficient De'Auntre Smiley or Jerry Lovelocke, a 2011 standout.
Last season, Southern made great strides under interim coach Dawson Odums (who's since been given the full-time job) without much of a running game. Darrius Coleman and redshirt freshman Lenard Tillery will try to settle it.
Sophomore-to-be John Gibbs is the incumbent starting quarterback at Alcorn State, but an incoming freshman, Khaderal Hodges, may challenge him for the spot.
Grambling State needs steadier play out of quarterbacks Frank Rivers and D.J. Williams.
SPRING PRACTICE DATES
Alabama A&M: Feb. 22-March 30
Alabama State: April 2-27
Alcorn State: March 18-April 20
Arkansas-Pine Bluff: April 1-27
Grambling State: April 3-20
Jackson State: March 25-April 13
Mississippi Valley State: March 4-22
Prairie View A&M: March 26-April 20
Southern: Feb. 26-March 23
Texas Southern: No spring practices (NCAA sanctions) | http://www.woai.com/sports/cfootm/story/In-the-FCS-Huddle-SWAC-spring-football-notebook/W0QO_ocemU-squKhAeB6BQ.cspx?rss=1781 | 1,118 |
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Nick Dinsmore, who appeared as the beloved character Eugene for WWE for several years, competed in a dark match prior to Thursday’s live Impact Wrestling broadcast on Spike TV. Under the Nick Dinsmore name, he lost to TNA Wrestling veteran talent Kazarian.
Dinsmore has ties to TNA as he works as a trainer and wrestler for developmental promotion Ohio Valley Wrestling and also appeared as the character “Dr. Nicholas Dinsmore” for their Indian-based satellite promotion Ring Ka King last year.
Dinsmore’s appearance comes days after he “stood up for WWE” in response to negative media portrayals toward the Eugene character and the sports entertainment organization. Darien Times writer Joshua Fisher stated in an editorial last week blistering Linda McMahon’s United States Senate campaign that her job creation method included “making fun of retarded men” during her reign as WWE CEO, which spurred Colin McEnroe of the Hartford Courant to assert in an editorial that the Eugene character was “mentally retarded” and “unmistakably, played for laughs.”
WWE then issued a statement “setting the record straight” regarding its programming and storylines: “It is clear, based on Mr. McEnroe’s latest blog post, that he does not understand WWE’s programming. Like Hollywood movies and Broadway shows, it is an exciting blend of action, characters and fictional storylines of good versus evil that entertains millions weekly. His assertion that the Eugene character was “essentially a comic device” is inaccurate and lacks total perspective.” | http://www.wrestlescoop.com/2012/07/20/eugene-works-tryout-match-after-standing-up-for-wwe/ | 338 |
Impact Results - 1/22/09 - Orlando, FL
Reported by Josh Boutwell
On Friday, January 23, 2009 at 2:14 AM EST
Orlando, Florida (iMAPCT! Zone @ Universal Studios)
January 22, 2009
Commentators: Mike Tenay & Don West
Report by: Josh Boutwell of WrestleView.com
It’s time to cross the line! The show starts with a recap from last week and then Don & Mike hype the rest of the card, but we will start with Alex Shelley’s first X-Division Title defense!TNA X-Division Championship
Fatal Four Way Match
Alex Shelley (c) vs. “The Guru” Sonjay Dutt w/So Cal Val vs. Chris Sabin vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir
Shelley and Sabin actually come out together tonight for this match. One fall to the finish, first man with a pin or submission wins the Title and this week Mike Tenay finally reveals why Shane Sewell is a referee again: he was reinstated by Jim Cornette. Shelley and Sabin start the match off and they pick right up where they left off at Genesis. Shelley with a wristlock but Sabin rolls through and gets one of his own and then Shelley reverses and it’s an armdrag but Sabin reverses it into a rollup for a nearfall. Sabin and Shelley clap at each other but then get attacked from behind by Sonjay and Bashir. They put the boots to the Guns and then take turns hitting chops on Shelley. They double whip Shelley into the ropes and go for a double clothesline but Shelley ducks, put Dutt in a waistlock, and then shoves Dutt into Bashir. The Guns whip Bashir into the ropes and then both hit double leg kicks to take him to his knees and then destroy him with double head kicks! Dutt back in and hits the Guns from behind. Dutt taunts the crowd and then kicks Sabin on the mat. Dutt with an elbow and then charges at Shelly, but Shelley backdrops Sonjay over the top rope onto the apron where Dutt lands on his feet. Shelley then drops down onto all fours and Sabin comes flying with a Dropkick off Shelley’s back onto Sonjay sending him crashing to the floor. Bashir tried to cut Sabin off in midair but he missed him. Shelley then slingshots over the top rope onto the ring apron and then back kicks Dutt in the face and jumps up to the middle rope. Sabin goes for the Suicide Dive through Shelley’s legs but Bashir clotheslines him and Dutt pulls Shelley off the ropes hitting his face on the apron in the process. In the ring Bashir scoop slams Sabin and follows up with an Elbow Drop for a two count. Dutt in now and he snapmares Sabin over and Double Stomps Sabin’s face. Basahir and Dutt whip Sabin into the ropes and then double back elbow him and Shelley tries to get back in the ring but Dutt kicks him in the face. Bashir covers Sabin for a two count and Dutt didn’t like that too much. Dutt chokes Sabin on the ropes and then Bashir does it too. Dutt stands on the back of Shelley’s neck as he is draped over the middle rope throatfirst choking him. Dutt again kicks Shelley as he tries to get back in the ring. Bashir and Dutt take turns punching Sabin but he comes back with shots to both men’s ribs and then forearms and goes for a kick on Bashir, but Bashir catches his leg and spins around where Sabin hits a spinning leg sweep! Dutt with a rollup for a nearfall but Sabin kicks out sending Dutt through the ropes to the floor. In the ring Bashir rolls Sabin up but So Cal Val is distracting Shane Sewell! Finally Sewell turns around and Bashir gets a nearfall. Bashir begins to argue with Sewell again and goes to punch him but Dutt stops him and dropkicks him to the floor. Dutt attempts to whip Sabin into the ropes but he reverses it and Superkick’s Dutt in the gut. Sabin whips Dutt into the ropes and Sabin charges but Dutt escapes it by climbing through the middle rope and then hits the Bombay Boom (seesaw-like Tiger Feint Kick) that causes Sabin to fall throat first onto the middle rope. Dutt then hits his Slingshot Guillotine Leg Drop. Dutt comes off the ropes and charges at Sabin but eats a nasty clothesline that turns Dutt inside out. Bashir comes running in and hits a Running Enziguri on Shelley as Sharmell is shown walking down the ramp. Bashir covers Shelley and gets a nearfall before Sabin breaks it up. Sabin then throws Bashir back to the outside and Sabin goes for a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Dutt but he reverses it into a beautiful tilt-a-whirl Tornado DDT for a nearfall. Dutt slaps Sabin in the face and then hits repeated shoulder blocks. Dutt attempts to whip Sabin into the corner but he reverses it and charges it and eats a boot from Dutt. Dutt climbs to the top and goes for a Flying Hurricanrana but Sabin blocks it and Shelley runs in and hits a basement dropkick. Sabin then transitions Dutt into the Cradle Shock, but Bashir pulls him out of the ring allowing Shelley to roll Dutt up in a modified Magistral Cradle for the pin to retain his title!Winner & STILL X-Division Champ: Alex Shelley via pinfall (rollup)
After the match Sharmell tells Shane Sewell that Booker wants to see him in his locker room right now and then we see Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, and Sting on their way out of their locker room.
Back from commercials Booker T. tells Sewell to have a seat. Booker isn’t playing tonight, no King accent. Booker tells Sewell to relax and he tells Sewell that around here they do things different than they do them in Puerto Rico. Booker says that Sewell did something out of order, he put his hands on the Legends Champion. Booker says that’s grounds for a ass whooping but Sharmell stops him and he says he wants to talk business with Sewell. Booker says he is going to give Sewell a pass but only if Sewel l makes sure that tonight Booker and Steiner have Petey all alone in their Elimination Match. Booker even says that Sewell could be the Mafia’s car washer and asks Sewell if they have an understanding but he just walks out.
Main Event Mafia members Kurt Angle, Scott Steiner, & Sting make their way down to the ring none looking too happy. Kurt says that last week things didn’t work out exactly like they had planned. Angle says that Team 3D is in Japan and Mick Foley is in Europe promoting TNA so they will get theirs next week. Tonight Petey Williams and AJ Styles will get it. Kurt says that they underestimated Petey Williams and they thought he was dead and buried. Kurt says that TNA isn’t Ozz and munchkins don’t run around there and calls TNA the house that Main Event Mafia built. Kurt talks about the Elimination Tag Match between Steiner & Booker against Eric Young and Petey Williams. Kurt says that after that match the only ones left in the ring will be Petey Williams and the Main Event Mafia and then tells Petey to have a nice day and smiles at the camera. Kurt says that AJ was part of the reason he was put through a table last week and the fans cheer which doesn’t make Kurt happy. Kurt tells AJ that payback is a b*tch and he is going to whoop AJ’s ass tonight and put him through a table, but afterward they are going to put AJ out permanently. Kurt asks who died and made 3D bookers because they can’t go around making matches. Kurt says that they can take their challenges for Against All Odds and stick them up their ‘fat asses.’ Sting calls Angle “Mr. Godfather” and says that he can speak for himself. Sting says that no one will tell him who can and cannot wrestle and then Sting says something in Kurt’s ear as Jim Cornette walks out to the ring. Jim says that Kurt is right that 3D can’t book matches in TNA, but he does. He says it won’t be Sting vs. Brother Ray or Angle vs. Devon. It will be a Fatal Four Way with Sting defending against Brother Ray, Brother Devon, and Kurt Angle with the first man with the pinfall being the World Champion! Cornette talks about how the best way to win a four way is to team up and take out their opponents and they know that 3D can work together, but the question is can Angle and Sting. Cornette says that at Against All Odds they may be a “death in the family” and both Sting and Kurt do not look pleased about this.
Back from commercial they show a video package of the history between Petey Williams and Scott Steiner.
In the back Lauren is with Petey. Petey is serious and he says that the thing between the Main Event Mafia and the Front Line, it’s personal between them. He says that he knows Scotty’s past about how he bullies everybody from the production crew to Ric Flair but he tells Scott to try and bully him around. Petey says that Scott needs to worry about tonight because if he has one foot in yesterday and one foot in tomorrow then he’s pissing all over today. Petey then calls Scott a ‘little bitch’ and walks away.
Mike and Don are talking ‘via satellite’ from Tokyo, Japan with Team 3D who are flaunting their new IWGP Tag Team Championships. Tenay talks about how there has only been one other American tag team to hold those titles and Devon says that those belts prove that they are the greatest Tag Team in history. Ray says that winning the IWGP Tag Titles in Tokyo is like winning any Tag Titles in Madison Square Garden back in America. West talks about the Fatal Four Way just made but Ray and Devon look surprised. Ray says that if he has to go through Kurt Angle and his brother to get to Sting then he’ll do it. Ray says that it won’t be the first time they’ve fought and Devon says it won’t be the last. Tenay asks Ray who is going to win the Title at AAO but as he starts to answer they ‘lose’ the audio feed. Tenay apologizes and they go to commercials.
Back from commercial JB is with the Main Event Mafia minus Kurt Angle. JB asks Sting about what happened between he and Kurt tonight. Sting says that they haven’t forgotten what this war is about and tells Booker to tell him and Booker responds with, “RESPECT!” Sting says that JB is disrespecting them by trying to stir things up and says Kurt is his brother. Sting says that will stay the course because they haven’t forgotten what this about. Sting tells 3D to keep that in mind because there is enough respect to go around for everybody and then leaves. Steiner starts rambling about being unstoppable and then calls Steiner Make Believe Muscle and he says Petey will pay tonight and he won’t be responsible for what he does tonight. Booker then says respect again and walks out.TNA Rough Cut w/ Sojournor Bolt
Sojourner and Terry Taylor talks about her being a part of Kong’s open Challenge back at Slammiversary (then known as Josie I believe) and how that got everyone’s attention. Bolt says that she is 100% the real deal and talks about having blonde hair and fake nails but when she punches you in the face that’s real. JB says that Bolt gained Kong’s respect and she says that if you want it you have to work for it and if you want to be on top you have to meet her in the ring.Sojournor Bolt vs. ODB
Tenay says that ODB will challenge Kong for the Knockouts Title at Against All Odds and Sojo attacks ODB before the bell and puts the boots to her. Sojo works on ODB’s knee and goes for a clothesline in the corner but ODB moves and hits chops. Sojo comes back with a leg kick to ODB’s knee again and follows up with a clothesline for a 2 count. ODB is selling the knee and Sojo hits a snapmare followed by a Basement Dropkick. Sojo climbs to the top goes for a Big Splash but ODB moves. ODB with forearms and a clothesline. ODB with a back elbow and another clothesline and then whips her into the ropes and hits her with a Hotshot. Sojo tries to bail out to the floor but ODB stops and hits a Thesz Press when Kong runs into the ring and kicks ODB in the head.Winner: ODB via DQ
Kong nails ODB with the Implant Buster as Rhaka Khan and Raisha Saeed come out to, but then Roxxi and Taylor Wilde run out with weapons and the Kongtorouge bail. Tenay puts over how ODB will have to work against Kong with an injured knee now.
In the back Lauren is with the fake Sarah Palin aka Daffney. She is still doing the accent but then stops and laughs about how fun it was to make fools out of them when The Beautiful People come up and beat the hell out of her. Angelina throws Daffney into a case and then Velvet Sky hits her with a 2x4. Angelina and Velvet continue to beat the hell out of her and cuss her out. Angelina chokes her until security runs up and then Kip takes out security and gets Angelina to let go.Tag Team Elimination Match
“Big Poppa Pump” Scott Steiner & Booker T. w/Sharmell vs. “Maple Leaf Muscle” Petey Williams & “Showtime” Eric Young
Booker and EY will start the match off tonight. Booker gets the advantage early with chops and then whips EY into the corner, but he nips up and over a charging Booker. EY with right hands and then attempts to whip Booker into the ropes but Booker reveres it and hits a Running Knee. Booker tags in Steiner and he hits a big Scoop Slam on EY. Steiner throws EY into the corner and chops him followed by a hiptoss and then puts the boots to EY. Steiner throws EY headfirst into the top turnbuckle and then whips EY into the corner but EY nips up and over Steiner and hits an Atomic Drop followed by a running forearm for a nearfall. Steiner hooks EY’s leg and then drags him to his corner and tags Booker back in. Booker puts the boots to EY and hits a big elbow and then goes for a Vertical Suplex but EY blocks it and hits one of his own! EY comes off the ropes but Booker hits a back elbow. EY comes back with right hands but Steiner hits him from behind to stop that momentum. Booker hits the Axe Kick on EY out of nowhere and gets the pin to eliminate EY. That was mighty quick and now we go to commercials.
Back from commercials Steiner is putting the boots to Petey and they show the beatdown that MEM put on Petey during the break. Steiner Scoop Slams Petey and then taunts him and spits on him. Steiner throws Petey over the top rope but he hangs on and skins the cat back into the ring. Petey with right hands on Steiner and then whips Steiner into the ropes but Steiner holds on. Petey charges and Steiner backdrops him over the top and Petey lands on the ring apron. Petey with a shoulder block through the ropes and hits the Slingshot Facebreaker (Codebreaker). Petey with rights and lefts and starts pummeling the hell out of Scott and forces Scotty to bail to the outside. Scott asks for a timeout but doesn’t get one and Scott tags out to Booker. Booker with nasty knee strikes to Petey repeatedly and they really did look good. Booker with a nasty chop and then whips Petey into the ropes and goes for the Harlem Sidekick, but Petey ducks and hits a dropkick for a nearfall. Booker picks Petey up with pure strength and hits a nasty Spinebuster for a nearfall as he pulls Petey’s head up at two. Steiner tagged back in and he puts the boots to Petey again. Steiner goes for a scoop slam but Petey reverses it and hits a Jawbreaker followed by a drop toe hold that sends Steiner throatfirst onto the middle rope. Petey then follows up with a Hesitation Dropkick to the back of Steiner’s head! Petey with a running forearm in the corner and then attempts to whip Steiner into the opposite corner but he reverses it. Steiner charges at Petey but he gets a boot up and climbs to the top. Petey hits a Tornado DDT from the top for a close nearfall. Petey sets up for the Canadian Destroyer but Booker flies in with the Superkick at out of nowhere. Steiner picks Petey up and places him on the top rope and hits a Fallaway Slam off the top for another nearfall as he picks Petey’s head up again at two. Booker tagged back in and hits the Axe Kick and pulls Petey’s head up at two again. Sewell gets in Booker’s face after that. Booker hits another Axe Kick this time he gets the pin.Winners: Scott Steiner and Booker T. via pinfall (Axe Kick)
After the match Sewell raises Booker and Steiner’s hands but isn’t happy about it and Booker slaps the hell out of Sewell. Sewell hulks up and starts chopping Booker but Steiner hits him from behind. Steiner lays the knees into Sewell and Booker hits the Book End on him that was stiff as hell. Booker continues the beatdown on Sewell as Earl Hebner begs for them to tstop and even Sharmell and Steiner try to get Booker to stop. Tenay points out the irony of Steiner trying to calm someone down.
Back from commercials they show a video package highlighting Matt Morgan and Abyss’s history.
Morgan makes his way out to the ring followed by Abyss where Lauren is waiting for them. Lauren talks to them about their brawl last week and Morgan says that it’s not a secret that he has a temper. Morgan talks about losing an NFL contract, an NBA contract, and a wrestling contract because of his attitude and more importantly he may have lost his best friend due to his attitude. Morgan says that he owes Abyss an apology and that it’s his fault. Morgan calls Abyss “Abbie” and he says that he believes that they will become the Tag Team Champions and that tonight they’ll just settle for Beer Money’s blood. Abyss accepts Morgan’s apology and they hug. Abyss says that he has a bad problem with his temper too and that’s why he goes to therapy. Abyss says that they should go to therapy together and Morgan agrees. Abyss says now he has his best friend back and his girlfriend (Lauren) with him. Abyss then picks her up and hugs and tosses her around like a ragdoll with Don West saying the line of the night: “Easy, Abyss, don’t Black Hole Slam her.” Oh I think I took that line dirtier than it was meant to be.First Blood Match
Beer Money Inc. w/Jacqueline vs. “The Monster” Abyss & “The Blueprint” Matt Morgan
Man, I can’t wait to see James Storm drive his motorized cooler down the ramp at a New Japan Show next month. Classic stuff right there. Beer Money & The Monster Blueprint don’t waste anytime as they start brawling on the ramp. Abyss throws Roode into the guard rail and then throws storm against the ring apron. Abyss throws Roode head first into the steel steps and Morgan is beating down Storm in the crowd. Morgan whips Storm into a wall and then Morgan goes for the Carbon Footprint but Storm ducks and Morgan kicks the wall. Storm climbs up and dives off the wall onto Morgan! Storm charges Morgan but he throws Storm over the guardrail as Roode is beating Abyss down the stairs and then Abyss whips Roode into the guard rail. Morgan with a knee strike on Storm and Roode throws Abyss head first into the ring apron. Morgan with a Big Boot on Storm and now Roode grabs a chair and follows Abyss into the ring. Roode attempts to hit Abyss with the chair but Abyss punches it into Roode’s face! On the outside Morgan whips Storm into the guardrail again as Abyss sets up a chair in the corner. Abyss goes for a Corner Splash but Roode gets his boot up and then hits the Blockbuster off the middle rope. Roode follows up with stiff punches to the face. Roode chops Abyss and then tries to throw Abyss into the chair but Abyss reverses it and Roode attempts to nip up and over Abyss, but Abyss stopped and kicks Roode in the nuts. Abyss then throws Roode headfirst into the chair but he isn’t busted open. Morgan and Storm are finally in the ring and Morgan is just destroying Storm with back elbow after back elbow in the corner. Storm pokes Morgan in the eye as Roode whips Abyss into the guardrail on the outside. Storm attempts to whip Morgan into the ropes but Morgan reverses it and goes for a clothesline, but Storm ducks and goes for a Flying Cross Body. Morgan catches him in midair and hits and goes for a Fall Away Slam but Roode runs in and hits Morgan with TNA Tag Title belt. Morgan still isn’t busted open and Abyss double clotheslines Beer Money. Abyss goes for a Running Corner Splash but Storm moves and charges in on Abyss, but Abyss backdrops Storm over the top and he lands on his feet on the apron. Storm with a nasty Enziguri to the back of the head from the ring apron! Storm goes for the Last Call but he blocks it and then Chokeslams Storm! Abyss goes to the crowd and grabs a chair but Roode comes from behind and chop blocks Abyss’s knee. Beer Money pick Abyss up and hit the Beer Money Double Suplex. Roode picks up the chair but Morgan comes from behind and swings at Roode but he ducks and then swings at Storm and he ducks. Morgan then fakes like he is going to hit Storm and then Roode but turns around and absolutely blasts Abyss with the chair. Roode and Storm can’t believe it and Abyss is busted wide open. Heel turn complete.Winners: Beer Money via Abyss bleeding
After the match Morgan starts the beatdown on Abyss and is kicking him in the face and hitting him stiff right hands. Security tries to come in but Morgan kicks them out. They show a closeup of Abyss’s face and that cut is nasty. He is bleeding like a stuffed pig at this point. Matt Morgan screams at Abyss saying that he did this and then nails Abyss with the chair again.
Back from commercial they show a replay of what just happened and we cut to the back where Abyss is going psycho and throwing people and stuff around. He even goes crazy on the cameraman. Finally, the monster is back!
They show a video package highlighting the long history between AJ and Kurt. In the back JB is with Kurt Angle. Kurt says that he has given AJ way too many chances and that there were many times he could’ve ended AJ’s careers but didn’t. He says not to forget what he did to Kurt’s marriage and that AJ took everything away from him and tonight he will take away AJ’s livelihood. JB asks Kurt about what happened between him and Sting tonight but he just stares at JB.
---COMMERCIAL BREAK---Tables Match
“Olympic Gold Medalist” Kurt Angle vs. “The Phenomenal” AJ Styles
For the 2 people out there that doesn’t know what a Tables Match is, to win you have to put your opponent through a table. Pretty simple. Nice sign in the crowd that says “on the 8th day, God created AJ STYLES!” in which AJ nodded at and said that’s right. They lockup and Kurt gets the advantage with a wristlock but AJ rolls through and reverses into one of his own. Kurt quickly gets to the ropes to break the hold. They lockup again and Kurt hits a side headlock takeover into a headlock. AJ fights to his feet and then pushes Kurt into the ropes and leapfrogs over him followed by that beautiful Phenomenal Dropkick! Kurt bails to the outside and shakes the cobwebs before climbing back in the ring. They lockup again and Kurt picks AJ up and puts him on the top rope. From there AJ hits a modified hurricanrana taking Kurt over the top rope! AJ hits a running Flying Forearm off the apron onto Kurt on the concrete! AJ sets up a table and as he went to grab Kurt he quickly squirmed his way into the ring to get away from AJ.
Back from commercials Angle snaps AJ over with a Snap Suplex. AJ fights back with right hands and comes off the ropes but Kurt catches him with a beautiful belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Kurt climbs out of the ring and slides the table into the ring. AJ fights back with chops and a stiff right hand. Kurt with a boot to AJ’s gut and then slams AJ headfirst onto the table. Kurt grabs AJ and puts him in a headlock and they show a closeup of AJ’s face turning red. AJ fights out with back elbows and a big chop and comes off the ropes but Kurt nails him with a big Knee Lift. Kurt grabs the table and sets it up in the ring. Kurt hits AJ with a big European Upercutt and then sits him on the top rope but AJ hits him with right hands and climbs down. Kurt grabs AJ and attempts to German Suplex AJ into the corner but AJ grabs the table to block it and then hits a big back elbow followed by a right hand and now they start exchanging right hands. Kurt goes for a clothesline but AJ ducks and then crotches Angle on the table that AJ had knocked over when he blocked the German Suplex. AJ with 2 clotheslines on Angle and then a Flying Forearm on Kurt in the corner. AJ with a scoop slap and then hits a Running Knee Drop! AJ grabs Kurt but Angle catches him with a nasty European Uppercut out of nowhere that sends AJ through the ropes onto the ring apron. Kurt walks over and tries to grab AJ but AJ hits him with a shoulder block and then hits the Springboard Flying Forearm off the top! AJ sets Kurt up for the Styles Clash after he set up the table but Kurt reverses it and attempts to Spinebuster AJ through the table, but AJ sunset flips over the back of Angle. Angle rolls through the sunset flip and puts AJ in the Ankle Lock! AJ fights out by kicking Kurt off and then Kurt goes for a clothesline, but AJ ducks and hits the Pele out of nowhere! AJ lays Kurt on top of the table and climbs to the top rope, but Kurt springs up and goes for the Belly-to-Belly off the top! AJ blocks it and knocks Kurt off the top again and Kurt is laid out on top of the table again. AJ goes for Flying Splash off the top but Kurt moves and AJ tries to stop in midair but hits his head on the edge of the table! Kurt picks AJ up and puts AJ through the table with the Angle Slam!Winner: Kurt Angle via putting AJ through the table (Angle Slam)
They show several replays of the match and then Kurt is shown stomping on AJ’s ankle. Kurt grabs a steel chair and then places AJ’s ankle in the chair and stomps on it repeatedly! Kurt then grabs AJ’s ankle and puts him in the Ankle Lock. Kurt finally stops but then comes to the announce table and gets in their face. Kurt asks them if they think he’s going to hit them. Kurt says that tonight is the beginging of the end of TNA and next week they are going to take everybody out Main Event Mafia style! Kurt gets on top of the announce table and screams “Look Ma, I’m on top of the world” James Cagney style to end the show.
I thought tonight was all about setting up everything for Against All Odds and did a decent job in that. The matches were fun for the most part but some were too short. I thought it was an okay show this week.
The opening X-Division Four Way was decent but way too short (under 5 minutes) but all 4 worked hard. I didn't like how Sharmell came out during the match taking away from what was going on in the ring, though. Shelley is going to be a good Champion but I want to know where they are going with the Guns. I still think that Bashir and Dutt would make a great tag team as the Middle Eastern Nightmares.
I don't really care for the Booker T./Shane Sewell angle but I'm loving that Booker has gone back to the ghetto-accent and dropped the stupid King one.
The Main Event Mafia promo was okay thought I thought the friction between Kurt and Sting was set up nicely and everyone saw that coming eventually. Let's just see where they go with it. The Fatal Four Way Main Event announced for AAO is so much better than Devon vs. Kurt and Sting vs. Ray singles matches it's not even funny.
The 3D "interview from Japan" was a little much. It was kind of corny with the Japanese flag in the background but I did love how they put over them winning the IWGP titles. I didn't really get the "audio trouble" they had abruptly ending the interview.
Sting's promo in the back was great and he should do all his promos like that.
Bolt vs. ODB was nothing special at all and it was obvious they were just doing it as setup for the injury to ODB going into the match against Kong. That should be an interesting match though given Kong's legit knee and back injuries and now ODB probably selling a knee injury.
The Beautiful People beat down on Daffney was great and a better payoff of that angle than the stupid stuff they did last week. Angelina looked insane during the whole thing.
The Tag Team Elimination Match was just not done very well. It was an okay match itself but they really buried Petey and EY in the match, in my opinion. They really buried EY by having him eliminated within minutes. Then, they put over that Petey wouldn't give up but then had him destroyed by Steiner and Booker. Hopefully Petey gets put over Scotty in the end because that would be big for him in my opinion.
Oh, man was that Matt Morgan interview just great. It just felt way too corny to be the end of it and that paid off. The First Blood Match was really good, with action all over the place but the Morgan turn was great. He killed Abyss with that first chair shot and now we finally have the monser back, hopefully to stay. Morgan vs. Abyss should be a bloody feud.
The Main Event was very solid as AJ and Kurt ALWAYS work well together and this match was completely different than any other match they've had. I really hope they dont sell AJ as hurt for several weeks like they did with Ray and Joe. AAO probably wont have Joe already, they can't have AJ off the show too. Angle's promo after the match was golden. That guy really looks like he has absolutely lost it at this point and that are putting that over nicely. The on top of the world reference was nice too.
- Match of the Night:
AJ Styles vs. Kurt Angle (***)
- Segment/Promo of the Night:
Angle's post match promo
- Overall Grade:
B-Scheduled for Next Week:
- Nothing announced so farAgainst All Odds Lineup so far:
- TNA World Title Fatal Four Way: Sting (c) vs. Kurt Angle vs. Brother Ray vs. Brother Devon
- TNA Knockouts Title: Awesome Kong (c) vs. ODB
- TNA Tag Titles: Beer Money (c) vs. Lethal Consequences | http://www.wrestleview.com/news2009/1232694889.php | 7,027 |
A fumble on the goal line. An interception returned for a touchdown. A missed game-winning field goal in the closing seconds. Most view these as just part of the game of football. But could these things actually be the work of God?
Well, according to a new poll, 27% of Americans believe that God "plays a role in determining which team wins" sporting events. That means about 80 million Americans believe that God will help one of the teams in this Sunday's Super Bowl.
If God influences which teams win championships, it's clear that God likes certain teams more than others. And God's favorite -- and I know many will hate to hear this -- is clearly the New York Yankees. The Bronx Bombers have won 27 world championships, far and away the most championships of any American professional sports team.
Other teams high up there on God's fantasy sports team include the Boston Celtics with 17 NBA championships, the Pittsburgh Steelers with six Super Bowl wins and the Detroit Red Wings with 11 Stanley Cup titles.
And if God's affection for your team translates into more championships, then God really hates the Chicago Cubs. OK, maybe "hate" is too harsh, but there must be a reason the Cubs haven't won a championship in more than 100 years. What did the team do to deserve this much pain?
Even the Cubs crosstown rivals, the Chicago White Sox, won a World Series in 2005. And keep in mind that organization was involved in the infamous "Black Sox" scandal, in which some of its players took bribes in exchange for intentionally losing the 1919 World Series.
But despite the Cubs' horrible history, a special place must be reserved in God's doghouse for the NFL's Buffalo Bills. Not only haven't the Bills won a Super Bowl in 46 years, they made it to the Super Bowl four years in a row, from 1991-1994, and lost every time.
The most painful loss was in 1991, when the Bills' kicker missed a game-winning field goal in the closing seconds, resulting in a one-point victory for the New York Giants. (Being a Giants fan, I was praying for the kicker to miss, so maybe God was involved on some level.)
Of course, if God is helping teams win, how do you explain the success of teams with names like the New Jersey Devils or Duke Blue Devils? The New Jersey Devils have three Stanley Cup Championships and the Duke Blue Devils are consistently a powerhouse in NCAA men's basketball, winning their last national championship in 2010. Perhaps God has some evil competition in the area of sports?
In any event, let's turn to Sunday's Super Bowl. Are there any signs that might indicate which team God may support in the match between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers? | http://www.wtae.com/news/national/Obeidallah-Who-will-God-pick-in-Super-Bowl/-/9681152/18369324/-/qtnl4a/-/index.html | 567 |
Ivanovic Survives, Kirilenko Conquered
Published Feburary 09, 2011 07:31
PATTAYA CITY, Thailand - The PTT Pattaya Open experienced its first significant upset of the week Wednesday when qualifier Galina Voskoboeva staged a remarkable comeback against No.3 seed Maria Kirilenko.
A right shoulder injury that sidelined her from after last year's French Open until the start of this year resulted in Voskoboeva being the lowest-ranked player in the Pattaya draw at No.560. In fact, this is her first WTA event since that first round loss at Roland Garros.
However, now after winning two qualifying matches here, then a tight three-setter over Romina Oprandi in her main draw opener and then a 16 75 64 defeat of the 25th-ranked Kirilenko in the second round, Voskoboeva has matched her career best results, quarterfinal showings at Québec City in 2008 and Warsaw in 2009. Wednesday's win was the WTA's biggest upset in terms of ranking differential since unranked Aiko Nakamura beat No.154 Alexandra Panova at Osaka last October.
Voskoboeva worked especially hard for this one, as she was down 61 52 and had three match points against her with the Russian serving at 5-4, 40-0 in the second set before the Kazakh rallied. Voskoboeva was also down 3-1 in the third set when she staged another comeback. Her only victory over a higher-ranked player in her career than Kirilenko came against 24th-ranked Anna Chakvetadze in the first round of New Haven in 2006.
"Jill is a tough opponent," Ivanovic said. "I lost such a close match at the Australian Open, so today was very tough, especially mentally in the end. I'm happy I was able to win this one."
Ivanovic lost a tight three-setter in her opener in Melbourne to Ekaterina Makarova on the heels of pulling out of Sydney with an abdominal injury.
"It's getting better now," she said. "I still receive treatment for it, but I'm not suffering from it anymore."
Ivanovic, who next takes on fifth-seeded Roberta Vinci, is playing in Pattaya City for the first time.
"I like the tournament and the city," she said. "The people are all friendly to me and I feel very welcome here. It is a very warm feeling. I like it." | http://www.wtatennis.com/news/article/2289514/title/ivanovic-survives-kirilenko-conquered | 530 |
The MRI of Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III's right knee suggests partial tears of his ACL and LCL, the Washington Post is reporting.
The Post cited several people with knowledge of the results.
Washington coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that Griffin will be examined Tuesday by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews to see if these are new or previous injuries.
"I'm saying right now, I really don't know," Shanahan said. "Dr. Andrews is going to take a look at Robert. A lot of times, you look at an MRI ... In my understanding, when you have an ACL injury, an LCL injury, you've had former injuries, they want to take another look -- another physical exam to make sure they're not looking at old injuries on the MRI."
The MRI was taken after Griffin's knee buckled in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 24-14 playoff loss to Seattle. Shanahan has taken a lot of criticism for leaving a gimpy Griffin in the game.
Andrews told USA Today before the game that he was "scared to death" over Griffin playing with an injured knee and a brace.
If the partial ligament tears are new injuries, the Post reported, it's unclear if surgery will be needed.
Griffin has returned from a major knee injury before -- a torn ACL he suffered in 2009 at Baylor. | http://www.wtsp.com/sports/article/290900/4/Report--Robert-Griffin-III-has-partially-torn-ligaments | 275 |
(WUSA) -- Next Thursday, golfers will tee of in the AT&T National's return to Congressional Country Club. Yesterday, the field was announced for this year's tournament.
Tiger Woods makes his return to his tournament after not playing in it last year. The former number one ranked golfer in the world won his own tournament three years ago, when it was last held at Congressional.
Hunter Mahan joins Tiger Woods as the only golfers ranked in the top 10 to participate in the AT&T National. The two are also the only golfers in the field with multiple wins on tour in 2012. Mahan has finished no lower than 12th in the AT&T National when it's been played at Congressional, including a second place finish to Woods in 2009.
Jim Furyk also will be a part of the AT&T National field. For Furyk, the tournament represents his first action on tour since the U.S. Open. The 42-year old was tied for the lead at Olympic Golf Club after the second and third rounds, only to falter in the final round before finishing tied for fourth.
Nick Watney will attempt to become the first golfer to win the AT&T National in back-to-back years. Watney won at Aronimink Golf Club last year by two strokes over fellow 2012 participant, and 2007 winner, K.J. Choi.
In addition to some of the more established names on tour participating in the AT&T National, youth also will be served.
The tournament will be just the second one for Patrick Cantlay as a pro. Cantlay turned pro this week following the U.S. Open. He is currently competing in the Traveler's Championship.
The AT&T National will mark the first tournament since the U.S. Open for 17-year old Beau Hossler. Hossler is coming off an impressive performance in San Francisco. The rising high school senior finished tied for 29th, and briefly led the U.S. Open during the second round.
Listed below is the entire field for the AT&T National, and the alternates.
Our live coverage from Congressional Country Club begins Monday. We will have a special Clubhouse Report following our 11pm newscast Wednesday-Friday of next week.
2012 AT&T National Field
**Notah Begay III
** Patrick Cantlay
Brendon de Jonge
Charles Howell III
**Billy Hurley III
Davis Love III
Tom Pernice Jr.
Bo Van Pelt
Carballo, Miguel Angel | http://www.wusa9.com/news/article/209903/25/ATT-National-Field-Set | 534 |
Indeed, it has been a draining year for the Wildcats and it has only gotten worse recently with leading-scorer Laine Roberts being lost for the year with an injured knee.
On Monday, that gutty Wildcats got a good look at one of the state's best and Winfield did not disappoint.
Jayne Lawman registered a hat trick and added an assist while Emily Cole scored twice. Braiden Maddox found the back of the net once and Katie Bryant recorded two assists, rounding out a dominating team effort that kept coming in waves as Hoff substituted often and sometimes up to five players at a time.
The Generals (9-0-1) are ranked No. 3 in this week's Class AAA poll and were fresh off a 1-1 draw against No. 1 Morgantown on Saturday.
Now, staring straight ahead at a Putnam County showdown with No. 2 Hurricane on Saturday, Hoff said he is fairly happy with his team thus far.
"Nitro has good athletes, they field a good team, and to be able to take control - the girls did that and they did a good job," Hoff said. "We're moving right along. We're nowhere near where we need to be yet but we keep edging that way. We've just got to get a little bit better every time we take the field. We're looking forward to this weekend, that's for sure."
Reach Ryan Pritt at 304-348-7948, [email protected], or follow him at twitter.com/RPritt. | http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/PrepSports/201209170271?page=2&build=cache | 329 |
With only two more practices remaining before Saturday's spring-ending Gold-Blue scrimmage, the workload on both Alston and Buie might be reduced.
Again, with only two healthy tailbacks - Garrison is expected to return for fall camp - why beat up the ones who are relatively healthy?
Fullback is another matter. Not only is Clarke the only experienced player at the position, he's been hurt and may not play at all in the Gold-Blue game.
"Unfortunately, he got his ankle hurt last week, but I think we saw enough of what he can do,'' Gillespie said. "He definitely got better this spring. Hopefully, he can get better and participate in the spring game, but if not he definitely made strides and will continue to get better. His fundamentals are very good and he's had a phenomenal spring so far.''
With Clarke sidelined, Miles has gotten a chance at some practical experience at his new position. He wasn't likely to play much as a linebacker after four years of trying, but now he's on a very short list of fullbacks.
"Donovan has done a really good job. He's a very unselfish player and an older guy,'' Gillespie said. "He just wanted to get on the field. It was something that coach [Dana] Holgorsen and the defensive guys tried to figure out - who was a bigger body that they could stand to lose, and right now we have some younger guys at linebacker. Donovan was really willing to come over.
"He's done a really good job, just because he wants to play football. He wants to get on the field and it matters to him. He's done a really good job. I'm glad to have him.''
Reach Dave Hickman at 304-348-1734 or [email protected] or follow him at twitter.com/dphickman1. | http://www.wvgazette.com/Sports/WVU/201204150153?page=2&build=cache | 394 |
Press and Media Center
The Dust Settles After Another Brilliant XTERRA World Championship
THIS WEEK: As the dust settles on another brilliant XTERRA World Championship we bring you the XTERRA Hall of Fame (Kerstin Weule) and XTERRA Warrior (Tae Yoong Kim) award winners that were announced on Saturday in Maui before the race. We also learn more about the age-group XTERRA World Champions, hear about some of the good stuff that happened, check out the videos, and see what’s on TV this weekend.
NOVEMBER TRAIL RUNS:
11/4 – XTERRA Oconee Heritage Park 5k/10k Trail Runs (Farmington, GA)
11/24 – XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot (Topanga, CA)
11/25 – XTERRA Oconee Heritage Park Half-Marathon Trail Run (Farmington, GA)
WEULE IS IN THE HALL: When XTERRA celebrated its 10th year back in 2005 they created the XTERRA Hall of Fame and started a tradition at the Night of Champions dinner in Maui by naming Ned Overend as the inaugural member.
Overend, a.k.a. “Deadly Nedly” and “the Lung”, was at the first-ever XTERRA in ’96 and won back-to-back World Title’s at the ripe young ages of 42 & 43. When he was 50 Ned had the 9th fastest bike split in Maui and race commentators respectfully called him “The Old Man of the Mountain.”
Last year triathlon great Scott Tinley – one of the first and most prominent ambassadors of the sport – was given a spot in the Hall and this year the award went to another blond with blue eyes…
(By Kahuna Dave Nicholas) … If you saw her walking down the street near her home in Evergreen, Colorado, you might think, "Oh, there goes another typical tree hugger Coloradan." Her blond hair would probably be in a braid, skin aglow from spending a little too much time in the mountain sun. She'd most definitely be smiling and her blue eyes would have that telltale glint of adventure. You might event think she was a Heidi poser. But you would be wrong…she is a real Heidi and even having retired in 2002, she could still probably stomp you on the course today.
Kerstin Weule, using equally deadly swim, mountain bike and run speed, won more XTERRA races than anyone, until Jamie Whitmore took on the challenge. She won 19 XTERRA titles, including the US. Pro Series in 1999 and 2000, and the 2000 World Championship. But, that's just one of her claims to fame...it has also been reported she can touch the tip of her nose with her tongue.
Born in Braunlage, Germany in 1966, Weule credits much of her athletic ability to her parents. "Growing up, they used to drag me to the running track twice a week where we would perform all kinds of track and field disciplines. Also, the Germans are very well organized in their "Verein," where you don't just practice one main sport, but lots of other ones too. I think all this early activity probably helped me in my coordination and balance."
Her first foray into real competition started with swimming at age 11. Here, a strict German coach engrained in her the values of hard work, doing long distances and athletic "suffering." By 17, swimming wasn't enough, and she ventured into the original multisport, modern pentathlon, for four years. The triathlon bug finally bit her in 1991, and it forever more shaped her life in large ways.
She moved to the United States (and to Colorado) because she loved the climate. In 1994, she was ranked fourth for US short course triathlons and was the runner-up for "Rookie of the Year." In 1996, her involvement in the sport spurred her to become a naturalized American.
Despite being ranked 17th in the world in 1997, the drafting format simply did not gel with what motivated Weule to do triathlons – competing individually and making her body perform at its highest level. She did not want to tow people around on the bike and turn her sport into a running race -- and she nearly quit the sport. It was at about this same time that she discovered XTERRA.
Weule’s name was synonymous with XTERRA for years. She was 5th at Maui in 1997 after a second in Kirkwood and a third at Big Bear. The winning started in 1998 in Louisiana and she won the next two big races. In her career, Kerstin won at almost every U.S. venue where XTERRA traveled too, including races in the UK and Canada.
Her early battles in 97-98 and 99 with Lorraine Barrow and Jody Purcell were wonderful to watch, but during those years she simply could not get it right at Maui. Neither could one of our best men Michael Tobin. The new millennium was the key for both and Kerstin and Tobin stood on the top as World Champions in 2000.
Weule brought much to XTERRA – an open disposition, the ability to share all that she knew at XTERRA University clinics, a great laugh, her cartwheel at the finish line, and blue painted toenails on race day. Kerstin retired from XTERRA racing in 2003 while still able to podium anywhere. Today she is a practicing massage therapist; she skis in the winter, still runs or bikes every day but hasn’t swum in years. Maybe it was that mean German coach many many years ago. She still lives in Colorado with her husband Robert and the greatest dog ever!
For her early contributions and influence on the sport…XTERRA salutes Kerstin Weule as the 2007 inductee into the XTERRA Hall of Fame.
KIM - AN XTERRA WARRIOR: Who is an XTERRA Warrior? XTERRA has awarded this honor on Brian Medrano who showed unbelievable spirit in coming back from a dreaded illness to show the world he was not going to quit. Willie Stewart overcomes disabilities to beat half the darn field and does it with style and a smile. Doc Mills is simply a spirit that had to be rewarded and has helped more injured XTERRA athletes than anyone can count. Nico Pfitzenmaier has traveled the globe chasing XTERRA’s and bringing the message of his kids in Mozambique through his racing.
This years XTERRA Warrior didn’t fit any of those profiles. He is a man known to many in the XTERRA family by his goofy smile and contagious laughter (that along with his cry of “woooooooooooo” when he crosses the finish line at XTERRA events all over the globe).
Korean by birth, but raised in Japan, his Japanese name is "Yasutaka Okabe". But nobody knows him by that name. Traveling overseas after high school, he met people around the world and found them proud of their heritage and cultural identity. He reflected on this when he returned to Japan and he made the decision to use his given Korean name “Tae Yoong Kim”, a courageous act in light of discrimination against Koreans that is still sometimes part of the Japanese experience.
Our 2007 XTERRA Warrior is a man who makes everyone smile in the only language that counts – friendship – The man known as Kim-San.
Kim came to XTERRA via triathlon, mountain biking, snowboarding, surfing, skateboarding, and a love of all kinds of sports. XTERRA, with its mix of disciplines challenged his spirit and he instantly fell in love with it. Kim pops up at XTERRA races around the world – traveling alone and speaking only a little English. But he is quickly embraced by every local XTERRA family (even though we have no idea what he is saying) and as years go by, more and more of the international athletes welcome him. In addition to his bike, he takes his chopsticks with him everywhere he goes – South Africa, Italy, France, Saipan, Maui. He says it saves trees as he uses only one pair…but it also is a great conversation starter.
So is Kim an international playboy – a man of mystery? Not really. We have often wondered what he does for a living – as he spends a lot of time and money traveling the world to race XTERRA.
However what you see is not always what is - Kim is a plumber…and works endlessly when he’s at home so he can take time off to travel and race. XTERRA satisfies his love of a challenge and he has made hundreds of friends around the world.
In recognition of this global traveler – our 2007 XTERRA Warrior award recipient is Kim Wooooooooooooo!
THE AMATEUR CHAMPS: Conrad Stoltz and Julie Dibens grabbed the headlines for winning the pro divisions of the XTERRA World Championship on Sunday, but there were also 22 amateur athletes that won world titles. The U.S. boasted the most champs with 10 (3 California and Colorado, 2 Nevada, and one each from New Mexico and Illinois) while New Zealand, France, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic each had two, and Costa Rica and Morocco had one.
Here’s more on this year’s age group XTERRA World Champions:
15-19 Martin Jiskra (Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic) 3:05:01 – The 19-year-old qualified for Maui by winning his age group at XTERRA Austria and this was just his second-ever XTERRA race. Jiskra came out of the water 114th but moved way up after top 50 times in the bike and run. He was 48th overall and 13th amateur, and his nearest competitor, Carl Jones, finished 8 minutes back.
20-24 Nicolas Fernandez (Pelissannee, France) 3:01:14 – First time in Maui, and just his second-ever XTERRA (he also raced in France this year), Nicolas was 47th out of the water and had the 30th-best bike. “Maui is very beautiful,” he said after the race. He was the 7th overall amateur and finished 13 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.
25-29 Lars Fricke (Apolda, Germany) 3:00:01 – Fricke, who won his age group at the XTERRA European Championship race in Italy and finished 2nd overall in the Euro Tour standings, edged out Graham Wadsworth from the United Kingdom by 25 seconds to become an XTERRA World Champ. His day started brilliantly as he was the second amateur out of the water (20th overall). Fricke was 4th overall amateur; just three seconds behind former amateur champ Cal Zaryski from Canada.
30-34 Alexander Eiler (Kailua, Hawaii via Austria) 2:57:37 – The 31-year-old former world cup mountain biker from Austria, who moved to Kailua, Oahu four months ago, had the 9th best bike time and was the first amateur across the finish line. He finished 26th overall and ahead of 25 male pros despite coming out of the water in 186th place.
"This was my third triathlon ever and only my second XTERRA race,” said Eiler, who won the XTERRA Mountainman points series race held at Kualoa Ranch back in August. "I was a little bit unsatisfied with my swim, but I'm really satisfied with my bike and my run. The last two miles when I got my cramps and had to jump over all the roots in Spooky Forest – it was really tough for me. Overall XTERRA is a really nice, really fun competition; I'm thrilled to come in as the first amateur."
35-39 Laurent Beuzeboc (Saint Bonnet, France) 2:58:04 – His first-time to Maui and on his honeymoon, Beuzeboc ran like a man determined to get back to his wife at the pool. He had the fastest run of all age groupers (8th best overall) and missed beating Eiler for the overall amateur crown by just 30 seconds.
“Last year I did Ironman in Kona and this year I chose to do XTERRA,” said Beuzeboc. “Next year I will do the XTERRA European Tour, plus Japan, and I will come back to Maui. The hardest part for me was the swim because I’m not a swimmer.” Beuzeboc was 99th out of the water, and one of only three amateurs to break the 3-hour mark (also Eiler and Zaryski, 2:59:58).
40-44 Ulrich Katzer (Anger, Austria) 3:02:02 – For Katzer, the fourth time is a charm. “For two years I was second and last year I was third and this year, I win!”
Winning has been the norm for the 40-year-old this year as he won XTERRA Italy, XTERRA Austria, and the XTERRA European Tour in the 40-44 division.
“It was too hot for me this year, in Austria we had 0 degrees today, but when I win it’s all ok,” said Katzer, who finished nine minutes in front of his nearest competitor in the deepest age group (57 guys) there is. “The XTERRA experience is great – and here in Maui it’s the best experience of all over the world.”
45-49 Tom Lyons (Reno, Nevada) 3:09:01 – There’s been no better age grouper in the world over the last six years than Tom Lyons. As proof, he’s won the last six XTERRA World Titles (joining Wendy Minor as the only amateurs to win 6) and XTERRA USA Championships. He’s also the only 7-time XTERRA Regional Champ.
“Today I felt I earned it because I went really hard, as hard as I could,” said Lyons after the race. “You know we’re here to have a great time and finish that’s what I love about it. It just seems like the whole group of people are just cool because of the way XTERRA has a family atmosphere. To me XTERRA is family, it really is.”
Former 45-49 XTERRA World Champ Casey Fannin finished just over two minutes back in 2nd place.
50-54 Tom Monica (Walnut Creek, CA) 3:25:19 – In this, his third trip to Maui, the 50-year-old finished the swim faster than some of the pros and was in 41st place coming out of the water.
“I didn’t think it was possible to win here, I’m really very, very psyched. I crashed a couple of times on the bike, and my gears weren’t working and the run I just felt awful,” laughed Monica, who also won the XTERRA USA Championship title this year. “I love XTERRA. I used to do road tri’s and ever since I did an XTERRA I haven’t done a road tri since. XTERRA’s are much harder and tougher.”
55-59 James Lewis (Broomfield, CO) 3:45:39 – The 55-year-old from Broomfield had the fastest bike split in his age group and finished 12 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor for his first XTERRA World Championship crown.
60-64 Kent Robison (Reno, NV) 3:43:37 – Just call him a champ. Kent Robison won the XTERRA USA Championship on Sept. 30, the Ironman World Championship on Oct. 13, and the XTERRA World Title on Oct. 28. It’s the 5th time Robison has won in Maui, and he would have won in the 55-59 age group too.
65+ Art Gardenswartz (Albuquerque, NM) 4:27:07 – The 65-year-old finished 40 minutes in front of his nearest competition in just his second-ever XTERRA (he qualified at the XTERRA Mountain Champs in Utah. “I really enjoyed it, it was a good race today. I’m kind of a slow swimmer, so the swim was a little bit of a struggle but other than that it went fine. I took it easy on the bike, took my time and didn’t over do it. Saved it for the run, and had a pretty good run so it feels great. This feels like family, so I’ll have to do another few!”
Physically Challenged Division Fouad “Ed” Fattoumy (Honolulu, HI via Morocco) 3:46:33 – Fattoumy, 42, won the physically challenged division for the third year in a row. The Honolulu resident, originally from Morocco, is an inspiration to all. After surviving a hit and run that among other ailments gives him muscle spasms, chronic fatigue and pain – he is able to compete as a champion. At the awards dinner, he presented his first place medal to Blair Barklow, who devoid of knowing Fattoumy personally, heard of his tale and offered to fund his race fees.
15-19 Monique Avery (Rotorua, New Zealand) 3:56:35 – Not too many 18-year-olds are physically ready to handle this course, but Monique was. She finished 17 minutes in front of last year’s 15-19 champ Valeria Curridori from Italy, and her time was good enough to win the 20-24 division as well. “It’s amazing, the course is really just grueling and really unpredictable. The beginning of the run was the hardest part and you’ve got to be strong mentally just to push through it. I was so relieved to finish. The XTERRA experience is amazing. People are so cool and different and friendly.”
20-24 Erin Beresini (Hermosa Beach, CA) 4:06:11 – The 24-year-old, who qualified for Maui by winning her age group at the XTERRA West Championship in California, edged out the XTERRA USA Champ Sara Hanson by a little more than four minutes.
45-49 Meiling Yee (Sunnyvale, California) 3:54:57 – The long-time XTERRA competitor finally broke through with the biggest win of her career. “I never thought I would win anything like this,” said Yee. “I had a perfect day. It feels awesome. It’s been a really long year. This is my 20th race because I also do mountain bike races. Just being here in Maui has been the best part. I love XTERRA, I’ve done other triathlons, road triathlons, but this is awesome.”
50-54 Beverly Enslow (Metamora, Illinois) 3:56:52 – For the second time in as many months Enslow was able to hold off age-group great Barbara Peterson. Last month it was for the USA Championship, and this time it’s good for her second XTERRA World Title (also won 45-49 division in 2002). “It was a tough victory,” said Enslow, who was racing for the fifth time in Maui. “I haven’t had good runs out here. I’m from the Midwest and I can’t heat acclimate in October back in Illinois so I tend to cramp in the heat. I just keep coming back for the people. Once a year you get to see somebody and you’ve got to come back for that.”
55-59 Cindi Toepel (Littleton, Colorado) 4:24:55 – For the third straight year Cindi Toepel is an XTERRA World Champion. She also won her third USA Title in September. “It feels great, it’s a lot of hard work, but the XTERRA experience is so much fun because you are around all of these other people that enjoy doing the same thing and they’re competitive, but they are also out there to help you.”
A 3-DAY WEEKEND OF GIVING: On Friday of last week 25 XTERRA racers from around the world joined together to pick-up rubbish along a two-mile stretch of the course from Makena Beach to the Maui Prince Hotel. The “Eco Team” collected enough trash to fill several dumpsters and made the parking lots, roadways, and course paths a pleasure to navigate on race weekend.
On Saturday, the XTERRA Makena Beach Trail Runs – with 374 registered runners, raised more than $4,000 for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Maui County.
On Sunday – with race announcers Greg Welch, Kalei Waiwaiole and racer Chris Legh pledging to shave their heads for the cause - the Paul Mitchell Cut-a-thon raised $3,000 for the Challenged Athletes Foundation.
VIDEOS: A collection of photos and videos from the XTERRA World Championship can be found online at: http://www.xterraplanet.com/worldchampionship/videos.html.
© 2013 TEAM Unlimited LLC | http://www.xterraplanet.com/news/press_article.cfm?id=2063 | 4,622 |
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Senior Cat Dailey
capped an outstanding weekend with an errorless 17-kill performance
for the Yale volleyball team in a sweep of visiting Colorado in the
2009 Yale Invitational Championship Game. Dailey, who hit .487 with
39 kills and just one error at the weekend event, was selected as
the Yale Invitational Most Valuable Player. The Bulldogs took the
match in straight sets: 25-22, 25-11 and 25-9.
With the win, the Bulldogs stay perfect at 3-0 on the season. Colorado, which had its two-match winning streak snapped in defeat, drops to 3-3. The match was Yale’s first-ever meeting with a team from the Big 12 Conference (or the former Big Eight).
“Cat Dailey was absolutely stellar this weekend,” said Yale Head Coach Erin Appleman. “To hit over .600 for a match with almost 30 attempts is absolutely dominant.”
Dailey hit at a scorching .607 clip in the match, recording a match-best 17 kills with no errors on 28 swings. She also registered nine digs and four services ace in the contest. Senior Alexis Crusey added nine kills, hitting .308, with a team-high 10 digs for Yale. The three-time All-Ivy first teamer averaged 3.62 kills per set for the weekend to land a spot on the All-Tournament Team.
Haley Wessels grabbed the third Yale laurel at the event, as she was selected to the All-Tournament squad after notching 13 kills and eight blocks, including five solo stuffs, in her first weekend of collegiate action.
Against the Buffaloes, Wessels tallied five kills and two solo blocks, while sophomores Bridget Hearst and Taylor Cramm each added three finishers. Freshman Kerry Clavadetscher rounded out the Yale attack with a pair of kills in addition to her seven digs and match-best 27 assists from the setter position. Junior libero Kelly Ozurovich contributed seven digs of her own and sophomore Katie Cordell added four digs and four service aces.
As a team, the Bulldogs committed just five attack errors and hit .362 (39-5-94) as compared to a .122 clip (29-18-90) for the Buffaloes. Yale also out-blocked its opponents, 6-1, and racked up 12 service aces while Colorado failed to record any.
“This was a great all-around effort. We played hard and executed very well against a tough Colorado team,” said Appleman.
The first set was the most competitive of the three, as Yale and Colorado split the first 20 points to a 10-10 tie. At that point, Cordell reeled off three consecutive service aces in a stretch that saw the Bulldogs jump out to a 15-10 lead. The Buffaloes then nabbed three of the next four points and, after a Cramm kill ended that rally, put together a 5-1 run to knot the score at 18-18. Yale responded immediately with the next three points, capped by a Hearst ace and never looked back en route to a 25-22 win in set one.
The Buffaloes outhit Yale in the first frame by a slim .314 (15-4-35) to .302 (16-3-43) advantage. The Bulldogs made up that difference by outblocking their opponents, 2-1, and landing four service aces.
Any of the remaining rust that the Bulldogs were still sporting in the first set was undeniably shaken off early in the second frame. A 6-6 tie marked the last time that Yale and Colorado would be deadlocked, as an 11-2 run promptly put the match out of reach for the Buffaloes at 17-8. A 5-0 spurt, headed by Dailey’s tough serves and highlighted by a pair of Crusey kills, ended the match with Yale winning handily, 25-11.
The Bulldogs hit a solid .323 (12-2-31) in the second set, while Colorado slipped into the negative at -.032 (7-8-31). Yale recorded all three blocks that occurred in the frame and dropped in four more service aces.
Set three was more of the same from the Bulldogs, as a 12-1 run to open the set left Colorado reeling. The Buffaloes failed to score a point on any of their 10 service attempts, with four service errors mixed in as well. An ace by Hearst, the 12th by Yale in the match, slammed the door on a convincing 25-9 set-three victory.
Yale hit an errorless .550 (11-0-20) in the set, while Colorado registered a .042 mark (7-6-24). The Bulldogs again notched four aces to none by the visitors and out-blocked the Buffaloes, 1-0.
Becah Fogle led the Colorado attack with 13 kills and also headed up the defensive effort with a match-best 12 digs. Kerra Schroeder added seven kills and eight digs for the Buffaloes, and Kaitlyn Burkett distributed 24 assists.
Yale’s trio of Dailey, Crusey and Wessels were joined on the All-Tournament Team by Fogle, Schroeder, Fairfield’s Brianna Dixion and Georgetown’s Sara Manley.
The Bulldogs are back in action next weekend at the American Volleyball Classic in Washington, D.C. Yale challenges the host American University Eagles at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 and closes out the weekend against Virginia Tech at 11 a.m. on Sept. 12.
report filed by Drew M. Kingsley, Yale Sports Publicity | http://www.yalebulldogs.com/sports/w-volley/2009-10/releases/2009_09_05_recap1_vb_colorado?dec=/printer-decorator | 1,230 |
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'York City Knights will come good' says Nathan Freer
NATHAN FREER is confident York City Knights can finish the Championship season strongly – once they get that elusive first victory of term.
Since unluckily missing out on progressing to the Northern Rail Cup quarter-finals after three wins from four group games, the Knights have lost all five Championship matches, as well as a Challenge Cup fourth round tie against Sheffield.
It has left them rock bottom of the table with only one losing bonus point to their name.
But prop forward Freer, the reigning The Press Player of the Year and Players’ Player of the Year, reckons a win is just around the corner, with lift-off hopefully ensuing. He also insists he has no regrets about returning to the club from Featherstone.
“If you look at our team on paper, it’s fair to say we should be doing better than we have been,” he said.
“But we’re not far off. It’s that last decision, that last pass, that’s been letting us down. It’s just about being more clinical and finishing plays off.
“We know we’ll come good. If we get that one win, it will snowball.
“We’re all positive. Paul King (fellow prop and former Super League star) said last week if we get that one win, it will lift us from there.”
Freer, 22, and pictured above, had one of his poorest games for the club in Sunday’s 30-16 loss to Batley, but he was determined to make up for it, starting with the televised trip to Swinton a week on Sunday.
There is no game this weekend as it’s Challenge Cup fifth round day.
“I was embarrassed last weekend, I’ll be the first to admit that,” said Freer.
“A few of the lads weren’t pleased with their performance. But there were positives.
“We’ve got a lot of things to work on but we’re not too far away. A couple of big decisions went against us as well. If that try they got before half-time was given as a knock-on, for example, then it’s a different game.”
Freer, who left for Featherstone at the end of last season, turning down an improved deal at York to join the Championship champions, returned to Huntington Stadium a month ago. He does not rue that decision, despite four straight defeats since.
“I’m definitely glad to be back,” said Freer, who combines his rugby with studying sports coaching at Hull University.
Rovers, meanwhile, have hit the national spotlight with a Challenge Cup defeat of Castleford to set up another televised tie at home to Wigan tomorrow night.
But Freer went on: “I’m good friends with a lot of the lads at York and I’d missed that, and, with the travelling to Featherstone (from Hull), it got to me a bit. It feels good to be back and to be playing and enjoying it.
“When I signed at Featherstone I knew I’d have to work hard to get in the team but I was prepared to do that. It (not playing regularly) was not an issue as regards me coming back here. I felt I was progressing but, with the travelling on my own, plus my university work and fitting it all in, I was struggling a bit.”
Freer has now called on supporters to stick by the team.
“It’s frustrating for them but I think if they’re patient and hang in there, we’re going to come good at some point,” he said.
“If we can build on that and get a bit of confidence, I have no doubt we will finish the season strongly.
“Loud support certainly helps. If we’re winning, that helps as well. You love to here the crowd singing and that does give you a boost.” | http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/sport/yorkcityknights/9672874._York_City_Knights_will_come_good__says_Nathan_Freer/ | 904 |
Pakistan snub Shoaib
Pace bowlers left out of initial Twenty20 squad
Last Updated: February 26, 2010 3:36pm
Shoaib: Left out
Pakistan have left out Shoaib Akhtar and Sohail Tanvir from their preliminary squad for the World Twenty20 in April.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced their initial 30-man party for the tournament in the Caribbean without controversial paceman Shoaib and fellow bowler Tanvir.
Shoaib has not played an international since May last year, while Tanvir has been overlooked due to a knee injury.
Last week, Shoaib said he was not only confident of returning to international cricket, but also harboured hopes of becoming captain.
Pakistan's long list includes seven uncapped players, while wicketkeeper batsman Kamran Akmal, who was dropped from the team following a poor performance in the Test series in Australia, has been picked.
The PCB chairman Ijaz Butt had already announced a new coach would be in place for the tournament.
Butt told reporters an offer has been made to former fast bowler Waqar Younis, while coach of the under-19 side Ijaz Ahmed, who was at the helm for a two-match Twenty20 series against England in Dubai last week, would be handed the fielding coach role.
Squad: Imran Nazir, Imran Farhat, Khalid Latif, Mohammad Hafeez, Salman Butt, Shahzaib Hassan, Shoaib Malik, Umar Akmal, Naveed Yasin, Hasan Raza, Kamran Younis, Misbah-ul-Haq, Babar Azam, Fawad Alam, Abdul Razzaq, Shahid Afridi, Yasir Arafat, Hammad Azam, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, Umar Gul, Mohammad Aamer, Mohammad Asif, Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Sami, Saeed Ajmal, Raza Hasan, Abdul Rehman, Kamran Akmal, Sarfraz Ahmed, Zulqarnain Haider. | http://www1.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/5983490/ | 432 |
March 12, 2013
Grove City opens season in Myrtle Beach
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- The Grove City College baseball team opened the 2013 season Friday and Saturday by playing four games in Myrtle Beach, S.C., against Pennsylvania foes. Grove City opened its trip Friday by splitting a doubleheader with Ursinus. The Wolverines earned a 5-2 win in Game One but dropped the nightcap 3-2.
Saturday, Arcadia took both ends of a twinbill with Grove City, 7-2 and 4-2.
In Friday's opener, junior shortstop Matt Corner (Slippery Rock, Pa./Slippery Rock) helped pace Grove City by going 4 for 4 while junior second baseman John Rende (Pittsburgh, Pa./Central Catholic) and senior DH Doug Wells (Staten Island, N.Y./St. Peter's) both singled twice. Senior first baseman Kyle Shock (Loudonville, Ohio/Hillsdale) added a double.
Senior pitcher Zach Butler (Massillon, Ohio/Cuyahoga Valley Christian) earned the win after yielding just one earned run in six innings. He struck out five and allowed six hits. Freshman Ryan Gallagher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shaler) pitched a scoreless seventh for the save.
Shock went 2 for 3 with a double in the Game Two setback against Ursinus. Sophomore catcher Pete Garthwaite (Youngstown, Ohio/Ursuline) added a run-scoring double for Grove City, which had just four hits.
Sophomore pitcher Mason Stephens (Uniontown, Ohio/Lake) pitched four innings and allowed two runs. He allowed just three hits but took the defeat. Freshman Scott Williams (Creston, Ohio/Norwayne) pitched the fifth and allowed one run. Sophomore Chris Curran (Lyndhurst, Ohio/Brush) pitched two scoreless innings of relief.
Rende and senior left fielder Zach Struharik (Boardman, Ohio/Boardman) both went 2 for 3 in Saturday's opener against Arcadia. Junior pitcher Erick Locker (Canton, Ohio/Lake Center Christian) started and threw a complete game for the Wolverines. Locker allowed three earned runs and seven hits in seven innings.
In Game Two, four Grove City pitchers combined on a four-hitter. Williams started and allowed two earned runs in three innings. Gallagher, freshman Steve Maskrey (Cranesville, Pa./Northwestern) and freshman Drew Chorey (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) all pitched an inning of hitless relief.
Shock doubled and singled to help pace the offense. Senior center fielder Josh Sacks (Columbia, Md./Chapelgate Christian) and sophomore third baseman J.R. Willard (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pine-Richland) also doubled.
Grove City will open the northern portion of its schedule Saturday with a non-conference doubleheader at La Roche at 1 p.m.
Ursinus Box Score (Game One) Ursinus Box Score (Game Two)
Arcadia Box Score (Game One) Arcadia Box Score (Game Two)
Go to Wolverine Baseball | http://www2.gcc.edu/sports/Baseball/bsb13myrtle.htm | 665 |
|May 30||In Search of a Two-Peat: Athens Gold Medalists Discuss What it’s Like to Defend|
No country was more successful at the 2004 Athens Olympics than the United States. It won 36 events.
First-time champions included the swimmer Natalie Coughlin (who earned two golds), Mariel Zagunis (who captured the first US fencing gold in 100 years), softball outfielder Jessica Mendoza (who extended the US team's perfect gold-medal streak), and pole vaulter Tim Mack.
Coughlin went in as a star. Zagunis came out as one. Mendoza continued a legacy on a team. Mack prevailed alone. All of them will try to defend their titles in Beijing. It is a daunting task. Win again and you meet public expectation. Lose and everyone asks what's wrong.
Teamusa.org asked them independently to discuss how a gold medal affects their Olympic preparation and how it changes the mental equation.
WHAT IS THE PERSONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF YOUR 2004 GOLD?
MARIEL ZAGUNIS (individual sabre): "It was a huge deal because it was a lifetime goal, but I don't feel any different because I knew I had the potential to win. Before women's sabre was added to the Olympics, I won the 2001 Junior World Championships, the Cadet World Championships and Junior Team World Championships. No one had ever won them all in one year. Since Athens, I've met people who don't know what to say when they find out I won a gold medal because they're in shock and awe. To me, it means I got to reach my goal."
JESSICA MENDOZA (softball): "Sure, you win and it's the ultimate. But for me and my team, that's our only option. We won gold at every Olympics. I was new in 2004 but instead of pressure, it was more: realizing this was the right fit for me. Shooting high is the only way I've lived my life - whether it was picking a school that I thought would be the toughest, Stanford, or choosing classes that were the most challenging."
NATALIE COUGHLIN (100m backstroke, 4x200m relay): "In swimming, you're validated by gold medals."
WHY TRY TO DEFEND, KNOWING HOW HARD IT IS TO WIN THE FIRST TIME?
MENDOZA (softball): "Gold is so short-lived. I remember the euphoria of winning and I remember thinking, ‘I want to feel this every day.' But as soon as we stepped off the plane from Athens, our coach said, ‘OK, now we've got work to do.' I had the same mentality as our coach because I want to do this as many times as I can because this is amazing. Honestly, I've never been on such a high."
TIM MACK (pole vault): "To win once is a big enough achievement. To win again, I'm in uncharted territory. It's only been done once, by Bob Richards [1952, 1956] so I don't think anyone can even fathom what it's like to win it twice. It teases you. I can't think about it. Once you start thinking about the end result you lose sight of the process and you're dead in the water."
IS WINNING AT ANOTHER OLYMPICS MORE IMPORTANT OR LESS IMPORTANT TO YOU NOW THAT YOU'VE ALREADY DONE IT? AND HOW DOES TRYING TO REPEAT AFFECT YOUR PREPARATION?
MACK (pole vault): "A second gold doesn't mean any more or any less than when I was trying to do it the first time. Sometimes it's more difficult because I know how the year went. You try to duplicate it. If something's not the same, you second guess yourself and all of a sudden, there's negativity. I no-heighted in my first meet of 2008, but then I remembered, I no-heighted in my last meet before the 2004 Trials."
ZAGUNIS (sabre): "I can totally relate. I tried to do that, especially in the beginning. Why wouldn't you want everything to be the same? Especially high level athletes; we're kind of OCD [obsessive compulsive]. But I can't compare the two because fencing has changed a lot. They changed the timing rule. They cut in half how quickly you can hit back, and now a machine makes the call if you hit each other at the same time. Personally, a lot has changed, too. I went from being 100% focused on fencing to trying to pass college courses at Notre Dame at the same time. Also, people want to beat me so bad, more than before - just because of my result in Athens. People will fence me with everything they have. You have to be really tough to keep a strong mind. I hope it raises my focus because people are gunning for me."
COUGHLIN (swimming): "I try not to get superstitious and compare previous meets. Mentally, I can't handle that. I'm getting lifetime bests in mid-season meets and that's never happened to me before. It gives me lots of confidence. I'm nervous, but not nearly as nervous as I was last time. I have an idea what to expect."
MENDOZA (softball): "Gold is our only goal for the Olympics. This is our last shot. [The International Olympic Committee ruled to discontinue softball after Beijing.] There will always be things you can't control, but I want to make sure we do everything possible now so that it's less up to the powers that be in Beijing."
HOW DO YOU HANDLE THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING?
MENDOZA (softball): "I don't let my mind go there. We're expected to win every time. Over the last four years, we've lost to Japan a few times and a college team. People freak out. The phones start ringing. I'm kind of glad sometimes when we have setbacks now; it shows we're human. I hate when people say we're so dominant and perfect, because it's so far from who we are."
MACK (pole vault): "Gold in Athens was my e-mail address for four years. I probably told a hundred or a thousand people and felt stupid doing it, but you have to implant it every day. Now it's Gold in 08 and people are like, ‘Oh, he's going with the email.' But it worked once. Everywhere I can get energy or thoughts and repetition is crucial."
COUGHLIN (swimming): "These Olympics are about what I want to accomplish, not what others feel I should accomplish. I feel I don't need to prove myself anymore to the public."
Aimee Berg is a freelance contributor for teamusa.org. This story was not subject to the approval of the United States Olympic Committee or any National Governing Bodies. | http://www2.teamusa.org/News/2008/May/30/In-Search-of-a-Two-Peat-Athens-Gold-Medalists-Discuss-What-it-s-Like-to-Defend.aspx?p=1 | 1,486 |
2012 JUNIOR WOMEN’S TEAM USA
FIRS JUNIOR WOMEN’S INLINE HOCKEY WORLD CUP
Congratulations to the following Junior Women who will represent the USA at the upcoming FIRS World Inline Hockey Team Cup in Huntington Beach, California, July 2-6, 2012.
Taylor Bajus, Allison Park, PA
Madison Fosenburg, Brentwood, CA
Alexis Ruth, Surprise, AZ
Megan Amimoto, Peoria, AZ
Rachel Munoz, Reading, CA
Jenna Mosenson, Woodbury, NY
Emily Spencer, San Jose, CA
Katie Premac, Coto de Caza, CA
Jenna Weeks, Sonora, CA
Sienna Weeks, Sonora, CA
Cassandra Stelter, Allison Park, PA
Katie Miller, Covina, CA
Jeff Manning, San Jose, CA – Head Coach
Brian Roh, San Jose, CA – Assistant Coach
Shane Peters, Fullerton, CA – USA Referee
In 2013 Junior Women will compete for the first time at the FIRS World Championships in Huntington Beach, California, where World Championship titles will be awarded to Senior Men, Senior Women, Junior Women, and Junior Men.
USA Roller Sports is recognized by the Federation Internationale de Roller Sports and United States Olympic Committee as the national governing body for competitive roller sports in the United States. USARS is dedicated to creating, enhancing and conducting the best competitions and programs for roller sports. We instill the drive to win and be the absolute best in sports and in life. | http://www2.teamusa.org/USA-Roller-Sports/Features/2012/June/11/2012-FIRS-JUNIOR-WOMEN-INLINE-HOCKEY-WORLD-CUP-TEAM.aspx?p=1 | 330 |
Scott Cullen looks at Claude Giroux coming around, a chance for Aaron Palushaj, injuries to star wingers and playing the shooting percentages on relatively productive, yet low goal-scoring forwards like Jarome Iginla.
The season hasn't started exactly how the Philadelphia Flyers envisioned it, and at least part of their problem has been their top-end offensive production.
Claude Giroux started the year slowly, with seven points in 13 games before putting up six points in the last four games, including a goal and two assists against the Islanders on Monday, when he played with Jakub Voracek and Matt Read.
Some of Giroux's slow start can be attributed to a lack of continuity with linemates. Last year, he played predominantly with Scott Hartnell and Jaromir Jagr. With Jagr gone to Dallas and Hartnell hurt in the third game of the season, Giroux has seen significant time since with wingers Read and Wayne Simmonds, Danny Briere and Tye McGinn, and Briere and Simmonds (line combos via www.leftwinglock.com).
Giroux's relative lack of production comes from a couple reasons that could be related to his lack of linemate continuity.
First, Giroux is averaging 2.47 shots on goal per game, down from 3.14 per game last season. Fewer chances most often leads to fewer goals.
Secondly, Giroux hasn't been terribly luck when it comes to on-ice shooting percentage. According to Behind the Net, Giroux's 5-on-5 on-ice shooting percentage is 5.17% this season, down from 9.41% last year.
There is time for these numbers to bounce back, particularly if Giroux has a pair of wingers with whom he is comfortable. Certainly, for one afternoon game against the Islanders, Voracek and Read looked the part and perhaps they should since they are tied for the Flyers' team lead with 11 even-strength points, five more than Giroux.
Waived by the Montreal Canadiens, 23-year-old RW Aaron Palushaj is earning a look with the Colorado Avalanche, skating on a line with Paul Stastny and David Jones.
After a three-point game Monday against Nashville, Palushaj has four points in four games with the Avs, a nice start after he managed 10 points in 21 AHL games with Hamilton this season (after 35 points in 35 AHL games earned him a call-up to Montreal for limited ice time in 38 games last season).
Getting a chance to produce now might give Palushaj a chance to stick in the lineup once Avalanche captain Gabriel Landeskog returns to the lineup and, presumably, bumps Palushaj down the depth chart.
While the New York Rangers aren't saying exactly what is keeping RW Rick Nash out of the lineup, the New York Post's Larry Brooks has a theory that it could be a concussion.
Though he only has three goals in 14 games, Nash has been pretty good for the Rangers, with 12 points and 4.1 shots on goal per game (his highest per-game rate since 2007-2008) while playing a career-high 24:24 per game.
For as long as Nash is out, the Blueshirts need to do some line-shuffling. Nash had been skating with Derek Stepan and Carl Hagelin, but when Nash sat out Tuesday's loss to Montreal, Marian Gaborik moved into that spot, leaving Ryan Callahan and rookie Chris Kreider to flank Brad Richards on the Rangers' other scoring unit.
For the Rangers to be successful this year, they needed compelementary offence from the likes of Hagelin and Kreider, so that need is more acute now.
For his part, Hagelin has come on strong after a slow start, scoring five goals in the last five games. Kreider, on the other hand, has struggled. He missed time with bone chips in his ankle and has just two points in eight games, but he did play a season-high 14:37 against Montreal.
Canucks RW Jannik Hansen clocked Blackhawks RW Marian Hossa in the back of the head Tuesday night and while there can be some debate about intent and what punishment Hansen may or may not deserve, the result of the play is worse because it involved Hossa, who suffered a serious concussion after headshot by Coyotes LW Raffi Torres in last year's playoffs.
Hossa scored a pair of goals against the Canucks to give him eight goals and 14 points in 16 games this season. Hossa has been skating with Jonathan Toews and rookie Brandon Saad, but the Blackhawks may need to make changes going forward if Hossa is going to be out for any length of time. Viktor Stalberg, Michael Frolik and Bryan Bickell could be candidates to get more ice time as a result.
Sharks RW Tim Kennedy has scored goals in back-to-back games, giving him two in three games since getting promoted from AHL Worcester, where the 26-year-old had a point per game in 37 games.
A smallish forward, Kennedy scored 26 points in 78 games as a rookie with Buffalo in 2009-2010, but was then waived after an arbitration award of $1-million and Kennedy has been trying to stick in the NHL ever since, spending time with the Rangers and Panthers organizations before joining the Sharks last season.
With 31 points in 115 career NHL games, Kennedy is no lock to remain in a scoring role with the Sharks, but if the Sharks are looking to shake up their top six, because of a lack of production from Ryane Clowe and Martin Havlat, then Kennedy could get more than a cursory look.
PLAYING THE PERCENTAGES
There is no guarantee that just because a player is getting shots on goal that he will actually score. However, there is more reason to worry about a player turning around a lack of production if they aren't even getting shots.
For a look at some players that have been generating chances, without many red lights to show for it, here's a look (via www.hockey-reference.com) at all forwards that have at least 2.0 shots on goal per game (at least 20 overall), a shooting percentage of 8.0% or lower and three goals or fewer.
They won't all bounce back. Some, like Michael Frolik and Nikolai Kulemin have had trouble putting the puck in the net in recent seasons and who knows what rookies like Drew Shore, Mika Zibanejad or Jakob Silfverberg might do, but there is a reasonable likelihood of a few of these guys improving their finishing rate. After all, Jarome Iginla can't score once every 48 shots all season, can he?
Of those on the list below, the ones getting more than three shots per game with a good scoring pedigree in their past (or high expectations for young scorers) include Iginla, Justin Williams, Patric Hornqvist, Patrice Bergeron, Phil Kessel, Taylor Hall, Rick Nash, Max Pacioretty, Evgeni Malkin, Alexander Semin and Tyler Seguin -- an list of quality talents that might be obtained at a relative discount in fantasy circles because of their lack of goal production to this point in the season.
Scott Cullen can be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at http://twitter.com/tsnscottcullen. For more, check out TSN Fantasy on Facebook. | http://www2.tsn.ca/fantasy_news/story/?id=416449 | 1,567 |
Ralph Jones is a former assistant coach and student-athlete at Division I Morgan State. (Photo: Morgan State Athletics)
Ralph Jones named as Pioneers' cross country, track coach
- June 13, 2011
The Cal State East Bay Athletics Department and Director of Athletics Debby De Angelis named Morgan State Assistant Coach Ralph Jones as its new Head Cross Country and Track and Field Coach on Monday. A former student-athlete at Morgan State and assistant coach at Central Arizona College and Wilmington College, Jones has helped to coach 15 regional qualifiers in cross country and five school record holders in track and field over the past four years with the Bears.
“I am humbled yet excited to have the opportunity to lead the Pioneer cross country and track programs,” Jones said. “[Debby] De Angelis has a vision for our program and is a proven winner and leader who believes in my ability to lead and has been extremely supportive. The entire staff is committed to excellence. I look forward to being a part of the East Bay team and helping our student athletes become champions.”
As an assistant to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Hall of Fame coach Neville G. Hodge at Morgan State since 2007, Jones was responsible for the development of the men's and women's distance programs and assisted with sprints, relays and jumps. Jones coached Morgan State's first MEAC cross country champion in Justus David in 2009 and had runners finish first and third at championships to garner All-MEAC honors. David was also named MEAC Performer of the Year under Jones.
“I want to thank my former boss Neville G. Hodge at Morgan State for mentoring me and giving me the opportunity to grow professionally to achieve this goal of head coach,” Jones said. “Now I am ready to embark on this new journey as a Pioneer to blaze a trail to be followed.”
Jones also found success with his distance runners in both indoor and outdoor track at Morgan State as five school records were broken during the 2009 indoor season and the Bears picked up a pair of MEAC titles at indoor and outdoor championships. Jones helped develop 29 NCAA regional qualifiers in track in his first two seasons as an assistant at Morgan State.
In addition to his regular coaching duties, Jones was in charge of recruiting for the men's and women's track and field and cross country programs at Morgan State, monitored the academic progress of all the cross country and track athletes and coordinated the budget and travel for the Bears.
“We are excited to have Ralph Jones take over the leadership of our cross country and track programs,” De Angelis said. “His coaching experience including most recently as a Division I assistant will allow us to take the next step into Division II.”
Prior to returning to his alma mater, Jones served as an assistant coach at junior college powerhouse Central Arizona College in Coolidge, Ariz., from 2003-07. While with the Vaqueros, Jones helped coach the cross country and track and field teams to seven National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) national titles. During his time there, Jones groomed seven individual national champions in track and field, two individual national champions in cross country and three national championship relay teams, and had 22 student-athletes named All-Americans. Jones was also a two-time national junior college Assistant Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2007.
Jones began his coaching career at NCAA Division III Wilmington College in Ohio, serving as the sprints, hurdles and jumps coach. At Wilmington, Jones developed the training and strength and conditioning programs for the sprinters and long and triple jumpers, and gained valuable recruiting experience bringing student-athletes to a program without athletic scholarships.
A 1999 graduate of Morgan State, Jones was a standout sprinter for the Bears, earning the 1996 MEAC title in the 200-meter dash and the 1997 Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America 200 title. Jones was an NCAA qualifier in the 200 in 1998 and served as Vice President of the Bears' Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. A two-sport athlete, Jones also played football for Morgan State, leading the team in return yards and ranking among the top return specialists in the NCAA. Jones spent two seasons at Central Arizona where he was a team captain and part of the school's first national championship in track and field.
“His leadership began in his days as a SAAC officer and two-sport athlete at Morgan State, which has paved the path for the leadership he will bring to our program,” De Angelis said. “We expect to have success both athletically and academically and are excited to have Coach Jones leading our programs. He will be an excellent role model and mentor to our student-athletes.”
Jones holds USATF Level II certification in sprints, hurdles, relays and distance running and is certified to teach USATF Level I courses. At Morgan State, Jones was an adjunct faculty member, developing and teaching a “Coaching Track and Field” course in the Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Department. In addition to coaching and teaching, Jones served as an assistant meet director at the USATF Junior Olympic track meet in 2006 and assisted the Morgan State sports information staff with the track and cross country web pages, media guides and audio blog.
Jones earned a Bachelor of Science in physical education from Morgan State in 1999 and earned a master's in physical education from The Ohio State University in 2001. He also holds an associate's degree in recreation and parks management from Central Arizona College.
Jones will take the reigns from outgoing cross country and track coach Greg Ryan, who has retired after nine years with the Pioneers and a 35-year coaching career. Ryan guided Cal State East Bay to seven conference titles in cross country, including three straight women's titles from 2003-05.
“We want to thank Coach Ryan for his effort and coaching success as he moves into retirement,” De Angelis said. “We are pleased to have been able to select from an excellent pool of applicants and look forward to Coach Jones moving us forward in the CCAA.”
The Pioneers expect to be accepted as an active member in the NCAA Division II this summer after completing the three-year transition process during the 2010-11 season. Next year, Cal State East Bay will be eligible for both CCAA and NCAA postseason competition following the two-year probation period which it has just completed.
- © Copyright California State University, East Bay.
California State University, East Bay is the San Francisco East Bay Area's high-access public university of choice. CSUEB serves the region with campuses in Hayward and Concord, a professional development center in Oakland, and an innovative online campus. With an enrollment of more than 14,000, the University offers a nationally recognized freshman year experience, award-winning curriculum, personalized instruction, and expert faculty. Students choose from among more than 100 professionally focused fields of study for which the University confers bachelor's and master's degrees, as well as an Ed.D. in education. Named a "Best in the West" college, as well as a Best Business School, by the influential Princeton Review, Cal State East Bay is among the region's foremost producers of teachers, business professionals and entrepreneurs, public administrators, health professionals, literary and performing artists, and science and math graduates. | http://www20.csueastbay.edu/news/2011/06/athletics-jones-hiring-061311.html | 1,532 |
Not done yet, but…
Cards are expecting to put Mulder on the DL tomorrow before the game starts. Jaime Garcia is the likely player to be called up, and they believe it’s do-able in time for the early start tomorrow.
Really a shame for Mulder, who has been through so much. What everyone said — and I echo it — is that most of all it’s unfortunate for the guy himself. I wish him luck in trying to get right. | http://yourenotagolfer.mlblogs.com/2008/07/09/not-done-yet-but/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=0c985fc400 | 102 |
Manchester: Manchester United winger Nani has started the mind games ahead of Sunday's title-deciding visit of Chelsea by claiming his team-mates hold a psychological edge over their rivals.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side held a 15-point advantage over Chelsea two months ago and were seemingly coasting to a record 19th domestic title.
But Chelsea have since eaten into United’s lead and arrive at Old Trafford just three points adrift with three games to play and with the Premier League title again in their sights following a run of five straight league wins.
The momentum has shifted in recent weeks to set up a meeting that will leave the winners at the head of the table and favourites to finish top.
But Nani disputes that Chelsea are in the ascendancy and says United are mentally in a better state of mind following their recent Champions League quarter-final win over their visitors.
United proved too strong for the west Londoners last month, winning both at home and away, and the Portuguese winger says memory of their 3-1 aggregate success will help end Chelsea?s hopes of retaining the title for good.
"The results against them in the Champions League were very good," Nani said. "We showed we can play against them and win both legs. I think that gives us the psychological advantage going into this critical game.
"We were not at our best in our defeat to Arsenal last week and we cannot be like that again in this one.
"We all realise we have to get back to our high tempo and confidence against Chelsea. We have to get back to our very best if we are going to do anything.
"It is always dangerous playing against Chelsea. They have some fantastic players. They are the team who every season are playing to win the league as well as us. They are always there challenging.
"We respect them but we have to be strong ourselves and just concentrate on what we do best and we can win it. It will be very difficult. But we are at home and we have had good experiences against them.
"If we win this one then it is a great advantage for us. It is nearly over then."
United have collected a staggering 49 points out of a possible 51 on home soil this season and Ferguson knows another home win would all but wrap up the championship.
The manager, who has confirmed striker Wayne Rooney is among those fit to return as he prepares to restore a host of regular first-teamers, added: "Everyone is aware of the magnitude of Sunday's game.
"If we win, we should win the league. It is a game we are looking forward to. Last Sunday's result (at Arsenal) has certainly brought us an awareness of how important this week's game is.
"It is one of the reasons why I picked the team I did against Schalke (in the Champions League) on Wednesday. I wanted to give us a real chance.
"We will have a fresh team and that makes a difference at this time of the season. It should be a fantastic game."
Carlo Ancelotti, the Chelsea manager, admits this is a do-or-die contest for his side, who looked to have no chance of retaining the title two months ago.
"It's like a final for us," he said. "We wanted to play in the final of the Champions League but we have to be happy to play this kind of final. This is a different final but for us we can compare this game to a final."
And he added: "They (United) are favourites as they have three points more. If we are able to win, nothing is decided. If they win, they will win the title."
Right-back Jose Bosingwa is the only Chelsea absentee and Ancelotti is anxious his side maintain the recent momentum that has turned their season around.
"It's very exciting for us and we are very happy," he said. "There's a good atmosphere.
"In the past, when you've been told it's no good, then you get this opportunity, and it's a fantastic opportunity.
"This team is still alive and this means the players have very good character, very good personality and they are very professional."
First Published: Sunday, May 08, 2011, 09:48 | http://zeenews.india.com/news/football/chelsea-to-visit-man-united-for-title-deciding-clash_704962.html | 887 |
Mancini wants talks with City owners to resolve ‘player power struggle’
London: Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini is determined to root out dressing-room dissenters who are undermining his position at the Etihad with their reluctance and inability to follow his tactics.
He now wants talks with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak and new chief executive Ferran Soriano to establish whether he retains their full support as he looks to reassert his authority.
“Mancini has no interest in being a friend of the players. He doesn’t care whether they hate him. He just wants them to do as they are told when they are on the pitch and on the training ground. Mancini is like a lot of Italian managers who believe the coach must be dictatorial in their approach,” the Daily Mirror quoted an insider, as saying.
According to the source, Mancini is adamant that he will not take a backward step in the power struggle with several senior players that is now threatening to spiral out of control and undermine City’s season, the report said.
The champions were booed off at half-time yesterday as they struggled to beat a well-organised Swansea at the Etihad.
“He will not back away from an issue if he feels it is undermining his position. Some players will not like his style, but he has the trophies to show that it works. Mancini is in a strong position and he expects the full support of the people who pay him to do his job,” the source added. | http://zeenews.india.com/sports/print.aspx?nid=750939 | 323 |
Day 1 in Indy
A few more things from the Winter Meetings in Indianapolis:
- Ruben Amaro Jr. said there is a chance Brad Lige and J.C. Romero will not be ready by Opening Day — they are recovering from elbow surgeries – although he said if they are not ready, it won’t be long after the season starts.
- Amaro said he is more likely to fill holes on the pitching staff and bench via free agency, although he said the Phillies could get creative and work a trade.
- Amaro declined comment on a rumor that the Phillies have made right-hander Joe Blanton available to trade to free up money to improve the bullpen, but it seems unlikely Amaro would trade pitching to get pitching. “I’m sure I would at some point,” he said. “It’s kind of like robbing Peter to trade Paul, but if you think Paul is better than Peter than it’s worth it.”
- Amaro also said he doesn’t “want to mess with our rotation as it stands. But it doesn’t mean we have to make that a hard and fast rule,” he said. “I think it’s more about keeping the options as open as possible. … I’ll put our rotation as it stands up there with pretty much anybody in the National League. The better your rotation is the more heat you can take off the bullpen. I think that’s probably the best way to get a more predictable bullpen.”
- It sounds to me like Chan Ho Park is the team’s top priority in the bullpen. Amaro met with Park’s agent Jeff Borris on Monday.
- The Phillies have continued interest in left-hander Scott Eyre, although Amaro said he would be comfortable with rookie left-handers Antonio Bastardo or Sergio Escalona in the bullpen next season.
- The Phillies have been linked to right-hander Brandon Lyon, but one source said Monday the asking price for Lyon remains high.
- The Phillies already have committed $114.2 million committed to 15 players in 2010. Include the expected raises for Blanton, Shane Victorino, Carlos Ruiz, Chad Durbin and Clay Condrey and the payroll pushes to more than $130 million. That leaves the Phillies with just a few million to spend. “I think we’re going to be just fine with our payroll,” Amaro said. “I don’t think it’s going to change much. We have our limitations. We’re going to be pushing $140 million. It is what it is. It’s my job to figure out a way to make sure this a contending team.”
- The Phillies have until Dec. 12 to offer contracts to Durbin and Condrey, who are eligible for salary arbitration. Amaro said the Phillies haven’t made a final decision, but “as far as I’m concerned, at least right now, these are guys that we’ll probably count on. But again, a lot of it kind of depends on what happens over these next several days in regards to the other free agents that might be out there.”
- The Phillies have expressed interest in Brian Giles, although it doesn’t appear talks are serious. “We’ve talked about it a little bit,” said Giles’ agent, Joe Bick. “Philly needs to try to find Brian a spot where there might be more playing time, but it’s certainly something we’ll keep the door open on.” | http://zozone.mlblogs.com/2009/12/07/day-1-in-indy/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=e5382928c8 | 774 |
Click to explore The Department of Arkansas Heritage.
LIVE: Severe Weather Coverage
Posted on: 11:31 am, October 25, 2012, by Joe Pennington, updated on: 11:35am, October 25, 2012
Hunting season is in full swing across the area and one thing every hunter needs to brush up on is deer stand safety.
In this video, Chad Lowe with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission explains the basics of deer stand safety.
Click here to see new adventures every Thursday! | http://5newsonline.com/2012/10/25/staying-safe-in-your-deer-stand/ | 106 |
Tornado Twists Through Okla.
Assessing the Injured from the Oklahoma Tornado
Aftermath of the Oklahoma Tornado
Tornado Rips Through Moore, Okla.
Father Reunited With Son After Oklahoma Tornado
Rhode Island Student Disappears on Drive Home
Tornado Chasers Catch Outbreak on Tape
Miller: 'I Did Not Mislead Congress'
May 1999: Historic Okla. Tornado
Storm Chasers in a Tornado Outbreak
Teenager's Invention Charges Cell Phone in Seconds
Jodi Arias Judge Denies Attorneys' Request to Withdraw
Aimee Copeland Gets Bionic Hands
Missing Student's Purse Found on George Washington Bridge | http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/obese-children-lose-weight-16403237 | 141 |
Considering it’s a divisional playoff game, and the Denver Broncos’ first with Peyton Manning at the helm, it feels like there should be more in-depth storylines to dissect. When I really think about it though, there is a lot to consider, but nothing warranting a thousand words. In that spirit, here are some thoughts, facts, and observations I’m mulling ahead of Saturday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
New Day for Denver
Much has been made of this potentially being Ray Lewis’ final NFL game. It would serve as a fitting bookend for Lewis who competed in his first playoff game on New Year’s Eve day in 2000 against the Broncos. The Baltimore Ravens won 21-3 on the way to a Super Bowl victory. Yet, a Denver victory Sunday could also been seen as the closing of a chapter. That game in 2000 was Denver’s first playoff game post-John Elway. Since then, Denver has returned to the playoffs only four other times (twice being knocked out by Peyton Manning). A win Saturday will not only signal what is perhaps the start of a demise for a Ravens defense that has been dominant for the past decade, but also the end of a period that saw the Broncos stay competitive, but just outside the bubble of a perennial playoff contender.
Is Baltimore the Sneaky On-A-Roll Team?
Also known as “Who is this year’s New York Giants?” Wild Card weekend didn’t offer much help in identifying the lower seeded team who could win it all, or even IF there was a lower seeded team who could win it all. Take a look at last weekend’s winners:
- Houston Texans: Lackluster victory over a one-dimensional offensive opponent. Impressive outing for running game against a solid defense. Displayed no indications they would create a matchup problem for a team with an elite quarterback.
- Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks arrived in the playoffs after several weeks of blowing out opponents (and a tight Week-17-so-who-really-cares victory). Not surprised they won. Would hardly characterize Seattle as a team that “eked in and started surprising people.” Too good, and too consistent of a defense.
- Green Bay Packers: Under no one’s radar. Elite quarterback who was the league’s MVP last season. Yeah, not sneaking up on anyone.
- Baltimore Ravens: Inspired victory against a team that should have been about .500 or slightly worse based on point differential. Was the Indianapolis Colts’ defense that porous or has the Ravens offense clicked that much? Is the Ravens’ defense that stout in the red zone, or did the Colts bumble the execution of too many plays? Too many variables to say for sure.
As these things generally go, I would probably pick No. 3 seeded Houston as that Wild Card weekend sleeper contender. If the Texans truly return to a potent run game, the defense and passing game are both still good enough to deliver a tough matchup. The same could also be said for Baltimore, but it just feels like more of a stretch. I could see the Ravens hanging tough, but I could also see a situation where it becomes evident early on that Baltimore is mainly smoke and mirrors. The big names on defense may be back, but I wouldn’t be too surprised if we’re talking Sunday about how it was evident they just weren’t at full strength.
Is Saturday the last call for LB Ray Lewis? (courtesy Keith Allison)
For the Record
Are you like me? Are you getting tired of the “argument” that the Broncos have only won against bad teams? Here’s my big issue with that: Yes, it’s true for the most part, but it’s not like these were close wins. Sure the Broncos may not have compiled an impressive 11-game winning streak had the team been pitted against the NFC West or played in the AFC South.
This isn’t college; coaches can’t schedule light. It’s often luck of the draw.
Before the season began, Denver’s schedule looked daunting. That was before we knew the New Orleans Saints really would be hamstrung by Bountygate, or Cam Newton’s Carolina Panthers wouldn’t improve on the past season, or the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs would somehow find a way to get substantially worse.
The Broncos won a lot of games against inferior competition, and won handily. That’s what good teams are supposed to do.
Meanwhile, Baltimore did manage to lose to the Philadelphia Eagles, beat the Chiefs 9-6, and escape a loss to the vaunted Chargers due to a play that had both a personal foul, and would’ve have required Ray Rice to be nearly 6’5″ (it’s trigonometry folks – based on where his knee hit, there is no possible way the ball was extended beyond the line of gain).
You know what would really help out Joe Flacco? Winning this game. He’d be able to say “he” was able to outduel Peyton Manning, and “he” was still worthy of being considered an elite quarterback (not that logically, “he” refers to the Ravens, and more specifically, Ray Rice and the Ravens defense). A win would help Flacco’s case.
A win would also really help secure Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker as an elite receiving tandem. The two have been playing exceedingly well lately after what was at times an inconsistent start to the season. A trip to the AFC Championship should formalize their ascendency as a 1-2 pair that poses a big problem for defensive coordinators.
Salvaging a Season for Rice
Ray Rice has had an underwhelming season…by Ray Rice standards. Two playoff victories should be enough for him to escape questions of whether he should still be considered a big time threat. What isn’t falling in his favor is the Denver defense. Despite several big rushing days (Houston, New England, Kansas City), the Broncos front seven hasn’t allowed many running games to get going. Even the ones that did failed to single-handedly dictate the outcome of a game. If the Broncos make this game a proposition of whether Flacco can engineer enough points through the air this one will be finished well before the final whistle.
The Chris Harris Pick-Six Happened
With this guy on your side, you have to feel good. (courtesy Jeffrey Beall)
Another quick beef…I’m a little irritated by the notion that the first times these teams met, the game would have been totally different if not for Harris’ interception. You know what? It could have been. But you know what? It wasn’t.
The Broncos could have also tallied victories in Atlanta and Houston if not for some unfortunate turnovers. Both the Ravens and Broncos could have won some additional games if they executed better. So could every other team.
Remove just the Harris interception, and the only difference is the Ravens trail 24-10 heading into the fourth quarter, the Broncos don’t fully let off the gas, and the game ends pretty much in the same fashion.
It’s the playoffs. No outcome can be guaranteed, and the price of losing increases dramatically. All this said, the game really will come down to a simple question: Are the Broncos focused enough?
Even if the Ravens “want it more” than Denver, they still can’t match the talent of the Broncos. If Denver consistently fails to execute, it could spell trouble. If the Broncos execute for the most part and turn mistakes into minor hiccups, the Ravens still don’t win this one. If the Broncos play flawlessly, the Ravens not only lose, but lose big. The following weeks may provide a different scenario, but if the Broncos’ season ends Saturday evening it will be because the Broncos managed to end it themselves. My hunch is that’s just not going to happen.
Follow Denver Horse Force on Twitter at @DENHorseForce and Facebook at www.facebook.com/denverhorseforce. | http://aeryssports.com/denver-horse-force/tag/chris-harris/ | 1,718 |
with poll: Area police: Welcome weekend for U-M students no wilder than expected
Daniel Brenner | AnnArbor.com
Despite a number of violent assaults reported in Ann Arbor, area police weren’t particularly surprised at the amount of crime they had to deal with over the Labor Day weekend.
At least two women were arrested and six people were hospitalized after weekend assaults that coincided with the return of University of Michigan students in Ann Arbor. In Ypsilanti, the Eastern Michigan University crime log for the city of Ypsilanti listed seven assaults from Friday to Monday evening, including one man who reported being kicked in the chest by an unknown person.
In addition, police are looking for suspects in three separate sexual assault cases in which women reported being groped — one in the city of Ann Arbor and two that were reported on U-M’s campus after a crime alert was sent out Monday morning.
Ann Arbor police Lt. Renee Bush said Friday police were preparing for an increase in criminal activity during the weekend. On Tuesday morning, she confirmed police in the city were every bit as busy as they expected to be. She wasn’t able to immediately tell how this welcome weekend compared to past years.
“It was an unusually busy weekend,” Bush said, comparing it to other weekends during the summer.
Things seemed to taper off Monday. Perhaps the beginning of classes for university and public schools students Tuesday morning played a part in Ann Arbor police not reporting any major incidents.
Diane Brown, U-M Department of Public Safety spokeswoman, said before the weekend that police would be upping patrols. She said police expect to write a higher than usual number of tickets for minor in possession of alcohol for the first two to three weeks of the school year. Also, the number of students being transported to the hospital due to intoxication is usually elevated during that period before campus life starts to settle down.
Her prediction held true: Eight students were cited for MIPs and nine intoxicated students were transported to U-M Hospital from Friday morning through Monday.
“It’s always crazy (on welcome weekend),” she said.
The late-summer uptick in criminal activity around campus will result in a larger police presence from U-M officers for the first few weeks of the school year, Brown said.
“As scheduling can permit” more officers will be out on the weekends, Brown said.
It was a similar story in Ypsilanti, where Ypsilanti police reported responding to seven assaults as well as other alcohol-related incidents. On the EMU crime summary, campus police did not report responding to any assaults but cited three people for possessing marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Sgt. Kent Overton, of the Ypsilanti police, said his department was busy but didn’t deal with anything unexpected.
“Yeah, we were busier than usual nothing out of the ordinary (for welcome weekend),” he said.
Eastern Michigan University Department of Public Safety Chief Bob Heighes did not return a phone call from AnnArbor.com Tuesday.
Police are still searching for suspects in a number of the Ann Arbor assaults. Two women accused of attacking a 45-year-old Whitmore Lake man in an alley off Willard Street are the only ones to be arrested so far. The women are accused of hitting the man with a shovel, bucket, bottle and broom before attempting to flee the area in a Ford Escape.
Police said they stopped the vehicle and arrested the women, both of whom are from Ypsilanti. One is 24 and the other is 26. Charges had not been filed against the women as of Tuesday morning.
Anyone with information on these incidents is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800 SPEAK UP (773-2587) | http://annarbor.com/news/crime/area-police-welcome-weekend-was-as-busy-as-expected/?cmpid=mlive-@mlive-news-a2 | 798 |
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Tom Sawatzke (Sr./Monticello, Minn./Monticello) and Scott Theisen (Sr./Champlin, Minn./Champlin Park) each tallied 21 points, but it was not enough on this evening. The Carleton College men’s basketball team was unable to topple No. 3 University of St. Thomas as the Knights came out on the wrong end of a 78-69 decision.
This was Theisen’s 10th career contest with 20 or more points and fifth in his last six games. Sawatzke surpassed the 20-point level for the fifth time this season and ninth of his career. This was the first time that two Carleton scored more than 20 points in the same game since Bryan Rosett ’10 (24 points) and Zach Johnson ’09 (22) achieved the feat in a 70-62 win over Saint Mary’s on Jan. 5, 2009.
The Knights jumped out to a 12-4 lead barely four minutes into tonight’s contest, but the Tommies countered with a 22-4 burst over next seven minutes. Carleton was able to erase the double-digit deficit, and Tyler Goetz’s (Sr./Chaska, Minn./Chaska) three pointer allowed the visitors to carry a 37-35 lead into the break.
Sawatzke was hot early, connecting on 6-of his first-8 shots, including a 5-of-6 showing from beyond the arc. He capped the fast start with a three pointer on the Knights’ first possession of the second half to give Carleton a 40-35 advantage. St. Thomas put together another 8-2 spurt early in the second half and moved in front to stay following Will DeBerg’s three pointer with 17:13 remaining.
After shooting 58 percent in the first half, the Knights slipped to only 36 percent over the final period. Meanwhile, the Tommies blistered the nets during the second half, connecting on 63 percent of their attempts.
Theisen continues to fill up the stat sheet as he contributed seven assists, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal. John Eckert (Fy./North Judson, Ind./North Judson) added nine points, six rebounds, and two blocks, while both Goetz and Shane McSparron (So./Apple Valley, Minn./Eastview) chipped in seven points apiece. Taylor Hanson (Jr./Saint Paul, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) returned to the rotation and logged 23 minutes in his first action since suffering an injury back on Dec. 3.
Zach Riedeman paced St. Thomas with 16 points off the bench, including 12 during the second half.
Carleton hosts Saint Mary’s University for a women’s-men’s doubleheader on Saturday, Jan. 5. Knights Online will feature high-definition video of both games, with tipoffs scheduled for 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. | http://apps.carleton.edu/athletics/varsity_sports/mens_basketball/schedule_and_results/?feature=913061&event_id=851964 | 641 |
Nathan staying put in Twin Cities
Minnesota agrees to four-year contract with top-flight closer
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Twins said goodbye to Johan Santana and Torii Hunter this offseason, but the team wasn't about to let its closer bid it farewell, too.Joe Nathan and the Twins agreed to terms on Monday on a four-year, $47 million contract that runs through 2011 and includes a $12.5 million club option for '12. Despite indications earlier this offseason that the Twins might look to trade Nathan once they moved Santana to the Mets, the club made it clear on Monday that it was never really an option. "It was definitely a priority for us," assistant general manager Rob Antony said of keeping Nathan. "I think a lot of people thought, when it became clear we were going to trade Johan Santana, that Joe was next. That wasn't the case at all. We look at Joe as a key member of the core of this ballclub. We had to take care of some other things first ... but when the time was right, we did it. And it was well worth it." Nathan, 33, has established himself as one of the elite closers in the game since joining the Twins at the start of the 2004 season. He's recorded 160 saves during that period, tying him with the Yankees' Mariano Rivera for the most saves in the American League in that four-year span. He's also the first pitcher in Twins history to record 36 or more saves in four consecutive seasons. Nathan's contract will pay him $11.25 million each year from 2008-2011, with a $2 million buyout if the option is not picked up. The price of the option can rise to $14 million -- going up by $500,000 each for 55 games finished in 2010, 55 games finished in '11 and 110 games finished in '10 and '11 combined. The contract will also include a limited no-trade clause in which the closer can block three teams a year. It's the same clause that was in Nathan's previous contract. The two sides had appeared close to reaching a deal over the past few days, but it was finalized on Monday morning after Nathan's agents, Dave Pepe and Billy Martin Jr., met with members of the Twins' front office to go over the last few details. Nathan was joined by his wife, Lisa, and two children, Cole and Riley, at the press conference to announce the deal. He thanked Twins owner Carl Pohlad and his family for being "really committed to getting this done." He also credited his manager, Ron Gardenhire, and pitching coach, Rick Anderson, as a big reason for wanting to stay. "These guys care about the team and care about players," Nathan said. "They are more concerned about careers than they are seasons. They are thinking long term as opposed to short term, and that's not something you see every day." Nathan's camp was first approached by the Twins about an extension in early February. The two sides went through a brief stalemate period before talks heated up again recently, and Pepe admitted that he was at times pessimistic over whether a deal would get done.
One sticking point early on in discussions between the two sides was Nathan's '08 contract. The closer's $6 million option for the upcoming season had been picked up by the Twins, but Nathan's camp preferred to wipe the slate clean, which they eventually did.Antony, who negotiated the deal with Pepe, said the club felt that keeping Nathan was important for a few reasons. Among those was the fact that the team is entering 2008 with a very young rotation, and the Twins didn't want the team's confidence shaken by losing leads late in ballgames. The club also didn't want to mess with the current roles for other pitchers in its bullpen, which has been among the best in baseball in recent seasons. And there was a feeling that after watching other top-tier talent leave the organization, the Twins wanted to try and prevent that from happening with Nathan -- if he indeed wanted to stay. Pepe said it was made clear to him that his client wanted to remain a Twin. "That was unequivocal," Pepe said. "This is where he wants to be. My marching orders from him were 'I need a market deal and I want to stay with the Twins.'" While Santana expressed after signing his $137.5 million deal with the Mets that he felt an "obligation" to the market, Nathan made it clear this offseason that he didn't feel the same way. His new contract doesn't set a precedent, but it puts him in the same price range as other elite closers in the game. Nathan's contract is similar to the one the Reds gave free-agent closer Francisco Cordero this past offseason. Cordero signed a four-year, $46 million contract with a fifth-year option. That contract, along with Rivera's three-year, $45 million deal from the Yankees, is something Nathan said he felt already set a new bar for the closer's market. Last season, Nathan expressed his desire to wait and see at the direction the organization was headed before making a decision on his future. But Nathan said on Monday that he knew fairly quickly that he wanted to stay after watching the Twins acquire players such as Delmon Young and Brendan Harris and secure Justin Morneau and Michael Cuddyer to long-term deals this winter. "In the offseason, you definitely saw a commitment to winning," Nathan said of the team's moves. "So it was a situation where, as long as I felt they were committed to that, I wanted to be on board."
Kelly Thesier is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080324&content_id=2454740&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | 1,188 |
All it took for Tito Ortiz to change his mind was 24 hours. A day after turning down the open headlining spot against Rashad Evans (15-1-1, 10-1-1 UFC) at UFC 133, Ortiz had a sudden swing of heart, becoming the organization's unexpected savior following an increasingly bleak turn of events.
"Tito turned it down, and then Tito called back and said, 'Did you get the fight yet?'" UFC President Dana White told MMA Junkie Wednesday night. "I said, 'Nope.' He goes, 'Let me think about it. Let me talk to my team, and I'll call you back tomorrow.'"
That phone call took place late Tuesday night, according the White. Within the next 24 hours Ortiz would publicly state to several media outlets that he felt comfortable with his decision to decline the fight. However, behind the scenes, it was clearly not that easy.
"I guarantee you he sat around and [thought], 'That dude hasn't fought in a year and a half,'" White mused. "‘First time we fought, we fought to a draw, and we have a lot of the same attributes. I feel great, I feel healthy, just came off a big win - confidence couldn't be higher.'"
Less than a day later the fight was set.
Despite opening as a four-to-one underdog, Ortiz (16-8-1, 15-8-1 UFC) has a chance none could have thought possible. A month removed from the edge of retirement, the 36-year old suddenly finds himself on the verge of storming into light heavyweight division's top ranks.
"The storyline is what's so interesting," White said. "Tito went from, 'You're about to be cut,' to now, if he beats Rashad Evans, he's back in the mix."
"[If] he beats a top-10 contender in Ryan Bader, and then comes in and knocks off who many believe is the No. 1 contender for the title," White concluded. "No one could deny that [he's returned to the top of the division]."
It seems fitting that after a impossibly chaotic two days, in which UFC 133 teetered on the utter brink of failure and success more times than one could count, White still fell headfirst into the most sensational outcome.
The reclamation of a disregarded career is a story as old as time. For some bizarre reason, there is no thrill as fascinating as watching a pure force of nature, driven by years of slight and marginalization, uproot the castle of greatness. Somehow, with fell swoop, "The Huntington Beach Bad Boy" now has the chance to do something that once seemed unimaginable.
"It's [expletive] weird here," White said, the heavy weight of implications resting on his mind. "It's like I'm dealing with a new person. I like it. I like the new Tito." | http://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/7/14/2276146/tito-ortiz-changes-mind-will-fight-rashad-evans-at-ufc-133/in/2027163 | 613 |
PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 10: U.S. Futures All-Star Tyler Skaggs #11 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches in the first inning during the 2011 XM All-Star Futures Game at Chase Field on July 10, 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The All-Star break begins with the MLB Futures Game. The best and brightest minor leaguers will play on Sunday.
On Sunday, the All-Star break will unofficially begin with the 2012 MLB Futures Game in Kansas City. This game pits the best and brightest of the minor-league players against one another with a U.S. team and a World team duking it out and trying to impress on a national stage.
The Arizona Diamondbacks will be represented by pitcher Tyler Skaggs, who replaced selection Trevor Bauer, who was of course promoted up to the majors last week. The Diamondbacks will also have a representative on the World roster, as right-handed outfielder Alfredo Marte will perhaps try to get a key hit off of Skaggs. We can dream, at least.
The game will begin at 2 p.m. PT and will be televised nationally on ESPN 2, or you can catch the game online at MLB.tv. | http://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-diamondbacks/2012/7/8/3144348/2012-mlb-all-star-futures-game | 271 |
|Diaz on Charlie Rose|
“Jaime Diaz has a gift in providing us with many of the finest, thought-provoking profiles of our industry,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “We may think that we know all that there is to know about golf’s top performers, until Jaime opens another door that causes us to pause and reflect upon the demands of this wonderful game.”
Diaz is the 23rd recipient of the journalism award. Beginning with the 1985 U.S. Open, he has covered more than 100 major championships. He has been awarded first place six times in the Golf Writers Association of America’s Annual Writing Contest.
“I am extremely honored and very humbled, because I’ve had a lot of help,” said Diaz. “I’ve probably been the luckiest golf writer in terms of where I’ve had the opportunity to work and who I’ve worked with. I’ve been especially fortunate at Golf Digest, where Jerry Tarde and his fellow editors are so supportive in allowing me to write in-depth articles about the important figures and issues in the game.”
Diaz began his professional career in 1975 at the Oakland Tribune as a “copy boy,” an entry position that offered a gritty, ground-level view of journalism. From 1978 to 1983, Diaz was a city-side reporter for the Sacramento Bee. He was then hired at Sports Illustrated, where he covered many sports including boxing, tennis and golf.
In 1989, Diaz moved to Golf Digest and soon after to the magazine’s owner at the time, the New York Times, where he was the golf writer until 1993. He then returned to Sports Illustrated to help launch the magazine’s Golf Plus section. He returned to Golf Digest in 2001, where he has remained a senior writer for the world’s largest golf publication, as well as its sister publication, Golf World.
Diaz’s books include teaming with Raymond Floyd in 1998 on The Elements of Scoring, and with Jack Nicklaus and artist Linda Hartough for Hallowed Ground: Golf’s Greatest Places in 1999. Diaz also wrote An Enduring Passion: The Legends and Lore of Golf in 2002. He recently assisted 1993 PGA Teacher of the Year Hank Haney with The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods, scheduled for release in March. | http://armchairgolfblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/diaz-to-receive-pga-lifetime.html?showComment=1327083491576 | 509 |
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