Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2012/10/5/3460566/a-homecoming-of-sorts-dionte-christmas-back-in-turkey
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Samstag, 6. Oktober 2012
Freitag, 5. Oktober 2012
South Carolina Gamecocks, Georgia Bulldogs fight for 1st in SEC East
Last year, the South Carolina Gamecocks were able to go on the road and beat the college football odds as 2 ½-point favorites against the Georgia Bulldogs. The win should have been the one that won the SEC East for the Gamecocks, but they weren’t able to finish the deal. This year, South Carolina is [...]
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Grizzlies VP of operations Dana Davis found dead (Yahoo! Sports)
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Dana Davis, vice president of basketball operations for the Memphis Grizzlies, has been found dead in his apartment. He was 56.
Javier Lopez Alex Hinshaw Ramon Ramirez Sergio Romo Ron Artest Shannon Brown
Video: Analyzing Harrison twins to UK
On ESPNU’s RecruitingNation, Dave Telep and Paul Biancardi break down what the commitment of Andrew and Aaron Harrison -- the top point guard and top shooting guard in the 2013 recruiting class -- means for Kentucky.Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/64857/video-analyzing-harrison-twins-to-uk
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Inspiring Kindergartners Pushing to Become the Next Team Hoyt
As I begin to get up in years, having just crossed the half a century mark, it brings me immeasurable joy each time I witness the next generation begin to play a positive role in shaping our future.
As a close friend and fan of famed father and son triathletes, Dick and Rick Hoyt, I often wonder if there is an inspirational team waiting in the wings to carry forth the message of inclusion, acceptance and disability awareness that Team Hoyt has etched into our society over the past three decades.
Despite the fact that Rick Hoyt was born as a spastic quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, he has been pushed, pedaled and paddled to the finish of nearly 1100 athletic competitions by his father, Dick, to the amazement and pleasure of fans around the globe.
So it literally sent shivers up my aging spine when I learned of the inception of a young running team that has been affectionately referred to as, “The Protégés."
Unlike the Hoyts, who are now age 72 and 50 respectively, the Protégés barely register on a calendar, at age six and five. That’s right. The heirs to the inspirational throne are barely old enough to attend grammar school and yet are lacing them up for a mile run together this November 10 in Norfolk, VA.
Like the Hoyts, the Protégés race with one teammate acting as the pusher and the other covering the miles in a wheelchair, taking in the sights and sounds of the adoring crowd, yet every bit as much the athlete from the starting gun to the finish line.
Jayden Nogueras, age six, attends the Peebles Elementary School in Bourne, MA, and despite the fact that he was born with Chromosome Disorder of 1p36 Duplication, Cerebral Palsy and Septo-Optic Dysplasia, he will be serving as the pusher. His five-year-old best friend and racing partner, Elson Martinez, will be enjoying the ride from his specially designed running chair.
Elson was a preemie born at 32 weeks in April of 2007. He was 14 inches long and weighed 2 lbs 15 oz. at birth. Elson spent the first six months of his life in neo-natal intensive care before being transferred to the step down unit where he stayed until December 24, 2007.
He spent Christmas at home, but after only two weeks was readmitted until June 2008. Elson endured 13 surgeries in his first year of life. He had to have half of his intestines removed because they did not form correctly, causing blockage.
Elson had a VP shunt and a VA shunt placed due to his Aqueductal Stenosis not properly forming. He has had several revisions to the shunts. Elson has been diagnosed with Hydrocephalus, Absence of Corpus Calosum, Seizure Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, and Developmental Delay. He currently attends kindergarten at Pembroke Elementary.
“Jayden stated last school year, he wants to be a 'Team Hoyt pusher' shared his mother, Mary-Liz, who together with her husband, Jose, recently founded my Team Triumph Cape Cod (mTT-CC), a running team comprised of Captains (riders) and Angels (pushers).
Jayden was the inspiration and motivation for the formation of mTT-CC. “Then jokingly, we asked him who he was going to push because he's so small and many of the other riders are bigger and older than him. He then responded, ‘Elson is small, too. I can push Elson.’”
Jayden, who stands all of 42 inches tall and tips the scale at a feather-like 36 pounds, began his racing career in 2010 with Team Hoyt Virginia Beach as a rider (captain). It wasn’t until May of 2011, while visiting the Hoyts at their home in Holland, MA that he vacated the chair and traversed a 50-yard dash course on his own.
At that point, Jayden became a “running junky” and began training daily to increase his speed and stamina. In July of that year he entered and completed the One-Mile Allen Stone Kid’s Run in Virginia Beach, VA.
Elson, who is confined to a wheel chair, is currently a “captain” for Team Hoyt Virginia Beach, where he is normally pushed by either his brother Ruben or friend and fellow Angel, Dena Goble.
In preparation for the Norfolk's Freedom Warrior Trot 1 Mile Run, Jayden’s father, Jose is making some slight alterations to accommodate the diminutive racing team.
“We put smaller wheels on our running chair and we are talking to bike shops about the best way to lower the handlebars,” explains Nogueras, who serves as a Supply Petty Officer 2nd Class in the U.S. Coast Guard stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base in Buzzards Bay, MA.
“Jayden believes that he is now that much closer to becoming a real Team Hoyt pusher. We have to thank Team Hoyt VB’s Dennis Welch for being his initial motivator and inspiration.”
“Jayden motivates me to keep working on my running," adds Nogueras. “I never ran or liked to run before Jayden. It's good to see Jayden get excited about crossing the finish line and buying new running shoes."
Jayden’s extremely proud and supportive mother, Mary-Liz, continues, "Running has played a huge role in Jayden's self-esteem. He is also learning many life lessons such as goal setting and overcoming adversity. I think running has made him more resilient."
To encourage and support Jayden and Elson’s run, please visit The Proteges Donation Page. All donations will help support my Team Triumph Cape Cod. Jayden and Elson have established a goal of $2000.
myTEAM TRIUMPH is an athletic ride-along program created for children, teens, adults and veterans with disabilities who would normally not be able to experience endurance events such as triathlons or road races.
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Cardinals vs Rams: Arizona's Offensive Line Fell Flat on Its Face in Defeat
Tonight proved to be an absolute nightmare for quarterback Kevin Kolb. He was dumped nine times by the St. Louis Rams defense and hit 11 more times. Over the past two week's Kolb has been sacked 17 times and hit 21 times. They are the first team in nine years to allow eight-plus sacks in consecutive weeks. Arizona's offensive line should be ashamed of themselves.
So, who is to blame for the fiasco upfront? I have four names that come to mind right off the top of my head. Bobby Massie and D'Anthony Batiste deserve the immediate blame. Through the first four games they have accounted for 44 total pressures. If you add tonight's game in, that number quickly approaches 70. Yes, that's how bad tonight was for the book end tackles.
The third person on my list who deserves criticism is Russ Grimm, the offensive line coach. I know there is only so much he can control when teaching these guys, but this poor level of play has me convinced that he is not that good of a teacher. By comparison, look at Paul Boudreau, the offensive line coach of the Rams.
His talent on the offensive line is equally as poor as Grimm's, yet you don't see his unit giving up 17 sacks and 21 hits over a two-game span. Their offensive tackles are freaking Barry Richardson and Wayne Hunter. Sure, they have more experience under their belts, but there's no way you can tell me they are that much better than Batiste and Massie.
Hunter was originally playing right tackle in New York until injuries forced him to the left side. Kansas City wanted nothing to do with Richardson as his tenure for the Chiefs was not a good one. However, the coaching of Boudreau has turned both players into serviceable tackles. Since Chicago handed it to St. Louis in Week 3, Weeks 4 and 5 have been like night and day.
Neither of them allowed a sack and by my count they only allowed Bradford to get hit four times. That means over the past two games Hunter and Richardson have only allowed four quarterback hits. No sacks have been surrendered in two weeks. That just goes to show that proper coaching is the key to improvement.
And lastly, I blame general manager Rod Graves. Why hasn't he made more of an effort to really improve this offensive line? He just invested $60 million into a franchise quarterback, so why not protect him? I guess that would make too much sense. Instead of drafting Michael Floyd, Graves should have maybe drafted Riley Reiff, or any other offensive lineman with a pulse.
Arizona is too talented on defense to let the offense hold this team back. For the fifth game in a row the offense failed to reach the 300-yard mark. The running game was non-existent again and outside of Larry Fitzgerald there wasn't a consistent pass-catcher on the field. If you can't move the ball on the ground or through the air, how do you expect to win?
The good news is that even though tonight was a step back, they've already taken four steps forward. A 4-1 record stills puts them at the top of division. With a win over the Bills this Sunday, the 49ers would be tied for first place.
Lucky for Arizona, they now have 10 days to try and figure out that mess they call an offensive line.
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Allen cheered at Heat scrimmage (Yahoo! Sports)
MIAMI (AP) -- Ray Allen drew cheers for the first time in Miami. Someone wearing his old Boston jersey got booed.
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Donnerstag, 4. Oktober 2012
Which New York Jets Big Name Deserves a 2nd Chance?
In the midst of a three-game losing streak, the New York Jets are chock-full of guys looking for second, even third chances.
Some may deserve it, some may not.
At the top of the list, three guys who will get it—whether they deserve it or not—are head coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tanenbaum and (for now) starting quarterback Mark Sanchez.
So, which of these three is the biggest loser? And, which is deserving of a second chance?
The case for Sanchez: If you looked at the line on Mark Sanchez this year and compared it to Tebow's 2011, it would be hard to tell them apart. Sanchez is completing less than 50 percent of his passes for just over 200 yards a game and has only one more touchdown than interception.
But actually, that's not fair to Tebow, who had a 2-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio last year and was exponentially more clutch than Sanchez has been this year.
The case for Ryan: Ryan is now in his fourth year as head coach of the Jets. He took his team to the AFC Championship in his first two seasons before taking a step back last year with an anemic offense and a weakened run defense that resulted in an 8-8 record and an early trip home.
Ryan earned two years, at least, with his two trips to the championship game. But if he tanks again this year then he could be gone. It may be too early to tell, but this year''s Jets remind me a lot of last year's Boston Red Sox. I don't know if Ryan has lost the locker room, but he's definitely struggling to connect with his players this year.
The case for Tanenbaum: Four years ago the Jets' GM was a young, up-and-coming front office talent, part of a turnaround that took a woe-begotten franchise and turned it into a contender seemingly overnight. Tanenbaum and Ryan were the talk of the town and could do no wrong for two years.
But, oh what a difference a wasted No. 1 pick, a Hollywood trade for a sideshow quarterback, a few jettisoned free agents and a do-nothing offseason can make.
So, who should survive what looks to be a lost season in the making?
Rex Ryan deserves another year, and here's why in one simple sentence:
Ryan is doing the best he could with what Tanenbaum gave him. Sanchez is doing the best he could with what God gave him.
God apparently wasn't too kind to Sanchez, but Ryan should not have to pay for the fact that Tanenbaum did not see this coming.
Lou Rom covers the NFL and whatever else gets under his skin for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter at louromlive.
Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1359381-which-new-york-jets-big-name-deserves-a-2nd-chance
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Is Northwestern for real?
You may say it’s too early to talk of such things and that I need to calm down after only one conference game in the books, but this could be a great year for the Wildcats! Their 5-0 record may not have come against the best of opponents (Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Boston College, South Dakota, Indiana), [...]
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/college-fball/is-northwestern-for-real/
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Arsenal FC: Gunners Face Another Tough Test Away to West Ham
After a nervy performance midweek against Olympiakos, Arsenal will face yet another difficult test on Saturday against West Ham United. Newly promoted West Ham finds themselves two points clear of the Gunners heading into Saturday's match.
Arsenal tasted defeat for the first time in the 2012-13 season last weekend at the Emirates Stadium, but the Gunners will be looking to bounce back from that performance.
A boring and sloppy yet efficient performance midweek earned the Gunners their second victory in as many matches in the Champions League. With a victory to boost the squad's confidence after their first defeat, Arsenal will be hoping they can handle the Hammers.
Saturday's defeat saw Laurent Koscielny and Thomas Vermaelen anchor the defense, which didn't go so well for Arsene Wenger's men. The French defender could be to blame for both of Chelsea's goals, but Arsenal's defensive problems may have more to do with Vermaelen.
The Belgian international committed both fouls against Chelsea, which led to both goals. Against Olympiakos, Vermaelen was once again at fault for a number of clumsy challenges. If Per Mertesacker returns from illness this weekend, will Wenger opt to start the German over the new Arsenal captain, or will Koscielny be forced to sit out?
In the midfield, another injury blow to French international Abou Diaby forces Arsene Wenger to make some changes.
Mikel Arteta was able to feature against Olympiakos after an ankle injury almost kept him out of the match. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain got the start on Wednesday night, but a below par performance from the Englishman may allow Aaron Ramsey to make his way back into the starting squad.
West Ham will head into the match high on confidence after a victory at Loftus Road on Monday against a sputtering Queens Park Rangers.
New signing Matt Jarvis got things started, beating Julio Cesar with a clever header. The former Wolverhampton Wanderers player will be a big boost and a key figure for West Ham in their new campaign back in the English Premier League.
England international Andy Carroll could get the start on Saturday, as Allardyce will be looking to cause problems for the Arsenal defensive line. A strong and physical striker will be a perfect recipe for West Ham, as they aim to take advantage of what can be a shaky defense.
In nine matches against Arsenal, Allardyce has won four and drawn three. With only two victories against big Sam in the last nine fixtures, Wenger will be desperate for a victory ahead of the international break.
Andy Carroll's presence could prove to be a problem for Arsenal's defense, but after two shaky performances, one could only imagine that Steve Bould will have sorted everything out. After all, he has worked long and hard to get Arsenal's defense this far, and it would be a shame to see it all revert back to the same old mistakes.
An in form Gervinho will also be a headache for West Ham's defense. The Ivorian international scored again midweek, and he will look to continue his positive run at Upton Park.
Will Saturday finally be the day that Olivier Giroud gets his Premier League goalscoring career off to a start? What are your thoughts on the match and how will the match play out?
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Former Tennessee player saves a life
On Monday, a young man named Hunter Helton practiced with the Central High School basketball team in Knoxville, Tenn. But Helton -- the 14-year-old cousin of major-leaguer and Knoxville native Todd Helton -- unexpectedly collapsed after suffering sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of the session. The freshman survived, doctors said, because former Tennessee basketball standout Jon Higgins -- his high school coach -- performed CPR and utilized an automatic external defibrillator (AED) to shock his heart, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel: "He flatlined three times," said Hunter's father, Ronnie, choking back tears.Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/64789/former-tennessee-player-saves-a-life
Colin Curtis Kevin Russo Curtis Granderson Nick Johnson Javier Lopez Alex Hinshaw
Baseball Triple Crown 2012: Miguel Cabrera Milestone Shouldn't Guarantee MVP
By winning the Triple Crown, Miguel Cabrera pulled off an incredible feat that hadn't been accomplished since 1967.
But that doesn't mean the Detroit Tigers slugger should automatically be given the MVP award.
I don't want to make this a purely Cabrera versus Mike Trout argument. Though we will get into that, there are two factors to consider first: Historical precedent and how impressive his numbers actually are in the modern game.
Historically, six Triple Crown winners have been named as MVP. But three players haven't won the award in Triple crown seasons
- Ted Williams, 1947
- Ted Williams, 1942
- Lou Gehrig, 1934
- Chuck Klein, 1933
Poor Ted Williams.
I have no idea how he lost the MVP to Joe Gordon in 1942 or Joe DiMaggio in 1947—though Teddy Ballgame wasn't the most popular of players in his time, and the New York Yankees made the World Series in each season—as his numbers were far better across the board than either player. He even led baseball in runs and walks in each season.
In 1934, Mickey Cochrane won the MVP despite far inferior numbers to Gehrig. But again, the Detroit Tigers went to the World Series. And in 1933, Chuck Klein lost to pitcher Carl Hubbell, who finished 23-12 with a 1.66 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 156 strikeouts, 10 shutouts and 22 complete games in 308.2 innings.
Hard to argue with that one.
Rogers Hornsby won in 1922, but there wasn't an MVP named in the National League that year. Four players who achieved the milestone (Ty Cobb in 1909, Nap Lajoie in 1901, Tip O'Neill in 1887 and Paul Hines in 1878) all predated the MVP award.
The argument here is simple: The Triple Crown has never automatically earned a player the MVP. It should be noted, however, that Williams and Gehrig were likely robbed because their teams didn't make the World Series, while Cabrera's team is playing postseason baseball this year.
But despite winning the Triple Crown, are Cabrera's numbers really all that impressive in the modern game?
To win the American League Triple Crown this season, a player had to hit (at the minimum) .327 with 44 home runs and 129 RBI (Cabrera hit .330 with 44 home runs and 139 RBI).
Albert Pujols surpassed those numbers in 2006 (.331, 49, 137) and 2009 (.327, 47, 135), though of course he did it in the National League. Barry Bonds did it in 2001 (.328, 73, 137), though I have my reservations as to how legitimate those numbers are.
So, yes, combining all three of those marks was pretty darn impressive for Cabrera, though not unprecedented. Still, if there wasn't another incredibly compelling case to be made for a different player winning the MVP, Cabrera would unquestionably win the award.
Unfortunately for him, there's that Mike Trout guy.
Trout hit .326 with 30 home runs and 89 RBI. He led all of baseball in runs scored (129) stolen bases (49) and WAR (10.7), tied for 20th all-time for position players.
Oh, and he's done all of this in 139 games (22 less than Cabrera, for what it's worth) in his rookie season, at the age of 20. He's only 20!
And he's going to win a Gold Glove as well.
He's accomplished a few bits of history himself. Had he not been caught stealing on Wednesday night, he would have made some history (via ESPN Stats and Info):
Mike Trout needs one steal to become 3rd player with 30+ HR and 50+ SB in season (Barry Bonds in 1990, Eric Davis in 1987).
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 3, 2012
And then there's this, from Buster Olney of ESPN:
ELIAS: Mike Trout is the first player in MLB history with at least 45 steals, 30 HR and 125 runs scored in a single season.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) October 1, 2012
When you combine his excellent numbers at this dish and on the basepaths, his huge defensive contributions and the fact that he's doing this despite being just 20 years old, I have to give the MVP to Trout.
It just so happens to be my personal opinion. I understand the arguments for Cabrera—he was epic this year—and if he wins the MVP, I won't be angry.
But I hope voters don't automatically give him the award due to him winning the Triple Crown. It shouldn't be that black and white.
Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets are on point like Geno Smith.
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What Florida Must Do to Gain Edge over SEC for 5-Star DT Montravius Adams
5-star defensive tackle Montravius Adams is arguably one of the biggest uncommitted names in the class of 2014, so the Florida Gators need to do everything they can to get him to buy into their program.
Blake Alderman of InsideTheGators.com is reporting that the 6'3'', 290-pound defensive lineman will be taking an unofficial visit to Florida this weekend. According to quotes via his report, Adams is excited to watch the team during the game:
"I haven't been there for a game, so I want to see how the coaches coach during the game and how the players react to that and see the atmosphere of the game down there. I also want to watch the defensive line and see if it's a place that feels like home with a Hall of Fame coach."
This is a big opportunity for Florida, as Adams has a ton of offers from some other major programs including SEC powers like Alabama, Georgia and Auburn. Any advantage in the recruiting process could be the key to landing the 5-star defensive tackle, so this is a moment Florida can't afford to take lightly.
What do the Gators have to do gain the edge over the rest of the SEC schools trying to recruit Adams?
The most effective recruiting tool would be a big-time win at home against the 5-0 LSU Tigers. That would show Adams that the Gators are back on track and can be considered a power in the SEC again, which in turn would make them a national power.
That's obviously easier said than done, but don't underestimate how powerful of a moment that would be for an elite prospect like Adams.
More than likely though, the Gators' greatest impact will come on the sidelines. You can tell a lot about a team and its coaching staff through their in-game reactions, a lot of which is not caught by television cameras.
Believe me, the sideline can be an emotional roller coaster, but it can also be a place of bonding, teaching and strategy. How do the coaches react to a player that misses an assignment? Do they coach him up and encourage him, or do they just pull him out? Do position coaches game-plan with their players after each series? What kind of in-game adjustments does the team make, and how do they execute?
An elite football prospect like Adams will notice all these things while watching the game, and as he stated, he will be watching.
The most important person on that sideline will undoubtedly be defensive tackle coach Bryant Young, who Adams appears to really respect, according to Alderman's report:
Talking with Coach Young is a big deal to the 6-foot-3, 290-pound tackle, because Adams is well aware of Coach Young's recent honor.
"He was a great player in the NFL," stated Adams. "He just had his name out there to be in the Hall of Fame and now is coaching."
If Young's defensive line crew can step up and have a big game by getting into the backfield and causing issues for LSU's offense, that could really go a long ways in getting Adams to want to commit to Florida.
Sometimes prospects have to be able to visualize what they could do with a team, and it helps to see how a coach would use them in a big-time game like this one.
In the end, Florida has to show Adams that an elite defensive tackle prospect like him can thrive in their system.
Everybody talks the talk in recruiting, but it's the programs that can back it up that get the major commitments.
There's no doubt that Adams would be a major commitment for the Gators.
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Is Northwestern for real?
You may say it’s too early to talk of such things and that I need to calm down after only one conference game in the books, but this could be a great year for the Wildcats! Their 5-0 record may not have come against the best of opponents (Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Boston College, South Dakota, Indiana), [...]
Source: http://www.thesportsbank.net/college-fball/is-northwestern-for-real/
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