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NSU outscores GSW 4-1
Fort Lauderdale, Fla. - Darryl Gordon (Fr., Miami, Fla.) and
Romain Onteniente (So., Nice, France) scored two goals each with
Gordon's first goal proving to be the game-winner in a 4-1 result
in favor of Nova Southeastern (4-0) over Georgia Southwestern State
(0-5) on Sunday evening at the NSU Soccer Complex.
Onteniente opened the scoring in the sixth minute with his third goal of the season.
In the 23rd minute, the 'Canes broke an NSU shutout streak that lasted 295 minutes to begin the 2007 season as Thomas Sirmans scored after a corner kick, which deflected off the hands of Sharks' 'keeper Jarod Rennick (Sr., Allen, Texas).
For the game, NSU outshot Georgia Southwestern 27-7 in a physical game which featured 33 total fouls and six total cards.
GSW men will be back in action on Saturday, September 8, as they host Belmont Abby at 4:00 p.m. at the Hurricane Field. | http://gswcanes.com/sports/msoc/2007-08/news/gamestory9-3-07 | 245 |
On Wednesday, he thoroughly erased that memory.
Schlosser gave up three hits and a walk while striking out six over eight innings as Lynchburg blanked the Blue Rocks, 8-0, in the first game of the best-of-3 Carolina League semifinals.
When Schlosser took the mound against Wilmington on Aug. 24, he was roughed up for nine hits and three walks in five innings, striking out two. In the series opener, he flashed the same command that helped him lead the league with 13 wins and finish third with a 3.38 ERA.
"We had a good game plan going in and we stuck to it," Schlosser said. "I had command of all three pitches tonight. It was real nice, we jumped out to a lead in the first and after that I just tried to keep us in the game as long as possible."
Schlosser had fared well against Wilmington for much of his first full season in the Minor Leagues. In six regular-season starts vs. the Blue Rocks, he posted a 2.75 ERA. Overall, Schlosser went 13-7 with 139 strikeouts and only 39 walks in 165 1/3 innings.
"Yeah, I've faced these guys I think six times before, so they've seen me a lot, I've seen them," he said. "It helps a little bit. Last time, they got me pretty good and you tip your hat, but that's baseball. In six times, they'll get you once or twice. The last game, I wasn't making good pitches and they made me pay.
"But it was real nice, especially after that last time, to get back on track and pitch well enough to give us the win."
The 23-year-old right-hander also turned things around after going 2-3 with a 5.52 ERA in August, surrendering nine earned runs over 11 innings in his final two regular-season starts.
Simplifying things earlier this week made things go more smoothly on the hill Wednesday night, he said.
"I took this week pretty light, we toned down on the running and the throwing," he noted. "I even took a day off and didn't throw at all yesterday on the travel day. I stayed calm through the whole week, didn't want to do too much. It took me a little longer to get loose today, but after that I felt stronger."
The top of the order provided the most pop behind Schlosser. Leadoff man Dan Brewer went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and Nick Ahmed, who bats right behind him, contributed two hits, two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
No. 3 hitter Tommy La Stella chipped in two hits and three RBIs, while Emerson Landoni went 3-for-4 and scored twice. John Cornely struck out two in a perfect ninth to seal the win.
In other Carolina League action:
Myrtle Beach 4, Winston-Salem 1
The Pelicans took Game 1 of the other semifinal series as Tomas Telis delivered a bases-loaded triple to cap a four-run sixth.
Hanser Alberto also tripled in a run, while Rangers' No. 14 prospect Luke Jackson (1-0) yielded a run on three hits while striking out eight over five innings to earn the win.
Courtney Hawkins, a 2012 first-round pick, provided Winston-Salem's offense with a fifth-inning homer. Box score | http://gwinnett.braves.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120906&content_id=37974334&fext=.jsp&vkey=news_milb | 726 |
Sep 24, 2012, 8:58 AM EDT
The claws are out between Marlins owner Jeff Loria and Braves manager — and former Marlins manager — Fredi Gonzalez:
Jeffrey Loria is outraged with Fredi Gonzalez’s published comments in which the former Marlins manager said that no manager ever seems to please the owner. Gonzalez, who manages the Atlanta Braves, was quoted in Sunday’s Miami Herald as saying: “There’s not a manager dead or alive that Jeffrey thinks is good enough. Not Connie Mack, not anyone.”
Loria said that if Gonzalez made those comments, “I’m a little surprised because it’s classless — and you can quote me — especially because he was with us for five years and he was a colossal failure. Not nice. Not nice.”
I’m not the biggest Fredi Gonzalez fan in the world, but it’s worth noting that Fredi has somehow been successful since leaving Miami. Even last year’s epic collapse constituted a better overall season than the Marlins have experienced in close to a decade.
And Gonzalez’s basic point — that Loria can’t be happy with anyone — will be borne out if he fires Ozzie Guillen after one season. Because say what you want about Guillen, but he’s not the biggest problem with that team and that organization. The White Sox showed that you can win that guy, just like the Braves have shown they can win with Gonzalez. And the Yankees with Joe Girardi. And on and on.
- Wings stun Hawks again, take 2-1 series lead
- Posnanski: Once the best, Pujols now irrelevant
- Sports world keeps eye on Oklahoma tornado
- PBT: Vogel downplays war of words with LeBron
- HBT: Camera catches Marlins' Sanabia with spitball
- PBT: Howard reportedly frustrated with D'Antoni
- PBT: Durant, Thunder send support to tornado victims | http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/24/pick-a-side-everyone-jeff-loria-calls-fredi-gonzalez-classless/comment-page-1/ | 423 |
Kepa Police and Hawaii Prep are enjoying life at the top.
Police scored five goals Thursday in Waimea, leading Ka Makani to a 9-0 win over Kohala in a Big Island Interscholastic Federation Division II boys soccer match.
With its victory, HPA moved to the top of the BIIF Division II standings at 6-0, inching ahead of Honokaa and Christian Liberty, who both have 5-0 marks. Ka Makani has outscored its opponents by a combined score of 36-4.
Meanwhile, Police’s five goals give him 13 for the season.
Police received plenty of help against the Cowboys. Max Gent scored his first two goals of the season, Keisuke Ohtaka tacked on his fourth goal, and Juan Miche-Rosales scored his second.
Ohtaka has found the back of the net in each of HPA’s past three matches.
In goal, Trenton Wise blanked Kohala (0-6).
Makua Lani 4, Parker 3: Pono Ng produced a natural hat track in Waimea, scoring three first-half goals that gave the Makua Lani a 3-1 lead at intermission.
Senior Elijah Lingenfelder, who assisted on one of Ng’s goals, tacked on his ninth goal of the season in the second half for the Lions (4-3).
Senior Paul Gregg scored twice for the Bulls (1-5), and senior Evan Kasberg also found the back of the net.
Hawaii Prep 12, Kohala 0: Senior Jessica Benioni scored three goals in Waimea, giving her five for the season as Ka Makani (5-0-1) remained undefeated.
Rae Kennon scored twice for the second time this season, and Morgan Monahan, the team’s starting goalkeeper the entire season, notched her first two goals.
Ella Kotner collected her third and fourth goals, while Jah’nae Purdy, Jasmine Fojas and Erin Evans each scored once.
Monahan and Nanea Tavares combined to shut out the Cowgirls (0-5) in goal.
Kealakehe 5-0 15
Hilo 4-1 12
Keaau 1-3-1 4
Waiakea 1-6 3
Hawaii Prep 6-0 18
Honokaa 5-0 15
Christian Liberty 5-0 15
Konawaena 3-2 9
Makua Lani 4-3 12
Kamehameha 2-2-1 7
Ka‘u 2-4 6
Parker 1-5 3
Kohala 0-6 0
HAAS 0-7 0
Konawaena 5-1-1 16
Kealakehe 4-0-1 13
Waiakea 3-4 9
Hilo 2-1-1 7
Keaau 2-3 6
Hawaii Prep 5-0-1 16
Kamehameha 4-1 12
Honokaa 3-1 9
Makua Lani 1-4 3
Ka‘u 1-4 3
Kohala 0-5 0
Christian Liberty 0-6 0
Hawaii Prep 9, Kohala 0
Makua Lani 4, Parker 3
Hawaii Prep 12, Kohala 0
Konawaena at Kamehameha, 2 p.m. girls; 4 p.m. boys
Christian Liberty at Kealakehe, 6 p.m. boys
Parker at Keaau, 10 a.m. boys
Kohala at Hilo, 1 p.m. girls; 3 p.m. boys
Ka‘u at Makua Lani, 1 p.m. girls; 3 p.m. boys
Waiakea at Honokaa, 1 p.m. girls; 3 p.m. boys
Parker at HAAS, 3 p.m. | http://hawaiitribune-herald.com/sections/sports/local-sports/ka-makani-remain-unbeaten.html | 856 |
Flyers Unhappy with JVR?
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06-16-2010, 11:47 AM
Join Date: Mar 2007
Originally Posted by
If the Flyers had, say, Crosby instead of Giroux during this past playoff run, we'd be celebrating.
My god, everyone around here is a broken record.
It sucks we didn't win. Get over it. You can't control what happened, and you don't know what would've happened had you changed something.
Couldn't say it better myself.
I dont think I need to explain JXC's dumbass commenst anymore, fortunately.
edit: Kane's performance has nothing to do with what the Flyers decide to do with JVR, simple as that.
Last edited by Viller: 06-16-2010 at
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Find More Posts by Viller | http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showpost.php?p=26314050&postcount=94 | 181 |
Gomez to be bought out? - Louis Jean on FAN 590
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05-05-2012, 09:38 PM
Join Date: Jan 2003
Originally Posted by
Looks like buyouts will be a central issue for the new CBA, as owners are looking to get more wiggle room when it comes to underperforming players, it's a good thing camp waivers last till almost the end of september, as the CBA expires on the 15th of that month.
Unless it's already been decided they'll cut him out in the june 15th to 30th buyout period, expect Bergevin to stand pat concerning Gomez, till the CBA expires, unless of course, he can manage to trade him at a low cost.
If the plan is to send him to the AHL, logic would have one wait till the 11th hour of the official season roster before waiving him.
But hey, its miracleman Bergevin (I like him, just jabbin the media), who knows, he might just convince Gomez to go play in the KHL.
A true miracleman would be to trade him for an upcoming young star but that never happens...
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Find More Posts by Whitesnake | http://hfboards.hockeysfuture.com/showpost.php?p=49321337&postcount=363 | 262 |
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La Grande (20-5) vs. Banks (21-3), 6:30 p.m. Wednesday: Banks, third place in last year’s tournament, have several players who participated on the school’s softball state title team last spring. Banks’ top five scorer range in average from six to 10 points, led by Riley Gerlinger (10.5 points, 7 rebounds). La Grande finally gets to the tournament after losing first-round playoff games to the eventual 2011 and 2012 state champs. The Tigers’ top scorers are Lauren Mills, Breanna Partney and Denise Comfort, all averaging about 10 points a game. | http://highschoolsports.oregonlive.com/news/article/6175111290167227803/osaa-4a-girls-basketball-la-grande-vs-banks/ | 150 |
Stop reading now if your stomach cringes every time you hear the word '15 year-old phenom'. Allow someone else the bandwith to enjoy the absolute buffet of riches the NHL will feast on in just a few years.
The 2008 and 2009 NHL Entry Drafts will mark the coming of a new age of scoring dominance. With kids growing to bigger and bigger heights at younger ages, and NHL-calibre development programs available to youth hockey, the next breed of superstars will come into the league quicker and with a bigger impact than ever before. Forget wider nets: the solution to the Dead Puck Era is here, and it's all thanks to some freakishly good genes.
2008 is the year of the defenseman. In fact, there's an extremely good possibility four of the top five picks next year are defensemen. Why? Well, ask yourself this: what three qualities would you want in a New NHL player? Speed is desirable. And offensive skill. And hey, throw some size on there, too. That's just what the top blueliners in '08 have to offer. Four of the top six defensemen in this draft are 6'3 or bigger at age 17, and each one can skate with those six inches smaller.
1. Drew Doughty (OHL, Guelph Storm)
6'0, 185 lbs/Born December 8th, 1989
One of the oldest players in his draft class, Doughty is nevertheless an exceptional talent. He would be a top-three pick this year if eligible. As a sophmore with the Storm, the bluechip rearguard led the team in assists (53) and points (74), and finished third in goals on the squad with 21. An exceptionally intelligent player, Doughty's ability to command both ends of the ice is rare among forwards, let alone defensemen. A 100 point season is not out of the question next year as the team will continue to rely on his rapidly maturing game.
2. Alex Pietrangelo (OHL, Mississauga Ice Dogs)
6'3, 192 lbs/Born Jan 18, 1990
Drawing comparisons to Nick Lidstrom, Alex Pietrangelo is another rearguard with the rare ability to dominate both offensively and defensively. A ridiculous +40 on the season while also compiling 52 points in 59 games, Pietrangelo plays a physical game, but does so within the rules as his 45 PIM indicate. A long reach and excellent first pass complete the package.
3. Yann Sauve (QMJHL, Saint John Sea Dogs)
6'3, 212 lbs/Born Feb 18, 1990
Similar to Pietrangelo in overall ability, Sauve was not able to contribute as quickly in his rookie major junior season due in part to the terrible team on which he played. However, an 80+ point campaign is not out of the question for the physical, offensively gifted defenseman.
4. Michael Del Zotto (OHL, Oshawa Generals)
6'0, 190 lbs/Born June 24th, 1990
Another gem from the Ontario League, Mike Del Zotto chipped in 57 points as a rookie defenseman. Known for his big, accurate point shot, superb agility and great puckhandling, Del Zotto is the perfect powerplay quarterback. Every touch of the puck can become something dangerous. Case in point: during the Gold Medal game of the Canada Winter Games, the creative rearguard received the puck at the blueline, and surprised Manitoba's goalkeeper with a textbook wrister.
5. Luke Schenn (WHL, Kelowna Rockets)
6'3, 209 lbs/Born November 2nd, 1989
The class of the WHL's 2008-eligible rearguards, big Luke Schenn uses every inch and pound on every shift. On first glance, his 29 points as a WHL sophmore don't compare to his peer bluechippers. However, a closer look reveals the Rockets were so bad in 2006-07 that those 29 points were third-best among all players on the squad, and his 27 assists second-most. In addition, Schenn stockpiled 139 PIM to lead the blueline. With the size and skill to score double that many points next season, Schenn is 2008's answer to Dion Phaneuf.
6. Colten Teubert (WHL, Regina Pats)
6'4, 180 lbs/Born March 20th, 1990
Another big boy on D, there's more to the former 1st overall Bantam pick than just size. A smart positional player with a meanstreak, Teubert can physically control a game in the way Chris Pronger could and still does. With just 11 points, however, Teubert is still learning how to best use his giant frame.
Outside of the blueline, there's plenty of talent in '08. Zach Boychuk (WHL, Lethbridge Hurricanes) finished tied for second in league scoring with 91 points. Steve Stamkos of the Sarnia Sting led that team in scoring with 42-50-90 in just 63 games. David Toews, the younger brother of Jonathan Toews, has been a force for Shattuck-St. Mary's in the States and could emerge as a top-ten pick. Jimmy Hayes, a 6'3, 200 lbs power winger and two-way centreman Colin Wilson are the best forwards from the US.
Deepest draft ever? 2009 could very well be. The big name is of course John Tavares, who scored 71 goals and 134 points as a sophmore for the Oshawa Generals. But there's a franchise defenseman, two superstar Euros and some kids from out of Atlantic Canada to watch for. Remember this when you read about these fine prospects: in any other year, each of the top 11 would be a clear-cut number one pick, top-three at worst. Now you know why scouts think it's deep.
1. John Tavares (OHL, Oshawa Generals)
6'0, 183 lbs/Born September 20th 1990
How good is John Tavares? Last year, he might have been a top-ten pick. This year, he'd go #1. In 2008? Same story. However, we'll have to wait until 2009 to see his name called. Tavares is a goalscorer of the rarest level, with the ability to find the back of the net like only Mike Bossy and Brett Hull could. A 200-point season is not out of the question by the time Tavares is draft-eligible. An underdeveloped skater, that facet of the 16 year-old's game is his only weakness.
2. Steve Anthony (NSMMHL, Dartmouth Subways)
6'2, 190 lbs/Born March 21st, 1991
Not all phenoms can be big-time scorers in major junior two years before their draft year, and Steve Anthony is a good example. Playing Midget AAA as a 15 year-old for the top-notch Dartmouth Subways program, Anthony finished 1st on the team in goals (33) PP goals (15) and SH goals (3) enroute to a 63-point season in 35 games. In the playoffs, the highly-regarded forward has taken it up another notch, scoring 8-16-24 in just nine games. An exceptional player in every aspect, Anthony's skating, shot, hands and size combine to make him the next star power forward.
3. Magnus Pääjärvi (Swedish J20, Malmo)
6'3, 187 lbs/Born March 12th, 1991
Another 15 year-old playing at a relatively high level, Magnus Pääjärvi suited up for ten games in a league meant for 18-20 year-olds. All things considered, he did a-okay, potting 3 points. A dynamic forward with incredible hands and offensive instincts, Pääjärvi is a prodigy not seen in Sweden since Peter Forsberg.
4. Devon MacAusland (NBMAAADL, Moncton Flyers)
5'8, 145 lbs/Born May 23rd, 1991
Already receiving major attention due to out-of-this-world offensive production in minor hockey, tiny Devon MacAusland buoyed his stock into the stratosphere at the Canada Winter Games. The 2006 New Brunswick Midget AAA Rookie of the Year finished second in Winter Games tournament scoring, notching 21 points in just six games. An all-world playmaker with superb anticipation and hands, MacAusland's uncanny ability to find the open man generated 13 goals during the Games.
5. Victor Hedman (Swedish J20, Modo)
6'4, 211 lbs/Born December 18th, 1990
One of the most hyped Swedish defensemen in years, Victor Hedman has, at the age of 15, cemented his status a consistent offensive contributor for the powerhouse Modo organization's U-20 affiliate. The youngest player on the squad, the monster rearguard with mouth-dropping agility posted 10 points and a +10 rating in 2006-07. Tied for 12th in league scoring by defenseman, Hedman looks poised to break several records as he moves up the Swedish hockey ladder. A huge slapshot, a rough-and-tumble game and tremendous offensive awareness to go along with mature-beyond-his-years positioning and poise are the tools of a future NHL superstar.
6. Toni Rajala (B-Junior, Ilves)
Born February 29th, 1991
One of two stellar Fins in the '09 class, Rajala is the Finnish version of Sidney Crosby, having dominated the attention of the media as a 15 year-old playing with 16 year-olds. Tied for 9th in league scoring with fellow phenom Erik Haula, Rajala's on-ice vision was on full display during a 32-point campaign. An excellent skater, passer and finisher, Rajala can and did dominate contests.
7. Erik Haula (B-Junior, Assat)
5'8, 156 lbs/Born Febuary 23rd, 1991
A late surprise last season, Erik Haula's C-Junior debut as a 14 year-old was overshadowed by Rajala. However, as Haula's equal and even superior in the early rounds, there is no doubt competition at the top of the Finnish 1991 class. Haula's ability to both finish and create with aplomb make a dangerous weapon every shift.
8. Sam Calabrese (Team Illinois Midget AAA)
5'10, 160 lbs/Born February 18th, 1991
Featured in Sports Illustrated as a 13 year-old, American phenom Sam Calabrese is a throwback to the highest-calibre rushing defensemen in league history. One of the best skaters his age in the world, Calabrese's ability to guide the puck through a crowd is worth the price of admission alone. If the potent rearguard can add even two inches, he will be a contender for 2nd overall. Right now, he's what Bobby Orr was before a teenage growth spurt gave him the size to take a beating.
9. Jared Cowen (Spokane Chiefs, WHL)
6'5, 207 lbs/Born January 25th, 1991
When you're 16 years old and have the frame to be the tallest guy in almost NHL dressing room, scouts are going to salivate. Such is the case with defenseman Jared Cowen, far and away the most coveted player at last year's Bantam Draft. But size isn't the mammoth rearguard's only asset. Scoring 28 points for the Saskatchewan Contacts of that province's Midget AAA league, Cowen has stepped onto Chiefs blueline for last few games of the season and made an immediate impact, notching two assists in six contests.
10. Andrei Kuchin (CSKA 2, Russia-3rd)
5'10, 165 lbs/Born February 11th, 1991
You may as well call Andrei Kuchin Mr. Tournament. In 2005, the then 14 year-old participated in the Nike Bauer International Bantam AAA Invitational, and came away the tournament's leader in goals (7) and PPG (2.50). Kuchin also scored a hat-trick in the deciding game of the Tretiak Cup, lifting CSKA's 1991-born team over a Toronto Bantam squad. And at the Toronto Prospects Hockey AAA tournament in March of '06, Kuchin finished tied for first in goals (9), second in points (14) and even finished three points ahead of Devon MacAusland. Altogether in 2005-06, Kuchin tallied 43-44-87 in 28 tournament games. The next big-name Russian forward, Kuchin's domination of his kids his own age has led to an unprecedented spot in the Russian 3rd pro league as a 16 year-old. One of the best technical skaters around, and with the hands and mind to make moves at top speed, he is without question a premier prospect for '09.
11. Matt Duchene (Central Ontario Wolves, ETAM)
5'11, 160 lbs/Born January 1st, 1991
One of the youngest committed recruits in Michigan State University history, Matt Duchene was 15 when he made the decision to attend that school when his Midget hockey days were over. It's not really surprising why MSU would take on the forward so early. There's something about a player that age scoring 184 points in 64 games in Midget AAA that draws attention. Capable of dominating a game with just his shot, Duchene also possesses top-flight speed and a knack for finding the open space. | http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=220:2009-a-hockey-odyssey&catid=16:bugg&Itemid=97 | 2,897 |
|July 1, 2012||Tweet|
|Written by Dobber|
|Sunday, 01 July 2012 08:27|
Happy Free Agent Frenzy Canada Day!
Souray (to Ducks), M. Samuelsson (to Red Wings), Garrison (to Canucks) impact forthcoming...
What did I tell ya? And who are the suckers? The Vancouver Canucks. Jason Garrison for six years at $4.6 million per year. I hope for their sake he gets at least 13 goals and 30+ points, because "defense" alone isn't worth all that. See the Bryan Allen line below for the market on "defense" and minute- munching.
Bryan Allen has signed with Anaheim for three years, $10.5 million.
Matt Frattin has re-signed with the Leafs, two years on a one-way contract ($850,000 per).
Jordin Tootoo has signed with the Detroit Red Wings, three years, $5.7 million.
Goaltender Cedrick Desjardins signed a two-way deal back with Montreal. If I were him, I would have waited a few weeks. The market is not going to get any worse for him.
Aaron Rome has signed with Dallas for three years.
Tampa Bay has signed Sami Salo. Just like working Canadians, if you play for the Canucks you want to wind things down at the end of your career in Florida (Ohlund, Salo...)
Toronto has signed Jay McClement to a two-year deal.
Pittsburgh has signed Dylan Reese.
San Jose signed Adam Burish for four years.
Adrian Aucoin has signed a one-year deal with Columbus.
Nashville has signed goaltender Chris Mason to a one-year deal worth $1.25 million. There is your Rinne backup.
The Islanders have signed Eric Boulton. One year.
The Panthers have signed George Parros.
Chicago has signed Sheldon Brookbank to a two-year deal.
Greg Zanon has signed with the Colorado Avalanche.
The Rangers have signed Michael Haley to a two-year deal.
The Kings have re-signed Dustin Penner. A one-year deal.
The Habs have signed Francis Boullion to a one-year deal.
Rangers have signed Kris Newbury for two years.
Phoenix has signed goaltender Chad Johnson.
The Florida Panthers have signed Filip Kuba to a two year, $8 million deal.
Tanner Glass has signed a two-year deal with the Penguins. He replaces...
Arron Asham, who signed with the Rangers.
Matt Carkner has signed a three-year deal with the Islanders.
Columbus has signed Curtis McElhinney
Pittsburgh has signed Riley Holzapfel
Brad Staubitz signs with Anaheim.
Colby Armstrong, bought out by the Maple Leafs, has signed with the Montreal Canadiens for on year, $1 million.
And the Wild have lost a guy - Guillaume Latendresse has signed with the Ottawa Senators. A great addition, but a Band-Aid Boy. One year, $1.2 million.
Minnesota has also signed Torrey Mitchell. Really adding to their character, these two signings, which compliments the skilled kids on the way in.
The Minnesota Wild have signed Zenon Konopka to a two-year deal
The Penguins have signed goaltender Jeff Zatkoff to a two-way contract. Zatkoff was in the Kings' system, but was getting buried there.
Ottawa has signed M. _undin
(okay, that was Mike Lundin)...
The Rangers have re-signed Stu Bickel.
The Hurricanes have signed Joe Corvo (one year) and Justin Peters (two years). No fantasy relevence.
Tampa Bay has re-signed Benoit Pouliot.
Florida nas re-signed Scott Clemmensen.
Jordan Staal has signed a contract extension with the Hurricanes for the same numbers that he turned down in Pittsburgh. This time, however, he's playing with his brother. So 10 years, $60 million.
Ryan Smyth has re-signed with the Oilers for two more years at $2.25 million per year.
Whoever signs Jason Garrison will regret it within 18 months. The situation reminds me of Ron Hainsey. Inflated evaluation of his offensive ability will cause him to be tremendously overpaid – and then two years from now, (insert team here) fans will be defending his contract because he “eats minutes” and is “strong defensively”. Just remember, (insert team here) fans – the contract he signs today will be due to his 16 goals, and not because he “eats minutes” and is “strong defensively”. I’m sure you’ll forget I ever warned you, though.
I just read a blog that recommended their team sign Mike Knuble. I love bloggers and I love blogs, but this is a perfect example of why their thoughts should not be taken as gospel.
Add Mike Santorelli to your free agent list. He has been/will be bought out by the Panthers.
Speaking of the Panthers, I think if they acquired Roberto Luongo it would be a mistake. Not with Jacob Markstrom a year away. To me, it would be a statement indicating their lack of faith in their prized prospect. To me, Dale Tallon is in the driver’s seat. If Mike Gillis wants to unload that contract to this team that isn’t hurting terribly for goaltending, then he better be prepared to give him away for cheap.
I’m seeing several articles about how Olli Jokinen is probably the best UFA center available. That is true, but it was also a known fact back in March when Mikhail Grabovski signed. Even I commented on how Grabovski might have been the top UFA center available, had he let his contract expire. But yes, this free agent crop is thin, with the trend being that teams either re-sign their players or they trade them to another team that will re-sign them.
The more I think about it, the more I believe that Pittsburgh is the best fit for PA Parenteau. Wow would his points skyrocket, even above the somewhat inflated number from last season.
Hybrid icing will be tested in the AHL – one of several changes that I figured would be coming, as noted in Wednesday’s ramblings.
As I mused on Twitter:
1. There is no way an insurance company insures that contract for less than $3 million per year. It just doesn’t make sense to do that, as you are essentially betting that he will be healthy at least three years of every four.
2. There is no way the Pittsburgh Penguins would pay more than even half that to insure a contract, because that’s like paying another player’s salary.
3. I would have still signed Crosby to that contract though.
What I was unable to muse about on Twitter, thanks to the limited characters, was the reasoning. What’s a Cup worth? If the Penguins win two Cups in the next 13 years, did they get their $104 million back right there? I say they do.
Crosby was under a lot of pressure to get the extension signed this summer – and not during the regular season or next summer. You see, after September 15th, contracts will be limited to seven years. Or something like that. The new CBA will see to it. It was another thing I noted in my CBA musings from last week – possibly a limit of five years if the player is over 30, but seven years otherwise.
I’ve seen a couple of enforcers get bought out – Eric Godard, Matt Bradley. Will teams learn from this? You need to make sure that the player can offer other facets of the game, and that the price tag fits the player. Same can be said for all role players, actually. See Armstrong, Colby. We’ll know if all GM’s are paying attention to this if Brandon Prust signs for a reasonable number.
So, no. They aren’t paying attention.
WOW – salary cap growth:
2005-06 _ $39 million
2006-07 _ $44 million
2007-08 _ $50.3 million
2008-09 _ $56.7 million
2009-10 _ $56.8 million
2010-11 _ $59.4 million
2011-12 _ $64.3 million
Besides Free Agent Frenzy, today is also the big launch of DobberFootball – starting in July (i.e. now) the columnists are posting, the rankings are expanding and this bad boy is rolling.
After Justin Schultz signed with the Oilers, I saw a lot of Tweets describing how the Oilers suck. Not always in so many words and not just from fans – but from media too. Insane how some so-called hockey people are so shortsighted. The worst managed hockey team in history would still have a winner out of these Oilers. How do you not win in the future with Hall, Yakupov, Hopkins, Eberle, Hemsky, Gagner up front, and now Schultz leading the back end? These are the same dummies who said the Penguins suck, back in 2006… or the Blackhawks suck, back in 2008. If my name is Justin Schultz and I’m a free agent, I wouldn’t even talk to 29 NHL teams. I’m signing with the Oilers. Well, okay, I’d speak with the Penguins as well…
Parenteau beats Reimer:
|Last Updated on Sunday, 01 July 2012 19:36| | http://hockey.dobbersports.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4726:july-1-2012&catid=24:rambling | 2,065 |
Story last updated at
Thursday, July 18, 2002
20 years ago in the Homer News
A local task force pushing the new Homer High School charges that the borough is dragging its feet on land selection to delay construction a year, and the parties offering to sell the land say they are in the dark about the deal.
Homer District Court Judge James Hornaday announces he will seek re-election to the bench in the fall, despite an earlier announcement that he would retire because of the controversy that arose over his adoption of a stiff, 15-day sentencing policy for first-offense drunk drivers. | http://homernews.com/stories/071802/his_071802his0220001.shtml | 122 |
HOUSTON -- The Astros on Friday called up outfielder Fernando Martinez from Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he was hitting .314 with 13 homers, 62 RBIs and a .367 on-base percentage. He will join the team in time for the series opener against the Brewers and will wear No. 21.
The move gets the Astros' active roster back to 25, with infielder Tyler Greene also joining the club Friday after being acquired in a deal with the Cardinals on Thursday. The Astros optioned infielder Matt Downs and outfielder J.D. Martinez to Triple-A following Thursday's game.
Fernando Martinez was with the Astros earlier this season and hit just .067 in four games before being put on the disabled list after suffering a concussion. He did his rehab in Triple-A and remained there when he was activated from the DL.
The Astros claimed him off waivers from the Mets in January.
Considered one of baseball's top prospects from 2006-10, Martinez, 23, was billed as a power-hitting outfielder who was expected to be a cornerstone of the Mets' lineup throughout this decade. But multiple injuries and an arthritic right knee prevented Martinez from appearing in more than 82 games in any of the past three seasons.
Martinez spent the majority of the 2011 season at Triple-A Buffalo, but he did have a brief stint with the Mets. In 63 games with Buffalo, he hit .260 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs. He also had brief stints with the Mets during the '09 and '10 seasons, appearing in a combined 36 games in that span.
Astros legend Bagwell throws out first pitch
HOUSTON -- The loudest cheers Friday night came prior to the game when Astros legend Jeff Bagwell threw out the ceremonial first pitch during "Flashback Friday." In celebration of their 50th anniversary, the Astros have a different former player throw out the first pitch prior to each Friday home game.
Bagwell tossed the pitch left-handed to Astros infielder Brett Wallace because of the degenerative right shoulder condition that forced him to retire after the 2005 season.
"Well, I can't throw right-handed, so I had to throw left-handed," Bagwell said. "It was fun. I wish we had more people here, and it's not for me, for the team. Times are tough right now, but we're going in the right direction. It's all good."
Bagwell has kept a low profile since deciding not to return as the team's hitting coach following the 2010 season, a job he held for the second half of the year. He's still listed in the team's media guide as a special assistant to the general manager.
When asked what role he'll play in the future, he was non-committal.
"I just want to wait and see what's going on and see what direction we're going in, and we'll [decide] at some point," he said.
Bagwell, who will be on the Hall of Fame ballot for a third time this offseason, was charged with an error when he threw the 24-karat gold leather covered ball with the Astros' 50th anniversary logo into the stands as he walked back to the dugout.
Greene happy to join Astros, hopes to be part of future
HOUSTON -- Infielder Tyler Greene, who was acquired from the Cardinals in a trade on Thursday, joined his new team Friday afternoon, though he wasn't in the starting lineup. Greene found some friends in bench coach Joe Pettini, formerly of the Cardinals, and former Minor League teammate Chuckie Fick.
"There's a lot of familiar faces in the clubhouse, which is nice," Greene said.
Greene will split playing time at shortstop with Marwin Gonzalez, with Gonzalez getting most of the starts against right-handed hitters. A switch-hitter, Gonzalez was hitting .292 vs. right-handers entering Friday and .119 against lefties. Greene is hitting .245 against lefties.
"I'm excited about this opportunity to join a new ballclub, a new franchise," he said. "I'm just looking forward to coming out here and helping to contribute in any way I can with this team."
Greene, who won a World Series last year with Cardinals, joins an organization that's rebuilding, and he wants to be part of the trend upwards.
"I'm going to bring the work ethic, all the information I learned from the Cardinals organization and try to help out any way I can, and hopefully that's for the present and the future," he said.
Paredes likely to be called up in September
HOUSTON -- Those clamoring to see Jimmy Paredes back in an Astros uniform might not have to wait much longer.
Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow said Friday that Paredes, who's playing center field for the RedHawks, will join the big league club when rosters are expanded in September, assuming all goes well the next few weeks. Paredes entered Friday hitting .322 with 12 homers, 53 RBIs and 31 steals.
Luhnow said the Astros chose to call up Fernando Martinez instead of Paredes on Friday partly because Paredes hasn't had much time in the outfield. He has played six games in the outfield, mostly in center, after playing most of the season at second base.
"We wanted Paredes to get his reps out in center field," said Luhnow, who pointed out the Triple-A center field job became open when Brandon Barnes was promoted to Houston earlier this week. "He's going to play there the rest of the month. Assuming that goes well, we're going to see him here in September. It's hard to learn a new position in the big leagues. I've seen that happen before, and it can be a big challenge. We don't want to put that on him right now."
Paredes, a switch-hitter acquired from the Yankees in the Lance Berkman trade two years ago, had played second, third and shortstop before the Astros opted to move him to the outfield recently. He started at third base for the Astros the final two months of last year.
"He's very capable of playing center field and he has all the tools in the world," Luhnow said. "Ultimately, that may end up being his best position given his speed, his ability to throw and that stuff. Clearly, he can hit and he's proven that. I'm excited. We'll see him at some point."
Another one of the Astros' top prospects, second baseman Delino DeShields Jr., was promoted to high Class A Lancaster on Friday after hitting .298 with 10 homers, 52 RBIs, a .401 on-base percentage and 83 stolen bases at Class A Lexington.
"He's absolutely earned it," Luhnow said. "You could argue his promotion was overdue at this point, and I'm excited to see what he can do at the next level. He's definitely put himself on the map as a player we want to see here in the next couple of years. I can't wait."
Outfielders discuss possibility of removing Tal's Hill
HOUSTON -- Astros owner Jim Crane has said on a pair of occasions the club is considering getting rid of Tal's Hill, the incline that's in play in straightaway center field in Minute Maid Park. That could cost the Astros a little bit of a home-field advantage.
Center fielder Justin Maxwell made a diving catch on the hill Thursday, a play which he said he learned to make after chasing a Garrett Jones ball to the hill earlier this year and having his legs unexpectedly cut out from under him.
"[Thursday], as I felt myself on the warning track right before I was going to catch the ball, I jumped just so I wouldn't trip because I knew if I was going to run full speed I was going to fall like last time," he said. "But I'm glad I made the play."
Fellow center fielder Jordan Schafer said earlier this year he hoped the hill would be removed because of the risk of an injury, but Maxwell -- who has ample power -- is torn.
"It's good for our pitchers, just because that part of the ballpark is so huge," he said. "And from a defensive outfield standpoint, I don't have to worry about the wall and I can run for a day. I like it for defense, but as a hitter, if they want to get rid of it, sure." | http://houston.astros.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120810&content_id=36462566¬ebook_id=36453598&vkey=notebook_hou&c_id=hou | 1,766 |
Harare: Bangladesh's middle order carried them to a comfortable six-wicket win over Zimbabwe to end the host's surprise winning start in the Twenty20 tri-series on Thursday.
Nasir Hossain and Mahmudullah shared an unbeaten half-century partnership to take Bangladesh to 153 for 4 at Harare Sports Club, overhauling Zimbabwe's 149 for 8 with more than two overs to spare.
Mashrafe Mortaza took 2 for 28 as the Zimbabweans posted a below-par total after beating Bangladesh and South Africa in their opening two games in the three-team tournament.
Bangladesh\'s middle order carried them to a comfortable six-wicket win over Zimbabwe in the T20 unofficial series.
Opener Hamilton Masakadza (56) made his third half-century in three games for the Zimbabweans but had little support.
Hossain (41 not out) and Mahmudullah (29 not out) saw Bangladesh home with an unbroken 54-run stand after it was 99-4 in the 14th over with Mushfiqur Rahim's run out. | http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cricketnext/bangladesh-end-zimbabwes-winning-start/365192-78.html | 229 |
Sports gods are omnipresent to many, even though they don't exist
After huge victories -- or defeats -- athletes are quick to reference sports gods
Gods, Devils are not strange bedfellows in sports, where they are indistinguishable
Imagine God on ceiling of Sistine Chapel, his right index finger raised to Adam
On Sunday J.J. Henry led the Byron Nelson Championship by a stroke on 17, at which time he hit his tee shot six yards over the green, double-bogeyed the hole, finished tied for third and told the press, "I thought I hit a good shot but the golf gods thought otherwise." And with that, responsibility lay not with Henry, nor even a single supernatural force -- a soft-spiked, hard-hearted golf god -- but with a whole panel of multiple gods subjectively critiquing his performance, like the judges on American Idol.
An idol is a false god, and sports are overrun with these malevolent beings. Not the idolized athletes, but the dubious gods who look down on games from arena catwalks and ballpark floodlights and the TV towers near golf greens, the gods who determine -- based on little more than a whim -- which team will win and which team will lose. They're like David Stern but not as fearsome.
Imagine the God on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, his right index finger reaching out to Adam, only that index finger is an oversized foam finger, and the Adam in question is Adam Henrique of the New Jersey Devils. Those Devils beat the Rangers on Monday night, behind two goals from captain Zach Parise, who said afterward: "I think the hockey gods were on our side tonight."
If gods and Devils seem like strange bedfellows, they're not in sports, where gods and devils are indistinguishable. Frequently vengeful, always partisan, sports gods taketh away while forgetting to giveth, or giveth while neglecting to taketh away. During the Celtics-Sixers game Monday night, Dick Stockton and Chris Webber talked about the resident "leprechauns" at TD Garden -- they relocated from the old Boston Garden, evidently -- as if the Celtics really did employ a small staff of lucky charms who subsist primarily on Lucky Charms.
The morning after that game, I woke to this tweet from the sportscaster Len Berman: "The baseball Gods are laughing. Top 4 payrolls all in last place. Yankees/Red Sox tied for last, Phillies and Angels also in basement."
This was a welcome departure for the baseball gods, who historically looked with frontrunning favor on the Yankees. It's why Washington Senators fan Joe Boyd had to sell his soul to the Devil for his team to have any hope of beating the damn Yanks in Damn Yankees -- because the Yankees were already backed by multiple gods, if not God Himself. In 1926, a United Press correspondent put it this way, while writing from -- where else? -- the World Series: "The Yanks players admitted that the baseball gods, if there are any ... gave them the fifth game of the series in St. Louis yesterday."
That sentence doesn't merely highlight the century-old relationship between the Yankees and the gods, but also reveals a rare instance of agnosticism: If there are any?
It's the most fundamental question in sports theology: Do you believe in gods? Not God, with a capital G and a long white beard, but gods, with an s, smiling on us, laughing at us, mocking us, quick to anger and loath to let that tree kick your tee shot back into the fairway.
The answer, according to even the most cursory review of the literature, is Yes: We do believe in sports gods, even as we dislike them intensely. I will probably be punished for saying so, but they are lazy, constantly in arrears, owing us favors but seldom repaying them -- or repaying them so late that we resent their very repayment.
And they've always been that way. "The basketball gods owed us one," Oral Roberts coach Scott Sutton said last season, after his team beat Arkansas-Little Rock. "The hockey gods owed us one," the Bruins' Glen Metropolit said after scoring against the Canadiens in the 2008 playoffs. "I felt the golf gods owed me one," Ernie Els said in 1997 at the World Championship of Golf. "The football gods owed us that one," George Seifert said in 1995 after his Niners beat the Rams. And on and on and on they go, back to the beginning of the 20th century.
These are deadbeat gods, avoiding the phone when the cosmic collection agency comes calling, living under any number of assumed names. Sometimes the gods are called fate, sometimes luck, sometimes leprechauns. When Chelsea beat Bayern Munich in the Champions League final on penalties last Saturday -- after losing the 2008 final to Manchester United on penalties -- the team was said to have "vanquished ghosts" (Reuters) and "exorcised ghosts" (ESPN, The Guardian), thanks in part to goalkeeper Petr Cech, who was "not haunted by [the] ghosts" of four years earlier (Express).
If all this sounds implausible -- ghosts, gods and devils, intervening in sports -- bear in mind: As of this morning, the Yankees were a game out of last place, and the baseball team in Washington was in first. | http://images.si.com/2012/writers/steve_rushin/05/23/sports.gods/index.html | 1,119 |
MV’s Kazmierski named T-T top athlete
Mountain View volleyball’s middle hitter, Kayla Kazmierski, had a busy week. First, the senior registered nine kills and six aces in a 3-0 win over Montrose. Then, she attacked the net with 21 kills and four blocks to help the Eagles halt Dunmore’s 41-match Lackawanna League winning streak in a four-set victory, 15-25, 25-16, 25-21, 25-18.
Family: Mom, Christine; dad, Allan.
Other sports I play: Basketball, softball and track.
Favorite team: North Carolina basketball.
Athlete I admire: LeBron James, because he’s an amazing athlete.
Favorite food: Pizza.
Favorite movie: “Love and Basketball.”
What’s on my iPod: Li’l Wayne.
Superstitions and rituals: I actually don’t have any, just because I know I’d forget to do it, and then I would not be able to stop thinking about it and then I’d do bad.
Biggest sports thrill: In my sophomore year, I scored the winning basket against Montrose. In the first half, we didn’t beat them, we lost by one point. I was so excited. It was just a hook shot or a little jumper, but I’d never been so happy in my life.
Coming in against Dunmore, what were some of your feelings? I was excited. I didn’t really know what to expect just because we had gotten beat by them so many times. Our coaches said we had a chance, more of a chance this year than any other year. I was excited. I was hoping we would win it.
Dunmore won the first set, but then Mountain View swept the next three. What were the keys to winning those sets? Just keep each other up. Keep playing as hard as we were, because it was just one game and we still had more to come.
Any goals or expectations for the rest of the season, for you and for the team as a whole? To make it to districts, first of all, and win a couple of games in districts then make it to states. We need to play together and keep each other up, just work together as a team.
Three people I’d like to have dinner with: Shaquille O’Neal, my grandpa and my mom.
Post-graduation plans: I want to go to a four-year college, play basketball and major in exercise science. | http://independentweekender.com/index.php/2010/09/29/mvs-kazmierski-named-t-t-top-athlete/ | 558 |
Baltimore's plans with Reed
February, 8, 2013
By Tim Kavanagh | ESPN.com
Coming off a Super Bowl victory, the Baltimore Ravens get some time to enjoy themselves, but then it's back to work quickly, as they need to make decisions on their own impending free agents before hitting the market for additions and then moving ahead to the NFL draft. One of the big questions this offseason is how they're going to proceed with S Ed Reed, a foundation of their defense for the past decade.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider | http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/nfl/rumors/post?id=1453 | 115 |
|Saints’ actions worse than Spygate||03.05.12 at 7:18 am ET|
You can’t make this stuff up.
In a time of unprecedented sensitivity to player health — thanks in large part to increased knowledge of the terrible mental and physical fallout from concussions — and a commissioner seemingly very intent about doing everything in his power to at least slow down what has become an epidemic, we learned last Friday that the Saints were guilty of running a bounty system that payed players $1,500 for knocking an opposing player out of the game and $1,000 if he was carted off the field. And the payout was doubled or even tripled for postseason games.
Reckless and disgusting enough for you? And don’t give me the “every team does this” angle, either. I don’t doubt it has happened and is still happening in other cities, but to this extent? Wonder what Marc Savard or Dave Duerson‘s family would think about it. But it gets better — before the 2010 NFC title game, defensive captain Jonathan Vilma reportedly offered $10,000 to any player to knock Brett Favre out of the game. And guess who ran (and contributed money) to this bounty pool? Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. And when coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis found out about it, they did nothing to put a stop to it.
Because boys will be boys, right? This is war, got to do whatever it takes to win and all that dated macho baloney. This is 2012, not 1952. We know things that they didn’t. There’s a reason why people aren’t smoking on airplanes or in hospitals anymore. It’s called progress. And that’s why this is worse than Spygate. I have no clue (and neither do you or anyone else) when it comes to what kind of competitive advantage the Patriots received by videotaping (or how often they did or didn’t do it), but they violated NFL rules. They cheated, got busted and paid a very real price for it. I had no problem with the punishment from Goodell then and it seems about right 4½ years later.
But Spygate didn’t hurt anyone, didn’t attempt to knock players out of a game and possibility into a lifetime of postcareer hell (Ted Johnson as one of hundreds of examples). This is a physical game, of course. No one wants this to be the Pro Bowl for 16 games. And yes, every player knows what he’s walking into when he puts on a uniform. But shouldn’t the rules be enforced? A clean hit that knocks a player out is part of the game. I get that. But this is something else. What the Saints were doing borders on criminal. And they knew all of that and just didn’t care. Turns out that Williams, Payton and Loomis are three gutless morons who are about to cost the Saints (and themselves, actually) some serious money and draft picks.
Look, I’m not Roger Goodell‘s biggest fan. I thought he was wrong to suspend Ben Roethlisberger — no arrest was made, no charges were pressed — and he should have kept his mouth shut last year when he told Peter King that he felt “deceived” by Bill Belichick following Spygate. And, as is the case with almost every commissioner in history, there’s no doubt that he will take side with ownership over the player nearly every single time. But he’s done as good a job as can be expected with this tsunami of concussion knowledge over the last half-decade or so. Has it been perfect? Nope. But I get the impression that Goodell’s attempts to combat these injuries are authentic. At the very least he’s been extraordinarily outspoken on the issue of player safety and hasn’t been shy in suspending and fining players for hits that could lead to concussions.
And that’s what makes the actions of the Saints over the last three years either breathlessly arrogant or historically stupid. OK, probably both. Oh, and also this: The NFL warned the Saints in 2010 about the bounties, told them to knock it off or else, basically. And the Saints nodded and told the NFL they felt very bad about it indeed and would never do it again. Then they kept on doing it.
We can get into the cover up vs. crime and and which is worse and why do these guys always lie about this stuff, but on this I think we’ll all agree — the minute the Saints continued the policy after being told to stop is exactly when they dug the ol’ grave. Goodell now has no choice — none — but to slap the NFL’s version of the death penalty on these dopes.
Here’s what I’d do: Three first-round picks and suspensions for every single player that either kicked in or collected money. And Sean Payton — who for some reason is getting kind of a free pass nationally on this one; think the same would be true if we learned Matt Patricia ran a bounty system around here? — needs to be suspended and fined heavily as well. He at least enabled the entire circus, and it was his buddy, convicted felon Mike Ornstein, who kicked $10,000 into the pool (and bragged about it in e-mails to Payton). I’d suspend Payton half a season and Loomis (who, again, lied to ownership and the NFL) a full season.
As for Gregg Williams, I’d kick him out of the NFL. Goodbye. He has a history of running bounty pools in Washington and Buffalo — though, amazingly, no other coaches who worked with Williams seem to recall this happening — and when asked about it by the NFL during its New Orleans investigation reportedly denied any prior history of such activity.
He has to go. In the 2012 NFL, where we are told that player safety is paramount, there is no place for coach who pays players money to try to hurt other players and then lies about his already lengthy history of doing the same thing in other places. Let Williams spend the rest of his life in court trying to get his way back into the league.
If Roger Goodell is conservative in his punishment on this he’s a complete fraud. He’s fined players millions and millions of dollars for these hits over the last few years (and I’m OK with that) and has made his case as player safety enforcer thousands of times in the media. Well, he has a chance to end bounties forever. Set a precedent that guarantees there will be no chance for it to happen again. The Saints gave Goodell the middle finger for three years, just lied and ignored him as coaches handed out money for who knows how many concussion-inducing hits. Goodell needs to be brutal in his punishment or it’ll be awfully hard to take him seriously on this issue again.
Gregg Williams (who maybe should have spent more time worrying about stopping Matt Hasselbeck and Alex Smith in the playoffs the last two years) and the Saints played the tough guy act the last three years. They lied and lied and lied and lied some more, all while collecting money for trying to put players on a stretcher, and now Roger Goodell has to slap the Saints around. Only the toughest punishment in NFL history would be appropriate.
2013 PATRIOTS DRAFT PICKS
2013 NFL DRAFT
- Jason Vega Speaks With the Pulpit
- Rob Gronkowski Undergoes Successful Forearm Surgery
- Patriots Sign WR Mark Harrison, K David Ruffer; Fill Roster
- Brandon Spikes Absent From Patriots OTAs
- New England Patriots Links 5/20/13 - Brady Better Than Ever; OTAs Begin
- Dwight Freeney Signs With Chargers; Pats Showed 'Last Minute Interest'
- USA Today: Gronkowski Dealing With Back Issue, Could Face (Another)... | http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports/newengland/football/patriots/2012/03/05/saints-actions-worse-than-spygate/ | 1,672 |
Hanley driving in runs
Any doubts about Hanley Ramirez’s ability to drive in runs are now being put to rest.
Solidifying the No. 3 spot in the lineup, the Marlins 25-year-old All-Star shortstop is on sizzling RBI streak. Since 21, he has driven in at least one run in seven straight games. Over that span, his total is 17, including four home runs.
Ramirez now has a team high 51 RBIs to go along with his .333 batting average, .400 on-base percentage and .548 slugging percentage.
Until this season, Ramirez was primarily Florida’s leadoff hitter. In that role, he was a run scorer. The past two seasons, he scored 125 times in each season, which matched his franchise record. He also led the Major Leagues in runs scored in 2008, a first ever by a Marlin.
The question this year was how would Ramirez adapt to batting third?
His career most for RBIs is 81 in 2007.
We’re seeing the answers. Ramirez is on pace for 107 RBIs this year. He also has 24 doubles this year, putting him on pace for 51, which would establish a franchise record. In 2006, Miguel Cabrera had 50.
This year, Ramirez has been especially dangerous with men on base. With the bases empty, he’s hitting .286. But with runners on, he is hitting at a blistering .392 clip, including .433 with runners in scoring position. With the bases loaded, he’s 4-for-6 (.667) with three grand slams.
– Joe Frisaro | http://joefrisaro.mlblogs.com/2009/06/29/hanley-driving-in-runs/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=d763d6158f | 344 |
Marlins line up their pitching
Grapefruit League play will get going on Thursday when the Marlins face the Nationals at Roger Dean Stadium.
Start time is 1:05 p.m. ET, with the gates opening around 11:30 a.m.
Anibal Sanchez will make the start for Florida, and throw about 35 pitches (or two innings). Also slated to pitch on Thursday are Rick VandenHurk, Taylor Tankersley, Seth McClung, Scott Strickland and Dan Meyer.
On Friday, the Marlins will visit the Mets at Port St. Lucie. Chris Volstad is scheduled to start, followed by Hayden Penn, Chris Leroux, Cristhian Martinez, Brian Sanches and Derrick Turnbow.
On Saturday, the Marlins are back in Jupiter, taking on the Cardinals in the first of two meetings over the weekend.
Josh Johnson will make his Grapefruit League debut on Saturday, with the start time set at 1:05 p.m. ET. Clay Hensley, Brett Sinkbeil, Chris Schroder, Renyel Pinto and Leo Nunez also are lined up to pitch.
Tickets for all Marlins home games at Roger Dean Stadium are available on www.marlins.com. Gates open 90 minutes before the scheduled first pitch.
– Joe Frisaro | http://joefrisaro.mlblogs.com/2010/03/03/marlins-line-up-their-pitching/?like=1&_wpnonce=13170383b7 | 274 |
Red Sox - 000 110 100 - 3 6 0Four consecutive pitches from Wakefield with one out in the first inning -- Crosby double, called strike, Cust RBI single, Thomas 2-run dong -- put the Red Sox in an early hole.
Athletics - 304 001 00x - 8 8 1
Oakland got four more runs off Wake in the third. A walk and two singles brought in one run, then Ellis whacked a three-run dong to left, and it was Oakland 7-0.
Pedroia homered in the fourth. Ellsbury drove in Boston's other two runs: singling in Drew (who had doubled) in the fifth and Lugo (who had reached on an infield error) in the seventh.
Tampa Bay shut out Baltimore 2-0 to move back to 1.5 GB. The Yankees pounded Seattle 13-2, but remain locked in the basement.
Tim Wakefield (4.33, 99 ERA+) / Rich Harden (2.91, 131 ERA+)
Back on May 15, I noted (expected, hoped, etc.) that the Red Sox were going to "put an obscene beating on both the Brewers and Royals".
The team went 7-0, outscoring Milwaukee and Kansas City 49-28. That may not be obscene, but it'll do. The team batted .300/.377/.520 while holding its opponents to a .219/.312/.388 line.
Tonight starts a ten-game road trip with three in Oakland, three in Seattle and four in Baltimore. Then it's back to Fenway for a three-game AL East showdown with the Devil Rays.
As you can see by the schedule, the Sox have put together separate losing streaks of 3, 4 and 5 games as well as separate winning streaks of 4, 5, 6 and 7 games. All in the first 50 games of the season. | http://joyofsox.blogspot.com/2008/05/g51-red-sox-at-athletics-10-pm.html?showComment=1211595480000 | 393 |
Originally published on Tue November 20, 2012 9:38 am
RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:
NPR's business news begins with credit card debt rising.
Americans are running up more debt on their credit cards, and that could be a good sign. The average American had almost $5,000 of credit card debt in the third quarter of 2012, up almost 5 percent over the previous quarter. Industry analysts say the increase is partly seasonal, as people are spending more ahead of the holidays. But they also say it could reflect growing consumer confidence, which has been on the rise since July as job numbers have gradually improved nationwide. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio. | http://kacu.org/post/business-news-121 | 140 |
CU Denver shows off new mascot
DENVER — CU Denver announced its new mascot Thursday morning: a Canada lynx named Milo.
Milo (the name is a combination of the terms “Mile High City” and “LoDo,” the locations of CU Denver’s campuses) was selected by students, alumni, faculty and staff through a series of surveys, the university stated in a media release.
“Chances are, if you were a CU Denver student, alumnus, faculty member or staff member during the 2011-12 or 2012-13 academic years, then you were part of the mascot development process,” the release read.
Many surveyed also expressed interest in a beer-related mascot recalling the Auraria campus’s history as a brewery. But school officials opted to avoid any alcohol references over concerns that they could raise questions about campus culture.
“As an educator of young people and in accord with federal law, the university is committed to providing an environment that takes responsibility for the appropriate and legal use of alcohol in our community,” former chancellor Jerry Wartgow wrote in an open letter. “I believe that using a Brewer or alcoholic beverage to be our mascot would create questions regarding the use of alcohol on our campus and is inappropriate.”
Milo will represent the school at various events, including hockey, soccer and volleyball games. The costume version of the character was designed by Utah company Alinco Costumes, which has also created mascots for the Chicago Blackhawks, Seattle Seahawks and dozens of other professional and college teams.
A logo version of the mascot, along with branded merchandise, is in the works, school officials said. | http://kdvr.com/2013/02/07/cu-denver-shows-off-new-mascot/ | 350 |
Concordia Takes Down SCSU
10/04/2010 - 11:30 AM
The St. Cloud State volleyball team headed to St. Paul this past weekend to take on the three-time defending national champion Concordia-St. Paul and the Golden Bears showed why they are a volleyball power, sweeping the Huskies in three sets.
Concordia gave the Huskies their first loss in three matches, winning by scores of 25-14, 25-17 and 25-9. The Huskies were led by senior captain Ashley Shields as she posted six kills in the contest.
SCSU is now 9-5 overall and 4-2 in the always rugged NSIC. The Huskies will return home Tuesday night for a matchup against the ferocious Peacocks of Upper Iowa.
Subscribe to what interests you. More information about podcasts and software. | http://kvsc.org/archive/sports-detail/concordia-takes-down-scsu-10-04-2010/1650/ | 177 |
Search of Calabasas landfill fails to find gun used in teen’s slaying
After two days of searching a landfill, Los Angeles police and community volunteers have abandoned efforts to find the gun used in the slaying of a well-liked 17-year-old El Camino Real High School soccer player, officials said.
Francisco Rodriguez was gunned down in Winnetka as he stepped into his frontyard after a girl knocked at his door.
Two suspects have been arrested: Elizabeth Ibarra, 19, who police believe lured the victim outside, and Jason Schumann, 24, who allegedly fired the shots from a vehicle.
Schumann has been charged with murder and is being held on $2-million bail. Ibarra has not been charged but remains in jail on a probation violation. She had recently served a jail sentence for forgery.
Officers and volunteers scoured the Calabasas Landfill, examining hundreds of tons of garbage but did not find the handgun that investigators believe Schumann tossed in the trash after the Jan.11. shooting.
The killing shocked students at the high school and members of the tight-knit soccer team, which played a game hours before the slaying. Police said a romantic conflict may have sparked the shooting.
Sources say Ibarra had met Rodriguez at a party and came to know him while Schumann was serving a jail sentence last summer.
-- Richard Winton
Photo: Police and volunteers sift through rubbish Wednesday looking for the gun used in the slaying of Francisco Rodriguez.
Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times | http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/01/soccer-player-killed.html | 326 |
Published February 20, 2013
| Fox News Latino
In 2010, two California Highway Patrol officers came under gunfire when they were helping a fallen officer.
The officers, Rafael Rivera and Sean Haller, braved the gunshots to try to save a local policeman, Javier Bejar, who was shot while serving a warrant to a man wanted in a series of arsons. Haller and Rivera engaged in a shootout with the suspect, and Rivera made diligent attempts to remove Bejar from the line of fire. Rivera continued trying to move Bejar even as the suspect began firing directly at him.
For their bravery, Rivera and Haller are among 18 recipients of the Public Safety Medal of Valor.
The honor, which Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder presented Wednesday at a White House ceremony, is the highest national award of its kind for law enforcement officers and firefighters.
The award recognizes “officers who exhibited exceptional courage in saving and protecting others and whose heroic actions were above and beyond the call of duty,” according to the Bureau of Justice Assistance Web site.
The medal, awarded annually, grew out of an act of Congress in 2001.
The White House issued a statement saying Officers Rivera and Haller exhibited great personal courage, while putting themselves in danger in their efforts to save Officer Bejar’s life.
As Haller fired at the suspect, Ricky Liles, Rivera managed to move Bejar from the scene.
Bejar, whom the suspect shot with a high-powered rifle that was outfitted with a scope, did not survive.
Bejar was a five-year veteran of the Reedley Police Department, where he first started working when he was just a teenager. He also served in the U.S. Marine Corps. | http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/community/2013/02/20/latino-officer-among-white-house-medal-valor-honorees/print | 363 |
Sports > Schools
Girls basketball: Lewisville hopeful a healthy team makes the difference
In 2012, Lewisvillle's girls basketball team entered the season with lofty expectations only to be decimated by injuries throughout, resulting in the Farmers breaking a run of 6-of-7 years in the postseason.
This year the Farmers are already dealing with injuries again, but head coach Charlotte Jones is confident Lewisville will be healthy near the start of district and continue to make progress in the interim.
The key to Lewisville's success could be the health of Jada Butts, a first team all-district selection last year. The recent TCU signee injured her knee early in district last season and missed the rest of the campaign - just weeks after her sister Aubree suffered the same fate - and saw her first game action on the court Thursday in the Allen Lady Eagles Hoopfest.
"[Jada] looked great," Jones said. "She wasn't hesitant at all and didn't miss a beat. It was like the injury never happened."
Also dealing with injuries at the moment are returning varsity players Monisha Neal (second team all-district) and Anita Udabor. Both are expected to return in December.
"We've been doing pretty well considering we've lost a few players already," Jones said.
Forward Elena Bailey and guard Elizabeth Simon provide the Farmers with even more experience.
Newcomers to the squad include guard Nikeia Scott, forward Ashley Campbell, post Mariah Flores, post Naomi Hawkins and post Precious Agu.
"We have a little more size than we've had in the past," Jones said. "Naomi is just a freshman but has been starting in the post and Mariah has been doing a very good job of rebounding for us. And Precious is up from JV and she is a 6-foot-3 senior who has been playing well."
Also at forward, Campbell not only contributes in the post but can step out and knock down the jumper, while Bailey brings more versatility.
"With more size, we're not quite as fast as we've been in the past," Jones said. "We're still going to try to run and push the tempo, but we can also slow it down and play in the half court setting. And our posts have the ability to make jumpers."
At guard, Scott has stepped up her performance with the early absences of Butts and Neal, and Campbell has seen time in the backcourt.
Lewisville's positional balance has also helped defensively.
"I've been impressed with our ability to change defenses," Jones said. "Whether it's man or zone, we've been able to flip and flop between defenses. We have a lot of different combinations of what we can do depending on who is on the court.
"I like the deep bench we have and the seniors on the team are doing a great job of bringing the younger ones along. We're a lot further along than maybe even I thought we would be at this time."
While Lewisville is progressing, the Farmers still have issues they are looking to nail down before district play rolls along.
"We're still working on our execution and being more patient," Jones said. "A lot of the girls have gotten so used to speeding the game up and getting quick shots that we really have to work on taking good shots when the game slows down. The execution needs to get better throughout."
With a healthy roster intact, the Farmers are hopeful they can make a return to the postseason. To do so, Lewisville will have to finish in the top four of a six-team District 5-5A that includes Flower Mound, Hebron, Marcus, Coppell and Denton Ryan.
"I've gotten a chance to see a couple of the teams in our district already," Jones said. "They all look good and we're going to have our work cut out to get back to the playoffs. Nothing is going to be easy, but that's one of the reasons we set up a tough preseason schedule to get us ready." | http://lewisvilleleader.com/articles/2013/01/08/sports/schools/lewisville/193.prt | 840 |
Standing tall: Wakeland, Frisco lead group of medalists
The Wakeland boys swimming team trailed Houston Stratford by just one point entering the final race of Saturday’s Class 4A state swimming and diving meet in Austin.
The team’s 400-yard freestyle relay knew a top finish would mean taking home gold in the final team standings. Despite setting a school record in the event, the team of junior Brayden Seal, freshman Samuel Kline, senior Coleman Phelps and senior Zachary Kline ended the race in third place with a time of 3:08.46 to give Wakeland 203 points.
Stratford swam a 3:06.54 to take top honors in the event and the final standings, ending the two-day meet with 212 points.
“It just wasn’t meant to be,” said Melissa Rose, Wakeland head coach. “It’s bitter-sweet because we were so close, but I’m also super proud of the kids.”
The race capped a well-rounded performance from Seal, who earned gold medals in the 500 free and the 200 free.
“[Seal] had an outstanding meet,” Rose said.
Seal joined Frisco’s Nicholas Hook and Lone Star’s Cody Holland to give Frisco ISD four of the 12 goal medals in the boys events.
“We’ve had quite an impressive run from some outstanding swimmers,” said Bruce Eubanks, Frisco head coach. “We’re really proud of that.”
The group also led a charge of swimmers that gave Frisco ISD medalists in 11 of the 12 events on the boys side.
“I know it’s been said many times,” Rose said, “but one of the best things about being in Frisco is the support from the community. It’s absolutely amazing.”
The Lady Raccoons led the way on the girls side, with Frisco taking home a bronze medal in the team standings.
“I felt like going in, we had a shot at second,” Eubanks said, “but it just didn’t end up that way. I was pleased overall with the results though.”
Headlining Frisco’s meet was the 200 medley relay with freshmen Mallori Allen, Hailey Jenkins, Rylee Lin and senior Allie Walsh earning the silver medal with a time of 1:50.31.
Frisco’s third-place finish on the girls side and eighth-place finish in the boys meet allowed the team to come away with fourth place in the combined team scores.
That finish could have been higher if not for a disqualification from the boys 200 medley relay team after an early start kept the Raccoons from earning any points in the event.
“It would have given us sixth instead of eighth,” Eubanks said. “Things happen.”
With the Wolverines giving Wakeland a fifth-place finish in the combined team scores, Rose earned the Class 4A Coach of the Year after sweeping the award in the district and regional meets earlier in the year.
“I was very shocked by this one,” she said. “It’s quite an honor when your peers think that highly of you. It’s really reflective of my kids though. I don’t think it has a lot to do with me.”
Lone Star ended the meet 17th in the boys standings and 27th on the girls side. Liberty earned 34th from its boys and 19th from its girls.
Leading the Redhawks was sophomore diver Mathew Phillip, who took the bronze medal in the one-meter diving with a score of 314.80.
The girls one-meter diving saw Frisco sophomore Ashleigh Dehls take sixth-place with a score of 375.50 to edge out Liberty freshman Lauren Burrell (365.70).
“[Dehls] is a sophomore, so finishing sixth at the state meet is a great job,” Eubanks said. | http://lewisvilleleader.com/articles/2013/02/28/sports_update/5152.prt | 885 |
Click here to learn more about Tanner Raboin's battle and the legacy he leaves.
Matt Murray is a freelance writer who has been blogging about the Los Angeles Kings since 2006. He also produces the Hockeywood Insider podcast in association with KLAC 570AM. If you have
questions, or would like to inquire about advertising on the site, please feel free to e-mail Matt. | http://lifeinhockeywood.com/2012/12/03/black-parade-matt-greene.aspx?ref=rss | 79 |
Saturday, November 22, 2008MACON, Ga. _ The site of the biggest accomplishment for the Lpscomb Lady Bisons volleyball team became the site of their biggest disappointment.
What a difference a year truly makes.
Saturday night at the University Center on the campus of Mercer University the Lady Bisons fell 3-0 to arch-rival Belmont in the championship match of the Atlantic Sun Tournament. Last season it was the Lady Bisons who were celebrating their championship on the University Center floor.
In the wake of the loss, Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal chose to look ahead. He has no doubts that his team will return to the tournament for a fifth straight time in 2009.
“I'm proud of my players and I am proud of this season,” said Lipscomb coach Brandon Rosenthal. “After a couple of weeks after this has had time to sink in it will be a good learning experience.
“We have nothing to be ashamed of. We took the program to another level. With the players we have coming back and the players we have coming in the future looks very bright for us.”
The Lady Bisons lost set one 25-22, set two 25-21 and set three 25-19. One thing he is proud of is that the team never quit.
“I really liked what we did,” said Rosenthal. “I thought we played pretty well throughout the match, but around 19-17 in set one we made a couple of bad plays and they really took the momentum and ran with it.
“The scores were fairly competitive. I thought we did a real nice job of coming out and being the aggressor. It was hard to lose that way, but I would rather my players go down fighting. Even in the last couple of points of the match our players really fought hard. That takes a lot of character.”
In each set they jumped out to quick lead, but couldn't sustain the momentum. About midway through the second set Rosenthal saw something from his team he had not seen all season.
“Last year we did a nice job with all 14 of us really working together,” said Rosenthal. “I felt like we started out that way against Belmont, but about midway through the match we struggled a little bit with so many errors. And instead of trusting each other and trusting what we have done all year we kind of broke down.
“That hasn't happened all year. That is something we will address, not now, but in the future. It will be a good learning tool for us.”
Middle blocker Alex Kelly led the Lady Bisons with 11 kills and outside hitter Katie Rose added 10. Setter Stefine “Jake” Pease made 28 assists and added one service ace.
Libero Jessica Turner ended her college career with 16 digs, a match high.
“It's a shame Jessica had to go out on this note,” said Rosenthal. “But she had wonderful career. She is a big reason we have had success over the past four years.”
Belmont's Cat Mundy made a match-high 15 kills.
Pease and Kelly both were named to the All-Tournament Team.
“There were some things I wish we could have done a little differently,” said Rosenthal. “But our hats are off to Belmont and the way they played.”
The Lady Bisons finished the season with a 21-11 record, the highest victory total in the history of the program. Belmont is 25-7 overall.
|Copyright ©2013 Lipscomb University Athletics. All Rights Reserved.||www.LipscombSports.com| | http://lipscombsports.com/volleyball/news-print/2008-09/4447/lady-bisons-look-ahead-to-next-year-in-wake-of-championship-loss/ | 774 |
Welcome to this season's first Friday Night Live!
Welcome back everyone. I'll be live chatting from the Permian-Montwood game. No El Paso team has beaten Permian since 1962.
@Fbmom, We will work on getting you that Coronado score as soon as we can.
Frenship 23, Riverside 6. Final.
End 1st Q - Central and Franklin tied 7-7
Central retakes the lead on 13 yard TD pass to Landon Sawyer. 14-7 over Franklin 11:11 2Q
Franklin ties it up in 2 plays on a 52-yard bomb to Salayandia - 14-14 with Central 10:43 2Q
@yoshi - Yes, kickoff is at 7 p.m.
Central has 3rd and inches from the Franklin 8 yard line. Game is tied 14-14 7:44 2Q
Breaking news: Montwood will start Wes Myers at QB for first series. Then go to junior Jacob Aguilar. Coach Chuck Veliz will go from there.
Jordan Charles 7 yd TD run gives Central 21-14 lead over Franklin. 7:42 2Q
Odessa Permian radio guys just said the SAC is one of the nicest stadiums they visit.
What do you guys think of the decision to start Myers?
But Aguilar is 6-3 220 rocket arm. He's also the future as a junior?
@Jesus - We will be at some games but try to update as many scores as possible.
Central forces a punt and is driving with 1:31 in the half, leading Franklin 21-14 | http://live.elpasotimes.com/Event/High_school_football_Week_1_Friday_Night_Live_2?Page=0 | 340 |
NEW YORK -- The Angels are still not expected to be big players in the sweepstakes for the Brewers' Zack Greinke or the Phillies' Cole Hamels -- two premium starters whose teams are reportedly trying to lock them up long term and thus avoid losing them to free agency.
But if Ervin Santana continues to struggle, and Dan Haren's disabled-list stint doesn't heal his stiff lower back, can that change?
"That remains to be seen," Angels general manager Jerry Dipoto said Friday, a day two of his scouts were in Miller Park watching Greinke pitch. "It's not like we're looking at this as a volatile time [for the rotation]. Ervin's 100-percent healthy, we're just looking to get him back on track, and Danny's making terrific progress. And I don't necessarily think we're going to be having discussions like this a month from now. As I told you before, I think the best moves that we can make are getting Ervin back on track and getting Danny healthy."
The prognosis, at least in these early stages, looks positive for Haren, who had an encouraging bullpen session in Anaheim on Thursday, is slated for another one at Inland Empire, Calif., on Saturday, and looks to be on track to return from the disabled list at or around the time he's eligible -- this coming Thursday.
The Angels still have to decide who starts in Haren's place on Tuesday -- a decision that may come down to Brad Mills or Garrett Richards -- but they're hoping they only have to fill his spot once more.
And they seem confident that a couple of weeks off will make all the difference for Haren, who has posted a 4.86 ERA while giving up 16 homers in 17 starts.
"He feels a lot better," Angels pitching coach Mike Butcher said. "His stuff looked really good yesterday -- I mean really good; getting through the baseball like he can, delivery looked better. He was really tight [in his back] to where it really affected his delivery; he wasn't able to get through the ball like he can. So, I think we'll see a different guy when he comes back. He'll be a lot more healthy."
Santana doesn't have the benefit of using injury as an excuse. His arm is totally healthy and, by all accounts, his stuff and velocity are fine. His problem is location. More specifically, as Butcher noted, it's not locating well enough early in counts, causing him to pitch from behind too frequently.
That could be a byproduct of lacking confidence, perhaps stemming from getting hit around early in the year.
"When a pitcher goes out there, and you give up home runs or what have you, you might tend to lose a little confidence," Butcher said of Santana, who has posted a 5.75 ERA and has given up 20 homers in his 17 starts. "And that's why guys start nibbling a little bit. I think once he starts being the aggressor, starts attacking the strike zone, I think we're going to see better results out of Ervin."
Angels option Mills to Triple-A Salt Lake
NEW YORK -- Needing to create roster space in order to activate Jerome Williams for Saturday's start, the Angels optioned left-hander Brad Mills to Triple-A Salt Lake after their 6-5 loss to the Yankees on Friday night.
That takes Mills out of the running for Tuesday's start and means that he won't get another turn despite hurling five shutout innings in a win over the Orioles on Sunday.
"I'm surprised. I'm disappointed," Mills said. "I never know the circumstance, so I don't know if I was being sent down no matter what, if it had the chance of being an extended look. Obviously, there was a lot of other factors going on, but I want to be up here, I want to stay up here. I'm kind of at the point in my career where I've gotten enough spot starts in little stretches here and there. I want an extended look."
The move also appears to open the door for Garrett Richards to start in place of Dan Haren on Tuesday, but Richards gave up 12 runs in 8 2/3 innings over his last two starts for the Angels and struggled in his first start back with Salt Lake on Thursday, charged with eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.
Trout says meeting Sheen was 'really cool'
NEW YORK -- Every now and then, Mike Trout will get these little reminders about just how popular he's become over these last few months.
The latest came during the just-completed All-Star Game. It had nothing to do with being selected, or all the media attention he got leading up to it, or even the pats on the back from future Hall of Famers.
It came after everything was done -- when Charlie Sheen told him how big a fan he is.
"Really cool, man," Trout said. "It was great to meet him. A lot of people say that you talk to people that are on TV shows and stuff like that, and they sound different. But he's just like he is on 'Two And A Half Men.' That's pretty crazy."
Trout had just finished up a meal at The Capital Grille in Kansas City with his brother on Tuesday night, a few hours after getting a hit off R.A. Dickey and drawing a walk against Aroldis Chapman in the All-Star Game, when waitresses told him Sheen was outside. So, Trout figured he'd introduce himself.
He didn't have to.
"He knew who I was," Trout said before playing his first game at Yankee Stadium, which is about a three-hour drive from his hometown of Millville, N.J. "He follows baseball and stuff like that. It was pretty neat. Just seeing him and all the shows he's done, it's pretty crazy. He was pretty chill. ... He said he loves what I do."
To Trout, though, the biggest celebrity sighting was actually Adam Sandler in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., a couple of years ago -- except Sandler didn't have any idea who he was at that point.
With Sheen, Trout played it cool.
His brother, Tyler, didn't.
"He was in the background shaking," Trout said. "It was pretty neat for him to meet him, too. Pretty cool."
Iannetta would like to remain with Angels next season
NEW YORK -- The second half is a very important one for three Angels players with lingering club options in their contracts. Two of them are struggling starters Dan Haren and Ervin Santana, who have 2013 options worth $15.5 million and $13 million, respectively.
The other is catcher Chris Iannetta, who can't seem to get back on the field.
Iannetta is working on his third month on the disabled list right now. It began with May 11 surgery on his right wrist, and has continued due to a right forearm strain suffered from trying to come back too fast. For next season, Iannetta -- acquired from the Rockies in exchange for pitcher Tyler Chatwood in the offseason -- has a $5 million option in his contract. That's pretty affordable for a solid player at a premium position with scarce talent elsewhere, but these next three months can have a lot of say in the Angels' decision to exercise it.
Iannetta knows one thing.
"I would love to be back here," he said prior to Friday's series opener at Yankee Stadium. "I think it's a great team and a great organization, a chance to win in an awesome location and city. There's not a better opportunity that I can foresee at this point. I'd like to be back here. Definitely would."
And you'd think the Angels would love to have Iannetta, considering general manager Jerry Dipoto traded for him, and their offense behind the plate is very shaky without him. But in their system, the Angels have Hank Conger, who's 24, is completing his seventh pro season, and is playing well at Triple-A.
"That's something that I could either think about and worry about, or just worry about getting back and just letting it take care of itself," Iannetta said. "If for some reason something happens, and it doesn't turn out the way I would like, I can't do anything about it. The only thing I can do is try to get back healthy, and once I'm back healthy, play as well as I can. That's going to dictate what happens in the future."
Iannetta's getting there. He has extended his throwing program to about 150 feet -- and that's as far as he'll stretch it -- and is scheduled to throw to bases when the team gets to Detroit early next week. If that goes well, he should finally progress toward a rehab assignment.
"It's very frustrating," Iannetta said of the recovery process. "The only thing that's keeping me in a good place is that the team is winning. If we were struggling, it'd be even harder."
The Angels signed 36 of the 38 players they took in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft before Friday's 2 p.m. PT deadline. The only two who didn't sign were shortstop Jeff Kemp (a 31st rounder) and catcher Justin Morhardt (39th). The Angels, who didn't have a pick in the first two rounds, spent "well below" their signing-bonus pool, general manager Jerry Dipoto said, but that money doesn't roll over for next year.
Vernon Wells (thumb surgery) is taking live batting practice on the field. Manager Mike Scioscia estimates he'll need to do that for another week, but since he's been running and throwing, he won't be far from starting a rehab assignment shortly thereafter.
Albert Pujols appeared to tweak his ankle while stepping on second base for an RBI ground-rule double in the eighth inning. But Scioscia said he's fine and expects him to start Saturday.
Mike Trout was the Angels' winner of the Heart and Hustle Award, which, according to a release, is given by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association to "active players who demonstrate a passion for the game of baseball and best embody the values, spirit, and tradition of the game." Toward the end of the year, fans, all Alumni and active players will vote to select the final winner from the 30 team winners. Torii Hunter was the recipient in 2011; Albert Pujols won it while with the Cardinals in '09.
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120713&content_id=34886110¬ebook_id=34885900&vkey=notebook_ana&c_id=ana | 2,262 |
Three-way tie for first place
A 10-3 wallop of Arizona capped off a nice series for the Reds, who moved into a three-way tie for first place in the NL Central with the Cardinals and Brewers. Cincinnati scored 20 runs and had 38 hits in the series. It was the first sweep while on Pacific time since 2005 against the Padres.
The Reds are six games over .500 at 20-14. After 34 games, they haven’t been in first place this late into a season since they were 36-24 on June 8, 2006.
Each time after games in the clubhouse, the music is loud and the confidence is high. Not since 2006 have I seen the team on this kind of roll. But these younger players seem to be enjoying themselves more. Brandon Phillips, who drove in four RBIs, had a beauty of a quote tonight and it pretty much sums it up.
“Our swagger is real nice right now,” Phillips said. “We’re picking each other up. Our team chemistry is gorgeous. Everybody is rooting for everybody. When one person gets a hit, you see everybody in the dugout going crazy. This is the best team I’ve played. Guys on this team are great. They pick each other up.” | http://marksheldon.mlblogs.com/2009/05/14/three-way-tie-for-first-place/?like=1&_wpnonce=fb65bac995 | 269 |
Gonzalez traded to Boston
Gonzo is the latest Reds veteran to have gone elsewhere.
SS Alex Gonzalez cleared waivers on Friday and was traded to the Red Sox for Class A Minor League shortstop Kris Negron. Cincinnati also sent cash to Boston in the deal.
“The Red Sox had interest in Gonzo and have had problems at shortstop,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. “We viewed this as an opportunity for him to play for a contender in a possible playoff situation.”
This move isn’t too stunning, to say the least. Gonzalez was in the final guaranteed year of his contract and the Reds held a $6 million option for 2010 with a $500,000 buyout. It always seemed unlikely the club would have picked that up.
In 68 games this season during a woeful season production-wise, Gonzalez batted .210 with three home runs and 26 RBIs. His on-base percentage was .258.
When you look at the return against the three-year, $14 million contract he signed with the Reds in the 2006-07 off-season, and Gonzalez was a bust. He batted .248 over his tenure and missed all of 2008 with a knee fracture. He missed a month this season because of elbow surgery. His defense is superlative but I still don’t think it added up to a successful run in Cincinnati.
Paul Janish will get the bulk of playing time at shortstop. Adam Rosales could also play there once Scott Rolen returns from the DL to play third base.
“I didn’t find out until I got to the yard,” Janish said about the trade. “Actually I stopped to sign autographs right before I got into the parking lot and one of the guys out there told me. I didn’t know. When I got in here, I found out. It’s bittersweet. Alex is a great dude but obviously this is a huge opportunity for me so I’m excited.”
Not Chris Valaika or Todd Frazier – both will remain in the minors for now.
“We think they should stay down and keep developing,” Jocketty said.
First baseman Kevin Barker was called up from Triple-A Louisville to take Gonzalez’s roster spot. Barker will be a left-handed bat off of the bench.
In 111 games for Class A Salem, Negron batted .264 with three home runs and 34 RBIs. The Reds will assign him to Class A Sarasota.
“We got a young player back that we like,” Jocketty said. “He has average-to-better tools in every category. We’ll see what happens.”
Since July 31, the Reds have dealt Jerry Hairston Jr., Edwin Encarnacion, David Weathers and now — Gonzalez.
Keep an eye on the Bill Hall situation with the Brewers. I’ve learned that the Reds have some interest. Hall was designated for assignment earlier this week but has yet to clear waivers. Jocketty did not want to comment on Hall, who is owed $11 million still by the Brewers. It’s likely his next team could pick him up for the league minimum. | http://marksheldon.mlblogs.com/2009/08/14/gonzalez-traded-to-boston/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=9514d1f115 | 683 |
The doping-drug Epo has an impact in the brain
Sportsmen and women dope with the blood hormone Epo to enhance their performance. Researchers from the University of Zurich now discovered by animal testing that Epo has a performance-enhancing effect in the brain shortly after injection and not only after days by improving oxygen transport in blood. As Epo also increases motivation, it could be useful in treating depression.
The well-known blood hormone Epo is not only used for medicinal purposes; some athletes misuse it for doping. It boosts the number of red blood cells, thereby increasing the transport of oxygen to the muscles. This leads to improvements in performance, which can especially give endurance athletes such as cyclists or marathon runners the edge.
Epo has immediate impact on exercise performance
In a recently published study, Max Gassmann, a veterinary physiologist from the University of Zurich, proved that Epo also drastically increases motivation in the brain as soon as it has been injected, without the number of red blood cells increasing.
Gassmann's team tested exercise performance of differently treated mice, studying genetically modified mice that produce human Epo solely in the brain and mice that the researchers had injected with Epo and the hormone reached the brain thus by blood. Both mouse groups exhibited an increased performance on the treadmill compared to the untreated control animals. "We assume that Epo in the brain triggers a motivation boost to increase physical performance," explains Professor Gassmann. He and his team are now testing the performance-enhancing effect of Epo on volunteers.
Epo probably has an impact on people's moods, too. It might thus be used in patients who suffer from depression. The latest experiments conducted by a German-Danish research group reveal that Epo can also alleviate the condition of patients suffering from schizophrenia by improving their mental performance.
Provided by University of Zurich
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February 21, 2008
SCR-I Teams Face Stiff Competition at Districts
Basketball fans will get to see three of the state’s top teams at the Class 2 District 6 Tournament next week, even if it means driving to Moberly to do it.
Scotland County will be in action February 25 and February 26 as the Tigers and Lady Tigers open play at Moberly Area Community College.
The boys bracket is lead by #9 ranked team in the state, Paris. The Coyotes earned the top seed in the bracket and will seek to avenge last year’s semi-finals upset by Scotland County.
The Tigers earned the #4 seed and will have to open play against #5 Westran on Tuesday, February 26th at 6:00 p.m. The winner will take on the winner of the Paris vs. Milan (#8 seed) contest.
Knox County is the #2 seed and will take on #7 seed Marceline while Canton (#3) will open against last year’s district champions, Salisbury, the #6 seed.
The Boys semifinals are scheduled for February 28th at 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with the district championship match to be held March 1st at 6:30 p.m.
The girls field is stacked this year led by the #1 ranked team in Missouri Class 2, Westran. Canton, the #5 ranked team in the state could only garner a #2 seed in its own district.
Westran will open against #8 seed Milan. Marceline is the #4 seed and Knox County earned the #5 seed. Those two squads will do battle with the winner likely to face Westran.
Scotland County is at the bottom of the bracket as the #6 seed. The Lady Tigers will open versus #3 seed Salisbury in a rematch of last year’s district opener for both squads. The tip off is set for 6:00 p.m. on Monday, February 25th.
The winner will take on the winner of the Canton vs. Paris (#7 seed) first round match up.
The girls semifinals are set for 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 27th with the title game to be played at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 1st. | http://memphisdemocrat.com/2008/news/080221_district.shtml | 496 |
The Broncos announced on Monday that they’ve waived linebacker Mike Mohamed, a 2011 sixth-round pick out of California, and re-instated tight end Virgil Green back to the active roster.
Mohamed was signed last week after linebacker Joe Mays was suspended for his September 23 hit on Texans quarterback Matt Schaub. Mohamed played in two games in 2011 and played on special teams for Sunday’s 37-6 win over the Raiders.
If Mohamed clears waivers, he could be re-placed on the Broncos’ practice squad.
Green was suspended for four games during the offseason for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Earlier in the day, coach John Fox announced that the Broncos put J.D. Walton (broken ankle) on IR and re-instated Mays to the roster after being suspended for Sunday’s win over the Raiders. | http://milehighsports.com/2012/10/01/broncos-waive-linebacker-mike-mohamed-on-monday/ | 181 |
SportsTime Ohio to carry 159 Indians games
Tribe to be featured on FOX Saturday Baseball twice in June
CLEVELAND -- When he was introduced in Cleveland on Jan. 3, outfielder Nick Swisher already had one date circled on his calendar.
The Indians will host the Yankees, Swisher's former team, in their home opener on April 8. Now Swisher can peg 4:05 p.m. ET for the approximate time he'll trot out to right field, passing his old cohorts in the first-base dugout along the way.
On Friday, the Indians released game times and a broadcast schedule for both Spring Training and the regular season. The home opener, which follows a six-game road trip to Toronto and Tampa, will be one of four contests broadcast on WKYC Channel 3 this season. SportsTime Ohio will carry 159 games, including simulcasts of the four WKYC broadcasts. The Indians will also be featured twice on FOX Saturday Baseball: June 15 vs. the Nationals and June 22 vs. the Twins.
In late December, FOX Sports Media Group acquired STO from the Indians. On Jan. 29, the Indians announced a five-year contract with Clear Channel Media and Entertainment that kept WTAM 1100 as the team's flagship radio station. WTAM will air 159 games this year, with 147 also being carried on WMMS 100.7 FM.
After the Yankees visit in early April, the White Sox and Red Sox come to Cleveland to complete a 10-game homestand, tied for the longest of the season. The Tribe will also play 10 straight at Progressive Field from July 5-14, when they will host Tigers, Blue Jays and Royals. The team will also encounter a pair of 10-game road trips.
As for Spring Training, local radio or TV will carry 19 of the club's games. Thirteen will appear on either WTAM, WMMS or 99X. STO will broadcast six games: March 17 at Cincinnati, March 18 vs. Milwaukee, March 21 at Arizona, March 22 vs. Arizona, March 24 vs. the Cubs), and March 26 vs. Oakland.
Pitchers and catchers report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Sunday. The rest of the squad joins them on Wednesday. | http://milwaukee.brewers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130208&content_id=41492542&vkey=news_cle&c_id=cle | 465 |
By: Jack Moore
For the final installment of 5 up, 5 down, we’ll look at available starting pitchers over the next two days as rotisserie leagues come down to the wire.
1. Hisashi Iwakuma, SP, SEA: Iwakuma gets the Angels on Tuesday, which could be a tough matchup, but the Angels could be eliminated by that game as well. Iwakuma has both been great as a starter and particularly great at home. He owns a 2.83 ERA and 2.6 K/BB as a starter to go with a 2.70 ERA and 2.4 K/BB at SafeCo Field (even including his time as a 4.75 ERA reliever). Iwakuma has been one of the best under-the-radar starters out there and is still widely available for his last start.
2. Bud Norris, SP, HOU: Norris has been disappointing in his age 27 campaign, posting just a 4.82 ERA and continuing to allow the home run ball to deflate his value – 23 this year in 28 starts. But not much else has changed – his K/BB is 0.01 higher than last year, his WHIP is 0.02 below his career average, and he’s still racking up the strikeouts with 161 in 162.1 innings. He gets a solid matchup against the Cubs at Wrigley on Tuesday, and he’s a particularly good option if you need to catch up in the strikeout category.
3. Patrick Corbin, SP, ARI: Corbin has been beat up in his last two starts, allowing 11 runs in six innings, but those were each in tough environments; at Coors and at the playoff-chasing Giants. But Corbin gets the Rockies at home on Tuesday, and even though Chase Field isn’t the most pleasant pitching environment, the Rockies have been awful pretty much everywhere that isn’t Coors – .867 OPS at home compared to a .660 mark on the road. Corbin has a good chance to end his season on a positive note. Wood has been sharp at times, notching a 2.4 K/BB
4. Travis Wood, SP, CHC: Wood gets the season finale against Houston at home, and that’s all you need to know. Houston is awful, and Wood has managed to strike out 7.6 batters per nine innings at home. Wood still has a bit of a homeritis problem – 25 in 25 starts, and the Cubs’ defense isn’t kind either. But at this point in the season, take the matchup and the home date and run with it.
5. Luis Mendoza, SP, KCR: Mendoza against the Tigers to end the season Wednesday sounds like an awful matchup, but there’s a good chance he’ll catch the Tigers post-clinch – as long as either the Tigers win one of the previous two against Kansas City or the White Sox lose one to Cleveland, it’s over. Mendoza has been a bit better in the second half, too – 4.24 ERA, 2.16 K/BB. It’s scraping the bottom of the barrel, but if you need innings in a deep league, don’t overlook Mendoza.
1. Justin Masterson, SP, CLE: Masterson gets the White Sox on Tuesday, which means he has to face lefties like Adam Dunn, A.J. Pierzynski and Alejandro De Aza. Masterson is awful against left-handed hitters – an .835 OPS allowed and 13 of his 18 homers have come against southpaws. Don’t be surprised if Dunn launches a 450-foot bomb or two en route to a disappointing finish to a disappointing season for Masterson.
2. Jon Lester, SP, BOS: Lester gets the Yankees in Yankee Stadium as they go for a playoff spot. Lester has shown no sign of curing his issues with the home run ball (25 in 32 starts, a career high) and the Yankees will be slugging for the fences as they try to pass the Orioles in this final series. For what it’s worth, he has been significantly better on the road – 3.38 ERA against 6.01 at home – but he has given up three homers at New Yankee Stadium in two starts already this season. Start at your own risk.
3. Ivan Nova, SP, NYY: Nova against the defeated and deflated Red Sox at home sounds like an easy place to pick up a win, right? Unfortunately for Nova, he’ll have to pitch at least 5 innings to get that win, and he hasn’t managed to do it in his last two starts. With the Yankees trying to scratch and claw their way to the AL East crown (to avoid that pesky one-game Wild Card round), don’t be surprised if New York tabs David Phelps for a few innings before Nova can become eligible for the win when he goes Tuesday.
4. Kevin Correia, SP, PIT: Correia probably seems like a better option than guys like Mendoza or Wood, but at least they get strikeouts. Correia has reached his 4.33 ERA with just 4.6 strikeouts per nine innings and he still manages to allow a WHIP of 1.308. He’s not really helping anywhere, and he seems like a good candidate to be hit around by the lefty-heavy strong Braves lineup on Tuesday.
5. Blake Beavan, SP, SEA: Beavan, weirdly, has been impersonating a major league pitcher for the last 28 days, posting a 3.33 ERA in his last four starts. Why am I not buying it? More runs allowed (10) than strikeouts (7). He still has allowed five homers in those four starts and the problem of “being a soft-tossing righty with poor stuff” is likely to bite him in the season finale against the Angels. Also, the opposing starter is Jered Weaver – Beavan almost certainly isn’t winning that game.
Jack Moore is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in Mathematics and Economics. His work can also be found at FanGraphs.com, DisciplesOfUecker.com, RotoWire.com, AdvancedNFLStats.com and ESPN. Follow him on twitter at @jh_moore. | http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2012/10/01/5-up-5-down-fantasy-baseball-advice-for-october-1st/ | 1,340 |
Posted at 7:07 AM on December 22, 2008
by David Zingler
After watching the squad literally and figuratively fumble away a chance to clinch the NFC North yesterday, Vikings fans are understandably depressed (and it's not like the weather is helping any). There is however, one significant positive we can take from yesterday's game: Tarvaris Jackson.
Jackson is finally taking hold of the position Brad Childress so desperately wanted to give him. The 25-year-old went 22-36 for 233 yards, 2 TDs and 0 interceptions yesterday while picking up another 76 yards on the ground on 8 carries.
More important than the stats was Jackson's sound decision making. He seemed relaxed and in control; he knew when to tuck the ball and run, when to keep looking down field and when to throw it away.
These aren't just anecdotal observations either. In 123 attempts over roughly 4.5 games, Jackson has tossed 8 TDs versus 1 INT. That's one TD per every 15 attempts. Frerotte meanwhile has 12 TDs and 15 INTs in 301 attempts over 10.5 games (1 TD for every 25 passes). Jackson's QB rating stands at stellar 96.8, Frerotte's is a miserable 73.7.
The question of who the Vikings should start next week and in the playoffs (if they make it) has clearly been answered. I can't imagine Childress going back to Frerotte at this point. It's more important than that though.
In the end, we aren't going to judge Jackson against a mediocre journeyman like Frerotte, we want to know if he is the guy we can count on to be the starter next season and beyond. We need to know if we should start bidding in the Matt Cassell sweepstakes or spend a high draft pick on a QB in April. I think Jackson is the guy and I think he'll prove in the coming weeks.
(Photo by Tom Dahlin/Getty Images) | http://minnesota.publicradio.org/collections/special/columns/baseball/archive/2008/12/22/ | 406 |
04/15/2004 9:17 PM ET
Baseball honors Jackie's legacy
Robinson honored at New York's Shea Stadium
By Tom Singer / MLB.com
|Rachel Robinson speaks during a ceremony honoring her late husband at Shea Stadium Thursday. (Frank Franklin II/AP)
Robinson Day ceremony at Shea 56K | 350K
Selig speaks at Shea 56K | 350K
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NEW YORK -- Reflecting vividly on that day 57 years and about a dozen miles away, Rachel Robinson smiled through the memories.
"My big concern that morning was, how do I get to Brooklyn (from the hotel)? It was a hoary morning getting to the park," she said. "My five-month-old baby was dressed in California clothes, and he was chilled.
"But Ruth Campanella's mom had a fur coat and she draped it over him, and I went to warm up his bottle, then we were all right."
Rachel Robinson shrugged lightly. "Maybe that was my way of defending against the anxiety of Jackie playing -- with maternal things."
The day was April 15, 1947. The place, Ebbets Field. The moment, profoundly seminal, for a sport and for a nation.
The day Jackie Robinson walked through a barred door with dignity and talent, and held it open for generations to follow.
A day that has now inspired Major League Baseball's first national holiday.
Jackie Robinson Day
April 15, 2004
Ceremony at Shea Stadium:
56K | 350K
Commissioner Selig's comments: 56K | 350K
MLB.com's Billy Sample at Shea: 56K | 350K
Presentation at Jackie Robinson Field: 56K | 350K
MLB.com looks at his life and impact: 56K | 350K
Thursday's first celebration of Jackie Robinson Day occurred in 13 ballparks coast-to-coast, but the focus was on Shea Stadium, in the historical shadow of Flatbush.
The setting was appropriate in another haunting way. In Jackie Robinson's debut, the Dodgers beat the then-Boston Braves, 5-3.
"The thing that always impressed me so much was that he was able to deal with all that he had to deal with and still was able to be a great baseball player," said Terry Pendleton, the 1991 National League MVP and batting coach of today's Braves. "Just to endure that is a whole different world than we experienced when I was playing."
"He was a great player, and breaking the color barrier was huge," said Mets manager Art Howe. "This is going to be an exciting evening."
Commissioner Bud Selig, MLB president Bob DuPuy, Rachel and the Robinson's daughter, Sharon, hosted a poignant remembrance of the Hall of Fame ballplayer who deserves an eternal resting place far higher than Cooperstown.
Seven years after retiring Robinson's No. 42 in perpetuity, MLB is honoring his heritage.
"I've often been asked, 'Why now?' We celebrate so no generation shall forget what Jackie Robinson did," Selig said. "So young players not only know who Jackie Robinson is, but what Jackie Robinson did for them.
"There is no question in my mind, Jackie Robinson coming to Major League Baseball, was the most powerful moment in baseball history. It transcended baseball.
"It took this extraordinary man -- going through what we never will understand -- to set a path for change in baseball, sports, society," the Commissioner added. "He not only succeeded, but in a way that paved the way for others."
Robinson's influence is seen on every field and in every box score, and Thursday it permeated a brief ceremony prior to the Braves-Mets game.
As a tribute to Jackie flickered on the video board, nine Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars formed an arc foul line-to-foul line, holding up giant "42" placards.
"We take pride in the social progress made in America and in the game," Rachel Robinson told the crowd. "We hope to right the wrongs that still exist with the same courage and determination Jackie showed.
"That will only strengthen us as individuals, our national pastime, and our nation."
The nine scholars then flipped the placards they held to reveal the nine tenets that serve as the foundations of Jackie's legacy:
Courage. Determination. Teamwork. Persistence. Integrity. Citizenship. Justice. Commitment. Excellence.
Concurrently, the video board beamed reflective messages from contemporary baseball stars.
The Commissioner did not contribute any on-field remarks, but he had already poured out his heart in a meeting with the media prior to the ceremony.
"This is one of the happiest days in my life as Commissioner. You've often heard me say that baseball is a social institution, with enormous social responsibility," Selig had said, obviously touched by his role in enabling this occasion.
"It's rare when you can honor a pathfinder for a lot of changes. It's an unbelievable story that should be celebrated."
"It's a thrill to be here tonight," Rachel Robinson had said in the media conference. "I'm grateful for Major League Baseball and fans for joining us in celebrating Jackie's life.
"I know the younger generation is beginning to discover Jackie Robinson. It's exciting to see the younger generation's interest in history. I think they're searching for heroes."
Back on the field, Ruben Studdard belted the National Anthem, backed by the Christ Tabernacle Choir. Genel Ambrose, one of the Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars, followed by throwing out the first pitch.
Then, the game -- the latest of thousands bearing Jackie's legacy -- got under way.
But the festivities never stopped. Tributes to Robinson continued to play on the video board between innings.
And the work never ends.
"There's still lots to do, in baseball and in society," Rachel Robinson reminded. "I hope Jackie's legacy will help lead us."
The day's work had begun earlier, with two ceremonies kicking off Jackie Robinson Day.
At nearby Forest Hills High School, the athletic field was renamed Jackie Robinson Field.
Commissioner Selig, Rachel Robinson and Mets players Tom Glavine and Mike Cameron participated in that ceremony, in conjunction with which MLB made a $1 million presentation to Take the Field. That is a public-private partnership that is rebuilding the athletic facilities of New York City public schools.
And even earlier, Rachel and Sharon Robinson led an entourage that rang the opening bell to start the day's trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Others in that party included Len Coleman, chairman of the Jackie Robinson Foundation and former president of the NL.
The work has continued for 31 years for the Jackie Robinson Foundation, through which he is still opening doors, for aspiring students, through scholarships and mentoring.
"We started it the year after Jackie passed," recalled Rachel, "because we were determined to apply his legacy to some perpetual good. A monument or statue wouldn't do it.
"We both had believed that if you weren't educated. you couldn't fully function in this country. So the Foundation was started in that spirit."
Spirit. Something else of which Jackie Robinson had an abundance.
"He was an incredibly competitive athlete, and he wanted to play," said Rachel Robinson, her lips again curled into a smile by memories. "But he also understood that his position was a key to development in the country.
"After his first few games, when black fans started to come to the park, he began to get the feeling what he meant to our people."
Jackie Robinson was a beacon, casting a light still worth following, and celebrating.
Tom Singer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20040415&content_id=718078&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=null | 1,636 |
Joba to go on regular rest, start Sunday
Yankees look ahead on young righty with eye on innings
NEW YORK -- Yankees manager Joe Girardi announced prior to Tuesday's game that Joba Chamberlain will make his next scheduled start on Sunday against the White Sox.
Chamberlain made his 24th start of the season against the Rangers on Tuesday after eight days off, and Girardi said the plan is to continue to give the 23-year-old days off whenever possible.
The Yanks' skipper also refuted any ideas about sending Chamberlain, who was lights-out in 30 relief appearances in 2008, back to the bullpen.
"We have him scheduled starting for the rest of the season," Girard said. "At times, he will go on extra rest."
While Girardi wouldn't get specific in regards to an innings limit for Chamberlain, the Yankees have made it clear in the past that they would prefer to keep the young right-hander at around 160 innings. Chamberlain tossed 100 1/3 innings as a rookie last season, making 12 starts in between two separate stints in the bullpen.
He entered Tuesday's start 8-3 with a 3.98 ERA, and despite past struggles against the Rangers -- he holds a career 7.11 ERA -- Girardi said his rested young star will not be on a special pitch count.
In his first six starts following the All-Star break, Chamberlain went 4-1 with a 3.35 ERA, holding opponents to an American League-best .193 average.
The rest of the Yankees' rotation was slightly shuffled for the front-end of the series against the White Sox, with CC Sabathia pitching on Friday and Sergio Mitre on Saturday.
Brittany Ghiroli is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090825&content_id=6610396&vkey=news_nyy&fext=.jsp&c_id=nyy | 386 |
ANAHEIM -- The snap is back in Mike Napoli's stroke. The Rangers' catcher showed how much better he's feeling by unloading a towering home run over the center-field wall against former teammate Jered Weaver early in Texas' 11-3 loss on Tuesday. Napoli singled in his next at-bat.
At Angel Stadium, nobody has ever gone deep with more frequency than Napoli -- once every 14.6 career at-bats. The names behind him on the list are impressive: Troy Glaus, Mo Vaughn, Reggie Jackson and Tim Salmon. Napoli has 57 homers in his former park in 830 at-bats. And what he has done to his old team falls under the heading of devastation.
"Nap seems to have some magic in this ballpark," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He gets energized here."
When the weather cools just a tad in September, Napoli goes to work. In his two seasons with Texas, he's hitting .430 in the month in 79 at-bats, with 10 homers and 23 RBIs in 24 games.
Since returning from the disabled list, having missed 33 games with a quad strain, Napoli is 4-for-9 with two homers and four RBIs. He was the designated hitter on Wednesday night with Josh Hamilton and Adrian Beltre unable to play.
"I'm feeling pretty good," Napoli said. "I've always enjoyed hitting here. This is where it all started."
Dealt with Juan Rivera to Toronto after the 2010 season, then shipped by the Blue Jays to Texas for reliever Frank Francisco, Napoli has punished his former club. He's hitting .400 with 10 homers in 29 games against the Angels. He owns a .800 slugging percentage and 1.304 OPS.
At Angel Stadium, he's hitting .424 in 16 games as a Ranger, with nine homers and 13 RBIs.
Washington, Yu have had productive meetings
ANAHEIM -- Three times this season Ron Washington has had personal meetings with Yu Darvish that the Rangers' manager believes have been mutually beneficial.
"Size of mound, slope, understanding umpires, catchers, game plan ... there [were] a lot of adjustments that guy had to make," Washington said of the Japanese right-hander, who goes against Zack Greinke in Thursday night's series finale against the Angels. "And at the same time, he was trying to please a lot of people -- a whole country.
"Our superstars are trying to please their team. I think he's done a [heckuva] job under the circumstances. He has a lot to deal with, and I'm glad it's behind him now. Now all he's got to think about is baseball. I think that's what he had in Japan -- just going out there and letting it fly."
A turning point for Darvish, in Washington's mind, came when he got knocked around by the Red Sox in Boston on Aug. 6, yielding six earned runs on 11 hits in 6 2/3 innings.
Since that outing, Darvish has gone 4-1, with the Rangers winning five of his six starts. He has surrendered only 11 earned runs in 42 2/3 innings during that span, a 2.32 ERA. He has 51 strikeouts against 13 walks in the stretch.
"I think he figured it out in Boston when he got beaten around a little bit," Washington said. "He's been different ever since. His mindset, attitude, has changed."
One of their meetings came after that performance. Washington isn't sure if something he said connected with Darvish, but he believes the sessions have been productive.
"Each meeting was a learning experience for both of us," the manager said. "He opened up to me. Maybe I mentioned some things that clicked with him. Sometimes as a manager you've got to help a guy release it. Everybody talks so much about the negative. There's always good inside the bad if you look for it. I expressed the good."
Whatever he's doing, it seems to be working. Darvish's ERA has dropped from 4.57 to 4.02 since that pounding in Boston. The big guy has been dealing when it matters, down the stretch.
Adrian Beltre (abdominal pain) and Josh Hamilton (vision issues) were not in the Rangers' lineup for the middle game of the series, and their availability for Thursday's series finale is not known. Beltre remained at his L.A. home on Wednesday. The Angels have had reasonable success with both sluggers this season, holding Beltre to a .200 average and only one homer and six RBIs in 55 at-bats. Hamilton is hitting .267 against the Angels, with four homers and 11 RBIs in 60 at-bats.
Craig Gentry got the start in center field on Wednesday night against former Rangers starter C.J. Wilson. Gentry is hitting .526 against the Angels this season in 19 at-bats. First baseman Mitch Moreland is batting .375 against the Halos, and David Murphy is a .351 hitter against their staff. Also flourishing vs. the Angels is Elvis Andrus, hitting .339. Napoli leads the parade with his .463 average in 41 at-bats, including four homers and nine RBIs.
Lyle Spencer is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120919&content_id=38678314¬ebook_id=38678318&vkey=notebook_tex&c_id=tex | 1,129 |
JUPITER, Fla. -- Full-squad workouts don't get under way until Friday, but already baseballs were flying over the fence on the back fields at the Roger Dean Stadium complex. In shorts and a T-shirt, All-Star Giancarlo Stanton took batting practice on Wednesday morning.
"I watched him hit," first-year manager Mike Redmond said. "I know we lost a lot of balls out there on that field."
Stanton's presence is definitely felt, even during informal batting practice. Redmond is just now seeing the 23-year-old slugger's raw power firsthand. A former big league catcher, Redmond compared Stanton's force with that of Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire.
"I don't know if I've seen a ball jump off a bat like that since watching those guys play," Redmond said. "He gets that extension and leverage that very few guys are able to do. That's why everybody talks about him the way that they do. He's one of those special guys."
Stanton finished second in the National League in home runs last year with 37, which also is the second most by a Marlins player in a season.
Stanton hit in a group that also had Juan Pierre, Placido Polanco and Chris Coghlan.
Besides Stanton, Miami's lineup doesn't possess tremendous power. Who bats behind the slugger has yet to be determined.
"He's a monster in that lineup," Redmond said. "He's definitely that guy in the middle of that lineup, if you are on the other team, you can't let that guy beat you. It's going to be a tremendous opportunity for one of these guys to step up and hit behind him and have a chance to drive in a lot of runs. We'll see who that will be."
Classic pitchers' schedules won't change much
JUPITER, Fla. -- In the first couple of days of March, a couple of Marlins pitchers will be leaving Spring Training to enter the World Baseball Classic.
Steve Cishek will be pitching in relief for Team USA, and Henderson Alvarez is hopeful to be in the rotation for Venezuela. All-Star right fielder Giancarlo Stanton also will be playing for the United States.
Regarding the pitchers and their scheduled throwing sessions, manager Mike Redmond says not much will change.
"We're going to try to get them to a progression and build them up, and try to see them as much as we can," Redmond said. "But we're not going to schedule more bullpens to get a better look at them.
"We're just trying to make sure they get their throwing in, and make sure they're ready to go when they leave here. So they'll be fine."
Cishek took over as closer in the second half of 2012, and Redmond said the job is his to lose with the Marlins. For Team USA, Atlanta's Craig Kimbrel is expected to close.
Cishek was Miami's best reliever a year ago, and a big part of his success comes from a deceptive sidearm delivery.
"I watched him pitch on video," Redmond said. "It's a funky little delivery. He did a nice job. I'm looking forward to seeing him pitch. He's the guy. He's definitely the front-runner for the closer job."
Marlins have plenty of pitching jobs up for grabs
JUPITER, Fla. -- Two days into Spring Training, all 38 pitchers in Marlins camp have already thrown off the mound.
There are bullpen jobs and the fifth-starter role up for grabs, and there is no shortage of candidates.
"I'm impressed with a lot of arms, a lot of different guys," manager Mike Redmond said. "You try not to get too excited about a bullpen session the first day of Spring Training. Like I've said, it's impressive. Trying to put names to faces, and trying to see these guys out there, and how they work and how they go about their business. For a lot of young guys, this is very impressive. They've handled themselves really well."
Workouts resume around 10 a.m. ET on Thursday, and they are open and free to the public.
Nothing like hitting for catcher Brantly
JUPITER, Fla. -- Defense and handling the pitching staff may be the highest priorities for any regular catcher.
Still, to Miami catcher Rob Brantly, there is nothing like hitting.
Brantly is a promising hitter who has a solid approach, and he's willing to take his walks. A left-handed hitter, he batted .290 with three homers and eight RBIs in 100 at-bats for the Marlins last year. Brantly spent most of the season in the Minor Leagues, where he combined to hit .298 with five homers and 41 RBIs.
"I love to hit," Brantly said. "I'd be lying if I didn't say it wasn't a lot of players' favorite part of the game -- to get out there and take their hacks. I trust my process. I trust my abilities to hit. My swing, even now, is good. It feels like it's in a good place."
Brantly is excited to have the chance to work with hitting coach Tino Martinez.
"I think he has a lot of good things to bring to my game offensively," the 23-year-old catcher said. "It's only going to help me grow there and become a better hitter. I definitely trust my ability to hit." | http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130213&content_id=41604552¬ebook_id=41604600&vkey=notebook_mia&c_id=mia | 1,150 |
Angels linked to Manny, Vlad
The Angels, searching for offense, appear to be interested in both Manny Ramirez and Vladimir Guerrero as free agents, according to a report by Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes. Citing sources, Rojas reports that both players are closing in on deals. One source suggests Ramirez is likely to sign by the beginning of next week.
The Angels, Twins, Rangers, Rays and Blue Jays have shown some interest in Ramirez, but Minnesota is out after signing Jim Thome. The Angels, Rangers and Rays appear to be pursuing him most aggressively. Rojas hears that Ramirez is determined to redeem himself after a disappointing season, and money is not his primary concern.
Guerrero, according to a source, believes the Orioles have the inside track on signing him, but the Angels are another possibility. – Lyle Spencer | http://mlb.mlblogs.com/2011/01/20/angels-linked-to-manny-vlad/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=5c0945c42e | 173 |
The JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha Team is pleased to announce the addition of 20 year old Kyle Regal to race the 2012 AMA Pro Motocross Championship Series. Regal will join Davi Millsaps, who finished second in the recently concluded AMA Supercross Championship in contesting the series.
“We are coming off a great supercross season with Davi Millsaps and both Davi and Kyle are turning some very fast laps at our test track. We are excited about the upcoming outdoor national season,” said team manager, Jeremy Albrecht.
“I am excited about this opportunity, the bike is awesome and the team has been great getting me comfortable with the set-up. I am looking forward to Hangtown and the 2012 outdoor season,” commented Kyle Regal.
The next race for the JGRMX/Toyota/Yamaha Team will be the Lucas Oil AMA National Championship season opener, the Hangtown Classic, held in Sacramento, Calif. on May 19. FUEL TV will air the first motos live from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. (EST). There will also be a live broadcast on allisports.com. The second motos will be telecast on the NBC Sports Network between 12:00 – 2:00 a.m. (the 19th). | http://moto.mpora.com/news/kyle-regal-replaces-james-stewart-jgrmx.html | 280 |
Hometown: Rome, N.Y.
Jerry Cook made his name in modifieds, winning six NASCAR Modified championships, four coming consecutively from 1974-77. All the while, he was vying with another driver from his hometown of Rome, N.Y., nine-time champion and NASCAR Hall of Famer Richie Evans, for supremacy in NASCAR’s open-wheel realm. The rivalry was home-grown – and intense.
Modified racing is NASCAR's oldest form of competition – modifieds were the staple of the very first NASCAR season in 1948. Cook has said the cars’ appeal was based on that history and the fact that the racing is unique within NASCAR.
After retiring from racing in 1982, Cook stayed with the sport and helped shape the series that is known today as the NASCAR Whelen Modified Tour. Cook served as the series’ director when it began in 1985 and remains with NASCAR as competition administrator.
In 1998, he was named one of NASCAR’s 50 Greatest Drivers.
This is the latest in a series of GodfatherMotorsports.com biographies profiling the 25 nominees for the 2012 class of the NASCAR Hall Of Fame. Each of the 25 candidates will be profiled in the coming weeks, in alphabetical order. | http://motorsports-soapbox.blogspot.com/2012/04/nascar-hall-of-fame-profile-jerry-cook.html | 260 |
Prospects for improving the pen.
What’s particularly upsetting about that loss was that, even after the Royals jumped on Colby Lewis early, Texas pounced all over Royals starter Nate Adcock, getting to their bullpen before the third inning had ended. Kansas City came into the game having lost five straight, a span in which the club’s inexperienced relief corps had gone 0-4, 4.19.
And then, last night, the quintet of Felipe Paulino, Everett Teaford, Tim Collins, Louis Coleman, and Blake Wood – a pitcher who’d just been discarded by the Rockies, three rookies, and a second-year reliever – absolutely shut Texas down for 10.1 innings (38 trips to the plate, three hits [all singles]) before their teammates exploded for five runs in the 14th inning.
Going into the ninth, the Rangers had a 7-6 lead, Neftali Feliz was trotting in, and the Angels were losing in Minnesota, 5-0.
None of that ended well.
But really, a loss is just a loss, and the indelible moment of that one looms larger, the 10th pitch that Feliz threw, the one that Alex Gordon destroyed, sending it 423 feet to the upper deck.
It was Feliz’s 10th pitch, and his 10th four-seam fastball. Ninety-nine on the gun doesn’t matter when the hitter’s able to sit dead red, especially when he gets one middle-middle.
Then, in the 10th inning, Feliz strikes Jeff Francoeur out on a slider, throws Billy Butler three sliders out of four pitches and gets him to ground out on the final one, and then gets Wilson Betemit (presumably having to respect the possibility of another breaking ball) to pop up to shortstop on a fastball.
Feliz’s slider is not great. He sort of slings it, and it doesn’t have as much tilt or depth as you’d like.
But it’s clearly the difference between Feliz’s fastball serving as a weapon and serving as batting practice.
Texas is 26-25, tied for first. Last year Texas ended May with a 26-24 record, and then rattled off a 21-6 June.
Of course, last June the Rangers drew the White Sox, Rays, Mariners, Brewers, Marlins, Astros, Pirates, Astros again, and Angels, 13 at home and 14 away.
This year, Texas gets the Rays, Indians, Tigers, Twins, Yankees, Braves, Astros, Mets, and Astros again in June, with only nine of the 27 games at home. Tougher.
Since returning to Round Rock, Chris Davis has homered in three of four games. Regardless of what the plans are as far as getting him back up here are, this is a very good time for Davis to be locked in at the plate.
But it goes back to what we said a week ago about trade opportunities: Do you want to trade Davis for a seventh- or eighth-inning arm right now, or do you hang onto him for the time being knowing that a club with an impact starter or reliever that could hit the market in six weeks has shown interest in Davis in the past?
The Padres, according to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, are “beginning to send signals that their three prospective free agents – Heath Bell, Ryan Ludwick and Chad Qualls – will be on their closeout-sale shelves in a few weeks,” but are “not motivated” to discuss players they can control past 2011, like reliever Mike Adams.
So to state things another way, would you trade Davis right now for Washington’s Todd Coffey, or Arizona’s David Hernandez? It would make you better right now.
But what if San Diego believes Davis can be an everyday third baseman (that’s what he’s played exclusively while at Round Rock) and would take him as part of a package for Bell – just not for another month?
Jon Heyman (Sports Illustrated) hears that Texas “will consider the Mets’ Francisco Rodriguez, who has said he’s [willing] to go elsewhere as a set-up man under the right circumstances.” It’s not clear whether the Rangers are on his 10-team no-trade list.
And Ken Rosenthal (Fox Sports) adds to the intrigue, reporting that Rodriguez would have “no problem” setting up “for a club that acquired him, signed him to a contract extension and returned him to the closer’s role next season.” Rosenthal identifies Texas as the perfect example of where that could work, as Rodriguez could fill the eighth-inning role right now (meaning his $17.5 million club option for 2012 would not vest) and then close next year under a new (less expensive) contract with Feliz moving to the rotation.
For the moment, I want to stop talking about relief pitchers, because it’s a little depressing. Instead, a little minor league talk.
These were the 10 pitchers I pegged as breakout candidates on pages 22-23 of the 2011 Bound Edition:
Robbie Erlin, LHP
David Perez, RHP
Miguel De Los Santos, LHP
Cody Buckel, RHP
Joe Wieland, RHP
Justin Grimm, RHP
Matt Thompson, RHP
Neil Ramirez, RHP
Richard Alvarez, RHP
Shawn Blackwell, RHP
Erlin has been promoted to Frisco, where he’ll make his AA debut tomorrow. His .132 opponents’ batting average with Myrtle Beach was lapping all of minor league baseball – the next best mark is 27-year-old swingman Jay Buente’s .163 for AAA Durham. In 54.2 Pelicans innings, Erlin had scattered 25 hits and just five walks, fanning 62. His 2.14 ERA was fourth best in the Carolina League, his strikeout total was second highest, and his walk rate was third best.
For those of you who haven’t seen this kid pitch, get out to Frisco. He’s a machine, a pro on the mound. We talk all the time about how young Martin Perez is (and granted, he’s been in AA for nearly two years), but the fact is Erlin (at age 20) is only six months older than Perez and the two are now teammates.
David Perez has fanned 22 and walked one in 13 extended spring training innings, permitting three runs on 10 hits. The Dominican Summer League opens today, but Perez won’t be going back after he posted a 1.41 ERA in 13 DSL starts last year, striking out 62 and walking only eight in 64 innings and limiting opponents to a .202 batting average (allowing one run in his final 45 innings last summer, on 20 hits and four walks with 42 strikeouts). Word is that the 18-year-old’s fastball has touched 98 in Surprise this month.
Eighteen years old.
De Los Santos, added in November to the 40-man roster, pitched six times for Frisco (8.04 ERA, 38 strikeouts and 17 walks in 28 innings) before a shoulder injury sidelined him three weeks ago.
Buckel emerged from extended a month ago and has allowed 16 hits and six walks in 17 Hickory innings, fanning 20 and inducing 1.73 as many groundouts as flyouts.
Wieland ought to be in Frisco with Erlin soon. He leads the Carolina League in ERA (1.73) and in walk rate (issuing only three free passes in 52 innings), and he’s second in WHIP (0.88, trailing Erlin’s 0.55), third in strikeouts (61, trailing Erlin by one), and third in strikeout rate (10.41 per nine innings, ahead of Erlin’s 10.21 and trailing blue-chip prospects Jake Odorizzi and Drew Pomeranz). Wieland is number 12 on Baseball America’s “Hot Sheet” this week.
Grimm was promoted from Hickory to replace Erlin in the Myrtle Beach rotation. In nine Crawdads starts, the 2010 fifth-rounder from the University of Georgia (who signed too late last summer to make his pro debut) had a 3.40 ERA, giving up 45 hits (.247 opponents’ average) and 18 walks in 50.1 innings while setting down 54 on strikes, good for the third-highest punchout total in the 14-team league. After walking 4.7 batters per nine innings in four April starts, he’d cut the rate to 2.1 per nine in May.
Thompson’s monthly Hickory splits have been even more dramatic than Grimm’s. In four April starts, the 21-year-old went 0-2, 5.12 with an uncharacteristic 5.1 walks per nine. In five May starts, he’s 2-0, 1.95, walking 2.9 per nine and also nearly doubling his groundout rate (2.69 in May).
Ramirez has had one of the biggest breakthroughs in the minors this year. Summoned to Round Rock after one Myrtle Beach appearance (leapfrogging Frisco) for what was supposed to be a cameo start, his next move is now more likely to be a promotion than a demotion. To be fair, his May in AAA (5.73 ERA, .293 opponents’ batting average, 23/11 k/bb in five starts) hasn’t gone as well as his April (1.69 ERA, .157 opponents’ batting average, 25/8 k/bb in four starts), and so there’s not a clock ticking on his arrival in Arlington, but since he’ll be on the 40-man roster this winter there will be a temptation to get him up here in September, if not sooner. The 22-year-old’s rate of 10 strikeouts per nine innings is second best in the Pacific Coast League.
Through 15 innings in extended, the 18-year-old Alvarez has given up six runs on 11 hits and six walks, fanning eight. He’s had two ineffective summer stints in the Arizona League and could return for a third run at rookie-league hitters next month, unless the organization chooses to challenge him with an assignment to Spokane.
Blackwell has struggled with his results in extended (though in his last outing he threw four no-hit innings, walking one and fanning four), and is probably headed to the Arizona League when its schedule gets rolling.
And the 10 position players:
Luis Sardinas, SS
Christian Villanueva, 3B
Jake Skole, OF
Mike Olt, 3B
Drew Robinson, IF-OF
Tomas Telis, C
Hanser Alberto, SS
Teodoro Martinez, OF
Josh Richmond, OF
Kellin Deglan, C
Sardinas has been recovering from shoulder surgery.
Villanueva is holding his own at age 19 in the South Atlantic League, hitting .288/.344/.431 as Hickory’s everyday third baseman, cooling off after a blistering .338/.400/.514 April.
Skole, last summer’s top pick, has also slowed down with the Crawdads, hitting .210 in May after a .278 April. He’s dramatically improved his k/bb, though, going from 26 strikeouts and seven walks in 79 April at-bats to 20 strikeouts and 16 walks in 62 May at-bats.
Olt is having a tremendous first half, hitting .291/.400/.513 for the Pelicans, leading the Carolina League in base-reaching and sitting fifth in home run rate (one every 19.75 at-bats). Nineteen of his 46 hits have gone for extra bases (11 doubles, eight home runs), and he’s thought of as a plus defender at third base.
Robinson, last summer’s fourth-round pick, was absolutely torching extended spring training opponents (.405/.479/.833 in 42 at-bats, four homers, four doubles, one triple, six walks, five strikeouts) before a broken finger sidelined him.
Telis, splitting time between catcher and DH for Hickory (as he returns from February 2010 Tommy John surgery), is hitting .281/.333/.413 with only 13 strikeouts in 167 at-bats. He’s gunned down 16 of the 49 baserunners who have tried to steal on his watch.
Alberto is hitting .323/.350/.479, with only five strikeouts in 96 at-bats. The 18-year-old hit .358/.377/.464 in the Dominican Summer League last year, winning the league’s batting title.
Martinez, son of former big league corner infielder Carlos Martinez, is hitting .286/.319/.368 as a 19-year-old in the South Atlantic League. After hitting one home run in his first 142 pro games, the fleet outfielder has gone deep each of the last two nights for the Crawdads.
Richmond is having a solid .265/.355/.457 season for Hickory after his .297/.417/.458 debut last summer for Spokane.
Deglan has struggled offensively for Hickory, going 5 for 38 in May to drop his season slash to .185/.281/.272. He’s thrown out seven of 38 would-be basestealers. Deglan turned 19 this month.
What’s the point of all of that, other than to serve a distraction from the big league bullpen issue?
The fact that so many prospects have taken a leap forward this spring – and let’s include Jurickson Profar (hitting a malicious .308/.427/.551 in May, including 11 for his last 20 with six extra-base hits, four walks, and one strikeout), Roman Mendez, Cody Eppley, Barret Loux, Robbie Ross, Jake Brigham, Mark Hamburger, Joseph Ortiz, Ryan Rodebaugh, Tommy Mendonca, Mike Bianucci, and Ryan Strausborger – will make it easier to trade for bullpen help.
Erlin’s not going anywhere for relief reinforcements, and neither is Profar or Olt or Ramirez or either Perez, but the watch list on Texas prospects ought to be lengthier now than it was two months ago, and since the grimness of the Rangers’ bullpen situation has swollen right along with it, the developments at the lower levels of the farm may turn out to be not all that unrelated after all. | http://newberg.mlblogs.com/2011/05/28/prospects-for-improving-the-pen/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=3b93935130 | 3,095 |
Magnussen rival out of London Olympics
One of James Magnussen's biggest rivals has failed to qualify for an individual swim at the London Olympics as the Australian strives not just for gold, but to leave a legacy on the sport.
Reigning Olympic 100m freestyle champion Alain Bernard will not defend his title in London, after finishing fifth in the trials.
Magnussen's gold-medal favouritism was enhanced by results at the selection trials in France, a nation rated as a challenger to Australia's status in the pool by head coach Leigh Nugent.
Bernard was fifth and no French swimmer clocked less than 48 seconds in their 100m freestyle final.
Days earlier, Magnussen posted 47.10 seconds - the fastest time in a textile suit - at the Australian selection trials with James Roberts (47.63) second.
Magnussen said he was unaware of the rest of the world's response to his time.
"I don't really know what people's reactions are, but I'm not all that worried either," he said.
The reigning world champion was more focused on winning gold and being rated among the all-time great freestylers over 100m, an event he considered the "blue riband" of swimming.
"When you look back over the years at the great 100 freestylers, you look at the likes of (Alexander) Popov and (Pieter) van den Hoogenband," Magnussen said.
"If, in 10 years time, people could look back at the event and mention my name, I'd feel pretty privileged.
"It's definitely a legacy I want to leave and it's something that I'm striving for."
The French 100m final was won by Yannick Agnel in 48.02, who promptly put his victory in perspective.
"I'm not going to get carried away because there is a lot of work to do before I can reach the level of the Australians," Agnel said.
Bernard could still earn a berth in the French 4x100m relay squad.
Magnussen meanwhile was returning to Sydney after a hectic trials in Adelaide, where he also took the 50m freestyle title in a time which would have won silver at last year's world championships.
"I'm pretty exhausted actually, both mentally and physically," Magnussen said.
"I haven't really had a chance to sit down and take stock of the week and what has happened.
"But once I get a chance to sit back and basically have time to let it sink in, I'm sure I'll be very proud.
"But at the moment, I'm still pretty excited, just pumped."
Brought to you by | http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/breaking-news-sport/magnussen-rival-out-of-london-olympics-20120323-1vndm.html | 562 |
Stoner wins second Aussie MotoGP
A last-minute technical breakthrough by Ducati boosted Casey Stoner to his second straight Australian Grand Prix victory.
But the highlight of the race was the dazzling ride by MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi after a heavy dose of painkillers.
Stoner led the 27-lap race all the way from pole position, untroubled by his wrist injury, to seal his fifth win of the year.
He crossed the line 6.5 seconds ahead of Rossi who awoke on Sudnay morning dazed from a heavy qualifying crash on Saturday which left him starting from 12th on the grid.
The Italian knifed his Yamaha through the field until he caught American Honda rider Nicky Hayden, who had spent most of the race in second place desperately trying to match Stoner's pace.
On the last lap, Rossi executed a masterful passing manoeuvre on Hayden to snatch second spot by seven tenths of a second.
Stoner's win came after a mixed weekend. His bike fell off the pace during a wet practice session on Friday then relentlessly shredded tyres in the dry on Saturday before he managed to keep his last set intact just long enough to grab pole.
The team managed to find a new rear setting that proved perfect during the morning warm-up run.
"We had some dramas and it was a hard weekend to try and find the right set-up," Stoner said.
"Then this morning in warm-up we found something which gave us a little bit more confidence for the race ... a little bit better for braking points and things like that.
"Once we got to two-thirds race distance I could actually ease off a little bit."
Stoner said that his wrist injury, a five-year-old problem which flared last week in Japan, did not bother him as he did not have to deal with the constant change of direction with the bike that he did in Motegi.
Rossi, who won his sixth premier class world title in Japan, said he had to deal with a lot of pain following the crash that hurt his head and neck on Saturdaywhen he ran wide on a corner.
"This morning when I woke up it was a disaster because my head was exploding, a very bad feeling, more than the neck," the Yamaha rider said.
"But in the mobile clinic they massaged me and I took some medicine for the pain and in the race I felt very good."
Rossi had a long tussle for third place with Briton James Toseland before elbowing his way past to target Hayden.
"I saw Nicky coming bigger and bigger and I was not sure if it was possible (to catch him) but I tried very hard.
"One time I lost the front and came very close to crashing but the effort was important because I arrived to Nicky on the last lap and I think second place was the best result possible," Rossi said.
Queenslander Chris Vermeulen's race was ruined when he ran wide off the track at the first turn and rejoined in last place, eventually finishing 15th on his Suzuki.
Compatriot Ant West managed 12th place on his under-performing Kawasaki, one spot ahead of American teammate John Hopkins.
Stoner will see out the remainder of the season and the first pre-season test on the new Ducati before having wrist surgery.
He will be joined at Ducati by Hayden for 2009 and said it was important to help the team and the American adjust to the new machine.
Brought to you by | http://news.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/stoner-wins-second-aussie-motogp-20081005-4u8g.html | 744 |
Five-time Lumber Liquidators Professional Bowlers Association Tour titlist Mike Scroggins of Amarillo, Texas, averaged 229.14 after the Round of 33 Friday to lead 16 players who will advance to elimination rounds in the Professional Bowlers Association Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator at Sequoia Pro Bowl.
With a 28-game 6,416 pinfall, Scroggins led qualifying by 10-pins over second place Bill O’Neill of Southampton, Pa., who led after Thursday’s competition.
“I was having some arm swing problems which I worked out after all the games we bowled last week (in the Etonic Marathon Open),” said the 44-year-old Scroggins, who is looking for his first Tour win this season. “I can’t believe I took the lead.”
The 16 remaining players will now compete in eliminator rounds beginning on Saturday where they will be grouped in foursomes based on their 28-game pinfall. Each elimination round will consist of two games with the lowest two-game pinfall in each group eliminated from the tournament. For the ESPN finals, which will take place Sunday at 1 p.m. Eastern, four players will bowl one game on the same pair with the low scorer eliminated and so on until the final two survivors bowl for the title.
In addition to the unique format, players have to navigate through the Tour’s demanding Scorpion (left lane) and Viper (right lane) conditions in the eliminator rounds, putting a premium on making accurate lane and ball adjustments.
Scroggins has come close to victory this season with two second place finishes and four television appearances.
“I’m feeling pretty confident. I was pretty consistent on both patterns, maybe 2-3 pins higher on the Scorpion pattern,” the left-handed Scroggins added. “I think there’s a huge advantage on my side, but I have twisters in my foursome. They are going to be able to open up the lanes.”
The Buckeye State Eliminator is part of the PBA’s 50th Anniversary season “Extreme Swing,” which also includes the, GEICO Plastic Ball Championship, Ultimate Scoring Championship, Etonic Marathon Open, and the GoRVing Match Play Championship. The creative format events are meant to test the greatest bowlers in the world in different areas of the game, provide television audiences with a fresh look while providing education on pertinent aspects of the game.
“My greatest asset and my biggest liability is to find the right combination of moves to win, said last year’s Columbus winner Chris Barnes of Double Oak, Texas who was 10th after Friday’s competition. “However, if I don’t pick the right combination early I lose. One good or bad break can mean more than the entire body of work in the games we bowled.”
LUMBER LIQUIDATORS PBA TOUR
Don Johnson Buckeye State Eliminator
Sequoia Pro Bowl – Columbus, Ohio
Round of 33 Results After 28 games (Name, Hometown, Pinfall, Earnings for Non-Qualifiers)
Top 16 Advance
1, Mike Scroggins, Amarillo, Texas, 6,416
2, Bill O'Neill, Southampton, Pa., 6,406
3, Parker Bohn III, Jackson, N.J., 6,300
4, Joe Bailey, Pittsburgh, 6,298
5, Edward VanDaniker Jr., Essex, Md., 6,187
6, Mika Koivuniemi, Hartland, Mich., 6,170
7, Tommy Jones, Simpsonville, S.C., 6,166
8, Michael Fagan, Patchogue, N.Y., 6,138
9, Wes Malott, Pflugerville, Texas, 6,132
10, Chris Barnes, Double Oak, Texas, 6,128
11, Ritchie Allen, Columbia, S.C., 6,119
12, Rhino Page, Topeka, Kan., 6,117
13, Mike DeVaney, San Diego, 6,107
14, Danny Wiseman, Baltimore, 6,071
15, Eugene McCune, Munster, Ind., 6,065
16, Ryan Shafer, Horseheads, N.Y., 6,043
17, Dino Castillo, Carrollton, Texas, 6,035, $2,200
18, Nathan Bohr, Wichita, Kan., 6,033, $2,200
19, Chris Loschetter, Avon, Ohio, 6,024, $2,200
20, Norm Duke, Clermont, Fla., 6,016, $2,200
21, Sean Rash, Wichita, Kan., 5,998, $2,200
22, Ronnie Russell, Indianapolis, 5,993, $2,200
23, Patrick Allen, Wesley Chapel, Fla., 5,990, $2,200
24, Pete Weber, St. Ann, Mo., 5,979, $2,200
25, Steve Harman, Indianapolis, 5,977, $2,200
26, Walter Ray Williams Jr., Ocala, Fla., 5,973, $2,200
27, Tony Reyes, San Bruno, Calif., 5,957, $2,200
28, Jason Lundquist, Delaware Water Gap, Pa., 5,944, $2,200
29, Michael Machuga, Erie, Pa., 5,943, $2,200
30, Doug Kent, Newark, N.Y., 5,929, $2,200
30, Scott Newell, Deland, Fla., 5,929, $2,200
32, Brian Kretzer, Dayton, Ohio, 5,789, $2,200
33, Terrance Reeves, Valrico, Fla., 5,691, $1,800 | http://news.pba.com/post/2009/3/6/Scroggins-Leads-Qualifying-at-PBA-Don-Johnson-Buckeye-State-Eliminator.aspx | 1,268 |
Rare sightseeing trip (Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello
As a sportswriter, most times you fly into a city, cover a game and then return home the following morning.
It’s extremely rare that you can go sightseeing. Too many press conferences to attend, stories to write.
The NCAA Tournament often is the best opportunity to get a few free hours on the day of a game.
I’ll never forget Berry Tramel, Jenni Carlson and myself spending a day in New York City during the day, then watched Oklahoma State beat Pittsburgh that night in East Rutherford in a Sweet 16 game en route to the Final Four.
On Tuesday a similar situation arose. Waiting for the OU-Miami second round NCAA women’s game, I had time to tour Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s legendary home/mansion you see on the back of a nickel.
Jefferson, who wrote the Constitution, was the third U.S. President and founded Virginia University, ended up owning 3,000 acres on a mountain overlooking Charlottesville. The word Monticello means “little mountain.”
It was a great historical view of our country from one of the founding fathers.
Having the time you take such sightseeing trips on the road while covering a sporting event is rare but always enjoyable.
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Oklahoma City Thunder: With the bad comes a lot of good for Russell Westbrook
Oklahoma City's star guard had eight turnovers, but he more than made up for those.
All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook is no stranger to filling up a stat sheet, but in Friday night's hard-fought 106-94 victory over the Utah Jazz, Westbrook's stat line runneth over.
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As is often the case with the Thunder's whirling dervish, there was both good and bad in how he performed before a sellout crowd of 18,203 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The good came with 23 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists and seven steals while pushing OKC's record to 13-4.
The bad came with 6-for-18 shooting from the field (3 for 13 from 2-point range), eight turnovers and one technical foul.
No one expects more from Westbrook than Westbrook himself, but he was smiling throughout his postgame interview.
Westbrook tied his career-high in defensive rebounds, was one shy of his career-high in steals, was two shy of his career-high in total rebounds and — ahem — one shy of his career-high in turnovers.
Arguably the league's premier athlete, Westbrook appeared to have the pedal to the metal the entire night and was slowed only when questionable officiating calls didn't go his way (hence, the technical).
Westbrook took command when it mattered most and helped bring a halt to a furious Utah rally that had cut OKC's 16-point lead at the outset of the fourth quarter down to five with 7:41 remaining.
In the final 9:01 of the game, Westbrook had seven points, four rebounds, three steals (and two turnovers).
“He was great, like he's been all year,” said Thunder newcomer Kevin Martin, who had 19 points off the bench. “He has the keys to our car as the point guard, so we're following him and tonight was a great example of him getting everybody involved and just having the willpower to lead us to victory.”
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John Tavares led the way with two power play goals in the Isles 5-2 victory over the Caps.
The top-seeded Rangers lead the series 3-2, one victory from reaching the Eastern Conference finals for the first time since 1997.
The Rangers will have the momentum when they step on the ice Wednesday night. That will last until the puck is dropped.
The Rangers kept their focus under the most intense pressure to deliver a Game 5 victory. There isn’t an off-switch inside these Rangers who never quit.
The hard work and decisive backhand shot by Joel Ward that ended the Bruins’ season has ignited childish anger that manifests itself through the most racist language and attitude imaginable.
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ARLINGTON -- Nolan Ryan hadn't thought about it, but Tuesday was the 39th anniversary of his May 15, 1973, no-hitter against the Royals -- the first of his seven no-hitters and the first of three no-hitters in the history of Kauffman Stadium."I remember certain things about it because it was a big moment in my career that I never anticipated -- throwing a no-hitter. Never even thought about it," Ryan said. "So when it happened, it obviously was very exciting and meaningful."
Ryan, now president of the Texas Rangers, was then a hard-throwing, 26-year-old right-hander for the California Angels. In the 3-0 victory, he struck out 12 and issued three walks."Amos Otis was the last out, and Amos and I had been teammates, so I knew him pretty well," Ryan said. "He hit a long fly ball to right-center for the out. In that ballpark, that's a good place, because when people hit the ball in the air, there's a good chance you'll get him out." Right fielder Ken Berry made the catch; he'd replaced Bob Oliver, who had homered, defensively in the seventh inning. Others of note in the Angels' lineup that day were designated hitter Frank Robinson, one of Ryan's fellow Hall of Famers, and center fielder Bobby Valentine, now the Red Sox's manager. The Royals' lineup included manager-to-be Lou Piniella in left field and first baseman John Mayberry, who struck out in all three at-bats against Ryan. That day also happened to be George Brett's 20th birthday -- he turned 59 on Tuesday -- but at that time, he was still in the Minors. Brett debuted with Kansas City later that year on Aug. 2, and he and Ryan would retire on the same day as the 1993 season ended at old Arlington Stadium. "I never viewed myself as a no-hit pitcher and I had no reason to think I'd ever be in that position again. So it was the start of a very interesting period in my career," Ryan said. Two months later, on July 15, 1973, Ryan no-hit the Tigers at Detroit and would pitch five more no-hitters in his career.
-- Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com.
Hamilton sets up official Twitter account
ARLINGTON -- Josh Hamilton is officially on Twitter.Hamilton said he and his wife, Katie, have set up their own Twitter account and want everybody to know about it because they have grown weary of imposter accounts. Although Twitter attempts to verify and confirm all accounts of famous people, Hamilton said there were still plenty who were trying to pass themselves off as him. Hamilton's account is called TheJoshHamilton. "I'm sick of people passing themselves off as me," Hamilton said. "That's not fair for fans to think it's me." Hamilton said both he and his wife will try to use the account as much as possible. "She gets into it more than me," Hamilton said. "I'll definitely give some quotes and answer some questions." Among other Rangers who use Twitter are Derek Holland, Mike Napoli, Brandon Snyder, Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz. Others have an account but aren't active.
Rangers give Andrus, Cruz a break vs. KC
ARLINGTON -- For the second straight day, two of the Rangers' biggest bats are missing in the starting lineup.
Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz got a day off as the Rangers faced the Royals on Tuesday night. Cruz, who has started all 36 games this season in right field, was one of 12 players in the Major Leagues who had played every inning in the field this year. Before Tuesday, Andrus missed just one game, a 5-3 win over the Mariners on April 12.
"We need them for the rest of the year, not just in May," said manager Ron Washington. "Nelson played every game. He needed one. Elvis has been grinding just like him. He needed a day. We've won with both of them in the lineup and we've lost with them not in the lineup. They need a day. Today is theirs."
Alberto Gonzalez filled in for Andrus at shortstop and batted eighth, where he batted Monday night when he was at second base filling in for Ian Kinsler.
"It's a long season," Andrus said. "I wasn't too happy about it, but I understand it."
In his last eight games, Nelson Cruz was batting .469 with two home runs and eight RBIs, while Andrus was batting .426 with 10 runs scored in May.
"I still have a potent lineup," Washington said. "Even with Cruz and Andrus out ... we've got enough."
Washington said he would like to get both Michael Young and Josh Hamilton a day off at some point during the Rangers' two-game series with the Athletics on Wednesday and Thursday.
Rangers pitchers prepare for Interleague Play
ARLINGTON -- Rangers pitchers took batting and bunting practice Tuesday in preparation for Interleague Play, which begins on Friday against the Astros. The main focus was on bunting.
"All I'm worried about is getting the bunts down," said Derek Holland, who pitches on Saturday. "That way I can get the guys around to score runs for me. I feel really good bunting. We'll see how it goes."
Since Interleague Play began in 1997, Rangers pitchers have batted .139, the fifth-highest average for an American League team. Their 12 extra-base hits, which includes nine doubles, two triples, and a home run, are the most.
"If there's a man on, I'm bunting them unless he's on third," Washington said. "I don't like them to swing. But they're going to have to do it if the situation calls for them to swing. They have to do it."
Double-A Frisco infielder Jurickson Profar was 3-for-5 in the Roughriders' 5-4 victory over Midland on Tuesday. He has now hit safely in 25 straight games. The Rangers' pitching staff leads the American League with a 3.27 ERA and a 1.152 WHIP entering Tuesday. That gives them the second-best ERA in the Major Leagues and the fifth-best WHIP. Entering Tuesday, the Rangers had lost consecutive games only once this season, when they dropped three straight from May 1-4. They are 0-5 when trying to move 12 games above .500.
T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger. Christian Corona is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120515&content_id=31361866¬ebook_id=31361874&vkey=notebook_tex&c_id=tex | 1,432 |
Nelson Chenault-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on their second Big East opponent of the season and look to improve to 5-0 for the first time since 2006, when Rutgers won its first nine games.
There's a blackout coming to the Rutgers football field this weekend.
The Scarlet Knights, who are back in the national rankings for the first time since 2009, will take the field in all black uniforms for their second Big East matchup of the season, going against regional rival Connecticut (0-0, 3-2) on Saturday afternoon as they look to start their season 5-0.
Although the Scarlet Knights are coming off a bye week, they haven't been silenced on the national scene.
In fact, this past week has been anything but quiet for the Rutgers squad as accolade after accolade has been rolling in, following their 35-26 victory over Arkansas.
Senior wide receiver Mark Harrison was nominated as a GEICO player of the year this past week, while quarterback Gary Nova, who's flourished as the leader of the Scarlet Knights' offense the past two games, was named one of eight quarterbacks to receive the weekly Manning Award.
This week though, Rutgers is planning on putting the awards - and there have been a handful since their last game - to focus on the matchup at hand and the chance to start a season 5-0 for the first time since starting 9-0 in 2006..
It would be only the seventh time that the Scarlet Knights had started a season a perfect 5-0 since the program's inception more than 143 years ago.
Saturday's matchup is a solid chance for the Rutgers squad to grab a little bit of revenge after the Huskies' spoiled the Scarlet Knights' chances at a Big East co-championship last season with a 40-22 victory.
While the Scarlet Knights have more or less cruised through the first four games of the season, this weekend's divisional game presents a bit more of a challenge after the Huskie's 24-17 win over Buffalo last week.
As Connecticut's first divisional opponent this season, Rutgers is going to have to rely heavily on their dominant defense, a squad that allowed an average of just 12.8 points per game.
If the Scarlet Knights are once again able to shut down their opponent's offense, it leaves their own attempts, led by the dual attack of Nova and sophomore running back Jawan Jamison free to take over.
Nova, who has thrown for 962 yards in the first four games of the season, going 74-124-2 with nine touchdowns, has exploded in the stats line over the past two games, while Jamison, and his 122.8 yards per game average, has been the constant for the Rutgers' offense.
A balanced performance between the two, with a consistent attack through the air and on the ground, could even give the Scarlet Knights a slim advantage when they step onto the field.
Another win here though, would be even more impressive than all the stat lines in the entire book, as the undefeated Rutgers squad looks to continue to prove the doubters wrong. | http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/10/2/3443212/rutgers-2012-college-football-schedule-connecticut-huskies-preview-news-injuries-big-east | 642 |
Atlanta adds Vazquez to new-look staff
Braves complete deal for durable veteran starter, reliever Logan
ATLANTA -- Growing up in the same hometown as Javy Lopez, Javier Vazquez had reason to be a Braves fan. Like many of the other natives of Ponce, Puerto Rico, he enjoyed the opportunity to see Lopez play alongside the likes of John Smoltz, Tom Glavine and Chipper Jones.
But Vazquez actually developed a passion for the Braves during the days when it seemed ridiculous to think October baseball could become an annual tradition in Atlanta. With the help of TBS, he found himself developing his Major League dreams while watching Dale Murphy and listening to the familiar voices of Skip Caray and Pete Van Wieren.
"I've been following the Braves since I was a kid," Vazquez said. "Now I'm going to get to play for them and have one of those guys that I watched, Glenn Hubbard, be one of my coaches."
When this week arrived, there was growing reason to wonder if the Braves would be able to avoid one of those forgettable seasons that became all too familiar during the days that Murphy and Hubbard were two of owner Ted Turner's most recognizable players. An industry-wide slow offseason had led pessimists to wonder if Atlanta would land the starting pitchers that it has been actively pursuing.
But the pessimism has at least waned since Tuesday night, when the Braves and White Sox agreed to terms on a six-player trade that brings Vazquez and left-handed reliever Boone Logan to Atlanta in exchange for shortstop Brent Lillibridge, catcher Tyler Flowers, third baseman Jon Gilmore and left-handed pitcher Santos Rodriguez.
The trade became official Thursday morning, after Braves doctors viewed the results of an MRI exam that Vazquez took on Wednesday night.
"I consider Javy [Vazquez] to be an elite pitcher," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "His stuff is way above average and he's a great athlete. ... I think it's a tremendous deal for the Braves to have Javy in our uniform."
While Vazquez alone doesn't provide a solution, his addition to the Atlanta rotation at least provides Braves general manager Frank Wren with a building block as he continues his attempt to complete his rotation-reconstruction project with the acquisition of an ace.
After introducing Vazquez during Thursday morning's press conference, Wren confirmed that he has made an offer to A.J. Burnett, whom the Braves are targeting to serve as their next ace. A Major League source, who was in contact with Burnett on Wednesday night, said Atlanta offered a four-year contract with a vesting fifth-year option that the source deemed "very attainable."
"We're trying to get another starting pitcher," Wren said. "That's been our focus throughout the offseason. But getting Javy was a big first step."
The Braves actually started actively pursuing this deal two weeks ago, after Wren called White Sox general manager Kenny Williams to discuss Logan, a 6-foot-5, hard-throwing left-hander whom the Braves also consider to be a key piece in this trade.
This discussion led the two general managers to begin talking about Vazquez, whose durability is shown through the fact that Livan Hernandez is the only Major League pitcher to have completed more innings since the start of the 2000 season.
During each of the past nine seasons, Vazquez has pitched at least 198 innings and recorded 10 wins. The only year he didn't compile at least 200 innings during this span was 2004, when he won 14 games for the Yankees and earned his only All-Star selection.
"[Compiling innings] is something I take great pride in," Vazquez said. "I'm a guy who has been able to stay healthy. But the bottom line is to win, and that's what I'm here for."
After capturing a career-high 15 wins and notching seven complete games for the White Sox in 2007, Vazquez returned this past season and didn't enjoy the same kind of success. In 33 starts, he went 12-16 with a 4.67 ERA and 200 strikeouts. Still, this marked the third straight season in which he ranked among the top four American League pitchers in strikeouts.
"I have a lot of good years left," said the 32-year-old Vazquez, who will make $11.5 million in each of the next two seasons and then be eligible for free agency.
While Vazquez is the most recognizable piece of this trade, the Braves are also excited about the opportunity to add Logan's live young arm to their bullpen. At just 24 years old, the left-handed reliever has already made 144 career appearances.
During his first 36 appearances in 2008, Logan posted a 1.95 ERA and limited opponents to a .223 batting average. But after posting a 19.13 ERA and allowing opponents to hit .500 in his next 12 appearances, he found himself in manager Ozzie Guillen's doghouse and on the way to the Minors.
"He's a key piece," Wren said of Logan. "He's got the kind of live young arm that we were seeking."
Earlier this week, the Braves indicated that Logan's acquisition didn't necessarily mean they wouldn't continue to attempt to re-sign left-handed reliever Will Ohman. But doing so isn't a current priority, and Atlanta realizes Ohman could sign elsewhere before it could choose to make him another offer.
Of the four players the Braves sent to the White Sox, Flowers was the one who fans seemed most disheartened to see included. The hulking catcher hit 17 homers with Advanced Class A Myrtle Beach this past season, and then improved his stock while hitting 12 homers in 20 Arizona Fall League games, some of which were played with Williams in attendance.
"I'm sorry to see Flowers go," Braves third baseman Chipper Jones said. "That kid is going to be really good. But to get something good, you have to give up something good."
Mark Bowman is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081204&content_id=3701728&vkey=hotstove2008&fext=.jsp | 1,286 |
A week ago, talk about Nebraska's running game centered on its stable of talented running backs. Now, you have to throw the quarterback into the mix as well. After redshirt freshman Taylor Martinez gashed Western Kentucky for 127 yards and three touchdowns on just seven carries last Saturday, the Huskers' ground attack became even more dangerous that it already was to begin with.
Considering NU faces an Idaho defense that gave up 148 rushing yards to I-AA North Dakota last week, Martinez and backs Roy Helu, Rex Burkhead and Dontrayevous Robinson should once again put up some big numbers on the ground this week.
NU Pass Offense vs UI Pass Defense
With Martinez getting the start once again today, it will be interesting to see if he's able to do a little more through the air against a Vandal defense that ranked 116th nationally in pass defense last season. Last week, Martinez completed some nice passes, but he also got away with some risky throws that arguably should have been picked off.
Idaho held North Dakota to just 122 passing yards and picked off two passes last week, but then again, it was against North Dakota. Nebraska's wide receivers will be some of the biggest the Vandals' secondary will face all season, and there's really no reason why the Huskers can't be a little more aggressive against such a physically inferior defensive backfield.
UI Rush Offense vs NU Rush Defense
The 155 yards and a touchdown Western Kentucky's Bobby Rainey put up against Nebraska last week were definitely reasons for concern, especially considering NU didn't give up that many yards against any of the talented backs it faced all last season. However, the players and coaches have insisted Rainey's big day was more a result of communication and alignment issues on their part and not because they were physically beaten up front.
The good news for the Husker defense is that Idaho doesn't present nearly the challenge WKU was in the run game. Sure, they rushed for nearly 150 yards and three touchdowns against UND, but the Vandals still lost four starting offensive linemen from last season, and their pass-first mentality doesn't necessarily do much for the running game either. Also, word is that sophomore Eric Martin will get the start at linebacker over Alonzo Whaley, so NU should be even more physical against the run.
UI Pass Offense vs NU Pass Defense
If there's one area where Nebraska should genuinely be concerned about going into today's game, it's how they're going to handle Idaho's explosive passing attack led by quarterback Nathan Enderle. The Huskers' secondary is considered one of the biggest strengths of the defense, but it certainly wasn't tested much at all last week.
That definitely won't be the case today, as there's no doubt that the Vandals will come out slinging the ball all over the place. Enderle and Co. passed for 399 yards and three touchdowns last week, but the passing game definitely wasn't perfect. North Dakota racked up four sacks in the first half alone and also added an interception.
Special Teams, What If's and The X-Factor
As usual, Nebraska gets the edge on special teams primarily because of senior kicker/punter Alex Henery and punt returner Niles Paul. Henery didn't really have to do much last week, and Paul came oh-so-close to breaking a couple of punt returns. In addition, kickoff specialist Adi Kunalic and kickoff returner Tim Marlowe did excellent jobs. Kunalic put two kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks, and Marlowe averaged 34.5 yards per return. Idaho return man Justin Veltung is a threat on kick returns, but Kunalic should be able to make him a non-factor.
Nebraska Will Win If:
It continues to dominate in the run game and finds a way to put pressure on Enderle all game. Though Idaho's offensive line weighs in at an average of roughly 340 pounds, Nebraska's defensive line is much faster and more athletic, and it should be able to put some serious heat on Enderle and at least throw him off his rhythm. And if Martinez pulls off another performance like he did last week, then it's pretty much game over right there.
Idaho Will Win If:
It can force Nebraska to pass the ball and create some turnovers while also putting up some points through the air. Enderle is one of the better quarterbacks in the country right now, and if he can get enough time in the pocket to go through his reads he should be able to find some holes in NU's coverage, especially considering the inexperience at linebacker and safety.
There's no question that the one element Nebraska has that Idaho doesn't is a natural playmaker like Martinez. What he lacks in experience and his sometimes questionable decision making he more than makes up for with the ability to score every time he takes a snap. Add in Idaho's recent defensive struggles, and Martinez could be in for another highlight reel performance, which will only further separate himself from the rest of the pack as clear cut starter at quarterback. | http://nfldraft.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1124611 | 1,048 |
JaMarcus Russell Comeback: Five Potential Suitors
According to Yahoo! Sports, former No. 1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell has re-dedicated himself to football and has been working towards making an NFL comeback.
Russell last played in the NFL in 2009 with the Oakland Raiders. Over his three seasons with Oakland, Russell threw for just over 4,000 yards while completing just over 52 percent of his passes. He also threw 18 touchdowns with 23 picks. So, yep, he was pretty atrocious.
Russell ballooned to somewhere near 530 pounds and quickly fell out of favor with then-coach Tom Cable. The team released him prior to the 2010 season.
Work ethic has always been something of a question with Russell, which is why he hasn’t sniffed an NFL roster since being dumped by the Raiders. However, if he really has trimmed-down and gotten his head straight, perhaps there’s a chance he can salvage his career.
He’s got a cannon for an arm, and, while accuracy has always been a question mark, teams obviously believe a talent like that can be coached up and turned into something special. He’s also still just 27.
So, if Russell does make this comeback, which teams might be interested? Let’s run through a few.
Just kidding. I’ve got jokes! But, this is the Raiders, so you never know.
When the quarterbacks on your roster are Kevin Kolb, John Skelton, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer, you don’t really have a quarterback, do you?
Arizona has quite a bit of money invested in Kolb, but he’s been hurt so often since his acquisition that we still don’t really know what to make of him as a potential starting-caliber NFL quarterback. Skelton had another chance last year, and was eventually benched in favor of the rookie Lindley, who was probably the league’s worst quarterback when he played last year.
Hoyer has bounced around a bit and started Arizona’s season finale against San Francisco. He’s probably not a real candidate here.
Meanwhile, as the Cardinals are shuffling around from mediocre QB to mediocre QB, Larry Fitzgerald is standing around wasting away in the prime of his career. Pretty sad.
So, it would seem doubtful that new head coach Bruce Arians would want to bring in Russell as some sort of reclamation project with Fitzgerald going to waste. One would expect a team like this, with a very solid, young defense in place already, to look for a more established signal-caller this offseason. Perhaps someone like Alex Smith, should San Francisco cut him free.
At no point during his brief pro career has Blaine Gabbert looked like he has what it takes to be a starting pro player. Chad Henne is better, but we’ve seen Chad Henne before, and we know what he is. Spot-starter, high-end backup at best, right?
There isn’t a lot of skill position talent on this roster outside of Maurice Jones-Drew, but we did see solid flashes from young receivers Justin Blackmon (2012′s first-round pick) and Cecil Shorts, who nearly gained 1,000 yards last season. Marcedes Lewis (remember him?) also caught 10 touchdown passes a few years ago, so he’s not a total spare.
It sure doesn’t look like the Jaguars are particularly close to meaningful contention in the AFC, so perhaps they’d be interested in a developmental project like Russell. I mean, they’ve already told us Tim Tebow isn’t coming to town.
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs have the No. 1 pick in the upcoming draft, but this draft doesn’t appear to have any quarterback prospects worthy of being selected first overall. So, the Chiefs could either trade down and get a QB slightly lower, or take another position with the top choice.
Russell, with his general lack of accuracy, isn’t an ideal fit in Andy Reid’s dink-and-dump style offense, so perhaps this wouldn’t be an ideal destination. However, we did see another passer with a similar passing skill set (big arm, sketchy accuracy), Michael Vick, enjoy a bit of success with Reid. Obviously, Vick’s mobility certainly helped out quite a bit there. Russell isn’t one to do much moving outside the pocket, as we know.
The current Chiefs quarterbacks are Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn. So, honestly, the name “JaMarcus Russell” can’t sound that much worse.
New York Jets
The 2012 New York Jets season was basically the football version of the 2012-13 Los Angeles Lakers season. They came into it with big aspirations, but pretty much everything that could’ve gone wrong did go wrong.
They brought in Tim Tebow with big hype, with Rex Ryan and Tony Sparano reportedly coming up with all sorts of packages in which to use him. Variations of the wildcat, etc. However, as we know, Tebow was hardly used at all, as the coaching staff never truly trusted him or believed him to be a worthy starter.
Mark Sanchez was absolutely horrific last season, and was, at one point, benched in favor of initial third-stringer Greg McElroy for a game. The Jets are expected to dump Tebow, but they still owe Sanchez big money after taking him fifth overall in 2009. So, cutting him while still paying him something in the neighborhood of $8 million doesn’t seem too likely.
Surely, New York will be in the market for one of the more proven QB commodities, such as the aforementioned Alex Smith or maybe even Michael Vick. The upcoming season has the looks of a make-or-break one for Rex Ryan, so he’s not likely to put all of his hopes on the shoulders of a project like Russell.
New Orleans Saints
Obviously, it’s unlikely that Russell is able to obtain a starting job anywhere in the league, and he surely isn’t supplanting Drew Brees.
The recently-reinstated Sean Payton said after Russell was cut in 2010 that the timing at that point wouldn’t have been right for the Saints to consider bringing Russell, the former LSU standout, back to Louisiana.
Russell could theoretically benefit from the tutelage of both Brees and Payton, and they could casually bring him along as something of a side project. Surely, receiving consistent attention and coaching from a “quarterback guru” type like Sean Payton would help Russell tremendously. | http://nflsoup.com/jamarcus-russell-comeback-five-potential-suitors/ | 1,391 |
By Stu Hackel
No one should be surprised that Alexander Ovechkin has, once again, commanded the spotlight — at least briefly — during the NHL lockout. Ovechkin has many talents and grabbing attention is one of them. He’s been as charismatic a personality as hockey has ever seen and he’s always relished standing apart, from his special on-ice abilities (which we hope are not on the wane), to his leaping, glass-crashing goal celebration, his yellow skate laces and his now-banned darkened visor. This is a one-of-a-kind specimen and we should accept no substitutes.
The thing with Ovie is, he’s something of an iconoclast. He has been from the outset. Even before he was drafted by the Capitals, he came to the 2004 Stanley Cup Final with all the top prospects and, as league staffers fondly recall, he comported himself unlike any of his more reserved contemporaries, renting a stretch limo and hosting the other kids in an exploration of the Tampa Bay area. At the draft combine, when not in gym clothes, the others wore suits while Ovie was decked out in a body-hugging T-shirt, with unused suspenders hanging from the waist of his bright red jeans, his high-top shoes matching the color of his pants. He’s been endearing, quick to smile, and a very good prankster regardless of the setting, like when he got the key to the city in Washington D.C. after winning the Hart Trophy in 2008. He declared himself “President” for the day and revised the District’s traffic laws.
But, as with all iconoclasts, you’ve got to take the bitter with the sweet — and increasingly there’s been some bitterness, especially as Ovechkin’s production has declined and the Capitals have underachieved. There was his unease with interim coach Dale Hunter last season, of course, their clash of styles suspected by some of leading to Hunter’s resignation at season’s end.
Earlier, he was suspended in January by the league for charging and a head check — and here’s Brendan Shanahan’s video. (Hey, remember those? Bet you’d rather watch videos of Shanny than videos of Gary Bettman and Don Fehr.) Ovechkin responded by pouting and excusing himself from the All-Star Game. It angered some that he took a beach vacation instead of entertaining the fans in Ottawa and around the world. They insisted that no one should be bigger than the game, but, well, that’s Ovie. He says and does what he wants and damn the consequences. He’s no one-dimensional guy, he’s not prone to vanishing into the wallpaper. That can be a bit hard for the conservative hockey community to swallow, especially when it comes from someone who we’d prefer was only associated with fun and excitement.
And that brings us to the growing bad feeling between players and owners. Like a lot of his teammates, Ovechkin was probably excited about starting anew with Adam Oates replacing Hunter, and perhaps reclaiming some of his on-ice supremacy. He was training hard. When he passed his physical this week for Dinamo Moscow, the team doctor Valery Konov said Ovie had been “seriously preparing himself for the season” and was in “above average” condition — except for missing a front tooth. “But he can play without it,” the doc informed the world.
[In his first game for Dinamo Moscow on Thursday, Ovechkin assisted on a late game goal in a 7-2 win over Dinamo Minsk. He delivered this hit on the backcheck, forcing a turnover..
….and wore number 32 on his dark blue home jersey. Replicas of the jersey were reportedly selling for 11,000 rubles, about $353, at the rink. That’s about twice what a normal replica jersey costs.]
Ovie’s NHL career, however, is on hold. That’s where he intended to play this season; that’s where he wanted to be. He didn’t want to be back in Russia and he’s obviously not happy about being locked out. Few players have been as outspoken as Ovie in recent days. “If the (NHL) continues to insist on their (demands), then it will take a full year,” Ovechkin told Pavel Lysenkov of Sovetsky Sport on Monday.“We’re not going to give in, either. Then I will spend the entire season in the KHL. That’s the reality.”
Just as significant, if not more, he has no stomach for surrendering any of the current 13-year, $125 million deal he signed in 2008. In a conference call with The Washington Post and The Washington Times on Wednesday, Ovechkin continued with that line of thought. “Of course, I said it before, before I sign contract, that if the league decides to cut our salaries, cut our contracts for what they want, I don’t know how many guys are coming back,” he said, perhaps trying, in his own way, to put pressure on the negotiations. “We sign contract before. Why they have to cut our salary and our contracts right now? They sign us. [Now they] want to cut it. I think it’s a stupid idea and stupid decision by NHL, Bettman and the guys who work there.”
“It’s not us who stop the NHL, it’s the league stop the NHL, the Bettman and the owners stop NHL,” he continued. “They don’t play hockey, they don’t block the shots, they don’t fight, they don’t get hit. They just sit in a box and enjoy the hockey.”
His most inflammatory statement was issued for Russian consumption, to Russian news agency RIA Novosti (reprinted in The Washington Post) on Wednesday after signing his KHL deal. Ovie said, “As to the future, it will depend on what kind of conditions there will be in the NHL with the new CBA. If our contracts get slashed, I will have to think whether to return there or not. I won’t rule out staying in the KHL, even past this season.”
That set off all sorts of alarms since, after all, it means Ovechkin would consider jumping his NHL contract.
Legally, as everyone agrees, he can’t do that. After Alexander Radulov walked away from the year he had left on his Predators contract in 2008 to play with Salavat Yulaev Ufa (which led to a nice-sized international hockey feud), the NHL and KHL reached an understanding to prevent player poaching. “The NHL and the KHL have signed a ‘Memorandum of Agreement’ where the centerpiece of that agreement is mutual respect of contracts,” wrote IIHF Communications Director Szymon Szemberg in an email to Red Light on Thursday. He added, “In a normal — non-lockout situation –- the current (post-Radulov case, as of 2009) IIHF Transfer Regulations do not allow playing under conflicting contracts.”
Of course, this is Ovechkin we’re speaking about, one of the highest profile players in the world, certainly the top name among all Russian skaters. Would the KHL actually uphold the rules and not permit this top attraction from staying in their league? “The current KHL-NHL Memorandum of Agreement precludes what Ovechkin is suggesting from happening,” a KHL spokesman affirmed to me via email. “The only possible exception would be if Ovechkin worked out a separation agreement with the Capitals regarding his existing contract, which is a matter that would be between Alexander and his current club.”
So unless Ted Leonsis is somehow persuaded to let Ovie stay with Dinamo Moscow post-lockout — fat chance of that, you say — he’ll be pulling on the star-spangled Caps sweater when the NHL returns.
Legalities aside, however, Ovie’s outburst produced a fair amount of reaction because, well, it’s Ovie and what he says always sparks discussion. “While I’m sure his comments are hyperbole,” wrote Greg Wyshynski at Yahoo’s Puck Daddy, “let’s take them at face for a second. I find it impossible to reconcile the NHLPA’s message of ‘the people that suffer the most are the fans’ (S. Crosby, 2012) and ‘they’re the ones that suffer from [a lockout]‘ (J. Reimer, 2012) with Ovechkin pondering if he’d turn his back on those very fans if his $9 million base salary is reduced under a new CBA. At this point in the lockout, it’s completely counterproductive to the NHLPA’s messaging.”
Perhaps. But there is another way to look at it and that’s Ovechkin’s legitimate frustration toward the lockout — just like that of the fans who say they won’t watch the NHL anymore, won’t buy NHL merchandise any more, and claim they’ll boycott league sponsors if the NHL loses all or even part of the season. The point is, there’s a lot of anger out there and it’s not just confined to the fans. The players are angry, too, and they have a right to be (so do owners, agents, sponsors, broadcasters, arena workers, restaurant owners, parking attendants and guys like me who really don’t like writing and talking about this stuff). The optics of Ovie’s threat might not be great, but I think Wyshynski’s initial thought is the right one. It’s hyperbole. It’s angry, bitter Ovie spouting off, a little petulant, not really weighing his words fully before issuing them, and maybe not caring whether he does. He’s wrong about the facts — he can’t play in the KHL after the lockout; no one with a valid NHL contract can — but he’s not wrong about his feelings.
He’s a spontaneous guy, this Ovechkin. That’s one of the things that makes him a great hockey player when he’s at his best. It may not make for good diplomacy, but iconoclasts don’t always consider the niceties of their pronouncements. With iconoclasts, you have to take the bitter with the sweet.
COMMENTING GUIDELINES: We encourage engaging, diverse and meaningful commentary and hope you will join the discussion. We also encourage, but do not require, that you use your real name. Please keep comments on-topic and relevant to the original post. To foster healthy discussion, we will review all comments BEFORE they are posted. We expect a basic level of civility toward each other and the subjects of this blog. Disagreements are fine, but mutual respect is a must. Comments will not be approved if they contain profanity (including the use of abbreviations and punctuation marks instead of letters); any abusive language or personal attacks including insults, name-calling, threats, harassment, libel and slander; hateful, racist, sexist, religious or ethnically offensive language; or efforts to promote commercial products or solicitations of any kind, including links that drive traffic to your own website. Flagrant or repeat offenders run the risk of being banned from commenting. | http://nhl.si.com/2012/09/20/what-to-make-of-ovechkins-outburst/?eref=si_writers/ | 2,517 |
Sat August 4, 2012
U.S. Women Win Silver In First Team Pursuit Event
The U.S. team won the silver medal in the inaugural women's team pursuit event of the Summer Olympics, finishing behind Great Britain in the final.
The British team set a new world record of 3:14.051 as they claimed the gold medal. The Americans finished 5 seconds behind them. Canada won the bronze-medal matchup, beating Australia in London's velodrome.
The American team of Sarah Hammer, Dotsie Bausch, and Lauren Tamayo averaged a speed of 54.073 Km/h, or 33.5 mph, on the track.
The velodrome audience included Paul McCartney, who reportedly sang along when the arena's p.a. system played "Hey Jude." | http://nhpr.org/post/us-women-win-silver-first-team-pursuit-event | 171 |
The NHSSC 6 on 6 volleyball league will play Manchester. Games are played at local gymnasiums between 6:15 and 10pm. After the games, players will head down to Murphy's Taproom for drinks and socializing! Team rosters must have a minimum of 10 players. This league is for semi-competitive players, i.e. players with who still want to have fun and socialize, but prefer a higher level of play against more competitive teams. | http://nhssc.com/leagues/view/454 | 96 |
Hall prepares for record attendance
Popularity of incoming class sparks unprecedented crowds
COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. -- Just minutes until closing time, National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum staff members were still busy at the end of a day of record crowds.
As of 6 p.m. ET, the Museum had drawn more than 13,000 visitors, besting by far a previous museum record of 9,500 in 1995.
"It is extremely busy," said ticket manager Katie Morris. "But it's been flowing really good. We've only had to shut down once, for about 20 minutes."
The Hall of Fame, Morris said, had five years to prepare for an event that observers predicted would be the largest of its kind. Cal Ripken Jr. and Tony Gwynn, two of the most popular players in baseball history, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on Sunday.
But although the Hall of Fame had time to prepare, few could have anticipated the bedlam that would consume the Museum. Visitors packed the corridors, swarming around Orioles- and Padres-related memorabilia. Ripken fans were particularly visible.
"You prepare for the worst, and I think we did pretty good," Morris said. "We changed a lot of things as the crowds came, and things didn't really work."
The Museum gift shop closed its entrance line at 6:20 p.m. to prepare for its 7 p.m. closing. Not all visitors would have been able to push through by then.
Ron Simms, an usher for Washington Nationals games at RFK Stadium, drove up from Northern Virginia for nearly seven hours with his wife, Kris, to see Ripken. They were two of many people wearing Ripken gear and were seeking a pennant to commemorate the occasion.
"I think five years go," Simms said, "people started making hotel reservations."
As for the next wave? Rest assured; museum staff are already preparing. Morris said that one name hangs especially heavily on planners' lips: Derek Jeter.
"He's going to be a big one," Morris said. "He's the one that I've always heard."
Alex McPhillips is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20070728&content_id=2115343&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | 478 |
Sep 15, 2011, 3:21 PM EDT
Who among us hasn’t groped a hot blonde during a dwarf-tossing contest a few weeks after marrying Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter? Let him cast the first stone. Or dwarf. Look, they prefer to be called little people, and besides, England National Rugby team captain Mike Tindall flatly denies tossing any of them. He allegedly did go for a try with a female patron, however, which has the rugby community talking today. This is no way for a member of the Royal Family to act! (Tindall married Zara Phillips, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, six weeks ago).
From the London Sun:
England rugby aces piled on top of each other in an impromptu scrum — on a boozy night out that saw a gorgeous blonde pull skipper Mike Tindall’s head into her boobs.
‘The girl was absolutely stunning and all over him. He clearly thought it was a case of ‘What happens on tour, stays on tour’.
Other snaps showed several players fooling around with smiling dwarves and posing for photos with starstruck female fans.
One captured Cole, Thompson, Deacon, Foden, Hape and Hartley posing with two pretty blondes and brunettes.
Another showed Ashton struggling to hold a dwarf.
Who among us hasn’t struggled to hold a smiling dwarf? Let him cast the first stone.
England, of course, is in New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup. It won its first match in pool play over Argentina last week. Being that it’s New Zealand, the dwarfs mentioned in this story are obviously hobbits.
England rugby was quick to defend Tindall, saying that the Sun story was sensationalized and out of context. Key quote: “Like all the lads he plays for England with a massive amount of passion and he was relaxing after a tough match.”
- So long folks, it’s time for me to take off 18
- Man wins full marathon while pushing his daughter in a baby stroller (video) 14
- Lock and load, it’s youth baseball fundraising time: league raffling off AR-15 rifle (video) 8
- Sim Bhullar is a large basketball player, and I mean it. Anybody want a peanut? 0
- What’s with kids and all these death-defying stunts? 674
- Nothing to see here…just a 70-yard field goal by a high-schooler (video) 3
- None found
- Wings stun Hawks again, take 2-1 series lead
- Posnanski: Once the best, Pujols now irrelevant
- Sports world keeps eye on Oklahoma tornado
- PBT: Vogel downplays war of words with LeBron
- HBT: Camera catches Marlins' Sanabia with spitball
- PBT: Howard reportedly frustrated with D'Antoni
- PBT: Durant, Thunder send support to tornado victims
- Play Video: 'Hawks potential tying goal waved off
- Play Video: Sagan wins Stage 8 of Tour of California
- Play Video: Blackhawks score on controversial play
- Play Video: Highlights: Red Wings top Blackhawks in Game 3
- Play Video: National anthems gone wrong
- Play Video: Pujols losing battle with Father Time? | http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2011/09/15/world-cup-rugby-player-accused-of-groping-woman-during-dwarf-tossing-contest/ | 713 |
The 1956 Melbourne Olympics was a showcase of seething global tensions. Egypt, Iraq and Lebanon opted out in response to the Suez crisis; the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland boycotted the Soviet presence in the Games after the USSR crushed the Hungarian revolution; and China did not participate after Taiwan was allowed to under an alias.
But Olga Fikotová and Hal Connolly’s love-conquers-all story managed to rise above the animosity. Fikotová, a gold-medal Czechoslovak discus thrower and Connolly, an American with a gold medal in hammer throwing, met during the Games and continued their romance afterward, to a mixed reception.
“I returned home as the only gold-medal winner in the delegation, and at an official reception I was told that I brought from Melbourne 50% honor and 50% shame because I’d been running around with an American fascist,” Fikotová told the Financial Times last month. The reaction was a bit better for Connolly: then U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles announced, “We believe in love,” after the pair got engaged.
The pair wed in Prague in 1957 after receiving special permission from Czechoslovak President Antonín Zápotocký and had four children before divorcing in 1974. | http://olympics.time.com/2012/07/12/athletes-in-love-9-olympic-love-stories/?iid=biz-main-moreontime | 283 |
Football: Focused Oman ready for Australia test
By staff - Thu Oct 06, 10:01 am
SYDNEY – Australia captain Lucas Neill on Monday vowed his side would not be guilty of complacency in their home tie with Oman, as they eye the next round of qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Australia go into Tuesday’s qualifying match against Oman in Sydney with wins against Group D opponents Thailand and Saudi Arabia to their name, but Neill warned there was still a long way to go to secure a World Cup berth.
“We’re not through to the next round until it’s mathematically done,” captain Lucas Neill said Monday.
“We all know that a win would be an important win, but we all respect and follow the theory that no games are easy and we shouldn’t think we’ve won before we’ve won.”
Coach Holger Osieck said all teams in Australia’s group still had the chance to go through to the next round of qualifiers.
“First we have to win and it’s going to be a very, very tough one and we have to really put a lot of effort into it to make it happen,” he said.
“Therefore let’s put all our concentration into that and after we see and go from there.”
Australia warmed up for Oman with a 5-0 friendly win against Malaysia on Friday.
German-born Osieck, who is expected to maintain most of the starting line-up from the Malaysia game, said two goals from Shimzu S-Pulse striker Alex Brosque scored in that match had widened his options.
“He definitely has become a serious option for our team,” Osieck said. | http://oneoman.com/2011/10/06/football-focused-oman-ready-for-australia-test/ | 380 |
HOUSTON — Chandler Parsons felt like he couldn't miss. When he finally did, he wasn't aware that he also missed matching a team record.
Parsons scored a career-high 32 points on 12-for-13 shooting and the Houston Rockets snapped a nine-game losing streak to Dallas with an easy 136-103 win over the Mavericks on Sunday night.
Jeremy Lin and James Harden added 21 points apiece and Lin had nine assists for the Rockets.
Parsons sank his first 11 shots and helped the Rockets outscore Dallas 44-17 in the third quarter to blow open a close game. Parsons made his fifth 3-pointer with 3:57 left in the quarter, then missed a 3-point try he forced on Houston's next possession.
"I got a little carried away," Parsons said. "I was feeling it, so I just shot it up there."
If that one had gone in, Parsons would've tied Yao Ming's single-game franchise record for field goals without a miss (12 for 12), set in 2009 against Miami. Parsons didn't know about Yao's mark until after the game.
"Now I really feel like an idiot," Parsons said.
O.J. Mayo scored 18 points and Shawn Marion had 14 to lead the Mavericks, who dropped six games behind Houston for the No. 8 spot in the Western Conference. The teams play again in Dallas on Wednesday night, their last meeting of the regular season.
"This game was all about disposition and attitude," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle said. "They had the stronger disposition and the stronger attitude and we've got to change that."
The Rockets led 64-61 at halftime, then opened the third quarter with a 15-0 spurt. Parsons sank his third 3-pointer, and he and Lin finished fast-breaks with layups to push the lead into double digits. Vince Carter was whistled for an offensive foul as the Mavericks' offensive execution fell apart.
Dallas missed its first six shots out of the break before Brandan Wright's driving layup. But the Rockets continued to hit all the open shots the Mavericks gave them and consecutive 3-pointers by Parsons and Harden pushed the lead to 25.
"The third quarter was ugly," Carlisle said. "I don't have a good explanation for it, other than they picked up their game and we didn't match it."
The Rockets blew 17-point leads in consecutive losses to Washington and Milwaukee before they beat Orlando on Friday night. Houston just poured it on when they got the big lead on Sunday night.
"In the past few games, we have built leads and given them up," Lin said, "so it was good to see us just really build on that."
Dallas had as many turnovers as it had field goals (6) in the third quarter, and Patrick Beverley's layup just before the buzzer made it 108-78.
Rookie Thomas Robinson, acquired from Sacramento last week, had 10 points and eight rebounds for Houston.
Nowitzki was held to eight points and committed three turnovers for Dallas.
"We want to get him the ball and we need good things to happen," Carlisle said. "The problem was, we just couldn't guard these guys."
Dallas started 9 for 14 from the field and hit its first three shots from 3-point range. Harden, averaging 26.3 points per game, missed five of his first seven shots. When he missed another driving layup, Parsons dunked home the putback, two of his nine first-quarter points.
The Mavericks stretched the lead to eight early in the second quarter. Francisco Garcia, seeing his first action for Houston since he was traded from Sacramento last week, sank two 3-pointers and a pull-up jumper to close the gap.
Dallas started 8 for 15 from 3-point range and led 50-41 midway through the second quarter. Houston's starters were back on the floor by the 5-minute mark of the second quarter and the Rockets started to take control with a 14-4 run.
Houston's defense stiffened in the final minutes of the half, forcing six turnovers. Parsons had a 3-pointer, then added a breakaway dunk after a long pass from Lin to put Houston up 62-59. Parsons went 7 for 7 and scored 18 points and Lin had seven assists in the first half.
NOTES: Dallas G Anthony Morrow sat out with a hip injury. ... Nowitzki, averaging 21.2 points and 10.4 rebounds in his previous five games, went 2 for 8 from the field and had only four rebounds. ... Houston's 44 third-quarter points was a high total for any quarter this season. ... The Rockets have hit at least 10 3-pointers in 35 games this season. ... Tracy McGrady, who played for Houston from 2004-10, had a courtside seat. | http://orangeleader.com/hssports/x273859075/Parsons-scores-32-as-Rockets-beat-Mavericks | 1,002 |
Posted Mar 5, 2013 4:38 PM
NEW YORK -- Serge Ibaka of the Oklahoma City Thunder has been fined $25,000 for striking Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers in the groin area, it was announced Tuesday by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident, which was called a Flagrant Foul 1 on the floor and upgraded to a Flagrant Foul 2 upon league office review, occurred with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Thunder's 108-104 win over the Clippers on Sunday, March 3 at Staples Center.
|Pacers Heat Preview|
Vince, 3D and Bones preview the Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals between the Pacers and the Heat.
|GameTime: NBA News|
The NBA Draft Lottery will be held Tuesday at 8:30 pm on ESPN and the Charlotte Bobcats are expected to change back to the Hornets.
|Shaqtin' A Fool Preview|
The crew preview the best of Shaqtin' A Fool season special premiering Thursday at 7 pm on NBA TV.
|Keys to the East Finals|
The guys talk about Indiana's size advantage over Miami and the Heat's shooting threat from big man Chris Bosh.
|Grizzlies-Spurs Game 2 Lookahead|
The guys preview the Game 2 match-up between the Grizzlies and the Spurs on Tuesday at 9 pm on ESPN. | http://origin.nba.com/2013/news/03/05/thunder-ibaka-fined/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpts | 294 |
Ducheny-led Grafton girls race to 2nd in Waukesha; Benkley sets pace during Port’s 6th-place run at Angel
Perseverance on an unfamiliar course paved the way to a medal-winning performance by the Grafton girls’ cross-country team last Saturday.MEMBERS OF THE Grafton girls’ cross-country team posed with their second-place medals after the Waukesha South Festival Invitational last Saturday. They included (standing, from left) Rachel Ruona, Jamie Karrels, Megan Pawlak, Heidi Bauer, Amber Ducheny and (seated) Emily Volkmann, who did not run due to an injury. Photo by Bill Karrels
Sparked by Amber Ducheny’s sixth-place finish, the Black Hawks captured runner-up honors at the Waukesha South Festival Invitational at Minooka Park.
Ducheny finished the 4,000-meter race in 16 minutes, 16.5 seconds, the third-fastest time among juniors in an 84-runner field.
As a team, Grafton scored 105 points, trailing only Slinger (36) in the 11-team standings. Waukesha South was third (121).
“It was kind of a surprise because our numbers two through five runners didn’t run as well as they usually have,” Grafton coach Kevin Kriegel said.
“It was a tough course, so most of our times were off, but it was still nice to finish that high.”
The Hawks’ other scoring finishes came from Megan Pawlak in 16th (17:08.3), Rachel Ruona in 26th (17:21.1), Jamie Karrels in 30th (17:22.5) and Heidi Bauer in 31st (17:27.35).
Ruona, a freshman, had her team’s lone personal-best time, trimming 20 seconds off her previous fastest.
Slinger’s Taylor Clyse won the race in 14:51.9.
In the boys’ portion of the meet, Grafton’s incomplete team had only two runners.
Sophomore Patrick Tobianski placed 36th with a 5,000-meter time of 18:24.2. Teammate Jacob Woolf was 53rd (18:46.75).
Port girls race to 6th at Angel
The Port Washington girls’ cross-country team edged Cedar Grove-Belgium in a battle for sixth place at the Angel Invitational at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside last Saturday.
Junior Bianca Benkley had a 13th-place time of 15:44.1 to lead the Pirates, who scored 221 points.
That total was matched by Cedar Grove-Belgium, but Port was awarded sixth in a 27-team field because its sixth runner had a better finish.
The Pirates’ other scoring efforts came from Bonnie Allen in 33rd (16:16.2), Abby Kotecki in 38th (16:22.7), Brianna Ahner in 61st (16:51.5) and Maggie Kotecki in 84th (17:19.6).
Port’s sixth runner was Brenna Russell, who placed 103rd (17:33.7).
Cedar Grove-Belgium was paced by senior Kiera Depies, who took 11th (15:42.5).
The Rockets’ other scoring finishes came from Molly Ison in 25th (16:09.9), Lily Paul in 41st (16:30.6), Tammi Del Ponte in 47th (16:37.2) and Jaden Trowell in 108th (17:04.7).
Cedar Grove-Belgium’s sixth runner was Jericho Duenk, who took 10th (17:41.2).
“It was a lesson in scoring,” Port girls’ coach Joe Adamak said. “It showed that every single runner is important, right down to sixth and seventh place.”
Adamak was impressed his team’s overall effort, noting that each of the Pirates’ scoring runners had personal-best times.
Cedar Grove-Belgium coach Les Paul was pleased with his squad’s performance.
“The girls ran very well, and it was a nice showing for us,” he said. “Kiera made it in the medals group with an 11th-place finish.”
Brookfield Central won the girls’ title with 63 points, and La Crosse Aquinas was second with 127.
Molly Seidel of University Lake School took the individual title in 13:36.5, leading a 190-runner field.
The Port Washington boys raced to a 10th-place finish in their portion of the meet, scoring 301 points in a 27-team field.
Junior Jason Marhal led the Pirates with a 31st-place time of 16:55.5 for 5,000 meters.
Port’s other scoring efforts came from Eagan Norman in 47th (17:23.1), Jack Skelton-Miller in 63rd (17:37.7), Joe Bortolotti in 78th (17:50.4) and Billy Ernest in 82nd (17:52.3).
“I thought going in that there would be about nine teams we couldn’t beat, so we finished about where we should have,” Port boys’ coach Mark Pasten said.
“It was an outstanding field, and a good effort by us.”
All of the Pirates turned in personal-best times except Marhal, Pasten noted.
The Cedar Grove-Belgium boys finished 23rd in the meet with 554 points.
Senior Alex Holle paced the Rockets with a 17th-place time of 16:31.3.
Also scoring for Cedar Grove-Belgium were Michael Merritt in 62nd (17:36.6), Zach Johnson in 146th (19:54.3), Derek Arndt in 164th (20:44.9) and Cedric Bals in 165th (20:45.3).
“The guys ran well also, with some good personal bests,” Paul said.
Brookfield Central and Wauwatosa East each led the boys’ field with 104 points, but Central was awarded the title based on a better finish among sixth runners.
The individual champion was Central’s Carl Hirsch (15:42.6), who led a 187-runner field.
This week, both Port Washington teams will run at the Reedsburg Invitational at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. Cedar Grove-Belgium teams will participate in the Griak Invitational in St. Paul on Saturday and the Sheboygan County Meet on Sept. 28. | http://ozaukeepress.com/sports/2211-invitational-payoffs | 1,486 |
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|Post-Game: Dustin Jeffrey (1/22/11) - Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST|
|Post-Game: Jordan Staal (1/22/11) - Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST|
|Post-Game: Dan Bylsma (1/22/11) - Sat, 22 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST|
|Fleury Reads Redirection - Sat, 22 Jan 2011|
|Staal vs. Staal - Sat, 22 Jan 2011|
|Penguins vs Hurricanes (1/22/11) - Sat, 22 Jan 2011|
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PITTSBURGH (AP) - Dustin Jeffrey, Mark Letestu and Pascal Dupuis scored and the Pittsburgh Penguins held off the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 on Saturday night for their first win without injured stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
Playing a second straight game with their dynamic scoring duo missing, the Penguins limited Carolina's chances until Sergei Samsonov and Eric Staal scored over the final 4:25 to make things interesting.
Crosby missed his eighth consecutive game due to a concussion, and Malkin has sat out two because of a sore left knee and a sinus infection.
The Penguins' 2-0 loss at New Jersey on Thursday was the first game they played without Crosby and Malkin since Malkin entered the NHL in 2006. | http://penguins.nhl.com/club/recap.htm?id=2010020717 | 319 |
A pregame interview with Joe Maddon
Rays manager meets the media prior to Game 3 of the World Series
Can you tell us, did you get any updates on the weather, and do you think the game will start on time?JOE MADDON: We have gotten updates. From what I understand it's not going to start on time, but possibly relatively close. The proverbial window is like a 9:30 or so window, although this sounds like it may be a big bay window, where you actually could play a baseball game. They're saying after this weather clears out, it should be good for the rest of the night. Two parter about David Price: After 42 pitches the other night, how many pitches do you think he'd have in the tank tonight? And if he didn't pitch tonight how many would that add for tomorrow night?
This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081025&content_id=3643961&vkey=ps2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb | 193 |
Wily Mo Pena inks deal to play in Japan
Outfielder played with five clubs over eight Major League seasons
Veteran outfielder Wily Mo Pena is set to make the move to Japan after inking a two-year deal with the Japan Series-champion Fukuoka Softbank Hawks.
The Hawks announced the deal on their website on Friday. The Pacific League club won the 2011 championship, defeating the Central League's Chunichi Dragons in seven games. It was the club's first title in eight years.
Pena, who will turn 30 in January, played eight seasons in the Majors with the Reds, Red Sox, Nationals, D-backs and the Mariners.
The right-handed hitter started the 2011 campaign with the D-backs, hitting five home runs in 22 games before being released on July 15. He inked a Minor League deal with the Mariners on Aug. 13, and played 22 games with Seattle. He totaled 23 hits in 113 at-bats for the season.
The Dominican Republic native was originally signed as an amateur free agent by the Mets in 1998, then inked a deal with the Yankees a year later after his contract was voided. In March 2001 he was traded to the Reds for Michael Coleman and Drew Henson. He made his Major League debut in 2002 with the Reds.
Pena won a World Series ring for contributing to the 2007 Red Sox, who traded him to the Nationals during August of that season. He compiled 425 hits, 84 home runs and 240 RBIs during his eight-year career.
Matt Weber is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. | http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111202&content_id=26078194&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb | 347 |
Lamont laments Prince play as Tigers miss chance
Third-base coach sent Fielder in unsuccessful rare Game 2 scoring opportunity
SAN FRANCISCO -- There are very few hard-and-fast rules for postseason play, because this is a stage in which the quirky and quixotic reside. Anything can happen and usually does.But here's one rule you can feel pretty safe in assuming will hold up:
If your third-base coach is surrounded by reporters following a World Series game, that's a pretty good sign something bad happened to you.Something bad happened to Detroit in the second inning on Thursday night at AT&T Park. It was something that, in retrospect, turned out to be the key play of Game 2, because it ended what turned out to be the Tigers' only legitimate scoring opportunity against a Giants team that beat them, 2-0, and sent this series Detroit-bound with the American League champs in an 0-2 hole from which few clubs have escaped. What happened was this: With no outs, third-base coach Gene Lamont sent Prince Fielder barreling home toward likely National League MVP Award winner Buster Posey with what Lamont hoped would be Detroit's first lead of this Fall Classic. All of Fielder's listed 275 pounds hit the dirt as Marco Scutaro's relay throw whizzed in. Posey put down the tag, and 42,982 fans in AT&T Park held their breath. Out! "If I had to do it over," Lamont would say later, "I would have held him." Fielder had some sense of regret, too. Asked if he would have done anything different, the slugger smiled. "Yeah," Fielder said. "I would have done a flip." Regret is reasonable, given the circumstances. But Lamont's lament ought not keep him up at night (a red-eye flight to Motown probably kept him up enough). Because the fact of the matter is that it took an absolutely perfect defensive sequence for the Giants to stifle that would-be run. And really, that ought to be the takeaway of these two games, as a whole. San Francisco has simply made all the plays, routine and otherwise, it takes to crush another club's confidence. Gregor Blanco's diving grabs in left in Game 1, Pablo Sandoval's leaping snare of a Miguel Cabrera rocket and Blanco's textbook-perfect bunt single to keep a rally going in Game 2. But no play has provided more obvious impact than this one. If the Tigers get that second-inning run off Madison Bumgarner, the entire tone of the game changes. Lamont knew too well how tough it is to get runs off this Giants pitching staff in the present, and so he saw an opportunity when Delmon Young stroked a ground ball down the third-base line, past a diving Sandoval. The ball scooted over the San Francisco bullpen mound, bounced off the wall in foul territory and kicked back toward left, where Blanco initially overran it but quickly recovered. "It had a little funny hop when it hit the wall," Blanco said, "but I was ready to get it to them as quick as I can. And then Scutaro ... Scutaro, I don't know where he came from." Yeah, where did he come from? Second base. That's where. The man who has done so much damage with his bat this postseason made a heady play in the field, quickly shifting toward third base, ready for the relay in case the shortstop was overthrown. "Cutoffs and relays, that's what you're supposed to do," Scutaro said. "When the ball is hit on the line, you're supposed to go between the shortstop and the plate." Meanwhile, Fielder was heading home. And what a sight that was. With Lamont waving him hard, Fielder shook the earth as he chugged home, and this did not bode particularly well for Posey, whose horrific leg and ankle injuries after a collision with Scott Cousins in May 2011 prompted a directive from the Giants about not blocking home plate. Put yourself in Posey's mind in that moment, then, when the big-bodied Fielder made the turn at third. "You have to be there," Posey said with a laugh, "to know what it's like." But Posey showed you don't have to block the plate to protect it. Scutaro's throw was on target, Fielder's slide was on point, and Posey's sweep tag was a thing of beauty, applied perfectly on Fielder's derriere just before his foot hit the plate. "I worked on it in Spring Training," Posey said. "But that was about the most. It's not like I practice it during the season." The Spring Training work -- Scutaro's cutoffs in Rockies camp and Posey's trained restraint -- loomed large. And credit here also goes to home-plate umpire Dan Iassogna, who made the correct call, despite Fielder's initial protestations. "I thought I was safe," Fielder said. "I guess I wasn't." No, he wasn't. And frankly, neither are the Tigers. For when this game got away from them late, the historical odds stockpiled against them. Only 21.2 percent of teams to fall behind 0-2 have rallied back to win the World Series -- a fact that made the missed opportunity in the second sting all the more. It certainly stung for Lamont, who stood there in front of a group of reporters and admitted he got "overly aggressive." "You know what the difficult part is?" the third-base coach said. "Nobody wants to talk to you unless you screw up." | http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121025&content_id=40041500&vkey=news_sf&c_id=sf | 1,194 |
Leinster gained some much-needed momentum ahead of their Heineken Cup title defence with a 30-21 PRO12 success over Munster on Saturday.
In an exceptional first half of rugby, it was the hosts that edged to a 20-14 lead through tries from Richardt Strauss and Ian Madigan, with 10 points coming from the boot of Jonny Sexton.
Munster responded through a Peter O'Mahony touchdown and three Ronan O'Gara penalties, but a further Sexton three-pointer and a Brian O'Driscoll try sealed the victory, despite Conor Murray's consolation score.
Although the visitors resided in third position heading into the encounter, just one point separated them and their opponents in a tightly contested league.
As ever with these intense derbies, the match started at a ferocious pace with the hosts striking early on through Strauss after several phases of pressure. It was the ideal opening, particularly after their shock 34-6 hammering to minnows Connacht last week.
However, the Limerick-based outfit were also looking to bounce back from a 30-15 defeat to the Ospreys and they responded immediately from O'Mahony's touchdown.
O'Gara then fired Munster ahead with a penalty before Sexton responded with one of his own. The battle between Ireland's two 10s continued when the away side's fly-half slotted his second three-pointer of the evening to take the score to 11-10 in their favour.
But another close-range converted try from Madigan meant Leinster retook the lead before the respective fly-halves traded penalties as the Dublin team led 20-14 at the break.
Despite the second period continuing with attacking, ball-in-hand rugby, it was initially all done by one side as the hosts controlled proceedings.
Sexton added a penalty and O'Driscoll finished superbly as they moved clear.
To their credit, Munster fought back and were unperturbed by Damian Varley's sin-binning. After the hooker returned, Murray touched down in the corner, Ian Keatley converting, to give them hope. However, they couldn't force the losing bonus-point.
Tries: Strauss, Madigan, O'Driscoll
Con: Sexton 3
Pen: Sexton 3
Tries: O'Mahony, Murray
Pen: O'Gara 3
Leinster: 15 Ian Madigan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Brian O'Driscoll, 12 Fergus McFadden, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip (capt), 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Damian Browne, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Jamie Hagan, 19 Tom Denton, 20 Jordi Murphy, 21 John Cooney, 22 Noel Reid, 23 Fionn Carr.
Munster: 15 Denis Hurley, 14 Doug Howlett (capt), 13 Keith Earls, 12 Casey Laulala, 11 Simon Zebo, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Peter O'Mahony, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Dave O'Callaghan, 5 Donnacha Ryan, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Billy Holland, 20 Peter Butler, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Ian Keatley, 23 James Downey.
Referee: Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Television match official: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
Assessor: Jack Sheehan (Ireland) | http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16008_8144620,00.html | 827 |
Now that the dust has settled across Europe, Planet Rugby thought it was only right to hand out some praise to the stars of Heineken Cup, Round 5.
Without further ado, here comes our offering - be sure to send in your own 15-1 team selections.
Team of Round 5
15 Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues) - Still one of the first onto the plane for the British & Irish Lions, Halfpenny was a positive force on a tough day for the Blues in Toulon. A brace from the Wales full-back added some gloss to the scoreline.
14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins) - Snubbed by England and finding himself £10,000 short during last week due to a banking theft on his account, Monye turned his fortunes around with a great performance on his 200th game for Quins.
13 Benoit Baby (Biarritz) - One try and two assists for the former France centre lands him a spot after Biarritz's bonus-point win over Zebre, with Baby making plenty of metres in the process.
12 Wesley Fofana (Clermont) - Hitting a purple patch ahead of the Six Nations, Fofana was magnificent against Exeter - with over 100 metres made and finishing off an excellent team try.
11 Eli Walker (Ospreys) - The young Wales winger continued to impress with another fine showing, this time against Leicester Tigers. His clever footwork and searing pace led to the equalising try from Jonathan Spratt with time running out.
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens) - A real statement from the incumbent England fly-half. Perfect with the boot landing 11/11 kicks, Farrell might not be as expressive as Freddie Burns but his accuracy with the boot is crucial. Great composure.
9 Kahn Fotuali'i (Ospreys) - With Will Genia returning from injury, there is no better scrum-half around than Fotuali'i. Another commanding performance for the Osprey earned him the Man of the Match award. He will be highly sought after in the coming months.
8 Joe Bearman (Ospreys) - We found it difficult to leave out returning Scotland squad member Johnnie Beattie and also the immense Nick Williams. But there was a former Dragons forward playing an exceptional brand of rugby in Swansea. In went Bearman.
7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) - Rob Howley would be a brave coach to select Sam Warburton over Tipuric for their Six Nations opener against Ireland. The Osprey's step to go past Jordan Crane was superb while he mixed power with skills throughout against the Tigers.
6 Peter O'Mahony (Munster) - Was outstanding against Edinburgh. Nineteen carries in all from the youngster whose stock continues to rocket in Ireland while Stephen Ferris is out.
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton) - The Lions hopeful had been criticised in recent weeks for, among other things, for being too upright in contact. But Lawes silenced a great deal of his critics against a resilient Castres forward pack on Friday in an all-action display.
4 Patricio Albacete (Toulouse) - The French giants had a tight and physical game-plan early on against Treviso and Albacete was key to it. The evergreen Puma second-row's try following hooker Gary Botha's effort after six minutes at Ernest Wallon laid the platform.
3 Matt Stevens (Saracens) - Stevens was in excellent form against Racing on Saturday as he continues his impressive performances after announcing he'd retired from international rugby. Solid in the set-piece and busy in broken play, Stevens gets in as our tighthead.
2 Jean Charles Orioli (Toulon) - Without Sebastien Bruno not playing, Saturday brought a big chance for Orioli and one which he took. Apparently John Smit is on his way to the club next term so Orioli will have another veteran to compete with. This week though he's No.1.
1 Cian Healy (Leinster) - In our eyes the Lions loosehead shirt has Healy's name all over it. He was a carrying machine against the Scarlets and edges Ulster's Tom Court to our final jersey. The fact he only played 40 minutes makes you wonder what he could've done in 80.
By Ben Coles and Adam Kyriacou
@bencoles_ and @PlanetRugbyAK | http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16009_8396704_2,00.html | 944 |
Iranian volleyballer Mohammad Mousavi (number 6) blocks the attack from Australia's Corey Shawn Leathart at Tokyo’s Metropolitan Gymnasium on June 5, 2012.
Iran's national volleyball team has lost to Australia at the FIVB Men’s World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan.
Australia came from behind to defeat Iran in four sets (17-25, 25-18, 25-18, 25-23) at Tokyo’s Metropolitan Gymnasium on Tuesday and remain unbeaten on the third day of tourney.
The Iranian side made a strong start taking the opening set 25-17, but Aussies fought roaring back and won three straight sets thanks to their huge front line.
Mohammad Mousavi led Iran with 15 points, and Hamzeh Zarrini added 13 points but Edgar Thomas sparked Australia with a match-high 24 points followed by Adam White on 22 points.
Australia and Serbia are both on top of the table with nine points, followed by Iran on the third place with five points.
Iran will next face Puerto Rico on Wednesday while Australia will battle Serbia.
The FIVB World Olympic Qualification Tournament, which doubles as the Asian Olympic Continental Qualifier, is taking place at the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium.
The tournament welcomes teams from Japan, China, Australia, Iran, Venezuela, Puerto Rico, Serbia, and South Korea in a round robin event that runs from June 1 to 10, including three rest days.
The eventual champions and best ranked Asian side, independently of which countries finish in the podium positions, will be granted the ticket to the upcoming London 2012 Summer Games.
Teams that have already secured berths are the host Britain as well as Russia, Poland, Brazil, Tunisia, USA, Italy, and Argentina. | http://presstv.com/detail/2012/06/06/244809/iran-vballers-downed-by-australia-olympic-qualifiers/ | 370 |
According to Suh, who on Wednesday talked to reporters for the first time since the incident, he was simply falling awkwardly and his foot ended up in the place where Schaub would least want it.
“I was being dragged to the ground and my foot inadvertently hit the man,” Suh said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.
Although Schaub said afterward that Suh doesn’t play the game the right way, Suh said today that “It’s part of the game.”
Suh has already been informed that he will not be suspended for the kick.
UPDATE 3:16 p.m. ET: Shortly after his comments, the NFL confirmed that Suh has been fined $30,000 for the kick. | http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/11/28/suh-wont-apologize-to-schaub-says-kick-was-accidental/ | 163 |
Feb 17, 2011, 8:15 PM EDT
The 2011 Hockey Day in America special will cover four hockey games that spotlight the growth of the sport in the United States. As February 20th approaches, we’ll share some of the most interesting (and sometimes unexpected) stories heading into the great event.
To kick things off, we thought: what better way to begin our coverage than to discuss the best American hockey players who will compete in the four games? Here are the top five U.S.-born players who will appear in Hockey Day in America’s contests.
(Note: players were chosen from a pool of eight teams: Washington, Buffalo, Philadelphia, NY Rangers, Detroit, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Chicago. All stats were compiled before Thursday night’s games.)
1. Ryan Miller (Buffalo Sabres goalie)
How could it be anyone other than the goalie who almost won a gold medal for Team USA? Sure, it seems like his 2010-11 season is observing the laws of gravity after an otherworldly 09-10 campaign and Olympic run, but he’s still the heart and backbone of the Buffalo Sabres. If the Sabres manage to put together a sprint into the top eight in the Eastern Conference, it will be in large part due to the work of last season’s Vezina Trophy winner.
If there’s any other American player who can compete with Miller’s clout, it would be this captivating Chicago Blackhawks forward. Kane was the first overall pick of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft thanks to his phenomenal puck skills and elite playmaking ability. Kane became the cover star for NHL ’10, starred as one of the most dangerous U.S. forwards in the Vancouver Olympics and scored that wacky Stanley Cup winning goal in overtime.
That’s not bad for a 22-year-old guy from Buffalo, New York.
3. Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings defenseman)
If you wanted to find the Scottie Pippen of NHL defensemen, it might just be Rafalski. Despite producing great hockey as a key member of championship teams in New Jersey and Detroit, the offensive defenseman has been overshadowed by Hall of Famers (or soon to be HoFers) such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Scott Stevens and Scott Niedermayer.
It wasn’t until the Vancouver Olympics that Rafalski received the opportunity to prove that he could be the go-to guy at the highest level of competition. He might be 37 years old, but Rafalski remains an outstanding blueliner for the Red Wings. He produced 36 points and a +15 rating in 45 games this season.
4. Brandon Dubinsky (New York Rangers center)
Consider this pick a (slight) leap of faith, as the two-way center seems to be making a leap toward near-elite status this season. He’s consistently been an asset in his own zone for the Rangers during his young career, but his 19 goals and 42 points in 53 games this season indicate that he’s primed to become an all-around threat. Some might even call him the Rangers’ version of another outstanding two-way American center: Ryan Kesler.
5. Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings goalie)
Things have been a little rocky for the Syracuse, New York native this season, but in many ways Howard saved Detroit’s season in 09-10. It also must be said that the Red Wings’ defense has been a bit lacking lately, so it’s far too early to write-off Howard.
Howard has 28 wins so far this season. If he regains the confidence that helped him go 37-15-10 with a 92.4 save percentage and 2.26 goals against average last season, he might be the Red Wings’ goalie of the present and future.
Honorable mentions: Drew Stafford (Buffalo Sabres winger), Paul Martin (Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman) and Tim Connolly (Buffalo Sabres center).
- Video: Controversy colors Blackhawks goal, disallowed score 18
- Discuss: Detroit takes 2-1 series lead vs. Chicago 46
- Video: Viktor Stalberg returns after head-first sprawl into boards 1
- Brown, Toews, Alfredsson up for Messier Leadership Award 9
- Playoffs Tonight: Blackhawks look to ‘ramp up our intensity’ vs Red Wings 13
- Report: Patrick Roy a candidate for Avalanche head coaching job 9
- Senators’ OT hero Greening had fiberglass pieces removed from face 4
- Discuss: Senators win Game 3 in double overtime 36
- Report: Kings’ Stoll may have head, shoulder injuries 15
- Rangers’ goaltending a concern? ‘We know what Henrik is,’ says Tortorella 25
- Alex ‘they wanted Game 7′ Ovechkin to address media today before heading to Worlds (110)
- Question for commenters: What’s the hardest team to support? (95)
- Video: Crosby scores hat trick, hits playoff milestone against Senators (91)
- Bryzgalov thinks Stalin did a good job, wishes Philadelphia wasn’t so old, and believes poor people don’t want to work (80)
- McPhee says lack of power plays ‘didn’t feel right’; Torts says Washington is ‘whining’ (70)
- Wings stun Hawks again, take 2-1 series lead
- Posnanski: Once the best, Pujols now irrelevant
- Sports world keeps eye on Oklahoma tornado
- PBT: Vogel downplays war of words with LeBron
- HBT: Camera catches Marlins' Sanabia with spitball
- PBT: Howard reportedly frustrated with D'Antoni
- PBT: Durant, Thunder send support to tornado victims
- Play Video: Highlights: Red Wings top Blackhawks in Game 3
- Play Video: Cleary: 'We won't be exchanging Christmas cards'
- Play Video: 'Hawks potential tying goal waved off
- Play Video: Blackhawks score on controversial play
- Play Video: Blackhawks bring the pain
- Play Video: Red Wings and BlackHawks fighting for control | http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2011/02/17/hockey-day-preview-top-5-americans-who-play-in-sundays-games/ | 1,306 |
Yahoo’s Puck Daddy blog is reporting that Finnish sports writer Matias Strozyk has informed them that, in the event of an NHL work stoppage, Teemu Selanne has not ruled out a possible stint the Finnish league SM-liiga, playing for his former team Jokerit Helsinki.
The report is unconfirmed, but it’s not hard to believe that Selanne would be interested in playing back in his home country. In fact, he took the oppurtnity to do just that during the 1994-95 NHL shortened season. He also signed to the team during the 2004-05 NHL lockout, however a knee injury and rehab from that injury prevented him from playing any games during that time period.
While most hockey fans are hoping for a miracle to help avoid a work stoppage this season, one can imagine that there might be plenty of Finnish fans overseas cheering on a lockout just for the opportunity to once again have their hometown hero playing back in their country for the team where he started it all. While I certainly can’t blame them, I must selfishly confess that I’d much rather see Teemu Selanne playing back here in Southern California this season, on time. I imagine that’s not much of a controversial statement.
Jer is ready for the season to start on time… please? Follow him on Twitter @JerMeansWell. | http://pucksofafeather.com/2012/08/16/will-teemu-selanne-play-for-jokerit-helsinki-in-the-event-of-an-nhl-lockout/ | 288 |
Formula One DNQs
Click on the Race Number to see the complete results for that race.
Click on the Site to see this driver's career results at that track.
View career statistics for Markus Winkelhock
Active Drivers' Career Stats
Camping World Truck Series
Canadian Tire Series
IZOD IndyCar Series
ARCA Re/Max Series | http://racing-reference.info/show_dnq?id=winkema02&yr=0&series=F | 76 |
1994 Foxes Home Games (#4 – April 17 v. Fort Wayne)
A folder was found during the renovations of Time Warner Cable Field at Fox Cities Stadium. Inside this folder, an era of Appleton Professional Baseball was rediscovered. The original scoresheets and boxscores from home games of the first half of the 1994 Foxes season. This was the time of Alex Rodriguez, Raul Ibanez, and many other future major league ball players.
Rattler Radio will look back at each of these games from 1994 between now and Opening Day, 2013. Enjoy.
DATE: April 17
OPPONENT: Fort Wayne Wizards
FOXES STARTING PITCHER: Brian Doughty
OPPOSING STARTING PITCHER: Benj Sampson
TRIVIA: This was a Sunday afternoon game with a start time of 1:30pm.
Mike Barger, cf
Giomar Guevara, 2b
Alex Rodriguez, ss
Jason Cook, 3b
Brian Wallace, 1b
Jose Cuellar, dh
Alex Sutherland, c
Chad Dunavan, rf
Marcus Sturdivent, lf
Armann Brown, cf
Romulo Vizcaino, lf
Ryan Radmanovich, 3b
Tim Costic, 1b
Chad Rupp, dh
James Motte, ss
Tom Knauss, rf
Scott Stricklin, c
Danny Venezia, 2b
The Wizards took the lead with three runs in the second inning. Costic and Rupp hit back-to-back homers to start the inning. Knauss tripled with one out and scored on a wild pitch. Fort Wayne added to the lead with a solo homer by Radmanovich in the top of the third.
I will note at this time that official scorer Dan Huber’s weather notation for April 17 is 58° Clear, Windy to right.
In the fourth, Stricklin hit a leadoff homer to right for a 5-0 lead. That was the end of the day for Foxes starting pitcher Brian Doughty. He allowed five runs on seven hits, including four solo homers.
The Foxes cut the lead to three runs with a rally in the fourth. Barger reached on an infield single. Guevara got on with a dropped flyball to right. A-Rod struck out, but Cook reached on a walk to load the bases. Wallace drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Cuellar got the second with an RBI single.
Fort Wayne put the game away in the eighth inning on some sloppy defense by the Foxes. Stricklin singled. A-Rod committed an error on a grounder by Venezia. Sturdivent, the Foxes left fielder made an error on the same play to let Striklin score and send Venezia to third base. A fielder’s choice by Vicaino later in the inning let Venezia score for a 7-2 lead.
The final Fort Wayne run scored on Costic’s second home run of the game. This homer came with one out in the ninth inning off Robert Krueger. That would be five solo homers in the game by Fort Wayne. Matt Mantei came on to get the final two outs of the ninth.
Appleton got one more run in the ninth. A-Rod was hit by a pitch, went to second on a walk to cook, and scored on an error by Venezia as he tried to turn a double play on a Wallace grounder.
Fort Wayne 8
FOX OF THE GAME:
Mike Barger: 2-for-4, RUN. Barger was the only Foxes player to have two hits in the game.
Alex Rodriguez: 0-for-3, RUN, HBP, K
Raul Ibanez: DNP
The Foxes concluded this series with a 2-2 record.
The Wizards hit five homers in this game and ten homers in the four game series. Goodland Field was NOT a home run haven…usually.
CLICK FOR THE PDFs: | http://rattlerradio.mlblogs.com/2012/12/06/1994-foxes-home-games-4-april-17-v-fort-wayne/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=27cac980df | 868 |
St. Mike's Smith is Wings' top choice
During Friday night's special televised first-round event from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, the Red Wings used their lone first-rounder -- No. 27 overall -- to select Toronto-native Brendan Smith, who spent the 2006-07 season with St. Michael's of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL).
The Red Wings picked defenseman Jakub Kindl of the Czech Republic in the first round with the No. 19 overall pick. Kindl was the highest-pick used by the Red Wings on a defenseman since Niklas Kronwall (No. 29) in 2000 and Jiri Fischer (No. 25) in 1998.
Many experts felt that Smith would be around in the third round, mainly because of the lesser brand of competition provided at the Tier 2 level. But TSN contributor Bob McKenzie complimented the 18-year-old, saying, "there are few defenseman at any level that can skate the puck up the ice like Brendan Smith."
Smith, who is 6-foot-1 and 170-pounds, turned 18 in February. He played in 39 games during the 2006-07 season, netting 12 goals with 24 assists for St. Michael's.
He plans to attend the University of Wisconsin this fall, joining two other first-round picks ? Kyle Turris (No. 3, Phoenix) and Ryan McDonagh (No. 12, Montreal).
The following is what scouting experts had to say about the Red Wings' No. 1 pick, Brendan Smith:
Bob McKenzie: He has a tendency to try to do too much with the puck but scouts like the raw potential. Smith is currently committed to the University of Wisconsin for this fall, but the St. Michael's Majors of the OHL are said to be putting on a push to sign him. This is a factor for some teams. One club that likes Smith said they would be less inclined to take him if he plays in the OHL because he needs the extra development time in college. Another team, though, suggested the sooner he starts playing a pro style schedule, the more he will develop. Smith is a strong candidate to be taken between 20 and 30 but could slip a little, to the top of the second round.
From NHL Central Scouting: A skilled defenseman with good puck skills. Has good mobility and a good skating stride. Able to join the rush well and is creative with the puck. Needs to make better decisions with the puck and move it quicker. Needs to improve the consistency of his physical play.
From International Scouting System: Smith has very attractive attributes, which include his strong skating and puck-handling abilities. Playing in a Tier 2 league for the last two years has allowed him to play with great confidence and at times with too much comfort. He loves to rush the puck whenever he gets a chance and loves to step up and challenge the opposing team early. He has just recently returned from a minor injury to rejoin his team for the 2nd round of the playoffs. As of late, he has brought his game under control and has learned to pick his spots better and play a less risky game. When under control and playing smart, Smith is a very intriguing prospect. | http://redwings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=467160 | 662 |
Gary Sheffield is Jason Grilli’s agent. Even the aliens know this fact now, and just as evident as Sheffield has made his name known around the game, he is creating demand for a relief pitcher that found success late in his career.
Good for Sheffield. Good for Grilli.
Bad for Pittsburgh.
When you head over to Sheffield’s website, guess who is prominently discussed? Yeh, Jason Grilli.
Some of the writing makes me jealous. Like this first sentence:
Legendary MLB slugger, Gary Sheffield, brings his trademark on-field ferocity to the boardroom as the CEO of a groundbreaking management firm, Sheffield Management and Entertainment Group.
It’s not all about moving earth for Sheffield though, he knows about the game of life too.
“As a former professional athlete, I know very well the issues that athletes confront both on and off the field,” said Sheffield. “The goal of this company is to not only negotiate sports and entertainment contracts but also prepare clients for life during and after their careers.”
Apparently Sheffield represents several pro athletes, but Jason Grilli is the only one mentioned in the 2011 press release regarding Grilli’s last contract.
Sheffield Management currently represents several professional athletes including veteran MLB relief pitcher, Jason Grilli, who was recently signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates with the assistance of the company. “Grilli is an ideal client for our company as he represents a combination of physical ability, acumen, and character,” said James. “We are looking for more clients that we can help reach their playing and business goals,” said Sheffield. “Jason and our other initial clients represent the beginning of our long-term strategy.”
Sheffield isn’t a fool. There are plenty of energy products and pain relievers promoted by the one time slugger, all of them with a bat in Sheffields’ hands.
I’m just trying to raise the bar,” said Sheffield. “This is an industry that definitely needs change.”
It sounds like he has created a bidding war for Jason Grilli too. Which isn’t something that will turn out well for the hometown Bucs.
Now I’m scared. | http://rumbunter.com/2012/12/05/gary-sheffield-is-genius-ten-teams-in-on-jason-grilli/ | 474 |
Victim in Steubenville case seeks closed hearing
January 24, 2013
STEUBENVILLE —The attorney representing the victim in an alleged rape case involving two Steubenville High School student-athletes has filed a motion to close further proceedings to the public and......
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Post a Comment | http://salemnews.net/page/content.comment/id/562575/Victim-in-Steubenville-case-seeks-closed-hearing.html?nav=5007 | 67 |
The Pittsburgh Pirates announced today they have claimed off waivers RHP Chad Beck from the Toronto Blue Jays and catcher Roman (Ali) Solis from the San Diego Padres. The announcement was made by Pirates Senior Vice President, General Manager Neal Huntington. To make room on the 40-man roster for Beck and Solis, the Pirates have designated for assignment catcher Eric Fryer and infielder Jeff Clement.
The 27-year-old Beck spent the majority of 2012 in Triple-A Las Vegas where he compiled a 2-0 record and a 1.31 ERA (48.0ip/7er) in 43 appearances. He converted 18 save opportunities (4th in the Pacific Coast League) and struck out 24 as opposing hitters batted just .218 against him. Beck began the season allowing just three earned runs in his first 28 appearances (0.94 ERA/28.2 IP) and was named to the 2012 Mid-Season PCL All-Star squad.
He appeared in 14 games with the Blue Jays this season and did not allow a run in seven of his appearances while registering a 6.32 ERA (15.2ip/11er) out of the bullpen. He made his Major League debut with the Blue Jays on September 13, 2011 and in three appearances did not allow a run while striking out three in 2.1 IP. Beck was originally drafted in the 14th round of the 2006 First-Year-Player-Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The 25-year-old Solis (pronounced SO-lees) batted .283 (93-for-329) with 25 doubles, six home runs and 40 runs batted in and registered a .307 on-base percentage in 87 games with Double-A San Antonio this season. Solis batted .344 (31-for-90) with runners in scoring position and .424 (14-for-33) with RISP and two out as he was named a Texas League Mid-Season and Post Season All-Star. Behind the dish at San Antonio, Solis committed just six errors as he registered a .991 fielding percentage. He also ranked fourth in the league, catching 29 of 104 would-be base stealers (28 percent). Overall last season, Solis combined to throw out 36 of 101 would-be base stealers (36 percent). In addition, Solis appeared in five games with San Diego in September this season.
Solis was originally signed by the Padres as an amateur free agent in 2005. | http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121025&content_id=40046736&vkey=pr_pit&c_id=pit | 507 |
Citi Field's revamped dimensions bring more runs
Park's new size results in 21 additional homers for Mets, 24 more for opponents
NEW YORK -- R.A. Dickey listened quietly last month to the statistical rundown of Citi Field's altered dimensions, and specifically how they adversely affected him more than anyone else. The changes, Dickey was told, resulted in four more homers and seven additional runs against him.
"Well, then, I hate them," he said, laughing.
Dickey could joke because in reality, he and his fellow Mets pitchers were fine with the outfield alterations, which brought three portions of wall closer to home plate and lowered the entire outfield fence to a uniform height. In their first season, the new dimensions resulted in 21 additional homers for the Mets and 24 for their opponents, according to a season-long MLB.com study.
"The goal going in was not to make a mockery of the thing, and I think they achieved it," Dickey said. "I think they made it fair."
General manager Sandy Alderson's stated goal when announcing the alterations one year ago was just that: to convert the playing field from an extreme pitcher's park to a neutral one. Over its first three seasons, Citi Field had earned a reputation as one of the toughest offensive environments in baseball, right alongside Alderson's former haunt of Petco Park in San Diego.
So the Mets called in a construction crew and made some seemingly minor changes with significant effects. Their 21 so-called "New Citi" homers resulted in 39 additional runs, infusing an otherwise stagnant offense with a bit more pop.
Of course, opposing hitters did smack 24 extra homers worth 46 runs themselves, but the Mets believe that discrepancy will even out over time. More important in the short term, several hitters said, is the knowledge that they can now crush a baseball and know it will fly over the fence.
"It's obviously a little more fair than the first few years," third baseman David Wright said. "You're asking a hitter if they like a more hitter-friendly park. Of course I do."
The club's leading beneficiary of the new dimensions, Wright hit four new Citi homers worth six extra runs, helping him eclipse 20 long balls for just the second time since 2008. Even if the Mets would never admit it, the changes seemed designed with Wright specifically in mind, given the difficulty right-handed power hitters had pulling homers to left-center field or driving them the opposite way.
To that end, Wright drilled two of his four new Citi homers to left-center field, one to right field and one to center. But even he is not entirely convinced how much effect the new dimensions had.
"If I had to pick one, hitter-friendly or pitcher-friendly, I'd have to say it's still a little more pitcher-friendly," he said. "And that's not me complaining or crying or anything. From what I've seen traveling around, playing in the National League, it's a lot more fair than it was. But it still favors pitchers a little bit."
Of course, Wright understands the give-and-take of the issue, joking that his ideal dimensions would be akin to the Spring Training half-field in Port St. Lucie, Fla., where infielders run defensive drills in February and March. Wright understands that every benefit for him and his lineup is a detriment to New York's pitchers, exacerbated by the fact that the Mets currently boast a strong starting staff and a relative lack of power hitters.
So at the end of the season, it was of little surprise when manager Terry Collins said that no additional changes to Citi's dimensions were in the works. Considering their internal study last winter anticipated 50 new home runs this season, the Mets found themselves right on the mark when 45 extra ones flew over the fence.
The hitters are thrilled, even if they would prefer an even smaller park. The pitchers are sated, even if they enjoyed the old dimensions better. Consider that a worthwhile balance.
Even Wright, who joked that he would love to play his home games on a Little League field, was diplomatic about the park.
"Obviously," he said, "it's playing more close to fair than it was." | http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20121022&content_id=39973484&vkey=news_nym&c_id=nym | 874 |
Cub Scout Archives: Flag Football Belt Loop and Pin
The Flag Football belt loop and pin are part of the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program. This program gives Cub Scouts the opportunity to receive recognition for exploring different areas of interest.
Webelos who earn the Flag Football Belt Loop while a Webelos also complete part of requirement 4 for the Sportsman activity badge.
Flag Football Belt Loop for Cub Scouts Whenever I go to a camporee, I see at least a couple of units playing flag football. If your Cub Scouts enjoy a good game of football, have them look at the requirements for the Flag Football belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.
What is Good Sportsmanship? Scouting and sports go together. Many recognitions require that the Scout discuss sportsmanship. So what does good sportsmanship mean?
Flag Football Pin for Cub Scouts When you are getting together with your extended family this summer, you might end up playing some flag football. If so, maybe your Cub Scout can earn the Flag Football pin from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.
Ideas for May Pack Meeting - Health and Fitness The core value for Cub Scouts for the month of May is Health and Fitness. According to the program helps health and fitness is: Being personally committed to keeping our minds and bodies cleanand fit.Cub Scouts will learn that it is important and easy to eat a healthy diet and how a fitnessprogram can be part of their daily routine.
Helps and Requirements for the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Belt Loops and Pins The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program gives Cub Scouts the opportunity to receive recognition for exploring different areas of interest. Cub Scouts earn belt loops which can be worn on the official Cub Scout belt when they investigate one of these areas. When they explore one of the topics further, they earn a pin. The pins are not worn on the uniform. | http://scoutermom.com/cubscout/flag-football-belt-loop-and-pin/ | 393 |
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Episode 221: Robert Flores and Chris Mortensen discuss Joe Flacco's elite status. Mark Schlereth breaks down what the Bears need to improve. The NFL32 crew discuss their favorite team to win the AFC Championship.November 08, 2012 | http://search.espn.go.com/joe-flacco/videos/2-to-4-minutes/**/afc/6-86-92-4294876369 | 64 |
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Eric Karabell and David Schoenfield discuss the top right-handed batters in the game today.May 07, 2013
Eric Karabell and David Schoenfield discuss whether batting order and lineups matter in baseball.April 29, 2013
Karl Ravech and Tim Kurkjian report from Angels spring training.February 13, 2013
ESPN's Michele Steele is joined by Nate Silver and the two discuss which players to target in your draft.January 10, 2013 | http://search.espn.go.com/trout/videos/more-than-4-minutes/6-87 | 110 |
SEATTLE -- Turns out, it's hard to be perfect. Orioles rookie Wei-Yin Chen managed it into the seventh inning Tuesday night. And Mariners reliever Charlie Furbush had been pretty darn close for seven weeks.
But after Chen lost a perfect game after retiring 19 straight batters, the Mariners saw a terrific comeback instead turn into a 5-4 loss when Furbush gave up his first run in 22 2/3 innings on a ninth-inning home run by Baltimore second baseman Robert Andino.
Furbush, pitching the final frame because closer Tom Wilhelmsen had thrown three straight games for Seattle, got touched up for the first time since May 15 as his string of 16 scoreless appearances ended in dramatic fashion.
"It happens," Furbush said in the quiet Mariners clubhouse.
But is hasn't happened often to him or a Seattle bullpen that has been sparkling in recent weeks.
"Charlie's been fantastic," said Seattle manager Eric Wedge. "He left a fastball up there in that situation and the guy was all in and got to it. But Charlie's been one of our best down there all year. We had [Tom] Wilhelmsen down tonight, he wasn't available, so we felt like he was the best guy to go to at that time."
That the game even came to that point was surprising, as the night began in far-less promising fashion for a Mariners team that fell to 35-48 with the loss.
Seattle didn't reach base against Chen until one out in the seventh when Casper Wells ripped a solo home run. But the Mariners rallied for three more runs in the eighth off Chen and reliever Pedro Strop, sending the game into the ninth tied at 4.
Chen toyed with the possibility of handing Seattle its second perfect-game defeat of the season, having already endured that fate at the hands of the White Sox's Philip Humber on April 21. But Wells finally ended that notion by driving a full-count fastball into the left-field stands after Chen had retired the first 19 batters.
"I'm looking fastball in that situation," said Wells. "I know he's got to throw a strike. It's a perfect game and I'm pretty much sitting dead red and I got a fastball I could handle."
When Michael Saunders ripped a one-out double in the eighth, Orioles skipper Buck Showalter pulled Chen and the Mariners closed the gap with an RBI single by Justin Smoak off Strop. Pinch-hitter John Jaso delivered again for Seattle with a run-scoring single to make it 4-3.
The hard-throwing Strop got Ichiro to ground into a fielder's choice for the second out, but then hit Wells in the right wrist to load the bases and forced in the tying run by walking Kyle Seager.
Felix Hernandez wound up with a no-decision on a night he gave up four runs on five singles in the sixth inning and saw his recent run of dominance come to an end just two days after being named to his third American League All-Star team.
With the King's Court rooting section cheering every strike and counting every strikeout, Hernandez rolled through five shutout innings before getting into trouble. After throwing 128 pitches in a 1-0 shutout over Boston his last time out, Hernandez got the hook at 90 pitches with still only one out in the sixth.
Wedge said he was being careful with Hernandez coming off that high pitch count, but "The King" insisted that wasn't a factor.
"I was feeling pretty good," Hernandez said. "In the sixth, they just started swinging at the first pitch. Those were good pitches. They weren't in the middle, they were in the corners. They took a pretty good approach and started hitting the ball up the middle and they got me in that inning."
A two-run single by Matt Wieters -- the fifth hit in six batters -- was the final straw as Hernandez was lifted with a 4-0 deficit.
In all, Hernandez gave up eight hits and four runs in 5 1/3 innings, his record remaining 6-5 with a 3.26 ERA with one start remaining this Sunday in Oakland before he heads to his third All-Star Game.
"He's one of the best pitchers in baseball," said Showalter. "The guys put together a lot of good at-bats against him. We knew he was coming off a 128-pitch outing, a complete game. He's got such good arm speed on all his pitches, it's tough to really string something together against him. You've got to really grind at-bats, you may get one or two shots in the ballgame, and we took advantage of it."
Hernandez struck out eight Orioles -- all in the first four innings -- and now has 31 strikeouts in his past 21 1/3 innings.
Chen, a 26-year-old Taiwan native who pitched in Japan the past five years, came in with a 7-4 record and 3.73 ERA, but had never given up less than six hits in any of his 15 starts. He recorded his season high for strikeouts with nine and didn't walk a batter.
Oliver Perez pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for Seattle after replacing Hernandez and Josh Kinney finished off the eighth in his Mariners debut after being promoted from Triple-A Tacoma on Sunday.
Then came Furbush, who saw the third-longest scoreless streak ever by a Mariners reliever finally come to an end.
"I guess it was fun while it lasted," said the lefty. "Hopefully I can start another one." | http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_07_03_balmlb_seamlb_1&mode=recap&c_id=sea | 1,168 |
The centre-back, 25, missed the Blues' 4-2 win over Reading on Wednesday with an injury but was in Catalunya the next day, sparking rumours of a switch to La Liga - though his Spain trip was to fulfil a commercial obligation for a sponsor.
And Di Matteo was quick to stress the importance of the Brazilian to the future of Chelsea, shrugging off any suggestion that they need to sell players this summer.
"I don't feel any pressure in that sense," said the Italian coach to the Daily Telegraph. "This club has been very, very successful in the past and I don't see why any player should want to leave us to go anywhere else.
"We always compete for trophies; [Chelsea] are a very ambitious club with an ambitious owner, a great group of players that over the years have won a lot but still have the hunger to win more.
"Competition is hot, we have great facilities, everything.
"David Luiz is part of our long-term future here. It's normal that he gets interest. It doesn't concern me. I think the player will be here in the long term."
The west London club have been very active in the transfer market this summer, bringing in (among others) Eden Hazard, Oscar and Victor Moses.
Di Matteo said: "If you look at the profile of the players that come in you are looking at players who will be here for the next four or five years.
"They are all very young players. You are looking for them to be the platform for the future of this club.
"I don't expect a revolution or anything like that. It's a slow process to try to get the players slowly into the team and try to build a team for the future.
"You are looking at investment in the next cycle of four or five years."
Chelsea currently sit top of the Premier League heading into this weekend's round of fixtures having played a game more than their rivals, but Di Matteo played down hopes of beating Manchester United and Manchester City to the title this season.
"We need to make up 25 points [from where we finished last season in relation to the Manchester pair] and I don't think any team has done that in the history of the Premier League," the former West Bromwich Albion boss pointed out.
"City haven't lost any key players. United had the same points and they have signed Robin van Persie. They are still the two teams you need to beat." | http://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/chelsea-boss-di-matteo-inists-david-luiz-not-095500043--spt.html | 517 |
Defenceman Mike Van Ryn did not dress last night after failing his baseline test, which he underwent yesterday. Van Ryn has missed the past 15 games after suffering his second concussion of the season on Dec. 18 in Boston. Baseline tests are administered to athletes before the season begins and then a post-injury test is conducted to compare with the first test to see if there is a deviation. Head coach Ron Wilson had expected Van Ryn to pass yesterday and play last night. GM Brian Burke said that while the news "obviously isn't good", he expects Van Ryn to be back sometime next week.
MOUTHGUARDS EN VOGUE
When he does return, Van Ryn likely will wear a face shield, something Wilson would like all his players to wear -- as well as a mouth guard, which would help absorb the impact from a hit to the head.
"We're trying to get all our players to wear mouth guards," Wilson said. "If you get hit and you're wearing a proper mouth guard, it lessens the chance of a concussion."
Wilson said one of Burke's first orders of business when he was hired as the Leafs' president and GM in November was to try to convince all the players to wear proper mouth guards.
"As soon as Brian got on board, he told our trainer: 'I want everybody wearing mouth guards in practice and in games.' Well, half our team didn't even have mouth guards, let alone (proper ones). So we're going through the process of getting everyone fitted properly.
IN PRAISE OF WHITE
When Van Ryn and fellow defenceman Jeff Finger return, don't expect to see Ian White scratched -- even though White was a healthy scratch for the first 11 games of the season. White has become one of Wilson's most dependable blue-liners. He has recorded 12 points in 34 games -- third among Leafs defenceman -- and leads the team with a plus four. But more anything, Wilson said White's attitude is what has made him a invaluable player since he began playing regularly and the fact that he can play forward in a pinch.
"I think that playing up front has made him a better defenceman," Wilson said. "I told him during a game that I might need you at right wing. Some guys would take that in a negative way, 'Oh, you don't like me as a defenceman?' But he's gung-ho about playing anywhere."
ODDS AND ENDS
Defenceman Pavel Kubina did not attend the morning skate yesterday because of an illness, but was able to dress for last night's game. Wingers Jeremy Williams (shoulder) and Nikolai Kulemin (ankle) are practising with the team, but likely won't play until next week. | http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Toronto/2009/01/20/8082951-sun.html | 577 |
WINNIPEG - Maybe the governors of the Winnipeg Jets were told to go sit at the kids’ table while the big boys talk.
Maybe it never happened.
Regardless of whether anyone reprimanded a Jets governor for allegedly voicing moderate opposition to the lockout, it’s obvious the NHL’s newest team has little say in the current labour negotiations.
A report out of Boston Wednesday, by Bruins insider Joe Haggerty of Comcast Sportsnet New England, said Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs admonished a Jets governor, not principal owner Mark Chipman, in a recent meeting for saying the franchise “was opposed to engaging in a long, bloody lockout sure to stymie their franchise’s momentum and hurt the game of hockey.”
At that point Jacobs, considered one of the owners’ driving forces behind the lockout, “answered by reprimanding the Winnipeg representative as one of the ‘new kids on the block’ and informed him that he would know when he was allowed to speak in the NHL boardroom.”
The reaction was fast and furious from an NHL ownership group that is quick to crush any suggestion of dissent in the ranks.
Deputy commissioner Bill Daly, said this: “Total fantasy. Didn’t happen.”
Another independent source who was in the meeting concurred.
Then the most unusual thing happened: Chipman, who hasn’t said a word under a league-wide gag order on owners during the lockout, put out a statement.
“I was disappointed to learn today of a report which claimed an exchange took place between an alternate governor of the Winnipeg Jets and Jeremy Jacobs of the Boston Bruins at a recent NHL Board of Governors meeting. I was present throughout all BOG proceedings and can categorically state that no such exchange between Mr. Jacobs and either one of our alternate governors — Patrick Phillips or Kevin Cheveldayoff — ever took place. Any suggestion otherwise is completely false.”
Like I said, maybe it didn’t happen, but the NHL’s urgency to nip it in the bud is certainly curious.
You get the feeling the Jets are having their strings pulled on this one, just as they have been told in not so many words to stay in the background of lockout talks.
Those who follow the situation closely know the NHL governors are ruled by commissioner Gary Bettman and a couple of heavyweights, most notably Jacobs, and they are the ones who are pushing the lockout agenda.
The moderate voices and even the moderately dissenting ones might as well be lepers.
Heaven forbid anyone express a concern that this asinine lockout might be affecting some franchises adversely.
If the Winnipeg Jets governors, just a year removed from spending $170 million (including a $60 million relocation fee that went to the other owners), have reservations about a lockout killing their momentum and potentially setting them on a path to ruin, they better damn well keep it to themselves.
At least that’s how the old boys on the NHL Board of Bullies would have it.
By most accounts, the Jets governors have been nothing but good partners, quietly going along with a lockout that must have them seething on the inside (note Wednesday’s “all-is-rosy” press statement). The long-term ramifications of a favourable Collective Bargaining Agreement would be to their benefit, no doubt, but the timing is atrocious.
They would have every right to speak out about the pitfalls of a labour war coming just a year after they finally got a chance to purchase a team and move it to Winnipeg.
This is a new NHL member that spent years playing by Bettman’s rules in order to pony up millions to rescue a doomed franchise and move it to a market with a chance of success.
True North deserves to have a say.
The Jets were extremely successful in their return to Winnipeg, selling out every game and becoming a top revenue generator in terms of merchandise.
When Forbes released its NHL franchise values report Wednesday, it pegged the Jets at about $200 million, which is 22% more than what the team was worth in Atlanta.
Despite that, Jets ownership has been forced to go along with the rest of the league in a lockout that is hurting their momentum and putting a sour taste back into the mouths of fans who went 15 years without a team before the Jets finally returned last season.
This is a market that has endured too much suffering because of the NHL. Now, just when the tide has turned and pain is being replaced by euphoria, something else comes along to beat the hockey fans back down again.
No doubt the Jets and their fans are not bigger than the game and that’s why you can be sure Chipman continues to play by the rules. | http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Hockey/NHL/Winnipeg/2012/11/28/20392276.html | 991 |
Eric at Sports Law Blog has obtained the memo that Donald Fehr sent to the players today.
The NHLPA’s Negotiating Committee today provided the NHL Owners with a comprehensive 6 page proposal on the key issues (see below). As you will read in the proposal, the players have made substantial moves in order to address all of the owners’ concerns, end the owners’ lockout and get the game back on the ice. Our proposal works off the league’s proposed language/structures and moves off our position that there be a guaranteed players’ share. These are major moves in the owners’ direction. Regarding player contractual issues, we have also addressed the owners concerns regarding back-diving contacts and NHL contacts being “buried” in the minors.
Now that we have made this proposal, there is no longer any doubt as to how far apart the parties are in dollars. As you will recall, we had previously said we thought the gap was less than $200M, while the owners had said that the gap was much larger and close to $1B. Under our proposal, it is now undisputed that the gap is only $182 M over 5 years. Now it is up to the owners to finally make a move towards the players.
At the same time, we have protected player rights by refusing to accept their proposals restricting free agency and salary arbitration. | http://snyrangersblog.com/w2012-13-lockout/read-the-nhlpa-memo-that-donald-fehr-sent-to-the-players/ | 287 |
The teams have met seven times in the last year and a half. While the hosts are coming off successful test and ODI series against Pakistan, the visitors are injury free, and raring to go. However, with the rainy season underway in Sri Lanka, we are not certain how much cricketing action will be possible, and the Duckworth-Lewis rule could play a huge role in deciding the outcome of the series.
Sri Lanka’s batting will revolve around Sangakkara and Jayawardene while Dilshan’s good form against Pakistan bodes well for the hosts. Dinesh Chandimal has cemented his place as a consistent performer in the middle order, and the lower middle will brought up by Mathews and Thisara Perera, both hard hitters of the ball.
Perera will also pose a threat with the ball if his form against Pakistan is anything to go by. The redoubtable Malinga will share the new ball with Kulasekara, while the hosts will also bank on the spin of Herath and Senanayake, though against the Indians they will be up against some of the best players of the turning ball. Left arm pacer Isuru Udana gives the Lankan selectors yet another option.
With Sachin sitting out the series, the onus will be on Sehwag and Gambhir to provide the visitors with good starts. Kohli who has been appointed vice-captain for the series will look to continue his recent good form, while the series will be a great opportunity for the likes of Sharma, Raina and Tiwary to cement their places in the national squad, for some time to come. On the slow-paced Hambantota wicket, Dhoni could play a crucial role lower down the order.
Zaheer Khan will lead the Indian attack and will seek to get his reverse swing going while Umesh Yadav who is likely to share the new ball will want to underscore his reputation as a 150 km-plus bowler. Ashwin and Ojha will complete the Indian attack with their spin, though Irfan Pathan could find favour over Ojha, on Saturday. Dhoni will look to the likes of Raina and Sehwag to complete the quota of overs.
Sri Lanka will carry a slight edge over India who will be looking to use the game to some useful match practice ahead of a long season.
Sri Lanka’s probable eleven: Dilshan, Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Chandimal, Thitimane, Mathews, Perera, Kulasekara, Senanyake, Malinga, Herath.
India’s probable eleven: Sehwag, Gambhir, Kohli, Sharma, Raina, Tiwary, Dhoni, Pathan, Ashwin, Khan, Yadav.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Jinxatious is the Chief Editor of SportingAttitude.com
An avid writer, on an eclectic range of subjects, he brings to bear editorial experience garnered with a national newspaper in South-East Asia. He also has sportscasting experience, as a cricket commentator, and his passion for sport extends beyond Cricket, to Football, Tennis, and Olympic Sports. | http://sportingattitude.com/2012/07/20/india-in-sri-lanka-2012-1st-odi-preview/ | 681 |
In a "shocking" interview, former No. 1 pick and ex-Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden said that bad influences in his life caused him to drink too much a couple of years ago, that he remains befuddled people are so infatuated with him because he played only 82 NBA games in five potential seasons, and that he may have rushed back too early from his various knee ailments after listening to a Portland medical staff that has been discredited in some outlets.
This is a candid, evocative interview from former AAU teammate and professional [storm]-stirrer Mark Titus, but I hardly think any of the revelations could be termed as surprising. A must-read, to be sure, but who is actually taken aback in discovering that Oden is frustrated, bemused and, in some points, regretful of the series of unfortunate events that have befallen him since the Trail Blazers selected him first overall out of Ohio State in 2007? Here's one particularly noteworthy passage:
It's almost like a cloud has been following Greg since high school. He even had bad luck with the 2007 draft, landing in the same class as Kevin Durant. Experts spent two months comparing them and picking apart Greg's résumé, which didn't stop Portland from selecting him with the first overall pick. That summer, his right knee started bothering him and doctors determined that he needed microfracture surgery. Greg's rookie season was over before it even began. Portland fans, who endured the injury-ravaged careers of Bill Walton and Sam Bowie, freaked out. What those fans didn't know was that Greg's heart was still aching because of [best friend from high school, Travis Smith]'s death; he was already headed down a destructive path of drinking and "doing things I shouldn't have been doing" (his words at dinner). The knee surgery only made things worse.
"For starters, Portland isn't a great city to live in if you're a young, African American male with a lot of money," Greg explained with an embarrassed grin. "But that's especially true if you don't have anybody to guide you. Since I was hurt the entire season, I was on my own a bunch and didn't have veteran teammates around to help me adapt to the NBA lifestyle."
Titus goes on to quote Oden on record (following the interview, Greg apparently was given the chance to veto parts of Titus' piece, but instead signed off on its publication) as pointing out that a cousin of his inspired a pretty heavy bout of drinking in his second year, with Oden admitting "that second year in Portland I pretty much became an alcoholic."
It gets sadder on a personal level -- and more frustrating on a professional level -- from there. Leaked nude pictures of the center, taken with his cell phone, hit the Internet. A strong third season was stopped in a second by a bad fall in a game against Houston. An uneasy relationship with a sports psychologist was initiated, though Oden never trusted that psychologist's discussions with the Trail Blazers. Meanwhile, Durant (taken second in the 2007 draft behind Greg) began to pile up scoring titles and playoff appearances.
"I'd be lying," Oden told Titus, "if I said that it didn't suck to see Durant doing so well." And anyone who is going to pretend to not feel professional jealousy at a level like Oden's can just stop now before they begin to lie through their teeth.
Other darker elements hit, as well.
Though his cousin, an Air Force veteran, may not have been the best influence on Oden's habits, his losing battle with cancer rocked Greg's world. In a first-time revelation, it appears as if Oden adopted a blind dog right after he was drafted by the Blazers. Last year, the dog worked his way onto a hotel balcony, walked through the railing and fell eight stories to his death. Now officially released from his relationship with the Trail Blazers, Oden is free to attempt his rehabilitation from an unprecedented third microfracture surgery on his terms, and he's smartly called off the entire 2012-13 season.
Greg Oden will turn 26 years old during the 2013-14 season. He is still 7-1, and appears to have a love of the game that other big men (like the previous Grantland feature subject, Eddy Curry) don't often share. It's true that no player has made it back to the NBA after three microfracture surgeries, but 34-year-old Kenyon Martin has endured two of them along with a broken leg in 2000 and broken fibula in 2001, and he still looks like he can slap the top of the box on the backboard. Yao Ming may not have been able to endure repeated foot ailments, but Zydrunas Ilgauskas looked the same as Yao at one point and went on to have a successful All-Star career for a decade after his feet looked like they had been worked to powder.
Things can still go right. Oden, somehow, can still make this work.
And while this is a must-read piece from Titus -- a fine piece of work -- in the end it just sounds about right. You'd probably react like Greg Oden, too.
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Rolando McClain, an Oakland Raiders linebacker whose career has been mostly a major disappointment since he was the team's 2010 first-round pick, was pulled over Tuesday because the window tint on his car was too dark. Annoying, for sure. But, for a player who isn't doing well with the Raiders and has had legal issues before, signing the ticket, paying the fine and keeping his name out of the news was probably the best plan.
But no, McClain didn't go that route.
According to the Decatur (Tenn.) Daily, the officer thought McClain signed the ticket, but what he found on the ticket where the signature should be was the message, "(Expletive) y'all." When the officer asked McClain to sign his real name, the linebacker replied, "That is my name,” police spokesman Lt. John Crouch told the Decatur Daily.
This came after, according to the police information officer, McClain was asked for driver's license and proof of insurance and replied, “You know who I am.”
And that's how McClain turned a violation on tinted windows into a trip to Decatur City Jail. He was charged with giving a false name and the window tint violation, and released on $1,000 cash bail, the paper said. He could have avoided the arrest by signing the ticket, the Decatur Police told the paper.
“I’m falsely accused of everything,” McClain said as he left City Hall, according to the Decatur Daily. “It’s corrupt. It’s terrible.”
McClain said he provided a letter from his doctor explaining the dark tint (we've heard it all now), but refused twice to roll the window up so the officer on the scene could check the tint. The paper asked McClain if he thought the police were out to get him.
“Yes. You said it. I answered it,” McClain said.
This isn't the first time McClain has been in the news for the wrong reasons.
In November of 2012 McClain had misdemeanor assault charges dropped when the victim decided not to pursue charges. McClain was accused of holding a gun next to the man's head and firing it next to his ear.
The Raiders can't be thrilled with this last bit of very avoidable bad news. But if the team does bring him back, it can replace the name on the back of his jersey with "(Expletive) y'all."
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DENVER (AP) -- Peyton Manning swears he's not 100 percent yet. The Denver Broncos swear it doesn't matter. He looks fine to them.
And they're pinning their hopes on the 36-year-old quarterback who missed all of last season with the Colts, who released him in March, setting off the biggest free agent scramble in NFL history.
In the six offseason practices the Broncos opened to the media, Manning looked like he'd never missed a beat, hitting the open man short and long with touch passes or blistering fastballs.
There is no question about his arm strength, only about his timing with his new targets.
Coach John Fox said he's seen very little rust and nary a hint of trouble with Manning's right arm, so it's full speed ahead leading up to the preseason opener on Aug. 9 against Chicago.
Checking out last month's mandatory minicamp was Tom Moore, Manning's offensive coordinator for all but one season when the two were in Indianapolis.
''Watching these three days, he looked excellent to me,'' Moore said.
Manning has shown no ill effects of the nerve issue that caused weakness in his throwing arm last year, required four neck operations, including a fusion.
''We don't think about the injury anymore,'' said receiver Brandon Stokley, who played with Manning in Indianapolis. ''And I'm not sure he does, either.''
The Broncos took a chance by signing the league's only four-time MVP to a five-year, $96 million deal in March, when John Elway famously said: ''Plan B? I don't have a Plan B. We're going with Plan A.''
Manning averaged 42 passes a game in his last full season, in 2010, but the Broncos don't plan to have him air it out that much.
They're meshing some of the power formations they used in leading the league in rushing last year with some of the spread formations that Manning was accustomed to running in Indy.
''We're being aggressive with everything we're doing,'' offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said. ''He's fine. We have no concerns right now. We're not worrying about it. We're moving forward.''
Moore said Manning's well-known work ethic will push him through this season.
''Nobody works harder than him,'' Moore said. ''On anything. Anything. I mean, his work habits are fantastic. He'll be successful his entire life at whatever he does. Because of his work ethic and his dedication and his commitment to what he's doing.''
When he was asked whether the Broncos had the potential to be as potent as the Colts were under his stewardship, Manning demurred.
''I'm not doing the comparison game to the other offenses,'' he said. ''I think what we're trying to do right now is form our identity. And I don't think that necessarily happens over 14 practices in May and June. I do think over training camp and into the preseason, I think hopefully we'll get a feel for the things that we really do well.''
Manning's arrival has had its anticipated ripple effect on offense and defense, with receivers no longer rounding off their routes like they sometimes did with Kyle Orton or Tim Tebow and defensive backs learning not to give away the play call with the slightest twitch.
Manning was picked off plenty in his first offseason in Denver, which should be a good sign for Broncos fans, because if the defense is stout, there will be less pressure on Manning to put up crazy numbers to keep up.
The Broncos think their secondary will be a big help to Manning.
''I think it goes both ways,'' star cornerback Champ Bailey said. ''I don't think he's had a secondary, at least on the corner, that's been this good. So, it gives him a good look. And we've never seen a quarterback like that around here, so it speaks for itself.''
The makeover didn't stop with Manning. The Broncos also shook up their front office, saying goodbye to general manager Brian Xanders. They also retooled at tight end with free agents Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreesen and in the secondary, signing free agents Mike Adams, Drayton Florence and Tracy Porter and drafting Omar Bolden following the departure of Andre Goodman and the retirement of Brian Dawkins.
The defensive line was beefed up by drafting of Derek Wolfe, signing of Justin Bannan and the return of Ty Warren, who has missed two seasons with injuries.
Linebacking is the biggest question. Leading tackler D.J. Williams is facing a six-game drug suspension to start the season and a drunken driving trial in August that could add on another four games.
Follow AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton on Twitter: http://twitter.com/arniestapleton | http://sports.yahoo.com/news/reconstruction-broncos-manning-begins-203151674--nfl.html | 996 |
What we learned: Celtics-Cavaliers
Boston would have trouble beating Cleveland in a playoff series
Once-stingy Celtics defense has suddenly become porous
Celtics GM Danny Ainge seeking a trade for an accomplished shooter
CLEVELAND -- With a little over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter and the game no longer in doubt, a demonstrative Kevin Garnett huddled with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Sam Cassell on the Celtics bench.
The topic: how to get the team out of the worst funk The Big Three have experienced in their 1½ years together.
"We were trying to work things out," Cassell said. "Trying to regroup. We're tired of talking about it. This [(expletive] is getting old now. We're tired of excuses. This is what we have in our locker room right here. Hakeem Olajuwon ain't coming here. We ain't getting him. It is what it is."
One fact is crystal clear after Cleveland's 98-83 drubbing of the Celtics on Friday: this Boston team, as currently constructed, would have trouble beating the Cavaliers in a seven-game series. Sure, when the opening tip goes up, Boston would still have three of the best four players on the floor. But Cleveland is deeper than Boston; it is a better shooting team, more aggressive. Overall, the Cavs are simply better.
Let's break down the five things we learned from the game:
1. Games like these make you realize the MVP race is over.
Be afraid, league. Be very afraid. LeBron James was already the NBA's most unstoppable offensive force (Kobe Bryant is the most skilled player) and he lived up to that billing Friday, scoring 38 inside, outside and in-between points on 13-of-25 shooting. But it was his defense that stood out. Matched up primarily against Pierce, James held him to an uber-quiet 11 points (only seven through three quarters). James was physical when he needed to be and showed impressive lateral movement that left Pierce visibly frustrated. James finished the game with four steals and three blocks.
"Paul Pierce is a tough cover," Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. "The last few games, he has had our number. I thought LeBron did a nice job of continuing to pursue Paul even when he got screen after screen after screen. I thought he just kept pursuing and trying to make Pierce work for his shots."
A lot of lip service has been paid to the impact playing for Team USA has had on James; maybe it's time to stop calling it lip service.
2. The once ironclad Boston defense now has some significant holes.
During Boston's 19-game winning streak, its defense was impregnable. Rotations were crisp and the on-the-ball defense was stifling. But in the last nine games (seven of which have been losses) Boston has forgotten how to play D. The first quarter alone was a Cavalier dunk-a-thon, with Ben Wallace, Anderson Varejao and rookie J.J. Hickson (really) throwing down. For the quarter, Cleveland shot a preposterous 72.2 percent from the field.
On the bright side, the defense is probably the one thing the Celtics can be sure they will get back. Garnett is too much of a presence for Boston to continue to struggle, and Pierce and Allen took pride in raising their defense to a new level last season. The defense will come back...
3. ...but the shooting won't.
On this subject, NBA scouts are unanimous: Boston's second unit is a liability. There are no shooters out there. None. Even Eddie House, who has carved out an eight-year career in the NBA behind his three-point shooting, is connecting on 36.1 percent of his treys, more than three percentage points behind last season and two off his career average.
There are no threats out there. But there are plenty of liabilities. Rajon Rondo (1-of-8 Friday night) is a perimeter nightmare, Tony Allen can't hit the ocean from the Museum of Science and Brian Scalabrine...well, it's Brian Scalabrine.
Sources maintain that Boston GM Danny Ainge has been actively seeking trades, but the simple fact is that Boston doesn't have moveable parts. I've been beating this drum for awhile now, but Ainge's best bet may be to try to pry Jason Kapono from Toronto. Kapono's availability hinges on the Raptors wanting to get from under the final two years and $12.6 million he is owed through 2010-2011. A career 46 percent three-point shooter, Kapono is just the type of outside threat Boston needs to keep teams from packing the paint and locking in on Pierce, Garnett and Allen.
Szczerbiak still has his moments. He scored 15 points against Charlotte on Wednesday and dropped a season-high 16 on Toronto last month. But his moments seem to only come against bad teams; against the cream of the NBA crop, Szczerbiak vanishes. Witness his four points in 16 minutes in the season opener against Boston and his three points in 15 minutes Friday. Szczerbiak's strength is his shooting, and if he isn't making jump shots, he isn't much use. His defense is deplorable (Brown had to reinsert James early in the fourth quarter because Pierce was starting to roll against Wally), and he is almost no threat to attack the basket.
As far as trades go, my lay of the land is this: the Cavs remain interested in dealing Szczerbiak (and his $13 million expiring contract) but are in no rush to make a deal that only makes them marginally better; the chemistry issues are too great. But should an A-List player become available (Vince Carter?), I think Ferry will pull the trigger.
5. As Rondo goes, so do the Celtics.
No player is more essential to Boston's success than Rondo. Nobody. He is the engine that drives the Celtics offense. Poor shooting aside, Rondo wasn't horrible Friday night: he finished with 13 assists and four steals against just two turnovers. But he looks tremendously uncomfortable on the outside, and if he can't get to the hole (as he did effectively in the first four minutes of the third quarter) Boston's offense stagnates.
I don't know if Rondo's confidence is shaken (he says no and everyone I talk to say he is unflappable) or if his left shoulder, which was heavily iced at Friday morning's shoot around, is bothering him. But he has to get his game right for Boston to be successful. It's as simple as that. | http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/01/09/Celtics.Cavs/?eref=sircrc | 1,402 |
Devils powerless to faze Kings, now face potential sweep in Cup finals
The Devils are in deep trouble after a 4-0 loss in Game 3, facing a 3-0 finals deficit
The Devils failed on their six power play chances, not troubling Jonathan Quick
Martin Brodeur seemed to urge his forwards to do better in post-game comments
LOS ANGELES -- You're the New Jersey Devils, looking for answers as you stare into the abyss of failed power plays, a goalie you can't beat, changing forward combinations that aren't generating goals and a 3-0 deficit against the Los Angeles Kings.
Your avowed confidence seems as real as a Hollywood smile. After a 4-0 loss and 22 fruitless shots against Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, who stopped every one of them, after your third straight defeat in the Stanley Cup finals, what do you do now?
"We played right to the final buzzer," Devils coach Pete DeBoer said. "I don't care what the scoreboard said. We battled right to the buzzer, and we'll do the same Wednesday night."
There must be more to it. The Devils failed on all six of their power play chances, including a five-on-three during the first period that included a double minor to Jeff Carter for high-sticking.
"The power play is getting some chances," said Devils captain Zach Parise, "but we have to get Quick to move where he doesn't want to. He's seeing shots; he's stopping shots."
Throughout the game, DeBoer moved players on and off the struggling power play. DeBoer kept Parise and Ilya Kovalchuk together for a good chunk of time -- with Kovalchuk at the point. But he also moved Travis Zajac, Patrik Elias and Adam Henrique onto the top power-play unit, hoping somehow to generate the magic formula to produce scoring chances.
Though Kovalchuk insisted he was not hobbled and that his reportedly injured back is perfectly fine, he has passed up a number of shots from the point and missed the net on several others, yet DeBoer seems reluctant to move him off the point, and Kings defensemen have been able to pack in their defense a little more instead of challenging him aggressively.
"Change nothing," Kovalchuk said. "Work hard, good things will happen. We can be more patient, maybe, but he makes good saves ... I try to shoot the puck, like always. It just didn't go in. I can shoot the puck. I have to."
Parise also acknowledged the Kings have been able to move the puck too easily against New Jersey's forecheck that has been generally successful in its previous playoff series.
"When we've dumped the puck in and run the right routes, their D do a good job of turning it back," Parise said. "We can't give them as much space. We need to get on them quicker. ... We have a lot of end-zone time, a lot of cycles, but we're just not scoring."
That's especially important because the Devils failed to tire out the Kings defensemen who kill penalties. Two of the backliners in L.A.'s rotation, Slava Voynov and Alec Martinez, did not see the ice when the Kings were short-handed.
Yes, the Devils need to be more opportunistic. On their first goal at 5:40 of the second period, the Kings had three whacks at a puck that Brodeur seemed to have tucked under his left pad. He stopped the first two by Dwight King, but not the third by Martinez.
"I thought it was under his goal stick and he had it there," said David Clarkson, who was on the ice, "but if the ref saw it, that means it's loose. It's not that one play, though. One play didn't cost us the game."
It was several. In nine minutes of power-play time, the Devils managed just three shots. The extra minutes seemed to leave their players gassed. When Dustin Brown fed Anze Kopitar for a conversion in the slot for L.A.'s second goal midway through the second period, both Kovalchuk and Parise were late getting back into the play.
Kovalchuk even looked pained in the first four minutes of the third period, when he tried a cross-ice pass in his own zone that ended up on the stick of Kopitar. The Kings' forward tried a lead pass for Justin Williams cutting through the slot, but the pass led him too far. Shortly after, the Devils were called for their first penalty of the game.
The Kings then broke an 0-for-15 slump between both teams in the finals on the power play. The Devils had a chance to clear midway though the advantage, but Dainius Zubrus sent a weak pass to the point, where it was gloved down by Kings defenseman Willie Mitchell. Soon after Mitchell kept the puck in, Jeff Carter, with a sniper's touch, lifted a free puck in the slot into a sliver of daylight behind Brodeur to make the score 3-0.
Short-handed again a minute later, the Devils made life much too easy for the Kings on their next rush, allowing Drew Doughty to speed up the ice and then letting Mark Fayne split between a pair of Devils defensemen before he snapped a 20-footer past Brodeur, increasing the margin to 4-0.
In the postgame news conference, DeBoer scoffed at a question regarding the ineffectiveness of his stars, Parise and Kovalchuk.
"I'm not disappointed in our team," he said.
But Brodeur's evaluation was more telling. It sounded innocent enough, but in a world where players are careful not to point fingers at teammates, Brodeur seemed to urge his forwards to do better when talking about Quick.
"He's just not seeing great quality chances," Brodeur said. | http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/brian_cazeneuve/06/05/new.jersey.devils.game.3/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t12_a5 | 1,241 |
Jones remains No. 2 in P4P rankings after hard-fought win
Jon Jones holds at No. 2 on the P4P list after his tough win over Vitor Belfort
Anderson Silva remains the best fighter in MMA regardless of weight division
Demetrious Johnson climbs to No. 1 at flyweight after his breakthrough victory
We knew we were going to see a new champion crowned when we sat down to watch UFC 152 a couple of weekends ago.
And when the co-main event ended and Demetrious Johnson had his hand raised as the first belt holder in the UFC's new flyweight division, most people at Air Canada Centre in Toronto and watching the pay-per-view telecast around the world likely thought we were done with that.
After all, the only fight left on the card featured Jon Jones, and the light heavyweight champ had smashed every 205-pounder who'd dared step into the cage with him. And on this night he was taking on a pumped up 185-pounder, a 35-year-old at that.
Well, we all know what happened. "Bones" took down Vitor Belfort within the fight's opening seconds, which was as to be expected. But then the unexpected happened. The Brazilian, best known for his fast hands but also the owner of a jiu-jitsu black belt, secured a tight armbar, the crowd roared, Jones grimaced and the mixed martial arts world nearly was turned on its head.
A humongous upset can wreak havoc in the rankings, especially when the one rising to the occasion didn't rise from as close as No. 2. Even a near-upset can shake a person's resolve, making you question whether that indomitable guy you had at No. 1 is really the one.
But none of that applies to Jones. Seeing him caught in that Belfort armbar in the moment, the thinking was that no, this wasn't the end. Never mind that Vitor had it locked in. When "Bones" stood and yanked the challenger off the mat with him, then drove Belfort's head back down onto the mat, the most plausible imagining of the next few seconds was that Vitor would end up laid out, unconscious. Because Jones is unbeatable, right? And an armbar wasn't going to change that, right?
Well, it was only afterward, when Jones stood awaiting the announcement of his fourth-round victory -- submission victory, at that -- and was holding his right arm gingerly, that we learned how precarious the situation had been. How close we had been to having a new light heavyweight champion.
And through it all, Jon Jones has grown in stature. He's no longer the uber-athlete with whom no one can compete. He's now a guy who has faced adversity and come through. That makes him far easier to relate to. And it solidifies his standing among light heavyweights and everyone else who competes in this sport.
1. Junior dos Santos (15-1)
2. Cain Velasquez (10-1)
3. Daniel Cormier (10-0)
The clock is ticking, and Strikeforce still does not have an opponent for Cormier, whose Nov. 3 bout with Frank Mir fell apart when the two-time UFC heavyweight champion was injured in training. We're now less than five weeks out, although that's about the same amount of time Cormier had to prepare for "Bigfoot" Silva, and he did pretty well that night. With every day that passes, though, it seems ever less likely that Daniel will get the kind of opponent who can elevate his game. It's not like next month's Strikeforce swansong is going to move him up in these rankings -- he's stuck at No. 3 until Dos Santos and Velasquez rematch on Dec. 29 -- but every test Cormier passes means something for his UFC career-to-be. So let's hope he gets more than a warm body to tussle with when the cage door locks in a month.
1. Jon Jones (17-1)
2. Dan Henderson (29-8)
3. Rashad Evans (17-2-1)
It's tempting to stick Vitor Belfort at No. 2 here, even though he's not been ranked in this weight class or even at middleweight, the division where he's fought most of his fights in recent years. His near-miss against Jones in the first round of their UFC 152 main event was just the beginning of Belfort's show of worthiness. Even after "Bones" escaped his early armbar, Vitor continued to show a good measure of fight, which is something that's been lacking in all of Jones' previous opponents, the last four of whom are former champions. But Henderson stays put, and if his knee heals he might get the title shot he missed out on at the ill-fated UFC 151. And Evans holds his spot, too, even though he's talked about moving down to 185 pounds. If he learned anything while watching Jones-Belfort from Vitor's corner, he could be the guy to give the champ a fight. Or not. Maybe no one will do that again until Jones is a heavyweight.
1. Anderson Silva (32-4)
2. Chris Weidman (9-0)
3. Michael Bisping (23-4)
Weidman wins impressively and everyone starts talking up Weidman-Silva. Bisping wins impressively and everyone starts talking up Bisping-Silva. OK, not everyone. Silva has not seemed to notice either of them closing in on him, busy as he is taking on any light heavyweight not named Jones before setting his sights on a superfight with a smaller man, Georges St-Pierre. And the man who makes the matches, UFC president Dana White, has not said much of anything about a Weidman challenge, seemingly preferring to see Silva have a go with Bisping, whose fighting skills, prodigious as they may be, are dwarfed by his fight-hyping skills. But don't be surprised if Bisping's next trip into the octagon is to take on the winner of the Dec. 29 fight between Weidman and Tim Boetsch. The survivor of that would be hard for Silva to ignore.
1. Georges St-Pierre (22-2)
2. Carlos Condit (28-5)
3. Johny Hendricks (13-1)
Once upon a time there was a welterweight fighter named St-Pierre, who legend has it was quite a star. But that was long, long ago. Next month we'll learn whether the current version of GSP, returning from a layoff of more than a year and a half to tend to an injured knee, can measure up to the great fighter we all remember. To show that, the welterweight champ will have to measure up to Condit, owner of an interim belt in St-Pierre's absence. That night at UFC 154 in Montreal, is a welterweight-a-thon, with Hendricks taking on the guy who'd be No. 4 in our ranking if we had a No. 4: Marty Kampmann. Finally, we'll get some clarity in a weight class that's long been a showcase for the UFC.
1. Ben Henderson (16-2)
2. Gray Maynard (11-1-1, 1 NC)
3. Nate Diaz (16-7)
It's a whole new world for Henderson, who no longer is staring at Frankie Edgar and trying to hold onto the belt against the man from whom he took it. It'll feel different Dec. 8 when he steps in with Diaz, who is not a past champion and will be trying to climb that top rung on the ladder. Prior to the rematch with Frankie, Ben was open -- more so than most -- about the added responsibilities that come with being a champ. And while he did go out get the judges' decision, he didn't fight with the same dynamism he previously had. He'll need everything he has at his disposal against Diaz, perhaps the most improved fighter at the top end of the UFC roster. All of those gym days with his bother, Nick, ad well as Jake Shields and Gilbert Melendez have paid off.
1. José Aldo (21-1)
2. Frankie Edgar (14-3-1)
3. Chad Mendez (11-1)
Here's hoping that the hastily scheduled Aldo-Edgar fight, scuttled by an injury to the champ (as opposed to the ex-champ of a different division), gets rescheduled. But you never know. Timing and injuries change everything. I mean, those were the two factors that thrust José and Frankie together in the first place, after Erik Koch was injured while training for his scheduled challenge. Koch needs a fight, too, and maybe putting him in with Mendes or even Chan Sung Jung would produce the next interesting title challenger in this weight class.
1. Dominick Cruz (19-1)
2. Renan Barão (29-1, 1 NC)
3. Michael McDonald (15-1)
Yeah, eagle eye, last month's top three did have a tie for third, making it a top four. And true, no one on the list has fought since then. But upon reflection -- and after receiving several e-mails ridiculing these ranking's hesitancy to just make a decision -- it seemed like a good idea to just pick either McDonald or Urijah Faber and be done with it. So let's go with the rising 21-year-old rather than with the veteran star. Why? For one thing, Faber has been unable to make it back to the top of the mountain after once residing there, even though he's had three tries in two weight classes. Beyond that, the thinking is that a McDonald-Faber fight would go Michael's way.
1. Demetrious Johnson (16-2-1)
2. Joseph Benavidez (16-3)
3. Ian McCall (11-3-1)
"The winner, and new flyweight champion of the world ..." were the words bellowed for the first time by Bruce Buffer following the UFC 152 co-main event, and both Johnson and Benavidez stood there, hoping. But Demetrious appeared more full of hope than Joe, and also appeared far less bruised and battered after their lightning-quick five rounds. And sure enough it was "Mighty Mouse" who got the nod, by split decision, to become the first champion in the UFC's new 125-pound weight class. So Johnson and Benavidez have flip-flopped in these rankings, and now Demetrious is weighed down by the bull's-eye that's been affixed to his back. Now let's see if anyone can catch him.
1. Anderson Silva
2. Jon Jones
3. Georges St-Pierre
Silva spent the entire first round of his last fight on his back before smashing Chael Sonnen in the second. Jones nearly had his arm broken by an early submission hold but escaped and spent the next 15 minutes beating up Vitor Belfort. Georges St-Pierre was barely able to see out of one eye in his last fight, but still managed a unanimous decision win over Jake Shields ... and hasn't fought in the 18 months since then while healing a knee injury. Ladies and gentlemen, your pound-for-pound crème de la crème. Anyone have a problem with that?
Questions? Comments? To reach Jeff Wagenheim or contribute to the SI.com MMA mailbag, click on the E-mail link at the top of the page. | http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/jeff_wagenheim/10/02/october-mma-rankings/index.html?eref=fannation | 2,468 |
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Ben Brust admitted he didn't crash the offensive boards hard when teammate Sam Dekker had the ball in his hands. He had good reason.
"Every time Sam had the ball, I ran back because I knew it was going in," Brust said after Dekker matched his career high with 19 points Tuesday night to lead No. 17 Wisconsin to a 77-46 victory over Nebraska.
The freshman came off the bench to shoot 5 of 6 from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range, and helped set the tone early as the Badgers (20-8, 11-4 Big Ten) put on an offensive show and Nebraska (13-15, 4-11) struggled badly.
It was Dekker's fifth straight game in double figures, and he attributed his run to a growing confidence in his offensive game, as well as having won the confidence of his teammates.
"They don't mind when I put up a bad shot once in a while because they know I have the skill and the talent to make that and I'm going to work hard for these guys," Dekker said.
Wisconsin took control of the game early with a barrage of 3-pointers and then cruised to the blowout as Nebraska's offense disappeared.
The Badgers opened the game 8 for 11 from behind the arc, and five came in a spurt that turned a 10-8 deficit into a 35-14 lead. Dekker accounted for 11 points in the 27-4 run, including three 3s.
Nebraska cut the lead to 14 points on a quick 7-0 run, but the Badgers finished the half on a 9-2 spurt to lead 44-23.
The Badgers were a model of efficiency in the first half with 13 assists on 16 field goals as they shot better than 59 percent from the field, tied for their best opening half in conference play. They finished with 19 assists on 27 field goals while shooting almost 51 percent.
"Just look at the number of assists to the baskets scored, and you know we were moving the ball," Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan said. "For us to be successful offensively, I've said this before, we need to be able to make the extra pass."
Nebraska, meanwhile, made just one of its first 18 shots from the field to open the second half, scoring three points over a more than 11-minute stretch. That allowed the Badgers to push their lead to 64-26 with just over 8 minutes to go.
The Cornhuskers shot 33 percent for the game and had just six assists to 10 turnovers.
"We were the "Bad News Bears" for most of the second half," Nebraska coach Tim Miles said, referencing the movie that came out in 1976. "I told the guys that, and I forgot they don't even know who the "Bad News Bears" are."
Ryan Evans added 14 points and Brust had 13 for the Badgers, while Dylan Talley had 21 points and eight rebounds for the Cornhuskers and Brandon Ubel added 10 points.
Things went so well for Wisconsin offensively that even Evans had a good game from the free throw line. Coming in shooting less than 41 percent from the stripe, Evans unveiled a new apprDoach, taking one step back from the line and taking a jump shot. While unusual, it worked as Evans hit both free throws.
Jared Berggren finished with four blocks to make him Wisconsin's all-time leader at 126. He came into the game trailing Rashard Griffith (124) by two.
Ryan said one of the most impressive things about Berggren's block record is that he doesn't commit a lot of fouls to go with them. He committed none Tuesday night and averages almost 1.6 a game.
"It's not the blocks, it's the changes of shots and the intimidation and fact that he's there," Ryan said. "He doesn't intimidate because he's got a bad haircut. He doesn't intimidate because he looks mean. He doesn't intimidate because he's got 900 tattoos. He intimidates by his presence and his timing. It's not just the blocks."
Wisconsin's win, coupled with No. 1 Indiana's loss to Minnesota, put the Badgers one game back in the Big Ten race with three games to play for both teams. | http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/ncaa/men/gameflash/2013/02/26/81286_recap.html?xid=si_ncaab | 902 |
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