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ST. LOUIS -- On consecutive pitches in the second inning Friday, Brewers third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. made one of the best defensive plays of the series and one of the worst. The first, a diving grab that robbed Nick Punto of a hit, saved at least one run from scoring. The second, an error on a hard-hit grounder by Cardinals lefty Jaime Garcia that went under his glove and through his legs, cost Milwaukee a pair of runs in a 7-1 loss in Game 5 of the National League Championship Series. "You want me to be completely honest with you? I really didn't see both balls that well," Hairston said. "Even when I caught it, I was a little surprised. ... It may have caught me a little bit. I saw the one Garcia hit better than the one I caught; it just hit the lip [of the grass]. There's nothing you can do. That's baseball, man." As a third-generation Major Leaguer with his grandfather Sam, father Jerry Sr., uncle Johnny and brother Scott all having played in the big leagues, Hairston learned at a young age that sometimes the ball catches you. He also learned that the game of baseball certainly is not always fair. "First of all, life's not fair. I mean, goodness," Hairston said. "All you can do is prepare yourself and put yourself in position to be ready. I was ready, I was in position -- it just didn't happen. It's tough." Hairston has started every game of the postseason for the Brewers at third base, and he's performed better than anyone could have expected. With both his offense and defense, he has made manager Ron Roenicke's decision to start him over Casey McGehee look brilliant. In nine of 10 postseason games, Hairston has hit safely. He is batting .371 (13-for-35) with five doubles, four RBIs and six runs scored. But in the biggest game yet of the NLCS, it was Hairston who seemingly started the trend of poor Brewers defense. His error was the first of four on the night for Milwaukee, the most in an LCS game since the Braves had as many in Game 4 of the 2001 NLCS. "There was nothing I could've done any different," Hairston said. "He hits a rocket, and it hits the lip and just stays down. "It's just one of those things where, sometimes at the hot corner at third base, you're kind of at the mercy when a guy hits a bullet. Once it hit the lip, it just stayed down. "If it doesn't hit the lip, it comes right up to me and I play it well. But it did and ... five hole." Adding insult to injury, Hairston got in the way of Yadier Molina as the Cards' catcher approached third base, drawing an obstruction call from third-base umpire Tim Timmons. The call allowed Molina to advance freely to home to make the score 3-0 Cardinals, though Brewers starter Zack Greinke still made an attempt to tag the runner as he cut off the throw home. "It happened so fast. I was shocked the ball just stayed down," Hairston said. "And then Yadi, I guess, tried to get by me. But he would've scored anyway. It's not even a big deal." Said Molina of Timmons' obstruction call: "He caught it. That's good." While it was a play that certainly seemed to shift the momentum of Game 5, Hairston was not worried about the error. He remained positive after the loss, focusing on what he and Milwaukee needs to do going forward in Game 6. As for the error, he quoted a Hall of Famer and former teammate, who also happened to be in attendance Friday night at Busch Stadium. "It's not the first error I've made. Hopefully, it won't be my last," Hairston said. "That's just something Cal Ripken used to say. Because if you play a long time, things are going to happen in this game. "Third base is not easy. I always say third base is the toughest position I've ever played, by far. You have a split-second to react, and the ball didn't bounce my way." Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://stlouis.cardinals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20111014&content_id=25661346&vkey=news_mil&c_id=mil

For the first time in the Eastern Conference Finals, the Miami Heat are down in their series against the Boston Celtics. Miami dropped Game 5 94-90 on Tuesday night, as the Celtics made a big push in the third quarter and down the stretch to take a 3-2 lead. Miami struggled on the offensive end in the first half but LeBron James kept the Heat ahead, scoring 18 of his 30 points in the first half. In addition to the 30 points, James also grabbed 13 rebounds. Dwyane Wade had a quiet first half but led Miami on a 9-0 run in the second, finishing with 27 points on 10 of 22 from the floor. But there was little else happening for the Heat on the offensive end -- Chris Bosh provided a huge spark off the bench in the first half, scoring nine points and grabbing six boards but he would not score again in his first game back since straining an abdominal muscle. Kevin Garnett carried Boston through a poor shooting night, scoring 26 points, grabbing 11 boards, and completely altering the game on defense in the paint. Boston then hit some huge shots and got the bounces down the stretch. Even Mickael Pietrus got in on the act, hitting two big shots. But the real dagger came from Paul Pierce, who was awful all night but rose up to knock in a three to give Boston a four-point lead with 50 seconds to go. On the brink of elimination, the series now returns to TD Garden in Boston for Game 6 on Thursday night. Stick with this StoryStream for news and updates throughout the Eastern Conference Finals. For more analysis and discussion on the Heat, visit Peninsula Is Mightier. Visit CelticsBlog and SB Nation Boston for the opponent's perspective during the series. For all your Conference Finals analysis, visit SB Nation's NBA hub.

http://tampabay.sbnation.com/miami-heat/2012/6/5/3067065/celtics-vs-heat-2012-nba-playoffs-score

Updated 18 May, 2013, 11:32 am IST Day 11 of Game4u's 12 Days of Christmas sale brings Medal of Honor: Warfighter for Rs 899 | by Shunal Doke | Game4u's 12 Days of Christmas sale is now on the last stretch, with today's game being EA's modern military shooter—Medal of Honor: Warfighter. The game is priced at Rs 899 instead of Rs 1,499, giving it a 40 percent discount. Tags: Medal of Honor: Warfighter , Medal of Honor , MoH , Warfighter , Mass Effect 3 , Mass Effect , Hitman: Absolution , Hitman: Absolution Professional Edition , Square Enix , IO Interactive , Plants vs Zombies , PvZ , Deus Ex: Human Revolution , DE:HR , Deus Ex , DE , Square Enix , Game4u , Game4u Online , Game4u Service , Game4u Digital Distribution , Digital Distribution , Digital Distribution of Games , Gaming , Games , PC Gaming , PC Games , Game4u PC Games , Game4u PC Gaming , downloads4u , downloads4u Games , downloads4u digital distribution , Christmas Sale , Christmas Game Sale , Game Sale , 12 Days of Christmas Sale The combination of supreme hardware, class-leading software and the guarantee of getting timely upda... Leaked Images, Availability, Pricing, A ton of games in March so that we don't get bored till August... By Shunal Doke Can't run long distances? Do you dread trolley rides? Need more coins The latest craze in the mobile gaming arena is the ‘runner’ style of... By Shayne Rana Sat May 18, 12:30:04 Sat May 18, 12:14:23 Sat May 18, 12:00:39

http://tech2.in.com/news/pc/day-11-of-game4us-12-days-of-christmas-sale-brings-medal-of-honor-warfighter-for-rs-899/660822

In partnership with CBSSports.com Online Now 505 On this Board 238Record: 4783 (12/9/2012) Online now 506Record: 6475 (12/7/2012) You have no favorite boards. "What did he do? All he did was score!" - John Ward "Bravely taking to his feet, he beat a very brave retreat." Sir Robin's Minstrels. How about Hope is Nowhere? 247Sports In partnership with CBS Sports

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Q. What would you say about the check swing call? MICHAEL YOUNG: You know what, it was 2 2, threw a good slider, kind of bit out of the zone at the last minute, I checked, if he had rung me up, I would have walked back to the dugout and focused on defense like I usually do. I got the call in my favor and just tried to lock in on the strike zone at that point. Q. After that call did you see the pitcher lose his concentration at that point because of everybody jawing against the umpire? MICHAEL YOUNG: I doubt it. I mean, he's a good pitcher, they have a good team. They had the best record in the league, so I doubt that's a characteristic of their team. Either way, that's really not my business. My business is my playing, focusing on what I have to do at that point in order to help the team win. Q. Two games and six or eight guys have already come up really big. How confident are you right now in your teammates? MICHAEL YOUNG: My teammates have done great. I just think that we've had a great mentality these first two games. We're really not thinking about some huge, grand picture here. We empty the tank for the game we're playing that day. We emptied the tank today for Game 2; we're going to empty the tank for Game 3. We just push them all in and play as hard as we can. Our pitching has been great. Cliff and C.J. did great, and our bullpen was awesome today. We got in a bit of a jam in the 7th, and they got out of it. So my teammates have been great. I imagine when you get in the post season play that the good teams are the ones that have complete, total team efforts, and that's what we're getting right now. Q. What do you think when you see Josh Hamilton making diving catches and running into the wall and doing all that stuff? MICHAEL YOUNG: I hope he catches every one of them. The injury stuff is on the back burner now. I'm pretty sure everyone is going to go no matter what at this point. Like I said, when I say we're going to empty the tank for every game, we're going to do that. If we're a little banged up or a little hurt, we're pushing them in and we're going. We're playing too talented a team to sit there and relax or say this guy is banged up or he doesn't play or this guy is banged up, he gets pulled out. That's not going to happen. We're going to go all out every pitch, every inning, every game, regardless of what might happen to us physically. Q. What was the home run pitch and what was location, and also, how gratifying is it for you to finally get to the post season and have a big hit in Game 2? MICHAEL YOUNG: It was a fastball, a sinker that stayed up a little bit. At that point I wasn't thinking about doing anything too big. I was thinking about focusing on the strike zone, wasn't thinking about doing too much, just trying to put the barrel on the ball, stay as short as I possibly could. But for me personally, I mean, this personal stuff goes out the window. It's always nice to contribute and nice to play well. We're competitors, we want to do our jobs well. But at the end of the day the W is what every team is searching for, regardless of how it comes, you get the win, that's what we're searching for. I feel no different today than I did yesterday. Yesterday I went 0 for 4, but I feel no different today than I did yesterday. The win is what our team is searching for right now. ALDS Game 2 postgame interview: Washington Q. Can you talk a little bit about the way C.J. pitched and then the position that you guys find yourselves in for the first time in the franchise history? RON WASHINGTON: Well, you know, he really showed maturity out there today. He stayed within himself, he used all his pitches. He went around the strike zone with it. He never really got shaken. You know, he bent a little bit, but he didn't break, and that's exactly what we needed. We needed him to go out there and give us a good outing, and he did. You know, being up 2 0 is huge, especially winning two on the road. But we still haven't accomplished anything yet. Our goal is to get as far as we possibly can, and we're just going to take it back to Texas and come out and try to play as hard as we can again, and after nine innings see if we've got the lead and got the win. But nothing is won yet. We've still got to go out there and play baseball. That's a very resilient team over there. They're not going to lay down, but we aren't, either. So it's nice to be going home. Q. The last time you were in here and you got swept, you said it would be a different result the next time you come in. I mean, is it some sort of prophecy that you knew something nobody else did? RON WASHINGTON: No, I just know my ballclub. We had the first game won, and things just fell apart there, and the momentum shifted. We're very confident in our ability to go out there and play baseball. It's not always the best team that wins, it's the team that plays the best, and for two games we played pretty good baseball. Right now that's all it is, two games. But I know my team, and we weren't healthy. I wasn't making any excuses, I was just making a fact. It's the first time in a long time we've had all the guys together. Yesterday one group of guys picked us up and today another group picked us up. That's what our lineup is all about. But more than anything it happened on the mound. Cliff Lee gave us a great outing, C.J. gave us a great outing, Ollie came in and finished it all off, so that's what it's all about. Q. Can you talk about what you saw on Michael's check swing? RON WASHINGTON: You know, the umpire said he didn't swing. If he would have said he swung, I don't think we would have argued about that, either. It was a judgment call, and those things happen in baseball. Sometimes they work in your favor and sometimes they don't. They worked in our favor today. ALDS Game 2 postgame interview: Wilson Q. C.J., how many hitters in that lineup would you say that you're actually concerned about when you're pitching? C.J. WILSON: All of them. I mean, every guy in that lineup, even guys that get switched in at the last minute on the roster I'm concerned about. I mean, obviously you don't just you don't take a breather and just throw the ball down the middle. I'm out there trying to make a pitch every single time, trying to be perfect. That's just what it's all about. Watching Cliff yesterday and watching Roy Halladay last night, I had some inspiration, so it was pretty fun. But with guys like Crawford, Bartlett getting on base, that has a little bit of a factor, as well, got to go from the slide step, prevent the stolen base and all that. But I was lucky to come up with some really big pitches in situations where there was guys on base and the game was tight, especially early, getting Longoria out with a guy on base and all that stuff. Q. Aside from the inspiration you got from watching Lee, what were a couple of things that you learned in watching the way that he approached their lineup that you were able to really use today? C.J. WILSON: Well, some of that is proprietary technology that I'm not allowed to share because it's team secrets. No, Cliff is a better version of me. He throws a little bit harder, he's a little bit taller, has a little bit smaller waist, so I try to follow his lead on a lot of stuff. I just watched him kind of work in and out with his fastball, and from there I was able to see which guys maybe it was necessary to go in on and which guys it wasn't, and that had a big factor today. Obviously I made a mistake in with Bartlett, I hit him, but I'm trying to throw that ball pretty much where I did, he just leaned into it. Cliff is the perfect guy for me to stream off of because he doesn't walk anybody and that's really my weakness is I put guys on base unnecessarily. I have good stuff so I can challenge guys the way he does, but it's something you get more and more comfortable with that as you see somebody that has pretty much the same stuff as you do it right in front of you, so that was the big thing. Q. Can you talk about the last at bat and what you were trying to do? C.J. WILSON: Yeah, I mean, right there I had a couple of bats against them earlier. The bat where I walked him, I threw the pitch almost where I wanted to if I threw the pitch right where I wanted to it's for sure a strike out looking. I had that finishing sequence in my head. It's like when you play chess, you sort of remember what moves set up other moves, and I had that in the back of my head knowing, okay, I'm going to hit my spot this time. I'm not going to try to do too much. Last time I tried to throw a sinker and it kind of cut, and that time I just threw a four seamer straight away. I brought Treanor out to the mound because I was like I haven't thrown him a four seamer the whole at bat. I'm like screw it, we're just going with that. We're just going to go right there. I had thrown him some curve balls that he swung and missed on, I'd thrown him some cutters that he had fouled off, throw him some sinkers that he fouled off and stuff, and changes that I'd missed with. So I was like, you know, I'll throw him the one thing the most simple, elegant solution to this whole thing is just boom, strike right there. If he hits it, he hits it, but I'm definitely not walking him this time. I'm throwing him a strike, and that's what happened. Q. About Michael Young, he played a lot of games waiting to get here. Can you describe a little bit about how you and maybe some of your teammates felt in seeing him get that three run homer? C.J. WILSON: Well, I'm not in the dugout during our offensive stuff, I'm kind of in the back just trying to zone in, trying to relax and stuff. But I heard some controversy, I heard the fans kind of boo or whatever and then the next thing I heard was a whack, and our dugout went crazy. I saw it on replay. But the thing is about Mike, like he's trying really hard, so we could tell if he had struck out or whatever yesterday, it's like he's like, man, I'm here, I'm in the playoffs, what I've always wanted, what I've wanted with this team. Because the thing is Mike is our backbone. We've built our team around him for the last couple years, actually the past ten years, I guess, if you really think about it, past ten seasons. And in that 1,500 games or whatever it was, that's him playing 150 or 160 games every year. He's our Derek Jeter or our Cal Ripken or whatever, that's our guy. We rely on him for all sorts of stuff. But he's got tremendous work ethic and we knew it was just a matter of time before he came up big on offense, because he'd made some really great plays on defense already. So I was excited obviously because to have that cushion is huge, but our offense just has weapons 1 through 9 and even guys on the bench. We have guys on the bench that can come up and hit a home run or steal a base or whatever. We've been watching it for the last couple years. We watched these guys develop and watched these guys zone in, and Mike is just absolutely like I said, I mean, he's the captain, the backbone, everything. To see him succeed in that situation, in a huge situation for us as a team, is awesome. Individually, like everybody has that extra little fist pump inside, you know, just that relief of, okay, Mike got his hit, Mike drove us runs in or whatever. Now anything is possible. That's kind of the way we look at it. Q. Talk about the difference for this team between last year and this year in terms of its bent, not break, results. C.J. WILSON: Well, I think the pieces that we've exchanged, bringing in Vlady and bringing in Darren Oliver, having that veteran presence out there, it keeps everybody calm because we know that we can count on these guys to come up and influence the other team, influence the game. And when there's trouble going on, I think a lot of us have experienced that. Like when you first come into the league, you fail. You come up there and maybe you succeed, maybe you fail. But then you kind of get an idea of what it takes for you to succeed, whether it's like maybe certain lefties are going to be cheating on your breaking ball or whatever. And as you go along, you get used to pitching with guys on base, you get used to pitching out of jams, and the only way to do that is just to be thrown into the fire. Last year a lot of guys got thrown into the fire. For the last couple of years, I was thrown into the fire in the bullpen. So now when there's a guy on base or whatever, I'm like, you know, I've gotten out of this before. I've struck my way out of bases loaded, no outs, I've done whatever I've had to do in extreme situations. And also yielded to the bullpen and trusted that O'Day and Ollie and guys like that are going to come in and clean up my mess, which they did, so it's awesome. I think it's kind of a hive mind. We have 25 guys on the team and everybody is in focus and they're going after every pitch. It's crazy. It's the energy, I've never been around anything like it, and it's just that much better than it was last year. Q. How would you describe the mood of your team right now being up 2-0 and heading home? C.J. WILSON: Very positive, very confident. We play well at home. I don't know if we're going to be wearing the red jerseys or the white jerseys or whatever, but everybody is happy. It's like once the seal breaks and we get that first hit, we get that first run, you see the energy just spike in the clubhouse. Everybody is doing the claw and we're all having fun. This is the most fun a lot of us have ever had playing on the team before. It's just a great group of guys, and that's the big thing. We are all pulling for each other, so it's just very positive. Q. Did you learn anything watching Cliff Lee pitch yesterday about the Rays' batters and how did that affect you today? C.J. WILSON: Cliff is great with throwing his fastball for strikes. He's great at getting ahead in the count, he's great at working both sides of the plate. The thing I try to draft on him is figuring out which guys he's going to go in on, which guys I can go in on because of that. Some guys you have to keep more honest than others. Some guys are going to go up there and really just sort of cheat, so you've just got to kind of figure out - because him and I are so similar in terms of the package, the fastball is pretty similar, the sinker is pretty similar, everything is close enough that I can just sort of monkey see, monkey do on his success. And if a guy gets a hit off him, I can be like, well, I'm not going to do that. So that's pretty much how it goes. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20101007&content_id=15491406&notebook_id=15491542&vkey=notebook_tex&c_id=tex

Bartley gets the call from Nashville The Nashville Predators announced today that the club has recalled defenseman Victor Bartley the Milwaukee Admirals. Bartley becomes the 24th participant in the 2013 Dunkin' Donuts AHL All-Star Classic to be recalled to the National Hockey League since the event was held in Providence Jan. 27-28. He leads Milwaukee defensemen in points with 26 (7g, 19a) in 54 games this season. As a rookie in 2011-12, the 6-foot, 212-pound native of Maple Ridge, B.C., tied for 10th among American Hockey League defensemen -- and ranked second among AHL rookie defensemen -- in points (39) after signing as a free agent with the Predators on May 24, 2011. Bartley has yet to appear in an NHL game. - Crunch cruise into conference finals - Griffins push Marlies to the brink - Penguins stay alive with 3-1 win - Tatar takes the lead as Griffins press on - Arcobello leading Barons' Calder Cup charge - French not returning to Bears - AHL Morning Skate: May 17 - Barons roll into Western Conference Finals

http://theahl.com/bartley-gets-the-call-from-nashville-p182376&t=mobile_news_article&bblh=other

Monday, August 2, 2010 Monday News Is Stunning So, uh Stan Bowman said no to Niemi and his 2.75 million dollar arbitration award. Anyone else as surprised as we are? Niemi will now be an unrestricted free agent. It will be interesting to see what teams lands him. Oh, and then Bowman signed Marty Turco to a one-year deal. NHL.com and Chicago Tribune with the news. James Wisniewski was traded to the Islanders for a conditional third round draft pick in 2011. And Dominic Moore was signed by the Tampa Bay Lightning to a two-year contract. This is just funny. There are 11 Players who should have a bounce-back season according to NHL.com. The Blackhawks Convention happened this weekend. We will have more about it later this week, hopefully with a first-hand account but we don't promise a lot. Later today we will be starting the team previews. First up are the Anaheim Ducks. And hopefully we fact-check these previews...

http://thehockeyjunkies.blogspot.com/2010/08/monday-news-is-stunning.html

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Alex Bentley scored 24 points and Maggie Lucas added 19 as eighth-ranked Penn State beat No. 23 Michigan State 71-56 on Sunday to win its 18th straight home game and build a two-game lead in the Big Ten Conference. Nikki Greene had 13 points for Penn State (20-3, 10-1), which closed the first half with a 21-7 run to take a five-point lead and opened the second half with another 21-7 run to build a 19-point margin. Bentley continued her climb through the Penn State record books by becoming only the fourth Penn State player to make 300 steals and the fourth player in the Big Ten to score 1,500 points, record 500 assists and have 300 steals in a career. Annalise Pickrel scored 16 points for Michigan State (18-6, 6-4). Penn State's point total marked just the third time this season that Michigan State yielded more than 70 points. Penn State scored 76 on the Spartans in a Jan. 6 game at Michigan State (76-55). Sunday's victory marks the first time since 2003-04 season that Penn State swept the Spartans Penn State, with 20 wins, is off to its best start since the 1999-2000 season. Detroit Sports By Bleacher Report See wrong or incorrect information in a story. Tell us here Location, ST | website.com National Sports Videos Local Sports Galleries Top Sports Stories - PAT CAPUTO: Fate twisted and Oakland became Greg Kampe's dream come true - Charlie Villanueva hits game-winning 3-pointer as Pistons top Bucks - Jimmy Howard continues solid play by Red Wings' goalies; backup Joey MacDonald on waivers - PAT CAPUTO: Red Wings present a mixed bag - Red Wings top Kings on Jonathan Ericsson's last-second goal WITH VIDEO Recent Activity on Facebook We love them. We hate them. We love to suffer over them, but they are our Detroit Lions. Paula Pasche discusses the team fans want so desperately to return to its glory years as they rebuild. Pat Caputo is a sports columnist for The Oakland Press who covered the Tigers from 1986-98, and the Lions from 1998-2002. A sometimes-irreverent look at Detroit's Boys of Summer, the Tigers, as they try to win their first American League Central title. Matt Myftiu is news editor at The Oakland Press and has a background in sports writing and has had an unhealthy addiction to anything NASCAR for more than a decade. Scott M. Burnstein, covered high school sports for both the Detroit Free Press and the Oakland Press, and is the author of the 2006 regional best-selling book, The Motor City Mafia - A Century of Organized Crime in Detroit. Chuck Pleiness posts news about injuries, line combinations, transactions, who's starting and who's scratched. Follow the Red Wings along with Chuck Pleiness. Kosmo is the all-knowing Oakland Press seer, of course. Paul Kampe, a copy editor and page designer for The Oakland Press, is responsible for laying out the paper, hunting down spelling and grammatical errors and occasionally covering high school sports in Oakland County.

http://theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/02/10/sports/college/doc511823bb4a42c229474027.txt?viewmode=2

- Special Pages LONDON: Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal and holders Chelsea all avoided each other in yesterday’s FA Cup fourth-round draw at Wembley, but only Chelsea and City are assured of a future in the competition. While several of their Premier League rivals floundered in Saturday’s third-round ties, Chelsea thrashed Southampton 5-1 and now face a trip to either fourth-tier Southend United or third-division Brentford. City, 3-0 victors over Watford, will face either Premier League rivals Stoke City or Championship side Crystal Palace. United needed an injury-time Robin van Persie equaliser to earn a 2-2 draw at West Ham United, with either Fulham or Blackpool awaiting the winners of the replay in round four. Second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion’s reward for eliminating Newcastle United, meanwhile, is a tie with either Swansea City or Arsenal, who drew 2-2 at the Liberty Stadium yesterday. Liverpool, 2-1 victors against non-league Mansfield Town on Sunday, will visit third-tier Oldham Athletic, who reached the semi-finals in 1994. Fifth-division Macclesfield Town, conquerors of Championship leaders Cardiff City, could face Premier League opposition in the fourth round if Wigan Athletic come through their replay against League One Bournemouth. Fellow Conference National representatives Luton Town will definitely face a side from the English top flight, however, having been drawn to face Norwich City after their upset win over Wolverhampton Wanderers. The ties will be played on the weekend of January 26-27. In Paris, holders Lyon, currently flying high in Ligue 1, were sensationally knocked out of the French Cup yesterday in a penalty shoot-out with third division club Epinal. The round-of-64 match had ended 3-3 after extra-time, and Epinal went on to spring the biggest upset of the weekend when they beat the seven-time French league champions 4-2 on penalties. Epinal coach Fabien Tissot, a former French second division journeyman, said the result showed the “magic” of Cup football at its best. “We pulled off an extraordinary performance,” said Tissot. “It’s the best victory in my career be it as a player or coach. “The lads let nothing go and were rewarded for their efforts. At 2-0 up, I tried to calm everyone down but it was difficult.” Lyon coach Remi Garde called the result “disappointing”. “It’s always a massive disappointment when you’re eliminated by an inferior team. I’m disappointed for the players,” Garde said. “We knew Epinal were a team that could perform. You must give this team credit.” AGENCIES

http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/sport/220880-heavyweights-kept-apart-in-fa-cup-fourth-round.html

Craig Stammen has surgery; Foli to be called up Nationals right-hander Craig Stammen had arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow Sunday morning. Dr. Wiemi Douoguih, the team’s medical director, took bone chips out of the elbow. Stammen is expected to be ready for Spring Training. In other news, Triple-A Syracuse manager Tim Foli will be called up to the big leagues after the Minor League season ends on Monday. Entering Sunday’s action, the Chiefs are 75-66 under Foli.

http://therocket.mlblogs.com/2009/09/06/craig-stammen-has-surgery-foli-to-be-called-up/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=744caefc44

ESPN has NBA action right through the Playoffs and The Finals in June, all in stunning HD. Regular Season Games, Prime Time Christmas Day Action, Slam Dunk Monday, NBA All-Star Weekend, NBA Playoffs and The Finals – All Live and in HD Missed a game? Fear not… Catch NBA Tonight on ESPN and ESPN America delivering highlights and news from around the league, including a recap of the past day’s on-court action and stats as well as a flavorful delight of top 10 dunks, plays, blocks, assists, steals and more….. Check out the “Live NBA” tab to the right for upcoming live fixtures! |22 May - 00:30||LIVE: NBA COUNTDOWN| |22 May - 01:30||LIVE: NBA SPECIAL - LOTTERY 2013| |22 May - 02:00||LIVE: NBA PLAYOFFS| |24 May - 01:00||LIVE: NBA COUNTDOWN| |24 May - 02:00||LIVE: NBA PLAYOFFS| |28 May - 01:00||LIVE: NBA COUNTDOWN| |19 May - 10:45||NBA TONIGHT| |21 May - 13:00||NBA TONIGHT| |22 May - 00:00||NBA TONIGHT| |22 May - 13:00||NBA TONIGHT| |22 May - 15:00||NBA PLAYOFFS| |22 May - 19:30||NBA PLAYOFFS| |22 May - 21:30||NBA TONIGHT| © ESPN 2013

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Jimmy Gopperth has scored over 200 points every season he has been at Newcastle Falcons. Since joining the side, the fly-half has won the Premiership Golden Boot twice. In many games, he has been his team’s only point scorer. With three penalties in a recent match against table-topping Harlequins, he helped secure a 9-9 draw for his side. Gopperth also recently committed his long-term future to the Falcons after signing a three-year extension to his current deal. But he does not have any superstitions before taking each kick, preferring instead to rely on practice. He told Sky Tyne and Wear: “I have a routine before every kick that I do and that way, in practice or a game, the body is telling itself the same messages. “That way, you know it’s time to kick a goal and that seems to have worked for me.” - Falcons Denied Win By Last Kick Against Quins - Centurion At Falcons - You Ask The Questions: Kevin Ball - Stress Management: Who Would Be A Football Manager? More from Newcastle Falcons - Newcastle Falcons To Host International Double - British And Irish Cup Highlights: Newcastle Falcons 52-5 Cross Keys - Richards: Culture Clash In Cross Keys Cup Tie - Cornish Pirates v Newcastle Falcons: Hodgson Starts At Number 10 - Falcons Sign Up Luveniyali - Don't Call Me Chicken: New Falcons' Scrum-Half's Brush With The Law - Del Fava: Richards Was Deciding Factor - Falcons Will Not Appeal Relegation Related tags: Sport - Newcastle United Dad-To-Be Davide Santon Spared 99mph Driving Ban - Newcastle United Owner Mike Ashley Arrives At Training Ground In Helicopter - Sky Ride Comes To NewcastleGateshead In Summer Of 2013: Get Your Bikes Out - Sports Direct News Apologises For Newcastle Rooney Bid Claims - Paolo Di Canio Fires Holiday Threat At Sunderland Squad - 'Not A Grain Of Truth' In Sports Direct News Report Of Newcastle Rooney Bid - Sunderland Safe From Relegation: Reaction From Ex Player and Fanzines - Yohan Cabaye Backs Newcastle's French Players To Come Good Related tags: Rugby - RFU Championship Playoff Semi-Final: Leeds Carnegie 24-19 Newcastle Falcons - Newcastle's St James' Park Chosen As Rugby World Cup 2015 Host Venue - Newcastle Falcons v Leinster A Cup Final Date Confirmed - British And Irish Cup: Bedford Blues 15-18 Newcastle Falcons - Newcastle Falcons Prop Jonny Golding To Retire At End Of Season - Newcastle Falcons Sign Three More Players For Next Season - Andy Saull Agrees To Join Newcastle Falcons From Saracens - Former Newcastle Falcons Fly-Half Rory Clegg Re-Signs From Harlequins Related tags: Rugbyunion - Falcons' Mayhew Can't Wait For New Season - Falcons Face Tough Opener At Bristol - Welch Named As Falcons Captain - Falcons Relegated From Premiership - Falcons Tie Up Graham - Falcons Target May Retire - Falcons Go To The Beach For Pre-Season Training - Ulster Trip To Kick Off Falcons' Richards Era Related tags: Newcastle - Newcastle's Ben Arfa: We'll Be Back Near The Top Next Season - Newcastle's Ryan Taylor Set For Career-Saving Surgery In US - Newcastle Defender Mike Williamson: QPR Win Proves There's No Split - Newcastle United Manager Alan Pardew Reassures Fans On Arsenal Joke - Champagne And Singing As Newcastle Go Safe In Squeaky QPR Victory - Newcastle Safe: 2 - 1 Win Over QPR Guarantees Premier League Survival - Newcastle Boss Pardew Refuses To Rule Out Summer Move For Remy - Newcastle Boss Alan Pardew Wants Talks With Owner Mike Ashley

http://tyneandwear.sky.com/newcastlefalcons/article/13155/a-good-kicking-with-jimmy-gopperth

The Grecians dominated throughout and created the better chances in an entertaining game, but for all their endeavour, they could not find a way past Gills goalkeeper Stuart Nelson. "They are just behind us in the league so this is a big result," Allen said. "We all left home at 6am to make sure we got to the ground for eight because of the Siberian blizzard in Gillingham. It took ages to get down here. "Did we play great individually? Not really. Did they dig in? Yes. Our goalkeeper had one shot to save in the first half and one in the second half. It is a clean sheet and a good point. "They are all committed, that is why I always change it around and give other people opportunities to play. They have a respect for each other and I trust all the players to play. "We played some good football. We tried to keep the ball and move it about because they are not an easy team to play against down here because they keep possession - that is the name of their game. So we had to be patient at times, you can't always win it back quick. There were spells in the game when Exeter had a lot of the ball but we did well." Exeter manager Paul Tisdale felt his side deserved to take the points but he could not fault his players for their performance. "It was a very good performance and we gave it a really good go and I think we shaded the game," Tisdale said. "I think that the players feel as though we deserved more. "We've kept a clean sheet and took the league leaders right to the end of the game. We have had another player carried off (Matt Oakley) and we are being stretched to the limit with the squad again. "We played really well and the players were not just committed, they really tried to do some good things and I would have backed Jamie Cureton to have made the goalkeeper work for at least one or two of the chances he had. We certainly played our game and I find it very hard to criticise the players because they gave it a really good go."

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/football-allen-satisfield-stalemate-114458375.html

Wells' 18 points lead women's hoops over Quinnipiac, 75-63 DURHAM, N.H. – Making her first start of the season, junior guard Lauren Wells (West Chester, Pa.) set a career high with 16 points and four three-pointers in the first half alone, finishing with 18 points to lead the University of New Hampshire women's basketball team to a convincing, 75-63, victory over Quinnipiac University Wednesday night at Lundholm Gymnasium. Denise Beliveau (Framingham, Mass.) notched her second double-double of the season, scoring 19 points and pulling down 12 rebounds, and Cari Reed (Oswego, N.Y.) matched a career high with 14 points. Wells, who was named the America East Player of the Game, tallied her 18 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the floor, including 4-of-7 from deep. Her four three point field goals were also a career best. Kelsey Hogan (Nashua, N.H.) registered eight points, five boards, and matched her career high for the second time this season with seven assists in the win. Jill McDonald (Middlebury, Vt.) chipped in with eight points, six rebounds and two blocks. UNH (2-7), which snapped a six-game skid while improving to 2-1 on its home floor, shot 49 percent (25-of-51) for the game and hit a season-best 50 percent from beyond the arc, hitting 12 three-point field goals on 24 tries. New Hampshire raced out to a 14-2 lead in the opening seven minutes of play, as Quinnipiac (3-7) missed its first 13 field-goal attempts. The Wildcats led by as many as 20 points in the first half before entering the intermission with a 41-23 advantage. Following UNH's 14-2 run to kick off the action, the Wildcats would add to their lead when Wells banged in a trifecta to spark a 13-8 scoring stretch in favor of the home team that extended the lead to 14. Quinnipiac would respond with a 7-1 run, cutting the score to 28-20 in favor of the 'Cats, as Ellen Cannon capped off the run with a 3-pointer at 8:54. Following a 2:12 scoreless streak between both squads, Beliveau got things started for the Wildcats once again, sinking a 3-pointer that set off a 13-3 run that closed out the first half, giving New Hampshire an 18-point lead at the break. Cannon sank a three to start the second stanza, but it was all UNH for the next 4:05, posting a 12-8 run that was once again sparked by a Beliveau 3-pointer, extending the lead to its highest margin of the contest with a 53-31 advantage with 15:11 remaining. However, the Bobcats would come back strong midway through the stanza, cutting the lead to seven points, finishing off the run on a Brittany McQuain jumper with 3:20 to play. The two teams would remain scoreless for the next 1:23, until Wells sealed the game for UNH, driving to the free throw line and draining a shot with two defenders in her face to set the score at 68-59 with 1:37 to play. That jumper gave the 'Cats much needed life, as it sparked a 9-4 scoring run to close out the contest and preserve the win. Jacinda Dunbar, Courtney Kaminski and Cannon led the Bobcats with 14 points apiece in the loss. Following the Christmas holiday, the Wildcats return to action against St. Joseph's University, the host school of the 20th annual Hawk Classic in Philadelphia, Pa., at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28.

http://unhwildcats.com/sports/wbkb/2010-11/releases/201012227gyhny

CAMBRIDGE, MASS— Student-athletes at the University of New Hampshire continue to excel in the classroom and as a result the Wildcats finished second in the running for the 2007-08 America East Academic Cup with an impressive cumulative grade point average of 3.12. UNH has won the Academic Cup twice, in 1998-99 and 1999-2000. The University of Vermont narrowly edged out UNH to take home the hardware with a 3.14 GPA. The University of Maine (3.10), Stony Brook University (3.06) and Binghamton University (3.04) were the other institutions in America East to compile grade point averages of 3.00 or better in 2007-08. The Academic Cup is presented to the institution whose student-athletes post the highest grade-point averages during that academic year. More than 3,200 student-athletes competed at nine America East institutions in the 2007-08 season. The conference’s student-athletes compiled an average of 3.02 on the team grade-point averages, which were calculated by dividing the total team quality points by the total credits completed for grade. The overall institutional GPAs were calculated using the same formula for all student-athletes at each respective school. The Wildcats also improved two spots from a year ago, placing fifth in the battle for the America East Stuart P. Haskell Commisioner’s Cup. UNH won the men’s cross country title and was co-regular-season champions in women’s soccer. The Wildcats also finished second in five other sports, including women’s soccer, women’s indoor track & field, women’s lacrosse and men’s and women’s indoor track and field. Boston University won the cup with six league titles and three regular season crowns.

http://unhwildcats.com/sports/wswimdive/2007-08/releases/archivepage.cfm-pid=C014A4EF-A5EC-7EDD-66912E22266ED26C.htm

- Results: All-Around | Events - Women's Olympic Team named - Video highlights from NBCOlympics.com - More Olympic Trials information SAN JOSE, Calif., July 1, 2012 – Gabrielle Douglas of Virginia Beach, Va./Chow's Gymnastics and Dance, earned an automatic berth to the 2012 Olympic Games in London after posting the highest two-day total in the all-around, 123.450, at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in front of a sold-out crowd of 17,526 fans at the HP Pavilion at San Jose (Calif.). The complete women's U.S. Olympic team is comprised of: Douglas; McKayla Maroney of Long Beach, Calif./AOGC; Alexandra Raisman of Needham, Mass./Brestyan's American Gymnastics; Kyla Ross of Aliso Viejo, Calif./Gym-Max; and Jordyn Wieber of DeWitt, Mich./Gedderts' Twistars USA. Three replacement athletes were also selected: Sarah Finnegan of St. Louis, Mo./Great American Gymnastics Express; Anna Li of Aurora, Ill./Legacy Elite Gymnastics; and Elizabeth Price of Coopersburg, Pa./Parkettes. Douglas, Wieber (123.350), and Raisman (120.950) took the top three spots in the all-around standings. "All of this hard work has definitely paid off," Douglas said. "I just can't wait to wear those red, white and blue stripes down my back. It felt like a dream come true." "It feels amazing to be an Olympian," Wieber said. "This is definitely the best day of my life and knowing that all of my hard work has paid off is amazing. I'm just so proud of each and every girl who competed here today." Douglas and Wieber came down to the wire. Wieber performed first in the final rotation, performing a solid Amanar vault to score 15.800. Douglas took to the floor exercise needing to post better than 15.200 to win the Olympic Trials and secure the automatic Olympic berth. She delivered a 15.300 after executing a one-and-a-half through to triple full mount. In the first rotation, Douglas wasted no time as the night's first competitor, performing a nearly flawless Amanar to score a 16.000. On the uneven bars, Douglas kept her calm as her hand slipped on her Pak salto, not missing a beat to score 15.900. Douglas posted a 14.850 on the balance beam. Wieber started competition on the uneven bars with a 15.350, sticking her full-twisting double-layout dismount. Wieber executed a front aerial to one-arm back handspring to layout stepout on the balance beam in the second rotation, posting a 14.900. Wieber's energetic floor routine brought the house down and scored a 15.600. Steady throughout every routine, Raisman received her highest score on the floor exercise, 15.500, where she performed her signature opening pass, a one-and-a-half through to Arabian double, punch layout. "I don't even know what to say – I'm so speechless right now," Raisman said. "I feel so honored and so excited. I didn't think I would get this emotional about it, but I'm thinking about all of the hard work it has taken to get to this." Raisman also received scores of 14.450, uneven bars; 15.400, balance beam; and 15.300, vault. Completing the American squad for the London Olympics, Ross and Maroney posted combined all-around totals of 120.000 and 117.650, respectively. "This is the most surreal feeling," said an emotional Ross. "Hearing my name called, I couldn't even believe it." Ross dazzled on the uneven bars where her opening combination, a toe-on Shaposhnikova to Pak salto, helped her earn her highest score of the night, a 15.650. She also earned scores of 15.150, vault; 15.050, balance beam; and 14.750, floor. Maroney's incredible height on her Amanar vault captivated the crowd and scored a 16.150. Nearly sticking her second vault, a Mustafina, she earned a 15.750 and a 15.950 two-vault average. Maroney also scored 13.700, uneven bars; 15.000, balance beam; and 14.500, floor. "This is the best feeling – it's just so amazing," said Maroney. "I'm in shock right now. I think this will be the happiest I'll ever be in my life." All athletes named to the Olympic Team are subject to the approval of the U.S. Olympic Committee's Board of Directors. HP Pavilion. HP Pavilion at San Jose, managed by Sharks Sports & Entertainment, hosts nearly 100 sporting events annually including more than 40 San Jose Sharks regular season home games and the SAP Open men's professional tennis tournament. The building hosts approximately 170 events every year -- including Olympic athletes, Grammy award-winners and a variety of family and children's favorites that account for more than 200 event days. Pollstar, the leading concert industry trade magazine, nominated HP Pavilion at San Jose as "Arena of the Year" for 2005 and 2007. In 2007, Pollstar also recognized HP Pavilion at San Jose based on non-sports attendance as fourth in North America, top 10 in the world. Over the past 10 years, HP Pavilion at San Jose has consistently been in the Top 5 in North America and top 10 in the world. San Jose Sports Authority. The San Jose Sports Authority is a non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the City of San Jose's economic development, visibility and civic pride through sports. Serving as the City's sports commission since its inception in 1991, the Sports Authority has provided leadership and support to attract and host hundreds of sporting events in San Jose and the South Bay. The Sports Authority also supports and operates community, youth and amateur sports programs, including the San Jose Sports Hall of Fame, The First Tee of San Jose, and the REACH Youth Scholarship Program. To learn more, visit www.sjsa.org. City of San Jose. From its founding in 1777 as California's first city, San Jose has been a leader, driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San Jose stands as the largest city in Northern California and the Capital of Silicon Valley—the world's leading center of innovation. The city, the 10th largest in the United States, is committed to remaining a top-ranked place to do business, to work and to live. For more information, visit www.sanjoseca.gov. San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB). The San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau (SJCVB), a 25 year old organization focused on enhancing the image and economic well being of San Jose, is managed by Team San Jose, a unique customer service model that works in partnership with local hoteliers, organized labor, local arts leadership and business community to provide a one-team approach to all event-planning needs. Team San Jose manages the San Jose Convention Center and multiple theaters in Downtown San Jose, including the San Jose Civic, Parkside Hall, Center for the Performing Arts, California Theatre and Montgomery Theater. For more information, visit www.sanjose.org. San Jose Hotels Inc. (SJHI). San Jose Hotels Inc., is a hotels-led, non-profit business improvement district representing 35 San Jose-based hotels. SJHI leverages destination investment focused on event sponsorship, marketing and public relations to attract conventions, events and meetings to San Jose through a unique partnership with Team San Jose and the SJCVB.

http://usagym.org/pages/post.html?PostID=10407&prog=h

|Baseball » Schedule » Roster » News » Coaches » Season Statistics||VALPOATHLETICS.COM| Follow Valpo-Butler Baseball LIVE Friday Afternoon Friday, March 25, 2011 Follow along live beginning with this interactive chat as Valparaiso opens up Horizon League action Friday afternoon at instate rival Butler. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. CDT with the chat beginning at 1:45 p.m. Associate Director of Athletics for Media Relations Ryan Wronkowicz will bring you all of the action live from Bulldog Park in Indianapolis in game one of the three-game weekend series. Feel free to ask questions, add comments, and enjoy the action as the Crusaders battle the Bulldogs.

http://valpoathletics.com/baseball/news/2010-11/10632/follow-valpo-butler-baseball-live-friday-afternoon/

Friday, August 31, 2012 Valpo Athletics announces the launch of a new social media fan engagement program where Crusader fans can show their support for Valpo Athletics and each individual team through a combination of in-game social media campaigns, engaging teams on social networks and earning rewards through our new Valpo Crusader Social Rewards program. Fans can visit ValpoRewards.com to start playing! Developed in partnership with Lodestone Sports, the leader in social media programs for college sports, fans receive points for participating in social media activities such as ‘liking’ Facebook posts, commenting, sharing, tweeting hashtags, re-tweeting, watching a Youtube video, checking in on Foursquare or Facebook, scanning student cards or posting photos and taking in-game polls with Social Stadium Twitter promotions. Fans can also gain points by taking polls, signing up for promotions, printing coupons and more on Valpo Athletics team Facebook pages. The program tracks overall point leaders, athletics leaders and individual team leaders from football to golf. In addition, fans can sign up for special promotions, coupons or become the Fan of the Week on team Facebook pages. This will allow Valpo to create a unique experience and promotion for each team, drive awareness and reward their super fans. There will be grand prizes, giveaways and special fan experiences Valpo Athletics supporters can earn through their social media activity. Mark Drosos, President of Lodestone Sports, commented “We are proud to have such a prestigious program like Valpo as a partner. Their commitment to social media will prove to create an even stronger bond between the school and their fans while creating new relationships with local sports fans.” In addition, Mark added “With the shift in consumer attention to social media and the ‘second screen’ experience, this program will allow Valpo to develop great new in-game social media promotions, extend traditional marketing programs into social networks like Facebook and reward fans for their social media support of Valpo teams.” This is just the beginning as Valpo Athletics will be adding new social platforms, additional ways to earn points and engage with teams and friends before, during and after games. |Copyright ©2013 Valparaiso University Athletics. All Rights Reserved.||www.ValpoAthletics.com|

http://valpoathletics.com/msoccer/news-print/2012-13/11940/valpo-athletics-launches-new-social-media-fan-engagement-program/

ANAHEIM -- Albert Pujols continues to trend toward the mean in the batter's box, but his voting totals still haven't. Despite posting a 1.063 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) over his last 22 games, Pujols remained in fifth place among American League first basemen in fan voting for the upcoming All-Star Game -- the same spot he was in when totals were released two other times. Leading at first base and on pace to start remains the Tigers' Prince Fielder (1,946,045 votes), followed by Paul Konerko of the White Sox (1,680,793), the Yankees' Mark Teixeira (1,405,187), the Rangers' Mitch Moreland (1,202,724) and Pujols (1,047,722). Fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times at MLB.com and all 30 club sites -- online or via a mobile device -- using the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Ballot until Thursday, June 28, at 8:59 p.m. PT. Fans can also once again participate in the State Farm Home Run Derby Fan Poll, where they'll have the opportunity to select three players in each league whom they would most like to see participate. The 2012 State Farm Home Run Derby -- part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day -- will be broadcast live on ESPN, ESPN HD, ESPN Deportes and ESPN Radio in the United States beginning at 5 p.m. PT on Monday, July 9. The 2012 American League and National League All-Star teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 1, on the 2012 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show, televised nationally on TBS. Baseball fans around the world will then be able to select the final player on each team via the 2012 All-Star Game Final Vote on MLB.com. The final phase of All-Star Game voting will again have fans participating in the official voting for the Ted Williams All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet. During the Midsummer Classic, fans will vote exclusively online at MLB.com via the 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, and their voice will represent 20 percent of the official vote determining the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy. The 2012 All-Star Game will be played at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City on Tuesday, July 10. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities. The 83rd All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 200 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and Sirius XM also will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com or royals.com/asg. Through Sunday, Pujols -- batting .256 with 10 homers and 38 RBIs heading into Monday's series opener against the Giants -- was still the only Angels position player among the leading vote-getters. Mike Trout (.326 batting average with 19 steals) and Mark Trumbo (.321 with 16 homers) are deserving of consideration, but Trout wasn't on the original ballot and Trumbo is listed as a third baseman -- a position he hasn't played since May 3. Their best bet is to get selected by the players or AL manager Ron Washington, skipper of a Rangers team that has four players on track to start the Midsummer Classic (catcher Mike Napoli, second baseman Ian Kinsler, third baseman Adrian Beltre and outfielder Josh Hamilton). Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20120619&content_id=33546404&vkey=news_ana&c_id=ana

Don Cossack sidesteps Festival Don Cossack will not line up at the Cheltenham Festival after finishing only third at Naas last Sunday. The six-year-old was a top bumper horse last term but has won just one of his four starts over hurdles this term, finishing well adrift of Annie Power and Defy Logic in a Grade Two heat most recently. Trainer Gordon Elliott had entered him for both the William Hill Supreme Novices' Hurdle and the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle at the Festival, but he will miss those engagements and wait for targets later in the spring. Elliott told his Betfair column: "He came out of the race at Naas on Sunday in good shape, and he's been doing well since then. "He was beaten by two improving horses on the day, and the winner looks an exceptional mare. "In regards to future plans, Cheltenham is now off the agenda and we will look at bringing him to Fairyhouse or Punchestown instead, as there are some nice races there for him too."

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/sports/don_cossack_sidesteps_festival

That's a wrap Random musings following Duke's 67-49 walkover at Virginia tonight. * Certainly we can agree that without Sylven Landesberg, who missed the game with a thigh bruise, the Cavailers (14-13, 5-9 and losers of seven straight) won't win again this season. Virginia struggles to score in the best of times. But Landesberg, who averages a team-best 17.4 points, is the only Cavalier who can consistently create his own shot. Senior forward Jerome Meyinsse's career-high 21 points were a nice moment for, from all accounts, a quality young man. But that's unlikely to happen again. * Tonight is the third time this season -- South Florida and Clemson were the others -- Virginia has scored fewer than 50 points. The last time that happened was 25 years ago, against Alabama, North Carolina State and Georgia Tech. * For the second consecutive game, forward Mike Scott (12.8 average) went scoreless. Moreover, coach Tony Bennett played him only 12 minutes, three after halftime. Scott was 0-for-7 from the floor at Miami, 0-for-6 tonight. * Duke is now allowing 61.6 points per game. The Devils' best defense since the advent of ACC basketball is 62.0 in 2007. * Virginia closes the regular season this week with games at Boston College on Wednesday and home against Maryland on Saturday. Anyone envision a win there? * Duke plays at Maryland on Wednesday. The Devils (25-4,12-2) have won eight straight. The Terps (20-7, 11-3) have won five in a row, including Saturday's 104-100 double-OT classic at Virginia Tech. Should be worth the price of admission.

http://weblogs.dailypress.com/sports/teelblog/2010/02/thats_a_wrap.html

By Tony Jimenez ABU DHABI (Reuters) - Paul McGinley sported a grin as wide as the 18th green at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club on Friday as he explained how he had been blown away by the reaction to his appointment as Europe's 2014 Ryder Cup captain. The 46-year-old Irishman was almost certain to miss the halfway cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship after carding a one-over-par 73 for a five-over tally of 149. While McGinley was disappointed by his inability to make a mark on this week's European Tour event, he took great comfort from the hordes of well-wishers keen to slap him on the back as he made his way to the clubhouse at the end of the second round. "It's been a whirlwind for the last 48 hours," the genial Dubliner told Reuters in an interview as he wiped the sweat from his brow after another steamy day in the desert. "It's all sunk in now. You can't help but think about the Ryder Cup because everyone's coming up to you wherever you turn - tour staff, fans, players, officials, caddies," said McGinley. "It's all been completely overwhelming. I had no idea the reception would be so genuinely enthused for me and it's a really nice feeling to know your peers are so happy for you to have success." McGinley, who took a sideways glance at the clubhouse clock as he was expecting a phone call from Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, said he had received hundreds of congratulatory text messages since his appointment on Tuesday. "I've had nearly 500 texts and I haven't yet managed to sift my way through them all," he added. "I've had so many things to do so I don't know who most of them are from." McGinley was not only "very excited" about what the captaincy would mean for him, he was also delighted at the positive spinoffs for golf in general, especially a project he is involved with in Africa. "This is a real boost for me at this stage of my career because it opens so many doors for me, brings so much more worldwide exposure, and I want to use all that in the right way," said McGinley. "I'm doing a lot of work in Ghana with Tullow Oil, the Royal and Ancient (R&A) and (golf club manufacturers) Taylor Made. They've all invested a lot in the project and now I'm Ryder Cup captain I can bring a lot more to the table when I go there." McGinley said the oil company had found the biggest oil field in Ghana and decided to reinvest in the country. "I sold them the idea, along with their golf-fanatic chief executive Aidan Heavey, of investing in golf and sport. They decided to do that and they've invested in Sunderland Football Club and in soccer academies. "There is also a great golfing legacy in Ghana. They have 14 courses, most of them designed in the 1920s and 1930s by the British, but they've been left to rack and ruin over the last few years," said the four-times European Tour winner. "The rooting though is quite strong so I've already built three new academies and I'm now going to start upgrading a couple of the courses too." McGinley said the R&A, one of the game's two governing bodies along with the United States Golf Association, was thrilled with the project. "The R&A are very much on my side, they're contributing financially and I've got about 15 guys working in Ghana with Paul McGinley Golf Design upgrading one of the courses," he added. "I spent almost 30 days there last year which is a lot of time. I don't know if I'll be able to spend that much time there this year," the triple former Ryder Cup player added with a hearty laugh, "but I'll certainly be spending at least half that time there. "I need to introduce new people to the game, send coaches to the schools and get the kids out for free golf lessons. "We are lighting the golfing fire down there and it's important for Ghana to take that on now and keep the fire lit for a number of years." (Editing by Clare Fallon)

http://whbl.com/news/articles/2013/jan/18/captain-mcginley-blown-away-by-whirlwind-reaction/

Sat August 4, 2012 Olympics Sets Off British Tears Originally published on Sun August 5, 2012 10:43 am SUSAN STAMBERG, HOST: You find out so much about a country, you know, when it's hosting the Olympics. It's almost as if the games lay bare a nation's soul. NPR's Philip Reeves says that is what's happening in Britain. He's finding the experience unnerving, as he explains, in this letter from the Olympics. PHILIP REEVES, BYLINE: Shortly before these Games began, I saw an unusual interview on TV. It was with a middle-aged Englishman, wrapped in a British Union flag. He was very excited. He said he's going to spend the entire Games at home on his sofa with his wife, watching them on TV. This would be their summer vacation. Why are you so interested in the Olympics, the TV reporter inquired. Is it track sports you like or maybe gymnastics or rowing? No, it's not that, the man replied. It's because my wife and I, we both like crying. Not so long ago, I returned to Britain after 20 years away. When I left this country, there wasn't a lot of crying. Teachers at my schools, in the '60s and '70s, never cried. I never saw my father cry. We cried as children, of course, in pain and protest. But the adults made it very clear to us that tears were a worthless currency, about as welcome in Britain as the euro is today. Sporting triumphs were rewarded with a firm handshake, a pat on the back and a small silver cup. The last time the British wept like this, I was overseas. That was when Princess Diana died. They had good cause. Now, the Olympics have set them off again. British tears are flowing faster than their summer rain. I don't blame the athletes. They put themselves through hell. They're entitled to a little weep when they win or lose. But what about all those Brits, happily weeping away in the crowd? And what about all those sports commentators, who, when a Brit wins a medal, start tearing up, who are constantly asking people about how emotional they feel, about how much they're crying? It's as if these Games are a gigantic TV reality show, which I suppose, in a way, they are. There's more to this, though. I suspect the British are crying in relief. Over the last few years, they've watched one villain after another parade across their TV screens - rotten bankers, thieving politicians, wicked media barons, incompetent cops, dishonest journalists. What a relief to find the country actually has some sporting heroes, even if, a week ago, most of us had no idea who most of these athletes are, and in a couple of months, we'll have forgotten their names. What's wrong with that? Nothing. But I find it disconcerting. You see, the English have a skeptical streak I rather like - an ability to raise an eyebrow, to exchange meaningful glances and wry smiles when they catch the whiff of something bogus. Where are all the skeptics now? The answer is they saw these Olympic Games coming. Being skeptics, they concluded - wrongly, as it's so far turned out - that London would be unbearably congested during the Games. They took off on vacation abroad, leaving all the bawlers behind on the sofa - and the bawlers are having a ball. Philip Reeves, NPR News, London. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

http://wkyufm.org/post/olympics-sets-british-tears

Baton Rouge, LA (Sports Network) - Andre Stringer and Johnny O'Bryant III both scored 18 points as the LSU Tigers remained undefeated with an 80-67 win over the Chattanooga Mocs in non-conference play at the Pete Maravich Assembly O'Bryant III, who also blocked three shots, finished with a double-double for the Tigers (6-0) as he pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds in the triumph. Corban Collins chipped in with 11 points off the bench as well for the hosts. The Mocs (2-7), losers of three straight, were paced by Z. Mason who delivered a career-high 22 points, followed by Ronrico White and Gee McGhee with 17 and 10 points, respectively. LSU made good on an even 50 percent from the floor in the first half, including 5-of-11 behind the three-point line, in order to take a 42-30 lead at the break. In the second half the Tigers again shot well beyond the arc (4-of-8) in order to secure the double-digit win. LSU, which won the rebounding battle by a 46-39 margin, survived despite suffering 18 turnovers and shooting just 11-of-20 at the free-throw line. The Sports Network

http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=267883

ATLANTA -- St. Pius X will host the North Hall Trojans Friday, December 7 at 7:30pm at George B. Maloof Stadium in the semifinals of the Georgia High School Association AAA Football Playoffs. With both schools as the top seed from their respective regions, the Golden Lions won the coin toss for home field advantage. This is the third time in four years that St. Pius X has won a coin toss for home field in the state playoffs when the Golden Lions hosted Peach County and Cairo, respectively, in the quarterfinal round. St. Pius X (11-2) defeated Washington County on Friday night, 40-35. Jack Spear passed for two touchdowns, one each to Branden Mitchell and Nick Ruffin, and Ryan Braswell rushed for three scores. Mitchell also ran for 164 yards. Thomas O'Leary added two field goals of 43 and 45-yards. The Golden Lions forced three turnovers and held Washington County on downs inside the red zone in the fourth quarter holding a precarious 34-28 lead. The Golden Lions have now advanced to the semifinals for the fifth time and first since 2006 when they lost to eventual champion, Northside, Warner Robins. The previous two trips to the semifinals were in 1965 (state runners-up), 1967 and 1968, when St. Pius X won its only state championship. North Hall knocked off Peach County, 52-10, to advance to the semifinals and win its tenth straight home playoff game. The Trojans (11-2) and Golden Lions last met in the playoffs in 2009 with St. Pius X taking a 17-3 second round victory. The two schools also played in the regular season in 2010 and 2011 with the Golden Lions winning each game. St. Pius X

http://www.11alive.com/sports/article/266630/380/St-Pius-to-host-North-Hall-in-state-semifinals

NBA FIT Live Healthy Week (Courtesy Kat Gaduco) ATLANTA, Ga. -- Earlier this week, a couple of local athletes took a day off to host a group of children for a night of zen and yoga poses in Atlantic Station as a part of the NBA FIT initiative. On Tuesday afternoon, Hawks forward Ivan Johnson and center Zaza Pachulia hosted a yoga class with about 40 children at Athleta during the annual NBA FIT Live Healthy Week. PHOTO GALLERY | Hawks host pint-size yogis at Athleta Johnson and Pachulia led the class which was comprised of children from the Center for Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully (C.H.O.I.C.E.S) alongside Hawks yoga instructor Michelle Young. Pachulia says his outside shot has improved since he started doing yoga. "I hope the kids learn something today by doing yoga and that they keep using it. It benefits everyone." Pachulia has been practicing yoga for about three years and Johnson for about a year and a half. "Yoga keeps you young, from being injured and it stretches everything," Johnson said. His favorite pose is downward dog, one of the most popular restorative poses. NBA FIT is the league's ongoing health and wellness initiative. According to the league, the program encourages "physical activity and healthy living for children and families through grassroots programs and events."

http://www.11alive.com/sports/pro_basketball/article/275319/372/Hawks-host-yoga-class-at-Atlantic-Station

Breaking down the tape from the Gophers' win over Western Michigan Get the 1500 ESPN SportsWire delivered to your inbox daily, and keep up with all the news in Twin Cities Sports Regardless of one's thoughts on strength of schedule, Jerry Kill's Gophers have positioned themselves three weeks into the season as one of the three remaining undefeated teams in the Big Ten, along with Northwestern and Ohio State. The Gophers matched their three-win total from a year ago by holding on against Western Michigan for a 28-23 victory on Saturday. They did so without the capabilities of senior starting quarterback MarQueis Gray for much of the game after he went down with an ankle injury in the second quarter. But backup Max Shortell filled in with limited hiccups and Western Michigan couldn't bypass the "U" defense when it became a necessity. The following is a breakdown of the Gophers' third win, which put the program out to is best start since 2008, with input from a conversation Kill had with beat reporters on Sunday. Those in the "Shortell-for-starter" camp were given new ammo Saturday with the sophomore QB's fill-in performance. When Gray was lost for the game, and possibly longer, after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the latter half of the second quarter, Shortell stepped in and immediately mounted a 75-yard drive, capped by a touchdown to redshirt junior WR A.J. Barker that put the Gophers out to a 14-10 lead. Shortell, who was in on 41 of the team's 67 snaps, led the "U" to touchdowns on each of its next two drives, eventually finishing with a career-high 188 passing yards (10-of-17). Not without merit, Shortell's outing dominated the post-game talk. Credit Shortell for showing very little trepidation when he came off the bench cold. His command of the offense in the middle portion of the game kept the Gophers from derailing in the wake of Gray's potentially game-changing injury. Shortell attempted 15 passes in the first three drives he was in. Though two of those attempts were negated by penalties, he completed nine passes, six of which were for gains of 15-yards or more (15, 16, 18, 24, 32, 53). The Gophers backed off the pass gradually in the second half, but Shortell had his missteps once the initial rush of being thrust into the No. 1 spot had worn off. On the Gophers' second drive of the third quarter, Shortell overthrew a pass to WR Isaac Fruechte, who tied up with two defenders on a short route. On the ensuing play, a pass sailed out of reach of sophomore WR Marcus Jones, resulting in a three-and-out for the Gophers. Trying to force a pass into Barker near the sideline in the fourth quarter, Shortell was picked off by the closely flanking CB. Those may sound like nitpicks, but the question remains if he can consistently lead the offense, while shouldering elevated responsibilities? The Gophers won't have to wait long to find out. X-rays of Gray's left leg showed no knee damage, but the high ankle sprain could sideline him for the next two to four weeks. Kill said Sunday the team will proceed as if Shortell will start next Saturday against Syracuse. For one game, Shortell showed that the offense doesn't completely hinge on Gray's upper-tier athletic ability. "Well it wasn't the case yesterday, but it is a whole lot different being the starting quarterback, if that's the case," Kill said. "I have a lot of confidence in Max ... But it is still different. Whoever that guy is Saturday, that guy is going to have to play well." Talk of a "quarterback controversy" will continue to follow the Gophers in the next few weeks, but it is still premature a dramatic changing of the guard will occur. By all indications from the coaching staff, if and when healthy, Gray will remain the starting QB. Gray wasn't dynamic in the 25 plays he was in on, but was able to give the Gophers an advantage in the run game that they don't have with Shortell. He ran for 57 yards on 11 attempts, including a 16-yard scamper in the first quarter. Apart from a glaringly missed throw, partly due to a botched route by Jones, Gray's limited passing -- 3-of-6, 29 yards -- wasn't an issue. A 10-yard touchdown pass to Barker late in the first quarter gave the Gophers' an early 7-3 lead. Gray's recent fumble woes aren't doing anything to dissuade his critics. After a dropped handoff, which was eventually recovered by the Gophers, Gray turned the ball over on a 12-yard run, hounded by four Western Michigan defenders, for his fifth fumble in two games. These are mistakes Gray and the Gophers don't have the potency to afford. Without Gray to add another layer to the run game, OC Matt Limegrover upped top RB Donnell Kirkwood's reps to a career-high 23. Fifteen of those came in the second half, along with 86 of his 110 rushing yards, as the Gophers looked to Kirkwood to help manage the clock and the lead. The redshirt sophomore complied with a number of hard, physical runs through the middle of the Western Michigan defense. Game by game, Kirkwood has gradually separated himself from the rest of the TBs. In first two games, Kikrwood accounted for 30.6 percent of the Gophers' 98 total carries (30 of 98) and 33 percent of their total yards (151 of 449). Those numbers spiked Saturday. Kirkwood handled half of the Gophers' carries for 61 percent of their 180 rushing yards. "Donnell ran hard," Kill said. "We controlled the fourth quarter by running the football and by running the clock out. It gave our defense some time to get their air underneath them, get their legs back underneath them. He had some critical runs in that situation." Junior James Gillum was the only other "U" RB to take a handoff and, as was the case against New Hampshire, was ineffective. Gillum ran four times for just eight yards, giving him nine yards in two games on nine carries. Kirkwood's success rate made the need for other options in the backfield not as necessary, but the Gophers would like to have Gillum, Devon Wright and K.J. Maye able to produce and offer a diversion from Kirkwood's power back style. Partly a result of Gray's absence, the Gophers' combined net rushing yards (180) was their lowest mark of the season, but was still a respectable number. Kill wants that number higher, noting that 200 net yards is his weekly goal. Barker has gone from walk-on to the Gophers' go-to downfield threat -- an unlikely role reversal. Barker's strong start to the season took another positive leap as he passed the 100-yard threshold for the second time this year, with five catches for 101 yards and became the 10th player in program history to reel in three touchdowns in a game. Barker was getting a good deal of separation in the secondary all day. With 1:15 to go before halftime, the Gophers had to score quickly. Barker, who had connected with Shortell for a touchdown on the previous drive, zipped through the defense, made a catch in open space, beat his defender to the corner and took off for a 53-yard dash to the endzone. The receiving corps hasn't really seen a letdown yet this season. Receivers are getting out and behind defenders on a regular basis. The unit gelled well when Shortell came in, thriving on his passing tendencies. Four "U" WRs combined for 195 of the Gophers' 217 receiving yards -- Barker (five receptions, 101 yards), Isaac Fruechte (three receptions, 39 yards), Derrick Engel (two receptions, 39 yards) and Jones (one reception, nine yards). There were instances of miscommunications between the receivers and QBs. On third and four on the Gophers' first drive, Jones mistakenly ran a slant route, while Gray was looking for him in the far left corner of the endzone. The result was a bad throw, forcing the Gophers to attempt a 38-yard field goal. Senior Brandon Green, who hasn't recorded a catch this season, did not see the playing field. Kill had said earlier in the week Green's inactivity in the offense wasn't a matter of injury - he has a history of knee issues. Instead, Kill remarked that Green hadn't found himself in the right situation yet. However, now it's become clearer that the coaching staff likely doesn't see Green as a viable option to provide the speed and agility they are looking for from their receivers. Senior John Rabe's redzone prowess in the first two weeks has made him a prime weapon in the Gophers' offense. But it was sophomore Drew Goodger who made an impression Saturday at TE. Goodger had been rarely used in the passing game in first two games, but was thrown out on downfield routes more often against Western Michigan. Goodger's first catch of the year and third in his career came on his team's first drive of the second half. Situated on the nine-yard line, Goodger made his way to the endzone and showing in-tune recognition, dove for a pass from Shortell for the Gophers' fourth and eventually clinching touchdown of the game. The Gophers' use of the tight ends in the passing game this season has caused match-up problems, especially in the redzone. Four of Rabe and Goodger's seven total receptions have gone for touchdowns. Adjustments had to be made on the O-line after it was determined starting C Zach Mottla would be unable to play because of a high ankle sprain. Redshirt freshman Jon Christenson is listed as the No. 2 C on the depth chart, but it was redshirt sophomore Zac Epping that shifted to the middle from his starting spot at RG. Caleb Bak was then inserted at RG in place of Epping. As could be expected, the transition to a different center had its issues early on. Communication across the line has been up and down all season. After a fairly consistent game against New Hampshire, the line got itself into penalty trouble. Five of the Gophers' nine penalties (56 yards) were traced back to the O-line - four of which were false start calls by three different linemen (Epping, LT Ed Olson, RT Josh Campion). Epping was also nailed for a chop block late in the first half -- 15-yard personal foul - that nearly crippled the Gophers' scoring chance, putting them back to 1st and 25 to start the drive. But as the game progressed and Epping got comfortable, the line played increasingly consistent. It showed in Kirkwood's high number carries in the second half. The line combined with Kikrwood to wear down the clock and put pressure on Western Michigan to score quickly. Epping's performance drew praise from Kill a day later. "He's our best offensive lineman right now. Period," Kill said. "He's a hard-nosed, tough kid ... Not many kids can come in at guard, move to center. He's able to do that because he's a smart kid. Football's important to him. He's a good football player." The Gophers knew they would be challenged up front by Western Michigan's pass-heavy tendencies. Pressure on Broncos senior QB Alex Carder came and went. Carder wasn't constantly bothered as UNLV and New Hampshire's QBs were in the first two games. Carder tried to mix it up between quick passes and waiting for his receivers to get in position for the deep throw. The results varied. Carder never fully got into a rhythm - more a credit to the secondary than the D-line. DE D.L. Wilhite overtook NT Ra'Shede Hageman for the team lead in sacks by chasing Carder and bringing him to the ground to end a 10-play drive in the second quarter. The Gophers' second sack of the game came in a big situation on Western Michigan's final drive of the game, when a touchdown would have likely won it. After WMU was called for an illegal formation, DE Michael Amaefula followed on the next play by sacking Carder and pushing the Broncos into a second and 20. Three plays later the game was over. Kill mentioned how the team was surprised by how much Western Michigan decided to run. The Broncos tallied 38 rushing attempts - most by any "U" opponent this season -- for 165 yards. The D-line was lagging in rush defense as the unit was beat to the corners numerous times. The line combined for its lowest number of tackles on the year (nine) -- they recorded 15 at UNLV and 16 against New Hampshire. Amaefula, Hageman and junior Roland Johnson led the unit with two apiece - all of which were solo tackles. Wilhite, freshman Scott Ekpe and redshirt Cameron Botticelli each had one. Western Michigan's desire to run had more of an effect of the LBs. On multiple occasions, players were being caught out of position and off guard, allowing the Broncos to get to a seam. This has been a reoccurring problem, but so far the Gophers have been able to overshadow it. Following Gray's second quarter fumble, Broncos RB Dareyon Chance, who finished with 144 rushing yards, bolted through the middle of the defense into the endzone untouched, with the D-line and LBs locked in with their opposing blockers. The touchdown put the Gophers briefly behind, 10-7, for the second and final time. Senior Mike Rallis has become notably comfortable at MLB as he had the strongest outing of any player in the group, reacting quickly and squaring up well on incoming opponents. He tied with safety Derrick Wells with a team-high 10 tackles (six solo, four assisted). The Gophers' usual nine-man rotation at LB was down to eight on Saturday. Lamonte Edwards was out with an undisclosed injury. Redshirt junior Aaron Hill was back in the starting line at OLB, situated with Rallis and Keanon Cooper. Like all season, Brendan Beal, Spencer Reeves, James Manuel, Ryan Grant and Joey Balthazor were rotated in. Western Michigan ran more than expected, but that doesn't mean Carder wasn't trying to rely on his arm to get yardage. Carder attempted 44 passes. The Gophers' secondary was a major reason why his completion percentage was held to 50 percent (24-of-44). Senior CB Michael Carter had the best game of his career. Carter was zeroed in on the Western Michigan receivers all day, breaking up three passes and intercepting a throw in the first quarter that set the Gophers up for their first touchdown. Western Michigan was desperate to score and forced to pass in the final minute of the game, trailing by five. On third down, Carder tried to get the ball to WR Jamie Wilson, but Carter was right there to draw the incomplete pass. Western Michigan had one last shot at first down to keep the game alive. Carder went back to Wilson. This time Wilson easily grabbed the pass and darted for an opening. Carter dove and caught the receiver by the ankles just short of the first down marker, promptly sealing the victory for the Gophers. The secondary did have to tend with the most prolific passing offense that it has encountered so far. For the most part, the Gophers kept the damage to a minimal level. Western Michigan compiled 209 yards for an average of 8.7 yds. per catch. -- an indication of the Gophers' ability to prevent many major gains through the air. Wells hasn't relinquished his role as the MVP of the "U" defense. Wells led the team again in tackles, tying with Rallis with 10 (seven solo, three assisted). K Jordan Wettstein has hit a cold streak. The senior badly missed his second attempt in two games, shanking a 38-yarder left of the goal post -- a much easier distance to convert from than the 52-yard try he missed against New Hampshire. The botched kick spoiled the Gophers' 12-play opening drive and kept them without a score on any of their initial drives this season. Wettstein has been used for six field goal attempts, failing to convert on three of them (distances of 32, 38 and 52 yards). Wettstein was brought out to kick early in the fourth quarter, but Western Michigan was baited into calling a timeout as soon it realized the Gophers intended to drop Wettstein back to pass. The field goal was then called off. Sophomore P Christian Eldred was short on his four punts, sending them off for an average of 29.5 yards per punt. Kill seems content with Eldred, so expect the Australian transfer to be given some breathing room to continue adjusting to the American game.

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Breaking_down_the_tape_from_the_Gophers_win_over_Western_Michigan091712

Backstage Reaction To WWE Elimination Chamber PPV Posted by Larry Csonka on 02.19.2013 What did people backstage think? - The backstage feel after WWE Elimination Chamber was said to be nothing but positive responses. The goal was to put the spotlight on young talent, such as the Shield. The feel backstage was also positive for Mark Henry and Jack Swagger, as they feel both of these returning superstars did a great job inside the Chamber match. On top of the reaction to the PPV, there was a lot of excitement due to the fact that the WrestleMania XXX announcement was coming.

http://www.411mania.com/wrestling/news/274076

SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego Chargers President Dean Spanos didn't hesitate to reach outside the organization to hire Tom Telesco from the Indianapolis Colts to replace fired general manager A.J. Smith. Spanos said Wednesday that he was struck by Telesco's vision for building the Chargers, who behind Smith and coach Norv Turner took a tumble from four straight AFC West titles to missing the playoffs for three straight seasons. "There's going to be a change in culture, there's going to be a change in process. It was needed here. It was time," Spanos said Wednesday. "That's the most important thing to me." The 40-year-old Telesco, who was chosen over a field of candidates that included Jimmy Raye, the Chargers' director of player personnel, becomes the youngest GM in team history. He was given a four-year contract. Telesco spent the last 15 seasons with the Colts, most recently as vice president of football operations. He had a hand in the moves that helped the Colts go from 2-14 in 2011 to 11-5 and the playoffs this year, including taking quarterback Andrew Luck with the first pick in April's draft. At the end of the 2012 season, the Colts' roster featured 36 new players from the end of the previous year. Telesco certainly will have some work to do with the Chargers. After Turner was fired, he said he believed the Chargers were more than a year away from returning to the playoffs. "There's a great history of this Charger organization and our goal here is to create a culture and a foundation for consistent winning and we're going to get there," Telesco said. "I talked to Dean Spanos and raved about Tommy," Colts owner Jim Irsay said. Irsay said the Colts interviewed Telesco last year for the GM job that went to Ryan Grigson, "and he was right there with Ryan." Before beginning the task of rebuilding the Chargers, Telesco will lead the search for a new coach to replace Turner, who was fired along with Smith on Dec. 31 after the Chargers finished 7-9. Hiring Telesco could give an inside edge to Bruce Arians, the Colts' offensive coordinator who went 9-3 as interim head coach while Chuck Pagano underwent treatment for leukemia. However, Arians remains hospitalized with an illness that caused him to miss Sunday's playoff loss at Baltimore, and has forced the cancellation of at least one of his scheduled interviews to be a head coach. Telesco said he hasn't spoken with any candidates, including Arians. "In regards to Bruce Arians, we just got finished playing a playoff game on Sunday and we were all Colts all the way through. So, I've had no discussions with people on anything of the future. It was all Colts-based," the new GM said. Telesco said he has no parameters on a candidate's experience. "We're looking for a teacher, No. 1, a coach who can communicate ... and we're looking for a leader. The head coach is basically the CEO of the players and the coaching staff. It's a big operation. It doesn't matter to me what area he comes from, whether it's offense or defense experience." Spanos said request letters have been sent to other teams regarding coaching candidates, including teams in the playoffs. Telesco, who played wide receiver at John Carroll University in Ohio, worked as a summer intern at the Buffalo Bills' training camps from 1991-94. After graduating, he got his first NFL job as a scouting assistant with the Carolina Panthers. He spent three years with the Panthers, including 1997 as an area scout. He joined the Colts in 1998 as an area scout, a job he held until 2000. He was a pro scout from 2001-03, director of pro scouting from 2004-05 and director of player personnel from 2006-11. The Colts won the Super Bowl following the 2006 season and reached the NFL's title game again following the 2009 season, losing to New Orleans. "I was lucky enough to work for an organization where we had a lot of success," Telesco said. "We had a standard that we worked with that I know works because we saw it work. It worked with the Carolina Panthers, it worked with the Buffalo Bills. So we have a plan in place that I know works. There's been a lot of tweaks to that plan over 20 years, of course. I've started at the very bottom and up until last year, worked up to the No. 2 person, so I've seen all the different angles of an organization, from bottom up." Indianapolis was eliminated from the playoffs by the Chargers following the 2007 and '08 seasons. "I know from the outside, when I was with the Colts, we had a lot of problems with San Diego," Telesco said. "So there was always a very high opinion of this team." While Smith let the roster slip, particularly on the offensive line, Telesco said it's "certainly nice" that the Chargers have an established quarterback in Philip Rivers. The new GM said the Chargers will be a draft-driven organization that will use free agents to supplement the roster. Spanos and Telesco said they'd both like to have Raye return to the Chargers. Raye didn't return a call seeking comment. Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.

http://www.760kfmb.com/story/20545030/the-chargers-announce-new-gm

Auburn, AL (Sports Network) - The seventh-ranked Florida Gators continue their quest for an SEC regular-season title, as they take on the Auburn Tigers in league action at Auburn Arena on Saturday. Billy Donovan's Gators have had a superior season both in and out of conference. Florida comes into this contest with a stellar 20-3 record, which includes a near flawless 10-1 mark in SEC play. The lone loss in-conference came on the road at Arkansas on Feb. 5. The Gators have won two straight games since then and really showed their dominance this week, with a 69-52 rout of defending national champion Kentucky. Auburn has struggled this season at 9-15 overall. Wins have been even harder to come by in-conference, with the Tigers sitting just outside the league cellar at a mere 3-8. Auburn has dropped two straight and eight of its last nine games, including an 83-75 setback against Arkansas on Wednesday. This marks the only regular-season meeting scheduled between these two teams. Florida trails the all-time series, but has closed the gap with wins in four straight and 14 of the last 15 meetings, overall. Stingy defensive play has been the driving force in Florida's run to the conference crown. The Gators' gaudy +21.3 scoring margin is a direct result of holding teams to a mere 52.7 ppg (fourth nationally), on just .372 shooting. Florida also enjoys a +7.4 rebounding margin and is forcing almost 15 turnovers per game. Four of the team's five starters are averaging double digits in scoring, led by Kenny Boynton's 12.9 ppg. Erik Murphy is a close second at 12.8 ppg, followed by Mike Rosario and Patric Young, who tack on 12.5 and 10.8 ppg, respectively. Florida snapped a five-game losing streak to Kentucky emphatically this week, as the team reached the 20-win mark for the 15th straight season. UF shot a solid 49 percent from the floor in the game, with five players notching double figures in the balanced attack. Scottie Wilbekin led the charge with a game- high 14 points. Young, Rosario and Casey Prather added 12 points each, while Murphy finished with 10. In a game that saw the momentum switch throughout the second half, Auburn came out on the losing end against Arkansas, for the team's second consecutive loss. Chris Denson led the way in defeat with 18 points. Frankie Sullivan chipped in 11 points off the bench, but it wasn't enough to push the Tigers to victory. Offensive proficiency has not been an area of strength for Auburn this season, as the Tigers are averaging a modest 66.9 ppg on a meager .415 shooting. Sullivan came off the bench for the first time in the loss to the Razorbacks, having been a mainstay in the starting lineup in the other 23 games this year. He currently leads the team in scoring at 15.5 ppg, despite shooting well under 40 percent from the floor (.377). Denson is currently the only other Tiger in double figures at 12.2 ppg. Rob Chubb is just under that mark (9.1 ppg), but does lead the team on the boards (7.3 rpg).

http://www.9wsyr.com/sports/cbaskm/Auburn%20Tigers/story/Gators-set-sights-on-Tigers-in-SEC-matchup/n9cPxxN-eUagUMoV4IFSsg.cspx

Alameda, CA (Sports Network) - Grady Allen, the father of Oakland Raiders head coach Dennis Allen, passed away Monday. Grady Allen was hospitalized last week with heart problems. "The organization wishes to extend its most sincere condolences to Coach and his entire family," the Raiders said through their Twitter account. Dennis Allen plans to return Wednesday in time to coach Oakland against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Allen, who was the Broncos' defensive coordinator last season, has guided the Raiders to a 3-9 mark in his first year with the squad.

http://www.abc24.com/sports/story/Father-of-Raiders-Allen-passes-away/8hYjC9hw3kGTbQBomOCV3w.cspx

A collection of news and information related to Rick Helling published by this site and its partners. Displaying items 1-12 of 12 » View aberdeennews.com items only 1987 -- Larry Herndon knocked in five runs with two homers and Jack Morris checked Minnesota on three hits for seven innings as the Detroit Tigers snapped the Twins' four-game winning streak with an 11-2 decision. 1992 -- Dan Karst's RBI single in the... Tags: Milwaukee Brewers, Sports, Baseball, Texas Rangers, Kameron Loe Chopping Block - Seminoles Blog - Orlando SentinelOne could argue, the Florida State-Stanford Super Regional will come down to one thing: pitching. The Seminoles have it. The Cardinal do, too. On Friday, one of the best pitching matchups of the entire NCAA Tournament will take place inside Dick Howser... ANAHEIM, Calif. — The last time slugger Albert Pujols faced the Orioles in a regular-season matchup, Friday's starter Brian Matusz was in high school, Buck Showalter was in his first year managing the Texas Rangers and outfielder Nick Markakis had... Tribune staff reporterThe Cubs pulled off a brazen power grab in front of 39,562 eyewitnesses Wednesday night at Wrigley Field to even up the National League Championship Series with Florida with an all-out assault on the Marlins' pitching staff. On a warm October night... Tags: Chicago Cubs, Randall Simon, WGN, National League, Kenny Lofton The 2003 salaries for the 827 major league baseball players on opening day rosters and disabled lists. Figures were obtained by The Associated Press from management and player sources and include salaries and pro-rated shares of signing bonuses and... In order of 2002 finish New York Yankees Manager: Joe Torre. 2002: 103-58, 1st; lost to Anaheim in 1st round. Payroll: $164 million. Rotation: Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, David Wells, Jeff Weaver. Meat of the order: Jason Giambi,... Sun StaffFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - With paramedics working desperately inside the training room Sunday to try to save Steve Bechler's life, Orioles pitcher Matt Riley recognized a bottle of Xenadrine RFA-1 from Bechler's locker and threw it in the trash. Riley knew... Tribune baseball reporterImagine the shock for an Atlanta Braves fan who spent the winter abroad without giving his favorite team a second thought. Hey, that isn't Tom Glavine in a New York Mets uniform, is it? And what's the deal with Kevin Millwood wearing that Phillies cap?... Associated PressByung-Hyun Kim struck out Sammy Sosa with runners on second and third to end the game, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cubs 3-2 Friday night. Rather than intentionally walk the dangerous Sosa, the Diamondbacks decided to pitch to him because of... Joe Girardi hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth Sunday as the Cubs beat Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2, despite losing Sammy Sosa in an outfield collision. The loss ended Arizona's eight-game winning streak. Alex Gonzalez led off the ninth... 2001 record: (73-89, 4th ) Manager: Jerry Narron (2nd season). Home games: Charlotte County Stadium (5,336), 2300 El Jobean Road, Port Charlotte, Fla. 33948. Directions: I-75 to exit 32, which turns into Toledo Blade Blvd. Travel west on Toledo Blade... Cal Ripken's first major-league hit came against Dennis Lamp of the Chicago White Sox on Aug. 16, 1981. His last hit came against Frank Castillo of the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Oct. 5, 2001. Ripken finished his career with 3,184... Aug 19, 2012 |Story| Aberdeen News Jun 8, 2012 | Orlando Sentinel Apr 20, 2012 |Story| Baltimore Sun Oct 8, 2003 |Story| Chicago Tribune Apr 7, 2003 |Story| Chicago Tribune Mar 31, 2003 |Story| Chicago Tribune Feb 20, 2003 |Story| Baltimore Sun Feb 10, 2003 |Story| Chicago Tribune Aug 23, 2002 |Story| Chicago Tribune Aug 18, 2002 |Story| Chicago Tribune Feb 18, 2002 |Story| South Florida Sun-Sentinel Oct 10, 2001 |Story| Baltimore Sun Original site for Rick Helling topic gallery.

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England Football Day |Author: Roger Heywood||Published: 19th May 2010 09:47| England 2018 Bid ambassador John Terry and Matthew Upson have declared 12th June 'England Football Day' and launched The FA's biggest ever call to the nation for players and fans to come together and celebrate football on the day Fabio Capello's men start their FIFA World CupTM campaign. Inspired by England's kick-off against the USA on 12th June, England players and The FA are calling on the entire country to show their support for the team and pride in our national game by organising a nationwide festival of football. The aim of the England Football Day festivals will be for clubs, schools and businesses to throw open their doors and encourage more people than ever to sign up for a team, become a volunteer, get into coaching or simply celebrate! England 2018 Bid vice-president and England Manager Fabio Capello, says: In England we each share a wonderful passion for the game. I'm sure England Football Day will be a positive experience for the whole country. It is a great opportunity for players, children and families to get involved in football and inspire a new generation." Open to everyone, clubs wanting to organise a festival event can join in the celebratory mood and organise their own mini World Cup tournament, run coaching taster sessions or even rally volunteers to give a new lick of paint to their clubhouse. Many will round off the day by screening the England match in their clubhouses. The FA has already recruited over 100 clubs across the country who have taken England Football Day to their hearts and are setting the example for others to follow and demonstrate the unrivalled passion of fans and players of all ages. As England countdown to the FIFA World CupTM England Football Day festivals will also provide the perfect opportunity for people to take their first steps into coaching and find out more about The FA Youth Award. This groundbreaking new course has been designed to help coaches understand young player's technical and motivational requirements and ensure England continues to produce players capable of gracing the World stage. Supporting clubs in the build up to England Football Day, The FA has launched a dedicated England Football Day website where clubs can get tips on how to stage, promote and enjoy the benefits of getting involved. The website also features an inspirational message from Fabio Capello calling on the nation to come together for England. Kelly Simmons, The FA's Head of the National Game said: "What better time to get more players and quality coaches into football than while England are competing in the FIFA World CupTM. England Football Day has the full support of Fabio Capello and the England team who want fans, players and coaches to get behind what is set to become the biggest celebration of football our country has even seen."

http://www.aboutmyarea.co.uk/Roxburghshire/Kelso/TD5/News/Sport/163560-England-Football-Day

Singapore secures Suzuki Cup lead over Thailand |Singapore's Mustafic Fahrudin (R) scores their first goal against Thailand during the first leg soccer match of their AFF Suzuki Cup finals in Singapore December 19, 2012. Photo by Edgar Su, Reuters.| SINGAPORE - Singapore took a big step to a record fourth Suzuki Cup title after deservedly beating Thailand 3-1 at home in a niggly first leg of the Southeast Asian Championships on Wednesday. Defender Baihakki Khaizan smashed home the third goal from centimetres out in the 91st minute of the match played on the artificial turf at the Jalan Besar Stadium to give his side a big advantage ahead of the second leg in Bangkok on Saturday. "It was really important to win this game and the boys have done that," Singapore coach Raddy Avramovic told reporters. "Both teams are capable to score goals, both can win home and away, we are in some way lucky we have a good result. It is now up to us to go to Thailand and try to score, because if we don't it will be very difficult." Three-times winners Thailand had impressed going undefeated en route to the final with their fast flowing technical play and they were heavy favourites to win the biennial tournament for the first time in a decade prior to the first leg. Singapore, though, were quick out of the blocks on Wednesday, pressing the Thais back, and the home side were rewarded with a penalty in the ninth minute after defender Piyaphon Buntao hauled down Bosnian-born Aleksandar Duric in the area. Midfielder Mustafic Fahruddin sent the Thai goalkeeper the wrong way at the second attempt after the Japanese official had ordered the kick to be retaken because of encroachment. Thailand eventually found their form in the second period and grabbed an equaliser just before the hour mark. Singapore left back Shaiful Esah was caught in possession and Teerasil Dangda broke down the flank before pulling a cross back for Adul Lahso to steer home for the vital away goal. They were level for just three minutes, however, with striker Khairul Amri restoring the home side's advantage with a neat finish at the near post after swivelling away from the hesitant Thai defence. Both sides had chances to grab another goal before Thai goalkeeper Kawin Thammasatchanan failed to deal with a deep corner to the back post with Baihakki on hand to smash the ball into the roof of the net after it fell kindly for him. Thai coach Winfried Schaefer shrugged off the defeat and said his side would give their all to try and overcome the two-goal deficit in the second leg. "I have trust in my team. I know my team. I'm sure we will win this next match," he told reporters. (Reporting by Patrick Johnston, Editing by Tom Pilcher)

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/12/19/12/singapore-secures-suzuki-cup-lead-over-thailand

Advantage Sports Betting: Your TRUSTED Source for Sports News, Betting Odds and Sportsbook Information. If you're reading this page, chances are that you aren't one of our regular readers or visitors, so we get to tell you all about us! AdvantageSportsBetting.com was launched in 2001 as an online sports betting site with the FMC Media Network of sportsbooks. A few years later, the site migrated to a new format which focused on directing visitors to the very best sports betting sites on the web. More recently, AdvantageSportsBetting.com has established itself as a quality sports betting news provider. But since our earliest days on the web, it's our dedication to safety, security, and truly exceptional content that has carried us through more than a decade of success. Our focus on great service that has blessed us with thousands of happy customers across the US, Canada, and the rest of the world, giving us great confidence to keep up the good work! JOIN OUR WRITING TEAM! We're always thrilled to hear from people who want to join our writing team, so do us a favor and don't be a stranger! We'd love to introduce you to some of the prominent members on our editorial team: -StatsGuru : Editorial Director / Lead Handicapper and Picks Man Stats Guru is his name, and stats are not surprisingly his game. Frequently traveling across North America to his favorite destination of Las Vegas (all the while contributing to AdvantageSportsBetting.com from the road) for everything from the Kentucky Derby to the Super Bowl, Stats Guru features an exceptional eye for picking the bets that will keep your betting bankroll on a positive trend. -Denis R. : Editorial Contributor With a fresh eye on sports from a Canadian stand-point, Denis brings a unique look at the hottest news stories of the month, week, day and hour. Obviously quite knowledgeable in the realm of NHL Hockey and CFL Football, Denis continues to keep us posted on the newsmakers that keep us up to date, and our betting bankrolls out of the red. -Neil A. : Editorial Contributor Neil has been in the sports news game for years now, and we are graced with his presence on our team at AdvantageSportsBetting.com. While he in all-around sports nut and aficionado, his true betting passions lie in hockey. Keep your eyes peeled for Neil's latest post as it is sure to provide some serious insight into tonight, or even, next season's big game. Our years of experience in the online sports publishing industry allow our advertisers to benefit from our know-how and established ability to deliver positive return on investment. For any and all inquiries, please email us. Through our advertising sales team we are the partner of choice for any company that wishes to be associated with serious coverage of American and European sport on the internet. We are constantly striving to improve your online sports wagering experience and we welcome any feedback that you may have regarding our betting site and sportsbook partners. Please feel free to contact us via e-mail. Good luck today and always!

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Trey Johnson returns (AuburnSports.com photo) AUBURN, Alabama -- This weekend's recruiting efforts do not have a name, but Auburn is following up last weekend's Junior Day by hosting approximately 30 recruits from Georgia today, says AuburnUndercover.com. Most of the players are from four high schools, including nine from Stephenson in Stone Mountain. One return visitor from Georgia is four-star linebacker Trey Johnson from Lawrenceville, an Auburn commit who was at Junior Day last Saturday, says AuburnSports.com. Inside the Auburn Tigers says Lithonia High defensive end/outside linebacker David Johnson got a jump on the weekend with a visit Friday. "I like how Auburn is focused on education," he told the website. "The educational structure at the college will be the No. 1 thing I use to make my decision." Auburn has five commitments for the 2013 signing class. Those three websites have more names and such... Follow Auburn on Twitter:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012/03/big_group_of_recruits_from_geo.html

On February 6, 2012, Alaska Rush Soccer Club introduced Yeniel Bermudez as the club’s new Director of Coaching Developmental. Yeniel began his playing career in his native Cuba with FC Cienfuegos in the Campeonato Nacional de Futbol de Cuba before eventually being honored with the captaincy for the Cuban U-23 National Team. He defecting to the United States in 2008 during Olympic qualifying and since then has played in the USL with the Charleston Battery and the Los Angeles Blues and coached the youth academy's for those teams.‘I am very happy to be with Alaska Rush and look forward helping grow the club and develop it’s players,’ said Yeniel. ‘I believe this is a good fit for me as a coach and couldn’t have asked for a better situation here in Alaska.’ This specific role will require Yeniel to oversee the Youth Academy developmental program, SoccerMania summer camp, and SoccerFest. In addition, Yeniel will coach the 03B Nike and 99G Swoosh teams as well as act as Lead Coach for a technical academy Alaska Rush will introduce in March 2012. ‘We are very excited and fortunate to have Yeniel onboard with the club. He’s a great addition to the coaching staff and will contribute greatly to Alaska Rush becoming the best soccer club in the state,’ said Technical Director Jason Leonardis. ‘Yeniel has a wealth of knowledge and experience in the game of football that is very difficult to duplicate, especially here in Alaska. We are honored to have him with the club,’ added Jason.

http://www.alaskarush.com/index.php/news-archive/8-more-news/84-alaska-club-inroduces-new-director-of-coaching-developmental

Why Man U? AskMen / Getty Images "Gathering together at Old Trafford must have given these people something of the sense of community that they had previously known in their villages." Visiting Manchester the other day, I was driving down a nondescript road past dreary shops and offices when I saw the top of a sports stadium poking into the gray sky. It was Old Trafford. Team buses carrying soccer players from more glamorous cities such as Barcelona have been known to echo with cries of disgust as they pull in here. The home of Manchester United is rainy and underwhelming. The estimated 333 million humans who consider themselves United fans don’t all know that Manchester is a city in England, but many of those who do would probably be surprised to find just how mid-ranking a city it is. Yet when United’s American ruling family, the Glazers, sold club shares in August, United was valued at $2.3 billion. That made it the world’s most valuable sports franchise, ahead of Real Madrid and baseball’s New York Yankees, according to Forbes. In short, United is bigger than Manchester. So why on earth did this global behemoth arise precisely here? And how, in the last 134 years, has United shaped soccer, in England and now the world? When a soccer club was created just by the newish railway line in 1878, the Manchester location actually helped. The city was then growing like no other on earth. In 1800 it had been a tranquil little place of 84,000 inhabitants, so insignificant that as late as 1832 it didn’t have a member of parliament. The Industrial Revolution changed everything. Workers poured in from English villages, from Ireland, from feeble economies everywhere (my own great-grandparents arrived on the boat from Lithuania). By 1900, Manchester was Europe’s sixth-biggest city, with 1.25 million inhabitants. The club by the railway line was initially called Newton Heath, because the players worked at the Newton Heath carriage works of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company. They played in work clogs against other work teams. Jim White’s Manchester United: The Biography nicely describes the L&YR workers as “sucked in from all over the country to service the growing need for locomotives and carriages.” Life in Manchester then was neither fun nor healthy, White writes. In some neighborhoods, average male life expectancy was just 17. This was still the same brutal city where a few decades before, Karl Marx’s pal Friedrich Engels had run his father’s factory. The conditions of the industrial city were so awful it inspired communism. (My own great-grandparents lost two of their children to scarlet fever in Manchester before moving on to much healthier southern Africa.) Inevitably, most of these desperate early Mancunians were rootless migrants. Unmoored in their new home, many embraced the local soccer clubs. Gathering together at Old Trafford must have given these people something of the sense of community that they had previously known in their villages. That’s how the world’s first great industrial city engendered the world’s greatest soccer brand. Next Page >>

http://www.askmen.com/sports/fanatic/why-man-u.html

Sports Celebrities in Classic '80s Movie Posters Ever wonder what it would look like if sports stars starred in classic 80s movies? Wonder no more By: Athlon Sports | 11/17/11, 4:35 PM EST Earlier this week, New England Patriots wide receiver and world-renowned Twitter addict Chad Ochocinco posted a new avatar featuring himself, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick photoshopped onto the movie poster for Lethal Weapon 3. As you can see, the results were spectacular. Ochocinco has already dropped the avatar, but in honor of his work, we decided to update some other classic movie posters with the biggest stars in sports. By Saul Hutson Most Popular Articles Sign Up For Our Newsletter Get the latest news and find out what our Athlon Sports experts have to say each week. Contests & Promotions Athlon Sports Fantasy Racing! Enter the Athlon Sports Fantasy Racing game. Just head over to athlon.myfantasyracing.com and register for your chance to win a chance to watch a 2014 race from the grandstands. You'll also have a chance to win other amazing prizes such as an autographed Kyle Busch helmet.

http://www.athlonsports.com/overtime/sports-celebrities-movie-classic-80s-movie-posters

"Great SEC Game Coming Up" Nov. 6, 2012 Opening statement… “It’s another great SEC game coming up with the oldest rivalry in the South. It’s going to be a great night game, and I want to encourage all the fans to come out and really support our guys. It’s a great challenge for us. What Georgia has to play for coming in here, with the possibility of clinching the East, and just the history of the game and how important the history of this game has been over the years and how close these games have been, I think our players are extremely excited about playing in the game. Our coaches are excited about coaching in it. We’re looking forward to a great challenge. It’s a very physical football team on both sides of the ball. They’re very talented and have really been playing well of late. It’s going to be a great challenge for us.” How was practice after the win… “As I’ve said before, there’s only one remedy to what was week after week occurring there for a while, and that is a win. It was great to see our guys in the locker room very excited about getting a win and what that feels like again. It had been a while. Practice Sunday, I thought it was very energetic. We have a lot of guys up and down the hallways this week watching film on their own, excited about playing in a game like this as well. I think it’s carrying over. I know it did yesterday, and my expectation is that it’ll carry over to today’s practice.” Is there motivation to try to stop Georgia from winning the SEC East… “We have been on the other side of that, and there’s a lot of motivation. No question about it. They’re playing for the ability to clinch the division and play in the SEC Championship game. When you play in rivalry games like this that have been going on this long, and there’s so much just involved with the game regardless of where each team is at and where they’re at in their season, it just makes for a great game. Our guys are going to be excited just because it’s Georgia. A lot of our players are from the state of Georgia and certainly close by if they’re not from the state. Georgia recruits a lot of the same guys, and these guys are playing high school football together or against each other. I think the history of the game, proximity and geographically how close we are and with our guys just enjoying the chance to play in a rivalry game like this 6 p.m. ESPN game, I think all those things together, we’re going to be very excited to play Saturday.” Does his team want to be the “spoiler”… “I think that’s kind of what anybody in that situation realizes, whether you say it or it’s in the back of your head, that you have an opportunity to play in a great game and if you play well and if you do end up winning the game, that’s the result, but that’s not what we’re feeding on. We’re feeding on the opportunity to have another great SEC game and have the opportunity to play on national TV against a great football team and have an opportunity to go out there and compete. That’s more of what we’re focused on -- and trying to build on what we did last week as well.” Does it help that Brian VanGorder and Willie Martinez previously coached at Georgia… “I think so. I think that over the last however many years, I think Georgia’s changed some in what their ideas are philosophically on offense, but not that much. Those guys spending that much time there, I’m sure that there’s things that are coming back that as you watch the film and you say ‘I remember that in practice,’ that certainly can’t hurt you. “I think it’s a little bit both ways. The bottom line is, when you watch this many games, 10 games, you know what they’re going to do. They know what you’re going to do. It’s just a matter of executing and being in the right position to make plays. Defensively, they’ve seen the last nine or 10 games. They know what we’re going to do, and they’ve been around those two guys as well. I think it’s probably kind of a push.” What does Georgia do well offensively and defensively… “Defensively, they’re very multiple because they have their 3-4 stance, meaning their philosophy of 3-4 defense, which gives you problems offensively; it’s giving quite a few people some problems right now in terms of who to block. There are going to be so many different looks in there. They have some really good talented players who are very productive in terms of sacks and tackles for loss. They have a huge defensive line. They have some safeties back there that are extremely physical, and their corners, if they decide to play man coverage, are very good at what they do. I just think schematically, all the way around, they have good players. They’re coached well, and that’s why they’re where they’re at. “Then offensively, they’ve been so explosive. They have a very big physical offensive line. The two young running backs are very explosive. I think they’ve really complemented each other well because one guy doesn’t have to carry it 35 times a game. They’re a little bit of a change-up. One’s a little bit bigger than the other, but they’re both extremely fast. Obviously, with the quarterback being as efficient as he is and throwing for 21 touchdowns and receivers that -- even though they’ve had a couple of injuries -- the next guy just steps up to the plate. I think everybody understands that they are where they are offensively because they do have explosive guys, and they’re very efficient at what they do.” On Georgia’s defensive players, specifically Jarvis Jones… “I think you start with trying to always find out where he’s at. He’s going to move around some, and they do a really good job with that. He’s definitely a tackle-for-loss hazard, whether it be sacks or in the run game. They don’t have any problems with pressuring him from wherever. You always have to know where he is, and then on top of that, he’s just a very physical player. He’s made plays against pretty much everybody they’ve played. You have to know where he is, and you have to have a way to account for him in both the run game and the pass game because he has great penetration from wherever he’s coming from.” Does Georgia’s pressure challenge players like Brandon Fulse and Jay Prosch to help more in blocking… “Absolutely. There’s no question. Combined with the fact that when you’re in a 3-4 defense that really creates just protection, it’s a tough scheme protection-wise. That’s why a lot of people bounce in and out of it. Even if they’re not a 3-4 defense, they’ll bounce in and out of it just because the protection issues that (Jarvis Jones) gives you. All of that becomes a factor.” Did he think Jarvis Jones had All-America potential when Jones was in high school… “He was coming out right when I had gotten here, so I knew somewhat about him, but I think at the time he was committed to USC, if I’m correct. I thought he was a very good player, and I thought he was a big good-looking physical specimen. I didn’t know enough about him at the time of exactly how good he would be as a football player, but I watched enough film on him to know he certainly had a chance to be. Him transferring and being this productive, I’m sure that the people who were around him for three years aren’t surprised, but I just didn’t know that much about him when I got here.” Will the speed of this defense change compared to what Jonathan Wallace saw last weekend… “It’s night and day. It’s going to be a completely different issue, and that’s what we’re preparing him for. The bottom line is he’ll study it, and he’ll know where they’re coming from. The speed and intensity with which they blitz and pressure and move around will be completely different than last week.” Is it important to get the run game going to help Wallace… “Getting the running game going is an imperative; there’s no question about it. Anytime you’re going out there with a young quarterback, the number one priority is to run the ball enough to protect him where you’re not so much drop-back, or you’re not in that many drop-back situations. First and second down and manageable third downs is really the key, and obviously the key is first and second down and being able to run the ball on some of those downs; even being able to run the ball on third down, too, is really critical when you have a young quarterback. I think that’s always the case.” On Philip Lutzenkirchen (who spoke to reporters earlier about his progress)… “He’s just a solid guy -- a guy that comes out to practice, and he’s always around the team -- a very positive, upbeat guy. He was obviously one of the first guys that we recruited when we got here. I’ve just gotten real close with his family, and I just believe and trust in him and his family and what they stand for off the field, as well as everybody has pretty well documented what he’s done on the field. He’s just a young man that I have a high level of respect for in a lot of ways. “I think he is a very selfless guy, and I think that is what is going to make him be successful whatever he does after this because it’s never really about him, and it’s never really been about him. He could stand up and beat his chest for a lot of things that he’s accomplished that most people would dream about accomplishing in his career here, but he never does that. He’s always going to talk about somebody else, and he’s always going to be one of those guys that steps up to the plate and tries to help somebody else; again, that’s why I talk about what he represents off the field as well as on.” Does Lutzenkirchen’s game-winning TD catch in the 2010 Iron Bowl come to mind when recalling his career… “It’s one of the first ones that comes to mind. He’s had so many great catches out there. He’s had so many one-handed snags. He really came on as a blocker as his career unfolded, because when he came out of high school, he was primarily a glorified wide-out. He had to learn the blocking game, and he had to learn how to do all of those things. It was very important to him to be able to try to improve in that regard, and he did. “He’ll always be remembered for certain catches that he made and some spectacular ones at that and some that the timing was impeccable as you just mentioned in the Iron Bowl two years ago, but his blocking and just everything that he has brought to the table other than the things that you even visibly see him do as a player what he’s like in the locker room, what he’s like in encouraging young guys, what he’s like bringing young guys in that want to play and he wants to help them. He wants to help them learn the offense or just learn what college football is all about. He’s just always been one of those guys, and I think that’s why most of our guys on our team have a very high level of regard very similar to me on Philip. It’s because he’s a different guy.” On the conversation Chizik had with Lutzenkirchen about having surgery… “Well, he was very distraught. My number one goal always is for doing what is in the best interest of our student-athletes, particularly when it comes to injury; I try to treat everything like I would if it were my own son. (Lutz) was at a place where, when it all went down, nobody was really sure exactly what direction this was headed. I just told him, ‘I know there is a lot on your plate because you’re thinking about wanting to finish this season out and making sure that you do all that you can to help Auburn win’ because that’s who he is. Then on the other side of that, you’ve got him thinking about a career beyond this. I just said, ‘at the end of the day, when you really sit down and think about this and you really soul search and pray on it and do whatever you have to do, you’ve got to end up doing health-wise what is the best for you, not 10 weeks from now, but 30 years from now.’ One of the things that happens with an injury like that is you don’t want to walk around with a limp for the rest of your life, just so that you could finish what you started -- I think those are hard decisions to be made sometimes. When all of the evidence came back, it wasn’t hard. He had to get it done, but in the interim, we had to have that conversation.” Injury updates for Auburn players… “C.J. (Uzomah), it doesn’t look like he is going to be able to end up playing this weekend. Chris Davis is still on the bubble. Jeff Whitaker I think has got a chance. He practiced Sunday night; obviously, we’ve got to take some baby steps with him. A couple of those other guys like Chris will be a little bit later in the week as we move forward, but it’s very unlikely that C.J. will play.” Is Dee Ford to the point where he can start… “We played him between 30 and 40 plays the other day, which was good to see. I feel like he held up well. We’re getting to the point where we’re looking at getting him back to that, but, again, I think it just depends on how this week unfolds, certainly tonight at practice.” On the significance of C.J. Uzomah being out… “Well, I just think when you’ve lost your two top tight ends, it certainly doesn’t help. I think he had gained a good amount of confidence with the last couple of games that he had played, and so he was becoming somebody that we were starting to really feel good about him catching the ball. Again, he was kind of like Philip. He was a different position coming out of high school, so he really needed to learn the world of blocking and blocking the edge, but he was coming on as a tight end just being able to do all of it a little bit better. So, again, I feel bad for him. It was kind of a freak deal on Wednesday night, but he will continue to try to get back before the season ends; it’s going to be touch and go as whether that will happen or not.” Has Corey Lemonier’s production changed since the beginning of the season… “I think early in the season, boy, you could really see him -- his very quick first step -- and I think that people knew all the preseason talk, and then the first few games, the pressures he was getting on the quarterback. Early in the year, he was getting some good pressure and there were actually three or four sacks that he had missed. I think protection-wise, every offense is going to take what is considered to be your best guy and they are going to have schemes for them. So, I think it is a combination of all of that.” On Jonathan Wallace stepping in as Auburn’s starting quarterback as a true freshman… “Well, I said it earlier in the week. I was very proud of some of the things that he was able to do, but if you look at how the game unfolded, early in the game he was slow in terms of just kind of getting a rhythm and just kind of getting into it. Typically, what you look for in a young guy is that you are able to do that and recover. So, I felt like he did that. I felt like as the game went on he kind of calmed down a little bit. He hit some throws that he should have hit, and, overall, ended up managing the offense well and throwing some nice balls out there. So, hopefully, he can pick up where he left off, but, again, this is a different defense this week with a different caliber of guy, but he won’t go out there and be fearful in any way, shape or form. I know that. He’ll go out there starting today and really try to improve on everything that he knew were the things that were responsible for a slow start. So, I have no question that he is going to go out there and compete very hard.” On Clint Moseley’s status… “I think he is coming along. Tonight we will see at practice how he is moving around, but I think he has gained in the last two or three days a little bit more movement, but we’ll know more tonight. He moved around a little bit Sunday, but even then we’ve had a little bit of time off since then, and I think that he will be in a little better place tonight, but we won’t really know until after practice.” What threat does Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray pose… “Well, Aaron Murray made plays and so did his wide receivers. They had kind of a high pass on a third-and-one and he hid it behind his back and there is nobody within 15 yards of the wide receiver that was a touchdown pass very well executed. You’re looking at a quarterback that’s pretty much seen it all, done it all. If you look at him just when people decide to pressure him, he’s going to be somewhere in the high 70s in terms of percentage of completions, so that doesn’t faze him. I mean he’s pretty much seen it all. “They’ve got a great scheme, and they can get the ball to one side or the other. Back to the receivers, even right before the half, here he is he’s scrambling around -- Ole Miss is playing well; they had sacked him three or four times on the drive -- and he escapes out of it and he throws the ball just about the only place you could put it before the safety came over, and they score right before the half. “So, I think that pretty much sums it up. He’s a very efficient quarterback with very, very capable wide receivers, and I think they are all on the same page and you can tell the timing. Even though Marlon Brown is going to be out, you’ve still got some receivers -- Malcolm Mitchell and (Tavarres) King and some other guys -- that I think are all very, very synchronized and on the same page.” What is his appreciation for the Auburn-Georgia rivalry… “Just incredible. It’s incredible. That’s why I say that, regardless of what the situation is for either team right now. It’s very important for the other team to go out there and play extremely hard because it’s a game as a little guy, if you grow up wanting to play college football as a little kid, these are the games that you dream of playing in. “I have got a great appreciation for this rivalry. There are a lot of similarities in the schools, and of course everybody knows the similarities over the last 100 and some odd years between scores and just the results of the game.” On the impact freshmen in the SEC this season… “I think this is a little bit of a unique year. I think that from the running backs at Georgia to the quarterback at (Texas) A&M to just so many young guys that have come in and played very, very well, I think it goes back to the level of talent that people are recruiting in this league. Pretty much every week you play somebody that has got a young guy that’s contributed and contributed very well; again, I think it just goes back and everybody knows the level of the skill in this league and it’s not just skill. It’s offensive linemen. It’s defensive linemen. I think the level of play and the level of skill from some of these guys coming out of high school in this league talent-wise is why the SEC is what it is.” More Auburn Football Headlines More Auburn Headlines

http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/110612aad.html

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A few things that jumped out to me while looking over the NCAA tournament brackets: Probable Marquee Mound Showdowns: 1. Connecticut's Matt Barnes vs. Coastal Carolina's Anthony Meo: a tantalizing battle of two first-rounders-to-be, both from lower New England. 2. Texas State's Carson Smith vs. Kent State's Andrew Chafin: a pair of tenacious power arms with checkered medical histories go at it. 3. Creighton's Jonas Dufek vs. Georgia's Michael Palazzone: feel for pitching galore in this Corvallis regional matchup 4. Maine's Jeff Gibbs vs. North Carolina's Patrick Johnson: upset special? Gibbs can run his fastball up to 96 mph, and he beat North Carolina in Chapel Hill in his second career start last February. The fearless Johnson is the consummate winner (he's 11-1). 5. Arkansas' D.J. Baxendale vs. Charlotte's Andrew Smith: great matchup between competitive strike-throwers—the well-known Baxendale, already named to USA Baseball's college national roster for 2011, and the A-10 pitcher of the year in Smith. Most Intriguing Potential Super Regional Pairings 1. Clemson at South Carolina: The Gamecocks have Clemson's number in Omaha, but the two bitter rivals have never met in a super regional, where the intensity would be magnified even more in an on-campus setting. 2. UCLA at Virginia: potentially the top three pitchers in the draft all in one spot (UCLA's Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer, Virginia's Danny Hultzen). 3. Arizona State at Texas: two traditional powers, who last met in a memorable Omaha game in 2009, when the Longhorns stormed back to beat Mike Leake. Deja Vu All Over Again 1. St. John's is the No. 3 seed at the Charlottesville Regional for the second straight year. 2. Stanford is the No. 2 seed in the Fullerton Regional for the second straight year. 3. UC Irvine is the No. 3 seed in the Los Angeles Regional for the second straight year. 1. Georgia Southern: The nation's leading home run hitter (Victor Roache) leads the Eagles to Carolina Stadium, a home run park. 2. Austin Peay State: The Ohio Valley Conference champs are young but well rounded, and they could upset a few apple carts at the Atlanta Regional. 3. Bethune-Cookman: always a dangerous No. 4 seed, the Wildcats force Florida State to consider throwing ace Sean Gilmartin in the opener. If FSU does not, it could be in for a rude awakening. Cinderella, Your Carriage Is Waiting 1. New Mexico: The Lobos carried a seven-game losing streak into the Mountain West Conference tournament—their fifth losing streak of five or more games in 2011. But they caught fire at the perfect time, beating juggernaut TCU twice en route to the MWC title. They head to regionals—for the second straight year, after a 48-year absence—with a 20-39 record. 2. Arkansas-Little Rock: After going 18-32 in the regular season, and 10-20 in the Sun Belt Conference, the Trojans beat SBC powers Troy, Western Kentucky, Florida Atlantic and Florida International to win the conference tournament and reach their first regional. 3. Belmont: The Bruins started A-Sun play just 3-8 and had to win back-to-back games at powerhouse Stetson in the final weekend just to make the conference tournament as the sixth and final seed. Four straight victories later, Belmont is headed to regionals for the first time. Comments will be monitored prior to being added to the site. Comments that include profanity or personal attacks or other inappropriate comments or material will be rejected. Additionally, entries that are unsigned or contain "signatures" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. We have chosen to open up commenting to everyone, so comment away! We want to hear from each and every one of you! Leave a comment. About This Blog Syndicate This Blog Search This Blog

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Arena: Oracle Arena ▪ Attendance: 742,267 (14th of 30) Sponsor this page for $40 and help Basketball-Reference.com provide this service. Your message will replace this ad. Transactions listed are from July 1, 2006 to June Click on the Team for team roster and stats. Click on the Player for career stats and accomplishments. July 12, 2006 September 22, 2006 Signed Dajuan Wagner as a free agent. October 2, 2006 Signed Anthony Roberson as a free agent. October 12, 2006 Waived Dijon Thompson. October 20, 2006 Signed Matt Barnes as a free agent. November 20, 2006 Waived Dajuan Wagner. January 2, 2007 Signed Kelenna Azubuike as a free agent. January 5, 2007 Waived Anthony Roberson. January 16, 2007 January 17, 2007 Signed Renaldo Major to a 10-day contract. June 28, 2007 Drafted Marco Belinelli in the 1st round (18th pick) of the 2007 NBA Draft. Drafted Jermareo Davidson in the 2nd round (36th pick) of the 2007 NBA Draft. Drafted Stephane Lasme in the 2nd round (46th pick) of the 2007 NBA Draft.

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Len Elmore played for five teams in the NBA from 1974 to 1984. He earned a a law degree at Harvard and also has been a player agent. / Randy Belice, NBAE/Getty Images ESPN college basketball analyst Len Elmore, 60, was being treated by District of Columbia paramedics Tuesday morning after collapsing during a session of The Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Elmore, a former NBA player and star at the University of Maryland, is also a member of the Knight Commission. The commission was meeting at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in downtown D.C. Elmore collapsed toward the end of a question-and-answer session. William Asbury, another member of the commission and a former administrator at Penn State, alerted the room to Elmore's condition. He collapsed around 11:30 a.m. ET but was seen back on his feet about 15 minutes later and the paramedics finished seeing to him. Elmore left the room a couple of minutes later accompanied by Amy Perko, executive director of the Knight Commission. Gerald Turner, co-chair of the commission and president of Southern Methodist University, said Elmore was going to a room at the hotel. Turner said Elmore had said he'd experienced similar episodes that are related to an ongoing health issue that Turner did not specify. At about 1:45 p.m. ET, Perko said that Elmore was "fine." Elmore played for five teams in the NBA from 1974 to 1984. He earned a a law degree at Harvard and also has been a player agent. Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com Read the original story: ESPN analyst Len Elmore collapses during D.C. meeting

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Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers will now be reunited with Graham, as the pair worked together when Rodgers was manager at Vicarage Road. Chairman Huw Jenkins said: "Danny... is thrilled to conclude the deal and is looking forward to the challenge of Premier League football with Swansea. "He is a player we have admired for quite some time and as a football club we are delighted to get our man. "Brendan is looking forward to working with him and there is no doubt he will strengthen our team for the new campaign.'' The Liberty Stadium club increased their initial £3m offer to £3.5m and Watford accepted the bid. Graham, who had one year remaining on his Watford contract, had attracted attention from several clubs including QPR and Norwich City, who were also promoted from the Championship and into the Premier League this season. West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United were also reportedly interested in Graham, but Swansea, who had a bid for the 6ft 1in frontman rejected at the start of last season, were the front-runners to sign him. Swansea were aware of Graham's eye for goal as he scored in Watford's 1-1 draw at the Liberty Stadium in March - one of his 27 goals in all competitions. Rodgers is keen to strengthen his strike force, with on-loan Chelsea striker Fabio Borini set to turn down the chance of joining Swansea permanently to sign a five-year deal at Parma in his Italian homeland. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.

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Welcome to Kazan Dr. Rif Gaynanov - 'Wrestling is my Life' Traditional Wrestling will always be intersting, Wrestling is a life! Every nation has it's own coloring. One nation should not impose it's own rules uppon other countries and should respect other cultures and their costumes. Click here to enter the gallery "From Traditional Wrestling Kuresh to modern Belt Wrestling Sport" Click here to watch the video Rif GAYNANOV - "Wrestling is My Life" Click here to read the pdf

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Undefeated MMA Fighter With Congenital Amputation to Discuss Motivation and Inspiration ROSEVILLE, Calif., Dec. 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nick Newell, a professional mixed martial artist (MMA) nicknamed "Notorious", recently won the XFC Lightweight Championship and moved his professional record to 9-0, all with only one complete arm, the other incomplete due to congenital amputation. Some may say Nick Newell has a "handicap," none of those people are his past opponents. Yesterday Newell was named by Spike TV's MMA Uncensored host Craig Carton as the "Fighter of the Year" and is proving to be a true inspiration to people of all ages and physical abilities around the world. FitBody Radio, a live web based radio broadcast show, is excited to have Newell live on their broadcast Monday, December 17th, 2012 at 10amPST/1pmEST, where listeners can call in or Tweet their questions live at FitBodyRadio.com. Newell will be on FitBody Radio to discuss his MMA career, his future, his fitness and his motivation. "I've watched some MMA fights, but I've never seen a fighter with the kind of passion and excitement that I saw from (Newell) when he won that championship. I can't wait for our listeners to hear some of that passion." stated FitBody Radio co-host Jami DeBernard, a professional athlete herself. "Newell is the kind of athlete that is motivational and inspirational to watch, not because of his physical challenges, but because of his attitude, pure and simple" added FitBody Radio co-host Brian Jagger. FitBody Radio is a weekly live broadcast show with a focus towards all levels of people wanting to achieve or maintain a fit body. The show recently debuted with premiere guest Lou Ferrigno, and is co-hosted by International Federation of Body Building (IFBB) Figure Pro Jami DeBernard, and Certified Personal Trainer Brian Jagger, who used to personally be morbidly obese and is now a fit and health focused personal trainer. DeBernard and Jagger have created a show that is motivational, inspirational, educational and always entertaining! FitBody Radio can be heard streaming live at FitBodyRadio.com or via download from their website or the itunes store. Newell won the Xtreme Fighting Championship (XFC) on December 7, 2012 at XFC 21, which was broadcast live on AXS TV from Nashville, TN. In anticipation of being on FitBody Radio, Newell stated that he "feel(s) great, spending this week to rest, getting back at it next week." About why he's committed to getting back in the gym so soon from a roller-coaster week, Newell stated "It's not enough for me to be the champion; I want to be the best." Video of Newell's Championship win, and more information about this extraordinary athlete, are available on the FitBody Radio website at FitBodyRadio.com . This information was brought to you by Cision http://www.cisionwire.com The following files are available for download:

http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/12/12/g3176083/undefeated-mma-fighter-with-congenital-amputation-to-discuss-motivation

With wobbly legs, woozy stomachs and foggy heads, some Emerson students spent Patriots Day trekking 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Boston with some 25,000 others, all on foot. Some chased celebrity cyclist Lance Armstrong, others ran with friends and loved ones, but all interviewed aimed to complete the 112th Boston Marathon for sentimental reasons. For three-time marathon runner Alan Gwizdowski, a junior TV/video major, the 2008 race presented two opportunities: to run in remembrance of the Virginia Tech massacre, which occurred on Marathon Monday last year, and, on a lighter note, to try to beat Lance. After crossing the Copley Square finish line last year in 3:25, Gwizdowski met his parents and heard the distressing news. His sister, then a Virginia Tech senior, was working on campus during the shootings. She called her parents during the race to tell them she was OK, but Gwizdowski knew nothing until the finish. "I called my dad at mile 25 because I had my cell phone with me," he said. "He didn't tell me anything was going on. As soon as he hung up with me, he got his first phone call from my sister, [whom] he hadn't heard from all day. So I basically decided I was going to [run] it again and wear Virginia Tech stuff." Then, when he discovered seven-time Tour de France winner Armstrong was racing, and that his 2:46:43 qualifying time was within reach, Gwizdowski had to go after the big guy. "I knew I wanted to do it," he said. "It was just a matter of whether I wanted to run fast or not." After more than four months of vigorous training, peaking at 60 to 70 miles per week, Gwizdowski completed the marathon in 3:00:18, about 10 minutes behind Armstrong. He wanted to break three hours, but wrote off the additional 18 seconds to tying his shoes-twice. Gwizdowski said he never saw Armstrong, but probably started near him. Armstrong's qualifying time from the New York City Marathon would have put him in or ahead of the third starting group, which Gwizdowski was in, but Armstrong's high-profile status earned him an honorary spot up front with the first elite runners. Elsewhere on the course, other Emerson runners were pursuing their own goals. Sophomore Dana Filek-Gibson, a writing, literature and publishing major and a Beacon copyeditor, carried out her family's three-generation running tradition by completing her first marathon. With veteran marathon-runners for parents, athletic grandparents and a younger brother that runs as well, Filek-Gibson was born with jogging genes. At mile 17, where the hills start, her father jumped in and ran with her for the rest of the race. Filek-Gibson said she felt fine until then, but reached her dad at a critical moment. "Suddenly, my legs felt like someone had put Icy Hot all over them," she said. "I had never had that feeling before. He just kept talking me through it." The two finished in 4:22 and celebrated the feat and her father's birthday that night. That same evening, senior marketing communication major Julie Walden and her dad John, who works as Emerson's construction manager, enjoyed a similar birthday and race day dinner together. After running her first marathon in the same 4:22 time as Filek-Gibson, Walden celebrated with her father, who used to run marathons before several knee surgeries, on his birthday. Having him and her mother cheering her on at mile 24, she said, helped her through the final stretch. Besides family, Walden had the support of her boyfriend, a senior at Maine Maritime Academy, who ran with her from start to finish. He never ran before he met her three years ago, she said, and not only did he complete his first marathon, but he actually pushed her to run faster. "We held hands for the last stretch [to the finish]," Walden said,. "It was just amazing to finish. It felt like you were on the red carpet. That's the only way I can explain it-everyone was cheering for you." An estimated 600,000 spectators lined the course. Freshman Janine Seidel, a marketing communication major and an Emerson cross-country runner along with Walden and Filek-Gibson, was running her first marathon. Seidel was joined by her marathon-running mom at mile 19. "She was just like, 'I'm here! Do you want me to jump in?'" Seidel said. "It was actually good to have someone that was fresh." Her mother, who ran the same race when Seidel was a toddler, crossed the finish line again with her daughter, who clocked in around 4:30. "When we turned [the last corner] and you could see the finish line. . . it was just so cool because you knew you were going to get it," Seidel said. "You don't necessarily feel your body anymore, but you just have to keep your head into it. I don't know how to explain it. I'm just so delirious right now." Unlike Seidel's mom, who runs every day, junior Lisa DeVito's mother trained to run only the last three miles with her daughter. DeVito, a communication sciences and disorders major, met her mom around the 23-mile mark. DeVito's mom, who traveled from Long Island, N.Y., had never run before. DeVito finished her first marathon in about 5 hours 7 minutes with her mother by her side. Earlier in the race, DeVito also received a boost from her boyfriend's mother, who entertained her from mile 16 to 23. She also ran with cross-country teammate Seidel for the first 20 miles. "We were making great time in the beginning," DeVito said. "Then the end was the hardest. [At] mile 24, I was like, this hurts like hell. The last two miles was really tough, and I didn't expect it to hurt that bad." Crossing the finish line with her mother wasn't as sentimental as she anticipated, she said, mostly because said she felt like she was going to pass out. After sitting in a wheelchair and eating, however, DeVito said she was fine. She laughed when she recalled her boyfriend's mom asking her during the race if she planned on signing up for the New York Marathon. "I was like, 'I'm going to get through this right now,'" she said. Her teammate, junior Lena Campagna, was ecstatic about the whole experience. "I really enjoyed training," the marketing communication major said. "It was awesome.like going for long runs on Saturdays with the girls and getting ready for it." Side by side with one of her good friends who ran the last six miles with her, Campagna finished in around 4:30. "Just crossing the finish line was probably the happiest moment of my life for two reasons," she said. "One, because you're done. Two, because you're finished." She and the rest of the Emerson marathoners shared similar sentiments after the race. They were excited and delirious, but unsure if they planned to run next year. However, they were happy to have spent their school day off accomplishing what less than one percent of the world population has done, and in the company of Lance Armstrong.

http://www.berkeleybeacon.com/sports/2008/4/24/emersonians-participate-in-boston-marathon

Don't have an account? Sign up! Forgot your password? Don't have an account? Sign up What a Knockout! Just 2:59 into the sixth round, boxer Juan Manuel Marquez knocked out Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night, closing out the competitors' fourth official meeting. (Photo: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson) © 2013 BET Interactive, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Black Entertainment Television LLC. All rights reserved.

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Big East News Articles Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, one of the most prolific passers in BIG EAST history and the offensive catalyst for a team that shared the 2012 conference title, has been chosen as the 2012 American Eagle Outfitters BIG EAST Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year. - Thursday, February 14, 2013 3:00:00 PM A social media look at the BIG EAST Bowl Season - Monday, January 07, 2013 9:55:00 AM Prince-Tyson Gulley ran for 217 yards and had three touchdowns, Syracuse scored twice on safeties, and the Orange bid a snow-covered farewell to the Big East with a 38-14 victory over West Virginia in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl on Saturday. - Saturday, December 29, 2012 7:40:00 PM The New Era Pinstripe Bowl will be played for the third time in 2012 - Thursday, December 20, 2012 1:05:00 PM Louisville, which claimed the BIG EAST’s automatic bid to the Bowl Championship Series, joins Rutgers, Cincinnati and Syracuse and Pittsburgh as the conference’s postseason representatives. - Sunday, December 02, 2012 9:00:00 PM Friday’s game will be the 37th meeting between Syracuse and Temple in a series that dates to 1944 - Wednesday, November 21, 2012 9:00:00 AM Saturday’s game will be just the third meeting between Syracuse and Missouri as the Orange look to remain unbeaten against the Tigers - Wednesday, November 14, 2012 9:25:00 AM Ryan Nassib threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, Jerome Smith ran for 144 yards and Syracuse handed No. 11 Louisville its first loss of the season in a 45-26 victory on Saturday. - Saturday, November 10, 2012 4:00:00 PM Louisville and Syracuse meet for the 11th time when the teams play Saturday - Thursday, November 08, 2012 4:35:00 PM Winn runs for three TDs, passes for another as Bearcats improved to 6-2. - Saturday, November 03, 2012 4:00:00 PM Saturday’s game will be the 13th meeting between Cincinnati and Syracuse in a series that dates to 1993. - Wednesday, October 31, 2012 9:00:00 PM Ryan Nassib threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Alec Lemon with 3 seconds left as Syracuse rallied from a 20-point halftime deficit to beat South Florida 37-36 Saturday night. - Saturday, October 27, 2012 11:00:00 PM Saturday’s game will be the seventh meeting between Syracuse and USF in a series that dates to 2005 - Wednesday, October 24, 2012 11:20:00 AM Alec Lemon had eight catches for 166 yards to help set up three touchdowns, caught an 11-yard scoring pass, and Syracuse beat Connecticut 40-10 on Friday night to spoil Huskies coach Paul Pasqualoni’s return nearly eight years after he was fired by the Orange. - Friday, October 19, 2012 11:20:00 PM Saturday’s game will be the ninth meeting between Connecticut and Syracuse in a series that began in 2004 - Tuesday, October 16, 2012 7:00:00 AM Duron Harmon scooped up a blocked field goal attempt and ran 75 yard for a tie-breaking touchdown early in the third quarter and No. 20 Rutgers rode its defense and special teams to a 23-15 victory over Syracuse on Saturday. - Saturday, October 13, 2012 3:45:00 PM Rutgers and Syracuse first met in the 1914 season, when the schools played to a 14-14 tie, and have met 42 times prior to Saturday’s matchup. - Thursday, October 11, 2012 8:40:00 PM Adonis Ameen-Moore scored on 1-yard run, Dyshawn Davis returned a fumble 52 yards for another score, and Syracuse broke out of a yearlong funk with a 14-13 victory over Pittsburgh on Friday night. - Friday, October 05, 2012 10:25:00 PM The Pittsburgh-Syracuse rivalry dates to the 1916 season and the schools have met 67 times since then. - Thursday, October 04, 2012 10:25:00 AM The league's football coaches answered questions from the media on the weekly call. - Monday, September 24, 2012 2:15:00 PM

http://www.bigeast.org/NewsSearch/tabid/2025/view/article/sortByDate/False/page/0/Default.aspx?facets=Category%7CSyracuse%2CSport%7CFootball

The new game plan worked to perfection Sept. 29, as The Leopard went gate-to-wire under jockey John Velazquez, taking the 1 1/16-mile event by 2 3/4 lengths to score his first stakes win. The victory may have earned The Leopard a trip to the inaugural $1-million Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf, to be run at nine furlongs Oct. 26 at Monmouth Park. Bred in Kentucky by Eagle Holdings, The Leopard, out of Moon Safari, came into The Pilgrim with three lifetime starts, including a disappointing fifth-place effort in the seven-furlong Futurity Stakes (gr. II) at Belmont Sept. 15. His lone win was a half-length score in a maiden special weight at Saratoga in August. “We were looking to find out about the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf,” Pletcher said. “We had to run him back a little sooner than we wanted to, just to see where we were. We thought he was a little better colt than what he showed in the Futurity, and he’s got so much turf in his pedigree. “We worked him last week with Red Giant, who won the Virginia Derby (gr. IIT), and they worked head-and-head. The fractions were very realistic for him. The impressive part was the way he finished. He finished the last quarter in :22; that’s what we were looking for.” Owned by Derrick Smith, Mrs. John Mangier and Michael Tabor, The Leopard used the inside post to take an immediate lead and went very easily through fractions of :24.82, :49.17 and 1:13.89. At the top of the stretch he had a one-length lead on He Aint Easy, the only of the five challengers within striking distance. But The Leopard responded emphatically when urged by Velazquez in deep stretch, pulling away with every stride. Going off as a 4-5 favorite, The Leopard paid $3.60 to win. His final time was 1:41.61 on a firm turf. “He relaxed himself; I didn’t have to do much,” Velazquez said. “We got to the quarter-pole, I showed him the whip, spanked him, and he came home real nice.”

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/41046/the-leopard-scores-in-turf-debut

Click inside to see what you should be watching on the Internet and on TV. Trace Adkins and Kristin Chenoweth host and perform at the third annual celebration of the best in country music. Live from Las Vegas, Lady Antebellum, Luke Bryan, and Rascal Flatts are among the slated performers at tonight's American Country Awards. Fox, 8:00 p.m. EST. Crews searched for Jenni Rivera's remains Monday amid the wreakage of a plane that crashed in a remote, mountainous area in northern Mexico on Sunday. Known for her performances of soulful ballads, Jenni Rivera had millions of fans on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border and many are mourning her death. Six others were also killed and investigators work to determine what caused the crash. Hot video: Santa Speedo Run 2012 GateHouse News Service

http://www.boonvilledailynews.com/article/20121210/NEWS/312109967/0/Previews

|Indiana Pacers' George Hill (3) drives against Charlotte Bobcats' Ben Gordon (8) during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. The Pacers defeated the Bobcats 96-88. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)| Hill scores 19 as Pacers beat Bobcats 96-88 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — George Hill scored 19 points, D.J. Augustin added a season-high 18 and the Indiana Pacers beat the Charlotte Bobcats 96-88 Saturday night for their fourth straight win. Lance Stephenson had 17 points and David West scored 14 points to help the Central Division-leading Pacers, playing without leading scorer Paul George (illness), get their sixth win in seven games. Recently signed Dominic McGuire started in place of George. Ben Gordon scored a game-high 21 points to lead the Bobcats, and Kemba Walker had 16 on 5-for-9 shooting. The Pacers, the NBA’s second-lowest scoring offense coming in, seemed destined to struggle more than usual without George. They missed their first 10 shots, including several from point blank, as the Bobcats jumped out to a 10-1 lead with Gerald Henderson knocking down a pair of midrange jumpers. Gordon also got off to a good start, scoring nine points on 3-for-3 shooting and two free throws in the first quarter. Charlotte shot 52 percent from the field in the opening period. Stephenson also had nine points in the first quarter for Indiana, shooting 4 for 5, to pull the Pacers to 24-23 after 12 minutes. The Pacers shot 33 percent from the field in the first half, but had six 3-pointers while trailing 45-43 at halftime. Gerald Green hit two 3s, including one in transition, Orlando Johnson knocked one down from the right wing, and Augustin — shooting 28.8 percent from behind the arc coming in — made two. Six of the Pacers’ seven second-quarter field goals came from 3-point range. Hakim Warrik’s 17-footer with 5.8 seconds left gave Charlotte the two-point edge at the break. Bismack Biyomobo and Warrick led the way for the Broncos early in the third as they pushed the lead to 56-51. Indiana, however, answered with a 13-2 run to go up 64-56, and the Pacers didn’t trail again. Michael Kidd-Gilchrist knocked down a short jumper to pull the Bobcats within three points when the Pacers went on a 11-3 run that included a one-handed power dunk from Stephenson and a 3 in the corner from Hill. Stephenson put the crowd on their feet for a final ovation with a fast-break dunk in the final seconds. The Pacers have relied on the league’s best defense as the offense finds its way. The Bobcats became the sixth opponent in seven games Indiana held to fewer than 90 points.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/2013/01/12/hill-scores-pacers-beat-bobcats/9sOQhBcvM49oSfcb3Dc1HO/story.html

By Lem Satterfield Luis DeCubas Jr., the manager of junior middleweight contender Erislandy Lara, shared his thoughts with BoxingScene.com concerning the recent suspensions of the three judges by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board as a result of their roles in the scoring of Saturday night's controversial majority decision loss by Lara to fellow southpaw Paul Williams at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The 29-year-old Williams (40-2, 27 knockouts) was awarded an unpopular decision over the 28-year-old Lara (15-1-1, 10 KOs), thanks to the cards of Hilton Whitaker and Don Givens, who had it 115-114, and, 116-114, respectively, for Williams, with Al Bennett scoring it a 114-114 draw. BoxingScene.com had it 117-111 for Lara, as did Keith Idec of the North Jersey Record and HBO's unofficial scorer Harold Lederman. ESPN's Dan Rafael and USA Today's Bob Velin each had it had 116-112 for Lara, and HBO commentators, Max Kellerman and Roy Jones gave Lara nine rounds and only three for Williams, who faced a disadvantage in overall punches landed, 224-to-200, and, power shots, 178-to-161. In a letter from New Jersey Control board commissioner Aaron Davis that is dated July 13, 2011, Williams' promoter, Dan Goossen, and Lara's promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, were notified of the indefinite suspension of all three judges. Indicating that Bennett, Whitaker and Givens will be required to undergo additional training upon returning to boxing, Davis also noted that his agency found no evidence of corruption, but acknowledged that his it "did not provide our best officiating on July 9.” DeCubas contends that Lara should be treated as if he won the fight and be granted an automatic rematch with Williams that would be supported by HBO. The winner of a rematch, said DeCubas, could be in line to face southpaw WBC middleweight emeritus champion Sergio Martinez (47-7-2, 27 KOs), who stopped Williams in the second round in November. Martinez-Williams II was a return bout of a December, 2009 majority decision victory by Williams in a fight that featured each of the boxers being floored in the first round. If Williams-Lara II doesn't happen, said DeCubas, Lara could seek title bouts opposite junior middleweight belt-holders Cornelius Bundrage (31-4, 18 KOs), Saul Alvarez (37-0-1, 27 KOs) or southpaw Sergei Dzinziruk (37-1, 23 KOs), respectively, of the IBF, WBC and WBO. Lara entered his clash with Williams coming off of a March 25 majority draw with tough, Mexican-born Carlos Molina (19-4-2, six KOs), who improved his unbeaten streak to 11-0-1 with two stoppages following Saturday night's upset unanimous decision victory over former champion Kermit Cintron (32-4-1, 28 KOs). BoxingScene.com: What is your reaction and how do you feel about the judges' suspensions by the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board? Luis DeCubas Jr.: My first reaction is that this is one step forward in the right direction. Obviously, those three guys should never judge another fight in the history of boxing, period. Not just in New Jersey or anywhere else. I think that Aaron Davis is trying to clean up a little bit of the mess. It's still uncalled for having these three guys who have no experience judging a fight of this magnitude. Look, Erislandy Lara's glad that this has happened, but it still doesn't give him the 'W.' It's never been done in the history of boxing for something like this, but it should be switched over to a no-contest. And you know what? Let's do it again. Let's go right back and do it again. But the reality is that I've gotten so many calls, and we've been on the radio in Miami and everything about this fight since this has happened. And every fan is saying the same thing: 'Don't give Paul Williams a rematch.' They say that he doesn't deserve it. That's what we hear a lot. But if it's me, I'm like, 'Guys, you know what?' The fairest thing to do a rematch. But the Williams camp wants no part of it. The reality is that Paul Williams doesn't want to get busted up again. But that's not a big deal for us. We'll move forward. Everyone knows who won the fight. By suspending these three juges, I think that it states very clearly who won the fight. And, you know what, we'll move on to bigger and better things. Paul Williams is in the rear-view mirror. I mean, we basically disposed of him for about 10 out of the 12 rounds on Saturday night. BoxingScene.com: The controversy notwithstanding, do you feel as if there was a silver lining to the fact that so much attention has been paid to this fight that Erislandy Lara has in fact lifted himself to another level? LDJ: Oh, yes, 100 percent. It was the first big stage for a kid who only had 16 fights coming in. For him to perform the way that he did in that type of atmosphere and for his first time fighting on HBO? To face and in fact beat a guy like Paul Williams who has been rated as one of the top fighters pound-for-pound by Ring Magazine for a very long time? That's incredible. I mean, you've got guys like Canelo Alvarez, who has got 40 fights, and he wouldn't go 10 feet near a ring with Paul Williams around or against any of the top guys like him. But this kid Lara just said, 'You know what? So what?' For a guy with less than 20 fights, Lara proved that he's one of the top fighters in the world. BoxingScene.com: Do you feel vindicated by this decision? LDJ: I don't feel vindicated. There's no need to be vindicated because the kid should have just gotten a decision that night. I think that they did him wrong. Honestly, no decision other than flipping the score around and giving Lara a unanimous decision would be complete vindication. Since they came out with this, then maybe they ought to just tell the truth. Maybe they just ought to say that the scorecards were messed up and give it to Lara. The only vindication for Lara would be to be treated like the winner by HBO. HBO, when they televise his next fight, should treat him like the winner. That's all that we ask. I think that's the only way to do it. I think that HBO and it's announcement team did a great job that night. Max Kellerman couldn't have been more straight to the point about what he thought of the fight. I think that Lara should be treated like the winner. He beat a legitimate guy on a legitimate night. And he got robbed. This kid flew from Cuba to Brazil and he got taken back. So he got robbed of his freedom one time already. And then he had to come back another time just for these types of opportunities. And then he gets robbed by these three individuals? It's not right what they did to this kid. BoxingScene.com: How is the fracture near his left eye from the hematoma that resulted from what was ruled an accidental clash of heads? LDJ: The swelling has almost gone down completely. So it's getting better. [Trainer] Miguel Diaz did an unbelievable job controlling the swelling over that eye. I can't put it into words what Miguel did in that corner. The fracture still is there. I mean, it will be a few weeks. Five weeks, six weeks. Then he will just start doing a little conditioning work and start running around and doing some conditioning things. We hope to get into the ring at the end of the year and to put on another great performance for the fans. You know, this kid had a lot to prove and a lot on his back coming off of the draw against Carlos Molina. People weren't giving Molina the credit that he deserves as a fighter, because he's a very good fighter himself. Now, Lara has taken the monkey off of his back. He put on a great performance, and now he's got to look forward to maybe winning a world title at the end of the year if Williams doesn't want the rematch. I would have to go back to the kid, though, on that, because Lara feels as if Williams doesn't deserve a rematch at all. BoxingScene.com: Do you feel like Carlos Molina's performance against Kermit Cintron was a statement about the kinds of guys Erislandy Lara has been facing? LDJ: Yes, 100 percent. It just shows that Molina is a legitimate guy too. And Lara wasn't 100 percent for the Molina fight, physically or mentally. But I still think that he beat Molina six rounds to four. The way Molina beat the sh*t out of Kermit Cintron just shows you that this guy couldn't do that with Lara. If Lara is 100 percent against Molina, he beats him easily. BoxingScene.com: Would you consider any of the other champions in the junior middleweight division? LDJ: We've talked about Sergei Dzinziruk, who just lost to Sergrio Martinez, and who is a very good champion. But he's never lost at 154 pounds. We're looking at Cornelius Bundrage. We would love to fight Canelo Alvarez, but Golden Boy is not going to put that kid anywhere near Lara. It's really a crying shame about that, because they're both with the same promoter. But their two of the top 154-pounders, so why not let them fight? Golden Boy's protecting him, but that's not a big deal. We're just going to keep going through these guys like a hot knife through butter. Sooner or later, Canelo Alvarez is just going to have to face us or else leave the division real soon. If HBO doesn't want to treat us like the winner, then let's do the rematch with Williams and the winner gets Martinez. What bigger fight than that? We could fight in December. Martinez is obligated to fight in December. I've spoken to [Martinez's adviser] Sampson [Lewkowicz] several times. Let's let the winner of a rematch between Lara and Williams fight Martinez. If Williams is good enough to beat Lara, then he's good enough to get back to Martinez. And if not, let Lara fight Martinez.Tags: Erislandy Lara , Paul Williams , Williams-Lara , Williams vs Lara

http://www.boxingscene.com/laras-manager-on-suspensions-future-fights-more--41505

No. 20 women's tennis rallies past MIT, 6-3 CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- The 20th-ranked Brandeis women's tennis team improved to 13-2 on the season today by rallying past host MIT, 6-3. The Judges came back from a 2-1 deficit after doubles action to earn the victory. Rookies Dylan Schlesinger (Miami, Fla./Palmetto) and Simone Vandroff (Moss Beach, Fla./Half Moon Bay) earned Brandeis's lone doubles point at No. 3, 8-3, as the squads split at the bottom two spots. The Engineers duo of Anastasia Vishnevetsky and Michelle Dutt pulled off an upset at No. 1, using a late break of service to defeat the Judges' pairing of junior Faith Broderick (Washingtonville, N.Y./Washingtonville) and rookie Carley Cooke (San Diego, Calif./Point Loma), 9-7, to take the lead into singles action. Brandeis sophomore Roberta Bergstein (Hingham, Mass./Hingham) tied the score at No. 6 when her opponent retired after Bergstein won the first set, 6-1. Broderick avenged her doubles loss to Dutt in quick fashion, picking up a 6-0, 6-2 win at No. 2. Sophomore Alexa Katz (Philadelphia, Pa./Abington Friends) got the Judges within one point of victory with a 6-1, 6-2, victory at No. 5, and Cooke completed the comeback at the top spot with a 6-1, 6-4, defeat of Vishnevetsky. Sophomore Allyson Bernstein (Northbrook, Ill./Glenbrook North) closed out the Judges' scoring at No. 3, 6-3, 6-2. Vandroff suffered the only Brandeis loss, falling to Julia Hu at No. 4, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6, in a third-set super-tiebreaker. The Judges close out their schedule with a pair of matchups with two more nationally-ranked squads, facing No. 19 Wellesley on Saturday afternoon on the road at 12:30 p.m. and No. 28 Trinity (Conn.) in their final home match of the season at 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24.

http://www.brandeisjudges.com/sports/wten/2011-12/releases/20120418nlhnfq

Contact the Bridport News with your stories, pictures and video footage. Send us an email Salisbury break to deny Bridport SALISBURY SECONDS 36 BRIDPORT 22 TWO breakaway tries deep into the second half proved the difference between these sides in an entertaining Dorset & Wilts One South encounter. Rory Greening, Tony Herbert, Donald Farmer and skipper Ricky Stubbs grabbed tries for Bridport but a couple of length-of-the-field scores took the hosts clear in the closing stages. Salisbury opened the scoring with a try in the first four minutes and repeated the feat with an added conversion soon after. Flanker Greening got Bridport on the board when he touched down on 16 minutes and hooker Herbert followed in his footsteps to cut the lead to 12-10. Salisbury pulled five points clear with a third try on the half hour but a superb individual touch down from centre Farmer made it 17-15 to the home side as Bridport kept in touch. Two penalties moved Salisbury 23-15 ahead only for Bridport captain Stubbs, playing at fly-half, to seal a bonus point with a fourth try. Farmer converted this time and Bridport were right back in it at 23-22. A third penalty gave the Wiltshire outfit some breathing space but with Bridport pressurising the home defence it looked like they would lose their lead. However, twice in the space of six minutes Salisbury broke away to score two almost identical tries which gave Bridport too much of a mountain to climb. “When it went to 23-22 we were attacking quite well and they were faltering,” said Bridport team manager Arthur Barclay. “If we hadn’t given away those two late tries it could have gone either way. “But for an inexperienced side with a lot of youngsters playing we did really well. “They were a well-drilled side but we stood up and gave 100 percent. I was pleased with the performance but it just wasn’t good enough on the day.” Warminster away on Saturday (2.30pm) is next on the agenda for Bridport, who only have three games left this season, all of which are on the road. It will again be a young team they take to Warminster as Bridport target a league double following a 43-3 triumph at home on the second weekend of the season. Bridport Seconds, who lost 61-8 to Lytchett Minster Seconds last weekend, do not have a league fixture this Saturday. * The Bridport clubhouse will be open this Saturday for the culmination of the Six Nations as Wales host Grand Slam-chasing England.

http://www.bridportnews.co.uk/sport/rugby/10283461.Salisbury_break_to_deny_Bridport/?ref=rss

Bears Drop 11-4 Decision To Vanderbilt March 11, 2006 Nashville, TN - After taking a 4-3 lead with four runs in the top of the fourth, the Brown baseball team gave up seven runs in the next two innings, including six in the fifth, falling to Vanderbilt 11-4 on Saturday. The Bears fall to 0-4 on the year and will complete the three-game series with the Commodores on Sunday at noon. Senior Paul Christian went 2-3 with an RBI single in the fourth and a double in the eighth. Sophomore Jeff Dietz went 1-4 with an RBI single in the fourth while sophomore Ryan Murphy, juniors Bryan Tews, Eric Larson, Devin Thomas and freshman Steve Daniels all tallied one hit apiece.Freshman Dan Shapiro and Tews drove in the Bears other two runs on the day. Senior Shaun McNamara suffered the loss on the mound, his second of the season.

http://www.brownbears.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/031106aab.html

News from the Hilltop FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Birmingham-Southern College approved as full active member of NCAA Division III BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—The NCAA Division III Management Council this week approved Birmingham-Southern College as a full active member in intercollegiate athletics effective Sept. 1, 2011. The announcement ends a five-year reclassification process for the BSC athletics program from NCAA Division I to Division III. Active membership means that all of the college's men's and women's varsity sports teams will be eligible for NCAA Division III championships beginning with the upcoming 2011-12 academic year and that the college has a vote at the annual NCAA Convention. BSC also will be eligible for Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference postseason tournament championships this year. "No institution in the history of intercollegiate athletics has taken the journey Birmingham-Southern has the past 12 years," said Joe Dean Jr., BSC's director of athletics. "From the NAIA to NCAA Division I and now a full member of NCAA Division III, it is an amazing story marked with achievements on the playing fields and courts and in the classroom. "We believe we have the best student-athletes, coaches, and facilities in all of NCAA Division III, and we fully expect to continue winning championships and graduating young men and women of great promise and character for many years to come." "This is an important day for our athletics programs," said Birmingham-Southern President Gen. Charles C. Krulak. "Transitions in any venture can be challenging, but our athletics administration, our coaches, and our scholar-athletes completed this five-year journey with great integrity and enthusiasm. "We are looking forward to a long and successful association with NCAA Division III and competing against like-minded institutions where competitive athletics are integrated into the whole of the educational experience." Birmingham-Southern competes in 20 varsity sports for men and women, including men's and women's basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and indoor and outdoor track and field, and baseball, football, softball, and volleyball. BSC's athletics teams already have demonstrated success in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. The men's basketball team won the 2011 SCAC regular season championship this past winter, and the baseball team, for the third consecutive season in 2011, won the Eastern Division of the SCAC. Also during spring 2011, the women's golf team finished the season ranked in the top 10 among all NCAA Division III golf teams, the women's softball team won the SCAC Eastern Division title, and the men's lacrosse team advanced to the finals of the SCAC Tournament in only its third year of existence. On July 1, 2012, Birmingham-Southern will become a member of a new athletics conference that includes Berry College, Centre College, Hendrix College, Millsaps College, Oglethorpe University, Rhodes College, and Sewanee: The University of the South.

http://www.bsc.edu/communications/news/2011/20110729-ncaa.cfm

Send your news, photos and videos by texting bucksfreepress to 80360 or email Blues hope dead leg doesn't kill McClure hopes of facing City WANDERERS boss Gareth Ainsworth hopes top scorer Matt McClure recovers from a dead leg in time to face Exeter City tomorrow after singing the striker’s praises for his winning goal on Saturday. A clinical strike from the 21-year-old ensured a return to winning ways for Wycombe as McClure’s early goal was enough for all three points from their weekend trip to Plymouth Argyle. It keeps up McClure’s ratio of scoring more than a goal every other game, but the Northern Ireland U21 international failed to last the full 90 minutes at Home Park as a dead leg forced him off. After the game Ainsworth was glowing in his praise for the striker, saying he was being repaid for the faith he had shown in the youngster. The Blues boss said: “Hopefully I’ll have a big say in Matt McClure’s career. He’ll be a big player. He’s a natural born finisher and there’s not many about. “Ever since I came to Wycombe two and a half years ago I’ve looked at Matt and thought, ‘that kid can finish’. He’s one of the best finishers at the club and he’s proven that week in, week out. “I’ve always believed in Matt. He’ll get his name in the papers and the headlines but he’ll be the first to thank the rest of the lads for making his goal the winning goal.” Referring to his injury, Ainsworth said: “He had a dead leg from a corner – it’s not another hamstring. “He slipped and got a dead leg. He must have had a hell of a whack because usually you can run them off.” Wanderers will have fresh attacking options even if McClure fails to recover, with Joel Grant back from suspension and Ainsworth confident Dean Morgan will be fit enough to face Exeter. McClure was replaced at Plymouth by Ade Azeez, who himself had just returned from injury. His injury curtailed loan spell from Charlton comes to an end after the New Year’s Day game, although Ainsworth has not said if he plans to extend the deal. But he said: “I’m sure there will be more from Ade to come.”

http://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/sport/10132766.Blues_hope_dead_leg_doesn_t_kill_McClure_hopes_of_facing_City/?ref=rss

Clarence, W.S. West crowned Bryan Jost scored 16 points, distributed five assists and took home MVP honors in the Amherst Tournament as Clarence beat the host school, 58-52, in boys basketball. Bobby Florio was also in the giving mood with eight assists to earn all-tournament honors, while Luke Craven added nine points and six rebounds. Alex Turecki scored 17 points for Amherst. Elsewhere, Nick Clancy led all scorers with 22 points, including a pair of three-pointers, to lift West Seneca West to a 52-38 triumph over Pioneer and the championship of the Pioneer Motorsport Tournament. Clancy earned MVP honors. Catholic wins Park Tourney In girls basketball, tournament MVP Danielle Devole had 10 points and 11 rebounds and Marina Campbell scored 11 in Niagara Catholic’s 34-33 win over Park in the title game of the Park Tournament The Patriots had a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter then held back a furious rally by Park. Starpoint’s Erica Bradley and Jennifer Faulker led the Spartans to the Roy-Hart Tournament championship by beating Tonawanda, 60-34. Bradley was named the tournament’s MVP after scoring 14 points, while Faulkner added 11 points to earn all-tourney honors. Sweet Home beats Lew-Port Sweet Home remained unbeaten at 4-0 after Connor Zak fired in the game-winner in the Panthers, 2-1, victory over Lew-Port in WNY Federation boys hockey. In a non-league matchup, Mike SantaMaria scored the winner to lift Clarence to a 2-1 triumph over Mamaroneck. North Tonawanda goalie Kyle Painter recorded the shutout, while Marty Clark scored two goals and added an assist and Andrew Walck and Curtis Swan added a goal each in the Lumberjacks’ 7-0 romp over Amherst.

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121202/SPORTS/121209858/1004

May 18 2013 Latest news: Businesses will be battling it out to win a game of Giant Jenga in preparation for the three-month Accumulator Challenge, which starts in June. Amongst those businesses attending the launch will be last year’s winners Curve Motion and the CEO of Towergate Insurance who are sponsoring the event. Left to right, Sarah Stamp and Paul Donno. By Lydia Cole Friday, May 25, 2012 MEMBERS of the community are set to do battle in a bid to raise as much money as possible in a three-month charity challenge. The Towergate Accumulator Challenge will see particpating businesses given £50 which they then have to turn into as much money as possible for St Nicholas Hospice Care. Some of those taking part met this week to play games of giant Jenga and to figure out their opponents’ weaknesses. The scheme, sponsored by the EADT, launches on June 19 and more than 35 firms have already signed up, including Jacobs Allen, Ensors, Glasswells, Curvemotion and Towergate Insurance. Last year, 49 businesses managed to raise £40,243 for the hospice but this year organisers have set themselves a £50,000 target. Paul Whittaker, chief executive of event sponsors Towergate Insurance, said: “It is a fantastic event, both in terms of helping to raise money and for companies to have a great deal of fun over the summer months, helping to build team spirit in their business while supporting a great charity. Kevin Robertson, of Glasswells, said: “Glasswells supports the Hospice throughout the year, but the Accumulator Challenge is a real team effort. “All the staff like to get involved and our customers help out as well.” St Nicholas Hospice Care is a local charity which looks after people with terminal and life shortening illnesses, it provides care and support throughout west Suffolk and Thetford. It has to raise £10,000 every day, so needs as much funding as possible. Events such as this challenge provide a way of reaching this target, as well as other benefits. Sarah Stamp, of 2011 champions Curvemotion, said: “It felt brilliant to win last year. The great thing about the challenge is that it brought all sorts of people in the community together, which we are aiming to build on further this year.” To sign up, call Abby Mayes on 01284 715597 or e-mail [email protected]. For more information on the hospice, go to www.stnicholashospicecare.org.uk

http://www.burymercury.co.uk/news/business_to_battle_it_out_for_hospice_1_1388702

MMA News, Results, UFC blog, Ultimate Fighter, Rumors, Video and Opinion All fighters officially made weight for UFC 92. A little shoving match between Wanderlei Silva and Quintion “Rampage” Jackson was the only eventful feature of tonight’s weigh-ins. For the latest on UFC 92, check out our UFC Rumors section. I figured if there would be any problems, it would be Rashad just because he is so cocky. It looked like Rampage was tryong to make a joke, but Wandy took it seriously. I think Wandy is one guy in the whole world that would intimidate me the most. Wandi seems like a really nice guy but he is no joke in those staredowns. Those two really do hate one another. Rampage should have known that if he opened his mouth he would set Wandi off. I have never thought that Rashad was cocky outside of the cage. In the cage he does dance around but every fighter does their own thing to get their rhythm. He likes to dance for some reason. Who's picking Forrest in this fight? i have forrest winning in boring fashion. he compares his fighting style to bisping and this fight will be as boring as the rashad bisping fight was. but i think forrest is a better fighter than bisping and he'll get the decision. Ya Rashad is a VERY cocky person. In and out of the cage. Im picking forrest in this fight and so is most ppl thats why he is the favorite lol. And the only reason the Bisping rashad fight was boring is b/c rashad only took him down and laid on him. Bisping had done more damage throughout the fight and if Rashad thinks he is gonna do that against Forrest he is crazy. I think forrest is more well rounded and will be able to pick Rashad apart. But… he could always catch forrest and finsish him off but I truely hope that doesnt happen. I cant wait to see the Rampage v. Waderlei fight. The first 2 are both in my top 10 fights of all time. − 9 = zero Return to top of page

http://www.cagetoday.com/12/27/ufc-92-weigh-in-results-video-tension-between-rampage-and-wenderlei/

Mustangs in race for first place. Monsignor Doyle’s Liam Campbell and Matt Costa battle Resurrection’s Connor Sporout along the boards in Wednesday’s CWOSSA qualifying boys’ hockey game in Kitchener. Rez won the game 3-2. Bill Jackson, Times Staff Kitchener: Though it’s still early in the CWOSSA senior boys’ hockey qualifying tournament, it could be a two-team race for the spot in west regionals. The Monsignor Doyle Mustangs and Resurrection lead the pack in the standings right now, with the Mustangs getting the first blemish to their record with a 3-2 loss to the Phoenix on Wednesday at the Don McLaren Arena. Resurrection sit at the top of the standings with a perfect 4-0 record, while Monsignor Doyle falls to 2-1, but still has a hold on second place. St. David and St. Mary’s are 1-2, while St. Benedict is 0-3. With the all teams facing each other twice, the Mustangs will have to continue playing good hockey to stay with the Phoenix. “We’re both good teams,” said Mustangs Ryan Fowler, who had a goal and assist against Rez. “We want to come out strong against them. We’ll see how it goes. “We’re looking better already this year than last year.” Last season, the Mustangs were out in the first round of the Waterloo County playoffs. With public school teachers pulling out of extra-curricular activities, the powerhouses like Grand River and SJAM are on the outside looking in, at least for now. “It’s pretty easy now actually because a lot of the good teams got cut out. There’s still strong ones there like Mary’s and Rez, so we’ll see how we do,” Fowler said. St. Mary’s won WCSSAA last year, but have started slow out of the gate. While the Mustangs, who were dropped by St. David last season in the playoff qualifier, could be a force should they make it to the first-to-three-points final. “Anything could happen,” Fowler said. Based on Wednesday’s result, he’s not kidding. The Mustangs jumped out to the lead in this one just 1:15 into the game when Fowler bounced a pass of a Phoenix defenceman that slipped by a shaky Nathan Bigelow. Tyler Keller got that one back for Rez after the Mustangs couldn’t clear the puck, but took the lead back in the second when Liam Campbell parked himself on the doorstep and snapped in Marcus Melanson’s pass. Resurrection kept pushing though and tied the game with less than three minutes left in the period on Scott Buttinger’s goal, before taking the lead 54 seconds later when Connor Sprout had the puck bounce to him during a goalmouth scramble and batted it in. Bigelow settled down in the third and held Monsignor Doyle off the scoreboard, while Mackenzie Wiebe was outstanding in net for the Mustangs to keep them in the game. “We tried our best and there were some bad bounces. We’ll get them again though and hopefully next time we win,” said Fowler.

http://www.cambridgetimes.ca/sports/sports/article/1577718

January 21/06 1:55 am - LA Track Report Day 1 Session 2 Posted by Editor on 01/21/06 Day One - Session Two The first medals were awarded in the evening of Day 1 at the Los Angeles round of the Track World Cup. Australia led with two wins, followed by Argentina, Belarus, Italy and Spain with one each. Natallia Tsylinskaya (Blr) began the day suffering from an upset stomach, but gradually improved to take the gold medal in two straight rides over Clara Sanchez (Fra) in the final. Former world junior champion Shuang Guo (Chn) won the bronze after Willy Kanis was relegated in the their third ride for dropping down on Guo after the sprint had commenced. "Today was very difficult for me, a very hard day." commented Tsylinskaya "I had a little bit of an upset stomach at the start and I only began to feel good by the final. The race was good, I was able to come back (in the semifinal) to the Dutch girl (Kanis) and then I began to be more confident." The men's Scratch Race was taken by Walter Perez (Arg), one of four riders to take a lap on the field. Perez, the 2004 Madison world champion, rode a tactical race to overcome faster sprinters. "I'm not so good a sprinter, so my plan was to get away when it was possible. It worked perfectly, so I am happy." The men's Keirin was probably the most exciting event of the evening, with Shane Kelly (Aus) winning a three-up dash to line in the gold medal final against Jamie Staff (GBr) and world Keirin champion Teun Mulder (Ned). Kelly was sitting in third when the pacer pulled off, and watched Staff and Mulder sweep by him from the back. "The semifinal was crazy - I almost didn't make it through to the final - so I decided that I wouldn't let that happen again. When Jamie came by he brushed me pretty hard, and I knew that I had to get back by him and take the lead going into the last couple of laps." Kelly launched a massive counterattack, taking control of the race with a little under two laps to go and holding until the line. "My plan had been to make a move with a lap and three quarters, a lap and half to go. Once I got the lead I was confident that I could stay in front, or at least in the first three. I was injured back in July, which has put my schedule back a bit (for Commonwealth Games), but is is encouraging." Sergio Escobar (Spa) left no doubt in the minds of spectators that he was the top rider in the pursuit, recording the fastest splits at every intermediate time check in the gold medal final against Jens Mouris (Ned) and finishing three and a half seconds in front. Jason Allen (NZl) served notice, with his bronze medal, that he will be a contender at the Commonwealth Games. The women's Points Race also proved to be a highlight of the evening, with the lead changing multiple times. The high speed meant that no one was able to steal a lap (and the resulting 20 points), so riders had to fight for every sprint. Giorgia Bronzini (Ita) was the eventual winner, winning the first and last sprint, and collecting points in two others. At the halfway point the Chinese appeared to be in control, with Yan Li winning two sprints and Jianling Wan another. However, they faded towards the end, and the Italians struck back, with world champion Vera Carrara pacing Bronzini to her second sprint win and a second place result. American Rebecca Quinn, riding for the Spike trade team, gave locals something to cheer about with a consistent ride and a win in the final sprint to take the silver medal. The final event of the evening was the Kilo, and Australia took its second win of the day from Ben Kersten in a time of 1:02.760. Like Kelly, Kersten has been injured recently, and this World Cup is his first of the season, so he didn't know what to expect. "I hurt my back in November, so my confidence has been down. I didn't race all year, and my first races back were the Christmas carnivals in Tasmania. The Kilo takes a lot of base prep, which I haven't done, and weight work, which I can't do because of my back. The time was pretty good - this is a slow track - but I have some improving to do. (Chris) Hoy's done a 1:01 this year, so there's still a lot to improve on." - Gina Grain had a strong Points Race, finishing fifth overall and winning one sprint after a long breakaway with Tina Pic (USA). "That was so fun! It went really well out there; I had decided to just ride my own race, not worry about the Olympic champion, world champion, all that stuff. So I was just looking for opportunities, look for things to go with." Grain's result puts her incontention for a Commonwealth Games spot. - Matt Barlee finished eighth in the Kilo, a personal best time, and only a second out of fifth, while Travis Smith missed the final for the Keirin after getting boxed in, in the second round. He recovered to take second in the small final (8th overall).

http://www.canadiancyclist.com/dailynews.php?id=9983

Rathbone's comeback has crowd in raptures Digby Ioane of the Reds is tackled by Clyde Rathbone of the Brumbies. Photo: Stefan Postles WHILE it wasn't the fairytale return so many ACT Brumbies fans were hoping for, Clyde Rathbone showed enough to suggest a return to his best isn't far away as he picked up his 50th cap for the Super Rugby province. Rathbone made his first start since retiring in 2009 due to a chronic knee injury and he battled weight problems and depression in his time away from the game. After shedding some weight and getting his mind back on track, he answered a call last year from Brumbies mentor Jake White who floated the idea of a comeback. Last night was the culmination of 12 months' hard work. White loved Rathbone's efforts and even considered letting him take over the kicking duties. ''It's fantastic isn't it, it's like a Hollywood story. At one stage after missing all those kikcs I thought they should give him a kick as well, that would've been a real story,'' White said. ''Emotionally it must be tough for him, but all credit he didn't talk himself, he talked a lot about the team … good for us, good for the team and good for the Canberrans to see him back.'' After leading the team on to the field, it was a quiet opening for the former Wallabies flyer. But every time he went near the ball the 17,058-strong crowd went nuts. Through no fault of his own, it was a workman-like effort from Rathbone from limited opportunities. It took 10 minutes for him to even get a touch, fielding a kick inside his own 22 before he was quickly tackled. The crowd erupted again when he chased a hopeful box kick from Brumbies scrumhalf Nic White and nailed the tackle on Reds scrum-half Nick Frisby. Rathbone was quick to his feet and won the penalty at the breakdown, which White duly converted to put the Brumbies 8-6 up going into half-time. Again he was cheered as he pounced on a loose pass by the Reds and charged down the box kick before putting in a bone-jarring tackle on Ben Lucas. But cramp put an end to his comeback prematurely and the faithful stood as one with 15 minutes left on the clock. While there was no barnstorming try or electric line break, there was enough to suggest that when the chance comes, Rathbone will take it - and the crowd will go berserk.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/rugby-union/union-news/rathbones-comeback-has-crowd-in-raptures-20130216-2eklp.html

This is what teenager Mikaela Shiffrin enjoys about skiing: Going fast, goofing around with friends on the slopes and grabbing quick sips of hot chocolate between runs on cold days. What the 17-year-old skier doesn't really relish – not yet anyway – is the spotlight. Lately, that glare has been pretty intense, especially after she earned her second career podium finish two weeks ago in just her 12th World Cup slalom start. With the circuit heading to Aspen, Colo., this weekend, it seems that everyone wants some of Shiffrin's time. That's natural, because she's drawing frequent comparisons to her idol Lindsey Vonn. Success has come a lot quicker than Shiffrin imagined – and proven more difficult to deal with, too. “It's really flattering, but it's also that much harder to stay focused at the job at hand,” Shiffrin wrote in an email after a recent training session. “Getting two podiums has already brought me a crazy amount of attention that I didn't expect. All the attention – media, interest from sponsors, invitations to appearances, etc. – became exhausting last year with my first podium. “Now with two podiums, especially since it's the start of the season, the hype is really building again, even more so than last time.” Shiffrin may or may not race against Vonn in Aspen. The four-time overall champion remains undecided whether she will compete as she recovers from an intestinal issue that landed her in the hospital for a few days last week. Vonn or no Vonn, Shiffrin simply can't escape the comparisons to her American counterpart. She actually considers it quite flattering, because they definitely do have a lot in common. “I actually model myself after her a little bit in that I figured out a long time ago that I work best when I am focused, and she seems to go about training and racing the same way,” Shiffrin said. “We both are passionate about skiing – love going fast.” Now if only she could borrow a page from Vonn on handling the pressures that go along with success. “She has experience with all those big events like the ESPY's and walking the red carpet; she's been in several big U.S. tabloids,” Shiffrin said. “I feel like such a small town girl compared to that.” She's still quite enamored with the likes of Vonn and Julia Mancuso because they're the skiers she grew up revering. “I can't picture the awe factor ever going away,” Shiffrin said. It certainly was present when she met Bode Miller for the first time last season. As a kid, Shiffrin watched Miller's movie, “Flying Downhill,” hundreds of times and then suddenly she was sitting next to him at a table. “I was so tongue-tied and dreamy-eyed, but he was so cool,” Shiffrin said. “He is just one of those people who is cool in all situations and he alleviated any awkwardness in that moment.” There has been no awkwardness on the slopes for Shiffrin. She made an almost seamless transition from the Nor-Am circuit – skiing's equivalent of the minors – to World Cup skiing last season. She took third in a slalom race in Lienz, Austria, last December for her first podium finish and was voted rookie of the year by her peers. That put the world on notice – this kid's for real. And then two weeks ago in Levi, Finland, she finished third again, just a fraction of a second behind winner Maria Hoefl-Riesch of Germany. Could her first win come in Aspen this weekend? “I think I'm getting closer, but I can't let my mind go there,” said Shiffrin, who will race the giant slalom on Saturday and slalom on Sunday. “I just need to ski my best and see how it turns out.” She has family around to help lessen the pressure. Last season, Shiffrin was accompanied through Europe by her mom, while her father, a former racer at Dartmouth, handled all the logistics. Again this season, her mom will follow along, just to keep her from getting too homesick. Eileen Shiffrin also provides home-cooked meals from her rented apartment in Austria and helps her daughter with homework. “I really try to hit (school) hard in the spring, summer and fall, then I do as much as I can in the winter, but it falls off for sure,” said Shiffrin, who takes online classes through Burke Mountain Academy in Vermont. “I would like to go to college, but don't know when that will be.” She'd also like to try out speed events down the road. Her coaches want her to perfect the technical events before adding the downhill and super-G to her repertoire. Once she does that, Shiffrin should be an overall title contender. Only, she's not thinking along those lines quite yet. “I love going fast, so I am looking forward to jumping into it when the time comes,” she said. The quicker Shiffrin flies down the slopes, the faster she sheds the trappings of youth. Not long ago she was speeding down the mountain in Vail without a worry in the world, hanging out with friends and having “a blast flying down the hill – laughing, drinking hot chocolate, jumping, racing Nastar, and generally competing at everything we did.” Now, things are getting serious. That's what happens when you're the next big skier. “This year has been better as far as knowing what to expect,” Shiffrin said. “The flurry of media interest has been manageable since I have people running defense for me this time around who see to it that (I) have the time and energy I need to keep prepping for Aspen and the rest of the season. “It's been quite amazing. My dreams are starting to come true and that feels probably 100 times better I ever imagined.”

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121123/SPORTS/121129907/-1/sports01

WASHINGTON (AP) About two hours before the opening faceoff, Alex Ovechkin asked for more respect from the refs. His day went downhill from there. The two-time league MVP was directly responsible for three of the New York Rangers' goals, including a pair after a rare sequence in which he was cited for two penalties within seconds of each other without a stoppage in play. Derek Stepan, Brian Boyle and Ryan Callahan took advantage of Ovechkin's miscues Sunday to lead the Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Washington Capitals, New York's fifth win in six games. ``When we're parading to the box all the time,'' Washington forward Troy Brouwer said, ``we don't have a hope.'' Steve Oleksy scored his first NHL goal for the Capitals, who endured a rough weekend against teams named New York. Washington lost 5-2 on the road against the Islanders on Saturday, a game in which Mike Ribeiro and Jeff Schultz each took double-minors in a span of less than four minutes in the third period, leading to two Islanders goals. One of Ribeiro's minors was for unsportsmanlike conduct, and Ovechkin said before Sunday's game that ``some refs don't like some personalities on our team'' and are too quick to call a penalty when they hear a complaint. ``You have to respect us,'' Ovechkin said. ``We're emotional; we're in the game. When we say something bad to linesmen or bad to referees, we can't give them two minutes when they yell at me.'' It's worth noting, however, that the rare double-call against Ovechkin a few hours later had nothing to do with yelling at an official. He tripped Callahan, and then, with the call delayed while New York was pulling the goalie, he dragged down Ryan McDonagh from the side for a holding call. ``I know I trip him, the first one ... but I don't know where he finds the second one,'' Ovechkin said. ``But it cost us the game.'' Washington coach Adam Oates had a beef with the second call as well. ``They said that he held the guy 10 seconds later, which obviously watching the tape, he didn't,'' Oates said. Regardless, referees Dean Morton and Marc Joannette both had arms raised because of Ovechkin. As played continued, Boyle scored his first goal of the season, beating goaltender Braden Holtby glove-side to make the score 2-1 before Ovechkin's first penalty could be assessed. Ovechkin then went to the box to serve the second infraction, and he watched the score become 3-1 just 41 seconds later, when Rick Nash's one-timer from the right circle grazed Callahan's right leg on the way to the net. The sequence led to the inevitable question: Did the referees' calls against Ovechkin have anything to do with his pregame comments. ``I mean, they're human beings, right?'' Oates answered. Ovechkin also whiffed on a neutral zone hit on Stepan that allowed the Rangers center to score in the first period. Stepan kept skating, giving New York a numbers advantage, and he took the puck past the goal line and banked in his shot off the back of Holtby's right skate. Ovechkin said he tried to make the hit, but that Stepan moved out of the way at the last second. Asked if it was the correct play for Ovechkin to make, Oates said: ``No, it's not. We have tracking rules and I think he was going to hit him and he let him go, and because of that we got a little out of position.'' The Capitals had a chance to make up ground when a pair of calls gave them a 5-on-3 power play for 31 seconds late in the second period, but Martin Biron (28 saves) and the Rangers held firm. Brad Richards added an insurance goal in the third period. Boyle's goal was an important one for the Rangers center. He was a healthy scratch in New York's previous game and has been trying to work his way out of coach John Tortorella's doghouse. ``I tried to start a new season, basically,'' Boyle said. ``I tried to put myself in position to do the things that I can do well. I tried to keep it simple.'' Notes: Tortorella on Ovechkin's pair of penalties: ``That's the first time I've seen it. I was asking about the faceoff. Shouldn't the faceoff be in the end zone, instead of at center ice? It should be. We've got to put a new rule in the rulebook.'' ... After the Rangers' third goal, Oates pulled Holtby in favor of Michal Neuvirth, who hadn't played since Feb. 7 and had recently been sidelined with an illness. ... With Neuvirth recovered, the Capitals assigned goalie Philipp Grubauer to Hershey of the AHL. ... Washington D John Erskine sat out after sustaining an upper body injury early in Saturday's game, while C Marcus Johansson returned after missing 12 games with a concussion. ... Veteran D Roman Hamrlik, now playing for the Rangers after being claimed off waivers from Washington last week, was a healthy scratch. ``He's not in shape,'' Tortorella said. ``He needs work.'' Follow Joseph White on Twitter: http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/game/1289358/

Former Chelsea defender Paul Elliott resigned Saturday from leading roles with UEFA and the English Football Association after making offensive comments toward another former player. Elliot, a high-profile anti-racism campaigner, acknowledged sending a text message to former Charlton defender Richard Rufus in which he used a "term which is widely known as being derogatory to my own community." Both men are black. The FA said the "discriminatory abusive comments" made Elliott's position untenable. As well as leaving the FA's judicial panel, Elliot is relinquishing his position on UEFA's football committee, and a key role with English football's anti-racism body, Kick It Out. "I am saddened by this turn of events and it is with regret that we accept Paul's resignation," FA chairman David Bernstein said. "However, the use of discriminatory language is unacceptable regardless of its context and in effect has made Paul's position untenable." Elliott said he regretted using the offensive comment in the mobile communication. "It is inappropriate and not part of my everyday vocabulary," Elliott said in a statement released by Kick It Out. "As an advocate of high-standards of public behaviour, and integrity in public life, I know the use of this word sends out mixed messages and contradicts my position as a Kick It Out trustee. "I will continue to be active in other projects in what I believe to be a true and just cause." Earlier this month, Elliott became the first black footballer to receive the Commander of the Order of the British Empire award at Buckingham Palace for services to equality and diversity in football.

http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2013/02/23/sp-soccer-uefa-paul-elliott-resigns.html

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Benfica and 'the curse of Bela Guttmann' Vienna, Austria. 1990. A man weeps by a grave. He lowers his head and murmurs a few quiet words. He sits awhile, glances intently at the writing on the headstone, he uses the palm of his hand to wipe away the dirt. His eyes glaze over with a look of hopelessness, almost pleading for something to happen. Nothing happens. The man rises, turns and leaves. That night he gets his answer -- the curse lives on. When Benfica's players walk out at Barcelona's Camp Nou on Wednesday, more than 22 years since the club's last appearance in a European Cup final, they will face a formidable task. Not only must they overcome the magical Lionel Messi and his teammates in order to reach the last 16 of this season's competition, but they must also bury the famous curse. Bela Guttmann's curse. A condemnation that even the prayers of his famous protege Eusebio could not lift that day in Vienna. "Every year when Benfica plays in the Champions League, they try to get rid of the curse," Portuguese journalist Jose Carlos Soares told CNN. "Any time that Benfica play near Guttmann's grave, somebody will take flowers. It hasn't worked." Even in death, Guttmann is determined to have his own way -- much to the anguish of a club he left in anger after taking it to the peak of European football in the early 1960s. A charismatic and sometimes eccentric genius, Guttmann revolutionized football during a coaching career which spanned 25 jobs in 13 different countries before he passed away in 1981, aged 82. Born into a Jewish family in Budapest in 1899, Guttmann, like his parents, became a trained dance instructor before switching his focus to football. After becoming part of the MTK Hungaria side which won the league title in 1920 and 1921, Guttmann left for Vienna following the rise of anti-Semitism under Miklos Horthy's regime. It was here, among the Austrian intelligentsia, that he flourished, taking in the political and literary debates in Vienna's coffee-house society. There he joined the exclusively Jewish football club Hakoah Wien, where he won the league title in 1925 as well as winning four caps for Hungary. After traveling on a tour to the U.S. with Hakoah, Guttmann decided to stay put in New York only to lose a considerable amount of money in the Wall Street crash. That forced the nomadic traveler to move on once again, first back to Vienna where he took on a coaching role with Hakoah before joining Dutch side SC Enschede. But Guttmann's life, like those of so many other Jews, was turned on its head during the rise of Hitler in Europe and the Holocaust which killed six million people. "Guttmann was hugely talented," says leading football writer Jonathan Wilson, author of the book "Outsider: A History of the Goalkeeper." "He was tactically very astute but also very awkward and difficult," Wilson told CNN. "He was very quick to take offense. "The central theme with Guttmann is the war. We don't know how he survived it, and the fact he skips over it in his book could mean one of two things. "Did he feel guilty for surviving or did he compromise himself to stay alive? "Or, perhaps it was that the memories were just too painful to share and that the loss of so many of his loved ones meant he didn't speak about it. "He was hugely successful but there was something tragic about him, which probably comes from that time." While family members, including a brother, perished in concentration camps, Guttmann escaped to Switzerland where he was held in internment. It wasn't until the end of the war in 1945 that he returned to football, this time in Romania. It was here, in 1946 with club side Ciokanul, that he demanded to be paid in vegetables at a time when famine was a growing problem. While parsnips and carrots were gratefully received, Guttmann's relationship with the board was never a particularly healthy one. When a club director began to interfere in team selection, Guttmann finally lost patience. His fiery temper and attitude of "my way or the highway" earned him plenty of attention, especially from the media. Following spells with Padova and Triestina in Italy, Boca Juniors and Quilmes in Argentina and Apoel Nicosia in Cyprus, Guttmann hit the big time with AC Milan in 1953. His team led the Serie A table after 19 games in his second season, only for another run-in with the board to curtail his tenure. "I have been sacked, even though I am neither a criminal nor a homosexual," he told a shocked press conference. "Goodbye." Years later, on his first day as the manager of Benfica, he fired 20 players before leading the club to the Portuguese title. "He was an incredible man," Wilson said. "Did he become a parody of himself? Did he do those kind of things because people expected it? "I don't know. But it was clear that he never wanted to stay in one place for long, he was always moving. "That could have been because of the war, but also because he was looking for the next pay check." It was in Portugal, after a successful spell in South America, that Guttmann really secured his legacy, securing back-to-back European Cups with Benfica in 1961 and 1962. It was the first time that any club other than Real Madrid had won the competition. During his time in Brazil with Sao Paulo between 1957 and 1958, where he won the league title before moving to Porto, Guttmann introduced the 4-2-4 system which Brazil used at the 1958 World Cup. It was a system that laid the groundwork for the great Brazil sides to establish themselves as masters of the beautiful game. Guttmann had taken some inspiration from the great Gustav Sebes, the man who coached the "Magnificent Magyars" in the 1950s. Under Sebes, also of Jewish descent, Hungary became the first nation to defeat England on its home soil, winning 6-3 in 1953 before reaching the World Cup final the following year. From 1950 until the Hungarian Revolution in 1956, the national team won 42 games, drew seven and lost just once --- in the World Cup final against West Germany. Sebes preferred a 3-2-1-4 formation which allowed Ferenc Puskas, the great Hungarian striker, to thrive alongside the precociously talented Nandor Hidekuti. That slowly changed to the 4-2-4 formation which would inspire Benfica to European and domestic glory. "I never minded if the opposition scored, because I always thought we could score another," Guttmann once said. His thirst for innovation and his psychology degree, which he earned in his younger days, helped him become a leading figure in man-management and a master tactician. At Benfica, it was the arrival of Eusebio which allowed Guttmann to play Mario Coluna in a deeper position and unleash one of the most attacking teams of the era. Benfica defeated Barcelona 3-2 in Berne in the 1961 European Cup final before coming from behind to beat then five-time winners Real Madrid 5-3 the following year. But where there was triumph, disaster was never far away. "From the moment he arrived in Portugal, Bela Guttman's relationship with Benfica was destined to be complex," says Portuguese football expert Ben Shave. "After the second European Cup victory, Guttman approached the recently-elected president Antonio Carlos Cabral Fezas Vital with what seemed an eminently reasonable request -- a pay rise. "Vital chose to turn Guttman down, whereupon the Hungarian departed with what has become a well-worn parting shot: a simple declaration that Benfica would not win another European Cup. "Guttman's curse has proved painfully prophetic -- the Aguias have lost five European Cup finals since, in 1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, 1990." Remembered for his uncompromising attitude, his innovation on the field and his nomadic existence, Guttmann's story gained further resonance following the emergence of Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho, a European champion with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010 after beginning his career with a brief spell at Benfica. "Guttman's prickly personality and relentless pursuit of success have led to comparisons with Mourinho in some quarters," Shave told CNN. "What is certainly true is that both left Benfica in unfortunate fashion, and both departures became matters of considerable regret for the club. "The results of Guttman's 'curse' have been well documented, whilst presidential candidate Manuel Vilarinho's stated wish to replace Mourinho with club legend Toni following the 2000 elections led to 'the Special One' taking his talents elsewhere. "In a similar scenario to that which led to Guttman's tenure coming to an end, Mourinho approached Vilarinho with a contract extension request shortly after his election (and a 3-0 win over Sporting), which was denied. "Vilarinho's opponents have dined out on that mistake since." For Benfica's present players, it is up to them to earn redemption and finally close the book on Guttmann's curse. Copyright 2012 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Benfica-and-the-curse-of-Bela-Guttmann/-/1612/17645700/-/view/print/-/hulaegz/-/index.html

Fire edged by Seattle Sounders CHICAGO, Ill. – The Chicago Fire (2-2-2; 8pts.) used Marco Pappa’s stunning 89th minute corner kick to rally late but couldn’t overcome a 2-0 deficit as the Chicago Fire fell 2-1 to Seattle Sounders FC (4-1-1; 13pts.) Saturday night at Toyota Park. The Fire attacked from the start and nearly drew first blood in the third minute when Sebastian Grazzini collected the ball just outside of the box. The Argentine switched field to Daniel Paladini before the veteran midfielder played Segares down the left. The Costa Rican international crossed for Dominic Oduro at the top of the six-yard box but the Ghanaian striker could only get a piece of it before heading the ball over the goal. The Fire again came close 10 minutes later as Patrick Nyarko showed for a Dan Gargan pass on the right. The fleet Ghanaian collected and turned towards goal before playing a weighted through ball for Oduro who ran onto it into the box before his powerful effort forced a save out of Sounders FC ‘keeper Michael Gsuprning. Just a minute later it was Nyarko working into the box on the right before centering a pass that Oduro back heeled for Paladini, who took a touch to settle before firing an effort that Sounders FC midfielder Osvaldo Alonso dove in front of to put out for a corner kick. Nine minutes later the Fire nearly went ahead again when a corner kick from Grazzini found Pavel Pardo at the near post. The former Mexican international got his head to it before Gspurning punched the ball for another corner kick. Sounders striker Fredy Montero came close to opening his 2012 account in the 27th minute when Leo Gonzalez whipped in a cross from the left found the Colombian attacker before heading it over Sean Johnson’s goal. Feeding off the momentum from the previous chance, Seattle found the go-ahead goal in the 39th minute. Osvaldo Alonso played Eddie Johnson where he collected the ball at the endline. The U.S. international then cut back for David Estrada whose low effort deflected off of Fire defender Arne Friedrich, caught Sean Johnson wrong-footed and tucked inside the near post to take the Sounders into the half at 1-0. The attempt was credited as an own goal to the German international. Seattle came close to doubling their lead in the 61st minute when a whipping cross from the left from substitute Mark Burch found the head of Montero who looked to put it wide. His striker partner Johnson followed up the effort and put another header off the back post before the ball was cleared by Pardo. Having been in the match for just two minutes, substitute midfielder Marco Pappa looked to equalize in the 63rd. Grazzini took a free kick from 30 yards that was nodded out of the box before Pappa stepped up and fired a blistering effort that knuckled through traffic and under the diving arm of Gspurning. However, the goal was called back as Oduro was adjudged to have been interfering with the play in an offside position. The visitors doubled their lead in the 66th minute when a free kick from Montero was saved with a diving effort from Sean Johnson but Jhon Kennedy Hurtado followed before Eddie Johnson tapped in the rebound. Pappa looked to respond in the 85th minute, finding lots of space and Gspurning of his line, the Guatemalan international took an ambitious effort from inside the Fire half which sizzled inches wide of the Seattle net. Four minutes later Pappa would finally get the Fire on the board as he bent a swerving seeing-eye corner kick over Gspurning’s outstretched arms off the back post and over the line in the 89th minute. Reeling off of the wonder-strike, the Fire found one last chance deep into stoppage time as Nyarko played a long ball over the top for Oduro. The Fire striker brought it down before laying off a pass for Jalil Anibaba whose rushed strike was hit straight at Gspurning, clinching a 2-1 Sounders FC victory. The Fire return to action when they visit C.D. Chivas USA on Friday, May 4 at 10:00 p.m. CT (ESPN Deportes/97.5 ESPN Deportes FM) The Men in Red return to Toyota Park for the Ring of Fire induction of 13-year club veteran C.J. Brown as the side takes on Real Salt Lake on Wednesday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. CT (NBC 5.2; ESPN Deportes 97.5 FM) Chicago Fire Season Tickets are available by calling 1-888-MLS-FIRE (657-3473), via Ticketmaster or by heading to the club’s official website at Chicago-Fire.com. - Marco Pappa’s 89th minute goal was the 21st of his Fire career and moves him into a tie with Nate Jaqua for seventh all-time on the club’s MLS goal scoring list. The strike is also his first goal since a hat trick performance on September 28, 2011 at Real Salt Lake. - Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson made two saves in the loss. - The Fire remain winless against Seattle Sounders FC, going 0-4-3 in seven MLS regular season meetings. - Midfielder Daniel Paladini made his first start of the 2012 campaign. Chicago Fire 1 – 2 Seattle Sounders FC Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson; Dan Gargan, Arne Friedrich, Jalil Anibaba, Gonzalo Segares; Logan Pause © (Marco Pappa 61’), Pavel Pardo, Daniel Paladini (Federico Puppo 72’); Sebastian Grazzini (Rafael Robayo 80’); Patrick Nyarko, Dominic Oduro Substitutes not used: Paolo Tornaghi, Austin Berry, Hunter Jumper, Orr Barouch Seattle Sounders FC: Michael Gspurning; Adam Johannson, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leonardo Gonzalez; Mauro Rosales © (Marc Burch 51’), Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, David Estrada; Eddie Johnson (Sammy Ochoa 92+’), Fredy Montero Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Zach Scott, Andy Rose, Alex Caskey, Cordell Cato SEA – own goal (Arne Friedrich) 39’ SEA – Eddie Johnson (Jhon Kennedy Hurtado) 67’ CHI – Marco Pappa (unassisted) 89’ SEA – David Estrada (caution; Time Wasting) 60' CHI – Marco Pappa (caution; Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 91'+ SEA – Fredy Montero (caution; Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 91'+ SEA – Eddie Johnson (caution; Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 92'+ CHI - Jalil Anibaba (ejection; Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 97' CHI - Frank Klopas (ejection; Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 97' Referee: Michael Kennedy Assistants: Gregory Barkley, Peter Balciunas Fourth Official: Abiodun Okulaja

http://www.chicago-fire.com/news/2012/04/fire-edged-seattle-sounders?quicktabs_news_blogs_news=1&quicktabs_mls_standings_quicktabs=eastern

Clint Bowyer won a tense fuel-strategy battle with the top three drivers in the Chase for the Sprint Cup standings and beat them to the finish of Saturday night's Bank of America 500 at Charlotte Motor Speedway. In the process, Bowyer closed in on the top three -- Brad Keselowski, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin -- in the run for the championship as the Chase moves into the final five races. Bowyer outran Hamlin by .41 second to score his third win of the year. Bowyer ran out of fuel after the finish and wasn't able to perform one of the blistering burnouts he has become known for. Johnson finished third, and Keselowski, who ran out of fuel in the final 100 miles, was 11th, a lap down. Keselowski retained the points lead, but his margin over Johnson was cut in half, from 14 to seven. Hamlin stayed in third and trails Keselowski by only 15. Bowyer jumped a position into fourth and is 28 behind Keselowski. "That was like playing blackjack," Keselowski said of the fuel-strategy game. "Sometimes you're going to get a good deal, but you're not going to win them all." Hamlin gave up a shot at passing Bowyer for the win to retain the fuel-saving strategy. "It goes against everything we've ever learned as race car drivers," he said. "I knew what I had to do." Meanwhile, Bowyer and his team, led by crew chief Brian Pattie, had figured their fuel mileage to near-perfection, and Bowyer pitted on sequence to finish the race with his last drops of gas. "The run before the last one really won the race," Bowyer said. "If we had pitted one lap earlier, we would have run out of gas (at the end of the race)." Completing the top five were Greg Biffle and Kyle Busch. In the second five were Mark Martin, Carl Edwards, Kasey Kahne, Joey Logano and Martin Truex Jr. Biffle's finish boosted him three spots in the Chase to sixth, but he is 43 points behind Keselowski entering the Kansas race. Jeff Gordon finished 18th and fell three positions to ninth, 50 points out. Although 28 points is a heavy total to make up over five races, Bowyer said he'll roll into his home track -- Kansas Speedway -- next week with the idea of making it work. "We're a hell of a lot better than we were leaving Talladega and being back in victory lane and having new life and new hope going into Kansas," he said. "There's a lot of racing left. Nobody knows what to expect there. It's a repave. You don't know if somebody is going to stub their toe." Bowyer was 40 points down entering the race after finishing 23rd at Talladega last week because of the massive last-lap crash. "After Talladega, we had to be able to get back in the game," Pattie said. "To win this race really set the standard for getting on down the road and putting that behind us." He said the team will continue its search for victories over the Chase's final five events. "We're going for trophies," he said. "That's the only way you're going to beat the 2 (Keselowski), the 48 (Johnson) and the 11 (Hamlin). We had to do something special to get back into it." Outside the Chase group, Regan Smith had a tough night in his spotlighted run as a substitute for Dale Earnhardt Jr., who missed the race because of health issues. Smith started the race 26th and advanced to 10th before being sidelined with engine trouble 61 laps in. He finished 38th but will get another shot in the Hendrick Motorsports No. 88 next week at Kansas. By sitting out Saturday's race, Earnhardt fell from 11th to 12th in Chase points and probably will finish the year in that spot. AJ Allmendinger, who made his return to NASCAR Saturday night after being suspended this summer for failing a drug test, finished 24th in the Phoenix Racing Chevrolet. Kurt Busch, driving the Furniture Row Racing Chevrolet for the first time, finished 21st. EARNHARDT'S ABSENCE LOOMS OVER RACE Taking attention from a hotly contested Chase for the Sprint Cup in the middle of NASCAR's version of the playoffs isn't easy. But you have a shot if your name happens to be Earnhardt.

http://www.click2houston.com/sports/Bowyer-wins-fuel-duel-at-Charlotte/-/1735736/16988674/-/lgu6a4/-/index.html

Tickets for the World Series go on sale Wednesday after the Tigers took a 3-0 lead against the Yankees in the ALCS! Tickets will be available for the potential World Series home games by phone and online starting at 10 a.m. For tickets, call (866) 66-TIGER or go to tigers.com Tickets will NOT be available at the Comerica Park box office. Fans can buy up to 4 tickets for 1 World Series game. The Tigers send Max Scherzer to the mound Wednesday night to take on Yankees ace C.C. Sabathia. the game starts at 8 p.m. If necessary, there will be a third home game Thursday at 4 p.m.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/World-Series-tickets-on-sale/-/1719418/16986542/-/fvpb7h/-/index.html

Anelka to leave China and join Juventus? Nicolas Anelka's ill-fated move to China appears to be over after Italian club Juventus claimed on Saturday that the former France striker is poised to join on a short-term deal. Anelka moved to Shanghai Shenhua from English side Chelsea on a two-year contract in January 2012 after agreeing a deal reportedly worth more than $300,000 a week, but could now sign for Juve in a cut-price five-month package worth $800,000. Shenhua struggled to ninth place in the Chinese Super League last year despite also signing Anelka's former Chelsea teammate Didier Drogba on an even higher pay packet. Anelka took over as team coach for a brief period after Jean Tigana was sacked, with former Argentina World Cup winner Sergio Batista subsequently being appointed. The 33-year-old will reportedly join Serie A champions Juventus before the end of the January transfer window, as the club's bosses seek to boost their attacking options ahead of the expected July signing of Spain striker Fernando Llorente. On Saturday Anelka posted an internet picture of himself at an airport, which fellow Twitter users purported to be en route to that of Juve's home city Turin. He has been training with his first senior team, Paris Saint-Germain. He has been involved in transfers worth a total $140 million, playing for top clubs such as Real Madrid, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Fenerbahce. "This summer we made a significant investment to try and strengthen the group but clearly at this stage we are in an emergency situation," Juventus sporting director Beppe Marotta told the Sky Italia TV channel. "As a result, it is logical to make this signing. It should be made official in the next few days. We have an agreement with Anelka for five months with the possibility to sign a further deal if agreeable to both parties." Juve dropped points in Saturday's frustrating 1-1 draw at home to third-bottom Genoa, but still moved six clear at the top. Striker Fabio Quagliarella scored his seventh league goal in 15 matches in the 54th minute, but Marco Borriello -- who spent the second half of last season on loan at Juve -- leveled with a diving header quarter of an hour later. Third-placed Lazio could have cut Juve's then five-point lead to two in Saturday's earlier game, but lost 1-0 to midtable Chievo to stay below Napoli on goal difference. Napoli can now reduce the deficit in Sunday's trip to Parma, while fourth-placed Inter Milan host Torino. English Premier League leaders Manchester United reached the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 4-1 victory at home to Fulham, as striker Javier Hernandez netted twice after goals from Wayne Rooney and veteran Ryan Giggs, with a penalty. Arsenal snatched a 3-2 win at second division Brighton as France striker Olivier Giroud scored twice and fellow forward Theo Walcott came off the bench to strike a decisive late goal. Norwich became the first top-flight team since 1989 to lose to a non-league side in the world's oldest knockout tournament, crashing 1-0 at home to Luton. The Premier League's bottom team Queens Park Rangers lost 4-2 at third division MK Dons, following Friday's exit by fellow strugglers Aston Villa at the hands of second tier Millwall. Manchester City, Everton, Reading and Wigan went through. In Germany, Bayer Leverkusen returned to second place despite being held 0-0 by Freiburg on Saturday. Leverkusen moved a point above two-time defending champions Borussia Dortmund, who won 3-0 at home to Nuremberg on Friday. Bayern Munich go into Sunday's trip to Stuttgart with an eight-point lead. In Spain, Valencia moved up to fifth place after snatching 3-2 win at bottom club Deportivo La Coruna, as Ricardo Costa headed home in time added on before Paulo Assuncao became the second home player to be sent off. Deportivo had led 2-1 at halftime through a Riki double, but on-loan Portuguese defender Silvio was sent off seven minutes after the break for a second bookable offense. Levante earlier won 2-1 at home to midtable Valladolid thanks to a 90th-minute own goal from Serbian defender Antonio Rukavina, which put "Los Granotes" behind their Valencian rivals on goal difference. Copyright 2013 by CNN NewSource. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

http://www.clickorlando.com/sports/Anelka-to-leave-China-and-join-Juventus/-/1636890/18293276/-/format/rsss_2.0/view/print/-/36irwoz/-/index.html

Monday, April 29, 2013 Quinton Patton's wait to hear his name called in this weekend's NFL draft took longer than expected. However, his patience was rewarded by being selected by the 2013 Super Bowl runner-up San Francisco 49'ers in the fourth round. Monday, April 22, 2013 The Coffeyville Red Raven coaches were giving the offensive line some love following Saturday's intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday at the Dick Foster Athletic Complex. Wednesday, April 17, 2013 Coffeyville Red Raven fans may hear some familiar names get called during the NFL draft on April 25-27. Three, maybe four, maybe five, former Ravens could get their named called according to draft prognosticators. Friday, April 12, 2013 The Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) and the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference (KJCCC) are pleased to announce that they have agreed, in principle, to a football scheduling agreement. Friday, March 22, 2013 What makes the Red Raven football team's Harlem Shake video a classic? Friday, March 15, 2013 Former Red Raven football player Michael Hall passed away on Feb. 25 in Kansas City, Mo. Hall, who had battled cancer for nearly a decade, was inducted into the Coffeyville Community College Lettermen's Hall of Fame during homecoming this past October. Tuesday, March 12, 2013 The Coffeyville Red Ravens started their spring practice schedule on Tuesday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Monday, February 11, 2013 Several Coffeyville Community College Red Ravens have selected their next college football destination. Sunday, February 10, 2013 Red Raven football Hall of Famer Dr. Howard Holbrooks passed away on Feb. 7 in Lawrence, Kan. He was 44. Tuesday, February 5, 2013 The Coffeyville Red Ravens were well represented on the Jayhawk Conference Fall All-Academic Team. Monday, February 4, 2013 Current San Francisco 49'er and former Red Raven Dashon Goldson saw his team's rally come up just short this past Sunday in Super Bowl XLVII. Friday, January 11, 2013 The Coffeyville Red Ravens 2013 football schedule was recently released. Next season's schedule features five home games out of a nine game regular season schedule. Saturday, January 5, 2013 Former Coffeyville Community College quarterback Cayden Cochran was a key member of Valdosta State's national championship team this past season. Thursday, December 13, 2012 For the second season in a row, Coffeyville Community College linebacker Martrell Spaight was named a first team NJCAA All-American. Wednesday, December 12, 2012 Former Coffeyville Community College wide receiver Quinton Patton was named a second team NCAA All-American by the Associated Press on Tuesday. Monday, December 10, 2012 The Red Ravens awarded top performers from the 2012 season at an awards banquet held at the CCC Student Union on November 26. Wednesday, November 7, 2012 Sophomore linebacker Martrell Spaight added to his long list of accolades in his Coffeyville Community College football career. Spaight was named Jayhawk Defensive Player of the Year by league coaches. Sunday, November 4, 2012 The Coffeyville Red Ravens scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to cut a 31 point deficit to 10 points, but the Hutchinson Blue Dragons would bounce back to win 52-28 on Sunday in a Region VI playoff game played in Hutchinson. Sunday, October 28, 2012 The Coffeyville Red Ravens and Garden City Broncbusters combined for over 1,300 yards on offense on Saturday night in Garden City as the Red Ravens held on for a 54-47 win. The win clinched third place in the Jayhawk Conference for the Ravens with a 5-2 record. Thursday, October 18, 2012 Two former Red Ravens are mentioned in this week's NJCAA Week 9 Preview Article on the NJCAA web site. Reggie Nelson and Quinton both had big games last week and the NJCAA recaps their accomplishments. Tuesday, October 16, 2012 The Ravens won their fifth straight game of the season against Dodge City on Sunday, and two Red Ravens were honored as the Verizon Wireless/Jayhawk Conference Players of the Week for their efforts. Sunday, October 14, 2012 The Coffeyville Red Ravens scored 45 unanswered points on the way to a 52-13 win over the Dodge City Conquistadors on Sunday afternoon at Veterans Memorial Stadium. The game was postponed from Saturday night due to lightning associated with heavy thunderstorms, putting a damper on Coffeyville's homecoming festivities. Saturday, October 13, 2012 The Coffeyville Community College Lettermen's Club inducted new members into their Hall of Fame during a banquet on Saturday afternoon in the Student Union. The Lettermen's Club inducted the 1975 team, running back Muhammad Abdulqaadir, offensive lineman Michael Hall, and cornerback Travis Fisher. Friday, October 12, 2012 Windsor Place hosted the CCC football team and cheer teams for a pep rally during homecoming week. Tuesday, October 9, 2012 Coffeyville Red Raven sophomore cornerback Brandon Willingham was named the verizon Wireless KJCCC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts last Saturday night against Highland. Saturday, August 24 Saturday, August 31 Air Force Prep Saturday, September 7 Saturday, September 14 Saturday, September 21 Saturday, October 5 Saturday, October 12 Saturday, October 19 Saturday, October 26

http://www.coffeyville.edu/athletics/football/news/7330

Larentowicz: Frustrating, same old story Colorado Rapids Midfielder Jeff Larentowicz following 1-1 tie with Chivas USA: On the feeling of tonight’s loss: "It’s tough. Every game presents itself with an instance where we have to stand up to pressure or stand up to opportunities for the other team. Tonight it came and it bit us. I think it was probably one of their only opportunities and they capitalized on it so it’s difficult." On the offense: "We had some opportunities. I think Dan Kennedy made some good saves. The one on Omar [Cummings] is a really good save. And it’s something that’s happened for several weeks now where we’re not putting teams away so it’s frustrating. Same old story."

http://www.coloradorapids.com/news/2012/08/larentowicz-frustrating-same-old-story

Warriors missing 3 starters against Cavaliers Tuesday, January 29, 2013 CLEVELAND (AP) -- The Golden State Warriors are without three starters for their game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Guard Stephen Curry, center Andrew Bogut and forward Harrison Barnes are sidelined for the finale of Golden State's four-game road trip. Curry, who is averaging 21 points, twisted his right ankle in the third quarter of Monday night's win over Toronto and didn't return. Warriors coach Mark Jackson said he doesn't know how long Curry, who has had surgery on the ankle in each of the past two offseasons, will be out. Bogut, who returned Monday after missing 38 games with an injury to his left ankle, likely won't play in back-to-back games until after the All-Star break. He scored 12 points and had eight rebounds in 24 minutes against Toronto. Bogut played in four games after having ankle surgery in April, but was shut down in November. He's averaging 7.2 points and 4.6 rebounds. Barnes, taken with the seventh pick in the 2012 draft, injured his left knee against Toronto and was still experiencing soreness Tuesday. Barnes, who started the first 44 games, is averaging 8.9 points.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/jan/29/warriors-missing-3-starters-against-cavaliers/

KNOXVILLE — An ESPNU satellite truck will pull into a Thompson-Boling Arena driveway early Saturday and open its doors to the second half of the Tennessee men's basketball season. There are no more gimmes. Games against Xavier and Memphis — a pair of perennial NCAA tournament teams — preface the Vols' SEC opener against Ole Miss in 12 days. "The lights are coming on," UT coach Cuonzo Martin said Friday. "Time to be ready." Starting with Xavier on Saturday at 5:05 p.m. CST and then next Friday's showdown with Memphis, national television audiences will be tuned in. The games also will be the season's final two opportunities for solid nonconference wins on UT's NCAA tournament ledger. That said, the Vols will face a weaker-than-normal Xavier team. The Musketeers (7-4) have dropped three of their last four games. Losses piled up against rival Cincinnati, Vanderbilt and Wofford. Each loss came inside the Cincinnati city limits, usually a fortress for Xavier. Any UT fan still lamenting the absence of star forward Jeronne Maymon (knee) can look to the Musketeers for solace. Coach Chris Mack lost 2011-12 leading scorer Tu Holloway and leading rebounder Kenny Frease to graduation, parted ways with second-leading scorer Mark Lyons (transfer to Arizona) then unexpectedly lost fourth-leading scorer Dezmine Wells (transfer to Maryland) after he was expelled over a sexual assault charge that was later dismissed. As if that weren't enough, Xavier lost incoming freshmen Jalen Reynolds and Myles Davis, half of Mack's 14th-ranked recruiting class, to academic eligibility issues. Then, for good measure, assistant coaches Rasheen Davis (to Manhattan) and Kareem Richardson (to Louisville) jumped ship. Even with Maymon's absence, the Vols are a picture of stability compared to the Musketeers. "They're looking to find themselves," Martin said. "With the talent they have, there's no telling where they'd be if those other guys were playing." Xavier can be dangerous, though. Early season wins over Butler and Drexel stand as proof. The team is led by freshman Samaj Christon, who leads four double-digit scorers with 14.2 points per game. At 6-3, Criston is one of a crew of guards Martin called "big, talented and extremely versatile." Tennessee is riding a three-game winning streak since back-to-back losses to Georgetown and Virginia. UT returned to practice Wednesday after a holiday break following a 66-52 victory against Western Carolina on Dec. 21. Of the practices since returning, Martin said, "When you have that amount of time off you go back to basics — back to the first two or three weeks of practice." The practices also have allowed freshman Derek Reese to take the next step toward playing. The 6-8 guard from Orlando, Fla., who underwent shoulder surgery Aug. 21 to repair a labral tear, was cleared for practice this week. According to Martin, Reese looked "very strong" in contact drills. Asked about the potential of him making a debut appearance Saturday night, Martin said, "He could be out there; I wouldn't necessarily rule it out. It will depend on what the doctors say."

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2012/dec/29/no-headline---volsbkb_sat/

Randy de Puniet led a CRT one-two during Friday afternoon practice for the MotoGP season finale at a drying Valencia. Following a wet morning, a dry line began to emerge early in the afternoon session. But the circuit never fully dried and only a handful of riders - led by de Puniet - made the switch to slicks. de Puniet took his Aspar ART to a best lap of 1m 36.965s on his eighth of nine laps, but later parked his machine due to a technical problem. Next quickest was Gresini CRT rider Michele Pirro, 0.119s behind the Frenchman. Ducati riders Nicky Hayden - quickest in the wet this morning - Karel Abraham and Valentino Rossi were the only manufacturer competitors to fit slicks on their way to third, fourth and fifth. Five riders - including the top four in the world championship; Jorge Lorenzo, Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner and Andrea Dovizioso - decided against recording a lap time in the mixed conditions. Behind Rossi, Danilo Petrucci (Ioda), Ivan Silva (Avintia), Roberto Rolfo (Speed Master), James Ellison (PBM) and Hiroshi Aoyama (Avintia) completed the afternoon top ten. The Valencia circuit has been resurfaced prior to this year's event.Friday practice (2): 1. Randy De Puniet 2. Michele Pirro 3. Nicky Hayden 4. Karel Abraham 5. Valentino Rossi 6. Danilo Petrucci 7. Ivan Silva 8. Roberto Rolfo 9. James Ellison 10. Hiroshi Aoyama 11. Claudio Corti 12. Cal Crutchlow 13. Alvaro Bautista 14. Katsuyuki Nakasuga 15. Aleix Espargaro 16. Hector Barbera 17. Colin Edwards

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/185922/1/de_puniet_sets_damp_afternoon_pace_at_valencia.html

Send us news by text, start your message CN News and your send photos and videos to 80360 Three wishes to find the next generation of Olympic stars in East Lancashire In the third of a four-part series into how East Lancashire can capitalise on the success of our athletes in the London Olympics, local government reporter Bill Jacobs asked a range of people across East Lancashire for their three wishes about how to get children involved in sport and find the next generation of medal winners from the area. David Whyte, principal of St Wilfrid’s Academy, Blackburn - Specialist PE ambassador for small groups of primary schools contributing to an area-coordinated approach to identify and develop talent. - Regional opportunities to offer a variety of training camps during holiday periods with top coaches. - Schools and clubs need to forge closer links whilst our best athletes should be drawn to other sports rather than being sucked into being almost successful footballers. Brendan Loughran, principal, Darwen Aldridge Community Academy and Specialist Sports College - Plan and establish a network of secondary schools specialising in sports. - We need a community approach where these schools place specialist PE staff into primary schools and there is support available to establish local school and sports club partnerships. - Promoting and supporting elite practice – bring highest quality coaches into schools. Jim Bowen, Accrington teacher turned TV and radio personality - We need to put a greater emphasis in schools on competitive sport not just with other schools but within the schools as the real world is competitive. - More dedicated physical education and sports teachers. - Greater respect in schools for PE and sports as part of the curriculum - the same as for maths, English and other academic subjects. Wayne Hemingway, a Blackburn designer - A change of media emphasis from empty-headed celebrities who have achieved nothing to people who have worked hard to achieve like our Olympic sports stars. - A shift in emphasis in schools means of measuring achievement from just in terms of achievement in GCSEs, English, Maths and A-levels to a wider measure. - Paying state teachers to supervise after-school coaching and Saturday matches. Janet Walsh, head teacher of Colne Primet High School - Further development of the School Sports Partnership Scheme – to also involve an element of brokerage for schools to contact or make links with sports people who can do work in schools. - A review of legislation which constrains some aspects of school sport – eg teachers’ minibus driving eligibility. - Help schools in encouraging the ‘sporting’ nature of supporting all competitors in a match or event. Samantha Murray, Clitheroe’s 2012 Modern Pentathlon Olympic silver medallist - More interschool sports competitions. - More people joining the Ribble Valley Modern Pentathlon team in Clitheroe. - Closer links between schools and sports clubs so that parents and children can find out how to access their local clubs. Sophie Hitchon, Blackburn Harrier and Burnley’s 2012 Olympic shot put finalist - I would like to see more sports available for children to try at school to help them find what they are naturally good at - More competitive sport in schools - More funding for sports clubs, to make it cheaper for participants. Steven Burke, Colne’s 2012 Olympic gold-medal winning cyclist - Now the Olympic Games have come to an end, I hope what the cycling team in particular has achieved will inspire people of all ages to ride their bikes. - More coverage in the media of bike races and events. - Future Olympians from Lancashire achieve Olympic glory Helen Tyson, school games organiser for Burnley School Sports Partnership - Continuation of secondary teacher release funding - local specialist secondary PE teachers to support primary schools to deliver high quality PE and School Sport – after the academic year 2012/13. - Cross Party Government Policy that places PE and School Sport as a priority alongside English and Maths, with a committed allocation of time for children to participate in school sport – both competitive and recreational. - Investment in a School Sport Coaching Programme that trains, deploys and funds coaches to deliver specialist sports coaching in schools.

http://www.creweguardian.co.uk/sport/london_olympics_2012/9884503.Three_wishes_to_find_the_next_generation_of_Olympic_stars_in_East_Lancashire/?ref=rss

CRMC Hosts Friday Night Injury Clinic during Football Season ONE Sports Medicine of Cullman Regional Medical Center opens the Friday Night Injury Clinic again this football season. Starting at 9 p.m. in CRMC’s Medical Day Hospital, athletes can see the staff of Sports Medicine Specialists, Orthopedic Surgeons, Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists. The clinic provides an assessment and treatment for injuries sustained during games. Appointments are not necessary and the wait time is minimal. The clinic begins on Friday, August 31 and will run through the regular high school football season. ONE Sports Medicine Certified Athletic Trainers, Donna Chamblee, Scott Lochridge and Matthew Griffin are proud to provide exclusive athletic healthcare to the following schools — Cullman, Fairview, and West Point; however the Friday Night Injury Clinic is open to athletes from all area schools. Call Cullman Regional Medical Center (256) 737-2000 for more information on the Friday Night Injury Clinic or to find out more about the services offered by ONE SportsMedicine.

http://www.crmchospital.com/Articles/crmc_hosts_friday_night_injury_clinic_during_football_season.aspx

A collection of news and information related to John McCargo published by this site and its partners. Displaying items 1-7 of 7 » View courant.com items only We should not get too excited or upset about anything we see on a football field before the start of the regular season, with the possible exception of the Democratic National Convention at the Panthers' stadium. But it is a tad concerning that the... Tribune ReporterThe Chicago Bears have placed receiver Johnny Knox on the physically-unable-to-perform list in advance of the regular season, meaning Knox will be sidelined for the first six weeks of the season. Knox, who continues to recover from spinal fusion surgery,... BOURBONNAIS — As Brian Price met the Chicago media for the first time Saturday night, he exhaled and then flashed a friendly smile. "It don't get no better than this,'' the new Bears defensive tackle said. "It's a defensive town. Great leaders. ... Stephen Paea is injured. Of course he is. It’s what he does, occasionally finding a spasm of health and talent to rush the passer. Paea had a bad knee last season, then underwent arthroscopic surgery and looked like a player during the early... The Bears weren't able to add help at defensive tackle during the draft, so they found some on the street. An NFL source told the Tribune the team agreed to terms Thursday night with John McCargo, a former first-round draft pick of the Bills, and DeMario... TV SPORTS Men's College Basketball-Lehigh at St. John's, 6 p.m. (ESPN2); Duquesne at Arizona, 8 p.m. (ESPN2) NHL Hockey-Philadelphia Flyers at Tampa Bay Lightning, 6:30 p.m. (VERSUS) College Football-Miami (Ohio) at Temple, 7 p.m. (ESPN) TODAY... A glance at Friday's four state semifinal football games featuring area teams. Class 4A No. 4 Catonsville (12-0) at No. 3 Old Mill (12-0) When: Friday, 7 p.m. Coaches: Rich Hambor, Catonsville; Chad McCormick, Old Mill Winner faces: Quince Orchard... Aug 25, 2012 |Column| Chicago Tribune Aug 26, 2012 |Story| Chicago Tribune Jul 28, 2012 |Story| Chicago Tribune Aug 13, 2012 |Column| Chicago Tribune May 10, 2012 |Story| Chicago Tribune Nov 9, 2011 |Story| Aberdeen News Nov 24, 2011 |Story| Baltimore Sun Original site for John McCargo topic gallery.

http://www.ctnow.com/topic/sports/football/john-mccargo-PESPT0013946.topic

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Major League Baseball has suspended San Diego Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal for 50 games, without pay, for a violation of the league's rules regarding performance-enhancing substances. "We were disappointed to learn of the suspension of Yasmani Grandal for violating Major League Baseball's Joint Drug Prevention & Treatment Program," said the Padres in a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon. "We fully support Major League Baseball's policy and its efforts to eliminate performance enhancing drugs from our game. Per the protocol outlined by Major League Baseball's collective bargaining agreement, we will not comment further on this matter." Grandal was penalized after testing positive for Testosterone. The 23-year-old Cuban participated in 60 games during his rookie season of 2012, hitting .297 with eight home runs and 36 RBI.

http://www.cw30.com/sports/mlb/San%20Diego%20Padres/story/Padres-C-Grandal-suspended-50-games/6yHTvn3QfU-wvCGOZ3SbAQ.cspx

Lochte to make a splash with '90210' cameo LOS ANGELES -- Ryan Lochte is dipping his toe into the waters of scripted television. Olympic swimmer Lochte, who just racked up five medals at the London games, will follow up his triumph at the Olympics with an appearance on the CW's "90210," CBS said on Tuesday. Lochte will cameo as a guest at a resort where Naomi Clark (AnnaLynne McCord) and Max Miller (Josh Zuckerman) are staying in an effort to strengthen their relationship. The episode will air October 29 at 8 p.m. Alas, Lochte won't be showing off his swimming skills during his appearance. "We only wish the episode was a surf event so we could have gotten him in the water, but he deserves a little rest on dry land," "90210" executive producers Patti Carr and Lara Olsen said of his cameo.

http://www.cw56.com/news/articles/entertainment/cw/12008268273277/lochte-to-make-a-splash-with-90210-cameo/

NFL.com news: Tanard Jackson cut by Buccaneers after failed physical Tanard Jackson cut by Buccaneers after failed physical The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released safety Tanard Jackson after a failed physical, the team announced Tuesday. "I was a little shocked, but the person I am, I accept how it comes," Jackson told the Tampa Bay Times. "I realize it's a business. It's hard to be too upset with the decision because of what I've been through, and I have no hard feelings toward the organization and wish them the best. "I really don't know, maybe it was because I wasn't doing rehab here in Tampa after surgery but doing it in New Orleans with trainers up there. They just said they were going in a different direction. That's the way it was given to me." Just three months removed from shoulder surgery, Jackson's timeline wouldn't have permitted him to be ready to pass a physical at this time, his agent, Peter Schaffer, told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora. Schaffer said Jackson will be 100 percent recovered this offseason and anticipates several teams being interested in the young safety, who has been an impact player when healthy. Jackson didn't make it to the first week of the Bucs' offseason workouts. Bucs general manager Mark Dominik said the team wasn't happy with Jackson's growth on and off the field, according to the Times. The GM also reportedly was unaware of a failed drug test or impending sanctions from the NFL. Jackson was suspended for a year in 2010 for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. He started 10 games last season and had 35 tackles and two interceptions. The Bucs gave Jackson a one-year extension through 2012 last October. "Man, my shoulder (has) been injured since '09 and something that I put off and I played through a series of injuries," Jackson said. "Not to make excuses for the way I played, but I had a lot of injuries last year, two bad hamstrings and a torn rotator cuff. My body feels good right now. Obviously, there's more work to do, but I'll be ready to play football."

http://www.dabears.com/rival_team_forum/41625-bucs_cut_safety_jackson.html

1983 Topps Football #362 Franco Harris PSA 10 (GEM MT) *0964 This 1983 Topps Football #362 Franco Harris (Pittsburgh Steelers) card has been graded a PSA 10 (GEM MT) and is a great card to add to your collection. He was enshrined into the Hall of Fame in 1990. Our inventory of Graded Vintage Football cards is constantly updated, please keep checking back periodically for new Vintage Singles. - Manufacturer: Topps

http://www.dacardworld.com/vintage/1982-topps-football-362-franco-harris-psa-10-gem-mt-0964

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Actor-director Emilio Estevez (EE'-mihl-ee-oh es-TAY'-vez) will shoot a movie about harness racing in the Cincinnati area. It's called "Johnny Longshot" and is set to start filming in January. The cast, locations and other details weren't released Thursday. Ohio development officials say the family-friendly movie will receive an Ohio Motion Picture Tax Credit of nearly $3.5 million and will hire about 1,500 cast, crew and extras. Ohio in recent years has lured filming of other movies including "The Avengers" and "The Ides of March." Estevez says his movie will be about a retired jockey getting into harness racing. His previous roles included a youth hockey coach in "The Mighty Ducks." Brother Charlie Sheen played a Cleveland Indians pitcher in "Major League." Their father, actor Martin Sheen, is a native of Dayton.

http://www.daily-jeff.com/ap%20state/2012/10/25/emilio-estevez-to-shoot-racing-film-in-sw-ohio

A junior defensive back, Orms suffered another concussion in Saturday's 70-14 loss at Oregon. It was the second week in a row Orms suffered a concussion. He has been ruled out for this week and could be sidelined him for the rest of the season. "Possibly," head coach Jon Embree said Tuesday at his weekly press luncheon. "He was cleared to play (against Oregon), but he took a pretty wicked shot." Embree would not rule out seeing Orms on the field again this year, but said, "I'm not counting on having him for a while." The treatment of concussions, especially in football, has changed dramatically in recent years. Studies have shown severe affects of concussions that were not known years ago and teams are much more cautious than they used to be. With concussions in back-to-back games, Embree said he and the medical staff need to be thorough in their evaluation before Orms plays again. "I want to find out a little more research from the standpoint of high school history, what happened before I got here, as far as concussions," Embree said. "We'll sit down, me, him and the trainer, and see what's best." Medical clearance won't be the only factor in Orms' return. "It's not just about being cleared," Embree said. "Some of it is going to be gut instinct for me. I try to treat all these kids like they're my own child. It's a great responsibility as a coach, being a caretaker of someone else's child. Parker and I will talk about the pros and cons." A standout from Wheat Ridge High School, Orms had a season-ending knee injury in the 2010 season opener. In 2011, he missed seven total games, mostly because of leg injuries, but also because of a four-game suspension for violating team rules. This past spring, he injured his hamstring on the third day of practice and did not participate in the remainder of spring ball. Follow Brian on Twitter: @BrianHowell33.

http://www.dailycamera.com/soccer/ci_21889162

When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone. Hooiveld struggling to make Villa clash Jos Hooiveld is a major doubt for Saturday’s crunch St Mary’s clash with Aston Villa. The Dutch centre half was forced off midway through the first half of the 6-1 drubbing at Arsenal with a calf injury. Hooiveld had been struggling with the problem for several days but Saints were hopeful he could get through the game. It didn’t work out that way and Maya Yoshida was drafted into the side earlier than expected, having only had one full training session with the club since signing, and that after arriving back from international duty with Japan. Saints’ much praised medical staff are doing all they can to have Hooiveld ready for the weekend game against Villa, but he is at best touch and go to be ready. If he fails to make it, that would mean a first Saints start for Yoshida alongside Jose Fonte . It would also mark only the third league game that Hooiveld would have missed since joining the club from Celtic on August 31, 2011. In that time his fantastic fitness record has seen him start in 43 of the 45 league matches that have taken place since he moved to St Mary’s. Hooiveld and Fonte have been the regular pairing in that period, starting 39 of those games together. On the four occasions Fonte was out injured, Hooiveld partnered Aaron Martin , now on a season long loan at Crystal Palace. The two games Hooiveld missed, in which Fonte partnered Martin, were both draws, against Cardiff and Birmingham. The centre half department is one in which Saints are short of options beyond their lead three defenders of Fonte, Hooiveld and new recruit Yoshida. Their only other centre halves are Dan Seaborne , who has slipped well down the pecking order, and Jack Stephens, a teenager with only a handful of lower leagues games for Plymouth to his name. Nigel Adkins also has another problem to wrestle with as he tries to find the best way to get Gaston Ramirez into the starting line-up. Adkins is believed to want to start the £12m Uruguayan this weekend, having been impressed by what he saw in the second half at the Emirates Stadium. However, he will have to move the team around to do it. At Arsenal he sacrificed one of the central midfield three in the shape of Steven Davis to bring Ramirez in at half time and tinkered with the formation slightly. Adkins will have to decide whether to try and play Ramirez in the hole just off Rickie Lambert and adapt the team around that, or whether to employ him in the 4-3-3 type formation the club have favoured this season. If he does the latter then he may have to consider moving captain Adam Lallana back into a more central role. Alternatively, he could drop Jason Puncheon , who has been one of the brighter lights of the season so far.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9935704.Hooiveld_struggling_to_make_Villa_clash/

- Story Ideas - Send Corrections PHILADELPHIA — Eagles quarterback Michael Vick tweeted a photo from his home last week that appeared to include a box of dog treats in the background. Dog treats, dog, right? Well, Vick was asked about it Wednesday. And the man who served time in a federal penitentiary for operating an illegal dog-fighting ring totally blocked the question about dog ownership. Remember, he’s been able to own a dog since his probation ended in July. “I’m here to strictly talk about football,” Vick said. “What goes on in my personal life is not to be talked about. What’s most important now is the Philadelphia Eagles and getting a win this Sunday.” Vick is up against the wall this week. The Eagles (3-2) desperately need to hit the bye week with a victory over the Lions. The Lions (1-3) are physical and coming off their bye, as well as three straight defeats. “Despite what their record shows, that’s a good football team,” Vick said. “If you look all across the board they’ve got good football players over there. And it’s going to be a good game. It’s going to be a physical game and they’re going to come to play and we’ve just got to make sure that we take care of our end.” The Eagles have won three of their last four games before the bye week. They’re 13-0 in games immediately after the bye.

http://www.dailylocal.com/article/20121010/SPORTS03/121019948/-1/sports03/rememberingpa.us/rememberingpa.us/dailylocal

VALENCIA -- Last season, West Ranch High was so fearful of Valencia's potent lineup that ace J.C. Cloney issued a bases-loaded intentional walk to safeguard a two-run victory. The Foothill League baseball rivals met again on a cloudy Friday at Valencia, and this time Cloney didn't have to worry about a thing. The senior left-hander limited the host Vikings to three hits while striking out a career-high 11 in a 2-1 victory. Cloney (2-1) took a perfect game into the fourth inning, and Valencia eventually scored on Brian Mundell's run-scoring single in the sixth, but otherwise Cloney was strong. He threw 103 pitches, 74 for a strikes, while lowering his ERA to 1.38 with 29 strikeouts in 20 innings. Cloney was supported by errorless defense, as the Wildcats (6-1-1, 2-0) put three-time defending league champion Valencia (5-2, 1-1) one game back. "I think it was a great team effort. It was a great team win," Cloney said. "This was a very important win today." Valencia All-American Trey Williams, a projected first-round draft choice who has eight career home runs against West Ranch, including six in three games last season, was 1 for 3 with a single and a strikeout. Teammate A.J. Balta, a fellow slugger who hit 11 home runs last season to earn league player of the year honors, was 0 for 3, including a strikeout in the sixth inning while representing the potential tying run. "Before the game, I felt a little anxiety With an effective fastball, a sharp-breaking slider and a wicked changeup, the Long Beach State-bound Cloney was dominant, as Valencia swung at a lot of pitches out of the strike zone. "He had command of three different pitches, and he hit his spots well," West Ranch coach Casey Burrill said. "He made some great pitches, and this is the kind of game we expect him to win. He wants the ball in big games." Burrill still remembers the decision last year to intentionally walk Williams with the bases loaded in the fifth inning, and if anyone was wondering about such an unorthodox move, Williams hit a 420-foot home run in the bottom of the seventh. "That ball still has not landed," Burrill said. Mundell was 2 for 3 with a triple, but the rest of Valencia's lineup was a combined 1 for 21. "To come in here and beat the three-time league champion, that's a big win," Burrill said. "It's a nice start, but there are still two big ones against Valencia coming later on, and they will be ready for us." In the sixth inning, West Ranch scored on Jake Miura's sacrifice fly and Gabe Peralta's RBI single. Valencia's Luke Soroko took the loss, giving up two earned runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings.

http://www.dailynews.com/sports/ci_20195138/baseball-west-ranch-wins-round-one-against-valencia

A collection of news and information related to Athletes published by this site and its partners. Displaying items 1-12 of 16228 » View dailypress.com items only1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11-1353 Next > Daily PressHAMPTON -- Let's see, what else was in the news that day? President Nixon Promises 'New Prosperity' Busing, Integration Get Off To Peaceful Start Harmon Killebrew's Grand Slam Leads Twins Over A's ABC To Air Jackson 5ive Cartoon. Closer to home,... Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Jason Aldean and Lady Antebellum were among Keith Urban’s opening acts last summer. Doesn’t mean they’re not stars in their own right. But it does mean they’re not Keith Urban. Same goes for Mike London... Austin Walton of Newport News started his own sports agency two years ago at the tender age of 24. The venture was, and is, to say the least, high-risk. The agent racket is Darwinian, replete with sharks and scoundrels. And rare is the fledgling with the... Among ACC teams, only Miami has secured more 2012 football commitments than Virginia Tech and Virginia, with the Hokies scoring Sunday with defensive end Woody Baron of Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy and defensive tackle Nigel Williams of Richmond's... James Robinson and Jerami Grant are basketball teammates at DeMatha High and for Team Takeover. Could their partnership continue in 2012 at the University of Virginia? That is among the myriad questions surrounding U.Va. and Virginia Tech as the annual... Phoebus High and Virginia Tech alums Xavier Adibi and Stephen Friday combined for half the Houston Texans’ seven sacks in Monday night’s preseason opener against the New York Jets. Not bad for two guys playing new positions in a new defense.... In 1995, the NCAA banned Miami’s football program from postseason for one year and slashed the Hurricanes’ scholarship allotment by 31 over three years. Guilty of Pell Grant fraud, payments to players and lax drug testing, Miami didn’... Tags: Mike London, Disasters, Fraud, College Football, Crimes Baltimore SunTyrod Taylor's debut in the NFL did little to quell sentiment that the Ravens need a veteran presence behind starter Joe Flacco. After leaving Virginia Tech as the school's all-time passer, Taylor got a rude welcome from the Philadelphia Eagles in... Mike Anderson not only weighs 35 pounds lighter now, but he also has lightened his daily intake of pills. Mike, 69, of York County, says losing weight has enabled him to stop taking prescription medications for blood pressure and cholesterol and to... Few were as imposing as Elton Brown lead-blocking a Virginia sweep. He was an agile, 6-foot-5, 320-plus-pound guard capable of bulldozing most any defender. Few are as approachable as Elton Brown in retirement. He’s 29 now, two years removed from... Suffice to say, Tyrone Pettaway is on football coaching's fast track — from Fort Valley State to Christopher Newport to Tennessee to Southern California to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Oh, and all this in five years, landing the seriously connected... These are the best of times for Bay Rivers District baseball and boys soccer. The past four years have seen Poquoson win two Group AA baseball state titles and Jamestown's soccer team another. But the district's success doesn't stop there. The Bay Rivers... Aug 25, 2012 |Story| Daily Press Jul 14, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Jun 27, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Jul 10, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Jul 5, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Aug 16, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Aug 17, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Aug 12, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Jul 1, 2011 |Story| Hampton Roads Daily Press Jul 8, 2011 |Story| Daily Press Jul 9, 2011 |Column| Hampton Roads Daily Press Jul 9, 2011 |Story| Hampton Roads Daily Press Original site for Athletes topic gallery.

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THEY joke that when they met it wasn'tt love at first sight. THEY joke that when they met it wasn’t love at first sight. Paralympic athlete Jessica Tuomela and partner Kim Hodges met while attending an American training academy to introduce them to their new guide dogs. Now, four years on, the couple, who are both blind, have not only married but have moved across the world from North America with their dogs to set up home in Edinburgh. Jessica, 29, who lost her sight to cancer when she was three, enrolled at the academy to meet her second guide dog, golden labrador Glacier. Kim, 30, of Michigan, who suddenly lost sight five years ago as a result of the condition optic neuritis, was going on the course to be teamed with black labrador Roscoe, his first guide dog. Jessica, who won a silver medal in the 50m freestyle swimming at the 2000 Games, said: “I loved Glacier from the moment I got him. “But I also came away from the course with a future husband and his dog Roscoe too.” Canadian-born Jessica has competed in swimming events at the Paralympic Games in Sydney in 2000, at Athens in 2004 and in Beijing in 2008. Her latest Paralympic goal is to become a triathlon athlete. Jessica said: “I took part in my first Paralympic Games as a swimmer when I was 17. So now it is the right time for me to try something new. “My long term goal is to compete in the triathlon in the 2016 Games, but in the short term I really want to focus on my running. “The first time I tried running I was absolutely terrified. “When you can’t see – to run forward as fast as you can is against all your instincts. “But I have always been the type of person who refuses to be put off because of fear.” Jessica is now seeking keen runners in Scotland who will help her train. “I obviously can’t go running on my own – that would be a disaster. “But I’m hoping I can find a team of volunteers who will run with me, and help me become a Paralympic athlete for Scotland.” The couple moved to Edinburgh last year, after Jessica applied to study psychology in the city. They say they couldn’t be prouder of their two guide dogs, who not only brought them together, but who have also helped them adapt easily to their new life in Scotland. Jessica said: “We are both so amazed by our dogs. “Moving to a new country can be a challenge for anyone, but moving when you are blind makes it all the more complicated. “For Glacier and Roscoe, getting used to the traffic in Edinburgh has been one of their biggest hurdles. “For a start, the traffic is going in a totally different direction. “But the dogs have had to get used to so many other changes here too.” She added: “For the first couple of weeks both the dogs were showing us a few little signs of stress. “Roscoe was barking, which guide dogs don’t normally do, and Glacier was happier walking alongside me rather than leading me. But now they have taken the move in their stride.” Former store manager Kim, who is now studying, says from the moment he met Jessica he was bowled over by her zest for life. He said: “Nothing stops Jessica – she is so determined and inspiring. “We have been together ever since.” Anyone willing to run with Jessica as her guide would wear a wrist strap that was also attached to her wrist. While Jessica says any guide doesn’t have to be hugely fit, she says they would need to be slightly fitter than her, so that they can talk to her during their runs to warn her of any potential hazards ahead. Jessica hopes that through her running she will be able to raise funds for Guide Dogs in Scotland, who have been a huge support to her since moving to Edinburgh. It costs the charity £50,000 to train one guide dog. For more information on running with Jessica, send an email to: [email protected] ? To support Guide Dogs in Scotland visit www.guidedogs.org.uk

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/real-life/blind-paralympian-on-hunt-for-new-guide-1129625

THE 7-2 shot under Chris Hayes showed a clean pair of heels to outpace joint favourite Flying The Flag to the line. FIRST CORNERSTONE was an impressive winner of the Group 2 Galileo EBF Futurity Stakes at the Curragh. Andy Oliver’s 7-2 shot kicked for home a furlong out under Chris Hayes and stayed on strongly to repel the persistent challenge of Flying The Flag (7-4JtFav) by one-and-a-half lengths. Birdman (7-4JtFav) took third for David Simcock but the likely favourite Nevis was pulled out earlier in the day by Aidan O’Brien due to the heavy conditions. Oliver said: “He got a great ride from Chris who is riding super. He settled him and produced him at the right time. He will certainly get further and is entered in the Beresford Stakes and the Racing Post Trophy. “He is not in the National Stakes but everything is on the table.” ? Roger Varian is keeping the faith with his useful three-year-old Aljamaaheer after the colt’s very narrow defeat in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. The son of Dubawi was sent off a warm favourite for the Group 2 contest and ran well to finish a close third behind Premio Loco on unsuitably soft going. The trainer said: “The ground went against him as he just cannot produce his turn of foot on soft ground. “His cause wasn’t helped too by running a little fresh in the early stages and he has probably done well to finish so close.” ? I’m A Dreamer could bid for more top-level glory in the United Stakes after her game victory in last weekend’s Beverly D Stakes at Arlington Park. David Simcock’s filly may now be aimed at Belmont’s Flower Bowl Invitational or the Yellow Ribbon Stakes at Santa Anita. ? Beat The Tide (3.25) should wash away his rivals in the feature nursery at Newcastle. Michael Dods’ charge landed a maiden auction event over seven furlongs at today’s venue in decent style last time and will be suited by the step up to a mile. The closing six-furlong handicap can go to Ann Duffield’s consistent Sovereign Street (5.45). This four-year-old has been successful on his last two starts at Hamilton and Ayr and is difficult to oppose on current form. LADY GIBRALTAR (3.05) looks set to go close in the valuable five- furlong handicap at Epsom. Alan Jarvis’ progressive filly won at the Surrey track late last month then improved on that effort when dead-heating with Robert Cowell’s useful Jwala at Glorious Goodwood.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/horse-racing/andy-olivers-first-cornerstone-wins-1281559

They had an age gap of 60 years, were born in different countries and played baseball in enormously different eras. Still, Stan Musial and Albert Pujols were linked by baseball greatness. They both wore St. Louis Cardinals' uniforms, leading the proud organization to a combined seven World Series appearances and five titles, their talents landing one in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., and the other destined to join him. They got to know one another during Pujols' 11 years with the Cardinals, visiting one another several times a year, frequently exchanging messages, and showing the respect and admiration for one another that made them almost family. When Pujols looked at his phone Saturday afternoon and saw a text message from Brian Schwarze, Musial's grandson, his eyes filled with tears and his stomach knotted in anguish: "It's Pops. I don't think he's going to make it.'' Pujols immediately called Schwarze, who was gathered around Musial with the rest of the family. They talked. They prayed. And Pujols made sure to convey the message one last time to Musial before he passed: "I love you.'' Musial died two hours later at 92, and Sunday morning Pujols talked about one of the greatest men he's met, a man that forever will impact his life, the man known as The Man. "It was such a sad day,'' Pujols told USA TODAY Sports, "but I am so blessed to have spent time with him the last 12 years. He blessed my life, and many, many lives in baseball during his career, and after his career. He touched so many lives. He means as much as Roberto Clemente does to Latin people. Thank God I had the opportunity to know him. "I wish my kids had the opportunity to be around him, because that's how I want my kids to live their lives. I want them to be like Stan Musial. "Not the baseball player. The person. "That's the respect I have for that man.'' Pujols, perhaps the greatest Cardinals' player since Musial when he departed last winter to the Los Angeles Angels, savors the memories and time spent together. He last saw Musial a year ago, and although Musial was disappointed that Pujols chose the Angels over re-signing with the Cardinals, he congratulated him and thanked him for the way he represented the franchise. When Pujols joined the Angels, the Angels put billboards around town calling Pujols, "El Hombre.'' Pujols was furious. There is only one baseball player that should be called The Man, Pujols said, and it was Musial. The billboards came down. "What he did for the Cardinal organization is unbelievable,'' Pujols said. "There will never be anyone else wearing that Cardinal uniform who will be the face of the franchise. You can talk about his numbers, the 3,630 hits, the 24 All-Star games, the seven batting titles, but the man himself is what made him so great. What he did for his community, for his country. That's what made him so special.'' Pujols first heard about Musial when he was drafted by the Cardinals in 1999, and he began reading about him. He became mesmerized by his graciousness, and every time Musial entered the Cardinals' clubhouse, Pujols would race over, hug him, and then kiss his forehead. "I don't care if it was six minutes before game time,'' said Pujols, a three-time MVP, "when he came into the room, I went over there to see him. He meant everything to me. He always will.'' Pujols, who has a huge picture of Musial in his fav orite gym, and a blown-up picture of the two in the trophy case of his basement, still laughs at the time Musial picked up his bat a few summers ago. Musial picked it up, and couldn't believe how light the bat was, weighting 32½ ounces. Pujols, in a rare slump, asked Musial if he had any extra hits that he could magically put into the bat. Musial laughed, and said, "Just see the ball, and hit the ball. You'll be ju Pujols went on a tear and won the National League's MVP award. One of the first congratulatory calls he received was from Musial, who compared him to Ted Williams and Willie Mays. "I'll always remember that,'' Pujols said Sunday. "Always. Really, there's nothing I'll ever forget about that man. None of us will. "He didn't get the exposure of a Willie Mays or Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio, being in a small market. But he was very special to the fans in St. Louis, and Cardinals' Nation. We were blessed to have him around for this long. "So I know it's a sad day, but it's also a day to celebrate his life. "I know I always will.'' Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com Read the original story: Albert Pujols on Stan Musial: 'Thank God I knew him'

http://www.dailyrecord.com/usatoday/article/1849475&usatref=sportsmod

VACAVILLE — The city’s public transit system, City Coach, received kudos to the tune of $232,000 recently from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. The funding is based on operating performance and efficiency in the past few years, according to a press release issued by the city. Ridership more than doubled over a seven-year period from 2006 to 2012 – the number of riders soared from 196,747 in 2006 to 446,109 in 2012. The funding comes from a commission incentive program designed to financially reward transit agencies for striving to improve operating performance. The commission’s data show, within the Bay Area’s smaller transit operators, that City Coach is ranked No. 2 in efficiency. For more information on City Coach, call 449-6000 or go to www.citycoach.com. Reach Susan Winlow at 427-6955 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/swinlowdr.

http://www.dailyrepublic.com/news/vacaville/city-coach-receives-funding-incentive-for-performance/

JOE HART IS RATTLED BY FAN JOE Hart was once asked to sign a fanís baby. Joe Hart, 23, told ManC magazine: ďIt just goes to show that there are strange people in this world.[> ďI couldnít believe anyone would ever ask me to do something like that. I wasnít having any of it.Ē[>

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/view/185839/Joe-Hart-is-rattled-by-fan/

Take a look inside Cowboys Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett's $950K Frisco home that just went on sale Want to own a Hall of Famer's digs? Former Dallas Cowboys star running back Tony Dorsett's Frisco house is on the market for $950,000. The house is 5,496 square feet, with four bedrooms and four and a half bathrooms. Photo: Ebby Halliday

http://www.dallasnews.com/entertainment/celebrity-news/headlines/20130319-take-a-look-inside-cowboys-hall-of-famer-tony-dorsett-s-950k-frisco-home-that-just-went-on-sale.ece?ssimg=929879

United's back four responds to challenge In D.C. United's first two contests of 2012,there was really only one choice to take home man of the match honors. Unfortunately for the Black-and-Red, it was their goalie. Under siege against both Kansas City and LosAngeles, United's field players took a back seat to the club's netminders. That changed dramatically on Saturdaynight, as goalkeeper Joe Willis earned a shutout in Vancouver without making asingle save. "I didn't have to face one shottonight," Willis said after posting a blank sheet for the second time inhis MLS career. "Our centralbacks were great. Every set piece,[Eric] Hassli was marked up tight and never got a look. Our outside backs did great. The team as a whole defended reallywell." After allowing eight shots on net in each oftheir first two matches, the D.C. defense faced the daunting task of shuttingdown Vancouver's dangerous front four. While some may have looked to pack defenders behind the ball in hopes ofslowing the Whitecaps, Ben Olsen challenged his group to be moreaggressive. In front of 19,334rowdy fans at BC Place, United's back four responded. "Teams weren't afraid to play us,"admitted defender Brandon McDonald from United's locker room. "Coming into this game we weretalking about having that bite and grit and I think we brought that today. "It was a real group effort, I thought theback line was so steady," added Olsen. "[Vancouver] has a little bit of everything andthey can hurt you in so many ways, so to keep them off the board was a credit toour defense." As key as D.C.'s attitude shift may have beenin earning the club's first point of 2012, Olsen also deserves some credit forpersonnel moves along the backline. The second-year coach inserted Emiliano Dudar next to McDonald at theheart of United's defense and the Argentine turned in an impressiveeffort. Vancouver pumped ballafter ball towards Hassli only to see the 6-foot-4 Dudar deny him atall angles. With their targetforward essentially locked down, the Whitecaps took their attack out wide. It was there that Olsen's second back-fourswap paid off. After being replaced by Chris Korb in LosAngeles, Daniel Woolard returned to the starting eleven with the unenviable assignment of shutting down Vancouver's wings. Time and time again, the under-appreciated defender emerged victoriousfrom one-on-one battles with David Chiumiento and Camilo Sanvezzo. None of Woolard’s triumphs was biggerthan in the 68th minute, when the defender bullied Sanvezzo off the ball deepin United's box. "Daniel is Mr. Consistent," saidWillis. "He shut down both ofthose guys all night. There are severalone-on-one situations I can think of where they were threatening and Daniel wasthere to shut it down. He's a goodleft back and I was glad he was there to help me out today." With the tie, United escapes the EasternConference cellar ahead of a stretch where the Black-and-Red will play five ofsix matches at RFK Stadium. D.C.returns to action next Friday against FC Dallas with kickoff scheduled for 7:30p.m.

http://www.dcunited.com/news/2012/03/uniteds-back-four-responds-to-challenge

LAWRENCE: Hamels said the right stuff amid a national audience Cole Hamels was one of the first players to exit Kauffman Stadium following Tuesday night’s All-Star Game. It wasn’t as if Hamels was trying to duck the non-stop questions regarding his uncertain future in Philadelphia. When he spotted a few local reporters, he stopped, chatted for a few minutes and then asked if there was anything else they needed. Cole Hamels is handling his contract situation like a pro. Less than two weeks ago in Miami, Hamels sounded surprised when told he would be bombarded by trade-rumor questions and contract queries at the media circus that is the All-Star Game. After his last start a week ago in New York, Hamels no-commented his way through such questions. Then he arrived to Kansas City and showed off both a remarkable business savvy and unshakeable poise. He humored and he enlightened. Hamels carefully toed the line. In so many words, he let the obvious be known: he holds all of the cards in his current negotiation for a long-term contract with the Phillies. He also bent over backward to heave compliments on the only major league organization he’s known, saying it’s his preference to stay and that David Montgomery, Ruben Amaro Jr. and company would get every opportunity to re-sign him, even if he does hit the free-agent market this winter. “I understand the nature of the business,” Hamels said, “I really do.” He also understand the business he works in includes employers like his current one, an employer that has sold out every game for three years, and an employer that can boast about having the highest TV ratings in baseball in 2011. With a new television deal on the horizon for the Phillies – the current deal expires in 2015 – advertisers will be ready to pony up more dollars if that trend continues. In the age of the DVR, the live-televised sporting event is king. Continued... Needless to say, spending money shouldn’t be a problem. Hamels, who has gotten into trouble over his career for saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, has done quite the opposite lately. He wasn’t just careful with the words he used this week in Kansas City, but he was also smart with them. With the forum to air out the negotiations before a national audience, Hamels didn’t break his trust with his agent or his team. But he did drop a few measured comments into his answers. Rather than demand a six- or seven-year deal, it was: “Being here for seven years, they know what I’m all about, how much I try to give back to the community and how much Philly means to me. Hopefully that will convey over a long period of time.” Instead of telling management and the owners to pony up the cash, Hamels said, “It takes a long time to build up a fan base like they did. Now they have it. You don’t ever want to just let it wash away. So I think they’re always going to honor that. They’re an organization that honors the fans. They understand the fans are what make the organization so great.” Hamels has seen Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley rewarded with long-term contracts to stick in Philadelphia for the long term. He has watched the Phillies trade for or sign some of the game’s best pitchers, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt and Pedro Martinez, in the last four seasons. Hamels knows the Phillies value homegrown talent and that they put a premium on starting pitching, too. One way or another, with the Phillies or without, Hamels will get paid. The seven-year, $161 million contract CC Sabathia signed after the 2008 season, a deal that was re-worked into eight years and $181 million last winter, would seem to be a fair estimate on Hamels’ rising open market value. Cole Hamels understands this. If the Phillies hope to avoid adding a nightmare of a public relations issue to a nightmare of a 2012 season, they should probably understand this, too. Because if they don’t warm up to the price of doing business with a 28-year-old ace in his prime, the fallout of the much-criticized Cliff Lee trade of three winters ago will feel like a minor tremor when compared to the aftermath of letting Hamels walk. Continued... Email Ryan Lawrence at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @ryanlawrence21 Philadelphia Sports By Bleacher Report Location, ST | website.com Athletes of the Week National Sports Videos Insight, observations on the first team in professional sports to reach 10,000 losses and the latest Philly team to make the playoffs - the Philadelphia Phillies. Jack McCaffery is the lead sports columnist for the Daily Times and delcotimes.com. He has spent several decades covering everything from the Phillies, Eagles, Flyers and Sixers, to college hoops, to high school sports in Delco. Bob Grotz blogs about the Philadelphia Eagles. Terry Toohey has the colleges covered. Laura Nachman covers everything about televison, from American Idol to sweeps. The SB Nation blog about the Philadelphia Phillies. The SB Nation blog about the Philadelphia Eagles. The SB Nation blog about the Philadelphia Flyers. The SB Nation blog about the 76ers. Top Sports Stories - 2012-13 Flyers Regular-Season Schedule - Eagles release training camp schedule for Lehigh - Delco was once summer home for Birds - McCaffery: Ten of the Eagles’ campiest moments - Brand heads to Dallas, Brown takes his place - Punch Shots: If Hamels won’t sign, Olt is fair value - Lahoud quickly makes presence felt on the pitch

http://www.delcotimes.com/articles/2012/07/14/sports/doc5000f1acd10cd396526173.txt?viewmode=3