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Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence 825

2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/15186

Home > Blogs > The Cold Filtered Ramblings of Gene Mueller Packers And Eagles 50 Years Removed By Gene Mueller I'm old, but believe it or not there are things that happened BEFORE I was aware of my surroundings or feed myself. One of them occurred December 26, 1960 and Friday's New York Times says it was a turning point in American sports culture. It was the day the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers 17-13 for the NFL Championship. Writer Jere Longman says THAT game--and not the 1958 title tilt in which the Colts beat the Giants in overtime--is when pro football came of age. The Baltimore/New York clash certainly is a classic but Longman raises a valid point: while the Eagles and Packers were having it out at Franklin Field, the winds of change were blowing through the rest of the league, putting it in a position to overtake baseball as the nation's most popular sport while becoming a marketing force the likes of which we'd never seen before. Commissioner Pete Rozelle was in the process of yanking the league offices out of Phily and bringing them to New York. He won an anti-trust exemption from Congress, allowing him to set a precedent by ordering money from the newly inked network TV contract to be spread evenly among NFL franchises. It allowed small-town Green Bay equal financial footing with New York and other major markets. Other pro sports would realize the wisdom of the move much later on. The deal came as the American Football League was forming, putting teams in towns that wanted but couldn't afford an NFL club. The AFL started out as a relative joke, but it helped feed the nation's sudden thirst for pro football. It also competed for college talent with the NFL, raising pay scales and squeezing the older league into a merger before the end of the decade. Despite the loss, the Packers bought into Lombardi that December afternoon in Philadelphia. Lombardi took ownership for the defeat, admitting he left too many points on the field. And, he vowed the Packers would never lose another title game on his watch. Green Bay would return to the championship the next two seasons, posting a pair of wins over the Giants. They'd win three more in 1965, '66 and '67, along with the first two Super Bowls. The Packers would become a national fascination, a small-town club not just content to compete with the big boys. The nation watched to see if Lombardi could do it again and again. He delivered. No one remembers the Eagles and Packers clash of 1960 the way they recall the Giants and Colts from two years before. The Philly clash proved to be compelling, for sure, but it's more about WHEN the game was played as opposed to who won and lost. As the 50's became the 60's, Rozelle and the league got smart about the product on the field and the financial/marketing acumen surrounding it. The decisions made would set the NFL on a course that would allow pro football to become the nation's most watched, most talked about, and best marketed sport. The Eagles host the Packers again Sunday, and it could be the last Green Bay football we see for a while if Philly prevails. A job action looms, one that could result in owners locking players out in hopes of securing a new collective bargaining agreement. Rookie salary limits and an 18 game schedule are just a few of the sticking points. And, in that regard, we may find ourselves looking back on the 2010 season the same way we are now dissecting the 1960 title game--a point when the NFL morphed dramatically. The 1958 championship was a big deal and a legendary clash. Was it the day the NFL truly came of age? Maybe, but then, if it was, how come no one remembers the 1959 title game?

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Mad Men Football's next reveal... AE Games is pleased to release its latest character concept sketch, done by David Tenorio who is currently doing the concept art for Mad Men Football. It reveals the next "player" to join the roster for another team in Mad Men Football, in addition to George Washington who was revealed last month! If you're sick of betrayal, tune in to this teaser. He hopes not to fail, hail (Mary pass from) Julius Caesar! We hope the Ides of March, found you well! Julius Caesar will now be leading his legions to "battle" not on typical battlefields, but instead on football fields! Julius Caesar will be throwing a football down the field to break his "enemies'" defenses, instead of throwing a javelin (or, pilum as some history fans may refer to it)! What historical figure will join the Mad Men Football roster next? Only time will tell... AE Games Media character reveal, concept art, concept sketch, Ides of March, Julius Caesar, Mad Men Football A historic clue? If you're sick of betrayal, take a look at this teaser... Today is Presidents' Day, or Washington's Birthday! If you live in the United States you may know that today is Presidents' Day, or Washington's Birthday! As many of you may have seen this past weekend, a concept sketch of George Washington as an American football player was revealed along with the announcement of development on Mad Men Football. To celebrate Presidents' Day, or really Washington's Birthday, and the responses I have received so far to the announcement, I'm sharing the concept sketch of George Washington, but with a slightly different color scheme than the last. Thanks again to everybody that has been sending emails with questions, comments, and encouragement! George Washington, Presidents' Day, Football, with a historic twist? AE Games' first title... AE Games, for the first time, is publicly announcing its first title in development, Mad Men Football! What is Mad Men Football, and the idea behind it? Mad Men Football is a retro-styled American football video game with a historic twist, being developed specifically with the Wii U in mind! Mad Men Football is taking historical figures and groups from battlefields, and putting them on football fields! Many of the historical figures and groups in the game may have used swords, cannons, and rifles to win battles in the past, but now they will be "battling" to win on the gridiron! Instead of George Washington firing shots at his enemies' heads, he'll be firing passes over their heads. Mad Men Football is being self-funded right now (no Kickstarter type campaign, unless there is a great request for it), and development started on it in 2013. The goal is to hopefully release Mad Men Football as a Wii U eShop title later this year, in the United States! Some points to address, that may help answer questions and comments since the press release on Monday: 1) What about past development experience? A young adventurer was once told, "It's dangerous to go alone!" The same can probably be said for game development, "It's dangerous to develop alone!" As a developer first, and not an artist in the least (if that hasn't been figured out already), it would be insane for me to think of producing Mad Men Football without getting help from others. It's why finding an artist was something I wanted to do early on (and did), and have even approached a voice-actor. 2) The development/programming of the game is what is being concentrated on at the moment. Finishing team playbooks, player routes, and the passing mechanics. 3) Being a self-funded project, and as a developer first, the art and animation will be done by an actual artist/animator (and everybody cheered!). 4) The voice-actor that has been contacted, is a professional voice-actor that has provided voice-overs in games. What's a football game, without an announcer? 5) The studio name. Like many indie developers, being that this is a self-funded project for now, the goal is to concentrate on making the game first and using funds to get it released. The studio name may change once we file the official paperwork (have seen lots of positive and negative comments on it though!), but some might have guessed the reasoning behind the current "name" from the initial press release (and maybe even more so now with the first game known). 6) Do you have Wii U SDKs yet? The necessary forms have already been filled out with Nintendo. Development is continuing on the project, as I have heard it can take a little while for a response (sometimes a few months?). So unfortunately, no, there's no unprecedented partnership to announce at this time. 7) Why the site, and press release this early? As some noticed, the site was setup earlier in January, which was done as a placeholder. With the continued bad news from third party developers in regards to the Wii U, I thought that this week with Valentine's Day would be a great week to try and get some good news and encouragement around the Wii U going. Which is why the press release also included the information about using the hashtag #WeLoveWiiU. The press release and announcement are definitely a lot earlier than was initially planned though. And I had no clue what I thought was a simple press release, would turn into the firestorm it did on so many different sites. 8) Is this a hoax? No. And I will probably be releasing screenshots from the prototype in the next few weeks, but I didn't want people to get discouraged at the art assets I'm using (if you can call MY assets art). If anything, the screenshots will show the basic assets that I have been using, as I have programmed plays, and made sure that players (receivers) follow the right paths. 9) To leave everybody with some hope that was discouraged by the clue/hint, site design, logo,and whether or not any of this is/was real, I'll leave you with a professionally done sketch below. Hopefully it will give you a good idea of the direction of some of the historic players, and uniforms, being aimed for in the final design with the teams. (The artist did the player sketch only, not the logo next to him.) Thanks to everybody again that sent emails, and words of encouragement since the press release on Monday. Also, for those wondering about the site, being that I wasn't originally planning this for this week, is one reason the site is on Blogger. I actually have another hosting site, and it is currently just redirecting to Blogger for now. The hosting site is where the final website will be designed, and it also allows for real email accounts associated with the domain. There have been some sites asking about potential interviews, and I will update this post with any interviews done in regards to the game/development/myself with the links to them below, if any are still interested. Any interviews done may also answer other questions, that haven't already been answered. AE Games, Thank you all... We have been a bit overwhelmed from the response of what we thought was a simple press release! Thanks to everybody that has sent emails and messages, and for the words of encouragement and even curiosity. If you have sent an email or message, efforts have been made to respond to each and every one of them. There have been multiple emails and messages asking for a clue, or hint, as to the announcement tomorrow. Well, after some insane weather in North Carolina yesterday, and even a little today, without further delay here's a clue, or hint: Clue, Hint, Introducing AE Games AE Games is a brand new game developer, based in North Carolina. Our desire is to create great games designed around Nintendo systems, starting with the Wii U. Instead of treating the system as an afterthought like many developers/publishers have, it is going to be our focus. What has been the picture of third party support on the Wii U? It seems that late DLC, no DLC, missing modes, and selling last year's game as this year's, has been the way to go. Then follow that up with trying to justify poor sales by blaming consumers (or, even Nintendo)? There are examples of publisher support that shouldn't be forgotten, wonderfully terrible examples in our opinion, like a publisher releasing one game on the Wii U for $60, but selling a trilogy of that game series on the other consoles for the same price. Or, releasing the exact same game on all consoles at the same time, but pricing the Wii U version nearly 70% more than the other versions. Or, now even more recently, delaying only the Wii U version of a game that was already previously announced. Not only was/is this actively sabotaging Wii U sales of those games by the publishers in our opinion, but it was apparently assuming most Wii U owners in 2012 and 2013 would be ignorant of those facts (we guess?), or not care about them? We are tired of hearing excuses from so many third party developers and publishers in regards to supporting the Wii U. We think it's a shame so many third party developers and publishers have provided excuses for not supporting the system, instead of providing examples. There's really only one way to dice some third party support of Nintendo systems: can't never could, and never will. But, if you own a Wii U, you likely know that there have been some developers that have really taken their time in developing Wii U games (and versions of Wii U games), to show the system's strengths. We hope to become a part of the developers that have shown how to make games better, with the Wii U. While the foundation of the company has started in North Carolina, we will be using talent from around the world to hopefully bring great games to the Wii U (and hopefully, other Nintendo systems). We will be revealing our very first game in development for the Wii U, this Friday! Will you be hit by one of Cupid's arrows when you see it, and fall in love with the idea behind it? We hope so! Posted by first post, introduction post Follow us, to keep up-to-date!

体育

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All in the family: Corey Burns to take the lead at Burns Dance Studio By Stephanie Turnersturner@aikenstandard.com Posted: Thursday, May 23, 2013 10:37 p.m. On July 1, Corey Burns will take over as studio director from his mom, Rhoda Burns. Generations of dancers have swept in and out of Burns Dance Studio over the last 31 years. But one of them stuck around. Corey Burns, the son of studio owner Rhoda Burns and a teacher with the studio for 25 years, soon will be stepping up to a higher position. Since 1995, dance teacher Corey Burns has assisted USC Aiken dance team coach Angie Osbon in training team members. Burns will be taking over the running of Burns Dance Studio from his mother, Rhoda Burns, on July 1. “I will officially start (as the studio director) on July 1,” he said. But before they get there, Rhoda and Corey have a few things to work out. The initial decision was not an easy one. The idea came up in August. Since then, Corey had to discuss it with his wife and children, and Rhoda had to prepare to let her position – one she’s held since day one – go. But, in the end, it is one all decided was the right choice. “It’s carrying on the Burns name, and he’s a Burns,” Rhoda said. “I always said to people ... if I can find someone who can carry on this business as good, if not better, then, yeah, I would step aside, but I never thought it would be him.” Corey has already come up with new ideas for the studio. “We are going to expand to have a boys-only classes, to have more adult classes,” Corey said. “I would like to see a program for special needs classes, just because I really enjoyed it (when) I had a chance to work with some of those kids.” Rhoda also mentioned a more-fitness based program in the works called Fit For Kids that she would like to see launched at least by next summer. They would like to add more interior windows. That way, interested parents can come and see the classes, and parents who might feel a little odd having Corey be a teacher can watch, too. Rhoda will not be leaving. She will be there at least four times a week, still with the preschool program and to help guide Corey with the studio as he settles in. “Pretty much (the information) she has is in her head,” Corey said. “So I’m steadily trying to talk to her about, ‘OK, how did we do this?’ or ‘Who is the vendor for that?’” Corey will also be able to bring in his own experiences. He has worked within the Aiken County school system for well over a decade, before becoming the principal of Saluda Primary in 2008. He started the USC Aiken dance team in 1995 and still works with them today. He has taught and performed at conventions, as well as choreographed for high school teams, pageants, plays, weddings and banquets. He has also contributed to past “Dancing with the Aiken Stars” shows and Aiken Women’s Heart Board benefits. “I’ve been dancing since I was 12,” he said. “He’s been actually been dancing since he was 4,” Rhoda said, smiling a bit. “There’s a lot of a parallels of running a school and running a dance studio,” Corey said. “(There’s) making sure systems are up and running, classes are covered, dealing with the dynamics of different faculty members. ... Another aspect of running a school is being in budget; you have to have some financial sense.” When Corey gets out of school in June, he and Rhoda will sit down and plan out the new schedule. They will advertise them in time for fall registration, which starts on Aug. 6. Fall classes will start back on Aug. 26. The summer session begins on June 15; Corey will start his new role in the middle of that session. “She opened the business while I was in the fourth grade, and now, my son is in the fourth grade,” he said. “I was brought up here, and I can’t wait to get started.” Rhoda has taught mothers and, later, their daughters. She teaches children as young as 3. Some of them even go on to be dance teachers themselves. The girls at her studio learn anything from tap, jazz, ballet to hip-hop and contemporary dance. The performing company goes to dance conventions every year and has been pretty successful; just walk in the studio for a peek at the amount of awards. “You build a studio, and you never think you are going to be able to leave it to your children,” Rhoda said, tearing up a bit at the thought. “All of a sudden things just kind of change.” Rhoda acknowledges her “fabulous staff,” a couple of whom she has taught. “We are just going to keep dancing, so to speak,” Rhoda said, about the changes. Burns Dance Studio is at 831 Neilson Road. For more information on its staff or programs, visit www.burnsdancestudio.com or call 803-648-7659 or 803-270-1438.

体育

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Sunday's Semper Fi Bowl will be the last Recruiting Command showcase event falls victim to budget cuts Players in the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl run a play, Jan. 4 at the Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. This year's bowl game will be the last, a victim of military budget cuts. (Sgt. Bobbie A. Curtis / Marines Corps) By Gina Harkins Staff writer Sgt. Maj. of the Marine Corps Mike Barrett presents the 2013 Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl trophy to the East team players following their 17-14 win against the West on Jan. 4. The bowl brings together some of the nation's top high school athletes who excel not only on the football field but also in the classroom and in their communities. (Sgt. Scott Schmidt / Marine Corps) Marine general: Budget woes could ax Corps' popular football program High school athletes from across the nation have gathered in California to play in Sunday�s Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl. They will be the last to play in the Marine Corps Recruiting Command�s showcase event; it too has fallen victim to militarywide budget cuts.Dozens of the best high school football players in the land have been hand-selected by Marine officials to participate in the third annual Semper Fi Bowl. The nationally televised all-star game, which begins at 9 EST/6 PST on Fox Sports 1, will be played at the StubHub Center, a 27,000-seat stadium on the campus of California State University, Dominguez Hills.Recruiting Command officials say there won�t be a 2015 bowl.�As with all advertising programs, we regularly evaluate their effectiveness, especially when there are budgetary restraints,� said Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Shalato, a MCRC spokesman. �Resources for this endeavor in the future have been applied to alternate priorities.�The Corps invests $2.5 million in the program. Launched in 2011, the Semper Fi Bowl features 90 high school athletes composing two teams representing the Eastern and Western United States. Players are selected based on their athletic abilities, personal character, academic performance and leadership.The program was developed to highlight athletes who brought more to the game than just athletic ability. The week-long event also allowed Marine recruiters, drill instructors and senior leaders to interact with players, their parents and others who attend the bowl. Maj. Gen. Mark Brilakis, the commanding general of MCRC, said that was one of the most important aspects of the event.�You�ve got to earn the trust of their parents and then you�ve got to earn the trust of the people who influence those youths,� Brilakis said. �Whether they be principals, teachers, coaches, pastors or ministers.�Shelato said MCRC will continue other national advertising initiatives that help build Marine Corps brand awareness. That will include �Toward the Sounds of Chaos� ads that highlight humanitarian missions around the globe, and the �Fighting with Purpose� diversity-focused campaign, he said. High school athletes from across the nation have gathered in California to play in Sunday's Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl.

体育

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Charles at Large: A fifth-generation Atlantan explains the city Hit-and-runs, bicycle safety, and ninjas Q: I’ve been thinking about commuting by bicycle. Are our streets safe for cyclists? When I was eight years old, I was hit by a car while riding to a friend’s house in Midtown. It was a bright summer day, and I was blithely pedaling uphill, beside the curb, wearing a helmet. There was a noise behind me, a telephone pole in front of me, and then an impact. I came to my senses next to my bent Schwinn, covered in blood. The car was gone. I spent three days in intensive care with a fractured skull. So the short answer: Life happens, and bikes don’t have air bags. The longer answer is more nuanced. In 2007, 254 bike crashes were reported in metro Atlanta, which resulted in 107 injuries and two fatalities. Of these crashes, nearly half took place in Fulton County. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation, bicycles are involved in less than a quarter of one percent of all Georgia traffic crashes, but they account for one percent of all traffic-related fatalities. But biking—especially helmeted—remains nearly twice as safe as driving, according to a 1998 study of comparative risk. Rebecca Serna, executive director of the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign, rides 3.9 miles to work every day on a steel touring bike. “As a bike commuter,” she says, “I can vouch for it being both feasible and occasionally more exciting than I’d really like it to be. Most of my close calls are predictable, though. It’s important to know your route and the dangers it poses.” Those dangers, more often than not, aren’t cars: Roughly 20 percent of bike crashes involve automobiles, according to Serna, while half involve curbs, potholes, and the like. These can be avoided through basic safety training, such as ABC’s Confident City Cycling classes, offered twice monthly between April and June. Atlanta currently has just thirty miles of bike lanes and twenty miles of hard-surface trails. Once the Connect Atlanta Plan—which includes a network of 220 miles of lanes and sharrows within the city—is realized, biking will be even safer. Q: I saw kids doing a cross between martial arts and freestyle-walking in Piedmont Park the other day. Are they ninjas? Did they have throwing stars and Chuck Taylors? Or were they wearing board shorts and calling each other “ninja dudes”? Without a few more details, I can only give you my best guess. But because ninja culture has cooled off a bit since Japan’s Edo Period, they were probably practicing parkour (from the French parcours, which means “route”), also known as “free running.” Invented by Frenchman David Belle in the early 1990s, parkour nimbly straddles the divide between movement and meditation by making efficient, aerobic, improvised use of the urban landscape—think scaling staircases and jumping between roofs. Most major cities in the U.S. now have parkour groups with modest followings of traceurs—they trace Belle’s footsteps—who engage in moves such as the “cat leap” and the “wall run.” The Internet is rife with stomach-clenching parkour videos that you can watch if your ninja friends, who might belong to Atlanta’s Team Parlous, suddenly disappear. Got an Atlanta question? E-mail Charles Bethea at askcharles@atlantamag.emmis.com. Originally published in the June 2009 issue.

体育

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ATP Heritage Form & Fitness Andy Murray Supports Malaria No More UK and Comic Relief © Max MilliganAndy Murray is a founding member of the Malaria No More UK Leadership Council Andy Murray backs Malaria No More UK, an innovative charity that raises funds and awareness to save lives in Africa. He and David Beckham are founding members of the Malaria No More UK Leadership Council and committed supporters of the charity’s aim to end deaths from malaria in Africa by 2015. Murray and Beckham helped launch Malaria No More UK in April 2009 with a sporting first at Wembley Stadium. They played tennis over the world’s longest tennis net, made out of a mosquito net, to highlight the vital need for nets to help prevent the spread of malaria in Africa. See them in action here. The pair also joined athlete Denise Lewis and former Prime Minister Gordon Brown for a photo call at Downing Street, hanging a mosquito net over the front door of No.10 to illustrate ongoing British leadership in the fight against malaria. In 2010 Murray continued the ‘nets needed’ campaign by starring in a compelling advert to raise awareness and funds for the charity. The ad encouraged people to donate £5, enough to buy, deliver and hang a mosquito net to protect two people from malaria in Africa. The ad reached an audience of over 23 million people and saw a significant rise in donations. View the ad here. Murray continues to support Malaria No More UK’s campaigns in person and through his social media channels. Malaria is one of the world’s most devastating, preventable diseases, affecting half of the world’s population. Tragically over 90% of all deaths take place in Africa, where almost 2,000 lives are lost to the disease every day. Malaria No More UK is part of a global movement committed to ending these preventable deaths and uses innovative campaigns to encourage governments, business and the UK public to get involved in the fight against malaria. The charity also makes direct investments in Africa and in 2010, helped protect two million people from malaria across Ghana, Botswana and Namibia. “This is the first global charity I’ve been involved with in this capacity and it was an easy decision. Malaria is preventable and treatable but yet it still kills more children in Africa than any other single disease. We can radically change this, it is a huge opportunity and I’m urging the UK public to help save a life and get behind Malaria No More UK.” Malaria No More UK Comic Relief This year Murray filmed a sketch for Comic Relief with the cast of Outnumbered, A British Comedy Award winning and BAFTA nominated British Sitcom. The programme has been critically acclaimed for its semi-improvisational scripting and realistic portrayal of children and family life. All will be revealed on Red Nose Day on Friday March 18th! Comic Relief is a major charity based in the UK which strives to create a just world free from poverty, raising millions of pounds through two big fundraising campaigns – Red Nose Day and Sport Relief. Their mission is to drive positive change through the power of entertainment, tackling the root causes of poverty and social injustice and raising awareness of the issues that we care most about. Comic Relief Facebook Fans Charity, Andy Murray Search News Corona ATP Weekly Slice: Clay Season Under Way With Houston, Casablanca Fognini Inspires Italy To Victory Czech Republic Reaches Davis Cup SFs; Great Britain Closes On Historic Victory Murray Leads Britain's Davis Cup Bid Murray Gets In April Fools' Day Spirit Corona ATP Weekly Slice: Federer, Wawrinka, Murray Play Davis Cup

体育

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Audio Bites: Week of August 11, 2013 Taylor Swift – end of day treat or relax :18 “I really like Japanese food and I really like…what I’m excited about doing after I get off of work sometimes is I’ll go out hiking. And I’ll listen to a new album that’s just come out or I’ll listen to new songs I’m liking. It’s just kind of a time for me to be away from a lot of people. Because I’m surrounded by a lot of people all the time.” Tim McGraw – Southern Girl 1 :27 “You know, it sort of has a progressiveness about it and a freshness about it, but it also sort of really has a real sort of . . . I don’t know. It reminds you of something that you might of heard in the 70s, so it’s got a little bit of both of those worlds. It marries both of them together really nicely, and one of the greatest things I like about that song . . . I love the lyric and I love the melody, but I really love the lead write in that song where it goes to the lead break where it goes to sort of an unexpected place and the way it gets back out of that. It’s one of my favorite parts about that song.” Laura Bell Bundy – music for inner 16 year old :34 “Well, my inner 16-year-old self drove her Jeep Wrangler to school listening to Tu-Pac and Shania and Dixie Chicks and Bone Thugs and Snoop Dog and Faith Hill. So it’s all this juxtaposition between hip hop and country. So I am now making music that kind of brings these two worlds together, ‘cause I think kids in the country, they listen to both. They listen to hip hop; they listen to country. So, my inner 16-year old wants to let loose and have fun and still wants to hear a fiddle.” Danielle Bradberry – most important winner of Voice :22 “When you hear something like me being the most important to The Voice coming from Blake, it’s shocking. ‘Cause of course I never thought I would be named that. It’s crazy. Hopefully I will, of course, keep working hard and hopefully become that. Yeah, that’s insane to hear from him.” Justin Moore – baseball :55 “First and foremost I’m a huge Braves fan and we’re 13 ½ games up in our division and I’m thrilled about that, but I think if they want to put a stop to what’s going on … one strike and you’re out. You’re banned from baseball for life, because what’s going on right now is you’re gonna pay some guy $40 million to play all season and if you get caught doing steroids you miss 50 games, so you lose three million dollars. Whoopty do. You still get out of there with $37 million so it’s worth the risk to these people. And I hate to see what’s going on. There’s a black cloud over major league baseball right now and I think the penalty needs to be stronger, in my opinion. That’s where my head’s at, but there’s too much money in that sport, along with the other sports, and too many TV dollars, and I don’t know if anybody’s got the balls to do it or not, but I hope they finally grow some.” Thomas Rhett – favorite movie of all time :22 “My favorite movie of all time would have to be Golden Eye – James Bond. I was THE biggest James Bond fan on the planet. I used to have the Golden Eye N64 game that I would play all the time. I guess it just brings back a bunch of childhood memories . I used to dress up like James Bond with my grandmother and shoot weird home videos of me being James Bond solving a crime.” The Band Perry – DONE statement with title :22 Reid – “DONE.. It’s a song that, well, it talks about giving and giving and someone taking, taking, and never giving back. It’s just that point where you’ve literally had all you can.” Kimberly – “Had enough.” Reid – “So I feel like all CAPS and the period just…well, like we say, it puts a period on the situation.” Kimberly – “Yeah, it’s very definitive. There’s no second, what, fifth chances, after this song.” Eli Young Band – families on the road LBT :35 Chris – “We did a tour opening for Rascal Flatts and Little Big Town and we saw how Little Big Town could have a family on the road. They brought their babies out and the kids were out on probably 70 percent to 75 percent of the tour. I mean, that was really inspiring now that we’re having our own kids in the band. They really showed us that there’s ways to keep connected with your family on the road. It’s nice to know that you don’t have to be so far away from the people that you love. Our families are getting to come out more and more on the road nowadays. The kids are growing up a little bit more and they’re old enough to come out and hang out on the bus. I think we have a couple longer road trips coming up in the future.” Florida Georgia Line – vintage tshirts :20 Brian – “Yes, and there’s a couple other sites that I will not give out. But, no, I’m always searching for different things and there are bands that I like. We got some cool Garth and George Strait tees and a couple Alabama ones that I really love. I like to rock ‘em and, especially the real vintage ones of some huge influences of both of us. I think it’s cool to show respect and rock ‘em.” Cassadee Pope – being in a group vs. solo :56 “Being in Hey Monday as opposed to being solo has it’s differences, but for the most part, it’s very similar. I am still creating music with other people. I’m collaborating with songwriters and producers and it’s not my band. But, they are still human beings that I’m collaborating with. I’m not missing out on that, ‘cause that’s something that I really love to do. But being on stage, sometimes I think about the past and being with my old band and how we had cute little things that we used to do on stage together and the chemistry was really great. But I’ve created really, really great chemistry with my band right now. They’re not ‘in the band’ per se, and we’re not writing together and all of that, but we are creating a sound, my live show together. So, there’s a really great vibe with them on stage, even now. I’m not missing out on a ton of stuff. But I do miss the guys every once in a while.” Related Stories: Audio, Promo, Promo Only

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SI On The Possible "Mystery Team" In RG3 Sweepstakes INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 26: Quarterback Robert Griffin III of Baylor looks on during the 2012 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 26, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) The Rams have admitted that the #2 pick in this year's draft is up for sale and the obvious target is Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III. For the most part, the teams you'd expect have been connected. The Browns, Redskins, Dolphins... But some reports have suggested that a "mystery team" has been in the mix. Sports Illustrated ran down their list of the possible mystery team candidates. Among them was the Eagles. Of all the teams mentioned in this connect-the-dots RGIII puzzle, there are many ways in which the Eagles make the most sense. First and foremost on that list is the fact that Griffin’s athleticism often gets compared to Michael Vick’s, while Griffin wowed people at the combine with his maturity and understanding of the game — areas Vick struggles. Philadelphia has pressing needs at several other spots, and it would be difficult to trade Vick and his $100 million contract. On the other hand, the Eagles have the No. 15 pick plus two second-rounders, so there might be enough ammunition to entice the Rams. Personally, I don't buy it. All we've heard is that this is a "win now" year for Andy Reid. Giving up a ton of assets to trade up for a rookie QB is the exact opposite of a "win now" move.

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Announcing Tigers Prospect Report at Bless You Boys With the addition of the entire team from Tigers Prospect Report, we can now bring you some of the best coverage on the Internet for the entire Tigers organization. It was far from the best-kept secret in the world, but we're making it official today: Bless You Boys will now feature Brian Sakowski and friends as the Tigers Prospect Report has become the newest addition to the best Tigers site on the Internet. Brian, Jordan, Travie and Jeremy had been doing fantastic work while toiling far too anonymously at TPR. Bless You Boys had been without a minor league component for most of the year. A match made in heaven. We're very proud to announce the addition of the site and we're quite excited to bring it to you. Brian works with the Central Michigan University baseball team and hopes to some day have a career scouting the game. He'll be using his own insights as well as what he learns from his contacts to tell you all about the future generation of Tigers. Beyond scouting reports, he and his team will provide recaps, features, analysis and interviews with prospects within the organization. Their home base can be found here. You might want to bookmark it, but you'll always be able to easily find links to the TPR hub on our front page, and we'll feature a number of stories on our cover as well. TPR has hit the ground running, so look for a few new stories throughout the day, and be sure to check out the archive of articles they've brought over. We hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do! And now a bit more from Brian: Hey folks, Brian Sakowski here, your brand spankin' new Minor Leagues/Prospects/Scouting boss here at Bless You Boys. Before I get into this, I first want to thank Kurt and everyone else at BYB for welcoming my staff and I to the family. We look forward to providing you with top notch minor league coverage, in the way of prospect profiles, scouting reports, prospect rankings, sabermetric analysis/projection, statistical updates, interviews, and a whole lot more. As for me, I'm a college student at CMU, studying to be a teacher. I currently work on staff for the CMU Baseball team, honing and developing my coaching skills. I've been in love with the game of baseball ever since I can remember, and once my playing career was finished (yeah I wasn't very good), I immediately took up coaching. From there, my newfound passion for scouting and player development was born, and that's what brings me to you all now. In June I started the twitter handle "TigersProspects," which provided nightly statistical updates on the prospects, as a means to use my obsession with prospects as a benefit to others as well. From there, Tigers Prospect Report was born, a blog that I used to sort of begin my scouting career. I've brought with me several of TPR's more popular articles, so feel free to check our archives and read about the 2012 minor leagues. I'd like to give a nod to my staff: Jeremy Beren, Jordan Gorosh, and Travis Hensley. Without them, I know I wouldn't be in the position I'm in. So thanks, fellas. Moving on, I'd like to make myself completely available to any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions you all have. Feel free to contact me on twitter @B_Sakowski, and don't forget to follow the TPR twitter account too! (@TigersProspects). I'll turn it back over to the head man now, but I look forward to writing for you all and interacting with you as well.Go Tigers!

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Gloucestershire CCC Bristol Rovers slip up again at home to Cheltenham By The Bristol Post | Posted: October 04, 2012 BRISTOL Rovers boss Mark McGhee is still waiting to see his side win at the Memorial Stadium this season after last night's 1-0 defeat at the hands of Cheltenham. Chris Zebroski returned to the Memorial Stadium for the first time since he left Rovers over the summer and scored the 37th-minute goal that proved the difference between the sides. It brought Rovers' three-game unbeaten run to an end and McGhee said: "It was really disappointing to lose another game at home. I felt we were really unlucky not to get something from the game. "We had plenty of the ball, but we just didn't manage to create enough chances

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Bryan Herta Autosport Official Site of Indycar Team Barracuda – Bryan Herta Autosport. Barracuda Racing Unveils Driver Lineup for Remainder of 2013 Season Tuesday, August 13th, 2013 Indianapolis, IN – Barracuda Racing announced today that JR Hildebrand and Luca Filippi will fill the seat of the No. 98 car to complete the 2013 season. Twenty-five-year-old California native JR Hildebrand will make his return to the IZOD IndyCar Series, piloting the Barracuda Racing entry for the upcoming GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma. “I’m really excited to join Barracuda Racing this year, and have to give a big thank you to Bryan and the team for the opportunity,” said Hildebrand. “Sonoma is where I got my racing start, so it’ll be great to have another new experience there with a new team, and one that I’ve heard nothing but great things about. “The Sonoma racetrack is not only in my backyard, but Barracuda Networks’ also, so we’ll be working hard to make it a good one all around. I can’t wait to get started.” One week later, Luca Filippi will return to the Barracuda Networks sponsored No. 98 car at the Grand Prix of Baltimore. The Italian driver will also compete for Barracuda Racing in the Shell and Penzoil Grand Prix of Houston double-header weekend. Finally, Hildebrand will finish out the season, competing in the MAVTV 500 at Auto Club Speedway, where he lead 56 laps in last year’s IndyCar season finale. “JR is an exciting prospect for us,” said team co-owner Bryan Herta. “He’s a talented driver and it made sense for him to be able to compete at his ‘home’ races in Sonoma and Fontana. “We were also very impressed with Luca and happy to give him two more outings. He made a good impression on everyone, and this will allow him the chance to race on American-style street circuits.” Barracuda Racing has a full schedule of events next week, leading up to what it considers its “home” race, just a short distance from Barracuda Networks headquarters. The team will take part in the “Food Bank 500″ media event on Tuesday, August 20 to raise awareness for hunger in conjunction with Second Harvest Food Bank. The following day, Barracuda Racing and JR Hildebrand will participate in the IZOD IndyCar Series open test at Sonoma Raceway. The team will then head into the race weekend, featuring three practice sessions and Firestone Fast Six qualifications before the GoPro Grand Prix of Sonoma on Sunday, August 25. Next Race Honda Grand Prix of Alabama 6 days 7 hours 51 minutes @BHART @IndyCarRadio: . @IMS is holding their Easter Egg hunt today. We have to confess, we’ll be imagining @PaulPageTV narrating once it’s gre… 07:42:10 AM April 19, 2014@bha TEAM CONNECTION © 2011 Bryan Herta Autosport | Designed, Developed and Maintained by Content Nest

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Rondo on a path of something big? Posted by shawn cassidy on July 24, 2013 at 5:15 AM Rondo's career in Boston is an unfinished book. With chapters to be written, and with stories to tell. When it comes to great Celtics, fans, and critics evaluate a few things. The first is how many banners did you help raise? Russell with 11, Hondo with 8, Cowens with 2, and Bird with 3. Not to mention other greats like Mchale with 3, Bob Cousy with 6, and Jo Jo White with 2. Rondo has one ring, and with another ring far from sight. That leaves Rondo’s story unfinished, with an uncertain path that remains for Rondo. A lot hinges on Danny Ainge, and his want to retain Rondo for the future. Rondo also plays a part in all of this. He’s the player that needs to remain a MVP type player. He’s the one that needs to make his teammates better, Rondo is the one that needs to adopt some defensive responsibility. He’s more than able to do that, he’s been an all NBA defensive player more than a couple of times. Things also hinge on Rondo being more of a balance on the offensive end, it would be silly to say Rondo is finally a knockdown shooter, but it’s not silly to say that he’s an excellent shooter. Danny wasn’t kidding when he said this team is in better shape this time around when dealing with the hardships of rebuilding. This young core surpasses the likes of Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, Al Jefferson, and Delonte West. I think Bradley is an upgrade if you want to compare him to West, although West could score the ball better when he was a Celtic, Bradley will have a chance to show us that he can up his offensive game. Jeff Green is an upgrade over Ryan Gomes, and Gerald Green combined. The Celtics have more draft picks then they can count, and they’ll have cap spacein the summer of 2014, along with a trade exception this season. They’ll need to us the 10.3 million trade exception by July 12th, 2014. Rondo has an opportunity to surpass some other greats in Boston Celtics history. He will likely become the greatest assists man in green if he stays after his two year deal is up. Rondo has a chance to surpass what Paul Pierce did in Boston. Maybe another ring will give some fans peace. It could be peace of mind for the fans who believe in him, and for the ones who have doubted his ability to lead, or win without Kevin and Paul. Rondo won’t become the second all-time leading scorer like Paul Pierce, because that’s not who he is, I don’t see Bill Russell in the top 5 on that list, and Rondo won’t need to be there on that list to prove his legendary status that could await. I know I have said a lot of this before(summertime), in some different forms, and in different posts. But Rondo has something inside that other greats have. The winning pedigree that sets them apart,and him apart. For the rest of Rondo’s days in Boston, he’ll want to get the monkey off his back. Rondo will have to win another title with the Celtics as the main player to shake off some of the negativity that clouds his time in Boston. Although in some cases you could argue that Rondo had a lot to do with the Celtics title in 2008, because he did, but the ‘Big 3’ get more than half of the credit. Paul Pierce left Boston with one banner in the rafters, and that’s okay by me. His number will be in the rafters one day as well. It’s still hard to say where Paul ranks all-time, because most era’s at least have two titles, with the 70’s Celtics with 2. The KG era had a rash of injuries that detoured hope for a second title. Danny hopes to build something special, and Rondo could be the leader that takes this team over the top one more time, if not more. In this unfinished book of Rondo, MVP talk hasn’t been something to overlook with Rondo. If he can win a MVP, with a ring at some point, where talking about Russell, Cousy, Cowens, and Bird who have been the only winners in Celtics history. My overall point for this post is simple. Rondo has the tools to become one of the All-Time greats in Celtics history, and a chance to surpass Paul, or at least to become on the same playing field as him in Celtics lore. Another title would set him apart from his peers, and from his past teammates. Rondo should be motivated to be great. He has a lot to prove, and all the tools. A lot of luck, and a lot of good fortune will be needed along the way. Danny has a part in this process, along with Stevens. This book is far from finished, and right not Danny has writing up a draft for the middle chapters. Categories: None 7:24 AM on July 24, 2013 Rondo has to find that middle gear. That's something every great player has to have, but it's something that Rondo doesn't seem to have found as yet. It's the way you play most of the time, when you aren't trying to swallow the universe with one gulp, but you also aren't just mailing it in either. 12:36 PM on July 24, 2013 Rondo does have a chance to build a legendary career. I'm sure he wants to surpass Paul Pierce,and to forge his own name. 1:42 PM on July 24, 2013 And to show fans a game they haven't seen before... C'slife 7:32 PM on July 24, 2013 I really can't tell you ramped up I am about this season, even though it could be really bad, or maybe better than most think. 8:12 PM on July 24, 2013 Me too - maybe more than last year - but without the expectations.

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Ben Martin is one of 10 former Tigers in this week's BMW Charity Pro Am. Ten Former Clemson Golfers in BMW Charity Pro Am Courtesy: Clemson Sports Information Ten former Clemson golfers, five of whom were All-Americans, are in the field for the BMW Charity Pro AM to be held this weekend over three courses in the upstate. The main course is at Thornblade Country Club in Greenville and it will have play all four days, Thursday-Sunday. The Reserve in Sunset, SC and Chanticleer Golf Club in Greenville will play host to competition Thursday-Saturday. The 10 former Clemson golfers in the field are Tommy Biershenk, Brian Duncan, Danny Ellis, Matt Hendrix, Kevin Johnson, Phillip Mollica, Sam Saunders, Ben Martin, Brent Delahoussaye and Stephen Poole. The 10 former Clemson players in the field tie for the most in one tournament in history. Ten former Tigers played in the same event last year. Duncan was an All-American on Clemson's 2006 team that finished seventh in the nation. Ellis was a three-time All-American between 1990-93, while Hendrix was an All-American in 2003 and 2004 and was a starter on Clemson's 2003 National Championship team. Johnson was a three-time All-American and is the only former Clemson golfer to win four times on the Web.com Tour. Ben Duncan was an All-American in 2010 and was runner-up at the 2009 US Amateur. Mollica, Martin and Saunders all played on Clemson's 2008 team that finished fifth nationally at the tournament held at Purdue University. Current PGA player Kyle Stanley was also on that team. The winner of the BMW Charity Pro Am will earn $108,000. Jonathan Byrd (2001) and Charles Warren (2002) are past Clemson golfers to win the BMW Charity Pro Am. Celebrities also will take part in the tournament that dates to 1993. Among the celebrities are Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell, who will be making his second appearance at the BMW Charity Pro Am. Tee It Up! 2013-14 Statistics 2013-14 Media Guide 2012-13 NCAA Regional Notes Summer 2013 Golf Results Clemson Golf Paws Photo Gallery: Larry B. Penley Jr. Golf Facility Tigers on Tour Larry B. Penley Jr. Golf Facility Renderings Meet Coach Larry Penley Clemson Golf Heritage 2003 National Championship Recruiting Zone

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Johnson ends successful ETSU career at NCAA Championship Saturday, June 08, 2013Buccaneers’ stay at the Championship also comes to an end EUGENE, Ore. (June 8, 2013) – ETSU senior Jason Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa.) tallied a 19th-place mark of 15.44 meters in the men’s triple jump on Saturday afternoon on the Buccaneers’ final day at the NCAA Division I 2013 Outdoor Track & Field Championship at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore. Johnson, who was seeded third in the second of two flights, achieved his 15.44m mark on his first jump. The Philadelphia native was unable to improve his score in his subsequent two jumps in which he committed fouls on both. The one posted score slated Johnson 19th overall in a field that was 24 deep. “Jason’s performance today was consistent with his performances all season,” said ETSU Director of Track & Field/Cross Country George Watts. “He was close to his school record so I feel he was somewhat competitive today.” Though he was unable to reach his personal best mark of 15.48m to hopefully advance to the final, the veteran ultimately ended his ETSU days in style. Leading up to the NCAAs, he was able to accomplish many things this outdoor season to highlight his collegiate career. Notably, Johnson medaled silver at the Atlantic Sun Outdoor Championship in May with his personal and school record 15.48m leap, and gained Second Team All-Conference honors in the event. Largely not expected to advance to the NCAA Championship, the senior prolonged his final ETSU season with 15.40m ninth-place finish at the NCAA East Region Preliminaries two weeks ago to get to this stage. “Jason needed a big personal best to advance to the final and I applaud him for his work ethic and desire to get better,” said Watts. “I doubt many people gave him a shot to qualify for the NCAA Championship. He definitely exceeded expectations.” With Johnson’s exit today from the NCAA Championship, the Bucs end their stay in Eugene. Advancing six student-athletes to this point is a major development for the ETSU track & field program and is hopefully a sign of things to come in the future. “I feel that all six student-athletes handled the pressures of their first NCAA experience well,” said Watts. “We have a goal of qualifying twice as many next year and to get on the scoreboard. Additionally, we set 12 to 13 school records this season and I believe we have raised the bar to new heights for ETSU track & field.”

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The Blog of the World's Sport 04:59 PM ET 12.06 | Teams Bracket Play-off Quarterfinals Semifinals Final 7 December - Tokyo Sepahan 10 December - Toyota City Waitakere United 13 December - Yokohama Urawa Reds AC Milan 16 December - Yokohama 9 December - Tokyo Étoile du Sahel 12 December - Tokyo Pachuca Third place Boca Juniors 16 December - Yokohama Well, for years, the Club World Cup was only a dream. A dream that everyone knew it probably wouldn't happen, and if even if it did, it wouldn't be all too successful. But this year's competition could start to change the tide of that thinking. With some of the worlds' best and each continent's best, the tourney should start to draw more attention. The host of the tourney will once again be Japan. Hopefully this year the turnout for all games will be greater than last year's. Now, I will list the key for the clubs that are relatively known throughout the world. Sorry, but I just don't have enough information to tell about those teams. 1. Urawa Reds- the Japanese side are a very good team who can hang with almosy any European side out their. They are a good side, who are going to have to use their speed to their advantage. They will also have to play defence if they want to win, and I mean some strong defence.2. Pachuca- The champion of North America are a very dangerous side. They have defeated all the best the United States and the rest of Mexico put in front of them. The key to winning for them will be to play their game. They have done it almost all year, and if they do so in this tourney, they will have a very good chance at winning.3. AC Milan- the UEFA Champions League winner are as dangerous as any team in the world. They are lead by Brazilian midfielder Kaka, captain Paolo Maldini, and striker Philipo Inzaghi among others. The key to the Italian's side's victory is how the defence and goalkeeper plays. I think the offence will come, but they have to sure up that defence. They need a good performance from Dida, or at least not a bad one. If Dida keeps it steady, and doesn't make mistakes, Milan will be fine behind Kaka who I predict will win the Golden Ball Award of the tourney.4. Boca Juniors- some could argue that this side "backed in" to the Club World Cup. Not because of their previous losses, but because of the loss of Juan Ramon Riquelme. After he has been ruled out, some would sya they don't have a chance. But that isn't true, not one bit. He is a great player on a great team, and you can believe that he will fight that decision until the club's first match in the tourney. But any true fan will tell you this, Boca can win any title they want and this is no exception. Hopefully this will be the best Club World Cup yet. Maybe it will lead to more exposure (an example would be ESPN picking up the games). *I want to say that this blog was helped out a whole heck of a lot by wikipedia.com and FIFA.com. Tune in to the FIFA World Cup starting tomorrow. I'm not sure if all the matches are going to be on Fox Soccer Channel, but some will be.* CONCACAF/CONMEBOL Champions League Plan 2009 US Open Preview Confederations Cup 2009 Preview- United States Confederations Cup 2009 Preview- Spain Confederations Cup 2009 Preview- South Africa Confederations Cup 2009 Preview- New Zealand

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Defense Gone Wild & Timing is Perfect Yes, the Steelers defense seems to be hitting their stride at exactly the right time, but I found this paragraph from the article particularly interesting: "The Steelers have reasserted themselves as a dominant defense, ranked No. 3 in the NFL overall (281.9 yards per game) and No. 2 against the rush (84.2). As a team, the Steelers have allowed the third-fewest points per game in the NFL at 15.8, but one touchdown came on an interception return and another on a blocked field goal. There also was a kickoff returned to their 3 that became a touchdown two plays later." Walt Pohl 26 Dec 2005, 11:13am by Michael David Smith Richard Dent: Racism Mars Hall Selections Richard Dent says his status as a player from a historically black college makes it harder for him to get into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "Guys from black schools seem to have a hard time when it comes down to Hall of Fame situations," Dent told The New York Post. I criticized the Hall of Fame for its failure to induct the black football pioneer Fritz Pollard, who finally got in this year. But I've never seen any evidence that the college a player attended has any impact at all on whether he gets inducted in Canton. 48 comments, Last at 07 Jul 2006, 7:30pm by History Lesson Today, instead of his usual press conference, Bill Belichick took all the reporters into a meeting room and showed archival footage of the Great Lakes Naval Station team of the early 40s, commenting on differences between historical football and today's NFL. Then he showed film from a 1941 game between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions, featuring a part-time running back and punt returner named Steve Belichick. Raise your hand if you wish you had been a Pats beat reporter today. Yep, me too. This is pretty damn cool. Daley Floats Plan for Second Chicago Team In the time I've lived in Chicago, I've engaged a lot of football fans in a lot of conversations. And do you know something I've never heard anyone say? "We need a second NFL team." But Mayor Daley wants to build a domed stadium that would attract the Olympics to Chicago in 2016, and he thinks the way to get financing for the stadium is to bring another NFL team to the Windy City. I think this is about as likely as the Cubs moving to Albuquerque and changing their name to the Isotopes. 32 comments, Last at 12 Jan 2006, 12:53am by Smith's First Year Hasn't Panned Out It's not surprising that Alex Smith is experiencing growing pains. He's a rookie, and he's playing on a 49ers team that's well on its way to earning the top draft pick for the second year in a row. Smith has yet to throw a touchdown, has double-digit interception totals, and there are rumors that his hands are too small to hold onto an official NFL football (he also has nine fumbles). If that's true, maybe San Francisco should petition the league to use Nerf balls during all its games next season. » More... 22 Dec 2005, 03:04pm by Aaron Schatz Let's Find Miami a Quarterback One of the most interesting off-season storylines will be Miami's search for a quarterback. Will they stay with Gus Frerotte, or get a veteran who can lead an otherwise strong team deep in the playoffs, or find a youngster? We've suggested Brett Favre, but Favre continues to say he would not play for a team other than Green Bay. David Neal of the Miami Herald suggests Steve McNair, he of the $50 million March 2 bonus. 60 comments, Last at 16 Jan 2006, 8:18pm by Tony Dungy's Son Dies WTHR in Indianapolis reports: The 18-year-old son of Indianapolis Colts Coach Tony Dungy has been found dead at the Campus Lodge apartments in Lutz, Florida. Fire rescue and deputies went there because of a call from his roommates and girlfriend. A death investigation is underway, but the sheriff's office says there's a high probability that the death of James Dungy was a suicide. LnGrrrR NFL: Sorry, Glenn, You're Not in the Pro Bowl This was mentioned in the Pro Bowl discussion, but I thought it deserved its own thread. The NFL told the Colts that tackle Tarik Glenn had made the Pro Bowl, which Tony Dungy relayed to the team. Then the NFL called back and said it had mis-counted the votes, and Glenn had not made the Pro Bowl after all, although he's a first alternate. I saw Dungy talking about it on NFL Network, and I've never seen him so angry. Leinart Reinstated by NCAA Huh. I didn't even know Matt Leinart had been suspended for the Rose Bowl. The NCAA said Leinart's actions were seen as "unintentional and inadvertent," while Deadspin has a different take: Pat on the Back Colts Lead Way with Seven Pro Bowlers Okey doke. After accidentally posting last year's Pro Bowl roster a few minutes ago, I'll just make it simple and link to the story on FOXSports.com. The Colts had seven players to make it, and the Bears and Falcons had six each; the Browns, Titans, 49ers and Packers were all shutout. In terms of surprise winners, Koren Robinson made it as a kick returner, and Eli Manning, one of the leaders in fan voting, ended up as the third alternate.

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Australian Grand Prix - driver preview quotes Australian Grand Prix - driver preview quotes 29 Mar 2006 Melbourne’s Albert Park circuit has always been a favourite with the drivers and this year is set to be no different. With this season's later date the temperatures may be slightly lower, but the competition will be as hot as ever...Michael Schumacher, Ferrari2005 Qualifying - 18th, 2005 Race - DNF"I cannot wait for this race! Ferrari is competitive once again and the others will have to take us into consideration. It is a fantastic feeling and certainly much more than we could have hoped for after last season. I think that this is a relief both for the team and our fans alike. They suffered with us throughout a tough season but have remained faithful. It is a marvellous sensation knowing that we can give them hope for the weekend to come."As a city circuit, Albert Park is a scenic one and quite enjoyable to drive. It has also been improved from a safety point of view and this only increases my desire to dispute the race. In any case, I like this circuit and I expect a better result than that of Malaysia. Let's keep our fingers crossed!"Ralf Schumacher, Toyota2005 Qualifying - 15th, 2005 Race - 12th"After Malaysia I returned to Europe for testing as we look to improve on our start to the year. Heating up the tyres has been a problem for us, so Australia will show us how far we've come. It is not usually particularly warm there and this race is taking place later than usual in their autumn. Because it is a street circuit, the track surface at Melbourne's Albert Park track tends to be dirty, so it could be hard to find grip, especially in the first lap of qualifying. But I do like the circuit - it is one of the most beautiful street circuits there is and also among the safest. The city itself is also one of my favourites on the calendar, so it all combines to make the Australian Grand Prix an exciting event. A difficult weekend awaits but I hope we can continue to push hard and use the data that we have collected so far this year to help pushing up the grid."Jarno Trulli, Toyota2005 Qualifying - 2nd, 2005 Race - 9th"Melbourne is a fantastic venue for F1 and the atmosphere is always great. I normally arrive early to put in some training outdoors but this year both Ralf and I returned to Europe last week to test the TF106 at Paul Ricard. I enjoy driving at Albert Park, especially the quick chicane at Turns 11 and 12. The track can be quite bumpy and you need a lot of grip and traction, particularly in the slow corners like Jones, Clark, Ascari and Prost. Given our problems with warming up our tyres in Bahrain the cool weather could be difficult for us but we will use the weekend to understand more about how to make improvements to how our car works with our tyres. There is no question about the motivation of the whole team to get back to the level where we can race at the front of the grid."Mark Webber, Williams2005 Qualifying - 3rd, 2005 Race - 5th“The Australian Grand Prix is always a special fixture on the F1 calendar because there’s a tremendous atmosphere at Albert Park. It is also probably one of the best organised Grands Prix of the season. Of course, it’s particularly rewarding for me to drive in front of my home fans and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the weekend will unfold. Melbourne has finished staging a very successful Commonwealth Games so there’s already a big buzz around the city and an exciting Grand Prix will be a fantastic way to top off the past few weeks. “The recent pace of the FW28 has been encouraging and, although we had a double retirement in Malaysia which was a big shame, there’s no question we’d like a big points haul in Melbourne. With the race a month later than normal this year, the weather could be a lot cooler, and potentially quite inconsistent, so that could be a factor as well. I’m more than ready for the race weekend and I’ve been in Australia for over a week now and spent a great few days down in Tasmania working on the Mark Webber Challenge which we launched in Melbourne on Tuesday. I was able to do some trekking, cycling and paddling in a kayak in some of the most spectacular and remote locations in the world. It was awesome!”Nico Rosberg, Williams2005 Qualifying - NA, 2005 Race - NA“I’m looking forward to Melbourne and continuing our strong performance. I haven’t been before, but I’ve heard that Melbourne is a lot of fun so it’s going to be good. The cooler temperatures will be a bit of a change from what we’ve experienced at the last two races, but I believe that we have made some improvements in order to be just as strong in cooler conditions.”Rubens Barrichello, Honda2005 Qualifying - 11th, 2005 Race - 2nd“I really enjoy the Australian Grand Prix and it is certainly one of my favourite races on the calendar. The Australian people are so relaxed, always helpful and smiling, it reminds me of Brazil really. Melbourne is a fantastic place to be based but what I like most about the weekend is the race track with its great combination of corners. Despite the weather, we achieved some good work at the Vallelunga test last week and I was encouraged by the new ideas that we tested. So I'm really looking forward to getting to Melbourne, our car seems to be strong in all areas at the moment, and I think we should enjoy the weekend."Jenson Button, Honda2005 Qualifying - 8th, 2005 Race - 11th"Australia is a race that I always enjoy and having had a couple of races already this season, I think Melbourne is going to be even more special as we understand already who is quick and who isn't. Usually we don't know who is going to be competitive when Melbourne is the first race of the season. It's a beautiful city and I always enjoy travelling there very much. I'll be spending some time in Sydney before the race as well, working on my training and fitness but also taking some time to relax. The Albert Park street circuit is great for drivers but also for the fans as they can get that much closer to the action. We'll be hoping to build on the podium finish in Malaysia and using some of the developments from the test last week, I'm sure that we will have another strong race."Nick Heidfeld, BMW Sauber2005 Qualifying - 7th, 2005 Race - DNF"This season's Australian Grand Prix will certainly have a rather different feel about it. To start with, the race has been put back due to the Commonwealth Games, so there won't be that extra buzz you get when it's the first race of the season. And because it's later in the year, it won't be as hot as usual either - the race is a month later than normal and Melbourne will be getting really quite autumnal. The Albert Park circuit is nice to drive, but also a demanding one for the drivers. Because it isn't a permanent race track, there isn't much grip at the start of the weekend. The situation improves with each lap as the cars lay down extra rubber. Australia is my favourite place on the Formula One calendar to travel to and I tend to fly out to Melbourne a few days early to get used to the time difference."Jacques Villeneuve, BMW Sauber2005 Qualifying - 4th, 2005 Race - 13th"It's always a pleasure to travel to Melbourne, especially if I have bit of time there to relax before the race. I enjoy racing at Albert Park - I like the circuit and am looking forward to the GP. BMW have got a lot of things going on around the grand prix and that in itself will make it an interesting weekend for me. As for our performance, I think the two points we collected in Malaysia show that we can be pretty competitive - and that was psychologically important for the team. Added to which, BMW has proved with my engine that they can react extremely quickly when a problem comes up. There is a very constructive atmosphere within the team. Having said that, the circuit in Australia is another that's heavy on engines, and this will be my second race with the engine I used in Malaysia. So we'll have to exercise a certain amount of caution during the weekend."Robert Kubica, third driver, BMW Sauber2005 Qualifying - NA, 2005 Race - NA"Melbourne is the third circuit in a row that will be totally new to me. However, my performances in Bahrain and Malaysia have given me confidence that I can rise to the challenge on basically any track. On the Friday in Sepang I drove more or less an entire GP race distance in extreme climatic conditions without experiencing the slightest problem. Up to now the team have been happy with my work, and my top priority, of course, is to collect as much information as possible in Melbourne in order to help Jacques and Nick in their preparation for the race. I've never been to Australia but I've heard a lot of good things about Melbourne, so I'm really looking forward to this third race of the year."Tiago Monteiro, Midland2005 Qualifying - 14th, 2005 Race - 16th"I love this city, and I have very fond memories of this circuit. This was, after all, where I made my F1 debut last year. I tend to like street circuits - this one and Monaco are the only two on the calendar that use public roads - because they're unforgiving and they give the drivers a chance to make more of a difference. I also think this track suits our car a little better than the previous two. Downforce is still a big factor, but there isn't as much of an emphasis on straight-line aerodynamic efficiency. We've made big gains in that department since last year, but nobody sits still in Formula 1, and we still have some work to do. But if we've done our homework and the car is running the way that it should, I'm pretty confident we can have a much better race here."Christijan Albers, Midland2005 Qualifying - 17th, 2005 Race - DNF"Unlike Tiago, my first memories of this track are not so nice! I retired with transmission problems after only 16 laps, so I'd rather forget about that. But I'm really looking forward to this year's race, and fighting alongside the team to get some more performance out of the car. I really think we're going to do better here, because our car tends to work better on this type of track. This is a really hard-braking circuit, and our stability under braking keeps improving all the time, so I expect to have some good battles. There should be some good wheel-to-wheel racing, with plenty of overtaking opportunities. Spectators should enjoy this race, and hopefully, we will, too!"Markus Winkelhock, third driver, Midland2005 Qualifying - NA, 2005 Race - NA"This is a similar situation to Bahrain, in that I've never been here before, so everything is new. I've tried to familiarise myself with the circuit by doing some laps on Playstation and watching a recording of last year's race, and I think that was quite helpful. I'm also going to do a few laps on foot or by bike, examining all the corners carefully, so hopefully that will speed up the process a bit. I'm going to have to take it easy on my first few laps, though, because unlike Bahrain, there aren't any wide run-off areas - the walls are quite close to the track, so you can't afford to make any mistakes. I may not have actually driven here before, but just from looking at it, I have a feeling I'm going to enjoy this track."Takuma Sato, Super Aguri2005 Qualifying - 19th, 2005 Race - 14th“I enjoy visiting Melbourne very much as the city has good food, a friendly atmosphere and, when the weather is fine, great sunshine. The circuit at Albert Park has very different characteristics to the tracks from the first two races. The team will have a new aero update for this race and I think that our car will be better suited to this meandering street circuit. After the opening back-to-back races the team has now had a chance to take a short break and we have also had time to evaluate our performance from the initial races and hopefully make a step forward for the coming Grands Prix.”Yuji Ide, Super Aguri2005 Qualifying - NA, 2005 Race - NA"I have visited Australia many times and I always liked it. There's only one hour time difference from Japan and the weather is great. I am looking forward to the grand prix in Melbourne and to hopefully finishing a Formula One race for the first time. It has been very disappointing for me to not finish the past two races, especially since all the mechanics are working so hard. I know that there has been a mechanical problem on my car, but I feel very frustrated. I really hope that I will be able to finish the next race in Australia."Fernando Alonso, Renault2005 Qualifying - 13th, 2005 Race - 3rd“Melbourne always has one of the best atmospheres of the whole season. I think it comes from the people, and their culture, they always make it a good Grand Prix. It is a long way from home, but we are always happy to be in Melbourne, to feel the country's passion for Formula 1. It will be a fantastic weekend this year, I am sure.“The fact it is a street circuit means there are some traffic lines on the asphalt, so it we get any rain, then you have to choose the line very carefully because these areas are slippery, and that can make the circuit a bit complex. It is quite bumpy too, and takes a long time to clean up during the race weekend. It makes for a difficult Grand Prix.“Over the last few years, good braking and traction have been strong characteristics of the Renault cars, and this is what you need in Melbourne. The key is the slow-speed chicanes, where you arrive in sixth or seventh gear, brake hard, then get back on the throttle in second gear. We know the car is good in those areas, and we were very quick at this circuit last year. It should be the same for 2006.”Giancarlo Fisichella, Renault2005 Qualifying - 1st, 2005 Race - 1st“I have a great feeling here, I won last year, and I am hoping to do the same again! This is the last flyaway race, and it is very important to score lots of points early in the season. I think Renault will be very competitive in Australia, and I am going for the win. I want to arrive in Imola, one of my home races, with a very strong position in the championship.”Kimi Raikkonen, McLaren2005 Qualifying - 10th, 2005 Race - 8th"After the first two races, I am really hoping to have a trouble free weekend in Australia, as the car feels good and I think that we can get some good results with it. I am aiming to get a solid points finish at this race to take back to Europe. Albert Park is a high downforce track and it has pretty low grip, this is because the surface is always dusty as it is old roads that are not used anymore. But this tends to clean up quickly during Friday running and then the track surface is fairly smooth. There are some hard braking zones and sharp bends, which can be tough on the brakes and tyres, such as into turn three, and demand good traction to be fast out of the corners. The Australian race is one of the favourites I think with most people in the sport, and there is always such an enthusiastic atmosphere in Melbourne for the event."Juan Pablo Montoya, McLaren2005 Qualifying - 9th, 2005 Race - 6th"It wasn't an ideal weekend for me in Malaysia, but at least I finished fifth and fourth in the last two races. I am now looking forward to racing in Melbourne and hopefully challenging for a podium position. Albert Park is quite a flowing circuit, with long, sweeping bends and quick corners, so it is fun to drive and you can really build up a good rhythm. There are some places on the track where you can pass, primarily the right hander of turn one at the end of the main straight, where your speed drops from over 300km/h to around 130km/h, and also as you flow on through the curve of turn two that immediately follows. Another chance is through the left flick of 11, which is taken quite quickly at just over 210km/h in fourth."

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Serie A: Team of the Year 2012/13 Pirlo has enjoyed another successful season at Juventus (©GettyImages). by Samuel Bridges Juventus comfortably won the Serie A title this season, with many of their stars impressing, however many other players also showed off their talents in the division. Here we assemble the best XI from the Serie A in the 2012/13 season: Formation (4-3-3) Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon - Juventus The veteran ‘keeper was once again, a vital cog in Antonio Conte’s Juventus, as they claimed their second successive Scudetto. With Juventus only conceding 21 goals, and with 19 clean sheets, his stats speak for themselves. Defence: Right-back: Stephan Lichtsteiner - Juventus The Switzerland international has become one of the best wing-backs in world football since joining Juventus from Lazio in 2011. With the highest successful cross percentage in Europe, he has been a vital part of Juve’s team for the past two seasons, and is currently the best wing-back in Italy Centre-back: Giorgio Chiellini - Juventus The Italy international has again been in fine form this season, being one of the stand-out defenders in Serie A, and the Champions League. Although Buffon deserves a lot of credit for keeping 21 clean sheets, the figure wouldn’t be so high without Chiello marshalling defence. Centre-back: Gonzalo Rodriguez - Fiorentina When the Argentina international joined Fiorentina from Villarreal in the summer of 2012, the Viola’s new signing was doubted, as many thought that he couldn’t take the step up to the defensive pressures in Italy, but since, he has proved all his critics wrong. Scoring as many goals in his first season in Serie A as he had in eight years with Villarreal, albeit most of them from direct free-kicks, he has popped up with important goals as well as game-saving interceptions. Left-back: Vasilis Torosidis - Roma Although he has only been in Serie A since January, the Greece international has wasted little time in announcing himself as one of Serie A’s best full-backs. Being equally useful in defence and attack, he is arguably the reason for Roma’s upturn in form, which saw them push for a Champions League place and set up a Copa Italia final date with Lazio. His outstanding goal against Inter in the semi-final showcases the Greek’s talent. Centre-midfield: Andrea Pirlo – Juventus Juve’s old master has been a key player for Juve again this season in Serie A and Champions League. His ability to dictate play and control the midfield are one of the factors in what make Juventus such dangerous opponents. His ability to change a game with a single pass has been showcased this year, as he was the main player in Juve’s 3-0 destruction of Chelsea, and also in Juve’s wins over Inter and AC Milan. With 5 goals and six direct assists in Serie A this season, he has been pivotal to Juve’s success Centre-midfield: Arturo Vidal – Juventus Voted Juve’s player of the season and it is clear to see why. Vidal is the best ball winner in Europe, and has developed into a modern day great since Juve picked him up for a bargain £9 million. The 25 year old is still a couple of years from his peak and will only get better. With 10 goals and 8 direct assists this season, he has been Juve’s biggest sole goal contributor in the league this season, and there for a massive influence on Juve’s success. Centre-midfield: Marek Hamsik – Napoli The Slovakia international is the most common fixture in the Serie A team of the week, being selected 11 times for his outstanding performances. With 11 goals and 14 direct assists, he is Napoli’s second highest goal contributor, just behind a certain Edinson Cavani. With a similar style to that of the great Pavel Nedved, at still only 25 years old, he has confirmed his intention to stay at Napoli for the majority of his career, and should one day be one of Serie A’s all time legends. Right-wing: Stephan El Sharaawy – AC Milan El Sharaawy has rose to prominence this season after a string of performances that can be considered of the same level as that of Lionel Messi. Since the sale of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he has been able to flourish and be recognised as one of the brightest young talents in the world, after also breaking into the Italy national team as a first choice winger. With 16 goals and four direct assists, he has been Milan’s top goal contributor this season and one of the best players in Serie A. Centre-forward: Edinson Cavani - Napoli Looking set to pick up the golden boot for Serie A, Cavani has had another unbelievable season for Fiorintina. With 28 goals in Serie A this season, he has been the best forward, and with hat-tricks coming against Roma, Lazio and Inter, he is not one to shy away from the big stage, and in fact, often performs better. With also four assists, he has shown that for a penalty box predator, he can also create chances as well as take them. His defensive work-rate is also very high for a striker and he often leads the counter attack with his power and lightning pace. Left-wing: Erik Lamela – Roma The young Argentine’s meteoric rise has started after his breakthrough season at Roma. In the 2011/12 season, he looked immature and greedy, but since the New Year, and a change of playing style, he has flourished at Roma and has become one of their most important players, and also one of the most explosive forces in Serie A. With 15 goals and three assists, he is Roma’s second highest goal contributor, behind the legendary Francesco Totti. He has also been called up for his country and is now a full Argentina international. Write for GiveMeSport! Sign-up to the GMS Writing Academy here: http://bit.ly/12nAsNY #European News Click to View 1 Comment

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Manchester City held talks with Mourinho - convinced he wanted United job Manchester City felt Mourinho wanted to succeed Sir Alex.. Editor Published2 months ago Manchester City held talks with Jose Mourinho over becoming their new manager back in 2009 - but were convinced he wanted to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as the next Manchester United boss. The Sunday Mirror claims the Citizens approached 'the Special One' with a view to replacing Mark Hughes at the club's helm. However, club executives felt Mourinho had ambitions to take charge at their great rivals, and Roberto Mancini was instead the man to get the job at the Etihad Stadium. “Talks did take place about Mourinho before the appointment of Mancini," a Manchester City insider told the paper. "But it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t the right man for the job. The perception given was that the one job Mourinho really wanted was to manage Manchester United." The Portuguese tactician was amongst the favourites to succeed Ferguson this summer, after the Scot announced last year that he'd be leaving the Red Devils at the end of the 2012/13 season. However, David Moyes got the nod to replace his compatriot at Old Trafford, and has subsequently struggled to meet expectation in a difficult first season at Manchester United. Mourinho, meanwhile, is back in the Premier League at Chelsea after a six-year absence from the English top flight. In 2009, the 51-year-old was at the helm of Inter Milan, and he left the Italian giants the following year to take the reigns at Real Madrid. After three years in La Liga, he made his return to Stamford Bridge, with Roman Abramovich able to build bridges with the man that provided the Blues with unparalleled success during his first stint in west London. And, he's been able to transform Chelsea into title contenders once again this season.

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Ralston says no contact with Revs Dynamo assistant coach has not been in touch with former club New England over coaching vacancy October 25, 2011 Darrell Lovell MLSsoccer.com Wade Barrett and Steve Ralston have transitioned into coaching roles in Houston. Photo Credit: Getty Images With Monday's stunning development that the New England Revolution and Steve Nicol had parted ways, talk immediately began of who would replace the iconic head coach. Not surprisingly, one of Nicol's longtime charges was one of the first names floated. But Steve Ralston shot down any rumors of first contact with his old team on Tuesday, adding that the reports and rumor-mongering are the extent of the Dynamo assistant coach’s knowledge of the subject. “When I came in this morning, some of the guys asked about it, but I just read it this morning and that’s all I know about it,” Ralston told the media after training Tuesday. “I played there for eight years, and I enjoyed my time there. But my job right now is to help this team prepare for the playoffs. I just feel really bad for [Nicol], and that’s all I’m thinking about it right now. He’s a good man and good coach, and I feel for him.” The former Revolution stalwart is a logical candidate for the position. Ralston was a beloved member of the team and soccer community in New England, and a big reason the Revolution made it to four MLS Cup finals during his eight seasons with the Revolution. After retiring in 2010, Ralston replaced Portland Timbers head coach John Spencer on Houston’s staff. Since then, Ralston has worked with Dynamo head man Dominic Kinnear to not only improve the Dynamo, but work on Ralston’s nascent coaching skills. “He’s more comfortable talking with the guys one-on-one and on the field [now],” Kinnear said. “Another good thing is the Reserve League gives these guys a chance to make decisions, and that’s been helpful. I think he feels more comfortable being a coach.” Kinnear echoed Ralston's sentiments Tuesday, saying he was sad to see Nicol’s tenure end, and confirmed that New England has not contacted the club for permission to speak with Ralston, who is under contract. However, as with Spencer in the past, Kinnear and the Dynamo are not likely to prevent a coach from pursuing a head coaching position. “If they were to ask us to talk to Steve, I don’t see us standing in the way,” Kinnear said. Still, Ralston is focused on helping the Dynamo prepare for a run to the MLS Cup and, hopefully, a victory – something that eluded him during his playing days. So while the rumor mill has already started, Ralston is content to leave any talk of his Houston departure right there. “I loved my time [in New England], and I love being here,” Ralston said. “That was my past, but this is my job now: to do whatever I can to help these guys. I would like to win the MLS Cup, and that’s my job here.” Darrell Lovell covers the Houston Dynamo for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on twitter at @Dynamoexaminer Houston Dynamo New England RevolutionMLS Regular Season Related Content

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Pressure Is On To Make Strides Toward Chase In 'Bristol Bash' August 21, 2013 | By Bruce Martin Pressure Is On To Make Strides Toward Chase In 'Bristol Bash' Get ready for NASCAR’s “Bristol Bash.” The IRWIN Tools Night Race on Saturday night, Aug. 24 at Bristol Motor Speedway could be the pivotal race for one of the two Wild Card positions that are available in NASCAR’s “Race for the Sprint Cup Championship.” And when Joey Logano scored his first victory for Penske Racing in the Pure Michigan 400 Sunday, Aug. 18 at Michigan International Speedway, he beaome a serious contender to make “The Chase.” In fact, positions eight through 17 are separated by just 31 points with three races remaining. So drivers in the top 10 but without a victory this season could see their Chase hopes evaporate over the next three contests, beginning with Bristol. Defending Sprint Cup champion Brad Keselowski is eight in the standings but does not have a victory. Kurt Busch is also winless and ninth in the standings. “I'm excited that we're running well,” Busch said. “Now I'm just in that Chase mode where we have to get in. You can't celebrate with a third place finish. You just have to feel confident and to know that you can go back next week and do it again. “The biggest thing is just staying out of trouble. Bristol, trouble can happen at any corner. There's going to be 500 laps that we have to perform there where we have to protect our car and still finish well. “There's still just three weeks to go where we could get in a little fender bender, some itty bitty thing happen the next three weeks, and that will put us on the outside. “Excuse me if my blinders are on.” Ironically, Logano is driving the same ride that used to belong to Busch when he was at Penske Racing before he was bounced from the team for some highly publicized tirades in 2011. Busch drove for team owner James Finch and Phoenix Racing last year and moved to Furniture Row Racing this season and has that ride on the verge of making The Chase. “This is tremendous,” Busch said. “Jumping in with the Furniture Row guys last year, running six races together, got a lot of the bugs worked out. It allowed us to discover things about ourselves, some weaknesses on the team. “Each section through this season, like every six races, we can lump them together and say that we've improved every time we've gone through a chunk of six races at a time. “Now here we are. We're 23 races in, got three to go to get in the Chase. It's an amazing feeling to be in position right now, have a group of guys from Denver, Colorado, in the Chase right now. That's what we have to do, make sure when the door closes, the music stops, that we got a place.” Greg Biffle has the 10th position -- the final points-entry position for the Chase, which means there is quite a battle for the two Wild Card spots. Kasey Kahne is first in the Wild Card standings with two wins in 11th place. But after that, the pressure is on several drivers, including the winner of this year’s NASCAR race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Ryan Newman of South Bend, Ind. Martin Truex Jr. is second in the Wild Card with one win in 12th place. But Logano is closing in now that he has scored a victory. That leaves Newman two positions out of the Chase with his Brickyard win his only trophy this season. Credit Logano with putting even more drama into NASCAR’s Wild Card battle and giving team owner Roger Penske his first victory since making the switch from Dodge to Ford this season. “We're close,” Logano said. “We're close. This is a hard fought win throughout this whole Penske team, this 22 team in particular, gone through a lot this season. Our win is well deserved. They gave me a great Shell Pennzoil Ford that was capable of winning. We kept tuning it in, getting a little better, a little better. When it was up to me on the last restart, I had to be very aggressive to get by the 29 (Kevin Harvick) and do what I had to do. Here we are.” A Wild Card position is within Logano’s reach, and he knows what he has to do in order to grab it. “I think we’ve got to be consistent,” Logano said. “This is something Todd (Gordon, crew chief) and I talk about before we come to the racetrack every weekend, how aggressive we need to be to try to get into this Chase. We kind of decided we needed a win a couple weeks ago. So we did one, we got one. That's what we got to do. We should decide to get more wins; maybe we'll win more. “We need to try to figure out how aggressive we need to be. That's a conversation we'll have throughout this week. Right now, as long as we're consistent, knocking off top 10s like this team has been doing, if we get another win, yeah, it's going to help us get in the Chase, but it is definitely a great help for our Chase hopes.” Logano contended for victory in the season’s first race at Bristol back in March. But that contest was more famous for Logano charging Denny Hamlin in the garage area afterward the race in an angry response to a late-race incident between the two. The hard feelings would culminate the following Sunday at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., when the two drivers were battling for the victory in the final turn of the final lap. Logano’s car hit Hamlin’s Toyota, sending it into a spin and a crushing impact into the infield retaining wall that broke Hamlin’s back. Logano had gone from “The Kid” to the “Bad Boy” in a seven-day period beginning at Bristol. “I look like a villain, don't I?” Logano said. “If that doesn't toughen you up, nothing does. This team has gone through a lot this season. That's what I've meant by some of it. Obviously, there are other things we've gone through. They don't quit. They keep pushing hard. “We've got to do that for years to come, not just the rest of this season or next four races. We have to keep doing that as long as we're all together. Hopefully that's a very, very, very long time. If we keep doing this, we will be.” Last year for Joe Gibbs Racing, Logano led 139 of the 500 laps in this race before finishing eighth. He was contending for victory in March before his run-in with Hamlin and finished 17th. Although Logano considers Bristol one of his better tracks, he has just one top-10 finish in nine previous starts. Last year, team owner Roger Penske was able to enjoy Keselowski’s championship run, and that gave the winningest team owner in Indianapolis 500 history his first NASCAR Sprint Cup title. Although Keselowski is winless this season and has a precarious position of eighth in the standings, it is important for the team to get Logano into the Chase, also. “Well, I'd have to say we're all here to make the Chase, win the championship,” Penske said. “We've had cars in the Chase continuously almost since the beginning. It would be a disappointment if we didn't. “At the end of the day I have to look at the glass is half-full. To me that's important. I guess we'll look at the scoreboard in three more races and find out whether it's been a success or not. But I'm going to tell our guys to do what they've been doing, work smart and bring their car home. Same thing I told Hornish as he sits there where he is now in the Nationwide. He's got a win now. Believe me, he's got to continue. That's what we've got to do here in the next three races.” And Penske believes Logano has all the qualities that can make him a future champion, comparing him with one of the greatest drivers in Indianapolis 500 history. “We've had so many great drivers,” Penske said. “I think I answered the question the same way before. I really focus on the drivers we have today. They earned the right to race for our team, represent our company and our employees. “Joey fits the mold. He reminds me a little bit of Rick Mears. Understated, stands on the gas. I can just see him maturing. As he came to our team, he had a great opportunity with Gibbs. I watched him. He beat the hell out of us in the Nationwide so many races. We knew he knew how to win. I think giving him a chance to come with us, he's just matured and he's exactly what we expected. “As you saw (at Michigan), he's not afraid to stand on the gas when it counts.” And standing on the gas when it matters the most is going to be the determining factor in which drivers claim the final Wild Card position in the final three races of the regular season, beginning Saturday night in the “Bristol Bash.” Tue, April 08Action Express Racing Long Beach Bound as Championship Leaders Tue, April 08Logano Passes Gordon On Final Lap For Texas Win Mon, April 07Indy Racing Experience Victory Laps Now Available Daily at IMS Thu, April 03Fans Can Help Send U.S. Troops To IMS Events In 2014 Mon, March 31Kurt Busch Fights His Way For Martinsville Win

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SUBSCRIBE LATEST Sports Maccabi Tel Aviv in the NBA? It might not be a hoop dream Maccabi Tel Aviv in the NBA? It may not be a hoop dream For greeter of Orioles’ fans, stadium post is a gateway to happiness Time for a (kosher) hot dog, a beer and dodgers baseball by Michael Berenbaum I just attended the Dodgers’ opening day celebration of the 50th anniversary of Dodger Stadium and the wonderful baseball game that followed, a 2-1 thriller marked by excellent pitching, daring base running and a game-winning home run in the bottom of the eighth by Andre Ethier, who knew how to celebrate his 30th birthday. I was raised in New York with three religions: traditional Judaism, the Democratic Party and the Brooklyn Dodgers. And I knew which of my three religions took priority. We never leafleted on Shabbat, but my father let me leave services during the World Series to report on the score. We could not play our radio or turn on the TV, but we were permitted — encouraged — to ask the score. It was said that the VCR was invented so that traditional Jews could watch a ballgame after Shabbat. [To sign a petition to bring kosher hot dogs to Dodger Stadium, click here.] Rarely had a team so deeply reflected the culture of a borough. It was the Brooklyn Dodgers of Jackie Robinson, the first of his race to play in the modern Major Leagues, much as many of the inhabitants of the borough in which he played were the first of their tribe [Jewish, Irish, Italian] or gender to be doing what they were doing, even something as basic as speaking English or graduating high school. Barrierst were being broken all over the place in post-World War II New York, and we all learned that we had to be like Jackie — twice as good, twice as smart, hold our ground and bide our time in order to get ahead. We were taught, “Don’t get mad, get even.” Brooklyn was a borough of people who aspired to something and often fell just a drop short; otherwise they would have lived in Manhattan or moved out to Long Island. Between 1949 and 1953, the Dodgers would have — could have, should have — won five pennants in a row, just like the hated Yankees, if only they had won the last game of the 1950 and 1951 seasons. They were close enough to taste victory. As Jews, we conclude the Passover Seder and Yom Kippur services with the cry, “Next Year in Jerusalem.” As Dodgers, we ended fall with the chant: “Wait till Next Year!” and welcomed spring with the prayer, “This could be the year.” Los Angeles’ gain was Brooklyn’s loss. I was 12 when the Dodgers left town; our broken-hearted family was in mourning. I never visited Dodger Stadium as long as the O’Malleys owned the team, and even though my children and grandchildren have become Dodgers fans, I often feel the way Orthodox Jews feel when they enter a Reform synagogue; the words are familiar but the traditions are strange, the pronunciation is different. They are deep and even lovely traditions, but not quite the original. Fifty-four years have passed since my beloved bums ran out on me. In the interim, I have become a man, a father, even a grandfather. I have loved and fallen out of love, divorced, loved and married again, so I know that as time goes on, one must come to terms with change. I enjoy going to Dodgers games; I can recite the names and basic statistics of the ball players and managers whose numbers line the bleachers’ wall — so can my children and also my grandchildren — as easily as I can recite the relevant information on Kemp and Ethier. Still, I have one request to make of the team’s new owners, a request that we dared not make a generation ago when many Jews were reluctant to appear “too Jewish.” It is time to start selling kosher hot dogs at Dodger Stadium. Los Angeles is home to the second-largest Jewish community in the country, some 600,000 of us. Both Yankee Stadium and Citi Field serve kosher food in New York. Baltimore’s Camden Yards has a kosher food stand, and kosher food is available at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Boston’s Fenway Park has kosher food, and both the Chicago White Sox and the Cubs accommodate their Jewish patrons. And even smaller markets like Kansas City and Seattle sell kosher food. The Grove shopping mall has a kosher food stand, but not Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers offer Chinese food and Italian food and even “healthy food,” but only once a year when a special appeal is made to the Jewish community are kosher hot dogs available. We want to feel welcome at the ball park, so here is my appeal to the new owners, who include Stan Kasten and also bear the fabled Guggenheim name: It is time to open up a kosher food stand, something even the fabled Ebbets Field never had. Michael Berenbaum is professor of Jewish studies and director of the Sigi Ziering Center for the Study of the Holocaust and Ethics at American Jewish University. Trending in Sports Julia Lipnitskaia and Schindler’s free skate Braun’s back, Kinsler’s in Detroit and other Jewish Major Leaguers Jewish Major Leaguers and why we care about them Jordan Farmar and the Jewish (Hoops) Future

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Germany football player Helmut Haller dies at 73 Friday, Oct 12 at 1:05 PM FRANKFURT (AP) — Helmut Haller, who scored the first goal of the 1966 World Cup final and was one of the first Germans to play in Italy, died Thursday at his home in Augsburg after a long illness. He was 73. Haller put Germany ahead in the 1966 World Cup final at Wembley Stadium, but England won the title 4-2 in extra time. Franz Beckenbauer said Haller was one of the "best teammates I've ever had." Haller, who had been in ill health for several years, won Italian championships with Bologna and Juventus. German players will wear black armbands in the World Cup qualifier against Ireland later Friday and Haller will be honored before the match against Sweden on Tuesday. Haller played 33 games for Germany and scored 13 goals.

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College Pro Fish and Game Forecast Contests Contact Us KWTX.com Darvish Wins MLB Final Vote Posted: Thu 5:52 PM, Jul 05, 2012 / Article NEW YORK (July 5, 2012) -- Yu Darvish of the Texas Rangers were chosen by fans as the winners of the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote Sponsored by Firestone in online voting on MLB.com, the official website of Major League Baseball, the individual Club websites and Twitter, where designated player hashtags counted during the final four hours of balloting. On the American League ballot, Darvish will make his All-Star debut after holding off a furious final day charge from Jake Peavy of the Chicago White Sox with a final tally of 7.3 million votes. Darvish, the third rookie to win the All-Star Game Final Vote, and Peavy were followed by Jason Hammel of the Baltimore Orioles; Jonathan Broxton of the Midsummer Classic host Kansas City Royals and Ernesto Frieri of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The National League winner, Cardinals third baseman David Freese, topped all vote-getters with 8.4 million votes and was followed by Michael Bourn of the Atlanta Braves; Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals; and Aaron Hill of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Braves third baseman Chipper Jones was removed from the ballot after being named to the NL All-Star team. Spurs Beat Mavericks in Game One of Playoff Series The Daily Dish

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Three Straight by Rampage Undoes Monsters For the first time in four matchups this season, Sunday's game between Lake Erie and San Antonio was not decided by just a single goal. Unfortunately for the Monsters, they still found themselves on the wrong end of the result, falling 4-2 in San Antonio on Sunday.The two teams have met three previous times this season, all within the last month. Each contest came down to a one-goal difference, including most recently, a 1-0 Rampage win on Friday. After Sunday, San Antonio nownholds a 3-1 series advantage of the Monsters.San Antonio seemed to enjoy the home ice advantage when Jon DiSalvatore scored just :49 seconds into the game. The Rampage almost made it to the first intermission with the 1-0 lead, but Wyatt Smith made sure the Monsters got on the board before the end of the set. He scored on the power play at 19:02, assisted by Philippe Dupuis and Ray Macias. Smith has posted two goals and an assist against the Rampage this season. He has also recorded nine points in the last seven games for the Monsters.The game remained tied through the middle of the second stanza, when Brent Kelly pushed the Monsters ahead with his unassisted goal at 9:59. The lead would not last long though, as San Antonio top scorer Matt Murley evened things up at the 13:38 mark, and the home team never looked back. The Rampage took the lead for good just a few minutes later when Bill Thomas found the back of the net at 17:28 of the second.San Antonio held Lake Erie at bay during the third period, despite allowing the Monsters to outshoot them, 13-6. The Rampage held their one-goal lead until adding another for security at 19:28, resulting in the 4-2 final.Tyler Weiman was in goal for the Monsters for the first time since January 25th. In his first game back from injury, he deflected 25 of the 28 shots he faced. His San Antonio counterpart Josh Tordjman saved all but two of the 28 shots he encountered.Sunday's game was the fifth straight on the road for Lake Erie. They will return home on Wednesday to host the Houston Aeros at Quicken Loans Arena at 7:00 p.m.

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Boston Red Sox 7, Cleveland Indians 2: Ubaldo Jimenez implodes, leaves in the second inning Mike Aviles. - USA TODAY Sports Ubaldo goes beyond starting pitching into something else not fully understood.  Red Sox 7, Indians 2 Chapter 12: Beyond the frame of reference There is usually a normal range of expectations you have for a starting pitcher, any starting pitcher for that matter. You generally expect him to go seven inning or possibly into the eighth inning if he's good, and maybe get run in the fifth inning if he's not on his game. That's your frame of reference for how to evaluate a pitching performance.Oh, sometimes some poor sap leaves early because he tweaks a hamstring, or develops a blister, and you tut-tut his poor luck, and hope the old boys in the bullpen can pick up the slack and the team a chance of victory. Sometimes a youngster just doesn't have it, and you walk away saying "that kid isn't ready for the big leagues." Then he gets optioned down, and you may or may not hear from him again. But what do you say about a pitcher in his eighth major-league season that can't get out of the second inning? I don't have a recap script on hand that I can use for that. I'm very familiar with the five-and flier, the six innings, four run special, even the tough-luck quality start. But what do you say about this... 1.2 IP, 2 H, 7 ER, 1 SO, 5 BB ...without resorting to cheap vulgarities? The "he's a bum, get him outta there" type? You know that these types of starts are Pyrrhic defeats, in which you get all the collateral damage plus the lose the battle too. The Indians came into the game with perhaps an over-rested bullpen thanks to the rain outs and Masterson's shutout and the off day, and the Indians ended the day with two relievers completely unusable for the rest of the series (Allen and Hagadone) and the other two most likely out for at least tonight. Of course that's thinking about the effects of the start...what about the start itself? What was about this pitching performance that led to this result way outside our standard frame of reference? We've talked at length about Ubaldo's mechanical problems, their sources, the futile attempts last year to fix them on the fly, and those failures probably cost a pitching coach his job. After Terry Francona hired Mickey Callaway as his pitching coach, they both traveled to Ubaldo's home in the Dominican Republic to try a different tack; he was to not think so much about his mechanics, simplify things, and get back to his mental state before everything unraveled. I guess that's easier said than done when your confidence is in complete tatters, but things seemed to be working in spring training, and then they seemed to work the first game of the season, and then OH NO. The Indians held him back after the home opener, allowed him to throw a couple bullpens, and then tried things again, and then OH NO. What do you do with a starting pitcher with eight season's of experience that just can't throw a fastball for strikes? I don't mean to say that it's easy to throw a fastball over the plate with regularity (otherwise we wouldn't be paying pitchers millions of dollars a season) but once upon a time Ubaldo Jimenez could do that. He still might be able to do that, but with another couple of starts like this the Indians will have to stop waiting for him to regain some semblance of competence and let someone else try their luck with him. As for the rest of the game, the Indians had some chances to get back into the game. They were remote chances, though; they would have had to hit a grand slam here, a three-run homer there, and magical things would have had to happen, but with Felix Doubront on the mound, magic wasn't outlawed. Doubront was the typical five and flier, barely getting through the five innings necessary to get the win. He faced Mark Reynolds with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, but Reynolds got under a pitch and popped out to end the threat. The rest of the bullpen wasn't great, but they didn't need to be with the lead they were working with. The Tribe bullpen should be credited with not letting the game turn out too horribly. They didn't give up a run, allowing for the possibility of a huge comeback. Cody Allen, another pitcher who seemed to have completely lost it, starting finding it as he worked his way through three innings. Nick Hagadone, just up from Columbus, went two innings. Rich Hill was stretched out to a full inning. So none of the late-inning guys had to used, but the bullpen is very vulnerable if there's another short outing between now and Friday. MLB Final Score: Boston Red Sox 7, Cleveland Indians 2 Game Thread: Red Sox @ Indians - April 16, 2013 It's just a game...as it should be Boston Red Sox at Cleveland Indians, Apr 16, 2013 7:05 PM EDT Nick Hagadone Cody Allen

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Logan Ray highlights first day of Vandy Black and Gold Friday, March 22, 2013by Ryan HilgemannNASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Lipscomb track and field teams returned to the track after a short hiatus for spring break in the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Invitation in Nashville. The two-day meet started on Friday night with eight events, four of which were invite only. The short first day of action consisted of five field events and four running. Logan Ray finished on the podium in the triple jump with a leap of 14.04 meters. The senior’s third place finish was less than a meter behind winner Douglas Palacious of Southern Illinois who had a jump of 14.05 meters. Sophomore Caleb Love finished in seventh place with a jump of 13.17 meters. Facing her strongest competition of the year, Dani Walker finished sixth in the 1500-meter run invitational in a time of 4:30.56. The junior finished nine seconds behind winner Lauren Hagans who was running unattached and for Asics, a professional track club. Kendra Lobley finished 11th overall in 3000-meter run invitational in a time of 10:00.74. The sophomore finished behind Rebecca Addison of Michigan who won the event and seven other BCS conference runners. Lipscomb continues the Black and Gold Invite Saturday with field events at 10 a.m. and running events at 11 a.m. Admission into the meet is free, which is held on the campus of Vanderbilt.

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Bill Shankly Born September 2 1913 - Glenbuck, Scotland. Bill Shankly is the man rightly attributed with taking Liverpool Football Club from just another league team to the point where we were feared. When he left the club in 1974 he left it at a point where Bob Paisley managed to conquer Europe. Quite frankly without Bill Shankly I doubt very much that Liverpool would be were they are today. Shankly was a man of the people who never forgot his roots and because of his upbringing felt a pull and special affection for the people of Liverpool. This was certainly returned to the great man and he will never be forgotten. Shankly played the majority of his playing career at Preston Noth End. He played at Preston between 1933 and 1949 with the war depriving him of countless more appearances at both club and international level. Shankly in fact played as a guest for Liverpool, amongst others during the war. His move to management started at Carlisle in April 1949 where he stayed for just over two seasons. He joined Grimsby for the 1951-52 season and stayed two and a half seasons before resigning and having a similar length spell at Workington. He left Workington for Huddersfield in 1955 and became their manager in 1956. He stayed there until December 1959 when he resigned to join Liverpool. And then the revolution started. It was a major job for Bill to take the club from where it was to somewhere near the top. Liverpool were languishing in the second division at the time and there they remained until he guided the team to the championship in 1961-62. His first season in the top division saw the reds finish 8th but the following season he took the reds to the top of the division, a place they would become accustomed over the next three decades. Shankly also took the club to many an exciting night in Europe, although he was often reluctant to trust the European game. In 1964-65, Liverpool first ever venture to Europe, Shankly hit upon of using his psychological methods on the opposition. Liverpool faced Anderlecht in the second round and Shanks decided that Ron Yeats would look even bigger if he wore red shorts to match the red top. Ian St.John also picked up on this though saying that red socks would make him bigger and frighten the opposition. The all-red Liverpool kit was born. The ploy worked and Liverpool marched on. They were to meet Inter Milan the same year in the semi-final of the trophy and this was when Shankly first became really wary of Europe. In the home leg Shanks used his psychological powers again by parading the FA Cup prior to the game then sent Inter out first for the kop to scare them, then came out the Reds. Liverpool won the game 3-1 to take a two-goal lead to Italy. Inter won the return leg 3-0 following some dubious decisions in the San Siro. The first goal was an indirect free kick that was kicked directly in and the second saw an italian kick the ball out of Lawrence’s hands. Over time though Shanks used the defeat to his advantage by convincing the players of how they had improved. Shankly eventually won in Europe in 1973 when he lifted the UEFA cup. However it was the end of the following season when he shook football by resigning. He had however built Liverpool up by this time and Bob Paisley would step in to build us higher. None of this could have happened though without the great man. Shankly was awarded an OBE but should have received more recognition for his services to the game. The great mans comments on receiving the OBE said ‘it was for the people of Liverpool and Liverpool FC’. The Honours - 1 Div 2 championship, 3 championships, 2 FA Cup wins, 1 UEFA cup win and 1 manager of the year. BILL SHANKLY - THE LEGEND, THE GENIUS, THE MAN

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NHL cancels remainder of preseason games September 28, 2012 The Associated Press NEW YORK — The NHL canceled the rest of the preseason Thursday, just a day before negotiations were set to resume in an effort to end the lockout.The league announced its second cancellation of preseason games in a two-sentence statement. NHL owners locked out players Sept. 16 when the collective bargaining agreement expired. The NHL had already called off all the exhibition games scheduled in September. The regular season is supposed to begin Oct. 11.The two sides have scheduled talks on Friday in New York, although they are on secondary economic issues as opposed to the core of the dispute, which is how to split more than $3 billion in annual revenue."I'll reserve judgment on my sense of 'optimism' (or not) until we see how our meetings unfold," NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in an email to The Associated Press. "Ultimately, we have to meet and talk to make a deal. But until we make progress and see some compromise from the Union of their economic position, we won't be going anywhere fast."We will see."The NHL and the union last met for formal negotiations Sept. 12, three days before the labor pact that ended the previous lockout — back in 2005 — ran out.Now there is at least a glimmer of optimism as talks are expected to last through the weekend. HOME

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Rookie Watch: Rob Pannell By Kyle Lange & William Griffin | 8/6/13 4:00 PM When going through the list of rookies in the league Rob Pannell’s nomination for Cascade Rookie of the Year is a shoe in. The 2013 Tewaaraton winner finished a banner year with Cornell before joining the New York Lizards. Pannell was selected first overall in 2012 by New York, after they received the pick from Charlotte. He suffered a season ending injury early in his senior season at Cornell and was awarded a fifth year of eligibility due to the injury, deferring his MLL Debut until this season. Once joining the Lizards, Pannell quickly became an offensive leader for the struggling Lizards, with three goals and an assist in his first professional game, good enough for Rookie for the Week honors. Since his debut, Pannell has held the role as the “go to guy” for the young offense. The former Big Red attackman has played in nine out of the 13 games, but still has netted 22 goals and dished out another 14 assists for a total of 36 points, all of which lead the Lizards. Pannell’s success isn’t exclusive to his team, he found himself voted into the All-Star Game, Presented by Moe’s Southwest Grill, after playing only a handful of games—a tremendous honor for the budding superstar. Pannell’s 36 points are 11th, his 22 goals are 15th, and 14 assists are 9th best in the league—keep in mind that he’s only had the opportunity to suit up for nine games, four less than the average player. As a 2013 All-Star, Pannell also participated in several events for the fans including working the line at Moe’s during All-Star weekend. He was seen yelling “Welcome to Moe’s” from behind the counter the loudest and socialized with many fans that weekend. He has always been a fan favorite, even in college as he was seen throwing his gloves into the stands after his season ending loss to Duke in the final four. Pannell’s successes have been recognized by others as well; just today the rookie attackman inked a new deal with Brine Lacrosse. There are plans for an “RP3 Line,” with gloves, heads, apparel, and much more. Find out if Pannell is named Cascade Rookie of the Year on Tuesday, August 13 when the winner is named. Apr Sat 26 7:00 PM ET

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ASSOCIATED LINKSFollow us on TwitterBreaking news, exclusive images and more on TwitterFollow us on InstagramA steady stream of stunning #mufc imageryFollow us on Google+News, images and history on Google+ 31/12/2013 11:44, Report by Tim Oscroft 1 of 2 Next Loan stars wanted Several managers in English league football are hoping to retain their Manchester United loanees following impressive performances in the first half of the season.Defender Michael Keane (pictured) has made five appearances for high-flying Derby County since moving to Pride Park in early December, helping Steve McClaren’s Rams charge into second place in the Championship table as 2013 draws to a close. The former United assistant manager is keen to see the 20-year-old continue helping his side’s promotion push beyond the end of his current deal, which expires on 2 January."We have said that from day one and, hopefully, we can [extend the deal]," McClaren said. "He has proved his pedigree."Michael’s twin brother Will is due to end his spell at Wigan after the New Year’s Day fixtures, as is fellow Red Nick Powell, who Latics boss Uwe Rosler hopes will extend his stay after scoring eight goals across domestic and European competition. "Nick is a player of real quality and I would be delighted if he is able to stay with us for the rest of the season,” said Rosler.Birmingham City boss Lee Clark is equally hopeful that forward Jesse Lingard stays at St Andrews following the 21-year-old’s six goals in 13 starts. “I have said it before that I would love the lad to stay here until the end of the season. We all would. That’s something we have got to ask Manchester United and hopefully they would be receptive to it. He’s doing well, he’s progressing his career. Hopefully they can see that and will allow it.”Ryan Tunnicliffe has appeared in all but one of Ipswich Town’s 23 Championship games so far, and with the Tractor Boys currently in sixth place

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HomeArchives2012 Archives2011 Archives2010 ArchivesTicketsContact Florida Marlins Top Prospects Written by BC Castaldo | 15 February 2011 TweetUnlike years in the past the Marlins do not have a lot of depth or can’t miss prospects in their minor leagues, but that has more to do with the promotions of players like Chris Coghlan, Mike Stanton, Logan Morrison, and Gaby Sanchez to the major leagues. 1. Matt Dominguez, 3B—The Marlins did not make a move at to sure up third because they hope that they will be able to bring up Dominguez this year. However, this thing that is holding him back is his bat. He hit only .250 last year and he does not have the kind of power that one would hope to have in a corner outfielder. This is the reason that many scouting people believe that he will only be an average third base man at best. He is the best defensive infielder in the Marlins organization, but he is going to need to do a better job from the plate if he wants to be the 3rd baseman for the Marlins for years to come. 2. Chad James, SP--- He is another tall pitcher and the best starting pitching prospect in the minors. But he does have his issues. He throws three pitched, a low 90s fastball, changeup, and curveball, but he is coming off a poor outing in 2010. He has a good arm, but lacks polish. Some believe that he could be a front end of a rotation starter, but more than likely he will be a number 3 starter. 3. Christian Yellch, OF/1B--- People in the Marlins organization see something they like in him and drafted him higher than most expected him to go. He has a good swing and is projected to hit between .280-.300 when he is ready. However, he needs to build up his strength and start to hit with more power. Most likely he will end in the outfield, which he can play just fine. He does not have a great arm, but he has decent speed and a quick glove. 4. Brad Hand, SP--- He took a step forward last year and really improved his command and has a good fastball/curve combo. The one knock against him was that he leaves to many pitches in the zone. He has a career 3.83 ERA in the minors but in his last two years his ERA has not been over 3.33. He has good stuff with a good SO/BB ratio. If he continues to make strides, the lefty could see some action with the Marlins in 2011. 5. Rob Rasmussen, SP/RP--- He is another player for the Marlins who projects out to be a 3rd or 4th starter. I think he’s getting a somewhat under appreciated on these prospect lists. He’s undersized, but has a good track record of success and four quality pitches, but none of which are dominant. 6. Jhan Marinez, RP--- He is going to end up in a big league bullpen sooner rather than latter, and he did see some action in the majors last year. He has a good slider, and if he can improve his fastball he maybe turned into a closer. Control and command are the only things holding him back. 7. Kyle Skipworth, C--- Once compared to Joe Mauer, Skipworth is improving, but he needs to do a better job of making contact at the plate and is still years off from being ready for the majors. He strikes out way to much (132 tins in 397AB), has a batting average below 2.50, and is struggling with pitch recognition, but he has shown some power. On the plus side, his defense showed a lot of improvement. 8. Osvaldo Martinez, 2B/SS--- scrappy middle infielder who has a quick enough bat to hit a bunch of doubles and is a perfect number 2 hitter. Doesn’t have a lot of upside, but he’s a good defensive shortstop with solid plate discipline. In 43 at bats in the big leagues he has hit .326, but most believe that over the course of a full season he would hit more closely to .270. He is pretty much blocked from playing SS for a while as long as Hanley is here, and most people believe that Chris Coghlan will eventually move back to his natural position of 2nd base. If Dominguez doesn’t work out this year, then Martinez could make the team if the Marlins switch Omar Infante to 3rd. 9. Marcell Ozuna, OF--- Apower hitting, string armed outfielder that has a lot of upside, right now he is just pretty raw. In 68 games last year he hit 21 home runs and struck out 104 times with only 19 walks. He will just need time to develop his skill and learn to not be an all or nothing player from the plate. 10. Scott Cousins, OF—He can be inconsistent, which has hurt him in terms of moving up the ranks (he is going to be 26 on opening day), but he could be the 4th outfielder for the Marlins this season. He is pretty good defensively with a strong arm. He can also hit for speed and power, but again it is all about consistency. All and all he does plenty of things well, but nothing great. Bonus. Tom Koehler, SP--- He really only has average stuff, but he know how to get batters out as evidenced by the very high strike out rate he had last year in Double A. All he ever does is throw strikes and win games. < Prev Legal Information - Privacy Policy - Disclaimer MarlinsBigCatch.com is a Florida Marlins fan web site and is in no way affiliated with the Florida Marlins, Major League Baseball, or its Properties. This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. MarlinsBigCatch.com is not an official web site for the Florida Marlins. Copyright © 2011 www.MarlinsBigCatch.com - All Rights Reserved - Trademarks used herein are property of their respective owners.

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Connect with Mid-Major Madness Previewing Marquette vs Xavier By JWhelan @JoeWhelanWANE It's rare for it to happen at this point of the season, but when two teams match up that so closely mirror each other in regards to one team's strength offensively be the other's on defense, it always makes for exciting basketball. That just so happens to be the case in this second-round meeting between the Xavier Musketeers and the Marquette Golden Eagles. We know Xavier, they've become a March Madness staple in recent years, proving to be perhaps the most underrated program in the nation as far as postseason accomplishments are concerned. Marquette continuously seems to be running hot and cold but once again finds themselves on college basketball's grandest stage, though in the underdog role in this particular game. Follow along after the jump for a breakdown of the teams meeting in tonight's East Region action and for a diagnosis of who will be coming out on top. Xavier Musketeers, 6-seed East Region It's a difficult task finding many teams that have been more consistent in the last five years than Xavier. The Musketeers have won 20 games and reached the NCAA Tournament every year since 2006 and along with Michigan State are the only programs to reach the Sweet 16 in each of the last three years. Led by Atlantic-10 Player of the Year Tu Holloway, there's a good chance that it could be year number four in just a couple of days. Some may toss out a loss to Dayton in the conference semi-finals as a red flag, but let's not forget prior to that contest, the Musketeers had won 16 of 17 games including convincing wins over fellow tournament bound teams Richmond and Temple. Xavier is an efficient offensive team but one that likes to operate inside the arc, as the X-men shoot just 33% from beyond the arc. Few schools have been better shooting from mid-range and up close than the Musketeers however, as their 52.1% mark on two-point field goal attempts during the regular season was the 18th best mark in the country. Their offense features a great deal of versatility, though the primary areas for shot attempts comes in spot-up and pick and roll situations. The trio of Holloway, Mark Lyons and Dante Jackson are responsible for handling the basketball here, with Lyons shouldering the greatest deal of the load by Jackson and Holloway scoring at a more efficient rate (better than one point per possession for each). The propensity that this team shows for going to the pick and roll set is certainly unique at the college level. A whopping 22% of Xavier's possessions this season were categorized as this play type and with a scoring rate of .984 points per possession, the Musketeers ranked in the top 30 in the country in scoring efficiency in this specific set, but with a usage rate that is on eclipsed by two teams in the top 100. So that boils down to Xavier not only running this set significantly more often than anyone else in the NCAA Tournament field, but doing it at a much more efficient rate as well. This is one of the spots where Holloway really shines, ranking as one of the top pick and roll ball handlers in the country according to Synergy Sports Technology, and accounting for nearly two-thirds of the Musketeers possessions here. The Musketeers have proven to be a solid defensive team as well, mixing between straight man-to-man and zone sets to confuse opposing teams. They don't particular standout in any general metrics other than ranking among the nation's elite in regards to limiting offensive rebounds by the opposition, ranking 28th overall thanks in large part to the play of frontcourt duo Kenny Frease and Jamel McClean. Xavier is an above average team at defending in transition, something that will work in their favor against a Marquette team that scores well on the break, but the Musketeers are only average at best defending low-post scorers and spot-up sets. Marquette Golden Eagles, 11-seed East Region Marquette didn't dominate their conference to the degree that Xavier did - of course the Big East is significantly tougher than the A-10 - but the Golden Eagles enter the NCAA Tournament having managed wins over Notre Dame, Connecticut, Syracuse and West Virginia on their way to a 20-win season. Playing at a modest pace, the Golden Eagles were one of the most efficient scoring teams in the country during the regular season, finishing 20th at the Division 1 level in adjusted offensive efficiency according to data from Ken Pomeroy. They do a lot of things well, but save for transition scoring, nothing particularly great. Marquette hits the offensive glass well enough, doesn't turn the ball over a great deal, is respectable shooting the three but significantly better inside the arc relatively speaking (over 50% on two-point field goals). Spot-up sets are by far and away the team's most prevalent offensive play-type with Darius Johnson-Odom and Jimmy Butler seeing a lot of touches here and proving to be the team's top weapons here. Johnson-Odom may not have the best perimeter shooting percentage on the team, but easily takes the most shot attempts from this range and it shows in his adjusted field goal mark of 58.4% in the spot-up setting. Butler gets his shots in a variety of ways, leading the team in scoring at 16 per game and proving to be just as good moving off the ball as he is when it is in his hands. Interestingly enough, despite typically being a team that is guard-heavy without much of a frontcourt presence, the Golden Eagles are one of the most efficient low post scoring teams in the country this season - they just rarely post. Chris Otule and Davante Gardner deserve the credit here as Marquette is in the 94th overall percentile in this regard. At the opposite end of the floor Marquette is a mixed bag. They avoid sending opposing to the line often, but are a weak perimeter defending team, allowing opposing teams to shoot better than 36% from the outside. They are also only average at best defending low-post touches, but given that these don't make up a large percentage of Xavier's offense, neither should be a tremendous problem. What will be pivotal to the outcome of this game and something very interesting to observe is the fact that the Golden Eagles have the single best pick and roll defense in the country, which as previously mentioned, is one of the stronger offensive sets for the Musketeers. Final Prediction Things look pretty evenly matched on paper, but Xavier has two all important deciding factors weighing in their favor: Tournament experience and star power with Holloway. It'll be a hard fought game to be sure, but the X-men will be moving on to the round of 32. 2011 ncaa basketball tournament scores Chris Otule Mark Lyons Kenny Frease Davante Gardner

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« Please cut it out with the s... Lake Audubon ranks again among nation’s best Save | Post a comment | LAKE AUDUBON - For the second consecutive year the national publication, "Bassmaster" has placed Lake Audubon on the Top 100 list as one of the best bass fishing lakes in the U.S. Lake Audubon was ranked 71st in the U.S. a year ago. It came in at 87th in the May issue of Bassmaster. "It still made the list. Based on the research that I saw it is extremely healthy and has a ton of smallmouths in it," said James Hall, Bassmaster editor in Birmingham, Ala. "It certainly deserves to be in the Top 100. The population of "smallies" really puts Audubon up there and there's some good ones too." No question about that. Lake Audubon has been turning out good-sized smallmouth bass for several years running. Yet, despite high numbers of quality smallmouth, most anglers pass on the chance to catch them in favor of chasing walleyes. Article Photos "I'm always amazed at that, especially on the northern lakes where you don't see many people targeting smallmouth bass," said Hall. The North Dakota Catch-and-Release Club has seen a growing number of smallmouth bass entries in recent years. The Badlands Bass Bandits, a club devoted to fishing bass, hosts at least one tournament a year on Lake Audubon. It ranks as one of their most productive events each summer. "Right now, nationally, it is the golden days of bass fishing," remarked Hall. "Lakes are as healthy as they've ever been. Typically bass fishing in every state in the nation is better than it's ever been." Lake Oahe, S.D., ranked 55th on the list. Fort Peck reservoir in Montana came in 75th. Rated No. 1 was Lake St. Clair, Mich. "It is No. 1 because the smallmouth fishery there is historic and always one of the best in the nation," explained Hall. "The difference now is that you can have just as good a day on largemouth bass in the shallows. Couple the two together and it's crazy, impossible to beat. It certainly deserves to be No. 1." The selection process for this year's Bassmaster Top 100 differed from the inaugural list in that 3,500 regular bass fishermen, not touring professionals, were asked to supply information about what they consider their most productive bass lakes. One lake new to the list is Lake Winnipesaukee, N.H., a lake that gained national recognition in the movie comedy "What About Bob." "That one rated incredibly high on the surveys from anglers in that region," noted Hall. "It's hard to argue with success. I was inspired to agree with them." According to North Dakota Game and Fish Department records, smallmouth bass were first stocked into Lake Audubon in 1990 when 84,000 fingerlings were released. Jason Lee, NDG&F fisheries biologist, annually surveys smallmouth bass on Lake Audubon. Last year's survey revealed that Lake Audubon's ""smallies"" were doing very well. "The catch rate last year, compared to past years, was right up there," said Lee. "We check several different sites every year for bass population. The size looks good and there are a bunch of younger fish, too. We do get natural reproduction of smallmouths in Audubon." In the winter of 2011-12 there were several Whopper Club smallmouth entrants taken from Lake Audubon. This past winter creel surveys confirmed that ice fishermen who targeted smallmouths did well. Lee says he expects smallmouth fishing to remain strong at Lake Audubon this summer. Save | Post a comment | Subscribe to Minot Daily News Minot Weather Forecast, ND

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UFC on FX 1 results: Give Melvin Guillard one year and he'll submit someone Melvin Guillard submits to a rear-naked choke at the hands of Jim Miller at last night's (Fri., Jan. 20, 2012) UFC on FX 1 event that took place at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Josh Hedges via Getty Images.  In the main event of UFC on FX 1: "Guillard vs. Miller" last night (Fri., Jan. 20, 2012) at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, Melvin Guillard lost his fight against Jim Miller in the very first round by way of rear-naked choke submission. Big surprise, right? Naturally, social media sites lit up with calls from fans and pundits alike for "The Young Assassin" to finally get his stuff together and actually work on his ground game. After all, if he just shored that up, he would be one of the most dangerous fighters in the lightweight division. Speaking at the post-fight press conference, Guillard tells the media to be patient. Give him about one year, in fact, and he'll be submitting folks: "(My jiu-jitsu) wasn't a problem. I did everything right. I knew exactly how to shake him off my back, I just happened to... when he jumped on my back, I was actually going to go down so I can pull his arm away from my throat but when he reset and shook me, he collapsed my hip and I fell down. At that point, I had to try to roll over to the other side. I was sticking to the basics of what I learned. A lot of people criticize my ground game and I'm not going to sit here and think that I have the best ground game because obviously I don't, I've lost (a lot of) fights on submissions, but to lose to a guy like Jim, I wasn't emotional about this loss like I was in the (Joe) Lauzon fight because I really feel in my heart the Lauzon fight was a fluke. I had Jim hurt and my thing was, I wanted to be patient and I backed off when I could have probably swung. It could have been a different result. But I don't regret anything I did tonight. ... Now I have to go home, back to Florida, and grind it out with the Blackzillions, man. I have 'JZ' Cavalcante, I have Jorge Santiago, I have a lot of great jiu-jitsu partners now that I didn't have before. Give me about a year, man. Just be patient with me, I'll submit someone." There you have it. He didn't screw up so much as Miller is an absolute beast of a grappler but the Blackzillions will whip him into shape soon enough. What are the odds he ever submits an opponent inside the Octagon? Anyone? UFC on FX Gesias Cavalcante

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Loyalty Points Program The Red & White Club Loyalty Points Program was established to ensure that Miami fans and supporters are properly acknowledged for their longstanding support of Miami University Athletics. Loyalty points provide a mechanism for prioritizing the distribution of benefits to all Red & White Club members. Loyalty points are used to allocate tickets, seat and parking locations. Those purchasing tickets and parking with the greatest number of loyalty points receive the greatest priority. It is important to note that only ACTIVE Red & White Club members are able to use their loyalty points. The box below lists the ways Loyalty Points are earned. Annual Point Category Points Awarded Red & White Club Gifts (per $100) Each Consecutive Year of RWC Membership % Years as a Season Ticket Holder # 2 per year Restricted Gifts (per $100) One-time BonusesPoints Awarded Miami Graduate * Former Miami Student-Athlete ^ Miami Faculty/Staff % Awarded for each consecutive year of Red & White Club membership. If you do not renew your membership or become inactive, all points in this category will start over. # Awarded for each year an individual has purchased at least one (1) season ticket in football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball or ice hockey * Any person who has earned a degree from Miami University, undergraduate or graduate ^ Any former student-athlete on the Miami University campus in Oxford Swoop's Red & White Club Loyalty Points Sample Calculation Miami Ties Swoop is a former Miami student-athlete that graduated from the university 16 years ago and is currently an Assistant Professor in the Farmer School of Business. Based on Swoop's ties to Miami University, he has already earned 15 points for being a former student-athlete, 20 points for being a graduate of Miami and 5 points for being a faculty/staff member for a total of 40 Loyalty Points. Swoop began contributing to the Red & White Club 5 years ago. He gave $250 each year for the first three years, and has given $500 for the last two years. Additionally, Swoop gave $100 to a scholarship endowment this year. From his involvement with the Red & White Club, Swoop has earned 35 points for his Red & White Club gifts ($1,750), 1 point for his Non-Red & White Club gifts ($100) and 50 points for being a Red & White Club member for five consecutive years for a total of 86 Loyalty Points. Season Tickets Swoop purchased season tickets for Men's & Women's Basketball, Volleyball and Football each of the last five years and has purchased Ice Hockey season tickets for the last two years. From his support as a season ticket holder, Swoop has earned 10 points for purchasing season tickets in Men's & Women's Basketball for five years and 4 points for purchasing Ice Hockey season tickets the last two years for a total of 14 Loyalty Points. Swoop's Loyalty Point Total:���140

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OSU faces big test: Cowboys prep for Kansas State offense — STILLWATER – We’ve seen the scenario before between Oklahoma State and Kansas State. One team on the cusp of a BCS Championship berth and the other coming in as a top 25 opponent attempting to pull the upset. Except this time, the roles will be reversed. Saturday it will be Oklahoma State, ranked 24th in the recent BCS rankings, going on the road against Kansas State, who is ranked second in the BCS. “I don’t think it’s a mystery to anyone that the team we are playing is very good and very deserving of their national ranking,” OSU coach Mike Gundy said. “... They’re sound and have only given up 17 points per game. They’re the third team in a row that we’ve played that’s given up 17 points per game. ... “This will be a good challenge to face a team averaging 45 points a game. We’ll find out if we’ve gotten anywhere near where we need to be.” While a lot of the focus around Kansas State is their BCS championship chances, Oklahoma State still has BCS aspirations still alive as well. The Cowboys, like K-State, control their own destiny for the rest of the season. The winner of this game will be in the driver seat to become Big 12 champions – and receive the automatic berth to the BCS Fiesta Bowl. “We take it pretty much one game at a time. The biggest game is always the next game, so we’re preparing for Kansas State as the biggest game so far this year,” OSU cornerback Justin Gilbert said. Obviously the biggest difference for OSU heading into this year’s matchup with the Wildcats is at the quarterback position. Instead of a first-round draft pick like Brandon Weeden, taking snaps for the Cowboys will be true freshman Wes Lunt in his second game back from a knee injury. While OSU is young at some key places, the Cowboys still have plenty of veterans who have experience of vying for a conference crown late into the season. “We’re fort

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Detroit Lions Game Recaps Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson Lead Lions To 28-27 Comeback Win Over Raiders OAKLAND, CA - DECEMBER 18: Ndamukong Suh #90 of the Detroit Lions celebrates after they came from behind to beat the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum on December 18, 2011 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) With 2:14 left in the fourth quarter and no timeouts, the Detroit Lions took over at their own two-yard line. They trailed by six points and needed some late-game heroics against the Oakland Raiders to pull off the comeback. Fortunately, the Lions have Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, and the two connected three times, including once for a six-yard touchdown, to give Detroit the go-ahead score. Fast forward 39 seconds to a blocked field goal by Ndamukong Suh and the Lions walked off the field winners by a score of 28-27. The victory means the Lions are now 9-5 on the season. This is their first winning season since 2000, and the Lions can clinch their first trip to the playoffs since 1999 with a win over the San Diego Chargers on Christmas Eve next week. Who would've thought that just three years after going 0-16 the Lions would be in position to clinch a playoff spot? They have come a long way as a franchise, and now they are one win away from returning to the postseason. For most of Sunday's game, it looked like the Lions were going to blow their opportunity to move a step closer to a playoff spot. The Lions got off to yet another slow start, and in general it was a pretty sloppy game on both sides of the ball. Just look at the first four drives of the game. The Lions got the ball first and had to punt after moving the chains only once, and Oakland quickly moved down the field after getting the ball. On fourth-and-one, the Raiders had a man wide open in the end zone, but the pass was off target. The Lions caught a huge break, but they couldn't do anything with it and had to again quickly punt. This time the Raiders quickly moved down the field and scored a touchdown thanks in part to several penalties by the Lions. A pair of horse collars and an illegal contact call gave Oakland quite a few free yards, and Louis Murphy found the end zone on a reverse for a 12-yard touchdown to cap off the ugly drive for Detroit. The Lions responded with a big play from Matthew Stafford to Calvin Johnson. Megatron had been pretty silent over the last month, but he went off on Sunday in Oakland, starting with a 51-yard touchdown reception. He blew by a few Raiders defenders and Stafford hit him in stride with a perfect pass for the touchdown. Just like that it was a 7-7 game. After Oakland and Detroit traded punts on the next couple drives, the Raiders found the end zone again on a 43-yard touchdown pass from Carson Palmer to Darrius Heyward-Bey. The play should have produced nothing more than a routine first down, but Chris Houston had an awful tackle attempt and allowed Heyward-Bey to break free for a touchdown. The TD put the Raiders back on top by seven points. After again trading punts, this time the Lions were the team to return to the end zone. On the seventh play of the drive, Stafford found an open Nate Burleson, who jetted up the middle of the field for a touchdown. This game was once again tied, but thanks to a 46-yard field goal by Sebastian Janikowski at the end of the second quarter, Oakland held a three-point advantage going into halftime. The first three drives of the second half produced three more punts. Thanks to a solid return by Stefan Logan on the third one, the Lions took over at their own 40. Despite taking an offensive pass interference penalty, the Lions wasted little time in moving past midfield. Unfortunately, the drive stalled immediately after the Lions entered Oakland territory. Burleson was marked short of a first down on second down, and Kevin Smith was stuffed for no gain on a leap on third-and-one. On fourth-and-one, the Lions decided to give it to Keiland Williams, who was lined up as the fullback. He also got stuffed, and Oakland took over since the Lions turned the ball over on downs. The Raiders appeared to be well on their way to making this a two-score game, but Justin Durant had other ideas. Heyward-Bey turned another relatively routine catch into a big gain, but Durant stripped the ball as he brought him down. Alphonso Smith quickly picked it up, and the Lions were able to keep this a three-point game. Oakland forced a punt and Janikowski nailed a 51-yard kick on the ensuing drive to make it 20-14, but it was still only a one-score game. Hope that the Lions would come back and win this game started fading when Stafford fumbled the ball on third-and-10 deep in Lions territory. The ball was recovered by Aaron Curry at the six-yard line, and he ran into the end zone for a touchdown. Now the deficit was two scores (only 13 points since the Raiders opted to not go for two) with only 7:47 to go, and time was running out for a comeback. Stafford shook off the disaster of a last drive and calmly moved the Lions down the field. The 10-play drive included passes of 17 yards to Brandon Pettigrew and 24 to Johnson, and it was capped off with a three-yard touchdown pass to Titus Young. The TD pass came after Stafford rushed for five yards on a quarterback draw on fourth-and-two to keep the drive and the Lions' hopes of winning alive. The score put the Lions back within six points, and they only ran 2:48 off the clock, leaving them about five minutes to make a stop, get the ball back and score again. After Michael Bush ran for a first down and then picked up five yards to make it second-and-five from the 50, the Lions were in some trouble. They were out of timeouts and had to make a stop. A first down would have either allowed Oakland to run the clock out or possibly allowed Janikowski to hit a field goal and put the game out of reach. On second down, Bush picked up two more yards, setting up the biggest play of the game: third-and-three from the Detroit 48. Rather than run the ball, the Raiders went with the risky decision of throwing a pass. Palmer had a man open, but the ball bounced off the receiver's fingers and dropped to the ground. The Lions got a stop and the clock stopped as well. Shane Lechler, who is by far the best punter in the league, showed why he is so valuable by punting the ball to the two-yard line, where it was downed by the Raiders. Stafford and the Lions had to go 98 yards to win the game. Amazingly, they did just that in only 1:35. Stafford found Pettigrew and Burleson for eight yards each, and then Johnson made an outstanding catch on the sideline for a gain of 21. Stafford threw a ball down the field on the next play and somehow Johnson came away with it despite having two Raiders on him. The catch was almost fielded like a punt, and it picked up 48 yards for the Lions. A holding penalty backed Detroit up to the Oakland 23, but a pass interference penalty on the Raiders gave them 17 free yards. Two plays later, Stafford found an open Johnson in the back of the end zone for a six-yard touchdown. Jason Hanson nailed the extra point, giving the Lions a 28-27 lead with 39 seconds to go in the game. Oakland only returned the ensuing kickoff to the 16-yard line, and although they did pick up 13 and 21 yards on the first two plays of the drive, they had to use up one of their final two timeouts. On first-and-10 from the 50, Cliff Avril came from behind and hauled Palmer down for a huge two-yard sack. Oakland was forced to burn its third and final timeout, and after Palmer found T.J. Houshmandzadeh for six yards two plays later, all they had time for was a 65-yard field goal attempt by Janikowski. Considering he's made kicks from 63 yards out before, an NFL record 65-yarder wouldn't have been a total surprise, especially given the Lions' luck with field goals like this in the past. Ndamukong Suh made sure there was no rewriting of the record books, however. He blocked the kick to seal the Lions' 28-27 victory and made everybody take notice that he was in fact back from his suspension. Once again, this was a sloppy game for the Lions, but at this point I'm not going to complain. It was a thrilling victory and a game that playoff-caliber teams have to win. Stafford, Johnson, the defense and even the special teams came through in the clutch, and the Lions are now one win away from the playoffs as a result. I think a win at Ford Field to clinch the playoffs would be quite the early Christmas present, and the Lions will take on the Chargers at 4:05 p.m. next Saturday (on CBS) with the chance to do just that. For more from Pride of Detroit, make sure to follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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You are here:RFU HomeNewsSmart facilities boost Skegness Smart facilities boost Skegness10 April 2013 New clubhouse brings in new players Lincolnshire club praises RFU funding Lincolnshire club Skegness have attributed their success in running a senior third XV for the first time in more than 20 years to the smart facilities they now boast at their Wainfleet Road headquarters. The Rugby Football Union was one of the main contributors to the £1.5 million costs of Skegness’s new clubhouse, which was opened in 2009. The impressive facilities have helped Skegness to increase their playing base to such an extent that they are now fielding a third team on a regular basis. “The facility provided the club with a new bar and clubroom along with revamped changing rooms and shower facilities which married together to give a first rate local rugby club,” said Skegness spokesman, Andy Hill. “On the back of this development, after a lot of hard work by the club, floodlights were installed on the site. It is largely due to these significant developments that the club has gone from strength to strength on the field. “For the first time in 20 years the club has now managed to field an adult third team along with a growing junior section, directly linked to the enhanced facilities. “This is a tremendous move forward for the club involving hard work and commitment from Skegness backed and supported by the RFU.” For more information about Skegness RFC, visit www.pitchero.com/clubs/skegness.

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Detroit Pistons Preview 2011: Detroit Pistons Preview 2011 Shannon McKeown Shannon McKeown is the VP of Advertising Sales and Basketball Editor for Rotowire.com. He's a two-time FSWA finalist for Fantasy Basketball writer of the year. He also covers the Pistons and Tigers for the site. Posted on Monday, December 19, 2011 DETROIT PISTONS PREVIEW 2011 After eight consecutive trips to the postseason, Detroit missed the playoffs for the second season in a row last year. The team went 30-52 while dealing with internal team conflict, including a player protest, which saw numerous veteran players skip practice in protest of then coach John Kuester. The Pistons were the definition of dysfunction during the 2010-11 campaign. Stuck in neutral due to a painstakingly long ownership change, Pistons president Joe Dumars was handcuffed in his ability to make roster moves. With the team now sold to billionaire Tom Gores, Dumars has regained the ability to mold his roster and has already started making changes. The first order of business was firing Kuester and replacing him with former Nets coach Lawrence Frank. Dumars also parted ways with veterans Richards Hamilton (bought out) and Tracy McGrady (free agency) � both of whom were prominent figures in the player protest last season. Detroit is now set to push forward with longtime Pistons Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace as the veteran leadership while building around young pieces like their two most recent lottery picks, Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight. PLAYING TIME DISTRIBUTION Monroe and Wallace are the only two players on the Pistons roster who even resemble a center, so look for them to both see time at the pivot. Wallace will see around 20 minutes per night at the position while Monroe will see 32-35 mpg splitting time between the four and five spots. Any remaining playing time at power forward will be split between Charlie Villanueva, Jonas Jerebko, Jason Maxiell and rookie Vernon Macklin. It�s still unclear who will win the starting spot at power forward, but Villanueva and Jerebko both figure to see 20-25 mpg at the position. Maxiell will get his usual 15-18 mpg to start the season, but he could be pushed to the end of the bench by the younger Macklin as the season wears on. Prince is locked in as the starter at small forward and will see 31-33 mpg, with Austin Daye backing him up at 18-20 mpg. While the starting backcourt hasn�t been decided, the final rotation is expected to primarily feature Rodney Stuckey, Ben Gordon and Knight. Stuckey will see time at both guard positions. Whether starting or coming off the bench, Stuckey will log around 32 mpg. Gordon is the early favorite to start at shooting guard, with a chance to log 30+ mpg for the first time since he joined the Pistons. Knight�s role will likely be limited early in the season, but he could end up playing 24-28 mpg by season�s end. Backup point guard Will Bynum will see his usual 14-16 mpg but could see an increased role if Knight doesn�t develop as fast as expected. PLAYER OUTLOOKS Greg Monroe: Relegated to a reserve role for most of the first half of the season, Monroe initially struggled to find his footing in the NBA. He averaged 5.4 points and 5.2 rebounds in 32 games off the bench. It wasn�t until Monroe was promoted to the starting lineup that he truly blossomed. In 48 starts, Monroe averaged 12.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 0.7 blocks. The 21-year-old out of Georgetown turned into a double-double machine after the All-Star break, recording 14 in 25 post-break games. Monroe isn�t terribly athletic and often plays below the rim, so he might never be an elite rebounder or shot blocker, but he has active hands and has the ability to be one of the better thieves among pivots. Although his assist numbers (1.3) weren�t impressive during his rookie campaign, Monroe is also a quality passer for a big man and should post decent numbers in that category as his game matures. The Pistons are in full-blown rebuilding mode, and Monroe figures to be one of the team�s centerpieces. He�s among the better up-and-coming centers in fantasy and should be a nightly double-double threat for years to come. Ben Wallace: Big Ben provides the Pistons with veteran leadership and still provides solid play on the defensive end of the court, but at 37, he�s in the twilight of his career. Wallace averaged a respectable 6.5 rebounds, 1.0 steals and 1.0 blocks in 23 minutes per game last year, but his scoring (2.9 points) dipped to his lowest average since his rookie campaign in 1996-97 in Washington. The Pistons are shallow enough in the frontcourt that Wallace will still have a role with the team. He could even possibly sneak into the starting five, but don�t expect production above last year�s levels. Forward Tayshaun Prince: Once thought a sure thing to leave the Pistons via free agency, Prince surprised Detroit�s fan base by re-upping for another four years with the only NBA team he�s ever known. Despite all the turmoil surrounding him last year, Prince managed to put up another season of model consistency, averaging 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists while shooting 47.3 percent from the floor and 70.2 percent from the charity stripe. While the Pistons are trending younger, Prince will remain a fixture in the lineup and continue to play about 30 mpg. Charlie Villanueva: Villanueva has struggled ever since signing a lucrative contract with the Pistons in 2009. His playing time dropped to a career low 22 mpg last season, leading to disappointing averages of 11.1 points and 3.9 rebounds. Despite the limited playing time, Charlie V was able to hit a career best 1.6 three-pointers per game. His role is still undetermined, but Villanueva�s versatility means he�ll likely log minutes at both forward positions. After being vastly under used during his first two seasons in Detroit, Villanueva will have a chance to carve out a bigger role under the new coaching regime. He�s a solid bounce-back candidate to target late in drafts. Jonas Jerebko: After an impressive rookie campaign, Jerebko missed the entire 2010-11 campaign with a torn right Achilles. Now back at full strength, Jerebko figures to be an important cog in the Pistons� frontcourt rotation. The energetic Swede has a balanced offensive game, with the ability to bang in the post while also having enough touch to step back and hit the occasional trey. His hustle on the other end of the court results in decent contributions in rebounding (6.0) and steals (1.0). The 24-year-old tweener should see a solid amount of run while playing time at both forward positions. Austin Daye: The lanky (6-11, 200) forward out of Gonzaga was given a chance to flash some of his potential during the 2010-11 season, averaging 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.5 threes while shooting 42.6 percent from the floor and 87.1 percent from the line in 16 starts. With Prince returning, Daye looks primed for backup duty once again, but his versatility will allow him to see action at the two, three or four. We might be another year or two away from a full-fledged breakout, but Daye remains one of the more intriguing young talents on the Pistons� roster. Jason Maxiell: Mad Max once again provided the Pistons with toughness and energy off the bench last season. He�ll have a similar role this year, which will limit him from making much of an impact in most formats. Vernon Macklin: Macklin was selected by the Pistons with the 52nd overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. The big man (6-9, 245) out of Florida has a limited offensive game, doing most of his damage near the rim. On defense, he�s a solid rebounder who uses his 7-4 wingspan to effectively disrupt shots. As a second-round pick, Macklin has an uphill battle to earn playing time, but he has the type of toughness Pistons� brass look for in their big men. Kyle Singler: The Pistons selected Singler with the 33rd overall pick of the 2011 draft. The 23-year-old small forward out of Duke signed to play overseas during the lockout and has since decided to spend the remainder of the season playing for Real Madrid of the Spanish ACB League. He�s expected to join the Pistons for the 2012-13 season. Guard Ben Gordon: Like Villanueva, Gordon has struggled since inking a free agent deal with the Pistons. The 28-year-old averaged a career-low 11.2 points last season while playing just 26 mpg. Despite the drop in production, Gordon has remained an effective scorer, shooting 44.0 percent from the floor, 40.2 percent from downtown and 85.0 percent from the free throw line. With Richard Hamilton now playing for the Bulls, Gordon is primed to see a significant boost in playing time, paving the way for a bounce-back campaign from the sharp-shooting guard. Rodney Stuckey: While he�s never experienced the full-scale breakout some pundits have expected, Stuckey has managed to develop into one of the Pistons� better producers over the past few seasons. He averaged 15.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 31 mpg in 2010-11. The 25-year-old combo guard had the most effective campaign of his career, hitting 43.9 percent of his field goal attempts and 86.6 percent of his free three shots. Stuckey will be part of the Pistons� main three-guard rotation, putting him in prime position to continue the development he�s shown in his first four seasons with the team. Brandon Knight: Knight was selected by the Pistons with the eighth overall pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. He�s known more for his scoring prowess than ability to create for his teammates, as evident by his 17.3 points per game during his lone college season at Kentucky. While not as highly touted as previous John Calipari point guards (Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, John Wall), Knight was still considered the second best point guard of his draft class. He may not start right off the bat, but Knight is expected to have a significant role for the Pistons during his rookie season. Will Bynum: The speedy guard provided the Pistons with a spark off the bench last year, averaging 7.9 points and 3.2 assists in just 18 mpg. He�s currently the team�s third point guard, but his value could see a significant boost if Knight struggles to catch on quick. Sleeper Brandon Knight: Dumars has already hinted at the possibility of Knight emerging as a starter from day one. The rookie�s breakout potential is dampened with Stuckey returning, but even in that scenario Knight will remain a solid sleeper. He should see his role grow as the season wears one � similar to what we saw with Monroe last year. Owners might have to be patient with Knight, but he has as much breakout potential as any other player on Detroit�s roster. Bust Austin Daye: Daye was a popular sleeper pick over the summer, but that was under the assumption Prince would walk via free agency. Now that Prince has re-signed with Detroit, Daye will be relegated to a bench role again. He has the ability to average 1+ three, block and steal, but his playing time as a reserve will likely be too limited for him to live up to that potential. Let other owners reach on Daye in your draft. Top Fantasy Basketball Player News

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Raiders' McFadden to miss third straight game Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - The Oakland Raiders won't have Darren McFadden available once again for Sunday's clash against the Cincinnati Bengals, with the team ruling the oft-injured running back out for a third consecutive week on Friday due to a high ankle sprain. McFadden, who's missed 14 games over the past three seasons with a variety of ailments, hasn't played since being forced out of Oakland's Nov. 4 loss to Tampa Bay in the first half. The former first-round pick sat out nine contests last season with a sprained right foot. Backup Mike Goodson was also declared out for Sunday's matchup with an ankle sprain that's kept him sidelined the last two games as well. Marcel Reece has been serving as the team's lead back and is coming off a big effort in last week's 38-17 loss to New Orleans, rushing for a career-high 103 yards on 19 carries while adding 90 yards on four catches. Veteran defensive tackle Richard Seymour, out since the Tampa Bay game with knee and hamstring problems, also will not participate in Sunday's tilt. The Raiders do expect starting safety Tyvon Branch to return to action against the Bengals after sitting last week's loss with a neck injury. He was a full participant in Friday's practice and is listed as probable. Reece (hamstring/quadricep), wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (hamstring) and tight end Brandon Myers (shoulder) also practiced Friday and are probable as well. 11/23 17:38:54 ET

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WNBA: General Sparks Watch Day 27: "The home team" By James Bowman The Sparks might find a new home, or keep their old one - but will they ever be a home team? Share with NBA friends 9 Sparks Watch is coming almost to a full month after we all first heard the news that the ownership of the Los Angeles Sparks had walked away from the club. We all know that the story has to come to an end soon, and there are only a limited number of ways the story can end. Any way the story ends, it's going to be miserable for someone. Somebody's going to be without a team. Either Los Angeles, San Francisco - or both cities if it comes to the worst.An article I read called by Eric Curren called "Cut off from society, sports become junk" gives me new appreciation for what the WNBA is trying to do. It seems that a lot of news we get from the WNBA is very fluffy - this team or this player attended this local charity event. There isn't a lot of to be learned from such events, no new insight into players or the league, and these articles tend to be discounted by the casual reader.Curren writes about the increasing disconnect between sports and the community. "It used to matter that the Dodgers came from Brooklyn and that hockey was for Canadians." But these days, with a national market and players that have few roots in their local community means that "today's Dodgers get no special sauce from playing in LA rather than some other town...a pro sports franchise has become as local as a Burger King franchise." Look at the NHL - you have hockey teams in cities that never had a hockey culture (and in the case of some, probably never will).If you think about it, this is very true of the WNBA. We tend to knock "our girls syndrome" at Swish Appeal, but at least those who care more about players when they're in college rather than the pros have a point. These players have established their homes at their colleges, in many cases they've gone to high schools in the same state. The fans at Tennessee or Connecticut have shared the successes and mourned the failures of "their girls" and they can be forgiven for being possessive. Furthermore - unlike other pro sports - it seems that the connection between a player and her institute of higher learning is much stronger in women's basketball than almost anywhere else.Take a look at the Los Angeles Sparks. How many of the players there have a real connection to Los Angeles, or even California?Farhiya Abdi was born in Sweden after her parents emigrated from Somalia. She has played in Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Sweden.Alana Beard played basketball in Shreveport, Louisiana and went to Duke.Marissa Coleman was born in Oregon, played her high school basketball in Washington, DC and went to Maryland.Lindsey Harding was born in Alabama, grew up in Houston, Texas and played for Duke. Jantel Lavender was born in Cleveland, Ohio. She played her high school basketball in Ohio and attended Ohio State. If the Cleveland Rockers were still around, she'd be great in a Rockers uniform.A'dia Mathies grew up in Louisville, went to high school in Kentucky and graduated from Kentucky. If there was a WNBA team in Kentucky, she'd be a home town girl.Jenna O'Hea is a native Australian who has played basketball for professional Australian teams. Candace Parker was born in Missouri and grew up in Illinois. She went to school at Tennessee. (Her spouse, Shelden Williams, did play for Sacramento for a couple of years.)Kristi Toliver went to high school in Harrisonburg, Virginia, which is located in the Shenandoah Valley, and about a two hour drive from Washington, DC. She went to the University of Maryland. There are exceptions, however. Nneka Ogwumike was born in Texas and played high school ball in Texas. However, she went to Stanford University and was a great player there. As her sister also plays at Stanford, that strengthens Ogwumike's roots in the Bay Area and, by extension, to California.Ebony Hoffman might be the closest the Sparks can get to a native Los Angeleno. She was born in Los Angeles, California. She played her high school basketball in California and attended the University of Southern California. But even with such strong local ties, WNBA players probably spend less time in their designated cities that any other sport. The WNBA season is short, and from financial necessity players have to spend most of their time overseas. An argument could be made that overseas teams - through the European club system - are much more representative of their communities than any WNBA team, even teams like Ekaterinburg with multiple American players. Must Reads Sparks Watch Day 26: Malice in the Palice Part Two Albert Lee The Sparks were part of one of the most unfortunate moments in WNBA history when they were part of a brawl against the Detroit Shock on July 21, 2008. Sparks Watch Day 25: Lisa Leslie, first W dunker On July 30, 2002, the Sparks center dunked in the first half of a game against the Miami Sol. See the video. Must Reads Sparks Watch Day 26: Malice in the Palice Part Two Sparks Watch Day 25: Lisa Leslie, first W dunker Do WNBA players feel a connection to their local cities? I'm sure if you asked Angel McCoughtry, she'd tell you that she loves Atlanta, but I suspect she has a strong connection to her hometown of Baltimore.How much of the Los Angeles Sparks really represented Los Angeles? The fans, definitely. But the players? Is Los Angeles home, or it is just another town? Is there a real loss in leaving Los Angeles, or would a hypothetical move to San Francisco be not much more than exchanging one set of clothes for another?Clearly, the WNBA and the local franchises are doing their best to put down roots in their community, to not just be the city's WNBA team but to be the local women's pro team. Take the Atlanta Dream, for example. They are involved in the Atlanta community. Both of the owners have roots in the area. Kelly Loeffler almost ran for the US Senate as a Republican from Georgia, and Mary Brock's philanthropy in Atlanta is well-known. Looking at WNBA websites, you can tell that one of the goals of the WNBA is for each team not to just get local fans, but to be local institutions. The WNBA wants to be a league where the city name on the uniform means more than the team nickname. How this is going to happen, given the restraints under which the WNBA labors, remains to be seen. They are barely covered by the media in their own hometowns. Perhaps something like the old NBA Territorial Draft picks would help. If the future Sparks end up in San Francisco - the most likely of the three outcomes - it remains to be seen whether or not the Sparks will become not just a team based in San Francisco, but a team that San Francisco can take to its heart. If Joe Lacob can make that happen, he'll be miles ahead of other teams not just in the WNBA, but in professional sports. And the arbitrary deadline for the Warriors to buy the Sparks is at T MINUS FIVE DAYS.... Is your WNBA team a hometown team, or has it gotten lost in the shuffle? Let us know in the comments below. More from Swish Appeal Follow @SwishAppeal Follow @SBNationNBA Sparks Watch Day 26: Malice in the Palice Part Two Tiffany Bias tied the Oklahoma State career assist record in heartbreaking loss to Baylor Stanford's Chiney Ogwumike has become 'a force to be reckoned with' Backcourt punch powers St. John's to a 66-63 win over Georgetown Video: Jerica Coley makes career-high five threes in 38-point performance at UAB 2013-14 Los Angeles Sparks offseason: The Magic Johnson Era begins 2014 WNBA Draft - Round 3, Pick 11: Los Angeles Sparks select Antonita Slaughter Sparks Watch Day 25: Lisa Leslie was the first player to dunk in WNBA history Sparks Watch Day 24: The Vetting Process Interview: Tyler Summitt on LaTech job & his age The Swish Appeal Podcast, Episode 2 What impact will Fowles' injury have on Chicago? Team USA to hold training camp at Naval Academy Brittney Griner talks about her experience in China to ESPN's Kate Fagan The big winners from the WNBA draft Three trends from the 2014 WNBA draft

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6 Ways to Achieve Baseball Immortality Jake Simpson May 10 2010, 4:56 PM ET Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Dallas Braden is hardly a household name. If anything, he sounds like a character on a 1970s television drama. But after hurling a perfect game on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays, the Oakland Athletics pitcher has permanently etched his name in the annals of baseball alongside greats of the game like Cy Young, Sandy Koufax, and Randy Johnson. But being perfect for a day is not the only way for baseball players to immortalize themselves in a single game. A handful of pitching, hitting and fielding milestones are so rare that the few who have achieved them are forever part of baseball lore. PITCHINGThrow a perfect game. Braden's performance, like the 18 before it, is very easy to explain: He started the game, finished the game, and retired every batter he faced. But it's far more difficult to achieve perfection than to describe it. A perfect game requires consistently masterful pitching, pinpoint control (one walk, and the game is no longer perfect), good fielding (same goes for errors) and a healthy dose of luck.Fun Fact: Five of the last six pitchers to throw a perfect game were left-handed.Strike out 20 batters in a game. This pitching feat makes a perfect game look like a common occurrence. Only two players have ever reached the 20-strikeout plateau: Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood. Clemens amazingly pulled off the improbable feat twice, in 1986 and 1996, though recent allegations of steroid use suggest he may have had a little "help." Wood's 20-K night proved to be the high point of a career beset by injuries and failed expectations; he is currently struggling as a middle reliever with the Cleveland Indians.Fun Fact: Clemens is third in MLB history with 4,672 career strikeouts. FIELDINGMake an unassisted triple play. Rarer than a perfect game, this Holy Grail of fielding is equally simple: make all three outs in an inning, by yourself, on the same play. Confused? Imagine runners on first and second with no one out who take off as a pitch is thrown. The batter hits a line drive to the second basemen, who makes the catch (out 1). He then steps on second base to double off the runner who had started for third base (out 2), and tags the runner who took off from first base before he can stop and turn around (out 3). That play, or some variation of it, has taken place just 15 times in MLB history.Fun Fact: The first recorded triple play occurred in Game 4 of the 1920 World Series.Play all nine positions in a single game. More persistence than perfection, a turn at every position on the field has only happened four times. The feat is usually a premeditated move by both the manager and player, who generally has some semblance of pitching and catching experience. This category is not for superstars, unless you consider Bert Campanaris, Cesar Tovar, Scott Sheldon and Shane Halter baseball elites.Fun Fact: Sheldon and Halter completed their multipurpose games just 25 days apart during the 2000 season. HITTINGHit four home runs in a game. Nothing resonates with baseball fans quite like a home run, and four longballs in a single game is a scintillating and unforgettable experience for baseball-lovers. Only 15 players have left the yard four times in a game, and the list is a hodgepodge of all-time greats and virtual unknowns. Where else can you see Bob Horrner, Mike Cameron and Shawn Green mentioned in the same breath as Willie Mays, Lou Gehrig and Mike Schmidt?Fun Fact: Gehrig and Joe Adcock both narrowly missed blasting a fifth homer. Reach at least 10 runs batted in. If three RBIs is a good game and six is a career day, 10 RBIs is downright legendary. First accomplished by Vic Robinson in 1892, double digits in RBIs has been reached by 13 players, including Reggie Jackson and (brace yourself, Boston) Alex Rodriguez. If you're looking for even more rarified air, go for 12 runs batted in; only Jim Bottomley and Mark Whiten have pulled it off.Fun Fact: Whiten also hit four homers in his 12-RBI game, making him the only player to achieve two of these virtually unattainable milestones in the same game. Not a bad day at the office. Jake Simpson is a New York-based writer. Judith Ohikuare Apr 20, 2014 The Sewage in Brazil's Water Olga Khazan Apr 18, 2014 Why Don't Older People Want Time Machines?

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News Opinion Blogs Life Sports Sections Extras CU Customer Service Ads Classifieds Jobs Sports « Steelers Need To Dig Deep... German Wins Hunt Award» Titans Defeat Jets New York falls out of playoff contention December 18, 2012 By TERESA M. WALKER, AP Sports Writer , Save | Post a comment | NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Chris Johnson went 94 yards for the longest touchdown run in the NFL since 2006 and the Tennessee Titans beat the Jets 14-10 on Monday night to eliminate New York from playoff contention. Jake Locker's first touchdown run of the season put Tennessee ahead late in the third quarter and the Titans intercepted four passes by a struggling Mark Sanchez to snap a three-game skid. After bumbling around all night, the Jets somehow still had a chance to win when they took over at the Tennessee 25 with 47 seconds left following a 19-yard punt by Brett Kern. But Sanchez fumbled a low shotgun snap, Bilal Powell inadvertently kicked the ball away and the Titans recovered to seal it. Article Photos Titans cornerback Jason McCourty (30) celebrates after intercepting a pass from Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez intended for tight end Jeff Cumberland (86). It was a fitting end to an ugly game that left New York coach Rex Ryan cursing to himself as he walked off the field. The Jets (6-8) needed to win their final three games and get help elsewhere to earn a playoff spot. Instead, the Titans sacked Sanchez three times and got a fourth on Tim Tebow. Jason McCourty and Michael Griffin each had two interceptions, keeping New York out of the playoffs for a second straight season after reaching consecutive AFC title games. Johnson, with the names of the victims of Friday's shootings in Connecticut written on his cleats, ran a franchise-record 94 yards for a TD in the second quarter. Locker's 13-yard touchdown run at the end of the third put the Titans (5-9) ahead to stay. The Jets took a 10-7 lead when Sanchez and Jeff Cumberland connected on a 17-yard touchdown pass with 3:19 to go in the third. The Titans responded on their next possession with Locker's quarterback keeper around left end, capping a seven-play, 64-yard drive. On Cumberland's touchdown, the Jets' tight end caught a third-and-12 pass at about the 5-yard line after getting behind Titans linebacker Tim Shaw, starting in place of injured defensive captain Colin McCarthy. Cumberland headed into the end zone from there. The Jets began that drive at the Titans 35 after Kern shanked a 30-yard punt. Kern had been one of the few steady performers this season for the Titans. The Titans owned a 7-3 halftime lead after Johnson's long scamper in the second quarter. His touchdown run was the longest by any NFL player since Minnesota's Chester Taylor had a 95-yard TD in a 31-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 22, 2006. After Robert Malone's 53-yard punt backed the Titans up to their own 5-yard line, Johnson rushed for 1 yard on first down. On the next play, he found a seam up the middle and appeared untouched on his way to the end zone. Jets safety Yeremiah Bell chased Johnson most of the way and made an unsuccessful diving attempt to tackle him from behind inside the 15. The previous record for the longest run in franchise history was 91 yards, a mark shared by Johnson and Sid Blanks. Johnson had a 91-yard run against the Houston Texans in 2009. Blanks also did it against the Jets in 1964. This marked Johnson's sixth career touchdown run of at least 80 yards, giving him twice as many as anyone else in NFL history. Barry Sanders, Ahman Green, Hugh McElhenny and O.J. Simpson each had three touchdown runs of at least 80 yards. Johnson was otherwise held in check, but he still headed into the fourth quarter with 110 yards rushing on 10 carries, giving him 32 career 100-yard games. The Jets grabbed a 3-0 lead when Nick Folk's 22-yard field goal capped their first possession of the night. New York appeared to reach the end zone when Cumberland caught a 4-yard pass from Sanchez on third-and-goal, but the original ruling of a touchdown was overturned after replays showed the ball hit the ground. Sanchez struggled after that opening drive and was 9 of 19 for 93 yards through three quarters. He threw a pair of interceptions to McCourty, giving the slumping quarterback 21 turnovers this season. The Jets allowed Tebow to run the offense for a complete series in the second quarter. They picked up two first downs on that series and advanced to their own 44, but the drive stalled from there after a sack, a delay-of-game penalty and an incompletion. Sanchez returned on the Jets' next series and promptly threw his first interception to McCourty. McCourty picked off another pass in the third quarter when Sanchez overthrew a deep pass to Cumberland. A 28-yard return gave the Titans the ball at the Jets 46, but Tennessee couldn't get beyond the 35 and eventually punted. Before the game, a moment of silence was held for victims of the shootings Friday in Newtown, Conn. Johnson had the names of all the victims written on the two shoes he wore for the game. © Copyright 2014 The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Mike Hess, 56, who passed away in May, made a major impact on wrestling MIKE HESS, 56, WRESTLING REFEREE, COACH AND LEADER, WHO PASSED AWAY MAY 9 IN LAS VEGAS, NEV., MADE A MAJOR IMPACT ON THE SPORT ON MANY LEVELS Mike Hess, 56, of Edmonds, Wash., a wrestling referee, coach and leader, passed away at Desert Springs Hospital in Las Vegas on May 9. Hess was active in all aspects of wrestling in the state of Washington and was an active leader within USA Wrestling. He made a major impact on the sport of wrestling on many levels. Mike collapsed in the early morning of April 22 after returning from a late dinner. He was in Las Vegas to participate as a referee in the U.S. National Wrestling Championships that weekend. He was taken to the hospital and after many tests, it was found he had an infection which caused his collapse. The infection settled in his lungs and despite the best efforts of the hospital staff, led to his passing. Mike was born on July 21, 1943, in Lakehurst, New Jersey and his family moved west to Moses Lake, Washington where he attended high school. He graduated from the University of Washington in Seattle in 1965 and was a letter winner in wrestling. He began his teaching career in Edmonds, Wash. the same year and became the head wrestling coach at Edmonds High School in 1968. He coached and taught for 34 years at Edmonds High and then Edmonds-Woodway High. During his coaching tenure, he coached several state champions and several highly ranked teams. He served a four year term as President of the Washington Wrestling Coaches Association and was active with the State Athletic Association. He was instrumental in helping wrestling grow at the high school level throughout the state of Washington. In the early 1970's, Mike realized the benefits of international style competition and he began to promote freestyle wrestling. This led to him becoming an international referee and he helped found the Washington Wrestling Federation. His efforts helped develop a strong program in the Northwest. Mike attained a USA Category 1E and a FILA Category 1 while officiating at every level of competition. His knowledge and ability helped train many young officials. Within the Washington Federation, Mike served as Cultural Exchange Director and organized many trips for Washington wrestlers to foreign countries like Japan and Russia. These trips provided valuable cultural experiences for those who went on the trips. In 1990, Mike served as Competition Director for Wrestling at the Seattle Goodwill Games which saw the USA defeat Russia in the title match. This match was one of the highlights of the Games. In 1996 Mike served as the Director of Staging for wrestling at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He was the man who sent the athletes to the mats and kept a smooth flow throughout the event. He and former University of Washington wrestling coach Jim Smith co-chaired a committee of wrestling enthusiasts who are pushing to have the sport reinstated at Washington and Washington State. As a teacher Mike again, "did it all," teaching every history course in the department at Edmonds High School at one time or another. He also served as Department Head for several years while teaching classes in Japanese and Russian History. He said that his greatest achievement was not the state champions but the graduates his teams produced. His reward for coaching was watching the success of the kids after high school as they became leaders in the community. Mike is survived by his daughters and their husbands, Erica and Sam Hobos of Palo Alto, CA.; Trina and Eric Myklebust of Seattle; and his sister and her husband, Susan and Vince Lorrain of Bellevue, Wash. A Memorial Service was held on May 16, at the Westgate Chapel in Edmonds, Wash., followed by a reception at Edmonds Woodway High School. The family has asked the instead of flowers, donations be made to: Mike Hess Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O Trina Mykelbust, 4324 NE 55th St., Seattle, WA 98105. Untitled Document

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Sun Devil Harriers Play Host to Lone Home Meet of '08 National | Regional TEMPE, Ariz. - For the 23rd year in a row, the Arizona State University cross country program will play host to a home meet as several Arizona schools will venture to Tempe Kiwanis Park on Friday for the Joe Uff/ASU Invitational. The men's 8,000m race leads off the day at 5 p.m. while the women's 5,000m run follows at 5:30 p.m. COME OUT AND SEE US!Tempe Kiwanis Park is located just west of the Mill Avenue & Baseline Road intersection with plenty of parking. Coming from the campus area, fans can proceed down Mill before turning right onto Baseline and then turning left into the park. From that lot, the start line will be at the same entrance on Baseline Road while following the right edge of the lake will lead fans to the finish line. IN THE FIELDAs of Tuesday afternoon, 10 schools have registered to compete at the meet on Friday, including seven schools from the Grand Canyon State. Competing along with the Sun Devils will be runners from Arizona, Cal State East Bay, Dine College, Glendale CC, New Mexico State, Northern Arizona, Phoenix College, Pima CC and Scottsdale CC. Both teams that won the ASU Invitational last year will be on hand to defend their titles this year, including the ASU men and the Arizona women. ASU INVITE HISTORYThe 23rd edition of the ASU Invitational will mark the seventh year in a row the meet has been held at Kiwanis Park in Tempe after holding the meet at Freestone Park in Gilbert (1997-01). Other venues have included Karsten Golf Course on the ASU campus (1989-96), the Pointe at South Mountain in Phoenix (1987-88) and Red Mountain Ranch in Mesa (1986). In the previous 22 years of the meet, the Sun Devil men and women have each won the title three times with the women last winning in 2003 and the men last year. NAME CHANGEFor the past 22 years, the home meet for the Sun Devils has been the ASU Invitational. Starting this fall, it will now be the Joe Uff/ASU Invitational. Uff, a former distance runner for the Sun Devils (1998-00) and ASU graduate, lost a four-year battle with cancer on April 12, the same day as his 31st birthday. The Aston, Pa., native began his own business as a thriving entrepreneur and continued to fight the disease with the help of his teammates. At the 2006 ASU Invitational, numerous alumni ran in the meet, sporting white shirts adorned with the words, "UFF IS TOUGH", the battle-cry that also inspired the Uff is Tough 5k run in his hometown to help raise funds for his treatment. QUICK HITS: GRIAK INVITATIONAL• The women scored 46 points to finish second among the 23 teams in the field• The women finished as runners-up for the third year in a row and fifth time in eight years• Kari Hardt won the women's 6,000m race in 21:18.4 for her first collegiate victory• Hardt is only the second ASU woman to win the Griak meet (Amy Hastings, 2005)• The men scored 268 points to finish 10th among the 25 teams in the meet• Patrick Milloy was the top men's finisher, placing 30th in 25:07.2 SO CLOSEFor the third year in a row, the Sun Devil women finished second in the Roy Griak Invitational with Minnesota winning each of the last two meets. The women have now placed among the Top 2 at the meet in each of the past eight years in a row, including wins in 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005. ANOTHER FIRST WINFor the second meet in a row, a Sun Devil woman won her first collegiate cross country race with Kari Hardt earning the distinction September 27 at the Roy Griak Invitational. Hardt clocked in at 21:18.4 to capture her first title and lead the Sun Devils to a second place finish in the team standings. One week earlier (September 19), Ali Kielty won the Dave Murray Invitational in 13:39.63 for her first victory. IN THE WINNER'S CIRCLEWith their victories, Ali Kielty and Kari Hardt became the 16th and 17th Sun Devil women, respectively, to win a cross country race in program history. Their wins also mark the eighth time in program history that two or more Sun Devils have won a race in a season and the first since four different runners won five total races during the 2005 season. IN THE RANKINGSOn September 30, the U.S. Track & Field, Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) released the rankings for week 1 (preseason was released September 15) with the Sun Devil women slipping two spots to No. 7 this week while the men did not receive a vote in the national poll. In the region rankings, the women remained No. 4 in the west while the men slipped three spots to No. 10. HIGHLY TOUTEDWith their No. 7 national ranking, the women extended their current streak to 75 weeks in a row that they have appeared in the poll, dating back to a No. 15 ranking on October 12, 1998. Since that ranking, the Sun Devils have spent 75 weeks in the Top 30 and their 11th week in a row in the Top 10. The last time ASU was a member of the Top 5 was last week when they were No. 5. That ranking marked the 19th time the women have been ranked among the Top 5 nationally in program history. PAC-10 CHANGEThe Pac-10 Championships, scheduled for November 1 at the Springfield Country Club in Springfield, Ore., have been moved ahead one day to October 31 to avoid a conflict with the Oregon School Activities Association's High School Cross Country Championships that are scheduled for November 1 in Eugene. The women will open the Pac-10 meet with their 6,000m run at 2:15 p.m. with the men's 10,000m run starting at 3:15 p.m. RETURNING ALL-AMERICANSWhile the Sun Devils have four women and two men on the roster this season that have earned collegiate All-America honors, only the women have accumulated the national accolade on the cross country course. Last year, both Jenna Kingma and Ali Kielty earned All-America honors in cross country -- their first in the sport -- by finishing 37th and 42nd, respectively. The team's leaders from last year will be joined this year by a pair of senior transfers with cross country All-America honors, including Sunni Olding (2004 and 2005 at Notre Dame) and Haley Paul (2005 at Washington State). HELLO! MY NAME IS...This season, 17 women and 12 men will be joining the Sun Devil roster for the first time in their careers, including 15 true freshmen (10 women and five men). The women also add six transfers this season, including Rebecca Greenwald (Pima CC), Cherise McNair (Cal State Stanislaus), Sunni Olding (Notre Dame), Haley Paul (Washington State), Nicole Pennes (UCLA) and Brianna Smith (Moorpark JC), while the men add three: Brandon Bethke (Wisconsin), Stephen Olsen (Spokane CC) and Noah Shannon (Wisconsin). STREAK EXTENDEDBy earning a berth into the NCAA Championships as an at-large selection in 2007, the Sun Devil women extended their current streak to 10 years in a row at the national meet, keeping them tied with North Carolina for the sixth-longest active streak in the nation. BYU and Providence lead the way with 19 years in a row and are followed by Colorado (16), Stanford (15) and NC State (13). LOOKING FOR THE THIRDThe Sun Devil women will look for history this year as they will try to capture their first national title. If they can do so, they will not only join an exclusive list of cross country championship programs, they also will put Arizona State in elite company with Texas as the only women's program to win at least one NCAA title in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field. LSU and Oregon are the only other two women's programs to have won a national title in two different events and need a crown in cross country and indoor track & field, respectively, to join Texas. The Sun Devil women have won the 2007 and 2008 NCAA Indoor and 2007 NCAA Outdoor Championships in recent years. BEEN THERE BEFOREOf the 14 runners that competed in the NCAA Championships last November for the Sun Devils (seven men and seven women), nine return to the program this season, including six of the women that ran to a fourth-place team finish in 2007. The women return their Top 6 from the national meet last year, including Jenna Kingma (37th), Ali Kielty (42nd), Kari Hardt (50th), Camille Olson (51st), Krystal Duke (155th) and Angela Spadafino (180th). The men return their first, third and fourth finishers from the NCAA meet, including Jeff Helmer (91st), Ben Engelhardt (163rd) and Alonso Contreras (186th). DISTANCE STARSOn the track in 2008, the Sun Devil men's distance corps saw three of its runners earn All-America honors and capture two national titles. Kyle Alcorn, who recently graduated, won the 3,000m run at the indoor championships after entering the meet ranked 14th overall before heading outdoors to win the 3,000m steeplechase crown at the NCAA meet. Alcorn joined up with fellow distance runners Nectaly Barbosa (800m) and Joey Heller (1,200m) and sprinter Justin Kremer (400m) to finish second in the nation indoors in the distance medley relay and add another eight team points. In the end, those points in the 3,000m and DMR proved very needed as the Sun Devil men beat out Florida State by three points for the NCAA team championship, joining the women as national team champions at the same meet. NEXT TIME OUTFollowing a weekend off from competition, the Sun Devils will return to action on October 17 and 18 with a pair of meets. Many members of the team will remain in the Valley of the Sun to compete in the Mesa Thunderbird Invitational at Riverview Park in Mesa on October 17 while the top runners will travel to Terre Haute, Ind., on October 18 for the NCAA Pre-National Meet on the same course the NCAA Championships will be held on in November. Arizona State Sun Devils Cross Country

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10 burning questions after the draft's first round Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, Feb. 25, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin) ORG XMIT: otkdm / Dave Martin, AP by Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sportsby Mike Garafolo, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under After the NFL draft's first round, you've got questions, we know you do. So, before the second round starts, we'll provide the answers: So, Manti Te'o's still available, huh? Yeah, and there's a weird vibe around the league. Nearly everyone is stunned he wasn't taken in the first round, yet some of those very teams that are surprised are the ones that passed over the Notre Dame linebacker. When the Minnesota Vikings jumped back into the first round, the expectation was it was for Te'o, whom many thought they would take earlier in the round. Nope, Tennessee wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson. The Te'o snub doesn't seem to have much to do with his catfishing incident. That's why the league is quite stunned he dropped; many considered it a non-issue by now. It has more to do with the fact he's a solid player without startling athletic abilities. Still, many thought he had enough talent to go on Day 1. Expect Te'o to go quickly on Day 2. Is Geno Smith's decision to leave New York and then decide to stay really a big deal? Yes and no. We'll start with the no. He's a young kid who was dreaming about hearing his name called by Roger Goodell and giving the commissioner a big, back-slapping bear hug on the stage as the first quarterback drafted. He's disappointed, and we can't blame him. Teams surely understand as well. Also, he and his family had booked flights out of town Friday, so they had to adjust on the fly. On the other hand, coaches want their quarterbacks to remain calm, composed and confident as much as possible. Some NFL coaches even work on quarterbacks' body language after simple incomplete passes. Will the indecisiveness affect Smith's draft stock? That's highly doubtful. But you can bet his NFL coaches will be watching his ability to handle adversity going forward. Who comes off the board first Friday �?? Ryan Nassib or Matt Barkley? Good question. We'll go with Barkley. He was formerly tabbed as a first-round talent, so there has to be a quarterback-needy team out there that has a relatively high grade on him at this point. And the fact that the Buffalo Bills and former Syracuse coach Doug Marrone passed on Nassib doesn't send the best of messages to the rest of the league. If Marrone and the Bills wanted EJ Manuel over Nassib, what must other NFL teams think? Tyrann Mathieu thinks he'll be a second-round pick. Agree? No, actually. We'd pegged him as a third-rounder, and we'll stick with that. There are far too many questions about the kid, and they're not going away. In fact, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer said during an interview on the Dan Patrick Show on Friday that Mathieu blew off visits with the Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans last week. "Off the grid," is the way Glazer described it. That means he's "off the board" for a bunch of teams. And as we type, we're wondering if our third-round projection is being too generous. Who is the best overall player left on the board? Florida State offensive tackle Menelik Watson. Size, strength, quick feet, good punch. What's not to love? Well, technique, for one. And that's why he wasn't a first-round pick. Watson, who grew up in England, is still new to the game. But so are BYU defensive end Ziggy Ansah (No. 5 overall) and Florida State defensive end Bjoern Werner (No. 24 overall). A team has a shot to grab a player with all of the abilities to be a very good right tackle in the NFL. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles each grabbed a tackle high in the first round, so look for the Detroit Lions at No. 36 as the first potential landing spot for Watson. Which pick was the biggest gamble? Definitely the Detroit Lions grabbing Ansah at No. 5 overall. That's not to say it was a bad pick. The definition of a gamble means risking something for a big payoff, and Ansah could wind up paying huge dividends. But he's extremely raw and, with the comparisons to the New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul, remember that Pierre-Paul went 10 picks later. In fact, Ansah can thank Pierre-Paul for playing so well over the past couple of years. Pierre-Paul's impact during the Giants' Super Bowl season of 2011 (16½ sacks in the regular season and a blocked field goal to seal a victory against the Dallas Cowboys) is what the Lions expect from Ansah. If they get that, a top-five pick is more than worth it. So which pick was the safest? That would be the Jacksonville Jaguars selecting Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel at No. 2. It was even safer than the Kansas City Chiefs taking Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher first overall. Joeckel was a starter at left tackle for his entire college career and faced a higher level of competition than Fisher did. His technique is outstanding, and he has been working on it for years. Fisher is a mauler and might wind up being the better player in the NFL, but it's hard to imagine Joeckel won't be a very good player for a very long time. And the question was which pick was safest. PHOTOS: All 32 picks in the first round Did the Miami Dolphins really pull one over on the Oakland Raiders when moving from No. 12 to third overall? We think so. And so does the draft value chart. The Dolphins gave up the 12th pick (1,200 points) and their second-round pick, No. 42 overall (480 points). That's 1,680 points. The third overall pick, which the Dolphins used to select Oregon defensive end Dion Jordan, was worth 2,200 points. "The value of the kid," Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said of Jordan, according to the Miami Herald, "with as little as they had to (give up) for him �?� is incredible." That said, don't just think it's the same old Raiders here. Surely they know what the chart says, as every team has one. They're a rebuilding team that was short a second-round pick this year because the previous regime was so eager to get Carson Palmer from the Cincinnati Bengals. It also was a market in which a lot of teams wanted to move back but few were willing to pay the price to go forward. What happened with Sharrif Floyd's tumble from the top five? NFL Network's Mike Mayock said during Thursday's broadcast he heard from teams who said Floyd has character issues. Floyd bounced around as a kid in Philadelphia, so perhaps that was the case with a bunch of teams, but a lack of production in college at Florida also contributed. Floyd had five sacks and forced one fumble. Though he won't admit it, apparently Floyd even had an inkling he might fall if he slipped past that first chunk of teams. Floyd did have 13 tackles for loss last season, though, so if he can keep that up in the NFL, the Minnesota Vikings might have gotten themselves a nice little steal at No. 23 overall. Why did Tank Carradine fall out of the first round? The Florida State defensive end was seen by many as a solid pick late in the teens and into the 20s, but his recovery from knee surgery isn't going as well as the glowing stories on him would have one believe. Every team got the information on Carradine at the scouting combine medical recheck, and it wasn't very good. Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers had a similar situation a few years ago and tumbled from a potential No. 1 overall pick to the second round. Carradine could be selected Friday. Follow Mike Garafolo on Twitter @MikeGarafolo Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: 10 burning questions after the draft's first round After the first round, you've got questions, we know you do. A link to this page will be included in your message.

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Ian Cole looking to make the most of an opportunity By Andrew Allsman| Posted: September 15th, 2012| Contact | For the first time since being drafted in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Ian Cole feels as though he belongs in the National Hockey League. It has been a long journey for Cole, who has spent the better part of the past two seasons with the Blues' minor league affiliate team, the Peoria Rivermen, but coming in to training camp this year he knows he has a spot reserved for him on the NHL roster, a spot that was never open to him in the past. “I’ve never had this opportunity", said Cole. "This is the first time I have had the opportunity to be here all season. You could say ‘if he played well he could stay’, but there was always a pretty good chance I would end up in Peoria either way. It’s nice to have the chance to be here for a full season and hopefully in the top-six (defensemen) for the entire regular season.” Cole was called up to the Blues three separate times during the 2011-12 season, but only for depth purposes. He never really had the opportunity to prove he was worthy of an NHL spot and on one occasion only spent four days with the parent club before being sent back down to the AHL. As emotionally deflating as it was for Cole, he knew that he had to play a strong game every time he was granted an opportunity, and that all he could do was hope someone noticed him. On February 15 Cole was called up for the third and final time, and would remain with the Blues for the rest of the regular season as well as through two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He added 26 more regular-season games to his NHL resume, along with six points (one goal, five assists). He also gained some valuable playoff experience, playing in two post-season games. It was a great experience for the 23-year old defenseman, getting to witness the grind of an NHL season, but it was also hard to sit in the press box most nights while his teammates took the ice to compete. He is hoping there will be less of that this season. “No one likes to sit out. Obviously you want to be in the NHL with the guys and on an NHL team, but if you aren’t playing it’s hard to be up-beat and positive. You want to play hockey. Hopefully this is the year I move forward and get to play the whole season.” Drafted one year before the Blues' young, star defenseman, Alex Pietrangelo, Cole found his journey to the NHL to be a bit longer than Pietrangelo's, but he knows he now has to prove himself, just like all young players, if he want to play in a top-six role every night. “It has to be proven. They aren’t just going to hand out a spot like that to someone who has only played 26 games in an NHL season. It has to be shown to them and it can only be shown if I’m playing regular time in a regular season. That’s why I’m hoping they get this lockout thing figured out. It means a lot to me to play a full season. That’s what I need to take my career to the next level. Play a full season, not 26 games. Play every game for a full season and show they can depend on me.” Cole spent the offseason training for what he hoped would be a season spent with the Blues, but unsure if there would be a spot for him. The Blues tried to acquire a left-handed partner for Pietrangelo, but came up empty. Now defenseman Carlo Colaiacovo has signed with Detroit and Cole has been guaranteed a spot with the Blues. General Manager Doug Armstrong believes Cole has earned his shot, and is content with the defensive layout of his team. "We had talked about improving the left side of our defense if possible. There hasn't been a lot of player movement but we believe in the six guys that are here, Ian Cole being one of the six." Cole will start the season in St. Louis, and where he goes from there depends on what he does with the opportunity. It could be Cole's one chance to prove himself, and he looks to make the most of it by doing what he loves; playing hockey. “Hopefully I continue to move up the ladder and continue to grow as a player. The only way to do that is to play hockey.” Ian Cole, Follow @STLBluesWriter Learn more about Andrew Andrew's portfolio and information True Blues on Facebook Other Blues Sites KMOV's Blues coverage The Hockey Writers (Blues coverage) Frozen Notes Blue Note Zone Bleedin' Blue Sobotka makes a big impact in his return Blues players reflect on Oshie's Olympic shootout performance Reaves inks a four-year extension with the Blues Alexander Steen signs three-year extension with Blues Other cool sites to visit TowerDefence Games Andrew Allsman I am 18 years old and currently attending Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. I also write for KMOV.com (HockeySTL). To find out more about me and my work, visit andrewallsman.pressfolios.com

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Davis Cup - France-USA on the Monte-Carlo Clay Courts 2/28/2012 Sport The French Federation has confirmed the place and the surface for the quarter final of the Davis Cup between France and the United States on 6, 7 and 8 April 2012. First Davis Cup for France in Monaco For the first time in its history, the French Davis Cup team will compete on the Monte-Carlo clay courts, where the Masters 1000 is held each year (this will take place the following weekend). This decision will please the players and staff, who were hoping that the quarter-final matches with the United States (from 6 to 8 April) would take place on the open-air clay courts. This will also be the first home game for Guy Forget since the semi-final with Argentina in Lyon in 2010 (five matches). The Davis Cup – a week before the Rolex Masters A week before the Masters 1000, the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune, Cap Martin in the Alpes Maritimes, close to the Principality of Monaco, will host the Davis Cup. None of the towns on the shortlist, i.e. Nimes, Nancy and Pau, were selected by the French Tennis Federation. However, France has shown a definite preference for clay courts. Last year, three French players competed in the quarter finals in Monte-Carlo: Gaëls Monfils, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon. Gasquet had previously been a semi-finalist there in 2005, after beating Roger Federer, who was No. 1 at the time. Clay was probably the best surface for Monfils, although Jo Wilfried Tsonga didn't seem completely at ease. Previous Score In the previous round, the Americans beat the Swiss 5-0 on the same surface. Mardy Fish won his match against Stanislas Wawrinka and John Isner beat Roger Federer. In the tournament, Fish and Isner have never gone further than the third round at Roland-Garros and they have both had more defeats than victories on clay. Mardy Fish has only played on the Côte d'Azur once, in 2003, when he lost to Gustavo Kuerten in the first round. John Isner has never played there. Moreover, the French have notched up a total of five wins and only one defeat against the United States on this surface, during the final in 1982. If they win again, "les Bleus" will play host to Spain or Austria in the semi final. The matches will take place in Monte-Carlo (10,000 seats on the center court), on open-air clay courts, as the staff had hoped. Information on ticket sales will be available from 5 March. 2nd Monte-Carlo Polo World Cup Ice Skating Championship in Monaco Second Monte-Carlo Polo Cup Launch of the First "Solar1 Monte-Carlo Cup 2014" La Condamine Market is Open in the Evening.

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Tennis / BNP Paribas Open Tickets This thrilling event takes place on the second largest tennis stadium in the world and stands as the best attended outside of the four Grand Slams, so purchase BNP Paribas Open tickets now and head to Indian Wells, California, for a over a week of sensational tennis action featuring the world’s top pros. Top Tennis Tickets French Open Tickets Australian Open Tickets More Tennis Tickets Italian Open Rogers Cup Mens Tennis Canada Western and Southern Open BNP Paribas Open Ticket Information Drawing in thousands of spectators each March, the BNP Paribas Open is one of the country’s premier annual men’s and women’s tennis tournaments. Taking place on the hard courts of Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Southern California, the two-week long BNP Paribas Open is classified as an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament for the men and a WTA Premier event for the women. Since its earliest form, which can be traced all the way back to the 1970s, the tournament has grown to become one of the biggest combined tennis events outside of the Grand Slams, attracting the biggest names in tennis each year. Past champions include Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andre Agassi, and Boris Becker for the men, while Maria Sharapova, Caroline Wozniacki, Serena Williams, and Steffi Graf have all prevailed on the women’s side. Reserve your spot in the stands to watch this year’s stars compete at this first-class event with BNP Paribas Open tickets from Vivid Seats. Contact us seven days a week with questions or concerns at 1.866.848.8499 or through Live Chat. The tournament boasts many different dates in which to attend, depending on your preferences. To narrow down the event schedule above, implement filters on the left sidebar containing options such as day of the week and time of day, which may help streamline your search. Each round will be designated in the listing, with ATP referring to men’s matches and WTA denoting women’s matches. Click the “Tickets” button to view all seats available for purchase. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden seating chart will be available as well, displaying sections inside the venue containing tickets currently for sale. Click inside any of the color-coded areas for price and quantity information. Additionally, some listings may contain a “Notes” icon which will typically include any special details left by the seller. To proceed to checkout, select “Buy,” which will send you to the final login screen where you’ll be able to log in and complete the order. Make sure to review all transaction details regarding the total price, quantity, section, and row for the BNP Paribas Open tickets you have selected. Processing will begin as soon as the order has been placed, and we’ll send you an email notification to confirm the purchase. BNP Paribas Open News World's Best Expected to Collide at 2014 BNP Paribas Open Many of the top players in the world are expected to compete in the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the year for the men and WTA Premier Tournament for the women when the BNP Paribas Open returns to California's Indian Wells Tennis Garden, March 3-16. As of Jan. 22, the entry list for the 2014 edition reads like that of a Grand Slam event, and though that has come to be expected from one of tennis' most popular annual tournaments, two particularly notable names have been missing from it for over a decade. Not since 2001 have Venus or Serena Williams competed in the BNP Paribas Open, but that drought may end for one of them in 2014, as Serena has officially entered to play in the tournament, though can still change her mind come March. The two-time winner and current world No. 1 last won in 2001, and since then, Daniela Hantuchova, Kim Clijsters, and Maria Sharapova have all captured a pair of tournament titles of their own, including one for Sharapova in 2013. World No. 1 Rafael Nadal is the defending champion on the men's side after defeating fifth-ranked Juan Martin del Potro in 2013 for his third win at the BNP Paribas Open. The victory also marked the 600th of Nadal's career and 22nd in an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, which set a new record. Premium experience at Vivid Seats… stays at Vivid Seats.

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TRANSCENDING - THE WAT MISAKA STORY is a documentary film about Wat Misaka, the first person of color to be drafted into what is now the NBA. A Nisei who was born, raised and is still living in Utah, he was the very first draft pick of the New York Knicks, in 1947. Overcoming the national political climate during World War II, Wat was a star player for the University of Utah 1944 and 1947 championship teams, taking 2 years off in between to serve in the U.S. Army. His perseverance and loyalty to his teammates, other Nisei friends (including those interned at Topaz) and his family are a testament to the unflappable Japanese American spirit. This film includes in depth interviews with Wat and his family, teammates from his championship teams (including All-American star Arnie Ferrin of the Minneapolis Lakers) sports authorities (including Knicks Historian Dennis D'Agostino and ubiquitous New York sportscaster Spencer Ross), and many who continue to look up to him as both a role model and personal hero. The film also has video clips from his 1944 and 1947 college games, rare footage from a visit to the Topaz Internment Camp, and countless photos of his triumphant career. Directed by award winning filmmakers Bruce Alan Johnson and Christine Toy Johnson, this project was awarded two consecutive grants from the California Civil Liberties Public Education Program. Plans are in motion to have screenings and accompanying panel discussions on exclusion at universities across the country.

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B-Sens Not Stressing Over Game 1 Updated Apr 13, 2011 at 11:14 PM EDT (WBNG Binghamton) Many experts will tell you that winning game one of a best of seven playoff series is important. Especially on the road. But the B-Sens aren't looking at it as a must win. After a light workout this morning, the Binghamton Senators are on their way to New Hampshire, for their first playoff game since 2005. Just like the motto's been for most of the season, the B-Sens are looking to take it one game at a time. And aren't putting too much stock in winning game one on the road. "We don't play that this is a big game. This is a big moment. We just show up for 60 minutes and bring our game the way we need to play it....the right way, whistle to whistle...that generally gets us the results that we need," says Coach Kurt Kleinendorst. "Game 1 is important but at the same time if you don't get game 1, game 2 becomes that much more important for us. You never go into a series making one game more important than another or anything like that. For us, I think the focus is to go win game 1 and we'll worry about game 2 and so forth after that," says Ryan Keller. Games one and two of the series will be in Manchester. Game one is Thursday night at 7:00 pm.

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Whitecaps submit MLS application October 15, 2008 Click Here to see Bob Lenarduzzi's Comments on the Application Vancouver Whitecaps FC announce that they are one of seven prospective ownership groups to have submitted an application for a future Major League Soccer expansion franchise. MLS president Mark Abbott unveiled on Wednesday three Canadian and four American markets where the prospective ownership groups are looking to bring a franchise on the MLS’ official website, MLSnet.com. MLS intends to add two more clubs in the next few years, bringing the league to 18 teams. Seattle Sounders FC begin play in 2009 as the 15th team in MLS, while Philadelphia will join as the league’s 16th team in 2010. The following ownership groups, listed in alphabetical order by market, submitted applications to the MLS office in New York City prior to the league’s 2:00 p.m. PT deadline on Wednesday: Market Ownership Group Atlanta Arthur Blank Miami FC Barcelona and Marcelo Claure Montreal The Saputo and Gillett families Ottawa Eugene Melnyk Portland The Paulson family St. Louis Investment group led by Jeff Cooper Vancouver Greg Kerfoot, Steve Luczo, Jeff Mallett and Steve Nash The MLS expansion application required prospective owners to provide information, such as details about the applicant’s proposed ownership group, stadium plan and financing, and an analysis of the potential expansion market. The applications will be reviewed by the league office and the MLS expansion committee. An announcement regarding which markets will receive the next two expansion clubs will take place during the fourth quarter of 2008 or the first quarter of 2009. About Major League Soccer Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer is the top-flight professional soccer league in the United States and Canada, and features many stars from North America and around the world. Now in its 13th season, the 14 teams in MLS are: Chicago Fire, Colorado Rapids, Chivas USA, Columbus Crew, DC United, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo, Kansas City Wizards, Los Angeles Galaxy, New York Red Bulls, New England Revolution, Real Salt Lake, San Jose Earthquakes and Toronto FC. Seattle Sounders FC will join the league in 2009 and a Philadelphia expansion team will debut in 2010.

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Longtime UA administrator Lewis retiring Published: Monday, February 3, 2014 Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Associate AD, hands a pair of giant scissors to Marilyn Bogle (center) as Jeff Long (right) Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics, help cut the ribbon during the official dedication of Bogle Park on April 11, 2009. FAYETTEVILLE — Bev Lewis, who has spent 32 years as a coach and athletics administrator at the University of Arkansas, announced Monday she will retire in June. Lewis was the school's women's athletics director for 19 years until the men's and women's athletics departments merged in 2007. She has since served as an executive associate athletics director, handling the administrator position for 10 of the school's 19 sports. Lewis is the school's former women's cross country and track & field coach. She won the school's first conference championship in a women's sport during the 1988 cross country season and she was a three-time Southwest Conference coach of the year in the 1980s. The Bev Lewis Center was opened on the UA campus in 2003, housing administrative offices and workout facilities for female student-athletes. Lewis was a 1998 inductee into the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor and has served on multiple NCAA committees. Related Stories Razorbacks still waiting for word from recruits Suspension lifted for Harris, Qualls Second preseason award for Anderson Monday recruiting tidbits Matt Jones is the online sports editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and Northwest Arkansas Newspapers. He and his wife live in Fayetteville. Email Matt

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Home >Athletics >Sports >Coaches Angie Grove agrove@wilson.edu Angie Grove (Wilson, ’00) heads into her fifth season as head coach for the Phoenix. Grove, a Wilson alum, was a three-sport athlete and Hall of Fame inductee during her collegiate career. She played basketball, field hockey, and softball. As a basketball standout, she currently holds the college record for single game high in points, game high blocks, season blocks, and career blocks. In addition, she is the 2nd all-time leading scorer and her career block record still ranks her nationally for the NCAA Division III. Grove has coached at the middle school, high school and collegiate level, affording her the experience to elevate the program. According to Athletic Director Lori Frey, “She brings to the court a passion for the game of basketball and we are looking forward to a new era in Wilson basketball.” On the basketball court, Grove amassed over 1800 points in her career. She was a threat from the inside and perimeter, displaying versatility, court sense and excellent ball-handling skills. In addition, she became nationally ranked in the NCAA Division III for blocked shots. Jared Trulear jared.trulear@wilson.edu Jared Trulear is a 2009 graduate of York College of Pennsylvania, where he majored in Sport Management, minored in Business Administration, and had a concentration in Athletic Administration. He was a high school basketball standout at The Christian Academy in Brookhaven, Pa. where he earned several awards including being an Honorable Mention All-County player, First Team All-Tournament honors, as well as being recognized as one of the county's best rebounders as a senior and one of the county's best bench players as a junior. As a competitive high school player, Jared has invaluable playing experience, notably playing against other athletes currently playing in the NBA. Jared has coached at the middle school and junior varsity levels, as well as AAU basketball at Advanced Hoops in Harrisburg, Pa. A former athletic director, Jared has a true passion for coaching spending countless hours honing his craft.

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Reds break from slump, start getting players back The Reds have emerged from their worst start in two decades.- 1:06 am Chad Johnson signs with Canadian football team Former NFL star Chad Johnson is heading to the Canadian Football League.- 1:08 am Indians fall to Tigers in sloppy game Danny Salazar walked the leadoff man in the fifth inning, then let that small mistake turn into a...- 11:41 pm Gardening 101: What you need to know before trying out that green thumb Plus, gardening can give people the chance to beautify their homes, eat tasty fruits and...- 4:45 pm Two Muskingum County commissioners face challenges for seats Brian Gadd Muskingum County Check out our Voter Guide at http://www.ZanesvilleTimesRecorder.com/voterguide ZANESVILLE -- Incumbent County Commissioners Steve Strauss and Jerry Lavy face opposition as they vie to hold onto their seats.Among the challengers is former commissioner John Bates and challenger Todd Sands, who like Strauss have lived on farms and also have become successful businessmen.Meanwhile, military veteran and local business owner Eddie Brock stands in the way of a second term for Lavy.Whether their experience serving the county in various capacities will turn on voters remains to be seen at the upcoming Nov. 6 election.The candidates The independent Strauss, who left the Republican Party after losing the nomination to Sands earlier this year, is trying to hold onto a seat he's only held for about a year.Bates, a Democrat, served four years as a commissioner before he was ousted in 2010 by Republican Jim Porter.The Republican Sands is running on his experience of managing a family business and peripheral businesses that have employed 75 people with gross revenue of $25 million.Lavy, a Democrat who retired from the Ohio Department of Taxation after 30 years, bested Strauss four years ago for his commissioner's seat. Strauss later was appointed by the Republican Party to fill the slot vacated by Brian Hill, who joined the Ohio General Assembly as a state representative.Brock, who spent 10 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy and then re-enlisted as a reserve to serve a tour of duty in Afghanistan, has been co-owner of Brock-Weingarth Insurance in Dresden and a school board member in the Tri-Valley Local District.He said he brings leadership experience, business skills and a strong work ethic to the table.Priorities Sands said his goal if elected is to help facilitate the growth of the local economy, including working with companies to "create good high-paying jobs."He also would like to provide a boost to the county budget by letting employees go through attrition and cost-savings through "the use of technology and efficient management practices."Bates prides himself on the fact that as a commissioner he worked with county departments and the other commissioners to balance the county budget.Laying the infrastructure foundation to help attract new businesses to the area also was a key success of his term as a commissioner."There was $12.7 million in sewer work and $2.9 million in water projects and we were able to get $5.3 million in federal grants for the sewer, $1.2 million for the water," Bates said. "We had the Dunzweiler sewer, it was going to cost $25,000 for a tap, people couldn't afford it, so we got that down to $4,200."Strauss said his experience as a hard worker on his Highland Township farm as well as the business experience he gained while working at Dutro's and now Strauss Fence and as a commissioner proves he's the best choice."This is my 11th year with Strauss Fence, and I'm very connected to businesses in the county," Strauss said. "We've received Halliburton, now we're very actively looking for new sites, and we (the county and Port Authority) have $2 million to look for new sites."Infrastructure improvements also are key to continued business success, Strauss said, adding that he has worked with the other commissioners to promote the Gratiot and Mount Sterling water extensions and plans for taking water down Old River Road.Lavy said he's running on a platform of continued fiscal responsibility, shown by his work with Strauss and Porter to refinance county debt and pay off outstanding debts, saving the county nearly $500,000 in interest payments.And when it comes to more bang for the buck, he worked with the others to help merge the water and sewer department billing system -- another cost savings -- and presided over about $14 million in committed investments through grants and loans for water and sewer development."We've managed that pretty well over the last four years," Lavy said. "I'm committed to strong, sound decision-making and using resources wisely."Brock said his No. 1 priority is jobs, fostering an environment among the business community and officials that will help attract new business and grow the area's work force."We need to engage these folks, say here's what we have, here's the infrastructure and here's what we're willing to do," Brock said.Development The candidates have various opinions on ways to help bring more economic revenue into the area.Bates would like to see the areas around Mattingly Foods and the old Mosaic Tile site redeveloped for future industrial use.Sands would like to see a total build-out of the EastPointe Business Park before money is invested elsewhere. The county should also focus its attention on extending water and sewer to unserved areas of the county, including Philo-Duncan Falls and Roseville, which could open up development efforts in those areas.Strauss still would like the county to work with the Port Authority to develop a new job-ready site similar to EastPointe. He said the county must also work to promote the former Longaberger manufacturing campus as a prime economic development area.Although the local economy has limped along with the rest of the country, including high unemployment, "I think we'll see a lot of things happen locally in the next year," Strauss said. "People are just waiting to see what will happen with the presidential election."Lavy is looking at the potential impact of the shale industry in the area as a driver for future economic success, but cautions the area's roads and environment need to be protected through road use agreements and engaging industry officials.Brock agreed, noting "we want them to be accountable to the infrastructure."He doesn't see environment issues as much of a problem with fracking, since the practice has been done for years and is the focus of intense oversight by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Agency.Other issues Strauss said he was proud to be in office when the Muskingum County Home issue finally was resolved this year, and Lavy said he firmly agreed with the decision after looking at the home's revenue and how much the legal process to get the beds certified had cost the county."The County Home had been kicked down the street for years," Strauss said. "I'm proud we made the decision to save county residents money."Lavy agreed."There was the roof, the HVAC, a lot of issues, and the lease on the building was up in a year," Lavy said.Sands and Bates said they would rather have seen the issue put to voters on whether to build a new county home or not, rather than dispersing residents to uncertain fates.Brock also said even if closure was "ultimately the right decision," he also was concerned that two years of the County Home levy remained, and commissioners could have come up with a timeline for closure that was more fair to residents and their families.Strauss also said he wouldn't advocate for cuts to the sheriff's office or engineer budget and would target cuts in noncritical areas such as the title and recorder offices.He said he would support a plan for a new jail to consolidate those run by the county and city of Zanesville, similar to the collaboration and consolidation being considered for 911 operations.Bates said consolidating the city and county water and sewer departments, as well as the jails and combining services such as those offered by the county recorder and title offices would save the county money."We have to get it done, it will have to happen," he said.Sands also advocates for combined services "but I don't believe in laying anybody off to help in other areas."Lavy and Brock also agree that consolidating services is a key to combating declining revenue from the state, and advocate for the city and county to share services such as water and sewer operations and the jails."These are things we can build upon," Lavy said."But we want to make sure we don't lose jobs in the process," Brock said. bgadd@zanesvilletimesrecorder.com; 740-450-6752Twitter: @ksu94Gadd ZANESVILLE -- Incumbent County Commissioners Steve Strauss and Jerry Lavy face opposition as they vie to hold onto their seats. 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Originally Published: 12/15/2013 Eagles' snow bowl win over Lions is unforgettable - Reading Eagle: Steve Patton A view from the press box of the opening kickoff of the Lions-Eagles game at snowy Lincoln Financial Field last Sunday. I've covered every Philadelphia Eagles game at Lincoln Financial Field since the stadium opened in 2003, from the same seat in the press box with the same view and for any number of games I'll never forget. The Eagles winning the NFC Championship and that trip to the Super Bowl on a frigid Sunday in January, 2005 stands out. So does the 44-6 win over Dallas in the final game of the 2008 season, sending the Birds to an unlikely playoff spot and an even more improbable run to the conference title game. There was the fourth-and-26 playoff victory over the Packers in 2003. Then there was last Sunday. It started snowing as I worked my way to a parking lot next to I-95. By the time I got to my seat in the press box and got situated, there was a coating of snow on the field. And by the time the Eagles and Lions kicked off, I had to use binoculars just to try and figure out who had the football. The conditions were one thing. The game, with the Eagles roaring back from a two-touchdown deficit to win their fifth straight with a 34-point second half, was another. I'm not much for picking one game as the most memorable I've seen. But this one definitely makes the list. - Steve Patton Joe's a Lefty favorite Before it closed as 1996 turned to 1997, Joe's Restaurant was a destination for countless celebrities. Actors, writers, political figures, dancers and more all made their way to Seventh and Laurel streets in Reading for the renowned wild mushroom dishes. Add another famous man to the list: Steve Carlton. The Baseball Hall of Famer and former Philadelphia Phillies left-hander remembered making the trek back during his heyday while in town recently. "Joe's was excellent," Carlton said. "It's an hour drive to do it, so it wasn't often you did it. It was worth it. It's a nice road trip, going out into the country the way the French might do. Once or twice a summer was fun. The food was that good." Carlton was in Berks to be the keynote speaker at the Law Foundation of Berks County and PICPA Reading Chapter Holiday Benefit Luncheon and to sign autographs at the VF Outlet Center. - Brian Smith Prior commitment A Berks team made it to the state football championships once again this year, but Saturday's snow storm caused a change in plans. Bob McCool, Ross Tucker and Steve Degler, who worked Wyomissing's championship game last year for the Pennsylvania Cable Network, were back in the booth together this weekend. However, with Saturday's scheduled Class AA and Class AAAA games moved to today, Tucker was limited only to doing color for Friday's double-header. He can't broadcast today's double-header because he'll be working the New Orleans at St. Louis NFL game. Degler will move up from his spot on the sidelines to join McCool in the booth. PCN will broadcast the games live today, at 1 and 5:55, with encore presentations tonight and Tuesday. - Mike Drago Collins worthy of Hall The College Football Hall of Fame inducted its latest class earlier this week. The inductees included former Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier and former Ohio State offensive tackle Orlando Pace, two deserving guys who played in the mid-1990s. That was about the same time that former Wilson standout Kerry Collins was quarterbacking Penn State to a Big Ten championship, a Rose Bowl win over Oregon and a 12-0 season in 1994. Collins was a consensus first-team All-American that year and won the Maxwell Award as the nation's outstanding player and the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's outstanding quarterback. He was at the helm of an offense that averaged 47.0 points per game, the highest by a Big Ten team in the modern era (since 1920). He went on to throw for more than 40,000 yards in the NFL. Despite his success, Collins has yet to be inducted or even nominated for the College Football Hall of Fame. He deserves to be inducted sooner rather than later. - Rich Scarcella Another snowy situation The PIAA's decision to delay Saturday's round of the football finals brought back memories of the snow in 2005. I was assigned to cover Southern Columbia and then Pottsville in Friday's games at Hersheypark Stadium. However, a storm Thursday night into early Friday morning dumped several inches of snow on the area. Social media was just coming into its own back then and there was little info available on the computer first thing in the morning. A couple of old-fashioned calls on the landline revealed that Southern's Class A final was going to be delayed an hour. With no time to lose, I dug out my car and got to the still snow-covered Turnpike within a half-hour. The Tigers won the first game handily, and while waiting for the Pottsville game to start, it became apparent that Hersheypark personnel didn't clear out enough bleachers. From the press box, it was quite a scene as the thousands of Pottsville fans that made the short trip down Interstate 81 from Schuylkill County were digging out their seats from the snow and ice. So much of the white stuff was kicked up, it looked like another blizzard had hit the stadium. - Evan Jones Unexpected start The basketball season is just a week old, but it's worth noting one of the Berks League teams that's off to a solid start. The Exeter girls are 4-0, only one shy of their victory total for the 2012-13 season. Standard qualifiers apply: It's mid-December. Every school has a different non-league and tournament schedule, so it's difficult to compare teams based on records alone. Even so, Exeter has done some nice things, beating the host team and Susquehanna Township to win the Tulpehocken Tip-Off Tournament, and holding opponents to an average of 29.8 points per game. Four players, including Jen Eck with 11.3 points per game, are averaging at least 6.3 points. League play begins this week and it helps to go in with some positive momentum. - Beth Hudson A better perspective Two weeks ago, I wrote that Penn State's first two seasons under Bill O'Brien, with a combined 15-9 record, might be considered disappointing, by Penn State and Joe Paterno standards. One reader pointed out in an email that O'Brien's first two years - 8-4 and 7-5 - are probably as good as most seasons under Paterno in his last 15 years. The Nittany Lions were just an average team, the reader wrote. And, the reader wrote, in his earlier years, Paterno scheduled seven or eight games a year against teams that could be considered easy wins. And in his last 18 years, the Nittany Lions won as many titles as "that football powerhouse ... Northwestern." While "football powerhouse" might not describe Northwestern, the Wildcats have had their share of strong teams. And when making comparisons, we could point out that the Lions' three titles were three more than other Big Ten schools such as Indiana and Minnesota. The reader's conclusion was that O'Brien is no worse that Paterno's last 15 years. It's hard to compare two years to 15 years, much less to the 46 years that included 400-plus victories for Paterno - numbers that, I think, are hardly average. So if Bill O'Brien were to coach 15 years at Penn State with the daunting NCAA sanctions no longer a burden - or 46 years - then we would have a much better perspective on these first two seasons. - Philip Glatfelter

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A Minor Leaguer's Life: Bats, Games And A Nickname Share Tweet E-mail Comments Print By Bill Chappell Originally published on Thu June 14, 2012 9:51 am Tyler Saladino, 22, makes a throw from second base during warm-ups with the AA Birmingham Barons. Russell Lewis Tyler Saladino, 22, during batting practice with the AA Birmingham Barons. Tyler Saladino's glove. Tyler Saladino plays baseball in the minor leagues in Birmingham, Ala. A prospect in the Chicago White Sox system, he was sent to the AA Birmingham Barons after spending part of spring training with the major league club. And when he arrived in Alabama, Saladino's first task was to find a place to live, as he tells Morning Edition's David Greene. He settled on sharing an apartment. "There's three other teammates living here right now," he says. "We're all splitting the cost of everything. I think it's $881 for the month, and we're splitting that four ways. So it's actually working out pretty well for us." An infielder who plays mostly at shortstop, Saladino's goal is to reach the majors. To help him get there, Barons hitting instructor Brandon Moore tutors him in getting the barrel of the bat through the inside part of the plate, to cover more of the strike zone. "Once you start getting the barrel to that inside pitch," Moore says, "because you backspin the ball better than anybody I got, when you're on — you're going to see doubles and triples in that left-center-field gap." Many in the Chicago organization think Saladino will make it to the majors; Moore is one of them. "He asks good questions for a young ballplayer — which is always fun," Moore says. "The guys that, in my experience, ask the right questions, at his age, usually do pretty good." NPR's Southern Bureau Chief Russell Lewis, who has attended some of Saladino's games — and is an admitted Barons fan — says the fans and players seem to like the rangy player who always seems to have a smile on his face. And while many of his teammates call Saladino "Sally," some fans have given him a different nickname: Salad. "Let's go, Salad!" yelled one fan at a recent game. In that game, Saladino hit a run-scoring single. The next night, he nabbed a liner behind second base to make a nice defensive play, spinning to throw the runner out at first. With plays like that, Saladino hopes to make his case for being in the majors. And if it he makes it there, perhaps he can pick his own nickname.Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Transcript DAVID GREENE, HOST: This baseball season, we're following two minor league players trying to make it to the majors. One of them, Tyler Saladino, plays here. (SOUNDBITE OF BASEBALL GAME) UNIDENTIFIED MAN: And now it's time for your 2012 Birmingham Barons starting lineup, presented by Pearl River Resorts. GREENE: Birmingham, Alabama. Tyler's an infielder for the Barons. They're a team affiliated with the Chicago White Sox. And many people in the White Sox organization see a bright future for Tyler, potential to make it to the big league club in Chicago. That includes his hitting coach, Brandon Moore. BRANDON MOORE: You know, he has an internal drive. You know, he likes to come out here when nobody else is around, and he likes to not have distractions. And he asks good questions for a young ball player, which is always fun. And the guys that, in my experience, that ask the right questions at his age usually do pretty good. GREENE: And we had some questions for Russell Lewis, who is NPR's Southern bureau chief. We asked him if he'd mind hitting the stadium and catching a few of Tyler's games. You know, full disclosure, this was not the hardest assignment for you, as I understand it, because you live in Birmingham. You're a pretty big Barons fan as it is. RUSSELL LEWIS, BYLINE: Sure. You know, I think if you live in Birmingham, it's the only professional team here. And most folks will probably know the Barons as the team where Michael Jordan played for a season after he retired from basketball. But it's a lot of fun. Unfortunately, the series that I attended was not the greatest for the Barons. But, you know, I caught up with Tyler. I was able to spend a lot of time with him. TYLER SALADINO: Here in the Minor Leagues, I'm working to learn how to win a World Series in the future. If losing becomes acceptable or striking out becomes acceptable, well, that's not practicing the right things to compete at the highest level possible. GREENE: Wow, it really does sound like he's already thinking about the future, Russell. And are they treating him like something special already, in Birmingham? LEWIS: You know, it's funny. I mean folks here in Birmingham probably don't know his prospects. But they certainly - they like him as a player. They like what he brings. They like sort of the excitement and the enthusiasm that he brings to the baseball field each and every day. His teammates, they call him Sally that's his nickname. (LAUGHTER) LEWIS: Other people in the stands there's this one guy who yells out, Go, Salad. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #1: Let's go, Salad. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #2: Now hitting for the Barons, shortstop, Number Three, Tyler Saladino. (SOUNDBITE OF CHEERING) LEWIS: So, in his first at batting in the first inning, Tyler swings at the first pitch, hits a single and knocks in a run. It's one-nothing, Barons over the Blue Wahoos from Pensacola. (APPLAUSE) LEWIS: Tyler played shortstop and there was one play when the ball was just hit sharply to him, and it's what he did to get the out that was just so oh-so impressive. Here's the Barons' play-by-play guy calling that play. UNIDENTIFIED MAN #3: Left-handed Dodder, two-nothing, Pensacola. Hits one hard on the ground towards short. Diving to his left, Saladino spins and throws, and picks the man off at first. Wow on both ways. (APPLAUSE) UNIDENTIFIED MAN #3: First the spin... GREENE: And the Barons did not end up winning that game or any in that particular series. But Russell told me that that kind of thing doesn't Tyler from appreciating the privileges of professional baseball. LEWIS: He's just gotten a new baseball glove. This one is really special to Tyler because it's got his name stitched into it. It's his own glove and, to him, this is a really, really big deal. SALADINO: It's a reminder of where you're at. I could never afford to get a custom glove when I was younger. It's just another reason to keep working hard, you know? You want to be able to keep playing so you can keep playing ball with your own name on your bat. That's awesome. GREENE: Russell, one thing that I know matters to Tyler is his family. He told me back in April how important his family is. And I understand they were actually in Birmingham when you went to these games. LEWIS: Yeah, his family is able to go to about one series of games with him a year. And they were able to come to this series. His family lives out in California in San Diego, drove out from California - actually brought him his truck. GREENE: Wow, the whole clan. LEWIS: Drove him his truck. Both his dad and his grandfather had a hand in coaching Tyler, getting him to the point of where he is now. And, as Tyler says, baseball really is the heritage of their family. And his grandfather, Art Saladino, Sr., says Tyler really is - he's a special player. ART SALADINO, SR.: You know, he can go as far as he wants because he likes the game. Like anybody else, if you like the game, stick with it. You know? And don't give up. GREENE: Wow, that's one proud grandfather. Well, Russell, I know you and I are going to be watching to see how far Tyler does go this year. Thanks so much for going to those games and checking in with us. LEWIS: Absolutely, my pleasure. GREENE: Russell Lewis is NPR's Southern bureau chief. You can see a picture Tyler Saladino's new baseball glove at NPR.org. And we'll check back in with Tyler later in the season. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.

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January 15, 2012It's UCLA vs. USC - Round One Barry Abel Related Links:Bruins get speedyDT to visit UCLABruins land true gritTalk about it in Alligator AlleyThe Pac-12 season is on and this Sunday UCLA invades the Galen Center for round one of its annual series against cross-town rivals SC. UCLA is fresh off its sweep of the Arizona schools while SC is looking for some way to actually score some points.USC is coached by experienced and respected coach Kevin O'Neill who is in his third year at the helm for the Trojans. This season Coach O'Neill has seen his team lose players to both the NBA and the injury bug. Same with UCLA of course, but the Bruins started with a lot more talent and have a lot more talent left over.To put it in a nutshell, this is not a very good USC team. They are capable of playing good defense - and thus will present an interesting challenge to the Bruins, a challenge ratcheted up by the nature of the cross-town rivalry - but they have struggled to score themselves. Coach O'Neill saw last years star player, Nikola Vucevic, go in the first round of the NBA draft and lost several players to graduation as well. And then SC lost arguably its best player, Jio Fontan, to a season-ending ACL tear back in September and hasn't really been able to replace him. The Trojans stand at 5 wins and 12 losses (0-4 in conference) and last or nearly last in conference offensive statistics, but that has not kept the Trojans from giving it their all on the court and attempting to find that one go-to guy that every team needs.USC has started only three players every game beginning with their best active player, Maurice Jones. Jones, a sophomore, checks in at 5-7 155 pounds and plays the point. He played in every game last year as a true freshman. Jones is the team's leading scorer at 14.3 points a game. He leads in steals with 30 as well as assists with an average of 3.5 per game. He also grabs 2.4 rebounds and is averaging a whopping 38.6 minutes per game, one of the three highest totals in the nation. Jones has had problems with turnovers and leads the Trojans with 43. He's shooting 34.5 percent of his field goals and 34.1 percent of his three point attempts. Jones also has had problems at the free throw line hitting only just 64.3 percent of his charity attempts. It isn't easy being Maurice Jones this year. So much of his team's hopes for success rests on his shoulders. He is the primary ball handler and deals with double teams all the time. But he simply does not have that much talent around him and has to take it on himself to try and win games.A 6-5, 210 pound freshman, Byron Wesley, has also started all 17 games. Wesley is averaging 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds and is second on the team in minutes played with and average of 33.1 per game. It is difficult when you have to depend on freshmen to win games but that is the reality facing Coach O'Neill and SC this year. Wesley is shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 50 percent of his free throws. The third player who has started every game is 6-6, 225 pound red-shirt junior forward, Aaron Fuller. Fuller is a transfer from Iowa. Fuller is the team's second leading scorer averaging 10.8 points per game. Fuller leads the team in rebounding at 6.2 a game and is shooting 51.2 percent from the field. Dewayne Dedmon is a 7 foot, 255 pound red-shirt sophomore who transferred in from Antelope Valley. He is averaging 7.6 points and 5.6 rebounds a game and leads the team in blocked shots with 16. He is making 58.2 percent of his field goals. Coach O'Neill has said Dedmon has the most potential of any player he has ever coached. Dedmon has started every game he has played in and Coach O'Neill believes Dedmon is the future of his team. True freshman Alexis Moore (6-2, 180) averages 5.8 points and 1.9 rebounds. Moore averages 27.1 minutes on the floor and is depended upon mostly for his defense. Moore will usually guard the opposing team's best shooter. Coach O'Neill has ten players on his team and all of them average at least 11.8 minutes a game. Have we mentioned that this is not a good shooting team? From the field the Trojans average just 39.9 percent. From the three point line it only gets worse as they are hitting only 29.9 percent of their three point attempts. Moreover, SC as a team is converting just 60.9 percent from the charity stripe. They take good care of the ball averaging only 12.1 turnovers and have a plus 4 turnover margin.On the other hand, USC plays decent defense and is allowing opponents to shoot just 41.1 percent from the field and 34.1 percent from the three point line. They take the air out of the ball - so would you if your team was shooting the way SC is - and that controlled pace combines with their hard working defense to hold opponents' shooting percentages well down below the opponents' season averages. The Trojans get an average of 6.2 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. Coach O'Neill makes effective halftime adjustments as the Trojans have scored 79 more points in the second halves of games than they have in the opening stanzas. USC averages 53.9 points a game and surrenders an average of 55.9. They get out-rebounded by an average of 2.6 a game. UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland has shortened his bench and narrowed in on his most effective combinations now that conference play is well underway. Moving Jerime Anderson to the point for the Bruins has freed Lazeric Jones to be more of an off-guard, finding his shots more easily and maximizing his basketball skills for the team. Sophomore Joshua Smith is finally getting into condition that, if not outstanding, at least is good enough now to allow him to start playing a bit of basketball.The sophomore Wear twins (David Wear and Travis Wear) are working hard to improve their inside skills. Their hustle and effort add a dimension nearly completely missing at the start of the season. Tyler Lamb has emerged as a real force in the back court for the Bruins. Norman Powell is learning and showing more of his skills all the time. And substitute center Anthony Stover and forward Brendan Lane provide the front court backup and defensive skills that buttress the team.You can't really say UCLA is a good basketball team at this point, not after wins over the two struggling Arizona schools in games played, if not actually at home, at least in Southern California as opposed to the Arizona desert. But you can say the team is much improved and figures to continue to get better as all the sophomores and the one freshman improve as the season goes along.If the Bruins bring their best game, this one shouldn't be very close. Even though it's a rivalry game. Even though it's at the Galen Center with its restrictive attendance policies for visiting UCLA fans and spirit team members. Even though the overworked Trojans will have had a week to rest up and prepare for this game. But due to the fact USC can play good defense, at least it will be a good challenge and learning opportunity for them and, if the Bruins do not bring their best game, it could end up one of those games that make you scratch your head and ask yourself, 'how could that have happened?Ted Bloom contributed to this story.FEATURED PRODUCT Florida NEWS[More]Latest Headlines:Resources:ScheduleRosterScoresSend to a FriendPrint This Page[More]NATIONAL NEWS FROM RIVALS.COMTop 10 upsets: A November to remember

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December 31, 2008Maybin, Clark, Williams talk Trojans Related Links:Video: USC captainsVideo: Carroll, PaternoTuesday Practice InsiderTalk about it in The Tribal CouncilPenn State sophomore defensive end Aaron Maybin marveled at the situation he'd been put in. Two weeks ago, Maybin had never been to Disneyland. He'd never seen the Los Angeles skyline or the Santa Monica Pier.The dude had never even seen the Pacific Ocean."I would like to think that everybody on the team is really taking all of this in," he said. "I hope we've all been thankful and grateful to make it out here. We're getting to see things we've never seen"Maybin and the Nittany Lions now will have to wait for 24 more hours to see the USC Trojans on the field, and the all-American sack master is psyched."It's extremely special. The tradition in this game is so such special. It's an honor to play in this great game against such a great team with a great coach and some great players. We're anxious. We can't wait."I think everybody's taking it all in and having a great time."There's little question whether or not Penn State is excited about playing in the Rose Bowl. The Nittany Lion defense is excited to show the country that it belongs in the conversation when people talk about the nation's most dominant."We're fine with not getting national attention," Maybin said. "It's never been our style to be too flashy."Maybin, like Trojans Mark Sanchez and Taylor Mays, will be forced with a decision after his season, and like Sanchez and Mays, Maybin's not tipping his hand."I'm not thinking about the NFL," he said. "My focus is completely on USC. That won't change until after the game."Daryll Clark's Rockin' New Year's EveWhen you're the quarterback of one of the two teams playing in the Rose Bowl, you spend time talking about the game - lots of time.Instead of being exhausted by the barrage of questions, Clark said he's enjoyed the extra attention."You just take it in and enjoy it," he said. "You're hearing all this hype, but you have a lot to do with it. They're talking about you and USC. "I'm enjoying it and enjoying California, but now I'm ready for the football game."Clark said he's been watching games around the country, and he's been caught off guard with the thing he's heard most."I'm just anxious. This is the Rose Bowl," he said. "The hype is almost as big as the national title game. I haven't even heard anything about that game."While the nation seems excited for the Penn State-USC match up, Clark's excited to see if his team's scouting of the Trojan defense will pay off."We've seen stuff. Every defense has some," he said. "Coach Jay Paterno, our quarterbacks coach, has brought that to our attention in each film session. We'll do what we have to do to exploit it."Still, he knows that won't be easy."They haven't changed. They're really coming together and become a better defense," he said. "When the time is right and they need a stop, they get it. A couple of games down the stretch, they really made some big plays to blow some games open."Instead of sulking about Penn State's fate, missing out on a chance to play for the BCS National Championship by a single point, Clark said he knows what's at stake Thursday."For this football team, for Penn State, this is our national title," he said. "You hear so much about it and you just can't wait for that first kick."X-ManWhen coaches were recruiting Derrick Williams, a former five-star athlete and the top-rated player in the 2005 recruiting class, his versatility had the coaches dreaming up ways to use him."Every school that was recruiting me had something special in mind," he said. "They saw I could play quarterback, that I could throw, that I could run, that I could catch. Everybody had their little secret plans."Williams has been taking snaps at quarterback in the Wildcat formation during Rose Bowl preparation and could be in the backfield come game time.Add that to his duties as a return man, receiver and part-time running back, and it's clear Penn State wants to put the ball in his hands."I always think that I'm the X-factor in the game," Williams said. "Every time I touch the ball, I'm trying to make things happen."I feel comfortable doing it."Williams said he's been impressed with what he's seen from the Trojan defense."They don't have any weaknesses at all," Williams said. "It's a great defense. Thursday, we'll just have to go out there and take care of all the little things - then big things will happen."Instead of using the time off to scheme for what USC does on defense, Williams said Penn State's been more focused internally."We're just trying to do the things we can control," Williams said. "We never look at a team and say, 'you do this and we'll counter with that.' We've never played off of anybody. "That's how we're going to handle it Thursday."FEATURED PRODUCT

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Wisniewski home after Michigan trip Chris Balas TheWolverine.comPittsburgh Central Catholic offensive guard Stefen Wisniewski might have close ties to Penn State, but that didn't keep him from visiting Ann Arbor. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and Tribune-Review's Terrific 25 selection camped at Michigan earlier this week and left after a solid showing."It was real good," Wisniewski said of his U-M camp experience. I thought I did real well. I got to work a lot with [offensive line coach] Andy Moeller - one of the reasons I went up there was to get to know him better. We ran through a lot of drills." Michigan, meanwhile, has plenty of what he's looking for should he venture out of state."I like the combination … it's a great school with great football combined, and I like the coaching staff," Wisniewski said. "They have a really good engineering school, and that's one of the things I'm looking for." ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!

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Gressel bounces back HawkeyeReport.comBrant Gressel saw his senior season get off to a slow start with Centerville losing their first two games, but the future Hawkeye has bounced back and led his team to five consecutive wins. We caught up with the 6-foot-2, 280-pound Gressel to talk about the turnaround, what made the biggest difference, what he has heard from the Iowa coaching staff since committing, and much more.Q: Can you talk about your season so far? After starting off 0-2, you guys have really turned things around.GRESSEL: Yeah, we have. We started off 0-2 and to be honest lost to a team that we really shouldn't have lost to, but I think after that second loss, the senior class kind of came together and made a decision that we were not going to be the class that lost more than two games. Last year, we started off 1-4 and that was not a good feeling at all, so we came together and just said it stops here. We've won five straight since then, so obviously we're doing something right. I think the defense has had some good games and the offense has had some good games, so once we both start clicking and have good games at the same time we're going to keep rolling.In April, Gressel committed to Iowa over scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Indiana, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, NC State, Minnesota, Louisville, Bowling Green, Kent State, Ohio, Miami of Ohio, Toledo, and Western Kentucky. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!

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June 21, 2010In-depth with Maurice Harris GoldenBearReport.com Talk about it in Tiger PenthouseAfter breaking the story early Sunday evening of Maurice Harris's commitment to the Cal football team, BearTerritory was able to catch up with the high-three-star wide receiver out of Greensboro (NC) Northern Guilford to talk about his weekend sojourn to Berkeley.On Saturday, Harris had said that he wasn't quite ready to pull the trigger, but after two full days of camp, his mind was made up."I just had a good time at camp," Harris said. "At first, I really didn't know for sure, but I started thinking about it while I was up here, and I really liked it. So, I just went ahead and committed, instead of waiting."Late Saturday evening, after touring the Cal campus with his two Berkeley-bound cousins Keenan Allen and Zach Maynard, Harris walked into head coach Jeff Tedford's office and finally got things over with."It was yesterday evening, and we talked for a while," Harris said. "I just told him that, before we leave, 'Hey Coach, I just want to let you know that I want to come to Cal. I want to be a part of the team.' I looked at him, and he was just excited."According to wide receivers coach Kevin Daft's evaluation, the Bears have quite a bit to be excited about. Daft worked extensively with Harris throughout the course of the weekend and told him both the good and the bad about his game."Oh yeah, I worked with him after every practice," Harris said. "During practice I worked with him, and a little extra after practice. He introduced me to a lot of things, and stuff that I need to work on, like my route-running and my timing on my steps-just taking everything slow instead of trying to rush to everything. He's been teaching me a lot, and I'm going to take it back and use it to make me better."Harris is not as fast or explosive as Allen, but he says that his game speed could very well be better than his speed in a combine setting."It's between 4.5 and 4.6; I haven't clocked a more recent time," Harris said of his 40-yard-dash times. "I feel like I'm a lot faster in-game, when I get the ball in my hands, then when I'm lining up against some guy."One thing that Harris could have over his five-star cousin is size. At 6-foot-3 and almost 200 pounds, Harris is almost exactly as big as Allen-who is a year older-and has the frame to add some more muscle over the next year before he makes the jump to the college ranks."(Daft) likes that I'm a big, physical receiver that uses my body to get separation, and my strong hands-he really liked that," said Harris.Harris will have to use all of the tools at his disposal to step up big time during his senior year for the Nighthawks. Last season, Harris pulled down 47 passes for 1,210 yards and 18 TDs. But, that was with Allen lining up on the opposite side of the field. Now, as Northern Guilford's top returning pass-catcher, he'll have to take on a lot more responsibility. And he'll be ready for it."I'm going to do a lot more, you know, just getting the ball in my hands more, which, I got it a lot this year, but it's going to be probably double that," Harris said. "I'm really going to have a lot of chances to make big plays."One spot that he will likely see increased workload is in the return game, where he will again have to replace his cousin's performance taking back kicks and punts, though he's more than happy to cede that responsibility to Allen at the collegiate level."Last year, me and Keenan shared that, but he got most of those. But, I've done (returns) a lot, and this year, coming up, I'm going to have to do everything," Harris said. "I'm going to do kick returns, punt returns, quarterback, receiver, defensive back-I'm going to have to do it all, so I'm looking forward to it. But, Keenan's a big playmaker, and I'll have to leave that up to him (in college)."Harris and his parents were accompanied by Allen on the plane flight out to California, and the presence of both Allen and Maynard on campus during the family's tour, and off-campus during the off hours this weekend helped to firm up Harris's decision."I've pretty much been with my cousins the entire time. They've been showing me around, showing me everything that they know," Harris said. "We talked about (committing), and then they just told me to make my own choice, don't worry about anybody else, just make my own decisions. So, I did what I felt was best."Maurice's visit to Berkeley was his second. Last year, he joined Allen, Gabe King and Chris McCain at Cal's three-day camp as just a sophomore."Back then, I was young, and so I didn't really know," Harris said. "I was just out here playing ball, doing what I like doing. But, I took a different approach this time. I was more serious about it, and I was thinking about (the college choice) a lot more. I really liked it. I feel like this is the place I should be, so I committed."While it was Harris's second go-around, this weekend was the first chance his parents had to check out the campus."We've been around campus a lot since we've been up here," Harris said. "They seem to like it, and I like it, too, so that's really all that matters. They've never been to the campus before, so that was a good thing, for them to get to see everything and how everybody is and how things work around here, so that was good."Aside from his parents, cousins and future coaches, Harris also had a few chats this weekend with The Mayor, Mustafa Jalil-Cal's first defensive commit of the 2011 class who is quickly turning into the new Chris Martin as far as grassroots recruiting is concerned."I talked to Moose. I've been talking to him a lot, and that's really the only person I really talked to," Harris said. "He just asked me if I was thinking about going here, and I said, yeah, that it was one of my top choices, and that's what we really talked about. I haven't talked to him since I committed, though."FEATURED PRODUCT

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May 9, 2012Realignment Round 3? Chip Brown Orangebloods.com Columnist Talk about it in Inside the 40 AcresThe Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN Wednesday announced a new media rights package that will elevate the per school payout for television and digital revenue tied to football and basketball to roughly $17 million, up from the roughly $13 million per school previously. The contract includes football-only third tier rights revenue. And that's where the future of Florida State in the ACC and whether it would ever seriously consider jumping to the Big 12 could take on a life of its own. The Seminoles are in one of the few states - with a population of 19 million - in which a university could turn its third-tier rights into the school's own television network the way Texas has done in the Lone Star State (population 25.6 million). TOO GOOD TO PASS UP?: One industry source said if Texas can command $300 million over 20 years - $15 million per year in additional TV revenue - for its own network, Florida State should be able to command at least a third that much ($5 million), if not more, in a state with so many television sets and a passion for FSU sports. So before everyone dismisses Florida State ever taking a serious look at jumping from the ACC into the Big 12, consider that. Now, with the contract between the ACC and ESPN being announced Wednesday, the decision of Florida State to stay or go from its current conference home becomes accelerated. Florida State officials could come out at any moment and say, definitively, the Seminoles are not leaving the ACC. And then the latest five-alarm rumor involving potential realignment/expansion in college athletics would be hosed off. MONEY IS AN ISSUE AT FSU: But to determine if Florida State to the Big 12 makes any sense or no sense, you have to look at the current landscape. I've seen where Florida State is so committed to academics in the ACC, it would never leave a conference that averages a ranking of 43 in the 2012 U.S. News and World Report rankings of American colleges and universities (Florida State ranks No. 101). But let me tell you what has the power to make boards of trustees at universities get away from what many would consider logical thinking: money. And at Florida State right now, money is a problem. Warchant.com, the Florida State site on the Yahoo/Rivals network, reported May 4 that Florida State is facing an athletics department shortfall of $2.4 million for the 2012-13 academic year. And that's coming on the heels of 10- and nine-win seasons for football that included two sold out bowl games. Men's basketball followed a Sweet 16 appearance in 2011 with an ACC Championship in 2012. And baseball has hosted back-to-back NCAA Regionals. [ Y! Sports Radio: Chip Brown joins Craig Shemon ] RENOVATIONS NEEDED: Combine this success on the field with the fact Florida State's basketball arena and football facilities are in desperate need of renovation/upgrades, and the Seminoles are probably taking a hard look at the ability to launch their own TV network in the Big 12. Even with the new money from the ACC-ESPN contract, expected to provide an additional $4 million per year in revenue, Florida State is going to be hard-pressed to raise the kind of money needed for a major facility upgrade. And while there's some excitement that the recent success in Florida State sports will help spur a fund-raising drive, there is frustration in the fan base about a seven-game home schedule this year that includes Savannah State, Murray State, Wake Forest, Duke and Boston College. And with only Florida State, Virginia Tech and Clemson finishing in the Top 25 from the ACC last season, that schedule doesn't figure to get much better. CUTTING BACK: Florida State athletic director Randy Spetman told Warchant.com the answer will be to "cut back our budget next year pretty dramatically." Warchant.com reported the number to cut is $2 million on top of the nearly $500,000 taken out of last year's operating budget. Could money end up being a driving force as Florida State decides whether to remain in the ACC? After having conversations with people dialed into the administration at Florida State, there appears to be a sense that the board of trustees at FSU might be willing to explore all options. A message left for board of trustees chairman Andrew Haggard at his law firm on Wednesday wasn't immediately returned. DISGRUNTLED FSU FANS: There is no doubt there is a growing sentiment in the Florida State fan base that a conference move to the Big 12 might be worth exploring. Many FSU fans have expressed their discontent on message boards and in social media. They complain about the perception that ACC commissioner John Swofford, the former athletic director at North Carolina, caters to UNC basketball coach Roy Williams and Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski. They say that perception was only bolstered by the ACC's decision to allow schools to continue to control their own third-tier TV rights for basketball - but not football. They complain about the ACC adding Syracuse and Pittsburgh - two schools that have been more prominent in basketball than football for some time. They complain about the ACC football officiating, including calls in last season's 35-30 loss at Clemson that many Noles' fans felt cost FSU a shot at the ACC title. But those are fans and message boards right? Fans don't matter in these equations right? FANS MATTER: Ask Texas A&M athletic director Bill Byrne about reading the sentiment of the fan base and lining up on the right or wrong side of that sentiment. Byrne initially voiced support for staying in the Big 12 when a fan movement helped persuade A&M's board of regents to vote for a move to the Southeastern Conference. Same for Missouri chancellor Brady Deaton, who was actively trying to save the Big 12 as the head of the Big 12 board of directors, when his own regents board advised Deaton to recuse himself from the post because the regents were ready to go in a different direction. Again, Florida State could come out today or tomorrow and say a move from the ACC to the Big 12 is utterly preposterous. But until that happens, there is reason to pay attention. The ego stroke Florida State would get launching its own network in the Sunshine State because of its third-tier rights capability in the Big 12 would give the Seminoles something the Florida Gators and Miami Hurricanes could not match. COMPETING WITH GATORS: Florida is barred from having its own third-tier rights network in the SEC. Miami doesn't have the audience. If the financial models for a network come back favorable for FSU, the Seminoles could compare a $17 million payout in the ACC to a $19 million annual payout in the Big 12 and probably stack at least $5 million per year on top from its own network. Suddenly, Florida State would be able to generate TV revenue on par with the Gators, who could earn upwards of $20 million per year once the SEC adjusts its TV deals with Texas A&M and Missouri included. And FSU would have a recruiting tool the Gators couldn't match. And if Texas is any indication, some of the money from an independent network can be paid back to the university for academics. Texas has pledged $5 million per year from the Longhorn Network back to academics for the first five years of its independent deal with ESPN. And for all the jokes about the Longhorn Network still not receiving wide distribution, that's an ESPN problem, not Texas'. ESPN's checks to the Longhorns are not bouncing. FSU HAS A PRODUCT TO SELL: In order to launch a TV network, you have to have inventory. You have to have strong football, so you can create a ton of shoulder programming. You have to be relevant in basketball and baseball, a check mark for FSU. The Olympic and non-revenue sports have to be strong, and FSU can boast that as well as evidenced by its Top 10 finish in the Director's Cup the last two years. Another common argument against Florida State joining the Big 12 is that it wouldn't be politically strong enough to sit at the table with Texas and Oklahoma. If you have your own television network in the state of Florida, you just got a seat at the grownups' table. And then you have to consider where the Big 12 would be on expansion. And if you were listening carefully when new Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby was introduced and was asked about expansion, he didn't talk about "a geographic footprint" the way interim commissioner Chuck Neinas did. Bowlsby talked about an "electronic footprint." Totally different. BOWLSBY'S LEGACY: And credit Neinas for getting the Big 12 to agree to a 13-year granting of TV rights back to the conference as part of the league's revised, 13-year, Tier 1 rights deal with ABC-ESPN, which should be finalized shortly. That will keep schools from being able to leave the Big 12 with their TV rights, effectively barring such a defection. What does that leave for Bob Bowlsby's legacy? With the Big 12's TV deals essentially done and a 13-year granting of rights bonding the current 10 members in the league for that length of time, does Bowlsby look at expansion as his legacy? For weeks and months, I had been told the Big 12 was good with 10 schools. Nine conference football games. Home-and-home in basketball league games. Good. No need for a Big 12 championship football game because it would only risk knocking a possible undefeated or one-loss team out of a national title shot with an upset. But last week I talked to some people who said, "Well, if it's the right two." And that was different from what I had heard before. I was also told that studies had been done looking at what value might be added if any of the original members of the Big East (Louisville, Cincinnati, etc.) would bring to the Big 12, and that report did not come back favorably, sources said. That leaves some interesting candidates who could probably benefit from having the ability to launch their own network. The most likely to benefit from such an opportunity would be Notre Dame and Florida State. The Big 12 has repeatedly indicated to Notre Dame it could bring its non-football sports to the Big 12 and keep football as independent, allowing the Irish to keep their football contract with NBC while launching a Tier 3 network. So far, Notre Dame has indicated it's just fine. We'll see if Florida State does the same.FEATURED PRODUCT Texas Longhorns Lasting Strength Long Sleeve T-Shirt - Burnt Orange Texas NEWS[More]Latest Headlines:Resources:ScheduleRosterScoresSend to a FriendPrint This Page[More]NATIONAL NEWS FROM RIVALS.COMAround the Midlands: Red Raiders rolling

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June 7, 2012Swoopes ready to air it out Jason Suchomel MORE: R100 Five-Star Challenge details Tyrone Swoopes is a five-star prospect. He dominates football games at the high school level in just about every way imaginable. He had offers from programs all over America before committing to Texas back in February. A dual-threat quarterback out of Whitewright, Texas, a town of just 1,700 about an hour north of Dallas, Swoopes is used to being the big-man on the athletic stage. Fans across Texas, and more recently the entire nation, have become aware of his talents. Despite all the accolades and recognition, Swoopes knows he still has his doubters. As a junior for Whitewright, Swoopes took over games with his legs. His season rushing totals nearly doubled his passing yards, and he found the end zone 29 times as a runner compared to 15 TD passes. As such, people have wondered if Swoopes is a capable-enough passer to continue to dominate in college. Swoopes hears the questions, and he's determined to put any and all concerns to rest this summer during an appearance in the inaugural Rivals100 Five-Star Challenge in Atlanta. "I just want to show everybody that I can throw the ball, that I have been working this summer and that I'm good at what I do," Swoopes said. "I think people do (underestimate him as a passer), just because when you look at my highlights, you see a lot of running. But that's not all that I do. We do a whole lot of passing stuff, I just didn't get a chance to use it last year. This coming up year, I'll have more opportunities to show that I can pass the ball because everybody will be prepared for me to run the ball." Over the spring and the early parts of the summer, including a recent Texas camp appearance in which he worked with UT co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin, Swoopes has focused on fine-tuning his mechanics. He's hoping that extra work will pay off in Atlanta. "I've been working on the little things. I've talked to Coach Harsin about things and we talked after the camp," Swoopes said. "He told me I have the big things that I need, like arm strength and good feet. You can always work more on your feet, but I want to work on the little things that it takes to be accurate." Swoopes carries a quiet confidence on the field. He's not a player who will yell and scream to draw attention, but he is fiercely competitive. At the Five-Star Challenge, he'll be matched up with some of the nation's best prospects, and he's ready to see how he stacks up. Included in the group of participants is Max Browne, the only signal-caller ranked ahead of Swoopes on the Rivals100. Swoopes isn't looking for any individual matchups, but he just wants to perform at the highest level possible and let the chips fall where they may. "I'm not trying to show anybody up. I'm just trying to better myself and be the best that I can be," Swoopes said. "If someone (is) better than me, that's the way it's meant to be and I'll keep working. But I'll try my best to be the best I can as a football player and as a person." At the event, Swoopes will be joined by a number of future Longhorns teammates. He's scheduled to room with Ricky Seals-Jones, a player who recently decommitted from Texas. Swoopes isn't the type to pressure any prospect into attending a school where the player isn't fully comfortable, but he said he'll gladly talk up the Texas program to any attendee who has any questions. "It will feel good to know I'll be down there with people I know and that we will be representing the same school in the future," Swoopes said. "I think it will be good for Texas, good for me." Mike Farrell's take The knock on Swoopes is that he's more of an athlete than a quarterback and that could still be the case, but he's shown great improvement in his throwing mechanics this spring. As long as he shows steady improvement, he will be a nightmare for defensive coordinators in the Big 12 for years to come. The Vince Young comparisons are there even though Swoopes isn't as big. When you watch him on film you can see how he could dominate similar to Young. However, 7-on-7 isn't his forte and it will be interesting to see if this is like watching Terrelle Pryor back in the summer of 2007 where I said it was "like watching Superman without his cape." Without the ability to run, Swoopes could look awkward out there or he could surprise all of us and show how far he's come. Talk about it in Inside The Double T Talk about it in Inside The Double T FEATURED PRODUCT Texas Tech Red Raiders Black Vertical Arch T-shirt

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Super Bowl Saturday (or another day) a possibility if weather doesn't cooperate A general view as stadium workers clean snow from the field and stands during the Super Bowl XLVIII stadium preparations press conference at MetLife Stadium. / Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports by Keith Sargeant , USA TODAY Sportsby Keith Sargeant , USA TODAY Sports Filed Under EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Super Bowl Saturday? If the idea of Super Bowl XLVIII being played a day earlier than Sunday, Feb. 2, or even the next evening, seems preposterous, it could happen if a massive snow storm is forecasted for northern New Jersey that weekend. NFL officials on Wednesday conceded that contingency plans call for the championship game to be played at any point between Friday, Jan. 31 and Monday, Feb. 3 at MetLife Stadium. The good news is Eric Grubman, the NFL's vice president for business operations, said if the kind of storm that dumped more than a foot of snow on most of New Jersey on Tuesday is forecasted for Super Bowl Sunday, the game would likely go off at its scheduled kickoff time of 6:30 p.m. In other words, it would take an even bigger storm to alter the kickoff time for the first cold-weather Super Bowl played at an outdoor venue. "What goes into whether deciding to (move) it, first of all, is public safety," Grubman said Wednesday in a news conference at MetLife Stadium, where thousands of workers removed snow from the bleachers and field. "Unless it was a state of emergency which affected public resources in a way that made it impossible to get the resources here, or any kind of declaration by any of the authorities from the states involved that made it difficult to travel safety to and from the stadium, we would absolutely respect that." BE THERE: Grab a USA TODAY Sports Events ticket package for Super Bowl XLVIII while supplies last. The Super Bowl Sunday weather forecast, according to Accuweather.com, calls for a 30-percent chance of snow or rain, with a high temperature of 40 degrees and low of 25, and 6-to-12 mph winds. While that's not the kind of forecast that would prompt the NFL to reschedule a game anticipated to draw in more than 110 million TV viewers, it's certainly not ideal conditions for the 80,000 fans in attendance. And that's why NFL officials unveiled a "warm welcome" seat cushion to be distributed at the game, kit that includes: lip balm, ear muffs, hat, mittens, cup holder, Gaiter-dana scarf, tissues, a radio to listen to the game, six hand warmers and a quarterback-style hand muff. "In quite a number of these Super Bowls we've handed out these seat cushions, which have been great souvenirs," Grubman said. "But this is part of our 'Embrace the cold' (theme)." While New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called for state of emergency on Tuesday afternoon, Grubman said NFL officials used Wednesday as "a dress rehearsal" for readying MetLife Stadium in the wake of a snowstorm. "At 7 o'clock this morning they put themselves on the clock," Grubman said of MetLife Stadium officials. "They are running about an 18-hour allotted amount of time, and we have people watching, evaluating and grading, so we're treating this as if it's pregame and we have to get the bowl cleared." All of that meant snow needed to be removed both inside the stadium via the shoveling of hundreds of volunteer workers and outside in the parking lots, sidewalks and tent areas. "A weather event of this magnitude is something that really tests people," Grubman said. "Not so much in, 'Can we get it done?' But more in getting it done in the way we imagined. Yes, we're taking it as a dress rehearsal but I'm not wishing for another snowstorm." Another question is what contingency plans are in place for the events surrounding the Super Bowl, such as a Kickoff Concert featuring the Goo Goo Dolls, Chris Daughtry and The Fray at Liberty State Park in Jersey City on Monday and Media Day on Tuesday at the Prudential Center in Newark. "I think that the various events that we have are going off without a hitch and in fact have already begun because staging this stadium is an event in and of itself," Grubman said. "We don't have a crystal ball on weather, but we're confident we'll be able to have our events." Keith Sargeant writes for the Asbury Park Press, a Gannett property. Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Super Bowl Saturday (or another day) a possibility if weather doesn't cooperate NFL's contingency plan includes playing big game any time from Friday to Monday. A link to this page will be included in your message. Appraisals: Rules allow favoritism

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Coaches EducationPASA's Tony Batis is First ASCA World Clinic Speaker Committed to 2014 JacksonvillePublished:October 2, 2013 Courtesy of: Swimming World JACKSONVILLE, Florida, October 2. THE American Swimming Coaches Association has received its first commitment from a speaker for the Sept. 8-14 World Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., as Coach Tony Batis of PASA has committed to being the Instructor for the ASCA Level 3 Physiology School -- The Planning and Execution of Training! "We're thrilled to have a coach of Tony's expertise and experience to lend his voice to our Level 3 School, which is the second-most attended ASCA School in our history of required Certification courses. I am sure he'll have a huge audience," said ASCA Executive Director John Leonard. The Batis Resume: 1988 graduate from the University of Southern California where he swam for legendary Coach Peter Daland. Started as Head Age Group Coach for the Salinas Valley Aquatics from 1988-1992 where he developed nationally ranked age group swimmers and a national age group record holder. In the fall of 1992, Tony was hired as the Head Coach for the old Palo Alto Swim Club (which is now part of Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics). In his 20+ years with the club he has helped to develop athletes at every level of the sport and been a part of PASA's development into a nationally and internationally recognized swim program. Along with junior national and national champions, Tony's athletes have gone on to be NCAA champions and represented the US internationally. Tony has also represented the US as a coach, including Head Women's Coach for the Junior World Championships in Lima, Peru and Assistant Men's Coach for the Short Course World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. Tony continues as coach for the Palo Alto Stanford Aquatics and aquatics manager for the Palo Alto Sport Shop and Toy World. He has been married for 20 years to his wife Tisha and they live in Newark, CA. April 17, 2014Using the Concept2 Rowing Machine in Swimming Training April 14, 2014Central States Coaches Clinic To Feature Talks By Bob Bowman, Todd Schmitz, Dave Durden and More April 13, 2014Dryland Tip: Shoulder Rotation Can Improve With The "Hands Behind Back" Mobility Exercise April 3, 2014Science of Performance: General Static Stretching Is a Waste of Time (Part 4) Read More Coaches Education Stories »

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Phil Jackson hedges Shaquille O'Neal's take on Dwight Howard Phil Jackson, right, shown in 2002, has plenty of experience dealing with Shaquille O'Neal's quirks. / Justin Sullivan, AP by Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sportsby Adi Joseph, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under Phil Jackson is zen enough to understand where his former superstar Shaquille O'Neal is coming from in dissing Dwight Howard. Phil Jackson is zen enough to disagree anyway. Phil Jackson is zen and knows basketball and therefore is qualified to break down the games of the Los Angeles Lakers former and current star centers. And he did just that in an ESPN radio interview Friday. Via ESPN Los Angeles, here are some highlights: "Brook (Lopez) and Andrew (Bynum) are guys who have good touches. They're good scoring players and they have good offensive games," Jackson said on the Waddle and Silvy Show on ESPN 1000 in Chicago on Friday. "Dwight is a guy that has that amazing athletic ability but the overall game - rebounding, defending, blocking shots, running the court - this is a guy that runs with the wolves, so to speak. He can get up and down that court as quick as any of the guards and forwards because of his athletic ability. "Dwight's learning the post game and I think he has improved over the last couple years with his left hand. It looks like he's shooting the ball a lot better. He used to be a guy that you felt like you had to keep out of the lane. If you could do that, he was going to be limited in his scoring. Now he's developing some of the offensive game." O'Neal and Howard have been linked forever. They both are centers with freakish athleticism unmatched by any rivals. They both are both former No. 1 overall draft picks by the Orlando Magic. They both have been nicknamed "Superman." Now they both are stars who left the Magic to join the Lakers. That factors into why O'Neal says he prefers Lopez, the Brooklyn Nets center, and Bynum, whom the Lakers traded to the Philadelphia 76ers as part of the four-team Howard deal. Howard publicly brushed off the criticism Thursday, but his words betrayed a little hurt. Phil Jackson is zen enough to understand both sides. Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Phil Jackson hedges Shaquille O'Neal's take on Dwight Howard Phil Jackson says Dwight Howard may not be a traditional center, but he's better than Shaquille O'Neal thinks. A link to this page will be included in your message.

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Reds Win 6-2 In Afternoon Matinee, Making It A Sweep And Sixth Straight Loss For The D-backs Today's game against the Reds was perhaps the most crucial game of the season for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Prior to first pitch, the team found themselves 8.5 games out of first place in the NL West with only 32 games left on their schedule. A win is what they needed in order to stay in the race. At the end of the first inning, it looked like they might have been on to something. A balk by Reds pitcher Mat Latos sent Aaron Hill across the plate from third base, making the score 1-0. On top of that, Arizona was able to make Latos throw 33 pitches just to get out of the inning. That was only the beginning of the D-backs' good fortune. In the fourth, shortstop Jake Elmore hit a towering ball into left field that barely stayed fair. Reds outfielder Chris Heisey was unable to make a play on it and in the end, he slid, making the blooper single into a double. Justin Upton scored all the way from first base, making it a 2-0 lead for Arizona. Patrick Corbin, the pitcher for the Diamondbacks today, was dealing from the mound. He allowed no hits through 2.1 innings and he kept the Reds at bay and off the scoreboard all the way through the sixth inning. He got into a bit of trouble in the sixth, however, when Zack Cozart made it to second base and catcher Wil Nieves made an error trying to throw him out. Cozart then advanced to third, but would remain there after a groundout from Brandon Phillips. The trouble for Corbin came in the next inning. After getting behind in the count to Heisey, Corbin proceeded to allow a two run bomb to center field, tying the game at two a piece. Dioner Navarro decided to break the tie, hitting a solo homer that hit the left field foul pole. At a 3-2 deficit and with a stellar Reds bullpen, the D-backs looked like they were in trouble. To make things worse, Phillips put the nail in the coffin by hitting a two run blast over the yellow line in center field, making the score 5-2 and putting the D-backs out of reach. What seemed like moments later, Heisey hit his second home run of the game, the fourth time in his career that he has had a multi-homer game. Both home runs were allowed by relief pitcher Matt Albers, who has struggled since coming to the D-backs in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. Corbin's final line was a bit misleading as to how he actually pitched in the game. He gave up all of his runs in the seventh inning off of two bad pitches, but those two pitches helped to decide the game. In all, he went for 6.2 innings, giving up six hits, three earned runs, one walk and two homers with eight strikeouts. His season ERA has now risen to 3.93. With a trip into Los Angeles and then San Francisco after that, the Diamondbacks will get a chance to rebound against divisional opponents, but it might already be too late. Arizona has failed to produce more than five runs since August 19th in a win over the Astros. The bats will need to get hot and the pitchers will need to buckle down if the D-backs want to keep their postseason hopes alive. Get more Diamondbacks coverage over at AZ Snakepit. Diamondbacks Swept By Reds, Extending Losing Streak To Six Games An Apparent Lack Of Energy Has Fallen On The D-backs Clubhouse, But The Optimism Is Still There Diamondbacks Vs. Reds: Starting Lineups, Starting Pitching Notes And Bleak Outlooks Need A Ground Ball? D-backs' Brad Ziegler Is Who to Call D-backs Vs. Reds Postgame Notes: Miley's Good Bad Inning, Cueto's Deception Chris Heisey

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$57,750 Auld Lang Syne - 1 1/16 Miles (Turf) COREY NAKATANI ON WINNING THE FINAL RACE WITH WOODMAN’S LUCK “Well, I made history. I won the last race and got the last set of days (he received a three-day suspension from the stewards earlier Sunday) at Hollywood Park. Kind of bittersweet. That was really emotional. It’s hard to really say that much. This has always been such a great place to be. After winning a bunch of races here, it’s hard to see it go. It’s pretty sad.” RAFAEL BEJARANO ON WINNING THE FINAL RIDING TITLE “It feels great to win the last title. It means a lot to me. When I came back to the winner’s circle, I could hear everyone cheering and I was just so happy.” Trainer Quotes VLADIMIR CERIN ON WINNING FINAL HOLLYWOOD PARK RACE “I almost would have taken a four-horse dead heat there and let everyone have a piece of the last race. When they were coming down the stretch, all I could think of is how sad that it was over. I didn’t think he could win from where he was. Nakatani has given us some fantastic rides this meet. I think this is the second photo finish he’s won for us like this. Tama County (a winner Nov. 17) was also owned by (David and Holly Wilson) and he had no chance, like this horse, at the sixteenth pole, but won it. Oddly enough, Gary Stevens won a race for me here on Christmas Eve (Dec. 24, 2000) on a horse named Jingle Bell Hop and that was the last race on the card. It’s almost hard to enjoy the win when you think this is the last race at this race track. When I started training here, I think it took me a year to win my first race and to have it end like this just seems surreal.” Categories: Previous Article:Field Size Increases At Final Hollywood Park Meet; Cashcall Win By Shared Belief Primary Highlight Woodmans Luck, Nakatani Win Hollywood Park’s Finale «April 2014»SunMonTueWedThuFriSat 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930 Media Guide

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Want more real-time Women's Tennis news? US Open Tennis 2013: Serena Williams Will Dominate Victoria Azarenka in Final The headline of this article is in no way meant to be disrespectful to Victoria Azarenka. She's played great at the 2013 U.S. Open, but Serena Williams is playing at a level that simply discourages the belief that any woman on the planet can beat her right now. Williams is human. She proved that in failing to capture a title in her last tournament, but at the U.S. Open she's doing a spot-on impersonation of a superhero. In six matches, only one opponent has manage to win as many as four games in a set. In the semifinals, Williams disposed of the tough Li Na 6-0, 6-3. It was the fifth time during the tournament she didn't allow an opponent to win a game in a set. For about 80 percent of the match, Williams was dominant over one of the best players in the world. Clive Brunskill/Getty Images It was the 10th time Williams has faced Li. She has only lost to her once, but she has never handled her as easily as she did in the semifinals. This was the first meeting Li didn't take a set, or at least push Williams to win seven games in at least one set. Against Azarenka, Williams has had a great deal of success as well. Williams owns a 12-3 advantage against her, but Azarenka has won two of the last three meetings. That includes a win in the finals of the Western and Southern Open in Cincinnati, Ohio in August. Though Azarenka got the best of Serena in their last match, she has never beaten her in a grand slam. They have played seven times in Grand Slam tournaments including the final of the 2012 U.S. Open. Azarenka did win the second set of the match, but Williams was able to outlast her for the victory in the third set. The final tally was 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. Who will win women's final? Azarenka Based on the way Williams is playing currently, she won't need a third set to defeat Azarenka this year. A big key to Williams' success has been limiting mistakes. She's made an average of just 13.8 unforced errors per match at the U.S. Open. For a power player like Williams, that is more than a manageable number. Even more important, Williams has made less unforced errors than all six of her opponents in the tournament. Because of this, she hasn't had to depend on her massive serve as much. The most aces Williams has recorded in any match during the tournament is six. Her game is on point and Azarenka will have no other choice but to bow out gracefully to the best player in the world. Stat references from U.S.Open.org and MatchStat.com Follow me and witness my passion for sports and video games. Follow @BMaziqueFPBR More From Sports Figures and Their Rapper Alter Egos Djokovic Sets Up Semifinal Clash with Federer from @ATPWorldTour Top Storylines Ahead of Clay-Court Season

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Plan for Fiers, Peralta subject to change Rookie right-hander Wily Peralta is scheduled for two more starts and Mike Fiers for one, but the plan is subject to change based on the Brewers’ place in the standings, manager Ron Roenicke said Wednesday. Club officials have closely monitored both rookies’ workloads, particularly Fiers, who has struggled down the stretch as he pushes into uncharted innings. Including Tuesday’s 4 1/3-inning loss to the Reds, Fiers has a 6.70 ERA and a .316 opponents’ average over his last nine starts, and Roenicke was asked whether Fiers’ final scheduled start on Sunday against the Astros at Miller Park was subject to the Brewers being alive in the National League Wild Card race. “I don’t know. I can’t answer that,” Roenicke said. “When that time comes, we’ll probably talk about a couple things with a couple pitchers. Hopefully, we don’t have to think about that.” In other words, he hopes the Brewers stay alive in the hunt for the NL’s second Wild Card. The Cardinals held that spot entering Wednesday night, with a 4 1/2-game lead over both the Brewers and Dodgers. Peralta starts Thursday against the Reds and is in line to pitch again on Tuesday against the Padres in the penultimate game of the regular season. Mark Rogers, shut down earlier this month in a pre-emptive move, is not an option to start again if someone like Fiers or Peralta is instructed to call it a season, Roenicke said. Those duties would fall instead to Tyler Thornburg, Josh Stinson or Livan Hernandez.

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Support Diamonds and Dreams… By Anthony Castrovince/MLB.com To hit the big time as a 10-year-old kid in Euclid, Ohio, was to play a Little League game at “The Palace,” the field the high schoolers called home. It’s dugouts had actual walls. There was a working scoreboard. And there were no dandelions in the outfield. It was heaven. But even our worst fields in those days were well-groomed. Our equipment was also up to par. Why, I can still see the seams of the ball that hit me in the head at the 1990 Hot Dog Day (which I believe was some sort of All-Star Game in which you got free hot dogs for being selected… talk about a performance bonus). It was a nice ball. Even when knocked in the noggin, we were lucky kids. Alas, there are plenty others who don’t have it so good. They don’t have the privilege of watching and playing baseball on well-equipped fields. That’s why I’ve teamed up with Diamonds & Dreams, sponsored by Chevrolet and MLB. Diamonds & Dreams provides prizes, which include field makeovers, clinics and equipment packages for youth baseball communities across America. Anyone can enter for a chance to win the prizes as well as a trip for four to the MLB All-Star Game or a new Chevrolet. You can find out more and even play a mini baseball game here: http://on.fb.me/g2H59j Diamonds & Dreams Baseball Field Makeovers (Photo Montage :30) For those of you on Twitter today, please retweet my initial #playcatch tweet or start a game on your own that either includes the #playcatch hashtag or the link to the D&D Facebook tab: http://on.fb.me/g2H59j Each unique “thrower” or retweet will earn one baseball to be donated to Cleveland Indians Charities, which will, in turn, find a good home for them in a needy local area.

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Breakaway Magazine Vol. 3 Issue 12 - Andrey Zubarev Andrey Zubarev left Russia to pursue a new challenge in North America. By Justin Skelnik | Photos by Ross Dettman | Illustration by Christina Moritz The end of the 2009-10 hockey season was a moment Chicago Wolves defenseman Andrey Zubarev had been waiting for a long time. His team, Atlant, was swept out of the Kontinental Hockey League’s playoffs in March, signaling the end of his seventh professional season in Russia. With his season over, he immediately made the career move he had waited years to make – signing a National Hockey League contract. “I wanted to come over to play in North America sooner, but I had a contract in Russia I couldn’t break,” Zubarev said. “Right when the Atlanta Thrashers drafted me in 2005, I tried to come over, but I still had a few years left on my contract. I kept trying to talk to my teams in Russia to let me be released from my contract to come over to try to make it to the NHL but they wouldn’t let me. “I waited patiently until my contract was over and I came over here to try and make the NHL. Now, it has happened and maybe I am late coming over here, but I can’t change it. Late is better than never.” Leaving Russia to come to North America to play hockey was an easy decision for Zubarev. However, he knew that a difficult transition, both on and off the ice, awaited him in the United States. “I knew it was going to be tough when I first got to the U.S. because I didn’t speak that much English,” the 24-year-old Zubarev said. “I could count and knew a few basic questions, but I needed to learn a whole new language. It was pretty difficult at the start, but now I don’t think it is that tough.” When Zubarev arrived to the Thrashers training camp in September, he was happy to meet fellow defenseman Arturs Kulda. Kulda went through the same process when he moved from Latvia to Canada to play junior hockey in 2006. “Kulda helped me a lot this year,” Zubarev said. “It is so much easier when guys help each other out. He helped me so much because he speaks Russian and knows a lot about American hockey and the lifestyle here. He has already gone through what I am experiencing now.” Kulda was happy to help Zubarev get accustomed to his new surroundings in Atlanta and eventually in Chicago. “I was happy to help Andrey with his transition when he got here,” Kulda said. “We are a team and everyone tries to help each other out. He didn’t speak English when he came here but he could communicate with me since we both speak Russian. I went through a similar situation so I was able to help him understand how things work here in hockey and in life. “At the beginning of the year, I would translate what the coaches would say into Russian for him and when we are paired together in games, we speak Russian to each other because it is easier for him to understand. I think he has handled the transition very well so far.” Even though Zubarev had Kulda helping him out with the language, he also tried to be proactive in speaking with everyone else on the team. He knew that often times they wouldn’t understand certain things he was trying to say, and at times he was frustrated. But Wolves forward Fredrik Pettersson, who is also playing his first season in North America, advised him to listen a little bit more when American players spoke to help him understand how to say things. “I was frustrated a bit when I thought I was speaking correctly but the guys didn’t understand,” Zubarev said. “It turned out I was saying certain phrases backwards. But I took Freddy’s advice and the more I listened, the less times I found myself saying things with words out of order.” http://chicagowolves.com/community/educational-programs/future-journalist/item/2555-breakaway-magazine-vol-3-issue-12-andrey-zubarev-coming-to-america-by-justin-skelnik#sigProGalleria74f36ea97e In addition to living in a new country and learning to speak a new language, Zubarev also had to learn a whole new style of hockey. In Europe, hockey is played on international ice, which is 210 feet long and 98 feet wide and goal lines are 13 feet from the end boards, compared to a standard NHL/AHL rink which is 200 feet long and 85 feet wide, with goal lines 11 feet from the end boards. Playing on a smaller ice surface, Zubarev found himself with less time to make decisions with the puck. “Because the ice is smaller here, you have to do everything a little quicker,” Zubarev said. “Now I don’t have the time to look around like I used to and I have to make quicker decisions. Also, I had to learn to always keep my head up because someone can level you with a hit here. But overall, I like this type of hockey.” Zubarev skated in eight of the Wolves first nine games this season but wasn’t pleased with his on-ice performance. To make matters worse, he suffered an injury in a game on Oct. 28 that kept him out of the lineup until Nov. 23. Not the start to his North American career he was hoping for. “I wasn’t happy with the way I played at the beginning of the season,” Zubarev said. “I just made too many mistakes, plain and simple. Then I got injured the first time and I thought, what’s next? I’m already playing in a foreign country, learning a new style of play and now injured. But I stayed positive.” He missed 11 games because of his injury but in his first game back, he suffered another injury that caused him to miss another four weeks of action. “When I got hurt again in my first game back after injury, I really thought what could go wrong next. It was really tough to be in Chicago alone, rehabbing, while the team was on the road. But I just kept telling myself that this wouldn’t last long and to fight through it. I think the two injuries really helped me grow as a player. Now I know how to deal with adversity.” Once Zubarev got back on the ice after his second injury, he admits he was a changed player. While he was out with his injuries, he reflected on his earlier games with the Wolves and realized that he was thinking too much during games and trying to make the perfect play every time he was on the ice. Since the injuries, he has relaxed more during games and knows that mistakes happen and he just has to have a short memory and move on to the next play. “After my second injury, I think I started to play a different style of hockey,” Zubarev said. “I started to play like I play in practice. In practice, I just go out and play like I know how to. In the games, I used to grip the stick too tight and get really nervous. Now I am playing more relaxed and I think it has really improved my game.” With his comfort level and confidence growing each day, Zubarev has his sights set on achieving another milestone in his pro career – making his NHL debut. “I feel really comfortable playing in North America right now,” Zubarev said. “I know I still need to keep working hard and improve some parts of my game but I know what I need to do to get to the NHL. “Hopefully, it won’t take as long as it took me to get over here.” Published in Breakaway Magazine - Vol. 3 (2010-11) « Breakaway Magazine Vol. 3 Issue 13 - Jaime Sifers Breakaway Magazine Vol. 3 Issue 11 - Fredrik Pettersson » back to top Signup for upcoming Community Events: Tweets by @Chicago_Wolves Latest News Media Day Video Feature Check out Wolves TV for more exclusive videos.

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Golf Coaches Association of America GCAA Staff Join the GCAA Reach for Excellence Coaches' Forum Presidential Scholarship Fund GCAA Committees 12-13 GCAA Awards Search Past Awards Callaway Collegiate Match Play Championship Palmer Cup Junior Golf World Cup Golf Camps Friends of the GCAA Folds of Honor Military Tribute Program Coaches' Poll Florida's Banks Recipient of David Toms Overcoming Adversity Award NORMAN, Okla. – Eric Banks, a junior at Florida, has been named recipient of the David Toms Overcoming Adversity Award. Banks underwent open-heart surgery on June 25, 2012, but returned to Florida as a standout student and golfer. While undergoing his freshman physical at Florida during the fall of 2011, cardiologists discovered a second beat of Banks heart. During follow-up questions Banks told doctors he experienced minor shortness of breath and an occasional rapid heart rate that would last seconds then resolve. Dr. Beard ordered more tests and over the coming months Banks underwent many echocardiograms and two transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). It was determined he had Atrial Septal Defect. Not yet understanding the seriousness of his condition Banks focused on his studies and golf, playing in three fall tournaments. During the winter semester break Banks returned home to Canada and under went further tests on his heart. Results of the tests were not scheduled to return until after Banks was back at Florida. Banks was excited for the first tournament of the spring, even more so since his parents were coming to watch him play. However, his parents main focus of the trip was to inform him the tests performed just months earlier indicated Banks needed open-heart surgery to repair his heart defect and properly septate his heart (a procedure to get the blue blood to the lungs and the red blood to the body). Even with this news weighing heavily, Banks stayed in school and competed in every event of the spring season. Banks returned home two weeks following the NCAA Championships for his surgery. He received a call from the hospital on the evening of Thursday, June 21 informing the next day would be his pre-surgery day with open-heart surgery scheduled for Monday morning. Pre-surgery day was difficult for Banks and his family as his surgeon, Dr. Camille Hancock Friesen, walked them through the process and the dangers of the procedure, which included paralysis, stroke and death. The operation would involve splitting open the sternum, placing Banks on the heart-lung machine and then performing the repair on his heart. It was an emotional time for the then 19-year old Banks as he pondered his mortality. He considers the morning of his surgery as the loneliest of his life. After the four-hour surgery Banks woke up in the ICU. Disoriented from his procedure, Banks describes himself as “freaking out” due to the tube in his throat. Doctors initially removed the tube but Banks lungs collapsed four times which necessitated the tube being reinserted. That was the only moment he remembers from the day after his surgery. His father remembers the first thing Banks did after waking was to shake his arms and legs to make sure they could still move, a moment his dad will never forget. Banks felt terrible when he woke the next day. He had two tubes in his stomach, another in his chest connected his heart, IVs in his wrist and neck and a catheter. Every breath caused excruciating pain. For several days he was unable to move from his bed. The first time he was able to walk from his bed was about 25 feet but made him feel “like I ran five marathons in a row.” It was a discouraging moment for Banks. After Banks returned home from the hospital, each day he did stretching exercises, primarily based around stretching his chest, and cardio. Initially Banks struggled to lift his hands above his head. His cardio a strict walking plan, initially only two minutes and was completely exhausting. Even though he was still undergoing his recovery, Banks chose to return to Florida for the fall semester in 2012. As soon as Banks returned he met with Florida men’s golf coach Buddy Alexander. Alexander immediately noticed how frail Banks, who had lost 20 pounds and most of his muscle since Alexander last saw him, appeared. Banks was still bothered by an erratic heart rate and blood pressure. He was initially only allowed to chip and putt and but by late September he was able to make full swings. Banks was also able to increase his cardio and do more strenuous stretches. Banks returned home to Canada following the fall semester for another check-up. Dr. Hancock Friesen told Banks his heart was at a normal size and stroke rate. When the spring semester began, Banks began qualifying for tournaments. He experienced a few episodes on the golf course when his heart would beat fast or he would get extremely tired. The fatigue was random from day-to-day Banks earned a spot in Florida’s first spring tournament. As a precaution, Alexander played him as an individual due to the 36-hole day. Banks played without incident, although he was understandably tired after the two-round day. He tied for 10th place. In a nice bit of symmetry, his parents came to watch him play, just as they had a year previously when they informed him of the need for his heart procedure. It was a great and emotional moment for Banks and his family. Banks would go on to participate in every event of the spring. Even though he has suffered minor setbacks, Banks has since been a regular in the Gator lineup and maintains a 3.46 GPA while majoring in Economics. “I am honored to receive the 2014 David Toms Award,” said Banks. “Overcoming open-heart surgery was by far the hardest thing I’ve had to do. The help of my family, friends, coaches and continued support of my hometown aided me immensely through this rough time. A special thanks to my cardiac surgeon: Camille Hancock Friesen who preformed a great procedure and added roughly 30 years to my life. I am forever indebted to you and to all those who have helped me along the way. This award would not have been possible without all the support I have received, thanks again and congratulations to all the nominees!”See Eric's Interview with Golf Channel's Morning Drive here - http://www.golfchannel.com/media/morning-drive-2014-eric-banks-interview/ GCAA Hall of Fame Member Ron Balicki Passes Away College golf lost one of its greatest friends with the passing of Ron Balicki. Since practically inventing the college golf beat in 1983, so far back it was known as Florida Golfweek, Ron became part of the fabric of the college and amateur game. He covered his first golf tournament in 1980 while with the Florida Daily News. A 2010 inductee into the GCAA Hall of Fame, Ron covered every NCAA Championship dating back to 1985 and every GCAA National Convention since its inception. Dubbed "Wrong Ron" for his propensity to incorrectly pick the winner of the NCAA Championships and playfully teased for his uncanny ability to bring the rain with him to events he covered, Ron was truly fond of the sport and people he covered and was loved back by the players, coaches and everyone involved with college golf. Truly one of the kindest men one could ever meet, Ron will be greatly missed. "On behalf of the Golf Coaches Association of America and our member coaches, I would like say how sad we are at the passing of GCAA Hall of Fame member Ron Balicki," said GCAA President Todd Satterfield. "Ron was a true friend and ambassador of college golf and helped college golf become what it is today. He touched the lives of more players and coaches than he will ever know and we will all miss "Wrong Ron" for all of the right things he did for all of us." We feel that no one could give as touching tribute as Golfweek's Jeff Babineau and welcome all of Ron's friends to follow the link below if they haven't had the opportunity to read his moving words: http://golfweek.com/news/2014/mar/26/ron-balicki-dies-65-tribute-jeff-babineau/ 2013 GCAA National Convention Recap The 2013 GCAA National Convention was held December 9-11 at the Planet Hollywood Resort in Las Vegas. More than 250 coaches were in attendance, making it the largest in the history of the association. Held in conjunction with the Women’s Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) convention, the schedule of events featured nationally recognized speakers, educational sessions conducted by both the USGA and NCAA, as well as the opportunity to interact with more than 65 GCAA Corporate Partners during the annual Exhibit Night. The annual convention brings together coaches from all divisions of men’s college golf, including members from the NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA. “This is the one time during the year when coaches from across the country gather to recognize the accomplishments of their peers, exchange ideas about their profession, and learn from golf industry leaders “, said GCAA CEO Gregg Grost. Day one of the convention was highlighted by joint sessions with the WGCA that featured Mike McCarley, President of Golf Channel, and former Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice. McCarley and his team from Golf Channel discussed the new television package for the men’s and women’s NCAA Division I Championships, which will begin with the men in 2014 and women in 2015, as well as their expanded coverage of college golf year-round. Dr. Rice challenged the coaches to set the bar high for their student athletes both on the course and, more importantly, in the classroom. Dr. Rice shared stories from both her formative days in school as well as her time traveling the globe as one of the most powerful and influential diplomats in the world, She followed her remarks with a question and answer session, which set the tone for the remainder of the convention. Henry Brunton, recognized as one of the leading instructors in in the world, highlighted the afternoon sessions. A PGA of Canada Master Professional, Brunton is the only Canadian listed among GOLF Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in America. He was the Royal Canadian Golf Association’s National Golf Coach from 1999-2011 and the creator of the PGA of Canada’s Teaching and Coaching Certification Program. On Monday evening the GCAA Hall of Fame and National Awards Banquet was held in front of a packed room. The Hall of Fame class of 2013 was introduced to coaches, sponsors, family and friends in attendance. National Award recipients, including Coaches of the Year, Assistant Coach of the Year, the Labron Harris Senior Award, and Academic National Champions were recognized. During a reception prior to the awards dinner all current GCAA Hall of Fame members in attendance were recognized and brought together for a group photo. Day two highlights included a first ever joint presentation by the USGA and NCAA. Stephen Clar, NCAA Rules and Compliance, and Thomas Pagel, USGA Executive Director for Rules of Golf and Amateur Status, explained the differences in amateurism rules between the two organizations. A long-time concern of coaches and their student athletes, the educational session provided a much clearer picture on how to protect their player’s amateur eligibility. Steve Loy, GCAA Hall of Fame member and nationally recognized sports agent, shared with coaches his strategies on negotiating their personal employment contracts. He strongly encouraged all head coaches to participate in the GCAA head coach Compensation Survey that will be launched in January 2014. The afternoon focused on breakout sessions for all Divisions including NCAA , NAIA, and NJCAA. Coaches discussed schedules, format, and other related topics for their upcoming national championships to be held in spring 2014. Assistant coaches, the fastest growing part of the GCAA membership, held a leadership driven session featuring Christian Newton , head men’s golf coach at Colorado State and a former Assistant Coach of the Year. The final activity of the day was the annual GCAA Corporate Partner’s Exhibit Night. The 2013 show saw the largest number of Corporate Partners and Friends of the Association in the history of the convention with 68 in attendance. Coaches had the opportunity to meet and learn more about a myriad of products and services available to their programs. Day three started with the annual GCAA General Business Meeting. President Todd Satterfield (Furman) led with his State of the Association Address and Treasurer Bruce Heppler (Georgia Tech) presented the projected 2013 year-end financial report. Immediate Past Present Bruce Brockbank (BYU) directed the election of new officers for 2014. The final session of the convention featured a coaches’ panel consisting of J.T. Higgins (Texas A&M) , Bob Simms (St. John Fisher), and Kyle Blaser (Oklahoma City) .Coaches across all divisions asked questions on a range of topics, including recruiting strategies, how to set up practice sessions, and qualifying versus picking your traveling team. Convention attendees headed home having had the opportunity to interact and share coaching philosophies with their peers from across the country. The 2014 National Convention will again be held at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, December 8-10. Desimone Named Team USA Coach for Palmer Cup at Walton Heath Golf Club LAS VEGAS –Steve Desimone of California has been selected to coach the United States at this summer’s Palmer Cup at Walton Heath Golf Club. The annual Ryder Cup-style competition will be played on the club’s Old Course June 26-28. Ryan Murphy of Texas - recipient of the 2013 Jan Strickland Award presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf - will serve as Desimone’s assistant coach. Scotland’s Andrew Coltart and Stanford assistant coach Philip Rowe will again serve as Europe’s head and assistant coach, respectively.“I’m honored to be a part of the Palmer Cup as a member of the GCAA and representing the USA,” said Desimone. “This news definitely has me smiling. I’ve worked with collegiate players for 35 years and I’m looking forward to this opportunity. I know this is going to be a lot of fun with plenty of great golf and serious competition. All in all, it should be a wonderful experience and Go USA.”Desimone is in his 35th season at the helm of the Cal men’s golf team in 2013-14 and has led the Golden Bears’ program to sustained success over the last three and a half decades. Cal won its lone national title in 2004 but the run his team has put together since the beginning of the 2011-12 campaign is unprecedented not only at Cal but arguably on a national level.Cal has won 21 of 33 stroke-play events since the beginning of the 2011-12 campaign and has been in the top five in all 33, as well as each of its four match-play tournaments during the period. The Bears reached the national semifinals each of the past two seasons, while sweeepting NCAA Regional and Pac-12 Championship crowns. Desimone earned the 2013 Dave Williams Award presented by Eaton Golf Pride as the national coach of the year in Division I men’s golf and was the Pac-12 Coach of the Year each campaign to mark the second and third times in his career he earned the honor. In addition to the run Cal has made over the last two seasons, the Bears have also qualified for the NCAA Championship each of the past four campaigns to set a school record.The Bears are currently ranked fourth after winning three of five events and finishing third and fourth in its other two events during the 2013 fall season.Cal finished the 2012-13 season as the nation’s No. 1 ranked team by Golfweek and Golfstat despite being defeated by Illinois in the NCAA Championship match-play semifinals. Cal was also the top-ranked team in the final regular season Golf World/Nike Golf Division I Coaches Poll. Cal became the nation’s No. 1-ranked team in all three sets of rankings shortly after winning its first two events of the campaign in late September of 2012 and never dropped out of the top spot in any of them. Cal set a modern-era NCAA record with 12 victories in 14 stroke-play tournaments, eclipsing the previously established record of 10 by the 1985-86 Oklahoma State team.Michael Kim became the first Cal player to win national player of the year honors, sweeping the Jack Nicklaus Award, Haskins Award, and Golfweek/Sagarin Player of the Year. In addition, he was one of three national finalists for The Ben Hogan Award. Kim, along with Max Homa and Michael Weaver were all first-team PING All-Americans, with Kim adding first-team Golfweek All-America, while Homa and Weaver were second-team choices. All three were also All-West Region and first-team All-Pac-12 selections, while Brandon Hagy and Joël Stalter were both second-team PING and Golfweek All-Americans, PING All-West Region picks and second-team All-Pac-12 selections. In addition, the Bears swept Pac-12 Player of the Month honors in 2012-13, with Kim and Homa winning twice each and Stalter once. Cal players earned medalist honors a school-record 10 times in 2012-13 led by the school-record four captured by Kim. Homa and Stalter won twice each, with Homa becoming the first Cal player to ever win the NCAA title and earn the Arnold Palmer Award presented by Callaway and the third to win the Pac-12 crown. Weaver and Hagy were medalists one time each.Desimone is a member of the Northern California Golf Association’s Class of 2014 and will be inducted during the California Golf Writers & Broadcasters Association’s 55th annual gala event at The Inn at Spanish Bay during the week of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on February 4, 2014. Last year, he became the first coach to ever by presented with the CGWBA’s Jack Lemmon Ambassador of Golf Award at the same event.The United States leads the Palmer Cup series 9-7-1. Photo Credit Cal Athletic Department GCAA Announces 2013 Team Academic Awards presented by Farmers Insurance NORMAN, Okla. – Brown (Division I), Post (Division II), Greensboro College (Division III), Embry Riddle - AZ (NAIA), Scottsdale CC (NJCAA DI) and South Mountain CC (NJCAA DII) have been named Academic National Champions for their respective divisions announced the GCAA.Brown posted the highest overall team GPA for all divisions with a 3.74. A total of 145 teams submitted GPAs of 3.00 or higher to earn All-Academic Team recognition - a new high in the five years of the award.“All the credit goes to the players - I couldn’t be happier for them,” said Brown Head Coach Michael Hughes. “We put a high emphasis on academics and I know that we’ve been close to winning this award the past four years. To carry an Ivy League curriculum and course load while competing is tough. This lends credibility that if you recruit good quality kids your program will be rewarded.”South Mountain CC won its fourth straight Academic National Championships in NJCAA DII. Post earned the Division II Academic National Championship for the second-straight year while Brown, Greensboro College, Embry Riddle - AZ and Scottsdale CC won for the first time.DePaul, Harvard, Kennesaw State, Madonna, Ohio Valley, Redlands, Richmond, SCAD Atlanta, SCAD Savannah, Stanford, Sterling, Stevens Institute of Technology, Utah Valley State, Valparaiso, William & Mary and Yale also received President’s Special Recognition status for having team GPAs of 3.5 or better.To be eligible for GCAA All-Academic Team honors a college or university must submit the GPAs for each player on its official squad list for the academic year.“Farmers Insurance is proud to honor and support the GCAA and their 2013 recipients of the 2013 Team Academic Awards,” said Chuck Browning, Head of Sponsorship and Corporate Giving for Farmers Insurance. “A key philanthropic pillar of Farmers Insurance is Education, thus this award is a perfect fit for us and gives us a chance to extend our support of golf throughout the year. It is also an extension of our University Day platform at the Farmers Insurance Open, which we continue to see great success on each year.”Farmers Insurance Group of Companies is a leading U.S. insurer group of automobiles, homes and small businesses and also provides a wide range of other insurance and financial services products. Farmers Insurance is proud to serve more than 10 million households with more than 20 million individual policies across all 50 states through the efforts of over 50,000 exclusive and independent agents and nearly 24,000 employees.The Farmers Exchanges are three reciprocal insurers (Farmers Insurance Exchange, Fire Insurance Exchange and Truck Insurance Exchange), including their subsidiaries and affiliates, owned by their policyholders. Farmers Group, Inc., along with its subsidiaries, manages the non-claims insurance operations of the Farmers Exchanges. Farmers Group, Inc. is wholly owned by the Zurich Insurance Group. For more information about Farmers, visit its Web site at www.farmers.com or at www.Facebook.com/FarmersInsurance. Academic National Champions Division I - Brown Division II - Post Division III - Greensboro College NAIA - Embry Riddle - AZ NJCAA DI - Scottsdale CC NJCAA DII - South Mountain CC President’s Special Recognition(3.5 or better GPA) Utah Valley State Embry Riddle - AZ SCAD Atlanta SCAD Savannah All-Academic Teams(3.0 or better GPA) CSU Monterey Bay Maryville (St. Louis) Minot State Johnson & Wales Saint John’s (Minn.) Skidmore Trinity College (Conn.) Bethany (Kan.) Bethel College (Kan.) Northwood (Florida) Northwood (Texas) Wayland Baptist NJCAA DI Darton State NJCAA DII GCAA Facebook and Twitter Pages Make sure to follow the GCAA on our Facebook and Twitter accounts, presented by the NGA Pro Golf Tour. Click on the links below to access our pages. 2014 Palmer Cup Teams Team Europe Wyndham Clark Oklahoma State FR Pep Angles Bryson Dechambeau SMU SO Thomas Detry Brandon Hagy Paul Dunne Rico Hoey Ricardo Gouveia Stewart Jolley LSU JR Grant Forrest Anthony Maccaglia Oglethorpe JR Trey Mullinax Erik Oja Jon Rahm Robby Shelton Cameron Wilson UCLAN-Myerscough Rankings powered by Golfstat View Full Team Details Recent Headlines April 16, 2014 GolfWorld/Nike Golf Coaches' Polls Announced Semifinalists named for 2014 The Ben Hogan Award Finalists Named for Byron Nelson Award presented by Cleveland Golf/Srixon Florida's Banks Recipient of David Toms Overcoming Adversity Award The GCAA's Q&A With NGA Pro Golf Tour Member Seth Fair 3. California 7. Central Florida 9. Houston 10. Virginia View the Top 25 GCAA National Office1225 West Main Street, Suite 110Norman, OK 73069Phone: (405) 329-4222Fax: (405) 573-7888 Contact Us | Advertising | Sitemap | Privacy Policy

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About CMTT 10 QQQ Country Music Tickets Jake Owen Joins Celebrity Golf Challenge Posted by TawnyTucker on February 4th, 2013 Photo Credit: Jeff Lipsky for RCA Nashville Jake Owen is brushing up on his golf chops as he heads to the west coast to participate in the AT&T Pebble Beach National PRO-AM Celebrity Challenge from February 4 through February 10th in Monterey, California. Jake will join Josh Duhamel, Chris Berman, Bill Murray, Kenny G, Charles Kelley, Huey Lewis, Ray Romano, Darius Rucker, Andy Garcia, Aaron Rodgers, Kelly Slater and more on the green as they tee up for a good cause. “I’m pretty excited to participate in the tournament,” shares Jake. “I must admit … I’m a very competitive person and with the chance of winning for charity, I’m ready to give it my all.” After selling out every date on his first headlining tour, CMT On Tour, Jake will hit the road again in February with Jason Aldean’s 2013 Night Train Tour. Also coming in February will be the release of Jake’s new single “Anywhere With You” to country radio. The song is the fourth single produced by Joey Moi and Rodney Clawson from the Barefoot Blue Jean Night project. Since releasing his chart-topping album, Barefoot Blue Jean Night, Jake has emerged as one of country music’s leading vocalists. The album has delivered three consecutive No. 1 hit singles, with the nearly DOUBLE PLATINUM-selling title track and multi week chart- toppers with the nearly PLATINUM “Alone with You,” and GOLD

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Results tagged ‘ Arizona Diamondbacks ’ You Complete Me: Another Look at Edwin Jackson’s Gem When Drew Stubbs singled home Miguel Cairo in the top of the second inning of Saturday’s Reds-Nats affair in Washington, it looked like this might finally be the day the offenses broke out and delivered a high-scoring game. Following consecutive extra-inning games, in which the two teams combined for just eight runs in 23 innings, the early sign of life seemed to indicate a shift, the 74-degree first pitch temperature and out-blowing breeze priming the afternoon for an offensive explosion. Who knew in that moment, with the Reds still threatening to add on in the inning, that Cincinnati would not log another hit the rest of the afternoon against Nationals starter Edwin Jackson. The hard-throwing righty retired 22 of the final 23 batters he faced, polishing off a two-hit shutout by inducing a weak pop to shallow center field from Joey Votto, one of the most feared power hitters in the game. In many ways, Edwin Jackson's performance Saturday was more impressive than his no-hitter. Jackson is perhaps best known around the baseball world for his bizarre, 149-pitch no-hitter, which he threw with Arizona against the Tampa Bay Rays on June 25, 2010. He walked eight batters in that contest while striking out just six, but gutted out a marathon performance to earn his place in the baseball history books. In many ways, though, his performance on Saturday in front of 35,489 frenzied fans surpassed his no-no from 16 months prior. First, there was that lone baserunner after the second inning, a four-pitch walk to Chris Heisey to open the eighth inning. As dominant as Jackson had been, there suddenly appeared to be a crack in the armor, the crowd that had given him multiple standing ovations quieted to a nervous murmur. Tyler Clippard scrambled to get warm in the bullpen as pitching coach Steve McCatty paced out to the mound for a chat. What did the coach have to say? “It’s your game,” said Jackson, recounting McCatty’s pep talk after the game. “Just get these people out. Throw every pitch with conviction.” Manager Davey Johnson, the lifelong baseball man, actually found himself nervous in the moment. “When I’m seeing a gem and we need it, lights out, it makes me nervous,” Johnson said. “I usually don’t get nervous. But when you see something like that – he had a low pitch count, just a dominating game. From a manager’s standpoint, you don’t want anything to go wrong. You kind of protect against all contingencies.” Jackson got the support he needed from Jesus Flores and the rest of the offense. After all, even though Jackson was the only National who pitched on Saturday, this game meant something to everyone on the staff. Following those back-to-back extra-inning games, both bullpens were spent, leaving few options for the skippers. Perhaps the biggest number of the night was 92: the total number of pitches it took Jackson to finish what he started, a full 57 pitches fewer than his no-hitter. Meanwhile, the offense did its part, responding when Jackson needed it to by tying the game in the bottom of the second. Jayson Werth – fresh off his game-winning hit in the fifth hour of the game the night prior – legged out the back end of a double play and eventually scored the game-tying run with two outs to level the score at one apiece. An inning later, Adam LaRoche came through again, following a walk to Danny Espinosa and a single from Ryan Zimmerman, with a two-run double into the right-center field gap. The Nationals would only add one more tally the rest of the way, but it was more than enough for Jackson. After all, Jackson has had plenty of experience finishing off a masterpiece, going back again to his no-hitter in 2010. For all the grief he has received for that non-conventional feat, Jackson nevertheless got the outs he needed – all 27 of them – while pitching with just one run of cushion the entire game. And who, do you suppose, plated the lone run in that game? Why, Adam LaRoche, of course. His solo shot in the second inning was the lone score in a 1-0 game. Both players have looked very much at home, united once more in Washington in the season’s opening stretch. Filed in: Uncategorized Tags: Adam LaRoche, Arizona Diamondbacks, Cincinnati Reds, Danny Espinosa, Davey Johnson, Edwin Jackson, Jayson Werth, Ryan Zimmerman, Steve McCatty, Tampa Bay Rays, Tyler Clippard, Washington Nationals Down on the Farm: Tyler Moore Ed. Note: Here at Curly W Live, we will be taking a closer look at some of the top up-and-coming prospects in the Nationals farm system throughout the 2012 season. Make sure to vote in our poll at the end of this article to help determine which player we will profile next. There have been plenty of heralded prospects making their way up the ranks of the Nationals farm system over the last few years. Strong, talent-rich drafts have stocked Washington’s minor league affiliates to the point that prior to the Gio Gonzalez trade – which sent four of the club’s top 13-rated prospects to the Oakland Athletics – Baseball America had the Nationals ranked as the top overall minor league system in the game heading into 2012. Even after that deal, there are plenty of big names left, led of course by Bryce Harper. Those who keep their eyes on the minors will get their first glimpse of the likes of Anthony Rendon and the first regular season action for Matt Purke, who made his professional debut in the Arizona Fall League. These few will dominate the headlines, but we begin this season’s slate with one of the most promising power hitters in the system, Tyler Moore. Moore sizes up a blast while with Potomac in 2010. (Steve Mihelerakis) At the minor league level, where seasons are shorter and younger players are still filling out their athletic frames, large power totals are rare. In fact, only 15 minor leaguers hit 30 or more home runs in 2011, and only two have turned the trick in each of the last two years. The first name may ring a bell: Paul Goldschmidt. He was the rookie phenom who, after swatting 35 longballs for Double-A Mobile, was called up in September and played a key role in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ run to the National League West crown. The other player was Moore, a soft-spoken first baseman who, even after such an impressive two-year run, still does not appear in Baseball America’s top 10 prospect list for the Nationals. Ranking or no ranking, that kind of power will earn you some respect and, in Moore’s case, some investment from the organization. The slugger was added to the 40-Man Roster in November, along with Eury Perez, Jhonatan Solano and the recently traded Derek Norris, to prevent him from being selected by another club in the annual Rule V Draft. “This was his protection year,” explained Doug Harris, the Nationals Director of Player Development. “With power being a premium in today’s game, we felt like it was an easy decision for us.” While Harris was not yet with the organization back when Moore first came into the system, he saw him as an opposing player while Harris was with the Cleveland Indians and Moore was at Low-A Hagerstown in 2008. “As an opposing scout watching him, he was a guy that could always impact the baseball,” recalled Harris. “When he was in Hagerstown, it was really pole-to-pole power. Really his best power was to right-center, which is a true indicator of a guy who has a chance to come into bigger power down the road. So you saw glimpses of it, and I think a lot of the doubles he hit in Hagerstown got turned into home runs over the last couple of years.” Moore slides feet first into second. (Steve Mihelerakis) After hitting 30 two-baggers but just nine home runs in 111 games at Hagerstown in 2009, Moore got off to a rough start his next season at High-A Potomac. In 79 games through July 12, he had collected 47 RBI, but was batting just .191. Moore made an adjustment, though, and turned his season around completely. Over his final 50 contests, he went a staggering 76-for-193 (.394) with 21 home runs and 64 RBI. He would go on to lead the Carolina League in home runs (31), RBI (111), doubles (43), slugging percentage (.552), extra-base hits (77) and total bases (277), earning both league MVP honors and the Nationals Organizational Player of the Year. Moore put together another impressive campaign last year in the pitcher-friendly Eastern League, where he matched his home run total of 31, and again lead the league in RBI, extra-base hits and total bases. In fact, in 189 games played since his remarkable turnaround, the 6’2”, 210-pound righty has swatted 52 home runs and driven in 154. “When you break down the 2010 season that he had at Potomac…he really came into his own in the second half,” explained Harris. “It’s a credit to him. He’s a tireless worker, he never wavered in his approach or his intent day-to-day, and it really speaks volumes about who he is.” Like many sluggers with such impressive power numbers, Moore also racks up his fair share of strikeouts, averaging 125 K’s over the past three seasons. However, he has also batted a very respectable .277 over that same stretch and it’s hard to argue with the run production. Clearly, the Nationals have seen something in Moore’s potential ever since he was just a prep player at Northwest Rankin High School in Brandon, Mississippi. They actually drafted him on three separate occasions: in the 41st round straight out of high school in 2005, in the 33rd round after a year at Meridian Junior College in 2006, and finally in the 16th round after two years at Mississippi State in 2008. Moore signed at last, and has spent each of the last four seasons at a different level of the farm system, slowly playing his way up to Double-A in 2011. Now, as he enters his first big league camp in Florida, Moore will face new pressures and expectations from the Nationals staff. So, just how high is Moore’s ceiling? Moore's power continued at Harrisburg in 2011. (Will Bentzel) “I think a lot of that is really up to Tyler,” said Harris. “He’s obviously put together two very productive years back-to-back. He’s going to be given an opportunity at a higher level and a chance to continue to show what he’s capable of doing. I know that our Major League staff is excited to get a glimpse of him in Spring Training.” As for how Moore will respond to the challenge, Harris is not worried. “Tyler is a very high-character young man, a tremendous teammate,” said Harris. “He’s an early-to-the-ballpark kind of guy. He blends with every mix of player. He’s a quiet leader, not a big-time vocal leader, but he’s got a great presence and he’s very well-liked amongst his teammates.” Those traits should serve him well, as Harris suggested that the coaching staff may try Moore out at several defensive positions to see where he can best fit into the Nationals’ future plans. Originally drafted as a third baseman, he has played exclusively at first base (or been a designated hitter) in his 448 career minor league games. Harris said the staff has tried him in the outfield a bit as well, and that they will continue to “kick the tires” on that experiment moving forward. Either way, it will just be one more adjustment, something Moore has shown that he’s good at making. “There’s an adjustment period going to a new level each year,” said Harris. “I know that he’s preparing himself to be ready to go out of the gate this year. He’s a kid that’s had to earn everything he’s got.” While Moore seems destined for Syracuse in April, if he is able to find similar success at the Triple-A level in 2012 as he has the past two years, fans in the District may get a glimpse of him before the year is out. Video: Moore goes deep for Harrisburg Filed in: Down on the Farm, Uncategorized Tags: 40-man roster, Anthony Rendon, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baseball America, Bryce Harper, Cleveland Indians, Derek Norris, Down on the Farm, Eury Perez, Gio Gonzalez, Hagerstown Suns, Jhonatan Solano, Matt Purke, Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Paul Goldschmidt, Potomac Nationals, Rule 5 Draft, Spring Training, Syracuse Chiefs, Tyler Moore |

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Interview: Olympiacos FC on their Digital Media strategy Digital-Football.com this week has the chance to interview Olympiacos FC’s Digital Media Director Veroushka Georganti, who has kindly and openly replied to our questions concerning the Greek Champion’s social media strategy and plans for online presence. “Our Digital Media strategy in Olympiacos started over two years ago, with the launch of our new re-designed website and the Olympiacos WebTV and WebRadio services which were an immediate success with our fans“, stated Ms Georganti. The club’s effort on having a strong online presence is complemented with the official website nowadays being available into eight languages and the set-up of its official social media profiles. “Olympiacos has the strongest fan base in Greece, but many of our fans live abroad, so we felt the need to reach them directly, particularly the second-generation Olympiacos fans – the families of Greek immigrants – who follow and feel the club despite of their physical distance to Greece. Additionally, Olympiacos has developed relationships and signed football professionals from abroad, namely Spain and Portugal, which are markets that are a priority to the clubs international digital media strategy“. In a country where the penetration rate of broadband Internet is still below the European average, Olympiacos started their official page on Facebook almost 18 months ago and had to face some initial problems, as there were already several unofficial pages of the club with several thousand fans. ”We made a strong investment on educating the public about the club’s official channels. We opted for not denouncing any fan pages, rather than to promote our own, which has been a long and hard process”. Currently with over 120,000 fans on Facebook, Olympiacos FC’s page is steadily growing as fans learn which are the official channels and which are not. At the same time, Olympiacos has 13K followers on Twitter, a social media platform still growing in terms of popularity and number of users in Greece. Ms Georganti says “Curiously, and in spite of our continuous efforts which are translated in a generally steady growth, the factor that best influences the number of fans and engagement to our page is the actual performance of our football team! After a European match win or a victory against our main rivals, the number of fans gives an instant leap”. In terms of engaging content,“Polls and questions about our fans’ opinion are the most successful. In Greece, everyone has a strong opinion about the club’s even smallest details. And the social networks have been greatly used by us to listen to our fans, understand what the public demands and meet their needs“. However, the club’s main online success so far has been the Olympiacos WebTV. “The club has made an effort to produce content that interests the fans and that wasn’t available just a few years ago, for example locker room interviews, backstage footage and live team presentations. We want to involve the fans and engage them with the club’s brand and this is better achieved through the power of video footage. At times, we have over 30,000 simultaneous live video streams!” When it comes to Olympiacos’ athletes presence on social networks, the club encourages and gives guidance to all players who are keen on investing on their online presence. “Some players are reluctant, they don’t want to get over-exposed and are suspicious of the so many unofficial pages on their behalf, but things are changing. We have been working hard on helping and educating our players on how to behave on social networks and we have been getting some response, particularly amongst foreign players who are generally more open and familiar to this kind of digital activity”. More recently, Olympiacos joined Instagram, which was “an immediate success as the platform allows great interactivity with the fans without the language barrier” and pioneered as the first football club in the world to be officially admitted on Kyck.com, a new fast-growing social platform exclusively dedicated to football. Ms Georganti finished transmitting to Digital-Football.com readers in first-hand the near future plans for the online presence of the club: ”We are currently promoting our first digital game “Olympiacos Free Kicks” which is available for download on mobiles and tablets, and our next step will be to launch our official channel on YouTube. We have an ambitious international strategy and are looking forward to leverage the popularity of this video platform to reach even more fans around the world. However, some more surprises will surely come in the immediate future”. Digital-Football.com would like to thank Veroushka Georganti for her availability and openness to answer our questions. In a country where broadband Internet access and social media are still growing, Olympiacos has showed to be a pioneer and ambitious club on and off the field. We are looking forward to follow up this interview in a few months and take notice of the clubs’ achievements in what comes to social media and online presence. Official Olympiacos channels: Website: http://www.olympiacos.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OLYMPIACOS.F.C.Official Twitter: https://twitter.com/olympiacos_org Instagram: http://instagram.com/olympiacosfc Kyck: http://kyck.com/#/Olympiacos Olympiacos Free Kicks: http://www.olympiacos.org/en/page/17705/olympiacos-free-kicks Written by Ivo Loureiro View all posts by: Ivo Loureiro « Previous post Next Post » 1 Comments to “Interview: Olympiacos FC on their Digital Media strategy” Social media in Olympiakos | Ivo Loureiro says: February 19, 2013 at 8:02 pm [...] The result of this conversation has been published in form of an interview on Digital-Football.com and can be read here. [...] Reply Interview: Olympiacos FC on their Digital Media strategy | Social Media and it's importance on Football | Scoop.it says: February 20, 2013 at 12:23 am [...] [...] Reply Marcos Castro says: February 20, 2013 at 12:26 am Great interview and information of what are the thoughts and actions of a club strategy on social media. Keep up the good work Ivo Loureiro! Recent Posts Former Spurs striker Mido makes abusive “your mum” tweet Southampton FC integrate Tweets into pitchside advertising Blackpool footballer Michael Chopra fined £10,000 for Tweet Sports Social Media has to focus on monetization in 2014 Manchester United top Twitter engagement table for November Categories Bad (16) Bundesliga (4) By League (80) EPL (47) La Liga (8) Ligue 1 (1) Matchday (13) Serie A (8) Tactics (44) Editors’ PicksFolos.im Digital-Football Google+ Follow Us Keep up to date with all the latest Football Social Media news: Join the Blog We are always on the look out for new contributors for the blog, so if you have a passion for Football Social Media and want to be featured on one of the world's leading #digisport sites - drop us an email at sean [at] digital-football.com. © 2014 Digital-Football.com – Football Social Media news is proudly powered by Wordpress | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Website Feedback follow: Like us on Facebook Tweet with me

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- Redemption for safety Ihedigbo Redemption for safety Ihedigbo By Mike Reiss FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Sunday couldn't have been much sweeter for Patriots safety James Ihedigbo, the former New York Jet who made his first career NFL start. After the team's 30-21 win, Ihedigbo first focused on the overall accomplishment of beating the Jets, which he called "a great team win" that "puts us ahead division-wise against them." Then he touched on what the day meant to him personally. "You couldn't ask for a better way, for a team that let you go, to come back and kind of stick it to them," he said. Ihedigbo, who played for the Jets from 2008-2010 but wasn't re-signed this year, was a surprise starter Sunday. With Josh Barrett out with a hamstring injury and Sergio Brown struggling last week in Oakland, it was Ihedigbo's chance to show what he could do. "It was great. I felt comfortable," he said, adding that a late-game stinger he sustained wasn't anything serious. "I've been playing in this league for a while, played in a lot of big games, and this is just another one. An opportunity to start, it was definitely a blessing." To do so against his former team made it even better. "It's necessarily not anything personal against anybody individually, but just as the whole organization, and being a part of something and them kind of feeling you're not good enough to be a part of it anymore -- and then coming to a team like this, where we have the makings to be something very special ... it's a great feeling," he said. Ihedigbo, who grew up in Amherst, Mass. and played in college at UMass, learned that he'd be starting Sunday morning. He finished with six tackles (four solo). "We get equal reps during practice," he said. "We have a very, very good secondary, we just have to play to the level of the talent that we have. When I found out this morning that I was going to get the start, first NFL start, you have to make the best of it."

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Cardinal win with Cardinal ball January, 1, 2013 By Kevin Gemmell | ESPN.com PASADENA, Calif. -- Beauty is in the eye of whichever team has more points at the end of the game. Beholder be damned. This is 2012 Stanford football -- white knuckles and all. If you want pretty, the Getty Museum is on the other side of the 405. Anyone expecting anything different in the 99th Rose Bowl Game Presented by Vizio probably hasn’t watched much Cardinal ball this season. Stanford did what it does best: get a lead, hold a lead and win the game in the fourth quarter. It was what guided Stanford (12-2) to a Pac-12 championship, and it’s what enabled the Cardinal to beat Wisconsin 20-14 on Tuesday night. “We’re not built for style points and we don’t blow teams out,” said Stanford defensive end Ben Gardner, who tallied six tackles, including a critical stop on a Wisconsin fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line. “It’s going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight and this one was no different. It’s going to be a four-quarter game with us. Wisconsin played very hard. They didn’t make it easy on us. It’s one of those things where at each pivotal moment someone new stepped up and made a play.” [+] EnlargeRichard Mackson/USA TODAY SportsStanford limited Wisconsin running back Montee Ball to just 13 yards in the second half.After jumping out to a 14-0 lead and a 17-14 halftime lead, the Cardinal defense pitched a second-half shutout -- holding the Badgers (8-6) to 82 total yards in the second half. Running back Montee Ball, the Doak Walker Award winner, rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown, but was held to just 13 yards in the second half. “We pride ourselves on being able to drag teams into the deep water in the fourth quarter,” linebacker Chase Thomas said. “We’ve been there plenty of times. … We’re used to making the big stops when we have to. That’s how we’re built.” Indeed. This is the 10th time this year Stanford has been involved in a game that was decided by a touchdown or less. And they’ve won eight of those. “We were prepared for this,” said running back Stepfan Taylor, who rushed for 88 yards and a touchdown. “We were ready for this kind of game. We’ve seen it before and we’re a mature enough team to be able to handle the close games.” But it’s the Notre Dame game -- a 20-13 loss in overtime in South Bend on Oct. 13 (the last time Stanford lost) -- that head coach David Shaw singled out as the turning point for the season. You may remember a critical instant replay involving Taylor that didn’t go Stanford’s way at the end of that game. “We could sit, sulk and think about what could have been,” Shaw said, recalling how he addressed the team. “Or we can say, 'From now on, we’re going to finish games. Don’t leave it up to officials. Finish games.' … That was kind of a galvanizing moment for us. We lost that game and it was so heartfelt and so devastating. It was right in front of us. We made a collective decision that we were not going to let games slip away from us. So we went on a tear. Eight games in a row. We kept the same mentality. We never got too high, we never got too low. That game really propelled us to this one.” And now the Cardinal have their first Rose Bowl title since 1972 and their second victory in a BCS bowl game in the past three years. It would be three in a row except for a loss in overtime last year to Oklahoma State in the Fiesta Bowl. Don’t think this win doesn’t wash a bit of the bad taste out of their mouths from last season. “Oh yeah, more than a little bit,” Gardner said. “This is pretty darn sweet. We know what it’s like to be in tight games and we never had a doubt.” Stanford has drawn comparisons to a Big Ten team for its physical style of play and run-first, stop-the-run mentality. And it was on full display Tuesday night -- much as it’s been all season. “It’s football,” Shaw said. “It’s really, really physical football. There were guys that were tired. Every play you could hear the pads popping. It’s the kind of football that I grew up watching. And I’m proud that our guys played that style of football.” Anything less wouldn’t be Stanford. Kevin Gemmell | emailCollege FootballFollowArchive Pac-12 reporter. Graduate of the Santa Clara University. Tags:Stanford Cardinal, Pac-12, Wisconsin Badgers, Stanford Cardinal, Chase Thomas, David Shaw, Ben Gardner, Montee Ball, Rose Bowl 2012, 2012 Rose Bowl Previous PostTaylor gains tough yards in Rose Bowl winNext PostStanford proves it has staying power SPONSORED HEADLINES

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Johnson making impressive strides By Marc Connolly (Archive) WASHINGTON -- Bruce Arena's message to Eddie Johnson was simple: "Be ready."Those were the words the U.S. National Team manager muttered to the 20-year-old striker on Saturday before the Americans defeated El Salvador 2-0 in their latest World Cup qualifying match.When you haven't played a single minute for the national team despite being called in to several camps and traveling with the team to places like Kingston, Jamaica, those two little words by Arena mean everything. So the last thing that Johnson wanted to do was let him down should he get the call.Johnson, known as EJ to his teammates, was simply happy to make the traveling squad of 21 players, which he did not make for the trip to Panama last month. The same sort of elation came when he made the 18-man game roster, which was also somewhat unexpected."It was a tough decision between he and Conor (Casey) to dress," admitted Arena on Monday afternoon, "but I think we need to see how Eddie can do in these type of games."Only four minutes after Arena chose to see how the Dallas Burn standout would do in his first appearance for the senior national team by inserting him into the match for Brian McBride, he saw exactly how he could contribute - by scoring goals. It's something Johnson has done at the club level, as well as for the U-17 and U-20 National Teams. And now something he can say he's done at the highest of levels after scoring the team's second and final goal of the evening in the 75th minute to drive a stake into the heart of the Azules and essentially clinch the final result.Though his strike was one of the easiest he'll ever have since it came from just a few yards out via Landon Donovan's pass across the box after the El Salvadoran goalkeeper had committed, it was a play he still had to read and time correctly."He still positioned himself to be at the end of it," said Arena. "You have to give him credit for that. I thought he did a good job - a real good job."Johnson became just the seventh player since 1986 to score a goal in his first-ever national team appearance, and one of 38 players to accomplish the feat. He is also the first player in 29 years (Boris Bandov in 1976) to do it in a World Cup qualifying game.For U.S. fans, Johnson's continued progress is a very important development. Few players who have ever donned a U.S. jersey have possessed the breakaway speed that Johnson has. While he may not be ready to be a starter for the U.S. for the next year or two, his game-changing speed and instincts for the goal appear to be a vital element that Arena's side is in need of off the bench."It cannot be overstated that his ability to get behind defenses without the ball is exceptional," said U.S. assistant coach Glenn "Mooch" Myernick, who coached Johnson with the U-23 National Team last winter. "His speed wins games, and it's a real asset for us off the bench when it's late in the game and the defenders are starting to tire." First-game, first-goal history Date    Name    Opponent    Score 2/7/86   Bruce Murray    v. Uruguay        1-1 T 6/8/87   Ted Hantak    v. Egypt(at Korea)1-3 L 6/14/88  Rob Ryerson    v. Costa Rica     1-0 W 3/12/91  Dante Washington v. Mexico        2-2 T 9/8/99   Chris Albright   at Jamaica        2-2 T 10/25/00 Landon Donovan   v. Mexico         2-0 W 10/9/04  Ed Johnson    at El Salvador    2-0 W That athleticism that Myernick speaks of has always been apparent. It was the first thing the coaching staff with the Under-17 National Team noticed before extending him an invite to join the Residency program in Bradenton, Fla., back in the spring of 2000 just before he turned 16 years old. It's also what helped him lead the team in scoring with 33 goals and 19 assists that first season, playing on a U-17 side that included Justin Mapp, Santino Quaranta and Mike Magee.Yet, while his name started gaining attention as he moved onto the professional level with the Dallas Burn, several coaches inside the soccer community questioned his maturity level, and wondered if Johnson was a player who would always have the word "potential" next to his name. They wondered if he'd progress as a soccer player -- not just as a speedster up front -- and if he had the type of overall attitude and work ethic it takes to truly make it at the next level."He used to take criticism from his coaches very personally," said Myernick. "It took some maturing on his part to realize that we're there to help him."Looking back, it's something that Johnson knew was a problem. He admits that there were times that he hasn't got along with his coaches and players at Dallas. Along the way, he said there were times that he coasted through practice and did things his way, not the right way. Part of it, he says, was how he came to a Dallas club that was closer to the bottom of the league than to the top unlike what several of the top players who left Bradenton before him have had to deal with."Landon has always been on a winning team," said Johnson on Monday afternoon while looking around at some of the younger players on the national team. "(DaMarcus) Beasley was on a winning team. Bobby's (Convey) team won. We haven't had a winning team since I've been here."In his first two years in the league, Dallas got knocked out of the playoffs in the first round. Last year, it failed to reach the postseason, finishing in last place in the Western Conference with the worst record in Major League Soccer. While Johnson showed flashes of brilliance and scored some highlight-reel goals during those first three years, injuries have slowed him down, at times, and he hasn't had a regular spot in the starting lineup.That's all changed this year, though. Not only has Johnson been given the nod as a starter and has come through with 11 goals in 25 matches, but he's also gone through a metamorphosis as a person. It started back in February when Burn assistant coach Brian Haynes asked Johnson to move in with he and his family."Once I was hired by Colin (Clarke), I called him about it because I thought it would be good for him," said Haynes, who played for the Burn for four years before joining the coaching staff. "The one thing I felt that was really important with Eddie was how when he surrounds himself with negative people, things don't seem to go well for him. He needs to be in an environment where he has positive influences."Johnson agreed to this, and moved in with Haynes, his wife and their seven-year-old daughter, Jordan, and four-year-old son, Jonah, once he returned from Olympic qualifying with the U-23s. Since then, Johnson has become a big brother to Haynes' kids, and has even become a regular at church with the family on Sundays.While Johnson credits Burn teammate Jason Kreis for having a positive influence on him since he's arrived in Dallas, Haynes has now become a driving force in his life, and is the person he gives credit for helping change the ways he views his career and his life as a whole."Brian is sort of like a father figure to me," said Johnson. "He's told me when things haven't been going well that things could be a lot worse because there are a lot of guys out there that don't have what I have."That includes dealing with criticism and the up-and-down fortunes of the Burn."I've learned that, on a day-to-day basis, that you get what you put into it," he said. "In Dallas, it's been a hard past couple of years for me. But I know now that I have to look at myself at the end of the day and ask myself what I'm doing to make myself a better player. Am I trying to get better? Am I trying to be the guy on the team that's supposed to score the goals?"That's something I did on the U-20s. I took that responsibility to be that guy."That, of course, worked out quite well, as Johnson led the Thomas Rongen-coached side with four goals in five games as the U.S. reached the quarterfinals of the World Youth Championships last December. In the process, he became the first U.S. men's player at any FIFA World Championship to win the Golden Shoe, awarded to the leading scorer of the tournament.In talking about that accomplishment, Johnson sounds like someone far from impressed with what he did."I could have scored more," he said, in more of a joking around voice than an arrogant one. "We should have gone further than what we did."Even so, it was a showing that got him called up to the U-23s a month later for the side's ill-fated attempt at qualifying for the Olympics, as well as a look by Arena."I know him from watching him with the U-20s and from Thomas Rongen's feelings that he's a player with a lot of potential," he said. "My observation of watching him in the league is that he's gotten better. Obviously, last year I think was a tough year for him in MLS. This year, it's been a very good year, and he's among the leading goal scorers in the league. He's matured and he's moving forward as a player. He's not only a big, strong athlete, but he's a good soccer player. He's got good feet, and I think he's got a bright future."Myernick agrees, saying that he's been a different player in 2004."Each MLS season he's gotten better," said Myernick. "We have a deep pool of forwards, so it says a lot that he saw time the other night. It's not a case where we are throwing him a bone. It's too important for us to do that. He earned it."For Johnson, the challenge has been given for him to work on being more of a factor over 90 minutes of a game, and not to fade-in and fade-out. It's not something the U.S. staff is worried about as much anymore since they have seen improvement in this area. After all, it's something they once saw in Donovan's game, as well, and that's worked out nicely for them over time.Whether or not Johnson gets another shot to play against Panama on Wednesday when the teams meet at RFK Stadium, Arena and his staff will certainly be watching the 6-foot-2 striker to see how he fares this weekend for Dallas when the Burn close out their regular season needing a win to get into the playoffs. Johnson noted how inconsistent his side has been, but hopes his experience the past two weeks with the national team will pay off."I figure if I work hard here with the national team, it's only going to prepare me more for my club team," he said. "If I'm playing well and focused for the national team this week, then I'll be prepared for this weekend to try and help us get a result and get into the playoffs."Should he find the back of the net, he could find himself with the Golden Boot at the end of the season as the league's highest goal-scorer. With 11 goals, Johnson is tied with Brian Ching, Pat Noonan, Damani Ralph and Carlos Ruiz. It's part of the message that Haynes said to him when Johnson called him as soon as the team's plane touched down from El Salvador on Sunday morning."He called me at six-thirty in the morning to tell me he scored," said Haynes. "I said, 'Great, Eddie, but now I challenge you to score two for us this weekend so we move to the playoffs, for one, and you win the scoring title.' He said, 'Sounds like a good idea to me.'"But you know what? Even if he does score in both games, this is just a scrape of what he'll accomplish in his career."Marc Connolly covers American soccer for ESPN Soccernet.com. He can be reached at: marc@oakwoodsoccer.com

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Heitinga says no to West Ham move Everton defender John Heitinga has revealed that he has turned down a move to struggling West Ham. PA PhotosHeitinga has rejected a move to Upton Park. Heitinga, 30, who is out of contract at Goodison Park at the end of the season, has been told he can leave. He has made no secret of his wish to play regularly in order to win a place in Netherlands' World Cup squad, having made just two appearances for Everton this season -- both in the Capital One Cup. West Ham were keen to sign him and a deal had looked set to go through following the opening of the transfer window on Jan. 1. But in a statement released through his agents, Sport Promotion, Heitinga said he had decided against a move to the capital. The statement said: "At my age, it's important to make the right decisions. Then it's not all about the money, as that wasn't a problem at West Ham United. You have to be fully convinced that you will make the right step, and I didn't have that. "Therefore I have cancelled [the move to] West Ham United and we will now wait for the interest of other clubs. The interest is there already, so I am confident I will find another club before Jan. 31." Heitinga, who joined Everton from Atletico Madrid for 6.2 million pounds in 2009, has been linked with Newcastle. He added: "I want to play every game again, as I am still hungry for the ball. I am fully fit and a player on top of my strengths. I want to go to the World Cup in Brazil."

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Harry: England job poisoned chalice By ESPNsoccernet staff Harry Redknapp believes the England job is a "poisoned chalice" but admits it would be hard to turn down the opportunity to manage his nation if offered the position.GettyImagesHarry Redknapp is the bookmakers' favourite to replace Fabio CapelloA recent report suggested Tottenham Hotspur boss Redknapp could be replaced Fabio Capello as England head coach before Euro 2012, although the speculation has since been played down.Regardless, Redknapp, who concedes the job of managing England has its drawbacks, remains the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Capello when the Italian's contract expires next summer. Asked whether the job is a poisoned chalice, Redknapp said: "Yes."[But] it would be difficult for any Englishman to turn the job down. I'm not pushing myself for the job; whoever gets offered the job, if they're an Englishman, it would be hard to say no because it's your country."Redknapp, who takes Spurs to PAOK Salonika in the Europa League on Thursday, reiterated that he has had no contact from the FA and insists he has never spoken to Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy about it.He said: "I haven't heard nothing from anybody so I'll just get on with my job and see what happens. You never know what happens in this game, do you? You never know what's just around the corner. I've never discussed anything with Daniel about England. There are plenty of other boys about who could do the job. We'll see how we go.''• Catch action from every Barclays Premier League match on your mobile for FREE on the enhanced ESPN Goals app (UK only). Comments

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Redinger inks with Huntington HUNTINGTON, Ind. – Kortny Redinger, an East Side High School standout, has signed her letter of intent to bowl for Huntington University this fall. Redinger, a right-handed bowler, will join the Foresters in their 2012-13 inaugural season. Redinger won the Northeast sectional singles title in January. The Saint Joe, Indiana native is the first female from Eastside High School to advance to regionals in singles play. “Kortny has a great positive attitude, a great work ethic and can play a variety of lane conditions very well,” commented Coach Bischoff. “I’m excited to have her bowling for us this fall.” Kortny is the daughter of Matthew and Tressa Redinger of Saint Joe, Indiana. Huntington University men’s and women’s teams will compete in intercollegiate bowling beginning in the fall of 2012. For information about Huntington University and the bowling program, contact Coach Jim Bischoff at jbischoff@huntington.edu. The Huntington University Foresters compete in 14 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 53 NAIA All-America honors and 187 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S.News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest. ###

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Always Lots To Do For An Equipment Manager By: 03/19/2010 3:47 PM - From chicagoblackhawks.com: (link) Chicago Blackhawks equipment manager Troy Parchman took a different route than most of his NHL colleagues, who usually rise through the ranks of professional hockey to these pinnacle positions. Parchman, a 14-year veteran who joined the Blackhawks in 1994, came to the NHL from academia and the Canadian national team program. Parchman was the equipment manager for the University of Saskatchewan football and hockey teams from 1982-88 while earning undergraduate degrees in physical education and sociology. He then became equipment manager for the Canadian national team, working consecutive World Championships from 1991-94. Parchman was Canada's equipment manager at the 1992 and '94 Winter Olympics and the 2004 World Championships. He also worked the 2003 NHL All-Star Game. Parchman talked with NHL.com to provide a look at "a day in the life" of an NHL equipment manager. NHL.com: On a game day, what time do you get to the rink and what's your first order of business? Parchman: "We try to get to the rink on a game day around 6:30-7 a.m. and get the room in order. If there was a basketball game the night before, we have to move our things back into the hallway and get the stick bench ready because it's across the hall in the laundry room. "We keep all those doors closed during basketball. We also store our carts which we use to move the equipment bags to the loading dock. We use these big laundry hampers and we move them with a forklift. "Then we set up the bench area and move the water jug cart there, and sweep that area because we walk from our dressing room to the bench. That's covered during the basketball game at night. That usually takes about 20-30 minutes. Then I gather and sharpen all the skates of the players who want their skates done before morning skate. Assistant equipment manager Clint Reif does the skates for all the players who want them done after morning skate. For me, it could be anywhere from eight to 12 pairs of skates. I get that done by 8:30-9 a.m., because then the players start to arrive for the 10:30 a.m. skate. "After that, I get some paperwork organized or get it ready to go out. Then the players start coming so we try to make ourselves available for them if they need anything or if they forgot to tell us something that needed to be fixed the night before. On a game day, it's a big day for equipment reps to show up so we prepare any questions that we have to relay from the players. "Morning skate starts at 10:30 and we make sure everybody is on the ice. Once the last players are on the ice then I'll pick up the hangers and tidy up their equipment stalls. Then I have a little quiet time so I do some more bills. If I'm working on a new pair of skates for a player, then I'll try to use that time. "Everyone is on the ice so no one can bother me. Assistants Clint Reif or Jimmy Heintzelman watch the bench for morning skate. We skate no more than a half-hour and then we get the room ready and wait for the press to get out. "I start putting out the socks and the jerseys. Clint is sharpening skates for the after-morning skate guys. Jimmy is usually with the visitors, getting their bench set up and making sure they're OK. That's usually done by 12:15 p.m. and then we grab lunch at the team pre-game meal. "After lunch, we get the laundry going and hang the practice jerseys and stuff from the morning skate. Then it's pretty quiet. A lot of people, including the coaches, stay at the rink during the day, so they're either having a little nap in the lounge or working out. Then I can do orders or invoices or I'll vacuum the room and the hallway and the walkway to the ice. Then it's quiet time again so I squeeze in a half-hour nap on a trainer's table or an empty spot in the dressing room. Our first player arrives around 4:30 p.m. If a player needs something for the game, that takes precedence over trying to do work for the next day. Next thing you know, the game is starting. "Clint goes to the bench for warm-ups and our game-night guy, Jeff Uyeno, and I pick up the hangers, put out the towels, do the drinks and get a load of laundry going after the players take a shower before the game. "I'm on the bench for the game. We take out the gloves. Some players like to switch gloves during the period so we make sure they have available a second and third pair. When the game is over, and after the press leaves, we set up the stalls, hang everything, and pull insoles out of skates so they dry. Then, more laundry. We do 18 loads of laundry on a game day so the washers and dryers never stop from the time morning skate is over. Jeff stays until everything is done. Clint and I go home about midnight." NHL.com: The players have a room where they undress after games and practice and meet the media but they have their own locker room where their clothes are and they're away from the media. There's a trainers room for taking care of people with medical problems. There's a weight-lifting room. There's a laundry room. Are there more rooms that you guys are responsible for? Parchman: "No, mostly just the dressing room and the lounge. That's their own private room." NHL.com: You mentioned there are guys who like to have more than one pair of gloves on the bench during the period. What are you guys doing between periods? Are you guys drying gloves and sweaters and shoulder pads? Parchman: "Yes, there are players who like their shoulder pads dried. It gets a little complicated because you only have enough room for 24. We have really good glove dryers, but when you've got guys wanting their skates on the dryers, it gets a little complicated. You find a way to get it done. If you've ever seen me in Chicago, you'll see me throwing gloves over the glass to Clint or Jimmy or one of our trainers. So when they get done with their first pair of gloves, Clint will put them on a hair dryer. Brian Campbell has three pair of gloves and he may want his first pair back. So he may wear four pair during a period. So when I throw that first pair over, Clint's already starting to dry them because they'll be the first pair they wear at the start of the second. Most of the gloves that the guys switch are already dry by the end of the period." NHL.com: You're talking about a guy who's sweating into the gloves. Do you have any guys who are superstitious or picky or anything else? Parchman: "No, not too bad. Brian Campbell has three pair of gloves that he rotates. He doesn't wear out a lot of gloves. He and Patrick Kane each use three pair of gloves and each pair is numbered and they go in sequence. But if we gave them a pair of gloves out of sequence, they wouldn't even know or care. But we're always very careful that we give them the gloves in the right sequence." NHL.com: As far as the skate sharpening goes after the morning skate, when you're on the road, do you find that more players adjust their skates? Parchman: "No. There's the odd time you go to someplace where the ice is quite different, like if it's really good or really bad. But the ice can change in the afternoon and quite often it will. If there was a concert or basketball game the night before, the ice in the morning may not be very good because it's been covered up for a day or two or a week. My guys don't want to vary their hollows. I'm a morning person so I don't care about coming in early. Sometimes I'm here at 6 a.m. on a game day if the mood strikes me. It's nice to be done with my 10-12 pair of skates in the morning and then I don't have to worry about skates again. We do the goalies' right before the game but that's my only other pair of skates that day unless I have to do a pair during the game. "It's nice to know that I'm done with my skates. Doing skates is so monotonous but you have to pay attention and you have to concentrate because you have to make sure skates are done right. Equipment guys are very particular because players are going to know if the skates are off or if you did a bad job and it takes a while to do." NHL.com: Going back to superstitions -- do you have anybody that likes everything to be on the left or anything? Parchman: "You know, these guys are really good because they're a bunch of young guys and they're very easygoing. It's interesting because I've been here 14 years and there are guys who are very particular during the game as to what you do and how you do it. But these guys are very easygoing and very loose. There's nobody that's particular, like a goalie that once he puts his stick on the wall before the game you don't dare touch his stick. None of the goalies are like that. So I don't have to worry that something happens or something's out of sync that they'll get disrupted before the game or it will interrupt their preparations for the game. "Our guys are really good. I've had guys who wanted skates sharpened during the game and then put the right skate on first. So the player will give me his skates and I'm racing to get them done. So I happened to do the left skate first, not thinking. As soon as I get the first skate done I give it back to him so he can get ready. He says to me, 'What are you doing? I have to put the right skate on first?' So I finish the right one and give it to him and he's just sitting with his left skate off. Then you kick yourself because you're racing to get things done because you only have 15 minutes and if you end up doing two or three pair of skates between periods it gets a little tight. And it never fails that the coach will say, 'This guy's starting the period.'" NHL.com: You've got a great staff. Just give us a 30-second blurb on how much you depend on those guys with all you have to do in a day. Parchman: "It's so important because the players have confidence to go to any one of us to do anything. I have the luxury of three guys who can sharpen skates. Some guys don't have a third guy who sharpens skates. It's important to the players, too, because if they see I'm busy, they can go to Clint or go to Jimmy, 'Hey, I need this done.' Not everything is on me. I have total confidence in those guys that when they do something they will do a good job. It just takes a whole load off of me."

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JIMMY HAYES NAMED ICEHOGS 2012-13 IOA/AMERICAN SPECIALTY AHL MAN OF THE YEAR By: Nate Haeni MAN OF THE YEAR04/11/2013 12:00 PM - Rockford, Ill. - The Rockford IceHogs are proud to announce that Jimmy Hayes has been named the team’s winner of the IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year award for his outstanding contributions to the Rockford community during the 2012-13 season. Since beginning his professional hockey career in Rockford two seasons ago, Jimmy Hayes has been one of the leaders in the community for the IceHogs. Through the IceHogs’ Adopt-A-School program, Hayes befriended the hearing impaired class at Lincoln Middle School. For the past two years, Hayes has made regular visits to the class, and eventually inspired the group of students to “sign” the national anthem at a recent IceHogs game. The class regularly sends him letters, including a congratulations card for his first career hat trick on March 9 and for his birthday. From the first week he arrived in Rockford this season where he volunteered to scoop ice cream with his teammates at Cold Stone Creamery for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, to surprising an un-expecting young fan last week to fulfill his wish to make a pizza with his favorite player, Hayes has been a positive role model for IceHogs fans during his time in Rockford. The Make-A-Wish Foundation event was a part of the organization’s “World’s Largest Ice Cream Social” that took place at Cold Stone. Hayes joined his teammates in working behind the counter, scooping and serving ice cream and helping raise funds for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last Thursday, April 4, Hayes received a letter from a nine-year-old fan, Alec, who mentioned that he thought it would be cool to make a pizza with his favorite player (Jimmy of course!) at his parent’s pizza restaurant. Hayes jumped at the chance and that afternoon surprised Alec and his brother by stopping by Anna’s Pizza in Winnebago, Ill. and made a pizza with them. Even when he was recalled to the Chicago Blackhawks in March, his commitment to the community did not curtail as he volunteered for a youth hockey clinic in Chicago. Other community events that Hayes has volunteered his time for include school reading nights, the IceHogs sock drive to benefit homeless children, youth hockey practices and hospital visits. Hayes is now one of 30 finalists for the AHL’s 2012-13 Yanick Dupre Memorial Award, honoring the overall IOA/American Specialty AHL Man of the Year. The league award is named after the former Hershey Bears forward and AHL All-Star who died in 1997 following a 16-month battle with leukemia. The winner of the Yanick Dupre Memorial Award will be announced by the American Hockey League on Apr. 18.

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Faith and health care in Africa: a complex reality It’s time to move past overly simplistic arguments surrounding Catholics and condoms, and make an eff... Home » News » West Africa » Nigeria » 2012-13 Champions League Ronaldo with Madrid returns to United 2012-13 Champions League Ronaldo with Madrid returns to United By IndepthAfrica In Nigeria Dec 20th, 2012 0 Comments 11 Views Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his sides opening goal during the la Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid at the Camp Nou stadium on October 7, 2012 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images) Cristiano Ronaldo will return with nine-times winners Real Madrid to Manchester United, where he developed into one of the world’s greatest forwards, and Lionel Messi’s Barcelona take on AC Milan in the Champions League last 16. Bayern Munich, last season’s beaten finalists, play Arsenal and Juventus take on surprise qualifiers Celtic. Big-spending Paris St Germain face Valencia. But the fate of the two Spanish giants in Thursday’s draw at UEFA headquarters attracted most interest and both were pitted against clubs with decades of European experience. Real, the Spanish champions, have been disappointing in La Liga this season and they finished second in their Champions League group behind Borussia Dortmund. But Ronaldo, a United player from 2003 to 2009, will be desperate for Real to rise to the occasion against the club at which he won the European Cup in 2008. Real manager Jose Mourinho, once of Chelsea, will also come up against his old rival Alex Ferguson. “I’m sure it’s going to be a special game for him (Ronaldo),” said Emilio Butragueno, Real Madrid’s director of institutional relations. “I think the fans will be very, very happy with this very attractive, thrilling tie. “It will be a great experience for everybody. I would have liked to have played against United later in the competition but they won’t be pleased either.” United, three-times European champions, have played Real eight times and won only twice. Real, who will host United in the first leg on Feb. 13, last won the European Cup in 2002. Barcelona are now 2-1 favourites to win the Champions League although they could hardly have picked a club with more experience of success in Europe in seven-times winners AC Milan when the competition resumes in mid-February. World player of the year Messi has scored 90 goals in 2012 and has fired Barcelona to a nine-point lead in La Liga while Milan are 14 points adrift of Juventus in Serie A and finished second behind Malaga in their group. Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu told Spanish broadcaster Canal Plus: “Milan are one of Europe’s greats and a club that commands a huge amount of respect. “They are not going well in their league right now but they have some excellent players. They are not currently at their best but football changes from one day to the next.” Juventus, who last won the European Cup in 1996, finished top of their group and will not be disappointed to have drawn Celtic who pulled off a major shock by beating Barcelona this season. Celtic manager Neil Lennon believes Scottish lightning could strike twice. “Over two games anything is possible,” he said. “It’s a beauty against one of the traditional European teams. “In terms of quality it’s going to be very, very tough.” BAYERN CONFIDENT Bayern Munich, beaten by Chelsea in last season’s final, have a nine-point lead in the Bundesliga and were content to have drawn Arsenal who have struggled this season for any consistency. “We can be satisfied with the draw, but we mustn’t under-estimate them,” said Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. “It’s important we try to come away from London with a good result, score a goal there and lay down a marker. We can win it, and we start as favourites.” Chelsea failed to qualify for the last 16 from the group won by Juventus. Paris Saint-Germain have invested heavily in players over the past 12 months and now lead Ligue 1 on goal difference. Valencia are mid-table in Spain and in some disarray after losing to Rayo Vallecano at home at the weekend. PSG sports director Leonardo said current form would have little importance in February. “In the Champions League, it always depends on the moment you play the game, the run of form,” he said. “We are going to have a difficult encounter with Valencia who are an experienced side,” he said. Valencia director Fernando Giner told Canal Plus: “If we have got this far it’s because we are among the 16 best teams in Europe but PSG are a tough opponent. “We have to be satisfied to be here and it’s a way of coming together at a difficult moment to achieve the result we all want. During these difficult times the Champions League is tremendously exciting for us.” In the other ties, Galatasaray will play Schalke 04, Shakhtar Donetsk take on Dortmund and Porto face Malaga. Dortmund, Bundesliga champions and winners of a tough group including Real, Ajax and Manchester City, were wary of their Ukrainian opponents. “They are not necessarily the team we would have wanted,” said Dortmund chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke. “It’s a very difficult tie but we showed in the group stage that we can beat strong opponents.” Schalke were happy to draw Turkey’s Galatasaray. “There are no easy opponents at this stage of the competition but to be frank I think we have a good chance of reaching the quarter-finals if we play to our potential,” said team captain Benedikt Hoewedes. Tagged :2012-13 Champions LeagueAC MilanBarcelonaBorussia Dortmundchampions leagueCristiano RonaldoLa LigaLionel MessiReal Madrid C.FUefa Champions League Search

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shaun white photos This photo provided by the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department shows Shaun White. A police report says the two-time Olympic gold medalist snowboarder was charged with vandalism after an employee at a Nashville hotel saw him break a phone there. He is charged with vandalism of $500 or less. Shaun White''s mugshot. Shaun White speaks onstage at the Teen Choice Awards on Sunday, July 22, 2012, in Universal City, Calif. Shaun White has his sights set on a Summer Olympics appearance in 2016. Shaun White has decided not to defend his skateboarding gold medal at this year''s X Games. Shaun White takes in the Celtics-76ers Game 7 in Boston. Snowboarder Shaun White was honored as Choice male athlete. Olympic gold medal snowboarder Shaun White poses with Justin Timberlake at the Friends with Benefits premiere. White makes his motion-picture debut with a cameo part in the movie. Jack Gruber, USA TODAY" alt="" height="150"/> When he let loose with the Double McTwist 1260 to win another snow boarding gold medal I called my son Quinn (my resident snow boarding expert) and asked if anyone else in Vancouver could do that. He advised me that no one else in the world could have done it. Good enough for me. Olympian Shaun White completes a practice run for the Dew Tour Wendy's Invitational in Portland, Ore. Host Rachael Ray talks with Olympic gold medalist Shaun White during the taping of The Rachael Ray Show in New York on Tuesday. The episode will air on Thursday. White won a gold medal in the snowboard men's halfpipe at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Shaun White describes his gold medal performance on the halfpipe at the 2010 Winter Olympics to Vieira and Lauer Wednesday morning. White stayed up all night after his victory. France's Gary Zebrowski soars during the qualification halfpipe run at Cypress Mountain in Vancouver. Zebrowski ended in 13th place, with Shaun White of the U.S. taking the gold. Members of the U.S. Olympic team, including snowboarder Shaun White (center), wave to the crowd during the ceremony. One of the biggest action sports stars in the world, with nine gold medals at the Winter X Games and one from the summer version on a skateboard. White also embraced Olympic snowboarding and took gold in Torino. Cypress Mountain Gary Zebrowski Kids' Choice Awards Lauer Members of the U.S. Olympic Team Olympian Shaun White The Rachael Ray Show U.S. Olympic

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Julian’s Videos Vorgestellte Athletes Oakley Surfing: The Male Dream Team In 2010, during a one-year hiatus from competition, Aussie heart-throb Julian Wilson broke his foot while making his signature film “Scratching the Surface”, but he came back strongly. With an event win in Sri Lanka, and a excellent end-of-season showing in Hawaii, including two finals and the Triple Crown Rookie Of The Year award, he collected enough points to join the ASP World Tour for the first time in 2011. In his rookie season he finished an impressive ninth overall, and he repeated the feat in 2012, picking up his first world title event victory, the Rip Curl Pro in Portugal. He also won the Nike US Open of Surfing. In 2013, he's continued in the same vein, with a win at the Mr Price Pro in Ballito, and a second place at the Hurley Pro at Trestles. Born on the Sunshine Coast on 8th November 1988, Julian, the youngest member of a fanatical surfing family, has been surfing for as long as he can remember. A prodigious junior talent, he took home national titles in both long and shortboard divisions before diving right into the shortboard scene in his mid teens. Multiple pro junior titles and the 2006 ISA World Junior title soon followed. Julian has some spectacular manoeuvres, including his self-invented ‘Sushi Roll’, a mixture between a backside rodeo and a superman. However, over the last couple of years, he has proved himself to be much more than an aerialist or performance-wave specialist, and there’s no reason to believe his forward momentum will cease any time soon. Melling Adriano do Souza Muniz Alizé Durbridge Buitandag Hobgood

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June 3 – Happy Birthday Jose Molina Former Yankee catcher, Jose Molina was born on this day in 1975, in Bayamon Puerto Rico. He became Jorge Posada’s backup receiver on July 21, 2007 when the Yankees acquired him from the Angels for a Minor League pitcher named Jeff Kennard. In what I always thought had been a cool arrangement, up until that deal was made Jose had been sharing the Angels’ catching position with his younger brother Bengie. He also has another brother with the absolute best first name in baseball (Yadier; pronounced yah-dee-yay), who has been a very good starting catcher for the Cardinals since 2005. Together, the catching Molina brothers have collected five World Series rings during the past decade. Both Bengie and Yadier are better hitters than their older brother and have each won multiple Gold Gloves. Jose’s inability to hit right-handed pitching usually prevents him from taking over a team’s starting catcher role but his arm and his abilities behind the plate are every bit as good if not better than his younger brothers. The Yankees had been using Will Nieves as Posada’s backup during the first half of that 2007 season, but he was only hitting .164. When Molina took over that role he became an instant hit with Yankee fans, impressing us with defensive skills that were superior to Posada’s and also hitting a surprisingly robust .318 during his first half-year playing in the Bronx. In fact, it wasn’t till Molina put on the pinstripes and I got to watch him semi-regularly that I really began noticing Posada’s weaknesses behind the plate. I will never forget the evening Molina left me stunned with my mouth open staring at my big screen after he threw a would-be base-stealer out at second from his knees. His play impressed the Yankee brass too. New York signed him to a two-year-$4 million deal to play for them in 2008 and’ ’09. When Posada was injured in ’08, Molina got the opportunity to start. Unfortunately, by then he had stopped hitting and the Yankees eventually felt forced to go out and get Ivan Rodriguez in a failed effort to put some more offense into their lineup. The move didn’t help New York, as the team missed postseason play for the first time since 1993 but I-Rods inability to hit did help convince the Yankee front-office to keep Molina as Posada’s backup the following year. Jose did get the opportunity to engrave his name in Yankee lore that season. On September 21, 2008 in the bottom of the fourth inning in a game against Baltimore, Jose hit a 2-0 pitch off the then Orioles Chris Waters deep into the left field stands for a two run home run. That blast would turn out to be the very last home run ever hit in the original Yankee Stadium. In 2009, A.J. Burnett became a Yankee and Molina pretty quickly became Burnett’s personal catcher. Jose helped guide the whacky right-hander to what would turn out to be his best season in pinstripes, helping New York capture their 27th World Championship. But Molina’s bat continued to fail him as he hit just .217 during the ’09 regular season. The Yankees chose not to re-sign him when his contract expired and rookie Francisco Cervelli took over the back-up catcher’s role in 2010. Jose ended up playing two seasons as Toronto’s second catcher before signing a rather surprising two-year deal With Tampa Bay in November of 2011. Rays’ manager, Joe Madden is using the now 38-year-old Jose as his team’s starting receiver. Molina shares his birthday with this Yankee DH. LAA (7 yrs) TBR (2 yrs) TOR (2 yrs) CHC (1 yr) Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table Generated 6/3/2013. Filed in: Dailies Tags: catcher, jose molina, june 3, yankees Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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hide Further gloom for Lakers with Howard and Gasol sidelined Monday, January 07, 2013 4:39 p.m. EST Denver Nuggets' Danilo Gallinari (C) of Italy shoots over Los Angeles Lakers', (L-R) Jordan Hill, Jodie Meeks, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash By Mark Lamport-Stokes (Reuters) - A surprisingly below-par season for the Los Angeles Lakers plunged further depths on Monday with the news that All-Stars Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol are out indefinitely with injuries. Howard, a three-time defensive player of the year, re-aggravated a right shoulder injury against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday and an MRI the following day revealed a torn labrum. The center will continue to receive treatment from Lakers staff and will be re-examined in a week, the 16-time NBA champions said in a statement. Spanish forward Gasol, who suffered a blow to the face during the fourth quarter of Sunday's 112-105 home loss to the Nuggets, has been diagnosed with concussion and is also out indefinitely. The duo's absence comes as the Lakers desperately try to climb out of a 15-18 hole, having started their campaign with heightened NBA Championship hopes after acquiring All-Stars Howard and Steve Nash during the off-season. "Obviously it will be more difficult but no one is feeling sorry for us," Lakers head coach Mike D'Antoni said. "Other guys have to step up." While the return of veteran point guard Nash from a leg fracture for the last seven games certainly gave the team a much needed lift, the Lakers' ageing line-up has not been helped by a spate of injuries and three different head coaches. Five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant has been their only consistent player this season and the Los Angeles have gone 10-13 since D'Antoni took over from interim coach Bernie Bickerstaff. "It's screaming at us, isn't it," D'Antoni told reporters after his team fell to 10-8 at home following Sunday's defeat by the Nuggets. "We're not in a good place right now. We're losing right now because we don't have a consistent 48 minutes of basketball." The Lakers are next in action when they visit the Houston Rockets on Tuesday.

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Hurricanes Archives Scoring Chances Goalie Analysis Southeast Weekly Roundup General NHL Articles Jay Harrison receives three year contract extension Posted by Corey Sznajder on Jul 25, 2012 10:42 TweetContinuing the trend of re-signing players, the Hurricanes decided to lock up defenseman Jay Harrison by giving him a three-year contract extension worth $4.5 mil. The deal will kick in next season and will pay him $1.5 mil. per season. Harrison played his second “full season” in the NHL last year but he’s been working his way around the league for many years now. He was a second round pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2001 and had trouble finding a place in the NHL for most of the decade. Jim Rutherford and the Hurricanes scouting staff saw something in him sometime in 2009 and decided to give him a shot. A couple years later, he has become a mainstay of the Carolina blue-line and was a top-four defenseman in Raleigh last season. Harrison has shown a lot of resilience and determination over his career, which is a large reason why he was Carolina’s nominee for the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy this season. The most admirable trait about Harrison is his work ethic and he has shown that over the years both with the Hurricanes and other teams that he has been involved with. He managed to play more minutes than he ever had before last season and certainly made the most of it by having the best year of his career no matter which way you look at it. Harrison set career highs in goals, points, minutes played and took on a lot more responsibility than he ever had before, so he gave the Hurricanes a huge bargain for the $650k that they were paying him last season. It’s hard to say that he did not earn this extension and a significant raise. As for the contract itself, it’s roughly in line with Harrison’s value right now. The Hurricanes were using him in the top-four last season because of how good he worked with rookie Justin Faulk, so this deal could be a potential steal if he continues to improve. However, if you take a look at Harrison’s underlying stats from last season then it becomes clear that he would likely be a third-pairing defenseman or a borderline top-four guy on most teams. He received secondary tough minutes with Carolina last season and was on ice for a high volume of shots against at even strength, so he had issues with holding his own against tougher opponents. If you look at his performance over the year, you’ll notice that he had a strong first 20 games or so but then saw his performance drop around the time he got hurt and it took him awhile to get back up to speed. There are two reasons for the sharp drop in scoring chance percentage, the first of which obviously being the injury. The other factor was that he was playing on the team’s sheltered defense pairing with Tomas Kaberle before he got hurt. The injury didn’t cause him to miss that many games but when he came back, Kaberle was traded and Harrison was placed on a tougher defense pairing and that definitely affected his play a little bit. Harrison was able to thrive in a more offensive role but once he wasn’t in that situation anymore, he struggled a little, but was able to adjust and he and Faulk made a very solid defense pairing. I have to think that his chemistry with Faulk was one of the reasons why he was signed to this deal, which makes a lot of sense. I mentioned earlier that if Harrison continues to improve then this could be a steal but if his play stays where it is now, the contract is in line with his current value. Since he is almost 30, what we’re seeing now is probably what we’re going to get with Harrison and we know that he can play well as a third-pairing defenseman and be serviceable as a second-pairing guy. That’s definitely worth $1.5 mil. per year for a team that doesn’t have cap issues. Compare him to other defensemen with $1.5 mil cap hits and the deal looks about right for him. The three year commitment (technically four years) is a bit dicey but I don’t think it’s much of a problem since the contract is movable and there is still room to add another player or two once Joe Corvo’s contract runs out after next season. Rutherford is always someone who rewards hard work and it’s hard to find someone in the organization who has worked harder than Jay Harrison these last couple of years. This is a very fair contract for someone who has proven himself to be at least a solid depth defenseman who can also be used in a bigger role if neccessary. It wouldn’t surprise me if Harrison is playing big minutes to start next year if the team’s current defense corps stays put. About Corey Sznajder View all posts by Corey Sznajder → | Twitter Brewers, Pirates trade blows in Easter brawl ShutdownLine.com is a Carolina Hurricanes fan web site and is in no way affiliated with the Carolina Hurricanes, National Hockey League or its Properties. This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only. ShutdownLine.com is not an official web site for the Carolina Hurricanes. Copyright © 2014 www.ShutdownLine.com - All Rights Reserved - Trademarks used herein are property of their respective owners.

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Posted: Thursday June 23, 2011 11:46AM ; Updated: Thursday June 23, 2011 2:15PM Cary Estes>INSIDE NASCAR More ColumnsEmail Cary Estes Red Bull's departure makes sense, but delivers a blow to Vickers Story HighlightsRed Bull Racing will pull out of NASCAR and focus its efforts in Formula OneStaying in NASCAR offers flat incentives given Red Bull Racing's youth marketRBR driver Brian Vickers feeling the pressure as he looks toward free agency Red Bull's exit from NASCAR would have little impact on Kasey Kahne, who is heading to Hendrick Motorsports in 2012.Paul Hebert/Icon SMI Energy drinks all operate under the same basic formula. They mix together a concoction heavy with sugar and caffeine, giving the user a boost of stamina and enthusiasm. Suddenly anything seems possible, no task seems too great. Mountains can be climbed and tall buildings leapt in a single bound. This, inevitably, is followed by the crash, when the buzz wears off and reality sets in. When the kick in performance becomes a kick in the head. Surely Brian Vickers knows how this feels. He must be suffering from just such a buzz kill these days with news that Red Bull Racing is throwing up the white flag. It was announced earlier this week that RBR is leaving NASCAR at the end of this season and focusing its motorsports efforts primarily on Formula One racing, where it has become a dominant force. This news shouldn't be too surprising for several reasons. First, Red Bull Racing (RBR) has not been much of a factor in NASCAR dating to its formation in 2007, with Vickers as its primary driver. Over the years nine drivers have suited up for RBR, including Kasey Kahne this season, and all have produced mediocre results at best. The organization has only one victory and 12 top-5 finishes (nine by Vickers) in 280 Sprint Cup starts. Kahne is 19th in the Sprint Cup point standings and Vickers is 24th, with three top-5s between them. Meanwhile, Red Bull Racing is thriving in Formula One behind young superstar Sebastian Vettel, who won the series championship last year at 23 and is off to a sensational start this season with five victories and two runner-up finishes in the first seven races. His RBR teammate, Mark Weber, is third in the point standings and has yet to finish outside the top-5 this season. In addition, while the Sprint Cup television ratings have bumped up slightly this season, they continue to sag in the 18-to-34 age group, which is precisely the audience that Red Bull targets. Buying home improvement products and purchasing insurance aren't priorities for most twenty-somethings, so such companies as Lowe's and Aflac do not have to be overly concerned with the lack of young eyeballs on NASCAR. But teens and young adults are primarily the ones guzzling energy drinks, and if they are not watching NASCAR then what incentive does Red Bull have to be in the sport, especially when the RBR drivers consistently run in the middle of the pack? Finally, Red Bull is an Austrian-based company with no strong ties to the United States and certainly no longstanding connection with NASCAR. Red Bull had been on the market for 10 years throughout Europe and Asia -- where Formula One rules -- before it was ever offered in the U.S. The company has stated recently that it is planning expansion efforts into Africa, Russia and India. Not sure how well NASCAR is drawing in viewers in Cairo and Calcutta these days. So in many ways, it makes sense that Red Bull would decide that its NASCAR prospects had gone flat and it was time for a change. Still, the news had to be frustrating for Vickers, who took a major leap of faith after the 2006 season when he left the powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports operation to join RBR's start-up efforts in NASCAR. Vickers was there for the good times in 2009, when he gave Red Bull Racing its only Sprint Cup victory (at Michigan) and was one of the 12 drivers to qualify for the Chase for the Championship. He endured personal hardship in 2010, when he missed the final 25 races of the season with a mysterious ailment that was eventually diagnosed as being the result of blood clots. It was a roller-coaster ride that Vickers said only strengthened his commitment to Red Bull Racing once he was cleared to drive again this year. After everything he had been through since joining the team, Vickers was determined to see RBR become a legitimate championship contender. It was obvious before this season began that Vickers had consumed the Red Bull Kool-Aid and was convinced the good times were going to roll in 2011. In late January, during the preseason NASCAR Media Tour, Vickers was asked to describe the changes he had seen at RBR since that inaugural 2007 season. "How much we've grown since the beginning is immeasurable," Vickers said with a smile. "When I was hired at Red Bull as the first driver, I think I was the sixth employee. I walked into the shop and there were only a handful of other guys there. It's incredible to watch the team grow as much as it has to the company it is now. "We've learned a lot as a group, and where we are right now is as good as we've ever been as an organization. The enthusiasm is as high as it's ever been. I'm really excited about the growth I've seen through the years." That was the buzz talking, the energy-induced enthusiasm. Five months later came the crash. The future is now uncertain for nearly all involved with Red Bull Racing. There appears to be a slim chance the team could remain together under a new ownership group. Team vice president and general manager Jay Frye seemed unusually optimistic on Tuesday, saying, "We're very enthused and excited about some of the prospects and things we got going on." It is doubtful many of the RBR crew members and other team officials share in his excitement. As for the drivers, Kahne was always just a one-year rental, biding his time with RBR before his new contract starts with Hendrick Motorsports in 2012. All that this decision does is make 2011 another lost season for a driver who has not quite lived up to the promise he showed in 2006, when he won six times and qualified for the Chase. Meanwhile, though Vickers' original five-year contract with Red Bull Racing was set to expire at the end of this season, he had expressed hopes of re-signing with the team. Now he must venture into the murky world of NASCAR free agency, with a record of only two wins in 234 Sprint Cup starts on his resume. It is not the career many envisioned for Vickers after he won the Nationwide Series championship in 2003 at 20. On his Facebook page Wednesday afternoon, Vickers posted, "There's been a lot going on. I'll let you know when there is more to report, but for now we need to keep moving ahead." Moving ahead, because the buzz is gone from Vickers' Red Bull past. And it has likely left a somewhat bitter taste in his mouth. More NASCAR

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42Final 1234ScoreNorthwestern71414742Syracuse67141441Preview | Matchup | Log | Wrap | Box 41FBS Football News NCAA Game Summary - Northwestern at Syracuse (Saturday, September 1st) Final Score: Northwestern 42, Syracuse 41 Syracuse, NY (Sports Network) - Backup quarterback Trevor Siemian hit Demetrius Fields with a nine-yard TD pass with 44 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to give the Northwestern Wildcats a thrilling 42-41 win over the Syracuse Orange in the season opener for both programs at the Carrier Dome. Siemian, who stepped in for starter Kain Colter, converted 8-of-11 passes for 79 yards and shook off a couple of sacks as he guided the Wildcats (1-0) to a season-opening victory for the eighth straight year. Colter finished the day 14-of-21 for 134 yards and a pair of TDs through the air. Ryan Nassib had a career day for the Orange (0-1) as he set a single-game school record for completions and passing yards with 44 and 470, respectively, in the setback. Nassib, who attempted 65 passes on the day, tossed four touchdowns, all in the second half. Marcus Sales reeled in 11 passes for 117 yards to lead in both categories. Ross Krautman kicked off the day's scoring for the Orange as he converted a 22-yard field goal in the first quarter, followed by a 33-yard effort later in the period to give the hosts a 6-0 advantage. Northwestern's special teams gave the Wildcats a lift as Venric Mark's 82-yard punt return for a score put the visitors up by a point, 7-6, heading into the second period. Syracuse regained the lead thanks to a 14-yard touchdown run by Prince-Tyson Gulley, but again the Wildcats responded and moved ahead by a point as Mark reeled in a 21-yard TD pass from Colter to make the score 14-13. Northwestern added to the lead later in the period as Colter combined with Christian Jones on a 14-yard TD pass play to give the visitors a 21-13 advantage at the break. The defense for the Wildcats got in on the act early in the third quarter when Chi Chi Ariguzo returned a fumble 33 yards for a touchdown. A few minutes later, following a missed field goal by Krautman for the Orange, Northwestern was again lining up near the goal line and this time Colter did the honors with a one-yard surge to give the Wildcats a commanding 35-13 lead. The Orange stopped the bleeding as Nassib directed a lengthy 77-yard drive that resulted in a seven-yard TD pass to Marcus Sales, but still the hosts trailed by 15 points with the third quarter winding down. Refusing to go away quietly, Nassib floated a deep ball to Jeremiah Kobena, who waited patiently under it after the defender had tripped and fallen to the turf, and then walked into the end zone to complete the 50-yard pass play and make the score 35-27 with 15 minutes to play. With 6:42 remaining in regulation, Nassib was at it again as he directed yet another long drive which culminated with a seven-yard TD pass to Kobena. With the score 35-33 the Orange opted to try for a two-point conversion, but Nassib's throw to Jarrod West fell incomplete. A defensive stop by the Orange gave the ball back to Nassib who had 5:36 to organize what could have been the game-winning drive. The third-year starting quarterback took control of the tempo and engineered a masterful drive that included a couple of running plays by the signal-caller. Nassib pump-faked a short pass at the 20-yard line before lofting the ball into the end zone which Chris Clark turned into yet another score for the Orange. Following a penalty on the first two-point conversion attempt, Prince- Tyson Gulley ran the ball in to give the hosts a stunning 41-35 lead. On the next Northwestern possession, the Wildcats kept Colter on the sidelines and instead went with Siemian who managed to put together a spirited drive that was aided by a questionable flag for a hit out of bounds that moved the ball to just inside the 10-yard line. On the ensuing play Siemian threw a perfect pass to the back corner of the end zone to Fields with 44 seconds remaining. A successful PAT gave the Wildcats a one-point lead at 42-41 and from there the visitors hung on for the incredible win. Northwestern entered the game having lost all three previous matchups against the Orange in the Carrier Dome. 09/01 17:34:34 ET

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Wednesday 13 Nov, 2013 http://jrnl.ie/1173016 Old GAA jerseys to be put to good use, hopes Dublin chief Dublin County Board Chairman Andy Kettle hopes that old Dublin jerseys can be donated to charity around the globe. Nov 13 11:19 AM 4,080 Views 13 Comments Share2 Tweet7 Email3 Andy Kettle: planning new jersey swap initiative. Image: inpho DUBLIN JERSEYS COULD be used to help people in need worldwide if a charity initiative proposed by Andy Kettle gets off the ground. The Dublin County Board chairman has suggested that old Dubs jerseys could be swapped by fans in order to get money off the All-Ireland football champions’ new kit, which was launched yesterday. Kettle would then like to see the old tops donated to a world charity and used to help needy people around the globe. “Hopefully, we will look at something in the new year where there is a sort of semi-amnesty for want of a better word whereby you can exchange your old jersey for new,” he explained. “I would see that with possibly tying up with a world charity or something like that. The old jerseys could go to a needy cause somewhere. It’s something that we’re looking at. “It all depends on costings. It depends on retailers so there are a couple of things.” Dublin unveiled their new kit for the 2014 season earlier this week and it is their third jersey change inside four years. Kettle insists that the Boys in Blue aren’t trying to hit cash-strapped fans in the pocket and says that the latest jersey change was caused by a change-over of sponsors. Vodafone were Dublin’s title backers this year and were expected to see out the final season of their five-year deal in 2014. However, they decided to end the contract early and insurance giants AIG have taken over as sponsors of Dublin hurling, football, ladies football and camogie teams across all grades. “If we had of known that Vodafone were just going to go for a fourth year we certainly wouldn’t have changed jersey last year,” he said. Kettle also revealed that he had the final say in the colour of the new jersey, which is slightly darker than the sky blue worn by the Dubs in recent years. “I have to put my hand up here – it was my choice,” he admitted. “I felt the blue in the jersey was getting washed and washed and it was becoming very close to a white jersey. “I think this is more back to the Dublin style.” Aidan Walsh to play hurling and football for Cork next season Sutcliffe: ‘We’d love to have them but we can only concentrate on who’s there’

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Finance » To The Manor Born » To The Manor Born By Ian on Jan 31, 2008 in Finance, Non-League | 0 comments Grosvenor Vale is about as far from the Premier League as most people could imagine. The pitch there is surrounded with a wooden picket fence that harks back to a long-forgotten era and the club that uses it, Ruislip Manor has a long (if inglorious) history. Their neighbours Wealdstone are former non-league giants who found themselves homeless through a mixture of underhand dealing and exceptionally bad luck. Now, however, one of them faces closure and the other faces the possibility of (largely unfairly) being labelled a “club killer”. How the fate of these two clubs became intertwined is a story of greed and neglect, and one of them is now in such a desperate state that it is touch and go whether they will even be able to see their way through to the end of the season. Wealdstone are the bigger of the two clubs. In 1985, they became the first side to win the non-league “double” of the Conference and the FA Trophy and gave the world the dubious mixed football talents of Stuart Pearce and Vinny Jones. In those days, however, there was no automatic promotion to the Football League, and the the Stones soon faded into relative ignominy, being relegated back into the Southern League in 1988. In 1991, they lost their Lower Mead stadium. Chairman John Morritt, a property developer, sold the site to Tesco, claiming grandly that the club would have a new home within a couple of years. Lower Mead was a prime piece of real estate, in the heart of one of North London’s most affluent areas, but the club itself received very little of this money (Morritt resigned and the company handling the sale went into liquidation, though whether these two events were related is largely unanswered by the history books), and the club entered into a financially ruinous groundshare at Vicarage Road, Watford. The club failed to attract the support that they had hoped for, and left there two years later. They’ve spent the years since then as nomads, ground-sharing at the altogether less salubrious homes of Yeading, Edgware Town and Northwood. Ruislip Manor’s history is less illustrious than Wealdstone’s. Founded in 1938, they joined the Athenian League in 1965. The Athenian League had been a strong amateur league, but by the 1960s it was in decline, with many its biggest clubs (such as Barnet, Enfield and Dagenham) frequently decamping to the Isthmian and Southern Leagues. They stayed there until 1984, when further expansion of the Isthmian League to four divisions forced its closure. At this point, they joined the Isthmian League, where they stayed as solid, if unspectacular members until 1996, when they took a voluntary demotion to the Spartan League for financial reasons. They remain there today. Their decline has been a slow one. The club’s ground was run by the Ruislip Manor Sports & Social Club, who allowed the football club to use the pitch but kept the receipts from bar takings. It was a precarious arrangement, and the S&SC was rumoured to be in debt to the tune of £60,000 after years of neglect. The two clubs’ paths crossed when Wealdstone completed the purchase of the Ruislip Manor Sports & Social Club earlier this season. Ruislip, struggling near the bottom of the table had been struggling by on gates on that had fallen as low as 25, but Wealdstone had been paying the football club ground rent for their reserves and youth teams use of Grosvenor Vale, and without this source of income, the club suddenly found itself with no income other than gate receipts. The committee running Ruislip Manor resigned and, at an emergency meeting held on the 29th of January, no-one came forward to fill the vital administrative posts (chairman, secretary and treasurer) that are required for the club to carry on playing. The Spartan League have allowed them to call previous matches off in order to allow them to find people to fill these positions, but at the time of writing it looks unlikely that they will be able to continue. Wealdstone, it is worth pointing out, are not as bad as they could be painted here. They have waived any rent charges for the remainder of this season, but they run on a very limited budget themselves. There is no particularly good reason why they should “bail out” Ruislip. There comes, I guess, a point when you have to wonder whether it is worth carrying on. If the support and the will to keep the club going isn’t there, is it worth the few people left that care about Ruislip Manor FC busting a gut when the end reward might well be beyond their reach? These are tough questions, but there are tentative signs that they might not quite be done for yet. The messages coming from the Ruislip forum are encouraging, with several people having volunteered to help out on match days, with the hope being that they at least be able to carry on playing until the end of this season, giving them a critical couple of months in which to regroup. They can resign to the very base of the pyramid, which would free them up to use the considerably cheaper option of hiring a public pitch, but they would also have to consider that there may be no way back into the senior game should they do this. In the present day, though, time is running out, and it seems likely that, after 70 years, last orders are being called on Ruislip Manor FC. On the off-chance that there is anybody reading this that might be able to help, there is more information here.

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hide Britain's Queen Elizabeth goes 3D for Olympics tribute Sunday, December 23, 2012 6:03 p.m. CST Britain's Queen Elizabeth leaves after attending a cabinet meeting at Number 10 Downing Street in London December 18, 2012. REUTERS/Toby Mel LONDON (Reuters) - Britain's Queen Elizabeth will use her traditional Christmas Day message, filmed in 3D for the first time, to pay tribute to the world's athletes for delivering a "splendid summer of sport" at the London Olympics. In her personal address to the nation, the monarch will pay tribute to the competitors' "skill, dedication, training and teamwork", her office said on Monday. The 86-year-old head of state provided an Olympic highlight when she made a surprise comic turn with James Bond actor Daniel Craig in a short film for the opening ceremony. "In pursuing their own sporting goals, they gave the rest of us the opportunity to share something of the excitement and drama," she will say, according to advance extracts. Queen Elizabeth missed a church service at her country retreat on Sunday due to a cold, Buckingham Palace said. Her message was pre-recorded and will go out as expected. It comes at the end of a landmark year for the royal family. Queen Elizabeth marked 60 years on the throne with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and her grandson Prince William and his wife Kate are expecting their first baby. Prime Minister David Cameron issued his own Christmas message in which he talked of Britain's "extraordinary year". "We cheered our queen to the rafters with the Jubilee, showed the world what we're made of by staging the most spectacular Olympic and Paralympic Games ever and - let's not forget - punched way above our weight in the medals table," he said. The first Christmas broadcast was given by Queen Elizabeth's grandfather George V in 1932. It has become a Christmas Day tradition for many families to watch it together after lunch. (Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Stephen Powell)

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World Cup 2014 Draw Is Set: U.S. Will Face Germany, Portugal, Ghana Share Tweet E-mail Comments Print By Bill Chappell Originally published on Fri December 6, 2013 1:53 pm FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke shows a paper with the name of the Korea Republic as Brazilian presenter Fernanda Lima looks on during the final draw of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Friday. An image from the FIFA website shows the final draw of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. team will face Germany, Portugal and Ghana in group play. The final draw of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was announced Friday. The U.S. team will face Germany, Portugal and Ghana in Group G; host Brazil will face world No. 16 Croatia in Group A. Only the top two teams of each group advance to the next round. The draw puts the U.S., currently ranked as the world's No. 14 team, in the same group with the world's No. 2 (Germany) and No. 5 (Portugal). Ghana is ranked 24th. The showdown with Germany has the potential to be bittersweet for Jürgen Klinsmann, the coach of the U.S. team who was a star for German World Cup teams in the 1990s. The draw determines the makeup of eight groups of four teams that will play each other in the first round. Every World Cup usually has a "group of death" — an especially competitive collection of teams that can bounce a highly regarded team in the first round. An argument could be made that the U.S. is in that group this time around. But another group that looks to be especially tough is Group D, featuring three previous champions — Italy (currently No. 7), Uruguay (No. 6) and England (No. 13) — along with Costa Rica (No. 31). The U.S. team will play its first match against Ghana on June 16 in Natal. They then travel to Manaus to face Portugal. The Manaus location has been a point of contention for some coaches, who have said they don't want their teams playing in the heart of the Amazon. Update at 1:55 p.m. ET: More On The Draw From Brazil, NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro notes that the draw will make the U.S. travel thousands of miles during the first round alone. The team could rack up nearly 9,000 miles in air travel for its games, which also include a stop in Recife, in Brazil's northeast, according to The New York Times. "We hit the worst of the worst," Klinsmann says of today's result, The Times reports. "It's one of the most difficult groups in the whole draw. It couldn't get any more difficult or any bigger. But that's what the World Cup is about and we'll take it on. Hopefully we can surprise some people." For the geographically challenged, we note that at nearly 3.3 million square miles, Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world. Also of note, the first round will bring a rematch of the 2010 World Cup final, as Spain will play the Netherlands. You can see the draw at the website for FIFA, soccer's international governing body. Our original post continues: Brazilian soccer legend Pele, who took part in the ceremony, said he likes the home team's chances. "I think we will be in the final," he said. The draw was announced Friday to a packed auditorium in Bahia, Brazil. The tournament featuring 32 national teams is set to begin in June. Entering today's draw, the top-seeded teams for the tournament were Brazil along with (in alphabetical order) Argentina, Belgium, Colombia, Germany, Spain, Switzerland and Uruguay — reflecting the host country and the top teams in the world rankings as of October, FIFA says. The splashy and highly produced ceremony unveiling the tournament's bracket began with a tribute to the late Nelson Mandela, who died Thursday at age 95. Later, Brazil's President Dilma Rousseff also announced a moment of silence for the well-loved leader and activist. Every four years, soccer fans around the world eagerly await the World Cup draw, dreading a potentially perilous early match-up that could also bring an early exit from the tournament. In previous years, the drama and importance of the draw have led some to suspect conspiracies at work within FIFA, soccer's governing body. "Not since Forrest Gump have table tennis balls supposedly been so vulnerable to manipulation and sleight of hand," The New York Times reported in 2009, referring to the pingpong balls that are pulled from a pot to determine the match-ups. This year, talk of French machinations and a mysterious "Pot X" have fed suspicions in England, as the BBC reports. And for anyone doubting the scale of the spectacle of today's announcement, consider that the draw ceremony has a budget that tops $16 million, as the BBC tells us. This will be the 20th time the World Cup is contested. Brazilian officials have been working to get 12 stadiums ready for the tournament's start in June. That effort faced a setback this week, when it was announced that Corinthians Arena, the scene of a crane collapse that killed two people, would not be ready in time to meet the formal deadline of the start of 2014 and won't be ready until April. As we reported after the November collapse, that stadium is slated to host the World Cup opener.Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. View the discussion thread.

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hide Matthews nears Packer contract Clay Matthews Wheaties Box (courtesy of FOX 11). The Green Bay Press Gazette reported Wednesday that Clay Matthews is close to signing a new contract with the Packers, closer than Aaron Rodgers is with his pending mega-deal. Matthews is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He's made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four seasons and is looking at a deal that could play him upwards of 13 million dollars a season. Rodgers is on the verge of becomming the NFL's highest paid player with a contract extension that may average as much as 25 million dollars a season. Both players are represented by the same agent, David Dunn. They would like the contracts in place by the time the Packers begin their off-season training program on April 15.

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hide Jockey Ahern banned for 10 years Horse racing picture from the daily mail uk LONDON (Reuters) - Jockey Eddie Ahern was banned for 10 years on Wednesday after being found guilty of three breaches of British Horseracing Authority (BHA) rules following a corruption inquiry. The 35-year-old was found guilty of conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice, intentionally failing to ensure the horse Judgethemoment was ridden on its merits at Lingfield in January 2011 and of passing information for reward, the BHA said in a statement on its website (www.britishhorseracing.com). Former West Bromwich Albion soccer team defender Neil Clement was banned for 15 years and fined 3,000 pounds ($4,500) after being found guilty of conspiring to commit a corrupt or fraudulent practice, placing a lay bet on a horse which he then owned and failure to provide phone records to the inquiry. Judgethemoment, ridden by Ahern, finished last of seven runners in a two-mile handicap, having been well clear at the halfway stage. Ahern's explanation was that he misjudged the pace and did not realize he was so far ahead. But the BHA disciplinary panel said it "could not accept that a jockey of Ahern's experience, especially on the all-weather at Lingfield, could have made an error of such an extent". Ahern plans to appeal both the disciplinary panel's findings and the severity of the suspension. ($1 = 0.6647 British pounds) (Writing by Alison Wildey; Editing by Ed Osmond)

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