Source: http://www.thebiglead.com/index.php/2012/09/29/al-golden-on-miamis-game-winning-td-holy-s-video/
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Sunday, September 30, 2012
Gibbs Racing pushing Kyle Busch to re-up
Next season is expected to produce a top crop of free agents in the Sprint Cup market - but if Joe Gibbs Racing has its way, Kyle Busch's name will never reach the rumor mill.
Principals at Gibbs Racing are working diligently to renew Busch's contract before it expires next season. According to sources, Gibbs approached Busch on an extension in the last couple of months and hopes to retain one of NASCAR's top talents.
"They typically do (contracts before the expiration date)," Busch said. "They've brought it up to my attention. I just kind of put it off to, 'Let's get through, let's see what happens in the Chase.'
"Since we missed that, it's kind of like, now they want to re-talk about it. I'm like, let's just wait until the end of the year. There's no sense in causing a distraction."
When asked about whether Busch was happy with his current situation, he replied, "I would say so."
Busch, 27, joined JGR in 2008 after four seasons with Hendrick Motorsports. He's earned 20 Sprint Cup wins, 40 Nationwide Series wins and qualified for three of five Chases for the Sprint Cups with Gibbs.
Busch barely missed this season's "playoffs" by a three-point margin to Jeff Gordon after the first 26 races of the season. Busch remains 13th in the point standings.
Principals at Gibbs Racing are working diligently to renew Busch's contract before it expires next season. According to sources, Gibbs approached Busch on an extension in the last couple of months and hopes to retain one of NASCAR's top talents.
"They typically do (contracts before the expiration date)," Busch said. "They've brought it up to my attention. I just kind of put it off to, 'Let's get through, let's see what happens in the Chase.'
"Since we missed that, it's kind of like, now they want to re-talk about it. I'm like, let's just wait until the end of the year. There's no sense in causing a distraction."
When asked about whether Busch was happy with his current situation, he replied, "I would say so."
Busch, 27, joined JGR in 2008 after four seasons with Hendrick Motorsports. He's earned 20 Sprint Cup wins, 40 Nationwide Series wins and qualified for three of five Chases for the Sprint Cups with Gibbs.
Busch barely missed this season's "playoffs" by a three-point margin to Jeff Gordon after the first 26 races of the season. Busch remains 13th in the point standings.
US up 10-6 after late European rally
Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley helped stake the Americans to their biggest lead in the Ryder Cup in more than 30 years. Ian Poulter, eyes bulging and fists shaking with every clutch putt, at least gave Europe a lot of momentum over the final frantic hour Saturday at Medinah.
Right when it looked as if the Americans were a lock to win back the cup, Poulter birdied his last five holes to win a crucial point and keep everyone guessing.
Steady chants of ''USA! USA!'' gave way to snappy serenades of ''Ole, Ole'' as both sides trudged to the team rooms in darkness to prepare for 12 singles matches on Sunday.
The Americans still had a big lead, 10-6. Europe at least had hope.
''The last two putts were massive,'' European captain Jose Maria Olazabal said after watching Poulter stay undefeated in this Ryder Cup by rolling in one last birdie putt from 12 feet. ''That gives us a chance. It's been done before in the past. Tomorrow is a big day.''
Only one team has ever rallied from four points behind on the final day - the United States in that famous comeback at Brookline in 1999. Olazabal remembers it well. He was in the decisive match when Justin Leonard rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
Is the Spaniard a big believer in fate?
''I believe momentum will come our way,'' Olazabal said. ''Why not tomorrow?''
The final two matches Saturday were a showcase of what the Ryder Cup is all about - one brilliant shot after another, birdies on every hole, suspense at every turn.
Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia were on the verge of blowing a 4-up lead to hard-charging Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, hanging on when Donald matched two birdies with Woods, including a tee shot into the 17th that plopped down 2 feet from the cup.
Their 1-up win kept Woods winless for the first time in a Ryder Cup going into Sunday. Woods and Stricker lost all three of their matches, even though Woods made five birdies on the back nine for the second straight day.
Woods was thinking more of the big picture.
''Being up four is nice,'' he said. ''We are in a great spot right now to win the cup.''
Poulter and Rory McIlroy were 2 down with six holes to play against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson when McIlroy made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 13th, and Poulter took it from there.
''We had to make birdies, and wow! Five in a row. It was awesome,'' Poulter said. ''I've got the world No. 1 at my side, backing me up. It allowed me to hit some golf shots.''
The crowd was still buzzing as it filed out of Medinah, and Poulter grinned.
''It's pretty fun, this Ryder Cup,'' said Poulter, who raised his career record to 11-3-0.
It's been plenty fun for the Americans, who have not lost any of the four sessions since the Ryder Cup switched to the current format in 1979. Mickelson and Bradley were flawless in foursomes, matching a Ryder Cup record for largest margin with a 7-and-6 win over Donald and Lee Westwood.
Mickelson and Bradley have been so dominant that they have yet to play the 18th hole in any of their three matches. They didn't play in the afternoon, part of the master plan by U.S. captain Davis Love III to make sure his players were fresh for Sunday. Love became the first U.S. captain since 1979 to make sure each of his players sat out at least one match before the final day.
Now, he finds out if it will work.
''We're not disappointed,'' Love said of the late rally by Europe. ''We haven't lost a segment yet, and we're just going to try to keep that string going.''
Right when it looked as if the Americans were a lock to win back the cup, Poulter birdied his last five holes to win a crucial point and keep everyone guessing.
Steady chants of ''USA! USA!'' gave way to snappy serenades of ''Ole, Ole'' as both sides trudged to the team rooms in darkness to prepare for 12 singles matches on Sunday.
The Americans still had a big lead, 10-6. Europe at least had hope.
''The last two putts were massive,'' European captain Jose Maria Olazabal said after watching Poulter stay undefeated in this Ryder Cup by rolling in one last birdie putt from 12 feet. ''That gives us a chance. It's been done before in the past. Tomorrow is a big day.''
Only one team has ever rallied from four points behind on the final day - the United States in that famous comeback at Brookline in 1999. Olazabal remembers it well. He was in the decisive match when Justin Leonard rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole.
Is the Spaniard a big believer in fate?
''I believe momentum will come our way,'' Olazabal said. ''Why not tomorrow?''
The final two matches Saturday were a showcase of what the Ryder Cup is all about - one brilliant shot after another, birdies on every hole, suspense at every turn.
Luke Donald and Sergio Garcia were on the verge of blowing a 4-up lead to hard-charging Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker, hanging on when Donald matched two birdies with Woods, including a tee shot into the 17th that plopped down 2 feet from the cup.
Their 1-up win kept Woods winless for the first time in a Ryder Cup going into Sunday. Woods and Stricker lost all three of their matches, even though Woods made five birdies on the back nine for the second straight day.
Woods was thinking more of the big picture.
''Being up four is nice,'' he said. ''We are in a great spot right now to win the cup.''
Poulter and Rory McIlroy were 2 down with six holes to play against Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson when McIlroy made a 15-foot birdie putt on the 13th, and Poulter took it from there.
''We had to make birdies, and wow! Five in a row. It was awesome,'' Poulter said. ''I've got the world No. 1 at my side, backing me up. It allowed me to hit some golf shots.''
The crowd was still buzzing as it filed out of Medinah, and Poulter grinned.
''It's pretty fun, this Ryder Cup,'' said Poulter, who raised his career record to 11-3-0.
It's been plenty fun for the Americans, who have not lost any of the four sessions since the Ryder Cup switched to the current format in 1979. Mickelson and Bradley were flawless in foursomes, matching a Ryder Cup record for largest margin with a 7-and-6 win over Donald and Lee Westwood.
Mickelson and Bradley have been so dominant that they have yet to play the 18th hole in any of their three matches. They didn't play in the afternoon, part of the master plan by U.S. captain Davis Love III to make sure his players were fresh for Sunday. Love became the first U.S. captain since 1979 to make sure each of his players sat out at least one match before the final day.
Now, he finds out if it will work.
''We're not disappointed,'' Love said of the late rally by Europe. ''We haven't lost a segment yet, and we're just going to try to keep that string going.''
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/us_up_10_6_after_late_european_rally/11843446
Louisville Commit Kyle Bolin Suffers Knee Injury
Friday night�wasn?t�a good one for Louisville fans. First, senior guard Mike Marra suffered a torn ACL in first practice back with the team after missing all but two games last season due to a torn ACL in the same knee. Later in the night, Kyle Bolin, a quarterback commit from Lexington, KY., went down with what is believed to be a serious knee injury.
Bolin went down late in the first half as his Lexington Catholic Knights took on Boyle County. Without Bolin, the Knights rallied from behind to win 24-21. Bolin later returned to the sideline on crutches. The extent of his injury is supposed to be revealed later today. In six games this season, Bolin has completed 108-of-195 passes for 1,508 yards with six touchdowns.
Bolin went down late in the first half as his Lexington Catholic Knights took on Boyle County. Without Bolin, the Knights rallied from behind to win 24-21. Bolin later returned to the sideline on crutches. The extent of his injury is supposed to be revealed later today. In six games this season, Bolin has completed 108-of-195 passes for 1,508 yards with six touchdowns.
Crucial decision doesn't work for Cardinals
ST. LOUIS Cardinals manager Mike Matheny elected to intentionally walk a guy hitting .186 in his last 21 games to face a guy batting .409 in his last six games in the tenth inning of a tie game Saturday night. It didn't work.
Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki lined a two-out, two-run double into the gap in left center off reliever Fernando Salas after the Cardinals decided not to face the struggling Danny Espinosa and the home team suffered a tough 6-4 loss at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals trailed 4-0 in the seventh inning before scoring three runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to tie the game. But a walk by Sam Freeman to start the tenth opened the door for the Nationals winning rally and the questionable pitching decision that eventually followed.
The scenario unfolded when Washington had a runner on second base and two outs in the top of the tenth inning with Espinosa due up. The second baseman entered the at-bat with a .186 average (13-for-70) in his last 21 games and had struck out in eight of his last 15 at-bats.
Despite the struggles, Matheny instead decided to walk him and bring up Suzuki, who had nine hits in his last 22 at-bats coming in and was hitting .311 in his last 26 games. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third before the move backfired when the catcher lined a double into the gap to score both runs.
But Matheny pointed to a different set of numbers when explaining his decision after the game. Espinosa was 2-for-4 in his career against Salas with a triple and home run. Salas and Suzuki had never faced each other. Also, Suzuki was just 5-for-41 (.122 avg) with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Asked after the game how he weighed the history between Salas and Espinosa and the two players contrasting cold and hot streaks, Matheny said, "I would say both. I knew 2-for-4 with a homer, a little bit of a history there, no history with Suzuki. That's our best chance.
"Espinosa has had a strong season. You can also look at the season numbers with Suzuki and guys in that position, scoring position, and our best chance right there was try to get Suzuki out."
Matheny has had to make plenty of difficult decisions in his first year as a big league manager. And he's learning to deal with both the positive and negative results that follow.
Saturday's decision didn't go his way. And the Cardinals lead for the second wild card spot in the National League dropped to two games with just four to play because of it.
Nationals catcher Kurt Suzuki lined a two-out, two-run double into the gap in left center off reliever Fernando Salas after the Cardinals decided not to face the struggling Danny Espinosa and the home team suffered a tough 6-4 loss at Busch Stadium.
The Cardinals trailed 4-0 in the seventh inning before scoring three runs in the seventh and one in the ninth to tie the game. But a walk by Sam Freeman to start the tenth opened the door for the Nationals winning rally and the questionable pitching decision that eventually followed.
The scenario unfolded when Washington had a runner on second base and two outs in the top of the tenth inning with Espinosa due up. The second baseman entered the at-bat with a .186 average (13-for-70) in his last 21 games and had struck out in eight of his last 15 at-bats.
Despite the struggles, Matheny instead decided to walk him and bring up Suzuki, who had nine hits in his last 22 at-bats coming in and was hitting .311 in his last 26 games. A passed ball moved the runners to second and third before the move backfired when the catcher lined a double into the gap to score both runs.
But Matheny pointed to a different set of numbers when explaining his decision after the game. Espinosa was 2-for-4 in his career against Salas with a triple and home run. Salas and Suzuki had never faced each other. Also, Suzuki was just 5-for-41 (.122 avg) with runners in scoring position and two outs.
Asked after the game how he weighed the history between Salas and Espinosa and the two players contrasting cold and hot streaks, Matheny said, "I would say both. I knew 2-for-4 with a homer, a little bit of a history there, no history with Suzuki. That's our best chance.
"Espinosa has had a strong season. You can also look at the season numbers with Suzuki and guys in that position, scoring position, and our best chance right there was try to get Suzuki out."
Matheny has had to make plenty of difficult decisions in his first year as a big league manager. And he's learning to deal with both the positive and negative results that follow.
Saturday's decision didn't go his way. And the Cardinals lead for the second wild card spot in the National League dropped to two games with just four to play because of it.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Sadler surges back in Nationwide
�
One week removed from the NASCAR Nationwide Series points lead, Elliott Sadler is back in the No. 1 spot. With six races left in his tightly contested battle with defending series champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr., his perch is far from secure.
Sadler aims to strengthen the pursuit of his first NASCAR title this weekend in Saturday's OneMain Financial 200 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Dover International Speedway. He capitalized on Stenhouse's pit-road misfortune last weekend at Kentucky to regain the series lead by four points, but left the Bluegrass State feeling he missed the chance to build on that cushion.
Another opportunity may present itself at Dover, where Sadler won the pole for the fall 200-miler last season.
"I think we're going to be really good this weekend . . .," Sadler said. "We've just got to go do our thing. We feel like we've got a lot of speed in our cars right now. We've just got to put all 200 laps together and hopefully be there at ...
One week removed from the NASCAR Nationwide Series points lead, Elliott Sadler is back in the No. 1 spot. With six races left in his tightly contested battle with defending series champ Ricky Stenhouse Jr., his perch is far from secure.
Sadler aims to strengthen the pursuit of his first NASCAR title this weekend in Saturday's OneMain Financial 200 (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) at Dover International Speedway. He capitalized on Stenhouse's pit-road misfortune last weekend at Kentucky to regain the series lead by four points, but left the Bluegrass State feeling he missed the chance to build on that cushion.
Another opportunity may present itself at Dover, where Sadler won the pole for the fall 200-miler last season.
"I think we're going to be really good this weekend . . .," Sadler said. "We've just got to go do our thing. We feel like we've got a lot of speed in our cars right now. We've just got to put all 200 laps together and hopefully be there at ...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/sadler_surges_back_in_nationwide/11831680
Fred Jackson: Why Bills RB Is a Fantasy Must-Start in Week 4 vs. Patriots
Now that Fred Jackson has been cleared to play against the New England Patriots this Sunday, he will be running wild at Orchard Park Stadium.
What a boon for Jackson fantasy value; owners can breathe a sigh of relief knowing their starting running back should be a contributing factor this weekend.
Jackson got off to a rough start to 2012 with a sprained right knee in Week 1 against the New York Jets. The Bills were never the same in that game, as the Jets blew them out of the water that day.
This injury was a huge blow to Jackson fantasy owners and was thought to keep him out at least 4-6 weeks. He'll be making his return in two weeks time.
Chan Gailey loves his running backs so Jackson should be a large part of the game plan against the Patriots. Whether backup C.J. Spiller will join Jackson on the grass is still up in the air.
Spiller's presence could affect Jackson's fantasy ceiling negatively as he'll steal a few touches from him. Gailey has said there's a "legitimate chance" both backs will play.
In his only appearance last year against New England, Jackson was a difference-maker in their winning effort. He had 161 total yards and a touchdown on the day.
The Bills coaching staff will give Jackson all the opportunities to pass those numbers in this matchup. Buffalo needs a reliable rushing attack to have any chance in this game, and of course, to keep Tom Brady off the field.
Not to mention Jackson's best career rushing and receiving numbers have come against New England. There's a lot of miles left on his tires to keep those stats piling up.
Now that he's been cleared to play, Jackson should be back to his Patriot-wrecking ways. Get him in your fantasy lineup while there's still time.
2012-2013 Season Preview: Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets
 | NBA TV's Kenny Smith previews Jeremy Lin and the Houston Rockets as the team prepares for the 2012-2013 NBA Season. | From: NBA Views: 55345   663 ratings |
| Time: 01:36 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4y0ziTVC-s&feature=youtube_gdata
Ranking Homer Bailey and All 7 No-Hitters of 2012 MLB Season by Difficulty
Here's a fun stat for you baseball geeks out there: Half of the no-hitters ever thrown in Major League Baseball history have been thrown in 2012.
OK, fine. That's not actually true.
...But it sure seems that way.
On Friday night in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati Reds right-hander Homer Bailey held the Pirates hitless to notch the 15th no-hitter in Reds franchise history and the first since Tom Browning's perfect game in 1988.
Bailey's no-no against the Pirates is the seventh no-hitter thrown this season. According to the Associated Press, that ties the modern record that was set in 1990 and matched in 1991.
This year's no-hitters have come in all shapes and sizes, to boot. We've seen three perfect games, a combined no-hitter and the very first no-hitter in the history of the New York Mets.
But here's a fun question: Of this year's seven no-hitters, which one was the hardest to achieve?
Let's count 'em down.
Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Chet Walker Career Perspective
 | Take a look back at the great career of the Hall of Fame's newest inductee Chet Walker. | From: NBA Views: 14314 142 ratings |
| Time: 02:23 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnMbsY3xXaI&feature=youtube_gdata
Ohio State Football: Toughest Tests Left for Undefeated Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes have an undefeated season in their sight and spite in their soul. Despite their lack of postseason eligibility, Urban Meyer has his boys motivated and running over everyone they come across.
Would they have been as successful under Jim Tressel? It's impossible to know. However, fans are surely wondering if they would be challenging for a national title had everything not fallen apart a couple offseasons ago.
Regardless, the Buckeyes will continue to roll through their schedule, building up steam for the five difficult tests they have left.
Click through to find out who stands in Ohio State's way of a spotless record.
Twins grant Nishioka's request for release
MINNEAPOLIS The Minnesota Twins and infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka are parting ways.
Nishioka approached the team about his release, and the Twins granted the request by letting him go unconditionally. That means Minnesota is not responsible for the 3 million remaining on Nishioka's contract next season or its 250,000 buyout provision.
The Twins signed Nishioka from Japan prior to the 2011 season, giving him a three-year, 9.25 million contract. While playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, Nishioka was a batting champion and a Gold Glove infielder. But that success never translated to the American game.
It was a rough go from the start for Nishioka in Minnesota; he broke his leg during the first week of the 2011 season on a play at second base. He was expected to be the team's starting shortstop but played in just 68 games last season, hitting .226 with 19 RBI and five extra-base hits in 221 at-bats. He also struggled in the field, committing 12 errors (including 10 at shortstop).
Nishioka began this season with Triple-A Rochester and barely played in the majors. He was promoted to the Twins in early August but played in just three games before being optioned back to Rochester. In those three games, Nishioka committed two errors at second base and went 0-for-12 at the plate.
"I would like to thank the Twins organization for helping me fulfill my dream of playing in Major League Baseball," Nishioka said in a statement. "I take full responsibility for my performance, which was below my own expectations. At this time, I have made the decision that it is time to part ways. I have no regrets and know that only through struggle can a person grow stronger. I appreciate all the support the team and the fans in Minnesota and Rochester have shown me."
Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter.
Nishioka approached the team about his release, and the Twins granted the request by letting him go unconditionally. That means Minnesota is not responsible for the 3 million remaining on Nishioka's contract next season or its 250,000 buyout provision.
The Twins signed Nishioka from Japan prior to the 2011 season, giving him a three-year, 9.25 million contract. While playing in the Nippon Professional Baseball League, Nishioka was a batting champion and a Gold Glove infielder. But that success never translated to the American game.
It was a rough go from the start for Nishioka in Minnesota; he broke his leg during the first week of the 2011 season on a play at second base. He was expected to be the team's starting shortstop but played in just 68 games last season, hitting .226 with 19 RBI and five extra-base hits in 221 at-bats. He also struggled in the field, committing 12 errors (including 10 at shortstop).
Nishioka began this season with Triple-A Rochester and barely played in the majors. He was promoted to the Twins in early August but played in just three games before being optioned back to Rochester. In those three games, Nishioka committed two errors at second base and went 0-for-12 at the plate.
"I would like to thank the Twins organization for helping me fulfill my dream of playing in Major League Baseball," Nishioka said in a statement. "I take full responsibility for my performance, which was below my own expectations. At this time, I have made the decision that it is time to part ways. I have no regrets and know that only through struggle can a person grow stronger. I appreciate all the support the team and the fans in Minnesota and Rochester have shown me."
Follow Tyler Mason on Twitter.
NFL Week 4 Picks: AccuScore Is Riding Fairly High on the New York Jets
ESPN's mysterious AccuScore—their program that attempts to predict the outcomes of NFL games—seems to have a good feeling about the New York Jets this weekend. Playing host to the 2-1 San Francisco 49ers, AccuScore gives the Jets a 49 percent chance of winning.
Considering the Jets just lost their best player, cornerback Darrelle Revis, and are hosting one of the best teams in the NFL, those are pretty decent odds.
I cannot tell you the inner workings of the AccuScore computer; however, perhaps it took notice of the fact that the 49ers play very poorly when they have to travel to the East Coast for early games.
In 2011, the 49ers traveled east to play 1 p.m. ET games five times, mainly against weak teams. Yet the 49ers did not win a single one of those games by more than one possession.
They eked out wins against the Redskins, Rams and Eagles. The best opponent they faced in those five games was the Bengals, who they beat in an ugly 13-8 game.
The loss of Revis is still a game-changer and should not be forgotten, but the 49ers play slow, low-scoring games.
In an ugly battle, the game is very likely to be close in the fourth quarter. The 49ers are usually bad when they come east, so this warrants giving the Jets at least a chance.
The Jets (2-1) currently own first place in the AFC East. A victory on Sunday would ensure they keep that spot for at least one more week. If they lose on Sunday, they can keep the top spot in the division if the Buffalo Bills also lose.
Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for the Bleacher Report New York Jets community. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.
'Brooklynettes' dance team show off new uniforms
These aren’t your run of the mill dancer uniforms, they aren’t sugar, spice, and everything nice, but the uniforms of the Brooklyn Nets dancers sure do ooze contemporary sexiness. The Brooklynettes collection consists of seven full costumes for the squad of 20 dancers and feature fingerless leather gloves, jumpsuits, and sequined leggings. Yes, it [...]
The post Photo: Brooklyn Nets’ dancers uniforms go “hard” appeared first on The NBA Mistress.
The post Photo: Brooklyn Nets’ dancers uniforms go “hard” appeared first on The NBA Mistress.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
NHL Lockout: League Cancels More Games, Full Preseason Gone
Continuing the steady progression of cancellations, the NHL officially cancelled the rest of the 2012 preseason on Thursday evening. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said, (via the Associated Press):
I'll reserve judgment on my sense of optimism or not until we see how our meetings unfold. Ultimately, we have to meet and talk to make a deal. But until we make progress and see some compromise from the Union of their economic position, we won't be going anywhere fast.
The players and the owners do not appear to be ready to negotiate in any real sense. They are sticking to basic posturing and stubbornness for the moment. Daly commented:
I think it's fair to say we feel like we need to hear from the players' association in a meaningful way because I don't think that they've really moved off their initial proposal, which was made more than a month ago now.
The scary part of the situation is that both sides—players and owners—seem to be relatively content to see games and possibly even the season get canceled. Washington Capitals star player Alex Ovechkin claims to be willing to play the year out elsewhere:
If the league continues to insist on their [demands], then it will take a full year. That's because we are not going to cave in. Then I will spend the entire season in the KHL. That's an absolute reality.
The owners are equally willing to sit it out. According to Forbes, only three NHL teams are reporting any significant profits.
Discussions should be happening in the coming days, which could be interpreted as cause for optimism. NHLPA special counsel Steve Fehr expressed a small amount of optimism, saying, "We are pleased the league is willing to come back to the bargaining table, and we look forward to Friday's discussions."
Ultimately, one side will need to get desperate before we are likely to see an end to the lockout. We saw with the NFL referee lockout that it took multiple national controversies to get real compromise to happen. If the two sides approach the discussion on Friday with complete stubbornness—which they likely will—then the discussion will have no impact beyond public relations.
Adam Waksman is a featured columnist for the Bleacher Report New York Jets community. Be sure to follow Adam on Twitter to receive updates right away.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1350719-nhl-lockout-league-cancels-more-games-full-preseason-gone
Reggie Bush Just Bought Himself a World of Hurt for Round Two Against the Jets
Bush on the Revis injury: 'what goes around comes around.'
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
John Lynch on the Dan Patrick Show: League Said To Go Easy on Replacement Refs Because Deal Was Close
Since week one, according to Lynch, the gloves have come off.
Oops! DII Team Puts Logo at 45-Yd Line
Perhaps they just think outside the box at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. More likely is... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
Trent Richardson shaken, not who the Browns thought he was?
This was Trent Richardson’s chance to show Jim Brown he was wrong. It just didn’t go so well…
For the first time since Brown called Richardson an “ordinary” running back the two met on the field. Richardson described as a “shaking moment”, as both men described the former statement as nothing but a motivational tool.
“A lot of people took the message the wrong way, but it was always a motivational thing,” Richardson said, via Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “Jim Brown, he’s an inspiring person. He’s a person that loves people and loves being around people. He’s the type of guy that’s an icon, always been an icon, always been a fighter, always been a winner. So one of the powerful things he said to me is ‘Keep trying no matter what.… Read more
For the first time since Brown called Richardson an “ordinary” running back the two met on the field. Richardson described as a “shaking moment”, as both men described the former statement as nothing but a motivational tool.
“A lot of people took the message the wrong way, but it was always a motivational thing,” Richardson said, via Tom Reed of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “Jim Brown, he’s an inspiring person. He’s a person that loves people and loves being around people. He’s the type of guy that’s an icon, always been an icon, always been a fighter, always been a winner. So one of the powerful things he said to me is ‘Keep trying no matter what.… Read more
K-State players say Weber has plenty of 'Frank'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. Bruce Weber, no dummy, ripped a page out of Bill Snyder's playbook on Saturday night.
"Who won the football game?" the Kansas State men's basketball coach texted his players after Snyder's Wildcats had scored a stunning 24-19 victory at Oklahoma.
"Kansas State," his players replied.
"Why?" Weber texted back. "Because they took care of the ball, and the other team didn't."
Tru dat.
"It's a little more exaggerated in football because of field position," Weber recalled Tuesday night in Overland Park, Kan., before addressing a local booster group. "But it's a big stat, and it's something we've got to deal with."
Here's why: Last winter's edition of the Wildcats posted an 11-10 mark last season after January 4. In games during which they tallied more or the same amount of assists as turnovers, their record was 8-3 or a .727 winning percentage. The contests in which they racked up more turnovers than assists? Three wins and seven losses, or a .300 clip.
In other words, when K-State takes care of the rock, it's a beast in high-tops. When it doesn't, it's the Washington Generals.
Weber didn't have to be here long to figure that one out. Or to start drilling it into the Wildcats' heads.
"The honeymoon was over a long time ago," guard Martavious Irving said of his new coach. "It ended a long time ago, I know that. Bruce has showed a few moments that he's got some Frank (Martin) in him."
Wait. Our Bruce?
"Oh, Bruce gets after it," Irving continued.
Laid-back Bruce?
The anti-Frank?
The alleged antidote to the eye-popping, vein-bulging act of Martin, his immediate predecessor?
"I don't want anybody to think he's some quiet coach," Irving said. "He gets after it. But one of the biggest differences (from Martin), is that Bruce is probably more hands on, as far as working on skill work, things of that nature."
Little things. Detail things. Valuing the basketball. Milking the motion offense until you've got the best shot. Playing defense, chest to chest, for 94 feet.
"He's not laid-back," forward Nino Williams allowed. "He's got a different style of coaching. He doesn't yell as much, he doesn't scream as much. He kind of, like, talks to you and teaches you more."
Weber knows the drill: Teams undergoing a regime change can have a notoriously fragile psyche, especially when the personality of the previous coach is as ingrained into the woodwork as Martin's was in Manhattan.
Trust isn't granted unconditionally. It has to be built. And it has to be built as a two-way street.
"How do you do that?" Weber asked. "You've got to be 1-on-1, you've got to be around them. They've got to get to know you and you've got to give them something to latch on to.
"That's where the (August) trip (to Brazil) really helped us. We treated them well, we got to hang out with them, be around them, and so I hope that trust factor (developed). Now that trust factor, basketball-wise, that'll have to come as we get into the season."
While in Rio, Weber's men tossed their bodies at the surf and their elbows at a few of the area's professional squads. It was an eye-opening and occasionally humbling trip that featured Weber getting ejected from one contest after arguing with officials.
"I think it surprised a few of us," Irving said."Because he's not as big as Frank, not as tall as Frank. We were like, He might not have it in him.' But he has it in him.'"
And there's plenty more where that came from. Hurricane Bruce is just getting warmed up.
"The players kind of teased me (Tuesday)," Weber said. "Right now, I'm doing one workout a week with them and they kind of laughed and said, It's good to see you again.' And I said, Well, you'll see me enough in October you'll probably (be) happy I'm not around then. You'll get what you wished for.'
"It's exciting. I texted them last Friday night. I said, (We start) three weeks from Friday night and (we're) seven weeks from your first game.'"
The Wildcats got the text. Whether they got the message, we'll know soon enough.
You can follow Sean Keeler on Twitter @seankeeler or email him at seanmkeeler@gmail.com
"Who won the football game?" the Kansas State men's basketball coach texted his players after Snyder's Wildcats had scored a stunning 24-19 victory at Oklahoma.
"Kansas State," his players replied.
"Why?" Weber texted back. "Because they took care of the ball, and the other team didn't."
Tru dat.
"It's a little more exaggerated in football because of field position," Weber recalled Tuesday night in Overland Park, Kan., before addressing a local booster group. "But it's a big stat, and it's something we've got to deal with."
Here's why: Last winter's edition of the Wildcats posted an 11-10 mark last season after January 4. In games during which they tallied more or the same amount of assists as turnovers, their record was 8-3 or a .727 winning percentage. The contests in which they racked up more turnovers than assists? Three wins and seven losses, or a .300 clip.
In other words, when K-State takes care of the rock, it's a beast in high-tops. When it doesn't, it's the Washington Generals.
Weber didn't have to be here long to figure that one out. Or to start drilling it into the Wildcats' heads.
"The honeymoon was over a long time ago," guard Martavious Irving said of his new coach. "It ended a long time ago, I know that. Bruce has showed a few moments that he's got some Frank (Martin) in him."
Wait. Our Bruce?
"Oh, Bruce gets after it," Irving continued.
Laid-back Bruce?
The anti-Frank?
The alleged antidote to the eye-popping, vein-bulging act of Martin, his immediate predecessor?
"I don't want anybody to think he's some quiet coach," Irving said. "He gets after it. But one of the biggest differences (from Martin), is that Bruce is probably more hands on, as far as working on skill work, things of that nature."
Little things. Detail things. Valuing the basketball. Milking the motion offense until you've got the best shot. Playing defense, chest to chest, for 94 feet.
"He's not laid-back," forward Nino Williams allowed. "He's got a different style of coaching. He doesn't yell as much, he doesn't scream as much. He kind of, like, talks to you and teaches you more."
Weber knows the drill: Teams undergoing a regime change can have a notoriously fragile psyche, especially when the personality of the previous coach is as ingrained into the woodwork as Martin's was in Manhattan.
Trust isn't granted unconditionally. It has to be built. And it has to be built as a two-way street.
"How do you do that?" Weber asked. "You've got to be 1-on-1, you've got to be around them. They've got to get to know you and you've got to give them something to latch on to.
"That's where the (August) trip (to Brazil) really helped us. We treated them well, we got to hang out with them, be around them, and so I hope that trust factor (developed). Now that trust factor, basketball-wise, that'll have to come as we get into the season."
While in Rio, Weber's men tossed their bodies at the surf and their elbows at a few of the area's professional squads. It was an eye-opening and occasionally humbling trip that featured Weber getting ejected from one contest after arguing with officials.
"I think it surprised a few of us," Irving said."Because he's not as big as Frank, not as tall as Frank. We were like, He might not have it in him.' But he has it in him.'"
And there's plenty more where that came from. Hurricane Bruce is just getting warmed up.
"The players kind of teased me (Tuesday)," Weber said. "Right now, I'm doing one workout a week with them and they kind of laughed and said, It's good to see you again.' And I said, Well, you'll see me enough in October you'll probably (be) happy I'm not around then. You'll get what you wished for.'
"It's exciting. I texted them last Friday night. I said, (We start) three weeks from Friday night and (we're) seven weeks from your first game.'"
The Wildcats got the text. Whether they got the message, we'll know soon enough.
You can follow Sean Keeler on Twitter @seankeeler or email him at seanmkeeler@gmail.com
Zherdev scores awesome goal in KHL
While the NHL is currently in a lockout, there's some good professinonal hockey action taking place in the KHL. And on Tuesday, Nikolay Zherdev (former Columbus Blue Jacket, New York Ranger, and Philadelphia Flyer) had a brilliant goal that included a nasty between-the-legs move before the shot. Check out Zherdev's "Goal of the Year" candidate: Thigh Five: Puck Daddy Get the latest Thigh
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
NBA Rooks: Harrison Barnes
 | The latest installment of "NBA Rooks" takes a look at Golden State's Harrison Barnes on the first steps of his rookie journey. After being chosen 7th overall in June, he went on to impress in Summer League play and is starting to feel comfortable in his new career, thanks to hard work that started well before the draft. | From: NBA Views: 91523 800 ratings |
| Time: 03:52 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tocT69svWII&feature=youtube_gdata
John Wes Townley, No. 09 Zaxby's Toyota Tundra, Las Vegas Preview
Notes:
This Week's Zaxby's Toyota Tundra ... John Wes Townley will pilot RAB Racing Chassis No. 48 in Saturday's� Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This chassis last saw action at Michigan International Speedway, where the 22-year-old driver brought home a 25th-place finish.
I've Been Here Before ... While Townley has not yet raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Camping World Truck Series competition, he has raced there twice before. In two Nationwide Series starts at the 1.5-mile Nevada track, Townley has a 15th-place finish to call his best.
RAB at Las Vegas...Though RAB Racing has not competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Camping World Truck Series competition, they have competed in four Nationwide Series events here dating back to 2009 with drivers Scott Riggs, Townley, and Kenny Wallace . The team's best showing there is an11th-place finish, which was posted by Wallace earlier this season.
After 16 Races... Over the first 16 NASCAR Campin...
This Week's Zaxby's Toyota Tundra ... John Wes Townley will pilot RAB Racing Chassis No. 48 in Saturday's� Smith's 350 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. This chassis last saw action at Michigan International Speedway, where the 22-year-old driver brought home a 25th-place finish.
I've Been Here Before ... While Townley has not yet raced at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Camping World Truck Series competition, he has raced there twice before. In two Nationwide Series starts at the 1.5-mile Nevada track, Townley has a 15th-place finish to call his best.
RAB at Las Vegas...Though RAB Racing has not competed at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Camping World Truck Series competition, they have competed in four Nationwide Series events here dating back to 2009 with drivers Scott Riggs, Townley, and Kenny Wallace . The team's best showing there is an11th-place finish, which was posted by Wallace earlier this season.
After 16 Races... Over the first 16 NASCAR Campin...
NFL: Players Should Strike to Get the Regular Refs Back on the Field
The boiling point has been reached.
In case you have been living under a rock for the past 12 hours, the Monday Night Football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers came down to the wire. Russell Wilson threw a Hail Mary as time expired. Golden Tate was in the end zone, and committed offensive pass interference. Packers safety M.D. Jennings and Tate went up for the ball, and it seemed like Jennings grabbed the ball before Tate.
The refs called the catch a simultaneous catch, and NFL rules state ties go to the passers. The Seahawks were awarded a touchdown, and won the game off the Hail Mary.
Now, fans and players are not happy, and it seems like last night could have been the breaking point. T.J Lang, offensive lineman for the Pack, had some profanity laden tweets towards the replacement refs and the NFL in general. After Sunday nights loss to the Ravens, linebacker Brandon Spikes also had harsh words for the refs. Even big name stars Drew Brees and Ray Lewis have had criticisms for the refs.
So far, these words have done little to force the NFL to reach a labor agreement. The only solution may be a players' strike.
It may seem drastic, but it could be the only way for the players to show they're serious. If the players strike, they will not be giving the owners money, the money that they want to save by paying the regular refs less money.
Of course, the players would be losing out their own salaries. But with the amount of wrong calls and missed calls, especially hits to the head, it may be more dangerous for the players to continue to play.
Big name players have already spoken out against these refs, and truly it's not the refs fault. They may be underqualified, but they shouldn't be in this position in the first place. The NFL brought in these refs knowing that they would not be able to call the games with the same authority and confidence that regular refs do, and they're getting torn apart by the players.
The NFL needs to realize that the players are serious about getting the regular refs back on the field, and a players' strike may be the only option.
Skaggs, D-backs open series with Giants
Although there is little on the line for the remainder of the regular season, the NL West-champion Giants realize it's still important to play with the same intensity as if they were fighting for a playoff spot.
This is especially true for Tim Lincecum, who is trying to earn a spot in the postseason rotation.
Lincecum looks to win three straight starts for the first time all season when he takes the ball for the Giants in Tuesday's series opener against a Diamondbacks team clinging to dwindling playoff hopes.
A day after winning their second division title in three years, Bruce Bochy decided to rest his regulars for Sunday's finale with San Diego. Not surprisingly, San Francisco (89-64) lost 6-4, just its second defeat in 12 games.
The Giants, who seem unlikely to catch the NL Central-champion Reds or likely the Nationals coming out of the East, are expected to have their regulars back in the lineup against the Diamondbacks.
"It's important to keep the same focus ... of wanting to play the game hard," NL MVP candidate Buster Posey told the Giants' official website.
Lincecum (10-14, 4.91 ERA), originally slated to pitch Sunday, might have to use his final few starts as an audition to be a postseason starter. If he continues to pitch the way he has over the last month, though, it seems he could secure a spot.
After recording a 5.45 ERA in his first 25 starts, the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner is 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his last six. Against Colorado last Tuesday, he allowed five hits with six strikeouts in 6 13 scoreless innings of a 6-3 win.
"That's the Timmy that we know, and we're going to need him down the stretch," Bochy said. "Timmy's tough when he's on his game, and he's on it right now."
Lincecum's last outing dropped his ERA below five for the first time all season.
"I know it's been a long year. You never stop working," the right-hander said. "I feel like I'm getting back to that point."
Lincecum's struggles against the Diamondbacks, however, predate this season. He has a 5.52 ERA in losing his last five starts in the series, and he hasn't defeated the D-backs since Sept. 29, 2010.
He'll be facing a team that totaled 33 runs and 48 hits in winning its first three games at Coors Field before managing five hits in a 4-2 loss in Monday's finale. It was just the second defeat in eight games for Arizona (77-76), which dropped 5 12 back of St. Louis for the league's second wild-card spot with nine to play.
"We're not out of it yet," said Jason Kubel, who hit his 30th homer Monday. "Some things can happen."
Paul Goldschmidt has been stuck on 18 home runs since Aug. 16, but he could be poised for a big game Tuesday given that he is 7 for 13 with four homers and a double in his career against Lincecum.
The Diamondbacks counter with Tyler Skaggs (1-3, 5.83), who permitted five runs in four innings of a 6-2 loss to the Giants on Sept. 14. Hunter Pence went 2 for 2 with a grand slam off Skaggs.
That outing is part of a current three-start slump for the left-hander, who has a 10.50 ERA in that span. He had a 2.60 ERA in his first three big league starts.
This is especially true for Tim Lincecum, who is trying to earn a spot in the postseason rotation.
Lincecum looks to win three straight starts for the first time all season when he takes the ball for the Giants in Tuesday's series opener against a Diamondbacks team clinging to dwindling playoff hopes.
A day after winning their second division title in three years, Bruce Bochy decided to rest his regulars for Sunday's finale with San Diego. Not surprisingly, San Francisco (89-64) lost 6-4, just its second defeat in 12 games.
The Giants, who seem unlikely to catch the NL Central-champion Reds or likely the Nationals coming out of the East, are expected to have their regulars back in the lineup against the Diamondbacks.
"It's important to keep the same focus ... of wanting to play the game hard," NL MVP candidate Buster Posey told the Giants' official website.
Lincecum (10-14, 4.91 ERA), originally slated to pitch Sunday, might have to use his final few starts as an audition to be a postseason starter. If he continues to pitch the way he has over the last month, though, it seems he could secure a spot.
After recording a 5.45 ERA in his first 25 starts, the two-time NL Cy Young Award winner is 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA in his last six. Against Colorado last Tuesday, he allowed five hits with six strikeouts in 6 13 scoreless innings of a 6-3 win.
"That's the Timmy that we know, and we're going to need him down the stretch," Bochy said. "Timmy's tough when he's on his game, and he's on it right now."
Lincecum's last outing dropped his ERA below five for the first time all season.
"I know it's been a long year. You never stop working," the right-hander said. "I feel like I'm getting back to that point."
Lincecum's struggles against the Diamondbacks, however, predate this season. He has a 5.52 ERA in losing his last five starts in the series, and he hasn't defeated the D-backs since Sept. 29, 2010.
He'll be facing a team that totaled 33 runs and 48 hits in winning its first three games at Coors Field before managing five hits in a 4-2 loss in Monday's finale. It was just the second defeat in eight games for Arizona (77-76), which dropped 5 12 back of St. Louis for the league's second wild-card spot with nine to play.
"We're not out of it yet," said Jason Kubel, who hit his 30th homer Monday. "Some things can happen."
Paul Goldschmidt has been stuck on 18 home runs since Aug. 16, but he could be poised for a big game Tuesday given that he is 7 for 13 with four homers and a double in his career against Lincecum.
The Diamondbacks counter with Tyler Skaggs (1-3, 5.83), who permitted five runs in four innings of a 6-2 loss to the Giants on Sept. 14. Hunter Pence went 2 for 2 with a grand slam off Skaggs.
That outing is part of a current three-start slump for the left-hander, who has a 10.50 ERA in that span. He had a 2.60 ERA in his first three big league starts.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/skaggs_d_backs_open_series_with_giants/11802673
Monday, September 24, 2012
Meet Isaiah Stokes, the Biggest 8th Grade Football Player Ever (Photo)
Tennessee�power forward�Jarnell Stokes�will be ready to suit up for the Volunteers soon as he begins his freshman season. Stokes is pretty big, being a 6-7, 250-pound power forward. However, if you think that?s big, wait until you see his younger brother, Isaiah Stokes.
Stokes is an 8th-grade football player and he?s pretty damn big for one, too, being 6-7 and 225 pounds. Looking at the picture above, in which Jarnell posted on Instagram, it seems like he is a tower.
The funny thing is about the picture, is that kid trying to run away from Isaiah? I mean, he doesn?t even have the football. Maybe he?s trying to run away from a block or something. It?s still funny.
Keep an eye out for Isaiah in the future. Hey, maybe by that time, he?d be 8-6!
The post Meet Isaiah Stokes, the Biggest 8th Grade Football Player Ever (Photo) appeared first on FootBasket.
Stokes is an 8th-grade football player and he?s pretty damn big for one, too, being 6-7 and 225 pounds. Looking at the picture above, in which Jarnell posted on Instagram, it seems like he is a tower.
The funny thing is about the picture, is that kid trying to run away from Isaiah? I mean, he doesn?t even have the football. Maybe he?s trying to run away from a block or something. It?s still funny.
Keep an eye out for Isaiah in the future. Hey, maybe by that time, he?d be 8-6!
The post Meet Isaiah Stokes, the Biggest 8th Grade Football Player Ever (Photo) appeared first on FootBasket.
Matt Schaub appears to lose part of his ear
Matt Schaub was bloodied on a vicious hit by Broncos linebacker Joe Mays on Sunday, and it looked like the hit may have taken off a part of his ear.
Mocksession grabbed the shot you see above and added the caption ?So Matt Schaub is now missing part of his ear.?
There is no confirmation that Schaub lost a part of his ear, but he grabbed it immediately and was bleeding from it. He appeared to at least suffer a cut on the ear, possibly from when his helmet went flying off.
Mays was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer, a play after Von Miller was flagged for the same thing. Schaub ended up missing a play before returning. He finished 17/30 for 290 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in Houston?s 31-25 win. But more importantly: did he lose part of his ear on that hit?
Below is a video of the play:
Mocksession grabbed the shot you see above and added the caption ?So Matt Schaub is now missing part of his ear.?
There is no confirmation that Schaub lost a part of his ear, but he grabbed it immediately and was bleeding from it. He appeared to at least suffer a cut on the ear, possibly from when his helmet went flying off.
Mays was penalized 15 yards for roughing the passer, a play after Von Miller was flagged for the same thing. Schaub ended up missing a play before returning. He finished 17/30 for 290 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception in Houston?s 31-25 win. But more importantly: did he lose part of his ear on that hit?
Below is a video of the play:
Brewers' Schafer making a case to be in lineup
Caught in the midst of a deep outfield situation with the Milwaukee Brewers, young outfielder Logan Schafer hadn't had many chances to prove himself at the major league level. There just wasn't enough room in the outfield for the promising prospect.
But since joining the Brewers bench for September call-ups, Schafer has proved plenty. And on the day of his first-ever major league start -- replacing Carlos Gomez in center field -- Schafer proved outright that he may belong in the same breath as the more seasoned players in Milwaukee's outfield.
After tallying a hit in the second inning as well, Schafer came up in the fourth in an important situation. With two men on, Jonathan Lucroy had already knocked in one run. But another run could give the Brewers the momentum they'd need to hold onto a victory. But Schafer approached the at-bat with a cool head, unfazed by the obvious pressure surrounding the Brewers' wild card hopes.
"It's baseball," Schafer said. "I've played so many games of baseball. The mound never changes. It's 60 feet, six inches away . . . Obviously, before the game, I had a little bit of anxieties and stuff just kind of wanting to be a part of this club. But once you get back out on the field, it's a baseball game."
So Schafer approached the at-bat much like he has been since he was called up. In a clutch situation, the young center fielder delivered with a deep double to right field, scoring Corey Hart and advancing Lucroy to third. The run would give the Brewers enough to hold a tie after the Nationals made a push in the fifth, as Milwaukee went on to win 6-2.
But Schafer's day -- done after Carlos Gomez replaced him in the sixth -- was another display of why Schafer may find himself in the lineup more often. So far this season, he's batting .462 with four RBI in 12 at-bats.
It was certainly enough to impress his manager and earn one of the more glowing compliments Ron Roenicke has given all season.
"He did a nice job," Roenicke said. "He squares up a lot of balls. He's a very good defender. Offensively, it's hard to ever say if a guy is going to get hit in the big leagues, but he squares up a lot of balls.
"He gets the job done. Good things happen when he's out on the field, and it makes us comfortable with putting him out there."
Follow Ryan Kartje on Twitter.
But since joining the Brewers bench for September call-ups, Schafer has proved plenty. And on the day of his first-ever major league start -- replacing Carlos Gomez in center field -- Schafer proved outright that he may belong in the same breath as the more seasoned players in Milwaukee's outfield.
After tallying a hit in the second inning as well, Schafer came up in the fourth in an important situation. With two men on, Jonathan Lucroy had already knocked in one run. But another run could give the Brewers the momentum they'd need to hold onto a victory. But Schafer approached the at-bat with a cool head, unfazed by the obvious pressure surrounding the Brewers' wild card hopes.
"It's baseball," Schafer said. "I've played so many games of baseball. The mound never changes. It's 60 feet, six inches away . . . Obviously, before the game, I had a little bit of anxieties and stuff just kind of wanting to be a part of this club. But once you get back out on the field, it's a baseball game."
So Schafer approached the at-bat much like he has been since he was called up. In a clutch situation, the young center fielder delivered with a deep double to right field, scoring Corey Hart and advancing Lucroy to third. The run would give the Brewers enough to hold a tie after the Nationals made a push in the fifth, as Milwaukee went on to win 6-2.
But Schafer's day -- done after Carlos Gomez replaced him in the sixth -- was another display of why Schafer may find himself in the lineup more often. So far this season, he's batting .462 with four RBI in 12 at-bats.
It was certainly enough to impress his manager and earn one of the more glowing compliments Ron Roenicke has given all season.
"He did a nice job," Roenicke said. "He squares up a lot of balls. He's a very good defender. Offensively, it's hard to ever say if a guy is going to get hit in the big leagues, but he squares up a lot of balls.
"He gets the job done. Good things happen when he's out on the field, and it makes us comfortable with putting him out there."
Follow Ryan Kartje on Twitter.
Marbury: 'Melo, Amare a bad combo
Leave it up to a guy like Stephon Marbury to open his mouth about team chemistry. A guy that was criticized his whole career for being a drama queen and not a team player is calling out the New York Knicks on their choice of personnel.
Marbury is clearly not a big fan of Amar’e Stoudemire. Having gotten a chance to play with him in Phoenix, he seems very critical of Stoudemire’s skill set.
"Amar’e needs a point guard like Steve Nash (to thrive). He's a pick-and-roll guy, a pick-and-pop guy. He can't play in the half court where everything's slowed down," Marbury said.
He went on to say that Stoudemire and teammate Carmelo Anthony would never be able to play well together and he wonders why Melo was even acquired by the Knicks in the first place.
"I don't know if (Knicks owner James) Dolan brought him in to win games or to make money," Marbury said. "I think it was to make money."
I guess you cannot argue wi...
Marbury is clearly not a big fan of Amar’e Stoudemire. Having gotten a chance to play with him in Phoenix, he seems very critical of Stoudemire’s skill set.
"Amar’e needs a point guard like Steve Nash (to thrive). He's a pick-and-roll guy, a pick-and-pop guy. He can't play in the half court where everything's slowed down," Marbury said.
He went on to say that Stoudemire and teammate Carmelo Anthony would never be able to play well together and he wonders why Melo was even acquired by the Knicks in the first place.
"I don't know if (Knicks owner James) Dolan brought him in to win games or to make money," Marbury said. "I think it was to make money."
I guess you cannot argue wi...
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/marbury_doubts_stoudemireanthony_pairing/11777746
Ralph Sampson Career Retrospective
 | Take a look back at the Hall of Fame career from the newest inductee Ralph Sampson. | From: NBA Views: 17599 256 ratings |
| Time: 04:08 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRVJ-ttZb6o&feature=youtube_gdata
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Why the Knicks "Considering" Rasheed Wallace Isn't Surprising At All
Though the Knicks will bring 19 players into training camp next week, only 13 players will hit the hardwood with guaranteed contracts. This means two roster spots will be up grabs, be it amongst the camp invitees or even outside players looking in.Though they've worked out a few various young guns at the training facility in the recent weeks, the team also hosted veteran and former Knickerbocker Tracy McGrady in Westchester this month.And according to ESPN's Ric Bucher, the Knicks most recently welcomed yet another notable NBA veteran to their facility.Retired big man Rasheed Wallace has been working out in Westchester with fellow veterans Marcus Camby and Kurt Thomas.Though Bucher says New York is apparently "considering" signing Wallace, this should by no means come as a surprise to Knicks fans at all. The team has already surrounded their core with older veterans like Camby, Thomas, and Jason Kidd. What's more, they have also long-coveted veteran forward Ken...
Rays go for a sweep of Toronto on Sunday
A recent offensive surge has helped the Tampa Bay Rays remain a serious contender for an AL postseason spot.
Looking for a fifth consecutive victory, the Rays try to complete a series sweep Sunday by continuing their home dominance of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Desmond Jennings went 3 for 3 with a homer and Evan Longoria added a three-run shot as Tampa Bay (82-70) rolled to an 11-5 win Saturday. Sitting 3 12 games out of the final wild-card spot, the Rays have recorded 31 hits while outscoring Toronto 23-6 through the first two games of the set.
"We have to have another one-game winning streak (Sunday)," manager Joe Maddon said. "Anxiety lives in the future. You've got to stay in the present."
Tampa Bay ranks near the bottom of the majors with a .241 batting average, but has hit .381 with nine homers while holding a 43-13 scoring advantage during its four-game run. Jennings is 8 for 18 with five RBIs during that stretch while Longoria is 6 for 15.
"It seems like we've been having more fun," Longoria said. "That's probably the biggest thing. It's really all about the belief that you can score runs, and we didn't have that for a while. It seems like it's back now."
After securing their 17th consecutive winning home series against the Blue Jays (66-84), the Rays will try for an eighth straight home victory over Toronto. Tampa Bay has averaged 5.1 runs while winning 36 of 46 over the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field.
"I can only speak to the last two years," said Toronto manager John Farrell, whose team has dropped five in a row and nine of 11 overall. "We've been in some close games here late in games where they've hit a ball out of the ballpark or scored some runs late. They're a good team."
The Rays might have a good chance to continue that dominance against Chad Jenkins (0-1, 4.91 ERA), who makes his first major league start in the finale.
Jenkins, who has made his first 10 major league appearances out of the bullpen, went 4-9 with a 4.96 ERA in 20 starts for Double-A New Hampshire before being called up Aug. 5. The right-hander has a 2.25 ERA in two outings versus Tampa Bay.
The Rays counter with Jeremy Hellickson (8-10, 3.31), who is 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA in his last five starts while receiving an average of 2.77 runs of support. The right-hander allowed three runs and struck out seven while throwing 94 pitches in four innings of a 7-5 loss to Boston on Tuesday.
Hellickson is 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA against the Blue Jays this season.
Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who had an RBI on Saturday, is 5 for 14 with two doubles and a homer versus Hellickson.
Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar went 0 for 4 after being back in the starting lineup two days following the conclusion of his three-game suspension for wearing eye-black displaying an anti-gay slur written in Spanish. He is batting .207 (6 for 29) at Tropicana Field in 2012.
Looking for a fifth consecutive victory, the Rays try to complete a series sweep Sunday by continuing their home dominance of the Toronto Blue Jays.
Desmond Jennings went 3 for 3 with a homer and Evan Longoria added a three-run shot as Tampa Bay (82-70) rolled to an 11-5 win Saturday. Sitting 3 12 games out of the final wild-card spot, the Rays have recorded 31 hits while outscoring Toronto 23-6 through the first two games of the set.
"We have to have another one-game winning streak (Sunday)," manager Joe Maddon said. "Anxiety lives in the future. You've got to stay in the present."
Tampa Bay ranks near the bottom of the majors with a .241 batting average, but has hit .381 with nine homers while holding a 43-13 scoring advantage during its four-game run. Jennings is 8 for 18 with five RBIs during that stretch while Longoria is 6 for 15.
"It seems like we've been having more fun," Longoria said. "That's probably the biggest thing. It's really all about the belief that you can score runs, and we didn't have that for a while. It seems like it's back now."
After securing their 17th consecutive winning home series against the Blue Jays (66-84), the Rays will try for an eighth straight home victory over Toronto. Tampa Bay has averaged 5.1 runs while winning 36 of 46 over the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field.
"I can only speak to the last two years," said Toronto manager John Farrell, whose team has dropped five in a row and nine of 11 overall. "We've been in some close games here late in games where they've hit a ball out of the ballpark or scored some runs late. They're a good team."
The Rays might have a good chance to continue that dominance against Chad Jenkins (0-1, 4.91 ERA), who makes his first major league start in the finale.
Jenkins, who has made his first 10 major league appearances out of the bullpen, went 4-9 with a 4.96 ERA in 20 starts for Double-A New Hampshire before being called up Aug. 5. The right-hander has a 2.25 ERA in two outings versus Tampa Bay.
The Rays counter with Jeremy Hellickson (8-10, 3.31), who is 0-2 with a 3.46 ERA in his last five starts while receiving an average of 2.77 runs of support. The right-hander allowed three runs and struck out seven while throwing 94 pitches in four innings of a 7-5 loss to Boston on Tuesday.
Hellickson is 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA against the Blue Jays this season.
Toronto slugger Edwin Encarnacion, who had an RBI on Saturday, is 5 for 14 with two doubles and a homer versus Hellickson.
Blue Jays shortstop Yunel Escobar went 0 for 4 after being back in the starting lineup two days following the conclusion of his three-game suspension for wearing eye-black displaying an anti-gay slur written in Spanish. He is batting .207 (6 for 29) at Tropicana Field in 2012.
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/rays_go_for_a_sweep_of_toronto_on_sunday/11787892
UFC 152 Results: Night's Most Surprising Moments
The cancellation of UFC 151 was but a passing thought in the back of UFC fans' minds when fighters took to the Octagon last night.
UFC 152 lived up to the expectation that MMA events strive for with big moments during countless fights.
No one had more to gain than Jon Jones, who was fighting for the respect of UFC management and its fans. He lost it back in August when his contender at UFC 151 in the light heavyweight championship bout, Dan Henderson, withdrew due to an injured MCL, and Jones refused a match with replacement Chael Sonnen.
Let's take a look at three surprising moments from UFC 152.
Light Heavyweight Championship: Vitor Belfort's Armbar on Jon Jones
Originally slated to fight Lyoto Machida, who turned down the matchup, Jones faced off against veteran Vitor Belfort, a former UFC champion, who hadn't fought at the light heavyweight class in five years.
Despite a clash with the law in June and his recent debacle with the UFC, Jones is one of the most recognizable faces in the sport and was a heavy favorite to defeat Belfort.
It was all the more surprising when Belfort locked Jones into a convincing armbar in the first round, putting a ton of stress on Jones' elbow.
Jones was quoted by USA Today saying, "He got that armbar in every way, shape and form. I've never had my arm pop like that before, and I don't know. I felt it, but I worked too hard to give up. I honestly was waiting for it to break. I was not going to tap out."
It was nearly an upset, but Belfort loosened up on the armbar, allowing an escape. It was all Jones from there, leading to a fourth-round submission.
Featherweight Championship: Cub Swanson's Impressive KO of Charles Oliveira
Cub Swanson officially proved his worth as a featherweight contender, defeating Brazilian Charles Oliveira in Round 1.
It was a quick knockout for Swanson, who landed an incredible body shot to Oliveira that caused him to stagger. He then finished him off with a haymaker to the right temple. Oliveira stood dazed for a moment before falling to the mat.
It was a painful loss for the Brazilian, both physically and mentally, as he laid in pain after the KO.
Lightweight Championship: T.J. Grant's Knee to Evan Dunham's Forehead
The fight between Canadian T.J. Grant and American Evan Dunham may have been one of the bloodiest of the year.
Dunham had a few solid takedowns of Grant, but he lost the match in a unanimous decision.
One of the deciding moments came with 1:40 left in the second round when Grant landed a hard knee to Dunham's forehead, splitting it open and causing blood to rush down Dunham's face.
It never closed, and the rest of the match was fought in a mix of blood and sweat.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1344580-ufc-152-results-nights-most-surprising-moments
Smith likely moving to new team
Regan Smith's tenure with Furniture Row Racing appears to be coming to an end - according to the driver.
"As it stands right now, I don't believe I'm going to be back with these guys next year," Smith said prior to qualifying 22nd on Friday. Smith added he's been told he can pursue other options. "I've been looking for a little while already now, but yes, I've been told I can look."
Smith, who turns 29 on Sunday, joined Furniture Row in 2009. He ran a limited 18-race season with the No. 78 team with Jay Guy as his crew chief. The following year, team owner Barney Visser expanded to a full-time schedule and gave Ryan Coniam a shot at the helm. The rookie crew chief lasted 12 races before Pete Rondeau was recruited to turn the program around. Less than a year later, Smith won his first career Cup race at Darlington Speedway. He finished the season with two top-fives, five top 10 finishes and a career-best 26th in the point standings.
This year, veteran crew chief Todd Berrier came on board before the Brickyard 400 in an attempt to improve the consistency on the team. Smith scored consecutive top 10 finishes starting the following week at Pocono and at his hometown track Watkins Glen.
"I think it's something we can build on," said Smith, who is currently 23rd in the point standings. "I think the tough part for me is the beginning of the year was a struggle. We had to make some changes to get better as a team and better as an organization. We made those changes and it's going in the right direction and I feel as it's going in the right direction, I want to see it through. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem like it's going to be the case right now. So, somebody's going to get a really good race car next year."
That someone could be Kurt Busch or Brian Vickers. Both drivers are on the short list for Furniture Row - which recently re-signed its technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Busch met with Furniture Row principals back in early July.
But Smith remains optimistic.
"There's not a lot out there right now," Smith said. "But it's a situation where there is some stuff going on and there will be stuff that turns up later goings on, too. You just have to wait and see.
"I know I love racing. I intend on being in a race car next year. I know I haven't peaked as a driver yet so I feel good where I'm at in my career. We just have to find that right match going forward."
"As it stands right now, I don't believe I'm going to be back with these guys next year," Smith said prior to qualifying 22nd on Friday. Smith added he's been told he can pursue other options. "I've been looking for a little while already now, but yes, I've been told I can look."
Smith, who turns 29 on Sunday, joined Furniture Row in 2009. He ran a limited 18-race season with the No. 78 team with Jay Guy as his crew chief. The following year, team owner Barney Visser expanded to a full-time schedule and gave Ryan Coniam a shot at the helm. The rookie crew chief lasted 12 races before Pete Rondeau was recruited to turn the program around. Less than a year later, Smith won his first career Cup race at Darlington Speedway. He finished the season with two top-fives, five top 10 finishes and a career-best 26th in the point standings.
This year, veteran crew chief Todd Berrier came on board before the Brickyard 400 in an attempt to improve the consistency on the team. Smith scored consecutive top 10 finishes starting the following week at Pocono and at his hometown track Watkins Glen.
"I think it's something we can build on," said Smith, who is currently 23rd in the point standings. "I think the tough part for me is the beginning of the year was a struggle. We had to make some changes to get better as a team and better as an organization. We made those changes and it's going in the right direction and I feel as it's going in the right direction, I want to see it through. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem like it's going to be the case right now. So, somebody's going to get a really good race car next year."
That someone could be Kurt Busch or Brian Vickers. Both drivers are on the short list for Furniture Row - which recently re-signed its technical alliance with Richard Childress Racing. Busch met with Furniture Row principals back in early July.
But Smith remains optimistic.
"There's not a lot out there right now," Smith said. "But it's a situation where there is some stuff going on and there will be stuff that turns up later goings on, too. You just have to wait and see.
"I know I love racing. I intend on being in a race car next year. I know I haven't peaked as a driver yet so I feel good where I'm at in my career. We just have to find that right match going forward."
Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/smith_likely_moving_to_new_team/11778670
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Toronto Raptors Top 10 Plays of the 2012 Season
 | Check out the Toronto Raptors Top 10 Plays from the 2011-2012 Regular Season! | From: NBA Views: 71722 619 ratings |
| Time: 02:46 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5hrhFiYdW4&feature=youtube_gdata
Iman Shumpert dunks and breaks an iPhone 5
What are two of the hottest topics around the Big Apple right now?You guessed it! Iman Shumpert's knee injury rehab, and the release of Apple's IPhone 5. Our funny friends at "The NOC" give an inside look at both in their latest production.In this spoof review, Shumpert examines the IPhone's features and abilities...as they relate to the physical game of basketball.Take a look at the clip above to watch the Knickerbocker's comedic chops put to work. Ironically enough, his leaping ability looks pretty darn steady towards the end of the clip...It goes without saying how crucial it is for the Knicks that Shump's rehab process goes according to schedule. Enjoy the clip!
Chet Walker Career Highlights
 | Take a look at the career highlights of Chet Walker, who was a seven-time NBA All-Star and won a title in 1967 with the Sixers. | From: NBA Views: 38313 301 ratings |
| Time: 01:39 | More in Sports |
Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALasqM_qBoM&feature=youtube_gdata
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