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2014-15/0971/en_head.json.gz/5442

| Motorsports Leyritz passes along baseball, life lessons to local kids BY DONNIE COLLINS (STAFF WRITER) There were days back in 1996, days still fresh in his mind that have moved further and further into New York Yankees lore, that Jim Leyritz stood by and simply watched Derek Jeter take groundballs. Every day before the game, the 22-year-old rookie would field 200 grounders before even donning the pinstripes. It was an exercise in repetition, a rookie doing what he had to do to make a mark in the majors and in New York City. It stood as an example of the hard work even the most talented athletes have to do to get to the top. Leyritz, the veteran catcher and utilityman known for his timely home runs and carefree demeanor, was traded from the Yankees just after Jeter's rookie season. But in 1999, when the Yankees reacquired him in July to provide depth for the stretch run, he had more than the pursuit of another World Series ring in mind. He wanted to see how much Derek Jeter, then a three-time World Series champion and unquestionably one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, had changed in three years. His first time back in New York, his first time in pinstripes, his first time taking batting practice with the Yankees again, Leyritz watched Jeter take 200 groundballs at shortstop. He told that story twice on Thursday. In the morning, to kids at the Electric City Baseball Academy summer camp at Connell Park. In the afternoon, to a group of eager children at the Boys and Girls Club of NEPA. This wasn't a typical overflow of support for a great Yankees captain. It was a testament to what hard work brings. A testament to dedication. A lesson in what it takes to get the most out of yourself. "One of the things I try to teach my kids and other kids is that when you start idolizing people, look at them for what they do," Leyritz told the Boys & Girls Club. "Athletes, look up to them for what they do on the field. Because you don't know what happens off it. "But the one thing I know about Derek Jeter, and I have three kids, is that he should be a hero to all of you guys. One thing I remember about him is his work ethic, and what he did to make himself better." For his own part, Jim Leyritz is no longer trying to be a hero. Those days are gone. He's comfortable leaving that role to his old teammate, anyway. He's simply a former ballplayer with a story to tell. It's equal parts inspirational epic and cautionary tale. It's about the work ethic that took him from being an undrafted free agent to becoming one of the best clutch performers in Yankees postseason history. It's also about how his life turned into a public and private mess once the spotlight shut down. And what he's doing to make himself and others better in the wake of those problems. Today, Leyritz is a regular on the motivational speaking circuit, teaching fundamentals at baseball camps and hoping his experiences will guide children away from some of the mistakes he made when his playing career ended after 2000 that sent his life spiraling toward the depths. Last year, he published a book about his troubles titled "Catching Heat" in which he detailed serious legal troubles, in addition to a messy divorce and custody battle. "It was theraputic a little bit. It was also very tough, because I had three boys who are old enough to read and understand, and we kept them sheltered from a lot of things that went on," Leyritz said in an interview with The Times-Tribune. "There were things I could have put in the book but didn't, because I didn't want them to go through that again. "The bottom line of the story is making a mistake and learning from it." Until 2007, he was best known for a home run - the one he stroked off a 2-2 slider from Atlanta closer Mark Wohlers that helped the Yankees erase a six-run deficit and beat the Braves in the classic 1996 World Series. It's a hit that Leyritz says he hears about, without fail, every time he is within a hearty drive of the Bronx. But the last headlines he made were the worst ones. On Dec. 27, 2007, his 44th birthday, on his way home from a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., bar, Leyritz's car collided with one driven by 30-year-old mother of two, Freida Veitch. Veitch was killed. Leyritz was arrested for DUI and, later, charged with vehicular manslaughter. The incident began a three-year ordeal during which Leyritz fought to prove his innocence. Eyewitnesses said it was Veitch's car that ran through a red light before being struck by Leyritz. And Veitch also was found to have been driving with a blood alcohold content higher than the legal limit. Ultimately, he was found guilty of driving under the influence, first time offense, and a sentence of one year probation, a $500 fine and 50 hours of community service. The jury acquitted him on the manslaughter charge, which would have sent him to prison for up to 15 years. "I was already doing all of this before all that stuff went on," Leyritz said. "This is what I love to do. This is what it's all about. It's about changing lives. One thing that has changed in my life over those three years is learning to realize how precious every moment can be. Also, the impact I can have on kids in a positive way to say, 'Listen, we all make mistakes. Given a second chance, take advantage of it.'" Today, largely through his work with youngsters, Leyritz is trying to get back on his feet, both professionally and personally. He's a full-time father to his three sons, over whom he has full custody. He is back in the good graces of the New York Yankees, who excluded him from monumental events like the 2008 All-Star Game and the closing and opening of the old and new Yankee Stadiums. He is working summer camps for them. He wishes he could have one more chance to talk to George Steinbrenner. In addition to camps and fundraisers for organizations like the Boys & Girls Club, he proudly said that he speaks regularly at his church, a testament to the renewed faith that got him through his toughest times. Leyritz's highs trumped most who have played in the big leagues over the last 20 years. His lows were so much more agonizing, though. Kids can have the good without the bad, he says. It's about surrounding themselves with positive influences, keeping themselves out of negative situations and listening to their conscience. If it feels wrong, he said, it probably is wrong. Lessons he teaches now. Lessons he wishes he always followed himself. Despite his postseason accomplishments, he may no longer live the life of a hero. If he can have just a bit of influence on a child who becomes one himself, though, Jim Leyritz will be just fine with that. Contact the writer: dcollins@timesshamrock.com Former Old Forge standout shifts to safety for Nittany Lions H.S. BASEBALL: Ivanoff, West Scranton pummel Scranton Trout season opens across Northeast Pennsylvania IN LIKE A LION: Franklin gets first look at team in Blue-White game HS Softball: Valley View rallies past Scranton Prep HS SOFTBALL: Mackie, Holy Cross shut down Dunmore HS Sports: Cougars cruise H.S. TRACK HONOR ROLL 4/13/2014 HS BASEBALL: Manasek shuts out Trojans Pa. doe licenses will decrease AP College Basketball Around the Camps Joby Fawcett tours all the teams for the start of high school football practice. Swingers Club Follow Times-Tribune Sports Editor Chris Imperiale as golf professionals try to bring his game up to par. Interactive Golf Map Information and locations of all the public golf courses in NEPA.

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All ContentcloseNews podcastsUse iTunesUse a different playerRSS View all podcasts & RSS feeds Sports BCS Presidents Approve Four-Team College Football Playoff Share Tweet E-mail Comments Print By editor Originally published on Tue June 26, 2012 8:06 pm Listen Transcript MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: At long last, big-time college football has a playoff, if you want to call four teams a playoff. Today, a committee of university presidents agreed to a system that replaces the current Bowl Championship Series beginning in 2014. NPR's sports correspondent Tom Goldman joins me now. And, Tom, this is something that college football fans have wanted for years. President Obama has said he wants this championship game. What do you know about the deal? TOM GOLDMAN, BYLINE: Let me change your wording. You said wanted. Let's say clamoring for. BLOCK: Begged for. GOLDMAN: Absolutely, begged for. Four teams, a four-team playoff. There will be two semi-final games, and then a championship game. This all starts in 2014, in two years. It's a 12-year deal, so it runs through the 2025 season. So it will be four teams until then. The semi-final games will be held at current bowl game sites. The national championship game will be awarded to the highest bidder, and the bidding will be very high, of course. And then there will be a rotation of the semi-final games among six bowl sites, and the rotation of the championship game that will be a neutral site. Another important thing, Melissa, a selection committee will rank the teams to play in this playoff, and, quote, unquote, "giving all the teams an equal opportunity to participate." Now, the committee will consider things such as a team's won-loss record, the strength of schedule, how tough the teams were that they played head-to-head results and whether a team is a conference champion. BLOCK: Tom, I've seen the college bowl system that's been so reviled by fans, described(ph) as a cartel. There's a lot of money at stake here. GOLDMAN: Oh, yeah. BLOCK: Walk us through what it means in this new system. GOLDMAN: You know, we don't know. I think we can just say pretty much there will be a lot of money and a lot more money. BLOCK: Going out on a limb there, aren't you Tom? GOLDMAN: Going out on a limb. You know, critics always said that, you know - to the people who wanted to keep the old system - guys, let's do a playoff. There will be a lot more money. There certainly will be. And, you know, we don't know how the money will flow. But, you know, Melissa, this meeting today, it was supposed to stretch into the night. It took less than three hours. And you can bet that the conference commissioners didn't have to do much convincing of the presidents when they laid out what the money will be. One figure that's floating out there, the Sporting News is reporting via a BCS source that a new TV deal for this four-team three-game playoff could be as high as $5 billion over 10 years. That's a lot of money. BLOCK: Wow. Why just four teams, Tom? Why not a real full-blown playoff like we see in the NCAA basketball tournament? GOLDMAN: You know, the presidents were asked that directly by one reporter, and, you know, because everyone would like to see, you know, tons, 64, 65, 68 teams like in basketball. The argument the BCS has always made for not having a playoff was to protect the regular season. College football regular season games are such big events. And if you're a contender and you loose one, you're often out of the running for the national championship. With the playoff, they argued it would matter less if they lost in the regular season. You would still have a shot in the playoffs. And they thought that would water down those regular season games. They seem to be dipping their toe in the water with only four because they say it retains the importance of that regular season while making the post season more exciting, responding to the clamoring, as we said, for a playoff, and, as I said earlier, a lot more money. There will be squawking with only four teams if yours is the fifth or sixth that didn't get in. You know, once critic, though, of the old system said it's not necessarily bad to have college football fans complaining about their teams not making it. It makes the whole process more dynamic. BLOCK: And, Tom, this new playoff system and the championship game, that's all not going to start until the 2014 season, right? GOLDMAN: Right. Right. We have two years to get really excited. BLOCK: OK. NPR's Tom Goldman, thanks so much. GOLDMAN: You're welcome. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

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hide German media firm seeks damages from Ecclestone for F1 sale Friday, October 25, 2013 3:47 a.m. CDT Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone (R) is pictured during the third practice session of the Hungarian F1 Grand Prix at the Hungaroring ci By Keith Weir LONDON (Reuters) - Bernie Ecclestone's management of Formula One will face scrutiny next week when a German media firm seeks more than $100 million in damages over a deal that made CVC Capital Partners the motor sport's main shareholder. The civil case in London's High Court is scheduled to open on Tuesday, a day after the diminutive Ecclestone turns 83. Despite his age, Ecclestone remains the hands-on chief executive of a business he has helped to turn into a global money-spinner over the last four decades. German company Constantin Medien will argue that Ecclestone and three other defendants deliberately undervalued Formula One when private equity fund CVC bought into the business in 2005. The legal fallout from the sale has already seen a former German banker jailed in Munich, complicated plans to float Formula One on the stock market and brought the Ecclestone succession issue into focus. Germany's BayernLB was one of the banks left in control of Formula One a decade ago after the collapse of Bavarian Leo Kirch's media empire, which owned the rights. BayernLB sold a stake of 47 percent to private equity firm CVC for around $830 million in 2005. As the successor company to a former Formula One shareholder, Constantin says it missed out on a share of the additional proceeds had the stake fetched a higher price. The damages claim compares with a market capitalization of around 137 million euros ($189 million) for Constantin, a sports-focused media group based in southern Germany. Ecclestone, who denies any wrongdoing, has been accused of favoring a sale to CVC because it wanted to keep him on as commercial chief of a sport that attracts hundreds of millions of TV viewers to the races it stages around the globe. He told Reuters that he expected to be called as a witness in the damages case next month after he has attended the Indian Grand Prix this weekend and the race in Abu Dhabi on November 3. Ecclestone said it was business as usual despite the distraction of a case that could last for more than a month. "I'm doing what I do, and that's it. I'm committed to Formula One," he said. Ecclestone, who has a personal fortune of more than 2 billion pounds ($3.2 billion), has always said he has no plans to retire but has added he would step aside if convicted in Germany, where a court is expected to decide next year whether he should stand trial on bribery charges related to the sale to CVC. Gerhard Gribkowsky, former chief risk officer at BayernLB, has been jailed for more than eight years for tax evasion and bribery after taking a $44 million payment from Ecclestone as part of the deal. Ecclestone does not deny paying Gribkowsky but said he was the victim of extortion after the German threatened to make false claims over his tax affairs. Ecclestone's former lawyer Stephen Mullens, the Ecclestone family's Bambino Holdings and Gribkowsky himself are the other defendants in the damages claim brought by Constantin in London. ($1 = 0.6244 British pounds)($1 = 0.7260 euros)

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Updated Nov 20, 2012 - 3:30 pm Suns center Gortat admits he must play better Comments | Print By: Kyndra de St. Aubin/Arizona Sports Originally published: Nov 20, 2012 - 3:19 pm Utah Jazz center Al Jefferson, left, blocks the shot of Phoenix Suns center Marcin Gortat, right, of Poland, in the first quarter during an NBA basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Phoenix Suns big man Marcin Gortat voiced displeasure with his role in the Suns' system this season just a couple days ago to a Polish publication, but on Tuesday he already seemed to be backtracking a bit. "It is what it is; I'm just going to work on it," Gortat said after practice. "I'm not making shots that I usually make and I just got to work on it, that's it." The 28-year-old is averaging 11 points, nearly 10 rebounds and three blocks per game, but those numbers are down from last season. Gortat says some of the changes in his numbers could be from changes in personnel. "It's a process," he said. "I spoke with a few teammates and you know it's going to be a process. There's a lot of new guys on the team and we have a new team so we're just going to work on it, that's it." The Suns are also struggling to find their groove as a whole, with a 4-7 record and having lost three straight to the Bulls, Lakers and Heat. Gortat was asked about his frustration level possibly increasing because the team is losing. "Listen, I as a basketball player am trying to make a step forward," he said. "You know that's what counts the most. I believe that if I am going to make a step forward and few other guys on the team are going to make a step forward, we are going to start winning more games." Through 11 games this season Gortat's field goal attempts are down more than two per game from last year. That could be a result of him not working hard enough to get open looks or a result of the new system with Goran Dragic, but Gortat seems to take responsibility for his lack of scoring. "The way I play, I definitely don't think I can help the team to win the games and that's frustrating, definitely," he said. "Hopefully with the season and with the next few games, things are going to change." Gortat also said he feels the schedule allowed them to put some good time in this week with three straight days of practice and workouts. He and his teammates will take the floor next against the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night at US Airways Center.

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Updated Dec 5, 2012 - 2:45 pm Gentry: 'We have to find a way to get Beasley consistent' Comments | Print By: Jos� Youngs/Arizona Sports Originally published: Dec 5, 2012 - 2:43 pm Phoenix Suns' Michael Beasley (0) shoots as Charlotte Bobcats' Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (14) defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. Phoenix won 117-110. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton) When the Phoenix Suns decided to give Michael Beasley a second shot at being an NBA starter, they hoped they were getting the dominating playmaker that made him the second overall pick in the 2008 NBA Draft. Instead they've gotten an inconsistent forward averaging only 11.5 points and 4.1 rebounds through the first 19 games of the season. Speaking with Arizona Sports 620's Burns and Gambo, Suns head coach Alvin Gentry gave his take on what he thought would help Beasley turn his season around. "We have to try and figure out a way to get him consistent and he's going to have to help us in that area too," said Gentry. "We just have to continue work with him to get him better at what he's doing. That's why we're here." Gentry went on to shoot down the notion that his forward's self-confidence had been shaken and added there was no time for Beasley to begin to feel sorry for himself, especially in the NBA. "Obviously the thing about the NBA is you don't have a whole lot time to think about it because tomorrow night we're going to be lining up and playing a Dallas team that's pretty darn good," said Gentry. "He'll get another shot of redeeming himself and being consistent and making the plays that will help us win games." When asked about Beasley's role within the Suns organization over the next few years, Gentry said he saw Beasley becoming the offensive playmaker everyone expected coming out of college. "I think he can be a facilitator, I think he can be a guy who makes plays for guys and I think he can score for us," said Gentry. "I think that's kind of what he is. He's a scorer, not a 'drive to the basket and crash guy.' He's just an in between guy that can score and put the ball in front of him and that's what we're expecting from him." Listen: Alvin Gentry, Suns Head Coach The guys talk to Gentry about last night's tough loss in OT against the Grizzlies. How can Michael Beasley help the Suns win games right now? Gentry previews the SUns upcoming game against the Mavericks tomorrow. Also, Gentry gives his thoughts on Jermaine O'Neal. Gentry stressed that although it will take a group effort, it will inevitably be up to Beasley to pull himself out his recent slump. "I just think he has to understand and stay within what we're doing and he's got to make the play," said Gentry. "At the end of the day he's just going to have to make the play. One of the reasons we have him in there is to do that and he's got to be productive out on the floor."

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Astros Name Tony DeFrancesco Interim Manager The Houston Astros fired manager Brad Mills, hitting coach Mike Barnett, and first-base coach Bobby Meacham late Saturday night. The moves were surprising, because although the Astros have the worst record in baseball, it’s largely due to the stripping-down of the roster by GM Jeff Luhnow; Mills managed what’s not much more than a glorified Triple-A roster. Even such a roster needs a manager for the rest of the year. Sunday, Luhnow named Tony DeFrancesco interim manager. He should be quite familiar with some of his new players; until now he managed the Astros' Triple-A farm club, where so many of the Astros' current major leaguers have played. DeFrancesco was in his second season as the Astros’ Triple-A manager; before that he had been in the Oakland Athletics chain as a minor-league manager and major-league coach. Luhnow also named the replacement coaches: Dan Radison will coach first base, with Ty Van Burkleo coaching the hitters. Radison has been a minor-league manager in several organizations, including the Cubs, Cardinals and Yankees, and a major-league coach. Van Burkleo has been the Astros’ minor-league hitting coordinator since 2010. For more on the Astros, please visit The Crawfish Boxes and SB Nation Houston. Astros Fire Manager Brad Mills, 2 Coaches

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Data Economists National Economy and Monetary Policy Papers and Publications Home :: Research & Data :: Papers & Publications :: Regional Review Can Pro Sports Survive Prosperity? Quarter 3, 1999 by Robert Jabaily ITEM: More than 127.5 million American television viewers sat around the national campfire to watch the 1999 Super Bowl. Advertisers paid an average of $1.6 million for 30 seconds of commercial time during the broadcast. ITEM: Michael Jordan topped the 1999 Forbes Power 100 list, which measures a combination of “income and media buzz.” Oprah placed second; former President George Bush rounded out the field at number 100. ITEM: After the 1998 season, pitcher Kevin Brown left the San Diego Padres to sign a seven-year, $105 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. If the 33-year-old Brown averages 15 wins per season over the next seven years — no sure thing — the Dodgers will have paid him $1 million per victory. ITEM: In early 1999, a Maryland businessman and a New York City banker offered $800 million for the NFL’s Washington Redskins franchise. If ever there was a “golden age of sport,” this could be it. Business is booming, and the quality of play is as good, or better, than ever. Nostalgia buffs might try to tell you that no one will ever top Babe Ruth and the ’27 Yankees or Bill Russell and the old Celtics or . . . fill in the blank. But the fact is that Michael Jordan and Mark McGwire match up very well against the heroes of yesteryear. You could, as Casey used to say, look it up. The dollars and cents look good, too. Attendance is up, TV viewership is strong, franchises in major markets cost almost as much as the Manhattan Project, and superstar salaries sometimes exceed the GDP of a small country. Yet, during the 1980s and 1990s, each of the “Big Four” — Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL — flirted with killing the golden goose. A succession of player strikes and owner lockouts cost both sides hundreds of millions of dollars in lost salaries and revenues — not to mention the incalculable loss of fan goodwill. And if the owner/player death dance isn’t enough to alienate fans, there is growing internal tension in all four leagues that pits owner against owner and player against player. Meanwhile, fans just shake their heads and wonder why the millionaires and billionaires can’t find a way to share the wealth. POWER PLAY Two factors, in combination, are largely responsible for the enormous prosperity of big-time pro sports: a surge in demand and the market power of the leagues. The “Big Four” are not actual monopolies. In fact, only Major League Baseball is exempt from federal antitrust laws. But the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB are able to generate tremendous revenues by using their market power to limit economic competition. For starters, leagues restrict the overall number of franchises and guarantee each team a territorial monopoly. League approval and a steep franchise fee stand in the way of prospective new team owners, and leagues even have the power to block an owner from moving an existing team to a new city. (Unless, of course, the owner is Al Davis, who successfully sued the NFL when it tried to stop him from moving his Oakland Raiders to Los Angeles in 1979.) Launching a new league is an option for anyone determined to own a pro sports team, but going head to head against the “Big Four” is no easy task. The one truly successful new league in modern sports history was the American Football League, and its survival proved the old adage that “timing is everything.” Conditions for starting a new pro football league were ideal in 1960: Fans were going wild for the game, the relationship between sports and television was beginning to flourish, and the NFL had been slow to expand into new markets. But more often than not, new leagues fail. The American Basketball Association, the American Basketball League, and the World Hockey Association lasted only a few seasons. The United Baseball League never even made it to opening day. Lack of TV revenue and the competition for high-priced talent sealed their fate. WINNER TAKE ALL Because of their market power, sports leagues are well positioned to maximize revenue. Whether they’re bargaining with local politicians or TV executives, the “Big Four” often enjoy a tremendous edge. If, for example, a team is angling for taxpayers to pick up the cost of a new stadium, the league’s de facto monopoly provides considerable leverage. “In real life, the threat is, ‘Build it or we will leave,’” writes Washington Post sports columnist Thomas Boswell. And although he is talking about baseball, Boswell’s observation applies just as easily to other pro sports. Leagues have also learned how to get the most out of television networks. The TV sports gold rush began in 1964, when Commissioner Pete Rozelle convinced NFL team owners to let the league negotiate a joint television agreement on their behalf. (Rozelle’s initiative followed a 1962 Congressional antitrust exemption for league television contracts.) The NFL’s first national TV contract — a two-year, $28 million deal with CBS — seemed like a fortune at the time. But by 1998, the NFL had TV agreements with the four networks totaling $17.6 billion over eight years. Licensed products — caps, shirts, cards, computer games, toys, snackfood, beverages, anything with a sports logo on it — are another rich source of revenue that experienced spectacular growth when the “Big Four” established league-wide marketing and merchandising units. NBA Commissioner David Stern pioneered the concept, but everyone else caught on fast. By the end of the 1990s, pro football led the pack with retail sales of NFL-licensed goods totaling $3.6 billion. Business is brisk at the box office, too. NBA per-game attendance has increased by more than 70 percent since 1980, while the NFL has been at 95 percent of capacity for years. And if the 1994-95 strike did any lasting damage to Major League Baseball, you couldn’t prove it by looking at the Cleveland market, where a new ballpark helped the Indians to sell out every seat for the entire 1996 season — before opening day. No wonder average ticket prices for all four leagues have climbed by at least 70 percent since 1991. NFL tickets have increased the most — 83 percent, from $25.21 in 1991 to $38.09 in 1998 — but NHL tickets are the priciest — $40.64 during the 1998-99 season. And those are average prices. Let’s not even talk about filmmaker Spike Lee’s $1,350-per-game courtside seats for Knicks games at Madison Square Garden, or NFL luxury suites that cost as much as $350,000 per season in 1998. Rising revenues from TV, licensed goods, and gate receipts have meant flush times for players, too. Free agency gave them the power to channel a greater share of sports revenues from the owners’ pockets to their own, and they are now able to command salaries that are more in line with their market value. Average salaries in all four leagues top $1 million, and superstar earnings are in the stratosphere. Michael Jordan, the best paid athlete in 1997, earned $31 million in salary and $47 million in endorsements. Yes, that’s a lot of money for playing a game, but superstars earn as much as they do because they generate phenomenal revenue for their teams. They are marquee players who capture fans’ hearts — and entertainment dollars — through a combination of exceptional talent and “star power.” Without them, pro sports would be less exciting and less lucrative. Owners may fret over the high cost of attracting and keeping top talent, but the fact is that they are parting with their money willingly — if not always cheerfully or wisely — and they rarely pay more than they expect a superstar to generate in revenue. In a sense, superstar salaries are a measure of sports prosperity. RICH VERSUS SUPER RICH So, if times are so good, why is the modern sports scene so contentious? Economists James Quirk and Rodney Fort believe the market power of leagues is to blame. The authors of Pay Dirt and Hard Ball argue that the leagues’ monopoly profits have become “the prize package” at the center of most disputes. Squabbling between owners and players makes most of the headlines, but as often as not the main event is really between owners — with side action between superstars and middle-class players becoming more of a factor every season. The dynamic varies from sport to sport, as does the outcome, but disagreements over the division of wealth are always the center of controversy. Major League Baseball, for example, is thriving, but a growing revenue imbalance between markets is threatening the game’s overall prosperity and popularity. Forbes magazine estimated that the wealthy New York Yankees earned total revenues of $144.7 million for the 1997 season, while the perennially strapped Montreal Expos earned $43.6 million. The gap in 1997 media revenues was equally striking — $69.8 million for the Yankees versus $18.5 million for the Expos. Revenues matter because wealthy teams almost always win the competition to attract and keep top talent. The Yankees’ star outfielder Bernie Williams earned $8.3 million for 1998 — an amount equal to the Expos’ entire 1998 payroll. The Yankees also won the 1998 World Series, while the Expos barely managed to stay out of the cellar in the National League East. Baseball owners worry that the widening gaps in revenue and payroll will erode competitive balance on the field and create a permanent split between “have” and “have not” teams. They are concerned that the overall entertainment value of their product will suffer, especially in markets where fans know the home team is out of the running before the season opens. In the owners’ collective nightmare, the same wealthy teams go to the playoffs every season, and fans begin to lose interest — even in prosperous markets — because a steady diet of wins can be almost as tedious as an endless string of losses. Ticket sales and TV ratings sag, revenues drop, and franchise values weaken. It’s a sobering prospect, but players don’t buy it. The way they see it, owners are using competitive balance as an excuse to recapture revenues at the players’ expense. When owners claim financial difficulty, players raise their eyebrows and ask to see the teams’ financial records. Most teams, however, are privately held rather than publicly traded, which means owners are under no obligation to share their financials with anyone. So the books remain closed and players’ skepticism deepens. The long history of mutual distrust between owners and players, coupled with the owners’ rising anxiety over revenues, salaries, and competitive balance, made the 1994-95 baseball strike almost inevitable. The real conflict, however, was a behind-the-scenes struggle between owners who lacked a strong common interest and a unified strategy for addressing their concerns. All the owners — rich and poor — agreed on the easy stuff. Their clear preference was to control labor costs and restore competitive balance by capping salaries, but for obvious reasons players were dead set against the idea. Another option would have been for prosperous franchises to share some of their wealth with struggling teams, but rich owners were unwilling to part with more than a fraction of their revenues. So finally, unable to agree on any other strategy, MLB team owners decided to pick a fight with the players union. Their ultimate objective was to recapture revenue by forcing players to accept a salary cap, but the players refused to buckle. In the end, the players union was able to outlast the owners by convincing its members that they had compelling economic reasons for sticking together. The strike ended when a relatively small but influential group of owners pressed for a settlement after deciding that the battle for a salary cap was costing them more than they could possibly hope to gain. The 1998-99 NBA lockout had similar origins but a very different outcome. At the heart of the dispute, wrote David Warsh of the Boston Globe, was the “inability to share out $2 billion in overall NBA revenues among 29 owners and 400 players.” When the lockout began, 57 percent of the league’s revenues were going to the players; owners wanted to roll that figure back to 53 percent. The lockout ended after both sides agreed to split the difference and settled on 55 percent. NBA owners, executives, and players thought they had found a formula for fiscal sanity and labor peace when they originated the salary cap concept in 1984. But by the late 1990s, the cap had lost much of its effectiveness, largely because the so-called “Larry Bird exception” allowed teams to re-sign their own players at any price. As superstar salaries climbed, the “Bird” exception undermined the cap to the point where the Chicago Bulls were able to exclude Michael Jordan’s $31 million paycheck from their 1997-98 ceiling. On top of that, the annual team cap had mushroomed from $3.6 million in 1984 to $24 million in 1996. By the end of the 1997-98 season NBA owners were ready to try something drastic. In an effort to reclaim a “fair share of the revenues,” they voted to lock players out of training camps and went so far as to set a deadline for canceling the entire season. The owners prevailed, in part because they were willing to throw their undivided support behind NBA Commissioner David Stern, but also because the basketball players union was unable to convince its members that outlasting the owners was worth losing an entire season’s paycheck. Much of the pressure to reach a settlement came from middle-class players and rookies who were beginning to wonder why they should endure the economic impact of a lockout when the issues at stake mainly affected the earnings of superstars. WINNERS SHARE The NFL has been the most successful at sharing the wealth and smoothing out the imbalance between markets. Its history of cooperative action dates back to the early 1960s, when team owners agreed to give NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle enough authority to convince, cajole, and coerce individual franchises into cooperating for the common good. Today, television and licensing revenues are shared equally, and gate receipts are shared generously, 60 percent for the home team and 40 percent for the visitors. The league also has maximum and minimum team payroll limits — no more than $64.3 million and no less than $55 million during the 1998-99 season. The results of the NFL’s cooperative approach are plain to see. Pro football tops all other sports in the revenues it generates from TV agreements and the sale of licensed merchandise, and the gap between its richest and poorest teams is by far the narrowest of all four leagues. NFL franchises thrive in small markets such as Green Bay, Wisconsin (pop. 102,000+), and in otherwise marginal markets such as Pittsburgh, where professional baseball and hockey teams are barely hanging on and the NBA doesn’t even have a presence. According to a 1998 Harris Poll in USA Today, 28 percent of adult Americans rank pro football as their favorite sport — baseball finished second with 17 percent, and basketball came in third with 13 percent. Pro football’s popularity and prosperity reflect the fact that NFL owners and executives have managed to create a truly national market for their game. Fans who ordinarily just follow the hometown team in other sports, regularly tune to Monday Night Football regardless of who the featured teams are. But even in the NFL, owners’ interests are diverging and cooperation is beginning to break down. Newer owners, who paid top dollar for their franchises during the 1990s and borrowed heavily to finance their purchases, are chafing under the old share-and-share-alike arrangement. Some are pressing to keep a larger share of the revenue their teams generate. And at least one, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, has made separate advertising and licensing deals with competitors of official NFL sponsors and licensees. None of this sits well with league officials and longtime owners, who have prospered under the revenue-sharing arrangement. The feud has been marked by lawsuits and a rising level of personal acrimony. Whether the tensions will degenerate into all-out war between the old order and the new is anyone’s guess. REGULATION TIME James Quirk and Rodney Fort have a proposal for revamping the business of pro sports. They think the time has come to try something revolutionary — true business competition. Quirk and Fort contend that “essentially all of the many problems of the pro team sports business arise from one simple fact, namely the monopoly power of pro team sports leagues. . . . Eliminate that monopoly power and you eliminate almost every one of the problems of the sports business.” The core of their proposal calls for a Justice Department antitrust action to break up each of the existing leagues — MLB, the NBA, the NFL, and the NHL — into four independent leagues, each with roughly eight teams. The leagues would compete against one another for everything — players, TV contracts, franchise locations, and fans. There would be no more territorial monopolies; so, in theory, any city that could support a team would have one, and the most lucrative markets would attract a cluster of competing teams. A very limited antitrust exemption would permit the competing leagues to coordinate post-season playoffs and championships. Quirk and Fort believe that the introduction of market forces would narrow the difference between “have” and ‘have not” teams by reducing the revenue imbalance among league cities. Three or four teams competing for TV revenues and gate receipts in the New York market would make the “Big Apple” more like the “Twin Cities” in terms of each team’s revenue potential; and as the revenue gap narrowed, so would the payroll gap. Quirk and Fort also argue that cities would feel less pressure to provide stadium subsidies, because if an existing team threatened to move, another would be free to come and take its place. At bottom, say Quirk and Fort, eliminating sports monopolies will shift power “from the insiders — owners and players — to the rest of us — fans and taxpayers.” If team owners and general managers are compelled to make decisions in a competitive market environment, fans will reap the benefits. The argument is powerful — in terms of economic theory, public policy, and popular appeal. Introducing more economic competition to the pro sports business would almost certainly diminish the market power of sports leagues and return a measure of control to fans and local officials. But don’t expect greater business competition to be a cure-all. The appeal of pro sports often hinges on a mix of intangibles, and teams like the Cubs, the Red Sox, the Redskins, the Knicks, and the Canadiens have a hold over fans that might make them almost immune to competition. Sure, we are drawn to sports because we enjoy watching the world’s best athletes match skills, but we also go to games looking for links to our own past and to the distant past. To some of us, there will never be a team like the one we grew up with, regardless of where we move to and despite the fact that highly paid hired guns now wear the uniforms. It’s an emotional attachment that a new team in town might be hard-pressed to compete against. Nor will increased business competition guarantee that pro sports will be less fractious. Owners and players have argued over money since the days of high-wheeled bicycles and handlebar mustaches, when the main bones of contention were health insurance, pension plans, and $1,000 raises. Splitting the loot has always been a source of conflict in pro sports and that isn’t likely to change — regardless of how much loot there is to split. Sometimes, fighting over money can be a sport in itself. ALL IN THE GAME Until now, pro sports have been remarkably resilient. Fans have come back after every strike or lockout. But each dispute has taken its toll. You can hear it in the voices of fans who call the all-sports talk radio stations. Some are angry; others are disenchanted. Many are bewildered. There seems to be a growing distance — emotional and financial — between fans and their “heroes.” Players used to work during the off-season to make ends meet. And not so long ago, even big stars lived in the same neighborhoods as their fans. Sometimes, they even played stickball or shot baskets with the neighborhood kids. But those days are gone, and they are never coming back. Perhaps the biggest threat to big-time pro sports is that fans, especially young fans, have been finding new outlets for their entertainment dollars: the Internet, the movies, and popular music. In fact, the day might be coming when baseball, basketball, football, and hockey won’t even dominate the sports sector of the entertainment market. Fans are increasingly attracted to pro wrestling, NASCAR, soccer, and the X-Games — in large part because the stars of those sports seem more accessible. Yet, despite all the changes, people keep going to ballgames or following the action on TV, because when all is said and done, sports reward fans by giving them whatever they seek. Those who look for greed, selfishness, and meanness will find all three in abundance. But if they are lucky, they might also experience something to talk about till the end of their days — the sight of Bobby Orr soaring three feet above the ice after his “flying” goal wins the 1970 Stanley Cup, or the everyday beauty of Junior Griffey’s smooth, sweet swing. And even if nothing memorable happens on the field, or on the court, or on the ice, our games still offer us the chance to pass a few pleasant hours in the company of people we enjoy, or the opportunity to savor a season like the summer of 1998 when everyone wanted to know if Mark or Sammy had “hit one today.” Robert Jabaily is an editor in the research department of the Boston Fed. he is working on a web site to teach students about economics through sports. look for it in early 2000. HOW BASEBALL BECAME A BUSINESS Even 100 years ago, many of the issues were the same. 1846 The New York Nine and the Knickerbockers cross the Hudson River to Elysian Fields in Hoboken, New Jersey, where they meet in the first recorded game of organized baseball. One of the Knickerbockers, a bank clerk named Alexander Joy Cartwright, has helped devise the game’s rules and serves as umpire. But that doesn’t help his team. The Nine beat the Knickerbockers 23 to 1. 1857 Amateur ballclubs in and around New York City form the National Association of Base Ball Players to oversee the quality of play. Association rules bar players from receiving compensation or betting on games. Both rules prove difficult to enforce. 1858 For the first time, spectators pay to see a baseball game. All-stars from New York and Brooklyn meet at a neutral site on Long Island. Organizers charge an admission price of 50 cents to cover groundskeeping expenses. The game draws a large crowd of paying spectators. 1869 1869 The Cincinnati Red Stockings become baseball’s first professional team — players are paid openly rather than under the table. On a national tour, they post a record of 59 wins, no losses, and 1 tie. Two years later, they go into a long losing streak, their fans desert them, and their stars move to Boston to form a new team. 1875 William A. Hulbert, president of the Chicago White Stockings, wants to field a winning team. He lures four top players away from the Boston Red Stockings, but fears retaliation from other clubs. 1876 Hulbert organizes owners of several teams into the National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs. Each team pays annual dues of $100. The organizational philosophy emphasizes the interests of team owners and the league. Although some of its teams soon fail, the league survives and becomes known simply as the National League. 1879 National League players are breaking their contracts and jumping to other teams for more money. Team owners fear escalating salaries will drive them to financial ruin, so they reach an informal agreement not to tamper with one another’s best players. 1885 Nine members of the National League’s New York Giants, led by pitcher John Montgomery Ward, form the first players union — the Brother hood of Professional Base Ball Players. Their two major grievances are the reserve system, which forces a player to spend his entire career with the same team, and the $2,000 salary cap imposed by owners. 1889 Declaring that “Players have been bought, sold, or exchanged as though they were sheep instead of American citizens,” John Montgomery Ward launches the Players’ League. The league’s owners and players will share profits and there will be no reserve system. 1890 The competition for fans and players weakens both leagues. National League owners bluff everyone into believing that they are in better financial shape than they really are. Players’ League investors decide to cut their losses, and the venture folds after one season. 1893 Cincinnati sportswriter Byron “Ban” Johnson helps establish the Western League to give families an alternative to the rough play and foul language in National League games. In 1901, renamed the American League, it draws more fans than the National League, and its teams attract many of the National League’s top players. 1903 Team owners in both leagues decide that cooperation may be more profitable than competition. They reach an agreement that grants equal status to the American League and serves as the basic business framework for what would become Major League Baseball. Stay Connected Regional Review Links Regional Review Home Us | Directions | Terms of Use & Privacy | Search | Site Map | Feedback Federal Reserve Bank of Boston | (617) 973-3000 600 Atlantic Avenue | Boston, MA 02210-2204 Stay Connected: E-Mail Alert | RSS Feeds | Twitter | Podcasts

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Kessler vs Stieglitz Clash Will Land in March or April - Boxing News update: 10/26/2011 Read more by Click Here To Email BoxingScene Database Mikkel Kessler has started his rehabilitation after successfully undergoing finger surgery last week. The injury had forced the Viking Warrior (44-2, 33 KOs) to postpone his hotly-anticipated showdown with WBO Super Middleweight Champion Robert Stieglitz (40-2, 23 KOs), which was originally scheduled to take place at PARKEN Stadium in Copenhagen�on November 5.�We will announce the new date in the next two weeks,� promoter Kalle Sauerland said. �The fight is still on and it will definitely be at PARKEN. Due to the global interest and the fact that so many parties and television networks are involved, it has been a challenge to find a new date. What we know is that it will happen in March or April.�Kessler once again apologised to his fans for the delay. �I am very sorry that the fight could not take place on November 5,� he said.�I would have loved to enter 2012 as world champion. The injury was a setback on my way back to the top but I have overcome other obstacles before. I was relieved that the surgery went very well. Now I will rest the hand for a couple of weeks. At the same time I will be working on my personal fitness so that I do not have to start from scratch once I can return to full boxing practice. I will be ready to face Stieglitz at PARKEN in early 2012. I can promise my loyal Viking fans that I will make up for the delay in style and become world champion again. 2012 will be a big year for me.�As soon as the new date for the show at PARKEN has been confirmed, Team Sauerland will make an announcement. All tickets purchased for the original date will remain valid but can be refunded via billetlugen.dk's call center +45 70 263 267. Refunds can be made until three weeks after the announcement of the new date.Tags: Mikkel Kessler , Robert Stieglitz , Kessler vs Stieglitz , Kessler-Stieglitz User comment by S.J. II, on 10-26-2011 Kessler scared. http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/9237/kessler1.jpg comment by BattlingNelson, on 10-26-2011 Good thing that the injury wasn't career threatening but a delay for this long might be a problem considering that the supersix final and Bute's fight with Johnson will be over and done with long before this fight. This puts Kessler in the back seat when the s6 winner shall decide his next opponent. comment by Hitman932, on 10-26-2011 meh. who cares? whoever wins will just sit on the belt against weak comp.

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ESPN: Sources: MLB labor deal close By McCutchenIsTheTruth A lengthy article pertaining to the CBA found on ESPN. While ESPN has been wrong before (I followed the WVU college football saga at length and in detail) and they are just quoting "sources" I'd say ESPN is more credible in general than random twitter speculation. Highlights include Negotiations are on hold temporarily, until the conclusion of MLB's quarterly owners meetings on Thursday. But sources said it's possible that negotiations could resume as soon as Thursday evening and could reach a quick conclusion shortly thereafter. This deal, however, figures to be especially historic, as baseball positions itself for the 21st century. Among other things, it will pave the way for realignment of the sport into two 15-team leagues, adding a second wild-card team in each league, spreading interleague play throughout all six months of the regular season and making significant changes to the draft, free agency and the so-called "Competitive Balance Tax." In recent days, the sides have found ways to come to a meeting of the minds on the last of the major issues that have prevented them from reaching an agreement earlier -- in particular, a plan for curbing spending on the amateur draft and a revamped draft-pick compensation system for teams that lose top free agents. Details of those changes have yet to emerge. But contrary to reports that compensation picks could be eliminated entirely, some clubs are now saying they've been told to expect that in the future, teams will only have to give up a first-round draft choice if they sign one of a handful of "elite" free agents. Under the current system, teams are required to give up a top pick in return for signing all "Type A" free agents, as long as their previous club offers them arbitration. Under the new agreement, the formula for classifying players would change to limit compensation only to a select few stars -- i.e., CC Sabathia, but not Grant Balfour. Sources said that some changes in the new agreement would take effect immediately, while others will have to wait until 2012.

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Del Rio named Broncos interim head coach Save | ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio will be in charge of the Denver Broncos while head coach John Fox recovers from heart surgery. Del Rio went 68-71 from 2003-11 as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars before joining Fox's staff last season. Del Rio will still serve as Denver's defensive coordinator. The Broncos are ranked 24th in defense this season, but they were missing star linebacker Von Miller and cornerback Champ Bailey for much of the first half of the season. Fox needs aortic valve replacement surgery and will miss several weeks. He was taken to a hospital near his Charlotte, N.C., home Saturday when he began feeling dizzy while playing golf during the Broncos' bye week. The Broncos (7-1) play at San Diego on Sunday. ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org Save | Subscribe to Cape Coral Daily Breeze Cape Coral Weather Forecast, FL

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Noxubee County faces playoff challenge from Lafayette County November 6, 2012 10:20:25 PM Adam Minichino - aminichino@cdispatch.com MACON -- The focus is there. Noxubee County High School football coach Tyrone Shorter feels it in how his players are talking. He hears it when they're working out in the weight room. Most importantly, he sees it on the practice field, regardless of the weather. Shorter smiled Monday when his players encouraged him to let them practice in the rain instead of moving across the street to practice in a covered area. He hopes that focus will carry through the rest of the week and help Noxubee County (12-0) be at its best at 7 p.m. Friday when it plays host to Lafayette (10-2) in the second round of the Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 4A North State playoffs. "I have been telling the kids that there is no such thing as a bad game now," Shorter said. "It is all mental now. You have to cut all of the mistakes out now. You had 11 games to take care of all of those things." In a season filled with motivation, Noxubee County needs only think back to 2010 and a 20-0 loss to Lafayette in the Class 4A North State title game in Macon. Jeremy Liggins and Demarkus Dennis combined on a 56-yard hitch-and-go touchdown pass in the second half that propelled the Commodores to their first of back-to-back 16-0 seasons and Class 4A crowns. This season, Oxford snapped Lafayette's 34-game winning streak with a 19-0 victory in a C Spire Bright Lights rivalry game. New Albany secured the Region 2 title with a 10-7 victory. Led by senior quarterback Brandon Mack and junior running back D.K. Buford, Lafayette defeated Greenwood 24-7 last week in the first round of the playoffs. Eric Robertson, who spent seven seasons as defensive coordinator under former coach Anthony Hart, who is now the school's athletic director, is in his first season as the program's head coach. Noxubee County took the first step on what it hopes will be the road to Jackson last week with a 42-6 victory against Shannon. Shorter liked how his team started and finished quickly in its playoff opener. He cited those factors as keys entering the game, and pointed to them as proof his players are focused on getting back to Jackson, the site of the state title games. Noxubee County advanced to Jackson in 2008 and won its only state title in football. Shorter hopes the Tigers are on a similar path. He expects senior defensive lineman Dylan Bradley to be back after missing the past two weeks with a sprained medial collateral ligament. He believes his team will be ready for any weather and any obstacle to be put in their way. "We are physical and we have all of the things we need," Shorter said. "I was just worried about the kids getting sick practicing in this weather, but they went out and had a great practice." A Noxubee County victory and a victory Friday by Itawamba Agricultural High would mean the Tigers have to go on the road for the third round. A victory in Fulton would send Noxubee County back home, where it would play host to the North State title game. But Shorter cautioned against looking that far ahead because his team learned anything can happen last season when it lost to Amory in the second round of the playoffs. With 23 seniors on this season's team, he hopes those players will continue to provide the leadership and the focus the team needs to stay on track. "When I told them Friday night who they were going to play after the Shannon game, they just started yelling," Shorter said. "This group gets up for the big game. It is the challenge. They want the challenge. So far, you don't have to motivate them. They already know what is at stake. They know Lafayette County is still the champs until somebody else beats them and wins the state championship. "These kids know they have a great program, and they're ready for this ballgame. We're excited about it." Shorter said five or six of the seniors started the last time Lafayette came to Macon for a playoff game. He said he has listened to the players talk confidently about what they were going to do Friday. He feels the example those seniors are setting bodes well for the future -- and for staying alive past the second round in 2012. "One of the seniors said, 'This is the round we went home in last year'," Shorter said. "They keep talking about what the 2008 team did and what they are doing now. It is like history repeating itself. They know what is at stake. They are really working hard for it. I am proud of these kids. I want this for these kids badder than anything." Adam Minichino is the Sports Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.

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People are taking advantage of the spring weather Updated Apr 6, 2013 at 10:40 PM CDT PEORIA Ill -- Saturday afternoon, temperatures reached a high of around 70 degrees, finally giving residents in the Heart of Illinois a taste of spring weather. In Peoria, it seemed many families had the same idea, when it came to how they should spend their warm Saturday. "It was our first trip this year. It was just a nice day to get out and we thought we'd bring the girls to see the animals," said East Peoria resident, Julie Chadwick. Peoria Zoo officials said they were happy with a big turnout this weekend due to the warm weather. "We saw those hogs, and we saw lions," said Peoria resident, Vicki Ellis. "But it's nice. We love getting out and our grandchildren love playing. I love to get out and spend as much time with them as possible." Meanwhile, others were trying to take advantage of the weather by getting their swing on. However the weather was not quite what they had hoped for. It was opening day on the green at Kellogg Golf Course in Peoria, and the wind did not put anyone's game where they wanted it to be. "There's a lot of great sunshine and it's warm, but the wind, you just have to deal with it," said Peoria resident, John Wrobb. "I quit after nine holes. It was just too much wind." Gusts reached about 50 miles per hour in Peoria, which threw off the swing for many golfers. However, most did not let that put a damper on their day. It's very nice to wear shorts and a short sleeved shirt and not worry about the wind making you colder," said Peoria resident, Mike Freeman. "Wind is better than rain, but it still makes it difficult to play. It's still better than rain." Despite the windy conditions, many Peoria residents decided to play through the weather, on the warmest day of the year, so far.

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Martin Belam’s blog about UX, IA, journalism and digital media. A brief history of Olympic dissent: Moscow 1980 by Martin Belam, 12 August 2008 “Keeping the Torch Burning: Terror, Protest and the Games” is an alternative history of the Olympic Games, one that focuses on the social and political events that have defined each competition. Nationalism, separatism, feminism, racial equality and human rights ring loud in this Guardian Short, written by Martin Belam and uniquely told through first-hand reporting from the Guardian and Observer. “Keeping the Torch Burning: Terror, Protest and the Games” - £2.99 on Kindle I've been writing a series of posts looking at the history of protest, politics and dissent at the Olympic Games since their modern inception in 1896. From 1968 to 1984 the Games saw some of their most turbulent times. 1968 was marred by protests on the podiums and a massacre away from the stadium, 1972 was scarred by the appalling terrorist murders of 11 members of the Israeli Olympic delegation, and 1976 saw the first mass political boycott. The Soviet Union had only belatedly joined the international Olympic movement, first taking part in 1952, but in 1974 Moscow beat Los Angeles 39 votes to 20 to earn the honour of hosting the 1980 Summer Games, becoming the first communist country to do so. That honour was to be impacted by a US-led boycott of the Games, which left 62 members of the Olympic movement absent from the Russian capital. No go U.S.A. The almost total identification of Ronald Reagan with anti-communism and eighties American politics makes it easy to assume that he ordered the boycott, but of course, the 1980 U.S. Presidential elections took place after the Games were held, and it was Democrat Jimmy Carter who gave impetus to the U.S. led boycott. In February of 1980 US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance told the IOC that: "We will oppose the participation of an American team in any Olympic Games in the capital of an invading nation. This position is firm. It reflects the deep convictions of the United States Congress and the American people." Whilst the row rumbled on, and preparations for the boycott went ahead, that same month the USA staged the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, which the Soviet Union attended. An article in the Miami Herald, which seems to have been absorbed by a 'java.lang.NullPointerException' error since I first downloaded it, told of the heartbreak of those U.S. athletes who were unable to go. Olympic Track & Field trials were held as usual, just in case the boycott got lifted at the last moment. Vice-President Walter Mondale has described those who missed out on the Games as: "Warriors in our country's defense of freedom. I believe that our young athletes, who sacrificed so much, deserve great credit for their part in denying respectability to such an odious regime." Some of them never got another chance. Those that did compete in 1984 also had their participation devalued by the fact that the 1984 Games were also subject to a Cold War boycott. The countries who boycotted the 1980 games were: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, El Salvador, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, West Germany, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kenya, South Korea, Liberia, Liechtenstein, Malawi, Malaysia, Mauritania, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands Antilles, Niger, Norway, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, The UAE, The USA, The U.S. Virgin Islands and Zaire. Regardless of the boycott, the Games went ahead, and the Moscow organisers made sure there were plenty of poster designs in order to let people know. Britain goes to Moscow Britain did go to the Moscow Olympics, in a move which still looks a surprise, given the general way that British foreign policy and national interest tends to dovetail with that of America at the highest level. In fact the British Government were implacably opposed to British sportsmen and women going to Moscow, but the BOA held firm, with chairman Sir Denis Follows insisting that: "We believe sport should be a bridge, and not a destroyer" I would suggest that timing was a crucial element here. In 1980 when Margaret Thatcher and Michael Heseltine were writing letters to the BOA and making speeches in Parliament about sporting sanctions, the new Conservative Government had not been in power long. It is much harder to imagine the BOA standing firm against political interference in the running of their sport 4 years later, when Margaret Thatcher was in her post-Falklands pomp. As it turned out, in 1984, the British government was mostly occupied with fast-tracking Zola Budd's passport to ensure she could compete in Los Angeles. At the opening ceremony the British team marched behind an Olympic flag rather than a British flag, although at this distance I can't work out whether that was because the BOA was annoyed about the Soviets in Afghanistan, or making the point that they had no support from the British Government. Thanks to the Great Britain team going, we witnessed some epic Olympic battles that lived long in my memory. Daley Thompson, Allan Wells, Duncan Goodhew, Steve Ovett and Sebastion Coe all left their mark on the Games from a British perspective. There seems to be a good documentary about the boycott available from YouTube called "The Cold War Olympics". Because it doesn't have an on-screen DOG, I'm not sure who made it or when, but it seems to have most of the main British people involved. It comes in four parts - you can watch the first part above, and also see part two, three and four. Daley Thompson's involvement also spawned something much closer to the usual subject matter of this blog - a series of 80's computer games from Ocean. 28 years later... In 1976, a member of the British royal family was an Olympian athlete in Montreal. In 2008, a member of the British royal family has been serving on active military duty in Afghanistan. It is deeply depressingly ironic that as the Olympic Games return to a communist country, there have again been calls from the West for a boycott, based on China's record of supporting Sudanese actions in Darfur, or aimed at changing Chinese policy toward Tibet or Taiwan. Meanwhile, American and British troops are deployed on the ground in Afghanistan, fighting a war to support a beleaguered government against rebels and Islamic fanatics, for reasons of wider national security. What is it they say about those that refuse to learn from history....? Having lost out in 1974 in the vote to host the 1980 Olympics, Los Angeles was successful in its attempt to host in 1984. The repercussions of 1980 were felt though, as another Cold War boycott meant that the Soviets and those within their sphere of influence refused to attend. This is one of a series of articles looking at the history of political protest, terrorism and dissent at the Olympic Games. 1896 | The pre-war years: 1900-1912 | The inter-war years: 1920-1932 | 1936 | The post-war years: 1948-1964 | 1968 | 1972 | 1976 | 1980 | 1984 | 1988 & 1992 | 1996 | 2000 | 2004 | 2008 | 2012 In 2012 an expanded version of this series, featuring material from the Guardian & Observer archives, was published as an ebook: “Keeping the Torch Burning: Terror, Protest and the Games” By Martin Belam on 12 August 2008.I’m the founder of Emblem, a digital consultancy offering user experience design, information architecture and training services. I’ve spent over a decade building products for brands like the Guardian, Sony, Vodafone and the BBC, and now work with clients in the publishing, media, arts, heritage and culture sectors. To find out about working with us, please drop us an email. Games, Olympics, Politics The Cold War Olympics documentary has been showing recently on the BBC red button Sport Multiscreen, as part of the run-up to the Olympics - presumably a repeat from down the line. Andrew Bowden "The Cold War Olympics" originally went out on BBC4 in October 2005. It went out on the same night as "A Very British Olympics", a "weren't we quaint then" review of preparations for the 1948 games. Iain Weaver

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Hunter kicks off free agency, signs with Tigers Torii Hunter is a nine-time Gold Glove winner and four-time All-Star. / Gary A. Vasquez, US PRESSWIRE by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sportsby Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under Free-agent outfielder Torii Hunter agreed to a two-year, $26 million contract Wednesday with the Detroit Tigers in the biggest free-agent signing so far this offseason, an official with direct knowledge of the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been finalized. Hunter, 37, who spent the last five years with the Los Angeles Angels, rejected overtures from seven other teams to sign with the Tigers, replacing Delmon Young in the starting lineup. Hunter, who visited Detroit on Tuesday, was overwhelmed by his meeting with Tigers owner Mike Ilitch, president David Dombrowski and manager Jim Leyland. He informed them at the meeting's conclusion that he wanted to immediately sign with the Tigers, and if they met his demand, he'd sign without talking further to any other clubs. The Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves were also heavily in the mix when Hunter chose the Tigers, but each was balking at giving him a two-year deal. Hunter, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, is expected to bat second in the powerful Tigers' lineup. He hit .343 with an .854 on-base percentage in 381 plate appearances while batting second for the Angels in 2012. He hit a career-high .313 with 16 homers and 92 RBI overall last year and is a career .277 hitter with 297 homers, 1,143 RBI and 1,068 runs. Hunter also is quite familiar with the Tigers, having spent the first 11 years of his career with the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central. The only visiting player to have played more games at Comerica Park is Chicago White Sox DH Paul Konerko. Hunter will be just a 3½-hour drive from his son, Torii Hunter Jr., who has committed to play football and baseball at Notre Dame. Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Hunter kicks off free agency, signs with Tigers Hunter joins Cabrera, Prince in Tigers lineup for 2013 season. A link to this page will be included in your message.

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Columnists John Niyo January 25, 2013 at 4:00 pm Bruce Rondon's time with Tigers could be now; Rick Porcello's could be borrowed Detroit -- One year you're a can't-miss prospect in the game of baseball, the next you're a player who won't be missed.Maybe it hasn't been that quick of a reversal for Rick Porcello's fortunes in Detroit — from potential to expendable, from hyped to hoping to stick around. After all, he has had four full seasons in the majors to prove himself with the Tigers. But there he was Thursday as the team kicked off its winter caravan at Comerica Park, proof positive things don't always work out.And as Porcello stood there politely answering repetitive questions about rampant trade speculation it was hard not to wonder what the future holds for the next big thing seated at a table across the room. Bruce Rondon's the guy everyone's buzzing about now, the flamethrower with a triple-digit fastball whom even Justin Verlander says he can't wait to see pitch.Four years ago, Porcello was the highly-touted prospect — a first-round pick with a huge rookie contract — preparing to make his debut. Now it's Rondon, the 22-year-old reliever with only nine appearances above Double A ball, who's heading to spring training as the presumptive Tigers closer and an intriguing mystery. "I've just heard unbelievable things about him," Tigers catcher Alex Avila said, echoing the sentiments of just about everyone in the organization.Said Porcello: "I've never seen him pitch. I heard he's a big power guy. But I'm looking forward to seeing him throw."Porcello absorbs rumors Whether he'll get that opportunity remains to be seen. Ever since the Tigers plunked down $80 million last month to re-sign free agent Anibal Sanchez, solidifying the top four in their starting rotation, Porcello has been viewed as trade bait.He's only 24 — "I still feel pretty young," he laughed, when I asked him if he was starting to feel old amid all the hot-stove talk — but that only makes him easier to deal, from the perspective of the Tigers.He's a durable, innings-eating starter who's under team control for three more seasons. At the moment, he's a groundball pitcher for a team that, uh, much prefers strikeouts. But if Porcello can ever find a slick-fielding infield and some consistency with his slider — that's been his primary goal again this offseason — he could be a mid-rotation starter for another team.As for where that might be, though, he'd prefer not to think about it."Right now, I'm a Tiger and I'm ready to help this team win," he said. "And if anything changes, I'll adjust accordingly. … But the rumors and all the talk are just distractions. It can be challenging at times, for sure. But I wouldn't be doing my job if I was letting that stuff get to me and had my mind somewhere else."Unproven talent Mind you, Rondon was saying much the same thing Thursday, albeit through a translator."First and foremost, I wanted to prepare physically and mentally to get ready for the closer role," he said, when asked about dealing with what may be outsized expectations for 2013.General manager Dave Dombrowski calls Rondon "a rare talent." But Dombrowski readily admits he's an "unproven" one, and there's still a chance he'll make a trade for a proven closer — maybe even in exchange for Porcello — to replace Jose Valverde, whom the Tigers let walk after last October's self-immolation in the playoffs.The first question is whether he can corral a fastball that was clocked as high as 104 mph in the minors last season. Joaquin Benoit, who'll be Rondon's mentor and perhaps his setup man as well, says he'll keep reminding the rookie not to "overdo" it. ("I just want to try to get him to relax," Benoit laughed, "and not try to break the catcher's mitt.")The more important question, though, is whether Rondon can control his emotions. He says he learned from Valverde about the need to "turn the page" after a bad outing or a blown save. He also says he loves the closer's role, but we'll have to wait and see if it loves him back.Manager Jim Leyland says he's "going to spend a lot of time" with Rondon in spring training just to get a feel for how the baby-faced 6-foot-3, 265-pounder handles it all. But as Verlander put it Thursday, "I think you'll find out rather quickly whether he's got that gene in him or not.""A fastball like his always plays in the major leagues, it doesn't matter where you're pitching," Avila agreed. "But the thing is, especially on a team that's expecting to go to a World Series and win, it's a big role. And it is a lot of pressure to put on a kid."Thing is, though, they don't stay kids for long in this game. Just ask Porcello.john.niyo@detnews.com twitter.com/JohnNiyo Tweet Bruce Rondon is heading to spring training as the presumptive Tigers closer and an intriguing mystery. / Elizabeth Conley/Detroit News One year you�re a can�t-miss prospect in the game of baseball, the next you�re a player who won�t be missed. Maybe it hasn�t been that quick of a reversal for Rick Porcello�s fortunes in Detroit.

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Carrie is from Aurora, Colorado, where she played volleyball for Aurora Central High. She played club volleyball at the well known Denver club, Front Range. She played collegiate volleyball for Rollins College in Florida, where she was a two-time team captain. Carrie began her coaching career at age 18 with Orlando Gold Volleyball Club. She coached in the boys 16s age group during her college years, and after graduating, she took over as one of two Directors of the club. Subsequently, she was the boys 16-1 coach for five years, during which her teams had high finishes at the East Coast Championships. During her time in Florida, Carrie also was the head coach of the boys program at University High for five years, where her teams excelled, including an undefeated season her last year. After moving to San Diego, Carrie began coaching at San Diego Volleyball Club, where she was the boys 16-1 coach her first year, then she assisted husband Darrell Dilmore for two seasons with the boys 18-1 team.Carrie is a math teacher at Francis Parker High, where she coached the boys JV team for three seasons. Carrie and Darrell are the dynamic duo of boys volleyball. Their reputation as top-notch coaches was upheld following 2008's outstanding Silver Medal finish at Nationals. We are pleased to have them as a part of the boys program at Epic Volleyball Club. back to all coaches [ home volleyball videos volleyball gift certificates

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Swansea 0 - 1 Chelsea Sunday, 13 April 2014, 16:07 Spain omit Michu and Torres In-form Swansea striker Michu has been omitted from Spain's squad for next week's friendly international against Uruguay in Qatar. Vicente del Bosque: Tough choices to make Michu was tipped to be in the frame for a call-up, having scored 16 goals for the Welsh club this season. He misses out along with Chelsea's Fernando Torres, with coach Vicente del Bosque naming a 21-man squad. As for Michu's absence, Del Bosque said: "It's left a little bit of a bad taste in the mouth not to call up someone who deserves it. But those who have been named also deserve it. "We recognise his worth and his goals in the Premier League but we couldn't find a space for him at the moment. "The same thing happened with Iago Aspas. I'm honest and don't hide anything. In the position which Michu plays there is great competition with five or six players." Del Bosque's two main striking options next week will be Alvaro Negredo and David Villa who is currently not a regular in the Barcelona side since returning from a broken leg. As for Torres, Del Bosque added: "Torres is one of our most experienced players at international level but neither could we find a space for him now. "Villa's case is not comparable with anybody. I'm not worried that Villa is only playing a little. "Every time he's gone out he's done well. There's a lot of competition in his team. His case is unique. "He had a very serious injury but he's played a very important part in our recent successes." Simeone won't stop Costa move Atletico seek Courtois deal Torres still on Inter's radar Ba goal sees off 10-man Swans Terry: Title will be tough Holland: No margin for error

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Porto contest Liverpool for free-scoring striker Martinez is in demand. (©GettyImages). Liverpool will reportedly have to fight off interest from Porto this summer if they hope to sign Jackson Martinez, as the Portuguese champions make advanced moves for the Colombian. Martinez has a superb goalscoring record, having found the net 98 times in a combined 148 matches for Independiente Medellín and, latterly, Jaguares de Chiapas. Liverpool have been linked with the 25-year-old for some time, and earlier reports in the Colombian press claimed the Anfield club had made a downpayment in order to secure Martinez's signature this summer. However, it would appear this may not be the case and Liverpool may now miss out, with Porto now ramping up their attempts to lure Martinez to the Estadio do Dragao during the transfer window. According to Portuguese newspaper Record, Porto hope to finalise a deal for Martinez in the next few weeks after formalising their interest in the forward, who has scored five goals in 13 appearances for Colombia.

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Blue Raiders end historic season against Minnesota in NIT quarterfinal MT finishes 27-7, most wins in program history March 21, 2012 · Athletic Communications Marcos Knight tallied his 24th double-figure scoring performance of the season. (Bradley Lambert) Marcos Knight tallied his 24th double-figure scoring performance of the season. (Bradley Lambert) SHARE THIS http://ra.ide.rs/gbr1a5k · Video: Game Highlight MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP)- Marcos Knight neared a double-double with 19 points, matching his career-high, and nine rebounds for Middle Tennessee, but the Blue Raiders’ late rally fell short to the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a 78-72 defeat in the quarterfinals of the NIT on Wednesday night at Murphy Center in front of a season-high crowd of 10,521 fans. MT closes its historic season with a 27-7 overall record. Raymond Cintron and LaRon Dendy also added double-figures for the Blue Raiders, scoring 15 and 11, respectively. Andre Hollins and Rodney Williams each scored 24 to lead the way for Minnesota (22-14). Elliott Eliason added 12 points and seven rebounds for Minnesota, while Hollins also chipped in six rebounds and four assists. Minnesota will face Pac-12 regular-season champion Washington at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. It will mark the Gophers' first appearance in the NIT semis since 2003. Minnesota, which also won road games over La Salle and Miami in the tournament, handed MT only its second home loss of the season. The Blue Raiders had won 13 in a row at the Murphy Center since an 87-84 loss in double-overtime to Belmont on Nov. 20. The Blue Raiders narrowed the game to one possession in the final minute, but Minnesota converted 11 of 12 free throws, including its last eight in a row. Williams, who scored Minnesota's first eight points, finished 8-of-11 from the field and 6-of-8 from the free throw line. In a game featuring nine lead changes through the first 26 minutes, Minnesota took charge midway through the second half. The Gophers broke a stalemate by taking a 46-43 lead on an Austin Hollins 3-pointer with 13:55 remaining. Minnesota led the rest of the way but struggled to put MT away in the final minutes. In the final 28.6 seconds, MT narrowed the lead to three twice and two once, but the Gophers made all eight free throws in that span to hold on. Postgame Quotes Head coach Kermit Davis Opening statement "I'd like to comment on the atmosphere tonight. On a one day turnaround, to have a crowd over 10,500 is just a great compliment to our fans and our students. Chris (Massaro) and his staff did a wonderful job getting the word out. It was as good an environment as you can get in college basketball." "I thought our team played well, but we lost on the things that have won us games. They beat us on second chance points, they outscored us 17-4 off turnovers, and I think they probably beat us on 50/50 balls. We made a great comeback there at the end, and it's a tough way to end it. I thought it was just a hard-fought, physical basketball game." On thinking how tonight’s game will be remembered "I thought we could have won it if we got to New York. Like Minnesota, Minnesota can definitely win it. We didn't talk about it much to the team, but I sure thought about it. I thought we had a chance at halftime when we were up four even though we hadn't played great. We're a really, really good second half team." “Tonight we lost, but it's still a great memory. I'm telling you, for a school at our level, not many schools can do that. Look around at the NIT crowds. We had 10,521 on a day turnaround. That shows the capability of what we can do here, and that separates us from a lot of programs around our area and around the country, and we can build from that." On seniors LaRon Dendy and Jimmy Oden "LaRon Dendy brought our program a long way, I promise you that. In one year, it was unbelievable what he did. I thanked him for it in the locker room. He's one of the most enjoyable guys I've ever had to coach. His charisma, his personality away from basketball can't be replaced. He's going to do great things in his career in basketball, I promise you that, and he gets his degree in May." "I have great memories of LaRon Dendy and how much he's progressed since he got here. He's always been a good person and a great guy, we had nothing off the floor with him. I saw his maturation as a leader, and that was fun. Jimmy Oden was great, and I thought he played his best basketball in the last month of the year. He was just terrific, and we'll miss both of those guys." On looking back on the season "My best memory was how fun it was to come to the gym every day. They weren't perfect every time, but they had great energy. They were fun to be around. They were fun to travel with, and they're great guys. It's not just that we won 27 games, but it was the day-to-day with those guys." "When we came back from the UCLA game, the fans really latched on to this team. Even for the Greensboro game, it was a little under 5,600. In both the Belmont games, the attendance was terrific. Over our last three conference games, we averaged about 7,100. They were coming to see us play. They enjoyed having Minnesota here, but these fans were coming to see their guys play. They like their team. I think it'll build, and we'll have some record-breaking crowds next year." "We beat UCLA, Ole Miss and Tennessee. I mean, that's a lot of BCS schools. These guys have a lot to be proud of." On moving forward next year "I think we all strive to have high expectations. We have nine out of 11 back. We had a good signee early, and we're working recruiting now. We have a great schedule next year. We have Ole Miss at home, UAB at home, Vanderbilt at Bridgestone. So, it's going to be another really difficult non-conference schedule, but it's going to be great for our fans." Junior guard Marcos Knight On the loss "They got a lot of second-chance points off of offensive rebounds as well as 50/50 balls. They were the tougher team in the gym today. We just didn't get a lot of second chances like they did. We turned the ball over way too much, and they got 17 points off of our turnovers." On moving forward to next year "This gives us a lot of experience. LaRon and Jimmy were great seniors, and they gave us a lot of leadership. I feel like I have to take LaRon's spot next year. I have to be a leader like he was, come to practice every day with high energy, and work hard the whole summer. We look forward to next year.” Senior forward LaRon Dendy On what he will remember about tonight "The fans came out and they showed a lot of love towards us. There were a lot of people here, and that's something down the line that's going to stay in my memory bank." "It was frustrating, but I'm not going to think about today, I'm going to think about this whole year being great. Coach Davis brought me a long way as a player and as a person." Friend of the Blue Raiders? Like us on Facebook and become part of the True Blue army today.

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Sean McGorty at U.S. Junior track nationals. Photo by Spencer Allen/SportsImageWire.com. Q&A: With Sean McGorty Courtesy: David Kiefer Release: 10/29/2013 Related Links STANFORD, Calif. – After a standout high school career, freshman Sean McGorty emerged as Stanford’s No. 1 runner in his first collegiate cross country race and will be vital to the Cardinal’s hopes at the Pac-12 championships Saturday in Louisville, Colo. McGorty’s high school credentials include a runner-up finish at the FootLocker cross country national championships and a Virginia record for two miles (8:45.61) in winning the New Balance Outdoor track nationals last spring. He also was fourth at the 2013 U.S. junior track nationals in the 1,500 meters, behind current teammate Justin Brinkley, who won the title. McGorty, a native of Fairfax, Va., ran unattached at the Stanford Invitational, placing fifth against mostly small college competition. But Chris Miltenberg, Stanford’s Franklin P. Johnson Director of Track and Field and cross country head coach, lifted the redshirt off McGorty for the Pre-Nationals on Oct. 19 against some of the country’s best teams. McGorty finished fifth overall and No. 1 for Stanford, clocking 23:38.97 over the 8-kilometer (4.97 miles) course in Terre Haute, Ind. Stanford entered that meet ranked No. 29 in the country, but its fourth-place finish helped jump the Cardinal to its current No. 13 and stacked its portfolio for an NCAA championships at-large berth, should the team need it. This week, McGorty talked to gostanford.com about his background, his season, and his approach to his first Pac-12 championship meet. Q: What were your expectations coming into the season? A: It was still undecided between Coach Milt and I on whether I would redshirt or not. He wanted to bring me along and see how I responded to his training and, based on that, make the final call. It helped a lot having the Stanford Invite at home, so we could all run unattached and that could show whether I was ready or not. Q: Did you have any problems with redshirting? A: Regardless of whether I was redshirting, I was going to race at least three times (as an unattached runner). But I love competing. Having this opportunity to compete in a Stanford jersey is pretty awesome, especially being able to do it as a freshman. Q: You seem to really race well in big meets. How are you able to do that from a mental standpoint? A: From the time I first started running, my parents and high school coach always worked on being mentally tough. There are days when your legs aren’t feeling that well, but you always want to be as strong mentally as possible, because running, even though people would probably say it’s mostly physical, has a huge mental side. If I can keep my nerves under control and stay focused on what I need to do, that greatly helps me when it comes to competing. Q: Is that an advantage you have, especially against someone of similar ability? A: It’s something I’ve worked on over the years. It’s something that I have in my arsenal. I don’t know if it’s an advantage, but it’s something I know I can use. Q: How have you adapted to Coach Milt’s training? A: In the summer, it was pretty easy to get adjusted. I worked off what I did in high school and it was an easy transition. When I got to campus, having him there for the workouts and monitoring everything brought it to a whole new level. I’m really enjoying it right now. I’m very happy with how it’s going. This was the perfect choice. Q: Is there something that he stresses that you’ve really used? A: He’s always talking about working as hard as possible, blue-collar. He also wants to focus on us and not get distracted by everything around us. I really like that. It really helps not only me, but our entire team stay focused on what our goals are. Q: How do you know when to defer to the older guys and when to run your own race? A: Coach Milt will talk with everyone individually before a race and is good at giving everyone a tentative plan. Obviously, if a race goes out like you’re not expecting, you’ll have adjust. That comes with experience and, at this point, I might not be able to respond to changes in the race as much as the older guys can. But that’s something I hope to learn. For now, it’s been great to have him to set out a plan that I can follow as best I can. I was able to do that to the best of my ability at Pre-Nats and it was able to work. It really gives me a lot of trust in him. Q: Do you feel comfortable running different paces? A: In cross country, courses are so different that there are going to be different paces. Basically, 8K is a lot different than 5K (the most common high school distance). That was something I learned at Stanford Invite. That was a big learning experience for me. Looking back and talking with Coach Milt, I was able to change the way I ran the 8K. There will a lot of pace changes in the race, but the way he sets the training prepares us to handle the different stages of a race. Even if a race goes out faster than we’re expecting, he will have us prepared for that as well. Whenever we’re doing a workout, he always explains why we’re doing that workout, what it’s helping us to work on, and what it’s preparing us for. He wants us to be prepared if a race goes out fast, or if it goes out slow and everyone’s really hammering at the end. He’s really good at designing workouts that can instill confidence heading into a race. Q: Do you feel that your middle-distance background helps your speed? A: I think it could. Coach Milt reminds me that I have that speed and I should try to use it at the end. I was able to do that at Pre-Nats and that sort of surprised me. I wouldn’t have thought that I had that extra gear in the last 400, but it taught me to trust in my kick and know that it’s always there to use. I do think that helps, even though it’s a little harder to get to after an 8K. My legs are a little more tired. Q: Can you talk about your background? A: My mom (the former Vicki Verinder) ran track and cross country at Langley (Va.) High School, which is very close to where I live. She went to UNC-Chapel Hill to run. My dad (Kevin McGorty) was a very successful decathlete. He won Golden West and junior nationals in high school and went to UNC, and that’s where my parents met. My mom was very successful in the ACC and my dad was more successful at the national level. He won the ACC three times and went to the Olympic trials twice (1988 and 1992). He coached at Centreville (Va.) High School and had multiple state champions (including Rickey Harris, the 2000 U.S. boys high school track and field athlete of the year). Now he coaches multi-events, pole vault and high jump at George Mason University. Q: So, track runs in the family? A: Yes, and I have two younger brothers that run as well. Nothing was forced upon us. There’s a program near us where every Sunday in the spring, they would have an hour, or hour and a half practice. You’d do different events like learning how to long jump, or practicing the high jump. Sometimes, you’d practice different running stuff. I was big into soccer then, so I wasn’t able to do as well in track as other people who had been training year round. But heading into my freshman year, my mom encouraged me to run cross country. The plan was to do cross country and then basketball in the winter and soccer in the spring. But cross country went pretty well and I liked it. At that point, my passion for basketball was fading, so I thought I’d do indoor track. When that continued to go well, I decided to do outdoor track. After that spring season, I left my club soccer team and decided to run all year. If I missed soccer, I’d go back, but I ended up enjoying track more. Q: Did you compete in events besides running? A: My dad always wanted us to at least try field events. When I was in seventh grade, I tried a pole vault camp. It was very cool, but it was never something that I figured I had time to do. I focused more on the longer distance stuff. I do think it would have been fun to at least try pole vault. My dad loved it, so it would have been cool to have that with him. We’ll see if one of my brothers – my youngest brother, Brandon, might try it and do more field events. He’d probably be more of a decathlete than me and Ryan, but we’ll see. Q: The team wasn’t ranked very high going into Pre-Nationals, and really surprised people. A: Yeah, Coach Milt told us not to worry about it. We know how good we are. We know how good we can be. It was nice to show that we didn’t deserve that ranking. It gave everyone a good laugh when we first saw it, but we also know that we have a lot of room to improve and we’ve got to keep working as hard as we can until next time we go to Terre Haute. Q: How do the Pac-12’s fit into the big picture this season? A: Obviously, we want to do well and have as much team success as possible. It also will give me a lot more experience racing the 8K. It’ll be my last 8K before the 10K (in the West Regionals and NCAA’s), which will be another big jump. I think everyone just wants to run as well as possible and go after some of the top teams in the Pac-12. Q: Did you get a lot out of the high-altitude camp at Mammoth Mountain before school started? A: It was pretty awesome, not only for the running, but just to get to know everyone. I do think we got a lot of great training there and hopefully, the altitude training will help in Colorado. Also, it was just a good transition before school, to get all that good work in before you had to come in and balance school. If we could still be just training there, life would be a lot easier. Q: Had you ever trained at high altitude? A: No, I never have. You definitely feel it, but you also can convince yourself that you’re feeling it more than you are. Heading into Colorado, it’s important to be mentally strong, because you know you’re going to start to feel it. But if you can tell yourself you’ve been at altitude before and can continue to work hard I think that can help during the race. Q: How much do you sacrifice the opportunity to run up front as opposed to trying to stay together as a team? A: At least for the individual plan he’s set for me, I’ve never had to hold anything back. If I hold something back in the beginning, it’s because I know I’m going to have to work really hard in the last 3K. It’s better for me to tuck in and conserve energy and try to move up in the last 3K. It’s the same for Erik and Jim, and the other guys. I don’t know the individual plans they’re given, but I know that they’re basically going to go out with the top guys. They might not take the lead, but they may just tuck in there. That way, in the last 3K, they can attack as much as possible and pass guys. We did a pretty good job with that at Pre-Nats, but we’ll keep on getting better. Q: Will your main event in track will be the 5K, or the 1,500, or even the steeplechase? A: I haven’t thought too much about it. But I’m sure Coach Milt will let me experiment and let me figure that out. I definitely would enjoy doing a 15 and a 5K more than a 10K. Q: Will the other freshmen, who are all redshirting, live vicariously through you? A: Everyone has their own plan. I know they’re working as hard as possible. In a couple of years, our class will be in a great position to do some damage at the national level. Regionals Coming to Stanford Cross Country Season in Review

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November 11, 2010Event postponed to a later date due to weatherTen Hamline basketball greats, along with members of the university's three national championship basketball teams from 1942, 1949, and 1951, will be back on campus for a ceremony honoring them. Those recognized will include NBA hall-of-famer Vern Mikkelsen and legendary coaches Don Meyer and Joe Hutton, Sr. In all, ten past players and coaches will be inducted into the newly-created Row of Honor in Hamline's historic Hutton Arena.Also planned, a bust of Joe Hutton, Sr., the namesake of Hutton Arena will be unveiled in the lobby of the facility.“I feel it is important for Hamline athletes, parents, and fans of today to understand the depth of the university’s historical success,” said Beeman. “The legacy of our championship team participants and our ‘Row of Honor’ inductees provides us with an inspiring foundation for the next generation of excellence.”The four living inductees of the Row of Honor—Fritsche, Meyer, Mikkelsen, and Seltz—are scheduled to attend and take part in the ceremony. Close family members of Don Eliason ’41, Hal Haskins ’50, Joe Hutton, Jr. ’50, John Norlander ’43, and Howie Schultz ’43 will be in attendance to represent the deceased inductees.“This will be a great day to honor individuals who define a tradition of excellence both as Pipers and as professionals, including a pair of coaches who are arguably two of the all-time greatest in college history,” said men’s basketball head coach Nelson Whitmore.Hamline alumnus Vern Mikkelsen was inducted into the NBA Hall of Fame after winning four NBA championships as part of the Minneapolis Lakers dynasty. He spent ten years with the Lakers and was a seven-time all-pro player. A star at Hamline, Mikkelsen was a member of the 1949 national championship team.Legendary basketball coach Don Meyer began his collegiate head coaching career at Hamline, where he coached from 1972-1975. During that time, he turned the Hamline program around and took the team to the NCAA Elite Eight in his third season. He went on to become the all-time leader in coaching wins in NCAA men's basketball history, posting 923 career collegiate wins. Meyer was awarded the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance at the 2009 ESPY Awards.Joe Hutton, Sr. posted a 591-207 record that placed him sixth among all college basketball coaches in the country at the time of his retirement. In 35 years, the basketball teams coached by Hutton won 19 conference titles, all three of Hamline’s national championships, and were three-time NAIA runners-up. Hutton, Sr. is also the namesake of Hamline’s basketball facility, Hutton Arena.For more information regarding the ceremonies or the inductees, contact Stephanie Harris, Hamline University sports information director, at 651-523-2786 or via email.

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Sports Milt Campbell Dies; Track Star And Olympic Champion From New Jersey Dead At 78 By Jeff Stone on November 04 2012 3:36 PM The New Jersey athletic community was in mourning over the weekend when news broke that Milt Campbell, widely regarded as the state’s most important athlete ever, died Friday at the age of 78. Campbell was from Plainfield, N.J., and he died in his home in Gainesville, Ga.,. after a life that saw him rise to the highest peaks of sports. Campbell was the first African-American to win the decathlon when he took gold in the 1956 Olympics. The Star-Ledger reported that Campbell won an Olympic silver medal in the decathlon as a high school student, set the world record in the 120-yard hurdles, played in the NFL, and was an All-American swimmer and football player. Track coach at Seton Hall University John Moon, a legend in his own right, told the newspaper how much he admired Campbell. “Watching Milt Campbell inspired me to run track. He was my idol,” Moon said. “I remember being in ninth grade when I heard that Milt Campbell was going to run against Aubrey Lewis at Warinanco Park in Elizabeth. I rode my bike from Linden to see them run, and I remember leaning on a fence with my mouth wide open as they ran the 220 straightaway. I couldn't believe someone

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The Incredible and unforgettable Mamie “Stix” Rallins November 24, 2013 | JC68 The Olympic Games is truly one of the world’s greatest competitions and biggest spectacle. Athletes from around the world are brought together under one roof to compete for the title of the best in the world. We remember these athletes’ years later for their incredible performances and for usually claiming the title as the best athlete in the world. Rarely do we get to hear stories from athletes, who despite not claiming the gold, silver or bronze medal, still deserve a platform of their own. Mamie Rallins is one of those athletes that deserve that platform. This remarkable woman participated in her first Olympics at the age of 27, received a full scholarship at the age of 30 to Tennessee State University, and then made her second Olympic team at the age of 31. In a recent telephone conversation earlier this month JC68 got a chance to ask her some questions regarding her track and coaching career, the 1968 Olympics, and the remarkable quilt she made for Dr. Carlos. What inspired you to start running track? I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. At an early age I had an interest in running. I was a “gym rat” lets say. Since there was no track program in the school system during the 60s, at the age of 15, I joined the Mayor Daley Youth Foundation Club. I was only 4’11 when I started running…a small little thing. I was actually starving to death back then. The coach used to take me home to feed me. Note: Residing with six brothers and her father, Mamie suffered from malnutrition as a teenager. Her mother had passed away when she was 13 so it was extremely hard growing up in a household of six siblings. Eventually I grew to 5”6 and began running the 80m hurdles. The hurdles were 3 inches lower back then and instead of running 100m we only ran 80m. (Note: In 1972 at the Olympics, the 80m hurdles was replaced with the 100m hurdles) Initially, I wanted to run the 400m distance, but eventually I settled on the hurdles after making a bet with my coach at the time. What was your most memorable Olympic moment? The 1968 Olympics but not for what most people would probably think. I was 27 years old at the time which is completely out of the average age range for an athlete attending their first Olympics at that time. The 1968 Olympics will obviously be remembered mainly for the Black Power Salute that took place on the podium, can you describe the atmosphere and remember exactly where you were at that time? The atmosphere was crazy as expected for such a huge sporting event. I was in the stands with a majority of the team. I personally didn’t know what was going to happen. The men didn’t inform the women of anything really and since the men were separated from the women in the Olympic village, we heard nothing. Women were never involved or consulted about the boycott or anything like that. Honestly, I was glad, though because I wasn’t going to boycott… this was my time, especially being 27 and at my first Olympics. You participated in two Olympics throughout your career, how hard is it as an athlete to maintain in top shape and commit to that 4 year goal every year? Once I got in shape, I stayed in shape. There was a lot of meets throughout the months and years in between. Training with Willie Davenport and Ralph Boston in the off-season also helped. I kept running and training because I truly loved it and loved the sport. There was no money, endorsements or anything like that. We were strictly amateurs running for the love of the sport. Being a former track athlete myself, there is a specific moment and race that I will never forget. What is that moment for you? The semi-finals race at the 1968 Olympics. The speaker in my lane did not work so when the gun went off, I was still in the set position. I caught everyone but missed the qualifying time by 1000 inches. Ironically enough, at that very moment the crowd was probably cheering not for my almost incredible comeback but because Mr. Beamon” had just jumped out of the pit. (Note: Mr. Beamon is Robert “Bob” Beamon, who at the 1968 Olympics broke the World Record in the long jump) Other than track is there any other sports that you participated in or wished you had taken part in? There was an article in the Freelance Star dated May 10, 1972 that said you are a “football buff” who’s your favorite team? “I love football” Even as we speak the Chicago Bears are preparing to play the Green Bay Packers. When I was in college I always dreamed of being a head coach or head manager for a football team. Note: The Chicago Bears went on to defeat the Green Bay Packer 27-20. If you were supposed to summarize your track and coaching career in one sentence, how would you do it? Great and outstanding! Coming from Chi-town and accomplishing what I did is truly a magnificent feat. I didn’t know anything about the Olympics back then. I got to travel around the world for “free”. That was good enough for me. You also had a successful coaching career after you retired from running track. Tell me about your coaching career and some of the athletes you coached and helped reach success. I coached at “The” Ohio State University for 18 years. I would say the most notable athlete I coached and helped reach success would be Stephanie Hightower. Stephanie came from Louisville H.S. to Ohio State and broke every record I pretty much had. Note: Hightower was a collegiate track star at The Ohio State University. From 1977 to 1980, she did not lose a race in the 60 meter dash, 60 meter hurdles or the 100 meter hurdles. Rallins served as Head Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country Coach for 18 years (1976-94) at Ohio State University. During that time she coached 60 Big Ten indoor/outdoor champions, 24 All Americans, nine Olympic trial qualifiers and one Olympian. She also served as assistant athletic director for three years. You were also the first black female to coach at Ohio State University, tell me about that monumental event? First off there weren’t that many black students back than so it was different. What many people don’t know is that I was also the first black head coach under the AIAW. I was also the Assistant Athletic Director during the AIAW era. Note: The Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) was founded in 1971 to govern collegiate women’s athletics in the United States and to administer national championships. It evolved out of the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (founded in 1967). The association was one of the biggest advancements for women’s athletics on the collegiate level. What inspired you to create that wonderful Olympic quilt? How long did it take you to do? Initially I had created a quilt for “Coach Temple” about 10 years ago. That quilt now hangs at Tenn. U. and features 29 former Olympians that went to Tenn. State. I also created a quilt for Ralph Boston. It was during a visit at Ralph Boston’s house that John saw it and fell in love with it. He asked Ralph who made that quilt and Ralph said “Stixs” made it. John said, “Can she make me one too”…so I told John to tell me what he wanted and the names he wanted on it and I made it for him. 36 names appear on the quilt. Deceased athletes are featured down the middle. It took approx. 4 weeks to do. Each square probably took about 30 min. I got a machine to do all the embroidery. All hand-made. Note: Coach Temple is Former Tennessee State coach Edward S. Temple, who coached Olympic champions Rudolph, Wyomia Tyus and Madeline Manning as well as Rallins. “When a person sets seven world records and has had American records and been on two Olympic teams … there’s not too many people who receive a scholarship at age 30 and live in the dorm and make your second team when you’re a sophomore in college at the age of 31. I think I should get the recognition… But that’ll depend on who sells me.” Your track resume is very impressive despite the fact that you never won an Olympic medal yet very few people outside of the track community know who you are. Do you feel that in today’s sports world athletes are judged and critiqued solely on how many medals, rings, and titles they have won? Yes! First thing people ask is how many medals you got. They truly don’t understand or appreciate all the hard work and efforts that is put in to just getting there. I broke the world record wearing a pair of Pumas. They didn’t make women spikes back than so I wore a pair of men shoes. 1971-1972 Adidas came along and gave me a pair of shoes. In the 1960s and ’70s, athletes were lucky to get some free shoes if they did well. Today, most elite athletes are professionals and have agents who accommodate them. A different time, a different era and a different type of beast, Rallins said. “When I was running, everybody was an amateur. Now it’s become a job for them. They’re like semi- pros because now they’re allowed to make money.” It was a pleasure interviewing and listening to Mamie Rallins speak. The passion and love for the sport of Track & field can still be felt within her. What she accomplished, and especially the age she accomplished it at, is truly an inspiration to any individual, athlete or not. Set seven world and 11 U.S. records during her career. Coached 24 All- Americans and one Olympian. The country’s No. 1 female hurdler for four years Made the 1968 Olympic squad at the ripe age of 27 and was 31 for the 1972 Olympics Served as assistant coach of the USA Olympic Games in 1996 Karen Dennis was the first OSU women’s track coach since Mamie Rallins last held the position in 1993. ← IS UCLA RACIST? BLACK MALES FEEL THAT CAMPUS ONLY WANTS THEM IF THEY PLAY SPORTS San Jose State Learns that a Raised Fist is Not a Brand → Guest Mr. Carlos, how ironic when a hurdle race was illegal and should have been reran (B10 Network proved the hurdlers were telling the truth) you could see the anger on the faces of the hurdlers on the B10 Champ podium and someone cracked the joke the angry hurdlers looked like a black power protest..YOUR picture!!!!! That was a sad day and when a few hurdlers lost their passion and one even left the B10…… OMG this is who my baby constantly BRAGS about???? hahahaha Sad I never met you Mamie during all my trips to Buckeye Country!!! Todd Boston The “Greatest of All Time” and my other Mother! Sign Up * First Name info at johncarlos68 dot com johncarlos68.com Copyright © 2010-2011 John Carlos 68.All rights reserved.

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« Huggins can win No. 700 Redshirt argument ridiculous...» Breaking contracts not right Mickey Furfari - Fan Fare , Save | Post a comment | MORGANTOWN - Has it sunk in yet that students in a lot of the nation's colleges and universities are getting a rude "education" from millionaire athletic coaches and administrators. It is plainly this: signed legal contracts no longer mean much if anything. Some apparently aren't worth the page on which the contracts are written. And that certainly is a sad situation. In some cases it involves classless actions by coaches. Article Photos Try Todd Graham, who spent less than a year as Pitt's head coach. He didn't have the decency to tell his football players, then preparing for an upcoming bowl game that he was leaving to become head coach at Arizona State. He sent them word of his departure by text message. Graham reportedly had signed a five-year contract with Pitt at $2 million a year. In that conversation, its' certainly interesting that West Virginia, Penn State and Pitt all had more than one head (or interim head) coach in the same year - 2011. At WVU (Bill Stewart) and Penn State (Joe Paterno) the head coaches were fired for different reason. Paterno, the nation's winningest coach of all time, even had announced to his players after an emergency morning meeting that he was going to retire at year's end. He also made the news public to the media at noon that day. But Penn State's board of trustees announced that night that he had been fired immediately because of alleged involvement in a massive cover-up of alleged child molestation by a former assistant coach. WVU's lawsuits against the Big East Conference - and that league's countersuit - were seemingly ugly, too. Legal minds suing on behalf of WVU seems to be saying, in effect, that you don't have to abide by a contract you signed. The university was involved in the Big East's establishment of a 27-month exit notice before leaving. WVU wants out by next June 30. Here again, college students are getting what seems like a bad message. Signing a contract doesn't mean much anymore, or so it seems. WVU needs to be an active member of the Big 12 Conference by July 1, 2012. Save | Post a comment | Subscribe to journal-news.net Martinsburg Weather Forecast, WV

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Posted on Wed, Jun. 13, 2012 Small decision pays off big for OKC Thunder By JEFF LATZKE The NBA’s advertising campaign this season was built around one word: BIG. Oversized heads on the league’s star players filled some of the commercials. Other promotional ads had giant words superimposed on highlights of game action. But this year’s NBA Finals could be decided by who’s better at playing small. The Oklahoma City Thunder countered the Miami Heat’s undersized lineup by benching their starting frontcourt players, Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka, for the final 14 minutes and were able to rally and win Game 1 105-94. Now, the tinkering begins as the teams prepare for Game 2 Thursday night. The smaller quintet is nothing new for Oklahoma City, particularly since the signing of Derek Fisher in March, but it has paid dividends in the Western Conference finals and then in Game 1. “We’ve played that way a lot this year,” said Nick Collison, the only true power forward or center to play down the stretch for the Thunder. “We’re very fortunate to have a 7-footer like Kevin (Durant) who can do it. That’s an advantage we have.” Durant came into the league as a supersized shooting guard, moving over to small forward after Scott Brooks was promoted to head coach around Thanksgiving in 2008. Since then, he has played more frequently as a perimeter-oriented power forward. That creates room for All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook and NBA Sixth Man of the Year James Harden to team with another guard – most often Fisher, defensive ace Thabo Sefolosha or three-point specialist Daequan Cook – in the backcourt. “When we go small, Kevin’s 6-10 so he’s a big small. But we have another shooter on the floor, we have another playmaker on the floor, we have an ability to create baskets with movement and we have an extra ball-handler on the floor,” Brooks said. “We feel confident going both ways. With our big lineup, we’ve won a lot of games. With our small lineup, we’ve won a lot of games. But I think the best way we win games is using a combination of them both.” In the fourth quarter of Game 1, Brooks went with Westbrook, Fisher a

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Mariners hammer Homer Bailey and Reds, 16-0 By GARY SCHATZ Associated Press Published: Mar 25, 2013 at 5:17 PM PDT GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) - Homer Bailey thought the numbers looked a lot worse than he pitched.Jesus Montero hit a grand slam, Michael Saunders homered among his three hits and the Seattle Mariners hammered Bailey in a 16-0 rout of the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.Saunders connected off Bailey, and Justin Smoak added two hits off the right-hander, driving in three runs. Montero's slam came off Wilken De La Rosa, one of two non-roster pitchers left in Reds camp.Bailey was scheduled to pitch five innings but lasted only 3 1-3, allowing nine runs on nine hits and two walks. He struck out five."It was their day, not mine," Bailey said.The Reds let two fly balls drop while Bailey was on the mound and committed an error."I don't think it was as bad as the line looks," Bailey said. "They hit that one home run but other than that, there were a lot of ground balls that went through, dropped balls. I made some good pitches and struck a few guys out, but it seemed like every time they put it in play there was a runner on."I think the catcher (Montero) hit a couple of them up the middle, some broken-bat hits. It's kind of frustrating sometimes."Saunders also doubled, singled and scored three times from the leadoff spot. He was named to the all-WBC team as a member of Team Canada.Montero was 3 for 3 and is hitting .405 with 10 RBIs this spring, including six on Monday.Brandon Maurer continued to impress the Mariners. He gave up six hits and a walk in five innings, striking out seven. The 22-year-old is making a strong case to earn a spot in Seattle's starting rotation.Selected by the Mariners in the 23rd round of the 2008 draft, Maurer is testing manager Eric Wedge's resolve to keep the competition going."We are trying to go all the way through. Part of my discipline is keeping my mind open to the very end," Wedge said. "The very end is approaching quickly here. We'll see how the next couple days play out, but it's safe to say we are close to making a decision."Maurer made his case on the mound."I can't think about competing for the spot," Maurer said. "I just have to concentrate on going out there and getting ready for the next start. Those guys can hit. It was good to go out there and get a couple of them out."Maurer used his changeup and curve, two pitches that needed work coming into camp."It was nice to go out and have a little confidence in them," he said.The outing lowered Maurer's spring ERA to 0.90. He has allowed two earned runs in 20 innings. He also pitched out of a bases-loaded jam on Monday."Maurer threw the ball very well against a good group of hitters," Wedge said. "Pitching out of that situation isn't something we haven't seen. It reaffirms what we've seen. For him to pitch the way he pitched and have the time he sat on the bench today and still be effective was very impressive."Jack Hannahan and Zack Cozart doubled, and Brandon Phillips tripled among the Reds' seven scattered hits."We looked kind of pitiful," manager Dusty Baker said. "We didn't catch. We didn't hit. Nothing. Homer didn't throw the ball that bad. They got some two-out hits. We didn't help him on defense."NOTES: Reds RHP Bronson Arroyo threw some pitches to test his right hand. Arroyo was hit on his pitching hand by David Murphy's comebacker Sunday against Texas. X-rays were negative. Arroyo is expected to make his final spring start on Friday. ... INF Jason Donald will get some at-bats in minor league camp. He is out with a sore knee. Donald is one of three players competing for the Reds' final utility role. ... The Mariners placed RHP Josh Kinney on the 60-day disabled list, then added Kameron Loe to the 40-man roster. ... Saunders' homer was his third of the spring. Montero has two grand slams this spring.

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Cross Country set to compete at Pre-National Invitational Final event for the teams prior to Southland Championships The Lamar cross country teams will run at the Pre-National Invitational on Saturday. BEAUMONT - After an extended break following the LSU Invitational last month, the Lamar men's and women's cross country teams will return to action on Saturday at the Division I Pre-National Invitational at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer State Park in Louisville, Ky. After joining the Lamar staff just days before the start of this season's cross country campaign, assistant coach Darren Gauson feels confident in his teams' preparation leading up to this weekend. "We've had a couple meets, and I think we're at the point now where the team is starting to see the effects of what I've been trying to do," Gauson said. "Since the LSU meet, we've seen some people break through and start looking good on our longer runs. I think we're more comfortable, and I think that's going to help when we go into the race on Saturday." On the men's side, the field will feature 40 of the nation's top teams, including conference foe McNeese State. "This is going to be our first big race where we run all of the guys," Gauson said. "There are eight nationally-ranked teams there and a few more that are on the bubble. It's going to be a big field, and we're going to go out and try and get some momentum going into the conference championships." The women's race will feature teams from 62 other schools. "We're going to run the same group again on the women," Gauson said. "It'll be in the unseeded race, but there are still some great teams in there. It's another chance for us to build towards our big goal, which is the conference championship. They've gained a lot of momentum, and they're real excited. I'm looking forward to their race." The men will be competing in the Red race, which is scheduled for 9:30 a.m., and the women will run in the Black race, set to begin at 11:30 a.m. #GoCards CARDINAL Women's Cross Country HOME

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Isabelle Mir, Sugarloaf, 1971 Isabelle Mir of the French women's ski team, right, chats with Maine Gov. Ken Curtis and French exchange student Paul Francon. Paul was from St. Etiene, France and he was attending Cony High School in Augusta. In 1968 at the Grenoble Olympics Isabelle won a Silver medal in the Downhill. At the Sugarloaf World Cup races, she scored 3rd in the Kandahar Downhill, 4th in the Tall Timber Downhill, and 12th in the Giant Slalom. Gov. Curtis was Maine Secretary of State, then Governor and later became Ambassador to Canada.

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ASSOCIATED LINKSRobin van PersieRead our profile of the Dutch strikerMUTV: Find out moreWhat's on the channel... and how do I watch it?Welcome David MoyesFind videos, photos and features on the new boss 04/06/2013 14:40, Report by S Bartram, M Froggatt 1 of 2 Next Robin eyes quieter summer Despite the spectre of starting next season under a new manager, the coming weeks will be markedly calmer than last summer for Robin van Persie. Eleven months ago, the Dutch striker announced his intention to leave Arsenal, prompting a sustained spell of uncertainty before he ultimately secured a transfer to Old Trafford.The decision was swiftly validated, with van Persie ending the campaign a Barclays Premier League champion and the division's top scorer. Looking back, he concedes that last summer was an undulating time in his life."It was [difficult] because it wasn’t only me who decided where I went to play," said Robin, in an exclusive in-depth interview with MUTV. "I also depended on my former club as well and how they saw it. And then of course you always have these games that the directors play."It’s a bit like a rollercoaster. Some days it is looking good and other days it is worse. You don’t really know what to expect because things can change so quickly. It normally depends on the player and the two teams, but in my case, there were two other teams involved as well."One was [Manchester] City and the other one was Juventus. So it was a bit hectic but I always wanted this transfer from day one. Me and Sir Alex knew that it would be a bumpy road, but I think that it shows that if you really want something then nothing is impossible. I am glad it happened."The Dutchman's transfer owed much to a lengthy negotiation process between two of his former managers - Sir Alex and Arsene Wenger - and he vividly recalls the moment he heard that a deal would go through.

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Thiago Tavares plans drop to 145 following quick UFC win By Guilherme Cruz @guicruzzz Guilherme Cruz, MMA Fighting GOIANIA, Brazil -- Thiago Tavares is back in the win column, and he wants a fresh start in the UFC. Following a first-round submission victory over Justin Salas at UFC Fight Night 32 in Goiania, Brazil, Tavares asked to be part of UFC Fight Night event in Jaragua do Sul, Brazil, on Feb. 8, and that could be mark his debut as a featherweight. "If the UFC approves it," Tavares said after the fight, "I'll be fighting at 145 in Jaragua do Sul." Tavares leaves the final decision on his drop to the featherweight division in Joe Silva and Dana White's hands, as he feels he could still be a force in both divisions. "Tonight, I've proved that I'm strong at 155," he said. "But I believe I could be even stronger and more competitive at 145. I'm a UFC fighter and I'll do anything they want, though. I have to work a lot to fight at 155, and I would easily make 145." Tavares' perfect night at UFN 32, however, almost became a nightmare. As he was warming up for the fight, the Brazilian suffered a cut when shooting for a takedown at teammate Nazareno Malegarie few moments before entering the cage, and Brazilian MMA Athletic Commission (CABMMA) almost decided to cancel the bout. "The doctor wanted to cancel the fight, but we stopped the bleeding," he said. "I cut my eyebrow 30 minutes before the fight, I couldn't even warm up or I would start bleeding again, but tonight was my night to be reborn." When he finally entered the Octagon, he needed less than three minutes to finish Salas with a rear-naked choke. "When I take my little friend to the ground, I know he's in trouble," he said. "I started in judo when I was 5 and in jiu-jitsu when I was 9, so I know I won as soon as I take my opponent to the ground. Sooner or later, I knew I would get the finish." Thiago Tavares Justin Salas

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California's popular Johnson Valley riding area may get reprieve from military base expansion PICKERINGTON, Ohio -- Riders who use the popular Johnson Valley Off-Highway Vehicle Riding Area in California may not lose most of the area to a Marine base expansion after all, the American Motorcyclist Association reports. The military is barred from spending money on expanding the Twentynine Palms military base into Johnson Valley until it completes a report on how the expansion would affect off-highway riding, under a military spending authorization bill approved by U.S. House and Senate conferees on Dec. 18. "The report to Congress would cover the impact on off-highway vehicle recreation in the Johnson Valley region, along with alternatives for achieving the goals of the military and the OHV recreation communities," said Wayne Allard, AMA vice president for government relations. "This report would allow for more time to, hopefully, come to a solution that meets the training needs of the military while maintaining access for motorized recreation." The language, included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 (H.R. 4310), was offered by Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-Md.) with support from Sens. Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Mark Udall (D-Colo.). House and Senate negotiators worked out their differences over the bill in a conference committee and then sent it to their respective chambers for final approval. Once approved by both chambers, it goes to the president to be signed into law. "The AMA, in partnership with the California Motorized Recreation Council and The Livingston Group in Washington, D.C., that was hired by the CMRC to move the legislation, worked long and hard to get this important report required before the base expansion can proceed," Allard said. The California Motorized Recreation Council is a non-profit association comprised of the leadership of the largest off-highway vehicle recreation organizations in California. CMRC membership includes, the Off-Road Business Association, California Association of 4-Wheel Drive Clubs, California Off-Road Vehicle Association, AMA national, American Sand Association, California-Nevada Snowmobile Association, AMA District 36 (Northern California, Northwestern Nevada) and AMA District 37 (Southern California) Off-Road. "I particularly want to thank Rep. Bartlett and Sens. Feinstein and Udall for their efforts," Allard said. "This was truly a team effort involving many southern California motorized groups and their elected representatives in Washington, D.C., as well as other representatives in Congress," Allard said. In July, the Department of the Navy released a final environmental impact statement for the expansion of the Marine base. The preferred alternative would allow public use of only 40,000 acres of the 190,000-acre Johnson Valley OHV area, and for only 10 months a year. It's all part of an effort by the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center at Twentynine Palms to expand its land holdings to allow for more live-fire training. The Marine Corps is part of the Navy. The proposed expansion needs congressional approval. The military had hoped to begin training on the land in 2014. Several years ago, the Navy began the formal process to take over some 365,906 acres of public land near San Bernardino to use for live-fire training for the Marines. At that time, the Navy filed an application with the U.S. Interior Department seeking control of the public land, which is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. The Navy also wants priority for some 72,186 acres of non-federal land in case the federal government acquires it. About the American Motorcyclist Association Since 1924, the AMA has protected the future of motorcycling and promoted the motorcycle lifestyle. AMA members come from all walks of life, and they navigate many different routes on their journey to the same destination: freedom on two wheels. As the world's largest motorcycling rights organization, the AMA advocates for motorcyclists' interests in the halls of local, state and federal government, the committees of international governing organizations, and the court of public opinion. Through member clubs, promoters and partners, the AMA sanctions more motorsports competition and motorcycle recreational events than any other organization in the world. AMA members receive money-saving discounts from dozens of well-known suppliers of motorcycle services, gear and apparel, bike rental, transport, hotel stays and more. Through the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, the AMA honors the heroes and the heritage of motorcycling for future generations. For more information, please visit www.americanmotorcyclist.com. View original article at www.americanmotorcyclist.com General News, Racing All Article Tags Sign Up & Stay Informed Join our weekly newsletter and keep up to date about products, sale items, and team racing

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Carl Edwards, Kyle Busch, NASCAR, Ryan Newman, Sprint Cup Series, Trevor Bayne Surprising trends abound in fledgling Cup season By Joe Menzer, NASCAR.COM March 28, 2011 1:06 PM, EST It's only five races in, but already in this 2011 Sprint Cup season there have been some eyebrow-raising developments worth noting. And no, this is not a further discussion of Trevor Bayne's remarkable season-opening win in the Daytona 500. That's been dissected enough. Last year [Johnson] left Martinsville with the points lead -- and with another strong showing there this Sunday, that could very well again be the case. And although Bayne's victory for Wood Brothers Racing rightly has earned likely a permanent spot as this season's most eye-opening, unexpected development, it has been far from the only surprise. Among the others: 1. Ryan Newman sits second in the points standings, only nine behind leader Carl Edwards. The way Edwards finished last season, winning the final two races, makes his fast start to this season no surprise at all. But Newman? He's coming off a season in which he finished a disappointing 15th in points after making the Chase in 2010, his first season driving the No. 39 Chevrolet for Stewart-Haas Racing. Folks may be surprised to know, upon examination of Newman's career record, that 2009 is the only season in the past five when he's finished in the top 10 in points (he was ninth in '09). But this year he seems to be finding the kind of consistency that has eluded him in recent seasons. Sunday's fifth-place finish in the Auto Club 400 at Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, Calif., was Newman's third fifth-place finish of the season, matching his efforts at Phoenix and Las Vegas and following a respectable 10th-place finish at Bristol. Last year he had only four top-fives all season. 2. Not only has five-time defending champion Jimmie Johnson failed to win a race yet, but he fell victim to a last-lap maneuver Sunday by winner Kevin Harvick that was the sort of thing Johnson usually does unto others, not has done unto him. Nonetheless, Johnson sits a comfortable fifth in the points standings heading to one of his favorite tracks this week in Martinsville Speedway. So it's hardly time for him to panic, or for anyone to start cueing up "the defending champ is vulnerable" stories. Last year he left Martinsville with the points lead -- and with another strong showing there this Sunday, that could very well again be the case. While Johnson owns six Martinsville victories and has an average finish there of 5.3 for his career, the other four drivers currently ahead of him in the standings frequently falter there. Only Kurt Busch has won at the .526-mile short track and he's struggled there much of the rest of his career with an average finish of 21.3. The other three in front of Johnson in the points -- Edwards (average finish of 16.8), Newman (average finish of 14.3) and Kyle Busch (average finish of 16.7) have traditionally struggled to keep pace with Mr. Martinsville at the venue. 3. Denny Hamlin, who was in position to knock Johnson from his throne heading into the final two races (and even the season finale at Homestead) last season before faltering, is off to a horrible start this season and sits 21st in points. Among those comfortably ahead of him in the standings heading into Martinsville -- where Hamlin figures to do well -- are Paul Menard, Martin Truex Jr., A.J. Allmendinger, Bobby Labonte and Marcos Ambrose. But is any of that more surprising than the way two others who figured to make a jump in the standings this season are struggling? Jamie McMurray sits in 28th, 90 points behind Edwards; Joey Logano is 29th, 94 back of the leader in the clubhouse. And what about 2011 Chaser Jeff Burton? You know it's been a rough ride for him when he finishes 15th last Sunday at Auto Club Speedway and jumps four spots in the standings, yet still sits in 25th, 84 points out of first. 4. On the flip side, who thought Menard would be so consistently competitive during his first season driving for Richard Childress Racing? He remains seventh heading to Martinsville. And both Kasey Kahne and Dale Earnhardt Jr. are off to surprisingly fast starts, with Kahne 11th in points and Earnhardt 12th after last Sunday's race. Kahne is early in his one-and-done season driving the No. 4 Toyota for Red Bull Racing before moving into the No. 5 Chevrolet next season for Hendrick Motorsports, while Earnhardt is early in his relationship with yet another new crew chief in Steve Letarte. Most figured it would take some time for both of them to gel under the new circumstances -- and many figured Earnhardt, who hasn't won a race since June of 2008, might not come around at all after his well-documented struggles in recent years. Keep this in mind, however: Finishing 11th and 12th in points this season without a victory likely won't get you in the Chase. Only the top 10 in points are assured spots, with the final two Chasers determined by who has the most wins. That means if the Chase were to commence now, Jeff Gordon, although he's 14th in points, would advance over Earnhardt because he won at Phoenix in the second race of the season. Bayne, it is worth noting, isn't eligible for the Chase because he elected to run for the Nationwide Series championship instead of the Sprint Cup trophy. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer. Permalink | Print | E-mail | Comments (0)

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July 15, 2011 National Dance Council of America: It has been NDCA’s intent not to enter into rhetoric and recrimination in regard to the suspension of its member USA Dance (USAD,) thus the releases put out by the Council have been short and purely factual. It would be hard to say the same of the most recent release from USAD, therefore it has become necessary to respond in some length to the misleading accusations published on Wednesday evening. However, first it should be said that, while the two associations have had their differences, NDCA has been a strong supporter of USAD since its inception by Normand Martin, and through many ups and downs in its fortunes over the years, as even a quick perusal of the association’s history will clearly show. The NDCA and its members are professional organizations; the members of the organizations are also professionals. Dancing is their livelihood, not their hobby: it is the way they pay their bills, raise and educate their children, and put food on their tables. Understandably then, their point of view may be somewhat different from that of an organization of self labeled ‘volunteers’ whose job security and quality of life does not depend on the business of dance or dancing. NDCA is happy to include among its registrants many amateur dancers; we value their participation and look forward to continuing to welcome them at NDCA competitions and championships. Contrary to the statement made by USAD, NDCA has made no attempt to restrict the ability of USA Dance to conduct its activities; USA Dance is free to do what it decides to do. However, in the matter of the WDSF Congress USAD knowingly disregarded the rules of the NDCA, of which it is a member, and of which it had full knowledge. The published 2011 NDCA Rule Book contains a statement as follows: “NDCA organizers are not allowed to accept sanction or recognition from any other organization unless approval is given by the NDCA. It is the decision of this council that approval under this rule will not be given to IDSF sanctioned events for the foreseeable future.” On January 30, 2011, the USAD Dance Sport VP, Mr. Ken Richards, wrote to the president of NDCA regarding the IDSF congress, asking “ … will the NDCA object to another venue such as Ohio Star Ball? In other words does the new restriction only cover IDSF competitions?” The reference to “…another venue….” being a reference to the fact that IDSF Congresses have been held for the past 5 years at the Embassy Ball, as mentioned in the USAD Wednesday release. Indeed, the owners of the Embassy Ball have been extremely supportive of USA Dance, organizing and hosting these congresses for USAD at their own cost, supplying the venue and the services of Embassy expert judges to lecture, free of any charge to USAD. Further, Embassy Ball organized and completely sponsored the entire professional show of six couples for the USA Dance organized World Championship in Brooklyn last fall. Given that one of the owners of Embassy Ball is the NDCA president, these are hardly the actions of a professional organization intent on restricting USA Dance. Mr. McDonald replied to Mr. Richards the same day, Jan 30, 2011, “At this point in time we are not prepared to have any of our NDCA organizers involved in any IDSF activity.” A Judge’s Congress is a sanctioned IDSF, now WDSF, activity where approval is given by IDSF/WDSF and is a required qualification for an IDSF/WDSF judge’s license. Nothing further was heard from USAD about this matter. Evidently, a decision was taken to completely ignore this correspondence and move ahead without regard to, and in full knowledge of, how the professional organization felt, and in direct contradiction to NDCA’s clearly stated position. NDCA learned of the congress through USAD’s recent advertising. Also contrary to the Wednesday release, NDCA has not moved “…to immediately discipline, fine or otherwise punish judges, lecturers, organizers or other officials who participate in WDSF competitions or congresses….” thereby inferring that the NDCA is the big bad guy. On the contrary, on Wednesday morning, several hours before this long USAD release was posted, NDCA put out a release telling its professionals that, despite USAD’s suspension, they may continue to do following this action, exactly what they were doing before it, “to abide by the current 2011 Rule Book.” USAD president, Ms Lydia Scardina, was sent a courtesy copy of this release prior to its posting, and therefore had full knowledge of this position before USAD’s erroneous statements were posted. NDCA’s Rule Book, as it relates to USA Dance and judges, has not changed in very many years. Further, on Tuesday July 12, 2011, a full day before the USAD Wednesday release, in a conversation with one of the professionals contracted as a lecturer by USAD for the WDSF Congress, the NDCA president instructed that professional “to fulfill your contract with USAD.” Once again then, the statements made by USAD demonstrate misleading rhetoric at best. NDCA counts among its registered professional judges a number that have chosen to become IDSF judges, who currently hold IDSF licenses, and who are current professional members of USA Dance. NDCA has made no statement regarding these licenses; it has stopped no one from becoming licensed by IDSF, and several of the NDCA officers hold, or have held, IDSF licenses. For more that sixty three years, NDCA has worked diligently to promote ballroom dancing through its teachers, registrants, organizations, and competition organizers; for the past forty five years the NDCA has been a member of the World Dance Council, formerly ICBD. There have been many changes over the years in the transition of the International Council of Ballroom Dancers to World Dance Council, just as there have been many changes in the transition of the International Council of Amateur Dancers (ICAD) to the International Dance Sport Federation and, most recently, to World Dance Sport Federation, this is to be expected. The lines between professional and amateur have been blurred so as to be almost impossible to determine, but NDCA and WDC have always been the professional organizations, administering to the profession, and it is true that the NDCA leadership have tried to have world bodies stay out of USA affairs, stating strongly “Leave us alone!” and managing for a very long time to do just that, since WDC has never interfered in the NDCA’s relationship with USA Dance or with NDCA business in America. However, when IDSF became WDSF earlier this year, its change of name solidified its new position and vision of itself as an international body that now incorporates a professional division, that runs professional competitions, qualifies judges, and bans couples and judges from participating, not only in events in Europe, but now in the USA too. The world’s leading amateur champions were banned from participating in the Grand Slam in the USA; judges contracted by USA Dance for the IDSF World Championships in Brooklyn were banned one week prior to the event, and were removed by USAD. This professional division was formerly the International Professional Dance Sport Council. IPDSC was an independent and completely autonomous professional body, which intended to work in harmony with the IDSF. The NDCA was a member of the IPDSC under the registered name of ‘Dance Sport America.’ In October 2009, the IDSF completely absorbed the IPDSC into its main body, thereby making it the IDSF professional division: Dance Sport America resigned immediately, therefore to say that this current issue is one between NDCA and WDSF is untrue; NDCA has no relationship with WDSF. USA Dance is its member, with whom it has a relationship; its professional relationship is with WDC. In closing, there is naturally a great deal more to this small history lesson than can be discussed here and there are always two sides to every story. NDCA recognizes that an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation should prevail in all its dealings with both its members and all other organizations, and had expected that USA Dance and NDCA would negotiate to iron out their differences in just such an atmosphere, not the current one of public pillorying with unfounded and misleading rhetoric as initiated by USA Dance with their Wednesday release. © Copyright 2014 Privacy Policy | Terms of Use

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Derek Jeter all class, goes out on his terms Derek Jeter, 39, was limited to 17 games last season while recovering from injuries. / Rick Osentoski, USA TODAY Sports by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sportsby Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under TAMPA, Fla. -- Derek Jeter could have walked away from the New York Yankees whenever he wanted. It was his choice. If he wanted to switch positions and play third base next season, it was his prerogative. If he wanted to be a designated hitter for a few years, it was his choice. If he wanted to look like a stumbling Willie Mays at the end of his career, a hobbled Mickey Mantle or an old Satchel Paige, Jeter earned the privilege to inform the Yankees when he was retiring. Yet Jeter's control of his career has mirrored his command of the middle of a baseball diamond. And so Wednesday, he decided he will walk away before enduring any of those potential indignities. He announced on his Facebook page - and who knew he had one? - that he will walk away from baseball after the 2014 season. "Really, it was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last," Jeter wrote. "As I came to this conclusion and shared it with my friends and family, they all told me to hold off saying anything until I was absolutely 100% sure. "And the thing is, I could not be more sure." That was it. There was no news conference at Yankee Stadium. No tearful goodbyes with Oprah. No news media leaks. He did it his way. On his terms. He didn't even bother to inform the Yankees until Wednesday morning, only calling owner Hal Steinbrenner. Jeter, 39, a true Yankee to the end, didn't bother asking for a front-office or community services job when he retires. He's not seeing whether he could leverage his stature on the free agent market. He's not even bothering to promote his brand name. Simply, in a style exemplifying the class of the man, he is politely telling the Yankees that it's time he says goodbye. The Yankees sensed Jeter could announce his retirement at some point this season but certainly not Wednesday, not a week before he was scheduled to participate in their first full-squad spring training workouts. "We didn't know what was going to happen, but nobody knows his body better than him," Yankees President Randy Levine told USA TODAY Sports. "We respect his decision. "And at the end of the day, he wants to go out on top. "He wants to go out like Michael Jordan." With no disrespect to Jordan, no one is going out with the grace and style of Jeter, nor has anyone represented the Yankees or Major League Baseball better than him. "In the 21-plus years in which I have served as commissioner, Major League Baseball has had no finer ambassador than Derek Jeter," Bud Selig said. "Derek is the kind of person that generations have emulated proudly, and he remains an exemplary face of our sport." This is one of the game's greatest players who helped revive baseball's most iconic franchise. Jeter has led the Yankees to five World Series championships. They have missed the postseason just twice in his career. He's the all-time leader in playoff hits and runs and ranks third in home runs. His 3,316 hits rank 10th all-time, and a mere 120-hit season in 2014 would vault him to fifth. And he is the longest-tenured captain in the franchise's long and storied history. He was an even greater role model off the field. In an age of the National Enquirer, social media, camera phonesand Page 6, Jeter survived. Make that thrived. Never has Jeter been involved in a scintilla of controversy. He always said the right thing. Did the right thing. Acted the right way. And, all the while, still managed to have as much fun as anybody. He remains one of New York's most eligible bachelors, dating movie stars and models, living in a fishbowl with paparazzi praying for a slip-up. It never happened. He played the bulk of his career in the steroid era, watched the temptation of performance-enhancing drugs ruin the reputation of teammates such as Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez, but never has his name even been whispered in any involvement. He might have been the greatest clean player to play in the dirtiest era. "He's been such a great Yankee, a great person, a great icon," Levine told USA TODAY Sports. "We've been so fortunate to watch him play and be a champion." Jeter has played in New York, but really, he belonged to the sport. He was the one who would introduce himself to opposing rookies. He was the first one to text or call new teammates. He was the one who provided his cellphone number to hundreds of players, letting them know he was always available if needed. "The word is class," Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle told USA TODAY Sports. "The way he represented himself off and on the field, in America's biggest arena in New York City, and he never got sideways with it. "We were lucky to have him. New York was happy to have him. No one should be sad it's over. We should be happy that we've enjoyed the ride." Jeter will be honored this summer just like Mariano Rivera was last year, only the fervor will be greater. Jeter, a sure first-ballot Hall of Famer, won't be declared as the finest shortstop to play the game. He isn't the greatest player of his era. Yet he forever will be remembered as perhaps the classiest superstar to ever play. He might have played for the Yankees, but he's been the face of all of baseball. story continues on "It was months ago when I realized that this season would likely be my last." Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @BNightengale Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Derek Jeter all class, goes out on his terms Jeter led the Yankees to five World Series championships. A link to this page will be included in your message.

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F. Dale Lolley Column Stars never aligned for Steelers Stars never aligned for Pittsburgh Cincinnati free safety Reggie Nelson runs past Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) after intercepting his pass intended for Mike Wallace with time running down in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. PITTSBURGH – If you wanted a short synopsis on the entirety of the Steelers’ season, watch the fourth quarter of Pittsburgh’s 13-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday. As the Steelers did numerous times this season, they found a way drag defeat from the jaws of victory, squandering countless opportunities. Time and again, the Steelers allowed games to be decided by one or two plays by keeping things too tight for any number of reasons. They never had a game in which the offense, defense and special teams each played well. “I don’t think there’s any one reason that you could point to in any game and say, this is the same reason back-to-back-to-back,” said Steelers free safety Ryan Clark. “What we did was create new problems every week.” It’s a big reason why there will be no playoffs for the Steelers this season. In previous years, the Steelers could rely on their veterans to come up big in close games. For example, last year, the Steelers were 4-1 in games decided by four points or less. This season, that record is 4-5. “We never really blew people out since I’ve been here,” said Steelers’ fourth-year receiver Mike Wallace. “It’s always been a field goal or touchdown to win the game. This year, it always seems like we lost those games. It just wasn’t our year.” Perhaps the leadership the Steelers lost in the offseason with the retirements of veterans Hines Ward, Aaron Smith and James Farrior was too much to handle at the same time. The way the Steelers played this season was like watching somebody with a personality disorder – up one moment, down the next. They were hard to judge and often harder to watch. The star players – the ones making big money – didn’t perform well in critical times. To be successful, your stars have to play like stars. When they don’t, you lose. At various times, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, wide receivers Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley and cornerback Ike Taylor failed to produce like stars. You could say the stars never aligned for the Steelers. Against Cincinnati, it was Roethlisberger’s turn again. The defense sacked Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton six times. It forced three turnovers – two interceptions by Cortez Allen and a fumble that was also forced by Allen. And yet the offense failed to produce a single point from those plays. Cincinnati, on the other hand, turned two Pittsburgh turnovers into 10 points. Game. Set. Match. See you next year. Roethlisberger, so often the reason why the Steelers won close games in past seasons, was largely to blame, just as he was a week ago in Dallas, when his interception on the second play of overtime set up a game-winning field goalby the Cowboys. Roethlisberger never seemed to get into a rhythm facing Cincinnati’s pass rush and threw a pair of costly interceptions, one that was returned for the Bengals’ lone touchdown, the other setting up the game-winning field goal. “We did things to give us a chance to win the game, but I blew it,” said Roethlisberger. That’s true, but there were other issues as well. The two consistent players on Pittsburgh’s special teams had been placekicker Shaun Suisham and long-snapper Greg Warren. Against the Bengals, Warren made a bad snap on a 24-yard field-goal attempt that caused Suisham to push it wide left for his first miss in 16 attempts. Suisham later missed a 53-yarder with 1:47 remaining in the game. “It’s my job to make every single one, and that’s what I strive for,” said Suisham. “When it doesn’t happen, I accept it. I should have been better. I should make a field goal.” Where this team goes from here remains to be seen. Players will leave as free agents or retire. Others won’t be brought back because of performance issues. It’s a safe bet that 15 to 20 of the players on the current 53-man roster won’t be Steelers in 2013. But, as many teams have shown, things can change quickly in the NFL. Last season, Indianapolis was the worst team in the league. Those same Colts did something Sunday the Steelers couldn’t – clinch a playoff berth. “It’s this year,” said Clark of the team’s issues. “Year-to-year, things change.” The Steelers had better hope so. F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com

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Jon Stevens Endure this evil month Here we are, not quite halfway through January, one of seven months with 31 days. It is a month Colette, the French novelist and performer, referred to as a “month of empty pockets.” Remarkabale! She must have had a Christmas like mine. But as this author of the novel, “Gigi,” said, “..let us endure this evil month.” For me, enduring this January in particular will be bittersweet. The Steelers are not in the playoffs, and that is the bitter part. The sweet aspect is that I can watch the NFL playoffs without having anxiety attacks, apoplexy and swearing at the television to the point no one in my household will come anywhere near me. “Why don’t you go to a sports bar and watch these games,” my wife said during one game, probably the one in which the Steelers had 50 turnovers against the Browns. Too late for this season, but finding an accommodating tavern is something I will seriously ponder for next season. Now with the Steelers out of the picture and the NHL lockout resolved, is it go Penguins? Of course, that means more anxiety and the inevitable profanity hurled at the TV screen. Surely, people watch hockey at sports bars, too. But enough about sports in January. Frankly, it is month with a host of significant events and some rather bizarre and unique holidays It is a month for Capricorns and Aquarians. On this date, Jan. 13, Jonathan Swift was ordained an Anglican priest in Ireland in 1695; in 1920, a New York Times editorial falsely reports rockets can never fly; in 1943, Hitler declares “total war”; the Beatles release the “Yellow Submarine” album in 1969; an Air Florida jet crashes into the 14th Street Bridge in Washington, D.C., and falls into the Potomac River in 1982, killing 78; and the Cowboys beat the Bills in Super Bowl XXVII in 1993. Obviously, I didn’t know these facts off the top of my head. So, on a cold January day, if you find there is nothing to do, try a little research. It can be quite a learning experience. Did you know that today is “Make Your Dream Come True Day” ? I’m not sure if this has anything to do with Martin Luther King Day that is celebrated on Jan. 21. Oh, and if anyone is looking send a greeting card this month, wish someone a happy Hot Tea Month, or a happy National Oatmeal Month, or my favorite, a happy National Bath Safety Month. I guess January really isn’t all that evil when you come to think about it. Last night, a Greene County young lady, Elissa McCracken, competed in the Miss America Pageant. Congratulations Elissa, no matter where you finished. So, as we continue to plod through this month, keep in mind that February, the shortest month of the year, is 19 days away. Doesn’t something happen on the 14th? Guess I will have do some more research.

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Indians' season ends with 4-0 loss to Rays TOM WITHERS ---- — CLEVELAND (AP) — An unexpected season loaded with highs, lows and drama ended abruptly. The magic fizzled for the Cleveland Indians only one game into October. Wasting scoring opportunities against Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb, the Indians disappointed a sellout crowd that did everything it could to carry them Wednesday night with a 4-0 loss to the Rays in the AL wild-card game. A team that went from 94 losses last season to 92 wins in 2013 under first-year manager Terry Francona couldn't continue an improbable run that got them back to the postseason for the first time since 2007. "It hurts. We didn't want to go home yet," said Francona, who gathered his team in a room across from Cleveland's clubhouse. "Once we get past that, for however long that takes, I want them to remember how much me and the staff — it was an honor to go through the season with them and how much we care about them. "That's what I'll remember more than anything." The Indians had their chances against Cobb, who was on the ropes in the fourth and fifth innings. Asdrubal Cabrera bounced into an inning-ending double play in the fourth, and Cleveland wasted a two-on, none-out threat in the fifth when Cobb struck out Michael Bourn, got Nick Swisher to ground to first and retired Jason Kipnis on a weak comebacker. Cleveland had one last shot in the seventh, but Rodney struck out Swisher on three pitches. "(Cobb) kept us off balance in those situations, and that's the name of the game," said Bourn, who went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts. "Me and Swish had opportunities to bring runs in, but it didn't happen. We had nine hits — we outhit them, actually — but we couldn't get any with runners on base." Swisher didn't make excuses for his 0 for 4 night, but the always-positive first baseman credited Cobb with making good pitches when he had to. Bourn, Swisher and Kipnis went a combined 0 for 12. "Sometimes you run into a buzz saw like that," Swisher said. "It's tough. Cobb was really locating his pitches — his changeup and his breaking ball. We had some clutch opportunities, but just couldn't come through." The Indians had spent all season coming back from adversity. They reeled off 10 straight wins to end the regular season, and before that had 11 walk-off victories, with nine of them by different players. They finally won over skeptical Cleveland fans, who turned out in force for the first playoff game in Cleveland since Oct. 18, 2007, when they lost Game 5 of the ALCS to Boston, then managed by Francona. For almost nine innings, red-clad, towel-waving fans tried to coax one more comeback out of the Indians, who couldn't deliver again. "I wish we could have given them a better game," Francona said. "The support was fantastic. We'll see, we have some work to do in the offseason, take maybe an ho

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Posing with the Wanamaker Trophy at Siwanoy were (l to r) Ron Philo Jr., 2006 PGA Professional National Champion, Craig Thomas, Mark Brown, Greg Bisconti and PGA Vice President Brian Whitcomb. (Photo: PGA of America) The first PGA Championship was contested 90 years ago at Siwanoy Country Club. On Friday, four Metropolitan PGA Professionals gathered at the historic venue to commemorate the creation of one of golf's truly great events. Bob Denney, PGA of America BRONXVILLE, N.Y. -- The Wanamaker Trophy was perched on a wooden stand in the main ballroom of Siwanoy Country Club, Aug. 11, just a pitch shot away from the 18th green where a major golf championship was decided nearly 90 years ago.Four Metropolitan PGA Professionals gathered to commemorate the first PGA Championship, contested Oct. 9-16, 1916, at the Donald Ross-designed course that has retained its early 20th century charm and whose halls once welcomed the founding fathers of The PGA of America, which this year celebrates its 90th anniversary.The special event, attended by PGA of America Vice President Brian Whitcomb, Metropolitan PGA officials and New York-area media, featured the Metropolitan PGA Section's representatives for this week's 88th PGA Championship at Medinah (Ill.) Country Club. They earned their way to Medinah as part of a 20-member delegation from June's PGA Professional National Championship.The foursome is led by reigning PGA Professional National Champion Ron Philo Jr. of Westchester, N.Y., the PGA head professional at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains. Joining him are Greg Bisconti of South Salem, a PGA assistant professional at The Saint Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y.; Mark Brown of Oyster Bay, the PGA head professional at Tam O'Shanter Country Club in Brookville; and Craig Thomas of Oceanside, the PGA head professional at The Muttontown Club in East Norwich.Philo, who will make his seventh PGA Championship appearance, admired the trophy that today is considered one of the honored pieces of hardware in golf. In 1916, it was first presented to Jim Barnes, following his 1-up victory after 36 holes against Jock Hutchison."It's a thrill to be sitting here, and a thrill to be going back to another PGA Championship, one of the greatest events in golf," said Philo, a third generation PGA Professional who will have his sister, LPGA star Laura Diaz, caddie for him for a second straight year. "We've been doing this since 1916, and we've got it right to have one of the greatest fields in major championship golf."Looking at this trophy, I can remember as a 10-year old walking Congressional Country Club with my father [Ron Philo Sr.] as he competed in the [1976] PGA Championship. Ever since that day, I can remember wanting to compete at that level. I've been very fortunate since coming to the Metropolitan Section to be a part of the history and traditions of the game, such as those at Siwanoy. This area is so rich in tradition, and is backed every day by those that are sitting in this room and those throughout this Section who keep the spirit of the game alive every day."Whitcomb praised the ability of Siwanoy Country Club to connect its rich history to the early days of The PGA of America."When you drive into Siwanoy Country Club, you can't help but feel that you are in a special place," said Whitcomb. "The founding fathers of The PGA of America believed that, too. And, as history would attest, they staged a very successful first PGA Championship. We are delighted that we have four great representatives from the Metropolitan Section, which represent one-fifth of the total PGA Professionals that will compete in the season's final major. We're proud of the way these professionals represent our Association, conduct themselves off the course and carry on the mission of our founders who 90 years ago set the mission to promote participation in the game and elevate the standards of the profession."The gentlemen here today, and all those representing The PGA of America next week at Medinah, not only plan for this major championship but also return to their clubs to be outstanding teachers of the game."Philo reflected on a piece of Championship coincidence that he experienced with the Wanamaker Trophy."I'm privileged to represent Metropolis Country Club and looking at the trophy up close, I noticed Paul Runyan's name (1934 and 1938). At that time, he represented Metropolis Country Club."Bisconti, 33, will be making his PGA Championship debut after earning a berth thanks to a birdie in a playoff following his first appearance in the PGA Professional National Championship. He will have his son, Kevin, 16, serving as caddie. It doesn't matter that Kevin is a tennis player, said Bisconti, who said that he would feel more comfortable with a family member on his bag."Earning a berth in the PGA Championship, I have chills going through my body," said Bisconti. "I'm realizing a dream that I've had as a kid playing in a major championship and to be representing 28,000 men and women professionals in the PGA Championship."In preparing for next week's PGA Championship, the four PGA Professionals reflected the preparation of many of their Tour counterparts. They all got in practice rounds at Medinah in the past three weeks.Brown, who makes his third PGA Championship appearance at Medinah, also advanced through the playoff in the PGA Professional National Championship."I felt fortunate to get into a playoff ]for a PGA Championship berth], and didn't bring my 'A' game," said Brown, "but, Greg and I held it together and were lucky to be one of four from the Met Section and one of the 20 in the country to represent our PGA Professionals. It should be a fun week. The golf course is pretty fair. There's a lot of length to it [Medinah], but I think that if you can drive it straight, it should be a pretty good week."Thomas, who will be competing in his third consecutive PGA Championship, said the practice rounds he played beginning in 2004 at Whistling Straights through this year at Medinah, proved invaluable."It was a great experience for us to all get to know what we can expect before we step to the first tee during Championship week," said Thomas. "Many of us have friends on Tour, and we have arranged to get to play with them at some point in practice. Mark Brown is friends with Olin Browne, and I'm friends with Mark Calcavecchia. I know that when I made it to Whistling Straits in 2004, it was very beneficial for me to get there early."You know, unless you can understand and prepare, the whole experience is like the circus has come to town. It's normally that nobody asks me for an autograph unless I'm signing a check, but at the PGA Championship it's different. The practice rounds that we got in gave us a chance to see the course, to learn a lot about what to expect. The Tour professionals you meet have been great to us, and treat us very well when we meet in the locker room."Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf. Back to Top [0] © 2006 PGA.com

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No Joke, Homer Happy Yanks Getting Last Laugh at the Stadium NEW YORK, NY - JUNE 10: Scott Hairston #12 of the New York Mets reacts after a home run hit by Russell Martin #55 of the New York Yankees during their game on June10, 2012 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) Yankee Stadium isn't a very popular place for National League teams during interleague play. Whether it's anonymous Braves' players calling the short porch in right a joke or unnamed Mets officials complaining that Yankee Stadium cheapies cost their team the first round of the Subway Series, there has been no shortage of fans, media, announcers, and opposing players complaining about the friendly dimensions in the Bronx. With three titanic home runs in last night's game against the Mets at Citi Field, the Yankees proved they can hit the long ball out of any ballpark, even the cavernous one in Queens, which, before last night, ranked 25th in the majors with only 1.57 home runs allowed per game. Of course, no one should really be surprised by the Yankees' display of power on the road. Even though the Bronx Bombers have hit eight more home runs at Yankee Stadium, the teams' 50 long balls as a visitor are tied with the Seattle Mariners for most in the majors (the Yankees have had about 200 fewer plate appearances). Clearly, when it comes to hitting homers, the Yankees' prowess knows no boundaries. Although the Yankees have been home run happy on the road, that doesn't mean there isn't some truth to their critics' laments. According to data from hittrackeronline.com, the Bronx Bombers rank dead last in terms of the average number of ballparks at which each individual home run hit by the team would have cleared the fence. Also, based on average actual distance, the 105 homers hit by the Yankees before last night ranked fourth from the bottom. As much as the team's fans might not like to admit it, the Yankees have benefitted from the cozy confines of their home ballpark. Home Runs Ranked by Average Actual Distance and Number of Parks Note: Click here for an explanation actual distance and number of parks. Data is as of June 21, 2012. Source: hittrackeronline.com The degree to which the Yankees have enjoyed a home field advantage is even more apparent when looking at the data granularly. Of the 58 long balls hit in the Bronx, 14 would not have left any other ballpark in the majors. At the other end of the spectrum, the Yankees have hit 17 long balls at home that would have been round trippers regardless of location. Even though that is good for ninth in the majors, it also ranks as the second lowest percentage of total long balls hit at home. Distribution of Yankees' Home Runs by Number of Parks, Road vs. Home Note: Click here for an explanation of number of parks. Data is as of June 21, 2012. Source: hittrackeronline.com Even if you eliminate the 14 "Yankee Stadium" cheapies, the Bronx Bombers' 94 home runs would still rank second in the major leagues, behind only the Blue Jays, who, minus their one SkyDome aided long ball, would have 100. To Toronto's credit, however, Blue Jays' batters not only lead the majors in homers that would have reached the seats in every ballpark, but their long balls have traveled further on average than all but four other teams. So, even though the Yankees currently lead the majors in round trippers, the Blue Jays are probably the best "pound for pound" home run hitting team in baseball. Home Runs that Would Have Been Out in All 30 MLB Stadiums Note: Click here for an explanation of number of parks. Data is as of June 21, 2012. Source: hittrackeronline.com Just because the Yankees have been able to take advantage of their home ballpark doesn't mean they need to apologize to the rest of the league. After all, the dimensions don't change when the opposition comes to bat. Also, every advantage enjoyed by the team's offense must be counteracted by the pitching staff. Despite this challenge, Yankees' pitchers have held the opposition to 1.18 homers per game in the Bronx, which, although lofty when compared to the league, pales in comparison to the offense's output and is only slightly higher than the rate allowed on the road. The Yankees have also managed to surrender a significantly lower percentage of Stadium cheapies, which suggests that the team's pitchers have been successful pitching to the ballpark, thereby further enhancing the home field advantage. Opposition Home Runs at Yankee Stadium by Average Distance and Number of Parks Note: Click here for an explanation of number of parks. Cheapies are home runs that only would have cleared the fence at Yankee Stadium. Data is as of June 21, 2012. Source: hittrackeronline.com Who cares if Yankee Stadium yields more than its fair share of home runs? If the Bronx Bombers are guilty of anything, it's constructing a team well suited for their home ballpark. That's a tradition that dates back to the origins of the game, so, if other teams are not as successful doing the same, they have only themselves to blame. The opposition might think it's a joke, but when playing in the Bronx, it usually the Yankees who get the last laugh.

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Lotus makes Bahrain debutWednesday 19-February-2014 07:27Lotus launched their new E22 car in Bahrain on Wednesday morning, the 11th and final Formula One team to do so, ahead of the start of the 2014 season. The Enstone team had released images of the car at the end of January, with its 'tusk' nose design markedly different from the other 10 cars that will compete this year. Lotus had skipped the year's first official pre-season test in Jerez last month, but did complete 100km with the car at the same circuit during a behind-closed-doors filming session the next week. Pastor Maldonado drove the car in Jerez but his team-mate Romain Grosjean will get the first run in Bahrain this week. The Frenchman will also test on the 5.412km Sakhir on Thursday, while Maldonado will be back behind the wheel on Friday and Saturday. The last couple of months have been a struggle for Lotus, with Kimi Raikkonen and Eric Boullier departing the team, while their long-expected sponsorship deal with Quantum Motorsport seems unlikely to come to fruition.

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Sat: McLaren, Red Bull, Williams, LotusSaturday 03-November-2012 14:18Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position in Abu Dhabi while Mark Webber pushed team-mate Sebastian Vettel off the front row... McLaren:Lewis Hamilton: "Those extra three-tenths came from my family! "Our car works incredibly well around here. Our aero package really suits this track; the set-up was perfect, and everything came together perfectly for qualifying. My lap felt really great - I enjoyed it so much. I love this track! "Still, I'm realistic: the race tomorrow is going to be tough. At the start, it's down to the team to make sure the clutch performs perfectly because the getaway will be incredibly important. Our race pace is very strong, but so is Red Bull's - and staying ahead will be tough, particularly with the double DRS zones. "I really want to finish on a high for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes. I'll give it everything I've got tomorrow." Jenson Button: "I shouldn't really be starting this far back. All weekend, I've been pretty happy with the car, but, for some reason, we just couldn't find the pace in qualifying - and we don't know why. "Obviously, our car is very quick around here - Lewis put it on pole by quite a margin - so there's some more time to find. "While starting sixth will make the race more difficult, there are two good DRS overtaking zones, so hopefully there'll be plenty of overtaking. Also, our race pace has looked good all weekend, so I'm still feeling optimistic." Red Bull:Mark Webber: "I'm pleased with that, it was a good qualifying and I felt happy with the car. The track temperatures moved around from the afternoon to this evening, so you have to be careful how the car performs, but I felt comfortable in all three sessions and got a good momentum. McLaren were strong, but we're in a good position and can have a good race from there." Sebastian Vettel: "Third in Q3 was a good effort, but I should have done a bit better on the final lap. I had a little mistake in the final sector of my last flying lap, but it was still good to be third. I'm not sure what the issue was at the end, I was just told to switch off the car." "One of the best ski jumpers of all times once said 'Every chance is an opportunity and as far as we are concerned there are still plenty of chances tomorrow'." Williams:Pastor Maldonado: "It was a difficult session, especially in Q2 as we were on the limit in P10, but I saw the potential in the car. We then found a great balance in Q3 and I'm happy that we are back to looking strong again. I think we showed throughout all the weekend that we are competitive and I did my best in qualifying. I'm really happy for the team, for myself and looking forward to the race tomorrow. Points are very important for us so I will be pushing to the maximum." Bruno Senna: "I never want to be out of the top ten in qualifying but this weekend we have had a few problems, so that is how it is. Hopefully tomorrow the car will be quick in the race as we have a competitive car. We'll work hard tomorrow and will still be trying to get into the points. For sure it is a track with some overtaking opportunities with the DRS so hopefully we can make some use of that and use it to our advantage." Lotus F1:Kimi Raikkonen: "Qualifying was good. The car hasn't felt fantastic all weekend but we decided we weren't going to change the car's set-up from where it was for the last race. It was the right choice because in the end the circuit came to us in qualifying where the car was the best it has been so far here. We'll give tomorrow our best shot; Let's see if we can make a good start to get right behind the Red Bulls, and then we'll see what happens after that." Romain Grosjean: "It wasn't a great qualifying lap for me today, and P10 is not where we want to be on the grid. In the last run in Q3 I had no grip so wasn't able to find more pace. The car had felt fine before that and we looked good through the other qualifying sessions. It just means I have some more work to do in the race and I think there's more to come from me and the car." Related LinksHamilton Beats The Bulls To Abu Dhabi PoleSaturday's Shots From Abu Dhabi

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Posted on May 30, 2009 by Paul Mirengoff Did we score too soon? Everton scored the quickest goal in the 138 year history of the FA Cup today, when Louis Saha fired home a bullet in the 25th second from a Mo Fellaini knockdown. At that point, I said to guy next to me at the bar, “only 89 and a half minutes to defend.” That was joke, but Everton seemed to intent on just this approach. It was never going to succeed, and by the 21st minute Chelsea had leveled through Didier Drogba. They then dominated the rest of the half. Everton came out strong in the second half, and this was the key portion of the match. If Everton could score, this time it would have a manageable amount of time in which to defend the lead. If Everton could not, Chelsea was likely to take over the match, as the 100 degree heat wore us down. Then, in the 72nd minute: an unsuccessful challenge by Phil Neville, a shot that Tim Howard probably should have stopped, and Chelsea had the lead through Frank Lampard. After that Everton, worn down indeed from chasing much of the match in the heat, was unable to mount a serious threat. Rather, it was Chelsea who had their tails up, and should have had a third goal — the line judge failing to see that man-of-the-match Florent Malouda’s shot cleared the goal line after bouncing down from the cross bar. So ends a great Everton season (who imagined we’d still be playing after Manchester United was done). But the bottom line is, we still can’t compete with soccer’s true elite when the stakes are this high. Cheers to the memory of my late constitutional law professor Gerald Gunther, Chelsea fan extraordinaire; cheers to the Chelsea fan who bought me a drink to drown my sorrows; and cheers to Guus Hiddink (once of the Washington Diplomats), John Terry, and the rest of a great Chelsea side.

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Comment | Print | Thompson guarding against Super Bowl hangover for Pack NFL checks possible improper questions at Scouting Combine Small-school guys get their shot at Scouting Combine Milliner believes surgery won't hurt draft stock Manti Te'o ready to move on, focus on football Frazier: Harvin excited about being a Viking 2011 Scouting Combine Indianapolis Combine INDIANAPOLIS — The Packers just won a Super Bowl and are sitting atop the football world. But the potential for a championship hangover is clearly something they're thinking about heading into the 2011 offseason. Speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, Packers GM Ted Thompson indicated that there is a downside to sitting atop the NFL. "Winning comes with some complications," Thompson said. "We'll see how we handle success, we'll see how we handle the fact that we are the reigning world champions. It won't be an easy task; the NFL is a very hard business." According to the GM, one of those complications is the team's ability to prepare for April's draft, something it usually begins in January but had to delay due to the club's title run. While the Pack gladly will take the trade-off, it does force Thompson and Co. to learn on the fly during their time in Indianapolis and beyond. But if there is anyone who can handle the adversity, it's Thompson, who has become one of the league's premier drafters during his six seasons as Green Bay's GM. In his first draft, he found Pro Bowlers like QB Aaron Rodgers and S Nick Collins, and he has continued to stockpile talent on draft weekend throughout his tenure. But where did he learn this approach? "From Ron Wolf, first and foremost," he said. "He's who I went to work for in ’92. I felt like he strongly believed that you build the core of your team around the draft. Certainly free agency is another avenue, but I think you do that more selectively." The effects of Wolf, a longtime personnel man whose last stop was in Green Bay, are still apparent in the Packers' organization today. The team has built a strong staff of scouts to evaluate players coming out of college, and based on their recent success, it's difficult to argue with the results. "Our guys do a lot of work," Thompson said. "Almost the entire staff in personnel was trained by Ron Wolf. He believed very strongly in scouting and going to see players and doing due diligence and working just as hard on the seventh-round guys or the free-agent guys as we do on the first-round guys." With one of the Packers' top needs coming on the defensive line, Thompson added that he wasn't limiting himself to players who played in a 3-4 scheme in college. "I think you draft players based on if they're good players or not," he said. "If you're a good defensive player in college, we'll find a spot that you can play. There's differences in maybe the physical makeups of them, but if you get a good player, you get a good player." Thompson has gotten plenty of those during his time in Green Bay, and even though he'll be picking at the bottom of each round in April, he's bound to find a few more.

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Posted By LONDON (AP) — The Olympic Stadium is in need of a tenant, and London Mayor Boris Johnson thinks the NFL could be the right match. Just a few days after the NFL's sixth regular-season game at Wembley Stadium, Johnson said he has spoken with the league about playing more games in the British capital. "Sunday's game at Wembley, in front of over 80,000 fans, further cements London's reputation as the natural home of American football outside of the United States," the mayor's office said in a statement. "Given the ever growing popularity of gridiron on this side of the Atlantic, the mayor and his team have held a number of meetings with senior executives in the last few days to explore further opportunities involving the NFL and London. The talks were exploratory. We are at an early stage, but the signs are encouraging." All six NFL games in London so far have been at Wembley, including the New England Patriots' 45-7 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. The two games scheduled for next season are also set for Wembley, and the NFL has a contract with Wembley through 2016. But the Olympic Stadium, built for this year's games, have yet to find a permanent resident. Johnson happens to be the chairman of the London Legacy Development Corporation, which is responsible for deciding how the Olympic Stadium will be used in the future. A decision on the future of the stadium is not expected before December. West Ham, a London soccer team, is the leading contender to take up residency — and keep the running track in place. The Olympic Stadium is not due to reopen before 2014. The NFL said it has been in talks with local authorities in London for years about future possibilities. The Jacksonville Jaguars have a deal to play one home game in London for four consecutive seasons, beginning in 2013. The NFL has raised the possibility of having a full-time franchise in London, although that is still considered a long shot. ©2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.

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Base By Base: Tori Chiodo Sophomore infielder shares about her freshman season, goals and offseason improvements. Sophomore infielder Tori Chiodo has upped her mental game and plans to make an impact in 2012. After a typical freshman year of adjustment, on and off the field, Tori Chiodo is ready for her sophomore season. Despite a bumpy start last year, Chiodo managed to hit her stride and become a consistent player for the Boilermakers. The peppy California girl held down the corner at third, and hopes to do the same this year. Chiodo sat down to talk to purduesports.com about her improvements during the offseason, as well as her goals and expectations for the upcoming season. As a sophomore what do you feel your expectations are individually and as a sophomore class? We have to play better than last year for sure, and just be the leaders because we have a class of seven. Since there is such a big freshmen class as well, our job is to be good leaders. We need to make sure they know what we expect of them. We also need to be the core of this team since there are so many of us and we take up the majority of the field. What was the most challenging transition you had to make your freshman year here at Purdue? Basically, just my whole mental game. I was really immature last year, and I feel like that showed in my softball and in my game. This year I'm working on being way more mentally stable, making sure that I'm not weak minded during the game. I can't have the freshman nerves like I did last year. I feel like I've grown up mentally since last year. How will your attitude change this season now that you have your first season under your belt? I am definitely a lot more comfortable this year, so it's good having that comfort zone. For having a season under my belt I think it's good that I can look back and know how well I did, and what I need to work on. I think that will really help me this year. What are your personal goals for the season? As a team we want to get to the NCAA Tournament. Personally, I want to be a solid third baseman for us, and hit well, score runs, get on base and just get a lot going for the team. What do you hope to improve on from your freshman year? I think taking the game one pitch at a time. I feel like if I take the game slower, and I know what my goal is and what I have to do, and what I need to accomplish, that will make me a much better player than last year. What advice do you have for incoming freshman? They need to be mentally tough. We have a long season and it's a lot of games that are in between classes and school. They just need to get on board fast because it's a rigorous season and we are definitely trying to be better than last year, so the whole team, especially the freshmen has to be on board with getting better. You are a true California girl. How would you describe yourself and how do you think your teammates would describe you? I'm very upbeat and happy all the time. You know I'm from the Sunshine State, so I'm very much a good time. I like to joke around and laugh a lot and just be in a good mood. You have a real focused look at third base and at the plate, what is your mentality out there being that close to the plate, and the hot corner on bunts? I just need to react to everything. I really don't have any chill time on the field; I have to always be ready for a line drive at my face. What is something about you that most people don't know? I really don't think anything, I'm really open with the girls and we're all best friends so I feel like they already know everything about me! What guilty pleasure is on your iPod that your teammates would be surprised about? I have a lot of intimate love songs on my iPod, so I think if my teammates heard the lyrics to some of those songs, they'd say, "Oh my gosh, Tori!" Boilermakers Softball Home

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Controversy surrounds town hall on soccer stadium Dec 05, 2012 | 5034 views | 0 | 27 | | Editor's Note: This story was updated on the morning of Dec. 6 to include more extensive comments from a MLS spokesperson.Major League Soccer (MLS) held a town hall meeting Tuesday night at Queens Theater in the Park to present its plan to build a new soccer stadium in Flushing Meadows Park and bring a professional soccer franchise to Queens. Questions were not taken directly from community members. Instead they were written on index cards and given to MLS officials who decided which questions to answer. Risa Heller said MLS decided to use the cards for questioning instead of having community members raise questions directly due to the size of the audience.With a capacity crowd, Heller said that the meeting had to be organized in a way for everyone to have a fair chance at having their voice heard.“We are thrilled with the huge number of people who turned out to learn about and support the plan, and look forward to hearing more from the community as we continue to engage in this process,” she said.The town hall meeting took place in two separate rooms. The theater was primarily full of supporters and MLS officials. The other room was in the basement of the building in which a live video feed was showing attendees what was going on upstairs. Those in the basement were not given the opportunity to ask questions directly to MLS officials.Anna Dioguardi, director of community development at Queens Community House, was there to protest the new stadium, but said she couldn’t get into the main room. “Others were told that if they did not have reserved seats that they could not go upstairs,” she said. Geoffrey Croff, president of New York City Park Advocates, said that while MLS representatives were taking information at the door, they were also asking for an individual’s opinion of the proposed stadium.“This is clearly not a town hall meeting,” he said. “It is a pep rally sponsored, bought, paid for by Major League Soccer.”Heller said that allegations that people were barred from entering the meeting based on their opinion of the new stadium she said that was simply not true. “This was a come-one, come-all event,” Heller said.She said the community received significant notice of the town hall meeting. “We handed out fliers in the park for the past two weeks, sent invitations to small businesses around the park, advertised on social media since Friday and passed out fliers at subway stations,” Heller said. Port Authority moves ahead with airport noise studies Shane Miller Queens hosts Vision Zero town hall meeting Despite concerns, weekend work on 7 train will continue Town hall addresses ped safety in Astoria Ped safety topic of town hall in Brooklyn

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Coaching legend about to leave Pacific's court A By Mike Klocke Record Editor Anyone who has followed University of the Pacific basketball the past quarter-century has a favorite memory of soon-retiring coach Bob Thomason.For some, it's the NCAA Tournament victories against Big East Conference teams Providence (2004) and Pittsburgh (2005). For others, it's the heartache of a 2006 double-overtime NCAA loss to Boston College - c'mon refs, really?There also was the day when one of his players, Michael Olowokandi, became the first pick in the NBA Draft, ahead of the likes of Mike Bibby, Vince Carter, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce. My choice, however, is late in the afternoon on March 9, 1997 - a Sunday - at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno.Thomason had been the Tigers' head coach for about a decade. He'd come agonizingly close to taking his alma mater to the NCAA Tournament.This was the day it finally happened. And it was very soon after a berth had been clinched with a 63-55 over host Nevada that my "Thomason moment" happened. They stood near center court in Reno, three generations of Thomason men. There was his father, Bob Thomason Sr., trying to stoically enjoy the accomplishment before letting lose a flood of tears and emotions.There was his son and backup guard, Scott Thomason, doing a little dance as the Tigers celebrated making it to the Big Dance.And, of course, there was Bob, deflecting the praise to his players and coaching staff but deserving much of it himself.It was a family moment - his wife, Jerri, also was there - that said more about Thomason, the person, than it did about Thomason the coach.The evening of March 9, a Saturday, is going to be emotional for many in the Pacific family. Thomason will coach his last home and regular-season game against first-place Long Beach State. The Tigers also have a home game March 7 against UC Irvine.He's done so much in his 25 years here - molding young players into polished adults, emphasizing academics, teaching and mentoring assistant coaches, cheerleading for the City of Stockton when it needed those boosts. And, of course, winning more than 400 basketball games.During his 25 years at Pacific, The Record has had six different "beat" writers covering the team. Four are still with the newspaper. Another current Record staff member was there when Thomason played at Pacific. Here are some of their thoughts:Tony Sauro, on his shooting prowess: "In his senior year, Bob scored 36 points in a game at Loyola-Marymount (Feb. 27, 1971). He was 'unconscious,' as they used to say. He made many of his shots from what now would be three-point range. Pacific won 88-75 and won the West Coast Athletic Conference championship before losing to Brigham Young (84-81) in the four-team West regional of the NCAA playoffs in Salt Lake City."Lori Gilbert, on his knowledge and demeanor: "I always thought Bob was the best Xs and Os man around. When his team played St. Joseph's in the 1997 NCAA Tournament, (St. Joe's) coach Phil Martelli said he tried to diagram plays from tape and stopped (because there were so many). He has been an incredible coach over the years, but even more, a great representative of his beloved alma mater and Stockton. I wish him nothing but joy and happiness in his retirement."Bob Highfill, on his professionalism: "Coach Thomason has elevated Pacific basketball with a degree of integrity unsurpassed in his profession. Bob has always been first class to work with, and my respect for him runs deep. I will miss seeing him in his office and on the court, but I do hope to see him some time on the golf course."Jagdip Dhillon, on the respect he earned: "Someone being called a 'coach's coach' is an old sports clich�, but it's an accurate description of Bob. It's fitting the coach's coach will conclude his career as the Big West Conference's all-time wins leader."Jason Anderson, on his meaning to the university: "Mike Webb (former Pacific guard) once said the school should erect a statue of Bob. Bob said he could only embrace the idea 'if they take my picture from about 20 years ago when I was kind of thin.' School officials ought to seriously consider it. A monument honoring Bob would be a fitting tribute to a man who helped the university achieve some of its greatest feats."We plan extensive coverage of Thomason's career. He deserves every word of praise.Contact Record Editor Mike Klocke at (209) 546-8250 or mklocke@recordnet.com. HOME Go Back to 25 years of Thomason

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Racing to Build Homes for Injured Veterans Concord, N.C. (June 25, 2013) – Roush Fenway Racing (RFR) is partnering with Cargill Ground Beef and Homes for Our Troops to take a specially designed No. 6 NASCAR Nationwide Series (NNS) car to Kentucky Speedway with two goals: raising money to build homes for severely injured military veterans, and winning Friday’s race on their behalf. “I’m so proud to be racing in this Homes for our Troops car this weekend. A few weeks ago I had the chance to meet one of the guys who is living in one of these specially adapted homes and his story was just amazing,” said driver of the No. 6 car, Trevor Bayne. “For all they do for us and all they sacrifice, it’s great that we can work together with Cargill Ground Beef to find a way to help out some of the men and women who come home with these injuries.” More than 1,600 U.S. military veterans have incurred life-altering combat injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn and Operation Enduring Freedom, requiring specially adapted homes. Homes for Our Troops, a 501(c)3, non-profit, charitable organization created in 2004, has built more than 130 homes in 35 states and now builds approximately 40 homes annually. This weekend’s Homes for Our Troops paint scheme is sponsored by Cargill Ground Beef. The company announced its partnership to raise money and awareness with the non-profit just two weeks ago. “We appreciate and salute those service members who have served our nation to promote liberty and defend freedom in faraway places,” said Katie Blick-White, associate brand manager for Cargill Ground Beef in Wichita, KS. “We believe all veterans should be supported and acknowledged for the sacrifices they have made, and through this initiative we are delighted to be part of an effort to provide deserving military heroes with a place they can call home for themselves and their families.” This Cargill ground beef initiative will include in-store ground beef promotions and burger grilling events throughout the United States over the next 12 months. Funds raised from various activities will be used for materials and labor to build homes that will be provided to qualifying injured veterans at no cost. There will also be a dedicated website – HelpAHero.com – that will provide more information on Homes for Our Troops and its mission, in addition to instructions regarding how to make a donation. About Homes for Our TroopsWe are Homes for Our Troops, a national non-profit, non-partisan 501(c)3 organization founded in 2004. We are strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to our country and have returned home with serious injuries since September 11, 2001. It is our duty and our honor to assist severely injured veterans and their immediate families by raising donations of money, and to coordinate the process of building a home that provides maximum freedom of movement and the ability to live more independently. About CargillCargill is an international producer and marketer of food, agricultural, financial and industrial products and services. Founded in 1865, the privately held company employs 142,000 people in 65 countries. Cargill helps customers succeed through collaboration and innovation, and is committed to applying its global knowledge and experience to help meet economic, environmental and social challenges wherever it does business. For more information, visit Cargill.com and its news center. About Roush Fenway RacingRoush Fenway Racing is the winningest team in NASCAR history, fielding multiple teams in the Sprint Cup and Nationwide Series’ with championship drivers Carl Edwards, Greg Biffle, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., Trevor Bayne and Travis Pastrana. Having celebrated 25 winning years in 2012, Roush Fenway is the leader in NASCAR marketing solutions, pioneering motorsport’s first team-focused TV show and its award-winning marketing campaigns for RickyvsTrevor.com, “25 Winning Years” and Google+. Visit http://www.RoushFenway.com, circle on Google+ at +Roush Fenway Racing, become a fan on Facebook and Instagram and follow on Twitter at @roushfenway.

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High School Topics Profiles Slideshow: Spring 2014 Slideshow: Fall 2013 High School›High School Profiles RT April 2009 Global Convergence Three HS stars from across the globe meet at XC champs By Jim Gerweck In December 2008, three young men from disparate backgrounds, whose journeys began thousands of miles apart, intersected on a historic weekend in San Diego. For 30 years the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships has served as perhaps the one true national championship in any high school sport. The individual nature of the competition allows runners from any educational background - public, private, home-schooled - to run against each other, free of the myriad regulations and restraints often imposed by state high school governing bodies. And like the U.S. Olympic trials, the selection method is as clear as it is cutthroat: Finish in the top eight (later 10) in one of four regional meets, and you earn an all-expenses-paid trip to California to compete against the best runners in the nation. An untimely injury or illness might cause one or two of the best to miss the cut, but there is no disputing that the fields that assemble each December contain almost every high school distance runner worth his or her salt. Indeed, just adding the title "Foot Locker finalist" to one's running résumé is enough to ensure recruiting letters from dozens of college coaches; winning the whole thing is almost enough to write one's ticket to almost any big-time running program in the country. It was that allure that drove, or perhaps pulled, Solomon Haile, Jakub Zivec and Trevor Dunbar from distant origins to their meeting at Balboa Park. Growing up in Addis Ababa near the Ethiopian national stadium, Solomon Haile would sometimes see some of his country's legendary runners during their training sessions, and yet he was not inspired to follow in their footsteps. "It was always soccer for me growing up," he recalls. While he did his share of running to improve his endurance for soccer, he continually ignored the entreaties of an older friend to switch sports. "He'd tell me, 'You could be really good at running,' but I didn't believe him," he recalls. Finally convinced to enter a race, Solomon did well, decided he had more potential in running than soccer, and joined a second division athletics club, where he received coaching and structured workouts. "There is no school athletics, so everyone trains with a club," he says. Solomon did long miles with older runners and more than held his own in races, too. Running mainly on the road, he recorded a best time of 68 minutes for the half marathon, and placed well in races when he visited family members living in Thailand and Austria. His travels brought him to the U.S. in the fall of 2007, where he lived briefly with a sister in Virginia before settling with another sister in Silver Spring, Md. He started high school in January and got his introduction to the American prep racing scene during the indoor season. "I had never seen an indoor track - it seemed so small." Ineligible to compete for his school, he made a splash at the Nike Indoor Nationals in nearby Landover, winning the 5,000m in a meet record 14:53.93. "I didn't expect to win or run that fast," he admits. He repeated that showing at the Nike Outdoor meet, equaling the meet record of 14:38.23. Finally eligible to compete in cross country, which he says is his favorite sport, Solomon knocked 3 seconds off the 2.5-mile course record at Van Cortlandt Park in October, then returned to the Bronx a month later to win the Foot Locker Northeast Regional by 15 seconds and earn his trip to San Diego. While besting his competition by large margins, one thing Solomon has not been able to outrun is the question about his age. When he first arrived in the U.S. in 2007, he registered for several road races as a 20-year-old, which he claims was to avoid having a guardian co-sign his application, but makes him widely known as a 22-year-old high schooler. The county and state educational bodies in Maryland conducted investigations and determined his listed birth date of January 23, 1990, was legitimate. The questions, though, continue, and all Solomon can do is go out and do what so many of his countrymen have done for decades - cover large quantities of ground almost effortlessly at an unbelievable pace, as he did in the championships race, finishing first easily. 12 NextSingle Page In Pre They TrustMazunguAn American's summer training and racing in KenyaTrain Hard, Win EasyLeading Edge: Sergiy LebidEuro Cross King Comments

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Archive for People More On Gerald Scully The New York Times has published an obituary for Gerald Scully. I recently remembered that I wrote up a post on Scully’s contribution to baseball economics last year. It was published at The Baseball Project, so I repost it below. Gratitude (for Gerald Scully) Curt Flood is an important player in baseball history for his contribution to the current economic climate of major league baseball. Flood is famous for demanding higher wages for himself, and standing up to owners for not meeting his demands. Though he lost his court case, his discontent helped pave the way for the players union to successfully win concessions from owners (such as salary arbitration and free agency) that would boost the baseball player salaries. Why should we celebrate this man, as The Baseball Project does? These people play a child’s game and make millions of dollars. Flood himself was no pauper—he turned down a $90,000 contract because he didn’t want to play for Philadelphia. Why should we feel sorry for any of these money-grubbing athletes? The answer lies in the work of economist Gerald Scully. Using economic theory as a guide, Scully viewed Major League Baseball as a monopsonist employer—the sole buyer of a particular type of labor. Being the only organization that purchased major league baseball talent, players had little bargaining room to negotiate their pay. And MLB understood this, enforcing its reserve clause that required players to play for the team that they previously played for, or to play for no team at all. Scully understood that the impact of this relationship between teams and players meant that owners collected a large percentage of revenues that players generated by playing baseball. Using estimates of team revenues and performance metrics (SLG for hitters and K/BB for pitchers) Scully estimated how much performance affected winning and how much winning affected revenues. Thus, he was able to generate a dollar-value estimate of the revenue that players generate. When he compared what players made to what the players actually earned, the difference was striking. Players earned 90-percent less than the revenue they generated through their play. This means that a player like Flood, who earned around $100,000 year was generating nearly $1 million in revenue. What was at stake was how this was shared between owners and players. It is easy to see why players were upset, owners were profiting from the low salaries of players. The Andy Messersmith and Dave McNally cases in 1975 finally led to the repeal of the traditional reserve clause, and player wages rose accordingly. Now that players were no longer bound to a single team during free agency, teams compete for players and offer to pay them salaries commensurate with the revenues they expect players to generate. Gerald Scully published his paper in 1974 in American Economic Review, and it most certainly had an impact on the atmosphere; although, I can’t say how much. In almost any history you read of about free agency, Scully doesn’t receive a mention. There is no doubt that once Scully’s conclusions were published that the reserve clause would soon fall. Either a rogue league would enter the market to pay players higher wages or the courts or Congress would finally be convinced of the damage being done to players. Players earn high salaries because they possess unique skills that fans will pay to watch. While it is had to sympathize with the plight of wealthy players in their labor struggles with owners, it is important to understand that what players don’t get goes to the owners, who tend to be much wealthier than players. Filed under: General,People | |Comments off RIP Gerald Scully A great pioneer of sports economics has passed on. Jerry was one of the most prolific, innovative and imaginative economists of our age. One of the most fundamental building blocks of economics is the idea of “marginal product.” Jerry was the first economist to ever measure one. He did it in, of all places, baseball. He pioneered sports economics and went on to make many contributions in other fields. One of his most important contributions was the “Scully Curve.” Jerry showed that the size of government can contribute to economic growth in a nation’s early stages, but at some point, the size of government becomes a burden – reducing the rate of growth and causing national income to be lower than it otherwise would be. I never met him, but his work greatly influenced my own. RIP Dr. Scully. Thanks to Marginal Revolution for the pointer. Addendum: Further thoughts from Skip Sauer. My colleague Bill Dougan once told me that he regarded “Pay and Performance” as one of the best pieces of economic scholarship in the last quarter-century, something that I repeat to my students in sports economics classes to this day. Note that we are speaking of economic scholarship, and not just scholarship in the economics of sports. Scully’s 1974 paper is evidence that the study of economics in the context of sport can be important, and make a significant contribution to the discipline as a whole. Sports history had thus subjected Scully’s model to a stern test, which it passed with flying colors. It is not common for economic theory and evidence to produce an estimated effect that is so clear and so large as was Scully’s (for example, we are still arguing about the size of fiscal multipliers seventy-odd years after Keynes). It is even less common for such an estimate to be tested by events so promptly and directly, and in addition to have these events support the author’s work so convincingly. A few years ago, I recall hearing Skip say something like this, and I was nearly knocked off my feet at how right he was. Skip also pointed out to me that Scully understood the problems of ERA long before sabermetricians began arguing over DIPS. In 1974, he used strikeout-to-walk ratio to proxy pitcher quality instead of ERA, which would have seemed to be the intuitive choice. Scully knew better. Filed under: People | |1 Comment An Econ Major to Root For Burke Badenhop gives me a reason to cheer for him. “I’ve got no problems giving out tax money,” he continues, “as long as it’s earmarked to the right places. That’s what the economy is – allocating proper capital to people who need it, people who are going to make it double, triple …” What in the name of Alan Greenspan does this 26-year-old pitcher know about capital asset ratio, microfinancing and product differentiation? “Not much,” he said with a laugh. But he knows plenty more than most baseball players. Badenhop graduated from Ohio’s Bowling Green State University in 2005 with an economics degree and a 3.94 GPA. “He took four classes from me and got all A’s, and some were tough upper-level courses,” said BGSU economics professor Timothy Fuerst, whom Badenhop credits with sparking his interest in the subject during his freshman year. “One class was on the Great Depression, which is pretty appropriate now.” Badenhop wrote a term paper on sports economics. “One issue was whether it makes sense to use state money for new stadiums, and I remember Burke was skeptical about using public money,” Fuerst said with a laugh. “You better not tell that to his employers!” Thanks to Skip for the pointer. Filed under: Economics,People | |Comments off The Economic Impact of Sports Facilities On Thursday February 26 at 7-8pm Kennesaw State University will be hosting the 10th Annual Grady Palmer Distinguished Lecture. The lecture is open to the public, and I believe that many people in the Atlanta area may be interested in hearing this year’s speaker. Dr. Brad R. Humphreys of the University of Alberta will be presenting “What Do Economists Know About the Economic Impact of Sports Facilities?” Brad is one of the discipline’s leading authorities on the topic, and my opinions on the Gwinnett Braves stadium issue have been heavily influenced by his research. I encourage anyone interested in the topic to attend. Also, if you want to learn more about the Sport Management program at KSU, this would be a good opportunity to meet some of our faculty and majors. You can find more information here. If you have any questions about the event, please feel free to contact me. Speaker: Dr. Brad R. Humphreys Topic: “What Do Economists Know About the Economic Impact of Sports Facilities?” Location: Kennesaw State University, Convocation Center, Room 2016 Time: 7-8pm (with reception to follow) Anticipated Economic Impact to the Community: $0 Filed under: Economics,Gwinnett Braves,Media,People | |1 Comment DePodesta Now Blogging I believe that Paul DePodesta is the first MLB front-office executive to operate a blog: It Might Be Dangerous. I’m curious as to what he has to say. It looks to be mostly about the Padres, but he welcomes questions. I suggest asking him your advice about how to get a job in baseball. People often ask me for this advice, but I really do not have much to offer. Filed under: People | |Comments off Freakonomics Posts Bill James’s Answers Freakonomics has posted Bill James’s answers to reader questions. He even answered my question. Q: Is sabermetrics the Freakonomic analysis of baseball? A: There are parallels. What I do was heavily influenced by the University of Chicago economists of the 1960’s. I think Freakonomics comes from the same tradition. Cool, so we can trace the origins of sabermetrics to the Chicago school of economics. Filed under: Economics,People | |Comments off Bill James at Freakonomics Bill James is taking questions at Freakonomics. Submit your question in the comments and he may answer it. Filed under: People | |Comments off Baseball Musings Pledge Drive David Pinto is hosting his annual pledge drive to support Baseball Musings. Baseball Musings is one of my favorite baseball blogs out there. I check in on it several times a day, and I appreciate all the hard work that David puts in. David is offering copies of The Baseball Economist to anyone making a premium donation, while supplies last. I encourage you to stop by and make a contribution. Filed under: JC's Book,People | |Comments off What Is A-Rod Doing? The latest event in the A-Rod saga with the Yankees is almost too bizarre to believe. Alex Rodriguez opted out of his contract to become a free agent without giving the Yankees the opportunity to negotiate. Supposedly, the Yankees were willing to extend Rodriguez’s deal five years for $150 million in their initial offer. Adding this to the remaining three years and $81 million owed on his current contract, that would guarantee him $231 over the next eight seasons. That translates to $29 million per year, which is about five million less than than I predicted, so I was not surprised that he didn’t think this was enough to keep him. However, I thought it was a bad move to opt out so soon, because the Yankees could up their offer and had the advantage of having the Texas Rangers subsidizing any extension. I assumed that A-Rod was just ready to leave. Last week, Jeff Gordon argued in the NY Times that A-Rod’s opt out was part of a strategy to make the Yankees respond to competing offers from other team, and that the Yankee’s refusal to negotiate further was not credible. When higher offers came in , the Yankees would cave and match the offer. I disagreed, because of the damage this would do to the Yankees bargaining power in the future. I also felt an actual free agent bidding war wasn’t necessary to determine Rodriguez’s value; the Yankees and Scott Boras could make close approximations and then move on if the numbers didn’t match. But, neither of us anticipated what seems to be transpiring. Alex Rodriguez is now willing to return to the Yankees for a longer time but for less money per year (ten years and $270 million, according to published reports)—his penance for keeping the Yankees on the hook for $20-30 million dollars that the Texas Rangers would be contributing to his salary had he just extended his deal. An already wealthy man who has a reputation for being greedy and childish goes through the ordeal of upsetting everyone by opting out to get more, but then returns to get less? Why didn’t he just extend the deal? It’s not like this was a rushed process; it seems like we’ve been discussing the opt-out for years. Going back on a well-planned strategy at this time seems…well, childish and something only A-Rod is capable of doing. It certainly isn’t a move that will endear him to Yankee fans, even if he does make the team better. There is still the possibility that this is a marketing ploy to up the offers of other free agent suitors. I still think that there is a decent chance that he will sign somewhere else, but the media reports that are coming from all sides make the think that this deal is more likely to go down than not. The end result of this entire process is that a great baseball player who is hard to like is poorer and less-likable than he once was. Nice move, Alex. Filed under: General,Moneyball,People | |8 Comments ESPN’s Keith Law Interview Sabernomics readers ought to be familiar with Keith Law, a former member of the Toronto Blue Jays front office who is now the lead baseball analyst for ESPN’s Scouts Inc. Last year, I had the good fortune to meet Keith while scouting Josh Smoker in my neck of the woods. I had a few questions for Keith that I thought might be of interest to others, so I asked him if he would be willing to do and interview, and he obliged. Here are Keith’s thoughts on working in baseball, ESPN, scouting, sabermetrics, the Braves, and the great tiramisu debacle of 2003. — Every few weeks I get a request from a young baseball fan who wants to work in baseball. What is your best advice for landing a job in baseball? I’m asked that at least once a week in some form or another. There’s no easy answer; if you haven’t played the game and developed contacts within the industry, it’s hard to break in. It helps to have something baseball-related on your resume to set yourself apart from the thousands of other candidates, something like an internship with a minor league team or work with your college’s baseball team/athletics department. Then just start plugging away, contacting front office people, going to the winter meetings, sending out resumes and cover letters. What was it like to work in a MLB front office? What did you do? What were your hours? Toronto’s front office was odd, as was my role, since I worked from home and went to Toronto for a lot of home games until the travel got to be too much. I was primarily the statistical analyst, but was fortunate enough to work with Tony Lacava, who took me under his wing and taught me a lot of what I know now about traditional player evaluation, so I started going out to see amateur players on Cape Cod to try to improve my skills there. I ended up able to at least contribute to scouting discussions on players in our draft room and to submit follow lists to area scouts to let them know which players in their areas looked good/not good on the Cape. I ended up doing a little work in some other areas like arbitration cases, negotiating contracts for zero-to-three players, etc. How stat-savvy are MLB teams? Is there a stats-versus-scouts war in baseball? I get the impression that this is overblown. Totally overblown. Doesn’t exist. And I’m seeing more people trying to acquire skills in both areas. What is wrong with sabermetrics? I think that the arrogance in the field has gotten worse with time, not better. I thought that as sabermetrics moved into the mainstream, its practitioners would soften – and trust me, I’m not painting all sabermetricians and sabermetric writers with one broad brush – but we haven’t seen that. Statistical analysis is critical to the successful operation of any ballclub. It is far from a complete solution. And we all know that you can argue with statistics by cherry-picking which stats to use, which is part of why I try to use stats only as secondary evidence when I’m writing, using first-hand observation before I rely on data. What is the biggest misconception that outsiders have of what goes on in MLB front offices? Without a doubt it’s the assumption that a baseball operations department’s primary function is to assemble the roster. Sign some free agents, make some trades, do the draft, boom, you’re done. There’s a hell of a lot more to those jobs, including a lot of less glamorous work that requires organization and skill and diligence. Nothing makes me lose respect for a writer or reader who says that he could do a better job than GM so-and-so – it’s not an easy job, and as I said in an interview on the Lion in Oil blog, most outsiders would be crying for their mommas after a day or two of doing it. How do you scout a player when you look at his stats? How do you scout a player beyond the stats? I can’t even explain how I look at stats now, because I’m just looking for patterns in the data – almost a certain shape to a stat line that reminds me of other stat lines from past players. I don’t have time to do any sort of database work like I used to do with Toronto, which is probably for the best because writing about stats isn’t my job. Beyond the stats, I’m looking at tools and at projection. What can the player do right now? What will he be able to do as his body develops? What are his fixable flaws? What are his unfixable flaws? And I always try to emphasize the tools that matter (hit & power) over those that matter less (run & throw). What is your job like for ESPN? It’s great, but it’s demanding. My mandate is to cover, from a scouting perspective, the top amateur players for the upcoming draft, the top prospects in the minors, and just about all the players in the majors. I go to see games and players so that I can write about them at a later date – in draft previews, in prospect rankings, in trade reactions, in playoff advance reports. So given the broad mandate, I get to set my own schedule as long as I’m seeing who I need to see. I really value that flexibility. I try to write twice a week, but I’m somewhat at the mercy of the news cycle and the baseball editorial calendar, which is set over a week in advance. So I like having the weekly chats to keep in touch with readers and continue to develop that relationship. I also do at least one TV hit a week, sometimes as many as five or six, and a lot of appearances on our national radio network or local affiliates. The TV stuff can be done from a little studio about 15 minutes from my house, and the radio stuff I do from the house or hotel room or wherever I am. I try to go to Bristol once or twice a month, at which point they’ll put me through the “car wash” Which organizations have the best and worst farm systems in baseball? I haven’t looked hard enough at that to answer it, but I’m pretty sure I’ll rank them all again in January. I can say that Tampa Bay and Texas are the clear 1-2 to me right now. Now let’s talk about the Braves. What is your overall impression of the Braves farm system? What do they do right/wrong? The one task they do best, better than any other club, is mine their local area. It helps that Georgia high school baseball is some of the best in the country – maybe second only to California, but certainly in the top five states with Texas, Florida, and Arizona – but it’s also about the Braves having and using the connections to find the players and convince them to sign rather than going to college. The Braves could improve their player development in terms of how they get some of their tools players, especially hitters, to develop. Jeff Francoeur is a good example. I’d like to see stronger evidence that the Braves can take the tools players they’re so good at finding and drafting and convert them into star-caliber big leaguers. For the last few years, they seem to have fallen a little short in that regard. Your opinion on Jordan Schafer seems to have changed. You once compared him to Grady Sizemore, but after seeing him in the Arizona Fall League you were a bit more pessimistic. Why did you change your mind and what do you think his development prospects are? I saw him in the Arizona Fall League and was disappointed at how short he fell of the hype. The ball comes off his bat well, but the part of his swing leading from his set point to contact isn’t consistent, and it gets long because he loads so deep. I like that he uses the opposite field and I think there’s 25-homer power in the bat, but Sizemore is one of those guys who’s just an obvious star, who stands out immediately when you see him take BP or shag flies. Schafer isn’t like that. That doesn’t mean he’s not a good prospect – he is. But he’s not Sizemore and he’s not one of the ten or fifteen best prospects in baseball. Who are the Braves prospects to watch? They’re all in Texas! Okay, that’s an exaggeration. Jason Heyward is the best prospect in that system for my money, at least for the long term, and he could easily turn out to be the best or second-best player in the 2007 draft class. I liked Brandon Hicks as a little sleeper in this draft – good defensive shortstop with an outside chance to hit a little. Cole Rohrbaugh is interesting, fastball sits plus, has a wicked curveball but it’s a spike, which is very hard to command. Gorkys Hernandez may never have much plate discipline but he’s a plus defensive outfielder who should make a lot of contact. And I like Daniel Elorriaga-Matra as a good defensive catcher with plus makeup who should at least turn into a big league backup. Do you expect the Braves to change any of their operations with Frank Wren taking over John Schuerholz’s GM duties? Everything I’ve been told sounds like the answer is no. Status quo. Jeff Francoeur, what is the deal with this guy? What is he going to become? I know everyone’s all excited because he upped his walk rate, but seriously, 37 unintentional walks in almost 700 plate appearances is unacceptable for a corner bat. He does have legit 30-homer power, and like a lot of players of this type he’ll have a .300/.335/.550 year somewhere along the line, but the volatility in his average and the ceiling on his OBP will always keep him from becoming a star. What do you think about when you are not thinking about baseball? Food, cooking and eating, is my other great passion. I love to cook elaborate meals, and I’ve got an inner pastry chef who likes to come out when there’s company, although after the great tiramisu debacle of 2003 I might have to scale my ambitions down until I get a bigger kitchen. I love to read, especially literature and comic novels. I used to play the guitar pretty regularly, but don’t have as much time with the busier job and with parental responsibilities. I love learning and speaking foreign languages, and that’s probably the one thing I’d like to put time into but can’t right now; I’d say teaching myself Spanish, from Sesame Street level (¿Entrada? ¡Salida!) to the point where I passed a first-level fluency exam, is the achievement of which I’m most proud, because I had to come up with a method and then stick to the plan even when I felt like I wasn’t making progress. I was always the kind of person who gives up when he wasn’t good at something right away, and it was gratifying to know that I didn’t have to be like that after all. Thanks to Keith for taking the time to share his thoughts. For more of Keith’s opinions, check out his ESPN blog, his website, and his non-ESPN blog: The Dish. Filed under: General,People | |1 Comment « Previous Entries|| My Books Errata Booksense.com Welcome RSS Sabernomics search Recent Posts So Long, From Sabernomics What’s Wrong with Replacement-Level Valuing of Players Freakonomics Q&A Agreeing and Disagreeing with Bill James Recent CommentsAlex Bensky on So Long, From SabernomicsFriday Links (7 Jan 11) – Ducksnorts on So Long, From SabernomicsJC (the other one) on So Long, From SabernomicsBrian on So Long, From Sabernomicslevi in alaska on So Long, From SabernomicsArchives December 2010 Growth Hormone (HGH) Hot Stove Economics JC's Book Murphy for Cooperstown Olympinomics WordPress.org Stats Top Top © 2014,Sabernomics,WP Theme "mts journey" by mts from WebDesign.

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In an unfortunate case of equipment failure 40 Degrees, skippered by Hannah Jenner and Peter Harding, had their cap shroud fail, which led to their mast breaking while departing the Charleston Harbor ending their chances of sailing 40 Degrees in this leg of the Atlantic Cup. However, they are exploring options to get another boat to the start of the New York leg of the race. Both crewmembers are okay from this completely unforeseen and highly atypical incident. The race started after a twenty-five minute delay at 6:25 p.m. ET featuring 15 boats from around the globe, the most Class 40s to ever compete in the United States, including teams from the USA, France, Germany and Great Britain. Hannah Jenner, 40 Degrees Skipper 'I’ve sailed this boat through hideous weather and situations where you expect the rig to fall down and instead it’s a flat calm day in the harbor which is probably pretty fortunate. It’s disappointing; not going to say it’s not. We worked very hard to be here and this was the first double-handed race of the season and now we have to reassess the program.' Link to video of mast breaking http://youtu.be/RWHSkrF_Zus The 14 remaining teams will continue en route to New York Harbor. Models are showing an estimated arrival time of sometime early Tuesday morning, May 15 The second leg of the competition departs on May 19 at 11 a.m. The annual event culminates in Newport, R.I. with two days of Inshore racing (May 26 – 27). About The 2012 Atlantic Cup The Atlantic Cup presented by 11th Hour Racing is a dedicated professional Class 40 race held annually in the U.S. with a focus on running an environmentally responsible event. The 2012 edition of the Atlantic Cup starts Friday, May 11th in Charleston, South Carolina and will showcase the top Class 40 sailors in the world as they race a 642 nautical mile off-shore leg double-handed from Charleston around the infamous, Cape Hatteras then north to New York City. Once in New York there will be a brief stopover before competitors start the coastal leg of the race. The coastal leg will take competitors along the same course as the 2011 race: 231 nautical miles, south out of New York to a turning mark off the New Jersey coast before heading north to Newport. Once in Newport, competitors will race a two-day, inshore series with a crew of six. The combined overall winner of both stages will be the Atlantic Cup Champion. The prize purse will be $30,000, making it again one of the largest purses for sailing in the United States. For more information please on The Atlantic Cup please visit the Website at www.AtlanticCup.org by Jeff Pomeroy Tweet 4:32 AM Sat 12 May 2012GMT

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NASCAR Phoenix 2014 Monday morning NASCAR recap: Edwards does it again; Gen-6 needs time; Danica's tough day Recapping the three key takeaways from Sunday's NASCAR race at Phoenix International Raceway. Sunday was a case of Déjà vu for Carl Edwards In a lot of ways, it was oh so familiar. There was the No. 99 Ford racing underneath the checkered flag. And there was Carl Edwards doing his patented back flip just moments after snapping a prolonged winless streak. If you wouldn't have known better, you would have thought it was a re-enactment from a moment two years ago. Except this was no replay. Instead, it was Edwards once again finding salvation in the Arizona desert and returning to Victory Lane after a two-year absence -- just as he did in 2010. And ironically enough, in both cases Edwards was able to eradicate a 70-race winless streak in the process. "To be in Victory Lane this early in the season, to have a car like we had today is really, really great," Edwards said Sunday. "This win feels as good or better than any win I've ever had; so very excited about it." It's no secret that Edwards has struggled in years where expectations were at the highest. Three times in his career, the Roush Fenway Racing driver has failed to win a race in a season where he was thought to be a serious candidate to win the championship. Then there was that bounce-back season in the subsequent year where Edwards would roll off multiple victories; reminding everyone why he was so highly regarded in the first place. And of course, all this did was raise the bar further. It's a vicious cycle where Edwards would succeed, disappoint and so on and so on. "I'm no psychologist, but I can tell you, as drivers, we all have pretty fragile egos," Edwards said. "You are always questioning yourself. And if you aren't getting that positive reinforcement, it's tougher. For me, there's been a lot of self-analysis. ‘Am I doing the right things?'" Edwards himself never bought much into the notion, thinking it was a mere coincidence and had more to do with luck than anything else. But as he rejoiced after having won a Sprint Cup Series race for the 20th time, even Edwards had to acknowledge the noticeable peaks and valleys that have marked his career. "It's really interesting because I have fought you [media] on that stuff," Edwards said. "You guys say, well, you have a good year and then a bad year. I'm like, that's just chance. "But it really has been happening. I don't know what that is." However, there is something else noticeably different this time around. Gone is Edwards' longtime crew chief Bob Osborne, who stepped down last season due to concerns with his health. In Osborne's place is Jimmy Fennig, who has brought a hard-nosed, strictly business approach to a team that had lost its way after narrowly losing the championship to Tony Stewart in 2011. It was a job Fennig wasn't even sure he wanted. When asked by Jack Roush to take over as crew chief for the 99 team, Fennig had his reservations and had certain demands that Edwards would have to meet. To his credit, Edwards has done just that, and although it's just two races into their partnership, it is likely Sunday was the just the first of many victories the pair will have this season. "I don't think he (Fennig) wanted to do it with me this year," Edwards said. "Maybe if we do well enough, we can keep him around and we won't have any more bad years. I do not like ‑‑ those droughts are terrible, but the floodgates are open. Hopefully we can go out and do some good." The Gen-6 is still a work in progress After consecutive races where the common theme was how difficult it was to pass, it would be easy to say that the Gen-6 is a disappointment. However, while the early returns have been decidedly mixed, it is still too soon to draw any definitive conclusions one way or another. That said, after 812 miles there has been a noticeable lack of side-by-side racing and, as was the case with the CoT, maintaining track position is more favorable than having a fast car. In fact, the number of lead changes through two races this season is down from where it was at this point in 2012. Thus far there have been 40 combined lead changes occurring at Daytona and Phoenix -- 10 less than there were a year ago. It's also hard to ignore the different tone many drivers are now taking about NASCAR's redesigned car. Throughout offseason testing drivers seemed to speak with a sort of reverence about the brand-specific models that were being introduced and how the Gen-6 car would improve the quality of racing. Although optimism still abounds, the rave reviews that were once so abundant have become fewer and fewer with reality setting in now that drivers have had a chance to wheel the Gen-6 car in actual race conditions. "I don't want to be the pessimist, but it did not race as good as our generation five cars," said third-place finisher Denny Hamlin. "This is more like what the generation five was at the beginning. The teams hadn't figured out how to get the aero balance right. Right now, you just run single-file and you cannot get around the guy in front of you." Conversely, to expect a dramatic and immediate increase of the on-track product is neither fair nor realistic. Like any new thing it takes time to iron out and massage the kinks. The hope is that as the schedule takes teams to similarly built tracks and as crew chiefs and engineers stockpile data, that the promise of the Gen-6 can ultimately be reached. "I think for the first race it was great," Matt Kenseth said after finishing seventh. "I think everybody loves these cars. The goal is always to get them easier to pass and they got a ton of down-force right now. I'm sure NASCR is going to adjust as they go and try to make it a little bit easier for the rear cars to catch somebody." For now, let's just call Daytona and Phoenix a learning experiment and assume that after an extra day of testing at Las Vegas, these new cars will soon begin to hit their stride. Danica struggled, but that's to be expected Numerous folks will see the video of Danica Patrick slamming into the Turn 4 wall Sunday and think she was driving over her head. That perception, however, doesn't meet reality. At the time of her accident Patrick was running on the lead lap. And although she wasn't likely going to finish in the top 20, she was doing exactly what she needed to do: Driving patiently, keeping her nose clean and most importantly, logging laps and gaining experience. "The car wasn't all that tight and I was mostly chasing the rear," Patrick said. And there was no vibration that told me in the lap before that told me it was going to happen. "We'll just have to come at ‘em at Vegas. I really, really like Vegas so it should suit me well. But yeah, we were having a steady day. Not great, but we were making progress." After her historic performance in the Daytona 500, it's easy to forget that Phoenix represented just Patrick's 12th in a Cup car. But as is the case with all rookies, this season is going to be filled with peaks and valleys -- more so of the latter than the former. Patrick's freshman campaign shouldn't be judged in the number of wins or top 10s. Instead, success for her should be measured gradually and will often be subtle rather than obvious. In case you missed it from the SB Nation NASCAR team ... ... Jimmie Johnson wasn't pleased with how Carl Edward handled the final two restarts. ... Denny Hamlin overachieved by finishing third. ... Despite finishing fifth, Dale Earnhardt Jr. left Phoenix feeling "frustrated" and "disappointed." ... Brad Keselowski thinks track position is more important than ever before. ... Should Phoenix adopt traditional short track qualities? ... The Toyota engines continue to have reliability issues. NASCAR at Phoenix 2013: Carl Edwards finally wins again NASCAR Point Standings 2013: Jimmie Johnson leads Sprint Cup after Phoenix Phoenix should adopt traditional short track qualities for more entertaining race NASCAR Phoenix 2013 results: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 'disappointed' with fifth-place result NASCAR Phoenix 2013 results: Brad Keselowski thinks track position is more important than ever before

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Great Britain call for Adam Hickey (From Southend Standard) Great Britain call for Adam Hickey 6:40pm Friday 14th December 2012 in Sport By Ryan Goad Adam Hickey SOUTHEND AC’s Adam Hickey has won his first senior Great Britain call-up. The 24-year-old has been rewarded for his superb run at the trials for the European Cross-Country Championships with a spot in the nine-man team for the Great Edinburgh Cross-Country on January 5. The Southend AC athlete finished just missed out on selection for last weekend’s European Championships when he finished eighth in the trial race at Liverpool. But he received the news this week that he will form part of the GB team that will take on the USA and the best of Europe in a top quality race in Edinburgh’s famous Holyrood Park. Hickey has made great strides since linking up with former British 10,000m record holder and London Marathon winner Eamonn Martin in February. He clocked a host of personal bests on the track, from 1,500m to 5,000m and he described his run at the European Cross-Country trials last month as the best of his senior career. And Martin believes winning his first senior vest is just the start for Hickey. “It’s great news for him and is a big step forward,” said Martin. “It shows what I’ve been tel

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2014 scheduleWorld rankingsSA rankings European Tour Woods, McIlroy face off Rory McIlroy (AFP) McGinley for captain - McIlroy Louis sets sights on majors McIlroy: Nike will aid my game Abu Dhabi - The world's two top golfers are meeting more and more often on the course, but neither No 1-ranked Rory McIlroy or Tiger Woods are ready to call it a rivalry.The pair, set to meet at this week's Abu Dhabi Golf Championship, have established a blossoming relationship since playing together for the first three rounds of last year's tournament and have expressed a mutual respect for one another's game.But for a more heated rivalry to emerge, they both agreed they need to face each other on Sunday with a tournament at stake. It has yet to happen, although Woods did make a run at McIlroy in last year's Honda Classic with a birdie-eagle finish.VIDEO: Tiger v McIlroy"It would be similar to saying that I had a rivalry with Phil (Mickelson) two years into my career. That wasn't the case. It takes time," Woods said on Tuesday."Over the course of my career, I've gone head-to-head against Ernie (Els) and Vijay (Singh), the most and that has happened over 17 years," he said. " But it takes time. Certainly we've done it once at Honda... But we really haven't had the amount of matches or head-to-head duals I've had with Phil and Vijay and Ernie. But then again it's only been a few years. Let's give it time and see how it pans out."Speaking on Monday, McIlroy agreed."I don't know if you can call it a rivalry yet because we haven't battled each other down the stretch of a major," McIlroy said. "It's not like we've been playing in the final group of a tournament and we are battling each other. Hopefully at some point that can happen this year and it would be great to be part of that."McIlroy joked that that the budding friendship would go out the window should that encounter take place."He is going to try and beat mine brains out. I know that," McIlroy said. "I'm trying to do the same. We are both trying to win a golf tournament."Woods and McIlroy are paired together for the first two rounds at Abu Dhabi starting on Thursday. Read more on: abu dhabi golf championship | tiger woods | rory mcilroy | golf NEXT ON SPORT24X

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Features2013 Archive2012 Archive2011 Archive Jacob Simons’ days shimmer with the bright colors and perpetual motion of childhood. Pedaling a shiny red bike through his suburban neighborhood, he grins with delight as the breeze caresses his face. Sometimes he vaults toward the heavens on his trampoline or motors around the yard on a green, battery-powered tractor. Occasionally he tests his coordination—and his mother’s nerves—by hopping on a silver and purple pogo stick. But the first-grader is happiest when he’s headed for the ballpark, dressed in the sky-blue uniform of the Marlins, his T-ball team. “Blue is my favorite color,” he says. That observation might seem peculiar, coming from a boy who lost his sight four years ago. But though cancer ravaged Jacob’s eyes, it could not claim his spirit. And as his friends, family and teammates can attest, Jacob Simons has a gift for instilling others with a new depth of vision. “The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse.” –Helen Keller One autumn evening in 1998, Jessica Wickel knelt by the bathtub, drying her toddler’s wet body. Gazing into his eyes, she noticed an unusual glare. As she changed his diaper, she again glimpsed a shadow within his pupil. The next day a pediatrician examined Jacob and suggested that he go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “The doctor never told me that it was cancer,” Jessica says. “But I knew exactly what St. Jude was, because I’d done a Math-a-Thon when I was in school. Then it hit me: ‘He’s got cancer!’ “And so I passed out in the doctor’s office.” Jacob had retinoblastoma—a malignant tumor of the retina—in both eyes. At St. Jude, Jessica and Jacob met Barrett Haik, MD, chief of the St. Jude Ophthalmology division, who put the family at ease. “I thank God for Dr. Haik every day,” says Jessica. “He’s a doctor who will sit down and talk on your level. And he’ll actually sit there and cry with you. He cares just as much for these kids as their own parents do.” Haik, the late Charles Pratt, MD; Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, MD; and Matt Wilson, MD, led the team that treated Jacob. “I’ve been doing this for about 25 years, and Jacob’s was one of the most aggressive cases that I’ve seen,” says Haik. The doctors used chemotherapy, radiation therapy, lasers, freezing treatments and radioactive implants. Nothing seemed to work. “It was like the tumor cells were immortal,” Haik recalls. Fearing that the cancer might spread to Jacob’s brain, Haik removed the boy’s right eye in November of 1999, the left eye 14 months later. Jessica says she will never forget the day when Haik told her he needed to remove Jacob’s other eye. “He came out of the operating room and told me, ‘If I don’t take his eye out, I’m going to risk his life.’” Through her tears, Jessica replied, “I’d rather have my son here and blind than not have him at all. He’s there in the operating room; you know what you have to do. Go save my child.” Jacob recovered quickly, but his mom mourned for him. “Everything that he would never be able to do just flashed before my eyes,” she says, her voice cracking with emotion. “He would never see his little brother, Kaleb, again. He would never be able to play baseball or do other things that he enjoyed. And he would never see what his mommy looked like again.” “Did you hear me hit the ball?” –Jacob Simons In April of 2003, Jessica discussed Jacob’s experiences on the air during a St. Jude radiothon on WKSJ 95.1. Electrician Buddy Young was listening. “I was trying to work with tears just rolling down my face,” Young says. “At the end of Jessica’s story, she said she regretted that she’d never get to see Jacob play baseball.” That comment haunted Young, a T-ball coach. “I’m not a real emotional guy,” he says, “but all I thought about for three days was Jacob’s story. I didn’t see any reason why he couldn’t play ball.” When Young invited Jacob to join his team, Jessica was thrilled but skeptical. “How exactly is Jacob going to do this?” she asked. “You don’t worry about anything. You just bring him,” Young responded. Because Jacob joined the team mid-season, he was unable to attend practice before his first game. When he arrived at the ballpark, “Coach Buddy” explained how the game would work: After hitting the ball off the tee, Jacob would hold a coach’s hand to run the bases. When the Marlins were outfield, Jacob would serve as catcher; a teammate would catch the ball and give it to Jacob, who would then hand it to the umpire. “His very first game, he hit the ball and ran to first base with a big smile on his face,” Jessica says. “I cried so hard, because I was watching my child do something that I never thought I would see him do.” A couple of weeks later, Jacob made his mommy cry again. The bases were loaded when Jacob came up to bat. He hit the ball so far that he knocked all the runners home. As he sprinted for first base, Jessica went ballistic. “I was screaming; I was jumping up and down; I was on the fence,” she says. “It was just amazing. Even the opposing team was hollering for Jacob." “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt within the heart.” –Helen Keller Children play T-ball, but adults take it seriously. At many games, parents and coaches yell strident commands, dispute calls and engage in verbal brawls. Jacob changed all that, bringing clarity to those blinded by rivalry. “When Jacob got his first hit in his first real game, both sides stood up and clapped and screamed, and all the competition went out,” Young says. “Nobody was worried about winning or losing after that; not just in games that involved us, but in all 12 teams in our league.” When Jacob joined the Marlins, a coach told Jessica that team pictures were scheduled for later that week. “After the pictures were over, I found out that they had already had their team pictures made,” she says. “But Jacob was a part of the team now, and so they had rescheduled their photo to have him in it.” Then cancer struck again. “Coach Buddy” discovered that his son, Brady, had leukemia. While Brady was undergoing chemotherapy, Young continued coaching the Marlins. Jessica ponders the irony of the situation. “Did God bring us together?” she muses. Today, Brady’s disease is in remission, and Young looks forward to coaching both Brady and Jacob this summer. Last year, Young’s baseball league created an annual award for the player who exhibits the best attitude and the most courage and love for the game. Jacob was the first recipient of this honor, which has been named the Jacob Simons Heart Award. TV crews and journalists have chronicled Jacob’s exploits. Jessica even received a phone call from the Florida governor’s office asking for her address. Jeb Bush wanted to write Jacob a letter. “I was sorry to learn that you have lost both of your eyes to cancer,” Bush wrote. “I do not think that will stand in the way of your dreams and plans.” “I can see everything!” –Jacob Simons Jacob is an independent and confident 7-year-old. “I don’t need that stick,” he said, when presented with a cane. “I don’t have to learn these dots,” he pronounced, when encouraged to learn Braille. Jacob finally agreed to study Braille, but still disdains the cane. To avoid curbs and obstacles when riding a bicycle, Jacob listens carefully to his mom’s verbal directions. In addition to having a keen sense of balance, an inquisitive nature and a healthy dose of courage, he is also observant. “Jacob knows the voices of the people he knows and cares about,” says Mindy Lipson, RN, a certified nurse practitioner in St. Jude Hematology-Oncology. “He’s very brave, perceptive and pretty amazing.” One day, when riding in the car, Jacob commented, “Look, Mommy, there’s Burger King.” Jessica did a double-take. Sure enough, Jacob had correctly distinguished the brand of hamburger by the scent. “You never hear Jacob talk about how he can’t see,” Jessica says. “To be honest, he thinks he can see.” Jacob can dribble a basketball, ride a scooter, jump on a trampoline, play video games and drive battery-operated vehicles. Currently, he is anticipating a ski trip, a horseback riding weekend and golf lessons. “Jacob’s really smart and has a good memory, but he does things that I can’t explain scientifically,” Haik says. “He seems almost to have another perception that allows him to judge distance and space. “I know he doesn’t have eyes, but God bless him, I’m glad he can see. I just don’t know how he does it.” “We live by faith and not by sight.” –2 Corinthians 5:7 Jessica says that her experiences with Jacob have opened her eyes to the nuances of gratitude. “When Jacob lost his last eye, I was very angry with God,” she admits. “I said, ‘God, all this praying that I’ve done, and you haven’t even listened to me.’” At night, Jessica would lie in bed and cry. “Why, God?” she railed. “This isn’t fair!” But then Jacob came and sat by her. “Mommy,” he said, “I know my eyes were sick, and I know that I can’t see. But it’s okay. Don’t be sad.” “Now I know that God did listen to me,” Jessica says. “Jacob’s got a great attitude. He’s playing T-ball. He’s happy and he’s healthy and he’s alive. God’s not letting Jacob suffer. “So every day I say, ‘Thank you, God.’ Every day. And I know that He listened to me.” “Please, dear lord, I always pray that you’ll keep me cancer free for the rest of my life and let me live to be a hundred.” –Jacob Simons’ bedtime prayer Reprinted from Promise magazine, spring 2004. If you would like to comment on this article, click here. Print

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WOMENS: Taylor named ICC Womens T20 Cricketer of the Year 17-Sep-2012 Sussex’s Sarah Taylor has been crowned the ICC Womens T20 Cricketer of the Year. The England wicketkeeper-batsman, who has scored 340 International T20 runs during the voting period, was also involved in 11 dismissals, including seven stumpings. “A massive thank you for this award”, said the 23 year-old top order batsman (pictured), who has played 40 T20 internationals and averages over 30 with the bat. “I’d like to thank all my team-mates and family for their support and I’m thrilled to have won it”. England’s Women concluded their five-match T20 series with the West Indies this weekend with two matches in Sussex. On Saturday, a healthy crowd at The PROBIZ County Ground saw them thrash the tourists by 84 runs, with Taylor making 43 and fellow Sussex stars Holly Colvin and Arran Brindle taking three wickets between them. Taylor became the second woman in international T20 history to pass the 1000 run mark with the knock. On Sunday they were beaten in a thrilling affair at Arundel Castle as the West Indies squeezed home off the final ball of the innings. Taylor was again in fine form with the bat making 34 whilst Colvin’s left-arm spin picked up the wicket of Deandra Dottin who made 62; however England had already long sealed the series win, with it finishing 4-1 to the hosts. England Women will fly out to Sri Lanka on Wednesday for the ICC World T20 and will play their first match of the competition against Pakistan in Galle, on Thursday 27th September. England Women’s Captain Charlotte Edwards said: “We tinkered with our batting order and team a bit today all in preparation for Sri Lanka but the girls still put in a fantastic performance. We were just undone by an unbelievable innings by Deandra Dottin, credit to her for a match winning performance. “We’ll be taking a huge amount of positives from the series; there have been key contributions from a lot of our players over the five matches which is always good with World Cups ahead. “The bowlers have been fantastic throughout the series and it’s been another really good team performance. We’re going to Sri Lanka with confidence and are really looking forward to the next few weeks.” England Women squad for the ICC World T20 Charlotte Edwards (Kent) (captain) Tammy Beaumont (Kent) Arran Brindle (Sussex) Katherine Brunt (Yorkshire) Holly Colvin (Sussex) Lydia Greenway (Kent) Jenny Gunn (Nottinghamshire) Heather Knight (Berkshire) Danielle Hazell (Yorkshire) Laura Marsh (Kent) Susie Rowe (Kent) Anya Shrubsole (Somerset) Sarah Taylor (Sussex) Danielle Wyatt (Staffordshire)

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community Guidelines Privacy Policy Home Article Archives 2008 WBO’s Steve Luevano Opening Eyes BY David A. Avila ON March 13, 2008 Share Follow%20@TSSboxingnews Left-handed Steve Luevano doesn’t have the power of a Pacman or the slickness of a Sweetpea, but he keeps on winning. The quiet kid from La Puente defends his WBO featherweight title against Thailand’s Terdsak Jandaeng on Saturday March 15 at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. It will be televised on HBO pay-per-view.If you visit boxing gyms often, Luevano was one of those kids that showed up everyday with floppy white socks, old tennis shoes and tattered T-shirt, and ready to box. Many people probably wrote him off as just another imaginative kid who aspired to be the next Oscar De La Hoya.Just another fresh scrub with boxing gloves on.Even now Luevano doesn’t strike fear in his opponents. Not at all. With his wire thin frame, pale skin and Doogie Howser look, he probably resembles those kids you see supermarket security guards chasing away.You know the type: young kid on skateboard.Few people realize that Luevano is defending the featherweight title for the second time and that he’s been fighting professionally for eight years. He was once an alternate on the 2000 Olympic boxing team.Unlike most boxing world champions, Luevano can go almost anywhere with little fear of getting trampled on by adoring fans. He could be wearing his boxing gear and few would place him as a titleholder, let alone a prizefighter.“I went to play bingo and a guy saw me with my gym stuff. He asked me if I was a wrestler,” Luevano said. “I told him no, I was a boxer. He didn’t believe me.”Imagine if that bingo guy was told Luevano is the WBO featherweight champion?Luevano just shrugs when you ask if it bothers him. He’s quite content getting respect inside the ring. If popularity eventually comes his way, so be it. If not, so be it. It’s been that way throughout his boxing career that began when he was a young pipsqueak.As a youngster Luevano and his brother were taken to a local boxing gym by their mother and from then on he was a boxer. Though his brother quit, Steve Luevano continued getting a ride to the gym and putting on his sweat clothes and tennis shoes to work in the ring.“I don’t know why,” says Luevano when asked about his continued participation. “It was something to do.”Luevano’s not one to brag or boast of his prowess. Instead, he goes about his work almost invisible to even the most ardent boxing fans. But other prizefighters know who he is.“He’s a very good boxer,” said Robert “The Ghost” Guerrero, who holds the rival IBF featherweight title and could be a future opponent. “He’s very technical.”Though both are southpaws, Luevano and Guerrero are distinctly different in their approach. Guerrero is a power puncher with rapidly improving overall boxing skills. Luevano is a ring tactician with rapidly improving power.“This kid can really fight,” says Cameron Dunkin, who manages Luevano, Kelly Pavlik, Nonito Donaire and others. “He fools people all of the time.”He fooled Nicky Cook who he beat in London for the title and he fooled Antonio Davis in the first title defense last year in Las Vegas.“A friend of mine watched my last fight on TV with a bunch of people. They saw my opponent was bigger and had big muscles. They bet her I would lose,” Luevano (34-1, 15 KOs) said. “After the fight they told her they wanted to meet me.That night Luevano dominated against Antonio Davis and nearly stopped him in the last two rounds of the 12-round contest. The audience seemed stunned by the apparent physical mismatch that turned out to be the skinnier less imposing fighter dominating the fight.“Steve is one of those fighters who fools you into overconfidence,” said Dunkin, who flew to London with Luevano during his title-winning effort last July. “I’m sure other fighters take a look at him and think it’s going to be an easy fight. He always fools them.”Now it’s the talented Thai veteran Jandaeng who tests Luevano’s ring skills. He’s had a test against Juan Manuel Marquez and came up short. He’s hoping that experience can lead to better things against the younger Luevano.Luevano is looking for a win so that he can fight the other young talented fighters such as Guerrero and WBA titleholder Jorge Linares. It could be a super tournament if it evolves to that.“I feel the other champions are good,” said Luevano, 27, who trains in Oxnard. “I wouldn’t mind fighting any of them.”But it’s time to work, and Luevano is a lunch pail kind of guy.“He never asks for anything, he just comes in and does his work,” said trainer Robert Garcia, a former world champion who also trained Fernando Vargas. “He’s kind of quiet.”Fights on televisionFri. Telefutura, 8 p.m., Miguel Angel Huerta (26-8-1) vs. Javier Jauregui (52-14-2).Sat. HBO pay-per-view, 6 p.m., Manny Pacquiao (45-3-2) vs. Juan Manuel Marquez (48-3-1); Steve Luevano (34-1, 15 KOs) vs. Terdsak Jandaeng (29-2); Abner Mares (15-0) vs. Diosdado Gabi (30-3-1).

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Cowboys turn quickly to Redskins, RG3's visit — IRVING, Texas — Dallas played a long game, and now faces a short week. And Washington’s Robert Griffin III is on his way in for the most appropriate of Thanksgiving games — Cowboys vs. Redskins, the first NFL game in Texas for the Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor. It’s safe to say the sigh of relief was brief for Dallas after Sunday’s 23-20 overtime win over last-place Cleveland. “We are going to enjoy this one for another 10 minutes or so and then get on to the Redskins,” Cowboys coach Jason Garrett said after the game. There are several issues for the Cowboys to consider in the roughly 96 hours between Dan Bailey’s winning field goal in overtime and the kickoff against the Redskins. Start with the offensive line, which essentially ended up with three replacements against the Browns after left tackle Tyron Smith injured an ankle early and didn’t return. Tony Romo absorbed a career-high seven sacks, and a fumble on one of them triggered a wild ending that the Cowboys were fortunate to file under “happy.” Smith said Monday he had a high ankle sprain and would be a game-time decision. He says he played through the injury once in college at USC. If the former first-round pick isn’t back, undrafted free agent Jermey Parnell, a third-year player, is likely to fill in again. With Phil Costa and Ryan Cook out, Mackenzy Bernadeau had to move from guard to center, where he made his first start for Dallas against Cleveland. Derrick Dockery took Bernadeau’s spot at right guard. “It’s just the nature of it, and you have to be able to just plug the next guy in and come up with the right combination and move on and find some things that those guys are able to do well enough to execute ball plays,” Garrett said Monday. “It was a challenge for us last week going into the game. It was more of a challenge during the game. And it’ll be a challenge this week as we get ready for the Redskins.” Another part of Romo’s problem Sunday was he didn’t have much help from the running game. The Cowboys had just 17 yards rushing at halftime — all by Felix Jones — and

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First Transpennine Express Buy for any UK train We'll save you money Tickets & Offers First - Keolis New Trains First TransPennine Express (FTPE) has announced an exclusive deal with World Snooker to become 'Official Train Operator' of this year's Betfair World Snooker Championship. A first of its kind for both FTPE and the tournament, the partnership will see the train operator provide public transport solutions for the estimated 40,000 snooker fans that have purchased tickets to see the world's top players compete. Taking place at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre between 20th April- 6th May, FTPE is perfectly placed to safely handle the tournament's mass travelling fanbase with inter-city train services on three main routes across the North of England. With a comprehensive rail network running throughout the North West and East of England directly linking cities such as Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, York, Newcastle, Doncaster, Glasgow and even Edinburgh with the celebrated 'home of snooker', players can rest assured that their legion of loyal fans will be present when they take to the table. Committed to customers and providing the best transport options, the 'Official Train Operator for the 2013 World Snooker Championship' will also be offering fans exclusive deals with the best value train fares to Sheffield. These include no booking fees for tickets purchased in advance at www.tpexpress.co.uk. Matthew Worman, Integration Manager at FTPE, said; "This is our inaugural partnership with such a high profile sporting event and we're delighted to be supporting fans and the players during this world class spectacle. All eyes will be focused on The Crucible and with it sitting at the heart of our network in Sheffield, we're eager to maintain the tournament's prestige and reputation as one of the sporting calendar's most thrilling events." Miles Pearce, Commercial Director at World Snooker added; "The players create the entertainment and drama but it's the fans that bring the passion and excitement. We're honoured to have FTPE's commitment to the sport, ensuring that 'the passion' is safely delivered to Sheffield and The Crucible through their incredibly high standards and dedication to performance." To mark the partnership, the train operator is also running a series of giveaways via its Facebook Page where users can win tickets to the tournament's semi-finals and even exclusive seats at the grand final. An industry first, Manchester Piccadilly Station and Sheffield Station will also be transformed into World Snooker Championship exhibition centres where the public will be able to play against legends such as John Parrott and Willie Thorne. For additional information on FTPE visit www.tpexpress.co.uk and www.worldsnooker.com for the latest 2013 World Snooker Championship headlines.

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Playing a legend: Broadway actor practiced hundreds of shots, visited Terre Haute to play Sycamore legend in 'Magic/Bird' Mark Bennett ---- — Until now, the words “Larry Bird” and “Broadway production” simply would not appear in the same sentence. “Queen Elizabeth” would be more likely to be paired with “monster truck show.” It should be remembered, though, that college basketball skeptics once said Bird and his Indiana State Sycamore teammates did not belong in the same echelon as UCLA, Notre Dame, Arkansas, DePaul and Michigan State. Yet, when the 1978-79 season reached its pinnacle — the NCAA championship game — the two teams left standing were Bird’s undefeated Sycamores, and Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans. Just by getting there, the Sycamores and their star player proved their worthiness, despite their subsequent 75-64 loss to Michigan State in the epic finale. The clash of cultures and personalities between Bird, the reticent “hick from French Lick,” and the flashy, always-smiling Johnson in the title matchup gave college hoops its most dramatic moment ever. Dramatic enough, it turns out, for Broadway, which may be a head-scratching concept in the minds of longtime Terre Hauteans who remember “Larry” ambling around town in a PBR ballcap during his college days. The play “Magic/Bird” opened Wednesday night in the Longacre Theatre, a century-old venue on West 48th Street in the Broadway district of New York City. The storyline follows the improbable friendship and rivalry between Bird and Johnson, from their first meeting in the ’79 NCAA Final to their career swansong with the USA “Dream Team” in the 1992 Olympics. The actor who plays Bird defies a few odds himself, in doing so. Tug Coker logged one season as a college basketball player, never getting off the bench as a freshman walk-on at William & Mary. Like Bird, though, Coker logged long hours of preparation to deliver a believable, engaging characterization of a man known as “Larry Legend.” Since landing the role in November, the 34-year-old Coker hit the gym hard, putting up 300 shots and a hundred free throws a day, using both hands, mimicking Bird’s unforgettable over-the-head release. He’s studied game and practice videos with the fervor of an NFL coach, and has spoken with Bird three times over the telephone. Coker even drove to Bird’s hometown of French Lick and Terre Haute to experience the atmosphere of two small towns that helped shape a Boston Celtics icon and Hall of Famer. Coker’s future scrapbook will include shots of the day he and his sister spent in Terre Haute last November, touring Wabash Avenue, the ISU campus and Hulman Center. Those photos include several of Coker posing beside the Larry Bird Avenue sign between Seventh and Eighth streets. “That was an amazing picture for me and just my own history,” Coker said by telephone Tuesday from New York. He understands the importance of details in portraying one of the most recognizable sports figures in history. “It’s hard to play athletes in film, television and theater, because it’s hard to reimagine people who are the best in the world at what they do,” Coker said. “If I was great at basketball, I’d be playing in the NBA, you know, [but] I wasn’t good enough. So what I did was figure out ways to get inside him, look at the tics that people know about, try to replicate his arm angles, get the release over the head, look at the footage of [Celtics president] Red Auerbach, and try to study that as closely as possible.” Craig McKee can vouch for Coker’s diligence. Now an attorney and judge in Terre Haute, McKee served as ISU’s assistant sports information director during the 1978-79 season. McKee was quoted in the 2009 book by Sports Illustrated writer Seth Davis “When March Went Mad,” which chronicled that landmark season. After receiving a correspondence from McKee, Coker met and dined with McKee and his wife, Diann, who traveled to New York to watch an early showing of “Magic/Bird.” In his first appearance as Bird in the play, Coker wipes off the bottom of his sneakers with his hands — a memorable Bird routine. “That’s when I knew he had paid attention,” said McKee, who’s seen dozens of Broadway productions with his wife over the past two decades. NBA officials provided the actor with candid “B-roll” video footage of Bird, “where he’s just sort of being himself off the court — things I’ve been privy to that maybe the general public has not been able to see,” Coker said. Basketball realities Even with such extensive research, Coker and co-star Kevin Daniels (who plays Johnson) realize audiences watching “Magic/Bird” will expect characters to hit any shots they take on stage. So, the production — written by Academy Award winner Eric Simonson — keeps the shot-taking at a minimum. “I shoot 10 to 15 shots during the show, all high-probability,” Coker said, with a chuckle. “We’re not getting crazy here.” Though his court talents may pale in comparison to those of Bird, Coker’s basketball resumé exceeds that of most actors. As a Virginia high schooler, he played for high-caliber summer all-star teams featuring several future Division I college players. He even has national championship game experience, having played in an AAU title matchup at Oklahoma City. Coker also grew up as the son of a Celtics fan, hearing about Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish and their Boston cohorts. Once Coker reached the College of William & Mary as an invited walk-on, hoops reality set it. “I loved being on a team,” he recalled, “but I saw how good these guys were and said, ‘You know, it’s time to find something else to put your passion into,’ and that was acting and theater.” Though “Magic/Bird” marks Coker’s Broadway debut, his credits include several regional plays, as well as television roles in “The Office,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “CSI,” “CSI Miami” and several other small-screen shows. That experience helped Coker earn the part of Larry Bird from producers Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo, who also crafted the play “Lombardi,” depicting the life of another sports hero, Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi. Coker’s height didn’t hurt either. He stands 6-foot-5. Daniels, as Magic Johnson, also is 6-5. That’s important. Though both actors are shorter than their real-life subjects, they can look each other directly in the eye, just like Johnson and Bird, who are both 6-9. Out of character, Coker resembles Ben Affleck and looks nothing like the former Sycamore. However, with a shaggy blond wig, a wispy costume mustache, an ISU T-shirt and a Boston Celtics jersey, Coker transforms into Bird. Acting skills and the script must take it from there. “For me, I’m combining the passion I had for the game [as a player], and then putting it together with what I know how to do, which is trying to study and understand people better,” Coker said. Understanding Bird His conversations with Bird enlightened Coker more than anything else. In one of their first phone chats, Coker was visiting his mother’s home and Bird was set up to call the actor there. “I told my mom, ‘Mom, please do not answer this phone. Do not ask me if I want something for lunch. For the next 30 minutes, do not interrupt this phone call. Please,’” Coker recalled, chuckling. “That was a real thrill.” The chance to speak personally with Bird added background color Coker needed. Though Bird comes off as stoic in some public encounters, his sense of humor gradually emerges as he becomes comfortable with the situation. A pivotal scene in “Magic/Bird” reveals that process, as Bird’s mother forces her son and Magic Johnson to have lunch in the Bird household in French Lick during the filming of a now-classic Converse commercial, featuring the young Boston Celtics star and his Los Angeles Lakers nemesis. Until that day, their rivalry was purely competitive. Friendship had not yet bloomed. Coker discussed that tense moment, and others, with Bird. “I just wanted to ask him things that pertained to the play,” Coker said, “like his relationship with his mom, his relationship with Magic, and just how much Magic drove him to be a better athlete. And, he was unbelievably nice. He gave me so much of his time. I was really appreciative, and it was something I’ll never forget.” The duels between Johnson and Bird for an NCAA championship, the NBA crown and player-vs.-player bragging rights pervades the plot. The development of their friendship, and the impact of others around them, is the play’s foundation. Coker enjoys the storytelling. “I’m a person that loves biographies, so I like to learn the ‘how’ and ‘why’ people became great, and who influenced them in becoming great,” Coker said. “And I think that’s something we get to do on the stage.” Hints of the legend were all around the Longacre Theatre. The McKees visited Coker’s dressing room, where a poster from Bird’s playing days hangs on one wall. Coker had it in his room as a kid. On stage, Coker wears an Indiana State T-shirt. Seeing that on a Broadway stage “was a little jaw-dropping,” McKee said. “It was great.” At one point, the actors stand as a video plays of the Celtics celebrating their victory over Johnson’s Lakers in the NBA championship. “When Bird says, ‘And this one’s for Terre Haute,’ I have to admit, I get a little misty-eyed,” McKee said. Mark Bennett can be reached at (812) 231-4377 or mark.bennett@tribstar.com.

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Giants players in GB Olympic squad Five Belfast Giants have been named in the extended Great Britain squad for the final qualifier of the 2013 Winter Olympics. Mark Garside, Stephen Murphy, Craig Peacock, David Phillips and former Giants captain Colin Shields are all included in the 32-man side.Team GB head coach Tony Hand will name his final 22-man squad after the players take part in a two-day training camp in Manchester later this month."The camp will give us a great start in our preparations for Riga. It will not only give us chance to work on tactics, but will also be a great bonding exercise for the squad," said Hand."By naming a 32-man squad, it gives me chance to look at a number of players who weren't in the final squad last time. This is also a great exercise for team morale."The final team will head to Latvia in February where they will face the home side as well as France and Kazakhstan in the four-team tournament.It is understood the Belfast side has been bought over by Chris Knight. The 34-year-old took after when previous owner Jim Gillespie sold his stake in the team.

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Federer is back where he belongs Roger Federer with his seventh Wimbledon trophy. © Julian Finney/Getty Images Roger Federer celebrates on match point that gave him his seventh Wimbledon title. WIMBLEDON, England - Exactly where does a man of 30 with a record 16 Grand Slam titles get his motivation? And why would Roger Federer continue to put in hour after on the practice court and travel the world again and again when he has a wife and two beautiful twin daughters? Because he wasn’t done racking up accomplishments in his sport yet and was growing tired of hearing that like so many other greats in the past, he had fallen out of prime and could no longer really compete for Slam titles with the younger and stronger likes of Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal around. But Federer never really bought that argument, even when the Serbian and the Spaniard out ran him, and the top 10 likes of Tomas Berdych and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stunned him at 2010 and 2011 Wimbledon. The All England Club is the place where he felt so familiar. When he walked out on court for the final against Britain’s beloved Andy Murray, he feel that it was supposed to be this way all along: the grass, the quiet before points begin, the return of the brilliant shot making and the roars of adulation after points end. In his fourth Grand Slam final and his first final day at Wimbledon, Murray often played brilliantly, but it was not enough: Federer is godlike on grass when he’s playing his best and there was little Murray could do to stop him in the Swiss’ 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 victory. Federer was quicker, more powerful off his forehand side, tougher on the big points and significantly better when tossing the ball up to serve. After his record tying seventh Wimbledon title and 17th major overall, the Swiss discussed the secret to his continued success. "I drew a lot of inspiration from other great athletes in other sports," he said. "I think like Pete [Sampras] and [Stefan] Edberg and [Boris] Becker, maybe [Michael] Jordan, Tiger Woods, Valentino Rossi. They inspire me to keep on pushing further. Not just being happy with world No. 1 or being happy with a Grand Slam title, but maybe to reach for more. Then obviously I have to drive myself. But you sometimes do need to see someone else do it for a long time so that you feel it is actually possible." Murray captured the hearts of millions after the loss, as he had to stop speaking twice during his runner-up speech because he couldn’t hold back the tears. They began to flow when he uttered the words "I’m getting closer" and again when he said "It’s not going to be easy." His mother Judy wept, as did his girlfriend Kim Sears, as did current players like Sania Mirza and ex-players like Lindsay Davenport. The UK will have to wait another year before it can exorcise the ghost of Fred Perry, the last British man to win the title in 1936. "I’d be playing the wrong sport if I wasn't emotional," Murray said. But Federer, who has also let the tear ducts flow in public, did not. This time his victory was one to smile about. He got to share it with his twins, his mother, Lynette, his father, Robert, and his wife, Mirka. It might not have completely wiped out the difficult Grand Slam loses that he had taken since he won his 16th major title at 2010 Australian Open - which include Djokovic’s two five-set wins over him in the 2010 and 2011 US Open semis - out of his head, but it sure did take the sting out. "I knew how close I was for the last few years, and some people didn't quite see that maybe out of different reasons," he said. "But I knew and I think the belief got me to victory today." With the 30-year-old Federer’s and the 30-year-old Serena Williams title runs, the sport can begin to identify what could be a new trend toward players staying relevant later in their careers: it was the first time since 1975 Wimbledon, when Americans Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King won singles titles, that the event had two champs 30 or older. Federer believes he has continued to improve, "I hope so - God, I've practiced so much that you don't want to be worse five years later," he said. And it’s hard to argue against that as it’s the only way to keep up with the mid-20s set of elite players. Murray never doubted the Swiss’ ability to go toe-to-toe with he, Djokovic and Nadal this season or last. Federer still has more variety than any of those players and while it’s increasingly difficult for him to grind with them on slower surfaces, on quick grass courts that play to his on-rushing strengths, he still is a player apart. And by the way, he has seized the No. 1 ranking back and this week will tie his idol Sampras with 286 overall weeks at No. 1. Then he will pass him a week later. There aren’t many records left for him to break, but it doesn’t seem to matter to him. Federer is right back where he wants to be. "A lot of people have been asking me, Has he started slipping? Is he not playing as well? If you look at the matches he lost the last couple years, very, very close matches, matches he definitely could have won," Murray said. "You know, he could be sitting on 20 Grand Slams if one point or a couple inches here or there. So he's still playing great tennis. I don't think you get to No. 1 unless you deserve it."

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Women's basketball hits the books on the road JASON BORBA"); document.write("By JASON BORBA"); Published: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 Updated: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 13:11 JUNIOR GUARD JENNIFER SCHLOTT takes a shot in a game earlier this season. Schlott and the Aggies will play eight of their first nine games on the road this season. CURTIS RIPPLINGER photo With the end of the semester coming to a close and finals right around the corner, students around campus are gearing up for the final few weeks. Student athletes are no exception to that, especially those on the Utah State women’s basketball team. “Being close to finals does add a little bit more pressure, but I try to juggle it and plan my days to where I can separate business from school,” said senior Jenna Johnson. “Basketball is definitely a priority for me, but so is school. Being a senior is crunch time to do what I need to get done and accomplish everything to get my straight A’s.” The Aggies opened the season with eight of their first nine games on the road and are in the midst of playing six-straight away from the friendly confines of Logan. “The first eight out of nine games are on the road, that is a brutal schedule,” said USU head coach Jerry Finkbeiner. “I think the home team has a 7-8 point advantage just right out of the gate, so for a college student on the road thinking about school and the game, its not a life of leisure that’s for sure.” Despite playing so many away games to begin the season, the players have found time to stay ahead in school. Finkbeiner makes it a priority to recruit players who have high academic standards who know what it takes to stay on top and not get too far behind. The team also has an academic advisor in Jason Thompson who Finkbeiner said does a good job of getting players to get their work ahead of time. During the 2011-12 season, Devyn Christensen, Jenna Johnson, Jennifer Schlott and Pua Furtado were all named to the Western Athletic Conference all-academic team. The coaching staff hopes to add more players to the team this season. Many players on the team are taking online classes this semester, which eases the burden of missing classes while on the road. For those who don’t have online classes, Finkbeiner tells his players to attend class early in the year. “We tell the girls early in the year go to class and stay on top because when basketball hits, you need to understand that’s who you are and what you need to go through,” Finkbeiner said. Before leaving on their road trip, players contact their professors to get all the classwork and homework they will be missing while on the road so when they get back they aren’t too far behind.

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Oksana Baiul: Artist The other material was equally revealing. In People Magazine (June 1997), I read that Oksana's home had the appearance of a 9 room generic hotel, sparsely decorated and lacking personal touches. Oksana's tight schedules and horrific training routines were allowing her little time for a "life." She told one reporter,"I don't know why I bought this house. It's so big for one person. It's lonely." Looking back on the past months, Oksana complained that all she had time to do was "work and work and work..." All work and no play can make for some impetuous behavior. Gradually, and against the tide of her close circle of friends and her maternal coach, Galina, Oksana Baiul began to explore her own personality. She found a penchant for designer clothes and enjoyed the company of many non-skating friends. Close friend and neighbor, Jodi Fish, was quoted as having aptly explained that Oksana was still young and did not have the benefit of parental guidance. To many, it seemed that she finally had begun to find the happiness that comes from self-discovery and had managed to foster a persona separate from the image of the Ice Queen. The fast-track of being a celebrity is often burdensome in ways that most of us cannot comprehend. The public only think they know a celebrity. What they often create is an image. It becomes the celebrity's duty (and sometimes burden) to become, at least publicly, this image. Although she had already won the top prize, Oksana was being managed, promoted, packaged and worked continuously. There seemed to be little time for her to reap the rewards of her own success. Artistically, she was not getting an opportunity to fully explore the dynamic, interpretive aspects of figure skating. Something would have to change. I'm told that when Oksana did "relax", she channel-surfed, watched Melrose Place and had quite a sharp and quick sense of humor. She sounded like fun to be around. To most of her fans, the car wreck was worrisome but refreshing proof that even the very famous are just like the rest of us, with our strengths and mishaps. Nothing like this all too common offense detracted from her abilities on the ice. To others, however, this was not compliant with their demi-goddess. Figure skating required a devotion and discipline that replaced the typical fun-filled teen years and, despite the emotional setbacks, Oksana used this talent to her advantage. But Oksana had allowed herself to be used by supporters of the skating rink and by local residents who wanted a celebrity to add prestige to their neighborhood. Oksana was, I'm afraid, made to feel that she had disappointed the public with her unthinking behavior. Much was made of her "confession" on the Oprah Winfrey Show, where she admitted to having had a few drinks prior to the wreck. Her retort to Oprah was, "I'm a Russian!" Undoubtedly, this unfortunate incident contributed to her decision to make some dramatic changes in her life. “I don't want people to think of me as the Olympic Champion girl. I want them to remember me for my artistry.” A final disappointment came to Oksana on the Ides of March (1997), when she appeared at her first public affair after the car wreck and related publicity. At a charity benefit in Stamford, Connecticut, Oksana had been told that she was to sign autographs and skate around the ice a few times. The promoter of the event had used Oksana's name and appearance to draw support for the charity but had let it be misunderstood that Oksana would give a full performance. Not having prepared for this, Oksana was innocent yet was booed by disappointed fans. She left the ice in tears. Now living in Massachusetts, Oksana has a new team and a

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EXPERIENCE UVA MEN'S GOLF UVa GOLF MEDIA LINKS CAMP BROCHURE Virginia Men's Golf Announces Two-Man Signing Class Derek Bard and Jimmy Stanger Sign with Cavaliers Derek Bard Charlottesville, Va. - Virginia men's golf coach Bowen Sargent announced that two top junior players have signed national letters of intent and will begin competing for the Cavaliers next fall. The signing class includes Derek Bard of New Hartford, N.Y., and Jimmy Stanger of Tampa, Fla. Stanger is ranked No. 51 in the American Junior Golf Association/Polo standings and Bard is 60th. "We're excited with the addition of Jimmy Stanger and Derek Bard for the 2013 Virginia men's golf class," Sargent said. "Both are highly regarded and well ranked, but more importantly, each brings a strong work ethic and desire to be ACC and NCAA Champions. Jimmy and Derek are committed to being a complete student-athlete and are well-rounded young men. Derek and Jimmy were drawn to Virginia because of its strong academic reputation. I'm looking forward to working with both Derek and Jimmy, as I think they both have a lot of upside and will help the program reach our goals of winning our program's first ACC Championship." Bard is currently ranked 35th by Junior Golf Scoreboard which also has him listed as the No. 3 player in the state of New York. He is coming off an outstanding year of junior and high school competition. He won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championship this year and was sixth at the Junior PGA Championship. He was fourth at the event in 2011. He placed 18th at the USGA Junior Amateur and was eighth at the AJGA Golf Pride tournament. Bard finished 16th at the Western Junior Championship, was 20th at the AJGA Polo Championship and 29th at the Junior Players Championship. He was 20th at the 2011 AJGA Polo Championship. Bard's mother, Dawn, graduated from Virginia. "Derek had one of the best summers of any junior in the country," Sargent said. "Derek has a certain intensity and desire when he plays. He's an incredible putter and mentally tough. His work-ethic and desire is incredible." Stanger is currently ranked 63rd by Junior Golf Scoreboard which also has him listed as the No. 3 player in the state of Florida. He won the HJGT 54-Hole Mid-Season Championship, was second at the AJGA Junior at Fox Hill and placed third at the FJT at Lake Jovita tournament. He was third in the Florida Boys 2A State Championship. Stanger's other recent top finishes include a fifth-place showing at the AJGA Puerto Rico Open, a ninth-place performance at the Western Junior Championship and a 13th-place effort at the Florida Junior Boys Championship. In 2011, he was fifth at the Junior Jones Cup. "Jimmy has very solid fundamentals and is driven to be a champion," Sargent said. "Jimmy is the first Floridian I've recruited in my nine recruiting classes. He has been very competitive against some of the top juniors in the AJGA ranks and I'm excited about the game he will bring to Virginia." Cavaliers Men's Golf Home

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Mike Barrie Growing up Machesney Park, Mike played baseball and football at Harlem High School and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1997 with a degree in Speech Communication.After college, he worked as Assistant Media Relations Director for the Beloit Snappers Minor League Baseball team. When Mike learned that the team's play-by-play announcer lived in the team's clubhouse during the off-season to make ends meet, he decided to change his career ambitions.So in 1999, Mike moved to the Illinois Valley to start a career in media sales. Mike now is selling investments for Northwestern Mutual in Ottawa, but will continue calling games from time to time on LaSalle County Broadcasting stations.Mike and his wife, Jenny currently enjoy life in Oglesby with their two daughters. Email Me My Shows : Hall Red Devil Football Hall Red Devil Basketball

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Cracknell set for long-awaited debut 27 January 2010 12:15pm By Chris Cracknell, pictured here in action for England Sevens, is set for his Warriors debut Mike Ruddock has revealed recent signing Chris Cracknell is set for his long-awaited Worcester Warriors debut in the LV= Cup clash with Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday (kick-off 3pm). Highly rated England Sevens ace Cracknell joined Warriors in mid December on a deal until the end of this season. The 25-year-old's debut, though, has been held up by postponements over the winter period and the back row not being registered for European competition. However, Cracknell is now set to be unleashed on neighbours Gloucester and Director of Rugby Ruddock, who loaned out the back row to Birmingham & Solihull in recent weeks to give him game time, is keen to see him impress in a Warriors shirt. "We are looking at starting Chris Cracknell this weekend," revealed Ruddock. "The Saxons call up has come for Tom Wood so there is a chance he could be taken off us anyway, but my thinking was always to try and start Chris down at Gloucester so we can see him in this competition. "He wasn't registered for Europe so we need to see him before the Guinness Premiership returns to see what he can or can't do for us. "Chris has settled in well, he is a nice lad and we have managed to get him a few games with Bees on loan so he has some game time under his belt. That means we can look at him on the back of some match practice which is ideal for us. "He has a good reputation, has looked a really good athlete in training and a composed rugby player with good skills. "It would be nice if he gave us a bit of s election headache going into the second half of the season and put his hand up to make us look at him as a possible candidate to stay with the squad for a longer period "But I don't want to put too much pressure on him, I just hope he goes out and enjoys it and plays to his potential." Warriors travel to Gloucester knowing a victory is crucial to try and keep alive the chance of making the semi-finals, with a home clash against London Irish to follow next weekend. And Ruddock admits a number of his senior stars are set to return to action in the derby cup clash. "We would like to do well in this competition - we have won one and lost one. If we are going to have any chance of progressing we need to win our next two games," he said. "We will pick a strong panel, although what is now becoming evident is that the success we have had in bringing some players through to international level means we will be without a number of them for Saturday. "It looks like Matt Mullan will be kept the whole week with England out in Portugal so really he won't be an option for us after a week like that and travelling. "Alex Grove is up in Scotland, so we won't know what is happening with him until the end of the week, and Miles Benjamin and Tom Wood are with England Saxons and so could be involved with them or retuned back to us. "What you will see is a lot of senior guys returning after a couple of weeks rested. People like Pat Sanderson, Kai Horstmann, Willie Walker, Dale Rasmussen, Sam Tuitupou and Chris Latham will be back. "We are also hoping that Tevita Taumoepeau will be back in contention, after being out with chest cold in recent weeks, Aleki Lutui will probably start and Greg Rawlinson will come in after a small operation on his wrist."

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Adopting an older pet ... VIDEO: Williamson man injured in violent crash ... DA: Toughen penalties for animal abusers ... Adopting an older pet ... Cuomo announces $102.1M economic impact from 2013 PGA Championship More than 225,000 attended premier golfing event, helping surpass initial economic projections by nearly 25%. Wayne Post Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo announced that the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club had a $102.1 million economic impact on the Rochester region, surpassing initial projections of $78 million. More than 1,800 temporary, full- and part-time jobs were created to support the influx of golf enthusiasts, exceeding preliminary predictions of 1,127 jobs. “This summer New York played host to a series of international tourism events that generated economic activity and excitement across Upstate,” Cuomo said. “Rochester was put on an international stage with the 95th PGA Championship, which attracted golf fans from around the world and resulted in a tremendous economic boost for the region from tourism spending to jobs. With our recently announced agreement to host the 101st PGA Championship and the 45th Ryder Cup at New York’s own Bethpage Black the good news is going to keep on coming.”Page 2 of 4 - “Oak Hill and Rochester did an incredible job welcoming the PGA Championship this summer and showing all that the Finger Lakes and New York State have to offer,” Lt. Gov. Robert J. Duffy said. “I thank Governor Cuomo for his initiative to support a Taste-NY tent, which further showcased the products our state offers and was one of the highlights at Oak Hill. The $102.1 million economic impact generated by the championship in the region is great news, and I look forward to additional opportunities for Rochester to shine for professional sporting events.”Greater Rochester Enterprise (GRE), an economic development organization focused on promoting the Greater Rochester region as a competitive place for business location and growth, conducted the economic impact study.“This positive economic impact is a tribute to the numerous state and local organizations that collaborated to host a premier golf event of this magnitude,” said GRE President & CEO Mark S. Peterson. “The region showed beautifully, and we could not be more thrilled with the tremendous benefits this event generated for our community.”Approximately 225,000 spectators attended the 95th PGA Championship, which featured at Taste NY Experience designed to highlight New York’s world-class food and beverages to the event’s international audience. Of those spectators, roughly 70,000 individuals were visiting from at least 100 miles away from Rochester (non-local) – contributing to nearly 5,000 hotel room reservations at an average rate of $600 per stay. In terms of a larger economic impact that originated from outside the Rochester area, non-local ticket-holders spent an estimated $58,218,750 over the course of the Championship, assuming an average daily spending of $345 per spectator (this includes ticket sales, hotel expenses, restaurant spending, transportation costs and merchandise/concessions spending).Page 3 of 4 - The complete version of the PGA Championship economic impact study is available here.Ryan Cannon, championship director for the 95th PGA Championship, said, “The 2013 PGA Championship proved to be another wonderful chapter in major championship golf for the entire region. The overwhelmingly positive human, charitable and economic impact of the championship are a result the efforts of Oak Hill Country Club, championship volunteers, Monroe County, the City of Rochester, the Town of Pittsford and, ultimately the entire state of New York working to maximize the potential of the season’s final major. We are thrilled with the economic impact results and the 2013 PGA Championship in its entirety.”State Senator Mike Nozzolio said, “In addition to the tremendous golf, New York State sponsored a ‘Taste NY’ tent that showcased New York's finest wine, food and agriculture products. More than 100 vendors participated and helped to bring a greater awareness of New York State’s growing wine-and-food industry.”State Assemblyman Joseph D. Morelle said, “The 95th PGA championship was a chance to showcase our community as a world-class destination for events of this kind, and now we can see the tangible benefits of aggressively marketing the region. To exceed expectations by such a margin is great news, and it's proof that we can compete and succeed on a national and global scale. I know we are all grateful to the PGA and gratified by this extraordinary outcome.”Page 4 of 4 - Monroe County Executive Maggie Brooks said, “As a home of world-class golf experiences, an incredible service industry, and enthusiastic fans, the 2013 PGA Championship showed the world what we here in Monroe County have to offer. The economic impact generated by the over 225,000 spectators who visited Oak Hill for the 2013 PGA Championship is truly a testament to our community’s successful record of working together to host some of golf’s most time-honored traditions.”City of Rochester Mayor Thomas Richards said, “These final numbers indicate that the economic impact of the PGA Championship was nothing less than incredible. It’s clear that Rochester is a top destination for sports fans and that bringing the PGA Championship to Rochester was a regional effort that we can all be proud to have participated in.”Marty Glavin, General Chairman for the 95th PGA Championship, said, “Oak Hill was thrilled with the overall success of the Championship and how positive the support from the entire region was. The cooperation of the entire region provided the golf world with another incredible week in Major Championship golf. Our hope is to continue to attract future international golf Championships to Oak Hill for many years to come.”Visit Rochester President & CEO Don Jeffries said, “The Rochester area still is seeing the benefit of the worldwide exposure it received from the PGA. We are seeing many people revisit Rochester that came here to see the golf and then discovered what a great destination Rochester and the Finger Lakes are.” » Comment or view comments waynepost.com Connect with Wayne Post Wayne County Yellow Pages © Copyright 2006-2014 Gatehouse Media, Inc. Some rights reserved Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Gatehouse Media Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. Wayne Post | Wayne County, NY 14522

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Dvoracek Is Ready and Brandon Lloyd Still Pushing For The Job Last year MLB Brian Urlacher publicly stated that his season would not be as good as normal without Dusty Dvorcek being on the line. He praised Dvoracek's ability to eat up the front lines blocks allowing him to attack the runner. Urlacher can be happy, because at least for now Dvoracek is back and will should see extensive playing time in tonight's game. Dvoracek at his best is a disruptive force. The 6-foot-3-inch, 303-pound defensive lineman showed flashes during his short stint against the Chargers last season. He was credited with five tackles, including one for a loss, before suffering the ACL tear—while setting the wedge on special teams, no less. "It was unfortunate how it happened," Dvoracek said, "but I don't think I'll be playing special teams anymore." With the Bears now set at two skill positions (QB and RB, unless Kevin Jones comes out with a bang), the Bears need to decide who will line up with them. Wide receiver Brandon Llyod still is gunning for the #1 spot. Brandon Lloyd leads all Bears wideouts with 5 catches in the preseason, and his 56 yards are second on the team to tight end Kellen Davis' 80 (on 4 catches). But Lloyd isn't taking anything for granted as he prepares for Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers, the team that drafted him in the third round out of Illinois in 2003. "I'm still searching," he said. "We'll find out when the preseason's over." Indy QB Peyton Manning is still working toward an opening day start against the Bears. "I've not really had a whole lot to say, to tell you the truth," he said. "As to when I'll be back on the practice field, that's still to be determined. Obviously, the sooner, the better for me. My goal is to be back for the first game." The Colts are in one of if not the toughest division in the NFL, plus they have their annual New England Patriots battle. They need to get the wins they are heavily favored in . The Bears are helping the Colts open up their new stadium and starting backup Jim Sorgi would destroy any momentum they might build up.

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Former Pirate Leach Headed To 3rd Pro Bowl Posted: Wed 9:15 PM, Dec 26, 2012 / Article Baltimore Ravens fullback and former ECU Pirate Vonta Leach has been selected to start in his 3rd career Pro Bowl. Leach has been crushing opposing defenders again this season, including a memorable block in which he put Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton on his back. He’s helped pave the way for Baltimore’s ground game, and has been more of a weapon as a receiver this season than in years past. Leach has 20 catches for 141 yards (second most of his career) and he scored his first touchdown since 2008 this season. While Leach had a tough time getting on the field early in the season with Baltimore’s hurry-up offense, he found his way back on with his physical play.

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Gatland signs new contract By Warren Gatland has signed a new contract to remain with Wales until after the 2015 World Cup The Welsh Rugby Union has announced that Head Coach Warren Gatland is to remain in post for an extra four years, keeping him at the helm of Wales' international side until the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The WRU Group Chief executive Roger Lewis concluded negotiations with the New Zealander over the weekend. An agreement has been reached to extend the original contract which took his tenure in charge until the 2011 RWC. Warren Gatland will continue to coach the senior Wales squad and work with the WRU Performance and Development team to develop a robust player succession plan to identify and nurture the international stars of the future. This announcement ensures long term continuity at the highest level of the game in Wales to build on Warren Gatland's three years experience in charge of the Welsh international game. He has put in place a coaching and backroom structure which is seen as a template for the future and his continued management of its development is a massive bonus for Wales. This move mirrors the WRU stated strategy for creating long term sustainability both on and off the field and follows the record financial results presented to the WRU Annual General Meeting last week. The Wales team is now renowned worldwide for its compelling and engaging rugby with all opponents fully aware that they pose a potent threat in any game. This has been recognised by the fans of Welsh rugby across the world and by the WRU's media and sponsorship partners. During the RBS 6 Nations tournament this season Warren Gatland will become the longest serving coach of Wales and is now set to write an important new chapter in the history of the game as the WRU enters its 130th season. His first new challenge after this announcement will be against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on 6th November in the opening game of the 2010 Autumn test Series. Warren Gatland said: "I am proud and delighted to have been chosen by the Welsh Rugby Union to take charge of the Wales team until the conclusion of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. "I have chosen to stay in Wales because of my confidence in the players we have, the coaching structures we have developed and the succession plan of talent we now constantly update, all fully resourced and supported by the WRU. "I know the other major rugby nations take us seriously as opponents who can play excellent rugby and that inspires me to help take this group of players even further. "There is an incredible amount of hard work ahead but, with the continued backing of the Welsh Rugby Union, the national squad now has the means to deliver what the Welsh public want. "We have a powerful agreement with our Regions, the international player pathway structure is starting to pay dividends and the WRU National Centre of Excellence is a fantastic facility. "Our best players are now developed within a totally professional structure and the backroom team we have in place boasts some of the best people around in their areas of expertise. "I made no secret of the family reasons which have made me consider returning to the southern hemisphere, but it is a measure of how devoted I am to Wales that I want to stay. "I want to personally thank the WRU and the Welsh rugby public for the fantastic support the national squad enjoys and I aim to return the compliment by devoting all my professional energy to the success of our national team in the years ahead. "I am looking forward to the challenge and I am extremely proud of the honour I have in taking Wales into the next two Rugby World Cups." WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, declared: "I am very pleased to be able to announce that Warren Gatland will remain Head Coach of Wales until after the Rugby World Cup in 2015. "We have a meticulous and professional coaching and rugby management structure in place which is a great credit to Warren. "By signing him for a further four years we have ensured that the systems in place will continue to develop for the future of the international game in Wales. "It is important that we achieve continuity at the highest level which is why we have also planned our Wales international touring fixture schedule right through until 2019 alongside our Autumn Test series. "Our five year rolling strategic plan is robust and producing strong financial results. We have a plan in place to be debt free by 2021. "On the field and off the field we are in great shape. The continuity of excellence is a supremely important factor in the preparation and development of elite, international sports teams in this day and age. "The process which led to this moment began in earnest more than a year ago and it has taken an incredible amount of hard work and negotiation to make sure we got this right for Wales and for Warren. "We operate in an extremely hard nosed environment and there was never any doubt that we had to achieve a renegotiation which was workable, meaningful and ambitious in terms of our expectations. "The board of the WRU voted unanimously in support of this recommendation. "I have great respect for Warren and I know how he lives and breathes rugby and is totally devoted to achieving success for a nation he now calls home. "He makes a lot of sacrifices to ensure he knows everything there is to know about the talent available to him and the other selectors and we can rest assured that the future of the Welsh team will now remain in safe hands. "In recent years we have forged a new relationship with our Regions through a Participation Agreement, created a new axis of talent development through our international pathway structure and created one of the best elite training facilities in the world at the WRU National Centre of Excellence. "We will never stop improving and developing our systems and structures and Warren will play an important part in that process over the years ahead." WRU Chairman, David Pickering, added: "Throughout a formidable coaching career Warren Gatland has achieved the stature which we want and expect every coach of Wales to possess. "He has made a huge and positive difference to the Wales team throughout his tenure so far and we know he will endeavour to build on that improvement in the years ahead. "I know Warren as a clear and concise student of the game who constantly seeks to be innovative and forward looking in his approach. "He operates in one of the toughest sporting environment and has the strength of will to accept and relish the level of expectation the Welsh rugby public demands. "Welsh rugby is fit for purpose both on and off the field to meet the challenges which lie ahead and I am delighted we have been able to secure the services of Warren Gatland for a four years to help us achieve our ambitions."

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ONLY ON 3 UPDATE: Police explain why they used Taser on fan at basketball gameSubmitted by Holden Kurwicki on Mon, 02/18/2013 - 6:36pm.READ MORE: News Whiteville High School Whiteville Police Department WHITEVILLE, NC (WWAY) -- It was video you saw ONLY ON 3 Friday night: police using a taser on a fan at a Whiteville High School basketball game. Today we're learning more from police about exactly what happened. For years Whiteville Police Sgt. Andre Jackson has spent his Friday nights at Whiteville High School working crowd control for the Wolfpack home games. "It has always been pleasant," Jackson said. "We have never had many problems. Just little minor stuff. I don't know what happened friday night to make this guy act the way he did." Friday night when Whiteville took on conference rival South Brunswick, a questionable call made 37-year-old Michael Kelly's emotions erupt. According to police, Kelly began screaming obscenities at players and referees. After the referees ejected him from the game Kelly refused to leave, and that's when law enforcement stepped in. "They tried to talk to him, and with the language that he used, they still didn't do anything else, but he pushed them, and then took his elbow and tried to take a swing, and that's when the officers used the correct thing and used the minimal force necessary," Jackson said. "The referee wrote a statement that the officers were very professional in the way they handled it, and the principal said he was pleased with the way they handled themselves." Police arrested Kelly and charged him with resisting arrest, assaulting a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct, which are all misdemeanors. This is the second incident involving Whiteville fans this year, after Brunswick County Sheriff's deputies cleared the stands during a game at North Brunswick earlier this season. Still, Whiteville Police say they have no plans to change their policies for crowd control. "Usually we have the same amount of officers. We had five officers working the game, so we were very equipped to handle that, and that's something that don't happen here," Jackson said. "It was just one of those things, but we were able to handle it." Police say they could have peppersprayed Kelly, but then they would have had to clear the gym. We've tried to track down Kelly for comment, but have not yet found him.

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If you clicked on the info icon or the "Stats / Notes / Bio" link, you've reached this page which contains notes, memories, trivia and more about Paul O'Neill. If you have anything to add to this player's information, an interesting bit of trivia or a personal memory or story about Paul, please feel free to share it with us by filling out the form at the bottom of the page. Be sure to include your name and town. Facts, Trivia, Memories and More about Paul O'Neill Show Paul O'Neill's Uniform Number Progression Acquired: November 3, 1992 - Paul was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds along with Joe DeBerry in return for Roberto Kelly. Unarguably one of the all-time great deals the Yankees have made in their illustrious history. Paul would go on to win four World Series Championships in pinstripes and became a fan favorite in the process. August 31, 1995: Paul goes 4-for-5 with 8 RBI and 3 HR as the Yankees defeat the Angels 11-6 at Yankee Stadium. In a game that would go on to become a YES "Yankee classic," Paul gave the Yankees an early 3-0 lead with a three-run homerun in the bottom of the first off Angels starter, and lefty, Brian Anderson. Paul came up again in the second inning, again against Brian Anderson and again touched him up for a three-run home run. Two innings, two home runs and 6 RBI for Paul. The second home run gave the Yankees a 7-0 lead and also spelled the end of Anderson's day. Angels reliever Mike Harkey then settled down to retire 8 of 9 batters until Paul came up to lead off the bottom of the 5th and went deep for the third time on the afternoon, increasing the Yankee lead to 8-1. By the time Paul batted again in the bottom of the 6th, Mike Harkey had been replaced with Bob Patterson and the score was now 8-4. Paul could "only" manage an RBI single this time around, plating Pat Kelly with the Yankee's 9th run of the day and Paul's 8th RBI. Paul's bid for a fourth home run ended quietly on a three pitch strikeout (looking) to start the 8th against Troy Percival. September 17, 1999: Paul goes 3-for-5 with 6 RBI, two doubles and a home run in a 9-4 Yankees win in Cleveland. His two run double in the first off Jaret Wright gave the Yankees a quick 2-0 lead. He came up again in the second inning with Chuck Knoblauch aboard and smacked a three-run homer, again off Wright, to give the Yankees and starter Roger Clemens a 5-0 lead. His second double and sixth RBI came in the 8th off Cleveland reliever Sean DePaula, driving in Derek Jeter with the Yankees 9th run of the day. Tell us your memories or trivia of Paul O'Neill:

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Dawgs on top for Dawson? UGASports.comWith no defensive backs committed for the 2012 class, the University of Georgia is working hard to land a couple of prospects before Signing Day.The Bulldogs hosted one their top targets this weekend, Ridgeway High School (Memphis, Tenn.) athlete Sheldon Dawson.Dawson, a Memphis commit, has made it known that he would open things up if a better option came into play, and it appears that UGA has given Dawson plenty to think about."I had a great time on the visit," he said. "I didn't commit, not today, but I can say Georgia is on top."Although Dawson is committed to Memphis as a running back, Georgia made it known last week that their offer was as a defensive back. ...More... To continue reading this article you must be a member. Sign Up Now!

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AITA rejects Somdev's claimsBy Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited – Sat 12 Jan, 2013 7:46 PM IST New Delhi, Jan 12 (IANS) The All India Tennis Association (AITA) Saturday rejected allegations by Somdev Devvarman that it was not in touch with the rebel players before picking the team for the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I tie against South Korea slated for Feb 1-3. The AITA in a statement that it had informed the eleven rebel players that their demands were met but still they made themselves unavailable for national duty. "We were personally in contact with Vishnu Vardhan till about 11:30 pm on Thursday night (Jan 10). We had categorically informed him that remaining demands (business class for Asia Ocenia Zone for four players and a squad of six player) of the players have been met. But the selection of the coach and captain is the responsibility of the AITA," the AITA said in a statement. "He (Vishnu) was also informed that Mr. Zeeshan Ali's credentials are impeccable. He assured us that he will contact other players, and would get back to us," he said. The AITA also said that it was also in touch with Sanam Singh and Divij Sharan. "During the day (10th January 2013) we had met Sanam Singh and informed of the same and requested him to speak to Somdev Devvarman. One of our committee members was also in touch with Divij Sharan. It is correct that a written letter was not sent, but the concern of business class fares for all four players for Asia Oceania Davis Cup tie and composition of team of six members was duly communicated," the statement added. The AITA also added that a last minute attempt was also made but Sanam and Vardhan didn't answer their calls made before the selection committee sat down here Friday noon to pick up the squad. "We called up Vishu Vardhan and Sanam Singh on Friday morning (11th January 2013) but our calls went unanswered. AITA waited till 12 Noon for player's response and since no response was received, the selectors were provided with a list of available players. "We strongly deny that we have been unprofessional and unethical and believe that players should have made themselves available as was indicated to be a possibility by some players till late Thursday night," said statement read. Earlier, Somdev has slammed the AITA saying that the association has been acting in an unprofessional manner in handling their demands. "There is zero communication, there is zero professionalism and regardless of what the players have been trying to say, there just isn't any. Actually, this is a good thing because this has been going on for the past 20 years and hopefully, someone can bring in some change," Somdev told NDTV Saturday from Melbourne. Eleven players, led by Somdev, threatened to boycott the Davis Cup tie if their demands were not met. They had signed a statement against "certain practices observed in the management of the Davis Cup squad" in what they said was an effort to improve Indian tennis. "We are not asking for the moon. What players are asking for is to be kept in the light of what's going on, what's happening, what changes are being made and when we raise concerns, we just want them to be dealt with professionally," said Somdev. "We are just asking for basic rights that we as players deserve. Every one of us would have made ourselves available and would have played if the situation was dealt with in a professional manner." "Nothing was given to us in writing, nothing was even said to us by any of the selection committee or any of the executive committee. All we heard was the last message they sent to us on the sixth of January," added Somdev. In the absence of the regulars, a depleted Indian side with Leander Paes will now take on South Korea in the Asia/Oceania Group I clash. @YahooCricket on Twitter, become a fan on Facebook Matches

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December 19, 2011Notes: Uniform changes coming? BadgerBlitz.com Talk about it in The Tribal CouncilMADISON - Maybe it's the Oregon influence. Maybe it's the stage.Maybe it's a little bit of both. Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema told reporters that he's planning on tweaking UW's uniform in time for it's BCS appearance Jan. 2nd. The details are still being worked out, but expect UW to play off the name of the bowl game it will be participating in. "I was a marketing major for those of you that don't know it," Bielema joked during his Monday press conference. "I realize Oregon is a premier school for Nike and they do a lot of specific things with Phil Knight and all that goes into being out there. It's a matchup between an Adidas school and a Nike school. "It's kind of a unique situation because you've got Wisconsin, which is red and white on road uniforms. To incorporate a rose theme in that type of environment is going to be pretty cool."Bielema said he still needs to finalize the look and run it past his athletic director, Barry Alvarez. "We know he doesn't like change," Bielema said. "I guarantee we won't be wearing red pants. I do know that."Wisconsin lost to TCU a year ago in the same bowl game while wearing red pants. Keeping focused…most of the time: Some of the early talk this bowl season, from both players and Bielema, have centered on staying focused throughout the course of the weeklong trip to Los Angeles. Montee Ball has gone on record to say his team was a bit wide-eyed the last time out there, and that they let some unnecessary distraction heed their focus entering the game. This time, most everyone you talk to that will play some sort of role in the outcome of the Rose Bowl is hell bent on treating it as a business trip. They understand what the Rose Bowl is about, how it's played on the biggest of stages and most importantly, what it feels like to lose. Though that is an admirable and believable attitude, a trip to the 'City of Angels' is also meant to be fun. Bielema is going to make sure his guys have an opportunity to enjoy what they've worked so hard to accomplish. Part of the fun of making it to Pasadena is the area it resides in and part of accomplishing some of the team goals the Badgers set forth back in August will get rewarded. "I'm taking them to a Los Angeles Lakers-New York Knicks game," Bielema said. "I thought I was going to get a standing ovation for that one. Only a certain amount of guys get to go. There will be little things that we get to do that are rewards for them. "Those are the neat things."Wagner returning for his senior season: Bielema has mentioned in the past that only Montee Ball and Peter Konz will have a serious decision to make regarding their collegiate and NFL future following the season, but that doesn't mean other players haven't been receiving interest from agents. Ricky Wagner, a junior and first-year starting left tackle, has been garnering plenty of interest from potential agents that are hoping to land him as a client. It got to the point that Wagner needed to sit down and discuss his options with Bielema. "Any of my junior that have even had a limited amount of success I'll just be up front and honest," Bielema said. "Is this something that you're actually thinking about? Little birdies had been in my ear saying that he had possibly been contacted by people and was weighing his options. "We just sat down and he came straightforward with me. He just wanted to make sure that he hadn't broken any rules with those people contacting him."The fourth-year player will be back for his fifth and final season in Madison next fall. "He's a real quiet kid and he's got a plan in mind," Bielema said. "He's come a long way (to get to) where he is today."Konz still not practicing:Peter Konz has yet to participate in a full practice during bowl prep and will seek a second opinion on his injured left ankle later this week. Bielema hopes to get Konz back for practice when the team arrives in California next week, if not sooner. There haven't been any discussions at this point as to whether Konz will play in the Rose Bowl. Should he be unable to play, Bielema did acknowledge how the injury could play a factor in Konz's upcoming NFL decision-making process."What we're trying to do for Pete and Montee, really all the guys in this situation, is gather as much information as we can," Bielema said. "We want to give them accurate information. Kids get enamored and wowed when agents start throwing out dollar figures. One thing an agent does when he hires you is he starts taking your money. "It kind of takes a couple of years for that to settle in. Obviously with this second opinion if there is any extended medical issues it's going to affect his status."Quotable: Bielema on a potential NFL future for Bradie Ewing:"The Green Bay Packers were in here and they were kind of taking a specific look at him. I got a lot of questions and I told coach Thomas Hammock that I didn't know if I could tell Bradie that the Packers were asking about him. He might faint."FEATURED PRODUCT Florida State Seminoles (FSU) 2013 National Champions Titan Watch

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November 13, 2011Inside the Box: UNC vs. Asheville North Carolina (2-0 overall) (0-2 overall) Kimmel Arena -- Asheville (N.C.) UNC-A 32-54 (59.3) 3-PT. FG% 2-7 (28.6) 8-28 (28.6) Zeller (North Carolina) 27 Primm (UNC-Asheville) 23 Henson (North Carolina) 8 Zeller (North Carolina) 7 Marshall (North Carolina) 15 Primm (UNC-Asheville) 3 Strickland (North Carolina) 2 Stephenson, Dickey, Primm (UNC-Asheville) 2 "We're very pleased with the outcome. It was a little bit of a difficult turn-around, and yet at the same time, they played Friday night as well. We had a tremendous size advantage inside, and we tried to make sure that was an important factor in the game." - North Carolina coach Roy Williams on his team's 16-point victory over UNC-Asheville Sunday afternoon in the first-ever game at Kimmel Arena 4Times going back to 1957 that North Carolina has played an in-state non-conference opponent in that school's home on-campus arena 5th All-time UNC individual-game school rank for Kendall Marshall with his 15 assists against the Bulldogs 23-6Run by the Tar Heels late in the first half and early in the second half that ultimately made the final difference in the game North Carolina faced a 'true road' environment Sunday afternoon in Asheville's Kimmel Arena, as UNC-Asheville ushered in a new era with a new building. The Tar Heels struggled some early on, allowing the Bulldogs to stay close for most of the first half, but top-ranked UNC eventually pulled away to cruise to its second straight triumph to start the new season. UNC-Asheville, the preseason favorite out of the Big South Conference, wasn't afraid to try to run with the powerful Tar Heels, and during a nip-and-tuck opening half, the Bulldogs pulled within 38-36 at one point, but the Tar Heels embarked on a 10-3 run to end the first half to take a nine-point lead into the locker room for halftime. Carolina promptly came out for the second half and put together a 13-3 run, pounding the ball inside to its big men. UNC would stretch its lead out to 20 points midway through the final period before UNC-Asheville made a late rally, pushing to within 12 points a couple of times in the final eight minutes. But the Tar Heels were able to hang on and get the comfortable victory behind 59.3 percent shooting as a team, and a solid plus-14 rebounding margin coming off Friday night's dreadful effort on the glass against Michigan State. All in all, it was a solid team win for the Tar Heels against a team that has an excellent shot of joining UNC in the field of 68 teams in the 2012 NCAA Tournament come March. C: Tyler Zeller: Sunday was a game of struggles at times for Carolina's senior big man, but his numbers speak for themselves---eight-of-13 shooting from the floor and 11-of-13 from the free throw line to lead all scorers with 27 points. Zeller added eight rebounds and a blocked shot in 30 minutes on the floor. The UNC-Asheville students picked out Zeller as a target for consistent verbal abuse throughout the game, and while there was one point in the first half where Zeller looked visibly frustrated with all the physical attention he was getting from the Bulldogs, for the most part he handled himself with grace. Everybody in the arena that knew anything about basketball knew that Zeller was going to get a lot of touches, and he didn't disappoint for the Tar Heels. PF: John Henson: Henson had a solid game on Sunday, recording a double-double with 20 points and 12 boards. He also picked up two more blocked shots to go with his impressive total from San Diego. Henson was making shots all over the floor against the Bulldogs, finishing eight-of-11 from the field. In a strong sign of his improving free throw shooting, Henson managed to sink four of six attempts from the charity stripe. If Henson plays like this over the ensuing months, Carolina is going to be damn hard to topple. PG: Kendall Marshall: The lofty numbers put up by Zeller, Henson, and Barnes on Sunday was largely facilitated by Marshall, who had one of his finest outings yet in powder blue. Remarkably, Marshall produced 15 assists against just one turnover. It was the fifth-most assists ever put up in a single game by a North Carolina player, and it's the most ever (repeat ever) in a 'true' road game. Despite all the yelling and screaming from the UNC-A fans, Marshall was poised, deliberate, and mature. As one Tar Heel fan put it on Facebook, 'Kendall Marshall has got some X-Ray vision.' We tend to agree. As if his 15 assists weren't enough, Marshall added six points and a rebound over a team-high 34 minutes on the floor. Honorable Mention: SF Harrison Barnes: It's not often that a player won't be in the 'Three Stars' category after scoring 17 points, but Barnes' efforts on Sunday got overshadowed a little bit by the outstanding efforts by Zeller, Henson, and Marshall. But it was another workmanlike outing for the All-American, as he drilled six of 10 shots from the perimeter, including five of eight free throws. Barnes also had five turnovers. One of the reasons why Barnes wasn't higher on this game's list is the fact that he had six turnovers, including a couple of head-scratcher passes. But Barnes continues to make clutch shots for the Tar Heels, and he seems to be just getting warmed up. HEELS BREAK IN SPARKLING NEW ARENA How could North Carolina possibly top the pageantry and electricity of playing on the USS Carl Vinson in San Diego Friday night? Well, there's an answer apparently. Fly home on the redeye that same night, hang out for a day, and then turn around and play one of the top mid-major programs in the South when they just happen to be opening a brand-new arena, the gorgeous Kimmel Arena on UNC-Asheville's campus. "The biggest thing for us was the 'three time zone' kind of thing, trying to get ourselves back into what would be normal, and we don't feel like we're that (yet)," said head coach Roy Williams. Make no mistake---this was a true road game for the Tar Heels. UNC-A's student body is passionate about its basketball, and over 3,000 rowdy spectators poured into the gleaming new complex. In fact, there were brief moments when the scene wasn't completely unlike Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium given the quaint setting and all the dark blue in the stands. "It was a big-time crowd here. I hope everybody enjoyed themselves, and I think it was a wonderful opening for UNC-Asheville. And I think they're going to have a really big-time basketball team for them (their fans)," said Williams. "It was a wonderful setting. It's a big-time gym, and I think it will be a great home court advantage for the Bulldogs." For the most part, Carolina handled this intimidating environment fairly well. The Tar Heels allowed UNC-A to go on a couple of spurts that fired up the fans, but almost every time Carolina had a definitive answer. UNC managed to control the game pretty much all the way through, save a few key moments of lapse. UNC-Asheville fought hard and refused to be blown out of their own gym, but Carolina held control and didn't let up. HEELS POUND INSIDE, LIMIT THREES Predictably, North Carolina made it a point to get the ball inside Sunday against UNC-Asheville. The Bulldogs had absolutely no match for Carolina's size, and the Tar Heels knew it. "We had a tremendous size advantage inside, and we tried to make sure that was an important factor in the game," said Williams. "We were just bigger. And we've got to use that to our advantage." In addition, Carolina knew defensively that it would have to limit UNC-A's 'dribble and dish' style of play, working the ball inside with the guards and then kicking outside to other players for three-pointers. "We had hoped that we would really hold their three-point percentage down. We knew they were going to shoot a lot of them. We hoped we were going to do that. And we hoped we would do a better job on the backboards than we did against Michigan State. We still weren't smooth by any means. Their shooters can really shoot it. So we tried to make sure we got out and bothered them," Williams said. "Their (UNC-A's) style of play is they want to dribble-penetrate and create openings for three-point shots. So we tried to just guard them man-to-man and stay straight with them, and I think that will help us," Williams continued. While Carolina wasn't making a lot of its own outside shots, they did a nice job for the most part of slowing down Asheville's outside game. While the Bulldogs did make eight three-pointers, they attempted 28, making for a shooting percentage of just 28.6 percent. That's a percentage Coach Williams will take anytime. KENDALL'S EYES We just can't say enough about the efforts of Marshall, who continues to propel the Tar Heels in a way that can accurately be described as highly effective. His 15-to-1 assists-to-turnovers ratio speaks for itself, but he also showed quality shot selection, making two of five field goal attempts, including a three-pointer. Marshall's court vision continues to astound observers. He had several highlight-reel passes in the game, including multiple looks in transition, and one bullet he threw inside to Henson for an easy basket. But it's one that he missed that got a mention from Coach Williams after the game. "If he would have made a better play on the 'three on two' at the end he would have 16 (assists)," Williams joked, drawing laughter from reporters after the game. Clearly Marshall is doing fine coming off the scare with his back, and if Sunday's performance is any indication, the Tar Heels are going to be just fine so long as No. 05 is on the court. COMING HOME Sunday was a Homecoming in a lot of ways for Coach Williams, who got his first opportunity since becoming a collegiate head coach to work his craft in his hometown. It was a little different for Williams, a favorite son of Asheville, to be the bad guy in the building, but it was great for him to be able to come home with his top-ranked team. "It was a little unusual to be back. I didn't think I would be booed quite as much in Asheville (N.C.) as I was tonight, but that's okay. All's fair in love, war, and basketball games," he said. "I love this area. It's a place that's always been home. And hopefully in about 10 years or so down the road, when I quit I'll live up here because the mountains have this thing about it with me. And that will never change. MUCH NEEDED REST Now that UNC has taken on its whirlwind three-day run of games in San Diego and Asheville, the team can afford to take a deep breath and cool its heels for a few days before returning to game action. In fact, Carolina will get a whole week off before playing Mississippi Valley State next Sunday afternoon in the Smith Center. For the Tar Heel players and coaches, the return to Chapel Hill will be a welcome thing naturally. "All in all, it's been a weird four or five days," said Coach Williams. "The experiences we've had the last four or five days, some of them have been sensational and things that we'll remember forever. It was a little bit difficult for me with so many thoughts going through my mind. UNC will have a more traditional week as they get back to practice in the Smith Center, and back to a more usual routine with classes. It's a great opportunity for the team to re-charge its batteries for a few days before getting focused for a challenging stretch, with four games set to be played over seven days, starting Sunday with MVSU and concluding in Las Vegas next weekend with a series of two games Friday and Saturday in Sin City. Sunday, UNC vs. Middle Tennessee Valley State, Smith Center, 2:00 pm (Raycom Network)

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July 15, 2005Q&A with Richard Goodman Warchant.com provides the most complete coverage of the summer workouts. Here's what you are missing if you aren't a subscriber: Daily workout reports * Photo galleries * Instant updates * Exclusive videos of passing drills * Breaking news * Feature stories - Find out what you are missing with a 7-day free trial! By Gene Williams & Aslan Hajivandi The number one feel good story for the summer workouts is the outstanding performances turned in by freshman Richard Goodman. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound wide receiver has been tearing up the passing drills and no defensive back has been able to contain him. The first few weeks here, the players have really talked you up, and they're really impressed with you. Does that give you some reassurance that you can compete at this level? Yeah it feels good. Just really, personally, it lets me know that hard work pays off. All the hard work as far as going into my senior year and after my senior year preparing myself to come up here. I'm just showing them what I did and what I worked on before I came here Most of the recruiting services didn't rank you very high but the way you looked at the end of your senior year and the way you look out here it seems you should have been ranked higher. Looking back do you want to prove them wrong? Everybody has their own opinion. Everybody is not fortunate enough as far as being in the right position; you know early in high school I made some mistakes. I was able to be blessed to have the opportunity to come play at Florida State and get the offers from Oklahoma and Auburn. Personally, I felt I was one of the top players in the country, but I wasn't fortunate enough to get the high ranking, but in the end I was able to choose where I wanted to go to school. So you weren't bothered by the low rankings even though you knew you were a better player? I wasn't really worried about the rankings, I just didn't want to go to a school that I wasn't happy with. Like the rankings really didn't bother me, because, like all across the country you have players that nobody knows about and they end up blowing up in college and end up playing at the next level. That's all I'm trying to do, try to make a name for myself and just show that coming out of high school I was one of the better receivers in the country. Did you know going into your senior year you would have the offers from Florida State, Oklahoma, Auburn? I didn't think I would have them, but my coach from Pop Warner football always told me that hard work pays off. And I knew as long as I keep trying to approach this goal that I'm trying to reach as far as to play big time D1 football, that eventually they (offers) would come. I didn't think I would be at Florida State or have offers from Oklahoma, but I was just praying that I'd be playing D1 football. As much as you improved over the last year, how does it feel to go up against guys like Antonio Cromartie? (asked before Cromartie's injury) Cromartie, he's considered one of the best defensive backs in the country, you know, he has a big frame, he's a real big, tall guy that can run. So just being able to compete with him gives me the opportunity to better my game and hopefully give him some work as well as he's giving me. Who do you compare yourself to? Is there a receiver out there you try to pattern yourself after? I watch a lot of film of Peter Warrick. As far as the way he runs his routes, the things that he does after he catches the ball, I just love it. In a way he reminds me a lot of myself, my high school highlight film is a split screen with me and him, we have a lot of similarities. I don't have very much film of him in the NFL, but every other day I go up to the film room just to watch things like back when he was here, as far as the spring games and the 1-on-1's just to watch him and see how he did things to get open and make plays Do you watch more film here than you did in high school? Not really. The film I watched in high school was mainly just game films and highlight reels; films here as far as routes are making them quick as far as coming out of your breaks faster, and making the DB turn his hips they way that he doesn't want to�little things, as far as reading coverage and everything it's more upper level and professional. Are the routes much different at this level? The routes are very similar, it's just they're a little deeper. In high school the quarterback's arm isn't as strong and accurate, so at the next level you're able to push your routes a little deeper because the quarterback's arm is a lot stronger. Will you line up at split end or flanker? I'm hoping to do both. Personally I like to get out on the split, and to be able to showcase my talent on the DB's. I like to get in the slot against linebackers and make them miss and turn little gains into big gains. Do you do primarily kickoff or punt returns? I do both. I'm going to try to do both, but anything that will help lead this team to a national championship will be fine, but I'm trying to do both. Talk about it on the Football Message Board or on the Tribal Council

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April 9, 2008Some succeed in both basketball, football There was a time when college athletic programs were divided into two distinct groups. Football schools were on one side of the line, basketball schools were on the other. Times obviously are changing. That line still exists to some extent, but it appears to be fading fast. Kansas' national basketball title marked the fourth consecutive year that the school that won the basketball championship also won its bowl game. In fact, over the past 10 years, a dozen schools have appeared in both a BCS game and a Final Four. A powerful basketball program may even boost football recruiting. Football recruits making official visits in December and January often are taken to basketball games, where they can get a taste of atmosphere. "The visibility that success brings, whatever the sport, is always positive for other sports in an athletic program," said Texas coach Mack Brown, who previously had great success at North Carolina, a traditional basketball school. "When we were at North Carolina, Coach (Dean) Smith and the basketball coaches there were always helpful to us. "We try to do the same here. Anytime a coach of another sport asks me to talk to a recruit, I'm happy to do it. Television opens a window to the world for a university, and kids like to see winners. We've got a really healthy environment right now at Texas in that all of our coaches get along and our athletes support each other. When you see kids having fun playing the game, and fans having fun watching it, that's a good thing. And recruits notice that most of all." Apparently, they've noticed more in recent years. In 2005, Oklahoma was the only school that signed a top-10 football recruiting class in February and whose basketball program appeared in the NCAA Tournament in March. In 2006, Florida, Texas, LSU and Oklahoma were ranked among the top 10 in recruiting and also participated in March Madness. And in the past two years, five schools have ranked among the nation's top 10 in football recruiting and also appeared in the NCAA Tournament. Coincidence? Probably. The five programs that had the football recruiting/NCAA tourney double in 2007 were Florida, USC, Tennessee, Texas and Notre Dame, which figure to recruit well no matter how their basketball program does. And a struggling basketball program won't hamper a football recruiting class. Alabama's football recruiting class ranked No. 1 in 2008, but its basketball program finished 17-16. By the same token, Auburn football had top-10 recruiting classes in 2006 and '07 but hasn't been in the NCAA tournament field since 2003. Thus, that would raise the question of whether a good basketball program really does help a football program. "I don't think it hurts," Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. "I don't think it's a necessity. Most programs survive themselves. Look at Duke, for instance. Duke has struggled in football, but has a great basketball program. There are a lot of teams in the ACC like that. "You seldom see a dominating force in both. Florida is different from that, but it has some advantages over others with the type of talent they have a chance to recruit. I think if you can win in both of them that, no doubt, they do help each other." Still, Pittsburgh football coach Dave Wannstedt says there is no question basketball gives football a boost. Since arriving at Pitt four years ago, Wannstedt's recruiting classes consistently have ranked among the nation's top 30. At the same time, Pitt's basketball program has made seven consecutive NCAA appearances, including four trips to the Sweet 16. "I'm always looking for the recruiting angle," Wannstedt said. "Any time a recruit in Ohio hears about Pittsburgh � whether it's basketball or the Steelers or the Penguins � it's good for our football program. "When I bring recruits in and go to a basketball game and there's a sellout and a lot of energy in the house, it's good for our program. When the Steelers are on Monday Night Football and they show the city and the three rivers, it's good for our program. That's how I approach it. A lot of coaches go the other way 'to protect their program' or that crap, but that's how I look at it." Trivia question Name the 12 programs that within the past 10 seasons (since '98 for football and '99 for basketball) have appeared in both a BCS game and a Final Four.(Answer at the end of the column.) Florida receiver Percy Harvin had surgery on his right heel Monday in Charlotte, N.C. Harvin, a junior who has rushed for 1,192 yards and caught 93 passes for 1,285 yards in his career, is expected to be fully recovered by August. Virginia redshirt freshman linebacker J'Courtney Williams, a former four-star prospect, was dismissed from the team after being charged with credit card theft and fraud. Iowa State coach Gene Chizik acknowledged the quarterback duel between sophomores Austen Arnaud and Phillip Bates likely won't be settled during spring practice. He also said it doesn't need to be. Chizik said he is not opposed to using a two quarterback system. New Nebraska coach Bo Pelini turned down an invitation to visit the White House as part of LSU's 2007 national championship team. Pelini, who was LSU's defensive coordinator last season, chose instead to attend practice, where the Huskers were working on reinstalling the option as part of their offense. Tailback James Montgomery reportedly is transferring from California to Washington State. Montgomery, who is from the Sacramento, Calif., area, was expected to be the Bears' starting tailback this season but said he didn't feel comfortable in Berkeley. He will have to sit out the 2008 season. Alabama third-string tailback Roy Upchurch appears to have raised his profile after playing well in a scrimmage last weekend. Upchurch ran for touchdowns on 16 and 46 yards in the scrimmage. The NCAA granted a sixth year of eligibility to Auburn defensive tackle Tez Doolittle. He missed last season with a leg injury. He had nine tackles, with 1.5 tackles for loss, in 2006. Defensive end Jeremy Jarmon has returned to Kentucky's spring practice after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Jarmon posted a team-high nine sacks last season. Meanwhile, Wildcats defensive tackle Ricky Lumpkin had surgery to remove bone spurs from his right hip. Trivia answer In alphabetical order, the 12 programs that within the past 10 seasons have appeared in both a BCS game and a Final Four are Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Syracuse, Texas, UCLA and Wisconsin. MORE: BCS Spring Breakdowns | Practice previews for every team | More college football Olin Buchanan is the senior college football writer for Rivals.com. He can be reached at olin@rivals.com. Talk about it in Red Sea Scrolls

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Cardiff man’s swimming streak reaches 1,000 By Tony Cagala Apr 05, 2013 • Taking his thousandth consecutive swim, 54-year-old Blane Adessa readies to enter the water Wednesday at Moonlight Beach. He said most people think the water is cold, but “if you jump in the water and you swim 50 strokes you’re not cold.” Photo by Tony Cagala ENCINITAS — The water temperature read 60 degrees midday Wednesday when 54-year-old Blane Adessa took to the water, marking an unusual, if not impressive streak — his thousandth consecutive swim. With a pair of swim fins and trunks Adessa strode into the ocean at Moonlight Beach, where he likes to swim because, he said, it’s a good beach and also because there are lifeguards year round. With spring break in full swing, there were a lot more people on the beach than he’s normally used to seeing. On some days, he said, the beach is his own private Idaho. Adessa’s consecutive streak began more than a couple of years ago, when things were changing on him. A real estate appraiser for 25 years, he began to feel the effects of the tanking economy. When Fannie Mae started making changes to his industry he had lost almost 80 percent of his clients, he said. And so as things were tightening up, he picked up his son on the last day of school and they decided to go to the beach. The Cardiff residents decided that they would try and go to the beach every day. “It ended up being the coldest summer on record,” Adessa said. But they just kept going. “We did it the whole summer,” he said, counted the days up for his son. But when his son went back to school, he asked himself, “Why would I stop?” And so he kept going and kept marking off the days on the calendar. “I got to a hundred and I said, ‘You know what, I wonder if I could go to 500.’ And even before I got to 500 I was thinking, ‘You know I’ve never done 1,000 days of anything in my life.’” Adessa said he’s taken to most any open water to log his swims, including his pool and even some rugged places as the Salton Sea, which, he said, he’ll never do again. He spent the last three winters in a row in Big Bear, swimming in a little strip of the north shore that doesn’t freeze over. “That water makes the ocean seem really warm when I get back,” he said. “I don’t know if there’s anybody that hasn’t ever heard that swimming’s the best exercise, and I wasn’t really a swimmer to speak of — it’s just right there, it’s free, you don’t need to pay a gym membership,” he said. “It’s really helped me a lot.” Adessa said he’d like to keep the streak going even after Wednesday’s milestone, adding that it’d be cool to reach a three-year streak. For him to reach that, he’d need to keep swimming until July 7 this year. “I just keep setting goals and see where I can go with it. I feel invigorated,” he said. “Getting out of the water, I just feel like, ‘Wow, we’re so blessed living here.’” State of the City and Cardiff calendar set Coastkeeper reaches agreement on sewage spills at Pendleton Museum reaches out to community for help in preserving landmark Cardiff canines groom up for ‘Dog Days’ Candidate reaches out with listening and speaking tour Filed Under: Rancho Santa Fe News • The Coast News Tags: Blane Adessa • Encinitas • streak • swimmer Comments (2) lmb says: April 5, 2013 at 4:25 pm Blane- You’re very inspirational! Keep livin the dream. Reply Morgan Mallory says: April 6, 2013 at 11:21 am I have known this man for many years. I like him and respect him and he is pretty normal outside of this.

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» Regular Features » Articles Archive » Articles » Hardman Back And Ready to Contribute Hardman Back And Ready to Contribute Written by MarkCook Hardman was re-signed on Tuesday The Buccaneers filled a roster spot on Tuesday, re-signing offensive lineman Derek Hardman to the active roster, after placing tackle Jeremy Trueblood on injured reserve. Hardman had been working out in Tampa since his release earlier this season and was happy when the phone call came from the Buccaneers. The life of an NFL backup is – for the most part – a wild roller-coaster ride. Offensive lineman Derek Hardman has ridden the rickety track, and felt the dips, bumps and loops since coming out of in Eastern Kentucky in 2010, when he signed with the Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent.Hardman was re-signed to the roster on Tuesday after the Buccaneers placed backup offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood on injured reserve. PewterReport.com caught up with Hardman on Tuesday inside the locker room, and the former starter talked about what the ride has been like since joining the league.“It’s tough (that emotional swing) but you just have to have faith in something higher,” Hardman said. “Football is not the end of everything, but it is a great job and it is fun. I want to scratch it out as long as I can.”Hardman has had some success in the NFL when as a rookie he played in nine games, including four as a starter. Since his release in Spetember, Hardman was hopeful a call would come, if not from the Buccaneers, then at least from another team in the league.“I have pretty much stayed in Tampa, spending my time working at the D1 (sports training facility),” Hardman said. “I had a workout in Detroit and a couple calls about joining as a practice squad player, but I can’t do that (no eligibility). My best chance was here and now, here I am.”With Davin Joseph, Carl Nicks, Desmond Wynn and now Trueblood done for the season and on injured reserve, the Buccaneers are dangerously thin across the offensive line. Hardman feels like he can play anywhere on the line and is willing to do so if called upon.“I played tackle in college, and guard my first year here, and ever since then,” Hardman said. “But whatever they tell me to do… We haven’t had a sit down talk about it yet. I am just happy to be here.”One who is extremely happy to see Hardman back is good friend and current center Ted Larsen.“He has played in quite a few games and is a veteran and can help us with depth,” Larsen said. “He looks good and stayed in shape so it will definitely be beneficial.“He had a really good preseason and brings some versatility to play both sides Larsen. And the main thing is he is so fresh right now. He has done a great job keeping himself in shape and will had some great depth. Especially the fact he has played here and has the knowledge, that’s huge.”Hardman knows the roller coaster ride could start clicking back up the incline at any point, but is hoping he can stick around for a little longer.“I know the offense and will pick up on where they are quickly,” Hardman said. “Hopefully I can help out that way. Hopefully I can help bring along some of the young guys. Hopefully just contribute in some way.“Once you get to this level, and as a backup in the NFL, you have to be able to play any side and do whatever you can to help the team.” Last modified on Wednesday, 28 November 2012 18:58 ARTICLE RATING 1 « Bucs Injured Reserve List Grows; Grimm And Trueblood The Latest Schiano And The Bucs Wary Of Manning » I too have been a fan of Hardman...he's servicable in a couple of positions and may not be great but seemed to be steady. I hope I'm right and Free dowsn't get blown up this week. Tough loss last week.....still licking my wounds....but always a fan. GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am with you Horse and have been a fan of Hardman since he did a good job when he was a starter and he can play both Tackle and Guard. It bothered me that they ever let him go after he stood out in preason. I felt the same way when we let Hardy go last year and now we could really use him as a reliable back up TE. I do hope our starter at TE has the same genes as Rhonde and can keep playing for a long time to come. What Hardy had was excellent speed and quickness, good height, and great hands. If the Saints ever cut him Schiano needs to grab him and bring him back! I am glad to see himm back and was surprised that he was cut in September.

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Cincinnati hires Tommy Tuberville from Texas Tech Tommy Tuberville was 20-17 in three seasons at Texas Tech. / Stephen Spillman, AP by Erick Smith, USA TODAY Sportsby Erick Smith, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under Cincinnati has acted quickly to fill its football coaching vacancy. The school has hired Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville one day after former coach Butch Jones accepted an offer from Tennessee. The move reverses a trend for the Bearcats, who have seen Mark Dantonio, Brian Kelly and now Jones leave after short tenures. They were all up-and-coming talents in the coaching profession. Tuberville has 17 seasons under his belt. It's also an interesting move on the coaching ladder for Tuberville. He has also coached Mississippi and Auburn in the Southeastern Conference and now leaves the Big 12 for a school in the Big East, a conference that has seen its football prospects damaged in the recent expansion in college athletics. The question is whether Cincinnati will be in the same situation of needing to find a replacement if Tuberville has success and decides to leave. Tuberville won 85 games in 10 seasons at Auburn before he resigned after the 2008 season. At Auburn, he worked with current Cincinnati athletics director Whit Babcock, who was assistant athletics director of development at the school. Tuberville's overall coaching record is 130-77. "I'm very proud to welcome Tommy, Suzanne, Tucker and Troy into our Bearcats family," Babcock said. "Coach Tuberville's record speaks for itself over the past 17 seasons. It also speaks volumes to the visibility and leadership of our University that we were able to attract such an accomplished coach to lead our program into the future." Tuberville arrived at Texas Tech after Mike Leach's messy divorce from the school but failed to build on Leach's success. In three seasons, Tuberville went 20-17, including a 7-5 record this season. The Red Raiders will face Minnesota in the Meineke Care Bowl on Dec. 28. "I've enjoyed my time working with Tommy Tuberville," Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt said. "He's a good man, a man of great character, and I wish him well, wish him nothing but success as he moves forward and want to thank him for his leadership and his service to Texas Tech University and to our football program." An obvious possibility for Texas Tech to replace Tuberville would be Kliff Kingsbury. The former Red Raiders quarterback is the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M. Another would be former defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeil, who has spent the last three seasons as coach of East Carolina. "I'm not going to put a timeline upon ourselves," Hocutt said when asked about how quickly the school would move to find a replacement. "We will move as expeditiously as we possibly can, but at the same time we're going to take as much time as we need to find the right individual for this program." Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Cincinnati hires Tommy Tuberville from Texas Tech Tuberville fills the vacancy created when Butch Jones accepted an offer from Tennessee. A link to this page will be included in your message.

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Sports on the air Pacers notes: Knicks fans revel in Jackson's return There's a standing ovation, and then there's a standing ovation inside Madison Square Garden.- 9:30 pm That's a charge! Not anymore When you are 73-year-old Larry Brown, who began his head coaching career more than four decades...- 7:32 pm Colts propose rule to allow roofs to open at halftime The Indianapolis Colts might get a lot more use out of Lucas Oil Stadium's retractable roof if team...- 6:33 pm Editorial: System for picking judges needs overhaul A slating fee by any other name is still a slating fee, and so it is with the money that Marion...- 5:51 pm Indiana General Assembly: The good, the bad, and the could have been worse In a state facing major economic, educational and quality-of-life challenges, the Indiana General...- 6:45 pm Indy Zoo prepares to shine spotlight on orangutans Lucy the orangutan at the Indianapolis Zoo. / Star File Photo When Indianapolis is featured in the national spotlight, it�s most often because of sports � the Colts, the Pacers or the 500.Make way for another team, the Indianapolis Orangutans, who will arrive on the scene this spring when the Indianapolis Zoo opens its $26 million International Orangutan Center.Zoo visitors will be able to get up close and personal with this endangered species, as the orangutans swing through their new home on cable lines.Threatened with extinction in Borneo, Indonesia and Malaysia, the orangutans will be on call year-round in the atrium, with a jungle gym of platforms and bars.�We are building this to be the global public relations center for orangutans,� Zoo President Mike Crowther said.Crowther said the new exhibit will help establish Indianapolis as a leader in conservation. The orangutans will be the latest in a series of recent additions to the zoo and its mission that have attracted national attention. The Indianapolis Prize, for example, is the largest award in the world for animal conservation at $250,000.Zoo officials have raised $28.6 million of the $30 million campaign to build the orangutan facility and make other improvements. Crowther likes to give credit to everyone else, but others see the native of England as a key to the zoo�s progress since he started in 2002. At 61, he is more of an Indianapolis booster than many who have grown up here.�I think there is a tendency in many other cities to say that is an interesting idea but let me explain why it won�t work,� he said, reflecting on his experience on the East Coast. �There is more of a can-do mentality here. People in Indianapolis are not just willing to dream. They are willing to commit their own resources and efforts to accomplishing things.�Jeff Sparks is an Indianapolis native and founder of another organization that has put the city on the national map, the Heartland Film Festival. Sparks attributes Crowther�s success at the zoo to keeping himself in the background. Employees, and sometimes the animals, come first.�Mike is not motivated by ego,� Sparks said. �A servant leader has to put that ego aside. For Mike it�s about the people around you and it�s about making Indianapolis a special place. He does it well out of a love of people, not just a love of animals.� Pulliam is associate editor of The Star. Email him at russell.pulliam@indystar.com When Indianapolis is featured in the national spotlight, it's most often because of sports � the Colts, the Pacers or the 500.

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Stadium NG Atmosphere NG Concessions NG Photos taken in 2008 Buff Stadium was home to the Houston Buffaloes minor league team from 1928 to 1961. The ballpark was torn down in 1963, but fortunately a reminder still exists. On the same plot of land where the ballpark was situated, the Finger Furniture store now stands. In the basement the Houston Sports Hall of Fame features the last home plate used at Buff Stadium in the exact spot where it was located. The furniture store (and thus the sport museum) were closed for a while in 2009, but as of the spring of 2010, both had reopened. All Photos Copyright Brian Merzbach ballparkreviews.com

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Single-game Strikeout King Visits Cooperstown By Craig Muder After striking out 27 batters in one minor league game in 1952, Ron Necciai was destined for the big leagues. When he was called up to the Pittsburgh Pirates in August of 1952, the Bucs’ management – by way of locker selection – let Necciai know that he was ready for prime time. “They put me between Murry Dickson, who had been in the big leagues for (11) seasons, and Ralph Kiner, who as you know is a Hall of Famer,” said Necciai at a program on Thursday at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. “Then, I went out in that first game and gave up a huge homer to Hank Sauer of the Cubs. It hit off the clock in left field in (Pittsburgh’s) Forbes Field, and I swear that clock was rocking back and forth for a few minutes. Former big league pitcher Ron Necciai discusses his 1952 minor league no-hitter in which he struck out 27 batters on Thursday at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. (Milo Stewart Jr./National Baseball Hall of Fame Library) “It was sure different from the minor leagues.” Necciai visited the Hall of Fame on Thursday and recounted his famous outing on May 13, 1952, when he struck out 27 batters in a nine-inning no-hitter for the Bristol Twins of the Class D Appalachian League. Necciai is the only professional pitcher to record 27 strikeouts in a nine-inning game, and a ball from that 7-0 win over the Welch Miners – which Necciai donated to the Hall of Fame in 2001 – is on display in the Museum’s One for the Books exhibit. Once in the big leagues, Necciai lasted only one season with the Pirates before a rotator cuff injury ended his career. But his amazing game during that 1952 season lives on in baseball lore. “The doctor I saw (when he hurt his shoulder) told me that I’d never pitch again and that I should go home and buy a gas station,” said Necciai, who still lives in the Pittsburgh area. “I didn’t do that, but I’ve been married for 57 years, so I must have done something right. “And on that day (of the no-hitter), everything went right.” Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum I’ve never heard anybody say his name, Necciai. Somebody out there can help me pronounce it. By Steve H on August 23, 2012 6:03 pm - Reply

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Celebrate the MLB opener downtown One fan will be selected to deliver a ceremonial first pitch The Buffalo Bisons will welcome baseball fans in Western New York on MLB’s OPENING NIGHT at Pettibones Grille on Thursday, March 31 for the San Francisco Giants/Los Angeles Dodgers game at 8:00 p.m. The event will include free chicken wings and Coca-Cola soft drinks for a $5 donation to the American Red Cross Japanese relief efforts. Doors to Pettibones Grille will open at 7:00 p.m. The defending World Series Champion Giants take on the Dodgers in Major League Baseball’s first prime time game of the year. The 2011 season opens earlier that day with five afternoon contests. The New York Mets, parent club of Buffalo, open the season in Florida on Friday night. The MLB OPENING NIGHT will feature the Giants/Dodgers game on televisions throughout Pettibones Grille. The Bisons will also hand out several door prizes, including a Ceremonial First Pitch to the team’s first fridaynightbash!®, Friday, April 8 against the Syracuse Chiefs (5:05 p.m.). The Bisons will also have new merchandise and apparel on sale. Pettibones Grille will also feature a cash bar and a limited pub menu for fans. Like this:Like Loading... Posted on March 29, 2011 at 8:01 am

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Crawling Out of The Basement? Part 1: Baltimore Orioles By Dave Augustine (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) 346 This is part one of a six part series of articles focusing on one team from each division with little success in recent history. I will be covering the Baltimore Orioles, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Mariners, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres. I was inspired to write this after making a visit to Nationals Park a few weeks ago and Oriole Park at Camden Yards last night. Some of these teams seem to be heading in the right direction while others just cant seem to keep it together. For part one I will focus on the Baltimore Orioles. Not since Cal Ripken's final game in October of 2001 has there been much buzz in Birdland. There have been many failed attempts with former superstars such as Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmerio and Miguel Tejada. Sure they may have added a few more ticket sales to the box office but not much else came of that. Baltimore has not made the playoffs since winning the AL East in 1997 and have yet to finish the season with a .500 record since. There may be hope for this once storied franchise however. In 2003, Baltimore used its first-round pick on outfielder Nick Markakis. In his three-and-a-half seasons in Baltimore, Markakis has hit .299 with 67 HR and 303 RBI. Markakis recently signed a 6-year, $66 million contract to stay with the O's until 2014. The offseason of 2008 saw Erik Bedard moved to Seattle in what may end up being one of the smartest moves in President of Baseball Operations Andy MacPhail's tenure with the O's. The O's were able to bring in starting centerfielder Adam Jones along with closer George Sherrill, farmhand Chris Tillman (considered Baltimore's second best prospect) and Kam Mickolio (considered one of Baltimore's top 10 prospects). Jones had a strong 2008 season and has done even better to begin the 2009 campaign. Currently he has the same amount of home runs now (12) than he did in his previous 205 games. Jones is 10th in the AL with a .316 batting average and he can only get better from there. The only problem with Jones may be the money he demands once he's up for arbitration. I'm sure Baltimore will do all that is possible to keep him in an O's uniform. In 2005, Baltimore drafted outfielder Nolan Reimold in the second round. Reimold made his big league debut this year and so far the results have been pleasing. After hitting seven home runs in his first 30 games, Reimold should be a staple in left field with the O's. The top prospect in baseball, Matt Wieters, made his most anticipated arrival to the Big Show in May. A friend of mine who attended the game said that it was as if Baltimore found its baseball Messiah. Wieters got off to a slow start but has hit very well the past two weeks including his first career home run on June 17 against the Mets. The 6' 5" switch-hitting catcher is being counted on to bring Baltimore back to the Promised Land. With the combination of Markakis, Jones, Reimold and Wieters, the Oriole's have a solid young foundation. The leadership of veterans like Brian Roberts can help guide this team to the top of the AL East. Baltimore also has the option to become flexible at the trade deadline and move players like first baseman Aubrey Huff and DH Luke Scott for some young pieces to the puzzle. The pitching staff may be the biggest question mark. However, they have already seen bright spots from rookie Brad Bergesen and have seen a glimpse to the future with David Hernandez. With Tillman waiting in the wings Baltimore may have its Big Three (Tillman, Brian Matusz, and Jake Arrieta) ready to roll by 2010. I'm not saying it's the next Glavine-Smoltz-Maddux combo, but its a far cry better than the Guthrie-Uehara-Eaton combo to begin 2009. Anything is possible in baseball and even though this may be the toughest division, it can be won by someone other than the Yankees or Red Sox. Take the Rays for example who finally climbed out of the AL East basement in 2008 to reach the World Series. Give it a little time O's fans, your time may come sooner than you think. Share

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Get WalesOnline on your mobile phone CardiffOnline Preece making a Welsh Premier impression as Wingmakers impress By Mark Pitman on Jan 22, 13 08:26 PM Few Airbus UK related headlines manage to avoid an aviation pun, but if the limited jokes are starting to become tiresome, it is only because the Wingmakers are making so many headlines recently. Promoted to the Welsh Premier League less than a decade ago, the Broughton-based club have taken-off in recent seasons and now find themselves well on-course for a European debut as they occupy second place in the table ahead of the mid-season split. The highest goalscorers in the domestic top-flight with 56 goals from their opening 21 games, Airbus UK claimed second place last weekend with a convincing 6-1 win at nearest-rivals Prestatyn Town with five different players registering themselves on the score-sheet. The victory left manager Andy Preece celebrating his anniversary in the job in the best possible way, but the former journeyman striker appears to have no intention of letting the January transfer window pass him by without continuing to strengthen and improve his already strong and improving side. The club entered the Welsh Premier League in 2004 with a humble side playing in a humble stadium on the grounds of the Airbus UK factory. Their rise has been possible through steady on and off the field development and both the stadium and playing surface are now unrecognisable from only a few years ago. After making up the numbers in the league during their first few seasons, the side began to improve under the management of former Wrexham midfielder Gareth Owen from 2005 to 2008, and subsequently under the guidance of former Middlesbrough defender Craig Harrison, before he returned to the professional game with full-time Welsh Premier League rivals and current champions The New Saints in December 2011. His departure paved the way for Andy Preece to announce himself to the Welsh Premier League after a nomadic career in the English pyramid system, and along with trusted assistant Andy Morrison, himself a

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Game 6: Bats go silent against Nationals The Grapefruit League championship express was derailed Thursday afternoon in an 8-0 loss to the Nationals in Viera, Fla., as the Astros fell to 4-2 this spring. Here’s the boxscore. For the news of the day, including Astros GM talking about his apology to the Rangers and the Astros announcing they’ll decide Friday whether to have the pistol on their Colt .45s retro uniforms, click here. What went right: Jason Castro played in consecutive games for the first time this spring, going 1-for-3 at designated hitter one day after catching five innings. Even when he’s not catching, the Astros are going to take advantage of the DH to try to get him as many at-bats as possible. Infielder Jimmy Paredes made his spring debut and struck out as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning from the left side of the plate. He’s scheduled to start Friday against the Blue Jays. In addition to Castro, the only other hits were by Fernando Martinez and Chris Snyder. The Astros also didn’t commit an error once again. On the the mound, the Astros got scoreless innings from pitchers Henry Villar and Fernando Abad, who drew heaps of praise for manager Brad Mills for the way he was able to make adjustments. Abad was all the rage a year ago after a strong winter ball outing, but he had a terrible spring. Mills said he’s pitching like he did in 2010, which is a great sign for the lefty. Mills also lauded Lucas Harrell, who threw 1 2/3 innings of scoreless, hitless relief. Mills said the ball was exploding out of his hand. What went wrong: Livan Hernandez allowed three hits, two runs, including a homer, and two walks and struck out two batters in 2 1/3 innings in his second spring start. He left the game after being struck on the right leg by a grounder off the bat of Ryan Zimmerman, but the injury isn’t serious. Here’s what Hernandez had to say about it. Right-hander Henry Sosa was roughed up, allowing seven hits and five runs in two innings. “It’s a little puzzling because his command is usually pretty good,” Mills said. “We’re going to go back and discuss it and look at the charts and go from there and talk to him a little bit more. Usually, he’s much better of a command-type pitcher than he was today.” The Astros were held to three hits, with J.B. Shuck, Marwin Gonzalez and Carlos Lee each going 0-for-3. When asked about the team’s offensive performance, Mills gave credit to Nationals starter Edwin Jackson, who threw four scoreless innings and struck out three batters. What they said: “I felt good. The wind was crazy and there was the fly ball to right field [Zimmerman’s homer]. More important, I feel better than the first time. The breaking ball is better today and the changeup breaks very good. The sinker is working very good, too. I’m trying to work every day and am getting better and better. I feel good today.” — Astros pitcher Livan Hernandez on his outing. What’s next: Jimmy Paredes, who started at third base for the Astros the final two months of the season, is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut when the Astros face the Toronto Blue Jays at 12:05 p.m. CT Friday in Kissimmee. Paredes has been bothered by left wrist inflammation since the winter. Left-hander J.A. Happ will start for Houston, making his second appearance of the spring. Brett Myers, Wesley Wright, David Carpenter and Aneury Rodriguez are also scheduled to pitch. Injury update: Catcher Humberto Quintero was diagnosed with a bulging disk, which has been causing discomfort in his right hip. He had a cortisone shot in Houston on Wednesday and was back in Kissimmee playing catch Thursday. He could catch in the bullpen Saturday, but he probably won’t swing a bat until next week. … Shortstop Angel Sanchez (back) is progressing, but remains sidelined. … Infielder Jimmy Paredes (wrist) made his first Spring Training appearance Thursday and struck out swinging from the left side of the plate. He’s scheduled to make his first start Friday against Toronto and will come off the injury update. … Right-hander Livan Hernandez was hit on the right leg by a grounder Thursday and left the game, but he said it isn’t serious. Here is the day in photos: Livan Hernandez laughs as he jokes with former teammates across the field. Astros pitcher Henry Sosa laughs while awaiting stretch. Carlos Lee plays catch. No catching gear required for Castro. He was the DH on Thursday. Brad Mills shows off his arm by throwing BP. Filed in: Uncategorized Tags: 2012, Astros, Livan Hernandez, Nationals, photos, spring Training Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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Burress, Steelers Give Thanks This story originally published on SteelCityInsider.net Plaxico Burress c. 2004 (Brady/Getty Images) By Jim Wexell SteelCityInsider.netPosted Nov 21, 2012 Both sideS happy to have the giant receiver back. Also, updates on the Steelers' injured superstars, and first-round pick David DeCastro felt good after his return to the practice field. PITTSBURGH – Plaxico Burress didn’t even have to jump to pull in the pass from Charlie Batch. He just stood behind 5-foot-10 practice squad cornerback Josh Victorian about 15 yards down the sideline and plucked it from behind. The catch caused a buzz from the coaches and players, who were probably giving thanks for the opportunity to have an experienced 6-foot-5 wide receiver walk into their midst in time for the stretch run. Likewise, Burress, a 35-year-old who caught 45 passes for 612 yards and 8 touchdowns last season, and has inexplicably been left off NFL rosters for 11 weeks this season, is thankful to return to his old team, and soon, he hopes, his old quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. The two played together in Roethlisberger’s rookie season and Burress caught 35 passes for 698 yards (19.9 avg.) and 5 touchdowns, with another touchdown in the postseason. The two giants enjoyed a chemistry that was split up by free agency, even though Roethlisberger tried to persuade the front office to re-sign Burress. “The year we played we had a pretty good relationship outside of football,” said Burress. “Those are some of the things a lot of people don’t know. His first Thanksgiving here, we spent it together. It’s ironic that [eight] years later I’m back on Thanksgiving when his first Thanksgiving in Pittsburgh we ate together. You sit down and say ‘Wow.’ You cherish things like that. Those are things you can’t get back. “We remained good friends throughout the years. I’ve been a great supporter of his, and he likewise with me. We’re just having fun, man, and we’re just going to enjoy.” Burress said Roethlisberger was the first player he saw when he reported to the Steelers’ practice facility Tuesday after he signed with the team. “I think that says a lot about him,” Burress said. “We’ve remained in contact over the years. You can’t say enough about what he’s accomplished in this league already. He’s not finished; I’m not finished. We’ll see if we can go do it again.” SUPERSTAR WATCH Speaking of Roethlisberger, the injured quarterback was out of the sling he’d been wearing since spraining the S-C joint in his shoulder/sternum. He didn’t have time to talk to reporters, but went to his locker and pulled his t-shirt up over his head and arms without any obvious discomfort. Roethlisberger won’t play this week, and remains a big question mark the following week at Baltimore. The same description would fit safety Troy Polamalu, who ran yesterday for the first time and nodded optimistically about returning to the playing field some time soon. “Not this week,” Polamalu said with a wide smile. “Hopefully it will be soon.” As for the rest of the injury report, Antonio Brown practiced in a limited capacity, but Jerricho Cotchery, Marcus Gilbert, Ziggy Hood and Byron Leftwich missed practice along with Polamalu and Roethlisberger. DECASTRO RETURNS First-round pick David DeCastro said he hasn’t missed this much time with an injury since he sat out four weeks in high school, “and that wasn’t even during the season.” DeCastro has been on injured reserve since injuring his right knee Aug. 25 against the Buffalo Bills in the Steelers’ third preseason game. He was designated for return at the time he was placed on injured reserve, and the new NFL rule says that the Steelers have 21 days to activate DeCastro once he begins practicing. That clock started yesterday when DeCastro worked primarily with the scout team but also took two reps at right guard with the first team when new quarterback Brian Hoyer was also given his first-team snaps in place of this week’s starter Charlie Batch. “It felt really good,” said DeCastro. He added that he didn’t notice any pain or hindrance when he ran, but said he has no timetable for activation. “I’m just trying to come out every day and get better, get healthier,” he said. “There’s definitely some room to improve. I need to get my strength back, endurance.” (Read the transcript of the Plaxico Burress interview on our message board.) Why Alabama freshmen are off-limits to media -by BamaMag.com Oct 22, 2012 Market For Veteran Wideouts Lacking -by PatriotsInsider.com Jun 19, 2012 The "D" word pushing veterans to retire -by TheJetsBeat.com Jul 2, 2012 MAGAZINE COVERAGE Subscribe today and get a full year of Bear Report Magazine with an annual Total Access Pass. Don't miss any news or features from BearReport.com. Subscribe to our newsletter to have our newest articles emailed to you on a daily or weekly basis. WR Plaxico Burress (profile) Football > Green Run HS > Alumni Football > Michigan State > Alumni Football > Pittsburgh

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Robert Geathers: 'I'd love to be back' Veteran Bengal knows Sunday could be his last home game Robert Geathers enters Sunday with 450 total tackles and 33.0 sacks in a 133-game career that has included 103 starts. kkelly@enquirer.com Kentucky Preps Sports The playoff-bound Bengals close out the regular season on Sunday with a home game against the AFC North champion Ravens. The day is bound to carry a little extra meaning for Robert Geathers, who knows it could be his last game in a Bengals uniform at Paul Brown Stadium. "It's the last year of my deal," said Geathers, who signed a six-year contract extension before the 2007 season. "I don't dwell on it too much, but it's definitely in the back of my mind." ... Robert Geathers, the longest-tenured player on the Bengals roster, knows Sunday's home game against the Ravens could be his last in Cincinnati. A link to this page will be included in your message

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Johnson Dismisses "Tiff" With Stafford Lions WR Calvin Johnson (AP Photo) By The Sports Xchange Special to RoarReport.comPosted Nov 11, 2009 Lions receiver claims there's no hard feelings between him and rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. Uh-oh. As if Sunday's 32-20 loss at Seattle weren't bad enough for the Lions, who blew a 17-0 first-quarter lead and fell to 1-7, TV cameras caught a tiff between quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson on the sideline. Stafford and Johnson were on the field together for the first time in a month after battling right knee injuries, and they seemed out of sync. Stafford threw five interceptions. Although Stafford targeted Johnson nine times, Johnson caught only two passes for 27 yards. Replays showed Stafford trying to talk to Johnson at one point, and Johnson turned his head away and didn't respond. While Stafford was unavailable for comment the day after the game, Johnson and coach Jim Schwartz played down the incident. "There's no problem with us," Johnson told reporters. "People are just blowing that out of proportion. Asked whether he had seen the replay, Johnson said he didn't need to. "I don't care to see it," Johnson said. "I know there's nothing. I was there. So it's no problem." Schwartz said it was just the heat of battle and tried to keep it in context. "There's no issue there," Schwartz said. "I've talked to the players. I haven't looked at TV copies or anything else. Good gracious, if there was a camera on every single person on every single play, you could read between the lines on a million different things." Asked whether it's expected to have tension between the quarterback and a receiver, Schwartz said: "You want to be happy and cheerful, and you want to win football games, and there are things that you have to work through. There are going to be times that you need to talk things out and stuff like that. "I don't even see it as being an issue. I know it's not for the players, and I don't understand why somebody would make an issue when it's not even an issue." Why were the Lions unable to get the ball to Johnson? Schwartz pointed out that one big catch was nullified because Johnson came down out of bounds and that the Seahawks played a lot of Cover 2, keeping their safeties deep to smother Johnson. "Defenses know he's a great player," Schwartz said. "They know what he's capable of doing, and they're going to try to take everything that they can to keep him from making plays down the field. CJ Return of No Help to Lions, Stafford -by RoarDigest.com Nov 10, 2009 Stafford's INTs Don't Concern Schwartz STATS Quick Hits: Lions at Vikings -by ScoutNFLNetwork.com Nov 14, 2009 Don't miss any news or features from RoarDigest.com. Subscribe to our newsletter to have our newest articles emailed to you on a daily or weekly basis. WR Calvin Johnson (profile) QB Matthew Stafford (profile) Football > Detroit

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NCAA College Basketball Rankings: Michigan Comes In At No. 18 In Preseason AP Top 25 The Associated Press Preseason Top 25 has been released for the 2011-2012 college basketball season. For the top three, you have the North Carolina Tar Heels taking 62-of-65 votes and are firmly entrenched as favorites to take the National Title. Kentucky came in second, but with no first-place votes, and the Ohio State Buckeyes took third place with one first-place vote to their credit. The remaining two first-place votes went to Connecticut, the defending champions. For the stuff you care about: Michigan found themselves at No. 18, which is also where they ranked in the coaches poll, a respectable spot in the top twenty for a very young team. Last year, the Wolverines were the 19th youngest team in the country and played the 16th toughest schedule, and picked up an awful lot of steam in the second half of the season. Michigan State received votes as well, like they did in the coaches poll, but didn't crack the top 25. For a full list of the top 25, go here. Preseason College Basketball Rankings: Michigan 18th In AP Top 25 Preseason College Basketball Rankings: Michigan At No. 18 In Coaches Poll, Michigan State Receives Votes

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Past Eurovision contestants give advice to this year's performers, speculate on who will win This is the stable version, checked on 30 April 2012. Template/file changes await review.AccuracySpot checked Sunday, May 10, 2009 It happens once a year. Nearly all of Europe's eyes are on 25 musical acts on finale night. Whether you love it or you hate it, it has your attention. Hundreds of millions are watching them. Whether viewers are waiting for the performance of a lifetime or a hilarious slip-up, for those three minutes their attention is owned by each respective singer. That's the feeling that the entrants in Moscow will know on Saturday, and it's also the same feeling the eight singers who were interviewed by Wikinews have experienced. Last week, eight singers from eight different countries took time out of their various schedules to discuss their favorite moments from competing, their own personal anecdotes, advice they give to the performers this year in Moscow, who they think will win, and most importantly to them, what they're doing now and what they're offering to their audience. This is the sixth and final interview set the English Wikinews will publish in the run-up to the semi-final and final rounds of the Eurovision Song Contest. Mike Halterman conducted all interviews, and will conduct additional interviews after the Contest. The final round airs May 16 at 9 p.m. CET; check with your national broadcaster's website for possible delays. Where available, the Contest's final round will also be broadcast on national radio. Jessica Garlick Jessica Garlick, originally from Kidwelly in Wales, became famous in 2001 for her participation in the singing competition Pop Idol, where she finished in ninth place. Four months later, she won A Song for Europe, the British national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, and went on to represent the United Kingdom two months later at the Eurovision 2002 final in Tallinn, with the song "Come Back." She placed third, which turned out to be the best result for the United Kingdom for the decade. Now 27, married and a mother, Jessica Garlick is returning to music with a new set of priorities. Mike Halterman What projects are you working on? What can your fan base expect to see from you this year? Jessica Garlick: Right now I'm busy promoting my new single "Hard Not to Fall" which is due to be released this month...it's available to download from iTunes from 9th May, with the official release being 25th May. I'm also currently co-writing my album, which will be released later on this year. It really does feel great to be back in the music industry. Mike Halterman What were some of the best memories you have from going to Eurovision? What advice would you give to the singers going to Eurovision for the first time this year? Jessica Garlick: Some of my best memories from doing Eurovision would be visiting Estonia, I don't think it's a place I'd ever have visited if it wasn't for performing there, and it really is beautiful. While I was there during the week I had the opportunity to fly out into the Baltic Sea via helicopter and spend the afternoon on board HMS Chatham too. I was allowed to drive the frigate, and got to perform to the troops on board, who were so appreciative. I have so many more, and met such amazing people during the whole promotion and run-up period as well as the Eurovision week itself. My only regret is not taking as many photos as I would have liked to. So my advice to others doing Eurovision would be [to] definitely take lots of pictures, and really enjoy your performance and everything that representing your country brings with it. Azerbaijan win 2011 Eurovision Song Contest Belgian Eurovision singer Fud Leclerc dies at age 86 As the Eurovision entrants return home, the home crowds weigh in Mike Halterman The music videos for this year are up at youtube.com/eurovision. Which songs are your favorites and which country do you think has the best chance of winning? Jessica Garlick: I have been fortunate enough to have been able to perform alongside some of this year's Eurovision entries, and was totally impressed! I love the Iceland entry this year...the song "Is it True?" is a really beautiful ballad, and Johanna sings it really well! I would say that from a song point of view, this is definitely my favourite song. I do, however, think that the Ukraine could win this year! Svetlana's performance is crazy!! She's absolutely wild! Her live performance is out of control! She is definitely "in it to win it", and is going all out to ensure she does everything to make this happen. She is one to watch on the night for sure! There will definitely be something amazing going on on stage during her performance. She'll keep you captivated, and make it memorable!! Mike Halterman A lot of the fans you had from when you were on Pop Idol and Eurovision 2002 don't know the reason why you dropped out of music and out of sight. What happened? Also, do you find it difficult returning to the music industry after being away for six years? Jessica Garlick: After Pop Idol and Eurovision I started to write songs...something I had never done before, and didn't think I would be any good at. But I have been fortunate enough to travel the world since, co-writing with some of the world's best songwriters. I decided to take a step out of the industry for a while in 2004 when I got married to my teenage sweetheart Owen. I lost my passion for music for a while if I'm honest and we wanted to travel together for a bit, and actually moved to Australia for a short time, before I got totally broody. So in 2007 I gave birth to my little girl Olivia, and have been doing the wife and at-home mummy thing since, which I absolutely love!! I made the decision to get back in the studio and start writing again in January of this year and it felt so good, and when I recorded "Hard Not to Fall" I knew it was a song that I wanted everyone to hear, and I completely got my passion and drive back for it. The music industry has changed a lot since I was last in it...but in actual fact it's working better for me this time. I have a lot more control, which is important to me, especially with Olivia being my main priority...I am first and foremost a mum, and I want to be a good one at that, and I'm also working with people that I really like and trust, which makes working together fun, and music should be fun. It's definitely a lot harder this time around, as I am juggling "real life" too, and I can't afford to be the selfish person that being successful in the industry can sometimes mean you have to be. I'm having the most wonderful time being back though, and am almost astounded by the great support I have from all my old fans. They're the best!! Ani Lorak

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Texas game extra special for WVU couple West Virginia's trip to Texas on Saturday will hold plenty of special meaning for the Mountaineer faithful. None, however, will remember the day more fondly than Greg Comer and his fianc�, Julia Abbott. That won't change, win or lose. If you're roaming around the north side of Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday at 1 p.m., don't be surprised if you see a few tears being shed before the game even begins. Greg and Julia are just getting married. [+] EnlargeGreg ComerWest Virginia fans Greg Comer and Julia Abbott will get married in Austin before the Texas-West Virginia game."It was just a spur of the moment-type decision, but it’s turned into something pretty exciting," Comer told ESPN.com this week. The couple and their families are all huge West Virginia fans, and when the Mountaineers announced plans to join the Big 12, Greg and Julia planned on making a trip to Texas as soon as they could. Julia originally hoped to attend the University of Texas, but chose to stay closer to her father and family. Both graduated from West Virginia and now work in the oil and natural gas industry in Morgantown. Still, she had an affinity for Texas, and hoped to return to Austin soon. The Big 12 membership gave her a chance to make a return. Then, the Big 12's schedule made a special occasion even more special. The Texas game would coincide with the anniversary of the couple's first date, and be their favorite team's first road game in their new conference. "It just all kind of fell together for us, and we thought, 'You know what, let’s just get married there.'" Around 65-100 people are expected to attend, but the tailgate reception in the tailgating lot between the Penick-Allison Tennis Center and 15th Street in Austin is open to any and all fans. The couple even invited West Virginia AD Oliver Luck, who won't be able to attend, but sent them a personalized email of congratulations. "We’ve talked to Mountaineer fans going to the game and said, 'Hey, it’s open to everyone.'" Comer said. "We’ll let Texas fans come in, too, but it’s a place for all the fans that we know who are going to kind of have as their home base." After the wedding, the couple will head for their honeymoon in Turks and Caicos. Comer didn't get much resistance from any family or friends on the unusual wedding plan, either. "Every one thinks it’s pretty cool. I have a brother and sister who think we’re crazy, but they love it, they think it’s a neat idea," Comer said. "The first question is always 'why? Why Texas?' Honestly, it’s just 'Wow, that’s really cool.' The Comers even got retired judge Harley Clark to officiate the wedding. Clark, a Texas cheerleader back in 1955, helped coin the famed "Hook 'Em Horns" hand gesture more than half a century ago. It'll be a historic day for everyone involved. "There’s so many emotions going in because this is a great time in our life, and to have a Heisman Trophy candidate to watch while we’re at Texas, we’re just ecstatic, elated," Comer said. "We’re just thrilled to get in Austin. We’ve heard a lot about Sixth Street, and it’ll be even more fun if we figure out how to play a little defense." Tags:Big 12, Texas Longhorns, West Virginia Mountaineers, Oliver Luck Previous PostHornsNation links: WVU-Texas previewNext PostLunch links: Casey Pachall arrest reaction

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Derek Jeter gets 200th hit, ties Gehrig By Ian Begley | Special to ESPNNewYork.com NEW YORK -- Another night, another milestone for Derek Jeter.The New York Yankees shortstop led off the bottom of the first inning of Wednesday night's game against the Toronto Blue Jays with a single, giving him 200 hits for the season.This is Jeter's eighth career 200-hit season, tying him with Lou Gehrig for the most by a Yankee. The first-inning single also extended Jeter's hitting streak to 13 games. The Captain In Photos A look back at Derek Jeter's greatest career moments in Yankees pinstripes. Photo gallery Top 50 Yanks Vote "It's a lot of hits," Jeter said after the Yankees' 2-1 win. "I've always felt that if I was healthy and I go out there and play every day, it's something I'd have a chance to do."Jeter, 38, is the oldest player to collect at least 200 hits in a season since Paul Molitor did so at age 40 in 1996. Jeter is the sixth-oldest player to reach the 200-hit plateau. He's also just the fourth player to record a 200-hit season 14 or more years after doing it for the first time. Ty Cobb, Molitor and Pete Rose are the others. So how did Jeter get there this season?"I always try to stay consistent," he said after the Yankees won their fourth straight. "If you're consistent throughout the course of the year, then you have a chance to do it." Jeter also returned to shortstop for the first time in a week in Wednesday's night game, the second of a doubleheader against the Blue Jays.A bothersome ankle injury has relegated him to being the team's primary designated hitter. Jeter aggravated his left ankle last Wednesday in Boston. Since then, manager Joe Girardi has used him as the team's DH. Jeter did not play in New York's 4-2 victory during the day portion of the doubleheader.Prior to Wednesday's matinee opener, the Yankees had not played since Sunday because of an off day Monday and a rainout Tuesday, so Jeter had a chance to rest the injury."Physically, I was fine," Jeter said after playing nine innings on Wednesday. "I was nervous (about being out of synch)." Added Girardi: "I never saw him limp once today. It's been a while since we've seen that." Jeter, who went 1 for 4 in the nightcap, is hitting .322 on the season. He now has 3,288 hits for his career and recently passed Willie Mays to move into 10th place on the all-time hits list. "It just shows you how great of a player he is and how great of a year he's had for us," Girardi said. Next up for Jeter? Eddie Collins, ninth on the all-time hits list with 3,313.ESPNNewYork.com's Andrew Marchand and Mike Mazzeo contributed to this report. Rick Reilly: Getting answers from Derek Jeter

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Local NewsLocal SportsBuckeye NewsObituariesClassifiedWeb EditionSubscribeAbout UsLog In/Out Wawrinka wins Aussie Open final vs injured Nadal Created on Sunday, 26 January 2014 Written by JOHN PYE, AP Sports Writer MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Stan Wawrinka added a win over Rafael Nadal to his list of firsts in a stunning run to his maiden Grand Slam title, extending his rival's injury-cursed run at the Australian Open with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 upset in Sunday's final. The 28-year-old Wawrinka had never taken a set off Nadal in 12 previous meetings, but attacked from the start against the 13-time major winner and regained his nerve after dropping the third set against the injured Spaniard. Nadal appeared to be on the verge of retiring in the second set, when he hurt his back and needed a medical time out, but he refused to quit. "It's really not the way you want to win a tennis match, but in a Grand Slam final I'll take it," said Wawrinka, the first man in 21 years to beat the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked players en route to a Grand Slam title. Nadal was a hot favorite to win at Melbourne Park and become the first man to win each of the four Grand Slam tournaments twice in the Open era — instead, his injury curse struck again. It remains the only major he's hasn't won at least two times. "Rafa, I'm really sorry for you, I hope your back is going to be fine, you're a really great guy, good friend and really amazing champion," Wawrinka said as he accepted his first major trophy. "Last year I had a crazy match, I lost it. I was crying a lot after the match. But in one year a lot happened — I still don't know if I'm dreaming or not but we'll see tomorrow morning." Wawrinka lost in five sets to Novak Djokovic in the fourth round of the 2013 Australian Open, in the longest Grand Slam match of the season. Djokovic went on to win his third consecutive title at Melbourne Park, and then beat Wawrinka again in five sets in the U.S. Open semifinals. But Wawrinka avenged those losses this time, beating Djokovic in five sets in the quarterfinals — ending a run of 14 straight losses to the Serbian player. Now he'll move from No. 8 to No. 3. In doing so, he'll surpass Federer, a 17-time Grand Slam winner who lost to Nadal in the semifinals — to become the highest-ranked Swiss player for the first time in his career. A constant supporter of his countryman, Federer was one of the first people to call and congratulate Wawrinka after his win. Wawrinka also broke up a sequence of wins for the Big Four — with 34 of the previous 35 majors going to either Nadal, Djokovic, Roger Federer or Andy Murray. "Stan, you really deserve it," Nadal said. "Luck was against me today but you really deserve it. "Last thing that I wanted to do was retire. I hate to do that, especially in a final. Same time, is tough to see yourself during the whole year you are working for a moment like this, and arrives the moment and you feel that you are not able to play at your best. " Nadal has had a terrible stretch with injuries at the Australian Open, and has described it as his unluckiest Grand Slam. He won the title in 2009, and lost an epic five-set final to Djokovic in 2012. But he missed the 2013 edition during a seven-month layoff with knee injuries and illness, and his quarterfinal losses in 2010 and 2011 were affected by injuries. "It has been a very emotional two weeks — I'm sorry to finish this way," he told the Rod Laver Arena crowd. "I tried very, very hard — this year was one of the more emotional tournaments in my career." A possible retirement was looming when Nadal was serving at 0-2 in the second set. He bent over at the waist to stretch his back and then grabbed his lower back with his hand and grimaced in pain. His serve immediately dipped to 141 kph (87 mph). When Nadal took a medical timeout after falling behind a set and a break, and returned to a chorus of boos without a shirt after 7 minutes, it seemed that an early finish was on the cards. Wawrinka was aggravated during the time out, demanding that officials tell him why Nadal needed the break. And he came out aggressively to finish off the second set. Nadal's serve speed dipped even further to 125 kph (77 mph) and then 114 kph (70 mph). The support in the stadium gradually shifted as the crowd saw the Spaniard battling to stay on the court. His service speed improved in the beginning of the third set, prompting a fan to yell advice to Wawrinka: "C'mon Stan, no sympathy!" By the end of the set, Nadal's serve was back up to 174 kph (108 mph) and Wawrinka's error count was escalating. Wawrinka composed himself after an exchange of breaks in the fourth set to serve it out in 2 hours, 21 minutes. After a muted celebration, he consoled Nadal in the courtside chairs before getting a chance to hold up and kiss his first big trophy.

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Tag:New York Knicks CONTINUED: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · ... · 68 · Next » Edited on: March 7, 2012 1:32 am Report Card 3.6.12: Underdogs rule Tuesday Posted by Ben Golliver The Bobcats enjoyed a rare win on Tuesday, over the Magic no less. (Getty Images) Each night, Eye on Basketball brings you what you need to know about the games of the NBA. From great performances to terrible clock management the report card evaluates and eviscerates the good, the bad, and the ugly from the night that was. Charlotte Bobcats When you only win about once every two weeks and your first win since Feb. 17 comes against the No. 3 seed Orlando Magic, in convincing fashion, it's time to celebrate. That was the case for the Bobcats, who relentlessly pounded Orlando's defense and held the Magic offense to one-and-done looks possession after possession down the stretch, to dance their way to a 100-84 victory. Rookie Bismack Biyombo had his best game as a professional, going toe-to-toe with Dwight Howard to score 10 points, grab 15 rebounds and block an astounding 7 shots. He could barely contain his glee by the end, gesturing to the crowd in animated fashion as Charlotte walked off with the win. The Detroit Pistons guard outshot and outscored Kobe Bryant in a dramatic overtime win at the Palace. Stuckey scored Detroit's final seven points in regulation and tacked on another six in overtime, pushing the Pistons to an 88-85 upset win. He also put Bryant on skates with a vicious stepback crossover. He didn't do much else besides score, but that was more than enough. Unlike the Magic and the Lakers, the Heat easily took care of business against lesser competition, stomping the New Jersey Nets, 108-78. Miami also enjoyed a nice soft launch in re-integrating Chris Bosh after he missed some time due to a death in the family. So why a "B"? Well, simple: irreplaceable guard Dwyane Wade suffered an apparently minor foot injury that kept him on the bench late. The good news: the Sun-Sentinel reports indicate he'll be fine and expects to start on Wednesday against the Hawks. Dallas is now 15-7 at home, so expectations had to be somewhat tempered for the Knicks on the road. But a troubling 2-for-12 from Carmelo Anthony plus a decidedly not-superhuman performance from Jeremy Lin -- 14 points on 13 shots, 1-for-5 from deep, 7 assists and 2 turnovers, mixed in with long stretches of passive play -- make this a tough one. It was also New York's third loss in four games, with San Antonio on Wednesday. The next few weeks are critical if New York hopes to be better than the No. 8 seed. He was due for an off night after three big scoring games in a row following the All-Star break, but Bryant's 8-for-26 shooting was a major reason the Lakers let what should have been an easy win slip away. While he nailed a pretty buzzer-beater to push the game to overtime, his performance and decision-making in the extra period was erratic. A forced deep three that didn't even come close on the final possession was Bryant at his worst. This was a hot mess of a loss to the Bobcats. Orlando scored just 13 points in the fourth and couldn't mange a single point in the final 2:47, conceding an 8-0 run to close the game. On the other end, Charlotte, the NBA's worst offense, seemingly scored at will, with Corey Maggette getting to the foul line 11 times and Gerald Henderson tossing in 16 points, including some big late buckets. Do the Magic even care? This was a lacking performance in virtually every area. E FOR EFFORT Dirk Nowitzki (28 points on 18 shots, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, in 34 minutes) Kevin Garnett (13 points, 13 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks in 38 minutes) Bismack Biyombo (10 points, 15 rebounds, 7 blocks, 6-for-10 free throw shooting to overcome Hack-a-Biyombo down the stretch) Tags: Ben Golliver, Bismack Biyombo, Charlotte Bobcats, Detroit Pistons, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Orlando Magic, Rodney Stuckey Add a Comment | Comments (1) Edited on: March 6, 2012 11:02 pm NBA ref to Dirk Nowitzki: 'Do you want to go?' Posted by Ben Golliver Dallas Mavericks All-Star forwrd Dirk Nowitzki wasn't pleased with a no-call but he had no idea his protests would be met with four threats of ejection.In one of the more direct exchanges between NBA referee and superstar player that you will ever see caught on camera, official Eric Dalen asked Nowitzki directly if he would like to be ejected on four occasions. "Do you want to go?" Dalen asked, over and over, after first hitting Nowitzki with a technical foul for arguing a no-call on a drive attempt.The scene began with a little more than 7 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of a Tuesday night game between the Mavericks and the New York Knicks. Nowitzki drove the paint against multiple Knicks defenders, only to have the ball swatted out of his possession with no foul given. Nowitzki reacted with frustration and was hit with the quick tech from Dalen. As he went to the sideline to argue that call, Dalen moved towards the scorer's table, issuing his ejection threat while looking directly at Nowitzki.Nowitzki backed down, which was a smart move given that it was just an 8-point game at the time of the incident. The Mavericks held on for the 95-85 win. Nowitzki finished with a game-high 28 points.Here's the video of NBA referee Eric Dalen asking Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki if he wants to be ejected. Tags: Ben Golliver, Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, Eric Dalen, New York Knicks Add a Comment | Comments (18) Edited on: February 29, 2012 12:30 pm Melo must change to be great Will Carmelo Anthony's legacy be more than just that of a pure shooter? (Getty Images) By Matt Moore Gregg Doyel of CBSSports.com writes Wednesday of how Carmelo Anthony has a chance to be special and thus far... simply hasn't. Doyel specifically outlines a fact debated and wrought over constantly when it comes to Anthony, the fact that he is primarily a scorer. In these here blog circles, it's a bit more narrow than that: Melo can best be described as a volume shooter. Scorer's can be efficient, sharp-shooting, bucket-filling maniacs who don't excel at much of anything else, but what they do, they do exceptionally well. Anthony, on the other hand, is going to shoot roughly the same amount from game to game. There are nights when he's going to be brutally efficient. There are nights when he's going to be brutally inefficient. The approach never changes. And that may be the biggest problem of all with Anthony's game.Doyel talks about the threat of winding up like a pre-Boston Kevin Garnett, what with the high praise and no substantive playoff success outside of a single season. Two thoughts there: The immediate response is to bring up Anthony's Nuggets' 2009 run to the Western Conference Finals. There are a number of things to note in that regard, however. First, the Nuggets' second-round win over the Mavericks was about as tough as a series that short can be, with a crucial non-call on an intentional foul late providing quite a bit of drama in the proceedings. Second, the West that year was paper thin. It was essentially the Lakers and that's it. This isn't to take away from that Denver team, but it needs to be noted. And third, that Denver team was the same as it was for years with Melo; their success was as much due to Anthony's brilliance as it was to George Karl's ability to coach around Anthony's talents. The two things worked side-by-side, they just didn't necessarily work together. It was like "The Nuggets do this, this, and this well, and also Carmelo Anthony is very good." Doyel mentions that Garnett did everything else in his time in Minnesota, "scored, rebounded, assisted, defended, hustled, led." And it's that last part that seems particularly relevant as the Knicks continue to try and adjust to life with his nearly entirely new lineup from the start of the season (and without a major trade!). Jeremy Lin, J.R. Smith, Melo, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Tyson Chandler. How does Anthony fit? We've talked about some x's and o's, but there are some other questions invovled. For starters, most volume shooters are that because they are not good at any other particular area. Is Anthony that kind of player? Well, no. He's averaged 6.3 rebounds for his career, with a high of 7.3, very good for a small forward. Anthony can have games where he controls the defensive glass. What about passing? The 2009 Western Conference Finals run from Anthony's Nuggets featured him dishing 4.1 assists per game. He had a 19.8 percent assist rate that season (percentage of team assists), higher than any regular season for Anthony before... this one? We'll come back to that in a minute. And what about defense? There are metrics I could run at you, but let's just say this. The Nuggets' most successful season with Anthony, that 2009 run, came when Anthony became a lock down defender for about 30 games. He was simply phenomenal. That may be the most frustrating thing about Anthony, who is widely regarded as a turnstyle defensively. He can be an excellent defender. He can lock up guys, destroy their spacing, ruin their day. He just... doesn't. The key for Anthony may be honestly to get as far away from one of his biggest mentors' approaches as possible. Anthony and Kobe Bryant share a kinship in their approach to the game. But Bryant's success in essentially doing things his way 100 percent of the time is nearly impossible to duplicate. Maybe if Anthony had Phil Jackson, it would be easier. But he doesn't. And if he wants to be successful right now, moving away from an intractable approach and towards a dominance in versatility is the best thing for him. He needs to do everything. There are signs Melo is trying. He worked off ball for much of the first-half against the Heat, making cuts to get to the rim. It was only after the Heat had buried the Knicks (and Lin) with their suffocating defense that Anthony returned to blistering the offensive flow with Isolation sets shallow in the shot clock. His assist rate, as previously mentioned, is the highest of his career at 22.7 percent, over four per game. He's clearly trying to get his teammates involved. He's eighth among small forwards playing 30 minutes or more this season in assist rate. With the kind of talent around him, is that enough? How much can we reasonably expect?The answer's not in the empirical, it's in the perceptible. The shift needs to continue to be Anthony working to get out of his comfort zone. Bryant has remarked several times about hoping Anthony doesn't shift his approach due to the criticism. Thing is, that criticism isn't (always) unwarranted or about devaluing his elite gifts as a scorer. It's about fit, and flow, and making the Knicks the best they can be. Michael Jordan got to play the way he wanted because he was the greatest of all time. Kobe Bryant has been able to because he's the second greatest shooting guard of all time and he was granted a team specifically built to provide him with the best support possible. Anthony is trying to fit in with a team of good players, and he is not one of the greatest of all time. Anthony can do something "special" as Doyel describes, but he's got to become versatile, he's got to take the same approach to the other parts of the game that he does to scoring. He's always going to get the ball late with a chance to win. He's always going to get a chance to rise and fire. But for it to matter he has to take on the rest of the things that make up a complete game. Anthony can be great, if he chooses to be. Making this Knicks team work isn't easy. When life is hard, you have to change. Tags: Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Jeremy Lin, Matt Moore, Mike D'Antoni, New York Knicks, Tyson Chandler Add a Comment | Comments (15) 'All He Does Is Lin' remix by DJ Steve Porter Posted by Royce YoungIf you've been looking for probably the definitive Jeremy Lin tribute video, it's here. DJ Steve Porter, most famous for his work with Allen Iverson, has put out a remix for KnicksNow.com called "All He Does Is Lin." And as you might expect, it's terrific. Category: NBA Tags: Jeremy Lin, Linsanity, New York Knicks, Royce Young Add a Comment | Comments (1) Jeremy Lin and the difference for a breakthrough Jeremy Lin put in more than physical work to succeed. (Getty Images) By Matt Moore There have been two big questions asked in regards to the Jeremy Lin Phenomenon which has lead the two-year-fringe-player to the heights of NBA stardom and reinvigorated the Knicks' season. They are two separate questions that appear dependent on how you view players in the NBA. 1. How did so many people miss out on what this kid can do?2. Where did this kid come from?In the former, there's a sentiment that Lin was always capable of doing this and just didn't get a chance to play. That somehow, basketball ability is not a developed skill, it simply is or is not. And that makes sense in a lot of ways in terms of today's NBA environment. Stars are largely self-evident, and you can tell they will be stars long before they're even drafted. LeBron James was going to be the No.1 pick in the draft form the time he was 16 (maybe earlier). The idea is that players can play, and all that's left is the basketball intelligence of the assessing personnel. In short, the idea is that the Warriors and Rockets are "idiots for whiffing on Jeremy Lin." To take this approach is a lot like working backwards with circular logic. Jeremy Lin is good, so Jeremy Lin has always been good. This isn't the case. In a painstaking article from over the weekend, Howard Beck of the New York Times wrote a comprehensive account of Lin's path from high school to Harvard to the Warriors to D-League to the Knicks. It breaks down the entire process and talks to several coaches involved in his basketball development. The NBA, especially its elder statesmen, tend to shy away from the idea of development. Even Red Auerbach often (but not always) held the opinion of basically "the kid can play or he can't play." It's an easy approach. But with AAU, the shortened college tenure, the higher number of players and teams, the higher level of skill and the more developed playsets and schemes at the NBA level, lost is the fact that there are good players who need the right course of developmento get where they are. Lin has credited his coaches at every level, including his time spent in the D-League, with getting where he is now, on top of the world (unless that Heat game proves to be the end of the ride). But lots of teams center on development. A lot of players get the same kind of help Lin did, often more. So what is it that made Lin make it through the process and come out on the other side a starting point guard on the World's Biggest Stage? There's a mental aspect. From the Beck piece in the New York Times: Lin’s perfectionist tendencies came out in a 3-point-shooting drill called “beat the ghost,” in which Lin earned 1 point for every shot he made at the arc and the “ghost” earned 3 points for every shot Lin missed. On one occasion, Lin made 17 3-pointers but lost 21-17, then kicked the ball in anger, Scheppler recalled with a chuckle. He refused to stop until he beat the ghost. It took 14 games. When Scheppler tallied up all of the scores for the day, Lin had converted 71 percent of his shots from the arc. “That’s the beauty of Jeremy Lin,” Scheppler said. “It’s not about moral victories. It’s ‘I have to win.’ ” via Jeremy Lin’s Evolution - NYTimes.com.It's not enough to have the physical tools to improve upon. Players have to be checked in and want to improve, they have to want to dedicate themselves. Players need to look at the D-League, at extra coaching, at offseason workouts as imperative. It's not enough to just be superior athletes or talented shooters. There has to be a drive to make the most of potential and opportunities. Otherwise, you're only going to go as far as your natural talent takes you. Should the Warriors or Rockets, both of whom let Lin go, have recognized that drive? Yes and no. Being a hard worker shows itself, but there are lots of hard workers who don't have the ability. You have to recognize not only their drive and ability, but be able to recognize that they are a good fit with a development plan. Ego gets in the way of that a lot of times.You can't blame the Rockets, and you can't entirely credit the Knicks. It takes the right combination of events to occur for the situation to be right for something like Lin's rise to happen. But the one person you can credit is Lin. He's the one that put in the work. Tags: Jeremy Lin, Matt Moore, New York Knicks Add a Comment | Comments (5) Nike selling $130 Jeremy Lin shoes Jeremy Lin has his own Nike shoes. (SlamXHype.com) Posted by Ben Golliver It's gotta be the shoes. How else to explain the rapid rise of New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin, the roster cut turned global icon?Nike will begin capitalizing on Lin's incredible rise to fame by selling a $130 version of its Hyperfuse sneakers in New York Knicks colors, according to Reuters. To be clear, these aren't "Air Jeremy's" or "Air Lin" signature models, but they are the shoes worn by Lin this season. Nike said it will launch the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse Low basketball shoes, built especially for Lin, this weekend in Orlando, Florida, where the NBA is holding its All-Star festivities. "It's not a signature line but a version of the shoe that he's been wearing this season," the company told Reuters. The Hyperfuse sneaker is one of the most popular models worn by NBA players. Lin's version features his last name on the tongue of each shoe.The Oregonian provides additional details. The Oregon-based company sent out a notice this evening announcing the Nike Zoom Hyperfuse Low iD basketball shoe created for Lin, the New York Knicks point guard who emerged from near oblivion this weekend to fame. The $130 shoe won't be available at off-the-shelf retail, but can be created and purchased at the NikeID.com website. Consumers can replicate the exact customization options of Lin's shoe. Newsday reported that a Nike spokesman issued a "no comment" when asked whether Nike has plans to produce a signature line for Lin in the future.Sneaker companies generally reserves signature lines for established stars. All-Stars Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James each have signature lines. All-Stars Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade have signature sneakers under the Jordan Brand umbrella.Image via SlamXHype.com. Tags: 2012 All-Star, 2012 All-Star Weekend, Ben Golliver, Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks, Nike Add a Comment | Comments (17) Posted on: February 26, 2012 10:02 am Ben & Jerry's apologizes for Lin fortune cookies Eye on Basketball staffBen & Jerry's, the ice cream maker known for its catch flavor names, has issued an apology for selling Jeremy Lin-inspired frozen yogurt containing fortune cookies at a Harvard Square location in Boston, the New York Daily News reported.The limited-edition flavor, "Taste The Lin-sanity," contained crumbled fortune cookies before backlash resulted because of the racial overtones from using fortune cookies as part of the promotion."We offer a heartfelt apology if anyone was offended by our handmade Lin-sanity flavor," Ben & Jerry's said in a statement. The New England manufacturer replaced fortune cookies in its honey-swirl based Lin-inspired flavor with waffle cones."We are proud and honored to have Jeremy Lin hail from one of our fine, local universities and we are huge sports fans," Ben & Jerry's said in the news release. "Our intention was to create a flavor to honor Jeremy Lin's accomplishments and his meteoric rise in the NBA, and recognize that he was a local Harvard graduate. "We try [to] demonstrate our commitment as a Boston-based, valued-led business and if we failed in this instance we offer our sincere apologies."The former Harvard star has caused a league- and nationwide sensation as a result of his meteoric rise to stardom as the Knicks' point guard. Tags: Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Jeremy Lin, New York Knicks Add a Comment | Comments (56) Linsanity is now an ice cream. Make it stop. This actually happened. (Getty Images) I would say "this has gone too far" but we're about six days beyond that. From the Boston Herald: Vermont-based ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s has begun selling a limited-release new flavor at its Harvard Square shop in honor of basketball’s sudden sensation, Jeremy Lin, a Harvard University graduate who was an Ivy League star during his time with the Crimson, but left the Cambridge campus undrafted and largely unknown. In recognition of the 23-year-old's overnight fame, the new ice cream pints are made at the Harvard Square shop with vanilla frozen yogurt, lychee honey swirls and come with a fresh waffle cookie on the side, which can be dipped into the ice cream or crushed on top, company officials said. via Ben & Jerry's launches 'Lin-Sanity' flavor, takes out fortune cookie ingredient - Cambridge - Your Town - Boston.com.Wait, wait, wait. It gets worse. Not only is it ice cream, originally it might have been racially insensitive ice cream! The fresh waffle cookie ingredient replaces initial batches of the ice cream flavor that included "fortune cookie pieces" mixed in with the ice cream, Ryan Midden, Ben & Jerry's general manager for Boston and Cambridge said by phone today. "There seemed to be a bit of an initial backlash about it, but we obviously weren't looking to offend anybody and the majority of the feedback about it has been positive," he said. Midden said the primary reason for changing the cookie ingredient was because "a couple of [pints] got returned because the cookies got so soggy." via Ben & Jerry's launches 'Lin-Sanity' flavor, takes out fortune cookie ingredient - Cambridge - Your Town - Boston.com.Whoops. That's regrettable. But hey, getting an ice cream flavor is pretty awesome. Personally I think they should have mixed absinthe into the recipe, because watching Lin makes you feel like you have to be halucinating. The only way this gets more marketable is if the Knicks win a title and Lin winds up on a Wheaties box. Does anyone eat Wheaties anymore? Maybe he should just have his own cereal. Anyway, that happened, and we're all one step closer to the end of the world. In related news: (HT: SBNation.com) Tags: Jeremy Lin, Matt Moore, New York Knicks, signs of the apocalypse Add a Comment | Comments (1)

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No desc available Gaughan Looking Forward to Continuing Good Runs at Kentucky Posted by: on Jul 04, 2011 Tagged in: Untagged Gaughan Looking Forward to Continuing Good Runs at Kentucky Gaughan drives the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Tundra He is an 8-time winner in the Truck Series He holds two NASCAR K&N Pro Series West Championship Titles Gaughan won in the GT class in the Rolex 24 at Daytona this year Gaughan has 6 NCWTS races at Kentucky and 2 NNS races with laps led in both series Mooresville, N.C. (July 4, 2011) - Brendan Gaughan has a great winning memory of Kentucky Speedway. Unfortunately, the memory is of someone else’s trip to the winner’s circle instead of his own. Gaughan has led laps before the Kentucky Speedway fans, he’s dominated races, and he’s been a top-contender in both NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Camping World Truck Series. This weekend, he hopes he and his Germain Racing crew can put the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Tundra in contention for his ninth Truck Series win—his first at Kentucky. “Kentucky, even in the Nationwide Series, has always been a good track for me. This race is one of the races that my team has really looked forward to on the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series schedule,” explained Gaughan, who will race Tundra chassis TRD-026 at Kentucky. “With the way we were able to get our South Point Hotel & Casino Toyota running at Kansas, Charlotte and even Texas, I know what we are capable of as a team and I’m anxious to see what we can do at Kentucky Speedway.” Gaughan finished fourth in both of his NNS races at Kentucky, but what he remembers most about the track will always be Carl Edwards first NASCAR career win. “A Kentucky Speedway memory I’ll never forget was 2003. I led 66 laps, we had the race won. We were coming to the checkered flag but we blew a motor going down the back straightaway. It put me into a 360-degree spin, and Carl Edwards just missed us when we blew up. I managed to coast all the way into the garage while Carl took the win for his first Truck Series win,” said Gaughan. “Kentucky has always been a great track for me. Our No. 62 Toyota should be strong. I’m confident our Germain Racing team will be tough to beat on Thursday night.” Watch Gaughan in the No. 62 South Point Hotel & Casino Tundra on Thursday, July 7th, at Kentucky Speedway on SPEED. Qualifying airs at 6:00 PM Eastern on Thursday, with racing action at 8:00 PM ET, preceded by the NCWTS Setup at 7:30 PM. Not in front of a TV? Tune your radio to your local MRN affiliate. Germain Racing has earned two championship titles in the Truck Series. The Toyota team owns 22 victories and 9 pole awards in the series that continues to grow ratings on SPEED. For more information on Germain Racing, visit www.GermainRacing.com or follow the team on Twitter @GermainRacing. Brendan Gaughan holds eight Truck Series victories to go along with his two K&N Pro Series West championship titles. He currently ranks 10th in the 2011 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series driver’s points standings. Follow Gaughan at www.BrendanGaughan.com or on Twitter @Brendan62. [ Back ] Newsletter Signup

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2014-15/0971/en_head.json.gz/7429

Where to Watch March Madness Online, On the iPad & On Your iPhone By Ryan Lawler Mar. 11, 2011 - 3:59 PM PDT Mar. 11, 2011 - 3:59 PM PDT 1 Comment A It’s that time of year again: The top NCAA men’s basketball teams will battle it out through a month-long tournament in March and April. This year March Madness on Demand will be available for free live streaming online, on the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. It’s that time of year again — time for the top NCAA men’s basketball teams to battle it out through a month-long tournament in March and April. Just like in previous years, all games in this year’s March Madness will be streamed live online. But the 2011 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament will also be available free for live streaming on Apple iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad mobile devices. The month-long basketball action begins with Selection Sunday on March 13, during which the 68-teams for the tournament will be selected, and National Bracket Day on March 14, when the bracket is created. The first games will begin streaming on March 15 and March 16, with the Second and Third Rounds of basketball running through the rest of the week, to March 20. The NCAA Sweet 16 games will run the following week, on March 24 and 25, with the Elite Eight round of the tournament matches being played on the 26th and 27th. Finally, the Final Four and National Championship matchups will take place on April 2 and April 4, respectively. All of the action will be available on the NCAA’s March Madness on Demand site online. Or, if viewers want to watch the games on their mobile devices, the tournament will have a free iPhone app for the first time. Also a first is the tournament’s being streamed on the iPad, which was first introduced around the same time the tournament began last year. March Madness on Demand continues to grow in popularity every year, with last year’s tournament posting record viewership online after just the first four days of games. Much of the viewership for the tournament comes in the early rounds of the tournament, when games are streamed during workdays. In previous years, because CBS exclusively owned the rights to the tournament, not all games were broadcast on TV. But this year, through a joint partnership with Turner Sports, games will also be shown on cable networks TBS, TNT and truTV. However, with even more devices through which viewers can watch games, it’s unlikely to reduce Internet viewership. Mar. 11, 2011 - 3:59 PM PDT Here are 3 ways Aereo will tell the Supreme Court that it’s legal Apr. 15, 2014 Aereo must go before the Supreme Court next week to explain how its tiny antenna service, which... March Madness: where to watch the 2014 NCAA Tournament live online Mar. 18, 2014 Once again, you’ll be able to watch all 67 March Madness games live online, or on your... Hulu gets Fraggle rock spinoff, older CBS fare Feb. 10, 2014 Fraggle Rock spinoff The Doozers is coming exclusively to Hulu, the streaming service announced Monday. The show’s... Ryan, you should check out http://www.Thuuz.com to keep track of which games are most exciting. I just signed up and my dashboard alerted me that Connecticut v Syracuse is hot and Tennessee v Florida is heating up

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