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2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/13379

Rory McIlroy denying that he and Caroline Wozniacki are engaged Amy Andrews Rory McIlroy and Caroline WozniackiSuperstar couple Rory McIlroy and Caroline Wozniacki are insisting that they are not engaged after Wozniacki was spotted wearing a diamond ring in Australia this week.Wozniacki, a pro tennis player, was in Australia ahead of her Brisbane International tournament. The couple reportedly spent the holidays together, further fueling rumors of an upcoming engagement.McIlroy’s representatives issued a statement saying “On behalf of Rory McIlroy I would like to confirm that he has NOT become engaged to Caroline Wozniacki as was originally reported in Australian press,” a short statement reads.“Rory is in Australia to support Caroline before he heads in January to Abu Dhabi.”

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Jackets Stats: The Overly Simplified Goalie Problem By zekebud Share with Blue Jackets friends 17 It's tough to look at the Columbus Blue Jackets right now. Statistically, they're continuing to deal with team-wide failure. Rick Nash only has the 77th highest point total in the NHL and is off his career average totals per game (certainly not inspiring to outside fans during Nash trade discussion). Overall, the team is 28th in goals for per game, as anemic production is not limited to the captain. Clearly the Jackets are in need of some serious offensive help if they hope to be future playoff contenders. But lately, much of the focus has been on the goalie and the defense. Why should we look at them instead of the pathetic goal scoring? By doing an overly simplified thought experiment, we can look into why terrible goaltending is something that the rest of the team can't be expected to overcome. In order to do this, let's set up some numbers. Steve Mason (as of this writing) has a season save percentage of .887. For his career, he's now at .903, a sizable dip from his Calder Trophy campaign. While it's not fully accurate to his performance this year, we'll assume he's got a .900 save percentage; that is to say, a goal would be scored in 1 out of every 10 shots against him (.887 would make the total slightly higher). Let's also consider the Jackets' shot totals. Currently, the Blue Jackets allow 30.1 shots against per game (that's the 14th fewest per game by a team in the NHL - a reasonable placement). Let's make it easier and say they allow exactly 30. Now let's imagine a typical Blue Jackets game with the regular number of shots against, and Steve Mason in goal. 30 shots are allowed and 1 out of 10 shots is a goal. That's 3 goals against per game. 3 goals seems like quite a bit to allow to the other team every game. And that knee-jerk perception is correct. Currently, only 6 teams in the NHL score more than 3 goals per game on average (actually up from 4 teams last year, and 5 teams the year before). Those teams are Philadelphia (3.31), Boston (3.27), Vancouver (3.16), Chicago (3.08), Detroit (3.05), and Pittsburgh (3.02). This kind of scoring helps explain why the Flyers and Blackhawks are in the playoff race despite their well-documented goalie problems. This also suggests part of why the Jackets can't win with Steve Mason in net - like most teams in the NHL over the past 3 seasons, they simply do not have the offense to keep up with an opposing team that scores 3 goals per game. What would happen if we put a better goalie in net? Let's say that this year's version of Curtis Sanford is starting with his .915 save percentage. That would result in 2.55 goals against per game (on 30 shots). That's a pretty big difference in offense and is much more manageable. 18 out of 30 teams in the NHL are capable of that kind of scoring, so it's not uncommon. Improve the goalie by just that much and the Blue Jackets would be far more competitive. That's a part of why the Jackets have been more successful in front of Sanford. (And for laughs - if we put Henrik Lundqvist's .941 in net, that's only 1.77 goals against per game, something even this year's Blue Jackets could beat.) Of course, this analysis is highly simplistic. It ignores the awful defense, and any psychological failures in front of Mason, something that most "better" goalies this year don't have to deal with. This also doesn't account for the Jackets pathetic goal scoring. Columbus would need a goalie with a .925 save percentage to get wins with their current offensive production. But the problem presented by Steve Mason is a real one - only 6 teams can be expected to keep up with the 3 typical goals his save percentage allows. Even with an improved offense, it would be very difficult for the Jackets to win when opposing teams are afforded such high goal totals. That's why goaltending is so heavily linked to the Columbus failures; with just one bad player in net, the whole team must suffer the consequences. Welcome to the NHL playoffs Game 3 Invite Back in the Playoffs Again, a musical tribute Goalie Bob's performance in the last seven games give us hope in the playoff Your Thoughts, Please Field of Schemes article on Columbus arena deal Upcoming Free Agents for the Jackets Suggestion on how to solve CBJ's offense problem in the last few weeks of this season Curtis Sanford

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JSU rounds out women's basketball staff Jul 15, 2013 | 2321 views | | 23 | | JACKSONVILLE – Rick Pietri has completed his Jacksonville State women's basketball staff with the addition of former Rider basketball player Ali Heller.She was a four-year letterwinner at Rider, and during her junior season, she was the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Sixth Player of the Year, averaging 8 points and 1.14 assists a game. She shot 43.3 percent from 3-point range.She has spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant coach at NCAA Division II Lynn, which is in her hometown of Boca Raton, Fla. She helped the team to 18 wins this past season and a spot in the NCAA Division II tournament."Ali is a sharp, mature and focused young coach who came highly recommended to me by people I trust," Pietri said in a statement released by JSU. “She had a positive impact at Lynn this past year in helping lead them to the NCAA Division II Tournament berth. I look for her to have a positive impact on our program as well."Off the court at Rider, Heller helped coordinate several of the team's extra-curricular activities, including the Rider University 5K Charity Run, a Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Walk and numerous youth basketball clinics at various local elementary schools.Pietri already has brought former Alabama A&M head coach Altherias Warmley and Eric Wise onto his staff. Wise coached under Pietri for eight seasons at South Alabama. JSU splits softball doubleheader JSU sports roundup: Men's hoops adds 6-5 swingman Perroni

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Football's Robertson Named Finalist for Dudley Award HARRISONBURG, Va. - James Madison redshirt junior linebacker Stephon Robertson (Alexandria, Va./Edison) has been named a finalist for the 2012 Bill Dudley Award, presented annually by the Touchdown Club of Richmond. The award, named for Bill Dudley, star player at the University of Virginia and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, goes to the top player in Division I football - Football Bowl Subdivision and Football Championship Subdivision - in the state. The award will be presented Wednesday night at the banquet at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in Short Pump, Va. Robertson was previously selected as the Colonial Athletic Association Defensive Player of the Year over several top candidates, including reigning Buck Buchanan Award winner Matt Evans of New Hampshire, as well as earning First Team All-CAA honors. A starter in all 11 games this year and 34 played in his career, Robertson was a force for Madison's defense, which ranked second in the CAA and 24th in FCS football in scoring, first in the league and 19th nationally in rushing defense and fifth in the CAA in pass defense. Also a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award as the nation's top defensive player, Robertson finished with a team-high 101 tackles, including 48 solos, 8.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and five pass breakups, earning him First Team All-CAA honors for the second straight year after being named CAA Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2010. One of 20 players on the Buck Buchanan Watch List for the nation's top defensive player, he was third in the league and tied for 43rd in the nation with 9.18 tackles per game. He led JMU in tackles in seven of the 11 games played this year and recorded double-digit tackles in six games, five of them CAA contests. In his career, Robertson has started in 34 of a possible 35 games. He has amassed 304 career tackles, an average over his career of 8.94 tackles per game, despite being targeted as a threat by every opposing offense. Back to Women's Soccer

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Duck football player suspended from bowl for 'snowball incident' Oregon TE Pharaoh Brown was suspended from the Alamo Bowl appearance for his involvement in Friday's snowball fight on the UO campus Oregon football team challenges student body to snowball fight EUGENE, Ore. -- Oregon tight end Pharaoh Brown was suspended from the Duck's appearance in the Alamo Bowl for his involvement in a snowball fight Friday that targeted drivers on campus, the University of Oregon Athletic Department said. The Oregon Football program made the announcement late Monday morning, saying that Oregon head coach Mark Helfrich suspended Brown "for his role in Friday's snowball incident". In a statement made Sunday night, Helfrich said "we take this matter very seriously and disciplinary actions have begun." “I was one of the many UO students involved in the snowball fight on Friday and my actions escalated to an inappropriate level and for that, I sincerely apologize," Brown said in a statement. "We never should have engaged innocent people and I deeply regret my actions and will accept the consequences.” One of the motorists pelted by snow said the punishment was too much. "The punishment is a little severe given there was no property damage or injury," Krysten Mayfair said Monday. "Yesterday Coach Helfrich called me and apologized for the player's actions. That was more than I could have ever expected." The University of Oregon Police Department said the drivers are not pressing charges against the students involved. However, the students could still face charges of disorderly conduct, depending on the outcome of the investigation, UOPD said. UO dean of students Paul Shang said Friday's snowball fight near the EMU was in part organized by student athletes when the Oregon Duck football team challenged the University of Oregon student body to a snowball fight. Oregon is set to appear in the Alamo Bowl on December 30 against the Texas Longhorns. Athletic director Rob Mullens issued the following statement in response to an email from a concerned student: The behavior demonstrated in the video is unacceptable, dangerous and does not represent the culture of the department. The UO Police Department and the Dean of Students Office are working together to identify those involved and determine appropriate actions to be taken according to the law and the university's established policies and protocols. After learning of the incident, Coach Helfrich reached out to both drivers of the vehicles involved and expressed apologies for the incident on behalf of the football program. The student-athletes associated with this incident were swiftly disciplined and are subject to additional discipline from the Dean of Students. We take this matter seriously and will hold those involved accountable. The actions depicted in this video in no way represent the values of the University of Oregon Athletic Department or the character of 450 student-athletes. Be assured that this incident is not being taken lightly, and we are taking swift, appropriate actions to address the matter.

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Prep Athlete of the Week: Luke Wilson By Craig Loper Watch KMTR NewsSource 16 Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and 11 for Prep Athlete of the Week. SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - Luke Wilson achieved his goal of becoming a starter on the varsity basketball team at Springfield High School as a freshman. The 15-year-old carries himself and makes plays in a way older than what his age would tell, including a key block and buzzer beating shot to finish last week's game against Thurston. "I've never experienced that before, it was awesome," Wilson said. "Probably one of the best feelings of my life I mean just having all those people there and hitting that buzzer beater, I mean it was great, but I couldn't have done it without my team." There's no question about Wilson's athletic ability on the court, but it's everything else about him off the court that is inspiring. Wilson's grandfather became paralyzed when Luke was three and recently passed away after his fight with MS. His grandfather's memory helps motivate Wilson's play. "Seeing what he's gone through and how hard he's worked in his life, and seeing that - seeing how he was paralyzed and always trying to come to our games and stuff like that, that was another big inspiration," Wilson said. "Every night I go on the court I'm always thinking about him, thinking about how I wish he could be there and how he wishes he could be there, but I know he's up there looking down and watching over me, so it's all good."

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NHL to End Fighting? By: AP Email Posted: Tue 10:39 PM, Feb 24, 2009 / Article When it comes to the age-old question of fighting in hockey, opinion seems to be shifting. The question is how much? Bryan Lewis, a former supervisor of officials for the NHL, said fighting in hockey is on the way out. Lewis was part of a Violence in Hockey Symposium staged Tuesday by the Middlesex-London Health Unit, a gathering of hockey officials, coaches, media members and a former professional player at the London Convention Center. "I believe the screw is finally being turned," Lewis said. "I think it's slowly being removed from the game." He worked more than 1,000 NHL games between 1970 and 1986 before becoming supervisor of officials and then director of officiating in 1989. He retired from the NHL in 2001 and is a director of officiating for the East Coast Hockey League. He drew a laugh with his suggestion to end fights. The symposium, attended by 98 coaches, trainers and administrators, sought recommendations leading to a decrease in injuries resulting from gratuitous violence on the ice. Lewis said his two fears as a parent were a head check to his son or a check from behind. The topic of hits to the head was prominent at the symposium. Ken Bocking, chief of staff at St. Thomas-Elgin General Hospital, spoke of a son who sustained two concussions because of elbows to the head that ended his career. Bocking showed a graphic film clip of a monkey's brain upon impact. The Ontario Hockey Association got involved but the NHL, Bocking said, "took it under consideration." "It's immoral to hit another player with a head-check," Bocking said. "I can't fathom how we, as a society, put up with it. The dinosaurs are in charge but they won't always be." Throughout the symposium, the NHL was fingered as the type of play most in the minors tend to emulate. Yet what one panelist termed "flagrant, wanton acts" went on all the time with scant punishment. Panelist Bernie Pascall, a veteran sportscaster who did play-by-play for the Vancouver Canucks along with 12 world hockey championships, conducted a report on violence for the government of British Columbia in 2000. Among his findings were evidence of parental and crowd influence, inconsistent officiating, and also, a 'culture' in hockey that celebrates aggressive behavior as a manly pursuit. Has he seen changes since his report and recommendations? "A little, not much," Pascall said. "Young players aren't born to be violent, they're shown to be violent." Copyright 2014 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sharks Take 2-0 Series Lead With 7-2 Win vs. Kings KOLO Online Poll

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Washington is most bike-friendly state for sixth year A biker speeds along one of America's trails. / H. Darr Beiser, USAT by Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAYby Elizabeth Weise, USA TODAY Filed Under For the sixth year in a row, Washington has been named the nation's most bicycle-friendly state. Colorado and Oregon came in second and third on the yearly list that gives national bragging rights and is closely followed by the cycling community. The rankings are bestowed by the League of American Bicyclists. Begun in 2008, they are based on funding for biking legislation, bike programs and policies, infrastructure, education and planning. Washington Governor Jay Inslee attributes his state's standing to embracing biking as a "form of transportation that enhances our quality of life and honors our environment." Biking is so mainstream in Washington that the state's secretary of transportation Lynn Peterson is an avid cyclist who plans to compete in the yearly 200-mile Seattle-to-Portland ride in July. This year Colorado went from fourth to second place, continuing a steady climb from fourth last year and twelfth in 2011. Asked how a state known for mountains and snow managed the feat, Dan Grunig, executive director of the advocacy group Bicycle Colorado in Denver said "there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad choice in clothing." Besides, he added, most people in Colorado live on the Front Range, the area east of the foothills of the Rockies. So it's not so much mountains as high desert. Which "is actually a fantastic place to ride year round," Grunig said. Oregon got third place this year. "We made it into the medals finally," said Shelia Lyons, the state's pedestrian and bicycle program manager in Salem. While Portland is known as one of the most bicycle friendly cities in the country, the entire state is really a cycling paradise and government is seeing serious money come in from it now. A new study being released this month found that biking is a $400 million industry in Oregon, "and I think we're at the very bottom rung of that potential," Lyons said. Minnesota fell in this year's ranking from second to fourth place. "That's not because they didn't anything wrong, it's because Colorado and Oregon both stepped up and improved their performance," said Andy Clarke, president of the 133-year-old League. Delaware made a surprise sprint up from tenth place to finish fifth in rankings. Delaware governor Jack Markell, a cyclist himself, says his state focuses on cycling because it brings employment. "Jobs are going to go where the talent is, and talented people are going to work in places where they want to live, and having amenities for bicycling is a very attractive thing." Arkansas went from the worst cycling state in the nation to number 37, due to the founding of a statewide bicycle advocacy group and government paying "a little more attention this year," said Clarke. While acknowledging that its resources were "extremely limited" the state hopes to build on the momentum of its rise and continue to provide "convenient and safe" cycle ways in Arkansas, said Scott Bennett, director of the state's Department of Highway and Transportation. Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Washington is most bike-friendly state for sixth year Washington state best for biking since 2008. A link to this page will be included in your message.

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Home News Business Editorials Entertainment Family Opinion Religion Sports Crenshaw & Around Athlete's Corner Baseball Basketball Boxing Football High School History Local Legends News On the Soap Box Student Athlete of the Week Tennis Xtreme Sports Sports Football Around the Nation: College Football- USC struggles passing the ball; UCLA takes a step in the right direction; BCS title race Around the Nation: College Football- USC struggles passing the ball; UCLA takes a step in the right direction; BCS title race Published on Friday, 19 October 2012 00:07 Written by Jason Lewis (Sentinel Sports Editor, jasonl@lasentinel.net UCLA running back Johnathan Franklin (Dorsey High School) helped the Bruins grind out a 21-14 victory over Utah. Photo by Jason Lewis USC remains in limbo It's hard to figure this USC team out, or figure out where they are going. On one hand, they are No. 11 in the nation with a 5-1 record, and they are in a position that if they run the table they may have a shot at getting in the BCS National Championship Game. But on the other hand, everybody is still waiting for this team to do something special. To look like the world beaters that everybody thought they would be before the season, when they were the preseason No. 1 team in the nation. So what is USC? Are they contenders? If they run the table, with wins against AP No. 2 Oregon and No. 5 Notre Dame (both games will be at the Coliseum), then yes, they are contenders. But looking at this team's body of work, can they run the table? The strength of this team was supposed to be their passing offense. When quarterback Matt Barkley announced that he was coming back for his senior season, he was nearly crowned the Heisman Trophy winner, and USC was destined to win the national title. With NFL caliber wide receivers and a pair of 1,000 yard running backs, this offense was supposed to set the nation on fire, and Barkley was going to be the top pick in next year's NFL draft. On paper that was all true, but on the field that has not been the case. Barkley has been out of the Heisman race since losing at Stanford a month ago, and USC's passing offense has been struggling as of late. USC ranks 50th in the nation passing the ball, and on third down, where a quarterback "earns his money," USC is only converting at 30.1 percent, which is 116th in the nation. Over the past couple games there has been more of a focus on the running game and there have been third downs, where they were in obvious passing situations, where they ran the ball. Last week at Washington, Barkley only attempted 20 passes while Silas Redd had 26 carries for 155 yards, and Curtis McNeal (Venice High School) had 11 carries for 58 yards. For the game USC ran the ball 40 times compared to only 20 passing attempts. Over the past three games, all victories after losing to Stanford, USC has run the ball more than passing it in each contest. They have run the ball 112 times over those three victories, while only passing it 84 times. Over their first three games they ran the ball 86 times, compared to 112 passes. Everybody was buzzing about Barkley and the passing offense before the Stanford loss, when Barkley threw 10 touchdowns to only one interception in the first two games of the season. Since then, over the past four games he has only thrown six touchdowns with five interceptions. Against Stanford he only completed 48 percent of his passes, and in their 24-14 victory over Washington, he only completed 50 percent of his passes. USC may have NFL caliber players at wide receiver and quarterback, but they are not living up to their preseason hype. USC has kept themselves in the hunt for the BCS title, but everybody is waiting for them to look like a dominant team. If they can do that then they will be in the running as teams above them lose. But if they continue to play in the fashion that they have, they will not have much chance to knock off Oregon, Notre Dame, and a couple of tough PAC 12 school. This Saturday USC will host Colorado, who has a 1-5 record. UCLA keeps pushing along At this point of the season for UCLA, their 21-14 victory this past Saturday over Utah was a good thing. They are not competing for a national title. They would not admit to it, but they are not even competing for the PAC 12 title (even though an Arizona St. loss tonight against Oregon puts them only one game behind first place Arizona St. and USC in the South standings). After being routed by a bad Cal team a week earlier, UCLA had to show something positive to keep the fan base on board with this new coaching staff. UCLA needs to continue to make strides to become a legitimate program. Right now they are only one win away from equalling their win total from a year ago, and they have five games remaining. If this team can finish around 8-4, and be competitive against USC, then this season will be viewed as a step in the right direction. UCLA has a bye this week, and they will travel to Arizona St. next Saturday. National Title Race The first BCS standings came out earlier this week, and Oregon, even though they are No. 2 in every meaningful poll, are No. 3, behind No. 1 Alabama and No. 2 Florida. It was no surprise that Alabama took the top spot, but Florida was not even a top 10 team a couple weeks ago, while Oregon has been a top five team the entire season, and they have held the No. 2 spot the past few weeks. Oregon has not had a close game yet, but at the same time they have not defeated a top 20 team yet, and they have only defeated two ranked opponents. So they do not have a defining victory. Florida on the other hand has one big victory over LSU, who was No. 4 in the nation at the time. Looking down the line for the top three BCS teams, Alabama and Florida will not both go undefeated. They both have highly ranked opponents on their schedules (Florida plays No. 7 South Carolina on Saturday), and if they do both finish the regular season undefeated, they will have to face each other in the SEC Championship Game. Oregon has some tough games left. They play USC, No. 8 Oregon St., and No. 22 Stanford, as well as the PAC-12 Championship Game. But even with tough teams left on the schedule, they can go undefeated. If Oregon does finish undefeated, one team that can threaten their chances is No. 5 Notre Dame, who finally have a defense to compete with the best teams in the nation. Half of their six victories have come against ranked opponents, and they have USC and No. 9 Oklahoma on their schedule. If Notre Dame can finish undefeated, with five victories over ranked opponents, they might as well be No. 1 in the BCS, because they will get as automatic of a bid to the title game as any team could get. One team that is pretty much out of the BCS title race is West Virginia, and that was no surprise. They are a pass it all over the place team that does not run the ball or play defense. That is not how championships are won. West Virginia was able to win games up until this past Saturday with quarterback Geno Smith turning in Superman type performances. But the question has been if he were to have an ordinary game, could other units on the team pick up the slack? That question was answered this past Saturday against Texas Tech, and the answer was no! Smith completed 29 of 55 passes for 275 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions, which are decent numbers, but a far cry from what he was doing when he led his team to a 5-0 start to the season. The drop in production from Smith meant less points scored, but that did not mean that their defense would give up less, as Texas Tech blew out West Virginia 49-14. Even with the loss, Smith is still the front runner for the Heisman Trophy. He has 25 touchdowns with no interceptions while completing 75.3 percent of his passes. Those are still video game type numbers. Check out the Sentinel Sports Section on Facebook and Twitter. Sentinel Sports Section Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/Los-Angeles-Sentinel-Sports-Section/137328139648009 Sentinel Sports Twitter page: twitter.com/LASentinelSport < Prev in Football

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Rangers post-ASB rotation Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Derek Holland will get the first start for the Rangers following the All Star Break Derek Holland has been one of the best pitchers in the American League, but nevertheless, has not been chosen to be a member of the 2013 All Star team. However, because Holland is not going to be in the All Star Game, the Rangers are in a position to use him in their first game after the break. The Rangers have indicated that Holland will start Friday, July 19, at home against the Baltimore Orioles, in the first game of the second half for the Rangers. Martin Perez is expected to start the second game of the series, and Ross Wolf is expected to start the final game of the series. A four game set at home against the Yankees starts on July 22, and Yu Darvish is expected to be activated to start that game, with Alexi Ogando following Darvish, assuming his rehab goes well. If Ogando doesn't make that July 23 start, and if no other pitcher, such as Matt Garza, is acquired to make the start, then Justin Grimm will start against the Yankees on Tuesday. Colby Lewis is supposed to start a rehab assignment this coming week, and he is expected to be ready to return in mid-August, with Matt Harrison expected to return in late-August. Jeff Baker will also be starting a rehab assignment this week, and should be ready to be activated from the disabled list during the Baltimore series.

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Fight against Renan Barao was only one Dominick Cruz wanted for his return By Dave Doyle @davedoylemma Esther Lin Get the latest UFC, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) News, Results news with MMA Fighting Follow MMA Fighting on Twitter Like MMA Fighting Facebook Would UFC bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz jump right back into the deep end after his knee injury and face interim champion Renan Barao, or would he take a tuneup fight first? That was one of the several questions debated online during Cruz's two-year absence following a pair of ACL surgeries. But this was never a question in the champion's mind. On Monday's edition of The MMA Hour, Cruz explained that his comeback fight against Barao, which is the co-main event of UFC 169 on Super Bowl weekend, was the only one he wanted. "That's the fight I wanted since I hurt myself," Cruz said. "That's a fight I wanted before I hurt myself. He brings a so much to the table, he's done so much in the sport, he's done so much for the division. That's why I'm in this. I'm in this to challenge myself, not to go back to the No. 10 guy in the division and take a step back. If I was cpming off no fights and they offered me the best guy on the planet, I'd take it. Because what's the point of taking steps backwards in the sport?" It's clear listening to Cruz talk that while he had plenty of time and plenty of opportunity to doubt his future, a positive mental attitude is what's gotten him back in the game. "You know, you can either think about your mishaps every single day, or you could look beyond them and learn from them and say everything happens for a reason," said Cruz, who has held the belt since winning what was then the WEC title from Brian Bowles in 2010. "It's a cliche term, but it's true. Everything did happen for a reason." Cruz knew that every time a consequential fight happened in the bantamweight division while he was gone -- whether it be Barao winning, then twice defending, his interim belt, or Urijah Faber's impressive win streak in 2013 -- attention was inevitably going to turn to Cruz's situation. And while Cruz admits that at first, it was difficult to tune out the noise, eventually, he learned not to let it affect him. "At a certain point, when you're injured," Cruz said. "And you know you're coming back and coming back strong, you have to turn your brain off to all the outside noise because there's nothing I could have done about it with my standing in the situation. "Me and Dana had talked, me and Lorenzo had talked, that was the most I could do to rest my brain and prepare for my comeback, because you know, they're the bosses. When it all comes down to it, no matter what media says and no matter what fans say, what Dana and Lorenzo Fertitta and Frank Fertitta says, goes. ... They've had my back this whole time in the sense of being supportive and knowing I was coming back." In the interim, Cruz distinguished himself as one of the sport's most incisive analysts in the FOX studios. Cruz had to admit, though, that it got a little awkward critiquing fighters he may one day face. "That was very weird and very interesting perspective to be a part of," he said. "I had to give both the positive and negative things to the guys in my division I could be fighting. It took a definite amount of focus and tenacity to sit through the whole process and give my best at breaking it down. ... The position I took was, this division is bigger than myself. The division as a whole, we can bring the pay rate up. We can always be doing better, not just money but growing the sport. That's everyone in it. On FOX, I look like i'm doing my best to help grow the sport." Cruz was asked to analyze last weekend's hot topic of conversation, the Bellator lightweight title fight between Michael Chandler and Eddie Alvarez. Alvarez won the title on a split decision, taking two 48-47 scores. Cruz, of course, has a rooting interest in the fight, since they are teammates at San Diego's Alliance MMA. "I think the number one thing wrong is, judges don't know how to score wrestling," he said. "We've got boxing judges in there, and they don't know how to score a takedown, they don't know what control is and what grappling is. They don't score it. They only score damage being done on what they know, which was boxing." "I think [Chandler] won, I think it was an extremely close, competitive fight, but I think that the deciding round is round 2, where everyone is in limbo. Did Mike win? He got five takedowns and he got outpunched by three punches. And you lose the round? I don't understand how that works whatsoever. You're not counting the grappling, you're only counting a three-punch punching rate that is higher than Mike Chandler." Lorenzo Fertitta

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Greenock Morton FC news Morton History Desktop Pics (NEW!) Reserves & Youth Reserve Team News Youth Team News Visit the'Tonclub forums Morton MAD Greenock Morton 1874 Article by Footymad Updated Tuesday, 6th November 2001 Greenock Morton RSS Feed Founded in 1874 the first committee consisted of five men – Alex Ramsay, James Farrell, M. Park, R. Aitken and J. Barrie. People paid a subscription fee to become members of the club and such was the popularity of the venture by 1886 the club became a limited company, officially known as Greenock Morton Football and Athletic Club Limited. The club had been founder members of Scottish Division Two in 1893-94.The 1896-97 season saw the club enjoy a run to the Semi-final of the Scottish Cup where they met Rangers, unfortunately losing 2-7 in front of 12,000 fans at Cappielow. The club won promotion to Division One in the 1899-1900 season when they finished as runners up to Partick Thistle. An extension to the Division meant that despite finishing in last place in 1904-05 the club maintained their position in the top Division.After World War One Morton enjoyed one of the major achievements of their history when they won their way through to the Scottish cup Final in 1922 where their opponents were to be Rangers. Despite being underdogs Morton prevailed winning the match with a goal from George French.The following year saw the club lose the backbone of its team when a dispute over wages saw several players leave for new pastures. In 1926-27 the club were relegated after 27 seasons in Division One.The club regained its Division One spot after the 1928-29 season when they finished the season runners-up to Dundee United.Post World War Two the club has enjoyed an up and down existence alternating between the top two divisions, gaining promotion and Champions in 1949-50, 1963-64, 1966-67, 1977-78 and 1983-84.In 1930 Cappielow Park was closed for two games following a stone-throwing incident during a match against Cowdenbeath.In 1924 an athletics meeting was held at Cappielow Park, which featured athletes who had participated in that years Olympic games, more especially Scotland’s gold medal hero Eric Liddell. It drew a crowd in excess of 4,000 people.In 1923 ex-Morton player Joe Hendry began a service to provide commentaries for blind fans – possibly the first such service in the country.During the 1910-11 season the Morton players took part in an unusual incentive scheme when a local butcher offered a lamb to every player who scored a goal.Rumour has it that the pitch was home to a small flock of lambs for part of the season.On August 10th 1906 a fire that took hold after a training session had finished destroyed the clubhouse, which was only six years old. The replacement clubhouse cost a total of �195-8s-8d.Morton were so named because the founders of the club lived in Morton Terrace. Interact with us Dundee 2 Morton 0 Sat 01 Mar 3.00pm Sign up now to receive our FREE MORTON MAD Newsletter JOIN IN WITH THE LATEST FORUM DEBATES Greenock Morton, Greenock Morton News, Greenock Morton Match Reports, Greenock Morton Player Squad, Greenock Morton Results, Greenock Morton Cappielow Park, Greenock Morton Football Club. Greenock Morton news

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Risky business - National Fisherman Coastlines National Fisherman's Melissa Wood shares her stories as a writer and editor covering the U.S. fishing industry. Top 5 Coastlines Stories The ones left behind Big fish, small island 50 years ago today: "Earthquake Staggers Alaskan Fishing Industry" Flexibility a must for Magnuson Geoducks: A cautionary tale of global trade Risky business Thursday, 12 September 2013 View Comments Whenever I work on a story I ask people how they got involved in commercial fishing. It never seems like a choice. They either grew up in a fishing family or somehow were drawn to the water, fell in love with fishing and never looked back. It's in the blood, I often hear. I should also ask why. Why choose a career path that's low-paying (median salary is around $25,000 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) and risky? When you cover commercial fishing, reports of sinkings, men-overboard and accidents at sea are regular stories. Despite efforts to increase safety, the number of commercial-fishing deaths have not significantly decreased from 2000-2010, which saw an annual average of 46 deaths per year, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health.That's 10 times the average of four per 100,000 workers among all U.S. workers during that same time period. One piece of good news is that the program working to increase safety in commercial fishing has had its funding preserved again. For the last two years, the NIOSH fishing safety program faced elimination in the president's budget, but continued to be funded under a spending resolution from Congress. It's due to be cut again in the 2014 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, but it's also again being funded in a budget from Congress.The program is important to maintain because its researchers focus on eliminating dangers in specific fisheries instead of trying to force a one-size-fits-all solution across all working in commercial fishing.There are some things that are always going to be risky: falling in love, having children and commercial fishing. But taking risks makes us feel alive. Though chasing wild animals on an unpredictable ocean is never going to be safe, it's good to see support for a program trying to help those who go out to sea for a living come home again. View the discussion thread. back to top Latest News Federal agency to release Gulf oil spill report Large herring run predicted for Togiak Opinion: Red drum season illustrates absurdity Welch: Salmon permit prices up Bill to study effects of acidification Latest Blogs

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Sandy Springs karate dojo celebrates 25 years February 19, 2013 03:15 PM | 2432 views | 0 | 9 | | Special photoAtlanta's Traditional Okinawan Karate-do dojo founder, Mark Moeller, poses wearing the red and white belt that symbolizes his promotion to sixth-degree black belt status. The martial arts have been a big part of Mark Moeller's life for more than three decades.For much of that time, Moeller — a sixth-degree black belt — has instructed numbers of students in the martial arts at Atlanta’s Traditional Okinawan Karate-do dojo in Sandy Springs.It has been a quarter of a century since the 53-year old Sandy Springs resident, a lawyer for the Taylor English firm in Atlanta, opened the dojo in 1987 and it is still going strong, with adult and children’s classes held three days a week at Hammond Park.The dojo celebrated in 25th anniversary in early February, after having been postponed from its original date last June.Starting with only two students in ’87, the dojo now includes 40 students in its children’s classes and about 30 to 35 in its adult groups.“It seems kind of hard to believe, because it doesn’t seem like 25 years have gone past,” Moeller said. “I still have one student who was at my very first class, 25 years ago. For the first three months of class, there were only two people in the whole class and it was he and another guy and then, my other senior student started three months later.”Moeller’s dojo features a core group of students who have been there for most of its existence; this continuity is among the things Moeller enjoys the most.“One of the things I love about the martial arts is teaching people, and I like the fact that I’ve got five guys who have been with me for over 20 years and so I get to see them develop. It’s really cool to stay with people and watch them learn and continue to grow and get better and better.”During the dojo’s 20th anniversary in 2007, Moeller was honored with a proclamation by the city of Sandy Springs for his service to the community through his martial arts instruction.Mark Snepp was one of Moeller’s original students and the 52-year old Alpharetta resident, who recently was promoted to fifth-degree black belt in both Shorin Ryu and Shudokan Karate-do, has witnessed firsthand the development of the dojo over the years.“It always ebbs and flows,” Snepp said. “It has grown over the years and we now have a lot of black belts and that has enabled the growth somewhat.”To keep it affordable, Moeller has kept the price for joining the dojo the same as it was when it opened in ’87 — $90 for three months for both adults and children.“I view martial arts as sort of my obligation to give back to the community,” Moeller said. “I charge $90 for three months of classes and I’ve got seven hours of class. I’ve got four classes for adults and to put it in perspective, most classes are $90 per month and that depends on how many years of a contract you sign. I am with Hammond Park, and so I’ve got the luxury of not having large overhead and I can make it affordable to as many people as possible.”Moeller began studying karate as a student at the University of Michigan in 1979. He was an assistant instructor at the school’s karate-do club from ’80 to ’83 and was the founder and head instructor of the Duke University Asian Martial Arts Club while attending law school there from ’83 to ’86 before moving to Sandy Springs and starting up his dojo in ’87.He teaches Okinawan Karate-do, which involves both defense and counter-attacking methods, with emphasis on striking and kicking techniques.“This [Karate-]do is really important to us, because it means ‘karate as a way of life,’ as a way of approaching everything you do in life, the way you treat others, the way you discipline yourself,” Moeller said. “We don’t just teach the karate techniques. We teach the full philosophical principles behind it, the moral principles behind it, especially in my kids’ class.”“I make a huge emphasis over and over — your martial arts should be used to prevent someone from hurting you or from hurting someone else, only as a last resort, only when you have no choice but to use your martial arts skills, do you use your martial arts skills.”In addition to Okinawan Karate-do, Moeller also specializes in Hung-Gar Kung Fu and Aikido.Moeller encapsulated the art of karate in “Karate-do Foundations,” a book that he wrote and published in 1995. It explains the key principles and techniques of the discipline.“My goal [for the book] was for somebody to pick it up and read and know what to do,” Moeller said. “I kind of wrote it to be an instructor’s manual of sorts. I think a lot of people who have had more formal training would look at it and would say, ‘This is just a beginner book.’ It had an initial run of being published and then it went out of print. But, what was kind of cool was, I was in Chicago and I walked in a boardroom there and I see two copies of my book on the shelf.”Adult classes are held every Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Children’s classes are held Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturday from 9 to 10 a.m.Information: visit www.atlantakarateschool.com. Sandy Springs Society hosting Tossed Out Treasures Sandy Springs' Squire wins national award

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49ers vs. Panthers 2013: All You Need To Know About Week 10 49ers vs. Panthers post-game transcripts Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports The San Francisco 49ers met with the media following their 10-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers. We've got a host of transcripts for you. New to Niners Nation? Sign up here and join the discussion! Head Coach Jim HarbaughPress Conference - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers Why do you think your offense just wasn't able to get going today? "There's definitely some situation circumstances where we had opportunities and we didn't get it done, made the key mistake or didn't make the play." There was a play where you had fourth and one from the two. Why did you decide to go for the field goal rather than go for it? "We really were out of a couple personnel groups that we would have liked to have been in at that situation, both [TE Garrett] Celek and [TE] Vernon Davis were out. And we needed some time to move some personnel around to accommodate that situation. But, that factored into it." Any updates on Vernon, S Eric Reid and DT Ray McDonald? "Just saw them in the locker room and they seemed as good as could be expected." Did losing Celek and Davis mean that you couldn't do the power running that you're normally able to do? "Yes. That took us out of the two tight end packages." And you had G Adam Snyder coming in? "Yeah then we made the adjustment at halftime to get Snyder into that role." Did you sense anything from this team coming out of the bye that maybe you had the long trip and then the bye and that maybe they weren't as prepared, or mentally prepared? "No, I did not sense that. I thought they played with great effort, especially the defense. Great plays. And then Carolina made more plays. They made mistakes. We made some mistakes. They caused mistakes. We caused some mistakes. And in the end they made more plays." What was the plan for LB Aldon Smith? He played 11 snaps. Was that about right at what you were thinking going into this game? "Yeah, we were set to use him in the nickel situations." How do you think he played? "(I'll) go back and look at it. I thought our defense played extremely well." On a positive note, how do you feel about WR Mario Manningham coming back? He made a big catch on that third down situation? "Yeah, he made a couple of them. He made a couple big plays. Good to have him back out there. It's just a sinking feeling right now. You didn't get the job done as a team. And we'll bounce back. We'll come storming back" QB Colin Kaepernick was sacked a lot, I don't know how many times. But, how did you feel about his play overall and his decision-making? And what were the protection problems? "Moving the ball wasn't coming easy for us today. I thought there were plays to be made, and he made some really good ones. And we all put our fingerprints on that. Don't feel good as a coach. It's not a good feeling when you don't prevail, especially when you had multiple chances to get it done." At this point, would you expect most of those guys to play next week, just generally? Vernon, Reid, McDonald? "We'll see. It's tough to predict that right now." How do you feel about the general state? Obviously you've won five in a row, you lose this one, you've got to go to New Orleans. You don't like the word ‘satisfied' or ‘comfortable.' Where do you feel this team is right now? "We'll do what we do, bounce back. Regroup, refit and reorganize and come back this week." How do you think Aldon Smith did in a limited role? How would you evaluate how he did? "My initial feeling, I think he did fine. We'll look at it." There are always questions about bye week from us. Did you sense anything? "No, same question there. No, I didn't sense anything. Didn't sense any bye-week rust, no. I thought they came out playing hard, playing fast, playing with great effort and I didn't sense that." QB Colin KaepernickPress Conference - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers Can you talk a little bit about some things that the passing game struggled with today? "We have to execute better, all around. We just have to go out and be able to make plays." What happened on that last pass? Who was the ball going to? "We were trying to take a shot down the sideline. It's desperation mode. We're trying to get down the field to be able to kick a field goal." WR Anquan Boldin said they didn't show you anything that you weren't expecting, and he said it was all a lack of execution on your offense. Do you feel that way? Did the defense surprise you at all? "They didn't surprise us at all. We didn't execute." How much did the loss of TE Vernon Davis impact you guys offensively? "Vernon changes defenses. He makes them adjust differently. He makes them do things that they don't normally do. He's a big loss." Can you take us through the 4th and 1 situation? The two, you went up there and called a timeout, settled for the field goal. Were you going up there expecting to call a play or was it you weren't going to run it no matter what? "No, we weren't running it." Did you try to make a case to run it and go for it? "That's not my call." Was this one of the tougher defenses you've faced? "They're a good defense. But, today was more our lack of execution than what they were doing." Did you sense any Bye week, rust is a bad word, but just kind of kind of hard to get back into a rhythm after that? Was there any of that? "I don't think that was it. We had a good week of practice. I think everybody was ready. We just didn't execute when we got on the field." You and Carolina Panthers LB Luke Kuechly had a tough bowl game here in San Francisco three years ago. How do you remember him back then and having to go against him today? "He's a great player. I remember when I played him in my senior year. He was all over the place making plays. He's a good linebacker." What was the discussion about when you got called for the facemask penalty? What were you arguing for? "They called forward progress on me. I was trying to argue that it wasn't." WR Anquan BoldinPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers Coming off a bye week, you guys were on such a roll. Do you think having the bye week and all of the travel had any effect--? "No, that had nothing to do with it. We just didn't execute today offensively. Point blank." Is there anything you can put your finger on? 46 yards passing as a team. "Lack of execution. Like I said, defensively, played a great game. Gave us a chance to win. Held the opponent to 10 points. Offensively, we didn't get it done." How much of that goes to what the Panthers did defensively? "That's all on us." Is that just a standard approach that you look at? "That's just what it is. We didn't get it done." With the weapons you have, how disappointing is that? "It's unacceptable. We have a number of weapons on offense. We just have to do a better job of making it happen." Did they do anything that took you by surprise? "Nothing at all." Without TE Vernon Davis, how much did that change the offense? "It didn't change anything. We got exactly what we saw on film. We just didn't execute offensively." Did it surprise you that the execution wasn't crisper coming out of the bye with this coaching staff? "Yeah, because we had a couple extra days to prepare. So yeah, it is surprising." LB NaVorro BowmanPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers You've got to feel like you did a good job against Panthers QB Cam Newton today. "We kept him contained for the most part and he got the ball out of his hands pretty fast so as a defense we played well." Did you think you had him picked off on that one play where you leaped up and got a hand on the ball? "Yeah, I pushed a button on my cleats so I could jump a little higher. I knew that he had a low trajectory with his ball, but I just have to jump a little higher." The last time guys lost you went on to win five in a row afterward. Will you be looking for something similar when you bounce back? "Oh yeah, we're always going to bounce back. That's the team we have. We just can't keep giving wins away. They didn't beat us, we gave it to them and I'm going to leave it at that, but we're definitely going to bounce back." Was it good to have LB Aldon Smith back? "Oh yeah, having him back out there means there's less to worry about. He can handle his job and we can handle ours. Like I said, the defense all around we played well on our side." LB Ahmad BrooksPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers On LB Aldon Smith: "He's motivation for me to do a good job. He's probably the best pass rusher in the NFL, to be honest with you. You got to accept it, that's just how it is. He makes me a better player. I get a chance to watch what he does in practice, I get a chance to watch what he does in the game and just try to implement that in my game as much as possible." CB Tarell BrownPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers That was a real physical game. When you see S Eric Reid down, when you see TE Vernon Davis go out, what are you thinking? "Somebody needs to step up and make plays. I think we have a lot of depth on our team. We have a lot of guys that can make plays. But when someone goes down, the next guy has to step in and play like a starter." Was it an extra physical game out there? "Oh yeah, it was definitely a physical game. We understood that. Two great defenses, two good offenses. We understood that it was going to be a battle." Where do you feel this team is? Knowing you've got New Orleans and some tough games ahead, do you still feel good about things? "Yeah, we're never going to get our head down. I think at the end of the day, we've got to collect our thoughts, see where we made mistakes, guys made mistakes, we all made mistakes. Correct them and get ready for next week." What did it mean to have LB Aldon Smith back in the mix? "Oh it's special to see a dominant player like that back. We welcomed him back. Had limited snaps, but I think his snaps will increase a lot more this week." Could you tell there was a little more pressure with him out there? "I really couldn't. I was too busy on my man. I really didn't see all of that. When I watch film, I could tell you a little more. But having that presence out there with 99 on the field is always something special." C Jonathan GoodwinPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers You really pride yourself on playing a physical game. Was it a little surprising to come out on the losing end of a game like this? "No. You want to go out and be physical, but you still have to execute. You can be physical and still lose a game. You want to be physical, but it's all about execution at the same time." You guys came out on the first drive and ran the ball very effectively. Had about a 50-yard drive and kicked a field goal, then didn't have another drive like that all game. Did you just get out of rhythm? "Yeah, maybe a little. We still did some positive things, but then you have a negative thing that kills a drive. The one thing about offensive football is if you have one negative thing, it can potentially kill a drive. We have to eliminate those if we expect to sustain drives and put points on the board." They were very effective with their blitzing today. Do you feel like they did anything you hadn't seen on film? Anything that surprised you? "Without seeing the film, I don't really think so. But like I said earlier, it's definitely a good defense and they played well today and their offense scored more than us." You guys have played without TE Vernon Davis for a game or two here and there, but what difference did it make not having him in that second half? "I'm sure it's a huge difference. Those guys don't have to worry about Vernon's speed in the passing game. Vernon's a rare tight end that can stretch the field, so I'm sure it helps them to not have Vernon out there." Did you feel like everyone was clicking well through practice this week? "I thought we had a good week of practice. You can have a good week of practice, but you have to execute on Sunday and I don't think we executed enough." WR Mario ManninghamPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers Kind of getting one dimensional with the run game, only 46 yards passing today? What do you have to do to change that? "You have to execute, come back stronger. It isn't anything we can't fix, we just have to execute harder and finish plays." How tough was it for you to get in the game with your knee? You had to see how it was with the adrenaline? "I'm cool, but I would have felt better if we would have won. I'm cool, my knee's cool, it held up, but I would have been better if we would have won. So, just have to come back stronger next week and do what we have to do to win." Part of the excitement of having you back was getting more targets on the field. Then you lose TE Vernon Davis, you lose TE Garrett Celek real early in the game. How much did that hamper your offense? "It isn't the end of the world, stuff happens, injuries are part of the game. So, that's stuff that you have to deal with, they got them and we got them. So, we just have to come back and do what we have to do to execute." Big game next week? "Same game as this week. We aren't about to say it's a big game, every game is the same. Some teams might be a little bit better than the other one, but we're going to prepare like we've been preparing all week." FB Bruce MillerPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers You guys lost TE Vernon Davis and TE Garrett Celek in the game. What does that do to your offense? "Guys have to step in and keep up. Luckily we had guys in positions that knew what they were doing. I thought we still executed our offense well, we've just got to quit turning the ball over. On short-yardage downs we have to be able to get those. But I don't think that really slowed us down at all. Those guys are great players but other guys stepped in and I thought they played really well." From a physical standpoint was that right up there as far as any game you've played this season? "That was a tough game. We knew it was going to be a tough game and we knew they have a physical, solid defense and they play well together. They complement each other well and it was a physical game." LB Aldon SmithPostgame Quotes - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers How did it feel to be back playing for the team today? "It was good. Being back on the field was good." What was the difference out there? It was a pretty tight game, where do you think it lost its way? "I think they capitalized on opportunities. They came out and played a good game. We made mistakes and in a game like this with two good teams, especially teams with two good defenses, you've got to capitalize on mistakes and they were able to do that." Did you expect to have such limited snaps? Were you aware of what your role was going to be going in? "Yeah, I was aware that I wasn't going to play too much." And were you okay with that? "Not really. I'm a competitor and I want to be on the field, but whatever works. The season is long so we'll see how it goes." Was that more just to get your conditioning back or for disciplinary reasons? "I don't really call those shots. I just put my clothes on, put my cleats on and play." What kind of workload do you think you could handle right now? Can you handle playing every down again? How frustrating is it for this to be your first game back and have a loss like this? "It's definitely something that I wish would have worked out differently, but we'll take it in baby steps and hopefully next week we'll get a win." You guys have a couple of more high-profile games here in a row. Can you talk about bouncing back and what it will take to get things going in the right direction again? "Really, bouncing back is getting a good week of practice and getting back on the road to winning. We've got a couple more games left and we need to finish it with a bang." And how are you feeling personally in terms of your health? "I'm good. I'm happy to be back, happy to be out here and just be back on the team." Do you feel like you'll be unleashed next week now that you've got a game under your belt? "I'm hoping so, yeah." What was it like facing Panthers QB Cam Newton? Today you seemed to contain him pretty well in the first half, but in the second half he managed to get a little more opened up. "Cam's a good quarterback. Cam is a guy who can hurt you with his arm and his legs. We were able to go out there and limit his running but he came out with the win today." LB Patrick WillisPress Conference - November 10, 2013San Francisco 49ers vs. Carolina Panthers Did this loss surprise and stun you guys? "I think any loss comes as a surprise because, your whole mindset the week going into it is to win. Our goal is to win every game we play and today was a tough one. We didn't get the W and that's what we work for." How much of a blow is it to lose S Eric Reid, and with a concussion he might be out for next week? "Yeah, Eric has been playing some amazing football for us. And to see him go down today, it's unfortunate and I pray that he'll be okay. But, also pray that he does the right thing and take the kind of time you need. I think this is his second time going down like that. So at the end of the day it's about your health." Did you get the chance to talk to him after the game? "No I didn't. I haven't had the chance to see him. I'll probably shoot him a text and hope him well." This is his second concussion this year. Does that concern you, knowing what you know about concussions now that a guy has two within seven games? "It's certainly, with everything that's been talked about it and what not, you don't want anybody to have them. But, it's football, it's a part of the game. Like I said, it's just unfortunate, injuries period." Just overall, how do you feel like you guys played as a defense? "I felt that the defense, our goal is to have 17 points or less. And, we reached that goal. But, us as a defense, we don't want to give their offense anything and we let them go down the field before halftime and score. Coach talked about, and talked about before, that two minutes before the half, we have to really get stops because those points, they gain points, if they gain points it could come back and get you. Them scoring that touchdown made the difference. So, that was a letdown on our part." Giving up 10 points and losing the game, next week you go against a team like the Saints. Do you feel that there's more pressure on the defense to step up next week? "I think, like I said before, pressure is when you're not prepared. I feel that we have the best defensive coordinator in the game, the best defensive coaches. So, we're always well prepared. It's just up to us to go out there and execute. The only thing we can do is put this game behind us and stay together and continue to push and win the next game." LB Aldon Smith played sparingly. Can you talk about the games LB Dan Skuta and LB Ahmad Brooks had? "Yeah, Aldon came back and got his feet wet. I'm sure he'll gradually get back even more, but those guys that are in there, Dan and [LB] Corey [Lemonier], they've been playing good football for us. It's good to see. Anytime you can build depth it's always a good thing. We're just about playing team defense. So, whoever's out there, we're counting on them to help us be a better defense." How much do you take a look at the NFC and kind of calculate where you are in the standings? I mean, it's getting to the second-half of the season. "It's tough. I once saw, I think it was the Patriots, who went like 11-and-something and they didn't make the playoffs. It's kind of like, wow, they win that many games and they didn't make the playoffs. It's not good. But, at the end of the day, the only thing we can do is just control us and go out there and play football and win as many games as we can and at the end of the season we'll see where it lays, but it's a loss. It's no fun, but it's part of the game, there's adversity. We have the team to fight it and get through it." You've seen your team's offense all through training camp. You've gone up against, WR Anquan Boldin in there said that what the offense did was unacceptable. Are you surprised that your offense was held to only nine points today? "I learned a long time ago, it's one of those things, you just control your field. You worry about your side of the ball and that's all we can do. I know the offense today was not happy with their performance, but there's going to be times like that. There are times where they were able to, we didn't play so good at times, and they were able to pick us up and get us out of those situations. Today, I just wish we were able to do a little bit more on defense maybe score on defense, or something. I don't like pointing fingers. Like I said, we're a team. We win as a team, we lose as a team and we'll continue to fight as a team." Personally, you've dealt with some injuries this year. Do you feel like you're all the way back now? "I wish I could stand here and say yeah I'm perfect. I'm still battling, still feeling, but like I said before, when I'm out there on the field I don't want any excuses. I just want to be productive and give my team the best that I have. So, that's what I want to say when I'm out there on the field." 49ers vs. Panthers 2013: Full game-day coverage of San Francisco's Week 10 matchup 49ers vs. Panthers final score: Giving credit to the Panthers defense 49ers vs. Panthers final score: Injuries, poor execution/play-calling doom 49ers 49ers vs. Panthers 2013: Fourth quarter score update and open thread Eric Reid injury: 49ers safety heads to the locker room after big hit

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About NiuBBall Writing for NiuBBall NiuBBall.com Basketball with Chinese Characteristics • Intelligent news and analysis of all things China and basketball Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) 2012-13 CBA Standings 2012-13 CBA Schedule Teams and Imports CBA FAQ Basketball With Chinese Characteristics Tag Archives: Kenny Huang The NBL: Kinda sorta worth paying attention to this summer With the CBA set to add a team from the NBL next season, clubs like Shaanxi are shelling out good money to get high level imports, such as Craig Smith, to both win the league and increase their promotion chances. In China, searching for a late night snack is kind of like going into 7-11 at 11:45pm to see that the guang dong zhu is still bubbling: Technically it’s available, but it’s probably best avoided. That’s how we would best sum up the NBL (National Basketball League). Yeah, it’s around. And in the Chinese basketball summertime, where the non-national team pickings are generally slim, that counts for something. But it’s still not very good. Nor is it very productive towards anything. Officially, the NBL operates as China’s second-tier professional basketball league and like it’s distant relative, the CBA, it is governed under the all encompassing umbrella of the Chinese Basketball Association. And oh, there’s quite a bit of on-court brawls, too. But what it actually is or what it actually does, has largely remained a mystery to anyone who actually cares enough to ask those questions. To understand them, you must learn from them Pretty big news coming out of Shanghai last night. Former Shanghai Shark head coach, Li Qiuping, will be heading to Cleveland this year to learn the NBA way of doing things from Byron Scott’s next year as China’s first ever NBA assistant coach. In a TV interview (some of which can be seen below), Li stated that Huang Jianhua’s (aka Kenny Huang) connection to the team had a large part to do with the Cavs’ invitation. That strikes me as odd, since Huang pulled out of the proposed deal to buy a minority share in the club in late August. Obviously, there’s still some kind of link between the two, yet in what capacity is unclear. Li, who coached Yao Ming when he was with the Shanghai Sharks, will go to “strive to improve myself as a coach” and to learn “how they do things over there, how they manage the team, and how they practice.” Li’s kind of a big deal in China: He was Yao Ming’s coach while he played in China for Shanghai. Moreover, Li not only coached Yao on the senior team, he also oversaw his entire development from the time Yao was but a wee 7 foot lad playing for the Sharks’ youth team in the 1990s. Li coached the Sharks from 1994, the first year China established a national professional basketball league, until 2002 when Yao left to play in the NBA, making him the longest tenured head coach in Chinese professional basketball history. Armed with Yao and Chinese national team point-guard, Liu Wei, Coach Li brought home two titles with Shanghai before retiring in 2002 to become a brand consultant for his newly-minted Houston Rocket center. Due to his success with Shanghai and his relationship with Yao, Li has decided against coaching again in the CBA, instead opting to open up his own basketball academies and training camps. Though this is the first time a Chinese will act as an NBA assistant coach, this isn’t the first time a CBA coach has gone to the NBA to learn. In 2007-08, Gua

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Kmieciak quickly adapts to college atmosphere By Michael Kinney NORMAN — The No. 2 Oklahoma women’s gymnastics team looks to keep its record clean this weekend with a pair of home meets. It starts at 7 p.m. today when the Sooners face No. 16 Arizona at Lloyd Noble Center. OU will be back in action Sunday against No. 9 Stanford and North Carolina for the final home meet of the season. “It’s a big challenge,” Oklahoma coach K.J. Kindler said. “But I would say this is a lot of what we will be seeing in the postseason. Our goal is to make the Super Six, so you are pretty much going three days in a row of intense gymnastics. This is a hint of that.” Freshman Keeley Kmieciak has never experienced the type of atmosphere the Sooners will see in the postseason. But she has been able to handle every hurdle thrown at her so far and enjoyed every moment. “I actually think it’s going really well,” Kmieciak said. “I started off a little bit rough. College gymnastics is a lot different than club. I fell in my first two meets. But after that I got used to it, and I feel I’m doing a lot better.” Coming from the club setting in high school to college, Kmieciak had to learn to be a teammate and realize that not every misstep was the end of the world. “It was really hard because I’m a perfectionist,” Kmieciak said. “I like to do really, really well at every meet, but I remembered it is for the team. I know that if I do bad at one event, I have to do better at the other events to help the team out. It’s different from club. I like it a lot better. It’s more fun with the team aspect. More energy.”

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NHL talks go another round By TOM GULITTI STAFF WRITER The Record The NHL and its players sat down for another lengthy meeting Wednesday at an undisclosed location in Manhattan, but it remained unclear whether they were making any significant progress toward an agreement that would end the owners' lockout. The sides met for more than five hours – focusing on revenue sharing and the pivotal "make whole" issue — before ending just before 9 p.m. That they plan to meet again today provides reason for optimism. Neither side commented after the meeting. What was expected to be a pivotal day in negotiations got off to a late start. The meeting was scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., but did not get under way until approximately 3:30 p.m. A source said the union requested the delay to do "internal prep work." The sides met for more than seven hours Tuesday in Manhattan, which appeared to be a sign of progress. A source said they made no commitments on the key issues, though. The discussion picked up where it left off Tuesday, with talk about revenue sharing among the team owners. In its most recent proposal, the NHL offered $200 million in revenue sharing. The players had proposed $240 million. After that, they moved on to the biggest issue – what the NHL called the "make whole" provision in its Oct. 16 proposal. To reach a 50-50 split of hockey-related revenue, which the league wants to do in Year 1 of the new collective bargaining agreement, and guarantee full payment of the existing contracts (a must for the players), the owners have proposed deferring some of the players' salaries and paying out that money over time. Previously, the deferred payments would come out of the players' share of future HRR. The league and its owners apparently now are willing to be responsible for the deferred payments. How they plan to do that is a mystery and the biggest obstacle – but not the only one – the sides need to get past. Other issues include contract restrictions. Although the NHL proposed Oct. 16 to limit contracts to five years, a source said the league would be willing to give up its bid to limit contract lengths. It would like to prevent teams from severely front-loading contracts, however, by limiting the year-to-year fluctuation in salary. In addition to the power players for both sides – commissioner Gary Bettman, deputy commissioner Bill Daly, union executive director Don Fehr, special counsel Steve Fehr – eight players attended Wednesday's meeting: David Backes, Chris Campoli, Mathieu Darche, Ron Hainsey, Milan Lucic, Manny Malhotra, Shawn Thornton and Kevin Westgarth. Thirteen players attended Tuesday's meeting, but some traveled home to avoid the nor'easter that arrived Wednesday. Four owners – Jeremy Jacobs (Bruins), Ted Leonsis (Capitals), Craig Leipold (Wild) and Murray Edwards (Flames) – also are believed to have attended Wednesday. The NHL has canceled its regular season schedule through Nov. 30 and the Jan. 1 Winter Classic outdoor game between Detroit and Toronto at Michigan Stadium. It is unclear whether the NHL could start the season before Dec. 1 if the sides were able to agree on a new CBA in the next two weeks. Email: gulitti@northjersey.com | Tara Sullivan

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SEA03WA033SEA03WA033On February 1, 2003, approximately 1100 Pacific standard time, the first officer of an Alaska Airlines Boeing 737-400, N764AS, discovered damage to the aft belly skin of the aircraft during the pre-departure walk around inspection at Vancouver International Airport, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. There had been no report of a tail strike or injuries to persons on the previous landing, but examination of the aircraft structure determined that the aircraft, which was being operated as a scheduled FAR Part 121 passenger carrier, had sustained substantial damage. The previous flight had departed Los Angeles, California, about 0800 the same morning, and landed in Vancouver around 1000. The flight, which landed in visual meteorological conditions, had been on an IFR flight plan.After the initial inspection was completed, the aircraft was ferried to Everett, Washington, where a major repair was performed on the damaged skin and fuselage strap. A review of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) data by Alaska Airlines Flight Safety Department determined that the aircraft had landed slow and hard at Vancouver, and that it had momentarily rotated beyond its compressed-strut nose up limit.This report is for informational purposes only. The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the government of Canada. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:Transportation Safety Board of CanadaAlec Moffat, Investigator in-Charge#4-3071 Number Five Rd.Richmond, BC V6X2T4(604) 666-2197 Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page

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US wins World Cup qualifier in Seattle Joey Altidore scored in the 36th minute Sounders FC star Eddie Johnson scored in the 53rd minute The attendance was 40,847, the seventh-largest crowd for a World Cup qualifier in U.S. soccer history The U.S. holds a two-point lead over Costa Rica and Mexico in the qualifying group SEATTLE -- Jozy Altidore continued his scoring run. Eddie Johnson earned a moment to remember getting a goal before his raucous home crowd that matched the hype that came with playing a World Cup qualifier in Seattle. It became a perfect night for the United States to collect three points and vault into first place halfway to another World Cup trip. Altidore scored in the first half, his third straight match with a goal, Eddie Johnson thrilled his home club fans with a score in the 53rd minute, and the United States took over first place in its World Cup qualifying group with a 2-0 win over Panama on Tuesday. "Right now we're having fun. But most importantly we're on the same page and have one common goal which is qualifying for the World Cup," Johnson said. "We've got one more game to put ourselves in a good position to make that happen." Altidore scored in the 36th minute on a perfect cross from Fabian Johnson, moments after a potential penalty kick for the Americans was denied. Eddie Johnson then gave the U.S. some cushion when he collected Geoff Cameron's pass over the top of Panama's defense and slid a left-footed shot past Jaime Penedo less than 10 minutes into the second half. "Obviously very pleased with our performance," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "Throughout the entire game, we were in control of every area on the field. The guys did their job." The U.S. holds a two-point lead over Costa Rica and Mexico in the qualifying group in the 10-game final round of the North and Central American and Caribbean region. They will host Honduras next Tuesday night in Sandy, Utah. The U.S. improved to 9-1-2 all-time against Panama and is 22-0-2 in home qualifiers since losing to Honduras in September 2001 at RFK Stadium. They are 36-1-7 since losing to Costa Rica in 1985 at Torrance Calif. The match was played before 40,847, the seventh-largest crowd for a World Cup qualifier in U.S. soccer history, in exactly the atmosphere U.S. Soccer hoped it would get by playing the qualifier in Seattle. Giving Seattle the match came with logistical obstacles -- none bigger than a temporary grass field that was far from ideal -- but a huge pro-American crowd, most of which stood the entire match, made up for the questionable surface. They were rewarded with an impressive performance by the U.S. that built off its late winner in Jamaica last Friday. The Americans (3-1-1) are two points clear of Costa Rica (2-2-1) and Mexico (1-0-5) who played to a 0-0 tie in Mexico City earlier Tuesday. The U.S. also has a game in hand on Mexico. "Best crowd I've played in in the United States, without a doubt," midfielder Michael Bradley said. "People don't know what a difference it makes when you play in an atmosphere like this." Altidore scored for a third consecutive match after goals in wins over Germany and Jamaica. He appeared to earn a penalty kick in the 34th minute when he was chopped down in the penalty area by Roman Torres after a quick turn. Referee Roberto Garcia quickly decided he wasn't awarding a penalty kick, although replays clearly showed Torres never got the ball. Any uproar over the non-call was replaced moments later by deafening cheers. Bradley ran free through the middle of the field and played a ball into space for Johnson to run on. Johnson didn't take a touch, immediately sending a cross through the box. Penedo was forced to stay in his net with Clint Dempsey making a run to the near post and his dive to deflect the cross was late. Altidore was wide open at the back post for his 16th national team goal. "I know how forwards think. These guys live for goals. They can give the same performance, but if one game they score, in the other game they don't, they're going to be happy when they score," Bradley said. "He's such an important guy for our team, even on nights when he doesn't (score)." The cushion the U.S. needed came early in the second half. Cameron played a perfect pass over the top to Johnson, who timed his run to stay onside. He controlled the pass with his right foot, then deftly slid his shot past Penedo's charge for his 11th career goal in World Cup qualifying. "I saw Geoff had time with the ball and it was on his strong foot. ... I knew I could make a run in behind and I like my chances running without the ball behind the defense," Johnson said. Panama nearly got an equalizer in first-half stoppage time when Luis Tejada slipped free behind the U.S. defense and scored on Tim Howard, but the offside flag was up before Tejada's shot was in the net. Panama nearly scored in second-half stoppage time, but Howard deflected Rolando Blackburn's shot. Cameron and Eddie Johnson were the two changes Klinsmann was forced to make to his lineup. Jermaine Jones (concussion) and Graham Zusi (suspension) were unavailable and the U.S. changed to a 4-2-3-1 alignment to bring on Cameron and Johnson. Panama (1-1-3), which played to a 0-0 draw against Mexico last Friday at home, played without top scorer Blas Perez, who missed the game with gastroenteritis.

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Carol Robertson Carol Green Robertson completed her first year as women's head coach after serving as assistant coach for both men's and women's golf programs. In 2011-12, her Lady Monarchs won two tournaments (Towson and Hoya Invitational). The women's program placed fifth or better in six tournaments. The Lady Monarchs not only got it done on the course, but also in the classroom. The Lady Monarchs 3.4 overall grade point average for 2011-12 was the best among ODU's 18 intercollegiate sports. The team also was a recipient of the NCAA APR Recognition award as one of the top performing women's golf teams nationally. "We are fortunate to have someone of Carol's experience as a player in college and on the Futures Tour as our assistant. Carol is eager to share her knowledge with the teams and we look forward to working with her." "We are very pleased to have Carol join our golf coaching staff. She brings a variety of experiences as a Collegiate golfer, professional tour player, and also has coaching experience with both men's and women's teams at James Madison. She will be a valuable asset to both our programs." - Murray Rudisill, ODU men's golf coach. In September of 2010, Robertson reached the finals of the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship, but fell just short of the title against Meghan Stasi of Oakland Park, FLa., in the 18-hole final at Wichita Country Club (Kan.). With her showing, Robertson has earned an exemption into this year's U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur, set for Bayville Golf Club in her hometown of Virginia Beach, Va., Sept.17-22. Robertson is a two-time CAA Player of the Year, in 2003 and 2004, and three time first team All-CAA selection. She was the Conference medalist in 2003, and twice qualified for the NCAA East Region. Last January, she was one of 25 selected to the CAA's Silver Anniversary team for women's golf. Robertson has been serving as the VSGA Junior golf club tournament Director in Hampton Roads. She played on the LPGA Future's Tour from 2007-09., and was an assistant golf coach at James Madison for the 2005-06 season. Robertson was one of five collegiate women golfers chosen to represent the USA in the Collegiate World Championships, and in 2006 was the Women's Amateur Golf Champion for the State of Virginia. She was selected NGCA (National Golf Coaches Association) All-American Scholar Athlete in 2005. "I am so excited to be a part of the Old Dominion University athletic family. I'm counting on my experience as both a coach and player being a good addition to the golf program." The Tazewell, VA., native graduated from James Madison in 2005 with a B.S. degree in public administration with a concentration in criminal justice. She received a M.S. degree in sport management in 2007. SIGN UP FORE-MAIL UPDATES

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Read More >> More in Sports... Murphy, Brantley lead Tribe to 6-4 win over Toronto NBA playoffs/Heat 99, Bobcats 88: James, Wade lead Heat past Bobcats 99-88 in Game 1 Copley’s Dawson Mancabelli in prime position to compete in pole vault RubberDucks report: Outfielder Bryson Myles credits new routine, dedication for increased success Stanley Cup playoffs: Flyers snap nine-game skid at Madison Square Garden NBA notebook: Late foul missed in Warriors’ win NBA playoffs: Spurs rebound to win Kent State baseball: Purdue assistant coach Jeff Duncan introduced as new coach of Flashes Beacon Journal sports writer Published: June 26, 2013 - 08:04 PM | Updated: June 27, 2013 - 12:19 PM Jeff Duncan (left), new Kent State University baseball coach, signs a baseball for alumnus Glenn Peterson after at a press conference at the Kent State Hotel and Conference Center on Wednesday, June 26, 2013, in Kent, Ohio. (Michael Chritton/Akron Beacon Journal) June 27,2013 04:19 PM GMT Stephanie Storm Beacon Journal Publishing Co. Copyright � 2013 Beacon Journal Publishing Co. Inc and Black Press. All Rights Reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of the Akron Beacon Journal is expressly prohibited. KENT: Jeff Duncan would have preferred that his young son were with him Wednesday when he was officially introduced as Kent State’s new baseball coach. But Duncan and his wife Lauren figured it was best if their 9-month old, Bryce, stayed in the care of Grandma and Grandpa during the news conference held at the new Kent State Hotel and Conference Center in downtown Kent.Even without the toddler in tow, it was clear why “family values” have become so important to the newest member of the KSU coaching family.“I just got a picture of Bryce right before I got in here of him standing up, so in about three months, Birky,” Duncan said as he turned to longtime Flashes pitching coach Mike Birkbeck, who was seated to his left, “he’ll be taking batting practice with us.”Then Duncan’s baseball background came through. “Only thing is, I think he’s right-handed because Bryce picks up all his toys with his right hand. So, I’m going to have to work on making him a left-handed hitter.”If that story, which drew a loud round of applause, didn’t endear Duncan to KSU’s players and fans, how highly he spoke of predecessor Scott Stricklin, who took KSU baseball to new heights in his eight years as head coach, likely did the trick.“I had the opportunity to talk with Coach Stricklin two or three times during this process,” said Duncan, who spent the past four years as an associate head coach at Purdue. “And let me tell you, he bleeds Kent State baseball. The job he’s done and the coaches before him, has been unbelievable. He’s carried a big torch — it was heavy — but I’m ready to take that torch and make it a little bit heavier and brighter.”Duncan spoke of his new job being a dream come true, of how much he enjoys leading young men and being blessed to have the opportunity to do it at a program with such great tradition. But he also spoke of making the team’s atmosphere welcoming and family-oriented to the coaches’ wives.“Being an assistant for years, a servant to my boss, it [puts] a lot of work on our families, our wives and we’re gone a lot,” he said. “So, we’re going to invite them into this program as much as possible.”Duncan was in charge of Purdue’s hitters, outfielders, team defense and base running and assisted in recruiting.Prior to beginning his stint at Purdue in 2010, he spent the previous year as an assistant at Auburn. Before his coaching career, Duncan spent nine seasons playing professionally in the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers organizations. He played two seasons in the major leagues with the Mets, who selected him in the seventh round of the 1997 MLB draft.Details of Duncan’s contract have not yet been worked out.“We’re still working through the details, but obviously it will be a multiyear deal,” KSU Athletic Director Joel Nielsen said. “And we’ve been looking at [salary] comparables to the Big Ten because that’s what we did with Scott, as we moved him up the last three years.”Stricklin’s last contract with KSU called for an annual base of $300,000.Nielsen said he first heard of Duncan last season during the Golden Flashes’ historic run to the College World Series.“With [Purdue] coming into the forefront last year with all the success they had [winning the Big Ten title in 2012], I started looking at the coaching staff and hearing good things about Jeff,” Nielsen said. “Then as I was hearing things this year, I started looking at Big Ten assistants and Jeff’s name was at the top of the list of everyone I called.”Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.

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Nightengale: Team USA puts all its focus on winning Rivals in the regular season, Team USA third baseman David Wright, left, and shortstop Jimmy Rollins share a laugh Monday in Phoenix. / Marcio Jose Sanchez, AP by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sportsby Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- There were actually more Japanese reporters covering Team USA's workout Monday than American reporters. Fans were seeking more autographs from Team USA manager Joe Torre and former Atlanta Braves great Dale Murphy than any of the current players. First baseman Mark Teixeira even dismissed the notion that the World Baseball Classic can be compared to the Olympics, saying, "The Olympics are different. That's not an exhibition. "This is an exhibition. But it's an exhibition we want to win." Call it what you want, but this time Team USA has to win. In the first two versions of this tournament in 2006 and '09, the Americans treated the WBC more like a two-week vacation in the middle of spring training. Hang out, relax, grab some nice dinners, get a few drinks and call your envious teammates stuck in central Florida taking three-hour bus rides for games. Oh, and finish no better than fourth place. Those days, they insist, are over. "This is our game, we're the ones who invented it," WBC coach Willie Randolph told USA TODAY Sports. "We feel we're the best. Now, it's time to show it." Said Baltimore Orioles center fielder Adam Jones: "This is our homeland. This is not just an All-Star tournament when we're all going through the motions. We can be the first USA team to win it." They can also be the team to help secure the future of the tournament. Commissioner Bud Selig is adamant that the WBC isn't on life support, but he concedes that Team USA can greatly enhance the event's magnitude if it plays up to expectations. "This is a World Baseball Classic, but the USA doing better would be very helpful," Selig said. "Yes, especially in this country, really helpful." Ticket sales are slow in Phoenix, where Team USA will be playing along with Mexico, Canada and Italy in a round-robin format for the first round. Mexico is the only team drawing strong fan interest, and the Americans probably will feel like the visiting team when they meet Friday night at Chase Field. No other game at Chase Field is expected to draw more than 25,000 in the 48,600-seat ballpark. Paul Archey, MLB senior vice president of international business operations, says the ticket pace is similar to 2009, when 90,000 tickets were sold for the first round of games. The advance tickets sales in Miami are even slower for the second round. "You don't expect a lot of pre-sale," Archey said. "You don't know who is advancing or who is playing. That's the challenge of selling tickets in this format. "We had the same issue in 2009. We had a lot of disappointed Dominican fans watching the Netherlands play." It's not Team USA's job to worry about ticket sales. Torre realizes he didn't become best of friends with folks in the ticket offices. They wanted stars. Torre wanted players, even if utility men Ben Zobrist and Willie Bloomquist are barely known outside their own teams. "The marketing people may not agree with the way we did it," Torre said. "Obviously, the more names of star players, the more appealing and attractive it would be to be. I'm more concerned about winning than having people's expectations be high because there are a lot of great names in there. "As far as the fan interest, I think we can definitely be responsible for getting people in the U.S. engaged in how far we go." And that can only be accomplished by winning. If Team USA takes this tournament, keeping Japan from a three-peat, maybe it'll change the mind-set of everyone. Maybe players will start caring again and everybody will want to play. Maybe general managers and managers won't be so reluctant to let their players participate. Maybe U.S. fans will start caring. Gone are the days when baseball was in the Olympics and the USA could take home the gold, as it did with manager Tommy Lasorda leading a group of kids over Cuba in 2000. "That was the greatest moment of my career," said Lasorda, who stopped by Team USA practice Monday. "That was better than winning the World Series. Better than the All-Star Game. I don't know what this means to these guys. All I know is it's time to win." Said Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun: "I think everybody has a unique perspective on what the tournament is, what it represents. But our goal is to win this thing, not to grow the brand of baseball." Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Nightengale: Team USA puts all its focus on winning Team USA coach: 'We feel we're the best. Now, it's time to show it.' A link to this page will be included in your message.

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The Yankees are trying to get every last ounce they can out of Mariano Rivera By Jesse Schindler John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports With the playoffs on the line, Joe Girardi has shown no restraint to go to his future Hall of Fame closer, Mariano Rivera, even a littler earlier than he'd hope to. Although the Yankees' playoff hopes are very thin, they're still alive and these games are still very important. There's no secret about that. Taking the words from Joe Girardi yesterday, "You'd have to have your head in the sand not to know (where the Yankees stand)." Because of this, the Yankee skipper is going the extra mile to try to secure wins, and that includes going to his closer, Mariano Rivera, a little earlier than when he normally would, compared to earlier in the year. Up 4-3 in the eighth inning of last night's win, David Robertson came on to try to pick up the three outs and hand it off to Rivera for the ninth. He collected the first two outs, on just six pitches, no less, with ease. However, with Rivera warming in the 'pen, Rajai Davis singled to left to put the tying run on base for the Blue Jays. Following a stolen base by Davis, thus putting said tying run in scoring position, Girardi, despite the count being 1-0, pulled his future closer in favor of his future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera to put out the fire. Rivera ended up inducing a grounder off Brett Lawrie to second to end the threat before escaping a two-on-no-out jam in the ninth to earn his 44th save of the year. This isn't the first time Girardi went to his closer earlier than normal. In fact, it's something he's been doing for a couple weeks now. It started on September 4 against the White Sox. Coming into the eighth with a 6-1 lead, the score was cut to 6-5 following a pair of singles off CC Sabathia and a grossly ineffective outing by David Robertson, which included three more singles. Girardi called on Mo to get the final out of the eighth, which he did, punching out Alejandro De Aza with runners on first and second to end the inning before picking up the final three outs in the ninth. His next multi-inning save attempt came against the Red Sox on September 8. Girardi, playing with a severely depleted bullpen (like severely depleted. His only non-Mo reliever that was worth a darn that day was Shawn Kelley, who, by the way, was fresh off a triceps injury), looked to get six outs from Mo against the hottest offense in the league. He did record the first three outs in the eighth, but then allowed a lead off homer to Will Middlebrooks in the ninth to tie it. Thankfully, the Yanks won the game in extra innings and avoided further catastrophe. Finally, on September 10, Rivera picked up a four-out save against the Orioles in Baltimore. Again, playing with a thin bullpen, Girardi had to use Kelley in the eighth with a three-run lead instead of Robertson, who was nursing a shoulder injury, against the O's. Kelley allowed a run to make it a two-score game. With the bases empty and Nate McLouth up, Girardi once again called on Mo. He sure wanted this game badly, and Rivera gave it to him, picking up those final four outs to secure the victory. Although he's 43 years old, using Mo for four, or even six, outs isn't something Girardi has shied away from. After all, Mo will have the rest of his life to rest, so it's best to get everything out of him that they can. The team is in desperation mode, and has been, really, for these last few weeks. There are 10 games left, and the Yankees will, at worst, have to go 9-1 to make it. The skipper's thought process is, if the team is going down, he's going down with his best reliever on the mound in the biggest spots, even if that big spot is a littler earlier than normal. Yankees prospects history: Best years of Major League debuts Pinstripe Alley Top 100 Yankees: #89 Rudy May Honoring Mariano Rivera: The New York Post's River Avenue name change proposal The five stages of Yankees fan grief Yankees bullpen full of valuable changeups Mariano Rivera to retire after 2013 season The 42 best GIFs of number 42, Mariano Rivera Mariano Rivera vs. the Red Sox: A retrospective Who is likely to fill in for Mariano Rivera next year?

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Magnussen: My dad is a distractionMcLaren form dictated by the weatherButton: I don't know what we're doingSun: Williams, STR, McLaren, LotusMcLaren taking Red Bull to courtSat: FIndia, STR, Lotus, McLarenFri: McLaren, Lotus, STR, FIndiaButton aims to close the gap Sun: McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Sauber Sunday 21st April 2013 Share: Sun: McLaren, Ferrari, Williams, Sauber There were points in Bahrain Grand Prix for Sergio Perez, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button... McLaren:Sergio Perez: "That was an incredible race - really enjoyable. I have to thank the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team first of all - we've been through some difficult times recently, but they kept on supporting me. All in all, it's been a solid weekend - we got pretty much the maximum from the car, ran a great strategy, looked after the tyres, and scored some very useful points. I guess I was a little aggressive on track today; banging wheels with Jenson was perhaps a little too risky, a little too hard, but the team never came on the radio to tell us to stop racing. There were no team orders. There was a lot of adrenaline from both of us, and Jenson is always a very strong racer, but hopefully we'll help each other a little more in the future. He was calm and friendly after the race, though, which was great; but that isn't surprising because he's a great guy as well as a great driver." Jenson Button: "Today wasn't brilliant for me. Okay, the race was a lot of fun, but I didn't get the result I wanted because I used up my tyres fending off Checo. There was a lot of action out there, and as I say I wasn't really able to conserve my tyres as a result. That was partly because I had to work my way back through after my second pitstop, when I'd been fighting with Romain [Grosjean]. But there was a lot of clean racing out there too - although as I say Checo was a bit tough, which was a little unusual. He did a good job overall though: he had good pace, and he looked after his tyres well. So, congratulations to him, because together we scored some very useful points for the Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team today." Ferrari:Fernando Alonso: "We definitely didn't have much luck today and that's a real shame, at the end of what had been such a positive weekend for me and Felipe up until this afternoon. We had been competitive in free practice and qualifying and we were both expecting to have a good race. After the opening laps, when I thought the rear tyres had gone off, the pit wall informed that the DRS was stuck. It wasn't fixed properly at the first stop and so I had to come in for another one. From then on, the clear instruction from the pit wall not to use it affected my race. I tried to recover but it was really difficult finding places to overtake without DRS. When you are far back, in the middle of a group, tyre degradation is even harder to manage. I am sure that without the problems me and Felipe had, we would have finished higher up, because the car responds very well and it is definitely our best of the last four years. But having a good race involves a lot of factors, including a bit of luck. Let's hope it balances out very soon, maybe even starting in Barcelona, my home race. There, it will be even more important to have a good qualifying, because it's not easy to overtake on that track and so starting from the front is vital." Felipe Massa: "I was really unlucky in this race and even if it's true that many things can happen in this sport, I can't find an explanation for why so many of them have to be negative. At the start, I lost ground after the collision with Sutil and then I lost even more time coming back to the pits to change tyres and that wiped out any chance of having a good race. At the start, I suffered a bit with understeer, but I don't believe that was the cause of my problems, while we still need to check what happened to my tyres that failed in this way. In the first instance it was probably delamination on the right rear and in the second it might have been due to a puncture. Now we must try and understand exactly what happened and immediately turn our attention to the next race." Williams:Pastor Maldonado: "Considering the problems we have been having, I think we got 100% out of the car today. We put everything together today, working well as a team and managing the tyres, and 11th was the maximum we could have achieved. We are really looking forward to the next race where we should see a step forward. We must stay together and positive. It's a difficult time, but we still have many races to go." Valtteri Bottas: "The race was really dominated by the rear tyres today. In the first two stints I was fighting with a lot of cars so it was difficult to look after the tyres and manage the pace. The last two stints were better as I had more clean air and managed to make up some ground on the cars ahead. We now need to keep on working to get some updates to help us in coming races." Sauber:Nico Hulkenberg: "It was a difficult and frustrating weekend. It was clear from the beginning that we were not fast enough and that it would be challenging. We are lacking speed and eat up the rear tyres too much so it simply wasn't enough this weekend. We pitted a bit too late, because we expected to have more problems on low fuel, which in the end we didn't have. That cost us at least one position. This weekend clearly showed we need to bring some new parts to Barcelona in order to improve our speed and fight for points." Esteban Gutierrez: "I expected a difficult race and this is what I got. We need to find more speed. On the first lap I had contact down into turn 10, which was really hard to avoid. Apart from that, things were quite ok, but, of course, finishing a race like this is definitely not enough and we need to improve. We have to analyse the strategy and hopefully we will bring some good updates to Barcelona." Related LinksVettel Wins Lonely Bahrain GPGallery: Race Day In Bahrain Gallery: Race Day In China

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Page2ready: Looking for that "ROSE" Ready for fun(Enthusiasm) Page2ready is actively seeking a relationship Outdoor activitiesworking outanything funlove to do the unthinkable I would love to meet a lovely lady that knows what she wants and is ready to be friends and move forward to a serious relationship. Someone that will appreciate a good man. Someone that have high goals and inspiration. A person that is well rounded. A person that can dress up in heels as well as wearing jeans and cleaning up around the house...I would love to go from friendship to relationship.. Please take a look at how I summed it all up..CLARITY CORNER:I'm a star quarterback who deserves to be a part of a franchise that wants to make things happen. I understand that when you start with a new team you have to go through mini camp to see if you can make the cut. Once you make the squad, then you have to go through preseason which is a test to see if you can handle what's in store for the regular season. After you've worked hard during the regular season & have a great record to show for it, you head to the playoffs. There you have to work harder because you have other players that don't want to see you succeed. Once you've won your division, you're headed for the Super Bowl. There, all of the wins and loses from earlier in the season don't matter, because this is the moment that you've been striving for ALL SEASON. Standing in front of thousands of people, those who believed in you & those who didn't to show them that you've accomplished what you set out to do & that's to get a trophy & a championship ring. I describe my first date to be very simple. Someone willing to meet for coffee to get a feel of how she really is and where we might go from that point.

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Pitt Notebook: Big East tournament double bye is within reach Henny Ray Abrams/Associated PressPitt coach Jamie Dixon said the goal for the Panthers is still to get a top-four seed in the Big East tournament. By Ray Fittipaldo Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Pitt cannot win a Big East regular-season championship in its final season as a member of the conference, but the Panthers just might get the path of least resistance in their final quest for a conference tournament title. Problem is, the path of least resistance has been full of roadblocks for Pitt since the Big East adopted the double-bye format for its tournament four years ago. Since 2009, the Big East has awarded the top four teams in the league standings a free pass to the quarterfinal round of the tournament while the rest of the teams begin play Tuesday and Wednesday. Pitt has earned the double bye three times and lost its first game on all three occasions. The Panthers are not alone. In 16 games, teams with the double bye are 9-7. In two of those years, a team with a double bye won the tournament. In the other two, a No. 9 seed and a No. 7 seed won. In 2011, Connecticut, the No. 9 seed, won five games in five days to claim the title. Louisville won as a No. 7 seed last year. Pitt can again earn the double bye for next week's tournament if it wins at DePaul and Notre Dame loses its final game Saturday at Louisville. The Panthers also can earn the double bye by finishing in a three-way tie for fourth place with Syracuse and Notre Dame. Pitt cannot get the double bye by finishing in a tie with Notre Dame because the Panthers lost their only meeting with the Irish. They win the tiebreaker against Syracuse in a head-to-head tie thanks to a win against the Orange last month. "A lot of teams have lost with the double bye," Pitt coach Jamie Dixon said. "You want to win all the games you can. It's an accomplishment to be a part of the double bye. We can't forget that. We certainly don't." Dixon also said the extra rest is valuable at this time of the year. The Panthers have been relatively healthy all season, but are a bit banged up now. Freshman center Steven Adams is recovering after spraining his left ankle in practice Saturday. He sat out the Villanova game but is expected to be ready for DePaul. Dixon also said Dante Taylor, Adams' backup, is battling some minor injuries. "Coach Dixon said a double bye might kind of help us," junior forward Talib Zanna said. "We probably need that double bye so we have a couple of days. It's important." Latest NCAA projections In addition to where they stand in the Big East, Pitt's NCAA tournament seeding remains in flux as well. Jerry Palm of CBS and Joe Lunardi of ESPN project the Panthers as a No. 6 seed in their most recent bracket predictions. Both have the Panthers playing in Dayton, Ohio, the closest second- and third-round site. Both analysts predict a potential third-round game against No. 11 Florida. StatSheet projects Pitt as a No. 7 seed. Free-throw improvement Pitt has been among the worst free-throw shooting teams in the Big East for most of the season, but the Panthers have steadily improved in that area in recent weeks. The Panthers are 12th in the conference with a .667 percentage, but they have shot higher than 70 percent in four of the past five games, including a 75 percent (18 for 24) performance against Villanova. They were 7 for 7 from the line in overtime against the Wildcats. • Junior forward Lamar Patterson is 0 for 9 from 3-point range in the past four games. He has not made a shot from behind the arc since going 4 for 7 from 3-point range in the Feb. 16 loss at Marquette. Patterson, Pitt's second-leading scorer, has reached double figures once in those four games. • Senior guard Tray Woodall has reached double figures in nine consecutive games. In the past three games, he is 7 for 14 from 3-point range and has overtaken Patterson as the team's top 3-point shooter (37.9 percent). • Reserve guard Trey Zeigler has not scored more than two points in any of the past seven games. In that seven-game span, Zeigler is 4 for 20 from the field over an average of 15 minutes per game. mobilehome - pittsports Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1. First Published March 6, 2013 5:00 AM Latest in Homepage Mobile 22 injured in knife attack at Franklin Regional High School

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Although it's early, it's hard not to think about an OSU-LSU BCS Championship game right now November 8, 2011 By David Seeley sports@poteaudailynews.com STILLWATER — “Obviously, that's enough excitement for one night,” Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy said after Saturday night's game. That was about as good a quote to describe Saturday night's Big 12 game at Boone Pickens Stadium, in which the OSU Cowboys outlasted the Kansas State Wildcats 52-45. The win put OSU at 9-0 for the first time since the Oklahoma A&M days. More importantly, the Pokes are on a collision course with LSU for the BCS Championship Game Jan. 9, 2012, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. As the events of Saturday night unfolded — OSU's big win over Kansas State and No. 1 LSU's 9-6 overtime victory on the road against then-No. 2 Alabama — I couldn't help but think about the irony of this match-up. First of all, I happened to attend the Les Miles swan song game at the Alamo Bowl when the Pokes lost to Ohio State Not long after that game, he announced that he would become the new coach at LSU. Gundy became his successor. If everything holds just right, the BCS Championship Game would have Miles' former team going up against his current team. I know that nothing would please OSU fans more than to stick it to Miles — and win a national title in the process. However, being ever cautious, Gundy realizes that there is a lot of football left to be played. “We've been fortunate enough to be high enough in the polls, and we've had success, we're kind of hanging around,” he said. “That's what it really is. You just try to hang around, and be there in the last week. There's still a lot of football left to be played.”

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Home » NASCAR - Sprint Cup Series Pedley: Proud/Sorry To Say Here Is How I Voted Jim Pedley | Managing Editor, RacinToday.com Wednesday, October 13 2010 Ned Jarrett gets hug from son Dale after it was announced that dad was voted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame Wednesday. (Photo by Jason Smith/Getty Images for NASCAR) By Jim Pedley | Managing Editor RacinToday.com Charlotte, N.C. – For the second year in a row on Wednesday afternoon, I left the room where voting for the NASCAR Hall of Fame was held with a case of buyer’s remorse. For the first time ever, it slowly occurred to me Wednesday that for as long as I hold my position as voting-panel member, post-balloting guilt is going to tag along. There are just too many worthy candidates and too few available slots each year for it to be any other way. Last year, I voted for Richard Petty, Dale Earnhardt, Junior Johnson, Bill France Jr. and Bill France Sr. I was the last voter, I think, to turn in a ballot. The reason was I had a tough time deciding between one of those five – all who ended up making it into the Hall’s inaugural class – and David Pearson. Pearson is regarded by many as the best pure driver the sport has known. He won 105 races – second only to Richard Petty’s 200. Pearson won all those races in just 574 starts. To some, he shares the throne with The King. I finally went with my original list and walked out of the room. Standing not far from the door was Pearson, who had been talked into coming down to Charlotte on voting day by people who had assured him that he would be elected. The look on Pearson’s face has haunted me for over a year. It’s not that any of the five who did make it in were undeserving. It was just that Pearson was also deserving. So freakin’ deserving. It was with a sense of relief that I voted for him on Wednesday. I also voted for Bobby Allison, Cale Yarborough, Darrell Waltrip and Bud Moore on Wednesday. Again, I was one of the last to turn in my ballot. With some around me jokingly – or perhaps not jokingly – to hurry, I put the final “X’s” next to the final names and handed the ballot in. And then again was struck sweaty by guilt. And, again, not because any of the people I voted for did not deserve enshrinement, but because several others I did not vote for, did. Here are the reasons why I voted for whom I did: Pearson – enough said. Allison – Great numbers in Cup tell plenty about his contribution to NASCAR. But he was also immensely active in lesser series while racing Modifieds. As such, he was taking racing to the people and serving as an ambassador. Yarborough – His 83 victories say volumes. But Yarborough was also the first driver to win three straight Cup championships – something that stood until Jimmie Johnson did it and then topped it. He also had four victories in the Daytona 500. Three times he finished second in Cup standings. Some in the meeting room remarked they may not vote for him because Yarborough is perceived to have abandoned NASCAR after he retired. I wasn’t buying that. Waltrip – DW was a three time Cup champion and won 84 races – which ties him with Allison for third most. But Waltrip’s career was not totally defined by numbers. He was a new breed of athlete who talked as big as he raced. He continues to talk today as a commentator. I am not a fan of trash talk and to me, TV work has nothing to do with what Waltrip was as a driver and that is become one great wheelman. Moore – His was one of the names not belonging to a driver which I first remember hearing back in my youth. In reading and listening to races in the 1960s, it was: “Dale Earnhardt, driving for Bud Moore”; “David Pearson in a Bud Moore-owned car”; “Bobby Allison in a Bud Moore-prepared car”. Moore served me notice that racing is a team sport. And, yes, I took his status as a hero in World War II into account. When you read about his actions as an infantryman, and I have, you can’t forget it or put it out of your mind. I plead guilty to being swayed by that. The guilt comes in because for several hours I heard people whom I respect like crazy give reasons why a dozen other people should be in the Hall. Great reasons. Indisputable reasons. For the next year, it will be the names and faces and exploits of Dale Inman, Raymond Parks, Curtis Turner, Fireball Roberts, Richie Evans, Glen Wood, Jerry Cook and Herb Thomas who will wake me up in the middle of the night. But you pays your money and you takes your shot. – Jim Pedley can be reached at jpedley@racintoday.com 5 Comments » Bob says: October 15, 2010 at 2:42 pm After seeing and hearing Waltrip try to take the attention away from those who were voted in during the broadcast I do not understand how you can consider that man worthy of being anything but nominated for the next 10 years. He is foolish. Terry says: October 14, 2010 at 9:17 am I have no problem with this years class. You should be commended for …” bravely fessing up ” on last years vote. Most writers aren’t as self assured. I would go round and round with you on last years vote…… I did not consider it a TRUE Hall of Fame until PEARSON got in. I have strong negitive views about Dale Sr.’s driving and TV created career.One France was enough. Terrell Davis says: October 14, 2010 at 8:28 am Sorry, but if DW is not in the Hall of Fame on at least the second ballot…..which, of course, he wasn’t, I really have to question two things: Five inductees are not enough and I really question the legitimacy of the process. Waltrip should have been in the first time and for him not to be in the second shows that it’s nothing more than a game of politics and a popularity contest. Why else would France, Jr. be in the first class of inductees other than politics? DW hasn’t been inducted because people continue to be jealous of his success. Until Waltrip is inducted, as far as I’m concerned, the whole deal, like A J Foyt said of NASCAR several years ago, is bogus! Big Ed says: October 14, 2010 at 7:22 am Hey Joe: Shaddap. Joe says: October 14, 2010 at 4:39 am You deserve all the shame you feel for not voting for Pearson in the first class. He got 94 percent of the vote this year. That means 6 percent of the voters have no business making these selections and should be removed.

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This Day in Reds History This Day in Reds History: BBWAA elects Bench, Morgan, & Larkin By Grahamophone @Grahamophone9 Get the latest Cincinnati Reds news with Red Reporter Follow Red Reporter on Twitter Like Red Reporter Facebook On this day in Reds history, three Cincinnati players were elected to the Hall of Fame. Share with Reds friends 15 On this day in 1969, the Reds traded reliever Ted Abernathy to the Chicago Cubs for pitching prospect Kenneth Myette, pinch hitter Clarence Jones, and catcher Bill Plummer. On this day in 1989, Johnny Bench was elected to the Hall of Fame along with Carl Yastrzemski. Bench received 96.4 percent of the vote which was the third highest percentage at the time. I have no idea how people voted for Bench and not Yaz, or vice versa, but apparently they did. On this day in 1990, the BBWAA elected Joe Morgan and Jim Palmer to the Hall of Fame. On this day in 1994, Reds Hall of Famer Johnny Temple died in White Rock, SC at the age of 66. Temple played for the Reds from 1952 through 1959 and again in 1964. He was a productive hitter for a second baseman, mainly because he could take a walk, even leading the league with 94 in 1957. Temple kept walking and improved in 1958 and again in 1959. However, Cincinnati traded him after the 1959 season to Cleveland for Gordy Coleman, Billy Martin, and Cal McLish. His Reds Hall of Fame page refers to his "sterling defense", but Baseball-Reference does not agree as he comes out below-average by fielding runs. On this day in 1996, the Reds acquired outfielder Mike Kelly from the Braves for right-handed relief prospect Chad Fox and a player to be named later. On June 11 of that season, Cincinnati shipped Ray King, another righty reliever from the farm, to complete the deal. On this day in 2001, the Reds signed utility player Wilton Guerrero. On this day in 2011, former Red Dave Sisler died in St. Louis at age 79. I wrote about Sisler's time with the Reds back in the fall. On this day in 2012, Barry Larkin was elected to the Hall of Fame with over 85 percent of the vote. There is still a point available from yesterday's question. I am going to bend the normal rules a bit and award a point for each correct answer for nine points total. I will list the posters who earned points when someone gets the final player from the question. 1) At the time of Bench's election to the Hall of Fame, which two players had received a higher percentage of the vote? You must name both players to get the point.

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Ambleside Sports 2011 Posted: 20/08/2011 11:37:14 by Nigel Nixon TWO crashes on the cycling track drew concerned gasps from a crowd of 3,000 people who turned out to enjoy the traditional Ambleside Sports at Rydal Park. In the first collision a young rider came off his bike and was winded. But in the true spirit of the sports, he got up and was back on his bike for the next race. This was followed by a more serious incident which resulted in a rider cracking his ribs when a cyclist hit him as he crossed the track. The forecasted rain came for just half an hour but it failed to dampen the atmosphere as spectators were treated to a feast of traditional sports including Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, hound trailing, fell racing and cycling. Maryport’s Ricky Lightfoot smashed the course record in the nine-mile Heart of the Lakes Rydal Round which takes in much of the Fairfield Horseshoe and 3,000ft of climb. He came home in 1 hour 17 minutes and 39 seconds, which was two minutes and 50 seconds faster than Alastair Dunn’s best mark set in 2009. Lightfoot, running for Ellenborough, edged clear of the field after the first climb and finished three minutes clear of Borrowdale’s Jim Davies with Howgill Harrier Carl Bell in third. Fiona Hughes was the first lady back in 1.38.07. “It was a bit windy but getting up on the field on top of Fairfield I was able to pull away,” said Lightfoot. “I had been injured on and off for the last month but I got some training in and it was a big test. I took a few wrong turns at the start but managed to get back and then I just pulled away from the pack.” The senior men’s guides race was won by the Isle of Man’s Lloyd Taggart (Dark Peak) in 14.24. He was shadowed closely by Helm Hill’s Mark Addison (14.33) who was unable to hang on as the pair dropped back into Rydal Park with Alastair Dunn finishing third in 15.05. First lady was Helm Hill’s Mel Hyder (18.50) who led home Moorfoot’s Scout Adlin (19.10) and Rossendale’s Emma Flanagan (20.00). Cumberland and Westmorland Wrestling has a new world champion in James Hall, 17, of Langwathby. Hall, who trains at the Milnthorpe Boxing Academy, beat Ben Brocklebank in the final and was thrilled to win the championship at his fourth attempt. “I have tried to win for a few years and only came fifth last year, so to win now is something else,” he said. “Ambleside Sports is one of the most traditional games around and it offers a really good contest.” Tagged with: Sci-fi movie to be filmed in Lake District Thirty more Red Kites arrive at Grizedale Forest Posted: 02/08/2011 08:37:56 by Nigel Nixon A LANDMARK Forestry Commission conservation project has entered a new chapter with the arrival of 30 more birds of prey in Grizedale Forest. Red kites were successfully reintroduced to the heart of the Lake District in the summer of 2010. Now their numbers are set to double with new hatchlings arriving from the Forestry Commission’s flagship breeding site in Rockingham Forest, Northamptonshire. The latest group of juvenile raptors are spending a month gaining strength in a custom made pen at a secret location in the forest. An expert Forestry Commission team is caring for the young birds and feeding them until they are ready to fly and fend for themselves. Forestry Commission wildlife ranger Iain Yoxall, who has led the project to reintroduce red kites into Grizedale, said: “The release of the first 30 birds last year was a momentous sight and has given us cause for great confidence in the project. “We are feeding the new arrivals on a variety of food, with the staple diet and nourishment coming from dead grey squirrel, rats and mice. The birds of prey are primarily scavengers in the wild and feed mostly on carrion. “We will care for the hatchlings for three or four weeks until they have grown strong enough to take wing, giving them the best possible opportunity to thrive in the wild. “Before release, we have a vet on hand to give each of the birds a full health screening which includes delousing, worming, visual inspections and blood tests. When the birds are released, they carry tags on each wing, an orange one on the left to show they are from Grizedale, and one on the right to indicate the year of release – white ones for 2011. The Grizedale birds also carry radio transmitters to allow the forest’s rangers to monitor their progress and the scheme’s success, but the Forestry Commission is keen for people to report sightings of the birds to help judge their movements and support the project. The Forestry Commission North West England has been granted a special licence to release 90 red kites in Grizedale Forest over a three year period. The latest arrivals mark the second phase of the landmark final reintroduction of the birds in England. There will be another 30 birds released in 2012. Red kites were almost eradicated from the UK following changes in farming practices and human persecution between the 16th and 19th centuries. The UK population is now expanding and there are thought to be over 1,000 pairs of the birds in the country. There have been sightings of the tagged Grizedale birds in Dumfries and Galloway to the north and as far away as East Sussex in the south. The arrival of the birds co-incides with a critical report by the Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management which describes re-introduction programmes as “potential man-made threats to biodiversity.” Bird experts from organisations like Natural England, the RSPB and the British Association of Shooting and Conservation have come together to form a special advisory group to help ensure the project’s success.

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news | sports | obituaries | archives | classifieds | subscribe | links | contact | tv listings | lottery "The Wild Gardener" Peter Loewer's Weekly "The Mouth That Roars" Bill Liblick's Weekly PLEASE NOTE: If you bookmark a particular link from the current news, sports or obituaries offered on our Website, be aware that the URL address will change once it is archived. Bookmarking an archived link is therefore the surest way to retain access to a particular article. Democrat File Photo Gerald “Jerry” Davitt, left, is pictured with fellow umpire Kurt Scheibe, right, and Eldred Coach Frank Kean moments after Kean coached his final baseball game in May 2010. Tomorrow night in Endicott, Davitt will receive the prestigious Tony DeVivo Memorial Award from the New York State Baseball Umpires Association. Jerry Davitt to receive award from State Umpires Association By Rob Potter SULLIVAN COUNTY —Youngsville resident Gerald “Jerry” Davitt has been umpiring high school baseball games for more than 50 years. Over those years, he has earned the respect of dozens of fellow umpires, coaches and players. Davitt will be honored for his outstanding work as an umpire at a dinner tomorrow night at Nirchi’s on the Avenue restaurant in Endicott. He will receive the 2011 Tony DeVivo Memorial Award from the New York State Baseball Umpires Association, Inc. Davitt was nominated for the Tony DeVivo Memorial Award by his fellow members of the Sullivan County Baseball Umpires Association (SCBUA). He found out he would be receiving the award back in July. “I couldn’t believe it,” Davitt said. “I was taken aback, it really surprised me.” Davitt noted that he has attended past dinners to honor Tony DeVivo Memorial Award winners. “It’s a real honor,” Davitt said of receiving the award. Davitt, who was an elementary school teacher in the Jeffersonville-Youngsville Central School District for 33 years, has been involved with other sports, as well, over the past several decades. Back in 1966, he and Paul Zintel helped establish the International Athletic Association of Basketball Officials (IAABO) Board 247 to provide basketball officials for high school games in Sullivan County. Two years later, Davitt and Bob Breffle, who was the JYCS Principal, were instrumental in forming the Sullivan County Baseball Umpires Association. In the 1970s, Davitt assisted in the creation of the Sullivan County Soccer Officials Association. “I feel very privileged to have been a charter member of the baseball, basketball and soccer associations,” he said. In addition to teaching, Davitt coached several scholastic teams in basketball, baseball, football and track and field. Davitt coached the JYCS junior varsity boys’ basketball team for 20 years. During those two decades, the team only lost 21 league games. In 1987, Davitt coached the JYCS varsity baseball team to the state finals. The following season, he guided the team to the state semifinals. In nominating Davitt for the Tony DeVivo Memorial Award, the SCBUA members had to explain how he met the qualifications for the award. Those qualifications included being a member in good standing for 10 years of both local and state chapters, following chapter rules and state dress code and encouraging others to do so and demonstrating excellence as an umpire by showing integrity, dependability and a high degree of professionalism in their relationships with umpires, coaches, players and school officials. The SCBUA members also listed Davitt’s many accomplishments and contributions to baseball in Sullivan County in their nomination letter. Among those contributions are being the first President of the SCBUA and serving in that role for many years, serving as the SCBUA Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer, serving on the SCBUA Education Committee since 1968, giving field mechanics clinics to both new officials and veterans and volunteering his time to summer youth leagues as an umpire and coach. The nomination letter also noted that Davitt has umpired all stages of baseball, including regular season, sectionals, regional and state tournament play. He has umpired in the state tournament three times – 1986, 1998 and 2007. In addition to being involved in establishing chapter boundaries for the state of New York, during his years as an umpire, Davitt has attended all state meetings and clinics. Davitt began umpiring in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association in 1957 after returning home from serving in the United States Navy. He did so after meeting and becoming a friend of Nester Chylark, an American League umpire. Among the accolades that Davitt, who has been a member of the Youngsville Volunteer Fire Department since 1958, has received over the years are being named the Tri-County Baseball Coach of the Year in 1987, being named the Southern Science Teacher of the Year in 1987 and being elected to the Wayne County, Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame. “The Sullivan County Baseball Umpires would like to say we believe Jerry is a most deserving candidate because he has dedicated his life to the development of young people through sports and higher education,” SCBUA Past Vice President Harold J. Roberts wrote in the nomination letter for Davitt. “Teaching them how to deal with the glories of success with dignity and humility and the adversity of defeat with respect and integrity. Five decades later, in his 80s, showing through example his love and dedication to baseball by still being one of our finest varsity baseball umpires on the field and maintaining the respect of coaches, players, fans and colleagues alike, we are proud to nominate Jerry Davitt for the prestigious Tony DeVivo Memorial Award.” Cliff Hamlin is the current SCBUA President and has known Davitt for many years. “He’s an outstanding member of the Sullivan County Baseball Umpires Association,” Hamlin said of Davitt. “He’s just a great individual. He still stays very involved with the community.” Copyright © 1999-2012 Catskill-Delaware Publications. The information you receive online from the Sullivan County Democrat Online Edition is protected by the copyright laws of the United States. Please read our user agreement and our use information privacy statement. Please be aware that once a new issue is posted on this site, the immediate previous issue's links change. Check our Archives section to obtain the new links for old issues.

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Home Uncategorized New Jersey moves Nets to Brooklyn New Jersey moves Nets to Brooklyn Nov 24th, 2009 0 Comment New Jersey residents moved all of the team's equipment and office furniture and materials to an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn today to help the winless team finally complete its intended move to Brooklyn. "We put out the call, and thousands of New Jersey residents volunteered," said Gov. Jon Corzine. "We actually had to turn people away." The team is currently on a West Coast road trip and will return to New Jersey next week to find they are locked out of their arena. Head coach Lawrence Frank said he isn't surprised. "I actually expected this would happen a long time ago," he said. "Same with me getting fired."

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Deadline nears for deal with Phillies The city is caught off guard after the county imposes an Aug. 8 deadline to help determine funding for a proposed new stadium. By CHRISTINA HEADRICK © St. Petersburg Times, published July 26, 2000 CLEARWATER -- Because of a new deadline imposed by Pinellas County, city administrators are hurrying to produce an agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies to finance a new spring training stadium. The "memorandum of understanding" should spell out how much the Phillies and the city each will pay to build the new $20-million stadium, and may include the basic outline of the future lease of the stadium, said Keith Ashby, the city administrator negotiating with the baseball team. The terms will be worked out this weekend in telephone calls, Ashby said, and the stadium will be the subject of a public hearing on Tuesday evening, in an effort to appease the county's demands for the information by Aug. 8. "It really puts the heat on everyone," said City Attorney Pam Akin. "It's very fast." The clock began ticking last week. Pinellas County Administrator Fred Marquis and County Commissioner Bob Stewart told city officials that they wanted to know the specifics of the city's deal with the Phillies by their Aug. 8 County Commission meeting. At that meeting, the commission will begin debating whether to chip in $7-million for the new Phillies stadium, to be off Drew Street and U.S. 19, Stewart said. "I'm not going deal in vague proposals," Stewart commented. "Either it all gets spelled out and identifies the actual sources of dollars, or we might miss this opportunity." City officials assumed that they wouldn't have to produce any such agreements with the Phillies until Oct. 1, the deadline the city must meet to apply for additional state funding to help build the stadium. Ashby was even hopeful that the city would be able to persuade state officials to wait for specifics on the city's arrangements with the Phillies, giving the city several months to finish negotiations with the team. So the county's demand for the information startled some city officials. "I was a little surprised that the county needed numbers so quickly," said City Commissioner Bob Clark. "I don't want to feel rushed into this deal. We'll see what we get and then if we can satisfy the county's request." "This train is going pretty fast right now," Ashby said. The basics of the stadium deal are this: The county, state and city would each contribute about $7-million to pay for the sports complex's construction. The county would use hotel bed tax money for the stadium, which would require the county to reprioritize other projects funded by the money. Another option would be to add a fifth cent on the county's 4-cents-per-dollar hotel room tax. But such hotel tax funding will be disputed. "We have written a letter . . . stating that we are against using the taxes for a baseball stadium," said Treasure Island Mayor Leon Atkinson, who chairs a governmental council of all the county's 10 island cities. The Barrier Island Governmental Council is opposing any stadium deal that uses hotel tax money. "We supply a lot of the hotel tax money on the beaches," Atkinson said. "But people in St. Pete Beach and Treasure Island worry that we're not going to get much business out of a stadium in North Pinellas. . . . They would like to see more of this money put back into the beaches." Clearwater would use a combination of funding from deals with the Phillies and Penny for Pinellas sales tax revenues for its $7-million contribution to the stadium. The general framework of the city's deal with the Phillies has been discussed for several months with the baseball team, Ashby said. The Philadelphia Phillies have suggested paying for architectural and engineering costs associated with the new stadium -- a non-specified amount -- as their contribution. City officials have said they want to cap the city's costs at about $2-million in Penny funds. Additional money is expected to come from selling naming rights to the new stadium. But whether the Phillies or the city would have the right to sell the name is still being negotiated. City officials have been vague about the terms of the city's future lease for the new stadium. Currently, the Phillies pay nothing to lease Jack Russell Stadium but cover maintenance costs. When the new stadium is built by 2003, Clark and Ashby said that the city might start covering utilities payments. But the city may have access to other kinds of revenues from the stadium to reimburse the city for any such new expenses. City documents show the city is angling for up to $600,000 annually in revenues from parking, naming rights, the rental of a cellular phone tower and stadium rental. Ashby said the figures were meant as a starting point for negotiations.

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SHS's Myles endures a big load this spring May 10, 2011 The Starkville High School offensive line gets some hands-on instruction from offensive line coach Charlie Smith, right, during spring practice Monday. (Photo by Kim Murrell, SDN) By DANNY P. SMITH There's quite a bit on the plate of Starkville High School athlete Gabe Myles this spring. Myles is not only preparing to help the 4x200 meter relay team win a state championship on Saturday, but he's also trying to earn the starting quarterback position on the football team for the Yellowjackets. So far, SHS football coach Jamie Mitchell says Myles is doing a good job of balancing both endeavors. Even though Princeton Jones and Michael Newman figure into the plans for the Jackets and are getting some good reps, the junior Myles may have the upper hand on replacing the departed Jaquez Johnson. Mitchell sees Myles separating himself with his performance on the field. "He's trying to run track and play spring ball too so we're just trying to split time there," Mitchell said. "In the last three or four days, Gabe has really taken some steps forward to solidify (the quarterback position) and hopefully he will continue to do that." "We thought Gabe would be the guy, but just wanted to see him come out and prove it in the spring." Even though he's involved with two sports, Myles understands he must set an example. "It's just go with the flow and do what I've got to do," Myles said. "I know I have to step up, be a leader and show them what I've got." Senior offensive lineman Eric Rogers believes Myles is getting better and has faith in his abilities. As a senior, Rogers is going to make sure Myles doesn't go backward. "I know he's not here sometimes because of track, but I tell him to get better when he's here," Rogers said. "I've got to come set an example for the younger guys and got to get better." Starkville has one more day of practice before traveling to Columbus Thursday for a spring game against the Falcons. After the Jackets graduated 25 seniors from last season's squad that finished 5-6 and missed the playoffs by one game, Mitchell and his coaching staff have been trying to make the most out of the situation. "I feel like I'm going to daycare just about every day just because we're so young," Mitchell said. "I looked (Monday) and I think we have one starter back on offense and one senior actually listed on our two-deep on offense. We've got six starters back on defense so that side is a little bit better. "We're going to be a team that plays a bunch of young players with very few seniors. Our hope as we go is they will certainly grow up." Along with Myles, Rogers and junior defensive lineman David Fair have caught the eye of Mitchell this spring. "Those are a couple of guys who have stood out," Mitchell said. "Both of those guys have been lights out. They are certainly going to be good players for us. We just need more of those kind to step up and get some things done. (Fair) is one of the better players we have and has a high-ceiling of room to get better." Mitchell said playing Columbus will be a good measuring stick for his squad. "Tony (Stanford) has a good bunch coming back and they didn't hardly lose anybody," Mitchell said. "We will definitely have our hands full, no question about that. On the front end of our schedule, we need to play somebody good in the spring too. A lot of these young guys will be wide-eyed and hopefully we can deal with that during spring and it won't be such an issue in the fall when we get ready to play." The schedule for Thursday will consist of one junior varsity quarter, starting at 5 p.m., then a first half with the varsity, another junior varsity quarter at the halfway mark of the varsity, and then the second half of the varsity game. Myles' action in practice may have been cut back because of his track responsibilities, but he's looking forward to getting after it against the Falcons. "I haven't seen a lot of the contact they've been talking about, but I'm anxious to see what we can do," Myles said. View more articles in:

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ADVERTISEMENT Vikings sign former Bears offensive tackle Levi Horn Blog Post by: Mark Craig May 18, 2012 - 1:47 PM The Vikings have added another body to the offensive line. A big body. Goes by the name Levi Horn, a 6-7, 315-pounder who spent most of the past two seasons on the Bears' practice squad. Horn, who played at Montana after transferring from Oregon, gives the Vikings some more offensive tackle depth to evaluate behind starters Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt heading into training camp. Horn joined the Bears as an undrafted rookie in 2010. He spent that season and most of 2011 on the practice squad. He was activated in November of 2011, but did not appear in any games. He was released by the Bears earlier this week. "I'm looking forward to playing for a team with great tradition and pride," Horn told ndnsports.com. "I thank [the Vikings] for giving me a chance and will look to improve my skills and hopefully contribute to the Vikings success next season."

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Kurt Busch Fights Engine Problems to Finish 21st at Talladega Photo courtesy of Steve Rose TALLADEGA, Ala (Oct. 5, 2008) – Miller Lite Dodge driver Kurt Busch led today’s AMP Energy 500 here at Talladega Superspeedway for two laps before engine problems sent him behind pit wall. But the Pat Tryson-led Penske Racing team was determined to return to action if at all possible.Busch, Tryson and crew’s persistence paid off as the No. 2 car returned in the 39th spot after losing some 10 laps behind the wall. But after two of “the big ones,” the multi-car crashes that are typical with the restrictor-plate races held on this massive 2.66-mile Alabama track, took their toll on the 43-car starting field, Busch was able to bounce back and pull out a 21st-place finish for the day.“We definitely did the right thing in repairing the car enough to get back out there and log the laps,” said Busch after the race. “I would never have imagined that we could have made up that many positions. It’s just the nature of this brand of racing, though.“Our car was strong enough to stay in the lead lap and by playing our cards right, we hooked up with Brian Vickers and led for two laps,” Busch continued. “But with him pushing us out front, it must have pegged the rev meter and we just put too much strain on the engine. So we were out front leading one lap and two laps later we’re behind the wall. I’ve never had such a thing happen before.“It was a good comeback for us, but the big problem is that we should have been stronger than that in the first place. If you want to run up front consistently out there today, you have to be strong as possible in every area and we just seem to have the weak links. Today is was the engine that ended a possible strong run”Busch started 33rd here today, but became a fixture among the top 10 after only 10 laps. After two cautions for debris had kept the field in a tight three-wide and four-wide group the first 50 laps, Busch and Vickers teamed up to pull away from the pack with Busch at the point on Lap 52.But only two circuits later, the engine in Busch’s mount began skipping, forcing him to back off and fall out of the draft. A lap later, Jeff Gordon and David Reutimann were involved in an altercation that brought out the third yellow flag of the race.After at first attempting to diagnose the problem on pit road, Busch returned to the track and took the green on the Lap 58 restart. Thinking the problem might be as serious as teammate Ryan Newman’s fatal engine woes only a few laps earlier, the team went behind the wall on Lap 60.That move allowed them to avoid the first “big one” of the day, when Vickers blew a right-front tire, careened into the outside wall and bounced back into oncoming traffic. That incident involved some 14 cars and produced the first re-flag period of the race.When the red flag was pulled some 20 minutes later, Busch’s crew created a “temporary fix” to the problem, allowing him to return to competition and attempt to finish the event on seven cylinders.Busch was 39th when he returned to the track on Lap 70. The initial goal was to try to log enough laps to finish ahead of all the cars taken out in the first melee. As the attrition rate accelerated, the team chose to log as many laps as possible.When Carl Edwards made contact with Roush Racing teammate Greg Biffle on Lap 174, the second “big one” of the day eliminated another nine cars from the race, including three of the Roush “Chase” competitors. Another red flag period was necessary to clean up the wreck.The finish here today came down to a green-white-checkered battle with Tony Stewart leading on the restart. The DEI Racing trio of Regan Smith, Paul Menard and Aric Almirola lined up immediately behind Stewart.Stewart held the point all the way through the first lap and was the leader under the white flag. He continued to hold off the others all the way through the final turn on the last lap. Smith attempted to mount a charge to the inside coming down to the checkers and was able to inch ahead at the line. The scoring monitors first showed Smith as the winner, but moments later NASCAR officials ruled that Smith was under the yellow line in making the pass and the advancement was deemed against the rules.Controversy became almost pandemonium as there were arguments that Stewart had forced Smith below the line. Some argued the case that such a rule does not hold merit on the final lap of the race.At press time, NASCAR had posted Stewart as the winner and Smith 18th, the last car on the lead lap as a result of the penalty at the finish. Menard was listed as second, with David Regan third, Jeff Burton fourth and Clint Bowyer fifth. Bobby Labonte, Scott Riggs, Robby Gordon, Jimmie Johnson and Elliott Sadler rounded out the unofficial top-10 finishers.Kurt Busch was shown as the 21st-place finisher, completing 177 of the 190 laps. Newman was shown as 43rd, completing 48 laps.Unofficially, Johnson is shown as the leader in the “Chase” for the NASCAR championship with 5,718 points, leading second-place Edwards by 72 points. Biffle is third and 77 back, while Burton is fourth and 99 points behind and Bowyer is up to fifth and 152 points out of the lead.Kurt Busch is shown as 18th in the standings with 3,011 points. He has a 28-point advantage over 19th-place Bobby Labonte and trails 17th-place Martin Truex Jr. by 140 points.The NASCAR Sprint Cup tour now heads back to Lowe’s Motor Speedway for next Saturday night’s running of the Bank of America 500 on that 1.5-mile tri-oval located in Concord, N.C.

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Sam Hornish Jr. NSCS Homestead-Miami Speedway Preview SAM HORNISH JR.No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge ChargerHomestead-Miami Speedway – Ford 400November 21, 2010 Mobil 1 Team News and Notes• Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the Penske Racing No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge Charger, will make his third-career Cup Series start at Homestead-Miami Speedway this weekend in the final race of the 2010 season. This year, Hornish has earned a total of one top-10, seven top-15 and 12 top-20 results with an average finish of 24.9 and a best finish of 10th (New Hampshire, September). Hornish has maintained an average starting position of 20.7 this year with a best start of second (Texas, April). Entering this weekend, Hornish has completed 9993 of 10511 possible laps in 2010, leading for a total of 50 circuits. • Hornish has an impressive racing history at Homestead-Miami Speedway in IndyCar Series competition. The former three-time series champion produced a total of seven IndyCar starts at Homestead, as he captured three victories and six top-three finishes along with two pole positions. In the open-wheel ranks, Hornish posted an average starting spot of 3.9 at the 1.5-mile oval with an average finish of third, completing 1399 of a possible 1400 laps and he led a total of 461 circuits at Homestead.• Hornish has 35 Cup Series starts at NASCAR intermediate tracks and he has scored a total of two top-10, three top-15 and nine top-20 finishes at venues measuring greater than one mile, but less than two miles, in length. Hornish has an average starting position of 22.2 at intermediate tracks with a best start of second, which came at Texas Motor Speedway (April, 2010). He has an average finish of 24.8 in intermediate-track competition with a top result of eighth coming at New Hampshire Motor Speedway (June, 2009). • Hornish will mark his return to NASCAR Nationwide Series competition this weekend in the Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in the No. 26 Alliance Parts Dodge Charger. Hornish last raced in the NNS Series in 2008, when he made a total of eight starts and earned a best start of eighth (Watkins Glen International) and a best finish of 11th (Darlington Raceway).• Hornish will sign autographs at the Penske Racing souvenir trailer at Homestead-Miami Speedway on Sunday, November 21 from 9:45 – 10:15 a.m. EST. Sam Hornish Jr. QuoteWhat are your thoughts about the final race of the season at Homestead-Miami Speedway?“I like Homestead-Miami Speedway; it’s been one of my favorite places for many years. Unlike other intermediate venues that are tri-ovals, both ends of the track are exactly the same with two straightaways in between. The way you get into the corners at Homestead is unlike anywhere else. It’s a unique track and a great place to have the final race of the season. “I like being in the race car, so I wish we had another 25 races this year. I feel that we're starting to turn the corner on some things and get back to where we need to be. Although, it will be nice to have a little break since my wife Crystal is pregnant and we are having another baby during the off-season. It will be good to be home for a while and spend time with my family. I look forward to seeing what next year has in store.” Crew Chief Travis Geisler QuoteWhat are your thoughts on the final race of the season this weekend at Homestead-Miami Speedway?“Homestead is always an exciting place to go each year, when the culmination of a season’s work takes place in one weekend. We would like to thank everyone from Mobil 1 that has worked so hard on our behalf and we wish them well. I would also like to thank everyone at Penske Racing for all the hard work this season. We hope to end the season on a high note and put the No. 77 at the top of the board.”

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NFL Spread Picks Week 16: The Peyton Manning Revenge Special NFL Spread Picks Week 15: Funky Fresh Wade Phillips Is Coming To Town NFL Spread Picks Week 14: Playoff Predictions NFL Spread Picks Week 13: The Legend of Andy Reid Public Opinion and the War in Afghanistan As any observer of American politics knows, the U.S. is particularly polarized along ideological and partisan lines. Issues ranging from marriage equality to tax policy divide the American people. Many Democrats believe the Republican Party is dominated by radical extremists, while many Republicans view the Democratic President as a dangerous socialist. In this environment, the American people cannot be expected to agree upon much, so when fully 69% of respondents in a public opinion poll agree on an important issue it is noteworthy. It is also something to which policy makers should pay attention. According to recent public opinion research 69% of the American people want the U.S. to end the war in Afghanistan. This number has probably been bolstered in recent weeks by the Koran burning incident and the killing of 17 Afghan civilians by Robert Bate which have both engendered backlashes against Americans serving in Afghanistan and drawn attention to what many perceive to be the futility of the the U.S. effort there. While these events have reduced support for the war among Americans, the war has not enjoyed the support of the majority of Americans for months. It should not be axiomatic that if the American people, by a margin of greater than two to one disapprove of a war, than the U.S. should end that war. However, if public opinion runs that strongly against a war, or any foreign policy, the U.S. government should have a clear, compelling and realistic rationale for pursuing that policy. Unfortunately, no such rationale exists for the war in Afghanistan. After more than a decade of war, and despite some significant accomplishments, most notably the killing of Osama Bin Laden, victory in Afghanistan remains poorly defined and elusive. Increasingly, it seems like the continuation of the war in Afghanistan is a triumph of inertia and bureaucratic logic over national interest, public opinion or a clear headed assessment of the war itself. For several years now the conflict in Afghanistan has been deadlocked with every month bringing a few steps forward and roughly the same number of steps back. During these years where the U.S. has not been gaining any clear advantage in Afghanistan the cost in life and treasure has kept piling up. It is now clear that in addition to the financial and military reasons why winding down the war is a good idea, there are political incentives as well. Ending the war is now good politics; and the candidate or party that figures this out first will pick up an edge as the 2012 election approaches. It is unlikely, however, that either Romney or Obama will exploit this political opening. Obama is already very closely identified with the war; and Romney is seeking to demonstrate his conservative credentials by seeking to embrace a hawkish foreign policy. The costs of ending the war in Afghanistan have been clear for a while and include the potential of a return of the Taliban there, the possibility that Afghanistan will reemerge as a hub of international terrorist activity and the dire human rights consequences, particularly for women, which could occur in Afghanistan if the U.S. were to leave. These consequences, while real, only tell half of the story. The other half of the story, which is increasingly important for ordinary Americans, is the near certainty of a rising cost, more American soldiers losing their lives, attacks on Americans working in Afghanistan and the seeming impossibility of the U.S. bringing any lasting peace, democracy or even stability to Afghanistan. Foreign policy, like all policy, should not be made on a simple basis of majority rule, but when the majority is so strongly against a war, and the arguments for that war are so shopworn and implausible, it is probably time to get out. Follow Lincoln on Twitter. NFL Spread Picks Week 12: Clemens vs. McCown — An Acid Trip Back To 2003 NFL Spread Picks Week 11: The Tom Coughlin Tune-Out Theory Tags: Afghanistan, Democratic president, Osama bin Laden, Republican party, Robert Bate, Taliban, U.S. government, United States Lincoln Mitchell joined Columbia University in January of 2006 as the Arnold A. Saltzman Assistant Professor in the Practice of International Politics. Before joining Columbia, Lincoln was a practitio ...read more @thefastertimes Our Best Headlines From the Week

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Jason Leffler remembered as doting dad, true racer Sprint Cup Series driver Jason Leffler, died during a race of a blunt force neck injury on June 12. / Matthew O'Haren, USA TODAY Sports by Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sportsby Nate Ryan, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under CORNELIUS, N.C. -- A dogged racer, a devilish prankster but most of all, a doting father. That was how Jason Leffler was remembered in a memorial service Wednesday at Grace Covenant Church that drew several members of the NASCAR community. Sprint Cup drivers Kasey Kahne, Tony Stewart, Greg Biffle, Brad Keselowski and Denny Hamlin were in attendance, but none spoke during an hour-long tribute conducted by NASCAR chaplain Kenny Crosswhite. Leffler was killed June 12 in a sprint-car crash at a dirt track in New Jersey. He was 37. Many of the stories shared about Leffer's life and career centered on his 5-year-old son, Charlie, who didn't attend the service. Leffler's mother, Pat, and several other family members were in attendance, as were former car owners J.D. Gibbs and Chip Ganassi and NASCAR president Mike Helton and other executives. "As the world grew more complicated around Jason, he kept that singular focus of just getting to the racetrack and competing," said longtime friend Jeff Dickerson of Spire Sports and Entertainment, which handled Leffler's business affairs. "I admired him for it for many years until Charlie was born. Something definitely changed about him. He displayed a more sensitive side �?? dare I say, more loving. It inspired me to be a better father. I wish I'd told him that Jason was by far the best dad in our small world down here. By far. "Through some rather trying circumstances, his love for Charlie shined bright for all of us to see." Four photos of Leffler -- in sprint and stock cars -- dotted the altar along with two video screens. Todd Braun, who fielded cars for Leffler in the Nationwide Series, told the crowd of about 400 he "couldn't see Jason Leffler as a father" after the driver told him about the impending birth of Charlie. "Charlie came along, and I watched the transformation of Jason," Braun said. "Jason the racer became Jason the dad. I've never seen a transformation of a person like I saw with Jason Leffler. He cared more about Charlie than anything. It was one of the best things I ever saw. The switch flipped." Close friend Danny Pearson said Leffler would be remembered as a "great brother, great son, great and loyal friend. Most of all as a great father." The ceremony also focused on the achievements of the versatile Leffler, who started in the grassroots of open-wheel racing (where he won three straight USAC championships to earn enshrinement in the Midget Hall of Fame) before racing full time in all three of NASCAR's national series. He twice was fired from well-funded Cup cars but always landed another ride. He turned to sprint cars this year when the opportunities dried up in NASCAR. "Jason's story is one of resilience, desire and love for his family, his sport and his friends," Dickerson said. "He faced many challenges along the way. He prevailed with a silent intensity and focus that should be an inspiration to all of us. But especially to any young racer who mistakenly believes you can't make it without money or without one foot in the sport already. "The first thing I said about Jason is that he never changed. From the day we met a long time ago until his last day, he just had the strongest desire to race, and he wanted to make it. And he did it despite being mischievous. We all know how much of a handful he was. We were looking for footage and quickly it became obvious everything we had was from hidden security videos from bars, hotels, weddings, airports and rental car counters." Braun playfully recalled the abuse of an ice sculpture at a wedding and many rental cars. "This is a sad day for all of us, but a relief for many caterers around the country that made ice sculptures," Dickerson joked. A video montage showed Leffler's growth from a moptop kid on a bicycle to a respected and well-liked racer who rubbed elbows with many of the sport's greats. It closed with several consecutive photos of the Long Beach, Calif., native hanging with Stewart. The three-time Sprint Cup champion was a close friend who gave Leffler a room after he moved to Indiana to pursue his career. After winning the 2007 Nationwide race at Indianapolis Raceway Park, Braun recalled Leffler saying, "Work hard, play hard, race hard" in victory lane. "That describes Jason," Braun said. "He did all three. He worked every day at racing and life. He built his own cars, found the money to race and worked out to stay fit. He believed he had to work hard to make himself successful. He'd race anybody anywhere." Dickerson said he and Leffler had "spoken about death many times. He was such a student of the sport. I don't think he got enough credit for it. Every May, he'd call or text at random hours and say, 'Hey, man, it's ESPN Classic showing the 1964 Indy 500.' He always said how much those guys were real race car drivers. Real men. There were fatalities on the racetrack, they'd still line up and run the A Main like nothing happened. "This was exactly how Jason wanted to go. I'd argue he'd rather have gone in a Midget at Ventura or Terre Haute, Ind., or Eldora. And he wasn't ready to go yet. He was having the time of his life running those cars." Crosswhite said Leffler's feisty and aggressive nature belied "a sincerity that was remarkable" and a zest for life that seemed at its zenith when he died. "He had happy hair," Crosswhite said. "And having spent time with him recently, he never seemed happier. That's what makes this hurt so much." Follow Ryan on Twitter @nateryan Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Jason Leffler remembered as doting dad, true racer NASCAR president, team owners, drivers, friends attend memorial service in Cornelius, N.C. A link to this page will be included in your message.

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Just say ‘no’ to make-up between Woods, Garcia — BETHESDA — Tiger Woods spoke for some 20 minutes about the state of his game, belly putters, the U.S. Open and the AT&T National. As he was wrapping up, he needed just one word to cover the topic of Sergio Garcia. Asked if he had any thought of contacting Garcia to make amends between the two, Woods quickly answered: “No.” He smiled. Nearly everyone else in the room laughed. Hardly the best of the friends, the Woods-Garcia relationship hit petty proportions during this month’s Players Championship over a dispute as to whether Woods inadvertently or maliciously — or somewhere in between — disrupted the Spaniard’s swing when they were paired together during the tournament’s third round. Woods’ expression Monday said it all: They won’t be calling a truce any time soon. Woods was very much at ease as he looked ahead to next month’s U.S. Open at Merion near Philadelphia and the AT&T National, which is run by his charitable foundation and will be played again at Congressional Country Club near Washington, D.C. His mood was hardly surprising, given how well he’s been playing. Woods already has four PGA Tour wins this year and will be the defending champion at the AT&T, although it’s now been nearly five years since he last won a major. “My game is coming around, and to have won seven times the last couple years is something I’m proud of,” he said. “It’s not easy to do, but the swing changes with (swing coach Sean Foley), I’m starting to see it now and starting to get the consistency.” Woods has never seen Merion, and he said he’s planning to play the course before tournament week to chart the greens a

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Luck extended through 2017 MORGANTOWN — The truth be known, Oliver Luck did not come in and find the West Virginia University athletic department in a state of disarray in 2010, when he was hired as athletic director. It wasn’t in need of a respirator, and no one had been called to administer last rites. Eddie Pastilong had served it well during 20 years, but things were beginning to creak with age. Rust was showing here and there and the world, to be honest, was spinning faster than Pastilong was able to keep up with it. A change wasn’t essential, but Pastilong had announced his resignation at a time when the school’s upper management was in turmoil, and when Jim Clements took over as president, he felt it was best to bring in his own man, even though Pastilong was willing to serve on. Clements went off on a search of an athletic director and knew the minute he stumbled upon Oliver Luck that he had his man, a one-time West Virginia quarterback, an NFL player, a near Rhodes Scholar who had become a lawyer, president of NFL Europe, a civic leader in a major city, Houston. He came with energy, fresh ideas, imagination and a son who was destined to become the No. 1 draft choice in the National Football League. His only failure, it seemed, was in not directing that son, Andrew Luck, to West Virginia to play his football. As noted, there were no fire alarms going off when Luck arrived —they would wait until his hand-picked football coach beat Baylor and Texas in successive weeks and downtown Morgantown was set ablaze — but it didn’t take long for challenges to present themselves. Oh, Luck had started things himself when he decided to replace Bill Stewart, the man who had won maybe the most important football game in West Virginia’s history, beating Oklahoma in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl after Rich Rodriguez had blown a chance to play for the national championship by losing to Michigan and scurried out the back door to Michigan. His search brought him to Oklahoma City one afternoon to talk with Dana Holgorsen, the game’s most dynamic offensive coordinator. Hiring him, though, would be difficult, for Stewart was as West Virginia as pepperoni roles and almost as popular … except with a certain element of the school’s top donors. To appease all sides, he hired Holgorsen as “coach-in-waiting,” creating a situation that could not work. The feeling always has been that he knew that and figured he’d have Holgorsen coaching the team in 2011, as it worked out. But more of that later. First there was something even more important, the collapse of the Big East around West Virginia and Luck’s ability to rescue the school from near disaster, move it into the Big 12, a far more competitive and successful football conference whose only disadvantage was one of proximity. At the same time Luck was cleaning house, moving out some of the long-time coaches who always had enjoyed “lifetime” security at WVU … a new volleyball coach, a new baseball coach, a new tennis coach. He presided over the completion of a n

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Pedal Like Pee-wee in this Cycling Suit By Luke Y. Thompson in Merchandise Monday, February 4, 2013 at 5:49 pm Now that Lance Armstrong has been busted, it probably isn't safe to get away with using steroids in bicycle races any more. But that doesn't mean there aren't still ways to give yourself an unfair advantage. Before you can respond to any accusation with, "I know you are but what am I?", I give you the essential cycling gear for all true loners and rebels: Whether you're trying out for the Satan's Helpers or starting a paper route dressed as a nun, this aerodynamic outfit tells the world that whatever you achieved in your last race, you meant to do that. Just make sure to start your day with a complete breakfast of Mr. T cereal; and when you finally find what you're looking for and say au revoir to the day, it's still the perfect outfit in which to toast a celebratory tequila. Given some of Pee-wee's offscreen activities, however, the way the outfit highlights the crotch is just a tad uncomfortable.Tags: Pee-Wee Herman More links from around the web!

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Jays open highly-anticipated season against IndiansTSN.ca Staff4/2/2013 3:56:17 PMThe wait is almost over. After six months of anticipation, the 2013 Toronto Blue Jays are ready to take to the field, as the team plays its home opener against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday night at the Rogers Centre. This season begins with an air of excitement that has not been felt for Jays fans since the early 1990s when the team was a perennial playoff contender. Most of the excitement is due to general manager Alex Anthopoulos' busy off-season that saw him land a group of former All-Stars through a series of shrewd and unexpected transactions. One of those acquisitions - reigning National League Cy Young Award-winner R.A. Dickey – will take to the mound for the opener, becoming the first knuckleballer to ever start for the Jays on Opening Day. The Indians will counter with Justin Masterson, who went 11-15 in 2012.<

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Sports News Home / Sports News / Ex-U.N. Ambassador Richardson: Rodman's conduct 'reprehensible' Ex-U.N. Ambassador Richardson: Rodman's conduct 'reprehensible' | License Photo PYONGYANG, North Korea, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Former United Nations Ambassador Bill Richardson called retired basketball player Dennis Rodman's conduct in North Korea "reprehensible."Richardson's remarks echoed those of Terri Chung, sister of Korean-American Kenneth Bae, who's been held in North Korea for more than a year. Chung said Tuesday she also was upset because Rodman, who angrily defended his trip to Pyongyang for an exhibition basketball game with other former NBA stars against a North Korean team, wasn't inclined to use his friendship with North Korean leader Kim Jung Un to discuss her brother's situation, CNN reported."He was in a position to do some good and to help advocate for Kenneth," Chung said. "He refused to do so. But then instead he has chosen to hurl these outrageous accusations against Kenneth. He clearly doesn't know anything about Kenneth, about his case. And so we were appalled by that."Richardson, speaking on CNN Wednesday, said Rodman's conduct -- both in defending Kim and abandoning a fellow American who's been sentenced to 15 years in a brutal North Korean labor camp, is inexcusable. "I think what's most reprehensible is his implication that Kenneth Bae, an American detainee on very spurious charges, who deserves to come home might be guilty," Richardson, a former governor of New Mexico, said on CNN's "New Day." China's state-run Xinhua News Agency reported Rodman celebrated Kim's birthday Wednesday by singing "Happy Birthday" before the exhibition game. He also said he could feel the love North Koreans have for their leader, who is thought to be 31 years old. Bae was sentenced to 15 years in a labor camp by North Korea last year on charges he intended to topple the government through religious activities.During an interview with CNN Monday, Rodman suggested Bae did something wrong but did not specify what. "Do you understand what he did in this country?" Rodman asked during the interview. "Why is he held captive here in this country, why?"Chung said Bae, a missionary, was in North Korea legally as a tour operator when he was arrested in November 2012. "This isn't some game. This is about a person's life," she said.Rodman struck up a friendship with Kim in February, during his first trip to North Korea with a team of Harlem Globetrotters for an exhibition game attended by Kim, a basketball fan.Rodman's latest trip to the reclusive country is just weeks after North Korea announced the purge and execution of leader Kim's once-powerful uncle, Jang Song Thaek. Topics: Dennis Rodman, Kim Jung, Bill Richardson © 2014 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent. Carney says Rodman's trip won't change U.S. stance on North Korea Dennis Rodman, other ex-NBA players head to North Korea for game Rodman's North Korea venture loses sponsor Rodman in North Korea to train basketball team for exhibition game

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Is Golson ready for USC? By: Associated Press Posted: Thu 4:21 AM, Nov 22, 2012 / ND Football / Article Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly believes Everett Golson is ready for what awaits him at Southern California. He believes the 6-0, 185-pound sophomore quarterback who did not play as a freshman is ready. Ready for the pressure of leading the Fighting Irish (11-0) on the field ranked No. 1 for the first time in 19 years. Ready for a rivalry game that has been dominated over the past decade by USC (7-4). Ready to help Notre Dame advance to the BCS title game with a win. Kelly said he bases that opinion by the maturity Golson has shown as he's improved throughout the season, playing in tough venues such as Michigan State and Oklahoma and rallying the Irish from a two-touchdown deficit in the fourth quarter against Pittsburgh to a triple-overtime victory. "All of those things go into Saturday and all of those will be positives for him going into the USC game," Kelly said. Golson said he is feeling more comfortable because of all he's learned and he has learned to manage the clock better so he doesn't have to rush each play. "I think I've progressed a lot," he said. Golson keeps doing a lot more of the little things right and it's leading to more big plays for the Irish. He waited until the last second to pitch the ball to set up Cierre Wood's 68-yard touchdown run on the fourth play against Wake Forest. He had TD passes of 50 and 34 yards against Wake Forest, and the second came after a nice pump fake. Slowly, Golson has turned what had been an at-best average offense into one that opponents are increasingly having trouble slowing down. "He's a guy that makes explosive plays," Kelly said. "He's got the ability to throw it. He can run the football. He's elusive. I think we're seeing a guy that's growing each and every week." Through Notre Dame's first five games, Golson was 67-of-111 passing for 827 yards with three touchdown passes and three interceptions, with a pass efficiency rating of 126.46. He also had run for 40 yards on 27 carries. In the last five games, after sitting out against BYU with a concussion, Golson is 84-of-145 passing for 1,091 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions, a pass efficiency rating completion rate of 136.58. He's also run for 202 yards on 53 carries - and that includes just one carry in the win over Wake Forest. The Irish have improved during that span from 71st in the nation in total offense, averaging 398.4 yards a game, to 50th, averaging 419.7. "He's definitely on the right path to providing us the offense that we need," Kelly said. The coach admitted he hasn't run Golson as much as he'd like because he still needs to get stronger. "He still needs another coat of armor on him. He needs another year in the weight room and he needs to get thicker. We want to be judicious when we run him," Kelly said. "We've got to run him. He's better when he runs, physically and mentally. He loves to run." Golson is the fourth quarterback in Notre Dame history to start his career with nine straight victories. He would have 10 straight if he hadn't been benched the first three plays against Miami. The school record is 11 wins by Bob Williams during the national championship season of 1949. Last week, the focus was working on footwork and communicating with teammates, calling plays and then checking into different plays. Kelly had Golson watching film of Peyton Manning and other quarterbacks. "Manning is probably one of the great communicators, his ability to get into plays and check and do it efficiently," Kelly said. "We try to use some of the greats to show some things that could be helpful." As for the pressure of playing at USC with Notre Dame eager to win its first national championship since 1988, Golson said he's taking the same attitude he's taken all year of focusing on the opponent and not worrying about the big picture. "As far as I'm concerned, my head is down, my foot's on the gas, I'm never going to look up and lose focus," he said. "My thing is just keep your head down and keep pushing it." Notre Dame Football: Irish defense makes strides in spring practice Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

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World Golf Village Search Hall of Fame Members Induction Ceremony Criteria & Process Induction History World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater Hole-In-One Registry Shell Hall Trophy Tower Pool of Unity The Challenge Hole The Putting Course Fairways Cafe Bob Hope: Shanks For The Memory Nancy Lopez: Pride, Passion & Personality Johnny Miller 1973 U.S. Open Display Inductee Exhibits The Hall of Fame Challenge Class of 2012 Gallery The Team Gallery Golf Simulator Member Locker Room Past Inductee Exhibits Putting Course The Royal and Ancient Game Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf Theater Bob Hope: An American Treasure Science of Golf Hall of Fame Field Trips IMAX Theater Field Trips Gifts In Honor & Memory HOME>HALL OF FAME>SEARCH MEMBERS> MARLENE STEWART STREIT View previous article View next article « BACK TO SEARCH Cereal, Alberta Year Inducted: Induction Category: Marlene Stewart Streit Marlene Stewart-Streit is quite simply the most successful amateur golfer in Canadian history. Her career spans more than five decades with at least one major amateur victory in each. She won at home – 11 Canadian Ladies Open Amateurs, nine Canadian Ladies Close Amateurs and four Canadian Ladies Senior Women’s Amateur tournaments – and abroad, where she is the only woman ever to win the Canadian, British, American, and Australian amateur titles. In 2004, she rightfully became the first Canadian member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. Stewart-Streit was born March 9, 1934, in Cereal, Alberta. At 15, she began riding her bicycle to The Lookout Point Golf Club, in Fonthill, Ontario, located in the southwestern region of the province, and caddy, using the money she earned to pay the $25 club membership fee. The club pro, Gordon McInnis Sr., began giving her lessons and a year after taking up the game, she finished runner-up in the Ontario Junior Girls’ Championship. Soon she would become a national figure. For winning the 1953 British Women’s Amateur, she received a heroine’s welcome. In Toronto, 15,000 people cheered as she drove by in an open convertible. "I was hitting 4-woods into greens and she was hitting 7-irons." Short in stature, but a giant on the course, Stewart-Streit had a long, sweeping backswing and a big shoulder turn, getting every ounce of power out of her body that she could. Often, she didn't hit it as far as her competitors, but she made up for it with a deadly short game. "She's scary around the green," said LPGA Tour player A.J. Eathorne, an Alberta native. "If you're playing against her in match play and she's just off the green you have to count on that going in almost all the time." In golf, the short stick is the great equalizer. "The putter is probably the biggest club in her bag," said fellow Canadian Dawn Coe-Jones. "Marlene's the one you would like to make a putt for you if your life depended on it." Her short game was the difference when she defeated future Hall of Famer JoAnne Gunderson-Carner 2 and 1, in the 36-hole final of the 1956 U.S. Women's Amateur. "I was hitting 4-woods into greens and she was hitting 7-irons," Stewart-Streit recalled. She was four down by the 20th hole but fought back. "Marlene never gives up," Coe-Jones said. "She is the most intense person I have ever seen on the golf course." Stewart-Streit won the 29th, 30th and 32nd holes to take the lead. On the decisive 35th hole, she sank a 12-foot putt to win. Marlene Stewart Streit was the first Canadian inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Outside of competitive golf, Stewart-Streit has served endlessly in Canada to improve youth opportunities to the game and improve the competitive edge of Canadian women. In 1965, she defeated Marilynn Smith in a Shell's Wonderful World of Golf match in Oslo, Norway. The winning prize was $7,000. To retain her amateur status, she asked Shell to donate the prize money to what became the Marlene Streit Awards Fund. She won another $3,000 the following year despite losing to Mickey Wright. That $10,000 grew with interest and the fund is still being used to pay travel costs for promising junior golfers. "There's a great deal of us that, who knows where we would've gotten if it weren't for Marlene," said Canadian touring pro Nancy Harvey. "Marlene believed in us and if Marlene believed in you, you were definitely going somewhere." Stewart-Streit still believes in her own game too. In 2003, at age 69, she became the oldest woman to win a USGA championship when she defeated Nancy Fitzgerald with a par on the fifth extra hole in the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur. "It's one thing to win in your backyard but I think to do it worldwide like she did, that's impressive," Coe-Jones said, "and it's something that might not be done again in the amateur ranks." CClass of 2013 Colin Montgomerie Willie Park Jr. Ken Schofield Peter Alliss Twitter: golfhalloffame DYK? As a Friend of the Hall of Fame member, you can show your support for the game you love. For more details go to: http://t.co/22DE2ykZP3 about 4 days ago from web World Golf Hall of Fame Putting Championship Put your putting skills to the test during the 11th annual World Golf Hall… Read More » THE PLAYERS Championship Week at the Hall of Fame Come celebrate THE PLAYERS Championship with a visit to the Hall of Fame.… Read More » Riding into History The World Golf Village Associates is hosting the 15th annual charity… Read More » World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum announces changes to process for enshrinement Orlando (March 23, 2014) – The World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum will… Read More » Juli Inkster Named 2015 U.S. Solheim Cup Team Captain One of the most recognizable competitors in U.S. Solheim Cup history will… Read More » Copyright World Golf Hall of Fame 2014 Sign up to get the latest World Golf Hall of Fame news, event invitations, special offers and more.

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The home of Cougar baseball is one of the classiest collegiate facilities in the country. The picturesque Bailey-Brayton Field, which seats 3,500 fans, sits on the edge of campus, just southeast of the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum. The field opened at its current location in 1980, relocating after the Martin Stadium renovation which moved Mooberry Track to the site then occupied by the baseball field. In 1981, the already superb facility received an upgrade with the addition of an electronic scoreboard, which sits atop the left field fence. A $250,000 lighting project was completed in 1984, making Bailey Field one of the few NCAA college-owned facilities in the nation with lights. WSU defeated Washington 3-2 in the first night game. The "Walk of Fame" was added in 1988, which gave fans entering Bailey Field an historical look at WSU's baseball tradition. From 1980 to 2000, the facility was known as Bailey Field. During a special rededication ceremony prior to the 2000 season, the field added the name of WSU's all-time wins leader, skipper Chuck "Bobo" Brayton. In the fall of 2013, the Bailey-Brayton infield underwent a remodeling that included new logos and a FieldTurf mound. Washington State is believed to be the first school on the West Coast to have an artificial surface mound. Washington State Cougars Athletics

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Gonzalez maintains he hasn't used PEDs KYLE HIGHTOWER VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Gio Gonzalez arrived at spring training with the Washington Nationals on Tuesday and maintained he has not used performance-enhancing drugs.The Miami New Times reported last month that Gonzalez was among a half-dozen major league players listed as receiving PEDs in purported records of Biogenesis of America LLC, a now-closed anti-aging clinic in Coral Gables, Fla. Gonzalez hopes to be exonerated."I feel very confident," the 27-year-old left hander said. "I think that at the end of the day I've never taken performance-enhancing drugs, and I never will."Gonzalez, a 21-game winner last year, denied the allegations on Twitter on the day they were reported."You're stunned. You're shocked," he said Tuesday. "Your name has been brought up out of nowhere. You can't do nothing about it. You just have to wait it out and listen to what's going on. You can't jump the gun. You can't jump to conclusions. At the end of the day you just have to listen in and wait patiently."Gonzalez said he had been contacted by Major League Baseball officials and has cooperated with their investigation. Gonzalez said he has "done everything that they want, and I feel strong with their program and what they're doing, and at the end of the day I'm waiting on them."Gonzalez's father, Max, also was listed in the purported Biogenesis records."There's no connection for the fact that I say my father admitted that he was a patient there. A legitimate patient," the pitcher said. "And then after that, you know how my father is. ... All of south Florida, all of baseball knows that my father is the most proud father in baseball. He tells everyone about his son. And that's the best I can say. Other than that, I have no clue why my name was on that list, or on a notebook or anything."Gonzalez doesn't want the allegations to be a distraction for his teammates."I'm going to do my best to keep it away from the locker room," he said. "I don't want any of this to be about me. Again, it's about the organization and it's about the team together."Teammate Drew Storen said he isn't worried."Gio's a big part of this team, obviously. He's always been a big character guy for us," Storen said. "I think he'll continue to do that. He'll come in and be able to separate that stuff out. I think that's one of the things our clubhouse has been special for, we're able to cut out the outside factors. . I think we're going to be in good shape. Gio's a stand-up, character guy for us in this clubhouse. It's not going to change a thing."Gonzalez said he plans to pitch for the United States in next month's World Baseball Classic following an invitation from manager Joe Torre. He figures to bolster a rotation missing David Price, Justin Verlander, Jered Weaver, Clayton Kershaw and Matt Cain.___Follow Kyle Hightower on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/khightower

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Sporting stalwart Guy Mitchell dies aged 82 (From York Press) Sporting stalwart Guy Mitchell dies aged 82 10:55am Wednesday 11th December 2013 in News By Mark Stead, mark.stead@thepress.co.uk Guy Mitchell being presented with a painting in May this year by the then Lord Mayor of York, Coun Keith Hyman, to thank him for his hard work for 40 years as president of the HPM York Vale Cricket League YORK’S sporting community is mourning the loss of one of its most popular and respected figures. Guy Mitchell, who ran Mitchells sports shop in Colliergate for 49 years with his sister Mary and brother Tom, and sponsored the York Mitchell Sports Football League from the 1970s, died in York Hospital following a short illness, aged 82. The father-of-three, from the Shipton Road area, was president of the HPH York Vale Cricket League for 40 years, with his involvement dating back further. His father Tom scored York City’s first-ever goal at Bootham Crescent and managed the club either side of the Second World War, reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals in his first season. Mr Mitchell – honoured by the Football Association for 50 years’ service to the game – also leaves six grandchildren. His eldest daughter, Carol Suchecki, said: “He was a lovely, kind man who just always wanted to be involved in sport and became so well-known through the shop, which he loved – he never had a day off sick.

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Marshall shines at Peach Jam TarHeelIllustrated.comArlington (Va.) point guard Kendall Marshall was receiving some buzz before last week's Nike Peach Jam, but after a breakout performance in North Augusta in front of several colleges, he has quickly set himself apart as one of the truly elite underclassmen prospects in America. Playing multiple games in front of coaches including North Carolina's Roy Williams, Duke's Steve Wojciechowski and Johnny Dawkins, Virginia's Dave Leitao, and many others, Marshall put forth a series of standout efforts. "This is a great experience for me. I was really looking forward to coming down to the Peach Jam, one of the best tournaments in the country, with my AAU team. I just wanted to come out here, do my best, and win a championship," Marshall said. "The team, we've been playing well lately. They've been coming on at the right time, at the end when it counts. My teammates, especially Ed Davis, have been playing well." ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!

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June 14, 2012Smith plans to lead Irish revival Jake Brown MORE: Underclassmen challenge Jaylon Smith has been exceeding expectations around the Midwest for years. Before Smith became a five-star outside linebacker and one of the elite football prospects in the country, he had to pick between public high school or the rigors of a private Catholic education mixed with a demanding extracurricular schedule. Smith's first commitment was to Bishop Luers where he has been part of three straight state championships. That decision helped guide the two-way standout to his Notre Dame commitment earlier this month. Choosing the Irish with plans to rekindle past glory is a proposition Smith embraced. "Most people that don't know Notre Dame, they refer to the glory days," Smith said. "They think all the Notre Dame people are always trying to refer to the glory days. It's really our challenge to get back there. I'm looking forward to it." Embracing a challenge went beyond Smith's college choice. Throughout the spring, Smith has traveled to camps and 7-on-7 tournaments in order to sharpen his skills for the upcoming season. Next week, the five-star prospect will cap off the travel circuit with a trip to Atlanta as one of 100 top players participating in the inaugural Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge. "It is an honor to attend those types of things and participate in those types of things," Smith said. "I definitely have a great mentality going in there. I look forward to being the best out there." Five of the top six prospects in the Rivals100 will be in attendance. Smith fits into that group as the latest rankings update has him listed at fourth overall. In terms of position groups, Smith is ranked as the top outside linebacker nationally and trails only Alabama commit Reuben Foster in terms of all linebacker spots. Foster, who will also take part in the Five-Star Challenge, projects more as an inside backer, but will give Smith a measuring stick. "You can never be satisfied," Smith said. "That is not really a winner right there. Obviously they've got Reuben second and much love and respect for him but I am definitely going to open some eyes and I'm looking forward to it. It really starts now with training and training harder than those guys." After announcing his commitment to the Fighting Irish, Smith didn't shy away from saying Notre Dame had landed the top player in the country. He added factors off the playing field into the equation in painting the picture of a well-rounded student-athlete. "Really, it's my character that separates me from most of those guys," Smith said. "I don't like that most of these scouting reports go off of ability. "I see a lot of guys talking and doing these interviews and they don't have anything to say. It's their character that they need to improve on. Really just developing a great mindset and just speaking it." But it's the tangible things that have carried Smith to five-star status and an invitation to the Challenge. It will be those same attributes that he plans to show off while going up against Foster and the rest of the national elite next weekend. "They're thinking what I am thinking," Smith said. "They are trying to make a statement too. It will be two great players going at it and we'll see who wins." Mike Farrell's take Smith could be the most athletic linebacker we've seen in years and certainly the most athletic headed to South Bend in a long time. He's long, rangy and athletic and he can cover running backs, tight ends or even wide receivers because of his quickness and length. He'll be a great matchup to watch in one-on-ones and in 7-on-7 where he could make some highlight reel plays. Talk about it in Alligator Alley

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July 25, 2009Summertime news Eddy Landreth Talk about it in The Tribal CouncilSo much of what happens during the fall for a football team is constructed during the heat of the summer months. UNC coach Butch Davis said this week that his Tar Heels have been making the strides that should show progress when the team actually hits the field soon."Far and away, this is the best summer that we've had," Davis said. "We have an award we give kids for participation, how much improvement, how hard they work, their dedication. [Strength coach Jeff Connors] is pretty tough on them."The first year, I think we had 11. Last year we had 18. This year we had 40 who are going to be recipients of that, so that is definitely moving in the right direction."Davis spoke at the annual Triangle Pigskin Preview, which brings together the coaches from UNC, N.C. State, Duke and North Carolina Central to unofficially kickoff the football season by talking some ball before a ballroom full of fans at a Triangle hotel.There are always a few off-the-way questions as well. One of those directed at Davis had to do with his nicknames. He said his mother gave him the nickname "Butch" because she did not want him to be "Little Paul" after his dad as he is a junior. But he said he had another one when he was really young."I had red hair and freckles all through elementary school," Davis said. "When they couldn't remember your name, they would say, 'Red, come here.'"These days Davis is known as a winner, and to achieve that status again this fall, he will need for some young wide receivers to make some significant progress. "We've got to replace an awfully lot of talented players offensively," Davis said. "We lose five wide receivers, three of whom that got drafted, a tight end that got drafted in the second round."There is some work to be done during the season in hoping those kids will come on and mature and gain some experience and be able to play."Davis said the Tar Heels are not going to shy from passing the ball just because the receivers will be young.Davis said the coaching staff is going to count on junior Greg Little to help his less-experienced teammates at that position."We're going to do what we believe in," Davis said. "We're going to count on some incoming freshmen to provide some playing time. But we do have some kids who are on campus. Greg Little is a guy we are going to count significantly on. Greg is a terrific athlete. We've used him as a wide receiver. We've used him as a running back throughout his first two years at Chapel Hill."I really think that long range the best position for him is as a wide receiver. We just didn't have anybody of the caliber you could win with in the ACC at running back was the necessity of moving him there. But with the emergence of Shaun Draughn and the emergence a little bit of Ryan Houston we were able to put him back at his natural position. So we're going to count on him to be the experienced, veteran guy."The Tar Heels went from a losing record in Davis' first year at UNC to winning eight games and playing in a bowl a year ago. He said the team is not going to stand still on what it has done so far."We were proud of the progress we made from year one to year two, and like all the rest of the coaches," Davis said, "we're still in the process of trying to build enough depth that you're not trying to reload with incoming freshmen. At some of the positions, I think we have some depth."You always want to push the meter and be better the next year," Davis said. "Hopefully, we'll try to do that this year."FEATURED PRODUCT

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Country Day's Williams looks to narrow field soon SpartanMag.comDetroit Country Day four-star center Amir Williams has continued to improve as a player, and his efforts have taken him from being known as one of the top post prospects in the Midwest to a national recruit. Williams (6-9, 220) recently completed a state championship run with DCD, helping the Yellowjackets (26-2) win the Class B title over Lansing Sexton, 71-47, on March 27. He scored 12 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the victory. His season overall wasn't too shabby, either, as he was named Class B All-State after averaging 16 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks on the season. SpartanMag.com recently caught up with Williams and he talked about his junior season as well as the latest in his recruitment. "I think I played good this year. After playing behind DaShonte (Riley, now at Syracuse) and Donnovan (Kirk, now at Miami-FL)for a couple years, I think they really taught me a lot of things on how I can expand my game and go out there and produce," said Williams, whom Rivals.com ranks the No. 52 prospect overall in the Class of 2011. "Every day during practice they would push me and I would always push them. So, I learned a lot from those two, and I just showed what I learned out on the court this year and I was very successful at what I was doing." "I think I improved my post game a lot better than it was last year," Williams continued. "It's still not where it needs to be if I want to play at the highest level. I know I can still work at it. But so far I think that's my biggest improvement since last year. I've learned how to right-hand jump hook, left-hand jump hook and some other moves in the post, and I have to continue to get stronger and continue to work in the post." Recruiting has gone well for Williams, too, as his offer list is at the point of being too long to remember. That's a good thing, though, for a guy who is still open to all of his suitors."Dang, that's a lot of schools," Williams said of his offers. "Purdue, Miami-FL, Michigan, Michigan State, those two schools, University of Kentucky and Duke, LSU, Cincinnati, Pitt, Ohio State, Florida, USC. That's all I can think of right now""Also Wisconsin and FIU, I forgot about those," Williams later added. He also said the Duke and LSU offers are the latest ones he's added to his list. Williams is planning to take a closer look at his recruitment in the near future, and that should lead to cutting his list down a little bit. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!

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Robert Morris, 970 AM ESPN Agree to Three-Year Contract Pittsburgh -- Director of Athletics Craig Coleman has announced that Robert Morris University and 970 AM ESPN (WBGG) Pittsburgh have reached a three-year agreement to broadcast RMU football, men’s basketball and men’s ice hockey games beginning this fall and running through the 2015-16 athletic season. The agreement makes 970 AM ESPN the flagship station and broadcast home for all Colonials games in football and men’s basketball as well as for all home games in men’s hockey. The agreement also includes weekly coaches shows for the three programs, which will take place at various Buffalo Wild Wings as well as other locations in the Pittsburgh region and will feature head football coach Joe Walton, assistant head football coach John Banaszak, men’s basketball head coach Andrew Toole and men’s ice hockey head coach Derek Schooley. “We are absolutely delighted to be affiliated with one of the top sports radio stations in Pittsburgh,” Coleman said. “Thanks to 970 AM ESPN now being the new home of the Colonials, were are excited about expanding our brand recognition in the Pittsburgh market. We appreciate the recognition that we have evolved into a major player on the city’s sports landscape.” Robert Morris football, men’s basketball and home men’s ice hockey games can be heard on 970 ESPN and on the station’s website, www.970espn.com, as well as on iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s all-in-one free digital radio platform. Pittsburgh Clear Channel, which owns 970 AM ESPN, currently carries the NFL Pittsburgh Steelers (WDVE-FM 102.5) and the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins (WXDX-FM 105.9 FM).

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Seven runners making their 10th consecutive Woodstock, witnesses to race’s growth, to be recognized Saturday Aug 02, 2012 | 2618 views | | 15 | | Steve Dotson has observed the Woodstock 5K’s growth from his place in the pack, and he’s noticed a distinct change in the past 10 years.“You have to keep dodging everybody,” the Anniston police sergeant said, laughing. “You can’t run a straight line. You run a lot more than 3.1 miles when you’re running around people and people are running around you.”Woodstock’s growth has been dramatic in the past decade, and those who have witnessed it the most will be recognized after Saturday’s 32nd running. Race organizers dug into records and decided to recognize runners who will make at least their 10th consecutive Woodstock run.Race Director Dennis Dunn said reliable records go back as far as 11 years, and 10 makes a nice, round figure. In going through registration and finish information over that span, he found seven runners for whom Saturday’s Woodstock will be at least their 10th in a row.The group includes Dotson, Carollynne Blakney, Ellen Cannon, Jerry Bynum, Yo Setser, Jeff Tucker and Wayne Heckler. All but Tucker and Heckler live in Calhoun County. Tucker lives in Pell City and Heckler in Madison.Records show that Cannon, Bynum, Setser and Heckler have run in at least each of the past 11 Woodstocks.Most of the seven 10-year people have run in more Woodstocks than organizers have reliable records to prove.They have witnessed quite an era of growth for the Woodstock 5K. As recent as 2005, the race had 75 finishers, but Dunn said this year’s race has already broken a pre-registrationrecord. As of Wednesday night, 1,325 runners were registered for Saturday’s Woodstock and Kidstock runs, up from 1,230 in 2010.The 2010 Woodstock/Kidstock holds the record for most combined finishers at 1,260, and Saturday’s 7:30 a.m. race stands to break that record. Dunn said organizers had ordered 1,500 race shirts, and he’s already running out of some sizes. Good problems to have, say those who remember the Woodstock before all of this growth.“The best part is just seeing it grow in the last few years,” Bynum said. “So many good runs died over the years, and some of the newer people who have taken over have built it up.” Organizers have helped to grow the race by aggressively seeking and receiving special designations from the Road Runners Club of America. The RRCA designated Woodstock the 2007 state championship for the 5K distance. Every year since, the race has served as either the Southern Region or national championship.Woodstock will be the RRCA’s national 5K championship this year and has been three of the past four years. It will be the national championship in 2013.That helped to draw a bigger field of elite runners. They don’t get more elite than current Olympian Janet Cherobon-Bawcom, the top female finisher and women’s course record breaker this past two years. She will run the 10,000-meter race for Team USA on Friday in London.However, elite runners don’t fully account for Woodstock’s growth surge. Adding team competitions and grass-roots Anniston Runners Club programs like the Couch to 5K have helped.“The main boost this year is the involvement of the local people in the community coming out and taking that step to be a part of a community event,” he said. “Whether it’s the Runners for God or the New Life Church or whether it’s the Depot Dashers, those are huge parts of the registration that we’ll have.“For a lot of those people, it will be their first 5K.” Those who have run at least the past 10 Woodstocks knew the race when it was much different.Tucker, now 47, first ran it in 1983, after he graduated from Pell City High School. The race was called a Midsummer Morn’s 5,000.“One thing that really stands out to me about the run back in 1983 was a lot of soldiers,” Tucker said. “Fort McClellan ran in their units, and they ran in formation, and that was a really cool thing to see back then.”The Alabama Shakespeare Festival moved to Montgomery, and the Anniston Runners Club took the race over from The Anniston Star in the mid-1980s. That’s when it got its new name, the Woodstock 5K.It stayed largely a local race for decades, with finishers dropping from 113 in 2002 to 75 in 2005. That’s when the club got aggressive about growing the event.“We are really blessed in this area, runners are, to have the Anniston Runners Club,” said Tucker, who made his Woodstock return in 2002, running after a 19-year absence filled with working and coaching sports for his sons. “Those guys and girls, I’m telling you, they made running fun again for people.“When they took over that race, it really started to boom again.”Woodstock finishers more than doubled in 2006, to 181, then again with 408 runners in 2007, the year the race became the RRCA’s state 5K championship.It surged past 1,000 in 2010, and those who have run the race through its growth surge say they can feel the difference. “It’s funny, because I placed in my age group back in the day, but the race got bigger, and it’s too big and too fast for me,” Tucker said with a chuckle. “But it’s still really a lot of fun.“That’s probably one of my favorite races. I run anywhere from probably 25-30 races a year, and Woodstock is always right there at the top of my list of runs to do.”Bynum, 58, a psychologist who lives in Jacksonville, said he has run nearly every Woodstock since 1990. He notices “a lot more energy” in recent Woodstocks.“It’s not just from the runners but the community,” he said. “Seeing all of the high school kids (athletes, cheerleaders and band members from Anniston High) and just people that are not running who come out to support it is huge.“I run most all of the local races, and you see the same people, but, at Woodstock, you see people you know that it’s new to them. They’re excited, and it kind of rekindles some of that energy you had when you first started running.” Blakney also serves as one of the race’s organizers, gathering door prizes from area businesses. She’s also an unofficial promoter, taking Woodstock registration forms with her when she runs almost weekly in races elsewhere.“I tell people it’s a great race,” she said. “You’ve got over however-many dollars’ worth of door prizes. Of course, that’s what I’ll be featuring.”Joe Medley is The Star’s sports columnist. He can be reached at 256-235-3576 or jmedley@annistonstar.com. Follow on Twitter @jmedley_star. Mulkey, Pruitt and hills big winners in inaugural Canyon Climb 5-miler (video) Prep notebook: Saks swimmers sign scholarships Tour cyclist Butler to try crits in Anniston after proving his pedal mettle on mountaintops Prep baseball: Piedmont surges past Glencoe 14-4 in playoff opener Rip Donovan

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sponsored by Cosmetology program on track to come to LCHS; track runner John Davis and coach Kaitlin Kwiatkowski recognized; IHSA testing finds all LCHS athletes performance-drug-free [November 28, 2012] The Lincoln Community High School board met for its monthly meeting on Nov. 19. Several small items were up for discussion. Cosmetology programBret Hitchings, the LTEC director, presented the board with the second draft of a conditional agreement concerning the development of a cosmetology program. Julie Fritzsche, founder and owner of Hair Masters out of Bloomington, is willing to work with LTEC to provide this program to students. Due to state regulations, the building in which the classes would be offered has to be within five miles of the high school. Fritzsche also has to seek state certification to be part of the project, and she is currently seeking property in Lincoln to lease. The agreement was written to assure her that LTEC would not partner with someone else while she seeks property and teaching certifications. A more formal contract will have to be pursued before the program can begin. Hitchings is hoping the program can begin next fall, and he assured the board that there are already a lot of interested students. Early on, the classes would only offer traditional hair-styling instruction, with more options available in the future. The board approved of the agreement as it was written and presented. Cross country student and coach recognized The meeting began with the acknowledgement of the state qualification of a cross country runner, John Davis. Davis and his coach, Kaitlin Kwiatkowski, were both present at the meeting to accept an award from the board. Davis said he has plans to run on the track team at Lincoln College next year. Coach Kwiatkowski said she has seen a great improvement from the track team as a whole this year, which has been her first year as coach. IHSA drug test results Jim Mammen, board president, reported that he had received a letter from the IHSA. On Oct. 22 the IHSA had visited the school to conduct drug tests on all of the athletes at LCHS. The letter stated that none of the athletes tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Building and grounds report Board member Marianne Krusz reported that a second oven in the school has become unusable. The oven had been in use since 1959. A new oven would cost $22,000. As a result of this expenditure, Krusz recommended that the school continue to accumulate funds from the 1 percent sales tax before taking on any new school improvement projects. Currently, the next project that the board would like to undertake would be installation of new cabinets and countertops in the home economics classrooms. Plans have already been made for the cabinets, but now they will have to wait until February at the earliest. Future baseball clubhouse Curt Courtwright, his father Todd Courtwright and Marc Schoonover, booster club president, were all present to speak to the board on building a clubhouse for the baseball team. Coach Courtwright presented plans as to what the clubhouse would be like. The coach wants to provide a place not only for the team to store gear and watch game footage, but also to encourage a feeling of camaraderie among the players. The structure would connect to the dugout alongside the baseball diamond, and it would be unlocked only during baseball season. The coach provided the best price estimate he had received so far on the project, which was $14,000. His father said the price would likely be lower than that, as the designer, Kevin Schanley, is a graduate of LCHS and is more than willing to work on this project. "He says he will beat that price, guaranteed," said Todd Courtwright. The clubhouse would be funded by booster club money that is already available, plus any money that is raised by upcoming fundraisers and the membership drive. The coach also expressed an interest in getting sponsorship from local businesses and past team members to sponsor lockers. Board member Mark Aughton said his biggest concern was plumbing. Todd Courtwright replied, saying that plumbing needs would be very simple. While the plans did have a small restroom included, it is not a necessity. Should the clubhouse be large enough, a sprinkler system would need to be installed. Due to the requirements of Title IX, the clubhouse would likely have to be made available to the softball team. Questions were also brought up as to who would pay for maintenance costs in the future. Coach Courtwright will return to the board when he has found some answers to the legal questions concerning Title IX and future maintenance. Building usage by the community Superintendent Robert Bagby wanted to take the opportunity to make an editorial statement. "The great thing about Lincoln High School is it's always open. It's always available to the public. We do not charge organizations to use our facilities. For example, Chester-East Lincoln is going to hold their Christmas program here again. I don't think any of us are against that. It's just that with the usage our facilities get, from time to time there is wear and tear on our equipment," said Bagby. Bagby also said he was not suggesting that usage of the building be limited, only that those costs do start to build a little over time. "I'm just reminding the board that there are times we run into expense," said Bagby. Those present at the meeting included Jim Mammen, board president; Reatha Owen; Jim Allen; Mark Aughton; Burgandy Henderson; Marianne Krusz; Robert Bagby, LCHS superintendent; Todd Poelker, principal; Rhonda Hyde, vice principal; and Bret Hitchings, LTEC director. [By DEREK HURLEY]

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Atlantic Coast Convos The Web's Independent ACC Football Blog Maryland QB C.J. Brown Tears ACL, Will Miss 2012 Season Posted on August 15, 2012 by mdak06 Maryland Starting Quarterback C.J. Brown’s Injury Spells Doom for the Terrapins This Season Maryland has seen its worst case scenario for 2012 come true. Its only QB with college experience, starting quarterback C.J. Brown, has been lost for the season due to injury. Brown tore his ACL in a non-contact drill on Tuesday afternoon, and will miss the entire 2012 season. The other two quarterbacks that were behind him on the depth chart are both true freshman. Former starting QB Danny O’Brien was lost in the spring when he transferred to Wisconsin. Brown and O’Brien had split QB duties last year, but because of O’Brien’s departure, Brown was the unquestioned starter heading into camp. Now that he is sidelined, one of the true freshmen will be expected to start. This is a serious blow for the Terps. While Brown may not have been as good a passer as O’Brien, he was extremely good with his feet. Even splitting time with O’Brien last year, Brown was able to set a Maryland rushing record for quarterbacks with 574 yards and had started five games. His teammates had also voted him to be one of the captains for the 2012 season, and he appeared to be quite ready to be one of the new leaders of the team. He had put on muscle in the off-season, worked on his accuracy, and was one of the fastest players on the entire team during drills. With Brown out for the season, the expectations for the Terps will drop. Despite the 2-10 season from a year ago, there were signs that things were looking up. A new turf field had been installed, a good recruiting class was coming in (and a good one for 2013 is in progress), and the chaos of last season had been put behind them. Now that they will not have an experienced quarterback leading the team, it will be a much tougher road ahead. If there is a silver lining to this, it is that there is still some time remaining before the season starts. True freshmen Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe will be competing for the starting job, and they will take more snaps with the starting offense. Hills had moved higher on the depth chart and was expected to be the primary backup for Brown. The depth chart now lists Hills as the #1 quarterback, Rowe as #2 and former QB-turned-WR Devin Burns as #3. Burns is a redshirt sophomore that was listed second at the “WR-X” position behind senior captain Kevin Dorsey. Both Hills and Rowe were rated as three-star QB’s by Rivals and 247 Sports. Given that there are still two weeks remaining before the opener against William & Mary, there is no guarantee that the QB’s will stay in this order on the chart. Burns had offers from several SEC schools and has played in college, but his disadvantage will be that he hasn’t been learning the playbook from the QB’s perspective up until now. He is a talented athlete, and if he learns the plays quickly enough, may be able to at least take the number two position (and allow one of the true freshmen to redshirt). How well he performs remains to be seen. There will be a lot of pressure on the offensive line and the rest of the offense to get the job done. There is a lot of competition at the running back position (four players), and while the players are relatively inexperienced, they are quite talented, including incoming four-star Wes Brown. The fact that there are two solid senior wide receivers in captain Dorsey and Kerry Boykins will also help. Highly touted incoming five-star recruit Stefon Diggs may also have an impact at wide receiver, as well as on punt and kick returns. Also helping whomever starts at quarterback will be an extremely experienced group of tight ends, with three seniors and one junior in the mix. Expect O-coordinator Mike Locksley and the Terps to rely on this group for support. Many had expected the Terps to at least have a chance to win enough games to become bowl eligible this season. Without Brown under center, those chances are slim. Head coach Edsall and the rest of the Terrapins will put their best effort forward, but no true freshman at quarterback has ever won a game for the team in its history. All Maryland fans will obviously be hoping that record of futility comes to an abrupt end this year. Comment, share this post, follow/like the blog and follow @JohnCassillo on Twitter. This entry was posted in College Football News and tagged ACC, C.J. Brown, Caleb Rowe, Danny O'Brien, Devin Burns, Kerry Boykins, Kevin Dorsey, Maryland, Mike Locksley, Perry Hills, Randy Edsall, Stefon Diggs, Wes Brown, William & Mary, Wisconsin by mdak06. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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Posts tagged with CLEVELAND Oct 5, 4:21 pm Who Is Sloopy and What Is She Hanging on to? By JOE LAPOINTE “Hang On Sloopy” was a No. 1 hit record for The McCoys in 1965. Who? “They were really a kind of a one-hit wonder,’’ said Meredith Rutledge, assistant curator of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland. But then the Ohio State band began to play a brass, instrumental arrangement of the song that very autumn at Buckeyes’ football games in Columbus. The song caught on with the fans, who sang along with the “Hang on Sloopy, Sloopy hang on’’ chorus. Twenty years later, the General Assembly of Ohio formally resolved that “Hang on Sloopy’’ would from then on and forever into eternity be “The Official Rock Song of the State of Ohio.’’ “Whereas,’’ the legislators declared, “`Hang on Sloopy’ is of particular relevance to members of the Baby Boom Generation . . . ‘’ It’s a short song about a young man’s love for a young woman from different socioeconomic circumstances. Hey, it was the 1960s; like everything then, it had meaning. Now, in the year 2007, “Sloopy” is often heard at Jacobs Field in Cleveland during Indians’ games. The fans love it and have taken to chanting the letters “O! H! I! O!’’ in cadence to the chorus. “And everyone does the hand motions, too, for `O-h-i-o,’ just like people do `Y.M.C.A.’ for the Village People,’’ said Annie Merovich, manager of in-game entertainment for the Indians. “We’re proud of where we are. It has had a tremendous response.’’ Merovich said the Indians do not play the song for every home game and they don’t play it at the same time the way the Red Sox play Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline’’ every game in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. The Indians played it Thursday night when they defeated the Yankees by 12-3 in the first game of theAmerican League divisional series. It’s a possibility for Game 2. Oct 4, 1:52 pm Cleveland Is, Like, Trendy By JOE LAPOINTE In the noontime sunshine, Dan Latarski sat at outdoor café on the brick sidewalk of East 4th here in Cleveland. Just eating a burger, wearing an Indians shirt and enjoying the ambiance near Jacobs Field, where the Indians play the Yankees tonight in the first game of their American League divisional series. Latarski couldn’t get a ticket, he said, but he planned to watch the game on television. Although pedestrian traffic was picking up at lunch hour, Latarski said: “There will be more people here tonight. It’ll be packed.’’ His friend from work, Michael Blackwell, added: “This area is a resurgent place. People can frolic.” Sports stadiums often promise neighborhoods economic development; not all of them deliver. But the East Fourth Neighborhood, as this long block is called, seems to be benefiting from both nearby Jacobs Field and Quicken Loans Arena, where the Cavaliers play basketball. (Donn Nottage for the East Fourth Neighborhood) The bars and restaurants were lively last night with out-of-town playoff games showing on many TVs visible from the street through large windows. The play-by-play audio was pumped out through speakers. The street was closed to automobile traffic and peopled walked on both the sidewalks and the road. It was a little like Bourbon Street in New Orleans or Greektown in Detroit.

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Oakland Raiders: 10 Changes the Team Will Make To Become a Contender By Elias Trejo Call me crazy, but it seems as if the Oakland Raiders actually have a plan for the 2010 season. Most critics will bash the Raiders and their fans for being optimistic. The reality of the situation is that the Raiders have gotten better. They have made changes and will make changes to make sure they contend. Let's look at 10 changes the Raiders will make to turn their fortunes around. Play Calling The play calling will be done by Hue Jackson this year. He is in complete control of the offense and it will show in 2010. He now has a quarterback who can be a true leader and is capable of executing his game plan. Watch out for the Raiders offense in 2010, it will be much better than 2009. Hue Jackson is now calling the plays and that will change the direction of the offensive line. Jackson will not use the zone-blocking scheme to the extent the Raiders used it last season. Look for more of a power blocking-scheme than a zone-blocking scheme. The offensive line is much deeper and more talented with the addition of two rookies. Last year the Raiders suffered two injuries to two of their starters and didn't have the depth to back them up. « Prev Two is Company, Three is a Crowd Last year the Raiders tried using the three back formula and it failed. It had nothing to do with the backs but more of how they were used. You can't split carries with three backs and try and give them equal carries. This year the Raiders are going with Run DMC and Grand Master Bush as their duo in the backfield. The defense will have to respect the passing game with Jason Campbell under center. Michael Bush and Darren McFadden are ready to show the world what they can do. Nnamdi Land If the Raiders watched the Jets beat the Chargers in the playoffs last year, then they know what they need to do. Darrelle Revis shut down half the field just like Nnamdi Asomugha does, but he shut down the best half of the field. The Raiders have to put Asomugha on the other teams best receiver the whole game. Revis has Revis Island and Asomugha has Nnamdi Land. If Oakland is going to shut down a whole half of the field then they should shut down the side that has the biggest threat on offense. Linebackers packing a punch Tom Cable wasn't shy to name Rolando McClain, Kamerion Wimbley, and Trevor Scott the starting linebackers during the offseason. This is a whole new starting lineup from the start of last season. The primary focus is stopping the run and being physical. These changes should help stop the run but they should also help the defense get to the quarterback. How they will do in pass coverage is the bigger question? So far in camp, Richard Seymour has been lining up in the middle. He even went as far as saying that is where he plays his best football. With a rotation of Seymour, Tommy Kelly, John Henderson, and Desmond Bryant, the Raiders are ready to stop the run this year. Expect this defensive line to be an upgrade over last years. Stopping the run and getting to the quarterback will be the main focus, and should be achieved by this motivated group. Catching On The Raiders receiver situation last year was uglier than Lindsay Lohan's new lover and cell mate. Their best receiver didn't play until Week 10 and they started two rookies who were very inconsistent and sometimes invisible. That experience will be valuable and their offseason work ethic will make them better. It's very debatable whether the Raiders have a true No. 1 receiver. At the very worst, they have a couple solid No. 2s, which is better than what they had last year. Also an accurate quarterback should make life easier for them. The Raiders looked like an NFL team when Bruce Gradkowski led them on the field. The Raiders now have Jason Campbell, who is a much more experienced and talented quarterback. We really don't know how good Campbell can be because he wasn't given the opportunity to play in an offense that fits his style. The Raiders offense is built for Campbell's talents and he will have the opportunity to prove himself. He is still a young guy who hasn't entered his prime, but he is a veteran that knows how to be a professional quarterback. Could Campbell be another Rich Gannon? Either way he is better than what Oakland had last year. Immediate Impact Rookies In recent years, the Raiders have added rookies that were not able to make an immediate impact. This year, the Raiders have at least two guys who will start on defense and will make an impact. Rolando McClain is the new leader of the Raiders defense. He is the man in the middle and he is ready to make plays. The day after he was drafted he asked for a playbook so he can study the defense and learn it. Lamarr Houston could very well be McClain's top competition to win the Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Houston is a beast and will play defensive end. Mel Kiper and John Gruden felt they under-valued him before the draft, and both say they see no differences in game film when they compare him to Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy. The rookies should have an immediate impact for the Raiders. A Commitment to Excellence I was very skeptical of Tom Cable when he first started, but now I love the guy. Not only because he loves the Raiders, Celtics, and Yankees like I do, but because he is the man who will turn the Raiders around. The Raiders in 2010 are committed to excellence and their actions have showed it. From top to bottom, the Raiders are ready to give their fans what they have been waiting for and wanting for a long time: A real NFL Team. They release JaMarcus Russell and get Jason Campbell. They Hire Hue Jackson to come call the plays and develop the young guys on offense. They bring back Mike Waufle to run the defensive line. They bring in veterans who will set an example for the young guys on the field. Richard Seymour comes to camp on the bus with rookies. Darrius Heyward-Bey stays in California to work on his catching and his route running. Every player on the team has made it a priority to get better in the offseason. For the first time in a very long time the Raiders have 53 men committed to one purpose. If you like breathing or have to eat to survive follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/SplogNation Updated Raiders Free-Agency Tracker from ESPN.com

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Want more real-time Boston Celtics news? B.I.G. Question: Could Shaq Have Saved Notorious B.I.G. or Shared His Fate? By Brandon McClintock Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images 965 Shaquille O'Neal celebrates his 39th birthday today as the Boston Celtics currently sit at the top of the Eastern Conference. While Shaq is currently sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury, he is in a good position this season to compete for his fifth NBA Championship ring. Fourteen years ago though, O'Neal could have found himself in a life-altering situation as he planned to attend a party with his friend, the Notorious B.I.G. Shaq recently talked with ESPN's "Outside The Lines" reflecting on how he met Biggie and pondering how things could have been different. Shaquille O'Neal first became a fan of Notorious B.I.G. (Christopher Wallace) when he heard his name used in one of Biggie's songs. "First time I heard Biggie Smalls was he said my name in a rap," Shaq told ESPN. "Said 'I'm slamming brothers like Shaquille, s--t is real'…And instantly I became a fan." Shaq, playing for the Lakers at the time and also attempting his own music career, put out a call hoping to meet Biggie in person. "My concept was always to rap with my favorite rappers," Shaq recalled, "So I put out a call to him and asked if he would do a song with me." The Notorious B.I.G. would appear on Shaq's 1996 album, "You Can't Stop the Reign." Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images Shaq and Kobe won three rings together in 2000, 2001, 2002 The next time Shaq planned to see his friend was the fateful night that the MC was shot and killed in Los Angeles. Shaq, playing in his first season for the Lakers at the time, had planned to attend a Soul Train Awards after party with Biggie. "I was in my condo. I had on a cold white suit, white hat and all that. I was on my way. I was dressed. Ready to go," O'Neal said. "I just fell asleep. I woke up about 4 o'clock from a call from my mother," Shaq said. "She said 'Did you go to the party?' I'm like, 'No, what're you talking about?' She said, 'You know, your friend was shot.' And I was like, 'What?' So then I hung up with her and called some people and they told me what had happened." Shaq recalls his friend's death and wonders if he had been there that night if he could somehow have changed the evening's outcome. Perhaps his presence in the car would have prevented the gunman from shooting at the vehicle (assuming, of course, the gunman was a Lakers fan and not a Clippers fan). The more likely event is not that Shaq would have been able to prevent the incident from happening. The likely event is that the gunman still would have opened fire and the sports world would have been robbed of watching one of the NBA's biggest stars perform through the prime of his career. Fourteen years have passed since the death of his friend. In that time, Shaq has gone on to win four NBA championships, three NBA Finals MVP awards, play in 10 NBA All-Star Games, be the All-Star Game MVP three times and lead the NBA in scoring once. Doug Benc/Getty Images Shaq and D-Wade teamed up for a Ring in 2006 Without Shaq in the league, do the Lakers still three-peat in 2000, 2001 and 2002? If not, Kobe is not contending with Michael Jordan in ring count, removing another popular debate. The tragic loss of a talented artist was hard enough for fans to endure; losing a superstar athlete in the same event would have changed the history of the NBA. I do not know if Shaq could have changed the outcome of that night or not, but as a sports fan and one who finds Shaquille O'Neal entertaining, I am glad that he fell asleep that night and missed that party. "I just was thinking that I'm fortunate enough to say that I knew him. Fortunate enough to say that he blessed me with 32 bars on my album. I'm blessed enough to say that he knew me and I knew him. So I really don't think about the bad times just think about the good times. Even when I hear his verses on different beats it still sounds like he's still here." More Celtics From Celtics' Biggest Needs in 2014 Offseason What the Celtics Could Look Like Next Season Follow Boston Celtics from B/R on Facebook Follow Boston Celtics from B/R on Facebook and get the latest updates straight to your newsfeed! Celtics Team StreamTM Final Regular Season Grades for Celtics Q&A with Rondo: I Want to Get Back to Old Self from BostonGlobe.com What the 2014-15 Celtics Could Look Like Celtics Newsletter We'd like to send you the most entertaining Boston Celtics articles, videos, and podcasts from around the web.

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Men's Tennis Rolls Past Ripon to Close out Weekend The Buena Vista men's tennis team wrapped up its weekend of matches with a commanding 8-1 triumph over Ripon College on Sunday afternoon. The Beavers, now 3-3 on the year, swept through doubles play, allowing just five combined points in the two matches played (won by forfeit in the third). BVU won four of the five singles matches (one #6 by forfeit) and took each one in straight sets, allowing no more than three points in any set. The team returns to action on Saturday, March 2 when it opens its home slate with matches against Grand View University at 9:00am followed by a 4:00pm match with Bethany Lutheran.

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“Somehow all you ever need’s never quite enough” By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.comOn Twitter: @Castrovince The Trade Deadline cometh, and what do the Indians — presumed buyers — need to take the AL Central this season? They need at least one starting pitcher (not counting Roberto Hernandez), first and foremost. They need at least one impact right-handed bat. They need another proven reliever to ease the stress on the back end. They need better depth and definitely better balance. These needs are so many, the organizational trade options so few and the available talent in the trade market so hallow that, well, I don’t need to tell you this is complicated. Because if you’re Chris Antonetti, and your job is to make realistic evaluations of your talent at both the Major League and Minor League levels, you’ve got to be asking yourself what, exactly, is to be gained from a Deadline deal at this juncture? Even in the midst of understanding the “window of contention” template upon which the Tribe operates, why sell off any more of your already gaunt future stock to prop up a club that needs more than just a few finishing touches? A club that, by virtue of its left-leaning lineup and right-tossing starting staff, was not built to go on sustained stretches of success? A club whose schizophrenic personality (hit but don’t pitch, pitch but don’t hit) appears incurable? I wrote recently about how exceedingly average this Tribe team (then .500 and now a game under as I type this) is, and how the demands of the division (or lack thereof) made that tolerable for the time being. But those demands are increasing every day, as the Tigers (winners of 13 of 17 and expected aggressors in Deadline dealing) start to make the most of the fifth-highest payroll in the game, with the White Sox a game and a half back and benefiting from the boost of Kevin Youkilis (they also added Brett Myers over the weekend, for whatever that’s worth). This is still one of the weakest divisions in the game, but it’s going to take more than a .500 effort to win it. And the second Wild Card? Sure, that presumably props up the postseason odds for anybody meandering in the realm of .500. But had that second Wild Card existed from the beginning of the Wild Card era, it would have taken 89 wins, on average, to claim it in the full, 162-game seasons (1995 was, of course, shortened by the strike). Maybe it won’t take that many this year, but that’s the neighborhood you’ve got to shoot for. It’s difficult to see this Indians team going on the kind of second-half run it would take to finish eight games over .500, and it’s difficult to see any of the realistic options (emphasis there on “realistic”) in the trade department drastically altering that bottom line. Because remember, this Tribe team has not won more than four in a row at any point this year. This team has allowed 47 more run than it has scored. In fact, only three teams in all of MLB — the Rockies, Twins and Astros — have allowed more runs. This team is still trying to figure out what it has in Ubaldo Jimenez (5.18 ERA in his last 30 starts), still trying to figure out if Carlos Santana will catch fire this year (1.727 OPS the last five games, so that’s certainly a start), still losing to lefties, still watching Derek Lowe wilt, still waiting (with an absence of optimism) for Grady Sizemore to come back, still hoping to stave off another second-half slide from Asdrubal Cabrera. When asked about the Deadline, Antonetti has generally said something along the lines of, “We need the guys here to play to their potential.” In the starting pitching department, that hasn’t happened. In the run-production department, that hasn’t happened. The Indians have an offense that ranks around league average and a starting staff that sits alongside the sellers. And the absence of sustained winning streaks, to date, has to lead us to wonder if the Tribe is capable of the kind of run it would take to become a postseason team, even in an expanded postseason format. The Trade Deadline, from the buyer’s perspective, is an opportunity to augment and enhance, not completely reshape and repair. If Antonetti and Co. see opportunities within the Deadline realm to add longer-term options who are going to help the 2013 effort, then have at it. Again, though, the Indians don’t have many valuable chips in the upper levels of their farm system to pull off significant swaps, like the Ubaldo deal last year. This leads to a potential shift in strategy that’s already being pointed out in the national media — the possibility of the Indians becoming sellers at the Deadline. In Chris Perez, they have a valuable commodity in a mercurial role who is due another big raise in arbitration. And in Vinnie Pestano, they have a capable replacement. So I wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a trade — provided, of course, that it brings in a Major League return that can help in 2013 and not a prospect haul. Shin-Soo Choo, as the above FOX Sports link notes, would be the other obvious trade candidate in a sell situation, given that 2013 is the last year in which the Indians have contractual control of him and the possibility of an extension with the Indians was all but removed long ago. But unlike the Perez/Pestano situation, the Indians would be extremely hard-pressed to replace the production provided by Choo, especially given their organizational outfield abyss. I’d imagine it would take a huge haul to prompt them to move him. Anything viewed within the prism of selling, at this juncture, would be a PR nightmare, so there’s that. Still, the dearth of sellers this season leads me to believe you can make a move with Perez, in particular, that helps the current club while also increasing the earnestness of the 2013 effort. But as far as buying is concerned? Well, given the propensity toward overpays in a seller’s market, and given the unmistakable mediocrity we’ve witnessed from these Indians in a season now well into its second half, any attempt to augment this 2012 club with a short-term rental would seem to be a deal made for the sake of dealing. The Indians have many needs, but they definitely don’t need that. It seems to me we need an upgrade in the front office and scouting departments. There is no reason our farm system should be so bare. By Charlie Brown (@cmbmd) on July 23, 2012 1:31 pm - Reply Pingback: While We’re Waiting… Four Fantastic Reads and a Funny Story | WaitingForNextYear With the farm so barren it isn’t likely we will see many graduates make an impact on the big league club over the next two or three years. So, fans have a “now or never” mentality like I’ve not seen in years. Also, beginning with spring training and many times this season, Indians leadership raised expectations by repeatedly telling Tribe fans “we were bitterly diasappointed in last years results and 2012 is going to be a year of contention!” . This despite the obvious problems with the roster before spring training even started (inadequate starting pitching and no right handed power). So those same fans think they’ll see some action at the deadline, and know it could be several years before we sniff a post-season spot again. Long-time fans I know are becoming disinterested in the team; they are exhausted by the mediocrity and need to see some success. It’s a conundrum, but I would advise the front office to think very carefully before selling. By TF on July 24, 2012 2:58 pm - Reply Pingback: “Everybody’s doing something; we’ll do nothing!” « CastroTurf

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(Col.)-Broncos select four on final day of draft By: Andrew Lacy Posted at: 04/27/2013 05:34 PMENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos have addressed their need for a pass-rusher by selecting defensive end Quanterus Smith from Western Kentucky in the fifth round of the draft. Smith was the 2012 Sun Belt Player of the Year after finishing his college career with two dozen sacks. Denver came into the weekend still needing a pass-rusher following the free agency departure of Elvis Dumervil to the Baltimore Ravens, a move that followed a fax fiasco last month in which the Broncos had to cut him rather than have his $12 million 2013 salary guaranteed. The team then boosted their deep receiving corps by picking Tavarres King out of the University of Georgia in the fifth round. King had 136 receptions for 2,602 yards and 21 touchdowns in his college career. In the sixth round, Denver selected Virginia Tech offensive tackle Vinston Painter. Painter is more comfortable at left tackle but could back up both Ryan Clady on the left side and Orlando Franklin on the right side. He can also play guard at 6-foot-6 and 309 pounds. Painter started 13 games last season, when he was a fifth-year senior. As a freshman, he worked at defensive tackle before moving back to offense. The Broncos have four starters along the offensive line who are coming off surgeries that will limit their offseason field work. The team finished the day by selecting quarterback Zac Dysert of Miami (Ohio) in the seventh round. The Broncos needed an third quarterback behind Peyton Manning and his heir-in-waiting Brock Osweiler, a second-round selection in last year's draft. Last year's No. 3 QB, Caleb Hanie, was never active on game day and was cut after the season. He signed with Baltimore this month. Dysert (6-foot-3 and 231 pounds) had a solid showing in the Senior Bowl. He said a hamstring injury he sustained in February is healed. Dysert said he was ecstatic at the opportunity to learn under Manning, saying "I wouldn't rather be in any other place."

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Jerry Hairston, Jr. To Come Off Disabled List When Nationals Head To Houston By T.J. Doyle @gheorghetheblog Jerry Hairston, Jr. has recovered from a slight fracture in his wrist suffered three weeks ago, and is ready to join his Washington teammates in Houston for their upcoming series with the Astros. Via Nats Insider: Injured utilityman Jerry Hairston will join the Nationals in Houston tonight and be activated off the 15-day disabled list in time for tomorrow's series opener against the Astros, according to a club source. Hairston hasn't played since June 29 in Anaheim, when he took a fastball from the Angels' Dan Haren off his right wrist, suffering a slight fracture in the process. The 35-year-old hoped to play through the injury, but it was severe enough to require a stint on the DL. Before the injury, Hairston was serving a valuable utility role, already playing four positions for Washington. For the year, he is hitting .260 with two home runs and 17 runs batted in. Hairston spent the last two evenings at Washington's Double-A affiliate Harrisburg, getting one hit in six at bats. In order to place Hairston on the active roster, the Nationals will need to make a corresponding personnel move, most likely after their game today with the Atlanta Braves. Jerry Hairston Injury Sends Him To Disabled List, Rick Ankiel Recalled Jerry Hairston Injury To Sideline Nationals' Second Baseman For 2-4 Weeks

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- ACC midseason report ACC midseason report By Heather Dinich The ACC has arrived. At the halfway point of the season, the once-beleaguered conference now has top 10�teams in No. 3 Clemson, No. 5 Florida State and No. 10 Miami.�It has Heisman candidates in Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd and Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston. It has four ranked teams, including�No. 19�Virginia Tech. It has wins over Florida and Georgia. And it’s the No. 3 conference in the country, trailing only the SEC and the Pac-12. Doesn’t matter that Virginia can’t score in the red zone, Syracuse can’t find a consistent quarterback and Georgia Tech has lost three in a row. All of the blemishes and imperfections of the others can be overlooked when there are two striking beauties walking down the runway first. With not one but two legitimate national title contenders, and the resurgence of Virginia Tech and Miami in the Coastal Division, the ACC’s premier programs have helped elevate the league’s perception through the first half of the season. Roderick McDowell and Clemson announced the ACC's presence in the season opener with a win over SEC power Georgia.Even Boston College, a program that has won just six games in the past two seasons, has earned respect under first-year coach Steve Addazio. Nobody has played Atlantic Division heavyweights FSU and Clemson tougher than the Eagles, who have adopted their new coach’s blue-collar work ethic and passion. The Eagles have proven to be a fundamentally sound, well-coached team intent on running the ball first, and Clemson was lucky to escape with a win on Saturday night. Much like Boston College, Maryland has already surpassed last year’s win total with its 5-1 record. Even with starting quarterback C.J. Brown sidelined with a concussion on Saturday, the Terps found a way to beat Virginia and come within one win of bowl eligibility. Virginia Tech, which needed a win over rival Virginia last year in the regular-season finale to become bowl eligible, has already reached that milestone with Saturday’s win against Pitt. Much improved from a year ago, and with one of the premier defenses in the country, the Hokies are now bowl eligible for the 21st consecutive year. Quarterback Logan Thomas continues to improve each week, and the players around him have gotten noticeably better. The Hokies are starting to hit their stride offensively just when it matters most. The ACC enters the second half of the season with three unbeaten teams remaining in Clemson, Florida State and Miami, and four teams (Virginia Tech is the other) undefeated in league play. Of course, it hasn’t all been Heisman happy. League newcomers Pitt and Syracuse already�have played themselves into irrelevance in their respective division races. Virginia coach Mike London’s seat is starting to sizzle. And Tobacco Road is ready for basketball season. North Carolina, Duke and NC State are a combined 0-7 in league play. Wake Forest, with its lone ACC win coming against the Wolfpack, has underachieved and spent the first half of the season trying to find an identity on offense. UNC, meanwhile, has to win five of the final seven games just to get to a bowl game, and it doesn’t look good. That’s not what the rest of the nation is watching, though, and that’s why the ACC is sitting pretty through the first half of the season. Offensive MVP: Clemson QB Tajh Boyd --�He recently became the program’s all-time leader in passing yards with 9,836. He is second in total offense in ACC history. He has won 27 games as Clemson’s starter, and he’s the ACC’s best hope at a Heisman Trophy winner this year. Boyd’s leadership is one of the biggest reasons Clemson is ranked No. 3 in the country and in contention for a national title. Defensive MVP: Clemson DE Vic Beasley�--�The redshirt junior has emerged as one of the top pass-rushers in the country this fall. He’s No. 2 in the country in sacks at 1.5 per game, and he’s tied for fourth in the country in tackles for loss with two per game and 12 total. First-year coach Steve Addazio has Boston College playing at a higher level than any preseason prognostication.Biggest surprise: Boston College --�After winning just two games a year ago, expectations were tempered for the Eagles, who are under the direction of first-year coach Steve Addazio. The Eagles have already surpassed last year’s two-win total, though, and have played with an intensity in every game that has exceeded the expectations of most. Biggest disappointment: North Carolina --�The Tar Heels won eight games last year, but this season they might not even get to a bowl game under Larry Fedora. The offense and the defense have looked atrocious, and UNC has lost three in a row heading into Thursday night’s game against Miami. Despite losing Giovani Bernard and Jonathan Cooper, Fedora said this year’s offense could be better, but it only has gotten worse. Newcomer of the year: FSU QB Jameis Winston --�He arguably�has been the most exciting redshirt freshman in the country this year. He has gone from being Florida State’s biggest question to its biggest asset. He’s No. 2 in the country in passing efficiency, and he’s No. 4 in the country with a QBR of 91.3 In his first season as a starter, he’s already in the Heisman mix. Best coach: Miami’s Al Golden --�He beat Florida. He has the Canes at 5-0 and ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 2009. Oh, and the program still hasn’t heard if it will face further sanctions from the NCAA. Golden has kept his team focused and winning, and brought the Canes back to relevance in the national picture. Best game: Clemson 38, Georgia 35. This was the game that changed the entire perception of the ACC and legitimized Clemson’s hopes at a national title. Finally, the ACC had the upper hand against the SEC on the big stage in a season opener. Not only was it a win for the ACC, but the seesaw game lived up to all of the preseason hype and was an instant classic.

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- Christmas Countdown: Dominant storyline Christmas Countdown: Dominant storyline By Chris Forsberg We've said the same thing three years running, but this is definitely the last rodeo for the Big Three ... probably. Editor’s note: Over the next 12 days, we’ll countdown to the Celtics’ Christmas matchup with the Knicks (Dec. 25 at 12 p.m. ET) by hitting on 12 big topics facing the Green this season. WALTHAM, Mass. -- There’s been so much talk about “windows” since the Big Three were united in Boston that you’d think Bill Gates ran the team. When Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were united during the summer of 2007, most figured that window of opportunity was three years at best. And ever since they won a title after less than 12 months together, the focus has been on whether they are too old to do it again. Few thought they’d still be together at this point, but one thing is certain: This is the last rodeo ... probably. Over the next 12 days, we'll count down to the Celtics' Christmas matchup with the Knicks (Dec. 25 at noon ET) by hitting on 12 big topics facing the Green this season: • Dec. 12: Dominant storyline • Dec. 13: Condensed schedule? • Dec. 14: Best-case scenario • Dec. 15: Worst-case scenario • Dec. 16: Bench boss • Dec. 17: New blood • Dec. 18: Backcourt breakdown • Dec. 19: Forward breakdown • Dec. 20: Centers of attention • Dec. 21: Player in the spotlight • Dec. 22: Season prediction • Dec. 23: Christmas preview “It is [the last rodeo for the Big Three],” Celtics coach Doc Rivers admitted. Allen and Garnett will be unrestricted free agents after the season, and the expectation is the Celtics will begin turning over their roster by using that cleared cap space to splurge on the next generation of superstars. “I was very honest with them about that," Rivers said. "That doesn’t mean we won’t have some of them back next year or not, but there’s the chance that we will not. And this is most likely our last shot. And I was honest with them about that. This has to be a team that looks at ourselves like we have to do it this year because this is our only year that we can do it. We may never be in this position again, as a player or as a coach. We have to try to take advantage of it.” Despite flirtations with trades that could have overhauled part of the core -- even if the Big Three never seemed in jeopardy of being split up -- the Celtics are set to bring back their same playoff starting five from last season, with alterations simply to the bench. Some will wonder if it wasn’t good enough last season, why would it be good enough this season? Can the Celtics get enough out of that aging Big Three to still hang with the young guns of the Eastern Conference? Especially after the Heat -- and their vaunted Miami Thrice -- knocked Boston out of the Eastern Conference semifinals last season. “We didn’t get enough out of our team [last season],” Rivers admitted. “We just watched some film of that [Heat series before the team’s first practice session of the new season Friday]. Just to refresh all of their memories. [The Heat] were the better team in that series, but we made mistakes. And I wanted to remind them of that. I thought that was important.” One encouraging sign is the high level at which the Big Three played last season. Garnett labored during the 2009-10 season, coming off of a knee injury, but seemed far less hindered last season. Allen posted career bests in field goal and 3-point percentages, all while becoming the NBA’s all-time leader in 3-point field goals. With a new four-year deal in his pocket, Pierce quietly put together another solid and consistent campaign. Can the Celtics maintain that level of play? Allen turned 36 over the summer, yet he’s the least of the concern. Garnett will match that age in May and has put a lot of miles on those tires since being a preps-to-pro phenom. Pierce overcame an injury-filled 2009-10 season to play 80 games a season ago, setting a career high in field goal percentage (49.7). Garnett acknowledged that nothing is a given at this stage of their careers. “No one knows the certainty of the future, so we’re embracing this year as our last,” he said. Asked about his future, Garnett added, “I’m focused on this year and this year only. I’ll make other decisions later. All three players gushed about the early moves in free agency, hoping bench additions such as Brandon Bass, Chris Wilcox and Keyon Dooling can help take the stress of the veterans. Concerns remain up front, where one year after leaning on an injury-riddled Shaquille O’Neal the Celtics will likely hang their hats on injury-riddled Jermaine O’Neal (who was limited to 24 regular-season games a season ago). The Big Three -- along with point guard Rajon Rondo -- know the responsibility of leading this team falls heavily on their shoulders this season. They are prepared to shoulder the load. “I like our team,” Allen said. “I feel very strongly about our chances. One of the things that we said is that we have the guys that are going to help us win. But you know, me, Paul, Kevin and Rondo, we have to make sure we play our best basketball. We have to be leaders and make sure that we do the right things at all times. That responsibility always falls squarely on our shoulders. We have to be better this year than we were last year.” Because they most likely won’t get an opportunity next year to be better than they were this year.

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PSG news Ancelotti keen to remain at PSG Carlo Ancelotti has given the strongest signal yet that he will be Paris Saint-Germain coach next season.GettyImagesCarlo Ancelotti: Currently top of Ligue 1 with PSG• Blog: PSG take big step forwardThe Italian, 53, has a clause in his contract which will automatically extend his deal beyond this summer should PSG finish in the top three in Ligue 1.With his team riding seven points clear of second-placed Marseille with eight games left, Ancelotti is all but certain to earn himself an extra year.However, the former AC Milan and Chelsea boss, who took charge in the French capital in December 2011, has always maintained he would only stay if both he and the club's Qatari owners were happy with his work.Recent comments by club president Nasser Al-Khelaifi indicated he was content with his coach, and Ancelotti has now acknowledged a personal desire to remain in his post at the Parc des Princes.He said: "I know that I want to stay. The most important thing is to win the title and then we'll talk to the club. If everyone's happy, there's no problem."I know that I'm going to stay, so I'll stay if everyone's satisfied. With the same coach, it's perhaps easier to have continuity. I'm saying that continuity comes more easily with stability."

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Draft spared...so far... Post subject: Draft spared...so far...Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2005 4:36 am Purveyor of Truth & Justice The Falcons announced they released DE Joe Tafoya to make room for Ed Hartwell. The savings according to Cap is about $455,000. That's generous considering Tafoya was anything but a sure bet to make this roster this year. He's an undersized run stopper, and I think this team is looking for more speed at DE. But he is a good special teams player.I speculated that Chris Draft would be released to make room for Hartwell. And thus far, I seem wrong. But just because Draft was not cut this week, doesn't mean it won't happen.They could be waiting until June, where the team could save about an extra $400,000 against the cap which would be more beneficial when it comes to signing our rookies. I f that's the case, I feel sad for Draft, since it will hurt his chances of catching on somewhere else.Or the team could release Draft as soon as they add a guy they think can replace him. Possibly that's in the draft, or it could be a street free agent.Or they could be planning to keep Draft through the season. I think ideally Draft shoudl play on the outside. He's like Brooking in that he's best chasing the football, and in the middle you don't get to do that very often unless you have a solid group of players up front. Since he can also easily play MLB, he provides good depth much like Demorrio and Reese can since both play 2 positions.I've always like Draft as a player. I thought he outplayed Keith Brooking back in 2002, had a down year in '03, but I don't think he was any worse than Brooking at the time. He's no stud, but he can start in this league. He's just not a playmaker anymore like he was 2-3 years ago.

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Bonderman to attempt comeback with Mariners Former Tigers starter Jeremy Bonderman, who hasn’t pitched in the Majors since arm injuries sidelined him in 2010, has signed a Minor League contract with the Mariners with an invitation to Major League camp. Bonderman, 30, posted a 67-77 record with a 4.89 ERA in eight seasons with Detroit, with arm problems plaguing his final few seasons. But the big right-hander had Tommy John surgery in April and said he’s now getting back to full strength, already able to throw fastballs off a mound, and looking forward to competing for a job this spring with the Mariners. “I’ve been working hard, lost some weight, doing all the little things I probably should have done a long time ago,” he said by phone from his home outside Pasco, Wash. “But live and learn.” Bonderman has been pondering a comeback while helping raise his two kids, ages 6 and 2. Seattle seemed like the right fit, a four-hour drive across the state. “It’s close to home,” he said. “Really it just came down to the comfort of going back to Detroit or staying close to home with my family. I haven’t been away from my kids in two years and I wanted to stay close. It’s a great opportunity to come in and make the team and help them and get my career back on track. It seemed like a good fit.” Bonderman said he’s lost about 20 pounds from his final playing days with the Tigers, now packing about 220 pounds on his 6-foot-2 frame. He’ll report to the Mariners camp in Peoria, Ariz., about a month early to begin working with the team’s trainers to prepare for his comeback. “I had a lot of success in Detroit, but my arm just gave out toward the end of my career there,” he said. “It’s not the way I wanted to finish up, but I think I can come back and stay healthy and find a way to get it going and get my career back on line. I’d like to play a few more years and see what happens.” In 2006, Bonderman was a key factor in the Tigers World Series run, going 14-8 with a 4.08 ERA in an AL-leading 34 starts. He also won 14 games in 2005. Bonderman went 8-10 with a 5.53 ERA in 30 games in 2010, then was out of baseball in 2011 before getting a tryout with the Indians. It was during his physical with Cleveland that his elbow injury was revealed and he underwent Tommy John surgery. Bonderman was originally selected by Oakland 26th overall in the 2001 June draft following his junior season at Pasco High School. He made a quick rise to the Major Leagues, making only 27 Minor League appearances before arriving in the Majors. He was traded to Detroit on Aug. 22, 2002, and made his Major League debut as a 20-year-old in the Tigers starting rotation in 2003. The Mariners have an opening in their rotation after trading Jason Vargas to the Angels this week for Kendrys Morales and are still interested in adding another veteran either through free agency or trade. No Risk signing. I will be rooting for Bonderman to reach his potential Now…..time to get a more reliable option for the rotation. Shaun Marcum? By shawnuel on December 21, 2012 4:17 pm - Reply

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Gurcharan Das Official blog of Gurcharan Das. He is the author of India Grows at Night: A Liberal Case for a Strong State (Penguin 2012);The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma (2009),India Unbound (2000),a novel,A Fine Family (1990),a book of essays The Elephant Paradigm (2002) & an anthology of plays,Three plays (2003). He writes a regular column for the Times of India and 5 Indian language papers and occasional pieces for the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and Time magazine. IPL and Capitalism The recently concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) has been a non-stop party that lasted for six weeks to which everyone was invited provided you wanted to have fun. It brought magical nights to millions across India, a respite from their drab, desperate lives. It was filled to the brim with desire--for cricket and Bollywood, for chatter and glamour, for tomfoolery and unrequited sensuality, and for high rolling betting. (There was even satta market on the beleaguered Lalit Modi’s fate as the league commissioner, and the returns from every rupee on Mr Modi surviving were Rs 5.50 last Saturday.)IPL is indeed a metaphor for a new India—crass, brash and razzmatazz--but it is in big trouble. What began as a trifling spat between Shashi Tharoor and Lalit Modi ended in the resignation of the minister and the suspension of the IPL commissioner. Everyone has had a say by now and some good suggestions have emerged for the reform of the IPL and the cricket board (BCCI). But in the chorus of remonstration there was a definite anti-capitalist refrain. Coming as this does on the heels of the global financial crisis and the recent troubles of Goldman Sachs, the legitimacy of the market is once again in question in a country where capitalism is still trying to find a comfortable home.The most strident voices belonged to members of Parliament who demanded a probe by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Some political parties called for nationalizing the IPL. Lalu Prasad (RJD), Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) and Sharad Yadav (JD-U) insisted on banning it. The JD(U) member, Shivanand Tiwari, demanded that funds of the IPL and BCCI be confiscated. CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta criticised the 20-20 game format, saying it was a ‘caricature’ of cricket in which players were bought like ‘vegetables’. The deputy leader of the Opposition, Gopinath Munde asked that if bar girls in Mumbai had been barred from performing, why should cheerleading girls be allowed in the IPL? Mulayam Singh called cricket a ‘foreign game’ and wanted it replaced by a desi one.How does one begin to judge the IPL? When it comes to public policy, it is best to follow the advice of Vidura, the royal adviser in the Mahabharata, who looks to the general good. If an act benefits the vast majority then it is right. Cricket’s two main stakeholders are the players and the fans. It has given an opportunity to many talented cricketers to rise and showcase their talents. Going by television ratings and packed stadiums, more Indians have been entertained by the IPL than anything else. By Vidura’s criterion, IPL has performed brilliantly. Lalit Modi is undoubtedly a great entrepreneur who has also driven the IPL’s brand value to a staggering $4.13 billion in less than three years. There are serious problems, however. Conclusive proof must be found for match-fixing, rigged auctions, tampering with roster selections and other allegations. We need full public disclosure of all the bids. Modi must be tried fairly based on evidence, not personal dislike. BCCI must also be overhauled. As the custodian of cricket, it runs like a cabal, exploiting its monopoly privileges. As to gambling, the best answer is to make sports betting legal—then it will open and fair. This will generate huge revenues for the government and cut the nexus with the underworld.With regard to the competitive status of Indian cricket, our team has become world’s no. 1 in tests; it is clawing to the top in the one day version; and the 20/20 team did win the inaugural world cup. BCCI’s seems to have delivered far better performance than other sports associations, where government plays a bigger role.A Rajya Sabha member complained that the evil in IPL was foreign and he traced it to the market. The honourable member did not realise that markets are natural to human beings. Banias and bazaars have been with us for thousand of years, ever since Indians first engaged in agriculture and there was a surplus. Our first towns in the Indus valley emerged as centres of exchange. But markets are not the same thing as the market system, which requires that moneymaking be regarded as respectable. Historically, commerce has had a bad odour in all societies. In India, the merchant was third in the cast hierarchy. Even though we have the wondrous spectacle of thousands of young Indians starting business ventures today, the idea that their struggle for personal gain might actually promote the common is too bizarre. This is behind the animus against the big sums in the IPL. Even sophisticated Indians distrust the market – perhaps, because no one is in charge. No wonder Samuel Johnson said, “There is nothing which requires more to be illustrated by philosophy than trade does.”Besides politicians, journalists and academics have been the most vociferous in criticising IPL’s capitalist ideology. The philosopher, Robert Nozick explains in a classic essay why intellectuals everywhere dislike capitalism. They feel entitled to greater prestige, money and power, whereas the market rewards those who fulfil perceived demand in the marketplace. The wordsmith’s expectation is created early in school. In the classroom the brightest are rewarded with the highest marks and teachers’ smiles. Hence, they grow up expecting praise. When it does not come in later life, and when society values things other than verbal ability, they grow resentful and sullen, especially when they experience downward mobility. Lalit Modi’s entrepreneurship necessarily involved assuming risks and valuing novelty, characteristics that are not common in a stable society. He was a brash new kid around the block, and he will admit that entrepreneurial success does not lead to social acceptance. Old money does not like new money. The economic historian, Jean Baechler, tells us that in sixth century BC firms in Babylon took in money deposits, issued cheques, made loans at interest, and invested in agricultural and industrial enterprises. Yet they were looked down upon. All agrarian civilizations have looked down upon merchant capitalists and commercial activities have been universally held in low esteem.It was only in the High Middle Ages that this changed, and capitalists were finally given social acceptance and protection from the predation of the state, as Deepak Lal argues in Unintended Consequences. It was due to a legal revolution in the eleventh century when Pope Gregory VII in 1075 put the church above the state. The resulting church-state created the whole legal and administrative infrastructure required by a full fledged market economy. This led to the rise of the West and its divergence from the rest of the world.India after 1991 has joined in this capitalist adventure, and with vigour. Because India got democracy before capitalism, the critique of capitalism began in the 1950s even before full blown capitalism arrived in 1990s. Hence, players in the capitalist game have a responsibility to behave with restraint until capitalism establishes a comfortable home. IPL’s irregularities have not helped. But having said that, it is impressive that the critique of IPL has been constructive by and large, and shows we have come a long way in our attitudes. The challenge before regulators remains—how to bring transparency in the market without killing the animal spirits of the likes of Lalit Modi.Gurcharan Das is the author of ‘The Difficulty of Being Good: On the Subtle Art of Dharma’ gurcharan India Grows at Night The Difficulty of Being Good India Unbound The Elephant Paradigm A Fine Family Three Plays The Story of Indian Business This crisis of authority does not have an easy fix Gurcharan Das has recently published a new book, India Grows at Night: A liberal case for a strong state (Penguin 2012). He is also general editor for a 15 volume series, The Story of Indian Business (Penguin) of which three volumes have already appeared. He is the author of The Difficulty of Being Good: On the subtle art of dharma (Penguin 2009) which interrogates the epic, Mahabharata, in order to answer the question, ‘why be good?’ His international bestseller, India Unbound, is a narrative account of India from Independence to the global information age, and has been published in 17 languages and filmed by BBC. He writes regular column for several news papers and periodic guest columns for the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Foreign Affairs, and Newsweek. Gurcharan Das graduated with honors from Harvard University in Philosophy, Politics and Sanskrit. He later attended Harvard Business School. He was CEO of Procter & Gamble India and later Managing Director, Procter & Gamble Worldwide (Strategic Planning). In 1995, he took early retirement to become a full time writer. Visit http://gurcharandas.org for his complete work and profile.

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Bayonne athlete honors by Special Olympics Dec 12, 2012 | 1082 views | 0 | 3 | | The Special Olympics New Jersey (S.O.N.J.) honored individuals and groups for their dedication and commitment to the mission of the Special Olympics at their annual awards dinner at the Westin Princeton on Nov. 16. Among those honored was Thomas Gutierrez of Bayonne, who was named the 2012 Outstanding Athlete of the Year in Summer Sports. Gutierrez has been involved with the S.O.N.J. for nearly 25 years, competing year-round in a variety of sports. His success in aquatics earned him this honor.Gutierrez has served as captain of the Bayonne Recreation Program swim team for the past 10 years. As captain, he motivates his teammates and helps them find ways to continually improve. For his dedication to sport and his commitment to the success of the team, he is respected by his teammates and coaches.The Athlete of the Year in Summer Sports Award is reserved for a Special Olympics athlete who has shown determination, dedication to training, and increased proficiency in a qualifying summer sport.S.O.N.J. provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in 24 Olympic-type sports for more than 22,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continued opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Visit www.sonj.org for more information. Violet Malcom leads Special Keglers to victory at State Championships SOCCER VICTORY We need a home gym SPECIAL NEEDS SPORTS PROGRAM

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FSU's top juniors won't look past UF By David M. Hale | ESPN.com TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- For EJ Manuel and the rest of Florida State's seniors, the moment is emotional by design. They'll take the field Saturday knowing its the last time they'll do so at Doak Campbell Stadium, a mix of nostalgia and finality. The same could be true for junior Bjoern Werner, too, should he decide to enter the NFL draft at year's end, but he's choosing not to look at it that way. [+] EnlargeMike Ehrmann/Getty ImagesAn injury at the end of last season kept CB Xavier Rhodes at FSU another year, but now the emotional player faces a huge decision."I'm just going to finish the season and think about it after the season," Werner said. "If I start thinking about it too early, I'm just going to mess up my game. We have big games -- Florida, an ACC championship, and hopefully an Orange Bowl. I can't think about that stuff." Werner is one of a handful of Florida State underclassmen who could forgo a final season with the Seminoles in favor of an NFL career, which could make Saturday's game all the more significant if they let the weight of the decision sink in. So far, however, they all appear to be following Werner's lead. "I never put that pressure on me," said safety Lamarcus Joyner, whose draft future is perhaps the most uncertain of any of FSU's potential early departures. "That's something that has to be evaluated definitely at the end of the season." Werner figures to be a sure first-round pick if he departs early, and cornerback Xavier Rhodes could be as well. A year ago, as a redshirt sophomore, Rhodes weighed the decision, too, but an injury during FSU's bowl game made the choice easy. This time around, he's acutely aware that the finality of a season and a career can sneak up on a player -- whether or not he's thinking of heading to the NFL. "Every game to me is emotional," Rhodes said. "You've got to cherish every second of it. That's how I go into every game." Rhodes, Werner, Joyner and linebacker Christian Jones could all choose to leave at year's end, but that's still a decision that doesn't need to be made for a few weeks. In the interim, there's a game with Florida -- a team none of the four juniors have lost to as active players. Keeping that streak alive means a lot more at this point than a career that may soon be ending. "Do I think about it? Everybody thinks about it," Joyner said. "That's why you do what you do. But it doesn't cross my mind as far as whether I'm going to declare or not. … If you worry about something like that, it breaks you down mentally. You already have things to focus on during the season." Noles to watch: 1. Cameron Erving and Menelik Watson A year ago, Florida State's offensive line was a shambles by the time it faced off against Florida's stout defense. This season, only center Bryan Stork remains a starter, and the line has been markedly improved. Florida still boasts a powerful front four and a pass rush that could give Manuel problems, but Watson and Erving provide a far more athletic edge capable of slowing down the Gators' attack. Still, FSU has allowed eight sacks in the past two games after giving up just 13 in the first nine games of the season. 2. Werner and Cornellius Carradine If FSU's offensive line is going to have its hands full with the Florida pass rush, the favor should at least be returned by Werner and Carradine, who combined for three sacks against Maryland last week. The defensive ends have tallied 20 sacks on the season, the most by any pair of teammates in the nation. Meanwhile, Florida's O line has allowed the second most sacks in the SEC. 3. Cason Beatty The freshman punter has one of the lowest punting averages in the nation, which Florida is counting on as a major advantage in what figures to be a game where field position matters greatly. Beatty certainly doesn't have the same leg as Florida's Kyle Christy, but as Fisher pointed out this week, he's largely managed to get the job done. He's booted a higher percentage of punts downed inside the opponent's 10 than Christy. Gators to watch: 1. Jeff Driskel Florida State still isn't sure how much of Driskel it will see after the Florida quarterback injured his ankle two weeks ago. Gators coach Will Muschamp said Driskel should play, and if he can stay on the field, he could offer some freedom for the Florida offense, which boasts relatively few real weapons. Driskel hasn't been great in the passing game, but he's more mobile than the alternative, and FSU has struggled at times this season against the likes of Logan Thomas and Tajh Boyd, two other athletic QBs. 2. Mike Gillislee The Florida running back ranks fourth in the SEC in rushing with 964 yards on the season, and he's been the focal point of the Gators' offensive attack. Gillislee is averaging 19.2 carries per game, tops in the SEC and 22nd nationally. His 4.57 yards per carry average, however, isn't exactly elite (25th among SEC players) and FSU's run defense has allowed just 70 yards per game, the best mark in the nation. 3. Matt Elam and Josh Evans The strength of Florida's defense may be the secondary, where Evans and Elam have combined to be one of the most productive pairs of safeties in the country. They're 1-2 on the team in tackles, while Elam has chipped in with 9.5 TFLs, and they've combined for five interceptions and a forced fumble for the season. 95.18. That's the average number of rushing yards allowed by Florida's defense this season, the sixth-best mark in the country and by far the best of any of FSU's opponents. In fact, Florida State's other nine FBS opponents have allowed, on average, 171.4 yards per game on the ground. Still, last week's opponent, Maryland, ranks as the second-best rushing D the Seminoles have gone against, and James Wilder Jr. and Devonta Freeman combined for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries. 7.27 and 3.67. That's the yards per play and the yards allowed per play, respectively, for Florida State this season. Both numbers are the best in the nation. FSU is one of just four teams averaging better than 7 yards per play on offense, and Alabama is the only other team in the country allowing fewer than 4 yards per play on defense. The 3.6 yards per play difference between what FSU is averaging offensively and allowing defensively is by far the best mark in the nation, with only five other teams managing half as much. 132.4. That's the number of passing yards per game Driskel has averaged this season, and Florida's passing game ranks a dismal 118th nationally. Driskel's 6.9 yards per attempt puts him 73rd in the nation among QBs, but if he could match that Saturday, it would constitute something of a breakthrough. Florida State's defense is allowing a best-in-the-nation 4.9 yards per attempt this season. 65. That's the number of passing yards Manuel accounted for in last year's win over Florida, the fewest he's had in any start of his career. Playing behind a dismal offensive line, Manuel had little time to throw and was only asked to pass 13 times in the game, but he still says the performance haunts him, and he's aiming to make up for lost time this week against a Gators' secondary that is allowing 186 passing yards per game -- 19th best in the country. 1,091. That's the number of days since FSU last lost to a team from the state of Florida, which puts this year's team in position to accomplish a unique feat. Florida State has never held a three-game winning streak against both Miami (Fla.) and Florida concurrently, but that could all change with a win Saturday. FSU has toppled the Hurricanes already this season (its third straight) and can make it three in a row against the Gators with a win this week. "That's something I want to tell my kids and brag about at reunions," Joyner said. David M. Hale | emailCollege footballFollowArchiveACC reporter.Joined ESPN in 2012.Graduate of the University of Delaware. Tags:Florida Gators, Florida State Seminoles, ACC, FSU football, jeff driskel, james wilder jr, cason beatty, bjoern werner, cornellius carradine, devonta freeman, ej manuel, Tajh Boyd, Cameron Erving, lamarcus joyner, xavier rhodes, Bryan Stork, Menelik Watson, Christian Jones, Logan Thomas, Mike Gillislee, Matt Elam, Josh Evans, Kyle Christy, ACC championship

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Sherman, Seahawks Shut the Door on 49ers’ Super Bowl Hopes NFL Playoffs – NFC Championship Seattle Seahawks' Richard Sherman holds up the George Halas Trophy after the NFL football NFC Championship game against the San Francisco 49ers Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, in Seattle. The Seahawks won 23-17 to advance to Super Bowl XLVIII. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) All-pro cornerback Richard Sherman, known for trash talking, has never been shy about voicing his belief of him being the best cornerback in the NFL. But he let his play do the talking on Jan. 19 as he made the game-winning pass deflection to lead the Seattle Seahawks past the San Francisco 49ers, 23-17, in the NFC Championship game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Wash. Down six points with less than a minute left in the game, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick tried to throw the potential game-winning touchdown pass into the end zone to receiver Michael Crabtree. But Sherman was shadowing Crabtree and tipped the pass away from Crabtree and into the hands of his teammate, linebacker Michael Smith, for the game-sealing interception. “I’m the best cornerback in the NFL and that’s what happens when you test me with a sorry receiver like Crabtree,” Sherman shouted to Fox TV’s sideline reporter after the game. Seattle’s No. 1 ranked defense also forced two other turnovers by San Francisco’s offense. Kaepernick gave up a sack fumble and was also intercepted by safety Kam Chancellor in the third quarter. Kaepernick did, however, run the ball well, especially in the first half of the game. He finished with a game-high 130 rushing yards on 11 carries. The Seahawks started off a little slow on offense; they scored just three points in the first half and trailed 13-3 at halftime. But Seattle’s pro bowl running back Marshawn Lynch eventually got going and broke a 40-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Lynch finished with 109 rushing yards. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had a solid performance, completing 16 of 25 pass attempts for 215 yards and a 35-yard touchdown pass. His touchdown pass came in the clutch on fourth down to give Seattle their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter. Wilson is the fourth African-American quarterback to reach the Super Bowl. Seattle (15-3) will now match its top-ranked defense against the Denver Broncos (15-3) and their No. 1 ranked offense led by legendary quarterback Peyton Manning. It’ll be the first time in recent history that the top-ranked offense takes on the top-ranked defense in the Super Bowl. This is only the second time the Seahawks have reached the Super Bowl. They lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XL in February 2006. The Broncos will play in its sixth Super Bowl with their last trip coming in February 1999 when John Elway led them to their second of back-to-back championships. Super Bowl XLVIII is scheduled for Feb. 2 at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., setting up the first Super Bowl to be played outdoors in a cold climate.

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hide No divided loyalties for disappointed Dutch manager Team Netherlands manager Hensley Meulens watches his players during practice day for the semifinal round of the World Baseball Classic in Sa By Larry Fine SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Hensley Meulens had ties to both teams in the World Baseball Classic semi-final on Monday, but the Netherlands manager felt the undeniable sting of their 4-1 loss to the Dominican Republic. "I had my mom on the field today. She's full Dominican," Meulens explained. "My dad was on the field, too. He's full Dutch. So I was in between there, with half of my family still living in the Dominican Republic." Family loyalties, however, paled in comparison to the emptiness of seeing a campaign end one stage from the ultimate goal. "I really appreciate the Dominican Republic people, but I feel pain today after having lost this game and to not have been able to perform at the level that I need for the Dutch people," said Meulens. The Dominicans continued their irresistible run through the tournament, improving their record to 7-0 and aiming to become the first WBC team to get through the competition unbeaten. Four years ago, the tables were turned in their WBC match-up as the Netherlands beat the favored Dominicans twice in the first round to eliminate them. "I think in 2009, they weren't as concentrated and we were able to defeat them then," he said. "But this time they have been totally victorious up until now." The Dominican Republic advanced to an all-Caribbean final against Puerto Rico on Tuesday. With his team now eliminated, Meulens was no longer conflicted. "Hopefully they will win also tomorrow," he said.

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Looking Back on the Penguins-Flyers Series. by Lyle Richardson on 04/25/12 at 11:39 AM ET The Conference Quarterfinal between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers was expected to be the most entertaining of the opening round of the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs. No one, however, expected it to become a throwback to the wild, fire-wagon style of the 1980s. Though it ended with the Flyers eliminating the Penguins in six games, the notable storylines of that series still linger. - In an NHL in which tight-checking and strong goaltending are the norm at playoff time, the Flyers and Penguins combined for 56 goals - the Flyers with 30, the Penguins with 26. 45 of those goals came in the first four games, setting a record for the most goals in the opening four games of a seven-game series. That’s right, the 2012 Flyers and Penguins posted up numbers in those four games which broke records set back in the free-wheeling ‘80s. -Entering this series, Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury had a reputation as a clutch playoff performer, based largely upon his backstopping the Pens to two Stanley Cup Finals, including a championship in 2009. That reputation, however, suffered perhaps a mortal blow in this series, as Fleury, whom some observers were seriously touting as a Vezina Trophy candidate, was the epitome of a goalie who couldn’t stop a beachball. Considered among the league’s elite netminders, Fleury finished with a playoff-worst 4.63 GAA and .834 SP. It’s safe to assume Fleury’s critics will remember his performance in this series when the Penguins return to the playoffs, raising it as a critical factor in their post-season predictions. Fleury is only 27 and entering his playing prime. He’ll have a number of years to overcome this poor performance. Until he does, he’ll have to deal with questions over his ability to bounce back from his horrible effort against the Flyers. - If there was any lingering doubt Philadelphia Flyers center Claude Giroux was worthy of favorable comparison to Penguins superstars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, it was erased once and for all with his performance in this series. Giroux entered this series as a proven playoff performer, dating back to his efforts two years ago in the Flyers march to the 2010 Cup Final. With his placement this season among the league’s top scoring forwards, Giroux served notice he was now the Flyers’ top offensive forward. Despite these facts, Giroux entered this series overshadowed by notable opponents Crosby and Malkin, who have a Cup championship, plenty of individual awards, and reputations as clutch playoff performers. This series, however, was Giroux true “coming out party”, not just as a superstar in his own right by out-playing Crosby and Malkin, but also as the undisputed leader of the Flyers in the absence of injured captain Chris Pronger. Giroux’s timely offense - leading all playoff scorers with 14 points in 6 games - and fiery physical leadership had some observers comparing him to legendary Flyers captain Bobby Clarke, and he is now considered the logical candidate for the captaincy if Pronger’s concussion forces him into retirement. - This series also highlighted Evgeni Malkin’s tendency to fade into the background whenever Crosby is in the lineup. Malkin is this season’s winner of the Art Ross trophy as the league’s top scorer, and considered a shoo-in for the Hart Trophy as league MVP for carrying the banged-up Penguins into a top-four placement in the Eastern Conference standings. Yet, curiously, Malkin’s performance seemed to drop off when Crosby returned to the lineup, and especially in the series against the Flyers. It didn’t help that Malkin had a fuzzy-cheeked Flyers rookie named Sean Couturier in his face for most of this series, but he seemed an undisciplined shell of the dominant player he’d been in the regular season. A wide-open series like this should have been tailor-made for Malkin’s offensive talents. While he finished the series with 8 points in six games, all but one of those points came in three games. In Games One and Five, he was held scoreless. Half of his points came on the power-play. More than a few observers have noted Malkin’s puzzling trait of seeming to fall into “second banana” status when Crosby’s in the lineup. It seems he only really blossoms whenever Crosby’s sidelined or being checked to a standstill, which occurred in the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, resulting in Malkin elevating his game and winning playoff MVP honors. Don’t be surprised if that provokes questions over his long-term future with the team, especially when he draws closer to UFA status in July 2014. -Flyers veterans Giroux, Daniel Briere, Jaromir Jagr,and Scott Hartnell were, as expected, among their club’s best forwards in this series, but what was equally notable was how their young forwards rose to the occasion. 19-year-old rookie Sean Couturier did a tremendous job checking Penguins superstar Evgeni Malkin. 25-year-old rookie forward Matt Read had four points in six games. 22-year-old winger Jakub Voracek, playing in his first post-season in four years, had seven points. Oft-injured 20-year-old rookie center Brayden Schenn netted six points. 23-year-old right wing Wayne Simmonds, playing in his third post-season, potted four points in six games. If these young forwards continue this pace going forward into this post-season, it’ll provide a substantial boost to the Flyers hopes for a Stanley Cup run. -What was most surprising in this series was how easily the Flyers got under the collective skin of the Penguins. One would expect the Penguins, with most of their core players having won a Stanley Cup together, understood maintaining their poise was a key factor to playoff success. That was supposed to provide them an advantage against a team whose captain was sidelined by concussion, not to mention underwent a significant roster shift last summer. But it was the Flyers who played with the poise of a champion, goading the Penguins into losing their cool, undisciplined play and costly penalties. Not even the Penguins leadership was immune. Crosby, Malkin and Kris Letang were guilty of chippy play, cheap shots and brawling, sullying their reputations in the process. -The Flyers had the sixth-best power-play during the regular season, while the Penguins countered with the third-best penalty kill. It was natural to assume, therefore, that as good as the Flyers were with the man-advantage, they would find power-play goals difficult to come by against the Penguins. Instead, the Penguins vaunted penalty-kill quickly fell apart, as the Flyers lit them up for 12 power-play goals on 23 attempts, and at one point in the series were an incredible 11 for 17 with the man advantage. The Penguins finished the series with the worst penalty-kill (a woeful 47.8%) among the sixteen playoff teams. The Penguins did pot nine PP markers of their own, going 31 percent with the man-advantage, but they also gave up three shorthanded goals to the Flyers. Clearly, their special teams, especially their PK, wasn’t that special. - Though this was a huge victory for the Flyers over their long-time rival, it doesn’t disguise the fact their defense and goaltending was only marginally better than the Penguins. Starting goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, who faced almost ceaseless questions about his performance during the season, did little to silence them throughout this series. Though he “came through when it mattered” with a strong effort in the series-clinching sixth game, Bryzgalov’s performance in the previous five games (3.89 GAA and .871 SP) was nearly as bad as Fleury’s. And while the Flyers scored 30 goals in those six games, they still gave up 26, including ten in an ugly Game Four loss. Bryzgalov could be faulted for some of those, but he also received little support from his sieve-like defense. While the Penguins penalty kill was atrocious, the Flyers weren’t much better, sitting 13th among the 16 playoff teams in that department. Bryzgalov’s steady performance in Game Six, combined with the improved play of his defense in a 4-1 series-clinching victory could be a heartening sign of significant improvement going forward. It better be, or else the Flyers could find their Cup dreams dashed nearly as quickly as those of their first round opponent. Filed in: | Puckin' Around With Spector | Permalink I started to write that this series was won by the team whose goalie played better. That is not right, though. This series was won by the team whose goalie was less incompetent. Unless the Philadelphia goalies can manage to look like at least ECHL level players, the team will depart early on in the next round. They will not catch an opponent whose goalies and defensemen are so totally asleep. Posted by DocF from Now: Lynn Haven, FL; was Reidsville, NC on 04/25/12 at 12:51 PM ET Whar Evilpens? Posted by Sneplive Forecasting the PR Strategies for “NHL CBA 2012”. Big Market NHL Teams to “Max Out” This Summer? Coyotes Need Fan Support To Survive. Whither Radulov? NHL Must Do More To Promote Stamkos. Management The Root of Canadian Clubs’ Woes. This Summer’s NHL Trade Market Could Be Busy. NHL CBA Gamesmanship Well Underway. About Puckin' Around With Spector I’m Lyle Richardson. You might know me from my website, Spector’s Hockey, my thrice-weekly rumor column at THN.com, my weekly column at Eishockey News (if you read German), and my former gig as a contributing writer to Foxsports.com. I’ll be writing a once-weekly blog here with my take on all things NHL. Who knows, I might actually find time to debunk a trade rumor or two.

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April 21, 2014Tyrann Mathieu reportedly told NFL coaches he failed at least 10 drug tests April 12, 2013 By Steve DelVecchio Leave a Comment Tyrann Mathieu had a serious issue with not being able to lay off the marijuana while at LSU. His inability to put down the herb ultimately cost him his college career, and now the artist formerly known as the Honey Badger has to make sure it doesn’t do the same to his future. So how bad was it? One NFL assistant coach told USA Today Sports on Thursday that Mathieu was asked how many drug tests he failed in college before LSU suspended him. “I quit counting a 10,” the coach said Mathieu responded. “I really don’t know.” The coach, who chose to remain anonymous, added that it is clear Mathieu was not given the help he needed at school if he failed that many drug tests before the school took action. That probably has something to do with the fact that Mathieu was one of the best players in the country on a team that was competing for a national championship. As we know, Mathieu’s drug use eventually became too much for LSU to handle. He was kicked off the team and spent some time at a drug rehab facility before eventually admitting that he “abused” himself through the use of marijuana. Mathieu now claims he has put marijuana use behind him. While I’m sure the NFL team that asked him that question appreciates the honesty, his history of drug use is obviously a major concern for NFL teams who are considering taking a chance on Mathieu. The 20-year-old claims he was the best player at the NFL Combine in February and insists he is clean, but he is not very far removed from marijuana being a major part of his life. If he truly is on the right track, the hope is that Mathieu can stay there. H/T Pro Football Talk Filed Under: College Football, Football Tagged With: Tyrann Mathieu

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san francisco giants photos The San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal wears a belt celebrating the National League West Division championship during the first inning against the San Diego Padres at AT&T Park. The San Francisco Giants celebrate their 8-4 win over the San Diego Padres in a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, in San Francisco. The Giants captured the NL West title. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY, USA TODAY Sports" alt="" height="150"/> Lakers'' center Shaquille O''Neal clowns around with a life size statue of martial arts start Bruce Lee in the game room of his Los Angeles home. The San Francisco Giants will be honoring Lee with a bobblehead night on Sept. 3. Melky Cabrera attributed his career year to conditioning. A positive testosterone test led to a suspension Wednesday. Barry Bonds has empathy for Roger Clemens. Gregor Blanco, from left, Melky Cabrera, and Justin Christian celebrate after the Giants'' 4-1 win Monday night. Soon, Hunter Pence will join this alignment. Angel Pagan, here making a diving catch Tuesday, says the Giants are a strong club already. Angel Pagan, who made a stirring catch to start a double play on Wednesday, is hitting .278 for the Giants this season. Hand out: Melky Cabrera tries to high five American League infielder Robinson Cano while rounding the bases after a home run Tuesday night. Cabrera and teammate Pablo Sandoval combined for five RBI. A fan attending Monday''s Giants-Dodgers game at AT&T Park has been missing since he apparently fell into the San Francisco Bay waters to the north of the stadium''s left field area. Matt Cain is 9-2 with a 2.34 ERA this season. Aubrey Huff could be headed to the DL after hurting his knee celebrating Matt Cain''s perfect game. Home plate umpire Ted Barrett awaits the start of the ninth inning during Matt Cain''s perfect game on Wednesday. Matt Cain exults after tossing the first perfect game in San Francisco Giants history. Louie Sanchez. left, admitted to beating Giants fan Bryan Stow after appearing in a lineup, according to a transcript released Friday. Out with a fractured hamate bone in his left hand, Giants'' Pablo Sandoval plays the roll of clubhouse clown. Guillermo Mota has a 5.06 ERA in nine apperances this year. Guillermo Mota tested positive for clenbuterol, according to Major League Baseball. San Francisco Giants outfielder Aubrey Huff was placed on the 15-day disabled list to deal with an anxiety disorder. The veteran utility player has struggled on the field this season. Aubrey Huff is hitting .182 in 12 games this year. Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner is 21-20 during his major league career. Giants closer Brian Wilson has structural damage in his elbow. Matt Cain delivers a pitch in the first inning Friday against the Pirates. Matt Cain is 69-73 with a 3.35 ERA over a seven-year career. Giants starting pitcher Matt Cain went 12-11 last season with a 2.88 ERA. Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff says of his disappointing 2011, "I was definitely more frustrated last year than I've probably ever been." Madison Bumgarner won 10 of his final 14 decisions last year for the Giants. “He’s kinda funky,” Cliff Lee says of Madison Bumgarner''s across-his-body throwing motion. “He’s definitely tough on a left-hander. He’s got good stuff. It’s just a matter of if he can be consistent and steadily improve a little bit.” In his final 18 starts, Giants'' Madison Bumgarner put up a 2.62 ERA and struck out 125 batters in 120 1/3 innings. Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner works the first of his three-inning stint against the Padres in a spring training game. He did not allow a run and only two hits while striking out five. The subject of whether Bryan Stow is at least partially liable for the fight that resulted in his brutal beating came up in court on Thursday. Aaron Rowand was released by the Giants after hitting .233 in 108 games this season. Carlos Beltran is hitting just .244 with zero home runs and two RBI since joining the Giants. Pablo Sandoval, right, rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off of Pirates starter Jeff Karstens. Grateful Dead members Phil Lesh, left, and Bob Weir and San Francisco Giants coach Tim Flannery sing the national anthem before the start of a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco on Tuesday. Manager Bruce Bochy said Ramon Ramirez did not intentionally throw at Phillies'' Shane Victorino. President Obama holds a gift jersey with legend Willie Mays on his right and general manager Brian Sabean on his near left during the Giants visit to White House. President Barack Obama holds a gift jersey with Giants legend Willie Mays on his right and general manager Brian Sabean on his near left and team president Larry Baer second left. Giants'' Brian Wilson arrives at The 2011 ESPY Awards in L.A. Live on July 13 in a Spandex tuxedo suit. Arizona Diamondbacks' Chris Young (24) connects for a double against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game on Saturday, April 16, 2011, in Phoenix. Matt Kemp of the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrates after stealing second base past Miguel Tejada of the San Francisco Giants during a game at AT&T Park on April 11 in San Francisco. James Loney dives back to third base ahead of Pablo Sandoval of the Giants in the Dodgers' 2-1 win on opening day at Dodger Stadium on March 31. Tim Lincecum pitches in the Giants' 2-0 win over the Mets on May 4. Lincecum struck out 12 batters in seven innings, including the final five batters he faced. The double-digit strikeout total was the 29th of his career, breaking the franchise record he shared with Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson. Aubrey Huff is congratulated by teammates as Giants fans cheer behind the dugout after Huff's go-ahead home run in the top of the 10th inning in the Giants' 7-6 win over the Mets at Citi Field on May 3. Giants fans cheer during the sixth inning of San Francisco's 2-0 win over the Mets at Citi Field on May 4. Aaron Rowand dives past Mets catcher Josh Thole to score a run in the Giants' 7-6 win on May 3 at Citi Field. Madison Bumgarner pitches against the Nationals on May 2. Bumgarner carried a one-hitter into the seventh inning but a two-out error in the seventh by Miguel Tejada paved the way for two unearned runs and a 2-0 win by Washington. Freddy Sanchez tags out Jayson Werth of the Nationals at second base in the first inning of Washington's 5-2 win on May 1. Right fielder Cody Ross makes the catch on a ball hit by Wilson Ramos in the Giants' 2-1 victory on April 30. Center fielder Aaron Rowand, right, drops a ball hit Wilson Ramos of the Nationals after colliding with right fielder Cody Ross in the second inning at Nationals Park. Ramos was credited with a double and scored on a home run by Laynce Nix in Washington's 3-0 victory on April 29. Tim Lincecum reacts in the dugout between innings after allowing a two-run home run to Laynce Nix in the second inning of the Giants' 2-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. Brian Wilson strikes out the side in the ninth inning to earn the save in the Giants' 5-2 win over the Pirates on April 28. Ryan Vogelsong, who was drafted by San Francisco in 1998 and pitched for the club in 2000 and 2001, gets his first win as a Giant by holding the Pirates to two runs and striking out eight batters in 5 2/3 innings in the Giants' 5-2 win on April 28. It was the first major-league victory for Vogelsong, who spent three seasons in Japan, since Sept. 14, 2005, as a member of the Pirates. Pablo Sandoval jokes around with the Pirates' parrot mascot before the game at PNC Park on April 28. Miguel Tejada reacts to hitting into a double play in the ninth inning of the Giants' 2-0 loss to the Pirates on April 27. Emmanuel Burris gets the out at second base against Lyle Overbay in the Giants' 5-2 win over the Pirates on April 28. Second baseman Danny Espinosa of the Washington Nationals flips over Miguel Tejada of the San Francisco Giants after forcing him out at second base during a game at Nationals Park on April 29, in Washington, DC. Washington Nationals shortstop Ian Desmond (6) avoids the tag of San Francisco Giants shortstop Mike Fontenot (14) during the second inning at Nationals Park in Washington. The defending World Series champion Giants won the game 2-1. Darren Ford looks up after scoring from third on a ground out by Freddy Sanchez during the 10th inning, beating the errant throw to Pirates catcher Chris Snyder for the go-ahead run in the Giants' 3-2 win on April 26. Matt Cain pitches with the downtown Pittsburgh skyline in the background in the Giants' 3-2 win over the Pirates on April 26. Pablo Sandoval looks out of the dugout during a rain delay before the start of the Giants game April 26 at PNC Park. Brian Wilson, left, is pulled from the game by manager Bruce Bochy, center, as catcher Buster Posey looks on during the 10th inning of the Giants' 9-6 loss to the Braves on April 24. Wilson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning with the score tied but allowed three runs in the 10th. Aaron Rowand is congratulated by Cody Ross after he hit a two-run double to give the Giants a short-lived 6-5 lead in the seventh inning of an eventual 9-6 loss to the Braves on April 24. Freddy Sanchez prepares to field a ground ball in the Giants' 9-6 loss to the Braves on April 24. Buster Posey, left, is congratulated by Aubrey Huff after hitting a two-run home run against the Braves during the fourth inning of the Giants' 9-6 loss on April 24. Pat Burrell slides into the plate to score the Giants' first run as Braves catcher Brian McCann looks on during the Giants' 5-2 loss on April 23. Pitching coach Dave Righetti talks with Matt Cain during the Giants' 10-2 loss to the Rockies on April 20. Cain allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings in his first loss of the season. Rockies first baseman Todd Helton goes over the top of Darren Ford on an unsuccessful pickoff play in the Giants' 6-3 win on April 19. Pablo Sandoval dives to tag out Chris IIannetta of the Rockies for the final out of the fifth inning in the Giants' 6-3 win on April 19. Tim Lincecum carries a no-hitter into the seventh inning in the Giants' 8-1 win over the Rockies on April 18. Lincecum allowed three hits and one run in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out 10 batters, the 28th double-digit strikeout performance in his career, tying him with Hall of Famer Christy Mathewson for the most in franchise history. Nate Schierholtz connects on a home run that travels an estimated 467 feet to the third deck in right center field, the 31st time since Coors Field opened in 1995 that a ball had been hit to the third deck. The Giants hit two home runs in the first inning en route to a 8-1 win over the Rockies on April 18. Pablo Sandoval is congratulated after his fourth home run of the season gives the Giants a 5-4 lead in the sixth inning of a game won by the Diamondbacks 6-5 in 12 innings on April 17. Guillermo Mota pitches a career-high 4 1/3 innings in relief of injured Barry Zito in the Giants' 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks on April 16, 2011. Buster Posey, left, signals to a trainer as pitcher Barry ZIto looks away in the second inning after Zito sprained his right foot diving to field a bunt in the Giants' 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks April 16. The injury landed Zito on the disabled list for the first time in his career. Aubrey Huff is congratulated by Pat Burrell after Huff scoring on a wild pitch in the Giants' 5-2 win over the Diamondbacks on April 15. Freddy Sanchez forces out Arizona's Daniel Hudson during a third-inning double play in the Giants' 5-2 win April 15. Pablo Sandoval dives but can't come up with the ball hit by Arizona's Melvin Mora in the Giants' 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks on April 16. Buster Posey is hit by a pitch from the Dodgers' Ted Lilly in the first inning. Posey was also hit by a Lilly pitch in the third inning of the Giants' 4-3 win on April 13. Buster Posey tags out James Loney of the Dodgers in the Giants' 5-4 win April 12. Giants manager Bruce Bochy throws batting practice before the game against the Dodgers April 12. Pablo Sandoval points to the crowd after hitting a home run during the sixth inning in the Giants' 4-3 win over the Dodgers April 13. Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt address fans before the game against the Dodgers at AT&T Park April 11, asking for civility in the rivalry following the beating of Giants fan Bryan Stow in the parking lot at Dodger Stadium after the season opener. Players from both teams assembled on the field, and Dodgers infielder Jamey Carroll (14) also spoke to the crowd. Juan Uribe of the Dodgers jokes with former Giants teammates, from left, Pablo Sandoval, Sergio Romo and Guillermo Mota after recieving his 2010 World Series ring April 11 at AT&T Park. Barry Zito walks to the dugout after being replaced in the sixth inning of the Giants' 6-1 loss to the Cardinals April 10. Zito allowed four runs and walked five batters. Buster Posey sits next to Giants Hall of Famer Willie Mays before receiving his 2010 rookie of the year award in pregame ceremonies at AT&T Park on April 10. Past Giants rookie of the year winners participate in pregame ceremonies for 2010 winner Buster Posey April 10 at AT&T Park. From left are, John Montefusco (1975), Gary Matthews (1973), Orlando Cepeda (1958), Willie McCovey (1959) and Willie Mays (1951). Buster Posey (28) celebrates with Aubrey Huff, center, and Aaron Rowand after Miguel Tejada's two-run double with two outs in the bottom of the ninth gives the Giants a 3-2 win over the Cardinals on April 9. Giants players and staff pose with their 2010 World Series rings before the game on April 9. Giants manager Bruce Bochy's 2010 World Series championship ring is displayed at AT&T Park on April 9. Pat Burrell, right, presents Giants Hall of Famer Willie McCovey a 2010 World Series championship ring at AT&T Park on April 9. Sergio Romo receives his World Series ring from Giants managing partner Bill Neukom at AT&T Park on April 9. Aaron Rowand clebrates after driving in the winning run with a single in the 12th inning, giving the Giants a 5-4 victory over Albert Pujols and the Cardinals in San Francisco's home opener at AT&T Park on April 8.. Andres Torres is tagged out by Daniel Descalso of the Cardinals at third base in the Giants' 5-4 win in their home opener at AT&T Park on April 8. Giants closer Brian Wilson stands beyond the center field bleachers and raises the team's World Series championship flag before the home opener at AT&T Park on April 8. Brian Wilson high-fives fans behind the center field bleachers after lifting the team's World Series championship flag before the Giants home opener at AT&T Park April 8. Tim Lincecum stands near the 2010 World Series trophy during player introductions before the Giants' home opener at AT&T Park on April 8. A Giants fan holds up her sign announcing the return of closer Brian Wilson in the ninth inning of the Giants 8-4 victory over the Padres April 6. Wilson, who began the season on the disabled list, allows three runs in two-thirds of an inning in his 2011 debut. Landon Powell MLB World Series Oakland Coliseum Ryan Rohlinger

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Appeasing Oppressors: A Proud German Tradition Continues (By Ray D.) Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has called the Holocaust "a myth." He's called for Israel to be "wiped off the map." He's the head of one of the most repressive governments on earth. And, as far as most German authorities are concerned, he's a welcome guest at this summer's 2006 FIFA World Cup. German Interior Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (CDU) recently stated that Ahmadinejad is welcome at the World Cup because Germany wants to be "a good host." Schaeuble, who is considered conservative by German standards, said that he would "talk to him about his statements" in the event of a visit and added that "it will not be entirely simple." "Thank you very much for the kind words, Herr Schaeuble! I am already happy about coming to the land of my great idol..." (cartoon via Politically Incorrect)Once again, German leaders are paying lip service to ideals that they have no intention of honoring. One day they pose as moral paragons of virtue, the next they are in bed doing deals with the world's most repressive regimes. It doesn't matter if you're the leader of a brutal theocracy who has denied the Holocaust and called for the destruction of Israel. Germany's special historic responsibility to the millions of murdered Jews and the state of Israel is apparently less important than being "good hosts" and rolling over to placate tyrants. What really matters is that the World Cup goes smoothly and serves German interests. In a story on the potential Ahmadinejad visit, the FAZ newspaper detailed all of the problems with Iran and its President but pointed out: "On the other hand, German-Iranian trade is being promoted." Just another reason not to rock the boat! When in doubt, appease and call for more "dialog." If this is any indication of Germany's sincerity in negotiations with Iran on its nuclear program, the American "friends" ought to be quite concerned. The only person who seems to have any sense in this is Edmund Stoiber, Governor of Bavaria (CSU). Stoiber warned that Iran's President would be less than welcome for his "tirades against the Jewish state and contesting the Holocaust." But even he wasn't willing to challenge the national government's right to allow Ahmadinejad into the country. The ultimate question is how other World Cup attendees will react to the German government's weak-kneed stance on a potential Ahmadinejad visit. If a major player decides to pull out rather than participate in an event attended by Iran's notorious head of state, the German appeasement gamble could backfire quite badly indeed. Endnote: You can contact Wolfgang Schaeuble at: wolfgang.schaeuble@bundestag.de. Read more on this in German here. On another note, German entrepreneurs of a special sort are busily preparing for this summer: Berlin readies giant brothel for World Cup. According to MSNBC, "Experts estimate as many as 40,000 prostitutes may travel to Germany to offer their services to fans during the tournament." Here is a past Medienkritik post on the topic. April 09, 2006 in FAZ, Iran | Permalink Iranian Humor: Possesses a Distinct Flavor... We all know by now the sensibilities of Iran about cartoons in the European media. Memri has collected some cartoons published in the Iranian media. Iranian humor seems to possess a distinct flavor... BTW, I don't understand the headline (of course not...). Do we have folks here fluent in Persian? Update 1: Solomonia has an interesting posting on how to deal with Iran. Update 2: frenchfgoli2 kindly offered this translation of the headline: "Holocaust (Hitler's human burning ovens)". Unbelievable. February 15, 2006 in Danish Cartoons, Iran | Permalink Another World War Starting in Berlin? No doubt, Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's energetic president, might use this cartoon* in last Friday's edition of the Berlin daily Tagesspiegel as an excuse to start WWIII. I suspect there will be an avalanche of apologies from Germany's government in the next couple of days... (* Left: (most likely) the Iranian national soccer team; right: the 'Bundeswehr' (German military). The cartoon's text: "Why we definitely need the 'Bundeswehr' at the soccer world championships") Update: According to this report, the caricaturist has received several death threats. He moved out of his home for security reasons. Also, the Iranian embassy in Germany requested an apology from Tagesspiegel. The story is developing...stay tuned. (For the time being we have decided not to correct this posting's headline.) Update #2: Michelle Malkin is on the case. February 13, 2006 in Danish Cartoons, Iran, Tagesspiegel | Permalink Iran: Thank you, Germany! So you think German foreign policy is sub-optimal, not up to par, maybe rotten to the core? Think again. The press spokesman for one of the oldest and most stable democracies in the world has warm words of praise for Germany's foreign policy:Iranian government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham, meanwhile, congratulated the German foreign minister for declaring Berlin's commitment to negotiations over the brewing crisis that intensified on Jan. 10 when Tehran removed U.N. seals from its main uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, central Iran. (...) "The Germans have the right idea," Elham said. Threats of military force against Iran, he told reporters, "have no legal basis. Iran has not done anything that violates international norms." On Sunday, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said his government was committed to a diplomatic solution and cautioned against military action, and Elham said that could signal a shift in the West's position. "It is better for them to accept Iran's nuclear right in concrete terms," Elham said. Whatever, Elham. Just let us know your conditions for Germany's surrender. January 23, 2006 in Iran | Permalink Germany's Iran Policy: Follow the Money Have you ever wondered about the German government's soft policy towards the Iranian Mullah regime? Follow the money...For the last 25 years, the German government has offered its good offices to the anti-Semitic Mullahs in Tehran with a shamelessness unrivalled by any other western government. ... Germany is today by far the most important supplier of goods to Iran and its exports are increasing at a steady 20% per year. In 2004, German exports to Iran were worth some €3.6 billion. At the same time, Germany is the most important purchaser of Iranian goods apart from oil and Iran’s most important creditor.You need to read the complete version of Matthias Kuentzel's analysis (Are 500,000 Keys to Paradise Enough?: Germany "Confronts" Ahmadinejad) at the indispensable Transatlantic Intelligencer... December 31, 2005 in Iran | Permalink For a Change, Encouraging Signs in Germany Yakoov Kirschen of Dry Bones has produced this magnificient cartoon that addresses the latest Iranian death threats against Israel. Today - Saturday, Oct. 29 - about 300 Islamists demonstrated in Berlin against Israel. The annual worldwide “Al Quds Day” demonstrations ritually call for the destruction of Israel. This year's Berlin demonstration was not as openly anti-Semitic as last year's - because German authorities had requested the removal of hateful anti-Israel banners and posters. Also, about 200 democrats staged their own pro-Israel demonstration. For a change, the reaction of the authorities and the pro-Israel demonstration are encouraging signs in Germany. October 29, 2005 in Iran, Israel | Permalink Anti-Semitic Hate For Sale in Germany Anti-Semitic books are not permitted in Germany. Authors and publishers of anti-Semitic literature usually face the full brunt of the law, without regard to their nationality. Public presentation of anti-Semitic literature in Germany is simply not tolerated. Of course, there are exceptions, for instance when the publisher is the Iranian state, as Matthias Küntzel observed at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2005:"In fact the international publishers in Hall 5 at the Frankfurt Book Fair were not on my program. Having a few minutes before my train was to leave, however, I dropped by and was astonished to see the extent to which Iran was represented in the hall. The Iranian stands seemed to take up as much space as those of all the countries of the Arab League together. Now, it is well known that the Iranian leadership is dedicated to wiping out the existence of a state member of the United Nations, namely Israel. And it is also well known that to this end, Tehran exports a crude anti-Semitism throughout the world. Nonetheless, I was astonished how openly this occurred at the Book Fair. ... There was, for instance, under the heading "Jewish Conspiracy", the text that influenced Hitler's anti-Semitism like no other work: The "Protocols of the Elders of Zion", here in an edition published by the "Islamic Propagation Organization" of the Islamic Republic of Iran."Matthias Küntzel presents other amazing examples of anti-Semitic literature at the

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TWO VERY DIFFERENT JORDAN BROWNS Apparently the name “Jordan” is quite versatile. It’s the name of a country. It’s the name of an American Idol. It’s the name of the greatest player in basketball history. It’s the name of an I.L. All Star and it’s the name of a PawSox players’ wife. In the case of my last two examples, they share the exact same name- Jordan Brown. First the Columbus outfielder. He had a single, double and home run in the Clippers’ win at McCoy on Friday. He was also victimized by a teammate during my on field, postgame interview with him. As he was about to answer a question about winning pitcher Chuck Lofgren, another Clipper snuck up behind him with a shaving cream “pie” and smashed it in his face, “Three Stooges” style. Brown was a good sport and graciously accepted a $25 gift certificate to Gregg’s Restaurant. Meanwhile the “other” Jordan Brown, Dusty’s wife, had the presence of mind to email us as she was heading to the hospital the other day to give birth to the couples’ first child, Jude. We had been closely monitoring the pregnancy and were thrilled when the newest member of the PawSox family arrived. I wonder what Brownie thinks when he hears P.A. announcer Jim Martin introduce the opponent that bears his wifes’ name. I just hope that Dusty doesn’t get confused and kiss the Clippers outfielder and then mistakenly tag his wife out. Tremendous effort by Michael Bowden on Friday. He worked 7 innings, scattering 4 hits and surrendering 2 runs, walking none and striking out 5. Unfortunately, the sleeping Pawtucket offense came up short again and Bowden was tagged with a loss. Despite a terrific ERA of 3.09, Bowdens’ record fell to 3-5. The 22 year old righthander has definitely made the most of his first full Triple A season. As one Red Sox legend is being enshrined in Cooperstown, there’s another who should be. This weekend Jim Rice takes his rightful place among baseball’s immortals. Rice waited until his final year of eligibility before being granted admission. His former teammate, Luis Tiant has been denied entry and there ought to be an investigation. It first came to my attention earlier this season when I asked Peter Gammons of ESPN, who was the best player not in Cooperstown. Instead of the “stock” Pete Rose or Shoeless Joe answer, Gammons said El Tiante was the best player that hasn’t been recognized. When I asked Tiant about the injustice, he wasn’t shy and didn’t give an “aw shucks” type response. He also didn’t disagree with Gammons- “He might be right. I don’t like talking much about it. The more you point fingers at people, the more you’re embarassing someone. A lot of baseball fans know I’m supposed to be in the Hall of Fame, there’s 15 pitchers in the Hall that I have a better record than- 15, not one or two, 15. And now you tell me why they are there and I’m not. Jim Rice- they made him wait 15 years- what’d he do in the last 15 years? Did he play? Did he improve his record? He had the same numbers that he had 15 years ago and now you tell me he belongs in the Hall of Fame. C’mon, that’s enough of that. I don’t know what they’re thinking, but I don’t want to lose sleep at night worrying about if they’re going to vote for me or not. I know I deserve to be in the Hall of Fame. I put myself in my own Hall of Fame. I hope they don’t wait for me to die to put me in the Hall of Fame, because I’ll come back from the tomb and pull an “Ole”, I’ll tell them they’re going to die tomorrow. Make them suffer because that’s what they do. Why would you want to put players in there after they’re dead? You make aggravation for the families, the player can’t enjoy it. What good is it? Like I said, I don’t want to point fingers. If they put me in, fine. If they don’t, fine, too. When you put your life in someone elses’ hands, what can you do? You hope and pray. I don’t want to go get a machine gun and kill everybody.” For the record, Tiant amassed a career mark of 229-172 with an ERA of 3.30, with 2416 career strikeouts, 49 shutouts and an amazing 187 complete games. By my count, there are no fewer than 20 pitchers already in Cooperstown with less than 229 wins. Great to welcome Chris Duncan to McCoy. The slugging outfielder singled in a run in his first PawSox at bat. The brother of Scrantons’ Shelley Duncan was picked up in the trade for Julio Lugo, from St. Louis. It will be interesting to watch, as the PawSox and Scranton meet 8 more times this season. If dad Dave Duncan, the former M.L. catcher and currently pitching coach for the Cardinals had directed his sons a different way, they might both be All Pro offensive linemen in the NFL. Chris looks chiseled at 6’5 and 230 pounds. Sorry to see Paul McAnulty get released by the Sox. He lead the team in homers (11) and rbi (48). A gentleman with that much talent will get another job soon. We also shared the same automotive fantasy. To some day own a 1957 Chevy Belair. Happy driving, Big Mac! Like this:Like Loading... The coming and going of players in the minors has got to be rough on them and their team mates. I wish Duncan & McAnulty well. By juliasrants on July 25, 2009 8:33 am - Reply

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Male Athlete of the Week: Chris Bertrand January 16, 2013 12:05 AM | 1593 views | 0 | 14 | | slideshow With nary a senior on the roster, Blessed Trinity takes the court each night wondering which of their talented underclassmen will step up as the team’s on-floor leader.In recent action junior Chris Bertrand, a 6-foot-4 power forward, has enjoyed his time in the spotlight, posting double-doubles in back-to-back games last week.“He has emerged as of late as a go-to guy in the post,” said Blessed Trinity basketball coach Brian Marks of Bertrand, who dropped 17 points and pulled down 10 rebounds in a win over Pinecrest Academy before scoring 15 and grabbing 10 boards in a region game against Cedar Grove.Bertrand rotates playing time in the post with four other Titans and is best known for athleticism and ability to crash the glass — an area he has excelled in all season. But Marks said his recent ability to score in the paint gives the Titans’ an option in the post that will be invaluable as they make a push to return to the state playoffs.“He is just starting to get comfortable on both ends of the floor and will play a vital role over the next two years. He has the potential to be a consistent scorer inside and become an interior defender who makes plays.”

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Clay Buchholz One Step Closer to Returning After Positive Rehab Start With Triple-A Pawtucket by Ricky Doyle on Sat, Aug 31, 2013 at 12:16AM According to Clay Buchholz, one more rehab start could do the trick. Buchholz, who was shaky in his first rehab appearance with Single-A Lowell on Sunday, took a step forward during a rehab outing with Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday. He wasn’t perfect, but it might be time to circle Sept. 10 on your calendar, as it appears the right-hander is on track to start that night for the Red Sox if everything keeps going down the current path. Buchholz threw 53 pitches (34 strikes) over 3 1/3 innings Friday. He allowed one earned run on seven hits, didn’t walk anyone and struck out two. It was an improvement over his last start with Single-A Lowell, in which he stumbled his way to recording just two outs on 38 pitches. “I felt really good,” Buchholz told reporters in Pawtucket. “[Friday] I was much more impressed with the velocity that I was able to sustain over the period I was out there, and getting over that hump of not really worrying about anything when I’m trying to get a fastball down and away to a righty and have something on it.” Buchholz touched 92 mph on the McCoy Stadium radar gun Friday, according to The Providence Journal. In his previous start with Lowell, Buchholz sat around 88-90 mph while admittedly easing his way back into things. Buchholz reportedly threw all of his pitches and featured better command while generating some swing-and-misses Friday, even though there were some battles along the way. While it’s encouraging to see Buchholz enjoy better results, the most important aspect of these rehab starts is how he feels physically, and everything has checked out OK thus far. Buchholz still sees room for improvement, though, particularly out of the stretch. “Out of the stretch, for the most part, that’s my only uncomfortable spot right now,” Buchholz said Friday. “I don’t feel really balanced in the stretch, and that’s given the fact that most of my rehab appearances have been out of the stretch. It’s something I’m trying to think of to get a comfort level from doing that since I am having to do it so much right now. It was all about being out there and trying to figure out a way to be comfortable. In the last couple of innings, I felt good.” Buchholz is expected to make his final rehab start Wednesday, although things could change, as his wife, Lindsay, is close to giving birth to their second child. Nevertheless, Buchholz’s next outing represents the final hurdle before a return to the majors, and he is expected to throw 75-80 pitches. When Buchholz pitches next, it’ll be a playoff game, as the PawSox are getting ready to start their postseason slate. After that, his next trip to the mound could come during a much more important regular season game in the majors. “I need one more [rehab start],” Buchholz said Friday. “I think if I didn’t have one more I’d be thrown against Detroit and it’s hard to get out of the game making mistakes against that club. “You don’t need to go out there and be second-guessing your pitches and the command of your pitches when you’re facing a lineup like that. I want to make sure I’m ready, physically, to go into a game.” Buchholz hasn’t reached the finish line just yet. But it’s in sight. Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here. Have a question for Ricky Doyle? Send it to him via Twitter at @TheRickyDoyle or send it here. Red Sox on TwitterMy Tweets NESN Team

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Page last updated at 10:14 GMT, Sunday, 20 March 2011 John Terry returns as permanent captain of England Terry has scored six goals in 65 appearances for his country Chelsea defender John Terry has been reinstated as England captain.The move by boss Fabio Capello had been widely expected, and comes ahead of the Euro 2012 qualifier against Wales. Terry lost the armband to Rio Ferdinand last year after reports he had an affair with the former partner of England team-mate Wayne Bridge. But Capello said on Saturday: "After one year of punishment, Terry will again be the permanent captain. I think one year's punishment is enough." Terry replaces Manchester United defender Ferdinand, who was reported to be upset at the prospect of losing the captaincy earlier this week. Ferdinand is currently injured, and Capello had planned to meet him to explain his thinking at Old Trafford on Wednesday. But the Italian told a media briefing at the Football Association's HQ at Wembley Stadium that Ferdinand "preferred not to meet me". Ferdinand did not want to return the armband to Terry Terry was initially appointed England skipper by Steve McClaren in August 2006, and Capello reinstated him in August 2008 after initially experimenting with different players in the role. Capello said he had been impressed by Terry's continuing leadership on and off the pitch in the past 12 months. "John, when he played without the armband, was every time a leader on the pitch, a leader in the dressing room. He was really good every time. "Always he is the same. He is a player that is himself a leader. This is really important. He is the biggest personality in the dressing room." Capello believes Terry will have learnt from his alleged off-the-field indiscretions and is confident he will have the support of the dressing room. He said: "Sometimes the leader can make mistakes - not only him but I, you, all the people. It is not a risk making Terry captain again. He understood the mistake and he learnt from his mistakes. "He will be a very important captain for us because when I choose him, I know he is a leader. I also think the players will be happy. I think so. They respect John Terry as a leader, absolutely." Ferdinand will revert to his previous role as vice-captain when he recovers from injury with Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, also ruled out of the Wales clash through injury, next in line to wear the armband. Capello continued: "I tried to meet Rio at the Manchester United game [against Marseille in the Champions League] on Wednesday. I don't think John Terry should have lost the job in the first place Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton "He was ready to meet me but he preferred not to meet us. I don't know why. It is a question for him, not me. I was ready, I wanted to speak with him and explain my decision. "I hope I will meet him in the future to speak with him personally and privately, not by phone because I think by phone is not so good. "I hope he will be fit to play for the national team because he is one of the most important people with his experience and value as a player. "I spoke with Steven and it is no problem for him." Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton told BBC Radio 5 live's Sportsweek programme that he would never have stripped Terry of the captaincy in the first place. "I don't think he should have lost the job," said Shilton, who remains England's most capped player with 125 appearances. "I'm not condoning what John Terry's done on certain occasions but he hasn't broken any laws and I think maybe the manager should have kept continuity in the first place. "You want the best on the pitch and John Terry has always been known as a natural leader, somebody who would run through a brick wall to stop a goal going in and the next minute he's up the other end trying to score the equaliser or the winner. "He's just a natural competitor and that's what you want from a captain. Certainly there are other things that go with the England job but I think he's the best choice. "I obviously felt sorry for Rio but I would put John ahead of Rio as a captain. You've got to make tough decisions and if Capello feels that he wants John Terry then that's what he should do." Wales manager Gary Speed, whose first competitive game in charge will be against England next weekend, added: "It's not my job to comment on [the decision], but John Terry would not change his game whether he had the armband or not. "He's a great competitor, he's a leader and he'll always be a leader whether he captain or not." England captaincy saga drags on 16 Mar 11 | Football Ferdinand 'upset' over captaincy Denmark 1-2 England 09 Feb 11 | Football Ferdinand set to miss England tie Celtic's Hooper in England U21s Capello strips Terry of captaincy Terry appointed England captain 19 Aug 08 | Internationals

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Glenn Spencer, Mike Gundy thrilled for former Oklahoma State players who scored TDs during NFL preseason last week by Gina Mizell Modified: August 21, 2013 at 1:05 pm • Published: August 21, 2013 Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer is obviously busy this time of year. He’s trying to revamp the Cowboys’ defensive philosophy and prepare for a season opener against Mississippi State that is less than two weeks away. But he did know about former Cowboys Jamie Blatnick (Buffalo Bills) and Ryan Robinson (Oakland Raiders) both scoring defensive touchdowns on fumble recoveries during NFL preseason games last week. And he was certainly proud. “I’m just happy for them,” Spencer said. “Everybody knows about the first-rounders (in the NFL Draft), and then you get those guys. They’re just biting and clawing to make that roster. Every day they’re in camp is a blessing to them. They’re just fearing the knock on that door late at night to turn in their playbook. “I love keeping up with it as much as I can.” Blatnick went undrafted in 2011 and spent part of last season on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad before signing with Buffalo in April. Robinson signed with the Raiders as an undrafted rookie free agent this past spring. Cowboy coach Mike Gundy also expressed excitement for Blatnick, in particular, because of the way he responded after pleading guilty to misdemeanor assault and battery following a bar fight in 2010. As punishment, Blatnick spent that fall camp climbing 500 floors via StairMaster each day and was suspended for one game. By the time he left Stillwater, he was an All-Big 12 performer. “That was a really tough situation, because I felt like he was a good kid and made a bad mistake,” Gundy said. “Being influenced by alcohol, people make bad decisions. He deserved a second chance, but he had to pay a big price to make sure he wanted to do it. “He is very intelligent. And he is tough. He is a throwback. He is a tough guy and that’s why he has got a chance to make it (in the NFL) because he is smart and he is tough.”

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K-State spending December trying to end bowl slump MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Under Bill Snyder, Kansas State went from arguably the worst program in the history of college football to a perennial contender, a job nobody thought possible. Snyder stepped away for a brief retirement, only to return and lead the Wildcats back to the Big 12 championship. So when it comes to football in the Flint Hills, most people believe Snyder has all the answers. But even Snyder is puzzled by Kansas State's struggles in bowl games, especially of late. "It is obvious that one of my many failings is that I do not have the answer to that," Snyder said wryly. "It could be a multitude of things, and perhaps it is, or maybe it something simple that I am overlooking. ... The bottom line is I really do not know." When the Wildcats play Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl on Dec. 28 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz., they'll be trying to end a five-game losing streak that dates to Snyder's first tenure at Kansas State and includes a loss in the only bowl game that Ron Prince was on the sideline. The defeats have come in bowl games prestigious and mundane. The Wildcats lost two Fiesta Bowls — after the 2003 season to Ohio State, starting the streak of futility, and last season to Oregon. They lost the Texas Bowl in '06, the Pinstripe Bowl four years later once Snyder had returned, and the Cotton Bowl to Arkansas the following season. Some of the defeats were close (36-34 to Syracuse at Yankee Stadium), while some of them were the kind of runaways that are just as soon forgotten (37-10 to Rutgers in the Texas Bowl). "Nobody on our team has won a bowl game, with the exception of the coaches," said Jonathan Truman, a junior linebacker. "We need it. We want it really bad." Most people thought the Wildcats would be headed to the Holiday Bowl, and that would have boded well for ending the streak. Snyder has never lost in three trips to the game in San Diego, and a win over Arizona State on Dec. 27, 2002, remains the Wildcats' most recent bowl victory. Instead, the Wildcats moved one spot up the pecking order and are headed for the bowl game formerly known as the Copper Bowl and Insight Bowl, and one that has plenty of Kansas State history. In 1993, the Wildcats headed for the desert for just the second bowl game in school history and the first under Snyder, and wound up routing Wyoming 52-17. It was a watershed moment for the program, not to mention a fan base so starved for success that it descended on Arizona like a purple wave.

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NHL playoffs: L.A. Kings eliminate St. Louis Blues with 2-1 victory in Game 6 Los Angeles Kings, Playoff recaps, Playoffs, St. Louis Blues | Comments Jonathan Quick made 21 saves in Game 6, and was tremendous for the Kings. (Noah Graham/Getty Images) By Adrian Dater I wasn’t the only one who asked the question after this year’s NHL trade deadline. Yeah, the St. Louis Blues did well to boost their defense with the acquisitions of veterans Jay Bouwmeester and Jordan Leopold, but what about the offense? Did the team’s management really think it had enough in that department for a long playoff run? If it did, the front office had to be thinking differently while watching the Blues pass through the handshake line after their 2-1 loss on Friday night. The Blues never needed as much help on their back end as they did up front, and management’s failure to realize it played a significant role in the team’s frustrating six-game, first-round exit at the hands of the defending Stanley Cup champion Kings. After jumping out to a 2-0 series lead against a team that many (hand raised here) thought looked too hungover to repeat as champs, the Blues’ inability to generate goals (they scored a total of 10 in the six games) proved fatal, especially with Kings goaltender Jonathan Quick rounding into his Conn Smythe form after gift-wrapping two wins in St. Louis. Some thoughts and observations from Game 6: • Quick and the Kings haven’t had home-ice advantage in any of their last five playoff series now, but their record is 5-0. “Quicksilver” (I just came up with that) was tremendous in eliminating the Blues for the second straight season. He only faced 22 shots, but still had to make some whistlestop saves, including a right-pad desperation splits robbery of Patrik Berglund midway through the third period. He also got some help from the iron behind him on a shot by Bouwmeester with about two minutes left. • Yeah, I know it’s tempting to want to blame Blues goalie Brian Elliott for allowing Dustin Penner to break a 1-1 tie with a slapper from about three feet inside the blueline with 0.2 seconds remaining in the second period. That ended up being the game-winner. Until the Pancake Man’s rocket, the Blues could have had a better feeling going into the third. But let’s give Elliott a break. Penner’s shot appeared to nick off the top of Roman Polak’s stick blade, enough to cause an upward drift of the puck over the goalie’s shoulder and just under the crossbar. Sure, Elliott could have stopped it. But why didn’t Polak drop to block the shot? He was close enough and could have just thrown his big body down and probably smothered it. He does that, the period is over and the Blues are tied with 20 minutes left on the road. • You have to wonder if this is it for Elliott in St. Louis. No, he may not have been the Blues’ big problem in this series, but the soft OT goal he allowed in Game 5, combined with the 57-footer by Penner, might be too much for him to overcome. You have to think that management will take a good hard look at the goaltending. • The Blues’ second line of Andy McDonald, Vladimir Sobotka and Chris Stewart didn’t show up for the series. Stewart was the team’s leading scorer during the regular season (36 points), but he had one assist in six games. McDonald had no points. The trio produced a not-so-grand total of zero goals. • Ken Hitchcock is a great coach. Period. But the complaint that he gets too conservative-minded in the playoffs can’t be easily dismissed. A revealing quote on his mindset came when he was asked what happened after Slava Voynov scored in overtime to win Game 5 in St. Louis: “We got caught trying to score a goal,” he said. • The Kings won the game despite being officially tagged with 21 giveaways, to the Blues’ seven. That further serves as credit to Quick. • Mike Richards did not score a goal in the series, but he produced five assists and Kings coach Darryl Sutter matched him well against Sobotka and, at times, David Backes. Richards again proved that he’s a money player. • The Kings got only one goal from their top center, Anze Kopitar. He’ll need to score more if L.A. is to keep winning series. The Kings can’t keep relying on Quick … or can they?

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Moorhead to usher in new era at Fordham August 29, 2012 | 8:02pm Fordham head football coach Joe Moorhead. Photo: Fordham University The Joe Moorhead era begins at Fordham on Thursday night when his Rams take on Lock Haven in the first game of the season. Moorhead, who played quarterback for the Rams from 1992-’96, is not just dealing with the pressures of his first head coaching job, but also doing it at his alma mater. “It’s great to be able to come back to Fordham where I played and to have the opportunity to lead the program moving forward as the head coach,” Moorhead told The Post. “Whether it’s as a player, assistant coach or head coach, there’s always pregame jitters that you have entering the game but once the ball is kicked off, at that point you are coaching to win a football game.” The Rams enter 2012 coming off of a dismal 1-10 season that cost Tom Masella his job and paved the way for Moorhead. The former UConn quarterbacks coach has his team starting over fresh and buying into a new blue-collar mentality. “We want to be a team that’s smart, that’s tough, pays great attention to detail and be able to finish in the fourth quarter,” Moorhead said. “We talk about having a great week of preparation. The games are played on Saturday, but they are won and lost throughout the week in how you prepare.” While Fordham is not eligible to win the Patriot League after deciding to offer its players scholarships, the Rams are not about to give up hopes of reaching the pinnacle of success for an FCS team. “We’ve talked openly to the kids about our goal for the program, which is to win a National Championship,” Moorhead said. “Our sub-goals along the way to accomplishing that are the rivalry game against Columbia, we want to win that every year. We want to have a winning non-conference schedule and we want to have the best record in the Patriot League. “To accomplish those goals we have to win one game at a time so we’re focused on the first game, getting out and executing and going forward from there.” Moorhead’s vision for the program starts at Jack Coffey field in The Bronx and not just for the players, but for the student body as well. “I do expect a good turnout,” Moorhead said. “I believe that intercollegiate football is an integral part of the collegiate experience. You obviously want your home games to give you a tremendous advantage and I think that Fordham’s student body will come out hopefully and root us on and we can give them something to cheer about.” asulla-heffinger@nypost.com Comeback kid Baker… Comeback kid Baker advances into… Twitter

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September 15 – Happy Birthday Charley Smith One of the last amateurs to be drafted by the old Brooklyn Dodgers in 1957, this Charleston, South Carolina native, who was born on September 15, 1937, became the Mets’ starting third baseman in 1964. He led that Met team in home runs with 20 that season but he also led them in strikeouts, with 101 in just 127 total games. When Smith’s home run total declined the following season and his strikeout total climbed, the Mets included him with pitcher Al Jackson in a trade to St Louis for the Cardinals’ All-Star and former NL MVP, third baseman Ken Boyer. After playing just one season with the Cards, Smith was traded for another former MVP to replace another third baseman named Boyer. The Yankees disenchanted slugger, Roger Maris had decided to retire after a broken hand had sapped much of his once record-breaking power. Instead, New York traded Maris to the Cardinals in exchange for Smith. The Yankees also dealt their starting third baseman, Clete Boyer, to the Braves for outfielder Bill Robinson so Smith was pegged to fill that hole at the hot corner. Both deals backfired on New York. Maris went to St Louis and enjoyed a successful two-year conclusion to his noteworthy career that included consecutive World Series appearances. Boyer had the best season of his career in Atlanta in 1967. During the three seasons Robinson played in Pinstripes his batting averages were .196, .240 and .171. Smith did a bit better. During his two years with the Yankees, he hit .224 and .229. Charley died in 1994 at the very young age of 57. Charley shares his September 15th birthday with this Hall of Fame Pitcher. Filed in: Dailies Tags: bill robinson, charley smith, clete boyer, roger maris, yankees Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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Results tagged ‘ Baseball music video ’ Richard Marx, Great Singer and a Lover of Baseball As most people have ventured since the first time I wrote on this blog, I have a few well defined “loves” that I hold near and dear to my heart. Most of you already know my number one love with a bullet is my love for the game of baseball, and my dedication to my hometown Tampa Bay Rays. And my secondary love interest that seems to flow endlessly among the notes and drumbeats that fill our ears might have became more apparent with the multiple blog postings of the Rays own acts that have graced the stage during their Hess Express/Rays Saturday Concert Series photo and commentary blogs over the last several years. But there is another hidden part of my life that only a small community of people who have known me since my first days of High School have seen up close and personal. They are my longtime friends who have known my deep rooted passion to music and that singing is one of those hidden talents that only that select lounge full of people have ever experienced firsthand. And maybe my everlasting love of the crescendo of the musical notes and thunderous drum beats have been made more than obvious by my photo blogs and commentary after every Rays Concert series act over the last few years. Well, that is unless you live in St. Petersburg, Florida and go to some of the places I frequent after Rays games, then you would know I love to get up there and belt out a song or two before finally retiring to the house to rest up for the next day’s game. But one of my early musical influences is coming to Clearwater tonight for his first ever acoustic music set in the beautiful Capitol Theatre. And the Capitol Theatre is the perfect venue acoustically for this musical troubadour as the interior of this classic old style musical theatre sets both a romantic tone as the venue is set among the revitalized older downtown core of this gulf-side community, and breathtaking to the eyes. But then I might also surprise some of you that this singer also shares a same passion as each and every one of us, for this singer, songwriter’s second love is also our first passion. That’s right, world renown ballad singer Richard Marx is a bona fide Major League Baseball fanatic ever since his young days growing up in Chicago, Illinois. But I am sorry Southside of Chicago fans, this singer of classic soft rock music classics like “Hold Onto The Nights”, “Hazard” , “Right Here Waiting” and “Now and Forever” that still today make all of us remember lost romance and new found love is a huge Chicago Cubs fan deep in his heart. And he made that love more than apparent in the video for “Take This Heart” where Marx is brought up as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs of the Game 7 of a World Series against Baseball Hall of Fame member Dennis Eckersley. The video was filmed in Oakland’s own home stadium in 1992 and features baseball players Greg Maddux, Dan Howitt, Eckersley, Jose Canseco, fellow Hall of Fame member Rickey Henderson, and an old Tampa Bay friend of mine A’s catcher Scott Hemond. Got to say I love the way the video drew out the game storyline throughout the song with Marx falling behind Eck with an 0-2 count before connecting on a well hit hitting a long fly ball that sneaking past Howitt’s outstretched glove into the left-centerfield stands for a Home Run. But in a nice touch, Marx is immediately woken up by one of his fellow band mates and it is all a dream. But as you see Marx looking into the camera you hear Brewer’s announcing legend Bob Uecker barreling out the line “The Cubs have won the World Series”. It is one of my favorite baseball videos more for the moment we all dream about as kid’s to one day be in that same position and to come through with a blast to win the World Series. And in 1992, I did get out to Oakland, but it was right after Marx and his band were finished with their video takes, and retakes for that “Take This Heart” video. So I am looking forward to shaking his hand and getting his autograph like I wanted to do way back in 1992. For those who have heard me sing know I have an affluence for ballads, and Marx produced some of the best in the 1990′s and beyond. But here is a side note most people do not know about this great artist. He was actually heard on a demo cassette tape by Lionel Richie and brought the then 18-year old Marx out to Los Angeles to record back-up singing tracks on a few of Richie’s earliest albums. Marx then was referred to Kenny Rogers as an great back-up addition and one day Marx overheard the recording techs discussing with Rogers that they were one cut short of finishing the album. That night Marx went home and produced a song and played it for Rogers the next day. The song was “Crazy” and it ended up being a Country number one song. Not bad for your first entry into the songwriting business to be a Gram Slam. But I am glad Marx took his music path to stardom instead of concentrating on his second love of baseball. For I am looking forward to hearing his music and some of the stories behind his music tonight in that acoustic setting that is brings the audience closer to his awesome music. Marx never did another Baseball-themed video, but then once you do one where you bat in the bottom of the 9th inning against a closer legend and get a pinch-hit Home Run to win the Cubs the World Series……There is no place to go but down after such a dream sequence, and I do not see Marx heading that route anytime soon. Posted on March 18, 2010 at 9:32 am Filed in: Dailies Tags: Baseball music video, Jose Canseco, Rays, Rays Renegade, Richard Marx, Rickey Henderson, Scott Hemond, Tampa Bay Rays |

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Times Review Our Sites Suffolk Times Tag: seawolves What’s happening in our schools this week Coming Up: All-media art show ‘Line’ at East End Arts How GMOs affect diets, enviroment discussion at Southold Free Library Maysonet named Male Athlete of the Year by Riverhead News-Review ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Miguel Maysonet of Riverhead was named Stony Brook University’s Co-Male Athlete of the Year in May. Wednesday, he was announced as the Big South Conference Male Athlete of the Year. As Miguel Maysonet prepares to fight for a spot with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL, he can add one more accolade to his already impressive resume: Big South Conference’s Howard Bagwell Male Athlete of the Year. Maysonet, a star running back at Stony Brook University, became the first football player to win the award, which was announced Wednesday. Maysonet earned 79 points and eight first-place votes to edge out Coastal Carolina soccer All-American Ashton Bennett. Maysonet, the 2008 Hansen Award winner from Riverhead, went undrafted in the April NFL draft, but quickly signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. His time in Philadelphia was short-lived, but after the Eagles dropped him, the Browns scooped him up off waivers May 21. The Browns’ training camp starts next week. Maysonet was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision. big south conference, football, Miguel Maysonet, Riverhead, seawolves, Stony Brook University Maysonet signs with Philadelphia Eagles by Joe Werkmeister JOE WERKMEISTER PHOTO | Riverhead’s Miguel Maysonet receives a phone call on draft day. Maysonet was receiving calls Saturday from NFL teams interested in signing him as a free agent. Sorry Giants fans, Riverhead’s Miguel Maysonet has signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles. Soon after being passed up in the 2013 NFL Draft, the 2009 Riverhead High School graduate received a phone call from the Eagles, offering him a chance to make the team as an undrafted free agent. Stony Brook University announced Saturday night that Maysonet has inked a deal. Should he make the team, Maysonet will become the fourth Riverhead High School graduate to sign with an NFL team and the second to play for the Eagles. Ted Wegert, Class of 1951, played two seasons with Philadelphia in 1956 and 1957. The Eagles, which did not select a running back in the draft, called him expressing interest earlier Saturday and even hinted they might use their final pick on him. The team ultimately selected Oklahoma defensive end David King in the final spot. A quick glance of the Eagles’ roster shows Miguel Maysonet’s No. 5 is available. Maysonet will now head to Philadelphia’s rookie camp looking to earn a backup spot behind All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy. Second year players Bryce Brown and Chris Polk are the only other halfbacks listed on the Eagles’ roster. McCoy played in just 12 games and scored only five touchdowns in 2012 after his breakout 2011 season that saw him total 20 scores. Brown scored four touchdowns in 16 games for the Eagles last year, and Polk did not play after signing as an undrafted free agent following last year’s draft. Maysonet and his agent received several phone calls Saturday from other teams interested in signing him, he said. The Buffalo Bills, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers and Miami Dolphins all called Saturday, he said. Maysonet hung up after one phone call from a team and jokingly said “I don’t even know what team that was,” after earlier telling the caller he’d “love to be there.” He later said he thinks the team was the New York Giants. Just before the final pick was called, ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr., mentioned Maysonet as one of the best players still available. “He has ability, he showed it against Army, he showed it against Syracuse,” he said. About 70 friends and family members gathered along with media at the Hubbard family home in Riverhead to watch the draft Saturday. They applauded their friend as the final pick was called. Maysonet, who helped lead the Blue Waves to an undefeated season his senior year of high school, capped off his college career at Stony Brook University with a jaw-dropping senior season that landed him the Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year award for the second straight season. [Related: As NFL draft unfolds, Maysonet takes it all in stride] Maysonet was one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision. He ended up second in the voting, which was announced during a ceremony Dec. 17 in Philadelphia. Maysonet was named to a bevy of All-American teams following the season, including the Associated Press first team. At 5-foot-10, 209-pounds, Maysonet rushed for 1,964 yards this season, tops in the FCS. He scored 23 touchdowns to join former Stony Brook running back Brock Jackolski as the only players in Big South history with a 20-touchdown season. His rushing total was the 11th most yards in a season in FCS history. He helped lead Stony Brook to a 10-3 season that ended in the second round of the FCS playoffs against Montana State. Maysonet scored two touchdowns in the Seawolves’ playoff victory over Villanova. Ed Danowski (Class of 1930) and Scott Mersereau (Class of 1983) join Wegert as the only two Riverhead players to make an NFL team. joew@timesreview.com football, Miguel Maysonet, NFL Draft, seawolves, Stony Brook University As NFL draft unfolds, Maysonet takes it all in stride ROBERT O’ROURK PHOTO | The NFL draft began Thursday night with the first round. Miguel Maysonet of Riverhead will be waiting to see if his name gets called, most likely Saturday during rounds four-seven. In one month, Miguel Maysonet will return to LaValle Stadium, the field he made home with dizzying runs and acrobatic hurdles, surrounded by hundreds of classmates as his time at Stony Brook University draws to a close. The cameras won’t be pointed squarely in his direction. There will be no scouts clocking his 40-yard dash, no ESPN analysts breaking down the event. The day will be as much about everyone else as it is about its most famous current student, the man from Riverhead who put Stony Brook football on the map. By the time Maysonet’s name rings out over the field on May 24, he will in all likelihood be a member of a National Football League team, an accomplishment never before achieved by a Stony Brook player. Earning a chance to play football at its highest level will undoubtedly be the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. But it’s with the same fervor Maysonet speaks about accomplishing another goal, one that won’t draw the same headlines, but will bring just as much satisfaction to the 23-year-old star running back. “I know for a fact that the NFL doesn’t last forever,” Maysonet said in the week leading up to the draft. “When I get that degree from Stony Brook, that’s definitely going to last forever.” As the three-day NFL draft unfolds this weekend at Radio City Music Hall, Maysonet is expected to land anywhere between the fifth and seventh rounds. As his notoriety continues to grow, Maysonet takes it all in stride, still the same humble kid who wowed football fans with his spectacular runs as a Riverhead Blue Wave from 2005-08. “At the end of the day, I’m not getting hung up on whether I’m drafted or anything like that,” Maysonet said. “If I get drafted, cool. If I don’t, cool. I didn’t want to focus everything on me being drafted.” DANIEL DE MATO FILE PHOTO | Maysonet cheered on his former school in November when the Blue Waves won the county championship at Stony Brook. To say Miguel Maysonet came from nothing would be somewhat unfair. Sure, he lacked many of the basic comforts most of us take for granted, like a shower. He grew up in a small apartment in Riverhead above a now boarded-up auto repair shop where he would fill a bucket with water to shower. “I make sure it’s not burning hot so I don’t get burned,” Maysonet told Newsday in 2008. The humble beginnings have become as much a part of Maysonet’s identity as his touchdown runs. For all that the Puerto Rican-born Maysonet lacked, he possessed an unwavering desire to succeed. “I think that fuels the fire, knowing that you can’t look back and you always have to move forward,” said Andrew Smith, who was teammates with Maysonet at Riverhead and for one season at Hofstra University. “I’ve always seen that in him. He knows where he came from and he’s trying to better his life.” It was the values instilled in him by his mother, Yolanda Santana, — a gift more valuable than any monetary item — that allowed Maysonet to stay on the path toward stardom. Temptation existed all around him to stray as a youngster. But Maysonet understood there were consequences for negative actions and he did his best to avoid them. And it wasn’t so much football that motivated him to do the right thing as it was his desire to place no unnecessary burden upon his mom, who raised him by herself. “Growing up, seeing the hard work that my mom was doing working two jobs to make ends meet, I didn’t want to be that child that she also had to worry about,” Maysonet said. “I didn’t want to be the kid out getting in trouble.” Riverhead football coach Leif Shay said it can be difficult for any kid to stay on the right path, let alone someone in Maysonet’s shoes. “He’s never wandered far away from what his goals were,” Shay said. “You have to respect a kid that knows what he wants out of life.” ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Maysonet soars across the goal line to score a Stony Brook touchdown. Anyone who watched Maysonet perform — and his games were very much a performance — can recount at least one play that left them with their jaw hanging. For Shay, it was a game against North Babylon when Maysonet hurdled over the top of a defender. “It was just an outstanding, athletic play where I was like, ‘Wow, this kid is really special, and might have the ability to go to the next level,’ ” Shay said. Hurdling defenders became a staple of Maysonet’s running attack. His most famous hurdle came this past season against Syracuse on one of his team’s biggest stages. The 5-foot-9, 209-pound Maysonet took a handoff, cut up to the right and jumped over a diving defender. He bounced off another defender and charged up the right sideline for a 72-yard touchdown. The play was later featured on ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day. For Smith, who plays defensive tackle for SUNY/Albany, his Maysonet moment came during a home game at Riverhead. On the play, the offensive line was overwhelmed by a blitz, leaving a sea of defenders swarming toward Maysonet. “He made moves to the right, to the left,” Smith said. “He literally broke eight defenders and scored. I’m like, ‘Wow.’ It was amazing.” Maysonet’s introduction to football came at a later age than most. When he was in eighth grade on the junior varsity team, Maysonet was playing offensive guard. After several kids became academically ineligible, the coaches moved Maysonet to tailback out of necessity. “He took the ball and ran for a touchdown,” Shay said in an interview after Maysonet won the Hansen Award as the top player in the county in 2008. As a Blue Wave, Maysonet ran for 5,971 yards, placing him second all-time in Suffolk County behind Jason Gwaltney of North Babylon. He scored 75 touchdowns, 33 of which came during the Blue Waves’ undefeated season in 2008 that culminated with a Long Island championship and Rutgers Trophy as the best team in Suffolk. At Stony Brook, Maysonet capped off his career last fall with a sensational year in leading the Seawolves to their best season in program history. He finished the season with 1,964 yards and 21 touchdowns to earn Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors. He was one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award as the top player in the Football Championship Subdivision and received multiple all-America honors. RIVERHEAD SCHOOL DISTRICT FILE PHOTO | In February 2009, Maysonet and teammate Andrew Smith signed to play football at Hofstra University. If not for a cruel twist of fate, Maysonet may never have ended up on the radar of nearly every NFL team (28 teams attended his Pro Day workout at Stony Brook last month). As Maysonet’s high school career began to take off, he still had no idea of the possibilities that existed. He didn’t know how he could earn a scholarship or how college coaches would be traveling to see him, pulling him out of classes on a daily basis. He ultimately settled on Hofstra and in February 2009, he and Smith joined together for a signing ceremony in the high school library, inking their futures together to play for the Pride. Smith and Maysonet were friends since fourth grade. As seniors, Maysonet led the offense, Smith the defense. “Everything he did looked natural,” Smith said. “His movement — he made it look easy. I was always impressed with how he would go through practices just because he would practice really, really hard.” Their career together at Hofstra ended after one season when the school’s football program was unexpectedly dropped, leaving Maysonet and Smith without a home. For Maysonet, the choice was simple. He would head to Stony Brook so he could stay close to home. “I tell people all the time, the whole Hofstra dropping of the program hurt,” Maysonet said. “People loved Hofstra football so much. But I was able to land on my feet. My style, it worked out better for me at Stony Brook than it would have at Hofstra.” Placed in an offensive system that favored the running game, Maysonet blossomed playing alongside another Long Island star, Brock Jackolski of William Floyd. The two quickly became a perfect complement of runners, Jackolski the speedster, Maysonet the grinder. “Having Brock there was awesome,” Maysonet said. “Off the field he was able to let me know what I was going to get into my first year there. Like Brock, I didn’t get red-shirted. They just threw me into the fire.” JOHN NEELY FILE PHOTO | Maysonet hurdles over a helpless defender while playing for the Blue Waves. Around Riverhead these days, Maysonet remains very much a celebrity figure. Not a day has gone by in recent weeks when someone didn’t ask about the upcoming draft. Random people approach him regularly, just hoping for a quick chat and to say they’re behind him. Maysonet’s always willing to oblige, flashing his patented smile and talking football with whomever is asking. When his schedule allows it he attends Riverhead football games, sometimes surprising the players with a locker-room visit to offer a few words of advice. When the Blue Waves advanced to the county championship game last fall, Maysonet got to watch his former team play at Stony Brook. “To Miguel’s credit he always comes back and talks to the younger kids,” Shay said. “He tries to motivate them. I think that helps that he’s stuck with his hometown roots.” It’s a humbling experience, Maysonet said, when people approach him to congratulate him on his success. “I definitely appreciate them going out of their way just to say good job,” he said. “A lot of people are like ‘Riverhead is behind you all the way’. That’s definitely an awesome feeling to have people in my town standing behind me.” After attending the NFL combine in February and then showcasing his athletic ability at his Pro Day in March, it’s come down to a waiting game for Maysonet. On Saturday, when the final four rounds of the draft begin, Maysonet will be home in Riverhead, surrounded by some friends and family while he waits for his cellphone to ring. And if it doesn’t, Maysonet will take it in stride. Even if he goes undrafted, he should still receive an invitation to training camp from at least one team for a chance to prove himself. “I’m pretty relaxed about the situation,” he said. “No anxiety, no nerves.” The NFL may very well be in his future. But if it isn’t, that won’t be the end of Maysonet’s dreams. He hopes to go back to school and continue his education toward becoming a teacher and coach. “You never know with this whole NFL thing where my life may take me when it’s all said and done,” Maysonet said. Another chapter remains to be written. One that begins this weekend. Andrew Smith, football, Leif Shay, Miguel Maysonet, nfl, NFL Draft, seawolves, Stony Brook University Maysonet Watch: One dazzling touchdown, but SBU drops first game ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Miguel Maysonet, shown here in Week 2, scored on a 71-yard run Saturday in Stony Brook’s loss at Syracuse. The Seawolves fell to 2-1. Each week, we’ll take a look at how Riverhead Hansen Award Winner Miguel Maysonet is doing in his senior season at Stony Brook University. Here’s his stat line from Week 3 and the season totals for the running back, who is listed on the Walter Payton Award watch list: Week 3, Sept. 15 Carries: 21 Rushing Yards: 158 Touchdowns: 1 (71 yards) Final Score: Syracuse 28, Stony Brook 17 (SBU is now 2-1) Receiving Yards: 25 Touchdowns: 6 Week 4: Sept. 22, vs. Colgate, 6 p.m. Click here for a video of Maysonet scoring on a 71-yard touchdown run. football, Miguel Maysonet, seawolves, Stony Brook University, syracuse Maysonet leads Stony Brook into season with high expectations ROBERT O’ROURK FILE PHOTO | Miguel Maysonet will lead Stony Brook University against Central Connecticut in the season opener Saturday night. The preseason accolades came flooding in throughout the summer for Miguel Maysonet and the Stony Brook University football team. Maysonet, the former Riverhead running back who won the Hansen Award in 2008, was named to the watch list for the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision. Then came Big South Preseason Offensive Player of the Year honors. Then came preseason All-America honors. Now, under heavy weight of expectations, it’s his time to deliver on all those accolades. The Seawolves, fresh off their best season in school history last year, open their 2012 season Saturday night at home against Central Connecticut. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. at LaValle Stadium. It’ll be the first time Stony Brook begins its season at home since 2008. The preseason favorites to win the Big South, Stony Brook is ranked in every major FCS poll. The Seawolves are ranked as high as ninth by Phil Steele’s College Football Preview. After rushing for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns last year, Maysonet will likely have an even greater role in the backfield this season after former William Floyd standout Brock Jackolski graduated. Jackolski rushed for 1,418 yards and 16 touchdowns last season as he and Maysonet formed an unstoppable one-two punch on the ground. The Seawolves open the season with a pair of home games before traveling to Syracuse Sept. 15 for a game that will be broadcast on SNY. The Seawolves will also have its game at Army Sept. 29 aired on CBS Sports Network. Click here for more Stony Brook coverage. football, Miguel Maysonet, Riverhead, seawolves, Stony Brook University Talked About 18,936 Video: Riverhead students suspended for Tebow impersonation Guest Spot: EPCAL group hammers out subdivision plan Hawkins Inn in Jamesport advances plans to add guest rooms Laurel woman’s novel published posthumously Levy ‘AWOL’ since announcing he won’t run Sponsored Tips for non-toxic tick control Top News Week in Review: Gergela to retire, no-hitters and more Riverhead blotter: Riverhead man stole from Home Depot Land swap involved in Suffolk’s $4M traffic plan for Riverside Guest Column: Ring the school bell a little later Water mains to be flushed beginning Sunday Riverhead Newsletter Sign Up Sign up for the Newsletter. Through your lens: Easter weekend fun on the North ForkBreathe Week in Review: What to eat in Greenport and moreLearn Meet the new executive chef at the Jedediah Hawkins InnEat Sunday Scene: Spring break in GreenportGreenport Subscribe to the Riverhead News-Review Print and E-Paper editions available. Try our one-month trial for only 99¢ > Recent Facebook Posts What’s happening in our schools this week http://ow.ly/vZ6BT 0 likes, 0 comments ⋅ 21 minutes ago Check out more than 50 residential and commercial listings in Southold http://ow.ly/vYn2r 1 likes, 0 comments ⋅ 12 hours ago Jerry Case’s latest “By the Book” column: There’s nothing like a great gumshoe http://ow.ly/vYjFo Riverhead Town police blotter: Riverhead man stole from Home Depot http://ow.ly/vYjAC Start School Later Long Island founders Cliff Baldwin and Susan Lamontagne’s latest opinion piece http://ow.ly/vYilr Topics News northforker Events More Subscribe to Digital or Print 2014 © Times/Review All Rights Reserved

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Vincenzo Nibali Heads Team Liquigas-Cannondale in 2011 Giro d'Italia 05/5/2011| by Thomas A. Valentinsen Nibali's teammates are ready to support him in the Giro, but Basso has been left out in the cold. Vincenzo Nibali Heads Team Liquigas-Cannondale in 2011 Giro d'Italia Team Liquigas-Cannondale's line-up for the Giro d'Italia 2011 has been announced. Team Liquigas-Cannondale will start the 2011 Giro d'Italia with a solid team built around Vincenzo Nibali who is the team's sole leader in the Giro. The team's only focus in the Giro will be to claim the leader's jersey - the maglia rosa - and keep it all the way to the Giro finish in Milan on May 29. According to Team Liquigas-Cannondale sports director Alberto Volpi the team has worked hard in preparation for the Giro, which is a major goal for the team in the 2011 season. "We've pulled out all the stops to prepare for this race. We're motivated and well aware of the (scale of the) challenge awaiting us, and we're ready to race now," Volpi told Roadcycling.com and our mobile sister site Roadcycling.mobi. The 2011 Giro d'Italia kicks off with a team time trial in Turin and then travels south through the Italian landscape reaching Sicily before the riders pedal back north heading for the Italian capital of Milan. Volpi believes that the 2011 Giro will be a very exciting edition for cycling fans to follow because of the tough and intensive route planned by the race organizers. "It's a really tough route full of potential pitfalls. The last week will be the real decider as it has the steepest climbs, but none of the previous stages should be underestimated. I reckon there will be lots of tricky situations and demanding finishes. I'm sure that this Giro will be anyone's race right up to the last day," Volpi explained. Volpi and the rest of the Liquigas team management has built this year's team roster specifically to optimize the chances for Vincenzo Nibali to finish on the top of the podium in Milan. Each rider has been carefully selected for his unique abilities to support Nibali in the various terrain types which await the riders in the coming three weeks. "We want win the pink jersey and to support Nibali in every phase of the race, from the flatter stages to the climbs. All the riders are up to the job," Volpi told Roadcycling.com. Valerio Agnoli, Eros Capecchi, Cristiano Salerno and Sylwester Szmyd have all been chosen because of their great climbing skills. "Time and again Valerio has shown how skilled he is, as have Eros and Sylwester, who will be with him in the finales during the mountain stages. This is Cristiano's first big tour but his reliability and strength on the climbs are guarantees enough for us." The team has complete trust in its group of "rouleurs," which includes Tiziano Dall'Antonia, Alan Marangoni, Fabio Sabatini and Alessandro Vanotti. "They know exactly what they need to do and I'm counting on their experience to support Vincenzo in every phase of the race. Vanotti in particular will be an important addition on the medium climbs as well, while Sabatini will be free to play his hand and go for a win in the sprint finishes." Interestingly Team Liquigas-Cannondale chose to remove Ivan Basso from the team's Giro d'Italia line-up only a few weeks before the start. According to Pages1 17/07/2005 Tour de France Results - Stage 14 16/09/2010 Vuelta 2010 2nd Rest Day Analysis and Predictions 22/01/2013 Can Lance Armstrong fight back? 10/06/2013 2013 Tour de Suisse Results - Stage 2 10/10/2003 World Championships Results: U23 Men's Road Race Your comments Your comments

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Tiger Traits We asked six icons of coaching: "What makes Tiger Woods great?" Red Auerbach Tiger's main attribute is his dedication. He has blocked out everything except what he has to do. He's in such a tough position. For every 100 autographs you sign, the one you don't sign, you're a jerk. He'd be better off not signing any. People say, "Hey, you'll be sorry when they don't ask for your autograph." That's a load of crap. If that day ever comes, he'll relish it. I got a thrill meeting Tiger. I said, "Tiger. I want to congratulate you not just for what you've done, but also for the way you've conducted yourself." He looked at me and said, "Coach, it's my honor to meet you." He has made himself better by making himself stronger, that's what impresses me the most. He's willing to work harder than his competitors. Add that to his natural ability, and you've got a combination that's hard to beat. I try to get people to be aware of the positive things around them, and one of the most positive in our world today is Tiger Woods—his work habits, the way he influences young people and the way he handles himself. I'm impressed with how quickly he grew up. He was immature at first, but he figured it out: You're a professional now; this is the way you act. When he first came out, he was a little too flamboyant. He knows now that other people in his group maybe aren't doing as well. You can kill them, but kill them with courtesy. His talent is the kind that comes along once in a lifetime. God makes :hose choices, and he selected Tiger. You couldn't practice enough, play enough or study enough to be that good. It's impossible. Ted Williams was impossible. Michael Jordan was impossible. Tiger Woods is impossible. His work habits and focus are exceptional. Work habits develop the fundamentals that are so necessary, and his focus allows him to put other things out of his mind so he can concentrate on the job at hand. At the Masters, I was astounded when he stopped his swing right at the top on the 15th tee. Not many can do that. He has everything in the physical area, but his real advantage is above the shoulders, where all the great ones excel. For a young guy to be that cool, that steady, is amazing. I'm not a golfer, but I can see how fluid he is physically. Mentally, he's unshakable, the way I'd like all my fighters to be. Situations do not overwhelm him. He doesn't blow his stack; he evaluates and takes care of the situation. I love the way he carries himself. He does this thing that I try to get my fighters to do—smile. Reminds me of Muhammad Ali, the way he carries himself. Muhammad was a pied piper. Tiger's a pied piper. Tom Tellez Tiger knows what he's doing biomechanically, and not many athletes really do. Carl Lewis was that way when I coached him. Most know what feels right when they're going good, but when they're not going good, they don't know what's gone wrong. If you want to be consistent at a sport, you have to understand technique, the things Isaac Newton taught us, in detail. Carl understood technique and could make a change from one race to another, from one jump to another, under extreme pressure. Tiger is like that as well. He can duplicate under pressure what he does in practice. CAUGHT IN THE ACT When you're Tiger Woods and keep coming up short in the only championships that matter, you have... - August 20, 2012 SWEET SUCCESS A win at the PGA Championship puts Rory McIlroy right where Tiger Woods was at the same age, but... - August 20, 2012 WHY TIGER'S TOAST It's a good bet that Tiger Woods will not end his four-year drought in the majors this week on... - August 13, 2012 COVERSTiger Woods (30)

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A TRUE TRIPLE THREAT? AT LEAST! MATT GAGNE This passer may not strong-arm his opponents. But he'll find a way to beat you every other way you can dream of LARGE BUT NIMBLE, CAPABLE OF CLEARING PATHS AND CATCHING THE BALL, THE TIGHT ends and fullbacks at Northwestern are called superbacks because of their versatility. They practice with offensive linemen and wide receivers, honing the skills for a hybrid position that requires them, in the words of coach Pat Fitzgerald, "to be super at everything. That's how we came up with the term." Maybe it's misplaced. The superback moniker seems better suited to Kain Colter, a Swiss Army knife of a player who last season threw for 673 yards and six touchdowns, ran for 654 yards and nine touchdowns and caught 43 passes for 466 yards and three more scores. "I really wanted to finish the season 500/500/500," says Colter, who started the first three games at quarterback in place of an injured Dan Persa before being used at virtually every skill position. "We were creative. Defenses never knew where they were going to see me." At Nebraska last Nov. 5, Colter stepped back under center after Persa had been knocked out of the game and led the Wildcats to a 28--25 victory. Along with catching three balls for 57 yards, he went 4-of-6 passing for 115 yards and a TD; he also rushed for 57 yards and two touchdowns. His highlight came early in the third quarter when he turned a broken play into a touchdown. On first-and-goal from the three, after one of the superbacks fell down on a play-action pass, the real Superback went to work. Colter sprinted from the left hash mark to the right pylon, crossing the goal line with outstretched arms while getting blasted by a safety. "He covered more ground than you would have thought anyone possibly could," lineman Patrick Ward says. "He looked like Superman flying through the air," adds Fitzgerald. Despite Colter's athleticism and diverse abilities, Fitzgerald likely won't use him anywhere but under center this season. "You'll never say never, but Kain is a quarterback, and that's where his focus is going to be," the coach says. "He's got an incredibly bright future at that position." Not too long ago a shoulder injury left Colter wondering if he'd ever be healthy enough to be a quarterback. He grew up in Denver, where, as a junior at Cherry Creek High, he threw for 1,786 yards, led the Bruins to the 5A state championship game and committed to Stanford. But in the opener of his senior season, he was pancaked from behind as he reached down for a fumble and suffered a torn labrum. Seeing the injury, the Cardinal backed off. "My shoulder was pretty bad," says Colter. "Seven months out of surgery, I couldn't even throw the ball 10 yards." He waited until the off-season to have it repaired, hoping to catch the eye of another school by playing wideout. It worked, especially when Northwestern promised him a shot at quarterback. But even now Colter's passing is not what it was in high school. "Some guys might be able to put a little more zip on it," he admits. He still experienced pain while throwing last season. But he also has a rare perspective. "I've played receiver in high school and in college," he says. "It helped me perfect my game. I understand the timing, [which helps me] make up for my lack of arm strength. But it is coming back, and I'm not worried about where it will be this season." A psychology major who aspires to a career as an orthopedic surgeon as well as in the NFL, Colter will be questioned about his arm regardless of which path he takes. Right now, the only knock against him might be that he can't throw the ball to himself. THE WILDCATS' WILD CARD Northwestern entered the season without its Heisman-candidate quarterback. Not to worry.... - September 12, 2011 northwestern WILDCATS Feet, don't fail them again: The primary tasks are keeping their quarterback upright and... - August 21, 2012 Northwestern Wildcats (Football)

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While football fans were purring in appreciation at the dazzling dribbling skills exhibited by French international Jérémy Menez that sealed Roma’s comprehensive 3-0 victory against Cagliari at the weekend, it may have escaped their attention that the giallorossi had stealthily moved into third place in Serie A after winning five of their last six games, which is some comeback after their indifferent start to the season. In fact, it’s beginning to look like this year could be a repeat of last year’s heroics, when Claudio Ranieri’s team staged a remarkable recovery to finish as runners-up to José Mourinho’s all-conquering Inter team, guided by their charismatic captain, Francesco Totti.However, as important as these victories are to Roma’s campaign, this is not the greatest challenge facing the grand old club these days, as their very existence has been called into question. With depressing inevitability, their problems off the pitch came to a head last summer, when the club was officially put up for sale, after many years of financial difficulties. They reported a thumping great €22 million loss in 2009/10 and have a large hole in their balance sheet. This has resulted in them struggling to pay their wages, so much so that the players only received their money for July, August and September in November - on the very last day that they could be paid without the league imposing a points penalty.Unsurprisingly, this has caused the supporters great consternation, as there is a clear risk that players could be sold to shore up the club’s finances with some talk of Montenegrin striker Mirko Vucinic being allowed to leave. Some players’ contracts are coming to an end, including faithful servants such as centre-half Philippe Mexès and midfielder Simone Perrotta, who could depart on free transfers if their agreements are not renewed. Even if Roma manage to retain these players, they will have to find money from somewhere to reinvigorate an ageing squad at some time."Roma welcomes home Ranieri"It seems incredible that a prestigious club like Roma could be in such dire straits. After all, this is one of Italy’s most successful clubs, having won the Serie A title three times, most recently in the memorable 2000/01 season under Fabio Capello with a team featuring the attacking talents of Gabriele Batistuta, Vincenzo Montella and that man Totti. They have also seen European glory twice narrowly elude them, losing out to Liverpool in the 1984 European Cup after a penalty shoot-out and their perennial rivals Inter in the 1991 UEFA Cup.It’s not all ancient history either, as the last decade has arguably been one of their best ever, at least on the pitch, as they captured one scudetto, finished second in the league on no fewer than six occasions and reached the Italian Cup final six times, winning twice (in 2007 and 2008). According to research by the Italian media, Roma is the fifth most supported club in Italy, only behind Juventus, Inter, Milan and Napoli.So, the obvious question is what on earth has gone wrong?Many commentators speak of the club’s enormous debts, but that’s not strictly accurate. The club itself has a very small net debt of €9 million and has actually had a cash surplus for the previous few years, which is a notable achievement in the highly pressurised world of football. Even the net balance owed on transfer fees, which can be very high at Italian clubs, is only €3 million.However, the problem is that the club’s owners, the Sensi family, which owns the club via its oil storage company Italpetroli, do have huge debts with the banks. These were around €405 million at the last count with €325 million being owed to Unicredit and €80 million to Monte dei Paschi di Siena, but they are probably even higher now.You might be forgiven for thinking that this has nothing to do with the football club, but unfortunately there is an impact, as the main creditor Unicredit, which is facing challenges of its own in the troubled banking sector, has insisted that Italpetroli clears its debts and the only way of doing that is for the company to liquidate its assets, including AS Roma, which is now very much in the shop window."Rosella Sensi - no smoke without fire"Italpetroli is in a desperate situation with bankruptcy threatened and auditors questioning their accounts, so they have no other viable options remaining. Indeed, Unicredit has already taken control of the Sensi family’s other assets, leaving them with just their residential properties. The owners’ financial difficulties also obviously mean that they have no spare money to invest into the club.The Sensi family has held a majority stake (67%) in Roma since 1993, though times have undoubtedly changed since Franco Sensi used to boast, “13% of Italians travel around using my oil.” Although initially criticised by the club’s passionate support (“Sensi senza senso”), the fans slowly warmed to Franco, especially when he opened his cheque book to buy the likes of Batistuta, Emerson and Walter Samuel, the highlight being a memorable celebration in the Circo Massimo to honour the championship win in 2001. However, after his death from illness two years ago, his daughter Rosella took charge and, since then, the future of the club has been uncertain with frequent speculation about a change in ownership.At the same time, fans have been unhappy with the lack of investment by the owners in recent years. In the last two seasons, Roma have spent relatively little in the transfer market with the only signings of any note being Nicolás Burdisso and Marco Motta. Indeed, they have actually generated net sales proceeds of €19 million in that time, largely thanks to the sale of creative midfielder Alberto Aquilani to Liverpool. This total was only surpassed by Udinese, a club famous for doing prodigiously well at making money from transfers, and the Milan giants, whose figures were boosted by the extremely lucrative sales of Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona and Kaká to Real Madrid, while all other clubs in Serie A spent more than Roma.Hence, the sense of relief among the majority of the club’s supporters that the Sensi family’s reign is coming to an end after 17 years in charge of La Maggica. Even Rosella now seems to realise that her time is up, “The day in which an interested party with a genuine project for the club appears, we won’t have a problem in taking a step back, albeit with a heavy heart.”Although Rosella continues to hold the reigns, her position as president is a nominal one, merely ensuring continuity in the interim period, and in reality it is now the bank that is calling the shots. Ever since 2004, when it acquired Capitalia, another bank that helped restructure Italpetroli’s debt, Unicredit has owned 49% of Italpetroli, but it clearly has little desire to own a football club, which it effectively does now through its control of Italpetroli’s 67% stake. This helps explain its decision to sell the club, an agreement that Sensi admitted was needed in order to “safeguard” the club’s future."The grinta of Daniele De Rossi"The requirement for someone else to take control has been amply evidenced since the summer with Unicredit having to advance €15 million in September to finance the transfer market acquisitions campaign, though €11 million of that was reportedly repaid in October, and a further €25 million in November to cover the wage bill, though this has been supported by a factoring arrangement, whereby some of the club’s future television receipts have been passed to the bank in exchange for the injection of cash.Rothschild has been appointed as the advisor tasked with finding a buyer for the club, a process that has been facilitated by creating a new company, imaginatively named NewCo Roma, for Italpetroli’s 67% share. The division of ownership in NewCo remains unchanged with the Sensi family holding 51% and Unicredit 49%, but, importantly, Sensi cannot prevent a sale to a buyer deemed acceptable by the bank. At the point of sale, she will have to step aside.However, it has not proved to be as easy to sell the club as Unicredit would have hoped. Having signed the agreement to place Roma on the market in July, they initially hoped that the process would be completed in September (“we’ll find a buyer in three months”), but that always appeared overly optimistic. That date passed, as have a number of others, with the deadline first being slipped to November, then extended to December, leaving the latest date for bids as the end of January. In fairness, the sale was somewhat comprised by the resignation of Unicredit’s CEO, Alessandro Profumo, in September, nor was it helped by Roma’s disappointing start to the season, but all these delays don’t exactly encourage the thoughts of a positive outcome."Philippe Mexes - the French connection"One potential barrier to completing a sale might be the price being asked by Unicredit. It is understood that the minimum they are looking for is €100 million, though they are believed to be hoping for €130-150 million. Interestingly, the Sensi family will receive 5% of any figure above €100 million, so it is in their interest to help achieve the highest price possible. Before the economic crisis struck a couple of years ago, analysts thought that the club was worth at least €200 million, so the most opportune moment to find a new owner has almost certainly long since passed.Indeed, a couple of years ago, it was reported that billionaire financier George Soros had made a €283 million bid for the club through his global sports investment arm, Inner Circle Sports, though this has never been confirmed. There have been many expressions of interest over the last few years from all corners of the world, but, for one reason or another, they have never come to fruition. Unicredit appears unruffled: “The sales process continues as planned” and “We are still in discussions with a number of potential purchasers to whom we have provided further details as a preparation for binding offers.” In spite of these bland words of comfort, the fans are understandably still nervous, given how long the procedure is taking.Nothing is known for certain about any prospective owners, but the short list would appear to have come down to three reasonably credible candidates: (a) Aabar Investment, the sovereign wealth fund of Abu Dhabi, already owns 5% of Unicredit and would surely have the resources to both finance a bid and make investments into the club. (b) The Angelucci group, whose wealth is primarily derived from health clinics, though it also publishes “Libero” and “Il Reformista”, is reported to have already made an offer of €86 million. This low bid has been cited as evidence that this group would not have sufficient capital to make a success of the club. (c) A mysterious American entrepreneur, whose name has not been divulged, though some have suggested that this might well be John Fisher, the owner of the Gap clothing empire, who has approached Roma in the past, or even Steve Tisch, owner of the New York Giants."Marco Borriello shows the way ahead"Many others have seemingly fallen by the wayside, including Francesco Angelini, the wealthy owner of a pharmaceutical company; Clessidra, an Italian private equity firm; and Naguib Sawiris, the Egyptian entrepreneur, who owns telecoms provider Wind, which just happens to be Roma’s main sponsor. Expressions of interest have also apparently been heard from the usual suspects in Asia, China, India and Russia, but that’s just par for the course when a football club is put on the block.Of course, it’s not enough for the buyers to have enough money to just buy the club. No, they will also need to find a lot more cash for other investments. Right off the bat, they will need to inject around €50 million of capital to strengthen the balance sheet, and probably a similar amount to strengthen the squad. So, if we assume that the club can be bought for €150 million, that would mean a total outlay of €250 million – or a quarter of a billion. That’s without counting the cost of a new stadium and training ground, which would be needed if Roma are to compete internationally in the future. No wonder Federico Ghizzoni, Unicredit’s current chief executive, explained, “For us, it’s not only the price that’s important, but also the future of the club, in other words the quality of the investor.”So, what sort of business would a buyer get for his money?On the face of it, the profit and loss account does not look too bad up until last year, when the club reported a hefty €22 million loss. In the four previous years, they made two large profits (€14 million in 2007 and €20 million in 2008) and two small losses (€4 million in 2006 and €1 million in 2009). In a way, the 2010 loss was perfectly understandable, as the revenue dropped dramatically by €24 million, largely due to the failure to qualify for the Champions League. However, there are two reasons why this loss was worrying. First, even though the revenue fell, there appeared to be no attempt to compensate by cutting costs; in fact, they slightly increased. Second, the loss was incurred despite a very healthy €19 million profit on player sales, the highest recorded in the last five years.Unfortunately, the loss next year is likely to be at least as high. The club has not provided an estimate, but has warned that, “2010/11 will close with a significant loss, which will require some form of financing.” The Italian media has spoken of a loss as high as €40 million, though this will be impacted by a number of factors. On the plus side, the return to the Champions League will make a material difference to the revenue, but this will be reduced by the new collective agreement for TV rights. Furthermore, the moribund nature of the transfer market last summer means that there will be a limited profit from player sales – unless one of Roma’s higher rated players is sold in the January window. Actually, the lack of sales activity had a double whammy impact, as Roma were unable to meaningfully reduce their wage bill.At first glance, Roma’s revenue does not look too bad. If we look at the Deloittes Money League for 2008/09 (the most recent season available), which ranks clubs in order of their revenue, we can see that Roma are reasonably well placed in 12th position with €146 million, just ahead of Champions league regulars Lyon. However, a closer inspection reveals some weaknesses. For example, their revenue is a long way behind the Spanish powerhouses, Real Madrid and Barcelona, whose revenue is around the €400 million mark, which might be expected, but it’s also much lower than the leading English clubs, whose revenue is at least €100 million higher.While Roma are settled in the cluster of four Italian clubs, it should be emphasised that the triumvirate of Juventus, Inter and Milan all earn around €50 million more, largely because those clubs have better TV deals, but also because they have better exploited commercial opportunities. Nevertheless, the club’s revenue still represents a solid foundation upon which a new owner could build and that gap could represent a realistic growth target.Two other observations really hit you in the face. Roma’s match day revenue of just €19 million is extremely low, so much so that it’s actually the second lowest of any team in the top twenty clubs listed in the Money League, representing only 13% of the club’s total revenue. On the other hand, the huge reliance on television revenue of €87 million is all too evident, as this accounts for a weighty 59% of total revenue. In fairness, this fell to 54% in 2009/10, but this was more due to the absence of Champions League money than any growth in other revenue streams.Before further commenting on the revenue, I should explain that the figures in my analysis are different from those quoted by Roma. In order to be consistent with other clubs, I have followed the definition used in the Deloittes Money League. For example, their latest report excluded the following items: (a) gate receipts given to visiting clubs €3.1 million; (b) TV income given to visiting clubs €11.4 million. Adding the total adjustments of €14.5 million to the Money League revenue of €146.4 million gives the €160.9 million revenue reported by AS Roma SpA.Back to business and we were noting the importance of TV to Roma, which is a common factor among Italian clubs’ revenue profile. In fact, the list of top ten clubs by television revenue in the Money League includes four sides from Italy. As Rosella Sensi beautifully put it in the last annual report, “We live in an era of the virtual stadium.”Roma generated €87 million TV revenue in 2008/09, including €60 million from the domestic broadcasting deal with Sky/Mediaset and €26 million from the Champions League. The 24% decrease (€21 million) in 2009/10 was almost entirely due to the fact that Roma only qualified for the Europa League, which brought in a paltry €2 million. If you’re wondering why the TV revenue was so high in 2007/08 at €106 million, this was again partly because of the Champions League (worth €29 million that year), but also due to a once-off payment of €15 million for domestic TV rights.Up until now Roma have benefited from selling their TV rights individually, though their €60 million deal (net of mutuality payments) is still a long way short of the €90-100 million deals negotiated by Juventus, Inter and Milan. As from the 2010/11 season, this structure has been replaced by a return to a centralised collective deal, which Roma have advised will lower their TV income, though they have yet to quantify the magnitude of the reduction.The decrease may not be quite as bad as some fear for a couple of reasons. First, the total money guaranteed by exclusive media rights partner Infront Sports will be approximately 20% higher than before at over €1 billion a year. Second, the complicated distribution formula still favours the bigger clubs like Roma: 40% will be divided equally among the 20 Serie A clubs; 30% is based on number of fans (25%) and the population of the club’s city (5%); and 30% is based on past results (5% last season, 15% last 5 years, 10% from 1946 to the sixth season before last). Nevertheless, there is still talk of top-flight Italian clubs breaking away to form Lega Calcio Serie A in an attempt to emulate the English Premier League and increase their share of television revenue.As we have seen, qualification for the Champions League is imperative for Roma’s business model and unsurprisingly the club’s accounts identify this as one of the key risks influencing the club’s economic prospects. It’s not quite as straightforward as saying that the club makes a profit in years when it reaches the Champions League and makes a loss when it fails to do so, but that’s not a million miles from the truth.The accounts actually state that the total revenue difference between the Champions League and Europa League amounted to a whopping €26 million, when additional gate receipts and increases in sponsorship payments are included. As an illustration of the “Champions” effect, in the purple patch between 2007 and 2009, during which Roma reached the quarter-finals twice and the last 16 once, the TV receipts alone averaged a very handy €20 million a season. The payments have risen since then, so if Roma were to again reach the quarter-finals this season, which is an entirely feasible target, given that they have been drawn against the inconsistent Ukrainian side Shaktar Donetsk in the last 16, they could expect to receive at least €30 million.Another area where Roma have lagged behind their Italian counterparts is the commercial operation, which generated only €38 million last season (€41 million in 2008/09). To place that into context, Milan earned €64 million, Juventus €54 million and Inter €53 million. The deficit is explained by the differences in the main two sources of commercial revenue, where the other clubs earn more: (a) shirt sponsorship: Roma – Wind €7 million, Milan – Emirates €12 million, Juventus – Betclic €8 million, Inter – Pirelli €9 million; (b) kit supplier: Roma – Kappa €5 million, Milan – Adidas €13 million, Juventus – Nike €12 million, Inter – Nike €18 million.Actually, the situation is even worse at Roma, as the agreement with Wind, the shirt sponsor, was extended by three years to conclude in June 2013 at a lower guaranteed amount. Previously, this had been €7 million, but is now scheduled to be: 2011 €5 million, 2012 €5.5 million and 2013 €6 million, though this will be increased by €1 million for every season in the Champions League. This does not seem to me to be a wonderful demonstration of negotiating skills, but let’s not forget that this is a club that recently went an entire season without a main sponsor. In fairness, the Kappa equipment deal does have built-in increases from €5 million to €8 million over the course of the contract running until 2017.Even though there is plenty of room for improvement in marketing, Roma’s real revenue weakness is match day revenue, which is extremely low at €19 million. To be fair, this is a well-known issue in Italy, as we can see in the Money League, where the four Italian clubs all languish in the bottom half of that table. That said, it’s clearly more of a problem at Roma (and Juventus €17 million) than Milan €33 million and Inter €28 million. More importantly, this revenue is miserably low, compared to their European peers. At the other end of the spectrum, Manchester United and Arsenal generate €128 million and €118 million respectively, which is more than six times as much as Roma. That’s a huge competitive advantage for the English clubs, especially as it happens every single season.The difference is largely attributable to ticket prices, but it’s also down to smaller crowds. Last season, Roma’s average attendance of 41,000 was up 4% and was the third highest in Italy, only behind Inter 56,000 and Milan 43,000, but this was still only the 28th highest in Europe. Also of concern is the fact that Roma only fill 56% of the 72,700 capacity of the Stadio Olimpico, which is the lowest percentage of all Money League clubs."Grounds for optimism?"This only emphasises the need for Roma to address the issue of their stadium, which is owned by the local council, rented by the club and shared with city rivals Lazio, thus reducing its revenue generating capacity. The lack of ownership means that they miss out on profitable opportunities like premium seating, corporate boxes, restaurants, retail outlets, naming rights and non-sporting events.That is why in September 2009 Roma unveiled plans to build a new 55,000 capacity stadium in the Aurelia zone of the city with Rosella Sensi explaining, “It’s a project to bring economic stability to the club.” Although the ground would be smaller, it would generate much more revenue. In particular, premium seats could make a big difference, if you consider that Arsenal make 35% of their match day revenue from just 9,000 premium seats at the Emirates. Significantly, all of this income would go directly to the club, as they will no longer have to share it with Lazio or the local council.Obviously, there’s no such thing as a free lunch and a new stadium would require a huge initial outlay (estimated at around €300 million) and is not necessarily a magic bullet, given that it would be difficult to raise ticket prices in an economic recession, but it could have a dramatically beneficial impact on Roma’s revenue. You only have to look at how the gap with Arsenal’s revenue has grown from €15 million in 2005 to €139 million in 2010, with most of the growth coming since 2007 – the first year that the Emirates became operational – to appreciate that it could be worth the risk.Indeed, this way of thinking has been embraced by other Italian clubs. Juventus’ plans to move to a new stadium are well advanced, while Inter continue to negotiate with their council to move away from San Siro. However, since the 2009 announcement, little more has been heard from Roma about a new stadium, which might be linked to their financial difficulties, though some fans suspect that it was little more than a smoke screen designed to deflect criticism away from the owners.All in all, Roma’s revenue is not too shabby, but the problem is that it’s not enough to cover costs, leading to a €15 million loss after cash expenses and a €40 million loss after amortisation (and before profit on player sales). As with all football clubs, the largest expense is wages, which have increased by nearly 50% in the last four years from €68 million to €101 million, even though revenue has only grown by 5% in the same period. This trend is most apparent in the last two seasons, when the wage bill steadily grew, even as revenue declined, producing an unsustainable wages to turnover ratio of 82%, which is far higher than UEFA’s recommended maximum limit of 70%.Admittedly, Roma’s wage bill of €101 million is much lower than their rivals from the north (Inter €205 million, Milan €172 million and Juventus €138 million), but it is still the fourth highest in Italy and around twice as high as the likes of Lazio, Fiorentina and Genoa. Although the payroll has been lightened with the sale of Julio Baptista to Malaga and the loan of Cicinho to Villarreal, the accounts reveal the significant cost of extending player contracts, e.g. Totti’s deal runs to 2014 at €8.6 million a year. Roma fans might also be interested to know that Rosella Sensi received compensation of a tidy €1.1 million, which begs the question of how much she would be paid if the club were actually profitable.In contrast, player amortisation has held steady at around €24 million in the last three years, which is on the low side compared to other leading Italian clubs: Inter €50 million, Milan €41 million and Juventus €34 million. Remember that amortisation is the annual cost of writing-down a player’s purchase price. For example, Nicolás Burdisso was signed for €8 million on a four-year contract, but his transfer is only reflected in the profit and loss account via amortisation, which is booked evenly over the life of his contract, i.e. €2 million a year (€8 million divided by four years). Thus, the total cost of player purchases is not immediately reflected in the expenses, but increased transfer spend will ultimately result in higher amortisation.Therefore, the fact that amortisation has not increased would imply that Roma have not spent big in the transfer market and that is indeed the case, at least recently. In the five years up to 2003/04, Roma clearly splashed the cash with net spend of a not inconsiderable €183 million on players of the calibre of Batistuta, Cassano, Montella and Nakata, but they have only incurred net spend of €3 million in the seven years since those heady days.The annual report explained that the club could only afford “smaller investments, due to fewer available resources” and they have had to box clever, recruiting the Brazilians Adriano and Fabio Simplicio on free transfers (though on high wages) and taking prolific forward Marco Borriello from Milan on loan (with an agreement to buy him for €10 million next season).This an example of Roma’s need to conserve cash, which is evidenced by the cash flow statement. Over the last two years, the cash outflow of €47 million has been even higher than the reported losses of €23 million, which rings a large alarm bell, especially as this excludes €52 million of amortisation. There have been rumours that the commercial deals were extended at such a low rate in order to get some of the money upfront, but the accounts explicitly mention a number of arrangements whereby TV revenue has been sold in order to access funds now."Adriano - a huge investment in both senses"That sort of arrangement would raise a red flag to most investors, which might explain why the interest of so many possible buyers goes cold when they undertake due diligence and have the opportunity to examine the club’s books in detail. It’s as if they look at the high-level numbers and think that they could make a go of it, but there are too many skeletons in the closet for their liking.Of course, Roma does possess hidden assets too, namely their players, who were valued at a conservative €42 million in the balance sheet, but are worth considerably more in the real world – a staggering €215 million according to Transfermarkt. Unfortunately, the only way of realising the value of these assets would be to sell players like the popular Daniele De Rossi, which would hardly endear a new owner to the fans.In addition, any rational investor would look at the market in which a potential acquisition operated, which does not exactly provide a comforting picture. Although Serie A football remains fascinating and continues to produce more than its fair share of Champions League winners, there are numerous problems: outdated stadiums, falling attendances, outbreaks of hooliganism and the complicated “tessera del tifoso” process, which makes it more difficult to just turn up at a match."Mirko Vucinic - it's a celebration"Consequently, Italian clubs have reported some of the largest losses in football. In the last three years, Inter made cumulative losses of over €500 million, while Milan’s losses of €120 million in the same period would have been even higher without the €63 million profit made from selling Kaká. Even Juventus, who have been held up as a paragon of economic virtue in Italy, lost €11 million last year. Future financial prospects have been further damaged by the loss of a Champions League place to Germany.Of course, Italian clubs will not be able to ignore such losses in the future, even if they have a generous benefactor, as we are entering the era of UEFA’s Financial Fair Play Regulations, which will ultimately exclude from European competitions those clubs that fail to live within their means, i.e. make a profit. These will be implemented in the 2013/14 season, though the monitoring period will cover the preceding two reporting periods, 2011/12 and 2012/13, so clubs like Roma are under pressure to rapidly wipe out their losses."The happy couple - but for how much longer?"Wealthy owners will be allowed to absorb aggregate losses of €45 million over three years for the first two monitoring periods, so long as they are willing to cover the club’s losses by making equity contributions, but the maximum permitted loss then falls to €30 million from 2015/16 and will be further reduced from 2018/19 (to an unspecified amount). Funnily enough, this additional governance could potentially help Roma, as their losses are within this “acceptable deviation”, while some of their competitors will have to slash and burn to get down to this level.There is little doubt that the right owner, i.e. one with considerable resources and a strategic vision, could make a significant difference to Roma. While it might be over-egging the cake to describe the club as a sleeping giant, it has a lot of strengths that have not been fully exploited, starting with a large, fervent fan base and a productive youth academy. If a new owner could also build a new stadium, and maybe persuade the local authorities to fund improved transport infrastructure, then this sorry saga might actually have a happy ending. Let’s hope so, as the world of football is a better place with a Bella Roma. Posted by AS Roma, AnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 2:28 PMAmazing, amazing !!ReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 4:03 PMGood stuff, but doesn't AS Roma's fiscal year run from January to December, contrary to how you present it here?ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerJanuary 25, 2011 at 4:34 PM@Anonymous (4:03),No, their accounts close on 30 June. You can find the annual reports (in Italian) on the Borsa Italiana website.ReplyDeleteLugano WanderersJanuary 25, 2011 at 6:32 PMI read this - then I say why the hell I did not study enough when I was young in order to graduate at the St. Gallen university....It's also a bit sad that the spirit of sport has lost against the world of finance...Do you remember the good old days of Nottingham Forest in Europe?PS do not answer me "forget St. Gallen: you can't even write decent english" :-)Ticino Wolves!ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerJanuary 25, 2011 at 6:44 PM@Lugano Wanderers,Funnily enough, my father-in-law studied at St. Gallen ...Yes, I do remember Forest's European Cup wins very well. Brian Clough was a bona fide genius.ReplyDeleteDominic PollardJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:09 PMSensational stuff. I don't know quite what more I can add.ReplyDeleteTicino Molineux faithfulJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:13 PMJust as I was reading this, italian TV RAI2 said that Roma is in advanced talks with the US group, because of the latest deadline of Jan. 31. Maybe just bla bla to fill the space.So in the end, reading here and there in your blogs, it is right to say that the healthiest football (for clubs & finances) is played in Germany?Because even in the lowest swiss leagues money is used in strange ways to have foreign players in amateur sides...ReplyDeletedah_sabJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:18 PM This does not seem to me to be a wonderful demonstration of negotiating skills, but let’s not forget that this is a club that recently went an entire season with a main sponsor.Pardon me for asking, but should this not be "an entire season without a main sponsor?"Love your site, keep up the great work, and let us know when you appear on podcasts!ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:25 PM@dah_sab,Thanks - you're absolutely right. I'll correct that.ReplyDeleteSteve AmoiaJanuary 25, 2011 at 7:33 PMThank you for the excellent analysis. You have a tremendous blog.ReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 25, 2011 at 8:04 PMExcellent stuffReplyDeleteeduJanuary 26, 2011 at 4:42 AMCould this be said similarly to Udinese and Parma, these clubs and the rest of Italian clubs seemed always sell their players for high transfer but never affect the said clubs income positively; I wonder where all that money gone. Have you cover about this somewhere on your blog? If you haven't, I hope you kindly present your view regarding this on your future posts.ThanksReplyDeleteMr. OsgoodnessJanuary 26, 2011 at 5:20 AMMr. Swiss, I don't know where you got the John Fisher tip, but I can categorically tell you it's a load of cack. You generally do your homework exceedingly well, but if your general premise of the potential big 3 owners is true, then your yank entry should be further researched.ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerJanuary 26, 2011 at 8:18 AM@Mr. Osgoodness,A few media sources have indicated that John Fisher might be behind an American investor bid, most recently the Roman newspaper Il Messaggero, though no name has been officially announced.That is why I limited my comment to, "A mysterious American entrepreneur, whose name has not been divulged, though some have suggested that this might well be John Fisher."What does appear to be clear is that there is interest from the Americans, as Unicredit representatives flew to New York yesterday for a meeting.Given that you claim to know so much about the sale, maybe you would care to share their identity?ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerJanuary 26, 2011 at 8:19 AM@edu,I've not written about Udinese or Parma yet, but may do in the future. You can find a list of all the clubs that I've reviewed on the left-hand side of the blog.ReplyDeletebasicfootballJanuary 26, 2011 at 9:25 AM"As we have seen, qualification for the Champions League is imperative for Roma’s business model and unsurprisingly the club’s accounts identify this as one of the key risks influencing the club’s economic prospects."This is the crux of the problem faced by many European clubs. The Champions League is so financially rewarding that clubs tend to budget with that in mind, especially if they have been playing in it for a couple of years. However qualification is not automatic, so if these clubs fail to qualify for CL they will have a deficit of around €10-20 million. Should they not budget for it and qualify, then they will get an extra €10-20 million which they then don't know what to do with.I blame UEFA for creating such a huge financial discrepancy between Champions League and the lesser tournaments. It's a big carrot for every club which puts pressure on them. We have seen clubs struggle financially after failing to qualify for CL (Leeds Utd, Ajax, Valencia, Liverpool, etc).Even though Roma is currently third, Udinese in 8th is only 5 points behind so qualification for next year's CL is not easy for Roma, especially if we count the rift between Totti and Ranieri and the on-going sale of the club.ReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 26, 2011 at 10:20 AMWon't the Arabs be best placed to buy Roma because it is likely only they (Aabar is worth 18bn euros apparently) have the resources to build the stadfium, buy Italpetroli's shareholding and invest in the club and its squad?ReplyDeletepinta-beregaJanuary 26, 2011 at 11:43 AMMarvellous reading. Thanks a lot for such a detailed analysisReplyDeleteVikdaddyJanuary 26, 2011 at 12:23 PMhttp://football-italia.net/jan26b.htmlReplyDeleteJimJanuary 26, 2011 at 4:57 PMGreat stuff, it amazes me that in Italy top clubs loan each other players.Sometimes I have difficulty reading the text in the pictures. Is there any way to enlarge them without just scaling up the page?ReplyDeleteMr. OsgoodnessJanuary 26, 2011 at 6:26 PMMr. Swiss, well the cats out of the bag stateside this morning, from Boston Investment Group, whom is also a partner in NESV called Di Benedetto is the man in negotiation. Being that you are imbedded in SZ, perhaps you might have insight if that will fly with UEFA/FIFA? I.e. someone who is a already part of a group who owns a major English side. In essence a single consortium could continue buying up major clubs in different leagues and have their own g14 lobbying entity.I didn't suggest in my post that I knew "so much about the deal" just that Fischer wasn't the investor in play. To be clear, I am a fan of your work.ReplyDeleteswiss readerJanuary 26, 2011 at 6:46 PMI have the same remark as Jim above. I'm a big fan of your articles and I really like to read them. But I often struggle to read the numbers in the graph. I would appreciate it if you could make them a wee bit bigger.Keep up the good work! Thank youReplyDeleteJamesJanuary 26, 2011 at 6:59 PMGreat blog. Very interesting.Just on a point raised by basicfootball, do you feel UEFA are to blame?I'd love to read a blog (as in-depth as this is) on Leeds United's financial troubles, it seems like a fascinating story and it seems like they are on their way back.ReplyDeleteGiovanniJanuary 26, 2011 at 8:03 PMTerrific post, a truly deep and correct analysis of Roma's situation, said by a "romano de roma" :)For what concerns the selling process, it looks like that the yankees are not lead by mr Gap but from a guy called Thomas Dibenedetto, that is in some way linked to NESV. You can find an accurate live report of what's happening during those hours (hours that are crucial according to the italian press) here:http://translate.google.it/translate?js=n&prev=_t&hl=it&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&sl=it&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vocegiallorossa.it%2F%3Faction%3Dread%26idnotizia%3D12776cheers and keep up the good workReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerJanuary 27, 2011 at 12:12 AM@Jim, swissreader,I import the graphs on the largest setting that the Blogger software allows, so I'm not sure if there's a way of making them any bigger. Any advice gratefully received.ReplyDeleteroma in belgiumJanuary 27, 2011 at 2:27 AMWow, just great to read this.Excellent article!ReplyDeleteroma in belgiumJanuary 27, 2011 at 7:01 AMBut indeed, try to make the images larger.I would suggest you to take a look at Standard de Liège, their finances could be interesting to look at. They played Champions League last year.But maybe Belgian football is too boring for you :)ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerJanuary 27, 2011 at 8:25 AM@Mr. Osgoodness,Thanks for the clarification.The involvement of NESV is a strange one for the reason you mentioned, namely ownership of more than one club, though we don't have all the details yet. In the past, ENIC was forced to sell stakes in a number of clubs, leaving them with just Tottenham.ReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 27, 2011 at 4:13 PMA Roma la Lazio!First time reader but already a big fan. A roma fan recommended me your blog and it gave a whole new insight in the club's possibilities and limitations. As a huge Lazio fan I would be extremely interested in a similar article about sslazio's current financial situation. Know you must get these kind of requests all the time but it would really help me to understand the difficulties of this proud clubs on the transfer market. From the impressing signing of Hernanes in the preseason to the problems of signing a quality forward even though the season until now has been way better than expected. Greetings from DenmarkReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 27, 2011 at 9:36 PMHave these fuckers paid any tax any time recently ?ReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 28, 2011 at 12:30 AMThanks for the information! You did a great job with this analysis. Always nice to learn what is going on behind the scenes. I hope the newly reported american investors can turn things around and add just enough accents to our wealth of talent and win the Scudetto and Champions League before Totti falls apart! FORZA ROMAReplyDeleteSixshooterJanuary 28, 2011 at 4:00 PMWell done Swiss!A more informative view on my team in one article than I've garnered in four years of the Italian media.Greetings from Turin (where I watched Roma beat Juve 2-0 last night!)...ReplyDeleteTybaltJanuary 30, 2011 at 4:38 PMAnother superb review.I think "sleeping giant" is actually not a bad term at all for Roma. They are the dominant football force in one of Europe's largest cities (ninth-largest metropolitan area by my count), in a football-mad country, they can be run consistently at a profit even on current lines (provided they make the CL 75% of the time), there is potential growth in TV money, and they have huge commercial and matchday possibilities if they can build their new stadium, for which plans are well advanced.So it seems to me Roma could easily grow into a financial and football force in Italy. I think it's odd that investors haven't cottoned to this - I can't even guess how much more attractive Roma would have been to me as a purchaser than, say, Manchester City - but it seems that the world's smartest sports investors have in fact cottoned to it.In a financial fair play world, provided Roma does the smart thing and uses owner equity to build a new state-of-the-art stadium, I have no trouble at all seeing them win the Champions' League. Maybe even with Claudio Ranieri at the helm...OK, let's not go too far. Maybe not with Ranieri. :)ReplyDeleteTybaltJanuary 30, 2011 at 4:40 PMOh. I mentioned the sleeping giants and the most attractive purchase options. There is only two clubs in the world I would want to get my hands on significantly more than Roma (excepting Madrid and Barcelona). One is Bayern Munich and the other is Paris St-Germain.ReplyDeleteHyun ChoiFebruary 2, 2011 at 9:00 AMHi I'm a Korean fan who loves AS Roma and I would like to translate this post and share it with Korean AS Roma fans. Is it okay to do so? Of course, I will indicate the source. :)ReplyDeleteHyun ChoiFebruary 2, 2011 at 9:49 AMand i was wondering, what does "tessera del tifoso" mean?ReplyDeleteAnonymousFebruary 2, 2011 at 3:47 PMSwiss Rambler, could you do an article on how Chelsea could possibly qualify for the financial fair play rule? I don't understand why they lose £70 million in their recent account, spend £75 million in the recent transfer window and still have the balls to claim that they are well placed to meet the financial fair play rules.ReplyDeleteAnonymousFebruary 2, 2011 at 7:54 PMyep,a follow-up on Chelsea would be greatly appreciated.You'r doing a terrific job here....Best regards from LucerneReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerFebruary 3, 2011 at 12:23 PM@Hyun Choi,I'm not entirely happy when people translate my articles, as it reduces traffic to my website, but I am grateful that you asked, so go ahead."Tessera del tifoso" is a fan ID card.ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerFebruary 3, 2011 at 12:24 PM@Anonymous,I may well do a follow-up analysis on Chelsea, though I would prefer to wait until the detailed 2009/10 accounts are released. So far, we only have the headline figures published on Chelsea's website.ReplyDeleteAlan MacLeodFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:35 PMhello ramblerit seems you have spawned a copycat writer, or at least someone doing something similar http://betoftheweek.net/2011/02/85-million-questions/The use of the word 'simples' and all that talk of amortisation makes me think he must read this blog.ReplyDeleteAnonymousFebruary 3, 2011 at 4:56 PMI second the comment above regarding fair play rules. Except that my hoped-for post would be a general explanation of the fair play rules, loop holes and opportunities for gaming the system. I would be fascinating to read your informed and excellent financial analysis of how these rules will succeed or fail.ReplyDeleteAnonymousFebruary 7, 2011 at 2:45 PMhi ramble,great read as usual.care to comment on this whole Karen Murphy thing and its possible consequences for the customers and the european topleagues?(http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/organgrinder/2011/feb/03/bskyb-news-corporation)cheers, robsReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerFebruary 8, 2011 at 9:56 AM@Alan MacLeod,Thanks for the heads-up. I was actually aware of this article, because the author gave me a "hat tip" in the comments below.ReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerFebruary 8, 2011 at 9:59 AM@Anonymous (4.56),I have actually already written a couple of pieces on the Fair Play rules, which you can find here:http://swissramble.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-manchester-city-could-break-even.htmlhttp://swissramble.blogspot.com/2010/05/uefa-say-fair-play-to-arsenal.htmlReplyDeleteThe Swiss RamblerFebruary 8, 2011 at 10:00 AM@robs,I may well incorporate the Murphy ruling into a future broader article.ReplyDeleteDCApril 7, 2011 at 5:43 AMI found this thoroughly interesting at the time you wrote it (as I do most of your blog pieces, especially those regarding calcio) and would be very interested to know your thoughts on the takeover by Di Benedetto & co.ReplyDeleteAdd commentLoad more...

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Who do you think is playing Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2012 No Purchase Required to Enter or Win Eligibility: Who Do You Think Is Playing Virgin Mobile FreeFest 2012 Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia who are eighteen (18) years of age or older. Employees of Sprint or other companies associated with the promotion of the Sweepstakes, as well as the immediate family (spouse, parents, siblings, and children) and household members of each such employee are not eligible. The Sweepstakes is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations and is void in Puerto Rico and where prohibited. Sponsor: The Sweepstakes is sponsored by Sprint Communications Company L.P. (the “Sponsor”). Agreement to Official Rules: Participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein. Entry Period: The Sweepstakes begins on 8/3/2012 at 2:00PM EST and ends on 8/6/2012 at 11:59PM EST (the “Entry Period”). Entries that are submitted before or after the Entry Period will be disqualified. How to Enter: To enter visit www.twitter.com and log in or create a Twitter account. Creating an account is free. Follow @virginmobileusa on Twitter. Watch for the account to post a tweet about the giveaway. When you see the post, reply to @virginmobileusa, mention our handle, include the #FreeFest or #VirginMobileFreeFest hashtag, and the hashtag of a band name to tweet your guess. Each tweet constitutes one (1) entry into the Sweepstakes. Limit one (1) entry per entrant during the Promotional Period. Entrants are prohibited from setting up multiple Twitter accounts for the purpose of obtaining multiple entries in the sweepstakes. All entries must be in compliance with the Twitter terms of service (see: www.twitter.com/tos) and all other rules and policies applicable to the use of the Twitter service. Text and data charges may apply if you are accessing Twitter from your mobile phone to enter this sweepstakes. Entries will not be acknowledged or returned. All Entries, including the photos, must be original works and may not include third party copyrighted works or trademarks. Use of any automated system to participate is prohibited and will result in disqualification. In the event of a dispute as to any registration, the authorized account holder will be deemed to be the participant. The "authorized account holder" is the natural person assigned a Twitter account. The potential winner may be required to show proof of being the authorized account holder. Drawing: On or about 8/6/2012, the Sponsor will select all potential winners in a random drawing of all entries received. The odds of being selected depend on the number of entries received. The Sponsor will attempt to notify the potential winners the day of the drawing by tweeting to them or sending them a direct message (“DM”) via Twitter. If a potential winner cannot be contacted after the first attempt to contact him/her, the Sponsor may select an alternate potential winner in his/her place at random from the remaining entries. Requirements of Potent

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« Minor league game previews -- June 21 | | Was Bergesen good enough? » Injured O's and timelines The Orioles should get a whole lot healthier over the next couple of weeks, although none of the injured players are scheduled to return on the nine-game homestand that starts Tuesday. Here is a rundown: Outfielder Felix Pie (torn muscle in back): He'll play three games with the Gulf Coast Orioles, starting today, and then head north, where he'll probably join Single-A Frederick on Thursday or Friday. He'll play about seven total games for a combination of Frederick, Double-A Bowie and possibly Triple-A Norfolk, and if he gets through OK, he could be activated in time for the final road trip before the All-Star break, which starts Friday, July 2, in Boston. You'd have to think his activation will spell the end of seldom-used Lou Montanez, although that will mean that four of the Orioles' five outfielders are left-handed hitters (Pie, Nick Markakis, Luke Scott and Corey Patterson). Reliever Michael Gonzalez (left shoulder strain): He's scheduled to throw another simulated game today, according to pitching coach Rick Kranitz. He then could pitch in a couple of Gulf Coast games before joining one of the Orioles' minor league affiliates in a week to 10 days. He could be ready at some point during the final road trip before the All-Star break if there are no setbacks. The Orioles' bullpen picture seemingly changes on a daily basis, but Matt Albers and Frank Mata would be the two guys at the highest risk of losing their roster spot. Mark Hendrickson has not pitched well, but the Orioles might want to keep him as the long man with Jason Berken pitching so well later in games. Reliever Koji Uehara (right forearm strain): He's expected to throw a live bullpen session today, and if all goes well, he could get into some Gulf Coast games later this week or early next week. His return is probably the hardest to predict because of his extensive injury history, but it wouldn't be totally shocking to me if he's not ready until after the All-Star break. That, however, is just a guess. Reliever Jim Johnson (slight tear in right elbow): He has been pain-free in his flat-ground sessions and could graduate to throwing off a mound at some point this week. He remains a ways away, with interim manager Juan Samuel saying yesterday that JJ probably wouldn't return until mid- to late July and after the All-Star break. Second baseman Brian Roberts (herniated disk): Roberts has been shut down from any baseball activity for the time being. Samuel said in San Francisco that he had spoken to Roberts and estimated that he was four to six weeks away from a return. That means you are probably looking at August at the earliest. But there have been a lot of stops and starts in Roberts' situation, making this one difficult to predict as well. Posted by Jeff Zrebiec at 8:07 AM | Permalink At this point in the season with the O's Win-Loss record indicating that this season is Experimental at best and an unknown manager on the horizon, The GM decisions are key. I wonder if trading Gonzalez might be considered. I still support Roberts being given the entire year to heal. Give Scott Moore a real chance! Uehara might also be tradable but his durability must be publicly certified first. Johnson & Pie are the 2010 contributors to now consider. Johnson needs a lengthy rehab to heal and to get his mechanics straightened out. Pie will be a plus in left and let Luke Scott concentrate on hitting. Posted by: Jim Sullivan | Roberts obviously isn't going to help them this year. Rest, rehab and PT hasn't gotten it done. Given the date, the way the O's are playing and the uncertainty of his back, why haven't they "forced" surgery on Roberts and get him ready for 2011? Posted by: daydreamer | Roberts will not be back this year - nor should the O's brass even try to force the issue. A herniated disk is a serious injury. Treatment and recovery are not straight forward. We should be more worried whether he will even be ready for 2011. He may be done for his career...which would be really bad luck for this doomed franchise. You can never know how many losses are attributed to a single cause, but you have to think that BRob's absence in the leadoff spot - as well as his excellent play at 2nd base - is sorely missed. Maybe 10 wins? Mike | Why don't they just shut Roberts down for the year? This back issue if not taken care of now will linger into next year. Posted by: eicholtz | I'm not very confident that the imminent return of Pie, Gonzalez, Uehara, and Johnson means that help is on the way. That's a pretty pathetic cavalry. mortstiff | Papier Mache Pie has a lot of rehab work to do. Sounds like an injury to rehappen. Guesswork Gonzalez is going to pitch a simulated game. What's that? 17 pitches, three strikes, two wild pitches and a blown save? Koji can go to the Gulf Coast alright -- the Gulf Coast of Japan. There is no point in having him anymore. Johnson and Roberts? It would be nice if they could come back, but there's no need to rush either of them. waspman | For the love of God, shut Brian Roberts down and get him healthy for next season. There is ZERO reason to rush him back this year and aggravate/worsen his injury. What's the difference between 45 and 47 wins anyway?? jason | Why is Koji still on the roster, just send him home to Japan and cut your losses. I also agree about Brob, he's not playing this year. drunk richard | You really have to wonder what they are thinking with roberts. Have the surgery now and stop screwing with it . This year is a lost cause. I had the same surgical procedure that awaits roberts. It was the best decision of my life. I was playing basketball in 8 weeks time. GET IT DONE NOW Jeff- What are your thoughts on Roberts? It seems like we've known for the emperor isn't wearing any clothes for like three weeks now, but the club is still claiming there's a chance he's wearing a skin-colored bikini. I mean what's going on here. He's been dealt setback after setback and is now 6 weeks away from returning to a team that just became the 7th ever (I believe) to lose 50 of its first 70 games? What is going on here? I understand the push for a long time was to convince us that his season could still be salvaged and that they'd made the right decision in going full-speed ahead in ST to get him ready for the season. But come on. What exactly is the point in him not having surgery? With this team, shouldn't the priority be to do everything we can to make sure he's ready for next year? I just don't get it. I can't imagine what the argument is to pushing forward so that he gets 40-50 games in the last half of the season. At what point are they going to seriously consider season ending surgery? Jeff Z's reply: I'm sure they'd consider it if that's what the variety of back specialists that Roberts is seeing recommended it. Both MacPhail recently and Roberts earlier this year siad that it wasn't discussed as an option. I've never had a serious back injury but I'm told that back surgery is very, very serious and you avoid it at all costs if you can. I don't think Brian is avoiding back surgery because he wants to play in the Orioles last 30 games this year. I think he hasn't had it because the doctors haven't recommended it or so we've been told. Posted by: Ben | What difference does having these guys back make? Ratings are up so it's a successful season, according to the owner. Baltimore has one major league sports franchise - the Ravens. Bob S | Note to Jason, the difference between 45 and 47 wins could be first or second spot in the draft. I agree with you about Roberts. But, I suspect union rules will force the O's to play him if Roberts elects that path. Surgery at this point would seem logical if there was a strong probability of success but back surgery is usually much less certain as to results. I for one think the guy most affected by Roberts absence has been Markakis. Roberts and Markakis were the only players on the roster with All Star quality skills and Markakis can't do it by himself. Jones or Pie could have stepped in but Jones is young, impulsive and lacks patience at the plate and of course Pie got hurt. Pie is the most important currently injured guy IMO. If he continues his early success during the last 80 games this year it will provide some stability to try and build from. Good luck with that infield though. zigzag | Why is this organization still trying to force Roberts to come back this year? There is a good chance that his career is over, why increase those chances. Back injuries are serious business. Let him continue to rehabilitate and receive therapy. Cease all baseball and physical activity until December. This man needs to heal. Besides the team hasn't won with him since the day he arrived. Is something suppose to change with him back and playing in pain? ............................................................................................... Jeff Z's reply: Again David, where are you getting your information that the Orioles are forcing Roberts to come back? Trust me, if Roberts told the team that he'd like to just take the season off and rehab int ime to be ready for next spring training, I'm sure the Orioles would consider his wishes. Nobody is forcing Brian to do anything. That's just a ridiculous statement. Posted by: dspedden | How do you people know B Rob needs surgery? I had the same injury he has now I did not have surgery at the advice of my doctor and my herniated disk went away after 6-8 months of rest and physical therapy. Surgery is risky, and sometimes complicates the injury further. Dexter B. | Am I the only person who knows that Gonzalez is about to be lost for the season? When he is pushed back in the lime light, he will re-injure himself and be back in 2011. Am I really the only one who knows this? I know that true fans know what's going to happen. Does anyone really have to speculate as to why he's lost 6 miles per hour off his fast ball. Don't make me say what we all already know.... Jeff Z's reply: Yes David, you're the only one who knows that a guy with two tears in his shoulder may come back and then need to go back on the disabled list. So what do you want the Orioles to do? Just say, "Stay down in Sarasota Mike, and don't try to pitch again." What's your point? It's not like the Orioles are touting him as the savior of the bullpen when he returns. They know they made a huge mistake by signing him. Posted by: Maybe Gonzalez will turn out to be a bad signing, but the truth is we don't know yet.. If you judge on one year wigginton was a hopeless signing and we sure won't be out as much as toronto was with B J RYAN. I wouldn't mind seeing ie in left and Patterson DH if we trade Scott Wigginton, Lugo and Millwood Posted by: GRANT |

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hide Packers lead the pack as playoffs start to loom Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers checks the clock against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half during their NFL football game in Gree By Larry Fine NEW YORK (Reuters) - There are just six weeks to go before the end of the National Football League regular season and once again the Green Bay Packers are looming as the team to beat. The reigning Super Bowl champions are the only unbeaten team this season, winning their first 10 games to match their best start in almost half a century. Only the defensive-minded San Francisco 49ers (9-1) are close to them, leaving the two teams on a possible collision course in the NFC, while the AFC race remains wide open. The Packers have been pulverizing opponents with an air attack launched by the rocket arm of quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who has been the standardbearer in the game's most critical position. Rodgers, who came of age last year in leading Green Bay to the Super Bowl, has been even better in 2011. After ranking third among quarterbacks last season with 28 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions and a completion percentage of 65.7, Rodgers has already hit for 28 TDs so far this season, with only three interceptions while connecting on 72.9 percent. Rodgers, who turns 28 next month, is on pace for a record-setting season while the Packers lead the NFL in scoring although there are some questions about their defense. Green Bay's defense ranks second-last in yards allowed and last against the pass, giving a glimmer of hope to their pursuers. The 49ers have had smoother ride, thanks in part to weaker competition in their NFC West division. How they cope against tougher opponents remains to be seen. They are one of the NFL's surprise teams this season as rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh has instilled confidence with an old-school approach focusing on running the ball on offense and stopping the run on defense. San Francisco ranks number one in fewest points allowed and in fewest rushing yards yielded. Relying on hard-running Frank Gore, they rank sixth in rushing and have not lost since a Week Two 27-24 defeat by the Dallas Cowboys. Other NFC teams with hopes of making a run through the postseason include the NFC South leading New Orleans Saints (7-3), Detroit Lions (7-3), Chicago Bears (7-3), Atlanta Falcons (6-4) and NFC East co-leaders Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants (6-4). As Green Bay showed last year by charging to the Super Bowl after qualifying for the playoffs on the last weekend as a wild card, timing is everything. There is no obvious frontrunner in the AFC with the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans all with three losses, and the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders another game back in the chase. The New York Jets (5-5), have reached the AFC title game the last two seasons, but have been inconsistent this time, however they have a relatively smooth run home so could still figure in the playoffs. New England's elite quarterback Tom Brady has been terrorizing opponents again with his pinpoint passing, but the Patriots have been struggling to improve a defense that ranks second worst against the pass. The Ravens have won all their difficult games, but have fallen to the underwhelming Titans, Jaguars and Seahawks, keeping them within reach of the pack. Houston has the league's top-ranked defense, and an impressive ground attack, but have lost regular quarterback Matt Schaub and will be tested in the stretch run with back-up Matt Leinart directing the offense. Pittsburgh, last year's beaten Super Bowl finalists, have been inconsistent this campaign, showing some signs of age in their defense, and have lost both their games against NFC North rival Ravens putting them at a disadvantage in any tiebreakers. It all comes down to who can put it all together for a hot run when it counts most with visions of hoisting the Vince Lombardi Trophy driving them all to the finish line.

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Follow @worldofarsenal World Of Arsenal About WOAContactGames: Arsenal Match Up!SquadVideos Central Midfield… The Options This Season… Posted by devday on September 3, 2008 | 10 Responses News reports that Appiah could join are definitely not going to happen, it's looks more likely that West Ham would be his club this season. Arsene would have snapped up the Ghanian already if he wanted him... althought (just to keep some suspense in there), he did say this in July: “No deal has been done yet but 50 per cent of me is coming to Arsenal. Clubs like AS Roma, Juventus and Marseille all want me. But I don’t want to go to Italy again. I prefer Arsenal — they are my No 1 choice.” So, it’s West Ham for Appiah… Okay, now to the main part of today’s blog… a look at our central midfield this season… As you can see from the graphic above, we’ve got a little pyramid showing our central midfield. Can you guess who everyone is…? Of course you can… And before I start, yes, I know Rosicky and Nasri can play in the middle, but we’re better off keeping them on the wings for now. At the top we have Cesc Fabregas of course – our “creative hub”, our “lynch pin”, our quite young, but very important player no doubt. Cesc had his best season for us last season and it’s been a pleasure to see him develop under Arsene. With the departures of other players in recent times, he’s now the heartbeat of our expansive play. Denilson is currently experiencing his longest run in the team for a while. Primarily due to lack of fitness of Diaby and also Cesc himself was out earlier this season. He’s played well overall. He’s had his best game against Newcastle no doubt, but also had quite a bad game against Fulham. The main issue with “kids” is their consistency. Denilson has a high work rate and appetite for the game and if he can stay fit and stay consistent, then he’s definitely an option in the middle. I expect to see him deployed alongside Cesc for the next few home games. Abou Diaby A friend of mine thought he’d taken over Man City, let’s not go into detail lol, but Abou Diaby is definitely our player. He’s been with us for quite some time now, but has pretty much been on the sidelines through injury since he’s arrived. I was watching Arsenal TV the other day and watching the Fulham game of 2006, I think we won 4-0. He was deployed in midfield that day and controlled large parts of the game. Albeit, Henry and Freddie seemed in decent form too. Originally Arsene had earmarked Cesc and Diaby as our midfield future and if he can get fit and stay fit, Arsene will have a chance to see them both in action. The main issue is can he get and stay fit? Alex Song joined us from Bastia three seasons ago. Initially his performances weren’t that great and a lot of Arsenal fans had questioned this purchase. But after a very impressive loan spell with Charlton the season before last, and an impressive African Nations, a cameo at the end of last season and another impressive round of games at the Olympics, he’s back with us. Although Arsene Wenger has said he wants to have Alex Song deployed in defence, our recent lack of midfield strengthening has seen Alex deployed in a defensive midfield position, and in all honesty, he looks very comfortable there – could be a crucial season for the Cameroonian. 17-year old Aaron Ramsey was signed this summer from Cardiff. After some impressive performances for the Welsch club last season, he’s also had a impressive pre-season. He played his first game of the season against FC Twente, away at their ground and we can all see that there is talent. The only issue is that Aaron is very young and very raw. Although composed on the ball, can he make an impact in the over physical Premier League? Only time will tell… Amaury Bischoff Another gamble by Arsene, but a player that he knows well from Alsace as well as the French under 19′s. Arsene has been watching Bischoff for a while and couldn’t resist snapping up the midfielder on a free this summer. Known to be an attacking midfielder, he’s got a high work rate and when fit could be a good addition to the squad. But it is a gamble for a player who’s not been fit for over a year. Another “only time will tell” on this one, but he is highly rated amongst those in the know… Emmanuel Eboue Recently deployed as a defensive central midfield alongside Denilson and it’s obviously not his choice, but Eboue has had a decent season and could be a decent back up when all of the above are injured (which has happened this early season). I’d prefer him to stay wide right, but when in need he could slot in. Despite a decent start to the season, after last season’s awful displays, the jury’s still out… Jack Wilshere Last, but not least, the irrepressible talent that is Jack Wilshere. He’s only 16, so younger than Ramsey, but his cameo’s against some top teams in the Emirates cup have made a lot of people sit up and notice this lad. He was deployed on the left wing and that’s where we could see him in the Carling Cup this season. However, is his long term role in central midfield? He’s played in the Cesc

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hide Giants rule American sports in 2012 New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin (L) wishes his starting quarterback Eli Manning (R) good luck prior to their NFL football game again By Julian Linden NEW YORK (Reuters) - In a country driven by the mantra 'bigger is always better', it was fitting that Giants dominated America's professional championships in 2012. Two of the four major leagues were won by teams with the supersized moniker, with the New York Giants capturing the National Football League's Super Bowl and the San Francisco Giants landing Major League Baseball's World Series. The Los Angeles Kings finally lived up their regal nickname when they won National Hockey League's Stanley Cup for the first time while LeBron James silenced his critics by winning a first National Basketball Association title with the Miami Heat. The New York Giants set the tone for a year of comebacks when they reclaimed the greatest prize in North American sports with a nail-biting 21-17 victory over the New England Patriots in Indianapolis. Inspired by their dynamic quarterback Eli Manning, named the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second time in four years, the Giants stole victory with a last-minute touchdown from Ahmad Bradshaw. "The greatest feeling in professional sports is to win the Super Bowl," said 65-year-old Tom Coughlin after becoming the oldest coach to land the prize. What made their victory remarkable was the Giants had looked to have no hope of even competing for the title after losing four consecutive games late in the regular season, putting them in danger of missing the playoffs. They needed to win their last two games to make the playoffs and then won four straight to claim the Super Bowl in early February and cap a fairytale run that captivated America's biggest city. For the Patriots, losing to fierce rival New York in the championship game for the second time in four years was unpalatable. "You don't feel good after you lose this game," said New England head coach Bill Belichick. San Francisco, led by MVP-winning catcher Buster Posey, also endured a wild ride through the playoffs before winning the World Series in late October for the second time in three seasons. The team won six elimination games, three against the Cincinnati Reds and another three against the St Louis Cardinals, before sweeping the talent-packed Detroit Tigers in the best-of-seven Fall Classic. "It just so happens we got kind of hot and scored some runs at the right time," said Matt Cain who pitched the first perfect game in Giants history during the regular season. Cain was not the only who achieved a rare feat in 2012 with Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera becoming the first player in 45 years to win the Triple Crown, leading the American League in batting average, home runs and runs batted in (RBI). The Venezuelan-born slugger had a .330 batting average, 44 home runs and 139 RBI and was the 15th player to accomplish the feat, and the first since Boston's Carl Yastrzemski in 1967. 'LOWEST MOMENTS' The Kings also timed their run to perfection after scraping into the playoffs as the Western Conference's lowest-ranked team and going on to win the first Stanley Cup in the franchise's 45-year existence. They upset the top three seeded teams, the Vancouver Canucks, the St Louis Blues and the Phoenix Coyotes, to win the Conference before beating the battle-hardened New Jersey Devils 4-2 in the best-of-seven Stanley Cup finals. "At our lowest moments the biggest thing is nobody ever turned on someone else, everybody stuck with it," said goaltender Jonathan Quick, named MVP in the finals in June. "You just can't say enough about the resiliency that it took to get through those times during the season and still make the playoffs." After losing the first three games of the series, the Devils clawed their way back with two straight wins but that momentum was swiftly undone by a game-changing penalty that led to three first-period goals in less than four minutes as the Kings cruised to victory. For hockey fans it was the last real action they would see for the immediate future with a labor dispute between owners and players indefinitely delaying the start of the 2012-13 season. Despite his incredible talent and athleticism, James has been derided by American sports fans since he walked out on his hometown team two years ago to join the Miami Heat. His rationale for deserting Cleveland, a city battered by unemployment, high taxes, lousy weather and poor sports teams, was that he wanted to win a championship to help cement his place among the game's greats. But in 2012 James proved that in a sport played by giants, he towers above everyone else, cleaning up the four biggest team and individual honors in the sport. In addition to winning his first NBA title against the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was named MVP during the regular season for the third time. James also won the MVP award for the finals in June and a gold medal with the United States at the London Olympics in August. Only Michael Jordan, the player LeBron is constantly compared with, has completed the same grand slam. "It was definitely a journey," James said. "I can finally say I'm a champion and I did it the right way. I didn't shortcut anything. "I put a lot of hard work and dedication in it and hard work pays off. It's a great moment." (Editing by Tony Jimenez)

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Ortiz leads Red Sox to 20-4 romp over Tigers Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz celebrates his solo home run as he crosses the plate during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers at Fenway Park in Boston, Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola) JIMMY GOLEN BOSTON (AP) -- One after another, the baseballs cleared the fences at Fenway Park -- a franchise record-tying eight home runs in all for the Boston Red Sox.And David Ortiz led the way.The Red Sox DH homered twice and he also doubled for his 2,000th career hit on Wednesday night to lead the Red Sox to a 20-4 romp over the Detroit Tigers."I've never really seen that many happy faces in the dugout at the same time," said Ortiz, who was one of a franchise-record seven different Red Sox batters to homer in the game. "It was like lighting a firework. ... I see everybody happy. It's like the fireworks just keep on coming."Boston pulled away in an eight-run sixth inning when Will Middlebrooks hit a grand slam, Ortiz had an RBI double to reach 2,000 and Daniel Nava added a two-run homer. Ortiz homered again in the five-run seventh -- the 427th of his career to move past Billy Williams and into 47th on baseball's all-time home run list."Congratulations to David. That's a heck of a milestone," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I'm sure the Red Sox fans are proud of him and he's proud of himself. He's had a wonderful career and he's popular here. A very kind man, really. I'm very happy for him. It came against the wrong team, but that's OK."AL East-leading Boston has won nine of 11, taking two out of three from the Central-leading Tigers to hold onto the best record in the league. After scores of 3-0 and 2-1 in the first two games of the series, the Red Sox burst out with a franchise record-tying eight homers and a season-high 20 runs.Jacoby Ellsbury, Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli and Ryan Lavarnway also homered as the Red Sox turned a game that was tied 4-4 after four innings into a blowout."Just a rare and outstanding offensive night tonight," said Red Sox manager John Farrell, who had Shane Victorino steal second in the fifth inning to try to get the go-ahead run in scoring position. "You think at that point you're looking to somewhat manufacture a run any way you can. Little did we know it would turn out like it did. ... We had no idea of what was about to take place shortly after that."Ryan Dempster (8-9) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks in six innings, striking out seven to win his second straight start since he was suspended for five games for intentionally hitting New York Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez.The Red Sox open a four-game series with the Yankees in New York on Thursday night.Rick Porcello (11-8) gave up nine runs -- eight of them earned -- on seven hits and four walks in five-plus innings. He allowed three homers, Al Alburquerque gave up two, Jeremy Bonderman allowed two and Evan Reed gave up one."That was pretty ugly," Leyland said. "Obviously we just didn't a good job of keeping the ball in the ballpark. The Green Monster's one thing, but you normally don't see them going out to right field like that. They were hitting them out like ping pong balls."Ortiz homered in the fourth to tie the game 4-all, then added an RBI double in the sixth for hit No. 2,000. He waved his batting helmet as he stood on second base while the crowd cheered and home plate umpire Jeff Kellogg helped the Red Sox dugout retrieve the ball.Ortiz homered the next time up, prompting another standing ovation from the crowd at Fenway Park. The fans remained on their feet until he popped out of the dugout for a curtain call.Prince Fielder homered for the Tigers, who were without Miguel Cabrera for the third time in four games with a strained abdominal muscle. A reigning triple crown winner, Cabrera leads the majors again with a .355 average with 130 RBIs and is four behind Baltimore's Chris Davis with 43 homers.Detroit shortstop Jose Iglesias, who was acquired from Boston at the trading deadline, left in the fifth inning with pain in his shins.Shane Victorino singled with one out in the fifth, stole second and took third when catcher Alex Avila threw the ball into center field. On the 11th pitch of his at-bat, Dustin Pedroia hit a sinking line drive that left fielder Andy Dirks caught just off the grass but he could not keep Victorino from tagging up and scoring to make it 5-4. 1 2 - Next page >> Comment

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