NEW YORK -- Let's go back to February, when Alex Rodriguez summoned a few hundred of his closest reporter friends and cameramen, announcing to the baseball world: "I screwed up, big-time."
Read between the soccer jerseys lines. What Burnett was saying was, when A-Rod came clean on his steroid use -- not so long after the pictures of he and the girl in the Toronto hotel had triggered a divorce -- the people inside the clubhouses around Major League Baseball saw an Alex Rodriguez they had never seen before.
To really understand the transformation of A-Rod into a guy who now kneels on the top step of the dugout -- who doesn't swing at bad pitches; who offers encouragement and base-running advice to teammates now on a nightly basis -- you have to go back to that day in February.
It started as all true transformations do. At its lowest point.
It never works, of course. In fact, only a prodigious talent like this one could keep the balls in the air for as long as Rodriguez did before they all hit the ground this past spring.
"The last 15 months have been very, very tough," he admitted that spring day in Tampa. "I mean, I've been through divorce, I've been through the tabloids, you name it.
He admitted to three years of steroid use. He was shameful about losing his marriage in a tawdry, tabloid way. But at least, unlike the Mark McGwires, Sammy Sosas and Barry Bonds', A-Rod took all the blame, saying to himself what we would all say to him, if he were our son or brother:
It was time, Alex Rodriguez admitted, "to look in the mirror."
"I saw him at that press conference. He was humbled," New York's Game 2 starter A.J. Burnett said on Tuesday. "He looked like he knew it was his time to turn it around and make a change."
"I think there's a tremendous opportunity for me to look in the mirror, be a better teammate … a better player to my fans, a better human being."
As a journalist these soul-searching epiphanies become like draft day. You can't tell if a scout is any good until a few years down the road, and you couldn't take A-Rod at face value until he had a season of righteous living under his belt, so to speak.
It started with even more adversity. A hip injury that required surgery and delayed his first game until May 8.
Time to think. To take stock on what had come out of his mouth down in Tampa, and not be like so many athletes who talk a big game, but revert to being a me-first player once the games begin again.
"Coming in from (surgery in) Colorado this year, I took inventory," he said on the eve of the first World Series game of a 16-year career. "I knew I couldn't change a lot of the mistakes I've made off the field, or my shortcomings on the field, whether it was in October or the regular season. I knew I had an opportunity, with nine years ahead of me (on his contract), to do things right both on and off the field.
"Surround myself with good people, starting with my teammates. Enjoy my teammates. Surround myself with good people off the field."
Stop big-timing everyone. Cheer on a teammate. Forget about what they're paying you -- and what the papers are saying -- and take one for the team once in a while.
"That's been the biggest difference for me. Just being able to trust all my teammates," he said. "Knowing that, if they walk me, more likely than not I'm going to score a run. I can steal a base, score on a double with two outs… Really, just swing at strikes.
"Looking back, I probably was overanxious. Trying to do too much. We have a complete team, we have good pitching, and no one guy has to do too much."
His first ever post-season sacrifice fly came this season.
Coincidence? Perhaps.
It is funny how one of the greatest ball players of our day has to remember how to be a ball player again before he can have the type of post-season we always thought A-Rod should have. The highest paid player in baseball at $33 million is also the best player this post-season, hitting .438 with five homers, 12 RBIs, and a hit in every post-season Yankees game.
"I've definitely rediscovered the joy of playing baseball again, that's for sure," he said.
It's amazing what can happen when a great player becomes a great teammate.
"In spring training I hit rock bottom," Rodriguez said on Tuesday. "You can only hit your head against the wall so many times before you figure out there's another way to get to the other side. Some of us, it has taken a little longer (to figure that out)."
This is a guy who used to be all about himself. A guy who did not hang with teammates; for whom there was a limo waiting outside the stadium every night, very likely a new girl(s) inside, and a bunch of people who fed his image of who he thought the highest paid player in the game should be.
2010年5月15日星期六
2010年5月14日星期五
Behind the Plate with Buck: Season 1
BUCK: I don't think the GM is in any hurry to NBA jerseys make a trade involving Overbay unless he is overwhelmed. There are key positions when you are contemplating a trade: catcher, shortstop, centre field and power arms for the rotation. When Alex traded Halladay, he got a power arm, a catching prospect and in Michael Taylor a talented outfielder that could have played CF. He turned Taylor into Brent Wallace, one of the top hitting prospects in baseball. With the potential signing of the young Cuban SS Adeinis Hechavarria, the area of focus in my mind would be top line power starter and not many organizations are going to trade that for Overbay when they can wait and bid for him as a free agent.
SANDY ASKS: How do you think Aaron Hill will handle the expectations of him after such an amazing year last year? Do you see him staying in the two-hole all year?
BUCK: Aaron Hill is a baseball player! He wasn't surprised by the year he had with the bat. If anything he will get better as he focuses on not giving away at-bats. When you really think about it, Hill led the league in plate appearances with over 700, and when you realize he could "only" square up 36 homers, it isn't a very good percentage. Aaron will never be satisfied; he wants to have four great at-bats every day and will continue to improve.
With more than 40 years as a Major League player, manager and broadcaster, Buck Martinez has experienced baseball from all angles. Now in his new role as the Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer, Buck is taking your questions in a weekly blog for sportsnet.ca, Behind the Plate with Buck. Welcome to the first edition.
MARCO ASKS: Hey Buck, given the fact that Randy Ruiz and Brett Wallace appear more then ready to share the position, how long do you think it is before Alex Anthopoulos trades Lyle Overbay away and to whom?
DOUG ASKS: Hey Buck. As a former catcher, can you shed a little light as to how much preparation goes into preparing for a series? The guy I am thinking about is Boston's Jason Varitek. He always seems to be very well prepared when he calls his games from behind the plate and Sox pitchers seem to love the guy, even if he won't be catching as much this year. What all goes into his preparation?
BUCK: Jason Varitek is one of the best at preparation. I had the pleasure of seeing this first hand during the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. He was the leader of the staff and he had the information on the hitters. He has a terrific ability to recall a hitter's strengths and weaknesses and match them up with his pitcher that day.
LEN ASKS: Buck, the catcher almost always gives a sign to the pitcher, and the pitcher delivers. When the catcher signs to throw at the batter, why is it the catcher never gets a warning, never gets ejected and why don't batters go after the catcher instead of the pitcher?
BUCK: What a great question! Catchers have been thrown at in retaliation for a batter being hit, but you don't see it that often anymore. Many of the old-timers wouldn't even charge the pitcher when they were hit, they would try to take out a middle infielder with a hard slide at second base. That has a bigger impact; losing a regular player compared to losing a pitcher that only works once every five days. The beanball has been all but eliminated in today's game, which is a good thing for the players' safety but there was something intriguing about the possibility of a pitcher delivering a brush-back pitch to the cleanup hitter the next time at the plate.
JASON ASKS: First of all Buck, its great to see you back in Canada broadcasting Jays games. If you are trying to rebuild with youth, why don't you let some "green" talent actually play? You see other organizations let players who are 19-20 years old learn their skill in the majors TOGETHER. We have young guys like Brett Wallace, JP Arencibia, etc. I would rather see a Jays team lose more games but see player/team development vs. keeping the kids in the minors. What are your thoughts?
The preparation process begins in the middle of the previous series with your advance scouts watching your next opponent. They look for the hot hitter and the counts they are having the most success with and where they are hitting the ball. First-ball hitters are very important to note -- who's running, who's hitting and running, and who's bunting. All of these things come to the club in a report the day before the series starts. A designated coach will break down the report, call the scout to discuss the important points and double-check the facts. Then the pitching coach gets the hitter report, the hitting coach gets the pitcher report and the players have their respective meetings.
Joe Mauer in Minnesota has taken over the Twins' meetings, much like Varitek in Boston, which makes the catcher both focus during the meeting and allow him to have instant recall during the course of the game. Trust is the most important aspect a catcher can develop. If his pitchers trust his pitch calling, they will throw the pitch with total conviction, which leads to more quality pitches.
BUCK: You have a pretty good grasp on what the Jays have on their mind, but timing is everything. JP Arencibia has power potential, but needs to play every day in the minors to continue his growth at the plate and behind it. When you have a young staff like the Jays project, you don't want a young catcher as well, who might be prone to think more about hitting than who he is catching. I think JP has the makeup to be an everyday catcher, but he has to improve his catching skills and game-calling ability.
Brett Wallace looks like a real good hitting prospect, but he is learning a new defensive position at first base. Let him get comfortable in the field, playing every day in the minors, then make a judgment as to when he is ready to step in and take over. There is a very fine line of mixing youth and experience that the coaching staff and front office are well aware of.
TERRY ASKS: Why not give Randy Ruiz a shot as the everyday DH ? He seems to hit at every minor-league location he's been at. Is that not what that position is about? In this time of uncertainty why not give him 400-500 at-bats?
RICHARD ASKS: Hi Buck, why do analysts regularly tie production to positions like "you expect your first baseman to drive in runs." Is that not a function more of the batting order?
BUCK: There are "traditional" power positions on the field that are a product of a couple of things. First base has always been a position that gets little defensive respect. Many teams in the past have put players at first because they can't play any other position, but they can swing the bat and need to be in the lineup. Catcher, shortstop and center field are positions that can be offensively less productive because their position on the field requires better defensive skills.
GEORGE ASKS: Having a lame duck manager is in my opinion a detriment to the team and development of the players. Do you think the Jays are making a mistake by not securing the services of a manager who will be with these young players for years to come and will be able to develop a relationship with the youngsters?
BUCK: I have been here in Florida with the team all spring and I get a good feeling about the chemistry of this team. Cito is very relaxed and upbeat. I know he will expect this team to play hard for nine innings and play it the right way. As for the "lame duck" manager, I think it will work as everybody knows the situation and Cito commands respect given his track record. Alex Anthopoulos is in his first year as the GM and it may have been too early in his tenure to ask him to hire a manager for three or four years without going through a season to get a sense for what he wants in a skipper.
- Buck Martinez is the Blue Jays' play-by-play man for Sportsnet. Read his blog weekly.
BUCK: Cito Gaston believes Randy Ruiz is capable of hitting 25-30 home runs if he had the opportunity to bat 400-500 times. The situation with the Jays is a tough one as you have Adam Lind in the DH role and Lyle Overbay as the first baseman. There are many players that Cito has to juggle in the line up which makes it difficult for Ruiz to get regular at-bats. Edwin Encarnacion has been slowed with his wrist surgery in the off season, but he appears to be ready to start the season at third base. That pushed Jose Bautista to right field and Adam Lind back into the DH spot. Ruiz will probably make the team as an extra player with Lind, Bautista and Overbay playing every day. Randy Ruiz will have to stay ready, as Cito has said several times this spring that he will use his bench more this year in an effort to keep all of the regulars rested and productive. I think Randy Ruiz will be a valuable run producer for the 2010 Jays.
SANDY ASKS: How do you think Aaron Hill will handle the expectations of him after such an amazing year last year? Do you see him staying in the two-hole all year?
BUCK: Aaron Hill is a baseball player! He wasn't surprised by the year he had with the bat. If anything he will get better as he focuses on not giving away at-bats. When you really think about it, Hill led the league in plate appearances with over 700, and when you realize he could "only" square up 36 homers, it isn't a very good percentage. Aaron will never be satisfied; he wants to have four great at-bats every day and will continue to improve.
With more than 40 years as a Major League player, manager and broadcaster, Buck Martinez has experienced baseball from all angles. Now in his new role as the Toronto Blue Jays play-by-play announcer, Buck is taking your questions in a weekly blog for sportsnet.ca, Behind the Plate with Buck. Welcome to the first edition.
MARCO ASKS: Hey Buck, given the fact that Randy Ruiz and Brett Wallace appear more then ready to share the position, how long do you think it is before Alex Anthopoulos trades Lyle Overbay away and to whom?
DOUG ASKS: Hey Buck. As a former catcher, can you shed a little light as to how much preparation goes into preparing for a series? The guy I am thinking about is Boston's Jason Varitek. He always seems to be very well prepared when he calls his games from behind the plate and Sox pitchers seem to love the guy, even if he won't be catching as much this year. What all goes into his preparation?
BUCK: Jason Varitek is one of the best at preparation. I had the pleasure of seeing this first hand during the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. He was the leader of the staff and he had the information on the hitters. He has a terrific ability to recall a hitter's strengths and weaknesses and match them up with his pitcher that day.
LEN ASKS: Buck, the catcher almost always gives a sign to the pitcher, and the pitcher delivers. When the catcher signs to throw at the batter, why is it the catcher never gets a warning, never gets ejected and why don't batters go after the catcher instead of the pitcher?
BUCK: What a great question! Catchers have been thrown at in retaliation for a batter being hit, but you don't see it that often anymore. Many of the old-timers wouldn't even charge the pitcher when they were hit, they would try to take out a middle infielder with a hard slide at second base. That has a bigger impact; losing a regular player compared to losing a pitcher that only works once every five days. The beanball has been all but eliminated in today's game, which is a good thing for the players' safety but there was something intriguing about the possibility of a pitcher delivering a brush-back pitch to the cleanup hitter the next time at the plate.
JASON ASKS: First of all Buck, its great to see you back in Canada broadcasting Jays games. If you are trying to rebuild with youth, why don't you let some "green" talent actually play? You see other organizations let players who are 19-20 years old learn their skill in the majors TOGETHER. We have young guys like Brett Wallace, JP Arencibia, etc. I would rather see a Jays team lose more games but see player/team development vs. keeping the kids in the minors. What are your thoughts?
The preparation process begins in the middle of the previous series with your advance scouts watching your next opponent. They look for the hot hitter and the counts they are having the most success with and where they are hitting the ball. First-ball hitters are very important to note -- who's running, who's hitting and running, and who's bunting. All of these things come to the club in a report the day before the series starts. A designated coach will break down the report, call the scout to discuss the important points and double-check the facts. Then the pitching coach gets the hitter report, the hitting coach gets the pitcher report and the players have their respective meetings.
Joe Mauer in Minnesota has taken over the Twins' meetings, much like Varitek in Boston, which makes the catcher both focus during the meeting and allow him to have instant recall during the course of the game. Trust is the most important aspect a catcher can develop. If his pitchers trust his pitch calling, they will throw the pitch with total conviction, which leads to more quality pitches.
BUCK: You have a pretty good grasp on what the Jays have on their mind, but timing is everything. JP Arencibia has power potential, but needs to play every day in the minors to continue his growth at the plate and behind it. When you have a young staff like the Jays project, you don't want a young catcher as well, who might be prone to think more about hitting than who he is catching. I think JP has the makeup to be an everyday catcher, but he has to improve his catching skills and game-calling ability.
Brett Wallace looks like a real good hitting prospect, but he is learning a new defensive position at first base. Let him get comfortable in the field, playing every day in the minors, then make a judgment as to when he is ready to step in and take over. There is a very fine line of mixing youth and experience that the coaching staff and front office are well aware of.
TERRY ASKS: Why not give Randy Ruiz a shot as the everyday DH ? He seems to hit at every minor-league location he's been at. Is that not what that position is about? In this time of uncertainty why not give him 400-500 at-bats?
RICHARD ASKS: Hi Buck, why do analysts regularly tie production to positions like "you expect your first baseman to drive in runs." Is that not a function more of the batting order?
BUCK: There are "traditional" power positions on the field that are a product of a couple of things. First base has always been a position that gets little defensive respect. Many teams in the past have put players at first because they can't play any other position, but they can swing the bat and need to be in the lineup. Catcher, shortstop and center field are positions that can be offensively less productive because their position on the field requires better defensive skills.
GEORGE ASKS: Having a lame duck manager is in my opinion a detriment to the team and development of the players. Do you think the Jays are making a mistake by not securing the services of a manager who will be with these young players for years to come and will be able to develop a relationship with the youngsters?
BUCK: I have been here in Florida with the team all spring and I get a good feeling about the chemistry of this team. Cito is very relaxed and upbeat. I know he will expect this team to play hard for nine innings and play it the right way. As for the "lame duck" manager, I think it will work as everybody knows the situation and Cito commands respect given his track record. Alex Anthopoulos is in his first year as the GM and it may have been too early in his tenure to ask him to hire a manager for three or four years without going through a season to get a sense for what he wants in a skipper.
- Buck Martinez is the Blue Jays' play-by-play man for Sportsnet. Read his blog weekly.
BUCK: Cito Gaston believes Randy Ruiz is capable of hitting 25-30 home runs if he had the opportunity to bat 400-500 times. The situation with the Jays is a tough one as you have Adam Lind in the DH role and Lyle Overbay as the first baseman. There are many players that Cito has to juggle in the line up which makes it difficult for Ruiz to get regular at-bats. Edwin Encarnacion has been slowed with his wrist surgery in the off season, but he appears to be ready to start the season at third base. That pushed Jose Bautista to right field and Adam Lind back into the DH spot. Ruiz will probably make the team as an extra player with Lind, Bautista and Overbay playing every day. Randy Ruiz will have to stay ready, as Cito has said several times this spring that he will use his bench more this year in an effort to keep all of the regulars rested and productive. I think Randy Ruiz will be a valuable run producer for the 2010 Jays.
2010年5月11日星期二
More time for Murray
According to the world of Facebook, I'm actually a more hated man in Ottawa than Bryan Murray.
However, it should be noted that Murray's list 2010 World Cup Jerseys is expanding with each passing day, while mine has stagnated for the past few months (I must admit, that I actually joined my own hate group in effort to increase the popularity. Sadly, this had no effect).
In the nation's capital, there are a growing number of Sens fans who think Murray should be fired at the end of the season. And I'm actually wondering why there is so much anger towards a general manager who has been on the job for approximately 20 months.
As a general rule of thumb, GMs get to stay in one place for a period of four or five years -- unless they are running the New York Islanders. Mike Milbury got to stick around for 11 years, while Neil Smith didn't even order a new desk chair in his six weeks on the job.
But we're not talking about the dysfunctional Islanders here. We're talking about a Canadian-based team where the expectation levels are through the roof. And so it doesn't come as a surprise that fans want some wholesale changes if the Senators miss the playoffs this spring.
Should those changes include the firing of Murray?
Probably not, when you consider the track record of other Canadian teams who play under a similar pressure-cooker environment.
Bob Gainey got to miss the post-season once in his tenure and it didn't cost him his job right away. It took the Canucks missing the playoffs for a second time in three seasons under Dave Nonis to get him fired last summer. Kevin Lowe missed the playoffs four times in seven years in Edmonton. And we all know how many mulligans John Ferguson Jr. received before he got his send-off from the Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund. I'm having a hard time thinking of a Canadian-based GM who was fired after missing the playoffs only once. Even Craig Button had a couple of chances in Calgary, right?
On the popular social networking site, the "Fire Bryan Murray" group has only 27 members, while the "Official Petition To Ban Ian Mendes From Ottawa" hate group currently has 118 members.
You're probably saying that Murray deserves to go because he's had a rotation of coaches unlike any of the men listed above. And while that fact is true, it's also erroneous to suggest that general managers only get to hire two coaches before they get fired themselves.
Down in Washington, George McPhee has hired four different coaches during his time as general manager. And he made two mistakes in a relatively short period of time -- in Bruce Cassidy and Glen Hanlon -- before he got it right with Bruce Boudreau. With the Blackhawks, Dale Tallon made a couple of mistakes behind the bench with Trent Yawney and Denis Savard. But they appear to be headed in the right direction under Joel Quennville.
Don Waddell, Larry Pleau and Glen Sather are also active general managers who have hired three different head coaches. And Lou Lamoreillo has hired no less than 13 coaches -- including some quick-fires like Kevin Constantine and Claude Julien -- during his time with the Devils.
So it's not really fair to suggest that Murray has officially overstayed his welcome when he fired Craig Hartsburg.
Murray is also not responsible for as many personnel gaffes as you may think. He didn't sign Martin Gerber to that three-year contract. He didn't pick Wade Redden over Zdeno Chara. He wasn't the one who passed on Marc Staal in the draft.
And now that this season has unraveled, Murray has to look at the big picture. His plan is to re-tool the Senators with prospects and the draft. He's only had one full NHL Entry Draft as GM of the Senators and by all accounts, he got it right by taking the highly-touted Erik Karlsson. He drafted exactly what his team needs: A skilled, puck-moving defenceman.
This year, the Senators hold two first-round picks in their back pocket. The last time Murray had two first-round picks in the same year, he landed Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry when he was the GM of the Ducks in 2003. I'm thinking that Murray deserves at least one more NHL Entry Draft and one more season before he gets chased out of town by the irrational masses.
And for those of you who disagree with me, feel free to stop by and join my hate group on Facebook.
Granted, he's made some mistakes -- like signing Ray Emery to a long-term deal. But he quickly realized that mistake and bought him out last summer. Signing the likes of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Mike Fisher to long-term deals was not a mistake if you take off your 20/20 hindsight glasses. Go back and read any columnist, blogger or analyst from the day of those signings, when Murray was praised for locking up the core of the franchise. Any general manager would have done the same thing if they were in Murray's shoes. Should we really fire Bryan Murray for doing what any other sane-minded GM would have done?
However, it should be noted that Murray's list 2010 World Cup Jerseys is expanding with each passing day, while mine has stagnated for the past few months (I must admit, that I actually joined my own hate group in effort to increase the popularity. Sadly, this had no effect).
In the nation's capital, there are a growing number of Sens fans who think Murray should be fired at the end of the season. And I'm actually wondering why there is so much anger towards a general manager who has been on the job for approximately 20 months.
As a general rule of thumb, GMs get to stay in one place for a period of four or five years -- unless they are running the New York Islanders. Mike Milbury got to stick around for 11 years, while Neil Smith didn't even order a new desk chair in his six weeks on the job.
But we're not talking about the dysfunctional Islanders here. We're talking about a Canadian-based team where the expectation levels are through the roof. And so it doesn't come as a surprise that fans want some wholesale changes if the Senators miss the playoffs this spring.
Should those changes include the firing of Murray?
Probably not, when you consider the track record of other Canadian teams who play under a similar pressure-cooker environment.
Bob Gainey got to miss the post-season once in his tenure and it didn't cost him his job right away. It took the Canucks missing the playoffs for a second time in three seasons under Dave Nonis to get him fired last summer. Kevin Lowe missed the playoffs four times in seven years in Edmonton. And we all know how many mulligans John Ferguson Jr. received before he got his send-off from the Ontario Teacher's Pension Fund. I'm having a hard time thinking of a Canadian-based GM who was fired after missing the playoffs only once. Even Craig Button had a couple of chances in Calgary, right?
On the popular social networking site, the "Fire Bryan Murray" group has only 27 members, while the "Official Petition To Ban Ian Mendes From Ottawa" hate group currently has 118 members.
You're probably saying that Murray deserves to go because he's had a rotation of coaches unlike any of the men listed above. And while that fact is true, it's also erroneous to suggest that general managers only get to hire two coaches before they get fired themselves.
Down in Washington, George McPhee has hired four different coaches during his time as general manager. And he made two mistakes in a relatively short period of time -- in Bruce Cassidy and Glen Hanlon -- before he got it right with Bruce Boudreau. With the Blackhawks, Dale Tallon made a couple of mistakes behind the bench with Trent Yawney and Denis Savard. But they appear to be headed in the right direction under Joel Quennville.
Don Waddell, Larry Pleau and Glen Sather are also active general managers who have hired three different head coaches. And Lou Lamoreillo has hired no less than 13 coaches -- including some quick-fires like Kevin Constantine and Claude Julien -- during his time with the Devils.
So it's not really fair to suggest that Murray has officially overstayed his welcome when he fired Craig Hartsburg.
Murray is also not responsible for as many personnel gaffes as you may think. He didn't sign Martin Gerber to that three-year contract. He didn't pick Wade Redden over Zdeno Chara. He wasn't the one who passed on Marc Staal in the draft.
And now that this season has unraveled, Murray has to look at the big picture. His plan is to re-tool the Senators with prospects and the draft. He's only had one full NHL Entry Draft as GM of the Senators and by all accounts, he got it right by taking the highly-touted Erik Karlsson. He drafted exactly what his team needs: A skilled, puck-moving defenceman.
This year, the Senators hold two first-round picks in their back pocket. The last time Murray had two first-round picks in the same year, he landed Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry when he was the GM of the Ducks in 2003. I'm thinking that Murray deserves at least one more NHL Entry Draft and one more season before he gets chased out of town by the irrational masses.
And for those of you who disagree with me, feel free to stop by and join my hate group on Facebook.
Granted, he's made some mistakes -- like signing Ray Emery to a long-term deal. But he quickly realized that mistake and bought him out last summer. Signing the likes of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley and Mike Fisher to long-term deals was not a mistake if you take off your 20/20 hindsight glasses. Go back and read any columnist, blogger or analyst from the day of those signings, when Murray was praised for locking up the core of the franchise. Any general manager would have done the same thing if they were in Murray's shoes. Should we really fire Bryan Murray for doing what any other sane-minded GM would have done?
2010年5月10日星期一
Many Colleges Reject Women at Higher Rates Than for Men
The University of Richmond is NBA Jerseys by no means unique in its challenge to keep the number of men and women enrolled roughly equal in the face of a dramatically changing pool of applicants. Nor is it the school where the gap in admissions rates is the most pronounced. Using undergraduate admissions rate data collected from more than 1,400 four-year colleges and universities that participate in the magazine's rankings, U.S. News has found that over the past 10 years many schools are maintaining their gender balance by admitting men and women at sometimes drastically different rates.
The schools that are most competitive—Harvard, Duke, and Rice for example—have so many applicants and so many high achievers that they naturally maintain balanced student bodies by skimming the cream of the crop. But in the tier of selective colleges just below them, maintaining gender equity on some campuses appears to require a thumb on the scale in favor of boys. It's at these schools, including Pomona, Boston College, Wesleyan University, Tufts, and the College of William and Mary, that the gap in admit rates is particularly acute.
The reason for these lower admissions rates for female students is simple, if bitterly ironic: From the early grades on up, girls tend to be better students. By the time college admissions come into the picture, many watchers of the "boy gap" agree, it's too late for the lads to catch up on their own. Indeed, beginning in those formative K-12 years, girls watch less television, spend less time playing sports, and are far less likely to find themselves in detention. They are more likely to participate in drama, art, and music classes—extracurriculars that are catnip for admissions officers. Across the board, girls study more, score better, and are less likely to find themselves in special education classes.
The University of Richmond, like many small liberal arts colleges, has its roots in single-sex education. The campus, which sits on a picturesque 350 acres of woodland a few miles outside the Virginia state capital, was once two schools: Westhampton and Richmond Colleges, situated on opposite sides of a small lake. The campuses merged around the turn of the 20th century, creating the coed institution that exists today. Despite—and partly because of—its history, the delicate balance between men and women at Richmond has always been a tricky thing to manage.
"From a philosophical standpoint, we've really discussed the benefits of keeping it about equal," says Marilyn Hesser, a senior associate director of admissions at Richmond. "The board of trustees has said that the admissions office can go as far as 55-45 [women to men]." Male and female applicants to the school have test scores that are virtually the same, she says. "Was their [male applicants'] high school GPA a little lower? Perhaps."
The schools that are most competitive—Harvard, Duke, and Rice for example—have so many applicants and so many high achievers that they naturally maintain balanced student bodies by skimming the cream of the crop. But in the tier of selective colleges just below them, maintaining gender equity on some campuses appears to require a thumb on the scale in favor of boys. It's at these schools, including Pomona, Boston College, Wesleyan University, Tufts, and the College of William and Mary, that the gap in admit rates is particularly acute.
The reason for these lower admissions rates for female students is simple, if bitterly ironic: From the early grades on up, girls tend to be better students. By the time college admissions come into the picture, many watchers of the "boy gap" agree, it's too late for the lads to catch up on their own. Indeed, beginning in those formative K-12 years, girls watch less television, spend less time playing sports, and are far less likely to find themselves in detention. They are more likely to participate in drama, art, and music classes—extracurriculars that are catnip for admissions officers. Across the board, girls study more, score better, and are less likely to find themselves in special education classes.
The University of Richmond, like many small liberal arts colleges, has its roots in single-sex education. The campus, which sits on a picturesque 350 acres of woodland a few miles outside the Virginia state capital, was once two schools: Westhampton and Richmond Colleges, situated on opposite sides of a small lake. The campuses merged around the turn of the 20th century, creating the coed institution that exists today. Despite—and partly because of—its history, the delicate balance between men and women at Richmond has always been a tricky thing to manage.
"From a philosophical standpoint, we've really discussed the benefits of keeping it about equal," says Marilyn Hesser, a senior associate director of admissions at Richmond. "The board of trustees has said that the admissions office can go as far as 55-45 [women to men]." Male and female applicants to the school have test scores that are virtually the same, she says. "Was their [male applicants'] high school GPA a little lower? Perhaps."
2010年5月9日星期日
Stamkos is 3rd youngest to score 50 in NHL season
At 20 years, 2 months and 3 days, only Wayne Gretzky (19 years, 2 months) and Jimmy Carson had 50-goal seasons earlier than Stamkos _ the No. 1 overall pick in the 2008 draft.
The World Cup Soccer Jersey goal also tied Stamkos with Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the NHL lead. Ovechkin scored his 50th on Friday night.
The World Cup Soccer Jersey goal also tied Stamkos with Washington's Alex Ovechkin for the NHL lead. Ovechkin scored his 50th on Friday night.
2010年5月8日星期六
NHL rescinds instigator penalty to Bruins' Chara
The NHL rescinded the NFL jerseys suspension on Saturday under Rule 47.22, which states it shall be served unless the director of hockey operations "deems the incident is not related to the score, previous incidents in the game or prior games, retaliatory in nature, 'message sending,' etc."
Michal Handzus, on a power play, and Fredrik Modin scored for the young Kings, who shook up their bottom three forward lines to little effect.
Justin Williams returned for the first time since being sent from the first line to the press box as a healthy scratch after struggling in Game 1. He played with Handzus and Modin, and fourth-liner Scott Parse came out of the lineup.
The new look produced 13 shots through 40 minutes. Los Angeles stayed in it a while with a power play that was clicking at 56.2 percent coming in.
Bernier opened the scoring after a fortuitous bounce off the end boards left him with an open net, but Los Angeles tied it with 5:36 left in the period. Handzus banked his third power-play goal of the series in off defenseman Christian Ehrhoff from a sharp angle after the Canucks failed on a good clear chance.
It was the 10th power-play goal of the series on 18 chances for the Kings. But after the Sedins and Samuelsson combined to create a three-goal cushion, the Canucks killed off two straight penalties, including a 5-on-3 advantage that lasted 28 seconds.
The Bruins lead the first-round series 3-2 going into Monday's game at Boston.
Michal Handzus, on a power play, and Fredrik Modin scored for the young Kings, who shook up their bottom three forward lines to little effect.
Justin Williams returned for the first time since being sent from the first line to the press box as a healthy scratch after struggling in Game 1. He played with Handzus and Modin, and fourth-liner Scott Parse came out of the lineup.
The new look produced 13 shots through 40 minutes. Los Angeles stayed in it a while with a power play that was clicking at 56.2 percent coming in.
Bernier opened the scoring after a fortuitous bounce off the end boards left him with an open net, but Los Angeles tied it with 5:36 left in the period. Handzus banked his third power-play goal of the series in off defenseman Christian Ehrhoff from a sharp angle after the Canucks failed on a good clear chance.
It was the 10th power-play goal of the series on 18 chances for the Kings. But after the Sedins and Samuelsson combined to create a three-goal cushion, the Canucks killed off two straight penalties, including a 5-on-3 advantage that lasted 28 seconds.
The Bruins lead the first-round series 3-2 going into Monday's game at Boston.
2010年5月7日星期五
Blue Jackets find offense against Oilers
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Antoine Vermette had two assists and scored the clinching empty-netter Monday night to lead the Columbus Blue Jackets past Edmonton 5-3, soccer jerseys adding to the Oilers' road woes.
Kristian Huselius added a goal and three assists and Jake Voracek, Chris Clark and Marc Methot also scored for the Blue Jackets, who totaled only three goals in their previous two games. Derek Dorsett chipped in with two assists for the first multipoint game of his 91-game career.
It was a wild, wide-open game full of odd-man rushes. That wasn't a surprise, since the two teams rank near the bottom of the NHL in goals allowed.
Robert Nilsson and Aaron Johnson each had a goal and an assist and Dustin Penner also scored for the Oilers, who are just 1-14-1 on the road since mid-December.
Clark made it 2-1 at 4:30 of the second when he scored off a quick wrister from near the top of the right circle. It was his third goal since being acquired in a trade from Washington in December.
Methot turned a cross-ice pass from Vermette into a 3-1 lead in the opening minute of the third period.
But the rest of the game was in doubt until Vermette's goal with 55 seconds left.
Andrew Cogliano dug a puck off the short boards and then slid a pass through Huselius's skates to Penner for his 26th, cutting the lead to 3-2.
After Huselius pushed the lead back to two goals with a breakaway slap shot that handcuffed goalie Devan Dubnyk and then trickled across the goal line, the Oilers cut it to 4-3 when Johnson pounced on a rebound at 7:45 of the third.
There were momentum changes and prime scoring opportunities on both sides the rest of the way until the Blue Jackets took advantage when Dubnyk was pulled for the extra attacker in the final minute.
Steve Mason finished with 29 saves for Columbus.
Voracek got the Blue Jackets on the board first. A loose puck ended up on the stick of Derick Brassard near the point. He passed to the right dot where Voracek's one-timer beat goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
Columbus came in 18-12-5 when scoring first this season, while Edmonton was just 6-30-4 when falling behind 1-0.
Less than 2 minutes into the second period, the Oilers pulled even when Nilsson notched his ninth goal of the year, taking a pass from Taylor Chorney, deking a defender and then netting a hard, low shot from the left hash.
NOTES: Blue Jackets D Jan Hejda sustained a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return. ... The game was the third of a four-game road trip for the Oilers. ... Vermette set a career high with 55 points. ... Columbus D Fedor Tyutin played in his 400th career game. ... The Blue Jackets won three of the four season meetings.
Kristian Huselius added a goal and three assists and Jake Voracek, Chris Clark and Marc Methot also scored for the Blue Jackets, who totaled only three goals in their previous two games. Derek Dorsett chipped in with two assists for the first multipoint game of his 91-game career.
It was a wild, wide-open game full of odd-man rushes. That wasn't a surprise, since the two teams rank near the bottom of the NHL in goals allowed.
Robert Nilsson and Aaron Johnson each had a goal and an assist and Dustin Penner also scored for the Oilers, who are just 1-14-1 on the road since mid-December.
Clark made it 2-1 at 4:30 of the second when he scored off a quick wrister from near the top of the right circle. It was his third goal since being acquired in a trade from Washington in December.
Methot turned a cross-ice pass from Vermette into a 3-1 lead in the opening minute of the third period.
But the rest of the game was in doubt until Vermette's goal with 55 seconds left.
Andrew Cogliano dug a puck off the short boards and then slid a pass through Huselius's skates to Penner for his 26th, cutting the lead to 3-2.
After Huselius pushed the lead back to two goals with a breakaway slap shot that handcuffed goalie Devan Dubnyk and then trickled across the goal line, the Oilers cut it to 4-3 when Johnson pounced on a rebound at 7:45 of the third.
There were momentum changes and prime scoring opportunities on both sides the rest of the way until the Blue Jackets took advantage when Dubnyk was pulled for the extra attacker in the final minute.
Steve Mason finished with 29 saves for Columbus.
Voracek got the Blue Jackets on the board first. A loose puck ended up on the stick of Derick Brassard near the point. He passed to the right dot where Voracek's one-timer beat goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
Columbus came in 18-12-5 when scoring first this season, while Edmonton was just 6-30-4 when falling behind 1-0.
Less than 2 minutes into the second period, the Oilers pulled even when Nilsson notched his ninth goal of the year, taking a pass from Taylor Chorney, deking a defender and then netting a hard, low shot from the left hash.
NOTES: Blue Jackets D Jan Hejda sustained a lower-body injury in the first period and did not return. ... The game was the third of a four-game road trip for the Oilers. ... Vermette set a career high with 55 points. ... Columbus D Fedor Tyutin played in his 400th career game. ... The Blue Jackets won three of the four season meetings.
2010年5月5日星期三
Bonino gets 1st NHL goal in Ducks' win over Stars
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) - Nick Bonino scored his first NHL goal with an assist from 600-goal scorer Teemu Selanne, and Curtis McElhinney made 30 saves in the Anaheim Ducks' 3-1 victory over the soccer jerseys Dallas Stars on Monday night.
Corey Perry and Kyle Chipchura scored 49 seconds apart in the second period as the Ducks won for the sixth time in eight games to move even with Dallas and Minnesota in 11th place in the Western Conference standings. All three clubs trail Colorado by nine points for the final playoff spot.
Loui Eriksson scored his 28th goal and Kari Lehtonen stopped 43 shots for the Stars, who lost two of three in California to end a four-game road trip. High-scoring center Mike Ribeiro was scratched for missing a team meeting, coach Marc Crawford said.
The Ducks honored Selanne before the game for becoming the 18th player to score 600 NHL goals, hitting the milestone last week in a home game against Colorado. Jari Kurri, Selanne's boyhood idol and former Ducks teammate, flew in from Finland to join the celebration with Selanne's family and Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli.
"I never expected I could play this long and achieve this kind of milestone," Selanne said. "I'm so glad it happened here in front of my family and these fans."
Selanne is leaning toward retirement after the season, but Anaheim's fans showered him with chants of "One more year! One more year!"
The 39-year-old Finnish Flash then gave a performance that underlined why he might want to stick around, getting eight shots as the Ducks' most active forward. He came close to scoring his 601st goal _ which would match Kurri's career total _ in the final minutes, but just missed getting the puck on the empty net.
McElhinney held the Stars scoreless until late in the second period of his second straight start in place of Jonas Hiller, who was held out for precautionary reasons after having back spasms during warmups. McElhinney had barely played in his first few weeks since arriving in a trade with Calgary early this month.
Center Ryan Getzlaf also missed his second straight game with a sore left ankle, but Perry had a goal and an assist for his fourth multipoint effort in seven games.
After a scoreless first period, Bonino batted home a rebound of Selanne's shot from the slot for his first goal in just his second NHL game.
Bonino won an NCAA title at Boston University last year, a few weeks after Anaheim acquired his rights from San Jose in a deal for Travis Moen and defenseman Kent Huskins. After another season with the Terriers, he signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks on March 21 and immediately joined the club for last Friday's win at Edmonton.
Perry scored his 27th goal a few minutes later, and Chipchura added his fifth when Dallas' defense allowed him to hack at Lubomir Visnovsky's rebound with little opposition.
Eriksson finally got Dallas on the board on a slick behind-the-net pass from Brad Richards 1:18 later, but Anaheim dominated puck possession for the rest of the night, getting its 40th shot early in the third period.
NOTES: Kurri wore his Mighty Ducks jersey from the 1996-97 season while dropping the ceremonial first puck between Selanne and Dallas' Jere Lehtinen. ... Eriksson has five goals and five assists against Anaheim this season. ... McElhinney's victory was the seventh of his brief NHL career.
Corey Perry and Kyle Chipchura scored 49 seconds apart in the second period as the Ducks won for the sixth time in eight games to move even with Dallas and Minnesota in 11th place in the Western Conference standings. All three clubs trail Colorado by nine points for the final playoff spot.
Loui Eriksson scored his 28th goal and Kari Lehtonen stopped 43 shots for the Stars, who lost two of three in California to end a four-game road trip. High-scoring center Mike Ribeiro was scratched for missing a team meeting, coach Marc Crawford said.
The Ducks honored Selanne before the game for becoming the 18th player to score 600 NHL goals, hitting the milestone last week in a home game against Colorado. Jari Kurri, Selanne's boyhood idol and former Ducks teammate, flew in from Finland to join the celebration with Selanne's family and Ducks owners Henry and Susan Samueli.
"I never expected I could play this long and achieve this kind of milestone," Selanne said. "I'm so glad it happened here in front of my family and these fans."
Selanne is leaning toward retirement after the season, but Anaheim's fans showered him with chants of "One more year! One more year!"
The 39-year-old Finnish Flash then gave a performance that underlined why he might want to stick around, getting eight shots as the Ducks' most active forward. He came close to scoring his 601st goal _ which would match Kurri's career total _ in the final minutes, but just missed getting the puck on the empty net.
McElhinney held the Stars scoreless until late in the second period of his second straight start in place of Jonas Hiller, who was held out for precautionary reasons after having back spasms during warmups. McElhinney had barely played in his first few weeks since arriving in a trade with Calgary early this month.
Center Ryan Getzlaf also missed his second straight game with a sore left ankle, but Perry had a goal and an assist for his fourth multipoint effort in seven games.
After a scoreless first period, Bonino batted home a rebound of Selanne's shot from the slot for his first goal in just his second NHL game.
Bonino won an NCAA title at Boston University last year, a few weeks after Anaheim acquired his rights from San Jose in a deal for Travis Moen and defenseman Kent Huskins. After another season with the Terriers, he signed an entry-level contract with the Ducks on March 21 and immediately joined the club for last Friday's win at Edmonton.
Perry scored his 27th goal a few minutes later, and Chipchura added his fifth when Dallas' defense allowed him to hack at Lubomir Visnovsky's rebound with little opposition.
Eriksson finally got Dallas on the board on a slick behind-the-net pass from Brad Richards 1:18 later, but Anaheim dominated puck possession for the rest of the night, getting its 40th shot early in the third period.
NOTES: Kurri wore his Mighty Ducks jersey from the 1996-97 season while dropping the ceremonial first puck between Selanne and Dallas' Jere Lehtinen. ... Eriksson has five goals and five assists against Anaheim this season. ... McElhinney's victory was the seventh of his brief NHL career.
Edmund Hottor's Agent Denies Milan Link
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 -- The agent of Triestina youngster Edmund Hottor has denied speculation that the 16-year-old would be switching over to Italian and European giants AC Milan very soon.
Milan have been trying to snap up some young players in Italy to boost their chances of long term success and the Rossoneri have been linked with Hottor. But the player's agent has denied that a deal has been reached.
Leonardo Giusti told ilsussidiario.net:
"Yes, Napoli have raised the stakes because we do not currently have an agreement with Milan.
"The Rossoneri have reached an agreement with Triestina and we are very proud and happy with this, but they will also have to talk with me as I represent the lad and we will take the offer into consideration.
"We would be very happy to MLB jerseys end up in Milan."
Milan have been trying to snap up some young players in Italy to boost their chances of long term success and the Rossoneri have been linked with Hottor. But the player's agent has denied that a deal has been reached.
Leonardo Giusti told ilsussidiario.net:
"Yes, Napoli have raised the stakes because we do not currently have an agreement with Milan.
"The Rossoneri have reached an agreement with Triestina and we are very proud and happy with this, but they will also have to talk with me as I represent the lad and we will take the offer into consideration.
"We would be very happy to MLB jerseys end up in Milan."
2010年5月4日星期二
Things that Barcelona and Real Madrid share in common
There is indeed an intense rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid such that it’s even hard to notice that the two share the following things in common:
They each have five players in the MLB jerseys Spanish national team. For Barcelona they include Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique. Representing Real Madrid are Iker Casillas, Raul Albiol, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos.
Luis Figo and Brazilian striker Ronaldo have not only played for both clubs but also won the world player of the year award.
Their tally of wins in the UEFA champions league has made Spain the leading country in Europe’s most cherished silver ware.
Both have lost thrice in a UEFA champions league final. 1962, 1964 and 1981 affecting Real Madrid while 1961, 1986 and 1994 upsetting Barcelona.
Since the founding of the Spanish La liga, they have never been relegated and together they have the highest number of silver wares combined, more than any two teams worldwide.
Both have never defeated Benfica in a champions league final. Barcelona lost to the Portuguese team in 1961 whereas Real Madrid experienced the same, a year later.
They each have five players in the MLB jerseys Spanish national team. For Barcelona they include Carles Puyol, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Gerard Pique. Representing Real Madrid are Iker Casillas, Raul Albiol, Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Sergio Ramos.
Luis Figo and Brazilian striker Ronaldo have not only played for both clubs but also won the world player of the year award.
Their tally of wins in the UEFA champions league has made Spain the leading country in Europe’s most cherished silver ware.
Both have lost thrice in a UEFA champions league final. 1962, 1964 and 1981 affecting Real Madrid while 1961, 1986 and 1994 upsetting Barcelona.
Since the founding of the Spanish La liga, they have never been relegated and together they have the highest number of silver wares combined, more than any two teams worldwide.
Both have never defeated Benfica in a champions league final. Barcelona lost to the Portuguese team in 1961 whereas Real Madrid experienced the same, a year later.
2010年5月2日星期日
Zidane: Real Madrid Will Win The Champions League
Wednesday, December 9, 2009 -- Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane has said that los Blancos will win the Champions League this season.
Madrid defeated Marseille 3-1 in Group C in the Champions League on Tuesday evening to progress through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners.
Speaking to AS, Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane said:
"Lately I am enjoying watching them [Madrid]. The players are impressive. They are playing more like a team now and that is important because there is still three or four months to NBA jerseys improve."
Madrid defeated Marseille 3-1 in Group C in the Champions League on Tuesday evening to progress through to the knockout stages of the Champions League as group winners.
Speaking to AS, Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane said:
"Lately I am enjoying watching them [Madrid]. The players are impressive. They are playing more like a team now and that is important because there is still three or four months to NBA jerseys improve."
Man City vs. Blackburn: EPL Betting Preview
Just two Premier League matches got the go-ahead this weekend due to the current big freeze crippling the UK but there is set to be further action on Monday night and the clash at Eastlands should be a decent watch.
Roberto Mancini’s appointment as Manchester City manager following Mark Hughes’ dismissal was not entirely surprising but the Italian seems to have adapted quickly to life in the Premier League and the ex-Inter boss will be confident of bagging three more points against Blackburn Rovers.
Wins over Stoke and Wolverhampton Wanderers, both without conceding, would have been expected under any manager with the players City possess but they looked a lot surer at the back in picking up those six points and, typically, Mancini will be after more of the same. He must cope without a number of stars however and odds of 1.40 about them doing so look only fair.
With Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure on African Nations Cup duty and the likes of Joleon Lescott, Steven Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the treatment table, City’s resources will be stretched on Monday against a struggling Blackburn side but they have enough quality in reserve and will expect to preserve their unbeaten home record in the top flight this season at the very least.
City face a Blackburn side that have not tasted success in the Premier League for eight matches now, scoring just four goals in that time, and although Mancini’s counterpart Sam Allardyce has virtually a full strength squad at his disposal the Englishman has little in the way of quality to call upon.
While Rovers’ home form remains strong, they’ve been beaten just twice at Ewood Park all season, five points on their travels and seven goals in as many matches simply isn’t good enough and they were comprehensively outplayed in a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round last time out.
One bright spot for Allardyce this season has been the return to form of midfielder David Dunn but Rovers’ top scorer limped out of action at Villa Park and his participation on Monday is in doubt. Dunn’s absence would hurt the visitors up against the likes of Gareth Barry but they seem unlikely to face new City signing Patrick Vieira who appears set to be left out.
If the home team are to close the gap on leaders Chelsea at the top to seven points then seemingly pivotal to their chances of doing so is the form of Carlos Tevez and the Argentine striker is probably the Premier League’s most in-form forward at present.
Seven goals in Tevez’s past six matches has seen his confidence soar and if he continues to team up with the likes of Craig Bellamy and Robinho with such effectiveness for the remainder of the season then City could well be in line for top honours. Tevez now has 12 goals to his name this term and with Adebayor on the sidelines the onus remains very much on him to produce the goods.
On a night where the Match Odds look about right, the 5.00 about the former Manchester United strtiker opening the scoring appears generous and with Bet 365's unlimited places in their each way terms a profit is still to be had even if Tevez manages to find the net after the first strike. It’s a clash that the home side should win with relative ease but the NHL Jerseys play in the first scorer market is the way to go.
Roberto Mancini’s appointment as Manchester City manager following Mark Hughes’ dismissal was not entirely surprising but the Italian seems to have adapted quickly to life in the Premier League and the ex-Inter boss will be confident of bagging three more points against Blackburn Rovers.
Wins over Stoke and Wolverhampton Wanderers, both without conceding, would have been expected under any manager with the players City possess but they looked a lot surer at the back in picking up those six points and, typically, Mancini will be after more of the same. He must cope without a number of stars however and odds of 1.40 about them doing so look only fair.
With Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Toure on African Nations Cup duty and the likes of Joleon Lescott, Steven Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips on the treatment table, City’s resources will be stretched on Monday against a struggling Blackburn side but they have enough quality in reserve and will expect to preserve their unbeaten home record in the top flight this season at the very least.
City face a Blackburn side that have not tasted success in the Premier League for eight matches now, scoring just four goals in that time, and although Mancini’s counterpart Sam Allardyce has virtually a full strength squad at his disposal the Englishman has little in the way of quality to call upon.
While Rovers’ home form remains strong, they’ve been beaten just twice at Ewood Park all season, five points on their travels and seven goals in as many matches simply isn’t good enough and they were comprehensively outplayed in a 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round last time out.
One bright spot for Allardyce this season has been the return to form of midfielder David Dunn but Rovers’ top scorer limped out of action at Villa Park and his participation on Monday is in doubt. Dunn’s absence would hurt the visitors up against the likes of Gareth Barry but they seem unlikely to face new City signing Patrick Vieira who appears set to be left out.
If the home team are to close the gap on leaders Chelsea at the top to seven points then seemingly pivotal to their chances of doing so is the form of Carlos Tevez and the Argentine striker is probably the Premier League’s most in-form forward at present.
Seven goals in Tevez’s past six matches has seen his confidence soar and if he continues to team up with the likes of Craig Bellamy and Robinho with such effectiveness for the remainder of the season then City could well be in line for top honours. Tevez now has 12 goals to his name this term and with Adebayor on the sidelines the onus remains very much on him to produce the goods.
On a night where the Match Odds look about right, the 5.00 about the former Manchester United strtiker opening the scoring appears generous and with Bet 365's unlimited places in their each way terms a profit is still to be had even if Tevez manages to find the net after the first strike. It’s a clash that the home side should win with relative ease but the NHL Jerseys play in the first scorer market is the way to go.
2010年5月1日星期六
Man Who Found Prototype iPhone Admits It
Meet Brian J. Hogan: The 21-year-old resident of Redwood City, CA is the focus of soccer jerseys the tech world this morning. Why? Did he invent a low-cost computer for developing nations or sell his social network for $100 million? Nope. He found a lost phone in a bar. Not just any phone, of course. Hogan found an iPhone--from the future.
Hogan attempted to return the thing in vain, ultimately selling it to Gizmodo for $5,000, Wired reported Thursday. One police invasion of a Gizmodo editor's home later, and here we are.
0diggsdigg
Wired tracked Hogan down and spoke with his lawyer, who offered some choice quotes, including, "He regrets his mistake in not doing more to return the phone. Even though he did obtain some compensation from Gizmodo, Brian thought that it was so that they could review the phone."
The attorney, Jeffrey Bornstein, also made a big effort to emphasize what a good guy his client is: "He also volunteers to assist his aunt and sister with fundraising for their work to provide medical care to orphans in Kenya. Brian is the kind of young man that any parent would be proud to have as their son."
That said, the police are still investigated the possibility that a crime was committed. According to San Mateo County chief deputy district attorney Stephen Wagstaffe, the phone's finder "...is very definitely one of the people who is being looked at as a suspect in theft. Assuming there's ultimately a crime here. That's what we're still gauging, is this a crime, is it a theft?"
Hogan attempted to return the thing in vain, ultimately selling it to Gizmodo for $5,000, Wired reported Thursday. One police invasion of a Gizmodo editor's home later, and here we are.
0diggsdigg
Wired tracked Hogan down and spoke with his lawyer, who offered some choice quotes, including, "He regrets his mistake in not doing more to return the phone. Even though he did obtain some compensation from Gizmodo, Brian thought that it was so that they could review the phone."
The attorney, Jeffrey Bornstein, also made a big effort to emphasize what a good guy his client is: "He also volunteers to assist his aunt and sister with fundraising for their work to provide medical care to orphans in Kenya. Brian is the kind of young man that any parent would be proud to have as their son."
That said, the police are still investigated the possibility that a crime was committed. According to San Mateo County chief deputy district attorney Stephen Wagstaffe, the phone's finder "...is very definitely one of the people who is being looked at as a suspect in theft. Assuming there's ultimately a crime here. That's what we're still gauging, is this a crime, is it a theft?"
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