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Lions so special says Deans 2 May 2013 11:07am By Westgate, Rob Cole Robbie Deans is expecting a huge battle when the Lions head south this summer Robbie Deans is predicting another fantastic series between his Qantas Wallabies and the British & Irish Lions with a return to the gladiatorial days of 2001 set to thrill the fans. And the former Crusaders coach has backed his opposite number Warren Gatland's decision to include Glasgow warriors and Scotland wing Sean Maitland in the 37-man touring party. "There is no doubt Sean is a bolter, but he is a point of difference player. I know him well - we got him down from Waikato to the Crusaders and he was a point of difference to us," said Deans. "The last time we won the Super Rugby title in 2008 he made a difference. I was surprised to see him leave New Zealand to be honest. "There is no doubt he is able to play at this level and he showed that in the 6 Nations. He is also familiar with the conditions and a lot of our players." Deans wasn't overly surprised by too many of the other selection calls announced in London on Tuesday but that largely stems from the fact that he believes Gatland had some many quality players a his disposal. "The initial reaction to the selection is that there weren't a great deal of surprises. We are pretty familiar with the playing group," added Deans, who will take his own players into camp for three full weeks prior to the first Test in Brisbane on June 22. "In this situation there are always unlucky players when there are so many good players available. We saw Jonny Wilkinson play very well on the weekend and wondered whether he may come. "There is no doubt that the final result in the 6 Nations must have had a big bearing on the nucleus of the touring group. It's a very strong squad, a lot of these blokes are experienced tourists with the Lions and that will stand them in good stead." While Deans knows the Qantas Wallabies have been able to rack up eight successive wins over the double RBS 6 Nations champions, Wales, he also knows how close each and every one of those contests has been. And having seen 15 Welshmen named in Gatland's squad after Wales beat England so convincingly in mid-March, Deans is expecting an even tougher proposition from this summer's tourists. "They were very competitive fixtures against Wales that could have gone either way and they have added a significant amount of depth and quality to that nucleus. "That last encounter in the 6 Nations was such a convincing result at 30-3, clearly from our perspective it was an insight into what's coming - the nature of the game, the intensity, the pace of it. We look at that as the benchmark. "We have a lot of respect for what's coming. It's the Wallabies against the Lions - it will be a fantastic series. "It's the ultimate rugby experience for any rugby player, and also a coach. The scarce nature of these events is what makes them so special. "The last occasion they were here was in 2001. You look at how the body types have changed since then and that was gladiator like. This one is going to be remarkable." British & Irish Lions Replica Anthem Jacket (Adults)

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MLL Licensees Benefits of Sponsorship MLL Sponsors Coke Zero Coke Zero, the leader in zero-calorie soft drinks, has been named an official league sponsor for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. As part of the new relationship, Coke Zero becomes the title sponsor of all 14 nationally televised CBS Sports Network games. Coke Zero will become the title sponsor of each game televised on CBS Sports Network, which will be named the “Coke Zero MLL Game of the Week.” Coke Zero will also become the associate sponsor of special events including the MLL All-Star Game, to be played in Palm Beach County, FL on Saturday June 30, and the MLL Championship Weekend, to be played on August 25 and 26 at Harvard Stadium in Boston, Mass. As part of the sponsorship, the Coke Zero logo will be prominently displayed on the expansion Charlotte Hounds’ team uniform, including the lower back, the left shoulder, and game shorts. Coke Zero will also receive commercial units, in-game features and billboards during the 2012 MLL season. Launched in June 2006, ‘Coke Zero’ offers those who love the taste of classic ‘Coca-Cola’ a new way to enjoy their favorite brand, without the calories. For more information, visit www.coca-colazero.com. Warrior Warrior Lacrosse is the leading lacrosse brand for equipment, footwear and apparel. Founded in 1992 by Dave Morrow in his dorm room at Princeton, Warrior has grown to be the dominant brand in the industry.Warrior has been an Anchor Sponsor of MLL since Jake Steinfeld met Morrow in 1999.Warrior’s mobile marketing trailers appear at 200+ lacrosse events every spring and summer including the MLL All-Star Game and MLL's Championship Final.Headquartered in Warren, Michigan, Warrior Sports is recognized as one of the sporting goods industry’s premier manufacturers of innovative, high performance, cutting-edge equipment, footwear and apparel for lacrosse and hockey athletes of all ages and abilities. Founded in 1992 by former champion lacrosse player David Morrow, Warrior was acquired by privately-held New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. ...in February 2004. The 2007 acquisition of Boston-based Brine Sporting Goods further established Warrior Sports as the dominant force in the lacrosse world.Warrior is dedicated to a core set of philosophies and strengths: technical superiority, grassroots marketing, original and creative youthful expression, and strong partnerships with retailers and suppliers. Since creating the first titanium shafts in 1992, Warrior has constantly pushed the envelope in the evolution of the game. By taking a fresh, energetic approach to the game, and employing young, enthusiastic lacrosse players like Jesse Hubbard and Mark Millon, Warrior set out to change the game – the best gear in the world, developed by the best players in the world. Brine Brine first joined MLL as a partner in 2007. Brine shares the equipment supply needs for MLL Teams with Warrior. Brine is the successor to the original W.H. Brine Company founded in 1922. Brine started as a small athletic equipment and uniform company, selling to private schools and regional camps and quickly grew into a major manufacturer of lacrosse and soccer products. Today, Brine manufactures lacrosse, soccer, volleyball and field hockey equipment and has become one of the most respected privately-owned sporting goods manufacturers in the world. In 2006, Brine was acquired by New Balance, a leading manufacturer of technologically innovative width-sized performance footwear and athletic apparel for women, men, and children. Cascade Over the past 20 years, Cascade has established itself as the leader in the lacrosse helmet and eyemask category and continues to set the bar for safety and innovation for the industry. Cascade has been the Official Helmet of MLL since the league’s Summer Showcase tour in 2000. Cascade's Pink CPX helmets, worn by the MLL All Star Team in 2006, were autographed and auctioned to fans following the game raising $19,000+ for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Powerade POWERADE, the complete sports drink, helps replenish four electrolytes lost in sweat. POWERADE is part of the glacéau unit of Coca-Cola North America. glacéau consists of brands that offer hydration for every occasion, including vitaminwater®, smartwater®, POWERADE®, FUZE®, NOS® and Full Throttle®. The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. For more information about POWERADE, including POWERADE ION4®, the complete sports drink and POWERADE ZERO®, the zero calorie sports drink, visit www.us.powerade.comor www.facebook.com/POWERADEION4. STX STX is a global sporting goods leader in the sports of lacrosse, field hockey, ice hockey and golf. With its 1970 introduction of the first synthetic lacrosse head, STX ushered in the "modern era" of what is now the fastest growing team sport. Based in Baltimore, the home of lacrosse, STX has been universally recognized for innovation in product design and development. STX continues to strive for new performance standards in sporting goods equipment at the highest levels of competition. Adrenaline Adrenaline, headquartered in San Diego, produces athletic wear, footwear, and accessories for fellow active enthusiasts and professional athletes. In becoming a partner with MLL, Adrenaline also becomes an official sock (non-exclusive), sideline hat (exclusive), and shooting shirt (exclusive) supplier of the League, providing MLL players with gear in the latest style and highest quality. New Balance New Balance has been an important corporate sponsor of Major League Lacrosse since 2003. Lacrosse.com Body By Jake - Body By Jake Global LLC, founded by MLL Founder Jake Steinfeld, has been instrumental in the development of some of the most successful fitness products ever sold. Stylin Strings Stylin' Strings was conceptually founded in 1999 in a college apartment in Baltimore, Md. We made our debut at the 2001 lacrosse convention with five custom strung traditional pockets. After incorporating, we traveled the East Coast for the first five years setting up booths at camps and tournaments. We relocated to our hometown of York, Pa. in 2004 and started building out our retail space, which we are still in today. In 2006, we opened a full retail lacrosse store and production facility. We remained relatively small, surviving the pivotal growth years of the industry while we were creating a bigger niche for custom lacrosse sticks. In 2010, we decided to exit soft goods (pads, gloves, etc.) to focus on nothing but stringing mesh, traditional and hybrid pockets, as well as servicing the growing demand for our custom dyed heads and apparel. Today we have become a prominent name in the industry for manufacturing custom lacrosse pockets, dyes, stringing kits, mini sticks, apparel, and media services. We have maintained our mom-n-pop shop feel and service while growing to eight employees. Our website tops 150,000 unique visitors a year or more. Our YouTube page has over 9,500 subscribers and is a top ten in the industry as a whole. Our Instagram page has also topped 10,000. We continue to service the University of Virginia, Steele Stanwick, Max Seibald, and many more professional, college, high school, and youth players. We are committed to our customers, including players and parents. String King Lacrosse StringKing was founded to solve a simple problem - lacrosse mesh and pockets perform inconsistently. Through industry leading manufacturing, advanced NEVER-BAG™ fibers, and our patent-pending TRUE-DIAMOND™ technology, we've engineered the most consistent, highest performing mesh available. In addition to manufacturing our own mesh, we've created an online stringing tutorial platform called uSTRING. It provides simple, easy-to-follow instructions so that anyone, regardless of stringing experience can replicate the most consistent, highest performing pockets available. Through our Performance Mesh and uSTRING, we aim to conveniently place the perfect pocket into the hands of every lacrosse player. Jimalax Jimalax was founded in 2000 by brothers Jim and Al with the intent to produce some of the highest quality meshes and strings in the lacrosse world. Jim and Al's efforts have thrived as they continued to grow and expand their product line to include such staples as laces, tipped strings and stringing spools, and leathers. They launched a new website in 2004 and moved their business from New York to Arizona in 2007 with continued growth and product line expansion. East Coast Dyes East Coast Dyes is located in Baltimore, Md., and was founded in 2011. It is a leading manufacturer of high performance wax mesh. Their goal is to push the boundaries of high performance lacrosse mesh and change how people thing about their pockets. Odor Gladiator Odor Gladiator™ is a patented athlete-customized high-performance deodorizer that battles stench in the most inhospitable of environments —the dank, dark sports equipment bag. The preferred solution of performance athletes, Odor Gladiator tackles the stench of intense sports such as lacrosse, hockey, kickboxing and roller derby. Odor Gladiator is a safe, effortless solution that battles odor for more than 90 days. Odor Gladiator is a veteran-owned company proudly manufacturing its products in the United States. Discover Your Game Headquartered in Austin, TX, DYG is a manufacturer of innovative, high performance, cutting-edge training equipment for lacrosse athletes of all ages and abilities. Founded in 2013 by former Loyola College and University of Maryland lacrosse player Ryan Small, he partnered with Roy Prosise and Roland Benson to create a concept to market process that controls everything from product design, to manufacturing, to marketing, to distribution. Discover Your Game is dedicated to creating the best lacrosse training equipment in the industry, grassroots marketing,truly original product development, and strong partnerships with retailers and suppliers. Apr Sat 26 7:00 PM ET

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Top 5 Bike-Friendly Small Towns October 10, 2011 by Tracy McGill Leave a Comment Bikes In Davis, California Most lists of the top bike-friendly towns include major metropolitan areas, but small towns, those with a population under 100,000, actually pull in higher percentages of bike commuters. Small towns have the advantage of smaller road grids, easier commutes, and local government support. The most bike-friendly small towns are typically college towns where bicycling is considered by college students as a less-expensive and less-hassle mode of transportation. The following bike-friendly towns were chosen by studying the most recent reports from Bicycling.com and the League of American Bicyclists who yearly hands out award recognition to bicycle friendly communities. Davis, California Sitting 15 miles outside of Sacramento, Davis, California is the most bike-friendly community in America. According to the League of American Bicyclists, a whopping 22.1 percent of Davis’ working population commute by bicycle. Davis was the first city in the U.S. to add bike lanes way back in the 1960s and today 95% of their arterial roadways contain bike lanes. From bike-only traffic lights to an extensive network of bike trails to a university campus closed to motor vehicles, Davis has been an innovator in promoting a car-free lifestyle. In 2009, Davis became home to the Bicycling Hall of Fame. With a population of 65,000, Davis garnered the prestigious platinum status bike-friendly community from the League of American Bicyclists, sharing the honor with Portland, Oregon and Boulder, Colorado. If you ever find yourself driving through the streets of Boulder, Colorado (pop. 97,000), just north of Denver, you’ll soon want to ditch that gas guzzler for the freedom of moving through town on a bicycle. With over 95% of roads containing bike trails and 15% of the transportation budget spent on building and maintaining bicycle routes, Boulder has deservedly become a model for other bike-friendly cities. Dedicated snow removal for bike lanes begins as soon as the snow flies. Not only does 9.9% of the working population in Boulder commute by bike, the Safe Routes to School initiative has caused one elementary school in Boulder to see 70% of students involved in walking or biking to school. The city operates GoBikeBoulder.net, an innovative website dedicated to helping cyclists navigate the over 300 miles of bike lanes, bike routes, and designated paths. It also provides mileage, calories burned, and money saved in transportation costs. Boulder is a favorite bike-friendly town of the League of American Bicyclists awarding them the distinguished platinum status. Corvallis, Oregon With it’s small size and flat terrain most bicycle trips in Corvallis, Oregon can be achieved in less than 15 minutes. The most recent citizen survey showed that 22% of the over 54,000 residents regularly commuted by bicycle. Though these impressive numbers can mostly be attributed to the fact that Corvallis is home to Oregon State University, city planners have long been dedicated to promoting bicycling throughout the town. Bike lanes are found on 97% of collector and arterial roads. Elementary school students participate in a mandatory week-long bicycle training program and are encouraged to bike to school. Bike parking is required in proportion to vehicle parking at businesses, schools, apartment buildings, and offices and half of these must be covered bike racks. Corvallis received gold status as a bike-friendly community from the League of American Bicyclists. The city of Bellingham, Washington recently decreased single-occupant car trips by 8% and increased cycling, pedestrian, and bus trips by the same amount. Bellingham’s roads contain 21 miles of bike lanes and there are 27 miles of shared-use pathways. Bellingham is also popular for the many mountain bike trails found in the surrounding forests. The town supports the Safe Routes to School initiative, a national program to increase the number of students who walk or bike to school. With a population of 81,000, 3% of Bellingham workers commute by bicycle. The League of American Bicyclists has awarded silver status to this bike-friendly town. Missoula, Montana Located in western Montana, the town of Missoula (pop. 67,000) has operated a bike/pedestrian city office for over 25 years. Home to the University of Montana, the town recently opened a bicycle and pedestrian bridge linking the city center with the campus and 2 major bike paths. Missoula boasts a 5.64% bicycle mode share. And, yes, cycling continues even in the winter due to the town’s dedicated plows for bike lanes and bike paths. Other bike innovations include covered bike racks, bicycle detection at intersections, and Bicycle Ambassadors that teach traffic safety. The Missoula school district includes bike safety and skills as part of the physical education curriculum. The League of American Bicyclists has given the town of Missoula, Montana a silver status in bike-friendliness. Related PostsTop U.S. Cities For Winter Bicycle CommutingA Town Without Cars: Bicycle CityLongest Urban Bicycle Route In U.S. Sees Record GrowthThe Longest Car-Free Bicycle Routes In The NortheastBest Commuter Bikes For 2011National Bike Month Pushes Bike Commuting Into High GearBike-Friendly Coastal Towns In The NortheastEfficient Cargo Bike: The Bilenky Filed Under: Bicycles Tagged With: bicycle commuting, Bicycles, bike cities, bike commuters, bike lanes, bike-friendly, transportation Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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Strikeforce News Strikeforce 'Overeem vs Werdum' fight card: Josh Barnett vs Brett Rogers preview By Brian Hemminger @BrianHemminger This Saturday night (June 18, 2011) at the Strikeforce: "Overeem vs. Werdum" event, two of the world's most dangerous heavyweights will clash in the opening round of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix as Josh Barnett makes his U.S. return against former division number one contender Brett Rogers. Barnett has made more press for his three positive steroid tests than for his fighting ability, but he's defeated some of the best in the world throughout his 14-year fight career. At 33 years old, he's still got plenty of fight left in him and he wants to prove it. Brett Rogers was a former wrecking machine, laying waste to everything in his path in the heavyweight division. He fell short in back-to-back efforts against two of the best heavyweights in the world and hasn't looked like the same fighter since. He's out to exorcise his demons on Saturday night. Will Barnett finally win over some fans now that he's (hopefully) put his steroids behind him? Will Rogers snap out of it and return to form? Who will advance to face Sergei Kharitonov in the semifinals of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix? Our fight preview gives you all the information you need to know after the jump: Record: 29-5 overall, 0-0 in Strikeforce Key Wins: Aleksander Emelianenko (Pride Total Elimination Absolute), Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride Final Conflict Absolute) Key Losses: Mirko Filipovic 3x (Pride 28, Pride 30, Pride Final Conflict Absolute), Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (Pride Shockwave 2006) How he got here: Josh Barnett has been on quite a kooky career path, and a lot of it was his own doing. Some may not be old enough to remember this but back in 2002, he defeated Randy Couture at UFC 36 for the UFC heavyweight title but would be stripped of his belt after testing positive for a banned substance. Barnett would never return to the UFC and would instead spend much of the remainder of his career fighting in Japan in Pride where he was a talented fighter but could never reach the pinnacle of the promotion, thrice getting stopped by Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic while trying to rise to the top of the promotion. After Pride was bought out by Zuffa, Barnett would fight for World Victory Road's Sengoku Raiden Championships and he then teamed up with the upstart Affliction promotion in the United States, fighting there for only the second time since being stripped of his UFC title. He won his first two fights and was all set up for a "mega-fight" with superstar Fedor Emelianenko before again testing positive for steroids while applying for his license to fight in California. This final steroid test would force him to back out of his fight with "The Last Emperor" and it crippled Affliction, causing the cancellation of its third event and forcing head honcho Tom Atencio to give up on his promotional dreams and go back to selling t-shirts. He next signed a deal with Strikeforce to participate in the Heavyweight Grand Prix and was grandfathered in when Zuffa purchased the promotion, where he would make peace with Dana White. How he gets it done: "The Baby-Faced Assassin" is a terrific catch wrestler with adequate to above-average striking. He'll want to stand with Rogers long enough to get "The Grim" to lower his defenses and allow him to get the fight to the ground. Depending on if Brett Rogers shows up aggressive or not, Barnett could even win this fight standing. If he can take command of the center of the cage and push the pace, his opponent will likely leave openings in the stand-up that Barnett can capitalize on. That being said, the ground is where Barnett gets it done. His top control is some of the best in the heavyweight division and he possesses a wide array of submissions that he's honed and developed while fighting in Japan all these years. His joint locks are especially nasty, having won several fights throughout his career with armbars, Kimuras and leg locks. If Rogers goes to the ground with Barnett, he'd better pray he's on top because if the Pankration fighter sees an opportunity to manipulate a joint, he's going to take it and torque on that thing until it snaps. Brett Rogers Key Wins: Andrei Arlovski (Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields), Abongo Humphrey (Shamrock vs. Diaz) Key Losses: Fedor Emelianenko (Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers) , Alistair Overeem (Strikeforce: Heavy Artillery) How he got here: Many have heard this story already but Brett Rogers used to work at a tire shop before hitting it big. After getting his start on the local Minnesota circuit with five consecutive knockouts, he got his opportunity to fight for EliteXC in late 2007. He would impress the big wigs by winning all three of his fights via first round knockout in just five minutes combined. When EliteXC went under, his contract was purchased by Strikeforce and he would make the biggest statement of his career by blasting former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski in just 22 seconds, completely overwhelming "The Pitbull" with a huge flurry of aggressive strikes. With the victory, Rogers was given the opportunity of a lifetime to go out and compete against the consensus number one heavyweight in the world, Fedor Emelianenko in a nationally televised event on CBS. Rogers would thrash the Russian in the first round, nearly finishing the fight with ground and pound but once the Sambo champion survived to to the final horn, he came out and smashed Rogers with a huge looping right hook to hand the American the first loss of his career. When negotiations fell through for Emelianenko to fight Alistair Overeem for the heavyweight title, Rogers was slated in due to his incredible first round performance against "The Last Emperor." This time wouldn't be so pretty as Overeem completely manhandled Rogers with a dominant first round TKO. After Rogers got slightly back on track with a win outside the promotion, he was given an invite to the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix. How he gets it done: Brett Rogers is capable of being an absolute ferocious monster in the cage. Somewhere inside him is the man who smashed Andrei Arlovski and nearly finished Fedor Emelianenko. He just needs to find it. Brett has some seriously heavy hands and honestly, the smartest thing he could do would be to bullrush Barnett and completely overwhelm the former professional wrestler with a huge devastating flurry of strikes. Rogers could also possibly pin him against the fence and unload on the exiled UFC champ with everything he's got. He's not as technical as Barnett and he's especially not as well-versed as "The Baby-Faced Assassin" is on the ground so Rogers' primary goal will be to force his opponent into a brawl and make this bout an all-out war. If he does this, Barnett could make a mistake and give Rogers the opening he needs to capitalize with his power. Fight "X-Factor:" The "X-Factor" for this fight has to be Brett Rogers' mind-set coming into this bout. When he was undefeated, he didn't think anyone could touch him. He didn't care who they were, he was going to go out there and punch them in the face and knock them out. He didn't care that Arlovski was one of the most popular fighters of all time or that Emelianenko had an aura of invincibility about him, he was going to go out there and obliterate them because they stood in his way. That all changed after getting knocked out in the second round against Emelianenko. Rogers showed up to the Overeem fight as a shell of his former self and was made to look like he didn't even belong in the same arena as the Strikeforce champ. He followed up that loss by earning a completely lackluster decision against Ruben Villareal, a man who currently possesses a 19-21-3 record. He should have smashed "Warpath" but he's still shell-shocked from Fedor and Overeem. Will he be able to snap out of it or will Barnett have his way with him? Bottom line: If Rogers can get that "killer" mentality back, this fight has potential to be a very entertaining brawl. If not, he could show up incredibly passive and get completely worked by the more technical Barnett. The entertainment factor for this match lies entirely in the hands of Brett Rogers. Who will come out on top at Strikeforce: "Overeem vs. Werdum?" Let us know in the comments section below! Which heavyweight will advance to the semifinals of the Strikeforce Grand Prix on Saturday night? Josh Barnett (154 votes) Brett Rogers (46 votes) Mirko Filipovic Sergei Kharitonov

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Brevard County: Florida Beverage Delivery brings beer, equipment right to youBREVARD - In a rough economic time, Chris Hyskell was determined to be successful and raise a family. "My wife got into real estate, not only because her parents did it, but because we had the quandary of what to do when you have a 2-and-a-half-year-old," Mr. Hyskell said from his home in Melbourne. "Do yo...... Indian River County: Female fitness for futureVERO BEACH - Veros Beach's Longevity Lady Fitness and Spa is helping hundreds of women glisten their way to self-confidence and better health. The fitness center, where no men are allowed, gives women the freedom to come to the gym and get fit without worrying if men ...... Martin County: Country club under new managementPALM CITY - The former Martin Downs Golf & Country Club has new ownership, a new name and new management. The Palm City golfing destination has been purchased by the Greenwood Investment Group and is, effective immediately, now operating as the Martin Downs Golf Club. "The Greenwood Investment Group, LLC, is comprised of longt...... St. Lucie County: College seeks local business collaborationTREASURE COAST - The health science division of Indian River State College is looking for local businesses and organizations in health-care related fields to collaborate with IRSC bachelor's-level college students on capstone projects. The partnership takes place at the culmination of the bachelor's degree program in health care...... Volusia County: Loraine's Fashion jewelry boutique is Pavilion's gemPORT ORANGE - When John and Loraine Foulston decided to start a business in the Daytona Beach area, jewelry wasn't the first thing on their mind. The couple behind Loraine's Fashion Jewelry and Accessories, a costume and fashion jewelry boutique in the Pavilion at Port Orange, originally set their sights on o......

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Rush Limbaugh: Obama 'Failed Spectacularly' in Attempt to Embarrass GOP Thursday, 01 Sep 2011 01:50 PM By Amy Woods Print | A A President Barack Obama’s losing duel over the timing of his jobs speech vs. the GOP presidential debate prompted radio talker Rush Limbaugh to call the whole brouhaha a joke. “It’s not presidential, but as a practical joker, I love this,” Limbaugh said on his show today. “Unfortunately, this is not the kind of behavior you want from the president of the United States, and it is, nevertheless, what we’ve got.” After a Republican outcry Wednesday against the White House's Sept. 7 choice for Obama's televised address to a joint session of Congress, Obama moved it back a night. The original date had put it head to head with the televised Republican presidential debate at the Reagan Library in California. “This was a great move,” Limbaugh said of the plan to “upstage” the Republican Party. “This attempt to make Republicans looks unreasonable failed spectacularly.” Instead of competing against the televised NBC-Politico forum, Obama will compete against the National Football League’s opener, Limbaugh said, although indications are that the president’s speech will be over before the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers play the New Orleans Saints. “That’s where he’s going to look small,” Limbaugh said. “With the doubt through the summer that there might not be a season . . . the last thing people want is for the president to interrupt it.” The president’s jobs address will be a “campaign speech,” Limbaugh said. “We’re not going to hear anything new. Obama’s not going to say anything important . . . he’s not going to say anything helpful.” Finally, Limbaugh lauded House Speaker John Boehner for demanding that the president switch dates. “If it were up to me . . . Boehner would have refused to let Obama address the joint session of Congress at all,” Limbaugh said, adding, “I think Boehner did the right thing. Obama’s up against the National Football League.”

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Magazine Northwestern Meet as Strangers, Leave as Friends Travel Essay Cruising the Danube A Puzzling Career In the Driver's Seat Ring Leader Submit a Purple Prose E-mail the Editor Read Our Back Issues Northwestern Links Northwestern Home Alumni Web Site NU Sports Northwestern News Plan-It Purple: The consummate advance man, Robert Collins (C70) has made a career of filling seats for the circus, Ice Capades and World Wrestling Entertainment by Asa Church (WCAS07) When Robert Collins (C70) told his parents that he had gotten a job, they weren’t exactly thrilled. “You’ve grown up in a fairly affluent suburb of Cleveland, you went to Northwestern, one of the best universities in the world, and then you say to your parents, ‘I’m joining the circus.’ That’s not what my parents were excited to hear,” Collins recalls. But what could be better than working for “The Greatest Show on Earth”? Graduating from Northwestern in 1970 at the height of the Vietnam War, Collins faced a difficult and turbulent world. After serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, during which time he earned a master’s degree in public relations from American University, Collins joined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Serving as an advance man, Collins worked ahead of the show making preparations and generating excitement. For a 1974 show in Baltimore, Collins remembers partnering with a local radio station and a bank to create a promotion giving away the world’s largest check. “What we didn’t tell the winner was that the check was painted with chalk on the side of an elephant,” says Collins. “So in order to cash it, she had to walk through the drive-through of the bank with an elephant.” After a little more than four years with the circus, Collins pitched the Ice Capades, a Las Vegas–style revue that featured lavish musical productions and Olympians such as Dorothy Hamill and Peggy Fleming. After Ice Capades, Collins began promoting shows for World Wrestling Entertainment. An eclectic mix of physical prowess and showmanship, WWE underwent a transformation in the late ’80s and early 1990s. “We acknowledged, ‘Folks, this is entertainment,’” says Collins. “But it doesn’t take away from the athleticism of our superstars or the enjoyment of our fans.” Wrestlers battle out more than 300 matches a year, performances that test the limits of their physical strength. “What they do in the ring is nothing short of superhuman,” Collins says. Now serving as senior vice president for event marketing at WWE, Collins credits his time at Northwestern, first as a “Cherub” in the National High School Institute and then as an undergraduate working with WNUR-FM and the Waa-Mu Show, for shaping his love for live entertainment promotion. Now living in Sarasota, Fla., Collins’ sole job is to promote WWE’s annual premier event, WrestleMania, which Collins describes as “a combination of Woodstock, the World Series and the Super Bowl.” On April 2 more than 14,000 fans from 16 different countries and 43 states will converge at Allstate Arena in suburban Chicago for the event. Millions more around the world will be watching on pay-per-view TV. Collins finds fans in the most unlikely places, such as Northwestern’s University Archives. Returning to the Evanston campus recently to visit his cousin, assistant University archivist Janet Olson, Collins met associate archivist Kevin Leonard (WCAS77, G82), who was introduced to pro wrestling by one of his adolescent sons. “My son said, ‘Dad, you have got to see this!’” says Leonard. “I walked into the living room and there was this guy on television being hit over the head with a metal folding chair. I was hooked.” Collins attributes the appeal of WWE to its interactive nature and the ability of the WWE stars to get the audience emotionally involved. He is often impressed by the fans’ dedication. At a recent WWE autograph session in Detroit, an Australian family approached him and said, “You’re probably not aware of it, but you bring the world together. … We would have never come to the United States if it weren’t for WWE.” It’s those fans that have kept Collins in the business. “You know the way people are passionate about the Cubs or the Bulls,” says Collins. “We’re everybody’s hometown team.” Robert Collins Photo by Andrew Campbell Features | Alumni News | Class Notes | Student Life | Mailbox | Purple Prose Northwestern Home | Northwestern Calendar: Plan-It Purple | Northwestern Search Northwestern 1800 Sheridan Road, Evanston, IL 60208-1800 Phone: 847-491-5000 Fax: 847-491-3040 E-mail: [email protected] 12/07/2007 World Wide Web Disclaimer and Policy Statements All rights reserved © 2006 Northwestern University.

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Maggie Acuna Position:Director of Operations Experience:First Season Maggie Acuna Joins Wildcats as Director of Basketball Operations Two-year captain at Illinois brings variety of experience to NU Northwestern head women's basketball coach Joe McKeown announced the hire of Maggie Acuna in June of 2013 as the team's new director of basketball operations. Acuna comes to Northwestern with a variety of experience, as she played four seasons at Illinois, served as a graduate assistant coach at Valparaiso, obtained her law degree from Valparaiso and most recently worked in the compliance office at Wisconsin."I am honored and excited to join the Northwestern University Women's Basketball staff in this great city," Acuna said. "I look forward to working with the coaches, student-athletes, and other staff members, and I hope to help in bringing Wildcat Basketball to new heights."Acuna's duties with the Wildcats include assisting in all day-to-day operations of the program, including scheduling, team travel and assisting with summer basketball camps.The Oak Brook, Ill., native graduated from nearby Hinsdale Central and went on to play at Illinois from 2002-06, including two seasons with NU assistant coach Allison Guth. Acuna was a two-time team captain for the Illini, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree and a Big Ten Outstanding Sportsmanship Award recipient. On the court, Acuna finished her Illinois career ranked 12th in assists and her career-high of 16 assists while playing on the road at Wisconsin on Jan. 16, 2006 still stands as the Kohl Center record.Acuna obtained a bachelor of science in Community Health with a concentration in Planning and Administration and Public Health from Illinois in 2006 and went on to receive her master's degree in Sports Marketing and Management in 2007.Following her time at Illinois, Acuna held positions with the Chicago Bears and at Coca-Cola before attending Valparaiso for law school. While in Indiana, she served as a graduate assistant on the women's basketball team, worked at the Valparaiso Sports Law Clinic and served as a research assistant at the School of Law. Acuna received her J.D. in May of 2012 and is a member of the Illinois State Bar.Since completing law school, Acuna spent time in the compliance department at Notre Dame, served as part of the NCAA Amateurism Cabinet in Valparaiso and spent the last year as a compliance assistant at Wisconsin. Wildcats Women's Basketball Home

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Jake Lewing Joins Swimming and Diving as an Assistant Coach Release: August 26, 2013 NORFOLK, Va. – Old Dominion University swimming and diving head coach Carol Withus announced the hiring of Jake Lewing as an assistant coach. “We are very excited to welcome Jake to the Monarch family. His competitive knowledge and experience will be a tremendous asset to our program and we look forward to having him on deck,” Withus said. Lewing comes to Old Dominion after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Mary Washington. Lewing helped Mary Washington send a school record 10 swimmers to the 2012 NCAA Championships. UMW sophomore Alex Anderson won the NCAA National Championship in the 400 IM and set a new national record. A graduate of Denison University (Ohio), Lewing was a four-year NCAA Qualifier and a 12-time All-America honoree. He helped lead Denison to the 2011 Division III National Championship. “I am excited to be joining the staff at ODU and look forward to working with a great team,” Lewing said.

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Revere's Corfman commits to Toledo Revere senior Joe Corfman has committed to continue his baseball and academic careers at the University of Toledo. Corfman, a shortstop, batted .500 last season with 37 hits and 28 RBI. He enters this season with 91 hits and 67 RBI at Revere. He also has a 6-6 career record as a right-handed pitcher. Corfman is entering his fourth season as a starter under coach Phil Heyn. Corfman earned all-Suburban League honors the past three seasons and has been recognized on the Buckeye Scout's Top 100 List and as a player to watch by the publication Collegiate Baseball.

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Louisville Lightning Enjoy Sweet 8-7 Victory in Close I-71 Derby - OurSports Central - Independent and Minor League Sports News Louisville Lightning Enjoy Sweet 8-7 Victory in Close I-71 Derby December 16, 2011 - Professional Arena Soccer League (PASL) Louisville Lightning LOUISVILLE, KY (December 16th, 2011) -- The Louisville Lightning hosted the Cincinnati Kings tonight in a match deemed the, "I-71 Derby." As usual, the fans were not let down as the game was very well fought on both sides of the turf. The Lightning ended up on top by a score of 8-7, but it didn't come with ease, as the Kings were fierce and hesitant in letting up throughout the match.The first half was very intense as the Lightning went into the locker room with a 3-1 lead. There were a number of blue cards, including one hockey-style body check by Ireland national, Ross Hopkins. There was another big physical presence from Lightning player, Simon Bird. In an attempt to get into the goalie's head, Bird followed through on his drives to the net, just to let Craig Salvati know he was there. It seemed to work because in the fourth quarter, Salvati was pulled for the back-up keeper.Starting goalkeeper, Frank Peabody, made his first start in four games, and he did not upset the hometown crowd. He made a number of saves to help the Lightning keep the lead in a very close game. It seemed as if Peabody picked up where he left off, after taking an injury to his elbow only a few weeks prior. When asked how he felt after the game, Frank said, "Pretty tired, the first game back is always a hard one. It's hard to keep your fitness level up after being injured, but all I had to do was play a simple game. And, sometimes you get lucky and the ball just bounces away."Nick Judah, another veteran of the Louisville Lightning, made his first start in a number of games as well. It didn't come with any hesitation or jitters either. Judah managed to net four goals on the night in a match that is historically known to be very rough and dominated by the rival, Cincinnati Kings. "Cincinnati had our number in the past," Judah said in the post-game press conference. "This is my third season with the club, so even though I haven't played in a few games lately, I'm used to the game. It would have been much harder to come back if I wasn't," Judah added. Until the fourth quarter, it seemed to be a Lightning-controlled game, but the Kings definitely did not want to let the chance of a win slip through their fingers. The Kings were down 5-2, going into the fourth, but managed to bridge the gap and add five goals and pull close to the Lightning at 8-7. Even though the Kings never held the lead in the game, they made it quite a challenge for the Lightning to pull out their third victory against the club this season. The Louisville Lightning play the Cincinnati Kings one more time this season in only a couple weeks. The Lightning will travel up to Cincinnati Gardens on the 30th of December to attempt a season sweep of a club that has been nothing but trouble to them in the past. The coaches and players of the Lightning look forward to it, as they are still in a battle with the Kings over the third and fourth spot in the Eastern Division of the PASL. The Kings will be sure to give them run for their money.For any more information, Louisville Lightning fans can log on to the official Louisville Lightning website (louisvillelightning.com) or visit the new blog at louisvillelightning.wordpress.com. Great game tonight, and good luck to the Lightning in the Dec. 30th bout against the Cincinnati Kings. • Discuss this story on the Professional Arena Soccer League message board... Professional Arena Soccer League Stories from December 16, 2011 San Diego Sockers Game Notes - San Diego Sockers Louisville Lightning Enjoy Sweet 8-7 Victory in Close I-71 Derby - Louisville Lightning

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2012 TdF Previews ← Monday Musette – Roubaix Wrap-Up Brabantse Pijl Wrap-Up → Brabantse Pijl Preview Posted on April 13, 2010 by Whit Lost in the hullabaloo surrounding Ghent-Wevelgem’s calendar move to the Sunday before the Tour of Flanders was the race already occupying that date on the calendar. Ironically, the Brabantse Pijl seems to be one of the only events to have benefited from its new spot. Previously held the day after the E3 Prijs, the Brabantse Pijl often suffered from a lackluster start list thanks to the mini-Ronde taking place the day before. Couple that with a rather uninteresting course profile offering none of the climbs or cobbles from the following Sunday’s monument, and you have a race that often struggled put on a big show for the sponsors and fans. Oftentimes, the event was won by riders more suited to the Amstel Gold Race or the Ardennes classics, hence the decision to bump it to the Wednesday before Amstel, a terrific warm-up for the next 10 days of racing in Holland and the Ardennes. The race itself has changed as well. Originally starting in Zaventem, the race traditionally came to its conclusion following several local laps of a finishing circuit in the Brussels suburb of Alsemberg. In 2008, the race moved to begin Leuven; and this year, the race ends with several laps in Overijse, a town cyclocross fans might recognize from the annual race held there. All in all, the Brabantse Pijl takes-in about 200 kilometers of some of the Province of Brabant’s finest roads, skirting back and forth between Flanders and Wallonia in the process. For me, the “new” Brabantse Pijl takes on a personal significance, as the course includes several of the roads I used for training during my lackluster days as student/racer. But I digress. As I said before, the event’s new place on the calendar makes it an important appointment for riders looking to fine tune their form in preparation for Sunday’s Amstel Gold Race. Let’s have a look at the teams and riders expected to make their mark: Rabobank’s a squad we’ll be hearing a lot about over the coming days as they prepare for the most important one-day race of their season this Sunday. Rabo’s won 5 of the last 10 editions, with Oscar Freire taking 3 of them. Freire is starting tomorrow; he’s supported by a strong team including Nick Nuyens, a man hoping to be the first Belgian to win an important race in Belgium this season. Phillippe Gilbert’s another man hoping to earn a win—doing so would open accounts both for Belgium and his Omega Pharma-Lotto squad, one of few remaining teams without a win this year. Greg Van Avermaet joins him in a race that could just as well end in a sprint. Quick Step’s taking heat for exiting the cobbled classics without a victory. Stijn Devolder was to be the team’s main contender tomorrow, but he’s out due to knee injuries sustained in a fall Sunday in Roubaix. The team might be better off without him though, as Devolver’s absence gives 2008-winner Sylva

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Price wants his team members to feel like winners as Presidents Cup nears Getty Images Nick Price found out what victory felt like in the 1998 Presidents Cup, and would love for his players on the International team to find that same feeling this fall. PRINT TEXT By Rusty Miller Associated Press Series: PGA Tour AKRON, Ohio -- Nick Price has circled the globe dozens of times as a professional golfer. He's won three major championships among almost 50 tournament titles, enough to build a Hall of Fame career. Yet it is clear how much his one team victory -- at the 1998 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne -- means. "I just wish in some form or fashion on the Monday or Tuesday of the week of the Presidents Cup just to be able to show the guys the feeling of what it's like to be on the winning team," said Price, the captain of the International team which will take on the United States in October at Muirfield Village. Golfers lead a relatively solitary life, shuffling from event to event, practicing, playing, checking bags, catching flights, sleeping in hotels, then practicing and playing some more. When the opportunity arises to share the feeling of victory with others -- to win as a team -- it's a remarkable, career-changing emotion. "Those 11 teammates I had, those were like my brothers," the 56-year-old native of Zimbabwe said. "We had such a phenomenal week and huge ups and downs and huge emotional swings. If you could just capture that and put it in a capsule and show the guys what it's like, we'd have their attention." As the time draws near for this year's competition -- in almost nine weeks -- Price and assistants Shigeki Maruyama, Mark McNulty and Tony Johnstone will have some decisions to make. The top 10 International players (excluding those eligible for the European Ryder Cup Team) will make the team, along with two captain's picks. One major worry is that former British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen is currently sidelined while allowing a series of injuries to heal. He is No. 2 in the International rankings heading into this week's WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Akron Firestone, and is expected to be out for two months. "I spoke to him and he's not going to play until the Dunhill Cup, which is the week before the Presidents Cup," said Price, who won what was then called the World Series of Golf at Firestone in 1983. "So we really won't know until he's match fit or not until the week before. Since he's one of the top four or five players I have on the team, it's a concern." Price says he's encouraged by the way many of his players are performing, including reigning Masters champion Adam Scott, four-time major winner Ernie Els, 2011 Masters winner Charl Schwartzel and 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters champ Angel Cabrera. Still, he recognizes that any team that takes on an American side that includes Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson will likely be overlooked. "You know, I've always enjoyed being an underdog," Price said. "The favorites have more pressure on them, no doubt about it." Price said the Presidents Cup is about where the Ryder Cup was in the 1970s. Then the British side added European players, the Euros won, and now the Ryder is a centerpiece of the sport. A similar explosive upset would change everything. "Something is waiting to happen," Price warns. Great players are one thing; it's a huge reason why the Americans have dominated the Presidents Cup with a 7-1-1 record. But as he looks back on his career, Price also realizes the strength of playing for and with others. "I go back to the morale and the camaraderie and the momentum in a team," he said. "When you have that, the sky's the limit." Comments Home » Price wants his team members to feel like winners as Presidents Cup nears Bleacher Report

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The victim of the fatal Domino's Pizza fire has been identified as Adam Justiniano, a 19-year-old...- 3:46 pm Giving mint its due in a savory lemon chicken wrap Fresh mint so rarely gets its due in America.- 3:42 pm Forty days of fasting or abstaining from many foods during Lent lends an air of festivity to meals...- 3:34 pm IBM's stock drops more than $6 after earnings report disappoints Wall Street A day after IBM Corp.�s first-quarter results, the stock was down $6.31 at 3:30 p.m.- 3:37 pm Redskins QB Robert Griffin III after big win: God is on our side (8) Robert Griffin III: Nothing less than the new face of the NFL. / Geoff Burke, USA TODAY Sports by Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sportsby Jim Corbett, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under LANDOVER, Md. -- Robert Griffin III approached the drive that preserved his team's season late in the third quarter Monday night with the mindset that has fueled this electric Washington Redskins playoff push. "Just go score. It's just the mindset we have had since we came back from the bye. If we lose this game, our season's done," Griffin said after a 17-16 comeback win against the New York Giants. "We didn't have the ball very much in the first half. So every time we had the ball after that, we had to make the most of it. Guys took that to heart." Down six to the defending Super Bowl champions, the Redskins gained possession at their own 14-yard line with 3:04 left in the third quarter. Twelve plays, 86 yards and six minutes, 38 seconds later, Griffin had them in the end zone on an 8-yard touchdown pass to receiver Pierre Garcon. "It was an important drive," said Garcon, who caught a game-high eight passes for 106 yards. "Robert did a great job. When we really needed a touchdown, he put it in the end zone. That's what a good team does when its back is against the wall." It was the kind of drive that defines elite quarterbacks. Several Giants defenders had hands on hips, gasping for air during that drive as rookie running back Alfred Morris ripped off runs of 10, 16 and 7 yards on his way to a 124-yard, 22-carry night. By the end, euphoric Redskins fans were chanting, "RGIII! RGIII!" He even used a little magic: Griffin took off on second-and-2 from the New York 28-yard line. When he was hit by safety Stevie Brown, the football popped straight into the arms of receiver Josh Morgan, who raced 13 yards for a TD and a 7-3, second-quarter lead. It was Griffin's second fumble this season that a teammate recovered for a touchdown. "God's on our side," Griffin said. "There are a lot more goals this team is striving for. I know we can definitely accomplish them." In the end, Griffin passed for 163 yards and rushed for 72 more. "This kid is going to be great for a long time, and he's just starting to get there,'' cornerback DeAngelo Hall said. "It feels good to be in the playoff mix. "No disrespect to the Giants -- I love all those guys, Eli Manning and Victor Cruz. But I felt we should have won the last one (a 27-23 Oct. 21 loss). We're not scared of them. We match up well against them." This night is why coach Mike Shanahan traded three first-round picks and a second-rounder to move up to second overall in the April draft to select the former Baylor Heisman Trophy winner. FedEx pulsed with an electric, playoff-atmosphere as the Redskins won their third straight game against an NFC East opponent to improve to 6-6. The Redskins are seventh in the pecking order for their conference's six playoff berths, one back of the 7-5 Seattle Seahawks with four games to play. "This is the loudest I've seen FedEx Field since the Dallas game here at the end of the 2007 season," said 15th-year linebacker London Fletcher. "It's a huge win. It's been since 2007 when we last played meaningful games in December." Fletcher and the defense took great satisfaction watching Griffin and company close out the Giants, draining the final 3:51 off the clock. That drive opened with an 8-yard sideline run by Griffin when he stayed in bounds to keep the clock moving despite getting buckled by linebacker Michael Boley. Griffin applies a lesson learned after a discussion with Shanahan a few weeks ago. "I knew we were under four minutes and I had to stay in bounds," Griffin said. "I just kind of got a little stuck there on the sideline because I was bee-lining toward the sideline and at the last second realized I needed to stay in. "Coach called it the 'Gumby hit' because my legs bent like Gumby. You have to take those for the team sometimes." Griffin gave as good as he got in pulling his team within one game of the division-leading Giants. "There's a lot of excitement around this team and I think everybody feels it," Griffin said. "We knew the atmosphere was really charged up and electric and the fans definitely showed up for us. It's great that we could get the win for them." Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Redskins QB Robert Griffin III after big win: God is on our side Washington scored a touchdown when Griffin fumbled into the arms of teammate Josh Morgan, who carried the ball into the end zone A link to this page will be included in your message.

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On Baseball: Catch-all for Sea Dogs Rich Gedman, the new hitting coach, can cover all bases of the game and life. By Kevin Thomas [email protected] Writer BOSTON — At a special camp for Boston Red Sox prospects earlier this month, Rich Gedman stood with other coaches as reporters gathered around the likes of Jackie Bradley Jr. and Xander Bogaerts. click image to enlarge Rich Gedman, shown attempting a tag at the plate against Gary Pettis during the 1986 American League Championship Series, brings his many years of baseball experience to the Portland Sea Dogs, whom he’ll serve as hitting coach for the upcoming season. Rich Gedman Brita Meng Outzen/Boston Red Sox More than 30 years ago, it was Gedman's turn as a prospect. He not only was moving up the Boston system, Gedman's task was monumental – replace the already-legendary Carlton Fisk. He did that, making two All-Star Games and catching the Red Sox in the 1986 World Series – a memory that becomes more sweet and less bitter with time. Gedman, 53, can share much with these prospects – the perspective of a player, manager, coach and father. He can speak of the glories of the game and its disappointments. He has witnessed players fulfill their promise while others fell short because of inability, injury or, in one instance, death. This baseball season, Gedman will share his knowledge with the Portland Sea Dogs as their new hitting coach. Gedman replaces Dave Joppie, who was promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket. The Sea Dogs are getting a native New Englander. "I never stopped being a Red Sox fan," he said. Gedman grew up in Worcester, Mass., played ball for Worcester High and was signed by Boston as a 17-year-old free agent in 1977. He reached the majors by 1980 and was a regular the next year, when Fisk signed with the Chicago White Sox. Gedman played on the famous 1986 team that beat the Angels in the American League Championship Series, coming back from a 3-1 deficit. In Game 5, Gedman went 4 for 4 with a two-run homer, but he is best known for being hit by a pitch – with two outs in the ninth, no one on and Boston trailing, 5-4. "At first I was angry, then I realized I'm on base. We're still alive," Gedman said. Dave Henderson followed with a home run. Boston eventually won the game in the 11th inning, and then took Games 6 and 7. "We found a way to do it," Gedman said. "Very similar to the way (the Mets won the World Series)." In the 1986 World Series, Boston led the Mets 3-2 and, in Game 6, was ahead by two runs in the 10th inning. New York rallied with three runs in the bottom of the 10th – something about a ground ball through the first baseman's legs – to win. The Mets then won Game 7 to complete the devastating comeback. "It keeps running through your head: We were close. We were very close," Gedman said. "It was frustrating. I was even angry for a little while. "To me it cut deeper, growing up in Worcester, Massachusetts. Being a Red Sox fan since I can remember. Everything was the Red Sox. What it would have been for a Worcester kid to be part of a world championship team." As the years go by, Gedman's frustration has softened, "I have a much deeper appreciation for my teammates and how hard it was to get to the World Series," he said. "You can go into whys and hows (Boston lost). As a player, I never looked at someone else's fault. We didn't do it and they did. "Sometimes you don't appreciate the grind. It's always the outcome that's disappointing – that you fail. We didn't fail. We actually had a great year." Gedman's career with Boston lasted into the 1990 season. He was traded to Houston and then finished his career with the Cardinals in 1991-92. Gedman got into coaching in the independent leagues and eventually became manager of the Worcester Tornadoes in 2005. (Continued on page 2)

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Home > Prout names O'Malley boys basketball coach Prout names O'Malley boys basketball coach Prout.png [1] By Eric Rueb [email protected] [2] The biggest move in Rhode Island high school basketball this offseason was Eric Simonelli’s departure from Prout up north to La Salle. Replacing him wasn’t going to be easy, but first-year Prout athletic director Mike Traficante thinks the school – and the program – have their man. After a summer of searching, Traficante told The Times Wednesday that Westerly boys basketball assistant coach Jed O’Malley will take over for Simonelli this season, beating out two other finalists for the job. “His philosophy about high school sports is in line with mine and the way he’s going to approach the players is in line with what I like to do,” Traficante said. “I do think the next head coach of this program is going to have be a strong individual because they’re replacing someone who is a very strong presence here, someone respected by a lot of people and someone that made Prout basketball.” “The main thing I wanted [Traficante] to understand was I wanted to continue the trend of what they have going on at Prout,” O’Malley said. “[Simonelli] has gotten the program to a point where it’s in really good shape and I wanted Traficante to know that that’s the expectations we’ll continue to have. “We want to play at a high level, attract kids who want to play at a high level and for some, kids who want to play at that next level.” O’Malley, 38, was Westerly’s assistant coach for five years under Mike Gleason. He took last season off for the birth of his third child but was planning on getting back to coaching this winter. He just wasn’t expecting it to be as head coach at one of the best Division III schools in the state. “The goal was always to be a head coach, coaching at Westerly with the idea at some point of getting a head coaching job,” O’Malley said. “… This just popped up. I knew they were in good shape and geographically it’s right in my backyard and not too far from where I work.” O’Malley is a science teacher at Westerly High School but has roots to the area. He was a three-year varsity player at South Kingstown High School and as a senior was a part of the Rebel squad that won a division title in the 1991-92 season. He attended the University of Rhode Island and did a work-study program where he practiced and worked with the women’s basketball team before graduating in 1998. O’Malley continued to play basketball recreationally, where he played with and against Simonelli; O’Malley also said he had a chance to play with and against players he will be coaching this season. “I’ve had a chance to talk to a few of the kids,” O’Malley said. “I’m pretty close with Justin Bristol and Eric Rameika and a couple of the underclassmen. I’ve been to a couple of their [Narragansett Summer League] games to observe, not coach, just checking in to see where they’re at and to monitor their progress.” The hire was the first move made by Traficante as athletic director. He said when he narrowed the field of applicants down to three, the school’s new principal – David Carradini – was in the process of moving from Long Island to Rhode Island and Carradini expressed he wanted to be a part of the decision. “He said ‘I’ll leave it to you, but I want to meet the final three candidates,’” Traficante said. “But we were in agreement with who the next coach should be.” It won’t be easy for O’Malley to come in and replace Simonelli, who won a Division III title in 2010-11 and likely would have won another last season if the D-III tourney existed, and O’Malley is more than aware of the catcalls he’ll hear if the team struggles. “It comes with the territory. Coming into a winning program or losing program, there’s always going to be criticism,” O’Malley said. “… But if we lose two games in a row and people start talking, that’s just the way it is.” Source URL: http://www.ricentral.com/content/prout-names-omalley-boys-basketball-coach Links:[1] http://www.ricentral.com/sites/default/files/Prout.png [2] mailto:[email protected]

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hile you may make a move to involve others in decisions, and you are ready to live with possible mistakes, at times, you still have to go with what you want.“A good leader just doesn’t always go with the consensus if you think the consensus is wrong,” he says. “A good leader looks at why he thinks a decision is a right one and tries to explain why it is a right one, even though a larger number of people don’t agree with that.”If you are in a situation where the room is against what you were thinking, but you believe your way is the best direction to head, then you have to make that decision.Such was the case with an idea Young had about one of his baseball teams. The team would allow kids to run the bases a few Sunday afternoons a year, but Young wanted it to be an every-night occasion.Young presented the idea in a meeting with about 20 staff members.“We went around and there were probably 15 reasons why maybe you didn’t want to do it every night,” he says. “But every one of those reasons, they weren’t very good ones — ‘It’s going to keep the staff there an extra 20 minutes, it’s going do this, or it’s going to do that.’“At the end, I said, ‘OK, I’ve heard everything you said, but the customer service and having those kids and their parents go home as happy as can be because they got to run … that’s going to send a great message, so we are going to do it every night.’”You don’t want to make a habit of making decisions this way, but in instances where you feel very passionately, you should.“It’s something like that where if I feel strong enough about something, I may listen to everybody, but in the end ... I haven’t been able to convince them to look at it from the same perspective I have, but that’s the way we are going to go,” Young says.After making a decision that goes against the majority, you have to explain your reasons why you made the decision you did.“When I explained in the end, ‘This is why we are doing it this way,’ they may or may not agree with me, but the fact is they say, ‘OK, he is doing it for a certain reason and we looked at it from a different perspective.’“So, you get them to buy in. Then, the proof is in the pudding. They see the reaction of the fans and so forth, and if it’s a ho-hum, they might say, ‘Ken, this didn’t work the way you thought.’ Or come back and say, ‘This is pretty enthusiastic for everybody,’ and so they are then eager to go along.”How to reach: Ovations Food Services LP, (813) 948-6900 or www.ovationsfoodservices.com Copyright 2014 Smart Business Network Inc. All Rights Reserved About | Advertise | Sitemap | Careers | Contact Joomla Template: from JoomlaShack

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USU football • Sophomore quarterback has already put up school-record numbers. By Tony Jones Published: December 14, 2012 11:20AM Updated: April 8, 2013 11:32PM Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Despite the newfound fame and the adulation, Chuckie Keeton, Utah Stateís star sophomore quarterback, shows no hint of arrogance. Boise • The newfound fame and the adulation. The All-WAC honors. The moniker of being the best quarterback in the state of Utah and the hope of someday playing in the NFL. Chuckie Keeton doesn’t quite know what to make of it all. Utah State’s star sophomore quarterback shows no hint of arrogance. His parents — Charles and Lavern Keeton — raised him to be humble, to handle being good at what he does by working even harder. Success never has been easy to achieve for Keeton. While many of today’s best in college football have received star status from day one, Keeton still remembers battling Trent O’Connor over multiple years for the right to be the starting quarterback at Cypress Creek High in Houston. When told many of the schools in Texas wanted Keeton to convert to wide receiver or defensive back during the recruiting process, he simply laughed and gave his usual quiet answer. “I didn’t know they wanted me at all.” Utah State is nationally ranked, 10-2 on the season and one win against Toledo on Saturday away from cementing one of the best seasons in school history. Entering the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and beyond, Keeton has a legitimate shot at becoming one of the greats in Aggie history. Statistically, Keeton has already set two single-season records — one for touchdown passes and the other for all-purpose yardage by a quarterback. Yet for all of the gaudy numbers and for everything he’s done for Gary Andersen’s offense, Keeton’s breakthrough year would have rung hollow had it not been for all the winning. “Honestly, that’s the only thing that matters,” Keeton said. “If we lose on Saturday to Toledo, it’s kind of all for nothing. Do I think I can end up as one of the best to ever play here? I think it’s possible. But it all depends on the guys around me, because I can’t do much without them. Football is a team game, and we are going to lose a lot of productive guys around me who need to be replaced.” Watching Keeton play, the poise and maturity are evident. His dynamic play-making with his feet and his much improved throwing motion are apparent. He rarely turns the ball over. And as wins over Utah and Louisiana Tech proved, Keeton possesses the ability to turn his game up a notch when the pressure is most intense. As an underclassman, Keeton commands as much respect from his peers as anyone on the team. For as much talent as he has, Keeton has emerged and thrived from adversity. When he arrived on campus, he beat out Adam Kennedy as a true freshman for the starting role. When he suffered a scary neck injury last year against Hawaii and Kennedy led the Aggies to a bowl berth by winning five straight, Keeton had to fight for his job again. “That could’ve been a Wally Pipp kind of situation,” Charles Keeton said. “But Chuckie was just determined to improve. He put in the work, and it’s paying off for him. He’s got an ‘it’ factor that’s pretty special.” Football has been one seemingly never-ending challenge of silencing the doubters for Keeton. Twice he won the job from O’Connor in high school, throwing for more than 2,000 yards and running for more than 1,000 as a senior at Cypress Creek. Despite that, the Texas schools showed little interest. Texas A&M liked

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No Guarantees Over Cabaye Newcastle manager Alan Pardew has admitted he can give no guarantees over Yohan Cabaye's future at the club. Alan Pardew fears he could lose Yohan Cabaye during the January transfer window after rumours continue to link him with a move to Paris Saint Germain. Related Content 4. Yohan Cabaye *Current Season The 28-year-old France international was the subject of a rejected £14million bid from Paris St Germain on Sunday, and the Magpies were bracing themselves for a second approach on Monday afternoon with less than five days of the January transfer window still to run.Pardew has no desire to sell the former Lille player, who has become a central character in his team, but having lost striker Andy Carroll to Liverpool three years ago, knows a bumper offer could see matters taken out of his hands.Asked if he was confident Cabaye would remain a Newcastle player after Friday's 11pm deadline passed, he said: "You are talking to someone who lost Andy Carroll with eight hours to go, so am I confident?"No, I'm not confident, and I don't think any team not in a Champions League position or fighting for a Champions League position could be."However, if PSG are to get their man, they will have to increase their offer substantially with Newcastle looking for in excess of £20million before they will even consider selling him.Pardew said: "We know we have got a club interested in Cabaye, a very wealthy club and a powerful club, and we are conscious of that."We are doing our best to protect Newcastle."Newcastle currently lie in eighth place in the Barclays Premier League table ahead of Tuesday night's trip to Norwich and, barring an unlikely charge into the top four over the next four months, are unlikely to be able to offer Cabaye, or indeed any other player, Champions League football next season.However, Pardew insists that is eminently preferable than the position in which he found himself back in January 2011 when leading scorer Carroll was sold without a replacement being brought in and with top-flight survival far from assured.He said: "Well, you are talking to a manager who actually when he lost Andy Carroll, lost a massive part of a team that wasn't safe. We didn't have 36 points when we lost Andy Carroll, so it was a hell of a blow."I still maintain that was one of my best periods as a manager at this football club, getting us safe that year, so in terms of my mentality, I'm just strong about it."I am strong whatever happens. I am the manager and I have got to deal with it."I don't want him (Cabaye) to go. We have not indicated for one moment here from the owner down to any of my staff that we want him to go, not one iota."The reality is that, given Newcastle's well-publicised model, should PSG match Ashley's valuation, they are likely to get their man, a move which would be far from popular on Tyneside.However, that will only happen at the right price, and with the gap being plugged immediately.Pardew said: "We would need to bring somebody in, for sure. You can't lose a player of that quality and not replace him."But we are going to need some time to do that. We have informed the club that's interested and the agents of the player that we are very conscious of that."In the meantime, Pardew fully expects Cabaye to line up alongside his team-mates at Carrow Road, something he did not do at Manchester City on the opening weekend of the season after reportedly going on strike when Arsenal's £10million offer for him was rebuffed.Pardew, whose team also has Saturday's derby clash with Sunderland to which to look forward, said: "I'd like to think he has learned from that experience because I think he could have dealt with it better."I don't see a problem at Norwich, and obviously Sunderland doesn't matter because it is outside of the window. He will either be here or he won't."In an ideal world for Pardew, the Magpies would win at Norwich, fend off the interest in Cabaye and land their own main January target, Borussia Monchengladbach striker Luuk de Jong, ahead of the Black Cats' visit to St James' Park, although the reverse would make for a very difficult week.Pardew said with a smile: "Yes, of course, and that's Newcastle for you. I could say that every week I have been here, and I am sure it won't change."Newcastle will head for Norfolk without striker Papiss Cisse, who has a back injury.However, Pardew does not expect the Senegal international, who has been linked with moves to Germany, Turkey and the Middle East amongst other options, to leave Tyneside this month and is hopeful of adding to the squad.He said: "We are hoping to sign a player outside the Cabaye situation for the second half of the season, and we are getting a little bit closer to that, on a positive side." New Sky Bet customers: Free matched bet up to £30

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ADVERTISEMENT TwinsCentric: Questions from the first game Blog Post by: John Bonnes March 5, 2012 - 7:31 AM They say you can’t get too many answers from spring training games. They’re right. But the questions it generates are fun. So let’s ask some questions about the Twins first spring training game versus the Rays on Saturday… Why wasn’t Ben Revere on the field? For this first game, Ron Gardenhire posted his probably starting day lineup, had his (already announced) Opening Day pitcher on the mound, and utilized relievers that all have a good chance of making the final roster. But there was one exception. We’ve mostly assumed that Ben Revere would be starting in left field. Yesterday, it was Trevor Plouffe. This could be because Revere had some minor injury – after all, he also didn’t play as a sub. It could be because Gardenhire is sending a message to Revere about something we don’t know about, too. Or it could be that Gardenhire and the Twins are seriously considering a platoon in left field. The Rays started a left-hander on the mound yesterday and Revere is left-handed and Plouffe is right-handed. Plouffe has also hit much better against left-handed pitching than right-handed pitching in his limited at-bats. By the way, it’s probably also worth noting that even though Plouffe was in the outfield, Willingham still started in right field. Since Willingham has played left field for most of his career, we’ve wondered how that would go. It looks like the intention is for him to play right field. Who Pitched More Than One Inning? Carl Pavano started the game and pitched two innings, which is normal for the first spring training game of the year. Following him were six relievers who we all expect to see time in the majors at some point this year. But only one of them pitched two innings. That was Brian Duensing who threw two innings immediately after Pavano. Duensing is likely being stretched out in spring training just like the other starters. That may be because he really is competing for a starting rotation spot, but it’s more likely that he’s the backup plan in case Pavano, Scott Baker, Nick Blackburn, Francisco Liriano or Jason Marquis gets hurt. Speaking of hurt, is anyone? Not that we know of. And the three guys about whom there are the biggest concerns all had a nice start to the Grapefruit League season. Denard Span had two hits in his three AB and Joe MAuer and Justin Morneau drove in the first two runs of the game. Did any other performances stand out? Matt Maloney, a left-handed reliever who was picked up off of waivers and is out of options, struck out the side in the eighth inning. He faced three left-handers and they were minor leaguers, but for him to even be pitching in this game suggests he’s a favorite for a bullpen role and that performance helps. Also Tsuyoshi Nishioka got two hits, which isn’t huge news, given that he had a strong spring training last year too. But the second was a triple that went over an outfielder’s head, which we saw very rarely last year. That’s encouraging. If you would like to watch tonight’s Twins game with a crowd, join us at the Wild Boar at 6:05. We’ll be joined by Aaron Gleeman and work on the Gleeman and the Geek podcast, too. Over at Twins Daily, you’ll find plenty more to nibble on today: - Nick Nelson wonders if Chris Parmelee’s new found power is a fluke or a sign of things to come. Parmelee's career might hang in the balance. - Seth recaps yesterday’s split squad win over the Rays, focusing on the promise JR Towles could show if he becomes the Twins new backup catcher. - The Twins lost the other game due to some suspect pitching. You can find a lot of discussion about that game in our forum. - Finally, what is your favorite ballpark?

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observer ONLINE An endearing personality by Sam WIJESINHA Shyamlal Rajapaksa Weeks after Shyam had left Royal College his mother, Mrs. Lalitha Rajapaksa told me that Shyam was spending a great deal of his time with his friends and not studying. She asked me to do what I did with his father George. George played cricket for Royal College and captained the First XI in 1944. George was the Royal Captain who scored two centuries in their match against Trinity. I was watching the Royal-Thomian match that year at the old SSC grounds seated with his father D.M. Rajapaksa who was the Member of the State Council (1936-45) who had played cricket for Richmond and later for Wesley College in 1915. He was telling me stories of his days at Wesley when he and a school friend A. Ratnayake used to go to public meetings at the Masonic Hall in Colombo to hear Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam speaking "On our Political Needs" - Sir P. Arunachalam it was, who persuaded the different parties at that time to unite together, and form the Ceylon National Congress of which he was unanimously elected President in 1919. When George got out for a small score in the second innings also, D.M. beamed a smile and said, "I also got out to this bowler's father in both innings of the S. Thomas' - Wesley match in 1915. The bowler was Sam Elapatha whose father and grandfather played for S. Thomas' in 1915 and 1884. D.M. Rajapaksa died of a heart attack in May 1945. The only member of age to contest the by-election was D.A. Rajapaksa, the younger brother of D.M. and father of President Mahinda Rajapaksa. D.A. was elected unopposed. D.A. was reluctantly taken to the Hambantota Kachcheri to submit his nomination for the by-election. He was proposed, if I recollect right, by D.M.'s brother-in-law, Proctor George Weeratunge and Proctor Nilaweera of Tangalle whose son Nihal is a tea planter of repute who now works for the world-famous "Dilmah" tea. At the General Election in 1947, under the Soulbury Constitution, Hambantota was divided into two constituencies; Beliatta and Hambantota. D.A. won Beliatta by over 8,000 votes. Lakshman, George's brother, won Hambantota. What I did with George referred to above by Lalitha I can't repeat myself, but as Lalitha says, I can only refer to the speech of V.N. Navaratnam, MP for Chavakachcheri appearing in the Handsard of July 6, 1976 - speech made on the condolence reference to George in Parliament. Shyam's second death anniversary was on August 12. Shyam studied at Royal College and left for London in 1986 and passed out as a Barrister in November 1990. He obtained the LL.M. (London) Degree in November 1991, and completed his studies at the Ceylon Law College, to be enrolled as an Attorney-at-Law in August 1992. He joined the Chambers of Daya Perera PC where he worked as a junior counsel till June 1993. He joined the Attorney General's Department as a State Counsel. From June 1993 to April 1999 Shyam prosecuted in the High Courts in addition appearing in the Courts of Appeal. He was known for his wit and humour and the rich anecdotes surrounding his Court appearances. Wherever he was there was laughter. In April 1999 Shyam left the AG's Department to contest the Southern Provincial Council elections in June and won with the highest number of votes in the Southern Council. Shyam never lost heart that his remarkable victory was not duly recognised, but continued as a Provincial Councillor for five years serving his electorate with commitment and dedication. During this period he also carried on his practice mainly in the Ratnapura District and in the Southern Province. In 2004, Shyam joined the Untied Nations War Crimes Tribunal in Arusha, Tanzania where he diligently prosecuted in cases of genocide and war crimes committed in Rwanda. His efficiency and tenacity as a prosecutor resulted in that he was promoted in June 2009 within five years by the United Nations. The impact Shyam had as a human rights champion is reflected in the statement made by Steven Rapp, the former Chief Prosecutor at the War Crimes Tribunal who was subsequently appointed as a legal advisor to the White House. Addressing the allegations of Human Rights violations levelled against Sri Lanka following the defeat of terrorism in a statement given to the press from the White House, Steven Rapp cast serious doubts as to the credibility of the allegations, perhaps the highest though a remote compliment that could be paid to Sri Lanka. Shyam came from a colourful and distinguished family in the country. He is the grandson of the late D.M. Rajapaksa and the only son of George Rajapaksa, MP (1960-1976), a former Cabinet Minister who held several portfolios and of Mrs. Lalitha Rajapaksa. His only sister is Nirupama Rajapaksa, Member of Parliament and Deputy Minister of Water Supply and Drainage. Shyam met Miss Prashanthi Mahindaratne at the Attorney General's Department in 1993 and they got married in February 2002. Prashanthi also served as a State Counsel for 10 years before leaving herself for the Netherlands to take up an appointment at the Untied Nations War Crimes Tribunal, which tries genocide and war crimes committed in Yugoslavia during the Balkan war. When Shyam as a State Counsel was prosecuting in Anuradhapura, the H.C. Judge had an inclination to discharge the accused when the prosecution witnesses were not present due to non-service of summons. In one such case, when Shyam realised that the witnesses weren't present for the trial, he made an application that the judge issue an order to the Registrar to buy Syham a bicycle. The judge, perplexed with this application, inquired what the application was about, pat came his response - "Your Honour, this is to ensure the presence of witnesses. I intend to serve summons in person, so I need a bicycle for that purpose". When Shyam was prosecuting in Galle, one day, C.R. De Silva PC, the former AG summoned Prashanthi, and asked where Shyam was. She responded that he was in Galle. He informed her that the High Court Judge had reported that Shyam was missing. The AG, immediately recalled Shyam to Colombo with a warning that unless he offer a reasonable excuse for his non-appearance in Court, he would face disciplinary charges. Shyam arrived in Colombo with a medical certificate from one of his friends stating he was critically ill. The AG summoned Prashanthi also and told her, "I called to congratulate you on the pending arrival". Apparently Shyam's medical certificate had been issued by the House Officer-in-Charge of the Galle Maternity Ward! Shyam had a unique personality. He dressed fashionably and danced gracefully. He was articulate in whatever langauge, he spoke. He was also an excellent cook and prepared exquisite dishes and taught his wife also to cook. He was loyal to his family and friends-supported them consistently. Shyam loved his family and friends. His friends were numerous. His relations were also numerous! Wherever he went there was someone who knew him. Appreciations written by his colleagues at the UN in Tanzania record how he became extremely popular in Tanzania within five years to the extent that they would joke that Shyam ought to contest for Parliament in Tanzania. He loved life and everybody who knew him loved him. The most endearing quality of this remarkable man was his ability to make friends, from whatever background. His ability to integrate into any part of society and be friends is reflected in the condolence book sent by the UN War Crimes Court to his family. In that, there are people who have written personal and emotional messages expressing their shock and grief over his untimely passing and they range from the minor staff, right up to the Counsel and Judges of the Court. He had no barriers when it came to making friends. There were many heart-warming stories of Shyam's kindness and care. One woman spoke about his travel to the Hambantota Magistrate's Court about 15 times and appearing for her husband who was in remand due to lack of money for bail. Shyam defended the accused and once the man was acquitted Shyam gave him money to get home. Even his wife did not know these deeds until his passing away. In Tanzania he did much for the poor, from getting electricity for the home of his housemaid at his cost, to sponsoring her and her children to learn English, to teaching poor children in the neighbourhood, to financially assisting poor people in the area to start small business ventures as selling fruits an vegetables. There lies the essence of this wonderful young man with the sparkling smile. He helped people out of compassion. In his premature passing, we probably lost a very good human being who had an abiding love and cared for humanity. EMAIL | PRINTABLE VIEW | FEEDBACK

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Schild blows away field to triumph in Courchevel slalom - Taipei Times Mon, Dec 19, 2011 - Page 19　News List Schild blows away field to triumph in Courchevel slalom AFP, COURCHEVEL, FRANCE Austria’s Marlies Schild smashes through a gate during her first run at the World Cup slalom race in Courchevel, France, yesterday.Photo: Reuters Austria’s Marlies Schild won the women’s alpine World Cup slalom race yesterday, which ended in frustration for American Lindsey Vonn, who failed to qualify for the second leg.This was a 29th World Cup slalom win for the reigning world champion, who beat Finland’s Tanja Poutiainen by 1.87 seconds. Austrian Kathrin Zettel was third, 2.19 seconds behind.Vonn, who leads the overall standings after a four-race winning run, was knocked out of contention after veering off course in the first leg.Schild, who opened the season with success in her favored discipline in Aspen, Colorado, led the times after the first leg and posted the second quickest time in the second.“For the second time at Courcheval, I gave my all, and for the second time I’ve won,” said the Olympic silver medalist, who was repeating her win here 12 months ago.Schild moved to within five World Cup slalom wins of Swiss record-holder Vreni Schneider’s tally of 34.Out of luck were second leg fallers Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany and Swede Maria Pietilae-Holmner, who had joined Schild on the podium at Aspen and who were sitting pretty after finishing second and third respectively in the first leg.Vonn was far from downcast at her failure to complete the race.“I’m really happy with my run. I looked at the times and I was only eight-tenths out on the second split,” the US star said. “It was definitely really positive, stuff like that happens. For not training in a week, it’s not so bad.”“It was a bit funny, my coaches radioed up that they were putting water on the course because it was breaking up at the bottom. I just felt like I hit a wet patch of snow and my skies kind of slid, and it was too late to recover it,” she said. “I’m trying to get my slalom back on form and so far it’s going well,” she added.Vonn revealed she was to fly to Salzburg, Austria, in a private jet with Hoefl-Riesch later yesterday, before racing at Flachau tomorrow.“Then I will spend Christmas in Innsbruck with friends and family. Maria and I share a private plane ... it’s expensive, [but] if you can save energy and be prepared for the next race, it’s worth the money,” Vonn said.

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Crew license plates available once again throughout Ohio Fan-sponsored petition succeeds in bringing back Crew-branded Ohio plates; sale begins today April 11, 2013 Crew Communications TheCrew.com Crew License Plate COLUMBUS – The Columbus Crew announced today that Crew-branded Ohio license plates are going on sale beginning Thursday, April 11 at local offices of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The plates – which feature the Crew’s iconic crest – begin at $35.00 annually in addition to the normal state registration fees. A portion of all sales directly benefits the Crew Soccer Foundation as well as the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. “This is yet another opportunity for our supporters to showcase their love for the club and take the Crew brand wherever they go,” said Crew President & General Manager Mark McCullers. “We appreciate the work that was put towards this project and are excited that it will benefit the Crew Soccer Foundation and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.” The plates are available statewide once again thanks to a Crew supporters’-driven petition that began in 2012 with more than 700 signatures, indicating interest in purchasing the special plates. The efforts were driven by season ticket holder and Crew Union member Marla Reichenbach, along with fellow season ticket holder Garret Kinderman. The two worked closely with Crew Union and fellow supporters group Hudson Street Hooligans to acquire signatures with the hopes that additional Crew-branded plates in the state of Ohio would increase support and awareness of the club in its push toward Goal 10K – the organization’s drive toward obtaining over 10,000 season ticket holders. “We are excited that fans of the Columbus Crew will be able to show their pride by displaying a specialty Ohio license plate on their vehicle,” said Linda Logan, Executive Director of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. “The purchase of one of these plates will also allow Crew supporters to assist the sports commission's efforts to position our region as one of the best sports destinations in the country by bringing a wide range of sporting events to our community.” Requests for special plates can be made at any Deputy Registrar’s office. Requests can also be made by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles at 1-800-589-TAGS (1-800-589-8247), Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET. Reserved and personalized special plates are available for additional fees. A complete list of special plate pricing information can be found via http://bmv.ohio.gov/special_plates.stm. Follow@columbuscrew Press ReleasesColumbus Crew Related Links PURCHASE PLATES

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FANTASY FOOTBALL ARTICLES 2007 NFL Coaching Changes Michael Courter June 14, 2007 Ken Whisenhunt - From Pittsburgh OC to Arizona HC The 44 year old coaching import from Pittsburgh becomes the latest face on the seemingly perpetual Cardinals coaching carousel. Bill Bidwell, hoping to tap into the Steelers fountain of consistent, organizational success, believes the architect behind the Steelers Super Bowl XL-winning offense will be the appropriate conductor of a young and talented group of Cardinals' skill position players. Recently-deposed head coach Denny Green failed to deliver on a mandate to make the playoffs and the burden will now shift to the rookie head coach to slake the thirst of an increasingly anxious fan-base paying "new stadium" ticket prices. After a non-descript, nine season NFL career as a part-time tight end and blocking back with the Falcons, Redskins and Jets, Whisenhunt began his coaching career at Vanderbilt University, mentoring the tight ends, H-backs and special teams from 1995 to '96 before returning to the NFL in 1997 to coach tight ends for the Baltimore Ravens. He then bounced around with brief stops in Cleveland and New York (Jets) before landing in Pittsburgh in 2001, starting with the tight ends before taking over the offensive coordinator role in 2004 when Mike Mularkey left to become head coach of the Buffalo Bills. While in Pittsburgh, Whisenhunt played a key role in the development of rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger, helping the first year signal-caller earn Offensive Rookie of the Year, while setting an NFL record of wins in his first 13 career starts. Another notable facet of the Whisenhunt coaching brand was his ability to continue the tradition of flashy trick plays started by Mike Mularkey, but in a more complementary role blended with his run-first approach. Case in point, his timely wide receiver reverse pass against the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL, helped the Steelers take command of the game, and later, turned Antwan Randle El into one of the more sought-after free agents that off season. Whisenhunt is expected to have a positive impact on the Cardinals key fantasy player's, specifically Edgerrin James, who got off to a rough start in his first season in Arizona last year, but started to shows signs of an awakening toward the end of 2006. Whisenhunt's signature offense is built around running the ball, and if the long-struggling Cardinals offensive line can right itself this year, despite the loss of OT Leonard Davis to free agency (Dallas), James will be the primary beneficiary. Though James lead role will be fortified, a 35-40 carry-a game offensive plan has been discussed, which would also increase the role of Marcel Shipp, James' backup, as well as third down back J.J. Arrington. Anquan Boldin, who played quarterback in high school and part-time at Florida State, is in line to inherit the "Antwan Randle El" role in the Whisenhunt attack, boosting his fantasy stock even further with the promise of a handful of touchdown passes and run's to add to his already-impressive number one fantasy receiver statistics. Todd Haley - From Dallas WR Coach to Arizona OC Haley joins the Whisenhunt-led Arizona staff after leaving the Dallas Cowboys, where he acted as the passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach for Bill Parcells from 2004 to 2006. Prior to his three year stint in Dallas, the 10-year veteran coached the Chicago Bears receiving corps from 2001 to 2003 and the New York Jets from 1997-2000, where he acted as assistant offensive coordinator under Charlie Weis as part of Bill Parcells' staff. Haley's experience in handling premier receivers, such as Terrell Owens, Laveranues Coles, Keyshawn Johnson, Marty Booker and Terry Glenn make him a suitable fit to help raise the game of the Cardinals top notch receiving duo of Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Bobby Petrino - From University of Louisville HC to Atlanta HC After several topsy-turvy seasons, the Atlanta Falcons found themselves at an organizational crossroads pitting young, defensive-minded Jim Mora against inconsistent and frustrated, franchise quarterback Michael Vick. With so much salary cap space tied to Vick, owner Arthur Blank made the more expedient choice in letting Mora go and hiring the quarterback-friendly Bobby Petrino away from the University of Louisville with a five year, $24 million contract. Petrino's 23 year coaching career began at tiny Carroll College in Montana in 1983 as a graduate assistant before moving to Weber State University to coach the quarterbacks under then head coach Mike Price. He returned to his alma mater in 1985, and in each of his two seasons as offensive coordinator, Carroll College had the top offense in NAIA football. After returning to Weber State for three seasons, Petrino made his way to the University of Idaho and became the offensive coordinator under head coach John L. Smith before becoming the quarterbacks coach at Arizona State in 1992, which saw him become the central figure in the development of future All-American and newly-retired NFLer Jake Plummer. A one-season stop at Nevada preceded another tour of duty under John L. Smith at Utah State for three season's (1995-97) before following Smith to Louisville in 1998. Offensive coordinator Petrino orchestrated the Cardinals top ranked unit in scoring and total offense in Division 1A before dipping his toe in the NFL waters for the first time as quarterbacks coach, and eventually offensive coordinator for the Jacksonville Jaguars from 1999 to 2001, during which time then-Jaguars head coach stated that Petrino was "the best play-caller I've ever been around." A brief, but highly effective stop at Auburn in 2002 as offensive coordinator was the warm-up act for Petrino finally claiming his first head coaching assignment of his career in 2003, at the University of Louisville, which would allow him a national stage to make the college football world take note of his offensive wizardry. Indeed, Petrino's successful three year run as the Cardinals head man was dotted with repeated flirtations with big-time schools, LSU and Auburn, and the NFL's Oakland Raiders before flying the coop for Atlanta's Dirty Birds, despite the University of Louisville's valiant effort to keep him from leaving with a 10-year, $25.5 million extension signed in July of 2006. Obviously, team owner Arthur Blank is banking on the addition of Petrino to maximize the return on his substantial financial stake in spotty franchise quarterback Michael Vick, which could lead to Vick becoming a valuable fantasy commodity that can be had in the later rounds of 2007 fantasy drafts. Don't make him a No.1 quarterback, but getting him as your backup with decent to strong upside will be the way to approach him under the guidance of Petrino. A promising ripple effect should occur for other Falcon fantasy hopefuls, Jerious Norwood, Alge Crumpler and the aging Warrick Dunn. The ex-college coach will be worth every cent of his $24 million dollar, five year contract if he can shake the underwhelming Atlanta receiving corps to a respectable production level, with Michael Jenkins likely to be the primary beneficiary. Hue Jackson - From Cincinnati WR Coach to Atlanta OC Jackson brings a wealth of experience on the offensive side of the ball to the newly-formed Petrino staff, particularly on the quarterback and receiver development end. A former quarterback at the University of Pacific (1987-89), Jackson broke into the professional coaching ranks in 1991 with the London Monarchs of the World League of American Football, overseeing the running backs, wide receivers and special teams. Jackson shifted back to the college ranks in 1992, becoming an assistant coach at Arizona State (1992-95) followed by a one year stop as the offensive coordinator at the University of California before assuming the same title at the University of Southern California for four seasons (1997-2000), during which time he played a key role in the recruitment and early development of quarterback Carson Palmer, who would later become the No.1 overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. Jackson joined Steve Spurrier's staff in Washington, D.C. in 2001, first becoming the running backs coach before ascending to offensive coordinator in 2003. After Spurrier's resignation in 1994, Jackson was recruited by Marvin Lewis, a former colleague with the Redskins, to join his new staff in Cincinnati as the wide receivers coach, where Jackson played an integral role in making Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzedah one of the most productive receiving tandems in Bengals history. Jackson will most assuredly be tasked with trying to duplicate his success with Cincinnati's receivers in Atlanta, where he will inherit a far less-productive group of pass-catcher's-highlighted by a pair of woefully-underachieving first round picks, Michael Jenkins (2004) and Roddy White (2005). The free agent addition of the feisty, but graying, veteran pass-catcher Joe Horn should provide a locker room aid for Jackson's efforts as an example of consistent, playmaking that works hard every snap and has an insatiable desire to win. Baltimore Rick Neuheisel - Promoted to OC From QB Coach After deeming it necessary to take over the offensive play-calling controls of the Ravens offense resulting from an uninspiring start to the 2006 campaign under good friend, Jim Fassel, Brian Billick decided to relinquish offensive control once again, this time promoting second year Ravens quarterback coach Rick Neuheisel into the role of offensive coordinator. Neuhesiel's impressive coaching resume is filled with offensive achievements, particularly his stellar work with quarterbacks. Before helping current Baltimore backup Kyle Boller improve his home record to 13-4 (.765 winning percentage) while producing the highest passer percentage in Ravens history (59.6%), Neuheisel mentored future NFL Hallof Famer Troy Aikman as a graduate assistant on the UCLA staff in 1988. The fifteen year veteran coach also boasts of eight years of head coaching experience at the Division 1-A level, registering an overall record of 66-30, including a Rose Bowl victory with the Washington Huskies in 2000. The former UCLA quarterback's offensive-minded background makes him a logical choice to take the Baltimore play-calling duties back from Billick, and he will have some considerable weapons at his control, including Steve McNair, Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and new franchise running back Willis McGahee, whom the Ravens acquired this past off-season for three draft picks. McGahee's addition should provide a higher level of consistency in the ground game than in prior seasons with the oft-injured Jamal Lewis leading the charge. With the dual addition of Neuheisel and McGahee to the Ravens offense, expect a trickle down effect on the fantasy football expectations of McNair, Heap and Mark Clayton. Carolina Jeff Davidson - From Cleveland Assistant HC to Carolina OC The former Ohio State Buckeye and four-year NFL veteran compiled 11 years in the professional coaching ranks before accepting the job of Offensive Coordinator for the Carolina Panthers this past January, replacing the previously dismissed Dan Henning. Davidson's coaching chops were cut with the tight ends and offensive line, highlighted early by his mentorship of New England standout tight end, Ben Coates, in 1997. At the end of that season, Davidson was elevated to Assistant Offensive Line Coach, where he remained for four seasons (1998-2001). From 2002-2004, he multi-tasked, overseeing duties as both the Patriots' Tight Ends and Assistant Offensive Line coach, which resulted in his tight ends accumulating 66 receptions for six touchdowns during the season and his offensive line not allowing a sack in the first three postseason games, both considered key ingredients in New England's triumph in Super Bowl XXVIII. In 2005, Davidson left New England to follow coaching-buddy Romeo Crennel to Cleveland to become the Browns Offensive Line coach. In late October of the 2006 season, he was called upon to step into the Offensive Coordinator's role after Maurice Carthon was unable to get the Browns offense to play at a satisfactory level. After interviewing for the Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator role this past off season, Davidson was highly recommended to Panthers head coach John Fox by Charlie Weis, whom Davidson had grown close to during their days in New England together. His subsequent hiring by Fox indicates the Panthers willingness to continue to infuse a heavy dose of the running game and creative use of the tight end position in their 2007 offensive attack. From a fantasy perspective, the addition of Davidson does not eradicate the fog of the dreaded running back committee that currently resides in the Carolina backfield between DeShaun Foster, DeAngelo Williams and Nick Goings. A renewed emphasis on the tight end position, which has waned yearly since the salad days of Wesley Walls, saw the Panthers use a fifth round draft pick on TE/H-Back Dante Rosario (Oregon) to increase the competition for returning veterans Mike Seidman, Michael Gaines and Jeff King. Cleveland Rob Chudzinsk - From San Diego TE Coach to Cleveland OC The Toledo, Ohio native returns to his northeast Ohio home base for a second stint with the Cleveland Browns, this time as the Offensive Coordinator, after having previously served as the tight ends coach under former head coach Butch Davis and then offensive coordinator for five games with interim head coach Terry Robiskie in 2004. Chudzinski coaching resume is built upon his work with top shelf tight ends, primarily from his five years as tight ends coach at the University of Miami from 1996- 2000, where he was responsible for the development of a pair of Hurricane All Americans, Bubba Franks (1999) and Jeremy Shockey (2001). He would later assume the Hurricanes offensive coordinator role from 2001 to 2003, highlighted by two Championship Game appearances, as well as working extensively with future Browns 2004 first round pick (No.6 overall), tight end Kellen Winslow II. Prior to his Cleveland sequel, "Chud" served as the San Diego Chargers tight ends coach from 2005-06, where he oversaw the development of arguably the top tight end in the game today, Antonio Gates. Gates made the Pro Bowl both years, leading the Chargers in all receiving categories in 2006 with 71 receptions for 924 yards (13.0 avg) and nine touchdowns. Chudzinski's installation as offensive coordinator, with his tight end-heavy background, combined with Kellen Winslow's gradual return to health and increased production over the last two seasons, should bump K2 up fantasy draft boards this Summer, as the brash, outspoken tight end might finally have fate take his side for the first time in his professional career. Dallas Wade Phillips - From San Diego DC to Dallas HC After Bill Parcell's not-so-surprising resignation, the Dallas Cowboys, seeking to build on the momentum of last season's NFC playoffs appearance, hired 31 year NFL coaching veteran, and a native son of Texas, Wade Phillips, to become only the seventh head coach in the storied history of the Dallas Cowboys. Phillips longstanding success on the defensive side of the ball, in combination with his considerable amount of head coaching experience (48-42 career record from stops in New Orleans, Denver, Buffalo and Atlanta), made him Jerry Jones first choice to continue the organization's upward climb within the NFC. The former University of Houston linebacker has displayed a knack for producing instant success when first arriving to a new team, as the last six teams that he has joined as either the defensive coordinator or head coach have made the playoffs in his first season with the organization. With all six of those teams, not one of them was coming off of a winning season prior to his arrival. Indeed, in his 18 years as a defensive coordinator or head coach, only four season's had non-winning conclusions. For the past three seasons as the Chargers defensive coordinator, Phillips orchestrated a steady rise up the league rankings for total defense from 18th in 2004 to 10th in 2006, with his 2005 run defense claiming the top spot in the league by allowing a mere 84.3 yards per game on the ground. The 2006 defensive crew lead the league in sacks, with 61, second-most in club history. This is an area of the Cowboys defense that was sorely lacking under Bill Parcells Texas tenure and you can be sure that Jerry Jones wants to see Phillips infuse his QB pressure magic in young Dallas defenders, DeMarcus Ware and Bobby Carpenter. Indeed, Phillips track record of facilitating sack masters, from San Diego's Shawne Merriman last year (led the NFL in sacks with 17 despite missing four games due to suspension) to Buffalo's Bryce Paup's league MVP effort in 1996 (17.5 sacks) under Phillips as the Bills defensive coordinator (1995-97) bodes well for DeMarcus Ware's value in fantasy leagues featuring Individual Defensive Players (IDP) in their lineups, as well as the Cowboys defense/special teams unit overall. Jason Garrett - From Miami QB Coach to Dallas OC Jason Garrett returns to the team that he spent seven seasons as a backup quarterback, this time as the offensive coordinator under new head coach Wade Phillips. Garrett collected three Super Bowl rings (1993, 1994 and 1996) as Troy Aikman's backup during the Cowboys dynastic decade of the ‘90's, before stints with the New York Giants (2000-2003) and Miami Dolphins (2004). The former Princeton Tiger signal-caller served as a player/coach with the Dolphins, holding down the quarterbacks coach position as well as the fourth string, emergency quarterback role. Garrett will also have his brother, John, join him in Dallas as the tight ends coach after spending the last three seasons as the wide receivers coach at the University of Virginia. It remains to be seen what type of imprint the young coach will have on the Cowboys offense, perhaps his years as a backup QB in Norv Turner's offense will have an influence on the 2007 Cowboys. Most likely, Assistant Head Coach Tony Sparano, the offensive line/ running game coordinator, will also have a say in the game plan. Don't expect Garrett's installation as offensive coordinator to have a significant impact on the Cowboys primary fantasy contributor's, Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, Jason Witten, and Marion Barber, as he is inexperienced and will need time to grow into his new role. Brian Stewart - From SD Secondary Coach to Dallas DC The six year coaching veteran followed Wade Phillips to Dallas after serving as his secondary coach in San Diego the last three years. In 2006, Stewart oversaw a vastly improved secondary that helped contribute to the Chargers fourth overall finish in total defense. Prior to working with Phillips in San Diego, Stewart coached the Houston Texans secondary for two seasons after gaining valuable experience in training camp stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins through the League's Minority Coaching Fellowship program. Before jumping to the NFL, Stewart spent the 2001 season coaching the defensive backs at Syracuse University under current Dallas Cowboys linebackers coach, Paul Pasqualoni. His familiarity with Phillips attack-style 3-4 defense should ensure a smooth transition for Cowboys personnel to the new playbook. Green Bay Joe Philbin - Promoted to OC From OL Coach Joe Philbin, a coaching veteran of 23 years, replaces Jeff Jagodzinski, who left to takeover the head coaching job at Boston College, as the Packers offensive coordinator. Like Jagodzinski, the bulk of Philbin's recent coaching experience revolves around the offensive line (2003) and tight end positions (2004-05). Entering his fifth year with Green Bay, Philbin has already won the trust of head coach Mike McCarthy, having successfully implemented a new zone-blocking scheme into the Packers offense in 2005 while assimilating three rookies into the starting offensive line rotation. Before entering the NFL, he spent the previous four seasons (1999-2002) at the University of Iowa as the offensive line coach. His offensive line in 2002 was one of the nation's best, averaging 214.2 rushing yards per game and his blocking pupils would flood the NFL in the next few seasons as Eric Steinbach (2nd Round-Cincinnati), Bruce Nelson (2nd Round-Carolina) and Ben Sobieski (5th Round-Buffalo) would be drafted in 2003, and Robert Gallery would become the second overall pick (Oakland) in the 2004 Draft. Prior to his Iowa tenure, Philbin, as offensive coordinator/ offensive line coach at Harvard, would mentor future Pro Bowl center Matt Birk (Vikings) on a Crimson offense that would set 15 new records in 1997. Philbin taking the baton from Jagodzinski assures Mike McCarthy, and fantasy owners of Green Bay running backs, that the rushing offense will continue to improve around Brett Favre and make the Green Bay offense become similar to Denver's, where whoever is plugged into the running back slot, whether it be returning veteran Vernand Morency or 2007 second round pick RB Brandon Jackson from Nebraska, is assured of a minimum 800-1,000 yards and 6-9 scores, functional numbers for running back depth on your fantasy squad. Houston Mike Sherman - Promoted to OC / Assistant HC The former Green Bay Packers executive vice president, general manager and head coach begins his second season in Houston taking over the role of offensive coordinator after spending his first year in Texas as the Assistant Head Coach/ Offense, where he acted primarily as a running game consultant for the Texans. Sherman is well suited to takeover the offensive reins, having previously guided the Packers to five winning seasons as head coach, including NFC North division titles from 2002-2004, crafting a winning percentage .663 (53-27), second only to coaching icon Vince Lombardi in Packers history. His skill set and experience, gleaned from his time spent as an offensive line coach both for Texas A&M (1989-93 and '95-'97) , Green Bay in 1998 and offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks in '99, make Sherman a qualified choice for the job. His work with the Texans ground game last year produced much-needed improvement, averaging 122.6 yards per game over the last 11 contests of the season, while also helping Ron Dayne rush for 429 yards in the month of December, the highest amount for any single month in his lackluster pro career, despite three opening day starters, tackles Charles Spencer and Zach Wiegert and center Mike Flanagan finishing the year on Injured Reserve. The seasoned coach will be relied upon to customize the Texans offense around new quarterback Matt Schaub (Falcons) and free agent RB import Ahman Green, who previously played under Sherman in green Bay, while hopefully boosting the Texans revamped offensive line with the free agency acquisition of LT Jordan Black. Jacksonville Dirk Koetter - From Arizona State HC to Jacksonville OC Koetter brings a wealth of offensive coaching talent, particularly in the passing game, to a Jaguars team whose aerial woes over the last few seasons, riddled by inconsistency at the quarterback position, are well-chronicled. There might not be two parties in more need of each other this past off season than the Jaguars offense and the brilliant, but beleaguered offensive mind of Koetter, the former head coach of the Arizona State Sun Devils. After compiling a 26-10 record as head coach at Boise State that included two consecutive bowl appearances, two conference championships and Big West Coach of the Year honors, Koetter moved on to Arizona State where he led the Sun Devils to four Bowl games in six seasons and engineered one of the nation's best collegiate passing attacks, ranking in the top 20 passing offenses in the country in five of his six seasons, averaging nearly 30 points per game. Current NFLers Andrew Walter (QB-Oakland) and Derek Hagan (WR-Miami) and expected first day pick for the 2007 Draft, tight end Zac Miller, were all products of the Koetter school of offense. Last season's Sun Devil meltdown, arguably prompted by Koetter's controversial, last-minute decision to bench established senior quarterback Sam Keller for sophomore Rudy Carpenter, who had performed admirably at the end of the 2005 season when Keller went down to injury, ultimately led to his departure to the NFL ranks and into the welcoming arms of Jack Del Rio. The arrival of Koetter's high-octane passing game plan will provide the final smoking gun for Jacksonville to find out if Byron Leftwich is indeed a franchise NFL quarterback and at the very least, should provide a boost in the fantasy stock of receivers Matt Jones, Reggie Williams and Ernest Wilford, as well as emerging backfield star Maurice Jones-Drew. Cam Cameron - From San Diego OC to Miami HC Former San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron became the seventh head coach in Miami Dolphins history this past January after the Dolphins were left in the lurch by Nick Saban who returned to his personal college football comfort zone, the SEC, to takeover the University of Alabama football program, despite repeated denials that he was even interested in the job. Saban's unexpected and untimely bolt from south Florida left the once-proud organization scrambling for a replacement at a time in the calendar year when many of the most qualified candidates were already off the board, presenting a first-time head coaching opportunity for the highly accomplished offensive coordinator from San Diego. Cameron spent the last five seasons directing the Chargers potent attack, resulting in last season's performance that saw the Chargers lead the NFL in scoring after previously finishing third and fifth in that category in 2004 and 2005, respectively. Top fantasy football players Ladainian Tomlinson, Antonio Gates, Philip Rivers and Drew Brees (Saints) spent their formative years in the NFL under Cameron's guidance. The first few year's of Cameron's playing and coaching career were influenced by several coaching icons, including Bobby Knight, who Cameron played basketball for at Indiana University while being mentored in the Fall by Hoosiers head football coach Lee Corso. The former two-sport star would then spend the next ten years serving under the late, great Bo Schembechler, where he was responsible for tutoring future NFL household names, Jim Harbaugh, Elvis Grbac, Todd Collins, Amani Toomer, Derrick Alexander and Heisman Trophy-winner Desmond Howard, as the quarterbacks and receivers coach. Cameron would step up to the NFL ranks in 1994, becoming the Washington Redskins QB coach for two years, helping Gus Frerotte to his only Pro Bowl appearance in 1997 and playing a key role in the development of future Pro Bowler Trent Green. After an unsuccessful return to his alma mater as head coach, compiling an 18-37 record at Indiana University, the veteran coach returned to the NFL as the San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator from 2002 to 2006, fashioning one of the NFL's most exciting offenses over the next few seasons as he infused the talents of LaDainian Tomlinson, Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Antonio Gates to spawn numerous Pro Bowls and scoring records amongst that group. His body of work did not go unnoticed amongst the NFL teams seeking a new head coach over the next few seasons as Cameron would earn interview opportunities with the Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons before landing the head coaching job in Miami after the 2006 season. Expect Cameron's arrival to have an immediate positive fantasy impact on the Dolphins quarterback position, whether it be veteran holdover Daunte Culpepper, 2007 second round pick John Beck (BYU) or Trent Green, should the Dolphins and Chiefs finally consummate their long-rumored trade. His drafting of Ohio State speedster Ted Ginn with the number nine overall pick, though widely rejected by Dolphins nation on draft day, could serve to open the other side of the field for veteran Chris Chambers and Cameron's past proclivity of utilizing his primary running back as a pass-catcher could stop the bleeding on Ronnie Brown's sagging fantasy value, should he log close to a 16 game schedule. Kevin Gilbride - Promoted to New York OC From Offensive Assistant After spending the previous three seasons as the Giants quarterback's coach, Kevin Gilbride was promoted to full time offensive coordinator after assuming play-calling duties from former New York Giants OC John Hufnagel right before the 2006 regular season finale against the Redskins. In a game the Giants had to win just to have a shot at an NFC playoff berth, Gilbride's offense gained 355 yards (261 rushing) and scored 34 points- the second highest single game total last year. Gilbride would make the offensive calls again the following week in New York's 23-20 loss to Philadelphia in the opening round of the NFC playoffs. The 33 year coaching veteran has a wealth of experience on the offensive side of the ball, particularly with quarterbacks and has previously served as offensive coordinator for the Houston Oilers (1990-93), Jacksonville Jaguars (1995-96), Pittsburgh Steelers (1999-00) and Buffalo Bills (2002-03) before his current tenure with the Giants. His last two seasons as the Giants quarterbacks coach has been recognized as a key ingredient in the development of New York's would be franchise quarterback, Eli Manning. In Manning's first full season as a starter (2005), he threw 557 passes, third-highest total in the league and second-highest in team history (Kerry Collins threw 568 in 2001). Manning also constructed top ten finishes in completions (294- ninth overall) and passing yards (3,762- fifth overall) and his 24 touchdown passes were the most by a Giants quarterback since Fran Tarkenton tossed 29 in 1967. In 2006, Manning completed 301 of 522 pass attempts, becoming only the second quarterback in franchise history to exceed 300 completions in a single season (Kerry Collins accomplished the feat in 2002, 2001 and 2000). Count on Gilbride's continued work with Manning to create a growing fantasy dividend in 2007, as the fourth year vet will be placed into the primary role of the offense while the running game transitions from retired franchise back Tiki Barber to a two-headed, power-oriented solution of Brandon Jacobs and free agent import Reuben Droughns. Early reports out of mini camp have 2007 second round pick WR Steve Smith (USC) looking impressive and validating the Giants brass' faith in his early round selection. Smith's presence could prove vital for the Giants passing game as the season matures, as Manning has longed for a solid third option after Burress and Shockey. Smith will begin in the third receiver role, while also spelling aging Amani Toomer, who will enter his 12th season in 2007. Lane Kiffin - From USC OC to Oakland HC Raiders owner Al Davis continued his penchant of rolling the dice with young and climbing head coaches in their thirties when he tabbed former University of Southern California offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to become the 16th head coach of the Oakland Raiders. In making the 31-year old Kiffin the youngest head coach in NFL history, Davis stayed true to himself after providing head man opportunities in previous seasons to young, thirty-something upstarts, John Madden, Mike Shanahan and Jon Gruden, all eventual Super Bowl winners, with Madden being the lone coach out of the three to garner a championship for the Silver & Black. Despite his youth, Kiffin possesses the NFL pedigree (father, Monte is the longtime defensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and coaching track record (six seasons at the University of Southern California as the tight ends, wide receivers and eventually, the offensive coordinator of one of the nation's most storied collegiate football programs) to justify Al Davis' administrative leap of faith. During his stay with the Trojans, Kiffin was an integral part of an offense that produced two Heisman Trophy winners (Matt Leinart in 2004, Reggie Bush in 2005), back-to-back national championships in 2003 and 2004 and ranked in the top six nationally in every offensive category in 2005, including No.1 in total offense (579.8 yards per game) and second overall in scoring (49.1 points per game). Kiffin blends a power running attack with a passing game that throws to all three levels: short, medium and downfield, making him a true friend to fantasy owners who wind up with Oakland skill position players, the biggest hurdle being rookie quarterback, Jamarcus Russell, dealing with the inevitable first year learning curve, which will invariably create a scoring drag on the rest of the offense. Lamont Jordan, should he stay out of Kiffin's doghouse, stands the most to gain as the incumbent at running back, which Kiffin will surely rely upon as he nurtures his rookie signal-caller along at an appropriate pace. Greg Knapp - From Atlanta OC to Oakland OC The Long Beach, California native returns home after serving four seasons under Jim Mora, Jr. as the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator from 2003-2006, joining new Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin's staff in the same capacity. Knapp boasts 21 years of coaching experience, counting 12 seasons in the NFL. After coaching nine running backs and receivers for nine seasons at his alma mater, Sacramento State University, Knapp jumped to the professional ranks in 1995, starting as quality control assistant, then climbing his way to quarterbacks coach in 1998, and finally, offensive coordinator in 2001 for the San Francisco 49ers. In his first year as offensive coordinator, Knapp produced five Pro Bowlers, finished second in the league in rushing and was fourth overall in total offense. Two more top ten total offense finishes would follow in 2002 (eighth) and 2003 (fifth), while also setting an NFL record in 2002 for a 16 game season with a 52.3 % third down conversion rate. In his 12 years in the NFL, Knapp has seen his quarterbacks go to the Pro Bowl nine times, Steve Young in 1997 & 1998, Jeff Garcia from 2000 to 2002 and Michael Vick in 2004 & 2005. Clearly this track record of quarterback excellence makes Knapp a wise choice to insure the Raiders get the most out of their investment in 2007 No.1 overall pick JaMarcus Russell. As Kiffin will be heavily involved in the Raiders offensive blueprint, Knapp will likely serve as a glorified QB coach in an offensive coordinator's clothing, which will be equally important to both the Oakland franchise and future fantasy owners. Mike Tomlin - From Minnesota DC to Pittsburgh HC After helping the Vikings finish the 2006 season eighth overall in total defense, including the top ranked unit against the run, the NFL's youngest defensive coordinator (at 33 years old) became the second youngest head coach in any of the big four sports (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) in North America when the Pittsburgh Steelers named the 34-year old Tomlin as the first African-American head coach in their storied history in January of 2007, also making him the tenth African American head coach in league annals. Pittsburgh seeks to keep it's longstanding "defense-first" identity in tact with the selection of Tomlin, a young coach who has already packed a wealth of defensive coaching experience in his six previous NFL seasons. He began his coaching career in 1995 as the wide receivers coach at Virginia Military Institute and made several more steps up the coaching ladder in the following years, including stops at Arkansas State (as wide receivers, then defensive backs coach from 1997-1998) and University of Cincinnati (defensive backs coach from 1999-2000) before landing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2001 as the defensive backs coach. Once in Tampa, Tomlin was fortunate enough to learn under some of the brightest defensive minds in pro football, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Tony Dungy, Monte Kiffin and Rod Marinelli in his five seasons as the defensive backs coach for the Buccaneers. During that tenure, Tomlin learned the nuances of the Tampa 2 - an evolution of the Cover 2 defense made famous by the Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" defense orchestrated by defensive coordinator Bud Carson in the seventies. Under Tomlin's watch, the Buccaneers secondary grew into a top-ranked unit that became an integral piece of their eventual Super Bowl Championship in 2002. His defensive backfield unit was ranked first in the NFL in pass defense, averaging just 155.6 yards per game through the air, led the NFL with 31 interceptions and held opposing quarterbacks to a 48.4 rating and just 10 touchdown throws. In Super Bowl XXXVII, Tomlin's secondary recorded four of Oakland QB Rich Gannon's five interceptions and produced the game's MVP, safety Dexter Jackson (two first half picks). Tomlin's secondary units would continue to maintain residence at the top of the league's defensive rankings through the 2005 season, laying the foundation for his next vertical move, becoming the NFL's youngest defensive coordinator (age 33) for the Minnesota Vikings. The Steelers new head coach used his first draft in Pittsburgh to strengthen a defense that had slipped to ninth overall in 2006 after finishing fourth in 2005 and capturing Super Bowl XL, selecting LB Lawrence Timmons (Florida State) with the 15th overall pick and LB-DE LaMarr Woodley from Michigan with their second round pick, the 46th overall choice in the 2007 Draft. He would continue to emphasize defense and special teams, selecting Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda in the fourth round and compensatory picks DE Ryan McBean from Oklahoma State (132nd overall- fourth round) and Louisville CB William Gay (170th overall-fifth round). Bruce Arians - Promoted to OC From WR Coach After spending the last three seasons helping Hines Ward grow into one of the top receivers in the league as the Steelers wide receivers coach, 54-year old Bruce Arians was elevated to the role of offensive coordinator under new head coach Mike Tomlin. Arians brings a boatload of experience to his new job, having spent three seasons as offensive coordinator with the Cleveland Browns (2001-2003), helping the 2002 Browns to score the most points in team history since 1987 while also improving virtually every offensive ranking since his arrival in 2001. Prior to Cleveland, the former Virginia Tech QB served three campaigns as the Indianapolis Colts quarterbacks coach from 1998 to 2000, mentoring Peyton Manning in his formative NFL years, leading to a breakout season by Manning in 2000 with 4,413 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. In addition to early career stops that included Virginia Tech (running backs) and Mississippi State (running backs/ wide receivers), Arians coached the running backs group at the University of Alabama under legendary coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from 1981-82 before taking the head coaching job at Temple University from 1983-1988. Pending what is expected to be a more fortunate year for Big Ben's physical health, expect Arians new role to be an additional positive impact for Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, who has already cited an increased comfort level with new coach Mike Tomlin's compared to a more distant relationship with former Steelers head man Bill Cowher. As opposed to last year's rocky start in which he seemingly could not get out of harm's way, 2007 appears to possess a pro-Roethlisberger vibe, which could translate into a bounce-back fantasy football season for the fourth year signal caller who is just two seasons removed from a 2005 year in which he posted 2,385 passing yards and 20 touchdowns (three rushing) with only nine interceptions in eleven starts. Norv Turner - From San Francisco OC to San Diego HC Offensive Coordinator extraordinaire Norv Turner, benefiting from the Chargers late dismissal of then-head coach Marty Schottenheimer in mid-February of this year when most of the qualified coaching candidates were already off the board, left his OC role with the San Francisco 49ers to accept the head coach title for the San Diego Chargers. Turner's resume is top-heavy with his accomplishments as an offensive coordinator, winning two Super Bowl rings directing the offense during the Dallas Cowboys dynasty years in the early nineties, while being widely viewed as instrumental in the development of eventual hall of famer, Cowboys QB Troy Aikman. In 2006, under Turner's guiding hand, second year quarterback Alex Smith took a quantum leap in his player growth as San Francisco's franchise QB-in-the-making, completing 58% of his passes for 2,890 yards and 16 touchdowns after passing for just 875 yards and throwing 11 interceptions with one touchdown as a rookie in 2005. He was also offensive coordinator of the Miami Dolphins (2002-2003) and the San Diego Chargers during LaDainian Tomlinson's rookie year in 2001, helping the rookie running back to finish as the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up with 1,236 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns and 59 receptions. His resume as a head coach, however, leaves a lot to be desired. His first foray into the head coaching realm was with the Washington Redskins in 1994, fresh off his championship success under Jimmy Johnson with the Dallas Cowboys. Turner proceeded to go 49-59-1 record over seven seasons with Washington, making the playoffs once in 1999, where he lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round. His next head coaching opportunity would come in 2004 with the Oakland Raiders when Al Davis picked him to replace the departed Bill Callahan following the 2003 season. Turner would go on to produce a 5-11 record in 2004 and a 4-12 campaign in 2005 before being shown the door in January of 2006. The difference between Turner taking over this Chargers team compared to his prior head coaching assignments is that he inherits a ready-made playoff team with a wealth of offensive weapons instead of a reclamation project requiring a complete overhaul, giving Turner a fighting chance to record his first head coaching success. Turner's presence will do nothing but help fantasy football stalwarts, Tomlinson, Gates, and Rivers and could ignite a breakout season from one of the Chargers two young, emerging wide outs, Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd. And the San Diego defense should also maintain their high voltage attack under new defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell, who's commandeered some of the league's stingiest defenses in year's past with Minnesota (2004-2005), the New York Jets (2001-02) and Buffalo (1995-2000). Clarence Shelmon - Promoted to OC From RB Coach After spending the past five seasons as the Chargers running backs coach, Shelmon was promoted to offensive coordinator by then-San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer this past off season, when Cam Cameron left to takeover the Dolphins head coaching job. New head coach Norv Turner has agreed to keep Shelmon in the OC role while constructing his new coaching staff. This will be Shelmon's first opportunity at the coordinator level after 16 NFL seasons coaching running backs for the Chargers, Cowboys, Seahawks and Rams and he is expected to take an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" approach with the explosive Chargers offense. With Norv Turner's extensive offensive background, Shelmon's role will most likely remain limited, with his primary focus centering on the running backs, though should receive some involvement in the play-calling. Bottom line, Tomlinson loves the guy and has publicly credited the veteran RB coach with helping him elevating his game in all areas. Keeping your franchise's best player happy will serve the Chargers, and fantasy owners well in the coming season. San Francisco Jim Hostler - Promoted to OC From QB Coach To fill the vacancy left by the departure of Norv Turner to San Diego, the 49ers promoted two-year quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler to offensive coordinator. Before joining San Francisco two seasons ago, Hostler mentored QB Chad Pennington, QB Vinny Testaverde, WR Santana Moss and WR Wayne Chrebet as the Jets receivers coach (2004) and quarterbacks coach (2003). He started his NFL career as an offensive assistant/ quality control coach with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2000 and then serving a similar role with the New Orleans Saints from 2001 to 2002, while also taking on the assistant wide receivers coach duties. The change from Norv Turner to unproven Jim Hostler presents an above average chance of an adverse effect on the San Francisco offense, and subsequently, key fantasy players Frank Gore, Alex Smith, Vernon Davis and emerging Arnaz Battle. Expectations will be that Hostler minds the store and does not change a much from Turner's previous scheme. Related Articles Ease of Schedule Quarterbacks / Wide Receivers Ease of Schedule Running Backs Better Than Average Rankings Consistency Rankings Quarterbacks Consistency Rankings Running Backs Consistency Rankings Wide Receivers Consistency Rankings Tight Ends a d v e r t i s e m e n t

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Indians take Bucs' Doane in 24th round June 8th, 2013 4:39 pm by Staff Report JOHNSON CITY — Kerry Doane’s move to a full-time starting pitcher brought more rewards with it Saturday when the Cleveland Indians selected the East Tennessee State right-hander in the 24th round, 711th overall, of the Major League Baseball draft.Doane went 13-2 with a 2.14 ERA his senior season, when he was named a Louisville Slugger First Team All-American, a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, a finalist for the Gregg Olson Award, the Atlantic Sun pitcher of the year and MVP of the conference tournament.“It’s an awesome feeling to be drafted,” Doane said in a release issued by the university. “It’s a dream every baseball player has and to be able to get an opportunity to play for a professional organization is unbelievable. So now all I can do is work hard, compete and see where it all takes me.” The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder helped the Buccaneers reach the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1981 in his only season as a full-time starting pitcher for ETSU.A Fort Lauderdale, Fla., native, Doane pitched an NCAA-best 12 complete games this season, posting four shutouts in 17 starts. He tied the ETSU single-season record for victories and shutouts and set single-season program marks for complete games and innings pitched (147).Doane’s 2.14 ERA is the second-lowest figure in program history and the lowest since Dallas Rinehart registered a 2.81 in 1992. Doane generated a .867 winning percentage in 2013, which also ranked second in the ETSU history books. “I am very excited and proud of Kerry,” coach Tony Skole said. “Kerry is definitely deserving of this opportunity to play professionally. The Cleveland Indians organization is lucky to have him. It will be fun to watch and root for him on his next journey.” Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus.

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Jae H. Kim Tae Kwon Do – Cambridge Welcome to Jae Hun Kim Taekwon-do Institute World Renowned Grand Master • 35+ Classes Weekly for Men, Women, and Children Jae Hun Kim Taekwon-do Institute, one of the best known Taekwon-do schools in the world, is located right here in the Boston area. The institute was established in 1974 by Grand Master Jae H. Kim who teaches daily at the Boston location. Mr. Kim’s teaching philosophy combines an analytical approach acquired through his studies at Western universities (MIT and Harvard), with special expertise developed in the East by Taekwon-do masters. This unique teaching style has garnered much success for the institute which now operates 16 schools in the US, Singapore, Korea, Ireland, and China, including our Cambridge location. Most people practice Taekwon-do nowadays for fitness and self defense. The school utilizes a continuous enrollment system which allows you to start your training in Taekwon-do at any time throughout the year. We welcome beginners, as well as people with experience in Karate, Judo, Kung Fu, and other martial arts. New students are given introductory lessons on an individual basis so that the student can practice at his/her own pace. The school encourages prospective students to visit and observe a class, so please call or visit the school if you would like to find out more about Taekwon-do and Jae Hun Kim Taekwon-do Institute. The Most Recognized School in New England Our Cambridge location was founded in 1993 and was the first branch location in the Jae H. Kim Taekwon-do family. Our internationally certified instructors teach seven classes daily, for adults and children. Visitors are welcome to observe classes and we are accepting new members now. We’re right outside Porter Square! Recent Posts Congratulations from the U.S. Classic tournament Rank ceremony photos! Back to school time! New Weekly Schedule Stretching class now Saturday 1pm weekly Follow us on Twitter! @jhkim_cambridge Don't forget, red stripes, your special review class is Thursday April 24 at 6:30. That black belt is on the horizon! 09:47PM - 14 Apr 2014Tomorrow night's black belt program class: complete forms review, all the way from chon-ji through choong moo! Open to all levels. 6:30pm! 10:56PM - 9 Apr 2014Our #taekwondo sparring team came home from the US Classic with a couple of medals! http://t.co/3x5UrP3r7a 11:11PM - 31 Mar 2014 Proudly powered by WordPress Copyright © 2014 Jae H. Kim Tae Kwon Do Institute

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What Makes A Great Scorer? Top 10 Myths About Andrea Bargnani Jonas Valanciunas Is Like Two Cookies (and Amir) Is The Big Man Era Over In The NBA? What Would Einstein Say About the Raptors Trading for Rudy Gay? Seeing Through Colangelo's Reality Distortion Field (Part 1) Can The Raptors Contend Without Tanking? The Case Against Signing Steve Nash An Open Letter to Bryan Colangelo 5 Stupid Reasons NOT To Trade Bargnani The Gospel According to Allen Iverson NBA News & Rumours Basketball Resources Basketball Canada Canadian NBA Television Schedule Patricia Bender's site Raptor Sites Raptors Digest Raptors Republic Basketball Blogs Doug Smith's blog From Deep Khandor's Sports Blog NBA Analytiks NBA Roundtable It’s All Uphill From Here (Mid-Season Grades) I’m actually a game late on the halfway point, but since this is my first post in 2011, and we’re more than halfway through January, I’ll give myself a little slack. Before I commence with the grades, let me say a quick note about the “trade” that went down. At first when word went down that Peja was being bought out, there were lots of complaints from fans who expected Colangelo to somehow finagle a first round pick or something like that in a trade involving Peja. Clearly, these people have no idea what the current economic climate is in the NBA. I said last summer, at some point, that expiring contracts are not going to worth much this season. The reason? More than half the league will actually have a payroll of less than $50 million this summer. The cap this season is $58 million. Quietly and slowly, the majority of NBA teams have actually become financially responsible. It may not seem that way, especially after last summer when borderline All-Stars, like Joe Johnson and Rudy Gay, were getting max or near max contracts, but the fact is that most of the teams have, for the most part, stopped the ridiculous spending. So the fact that Colangelo was able to actually get something out of Peja, no matter how much it circumvented the CBA, was fairly impressive. Not that Alexis Ajinca is a potential All-Star, or anything, but he’s a 7 foot 2, mobile center capable of blocking shots. And he’s just 22, so he’ll fit right in with the rest of the Raptor youngsters. In many ways, he’s a Solomon Alabi clone (or visa versa), both rail thin, raw offensively but with potential on the defensive end. Hey, if you’re going to rebuild, you might as well stockpile as many potential assets as you can in case some of them actually are worth something. And if they get a second round pick, as is the rumour, all the better. So the Raptors lose in a pretty close game to the Spurs and if not for another loss on the road for the Wizards, the Raptors would have settled into the bottom five of the league and are currently on pace to win 25 games (rounding up). So how did the Raptors get here? Well, lack of talent and poor defense, basically. I don’t think anyone should really be surprised by a team that doesn’t have even one player that would crack the starting lineup for a contender to struggle as much as the Raptors have. So here are the grades for each player and the team as a whole: MOST VALUABLE RAPTOR Jose Calderon: B- Calderon struggled on and off at the beginning, but the turning point seemed to be when Jarrett Jack was traded and he was made the undisputed starter at PG. I argued from the beginning of the season (and well before that) that Calderon should be the starter, and, except for a short period when he missed some games due to injury, has been playing like the Jose who got the contract extension almost three years ago. And as I’ve been saying since pre-season, his defense seems to be much improved, although it’s still not good. Jose’s numbers aren’t stunning, but he makes a positive impact with his passing and makes everyone around him better. Amir Johnson: C+ A lot of pressure was on him early to earn his contract, and he had real trouble staying on the floor due to foul trouble for the first month, or so, but in he’s played more than 30 mpg in his last five games, so hopefully he’s turned the corner, in that regard. Even when he was fouling, however, his presence was almost always felt. His defense, rebounding and hustle are exactly what a team like the Raptors need. And his highly efficient offense makes him valuable on both ends of the court. DeMar DeRozan: C Just going on the last month, or so, I might give him a B-, but for the entire half season, he gets a C. He started the season pretty well, but then seemed to hit a period when he wasn’t getting the calls and he regressed. He stopped attacking the rim and his shot wasn’t falling. Then in mid-December, things started to change. His shot, which he has constantly been working on, started falling with a little more regularity and he has even looked unstoppable on occasion. He still must improve his jumper and his defense has been spotty, at best, but there have definitely been improvements and things are looking bright for DeRozan. Andrea Bargnani: C Yes, I am hard on him, but his improvement on offense (the last two games not withstanding) has been impressive. He’s shown far more aggressiveness than he ever showed his first four years, and he scored inside better than he has in the past. He’s currently 16th in the league in scoring, and he’s even getting to the line occasionally, too. Of course, his defense has been a team killer and he’s rebounding at a lower rate than last year. When he doesn’t score at least 25 points per game, his horrible defense and weak rebounding are too much of a liability for him to remain on the court. Unfortunately, that hasn’t stopped him from being on the court when he’s not scoring 25 ppg. SIXTH MAN Leandro Barbosa: C+ I’d give him an `A’ simply for not being Turkoglu, but while Barbosa has shown a great knack for scoring and been a one-man wrecking crew at times, Barbosa also has shown a propensity for completely ignoring teammates and forcing bad shots at the worst time. I still contend that Barbosa is the Raptors most valuable trade asset and were he not being held together with strong and bubble gum, I would really like to see him moved for a young player and/or draft pick. Jerryd Bayless: C I will admit, I was not at all confident in the abilities of Bayless when the Raptors traded for him, although I did state that I liked the trade. He’s been the biggest surprise for me this season. Before he hurt his ankle, Bayless showed skills and a competitive drive this team sorely needed. I still don’t think he’s a real PG and probably will never start on a good team, but I certainly love him being a backup. BEST ROOKIE Ed Davis: B- He missed some time due to injury, and desperately needs to live in the weight room this summer, but Davis has been everything I hoped he’d when he was drafted and has made me look good for jumping on the Ed Davis bandwagon early. He’s already one of the best defenders on the Raptors (although that’s not really an accomplishment, is it?), has a nose for the ball and has shown he just knows how to play. Of course I’ve seen him hit maybe only a handful of shots outside of 5 feet, but he wasn’t drafted to be a scorer, was he. I expect that aspect of his game to improve. Salomon Alabi: Incomplete It’s getting to the point when Triano should start giving him a few minutes here and there just to see what he can do. It’s not like the team is vying for a playoff spot. MOST DISAPPOINTING Linas Kleiza: D What happened to the player we saw in preseason? I thought signing him was a good idea because I felt he was a talented player who was only 26 years old. It’s not as if he hasn’t shown glimpses. He went through a six game stretch where he averaged nearly 20 ppg the last couple of weeks of December. Overall, though, he has shot poorly and too much, hasn’t figured out how not to travel when dribbling the ball more than twice and hasn’t exactly helped the team defensively. The one good thing is he’s shown to be a pretty good rebounder and a tough guy who won’t back down on a team full of softies. Jarrett Jack: D Sure, he’s gone, but while he was a Raptor he shot poorly and didn’t play defense. I figured the trade would help him, but so far it hasn’t. MOST SURPRISING Joey Dorsey: C- I will admit that I really didn’t think Dorsey would last when he was signed, but he’s shown himself to be a competent player who deserves to be in the NBA. He’s a great rebounder and hard worker who can score around the basket, a little. He’s not a great defender, but not for lack of trying. You could definitely do worse than having a guy like Dorsey as your third big man off the bench. Dave Andersen: C- Yes, he’s gone, too, but while he was on the team, I was shocked at how much better he was than I was expecting. He was far tougher and a better rebounder than was advertised and he was probably the guy I was most sorry to see go in the trade. 2ND RUNNER UP Sonny Weems: C Overall, Weems’ season has not been nearly as bad as some fans believe. On the season, he’s scoring 11.5 ppg on 45% shooting and dishing out 2.3 apg in under 30 minutes. Unfortunately, the last 13 games he played he shot less 40% in 10 of them. He’s also scored at least 20 points in four games and before his last 13 games, was shooting an ungodly percentage from the field and displaying skills that should keep him in the NBA for years. Yes, his defense needs a lot of work, but for a guy who I didn’t think was even worth mentioning in the deal that brought him to Toronto, I think he’s doing very well. I look forward to seeing him return to the floor. BEST ROLE PLAYER Reggie Evans: C+ You’ve got to feel bad for the guy. He’s having a career year and playing the most minutes of his career and he goes down with an injury. He’s shot beyond horribly and isn’t the greatest defender (although he does try), but no rebound is safe if he’s on the floor and his hustle and joy for the game are contagious. I wouldn’t want him playing a whole lot of minutes, but he’s the type of guy I’d like on the bench. Deep, but on the bench. Julian Wright: C- Finally this guy gets some playing time. Now hopefully he’ll keep getting it. And while he’s a poor shooter, even from the line, he’s probably the second best passer on the team and might be it’s best defender. He’s like last year’s Wright, but without the boneheaded plays and poor shot selection. THE BEST 3RD PGS Sundiata Gaines: Incomplete He’s only played 3 games, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen, so far. I wouldn’t want him as my first PG off the bench, but as a third one, you could do a lot worse. And he’s probably better than PG the Raptors had coming off the bench in the 2009 season. Remember that season? [shudder] Marcus Banks: D He rarely played and never complained. And when he did get in the game, he worked hard, even if he didn’t always play well. If New Orleans had released him, I would think Toronto would have re-signed him instead of Gaines. BEST CAMEO Peja Stojakovic: Incomplete Three games, 20 points on 7-10 shooting. Can’t as for anything more than that from a 33 year older shooter whose knees might be as bad as mine. I wish him luck in Dallas. Ronald Dupree: Incomplete I couldn’t understand why he was signed, anyway, since the Raptors two biggest needs were the two positions he is unable to play. Jay Triano: C- I’ve been a frequent defender of Triano as head coach. I think he’s been unfairly criticized for things that are either out of his control or based on very little actual knowledge by the critic. The notion that he was hired simply because he was Canadian is possibly the stupidest, most ignorant comment I’ve ever heard. It makes no sense to anyone with a brain. It’s not as if Triano has had much to work with this year. He’s got a roster mostly of castoffs and young players with mostly upside, most of whom don’t know how to play defense. He’s developed the young players pretty well, although for the second half of the year he should concentrate solely on defense. His in game decisions have been, for the most part, pretty good. He’s shown improvement over last season, in that regard. Unfortunately, one issue I have with Triano is his inability to hold players accountable. At the beginning of the season, he claimed that EVERYONE would earn their minutes, but he’s constantly overlooked certain player’s lackadaisical play, especially on defense. Part of developing players is making them learn good habits. Allowing them to be lazy without punishing them by sitting them does no good to the player or the team. Toronto Raptors: C+ Keep in mind this is not a grade based on their record. The actual record is their grade for that. As I’ve said, though, this season is not about their record. It’s about the development of the young players and building for the future. THE POSITIVES - Bargnani, DeRozan, Weems, Amir, and Bayless are having career years. You can’t ask for more than that when the focus is on developing your young players. - Colangelo has not given into pressure and used the TPE on a quick fix that might have ended up hurting the team in the long run. - Davis looks like the steal I thought he was. - The team has shown flashes of being one of those hard working teams that lack talent, but gain respect. If you are rebuilding and losing a lot, that’s exactly what you want. It’s good for the development of the players and of the franchise. - The team is horrible on defense and there is a real danger of the young players learning bad habits on that end of the court. Bargnani is pretty much a lost cause in that respect, this being his fifth year in the league, but it’s not too late for DeRozan and Weems. Both desperately need to learn better defensive fundamentals if they want to reach their potential. - Signing Kleiza now appears to have been a mistake. He’s not playing well and taking playing time away from younger players who need it to develop. If he starts playing well again, then his value will increase, though. Despite the Raptors being on course for a 25 win season, I’ve liked what I’ve been seeing from the team for the most part. They still desperately need to add elite talent and no player looks anything close to a sure-fire All-Star, at this point, but most of their young players are developing nicely and increasing in value. In the end, that’s the main thing. Join the discussion: 4 Comments Category: NBA, Raptors Pingback: Toronto Raptors Morning Coffee Jan 21 | Raptors Republic | ESPN TrueHoop's Toronto Raptors Blog Pingback: Toronto Raptors Morning Coffee Jan 21 – Toronto Update Hard to disagree with any. Think Demar could be higher, only because I still find him to be the “baby” on the court and he’s(lately)given more than I had expected. I guess the guys were more concerned about would be the above mentioned Demar, Amir and Ed Davis you have to be relatively pleased with their progression, and that would justify the C+ rating as a team. The thing about Sonny is, I think, what you see is what you;ve got. Gotta give Demar the edge when it comes to potential. Curious contract situation coming up for Sonny and the Raptors. At this point in time Kleiza’s contract is not looking too good. Spot on on Jay, except never really heard anyone say he was hired because he is Canadian. Not holding players accountable goes back to last season. Remember how long it took for Sonny to crack a regular spot? Maybe there is hope for Julian Wright. Might surprise you but I think Andrea should ride his share of the bench this last half if he D does not improve. Haven’t really tried that since Sam was here. http://www.wearingfilm.com Tim W. TInman, I actually had DeMar as a C+ but lowered it slightly when I thought about him over the entire season and included the fact that his defense has not been good. I definitely am pleased with his development so far, though. I just want to see more development on the defensive end. All the criticism of his jumpshot, I think, is pointless. It’s obviously something he’s got to work on but anyone that’s been following the NBA for a period of time knows that a jumpshot’s the easiest thing to improve on. I think Sonny has the potential to be a very good role player, but he has to focus less on scoring and more on defense and rebounding. I think he’s got the skills to be very good in those categories, but like Kris Humphries when he was a Raptor, he’s not quite ready to give up the All-Star dream and become a role player, yet. As for Jay, I’ve heard that ridiculous comment a lot. Anyone with a brain who thinks about it for more than a second would realize it simply doesn’t make sense. I do think Jay’s still got the potential to be a good coach in the league. I agree he needs to focus on defense a lot more, but he strikes me as a guy who learns from his mistakes and corrects them. A lot of coaches don’t do that. Taking a Closer Look: Amir Johnson Why It’s Worse Than You Might Think Where Will Rudy Spend Christmas? Ranking the Centers/Centres Ranking the Power Forwards One Year From Now Ranking the Small Forwards Ranking the Shooting Guards Ranking the Point Guards Tanking: What Is It Good For? #, 1970/01/01 MrRiffRaff said AMIR SHOULD START, Tyler should sit. When Tyler catches a rebound he looks like he doesn't know what to do with the ball. And more often than not, ... nikita said I'd like to hear your thoughts on the game between the Raps and Golden State last night. I love Hansbrough but the guy should not be starting or be... Tinman said " Despite all this, a lot of fans still seem to think the Raptors would be better off with him coming off the bench and with a bigger offensive thr... Jason LeBel said "based on the attributes he has displayed to this point in his career." Which career was that? Assuming, because your post was 2 years ago you mea... Tim W. said Crap, you're right. I can't believe I missed that. Especially since they bypassed several better players to draft Zeller. Lockout (3) Playoffs (3) Teams (228) Bobcats (20) Bucks (19) Cavs (33) Clippers (22) Grizzlies (25) Hawks (20) Heat (37) Hornets (19) Kings (11) Knicks (27) Lakers (25) Mavericks (20) Nets (30) Nuggets (20) Pacers (19) Pistons (23) Raptors (209) Rockets (22) Spurs (36) Suns (26) T-Wolves (20) Thunder (28) Warriors (17) Wizards (18) Trade Proposals (17) Weekend Warrior (3) Copyright © The Picket Fence. All Right Reserved. | Website Design by High Dough Productions Powered by SimpleModal Contact Form

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Posted: Wednesday, 15 May 2013 2:28PM Wood and Bills have mutual interest in new deal Orchard Park, NY (WGR 550) -- When the new year started in March for the National Football League, it didn't take long for one of the Buffalo Bills' more well-known offensive linemen to find a new home. Andy Levitre found greener pastures with the Tennessee Titans after spending four years with the team that drafted him. With another key piece to the offensive line set to become an unrestricted free agent in March of 2014, all eyes in western New York will be on the Bills to see if they can re-sign center Eric Wood. To keep things in perspective, it's only May and there is still plenty of time to strike a deal. Wood knows that, understands it and is ready for the conversation when it gets to be his turn. As for now, the starting center says there have been no negotiations to this point between he, his agent David Dunn (the same agent as Levitre) and the Bills. "There's obvious interest from both sides to get a deal done at some point," Wood said Wednesday. "But with a GM change and a big-time free agent at safety that we'd like to get re-signed -- and this is just me speculating myself, this isn't stuff they said -- and rookies, I know I'm not top priority right now. Hopefully we can get a deal done at some point, maybe this summer." It's always a tricky situation for players entering their contract year. Some use it as added motivation for the coming season, some will let it affect their minds in a negative way, while others choose to block it out completely. Wood remains cognizant of his status, but subscribes to the third theory more than anything. "I'm not gonna worry about [my contract]," he remarked. "As soon as I start worrying about that, I'm sure my performance would slip and I wouldn't be doing due diligence to give all my heart to the Buffalo Bills on the field. That's why you pay an agent a lot of money to get that done, and work behind the scenes so you don't have to worry about that." With a new General Manager, a new coaching staff and a brand new quarterback, that triumvirate of factors could make some players want to head for the hills and get away from an assumed rebuilding project. Wood isn't that type of person, and commented on Wednesday that he would like to see this thing through in Buffalo. "Yeah, absolutely. Me and Andy [Levitre] kind of had that conversation too. If we weren't playing here and the Bills made the playoffs and we kind of gave up on it, how much that would hurt," he said. "It's different if you went to Pittsburgh who wins Super Bowls all the time and makes the playoffs almost every year. You go and make the playoffs there, it's not that special." "When we make the playoffs, and hopefully this year, it's going to be an awesome time around here. The energy we felt two years ago starting 4-1, if it's half that, it'll be a fun time in Orchard Park and Buffalo." Wood and the rest of the Bills finished out their first week of Organized Team Activities on Wednesday. They'll resume for a second week of work starting on Monday, May 20. Filed Under : Topics : SportsLocations : Buffalo, New York, Pittsburgh, Western New YorkPeople : Andy Levitre, David Dunn, Eric Wood advertise with us

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Moms Everyday Job Search Oregon, K-State To Meet In Fiesta Bowl By: AP, posted by Kinch O'Kelley Updated: Mon 1:24 AM, Dec 03, 2012 By: AP, posted by Kinch O'Kelley Home / Article SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) -- Oregon and Kansas State were atop the BCS standings just two weeks ago, each needing two wins for a likely trip to the BCS championship. Those plans were derailed quickly with a loss on the same day, but they ended up with a nice consolation prize: A trip to the desert to face each other in the Fiesta Bowl. And it should be a doozy. Nos. 4 and 5 in the BCS standings, two of the nation's best offenses, a pair of Heisman Trophy contenders - yep, the Fiesta Bowl has done it again, pulling off a marquee matchup for the second straight year. ''(It's) not just the rankings, but type of teams, the kinds of exciting plays and players that they put on the field,'' Fiesta Bowl executive director Robert Shelton said Sunday night. ''We're thrilled.'' The fans should be too, again. The 2012 Fiesta Bowl was certainly a memorable one: Oklahoma State vs. Stanford, Nos. 3 and 4 in the BCS, dynamic teams with two of the nation's best quarterbacks in Brandon Weeden and the Cardinal's Andrew Luck. The game matched the hype, with the Cowboys outlasting Stanford 41-38 in overtime, giving the Fiesta Bowl a much-needed boost after nearly losing its BCS status due to financial improprieties and a dud of a game in 2011. This year's game has the potential to one-up 2012. Oregon (11-1) and its swarm-of-bees offense has been one of the nation's best teams under coach Chip Kelly, reaching the BCS title game in 2011 and winning the Rose Bowl for the first time in 95 years last season. This year, the Ducks are loaded with fleet-footed players, rolling up yards in big chunks, scoring in bunches. They have one of the most dynamic players in the country in running back Kenjon Barner, a Heisman Trophy hopeful, and quarterback Marcus Mariota had no trouble handling the pressure of running Oregon's potent attack as a freshman. Oregon, No. 5 in the AP Top 25, finished the season second nationally with 50.8 points per game, fourth in total offense at 550 yards and will be making its fourth straight BCS bowl appearance. The Ducks also played at University of Phoenix Stadium when they lost to Auburn in the 2011 BCS title game. ''It's an amazing challenge,'' Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. ''They're extremely talented and well-coached collectively. Offensively, they go faster than the speed of light, so to speak.'' Snyder hasn't done too bad for himself in the Little Apple. Orchestrator of what may be the biggest turnaround in college football history his first go-round in Manhattan, Snyder came out of retirement to re-energize K-State again in 2009 - in the stadium named after him, no less. He led the Wildcats to the Pinstripe Bowl in 2010 and followed, after a 7-0 start, with a 10-win season and a trip to the 2011 Cotton Bowl. This season, No. 7 Kansas State (11-1) opened some eyes by trouncing Miami in its second game and started to draw national attention by knocking off Oklahoma in Norman on Sept. 22. Behind the do-everything quarterback Collin Klein, another of the Heisman favorites, and a tough defense, the Wildcats kept piling up wins to become No. 1 in the BCS standings on Nov. 11 for the first time in school history. The Wildcats averaged 40.7 points per game, 10th nationally, and have an opportunistic defense that led the nation in turnover margin at plus-21. Kansas State is playing in its second BCS bowl, with the 2004 Fiesta Bowl. ''Obviously, the job that Bill Snyder has done in Kansas State, his first tour, now his second tour, he'll go down in history as one of the greatest college football coaches this game has ever seen,'' Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. ''He is a model for how to run your program does an outstanding job.'' Originally scheduled to play each other this season before the game fell through, Kansas State and Oregon were atop the BCS rankings after defending national champion Alabama lost to Texas A&M on Nov. 10. All the Wildcats and Ducks had to do was win their final two games and they would almost assuredly play in the BCS title game. They ended up losing on the same day, turning the BCS on end. Kansas State fell flat under the pressure, run over 52-24 by unranked Baylor. The Ducks couldn't get their high-flying offense going against Stanford and lost 17-14 in overtime. That moved Notre Dame up to No. 1 and put the SEC back in the BCS championship picture. With its win over No. 3 Georgia this weekend, the Crimson Tide earned a spot in Miami on Jan. 7 to face the Fighting Irish for the national title. Kansas State bounced back to beat Texas 42-24 on Saturday night, sending Wildcat fans rushing onto the field after the school earned its third conference championship in 117 years. Oregon closed out its regular season a week earlier, rolling over No. 16 Oregon State 48-24 in the Civil War to keep its BCS bowl hopes alive. The losses prevented the Wildcats and Ducks from playing for a national championship, but they sure gave the Fiesta Bowl a boost with another matchup that could be the 1A to the title game.

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Caribbean Premier League Windies Mens Team Windies Under 17 Team Windies A Team Windies Under 19 Team Windies Under 15 Team Windies Women's Team Caribbean T20 Regional 4-Day Digicel Series Regional Super 50 Womens League ICC Events Trinidad Cricket Barbados Cricket Guyana Cricket Jamaica Cricket Leewards Cricket Windwards Cricket College Cricket (CCC) Sagicor HPC Scotiabank Kiddy Cricket Digicel Youth Development WICB Barbados can only get better, says coach published by ikhan on Mon, 02/03/2014 - 20:12 Trinidad Express article.Port of Spain, Trinidad - Barbados coach Henderson Springer was a happy man after his team’s 28-run victory over Trinidad and Tobago in their NAGICO Super50 opener, on Sunday at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain. But there is still room for improvement, he is urging.After the match, Springer described the result as a “good victory”, but still felt his team were a bit “untidy” in the field.He felt that on a good day, T&T could have successfully chased the target of 270.“I think we got Trinidad into a situation where their best batsmen were not scoring as freely as they would have liked, and that caused a couple of injudicious shots, which we capitalised on,” Springer related. “But it was a total that I feel on a good day for Trinidad I’m sure they would have been able to chase down, because many of their main guys did not get off to a good start.”Springer also gave his team credit for their job in the field.“You really can’t hammer them guys on the ground because this is the first match they played in this competition, and on the captaincy of Kevin Stoute you have to give him credit; but I thought the bowlers bowled really well,” he said. “There’s still a number of holes that we have to fill in as far as our accuracy and field placing is concerned.”Springer credited attacking opener Dwayne Smith with setting Barbados on the road to a challenging total that proved too much for T&T, and was pleased to see Jonathan Carter carry on to a century.Carter, meanwhile, credited his knock to hard work, as well as the presence of Smith.“Batting with Dwayne is the easiest thing…to come out and bat and rotate the strike. That’s what I did for the first couple of overs, and I’m a natural boundary scorer, so the boundaries came. We had a plan to bat most of the overs and I would rotate the strike and Smith would be Smith. When he got out, I took over.”The player admitted to being nervous in the latter part of his innings—he was dropped by Darren Bravo on 89—and described it as a “good feeling” to score a hundred.Carter was also pleased with the crowd support.“We all know that everyone is backing Trinidad,” the batsman said, “but at the end of the day, when we came here tonight and I started to bat, Trinidad was supporting cricket, so it’s a good feeling that they came to support the cricket and not Trinidad itself…it’s feels good. It’s a warmth that you come to (in T&T)…from the people as well.”First Published In The Trinidad Express.Date: Mon, 02/03/2014 - 20:12Category: Regional Super 50Barbados Cricket Tweet

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The Split: Seismic changes to high school playoff system Wednesday, Aug 28 at 8:42 PM Doug Mouton / Eyewitness Sports Email: [email protected] | Twitter: @dmoutonwwl NEW ORLEANS -- For the first 10 weeks, the high school season will look normal. Traditional rivals will tangle. District championships will be decided. Then at playoff time, tradition is turned upside down. "There's probably no one doing what we're doing," Louisiana High School Athletics Association Executive Director Kenny Henderson said. "I think this is the first anybody's seen anything like this." In Louisiana's new system, private schools will be separated from public schools for the playoffs. Traditional public schools are known as "non-select" schools, because they do not choose their students. Private schools and the public schools which pick their students, like magnet schools, are referred to as "select" schools. Rummel and Mandeville played in the 2012 5A state semifinals. Even though both schools still carry 5A enrollment numbers, they cannot meet in the playoffs in 2013. Mandeville remains a 5A schools. Rummel, as a select school, now moves into what's called Division 1. Nine Championships Louisiana will hand out five state championships to traditional public schools and another four in the private school divisions. Louisiana handed out a total of five championships last year, nine this year. Florida has four times the population of Louisiana and hands out eight. "Nine is way too many," Brother Martin High School Athletic Director Scott Williams said. "That's going to be interesting to see. I liken it to not playing for a National Championship in college but now playing for an SEC Championship." "When you have about 60 to 65 schools in each classification, that's a good number," Henderson said. “When you start getting down below that where almost everybody's making the playoffs, then it loses some of its luster." In 2013, none of Louisiana's nine classifications will have more than 52 schools. "I understand the argument that we're diluting it somewhat," Mandeville High School Principal Bruce Bundy countered, "but I don't think as a 5A principal, if my kids won a State Championship, that I would feel that 5A was diluted. I wouldn't feel that way at all." Public schools principals in 5A won't feel the separation, because in Louisiana's system, separate is definitely not equal. 52 schools will compete for the 5A State Championship this year. The private schools which carry 5A enrollments, like Rummel, Jesuit, and Brother Martin, will now compete in Division 1 with just 10 schools in the entire division. "Everybody's going to want to know, from a competition standpoint, who's the best in the state," Williams said. "You don't have that now. We don't live in a society where everybody should get a cupcake. You have to earn it." How the Split Came to Be "One of the things that led this to be where it is, or a possibility that it led it to where it is, is when we quit letting schools play up," Henderson said. The competitive imbalance, especially among smaller schools, fueled the vote in favor of the split in January. "This turned very personal in my opinion," Williams said. At the heart of the fight is the belief by many public school principals across Louisiana, that private schools recruit players, and the belief that LHSAA rules to stop recruiting haven't worked. A vote to split had actually come up before in the LHSAA, Kenny Henderson said, in the late '90s, then again in 2003. "This is an issue that has been plaguing the LHSAA for many years," Bundy said. "Lots of rules have been passed to try to keep the level playing field, and they just don't seem to be working. We don't want to penalize people, we just want to play with people who have the same rules that we have." "As far as leveling the playing field with recruiting," Williams said, "I don't know if you're ever going to do that. I don't know if you can put it in a handbook. They have many rules in there regarding what you can and can't do." Many public school principals admit that the 2013 play isn't a perfect plan, but in January they saw it as the best plan on the table at the time. "We could probably do something better than what we have, but it was a step," Bundy said. "Principals wanted to take a step in that direction." "I think the fact that this was an idea, and we had some people out there that were just looking for anything," Henderson said. "When you look at what's going to happen this playoff season and you realize - you mean, you've got a division with only 10 schools in it? People are going to look at that and say - well then, why didn't we include them in this process? So, maybe we could back off that just a little bit. I would like to see that happen." "I want to believe in my heart that the public schools wanted to have their voice heard. I think they had their voice heard in January. That's my hope. And I believe cooler heads, I hope cooler heads will prevail next January." Next January "I think this January is going to be very critical," Henderson said. In January 2014, three things can happen at the LHSAA meeting. Principals could vote to keep the football system we have in 2013, although no one believes that will happen. Or, principals could vote to at least begin the process of bringing public and private back together again. Or, principals could vote to separate public from private in all sports. "I'd say, at this point in time, it's a toss of a coin," Bundy said. "I think you'll see a proposal to do away with what we did this past year, and I think you'll see a proposal to take it further." "I would hope that cooler heads would prevail on that," Kenny Henderson added. "If it happens for all sports, God forbid, you may end up having two separate associations," Williams said. Two Associations Talk of two associations has grown since January. In Louisiana's new football playoff system, there are 72 select schools, but only 10 with 4A or 5A sized enrollments. The obvious problem for private schools is that, if separated, the six New Orleans area schools (St. Augustine, Rummel, Brother Martin, Shaw, Jesuit, and Holy Cross) would play each other, over and over in all sports. St. Paul's would have no similarly sized opponent for 30 miles. Scotlandville and Catholic in Baton Rouge would have no similarly sized opponents other than each other, for 60 miles. "You're going to tax schools financially if that happens. There is no way that we can survive as two associations in the state," Williams said. "Some people seem to think we can. I don't know how you do it. I wish that somebody had a plan to show us to say how it's going to ... it's not going to work." Whether or not a private, school-only association could work long term, many believe if principals vote to split in all sports, private schools will try it. Louisiana's private schools are also some of the state's biggest moneymakers, especially in sports that aren't football, so two associations would definitely hurt public schools financially. "I'm personally OK if a split takes place and public schools just play public schools," Bundy said. "But that's my personal stance and I know there's a lot to be debated, but I think it would work OK for Mandeville High School." Reuniting the Big Schools One idea expected to come up this January will be to have principals vote only for their enrollment divisions. So 5A principals would vote only whether then wanted to reunite 5A public and private schools. 4A would vote just for 4A, and so on. "If that's the alternative, that there's a vote with just 5A principals," Williams said, "then I believe we come back together." That would be a baby steps-approach to keeping private schools in the LHSAA, bring 5A and 4A back together while you work on the problems with the smaller schools. Under this plan, it's possible that in 2014, you'd have a united 5A State Championship, and two separated championships at 1A. While private schools like John Curtis and Evangel have dominated play in smaller classifications, private schools have certainly not dominated among the big schools. Louisiana added a 5A division 22 years ago. Public schools have won 17 state championships, private schools five. Rummel's title in 2012 was its first in school history. Reunite or Further Separate Bottom line, private school principals have very little power in deciding whether schools reunite or further separate. Public school principals cast 75 percent of the votes. "I'm hoping we can bring this back together," Henderson said. "I think we're a much stronger organization when we play together." Bundy said there are other recruiting rules being used in other states which may be worth trying. "I think over the course of time, you see that folks want to stay together. I think we're stronger together," Bundy said. "We're a stronger association together, but by the same token, the rules that have been passed to keep the recruiting from happening don't seem to be working. And this issue is the same thing that other states are facing too. Everybody's having the same argument about what to do these unlevel playing fields, but I do agree, in general, that folks want to stay together, if we can have a set of rules that helps us play fairly." One rule being talked about would require private schools to have no more football players on scholarship than the rest of the student body. Meaning, if 10 percent of your student body is on some type of financial aid / scholarship, then no more than 10 percent of your football team can be. Whether or not schools further split, lawsuits are also possible. "I think once emotions settle, once everybody gets to see how this year actually works, they'll realize that this is not in the best interest of our kids," Williams said. "We've always been able to work together," Henderson said, "and I think we can again." "I strongly ask all the adults involved, all the educators, on both sides to come together and fix this," Williams said, "because the alternative is not going to be good for our state." Previous article Curtis eyeing another national title Next article Program teaches kids how to become better student-athletes Video: Special night at Pine High Schooladd to reading list Franklin boys, girls each take state soccer titlesadd to reading list Some local high schools using low-rated football helmetsadd to reading list Video: Brother Martin wins Division I state wrestling titleadd to reading list Hahnville brings O.P. Walker down, 28-14 Jesuit coach under scrutiny after letting player throw 193 pitches in game Prep Football Scores Some local high schools using low-rated football helmets WWLTV's Prep Top 10: Week 9 More>>

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Brought to you by Ford Last Match: Sun 13 Apr, The FA Cup sponsored by Budweiser 10/3 13/5 4/5 Match Area Transfer news: Hull City complete signing of Maynor Figueroa on a two-year deal Last Updated: 17/06/13 2:11pm Maynor Figueroa: Honduras international has joined Hull City from Wigan Hull City have completed the signing of Honduras left-back Maynor Figueroa on a two-year deal after his release from Wigan Athletic. Figueroa was first brought to England by Hull manager Steve Bruce when he was in charge of Wigan back in January 2008 from Deportivo Olimpia for £500,000. The 30-year-old, who has 95 international caps, made 200 appearances for the Latics, scoring six goals, but missed out on the FA Cup final victory over Manchester City due to a groin injury. He is Hull's second signing of the summer following George Boyd, whose loan move from Peterborough was made permanent last month. Figueroa will join up with his new Tigers team-mates when they return for pre-season training in early July ahead of their Premier League return and he said: "I'm happy to be here and to be a part of the club. "It is a big challenge for me, but it's certainly one I'm looking forward to. When the team were playing the final few games in the Championship, I paid close attention to the results because I wanted Steve Bruce to achieve promotion. "I was happy for him to earn the success. He is a great manager, and I'm looking forward to working with him again." Figueroa admits he had considered the possibility of a move to the KC Stadium as soon as they sealed their place in the top flight on the final day of the season, a 2-2 draw against league winners Cardiff. He added: "I watched the Cardiff game, and after the final whistle, I turned to my wife and said, 'Hull could be an option for me next year'." Hull City Videos Hull reach FA Cup final Reaction from Nigel Clough and Curtis Davies as Hull beat Sheffield United 5-3 in a thrilling FA Cup semi-final. Teammates - Hull City Should clubs be able to change their names? Bruce: Nothing I can do Rangel: We lacked fight Nicholas - Swansea still have work to do Monk disappointed with performance Bruce: A huge win Hull City v Swansea - Bruce Rough ride Ed Chamberlin recalls Liverpool's emotional weekend but says Norwich may give them a test.

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Teams finding it tougher to win abroadIt's been a tough month for the teams on tour: India, West Indies and England.By Sunil Gavaskar | Mail Today – Sun 5 Jan, 2014 12:57 PM IST South Africa carry Jacques Kallis after beating India.The end of Ashes series will be more of a relief for English supporters. England went to Australia on the back of three consecutive Ashes wins and with a 3-0 win just a few months ago. They were confident of repeating their performance of 2010-11 when they bearded the lions in their own den.All over the world, it is becoming increasingly tougher to beat sides at home. England, having done it in Australia and following it with another impressive performance in India last year, were seen as the favourites to do it again. They certainly had quality players and almost the same combination. The hopes of English supporters were therefore justifiably high. Cricket, though, is a funny game and is so much mental that once the cracks start appearing, it takes a long time to be repaired.Like India in Australia a couple of years earlier, England were very much in the series in the first Test, but once they lost their grip on the game, the Aussies relentlessly ground them down. Expectedly, questions have been asked of the leadership qualities of Alastair Cook and the coach Andy Flower. Ashley Giles will be England’s coach in the limited-overs series, and if England can beat the Aussies, there will be a demand for him to take over the coaching of the Test team too.After all, despite all the success that Flower has had as coach over the last few years, he is not English and so dispensable. In the Emirates, two men on the wrong side of their 30s are showing that age is just a number. Younis Khan and Misbah-ul-Haq scored tons and put Pakistan in a winning position in their adopted home ground, and with the new ‘ magician’ Saeed Ajmal around, they must have hoped to start the Test series on a winning note.Shahid Afridi’s long standing record of fastest century in One-day cricket was eclipsed by Corey Anderson of New Zealand who got it in 36 balls. With Jesse Ryder also making his comeback to the New Zealand team with a 46-ball century, the Kiwis easily overwhelmed the West Indies which seems to be going from bad to worse.***INDIA ARE BACK from their tour of South Africa. They will be disappointed that a couple of bad sessions cost them the Test series too. Not taking the second new ball on the fourth morning was hard to understand, especially after night watchman Dale Steyn had survived the first half-an-hour or so. It made it easy for Jacques Kallis to get to his 45th century in Tests.With three seamers in the team, a new ball was more likely to get results. By the time it was forced on them the batsmen were set and the bowlers tired, and the new ball was wasted. It does bring into question whether the skipper is getting the right tactical advice, for it just went downhill from there onwards, just like it did in Nagpur against England a year ago.If India had returned unbeaten in the two Tests, it would have been huge. They dominated the first Test and with a good batting performance in the first innings of the second Test they had won a moral victory after being written off after the one-dayers.India now go to New Zealand, and the Kiwis, after their performances against the West Indies, will be high on confidence. Like all teams they will be hard to beat at home, and the Indians will have to play as well as they did in the first Test against South Africa to ensure that it is not another disappointing overseas tour. PMGALSO SEE — India Return From South Africa India top-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara with his wife Pooja. Yahoo! Cricket | Photo by Yahoo Fri 3 Jan, 2014 10:30 AM IST

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Louisville's next for Sanders Jeff Wafford CardinalSports.comFour-star offensive lineman Zebrie Sanders said he grew up a Louisville fan. Coming in the next two weeks, the Cardinals will have a chance to impress the No. 18 offensive tackle in the nation and the top ten player from Ohio. "I'm actually coming up there not this weekend but the next," Sanders told Cardinalsports.com, confirming he would be in town the weekend of December 14. "I set up the visit a couple of days ago with Coach (Greg) Nord."The 6-foot-5, 273-pound prospect from Northmont H.S. in Ohio has had a long-standing interest in UofL. "Louisville was my favorite team when I started looking at college football and I started following them a lot," he explained. "When they offered me I liked them a lot. Then I went down there for a combine and I really liked the facilities and everything."How did he become a fan? "At first, it was just about which team I liked based on jerseys and how they played," he said. "After awhile I liked where they were located and the city. Then I liked Coach Petrino and their style of offense."Despite his interest, Louisville definitely has tough competition. "I've narrowed it down," Sanders said. "There's basically four - Lousiville, Florida State, Florida, and Georgia."Having already visited Florida and Georgia, the Cardinals and Seminoles will host him (FSU in January) before he makes a decision. "My top two are Florida and Georgia. After I go to Louisville Florida State, maybe that will balance it all out again." When asked about why the Gators and Bulldogs stood at the top of his list, he said his mother attended UGA and he has visited both schools so he feels very comfortable with them. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!

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Rivals250 receiver to decide between five Rivals.com Football RecruitingAkron (Ohio) Buchtel wide receiver Corey Smith was recently rewarded with the No. 178 spot on the first edition of the Rivals250.The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect is one of the top play makers in the state of Ohio and has drawn offers from schools all over the country.Smith is closing in on a decision and has a small pool of schools that he will be choosing from."It's between Illinois, West Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio State and North Carolina," Smith told Rivals.com on Wednesday evening."I don't have a day set yet but I'm going to decide next week. I think I'm going to do a press conference. I've sort of got it in my mind what I want to do a little bit, but I'm not sure."Smith said once he makes his decision he will consider himself a solid verbal commitment and will shut down the recruiting process.While he didn't have a lot to say about each of the schools recruiting him he did shed a little light on what he likes about each of the schools remaining on his list."Illinois, I like the coaches and that's mostly it," Smith said."With West Virginia I like the offense."I like Tennessee's coaches and facilities."Ohio State, I really like their facilities."North Carolina, I like their coaches, their facilities and their program," he concluded.Each of those finalists has been recruiting Smith as a wide receiver. Last fall in 15 games Smith caught 52 passes for 1,161 yards and 16 touchdowns. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!

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January 2, 2011Fiesta Bowl Postgame: Bob Stoops SoonerScoop.com Staff SoonerScoop.com Talk about it in the oklahoma Message BoardsBob Stoops opening statement…Very proud of our football team for the way they played. They deserve the credit. They were out there making plays. They played hard. They played well really all night. Randy, I'm sure, is proud of his football team. They have done a great job. He has got an excellent football team and a great program as he is going to continue to build. Again, really proud of the way our players handled themselves the whole week, the way they got ready for the game and the way they came out and played tonight and making the plays they did. There was a lot of big plays made, and they did a great job. Can you talk about the amazing night for your offense, 500 yards total offense. Landry over 400 yards. Demarco almost 100. Just talk about the amazing night, especially with Ryan Broyles, Kenny Stills both going over 100, too. Players really did well. Again, the credit should go to the offensive staff, Coach Heupel, Coach Norvell, all those guys. Kevin came back and did a nice job during the game just talking with Josh. Again, Coach Patton, Coach Gundy, all those guys did a nice job preparing the players. And these guys made big plays. Landry had a huge night. Ryan always does. Jeez, that catch he made, he just every -- does something amazing every game. DeMarco is always the tough, physical, hard-working guy that sets so many things up because people have to defend him. And Kenney had a big night. Cameron Kenney I thought had one of the biggest nights. I thought, again, through the last half of the season he has made some huge plays for us, and he did again tonight. A lot of games are won on a decisive play or momentum swing. This one looked like it might have been won in December in the preparation and in the seriousness with which you guys took this game. And the chip maybe that you had on your shoulder about Fiesta Bowls and BCS Bowls. Can you talk about that and how that played out? It's fair to say that probably had a strong impact on the players. The players could probably answer that a little bit more. But in the end I don't feel we have ever not worked hard in these games. We've maybe not had the best fortune in some of the other ones, came in with not all of our players. You have some starters missing, those kind of things. You can end up you are not at your best. You are playing another championship team. You are going to have a hard time winning. I'm not going to sit here and act like we weren't ready in some other games, but we were more healthy in this one and these guys worked hard and they had an attitude to play in the game. How important was it that you guys got off to a fast start offensively? First two times you got the ball, you scored touchdowns and put them on their heels. How important was that for you tonight? It obviously helps you. But in the end, if you don't, you still have to play for another 3 1/2 hours. I worry about ever stressing it too much because if it doesn't happen, you don't want everyone thinking, oh, gosh, we didn't get off to a great start. When you do, it is definitely a big boost and momentum -- it helps you with momentum and helps you. The question I had, though, Bob, for you and Landry, even though you look like you were in control of the game, you had to play on into late third. And it was the third-down plays that Landry and the offense came up with that seemed to be the decisive thing. Definitely. When you have a pick-six for a touchdown, that's not really -- I saw the way that unfolded. It is not Landry's fault in that we were running a mesh route. Players -- he is anticipating the guy got knocked down on his way to the route. He is anticipating him being there. He is not there. And then those things happen. You have a pick-six and a kick-off return for a touchdown. And to me, even at the end of the half, the poor kick coverage set up the field goal. So you are sitting there looking at 17 points and the defense has been playing fabulous. But that will happen. You give up those kind of plays. So they were -- they were hanging around. It is not the most comfortable feeling when you are playing so well, but the score doesn't indicate it. Just wanted to know what is it about these Bowl games? It is two 400-yard performances in a row in Bowl games for Landry. What is it that brings out the best in him in these? What's that say about his future? Landry, I have been saying it all year, has a huge future. He has had a great -- he had a huge year this year. I mean, this guy is special. He's a long way from a finished product, and he is also a special and great quarterback, and everyone is realizing it. I'm sure Landry would credit Coach Heupel and his coaching and all his other coaches, too. And he works hard. He has got the attitude. He is humble. He pushes himself. You have that kind of guy that has talent with it, and he is going to be special. Bob, you mentioned when you look up you see your team is playing well and they are only up 10, 17 points. Game is over, 28-point game. What is it like for you at the end of the game to look up and see a score that reflects one team's dominance? It feels a heck of a lot better than it did when it was 20-10. At the end you are just pleased. I'm excited for the players, for them just to play in a complete game and to finish it the way they did is -- you know, you are just proud for them. Bob, you talked about the different factors in previous BCS games. For all the consistency in this program, the success escapes a little bit at the BCS level. But to get this win tonight, is there any extra satisfaction for just finishing off the season like that? Well, sure there is. There is always satisfaction in winning and being successful. So, yeah, it doesn't feel bad (laughter).Video by Eddie RadosevichFEATURED PRODUCT Nike Alabama Crimson Tide #8 Youth Replica Football Jersey - Crimson

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Sunday Sports MailBag / Voice of the Fan / Guest Columns « ACC getting ready for the fu... Coaches can be bullying vict...» Bettman's leadership hurts NHL By Brittany Ayers ([email protected]) Save | The Pittsburgh Penguins took the idea of "you win some, you lose some" to heart in the beginning of their condensed season, sporting an on-again, off-again playing style and a so-so record. After a two-game sweep in Florida, the Penguins played with a new-found passion. Though they began to flounder once more after their 15-game winning streak, the team rose to the occasion, recently clinching the Atlantic Division title. Fans might rejoice for the stellar season, but they need to remember the unsteady foundation the Penguins are built on. If the playoffs are cut short by inconsistency, NHL enthusiasts should not blame the players for their undeniable talent, but look to the administration and more importantly, Gary Bettman, for their erratic behavior. According to the NHL Constitution, Article VI, section 6.1, "The Commissioner shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the League and is charged with protecting the integrity of the game of professional hockey and preserving public confidence in the League." In the past 19 years, Bettman presided over three lockouts, resulting in two shortened seasons and one canceled season. The commissioner's job is not to play alongside the Penguins but to protect and preserve the game of hockey. In a league struggling to gain popularity, dismissing fans and pivotal exposure is the last thing any commissioner should do. During his 2004-05 lockout, Bettman lost the contract with ESPN, which cost the league much-needed publicity. ESPN was forced to push back its scheduled programming, so it dumped the NHL contract and searched elsewhere to fill the void. In his second lockout, Bettman gave up the largest form of exposure available in the United States. Now, in the 2012-13 season, games are televised on regional Fox Sports channels, Root Sports and Center Ice only, severely limiting those who can watch the game or even know they exist. Bettman's lockouts not only cost the league expansive amounts of money and fans, but could cost the league its most popular players. All-stars such as Patrick Kane, Rick Nash and the Pens' own Evgeni Malkin signed with other hockey leagues shortly after the lockout. Though the continued play kept them in optimal shape, two big realizations arose from their time outside of the NHL. Players may find a more stable league outside the NHL after Bettman's numerous lockouts, and after traveling to other leagues, such as the KHL in Russia, players are at more risk to injure themselves, further damaging the NHL's already wounded reputation. Bettman squandered almost three whole seasons of play, television rights to one of the largest network in the nation, millions of dollars and hundreds of fans. In the wake of his erratic, unprofessional behavior is a hockey team that fights to maintain a stable season and continue on into the playoffs. After the Penguins clinched the Atlantic Division, fans can only wonder if they will continue to play their strongest, or if an averge team will beat them. If the Penguins begin to stumble, they will be following a model created by Gary Bettman. Brittany Ayers is a Penn State Altoona student. Save | Subscribe to The Altoona Mirror Altoona Weather Forecast, PA

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Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire ASU vs California: Sun Devils win 27-17 Arizona State won at Cal for the first time since 1997, moving their season record to 4-1. Total Updates since September 25, 2012 Important - 4 Sun Devils do not make initial BCS standings Despite a strong start to the season, the 5-1 Arizona State Sun Devils did not make the first installment of this year's BCS standings. ASU rising in Coaches' Poll Arizona State moved closer to being ranked in the USA Today Coaches' Poll this week, nearly doubling their vote total from a week ago. Arizona, Arizona State receive votes in AP Poll The Arizona State Sun Devils and the Arizona Wildcats each received votes in the latest Associated Press poll. Kelly, defense prove key to ASU's road win With a tough road test on tap against California, the Sun Devils' defense and quarterback Taylor Kelly proved up to the challenge. Continue ASU wins at Cal for first time since 1997 The Arizona State Sun Devils took care of the California Golden Bears on Saturday, winning 27-17 on a sunny Berkeley afternoon. The Sun Devils moved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Pac-12 Conference with the win. After building a 17-7 lead late in the third quarter, Arizona State saw Cal bring the game within 3. Cal quarterback Zach Maynard hit Keenan Allen on a 10-yard touchdown pass with nine minutes left to play. But the Sun Devils answered back with a quick scoring drive just three minutes later, as Taylor Kelly found Kevin Ozier for a 22-yard touchdown pass and a 27-17 lead. The Bears committed a whopping 12 penalties for 119 yards, while Maynard completed just 9-28 passes in the loss that dropped them to 1-4. Box Score Hero: QB Taylor Kelly, Arizona State. Kelly threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns while avoiding any interceptions. Rankings Ramifications: Arizona State was receiving some votes last week, so the win will likely have them creep closer to the top 25. But Did They Cover? The Sun Devils were favored by 2.5 points and did cover. Next Week's Schedule: Arizona State will take a week off, while Cal prepares to host UCLA. This story was originally published on SB Nation.com. ASU vs. Cal: ASU defense playing strong The ASU Sun Devils lead the Cal Golden Bears after three quarters, 20-10, but they run the risk of allowing Cal to climb back into things after allowing a field goal late in the quarter. Defensive play is strong on both sides, but Taylor Kelly has been patient, avoiding mistakes or interceptions. As a result, ASU is getting the better of things. Kelly is 17-for-34 through three quarters, picking up 158 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. The team has spread out the rushing attack, with five different backs carrying the ball. Senior Cameron Marshall leads things for ASU, collecting 59 yards on 11 carries. On defense, junior defensive tackle Will Sutton is a standout among the front seven, but all of them are working together to get pressure on Cal's Zach Maynard. Maynard has been sacked five times through three quarters. ASU is in control in Berkley. If they can keep it up for 15 more minutes, they're looking at a 4-1 start to the season. Devils lead 17-7 at the half The Arizona State Sun Devils are trying to pick up a win over the California Bears on the road for the first time since 1997. After one half of play, they are at least on the right track. The Devils picked up a touchdown on their second drive of the game and another on their last drive of the half and go into the half with a 17-7 lead. On their second drive of the game, ASU drove 67 yards down the field in nine plays and quarterback Taylor Kelly found tight end Darwin Rogers for a one-yard touchdown. It was Rogers' first career catch and score. California tied the game on a very quick drive -- three plays for 76 yards. Quarterback Zach Maynard completed a pass to Keenan Allen for 44 yards and then two plays later running back Isi Sofele ran the ball 24 yards for a touchdown. ASU would kick a field goal in the second quarter to make it 10-7, but gave themselves momentum at teh end of the half. Sofele fumbled the ball at Cal's 37-yard line and ASU cornerback Alden Darby recovered the ball. Nine plays later, Kelly found Kevin Ozier in the end zone to make the score 17-7. In the half, Kelly was 14/25 for 121 yards and two scores. He was not intercepted. Cameron Marshall leads the team with 30 yards rushing and thight end Chris Coyle has four catches for 37 yards. California is led by Isi Sofele's 83 yards rushing on 12 carries. Quarterback Zach Maynard is only 3/8 for 63 yards. Continue ASU Vs. Cal: Keys to Victory For The Sun Devils Arizona State looks to get their first victory in Berkeley since 1997. Here is what the Sun Devils must do if they want to improve to 4-1. Continue ASU QB Kelly focused on Cal Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Taylor Kelly isn't taking any opponent lightly, especially not a 1-3 California Golden Bears team looking to make up for disappointing losses over the course of the young 2012 season. ASU will face Cal on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Northern California, and our friends over at House of Sparky caught up with the sophomore signal caller with respect to the matchup and a few other interesting tidbits. When asked about the significance of being winless at Cal since 1997, Kelly replied, "We got to come out with a great focus this week and we had a good practice so far; stay focused on the road and go get this win." Kelly has made a living staying calm under duress, and it shows in his production in 2012. He ranks first in passer rating in the Pac-12 and ninth in the nation. He has thrown for 1,000 yards, six touchdown passes, two interceptions and has has averaged 4.5 yards per carry through four games. Continue Sun Devils haven't won in Berekly since 1997 The Arizona State Sun Devils haven't won on the road against the California Golden Bears since 1997. This year however, the Sun Devils have burst out of the gates with a 3-1 record while the Bears have languished with a 1-3 record. Although head coach Todd Graham is trying not to focus on the historical significance of a possible win, it sits on a few of his player's minds. "It'd be huge, we haven't beaten those guys in a while and I think it's going to help us stay in the driver's seat right now for the Pac-12 South," senior offensive lineman Evan Finkenberg said. House of Sparky calls this one of the biggest games of the season, so far. The Sun Devils have struggled on the road over their last 23 games, going a mere 5-18. While the record suggests otherwise, the Bears are a talented team on paper. Their offense seems to be better than their record suggests. They average 411 yards and 27 points per game and are always capable of making a big play. "They've got so many players at running back and receiver that can take the ball to the house, and I don't think we've played against anybody that has that to this point," coach Graham said. The Sun Devils will counter with defensive tackle Will Sutton, who was just recently added to the Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List on Thursday. The yearly honor is awarded to the top defensive player in college football. Sutton anchors the Sun Devils defense, with 26 tackles and 3.5 sacks on the year so far. Screw history, Cal has talent If you haven't heard yet, ASU hasn't won at in the bay since 1997. But there's more to worry about than just history itself. Taylor Kelly handles the pressure The afterthought in the Arizona State Sun Devils' three-man quarterback competition leading into this season, Taylor Kelly didn't blink in keeping his effort and mindset focused. And despite the size of Michael Eubank and Mike Bercovici's arm, it was Kelly who coach Todd Graham named the replacement for Brock Osweiler. Kelly's background has much to do with the perseverance, according to The Associated Press: "That guy is a winner. How he conducts himself, how he carries himself, he's a winner. He's just got that 'it factor.' You can look him in the eye on game day and see it." Growing up in Idaho had much to do with that. Kelly spent much time on his grandparents' ranch, where his work ethic and ability to diagnose then solve problems on the fly developed. He's used that experience to lead the Pac-12 in quarterback efficiency. Kelly's rating of 182.2 is tops, and his 72 percent accuracy bodes well for a guy who's quickly become known for his ability to make plays when things break down. The 6'1 sophomore has 1,000 passing yards this season with six touchdown and two interceptions. Sun Devil Chris Young will tackle your face off The addition of Chris Young to the Arizona State Sun Devils didn't get much hoopla, but the transfer from Arizona Western College is making noise through four games as a starting spur, a hybrid linebacker and safety in Todd Graham's defense. House of Sparky caught up with the 6'2, 220 pounder, who has 32 tackles on the year and 8.5 tackles for loss, which is second on the Pac-12. Young says that once he's grasped the spur position, a spot where players thrive by roaming the field, it's all come together for him. "You just have to be able to make plays when given the opportunity. It's a pretty physical and fun position. Once you get the hang of it, you just really enjoy playing it." Of course, playing with the talent and passion of standouts like linebacker Brandon McGee and defensive tackle Will Sutton has made things easier for the junior transfer. With the California Golden Bears on deck, Young said the key for the defense will be to pursue the ball while staying with the correct assignments on the field. Sun Devils Can Break Road Woes With Win At Cal The Arizona State Sun Devils will have an opportunity to rid the program of its recent road struggles when Todd Graham's team plays in Berkeley, Calif., this Saturday. House Of Sparky's Brad Denny points out that ASU's road record has been poor going back a couple seasons. The Sun Devils are 5-18 in their last 23 road contests. Furthermore, the California Golden Bears have the Sun Devils' number in recent years, winning four in a row and eight of the last nine meetings between the two teams. Put those two problems together, and ASU hasn't won at Cal since 1997. The opportunity for the Sun Devils to shed the road woes and those against the Golden Bears shouldn't be overlooked, especially with a 1-0 conference mark that puts them at the lead of a Pac-12 South where even the best team, USC, already has a loss on its record. With a surprising victory against Washington State this past week, Colorado is the only other team that stands atop the South Division this early into the conference schedule. ASU's Will Sutton Is Opening Eyes Arizona State defensive lineman Will Sutton didn't put in a box score that stood out, but his performance against the Utah Utes in a 37-7 victory wasn't anything but spectacular. Sutton was credited with four tackles, one tackle for loss and half a sack, but he often found himself making solid penetration into the backfield against the Utes. For the season, he is in the top 10 in NCAA sacks (3.5) and tackles for loss. ASU head coach Todd Graham told The Arizona Republic that it's just the beginning for the junior. "I can't imagine there's a defensive tackle in the country that has played better than Will Sutton has," Graham said at Monday's weekly news conference. "He's been pretty good." Sutton is second on the Sun Devils with 26 total tackles through four games this season. He also has two pass breakups. And it's likely that the California Golden Bears will be finding a way to keep him out of the backfield and away from quarterback Zach Maynard this week. Check out House Of Sparky for more on the Arizona State Sun Devils or head over to California Golden Blogs for more on the Cal Bears. Arizona State Vs. California Odds: Despite Losing Record, Bears Favored By Two Cal may have a 1-3 record, but they are favored by two over the 3-1 Arizona State Sun Devils.

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« Blue Square Premier League – Week 10 Manchester: A City United in ambition » Will the Stadium Samba subside through travel? by Adam Mills Late Thursday night saw the schedule for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil released to the public for the first time, and the extent of the travelling for each team was unveiled alongside it. And it’s not a pretty sight. The second team within Group A, alongside Brazil, will have a 2,000 mile trip from their first game to their second – from the south-east city of Sao Paulo to the northern city of Manaus. The travel will have a massive impact on fatigue and fitness throughout the tournament, and FIFA have tried to combat this by instigating a plan for four days between matches for teams with long-distance travel. For UK viewers, games will be at awkward times too – kick-offs vary from 5PM, 8PM, 11PM and 2AM, with the knock-out stages being around the 9PM mark. Gone will be the early morning starts at school to watch the game, or the online streaming of matches at work in the hope the boss won’t see. But my question is this – will the World Cup in Brazil be ruined by the distance between stadia? In short, yes, of course it will be. What makes the World Cup so great is the spectacle, and the fans – all those people who travel from around the globe in order to see their nation attempt to become the best footballing nation in the world. A massive drive, flight or ferry trip across the country will stop most fans from appearing at several games, and the fact FIFA have stopped the initial plans of keeping countries in smaller areas of the country, in order to keep the travelling to a minimum. This will have a great effect on the atmosphere at games, but the Brazilian people will of course fill up the seats and create a party round the pitch, which could be absolutely fascinating to see. The stadia could pull it round, however. This will be the first World Cup to use 12 different stadia – six are brand-new, four are being upgraded, one is being rebuilt, and the other is the Maracana. Arguably the best stadium in the world. What I have noticed with the stadia, however, is that eight of the announced designs or existing stadia are circular. Whether this will make a difference to the atmosphere, I don’t know, but the Maracana has proven time and time again that some of the most incredible crowds can be found in a round arena. This may be the fans, but it could be the way the stadium has been built – we’ll have to wait and see. The likelihood of the tournament being a flop is very, very small, yet the distance each team and their fans will have to travel is monumental, and could have a distinct effect on how Brazil 2014 is remembered in years to come. Agree? Disagree?! Contact me on Twitter – I’m @Adam9309, or use the official site account - @bpfootball! Aspiring journalist. MUFC fan. 49ers. Journalism student. Olympics addict. Clean freak. Tech craver. Fashion nut. Mean baker. Elder twin. List lover. http://www.gmoai.com AdamMillsUK This entry was posted by is filed under Featured, Opinion, World Cup and Tags: Brazil, World Cup 2014 . 2 Responses André Savastano says: October 22, 2011 at 9:49 am Unfortunately, most of the stadia are being built with people’s money. I think there is only one of these arenas getting all the money from the club and their partners, and it’s Internacional’s stadium, the Beira Rio. Mainly because of that, cities in the Northern part of the country couldn’t stay out of the list. Also, temperatures during winter (remember… this World Cup will be played during winter) in Manaus, for example, stay around 33ºC, while in Sao Paulo it’s much colder, around 18ºC – something the European teams are used to. Not to mention Porto Alegre and Curitiba, where they have average temperature of 10ºC during this part of the year. So, you can’t let only one or two European sides play in cities with temperatures close to what they have back in their homeland, and that leads us to these long travellings. Regarding the Maracanã and its circular form, I don’t think that’s what makes crowds incredible. I think it’s a cultural thing, and FIFA tend to take it away with all their “recommendations”, such as saying there should be seats instead of basic cement stands. That’s not part of the Brazilian football culture. But, hey, the World Cup is a global event, isn’t it? Reply Jamie says: October 24, 2011 at 1:30 pm Brazil’s a big country, so teams and fans may well have to have long trips between matches. This isn’t unheard of in a World Cup, USA 94 didn’t regionalise. Teams had 2,000 mile trips within days of each other there too. And how 2002, when Germany had their group games in Japan, the knock-outs in South Korea, before back to Japan for the final? With 12 stadia you might think it’d be wise to localise matches as best as possible. But at some point in the tournament they’ll have to move. You only deserve to win the world cup if you can adapt to the situation in front of you. It’s inevitable in a country the size of Brazil, teams and fans will just have to deal with it. Related Posts Brazil’s Carnival sets the benchmark ahead of World Cup Brazil 2014 Third Kit Launched One 2 Watch – Marcos Lopes Brazil 2014: How the draw unfolded Video: New Brazil Football Ad By Nike Seven predictions for Brazil 2014 Football and fluid identity Brazil 2014: How would England line up? Breno’s Redemption Song

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Managing greatness Noted baseball author and historian Harold Seymour penned the book “The Golden Age of Baseball” about early 20th century baseball – a time when Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson were the stars of the game. Some would say that what we are experiencing now is the golden age of the baseball manager. Entering the 2010 season, three of baseball’s five all-time winningest managers are active. At 2,552 wins, Cardinals skipper Tony LaRussa sits about three seasons away from moving into second-place all-time, ahead of New York Giants Hall of Fame manager John McGraw. Thirteen times LaRussa has piloted clubs to a playoff birth, including two World Championships. Bobby Cox of the Braves and Joe Torre of the Dodgers, with a combined five World Series championships and 29 postseason appearances, come in at Nos. 4 and 5, respectively, on the all-time manager win list. With the exception of the strike-shortened 1994 season, Cox lead Atlanta to a first-place finish every season from 1991 to 2005, a mark that is unparalleled in Major League Baseball history. Meanwhile, for 14 seasons beginning in 1996, Torre has lead either the Yankees or the Dodgers to the postseason with either a first-place finish or a wild-card berth. To find the last time that three of baseball’s top five winningest managers were active in a season, we have to go back 60 years. The 1950 season was the last for Connie Mack and Joe McCarthy, and also marked the beginning of Bucky Harris’ third stint with the Washington Senators. At 3,731 wins, no one will be closing in on Mack’s spot at No. 1 on the list anytime soon. But if history holds true it is only a matter of time before Cooperstown comes calling for LaRussa, Cox and Torre. Other than those three active skippers, the rest of the top 11 all-time winningest managers are already enshrined in Cooperstown. Filed in: Dailies Tags: Atlanta Braves, Babe Ruth, Bobby Cox, Bucky Harris, Christy Mathewson, Connie Mack, Harold Seymour, Honus Wagner, Joe McCarthy, Joe Torre, John McGraw, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, New York Giants, New York Yankees, St. Louis Cardinals, The Golden Age of Baseball, Tony LaRussa, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson, Washington Senators, World Championships, World Series Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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Boston Celtics: Jeff Green Is the Player to Watch in Home Opener By Nick Farnsworth Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Jeff Green will look to have a bigger night in Boston Jeff Green put together great performances night in and night out during the preseason, but he disappeared almost entirely when his team needed him most—opening night against the rival Miami Heat.Although Boston had a late game surge, the Celts were unable to make the comeback and will head into their home opener at the TD Garden with a loss under their belt. During the preseason, Green made headlines with his four year, $36 million extension and a number of great performances that revealed the dominant style of play that he can produce.Green averaged 13.9 points on 49.4 percent shooting (40.4 percent from three-point range), 4.9 rebounds per game and displayed a defensive effort that made Celtics fans feel that he was the missing piece to a championship team. Unfortunately, Celtics fans did not see the same player emerge in Tuesday night's game against the Heat.Green missed all four shots that he took, resulting in only three points from the free-throw line, as well as three rebounds, one steal and one turnover in 23 minutes of play.He seemed to be a bit lost on the court and lacked the aggression he showed driving to the rim in the preseason. Green's defense was very limited against Miami, and he was unable to force mistakes from his opponents as he had earlier in the month. Defensively, he was matched up with LeBron James for a period of time, and no matter how well a player performs in the preseason, nothing compares to playing the most dominant player in the league. Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images Jeff Green showed his dominance in the preseason Another point to consider is that the Jeff Green missed the entire 2011-12 season after undergoing a necessary heart surgery, which may have led to an increase in nervousness for the young forward.Although he played extremely well in the preseason, stepping back onto the court for the first regular season game against the best player in the NBA would be more than a bit daunting.Green will have the opportunity to start off on a better foot at home, as the Milwaukee Bucks come to the TD Garden on Friday night.The Bucks were ranked 22nd in the league last year in points allowed, giving up 98.7 points per game. Against Milwaukee, Green will battle players that aren't as strong as the group he faced in Miami. The Boston Celtics will look to make a statement after the loss on Tuesday, and they will likely focus on the defensive end of the floor.It would not be surprising to see Green have an increase in playing time, and actually demonstrate the tough defense that fans saw in his preseason outings.Green is likely due to bounce back offensively after a dismal shooting night in Miami, and perhaps he used the game to work out the nerves he may have had returning for the first time since his heart surgery. I'm predicting that we will see a stronger performance from Green in his second game, putting up a performance around 11 points on 44 percent shooting, four rebounds, two assists and will find his way to the free-throw line a few times.There is no reason to overreact on Green's performance from game one of the 2012-13 season, but hopefully he will show a bit more flash in the home opener, and gain the trust of Celtics fans going forward. Rajon Rondo Will Start vs. 76ers from @celtics

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NFL Draft 2013: Matt Barkley and Tyrann Mathieu Should Be Worried By Brittany Johnson The NFL Scouting Combine begins in one short day and players are gearing up for the intense evaluation. Performances during combine are crucial—and a couple of players should be worried.Matt BarkleyCall me crazy, but Barkley missing combine drills sends red flags flying. Barkley, whose injured shoulder has been a constant thorn in his side, is reportedly not going to throw at this week's scouting event in Indianapolis.If he's trying to prove he is the best QB coming out this season, not throwing isn't a good start. Barkley's shoulder injury this past season kept him from finishing with a bang. He hasn't been medically cleared to throw, so it's not entirely his fault. Still, not showing off his greatest asset won't be helpful for his draft stock.Instead, a look to his past performance will suffice. Does this help his case any? Not too much. He's not the quickest quarterback and pro defenses are relentless. His team won't be able to rely on his legs. As far as passing goes, Barkley has the ability to throw efficiently, but he's not the best throwing downfield.Barkley doesn't have stiff competition, as the QB class is weak this season, but all of his signal-calling counterparts will be throwing at the combine. Barkley has to impress at USC's pro day if he wants to be picked up in the first round. Chris Graythen/Getty Images Tyrann MathieuAfter a drug bust and an exit from LSU, Mathieu has plenty to prove leading up to the draft. The combine won't be incredibly difficult for the Honey Badger. While he doesn't have a recent resumé to refer to, he's no chopped liver.But with his most recent performance stemming from the 2011 national title game, his stock is not as high. The Honey Badger was silent against Alabama's offense. Let's hope he's improved since then. Not being a part of a team for a season isn't conducive to his stock in the draft.The most important part for Mathieu will be the interview. All eyes will be on his response to the drug charges. He must show signs of maturity. Mathieu has to convince teams that he won't be getting into trouble any time soon. His image will play a big role in teams' decisions.Both players have a lot to prove and for different reasons. They shouldn't worry about whether they'll be picked. What they should worry about is when and by whom they'll be picked. Shrine Game Stock Watch

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Want more real-time Golf news? As History Shows, Dustin Johnson Does Not Make the Same Mistakes Twice By Christopher Lane II Andy Lyons/Getty Images 255 While 2010 has been a "breakout" year of sorts for Dustin Johnson, he will mostly be remembered for a couple of Sunday blunders at two of the four majors. The infamous Sunday "blowup" at Pebble Beach not only was tough for him to swallow, it was hard for fans and other professionals to watch. You don't wish that sort of day upon any professional golfer, especially an emerging talent trying to establish his name in the large list of talented golfers. But at Whistling Straits, we saw a different Johnson than the one who walked around Pebble trying to figure out why exactly "Murphy's Law" decided to visit him on such an important day. After playing brilliantly the first three rounds of the PGA Championship, he looked confident and played smart for 17 holes yesterday. Unfortunately one bad drive left him with a tough shot, lying in a bunker which was hard to determine. However, according to the numerous local rules sheets, any portion of sand that resembles anything like a bunker is deemed to be one. And, unknowingly, Johnson grounded his club. It was hard to watch as the events unfolded: his shot over the green, followed with a brilliant shot, yet missing the putt for par and seemingly the win, all the while still believing he would have a chance to win in a three man playoff. The rest will be forever remembered as one of the biggest blunders in the history of major championships, already being compared to the infamous Roberto Di Vincenzo signing an incorrect scorecard, costing him the 1968 Masters. But if you know anything about Johnson and what he has overcome in his personal life, you can be assured that these blunders will be rectified by his play in the coming years. Living in South Carolina, I have heard many of the stories about Johnson that are past: the good and the bad. However, through each of the stories there is one constant: his character is never put into question. The mistakes he has made have always been attributed to a lack of judgment in a short time from the people who know him better than anyone else who can pass judgment on the situations. What stands out about the young golfer is that every mistakes he has made, he has taken responsibility and has done what he can to right his wrong. He has always been somewhat of a legend around South Carolina golf courses, and it has been interesting to hear the stories since I was in high school, and seeing him rise where he is today by working hard and focusing on his goals. These mistakes will fuel the fire Johnson uses to prepare his game, and in 2011, I would be surprised if one major championship trophy is not engraved with the name Dustin Johnson. While the consensus may be that Johnson's 2010 campaign was disappointing, he might not view it the same. If anything this has been a bittersweet year for the 26 year old. He knows that he has propelled himself into the ranks of some of the most respected touring professionals, but he also realizes how close he was to putting himself on the fast track to a "hall of fame like" start in his career. He can rest easy realizing that in 2010, he finished in the top 14 in three majors, successfully defended his AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am title, and has earned himself his first Ryder Cup appearance. He also ranks 11th on the money list with just under $2.77 million for the year. If this is chalked up as a disappointing year for the rising star, I cannot wait to see what the future holds for him. Share More From Breaking Down the Top 25 Post-Masters Winners, Losers from The Masters Biggest Surprises from Augusta Post-Masters US Open Odds Complete Prize Money Breakdown from Augusta Courses with Most Extreme Weather Conditions Golf Team StreamTM Players Who Proved They'll Never Conquer a Major Watch: Golf + Baseball = Really Cool Trick Shot Live Leaderboard at RBC Heritage from PGA.com Day Withdraws from RBC Heritage with Thumb Injury What Are Bubba's Chances of 2nd Major in 2014? Out of Bounds Awesome Golf Photos From: PGA.com Most Memorable Golf CommercialsFrom: Back9Network.com These Golf Balls Are Crazy From: Back9Network.com We'd like to send you the most entertaining Golf articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.

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Want more real-time NBA news? NBA Contraction? Finally, David Stern is Making Sense By Bleacher Report Ronald Martinez/Getty Images David Stern's NBA is turning more into a reality show than a competitive sports league You have to forgive the average, brainwashed sports fan of today's ESPN generation for identifying NBA commissioner David Stern more with Vince McMahon than guys like Paul Tagliabue and Roger Goodell.That's because today's NBA seems more like a staged reality TV show than an actual sports league where athletes compete on their own merits. In which other sport does free agency and the offseason overshadow the actual regular season and the sport's championship event? More fans cared about where LeBron was going this past summer than who won Game 7 of the Finals between the Celtics and Lakers. You know, the supposed pinnacle of the sport?Yeah, between a public relations machine spiraling out of control and player salaries being on par with the GDP of some small countries, Stern has a problem. A huge problem. Compared to a decade or two ago, he has lost a step for sure. The NBA—and Stern—are, contrary to what Dennis Green thought about the Bears, no longer who we thought they were.But every now and then Stern will make sense. And one of those lightning-in-a-bottle moments happened just this last week when Stern talked about contraction.If there is a league that needs contraction, it is the NBA. Without a doubt. Having 30 teams is ridiculous. Back in the league's heyday, they had 23 squads. Then the Hornets, Heat, Magic, and Timberwolves came along to make it 27. The Grizzlies and Raptors made it 29. The Bobcats replaced the Hornets in Charlotte in 2004 to make it a round total of 30.Think about it. Assuming each team has a roster of 12 active players, that's 84 guys who have jobs as NBA players today that would not have had one 20 years ago. I am all for creating jobs in this economy, but spending millions of dollars on basketball players is not exactly the idea I had in mind. And it's diluting the talent pool and lowering the quality of basketball the NBA used to put out.On top of that, there is the question of viability for some of these franchises. In the wake of this past offseason (and, honestly, the several years leading up to it), the NBA has become a league of glamor cities, big markets, and desired player destinations. Not even a structured salary scale that gave the Cleveland Cavaliers a serious advantage in paying LeBron James more than Miami helped keep James from taking his talents to South Beach.If LeBron doesn't want to play in Cleveland (just 30 minutes from where he grew up as a kid), if Kevin Garnett doesn't want to play in Minnesota, and if Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul are already planning exit strategies out of Denver and New Orleans, respectively, why even have teams in these cities in the first place? And how about Toronto losing Vince Carter and Chris Bosh just six years apart?What good are the Memphis Grizzlies doing the league? Nobody wants to go there. And after breaking the bank on Rudy Gay, you have to be kidding yourself if you think they will have what it takes to keep both O.J. Mayo and Marc Gasol in the mix. It is a nice little nucleus they have there, but there is no way that an owner of a team located in Memphis can spend that lavishly on it. And when the time comes, some of these guys will leave Memphis just like LeBron left Cleveland. It happens all the time.The same goes for these Charlottes, Indianas, Milwaukees, Sacramentos and Minnesotas. Nobody outside of fans within these specific markets (and compared to the bigger cities, these fans are a very few number) wants to see these teams succeed. Glamor players won't go there—or stay there, for that matter. When a small market team like San Antonio succeeds, they do it the right way by building through the draft and maximizing on homegrown talent. But then when push comes to shove, nobody wants to see a team like the Spurs succeed, as evidenced by some of the lowest ratings in NBA Finals history whenever the Spurs are involved.It makes the league's trading in of Seattle for Oklahoma City even more perplexing. The Thunder are very fortunate to have Kevin Durant land in their lap the way he has, and a humble superstar like Durant and San Antonio's Tim Duncan are few and far between. For Oklahoma City, it will be a challenge to afford burgeoning stars like Russell Westbrook and Jeff Green in the wake of being able to hang on to Durant long term. And in the rare instance that they do, these big contracts will be the first ones out of town at the first sight of underachievement.Don't believe me? The way this summer shifted the dynamics of the league will be felt for a long time to come. LeBron and Chris Bosh want to go to Miami. Amar'e Stoudemire wants to go to New York, with Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul not too far behind. Just last summer, Ron Artest takes a pay cut to go to Los Angeles. Even guys like Hedo Turkoglu turned down Portland because it wasn't quite the "cosmopolitan city" that Toronto was, never mind the fact that the Raptors are light years further from a championship than the Trail Blazers.In the end, only four or five teams have realistic shots of a championship every year, and almost all of them are located in big markets (or, in Orlando's case, a desired player destination with good weather year-round). The ones that aren't—in this year's case, Oklahoma City—need to prove their long term viability. Last year, it was Cleveland—and we all know how that ended.Getting rid of teams like the Grizzlies, Bobcats, Hornets, Pacers, Timberwolves, and Raptors won't hurt a fly. The Grizzlies and Raptors are only 15 years old, and the Grizzlies have only been in Memphis for less than a decade. The Hornets have been in New Orleans for eight years, and nobody cares. The league thought Charlotte needed another team after losing the Hornets, but they were wrong. The Timberwolves are a little over 20 years old, and Ricky Rubio doesn't want to play there. Heck, Stephon Marbury wanted nothing to do with them back in the day, and KG couldn't win there despite being the MVP of the league.And I just threw the Pacers in there because I forgot that they even existed. If you also suddenly remembered that they are still in the NBA, then I completely understand. I was going to have the Cavaliers, Nuggets, and Bucks as well, but those teams have been around for over four decades, so contracting them would not be quite as painless.Shredding the league down to 24 teams—back to four divisions and six teams in each division—would make a lot of competitive sense for the NBA. It would save them money by cutting ties with fruitless franchises and markets while concentrating the talent pool. It would give more teams a chance, and at the very least make sure that fans of every team have something worth rooting for.Get it right for once, Stern. Otherwise, start putting your product on pay-per-view. More NBA From Complete NBA Playoff Predictions NBA Team StreamTM Ultimate Guide to the NBA Playoffs Jabari Parker Officially Announces He'll Enter NBA Draft from Bleacher Report Beck: Ultimate Guide to the NBA Playoffs Kobe to Star in Showtime Documentary We'd like to send you the most entertaining NBA articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.

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The 13 Most Shocking Scandals in Boxing History By Justin Tate Ethan Miller/Getty Images Miguel Cotto near the end of his controversial TKO loss to Antonio Margarito Boxing has had more than its fair share of controversy and scandal, possibly more than any other sport in history.As a vicious sport that's known for its highway robberies, underhanded dealings and potentially fatal methods of cheating fighters, boxing is a hard business.The business of boxing is not for the weak of heart. Boxing's biggest scandals mostly come as a result of somebody trying to get ahead by immoral means, be it in the ring, the rankings or the cash flow.Here are the 13 most shocking boxing scandals of all time. 13. Muhammad Ali Loses His Boxing License for Vietnam Protests Muhammad Ali was the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world in 1967. He was highly acclaimed, earning money and fame in his profession of pugilism, until he was called to join the Vietnam draft.Ali didn't believe in the Vietnam War, and on April 28, 1967, he protested by refusing to step forward when his name was called, resulting in his arrest.The New York State Athletic Commission, the most influential boxing commission at the time, decided to revoke Ali's boxing license before he was even convicted. The other spineless commissions followed suit.During the three years he wasn't allowed to box, Ali had to go on speaking engagements at various colleges to make enough money to put food on the table and pay his bills.By the time Ali was reinstated in 1970, three of his best years as a professional were gone. Ali was closer to 30 than 25, leaving the world to only wonder what those three years could have produced.To make a comparison, Sugar Ray Leonard faced and defeated the likes of Roberto Duran and Tommy Hearns between the ages of 25 and 28.Roy Jones, Jr. gave James Toney his first loss and defeated the legendary Mike McCallum during the same time period of his career. 12. Antonio Margarito Is Caught with Plaster in His Gloves Donald Miralle/Getty Images Margarito facing retribution from Mosley Antonio Margarito had just come off his inspiring 2008 TKO of previously undefeated Miguel Cotto, the former welterweight world champ, when he met Shane Mosley in January 2009.Mosley's trainer, Naazim Richardson, noticed a powdery substance in Margarito's gloves. When this substance was brought to the attention of officials, Margarito was made to rewrap his gloves three times.The substance turned out to be plaster of Paris, a powder that would harden when wet. When applied to hand wraps, sweat would make the powder harden into the equivalent of a cast.Mosley would go on to knock Margarito out in brutal fashion, and Margarito would be banned from the sport for a year.In the aftermath of the discovery of Margarito's plaster, many have questioned his 2008 clash with Cotto and some of his other victories—and the sport of boxing took another blow to its credibility. 11. IBF President Robert Lee Takes Bribes, Sells Rankings In boxing, there are four major world championship governing bodies: the WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF.The IBF (International Boxing Federation) is one of the younger governing bodies, beginning operations in 1984. Their rankings and championship title shots were almost immediately paid for, by $338,000 in bribes.The IBF's rankings would depend on the merit of the boxers in their particular division, but fighters with a big-pocket promoter, like Don King, could pay to advance.Bribes from big promoters ensured their fighters stayed ranked above other fighters just getting by.This scheme would go on for over 13 years before an investigation was made, and IBF President Robert Lee was arrested, along with three other officials who were charged with taking bribes.Over 23 boxers and 7 promoters, including Don King and Top Rank's Bob Arum, were revealed to have been involved in fights tainted by bribes.Arum said he paid $100,000 in 1995 to have George Foreman not have to face his mandatory.The IBF fed Foreman Alex Schulz, who was defeated by majority decision.In the end, Lee was convicted on bribery charges and served 22 months in prison and paid $25,000 in fines. 10. Shane Mosley Admits to Using EPO in Balco Scandal Shane Mosley testified in front of a federal jury that, in 2003, he used EPO in his second fight with Oscar de la Hoya.EPO can increase an athlete's endurance, affecting the later part of a fight, often called the "championship rounds."Mosley would win his fight by close decision. The testimony showed that Mosley evaded the Las Vegas commission's drug-testing program, and fooled millions of fans.Mosley was an upstanding citizen, and a scandal of this nature forever ruined his "nice guy that hits hard" image.Boxing is a sport that's brutal and bloody.To cheat in such a dangerous sport plays with the lives of other competitors. 9. Ali vs. Liston II: First-Round Knockout Ali vs. Liston II was the big rematch of 1965. Liston had faced Ali once before in a six-round battle, one that ended when Liston quit with a hurt shoulder.Many believed Liston only did that to milk the money out of a second battle against the young, undefeated Ali.When the fight went down, Ali began to dance and make a shadow-hunting Liston miss nearly every shot. In the final moments of the round, Ali struck him with a hard right to the head.Liston went down, and the world went outrageous.Ali told Liston to "get up sucka!", but referee Jersey Joe Walcott had waved off the fight. Ali had won.Some, including Liston's wife, questioned the validity of the loss. Liston had underworld ties, and many immediately drew the conclusion that this match had to involve them.Liston's strange death five years later, of a heroin overdose, is believed in some circles to be the work of the mob ties Liston had. 8. Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield Mike Tyson vs. Evander Holyfield in 1996 was like the heavyweight version of today's Mayweather-Pacquiao.Both fighters were clearly not the same as they once were when the hype was at its highest five years earlier. Yet, finally, it was about to happen.It did, and Holyfield won by TKO in Round 11, scoring an impressive upset. A rematch was held in 1997, with many fans not wanting to let go and realize Tyson was no longer the baddest man on the planet.During the second round of Tyson-Holyfield II, Tyson received a cut from a Holyfield headbutt. Tyson complained that the referee did noting about Holyfield's headbutts during their first match.Tyson decided to take matters into his own hands in Round 3, and decided to bite Holyfield on his right ear, ripping a bit of cartilage off and spitting it out.Referee Mills Lane deducted two points from him, and the bout continued, with Tyson biting the other ear, and then coming over to Holyfield's corner after the round to argue and fight.Tyson was disqualified, and the audience was pissed. A fan even threw a water bottle at Tyson's back.Tyson would be fined $3 million and temporarily banned from the sport.The pop-culture aftermath has harmed boxing far worse, turning the increasingly less respectable sport into a circus sideshow worthy of the trash-TV era of the mid-to-late '90s. 7. Don King's Ring Magazine Scandal Win McNamee/Getty Images Don King Don King seized the opportunity to start the United States Boxing Championships in 1976, when America was celebrating its bicentennial and the U.S. Olympic boxing team had just scored five gold medals.King sold the idea of the United States Boxing Championship tournament to ABC to broadcast. The tournament would be filled with bums and journeymen that needed validation.That's where the Ring Magazine came in. The Ring's rankings were bought by King, who recognized that Ring had been dropping in subscriptions every year since 1962.Ring got the publicity of a big Don King tournament, and Don King got his fighters the validation they needed in order to market and justify his events.Deep investigative reporting from boxing journalists, who grew suspicious of the dearth of quality opposition in these bouts, exposed King.Soon, word that at least eleven fighters participating in the tournament had falsified records got out, and ABC became worried.After a participant in the tournament came clean about many of the fights being rigged to give victories to fighters who had contracts with King, ABC finally canceled the tournament.King would let some of his associates receive the legal blowback, as he escaped unscathed.Some say the scandal hurt Ring's credibility so bad that the WBC and WBA sanctioning bodies were given more power and authority from the incident, thus the later creation of the IBF and WBO. 6. Edwin Valero's Muder-Suicide Edwin Valero was an exciting super-featherweight (130 lb.) and lightweight (135 lb.) world champion.He was an animal in the ring, knocking out every single one of his 27 opponents, the first 18 within Round 1.He was set to take the limelight away from the likes of Manny Pacquiao with his exciting style. until he was arrested on suspicion of murdering his wife in April 2010.While in jail, Valero was found hanging from a bar in his cell with a noose made from his sweatpants. The exciting champion had committed suicide.Valero's Venezuelan family and friends were skeptical of Valero's death being suicide, suggesting the police had him murdered.Even the President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez. suggested that Valero and his wife were killed by "enemies of the state".None of these claims, true or not, nullify the fact that boxing lost a great champion. 5. Jake LaMotta Takes a Dive for the Mob In 1947, Jake LaMotta was a great boxer on the rise, but he was looking for a greater rise, and favor with the mob.The mob controlled boxing, and wanted LaMotta to take a dive against Billy Fox for an extra $20,000 and a guaranteed title shot against Frenchman Marcel Cerdan.LaMotta tried to hit him, and Fox's knees went weak. LaMotta carried him in what increasingly became an obvious fix.By Round 4, the fix was obvious, and LaMotta lay against the ropes to allow the light-hitting Fox to pounce on him. Fox was awarded the fourth-round TKO.LaMotta was awarded his promised 20 grand and title shot, as well as an investigation from the FBI years later. 4. Emile Griffith Pummels Benny "The Kid" Paret to Death on Live Television Emile Griffith and Benny "The Kid" Paret were welterweight (147 lb.) rivals, trading the world championship back and forth through their first two fights, only to settle the score on March 24, 1962.The fight was televised nationally on ABC, and was fought in the famous Madison Square Garden. The fight was a competitive one, until Round 12, when Griffith knocked Parent into the ropes.Griffith hit Paret 20 times, with Paret becoming unconscious during the end of the exchange. As a result, many networks ended their national broadcasts of boxing until the Ali-Frazier era of the 1970s.Griffith's and Paret's stories are chronicled in the amazing documentary, Ring of Fire.The event represented a shift in how the sport stopped its fights, with referees becoming increasingly safety-conscious with each passing decade. 3. Luis Resto Ends Boxing Career of Undefeated Fighter by Using Illegal Pads Undefeated Billy Collins Jr. (14-0, 11 KO) was a junior middleweight (154 lb.) prospect on his way up.Luis Resto (20-8-2, 8 KO) was a light-punching journeyman.Resto beat Collins' eyes shut and his skin purple and blue. Collins suffered a torn iris and his vision was forever blurred. Collins could no longer fight.Collins' father and trainer Collins Sr. went up to shake Resto's hand out of sportsmanship, only to be overcome with rage at how thin Resto's glove was. He demanded the gloves be impounded.Resto's padding had been removed, and Resto himself admitted years later that his handwraps had been soaked in plaster of Paris, a substance that hardens into plaster casts.Collins began drinking and became violent without boxing in his life.He would later drive his car into a cement wall in 1984, ending his life at age 22.Resto and his trainer, Panama Lewis, were banned for life from the sport.Resto served 2 1/2 years in prison for assault, while boxing suffered a tragedy that shows just how dangerous cheating can be in this sport. 2. Carlos Monzon Kills His Wife by Throwing Her off a Balcony Carlos Monzon Carlos Monzon was arguably the greatest Argentine boxer of all time, and the greatest middleweight (160 lb.) of all time. In 1977, Monzon retired and managed to keep out of the papers.His previous violent relationships (that, at least once, resulted in his being shot in the leg by an ex-wife) became the stuff that the paparazzi ate up.But in 1988, Monzon entered the mainstream press again. This time, he not only beat his wife, Alicia Munoz, he picked her up by the neck and threw her off the second-floor balcony of their apartment.Monzon was convicted of homicide, and sentenced to 11 years. Monzon was allowed to visit his family in 1995 for a weekend, only to crash his car and die on the way back. 1. Ray Mancini Accidentally Kills Duk Koo Kim In 1982, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini fought Duk Koo Kim in a defense of the WBA lightweight (135 lb.) title.Mancini was a well-experienced fighter, but Duk Koo Kim had never been in a 15-round fight before. Kim displayed world-class toughness by coming back from some major punishment.Then in Round 14, Mancini decked Kim with a short combination that Kim almost got up from, but the referee waved off the fight.Kim would die of brain injuries related to the fight four days later.Mancini would never be the same aggressive fighter he had become famous for. Boxing also would never be the same.Every sanctioning body lowered the championship limit from 15 rounds to 12 by the end of the 1980s, in an effort to make the sport safer. Pacquiao's Mom Symbolizes Meaningfulness of Pac-Man's Triump...

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Chargers Fan Forum Chuck Muncie R.I.P. Discussion in 'Chargers Fan Forum' started by Blue Bolt, May 14, 2013. Blue Bolt Persona Non Grata Ratings Received: +2,574 / -25 Chuck Muncie dies at 60​Posted by Michael David Smith on May 14, 2013, 11:22 AM EDT​ ​​Getty Images​ ​Chuck Muncie, a three-time All-Pro running back known for his imposing size and powerful stye, has died at the age of 60. The cause of death was a heart attack, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.​ ​After a standout career at Cal during which he came in second place in Heisman Trophy voting as a senior, Muncie went to the Saints as the third overall pick in the 1976 NFL draft. His best season in New Orleans came in 1979, when he carried 238 for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns, and also caught 40 passes for 308 yards.​ ​But Muncie frequently expressed his unhappiness in New Orleans, and he was traded to the Chargers during the 1980 season. Muncie was even better in San Diego than he had been in New Orleans, and his presence as a runner bolstered an already strong Chargers offense. In 1981 he led the league with 19 touchdowns, and he was outstanding in the playoffs after that season: He rushed for 124 yards and a touchdown as the Chargers beat the Dolphins 41-38 in one of the greatest games ever played, and he was one of the few Chargers who played well the following week, when San Diego lost in freezing conditions in Cincinnati, gaining 94 yards on the ground while the Chargers lost to the Bengals 27-7 in the AFC Championship Game.​ ​Muncie’s career came to an abrupt end in 1984 when Commissioner Pete Rozelle suspended him for the remainder of the season when he tested positive for cocaine after Week One. Although Muncie tried to come back with the Vikings in 1985, he quickly quit, saying he had issues in his personal life that he needed to get in order.​ ​In 1989, Muncie was sentenced to 18 months in prison for selling cocaine. After he was released, however, he turned his life around, and spent his later years working with children, counseling adults who were struggling with drug addiction, and encouraging gang members to lead more productive lives. (One of Muncie’s pet projects was providing tattoo removal services for former gang members who wanted to get gang markings off their skin so they’d look presentable in job interviews.)​ ​In an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 2008, Cal’s team doctor mentioned that Muncie made a point of being there any time an athlete at his alma mater who was going through a tough time could use some words of wisdom from someone who had been there before.​ ​“Whenever we call, he makes himself available,” Dr. Bill Coysh said. “That’s what’s incredible about him. This is not a paid position. He does it because that’s how he is.”​ ​That’s who Chuck Muncie was, a good running back who fell on hard times, but in the end lived the life of a good man.​ Blue Bolt,

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Arizona Fall League Set to Wrap Up This Week Tomorrow, I will be in Arizona for three days to write about the final three days of the Arizona Fall League. The Arizona Fall League is celebrating its 20th season of showcasing some of the top up-and-coming prospects from every MLB team. Some of the participants might be players fans know about while others will soon become household names. A number of the Brewers current stars were seasoned in the Arizona Fall League. Ryan Braun, Prince Fielder, Corey Hart, Nyjer Morgan and Rickie Weeks have all participated in the Arizona Fall League. Even Brewers Manager Ron Roenicke has participated in the Arizona Fall League, once as a manager in the league. There are six teams in the league that are formed with prospects from all 30 Major League teams. Those prospects are selected by team general managers and are given the opportunity to perform for baseball scouts, general managers and farm directors from every MLB team. The teams are just wrapping up a seven-week, 38-game season and the Brewers have had scouts watching the league throughout the season. Doug Melvin and Gord Ash also have both spent time in Arizona talking to scouts and players as a part of their preparation for the 2012 season. The nine Brewers players participating in the Arizona Fall League are members of the Peoria Javelinas. That team is made up of players from the Brewers, Cardinals, Mariners, Mets and Padres and they play their home games at Peoria Stadium, the Spring Training home of the Mariners and Padres. Entering today, the team has a 13-19 record and is in second-place in the West Division. Here is some information on the Brewers players participating in the league: Jed Bradley JED BRADLEY – LHP The 15th overall selection by the Brewers in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft, Bradley did not pitch professionally this season. He attended Georgia Tech University and signed with the Brewers on the signing deadline, August 15. Entering today, Bradley has made four appearances/one start in the Arizona Fall League, posting a 0-0 record with a 6.35 ERA and five strikeouts. Kentrail Davis KENTRAIL DAVIS – OF Davis was selected in the supplemental first round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft after attending the University of Tennessee. Davis spent the 2011 season with Double-A Brevard County where he hit .245 with eight home runs and 46 RBI. So far in the Arizona Fall League, Davis is hitting .324 with one home run and nine RBI in 20 games. He enjoyed a 12-game hitting streak that ended on Friday (he walked four times that game). Scooter Gennett SCOOTER GENNETT – INF Gennett has been a solid hitter in his first two professional seasons and is currently second in hitting in the Arizona Fall League with a .419 batting average. A 16th round selection in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft, Gennett spent the 2011 season with Class-A Brevard County where he was a Florida State League All-Star. He hit .300 with nine home runs and 51 RBI this season for the Manatees. Gennett entered the 2011 season rated as the fourth-best prospect in the Brewers’ organization by Baseball America. BRANDON KINTZLER – RHP Kintzler spent some time with the Brewers this season, appearing in nine games before his season was cut short with surgery on his right forearm on July 26. Another benefit of the Fall League is that players like Kintzler can use it to aid in rehabilitation. Kintzler has only pitched 2.2 innings so far this Fall as he prepares for the 2012 season. Daniel Meadows DANIEL MEADOWS – LHP Meadows was selected by the Brewers in the 49th round of the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and worked his way through the Brewers minor league system all the way up to Triple-A Nashville this year where he finished the year with a 0-2 record and 4.04 ERA in 20 games. Meadows earned the promotion thanks to an All-Star first half of 2011 with Double-A Huntsville where he went 6-2 with a 1.51 ERA in 21 relief appearances. With the Stars this season, Meadows held opponents to a .192 batting average. So far this Fall, Meadows has made nine relief appearances and is 0-0 with a 6.35 ERA. CASEY MEDLEN – RHP Medlen was a third round selection of the Brewers in the 2011 First-Year Player Draft and split his first professional season between Rookie Arizona and Class-A Wisconsin. Between the two stops, Medlen was 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA in 22 appearances. He recorded 44 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched. This Fall, Medlen is 1-2 with a 6.35 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 11.1 innings pitched. Cody Scarpetta CODY SCARPETTA – RHP Scarpetta spent the entire 2011 season with Huntsvile where he went 9-5 with a 3.85 ERA in 23 starts. He was an 11th round selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft and is currently 0-3 with a 19.64 ERA in five Fall appearances. Scarpetta is a native of Rockford, Ill. and his father pitched in the Brewers organization. LOGAN SCHAFER – OF Schafer spent September with the Brewers and made his Major League debut on September 2. He was a third-round pick by the Brewers in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft and was named the Brewers Minor League Player of the Year in 2009. He missed most of the 2010 season with injury and played in the Fall League last year while recovering. So far this year, Schafer is hitting .291 with two home runs and 15 RBI. Zelous Wheeler ZELOUS WHEELER – INF Wheeler split the season between Huntsville and Nashville and combined to hit .272 with nine home runs and 38 RBI. He was selected in the 19th round by the Brewers in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft. He was a South Atlantic League All-Star in 2008 and a Florida State League All-Star in 2009. I will have updates and features on players throughout the week this week. If you have any questions or ideas, please let me know and I will try get your questions answered! For more information on the Arizona Fall League click this link: Arizona Fall League. Filed in: Uncategorized Tags: Arizona Fall League, Brewers, Doug Melvin, Gord Ash Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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Orioles announced Rajsich as scouting director The Orioles officially announced Monday that Gary Rajsich has been named the organization’s new director of amateur scouting. “We have added a very good, veteran baseball man with this hire,” executive vice president of baseball operations Dan Duquette said in a press release. “Gary is an excellent judge of talent at all levels.” Rajsich, 57, began his scouting career with the Boston Red Sox, serving in both the amateur and professional departments from 1994-2006, which is when he first worked under Duquette, who served as Red Sox general manager. In his time with Boston, Rajsich drafted and signed current ace Jon Lester, and he was instrumental in acquiring Derek Lowe with Jason Varitek from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for pitcher Heathcliff Slocumb on July 31, 1997. Following his time in Boston, Rajsich joined the Texas Rangers as a professional scout, where he served from 2006-09. In the fall of his final season with Texas, he was hired by the Toronto Blue Jays as professional crosschecker. He will take over the position vacated by Joe Jordan, who accepted a position as the Phillies director of player development earlier this offseason. Rajsich was drafted by Houston Astros as an 11th round selection in 1976 out of Arizona State University, and he played four years in the Major Leagues (1982-85). A first baseman and right fielder, he made his big league debut for the New York Mets in 1982, where he also played in 1983, and played for the St. Louis Cardinals (1984) and San Francisco Giants (1985). Rajsich finished his playing career with the Chunichi Dragons in the Japan Central League (1986-88). looks like duquette is trying to get the old band back together! he’ll do well. By toosoxy on November 28, 2011 2:32 PM - Reply

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Meineke Car Care Bowl Of Texas 2011: Despite Bowl Losing Streak, Northwestern Not Changing The Way It Prepares Northwestern has been close on several occasions under coach Pat Fitzgerald, but they've yet to win a bowl game during Fitzgerald's tenure, and in fact have not won a bowl game since 1949. But Fitzgerald says he isn't going to change the way he prepares his team for postseason appearances: "If we had gotten got our (butts) blown out or didn’t show up or were unfocused, I would think about tweaking it," Fitzgerald said Monday before his team left for the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Houston. "We have been on the short end, but it hasn’t been because we haven’t had a good plan." Fitzgerald's teams have lost two bowl games in overtime and another by a 45-38 margin, so the problem probably isn't so much the process as it is simply finding a big play in crunch time to get the Wildcats over the hump. For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more in-depth coverage, visit Northwestern blog Sippin' On Purple and Texas A&M blog I Am The 12th Man. For news and notes from around college football, visit SB Nation's NCAA football news hub. Despite Late Rally, Northwestern Falls 33-22 Against Texas A&M In Meineke Car Care Bowl Northwestern Vs. Texas A&M Score Update: Aggies Hold On Late For 33-22 Victory Meineke Car Care Bowl Of Texas 2011: Northwestern Wary Of Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill 2011 Meineke Car Care Bowl Of Texas Odds: Texas A&M Aggies Currently Favored By 10 Points Over Northwestern Wildcats Meineke Car Care Bowl Of Texas 2011: Texas A&M Defensive Coordinator Tim DeRuyter May Be Fresno State's Next Head Coach

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Ward Will Be Tested In Debut Tampa Bay's seemingly only offensive weapon, tight end Kellen Winslow, will be not only the responsibility of Browns rookie safety, T.J. Ward, but the entire defense. Limit Winslow, limit the Buccaneers' offense. BEREA, Ohio—T.J. Ward will not only be making his NFL debut on Sunday. He will be doing so against former Browns tight end Kellen Winslow. A tall challenge for anybody, let alone a rookie. “There will be combinations on how we play it, but I’m sure there will be times when he will be in the situation,” coach Eric Mangini said. “Sure, it’s tough, but there is going to be a lot of tough players to go against.” Winslow is currently the best weapon the Bucs have in their passing game. “Kellen had an excellent season last year and I think their offense will continue to develop and get better,” Eric Mangini said. “I think they have an emerging group of players in the passing game adding them to what Kellen can do.” Ward said he respects Winslow, but isn’t intimidated. “I think he’s a very good tight end I’m just going to go in there and try and compete,” Ward said. “I don’t really concentrate on how good he is. “Of course, you study your opponent,” he said. Ward was asked if he’s hoping to make a big impression in his first game. “Every game is an opportunity to make a statement,” he said. “But, that’s not what my focus is on.” One of the first moves made by Mangini when he became the Browns head coach was the trading of Winslow to Tampa Bay for draft picks. The pick was used to select Mohamed Massaquoi. Winslow had 77 receptions and five touchdowns in 2009. “It’s an opportunity we had and something we talked about at the time to do,” he said. “He’s a very good player.” New Captains: Not too many times does a new player become a captain. However, the Browns voted Jake Delhomme as one of two offensive captains and LB Scott Fujjita as one of two defensive captains. Both were elected, despite not having played a down for the Browns as of yet. Pro Bowler Joe Thomas was the other offensive captain and DL Robaire Smith the other defensive captain. WR Josh Cribbs and K Phil Dawson were the special team captains Besides Delhomme and OL Joe Thomas, the special team captains are Josh Cribbs and K Phil Dawson. On defense, LB Scott Fujita and DL Robaire Smith were voted as captains. Mangini isn’t surprised that Delhomme and Fujita were voted in as captains. “I think it’s great,” Mangini said. “I’ve had that happen with new players before. They have inherent leadership abilities and what I like they are pushing the group to do the right thing, in a way that people want to follow. “The guys on the team vote on the captains,” Mangini said. “I really like the group of guys and think they will do a great job.” Thomas said he’s honored to be once-again voted as a captain. “I’m very proud to be voted on by my teammates to be a captain,” he said. “It’s going to be an important role like it was least season. “Hopefully, we can build on what we did last year.” Delhomme is very proud of being a captain. “That’s always an honor of anything you get to accomplish in the NFL to be elected captain,” Delhomme said. “It means more to me than anything else because it is voted on by people who know you best.” The 35-year old quarterback knows there is a lot of responsibility at his position. “I am who I am and certainly I think the quarterback position, naturally, gets all the press and I take a great deal of pride in it and try to do the best I can.” Browns Run out of Time with Veikune: Mangini said he still thinks that LB David Veikune has a future in the NFL, but the Browns just couldn’t wait any longer on him. “I do think he does,” Mangini said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we could wait any longer on him. I think he’s worked very hard and you wish you had plenty of time to keep letting these guys work.” Mangini brought up linebackers Titus Brown and Marcus Benard as players who reduced Veikune’s opportunity. “Titus Brown has worked very hard and Marcus Benard and those decisions are not easy, but we just couldn’t wait any longer.” Mangini selected Veikune in the second-round (52nd overall) in 2009 and he was never able to consistently get on the field. He finished his rookie year with no tackles. “You want to be right on every pick, you really do, but it’s not an exact science,” Mangini said. “He’s making strides to hit his ceiling.” Injury update: The Browns haven’t released their first injury report but OL Floyd Womack (knee) was scheduled to practice Wednesday for the first time in almost a month. Mangini said that Womack and DB Nick Sorenson’s (concussion) availability won’t be known until later in the week. “Floyd will be back (Wednesday) and will practice,” Mangini said. “Both he and Shawn (Lauvao) will work with the ones and the same thing with Tony (Pashos) and John (St. Clair at right tackle). We’ll make a decision later this week.” St. Clair missed the past week for personal reasons. Mangini said it will be wait-and- see with Sorenson. “I don’t think we’ll know until the end of the week.” Sorenson is recovering from a concussion he suffered in a horrific collision against the Lions in the third preseason game. “I haven’t seen the replay, but I want to,” Sorenson said. Sorenson said that Mangini called Sorenson’s wife within minutes of the injury. “That meant a lot to me,” he said. “All of the support I had from my teammates I can’t put into words.” Mangini said that Rogers is progressing. “For the part we’ve asked him to do, he made it through fine and we’ll ask him to do more,” Mangini said. New Guys: The Browns most recent roster moves were the addition of OL Steve Vallos and DB Derrick Roberson. Mangini said he interviewed him prior to the 2007 NFL Draft, but the Seahawks drafted him in the seventh-round. “He’s a very bright kid and I liked him coming out of college,” Mangini said. “Obviously, Mike (Holmgren) had more experience with him at Seattle.” Vallos (6-3, 310) replaces Billy Yates on the roster and is wearing No. 68. He grew up in Boardman, Ohio. Roberson (5-10, 180) was an undrafted free agent from Rutgers signed when the Browns released LB David Veikune. Roberson wears No. 22. “With Roberson, (special teams coach)Brad (Seeley)and I had talked about him when cuts came out because he’s a very good special teams player.” Hot Room: Trying to simulate the heat of Tampa Bay, the Browns practiced indoors with the heat turned way up. The field house felt as if it was over 80 degrees during practice. Week 1: Gameballs and Goats -by theOBR.com Sep 15, 2010 Ward Fined $15k -by theOBR.com Oct 6, 2010 Ward Says Play is ‘Instinctive’ S T.J. Ward (profile) Football > De La Salle HS > Alumni Football > Oregon > Alumni

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Published on Energy Bulletin (http://energybulletin.net) To change the global economy, start by changing the Olympics Published by The Daly News on Mon, 07/02/2012 - 08:00 Original article: http://steadystate.org/olympic-idea/ by Rob Dietz At the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, the Soviet hockey team took the ice as overwhelming favorites — they were a juggernaut, having won the gold medal in 1956, 1964, 1968, 1972, and 1976. In fact, the Soviets were on a 21-game Olympic winning streak, posting lopsided victories along the way, including a 16-0 shutout of Japan and a 17-4 drubbing of the Netherlands during the 1980 tournament. Team USA, featuring a collection of unknown college players, couldn’t possibly win. But the unthinkable happened, and the team’s scrappy play carried the day. Announcer Al Michaels’s captured the emotion with his famous play-by-play call: Eleven seconds, you’ve got ten seconds, the countdown going on right now! Morrow, up to Silk. Five seconds left in the game. DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? YES! It’s hard to find someone who appreciates competition as much as a sports fan (or a frenzied sports announcer), unless you happen to be in a college economics department. Every student who has suffered through Econ 101 knows the theory of perfect competition: perfectly competitive markets produce the most efficient allocation of goods and services. Never mind that you’re more likely to meet the Easter Bunny than a perfectly competitive market. So for years, economists have been pushing for unregulated markets, and business leaders and policy makers have followed suit. To some degree the economists are on the right track. Competition can drive people (and companies) to the peak of performance. We like it when companies compete with each other to see who can produce the highest-quality products and provide them at the lowest prices. But as much as there is to admire about competition, there are limits to its usefulness. You probably know someone who’s hyper-competitive, one of those people who has to turn everything into a competition. Just like most things in life, we need to find the balance — the amount of competition that achieves positive results without overdoing it. It’s the equilibrium between competition and cooperation. Teamwork (or cooperation) is how Team USA pulled off the “Miracle on Ice.” Sure, there were commendable individual performances. In goal, Jim Craig kept 36 of 39 Soviet shots out of the net. Mark Johnson, with grit and hustle, scored two goals. Team captain and emotional leader Mike Eruzione, whose name in Italian means “eruption” knocked in the winning goal. And coach Herb Brooks found the right tactics and motivation to put his team in a position to win. But all of these people have acknowledged that it was a true team effort – some participants have even expressed the feeling that all of America was skating together for that game. The need for a balance between competition and cooperation exists within the economy. You can see it at the microeconomic scale. Within a company, the employees need to cooperate in order to achieve their goals. A company must figure out how to cooperate, not only internally, but also with other companies, with customers, and with government agencies in order to succeed. You can also see the need for this competition/cooperation balance at the macroeconomic scale. In a world of finite resources, overly competitive nations can be dangerous. Aggressive competition for control of critical resources like land, water, and oil leads to serious conflicts and degraded social conditions. The last thing we need is an amped-up competition to wring the final drops of growth out of an already overgrown global economy. But in order for nations to find peaceful ways of sharing resources, they need to improve their track record for cooperating with one another. We’ve witnessed so many failures of international cooperation (look to the negotiations on climate change for a recent example), that it’s hard not to be cynical about humanity’s ability to collaborate at this scale. We’ve got to do something to change this track record, and the Olympics provide a venue for getting started. It is difficult to argue with the ideals of the Olympic Movement. According to the Olympic Charter, “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles.” Although the charter expresses many lofty ideals, and the Olympics provide astounding examples of sportsmanship, the Games are, at the simplest level, a global competition among countries seeking glory through athletic achievement. And most of the world is eager to watch and cheer their teams. Sometimes the cheering can have overtones of nationalistic fanaticism, as in Germany during the 1936 Berlin Games. Other times the Olympics showcase political games as prominently as athletic ones, like the 1980 Moscow Games (boycotted by the United States) and the 1984 Los Angeles Games (boycotted by the Soviet Union). And the transition from amateur to professional athletes in the Games has eroded the Olympic spirit a little more. You’d never see something like the Miracle on Ice today. At the same time, success at the Olympics has become predictable, maybe not for individual athletes, but for nations. As Andrew Bernard and Meghan Busse have described, the nations with the highest medal counts tend to have both a large population and a high per capita GDP. This means that the most economically overgrown countries have an advantage at the Olympics, just like they have an advantage in the scramble for world resources. But there’s an unconventional (yet practical) way to rekindle Olympic ideals, encourage greater international cooperation, and mitigate the unfair advantage of “economic bigness” in the Games — all without taking away the spirit of competition or squashing the joy of rooting for your home nation. What if we paired two nations as a unified team for each cycle of the summer and winter Games? Instead of Team USA, we could have Team Zimbabwe and USA (or Team Zimbusa). The teams in all sports, from gymnastics to skiing to water polo would consist of a mix of Zimbabwean and American athletes. Think of how much more knowledge and understanding would be shared between Zimbabweans and Americans. Medal counts would be totaled for both nations as if they were a single country, making the medals race more competitive and interesting. The paired countries could host joint training sessions in their respective homelands. Imagine the good will that could be generated around the globe as fans root for the athletes of their partner countries just as earnestly as their homegrown athletes — it’s enough to reduce Al Michaels to tears of joy! Of course the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would have many new rules to establish, such as how teams are paired. Pairings could be random. Picture the United States with Iran, or India with Pakistan. Four years of athletic cooperation could lead to cooperation on more important fronts. Willingness to accept politically or culturally incongruous pairings by all countries would be part of the deal. Another possibility for forming pairs is to rank all nations by GDP and match the highest with the lowest, the second highest with the second lowest, and so on. The IOC would have to work out other details as well, such as the minimum percentage of athletes competing in a given sport that must come from one of the two countries. The idea to pair nations may seem like an idealistic non-starter, but the Olympics are just a bunch of people getting together to play sports. Would the athletes feel like they represented themselves and their countries any less convincingly if they did so in teamwork with athletes from another country? Would fans support their teams less enthusiastically if they were engaged in such a partnership? The proposed change in Olympic format could serve as a prominent step toward building the global cooperative spirit that is symbolized by the colorful interlocking rings of the Olympic flag. Such a step could help create balance between competition and cooperation not just in sports arenas, but also in policy arenas where decisions profoundly affect humanity’s prospects. Besides, who could resist cheering for another miracle as Team Zimbusa takes the ice? If you like this idea, feel free to pass it along to Jacques Rogge, President of the International Olympic Committee, in one of these ways: Château de Vidy Case postale 356 1001 Lausanne Make a phone call… Post a comment on the Facebook page for the Olympic Games. Source URL: http://energybulletin.net/stories/2012-07-02/change-global-economy-start-changing-olympics Links:[1] http://steadystate.org/olympic-idea/ [2] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTev5pSuYLk [3] http://www.olympic.org/Documents/olympic_charter_en.pdf [4] http://www.facebook.com/olympics

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Leverkusen consider Schurrle bid Bayer Leverkusen are considering selling midfielder Andre Schurrle to Chelsea, according to the club’s general manager Rudi Voller. GettyImagesAndre Schurrle has been attracting interest for some time - Chelsea to revive Schurrle interest Schurrle, 22, is believed to have been a target of the Blues since last season, with recent reports in Germany even suggesting that a deal between the two parties is all but done. And after Leverkusen’s 1-1 draw against Wolfsburg on Saturday, Voller confirmed that an offer has been received for the Germany international. “Andre is not the only player we have received offers for,” he said. “We will not get nervous. That we consider the offer is part of the business. It is all in our hands.” Schurrle, who was on target against Wolfsburg, refused to comment on his future at the weekend. On Monday, Bild reported that Chelsea are willing to offer €15 million for the player, who is contracted to Leverkusen until 2016. The Premier League club would also send midfielder Kevin de Bruyne, who currently is on loan at Werder Bremen, to Leverkusen for another loan stint. However, speaking to Syker Kreiszeitung late last week, De Bruyne, 21, said: “I don’t know anything about it. My agent takes care of that and he is on holiday in Senegal for the next two weeks.”

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Seating for Hockey at the Barclays Center Will Actually Be Horseshoe Shaped Just before tickets went on sale for the Islanders’ pre-season game in Brooklyn last week, I quickly posted a seating chart of the Barclays Center’s setup for hockey via the Ticketmaster website (at right, click to enlarge). The setup looked promising, showing available seating in the lower and upper bowls on the side where the rink will displace a lot of the lower bowl seating. Leading up to this, the thinking was that the seating areas on that side would not have a good view of the near net, which would make those seats pretty undesirable. All of that guesswork was given life because the arena’s planners went back and forth on whether or not to design it to fit hockey. As you can see, they decided against fitting the arena for hockey. That’s a decision that may come back to bite them given the state of affairs between Nassau County and the Islanders — cold, at best — as the team heads towards a 2015 end to their lease and, potentially, greener pastures elsewhere. But I digress. What’s interesting to note — and I know this has been out there for a few days — is that I have to update you on a presumably more accurate version of the seating chart for hockey at the Barclays. Actually it’s not presumed to be more accurate, it is accurate because it’s on the Barclays’ own website. (Sidenote: Notice on that page linked above how even though the game is referred to as “Islanders vs. Devils” there are no Devils logos only a big, honking Islanders logo. Hmmm…) As you can see, this image differs drastically from the one on the Ticketmaster website. In this version there is no available seating on the upper tier in sections 201, 202, 230 and 231. The two sections on either side of those sections are also priced at the lowest rate, $14.50, and referred to as “limited view”. There is also no lower bowl seating whatsoever in one defensive zone. If you’ve ever been to the Coliseum for an event and seen sections in the 100s pushed back, that’s the idea in part of the lower bowl. By the looks of it the seating area of the modified arena isn’t atrocious, but it’s a dramatic shift from what we saw from Ticketmaster last week. It will sort of be like a concert where the stage is in one end of the arena, with no one sitting behind or to the sides of the performers. Visually this is going to be a weird effect but it will have no bearing on the capacity of the arena. A spokesman for the Nets was adamant that the arena would hold 14,500 for hockey when we spoke via email earlier in the year. Whether this modified seating arrangement would also affect the availability or sight lines of suites in the arena is unconfirmed (but there are 130 of them, so yeah, I would imagine some of them would be affected). So what does this do to the viability of the arena for hockey? If you can get past the weird setup, not a whole lot has changed. The capacity is going to be the same and the NHL has no mandate for minimum capacity. There will still be a ton of suites. Even if the sight lines for a third of them unusable, that still leaves 85(!) suites. Compare that to 32 at the Coliseum. The concern — and remember we’re getting really ahead of ourselves in the first place by assuming the Islanders are even going to Brooklyn — is whether or not this team could be profitable at the Barclays. With a reduced capacity and closer proximity to a larger population, that should drive ticket prices up no matter how good or bad the team is (for comparison, ask your Ranger fan friends how much they pay at the Garden. They won’t be happy to discuss it). So there will be plenty of money to be made if people decide they want to go to the games. In terms of determining if people would actually want to go the most important question is; will the team be any good? That’s going to determine, more than anything else, how viable any franchise would be. If Islander fans in Nassau are willing to put up with traffic, an outdated arena, and $10 parking to see a sub par team, imagine how many would take the train to the shiny new arena if the team was good. And people who work in the city would actually be able to make it to the arena in time for a 7pm start. So in my opinion yes, the Islanders in Brooklyn is an easily viable experiment if the team is able to win games consistently. Barclays Center will have a horseshoe seating configuration | ProHockeyTalk says: May 17, 2012 at 5:53 pm [...] good folks at Islanders Point Blank have known about this for longer than us, so click on over to see what they think. Skip to [...]

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U.S. Falls to Canada in Semi-Final Olympics Hockey Game Welcome to the most intense matchup in Sochi By Eliana Dockterman @edocktermanFeb. 21, 20140 Share Bruce Bennett / Getty ImagesJonathan Quick #32 of the United States makes a save against Jonathan Toews #16 of Canada in the first period during the Men's Ice Hockey Semifinal Playoff on February 21, 2014 in Sochi, Russia Email The United States lost to Canada in the men’s hockey Olympic semifinals on Friday, falling 1-0 just a day after Canada’s women’s hockey team beat the U.S. in overtime to win its fourth-straight Olympic title. Though it was not the game for the gold medal, many NHL fans watched the semi-final with bated breath as the best players from the league took one another on for their respective countries. Both teams were unbeaten in this year’s Olympics headed into this game. It was a rematch of a gripping 2010 gold medal game in Vancouver, which Canada won in overtime. “The intensity is going to be in my opinion just as high as if it’s a gold medal game,” the American forward Zach Parise told the New York Times before the game. American coach Dan Bylsma has called it “the biggest rivalry in hockey.” This was the 18th time the two countries met during the Winter Olympics games in hockey—more than any other two nations in the world. Canada has now won 12 of those match-ups, and the U.S. has only won three. The other three were ties. The U.S. will now play Finland for the bronze medal.

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Hanno Fietz econemon.com I've been training in martial arts for the last 14 years, although with varying intensity: I've had months where I trained five days a week and I've had six-month breaks. 1-2 times a week probably was the schedule I sustained for the longest periods. I made it to the green belt in Tae Kwon Do and then switched to Shaolin Kung Fu, because I thought it was much more interesting, with all the weapons and a lot more variety in style. I like about Kung Fu (at least the way it's taught to me) that it has such a rich variety of styles and so many hints at its very long tradition. There's a bunch of weapons, there's spiritual elements to it, playful and artistic ones (like the dragon dance), and even downright dirty streetfighting stuff. You can tell that it's a mashup created by generations of all sorts of people, soldiers, monks, artists etc., under all kinds of circumstances. It's also the most humorous martial art I've encountered, and has almost no formalisms, which is a great counterbalance to its training regime that can sometimes border on abuse. Do shin guards defeat the purpose of training? Pivoting for a kick Leg conditioning advice

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Log In Author Bios Mets360 Projections Remembering former Mets manager Bamberger November 24, 2010By Brian JouraMuch has been made about Terry Collins and his “fiery” demeanor. It’s a marked change from his predecessor, Jerry Manuel, and a departure from what the Mets usually have for a skipper. In fact, who is the last Mets manager who would be described this way? Perhaps Dallas Green. Let’s run down the recent Mets managers and come up with one word to describe them. Manuel – flaccid Willie Randolph – paranoid Art Howe – dull Bobby Valentine – egomaniac Jeff Torborg – clueless Mike Cubbage – Was he around long enough to get even one word? Bud Harrelson – frightened Davey Johnson – winner Frank Howard – tall George Bamberger – disinterested All of the previous descriptions make sense one way or another for a major league manager, but disinterested seems like one of the last words one would use to describe a man hired to manage a team in New York. Where was Sandy Alderson’s due diligence when Bamberger was hired? Bamberger took control of the Mets for the 1982 season and it was a celebrated hire at the time. He did not have much of a major league career, but Bamberger hung around the minors long enough to win 213 games and he had plenty of success after he retired from the game. He made his major league debut with the New York Giants in 1951 and appeared in seven games in ‘51-‘52 with the team he grew up rooting for as a kid on Staten Island. Bamberger ended his major league career in 1959 with the Orioles and stayed in the organization as a coach. Bamberger became famous as the pitching coach for the Orioles, a job he held from ’68-’77. In that span, he coached 18 20-game winners, including the famous 1971 staff which featured four pitchers to notch 20 wins (Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Dave McNally and Pat Dobson). The Orioles advanced to three World Series during Bamberger’s tenure. The Brewers picked Bamberger as their manager for the 1978 season. In the previous year, Milwaukee posted a 67-95 record. In their first season under Bamberger, the Brewers had a 93-69 record, which topped the previous franchise-best mark of 76 wins. Bamberger was selected The Sporting News Manager of the Year for his work in his rookie season of calling the shots. It was more of the same in 1979, as the Brewers won 95 games. However, things got derailed the following season, when Bamberger underwent a quintuple bypass surgery. He resigned during the season, fully expecting that his career in baseball was over. However, Mets general manager Frank Cashen remembered Bamberger fondly from their days with the Orioles and reached out to his friend to return to the field. Bamb

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7/16 Lou & the president Lou Piniella met the country’s No. 1 White Sox fan on Thursday, President Barack Obama. Piniella and his family took a tour of the White House, and were able to get five minutes with President Obama in the Oval Office. “We didn’t talk about baseball,” Piniella said. “He was very personable with my grandkids and my wife and children. I was very appreciative. He’s a class man and has done a really nice job for our country. It was just an honor and pleasure being in his presence.” Piniella and his family had lunch at the White House with the President’s top advisor, David Axelrod, and some of his staff. Then, they met with with Mr. Obama, before watching him leave in his helicopter. The Piniella contingent viewed the situation room in the White House, went to the Rose Garden, and then the Cubs manager had to go to Nationals Park for an early workout. “It’s always a pleasure and a thrill,” Piniella said about meeting presidents. “I’d never met Mr. Obama personally but I’d heard so many wonderful things about him. I came away more impressed than ever.” Piniella has met both of the Bushes, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. “I go back a ways,” Piniella said. He got news about the tour during a fishing trip in Michigan with the family during the All-Star break. “It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Piniella said. “I couldn’t have come away more impressed with this gentleman. He’s a picture of class and tranquility. I can see why he’s had success and is enjoying success as commander in chief of our country.” Piniella may not have talked baseball with Mr. Obama, but did with his staff. “They didn’t have any lineup ideas like you all do,” Piniella quipped. Filed in: Dailies Tags: Barack Obama, Cubs, Lou Piniella Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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2012 Nike US Open of Surfing Promises Another Historic Week DownloadHi Nike, Inc. NIKE CATEGORIES 2012 Nike US Open of Surfing Promises Another Historic Week After an unprecedented showing last year, the Nike US Open of Surfing® will kick off on July 28th in Huntington Beach for what has become one of the most anticipated surf, music and lifestyle events of the year. 2012 Nike US Open of Surfing Promises Another Historic Week 2012 Nike US Open of Surfing Promises Another Historic Week Email DownloadDownload FullsizeFullsize InfoShow/Hide Huntington Beach, CA (June 12, 2012) – After an unprecedented showing last year, the Nike US Open of Surfing® will kick off on July 28th in Huntington Beach for what has become one of the most anticipated surf, music and lifestyle events of the year. Title sponsor Nike – along with presenting sponsors Hurley and Converse – continue to elevate the event which will attract over three quarters of a million fans and onlookers along a 14-acre stretch of sand on the south side of Huntington Beach Pier, showcasing the best in surf, skate, music, and art. "The US Open of Surfing is the epicenter for action sports culture. This year we will introduce the biggest stadium in surf and largest skate contest on the beach as the top action sports athletes, art and music talent hit the sand in Huntington," said Sandy Bodecker, VP Nike Action Sports. The 2012 Nike US Open of Surfing will run from July 28 to August 5. All events are free and open to the public and can be viewed live daily at www.usopenofsurfing.com. With more than 3.6MM+ webcast viewers last year, the webcast broke viewership records and expects to deliver content to even more viewers worldwide this year. The event is owned and produced by IMG, the global leader in sports and entertainment. Fans will see all of their favorites battle it out again this year in surf and skate’s biggest stadium spaces on both water and sand. This year's surf stadium and skate arena will take the competition to another level! Anchored by the world’s largest professional surfing competition, the US Open is a pivotal point on the ASP World Tour for both the men and women. For the men, a win at the US Open – a North America ASP Men’s Prime event - will earn them valuable points toward a coveted Top 32 world ranking. And for the women, the US Open of Surfing® marks the final stop on the 2012 ASP World Title Tour. With everything on the line and a close race for the World Title, the US Open will potentially crown a women’s World Champion in Surf City this summer. "The US Open is the biggest stage in competitive surfing, and I'm excited to compete again in Huntington, where the world's best athletes come together to vie for one of the most prestigious titles in the sport," said Carissa Moore, 2011 Women's World Champion. "To compete in an arena with surfing at center stage is a dream come true, and I'm putting everything on the line to bring home the US Open title again." “There is no other event like the US Open of Surfing. Together with Nike, Hurley and Converse, we have created the ultimate arena for athletes, musicians and artists to showcase their talent,” says James Leitz, Senior Vice President of IMG. “With hundreds of thousands of people coming down to the beach to celebrate action sports, the atmosphere is electric, vibrant and youthful. This US Open of Surfing is the epitome of the California lifestyle.” From the water to the sand, the action doesn’t stop. Converse Coastal Carnage, a pro/am skateboarding competition, will once again host the most talented and diverse crew of riders from across the globe as they compete in a state-of-the-art skate bowl with ground breaking tricks for a piece of the $90,000 prize purse. And for the first time, Nike Skateboarding is hosting the Damn Am HB presented by Nike Skateboarding, will be featuring the world’s top amateurs showcasing their skills on the ultimate street course inspired by the best street spots from around the world. In addition one of the week’s most popular events, the US Open Music Stage, will host a soon-to-be-announced lineup of bands that will surely rival last year’s MGMT performance in front of hundreds of thousands of screaming fans. Coupled with one-of-a-kind retail and brand experiences, public skate courses, movie premieres, 100 interactive exhibits, autograph signings, DJs and giveaways, it will be a summer to remember at the Nike US Open of Surfing. Be ready to dive into the madness starting July 28. Like the Nike US Open of Surfing on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. The Nike US Open of Surfing is proudly sponsored by Casio G-Shock, Red Bull, Pacifico, Paul Mitchell Salon Haircare, TransWorld Media, Verizon Wireless, Casio G’zOne and 7-Eleven. The Nike US Open of Surfing airs on NBC Saturday, September 13, 2012 at 1:30 pm EST as part of the “Red Bull Signature Series.” Nike partnered with the Red Bull Signature Series on events including Supernatural, Lowers Pro and the US Open of Surfing, to support some of the most progressive and innovative surfing, snowboarding, and skiing action sports events. For more information, visit redbullsignatureseries.com. About Nike Engineered for world-class athletes, Nike Action unites the performance innovation of Nike with a deep commitment to the history, creativity, and raw athleticism of action sports. With a focus on Skateboarding, Snowboarding and Surfing, our footwear and apparel merge advanced materials and design with classic styling, driven by the voice of our athletes. Based at NIKE, Inc. headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon, Nike Action is dedicated to inspiring and supporting the world of action sports. For more information, visit www.nikeinc.com. “Hurley is a company based on inclusion,” says chairman and founder Bob Hurley. This philosophy applied to Bob Hurley¹s early years as a Huntington Beach shaper, working with friends alongside the world¹s best athletes to make a better surfboard. It applied to the company¹s launch in 1999, when Hurley decided to start a brand that was a true microphone for youth. In 2002, Hurley was acquired by Nike ‹ the largest and most influential sporting brand in the world. Inclusion remains a guiding principle of the company today, where innovative products like Phantom Boardshorts and game-changing events like the US Open of Surfing continue to redefine what is possible in our world. Hurley headquarters are in Costa Mesa, CA with international offices in Sydney, Tokyo, Barcelona and Bali. www.hurley.com. About Converse Converse Inc., based in N. Andover, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908, the Converse brand has built a reputation as “America’s Original Sports Company”™ and has been associated with a rich heritage of legendary shoes such as the Chuck Taylor® All Star® shoe, the Jack Purcell® shoe and the One Star® shoe. Today, Converse offers a diverse portfolio including lifestyle men's, women's and children’s footwear, apparel and accessories. Converse product is sold globally by retailers in over 160 countries and through 63 company-owned retail locations in the U.S. For more information, visit Media.Converse.com. About IMG IMG Worldwide is a global sports, entertainment and media business, with nearly 3,000 employees operating in 30 countries around the globe. IMG’s areas of expertise are diverse and wide ranging: IMG College; IMG’s Joint Ventures in China, Brazil and India and Turkey; IMG Media; IMG Events and Federations; IMG Fashion; IMG Models; IMG Art+Commerce; IMG Clients; IMG Academies; IMG Consulting and IMG Licensing. More information is available at www.imgworld.com. Follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook. Related Stories View News Archive View News Archive Going Local: Nike SB x Poler Nike Snowboarding Presents: Never Not Hurley H2O Launches Blue Room and Debuts Water Awareness Platforms at the Hurley Pro TAGS 2012 Nike US Open of Surfing Promises Another Historic Week Thank you for sharing this page. http://nikeinc.com/news/2012-nike-us-open-of-surfing-promises-another-historic-week-of-sport-music-and-art-at-huntington-beach/share © Nike, 2014 Job Search Consumer Affairs PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS OF SERVICE | FULL SITE © Nike, 2014

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Close to home, Taylor excited to join Nets By Tim Bontemps June 30, 2012 | 4:00am BIG D’S BIG PITCH: Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki said he thinks Nets point guard Deron Williams (pictured) is “50-50” to sign with Dallas once NBA free agency begins tomorrow. “I don’t really think we need to recruit him or anything,” Nowitzki told a Dallas radio station. Photo: Getty Images; EPA (inset) When Tyshawn Taylor learned he was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers with the 41st overall pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, he was thrilled to achieve his dream of reaching the NBA. But his excitement reached another level when the Hoboken native and former star under Bob Hurley at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City found out he had been dealt to the Brooklyn Nets. “I had no clue,” Taylor said on a conference call yesterday. “I thought I was going to Portland. Then, after I got squeezed by my mom for 10 minutes, after she hugged me, I turned around and saw that I was going to Brooklyn and I literally jumped from where I was sitting and ran out of the building. “I was a little more excited about that.” NETS’ FREE-AGENCY TRACKER Taylor spent the past four seasons playing for Kansas, helping lead the Jayhawks to the national championship game this past season alongside No. 5 overall pick Thomas Robinson and under coach Bill Self. Now Taylor will come to Brooklyn, where the Nets hope he will be backing up point guard Deron Williams, whom Self recruited to Illinois and coached for a year before leaving for Kansas. “Coach Self told us a lot of stories about Deron Williams,” Taylor said. “He told us he was the best guard he ever coached. He’s tough, and Coach Self loved coaching him and always talked good about him.” After getting Taylor, Nets general manager Billy King said he and coach Avery Johnson had talked about getting a point guard they could groom for some time. Taylor said he was excited about the prospect of learning from Johnson, a championship-winning point guard as a player, and Williams — assuming he re-signs with the Nets after free agency begins at 12:01 a.m. tomorrow. “Well, I love the fact that they believe in me,” said Taylor, who was a third-team All American and first-team All-Big 12 selection last season as a senior at Kansas, where he graduated earlier this spring with a degree in communications. “I appreciate the fact that they gave me the opportunity, so I’m going to take full advantage. “I think I’m in a really good situation, behind a really good point guard and coached by a great guard in Coach Johnson, who had his time in the league and was really good at what he did. To be able to sit back and learn from these guys will be a great teaching experience for me, and hopefully prepares me well for this league.” Filed underNets Read Next: Jeter passes Cal… Jeter passes Cal Ripken on… Twitter

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2010-2011 Previews: Forwards -- D.J. King Theme: "This is ill-advised my friend, ill-advised." The quote comes from Mike Rowe, the host of a television show, “Dirty Jobs,” and it might be what one thinks if any opponent takes liberties with any of the Caps on nights when D.J. King is dressed. This is the mantle D.J. King inherits as he comes to the Caps, holder of the “Dirty Jobs” portfolio. King performs one of the most difficult jobs in any sport. He fights. In four NHL seasons and 101 games played, King has spent 553 minutes on the ice. He also has spent 135 minutes in the penalty box as a result of having engaged in 27 fights. And it isn’t as if he takes on lesser mortals. Of the five fights he had last year, none of his opponents had fewer than nine fights of their own last season. It is a hard way to make a living. In King’s case, it has been a harder way to make a living in that he has played in more than 27 games once in four seasons (61 games in 2007-2008 with St. Louis). He has had to contend with some major injury issues in his brief NHL career, losing 39 games to a right hand injury last season, losing 81 games to wrist and a shoulder injuries in 2008-2009. It is a bit hard to tell just what the Caps have here in terms of the player as he plays within the rules. He hasn’t scored a goal in the NHL since March 23, 2008. He doesn’t have a point since October 16, 2008. He hasn’t played as many as ten minutes in a game since April 1, 2008 (one of only two career games in which he topped that mark). The odd fact is that he has more fighting majors in his career (27) than he has minor penalties (25). Fearless: What the Caps did, cousin, was trade up when they obtained King. They swapped out an “agitator” (Stefan Della Rovere) for an “enforcer.” And they swapped out “someday” (Rovere would likely have spent another year or two – at least – in the farm system) for “now.” Cheerless: If he can stay upright, cuz. In the last three seasons he dressed for 74 of 246 games. That works out to about 25 games a year. How much enforcing is going on if he’s not on the ice? In the end: One of the problems the Caps have had since the lockout (more early on than now) is that players have played at one rung too high on the position ladder than their comfort or talent level would suggest. Defensemen better suited to a third pairing pushed into first or second pair minutes and responsibilities, third line forwards asked to score. The acquisition of King repairs a similar situation in the policing function. Matt Bradley is a tough, gutsy individual. He has shown often enough his willingness to stick his nose into situations in defense of a teammate. But he is ill suited to the task on a regular basis. He just cannot compete with the heavyweights in the league, and even when paired off against “players” who take liberties, he has taken a lot of punishment. Upon getting the news of King’s acquisition, Bradley said: "He's obviously in a way higher weight class than I'm in, so it's great to have a guy like him here. He's a great character guy and definitely one of the toughest guys in the league, so hopefully he can put some fear in the other teams, where we didn't really have a lot of that the last couple of years." That’s not a declaration of surrender, but a sigh of relief and a statement of fact. Bradley can do what he does without having to take on enforcement responsibilities, and King can take care of the policing function. At least that’s the theory. In practice King isn’t a sure bet to win a sweater every night. Bradley, David Steckel, and Boyd Gordon appear likely to start the season as the fourth line. King’s talents might be used intermittently, depending on the opponent. But he does bring a dimension to the Caps that was not on the roster last year. Whether that will translate into wins, or at least keeping other teams honest (and keeping his teammates healthy and upright) is the question. 44 games, 1-4-5, even 2010-2011 previews, d.j. king, the peerless prognosticator,

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PERC's Don Leal Appointed to IFQ Advisory Panel Author: Donald Leal The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council has appointed PERC Senior Fellow Don Leal to serve on an Ad Hoc Grouper Individual Fishing Quota Advisory Panel. Leal is one of two NGO representatives with Pam Baker of Environmental Defense filling the second position. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is one of eight regional Fishery Management Councils which were established by the Fishery Conservation and Management Act in 1976 (now called the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act). The Council prepares fishery plans which are designed to manage fishery resources from where state waters end out to the 200-mile limit of the Gulf of Mexico. These waters are also known as the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The Council consists of 17 voting members as follows: the southeast regional director of NMFS (or his designee), the directors of the 5 Gulf state marine resource management agencies (or their designees), and 11 members who are nominated by the state governors and appointed by the Secretary of Commerce. In addition, 4 nonvoting members represent the U.S. Coast Guard, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of State, and the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission. When reviewing potential rule changes, the Council draws upon the services of knowledgeable people from other state and federal agencies, universities and the public who serve on panels and committees. The panel members will advise the council on matters pertaing to development of an IFQ program for the grouper fishery resources in the federal waters of the exclusive economic zone of the Gulf of Mexico. They will examine the benefits and consequences of using IFQs to manage the commercial grouper fishery. Leal has been working for a nearly a decade on individual fishing quotas as a way to protect fisheries from overfishing and to improve the safety of the industry. He has written two books on the subject, testified before Congressional staff, and traveled widely to encourage the use of IFQs in various U.S. coastal areas as well as abroad. He also maintains a Web site: www.ifqsforfisheries with additional information on IFQs throughout the world. Topics: FisheriesType: ArticlesMedia Source: Donald Leal Leal's research on natural resources and environmental issues spans nearly 20 years. His current focus is on preventing over-harvesting of marine resources and restoring ocean fisheries.Leal is working to build support for individual fishing quotas (IFQs) and fishing cooperatives as more effective alternatives to the current regulatory approach... Read More > More Articles by Donald Leal > View the discussion thread. Don Leal appointed to Gulf of Mexico fishery advisory panel Bush Takes an Environmental Stand on Fishing Don't mess with Texas fish, either Snagged Halibut Gets Attention Donald Leal Donate

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Thole may be headed for the bench By Kieran Darcy | ESPNNewYork.com After another rough day behind the plate, Mets catcher Josh Thole may see some more time on the pine in the near future. When asked following the Mets' 7-6 10-inning loss to the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night whether he might consider playing backup catcher Ronny Paulino for a stretch of games coming up, manager Terry Collins said, "That's a possibility. And not just that, but to also maybe let Josh have a chance to clear his head a little bit." "I don't feel like I need a mental blow," Thole said, when informed of Collins' comments. "I mean, it's only May. Geez. I better not be asking for days [off]." Thole, 24, and in his first full year as a major-league starting catcher, has had some struggles defensively so far this season. On Tuesday night, with knuckleballer R.A. Dickey starting for the Mets, Thole had a couple balls get by him, which allowed runners to advance. The Giants were also 3-for-3 on stolen base attempts, and Thole had a throwing error on one of those throws. "We've gotta do a better job for sure," Collins said. "We're gonna get him out and do some receiving stuff [before Wednesday's game]." When asked how he feels defensively right now, Thole said, "I feel all right. I'm a little hard right now, as far as the receving part goes. So I'm gonna do some work on the machine tomorrow, I think that would be the best for me. "Just get used to slowing my eyes down, tracking the ball a little bit. It's just a matter of relaxing, that's the bottom line. You get a couple guys on base, you get tight a little bit. So I gotta get away from that." We'll see what happens on Wednesday night, but don't be surprised if it's Paulino behind the plate, catching Chris Capuano. Kieran Darcy | emailESPNNewYork.comFollowArchiveKieran Darcy is an ESPNNewYork.com staff writer. He joined ESPN in August 2000 after graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, where he played four years of JV basketball. Follow Kieran on Twitter » Tags:New York Mets, Josh Thole, New York Mets

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Comparing the NFC West: New kings at QB? Is Kaepernick the new king of QBs in NFC West? By Craig Massei NinersDigest.com publisherPosted Mar 28, 2013 The emergence of Colin Kaepernick and Russell Wilson – two of the youngest quarterbacks in the division – over the second half of the 2012 season has changed the complexion of the quarterback position in the NFC West. The 49ers and Seahawks now have two of the hottest up-and-coming multi-threat QBs in the NFL, and that moves them to the head of the class in their division at the position. After his brilliant debut season with the Rams in 2010 – when he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year – Sam Bradford appeared to establish himself as the king of QBs in the division for many years to come, particularly with no other front-line starters distinguishing themselves among the NFC West’s other three teams. That no longer appears to be the case. After taking over as the starter near midseason, Kaepernick was electric as San Francisco’s quarterback, taking the 49ers all the way to Super Bowl XLVII and within five yards of winning it. Wilson had a similar kind of impact in Seattle. The Seahawks forked out some considerable cash to sign free-agent Matt Flynn as their presumptive starter last year, but Wilson came in as a third-round draft pick and won that job before the season started. Then he came on strong over the second half of the season to take the Seahawks to the playoffs and within a few plays of the NFC Championship Game. Bradford bounced back from an injury-plagued sophomore season to lead the NFC West with 3,702 yards passing last season, but he has seemed to settle into a pattern as a good – but not necessarily great or difference-making – QB after his auspicious rookie season. In Arizona, the position is in disarray after the Cardinals started four different quarterbacks last year during a 5-11 season of regression. Here’s the breakdown of the NFC West’s quarterbacks after the first major wave of free agency as teams begin establishing their 2013 rosters with the NFL draft a month away: Current projected 2013 starter: Colin Kaepernick Backups currently on roster: Scott Tolzien Unit analysis: Alex Smith had the best season of any NFC West quarterback in 2011, moving the 49ers near the top of the division at the position. Then Smith got off to an even better start in 2012, leading the NFL in completion percentage and ranking among the league leaders in passer rating before a concussion put him on the sidelines in Week 10 against St. Louis. That gave an opening for Kaepernick to get on the field as a regular, and the second-year pro literally took the opportunity and ran with it. Kaepernick had an auspicious starting debut before a national Monday night television audience to lead a rout over a 7-2 Chicago team, and he never slowed down the rest of the season while taking the 49ers to a second consecutive NFC West title and No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. Amid the universal glare and high pressure of the playoffs, Kaepernick shined brightly, setting an NFL record for quarterbacks with 181 yards rushing in a divisional victory over Green Bay, a game in which he also passed for 263 yards and accounted for four total touchdowns. His ability to run the read option and the threat he possesses with both his quick feet and strong arm gives Kaepernick the potential to become an elite NFL QB at the age of 25. After everything he has gone through in San Francisco after the team made him the No. 1 selection of the 2005 NFL draft, the 49ers never really considered keeping Smith around as a (likely unhappy) backup to Kaepernick, trading Smith to Kansas City earlier this month for draft picks. That leaves the 49ers searching for backup competition for Tolzien, who looked good in the preseason last year but doesn’t have the skill set to run the kind of offense the 49ers are evolving toward with Kaepernick at the controls. Tolzien has yet to throw a regular-season pass after two NFL seasons, and the Niners are likely to add both a veteran and youngster to their new QB mix before training camp begins in July. NinersDigest rank in division: 1 Current projected 2013 starter: Undetermined Quarterbacks currently on roster: Brian Hoyer, John Skelton, Drew Stanton, Ryan Lindley Unit analysis: Arizona’s quarterback situation is in such shambles that the Cardinals literally don’t know who their starter will be entering training camp, more less the 2013 season. The Cards unceremoniously released Kevin Kolb on March 15, just two years after they gave him big money as a free agent to come in and potentially become a franchise quarterback. Kolb was productive when healthy during his first season with the team, but he missed 13 games to injury in his two Arizona seasons and obviously wasn’t the solution last season as the team sent out three other QBs as a starter besides Kolb. None of them were very effective, and it’s possible two of them won’t return. Skelton had three chances to win the starting job but had accuracy problems and finished with a 55.4 passer rating. Lindley – a 2012 sixth-round draft pick – showed flashes of potential but had a 46.7 rating with some horrid outings during his shot. It got so bad for the Cards that they picked up Hoyer off the free-agent scrap heap late in the season, and he started the season finale against the 49ers. Hoyer, who finished with a 65.8 rating in 53 pass attempts with Arizona, showed the Cards enough for them to retain him with a one-year, $2.023 million tender as a restricted free agent. But no holdover QB on this roster should feel comfortable, and the Cards immediately addressed their future at the position by signing Indianapolis backup Drew Stanton to a three-year, $8.2 million deal in free agency with $3 million guaranteed. That means Stanton likely will get the first shot to be the team’s new starter under new coach Bruce Arians – who coached Stanton with the Colts – but Arizona is likely to select another quarterback high in the upcoming draft, possibly with the team’s No. 7 overall pick in the first round. Current projected 2013 starter: Sam Bradford Backups currently on roster: Kellen Clemens, Austin Davis Unit analysis: Bradford bounced back from his injury-plagued 2011 season with a solid performance last year that helped the Rams bounce back to a respectable 7-8-1 finish in new coach Steve Fisher’s first season with the team. That included a division-best 4-1-1 record in NFC West games, with the Rams going 1-0-1 against the 49ers. Bradford was productive during that resurgence, completing 328 of 551 passes for 3,702 yards and 21 touchdowns with 13 interceptions to finish 18th among NFL quarterbacks with a passer rating of 82.6. That’s not bad, but the Rams expect – and probably need – more from Bradford after he became the last of the overall No. 1 picks in the draft to hit the jackpot with his contract in 2010, then raised hopes with his standout rookie season. After the success last season of rookies Russell Wilson, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III – a player the Rams could have drafted had they kept the No. 2 overall pick last year – Bradford’s play becomes even more scrutinized and the expectations for him and pressure on him remain high. Bradford was learning his third offense in three seasons last year, however, and he could easily emerge as the division’s best once he becomes comfortable and secure in coordinator Brian Schottenheimer’s system. Clemens took just one snap last season, but his familiarity with Schottenheimer’s offense helped Bradford, whom Clemens strongly supported. Clemens remains an unrestricted free agent, but he has established himself as a solid backup during the past two seasons in St. Louis – he had a strong performance against the 49ers in the 2011 season finale – and he is expected to return to St. Louis on another one-year contract. Davis, an undrafted rookie free agent last year, showed some promise in the preseason and could be back for another look. Current projected 2013 starter: Russell Wilson Backups currently on roster: Matt Flynn Unit analysis: After his stunning rookie campaign, it’s all about Russell Wilson in Seattle. Following a lukewarm start, Wilson ended up having a fabulous first season with the Seahawks, and if it weren’t for the standout debut seasons enjoyed by Andrew Luck in Indianapolis and Robert Griffin III in Washington – the top two picks of the 2012 draft – Wilson would have been a strong choice for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. Wilson was a big surprise and huge bargain for the Seahawks, who drafted him in the third round last year expecting to groom him as a backup to Flynn. Instead, Wilson won the starting job in training camp and developed into a legitimate playmaker who carried the Seahawks to an 11-5 finish and within a whisker of the 49ers for the NFC West title. Wilson finished an impressive fourth among NFL quarterbacks with a passer rating of 100.0, completing 64.1 percent of his throws for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. He also finished third among NFL quarterbacks with 489 yards and four TDs rushing and was particularly elusive down the stretch and during the playoffs, when Wilson led the Seahawks over Washington in a first-round game and within seconds of an upset over No. 1 seed Atlanta the next week. Wilson is under contract on a four-year, $3 million deal and is scheduled to make just $526,217 in base salary this season, which gives the Seahawks plenty of flexibility to address their situation at the position behind him. Flynn – who was signed to a three-year, $19.5 million deal last year as a free agent with the full expectation he’d become the team’s starter – is still owed $2 million guaranteed after making $8 million in total compensation for holding a clipboard behind Wilson last year. Flynn is still a young and promising prospect at the position, and Seattle general manager John Schneider is listening to trade offers, with CBSSports.com recently reporting that the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders and Buffalo Bills are “in the mix” to acquire Flynn from the Seahawks. But with Wilson’s low cap figure and Flynn scheduled to make $5.25 million in base salary in 2013, Schneider and the Seahawks are under no pressure to move Flynn. And if they do, that would leave them with no quarterback on their current roster other than Wilson. Whether Flynn remains with the team or not, the Seahawks will look to add to their roster a more athletic quarterback with a similar skill set to Wilson. Season in review: Quarterbacks -by NinersDigest.com Feb 19, 2013 No break for 49ers' Colin Kaepernick -by ScoutNFLNetwork.com Feb 4, 2013 Kaepernick ready to get back to work -by NinersDigest.com Feb 7, 2013 Don't miss any news or features from NinersDigest.com. Subscribe to our newsletter to have our newest articles emailed to you on a daily or weekly basis. QB Colin Kaepernick (profile) Football > Nevada > Alumni Football > Pitman HS > Alumni

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2013 SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR Posted: Monday December 3, 2012 9:56AM ; Updated: Monday December 3, 2012 11:49AM Miami Heat's LeBron James named SI's Sportsman of the Year Story HighlightsThe premier talent of his generation, LeBron James reached new heights in 2012James became just the second player to win a title, MVP and gold in the same yearOff the court, his philanthropic efforts continue to improve his hometown of Akron By Lee Jenkins Walter Iooss Jr./SI Sportsman: LeBron JENKINS: New heights for James in 2012 STAFF: Covering LeBron over the years POINT FORWARD: What's next for LBJ? VIDEO: Masterful year | The cover shoot Rare LeBron Pictures James in High School SI's Best Shots Top Playoff Moments LeBron's SI Covers Sportsman History This story appears in the Dec. 10, 2012, issue of Sports Illustrated. Buy the digital version of the magazine here. Pat Riley stood in the mouth of the tunnel at Boston's TD Garden, between the court and the locker room, and waited for the Boat. That's what he calls LeBron James -- "You know," Riley explains, "best of all time" -- an acronym he conjured to remind the planet's preeminent basketball player of frontiers still to be conquered. "Hey, Boat," Riley will say. "How is the Boat doing today?" James will reflexively laugh and shake his head because he is not the Boat, at least not yet. But on that sweaty night at the Garden, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference finals, facing yet another summer cast as the villain foiled, he delivered one of the Boat performances in NBA history. The image of James throughout the game, bent at the waist, staring skyward with pupils pushed to his eyelids, recalled predators of different breeds. "He was primal," Riley says. "He was a cobra, a leopard, a tiger hunched over his kill." After James had unleashed 45 points, snatched 15 rebounds and sucked all the juice from an expectant crowd, he marched toward Riley, the Heat president who lured him to South Beach two years ago with his six sparkling rings. He was just a few steps from Riley when a 20-something man perched above the tunnel poured what remained of his beer through a net canopy, dousing James's head and jersey. While a national television audience recoiled, Riley was transported back to the 1980s, when he coached the Lakers and rabble-rousers at the old Garden rocked their buses, spit in their faces and once shoved his mother-in-law over a railing. "I'm a Catholic, and I was an altar boy, so I say my prayers at night and I believe someone up there is taking care of us," Riley begins. "From where I was standing, there was a backlight on LeBron from the arena, and as the [beer] pellets sprayed up in the air, they looked like they were forming a halo over him. This is what I saw: The good Lord was saying, 'LeBron, I'm going to help you through this night because you're a nice person, and I'm going to give you 45 and 15. But as you walk off, I'm going to humble the heck out of you.' And, you know what, that's the best thing that could have happened." It was the story of his life. James could log 47 flawless minutes, or win 60 regular-season games, or spend seven years as a one-man stimulus package for a hard-bitten Rust Belt city and still end up with a beer in the face. We forgive our favorite athletes many imperfections and foibles, but James was held to a higher standard. He was too strong, too fast, too blessed to stumble, especially in the fourth quarter of a playoff game. "I'm in a different place than other people," he says. "That's O.K. I understand. I was chosen for this. It's my gift. It's my responsibility." When James was nine, he played running back for a Pop Warner team in his hometown of Akron called the East Dragons, and he scored 18 touchdowns in six games. "That's when I first knew I had talent," he says. When he was a freshman at St. Vincent-St. Mary High, a basketball coach confided in friends that the best player of all time was on his roster. When he was a sophomore, a local newspaper dubbed him King James, and never again did he play in front of a gym that wasn't jammed. James is a sucker for underdogs -- "I love Arian Foster, from the Houston Texans," he says, "because he didn't get drafted, he played on the practice squad, and now he's probably the best running back in the NFL" -- knowing full well he will never be one himself. He will never win in an upset, never know what it feels like to overachieve. He assumes the most unsustainable position in sports, the eternal front-runner, and he kept coming up short at the finish. But after each colossal disappointment, while the talking heads returned their attention to Tim Tebow or whatever topic du jour gooses the ratings, James wiped the beer from his chin and resumed his discovery. "In every adversity there is a seed of equivalent benefit," Riley says, and the Boat finds it. When James lost in the Finals in 2007, with the Cavaliers, he remade his jump shot. When he fell again in 2011, with the Heat, he built a post game. James was born with supernatural ability, but he lets none of it lie dormant. He extracts every ounce, through a distillation process created and refined by failure. "The game is a house, and some players only have one or two windows in their house because they can't absorb any more light," says Mike Krzyzewski, head coach of Team USA. "When I met LeBron, he only had a few windows, but then he learned how beautiful the game can be, so he put more windows in. Now he sees the damn game so well, it's like he lives in a glass building. He has entered a state of mastery. There's nothing he can't do. God gave him a lot but he is using everything. He's one of the unique sports figures of all time, really, and he's right in that area where it's all come together." A voracious mind has caught up with a supreme body. The marriage is a marvel. *** 2012 Sportsman of the Year: LeBron James Source:SI Sports Illustrated names Miami Heat star LeBron James the 2012 Sportsman of the Year. "It gets no better for a basketball player," says Heat guard Dwyane Wade of the year James just completed: NBA champion, NBA MVP, Finals MVP, Olympic gold medalist, hardwood revolutionary. Call him the best point guard in the league, or the best power forward, or both, or neither. "He has no position," says an NBA scout. "His position is to do whatever he wants. There's never been anything like it. You just give him the ball and you win the game." Defend James with bigger players and he pulls them out to the three-point line so he can breeze past them. Try smaller, more nimble players and he backs them all the way into the basket stanchion. The formula sounds simple, for a Mack truck with a Ferrari engine, but only now has it come into focus. CONTINUE STORY 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 More from SI.com

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Men's ResultsMen's SchedulesMen's PlayersWomen's ResultsWomen's SchedulesWomen's PlayersTickets Posted: Sunday February 17, 2013 8:08 PM Raonic beats Haas for 3rd straight Sap Open title SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Milos Raonic won his third consecutive SAP Open on Sunday, beating Tommy Haas 6-4, 6-3 for the title in the final year of the Bay Area tournament. Raonic has never lost in 12 matches in this event and became the first player in the Open era that began in 1968 to win this tournament three straight times and first overall since Tony Trabert did it from 1953-55. Raonic won the final tournament here in similar fashion to his first two, using an overpowering serve to control the match. He fired a 144 mph ace on his first serve of the match and was never threatened on serve. He had 19 aces and finished the week facing just a single break point. Raonic wrapped up the match when Haas sent a backhand wide to lose serve for the third time in the match and then went into the players box to hug family and friends. Perhaps no one will miss this tournament as much as Raonic. Since coming here for the first time in 2010, he has never lost and has three of his four career titles in San Jose. But he won't get another as the tournament that dates to 1889 is being moved to Memphis next year after the owners of the two events sold the higher-profile Memphis tournament to a group from Brazil. "A lot has happened here,'' Raonic told the crowd after the match. "I've grown a lot here. I've had my best matches here. ... It's something special.'' Raonic's performance at this event has truly been staggering. In 12 matches over three years, Raonic has never lost a single set and has been broken on serve in just two of 124 service games. He faced only three break points the past two years, saving two of them. Now the 22-year-old needs to translate those kinds of results to other stops on the tour to improve his No. 13 ranking. His only other win came last year in Chennai and he has never made it past the fourth round of a major. With a serve that reached as much as 148 mph and was mixed with a slower, slicing serve that Haas struggled to reach, Raonic was in control from the start of this match. He won 29 of 32 points when he got his first serve in and only had to hit a second shot on three of those points. That raised the stakes on Haas' own service game and he wasn't up to the task. Haas held all 27 service games coming into the match but was pushed to deuce on his own serve in the opening game of the match. He was broken in his second game when Raonic hit a backhand winner off a second serve to take the early lead that proved to be the margin in the opening set. Raonic pounded out 11 aces in the set, punctuating his first four holds with one before wrapping up the set with a 139 mph service winner. Haas fought off two break points in the opening game of the second set but was broken in his final two service games to end the match. He hit a slice backhand long to fall behind 4-3 and was unable to overcome an 0-40 hole in the final game. The 34-year-old Haas has won only one title since 2009, beating Roger Federer in Halle last year. In the doubles final, Xavier Malisse and Frank Moser beat Lleyton Hewitt and Marinko Matosevic 6-0. 6-7 (5), 10-4.

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Granlund, Ortio set to make NHL debuts as Flames host Kings (SportsNetwork.com) - Fourteen points out of a playoff spot and considered a team still rebuilding, the Calgary Flames may feature a number of new faces down the stretch of the season. That will be the case on Thursday night when a pair of players make their NHL debuts in a clash with the Los Angeles Kings. Goaltender Joni Ortio and forward Markus Granlund are both expected to play tonight for the Flames after putting together solid campaigns so far with the Abbotsford Heat of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old Granlund, a 2011 second-round pick of the Flames, has netted 23 goals and 44 points in 50 games with the Heat. He is expected to center the fourth line between Paul Byron and Kevin Westgarth. "You can play only one first NHL game, so I'm just going to try and enjoy the game," said Granlund. Ortio, who like Granlund hails from Finland, is 20-6-0 in 28 games with the Heat this season, posting an impressive 2.22 goals against average. His start tonight will give Swiss Reto Berra some extra time to recover after having traveled to Sochi, Russia for the Olympics. Flames goaltender Karri Ramo is currently out with a sprained right MCL, opening the door for Ortio to debut along with Granlund. "It's exciting. I'm happy that we get to make our debut at the same time," Ortio grinned. "It's a fun coincidence and it's going to be fun." The Flames sit 14 points out of a wild card spot despite winning six of eight going into the Olympic break. They have managed to beat the Kings twice already this season in Los Angeles and will try to defeat the club at home for the first time in five encounters. The Kings will play their second game following the Olympic break, having bested the hosting Colorado Avalanche 6-4 last night. Anze Kopitar had two goals and an assist, while Justin Williams and Jeff Carter helped the rally with a goal and an assist each. Kopitar and Carter scored 2:04 apart in the second period to tie the game at 4-4 and Kopitar's power-play goal 3:13 into the third frame put his club ahead for good. "Those two quick (goals) at the end of the second were huge and we carried that momentum into the third," Kopitar said. "It's nice to start off the third with a power play." Robyn Regehr and Jarret Stoll also lit the lamp as the Kings have won two straight following a four-game slide. They did so by scoring six goals, nearly half the output of the 15 goals they had scored in their previous 11 games. Backup Martin Jones stopped 25-of-29 shots in the victory, giving No. 1 goaltender Jonathan Quick some more rest after Quick served as the starting netminder for Team USA in the Olympics. Quick may start tonight and is 8-5-1 with a 1.62 GAA and .935 save percentage in 14 previous meetings with the Flames. Los Angeles is five points ahead of Vancouver for third place in the Pacific Division. 02/27 11:05:45 ET

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Chiefs introduce Reid as head coach Kansas City, MO (Sports Network) - Andy Reid is excited about coaching in front of the Sea of Red at Arrowhead Stadium. "The fan base here is phenomenal," Reid said as he was introduced as the new Kansas City Chiefs head coach on Monday. "There's nothing like the Sea of Red." Reid was fired last Monday after 14 years as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. It didn't take the Chiefs long to lock up Reid. On Friday night, Kansas City officially signed Reid to a deal that is reportedly for five years. Earlier that day, the Chiefs parted ways with general manager Scott Pioli after four years. Reid replaces Romeo Crennel, who also lost his job last Monday. Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt couldn't be more happy to land a veteran coach like Reid. "We are thrilled to welcome Andy to the Chiefs family," Hunt said. "Throughout his career, Andy has established himself as one of the finest coaches in the National Football League. His integrity, knowledge of the game, work ethic and outstanding abilities as a teacher and communicator make him the ideal head coach to lead the Chiefs for many years to come." Pioli's departure cleared the way for Reid to become the head of football operations in Kansas City, much the way he was in Philadelphia. Reid answered only to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie during his time in Philly and will likely have the same authority in KC with Hunt. "My family and I are very excited to join the Chiefs organization and the Kansas City community," Reid said. "I want to thank the Hunt family for allowing me the opportunity to lead this storied franchise. The Chiefs have always had a passionate fan base and I'm looking forward to Sundays at Arrowhead Stadium. We've got a lot of work to do to get ready for next season, and we are going to get started immediately." The winningest coach in Eagles history, Philadelphia posted a 130-93-1 regular-season record under Reid's watch and amassed a 10-9 postseason mark. The Eagles made nine playoff appearances during Reid's 14 seasons, played in five NFC Championship Games and lost to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX. However, the team managed only an 8-8 mark in 2011 and slipped to 4-12 this past season, the franchise's worst since 1998. "I can leave Philadelphia saying I gave it my all," Reid said. Reid takes over a Kansas City roster that featured five Pro Bowl selections this season. However, the Chiefs were just 2-14 and will have the first pick in the 2013 draft. The trying year was also marked by linebacker Jovan Belcher's murder-suicide in December. Finding a quarterback will be one of the first priorities for Reid, who is known for molding signal callers. He has worked with high draft choices like Donovan McNabb and Michael Vick to lower-round picks like Kevin Kolb and Nick Foles. Reid currently has Matt Cassel, Brady Quinn and Ricky Stanzi to work with at quarterback. On Monday, Reid said he will analyze the quarterback situation. In his first season with the Eagles, Reid selected McNabb with the second overall pick in the 1999 draft. Thus, it's possible Reid could take Geno Smith from West Virginia with the top pick this year. "I've gotta find that next Len Dawson, doggone it," Reid said. Kansas City won the AFC West under the direction of Pioli and head coach Todd Haley in 2010. However, that 10-win season was followed by a mark of 7-9 in 2011 that included Haley's firing. Crennel took over as interim coach for the final three games in 2011 and was named the full-time replacement last January. 01/07 17:14:08 ET

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NBA Lockout is Over, What Comes Next? - ThunderObsessed.com Thursday 17th April 2014, SCHEDULE OKC Thunder Tickets – Main Menu –SCHEDULE RECORDS - PLAYER RECORDS - TEAM RECORDS ROSTER - TWITTER STORE - OKC Thunder Tickets Thunder news Russell Westbrook: 2013-14 Regular Season Highlights Durant Solidifies MVP with huge 4th Thunder Playoff Picture The View From Loud City: Top 10 Plays Of Week 24 (Video) The View From Loud City: Top 10 Plays Of Week 23 (Video) NBA Lockout is Over, What Comes Next? Jason Hines November 26, 2011 Comments Off Picture complements of Ben Golliver (@blazersedge) At approximately 3 a.m. early Saturday morning, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com sent out the tweet for which we have all been waiting. Berger was first to report the story after the announcement was made of a joint press conference. NBA Commissioner David Stern said at the press conference that the plan was to play the first games of a shortened 66-game season on December 25th. The originally scheduled triple header of Mavericks-Heat, Lakers-Bulls and Knicks-Celtics will likely remain the Christmas Day lineup. It is being reported by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports that some veteran players may vote against the proposed agreement, but it will pass regardless. Judging by the reaction of the players on twitter, including this gem by Kevin Durant, I’d say Mr. Wojnarowski is correct. The deal must still be officially approved by the owners and players, but assuming the vote goes smoothly, the NBA timeline will look something like this: Saturday, Nov. 26th – Friday, Dec. 9th: The players’ union no longer exists, so the players must reform their union before the vote can take place. Reforming the union should not take long at all because the union disclaimed its interest rather than the alternative (decertification). The players must withdraw their antitrust lawsuits, show proof that a majority of the players support reforming the union, file some paperwork, and BOOM the union is back. The agreement only needs a simple majority to pass – 50% +1 vote for the players and 15 out 29 owners (the NBA owns the Hornets and its vote). Although dissent will be voiced from some players and owners, in all likelihood the deal will be approved this weekend or early next week. Meanwhile, the high powered lawyers for each side will be working feverishly during the next two weeks to put the new Collective Bargaining Agreement into writing. Both sides expect this process to be completed by December 9th. December 9th: Once the CBA is in place, free agency and training camp will begin. The free agency period will be crazy. Not only will it be condensed and rushed, but also the general managers must sign free agents after a crash course of the new CBA provisions. Chris Sheridan of Sheridanhoops.com is reporting some of the specifics of the deal. At first glance, the changes don’t seem too overwhelmingly different from the past CBA, but the changes will definitely shift some decision-making on behalf of teams. For a list of the top free agents, read this article on Sheridanhoops.com. Players that have signed overseas contracts will exercise their opt-out clauses and begin making their way back to the States. I even anticipate the players that signed contracts in China without opt-out clauses to be “released” by their respective teams; however, that remains to be seen. Also, I expect many reports over the next two weeks about certain players who are extremely out of shape. Conditioning will be a problem in training camps and likely entering the season. Hopefully this will not affect the quality of play, but it likely will for some teams. As we saw in the NFL this season, the short preparation period will likely result in more injuries than normal. December 25th: It is assumed that there will not be any preseason games. The season will begin with the regularly scheduled Christmas Day games. However, the NBA will likely announce a completely reworked schedule for the remaining season. Many division games were canceled, so in order to have a fair playoff seeding system, the schedule will be largely different. This is good news for fans. Remember that Thunder-Lakers game we all missed on opening night? It will likely be played, albeit on a different day and time. The regular season, which normally ends in the middle of April, will now be pushed back to the end of April to accommodate the 66-game schedule. Teams usually play 82 games in 5 ½ months. This season, teams will play 66 games in just over 4 months. NBA fans that were yearning for basketball, you are going to get all you can handle. If you are a season ticket holder, you might want to think about getting a condo downtown near your arena. You will feel like you are living at the arena. Many more back-to-backs will be played. Even a few back-to-back-to-backs will be on the schedule. — That is the basic rundown of what to expect over the next few weeks. Once details are released on the new CBA, I plan to write a thorough breakdown of the new provisions and how they will affect the league going forward. The best news of the night was the end of the lockout, but lost in the jubilation was the news that we don’t have to worry about another lockout until 2018. The tentative agreement calls for a 10-year CBA with an opt-out clause after the sixth season. There is plenty of blame to go around for the mess that played out over the past several months. The great news is that the two sides have reached an agreement and can begin mending relationships. The most important relationship the league and the players must mend would be the one between its fans. No doubt the relationship with the fans was damaged. However, the timing of this deal creates an opportunity to heal much of the damage. America does not multi-task sports very well. Most casual NBA fans are wrapped up in the compelling NFL season and the BCS National Championship drama. By the time college football is wrapping up on January 9th, NBA will be in full swing. A Christmas Day start does wonders for salvaging the momentum that has been created over the past several seasons. Now let’s play some basketball! Jason Hines ← Previous post Next post →

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Two Part Special 'NFL In Season' to Premiere Friday, October 4 on Discoverry DISCOVERY SCORES A LOOK INTO THE NFL WITH TWO-PART SPECIAL NFL IN SEASON --Two-Part Series Premieres Friday, October 4 and November 1 at 10 PM ET/PT— (NEW YORK, NY) – Discovery Channel is going on the road with the NFL as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars prepare for two critical regular season games across the pond in London. From the producers of Hard Knocks, this two-part special will chronicle each team’s week of preparation leading up to the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. Viewers will get a look off the field and into the meeting rooms for an all access, behind-the-scenes look at how each team handles the rigors of the season on European soil. NFL IN SEASON – Steelers vs. Vikings kicks-off Friday, October 4 at 10 PM ET/PT, followed by NFL IN SEASON – 49ers vs. Jaguars Friday, November 1 at 10 PM ET/PT. This year marks the first time two regular-season games will be played in the UK as part of the NFL International Series. On Sunday, September 29, the Minnesota Vikings will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Then on Sunday, October 27, the Jacksonville Jaguars will host the San Francisco 49ers. “We’re thrilled to work with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Discovery to create a compelling two-part special that showcases the unique storylines leading up to the NFL International Series,” said NFL Films producer Ross Ketover. “As the NFL takes this historic step in our international development with two games in London, we are excited to give fans back in the U.S. a behind-the-scenes look at these games.” Discovery will capture each moment - from the teams traveling to England and the coaches drafting game plans to the players practicing and being tourists in London. Before, during and after the game, get a fly-on-the-wall look as players work hard to make history and teams come together to return back home with a win. NFL IN SEASON is a NFL Films Production. Executive Producers for NFL Films include Howard Katz, Pat Kelleher and Ross Ketover. Executive Producers for Discovery Channel are Christo Doyle and Matthew Kelly. Follow TV by the Numbers on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr or RSS for all the latest. Tags: NFL in Season Ratings

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Hey, Dad! Can Brittney Play? Can Brittney Griner play? Can she ever! By Ken Kallina/LeeMichaelson Nat'l Scouting Dir/PublisherPosted Mar 4, 2009 Since Full Court Press first broke the story of Brittney Griner's historic withdrawal from the McDonald's All-American Game, there has been plenty of back and forth about who was responsible for that decision. FCP has continued to press its investigation into the issue and was the first to learn that Griner's school district is now promising that she can play--if only her parents send a note! In the three days since Full Court Press broke the story that girls’ prep sensation Brittney Griner was likely to be a no-show for this year’s McDonald’s All-American Game, there has been a lot going on. A lot of back-pedaling, stonewalling, and finger pointing by the major players involved, that is. Yet despite the flurry of media activity surrounding the story—as it turned out, Griner would be the first young woman and only the second player of either gender in the history of the celebrated event to receive the honor but decline to participate—we are no closer today than we were on Saturday to knowing whether the talented young woman will actually be in Florida on April 1 to take part in these once-in-a-lifetime activities that benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Griner’s Dad: The Principal Made Her Do It Though the Griner family has yet to respond to calls and e-mails from Full Court placed through Griner’s designated media consultant Yolande Lezine requesting comment on the story, dad Raymond apparently did find time to chat about the situation with ESPN.com, which ran a story Monday confirming the gravamen of the report Full Court had run two days earlier. Sure enough, dad said, according to ESPN.com's report, the bad news was true: “Brittney Griner, the most ballyhooed girls prep basketball player since Candace Parker will not participate in the 2009 McDonald’s All-American Game because she will not be allowed to take the time away from school, her father said.” (We’re puzzled, but can’t feel too badly, about the Griners’ apparent unwillingness to discuss the matter with this outlet, given that he evidently also stiff-armed the Houston Chronicle, nbcnewyork.com and a host of other media outlets and sports blogs.) ESPN’s story went on to lay the blame for Griner’s withdrawal from the McDonald’s festivities squarely at the feet of her Nimitz High School principal, Watson Wright, charging that he had sent the McDonald’s committee a letter “saying he would not authorize an excessive absence by Griner.” Based solely on the Griners’ version of events as related by ESPN.com, fans would have been left to consider whether young Brittney was the victim of a principal who just didn’t get the significance of the honor bestowed on his school and its student-athlete, or the beneficiary of a school administration who appropriately valued academics over athletics. But, of course, the story didn’t end, or at least shouldn’t have ended, there. The Nimitz Principal: “No Comment” It seems that despite all the love he was feeling from Ray Griner, ESPN’s Glenn Nelson was getting the cold shoulder from Principal Wright, who wasn’t returning his calls when his story went to press. We at Full Court felt it was important to get the school’s take on this story, as we noted in our original article when we pointed out that we’d been unable to reach school officials for comment over the weekend when the story was released. Mr. Wright accepted our call, but declined to comment on the story, directing us instead to the Aldine Independent School District’s Public Information Officer, Mike Keeney. The School District—Round I: “Not True. It Was the Family’s Decision.” “That’s just not true,” said Mr. Keeney, when read the statement attributed to Mr. Griner in the ESPN HoopGurlz account. Keeney stated unequivocally that Griner and her parents had never been told that she would not be allowed to take time off from her classes to participate in the game, adding that the school district was extremely proud of Griner and her accomplishments and of Nimitz’s progress to the Texas state championships, the final rounds of which will be held in Austin this weekend. “It’s not a decision for the school to make,” said Keeney. “It’s a family-based decision.” Well, what exactly did that mean? Would Griner suffer any adverse academic or disciplinary consequences if she and her family decide she should attend the game after all? Did Nimitz or the district have any role in making Ms. Griner the first girl in history to miss out McDonald’s All-American honors having been selected to receive them? “Not at all,” insisted Keeney. Students miss classes all the time for a host of extracurricular and other worthwhile activities. While classroom attendance is encouraged, in the end it is up to Ms. Griner and her parents to decide whether she could go to Miami or not. Well, then, what about the letter from Principal Wright to the McDonald’s Committee referred to in the ESPN story? Had such a letter been sent? Had an impression been created in the eyes of either the McDonald’s Committee or the Griners that the school would not approve her absence if her family decided to allow her to attend? Mr. Wright had sent a letter to the Committee, Keeney conceded, but he did so “in consultation with the family.” But why send such a letter, if as Keeney had just told us, the family was free to do as they wished without adverse consequence? Keeney said he understood that Brittney could only attend only one of the two games and that she had to choose one or the other. But who said she had to choose one or the other, that she couldn’t attend both? “The family, that’s a family-based decision,” Keeney repeated. So that wasn’t the school’s decision either, we queried. “No, not the school, it’s not up to the school; it’s the family’s decision,” Keeney insisted—politely, but as though dealing with a somewhat thick child. And so, according to Keeney, as things devolved, Mr. Wright had written the letter at the family’s wishes in an effort to see if they could persuade McDonald’s to reduce the amount of time Brittney would be required to be away from her classes, but McDonald’s was unwilling to yield. It was an all or nothing proposition, he indicated. The McDonald’s All-American is a five-day event when one rolls in not just the actual game on April 1, but practices, charity appearances, dinners, and what for Griner would have been the all-important Jam Fest. Of course, only three of those days are regular school days, the other two falling on the preceding weekend. Over the years, it has become routine practice for the subset of the McDonald’s All Americans who are also named to the WBCA All-American team to continue their trek from the McDonald’s venue to the site of the NCAA Final Four tournament for the WBCA game in a week of festivities broken by a day of travel. State Policy: Griner Might Have Been Able to Play Even Without the School’s Approval After receiving every possible assurance from Keeney that neither Nimitz High nor the Aldine School District was in any way preventing Griner from taking part in either or both tournaments, we detoured into a discussion of a provision in the Texas Education Code that would appear to have allowed Griner to have participated in the game whether or not the principal approved her absence. Under Texas law, a teacher, principal or school superintendent has broad discretion to excuse a student for temporary absence “resulting from any cause acceptable to” them. In fact, state law provides a list of reasons for which the school must excuse the student. But even if the principal or superintendent won’t excuse an absence, the student’s enrollment cannot be revoked unless a student has accumulated more than five absences in a semester that were not excused. That provision would appear to have allowed Griner to take the entire week off, with or without her principal’s permission, unless she had already burned through this semester’s ration of unexcused absences. Likewise, state law appears to require attendance for only 90 percent of the offered days of instruction in order to be eligible for academic credit, and a student can be gone even longer if she has a plan approved to make up the work missed. That’s usually 90 percent of 180 days a student must attend to be eligible for credit, but in this case, Hurricane Ike hit Aldine School District, so Keeney said it was a little less. Still, he agreed, simple math meant that Griner would have had to have racked up more than three weeks worth of unapproved absences, without any plan approved to make up the work, before her eligibility to receive academic credit would have come into issue. Keeney, who conceded that he wasn’t too familiar with these provisions, promised to look into the district’s attendance policy and get back to us. In a follow-up call, we asked if he could also supply a copy of Wright’s letter to the McDonald’s Committee. That left us the evening to ponder how two grown men—her father, as reported by ESPN, and her school principal, as reported by the district’s spokesman--both of whom no doubt had Brittney’s best interests at heart, could have come to conclusions so completely at odds about the simple question of whether this young woman would be allowed to take time off from school to accept one of the nation’s most highly coveted athletic honors and, if the answer to that question was “No,” just who it was who was making that decision District Attendance Policy: Well, Then Again, Perhaps Not True to his word, Mike Keeney had an e-mail waiting for us the next morning, laying out the Aldine School District’s attendance policy. It seems that they operate under a bit stricter interpretation of the Great State of Texas’s school attendance requirements. As set out in Aldine’s attendance policy: “High school students may only have three (3) unexcused absences per semester in order to receive credit. However, if a student 18 years or older has five (5) unexcused absences in a semester, the district may revoke the student’s enrollment…. A student who fails to attend classes for at least 90 percent of the days the class is offered cannot receive credit for the class—even if the days were excused by the school district for medical or other reasons. … ” At the same time, the district’s policy provides a laundry list of activities for which a student’s absence either may or must be excused, ranging from doctors’ appointments, to religious observances, to playing Taps at military funerals, and, generally for “absences approved by the principal in advance.” It also states, “Students must bring a note from the parent or guardian requesting an excused absence for one of these reasons.” Indeed, the policy provides that a student may not only have his or her absence excused but may actually be counted as “present for ADA purposes” if they are absent for “participation in a board-approved and appropriately supervised extracurricular activity or performance.” The Aldine policy raised a number of questions. Had Griner’s parents ever actually requested in writing that she be excused for the entire week of the two games? Had the principal refused their request? Had the family taken their authorized appeal to the school board, and if so, what action had the board taken? Why would a prestigious honorary high school athletic and charitable event such as the McDonald’s All-American Game fail to qualify as “participation in a board-approved and appropriately supervised extracurricular activity or performance”? Still, Griner is only 17, and so, apparently, gets just three bites at the unexcused absence apple. Thus, whether justified or not, if her principal had, as her father evidently contended, said that he would not approve a week’s worth of absences, her goose might very well have been cooked. Though Keeney continued to insist this was not the case, it made Principal Wright’s letter to the McDonald’s Committee all the more significant. We renewed our campaign to obtain a copy of the letter—from the district, from McDonald’s, or from the Griners’ designated media consultant. Mickey D’s: The Game Is More Important than Any One Player In the interim, the Houston Chronicle had come out with its account of the Griner story, one that, in essence, split the baby. The Chronicle’s version relied heavily on a written statement from Morgan Wooten, the McDonald’s event chair. Wooten confirms that the McDonald’s event staff “was recently informed that Brittney Griner will be unable to participate in the McDonald’s All-American High School Basketball Games.” Coach Wooten attributes Griner’s nonparticipation to “conflicts with her class schedule,” adding, “[W]e support Ms. Griner, Nimitz High School officials and the Aldine Independent School District, and share in their conviction that education comes first,” but without stating who it was who had concluded that both could not be accomplished in this instance. A spokesman for McDonald’s confirmed that Griner will remain on the event’s roster, and will receive her ring, uniform, and all the other benefits ordinarily accorded to participants. Many of the game’s superstars from Shaq, Kobe, and LeBron James on the men’s side to Candace Parker, Marissa Coleman, Alexis Hornbuckle, and Shanna Zolman in the six years the game has been played on the girls’ side, have gotten their first major television exposure on a national stage in the McDonald’s All American game, and, of course, that’s one benefit Griner cannot receive in absentia. But the spokesman underscored the larger purpose of the event that over the years since the game was first played in 1978 has raised millions of dollars for the Ronald McDonald House Charities and its network of local chapters, many of them in the hometown communities from which the honored players have been drawn. He expressed hope that the controversy over who was and wasn’t playing would not distract attention from the larger purpose of the game. “This game is much more important than any one player,” he said. Brittney Speaks (Kind of): “Things … Stated Verbally … Caused Questions of Concern Pertaining to Graduation” Early Tuesday, the Houston Roundball Review (www.thehrr.com) posted the following statement purporting to be a press release from Griner’s media consultant Yolande Lezine Communications: “Nimitz High School senior post and McDonald's All-American selection Brittney Griner will not be participating in the 2009 McDonald's High School All American game scheduled for Wednesday, April 1st in Miami, Florida. ”The game, which is played in the middle of week (sic) requires participation (sic) to be in attendance for events that cover a total of five days. “’The McDonald's All-American game was put in my school's hand for approval and was discussed with various members of the Aldine Independent School District administration,’ Brittney Griner stated. “’An official ruling was given by the district through my principal Mr. Watson Wright; however, there were many things that were stated verbally that caused questions of concern pertaining to graduation.’ ”Griner has accepted the decision made by Mr. Wright and the Aldine Independent School District and she has personally sent the McDonald's All-American committee a sincere ‘Thank You’ for her selection. ”McDonald's spokesperson David Gardiner stated that Griner would still have her spot on the roster and would still receive her ring, uniform, and other items given to all participants. ”There was no statement that was given on behalf of Brittney Griner or her family to the Aldine Independent School District and there will be no further comments pertaining to this matter.” A McDonald’s spokesman confirmed that the event had indeed received such a “Thank You” communication from Griner, bowing out of the event. Principal’s Letter to McDonald’s: “I Cannot Approve of [Griner’s] Absences at this Time” Finally, at nearly 4:30 p.m. yesterday, the school district released a copy of Principal Wright’s letter to the McDonald’s Committee. On its face, and contrary to the representations made by the school district’s spokesman a day earlier, the letter, dated February 26, 2009, appears to corroborate the Griners’ contentions that the school was responsible for Griner’s decision to withdraw: “February 26, 2009 I am writing this letter to inform you that as the Principal of Nimitz High School, I have the discretion to approve of absences that students are requesting that are beyond State regularly approved absences. The Mc Donald Corporation is requesting that Britney Griner take part in its McDonald All-American game, and the activities accompanying it. The absences being asked for are excessive. I can not approve of her absences at this time. Watson Wright, Principal” In his e-mail transmitting the Wright letter, Keeney took pains to note: “It should be pointed out that letter was written Feb. 26. I think the last sentence in his letter is pertinent.” What exactly is the district’s point: That Wright was merely telling McDonald’s that he could not approve of Griner’s absence as of February 26, but reserving the right to change his mind and approve the absence later? Keeney has never withdrawn his representation that Wright wrote his letter “in consultation with” Griner’s parents, nor that the decision for Griner not to attend the game was that of the Griner family. But absent a wink and a nod--some verbal or nonverbal communication that the principal really didn’t intend to stand by what he was saying within the scope of the letter itself, Brittney, her parents, McDonald’s and any reasonable person reading that letter would be likely to interpret it as meaning that if she chose to attend the event, it would be without her principal’s approval, and hence an unexcused absence. And if that, indeed, was the meaning attached to the principal's letter, then in light of the Aldine School District’s three-day limit on unexcused absences for high school students, Griner and her parents would have further reasonably understood her to be in jeopardy of losing credit for her final semester of high school if they chose to attend the McDonald’s Game over the principal’s objections. That being the case, it seems disingenuous, at best, for the school district to have contended that it was “a family-based decision” for Griner to sit the game out. Keeney, the district’s spokesman, was courteous and professional throughout our dealings with him, and we believe he was doing his best to communicate truthfully based on the information available to him at the time in question. Perhaps it was our repeated requests to see the Wright letter that brought additional facts to light. But seriously, what responsible high school senior, with a scholarship and a college future on the line, would decide to run on along to the All-American Game if told that the price of accepting the honor was her high school diploma? District’s Current Ruling: Griner Can Now Go; All She Needs Is a Note from Her Parents Arriving almost simultaneously with the Wright letter was a bold-faced, one-sentence official statement to the media from the Aldine Independent School District. It read as follows: “Statement on Brittney Griner and McDonald’s All-American game “If the parent requests that his daughter be allowed to miss school to participate in the McDonald’s All-American Game, her absences will be excused and she will be allowed to make up any missed work.” Mr. Keeney advised us that this would be the District’s final word on the subject. We may never know the full story of how and why Principal Wright’s letter came to pass, whether the Griners ever attempted to appeal from Wright's decision, or whether the Aldine School District would have overruled the principal’s decision had the Griners simply asked them to do so, in the absence of the media attention that has developed since we put the spotlight on her withdrawal from the game. What we do know is that the ball is now squarely in Griner’s court. What she says and does from this point forward will tell us for sure whether she and her family really want her to be there or not. Aldine School District is now clearly and unequivocally willing to let her go, she can make up any missed class work, and she no longer has any reason to worry about loss of credit or a failure to graduate due to issues surrounding her attendance at the Game. A spokesman for McDonald’s said they’ve heard nothing from Griner since her withdrawal and “Thank You,” but she’s more than welcome to return—she still has her place on the roster. In fact, they—and many fans, would be delighted to see her not only play in the game but take part in the Slam Jam event as well. So, how about it, Dad? Can Brittney come out and play? All she needs is a note from her parents. Photo Credit: AP Photo/Houston Chronicle/Michael Paulsen No Show at McDonald's Likely for Griner -by WomensHoops.scout.com Feb 28, 2009 FCP's High School All Americans High School Stars Shine -by WomensHoops.scout.com Apr 5, 2009 Don't miss any news or features from WomensHoops.scout.com. Subscribe to our newsletter to have our newest articles emailed to you on a daily or weekly basis. C Brittney Griner (profile) Basketball > Baylor > Recruiting

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hide Packers Hall of Fame moving to Neville Public Museum next year Tuesday, September 10, 2013 11:42 p.m. CDT Photo courtesy of Royal Broil Neville Public Museum GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Packers fans won’t miss out on learning about the team’s history or not get a chance to see Super Bowl trophies next year. The Hall of Fame is moving from the Lambeau Field Atrium basement to the second floor next year, and will likely be closed for a good year. The Neville Public Museum is in talks with the Packers to bring some of the team’s Hall of Fame artifacts, trophies and rings over when the football season is done. The Neville will feature a rotating display of Hall of Fame items and stories. “I think it will have a lot of interest to people, we’ll also have updates or sketches and plans on what our new Hall of Fame will look like," Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said. The museum has Packers displays and exhibits, while also acting as the starting point for the Packers Heritage Trail. “The big, big goal here is to not have any unsatisfied or disappointed fans,” Neville Museum Director Rolf Johnson said, “ they come in, see a game and go 'what the Hall of Fame is not open, we wanted to see a Lombardi’; you can come down to the Neville to see one.” Tweet

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College WrestlingBy Jason Gluckman In the U.S., wrestling is an important sport at the university and school levels. College wrestling is a form of wrestling practiced at the university levels. It is also referred to as Collegiate wrestling or Folkstyle wrestling, to differentiate it from other forms of wrestling. National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) are the two national level entities in the U.S. that organize wrestling events across the country. Wrestling at high school or junior high levels is termed as scholastic wrestling. It is different from college wrestling and has its own set of rules. It is essential for wrestlers to gain experience at the scholastic level and upgrade their wrestling skills before College wrestling is different from professional or international wrestling in many ways. The focus is on wrestlers learning to control their opponents rather than on explosive action. The rules also vary a little bit at this level. Wrestlers are discouraged from throwing their opponents to avoid injuries. The length of a period in college wrestling is different from that in professional wrestling. The first period is of three minutes duration while the second and third periods are of two minutes each. Riding time is a rule unique to college wrestling. This means that if a wrestler stays in the top position for more than a minute, he earns an extra point. College level wrestlers often dream of making it big as professional wrestlers. This is not an easy goal to accomplish as the wrestling rules at a professional level are infinitely more challenging. The rigor of training required for qualifying as a professional wrestler is tough. However, college wrestling provides an excellent platform for young wrestlers to showcase their skills. The really talented wrestlers from this level are spotted and recruited in the national teams. Wrestling provides detailed information on Wrestling, Wrestling Entertainment, Pro Wrestling, College Wrestling and more. Wrestling is affiliated with Kick Boxing. Wrestling Drills and Practice Plans Wrestling Shoes Professional Wrestling How To Cut Weight For Wrestling Wrestling College Wrestling Wrestling Tryouts Strength Training For Wrestling Wrestling Conditioning Wrestling Drills Wrestling Coaching Contact Us Privacy Statement Links Site Map

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Antonio Barton transferring to Tennessee Sunday - 5/26/2013, 8:10pm ET STEVE MEGARGEE Antonio Barton is transferring from Memphis to Tennessee.Barton confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday that he had chosen Tennessee, where the guard says he thinks the Volunteers have all the pieces in place for him to play on a team that can win."I'm so excited," Barton said. "I'm just ready to get started as quick as possible."Barton's older brother, Will of the NBA's Portland Trail Blazers, tweeted earlier Sunday that his brother had decided to transfer to Tennessee. University officials could not comment because a signed letter of intent had not been received as of Sunday afternoon.Memphis announced in April that Barton planned to transfer and that he was on track to graduate this summer, which would allow him to play immediately for his new school without sitting out a year.Barton, a 6-foot-2 guard, started 31 games his first two seasons, but he averaged 5.6 points and 1.3 rebounds coming off the bench this past season. He missed most of the final two months because of a hairline fracture in his right foot.Tennessee offers Barton the chance for a bigger role. Tennessee's May 7 announcement that Trae Golden was leaving the program left walk-on Brandon Lopez as the Vols' lone experienced point guard. They also have incoming freshman Darius Thompson.Golden was Tennessee's third-leading scorer with 12.1 points per game and ranked third in the Southeastern Conference with 3.9 assists per game this past season while helping Tennessee finish 20-13 and reach a second straight NIT.Barton's arrival adds a proven point guard to a Tennessee lineup that features plenty of talent at just about every other position. Barton can play either guard spot, but the Vols likely will need him more at the point.Tennessee returns four players who made at least 16 starts last season, including first-team all-SEC shooting guard Jordan McRae and second-team all-SEC forward Jarnell Stokes. The Vols also welcome back Jeronne Maymon, a former second-team all-SEC forward who sat out the entire 2012-13 season with a knee injury."Tennessee had the best chance of me coming in and winning - not only playing right away but they have all the pieces from shooting guard to small forward to even guys coming in off the bench and the coaching staff," Barton said.Tennessee had room to add another point guard because Golden's departure left the Vols with 12 scholarship players, one below the NCAA limit. Three days before the announcement of Golden's exit, the Vols revealed that incoming freshman guard Travon Landry had been released from his letter of intent. Landry has since signed with New Mexico State.During his years in Memphis, Barton did much of his best work against Tennessee. He scored 21 points in a 99-97 double-overtime victory over Tennessee in the Maui Invitational in November 2011. Less than two months later, he shot 5 of 7 and scored 19 points as Memphis beat Tennessee 69-51.Barton acknowledged it would be unusual playing for Tennessee after spending most of his career with an in-state rival."At the end of the day, I have to do what's best for me," Barton said.

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Interviews, WWE News Mickie James Talks About Returning To WWE, Her Performance Center Visit Posted by Michael Bluth November 15, 2013 1 Comment Tweet Former WWE Women’s and Divas Champion Mickie James sparked rumors of a possible return to WWE this week by rekindling her relationship with the sports-entertainment organization. The Virginia-native is trainingthe organization’s developmental female talent at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida for the week, and attended Thursday night’s NXT live event in Tampa. WWE.com caught up with James for an exclusive interview, as she discussed her trip to the Sunshine State, her recent endeavors and whether fans will see her return to the WWE ring. In response to how her visit to the state-of-the-art facility materialized, James states, “I got a call from Talent Relations, and they asked if I would be interested in coming down, checking it out and working with some of the girls here. Of course, I jumped all over it; I was happy to do it. The place is amazing, it really is mind-blowing. We had all prayed for something like this [when we were] breaking in.” In addition to teaching the girls how to wrestle, James focused on bringing their personalities out. She explains, “Mostly being vocal in the ring and being vocal while they’re working instead of just thinking about what their moves are and what they need to do in there. Actually being who they are.” Though she came to Florida to assist WWE’s female developmental talent, James is still interested in returningthe company as a performer. “Of course, I would absolutely love that, but you never know,” James says in response to whether her visit to the WWE Performance Center means she’s coming back. “I’m just trying to take advantage of this opportunity. If I can pass a little knowledge of what I know, then hopefully that will do something, if not for me, then for the future of WWE and women’s wrestling itself.” Should James return to WWE, she would be most interested in working with three particular Divas: Natalya, AJ Lee and Brie Bella. “I would love to work with Natalya; we only had a couple matches when I was there. I would love to work with AJ Lee, and I think Brie [Bella] has really come a long way since I was in WWE, so I’d love to do some stuff with her,” remarked James. James also recalls her career with WWE, including WrestleMania 22 and the “Piggy James” angle, and reveals which Divas at the WWE Performance Center stood out in her eyes. The full interview is available here. P.P. Johnny P.P. Johnny thinks Mickie James would be an upgrade to the most hapless Diva’s division the WWE has ever had.

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UConn adds former player as assistant coach Storrs, CT (Sports Network) - Connecticut men's basketball coach Kevin Ollie has announced the promotion of Ricky Moore to permanent assistant coach for the 2013-14 season.Moore served as the assistant director of basketball administration in 2012-13, his first year with the team, after spending two seasons as an assistant coach at Dartmouth.Moore was a member of the 1999 UConn national championship team and went on to play 11 years professionally in five different countries, while also spending time in the NBA Developmental League."I'm really excited to add Ricky to our coaching staff," Ollie said. "When Ricky was here as a player, he epitomized what UConn stands for and I know he will do the same thing as a coach."

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Coaching the "I" out of the Team & Darius Miller Invited to University Games Tryout By Ken Howlett @KenHowlett In my latest effort for CoachCal.com, I take a look at the coaching challenges Calipari faces due to the incredible amount of talent dotting the UK roster. In big news for Darius Miller, he has been invited to participate in the tryouts for the 2011 USA Basketball World University Games. The tryouts are July 29-August 7 at the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. The 12-member team will represent the USA at the 2011 World University Games held in Shenzhen, China August 13-23. Miller had this to say about the invitation: "It's an honor to be invited to the tryouts, where the ultimate goal is a chance to represent our country. I'm just as excited for the opportunity to play against some of the best basketball talent in the nation." Congratulations and good luck to Miller! I'm sure he will represent Kentucky with the utmost class. Go 'Cats!

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ABN AMRO WORLD TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2013 Federer's Manic Monday In Rotterdam © Henk KosterFederer unveiled his own 2012 winner’s flag during a flag parade at Boompjes with the mayor of Rotterdam, Mr. Aboutaleb. It was just another manic Monday for Roger Federer in Rotterdam. The World No. 2 participated in a number of activities on and off the court as he prepares to defend his ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament title. “They asked me if I could do most of the things today, and I said that’s no problem for me. Sometimes, it’s easier for me to do it all in the same day,” said Federer. “I’m happy to help get the tournament promoted.” Federer began the afternoon by visiting the Giant Tennis Racquet in Rotterdam’s city centre with tournament director Richard Krajicek. There, Federer unveiled his own 2012 winner’s flag during a flag parade at Boompjes with the mayor of Rotterdam, Mr. Aboutaleb, in celebration of the tournament’s 40th anniversary. The 31-year-old Federer then returned on-site for his pre-tournament press conference, four television interviews, a practice session with David Goffin and an autograph opportunity for fans at the Tennis Plaza. In the evening, Federer dressed up in a suit to visit with sponsors and then took part in the tournament’s opening ceremony on centre court with Krajicek and wheelchair tennis star Esther Vergeer. “In doing the press, there’s some flexibility to do it,” Federer said. “Some love it on the Saturday or Sunday before, others like it on the Monday. It really depends on when you’re playing. I’m very flexible. We talk about this a few weeks ahead of time and then when I get here, things are clear.” Federer is playing his first event since reaching the semi-finals of the Australian Open (l. to Murray). He holds a 21-5 record in Rotterdam, lifting trophies in 2005 and 2012. “I had a wonderful time here last year. I'm very happy to be back,” said Federer. “I feel very welcome here when I come. The people are always friendly, so I really enjoy it. “There’s a tradition and the history of it being one of the best indoor tournaments in the world. The draw is very tough here. There are many great players.” The top seed opens his campaign against Slovenia’s Grega Zemlja. ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, Rotterdam, Roger Federer, Off Court Search News Corona ATP Weekly Slice: Nadal Chases Ninth Monte-Carlo Title Corona ATP Weekly Slice: Clay Season Under Way With Houston, Casablanca Federer Saves Swiss Hopes; Monfils Completes French Comeback Federer, Wawrinka Attempt Comeback Against Kazakhstan Federer, Wawrinka Spearhead Swiss Challenge Federer Back Up To No. 4; Djokovic Hot On Nadal's Heels

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Home > Insider > News Committee Chair Praises Big 12, Cowboys Stadium Mike Bobinski, the athletic director at Xavier who recently was named to the same position at Georgia Tech, is the chair of the Division I Men's Basketball Committee. During a teleconference with reporters Wednesday, he was asked about this year's South Regional that will be hosted by the Big 12 and held at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. It will also be the site for the 2014 Final Four. "We feel like Cowboy Stadium will be a tremendous regional host and an equally tremendous Final Four host in 2014. The Big 12 has hosted a multiple number of events for this championship over the years. It is the same folks that have done it many, many times. "We really will use this regional as a dress rehearsal, a dry run for next year's Final Four. The seating configuration will be as it will be for the Final Four, the lighting, the sound. We'll really give it a chance to shake down that building from a basketball perspective and from an NCAA Championship basketball perspective, and think it will be a really positive event. "We're ready for it. We're excited about it. I think the chance for teams to play in what is one of the iconic facilities in the country at this point in time will be a unique experience for them. So we're looking forward to it and excited about being there. "

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Home > In Focus > In Focus Texas Student Athlete Spotlight: Sha'Dare McNeal By Elissa SchneidermanBig 12 Campus Correspondent The world of top-tier collegiate volleyball comes with a big stage and high stakes. Fortunately for the Texas Longhorns, they have a valuable tool in Sha'Dare McNeal. She's the lone senior and a stabilizing force for Texas volleyball. "She's a very calm, steady person on the court," junior Bailey Webster said of her teammate. "She's never down. She's just a great person to play around." Head coach Jerritt Elliott recognizes the significant impact McNeal's personality has on his team. "She's good at communicating with [her teammates]," Elliott said. "She has a demeanor about her that's not too high or too low. She just has a calm appearance." McNeal explained that her calmness comes naturally. She's always possessed a mellow disposition, but now, as the team's only senior, she understands the importance of her quiet leadership. "We have people who are looking up to me and expecting me to play at the highest level that I can play," McNeal said. "[My role on this team is] being a leader and being that person who is constant." In 2009, McNeal came to Texas as the No. 5 rated recruit in the nation, according to Prep Volleyball. When she arrived, she was a middle blocker, but over the course of her collegiate career, she's morphed into a utility player who is capable of playing six rotations. "She's developed into one of the most complete players from beginning to end," Elliott said. "It's been fun watching her athleticism grow here and develop into the player that she is today." McNeal's stability and reliability makes her the Longhorns' most essential player on and off the court. Not only does her presence have a calming influence on her teammates, but she's able to play almost anywhere in the rotation. "She's the main person on our team because she can score, she can pass, and she [has a] great serve," said Webster. "She's in the entire match. She has a very crucial role and we look up to her for that." McNeal's unique combination of varied skills and years of experience holds her team together. "She's our glue right now," Elliott said. "She's our premier ball control player. She has a great volleyball I.Q. and can do so many different things. Her skill sets are a big part of why we're successful. "We know what she can do on the court. She's very steady. It's more about [whether she can] make players around her better. She's doing that. That's the ultimate goal." McNeal's preferred method of providing guidance to her team is through example. She sets the precedent for hard work at Texas. She's the first to practice, the first one on the court and the first one ready for drills. In the weight room, she pushes herself to lift at the maximum her body will allow in order to encourage her teammates. Likewise, in competition McNeal shows her teammates that consistency is one way to win big games. "[By] not seeing me frustrated and knowing that we can win being calm, I try to show my team that in certain situations when it gets tough, it's okay to be steady," McNeal said. McNeal hopes that her quiet, reliable leadership will guide her team to a successful season. She has her sights set on a Big 12 championship and national title. But in her senior year, she has other, more sentimental ambitions as well. "I'm also [focused] on creating memories with these girls," McNeal said. "This team means everything to me. It's my last college year playing. So, practices and matches, they're just a blessing."

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Best of SB Nation NBA Phoenix Suns' head coach Jeff Hornacek talks memories and mentors By Jim Coughenour @jim_coughenour Remember when the Suns used to wear purple? - Getty Images In the second portion of my conversation with the Suns' new head coach he gives a glimpse into his playing days with the Phoenix Suns and elaborates on the tutelage that has helped shape his coaching philosophy.  Our younger readers don't have a recollection of Hornacek's time as a member of the Phoenix Suns. Unless you're around my age (34) or older then it was before your time. Let this be a glimpse into Jeff's thoughts about a portion of Suns' history prior to your fandom. For the readers older more experienced than me, without getting mawkish, this will hopefully refresh your memory of a great era of Suns' basketball. Some people's favorite era. The Drug Scandal "I have great memories from when I was here in Phoenix. When I was a rookie we had basically five draft picks that year and four of us made it. Myself, Rafael Addison, Kenny Gattison and William Bedford, so that was a time where this was all new to us playing in the NBA," said Hornacek. "Then we had, obviously, the drug scandal that happened." This was the darkest hour of Suns' basketball. An eclipse of epic proportions. A drug scandal involving current and former Suns' players was a blight on the team. A more thorough examination of these events can be read in a Sports Illustrated article here. "The biggest thing was Kenny Gattison and Rafael Addison and I would ride to practice every day. We lived in the same apartment complex. When we came into practice all of a sudden all of the media came flying at us and we were like, "What the heck's going on?" and we were the guys standing there like, "OK, we had no idea." We were just sitting there kind of minding our own business, young guys, young players." Talk about being blindsided showing up to work. This type of chaos surely shook every person in the organization, but it was probably even more difficult for the young players to comprehend. The current leadership of the Suns has talked about developing a culture that fosters growth and development in its players. This was not that culture. "That was something that was a great memory, not really a great memory, but one that really influenced our thought of the NBA and that you need to go on your own course and work as hard as you can at your game and not worry about some of the other stuff that is going on. It was really some bad times at that point. Then, when we made the trade for Kevin Johnson, Mark West and Tyrone Corbin. Cotton Fitzsimmons comes in and everything kind of seemed to be headed in the right direction." The Rebuild and the 90's Playoffs The palingenesis of the team in such a brief interval was a convergence of new management, Jerry Colangelo, new (old) coaching, Cotton Fitzsimmons, and brilliant talent acquisitions, Kevin Johnson, Eddie Johnson, Tom Chambers, Mark West and Dan Majerle. Some may even remember a rookie from the University of Arizona named Steve Kerr. "I always thought I was going to be a guy who played my whole career in Phoenix, I was obviously naïve to that fact, but I was the only guy they had kept from that whole time. Once we made the trade for Kevin and those guys everybody was gone except for me. There were times we thought we had a chance to win a championship, but couldn't get over the hump," lamented Hornacek. "That Portland series always rings a bell in my mind, in 1990, but the whole trade thing was something where I thought it was a great deal for Phoenix. Obviously we needed a power, post-up player and Barkley fit that mold. Unfortunately, it was me that me that was in on the deal." The deal sent Hornacek, Tim Perry and Andrew Lang to Philadelphia for troubled superstar Charles Barkley. I shared with Jeff that I can still remember exactly where I was when the news broke on June 17, 1992... 6 years to the day when the Suns originally drafted him. Little league baseball was in swing at my junior high school, but I didn't have a game that night, so I was playing basketball on the courts that separated two of the fields. Someone came onto the courts and told me the news, obviously this was just prior to the invention of twitter, and it spread across the ball fields like wildfire. I can still remember feeling conflicted. While the Suns had acquired what may have been the final piece in their championship puzzle, they had just traded the longest tenured Sun and my favorite basketball player. "It was just something that I thought would never happen. I told the story before that I would have traded myself. When I was in Seattle we were exercising and I told myself that was the guy that we need and that's who we (the Suns - notice the use of we) ended up with. That was just one of the things that I remember here in Phoenix. I thought that maybe at some point I'd end up back here, but the way things turned out, with my six years in Utah and a having a couple of chances at championships, it worked out for me. I didn't know if I'd ever be back in the Phoenix Suns' organization, so it was great when they called me to interview and I talked with Robert, Lon and Ryan and it seemed like it would be a good fit for me and a good fit for them. So on we go." I felt that Jeff seemed evidently despondent when describing his ouster. Just my take. "The one play that always sticks out to me is when we played the Lakers in the playoffs in LA. We were up by a couple points with 30 seconds left in the game and I had the ball on the wing and ran a pick and roll with Mark West and a couple guys jumped out at me, I think it was Worthy and Magic Johnson, and left Mark wide open and I dumped it to him. He dunked it and basically that was the game and ended the series, in LA (emphasis), which was huge for us and all our young guys running off the court." Jeff's memory is a little bit hazy. It was 1:09, not 30 seconds. Look at the 7:28 point on the video for the play Hornacek is referring to. Jeff also hit four clutch free throws coming down the stretch. I personally enjoyed when the announcer said, "If Phoenix wins this series you can point to the play of Jeff Hornacek." Here's the video of the closing moments, because I'm sure everyone will want to reminisce over/experience the Suns closing out the Lakers on their home floor. "We were so excited, to get back on the plane to come back to Phoenix. The airport was packed, there were 10-15,000 people at the airport welcoming us back. It was a battle. To me, at that time it wasn't just the Suns against the Lakers. It was Phoenix against LA. Not to sound country, but it was the small town versus the big town, and I think that was part of why the city was so excited at that point. That one play sticks out in my memory as the biggest play." That's right, Jeff. Beat LA. Coaching Philosophy "I think everything I do as a coach comes from somebody. You learn everything as you're growing up. My dad was a coach and I learned a lot from him. Johnny Orr from Iowa St. made the game fun. John Macleod gave me great responsibility in calling plays on the court as a rookie." Hornacek was a great distributor as a two and that contributed to the success of two of the great backcourt duos of all time. Kevin Johnson and Hornacek combined for 16.4 assists per game in the 1989-90 season. In 1994-95 with Stockton it was 16.6. Last season, the Suns starting backcourt averaged 10. That's if you count Dudley as the starting shooting guard, because his 2.6 per game was third highest on the team behind Kendall Marshall. Hornacek, despite declining assist numbers in the second half of his career, averaged 4.9 assists per game for his career. Having play making abilities definitely added to being a near career 50/40/90 player (.496/.403/.877) and made Jeff an invaluable commodity. "Cotton was a guy that not only made the game fun, but was a guy that was always trying to build his players' confidence and got the most out of his players in that way. Guys loved to play for him," said Hornacek. "We were a team that nobody cared who scored. One night it might be Tom Chambers would score 30-35 points, the next night it would be Kevin Johnson who scored 30-35, the next night I might have had 30, the next night EJ might have had 30." That was just like last season for the Suns except the complete opposite. "To us, it didn't matter who scored, it was all about winning the game and playing the game the right way. Making the right pass. We were all happy for each other and I thought Cotton really brought that to the team, so I learned that from him." This will be something to keep an eye on next season. Can Hornacek get his players to buy in and play for each other, rather than having an "I'm gonna get mine" attitude? It seems it may have been easier to buy into a team concept when Jeff came into the league because there wasn't the privilege, coddling and stupid money that permeates the current environment. Last season wasn't necessarily a model of teamwork and selflessness. "Jerry Sloan just instructed us night in and night out - never take a play off. It didn't matter if it was the beginning of the game or the end of the game. It didn't matter what the lead was," reflected Hornacek. "He told us, "If you can walk into the locker room after the game and look in the mirror and say that you laid it all out there on every play tonight and we still lost, then so be it, but at least you can still look yourself in the mirror and know you put out full effort." These are some of the things that I've learned from all of my coaches that I learned as a player that I will continue to use as a coach. Hornacek finished the interview discussing his former coaches and sounded passionate about the lessons he had learned from them. I look for that passion to extend into his time roaming the sidelines this season. Based on his pedigree he has a great foundation to embark on this next challenge in his life.

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Youngster making hunting, fishing a 'girl-thing' October 9, 2013 12:25 p.m. McCulloch Hoxie of Richmond Hill with her dad, Mark Hoxie, on a hunting trip. If McCulloch Hoxie struggles with anything, it’s sitting still. The spry fifth-grader at Savannah Christian Preparatory School appears to have mastered a laundry list of outdoor skills, including fishing, camping and boating — but she’s most proud of the buck she landed in September. McCulloch is just 10 years old, stands about 5 feet tall and can’t weigh more than 90 pounds. But judging from her results, she can already hunt with the best of them.“I like hunting because it’s always an adventure,” she said. “Even after you shoot the deer, you still have to track it. I also like the challenge of shooting with a crossbow because you have to make sure you hit it right.”McCulloch was only 8 when she nabbed her first buck on an Indiana hunting trip with her dad, Mark Hoxie. Even now, her crossbow stands almost as tall as she does. But over the last two years, the young sportsman has brought home two more bucks, making her one of the youngest females in Georgia to have earned such a distinction, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. And while the average person might marvel at McCulloch’s skill and strength, her accomplishments are least surprising to her dad, who owns Ogeechee Marine, the equipment and supply store off of Thunderbird Drive. Hoxie, who has hunted for 20 years, says his daughter has taken to hunting and fishing just as easily as he did when he was her age. “It’s in her blood,” said Hoxie of his daughter. “And it’s what I’ve done my entire life and it’s what my dad did with me. And with her being around it all the time, she just loves it. Regardless, we certainly never forced it upon her.”McCulloch is no slouch in the classroom either. Though she spends most of her free time hunting, fishing or practicing karate, she still finds enough time to stay in the 90th percentile of her fifth-grade class. The high-powered youngster earned a coveted spot on Savannah Christian Prep’s headmaster’s list and is a recurring member of the National Elementary Honor Society. Still, it’s McCulloch’s willingness to give back that impresses her mother, Kim Hoxie, the most.“She has such a big heart,” said Hoxie. “She’s never the type to exclude anyone from her circle of friends and she’s always the first one to reach out to new people at school. Whatever she does in life, I just want her to be happy.”On Saturday, McCulloch passed one more milestone in her short career — she earned her black belt in karate at Daughtry ATA in Richmond Hill. While it appears that McCulloch has a bright future ahead of her, she said that one of her ultimate dreams is to be the host of her own hunting-focused TV show. “I’d like to be like Miss Tiffany and her husband,” she said of the Outdoor Channel’s hunting-centered “Crush with Lee and Tiffany.” “But I do really like Duck Dynasty.”

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Clearwater Wins First Soccer National Championship (11/17/09) Kissimmee, FL - On Monday, November 16, the Clearwater Christian College men�s soccer team defeated Southeastern University 2-1 to win the NCCAA II National Championship. Tyler Spraul, captain and South Region Player of the Year, scored an amazing goal in overtime to earn the first men�s soccer national championship in school history. Spraul�s goal came only 2 minutes into the first golden-goal overtime on a full volley past the Southeastern keeper into the upper left corner off a cross from Danny Post. The goal set off a wild celebration as the Cougars celebrated their stunning win with the over 500 ecstatic fans who had made the trip over to Kissimmee to support the team.�That was probably one of the best goals I have ever been a part of � especially given what was at stake in the match. Tyler is a great clutch player, and he again came up huge for us tonight,� said Coach James Whitaker after the match. Drew Custer scored the first goal 22 minutes into the 1st half from 10 yards out off an assist from Juan Robayo. The first half of the match continued back and forth with both teams creating chances, but both defenses held strong with the halftime score 1-0. The second half began much like the first. Southeastern slowly gained momentum, creating a number of chances until they equalized on a header from Stephen Eppinger with 11 minutes left in the match. Both defenses held strong and regulation ended with a 1-1 tie.After re-grouping in overtime, the Cougars came out strong, intent on getting the game winning goal. Danny Post out-raced the Fire defender to the ball and served a great cross to the top of the box for Spraul who hammered it home to give the Cougars the win and the National Championship. After the match, Spraul said, �Beating Southeastern in the National Championship was the perfect ending to a season I'll never forget.�This was the 4th meeting between the two teams this season. After splitting their regular season matches, Clearwater also defeated the Fire in the South Region Championship game by a score of 1-0. Clearwater had earned the automatic bid to the national tournament and entered the tournament as the #3 seed. Southeastern earned the lone at-large bid to the tournament and came in as the #5 seed. Both teams had advanced through the first 2 rounds of the national tournament, with Clearwater defeating Northland International University (Wisconsin) and Ohio Christian University, and Southeastern defeating Lancaster Bible College (Pennsylvania) and Providence College (Manitoba, Canada). When asked about the match and the rivalry, Whitaker added, �This was another epic battle between 2 great teams. Both teams know each other so well, and we knew it was going to be at least a 90 minute match. I�m so proud of our players. They worked so hard and battled all season. This was a fitting end to an amazing season.�Clearwater finished its season with a 14-2-4 record and a 3-1 record versus Southeastern. Goalkeeper Anthony DeRosse, midfielder Tyler Spraul, and central defender Matt Tewes were named All-Tournament for their outstanding play over the weekend, and Tewes was also named the Most Outstanding Player. In addition, James Whitaker took home the award as the NCCAA II National Coach of the Year.The crowning moment of CCC�s men�s soccer team was not only witnessed by hundreds of excited fans, but also by the coaches that have seen the team from its beginnings. Mr. Bob Carver, Dr. Phil Larson, and Mr. Mark Bates were there to cheer the team on. �I wouldn�t have missed it for the world!� said Mr. Carver. �I was absolutely ecstatic! Being there with Phil Larsen and Mark Bates, in addition to James Whitaker, showed the progression of coaches since 1977. It was very exciting. There were a lot of fans in support of the team and it was the perfect black-out night.�

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Compher to be named new athletic director at NIU Jeff Compher, the executive associate athletic director at the University of Washington, will be the new athletic director at Northern Illinois University, the Daily Chronicle confirmed Monday night. Compher replaces Jim Phillips, who left NIU for Northwestern. Compher is 48 and has been in charge of overseeing the day-to-day operations at Washington, including coordinating the daily administrative operations of the athletic department with a special emphasis on the football, men's basketball and women's basketball programs. Compher was a finalist for the University of Miami athletics director position this year. Compher arrived in Washington in 2004. Prior to that, he spent four years as athletic director at Western Carolina University. Compher is also a former assistant athletic director at North Carolina State and Vanderbilt. He graduated James Madison University in 1980.

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Print Email Font ResizenflBroncos get set for New England Patriots with tight ends taking bigger role in passing attackBy Lindsay H. JonesThe Denver PostPosted: 10/05/2012 12:01:00 AM MDTThrough four games, Jacob Tamme has half as many catches as all Broncos tight ends had during the entire 2011 season. (Joe Amon, The Denver Post)From where he'll be standing on the New England Patriots' sideline Sunday, don't be surprised if Daniel Fells watches the Broncos' offense and wonders, "What in the world is that?" If the Broncos' offense holds form against the Patriots, the team's new tight ends will be a far bigger part of the passing game than Fells was when he was Denver's top tight end a year ago.In 16 games last season, Fells had 19 catches and three touchdowns, and the tight end group as a whole had only 30 receptions. Through four games this season, Jacob Tamme and Joel Dreessen have combined for 22 catches and three touchdowns. Denver Broncos "It's just a matter of the way it's designed. We're trying to spread the ball to a lot of different guys, and tight ends are just some of those pieces," Tamme said. "Different game plans will deal with different things, but we're going to involve a lot of different people."With Tamme and Dreessen significant pieces of the passing game, the Broncos are catching up to the league-wide trend of using a tight end as a featured receiver. Sunday's opponent, the Patriots, have done it better than just about any team in recent seasons.Last weekend's game against the Oakland Raiders provided the perfect example of how reliant Peyton Manning has become on his tight ends. The first touchdown of the game went to Dreessen, who caught a 22-yard pass in traffic in the end zone. On two other critical plays — a fourth-and-1 and a third-and-1, both in the first quarter — Manning threw quick completions to Tamme, two of Tamme's five catches in Denver's 37-6 rout of Oakland. "It was fun to make some big catches in those types of situations. That's what you want," Tamme said. "It's not going to work out perfectly every time, but you want the opportunity to be that guy and do that for your team."That was fun and we need to find ways to do that again."New England quarterback Tom Brady said his team's offense didn't make a philosophical switch to emphasize the tight ends as much as the Patriots drafted two elite tight ends in the 2010 draft, Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, and the offense evolved to fit. This year, the Patriots also added Fells, a former Bronco, and Michael Hoomanawanui. The Patriots' tight ends have 27 catches for 341 yards and four touchdowns. Gronkowski has the bulk of that total, with 19 catches, 260 yards and three scores. Hernandez has been sidelined with an ankle injury but practiced Thursday. "They've definitely added a different element for us in the passing game and in the running game. They can all run routes and catch the ball, but they are also good blockers, too," Brady said. "That's the most important thing. At that position, you have to be able to do both. If you're just a pass-catcher, then you really don't bring that physical element to the field and our guys take a lot of pride in that."As do the Broncos, who are hoping the addition of Virgil Green will help diversify their tight end corps. Green returned to the active roster this week after serving a four-game suspension. He was the group's best blocker in the preseason and has the versatility to line up in multiple formations, including as a fullback."He worked extremely hard this offseason and did a nice job all through camp," offensive coordinator Mike McCoy said. "He's another one of those 'Y' tight ends who can put his hand in the ground, and if we flex him out, he does a nice job of blocking, so it's nice to have him back to help everybody out."Lindsay H. Jones: 303-954-1262, twitter.com/bylindsayhjones or /PostBroncosPrint Email Font ResizeReturn to Top RELATED STORIES Peyton Manning looks forward to new season with new teammatesPeyton Manning adds allure to 2016 RNC scouts Denver visitRyan Shazier's speed at linebacker intriguing when Broncos draftHochman: My day with Peyton Manning, Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy & "Jiggy" Like this article? Recommend it () all reader-recommended news Login | Sign Up | Email Support

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Columnists Bob Wojnowski April 10, 2013 at 5:14 pm Michigan underclassmen herald bright future, if they stick around Atlanta -- Plenty of tears fell in the Michigan locker room late Monday night, from the unheralded seniors to the heralded freshmen, and even from John Beilein. It was a heavy feeling, as if something special had ended, and it had, in an epic championship showdown with Louisville.When the pain lifts, the Wolverines will shift from what was lost to everything that still can be gained. "One and done" is a common phrase in college basketball, but after a breakthrough 31-8 season and riveting NCAA Tournament run, Michigan doesn't have to be one and done — one Final Four in 20 years. In fact, if their talented freshmen avoid the one-and-done mentality, the Wolverines could be back here next spring, looking to finish the deal.These are the unintended consequences of success. Sophomore guard Trey Burke, who cemented his standing as one of the greats at Michigan, is expected to leave for the NBA, and it's impossible to argue against it. He could be a top-five pick.It gets tricky after that. Thanks to a weak draft and a strong Tournament, freshmen Mitch McGary and Glenn Robinson III are rated mid-first-rounders by analysts, forcing them to mull it even if they're not ready. Junior Tim Hardaway Jr. is the wild card with his 6-foot-6 NBA body, although he didn't raise his stock by shooting 29-for-77 in the Tournament. Players weren't offering many clues after the 82-76 loss to Louisville, either saying no decisions had been made, or it wasn't the right time to discuss it. To me, McGary and Robinson III look too raw for the pros, and seem to enjoy the college experience.If Burke is the only departure, the Wolverines are Final Four contenders again. If Burke and one other player go, they should be very good, and I think that's the most likely scenario. If three or four leave, well, that would be a shame for Michigan's program, because more special things look possible.Beilein has an excellent recruiting class coming in, led by point guard Derrick Walton Jr., and has a knack for unearthing hidden talent. Spike Albrecht was the least heralded member of this five-freshman class, and in a swirl Monday, he scored 17 and showed he could handle the pressure.Because the NBA prospect pool is so shallow this year, lots of players are being told they're first-round picks, which is dangerous. It could push some into a decision they're not ready to make, and probably weren't even considering a month ago."Right now I'll be back, but this isn't the time to talk about it," Robinson III said. "We're going to do everything we can to be back in this position next year. I remember coming in, the freshmen thought we knew how to play defense, thought we knew everything about the game of basketball. Now we got a lot of wisdom."Keeping it fresh Defense is where the Wolverines must improve, and they readily admit it. When they had to stop Cardinals guard Peyton Siva, they couldn't. As the youngest team in the Tournament, Michigan was learning on the fly, but the offense was so dynamic, it churned past the touted defenses of Florida, Kansas and Syracuse.The clash with Louisville — framed by the attendance of another audaciously talented group, the Fab Five — is being hailed as one of the most entertaining championship games ever, and Michigan gained plenty of respect on the national stage. Both teams raced up and down the floor, throwing lobs for dunks, showing college basketball still is capable of unleashing offense. At one point, Michigan had all five freshmen on the court, and during a stretch of the first half, the frosh scored 26 straight points.Normally that bodes extremely well for the future, but you're never certain in the one-and-done era. Beilein broke down in tears several times in his postgame address to his team, not out of sadness, but out of gratitude. Now, he'll be listening to the NBA buzz for his players, in advance of the April 28 deadline."I told them not to forget what brought you to this situation," Beilein said. "Yes, we had talent, but talent is never enough. You have to be united."Michigan played with an unselfish flair, while leading the nation in fewest turnovers. It will be interesting to see how much was a function of Burke's incredible ability to create and shoot. When asked about his young players, Beilein repeats the mantra, "The best is yet to come."No guarantees Probably accurate, as long as the best stay. Albrecht showed he could be more than just a stopgap backup. Guard Nik Stauskas can heat up as quickly as any shooter, and fellow freshman Caris LeVert flashed potential. Walton is expected to make an immediate impact, and so could another incoming guard, Zak Irvin.Many of the pieces still could be here, including the 6-10 McGary, who was sensational in the Tournament. He wasn't prepared to talk about his future, but no longer was saying he'd be back for sure.Even getting to the championship game, there's plenty of room for the Wolverines to grow, especially on defense. A few weeks ago, they were wondering how to shake the taste of disappointment. They shook it remarkably well, and could keep shaking it up. Even Burke had a wistful look for what lies ahead."This team definitely will be back in this situation next year, although I'm not guaranteeing anything," Burke said. "As for myself, I'm not sure."This game hurts so much, that's something I'll talk over with my coaching staff and parents over the next couple of weeks."Burke wasn't one and done, and wasn't quite won and done. But he took the Wolverines places they hadn't gone in a while, and if they show patience and perspective, places they could go [email protected] twitter.com/bobwojnowski Tweet Trey Burke signs autographs at Tuesday�s rally at Crisler Arena. Many think it will be the last time he�ll appear there. / David Guralnick/Detroit News Ann Arbor�s newest superstar, Spike Albrecht, speaks to the crowd at ... (David Guralnick/Detroit News) In photos: What's next for Michigan's basketball players John Beilein�s bond with Michigan players grows deep in special season Photos: What's next for Michigan's basketball players More Bob Wojnowski When the pain lifts from Monday's 82-76 loss to Louisville in the NCAA championship, Michigan will shift from what was lost to everything that still can be gained. If its talented freshmen avoid A link to this page will be included in your message.

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BeaTyme: Boxin - fedor emelianenko sambo - Russian Martial Arts - Fights BeaTyme: Boxin › fedor emelianenko sambo › Russian Martial Arts › Fights Learn Reality Combat Techniques Simple. Honest. Effective. Self-Defense Combat SystemLearn the hand-to-hand combat techniques used by the Military, Police Officers, and Security Professionals. H2H Self-Defense Combat System What is the Single Best Exercise? Learn the single best exercise you can do for gaining size and strength along with how to avoid the mistakes I made (Matt Bryers, owner of Fightauthority.com) when it came to gaining size and buidling muscle. Single Best Exercise "Illegal" Cage Fighting Techniques for the Street Learn real-life, no-holds-barred street fighting techniques that are designed to break, crush and maim your attackers. Street Fighting Uncaged Military Fighting System - H2H Self-Defense Need a SIMPLE, EASY, and MILITARY Effective Combat System? H2H Self-Defense Combat System First Name: E-Mail: Secuirty Code: Rating: Fedor Emelianenko is a Russian heavyweight mixed martial artist. He is the current World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) Heavyweight Champion and the last holder of the Pride Heavyweight Championship. He has won numerous tournaments and accolades in multiple sports, most notably the Pride 2004 Grand Prix and the World Combat Sambo championship on four occasions, as well as medaling in the Russian national Judo championship. Emelianenko had been widely considered the best heavyweight fighter in the world for the last seven years by major publications, including ESPN, Sherdog, Full Contact Fighter, MMA Weekly, and Nokaut.[6] As of October 27, 2010, Sherdog ranks him as the #4 fighter in the heavyweight division[7]. He holds the distinction of having held five separate major championships including the RINGS World Heavyweight and King of Kings Championships, the Pride Fighting Championships World Heavyweight and Heavyweight Grand Prix Championships and the World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts Heavyweight Championship. Many analysts, as well as former and current fighters, consider Emelianenko to be the greatest mixed martial artist of all time.[8] Until tapping out to Fabricio Werdum on June 26, 2010, Emelianenko was largely considered undefeated.[9][10][11] The only previous loss of his career occurred after he had been illegally injured and subsequently eliminated from a tournament. Emelianenko was born in 1976 in the city of Rubizhne, Luhansk in what was ... fedor emelianenko sambo Russian Martial Arts Fights Russian Martial Arts »

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Moyes proud of Everton team David Moyes was full of praise for his players as he bowed out as Everton boss with a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea. David Moyes: Everton reign ended in defeat at Chelsea Steven Naismith had equalised Juan Mata's first-half goal but Fernando Torres came up with a second-half winner to ensure it was Rafa Benitez not Moyes who would finish with a win. Moyes was disappointed by that but had nothing but positive words for his players as he prepares to leave to take over at Manchester United, ending his 11-year stay with the Toffees. "It was a really good game and we played well," Moyes told Sky Sports. "We certainly didn't deserve to lose today. "We were excellent in the first half and then went behind with a bit of a mistake leading up to that but we deserved our goal back. "In the second half we didn't start the game so well but we created a lot of chances and at the worst we should have had a draw out of it." Tim Howard was responsible for the opening goal as he failed to cling onto a tame Demba Ba shot but Moyes preferred to focus on the positives of a sixth-place finish. "We'd actually been the better team and they caught us a little bit on the break from a spill out by Tim that hasn't happened all season," he added. "So that gave them a pretty easy goal. "But the players were magnificent today, they really were. This was a game today where we couldn't go up or down the table. "We wanted to get a record points total if we could but I couldn't really fault the players for the way they went about their job. They didn't stop playing and kept trying to win the game. "We have had a fabulous season. I think if you'd asked the bookies at the start of the season where they'd have thought Everton would finish they'd have said somewhere around here but there are a lot of good teams below us as well."

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Help | Connect | Sign up|Log in Darren Heitner, Contributor I cover the intersection of sports and money. University Of Florida Among Fashionable Fitness Company's Extensive List Of Trademark Licenses The University of Florida licenses its valuable trademarks (in the form of logos and words/phrases) as a means to collect royalties from transactions involving products that contain the legally authorized use of said marks. Any company wishing to use the University of Florida’s marks and logos must obtain a license, and the university provides licenses to a variety of enterprises spread throughout many different categories. Yet, for all the categories (including but not limited to beachwear, shoelaces and holiday ornaments) listed on a document indicating its licensees, it is odd to find nothing specific to workout-related products, save but one company – Cirrus Fitness. Cirrus Fitness manufactures and sells a Florida Gators branded yoga mat in addition to yoga mats featuring a variety of other university colors and logos. Cirrus Fitness, a premiere manufacturer of authentic collegiate and professional sports licensed fitness equipment, counts the University of Florida among 100 other universities it has contracted with to use their intellectual property in conjunction with Cirrus Fitness products. The University of Florida is but one of many universities that have aligned themselves with the Collegiate Licensing Company (CLC), which represents nearly 200 of the nation’s top colleges, universities, bowl games, athletic conferences, the Heisman Trophy and the NCAA. Through the CLC and other licensing companies, Cirrus Fitness has expanded its portfolio to include yoga mats, stability balls, weights and other fitness equipment bearing the logos and colors of fans’ favorite college teams. In addition to Cirrus Fitness’ expansive collegiate portfolio, the company has also brokered deals with the NBA and WNBA to use their teams’ intellectual property. “The idea for Cirrus Fitness came from my partner who basically had the idea that he wanted his home gym to replicate the gym of his alma mater — the University of Wisconsin,” explained Jay Sapovits, CEO Cirrus Fitness to FORBES. ”I was shocked that no one embraced the category as we are doing now,” and mentioned that Cirrus Fitness is in the process of expanding its licensing reach to encompass additional major sports leagues. The best sign for Cirrus Fitness thus far is that multiple universities they have entered licensing agreements with are beginning to make direct purchases of their products. According to Sapovits, his company has already sold its products to roughly seventy-five schools for use in their respective strength and conditioning facilities. A hefty chunk of capital was necessary for Cirrus Fitness (which will officially have its products hit the marketplace in January 2014) to enter into licensing deals with the number of schools and leagues that it has to this date. ”You better not be faint of heart when you go to license colleges and professional sports teams,” added Sapovits. However, Sapovits and his partner Kenny Dichter have not hurt for money. Beyond receiving outside investment, the two co-founders were formerly a part of many successful ventures, including Marquis Jet — a company that generated $4 billion in revenue before being sold to Berkshire Hathaway’s NetJets Inc. in 2010. The online retail launch of Cirrus Fitness products will be in association with Fanatics, Amazon, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Sports Authority. The company also plans to place its products in college bookstores, specialty retail shops and fitness stores. “The idea is about us trying to have healthier lifestyles after having success in business,” said Sapovits when explaining why he and Dichter decided to dedicate themselves to this niche concept. ”We don’t want to just be on one single-style mat; we want it to feel and look like if you went to your college strength and conditioning room this is an item that could potentially be there or is in there.” If approximately seventy-five schools have already bought in to the concept then it appears the co-founders are well on their way to achieving personal success. Darren Heitner is a Partner at Wolfe Law Miami, P.A. in Miami, Florida, Founder of Sports Agent Blog Professor of Sport Agency Management at Indiana University and author of a forthcoming book, How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know published by the American Bar Association. Learn more about him at http://www.darrenheitner.com. Follow @DarrenHeitner Former BMX Star To Launch Nutritional Supplement Line At Olympia Fitness And Performance Weekend Darren Heitner Darren Adam Heitner, Esq. is the Founder/CEO of Dynasty Dealings, LLC, Professor of Sport Agency Management at Indiana University Bloomington, Co-Founder of Collegiate Sports Advisors (CSA) and Founder/Chief Editor of Sports Agent Blog, a leading niche industry publication. He is an attorney with Wolfe Law Miami, P.A. who is licensed to practice on the state and federal level, and focuses on sports, entertainment, and intellectual property litigation and transactional work. Darren is the author of How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know (published by the American Bar Association), Contributing Writer of An Athlete’s Guide to Agents, 5th Edition, and has authored many sports, entertainment and intellectual property-related Law Journal articles. Darren has a Bachelors of Arts from the University of Florida and a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the same institution. More from Darren Heitner Follow Darren Heitner on Twitter Follow Darren Heitner on Facebook Darren Heitner’s RSS Feed Darren Heitner’s Profile Darren Heitner’s Recommended Reading Darren Heitner’s Website

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Alumni Prospect Camps ESPN.com Feature Lion Store Tori Goode scored in the 69th minute for Columbia. Overtime Goal Pushes St. John�s Past Women�s Soccer, 2-1 NEW YORK - The Columbia women's soccer team scored a second half goal to force overtime against St. John's Sunday, but the Red Storm would capture a 2-1 victory on a penalty kick in the first overtime. The Lions held primary control of the play throughout the opening 15 minutes of action. Natalie Melo had the first quality scoring chance for Columbia with a bicycle kick attempt from about 12 yards out that went just over the net. Melo came back in the 10th minute with another opportunity, this time a header that went just wide. Game play seemed to shift with about 25 minutes remaining in the half, as St. John's began to control possession more. In the 32nd minute, Morgan Ritter placed a nice shot from the right side that forced Columbia keeper Grace Redmon to extend above the traffic in front of the net to grab the ball to keep it from going into the back of the net. The Red Storm would break the scoreless tie in the 24th minute off a free-kick attempt. Amy Marron rifled a shot from 35 yards out that spun off the right post and into the net to put St. John's up 1-0. The first half statistics were almost even, with Columbia taking just one more shot than St. John's, 6-5. Both teams had chances early in the second half, with St. John's firing two shots in the first six minutes, followed by a blast from Isabel King that was saved by Red Storm goalkeeper Ellen Conway. The Lions had another scoring opportunity stifled in the 58th minute when a Maya Marder shot attempt was blocked away by the St. John's defense. Columbia continued keep the pressure on and would even the game at 1-1 in the 69th minute. After subbing into the game less than a minute earlier, Tori Goode evened the game with a header from eight yards out. Beverly Leon garnered credit for the assist on the play, directing the ball to Goode off a throw-in. Columbia had an opportunity in the 8 0th minute to take the lead as the Lions worked the ball up the middle of the field, setting up Alexa Yow for a shot from the left side, but Conway was able to stop that shot. The match would remain tied at the end of 90 minutes, forcing overtime. In the extra period, the teams would trade scoring chances for 9:40 until the Lions were called for a handball in the penalty area, awarding a penalty kick to St. John's. Sandra Osborn buried the attempt in the bottom-right corner to give St. John's the victory just 20 seconds before the first overtime ended. Columbia held the edge in shots, 15-13, as well as saves. Redmon came up with six stops for the Lions, including two in overtime prior to the penalty kick, while Conway stopped four Columbia shots. The Lions will continue their homestand with two more games next weekend at the Columbia Soccer Stadium. Columbia will host Fordham Friday, Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. and then Marist Sunday, Sept. 16 at 1 p.m. WSOC Alumni 6v6 Tournament on March 29 Bartholomew Named Head Women's Soccer Coach Beverly Leon Earns NSCAA All-Region Honors Three Lions Named To All-Ivy League Team

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presented by Athletics My Account for Football, 1962-63-64All-Atlantic Coast Conference, 1962, 1964All-ACC Academic, 1963Baltimore Colts No. 1 Draft Choice, 1965NFL All-Pro, 1968Super Bowl III, VRegarded as one of the greatest athletes ever to don a Blue Devil football uniform, Mike Curtis established himself as perhaps the most feared linebacker of his day during an illustrious professional career. Curtis played in the National Football League for 14 years, attaining All-Pro status in 1968 with the Baltimore Colts. He played in four Pro Bowl games. He was the No. 1 draft choice of the Colts in 1965 and played with Baltimore from 1965 to 1975. He then played with the Seattle Seahawks in 1977 and finished his career with the Washington Redskins, playing two years (1977, 78) in the nation's capital. Curtis played in two Super Bowls with Baltimore and was a member of the Colts' World Championship 1971 team. In fact, it was his pass interception with just over one minute left in the game that led the Colts to the game-winning field goal. As a Blue Devil gridder, Curtis was twice voted to the All-ACC First Team as a fullback and linebacker. He was voted the Most Valuable Player his senior year by his teammates and was honorable mention All-America in 1964. He was also named All-ACC Academic in 1963. Curtis was also a member of the Blue Devil track squad as a junior and senior. 2nd Annual Blue Devil Dash Set for April 13 Duke Ranks Seventh in Directors' Cup Standings ACC Spring Sportsmanship Week to be Held April 7-13

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Darin Erstad, Rhonda Revelle, Jamie and Alex Gordon and Shawn Eichorst cut the ribbon. Erstad: Alex Gordon Facility �Best in Country� Alex Gordon Complex Ribbon Cutting Randy York's N-Sider The Alex Gordon Training Complex was formally dedicated Friday, and the ceremonial ribbon-cutting event gave the indoor practice facility’s two primary tenants a chance to rave about the impact it has on Nebraska’s baseball and softball programs. Husker Softball Coach Rhonda Revelle recalled getting a phone call on a Saturday night and being a bit reluctant to answer a number from one of her players. “Coach,” the student-athlete said. “Everything’s good. I just need to know if we can turn the lights off in the new facility.” Revelle turned around and looked at Darin Erstad, Nebraska’s head baseball coach, while telling the story. “At that moment,” she told Erstad, “I knew how significant this facility would be for both programs.” Erstad picked up on Revelle’s anecdote and multiplied the enthusiasm. “The whole thing here is recruiting and development,” he said, “so we encourage recruits to go out and compare what others might have across the country against what we have. We have the best baseball/softball facility in the country. I’ll put it up against anybody. It gives me goose bumps just talking about it. I wish you could see when other teams show up here. They walk through the doors and you should see the looks on their faces. ‘What is this? … This is ridiculous!’ You can see their eyes light up, and you really appreciate what you have and how fortunate you are to help with the development of our student-athletes.” Eichorst: Erstad, Revelle Two of Country’s Best Coaches Nebraska Director of Athletics Shawn Eichorst kicked off the dedication ceremony, acknowledging how the $4.75 million indoor practice facility “reflects our commitment to baseball and softball” and how the Huskers are blessed to “have two of the best coaches in the country”, both of whom benefit from the vision of his predecessor, Tom Osborne. Eichorst congratulated Gordon on earning a third Gold Glove Award earlier this week to match his summer MLB All-Star status and commended him and wife Jamie for being donors not looking for recognition. “That’s what makes Nebraska so special,” Eichorst said. Revelle recalled Osborne visiting her office and asking what she needed to be more successful as a head coach. Her answer was as simple as it was quick. “We need an indoor facility where our student-athletes can go 24/7 year-round,” she said, envisioning such a facility as an essential equalizer for Northern schools in terms of recruiting and athletic development. Erstad said the Alex Gordon Training Complex not only helps develop Husker student-athletes, but also helps little kids throughout the community. "You should see how many come through our doors almost every day," he said. Gordon and Wife Jamie Felt Time Was Right to Give Gordon said he and Jamie feel “very fortunate” to be UNL graduates and thought the time was right to give back to a school that helped them succeed academically and athletically. “We’re very grateful that our names will be associated with the University of Nebraska for years to come,” Gordon said, recalling how he used an old warehouse to practice indoors when it was snowing outside during his Husker playing days. “I wanted to give a direct gift to the baseball program and Mike Dobbs put all of this together. I didn’t expect anything like this.” The indoor practice facility was specifically designed for baseball and softball and has 18,000 square feet of climate-controlled practice space that allows student-athletes to work on all phases of their game. The space can be configured to use as many as six spacious batting cages. The cages can be retracted to open up all of the 120-foot by 150-foot space for live game simulation. The entire facility is netted, allowing Husker players to take live batting practice. The field turf surface looks and feels like real grass, and the field includes anchors to lock down bases for use during practices. Gordons Marvel at Lincoln's Explosive Growth Like Erstad and Revelle, Alex and Jamie Gordon marvel at Nebraska's commitment to world-class facilities. As much as the Gordons love Kansas City, they decided to build a house in Lincoln. They see their hometown experiencing a downtown renaissance with the new Pinnacle Bank Arena for basketball and concerts, an expanded East Memorial Stadium that pushes capacity past 91,000 and a one-of-a-kind research area that bridges academic-related studies with athletic-related innovation. Gordon will tailgate with lifelong friends before Saturday's Nebraska-Northwestern game and go inside the stadium to watch the action. The Gordons were asked about the opportunity to be recognized sometime before or during the the nationally televised game. They declined, not because they didn't appreciate the gesture. Like Eichorst indicated in his opening remarks, they're Nebraskans. And like Darin and Jessica Erstad, they didn't donate to be recognized. They contributed to help their alma mater compete at the highest level.

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World Police and Fire Games 2013 Belfast is set to be at the heart of the action this August, as the city prepares to welcome around 7,000 police, fire, prison and border security officers for the 2013 World Police and Fire Games. Are you going to be at the heart of the action? And the officers won’t be alone. Also attending this energetic global event will be thousands of the participants’ friends and families showing – and we’re guessing singing and shouting – their support. Belfast, naturally, couldn’t be more excited to be the key venue for this mega occasion! The city that Lonely Planet tipped as a “must-see” is bursting at the seams with excitement, not to mention some pretty brilliant attractions. It’s not all about the sports! How about the incredible Titanic Belfast exhibition – even movie director James Cameron gave this place the thumbs up? Or the musical sounds of Belfast’s music scene? Plus the plentiful pubs, restaurants and cafés that’ll swing open their doors to welcome you in? Oh, and did we mention that there are over 3,500 volunteers from the city and surrounding communities gearing up to assist with everything from medical services to technical operations? Around 56 sports are scheduled during the games, and a list of venues is available, so you can check out what’s on where and when. The PSNI rugby team line up The Ultimate Firefighter Taster event 2012 If the excitement of 7,000 assorted heroes locked in competition isn’t enough, Northern Ireland will be there in the background to keep the atmosphere buzzing, and the thrills on demand. Beyond the games you’ll find an incredible array of world-famous sights to explore, including the Unesco-listed Giant’s Causeway, and the vertiginous Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. According to guide book Frommer’s, the main draw in Northern Ireland is its incredible countryside: “the cool greens of the Glens of Antrim, the rugged Mourne Mountains, and the famously craggy coastline culminating in the extraordinary lunar Giant's Causeway.” And if you’re coming all this way, what better chance to experience it. The excitement builds Kelly Lavington, Detective Acting Sergeant with South Australia Police, is certainly one person who is delighted to be returning to Ireland, after living here for a year: “I'm very excited to be coming back, as I love Ireland and look forward to seeing my Irish boys and all my other mates.” And the flavor is most definitely going to be global. The Games will welcome competitors from as far afield as Brazil, South Africa, the United States, Russia, Canada and Australia, as well as Germany, France and Spain, with the distinct intention of making many holiday memories in Belfast and Northern Ireland. “We are very excited about Belfast hosting the World Police and Fire Games in 2013,” says Carál Ní Chuilín, Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, “and we’re working hard to make those games the best ever.” Northern Ireland Homepage Top 10 things in Belfast

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Baseball set to Open Season Against St. Gregory's / College / Article The East Central University baseball team is coming off a 26-23 finish in 2012 and a 10-13 mark in the Great American Conference. The Tigers will have a new look on the field, as they lost 23 players from the 2012 team, return eight and will have 18 newcomers. Among the eight returns are Paul Guardado and Ethan Gold, who earned All-GAC Honorable Mention awards in 2012. Gurardado leads the returners with a .325 batting average, with five doubles and 10 RBI’s a season ago. “Gilbert Guardado will more than likely be one of our starting corner outfielders,” said head coach Dino Rosato. “He is a pretty consistent player.” Gold was second on the team with his .324 batting average, with seven doubles, three triples and a home run. “Ethan Gold has made steady improvements every year with us,” added Rosato. “We are looking forward to see what he can do for us this season.” The Tigers will have a strong field of pitchers in the bullpen this season, with the team consisting of 11 total pitchers, nine of which are juniors or seniors. “We are senior heavy on the mound,” said Rosato. “I like our pitching staff. If we pitch ahead, throw strikes and keep it down in the zone we should be pretty successful.” The top returner from the group of pitchers in 2012 is senior Will Grimes. Grimes went 3-1 in eight appearances in 2012 and ended the season with a 2.81 ERA. “Will Grimes has been with me for four years and has battled through some injuries,” Rosato said. “He has really kept us in some games and is poised to have a tremendous senior season.” Among the other key returners for ECU is senior catcher Mac Grace, who started with the Tigers in 2010 as a true freshman. In 2012 he tallied four doubles and a home run and a .982 fielding percentage. “Mac Grace has been at ECU for four years and he is coming off his best fall yet,” said Rosato. “He is swinging the bat well and hopefully it carries over to the spring season.” The Tigers will start the season Feb. 1-2 when they host a home-and-home series with St. Gregory’s. ECU will also face Abliene Christian, Bacone College, Cameron, Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma Christian and Oklahoma City in non-conference games throughout the season. The first Great American Conference games of the season start Feb. 15-16 when the Tigers host Ouachita Baptist. ECU will be on the road for most of March, but will play nine of 14 games scheduled in April at the ECU Baseball Field. The stretch includes being at home for the final two weeks of the season against Northwestern Oklahoma State (April 19-20) and Southeastern Oklahoma State (April 26-27). ECU Men’s Basketball Adds Two on Signing Day Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

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You are hereHome » News » KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN ON THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX Back to Main News KIMI RÄIKKÖNEN ON THE BRITISH GRAND PRIX Monday, June 24, 2013 - 17:00After two race weekends with meagre points pickings, our Finn is eager to get his championship challenge back on track at Silverstone Your Championship potential has taken something of a hit in the last two races; Is this a big concern?Obviously, it’s not been that great and we haven’t got the results we wanted. The last couple of races have been more a question of surviving not attacking and that’s not what anyone wants. That said, Monaco and Montréal are both street circuits; they’re quite different from a lot of tracks we visit and there are quite a lot of variables. You never know how you’re going to go at those two tracks but we do now and at least we got a few points.Does returning to a permanent race circuit bring any positivity?Silverstone is a more normal circuit and we’ve been okay at every other permanent circuit so far this year. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be back to the positions we should be with this package. We just have to be patient, do our very best over the entire weekend and step by step we can start catching the leaders.How challenging is Silverstone as a race track?Silverstone is all about long sweeping high-speed corners and high downforce levels. It’s one of the fastest circuits on the calendar; it’s very challenging and the flowing corners are pretty good fun to drive. Hopefully our new parts will help us; particularly in the faster corners. If that’s the case, it could be a good weekend.Have you always liked Silverstone?I've always enjoyed racing at Silverstone. I don’t know why; there must be this nostalgic feeling that I have every time we go thereYes, it’s always such a good feeling going to Silverstone. It’s a great place to race and it has been a good circuit for me since the very beginning of my career. I have a long history there. It was the real base for the start of my international racing career in Formula Renault in 1999 and 2000. Since then I've always enjoyed racing at Silverstone. I don’t know why; there must be this nostalgic feeling that I have every time we go there.You won at Silverstone in 2007 and have been on the podium five times altogether; How does it feel when everything goes right there?When you win in Silverstone, it gives such a good feeling. You have to get everything exactly right. I won there in Formula Renault and then in Formula 1 with Ferrari in 2007. It would be fantastic to win again there, especially with the factory just down the road. I’m sure we would have some fantastic celebrations.What about the British summer?It’s always windy at Silverstone. Often it rains too, like we saw last year in qualifying. The track conditions change very quickly, which makes the car more tricky to set-up. Obviously when you are running at the front it’s best to have stable conditions, but I don’t mind really. The weather is just a part of the fun of racing in England. I’ll enjoy the weekend whatever the weather will be.How's the feeling from the team?The team has worked 100% to have a really competitive car for the home race. Silverstone is the closest circuit to the factory so hopefully we can celebrate a good result with all of the factory personnel and their families who bring their support every year. Denmark

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Hinchcliffe wins Sao Paulo 300 May 6, 2013 12:35 a.m. SAO PAULO (AP) — On the final turn of the final lap, James Hinchcliffe finally saw an opening — and made sure he squeezed into it.Hinchcliffe made a last-ditch move on Takuma Sato, going past the Japanese driver on the inside of the last bend to win IndyCar’s Sao Paulo 300 on Sunday.The Canadian was barely even sure that Sato was finally behind him by the time the checkered flag went down in front of him.“I don’t think I was sure until after we crossed the line,” said Hinchcliffe, who earned his second victory of the season and his career. “I didn’t think we had it. It wasn’t really until I crossed the line that I realized, ‘We got it!’”The Canadian, also the winner in the opener in St. Petersburg, Fla., moved from third to second with three laps to go and then dueled with Sato before finally making the gutsy move as right before the finish at the Anhembi street track.Sato, coming off his first career victory two weeks ago in Long Beach, drove in too hard for the hairpin at the end of the long back straight and gave just enough space for Hinchcliffe to get past.“To win a race on the last corner of the last lap is one of the coolest feelings,” Hinchcliffe said. “To make a last-corner pass, that’s something I’ll remember for a long time. Takuma was making that race car really wide and he was defending the inside pretty well. He just outbroke himself just a little bit and I was able to do a high-low (pass) and got the win.”Sato had successfully defended the lead from Hinchcliffe on two other occasions during the final laps but couldn’t hang on at the end with older tires.“I think I tried everything I could to defend,” Sato said. “I was really struggling on the grip the last laps. I really had to deal with a lot of things. The last few laps were great fun from a driver’s point of view. It’s a real pity that I lost it on the final lap of the race on the final corner.”The last Canadian to win in Brazil was Greg Moore in 1998.“Obviously, Greg Moore was my hero growing up,” Hinchcliffe said. “When I got to IndyCar, the biggest pressure I put on myself was to maintain the reputation that Canada has with their IndyCar drivers. To be able to do that now, not only make it to this level, be successful at that level. I’m proud.”Despite losing the race, Sato leaves Brazil with the lead in the drivers’ standings. American Marco Andretti, who finished third Sunday, moved to second for the championship.Helio Castroneves, who led coming into his home race, had an incident-filled race and finished 13th to drop to third in the championship.Castroneves’ Penske teammate Will Power, who won the previous three races in Brazil but started only 22nd after a mishap in qualifying, retired on lap 19 because of an apparent gear shift problem.Andretti has had an unusually good start to the season on road and street circuits. It was the second third-place finish for him this year — he was also on the podium in St. Petersburg — and the result gives him some momentum going into the Indianapolis 500.“I think right now we’re on par for a great season,” he said. “This is what used to be the tough part of the season for me. We’ve been getting some decent results where I used to struggle, so I’m pleased with that.”Spaniard Oriol Servia was fourth in the second-to-last race for Panther DRR racing, which will not compete after the Indy 500 because of financial difficulties.American Josef Newgarden, who started last after changing an engine before the race, managed a fifth-place finish, the best of his career. Pole-sitter and current IndyCar champion Ryan Hunter-Reay ran up the front for a while but finished only 11th after a flat tire. Andretti teammate and front-row starter EJ Viso of Venezuela was sixth.Tony Kanaan’s impressive weekend despite an injured right hand ended in disappointment when he ran out of fuel before a pit stop on lap 51 while running second.After stopping on top of the cross-finish line, he put both hands on top of his visor in disbelief as fans packing the stands at the Sambadrome front straight loudly applauded. He finished 21st, three laps back.“I couldn’t believe that something like that happened. I wanted to win this one for the fans really bad, they supported me all week,” he said. “It’s tough, but it happens. I leave with my head up because I know that I did everything that I could.”Power’s winless streak was extended to 15 races after his disappointing weekend in Brazil. The “King of Sao Paulo” was the pre-race favorite after winning all three previous races at the Anhembi circuit. He dominated the first two practice sessions on Saturday, but a red flag kept him from posting a fast lap in qualifying.Power had moved to 11th place by Lap 18 before the mechanical failure ended his hopes of another victory.“We don’t know what happened,” Power said. “I had no real warning, unfortunately. I had such a good car. I was passing a car a lap.”Castroneves came boosted by the best start of his career after three straight top-10 finishes, but it was a difficult day for the Brazilian, who got involved in at least three crashes in the 75-lap race.“We didn’t have the race we wanted, everything happened to us,” the three-time Indy 500 winner said. “But we have to move on and think about Indy.” York says near trade of coach ‘isn’true’ Raiders sign veteran LT Champion earns $1.1M during richest rodeo payday in history Williams survives tough 1st set Kings fall to Lakers Colts owner Jim Irsay has double image in media NHL back from Olympic break Busch attempting Indy 500-Coke double Rangers, Lightning swap captains

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CBS SPORTSLINE PREVIEW Browns AT Broncos By a16416 @a16416 So If you want to watch the video they just say how we only won because of a miracle tip drill, and they don't want to have to watch this game Brown vs Broncos but their job requires if forced to choose...Broncos <http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gamecenter/preview/NFL_20090920_CLE@DEN> A wild play turned the Denver Broncos' season opener into a stunning victory. First-year coach Josh McDaniels might prefer a bit more efficient approach Sunday when the Broncos host the Cleveland Browns, a team they haven't lost to in almost 19 years. Kyle Orton threw a bizarre game-winning touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Stokley with 11 seconds remaining to give the Broncos a 12-7 win at Cincinnati last week. The pass from Orton was originally intended for receiver Brandon Marshall, but the Bengals' Leon Hall tipped the ball into the air and it fell to Stokley, who completed the 87-yard scoring sequence - the longest winning play from scrimmage in the final minute of a game in NFL history. "We certainly didn't do everything we wanted to do the way we wanted to do it," McDaniels said. "But we did do enough things well enough for us to be in it late in the game and give ourselves an opportunity to make a play." One of most glaring problems for Denver came midway through the fourth quarter, as the offense sputtered in attempting to extend a six-point lead while on the Bengals' 24. The line committed two penalties and Orton took a sack on sequential plays to move the Broncos out of Matt Prater's field goal range. "That whole series was bad football," McDaniels said. The defense didn't do much better on Cincinnati's ensuing possession, allowing the Bengals to march 91 yards to get the go-ahead TD with 38 seconds to play. "We weren't on the field enough offensively to prevent that," McDaniels said of Cincinnati's long scoring drive. "We've got to have the ball for more than 26 minutes offensively if we want our defense to hold up as the game goes on. We've got to play better complementary football on both sides." Orton may need to show some improvement as the Broncos attempt to start 2-0 for a third consecutive season. The quarterback had 156 passing yards prior to Stokley's long TD and finished completing 17 of 28 passes while getting sacked three times. He could use some help from Marshall, who had four catches for 27 yards after missing most of the preseason recuperating from hip surgery, protesting his contract and serving a team-imposed suspension. The Broncos, who went 4-4 at Invesco Field last season, have won eight in a row against Cleveland dating to a 30-29 home loss Oct. 8, 1990. Browns coach Eric Mangini appears committed to Brady Quinn at quarterback after keeping the decision a secret leading up to last Sunday's 34-20 loss to Minnesota. Quinn, the Browns' 2007 first-round pick, beat Derek Anderson for the starting job but struggled against the Vikings until putting together a nine-play, 80-yard drive capped by a 26-yard TD pass to Robert Royal with 28 seconds to go. That snapped Cleveland's six-game drought without an offensive touchdown. Quinn was 15 of 28 for 117 yards with an interception and a 49.3 rating before the final drive. He finished completing 21 of 35 passes for 205 yards. "There were a lot of things Brady did that I liked," Mangini said. "What I'm looking for - what I'm looking for from the group - is for him to be able to identify those areas that need to be improved and then going out, working on it and seeing that improvement. "Anytime you have younger players there are going to be some things you have to work through and keep improving. Brady will continue to grow." Quinn, who has four career starts, may need to find wide receiver Braylon Edwards more often after he had one catch for 12 yards against the Vikings. Jamal Lewis played well, rushing for 57 yards on 11 carries, but he's been limited in practice due to a neck injury and his status for this game is unclear. The Browns could also shore up the run defense after giving up 225 yards on the ground compared to 85 passing. The defense, though, did manage four sacks. This matchup features McDaniels' first meeting with Mangini. Both coaches were assistants under Bill Belichick in New England, where they helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls. Brandon Stokley

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Video: Ronda Rousey interviews Alistair Overeem in advance of UFC 146 title fight Make no mistake, Ronda Rousey is as lethal as it gets when she steps inside the cage as a fighter but she is just cute as a button as a reporter in the above video interviewing Alistair Overeem for Fox Sports in advance of "The Reem's" heavyweight championship fight against Junior dos Santos at UFC 146 on May 26, 2012, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The questions aren't exactly hard-hitting; they keep it light and fun. Questions asked include how nice it is that Overeem doesn't have to cut weight (though he said he was up to 280-pounds before the Brock Lesnar fight), what it's like to fight in Japan, and sharing a training room with fellow heavyweights he may have to fight at one time at UFC 146. Plenty of laughter to be had here, Maniacs. Enjoy.

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Atlanta Silverbacks win NASL Spring Season Championship July 17, 2013 01:18 PM | 1768 views | 0 | 27 | | Staff / Katherine Frye From left, Atlanta Silverbacks players, Mark Lavery, Martyn Lancaster, and Horace James celebrate their league title Wednesday afternoon in Atlanta Silverbacks Park. slideshow When the Atlanta Silverbacks dropped their last home game of the spring season on June 22 to the Tampa Bay Rowdies, 2-0, the probability of winning the North American Soccer League (NASL) title seemed futile. However, though a draw at Carolina on June 29 and a decisive 3-0 victory against Minnesota United FC on the road on July 4, the Silverbacks clinched the championship, earning the organization’s first trophy since becoming professional in 1998.Goals by Brian Stisser, Bobby Reiss and Ruben Luna paced the Silverbacks to the shutout win over United FC. Atlanta also received an assist from San Antonio Scorpions FC, whose 2-0 victory on the same evening over the previous first-place team, Carolina RailHawks FC, made the Silverbacks’ finishing season point total of 21 enough for the league title. The RailHawks and Scorpions finished the year with 20 points.“This was a great job by the coaching staff,” said Silverbacks’ midfielder Lucas Paulini. “Coach Haynes and the staff gave us confidence heading into the Minnesota game.”The league title culminates the rebuilding effort of the Silverbacks’ organization, which was without a coach or clear direction at this juncture last season. United States soccer legend Eric Wynalda was brought in as the technical advisor for the Silverbacks and promptly hired Brian Haynes to the head coaching position.“The atmosphere wasn’t good last year and it was hard coming to training,” said goalkeeper and Lawrenceville native Eric Ati, who led the NASL in goals against average (0.63) for the spring season. “Brian (Haynes) and Eric (Wynalda) came in and we started believing in ourselves by enjoying soccer. The camaraderie in the locker room is very good and that helped us win the championship.”Atlanta’s defensive effort contributed a large role in the championship run as the Silverbacks didn’t concede a goal from the run of play over the final seven league matches.“I’m excited for the guys because of the commitment of what they’ve done here and proud of the accomplishment,” said Haynes. “We got help from San Antonio but if we didn’t win our final game, it wouldn’t have mattered. This was a testament of how hard the guys worked. Players such as Joe Nasco, Borfor Carr, Luna, Ati, and Paulini are guys who have been here a long time but kept the faith when things weren’t great.”The run towards the spring season championship has also galvanized the Atlanta soccer community as the Silverbacks had five consecutive home sellouts during the campaign. “This championship is a big thing for the city of Atlanta because it will bring more people to the game with passion,” stated Paulini, who has been a member of the Silverbacks for three seasons.“We heard the entire season people doubting that a championship was coming here but its been nice to represent for Atlanta and win,” said Ati, who also played for the Silverbacks’ youth reserve team as a young player.“We have a fun event here with true sellouts and a high demand for tickets,” said Silverbacks’ owner Boris Jerkunica. “Our fan base ranges from single people who come early and tailgate to families who enjoy our entertainment options inside the stadium before the start of the contest.”Atlanta will now have the opportunity to host the Soccer Bowl, which will pit the Silverbacks against the winning team in the fall season, which will begin on Aug. 3. “The guys are training hard everyday because we want to repeat as champions,” said Paulini. “We’re getting back to work as usual,” said Haynes. “We’re a target for the rest of the league and it’s a different challenge but I like it because our players will be more focused.”Atlanta’s next contest will be an international friendly when the Silverbacks will host Club Xelaju MC out of Guatemala for the Reto Cup on July 27. The Silverbacks first home game of the NASL fall season will be on Aug. 10 against Carolina. Silverbacks respond to soccer franchise in Atlanta New-look Silverbacks make 2014 home debut Saturday Athlete of the Week: Fernando Ramirez, Lithia Springs Boys’ soccer brings region title to Lithia Springs New Manchester eyes region, state track titles

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Sign Out NASCAR Logano holds off Harvick for crucial Michigan win Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images BROOKLYN, MI - AUGUST 18: Joey Logano, driver of the #22 Shell-Pennzoil Ford, crosses the finish line to win the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series 44th Annual Pure Michigan 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 18, 2013 in Brooklyn, Michigan. Print BROOKLYN, Mich. -- Joey Logano gave Ford a Sprint Cup sweep in Michigan -- and enabled team owner Roger Penske to celebrate a victory in his home state. Now Logano can start to envision a happy finish to what has been an eventful season for the 23-year-old driver. "We're close, we're close," Logano said. "What a great place to win -- what a great time to win, being in Ford's backyard.” Logano boosted his chances of reaching the Chase for the Sprint Cup, winning for the first time this season in a fuel-mileage race at Michigan International Speedway on Sunday. Logano and Kevin Harvick both breezed past Mark Martin with just over three laps to go in the 400-mile, 200-lap race. Martin had been trying to stretch fuel, but when he faltered, Logano was able to hold off Harvick. The win put Logano in 13th place in the standings. He's seven points behind Martin Truex Jr. for the second wild card. It's been an up-and-down year for Logano. He and teammate Brad Keselowski were docked 25 points each after NASCAR inspectors confiscated parts from the rear suspensions of their cars before the April 13 race at Texas. More recently, Logano has had to recover from back-to-back 40th-place showings at Daytona and Loudon, but he's now right in the middle of a wild race for the final Chase spots. "A roller coaster, to say the least," Logano said. "We've just got to keep that momentum going. It just goes to show, as long as nothing goes wrong -- knock on wood -- we've been pretty good. We've had some good speed in our cars.” Everything went pretty much according to plan at Michigan. Logano won the pole Friday and took Sunday's race by a second over Harvick, who is safely in fourth place in the standings. "I was very pleased with the day," Harvick said. "It's just going to come down to getting on a hot streak over 10 weeks and not making any mistakes.” There are three races left before the Chase, and the jockeying for the final spots is just as muddled as it was before Sunday's race. Keselowski, the defending champion, is still in eighth place with 667 points, but Kurt Busch is now only two points behind him after a third-place showing Sunday. Greg Biffle (663) is in 10th place. Kasey Kahne (659) and Truex (653) are currently in line to be the wild cards, but Logano closed a lot of ground. Points leader Jimmie Johnson lasted less than 60 laps Sunday before engine trouble knocked him out. He still has a 41-point lead over Clint Bowyer. Biffle finished ninth after winning the previous two Cup races at Michigan. His victory in June was the 1,000th for Ford Motor Company across NASCAR's three national series -- Cup, Nationwide and Truck. Biffle drives for Roush Fenway Racing. This time, it was Penske's turn to celebrate. "I go back about 30 years here at the track -- this is probably one of the biggest wins," Penske said. "I say it's my home state, it's my home track, and Detroit's my city.” It was the third Cup win of Logano's career, and it came after he posted the ninth-fastest pole-winning speed in NASCAR history during Friday's qualifying. Johnson, Kyle Busch and Dale Earnhardt Jr. were among the big names to have problems, but the race was a clean one for Logano in his No. 22 Ford. He was battling Kurt Busch for the lead at the very start and needed only to outlast Harvick at the end. Sunday's race began with 10 of the first 17 laps under caution. There were nine cautions in all, and Logano and Kurt Busch led for 94 of the 200 laps -- nearly half the race. The 54-year-old Martin emerged late, making a bid for his first Cup win since 2009, but his fuel didn't hold up. He finished 27th. "We saved a bunch of gas but we needed one more yellow," Martin said. "One more yellow and we would have been in good shape.” Johnson finished 40th and is now winless in 24 Cup starts at MIS. His lost weekend began when a practice crash Saturday forced him to use a backup car and start in the back of the field. He quickly made his way into contention before the engine problem ended his day. Next article Sponsorship woes put Swan Racing future in doubt Wallace showing improvement in Truck Series Chase Elliott grabs 1st career Nationwide victory NASCAR Sprint Cup schedule and standings NASCAR Nationwide Series schedule and standings More>>

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Nationals' Davey Johnson named NL manager of the year Under Davey Johnson, the Nationals won a franchise-record 98 games and reached the National League Division Series. / Brad Mills, US Presswire by Paul White, USA TODAY Sportsby Paul White, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under Davey Johnson already is better off than the last time he was manager of the year. The Washington manager, who won the National League award Tuesday after leading the Nationals to the best record in the major leagues in 2012, has a contract for next season. Johnson received 23 first-place votes for 131 total points. He beat out Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker (77 points) and the San Francisco Giants' Bruce Bochy (61 points). "The organization gave me a lot of good players," Johnson said. "It's a tribute to the organization.You always want to try to please your bosses. I feel we have a higher ceiling.I think we can do more." Johnson was American League manager of the year in 1997 but was let go by Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos the same day that award was announced. This time, Johnson �?? who will turn 70 before opening day -- knows he'll be back for one more season with a team that he expects to improve on a year that ended with a stunning Division Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. "I said early on that if we don't win the (division) they should fire me, we had so much talent on my ballclub," Johnson said. W"e got that done, so I'm proud of that." He agreed Saturday to the new deal for the season he says will be his last as manager. The plan is for Johnson to return to the consulting position he held with the team before taking over as manager when Jim Riggleman resigned in June 2011. Johnson's first full season as Washington manager produced a record 98 victories for a franchise that has been in Washington since 2005 but began as the Montreal Expos in 1969. The Nationals were 40-43 in 2011 after Johnson took over, but he said entering spring training this year that he thought he had a playoff team. "I knew in August (2011) this club had enough talent and, if we played up to our potential, we could win the pennant," Johnson said. The mostly young group �?? budding stars include outfielder Bryce Harper, pitching Stephen Strasburg and shortstop Ian Desmond �?? proved him right from the beginning. Washington started the season 14-4 and moved into first place to stay with back-to-back victories May 21-22 at the Philadelphia Phillies, the five-time defending NL East champs the Nationals unseated. The young players emerged, including Harper winning the NL rookie of the year award announced Monday. The pitching staff became the best in the league. And veterans such as Adam LaRoche, Ryan Zimmerman and Jayson Werth added to the offense. "All I'm doing is giving them an opportunity to succeed," Johnson told USA TODAY Sports late in the season. "From the first day I was a manager, I always was candid. It's my job to make sure everybody knows what's expected of them. Successful managers let guys play, have patience and let them develop." Johnson has been a successful manager at nearly every stop. He won five previous division titles with the Orioles, Reds and New York Mets plus the 1986 World Series with the Mets. Only a two-year stop with the Los Angeles Dodgers didn't include a playoff berth. The 2000 Dodgers were his last major league stop �?? he did manage Team USA in the 2009 World Baseball Classic and 2008 Olympics �?? until the Nationals opening. Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Nationals' Davey Johnson named NL manager of the year Under Johnson, the Nationals won a record 98 games and reached the NLDS. A link to this page will be included in your message. Would you drink water with urine in it? | NewsB... (1m17s) Firefighters bring boy back to life after drowning (2m54s) Archives

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