2010年9月30日星期四

Advice on affiliate marketing, you should seriously consider

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2010年9月28日星期二

Ranieri says Roma won't be caught cold again

ROME (AFP) - AS Roma coach Claudio Ranieri said his team will not be "stupid" enough to get shocked by CFR Cluj again ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash at the Stadio Olimpico.
Two years ago Cluj made a dream debut in the competition's group stages as they returned from Rome with a 2-1 victory thanks to a brace from Argentine Juan Culio.
Although Roma recovered from that shock and actually went on football jersey
to top their group, which included Chelsea, Ranieri is determined that lightning will not strike twice.
And he hopes that Saturday's crucial 1-0 victory over champions Inter Milan in Serie A—Roma's first win of the season—will finally kick-start their campaign.
"The victory against Inter was important to give us more conviction and to give us back the hope we were losing," he said at Monday's pre-match press conference.
"Before we were recovering, now I already would like fly. The players were struggling but they continued to fight and at last we're in the title picture and we want to stay there, but we can't forget our bitter start."
Roma began the season with two draws and two defeats in their four league matches while also losing 2-0 to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
"We're taking all that with us in the Champions League because we know how much it means to our fans," added Ranieri.Cowboys jersey

"We're playing the champions of Romania who two years ago won here Colts jersey
with two goals by Culio who will play again tomorrow (Tuesday).
"We'll have to play well to beat them—we were burnt once but now we're ready.
"It would be stupid to be surprised again."
Having lost in Munich, Roma are bottom of group E with no points and if they lose they would find themselves six points behind Cluj and possibly Bayern, who play FC Basel.
But Ranieri still believes this game is not going to be decisive.
"It's not but it's very delicate. We have to beat them to move onto three points and to continue on our way with serenity, determination and a lot of calm."
Things have been far from calm within the camp, though, after captain Francesco Totti stormed out of the ground following his substitution against Inter.
Totti also aimed a broadside at his coach following the defeat to Bayern, claiming Ranieri was employing the unpopular "catenaccio"—door-bolt—tactics.
But the former Chelsea, Valencia and Juventus boss tried to downplay his captain's ire.
"I don't need to manage Totti. He's 100 percent reliable, even more so," said Ranieri.
"He's a good player with integrity and I didn't take him off because I didn't Cowboys jersey
think he could make the 90 minutes.
"If I picked him it's because I think he can play 90 minutes. Everything went smoothly with Francesco and Adriano (in a Sunday meeting), as it should.
"They're intelligent lads as I hope their coach is too."

2010年9月26日星期日

Meeting Quota Players Call Intensity into Question

ARLINGTON, Texas - Most Cowboys players and coaches blamed Sunday's 27-20 loss to Chicago on poor execution and untimely mistakes. Only a couple players were able to offer reasons for those mess-ups.
Cornerbacks Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins said the game was lost in the week of nfl jersey
preparation leading up to the home opener. In their opinion, the players didn't take the Bears seriously enough.
"Some things had kind of got let go in practice," Newman said. "It's not our coaches, they don't really know some of the things that were going on, but as players we've got to crack down and make sure some of the stuff that was going on doesn't go on. We've got to make it a game situation in practice. We go hard in practice, but maybe our intensity needs to go up a little bit."
Newman wouldn't give specifics about a lack of intensity, but Jenkins assessed that some players had bought into the praise and high expectations surrounding the team, and didn't think Chicago would be such tough competition. Linebacker Brady James also pointed out that teams aren't going to lay down for the Cowboys.
"It's bad," Jenkins said. "We got caught up in a lot of hype, and we just need to come out and we need to execute and we need to get W's. There's nothing else to talk about. Everything around us, all the players. You've got a lot of stuff going on. We're the Dallas Cowboys, one of the nation's biggest teams. I think we 49ers jersey
just need to come out and play ball.
"We probably underestimated them. I think a lot of guys underestimated this game."
Though the 0-2 start was unexpected, back-to-back losses are hardly unprecedented for winning teams. The Cowboys lost their first two games after Thanksgiving last year, once again bringing up talk of a "December swoon," but won their next four, including the club's first playoff victory in 13 years.
"Every team is going to be frustrated at some point in time, for this reason or that reason," Newman said. "I think we need to just come in tomorrow, have a little team meeting and get some things off our chest, because right now this football team has no identity. Steelers jersey

Newman said he had talked to fellow members of the secondary Saturday night about creating a reputation as a group that flies around the football and makes plays. He said the offense, defense and special teams each need to make their own identity.
Others didn't believe that intensity was lacking.
"We don't have a bunch of guys that shy away from telling it like it is," Spears said. "So if he does see something that we need to do, and if we're lacking intensity, then he needs to voice that to us so we can get it fixed. But that D-line group that I'm in and that room that I'm in, we go to work every day. So I can't agree with that comment from my perspective."
Unlike Newman, Spears didn't believe a team meeting would fix things. He said the only thing the Cowboys can do to get out of the hole they've created is to start winning.
"Push the easy button, push the panic button and say these guys need to Saints jersey
come together and talk," Spears said. "That's not the issue, man. We've got to play better. You can talk about this until you're blue in the face. And you can keep talking and keep talking and end up 0-15, and all you've done all year is had a bunch of team meetings.
"We need to meet on the practice field and meet on Sunday and win games, and that's the cure-all for everything when it comes to this game."

2010年9月25日星期六

Raiders-Cardinals Preview

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Oakland Raiders coach Tom Cable hoped to avoid a controversy after replacing his quarterback in the middle of last week's game. He may have done so by declaring a new starter.
The visiting Raiders will turn to Bruce Gradkowski as they try to win two in a row for the first time in nearly two years Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.
Oakland acquired Jason Campbell from Washington in the off-season and nfl jersey
he went 22 of 37 for 180 yards, a touchdown and an interception in a 38-13 season-opening loss at Tennessee.
In Week 2, Cable pulled Campbell at halftime as the Raiders trailed St. Louis 7-3 at home. Gradkowski came in and led the team to 13 second-half points as Oakland escaped with a 16-14 win.
"The reasons are pretty simple," Cable said. "First and foremost are the energy and the level of intensity that was brought into the huddle when he came into the game. The way the guys responded around him. And obviously scoring points. ... That's what we're about. If we can get this thing to where we can score 24 points a game, I think we'll be very tough to beat."
Cable said owner Al Davis was not involved in the decision.
"When we did it, obviously it was the right decision, it worked, and then as we talked about it here the last couple of days and came to a decision this morning," Cable said. "Again, we've made it and there are no issues or controversies or anything like that. The decision's been made."
Gradkowski was 11 of 22 and threw for 162 yards with a TD and an interception against the Rams. He went 2-2 as the starter for Oakland last season.
One of the biggest differences between the two quarterbacks is Campbell's inability to escape the sack. He went down six times in 52 pass attempts, while Gradkowski is able to move around in the pocket.
"He finds ways to make plays. He has guys in his face, getting hit, put on Saints jersey
his back but he's still getting the ball out," tight end Zach Miller said. "Even if he's just throwing it away, he's saving us sacks. He's really able to make plays under pressure and find a way to get first downs. It's a good quality in a quarterback."
The Raiders have established one of the NFL's most potent running attacks this year, which should take some of the pressure off Gradkowski.
Oakland is third in the league with 154.5 rushing yards per game, huge progress for a team that averaged 106.3 in 2009.
Darren McFadden has been the main reason for the improvement, rushing 48 times for 240 yards, and the second-highest total in the NFL. He ran for 145 yards on a career-high 30 carries against the Rams.
McFadden could be in for another big day, as Arizona is allowing the second-most rushing yards in the league with 153.0 per game. The Cardinals (1-1) surrendered 221 yards on the ground in a 41-7 loss at Atlanta last Sunday.
While Oakland has succeeded in handing the ball off, it has had trouble stopping the run, allowing 140.0 yards per game. It will now face Tim Hightower, who rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown against the Falcons and leads all running backs with an average of 7.0 yards per attempt.
He has been the focal point of the offense with quarterback Derek Anderson struggling with his accuracy. Anderson was 17 of 31 for 161 yards and two interceptions last Sunday as Arizona suffered its worst loss since falling 47-7 at New England on Dec. 21, 2008.
"The players are embarrassed and hurt and ready to get after Oakland and get that bad game out of our system," defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. "But we own it. It snuck up on us. It happened and now we have to respond to it."
Hightower has stepped in for the injured Beanie Wells, who hasn't played since suffering a bruised knee in the final preseason game. Wells went through much more of practice Thursday, increasing the probability that he will play Sunday.
"It was terrible (sitting out)," Wells told the Cardinals' official site. "I wanted to be out there with the guys. Seeing Tim last week (with 115 yards rushing) gave me extra motivation."
Oakland, which hasn't won two in a row since ending 2008 with a pair of San Diego Chargers jersey
victories, is 5-2 against the Cardinals. The Raiders won 22-9 on Oct. 22, 2006, in the previous meeting.

2010年9月24日星期五

24 sep 10 Video games are outlet for No. 1 pick

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ST. LOUIS (AP)—Perhaps Sam Bradford’s(notes) lone non-football outlet these days, his get-away-from-it-all sanctuary, is video games.
The NFL is an all-consuming job for the No. 1 pick, who works long hours seven days a week learning on the job as the St. Louis Rams’ quarterback. No night clubbing, no visits to the Arch, little chance for the man with the six-year, $78 million contract to strut his stuff without a No. 8 on his back.
“I might go out to dinner a couple times,” Bradford cheap nfl jerseys
said Wednesday in an interview with The AP. “That’s really the only times I get away and get to see parts of St. Louis.”
He’ll always try to make time for Angry Birds. His one diversion is an iPad game. Naturally, it’s competitive. He’s ever-striving for the next of the 180 levels, using a simulated slingshot to launch birds at structures inhabited by evil pigs who have stolen their eggs.
“Oh yeah, that’s pretty fun,” Bradford said. “If you ask me what I do for fun, that’s what I do.”
Fellow rookie Rodger Saffold(notes), the Rams’ second-round pick, has been Bradford’s roommate since training camp. He recalls instances where both players would sit in their hotel bed, squint at the screen and play. The only conversation came in progress reports.
“I would look at him and say ‘Did you beat this level yet?’ And he was like ‘Did you?”’
“It’s one of the most addictive games out there, I’m telling you.”
Sort of like football.
Until early January at least, Bradford’s life is an endless series of meetings with offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, quarterbacks coach Dick Curl and head coach Steve Spagnuolo, a former Giants defensive coordinator.
“What people don’t realize is the time you put into it,” Bradford said. “Whether you’re here at practice or at home watching film, you’re constantly thinking about it. Constantly trying to find an edge for that week’s game.”
This week, his obsession is 99.9 percent about solving a Washington Redskins’ defense that just allowed 497 yards passing and three touchdowns to Matt Schaub(notes) in an overtime loss to the Texans. Leaving just a little bit for Angry Birds.
“We’ve got to be careful. Washington does some things we haven’t Indianapolis Colts jersey
seen yet,” Bradford said. “I think watching the Texans tape we have some good ideas about how to attack their defense.”
Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb(notes) is among Bradford’s admirers, and related some of his rookie experiences.
“One thing that you can’t do is you get frustrated or lose confidence at any moment, because once you do that, now you kind of pull yourself more behind the 8-ball,” McNabb said. “Guys are going to rally behind you and follow along with your lead.”
Unlike last week, Bradford hopes to have the offense in attack mode from start to finish. The Rams were very good early and again near the end in a 16-14 loss at Oakland, but in between they couldn’t move the ball at all.
“I think he’s made enough plays to keep us in games,” Spagnuolo said. “I think if you asked him, he’d probably say he’d like to make a few more. I think all the way around the team, we need to do that.”
So far, Bradford said he hasn’t seen any of the exotic schemes that defensive coordinators are supposed to devise to confound the new kid.
“In the Arizona game I don’t think they threw anything at us that we hadn’t seen on tape,” Bradford said. “Oakland, they did what they did. They might have had a couple wrinkles but as far as totally out of the box, things we had never seen, I would say the first two games it hasn’t been like that at all.”
Bradford believes the last time he was 0-2 was maybe in high school. He never remembers losing three in a row, and the fact the first two losses are by a combined six points keeps him optimistic it won’t happen Sunday.
“We’ve done some good things. It’s not like we’ve been blown Dallas Cowboys jersey
out, we’ve been close,” Bradford said. “If we’d done a couple of little things in each of those games we’d have a win.
“At the same time, we have to realize that if we want to win, we’ve got to take care of the small things that are getting us beat right now.”

2010年9月22日星期三

NU not overlooking Jackrabbits

Steelers jersey
Coming off one of the biggest non-conference road wins in recent memory, it would be somewhat understandable if Nebraska had a tough time getting motivated this week to take on FCS South Dakota State.
That's why head coach Bo Pelini is determined to make sure his football jersey
team doesn't slip up and suffer the same embarrassment Kansas and Virginia Tech have endured and lose to an FCS team at home.
"There's no doubt, I-AA football is pretty good," Pelini said. "They come and play a I-A opponent, those kids are out to prove that they belong in a I-A program. You have to have respect for the game. I watch it every day at practice. You see guys that aren't on the first and second team that are running scout team that make plays day after day against your starters. They challenge them every single day. You have to be ready to play.
"You have to have respect for the game of football to be at your best every 49ers jersey
single time you walk out there, or it will creep up and bite you. We've all seen it. There's only one way you have to approach it. No matter who you are playing, each and every week you have to go out there and play your best. That's the challenge that's ahead of us.
Pelini said one of the reasons he's confident his team will be ready to play this weekend is the fact that the Huskers never get too caught up in who they're playing each week. By doing so, he said, it's easier to keep the focus on improving as a team rather than gearing towards a particular opponent.
"We really don't talk much about who we're playing," Pelini said. "We take the philosophy that we have to get ourselves better as a football team every day. You have to challenge them in practice. You have to challenge them with game plans, with really execution and getting better every day. I've always felt that we've had some pretty good success in helping our football team along in dealing with situations like that. Like I said, we talk every day about getting better and earning it, and I think our guys understand that. I saw it in practice yesterday. We had great tempo yesterday."
Considering the momentum Nebraska has already built up the past Saints jersey
three weeks, it would be hard to imagine the Huskers stumbling on Saturday and losing their chance to enter their final Big 12 Conference schedule undefeated.
"(Being undefeated) means that we're on track, but we talk about taking each week individually and this is the next one," Pelini said. "If we take care of business then we will be undefeated going into the next step, if we do what we're setting out to do."

Tuesday notebook: O-line relishing win

Steelers jersey
In retrospect, Saturday's win over Washington was pretty much an offensive lineman's dream.
Highlighted by an eight-play scoring drive in the second quarter that consisted entirely of nfl jerseys
runs, Nebraska bullied its way up and down the field seemingly all day against the Huskies' defense.
The way that the Huskers' offensive line was able to basically dominate the line of scrimmage was about as close to perfect as the unit has played in years. That fact certainly hasn't been lost on NU's linemen, either.
"We didn't take our foot off the gas pedal for a second," redshirt freshman Jeremiah Sirles said. "We ran just up the middle, up the middle, and that's so much fun for an offensive line to know you are imposing your will on another person. You are imposing your will as a unit on another person's unit to the point where they can't stop it. That's just so gratifying as a line.
"The running backs were running hard and we were blocking hard, and I think it was just a full team effort to know that we just came out there and just physically dominated that team."
Sirles said the o-line still needed to correct some of Bears jersey
the mental mistakes it made before it can declare any sort of a perfect performance, holding himself as guilty as anyone. The offense was called for three penalties during the win, and two of which were false starts by Sirles.
He credited the crowd noise of Husky Stadium as a contributing factor for NU's mistakes early on, but once Nebraska started pounding the football right at Washington's defense, the crowd quieted down and the offense started hitting on all cylinders.
"I think all of us kind of settled in," Sirles said. "It helped that we all played our butts off and took the crowd out of it. I mean, coming into the fourth quarter, we were going on talking snap counts. We were no longer going on silent snap counts."
Going back to that key second quarter drive, junior center Mike Caputo said he could sense Washington's defense was feeling a little overmatched physically by the time the Huskers barreled their way into the end zone.
Knowing that they had pushed the Huskies 48 yards over the course of Bills jersey
3:38 and there was really nothing UW could do about it was a feeling Caputo, Sirles and the rest of Nebraska's o-line will never forget.
"That was tiring, but it was fun," Caputo said. "It was really cool to pretty much tell the defense what we were doing. I think after the third play they knew we were just going to run it right up the middle, and we just kept running it… At the end of that drive I kind of felt them tiring out. I was tired too, but I could tell they were kind of done."

MU Coach Profile: JaJuan Seider is Recruiting Ace

Steelers jersey
When head coach Doc Holliday decided to come to Marshall and brought JaJuan Seider with him to be his recruiting coordinator and running backs coach, it’s easy to see why some people on the West Virginia coaching staff might have been upset.
A very naturally gifted recruiter, Seider is one of the true rising stars as far as college football coaching is concerned.
While the Herd might be struggling out of nfl jersey
the gates this season, it’s certainly not because a lack of effort on the recruiting trail by members of the MU staff, especially Coach Seider.
There are few coaches across the country who can connect with the talented prospects in the South Florida area the way he can. His extensive ties and connections to the area run very deep.
From his high school playing days to his collegiate playing days of dominating the gridiron for the Florida A and M Rattlers, JaJuan Seider is a well-known man in the Sunshine state.
Originally recruited to play at West Virginia by Doc Holliday in 1995, things didn’t work out for Seider at WVU.
After transferring from West Virginia to Florida A and M, Seider put together a sparkling senior season, tossing for 2,512 yards and 27 touchdowns.
His gaudy stats allowed him to pile up the post-season hardware, including All-America honors, National Offensive Player of the Year Award, and the Jake Gaither award—which is considered the Heisman Trophy of black colleges.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers, Seider can even add NFL experience to his sparkling resume.
A former standout on the gridiron for the Glades Central Raiders in Belle Glade, Florida, Seider returned to his alma mater to coach the running backs from 2001-2002.
The former signal-caller also became the offensive coordinator at Palm Beach Lakes high school from 2003-2005, where he helped the team reach the 6A regional finals in 2003 and 2004.
He was the quarterbacks coach at Lake Worth high school in Lake Worth, Florida from 2006-2008. One of his prized pupils there was former Elite 11 and U.S. Army All-American game selection Star Jackson (2007).
He hasn’t even had a full year under his belt as a staff member in Huntington, but Seider has already proven his value as a dominant recruiter to the MU program. Marshall already has a great chance with plenty of prospects in the South Florida area, thanks to their recruiting ace—Coach Seider.
His hard work and efforts should be applauded.
HerdNation’s Wade Peery caught up with the former signal-caller at media/fan day back in August in Huntington.
Below is the interview:
Interview with Jajuan Seider
I know that Florida’s the hot spot for you, especially Glades Central. How much confidence do you have going down there and getting some of the top-notch prospects in the country that Marshall otherwise wouldn’t have a shot at, with your connections?
Well, you hit it right on the head. You said connections. In Florida, you’ve gotta be smart. You’ve got to target the guys you know you can get that are the same guys that you want. The thing about me, a guy from Florida, I know kids who can play. The bigger guys will get caught up in a kid because he’s a five-star. There’s often a three-star that nobody knows about that’s just as good as that five-star. I go home to the Glades, Pahokee, Palm Beach County, where guys know me and they know I’m going to treat their kids right. The kids know me from coaching and playing down there. First off, it’s a trust factor. They gotta trust that’s the guy I want to be with, because at the end of the day, when you go to college, it’s all about the coaches you’re playing for. That’s the biggest selling point.”
I know that you were the Heisman Trophy winner from Division I-AA. Do you always have good memories when the fans of Florida A and M talk to you?
“They do. That one year was a special year for me, coming from West Virginia going to a situation like that, because transferring is never easy. Then you go to a place that loved you and opened up to you like family. Everywhere I go, people still talk about me and that one season. So, I like to think I did pretty good up there.”
I always like to see what coaches look for in a Division I prospect. What kind of things do you look for on film? I know quarterback is your area of expertise. What kind of things do you look for in a quarterback when you’re watching them on film and breaking them down?
“Well you try to see how he leads if you can find it on film. Can you see something that says that kid is a good leader, first of all. Does he drive the ball? Is that back foot in the ground when he’s driving the ball forward? Is the release clean? Sometimes you can see it, sometimes you can’t. The quarterback position is so key. That’s a position you have to go watch that kid throw live. You have to do research. What type of kid is he? Is he a leader? Because if that guy isn’t the guy for you, you’re not going to win too many games. That guy has to be the trigger guy. He’s gotta be a leader. We got real fortunate last year we got in here late and we were able to go get a guy like Eddie Sullivan. He’s everything you’re looking for in a leader as a freshman that’s willing to take charge. That’s the Dallas Cowboys jersey
pinnacle of what you look for when you go get a quarterback.”
In terms of recruiting, how long have you been coaching the running backs for?
“It’s been my first year here, this year (fall) and spring. I did it before in high school. I played quarterback. I played on every level. There isn’t too much of offense I don’t know. There’s a little adjustment, sure, but you know at the end of the day, you don’t overtrain a running back. He’s got vision. You tell him what he’s reading so he can get to that place he’s going a little bit sooner and you really just tell him where he’s blocking. People think you’re gurus. You’re not gurus. You let those kids be who they are. You go recruit that guy who’s a natural runner and get the heck outta his way. That’s the best thing you can do. We always do drills to quicken up their feet. The biggest thing we were talking about recruiting, the biggest thing we look for is what type of guy is it? Is it a guy that fits out scheme and what we want to do offensively. We may not take a big tailback that’s a downhill runner because he can’t change direction like we want. We may want a guy more like Andre Booker that’s a slasher, using that as an example.”
What’s your biggest selling point for Marshall football?
“Well, the selling point for us, is the movie, “We Are Marshall,” everybody saw that movie. The biggest thing I tell the kids in South Florida—Randy Moss. Every young wide receiver that makes a catch and jumps over a guy’s head, they say, ‘We Mossin’. So you know what, I go down, I talk about those things that are relevant that those kids talk about. Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich played at Jacksonville. Those guys (the prospects) know who those guys (the Marshall legends) are and people know who Marshall is. There’s a lot of history. There’s a lot of Chargers jersey
guys that have played here that’s back down in that area coaching that want to see this program get better. The older guys I’ve met are so passionate about this program. It’s kind of like a miniature University of Miami deal where everybody always comes back and they are real supportive. That’s what I get when I go down to South Florida.”

2010年9月21日星期二

Braves-Phillies Preview

Steelers jersey
With a three-game lead in the NL East, the Philadelphia Phillies have a chance to make their grip on the division much stronger when they open up a three-game series against the visiting Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Philadelphia (89-61) is the hottest team in baseball at the right time, having won seven straight and 19 of 23 since Aug. 27 - the best record in the majors over that span.
Jason Werth's two-run homer in the bottom of nfl jersey
the ninth Sunday gave the Phillies a 7-6 win over Washington and their second consecutive series sweep.
A big part of the Phillies' recent success is due to their trio of aces. Roy Oswalt, Roy Halladay and Cole Hamels are a combined 16-6 since Philadelphia acquired Oswalt from Houston on July 29. All three top starters are scheduled to pitch in this series.
Hamels (11-10, 3.01 ERA) will take the mound Monday, looking to win a career-best fifth consecutive start.
The left-hander didn't allow a run in any of the first three starts of his win streak. He yielded a first-inning run to Florida on Tuesday, snapping his scoreless streak at 25 innings. However, that was the only run Hamels allowed in 6 2-3 innings of Philadelphia 2-1 victory.
He struck out a season-high 13, continuing his bounce-back season from a 2009 in Cowboys jersey
which he posted a career-worst 4.32 ERA.
"He definitely feels much better about himself,'' manager Charlie Manuel said. "Last year, one of his biggest problems was he had high expectations on himself and he never went through adversity where he struggled and didn't pitch good, but that's part of growing up at the major league level."
Despite his strong overall turnaround, Hamels has had a hard time against the Braves this season, posting a 1-1 record with a 6.39 ERA over three starts.
Atlanta (86-64) has taken seven of 12 from the Phillies in 2010, including five of the last six.
Jair Jurrjens was expected to oppose Hamels, but a sore knee is forcing him to sit out and that has prompted the Braves to start a pitcher who has never appeared in the majors.
Brandon Beachy was at the team's instructional league program in Florida when he got the call to start this game.
The 24-year-old right-hander was 5-1 with a 1.73 ERA as a starter and reliever for Triple-A Gwinnett and Double-A Mississippi this season.
Beachy takes the mound with Atlanta leading the wild-card race after Derrek Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
Lee hit a go-ahead grand slam in a 6-3 victory over the Mets on Sunday.
"There's no secret. These are big games," Lee said. "This is the best part of baseball."

Second-inning slam all Marlins need

Steelers jersey
Monday's game was a makeup following a rainout on Aug. 8, and the teams needed only 1 hour, 52 minutes to finish - it was the fastest game in Marlins' history, by two minutes.
Davis' first career slam came in the second inning, the first nfl throwback jerseys
surrendered by Carpenter (15-8) in 3,699 at-bats since June 12, 2004.
Volstad (10-9) struck out three for the Marlins, who lost the first six games of their current homestand.
His other shutout was July 8, 2009 at San Francisco. The Cardinals are now just 12-23 since Aug. 13.
Carpenter gave up five hits and struck out six in six innings, but made one giant mistake to Davis.
Dan Uggla started the Florida second inning with a double, and that, combined with a walk to Gaby Sanchez and an intentional pass two batters later to Mike Stanton, loaded the bases for Davis, who'd been a mere 0 for 2 in that situation in his brief major league career.
No matter. He sent Carpenter's 2-0 offering over the high wall in left field, giving the Marlins the lead.
From there, it was all Volstad. The Cardinals never got a runner past second against Vikings jersey
him and went 0 for 8 when they were in scoring position. He needed only 93 pitches to get through seven innings, and Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez decided to let him bat instead of going to the bullpen.
Volstad rewarded him with a 1-2-3 eighth. And after a two-out double to Yadier Molina in the ninth, he ended it by getting pinch-hitter Mark Hamilton to line out to center.
Ozzie Martinez made his first major league start for Florida at shortstop after Emilio Bonifacio was a late scratch with left hamstring tightness. Martinez was shot three times - a victim of mistaken identity - in his native Puerto Rico a little more than 11 months ago, but the bullets didn't pierce any organs and he was able to recover in time for spring training.
Martinez went 1 for 4 after spending most of this season in the minors before getting called up for the first time Sunday.
Notes: Florida left fielder Logan Morrison singled, extending his streak of Colts jersey
reaching base to 39 straight games, three away of matching Mark Teixeira for the longest stretch in the majors this season. ... Carpenter's given up 21 home runs this season, 14 more than he yielded in 2009. ... Marlins SS Hanley Ramirez took batting practice, but Rodriguez isn't sure when - or if - he'll be back in the lineup this season. He wore a protective wrap over his sore elbow.

Torre 'curious' about return to Mets

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The current Dodgers manager, who announced Friday that he'd be stepping down in Los Angeles after the season, told a New York radio show Monday that he is "curious" about managing the Mets next year.
"I have not had and nobody that I know of has had contact football jerseys
with anybody," Torre told WFAN radio when asked about the possibility of managing the Mets, according to the New York Post. "I am curious. When the season is over, I hope the phone will be ringing."
It would be a homecoming in more ways than one for Torre. The New York native also got his first managerial gig with the Mets in 1977.
"That’s where it all started for me in ’77; it would really be weird," Torre said.
The Post first reported last week that Torre might be interested in the Mets jobBuffalo Bills jersey
if it became available due to the talent they have in place.
Jerry Manuel is the current Mets manager, but his job has been under fire for much of the season. The Mets entered Monday's play with a 74-76 mark, 15 games out of first place in the NL East.
It's still possible that Torre would remain with the Dodgers in some other capacity. He said he plans on speaking with team general manager Ned Colletti about that topic.
"I made the announcement about not coming back to the Dodgers, and I left the Steelers jersey
door open," Torre said. "I don’t really anticipate managing again, but I think it would be unfair not to listen just out of curiosity to see if something excites me. . .. I am not sure if something will intrigue me, but I am not shutting the door."

2010年9月20日星期一

Don't tell me I don't belong here

Steelers jersey
The Chicago Bears’ rookie locker room is not so bad. There’s no shortage of deodorant cans or fruity moisturizers and hair gel. It’s not that smelly. It doesn’t completely freak you out about coming away with a staph infection because your hair brush slipped out of your hand and onto the carpeted floor. It’s also empty of nfl jersey
players and therefore minus bad vibes from the factions who hate the very idea of your kind in their space.
The rookies cleared out to make room for our sit down interviews in advance of Sunday's Dallas-Chicago game with Bears Coach Lovie Smith, six-time Pro Bowler Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs, who’s earned an impressive five consecutive Pro Bowl berths.
But as it happened, I’d spend less time talking about Urlacher and Briggs’ notable performances against the Lions in the season opener than I intended. I got an email around 2 a.m. Thursday that forwarded an unfortunate video clip which took me aback and ticked me off. In it Briggs hesitated for nary a second before unleashing.
“Women don’t belong in the locker room.”
Briggs had everybody’s attention by lunchtime with that comment, which seemed to be on a loop.
“It’s the first time I have ever said anything like that. It’s more of Minnesota Vikings jersey
a thought, but the locker room is our realm,” he said to me during our one-on-one interview.
Briggs later asked why I was so angry about his position. Apparently my tone was more harsh than I realized.
But angry, I was not. Annoyed? Plenty.
What are we supposed to do, wait in the hall like the bad old days, I ask him. No answer, from a player who was just five years old when the NFL mandated equal access for women in 1985.
Let me just say that NFL locker rooms, like most locker rooms, are gross and should be avoided by non-essential personnel at all costs. But that’s the germ-phobic side of me talking. The reporter side gets fired up when someone wants us kicked out all together. There are stories to tell and sound bites to gather for articles and television stories highlighting THEM.
Briggs vacillates on why women should be barred, however. In one breath it’s unfair because men aren’t allowed in women’s locker rooms. Then it flips to “it’s awkward enough for us in there. It’s a place we shower, we’re walking around naked.” He’s right, it’s awkward alright, but necessary for the practical matter of having a non-gender specific job to do.
But to know NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has our back helps soothe my one last nerve on this topic, which by now should be old news. Goodell sent a memo to all 32 teams reminding them that women have the legal right to be in an NFL locker room and that they should be treated with respect. It came after the Jets were investigated for harassing a female reporter.
Briggs looks as me curiously; “What memo?” Shocker.
As Urlacher, who I subjected to about a half dozen questions on Indianapolis Colts jersey
the issue, leaves our sit-down he laughs at me on the way out the door.
“You’re never in the locker room anyway,” he says. He’s right too, thanks to privileges afforded me by working for a network that carries games, players are commonly brought to us. But that doesn’t always happen and then it’s off to the locker room we go.

New York Jets learn talk is cheap in NFL

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As I consider recalcitrance a virtue, I’m heartened to know that Joe Namath has a Twitter account before I do. Still, on the eve of the big game between original AFL franchises, New York and New England, I’m also encouraged to learn that he used the technology toward a worthy nfl throwback jerseys
end.
His criticism of the Jets, however mild, was well-deserved. What’s more, I’d like to think it marks his transformation from team shill to ombudsman. Without question, Gang Green could use these services.
Yes, I know he’s promoting a new radio show with my colleague, Adam Schein. Just the same, as the author of the famously tipsy Guarantee, and the strategic calculus that beat the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III, he’s more than qualified to offer an opinion on the New York Jets.
You need 10 yards to keep a game alive, and you run a nine-yard out? As Namath himself put it, “Disgusting.”
If Namath’s career stands for anything, it’s the notion that you’re obligated to back up your words, something the Jets have failed to do in this still very young season. "I've got to believe that this 'Hard Knocks' stuff was a distraction," Namath told Michael Kay on Thursday.
It was, however, a distraction they assumed with great glee. I’ve never seen a more candid team. Nor have I seen one embrace its own ambition with such grandiosity, an ethos – Super Bowl or bust! – that begins with the head coach. After all of one preseason, the 2010 Jets will go down as the greatest reality show in NFL history. But now Rex Ryan and his charges must learn the hard way that reality TV has little to do with reality.
Nuance counts for nothing. You’re bound only by the smack that you talk. I guarantee it.
First, the Jets talk about the Super Bowl. Then they go out and pass for 74 yards on opening night. Now they get the Patriots, their second home game at a Stadium not named for the Giants.
In a rhetorical context, this is the perfect storm. I mean, I find myself wondering if Cowboys jersey
Don King is promoting Sunday’s game. Again, it starts with Ryan, who might just be learning, like his father before him, that there’s a difference between players’ coaches and head coaches.
“I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s rings.” That’s what he said shortly after taking the job just 14 months ago. “I came here to win. ... I’m certainly not intimidated by New England.”
The Jets split their two games with the Patriots last year. But they were unencumbered by expectations. They were playing with house money. Now, the defending division champions, a team that finished, quite surprisingly, one game from the Super Bowl, finds itself three-point dogs to the Patriots at home. New England, at least on paper, hasn’t gotten much better. And the oddsmakers haven’t gotten stupider. In other words, Namath – who made his bones with contempt for a 17-point spread – isn’t alone in thinking that the Jets have talked too much, too early.
“Joe likes to sling it because that’s the kind offense they had back then,” Sanchez said earlier this week. “But we have a great running game.”
What are they teaching these kids at USC? I’d advise young Mr. Sanchez to get a tape of Super Bowl III, as it would demonstrate that the mere threat of “slinging it” can make a ground game possible. As for his contention that the Jets have “a great running game,” he’s a little young to be living in the past, no? That was last year, with Thomas Jones gaining 1,402 yards. This year, they’re praying Shonn Green doesn’t fumble, which he did twice in five carries against the Ravens.
Then there’s Braylon Edwards, another receiver with great regard for himself. After Namath tweeted that he seems to drop as many balls as he catches, Edwards responded with the old tell-me-to-my-face bit: “That’s his mouth, his words. I really don’t think Mr. Namath knows me. I’m sure he’s never followed me. He’s a Jet guy and I was in Cleveland for five years, and I had one bad season ... ”
Perhaps this could’ve been avoided then, if Namath had only drafted Mr. Edwards for his fantasy team.
Finally, don’t forget the Darrelle Revis-Randy Moss bit. It began Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
with Revis calling the receiver a “slouch” for the way he played at the Meadowlands a year ago.
“You’ve got 60 minutes of this slouch,” Moss said the other day, after pouting for a new contract.
“I called him a slouch,” said Revis, “because I felt he played like a slouch.”

Real Madrid Coach Jose Mourinho Happy With Clean Sheet Against Ajax

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is delighted with his side's performance against Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday and is especially happy that goalkeeper Iker Casillas was a spectator for most of the game.
Los Blancos commenced their European adventure at the Bernabeu football jerseys
with a convincing 2-0 win against Ajax and reflecting on the win Mourinho expressed his happiness at yet another clean sheet - Madrid's third in a row in all competitions.
"We played well," said Mourinho, according to Realmadrid.com. "We pressured a lot and in a very advanced position. We didn't allow Ajax to play, and they are used to controlling the ball on an open pitch.
"The team's physical and mental strength increases by playing. They need time to adapt to the new playing method. They need time to adapt because we play with a lot of intensity."
"It isn't easy playing the way we do; we are focused for 90 minutes and are ambitious. Tomorrow we will have a recovery workout, we will train on Friday before travelling to San Sebastian and then we will recover again for Espanyol. That is why I draw all my conclusions from matches. We can improve little by little. I need time, but I am very optimistic."
Mourinho continued, "I would be worried had we only had two shots on goal or if Casillas was our player of the match. For many years Casillas was the best Real Madrid player. In the last three matches he has barely touched the ball.
"Perhaps my forwards weren't so successful on goal because they pressured so much. We lost some efficiency on goal, but we gained a lot in the sense that we completely dominated the match.
"The best way of working the psychological aspect of Vikings jersey
Ronaldo and [Gonzalo] Higuain is by doing nothing. This is their natural habitat. I am more concerned about the way the team is organized. I don't want to attack with five players and defend with five. I want to defend with ten and attack with six and have another four for balance.
"Cristiano and Higuain were great tactically tonight. We had dynamic offence and stayed well-balanced. That is what I need to work on. The best player in both the Osasuna and Mallorca match was the 'keeper. Today Ajax's goalkeeper [Maarten Stekelenburg] was very good."
The former Chelsea and Inter coach also defended Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Cristiano can solve his scoring anxiety by one day not playing so well and scoring two or three goals. This happens a lot. You play and try your hardest, you build plays, you assist so that the team shines, but you can't score. It can happen, but the goals will come.
"We use a system that involves a heavy balance of positions. We have the characteristics for a certain dynamic and it is adapted for such a style because Xabi [Alonso] and [Sami] Khedira form a false duo in the midfield. Khedira moves out of position a lot and Xabi falls back between the two center-backs to develop plays. The attack isn't really that either because the dynamic involves a lot of variation.
"Karim Benzema is intelligent and I hope he knows what he has to Colts jersey
do to play more. It's easy. You can see the game very well from the bench… The way the opposing defence moves, the changes in positioning, the aggressiveness… It's a perfect spot. He will understand sooner or later.
"Real Madrid was very smart to sign [Mesut] Oezil and Khedira. We hoped to get these kinds of players because it's good for the team. For Oezil to have the Bernabeu adore him isn't easy at all, and I hope he maintains his spot on the pitch for a long time."

2010年9月18日星期六

NL Capsules

Vikings jersey
SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Matt Cain(notes) pitched seven shutout innings and Mike Fontenot(notes) broke a scoreless tie with a two-out RBI single in the seventh inning off San Francisco nemesis Chad Billingsley(notes), leading the Giants to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night.
Fontenot got the start in place of nfl jersey
Freddy Sanchez(notes) and delivered the big hit that plated San Francisco’s first run of the series and ended a streak of 29 2-3 innings without an earned run against Billingsley (11-10).
The Giants won for the 10th time in 14 games to move within a half-game of first-place San Diego in the NL West. San Francisco is also a half-game behind Atlanta in the wild-card race.
Billingsley allowed six hits and walked two in seven innings, striking out seven. He lost to San Francisco for the first time in five starts this season but still has an 0.74 ERA against the Giants in 2010.
Cain (12-10) gave up three hits, walked none and didn’t allow a runner to get past first base. Sergio Romo(notes) pitched a scoreless eighth. Brian Wilson(notes) allowed a two-out homer to Andre Ethier(notes) in the ninth before getting his 43rd save in 47 chances.
Rockies 9, Padres 6
DENVER (AP)—Troy Tulowitzki(notes) had his third multihomer game in a little more than a week, setting a career high with seven RBIs to help Colorado avoid a series sweep.
Tulowitzki has 11 homers in his last 13 games.
With Tulowitzki hitting a pair of three-run homers and an RBI single, and Jorge De La Rosa(notes) (8-4) giving the beleaguered bullpen a break by pitching into the eighth, the Rockies climbed within 2 1/2 games of San Diego. They also closed within 2 1/2 games of Atlanta in the NL wild-card race.
Adrian Gonzalez(notes) homered twice and drove in five runs for San Diego. Clayton Richard(notes) (12-8) gave up a season-high eight runs in three innings.
Huston Street(notes) pitched a perfect ninth for his 19th save in 23 chances.
Phillies 10, Marlins 5
MIAMI (AP)—Roy Halladay(notes) struck out nine to defeat Florida for the fourth time this season, and the Phillies extended their lead in the NL East to three games.
Halladay (19-10) gave up three runs and 10 hits in six innings for the Phillies, who swept a three-game series at Florida for the second time this season and are 17-3 away from home since Aug. 1. Halladay has a career-high 210 strikeouts, 41 coming against the Marlins, and is the Phillies’ first 19-game winner since John Denny in 1983.
The win, combined with Atlanta’s 4-2 loss to Indianapolis Colts jersey
Washington, gave the two-time defending NL champions their largest division lead since May 25.
Chase Utley(notes) homered for Philadelphia. Jose Contreras(notes)—who relieved an ineffective Brad Lidge(notes) in the ninth—escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam for his fourth save in five chances.
Gaby Sanchez(notes) went deep for the Marlins, who used six pitchers, all relievers. Jorge Sosa(notes) (2-3) got the loss.
Nationals 4, Braves 2
ATLANTA (AP)—Light-hitting Justin Maxwell(notes) hit a grand slam off rookie Mike Minor(notes) in the second inning and last-place Washington handed the Braves their second home series loss this season.
John Lannan(notes) (8-7) gave up two runs and eight hits in six innings for the Nationals, who have won eight of 15 meetings with the Braves this season. Joel Peralta(notes), Sean Burnett(notes) and Drew Storen(notes) combined for two-hit relief, with Storen pitching a 1-2-3 ninth for his fourth save in five chances.
Minor (3-1) yielded four hits in five innings.
Reds 7, Diamondbacks 5
CINCINNATI (AP)—Drew Stubbs(notes) connected and Cincinnati’s deep bullpen held off Arizona with the help of a homer-saving catch by right fielder Jay Bruce(notes).
Orlando Cabrera(notes) had three doubles—giving him five in his last three games — and scored three runs for the Reds. Five relievers teamed up to pitch six innings of two-run ball in support of starter Homer Bailey(notes), who left the game after three innings with dizziness.
Kelly Johnson(notes) hit his 21st homer for the Diamondbacks. Joe Saunders(notes) (2-6) allowed seven runs, four earned, and nine hits in 7 1-3 innings.
Matt Maloney(notes) (1-2) got the win and Francisco Cordero(notes) worked the ninth for his 36th save after blowing his previous two opportunities.
Bruce made a running, leaping catch in the corner to rob Adam LaRoche(notes) of a tying homer, ending the game.
Mets 8, Pirates 7
NEW YORK (AP)—Angel Pagan(notes) capped New York’s seven-run fourth inning with a tiebreaking two-run single and the Mets handed the Pirates another road loss.
Jose Reyes(notes) hit his 10th homer in the sixth inning for the Mets, who have won three straight.
The Pirates helped New York out with two errors in the big fourth inning, when they wasted a 5-0 lead. Ike Davis(notes) and pinch-hitter Mike Hessman(notes) each had run-scoring hits in the frame.
Paul Maholm(notes) (7-15) lasted just 3 2-3 innings for Pittsburgh, which dropped to 15-58 on the road and could threaten the 1963 Mets’ record for worst road mark (17-64) in a 162-game season.
Brewers 8, Astros 6, 10 innings
HOUSTON (AP)—Mat Gamel(notes) hit the go-ahead double in the 10th inning and Milwaukee avoided a series sweep.
Ryan Braun homered and drove in three runs for the Brewers, who lost the first two games of the series 4-2 and 3-2.
With the game tied at 6, Carlos Gomez(notes) singled off Matt Lindstrom(notes) (2-5), stole second and took third on an error by catcher Jason Castro(notes). Gamel doubled in Gomez, advanced on a wild pitch and scored on Jonathan Lucroy’s(notes) single.
John Axford(notes) (8-1) walked one in two scoreless innings for the win.
Milwaukee led 5-0, then trailed 6-5 before Braun’s RBI double off Brandon Lyon(notes) in the ninth.
Cubs 7, Cardinals 3
ST. LOUIS (AP)—Carlos Zambrano(notes) pitched six innings of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
two-run ball, Tyler Colvin(notes) hit a three-run homer and the Cubs beat the sliding Cardinals to complete their first three-game sweep in St. Louis in more than 20 years.
Zambrano (9-6) allowed an earned run and four hits, improving to 6-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his last seven starts. He is 7-1 with a 1.29 ERA in 12 career starts in St. Louis, including 6-0 in seven outings at the new Busch Stadium.
It was the Cubs’ first three-game series sweep in St. Louis since June 10-12, 1988. Chicago also has won five consecutive games at the Cardinals for the first time since June 18-Aug. 14, 1983.

Already well assured of an 18th straight losing season

Vikings jersey
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ dreadful season is reaching historic levels on the road. It’s not likely to get much better against the surging New York Mets.
The Pirates will try to avoid being swept in a four-game series by the Mets for the first time in more than 13 years on Thursday night.
Pittsburgh (48-97) is 15-58 on the road after a pair of nfl throwback jerseys
costly errors led to five unearned runs in an 8-7 loss Wednesday. The 1963 Mets hold the major league record for worst road record in a 162-game season at 17-64.
Already well assured of an 18th straight losing season, the Pirates are also headed towards their first 100-loss campaign since 2001. After concluding this series, Pittsburgh opens a nine-game homestand Arizona on Friday in a matchup of the NL’s two worst teams.
First, the Pirates look to avoid a four-game sweep at the hands of the Mets for the first time since June 16-22, 1997 at Shea Stadium. Pittsburgh is 1-5 versus New York this year, and has dropped 16 of its last 21 in Queens.
Relying on Charlie Morton(notes) (1-11, 9.05) to help them win may not be ideal.
Making his first career start against the Mets, Morton is 0-7 with an 11.38 ERA on the road this year. The right-hander is 0-6 with an 8.04 ERA in seven starts since beating the Cubs on May 5.
Morton showed some improvement Saturday, yielding three runs in 6 1-3 innings of a 5-4, 10-inning win Minnesota Vikings jersey
over NL Central-leading Cincinnati. It was his third start since coming off the disabled list with shoulder fatigue.
“Charlie threw the ball really well,” manager John Russell told the team’s official website. “It was nice to see him out there with some confidence and throwing the ball like he’s capable of.”
Morton’s only appearance against New York was two scoreless innings of relief in a 7-6 win with Atlanta on Sept. 21, 2008.
The Mets (73-73) have won six of eight and have pounded Pirates pitching in the last two games, collecting 22 hits.
Mike Pelfrey(notes) (14-9, 3.89) gets the ball for the Mets, looking to win his third consecutive home start.
After beating Houston at home on Aug. 27, the right-hander recorded a 10.38 ERA in road losses to Atlanta and Washington. He rebounded at Citi Field against Philadelphia on Saturday, allowing two runs in 7 1-3 innings of a 4-3 win over the NL East leaders.
“I’m hopeful that this is the Pelfrey that you’ll see the rest of Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
his career,” manager Jerry Manuel told the team’s official website. “There’s still growth for him, and I feel confident that he can get to that next level.”
Pelfrey is 9-3 with a 2.89 ERA at home this year. He also is 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA in three starts against the Pirates, but has never faced them in New York.
Pelfrey’s only road win since mid-June came against Pittsburgh. He allowed one earned run over eight innings of a 7-2 victory on Aug. 20.

2010年9月17日星期五

Bolts off to another slow start under Turner

Dallas Cowboys jersey
The San Diego Chargers picked up right where they left off in January.
Eight months after stumbling out of football jersey
the playoffs against the New York Jets, the Chargers lost 21-14 as road favorites against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night.
It's another slow start during Norv Turner's tenure as head coach.
Before the season, Turner said he thought this team can be the best in his four seasons as head coach.
The Chargers were without holdout left tackle Marcus McNeill and Pro Bowl wide receiver Vincent Jackson. Even if Jackson had signed the contract he was tendered as a restricted free agent, he would have been sidelined due to a three-game NFL suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Another player the Chargers clearly missed was Kassim Osgood, a three-time Pro Bowl special teams player who was allowed to leave as a free agent. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars, who visit on Sunday for the Chargers' home opener.
Osgood caught the game-winning 24-yard touchdown pass from David Garrard in the Jags' 24-17 win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday. It was Osgood's first TD catch since 2004. Although Osgood was a star wide receiver at San Diego State, Turner never gave him a chance to play the Indianapolis Colts jersey
position while he was the Chargers.
''You can get into that,'' Turner said when asked Tuesday if the Chargers missed Osgood. ''A year ago, when we lost all the guys throughout the year, we were able to replace them. I believe we can replace anyone who's not here. I'm not going to spend a lot of time talking about people who aren't here.''
The Bolts' big breakdowns Monday night were on special teams, including rookie Dexter McCluster's team-record 94-yard punt return for a 21-7 halftime lead.
''The disappointing thing, obviously, was our coverage game,'' Turner said. ''I don't know if they were affected by the footing, the weather, they became tentative. But we had a number of guys, six or seven guys, who have been stellar special teams players here over the last two to three years, have tough plays and tough production on the coverage teams. It's obviously something that we have to address and we have to address quickly and get better at.''
To put the loss in perspective, the Chargers did more in three months last year - they won their final 11 regular-season games - than the Chiefs did in three years. Kansas City won only 10 games combined the last three years.
Accustomed to scoring more than 30 points a game, the Chargers have scored 28 combined in their last eight quarters. They lost 17-14 to the Jets in the playoffs.
The Chargers have nearly 10,000 tickets available for their home Dallas Cowboys jersey
opener, including more than 7,000 general admission tickets needed to be sold to lift the local TV blackout. The Chargers have been able to lift the blackout for 48 straight regular-season and playoff games.

Bears put LB Hunter Hillenmeyer on IR

Dallas Cowboys jersey
Chicago linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer will miss the rest of the season after the Bears put him on injured reserve because of a concussion he sustained in the preseason.
After being hurt in the third preseason game, Hillenmeyer nfl jersey
was cleared to return and played in Chicago's opener against Detroit on Sunday but was removed from the game at halftime after he became ill.
Hillenmeyer filled in at middle linebacker for injured Brian Urlacher last season and made a career-high 105 tackles. In his seven years with the Bears, he has made 69 starts.
''Player health and safety has and always will be a priority with our organization,'' Bears general manager Jerry Angelo said in a statement.
''Unlike other injuries, there is no Minnesota Vikings jersey
defined timetable for a concussion. After consulting with our doctors and Hunter, this was the best way to proceed. We will miss his contributions this year, but it is the right decision given Hunter's circumstances.''
Hillenmeyer said it is difficult knowing his season has ended.
''I have mixed emotions,'' Hillenmeyer said. ''I respect the decision of Jerry and (Coach) Lovie Smith to place me on injured reserve. Concussions by nature are harder to evaluate than other injuries. While this is probably in my best interest and the team's, it is hard to accept the fact that my season is over in one game.''
Hillenmeyer is the Bears' player representative.
''As someone who has been in the forefront of player advocacy of Dallas Cowboys jersey
concussion awareness, I'm happy to see my team err on the side of caution,'' he said.
''But when it is my season that is cut short, it makes the complexity of the issues really hit home.''

He'll Be Back, But When?

Dallas Cowboys jersey
Amid the hangover following Sunday's rather tumultous loss at Chicago, there was a potential silver lining in coach Jim Schwartz's media briefing on Monday.
The second-year head coach danced around nfl jerseys
Calvin Johnson's negated, game-winning touchdown grab, an episode the team would rather forget about completely, but did share a somewhat hopeful outlook on quarterback Matthew Stafford's injury prognosis.
“Matt’s very sore today," said Schwartz, "We’ve had some good returns from his test that it doesn’t look like surgery is going to be needed, but how much time he misses is still going to be up in the air and we’ll probably know a little bit more on Wednesday.”
It's difficult to assess any timetable on Stafford, especially given the fact that he's too sore to provide adequate mobility tests to the team's staff.
An ESPN television "scroll" suggested he could miss 4-8 weeks, along with a visit to league injury specialist (and surgeon) Dr. James Andrews. Schwartz and Stafford have since rebuffed the report, which as of Tuesday afternoon was removed from the ESPN ticker.
In fact, on Free Press columnist Mitch Albom's radio program Monday, Stafford didn't even absolve the chance of playing Sunday's home opener against Philadelphia.
The truth is likely somewhat in between.
"He's still dealing with soreness and some swelling, so it's nothing you can put a timetable on," Schwartz said. "It's nothing you can say that this is a one-week, two-week or 12-week thing. You just have to see how it progresses."
Said Stafford, "We will just have to see. It adds a different aspect to it, obviously, being that it's the arm I throw with. I just have to see what it takes to heal it up."
Given the fact he won't require surgery, and Schwartz's confidence in back-up Shaun Hill, it would be a long-shot to see Stafford return in the next week or even in the immediate future.
The Lions have back-to-back road contests at defensive-minded Minnesota and Green Bay following the home opener, and if Stafford isn't 100-percent by that time, it might be counterproductive to force him into the line-up with an ailing throwing arm.
On October 10, Week 5 of the NFL campaign, the Lions will host St. Louis. And perhaps set-up the most ideal return for the second-year starting quarterback.
"When he's healthy and he's feeling good, he will be back on the field," Schwartz said. "We don't want to push him back and we're not going to put him out there if he's not able to make all the throws he needs to make or if he's protecting it to where he's not able to take a hit. All of that goes into our consideration."
NOTEBOOK:
• The injury news wasn't as hopeful for rookie cornerback Aaron Berry. The undrafted prospect gathered an interception against Chicago, but dealt with shoulder issues throughout the game. An MRI revealed that Berry had reaggravated a previous injury, and will require season-ending surgery. The Lions signed veteran and former Bears cornerback Nathan Vasher to replace him. Vasher, 29, was considered a key free-agent acquisition by San Diego, but failed to earn the job in training camp.
• LT Jeff Backus, who was Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
matched up on Bears RDE Julius Peppers Sunday, was beaten cleanly by Peppers on the play that injured Stafford. It was the only tackle Peppers had all day, and Backus felt horrible about it. "It's your worst nightmare as an offensive lineman," said Backus. "You don't ever want to get your quarterback hurt. It's our job to keep him upright and I didn't do that today."
• Stafford sent Backus a text message Sunday night. "I knew people were going to be talking about him and that play for a while and I told him I wouldn't rather have any other left tackle in the league," Stafford said on a local radio show. "The guy does great work for us. He's a true professional and I just wanted to let him know I appreciated him. The fact I got hurt had nothing to do with him. It didn't happen on the initial hit. It was a freaky thing where Peppers put me right on my right shoulder while holding my right arm down after he stripped (the ball)."
• As for the overturned go-ahead touchdown reception by Calvin Johnson that would have put the Lions ahead with 24 seconds left Sunday, Schwartz again on Monday refused to criticize the call or the rule that was upheld. "The spirit of the rule is, if someone goes to the ground he has to come up with the ball," he said. "You can parse the rule any way you want. I am not going to parse the rule book. My job is to be the head coach of the Lions, not to make rules or to officiate games."
• QB Shaun Hill will start at quarterback if injured Matthew Stafford is unable. The Lions signed Hill to a one-year deal over the summer and then gave him a two-year extension; obviously, they think they can survive a few weeks with him running the offense. "He is just a football-playing dude," Schwartz said, adding that the Lions wouldn't have to drastically alter their offensive game plans to accommodate him.
• DE Cliff Avril not only injured his knee in the first half Sunday, but he also broke his pinky in three places. The finger won't keep him out of the lineup, but the knee might. His status won't be revealed until later in the week.
• RB Jahvid Best struggled in his debut (20 yards in 14 carries) but he earned praised from coach Jim Schwartz, both Dallas Cowboys jersey
for his two touchdown runs and his gutsy blitz pick-up on Bears MLB Brian Urlacher on the controversial non-catch by Calvin Johnson. "Best got blasted but he got up underneath and gave Shaun Hill enough time to deliver the ball," Schwartz said. "It didn't look good for him but he made the play."

2010年9月15日星期三

Evans expects Davis to be Rangers dangerman

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Manchester United defender Jonny Evans is tipping Northern Ireland team-mate Steve Davis to be the dangerman for Rangers in Tuesday's Champions League clash.
Whilst Evans has been quietly establishing himself as a regular member of nfl jerseys
Sir Alex Ferguson's starting line-up in the absence of Rio Ferdinand, Davis has resurrected his career in the SPL after falling out of favour at Fulham.
However, Evans does not think it will be long before the Ballymena-born star, who started his career at Aston Villa, will be attracting admiring glances from the Premier League again.
"Steve is technically and physically one of the best midfielders I have seen coming out of Dallas Cowboys jersey
Northern Ireland," said Evans. "He has fantastic ability and the Rangers fans love him.
"He started off brilliantly at Villa but it did not quite work out for him at Fulham. However, he could definitely play for a Premier League team."
Another international colleague of Evans', striker-turned-wide man Kyle Lafferty, will stand in United's way, although the hosts are overwhelming favourites to start their new European adventure with a win.
Wayne Rooney is expected to return after his surprise omission from Saturday's disappointing draw at Everton, with Ferdinand also in contention to shore up a Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
defence that threw victory away by conceding two injury-time goals at Goodison Park.
"I think Rio will play on Tuesday night," Ferguson said. "It's a European tie at home and we've got to take advantage of that."

2010年9月14日星期二

A lot of guys in this clubhouse have never been through this before

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While the Oakland Athletics are facing a fourth straight season without a playoff appearance, they are playing well down the stretch under manager Bob Geren.
The Boston Red Sox are stumbling toward the finish line.
Oakland looks to win its fifth straight over the Red Sox on nfl throwback jerseys
Sunday afternoon when the teams conclude their three-game series at the Coliseum.
Despite being 7 1/2 games behind AL West-leading Texas and trailing by 15 in the wild-card race, the A’s (71-70) have won three in a row and six of eight. Saturday’s 4-3 victory has Oakland in position to move two games above .500 for the first time since on Aug. 8.
“A lot of guys in this clubhouse have never been through this before, and to still have a chance and to have meaningful games in September is huge,” said second baseman Mark Ellis(notes), who is batting .439 during a career-best 11-game hitting streak.
Geren’s ability to reach young players was one of the reasons the club announced prior to Saturday’s game that his contract was exercised for 2011.
Trailing Tampa Bay by 8 1/2 games in the wild-card standings with 20 left, Boston (78-64) might have to start looking toward next season.
The Red Sox, who have dropped six of eight, have also lost eight of 12 on the road. Boston led 2-0 in the seventh inning Saturday before folding.
“We had a good game going but we left some runs Dallas Cowboys jersey
out there early and it caught up with us late,” manager Terry Francona said.
After clinching their first season-series win against the Red Sox since 2006, the A’s will give the ball to Dallas Braden(notes) (9-11, 3.47 ERA).
The left-hander, who is looking to reach double-digit wins for the first time, has lost his last two starts. Braden surrendered a season high-tying six runs and nine hits over five innings of Tuesday’s 7-5 loss to Seattle. He threw 36 pitches in the Mariners’ five-run second inning.
“Brutal to quite brutal,” Braden said of his outing. “I’ve seen less bleeding at a hemophiliac convention. That was rough.”
Braden faces the Red Sox for the second time this season. He did not earn a decision in a 5-4, 10-inning win on July 20 after allowing four runs—one earned—and 10 hits.
The Red Sox will go with Josh Beckett(notes) (4-4, 5.91). The right-hander has yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his last three starts after going 0-2 with a 10.69 ERA from Aug. 8-19.
Beckett is 4-3 with a 4.40 ERA in seven career starts versus Oakland.
Red Sox catcher Victor Martinez(notes) is hitless in five at-bats against Braden, but is batting an AL-best .411 against left-handers.
Braden should also be careful pitching to shortstop Minnesota Vikings jersey
Marco Scutaro(notes), who is 8 for 14 with two doubles when facing him. Scutaro, who played for Oakland from 2004-07, hit a solo homer Saturday and is 5 for 10 with three home runs in his last two games.
A’s first baseman Daric Barton(notes) is batting .345 in eight games versus Boston this season. He has never faced Beckett.

Anytime you can pick up games in September is great

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Jim Thome(notes) may be 40 years old, but he’s playing like he’s in his prime.
He’s also been instrumental in helping the Minnesota Twins move closer to a second straight AL Central title.
Thome and the Twins go for their 13th victory in 16 games in football jerseys
Sunday’s series finale against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.
Thome entered this past week 10th on the all-time home run list, but has climbed into eighth place by hitting five homers in his last four games. His 587th, moving him past Hall of Famer Frank Robinson, was a 12th-inning shot Saturday to give the Twins (84-58) a 1-0 victory. The win was Minnesota’s 12th in 15 games and allowed the Twins to reclaim a six-game lead over Chicago in the Central.
“Anytime you can pick up games in September is great,” said Thome, who returned to the lineup after missing two games because of a mild abdominal strain.
The 20-year veteran is batting .278 with 23 homers, 53 RBIs and a .407 on-base percentage in 97 games, and is a key reason why Minnesota maintains a comfortable lead over the White Sox despite missing slugger Justin Morneau(notes) for two months with a concussion. Minnesota is Indianapolis Colts jersey
17-4 when Thome homers.
“He’s a Hall of Famer who gives us a huge presence,” manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Gardenhire will give the ball to Kevin Slowey(notes) (11-6, 4.39 ERA) on Sunday.
Slowey made his first start for the Twins since injuring his right triceps Aug. 21 in Monday’s 5-4 win over Kansas City. The right-hander allowed two runs and seven hits - six singles - while throwing 77 pitches in four innings.
“There were times when I felt like I was convicted, and I made some good pitches and executed pitches well,” he told the Twins’ official website. “There were other times that I didn’t.”
Slowey, who was 3-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his final four starts before the injury, is 4-0 with a 2.70 ERA in five starts against Cleveland since the start of last season. He’s made three starts versus the Indians in 2010, going 2-0 with a 3.38 ERA.
Cleveland (58-84), which won Friday’s series opener 2-0, counters with Mitch Talbot(notes) (9-11, 4.40), who hopes to build on his first victory in more than two months.
Talbot allowed one unearned run and five hits in 6 2-3 innings of Minnesota Vikings jersey
last Saturday’s 4-2 win over Seattle, his first victory since June 27. It was an encouraging outing for the right-hander, who had been 0-2 with a 7.78 ERA in four starts since coming off the disabled list with a back strain.
“It was nice to see Talbot come back and have a good outing,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “He’s been struggling a little bit since he came back from the DL and tonight he was very good. Threw a lot of first pitch strikes.”
Talbot pitched well in his only career start against the Twins, yielding one unearned run and two hits in six innings of an 8-1 victory April 22.

Haren had a strong start against Cleveland on Monday

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It’s been nearly three months since the Los Angeles Angels won four straight games, but they’re certainly facing the right opponent to try and make that happen.
The Angels look to close a dominating season nfl jerseys
series against the Seattle Mariners with a win and three-game sweep Sunday.
Los Angeles (69-73) improved to 14-4 against Seattle (55-87) with a 7-4 victory Saturday. The Angels are 7-2 at home against the Mariners.
Torii Hunter(notes) drove in four runs in the latest win. Despite the Angels’ success against the Mariners, Hunter had come in batting just .196 in the season series. Overall, he’s 9 for 29 with three doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs over the last seven games.
The Angels now seek their first three-game sweep since Aug. 9-11 against Kansas City. Los Angeles hasn’t won four straight since a six-game run from June 2-7.
Dan Haren(notes) (2-4, 3.39 ERA) gets the call for Los Angeles in the season-series finale.
Haren had a strong start against Cleveland on Monday, giving up two runs in seven innings, but wouldn’t earn a decision as the Angels fell 3-2.
“I don’t feel good about it,” he said. “Wins have Dallas Cowboys jersey
been a struggle for me this year. I’ve been throwing the ball better here than when I was with Arizona, but the team wins haven’t been there, so I’m just as frustrated as anybody.”
The right-hander has five quality starts in nine outings since joining Los Angeles after a July trade with the Diamondbacks, and is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in his last three. However, the Angels have scored two or fewer runs in seven of Haren’s starts.
He faced Seattle on Aug. 31 for the first time since 2007, and pitched seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in a 3-1 loss.
Ichiro Suzuki(notes) had two hits against Haren in that game. On Saturday, Suzuki extended his hitting streak to 13 games with a three-run homer in the eighth for his 2,215th hit to move past Joe DiMaggio on the all-time list.
The Mariners will try to avoid a fourth straight loss overall when they hand the ball to Jason Vargas(notes) (9-9, 3.72), who is 0-4 with a 7.23 ERA in his last four appearances, and matched his shortest outing of the season in his most recent one.
The left-hander gave up five runs and seven Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
hits—including two home runs— in 4 1-3 innings of a 6-2 loss to Oakland on Monday.
He was on the losing end of a 4-2 defeat to the Angels on Sept. 1. Vargas gave up three runs and four hits in seven innings, and is 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA against Los Angeles this year.

2010年9月11日星期六

Toronto police turn over documents in Roger Clemens case

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Police searched the offices of the Toronto Blue Jays and turned over documents in connection with the perjury case against seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens.
Two officers executed the search in June and assisted the U.S. Justice Department by forwarding the cheap nfl jerseys
two boxes they obtained, police spokesman Const. Tony Vella said Thursday.
“All the documents are with the U.S. Department of Justice now and that ends our involvement. It is their investigation,” Vella told the Toronto Star.
Vella declined to say if medical records were obtained.
Clemens pleaded not guilty last month to charges of lying to Indianapolis Colts jersey
Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone. Federal prosecutors charged Clemens with making false statements, perjury and obstruction of Congress.
Clemens won Cy Young Awards in Toronto in 1997 and 1998. Most of the accusations against Clemens are based on the word of Brian McNamee, once the Blue Jays' strength and conditioning coach.
The Blue Jays did not elaborate on the investigation.
“We do not comment about matters pending before the courts other than to confirm that it is our policy to comply with all valid, legal process,” Blue Jays spokesman Jay Stenhouse told the Star.
Clemens is facing three counts of making false statements, two counts of Dallas Cowboys jersey
perjury and one count of obstruction of Congress. He has promised to fight the charges.

Damon’s 4 hits help Tigers beat White Sox 6-3

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DETROIT (AP)—Their goal of winning the AL Central all but gone, the Detroit Tigers are embracing their role as spoilers.
Johnny Damon(notes) had a season-high four hits, scored two runs and drove in one, helping Detroit beat Chicago 6-3 Thursday and hand the White Sox their third straight loss.
The Tigers have won six of football jersey
eight to get back above .500 for the first time since July 31.
“We came into the season with bigger hopes, thinking we could win the World Series,” Damon said. “Good teams can rebound from tough times and we weren’t able to do that until now. Unfortunately, we dug a pretty big hole. But we can still control the race to some extent with games coming against Chicago and Minnesota.”
The White Sox fell six games behind idle Minnesota, their largest deficit in the division since June 17.
“It gets harder every day,” manager Ozzie Guillen said.
After hosting Kansas City this weekend, the White Sox will start a three-game series Tuesday at home against Minnesota.
“We have to go home and turn this around,” Guillen said. “One thing I know—this team will not quit. They will keep fighting until the end.”
Guillen traces his team’s troubles to its AL Central record, going 28-32 in the division while Minnesota has dominated its familiar foes with a 38-19 mark.
“That’s why we are where we are right now,” Guillen said.
Ryan Raburn(notes) and Jhonny Peralta(notes) each had two RBIs as the Tigers won for the ninth time in 10 games at Comerica Park, where they are 46-26.
The Tigers trail the Twins by 12 1/2 games—putting them slightly closer to first than last place—in large part because they’re 19 games under .500 on the road.
“We don’t have a chance, but we have to play hard no matter what,” Peralta said.
Rick Porcello(notes) (9-11) gave up three runs on Minnesota Vikings jersey
four hits and no walks in eight innings to win his fourth straight start. Ryan Perry(notes) pitched the ninth for his second save.
Gavin Floyd(notes) (10-12) allowed six runs—five earned—over six innings. He gave up career-high matching 13 hits, all of which were singles. He became the first pitcher to do that since James Baldwin on Aug. 29, 2001, pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the Colorado Rockies, according to STATS LLC.
“You are trying to get ground balls, and everything they hit finds a hole,” Floyd said.
Chicago’s Alex Rios(notes) hit a two-run homer in the fourth.
The Tigers didn’t hit one over the fence, or even in a gap, but methodically scored runs throughout the game. They also got solid pitching and played sound defense.
“We’re giving a good effort,” manager Jim Leyland said. “I’m pleased with them. Some nights, we’re just not good enough.”
Notes: White Sox RHP Bobby Jenks(notes) is day to day with forearm tightness. … White Sox Freddy Garcia(notes) had his injured lower back treated with an epidural and might make his start Sunday. … The Tigers were without slugger Miguel Cabrera(notes) (left shoulder, biceps) for a second game in a row. … Chicago activated reliever J.J. Putz(notes) from the disabled list before the game. … Tigers RHP Armando Galarraga(notes) says it will be “no big deal” to pitch for the first time since his near-perfect game with umpire Jim Joyce on the field Friday night against Baltimore. … Leyland said he’s considering moving LHP Phil Coke(notes) from a reliever to a starter next season. … Detroit OF Austin Jackson(notes) struck Dallas Cowboys jersey
out a season-high four times, but walked and scored his 92nd run—the most by a Tigers rookie since Jake Wood had four more in 1961. … The White Sox had an error, giving them 18 in the last 15 games. … Detroit’s rookies have combined for 443 hits, the most by the team since 1954.

Red Sox claim Matt Fox off waivers from Twins

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP)—The Boston Red Sox have claimed right-hander Matt Fox(notes) off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.
The Twins announced the news on nfl jersey
Thursday.
Fox made only one appearance for Minnesota, an emergency start last Friday after the Twins exhausted their bullpen and used three starting pitchers the previous night. It was quite the appearance, too, a major league debut of 5 2-3 innings, four hits and two runs allowed in Pittsburgh Steelers jersey
a game the Twins won 4-3. He left the mound to a standing ovation.
Fox was designated for assignment on Sunday and removed Dallas Cowboys jersey
from the 40-man roster to make room for outfielder Ben Revere(notes), who was brought up from Double-A the same day.