id
stringlengths 30
34
| text
stringlengths 41
63.3k
| industry_type
stringclasses 1
value |
|---|---|---|
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/133 | September 18/03 8:53 am - Saturn Ends Cycling SponsorshipPosted by Editoress on 09/18/03 Saturn Ends 12-Year Cycling SponsorshipCourtesy SaturnAfter More Than a Decade on Two Wheels, Saturn Seeks a Change in its Marketing LineupDETROIT - (Sept. 17, 2003) - Saturn says goodbye to more than a decade of memories as the longest-running title sponsor of a U.S. based pro bicycling team. As of December 31, 2003, the Saturn Cycling program, which features the 22-member professional men's and women's team, will come to a close. "Over the past 12 years, we have seen tremendous success with Saturn Cycling," says Christine Rivers, Saturn Sponsorships and Promotions Manager. "We've had the opportunity to interact with consumers around the country who have come out to support our team and the events we have chosen to sponsor. Road cycling has been an ideal showcase for our products and a perfect venue for Saturn retailers who have embraced cycling events in their local communities. We have had the pleasure of working with incredible people, both on the bike and behind the scenes."The pinnacle of the program - the pro cycling team and more recently the Saturn Cycling Development Team - has been successfully managed by Team Sports, Inc., a Wisconsin-based sports management company run by former pro cyclist Tom Schuler."Saturn has meant a great deal to the sport of cycling," says Schuler. "Through the sponsorship decisions Saturn has made over the years, cycling has grown in a positive way, as have the careers of many great up-and-coming athletes."As is said, all good things must end. But this is really more of a transition - an evolution to the next innovative idea or campaign. "Saturn Cycling has been a model event-marketing program," says Rivers. "Through cycling, we have generated awareness about our robust and exciting lineup of vehicles among potential customers. We've made a positive impact on the sport of cycling and on communities across the country. We wish the very best to those who continue the journey."And Team Sports plans to do just that. "We do plan to add new marketing partners to this winning cycling platform," added Schuler. "We are actively seeking a company that will benefit from cycling and the healthy lifestyle that our champion athletes represent so well. On behalf of the 120 professional athletes that have proudly worn the Saturn colors and all of us at Team Sports, my gratitude goes out to Saturn and everything they have done for the sport of cycling." Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/134 | January 20/06 8:01 am - Interview: Kris WestwoodPosted by Editoress on 01/20/06 Kris Westwood's comments are in quotationsKris Westwood, Director of National Programs at the Canadian Cycling Association (CCA) spoke with us a few days after the preliminary team was announced for the Commonwealth Games (seeDaily News: January 13th) to discuss the selections and the process used to decide who would be named to the team."First of all, it was the High Performance Committee that decided, based on coaches recommendations. If we go through the team, in mountain bike we are allowed up to three riders in each event (men and women), out of our maximum team allotment of 19. We based the decision on medal potential, and decided that we would give three spots to women and two to men."We looked at top World Cup performers, for the highest level of competition, so that was Marie-Helene (Premont), Alison (Sydor) and Kiara (Bisaro) for the women, and Geoff (Kabush) and Seamus (McGrath) for the men. Roland (Green) was also included, but of course he retired. When Alison declined, we opted for two (women) athletes."After Alison declined, why not go to the next rider on the list - Trish Sinclair? Sinclair has not finished in the world Cups at the same level as the other three (with the exception of Mont Ste Anne), but compared to other Commonwealth countries she is certainly competitive?"The decision was made to opt for top performers, and there is a big gap to the next rider. The rules allow technical assistance between athletes, so we wanted to bring a minimum number (ie, two), but because of the performance gap look at adding to the road athletes instead. It's a juggling exercise ... there's a distant possibility that we could bring in another mountain bike athlete.""On the road we are allowed a maximum of six athletes each (men and women), and we selected four each. Our priority was to ensure medal chances. Melbourne is relatively flat, so you have to have sprinters available. the ProTour riders (Hesjedal and Barry) are not available, and there is definitely a question mark beside (Charles) Dionne - chances are that Phonak won't allow him to race, so we had to put together a team that would be able to support Gord. If Charles cannot go, then Dominique (Perras) has shown in the past couple of years that he has progressed to the point where he will be a real asset.""The women's team is straightforward - these are the top women internationally, with the experience and results." (Note: this interview was conducted before the news came out concerning Genevieve Jeanson's positive for EPO and subsequent ban, but Jeanson had already declined - for obvious reasons as it turned out)"On the track, the three (Team) Sprint athletes have really proven themselves - they qualified for the Worlds and are putting in good times. I think it is realistic to say that we will be competing for the bronze against New Zealand. Mandy (Poitras) and Gina (Grain) have also put in solid performances at the international level. The final selection will come after next weekend, after the (Los Angeles) Track World Cup where, depending on results, we could select two endurance men (Martin Gilbert and/or Zach Bell), or put the spots towards road or mountain.""Each team was selected with a view towards medals, and I think that all (mountain, road, track) have a realistic chance for medals." Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/211 | Furthurmore Friday Week 44
Many Midwest Dead Heads have been calling for some Midwest Furthur shows, and this tour unequivocally answers their requests with a tour-opening trio of shows in Minneapolis, Ames, IA, and St. Louis, followed by two nights in Chicago. The tour-opening show is at the very same venue that the Grateful Dead played on 10/19/71, the night they debuted the new version of the band featuring Keith Godchaux on piano in his first appearance with the Grateful Dead. The tour then moves on to a couple of places Furthur hasn’t yet hit, Reading, PA and Baltimore, MD. The 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore was previously known as the Baltimore Civic Center, site of six Grateful Dead shows. Most famous amongst those would be 9/17/72, featuring a nearly 40 minute Other One (also one of the best of a year filled with great Other Ones!), and 4/19/82, at which Phil recited Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” during “Space.” The tour ends in very familiar Dead Head terrain: one show at the Worcester Centrum (now DCU Center) followed by two nights at Madison Square Garden, a fitting close to the tour after the band has played so many New York (and area) gigs in the past year.
Past Furthurmore Contests
Week 128
Come back every friday for more contests. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/243 | Roy Roundtree has knee surgery
Updated: August 12, 2012, 3:03 PM ET
By Michael Rothstein | ESPN.com
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- While Michigan coach Brady Hoke said Sunday that suspended players Fitzgerald Toussaint and Frank Clark would practice Monday for the first time during fall camp, he also revealed that wide receiver Roy Roundtree had arthroscopic knee surgery Friday and will miss two weeks.
It's a tenuous situation for the Wolverines, who are unsure of the status of two critical skill-position starters in running back Toussaint and Roundtree as they prepare for the season opener against defending national champion Alabama on Sept. 1, in Arlington, Texas.
More on Michigan
For full coverage of the Wolverines, check out the Michigan blog, part of ESPN's College Football Nation. Blog
• Michigan's clubhouse page
• ESPN.com's Big Ten blog
The belief is Roundtree should be sufficiently healed in time to practice the week before the game against the Crimson Tide."Everything went great, and he feels great," Hoke said. "It's one of those things he didn't do it practicing. Just needed to get it done and felt it a little bit walking back to the huddle.
"With him, he's one of the great kids on this football team, and as a senior, he's a guy that will do a great job bouncing back."Toussaint, who gained 1,041 yards last season and is one of the top returning running backs in the Big Ten, and Clark have not practiced with the Wolverines since fall camp opened Aug. 6. Their availability for the opener will be determined at a later date.
"I'll make a decision some time," Hoke said. "They are part of this football team. Guys who are 18 to 23, like some of us, have probably not made some great decisions, and they are paying for it."
Toussaint was suspended after a drunken-driving arrest in July. Clark, a defensive end, was suspended after being charged with second-degree home invasion of a dorm room in Stockwell Hall on the Michigan campus. He is alleged to have stolen a MacBook Air laptop.
"They are still guys, who as teammates, we love them, but there's consequences for their behavior, and they are paying a price," Hoke said. "They will continue to pay that price for a little bit."
Roundtree is expected to be one of the Wolverines' top receivers this fall after catching 122 balls for 1,724 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first three years with the team. He holds Michigan's single-game receiving record with 246 yards on Nov. 6, 2010, against Illinois.Recommend0
Michael Rothstein | emailESPN Detroit Lions reporterFollowArchivePreviously covered University of Michigan for ESPN.com and AnnArbor.com
Also covered Notre Dame for Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Michigan suspends Toussaint after DUI arrest
Michigan DE Clark set for Sept. 11 hearing
Wolverines DE Clark suspended after arrest | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/244 | Updated: September 14, 2011, 11:23 PM ET
Long memory serves Brandt Snedeker well
By Bob HarigArchive
LEMONT, Ill. -- The memories are still fresh, and Brandt Snedeker maintains that lessons were learned here two years ago when he four-putted the final green at Cog Hill to cost himself a spot in the Tour Championship -- and thus a place in the Masters. [+] EnlargeScott Halleran/Getty ImagesBesides trying to capture the $10 million FedEx Cup playoffs top prize, Brandt Snedeker is also trying to play his way on to the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
The excruciating finish to the tournament is never far from Snedeker's mind as he plays the BMW Championship, but this year other things are at stake as he begins play Thursday in the third leg of the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup playoffs.
He is fifth in the FedEx Cup standings, and if he can remain in the top five heading to next week's Tour Championship, he controls his own destiny at East Lake, where a victory then would assure him of the $10 million bonus.
Also at stake this week is a spot on the U.S. Presidents Cup team. Snedeker is 11th in the standings and only the top 10 are automatic. Making matters more tenuous is the fact that captain Fred Couples has already guaranteed one of the two at-large selections to Tiger Woods, who has not played since the PGA Championship and who at 29th in the standings is nowhere close to qualifying on his own.
You might understand if Snedeker were frustrated by the situation, but he takes the pragmatic view.
"Anybody who has a problem with it should have played better the last two years," Snedeker said of only one at-large selection still being in play. "We've had two years to make the top 10. If you rely on a pick, you're setting yourself up to fail anyways. I've got no problem with [Woods' selection] whatsoever. I think it's great for us, great for golf, great for the Presidents Cup. I look forward, hopefully, to being on the team with him."
The top-10 automatic qualifiers will be determined at the end of the BMW Championship, with points based on money earnings. Because this year's points are doubled, Snedeker is just $28,000 behind No. 10 David Toms -- who is just $14,810 behind No. 9 Jim Furyk.
With a 70-player field and no cuts, there is room for plenty of volatility -- although Snedeker is doing his best not to look at the numbers.
"I've played great for two years," he said. "I've got a great opportunity to play on the team. But I'm focused on that first tee shot and trying to make as many birdies as I can."
BMW Championship
The BMW Championship at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club is the third of four FedExCup Playoff events. ESPN.com Topics brings you full coverage on the event. Profile »
• FedEx Cup
Snedeker's attitude stems, in part, from what happened two years ago. The extra two putts he took on the 72nd hole cost him roughly $100,000, which had him fall from 28th in the FedEx Cup standings to 33rd. Not only did he cost himself a bunch of money, but he squandered a chance to play in the Tour Championship, which assured a spot in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open.
"I definitely changed the way I play on Sundays because of that," said Snedeker, who won the Heritage earlier this year. "Some guys play better when they know what they have to do. I've come to figure I play better when I try to birdie every hole and let the chips fall where they may.
"I think I got a little too much into scoreboard watching instead of the process I need to play well. I've made a conscious effort to play the best I can."
Tiger and the World Ranking When Tiger Woods and those who run the Chevron World Challenge sought to have the event distribute world ranking points to competitors prior to the 2009 event, nobody in their wildest dreams ever considered the fact that the tournament host and biggest draw would ever fall outside of the top 50 -- thus making himself ineligible.
Get all of ESPN.com's latest news, highlights and commentary about the world's most talked-about golfer. Tiger Tracker
But with less than a week to go before the tournament's top-50 cutoff, Woods is precariously close to falling out of the top 50 and leaving the tournament in a very precarious situation.
So far, tournament director and Tiger Woods Foundation president Greg McLaughlin has not addressed the "what if'' scenario, choosing to hope it is not necessary to even go down that road. Woods, who dropped to 46th in the world ranking this week, could very well remain among the top 50 when the rankings are released Sunday night.
But what if he doesn't?
Two years ago, the tournament sought to have world ranking points attached. Although it is considered unofficial in terms of prize money, limited-field events such as Chevron -- and the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa the same week -- are allowed to give ranking points as long as those in the field are ranked among the top 50 in the world.
The tournament has typically taken players right off the rankings list anyway, and then filled in remaining spots with sponsor exemptions. The Dec. 1-4 tournament, which pays prize money of $5 million with $1.2 million going to the winner, has an 18-player field with two sponsor exemptions. In the past, those could go to any player, but now must go to someone in the top 50.
What if Woods falls out? Could the tournament simply rescind the world ranking criteria and invite anyone it chooses, notably Woods? It is a question that is yet to be answered, but would seemingly be an easy call for the title sponsor, Chevron, which has had Woods in the field just once in its three years of sponsorship.
Three years ago, Woods was out due to injury, and two years ago he missed the tournament in the aftermath of his Orlando car accident which led to Woods admitting during Chevron week that he had been involved in extramarital affairs.
Woods returned a year ago, and seemingly had the tournament won, but coughed up a four-stroke lead during the final round to Graeme McDowell before losing to the Northern Irishman in a playoff.
A year earlier, McDowell used the ranking points he earned in the tournament to his advantage. A late entry when Woods could not play, he had fallen out of the top 50 when the tournament rolled around. A second-place finish moved back into the top 50 and helped him secure a Masters invitation. He went on to win the U.S. Open in 2010.
Last year when McDowell won, he earned 50 world ranking points. Compare that to Simon Dyson, who received 40 for winning the KLM Open last week on the European Tour. The points are not insignificant.
Want great insight into the game of golf in 140 characters or less? Follow @BobHarig.
But the world ranking points are hardly the compelling reason to watch the tournament. Woods is that reason, and no doubt Chevron would love to have him playing rather than watching because of a rather dubious notion that the tournament should be giving world ranking points.
If it comes to that, the PGA Tour's Andy Pazder said that a change in a tournament's eligibility would have to go before the PGA Tour's policy board -- and you figure with all that Woods has done for the game, and how the tournament lines players' pockets, that would be an easy call. Or perhaps the tournament asks those who administer the world ranking for a waiver.
Then again, perhaps for those involved it is best to simply hope that Woods does not drop out of the top 50.
Bob Harig covers golf for ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com. Comments
Furyk's Uphill Battle
Birdies And Bogeys
Tseng
1. Yani Tseng. Clearly the worldwide player of the year, Tseng won her fifth LPGA title when she captured the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship in a playoff on Sunday. She has won eight worldwide tournaments this year, including two majors.
2. Rory McIlroy. That's two third-place finishes in a row -- the latest at the KLM Open -- after returning from the wrist injury suffered at the PGA Championship.
3. The Walker Cup. GB&I pulled off the upset in an amateur team competition that is vastly underrated among golf's big events.
BOGEYS
1. Graeme McDowell. At No. 14, McDowell is the highest-ranked eligible player in the world not to advance to the third leg of the FedEx Cup. He hasn't had a top-20 finish since a tie for 14th at the U.S. Open.
2. Ian Poulter. At No. 18, the Englishman is the next highest-ranked eligible player who did not advance to the BMW. He hasn't had a top-10 on the PGA Tour since the Hyundai Tournament of Champions in the first week of January.
3. U.S. Walker Cup team. What is it about Americans and foursomes competition at international team events?
• Jim Furyk, the reigning FedEx Cup champion, is 35th in points and needs an 11th-place finish or better to advance to the Tour Championship, which he won last year.
• Those in the top seven in the standings -- Webb Simpson, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Luke Donald, Brandt Snedeker, Jason Day or Nick Watney -- can go to No. 1 with a victory this week.
• This is the last chance to make the top 10 for the U.S. and International Presidents Cup teams. The top 10 through Sunday automatically qualify, with captains Fred Couples and Greg Norman to make their at-large picks on Sept. 27.
• Ernie Els will attempt to make it to the Tour Championship after being outside of the number for each of the previous playoff events. He had to play his way into the Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship and now the BMW Championship. He is 68th in FedEx Cup points and needs at a minimum to tie for fifth at the BMW to advance to the Tour Championship.
• Els is the only player among the 70 in the field who has not posted a top-10 finish this year.
• Simpson's victory at the Deutsche Bank vaulted him to No. 1 in the FedEx Cup standings and was his ninth top-10 in 22 starts this season.
"Ten million is a ridiculously large amount of money, an unbelievable prize. We want to win golf tournaments, but when $10 million is at stake, you can't not think about that.'' -- Webb Simpson, who leads the FedEx Cup standings, on the bonus amount that goes to the winner of the points race at the end of the Tour Championship.
Catching up with '10 champ
Dustin Johnson rebounded from his disappointment at the PGA Championship to shoot a final-round 69 and defeat Paul Casey by one stroke at last year's BMW Championship at Cog Hill. It was Johnson's fourth career PGA Tour victory. It was his second victory of the year and helped him to finish fifth in the final FedEx Cup standings.
Johnson didn't notch his first victory this year until three weeks ago at The Barclays, a win that helped propel him to second in the FedEx Cup standings. Johnson again contended at a major championship, playing in the final twosome with Darren Clarke at the British Open, where the 27-year-old tied for second. Johnson enters defense of his BMW title having won more than $4.1 million this year. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/253 | Semmy Schilt, Sergei Kharitonov and K-1 Legends Remy Bonjasky and Peter Aerts Announced For “GLORY Grand Slam – Heavyweight” 16-Man, One-Night Tourney In Tokyo
Share|World No. 1 ranked heavyweight kickboxer and MMA star Semmy Schilt (right) is amongst the first 13 fighters confirmed to compete in December's "GLORY Grand Slam - Heavyweight" tournament in Tokyo, Japan. Photo credit: GLORY World Series
Jerome LeBanner, Errol Zimmerman and 7 other kickboxing stars amongst the first 13 fighters confirmed for December GLORY World Series-promoted event By FCF Staff
Glory Sports International, the parent company of world championship kickboxing league GLORY World Series, has today revealed the names of the first 13 fighters who have accepted an invitation to compete in the ‘GLORY Grand Slam – Heavyweight,’ 16-man, one-night, single-elimination tournament event in Tokyo, Japan in December.
World No.1 ranked heavyweight Semmy Schilt of The Netherlands tops the list and is joined by legendary icons Remy Bonjasky of Suriname, Peter Aerts of The Netherlands and Jerome LeBanner of France as well as decorated champions Errol Zimmerman of Curacao, Gokhan Saki of Turkey, Sergei Kharitonov of Russia and rising stars Filip Verlinden of Belgium, Ismael Londt of The Netherlands and Suriname, Braddock Silva of Brazil, Brice Guidon of France, Jamal Ben Saddik of Morocco and Igor Jurkovic of Croatia.
According to a press release issued by the promotion, the three fighters who will fill the remaining spots in the tournament draw will be announced soon, with Japanese fighters expected in the line-up. The December date and Tokyo venue for the event will also be announced soon, according to the release.
Four-time K-1 World Grand Prix Champion Peter Aerts (left) is also enlisted for GLORY's 16-man tournament affair.
”We are thrilled to be able to bring such a high-caliber group of talent to Tokyo as part of our mission to usher in a new dynasty in stand-up fighting,” said Marcus Luer, Managing Director of GLORY World Series, in the announcement.
“GLORY is the premier league of kickboxing and the tournaments are open only to those fighters who have proved themselves to be worthy,” explained Cor Hemmers, kickboxing icon and GLORY ambassador.
“The fighters we have invited to the Grand Slam are either household names in the sport already or are the future Champions. They represent more than 10 nations spanning 4 continents”
“The fights will be spectacular and the tournament will be dramatic. The winner will be the unquestioned king of the heavyweight division.”
The Grand Slam event will debut a new tournament format devised by Hemmers. The sixteen fighters will battle it out over four stages in one night to determine an overall winner.
In order to make this possible, three of the stages will feature shorter rounds (two minutes instead of three) and there will be a ‘sudden death’ rule in the earlier stages which means a fight will be stopped before the third round commences if one of the fighters has been judged to win the preceding two rounds (Best of three format).
posted by FCF Staff @ 12:21 pm | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/298 | Luis A. Gonzalez arrives, Belisle awaits his chance
– All the Rockies have arrived. Infielder Luis A. Gonzalez, who has been delayed in Venezuela with a family matter, arrived Monday morning and took a physical. Gonzalez played for the Rockies 2004-06, part of the time as a starting second baseman, before the club traded his rights to the Yomiuri Giants in Japan. Gonzalez missed most of last season after being suspended for amphetamine use.
He was signed to provide depth.
“I’d say specifically we’re looking at bringing Luis back and letting him get his feet back on the ground in the organization over here in the States,” Rockies manager Clint Hurdle said. “He was actually very vesatile for us, played a number of positions. He’s kind of a super-utility guy. He wouldn’t be ahead of anybody that we’ve got at second base right now.
“He’ll be on the back end of second base, moving around at third and he can play first, we’ve seen that. We’ve seen him play both corner outfield positions.”
– Non-roster right-hander Matt Belisle, who has appeared for the Reds each of the last five seasons, was not on the pitching schedule for the week. He siad he is dealing with some tightness in his forearm, but he doesn’t believe it is serious. Belisle said he hasn’t been told if he’ll be looked at as a starter or a reliver. Either way, “I’m here to go to Denver,” he said.
Filed in: Dailies Tags: Luis A. Gonzalez, Matt Belisle, Rockies Leave a Reply Cancel reply | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/355 | Dennis & Callahan Sam Kennedy on the state of the Red Sox 4-17-14
Mut & Merloni Ty Law, Patriots legend: On being a finalist for Hall of Fame, 4-17-14 Dale & Holley Jack Edwards previews Red Wings and Bruins Round 1 with Dale and Holley 4-17-14
Have we seen the best of Dustin Pedroia? by Kirk Minihane
Closing Time: Jon Lester’s excellence doesn’t go to... Red Sox notes: As Mike Napoli, Koji Uehara return, Shane... Latest Columns
What happened to the championship lineup? Taking stock of Red Sox...
Joe and Dave postgame with David Ross 04-17-14 Dave O'Brien with Dale and Holley - 4-17-14 Patriots
Mike Petraglia, Chris Price dish on Dante Scarnecchia,... NFL Draft’s Potential Patriots: Notre Dame OT Zack Martin Latest Columns
Weekly NBA Draft Watch: Celtics go 4th into offseason Brad Stevens sends a clear message to his Celtics:... Latest Columns
Like in 2011 (and not like last year), third line should be postseason asset... by DJ Bean
Chris Kelly, Daniel Paille, Matt Bartkowski miss Bruins... My NHL awards ballot Latest Columns
Oh, brother: Reilly Smith and Brendan Smith eager to square off
Torey Krug better equipped for second postseason
Jack Edwards with Dale and Holley Jack Edwards with Dale and Holley 4-17-14 National
Jon Lester Is Showing Red Sox Everything They Stand to Lose... Pittsburgh Pirates Could Make a Statement This Weekend... NFL
Trading Down in Round 1 Might Be Best Draft Strategy for... Breaking Down Potential Baltimore Ravens Draft Pick, Safety... NBA
Complete Guide to Houston Rockets' PostseasonInterview List for Los Angeles Lakers' Next Head Coach NHL
San Jose Sharks Exploit Weak Link in Los Angeles Kings'... Buckle Up for Blues-Blackhawks: St. Louis Draws First Blood... More National Sports
Latest Audio Jack Edwards previews Red Wings and Bruins Round 1 with... Red Sox PbP Broadcaster Dave O'Brien joins Dale and Holley... Dale and Holley's Four at Four - '14 Celtics Wrap-Up... Ty Law, Patriots legend Fauria's Facts Popular Audio Crystel the Tsnarnaev defender 4-16-14 Buster Olney, ESPN: Sox clubhouse unhappy with Lester offer,...
Dennis & Callahan talk with Marathon Bombing survivor Jeff Bauman
Brad Stevens says Celtics future starts with defense
Fashionably Fun - 14K Gold Plated Mint Owl Shaped Necklace... Station Events
Win Bruins Playoff Tickets! Want to see the Bruins as they make another run at the Stanley Cup? You could! Tune in on Friday, April 18th during D&C and listen for the text codeword announcement at 8:...
WEEI » It Is What It Is » Transcript of Tom Brady on D&C: ‘I won’t ever say that again’ about drinking before games
Transcript of Tom Brady on D&C: ‘I won’t ever say that again’ about drinking before games
By Jerry Spar
Tom Brady passed for 423 yards in Sunday's victory over the Chargers. (AP)
Patriots quarterback Tom Brady checked in with Dennis & Callahan for his Monday morning conversation, following Sunday’s 35-21 victory over the Chargers.
Brady created a controversy last week when he encouraged fans in Foxboro to get “lubed up” before Sunday’s late-afternoon start so Gillette Stadium would be loud and rowdy. He said Monday that he regretted how his joke played out.
“I hope there was nobody that was drinking irresponsibly,” Brady said. “I was trying to just make a very subtle joke. But for a guy that doesn’t even drink — me — it gets a lot of attention. I think that I won’t joke like that anymore. That wasn’t the best thing for me to say. I won’t ever say that again.”
Following is a transcript of the conversation. To hear the interview, go to the Dennis & Callahan audio on demand page.
In my humble opinion, the most significant play yesterday is a play where nothing happened. The hit to your knee early in the third quarter could have been devastating. It was not. What’s your recollection of that moment in the game?
I’m glad I had a knee brace on. Those are scary, man, when you’ve been through those ones before. He got me in a good spot, and I’m glad the knee brace took the brunt of the force. Why I never wore a knee brace before, I have no idea. Why every quarterback doesn’t wear one on their left knee, I have no idea. It’s just so unprotected.
But we were able to kind of withstand those literally and figuratively, the different blows from San Diego. We made some good plays out there in all three phases. That was really a great complementary game by all of us in a team win. It’s a very good San Diego team. And really, if you remember last year, that was a tough game that we played against them last year. Had we not gotten the turnovers last year in San Diego, we didn’t do anything offensively. So, to come out and play this way offensively against a very good defensive team was I think very encouraging for all of us.
In Tedy Bruschi’s most incisive piece of analysis that did not include [Chad] Ochocinco recently, Bruschi said he’d like to see the Patriots win a game when you, Tom Brady, don’t throw three or four touchdowns or three or four hundred yards but on the backs of a dominating New England defense. Would you like to see that, and would that ultimately be helpful to this team going forward.
I think there’s going to be days where the offense scores points and the defense shows up against a good offense. I think there’s going to be days where the offense doesn’t score a lot of points and the defense needs to shut them down. That’s team football. You never know when those games come up.
Last year we had so many turnovers from our defense. That was a huge reason why we were successful. This year, that’s going to be another reason. We’re going to get the ball from our opponents like we did yesterday. Turnovers are a huge key to the game. I don’t know if Tedy doesn’t think that four turnovers is pretty good defensively. But that’s a great performance by a defense. That’s two back-to-back weeks of goal-line stands. Look, it’s opportunistic. Are you going to shut every offense down to below 200 yards in productivity? No, certainly not. Not in the NFL. But when we get our chances, we’ve got to be able to take advantage of that. We did, we’ve been doing it, we’ve got to continue to do it.
One more question about the hit on the knee: Did you get an explanation of why that’s not a penalty, why does that not violate the Brady Rule?
I think that’s the Carson Palmer Rule. I’ve got another one that the Raiders like to remind me about — the Tuck Rule.
I don’t know. As a quarterback you’re looking downfield, so you never — obviously if they’re blocked into you or if they’re pushed into you by an offensive player then that’s not a penalty. I really couldn’t tell. You feel where you got hit, and I talked to the refs. I’m like, “Look, we’re just standing in the pocket. We’re in a defenseless position.” Hopefully they’re trying to protect all the defenseless players out there, whether it’s a defenseless receiver or someone that’s out of the play and gets a cheap shot or the punter or a quarterback standing in the pocket. You leave it up to the refs to make the call. Sometimes they get them right, sometimes they don’t.
The tight ends, both young guys, still learning, are they always where they’re supposed to be? A hundred percent of the time, are they where they are supposed to be?
A hundred percent of the time, that’s every time. There’s times when we all make mental errors — you think one thing, your instincts tell you another. They’ve been very productive this season, this training camp. Rob [Gronkowski] was very productive last year, so was Aaron [Hernandez] when he got his opportunities. Now they’re primarily on the field for almost all the game, which they weren’t necessarily that way last year.
They’ve been able to take advantage of their opportunities. When they get the chance to make the plays in the passing game, they’re doing it. When they’re called upon to get [BenJarvus Green-Ellis] yards and [Danny Woodhead] yards, they’re doing it. They’re consistent players for us, very dependable, tough, and they’re making plays. We’ve got to continue to find ways to get them the ball.
Other teams as you go through the season will try to figure out ways to stop them, to slow them down. Then we’ve got to use other guys. We’ve got to get other guys opportunities. It’s a complementary game. If they’re covering the tight ends, we’ve got to throw it outside. If they’re covering outside, we’ve got to throw it inside. If they’re playing the pass, we’ve got to run it. If they’re rushing the passer, we’ve got to screen it. It’s a chess game. It’s constantly trying to take advantage of something that they’re not aware of.
When you look at the stats, if you indeed look at the stats, which ones do you think are most accurately reflective of how a quarterback has played, the most telling stat?
I’m not a big stat guy. I’m really not. I don’t think that it really is indicative of how a quarterback’s playing. You could throw for 700 yards, but if you have a gazillion attempts and you turn the ball over — there’s a lot of things that a quarterback position can do to help win the game, and that’s every position. So look, you’re a quarterback and you take a sack on third down and you own their 32-yard line going in, and now you’re sacked back to the 38-yard line, it doesn’t reflect on the stat sheet as a stat, but really it’s a terrible play by a quarterback to take you out of field goal range.
So, all those little things over the course of a game, to me, that you just have to watch and understand what the quarterback’s decision-making process is. Because every play, every time you have the ball in your hands you have an opportunity to make a decision. If it’s a good decision, no matter what it may be — there might be two good options on the play, but you can make a better decision, whether it’s to throw the ball away or take a sack. You never want to turn the ball over.
Touchdowns, whether you throw it in from the 1 or run it in from the 1, it doesn’t matter. You throw a screen pass from 50 yards out, yeah, it looks great for a quarterback rating and yards, but everyone else did the work. That’s why offensive football is totally complementary. As a quarterback, you’re only able to be as good as every single guy around you. From the offensive line protecting you like they did yesterday, to the running backs running the ball, to the receivers and tight ends being in the right position to catch the ball and making great catches. So, all the credit, believe me, is spread to every single guy on offense. That’s where it goes, that’s where it belongs and that’s where it always will be, especially around here.
Based on your reluctance last Monday to discuss with us that historical passing performance, I know you’d much rather prefer discussing things that didn’t go well for the team, because you’d like to improve on them. So, I’ll ask about a bad play yesterday. Fourth quarter, [third]-and-4 at midfield, incomplete to [Wes] Welker after [Shaun] Phillips tipped it. Not what you had in mind on that play, I’m assuming.
I thought I had a chance to get Wes the ball. Big third-and-4. And [Phillips] made a good play. He’s athletic. He actually intercepted a ball last week against Donovan McNabb to start the season on a similar type of pass. He nipped it. It put us in fourth down and we didn’t convert on the next one. If I had it back, I’d obviously do something very different.
Why were you upset at the officials?
On the one to Deion [Branch], I thought it was illegal contact or pass interference. He got the facemask as he was trying to catch the ball.
We made a list of mistakes we can talk to you about. The throw to Deion in the end zone, what happened on that? Do you share the blame with Deion? Was it miscommunication?
Deion was trying to work his way open, and I was trying to throw him open. There was someone standing between the two of us. I saw one thing, Deion saw another. What I really should have done was held on to the ball longer, because I wasn’t really rushed and we would have been able to sort it out with another half-second. I kind of forced it and ended up throwing it out of bounds. We had a pretty good scoring opportunity there.
I think the thing that’s frustrating about that early in the game is you know that San Diego, with their offense and what they’re capable of, that those times when you get the ball inside the 5-yard line, you got to be able to capitalize. We didn’t do that last year against them. We were 2-of-5 in the red area against them last year. So, it was really a big point of emphasis of getting the ball in the end zone when we’re inside the 5. We came away from that with just a field goal, which was frustrating for all of us. Certainly, we want to be able to punch the ball in when we have guys open and we have the opportunity. Now, if they make a good play, they make a good play. But to me, I could have held on to the ball a little bit longer and got the ball in the end zone on that one.
Where you and Deion were on the same page was at the end of the first half, after the Vince [Wilfork] interception. How does that’s situational football get translated to the field? Is it something said, is it a play called, is it just looking at each other?
Coach [Bill] Belichick, I mean, we’ve gone over that situation since the start of training camp probably six or seven times. Then it’s just a matter of execution. I thought that the guys up front, all the receivers and Aaron who was in there had a great understanding of what we were trying to do. And we took advantage of them giving up some soft coverage out there, and getting it — I don’t know how many yards we needed. We were on the 40, just past midfield, to start the drive. We gained 16-17 yards to get into [Stephen Gostkowski's] field goal range.
That was a big play. We were up 17-7, to go to 20-7 it feels pretty good. There was a lot of energy from our entire team going into halftime. Because we basically stole three points. They were going in, they had a two-minute drive, they were moving the ball. Vince makes a hell of a play, and then we’re able to take advantage by playing good situational football and then special teams coming through. , So that’s the defense making the play, offense making two plays and special teams making a play. That’s complementary football, and that’s what we’re trying to do every single time that we take the field.
You always point out how dumb you have to be to play defense. I think the Chargers made your point for you there.
Actually, that’s one of the smarter teams that we play. I have a lot of respect for those guys. We’ve had some battles against them. They’ve got great coaching, great players. We just made some good plays, to tell you the truth. They don’t know if you’re going for the end zone, they don’t know what you’re doing. We could have run a touchdown-scoring play. So, they’re protecting one thing, we take advantage of something else. You can’t cover everything out there.
You don’t have to cover the middle of the field, though, when [the Patriots] don’t have any timeouts, do you?
No, they don’t. I mean, you never know. If I throw it 45 yards in the middle of the field for a touchdown, you’d say, “God, why didn’t you cover the middle of the field?” Which, we’ve done that in practice. So, wherever they’re not, that’s where we’re going to try to throw the ball.
I know you probably don’t want to revisit the Bruschi brouhaha, Bruschi’s comments on Chad Ochocinco. But it struck me when I heard from all your former teammates — it was Rodney Harrison, Damien Woody, Troy Brown — they all kind of backed up Bruschi. It just seems like the point they’re making is what Ochocinco did was violate a simple rule you guys have: You can’t be in awe, you can’t be a spectator, you can’t be blown away by anything you guys do. It’s just business. You’re just doing your jobs. And Belichick said the same thing after the game. Is that just kind of a rule you have to live by if you’re going to play for the Patriots?
We all just are trying to do our jobs. That’s the thing about it. As a quarterback, that’s why it’s so fun playing for the Patriots. Because all I have to do is play quarterback. I don’t have to worry about coaching. I don’t have to worry about personnel. I don’t have to worry about the running backs. I just have to play quarterback. And that’s what I’m trying to do.
And I will say this about all those guys, whether it’s Tedy making a comment — and I love Tedy, he’s one of my great friends, and all those guys that have played for us — but honestly, none of those guys have any clue what they’re talking about. They’re outside of the locker room. They don’t know what were trying to accomplish. So, with all due respect to all of them and what they’ve accomplished — and like I said, I love them — but they don’t know.
Everybody can really think what they want to think and say what they want to say, whether that’s about a receiver, a quarterback, a coach, but nobody knows. The only people that it really matters to is the guys that are inside the locker room. And we support each other. Because we rely on each other. And we count each other. And every single player that’s on the team is counted on to help us win. And anybody who was watching that game knew that — Chad, for example, he helped us win yesterday. He made two huge plays in the game, led the scoring drive.
So, every single week, it’s going to be different guys. Matthew Slater, how many catches did he have yesterday? None. But he had the first catch in last week’s game for a 50-yard completion to get us going down in a tough environment in Miami. Hopefully, it’s someone different every week, whether it’s the tight ends, the running backs, the receivers. On defense, different guys are making plays. Sergio [Brown] made a huge play yesterday, Vince had an interception, Jerod [Mayo] had a fumble, Kyle Love had a strip sack. That’s what it takes — all 53 guys.
If coach Belichick didn’t feel confident that you could help us win, then you wouldn’t be here. He’s going to do what’s always in the best interest of the team, and that’s what he always does. And that’s who we count on, that’s who we trust. The guys in the locker room, we believe that. We’re trying to take the field every day trying to get better and listen to what he’s saying, listen to his coaching.
Are you ready for the dreaded hypothetical question? If you were just some quarterback in the National Football League, would you prefer to have Jerry Rice and a bunch of JAGs (just another guy) or the combination of Branch and Welker and Hernandez and Gronkowski and Ochocinco and Woodhead and Green-Ellis as your options across the field? The best in the world, or this assemblage that that the Patriots have?
I think it’s always quantity over just one guy. You’ve got to have multiple guys. You’ve got to have a bunch of different players. In basketball, you can try to stop Kobe Bryant all day long, but he’s going to score points no matter what you do. In football, if you want to take a guy out of a game, you can take a guy out of a game. That’s really not hard to do. But at what extent?
If you have Jerry Rice — I mean, I love Jerry Rice. There’s no better receiver in the history of the NFL over the course of his career — productivity, all of his incredible stats. But he had a lot of good players around him, too, and that helps him. And he made those other guys better, too. That’s part of playing on a team. It’s a team sport.
The better Wes Welker does, the better it’s going to be for Deion and Chad and the tight ends. The better the tight ends do, the better it’s going to be for the receivers. The better the passing game is, the better it will be for the run game. The better the run game is, the better it will be for the fullbacks and passers. Everything feeds off one another.
It’s great when all those guys contribute because it’s great to have everybody involved. And that feeling in the locker room that everyone contributed from the players to the coaches, there’s no better feeling in the world. You drive home last night so satisfied that what you did that week was good enough. Who knows if it will be good enough this week? We’ll have to put the week of work in. But it was good enough last week and that’s a really satisfying feeling.
Do you ever worry about overuse of your guys? Your guys, particularly your tight ends, they have guts. They don’t know how to avoid contact, at least not yet. Can they do that? Can you allow that for 16 games?
There’s going to be guys that are counted on differently. In different games, different guys will have their opportunities. Whoever’s out there, we have to — if you’re out on the field, you’re going to have to be able to make plays. If you’re not able to make plays, you’re not going to be out there. The tight ends, Aaron and Rob, and what they’ve done — you’re right, Rob is such a big guy. There’s a lot of tight ends in the league that I couldn’t throw either of those touchdown passes that he caught. You can’t throw the ball to them because they’d get killed.
But with Rob, you throw it and the guys that hit him get the worst of it because he’s so big and strong and he’s able to take that contact. That’s what makes him dangerous, because there doesn’t need to be a very big opening for him to get the ball, because he’s able to take the contact, absorb it and hold on to the ball. You don’t want to get him hit, I’ll tell you that. But in the red area, you try to squeeze that ball into pretty tight spaces. Sometimes they are going to get hit. He’s really done an incredible job being able to withstand that, being on the field, and he’s a huge contributor for our offense.
I’m wondering what you thought of the Belichick documentary, episode No. 1. The second part of that question is does anybody in the locker room have the cache to mock him for wearing jeans at Sankaty Head Golf Course?
I watched it on Saturday. I had a little time and my friends were over. And I actually really enjoyed it. It’s honestly, it’s nothing surprising to me. It’s the same guy I see every day. It’s also nice to see that he does take some time to enjoy his bye week or whatever it was and to get away from football. That’s important for all of us to keep our mind clear so that we can have that drive and focus every day to come to work. I’m sure the fans really enjoyed that. My best friend was telling me that it was the highest watched or most watched program ever on the NFL Network? Is that true? That’s pretty awesome. It was awesome television. It was great.
Was the Gillette Stadium crowd hydrated enough for you Sunday?
Yeah. I hope so. I hope there was nobody that was drinking irresponsibly. I was trying to just make a very subtle joke. But for a guy that doesn’t even drink — me — it gets a lot of attention. I think that I won’t joke like that anymore. That wasn’t the best thing for me to say. I won’t ever say that again.
Were they loud enough for you?
They were great. We’ve had great home crowds. When we’re playing good, there’s no better crowd in America. They’re loud. They scream. They’re tough on opposing offenses. That’s a great advantage when the offense can’t communicate. We face that on the road in certain environments. When the crowd really gets going at Gillette, it’s a huge advantage for us. We have to give them reasons to cheer, give them reasons to be excited, and they’re going to do their part.
Was the pooch punt in the playbook and a possibility at fourth-and-4 at midfield?
Steve Gostkowski is the backup punter, so whatever play is called — there’s a lot of different ways that we can punt the ball.
Can you punt it?
I haven’t punted since ’03. So probably not. I don’t think they want me punting the ball. For good reason, too. I was a decent punter in high school. But those days are long gone.
I’ve figured out why you didn’t wear a brace early in your career. You didn’t want it to diminish your 4.3 speed is what the problem was. The brace slows you down.
What, my 4.3 30?
Why did you keep a ball at the end there? It seemed like you were taking one home for yourself.
I wanted to give it to my son so he had something to play with on the ride home.
That’s always important.
It is important. Very, very important.
I did some TV scouting on you. I’m not sure you’ll address this. “Gold eagle, gold eagle,” the call in the first quarter, and it went to BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Is Green-Ellis “gold eagle”?
We may have to change that audible. That’s the problem. They want it to be great television, but for an offense that communicates, you can hear damn near everything. If it were up to me, I’d break that microphone in about 50 pieces before the game. We’ll have to figure out a way to combat that, which I’m sure we’ll find a way.
You always point out how dumb the defenders are. They won’t figure it out.
Yeah, you’re right. You’re probably right. If they were smart, they’d be on offense.
Read More: Aaron Hernandez, Bill Belichick, Chad Ochocinco, Deion Branch
NYCBruinsFan says: October 29, 2013 at 11:05 pm USA Today reporting that Scott meets on Oct 31st with Brendan Shanahan. I thought it was suppose to be today. Anyway, probably more appropriate the NHL meets with this ghoul on Halloween. I hope the put him out until Loui gets better. Glad to see he was able to stop by the rink to see his teammates. Go Bruins. Justsaying_80 says: October 29, 2013 at 8:25 am John Scott is a bum – An intentional hit to the head causing injury should be an automatic 25 game suspension, 2nd time 50 game and 3rd time life! Owners are playing these players to much money these days to have them off the ice let alone end up like Mark Sevard. If the league starts handing down those suspensions it won’t take the players long to realize the NHL is serious! Also, the coach should be suspended as well. John Scott had one purpose when he was put into the game…head hunting…The coach ordered the “code red” so to speak and in my opinion deserves a suspension as well. Go Sox, Go Bruins, and Kraft, get going rebuilding those PATS! The days of throwing in a bunch of guys nobody no longer wants isn’t going to work anymore…Brady no longer can carry the team like them good ole days…
Matt says: October 29, 2013 at 12:28 am Lets hope Loui isn’t out too long!! John Scott is a scumbag!!
blackhat seo forum says: November 11, 2011 at 6:49 am After I initially commented I clicked the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and now each time a remark is added I get four emails with the same comment. Is there any way you may remove me from that service? Thanks!
No Handed Beer Hats says: November 10, 2011 at 2:44 pm Such a terrific report, I enjoy the way you write. We have simply just tweeted this in order to share it and grab better subjection for your very own blog!
odzywki says: November 10, 2011 at 11:50 am Just wanna tell that this is very beneficial , Thanks for taking your time to write this.
odzywki says: November 10, 2011 at 8:30 am You got a very superb website, Glad I found it through yahoo.
pacquiao vs marquez live streaming says: November 10, 2011 at 5:59 am I discovered your blog site on google and examine just a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the excellent operate. I just additional up your RSS feed to my MSN Information Reader. Looking for ahead to reading more from you afterward!…
two player games says: November 10, 2011 at 3:06 am You know thus significantly with regards to this subject, produced me in my opinion consider it from numerous varied angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested except it is one thing to do with Lady gaga! Your personal stuffs great. At all times handle it up!
weathervane says: November 10, 2011 at 1:51 am Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this website before but after reading through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back frequently!
odzywki says: November 10, 2011 at 1:11 am Yay google is my king assisted me to find this great web site ! .
pacquiao vs marquez says: November 9, 2011 at 6:40 pm Good day! I just wish to give a huge thumbs up for the nice data you might have right here on this post. I will probably be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.
mercurial vapor superfly says: November 9, 2011 at 3:02 am There are some attention-grabbing points in time on this article however I don’t know if I see all of them center to heart. There’s some validity however I’ll take maintain opinion till I look into it further. Good article , thanks and we would like more! Added to FeedBurner as well
Samuel Allende says: November 8, 2011 at 4:41 am I enjoy the efforts you have put in this, appreciate it for all the great blog posts.
Christopher Gandrud says: November 8, 2011 at 3:13 am I REALLY liked your post and blog! It took me a minute bit to find your site…but I bookmarked it. Would you mind if I posted a link back to your post?
odzywki says: November 7, 2011 at 6:55 pm I am not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning much more or understanding more. Thanks for wonderful info I was looking for this info for my mission.
Macdow says: October 28, 2013 at 6:55 pm That would make too much sense. Stop making sense………………my brain hurts.
arf01 says: October 29, 2013 at 7:19 pm That would be perfect – why don’t they do this?? | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/372 | Chelsea May Be Crowned World Champions. Will Chelsea Fans Care?
Why the World Club Cup has become a glorified exhibition By Tony Karon @tonykaronDec. 14, 20120 Share
KAZUHIRO NOGI / AFP / Getty ImagesEnglish Premier League team Chelsea forward Juan Mata celebrates his goal against Mexico's Monterrey during their 2012 Club World Cup semi-final football match at Yokohama, Dec. 13, 2012. Email
Update, Sunday December 16: It was not to be. Corinthians beat Chelsea 1-0 in the final in Yokohama, denying coach Rafael Benitez his first piece of silverware at Stamford Bridge. Winning it wouldn’t have made much difference to how his reign at Chelsea will be judged; nor will losing it — for reasons explained below.
And it’s [insert name of favorite football club here]
[insert name of favorite football club here] FC!
We’re by far the greatest team, the world has ever seen…
One of the more enduring songs heard at English football grounds over the decades, it’s the sort of boast that can’t really be proven. After all, to the extent that there is a global contest for soccer supremacy, it’s played at the quadrennial World Cup between national teams, not local clubs.
Unless, that is, you count the FIFA World Club Cup, which will be taken home by the winner of Sunday’s clash between Chelsea, champions of Europe, and Corinthians, holders of the Latin American equivalent, the Copa Libertadores. (Fox Soccer Channel at 5.30 a.m. Eastern.) Don’t be embarrassed if you haven’t heard of this particular piece of silverware; the curious mid-season fixture played in faraway Yokohama, Japan, typically between the champions of Europe and Latin America, has long been an overlooked tournament, just a step up from the sort of exhibition matches clubs play on tours of Asia during the preseason.
Well, at least for European clubs, that is — the BBC’s Tim Vickery points out that it’s approached with far more passion by the Latin American clubs, not least because their best players have so often sign with better endowed European clubs. For most of the past two decades, now, any fan wanting to watch the best players from Brazil — and every other corner of the world — tunes into the European Champion’s League.
So, for Latin America’s standard bearer, there’s always a point to be made in putting one over Europe’s champions. And there was even a time a time when the Club World Cup might have been treated as the ultimate test of superiority between Europe and Latin America. The Club World Cup’s forerunner was the Intercontinental Cup, started in 1960 — long before satellite TV, DVRs and Internet streaming allowed the committed fan to watch football being played in every corner of the world. Even more important, it also began long before the globalization of club football brought a mass migration of players from Latin America and Africa into Europe’s top leagues. Back then, Corinthians and Chelsea would have been chalk and cheese, samba flair versus rugged English athleticism; today, the “national” identity of many of the Europe’s top teams has long-since been shredded. Chelsea will likely have more Brazilians (Ramires, Oscar and David Luiz) than Englishmen (Cahill and Cole) in its own starting lineup against Corinthians, along with an Argentine, a Czech, a Serb, a Belgian and two three Spaniards. It may be a West London club, but Chelsea — owned by a Russian oligarch and coached by a Spanish technocrat — are not exactly an English team. Not only that, the way the game is played is now broadly similar across continents.
But when the competition began, it offered a rare opportunity for the fans on each continent to see the players and styles from the other. It’s worth remembering that Pele, for example, may have been a household name after electrifying the 1958 World Cup as a 17-year-old, but most European fans wouldn’t see him (even on television) again until the 1962 World Cup, where injury forced him out in the second game, and then again at quadrennial intervals until his triumphant valedictory at the 1970 World Cup. He spent his entire top-flight career at home with Santos, and their games were not broadcast abroad.
But the Intercontinental Cup did give European fans a rare treat in 1962, as Pele led his teammates in a demolition of Portuguese champions Benfica — a game even Pele himself notes may have been his best single performance.
(MORE: Why Liverpool Fans Are Loving Chelsea’s New Coach)
Still, says Vickery, the luster went out of the competition three years later after Santos quit the Libertadores tournament — back then, there were no TV revenues to cover the clubs’ costs, and Santos’ owners deemed the Libertadores a liability. That gave Argentinian clubs, playing a notoriously artless and rugged form of the game at the time, a lock on representing Latin America at the Intercontinental — further diminishing the interest of European clubs, among whom clubs from further north had begun to dominate.
By the late ’70s, the European champions often declined to participate at all — after my beloved Liverpool won the European Cup (forerunner of the Champion’s League) in ’77, we were happy to let beaten finalists Borussia Moenchengladbach of Germany represent Europe in the meaningless intercontinental spectacle against Argentina’s Boca Juniors. There was no intercontinental match the following year, and in ’79, English European Cup winners Nottingham Forest also stepped aside to allow the beaten finalist, Sweden’s Malmo, to represent Europe.
By the time FIFA reconstituted it as the Toyota Cup, in 1980 — played as a single game in Japan in the hope of stimulating an interest in the game in the then-largely dormant Asian continent — it had become more of an exhibition game than a serious event on the world football calendar. The game was a particularly odious chore for the English clubs that dominated Europe at the time, its participation necessitated by the fact that it now paid real money. Forest lost the first one to Uruguay’s Nacional; in 1981 Liverpool were humiliated by a playmaking master-class from the Brazilian midfield maestro Zico and his Flamengo side. Uruguay’s Penarol thumped Aston Villa the following year. (Yes, folks, hard as it may be to imagine today, Aston Villa won the European Cup in 1982!)
Not many European fans bothered to stay up into the wee hours to watch a bunch of jet-lagged players take on more motivated opponents in a rubber that meant little in the game’s pantheon of honors. The tournament was reorganized as the FIFA Club World Championship in 2005, now bringing the champions from all of FIFA’s regions to compete in a seven-team tournament, in which the European and Latin American champions join only at the semifinal stage.
But these days, the tournament is played in a changing football world. Japan is no longer a novice football power; many of its best players now play at Europe’s top clubs (think Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa; Ryo Miyaichi, the Arsenal player on loan at Wigan; or CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda, who looks for a big move to the Premiership soon).
The globalization of the game has also brought a cross-pollination of styles, that means the Club World Cup is no longer really a contest of rival approaches to the game. Indeed, Corinthians’ slower, defensive counterattacking game had them compared in the Brazilian media to Chelsea in last season’s Champion’s League!
“Chelsea, the European champions, and Corinthians … are organised and efficient,” former Brazilian World Cup winner Tostao told local reporters. But, he added, “They are short on talent… In many stages of both games against Santos, Corinthians, who mark by pressing, played like Chelsea in the clashes with Barcelona and Bayern, with eight players covering their box.”
The comparison apparently enraged coach Corinthians’ coach, Tite. “Corinthians don’t play like Chelsea,” he grumbled. “Corinthians don’t do anti-football. “
At least Brazilian football culture aspires to offer something better than the organization and efficiency, even if it often fails to deliver.
Curiously enough, the one Corinthians player Chelsea is reportedly hoping to buy next month is Paulinho, not some sparkling forward or attacking midfielder, but a defensive midfield anchor, whose job is primarily to break up opponents attacks and win the ball — a role learned in Italy by the likes of Dunga, and which has now been elaborated on by a succession of Brazilian greats from Gilberto Silva through Felipe Melo to Lucas Leiva.
In a curious echo of the shifting global economic balance, Brazilian domestic football is now able to both retain its most talented players a lot longer than previously, and also attract star players from abroad who still have a few good years in them.
Santos’ outrageously talented Neymar would have gone to Europe two seasons ago under the conditions that prevailed until fairly recently; now Santos have found the money to pay him $150,000 a week, unheard of in Brazil, to keep him a while longer, at least until his desire to test himself in the game’s premier global league becomes overwhelming. Indeed, at that salary most English clubs couldn’t afford him, although there’ll be a bidding war among the wealthiest clubs in Europe when he’s ready to move.
More Brazilians are also returning to play at home before the end of their top-flight careers — Vagner Love, Luis Fabiano, Ronaldinho and Robinho — a trend likely to grow. Even stars from elsewhere, like Uruguay’s Diego Forlan and Holland’s Clarence Seedorf are opting to play out their twilight years in Brazil. And a growing number of talented younger players from other Latin American countries are also signing with Brazilian clubs, now, when a few years ago they might have been more likely to try their luck in icy Russia, Ukraine and assorted smaller Eastern European leagues, in the hope of attracting scouts from Western Europe.
So, while it may not ever match Europe’s riches, Brazilian football is certainly not feeling nearly as poor as it was a decade ago. Beating Chelsea would ice the cake, though. The problem, of course, is that this particular Chelsea outfit has something to prove: They’ve been struggling to find their groove in the Premiership, and have already been eliminated from the Champion’s League. Winning this Cup will be important to the players, none more so than Fernando Torres, the striker who appears to have finally found his shooting boots over the past three games. And nobody needs this more than Rafael Benitez, the Chelsea coach who has been the subject of non-stop barracking by the Chelsea fans since his arrival last month. Rafa may be hoping that bringing home the Club World Cup will finally endear him to the Chelsea faithful. Sadly for him, they don’t much care, either way. The Club World Cup’s just not that important to anyone in England.
MORE: Arsenal FC Is A Sound Business Operation, Why May Be Why It Won’t Win Titles
@tonykaron Tony Karon is a senior editor at TIME, where he has covered international conflicts in the Middle East, Asia, and the Balkans since 1997. A native of South Africa, he now resides with his family in Brooklyn, New York. 4 comments
redlandbusiness 5pts
Therefore Chelsea fans had the best option. To loose. Not to be world champions. And pretend Corinthians 30,000 fans weren't really there in Yokohama and that nothing happened.
caue.craveiro 5pts
GO CORINTHIANS! WE'RE WINNING TOMORROW... CHELSEA IS GOING DOOWNN
PınarInanlı 5pts
What Argentine?If they stay with the same line-up as the semi, which seems likely, then they have: a Czech, an Englishman, a Serbian, an Englishman, and a Spaniard, a Brazilian, a Nigerian, a Belgian, a Brazilian, and a Spainard, and then another Spainard up top. The only changes I can really see happening would be for Ramieres (Brazilian), Lampard (Englishman), or Moses (Nigerian) to come in, or perhaps Marin (German) and Piazon (Brazilian) as subs. juanalonso7777 5pts
yes i care !!!!
From Sports Top 10 Boxing Matches of All TimeDon’t Call Him A Freak: Colin Kaepernick Opens Up On Quarterback Sociology, Tattoos, AdoptionAnderson Silva’s Broken Leg Was No Freak AccidentThe Evolution of Barry BondsTop 10 Worst Team Names From Time.com | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/391 | Furyk has lead heading to final round of PGA PITTSFORD, N.Y. (AP) -- The final moments Saturday at Oak Hill brought out more emotion as big putts kept falling in the PGA Championship, with one big difference.
These putts were for par.
Jim Furyk, after a 3-wood struck so poorly off the 18th tee that he couldn't have reached the green even if he had been in the fairway, worked his way up the 472-yard hole until he had a 15-foot putt from the fringe to keep a one-shot lead. The ball curled into the left corner of the cup, and the 43-year-old emphatically shook his fist.
Adam Scott, whose sweet swing turned sour on the last few holes, was on the verge of letting the lead get another shot away from him when he knocked in a 15-foot putt for par on the 17th hole, bowed his head and pumped his fist.
And then there was Jason Dufner, whose disappointment turned to surprise on the 18th hole when he took a step toward the cup to tap in a missed putt and watched gravity pull it into the hole for a par that put him in the final group.
Perhaps those scenes were a prelude for Sunday, the final round of the final major of the year.
"It's only going to get harder," Furyk said.
Oak Hill finally had enough elements for a tough test, and Furyk showed enough of his western Pennsylvania grit for a 2-under 68 and a one-shot lead over Dufner.
Grinding to the end in a swirling wind that cast doubt on so many shots, Furyk closed with two clutch putts - one for birdie to regain the lead, the par putt to keep it - that put him 18 holes away from winning another major 10 years after his U.S. Open title.
There was nothing fancy about the way he worked his way to the top of the leaderboard at 9-under 201, but then, that's rarely the case with Furyk. He made three birdies and two tough pars on the back nine, and the one bogey was a bunker shot that hit the pin and rolled 7 feet away.
He was so wrapped up in his game that he didn't even know the score.
"Give me a leaderboard. Where are we at?" he asked before he was told he was one shot ahead of Dufner, and two clear of Henrik Stenson.
"I'm comfortable with where I'm at," Furyk said. "There's a crowded leaderboard at the top, and instead of really viewing it as who is leading and who is not, I'm really viewing it as I need to go out there tomorrow and put together a good, solid round of golf. Fire a good number and hope it stacks up well."
Dufner was eight shot worse than his record-tying 63, but at least he got into the final group at the PGA Championship for the second time in three years. At the Atlanta Athletic Club in 2011, he had a four-shot lead with four holes to go and lost to Keegan Bradley in a playoff.
"I was young, new to doing the majors," Dufner said. "I think that was the third or fourth major I played in. So hopefully, the experience I've had since then will pull me through and give me a chance to win tomorrow."
Stenson, a runner-up at the British Open three weeks ago, dropped only one shot over the last 16 holes and ran in a pair of 12-foot birdie putts for a 69 and was two shots behind. Sweden's odds of winning a major have never been this high. Stenson will play in the penultimate group with Jonas Blixt, who had a 66.
The surprise was Scott, who was poised to seize control at any moment.
Scott blasted a driver on the uphill, 318-yard 14th hole that was so pure he snatched his tee from the ground as the ball was still rising. It stopped 25 feet below the cup, and he had an eagle putt to tie for the lead. The Australian two-putted for birdie, and two holes later fell back with a double bogey on the 16th. Scott escaped further damage with a 15-foot par save on the 17th and managed a 72. He was four shots behind, along with Steve Stricker, who had a 70.
Those were the only five players within five shots of the lead.
Still with an outside chance was Rory McIlroy, who came to life with three birdies over his last six holes for a 67. McIlroy, trying to join Tiger Woods as the only repeat winners of the PGA in the stroke-play era, knocked in a 40-foot birdie putt on the 17th and then showed more emotion than he has all year when he chipped in for birdie on the 18th.
"It was good to feel the sort of rush again," McIlroy said.
He was at 3 under, still six shots behind.
Woods, meanwhile, will have to wait eight more months to end his drought in the majors. He opened with two bogeys in three holes and shot a 73 to fall 13 shots behind. It was a shocking performance from the world's No. 1 player, mainly because he was coming off a seven-shot win at Firestone that included a 61.
Woods has made only seven birdies in 54 holes - four of them on par 3s.
British Open champion Phil Mickelson was even worse. He sprayed the ball all over Oak Hill on his way to a 78, matching his highest score ever in the PGA Championship.
No one looked terribly comfortable at the start, not with the swirling wind and water hazard that winds its way along the front nine.
U.S. Open champion Justin Rose fell apart early with back-to-back double bogeys that sent him to a 42. He wound up with a 77. Scott opened with a 20-foot birdie putt, only to follow with back-to-back bogeys. And when Dufner ended his string of pars by driving into the creek on No. 5 for double bogey, it appeared that this tournament was wide open. The leaders steadied themselves, leaving the title Sunday it still up for grabs but likely among fewer players.
Scott knows as well as anyone how unpredictable a final round can be.
He was four shots up with four holes to play at the British Open last year and watched Ernie Els win the claret jug. At Muirfield last month, Mickelson came from five shots behind on the final day and won by three.
"I would like to be leading," Scott said. "Four back is well within reach. Anything can happen in a major. We just saw the pin spots get tough today, and scoring in the final groups was very difficult. With so much danger around, it's hard to be completely free where major pressure is on the line. Tomorrow is going to be similar."
Like this? Tweet it to your followers! Published in
Latest from Missouri Criminal Code Subject To Overhaul | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/423 | Ives Concert Park Colonial Sports
Academic Planning Calendar
Reservations and Campus Programs
Student Government Association (SGA) Events Calendar
StarWatch - Monthly Sky Calendar
Archived Headlines
Public Relations Requests
Other News, Sports & Weather
- News Media Contacts
- Experts Guide
- Campus Center Profile
- Science Building Profile
Facebook Twitter Digg delicious reddit MySpace StumbleUpon LinkedIn Home > Newsevents
WCSU baseball star Bierfeldt takes first step toward big leagues Baltimore Orioles draft pick anchors lineup for Ripkens’ Aberdeen franchise DANBURY, CONN. — Western Connecticut State University Colonials star Conor Bierfeldt has wasted no time since his May graduation embarking on his pursuit of a career in professional baseball, landing an assignment to play this summer for a minor league franchise in Maryland after his selection by the Baltimore Orioles in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft held in June.
Tapped in the 29th round of the 2013 MLB draft, Bierfeldt signed with the Orioles organization on June 14 and immediately joined the Single-A Aberdeen (Md.) IronBirds franchise, owned by legendary Orioles shortstop and Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. and his brother Billy, also a former Orioles infielder. In the first seven weeks of the season through July 30, Bierfeldt has proven a mainstay in the outfield and reliable power hitter batting in the cleanup position, leading the team in home runs and ranking third in runs batted in and runs scored.
His solid start with the IronBirds follows an unparalleled four-year record of success with the Western Colonials that shattered school records for offensive production, achieving a remarkable batting average of .412 and 148 RBIs over four seasons from 2010 through 2013. As the recipient of the Little East Conference (LEC) Baseball Player of the Year award in both 2012 and 2013, he became the first athlete in conference history ever to earn the honor twice in his college career. His extraordinary achievements also garnered recognition with his selection as a first-team outfielder on 2013 all-conference squads named by the LEC and the Eastern College Athletic Conference. He was named American Baseball Coaches Association New England Player of the Year and a first-team All-American in 2012, and was named this year to the All-America third team.
“The biggest difference between college and pro ball has been getting used to the grind of playing every day,” Bierfeldt observed. “Pro ball is all baseball, all the time.” While he said he has come to appreciate the opportunities to unwind from competition and focus on class work and other off-the-field activities during his college years, he stressed that the demanding travel and full game schedule with only a rare day off “really isn’t that bad at all. I wouldn’t choose it any differently.”
In his more than 30 years in baseball coaching and 14 years as head coach of the Colonials, John Susi had not experienced the thrill of having one of his players chosen in the MLB draft prior to Bierfeldt’s selection in June. Susi and his assistant coaches had recognized Bierfeldt’s promise when they recruited him in 2009 as a standout player at Torrington High School, but it was not until his emergence as an offensive force and all-conference outfielder in his sophomore year that they sensed his potential to make the leap to professional baseball.
“We call some of our best players ‘jumpers,’ kids whose skills jump from one level to the next, and that’s what Conor was,” Susi said. “He made it very easy to be his coach; he just worked harder and harder, step by step each year. When he came back for his junior year, we were expecting good things, and his skills just went through the roof.”
Bierfeldt noted he has remained in touch with Susi on a daily basis, “and it is incredible to have that support even after I finished my time at school. I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without the tutelage and experience I received at Western. I grew to a different level from high school to now, and the constants through those four years were coach Susi and (assistant Colonials) coaches Bill Walton and Matt Perper.” Susi learned another lesson about his star player when — realizing that Bierfeldt’s performance in his junior year had made him a legitimate prospect for the 2012 MLB draft — he offered to begin contacting professional baseball organizations to gauge their interest. “Conor told me, ‘Wait until next year before you start contacting people — I’m going to graduate first,’” Susi recalled. This May he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in the marketing program of the WCSU Ancell School of Business.
In the months leading up to the 2013 draft, Susi and Bierfeldt had discussions with representatives of the Orioles as well as several other organizations, including the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners. The Colonials star joined other prospects at Camden Yards prior to the draft for a workout providing Orioles staff with an opportunity to make first-hand evaluations.
“We had a pretty good idea that he would be picked, but the draft days were still a nerve-wracking experience,” Susi said. “You wait and wait and wait, and when his name was called, it was amazing to hear! It is one of those moments I will remember forever.”
Within a week of his draft selection, Bierfeldt traveled to Sarasota to the Orioles minor league camp and shipped out the same day to Maryland to join the Aberdeen IronBirds. Susi noted the assignment to the Single-A franchise in the New York-Penn League allowed Bierfeldt to bypass the Rookie Leagues, an entry-level tier for many young players starting out in professional baseball.
Bierfeldt now plays for first-year Aberdeen manager Matt Merullo, a major league veteran and familiar figure in Connecticut sports. Formerly a resident of Ridgefield, Merullo played at the MLB level from 1989 through 1994 as a catcher for the Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins and Cleveland Indians. Since his retirement, he has served as a regional scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks and has operated a baseball academy for youth in Madison, Conn., where he now resides.
When Susi recently visited Fishkill, N.Y., to see the IronBirds in action against the rival Hudson Valley Renegades, he had the opportunity to chat with his former player after the game and meet Merullo. The IronBirds manager observed that Bierfeldt was holding his own in competition with higher draft picks from larger colleges, Susi said. Merullo reaffirmed that positive impression when contacted in late July for his evaluation of Bierfeldt’s performance at mid-season.
“Conor has been a solid player so far this season for us,” Merullo said. “He has really adapted well to being placed in the cleanup hitter’s role. He stays even-keeled emotionally and has been a great addition for us in the outfield. He makes solid contact with the ball and has translated his success at the Division III level to minor league ball.” Bierfeldt said his manager understands the move from college to professional baseball can be difficult, and has eased that transition with his positive mentoring to share his extensive experience in all aspects of the game.
“There’s no such thing as an easy day at the office because everyone you go up against is a professional just like you,” he remarked. “Matt and his coaching staff are helping all of us rookies get used to the professional mindset. The little things become that much more important — the way you prepare each day, the way you conduct yourself, the way you deal with failure, the way you deal with success.” Susi observed that Bierfeldt’s personal story holds a wider message for current and future college baseball players. “It is good for these kids to know that, if they don’t want to pursue their education and their sports at a big university, they will still get noticed in their athletic and academic pursuits at a Division III college,” he said.
“For Conor, I hope that his career in baseball will be a long and successful story,” he added. “But I know he’ll be successful at whatever he does in the working world. That’s just the way he is.” For more information, contact the Office of University Relations at (203) 837-8486.
Western Connecticut State University offers outstanding faculty in a range of quality academic programs. Our diverse university community provides students an enriching and supportive environment that takes advantage of the unique cultural offerings of Western Connecticut and New York. Our vision: To be an affordable public university with the characteristics of New England’s best small private universities. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/444 | Meloship of the Ring
A Knicks blog from Taylor Armosino and co.
Add to Meloship of the Ring
Patrick Ewing and ’90′s Knicks Featured in Latest NBA 2k12 Trailer
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHnCZsD9txU]
In last years Michael Jordan themed NBA 2k11, Patrick Ewing and the ’94 Bockers were one of the old Jordan rival teams you could play with. This year, NBA 2k11 is emphasizing a new legends mode picking some of the greatest teams of all time and allowing gamers to play with them. In this latest “NBA’s Greatest” Trailer, Patrick Ewing and the 90′s Knicks are one of the teams that are featured. Unfortunately there was no showing of the 70′s Knicks with Willis Reed, Clyde Frazier and Earl Monroe. I think it is a shame that they are not in the game (or at least there is no sign they will be) because they truly were one of the best teams ever. That being said, this is a video game and they have to make the most money they can. Younger gamers will clearly be more intrigued with the Run TMC Warriors or the Chris Webber Kings (two teams featured in the trailer) then they will with a team from the 70′s that they never saw play. It is a shame but it is understandable why the 70′s Knicks probably will not be in the game. Also, on a side note, I hope 2k takes the time to go and fill in all the benches on these legendary teams. Last year, they gave you the starters and then put a bunch of really crappy made up players as the bench. I do not wanna play with made up bench players again on the Knicks, I want Greg Anthony and Charles Smith an | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/455 | For his biggest fight, Edgar returns to scene of his other biggest fight
MMA | Comments Frankie Edgar (left) defeated Tyson Griffin in his UFC debut on Feb. 3, 2007. [Josh Hedges/ Zuffa LLC via Getty Images]
LAS VEGAS — When Frankie Edgar makes the long, lonely walk to the octagon at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for the biggest fight of his career on Saturday night, he might experience a flashback to the other time he made the long, lonely walk to the octagon at the Mandalay Bay Events Center for the biggest fight of his career.
It was six years ago almost to the day, at the traditional Super Bowl Weekend fight card on Feb. 3, 2007. Edgar was 6-0 at the time, but he’d fought outside his native New Jersey only once, in his first professional bout on an unsanctioned card in a dingy gym in the Bronx. Now he was under the sparkling lights of Vegas for UFC 67, making his debut with the sport’s behemoth fight promotion.
So while the then-25-year-old’s fight with Tyson Griffin was one of the early prelims — not the main event, as will be the case this weekend when Edgar (15-3-1) tries to dethrone featherweight king Jose Aldo — it sure was a big deal to Frankie. Griffin was also unbeaten, with wins over Duane Ludwig and Urijah Faber. Edgar, meanwhile, took the fight on four weeks’ notice and had his training interrupted by “the worst sinus infection of my life.”
“I remember just coming here and that week I felt like I still had to get in shape to fight on Saturday,” he recalled in a conversation with reporters on Thursday. “It was wild, man.”
Edgar was referring to his experience, but that last part might have been him talking about the ferocious fight with Griffin. After three back-and-forth rounds, Frankie walked away with a unanimous-decision victory. But both fighters were recognized with Fight of the Night bonuses on a card that featured middleweight champion Anderson Silva and also the UFC debuts of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic as well as future champions Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Lyoto Machida. Edgar and Griffin put on such a show that their fight ended up being shown on the pay-per-view following the Silva vs. Travis Lutter main event.
Considering that his fight was televised after the evening’s final live bout, it was suggested to Edgar, that would make his fight the main event, no? He smiled and said, “Main event, baby!”
That’s what it was for him, anyway. “It felt just a big as this does now,” said Edgar. “It was my first fight, so to me it was everything. Everything was on the line. Was I good enough to be a UFC fighter? Now I want to know if I’m good enough to be featherweight champion.”
Edgar should feel fortunate to be in position to ask and answer that question. The former lightweight champion has lost his last two fights, though both of the decisions he dropped to the man who dethroned him, Benson Henderson, were closer than close. Still, even the most disputed loss still is an “L” on the resume, and when you tie those two in with Frankie’s previous two fights — a draw with and then a win over Gray Maynard — it adds up to a meager one victory in four fights. So why is he here?
“They were questionable [decisions], whether people felt I won or lost,” said Edgar. “And Dana [White] has been talking about this fight for a long time, me versus José. Plus, I’m an exciting fighter: five Fight of the Nights, a Knockout of the Night.” He paused, done with his uncharacteristic spree of selling himself, and his scarred brow furrowed as he continued: “And I get beat up a little, too. Maybe people like to see that.”
Edgar will leave it to others to assess his qualifications as a challenger. He’s putting his energy into preparation … and gratitude. “It’s a great opportunity,” said Frankie. And then, without a trace of irony in his voice, this man whose last six bouts have been for a championship belt added, “You’re not going to have too many of these opportunities in a career, so I’ve got to make the best of them.”
– Jeff Wagenheim
Share this:TwitterFacebookGoogle Published On Feb 01, 2013
Edgar returns to scene of biggest bout | Fighters Direct says: February 1, 2013 at 9:55 pm [...] SI.com – MMA [...] | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/469 | Muhammad Cohen on media and more
Views on the news and Asia from the author of Hong Kong On Air
Posts Tagged ‘2009 World Series’
Business wisdom from Dr Willie Mays
I started out at the bottom of the baseball world – I was a fan. I became a baseball writer, covered several World Series and wrote a couple of books as well as countless articles on America’s national pastime before I moved on to television and business reporting. At one stage I was a columnist for the award-winning shareholder rights website eRaider.com. Occasionally I found lessons for investors from baseball history and legend. Here’s a column I wrote in December 2000 that I’d like to share on the eve of what promises to be an exciting 2009 World Series. (A note on the headline: a couple of years ago, for no apparent reason, my alma mater Yale awarded an honorary doctorate to Willie Mays, baseball’s greatest living player.) Tommie Agee, centerfielder and leadoff hitter for the 1969 world champion New York Mets, died of a heart attack Monday at age 58, too young. I last saw Agee about 15 years ago, in the offices of New York’s Queens Borough President, where he was trying to find funding for a program for the underprivileged. A native of Mobile, Alabama, Agee embraced the city that embraced him, and as an alumnus of baseball before free agency, he needed to earn a living after his playing days and opted for a town where he remained a famous name.
Agee was the offensive leader on a team that won an unlikely championship with pitching and defense. After Agee sparked a victory over the Chicago Cubs, the team that looked to be running away with the National League’s Eastern Division in the summer of 1969, Chicago’s pitcher threw at Agee’s head in his first at bat the next day. Agee dove headlong into the dirt to avoid the bean ball, dusted himself off, and tripled, a symbolic moment that showed the Mets would not go away. In Game Three of the 1969 World Series, Agee had what might have been the greatest day in Series history. (And as a 13 year old cutting school for a seat in the upper deck at the first fall classic game ever at Shea Stadium, it was certainly my greatest day in World Series history.) Agee homered leading off against the Baltimore Orioles’ Hall of Fame pitcher and underwear model Jim Palmer, then singlehandedly made that run stand up. In the fourth inning, Agee sprinted, back to home plate, to catch a slicing drive high above his head, backhanded, that saved two runs. In the seventh inning, his diving catch on the warning track with the bases loaded saved at least three runs. The Mets won 5-0, for a 2-1 Series lead, and put the Orioles away within 48 hours to win a most improbable championship.
But this Commentary is not about Tommie Agee or the indomitability of the human spirit that made the 1969 Mets the flesh and blood version of the little engine that could. Agee’s grabs drew immediately comparisons with the greatest in World Series history: Sandy Amoros’ mad dash in 1955 through a vacant leftfield in Yankee Stadium to pull in Yogi Berra’s bid for an opposite field home run; Brooklyn’s Al “Gionfrioddo goes back, back, back and makes a one-handed catch against the bullpen; oooh, doctor,” as Red Barber called it, to pluck Joe DiMaggio’s drive in 1947 (in a rare display of emotion on the field, DiMaggio kicked the dirt as he rounded second base, his sure home run transformed into out number three); and what is generally regarded as the greatest robbery ever, Willie Mays—whose 1972 acquisition by the Mets ran Agee out of town temporarily—on Vic Wertz in the 1954 classic.
Tie game, eighth inning, two men on. Indians slugger Wertz already has three hits off Giants’ starter Sal Maglie, so New York manager Leo Durocher calls for a relief pitcher, lefthander Don Liddle. Wertz says he never hit a ball harder, into the vast expanse of the Polo Grounds’ centerfield, where the fence was nearly 500 feet from home plate and the steps up to the clubhouse were in play. Mays chased down the drive like a wide receiver, made the catch with his back to the infield about 460 feet from the launch point, then threw a strike that kept the runner on second from scoring. Many witnesses (including Mickey Mantle worshipper Bob Costas) place Mays’ play in the realm of the impossible; there is no way a ball hit that hard and far could be caught.
The lesson for investors doesn’t come from Mays or Wertz, but from the pitcher, Liddle. After the catch, the Giants manager Leo Durocher went to the mound to remove Liddle, since he’d given up a blast that would have been a home run in any other park, including Yellowstone. As was the custom in those days, Liddle waited on the mound until his replacement came in from the bullpen. When the new pitcher reached the mound, Liddle offered these words of encouragement: “I got my guy.”
Sometimes the bottom line doesn’t quite get to the bottom of things. Totally globalized native New Yorker and former broadcast news producer Muhammad Cohen is author of Hong Kong On Air, a novel set in his adopted hometown during the 1997 handover about television news, love, betrayal, financial crisis, and cheap lingerie. Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterDiggPrintRedditStumbleUponLike this:Like Loading... Tags:1947 World Series, 1954 World Series, 1955 World Series, 1969 World Series, 2009 World Series, Al Gionfrioddo, Baltimore Orioles, baseball history, baseball lore, baseball writing, Bob Costas, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Don Liddle, eRaider.com, Hong Kong, Hong Kong On Air, honorary degrees, Jim Palmer, Joe DiMaggio, Leo Durocher, Little Engine That Could, Mickey Mantle, New York Giants baseball team, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Polo Grounds, Queens (New York City Borough), Queens Borough Hall, Queens Borough President's Office, Red Barber, Sal Maglie, Sandy Amoros, Shea Stadium, Tommie Agee, Vic Wertz, Willie Mays, World Series history, Yale University, Yankee Stadium, Yogi Berra Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »
PagesAbout Muhammad Cohen
Follow “Muhammad Cohen on media and more” | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/515 | « MLC defeats Bethany in 3
Mustangs eliminate Cathedral...»
MLC women lose in overtime
Save | Post a comment | NEW ULM - The Martin Luther College women's soccer team lost its final home game of the season Tuesday to UW-Superior in overtime by the score of 3-2. The Knights controlled the play throughout the game, outshooting the Yellowjackets 36-11, but weren't able to take advantage of a number of their chances from inside the box. UWS goalkeeper Kalea Hatlewick stood strong, saving 15 of the 17 shots she faced to give her team a chance to win it in extra time. UW-Superior held a 2-0 lead until Alex Hastings put the Knights on the board with her tenth goal of the season off a pass from Bethany Schultz in the 64th minute. Schultz then tied the game in the 73rd minute with her 16th goal of the season, tying teammate Jenna Maurer for the team lead. The Knights pressured late in the game, but were unable to come up with the go-ahead goal before the Yellowjackets' Alexandra Paige scored in the 97th minute to end the game. MLC dropped to 11-6 in defeat, while UW-Superior improved to 4-15-1 with the win. The Knights will return to action on Friday when they travel to St. Scholatica for a game scheduled to start at 1 p.m. © Copyright 2014 The Journal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/517 | 'Southern League': Birmingham Barons Break Racial Divide Share Tweet E-mail Comments Print By editor Originally published on Tue August 20, 2013 4:09 am
Listen Transcript DAVID GREENE, HOST: Pro baseball hasn't done much to inspire lately, think doping. But here is a story that might restore your faith in the good of the game. (APPLAUSE) GREENE: In Alabama earlier this season, the Minor League Birmingham Barons welcomed back some veteran players from a seminal year in the team's and the city's history. UNIDENTIFIED MAN: And now, ladies and gentlemen, doing our first pitch tonight, our 1964 Barons. JOHNNY BLUE MOON ODOM: Well, it's great to be here and see these guys again. It's been like 49 years and... GREENE: That's Johnny Blue Moon Odom. He was a star pitcher for the '64 team. He received what was the biggest signing bonus ever given to an African-American athlete. One of his former teammates, white infielder Hoss Bowlin, recalls another reason why having Blue Moon's on the roster was such a big deal. HOSS BOWLIN: In 1964, we came in here. And it was the first year I believe that the blacks had been able to play. GREENE: That's right. The '64 Barons introduced integrated baseball to Alabama a full 17 years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the Major Leagues. Not so surprising, when you consider that at the time, Birmingham was known as Bombingham the violent epicenter of the Jim Crow South, ruled over by the city's infamous Police Commissioner Bull Connor. BULL CONNOR: You can never whip these birds if you don't keep you and them separate. I found that out in Birmingham. You've got to keep the white and the black separate. GREENE: In Bull Connor's Birmingham, integration in sports was actually a crime. This is the voice of author Larry Colton. LARRY COLTON: In Birmingham, there was a law. It was called the Checkers Ordinance, which said that blacks and whites could not be involved in any recreational activities - basketball, football, baseball, and including checkers. GREENE: Colton was a player for one of the Barons' rival teams. But he's spent much of his life as a writer. He joined us to discuss his new book about the integration of the Barons called "Southern League: A true story of Baseball, Civil Rights and the Deep South's Most Compelling Pennant Race." As Colton recalls, for decades, there were two Barons teams. COLTON: Basically the white Barons, the white people went to see them. And the black Barons, the black people went to see them. And they had a chicken wire fence that separated. If somebody from the opposite race went, they had to sit on the far side of the chicken wire fence. GREENE: Totally divided. COLTON: Both on the field and in the stands. GREENE: But Major League Baseball took a stand, mandating in 1961, that all Minor League teams integrate. In Birmingham, the Checkers Rule made that illegal. Bull Connor pressured Barons' owner Albert Belcher to disband both teams, white and black. But as the Barons crumbled, so did the city's reputation. Images of Birmingham cops turning fire hoses and dogs on African-Americans flashed across television screens around the country. COLTON: John F. Kennedy was still alive and he had said that Bull Connor had done more for the Civil Rights Movement than Abraham Lincoln. GREENE: Birmingham residents soured on their firebrand police commissioner. In 1963, he was voted out and soon the Checkers Rule was history. That cleared the way for team owner Albert Belcher to bring back the Barons, as one team. COLTON: He thought baseball had always been part of the fabric of Birmingham, be it white baseball or black baseball. So he decided he was going to bring the team back despite a lot of opposition, including the Ku Klux Klan. GREENE: Which brings us to the night before opening day, Colton picks up the story at the home of team owner, Albert Belcher. COLTON: About 10 o'clock at night, he gets a knock on the door and there is one of the main players of the Ku Klux Klan. And this man said there was not going to be any violence, that they would pick their causes. But Belcher didn't know if it was just a ploy to get him to relax or what - there was no guarantee. I mean you certainly weren't going to take the word of the Ku Klux Klan. GREENE: But Belcher also didn't want this moment to slip away. And the next day, baseball fans - black and white - poured into Rickwood Field. Black fans, as they always did during white Barons' games, sat out along the right field line, on the other side of where that chicken wire fence used to be. COLTON: It was Albert Belcher who personally took down the chicken wire fence. In fact, he even told a few of the black patrons, Well, you can go sit anywhere - you don't have to sit way down there. GREENE: Belcher was practically willing this day to go smoothly, not just as a promoter of racial harmony, but as the owner of a baseball team that was getting back in business. When Belcher was called to his office and received a bomb threat during the game, he decided go quietly back to his seat and hope for the best. The day did go smoothly, although the Barons lost. And as the season went on, the crowd at Rickwood Field got behind the home team. COLTON: The black players and Latino players were subjected to a lot of verbal abuse, but not in Birmingham because they were their players. But yet when they would go on the road, they were yelled at, spit on, and everything else. GREENE: And road trips throughout the South brought other indignities. Black players had to stay in separate hotels, which were decidedly unequal. They also often couldn't eat as a team. At their recent reunion, right-handed pitcher Tommie Reynolds, one of the team's black players, explained why they overcame such divisions. TOMMIE REYNOLDS: I was in the military three years, and we were getting prepared to fight for our country if something happened, and somebody has your back all the time. That's the same way with baseball. It's like a war out there, your one team against the other team. GREENE: And they went out on the battlefield for 140 games. The team finished with a record of 80 wins and 60 losses - one game out of first place. This is relief pitcher Ken Sanders looking back. KEN SANDERS: We were just, whatever, 20 guys, 20 young men. We wanted to play baseball. We didn't care if it was Rickwood Field or a sandlot. And I think we were, of course, aware of it, but, you know, our interests - whether black, white, yellow or green - we wanted to play ball. We wanted to win. And we almost did it here GREENE: For a number of the Barons, that season was just a step towards the Big Leagues. And for the racially-divided city of Birmingham, it was just one step in a long, difficult journey. But Colton says the players weren't thinking much about symbolism. COLTON: They weren't activists. They weren't volunteering or marching or doing anything. They had this season. It was a very successful season. They had a lot of great players - Johnny Blue Moon Odom, Bert Campaneris, Paul Lindblad - guys who went to play in the Big Leagues, and they showed how this could happen. GREENE: How a bunch of athletes racially diverse, from different backgrounds, could take the field together and just play ball. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) GREENE: It's MORNING EDITION from NPR News. I'm David Greene RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST: And I'm Renee Montagne (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
Related programs:Morning Edition on NPR & Classical Music
Morning Edition on NPR News | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/536 | Colon Sticking With Spanish
In Baltimore late last month, young Yankee reliever Hector Noesi made his major league debut in extra innings, getting the win in a game started five hours earlier by Bartolo Colon. Afterward, the media wanted to speak to both Colon, 38, a 14-year major league veteran, and Noesi, 24, a rookie from the Dominican Republic. A 14-year veteran, Bartolo Colon still speaks through an interpreter.
Reuters Colon, who is also from the Dominican Republic and has never learned English, asked for a translator, calling over bullpen catcher Roman Rodriguez. After Colon was finished, Noesi asked for Rodriguez to help him. But Rodriguez declined, telling the rookie to handle it himself, using the English he'd been taught by the Yankees. "I was so nervous," Noesi said. Yet he did just fine. Asked in Spanish why he never decided to learn English, Colon responded quickly. "I don't know," Colon said in Spanish. "That's it." Colon and Vladimir Guerrero are among the last of an older group of players who came up when minor-league systems were less well-developed and Latino players weren't given the same level of instruction that they are today, with extensive minor-league academies run by their teams. Nowadays, nearly every Latino ballplayer is schooled in English, and the ones who aren't try hard to learn. Those include San Francisco Giants reliever Ramon Ramirez, who took a roundabout route to the majors, including playing in Japan. He reached the majors in 2006 with no English skills. But feeling isolated, spent the winter before the 2009 season learning the language. "It's important for us, so I studied hard," Ramirez said. "It makes you more comfortable. I tell the young players to learn it." It's rare to find a veteran player who needs a translator anymore. The young players learn the language now because the teams offer help. Veterans like Mariano Rivera and David Ortiz tell young Latin players that they need to learn English, if only so they can cash in on endorsement opportunities. Yankees starter Ivan Nova, who speaks excellent English despite knowing only a few words when he signed, said that Ortiz sat him down in the Dominican in 2008 and told him how important it was to learn the new language. "He told me, 'Hey, you're gonna make money playing baseball, but you don't know how much money you can make outside of baseball,'" Nova said. When he first arrived in America to play in the Yankees' minor-league system, Nova couldn't speak a word of English. He felt isolated and alone, and he couldn't communicate with his American roommate. "Every time I'd come back to the room, I'd go in, put the blanket over my head and go right to sleep because I had nothing to say," Nova said. He would go to restaurants and point to the food items he wanted to eat. He would try shopping at the mall and often strike out because of the language barrier. On the field, as well, the players found that it is difficult to get by without English. Catcher Francisco Cervelli remembers being called out to the mound as a minor leaguer to try to help his pitchers—and having nothing to say. "I remember my first time here, they said, 'Talk to the pitchers.' And I went to the mound, and I was just quiet. I was like 'How?' Then, I learned, and it started to get better," Cervelli said. The Yankees start their Latin minor leaguers on English classes young, holding them after practice in their team complex in the Dominican Republic. Some players are tired and don't try hard. Others take to it right away. Once they reach the U.S., there are classes at the Yankees' spring training complex at Himes Field in Tampa. By the time they reach the majors, most Yankee prospects have a reasonable grasp of the language. Colon's decision not to learn English may limit him away from the playing field, but it hasn't hurt his pitching career. When he needs to communicate on the mound, third baseman Alex Rodriguez serves as a translator with manager Joe Girardi, and that seems to work just fine—the pitcher has a 3.26 ERA in his comeback year. Email | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/591 | Are You Listening, WWE?
Earlier today WWE announced that WrestleMania 29 was the highest-grossing event in the company’s history. And while WWE executives and stoc holders may be thrilled with the record-breaking revenue WrestleMania brought in, it is of little comfort to the scores of fans who were left underwhelmed by the event. Yes, I am quite late in weighing in on the April 7 event, which I attended in person. And maybe that’s a good thing. Perspectives always benefit from the passage of time, and while I thoroughly enjoyed the show, I now understand why many fans did not.
My first reaction when I read the litany of negative reviews was, “What were they expecting?” WrestleMania 29 went almost exactly as I thought it would: John Cena beat the Rock. The Undertaker’s streak remained intact. And, all-in-all, the night’s matches went about as I figured they would.
But maybe that’s just it. The problem isn’t that WWE gave fans what they expected; it’s that what fans expected and what they wanted were two different things.
As vehemently opposed as I am to the Vince Russo booking philosophy of unpredictability for unpredictability’s sake, WWE also can’t stubbornly tell the stories it wants to tell—as logical as they may be—if the fans simply don’t want to hear them.
I’ve often made the argument that, just like in all storytelling, the predictable outcome is often the right one. Good conquers evil, the guy gets the girl, and they all live happily ever after. And while that argument remains sound, there’s one thing I didn’t consider: It’s not enough to simply tell a story logically. Fans have to be interested in that story to begin with. And that’s where WWE has a big problem. Never was that more apparent than the night after WrestleMania, when 16,000 fans inside the IZOD Center absolutely refused to go along with the storylines that WWE was offering. They cheered passionately when Ziggler, a rulebreaker, dishonorably captured the World championship. They sang along with the theme music for Fandango, another bad guy. And they heckled supposed fan favorites Randy Orton and Sheamus throughout their match.
And then, of course, there’s WWE's biggest conundrum of all: the fact that its number-one hero, John Cena, gets the loudest boos every night.
Clearly, there’s an unrest among many WWE fans that has grown too big to simply ignore. This isn’t to say that WWE should acquiesce to short-sighted and unrealistic fantasy bookers whose ideal WrestleMania would have included Ziggler cashing in, Punk ending the Streak, and Cena turning heel. But it is to say that WWE should do a better job of listening to its fans. I think most of those fans aren’t asking for a complete overhaul of WWE, but rather just a sincere effort to mix things up a bit.
In truth, WWE is doing a much better job at keeping its product fresh than it was just a few years ago, when Cena faced Randy Orton in nearly every WWE pay-per-view main event. Relatively new acts like The Shield and Ryback have been featured prominently, and there has been a steady stream of talent debuting on the major brands.
But WWE shouldn’t rest on its laurels, and shouldn’t dismiss the sentiments of its fans when they’re not going along with the storylines. Al Castle
PWI Senior Editor
Tony Laplume
The problem is always having a lightning rod heel like, well, "Hot Rod" Roddy Piper or Steve Austin when you need them. They had one with CM Punk, but surprisingly his own success in the company was his undoing, being the heel with the championship for a modern record length of time. That was some unfortunate timing right there, and the fact that he's now paying the price physically for that period.The irony was that the last time he was the perfect heel (circa Straight Edge Society and Nexus), the company had no idea what to do with him, and wasn't at all willing to put him in the main event (evidenced by the Nexus feud going nowhere, although arguably it led to the Money in the Bank program later that year).Hopefully when he's ready for full-time action again he'll still be a heel, although it's time to drop Heyman, because Punk is perfectly effective on his own. And he'll have two big-time opponents (and a cumulative three matches) that fans will remember him from as a heel, Rock and Undertaker. When he pursues Cena again (especially after yet another standout match between them earlier this year), the fans will most certainly be cheering. That's as how it should be.Remember all those years Hogan was in the Cena position? Yeah, he was getting cheered. The WCW switch to heel mode only made it official. He always wrestled as a heel. He always acted as a heel. It's was just the perception that changed. The sad part, and this is something PWI itself shares blame in, is that in Hogan's case when he was finally able to just do what he always was (and it should be remembered that as a giant he was always pegged to be a heel to begin with, until Vince decided otherwise), the fans didn't cheer. I would argue the 2002 switch was when everyone realized that the Hogan they were familiar with had never actually gone away. And that WWE blew it by making him a face again.Anyway, just some confused thoughts, because that's what wrestling fans really want. They don't want the black and white, as your analysis of Cena proves.
Jake McDonald
If Cena was around in the 80s, he would have been cheered. If WWE tried to do with Hogan now what they did in the 80s, he would get booed out of the building, just like Cena does now. Times have changed. WWE knows the fans are smarter now, but they don't know how much smarter. They need complex storylines with complex characters. Every successful TV show has that these days. WWE doesn't. Don't get me wrong, the wrestlers are entertaining, but how many can you say have a complex character? Punk maybe? That's it. I know some would argue that you can't just change people all the time so they're unpredictable, and you're right, but a guy can still do something new and approach things different every week without having to change into a face or heel. It just takes some thought. Great TV shows know how to constantly keep the suspense and keep you guessing while still having a central direction. They can't just do the same thing and insert new "stars" and expect us to think its different. Until WWE gets with the program and realizes that the old way doesn't work anymore, they're destined to remain a dying niche entertainment industry that never dominates the ratings or is even remotely mainstream ever again.
WrestleMania 29: PWI Staff Picks | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/632 | The definitive running back game tape thread
April 2nd, 2012 | Written by Rob Staton
Insurance policy needed
Pete Carroll: “The way that we want to play, you need somebody on your team carrying the football. Without an attack guy it doesn’t feel the same. And he (Marshawn Lynch) fits it just right, and he’s taken advantage of the emergence of these guys and the whole scheme, and he’s playing great football. We’re always going to continue to look for guys that add that to us.”
Those comments were made on December 14th, several weeks before Marshawn Lynch agreed a reported $31m four-year extension. Lynch ended the 2011 season running as well as any back in the league, but I still expect the Seahawks to spend one of their first three picks on the position. In February I wrote a piece detailing why I’d come to that conclusion, based on the team’s commitment to the run, needed insurance against Lynch missing time and the sheer depth of talent available at the position this year. Taking a running back in rounds 2-3 won’t be a luxury for Seattle, in fact it might be a necessity.
Lynch will turn 26 in just under three weeks time, but his physical running style has been punishing not just to the opposition but also to the man carrying the rock. The Seahawks clearly believe ‘Beast Mode’ can deal with a big work load and continue to be an x-factor for the offense, but they’ll almost certainly know they need a Plan B. It’s part insurance against injury, but it’s also about making sure the offense isn’t too reliant on Lynch being healthy. Here’s what I wrote nearly two months ago:
“Pete Carroll has made it clear that the run game will make or break this offense, at least until they find ‘the one’ at quarterback. There’s no grey area here, the Seahawks want to run the ball. Most of their investment – be it in the draft, coaches or free agency – has been focused on setting up an effective running game. They can’t move forward knowing they’re an injury to Marshawn Lynch away from losing that identity again. Although many people believed the tepid 6-3 defeat in Cleveland was a review of Tarvaris Jackson’s effectiveness and Charlie Whitehurst’s ineptitude, it was mainly an insight into Seattle’s offense minus-Lynch. The Seahawks cannot risk being caught short and with a lot of talent available at running back in rounds 1-3, it will be a target area.”
Kregg Lumpkin has been added as a free agent, but it appears Justin Forsett won’t be returning. There’s room for another running back. I also suspect the team won’t just be looking for a specialist third-down back or a change-of-pace, but possibly someone with similar characteristics to Lynch. Lumpkin is 5-11 and 228lbs after all, so maybe that’s an indicator.
Looking at the draft, what options do the Seahawks have? Plenty, as it happens. If they want to attack the position early, they could find real value with a Doug Martin or Lamar Miller – two players who could easily carry the load as a feature back at the next level. Martin in particular should not make it into round two – he would be a king steal if he makes it to Seattle’s second pick. Should the board gravitate towards the defense (it’s also a strong second round for linebackers), then the third and fourth rounds are also likely to provide potential impact runners. Below, you’ll find game tape for eleven different running backs. I suspect we could see two separate ‘runs’ on the position, early in round two and then in the middle of round three. The perception that backs can be found beyond round one will create a larger pool of talent after the initial 32 picks, but it could also cause a scramble in the middle rounds.
52 Responses to “The definitive running back game tape thread”
David says: April 2, 2012 at 2:38 pm wow. 1:30 that run by Ganaway run is nice. I really like him along wit Martin. Physical backs but also have that burst of speed that is nice to see. Rob where do you see Ganaway’s value in this draft?
David says: April 2, 2012 at 2:50 pm I had such hope of an upset after that first Polk TD against Stanford. That game got ugly. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/646 | Sneezing Weasel Heat
Mitsuharu Misawa, 1962-2009
Misawa was one of the few wrestlers I could point to and say, "This man embodies what makes pro wrestling so compelling to me." In an industry that often relies on silly gimmicks and freak acts, here was a man who went out and used his incredible athleticism to tell compelling stories in the ring--stories that transcended language and culture and won him fans around the world. He was the stoic yet charismatic standard-bearer of a generation of wrestlers from the All-Japan promotion who worked a style that merged the tough, realistic work of the 70's with the flashy, high-risk action that dominated the 80's and 90's. Sadly, it was also a style that proved to be his undoing. Years of crippling injuries left him unable to maintain a healthy physique and as he grew more and more immobile, he seemed to fall back on his ability to absorb tremendous amounts of punishment. After destroying his knees with top-rope splashes and dives to the floor, he moved on to doling out gruesome elbow strikes and taking dangerous high-impact drops directly on his head. When I heard that he had died in the ring after a backdrop suplex, my mind flashed back to the hundreds of times I had seen him land hard on his neck and shoulders from that maneuver. Although it pains me to say such a thing, it was strangely appropriate for his death to come while performing in the ring. It's certainly preferable to the now all-too-familiar cliche of wrestlers being found dead in hotel rooms from some lethal pharmaceutical cocktail.
Perhaps it is naive to think that Misawa's passing will lead to a re-examination of the punishing style that forces many wrestlers in Japan to retire early and nearly crippled. After all, it is likely that very thing--the allure of seeing real injuries during a display of "fake" fighting--that keeps the crowds coming back night after night. Here in America, the demand for incredibly over-muscled stars along with the grueling road schedule, leads far too many wrestlers to risk their health with steroids, human growth hormone, and copious amounts of painkillers. It was likely a combination of all of these factors--along with mental issues that went undiagnosed for far too long--that led Chris Benoit to commit the deplorable acts that he did. Like the Benoit tragedy, Misawa's death is yet another reminder of why my enthusiasm for pro wrestling has diminished in recent years. Unlike comic book heroes, the trials and tribulations of these larger-than-life characters exact a horrible price on the men and women who portray them.
Sean Ausmus
Efrain
Nice job Sean.
June 15, 2009 at 12:14:00 AM EDT
paul howley
Efrain said exactly what I was going to say...nice job Sean!
June 30, 2009 at 10:17:00 PM EDT
Worcester Blogroll | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/654 | Posted: Sunday October 6, 2013 12:04 PM
Putin lights Olympic flame for Sochi on Red Square
MOSCOW (AP) - Russian President Vladimir Putin ceremoniously lit the Olympic flame on Red Square on Sunday, but the four-month relay to Sochi for the Winter Games got off to a rocky start when one of the torches went out.
The Olympic flame, which was lit a week ago in Greece and flown to Moscow earlier Sunday, kept burning in a cauldron on Red Square.
The glitch occurred when a torch bearer ran through a long passageway leading into the Kremlin, which apparently created a wind tunnel, extinguishing the flame. A man standing along the route, most likely part of the presidential security service, pulled out a lighter and the flame leaped back to life.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, president of the Sochi organizing committee, said on Twitter that the problem was that the valve on the torch had not been opened fully.
The torch bearer, Shavarsh Karapetyan, 60, was a champion swimmer for the Soviet Union who once saved 20 passengers from a trolleybus that had fallen into a reservoir. He used his legs to break the back window of the trolleybus as it lay in 10 meters (30 feet) of water, and pulled out 20 of the 92 passengers.
The torch relay will stay in Moscow for the next three days, with hundreds of athletes, cultural figures and others, including Prince Albert II of Monaco, taking part.
The flame will then begin its journey across Russia, traveling from the western exclave of Kaliningrad to the easternmost point just across the Bering Strait from Alaska, before swinging back through the vast country to Sochi in time for the opening ceremony on Feb. 7.
For most of the 65,000- kilometer (39,000-mile) trip, the flame will travel by plane, train, car and even reindeer sleigh, safely encased inside a lantern. But 14,000 torch bearers also will take place in the relay at the more than 130 stops along the way.
One of the silver and red torches, unlit, will be carried into space in November for a brief visit to the International Space Station, and this same torch will be used to light the Olympic flame in Sochi.
Putin, for whom the Olympic Games are a source of personal pride, said the relay will "show the world Russia as she is and as we love her.''
The torch relay will pass through many cities that showcase the historical, cultural and ethnic richness of Russia, while other cities on the route are more closely associated with the evils of Stalinism, the harsh treatment of dissent under Putin or the Islamic insurgency simmering in the Caucasus Mountains not far from Sochi's ski slopes.
As the relay crosses the expanses of Siberia, it will put the spotlight on Russia's immense wealth of natural resources and the rusting of its industrial towns. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/658 | The Seattle Stopper
Ian Thomsen
BY SHUTTING DOWN THE SONICS' LEADING SCORER, BRUCE BOWEN HELPED THE SPURS REACH THE CONFERENCE FINALS FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN SEVEN SEASONS
RAY ALLEN and Bruce Bowen share the same agent, and at social occasions in the off-season they have been cordial to each other, sometimes even downright friendly. That started to change, however, when Allen was traded by the Milwaukee Bucks to the Seattle Sonics in February 2003, turning what was once a twice-a-year matchup between the league's purest shooter and its best perimeter defender into a recurring and heated Western Conference rivalry. Suddenly Allen no longer appreciated the way Bowen played, referring to Bowen's defensive tactics as "sissy basketball" and almost coming to blows with him during a February 2004 loss to the Spurs. And with Seattle's unanticipated emergence as Northwest Division champion this season, the rivalry stretched into the playoffs for the first time, where it took on newfound importance.
The 6' 5", 205-pound Allen had averaged a league-high 32.4 points in the first round of the playoffs while leading the Sonics to a 4-1 series win over the Sacramento Kings. The 6' 7", 200-pound Bowen had limited Carmelo Anthony's offensive production in the Spurs' opening-round win over Denver, showing why he had finished second to Detroit center Ben Wallace in Defensive Player of the Year balloting. Bowen's exhaustive assignment in the Western Conference semifinals would be to make life miserable for Allen. This matchup would define the series.
Three days before Game 1, Allen sat on a watercooler after a practice in Seattle and enumerated his complaints about Bowen: "He pulls on you, he grabs on you, he hits your elbow every time you shoot. Whenever you've got the basketball, he'll shove you--then he'll fall. He's put out on the floor to harass me. Pop [Spurs coach Gregg Popovich] knows what [ Bowen's] doing out there: They think he's playing defense, but anybody in the league will tell you he's one guy you can't stand because of the way he's playing defense."
Bowen had little to say in response, in part because he was happy to hear that he was already in Allen's head. "I've never heard the great ones say anything like that," Bowen had said earlier in the season when told of similar complaints by Allen. "You never heard Michael Jordan say, 'Oh, John Starks doesn't play basketball.' John Starks may have been physical with him--and what did [ Jordan] do? He went and hit the gym hard and continued to play."
Retorted Allen, "I appreciate the compliment."
They had arrived at this duel from opposite poles. Allen, 29, was blessed with balance, charisma and an exceptional shooting touch. He was an All-America in his final season at UConn, has played in five NBA All-Star Games and had a starring role as the prodigious Jesus Shuttlesworth in Spike Lee's 1998 film He Got Game.
While Allen had been celebrating his selection as the No. 5 pick in the 1996 draft by Minnesota, Bowen had been trying to plot his escape from the CBA as a swingman with the Rockford (Ill.) Lightning. There would be nothing smooth about Bowen's ascension to the NBA: He had gone undrafted in 1993 after a four-year career at Cal State-Fullerton, played two seasons in France and also had two stints in Rockford before joining the Miami Heat for one game in '97. By 2001 (after stops in Boston, Philadelphia and Miami again) he had established himself as a team player who expressed his virtues at the defensive end, leading Popovich to sign him in July of that year.
Bowen has started every game he has played for the Spurs: As the defensive Mr. Outside to Tim Duncan's Mr. Inside, he has filled the thankless yet vital role of shadowing everyone from Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant to Phoenix power forward Shawn Marion to Allen, his former friend. "Bruce sets the tone for our team defensively," Popovich says. "He takes such pride in it, and all of our guys count on him locking up on somebody every night and doing the best job he can. When you count all of the games and the number of times Bruce goes out and does the same thing every night, our guys really respect it, count on it, and it's part of their personality. And from that, everything flows defensively."
Bowen's tireless methods were on display from the start of Game 1 at San Antonio's SBC Center as Allen worked to get open. The few times Allen created some space without the ball, Duncan abandoned his responsibilities inside and chased Allen to the perimeter until Bowen could catch up. Though the Spurs made their handoffs of Allen look as easy as a relay, those switches were the result of extended simulations at practice during which Mike Wilks and Linton Johnson (neither of whom was on the playoff roster) took turns pretending to be Allen to the point of exhaustion. "We had guys running around, running off screens, and they were getting winded," says Spurs backup guard Brent Barry, "so you can imagine how tired Bruce was. We had a number of rotating Ray Allens, and Bruce had to keep going--he didn't get subbed out."
Bowen and the Spurs did catch a big break in the second quarter of Game 1, when Allen accidentally crossed legs with Bowen while knifing through the lane and suffered a sprained right ankle, ending his night with eight points in 13 minutes. San Antonio reacted as if it were a pack of unhousebroken dogs set loose in an abandoned living room, doing whatever it pleased during an eight-minute, 23-2 run that dropped the Sonics into a 30-point hole. "[Ray] means to them what Timmy means to us," said a relieved Popovich. "It was huge that he wasn't there."
SI PLAYERS NBA POLL - February 23, 2009
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING BRUCE BOWEN AS HE SHUTS DOWN
OPPONENTS' TOP SCORERS GAME AFTER GAME, THE SPURS FORWARD IS PRACTICING AN... - June 27, 2007
Wrap Star Every team had a crack at lockdown defender Bruce Bowen; the Spurs signed him. That's why... - December 26, 2005 | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/660 | 13Final 1234ScoreGreen Bay070613San Diego770721Preview | Matchup | Log | Wrap | Box21NFL News
NFL Preseason Preview - Green Bay (0-0) at San Diego (0-0) By Scott Garbarini, NFL Editor (Sports Network) - After having nearly seven months to vent over a shocking early exit from the postseason, the Green Bay Packers begin their quest for redemption with a visit to Qualcomm Stadium for a preseason-opening matchup with the San Diego Chargers. The 2010 world champion Packers loomed as the favorites to repeat as title- holders after steamrolling through last year's regular season with a 15-1 record, but that success failed to carry over into the NFC Playoffs. Green Bay was bounced from the tournament with a 37-20 upset loss to the eventual Super Bowl-winning New York Giants in the Divisional Round, with an uncharacteristic four turnovers playing a large role in the team's defeat. Despite the offense's sloppy performance against the Giants, Packers general manager Ted Thompson turned his offseason attention towards repairing a defense that allowed the most yards in the league a year ago. Green Bay's first six selections in April's draft came on that side of the ball, with several of those picks ticketed for immediate playing time. Southern California's Nick Perry, the Packers' first-round choice, will make his debut Thursday as a starting outside linebacker opposite All-Pro Clay Matthews, while second-round cornerback Casey Hayward is contending for a major role in a rebuilt secondary in which playmaking veteran Charles Woodson is shifting from corner to strong safety. Hayward entered camp battling special-teams mainstay Jarrett Bush and second-year pro Davon House for the right to man Woodson's former spot. Michigan State lineman Jerel Worthy, another second-round pick, is in the mix to start at right defensive end along with holdovers C.J. Wilson, Jarius Wynn and Mike Neal. Green Bay has far fewer concerns on an offense directed by reigning league MVP Aaron Rodgers, so it's likely that the prolific quarterback sees minimal action in Thursday's game. He'll also be operating without two key members against the Chargers, with Pro Bowl wide receiver Greg Jennings and starting left tackle Marshall Newhouse both ruled out after sustaining concussions in a recent scrimmage. San Diego is also well set at the quarterback spot with four-time 4,000-yard passer Philip Rivers at the helm, and he's expected to have limited snaps as well in the opener. Backup Charlie Whitehurst won't play at all due to a strained knee, leaving the majority of Thursday's duties to journeyman Kevin O'Connell and undrafted rookie Jarrett Lee. Slot receivers Eddie Royal and Roscoe Parrish will also sit out for San Diego due to groin injuries, while regular left tackle Jared Gaither is questionable after missing some practice time with a sore back. Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove is eligible to play in the contest despite being handed an eight-game suspension by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his participation in the New Orleans Saints' pay-for-performance scheme during his tenure with the team from 2009-10. This clash will also contain a historic first, with Shannon Eastin slated to become the first female official to work an NFL game when she serves as referee. Eastin was among the replacements hired by the league while it remains at an impasse in labor negotiations with the Referees Association. The Packers and Chargers have faced one another three times previously in the preseason, with each team winning once while also playing to a scoreless tie in the 1980 Hall of Fame Game. San Diego won the most recent encounter, a 17-3 decision at Qualcomm Stadium in 2006. These teams also went head-to-head last November in regular-season play, with the Packers prevailing in a 45-38 shootout in San Diego behind four touchdown passes from Rodgers. 08/08 13:57:17 ET | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/693 | BGA: Jets at Dolphins – Part One: Offense
Coming up, your breakdown of yesterday’s overtime win over the Miami Dolphins, together with detailed analysis of personnel groupings and individual performance.
Join me after the jump as I attempt to cover every angle. Sometimes you win and it doesn’t feel like a win. What we can definitely say is that although the Jets didn’t lose the game, they suffered a big loss yesterday.
The Jets entered this game with everyone saying the right things about knowing this would be a tough divisional game and that’s exactly what it was, but most of the fans expected a more comfortable win and a much less sloppy performance. With two top teams on the schedule over the next couple of weeks, maybe this was a trap game for the Jets. Maybe the fans and/or the team underestimated the Dolphins – who destroyed the Raiders, who just beat Pittsburgh, who themselves beat the Jets comfortably last week. Maybe we overestimated the Jets in terms of being a team good enough to take care of business on the road. Even taking all that into account, the poor execution across the team in this game was jarring.
The Jets undeniably played poorly. However, are they a bad team, or just a team that continues to be let down by individual mistakes in execution? And if it’s the latter, is that because the personnel isn’t deep enough or are they poorly coached? It’s almost excusable to have poor execution on the offense, because let’s not forget that the Jets are still in the process of installing a brand new system, but some of the bad plays on defense must be attributed to a lack of focus.
Rex Ryan changed up the timetable this week in an effort to keep the Jets from suffering in the Florida heat and humidity. However, that just led to a flat start (and then a flat middle and a flat end). The Jets are a team which, under Ryan, have a great record in 1pm ET games, but struggle in 4pm and night games. Deviating from the typical schedule before a 1pm game may have backfired.
Obviously, the biggest story of the game is the catastrophic injury to Darrelle Revis, but I won’t dedicate too much time here to the effect losing him will have. Instead, I’ll stick to the task of focusing on the game itself and try to read what I can from a confusing performance by the Jets.
For Mark Sanchez, you can add another 300-yard game and fourth quarter comeback to his resume, but this was far from a convincing display. He was under pressure quite a bit and let down by some mistakes from his receivers several times, but it was an rough performance once again.
Sanchez’s first half numbers were awful – (8-for-19, 77 yards one pick). After half time, he was better, but still not very good (13-for-26, 230 yards, one TD, one pick). You could praise his moxie for getting the job done when he “didn’t have his best stuff” but that’s the sort of comment you make to praise a backup thrown in at the deep end, not an NFL veteran who has started over 50 games.
Looking at both of his interceptions, it seems he wasn’t entirely at fault. On the first, the announcers correctly pointed out that Clyde Gates didn’t flatten out his route and enabled the cornerback to jump in front of him. Gates had a step and Sanchez seemingly put the ball in a good spot. Sanchez would have released that ball having faith that his receiver would make the correct adjustment to his route and is pretty helpless when that doesn’t happen. On the second one, down at the goal line, Sanchez dropped back and threw the ball up to a spot. Maybe he didn’t get enough air under the ball, but it’s essentially a jump ball that he threw. It wasn’t clear from the TV footage, but I think there’s a good chance someone screwed up their route there. Jeff Cumberland seemed headed on a fade route to the corner, but then stopped at the goal line, presumably as he saw Hill running to the same spot. It was actually Cumberland’s man who dropped off and was able to pick the ball off in front of Hill and his defender. Either Cumberland should have been running another route that kept his man out of the area or Hill ran the wrong route and it was actually Cumberland that was the original intended target. Even if that was the case, Sanchez should still have diagnosed the mix-up and thrown it away. If there wasn’t a blown route, then I’d say that was a poorly designed play, unless Sanchez’s throw was supposed to be right to the back of the end zone, which would seem like a low percentage play for that situation.
Even if you’re kind enough to completely excuse Sanchez for those two plays, it doesn’t excuse him completing fewer than 50% of his passes for the second game in a row, which shouldn’t be happening at this stage of his career. However, there were situations where Sanchez was let down by his receivers. There were several drops – or plays where the receiver at least had a shot at making the catch, even if they won’t go down as official drops. However, on almost all of these, Sanchez’s ball placement was not ideal.
- With Jeff Cumberland open in the flat, Sanchez’s throw was wide. Cumberland got one hand to the ball, but probably only would have had a short gain anyway.
- Jeremy Kerley made a diving attempt on another wide throw by Sanchez to the outside, but the ball bounced off his fingertips.
- Santonio Holmes had a bad drop, but that was on a pass where the ball was slightly behind him and on his back shoulder as his momentum was carrying him in the other direction.
- Chaz Schilens got open on a double move, but the pass was overthrown and Schilens’ diving attempt saw the ball his just off his fingertips.
- Bilal Powell had a bad drop on 3rd down, but again this pass was slightly behind him as he was turning upfield.
- Tim Tebow ran a route out to the flat and the ball skimmed off his helmet. Yes, Tebow should have got his head turned around sooner, but that pass needed to have more touch on it and be out in front of Tebow.
- Finally, Stephen Hill had three balls he should have brought in. One was a ball that was thrown into double coverage, but in a spot where only Hill could get it but he was unable to high point the ball. A second was a low throw that went through his hands. The last one should have been caught on a throw to the endzone.
Other than a couple of those throws to Hill, Sanchez was partly to blame for each of these drops. Yes, you expect you receivers to help you out a little and it was disappointing to see seven different players listed. However, Sanchez did get bailed out a couple of times – Holmes came back to catch a back shoulder throw that was low and inside and Schilens made a tough grab on a ball thrown behind him.
There were a couple of other occasions where it was obvious Sanchez’s receivers ran the wrong route, so you can’t blame him for those. Holmes and Hill were both guilty of this. Having said that, Sanchez missed some bad throws – aside from the ones already mentioned, there was a deep ball to a wide open Hill that was overthrown and a throw under pressure with Cumberland all alone in the end zone. What it boils down to is that if Sanchez had been a bit more accurate and got a little more help from his receivers, it could have been a spectacular performance and statline for him. The glass half full view is that maybe the passing game isn’t that far away from being vastly improved compared to last year. However, the glass half empty view is that you have to wonder whether Sanchez is ever going to be consistent enough to allow it to realize its full potential.
One area Sanchez seems to be improving is in terms of his pocket presence. Diagnosing a blitz and getting the ball to his hot read is something Sanchez wasn’t doing last year and is one of the reasons he was under so much pressure. There were also a couple of occasions where he was able to stand in the pocket and wait for a route to develop or a safety valve to become available, including on a couple of important first down conversions. Sanchez continues to show that he can make improvements, but still struggles to put it all together – on this occasion, he read the field better but his accuracy let him down. Next week, would it surprise anyone to see him be more accurate and then have something else let him down?
Tebow didn’t make any positive contributions on offense this week and it was surprising to see the Jets get a bunch of short yardage and goal line situations and not even attempt to run Tebow up the gut or off-tackle. I can’t see that fooling any teams into thinking that isn’t an option later in the year. The one time they did use him in that situation, he faked a hand-off and tried to roll out, eventually getting caught in the backfield for a loss because everyone stayed at home. On one other play, Tebow pitched the ball to the outside and Joe McKnight was swallowed up for a loss.
I’d like the see the Jets use Tebow on a simple one read option and then work in some wrinkles once they’ve established that, because at the moment, they’re overcomplicating things and trying too hard to out-think the opposition.
This wasn’t a strong performance by the offensive line. Only 2.7 yards per carry in the running game and plenty of pressure for Sanchez. At least Sanchez was only sacked once. Vladimir Ducasse,who continued to split reps with Matt Slauson at the left guard position, saw his man get to Sanchez early in the second quarter. However, this wasn’t entirely Ducasse’s fault. Powell gave Ducasse’s man a chip block as he went up the middle and ended up getting in Ducasse’s way. Sanchez also hesitated for too long in the pocket. D’Brickashaw Ferguson’s man also picked up a half-sack on the play, but that was another situation where Ferguson had made his block but his man got in on the sack when Sanchez tried to escape. Most of the pressure that the line did surrender was attributable to Austin Howard. He was beaten over and over again by Cameron Wake on the outside. I counted nine times that Sanchez was either hit, under pressure or had to step up because Wake got around Howard’s outside shoulder. To be honest, I don’t think Howard is any better than Wayne Hunter in pass protection. However, if Sanchez is going to get rid of the ball more decisively and Sparano is going to continue to give him help, then hopefully Howard can limit the damage to pressure only and Sanchez won’t end up getting hit too often.
In the running game, I’m pretty hopeful that Howard will be an upgrade over Hunter. He isn’t perfect by any means – Randy Starks span off his block to stuff a run and he got beaten inside once – but he does seem to make a greater percentage of positive blocks than Hunter did. He had a good block pulling to the outside early in the game and got a good surge on a couple of other occasions. He did have one false start though.
Jason Smith continues to get plenty of playing time as an extra tight end. He is currently slightly ahead of his 31% playing time incentive that will allow him to void his deal at the end of the year. Is there any chance of him usurping Howard? Possibly, but I think that will most likely come as a reaction to Howard continuing to struggle rather than Smith earning the spot on merit. Smith is athletic, plays hard to (and sometimes after) the whistle and can get his man moving backwards when he locks onto a block. However, he had a few missed blocks in the running game. He wasn’t beaten in pass protection, though, so if Howard continues to struggle with edge rushers, then Smith could get a chance for first team reps at right tackle – especially when you look at who they’re facing over the next few weeks.
At the other tackle position, Ferguson continues to hold up well in pass protection although he may be benefiting from Sanchez getting rid of the ball sooner. Ferguson holding up his end of the bargain enables the Jets to roll help over to Howard’s side and should enable the Jets to still get the ball down the field. He still isn’t making a major contribution in the running game, but did have one good kickout block and was only beaten cleanly once. Ferguson’s biggest mistake was a key false start at the goal line to negate a Shonn Greene touchdown. The penalty was actually credited to Matt Slauson, but Ferguson definitely moved first and if it was before the snap, it was extremely close. Once again the Jets got a reliable performance from Nick Mangold. In the first half in particular he was moving the formidable Paul Soliai wherever he wanted to take him. In the second half, he was less dominant, letting his guy shoot a gap or get past him on a couple of occasions to affect a play. He also had a play in the first half where his man hit Sanchez after Sanchez stepped up to avoid another pressure from Howard’s side and a bad snap in the fourth quarter, although it’s impossible to tell if it was actually Sanchez – whose desperation throw was then almost intercepted – that was at fault.
Brandon Moore didn’t have one of his better games with three uncharacteristic breakdowns in pass protection. He didn’t have any major breakdowns in the running game, but didn’t have much of a positive impact either.
At left guard, Slauson didn’t have much of an impact either. He held up pretty well in pass protection, other than on one play where he was bullrushed into Sanchez. He let a few guys get off his blocks to make plays, but did open up a big lane for Powell for a nice gain in overtime. Ducasse, other than the half-sack he surrendered which wasn’t entirely his fault, held his own again and didn’t have any major breakdowns. He had one block where he drove his man off the line well, but then peeled off and didn’t get to his man at the second level in time and there was another play where he might have blocked the wrong guy at the second level, but it’s difficult to tell what his assignment was. There was one play where he showcased his physical ability, pulling to the right and blasting Sean Smith coming off the edge.
At the moment, they are giving Slauson two drives and then Ducasse gets the third one. They stuck to this even though that meant Ducasse was in the game while it was crunch time in the fourth quarter. We’ll keep an eye on this to see whether they increase or decrease Ducasse’s reps over the next few games, which should be challenging for the interior linemen.
A concern I identified last week – that being Shonn Greene struggling to make the correct reads in a power blocking scheme – continued to present itself this week. Greene gained just 40 yards on 19 carries. As I understand it, the difference between running in a zone blocking scheme and a power blocking scheme is essentially that you go from having one target hole and having to judge where and when to hit it to a situation where you have to read which hole to hit and when. Greene still seems to be struggling with this. There was one play where he had both guards pulling outside and followed them to the edge, but then instead of continuing to the outside, he cut back for a short gain. After the play, Moore seemed to complain at Slauson, although I’m not sure whether this was because Slauson went too wide or because he was complaining to him that they had opened up the outside for Greene and he didn’t take it.
Greene compounded these issues with a couple more mistakes in pass protection, but did have one good run that he bounced to the outside to set up Kerley’s fourth quarter score. Maybe it is time for Powell to get the start and for Greene to get some reps off the bench, perhaps focused on those plays that he hasn’t been struggling with.
Powell was much more productive, with 45 yards on 10 carries and a couple of first down catches (although one of these was reduced to a four yard gain by a downfield holding call). He made some good runs to the outside and was more consistent than Greene at picking up yardage between the tackles. Powell wasn’t flawless – he had the dropped pass mentioned earlier and also gave up a couple of pressures – but he’s gone from being a better all-round back than Greene to looking like a better option to run the ball than him too.
Joe McKnight was once again limited to a cameo on offense, losing a yard on the pitch from Tebow and only in on a couple of other plays. If Greene’s workload is reduced, perhaps McKnight will get reps – that’s if they don’t convert him into a cornerback in light of the Revis injury.
With John Conner out, Konrad Reuland did a serviceable job at fullback. The difference between him and Conner is clear – Reuland will try and size up his man and ensure he stays in front, whereas Conner will often just charge recklessly up the middle. When Conner gets it right it can open up a lane in a way that Reuland wouldn’t be able to do, but too often he gets it wrong and his guy gets off the block to make a play or he misses the block altogether. Reuland did let his guy get off his block a few times, but didn’t have any major breakdowns and did have one or two positive blocks from the fullback position. He also caught two first down passes, which is not something you expect from Conner very often.
Let’s give Holmes some credit. Nine catches, 147 yards and for the third time in a row, overtime was Tone Time as he turned in the biggest play of the game to set up the winning field goal. He also drew three penalties and even showed some effort as a blocker, although he was called for a debatable hold. It wasn’t perfect, as he failed to haul in one pass he should have had and did cut off his route early on one play, but 12 positive plays in 17 targets is an extremely good success rate compared with his numbers from the past and what everyone else on the team was able to achieve. For once, Holmes produced like the number one receiver he is paid to be and it came at the scene of the least finest moment of his career. Let’s hope this is the sign of things to come and not a one-week aberration.
Kerley came up big in this one too, with a huge 66-yard catch and run and the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. It’s clear they should do what they can to get him the ball in space. Although he’s been caught from behind twice in two weeks, you can see he has the acceleration to get beyond the second level.
After being shut out in the first 12 quarters of the season, Chaz Schilens finally delivered a couple of catches in overtime. One was a third down conversion on the outside and the other was short of a first down, but showed how good his hands were. As already mentioned, he also got open deep, but couldn’t quite grab Sanchez’s bomb. Expect Schilens to get more reps going forward with Hill’s struggles.
Hill was targeted seven times but came up empty. That included one bad route, three drops and a throw where he was open deep but couldn’t catch up to the ball due to calf cramps. We’ve seen glimpses of what he’s capable of in the first game of the year, but it’s apparent that any rookie of the year candidate talk was wildly premature. Still, he is drawing defensive attention and Holmes has been benefiting from that.
Gates ran a disappointing route on Sanchez’s first interception and also had a bad block on the outside. As raw as Hill might look at times, Gates might be even rawer.
At tight end, Cumberland had one good first down catch and didn’t make any noticeable mistakes as a blocker. However, it remains to be seen whether he was at fault on the interception to the end zone. I wonder how much of a boost Keller’s return will give the offense.
Finally, Dedrick Epps got some playing time in three tight end sets and had two bad missed blocks. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/706 | PIAA FOOTBALL: Berwick falls to Archbishop Wood in Class AAA
Andrew Krech / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Berwick's A.J. Vandermark and Archbishop Wood's Kendall Singleton (4) battle for a pass Saturday.
ALLENTOWN - Jarrett McClenton felt Archbishop Wood's size and strength on the offensive line would be enough for the Vikings to take over in Saturday night's PIAA Class AAA semifinal matchup with Berwick.
In so many ways, the speedy running back was correct. And when the Vikings' offensive line was pushing the Berwick defensive front backwards, that made it so much easier for McClenton to navigate his way up field.
So much so that the Vikings ran their way to a 42-14 victory at J. Birney Crum Stadium. The Vikings improved to 12-2 and will play in Friday night's state final for the second year in a row.
McClenton also had touchdown runs of 55 and 75 yards called back due to penalties.
"We knew they were a ball control team and we wanted to get points," Archbishop Wood coach Steve Devlin said. "Every time we had the ball, we wanted to score and we were able to keep them off the field. We figured we could wear them down."
The Vikings wasted little time getting on the board, taking the game's opening drive 64 yards in 13 plays. McClenton capped things off by scoring on a 3-yard run.
Berwick answered, though, going 60 yards in eight plays. C.J. Curry hit Trent Force with a 32-yard touchdown pass to tie the game.
From there, the momentum of the game changed dramatically in Archbishop Wood's favor.
Luke Spahits returned the ensuing kick 78 yards for a touchdown, putting Archbishop Wood back on top 14-7. It was the first of two kick returns for scores.
Berwick (14-1) was forced to punt on its next possession, and McClenton took it from Wood's own 45 down to the Berwick 1.
Quarterback Tom Garlick scored on a sneak for a 21-7 lead.
"We score and they take it right back," Berwick coach George Curry said. "We tried to kick away from them, but that is like telling a golfer to put the ball in the hole. He can't do it."
McClenton added a 57-yard touchdown run with 6:50 left in the first half to give the Vikings a 28-7 lead, putting the Bulldogs in too deep a hole to climb out of.
With the way the Archbishop Wood pass rush was coming, C.J. Curry had no other option but to try and throw short and intermediate passes when he had the opportunity. But with the Bulldogs losing the down-and-distance battle, those opportunities were not there very often.
Curry was sacked nine times.
"We couldn't block them," George Curry said. "They are an outstanding football team. Sometimes in life, you face things you can't handle and this was one of them. They were just a better team."
According to Devlin, the plan all along was to rush the passer and make C.J. Curry as uncomfortable as possible in the pocket. It was a plan that worked to perfection.
"We wanted to get after them a bit," Devlin said. "They are a good run-blocking team, but we saw some things we could do in the pass rush. We are not real big, but we are fast."
The Bulldogs cut the lead in half at the start of the third quarter when C.J. Curry hit tight end Ian Mazonkey with an 11-yard touchdown pass. But once again, the momentum swung back in Archbishop Wood's favor when Spahits took the kick back 76 yards to make it a three-score game. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/747 | Congrats to McEachran, Chalobah: U17 European Champions
By Jack Goodson
@jackgoodson12
England won its first-ever European Under-17 Championship on Sunday, defeating Spain by a 2-1 score line in Liechtenstein. A pair of our youth products, Josh McEachran and Nathaniel Chalobah, featured in significant roles.
“The whole team has done really well for the last two weeks," said McEachran, who was influential in the final and assisted on the Lions' opening goal. "The last England team to win a European trophy had Paul Scholes and Gary Neville and just look at what that team went on to achieve. Hopefully we can go on to do the same.”
Congratulation to our boys on a well-deserved title. You know, this is shaping up to be quite the summer for the youth academy.
An Under-19 side featuring youth and reserve team members captured the 2010 Gestion Copa Amsterdam just last week. The Blues defeated Sevilla 7-6 on penalty kicks in the competition's finale.
Well done to all our young ones. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/785 | DC Council honors Bryce Harper, Davey Johnson
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The D.C. Council has honored Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper and manager Davey Johnson with ceremonial resolutions.Harper was honored Tuesday for being named the National League Rookie of the Year last year. Johnson was honored for his NL Manager of the Year award. The Nationals had baseball's best regular-season record in 2012 and were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.Harper thanked the D.C. councilmembers who voted to build Nationals Park, saying it made his accomplishments possible. Johnson joked that the resolution should be signed into law because it got his date of birth wrong, making him 5 years younger.Councilmember Jack Evans says Harper has brought great excitement to the city. He noted that Harper is on track to hit 95 home runs this year. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/796 | home news desk articles & features reviews results archive rankings
classified ads your comments go shopping credits ARTICLES British Open Coverage 2002: The Track Record – The Conductors
Certain conductors seem to fancy certain contests, but all conductors want to be able to say that they have won the British Open Championships. This will have even more credence this year, as the contest celebrates its 150th anniversary – not a bad entry on the old CV is it?
It’s something to be able to tell your grandchildren and you can show them the physical evidence with banding version of an Oscar – a Mortimer Maestro trophy (except it’s not gold and the sculpture makes the old man look as if he’s had 20,000 volts up his jacksy)
Some conductors have been luckier than others at the Open and some have even won it at their first attempt, but all of them will keep trying until they no longer can get a band to hire their talents.
This year’s field for instance will feature six men who have won the title (down one from last year), but 13 who haven’t (down one also) and 4 making their debuts.
So here are the records of each of the 18 men and 1 woman at this year’s Open.
Nicholas Childs
(Black Dyke):
Made his debut with Tredegar in 1994 and has come close on four occasions since. He holds the curious record of four second places with three different bands (Tredegar, Fodens and Dyke) since then and this year will be his ninth appearance. Five prize winning performances to his name already on the record, but he has yet to emulate his elder brother. Could 2002 be the year for a first win and a return of the famous shield back to Queensbury for the first time since 1995?
Record: 8 attempts
No Wins: 4 Seconds (96, 98, 2000, 2001): 1 Fifth (99): 3 Unplaced Allan Withington
(Williams Fairey):
Made his debut as far back as 1991, but in 11 attempts so far has only got a 3rd a 4th and a 5th to his name. The early years were the struggle for him and Brighouse but in the last few years he has seemed to have got to grips with the contest, although 2001 saw him once more come out of the prize list in 8th. This was the last hurrah with B&R and he has since crossed the Pennines to become the main man at Faireys. If he wins the Open it will see him complete a personal “Grand Slam” of Major titles.
Record: 11 attempts
No Wins: 1 Third (98): 1 Fourth (99): 1 Sixth (95): 8 Unplaced
Robert Childs
(Buy As You View Cory):
Two attempts – a win and a third. Not a bad record and one that we are sure he will wish to improve on. Last year saw a very brave attempt to retain the title undone by early blemishes, but this year sees an even stronger line up of personnel at his disposal. The man has shown himself to be focused and determined, so can he take the title back to Wales again?
1 Win (2000): 1 Third (2002)
John Hinckley
(CWS Glasgow):
The fourth attempt this year for the hardworking MD after three unproductive goes with Carlton Main Frickley Colliery. His 1999 debut saw 14th spot, and 2000 saw further improvement and 9th place. Last year was a lowly 17th. A talented musician with a very big job on his hands to see if some glory can be brought back to the former giants of the Scottish banding scene.
3 unplaced
James Gourlay (Grimethorpe Colliery UK Coal):
2002 sees Gourlay charged with the task of trying to take the title back to Grimethorpe for the first time since 1991 – a similar task to that of last year when he was charged with doing the same for CWS Glasgow. That ended in 15th place. One of the most impressive records at the Open since his debut in 1995 with Williams Fairey though – he has only once come out of the top 4, including a fine win in 1998. Could 2002 see another prize-winning performance from the Scot and a return to Grimey glory?
1 Win (98): 2 Seconds (95, 97): 1 Third (99): 2 Fourths (96, 2000) 1 Unplaced (2001)
David Evans (DUT Yorkshire Imperial Rothwell):
The debut for the talented young conductor in 2001 ended in a solid 14th place. Has made a big impression with his band since taking over in 2001and directed them to a well-deserved 6th place at the Masters in May of that year. Has continued to impress and with a raft of early season signings now bedded in, he could well direct himself further up the prize list. Record: 1 attempt
Unplaced (2001)
Ray Farr
(Ever Ready):
Last year Ray Farr took Ever Ready to a well merited 12th place – something they won’t sneeze at again, although they will be hoping for even higher things
One of the strangest records at the Open for the multi talented Mr Farr. A debut as far back as 1976 with City of Coventry, he didn’t re appear until 1981 – this time with Grimethorpe whom he took to 5th place. Another break until 1986 and this time Besses and a year off before a return with Coventry again in 1988 and a sixth place spot. In 26 years he’s made just 7 appearances – it should have been so many more and deserves a better return than he has so far.
No wins: 1 Fifth (81): 1 Sixth (88): 5 Unplaced
Bramwell Tovey
(Fodens):
The man with the longest pedigree in terms of debut – he made his debut with Hanwell back in 1974 on “James Cook” – Mr Tovey has only been back a further seven times and has won it once, come third once and fifth once. That’s a pretty good record; with the 1988 win with Rigid Containers on “Contest Music” the undoubted highlight and 2001 and Fodens on “Les Preludes” perhaps the greatest disappointment.
Many thought he was very unlucky last year to add to that sole win with a performance that was simply electrifying, although not without its mistakes, so could 2002 see a second victory for him and the first for Fodens since 1964?
1Win (88): 1 Third (86): 1 Fifth (2000): 4 Unplaced
Garry Cutt
(Leyland):
What a fine record for one of the most effective Musical Directors on the circuit. A debut as far back as 1988 with Point of Ayr Band from North Wales heralded a win at only his second attempt with Kennedy Swinton in 1989 to become the youngest winning conductor of the Open. His partnership with the Marple band was a model of consistent quality performances that led to his second win in 1996 at the Bridgewater Hall. In between he also took Grimethorpe to 3rd spot in 1994 as well as coming 3rd in 2000 and 4th in 2001. A real class act and with a band that could well prove a bit of a dark horse. Came 3rd and 4th on the last two occasions a McCabe work was used here so don’t be surprised to see his name up there again.
2 Wins (89, 96): 2 Thirds (94, 2000): 3 Fourths (92, 93, 2001) 1 Fifth (98): 5 Unplaced
(Travelsphere Holidays):
A fifth attempt for the conductor, who previously took the Ransome band on three occasions at the Open and took control of Leyland last year when he steered them to 9th place. He claimed a well-deserved 4th place in 1997 with Ransomes, but the following years saw a dip in form and the band were relegated to the Grand Shield contest after 1999.
An experienced conductor who has also worked with Faireys as resident and Leyland on a professional basis, he has been given chance with Travelsphere to see if he can bring both them and himself back in the prize winning frame. An improvement on 10th place of last for the band cannot be discounted. Record: 4 attempts:
No Wins: 1 Fourth (97): 3 Unplaced
Phillip McCann
(Whitburn):
The man who as a player won numerous Open titles is still searching for that first victory as a conductor since making his debut with Sellers College Brass as far back as 1989. Two prize winning performances have come his way – first with Sellers and in 1996 with Fodens, but for the most part it has been a quest without reward. His direction of Whitburn over the past few years has been exemplary though and the band has once again taken over the mantle as perhaps the top band North of the Border. 5th place last year was an excellent result for an excellent performance – expectations are high.
Record: 12 attempts:
No Wins: 3 Fifths (91, 96, 2001): 9 Unplaced
(Yorkshire Building Society):
The man with the golden touch and a three-time winner of the title - the most in the field. The young flamboyant David King made his debut at the Open in 1987 with Kennedy Swinton off a number 1 draw that announced to the banding world that here was the “Real Thing”. The early years however were not as successful in terms of prize-winning performances as he hoped, and only a 4th place in 1989 with Black Dyke was his reward. He took a break from the contest in 92 and 93 and returned with CWS (Glasgow) in 1994 without success. However, his partnership with YBS since 1995 has now in some way given the more mature David King recompense. Only once out of the prizes since and three wins (including a 199 points victory in 1997), his appetite for success remains unsated. Could 2002 see him become the first man since Peter Parkes in 1986 to retain the title.
3 Wins (97, 99, 2001): 1 Third (95): 1 Fourth (89): 2 Sixths (96, 2000): 6 Unplaced
Frank Renton
(Kirkintilloch):
1977 saw the first appearance of Frank Renton with Wingates at the British Open – and what an appearance – drawn number 1! The following years he appeared with the declining CWS (Manchester) and took the famous band to their last prize winning in coming 5th in 1980. The mid 80’s saw a break away from the Open, before a return with Grimethorpe in 1988 heralded prize winning performances that culminated in the famous “Paganini” win of 1991. Since then he has been seen with Desford on a few occasions and in 2001 lead Travelsphere to 10th spot (completing a year of terrible draws and more than a little hard luck). 1991 and 1992 when he stood top of the world with Grimethorpe may be a while ago, but he remains a maverick at heart with the talent to win any contest. Kirkintilloch are a fine band and could be a bit of a dark horse outside bet. They should come higher than last years 16th place.
1 Win (1991): 1 Third (90): 3 Fifths (80, 89, 92): Unplaced 9 times
Steve Bastable
(Tredegar):
The Musical Director of Tredegar Band is one of the clutch of talented and exciting breed of aspiring young conductors who are now forcing their way to the top of the banding tree.
A product of Salford College and the tuition of David King and Roy Newsome, he played at the top level with Black Dyke and Williams Fairey in Major contest winning performances before concentrating on his conducting first with the Flowers Band and since late 1999 with Tredegar, whom he took to the Welsh Regional title in 2001.
2002 sees his third appearance at the Open following his debut 8th place on “Ceremony” and the disappointing 13th on “Les Preludes” last year. Could be one to watch out for.
Lynda Nicholson (Besses O’ th’ Barn)
One of the most talented musicians and inspirational music teachers gets the chance to prove her worth at the very highest level at the Open this year. Only the second woman to have the honour of conducting at the contest, Lynda Nicholson has already shown that she can mix it with the boys with a fine qualifying performance for the Nationals with the band early this year.
Has the talent and the drive and a very clear and clean conducting style. One to look out for, and someone who you can guarantee has worked their socks off. Record: Debut this year
Major Ian Mc Elligott (Brighouse and Rastrick)
The former Director of Music at the Coldstream Gaurds isn’t a stranger to the brass band world, although this will be his debut at a contest of this importance. He also has the immensely difficult task of following a man who moulded Brighouse into one of the most formidable contesting outfits of recent years – Allan Withington - not Peter Bassano who was somewhat unceremoniously dumped after the Masters.
He has conducted such Army bands as the Royal Green Jackets so the Purple and Gold won’t come as such a shock and he does have the experience of working with the Staines Band as a bit of a fall back. It will be very interesting to see what comes of his debut on the 14th.
Record: Debut this year.
William Rushworth (Carlton Main)
Another young man making his debut this year with the baton, but a man who has more than enough experience from his playing days to take the Open in his stride.
William Rushworth made his reputation (and some reputation it is) as a player of immense abilities and with a fulsome and interesting character. His talents have never been questioned and when he hung up his tenor horn after playing with distinction for the likes of YBS, Black Dyke and Leyland he took the plunge into conducting with considerable success in the North East with the Rowntree Band. Reports suggest a fine talent with the stick, so cast an eye over him.
John Hudson (Cwmaman Silver)
A welcome to the stage of the British Open for the man who has already got a “major” title in his cabinet at home in Norway – the Nationals of 1990.
The British Open though hasn’t been so kind to him since making his debut in 1992 with Wingates, and in his 5 attempts so far he has only got one 6th place in 1993 to show for his efforts. Apart from that he had a 17th on his debut, followed by that 6th, another 17th and a 21st and ended in 1996 with the now defunct Markfield Band (formally William Davis) coming 21st again.
He hasn’t appeared since, but that is a shame for he is a very talented and hard working MD with a very crafty sense of knowing what it takes to make a mark in a big contest. Should do well. Record: 5 attempts
1 Sixth (1993): 4 unplaced Jim Cant (Glossop Old)
Jim Cant makes his conducting debut at the British Open this year, although like many of conductors he is no stranger to the contest and was a member of the Williams Fairey Band on bass trombone when they won the title in 1998.
He conducted Glossop with considerable success up until two years ago – leading them in fact to the 1994 3rd Section and 1995 Second Section National titles as well as winning the 4th Section title with Hollingforth in 1993. His return should hopefully signal a return to form for the band and for this hard working and very consistent MD. Record: Debut this year.
© 4BarsRest back to top
� copyright & disclaimer
Fax: 01495 791085 E-Mail: | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/832 | Mets recall David Aardsma, demote Collin McHugh
Jeurys Familia was placed on the 60-day disabled list to make room on the 40-man roster.
Roster move: RHP David Aardsma was selected from Las Vegas (AAA). RHP Collin McHugh was optioned to Vegas. Aardsma will wear #30
— New York Mets (@Mets) June 8, 2013
There's nothing really complicated about this move. Collin McHugh has allowed eight runs in seven big league innings this season. David Aardsma has allowed just five runs this season in 22 innings in the Pacific Coast League (split between Las Vegas and the Marlins affiliate in New Orleans).
The funny thing about Aardsma's performance in Triple-A so far is that he's been like the pitching version of Adam Dunn. In those 22 innings, he has 23 strikeouts, but also 15 walks and three home runs allowed. If that strikeout rate doesn't stick, he could be a disaster in the majors, but it's not as though he hasn't been there before. Plus, what do the Mets have to lose?
Jeurys Familia will head to the 60-day DL to make room for Aardsma on the 40-man roster. The Mets just announced this week that the 23-year-old righty will be undergoing elbow surgery, so it was probably an easy call to make.
New York originally signed Aardsma to a minor league deal a couple of weeks ago. He spent spring training with the Yankees, but started the regular season with Miami before being made available.
In case you were wondering, the last Mets player to wear number 30 was the lovely Josh Thole, but Cliff Floyd and Nolan Ryan have also suited up with the ole three-oh. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/853 | Kids Have Fun At Winter Classic
Written by Gary Simeone, plainview@antonnews.com Thursday, 20 February 2014 12:35 It was all fun and games at the fourth annual Winter Classic Hockey tournament at the Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage on Saturday, Feb. 8. Young adults and kids of all ages from the Long Island Blues Hockey team faced off against three other teams in the event that gives individuals with special needs the opportunity to play ice hockey in an accommodating setting.The kids, who include Paul Weinberg of North Massapequa and 17-year-old, Mike Israelton of Bethpage, do drills and practice once a month in preparation for the Winter Classic.
“I love the sport because there is a lot of action and team chemistry and it is so much fun,” said Israelton, who has been part of the Blues for four years and suffers from Asperger’s Syndrome. “We had a very good time tonight and it was an exciting game. I’m sorry we lost, though.”Weinberg, who has been on the Blues for seven years, says he likes being on the team because of the plays he gets to make on the ice.“I like being able to communicate on the ice with my teammates and making key plays to help my team,” said Weinberg.Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto said told the crowd that the Town was extremely proud to host such an event. “I’m very proud that the Town of Oyster Bay is once again hosting this event at the renowned Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center in Bethpage,” said Venditto, to the crowd on hand. “Three other teams, the East Coast Jumbos, the New Jersey Dare Devils and the New Jersey Avalanche have been invited to the event and will be participating.”The teams played a total of four games, starting at 3:30 p.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m. Admission for the event was free.Michael Russo, founder of the Long Island Blues team, said he started the program 10 years ago so his son, Nicholas, who has autism, could play hockey.“My other two sons played hockey and he wanted to be able to do it, too,” said Russo. “We started out in Freeport in a small rink with eight other kids and it grew into a big thing. Last year we had 35 to 40 kids on the team.”Laura Russo, who helped form the team with her husband, said that the team and the league is made up of kids and young adults up to 30 years of age with conditions such as Down Syndrome, autism and ADHD.“The Long Island Blues is a private hockey team with people who have special needs. The age ranges of people on the team include kids from five years to young adults up to thirty years old.”On the Sunday after the game the team participated in its Sunday Outdoor Classic at the Syosset Outdoor Rink at 7:30 a.m. Matt Carkner, of the New York Islanders stopped by to cheer the kids on and sign autographs.
Upcoming Events At Temple Chaverim Saturday, 19 April 2014 00:00 Temple Chaverim is hosting a new member open house Friday, May 2 at 8 p.m. The program includes Shabbat services followed by an extensive Oneg Shabbat. The Temple invites prospective members to take this opportunity to meet their dynamic clergy and innovative education director as well as members of our community. According to Jody Steifman, member of the Temple Chaverim Membership Committee, Chaverim aims to bring the community closer together. Read more... County Assessor Delays Vets Tax Break Friday, 18 April 2014 00:00 Due to what appears to be a colossal error on the part of the Nassau County Assessor’s office, military veterans and Gold Star families will have to wait for their tax break until next year. Plainview is one of several local school districts that recently approved resolutions extending an exemption to local veterans, even though budgets and Albany’s tax cap make it a tough choice. Last month, despite concerns about lack of confidence in the validity of eligibility information provided by the county assessor’s office, the Plainview trustees voted to provide a school tax exemption for veterans living in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District, starting with the 2014-2015 school year. Read more... Opinion
Letter: Big Points For Free Throws From The Desk Of Congressman Steve Israel: April 17, 2014 Letter: Congress: Take Action On Alzheimer’s Disease From The Desk Of Senator Jack Martins: April 3, 2014 From The Desk Of Legislator Judy Jacobs: March 27, 2014 Obituaries
Obituary: Anna Goidell Obituary: John Holly Obituary: Louis Ferrara Obituary: Roy Fuchs Obituary: Eileen M. Barone Calendar
Matzah BallsThursday, April 17Craft FairSaturday, April 19RainbowsFriday, April 18 See the calendar... Columns | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/887 | Petrov: I didn’t learn anything from Kubica (PVM) Vitaly Petrov was not mentored at all by team mate Robert Kubica in 2010 and the Russian does not expect things to change in the future. The Russian was speaking on stage at the Autosport show during the unveiling of the Team Lotus black and gold livery, “If you are a team mate with Robert, you can’t learn anything from him because he’s always a closed person.” But added, “So you just can check his data, how he is working and what he says to his engineer, that’s it. Apparently I did not learn so much from him, but I learned from the data the way of his driving and how he talked with his engineer.” Kubica scored 136 points while Petrov could only manage 27 points in what was a lackluster rookie season for the Russian.
Petrov explained, “As a rookie it was learning a lot, the car and tracks and how in general a team was working in Formula One,” he said of last season. “And I had a little bit of pressure, nerves. Next season it will be easier for me.”
“It’s again new for me, KERS, the rear wing. The tires are the most challenging thing because nobody was driving with the new Pirelli tires,” he said. “For me it’s again a part of learning but we have testing and now I have time to learn.” | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/902 | Why Trading Ubaldo Jimenez Was The Right Move
Ubaldo Jimenez of the Colorado Rockies pitches during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park in San Diego, California. In a recent announcement Jimenez has been traded to the Cleveland Indians. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images)
History tells us that no pitcher survives in Colorado for very long, and Ubaldo Jimenez may not have been an exception.
It's not often a pitcher like Ubaldo Jimenez is made available. It's even more rare for someone so talented to be offered up while there are still multiple years on his contract. Yet the Rockies shopped Jimenez before the July 31 trade deadline, a fact nearly everyone believed too good to be true. The question that made people wary, and is still being asked even now that Jimenez is in Cleveland, is "Why?"
Why was Jimenez, the greatest pitcher the Rockies have ever had, being traded for prospects?
The immediate suspicion was that Jimenez is injured, and the Rockies were trying to unload him before the time bomb exploded. That is reactionary, but it's also half-true. Jimenez likely is not hurt -- he passed his physical, and his medical records satisfied the Indians -- but had he stayed in Colorado for much longer, it's likely that he would have gotten hurt.
The history of the Rockies is proof. Since the team started play in 1993, no Rockies pitcher has thrown three 200-plus inning seasons in a row. Jimenez came the closest, but just missed by throwing 198 frames in 2008. Injuries, ineffectiveness, and problems adjusting to the environment have contributed to this, and in the team's nearly 19-year history, just 10 pitchers have thrown at least 500 career innings with the club. Put another way, just 10 pitchers have accumulated two-and-a-half season's worth of innings with the team.
Aaron Cook is the lone Rockies' pitcher to cross the 1,000 inning mark, but he has dealt with multiple shoulder issues in his career, and has just four seasons with at least 25 starts in his 10 years with the team. Jason Jennings, after 941 innings with the Rockies, saw his career derailed by his elbow. Pedro Astacio had just one successful year after leaving Colorado; he had shoulder trouble and underwent rotator-cuff surgery. John Thomson had a torn labrum that slowed his career.
Not all of the pitchers failed after leaving town. Jeff Francis is pitching well enough for Kansas City after escaping Colorado, and has had none of the left shoulder trouble that plagued him during his final three seasons in the mountains. Jamey Wright had some rotator-cuff issues, but is in Year 17 of his career despite two stints in Colorado. That leaves some hope for Jimenez, who is far more talented than any of these pitchers, and hasn't yet exhibited the injury trouble that many of them did while still in Colorado.
Pitching in Colorado wears on a pitcher physically more than pitching elsewhere. Former Baseball Prospectus writer Rany Jazayerli wrote this back when the Rockies moved to a four-man rotation (though not for long) in 2004:
But one thing the Rockies have figured out--a finding backed up by medical science--in their decade in the mountains: as a result of the thin air, the body recovers from physical exertion slower than it does at sea level
Mike Hampton threw eight shutout innings in his first start at Coors Field after signing with the Rockies, throwing only 98 pitches. The next day, he said, "I felt like I had been hit by a truck when I got up." The difficulty in recovering from each start was so debilitating that, before he was traded to the Braves, Hampton was planning to outfit his bedroom in Colorado with a pressure chamber so that his muscles might heal faster between starts.
Pitch in Colorado long enough, and it's nearly a guarantee you will develop arm problems. Jimenez has 851 innings pitched over six years, but 761 of them came in the last three-and-a-half. His velocity has dropped in 2011, and while it's hard to complain about a 3.98 ERA in the last calendar year, Jimenez had a nearly 331-inning stretch before that with a sub-3.00 ERA, despite the pro-hitter altitude. These facts have people worried, and it's easy to believe some of those people work in Colorado's front office.
The Rockies know their own history, the environment, and the trouble they have had, for one reason or another, keeping successful pitchers around. With Jimenez signed for just $4.2 million next year with a 2013 option for $5.75 million, coming off of a year where he was worth 7.2 rWAR, and with potentially troubling signs from his velocity and, if nothing else, a perceived drop in performance, the time to move him was now, while he could still bring back a significant package to bolster Colorado's future fortunes.
This past weekend has made Jimenez's contract extension seem geared more toward trading him than keeping him around. Given the performance of pitchers past, it's hard to fault the Rockies for being so eager to move Jimenez while, in their minds, they still could. By moving Jimenez rather than keeping him to themselves until it was too late, they may have saved one of baseball's most talented arms, and given themselves a chance to continue to compete in the process.
The Prospects The Rockies Received For Ubaldo Jimenez
2011 july 31 trade deadline | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/932 | Samsung Game Ball: Daryl Smith
JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 02: Daryl Smith #52 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs for yardage after making an interception during a game against the New Orleans Saints at EverBank Field on October 2, 2011 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Linebacker Daryl Smith had one of the biggest plays of the game for the Jaguars when he stepped in front of a Drew Brees pass and came up with an interception with just under a minute remaining in the second quarter. He did draw criticism, however, for not cutting back across the field or even just running over Brees on his way to the endzone. Instead he was ran out of bounds by the 6'0, 209 pound quarterback, a play that he has since expressed regret about. He reportedly said he immediately knew when he stepped out of bounds that he should have done something else.
Regardless, the end result of the play was a huge play in the Jaguars favor. Smith also accumulated seven tackles and also was in on a sack that should've been credited to him, but instead went to Clint Session for some reason. Smith also leads the Jaguars in passes defended this season. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/980 | More than 350 children bearing Easter baskets and buckets came to Aumiller Park on Saturday morning...- 3:32 am
The 10 football rule changes proposed by an NCAA committee
The NCAA Football Rules Committee proposed 10 changes for the 2013 season, including one automatically ejecting a player for targeting above the shoulders. / Ron Chenoy, USA TODAY Sports by Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sportsby Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under
A rule to automatically eject players for targeting a defenseless player above the head and shoulders is one of 10 potential changes recommended by the NCAA Football Rules Committee, which met this week to discuss ways to increase player safety and "improve the game."
Of the 10 suggestions, the rule impacting targeting �?? like last year's rule moving kickoffs up to the 35-yard line �?? is the one gaining the most attention. Lost in the shuffle are several additional recommendations that could, if passed, produce a heavy change in the way college football is played.
Here's a breakdown of the committee's proposals:
1. Targeting. As noted, the committee unanimously agreed that in addition to the existing 15-yard penalty, a player should be ejected for targeting a defenseless player above the shoulders. As with fighting, a player who is penalized for targeting in the first half would miss the remainder of the game; if he is penalized in the second half, he would miss the rest of that game and the first half of his team's next contest.
To balance out the incidents where a player is unfairly penalized, officiating crews would be allowed to review the hit through video replay. Said the committee, the replay official "must have conclusive evidence that a player should not be ejected to overturn the call on the field."
One example of targeting (South Carolina defensive back D.J. Swearinger against UAB):
2. Blocking below the waist. The NCAA has tried (and largely failed) over the last two years to streamline the ruling on blocks below the waist. To help make a difficult call easier for on-field officials, the committee proposed that any block below the waist that occurs in front of a defender is legal; all other blocks below the waist are not.
3. Clock runoff. The committee proposed a 10-second clock runoff with less than a minute left in either half "when the sole reason for the clock to stop is an injury." This rule would join one already in place forcing a 10-second runoff for an offensive penalty with less than a minute remaining in either half. While this does not prevent teams from feigning injury during normal play �?? like several teams have done to slow down Oregon's offense �?? it does eliminate the chance that an offensive player would choose to go down on the field to give his team more time to regroup during a no-huddle situation.
4. Spiking the football. This might be the strangest proposal: The committee suggested that an offense be prohibited from spiking the ball and stopping the clock with less than three seconds on the clock. Instead, the team could only run an offensive play with one or two seconds remaining.
This won't be popular. What happens when your team, down two points, hits a big gain to inside the opposition's red zone with two seconds left? If you're out of timeouts, the rule would prevent a team from spiking the ball and kicking a field goal. Instead, it would be on the quarterback to throw a game-winning score as time expired.
5. Number changes. In a potential nod to USC, which was accused of such gamesmanship during a win over Colorado, the committee proposed a rule requiring a team to announce to an official when a player switches numbers during the course of a game. The official will then announce the changed number, which would prevent a team from deceiving an opponent.
6. Same number at same position. Similarly to the rule above, the committee proposed a rule preventing teams from having players who play the same position share the same number. For example, having two quarterbacks who share the same number could, yes, deceive the opposition.
7. The Boise State rule. As part of its renewed contract with the Mountain West, Boise State would have been allowed to wear all-blue jerseys on its all-blue field. If passed, the committee's suggestion would nix the Broncos' blue-on-blue combination. The committee proposed a rule that would "require teams to have either their jersey or pants contrast in color to the playing field." While this impacts other FBS teams, Boise State's perceived jersey advantage has long been a bone of contention with its conference brethren. (Of course, the Broncos would be outstanding at home wearing any combination of colors.)
8. Electronic communication. I'll let the rules committee describe this one: "To allow the use of electronic communication by the on-field officiating crew after successful experimentation by the Southeastern Conference. This is not a required piece of equipment but will allow officiating crews to use this tool."
Old-school refereeing: Officials talk like normal human beings, face-to-face and in person. New-school refereeing: Officials can talk remotely, from one end of the field to another. Whatever increases communication between officiating crews is good for football. Let's try this one out with Pac-12 officials, please.
9. Eighth official. If passed, this rule would allow the Big 12 to use an eighth official during conference games. The added official would line up alongside the referee in the backfield. Another set of eyes can't hurt. Let's give the Pac-12 an extra official.
10. More instant replay. In the past, officials could only use instant replay to adjust the clock at the end of each half. If passed, this rule would give officials the right to use replay to measure time at the end of each quarter.
The next step in the process forwards these proposals from the NCAA Football Rules Committee to the Playing Rules Oversight Panel, which meets on Mar. 6. At that date, the panel can decide to accept or decline the committee's recommendations. Typically, but not always, the panel gives the suggestions a rubber stamp.
Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: The 10 football rule changes proposed by an NCAA committee
The NCAA Football Rules Committee proposed 10 rule changes. A link to this page will be included in your message. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/994 | Towson's Terrance West
West, Harmon, Scott & Reynolds Earn First Weekly Honors of 2013
2013 #CAAFB Week 1 Players of the Week
CAA Football's Player of the Week honorees for the first week of the 2013 season are featured below. A link to each school's release will be added to the player's name over the course of the week as releases become available.
Offensive Player of the Week: Terrance West, Jr., RB, TowsonWest picks up his eighth weekly conference honor after a stellar two-touchdown effort in Towson's season-opener at UConn on Thursday. CAA Football's Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, West ran in for a six-yard score at the 5:14 mark in the fourth quarter to give the Tigers a 26-10 lead before adding some insurance with a five-yard score on fourth-and-goal in the closing seconds to lead Towson to the 33-18 victory, its first-ever over an FBS opponent. The fifth-leading rusher in program history has rushed for nearly 2,500 career yards and is now just one score shy of tying the all-time program record of 47 touchdowns. Defensive Player of the Week: Joey Harmon, Jr., LB, VillanovaHarmon earns his second CAA Football weekly honor in as many years after finishing with 15 tackles and a forced fumble in Villanova's hard-fought 24-14 loss to Boston College on Saturday. The junior's career-high 15 tackles included 11 solo stops and helped the Wildcats hold the Eagles to just 128 rushing yards on the afternoon. Harmon's forced fumble was recovered by Nova late in the first half to solidify a 14-7 halftime advantage for the Wildcats.
Special Teams Player of the Week: Dae'Quan Scott, Sr., PR/RB, James MadisonScott's fifth conference weekly honor comes on the heels of a solid all-purpose performance in JMU's convincing 38-14 win over Central Connecticut State. The senior finished the season-opener with 197 all-purpose yards, including a 54-yard punt return for a touchdown that represented the first such score for him and the 15th for the Dukes in Bridgeforth Stadium history. Scott would add 15 carries for 120 yards and a reception for 14 yards in the win.
Rookie of the Week: Taylor Reynolds, R-Fr., CB, James MadisonPlaying in not only his first collegiate contest but his first game on the defensive side of the ball after making the transition from quarterback to cornerback in the spring, Reynolds racked up six tackles to go with an impressive 51-yard interception return for a touchdown in JMU's win over the Blue Devils on Saturday. The rookie's pick-6 was the Dukes' first since their final game of the 2011 season.
CAA Football is on Twitter @CAAFootball and uses the official hashtag #CAAFB. We can also be found on Facebook, Instagram and blogging on our official Every Day Is Saturday blog at caafootball.wordpress.com. All CAA Football video productions can be found on our YouTube Channel. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1052 | Longhorns show Texas-sized fight, beat No. 10 Oklahoma
Texas running back Johnathan Gray (32) runs with the ball against Oklahoma during the Red River Rivalry at the Cotton Bowl. The unranked Longhorns ran away from the previously unbeaten Sooners. / Matthew Emmons, USA TODAY Sports by Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sportsby Dan Wolken, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under
DALLAS �?? Mack Brown had been doused with water; his hair and white shirt still wet. Moments earlier, he had been down on the field, gathered with his Texas players to sing the "Eyes of Texas" and lift the Golden Hat, a trophy even he would admit he has not won often enough throughout his 16 years in Austin.
But here he was, standing in a quiet hallway at the Cotton Bowl, refusing to do what most of the men in his profession would have following a 36-20 victory against No. 10 Oklahoma.
A two-touchdown underdog, Texas hadn't just won the game but dominated the Sooners in every way possible, arguably one of the greatest and most unexpected performances in Brown's career. Under the circumstances, nobody would have blamed him for firing back at those who have called for his job and speculated about his replacement before the season was halfway through.
But Brown, who has remained one of the game's great gentlemen even as the critics have grown nastier, wasn't interested in handing out told-you-sos or shaking his fists in anger at those who have already buried him.
For one day, anyway, whatever the future holds for Brown came second to the very real possibility that Texas has a chance to win the Big 12 and complete one of the most stunning turnarounds college football has seen in a long time. A month ago, the Longhorns were beaten down, injured and seemingly out of answers. Now they are 3-0 in the Big 12 and striding into the second half of the season with the kind of confidence that can only come from such a thorough destruction of their biggest rivals.
"We got a chance to win the Big 12 and go to the BCS, we really do," Brown said. "We're not in the grave. We're crawling out. We're actually alive and have a chance here. We have to play well each week, but we have a chance and these kids are believing .You can see it."
It's impossible to say how this game, as brilliant as it was for Texas, fits into the script that so many had written for Brown. The athletics director who hired and supported him is still retiring at the end of this year. The university president, who also backs Brown, is still embroiled in a bitter feud with a group of insurgent trustees. And Texas, unless it wins the rest of its games, is still going to fight the perception that it has underachieved the last four seasons since losing the national championship game to Alabama in 2009.
The momentum for change may ultimately be too much to overcome, but perhaps the way this Texas team is viewed can still evolve.
There is no doubt the Longhorns (4-2) were a mess in September, and the ugliness of those losses to BYU and Ole Miss by a combined 40 points can't be erased. Texas was also very fortunate to beat Iowa State on Oct. 3, 31-30, scoring the winning touchdown after an apparent fumble was ruled down by contact.
On the other hand, Texas has steadily improved its defense since Brown decided to fire Manny Diaz as coordinator and bring in Greg Robinson after the BYU debacle. Maybe the change came too late, but what was painted as a panic move played a big role in beating Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) for the first time since 2009. The Sooners, who crushed Texas 63-21 and 55-17 the last two seasons, finished with just 263 total yards Saturday and went 2-of-13 on third down, largely because the Longhorns committed an extra linebacker to stopping the run and put quarterback Blake Bell in a lot of third-and-long situations.
"We were tired of getting run on. We had to stop the run," defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat said. "This game was important. We knew we needed to win. I knew there was a lot of negative outside, and I didn't want to hear it because we were so positive with each other. But we have to keep building. We're not done (getting better) because we beat Oklahoma."
Texas is also healthier now than it was in September. Though starting quarterback David Ash is still out due to a concussion and uncertain to come back, Mike Davis and Daje Johnson �??playmakers the Longhorns counted on this season to make their offense work �?? were hurt against BYU and Ole Miss.
There are never any excuses at Texas, but it's not a coincidence Davis and Johnson had two of the game's biggest plays Saturday, with Johnson returning a punt 85 yards to put Texas in front 29-13 and Davis beating man-to-man coverage for a 38-yard touchdown catch with 10:07 remaining.
The Longhorns also pounded the middle of Oklahoma's defensive front for 255 rushing yards, a plan Brown said he conceived "three years ago" but couldn't pull off against the usually more physical Sooners. Once Texas got a 10-3 lead late in the first quarter on an interception return by defensive tackle Chris Whaley, the Longhorns stayed with the run and made the game easy for McCoy, who is more limited than Ash, but generally avoids big mistakes.
"This team has always known how good it could be, and we're starting to feed off each other," offensive coordinator Major Applewhite said. This is what I was wanting form our offensive line, being able to utilize tempo and get some play action shots to our outside receivers. That's what it's supposed to look like. I think if we get in a situation where we can throw it 22 times and run it 60 we're in great shape."
Texas now has the blueprint for how it needs to play, the confidence to know it can execute against a good team and a real shot to win the Big 12. And if it does, what then? For a coach who was considered all but gone, it might go down as one of the best coaching jobs of his career.
But craving credit is a young man's game, and Brown is no longer a young man. He's 62, and even after one of his best days in a long time, he wasn't going to worry about what it means or what comes next.
"I don't care, I really don't," Brown said. "I couldn't do it 10 years ago, but I'm older (now), and it really doesn't matter. I don't have anything to prove. I'm just trying to win."
Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Longhorns show Texas-sized fight, beat No. 10 Oklahoma
Texas' win against Oklahoma sets up the Longhorns nicely for a possible Big 12 title run. A link to this page will be included in your message. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1119 | Boo Gets Fashionable
By: Tony Dear
Instead of teeing it up at the FBR Open in Phoenix - the PGA Tour's biggest open-air party and a tournament you'd expect him to relish - Boo Weekley was at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando promoting his new line of clothing. Come again? Boo Weekley designing clothes?
Yes indeed, the 35-year-old, two-time tour winner from the Florida's boondocks, the man who makes Forrest Gump sound like a university professor, was at the show introducing his new "Boo by Firethorn" line that features an awful lot of "duck-blind" camouflage and hunter's orange.
Though fairly hands-on during the design and manufacturing process, Weekley admitted to knowing next to nothing about fashion. "They're just using me for my name," he joked before adding, "On tour, I usually pack for three weeks in a couple of bags. I reach in there in the morning and pull something out, snap it a couple of times and say, 'That'll match these britches.' "
He seemed equally confused by hi-tech advances in materials and fabrics: "I don't know how the sweat come out and the sun don't come in."
Weekley launched his clothing line in conjunction with a couple of his favored charities: Wounded Warrior Project and Caddies for a Cure. So even though his palettes and patterns might not be to everyone's taste, at least they're helping a number of good causes, for which we can forgive just about any amount of duck-blind camouflage.
I sat down with Boo for 10 minutes in the Firethorn booth at the PGA Show. I had difficulty looking directly at him because of the disgusting, brown, chewing-tobacco goop he kept spitting into a glass beer bottle. But he was courteous, charming and entertaining nevertheless.
Q: Tell us about the Wounded Warrior Project.
Boo: It's trying to help the guys wounded overseas; the guys who have done all the right things, trying to help us stay safe. I really enjoy meeting the guys who were unfortunate enough to get hurt. Q: So what's your actual role?
Boo: Just hanging out with them and of course trying to raise some money. It's a good thing to give back to those who've given so much to us. Q: Moving on; it took you a few years to become an established world star. Did it take longer than expected?
Boo: (Laughing) I never expected or planned to be a star. You can call me a world star, but I'm just still Boo. I'm just who I am. It's taken me a long time to get to where I am in life and I feel very fortunate and blessed to be where I am. But like I say, I don't see myself as no hero nor nothing. Q: You enjoy it though, being a star?
Boo: Yeah, sometimes it's fun. But there are times when I just want to get away by myself and do my own thing. That's why I hunt and fish so much.
Q: On a typical Saturday, would you rather be out hunting or playing golf?
Boo: Well, I can do both. I can go out hunting in the morning, play some golf in the afternoon, then go out hunting again when I'm done golfing. Q: So, singles day at the Ryder Cup or a day hunting in Florida?
Boo: Ryder Cup, win lose or draw. There's nothing like it.
Q: Final day at a tour event or a day hunting?
Boo: Am I in contention? Q: Yes.
Boo: Well, it all depends. Most times, if you gave me the chance to go out and shoot a world-class buck, against playing in a regular tournament, I'm going to go shoot that buck. If I'm in contention though, I might stay for the golf (smiles). Q: Does the hunting and fishing on offer determine which tournaments you play?
Boo: Not really, not any more. It used to when I was on the Nationwide Tour. I used to take my rods everywhere I went. I used to go dove hunting in some Texas towns or rabbit hunting. I used to worry more about where I was going to go hunting than my golf. But I've kind of pushed all that to the side now. I'm more focused now. Q: Is that why you're a world-class player now, because you focus more on your golf than you do hunting?
Boo: Yes, I'd have to say so. I spend a lot more time now focusing on what I need to do to be able to retire at an early age. Q: So you can go hunting.
Boo: Yes. That's all I'm going to do. If and when I get to my goal, I'm done.
Q: You have a time limit on that? Five, 10 years?
Boo: I really don't. I just want to get to the point where I can take a year off or something. So I can go spend some time with my family and my kids (two boys) and be able to show them what my daddy showed me. The opportunity for me to go out in the woods kept me out of trouble.
Q: Are there many other hunters on tour?
Boo: Oh yeah, there's a bunch of them. Steve Stricker, Davis Love, you'd be surprised how many hunt. Briny Baird, he's a big fisherman. Q: You have a Tour hunting club?
Boo: No, there's nothing like that. It's more of an individual thing. You don't really go with a group. But me and Heath Slocum (Slocum attended the same high school as Weekley and his father caddied for Weekley at Q School in 2001) go fishing together at the Tampa tournament; it used to be called the PODS Championship, I think it's something else now. Anyway, we'll go fishing after playing a practice round. Q: Bubba Watson, the other of the famous trio that went to Milton High School and now plays on the PGA Tour, moved to Scottsdale last year. Would you consider moving just to make all the traveling you do easier?
Boo: No, I ain't never leaving home. I got it all. It's where the good Lord started at first. We got fresh-water, salt-water and all the animals you could ever want to shoot. Q: How was your trip to Qatar?
Boo: It wasn't what I was expecting. I was expecting more of a desert course. And I couldn't believe all the high-rises. It's unreal. I know that whatever's happening to our economy ain't affecting them. Looks like those buildings are going up left and right. It's just unreal.
Q: Did you enjoy the experience?
Boo: Oh yeah, it was a very good experience and I got to spend it with my wife (Karyn) which made it even better. Unfortunately we didn't get out a whole lot, and I was so jet-lagged I just went straight to bed after getting done on the golf course. Q: So you could have been in Qatar, Phoenix, anywhere really?
Boo: Right, but I wanted to try it. I wanted the experience. That's one of the great things about golf; you can stay in one spot like a hermit or get out and try different things. I like to try different things. I've always been a tryer. Q: Feeling good about the rest of the year?
Boo: I'm ready. I feel like I'm getting close to top form. And I'm excited about switching my ball to Srixon and seeing how that performs. Q: Any goals - are you someone who sets goals?
Boo: No, not really. I just want to be top 20 in the world. I suppose that's my goal. And if I don't get there I suppose I'll just go back to the drawing board and start all over. This article and interview originally appeared in www.golfmagic.com. Tony Dear is an Englishman living in Bellingham, Wash. In the early 1990s he was a member of the Liverpool University golf team which played its home matches at Royal Liverpool GC. Easy access to Hoylake made it increasingly difficult for him to focus on Politics (his chosen major) and, after dropping out, he ended up teaching golf at a club just south of London where he also made a futile attempt at becoming a "player." He moved into writing when it became abundantly clear he had no business playing the game for a living. A one-time golf correspondent of the New York Sun, Tony is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America, the Pacific Northwest Golf Media Association and the Golf Travel Writers Association. In 2009, Tony won first place for Editorial/Opinion in the ING Media Awards for Cybergolf. The article (http://www.cybergolf.com/golf_newsa_euros_take_on_the_2008_ryder_cup_matches) that impressed the judges was the one about Europe's Ryder Cup team and Captain Nick Faldo's decision to pick Paul Casey and Ian Poulter rather than Darren Clarke. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1132 | Chiefs tragedy extends to family of Bengals' Mike Zimmer
Mike Zimmer has been the Bengals defensive coordinator since 2008. / Frank Victores, USA TODAY Sports by Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sportsby Jarrett Bell, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under
CINCINNATI - Typically while in the midst of the NFL season, the long-distance conversations between Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and his son, Adam, ride the wave of Xs and Os and other elements of the game on the field.
Adam Zimmer is in his third season as an assistant linebackers coach for the Kansas City Chiefs. Since the tragedy on Saturday - when inside linebacker Jovan Belcher fatally shot his girlfriend, Kasandra Perkins, then drove to the Chiefs headquarters and committed suicide - the phone calls have essentially become father-son therapy sessions.
Adam, who was one of Belcher's position coaches, was at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday morning when Belcher took his life.
"We used to just talk football," Mike Zimmer told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday. "Now, it's, 'How are you feeling today? He'll say, 'I'm fine. I'm fine.' But he's the type that you have to reach a little deeper."
Adam's office at the Chiefs headquarters provides a view to the parking lot where the incident unfolded Saturday, when police say that Belcher spoke with coach Romeo Crennel, general manager Scott Pioli and defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs before walking to kneel behind a vehicle and shooting himself in the head.
Crennel, Pioli and Gibbs are among a small group of Chiefs who must undergo mandatory counseling, Troy Vincent, the NFL's vice president of player engagement, told USA TODAY Sports. It is unclear whether Adam Zimmer, 28, is required to have league-mandated counseling, but his supportive father became instantly engaged.
"It's hard," Mike said. "My son was really down. Thank goodness, he wasn't there to see it. I couldn't imagine that."
This is the second time in a little more than three years that the Zimmers have had to come to grips with sudden death. In October, 2009, Vikki Zimmer died of natural causes, forcing father and son to lean on each other.
Shortly after news of the Belcher incident spread, the Zimmers both received text messages from Yolanda Brooks, the Dallas-based psychologist who helped them deal with Vikki's death.
When Mike talked to his son Saturday, Adam told him, "It's kind of like what you said about Mom. Life's not going to stop. We have to keep going."
On Wednesday, after the Chiefs attended a memorial service for Belcher, Mike talked to a conflicted son and recalled: "He said, 'There was all this talk about Heaven, but this guy shot himself and shot somebody else.' "
Dad's reply?
"Well, Adam, that's not really for us to judge."
Mike said that he has urged his son to hang on to his best memories of Belcher, but he realizes that the events of last weekend undoubtedly alter that perspective.
"My son told me that (Belcher) liked guns, but he never thought in a million years that he'd do anything like this," Mike said. "He really liked the kid."
Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Chiefs tragedy extends to family of Bengals' Mike Zimmer
Defensive coordinator supporting son, Adam, a K.C. assistant. A link to this page will be included in your message. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1162 | Rounding Third: Banning home plate collisions? It's a no-brainer
<p>While the final wording has yet to be drawn up, it appears as if home plate collisions are going to be a thing of the past in Major League Baseball.</p>
Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - While the final wording has yet to be drawn up, it appears as if home plate collisions are going to be a thing of the past in Major League Baseball.And to that I say bravo.Honestly, who cares? The home plate collision has essentially gone by the wayside anyway and if it protects an unsuspecting catcher from getting destroyed and suffering a concussion, then how can you argue against it.I don't really consider myself a traditionalist, and understand that collisions are part of the game, but hasn't the NFL taught us anything about concussions and quality of life after the game?It's not just an NFL problem anymore either. It was revealed recently that former MLB player Ryan Freel suffered from degenerative brain disease at the time of his suicide in December 2012.And if you think that Freel is the only former MLB player suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), you are probably sadly mistaken.This whole topic of banning home plate collisions really started to pick up momentum following the ugly incident between Scott Cousins and Buster Posey. Oddly enough, though, Posey didn't suffer a head injury on the play, he did break a leg and had ligament damage because of the hit.Actually, the only real reason he was hurt was because his leg was bent back behind him. But it did get the ball rolling and the recent NFL findings probably expedited the whole process.MLB though estimated that about 50 percent of concussions are related to collisions.At the time I remember arguing against the continued coddling of these players and stated that it was just a part of the game. But, after seeing what has happened in the NFL lately, how you can leave these catchers open to such hits.Heck even the NFL penalizes someone for hitting a defenseless player and they are in full equipment. How can MLB not do the same? Especially considering those players are nowhere near as equipped as the NFL.Even before the MLB Rules Committee voted to outlaw these types of plays at the recent Winter Meetings, some teams had actually already advised their catchers to avoid such hits, as Oakland general manager Billy Beane has admitted to telling his players to stay away from such incidents.So this ruling should come as no surprise and it likely won't meet much opposition from the Players Union.Disgraced hits king Pete Rose, of course, is identified with the most famous collision at the plate when he barreled into catcher Ray Fosse on a close play at home plate during Major League Baseball's All-Star Game in 1970.So, it's no surprise that the man dubbed Charlie Hustle is against the elimination of such plays."I'm a traditionalist," Rose recently told the Dayton Daily News. "I thought the game has always been pretty good. About the only major changes they've made to the game since 1869 was when they lowered the mound after the 1968 season and the designated hitter. I mean, the game is going pretty good, isn't it?"What's next? Are they going to eliminate the takeout slide on double plays at second base?", Rose asked.Rose did make a good point though. Posey did not suffer a head injury when he was hit and the most "famous" concussion in baseball in the last 10 years has been that of Justin Morneau, who was hurt as part of a routine play at second base where a leaping fielder happened to knee him in the head.Now Rose probably is not the guy to go to on this subject. With the way he played the game, you could have predicted his opinion. But he's not alone in his thinking. A lot of players, mostly of the scrappy type, chimed in saying that these type of plays are part of the game.There were even some catchers who were against it too. But, we also heard from players like Johnny Bench who applauded the move.Call me crazy, but I think I'd rather watch a runner evade a tag than to run a catcher over. What exactly are we losing here? Some ridiculous ESPN highlights of catchers getting absolutely blasted but holding onto the ball? Yeah great they held on, but at what price? On either side by the way. Who's to say the player levying the hit doesn't suffer some sort of separated shoulder or something?If anything maybe we won't have to worry about catchers going to find other positions late in their career.Admittedly it's a slippery slope. Players can argue against it all they want, but in the long run MLB is protecting them from themselves. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1179 | Royce White Close to Returning to Rockets Posted on January 25, 2013by ABC Digital Nick Laham/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Houston Rockets rookie forward Royce White may be close to returning to basketball action with the team. White has been serving a suspension for "refusing to provide services."
White suffers from an anxiety disorder from which he is uncomfortable while flying in an airplane. White has been in a dispute with the team on how to handle the issue, but it appears the two sides are coming close to a deal.
White refused an offer to go and play for the Rockets' D-League affiliate, saying that it was "unsafe [...] medical decisions" made by "unqualified Rockets front office personnel [who] are not mental health professionals."
A person with knowledge of a new plan told the Houston Chronicle on Thursday that the two sides are "close to making an announcement in which White would return to the team under a written agreement that includes key elements of the protocols that White wanted to have as an addendum to his contract."
White addressed the matter on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption on Thursday.
"They just hope that whatever it is that it can get worked out and I can get back to the team," White said on his teammate’s support of his anxiety issue. "I hope the same thing because they're a great group of guys."
White said that if he would be upset if he wasn’t able to play in the NBA again because of his anxiety. The Rockets drafted White in last year's draft with the 16th pick. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1219 | Case Keenum Scouting Report
6' - 208 lbs.
Undrafted
40-Yard Dash4.82
personCase Keenum, QB, Houston
Keenum may have had a very productive and high-scoring college career, but he is not likely to be selected in the 2012 NFL Draft. He will have to earn a roster spot as an undrafted free agent. This undersized QB prospect lit up the scoreboard while at Houston. In the pocket, Keenum often improvises and finds a way to make the play. He's a scrappy player who will remind some of Jeff Garcia as a shorter quarterback who can make throws in or outside of the pocket. He also extended the play by picking up first downs with his feet. Sloppy mechanics negatively affected his accuracy. He has a long delivery. When his feet are planted and he can step into a throw, he shows a nice touch. The problem is that he is usually moving around, trying to find an open man and a passing lane, so his footwork is all over the place. Keenum did not play in a pro-style offense and instead was in a shotgun spread attack. He'll have to work on the basics: working under the center, three-step and five-step drops, handing the ball off to the running back, etc. Keenum is a gamer, but there isn't a lot of upside to his game. Last Updated Mar-31-2012 by Matt De Lima | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1235 | Club should come first for Nani - FergieTweetMoreManager Sir Alex Ferguson has told Nani to forget about the Ballon D'Or and concentrate on making further improvements for Manchester United.Twelve months ago it seemed the Portugal winger was destined for the Old Trafford exit. After a decent debut season, the 24-year-old had failed to find the form which persuaded Ferguson to spend £17million to lure him from Sporting Lisbon in 2007.One particularly wretched performance at Stoke appeared to be the end for Nani as United struggled to adapt to the post-Cristiano Ronaldo era.But from virtually nowhere, Nani suddenly found form and confidence. As brilliant as he was bad at Stoke, he produced a devastating performance to guide his team to victory against Arsenal in January, since when he has not looked back.It prompted a confident belief that in 12 months' time he expects to be nominated for the prestigious Ballon D'Or, which Ronaldo collected in 2008 and Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta have been shortlisted for this season.But Ferguson said: "I am not too worried about the Ballon D'Or to be honest. His aim should be to be successful here. The ability was always there. He has got a tremendous instinct for the game. He is two-footed, quick and brave. He never misses a training session and always wants to play." | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1251 | Al Groh Fired As Defensive Coordinator At Georgia Tech
@FTRSLilBroey
Scott Cunningham - Getty Images
Keep up with FTRS on Facebook and Twitter!
Follow From The Rumble Seat on Twitter
Like From The Rumble Seat Facebook
After only 2.5 years on the Flats, Al Groh has been fired as defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech following a horrible start to the season on the defensive side of the ball.
From the Athletic Association:
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech head coach Paul Johnson announced today that defensive coordinator Al Groh has been relieved of his duties with the Yellow Jacket program, effective immediately.
Groh is in his third year at Georgia Tech and the 45th season of a storied career that has taken him to eight different college campuses – two as head coach – and 13 seasons in the NFL with the Falcons, Giants, Browns, Patriots and jets. He served one season as head coach of the Jets in 2000.
Groh came to Georgia Tech after serving for nine seasons as head coach at the University of Virginia, his alma mater.
In addition, here's a statement from Coach Groh.
“The Institute has decided to go in a different direction, which I respect. I appreciate all the help and input from (assistant defensive coaches) Charles Kelly, Joe Speed and Andy McCollum, and the effort of all the players.
“I aimed to give the best that I had every day. It’s been an honor to be a part of the legacy of Georgia Tech football. I feel positive that this is a good time in life to move on to a new situation.”
More to come. I'm headed to a press conference at 3:30. Follow me, @FTRS_LilBroey for updates.
Share with Yellow Jackets friends 64
Why we need Coach Charles Kelly to succeed as Defensive Coordinator
Baseball: No. 25 Beesball Avoids Sweep
Baseball: No. 25 Yellow Jackets fall to Maryland
UMD Baseball Q/A | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1260 | South Carolina defeats Mississippi State 58-43
Aleigsha Welch leads the Gamecocks with 20 points and 11 rebounds
| Printable Box Score Highlights
POST-GAME COVERAGE
Coach Staley
Sessions, Welch
COLUMBIA, S.C. - Defense led No. 15/15 South Carolina to a 58-43 victory over Mississippi State at Colonial Life Arena Sunday afternoon. Sophomore Aleighsa Welch led the Gamecocks (22-5, 10-4) with a career-high 20 points along with 11 rebounds for her eighth double-double of the season. Defensively, the Gamecocks forced 22 Mississippi State turnovers, which they turned into 26 points. The win was South Carolina's 10th in SEC play this season, tying the school record for the second-straight season.
South Carolina's defense was aggressive right off the opening tip, forcing the Bulldogs into turnovers on their first eight possessions and without a shot in the first four minutes of the game. The effort delivered 12 unanswered points on the other end as the Gamecocks scored in every conceivable manner. Khadijah Sessions turned a steal into a quick layup to start things off. Sancheon White drained a 3-pointer form the left wing, and Sessions hit a pair of free throws after being fouled in transition. Ieasia Walker hit a quick jumper off a baseline out-of-bounds play, and Ashley Bruner hit a layup in transition. Welch added a free throw for a 12-0 lead less than four minutes into the game.
The Gamecock defense did not let up throughout the first 20 minutes of play, allowing the Bulldogs to attempt just 18 shots and grab just eight rebounds in the opening stanza. Of the team's 26 points off turnovers, 24 came in the first half. Mississippi State scored consecutive baskets just once in the half, which allowed them to cut the Gamecock lead to 22-11 with 10:08 left in the period. Welch answered the back-to-back scores with a pull-up jumper in the lane and a pair of free throws on the next two Gamecock possessions.
After South Carolina took a 36-20 lead into the locker room, Mississippi State scored nine of the first 11 points in the second half to pull within nine points six minutes into the period. The Gamecocks went inside to respond to the surge. Bruner hit from the right block, and Welch added two free throws while the frontcourt continued to limit the Bulldogs to one shot per possession on the other end. Elem Ibiam added a free throw, and Sessions hit a pair from the stripe to put the Gamecocks on top 45-29 with just under nine minutes to play. From there, the lead never closed inside double digits, and the Gamecocks sealed their 10th SEC win of the season.
Welch netted 12 of her 20 points in the first half and shot 6-of-9 from the field to go with 8-of-12 accuracy from the free throw line. Six of her 11 rebounds were offensive, moving her into third place in program history with 113 offensive boards this season.
Sessions and Ibiam joined Welch in double-figure scoring, adding 11 each to the offense. Bruner handed out a career-high six assists to go with her six rebounds, and Walker swiped five steals for the sixth time this season and the second time in as many games.
The Gamecocks open their final week of the regular season at Missouri on Thu., Feb. 28, before closing out with a home game on Sun., March 3, against Florida at 1 p.m. The regular-season finale will air on SportSouth. South Carolina Women's Basketball | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1278 | Wenger shifts focus with Cazorla signing
Cazorla for Van Persie could improve Arsenal (©GettyImages).
One or two media outlets have suggested the signing of Santi Cazorla may have gone some way to changing Robin van Persie’s mind about wanting to leave Arsenal.
It’s too late for that now, and Cazorla’s arrival makes it even more unlikely Van Persie will be staying; in fact, signing the Spaniard may even mean the Gunners captain is no longer quite so important.
Before his ill-advised ‘update’ for fans of the Emirates Stadium club, keeping Van Persie was overwhelmingly the preferred option and many supporters would have harboured hopes he would not follow in the footsteps of many Arsenal stars in recent years.
However, Cazorla’s arrival will lighten the blow of Van Persie’s apparent inevitable departure and may even mean the team becomes stronger as a collective.
The 27-year-old will replace RVP as the team’s focal point and, while this will obviously not be in the same position, he would be more easily replaceable in the long-term.
Behind Cazorla you have Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, whom Wenger sees as a central midfielder of the future, and Jack Wilshere, once he return from his long-standing injury problems.
They are two youthful and exciting players; a pair that one could envisage playing together in the middle of the pitch, interchanging with fluidity and providing a highly creative hub.
Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski were purchased earlier in the summer to augment the Gunners strike force and could well form a front two partnership once last season’s top scorer leaves.
Giroud is a strong, traditional centre-forward so there will be no discussion about where his place in the team will be, but Podolski is highly versatile and he provides Wenger with the ability to change the shape of the team without necessarily having to make personnel changes.
Losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last summer, along with Wilshere’s absence, obviously left a dearth of creativity in the squad and the number of goals scored by Van Persie is a testament to his sublime movement in and around the area, but this may not be as vital now.
Cazorla is a supremely talented technician and has the ability to find passes many others cannot, which makes a greater number of supporting attackers a danger to the opposition.
Imagining the combination of Cazorla and Van Persie, added to the efforts of Theo Walcott, will be a bittersweet thought for many Arsenal fans.
On paper, it is a formidable front line and could conceivably be considered one of the most potent in the league, even more so when you consider the additions of Podolski and Giroud.
Alas, it looks as though this will never be seen by Arsenal fans, other than in the friendly with Cologne later this week.
Despair for Gunners need not live long though, as the man just joined from Malaga has the capacity to make them forget bout Van Persie very quickly.
Wenger has captured a quality player in his prime and reportedly for a bargain price; a player who could unlock defences and some of the vast potential that lies within his squad.
#Robin Van Persie
#Samir Nasri | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1286 | Pepsi Players Of The Game For Ohio State
SEATTLE - After each game, Coach Tyrone Willingham and the Husky football coaching staff will name the Huskies' Pepsi Players of the Game for that week's performance. The winners following the UW's loss to No. 10 Ohio State are fullback Paul Homer, defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, tailback/returner Louis Rankin, quarterback Ronnie Fouch, linebacker Cort Dennison and cornerback Marquis Persley.
Homer, a sophomore from Omaha, Neb., distinguished himself with his blocking in the backfield and for his three carries and one reception. He also had a kickoff return on special teams.
Te'o-Nesheim, a junior from Waikoloa, Hawaii, was the defensive honoree. He collected a career-high seven tackles.
Rankin, the Huskies' starting tailback from Stockton, Calif., was honored for his play on special teams. Aside from the touchdown he scored on offense, he also had three kickoff returns for 86 yards, including one for 41 yards.
Fouch and Persley, both freshmen from Redlands, Calif., and Dennison, a freshman from Salt Lake City, were all honored for their work on the Huskies' service teams. Washington Football | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1302 | Maag Named National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year
Maag had six student-athletes competing at nationals in the throws, a nation-best
Blaine Maag, in his second year, has been named the National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
NEW ORLEANS - It was announced recently that Grand Valley State throws coach Blaine Maag has been named the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Men's Assistant Coach of the Year.
Maag, in his second year, coached a nation-leading six men's NCAA entries in the shot put and weight throw combined at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships. At the GLIAC Championships, his athletes accounted for 26 team points, helping GVSU win its 13th title in 14 years. Freshman Darien Thornton was named the GLIAC Freshman Field Athlete of the Year and owns the longest weight throw mark by a freshman in Division II history.
To view the full release, please click here. Email this article Printer-friendly format
2014 Outdoor National Championships Schedule/Results Live Results Men's and Women's Rosters News Records and Honors Rankings and Performance List Kelly Family Sports Center Outdoor Track & Field Stadium Camps and Clinics Forms Youth Camps 2013-14 College Meet Information 2014 High School Meet Information GVSU Athletic Facilities Recruiting/Alumni Forms 2013-14 Tryouts Grand Valley State University | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1335 | Navy officially cancels Blue Angels' 2013 season
Blue Angel fighter jets perform a flyover above graduating Midshipmen during the U.S. Naval Academy graduation ceremony last May. / Patrick Semansky, AP by Rob Johnson, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journalby Rob Johnson, Pensacola (Fla.) News Journal Filed Under
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- The Navy announced Tuesday that it was canceling the remaining Blue Angels 2013 performances, citing "budget realities."
The cancellation of Blue Angels air shows extends past the federal fiscal year that ends in September and means the Nov. 1-2 Homecoming Show at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida has been scrapped, too.
"It's not just the fiscal year," said Navy Lt. Aaron Kakiel, spokesman for the Naval Air Forces Command in San Diego.
So the Navy is also canceling the Blues' four air shows in October in San Diego, San Francisco, Fort Worth and Jacksonville, Fla. More importantly for the November 2013 season finale in Pensacola, their practices in October are canceled as well.
Earlier, the Blue Angels canceled performances at 29 venues between April and September. The Blue Angels flew their final demonstration March 24 in Key West, Fla.
In a defense budget of more than $500 billion, eliminating the performances will produce relatively small savings: $28 million for the Blue Angels.
Even if Congress approves a new budget that reduces the impact of the mandatory spending cuts known as sequestration, the Navy isn't committed to immediately allowing the Blues back into action, Kakiel said.
For now, and probably through the end of 2013, the elite flight team's aviators will each be permitted 11 hours per month of flying time, the same amount being allowed to Naval air forces on deployed aircraft carriers.
Although the Blues will be allowed to fly to educational and public relations events, individually and together, they won't be practicing their aerobatic maneuvers, Kakiel said.
The team might be allowed to perform flyovers at some summer events, Kakiel said, but the final decision on those activities hasn't been made, and will come from the Pentagon.
Meanwhile, even if Congress approves a new budget, and the Navy relents on canceling the Blues season this summer, it could take a month of intensive training back at their winter practice home in El Centro, Calif., to get back up to speed, said Dennis Wisley, a retired rear admiral and former Blue Angels flight leader.
"They practice for 10 weeks in the winter, flying two or three times a day, to get ready for their air show season. If they don't practice for 30 days or so, they would have to return to El Centro to get ready again," Wisley said.
Kakiel agreed: "They're not going to be practicing for shows, so getting back to those levels of proficiency takes a long time."
Contributing: Ledyard King, Gannett Washington Bureau
Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Navy officially cancels Blue Angels' 2013 season
Performances were earlier canceled until September because of budget cuts. A link to this page will be included in your message. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1338 | We love reader reviews. If you're a great writer, we'd love to host your NCAA Football 2000 review on this page. Thanks for your support, and for letting your friends know about us. Every time you start here when you shop online, contribute game reviews or tell your friends about our content, you help to ensure that we'll still be here years from now!
None of the material contained within this site may be reproduced in any conceivable fashion without permission from the author(s) of said material. This site is not sponsored or endorsed by Nintendo, Sega, Sony, Microsoft, or any other such party. NCAA Football 2000 is a registered trademark of its copyright holder. This site makes no claim to NCAA Football 2000, its characters, screenshots, artwork, music, or any intellectual property contained within. Opinions expressed on this site do not necessarily represent the opinion of site staff or sponsors. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1351 | The Husker men were ranked fourth in the Pre-Season Collegiate Dual Meet Rankings.
Huskers Ranked Fourth in Men�s Pre-Season Dual Meet Rankings
With the start of the 2013 track and field indoor season just days away, the Nebraska men's track and field team received national recognition on Wednesday as they were ranked as the No. 4 men's indoor collegiate dual-meet team by Track and Field News.
Arkansas led the pre-season rankings, ahead of Texas A&M and Texas. Michigan rounded out the top five. Following the Wolverines was North Carolina, Akron, LSU, Oklahoma and Indiana State. To be considered for the indoor rankings, a team must compete in at least one dual meet during the indoor season, using TFN's definition of a dual meet as a scored meet between four or fewer teams. The Pre-Season Top 101. Arkansas2. Texas A&M3. Texas4. Nebraska5. Michigan6. North Carolina7. Akron8. LSU9. Oklahoma10. Indiana State | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1354 | Latest Images Information
Thank you for visiting HVM Racing Enquiry Form Support Requests will only be answered via HVM Racing. Name
Submit HomeWelcome
NewsWhat's Hot
The TeamAbout Us
IndyCar Tech
SponsorsOur Partners
MarketingLet's Go Racing
Join the Ride
GalleriesSee Our History
HVM-Entergy
HVM-Stargate
HVM-Minardi Team USA
HVM-CTE Racing
HVM-Herdez Competition
Contact UsSay Hello
News HVM STATUS GP COMPLETES LE MANS PREPARATIONS AT TEST DAY
Le Mans, June 9th 2013 - HVM Status GP completed an encouraging Le Mans Test Day as the team gears up for the all-important 24 Hours in two weeks' time. The VISITFLORIDA-backed Lola-Judd B12/80 Coupe completed 67 laps of the circuit, representing 913 kilometres/567 miles, with no significant problems.
Conditions were wet in the morning, while in the afternoon the track gradually gained a dry line, meaning that through the day the car was run on wet-weather, intermediate and slick Dunlop tyres.
Canadian Tony Burgess was the only one of the three HVM Status GP drivers not to run slicks, which the team only used for the final 30 minutes of the eight hours of running. On his first run in the car on the dry-weather tyres, Britain's Johnny Mowlem then comfortably lowered the best time. Finally, Swiss Jonathan Hirschi set the team's best lap in a two-lap run at the end of the day as the track dried out significantly.
The HVM Status GP team did considerably fewer laps on slicks that most of its opposition in the hotly contested LMP2 category, and Hirschi's best time put the car 18th in class.
The Le Mans Test Day represented the first time that the HVM Status GP Lola has performed in public in the colours of new primary sponsor VISIT FLORIDA, the state's official tourism marketing corporation. The car includes the branding of VISIT FLORIDA's travel planning website VISITFLORIDA.com, Viva Florida 500 and Brand USA. HVM Status GP technical director Rob Arnott said: "We have achieved everything we set out to do. We had quite a lot of new bits to run in and evaluate, and the car performed perfectly.
"We didn't concentrate at all on speed. We kept the car with lots of downforce, just to get the miles in and prove some components for the race. We ran the whole time with full tanks and concentrated on race set-up, not quick 'qualifying' times.
"I'm happy with the work we've done. We've got practice and qualifying to work on making the car quicker, but far more important than that is the big race."
Driver quotes
Jonathan Hirschi:
"The car was really nice. It's just the weather that was a bit disappointing, although in the end we were really able to start working on the car. I drove only two laps on slick tyres, but even in that time there was a great feeling. OK, we have more to learn because it was only two laps, but I can't wait now for the event itself because the car felt so good! I'm happy and I know that when we have time on a dry track we can go faster for sure."
Johnny Mowlem:
"I'd never driven the car, but I gelled with both it and the team really well. I found it easier to be competitive in the wet because I could feel the car, and I think we were effectively sixth or seventh in full-wet conditions. On slicks, even on a damp track, I could feel the potential was way beyond what I had imagined. Every lap I was giving it more and it was responding all the time – it's incredible in the high-speed corners, and I think we're in a strong position with our race pace."
Tony Burgess:
"Despite the weather we had a good day, and it was kind of a blessing in disguise: it started out challenging, but it got better and better and that made everything all the more rewarding. I went from wet tyres to intermediates and was ready to change to slicks, but then unfortunately there was a red flag and I had to give the car to my team-mates. You don't push 100 per cent in the wet on a test day but the car responded very well and I'm happy."
About HVM Racing:
HVM Racing was founded by Keith Wiggins and is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 2012 season marks its eleventh year of competition since forming in 2001. Since its inception, HVM Racing has earned six victories, two pole positions, 22 podiums, 40 top-five finishes and 97 top-tens. The team also earned "Indianapolis 500 Rookie of the Year" honors with current driver Simona De Silvestro in 2010. HVM finished fourth and third, respectively, in the Champ Car World Series in 2006 and 2007, and earned drivers Mario Dominguez and Robert Doornbos Rookie of the Year honors in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Follow HVM Racing at www.hvmracing.com, on twitter at www.twitter.com/HVMracing, and on facebook at www.facebook.com/HVMRacing.
About Status GP:
Based in Silverstone, England, Status Grand Prix was formed in 2005 to campaign the A1 Team Ireland franchise in the new A1 Grand Prix Series. The team's shareholders are comprised of former Jordan Grand Prix head of Marketing Mark Gallagher, former FIA Formula One World Championship driver David Kennedy, and Teddy Yip, Jr., who's father Teddy Yip owned the Theodore Racing Formula One team. The team captured the A1 GP season championship in 2008-2009 and has been competing in the GP3 series under the Status Grand Prix banner since 2010, finishing second in the team championship. Follow Status Grand Prix at www.statusgp.com or on twitter @StatusGrandPrix.com or on Facebook atstatusgrandprix. Site Map
Gallery IndyCar Resources
IndyCar website
Firestone Indy Lights
© 2013 LOTUS HVM RACING, LLC
Lotus HVM Racing | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1438 | Q&A: Todd Haley 12/30
Following Chiefs practice today in Kansas City, Todd Haley met with the media. Here are the highlights:
How important is this game for Matt Cassel and his development? The last time these two teams played it was one of his worst games.
“I’ll reiterate again, that as far as quarterbacks go this is still a guy who is getting close to getting two years under his belt. Every game is an opportunity for him to grow and this just happens to be a very good defense and a very difficult atmosphere. It is an opportunity but each week Matt is excited and works hard. He’s into it and is super competitive. I feel like we’ve made some progress here of late and it’s another chance for us to take another step for us as an offense and for him to take a step as our quarterback.”
What area or player this year has made the greatest progress?
“I think one of them is pretty obvious: Jamaal [Charles] has really made big steps. When you talk about that since November only one guy has had more rushing yards than him and that’s Chris Johnson that’s pretty good. Now, we can’t put him in Canton yet. It’s only been a handful of games. Part of being a good player in this league is doing it consistently over a period of time. That’s just where Jamaal is at. That said, there are a bunch of guys without going into detail that I feel like have made big strides. But if you pin me down I’d say Jamaal is the more obvious.”
How has your defensive line progressed or has it not progressed as much as you would have liked?
“It has been up and down and that’s what we have to eliminate. We need to get a group there that can hang in there week-in and week-out and when they’re a little off then have some guys that make up for them. We’ve had some games where they’ve really played solid, even last game [vs. Cincinnati] where the front seven did a really good job throughout the game. They had only two or three plays they’d like to have back. The smaller that number gets the better. That’s really where we’re at as a whole.”
Have you figured out why the inability to score in the first quarter?
“I think this has been a difficult task again, and I’m not making excuses for these guys because they don’t want any excuses made for them. But we made major changes; we’ve done a lot of things. What I think is important now is we’re making progress. Even these last few games we’ve started more positive than we did earlier. Is it good enough? No, clearly not. But I don’t have any regrets about the things we’ve done. I think it’s all happened for a reason. As I said, it’s going to get better and we’re going to be a good team. But you’re got to take your lumps sometimes. The [teams] that haven’t taken their lumps are few and far between that I know of. The teams that have started with everything’s golden and everybody’s happy I don’t know when you’re starting from ground zero. I know there have been growing pains for a lot of different teams and a lot of different staffs, a lot of organizations in general. We’re in that process right now. They’re going to be character builders for us and be what makes us a great team.”
One of your goals was to establish a new mindset or attitude for this organization. Do you feel that’s been done?
“Again, it comes down to wins and losses. I know it’s gets old when you say we’re making progress, but I’m the one out there and I’m the one that sees them. We just lined up today in the 16th week of the season and ran gassers and they’re running hard and they practiced hard today, they’re communicating, they’re here on time regardless of the weather conditions and working together to do the things necessary to be a good team. That’s progress from the inside.”
Posted in Todd Haley on December 30th, 2009
« Deck Stacked Against Denver Salary Cap Madness » | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1446 | Week of Nov. 28, 2011
eInside Events e-Inside >
eInside Events
Events/Professional Development
Kent State Baseball Releases 2012 Schedule
Kent State Gospel Choir Concert Takes Place Dec. 9
Kent State University at Stark Presents a Piano Performance by Laurent Boukobza
Information Architecture and Knowledge Management to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
Kent State Chorale to Perform Carols and Confections in Place of Yuletide Feaste This Year
Parallel and Intersect at Kent State University
Enjoy College and University Night with the Canton Charge – Cleveland Cavs Development Team
Kent State kicks off baseball season with the Rock Hill
Coca-Cola Classic against Georgia Tech, Feb. 17-19.
Golden Flashes set sights on fourth straight NCAA Tournament berth
Kent State baseball head coach Scott Stricklin has announced the 2012 baseball schedule.
Kent State's slate consists of four games against two 2011 NCAA Tournament participants, 27 Mid-American Conference (MAC) contests, 21 home dates at Olga A. Mural Field at Schoonover Stadium and the Sixth Annual Diamond Classic For Kids against rival Akron at Canal Park.
The 2012 season gets underway Feb. 17-19 with the round-robin Rock Hill Coca-Cola Classic. Just like last year, Kent State's first opponent will be Georgia Tech, as the Golden Flashes battle the Yellow Jackets in their first two games of the tournament. Kent State opened '11 at Georgia Tech, upending the then-number 19 Yellow Jackets in a 6-1 victory in the third and final game of a three-game set in Atlanta. Georgia Tech has been a mainstay in the national postseason for nearly three decades, reaching the NCAA Tournament 25 times in the last 27 years. Kent State closes the Classic with two games against host Winthrop. The Golden Flashes beat the Eagles twice on their home field last year to win the Johnny Gill Memorial Tournament.
Kent State's season-opening tour of the South continues with a pair of three-game weekend series at Lipscomb (Feb. 24-26) and Western Kentucky (March 2-4). The Golden Flashes will then fly west for a trip to New Mexico State (March 9-11) before heading off to the West Coast to meet Pepperdine (March 16-18) and Fresno State (March 20-21). The Bulldogs have appeared in the NCAA Tournament five of the last six seasons, highlighted by a national title in 2008.
The Golden Flashes open MAC play at home March 23-25 against West Division foe Northern Illinois as their quest for a second straight MAC regular season crown and 12th in school history begins. Other conference home series include Buffalo (April 6-8), Western Michigan (April 27-29), Miami (May 11-13) and Akron (May 17-19). The series against the Zips kicks off with the Diamond Classic at Canal Park, contest which benefits Akron Children's Hospital. MAC road series include Ball State (March 30-April 1), Bowling Green (April 13-15), Central Michigan (April 20-22) and Ohio (May 4-6).
Midweek non-conference opponents include Pittsburgh, Penn State, Toledo, Youngstown State, Niagara, Lake Erie College and Eastern Michigan.
The season culminates in the MAC Tournament (May 23-26), which will now call All-Pro Freight Stadium in Avon, Ohio, its home after four seasons at VA Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe, Ohio. The winner of the conference tournament receives the MAC's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament. Kent State is taking aim at an unprecedented fourth straight MAC Tournament title and NCAA berth.
The 2012 NCAA Tournament will kick off June 1-4 with regional action, to be followed by Super Regionals (June 8-11) and the College World Series (June 16-27) at TD AmeriTrade Park in Omaha, Neb.
Kent State finished the 2011 season ranked No. 26 in the nation according to the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, winning the MAC regular season and tournament championships and earning a berth in the 2011 NCAA Championship Austin Regional.
For more information, visit http://kentstatesports.com/sports/bsb/index.
Posted Nov. 28, 2011 back to top
The Kent State Gospel Choir performs its fall concert on
Friday, Dec. 9, at Cartwright Hall.
The Kent State University Gospel Choir will hold its fall concert on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m. in Cartwright Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m. No tickets are required to attend the concert, but donations will be accepted.
The concert will feature the Kent State Gospel Choir Step Team and special guest artists Djoser Garrison and the Ralston Purkiss Family and Friends.
For more information about the concert, contact Linda Walker at 330-672-2431 or lwalker@kent.edu.
Professor of piano and chair of the Piano
Studies Program at the University of
Central Florida Laurent Boukobza will
present a piano recital at Kent State Stark.
Kent State University at Stark Music Department presents a piano recital by Laurent Boukobza on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7:30 p.m. in Main Hall Auditorium, 6000 Frank Ave. NW in Jackson Township. The concert is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.
Boukobza’s piano performance for the Kent State Stark audience will include selections from notable composer Franz Liszt.
Born in Villemomble, France, Boukobza began studying piano at the age of 10. He graduated from the Paris Conservatory where he later worked as an assistant piano instructor. He made his first professional recording at the age of 21.
In addition to receiving the First Prize of Piano and Chamber Music Award from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris, he has won many competitions, including the International Piano Competition of Radio France, the International Academy Maurice Ravel and the International Piano Competition of Sofia (Bulgaria). He was also a semi-finalist in the prestigious Queen Elizabeth International Piano Competition of Brussels. Boukobza enjoys his concert tours in conjunction with an active teaching career. His worldwide performances as a dazzling piano soloist and virtuosic chamber musician have earned him critical acclaim. He is the pianist in the famous Sirba Octet, featuring the world renowned Orchestre de Paris.
Boukobza immigrated to the United States in 1998, and is currently the professor of piano and chair of the Piano Studies Program at the University of Central Florida. He regularly performs at prestigious festivals all over the world.
For more information, contact the Music Department at 330-244-5151. To view a list of Kent State Stark’s music events and learn more about the music program, visit www.stark.kent.edu/music.
The Information Architecture and Knowledge Management (IAKM) program will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Tuesday, Nov. 29, in Room 330 of the Kent State University Library from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program takes a holistic approach to how knowledge is managed, interpreted and retained through the graduate program’s three concentrations: knowledge management, user experience design (which encompasses usability and information architecture) and health informatics, a new concentration that started this year. The program is administered by the School of Library and Information Science and is designed to keep students informed of new information skills that will help them find career opportunities that are relatively new, yet growing — and are highly in demand.
The Master of Science in information architecture and knowledge management originated as an interdisciplinary program with partners from the schools of Journalism and Mass Communication, Library and Information Science, Communication Studies and Visual Communication Design, along with the College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management and the Department of Computer Science.
“It was and is a truly innovative program that strived to anticipate new roles for information professionals,” says Thomas Froehlich, Ph.D., IAKM founder and former program director. “It has done so quite successfully, though at the beginning it was challenging to encourage applicants to sign up for fields that were just emerging and for which there were few job ads. Yet, there were many students who, upon searching the Internet for a good program to suit their interests, happened upon the IAKM site and knew they had found an educational home.”
The original concentrations were in usability, information architecture and knowledge management, but the program has since expanded in keeping with the evolution of the information professions. In addition to offering the M.S., IAKM also offers certificate programs in these concentrations.
“The program was designed to be innovative, progressive and adaptive, and in its 10-year existence, it has changed courses, curricula and requirements in response to the dynamic and changing environment for the need for information professionals,” Froehlich says. “The number of students enrolled in the program has been growing steadily, and the program is poised to rapidly increase enrollments in each of the concentrations, mainly due to the concentration advisers and their plans and realizations. Leadership has evolved to the advisers in each concentration who all have considerable expertise in their respective fields and can lead these concentrations to maturity.”
Richard Rubin, Ph.D., associate provost for extended education who served as the School of Library and Information Science director from 1999 to 2010, attributes much of the program’s success to Froehlich.
“Dr. Froehlich’s energy and commitment made the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program possible,” Rubin says. “The Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program was ahead of the curve in recognizing the need for both knowledge managers and information architects.”
“Although it had a relatively slow start, it now has substantial enrollments as the need for such individuals has become apparent in the workplace,” Rubin continues. “Over the years, the curriculum has changed as the needs for such individuals have changed, and its contemporary curriculum makes it highly desirable for those going into the field. IAKM is a tremendous interdisciplinary asset to the university community.”
James Gaudino, Ph.D., former dean of the College of Communication and Information, who is now president of Central Washington University in Ellensburg, Wash., remembers IAKM as a cutting-edge program with the potential to gain an international presence.
“I saw it as a practical extension of changes in information and communication sciences generated by digital technologies,” Gaudino says. “I was particularly impressed by its interdisciplinary breadth and its attractiveness to a broad range of professions. Without question, it held the potential of providing a framework to integrating the disciplinary and professional program that were the basis of the college.”
According to Froehlich, being at the leading edge of such a pioneering program at Kent State has been challenging and rewarding. “One of the greatest pleasures of the program is to see how many graduates have found successful and prestigious jobs, mainly because they were creative, energetic and hard-working persons,” he says. “The program became a vehicle for them to shine, making the program look good and attracting more employers. A program is known by its graduates and if the Information Architecture and Knowledge Management program sparkles, it is due to the aura created by its graduates.”
The graduates – along with Froehlich – will be the focus of the 10th anniversary celebration reception, says Don Wicks, Ph.D., School of Library and Information Services interim director. “We’re delighted to honor Dr. Froehlich’s leadership, without which IAKM might not exist. And we look forward to welcoming back some of our alums, including our first-ever IAKM alumnus of the year.”
RSVP for the reception at http://bit.ly/iakm10th-rsvp.
Posted Nov. 28, 2011 | Nicole Gennarelli back to top
The December performance will feature holiday songs and seasonal treats for concertgoers
The Kent State University Chorale will perform a variety
of holiday songs during Carol and Confections on Dec. 3,
at the University Auditorium of Cartwright Hall.
The Kent State University Chorale will perform an array of holiday songs during Carols and Confections at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3, in the University Auditorium of Cartwright Hall on Terrace Drive in Kent. Immediately following the concert, guests will be welcomed to a variety of holiday treats and beverages.
The event will serve as a fundraiser for the Chorale and will include an eclectic song list. Guests can expect to hear a wide variety of seasonal melodies, ranging from the Gregorian chant to Renaissance songs, and from contemporary carol arrangements to Hanukkah songs.
A long-standing Yuletide Feaste tradition will take a break to allow Carols and Confections to debut. The Yuletide Feaste is a medieval-themed dinner, complete with a queen, live medieval entertainment and the voices of the Kent State Chorale. Director Scott MacPherson says the Yuletide Feaste “will be better than ever” when it returns next year. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $8 for students with valid ID or for children under 18 years. Call 330-672-2172 for tickets or purchase at the door. Cash or check only will be accepted.
The Kent State University Chorale is made up of students across all majors who dedicate themselves to music, and work towards refining their talents. Each year, the chorale performs on campus and throughout the region and state and even toured Italy for 11 days, performing in Florence, Rome, Venice and Greve. Posted Nov. 28, 2011 back to top
Dance faculty present diverse program
Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance will
show original choreography by dance faculty members on Dec. 2-4. Dance ’11: Parallel + Intersect will feature diverse
styles of modern dance.
Kent State University’s School of Theatre and Dance will show original choreography by dance faculty members on Dec. 2-4. Dance ’11: Parallel + Intersect will be presented at 8 p.m. on Friday,
Dec. 2, and Saturday, Dec. 3, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4, in
E. Turner Stump Theatre in the Music and Speech Center. Tickets are $16 for adults, $14 for faculty, staff and Kent State alumni, $12 for seniors and $8 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the Box Office by calling 330-672-2497 or online at www.dance.kent.edu. Hours are weekdays noon to 5 p.m. Free parking is available.
The concert will feature diverse styles of modern dance choreographed by faculty members Kimberly Karpanty, Erin LaSala, Joan Meggitt, Andrea Shearer and Barbara Allegra Verlezza. In addition, the duet Intermittent Agitation will be performed by Karpanty and Meggitt, while Dance Music Director Bill Sallak will present a performance of John Luther Adams’ evocative Wail.
Dance ’11 is a collaboration between faculty and students in the School of Theatre and Dance, and involves more than 75 performers, designers, faculty members, crew members and staff. The concert will be hosted by Associate Professor Barbara Allegra Verlezza, who will provide background information and insights about each piece prior to its performance.
“Time! Humor! Humanity! are the inspirations for this year’s faculty dance concert, Dance ’11: Parallel + Intersect,” says Shearer, the dance division director.
Comic works include The Scrimmage, a trio by LaSala set to classical music and based upon young soccer players who warm the bench; and Shearer’s Umbrellapalooza, exploring where real life meets the circus, with umbrellas representing everything from career tightropes, to individuals’ cherished wishes and dreams.
Time factors are important to Meggitt’s Getting Up to Speed and LaSala’s point-present, which starts a movement timeline and works backward to the beginning.
Exploring the complexities of human relationships is the focus of Silhouettes by Verlezza, a duet to Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata, while Karpanty’s choreography for the 14 members of the Kent Dance Ensemble finds inspiration in the words of Colin Verarncombe, “Look at me standing/here on my own again/up straight in the sunshine.”
For more information, visit www.dance.kent.edu.
Discount tickets available for Kent State employees
The Canton Charge – the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Development Team in Canton—invites the Kent State University community for a night of fun to celebrate its inaugural season on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Canton Civic Center. The team will play the Texas Legends, with tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
Discount tickets are available for Kent State faculty and staff, and a free meal package is available with every ticket purchased through this offer.
To order tickets, visit www.theqarena.com/qpass, and enter the password: KSU. The password is case sensitive. Families wishing to sit together must submit orders at the same time. All sales are final.
Orders placed within 10 days of the game will be held for pickup at the Civic Center Main Ticket office.
For more information, contact Chris Muhlberg at 216-420-2865 or cmuhlberg@cavs.com.
View more listings on the university's online calendar of events. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1453 | Sign Out Photos: Top national sports stories of 2012
Petrino Fired
Bobby Petrino had already embarrassed himself several years ago when he quit on the Atlanta Falcons after winning just three games in his only season as head coach – leaving the team before the season was over in order to take the same job at the University of Arkasnas.
It got worse on April 10 when he was fired for what was called an inappropriate relationship with a staffer, Jessica Dorrell. The affair was discovered after Petrino, a married father of four, and Dorrell were involved in a motorcycle accident.
It was later discovered that Dorrell, who is half Petrino’s age, was put on the fast track for a job under Petrino and that Petrino had, at one point, given her a gift of $20,000.
Petrino landed another job in December as head coach at Western Kentucky. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1485 | Donovan Opens Up About Time with Everton Donovan names his two most memorable moments from his sojourn in England. April 9, 2010 LAGalaxy.com Staff landon_everton
If you thought you had heard it all, think again.
LA Galaxy forward Landon Donovan opened up about his time with Everton to Houston’s SportsTalk 790 AM this week, ahead of Saturday’s game against the Dynamo at Robertson Stadium (10 p.m., delayed, FS-West).
Speaking to longtime soccer commentator Glenn Davis, Donovan spoke about the moment he found out that he would be starting against Arsenal and the day the Toffees beat Manchester United with his father watching from the stands - the two most memorable moments from his sojourn in England.
Asked by Davis to name one moment, on or off the field, that just stood out in his mind about the entire experience, Donovan briefly struggled to think of one and said, “I’m going to give two,” to which Davis gladly replied, “That’s fine. We’ll take two.”
“The first one was sitting in the team meal room, before we had our pre-game meal at Arsenal, the very first game (Donovan played in), where (David) Moyes came in and named the team,” said Donovan, who at that point had only trained properly with the Toffees three times. “In the back of my head, I’m thinking, it’s possible that I could play, but, you know, let’s be realistic here.
“And when he named my name and said I was on the team, it was just this feeling that I will never forget.
“It was anxiety… it was a lot of excitement. And then I realized, right in that moment, the opportunity that I had and I wanted to make the most of it. I’ll never forget that moment.
“The other moment was getting to play against Manchester United, who for most of us in America, who have grown up loving the sport, that club is the epitome of what soccer is around the world. To get a chance to play against them, to get a chance play well against them, to beat them, and my dad was there for that game, was a really, really special day for me.
All David could reply was, “wow, that must have been unbelievable with your father there.”
“Yeah, it was really cool.”
Donovan went on to say that he actually felt ill the day of the match against Manchester United and had to “pump” himself with as much medicine as possible just to be able to play.
“After the game I just kind of crashed,” he said. “We went and had a meal right away, but immediately after we were done eating I just kind of hit the wall and wasn’t feeling good so we went home. But I think we were all OK with that at that moment.”
Donovan’s interview with Davis can heard in it’s entirety HERE. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1514 | 2014.04.21 20:31 23°C East Asian Games company appointments announced *********************************************** The following is issued on behalf of the 2009 East Asian Games (Hong Kong) Limited:
The Board of Directors of the 2009 East Asian Games (Hong Kong) Limited (2009 EAG (HK) Ltd) today (November 1) announced the appointment of Mr Johnny Woo Wai-man as the Chief Executive Officer of the company with effect from November 8, 2006.
The 2009 EAG (HK) Ltd is established as the executive arm of the East Asian Games Planning Committee (EAGPC) to carry out the preparatory work for the Games in 2009.
The company is managed by a board of directors chaired by President of the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, Mr Timothy Fok, who also chairs the EAGPC.
The newly appointed CEO will be responsible for carrying out various aspects of work for the organisation, implementation and delivery of the 2009 East Asian Games, including co-ordination with relevant government departments and the local sports sector. Mr Woo worked in the Leisure and Cultural Services Department before retirement in 2005 and has more than 30 years' experience in developing leisure services and driving sports development in Hong Kong. He has built up an extensive network with the local sports sector. He was selected to become the CEO from some 30 candidates in an open recruitment exercise conducted earlier this year by a recruitment board comprised of the board of directors of the 2009 EAG (HK) Ltd and chaired by Mr Fok. "Mr Woo's immense experience in sports development and close working relationship with the local sports sector are crucial elements for us to prepare for the 2009 Games," Mr Fok said.
The company also announced that Mr Eddie Suen Kwok-tung and Ms Joyce Tse Wai-chu had assumed the offices of Head (Administration) and Head (Publicity and Marketing) of the company in August and October, 2006, respectively.
Mr Suen has good knowledge and experience in managerial and administrative work and has worked for various non-government organisations. He was the former Executive Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth. Ms Tse has extensive experience in public relations and marketing, serving more than 10 years in senior management positions in the field of information technology and telecommunications as well as banking. "We will have a strong team of executives to implement the 2009 East Asian Games and more staff will be in place next year. With our concerted efforts, we will make the Games a success for Hong Kong," Mr Fok said. Ends/Wednesday, November 1, 2006
Last revision date: 1 November, 2006 | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1531 | Quarterbacks duel for the starting job
No comments Jordan Jacobo, Sports editor
With the Northwest Conference title out of reach, the final game of the football season against Lewis & Clark College on Nov. 11 was the debut for the future of the passing game and two young quarterbacks.
Senior quarterback Trevor Scharer, a poised two-year starter, bowed out after the team’s playoff hopes were dashed in a 10-6 loss to Whitworth University the prior week. It was time for the future of Wildcat football to make its mark.
The two quarterbacks gunning for the No. 1 spot, sophomore Aaron Boehme and freshman Cole Franklin shared their first shot at substantial playing time. Boehme played the entire first half, completing 14 of 17 passes while throwing five touchdowns. Franklin played in the second half as the ’Cats wrapped up with their strong running game. He threw one touchdown and managed 40 yards on the ground as Linfield completed a 66-0 onslaught of Lewis & Clark.
Now, as spring practices wind down and players prepare for their summer training schedules, a quarterback battle for the top spot on the depth chart is heating up.
“The goal of the spring was to try and see what they are capable of,” head football coach Joe Smith said. “I think we did that. It’s definitely still a competition between the two.” Smith said the practices have shown him the leadership qualities that both quarterbacks possess. Boehme and Franklin offer a different skill set than Scharer had, and the offense is evolving to match the quarterback change, Smith said.
“He was a very natural passer, very prolific when throwing on the run,” Smith said. “Boehme and Franklin are a little more fleet of foot and have better pocket presence.”
Smith has not yet set a time table for deciding who will be next year’s starter.
Boehme, who played in six games this season and holds the edge in experience, said the competition has pushed him to improve.
Watching Scharer, who started during Boehme’s first two years at the school, helped him learn about what it takes to be a successful quarterback, he said.
“(Scharer) had a real fearlessness about him,” Boehme said. “He exuded confidence. Players looked to him and knew he would get the job done.”
Franklin, who came to Linfield after quarterbacking an option-based attack in high school, said being faced with a spread offense and pass-heavy playbook was a big change.
Franklin said the possibility of a tandem quarterback offense to start the season, where both players share responsibilities of the position, is a likely solution for the quarterback conflict.
Whatever the outcome, Smith said the choice will be what’s best for the team
“They are very positive guys,” Smith said. “They have the ability to inspire confidence in their teammates. They want each other to do well, which creates an extremely healthy
© 2014 The Linfield Review Powered by WordPress | | Thanks to Bakers, webbkatalog.webs.com and News | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1537 | Henson targets comeback
9 November 2010 11:35am
By Westgate: Mike Brown
Gavin Henson targets a return this month
2005 British Lion Gavin Henson believes he will be ready to make his long-awaited rugby comeback within four weeks.
The Strictly Come Dancing star ended a 19-month self-imposed break from the game by joining Saracens last month.
He was in the stands to watch his new club on the weekend and witnessed their 22-all LV=Cup draw with Northampton.
It was the first full game the former Osprey has watched since taking his sabbatical and he revealed he is only three to four weeks away from being fit enough to play his first game for the Aviva Premiership outfit.
That could ironically see the 2005 tourist make his comeback against the side he last played against. Henson picked up ankle and Achilles injuries in the EDF Energy Cup against the Cherry and Whites back in March 2009.
Now he could be in line to banish his demons by facing Gloucester on November 27, if not Harlequins on December 4.
"I have to be patient and I'm probably three or four weeks off playing," said 28-year-old Henson.
"Every time I watch a game of rugby I just want to be out there. It was fun to watch and I can't wait to be out there with them. That was the first game of rugby I have watched in about 18 months. I enjoyed it, it looks like nothing much has changed."
Henson featured in four games during the 2005 tour of New Zealand, scoring two tries in the process. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1542 | London 'needs security assistance for 2012'
Published: Wednesday 11th of March 2009
An influential group of peers has called on the EU and Nato to provide security at the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Lord Jopling, chairman of the EU committee, is surprised such measures are not already in place and urges the government to act fast.
"We hope Nato's 60th anniversary summit next month will be an opportunity to remedy this," he continues.
The peer adds that the government need to take "every possible step to ensure other EU member states are fully prepared to assist the UK" when it hosts the games in three years' time.
Earlier this month, Rebecca Adlington made calls for officials to keep the 800 metres freestyle race for the 2012 Olympics, an event which she won in Beijing last year.
Sports fans visiting London can take in many of the city's sporting sights with their London Pass, which gives free entry to the likes of the Chelsea FC Stadium and Wimbledon.Related articles
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next
Explore the mini-festivals in LondonMonday 20th of January 2014 London is the home of the entertainment scene. Not only are there some fantastic attractions to get...
Experience the sights and sounds of London in a variety of waysFriday 10th of January 2014 London continues to excel as a popular place that so many visitors around the world flock to.
Not...
Experience the magic of Hampton Court PalaceTuesday 7th of January 2014 One of the most magical things to do in the winter is to glide effortlessly across an icerink, with...
Prepare to be spooked at the Tower of LondonTuesday 7th of January 2014 If you are a thrill seeker who happens to be on the hunt for ghosts this winter, then it doesn't...
Enjoy a tipple at some of the best bars in LondonWednesday 1st of January 2014 There is nothing more British than enjoying a pint of beer down the local pub. And if you're out...
Top 5 places to entertain the kids this winterMonday 16th of December 2013 There are so many exciting places to take the kids in the capital this winter, as there is no shortage...
London lights up for the winter with special festivals and seasonal sportsMonday 18th of November 2013 There are plenty of things to see and do in London this winter and boroughs all across the city are...
Clothe yourself in designer labels at London's top storesMonday 11th of November 2013 One of the best things about London is the shopping. It is truly a shop 'til you drop kind of...
Skate in style at the Queen's Ice RinkMonday 4th of November 2013 Do you know what I love most about the colder seasons? Ice skating! There's nothing quite like...
Fireworks to put the sparkle back into LondonMonday 28th of October 2013 London will be ablaze with fireworks this month as the nation gears up for an array of sizzling firework...
American football comes to the UK at Wembley stadiumMonday 14th of October 2013 American football will this month be taking centre-stage at Wembley stadium - one of London's...
Prev 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Next TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1546 | You are hereHome » News » LOTUS TAKES FIRST WSR WIN AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS
LOTUS TAKES FIRST WSR WIN AT SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS Tuesday, June 5, 2012 - 16:45 Marco Sørensen brought the Czech Lotus team its debut win in the World Series by Renault Formula 3.5 at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday. But the team’s joy was tempered by Richie Stanaway’s heavy crash in Sunday’s race. Marco Sørensen managed to avoid any trouble at the start of Saturday’s race and the Dane was running third when a safety car period interrupted things. The Lotus driver capitalized on a tussle between leader Kevin Magnussen and Sam Bird on the approach to La Source, and snuck into the lead. He was able to pull away and scored his first win in the World Series by Renault with a solid two second gap over the rest of the field.
By contrast, Richie Stanaway went through disappointment at Spa-Francorchamps. Not only did his qualifying go badly but during the warm-up lap he found the car’s pneumatic system was losing pressure. The Kiwi lost a lot of time in the pits and returned to the track only at the end of the race to collect some data and mileage.
Marco Sørensen: “The team had prepared a great car and I was able to follow the leaders easily without pushing hard. I saw Bird’s attack on Magnussen and thought that both would go wide. I took my chance and got to the lead. I am very happy. The team did a great job and I am looking forward to tomorrow.”
Richie Stanaway: “Four races, four technical problems. We are really unlucky this season. It had started already in the qualifying – I was coming to Les Combes where was lot of dirt on my second approach and I spun as if it was on ice. I did not set a time and during the warm-up lap I experienced a technical problem and had to pit immediately.”
Rain hit Spa again before the start of the second race and the race director decided to start behind the Safety Car to avoid possible multiple crashes at the first corner. Both Lotus drivers kept their position when the real race started. There were many crashes and trips across the gravel. One of them occured on lap 9 when Stanaway crashed into the car in front of him and was launched up into the air. He landed heavily and unfortunately sustained fractures to his fourth and fifth vertebrae. The New Zealander is now seeing medical specialists in Paris.
The race was stopped after Stanaway’s crash. Sørensen held 10th place after the restart and was ninth at the flag. However, Jake Rosenzweig and Lewis Williamson were penalised after the race as they had not done the mandatory pitstop and Sørensen moved up to seventh.
Marco Sørensen now lies fourth in the driver championship while Richie Stanaway is 17th. Team Lotus is fifth among the teams.
The whole Lotus family wishes Richie speedy recovery. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1565 | Danica Patrick, husband splitting
NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and her husband Paul Hospenthal, who are divorcing, took a media tour in the nation's capital in February. / H. Darr Beiser, USA TODAY Sports by Nate Ryan and Heather Tucker, USA TODAY Sportsby Nate Ryan and Heather Tucker, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under
Danica Patrick is on the market again, the most eligible bachelorette on the NASCAR circuit.
The driver who has made headlines from IndyCar to NASCAR and whose image has been splashed across televisions nationwide in racy ads for sponsor Go Daddy announced on her Facebook page Tuesday that she and her husband of seven years, Paul Hospenthal, are ending their marriage.
Her relationship status on the page is not listed; the item had received nearly 3,000 comments just five hours after being posted at 3 p.m.
Patrick, 30, met Hospenthal, who is 17 years older, in 2002 when he helped her rehabilitate a hip injury.
GOOD FAN VIBE: Patrick wins popularity contest
Since they married in 2005, Hospenthal was Patrick's partner in life and in business as the most influential and trusted confidante of a small inner circle that manages her coveted brand. The transcendent star said she didn't make major decisions without consulting her husband, who built a physical therapy business in Scottsdale, Ariz., that catered to high-profile professional athletes.
Despite earning millions annually in endorsements, Patrick has eschewed buying a jet and has been known to fly coach and bank on getting a first-class upgrade. She has credited that common-sense frugality and her compact but efficient business team to Hospenthal.
"A lot of that comes from my husband," Patrick told USA TODAY Sports in a February interview before her first Daytona 500. "He's smart and has had his own company for a long time. He's just an intelligent guy. I learned from him how to take care of things. I want to have money when I retire. You don't do that by spending it all."
Patrick said that the 2011 season (split between NASCAR and IndyCar) was the first that she and Hospenthal spent alone as a married couple on the road. Her family often accompanied them while helping handle her business dealings in the years following her 2005 breakthrough as the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500.
"We made it work really well for a while, but it's very difficult to have your parents working for you," she said. "I needed my parents and that relationship back, and I didn't want every phone call to be, 'What do they want now?' It just became a very cluttered environment without enough boundaries. So for my peace of mind and my relationship with my husband as well, we needed to give it some space."
Now she and Hospenthal will get the space.
"I am sad to inform my fans that after 7 years, Paul and I have decided to amicably end our marriage," she wrote on Facebook. "This isn't easy for either of us, but mutually it has come to this. He has been an important person and friend in my life and that's how we will remain moving forward."
The news comes at the end of Patrick's first full-time season in NASCAR. Four top-10 finishes in 33 Nationwide races with JR Motorsports helped her finish 10th in driver points - highest ever for a female driver in any of the three NASCAR series. She was voted the series' most popular driver.
She'll drive full-time for Tony Stewart's Sprint Cup team in 2013, when the line for autographs probably will be a lot longer.
Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Danica Patrick, husband splitting
She makes announcement on her Facebook page, says split is amicable. A link to this page will be included in your message. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1576 | VIDEO: Camel runs amok after escaping circus
It's not something you see every day -- a camel was loose on the streets of California after she escaped from a nearby circus. Video
VIDEO: Nolan Ryan's wild first pitch
Even in his most dominant years, Nolan Ryan was never known for his pinpoint control. The all-time Major League leader in strikeouts -- and walks -- threw out the ceremonial first pitch this week before the Houston Astros' opener against the New York Yankees. It did not go well.
VIDEO: Teen killed by train saving girlfriend's life
Hundreds gathered in a small Northern California town to honor the life of Mateus Moore, who was hit by a train while trying to save his girlfriend.
VIDEO: Former police chief swallows evidence in court
The former police chief, Richard Masten, tore up a document containing information about a confidential source, chewed it up and swallowed it in court.
VIDEO: First month of Colorado pot legalization brought in $2M in tax revenue The first month of recreational marijuana sales in Colorado brought in about $2 million in tax revenue, the first indicator of the earning potential of the U.S.’s premier legal pot market.
VIDEO: Two dead at SXSW after car hits crowd
A suspected drunken driver fleeing police crashed through barricades at the South By Southwest festival in Austin, slamming into a crowd outside a nightclub and killing a man and woman on a moped early Thursday, police said.
VIDEO: Wild car chase in Denver
Denver police apprehended a man who led them on a wild chase in three different stolen cars Wednesday after a four-year-old boy was reportedly kidnapped from a gas station.
VIDEO: A panoramic view from atop One World Trade Center
NBC's Today Show aired footage from a year-long project by TIME magazine to capture a 360-degree moving image from atop One World Trade Center, the 1,776-foot structure in New York City that is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere.
VIDEO: Skydiver, pilot treated after midair collision
A pilot practicing take-offs and landings got tangled up with a skydiver in Polk County, Fla., but amazingly, no one was seriously hurt.
VIDEO: Michigan woman's death, mummified body hidden by auto-pay for six years
The mummified body of a Michigan woman was discovered in the backseat of her car approximately six years after her death. The body was only found after the bank that foreclosed on the home ordered work on the property.
More Video Headlines | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1588 | MensTennisForums.com > Misc.
> Blast From The Past
> Inactive Players Forums
> Andre Agassi Message Board
Andre in 2006...
Gigan
Do you know guys tennis tournaments where Andre plans to play next year?
Inform us here!
We know that in 2006 Andre will start with KOOYONG CLASSIC, then -
will try (to get it) in Australian Open...
Due to that article below i found that Andre Agassi is entered into the Dubai Tennis Championships that will take place in February 27 -- March 4, 2006.
Tennis Channel Open Lands In Las Vegas
By Tennis Week
One of the gaming capitals of the country is turning to tennis. The Tennis Channel Open has landed in Las Vegas. The Tennis Channel will officially announce the news on a conference call on Tuesday that will include Tennis Channel founder and president Steve Bellamy, Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman and Chris Clouser, CEO, ATP Properties.
The 32-player draw ATP hard-court tournament, which had been staged at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the past 16 years, will be staged in Vegas starting on February 27th, 2006. The tournament is expected to be staged at Summerlin Park, which features a 24 courts, including a stadium court. Tennis Channel executives have told Tennis Week in the past the Channel is interested in acquiring a WTA event and staging a combined men's and women's Tennis Channel Open. The Channel envisions establishing a multi-faceted event that could conceivably grow in scope and size, featuring junior and senior tournaments, wheelchair tournaments and other sports, including beach volleyball, clinics, concerts and entertainment that would present players and fans with an abundance of activities and The Tennis Channel with hours of potential programming as well as new revenue streams from advertisers and potential sponsors.
Las Vegas' most notable tennis personality, Tennis Channel investor Andre Agassi, is not expected to play the tournament in his hometown next February. Agassi is entered into the Dubai Tennis Championships, contested the same week as The Tennis Channel Open. _____________________________________
Andre Agassi forever Last edited by Gigan : 10-18-2005 at 08:43 PM.
Find More Posts by Gigan
Agassi Aces
Re: Andre in 2006...
Aus Open
Find More Posts by Agassi Aces
Thanks for the list! Is it proved?
Where you got it? _____________________________________
Andre Agassi forever Gigan
Not yet confirmed........... Gil Raes was in BBC Radio 5 Live in UK!
suus21
it is Gil Reyes!
Find More Posts by suus21
Originally Posted by Agassi Aces
thanks for the info, Agassi Aces _____________________________________ | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1604 | Connect with Minor League Ball
Minor League Notes, July 1st, 2011
By John Sickels
Chicago Cubs prospect Josh Vitters (Photo by Ezra Shaw, Getty Images)
**I really don't like the idea of pulling the plug on a prospect who is just 21 years old, but it is time we faced some facts about Chicago Cubs cornerman Josh Vitters. He still has the pretty swing, but his .279/.315/.442 line in 69 games for Double-A Tennessee is just not impressive, and his miniscule walk rate and impatience is in danger of dragging down his career.
Vitters boosters will point to the fact that he's fanned just 19 times and is still young for the level, and they have a point. It is still plausible that he'll emerge as the player Cubs officials dream on, hitting for a high batting average with power. But while plausible, it no longer seems probable to me. His game is so strongly dependent on his batting average that, unless he can consistently hit .300 or higher, which seems doubtful to me, his OBP will be a drag on the offense.
He's on course for a 14-homer season this year, which just isn't enough for a corner guy, especially a first baseman. I note that his third base fielding percentage is down to .869 this year and that his range factor in 47 games there is terrible. He's also played 26 games at first base, and it would surprise no one if Vitters ends up there in the end. And if that happens, he'll really have to pick up the hitting to play regularly in a major league lineup.It isn't too late for him, but he's got to make significant progress in the second half to still rank as an elite prospect. **Los Angeles Angels third base prospect Kaleb Cowart is off to a terrific start in the Pioneer League, going 19-for-37 (.514) with five walks and four steals in his first 10 games for Orem. Drafted in the first round last year out of high school in Adel, Georgia, Cowart excites Angels brass with his power potential and strong throwing arm. Most teams liked him better as a pitcher, but Cowart wanted to hit and the Angels obliged. It's very early obviously, but the first returns are certainly positive and he could end up at Low-A Cedar Rapids by August if he continues to blister the ball like this.**Last year people wondered if Kyle Seager's .345/.419/.503 line in the California League was just another High Desert heat mirage. So far, the Seattle Mariners prospect is proving the doubters wrong, hitting .312/.381/.459 in 66 games for Double-A Jackson to earn a promotion to Triple-A Tacoma, where he's off to a very fast start (14-for-27, .519 in six games). Overall he's hitting .331/.398/.485 this year. A third round pick out of North Carolina in '09, Seager is a pure hitter with plenty of gap power and a feel for the strike zone. His best defensive position is third base, but he's not terrible at second base and shortstop despite limited middle infield range. I like him. **St. Louis Cardinals third base prospect Zack Cox is having a difficult transition to Double-A. Drafted in the first round last year from the University of Arkansas, he was supposed to be a highly-advanced college bat who could zip through the minors. He signed a major league contract with $6 million, but if his current performance is any indicator he won't be ready for the Show soon.
He began the year hitting .335/.380/.439 in 42 games for High-A Palm Beach, but since moving up to Springfield in the Texas League he's hitting a mere .207/.290/.293 in 116 at-bats, 32 games. He's a line drive hitter and perhaps is having some bad BABIP luck right now, but on the other hand he's supposed to be a contact expert, yet he's striking out once per game with 31 whiffs in 116 at-bats. He's also struggling with the glove, with 10 errors leading to an abysmal .885 fielding percentage. It is way too early to conclude that he's a bust, but Cox obviously has a lot of work to do on both sides of the ball.
2014 Baseball Prospect Book status report
Mets trade Ike Davis to Pirates for Zack Thornton
Top 20 Organization Baseball Prospect List 4/16
Minor League Ball Suggestion Thread
Prospect Notes: Mikie Mahtook, Jesus Aguilar
Umpire ‘with a personality’ gets call to the bigs | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1627 | MOTUL widely represented at 90th anniversary edition of Le Mans 24 Hours
Pomona, CA. The 2013 edition of the world’s most famous and prestigious sports car race, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is likely to be a special one for many, not least because it’s the 90th anniversary of the very first running of the great event in 1923. Motul has been involved with the 24 Hours for almost 60 of those years, and will have a truly significant presence both on track and off it in 2013. One of the leading lubricant companies involved in international motorsport, Motul is providing technical support to no less than seven teams (ten entries) in the very competitive customer prototype category, LMP2, and two teams (four entries) in the production-led GT class. Taking place on 22nd/23rd June on the 14km track which is made up largely of public roads, Motul has every expectation of claiming further class victories to those gained in 2011 and 2012 and further in the past.
LMP2 is the biggest category in the race with 22 entries, and within it there are several favourites for victory – all supported by Motul. These include former winners Greaves Motorsport, leading contenders OAK Racing, HVM Status GP, Jota Sport, current European Le Mans Series points leaders Thiriet by TDS Racing, KCMG, and current FIA World Endurance Championship leaders, Pecom Racing. Nine of these are Nissan-powered, the VK45 engine being developed by the Japanese motor manufacturer in conjunction with Motul, and all will be using an experimental lubricant developed by the French-based specialists for Nismo.
Two cars are of particular note: the No.41 Greaves Motorsport Zytek-Nissan will benefit from the technical support of Caterham Technology – an arm of the Formula One Grand Prix team – and will run in the company’s familiar green, white and yellow colours. Also guaranteed to stand out amongst its rivals will be OAK Racing’s No.45 Morgan-Nissan, decorated in a livery in keeping with the recently unveiled Art Car. Designed by Fernando Costa, the car has been honoured by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest with the title ‘Art Car of the 90th anniversary of the Le Mans 24 Hours’ and Motul is an official partner of the project. In the production-led LMGTE Am category, Motul is represented by two of the most experienced and successful teams in the class. Long-time partner and multiple title-winning team Larbre Compétition will be campaigning two Corvette C6Rs, the strongest of which will be aiming for class honors in the category aimed specifically at gentlemen drivers. Included in this line up is GM factory supported driver Ricky Taylor from America. Competing against them for victory is another successful French team, IMSA Matmut Porsche which also has two entries and benefits from the inclusion of Porsche factory driver, Wolf Henzler, in the driver line up.
Reinforcing its presence in endurance racing, Motul’s iconic red and white colors will be seen prominently displayed around the track, particularly at the Virage du raccordement which will be adorned entirely in Motul colours as will the grandstand at that corner. New for 2013, Motul’s name is emblazoned large on the front, back and roof of the grandstand for all to see at every angle. Furthermore, a film about Motul’s 300V product will be shown on the giant screens positioned around the track during the race, and all of the 28 grid girls will be wearing Motul’s infamous colours, just as in 2012.
Buttrick Earns Top-Ten
Cody Webb Wins his Second in a Row!
DAVID HIGGINS AND SUBARU RALLY TEAM USA WIN THE 2013 RALLY AMERICA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP WITH VICTORY AT THE LAKE SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE RALLY
http://www.motul.com/us/en-US/news/events-racing/pirelli-world-challenge-2014-gt-gts-schedule-announced-series-celebrates-its-25th-anniversary-season-next-year
Pirelli World Challenge 2014 GT/GTS Schedule Announced. Series Celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season Next Year | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1646 | Norwegian Trojan: Foreign exchange student finds a home at CHS
By JOSEPH ELERSON | News-Telegram Sports Writer
Oct. 11, 2007 - CUMBY - When everyone hears the phrase, "Everything is bigger in Texas," it is usually just a normal phrase.
For Petter Hassel, he is living it this year as a foreign exchange student at Cumby High School.
"People talk a lot down here and their attitude is much different here than in Norway," Hassel said. "They have a lot of confidence in themselves and I think that is good but some people have too much confidence in themselves. Otherwise, everything is bigger and much more pumped up here."
The starting defensive tackle came to Texas from Oslo, Norway and has been a welcome addition to the Trojans football team, according to head coach Kent Hawthorne.
"Petter has a smile on his face all the time and loves American football," the coach said. "He comes to work and works hard and does everything we have asked him to do. He starts at defensive tackle for us and played some nose guard in Norway and he gives us depth. He is strong and has great vision and takes care of his position."
Hassel said from the very first day he stepped on the football field, the adjustment to the Texas heat took him a while to get used to during practices.
"This year has been hot here. When I first got here, it took maybe 10 minutes and I was exhausted," said Hassel, the son of Brit Wold-Hansen and Knut Hassel. "I was really done and I got the water boys to throw towels at me and water, and now I am starting to get used to the heat. All of the people have been nice to me and are helping me out and I really like it here."
Hawthorne said the people of Cumby have helped Petter in many ways to get adjusted to the way things are done in Texas.
"We are trying to Americanize him a little bit here and we are trying to get him involved in a little bit of everything here," the coach said. "I think he got to go and watch Texas A&M and Baylor and he is trying to go to the State Fair with the health class. He has been to Six Flags and has been a lot of fun for us." With his family in Oslo, Hassel said playing with his teammates and in front of the Cumby fans has been a privilege for him.
"The team is much more close here than in Norway because we don't have sports in school in Norway," he said. "Everybody is close to each other and I am really getting connected to this team and they are starting to feel like my family.
"In Norway, we get like 20 supporters sitting on the sidelines for our games. Here we have hundreds and it is so big as everybody is thinking of football all week long and talking about football. It is on TV every day and I have never watched as much football as I have here because we don't have it on TV in Norway."
He said working with Coach Hawthorne has been worth the trip to the states and he knows that his hard work is paying off in terms of football.
"My coach actually taught me how to give my best all the time. He is always at everybody's tail and keeping everybody working all the time," Hassel said. "Even though you think he knows that it don't work, he knows it and he actually gives you credit for your hard work. You get feedback on everything that you do and everything is much more specific here."
Once Hassel wraps up his senior year at Cumby, he will return to Norway and finish one more year of school before heading to the military. Hassel said even though every young man must go to the military for a minimum of one year, he will probably stay for four years and become an engineer. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1706 | PGA: Rory McIlroy tied for lead in Dubai
By MICHAEL CASEY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The Record
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Rory McIlroy shot a 5-under 67 Friday and is tied for the lead with Luke Donald and Marc Warren after two rounds of the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
McIlroy, the top-ranked golfer, already has won the money titles on the European and PGA tours. McIlroy, Donald (68) and 189th-ranked Warren (67) sit at 11-under 133.
Sergio Garcia, playing for the first time since laser eye surgery, matched the course record with a 64 to leave him four shots behind.
McIlroy's round could have been even better, but he missed several makeable putts on the front nine and an eagle putt rolled past the hole at No. 14.
"I continued driving the ball well today and gave myself plenty of opportunities," McIlroy said. "Missed a couple of short ones on the front nine for birdies. But apart from that, it was a very solid round of golf."
Garcia started with four birdies on his first five holes and then had a string of birdies at the turn before holing a long putt for eagle on No. 14. But he shot into the water on No. 16 for a triple-bogey before recovering to finish with a birdie and eagle.
"Coming back from a long break, so trying to get some good vibrations going and I managed to finish better than that," Garcia said.
Donald joined McIlroy and Warren at 11-under with a short birdie putt on the 18th. Warren had a chance take the outright lead, but was short on his 12-foot putt on 18.
"Obviously, I haven't dropped a shot in 36 holes, so I feel good about that," said Donald, who finished with four birdies in a bogey-free round. "I had some opportunities, 10-foot, 15-footers on a few holes that I just misread. But that was a solid round of golf."
Donald said he wasn't getting his approach shots as close to the pin as the first day, but made up for it with the putter, including a difficult birdie on No. 9 and nice par save on No. 12.
"When I have myself a little bit of trouble out on the course, I was able to recover with the putter," Donald said.
Warren, who has not won a tournament since 2007, matched the second-ranked Donald's opening birdie and had five more, including a 12-footer on the 16th to move him into a tie with McIlroy.
"It was nice to be the Scot in the pack with the Englishman and the Northern Irishman," Warren said. "It's great to be in contention with guys like that." Tags: The Record | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1741 | Robiskie contract details
Browns receiver Brian Robiskie signed a four-year, $4.908 million contract Friday, according to profootballtalk.com.The web site said the 36th overall choice from Ohio State received a $2.125 million signing bonus. The site said the deal also included an $800,750 one-time playing-time qualifier, which, if reached, would increase his average annual salary to $1.23 million.
Kicker Douglass waived
Rookie kicker Parker Douglass was waived to make room for newly signed second-round pick Brian Robiskie, which could mean that kicker Phil Dawson elected to report to training camp with the veterans Friday.But Browns coach Eric Mangini could also have put Douglass, a South Dakota State product, on stand-by until a roster spot comes open. The Browns could also be checking out available free agents. Ex-Browns and Ravens kicker Matt Stover is among those available.
Robiskie agrees to terms
All eight Browns draft choices are now in the fold as receiver Brian Robiskie agreed to terms of a four-year contract, his agent Joel Segal confirmed Thursday night.Further terms were not disclosed.
Training camp parking sites announced
Parking for fans attending Browns training camp from Aug. 1-19 will be available in the Baldwin-Wallace College lot off of Beech Street near George Finnie Stadium.When students begin returning to Baldwin-Wallace on Aug. 20, the Browns' public parking will be at St. Paul Lutheran Church at the intersection of Bagley and Eastland roads and at the now-closed Station restaurant at the intersection of Depot and Front streets.
Lack of national respect continues
Without fail, negative preseason press continues to roll in for the Browns. In ESPN's power rankings, the Browns are 28th out of 32 teams. They list the Chiefs, Raiders, Rams and Lions below the Browns.Pete Prisco of CBS Sport wasn't so kind. He ranks Cleveland as the 31st best team in the league. Fortunately for Browns fans the Lions exist. They are the only team Prisco has lower.Of the Browns Prisco says: "Their biggest issue is picking a quarterback. I would pick Brady Quinn, but Eric Mangini said it's an open competition. The Browns will be feisty this season, but they won't win more than four games."
Reports: Second-round pick Massaquoi signs
According to several reports, the Browns have come to terms with wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi. The team's second pick in the second round signed a four-year contract, according to Pro Football Talk. The deal is worth a maximum of $3.636 million.Former Ohio State wide receiver Brian Robiskie is the only rookie the team has yet to sign.For his career at Georgia, Massaquoi caught 158 passes for 2,282 yards and 16 touchdowns.
The possible dreaded return of brown pants
Remember the brown pants worn by the Browns against the Giants in preseason last year? Probably not, because they were so hideous you pushed it out of your brain.In his story Sunday, Tony Grossi of the Plain Dealer intimated that the Browns might be considering the look again.
Veikune agrees to terms
Browns linebacker David Veikune, the 52nd overall pick from the University of Hawaii, agreed to terms of a four-year contract and was expected to participate in the team's rookie orientation program Sunday, according to a source.Terms were not disclosed, but according to the Honolulu Advertiser, Veikune received a $3.5 million contract with $1.8 million guaranteed.Profootballtalk.com reported his signing bonus as just under $1.4 million.
Cribbs plans to report
Disgruntled Pro Bowl special teamer Joshua Cribbs intends to report on time to Browns' training camp Friday, but still hopes to renegotiate his six-year, $6.7 million contract that has four years remaining, a source said Saturday.The first full-squad practice is scheduled for Aug. 1.
All quiet on 2nd-round front
As of Saturday morning, representatives for rookie receiver Brian Robiskie had not received a call to begin negotiations, even as the team wrapped up a five-year deal with first-rounder Alex Mack in the wee hours Friday night.Robiskie, a second-round pick from Ohio State selected 36th overall, is expected to compete for the No. 2 receiver spot opposite Braylon Edwards.
Mack signs five-year deal
Friday night negotations lasted into the wee hours of Saturday before Browns rookie center Alex Mack signed a five-year contract, a source confirmed.A resident of Santa Barbara, Calif., Mack flew to Cleveland Friday, but didn't put pen to paper until just after 1 a.m. The University of California product was selected 21st overall.
Mack unlikely to report Friday
Although there was some progress in negotiations with first-round pick Alex Mack, it looks unlikely the center from Cal will report for the start of Browns rookie orientation Friday.Barring late-night negotiations Thursday, it appears the Browns will be without their top four picks -- Mack and second-rounders Brian Robiskie, Mohamed Massaquoi and David Veikune.
Partial camp schedule released
Four days of two-a-days highlight the first week of Browns training camp, which begins Saturday, Aug. 1 at the team headquarters in Berea.The Browns announced a partial schedule Wednesday.
Mack negotiations open
The Browns and representatives of first-round pick Alex Mack exchanged contract proposals Tuesday, according to a source. But negotiations would have to gain steam to have an agreement struck by Friday, when rookies are scheduled to report for orientation.Mack is expected to unseat incumbent Hank Fraley in the starting lineup, but a holdout by the 21st overall pick from Cal might not help in that regard. Veterans report to camp on July 31, with the first practice scheduled for Aug. 1.
All quiet in negotiations
It appears the Browns will begin their rookie orientation Friday with only half of the 2009 draft class signed.According to sources, there has been little to no contact between the organization and its top four picks -- center Alex Mack (No. 21), receiver Brian Robiskie (No. 36), receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (No. 50) and linebacker David Veikune (No. 52).
Update on Steve Heiden
From Pro Football Weekly:
Cribbs says he wants to be a Brown
When Browns veterans report to training camp on July 31, expect to see specials team/experimental wide receiver Josh Cribbs in attendance.Cribbs assured as much while on the air with Mark "Munch" Bishop of WKNR (AM-850) saying "No. 16 will be on the field, proudly." He said contract talks have not been furthered, but he's happy to have a job."I don't have the contract I would like, but nonetheless I have it better than others," he said.Cribbs is in the first half a of a six-year, $6.77 million contract and wants it to be restructured. He's set to make a reasonable $690,000 this season.Even as he's threatened to ask for a trade and skipped some "voluntary" workouts, he insists he wants to play for the Browns and will continue to work hard."I'm going to still play as hard as I can," he said. "I don't know any other way to play. I don't want to go anywhere else, I want to stay in Cleveland. I'm going to do everything I can physically and business-wise to stay in Cleveland because this is where I want to be. If something else happens, I don't think it's on me."I can't make every person understand my point of view and a lot of fans just don't understand the nature of football and the contract situations and everything. I'm just going to keep playing and I don't mind any fan express any point of view to me and I will respectfully converse with them. I want to see us win big and be a part of that when it happens. Hopefully that happens this year and I'm on that team."You can listen to the entire interview here. The interview is about 20 minutes long, but worth the time. Cribbs talks some about his community involvement before getting into the contract situation.What makes it so interesting is that Cribbs continually talks about wanting to play in Cleveland and being a hard worker. Moments later, though, he says that playing in the NFL was his dream, just not necessarily with the Browns.He's clearly a conflicted player. It's hard to tell which is more important to him – the money or the opportunity. From the standpoint of a jaded Cleveland fan, it seems a little too much like the former.
Winslow reveals staph details
Former Browns tight end Kellen Winslow reveals details concerning his staph infection last season in an article that appears in the July 27 edition of ESPN The Magazine.Winslow told ESPN's Seth Wickersham that he had to have fluid drailed from his testicles to play in an Oct. 19 game at Washington. Afterward, an angry Winslow told the media that the way the Browns treated him during his hospitalization made him feel ''like a piece of meat.'' His remarks, directed at former general manager Phil Savage, drew a one-game suspension that was later rescinded.
Robiskie attends receivers camp
Browns rookie Brian Robiskie is participating in a course for wide receivers at the new football stadium at the University of Minnesota, according to a story by Jim Trotter on SI.com.The course is the brainchild of Minnesota native Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals. Last week's instructor was Hall of Fame-bound Jerry Rice, with Cris Carter taking over this week.
Legends program suspended for '09
The Browns are suspending their Legends program for 2009 while the organization examines the selection process and future qualifications for inclusion.Forty-four players and one coach, Paul Brown, have been chosen for the Legends since the program began in 2001. Members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were automatically inducted, along with one player from four eras (1940s-50s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s-90s) every season.
Thomas goes to Washington
Browns Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Thomas was among 19 active and retired NFL players who visited Capitol Hill Wednesday to lobby members of Congress against an impending labor lockout.''Never before, that I know of, has the union taken this direction of going to Congress,” NFLPA president and Tennessee center Kevin Mawae said on the Players Association's web site. ''But we want to let members of Congress know we’re more than just football players. We are businessmen and we know that if there’s a lockout it would hurt us in providing for our families, hurt our communities and hurt everyone whose work is affected by NFL games.''
Francies among 3 signed
The Browns announced the signing of cornerbacks Don Carey and Coye Francies and running back James Davis, giving them three of their eight draft picks under contract.Carey agreed to terms Tuesday, along with linebacker Kaluka Maiava, who was not mentioned in the Browns' release, while Davis agreed late last week.
Browns reportedly sign cornerback taken in sixth round
Following the news earlier that the team has come to terms with rookie linebacker Kaluka Maiava, it looks like the Browns have signed another draft pick.Carlos Holmes of the Dayton Daily News is reporting that the team has signed cornerback Don Carey to a four-year deal.Carey was the team's first of three players selected in the sixth round. A four-year starter at Norfolk State, Carey finished his collegiate career with 179 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 10 interceptions and 35 pass deflections.Carey impressed Browns head coach Eric Mangini during minicamp in June.''He's impressive in terms of the questions he asked,'' Mangini said. ''I saw that in the very first meeting I was in, the very first meeting he was in where he asked a question most vets don't ask a month down the road. He caught it right away and asked it. At that point you know he's paying attention and he's very bright.''The Browns' Don Carey should not be confused with the Portage County Don Carey who is growing 7,000 tobacco plants.
Two more rookies agree to terms
Browns rookie inside linebacker Kaluka Maiava agreed to terms of a four-year contract with the Browns, his agent Ken Zuckerman confirmed Tuesday.According to the Orange and Brown Report, the value of Maiava's deal was just under $2.5 million.
Browns sign linebacker selected in fourth round
According to John Taylor of the Orange and Brown Report the Browns have come to terms with Kaluka Maiava, a fourth-round pick from Southern California.Taylor says the four-year deal for the outside linebacker is likely worth just under $2.5 million.At USC, Maiava only started his senior year, but played in 51 career games. During that time, he had 164 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 7 pass breakups. In 2008, he was named to the Pac-10 all-conference second team.He was twice named the Trojan's co-special teams player of the year. It is likely he'll be a backup and special teams contributor for the Browns.Maiava is the second Browns draftee to receive a contract following the recent signing of running back James Davis.Notes... Scott Wright of Draft Countdown just reviewed the team's draft. He gave the Browns a B-. Here's an excerpt:
Browns reportedly sign rookie running back
According to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Talk, the Browns have come to terms with rookie running back James Davis.Davis, a sixth-round draft pick, reportedly signed a four-year contract worth $1.85 million. He is the first of the Browns' eight draft picks to sign.For his career at Clemson, Davis rushed for 3,984 yards and 47 touchdowns. He also caught 51 passes for 526 yards and two touchdowns.Davis had an up-and-down college career, rushing for 1,219 yards as a sophomore but only 751 as a junior. One aspect of Davis' game that was consistent was his hands. In 805 carries, he only had two fumbles.
Quick thought on Browns rookies
Is it odd at all that none of the eight Browns draft picks have signed with training camp beginning July 31? Even the Bengals are busy signing seventh-round players.A couple quick links to check out:- Beacon Journal columnist Pat McManamon was the guest chatter with the Orange and Brown Report's Barry McBride last night. Read the chat, if you get a few minutes. It's some good insight on covering an NFL team.- Continue to check out Dawgs by Nature, the SB Nation Browns site. There's always some great analysis going on. Right now, head writer Chris Pokorny is breaking down each position going into training camp.
Single-game ticket sales begin July 11
Tickets for the 2009 Cleveland Browns season will go on sale at 10 a.m. starting July 11. Tickets can be purchased through various TicketMaster outlets. You can buy tickets at the Cleveland Browns Stadium ticket box office beginning July 13.Ticket prices start at $32. If you pick up some tickets, let us know the game you're going to, how much you spent and where you set is located. And don't forget, if you're ever interested in having your game day pictures ran here on the Bulletin, e-mail me.If you recall, the Browns went a woeful 1-7 at home last season.Notes... The Browns are officially on Facebook and Twitter.
Stallworth test showed marijuana
Browns receiver Donte' Stallworth had at least a trace of marijuana in his blood when tested following his March 14 car accident in Miami Beach that killed pedestrian Mario Reyes.A statement released by Stallworth's attorney David Cornwell on Monday confirmed that fact, first mentioned by Hall of Famer Jim Brown. Stallworth's blood alcohol level was .126, well over Florida's legal limit of .08.
Woods addresses Jim Brown's criticism
Hall of Fame running back Jim Brown ripped Tiger Woods for his lack of social activism in a recent interview on HBO's Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.During a profile of Brown and Bill Russell, Brown praised the attitude of the world's No. 1-ranked golfer on the course, but not his work off it. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1806 | Vettel: The circuit is a killerSunday 15-September-2013 07:54Sebastian Vettel says winning the Singapore Grand Prix is an "amazing moment" given the obstacles that the drivers have to overcome.
Formula One's only night race not only poses a problem for the body clock but also the body in general as the drivers have to contend with high temperatures and humidty.
Added to that, the street circuit's layout can be very unforgiving as racing over roads used by every day drivers often includes a lot of unexpected bumps.
"My wins in 2011 and 2012 were the best because I think it's one of the toughest races of the year to be honest, so to win is an amazing moment and you feel you deserve the champagne!
"It's a very long race; the full two hours so the race just seems to go on forever.
"The circuit itself is a killer because there are so many bumps, there's no room for mistakes."
As for the race being run at night, Vettel says the drivers try stay on European timezones to combat the late hour.
"It sounds unusual but because the race starts at 8pm we have to try and stay on European time as much as possible, to make sure we're alert later into the night.
"I get up at about lunchtime and have breakfast at about 2pm because that's 8am in Switzerland. It is a bit weird to have lunch in the evening and go to bed in the early hours of the morning.
"But we've done it for a few years now so it feels more normal than it did the first time." | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1831 | Town may take over fishing spot
---- — MALONE — Franklin County is willing to deed a handicapped-access fishing spot on Lower Park Street to the Town of Malone.
It will be up to the Town Council to determine if it will accept the transfer and take on the responsibility of the site’s maintenance.
The Salmon River Fishing Platform, as it is known, was damaged in late January when a 4,000-foot ice jam clogged the Salmon River south of the platform site and forced ice to back up and rise underneath it.
County Highway Department workers fixed it. County legislators recently passed a resolution canceling $2,270 in back taxes, interest and penalties owed on the half-acre property it had seized in a foreclosure proceeding for non-payment of taxes.
The Town Council will decide either at a special meeting or at its regular meeting Aug. 21 whether to complete the transfer of property, Town Supervisor Howard Maneely said.
The Fishing Platform was dedicated in a special ceremony on July 2, 2009, opening a portion of the Salmon River previously inaccessible to senior citizens and the handicapped.
The Franklin County Federation of Fish and Games Clubs secured a $14,000 grant in 2008 to build the public spot to give anglers easier access to prime trout fishing.
The money came through the State Department of Environmental Conservation Habitat Stamp Program, from which proceeds from the sale of $5 commemorative stamps go toward conservation and acce | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1837 | Colorado Avalanche season in review: Enter Mr.Anderson
Posted By Igor Henriques On Apr 29 2010 @ 12:52 am In Colorado Avalanche | No Comments
A few comparisons can be made between Colorado Avalanche goaltender Craig Anderson and Keanu Reeves character in the blockbuster “Matrix” movie franchise. After all, while Reeves might have been the saviour of the people of Zion, Anderson was without a doubt the saviour of the Avalanche’s season. Fitting enough, as a goaltender he is also the last defence against opposing forces again much like Reeves in the movies.
The Avalanche came into the season with very little expectations. Trading away veteran leader Ryan Smyth in the off-season to the Los Angeles Kings was a clear indicator that the Avalanche were a rebuilding team that were going to have some bumps in the road. Relying on youngsters Paul Stastny, Chris Stewart and 2009 third overall pick Matt Duchene for offense, the Avalanche were predicted by most people to finish dead last in the Western Conference.
Goaltending and defence were also concerns for the Avalanche as Anderson was unproven as a number one goaltender and Peter Budaj had failed to become a dependable starter. The Avalanche core on defence of Adam Foote, John-Michael Liles, Scott Hannan and Kyle Quincey who they acquired from the Kings in their deal for Smyth had plenty of question marks. How reliable would Foote be at his age? Would Hannan finally begin to live up to his contract? How would Quincey fit in? Would Liles improve his defensive play after posting a -19 rating the previous year?.
When the season commenced most of these questions were answered rather quickly. The Avs got off to a flying start going 10-1-2 led by the superb performances by Anderson who showed early signs of being a potential Vezina candidate. Under new head coach Joe Sacco, the young Avs flourished as Stewart, Duchene and Stastny all made their mark early and often in the season. While those three youngsters improved their game, without a doubt Marek Svatos was once again a huge disappointment for the Avs though he battled some injuries throughout the season. After a tremendous first half of the season, Anderson and the Avs play began to fade down the stretch mostly due to the fact that the new found workload began to take its toll.
The late season slip cost the Avalanche playoff seeding, as they fell all the way to eighth and went head-to-head with the Western Conference leading San Jose Sharks. Though the Avalanche gave the Sharks everything they could handle they lost the series in six games. Anderson proved to be vital to the Avs in the series, stopping over 50 shots in a Game Three win and keeping the Avs in a series that they were outplayed in for the most part.
Anderson finished the regular season with a record of 38-25-7 with a .917% save percentage and a 2.63 goals against average. In the playoffs he was even better posting a .933% save percentage with a 2,62 save percentage. He was truly the Avs MVP of the season, though the breakout seasons for Matt Duchene and Joe Sacco are also being recognized. Duchene is a finalist for the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie of the season and Sacco has been named a finalist for the Jack Adams award as the league’s best coach of the season.
With a vast majority of more positives than negatives, the Avalanche will go into next year believing that they can improve and become a legitimate contender in the Western Conference. This year’s playoff experience will no doubt help the young Avs mature come next spring.
URL to article: http://www.prosportsblogging.com/2010/04/29/colorado-avalanche-season-in-review-enter-mr-anderson/
URLs in this post:[1] Subscribe to author's RSS feed: http://www.prosportsblogging.com/author/igor-henriques/feed/ | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1890 | Start vs. Sit: Who to Play, Who to Bench Week 11
Chris Morgan is a writer of sports, pop culture, and humor articles, a book author, a podcaster, and a fan of all Detroit sports teams.
Posted on Wednesday, November 7, 2012
PLAYERS TO START
Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma (vs. Baylor)
Poor Landry Jones. So often, he drives the Sooners down deep into their opponent's territory, only to cede the quarterback spot to Blake Bell to watch him slam the ball into the end zone. However, despite that, Jones has still thrown for 2,414 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions in eight games. This week, Oklahoma plays host to Baylor, a team that both scores and gives up a ton of points. That should give Jones plenty of opportunity to contribute touchdowns in his own right.
Seth Doege, QB, Texas Tech (vs. Kansas)
The opposition has been a bit tougher the last couple of weeks for Doege and the Red Raiders, and in turn he has been limited to three touchdowns and one interception in his last two games. That said, he also went well over 300 yards in both games, and he has only truly been shut down once, against Oklahoma. Now, Doege gets a reprieve, as Kansas is in town. Sure, the Jayhawks had a good week against Texas, but that's not likely to happen again. Doege should get back on track.
Jawan Jamison, RB, Rutgers, (vs. Army)
The last time Rutgers took the field, it was upset at home by Kent State. However, Jamison wasn't at fault, as he rushed for 84 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and caught eight passes for 88 yards as well, as in his last two games he has been a bigger part of the passing game. In Week 11, the Scarlet Knights get to take on lowly Army. Seems like the recipe for a bounce-back game for Rutgers, and for a big outing for Jamison.
Mike Gillislee, RB, Florida (vs. Louisiana-Lafayette)
Due to a scheduling quirk, Florida is done with its SEC schedule, which can only help its offense. Gillislee has been a little disappointing recently. He hasn't rushed for more than 77 yards in his last four games, and he hasn't rushed for a score either, though he did catch a touchdown last week against Missouri. Fortunately for Gillislee, this week he gets to run against Louisiana-Lafayette, a much more palatable opponent. The Gators love to run the ball, and Gillislee will likely get the chance to pound the proverbial rock, which certainly bodes well for his fantasy numbers.
Austin Hill, WR, Arizona (vs. Colorado)
Arizona got a rude awakening last week, as it was lambasting by UCLA. Ah, but what better way to soothe those disappointments with a home matchup against woeful Colorado? Before last week, Hill had been on a four-game tear, and you may recall his 10-reception, 259-yard performance against USC in Week 9. Hill is Arizona's top receiving threat, and with the Wildcats primed to pile on the points, he could be in line for another huge game.
Ryan Grant, WR, Tulane (at Memphis)
Tulane isn't good, but that's primarily the fault of its defense, as the Green Wave are actually one of the better passing offenses in the league. Grant has been their top receiver, catching 42 passes for 834 yards and five touchdowns, despite being limited for two weeks earlier in the season. The last three weeks, he's put up big numbers, and Memphis isn't likely to put up much of a fight. Expect his trend of success to continue.
Noel Grigsby, WR, SJSU (at NMSU)
After a few years in the wilderness, San Jose State is now 7-2 and has the ninth most proficient passing game in FBS. Grigsby has led the way with 55 receptions for 853 yards and seven touchdowns. He's had one game with less than 75 yards receiving, and he caught a touchdown in that game. The Spartans may be on the road this week, but New Mexico State is one of the worst teams in the nation, so that's not really a concern. Grigsby should chalk up another big game.
PLAYERS TO SIT
Johnny Manziel, QB, Texas A&M (at Alabama)
It is so very, very hard to suggest not starting Manziel. He has been amazing, and last week, in his first road test against Mississippi State, he put up big numbers through the air and on the ground. There might be a Heisman in his future. All that said, this week's opponent is Alabama, and the game is on the road. One opponent has kept Manziel in check, and that is LSU. Alabama is just as stout. If Manziel can do well against the Crimson Tide, there's no doubting him, but there remains just enough reason to be lukewarm on him this week.
Tyler Wilson, QB, Arkansas (at South Carolina)
It may have seemed like Wilson and the Razorbacks were getting on track when Wilson threw for 372 yards and five touchdowns against Kentucky. That now seems to evidently not be the case, and last week he only threw for 272 yards and a pick against Tulsa. This week's game, which is at South Carolina, is certainly a tougher matchup for Wilson, and the odds don't look good for him.
LaDarius Perkins, RB, Mississippi State (at LSU)
Oh, how the tables have turned for the Bulldogs. After getting off to a 7-0 start, the competition got a tinge stiffer, as Mississippi State has lost the last two weeks against Alabama and Texas A&M. It doesn't get any easier this week, as now they are headed to Baton Rouge to take on LSU. Perkins has rushed for 80 yards on 28 carries in the last two weeks combined. Don't expect much more this week.
Stepfan Taylor, RB, Stanford (vs. Oregon State)
Taylor was carrying the Stanford offense early in the season, and on the year he's carried the ball 206 times in nine games for 947 yards and eight touchdowns. Last week's load was light, but that was due mostly to the fact the Cardinal were blowing out Buffalo, and he got two touchdowns on a mere 10 carries. However, now they have to play Oregon State in big game, as the winner of this contest could possibly find itself in a BCS bowl. Taylor has run well against defenses such as USC and Notre Dame, so he likely won't be stuffed, but it is still one of the tougher matchups a high-level running back is facing this week, and that is reason enough for pause.
Brandin Cooks, WR, Oregon State (at Stanford)
Speaking of that big matchup between the Beavers and the Cardinal, Oregon State finds itself in possession of two top-notch wide receivers in Cooks and Markus Wheaton. Cooks has more yards with 906, but Wheaton has more receptions and twice as many touchdowns. It may be hard to keep them both down, but this is a tough matchup for Oregon State's offense, and they are on the road, and that could result in less impressive numbers than are typical for Cooks.
Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin (at Indiana)
While Indiana is on an upswing, it still isn't very good on defense, so this isn't necessarily a tough matchup for Wisconsin. However, it is a road game, and more to the point, the Badgers have some questions about their passing game and what they are going to do at quarterback. Abbrederis hasn't done much in his last three games - he hasn't scored a touchdown or had more than 68 yards - and Wisconsin might want to rely on their running game led by Montee Ball. That does not lead to much optimism for Abbrederis against the Hoosiers.
Kain Colter, QB, Northwestern (at Michigan)
It's been an odd season for Colter, who has seen himself get yanked in and out of the quarterback spot. He's even lined up some at wide receiver, and he has actually only thrown for three touchdowns and two interceptions this season. However, on the ground he's been excellent, rushing 114 times for 622 yards and 11 touchdowns. On the other hand, Michigan has actually been pretty stout this year on defense, and this game is in the Big House, so it should be tougher than usual sledding for Colter.
Follow ChrisXMorgan on Twitter.
Top Fantasy NCCA Football Player News
Max Wittek: Interested In Texas
Latest Fantasy College Football Articles
CFB Barometer: Looking to 2014
Published January 9
Bowl Game Confidence Picks: Sorting out the locks and the tossups.
Published December 20
Bowl Game Pick 'Em: The Writers Pick the Games
College Capper: Picking the Bowls
Bowl Game Fantasy Rankings: Position Rankings for 2013 Bowl Games | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1898 | 12 April 2004, 07:52 pm
Laser Radial Youth World Championship
Competitors from 18 countries and five continents made Moreton Bay look like a united nations convention as the fleet left the marina for the first day of racing.
The 108 strong fleet of under nineteen year olds includes 40 under the age of 17 and 24 girls split into two groups each day for a qualifying and final series. Light winds of 6 to 8 knots and a slightly oscillating sea breeze provided plenty of opportunity for place changes, sharing of honours between continents and an opportunity for the girls to show the boys the way round.
Cecilia CARRANZA (ARG) and Charlotte DOBSON (GBR) both had their time at the front of their respective fleets but in the tight racing dropped a few places as new leaders appeared at almost every mark. Dobson finished second behind Javier PADRON of Spain in the second race of her fleet and bettered him by 11 places in their first race which was won by Daniel JAKOBSSON from Brazil. Dobson's 14, Padron's 25 in the first race and Jakobsson's 12 in the second race demonstrated how difficult it was to be consistent.
Jakobsson said. "I got the shifts right in the first race playing first the right hand and then the left hand side of the two windward legs. In the second race I had a poor start and could not get to the side right hand side of the course." Padron laughed when asked about his first race but was happy with his second. "I had a good start and got to the first mark in third. On the downwind I got closer to the leading two boats and passed them on the second downwind."
Singapore's Justin TAN had a similar story. "I got the current wrong in the first race but had good strategy in the second to finish third." Nathan OUTERIDGE (AUS) was the most consistent in the yellow fleet scoring a third and fourth, closely followed by Carranza's fourth and fifth.In the blue fleet, sailing the inner loop of the trapezoid course, Mathieu FREI from France scored the best results of the day winning the first race after overtaking Carlos TEIXIDOR from Puerto Rico after the downwind gate and finishing a half a boat length behind Conor BYRNE (IRL) in an exciting finish in the second race.
Full results are available on the event website at the address below.
Jeff Martin (As Amended By ISAF News Editor) | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1914 | Football findings suggest concussions caused by series of hits
Thu, 02/02/2012 -- Science News Desk
A two-year study of high school football players suggests that concussions are likely caused by many hits over time and not from a single blow to the head, as commonly believed.
Purdue University researchers have studied football players for two seasons at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Ind., where 21 players completed the study the first season and 24 the second season, including 16 repeating players.
Helmet-sensor impact data from each player were compared with brain-imaging scans and cognitive tests performed before, during and after each season.
"The most important implication of the new findings is the suggestion that a concussion is not just the result of a single blow, but it's really the totality of blows that took place over the season," said Eric Nauman, an associate professor of mechanical engineering and an expert in central nervous system and musculoskeletal trauma. "The one hit that brought on the concussion is arguably the straw that broke the camel's back."
Brain scans show differences among high school football players in a two-year study that suggests concussions are likely caused by many hits over time and not from a single blow to the head, as commonly believed. (Purdue University image/Thomas Talavage)
Researchers evaluated players using a type of brain imaging technology called functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, along with a computer-based neurocognitive screening test. The fMRI scans reveal which parts of the brain are most active during specific tasks.
Thomas Talavage, an expert in functional neuroimaging and co-director of the Purdue MRI Facility, said the scans indicate players are adapting their mental processes to deal with brain changes.
"The changes in brain activity we are observing suggest that a player is having to use a different strategy to perform a task, and that is likely because functional capacity is reduced," Talavage said. "The level of change in the fMRI signal is significantly correlated to the number and distribution of hits that a player takes. Performance doesn't change, but brain activity changes, showing that certain areas are no longer being recruited to perform a task.
Findings, detailed in a paper to appear online in the Journal of Biomechanics, are contrary to conventional thinking.
"Most clinicians would say that if you don't have any concussion symptoms you have no problems," said Larry Leverenz, an expert in athletic training and a clinical professor of health and kinesiology. "However, we are finding that there is actually a lot of change, even when you don't have symptoms."
The paper was written by mechanical engineering graduate student Evan Breedlove, Nauman, Leverenz, Talavage, former Purdue professor of educational studies Jeffrey Gilger, biomedical engineering graduate student Meghan Robinson, health and kinesiology graduate student Katherine E. Morigaki, electrical and computer engineering graduate student Umit Yoruk, mechanical engineering undergraduate student Kyle O'Keefe, and undergraduate student in electrical and computer engineering Jeffrey King. Gilger is now a researcher at the University of California, Merced.
The research may help to determine how many blows it takes to cause impairment, which could lead to safety guidelines on limiting the number of hits a player receives per week.
"Any change in fMRI data is a concern, but we don't yet know what these changes mean, what they translate to, in terms of cognitive impairment," Breedlove said.
A common assumption in sports medicine is that certain people are innately more susceptible to head injury. However, the new findings suggest the number of hits received during the course of a season is the most important factor, Talavage said.
"Over the two seasons we had six concussed players, but 17 of the players showed brain changes even though they did not have concussions," Talavage said. "There is good correlation with the number of hits players received, but we need more subjects."
The researchers have expanded the study to include an additional high school football team and girls' soccer.
"We want to increase the number of football players in the study and also include soccer to study athletes who don't wear head protection," Nauman said. "We also want to include girls to see whether they are affected differently than boys."
The research findings represent a dilemma because they suggest athletes may suffer a form of injury that is difficult to diagnose.
"This might be especially important in young people because the brain is still developing, so even though subtle unexpressed damage doesn't manifest as a concussion it could affect the brain later in life," Gilger said.
Changes were seen in regions of the brain that have been associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive degenerative disease found in people who suffer numerous concussions and other forms of head injury.
"This is still circumstantial evidence, but it suggests that whether you are concussed or not your brain is changing as a result of all these hits, and the regions most affected are the ones that exhibit CTE," Nauman said.
Players in the study received from 200 to nearly 1,900 hits to the head in a single season, with two players exceeding 1,800 hits. Helmet-sensor data indicated impact forces to the head ranged from 20 Gs to more than 100 Gs.
"The worst hit we've seen was almost 300 Gs," Nauman said.
A soccer player "heading" a ball experiences an impact of about 20 Gs.
Findings could aid efforts to develop more sensitive and accurate methods to detect cognitive impairment and concussions; more accurately characterize and model cognitive deficits that result from head impacts; determine the cellular basis for cognitive deficits after a single impact or repeated impacts; and develop new interventions to reduce the risk and effects of head impacts.
"Now that we know there is definitely a buildup of damage before the concussion occurs, ultimately, there is hope that we can do more to prevent concussions," Nauman said.
The work is ongoing and supported with grants from the Indiana State Department of Health's Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Fund, General Electric Healthcare, the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute, and through the National Science Foundation and National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships.
Researchers also will follow the case studies of players who take the most hits to see if there is evidence of permanent changes in brain structure using MRI scans.
The research group, called the Purdue Neurotrauma Group (PNG), also is studying ways to reduce traumatic brain injury in soldiers who suffer concussions caused by shock waves from explosions.
Science news source: Purdue University Bookmark or post this science news del.icio.us
Ping This!
more news Related Science News Golfers can improve their putt with a different look
New biosensor benefits from melding of carbon nanotubes, DNA
Football helmet sensors record impact location and magnitude to demystify concussion in athletes
New 'FeTRAM' is promising computer memory technology
Additives meant to protect vitamin C actually cause more harm
Brain and Neuroscience News Older women with gumption score high on compassion | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1922 | All the latest San Francisco Giants Rumors!
Down on the Farm: Joe Panik
Posted on May 16th, 2013 by admin in Down On The Farm “A lot of us in the organization said he reminded us of Buster Posey,” said Richmond Flying Squirrels hitting coach, Ken Joyce. “In the sense that he has that same demeanor. He has that attitude in the way he goes about his business. He’s professional, came from a decent family, and a good school at St. John’s.”
That kind of summation of a player sounds like something Trent Baalke would say after another successful NFL Draft. Like the 49ers, the San Francisco Giants seem drawn to high character players who come from good families and take their opportunity to make a living as a professional athlete seriously.
Of course, this doesn’t always translate to success. In Posey’s case, it most certainly did. To make such a favorable comparison when discussing Joe Panik‘s approach to the game suggests that the Giants drafted a player who is ready to take the next step and understands the work necessary to excel at each level.
Twenty-two year-old Panik was drafted with the 29th pick of the 1st round in the 2011 MLB June Amateur Draft from St. John’s University (Queens, NY). He ranked tenth among college baseball players with a .509 OBP and was a finalist for the Brooks Wallace Award, an honor given to the nation’s top shortstop. At the time, most pundits suggested that Panik’s game most likely translated best at second base at the major league level.
The scouting report on Panik is favorable, although most scouts saw his ceiling as a utility player and didn’t have him going in the 1st round. At 6’1, 190 lbs, Panik possesses an average frame with solid athleticism. He has great contact ability like Marco Scutaro, taking a simple and quiet swing consistently through the strike zone. He also uses the whole field well in his approach at the plate. His OBP numbers suggest a knack for pitch recognition. One of the biggest question marks surrounding Panik was whether or not he could adjust to high-end velocity and drive the ball with more authority at the upper levels rather than simply slapping it around the infield. With a lack of innate raw power, he projects more as a gap-to-gap hitter, again not unlike Scutaro.
Panik’s modest arm strength, solid throwing mechanics on the run, and quick transfer and unload times with plus accuracy are perhaps the biggest reasons for a position change from shortstop to second base. His fundamentals with the glove are solid, and his decent range makes him an ideal candidate for the right side of the infield.
Panik is an instinctual, grinder of a player with a high baseball IQ. He made his professional debut in 2011 at Class-A short season with Salem-Keizer Volcanoes in the Northwest League. He got off to a roaring start, leading the league with a .341 batting average, 49 runs scored, 54 RBIs, and a .401 OBP, earning the MVP award. An invitation to the Arizona Fall League provided Panik with his first opportunity to play second base regularly. He was rated the tenth best second base prospect according to MLB.com prior to the start of the 2012 season.
The Giants pushed Panik aggressively in 2012, and Panik hit .297, with 76 RBIs and 58 BB in the High-A California League (San Jose Giants). He posted third in the league with 159 hits, and after the All-Star break, he hit .324, including a .337 average with runners in scoring position. This earned Panik a promotion from High-A to Double-A, where the superior pitching in the Eastern League should pose a stiffer challenge to Panik. Double-A has a way of sorting out all the real prospects, so this is definitely the year to monitor Panik’s progress.
As of this posting, here are Panik’s stats batting in the 2-hole for Richmond:
.304 BA, .380 OBP, .788 OPS, 9 doubles, 2 triples, and 12 RBIs in 32 games.
Currently, he’s made 4 errors in those 32 games, sporting a .933 fielding percentage.
Panik’s thoughts on his progress so far: “I was pretty excited to come to the Eastern League, making the jump from High-A to Double-A. I was looking forward to it. So far, I’ve gotten off to a good start, and I’ve really gotten comfortable with the competition. Going forward, I’m very confident.”
If he can continue to make progress driving the ball to the outfield and he maintains his solid average and OBS, then Panik should find himself starting for Triple-A Fresno (Fresno Grizzlies) in 2014 with a possible September call-up that year. The third year in Scutaro’s deal was the deal-breaker in resigning him, but the front office seems content to write that off as an acceptable loss if he can remain productive for the first two years of the deal. A passing of the torch, so to speak, from Scutaro to Panik in 2015 appears to be the grand scheme in the end.
~Paul Ghiglieri
Note: Check out SF Giants Rumors Interview With Joe Panik, and click here for Panik and Joyce’s quotes.
You can follow SF Giants Rumors Facebook page for more Giants updates! Want an email alert when there’s a new post? Click the “Contact Us” tab and request to be added to the email list. You can also follow on Twitter @SFGiants_Rumors, Google+ and SportStreet!
Technorati Tags: Arizona Fall League, Buster Posey, Down On The Farm, Fresno Grizzlies, Giants Hot Stove, Giants Trade Rumors, Joe Panik, Marco Scutaro, MLB Rumors Giants, Richmond Flying Squirrels, Salem-Keizer Volcanoes, San Francisco Giants, San Jose Giants, SF Giants News, SF Giants Rumors, SFG Rumors
King of Cali Blog
SF Giants Retired Numbers
Get Your Giants Gear Here!
Scoreboard.com
The People's Sports Network
WordPress.org Pages
Giants Rumors & News >
2010 & 2012 World Series Champions - SF Giants Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1957 | Cook Hints at Finn Inclusion
Last Updated: December 4 2012, 9:10 GMT
England captain Alastair Cook has welcomed the selection dilemma he and coach Andy Flower face ahead of the third Test against India in Kolkata.
Steven Finn: Pushing for Test place
Steven Finn's return to fitness from a thigh injury means Cook and Flower must decide whether to jettison off-colour vice-captain Stuart Broad in favour of the tall Middlesex paceman, who was one of the few positives in England's one-day international series thrashing by the same opponents 12 months ago.
Steven Finn
With the four-match series finely poised at 1-1, Cook was unsurprisingly giving very little away at his pre-match press conference but spoke of Finn in glowing terms.
"On Steven Finn's injury, it's great he's now fully fit. He adds competition to the squad, he's a fine bowler and it's great to have him available for selection," Cook said.
"It's disappointing he's missed two games but it's great that he's back and we've got some tough selection meetings ahead of us.
"But as a captain and as a coach, that's what you want. You want people pushing for places."
Broad has been down on pace and is wicketless in the opening two matches and Cook admitted Finn could give England something different.
"He's got a little bit more pace than the other guys and he bowled well here on the sub-continent in the one-dayers," the left-hander added.
Cook's opening partner Nick Compton, meanwhile, is happy to learn on the job with England.
The Somerset batsman has made a solid start to his international career and served notice of his capabilities with an impressive 30 not out from 28 balls to help England seal a famous 10-wicket victory in Mumbai last time out.
Compton hinted that came about due to his refusal to let India's spinners dictate the pace to him.
"Finding a balance is what it's all about. I think that's very important," he told Sky Sports News.
"I'm learning that as we've gone on.
"Letting the spinners bowl is one thing but also putting some pressure on them is very important.
"I feel the first and second innings do differ, slightly.
"The first innings, as an opening batsman, is to set the game up and make sure we get a solid start for the team so I definitely have that in mind."
247 Lunch
459/9 Lunch | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1958 | SBJ / Nov. 18-24, 2013 / Peter Sullivan
Research from inside the ringBoxing's great divideUFC Gym is working outFight stories to watchBoston's sign of strengthEndurance stories to watchResearch on endurance sportsMarathon sponsors rally around eventSports events fit for foodiesStill tasty after 23 years Recent Issues
SBJ/Nov. 18-24, 2013/In Depth
The Building Managers: Peter Sullivan
General manager, University of Phoenix Stadium
By Don Muret, Staff Writer G+
As a teenager growing up on Long Island in the 1970s, Peter Sullivan sneaked into Nassau Coliseum to see Dr. J and Rick Barry perform their wizardry for the New York Nets.
“It’s not something I’m proud of,” Sullivan said. “[But] I vividly remember that this would be the greatest thing of all time if you could work in a building like this. From that point on, I set my sights on getting involved in the business.”
Forty years later, Sullivan’s buddies no longer have to “pop doors” for him to attend an event without paying for a ticket. He’s managed, among other facilities, three NFL stadiums in Pittsburgh, Jacksonville and Phoenix, plus a World Cup venue in Italy.
After earning a graduate degree in sports administration from the University of Massachusetts, Sullivan got his start in 1982 as an intern at the Worcester Centrum working for Tony Tavares, the arena’s general manager for SMG, the firm operating the building.
“That was a time in the industry when arenas were doing killer numbers of concerts,” Sullivan said. “The Centrum was one of the busiest buildings in the country. We did 50 to 55 concerts a year.”
During his tenure with SMG, Sullivan worked on the feasibility study tied to building a new stadium in St.
Photo by: University of Phoenix Stadium
Petersburg that ultimately became the model for Tropicana Field. His days in Jacksonville coincided with the Jaguars’ startup in 1993.
In early 2004, while on spring break with his family in Florida, Sullivan got a call from Global Spectrum officials asking if he wanted to run the first NFL stadium featuring a cutting-edge design where both the roof and the field were retractable.
At the time, Sullivan ran a minor league ballpark and a convention center in Lansing, Mich. He took the Arizona job and, close to 10 years later, shakes his head at the dramatic change he’s seen in the West Valley landscape surrounding the Glendale facility.
“The Coyotes’ arena was about five months old and the stadium was 15 percent complete,” he said. “I looked around and saw nothing else. It was daunting. Now, there is [Westgate] outdoor mall, [Tanger] outlet mall across the street, the Renaissance Hotel and condominiums.”
There have been many highlights over his career, but Sullivan points to the startup of the Common Ground Music Festival in Lansing as one of his best moments. The event — as he promised the city would happen — lost $400,000 before turning a profit in its fourth year.
“That’s a big deal to me because it’s not every day you can start a festival that’s still going to be around after 14 years,” he said. “It’s hard to keep those things going, so I feel really good about that.” | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/1960 | August 17, 2013, 18:51 PM Schiano Responds to Questions About the Buccaneers Offensive Line By Jenna Laine Bucs Insider Follow @
JennaLaineBucs Email
Comments 0 Head coach Greg Schiano isn’t in the hunt for a new offensive right tackle. He already has one. In his day-after-game press conference Saturday afternoon, he told reporters that despite some competition from Gabe Carimi, Demar Dotson will remain the starter for the 2013 season.
“Demar Dotson is having a very good camp. He’s our starting right tackle. Gabe Carimi is learning the system, he’s getting better every day.”
Schiano acknowledged Dotson didn’t have his best outing last night against the Patriots, when he surrendered a sack on third down to defensive end Rob Ninkovich that killed Tampa Bay’s second offensive series.
“He’s ailing just a little bit. He’s got a little thing going on with his leg, but he’s going to be fine….I think Demar is going to be really solid.”
Offensive Miscues
Schiano noted that the offense suffered from some miscues on protections early on, some of which had to do with the Bucs not preparing to face the specific scheme New England employs, which is a hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense.
“We weren’t concerned [with] scheming. We wanted to just go out and block our rules, play our rules, and when you do that, you get caught in some one-on-one matchups and sometimes, you know, if it were regular season, might we not have had those one-on-one matchups?”
“Maybe not, maybe we would’ve been chipping or helping, sliding the line, but that doesn’t matter. The reason we do it is we want to see one-on-one matchups, we want to see – preseason is the time to stretch yourself. Let’s see what we can and can’t do, and if it doesn’t work, why is it?”
When asked if he thought about how the offense would have fared having Pro Bowl guards Carl Nicks and Davin Joseph, Schiano said he didn’t think that was a factor, pointing to the fact that the Bucs didn’t have either for most of the season last year.
“That’s life in the NFL. You’re not going to have a Pro Bowler stacked behind a Pro Bowler. It doesn’t work that way so we have to get the job done.”
It’s going to be nice when we get them playing again. Certainly that firms up the middle and gives you the ability to help your tackles a little more. But, we didn’t protect well those first two drives and that can’t be. We’ll get it fixed though. I’m confident our guys will get it fixed and we’ll play better.”
Returns for Nicks and Joseph
When asked about a possible return for Joseph and Nicks, Schiano said that he does not have a clear timetable.
Joseph did not travel to Foxoborough and instead stayed in Tampa to condition. Nicks made the trip with the team and was expected to play, but it was announced 90 minutes prior to kickoff that he would sit.
Schiano described both of their statuses as ‘day-to-day’ and would not commit to a decision for either in regards to next week’s game at Miami.
“We have a plan but we’re willing to tweak that plan based on what we think is best with one goal in mind, and that is to start the season with our best players on the field.”
Tags: Buccaneers, Bucs, Bucs Preseason, Carl Nicks, Davin Joseph, Demar Dotson, Greg Schiano, Jenna Laine, New England Patriots, NFL, NFL preseason, Patriots, Rob Ninkovich, Tampa Bay Buccaneers <Next Article Cain, Blanco Lead Giants Over Marlins Last Article> Why Is Wil Myers The Rays Designated Hitter? more from Jenna LaineVideo: Evaluating the Bucs’ Pre-Draft Visits: Jimmy GaroppoloThe NFL Draft is less than a month away and the Bucs have been busy bringing in prospects, including quarterbacks. We’ve already talked about Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Derek Carr, which leaves Jimmy Gar Evaluating the Bucs’ Pre-Draft Visits: QB Johnny ManzielBucs Bringing in QB Derek Carr Today for a Pre-Draft Visitread more | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2003 | You are here: Home » Archives for debt recapitalization
Tag: "debt recapitalization"
TALKERS | March 4, 2013 Dial Global Restructures Credit Status; Pays Down $15 Million of Existing Term Loan. The industry has been watching the state of Dial Global’s debt situation and now the company announces that it, its lenders and certain of its stockholders have agreed to recapitalize the company’s existing credit facilities, other obligations and equity interests. CEO Spencer Brown states, “The new agreements with our lenders represent a significant step forward for the company. Once these transactions close, we will have delivered our balance sheet and decreased cash interest expense. The agreements will provide us with greater flexibility to actively manage and grow our business. We look forward to closing these transactions in April and focusing on serving our clients.” As part of the recapitalization, the company has entered into an Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, by and among the Company, General Electric Capital Corporation, as administrative agent and collateral agent, and the lenders party thereto which provides for a $15 million paydown of the company’s existing term loan and revolving credit commitments. That agreement matures on October 21, 2016. The company is also entering into a Priority Second Lien Credit Agreement among the company, the administrative agent, the syndication agent and the lender party for an additional $31.5 million through a term loan facility to the company, with a maturity date of July 21, 2017. As part of this Dial Global agrees to issue it penny warrants to purchase 7.5% of the company’s common stock exercisable immediately following the consummation of the recapitalization. Regarding the existing Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2011, lenders agreed to restructure their existing approximately $93 million in second lien obligations by amending and restating that agreement to provide for a $30 million term loan that matures five years after the expected closing of the recapitalization and exchanging approximately $63 million in remaining obligations under the existing Second Lien Credit Agreement for a new series of preferred stock of the Company. Under various subscription and exchange agreements between the company and the holders of the company’s PIK Notes and Series A Preferred Stock, such holders have agreed, subject to the satisfaction of certain specified conditions, to exchange their PIK Notes and Series A Preferred Stock for equity securities of the company and have further agreed to make an additional equity infusion of $16.5 million.
Cumulus Media’s News/Talk KKOB, Albuquerque and Talk Host Jim Villanucci Part Ways. When talk radio personality Jim Villanucci’s contract came up at Cumulus Media’s KKOB, Albuquerque the company chose not to renew it. Villanucci tells TALKERS magazine that he’d been reaching out to Cumulus for the past several months about a contract renewal but the company didn’t appear interested in talking so he exited after last Thursday’s program. Cumulus AM stations program director Pat Frisch is sitting in the PM drive slot for now as he seeks out a replacement. Villanucci’s program was a big ratings-getter for the station for many years. It will be hard to replace the kind of steady performance he’s achieved at KKOB-AM. Villanucci tells TALKERS, “I leave KKOB after 14 years looking forward to my next opportunity. I have had so many wonderful years working with some of the finest broadcasters in the business in a market that’s been very good to me. I wish the good people of Albuquerque and the folks at KKOB the very best. I would especially like to thank my former GM Milt McConnell, and wish my friend and PD Pat Frisch good luck going forward. ” Villanucci has been an annual face on the TALKERS Heavy Hundred for years due to his consistent performance and ability to branch out beyond the often-predictable news/talk topics heard on so many stations in the format.
Dan Sileo Exits WQAM, Miami. The statement from sports talk host Dan Sileo is brief and indicates the two sides were not seeing eye-to-eye on programming philosophy, “Our differences revolve around content issues and we wish each other the best. As for me and my style of sports talk, I will never change.” Sileo joined Beasley Broadcasting’s WQAM, Miami for the PM drive show after a successful stint at Clear Channel’s WDAE, Tampa. He then moved to middays.
L.A. Daily News Ranks Top Sports Talk Personalities Heard in Market. To TALKERS editors, the thing that stands out about this list is that there are enough sports talk radio hosts – both local and nationally syndicated – to put together a ranking for the Los Angeles market. But there are and KSPN’s Steve Mason and John Ireland tied for #1 this year with KLAC, Los Angeles’ Petros Papadakis coming in at #3 (there is no #2 since Mason and Ireland tied for #1). Papadakis’ partner Matt “Money” Smith ranked #5 this year. The paper also ranked the top nationally syndicated sports talk hosts heard in the L.A. market and the top three were: 1) Dan Patrick of DIRECTV/Fox Sports Radio; 2) Petros Papadakis and Matt “Money” Smith of Fox Sports Radio; and 3) Jay Mohr also of Fox Sports Radio Network. Nice compliment for Jay Mohr since he’s only been in the gig since the beginning of the year. And speaking of Jay Mohr…
Comedian, Actor and Sports Nut Jay Mohr Focuses on Fox Sports Radio Gig. To show how serious he is about his new full-time gig as midday sports talk host on the Fox Sports Radio Network, Jay Mohr tells TALKERS magazine, “Honestly, I have turned off the sitcom and movie noise to concentrate on the radio show; those other doors are closed right now. I cannot be on the phone trying to figure out how I am going to leave a studio at ‘this time’ to be on a movie set at ‘that time.’” In this profile piece, TALKERS managing editor and West Coast bureau chief Mike Kinosian talks with Mohr about his radio influences, love of sports, comedy road work and how he got into the sports talk game by subbing for Jim Rome, and finally to his first full-time sports talk job. He says of the fill-in work, “I thought if I could keep doing this, one day I might be able to do it for a living. I listened to Jim for many years and he really changed sports talk radio. He made it fun again. My job is to reset the dial a little and bring everybody back to the fun part of it.” Read the entire story here.
Rising Talk Radio Star Says Host Endorsements Should Be Interesting (and a Whole Lot More). He also says the goal of advertising on radio should be results – a simple concept often overlooked by sales and programming departments in their rush to sell the ads, give the client what they want and then get the spots on and off the air as quickly as possible. Michael Berry is one of news/talk radio’s most dynamic and promising rising stars. His mid-morning program is heard on KTRH, Houston as well as seven other respected talkers around the country. Today (3/4) in an exclusive TALKERS piece he makes a number of powerful points about the marketing and delivery of advertising within the news/talk radio medium making the point that although host endorsements are an important technique to get the sponsor’s message across, the real trick is to do it in a way that also gets them results while proving to be a tune-in, and not a tune-out factor. Berry (who will be speaking at Talkers New York 2013 on June 6) advises when it comes to writing and delivering commercial spots: 1) lose the copy points; 2) less is more; 3) trust the value of the endorsement (and don’t overload with justification); 4) be conversational throughout, building to the call to action; and 5) resist gimmicks and games. To read this important article or pass it along to someone in your station or company who will benefit by it, click here.
Talk Radio Pro Chuck Morse Joins IRN/USA Radio Network. Boston-based talk personality Chuck Morse begins a daily, two-hour talk show (airing from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon ET) via the IRN/USA Radio Network. Morse says of his new enterprise, “I am honored to work at the network founded by economist Larry Bates and award-winning talk pioneer, the late Marlon Maddoux. I look forward to working with talk host Chuck Bates who carries on the tradition of excellence at IRN/USA. With a national audience, I hope to follow in the footsteps of my mentor, the late Jerry Williams, who developed an intense bond with his callers and audience.”
Baldwin/McCullough Radio Show Co-Host and Actor Tops Fundraiser Effort on Celebrity Apprentice All Stars Show. Stephen Baldwin, actor and co-host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show “Baldwin/McCullough” (co-hosted by talk radio personality and XtreMedia CEO Kevin McCullough), and his team raised more than $600,000 for the American Red Cross during last night’s season premiere of NBC’s “Celebrity Apprentice All Stars.” That sum set a new record for the most ever raised in a season kick-off episode. Baldwin is competing for the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation named in honor of his mother.
Welcome to the Concept of Core-Casting. It is a simple and elegant idea that puts one of the most effective radio broadcasting uses of social media into perspective and focus. Noted digital radio consultant and TALKERS columnist Chris Miller writes today (3/4) about how social media provides radio programmers and talent with a pipeline to communicate directly with their most ardent listeners and fans. Miller writes, “There are companies outside radio who are learning how to use social media to leverage the power of their most valuable customers. One day, some smart radio group is going to figure out that social media is not just more broadcasting in a different medium. Neither is it just a matter of getting likes, shares and comments. While most mass marketing involves some form of trolling for cume, this is different. This is like the sales department taking its 10 biggest clients on a cruise. It’s core-casting.” To read Chris Miller’s entire piece, click here.
Bubba the Love Sponge Talks Suicidal Man ‘Off the Ledge.’ After an agitated and despondent man who had barricaded himself inside a Tampa-area business and was threatening to kill himself called the Bubba the Love Sponge program on Friday, Bubba (Todd Clem) was able to calm the man enough that he put his weapon down and was taken into custody by local police. The man, identified as Corey, locked himself inside The Car Store, a business owned by Bubba’s friends Todd and Shellie Herndon. The man is a family friend of the Herndons. Bubba says, “I’m just glad The Herndons are safe, no deputies were harmed and this gentleman can get the help he needs.”
Harry Teinowitz Exits ‘ESPN 1000’ Chicago. Time Out Chicago’s Robert Feder reports ESPN O&O WMVP “ESPN 1000” is going with a two-man PM drive show featuring Carmen DeFalco and John Jurkovic as the station has cut ties with Harry Teinowitz after 12 years. Feder reports a memo to the staff read, in part, “At 6:00 pm this evening Harry Teinowitz signed off air for the last time at ESPN Chicago. Throughout the many years that Harry has been with us, he has served in many different roles and has helped to establish the ESPN brand in Chicago. Harry’s contributions will be felt for years to come in every department at ESPN Chicago. We wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.” Afternoon drive on sports talk radio is, by many industry executives, considered to be more important than AM drive. Feder reports the most recent PPM data show crosstown rival WSCR leads the market in the Men 25-54 demo with a 7.2 share compared to WMVP’s 3.4 share.
Radio Broadcasters Still Learning About IP Codecs. Last week’s TALKERS article by technical editor Tom Ray about the proper use and application of IP codecs raised several questions from readers indicating there is still a lot to be learned about this emerging technology that promises to be the next step beyond ISDN in remote audio delivery. Today (3/4), the industry’s leading technical wizard addresses some of those issues — namely 1) the most important thing to have in place to use IP codecs effectively; 2) how to integrate service between brands of the device made by different manufacturers and get them to “talk” to each other; and 3) how to go about purchasing and testing an IP codec. To read Tom Ray’s informative article or pass it along to the person at your station or company who manages technical issues and equipment, click here.
Odds & Sods. Sports talk personality Adam Schein joins SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Radio. Beginning March 11, Schein will host “Schein on Sports” live from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm ET on the Mad Dog Radio Channel. He had “The SiriusXM Blitz” alongside 2002 NFL MVP Rich Gannon on the NFL channel…..TVNewser reports former “Good Morning America” senior executive producer Jim Murphy will serve as executive producer for CNN’s new morning show that will be co-hosted by Chris Cuomo. It had been rumored that Erin Burnett would be moved to mornings alongside Cuomo but reports indicate that many not be the case…..In other TV news, the New York Daily News reports Matt Lauer is on the hot seat since “Today” has fallen behind “Good Morning America” and the local “Good Day New York” on Fox5 in New York City. The story indicated morale on the set is low and conflicting reports about whether a new executive producer will join the show are adding to the problems. Several sources are indicating Matt Lauer may not be long for the program. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2010 | Florida Gators have a chance to begin move back to elite
Gary Shelton, Times Sports Columnist
GARY SHELTONTampa Bay TimesSunday, March 13, 2011 11:47pm
If the Florida Gators are going to introduce themselves to the world of college basketball, now seems like a good time.
If they are going to return to the ranks of the programs that matter, here seems like a perfect place.
After all, what else do the Gators have to do this weekend that sounds like more fun?
Frankly, it's about time the Gators were special again. In some ways, it seems as if it has been decades since Florida ruled college basketball. It hasn't been, of course. It was only four tournaments ago since the Gators won their second straight national championship with an athletic, cohesive bunch of athletes who never got tired of running. Or, for that matter, winning.
Since then, however, Florida has been a program unable to measure up to its own success. If you are counting, and it seems that everyone is counting, the Gators haven't won an NCAA Tournament game since beating UCLA for the title back in 2007. For an elite program, and for an elite coach, that's a long time between high-fives.
All of which brings us to this year's players and this year's possibilities.
Once again, the Gators finally have both.
According to NCAA seeding, which has the Gators second in the Southeast, Florida is one of the top eight teams in the country. According to the AP poll, Florida is one of the top 12. According to the SEC tournament, Florida is one of the top two teams in the SEC. According to the SEC regular season, Florida is the best team from its conference.
What that means is this is Billy Donovan's best team since the title years. And, yes, it means the Gators should be able to survive Tampa — a place where they haven't exactly flourished over the years — and make it to at least the Sweet 16.
When you are talking about fair expectations of this Florida team in the NCAA Tournament, that sounds about right. A first- or second-round loss means the Gators have underachieved. A run as far as the Elite Eight or better means they have overachieved.
No, no one is suggesting there is greatness to this Florida team, or that Chandler Parsons should grow a Joakim Noah ponytail at his earliest convenience. The old Gators won two titles; we're talking two games in a row.
With the Gators, there are still too many large, unsettling spaces where the basket location seems like a mystery to them. They could be tougher inside. And, yes, it's hard to forget that Florida found a way to lose to both UCF and Jacksonville this year. (Who knows where the Gators might have been seeded if they had won those games, huh?)
Say this for Donovan. Gathering his team after those embarrassments and finding a way to get his players to mesh down the stretch was one of the fine coaching moments of his career. Admit it: back on Dec. 20, when the Gators lost to Jacksonville three weeks after they lost to UCF, you wouldn't have given 20 cents for the rest of the season, would you?
Lately, however, there has been a lot to like with this Florida team. The Gators run well, the come from behind, they compete. They won 10 of their final 12, with both losses coming against Kentucky.
That said, you know what the players for UC-Santa Barbara are thinking today. They're thinking "UCF?'' They're thinking "Jacksonville?'' They're thinking "Orlando'' as in Orlando Johnson, who has scored 30 points or more six times this year. Most of all, it's thinking upsets. When a team reaches the NCAAs after going 8-8 in the Big West and being 14-13 overall two weeks ago, what else would it be thinking.
Still, it's going to be difficult for the Gauchos to travel across country and upset Florida. If that happens, you may not ever see Billy Donovan in Tampa Bay again.
For Florida, the second round looks testier. Michigan State? UCLA? Not to say those are storied programs, but the Gators have played both in a national championship game. In fact, the last time Florida played Michigan State in an NCAA Tournament game, it was in a second-round game in Tampa when the Gators were a No. 2 seed. Michigan State, seeded 10th back then, too, won that game by 22 points.
This year's Michigan State hasn't been as physical, however. And seventh-seeded UCLA hasn't quite lived up to its history, either. Frankly, both teams should grab their seeds before the NCAA reconsiders its generosity. If Florida deserves its own No. 2 seed, it should be able to get past either.
After that, who knows?
As long as they can avoid playing Jacksonville, maybe these Gators can run for a while.
Florida Gators have a chance to begin move back to elite 03/13/11
[Last modified: Monday, March 14, 2011 12:00am] | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2011 | Uses Google Custom Search Engine Texan Stars
Team PicturesTeam BiosTryout InformationContact UsTexan Star Dance Team Home Return to Top
Leticia Ryan-CarrMs. Leticia Ryan-Carr has been dancing almost as long as she has been walking, joining her first dance team at the young age of four years old. Since the age of 19, Ms. Ryan-Carr has been directing, receiving her start as the cheer/dance director of Ranger College, and has continued in the field for the past twelve years, leading her teams on to receive many accolades at both the state and national levels. Upon receiving her Bachelors degree in Exercise and Sport Studies from Tarleton State University, Leticia went on to coach the high school dance team at Copperas Cove High School and her former alma mater, West Mesquite High School. Upon leaving the high school level, Ms. Ryan-Carr went on to become the director of the Tarleton State University Texan Stars, where she currently still serves as both the dance team director and an instructor in the Health and Physical Education Department.
In addition to her college positions, Leticia is also a member of the American Dance and Drill Team staff where she directs many dance workshops and serves as a dance adjudicator. Leticia was a dance member of the Professional ABA Basketball Team, the Texas Tycoons. She also holds a certification as a physical fitness trainer in Biomechanics and Strength Training. Ms. Ryan-Carr recently received her Masters of Education in Physical Education from Tarleton State University, a huge personal accomplishment.
ryancarr@tarleton.edu
Send corrections or updates to: ryancarr@tarleton.edu
Texan Stars | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2047 | Crew wary of FCD striker Crew wary of FCD striker, but not focusing on stopping him August 27, 2010 Craig Merz MLSsoccer.com Danny O'Rourke could be tasked with stopping former Crew striker Jeff Cunningham.
Photo Credit: Getty Images OBETZ, Ohio — Crew coach Robert Warzycha has a unique perspective when it comes to trying to thwart FC Dallas forward Jeff Cunningham. The same goes for Edson Buddle of the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chicago’s Brian McBride. He played with each of them during his seven seasons as Crew player.
The trio comprise three of the top four goal scorers in Crew history. Cunningham and McBride are tied for the Crew career lead with 62 regular-season goals. Stern John—who has been playing in England—is third with 44 goals in 51 games while Buddle is fourth with 42 scores.
But Warzycha is not so concerned about them when his Crew team faces their current sides.
“I coach my team not against Brian McBride, not against Jeff Cunningham or Edson Buddle,” Warzycha said. “I’m coaching against the other teams. We’re trying to win whether or not they are on the field.”
The East-leading Crew will try to win on Saturday at Crew Stadium against Cunningham’s current side, FC Dallas, who are sitting in 3rd in the West ad riding a league-high 11-game unbeaten streak.
“Jeff is pure speed,” Warzycha said. “He wants the ball in channels. He can beat you with his speed and is a pretty good finisher.”
Cunningham played 182 games for Columbus from 1998-2004. In 2001 and 2002 alone, he notched an astounding total of 28 goals and 18 assists. But he was plagued throughout his stay with the Crew by inconsistency and immaturity when things didn’t go well.
“Because of the work rate, I loved to play with Brian and I loved to play with Edson,” Warzycha said. “We got frustrated with Jeff sometimes because he was trying to do too many things by himself. He didn’t allow his teammates to help his game. That’s what I think happened to Jeff.”
Warzycha likes the changes he’s seen in Cunningham at FC Dallas, where the 34-year-old has rediscovered his scoring touch. He had 17 goals last season and leads the club this year with seven. His career total of 128 is four goals behind D.C. United's Jaime Moreno for the all-time goal-scoring mark in MLS.
WATCH: Cunningham chases Moreno
“Right now he’s matured,” he said. “He’s allowing the teammates to help him and he’s running off the ball, especially at the end of last season. I would love to have Jeff on the field if he played like this.
“He found finally the team that he is scoring goals for and he’s enjoying Dallas,” Warzycha added. “He got married and he’s matured a lot. I’m happy for him.” | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2068 | #5 Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader From Northern Illinois
TEMPE, Ariz. - The No. 5 Arizona State baseball team swept a doubleheader against Northern Illinois on Saturday, winning the first game 10-5 and the second game 26-1 in seven innings. A crowd of 2,548 at Winkles Field-Packard Stadium at Brock Ballpark saw the Sun Devils improve to 3-0 on the season with the two victories.
In the first game, Drew Maggi and Zach Wilson had three hits each, with Wilson driving in three runs to pace the ASU offense. Deven Marrero drew three walks, including two with the bases loaded for the first two RBI of his career.
Merrill Kelly started and went five innings, allowing three hits and three earned runs to get the win in his ASU debut. Freshman Brady Rodgers also made his Sun Devil debut, allowing three hits and one run with five strikeouts over the final four innings to earn the save.
After Kelly escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the top of the first, Zack MacPhee had an RBI triple and Wilson followed with a run-scoring double to give the Sun Devils a 2-0 lead. The teams traded runs over the next two innings before ASU broke the game open in the fourth, as a two-run double by Wilson started a six-run inning to put the Devils in front 9-1.
Game Two saw the Sun Devils score early and often, putting 20 runs on the board in the first three innings, with nine runs each in the second and third innings. MacPhee, Riccio Torrez and Austin Barnes had four hits each, with MacPhee driving in five runs while Barnes had four RBI.
In all, 12 different ASU players had hits, with seven Sun Devils recording multi-hit games, and 10 different players drove in runs. The Devils also tied a 47-year-old school record with six triples in the game, matching the record set in 1963 against Utah State. MacPhee had two of the triples, giving him four in the first three games of the season.
Jake Borup got his first career start and went five innings, allowing four hits and one run with five strikeouts to earn the first victory of his ASU career. Josh Moody made his Sun Devil debut and pitched two innings of shutout relief. Arizona State Sun Devils Baseball | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2093 | Collect Autographs
Pseudos, AKA's
View Autographs
> All Available
> By Last Initial
> Search Autographs
Sample Autograph Signature:
Sam Weller
American award-winning journalist and professor at Columbia College, Chicago. Find available listings by: Sam Weller
Use the links below to find more authors by last name, first initial.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z For detailed information about collecting the autographs of authors | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2107 | Bills RBs Jackson, Spiller willing to share backfield loadAssociated Press8/2/2012 8:26:08 PMPITTSFORD, N.Y. -- Coach Chan Gailey can do the math rather easily: The Buffalo Bills have two capable running backs, and only one football to go around.
And that's why he's already cautioned both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller to limit their expectations regarding playing time and production because he intends for both to share the load.
"I said this way back: 'Everybody that is supposed to touch the ball won't be happy, because nobody's going to get it as much as they would like,"' Gailey said. "It's a little bit of a problem to make sure those guys touch it as much as they need to. But it's a good problem to have."
Jackson can sympathize with Gailey's dilemma.
"I'm glad I don't have to make that decision," Jackson said, regarding playing time. "So long as we're winning football games, we'll be all right."
Spiller's on board, too.
"We both understand that we both can't be selfish," Spiller said. "And if we're both playing at a high level, then it will elevate our team. It's exciting."
The Bills (No. 19 in the AP Pro32) have high expectations approaching this season, and part of that revolves around an offence that returns mostly intact after finishing a respectable 14th in the NFL in yards gained last year. It's a Gailey-run attack that relies on its running backs to play a key role in both the ground game and as receivers to keep opponents off-balance.
Though the two running backs have been together since 2010, when the Bills selected Spiller with the ninth pick in the draft, this marks the first season they're being re | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2108 | Week #4 - I Would Like a Full Timeout
by Michael Haynes
Tulsa Men's Soccer Team Announces Spring Schedule
Tulsa Men's Soccer Team Signs Five to National Letters-of-Intent
Four Tulsa Men's Soccer Players Named to NSCAA All-Midwest Region Team
Hurricane Soccer Stadium
Tulsa Hurricane on Facebook
Tulsa Soccer on Twitter
Okay folks, we're going to rewind a little bit. Class has kept me insanely busy and I apologize for missing last week's update. Hopefully next week I can get two in and be caught up, but for now, this is the week of September 13 and our first home game. Sorry it may not be as detailed, but it's harder to remember everything after a couple of weeks. The notes I have jotted down don't make as much sense now. If there isn't much mention of school it's because I've tried to block it from my memory. Anyway, here's the best effort.
Monday was a pretty lazy day. I went to class as usual, but after that it was pretty laid back. At the time that we normally have practice, I took about a two-hour nap. It was wonderful. The only real excitement of the day was when I got in the shower and the water found a strawberry on my leg that I didn't remember. I nearly jumped out of the tub. During the season they seem to be pretty permanent, but that doesn't mean you get used to them or they feel any better. It's the worst when you wake up in the middle of the night and your shorts have stuck to your leg where the strawberry is. Enjoy peeling that off.
Even though we had a day off, I didn't exactly feel fresh today. We came out to practice and the warm-up jog felt like I had just run the Cooper 10 minutes earlier. All the guys seemed to be a little sore to varying degrees. I think the coaches knew this and the drills weren't exactly the most physically demanding. Practice moved along pretty slowly but we got through what we wanted to do for the day. At the end, the guys who had played a lot of minutes the previous weekend jogged around the field while the rest of the team ran some sprints.
Today was my birthday. I turned 22-years old. How weird is that? Especially compared to the guys on the team, I feel like the old man. Being a birthday later in the year, I played for an '83 club team even though I was born in 1982. The recruits the coaches are talking to now are '87s and '88s. 1988?! I remember watching Kirk Gibson hit the game winning homerun for the Dodgers that year in the World Series, and these kids were just being born. Twenty-one didn't feel much different than 20, but 22 feels like 30. Seems like I'm supposed to go out and get a job right now. Oh well, I'll wait a little while for that.
The pace of today's practice picked up considerably compared to the day before. But first, Brian McCurdy had the unluckiest warm-up ever. We were moving around a large grid playing long balls to each other. I just happened to notice that on a couple of occasions he had to jump a ball that was crossing his path or dodge one going past his head. One time he had two balls played to him at the same time and both nearly hit him. Right at the end, someone tried to play a ball the length of the field but hit McCurdy straight in the back of the head from about 10 feet away. He staggered like a boxer on his last legs. I'm sure it hurt, and the surprise factor has to count for something, but I'm the kind of person that will laugh at the dumbest things and I was doubled over on the sideline just trying to breathe.
Okay, practice was a competition day. We got right into it and it was a pretty long practice as well. We split up into two teams that we played with the entire night. First was 1-v-1 where the coach would call out a number and those two would race to the ball and try to score. If the offensive player scored he earned his team a point. If the defensive player stole the ball and scored, he earned his team two points. The score was cumulative through all the drills over the course of the practice. From 1-v-1 we went to 2-v-2, which operated in much the same manner. Five-v-five followed and with this one each team received two teams. One game would go on for five minutes and you simply tried to score as many goals as you could. Finally we went to 10-v-10 where we played quick full field games where you went as hard as possible for five minutes. It wasn't the easiest of practices, but it was a lot of fun and everyone got some good work out of it.
So I walked into my Investments and Portfolio Management class today and we were in the lab working on a project together. I'm pretty sure the professor was speaking in Greek and typed the instructions out in Wingding because no one had any idea of what was going on. At least we were together though. It's a nice change from being the only one who doesn't understand what's going on.
Practice was on the game field today. It almost felt strange getting back on it after so long. We ran through a warm-up and some tactical stuff and ended up with a game of baseball. Baseball is where one team is behind the goal and the other team is shooting. The shooting team tries to score as many goals as possible before its three outs. An out is when you kick the ball over the goal and the other team catches it or the goalkeeper catches it. The first time I remember playing this was at Stanford the day before we were set to play the host and No. 1 team in the nation. Their girls team was out at the field at the same time and they were all looking at each other wondering who this YMCA team was that had come to town to play their guys. I guess it didn't matter because we won the next day.
I didn't really know what to do today because we hadn't been home on a Friday in a while. I only have one class on Friday's so I went to that and then came home and twiddled my thumbs for a while. I headed over to the stadium early because the TU women's team was playing before us. I walked toward our locker room and could the feel the music from 30 feet away. They installed a brand new stereo just in time for the first home game and it's definitely a player favorite. I can't imagine what will happen the first time Jamie (Danby) hears Avril Lavigne on this bad boy. I'm sure he'll be singing his heart out. We were all sitting around watching the women's game because they had gone into overtime. The game ended in a tie and therefore pushed our start time back.
I really can't think of very many complaints from our game. All three goals were very impressive. Daniel (Wasson) hit one from 20 or so yards out that was just a laser. Matt Thomas's goal was an awesome example of combination play. Todd (Goddard) turned a really difficult shot into a nice finish and capped the game off for us. ORU didn't get too many chances, but they did get a red card in the second half that hampered their efforts.
My parents were in town for the game and the coaches gave us the weekend off so I had some down time. We went to Utica Square and walked around and had a nice little Saturday. The women's team had left early that morning for an away game on Sunday. My girlfriend's mom was still in town so that night I went out to eat with the two moms. I know this sounds like it could be pretty intimidating or disastrous, but the night went very well. We went to Zio's and grabbed some dinner and kind of chatted the night away. Of course I called my girlfriend and told her to get me the inside scoop as soon as she talked to her mom. On a side note, my friend, Craig, got tickets to the Florida-Tennessee football game. Right before the road trip he got word that his uncle was sick and he should cancel his plans to go see him. Well then, Craig got sick and they didn't want to risk him exposing his uncle to anything, so they told him not to come. So he sat at home and watched probably one of the best games of the college football season thus far. Sorry buddy. I'm praying for your uncle.
Having two days off was a nice way to slowly work back into the week. Matt Wiley and Ryan Pore had a little get together to watch the football game. It was Ryan vs. the team as the Cleveland Browns played the Dallas Cowboys. They cooked hot dogs and had Cowboys and Browns cups and plates. It was good stuff, especially as the Cowboys pulled out the `W'. After that, the homework started again as another busy week lay ahead.
Tulsa Men's Soccer
Head Coach Tom McIntosh
C-USA Men's Soccer
C-USA Notebook C-USA Statistics National Polls | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2125 | Men's Ski
Minutemen Shake Off Rocky Start At PSU Carnival
Small takes top honors in Giant Slalom at PSU Carnival
Jason Small takes 1st place in Giant Slalom
WATERVILLE VALLEY, N.H.- The UMass men's ski team got off to a rocky start Friday, but found its grove at the second day of the Plymouth State University Carnival. The first day started out with the Slalom event and saw some of the top men's skiers unable to finish their second runs. The top five finishers for UMass included Matthew Small, who placed tenth with a combined time of 1:40.87. Alex Zahoruiko took 12th with a total time of 1:41.67 and Travis Hopkins took 16th with a time of 1:42.10. Rounding out the top five for UMass were James Green placing 21st with a time of 1:46.35 and Paul Lewenberg taking 27th with a time of 1:48.67. After the first day of the PSU Ski Carnival, the Minutemen were third in conference.
Jason Small came back from a disappointing slalom performance to win the Giant Slalom event on Saturday, by two seconds, with a time of 2:13.55. Andrew Hawes and Ian Hohmeister also came off disappointing first days in the Slalom to take fifth place and eighth place respectively, with a combined time of 2:16.59 and 2:18.23. Matthew Small continued his consistent skiing weekend, placing 16th with a time of 2:20.43. Travis Hopkins placed 23rd with a time of 2:21.51 to finish out the top five. With great skiing on the second day, the Minutemen were able to jump to second in the conference.
The Minutemen are back in action on February 2nd, competing in the Slalom event at the MIT Carnival at Henniker, N.H. On February 3rd, the Minutemen will be at Lincoln, N.H. participating in the Giant Slalom event in conjunction with the MIT Carnival.
ECSC Men's Conference Standings
1. Plymouth State University
2. UMass
3. Boston College
4. Colby Sawyer College
5. Babson College
6. MIT
7. St. Anselm
8. UConn
9. Brown University Minutemen Men's Ski HOME
Men's Skiing
Dinner/Auction Fundraiser Info
Media Guide Photo Galleries
Q&A With Head Ski Coach Skip Fox Recapping The ECSC Regionals
The UMass Women's Ski Team captured a trip to the USCSA Nationals next weekend after their fifth place finish in last weekend's ECSC Regionals. The Minutewomen placed three skiers in the top-15 during both days of the Regionals. The Men's team, the defending USCSA National Champions, will not be returning to the Nationals after their sixth place finish over the weekend. The Minutemen had a tough day in Saturday's Slalom, finishing in ninth place before recovering with a second place finish in the Giant Slalom. Andrew Hawes, Matthew Small and Travis Hopkins will participate in the NCAA EISA Eastern Regional Championships this weekend at Sugarloaf.
Men's Skiing Places Six, Women Fifth, At ECSC Regionals
Slalom Results | Giant Slalom Results
The UMass Ski team competed in the ECSC Regionals this past weekend in Waterville Valley, N.H. The women's team finished fifth overall, securing a spot in the USCSA Nationals in Winter Park, Colo. from March 3-7. The Men's team finished sixth overall after a disappointing ninth place finish in the Slalom before a second place finish in Sunday's Giant Slalom. UMass Skiing will be back in action this weekend when they will participate in the EISA Regionals at Sugarloff.
UMass Skiing Prepares For ECSC Regionals At Waterville Valley
UMass Skiing will travel to Waterville Valley, N.H. this weekend to compete in the ECSC Regionals. The Minutemen are coming off a successful weekend at the Boston College Carnival, where they locked a spot for the USCSA Regionals. The men's team finished second in the Giant Slalom before a sixth place Slalom finish while the women placed fourth in Friday's Giant Slalom before finishing fifth in the Slalom. The Men's team finished the regular season in third place in the MacConnell standings, while the Minutewomen finished fifth. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2131 | Charlie Weis Press Conference Transcript (Oct. 21)
Notre Dame head coach talks about how his team handled the bye week and is preparing for Saturday's game at Washington.
Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis held his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon and spent time discussing Saturday nght's game at Washington (5 p.m. PT, ESPN2).
COACH WEIS: A couple things before I get to Washington, a couple personnel issues. Paul Duncan this morning had his hip -- he had cartilage repaired in his hip. He'll be gone for the year. We had that done this morning. We had several questions about this over the last bunch of weeks, and we decided over the last week to go ahead and have that done, so we had that done this morning. He's fine, and everything went well. But he'll miss the remainder of the season.
David Grimes, you'll have him tomorrow. He's had this nagging back injury for a while, and I would list him as doubtful in this game, so when you get him tomorrow, I'm sure his status will probably still be in that same situation.
And then Luke Schmidt is still out indefinitely. That's still the case.
I know one of the things you guys need to do a lot of times when we have practice is who's around, who's not around, so I'm trying to save you from having to do that. I'm not anticipating anyone else not being out there and being full go and ready to go.
So on to Washington. Obviously Coach Willingham is in his fourth year there at Washington, and let's talk about their offense first. Tim Lappano, who's their coordinator, was also their quarterback coach, I know he coached for a little while with the 49ers with Dennis (Erickson) in 2003 and 2004.
They're throwing the ball very well, even after they lost a main guy. They're throwing the ball for over 215 yards a game, and they're doing a nice job on 3rd down. I'd like to say better than us. They're converting about 50 percent on 3rd down, so they've done some nice things there.
(Ronnie) Fouch had to take over. He's a redshirt freshman, had to take over at quarterback when (Jake) Locker went down with that thumb injury. He started the last couple games now, and in the last game he started, he threw for 276. One thing from watching him, because you don't have as much information -- even though he did play games last year that we had a chance to go back and see, he does move and slide in the pocket well, and he's tough and will hang in the pocket, and obviously he's got some production, especially this last game.
Running backs are in a little bit of a state of flux. The freshman Terrance Dailey had a big week last week, really -- there's been so many guys banged up, I really hadn't been that familiar with him, but he had a really good game here. He had 16 carries for 102 yards and one for 59 yards.
But there's been a bunch of guys banged up. For example, (David) Freeman had a high ankle sprain and he didn't play last week; he might play. (Willie) Griffin was getting a lot of time but he didn't get much time last week, but part of the reason why was because Dailey was having such a big game.
Homer will be the fullback. He also plays a lot on teams, and we'll see (Michael) Gottlieb and (Kavario) Middleton both at tight end.
Now, at wide receiver, they play about five or six guys at wide receiver. (D'Andre) Goodwin, he's definitely the go to guy. Last week he had five catches for 136 yards. He's got 32 catches for the year for over 450 and averaging over 14 yards a catch. He has good hands; he goes up and gets the ball. He adjusts well to the ball in the air. He's a nice receiver.
(Devin) Aguilar will play over there at his position. He's tough, and he catches the ball in traffic, so you'll see him in there, too.
Over at Z, (Alvin) Logan, (Jermaine) Kearse, (Tony) Chidiac, they'll all play. Chidiac is more of a slot player when he goes in. Logan will probably start at the Z, another red shirt freshman. A lot of freshman playing, because Kearse, he's a freshman who plays, too. Chidiac plays in the slot more than anything else. He has good hands, and he's tough.
And when they put (Jordan) Polk in the game, 82, he's their fastest wide receiver, but he's also their gadget guy. They do a lot of stuff, and they run fakes with him and fake sweeps with him and reverses, and he's got good speed and he's got make you miss ability. He's 161 pounds, but he's got that jitterbug mentality where he can make some guys miss. He's tough to bring down.
One thing about their offensive line, and you'll all see it as you're looking at it, they're very, very large people. They're very, very big. As a matter of fact, they average just under 330 pounds per guy. Their left tackle is (Ben) Ossai, he's 332, he's a big body with long arms. (Jordan) White Frisbee, he plays left guard, he's 368, okay. And anytime somebody is 368, you know they're about two pounds under four bills because that's usually -- having been a heavy guy my whole life, that 368 probably doesn't do him justice. He's a very large man. But the thing about him, he plays with good strength, he's big, he's massive, and he tries to play physical.
(Juan) Garcia, their center, is one of the smallest guys at 305. Now, he was granted a six year eligibility, so this is his third straight year where he's starting every game at center, so he's been obviously the experienced guy out of the group.
Now, I think (Ryan) Tolar will end up being at right guard. When (Casey) Bulyca went down, who had been the starting right guy -- he had season ending surgery last week -- Tolar came in, and he ended up starting for him at right guard. He's only 321 so he's one of the smaller guys.
And at right tackle, (Cody) Habben, another 6'6", 316 guy. So one thing with them against us, we have some definite issues to be dealing with with an offensive line that is this big.
Now, on defense, Ed Donatell, who I've known for quite some time, is their defensive coordinator. Let's start with their defensive line.
I think the first person you really have to talk about is (Daniel) Te'o-Nesheim, because he is a guy who will play defensive end. They'll list him as a defensive end, but when they go to nickel they put him inside as a three technique. He's a very disruptive player; they'll slide him inside and out, and he plays hard.
Their nose is (Cameron) Elisara. Their three technique is (Senio) Kelemete, and their weak side defensive end is a little smaller guy in Darrion Jones.
Now, at linebacker before this past week against Oregon State they had been playing a whole bunch of different guys at linebacker, but this week it looks to me like they settled in because (Donald) Butler had been moving all over the place, but he's settled in at the Sam linebacker in the last game. He tries to play very physical. (Trenton) Tuiasosopo settled in at Mike linebacker, and (Mason) Foster settled in at Will linebacker. He's as productive as anyone they have right there. He will make a whole bunch of plays.
But those three guys before had been part of a rotation, but this last game against Oregon State, they played most of the way, the three of them.
In the secondary, the two corners are Richardson and Forrester. Both of these guys were former safeties that they converted to corner, so they're rough you up type of guys. They're very physical. The third corner that will show up in the game is (Vonzell) McDowell. They usually play him inside as the nickel when they do go to nickel.
Nate Williams is their strong safety, one of their best players. Like last week he led the team in tackles. I think he had 11 tackles in the game.
And I've seen three different guys at free safety, (Victor) Aiyewa started last week, but I've also seen (Tripper) Johnson play in there, and (Johri) Fogerson I've seen, too. Fogerson I believe last week had a virus, but I'm expecting him to be back here this week.
On special teams, Brian White is their special teams coach. He also coaches tight ends. You've got (Jared) Ballman who place kicks. He really does everything. He punts, kicks off and kicks. Every once in a while they'll put (Ryan) Perkins in there. I think he tried like three field goals as another field goal kicker.
(Danny) Morovick is their long snapper, and when it comes to returner, Polk and (Quinton) Richardson are their primary guys on kickoff return. Aguilar or Goodwin will probably be back, one of those two guys will probably be back as their punt returners.
Q. With Rudolph, just because of obviously the lack of numbers at tight end, do you treat him and Joseph (Fauria) any differently during the week in practice? Do you maybe not use him as much because of lack of numbers?
COACH WEIS: No. I mean, they rep -- Kyle gets almost all of them, and Joseph gets the leftovers. You always have to be concerned with guys in practice wearing out and things like that. So we make sure that he doesn't get too much to get worn out in practice. But other than that, we need to get him ready to go, especially to build chemistry, both in the blocking game and as a receiver.
Q. He seems like a real quiet kid, too. Is he like (John) Carlson in that respect?
COACH WEIS: Well, they're quiet personas, but they're very intense football players. He's got a lot of John in him, which is a good quality to have. I mean, football is really important to him, and he doesn't have a quiet persona as a player.
Q. I know you guys are coming off of a loss, but this is the first time you're playing a team that's 0 and 6. Do you kind of have to stress certain things to make sure they don't necessarily look to Pittsburgh?
COACH WEIS: Well, for us, Pittsburgh is way down the road for us, because really having the break when we've had it, having it at this time right now, you really have time to kind of, okay, we've raised the bar from where we were two months ago. Two months ago we were here. Now at the halfway mark of the year, we've raised the bar to here. So now that's where we're starting from now. We're not starting from back down here again.
So now you've raised the bar to here, so really, Washington is the first opportunity you have to take a step forward from where you've raised that bar.
Q. And just with Will (Yeatman), obviously his status his changed since the last time you've talked to us. If you want to take us through that. COACH WEIS: There's nothing I can say. I mean, he's not here for the rest of the semester, and we'll look forward to having him back in January.
Q. The comparisons between the programs between Ty and you are out there. Does any of that ever reach you? Especially last year, it seems to almost reach national obsession levels during the year.
COACH WEIS: I think the only time that that really, in my case, came into play is when we were playing them back in 2005, because it was so soon after the change over. But I think that once we got past that game, I think that both he and I were happy to get past that game.
As far as analogies, we've gone our separate ways from there. I think that that was probably the one hurdle that we both had to get through, just so we could get through it. But I've gone my way, he's gone his way, our programs have, as well. I think that was a bigger hurdle to go through than any analogy that's taken place after that.
Q. Even deep down there's no feeling on your part when you go out there this week, because it's there with your fans, I have to win this --
COACH WEIS: In 2005 it was definitely there. You could act like it wasn't there because you felt like -- like this dog and pony show that we always talk about, that's how I felt at the time. I don't feel that way now.
Now I feel like, hey, it's the second half of the season, we need to get off to a good start, we've just had a nice long weekend off. We've got to get off to a good start, and Washington happens to be the team we're playing.
Q. And do you feel for a fellow coach then when you can just see their program get off to an 0 and 6 start? You were there a year ago. COACH WEIS: Was anyone asking that question last year (laughing)? I never wish bad on anyone. It's kind of funny because my wife and I were talking about Mike Nolan last week, and we were just talking about it, I like Mike Nolan, I respect him, we have the same agent, and I was talking about it's important as you get involved in coaching to never wish bad on another coach. I mean, that's really a bad thing, because when you do that, you're wishing bad on him and his family and his assistant coaches and their families, before you even get to the players that are in the program. So I always wish goodwill on everyone.
Q. When you got into college coaching four seasons ago now, fourth season, three years ago, did you realize, you knew how important recruiting was. Did you understand how closely it was followed by fans, by media now and so forth? I mean, your recruiting is mainstream now.
COACH WEIS: No, I didn't realize -- first of all, I knew that I was going to like recruiting, so that wasn't going to be the issue. Okay, what I didn't realize is the magnitude of the Internet. I mean, you can't do anything without it being on the Internet, and recruiting is just one of the subjects.
Now, that's only -- recruiting happens to be the subject we're talking about, but it's no different than if I go to the movies, to the multi cinema on Friday night, I mean, your personal life is -- the Internet is part of that, too.
But as far as recruiting goes, no matter where you go, no matter what you do, there's multiple people that know about it.
Q. Following up on that a little bit, do you take advantage of a coach on a hot seat? Does it make you a little uncomfortable taking a people into that situation where I know you're coming off a loss, but complacency could be an issue under the circumstances?
COACH WEIS: Complacency on our part?
Q. Correct.
COACH WEIS: I think that would be the first -- we have already addressed that issue right off the bat this morning, about Washington -- we can't worry about Washington because we've got more problems worrying about us. We've had time to go ahead and analyze us and see where we are and get well rested and all those other things, and we're just dialing up the schedule, and Washington is up first.
So I think that in a normal case, if this were like in the normal flow of things where you had just finished a game and now you're, boom, going into the next game, that could have been the case. But because of how the framework worked out where you ended up having a bye before that took place, I think it kind of alleviates -- kind of downplays the possibility of that coming to fruition.
Q. What about the atmosphere that you're going in? Usually you go into an us against the world situation. I'm not sure that is physically the atmosphere this time around. COACH WEIS: But at the same time we're going away from home and we have to go win. So there's always -- in the next four weeks we're playing three times on the road, so this happens to be one of them. So I think that it also gives you a good opportunity to set a tone for the second half of the season by going somewhere and beating somebody on the road.
Q. Shifting gears to Michael Floyd, everybody has talked about all the positives that he brings to the field. You said you didn't think that he would adapt as quickly as he has, and I'm sure he showed that he was very, very good right from the beginning. But what have been some of the things that he has had to adapt to, that he has had to learn?
COACH WEIS: Well, I think that physically you're never as concerned about a guy physically as you are concerned about them mentally. Let's not confuse mentally with intellectually because they're two different subjects.
The number of -- the volume of stuff that you're given in this offense at the wide receiver position, especially when we're running no huddle and they have to be able to play both outside positions that are different positions based off of the formation. One time he's one position, and the next time he's another position based off whether we're in right formation or left formation or three by one or two by two. So to have a kid at a young age without having been exposed to all your terminology and all the idiosyncrasies, to be able to play at this level this quickly, you know, is a pretty positive statement.
Q. You've talked about his personality before. I mean, he's the kind of kid that doesn't say a whole lot, or in the heat of battle is he a little bit more conversive?
COACH WEIS: I think he's not afraid to talk if that's what you're saying. I think a lot of these guys come across very professional, but I think that he's got some of that in him.
Q. With David (Grimes) out, is it a (Duval) Kamara/(Robby) Parris kind of combo coming up?
COACH WEIS: Yeah, both those guys will get a lot more action this week, and we're working them both in those roles, as well.
Q. With your tight ends, situation kind of at least you got some finality to the situation, first of all, do you feel compelled that Joseph (Fauria) needs to play? And secondly, do you need a guy like (Mike) Ragone to come out and help them in practice or talk to them in meetings and so forth?
COACH WEIS: No, we don't need a player to come out and help coach them. That we don't need. And we believe -- we're confident that if Joseph had to play in the game, we'd be just fine.
We're still in the same boat, though. Do you play him just to play him, to get him some time? Do you play him in case when you do need him, when that time comes, you're not just throwing him to the wolves. So we're going to keep finessing that situation until we're forced to make a decision.
Q. You wanted to take a look at some of your young guys during the open week, and I wondered if somebody jumped to the forefront to the point you might use them or consider using them. COACH WEIS: I'd say there's about three or four guys that we believe if we had to get them into the mix, we could get them into the mix. But at this point of the year we're going to try our best to not go in that direction unless we have to.
Q. Anybody jump out at you that you said, wow?
COACH WEIS: Well, let's just throw an example on offense and an example on defense. Let's do that. Let me group two guys on offense and talk about one on defense, because -- let's talk about both the young wide receivers.
Okay, now, both the young wide receivers, meaning John (Goodman) and Deion (Walker), have made significant strides from when they first got here, to the point where if I had to play them in a game, I believe they would do just fine. Okay, if I had to play them in a game, I believe -- now, I would not have said that at the beginning of the year. But at this point right now, if I had to play them in a game, I think they would do just fine.
Now, because I've got some big bodies on the defensive line, and let me take Kapron Lewis-Moore. He's a very athletic guy who athletically we could get on the field right now. But is he going to be as good or better than the guys that are already out there playing? It's not a question of whether he'd be good enough to play. The question is do we gain anything from that being the case.
But they're three guys that if we had to play them this week in a game, I'm convinced that all three of them could play in a game and do just fine.
Q. My obligatory Tyrone Willingham question. Do you guys know each other really other than just saying hello, and have you talked at all since the last Washington game?
COACH WEIS: No, we don't know each other very well, but we're cordial when we see each other. But no, I don't call him and he doesn't call me.
The last time I saw him, I think, was last January at the (AFCA) coaches' convention. But other than that, we don't call and ask how the families are doing or anything like that.
Q. Is "pass right" still in the play book?
COACH WEIS: It's still in the play book, but it's still a vivid and sad memory.
Q. In your self analysis or your team's self analysis that you've done during this bye week, talk about red zone offense and some of the things you've tried to do there.
COACH WEIS: What I want to do -- in case I had this question about self scout. I've kind of put Michael (Haywood) and Corwin (Brown) on call for the self scout questions, because I made the staffs do due diligence and all I did was reap the benefits of being able to read the summary. I would prefer if you don't mind if you guys would direct those questions today towards Michael and tomorrow towards Corwin because you might get into that a little bit more particular. I would be more general and they would be more specific. Fair enough?
Q. In terms of the running game and talking about that, you mentioned Washington's size, but they've had the same problems running the football consistently as you have. What areas have you tried to tweak during the two weeks?
COACH WEIS: Well, first of all, they had two issues. Number one, okay, they've had a whole bunch of running backs get hurt. But number two, their best runner -- one of their best runners was their quarterback who got hurt.
For them to be able to make an analysis of their running game, a lot of it had to do with when No. 10 (Jake Locker) went down. So that is a whole separate set of circumstances.
As far as us, one thing that we've had to do is as we've evolved over the last month is put our team in the best position to win, and that's what we will continue to do. And whatever puts us in the best position to win, okay, running or throwing, that's what we're going to do, because ultimately our No. 1 goal is making sure we win the game. And we need to do better than we did the last game, because the last game it wasn't good enough.
Q. Finally, might as well build on the Ty Willingham questions, when you encounter him or you're going to encounter Bob Davie this weekend who's doing the game, is there any kind of bond there because they're two of the few people who know what it's like to stand on that Notre Dame sideline and go through the pressures, or whatever the experience is?
COACH WEIS: You know, when I call people up, I usually like to talk to the guys who left here with a good taste in their mouth. And when guys leave here before they're ready to leave, they're not the people that would be the best people for me to talk to.
It's not that we're not cordial; it's just not the best situation. I don't want them to feel they have to say something, and I really don't want to ask them. When I have a question to ask somebody who's been in that boat, I call Ara (Parseghian) and Lou (Holtz), because they were here over a decade, and I just feel those are the guys that can kind of guide me the best.
I feel bad for other people, but the bottom line is when people leave before they want to leave, it's never a good conversation.
Q. You talked about raising the bar. Can you talk about what you addressed with the team, like what type of goals in the second half you may have set or what particular areas you want to raise the most?
COACH WEIS: Well, there's two obvious ones that you could state, but without getting too specific, the two obvious ones are the fact that unlike the first half of the season where you played four games at home and two games on the road, the second half of the season you're going to have four games on the road and two games at home.
So I think that the first thing you're going to have to do, and it starts this week against Washington, is go away from the can you win on the road question mark and start making the statement that you can. In other words, I want to eliminate the question mark and start doing something about it. And I think that this week's game gives you an opportunity to start in the right direction.
Secondly, I think that it's really important in the composition of the schedule to realize there's no more byes here now. This is six weeks here, not like let's play to that four day weekend off, and I think what they need to realize is we've gotten to the point we are now to put us in a position where we can make this season into a pretty solid season, you'd better get off to a quick start, or else you could find yourself wallowing around just like we were at different times last year.
So we want to make sure that the second half of the year start is just as important as the first half of the year start was.
Q. Speaking of where you're going, have you mentioned a Bowl yet at all?
COACH WEIS: Not at this point. I think that right now the most important thing you have to worry about is quick start against Washington on the road. And I think that that's enough to fill their plate.
Q. One more question about Rudolph. I assume when the season began in August, you never thought he would play as much as he did. Talk about what he's developed the most and what you've been impressed by and what he's developed. COACH WEIS: Well, first of all, he moved up the depth charts in a hurry. He moved up the depth charts in a hurry around here similar to Michael Floyd that we were talking about before. He was handling this stuff at a much faster pace than we thought was actually going to take place. So we've always been a staff -- we go by what we see. I mean, it was pretty obvious in practice that this guy was going to be in the mix, and he wasn't going to wait long before he was going to be in it.
That being said, what I really like with the kid, and I forget who said it, Michael might have brought it up, he has a lot of John Carlson in him, and I couldn't think of a better person to emulate or to replicate than John Carlson. You know, that quiet, intelligent kid that comes across just as a very humble person, who as a football player is a fierce competitor. And I think that you can't give any more glowing analogy than comparing him to a guy like John.
Q. You guys had a nice stretch of a couple games going where you hadn't turned the football over until North Carolina. Are there things in particular, and if so, what are they, that you tell Jimmy (Clausen) and the skill players just about the importance of retaining possession?
COACH WEIS: Well, I mean, each guy is their own separate entity, but between myself and Ron (Powlus) and Michael (Haywood), Jimmy has probably heard more than he wants to hear at this point, okay. But Jimmy is a very prideful person. He wasn't too fired up about how that last game went.
You know, you've just got to, across the board, do a better job of taking care of the football, but it starts with the quarterback because he has the ball in his hands on every single play.
Q. Is there something in practice you can do to work on that, because --
COACH WEIS: Well, depends on the subject. If you talk about strip sacks, we do work on that almost daily. We work on strip sacks almost daily. So that was one issue. That was one of the turnovers. Another turnover was just a misread and the other one was a miscommunication, so all three things were separate issues.
Q. In terms of setting the tone for the second half of the season, does it all come down to the start you get off to at Washington, or are there certain other things that you're looking for to see can this team make a jump from being a decent football team to a good football team?
COACH WEIS: I'm looking for the same thing you're looking for, to tell you the truth. But the difference is I don't want to count on hope. I'm counting on it happening. I'm counting on us going from decent to good. So it's my responsibility, along with the assistant coaches, to kind of guide these guys to help make that happen.
Q. Some of these mistakes, does he almost have to make them and learn from them to move past them as opposed to just working on it in practice?
COACH WEIS: Well, you never want to make mistakes. I mean, it isn't like you're rooting to make a mistake. But probably the most telling thing, Jimmy in that last game, not to go back to the last game, was after throwing that interception for a touchdown, shortly thereafter leading us down the field and going back and getting a touchdown back. And only really good players can do that, because usually they'd be shell shocked, like oh, no, here we go. Your eight point lead just went down to one, but shortly thereafter it's up to eight points again.
So that's the signs of a guy who has a chance of being very, very good. It isn't like I'm going to go out and practice him throwing interceptions or getting strip sacked. But at the same time, it's how they respond -- the bigger question is how they respond when it happens than it actually happening.
Q. You talked a couple thematic things about winning on the road, fast starts. Were those Xs and Os, or are there a couple things that stand out, we need to be better here, here and here?
COACH WEIS: That is a definite yes is the answer to that question. We'll talk Saturday afternoon about -- well, let's see, Saturday evening, we'll talk about it then.
Q. As far as Duval (Kamara) goes, it seemed like North Carolina could be a big moment for him in terms of how he plays. Do you feel like he got out of a funk or a slump or whatever you want to call it a couple weeks ago?
COACH WEIS: Well, he obviously had an opportunity to make plays, and he made them, okay, which now his confidence arrow is pointing up, where it might have been flat lined or even going down some. So with a guy like that who's got a world of ability, when his confidence arrow is pointing up, that's a good thing. It's another weapon we can get on the field and get him the ball.
Q. And lastly, aside from getting some younger guys some reps, what are you feel like you got out of last week? Obviously you got out on the road and recruited a little bit. Where do you feel like you guys are right now heading into this week?
COACH WEIS: Well, there are really three main things that you were trying to get done last week, okay. Number one is you wanted to analyze where you were. Number two, you wanted to practice a couple practices really hard and physical practices where some of the guys who don't get as many reps would get significantly more reps at what we do so you could go and evaluate where we are at this point right here.
For example, Dayne Crist. I mean, Dayne Crist, I said that (last week) sarcastically about his arm being sore; his arm might have been sore by the end of the week with how many balls he ended up throwing, which is a good thing, because other than that, he's not -- he's really running third. Evan (Sharpley) is running second, he's running third. There's not many reps for the third quarterback, and there's not many reps for the second quarterback.
And last but not least, I think the players needed some time off. They needed some time physically and mentally to get away from the place. The coaches utilized it to go out there and go recruiting. They at least got Sunday off anyway, and got back because we used last Wednesday as Monday -- they got to use Monday as a preparation day, and thankfully everyone had to be back here for breakfast by 8:30 this morning, and everyone was in attendance, thank you for asking. So I didn't have any mystery people that I had to worry about disciplining after a four day weekend.
Q. Real quick, with David's injury, is it structural? Is it just sort of a muscle spasm type thing he's not getting over? Is there any detail you can get us about that?
COACH WEIS: You know, what they do is sometimes when you have these spasms, they do things to try to get the spasms to go away, and the problem is they haven't gone away. The only thing that really helps at this point is rest. So you're in a catch 22. If he goes out there, he's not full speed. So I told him today I decided I'm going to rest him until they go away.
Now, the sooner they go away, the faster we'll play him. He knows this is not about holding him, and he knows as soon as he's healthy we're going to put him in there. But at this point until they go away, I think that he'd be a lesser player than the guys that are behind him.
Q. I wonder if you could describe a little bit about the environment of coaching Notre Dame, especially the contrast between the first and second years.
COACH WEIS: Well, the one thing as the head coach at Notre Dame, you have to understand that you're a national figure, whether you like it or not. Okay, you are. And that there's good and bad that comes with that. You're the head coach of one of the finest universities in the country, and whatever you do is going to be scrutinized, positively or negatively, and it comes with the territory.
Probably one of the more disheartening things about it is the fact that you no longer have any personal life because with that job comes -- every time you're in public, you're like a marked man. And I'm not saying that that's all negative. That's just the facts of life.
So I think that that brings an added set of circumstances that most other people don't have to deal with, because most times you're scrutinized for how your players play or how they do in the classroom or do they get in trouble. You're scrutinized for those.
But in addition here, you just have -- there's so many people that follow Notre Dame to either root for us or root against us that you have to realize that you're a public figure, and that's the way it goes.
Q. With this game being in Seattle and Coach Willingham's history in both programs, can you talk a little bit about how these programs are going in completely opposite directions, and especially from the Notre Dame side and how you've been able to kind of turn that around?
COACH WEIS: I'm not going to speak for him or his program, other than the fact of me getting ready to play them this week. I really don't know any of the idiosyncrasies that are involved there. I can just talk about us.
We're 4 and 2. We've had some bright spots; we've had some negative spots. I think that we have a bunch of players that are getting better across the board. I feel very good about the development of our players right now, and I think that the expectations internally have grown exponentially from where they were, because no matter how many times you tell the kids and set goals for them, until they get a little taste of success, it's tough for them to actually see the same vision that you have.
But I think that that's the direction we're heading, and as far as I'm concerned, we can't get there fast enough.
Q. With Jimmy Clausen, I'm sure a lot of it has to do with experience, but what's the biggest change you see in him from last year to this year?
COACH WEIS: Well, it's been a composition. The biggest thing that I'm going to talk about to your question is going to be mentally. But I think that physically he's so much a different specimen physically than he was at any time last year. When he walked off the field last year against Stanford, he weighed 194 pounds, and he's -- well, I don't know, after this weekend he might be over 220, I don't know. But he's been between 215 and 220 this year, been able to withstand a totally different game physically from where he was at any time last year. He's got zip on the ball. So all the physical attributes are much improved from where they were at this time last year.
But probably, without a doubt, the two things that I see the most significant progress, okay, are his mental pickup of our offense and his leadership. Because his leadership is something that really has grown more this year as the year has gone on and at a faster pace than even I might have expected. You know, he's really turned into a guy that the offense turns to. Before he just happened to be the guy playing quarterback.
Q. And with that mental pickup, how much more does that allow you to kind of open up the play book this year than last year?
COACH WEIS: A whole bunch. And every week there's more. We added a package last week, and we'll add more this week and we'll add more the next week. Every week -- we won't throw away any of the stuff we have, but it will just be a continuous add on because the more we can handle, the more flexibility, the more problems you can present to those guys calling the defense.
Q. I was just wondering if you could talk in general about what the biggest differences are between your team this year and last year and what enabled you to get over that hump after what happened last season?
COACH WEIS: Well, the first thing is, I want to be careful when I answer this question because when I say it -- when I answer the question, I don't want to be making excuses for us having a dismal year, because it was dismal.
The one thing I can say is that there's a bunch of guys on this team that last year really got their first year of true playing experience. Some of them were freshmen that are now sophomores, some of them were sophomores that are now juniors, some of them were juniors that are now seniors. I've got this guy Mike Turkovich playing left tackle that is really playing very well for us that played some last year that has been one of the most pleasant surprises on our team.
But I think that what usually happens is those guys -- after their first year of playing, regardless of what grade they're in, usually their second year of playing is when there's the most significant progress, and I think that fortunately for us, a lot of those guys that are playing for the second year have really stepped up.
Before you talk about the freshmen that have complemented us, I think the most significant thing is those guys that are now in their second year playing. A lot of them have made significant progress.
FastScripts by ASAP Sports Notre Dame Football Home | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2152 | Anne Gribbons, Technical Advisor
Eva Salomon, Managing Director and Chef d'Equipe
Jenny Van-Wieren Page Team Leader
Steffen Peterson Legolas 92Tina Konyoton Calecto VSteffen Peterson RavelJan Ebelingon RafalcaAdrienne Lyleon WizardTodd Flettrichon Otto (W)Heather Blitzon ParagonGuenter Seidelon FandangoPierre St. Jacqueson Lucky TigerKathleen Raineon BreannaShawna Hardingon Come On IIISusan Blinkson Robin HoodJim Kofordon Rhett
Anne GribbonsSeptember 26, 1946Chuluota, FLAnne Gribbons is a native of Sweden who has been active in dressage in the U.S. since 1972. She has trained and shown over a dozen of her horses to Grand Prix, nine of which were USET long listed. A number of her students have competed at the FEI levels, and in 2001 her student of six years, Lesley Eden, was the individual and team Gold medalist at the North American Young Riders Championships.Gribbons was a member of the U.S. team at the North American Championships in 1985 and the World Championships in 1986. In 1993 she spent a year on the European show circuit, competing in Dusseldorf, Schoten, Beek, Falsterbo, and Aachen. She finished seventh in the 1994 World Championship Trials on Leonardo II, who was also invited to the U.S. World Cup League Finals the same year. In 1995 she was a member of the Pan American Silver medal winning U.S. team on Metallic. Metallic, ridden by Robert Dover, was on the Atlanta Olympic Bronze medal winning U.S. team and was the 1996 USDF Grand Prix Horse of the Year.In addition to riding and training Gribbons serves the dressage community and many capacities: she was the North American Representative to the FEI World Cup Committee, 1994 - 1997, served for ten years on the USEF Board of Directors, and was elected to serve on the FEI Dressage Committee for four years, 2010-2013. She also served as Chef D'Equipe for U.S. team at the 2003 World Cup Finals in Gothenburg, Sweden. In January of 2010 she began her role as USEF Dressage Technical Advisor. Since taking over the position, the U.S. team has done well under her guidance. At the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, Steffen Peters and Ravel received Individual Bronze medals for the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle. The U.S. team won Team Gold and swept the individual medals at the 2011 Pan American Games.In 2006 Gribbons was named the "Horseman of the Year" by the Chronicle of the Horse and was nominated by the FEI Dressage Committee for a promotion to an "Olympic" judge. Gribbons is also both a licensed USEF Senior Judge and an FEI Judge. She has officiated at numerous CDI's, Olympic and Pan American trials in the U.S., as well as at prestigious events in Europe such as the Stuttgart CHIO, CDI at s'Hertogenbosch Dressage, World Cup Finals in Dusseldorf in 2004, and in Las Vegas in 2007.Along with husband David, Gribbons runs Knoll Dressage in Chuluota, FL. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2158 | UC Santa Cruz Nike Tennis Camp Santa Cruz, California
California » Santa Cruz Click to enlarge and view gallery »
This summer, choose a summer camp with the ultimate combination of athletics and fun at the UC Santa Cruz Nike Tennis Camp. By offering a perfect mix of match play, drill work, strategy sessions and on-campus and off-campus activities, there’s no better way to spend a summer! UC Santa Cruz, a favorite Nike Tennis Camp venue for over 20 years, again offers general, high school and national training camp sessions for juniors. All weekly camps consist of a core tennis program that includes technical, tactical, physical, and mental aspects of tennis. Mornings focus on the technique while afternoons are geared towards match-play situations. Create memories to last a lifetime at this junior summer tennis camp!
International Campers Welcome!
International campers seeking a Sport and Language program can find a list of camp sessions and a detailed description of our new programs by Clicking Here. International campers seeking a Sport Only program, a multi-week sport camp experience, can easily combine any of our individual Tennis Camp sessions together with a weekend stay over to create the right camp program to fit your needs!
Dartfish video analysis offered at this camp! See details tab for more info. Highlights Include
Daily on-court instruction from renown former Slugs men's tennis coach, Bob Hansen, and current head coaches, Bryce Parmelly and Jason Ringstad, and former women's coach, Erin Ness
Davis Cup style team competition each week
Dartfish video analysis
Fun off-court evening activities including a sports night with a climbing wall, Casino Night and concludes with a camp dance on the last night 5-6 hours of tennis daily with a 6:1 student to teacher ratio
The University of California, Santa Cruz is an easy drive from San Francisco, San Jose, and the Monterey Peninsula, (and about 30-40 minutes from the San Jose Airport.) The campus, defined by rolling meadows and towering redwoods, is an ideal environment for a Nike Tennis Camp. The campus offers a perfect environment with 12 ocean view outdoor courts, playing fields, gymnasium and Olympic-sized pool. Meet your coaching staff
Bob Hansen, famous men’s coach and creator of the Santa Cruz “Slugs” tennis program is a seven-time NCAA championship winner and returns for his 33rd year as director of the camp. Hansen is now the Head Men’s tennis coach at Middlebury College, after coaching the UCSC Slugs for over 30 years with many national team titles.
Hansen is now in his second season as the head coach of the Middlebury men's tennis team. He came to Middlebury from the University of California Santa Cruz, where he has served as the head men’s coach for the past 30 years.
The creator of the UCSC tennis program, Hansen is regarded as one of the top coaches in the country. Hansen led the team to seven NCAA Championships (1989, 1995, 1996, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2009), appearing in the finals 13 of the last 24 years. Hansen’s players have won 10 NCAA doubles titles and five NCAA singles titles. Under coach Hansen’s direction, the UCSC tennis program produced 117 All-Americans.
Hansen has been named the ITA (Intercollegiate Tennis Association) Coach of the Year four times and in 2000 was honored as the ITA Coach of the Decade for the 1990s. During that time span, his teams were undefeated against Division III opponents in the regular season going with a 73-0 mark. Hansen has served as an executive board member of the ITA as well as its Division III representative. He also served as the chair of the NCAA Division III Tennis Committee as well as a member of the ITA Rules Committee.
As a player, Hansen was Northern California’s Open Player of the Year and was ranked in the top eight for five straight years during the late 1970s. He received an ATP world ranking as well as much valuable coaching experience while playing the international circuit before coming to UC Santa Cruz. He registered wins over many top 100 players including top-10 players Brad Gilbert and Paul McNamee. He won the USTA 40 National Grass Court Championships held in Santa Barbara.
During the summers Hansen directed the NIKE Santa Cruz Tennis Camps where he was a pioneer in the development of the tournament training program for ranked juniors.
Hansen is a 1975 graduate of San Jose State University, where he earned a degree in physical education. He later returned to his alma mater and received a master’s degree in the same subject in 1980.
During the summers he directs the NIKE Santa Cruz Tennis Camps where he was a pioneer in the development of the tournament training program for ranked juniors.
Bryce Parmelly
Bryce Parmelly is entering his 14th consecutive summer in affiliation with the Nike Tennis Camp-Santa Cruz.
In Bryce’s tenure as Head Coach of the UC Santa Cruz Men’s Tennis Program, 2011-2013, his team has acquired numerous accomplishments. He has graduated multiple singles and doubles All-Americans both seasons, and has finished with top 15 National Team Rankings in conclusion of both seasons. In 2012 his team reached the finals of the ITA National Team Indoor Championships, finishing their season ranked nine in the country.
Bryce graduated in 2005 with a degree in Psychology before starting his coaching career under legendary coach Bob Hansen. Given his time spent here as a player, coach, and 13 summers of involvement with the Nike Jr. Tennis Camp Santa Cruz, Bryce’s influence over the Slug culture has been nothing short of profound. Bryce’s mission is clear, “I believe whole-heartedly in the Slug Tennis program and the significant impact it has on people. This is why I have chosen to take over as the Head Men’s Tennis Coach here at UC Santa Cruz. I want to continue contributing to Slug Tennis and to share all that Bob and Slug Tennis have taught me. The journey to build a championship team year in and year out will continue to drive this program.”
As the Head Assistant Coach between the years 2005-2010 the Slugs have won an astounding four National Team Titles. The Slugs won the ITA National Indoor Team Championships in 2007 and 2010, and were finalists in 2006 and 2008. In 2007 and 2009 the Slugs finished the season as the top ranked team in the country taking home the NCAA Team Title both years. In these five seasons the Slugs never ended their season with a national ranking lower than six. Bryce helped to produce two National Singles Titles, three National Doubles Titles, three Ojai Singles Championships, two Ojai Doubles Championships, along with eight singles and 12 doubles All-American selections. In 2010 he was awarded ITA Assistant Coach of the Year for the West Region.
As a player, Bryce helped lead his team to the 2005 NCAA Team Championship. His team reached the finals of the ITA National Indoor Championships twice in 2002 and 2005. In each of his four seasons the Slugs never ended their season with a national ranking lower than five. His singles career consisted of multiple wins over top 30 nationally ranked players and in 2005 he was selected as a Doubles All-American. He and his partner won the ITA West Regional Tournament in the fall of 2004 as they went on to reach the finals of the ITA National Small College Championships that same year. In the winter of 2004, Bryce reached his highest national doubles ranking of two in the country.
Ben Belletto
Ben Belletto was a camp instructor at UC Santa Cruz Nike tennis Camp from 1998 to 2002. We are thrilled to have him back to direct camp this summer! After a successful ten year tenure at Pomona-Pitzer where he headed the men's tennis program, Belletto will now don the Purple & Gold of Whittier College this upcoming season inheriting a men's tennis program that finished No. 21 in the ITA National Rankings this past season. He will have All-SCIAC performers David Konstantinov and Chris Schommer leading the squad into 2014.
While at Pomona-Pitzer, Belletto coached 13 All-American selections, 25 All-SCIAC performers, saw Pomona-Pitzer named an ITA Academic All-American team from 2004-2012, had a nationally ranked program every year since 2007, which included a Top 10 finish in 2010 and four consecutive Top 20 finishes from 2010-2013. In 2011 and 2012 his teams earned a selection into the NCAA Division III Men's Tennis Championships.While coaching at Pomona-Pitzer he taught courses within the Athletic department including advanced tennis and squash and in 2012 was a Southern California Section Captain for the Pacific Cup coaching a group of boys and girls ages 12-18 in a round robin tournament that took place in Beaverton, Oregon.Prior to coaching at Pomona-Pitzer, Belletto coached the Piedmont High School men's tennis team in 2001 where they earned a Bay Shore Athletic League Conference Championship.Belletto graduated from Saint Mary's College of California in 2001 obtaining a B.A. in Politics before grabbing his M.A. in Physical Education from Azusa Pacific University in 2009.During his time at Pomona-Pitzer he performed numerous duties within the Athletic Department including being the Sports Information Director and Assistant Sports Information Director from 2003-2013, while being an Events Coordinator overseeing game day operations for football, volleyball, and men's and women's basketball.He currently serves as the Co-Director of the UC Santa Cruz Nike tennis Camp and was an instructor at the same camp from 1998-2002. He published an article called The importance of College Tennis Culture published on www.tennisrecruiting .net and presented at the ITA Coaches Convention a presentation on Team Culture.
Erin Ness
Erin Ness served for five years as the UCSC Slug Women's Head Tennis Coach and led the team to consecutive NCAA tournament appearances. She is now in her second year as the head women's tennis coach at Washington and Lee University.
Ness' first season resulted in a 19-8 overall record and the program's 23rd Old Dominion Athletic Conference title. The Generals then advanced to the NCAA Tournament before falling to Sewanee in the second round. Ness also coached several individuals to the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships, with the tandem of Sonja Meighan '15 and Patricia Kirkland '15 advancing to the semifinals of the national tournament to earn All-America honors. Ness also mentored Meghan Buell '15 to All-America honors after she placed fourth at the ITA Small College Championships in the fall.
Ness came to W&L from the University of California-Santa Cruz, where she served as the head women's tennis coach from 2006-12. She led the Banana Slugs to the NCAA Division III Tournament three times, while mentoring her athletes to All-America honors a total of five times. Her 2008, 2011 and 2012 teams all earned Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) All-Academic Team accolades and she was named the Wilson/ITA West Region Coach of the Year in 2011.
In addition to coaching, Ness served as a physical education instructor at UC-Santa Cruz and served as the assistant director of the Nike Tennis Camps held on campus since 2004.
Ness was a four-year starter in both singles and doubles as an undergraduate at UC-Santa Cruz, serving as a team captain for her senior season. Twice she helped guide the team to the NCAA Tournament and she was a regionally ranked doubles player.
Ness earned a bachelor of arts in psychology in 2006 and is currently working towards a master of arts in kinesiology and sports psychology from San Jose State University.
Jason Ringstad
Jason Ringstad is the UCSC Slug Women's Interum Tennis Coach.
Learn more about UC Santa Cruz Nike Tennis Camp
(Camp Code: TNXRSC)
This year we are offering seven weeks of Overnight and Extended Day (8:30am-9:00pm) and Day (8:30am-5:30pm) camp for kids ages 9-18 of all skill levels. All meals are included for Overnight campers. Lunch and dinner are included for Extended Day Campers. Lunch is included for Day campers.
Upon arrival, all participants are evaluated by the staff so that their own instructional needs can be addressed throughout the week.
In addition to the “All Skills” program offered each week, this year we are offering a national training program and high school program during certain weeks of camp.
The national training program is geared towards tournament level and ranked players looking to improve their tournament results, learn winning strategies, and work on mental toughness.
June 22-27 (All Skills & National Training) June 28-July 3 (All Skills & High School & National Training) July 6-11 (All Skills & High School & National Training) July 13-18 (All Skills & High School & National Training)
July 20-25 (All Skills & High School & National Training) July 27-August 1 (All Skills & High School & National Training) August 3-8 (High School Only | Ages 13-18)
Dartfish video analysis will be used during the camp to analyze and improve your strokes and is provided at no extra charge for all campers. See your strokes compared to a top playing professional! Your Dartfish Mediabook will be posted to a private player locker on Dartfish.tv and reviewed with you by the staff at camp (click here for an example). The package includes: Stroke Analysis: Your Dartfish Mediabook contains videos of your strokes, plus side-by-side comparison with a pro, along with comments. Pro Stroke Library: Three months of access to Pro Stroke Library, featuring hundreds of strokes in both real and high speed.
Camp highlights video*: This video of camp activities and friends all set to music will be something everyone will want to have and keep forever. (*Only offered at participating locations.) Check-in / Check-out Times:
Check-in: All campers Sunday between 12:30-2:30pm at dorms (TBD for 2014). (All Day and Extended Day Campers will depart that evening after dinner and evening activities at 9:00pm.)
Graduation: 4:30pm at the dorms. (Parents invited to attend!)
Check-out: Immediately following graduation at 5:15pm on the last day of the session.
Day & Extended Day Camper Information
• On Sunday (Check-in day), Day campers & Extended Day campers stay until 9:00pm.
• Monday through Thursday Day campers come from 8:30am-5:30pm and Extended Day campers come from 8:30am to 9:00pm.
• Check-out for all campers is immediately after the Graduation on Friday at 5:15pm.
• Meals: Lunch and dinner are provided for all Extended Day campers. Lunch is provided for all Day campers.
Campers play on 12 outdoor courts. In the event of rain, campers will watch tennis videos and do off-court conditioning. Dorms
Campers live on-campus in the dorms (TBD for 2014) and the courts and dining faciltities are an easy walk. Campers stay 2 per room and are assigned by age and roommate requests. Some triples may be available, but not guaranteed. There is no A/C in the dorms. Campers may bring fans.
Evening Activities
In addition to the Davis Cup competition during the week, evenings give the campers a chance to relax and enjoy fun off-court activities like a sports night with a climbing wall, Casino Night, a trip to the Beach and Boardwalk and concludes with a camp dance on the last night.
Weekend Stayovers
Weekend stayovers are available between all sessions EXCEPT between weeks 1&2. Campers attending multiple sessions, and who stay over the weekend, are fully supervised and enjoy fun activities like movies and ice cream, visiting downtown Santa Cruz, the beach or the Mystery spot in Santa Cruz. There is a charge of $200/weekend. Additional spending money is required.
Designated Airport: San Jose International Airport
Nike Tennis Camp does not provide any transportation to/from camp from airport, train stations or bus depots. If you fly into camp, we recommend that you fly into San Jose International Airport and schedule a shuttle from the airport to camp through California Airport Transportation (831) 477-7000.
4:15pm Groups or Private Extra Help, Optional Tennis, Swimming
5:00pm Rest, Shower, Dinner
7:15pm Evening Activity
9:00pm Extended Day Campers Depart
9:30pm Overnight Campers to Rooms
Positive Player
Bob Hansen and the entire staff were PHENOMENAL! – Very enthusiastic, competent, and fully engaged with the kids. My daughter left with extremely positive feelings about the state of her tennis game after the camp.
Past/Repeat Camper
Veteran Camper Still Impressed
I had an awesome time at camp this summer, and though it was my fourth summer there, everything was still fun and exciting. I learned a lot while I was at camp and made some awesome new friends, as well as seeing old friends. Also, I got really close to some of the counselors and that was awesome. Thanks and keep up the good work!
Past Camper
Overcoming Nerves
I didn’t know what to expect coming to this camp. I was slightly worried because I didn’t go with any other people I knew. However, the counselors and staff were very nice and made it so I was not nervous to play. Although my week had its ups and downs, I improved greatly, and had a wonderful overall experience. When I got back home I signed up for a tournament and ended up taking second place in 16 and under Doubles. Without going to camp previously, I don’t think I would have taken a chance to play in a tournament like this. Because of this I would like to say thank you to all of the staff that made my week so memorable, and helped me to better my game.
Time of My Life!
When I first got to the camp, the director told us campers that he wanted to make this "the best five days of our lives" and at first I laughed because I thought, "well this is just a tennis camp"... I was completely wrong! Those five days were the BEST five days of my life! I have never had so much fun and the people I met were amazing. All the counselors were awesome and also very helpful. I improved so much especially from just those little pep talks we got everyday. I am so happy I could share my experience in this comment box because it has only been five days since I was there and I CANNOT stop talking about what an amazing time I had. I asked my parents to let me go back every day! The staff couldn't get better, the tennis playing couldn't get better, the atmosphere just could not get any better than what it is. Next year, I am coming back for three weeks AT LEAST! I have made life long friends and the memories I have from that camp will never fade. Not to mention, everything was clean and the people in the kitchen were sooooo considerate to those with dietary issues. I was so impressed. They truly did do everything to make it the best experience of my life. I cannot wait till next year. I LOVE UC SANTA CRUZ NIKE TENNIS CAMP!!! I wish I could express my love for this camp more!!!! Now, I am SO in love with tennis I just want to play everyday for hours and hours, so I do! Every time I play a match, I will never forget that one thing Ben told everyone that helped me become undefeated in camp... "Stay in the present. Don't think about winning. Don't think about losing. Just play out that one point." I learned so many new formations and my friend and I came up with our own which worked! AMAZING! I would give just about anything to be back there right now! I already got 6 of my friends to come next year Well done Nike Tennis Camp! Thank you for giving me the most outstanding time of my life. DON’T CHANGE!!!! Long story short... UC Santa Cruz Nike Tennis Camp was the best 5 days I have ever had and NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING, could top that camp. THANK YOU!
Love, Camper of the Week (which was also pretty awesome receiving that award)
The Perfect Balance
My daughter had a great time. A good balance between independence and supervision. She felt trusted so could be trustworthy. The tennis was great and the friends wonderful. Amazingly, no food complaints. Past Camper
Coaches Take the Cake
The best sports camps I’ve ever been to. The counselors were awesome. Had such a great time… Bird and Coach Hansen are fantastic coaches and know what they are talking about. Past Camper
Great staff!
Great counsellors! Couldn't be a better balance between fun, funny and amazing tennis coaching. Go Chris and Bird and Bob! Past Camper
Most fun!
Santa Cruz Tennis camp was one of the most fun weeks that I've spent this summer. It highly helped me improve as a player and now I am way more eager to play and to practice the game. The counselors were kind and the college campus layout was nice. I can't wait to come back next summer for my second experience, and to show everyone how I have improved.
UC Santa Cruz Nike Tennis Camp
http://www.ussportscamps.com/images/made/images/camps/UCSantaCruz_Tennis_2010_Courts_100_62.jpg
Bob Hansen, Camp Director
1156 High St Oper E. Field House
TwitterFacebookInstagramYouTube
All the essential things to know aboutUC Santa Cruz Nike Tennis Camp:
Nike Tennis Santa Cruz Jun. 22 - Jun. 27, 2014
Programs: Jr Camp - All Skills,, Tournament
Directed by Ben Belletto
Extended Day 8:30AM - 9:00PM:
Day 8:30am-4:00pm:
Nike Tennis Santa Cruz Jun. 28 - Jul. 3, 2014
Programs: Jr Camp - All Skills,, Tournament, High School,
NOTE: Camp runs Saturday-Thursday to avoid 4th of July holiday.
Nike Tennis Santa Cruz Jul. 6 - Jul. 11, 2014
Directed by Bryce Parmelly
Nike Tennis Santa Cruz Jul. 13 - Jul. 18, 2014
Nike Tennis Santa Cruz Jul. 27 - Aug. 1, 2014
Directed by Bob Hansen
Nike Tennis Santa Cruz Aug. 3 - Aug. 8, 2014
Programs: High School,
Age Group: 13 - 18 Gender: Co-Ed | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2175 | Early odds on the possible BCS national title matchups
Covers.com says Notre Dame would be an underdog to Alabama but favored over Georgia in the BCS title game where the winner takes home the crystal. / Matt Cashore, US PRESSWIRE by Thomas O'Toole, USA TODAY Sportsby Thomas O'Toole, USA TODAY Sports Filed Under
The matchup for the Bowl Championship Series title game in January has not yet been set, but that doesn't mean the odds can't be projected. It's never too early to talk about who is favored when the prospect of a colossal Notre Dame-Alabama matchup exists.
Covers.com on Sunday said the Crimson Tide would be a 6 1/2-point favorite over Notre Dame if indeed that is the pairing on Jan. 7 in Miami. The Irish locked in one spot with Saturday's victory over Southern Cal. They are expected to remain No. 1 in the BCS standings when they are released Sunday night.
The opponent is expected to be the winner of this coming Saturday's SEC title game between Alabama and Georgia. Should the Bulldogs win the SEC, Covers.com says Notre Dame would a 2 1/2-point favorite for the national title.
Covers.com says more accurate odds will be provided once the outcome of the SEC title game is known.
For that game, Covers.com says Alabama is a 7 1/2-point favorite over Georgia for the league championship which is at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.
Alabama is 1-5 all-time against the Irish. The last meeting was in 1987 and a 37-6 loss for the Tide.
Georgia and Notre Dame have met just once, with Georgia winning 17-10 in the Sugar Bowl to clinch the 1980 national championship.
The SEC has won six consecutive BCS titles and will have a shot to win a seventh.
Copyright 2014 USATODAY.comRead the original story: Early odds on the possible BCS national title matchups
Covers.com says Notre Dame would be favored over Georgia but an underdog to Alabama. A link to this page will be included in your message. | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2190 | Pittsburgh's Best Sports Blog with your host Tony Defeo
Opinions on the Steelers, Pirates, Penguins, Panthers, and everything else in the sports world.
Pitt finally beats a higher seed
The Pitt Men's basketball team achieved something in its second round NCAA tournament game on Thursday that it hadn't accomplished since 1981--a victory over a higher seed.
In fairness, it was only a victory over an eight seed, as the Panthers, seeded ninth in the South region, easily disposed of Colorado, 77-48, in a game that Pitt was favored to win by six points.
But for a program that hasn't had much to hang its hat on with regards to the Big Dance, at least it was something. And that 29 point victory also marked the largest tournament win in program history. (A fairly remarkable and surprising feat, when you consider the many high seeds the basketball program has enjoyed since I started following it back in 1987 as a 14 year old.)
The impressive win sets up a date with Florida Saturday afternoon at 12:15 ET. The Gators aren't just the number one seed in the South bracket, they're the number one seed, overall, so, obviously, Pitt will have its hands full.
Can the Panthers win? This remains to be seen, but they've been on the other side of this kind of equation many times over the years and failed.
Why not Pitt? Why not now?
Colorado Buffaloes,
Florida Gators,
Pitt men's basketball
Maybe we've been too hard on Pitt for its failure to reach the Final Four
Like a lot of Pitt basketball fans, I've had many dreams over the years of watching my favorite team cut down the nets in some gym somewhere after reaching the Promised Land of collegiate basketball--the Final Four.
Unfortunately, despite making it to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the previous 12 seasons, dating back to the 2001/2002 campaign, the closest the Panthers have come is the Elite 8, which they lost in agonizing fashion to Scottie Reynolds and Villanova.
Speaking of which, the Wildcats obviously advanced to the Final Four after dispatching Pitt, and as it turns out, that occurrence wasn't exactly the exception to the rule.
Six of the 11 teams that knocked the Panthers out of the tournament since 2002 actually went on to reach the Final Four.
In 2003, behind future NBA legend Dwyane Wade, Marquette defeated the Panthers in the regional semi-finals before reaching the Final Four.
A season later, Oklahoma St. did the exact same thing and then went on to defeat St. Joseph's in the regional finals to reach the Final Four.
Three seasons later, Jamie Dixon's Panthers faced off against the team with the coach that resurrected the program in the early 00s--Ben Howland--who led his new team--UCLA--to the Final Four after knocking off his old team in the, you guessed it, regional semi-finals.
Then there was the aforementioned agony in 2009.
After that, came a loss to Butler in the round of 32 in 2011, which Pitt entered as a number one seed. Butler then went on to make its second straight appearance in the National Championship game (and suffer its second straight loss), falling to Connecticut.
And finally, a season ago, the Panthers, a number eight seed, were simply dismantled by number nine seed Wichita St., who then went on to, again, you guessed it, reach the Final Four.
Kind of amazing when you think about it. Maybe the Panthers just need to get a better draw. Posted by
Ben Howland,
Jamie Dixon,
Oklahoma St.,
Pitt,
St. Joseph's,
UCLA,
Wichita St. Marquette
Pitt gets No. 9 seed and will face No. 8 Colorado on Thursday afternoon in Orlando
What a difference a Newkirk makes. It wasn't long ago that I, along with many other Panthers fans, expressed angst and worry that the team's chances of making the NCAA tournament were quickly dwindling away.
And there was good reason for such concern.
After starting the year 18-2, and after starting out 6-1 in its first year in the ACC, Pitt stumbled, starting with a bad home loss to the Blue Devils in late-January, and lost six of 10 games.
At 22-8, following an improbable home loss to NC State, the Panthers RPI was a very dreadful 53; for a team hoping for an at-large bid, that ranking didn't bode well.
With only one regular season game remaining at Clemson, it was time to put up or shut up. And just when it looked like Pitt would be shut up, once and for all, the team erased a five point deficit in the final 2.4 seconds and tied the game on a Josh Newkirk buzzer beater following a turnover by the Tigers while trying to inbound the basketball.
Pitt would go on to win, 83-78, in overtime, and the consensus was that it would be enough to secure the at-large bid.
I don't know if that was the case or not, but the Panthers put any remaining fears to rest by advancing to the semi-finals of their first ACC tournament after impressive victories over Wake Forest and North Carolina.
The latest RPI rankings had Pitt at 38, and true to form they earned the number nine seed in the South region and will face the eighth seeded Buffaloes of Colorado this Thursday afternoon in Orlando, Fla.
The Panthers have never defeated a higher seeded team in the NCAA tournament, so a win over Colorado would at least be a milestone moment for the program. Unfortunately, after that, it will most likely be a match-up against Florida, the number one over all seed, in its own backyard.
Seems like an impossible task, but the Panthers did almost knock off Syracuse twice and Virginia twice, so it wouldn't totally shock me if Pitt at least made a game of it against the Gators.
I guess we'll soon find out. At any rate, the Panthers are going dancing.
ACC,
Clemson Tigers,
Josh Newkirk,
Pitt Panthers,
The 2013/2014 Panthers Men's basketball team: defending and rebounding its way to the NIT
I haven't posted an entry in this blog for quite some time. It wasn't intentional, in the very least, but over the course of the summer, I picked up two more football writing gigs, which, added to my original football writing gig, gave me three football writing gigs.
For a man whose writing gigs don't really pay the bills, that's a lot of writing gigs.
Therefore, you'll have to excuse me for my prolonged absence from all things "Pittsburgh's Best Sports Blog."
However, I would like to rectify that (if ever so briefly) by talking about the Pitt Panthers Men's basketball team.
For a sports lover like Yours truly, March is one of the most awesome times of the year. And it wasn't so long ago, when the Panthers were a very surprising 18-2 and 6-1 in their first year as a member of the ACC, that I took for granted being able to irrationally pick my favorite college basketball team to advance further in the NCAA Tournament than I had any right to.
Heading into their January 27 game against Duke at the Peterson Events Center, fans were discussing the possibility of the Panthers actually winning the regular season ACC title,with only highly ranked Syracuse (a fellow former member of the old Big East) standing in the way.
Unfortunately, the Blue Devils proved that talent trumps everything (yes, Coach Dixon, even rebounding and defense), as they pulled away from Pitt in what would be the beginning of a prolonged slump that has yet to see its end--and time is running out.
If you research the Panthers' offensive numbers, you'll see they've averaged 72.3 ppg (points per game), so far this season. However, that's a bit misleading. Over the past 10 games, dating back to that 80-65 loss to Duke in late January, Pitt has averaged 64.2 ppg and have lost six of 10.
During that span the Panthers also lost to Virginia, Syracuse and North Carolina (certainly no shame in losses to those teams, all ranked in the top 20). The real shame may come from the fact that Pitt needed overtime to beat a lowly Miami team, double overtime to beat an even lower Virginia Tech team and also didn't look very sharp in victories over Boston College and Notre Dame (also in OT).
And in addition to the four losses to the aforementioned ranked teams, the Panthers also lost recent home games to Florida State and NC State, two teams that aren't even on the NCAA bubble.
Speaking of the bubble, Pitt is now firmly entrenched on it. There are no wins against ranked teams on the season's resume, and as of this writing, the Panthers RPI--maybe the most important ranking in determining if and where a team will be seeded in the tournament--is 53.
With only one game remaining before the ACC tournament, things don't look good for Pitt. You would think a 22-8 record and a 10-7 conference mark would all but secure an at-large bid, but this is a bit of a down year for the ACC, and the Panthers have done very little to help their cause.
Of course, this is a tired old song. I mentioned the 64.2 ppg over the past 10, but even that seems kind of high, considering how awful the Panthers offense has been at the end of games.
Head coach Jamie Dixon always preaches rebounding and defense, but just once, one time, I'd like to see him emphasize offense, and recruit top-end scorers into the program. Easier said than done, of course, as most of your top-notch scorers tend to go to the traditional powerhouses, which Pitt might actually be right now with the help of an appearance or two in the Final Four in previous years.
Most Panthers fans feel as if their team gets screwed most Selection Sundays (a claim that I certainly can't dispute, considering some of the questionable seeds in recent years), and this year, because of the above-mentioned statistics, the NIT might be all we have to hope for in a couple weeks.
NCAA bubble,
Jim Leyland retires from baseball If there was a Mt. Rushmore for important Pirates figures during the franchise's long and illustrious history, one could make a strong case for Jim Leyland, who managed the club from 1986-1996.
Leyland announced his retirement from baseball on Monday, and he left behind a legacy that included 1700 victories, several postseason appearances, three World Series appearances, and a World Series victory in 1997 while managing the Florida Marlins.
As a Pirates fan, the legacy he left behind in Pittsburgh is the one I'd like to write about today.
Leyland was an unknown who coached under Tony LaRussa with the Chicago White Sox before being hired for the job in Pittsburgh.
Leyland spent 13 seasons in the minors and never even had a cup of coffee in the big leagues as a player, but his true calling was as a big league manager.
He took over a Pirates franchise that had just gone through the notorious baseball drug trials, had threatened to move to another city, had just gone through a high profile ownership change, and maybe more importantly, from a budding new manager's perspective, had just finished in last place the previous two seasons.
Long-gone were the glory days of the 70s, complete with a system from the majors to the minors that was stacked with talent, and in their place was an era where the Pirates were a laughing-stock, who lost over 100 games in 1985 and drew just 700,000 fans to old Three Rivers Stadium.
The talented players were few and far between, but thankfully, Syd Thrift, the Pirates gm from 1985-1988, and the man who actually hired Leyland, was fairly adept at player procurement and player development and soon would re-stock the organization with much-needed talent.
The Pirates would finish in last place again in 1986, but players such as future home run king Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla and John Smiley were on the roster. And in 1987, just before the start of the season, Thrift traded the team's most popular player, catcher Tony Pena, to the Cardinals in exchange for outfielder Andy Van Slyke, catcher Mike Lavalliere and pitcher Mike Dunne. Van Slyke and Lavalliere would cement a core group of players that would resurrect the franchise and restore its once proud heritage.
Leyland was able to mold these players, like most athletes, diverse and often egotistical, into a cohesive unit.
In 1988, after three straight last place finishes and a tie for fourth place the year before, the Pirates actually clinched second place in the National League East, and Leyland cried like a baby. Some might laugh at such a response, but Leyland knew where the franchise had been and how close it had been to leaving town.
Two years later, in September of 1990, there were more tears of joy as the Pirates won their first division title in 11 seasons.
There would be two more division titles in ensuing seasons, along with those tears from Leyland, who admittedly, has always worn his emotions on his sleeves.
Whether he was crying about a watershed victory or chewing a player out for not performing well, there were no secrets about how Leyland was feeling.
In some specials I watched about the early 90s Pirates teams, Leyland's former players gushed over his communication skills. Bob Walk, a Pirates starting pitcher during the glory years of the early 90s and a current broadcaster for the team, said that regardless of Leyland's relationship with a player, that player always knew where he stood. I'm sure any athlete on the planet could appreciate that. Heck, anyone who has ever had a boss will tell you that, more than anything, they want to know where they stand.
A lot of people in Pittsburgh praise Leyland for a confrontation he had with Bonds in spring training of 1991, but Leyland has gone on record as saying he doesn't want that to be his legacy as manager of the Pirates.
According to Leyland, he had many disagreements with players over the years, and the one he had with Bonds just happened to be out in the open.
Speaking of Bonds, he certainly had a reputation as being quite difficult all throughout his major league career. However, he always showed great respect and admiration for Leyland, and if that doesn't speak volumes for the man, I don't know what does.
Former Pirates Jay Bell and Gary Redus have said that Leyland's ability to communicate and get the most out of his reserve players and his bullpen may have been his greatest attribute.
Finally, I mentioned Leyland's emotional side and how he would cry after important victories. During that special about the early 90s Pirates teams, Leyland, who at that point was managing the Tigers and 15 years removed from his days in Pittsburgh, got emotional when discussing things such as the 1990 division title and the depressing Game 7 loss in the 1992 NLCS.
Forget great manager. Jim Leyland is a great man.
Thanks for everything, Skipper.
Jim Leyland,
Pirates manager
Pirates magical campaign: Part two --Unlike 1992, when I practically needed a therapist to get me through the Pirates' Game 7 loss in the NLCS, I was over Pittsburgh's loss in the NLDS fairly quickly. I mean, I was disappointed for a night (when you spend a whole day "knowing" your team is going to win, it's a little hard to deal with when it doesn't happen), but, like a lot of Pirates fans who walked through the desert of losing baseball for two decades , it was hard to feel too disappointed. What the team gave its faithful this year was something that, quite honestly, I never thought I'd see again. And that's not hyperbole, it's a fact. I've been talking about the disparity between large and small market baseball teams for a reason, and that's because it's a big deal. It was a big enough deal that, if it hadn't been for the front office sticking to a true rebuilding plan and doing so aggressively, we may have never had a Game 5 loss to be sad about. Much kudos goes to majority owner Bob Nutting, team president Frank Coonelly and general manager Neal Huntington for the work they did over the past six seasons and the slings and arrows they had to put up with from the fans and media. I'm not saying a lot of those slings and arrows weren't justified (many were), but whatever wrongs there were in previous seasons, they were mostly righted once the current regime took over. It would have been easy to deviate from the plan in the face of public outrage, but there was never going to be a true championship-level baseball team in Pittsburgh again unless a true small market plan was adhered to. That's exactly what happened, and now the Pirates have an organization, from top to bottom, that's on the rise and probably won't be enduring much public outrage anytime soon.
--If the postseason taught me anything it's the importance of winning a division. Prior to 2012, when there was only one wild card team per league, if a team had a fairly sizable lead in the WC standings coming down the stretch, that team's manager could organize his pitching staff and have it aligned just the way he wanted it for the LDS. But after an extra team was added to the wild card mix in each league, which created a one game playoff, that changed the strategy substantially. Instead of one wild card team having its ace ready for Game 1 of an LDS, two wild card combatants were now forced to use their aces in the "single elimination game"--and rightfully so. If you don't win the wild card game, it won't matter how your pitching staff is aligned. Because the Cardinals won the National League Central over Pittsburgh, they had time to set their starting rotation for the NLDS, meaning ace Adam Wainwright got the nod in Game 1 and Game 5, while Pittsburgh was forced to use ace Francisco Liriano in the Wild Card round, which meant he was only available for Game 3 of the NLDS. Wainwright was masterful in Game 1, shutting the Pirates down in a 9-1 victory. Six days later, with the series tied at two games a piece, Pittsburgh was forced to choose between A.J. Burnett, an outstanding veteran pitcher but with terrible numbers at Busch Stadium, and rookie Gerrit Cole who was awesome down the stretch--including in the Pirates 7-1 victory in Game 2--but only had four months of major league experience. Cole got the nod and did a decent enough job in Game 5, only yielding three runs in five innings, but Wainwright is an ace for a reason, and he shut the Pirates hitters down, again, in a 6-1 complete came series clinching victory. Had Pittsburgh been able to outlast the Cardinals for the division title, the reverse would have happened and Wainwright would have been forced to pitch the Wild Card game, while Liriano would have pitched Games 1 and 5. Lance Lynn, who the Pirates had great success against in the regular season, only had to pitch one game of the NLDS, and it was the only game in which the Pirates batters had great success. Had Lynn been forced to pitch two games, the outcome could have been different. While it sucked for the Pirates purposes, kudos to MLB for strengthening the importance of winning a division.
--"Can the Pirates win again next season?" has been asked countless times since Wednesday. While it's certainly impossible to predict, I see no reason why they can't win again. Will they make the playoffs? Obviously, that's also impossible to predict. I do know one thing, though, Pittsburgh has a legitimate core group of guys on the roster. Like the Penguins in the NHL, the key for continued success is a core group of players. Heading into 2014, the Pirates will have Andrew McCutchen, the current favorite for NL MVP, Pedro Alvarez, the NL co-leader in home runs with 36, who added another three during the playoffs, Starling Marte, coming off his first full major league season, second baseman Neil Walker, catcher Russell Martin, and a pitching staff that will be deep and talented, regardless of what happens with the free agent Burnett. Like the Penguins have done each offseason since becoming true contenders, the Pirates face the prospects of losing several key role players this season, especially veteran right fielder Marlon Byrd, who they acquired in late August. But Pittsburgh still had a successful team prior to Byrd's arrival, and to me, that's why I'm so optimistic for the future. There will always be the Marlon Byrds of the world available at the trade deadline. The key for a gm is to find the right ones and pay the right price. Huntington did that with Byrd, and man was he exceptional. However, without that key core group of players, Byrd wouldn't have been nearly as valuable because he would have been a 36 year old outfielder on a team going nowhere. Right now, the prospects of Pittsburgh winning 94 games again seems rather daunting, but if the players are in place, 94 wins is more than possible, because that's what good baseball teams do.
--I was predicting all summer that the Pirates would kind of bring history back around again and duplicate what the Penguins did in 2008 by losing to a Detroit team in the championship round. Five years ago, the Penguins lost the Stanley Cup Finals to the Red Wings in six games, and I was hoping the Pirates would at least make it as far as the World Series this year before losing to the Tigers. Turns out I was still kind of right. The Red Wings were the class of the NHL back in 2008, winners of the Stanley Cup in '97, '98 and '02 and showed Pittsburgh's young hockey team what championship success looked like, by winning the Cup again at the old Civic Arena. The Cardinals have been the gold standard in the majors for many years, capturing eight division titles since 2000, appearing in three World Series since '04 and winning two since '06. The Pirates might have had St. Louis on the ropes after Game 3, but the Cardinals simply never blinked, and instead of wilting in the face of adversity, they shut Pittsburgh down over the final two games to advance to the NLCS. It's rare for a young team like the Pirates that isn't used to playing in the postseason to have a very successful run in its first year. The young and inexperienced Buccos may have been taught a valuable lesson by a St. Louis team that knows what it takes to win on baseball's biggest stage. It's a lesson that could pay dividends sooner rather than later--the '09 Pens came back and won the Stanley Cup by defeating Detroit in seven games.
--After Wednesday night's 6-1 loss in St. Louis, the Pirates have now scored a total of four runs in their last five games in which they had a chance to clinch a series, dating back to Game 6 of the 1991 NLCS--pretty interesting.
--Along those same lines, the Pirates' main weakness during the regular season was an offense that struggled with scoring runs and driving in runs with men in scoring position, and in the postseason, that caught up with them. Regardless of the sport, once the postseason rolls around, a team's weaknesses during the regular season will probably be exposed. I remember how awesome the 2001 Steelers were, as they rolled to a 13-3 regular season record and had the number one seed in the playoffs. But perhaps lost in the euphoria of such a great season was the team's deficiencies in special teams where Pittsburgh's unit gave up several kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns. Sure enough, in the divisional round against Baltimore, the Steelers gave up a punt return for a touchdown that made the game closer than it should have been. And then in the AFC Championship Game, the Patriots scored three touchdowns, but two of them were on special teams plays--a punt return for a TD and a blocked field goal that was returned for a TD--and this proved to be the difference in a 24-17 loss.......I don't necessarily think the Pirates are a horrible hitting team. I just think their preparation and approach to hitting can be improved. During the course of the latter part of the season, after Byrd and first baseman Justin Morneau were acquired for the stretch run, coaches and media types would go on and on about the two veterans and their "professional" approach to hitting. Maybe a more professional approach is what the Pirates young hitters need to take that next step--let's hope they learned a thing or two from the two veteran rent-a-players, if their time in Pittsburgh was as brief as I suspect it might be.
--I can't tell you how excited I am about the young pitcher Cole, who was drafted number one overall in the 2011 baseball draft. Cole was fairly consistent all year long, once being called up in June, but down the stretch, after a bit of a tweak with his delivery, he was simply dominant. For as hard as he throws, many wondered why he didn't get that many strikeouts, but whatever change that was made to his delivery in early September (I'm no pitching coach) made all the difference, as Cole's K's picked up greatly. When Cole got the nod for Game 5, I didn't bat an eye because I think the kid is the real deal, and he might be something the Pirates haven't had in my lifetime, and maybe ever, an ace. And I'm not talking about an ace of the staff (every team has an "ace"), I'm talking about an ace of baseball, on par with a Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, Nolan Ryan, Roger Clemens, Dwight Gooden, Randy Johnson, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, etc., etc. If you ask any Pirates expert who the greatest pitchers are in team history, they'll rattle off a list, but most of the players on the list would be from between WWI and WWII. Over the past 40 years, other than Steve Blass, Doug Drabek and John Smiley, it's hard to find a Pirates starting pitcher that was even all-star caliber. Cole, with his 100 mph fastball, has a chance to be something special, and the kind of pitcher fans will actually come out to see.
That's all I have for now. The Pirates magical run was so awesome, I'm sure I'll be writing much more about it in the near future.
Let's Go Bucs!
A.J. Burnett,
Francisco Liriano,
Gerrit Cole,
NLCS,
NLDS,
2013 Pittsburgh Pirates: A re-birth of a franchise
The 2013 season was a great one for the Pirates, as they enjoyed their first winning campaign since 1992, their first postseason berth since 1992, and technically, won their first postseason "series" since 1979, after defeating Cincinnati in the National League Wild Card game at PNC Park on Tuesday, October 1. Pittsburgh didn't get it done in the NLDS, falling to the mighty Cardinals in a deciding fifth game, but this was a season I, and thousands upon thousands of other Pirates faithful, will certainly never forget.
Below, I'd like to share some thoughts about the magical ride:
--If you've ever seen the movie The Natural, starring Robert Redford, you're probably familiar with the scene toward the beginning of the film where the struggling and last place New York Knights are playing before a sparse home crowd, as Roy Hobbs, Redford's character in the movie, quietly arrives to change things forever. The final scene of the movie has the red hot Knights playing on the same home field, before a packed and excited crowd, as they take on a fictional Pirates team in a one-game playoff for the right to go to the World Series. As I think about the real Pirates 2013 season, I can't help but think of that movie. On April 7, while bowling in my local league, I watched Pittsburgh fall to 1-5 after a loss at Dodgers Stadium. The lanes my team bowled on that night were situated right next to the TV, but it was hardly a distraction for me, and certainly not for most of the bowlers at the alley. It was just your typical Pirates loss. And while I certainly didn't expect a last place finish, especially after two straight late summer flirtations with contention in the previous two seasons, I couldn't have envisioned in my wildest dreams that Pittsburgh's fledgling baseball team would improve upon its 79-83 record from 2012 by a whopping 15 games and make the postseason for the first time since before Bill Clinton was in office. But that's exactly what happened. In between was a magical ride, as the Pirates flirted with, not only first place in the National League Central Division, but with the major's best record, as they battled the tough and talented Cardinals and Reds for divisional supremacy. The Pirates missed out on the division by three games, as St. Louis captured the crown, as well as, the top seed in the National League. But Pittsburgh did make its way to the NLDS, thanks to one of the most memorable nights in team history. On October 1, the Pirates defeated Cincinnati in the National League "single-elimination" Wild Card Game, before a raucous and baseball starved crowd at PNC Park, that came dressed in black and was alive and loud the entire night. To finish my "Natural" narrative, five nights later, on October 6 (almost exactly six months to the day after that apathetic baseball night in April), I was back at that same bowling alley, and on the exact same lanes next to the exact same TV, as I tried to concentrate on my bowling match while I watched the Pirates defeat St. Louis in Game 3 of the NLDS to go up 2-1 in the series. PNC Park was electric that night, as were most of the people at the alley. Believe me when I tell you, it was the most alive I've ever felt watching a Pirates game. When Pedro Alvarez drove in Josh Harrison with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning, and Jason Grilli slammed the door in the ninth, it was the single greatest feeling I ever had after watching a Pirates game. Unfortunately, it was the last great feeling of the season, as the Cardinals came back and won the next two. However, I'll never forget everything that transpired between April 7 and October 6, and how this city was transformed and transfixed by its often forgotten baseball team. After 20 years, it was great to be in-love with baseball again.
--Fortunately, there are enough wise Pirates fans who didn't forget about the history of the team. While 2013 certainly seemed like the "birth" of the franchise, it was actually just a "re-birth." Many people might not know this, but the Pirates are one of the most successful teams in the history of baseball. Pittsburgh actually played in the very first modern World Series, back in 1903. All-in-all, the Pirates have nine National League pennants, and five World Series titles. Furthermore, the Bucs won nine Eastern Division titles from 1969- 1992 (including six division titles in the 1970s).
--The great on-field success over the years is obviously due to the many greats who have donned Pirates black and gold. From Honus Wagner to Roberto Clemente to Willie Stargell, Bill Mazeroski, Ralph Kiner Barry Bonds and the Waner Brothers, the Pirates are certainly more than well-represented in Cooperstown.
--But while the Pirates may be the most glaring example of a once proud franchise that suffered a dark period, they're certainly not alone. I suppose someone had to suffer the longest losing streak of all the small market teams, but what about other once great and successful baseball organizations that got lost in the wake of free agency and the disparity between big and small baseball markets?
-Cincinnati Reds. The Reds have had a big resurgence in recent years, but they also endured a lengthy postseason drought of their own, missing the playoffs for 15 straight years, before finally capturing the NL Central crown in 2010. While Cincinnati has enjoyed postseason success three of the past four seasons, it hasn't been back to the Fall Classic since 1990--a 4-0 sweep of the A's. Like Pittsburgh, the Reds enjoyed a great deal of success in the 70s, winning six NL West titles, four NL pennants, and back-to-back World Championships in '75 and '76. The Reds also have nine total pennants and five World Series rings.
-Baltimore Orioles. From 1966-1983, the Orioles captured six American League pennants and won the World Series three times. However, the O's haven't been back to the Fall Classic since '83 and have only made three appearances in the postseason--including just once since 1997.
-Kansas City Royals. From 1976-1985, the Royals captured six American League West titles, advanced to the World Series twice and won it after defeating St. Louis in 1985. Unfortunately, Kansas City hasn't been back to the postseason since, with only a handful of winning seasons to brag about.
--The Pirates have been criticized for having an inept front office and frugal owners for the better part of the past 21 seasons (and rightfully so), but can we honestly assume that all the above mentioned teams were just as inept? We're talking about a group of small market franchises that appeared in 14 World Series from 1966-1985 and won seven titles. Isn't it a little coincidental that, of the four franchises, only one has been to and won a World Series since '85? Is the main source of the lengthy struggles ineptitude, or is the core of the problem the growth of local TV revenue for large market teams, which, in turn, drastically increased the amount of money those teams could spend on top of the line free agents? I'm leaning toward the latter.
Whoa, this is longer than I thought it would be. I think I'll share more thoughts at a later time. Enjoy this one for now, though!
Go Bucs in 2014 and beyond!
Orioles. 20 years of losing,
Pirates,
Wild Card victory
Behind the Steel Curtain: Front Page Posts
Art Rooney gives his ok on Steelers selection of Terry Bradshaw in 1970
Memories of Easter in Pittsburgh
Just Watch the Game Blog
THEN AGAIN, MAYBE THE PIRATES WEREN’T SO SMART ABOUT ALVAREZ
THE Chris Mack . com - Pittsburgh Sports Steelers Penguins Pirates Pitt Penn State
STEELERS: KEEP BEN ON THE BENCH. PLEASE
Maybe we've been too hard on Pitt for its failure ...
Pitt gets No. 9 seed and will face No. 8 Colorado ...
The 2013/2014 Panthers Men's basketball team: defe...
Sports freaks
Let's Hope the Pirates Zoltan Sign Doesn't Become as Over-Marketed as the old nWo
Right now, the Pittsburgh Pirates are flying high. They're a surprising 11-games over .500 and in first place in the NL Central Division...
Pitt post
*Todd Graham will officially be named head coach of the PITT football program today and will put to rest (hopefully) one of the most bizarre...
Watching the Steelers Game with My Brother
The Steelers have a pretty critical game this evening in prime-time against their division rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals, and even though I...
A.J. McCarron's girlfriend and the overreactions of reactionary people
I was aware that " something " happened between ESPN's Brent Musburger and Katherine Webb, the super, duper hot girlfriend of ...
The Ten Greatest Super Bowls Of All-time
I know I've posted this list before in various blog entries, but I just wanted to put them all on one post so they would be easier to fi...
Pirates Pitchers Have Adopted Their Own Sign: The FU!
As most Pirates fans probably know, the Zoltan sign has become sort of a rallying symbol for the 2012 squad. I personally first started noti...
The Pirates and Zoltan
Back on May 25th, when the Pirates hitters were really, really bad, I wrote a blog post on the Zoltan phenomenon that had just started to ...
Bandwagon Pirates Fans
I started watching the Pittsburgh Pirates on a daily basis back in the spring of 1984--the first of three straight losing seasons for the te...
The Packers Were Robbed on Monday Night Football, and Seahawks Fans Should Never, Ever Complain About Super Bowl XL Again
Seattle Seahawks fans always talk about Super Bowl XL with contempt because they maintain to this very day that their team was robbed of a c...
Matt from Shaler Calls The Fan. Says Something Stupid
Sunday night, after the Pirates' 13-2 thrashing of the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park, I was pumped up about the team's awesome fi... | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2196 | VSU Softball: Unfinished Business
By: Jason Kahn - Email Updated: Sun 9:55 PM, May 13, 2012
By: Jason Kahn - Email Home
/ Blazers Sports
/ Article Valdosta, GA - The last out of the Divison-II South Super Regional was met by warm embraces. The first person VSU Head Softball Coach Thomas Macera found was his daughter.
"It means a lot to me," said Macera, who was choked up in a moment of reflection. "I spend a lot of time away from my family to do this and, you know, it takes 90 hours a week. So I see my kids when I go to bed. So for them to be here, it's big."
Macera will take his other family, the Lady Blazers, into the NCAA Division-II National Tournament for the second time in three years. They were runners-up in 2010.
"I definitely heard all about it being the next year coming in," senior third baseman Samantha Posey said. "I definitely think it is unfinished business and I think we can do it. We have the chemistry, the cohesiveness and we have the athletes."
"Our favorite saying is eyes forward, we're only looking ahead," Macera said. "We're not gonna sit here and relish on two years ago."
They have little time to prepare for Wednesday's opponent. They leave Monday morning for Louisville, Kentucky, the site of the tournament.
"Just trying to stay mentally tough, keep working hard day in and day out. Don't take a day off," senior pitcher Alanna Hadley said.
Hadley pitched 23 innings in two days over the weekend. She is expected to start game one.
"I'm not a strikeout pitcher, so trying to spot the ball, put it on the corners and give my defense a chance to make plays for me and that's what we've done all year," she said.
They started the tournament as the top-ranked team in the country and hopefully they'll end the tournament number one.
Valdosta State Baseball Falls 10-6 to Albany State Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Most Viewed WCTV | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2236 | 96.5 The Wolf Bio
Mike Barrie
Growing up Machesney Park, Mike played baseball and football at Harlem High School and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1997 with a degree in Speech Communication.After college, he worked as Assistant Media Relations Director for the Beloit Snappers Minor League Baseball team. When Mike learned that the team's play-by-play announcer lived in the team's clubhouse during the off-season to make ends meet, he decided to change his career ambitions.So in 1999, Mike moved to the Illinois Valley to start a career in media sales. Mike now is selling investments for Northwestern Mutual in Ottawa, but will continue calling games from time to time on LaSalle County Broadcasting stations.Mike and his wife, Jenny currently enjoy life in Oglesby with their two daughters.
Hall Red Devil Sports | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2238 | Kids 'Get Active' in Little Falls By
Jun 19, 2011 at 12:03 AM EDT Story Updated:
UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - With childhood obesity on the rise across the nation, more attention is being focused on keeping kids active, especially over their summer break. Some youngsters in Herkimer County are getting a jump start on their active summer. You name the sport and it's being played at Veteran's Memorial park in Little Falls this weekend. It's the first annual 'Get Active Weekend'. Event co-organizer Dan Enea says the more active kids are, the more healthy they are, both physically and mentally. Enea says between all of the sports being played this weekend, timeout is given for a lunchbreak which includes yogurt, a ham or turkey sandwich and water. Enea's fellow co-organizer Tiffany Leiphart says it's nice to see kids smiling. She said, "it's really cool, I like seeing the kids excited about doing sports and being outside and we have great instructors here today, so it's getting them very energized." Instructors led kids in a variety of sports including tennis, baseball and even lacrosse, a sport which isn't too prevalent in the valley, except for HCCC, where it has a nationally ranked junior college program each year. Erika Kramer was at 'Get Active' on Saturday with her two young children. Her husband, Dave was working, he is the head coach of the men''s lacrosse team at H.C.C.C.The Kramers' are from Long Island where lacrosse is hugely popular in schools all over the island, so when the moved up to the valley, they were surprised that none of the ares schools offer lacrosse as a sport. The said, " we were surprised because the college has such a great program, we thought there would be more lacrosse in the area, so we're hoping to introduce it." The Kramers will be hosting a summer lacrosse camp for both boys and girls K-6 starting in July at H.C.C.C.. Enea and Leiphart say they were happy with the turnout on this first day of the first annual Get Active Weekend, but believe it will grow with each coming year.
Previous Article Cyclist ready for Ride of Silence to spread message of safety
Next Article 'Celebration of Life' held for Forestport man Most Popular
Betsy the Barge Concerts kick off 2012 season On Demand mini | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2251 | VIEW MOREJanuary 29, 2014Austin Aries discusses AJ Styles return"From a wrestling standpoint, I'd love to have a guy like AJ Styles within the company to wrestle. I think the fans would, too. There was a tease of what could have been, but I don't think anybody saw what me and AJ Styles could do in there. On a personal level, I want AJ Styles to do whatever is best for him and his family, and if that's coming back to TNA that would be awesome. If that's working elsewhere, I completely understand that. If that will happen, I have no idea. I guess we'll find out. We all have to stay tuned and see what happens."
VIEW MOREJanuary 18, 2014Is Kenny King still with TNAA lot of fans have been asking about the whereabouts of Kenny King and his status with TNA lately. He has not been seen since losing to Austin Aries on an episode of Impact Wrestling back in late September. However, he is still under contract with the company. Management just simply does not have anything for him to do right now.VIEW MOREJanuary 1, 2014Austin Aries discusses AJ Styles situation"Well, my opinions don't really matter because the storyline, for me, is just to entertain the fans and keep them engaged in what's going on with the company. I will say that any time that you have the opportunity to take the top prize in the company and take it internationally, and maybe compete and defend it in some territories and in front of some sets of fans that don't normally get to have that honor, I think that's a great thing for the company. That helps get the brand out there and helps put the product out there. A guy like AJ Styles is obviously a great talent and he's going to go out there and put on a performance that's befitting of a man who is the World Champion. So, from that standpoint alone, I don't see how there could be anything negative coming from AJ taking that belt all over the world and defend it against anybody that wants an opportunity. I know that's the same mindset I've had in my past when I've been world champion. Bring 'em all on, near and far, we don't like to sit here and pretend that the only wrestling is the wrestling that happens in our universe. There's professional wrestling going on all over the world and we want to acknowledge it and put our best against their best at any time."
VIEW MOREDecember 15, 2013 | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2258 | Torch and Uniform for Olympic Flame Relay Unveiled
By: The Associated Press Updated: Tue 7:18 AM, Jan 15, 2013
/ Article Sochi Olympics Logo 2014 Winter Games
The official Olympic torch for the 2014 Sochi winter games and the outfit to be worn by participants in the torch relay were unveiled in Moscow on Monday.
Dmitry Chernyshenko, the president and chief executive of the Sochi 2014 Organising Committee, shared the stage with figure skaters Ilya Averbukh and Tatyana Navka and fashion model Natalya Vodyanova.
The design of the torch combines motifs from Russian folklore with ideas of innovation and technological breakthroughs. Chernyshenko said it resembles "a feather of the fairy Firebird and was inspired by the best works of Russian artists" such as Ivan Bilibin and Boris Kustodiyev.
"It is very dear to us, Russians, but at the same time understandable to the entire world," he added.
The organizers say designers paid particular attention to the torch's construction and its flame-lighting system.
Its construction ensures that the flame will burn reliably in difficult conditions, such as strong winds, heavy frosts or any surprises that a Russian winter can throw up. The body of the torch is made of aluminum.
It weighs nearly 1.8 kg (4 pounds), and is 0.95 meters (3 feet) tall.
Chernyshenko said there were no doubts that Russia is a "great country capable of fulfilling all its obligations".
"Even now, if you come to Sochi you will see that all the sport infrastructure is ready," he added.
The uniform that will be worn by participants in the Olympic torch relay was also unveiled on Monday. Alyona Ivanova, a volunteer, said she liked the uniform very much.
"It is bright, it is charged with optimism and gives us hope for the best that we will win and everything will go well," she said.
The Winter Olympics will be held in Sochi from 7 to 23 February 2014.
Sochi, Russia | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2263 | Ready to rumble: Super Bowl fans get in the game
NEW YORK (AP) — You don't have to be a football player to be a part of the action on Super Bowl Sunday.
Coca-Cola is asking people to vote for an online match between three groups competing in a desert for a Coke on Game Day. Pepsi and Toyota are using viewers' photos in their ads. Audi let people choose the end of its Super Bowl ad, while Lincoln based its spot on more 6,000 tweets from fans about their road trips.
These are just some ways advertisers have found to get viewers involved in the excitement on Game Day by luring them online. And they're going well beyond encouraging fans to tweet or "like" their ads on websites like Twitter Facebook.
They're trying to get the most of their Super Bowl ads, which cost nearly $4 million for a 30-second spot, by drawing people online. Companies that advertise during the Super Bowl get a 20 percent increase in Web traffic on the day of the game, according to the analytics arm of software maker Adobe. They also have a higher online audience than average in the week after.
"We're seeing better and more unique ways of getting people involved," said Robert Kolt, an advertising instructor at Michigan State University. "You want people to be engaged."
PepsiCo, which is sponsoring the Super Bowl halftime show, said its goal was to create buzz online with a monthlong campaign that went well beyond a voiceover saying "brought to you by Pepsi."
For about two weeks, Pepsi asked fans online and via a digital billboard in New York's Times Square to submit their photos for a chance to appear in a 30-second "intro" spot to air right before the halftime show.
The company said the effort was more popular than it expected: Pepsi expected to get 2,000 photos, but got 100,000 instead. About 1,000 photos were chosen to be a part of the intro. They will be stitched together in a "flipbook" style video that appears to show one person jumping to the tune of "Countdown," a song by Beyoncé, who is performing during the halftime show.
"We don't just want (viewers) on pepsi.com, we want them telling their friends 'I just did something with Pepsi," said Angelique Krembs, vice president of trademark Pepsi marketing. "You want the friend to tell the friend about Pepsi. You don't want Pepsi to always be the one talking about Pepsi."
Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln enlisted Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC's "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," to sift through thousands of tweets submitted by fans about road trips for its Super Bowl spot.
The story line for the 30-second ad, which was developed from 6,117 tweets, features rapper Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons and Wil Wheaton, who acted in the iconic science-fiction series "Star Trek: The Next Generation."
"We drove passed an alpaca farm, a few of them were meandering on the highway and my sister screamed, "It's the Alpacalypse!," reads one tweet.
"Drove through a movie set in Palmdale, Calif., and didn't realize it. Got out and enjoyed the catered food," reads another tweet.
Coca-Cola created an online game that pits a troupe of showgirls, biker-style "badlanders" and cowboys against each other in a race to find a Coke in the desert. Viewers are encouraged to vote for their favorite group and set up obstacles that delay other groups on CokeChase.com. Obstacles include a traffic light or getting a pizza delivered, which waste time.
The game is alluded to in a Super Bowl ad and the winning group — which has the most "for" votes and the least "obstacle" votes will be announced after the game. Coke will also give the first 50,000 people who vote a free Coke. The campaign is more interactive than Coca-Cola's online effort last year, which featured a real-time animation of Polar Bears reacting to what was happening during the Super Bowl.
"Last year's effort was much more passive. It was you watching bears watching the game," said Pio Schunker, senior vice president of integrated marketing. "This year we thought, 'Can we up ante on the fun factor by handing the reins over to consumers?'"
Audi let viewers choose one of three possible endings for its Game Day spot by voting online on Jan. 25 for 24 hours.
The ad shows a boy who gets enough confidence from driving his father's Audi to the prom to kiss his dream girl, even though he is then decked by her boyfriend. Audi allowed people to vote for one of three potential endings for the ad.
In one possible ending, the boy drives home alone in triumphant. Another ending shows him palling around with friends. The third shows the boy going home and finding a prom picture of his parents in which his dad has a similar black eye.
The first ending, called "Worth it," won.
Audi, which declined to say how many people voted, said "Worth It," was by far the most popular, getting more than half of the total views and the most "thumbs up" out of all three versions
"This year, Audi wanted to elevate fan interaction by allowing them to take part in the creative process and have a voice in how our spot should end," said Loren Angelo, Audi's general manager of brand marketing. "
The strategy seems to be working. On YouTube, the Audi ad is the third-most viewed Super Bowl ad so far, with 2.5 million views, behind a Toyota ad staring Kaley Cuoco of CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" and a teaser for Mercedes-Benz featuring supermodel Kate Upton, according to YouTube.com
Coca-Cola "Coke Chase" campaign: www.cokechase.com
Pepsi's "Halftime" campaign: http://halftime.pepsi.com/
Toyota's "Wish Granted" ad: http://www.youtube.com/user/ToyotaUSA?feature=watch
Ford's Lincoln "Steer the Script" campaign: http://www.steerthescript.com/
Audi's "Prom" ad: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANhmS6QLd5Q | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2318 | BCB bans 'Indian TV sting implicated 'umpire for 10 years over corruption chargesBy ANI | ANI – Tue 19 Mar, 2013 11:29 AM IST
London, Mar 19 (ANI): The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has banned umpire Nadir Shah for 10 years on the charges of corruption following his expose along with six Asian officials on Indian television last year.
However, Shah, who stood in 40 one-day internationals, has denied the allegations and said that a wrong decision has been taken as there was no proof of his perceived guilt, adding that he is taking legal advice and plans to appeal to the BCB against the decision, the BBC reports.
Shah was shown in the sting operation by the Indian TV programme to have met the undercover reporters and agreed to give decisions favouring players for money in Twenty20 warm-up games ahead of the 2012 World Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka, although the umpire said that the BCB cannot take the decision just on the basis of video footage.
According to a BCB spokesman, the inquiry underlined BCB's zero tolerance policy on corruption in the game and signified the Board's commitment towards upholding the spirit of cricket.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson said that the decision repeats cricket's no-tolerance approach towards corruption and should serve as a reminder to umpires, players, curators or administrators of the risks and challenges facing the sport.
Cricket's governing body, the International Cricket Council, who began an investigation when the allegations first emerged, issued a statement from chief executive David Richardson after Shah's verdict was announced.
Stating that ICC is disappointed by Shah's conduct, Richardson further said that they can beat corruption by remaining vigilant and following the set procedures and protocol.
While the Pakistan Cricket Board and the BCB formed inquiry committees, Sri Lanka Cricket, the home nation of three of the accused officials, have yet to start investigating the matter, the report added. (ANI)
Today on Yahoo1 - 5 of 47prevnextThey do not want you to see these picturesUnseen pictures of Narendra ModiAlia and Shaheen share the limelight24 defining pictures from around the worldWhy did Ameesha Patel slap a man? | 体育 |
2014-15/3331/en_head.json.gz/2319 | Sindhu's performance will give others confidence: AshwiniBy Indo Asian News Service | IANS India Private Limited – Sat 10 Aug, 2013 2:46 PM IST
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Ashwini Ponnappa, the last Indian to have won a medal at the World Badminton Championships before P.V. Sindhu, praised her compatriot and said that her medal-winning performance will give other Indians confidence to play fearlessly.
Ashwini won the women's doubles bronze medal at the Worlds with Jwala Gutta two years ago in London, only the second ever medal for India. Prakash Padukone had won the first one in 1983 at Copenhagen when he clinched the men's singles bronze.
"I think Sindhu's performance has been really good. She is the first Indian to have won a bronze in women's singles. This will definitely give all the other Indian players a lot of confidence to go out and play the top international players without any fear," Ashwini told IANS Saturday.
Sindhu lost her semifinal match at the competition Saturday against Ratchanok Intanon of Thailand, to settle for a bronze. | 体育 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.