By Paul Gardner
Today the World Cup will celebrate its third-place game -- though "celebrate" is hardly the word to describe the playing of what is also known as the consolation game, and, more cruelly, the losers' final.
There’s quite a strong line of opinion that sees no reason to play the game at all. It always has an unreal air to it, like one of those not-too-good acts that are sent on stage to get theater audiences in the right mood, or possibly to stop them from getting rowdy, as they wait for the main act, the one they’ve paid big bucks to see.
Getting booed offstage was a not infrequent fate for such acts -- not necessarily because they were inept, but simply because they were not the real thing.
Germany and Uruguay will not be booed off the field today, of course, but the problem remains that they are not the real thing -- so how is one to assess their play? Are we to take this game seriously?
One answer to that is to wait and see if either Germany or Uruguay takes it seriously. Will they put out full teams? Will they play flat out, risking life and limb to avoid the national disgrace of finishing fourth rather than third? (I’m dramatizing things somewhat, you understand).
Or, failing that approach, is it possible that both teams will decide that,soccer jerseys cheap, really, nothing at all is on the line here, so why not just enjoy ourselves and play an open attacking game?
I doubt they’ll do any of those things. Once upon a time, many years ago, they seem to have opted for the open-play approach. Between 1934 and 1958 there were four third-place games. They must have been quite lively events, for 24 goals were scored -- six goals per game!
In the 12 games since then,world cup jerseys, the average is just above 3 goals per game -- which, for this era of Scrooge soccer, is still quite high.
In looking at the goalscoring,custom soccer jerseys, I’m trying to measure the value of the game as a spectator attraction. There does not seem to be much reason, other than that, to play this game. But the basis for playing a “losers’ final” is so compromised right from the start that I fear there is no way to take it seriously. Certainly,world cup 2014 jerseys, using goalscoring as a yardstick will not do it.
Consider the third place game in 1994 between Sweden and Bulgaria. Both teams had exceeded expectations by getting to the semifinals, both had lost narrowly -- a meaningful struggle for that one extra win seemed likely. Forget it. The scoreline was Sweden 4, Bulgaria 0. The Bulgarians sleep-walked through the game. When it was over,cheap soccer jerseys, I asked one of the Bulgarian delegation why they had failed to take the game seriously. He replied, jovially, “After we lose the semifinal,world cup jerseys, no more soccer. After that, cigars, whisky and f***!”
Which means that all four of those Swedish goals must be considered suspect. That, in turn, completes the case against treating the third-place game as a genuine World Cup game. The scoreline just can’t be trusted because this is not a real game.
But the unreal status of the game carries some very real implications. Today’s game, for instance, may see Germany’s Miroslav Klose on the field. Now, Klose stands just one goal behind Brazil’s Ronaldo on the all-time World Cup goalscoring chart. Ronaldo has 15, Klose has 14. Two goals for Klose today will make him the top scorer. But two goals scored in the third-place game ... can one be entirely happy with that?
All of Ronaldo’s 15 goals were scored in regular World Cup games. Two were scored in the World Cup final in 2002 -- surely the high-pressure antithesis of a low-pressure third-place game. Ronaldo never played in a third-place game.
Another example: the holder of the record for scoring most goals in a single World Cup is France’s Just Fontaine, who racked up 13 goals in 1958. Four of those goals came in France’s 6-3 win in the third-place game over a German team that had made five changes from the team that had lost its semifinal.
I am making a case for viewing the third-place game as a World Cup sideshow, one that has absolutely nothing to do with the development of the tournament itself. As such, it should not be included in the official statistics, because its figures distort the record.
The case, it seems to me is a strong one. But it has a weakness. Because there are always likely to be other games in any tournament that are not fully meaningful. Such games will likely crop up in the final group games of the first round. In South Africa, for instance we’ve just had a Mexico vs. Uruguay game that could have been played out as a comfortable tie (but which was not) plus two games featuring teams that were already eliminated, a tournament-generated situation that might well have an effect on a team’s competitiveness.
The question needs to be asked: does the third-place game have any value other than as a way of selling 70,000 or so more tickets? Does it have any soccer value? It certainly tidies up the 1-2-3-4 order of the top finishers nicely, but that is hardly a persuasive argument, especially when part of that process might involve creating questionable records.
May Germany and Uruguay give us a genuine game today -- but I'm still hoping that Klose, should he be fit to play, does not get any goals. A record based on third-place goals is not quite a record to me. It would deserve to be diminished by an asterisk.
2014年4月30日星期三
My World Cup A record - or an asterisk - for Klo
Soccer on TV 08 28 2012
Thursday action includes Concacaf Champions League games (with MLS teams), second-leg games of the UEFA Champions League playoffs and Europa League ... Early Friday, the USA faces North Korea inU-20 Women's World Cup quarterfinals. ...
(All times Eastern unless noted. TV programming is always subject to change. Check your local listings. is updated daily throughout the week.)
THURSDAY, August 30
FOX SOCCER
UEFA Europa League LIVERPOOL-HEARTS (live) 3 pm.
Concacaf ChampionsLeague CALEDONIA-SEATTLE (live) 8 pm.
Concacaf Champions League OLIMPIA-HOUSTON (live) 10 pm.
FOX SOCCER PLUS
UEFA ChampionsLeague CLUJ-BASEL (delay) 1 pm.
UEFA Champions League LILLE-KOBENHAVN (delay) 5 pm.
UEFA Europa League LIVERPOOL-HEARTS (delay) 9 pm.
BEIN SPORT
Europa League INTER-VASLUI (live) 2:40 pm.
ESPN DEPORTES
UEFA Europa League LIVERPOOL-HEARTS(live) 3 pm.
Copa Mexico PUEBLA-TOLUCA (live) 7:55 pm,world cup 2014 jerseys.
GOLTV
Brazil FLUMINENSE-SANTOS (live) 8 pm.
ESPNU
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA (live) 6:20 am.
FOX DEPORTES
Copa SudamericanaTIGRE-ARGENTINOS (live) 6 pm.
Copa Sudamericana RACING-COLON (live) 8:30 pm.
UNIVISION DEPORTES
FIFA U-20 Women's World CupNIGERIA-MEXICO (live) 2:30 am.
Mexico ATLAS-CRUZ AZUL (live) noon.
Concacaf Champions League CALEDONIA-SEATTLE (live) 8 pm.
Concacaf ChampionsLeague OLIMPIA-HOUSTON (live) 10 pm.
UNIVISION DEPORTES 2
Concacaf Champions League TAURO-HEREDIANO (live) 8 pm.
FOXSOCCER2GO.com
UEFA Champions League GROUP STAGE DRAW (live) 11:30 am.
Concacaf Champions League CALEDONIA-SEATTLE (live) 8 pm.
Concacaf Champions League TAURO-HEREDIANO (live) 8 pm.
Concacaf Champions League CALEDONIA-SEATTLE (On Demand) 11:55 pm.
Concacaf ChampionsLeague OLIMPIA-HOUSTON (On Demand) 11:55 pm.
UEFA Europa League LIVERPOOL-HEARTS (On Demand) 11:55 pm.
ESPN3.com
FIFA U-20Women's World Cup JAPAN-SOUTH KOREA (live) 6:20 am.
Europa League LIVERPOOL-HEARTS (live) 3 pm.
Copa Mexico PUEBLA-TOLUCA (live) 7:55 pm.
FRIDAY, August 31
FOX SOCCER
UEFA Super Cup CHELSEA-ATLETICO MADRID (live) 2:30 pm.
FOX SOCCER PLUS
UEFA Super Cup CHELSEA-ATLETICO MADRID (delay) 6 pm.
NBC SPORTS NETWORK
MLS PORTLAND-COLORADO(live) 10:30 pm.
FOX DEPORTES
UEFA Super Cup CHELSEA-ATLETICO MADRID (live) 2:30 pm.
Mexico MORELIA-PUMAS (live) 10:30 pm.
GOLTV
Germany MAINZ 05-GREUTH FURTH (live) 2:30 pm.
Mexico ESTUDIANTES TECOS-NEZA (live) 9 pm.
UNIVISIONDEPORTES
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup NORTH KOREA-USA (delay) 9 am.
Mexico TIJUANA-JAGUARES (live) 8:25 pm.
ESPNU
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup GERMANY-NORWAY (live) 2:50 am.
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup NORTH KOREA-USA (live) 6:20 am.
FOXSOCCER2GO.com
UEFA Europa League GROUP STAGE DRAW (live) 7 am.
UEFA Super Cup CHELSEA-ATLETICO MADRID (live) 2:30 pm.
ESPN3.com
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup NORTH KOREA-USA (live) 6:20 am.
Women's College FLORIDA-FLORIDA ST. (live) 7 pm.
Men'sCollege UCLA-MARYLAND (live) 7:30 pm.
SATURDAY, September 1
ESPN2
EnglandWEST HAM-FULHAM (live) 7:30 am.
FOX SOCCER
England TOTTENHAM-NORWICH CITY (live) 9:30 am.
England MANCHESTER CITY-QPR (live)Noon.
England WIGAN-STOKE CITY (delay) 2:30 pm.
England SWANSEA CITY-SUNDERLAND (delay) 4:30 pm.
FOX SOCCER PLUS
England WEST BROM-EVERTON (live) 9:53 am.
BEIN SPORT
TBA
ESPN DEPORTES
England WEST HAM-FULHAM(live) 7:30 am.
Mexico CRUZ AZUL-PACHUCA (live) 5:55 pm.
FOX DEPORTES
England TOTTENHAM-NORWICH CITY (live) 9:30 am.
England MANCHESTER CITY-QPR (live) Noon.
England WIGAN-STOKE CITY (delay) 2:30 pm.
GOLTV
GermanyNUREMBERG-BORUSSIA DORTMUND (live) 9:30 am.
Germany DUSSELDORF-BORUSSIA M'GLADBACH (live) 12:30 pm.
Uruguay WANDERERS-DEFENSOR (live) 2:30 pm.
TELEFUTURA
Mexico SANTOS-TIGRES (live) 7:55 pm.
UNIVISION DEPORTES
France LYON-VALENCIENNES (live) 11 am.
France AJACCIO-EVIAN (live) 2 pm.
Mexico MONTERREY-ATLAS (live) 7:55 pm.
Mexico SAN LUIS-LEON (live) 10 pm.
UNIVISIONDEPORTES DOS
Mexico QUERETARO-ATLANTE (live) 5:55 pm.
MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS COLUMBUS-MONTREAL (live) 7:30 pm.
MLS NEW ENGLAND-PHILADELPHIA (live) 7:30 pm,cheap soccer jerseys.
MLS KANSAS CITY-TORONTO (live) 8:30 pm,world cup jerseys.
MLS SALT LAKE-D.C. UNITED (live) 9 pm.
MLS LOS ANGELES-VANCOUVER (live) 10 pm.
FOXSOCCER2GO.com
TBA
ESPN3.com
England WEST HAM-FULHAM(live) 7:30 am,world cup 2014 jerseys.
SUNDAY, September 2
FOX SOCCER
England LIVERPOOL-ARSENAL (live) 8:25am.
England SOUTHAMPTON-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10:30 am,soccer jerseys cheap.
FOX SOCCER PLUS
England NEWCASTLE-ASTON VILLA (live) 10:53 am.
NBC SPORTS NETWORK
MLS SAN JOSE-CHIVAS USA (live) 9 pm.
BEIN SPORT
TBA
ESPN DEPORTES
Netherlands VITESSE-FEYENOORD (live) 6:25 am.
Netherlands PSV-AZ ALKMAAR (live) 8:25 am.
Netherlands HERENVEEN-AJAX (live) 10:25 am.
FOX DEPORTES
England LIVERPOOL-ARSENAL (live) 8:25 am.
England SOUTHAMPTON-MANCHESTER UNITED (live) 10:30 am.
GALAVISION
MLS CHICAGO-HOUSTON (live) 7 pm.
UNIVISION
Mexico TOLUCA-CLUB AMERICA (live) 12:55 pm.
UNIVISION DEPORTES
France BORDEAUX-NICE (live) 8 am.
France MARSEILLE-STADE RENNAIS (live) 11 am.
MexicoTOLUCA-AMERICA (live) 12:55 pm.
France LILLE-PSG (live) 3 pm.
GOLTV
Germany WOLFSBURG-HANNOVER 96 (live) 9:30 am,soccer jerseys cheap.
Germany BAYERN MUNICH-STUTTGART (live) 11:30 am.
Mexico CRUZ AZUL-LOBOS BUAP (live) 1:30 pm.
Brazil INTERNACIONAL-FLAMENGO (live) 3pm.
Argentina COLON-RIVER PLATE (live) 7:15 pm.
MLS DIRECT KICK
MLS DALLAS-SEATTLE (live) 7 pm.
FOXSOCCER2GO.com
TBA
MONDAY, September 3
TBA
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Soccer America Women's Team of the Week 11 02 201
[AWARDS] Lindsay Taylor, whose third straight two-goal game spearheaded No. 1 Stanford's 2-1 comeback win at Oregon State that gave the Cardinal the 2011 Pac-12 title, is the Soccer America Women's Player of the Week for games played Oct. 24-30. For Soccer America's Week 11 Team of the Week ...
Soccer America Women's Team of the Week (Oct. 24-30)
GK Julie Eckel (Tennessee), Sr.
Tied career-high with nine saves in 2-0 victory at Georgia that extended shutout streak to 257 minutes.
D Tiana Brockway (Florida State), Jr.
Helped Seminoles earn first win in 10 visits to North Carolina as she led defense that limited UNC to three shots on goal and delivered corner kick on golden goal in 1-0 win in ACC quarterfinals.
F Krystyna Freda (Winthrop), Fr.
Scored first and third goal in 3-1 victory over Coastal Carolina and had all three goals in 3-0 win against Charleston Southern.
F Melissa Henderson (Notre Dame), Sr.
Scored winning goal to match career-high with 18 goals and give Fighting Irish 1-0 win at Marquette in Big East quarterfinals.
F Sydney Leroux (UCLA),cheap soccer jerseys, Sr.
Scored three goals in first half of 8-0 win at Colorado and had lone goal in 1-0 win at Utah for eighth game-winning goal,custom soccer jerseys.
F Nadia Link (Long Beach State), Jr.
Had assist on both goals in a 2-0 triumph UC Davis and two goals and an assist in 4-2 win over Pacific,cheap soccer jerseys,soccer jerseys cheap.
D Christa Neary (South Carolina), Fr.
Assisted on game-winning goal and played key defensive role in 2-1 win at Florida that won SEC regular-season title, ending Florida’s run of five consecutive conference titles.
F Rachel Nuzzolese (Wake Forest), Soph.
Scored opening goal and assisted on other two goals as Demon Deacons won ACC quarterfinal match with 3-2 decision at Boston College.
PLAYER OF THE WEEK:
F Lindsay Taylor (Stanford), Sr.
Third straight two-goal game spearheaded 2-1 comeback win at Oregon State that gave No. 1 Cardinal Pac-12 title
F Taylor Uhl (Minnesota),custom soccer jerseys, Fr.
Scored three goals -- her second hat trick of season -- and one assist in 6-3 win over Nebraska.
M Bri Young,custom soccer jerseys, Texas A&M, Sr.
Came off the bench to post goal and assist in 3-0 win over Texas. It was first goal of season for Young, who missed first nine games with an injury.
Soccer America Women's Top 25 Scoreboard 09 09 20
[WEEK 4: Sunday] UCLA edged Tennessee, 1-0, on New Zealand international Rosie White's goal. The loss was the Lady Vols'first of the season. Florida State improved to 6-0-0 with a 1-0 win at Arkansas. A goal by Tiffany McCarty in the 17th minute was the difference in front of apacked crowd of 1,036 fans inside Razorback Field. Duke beat Marquette, 5-2, and Stanford buried Georgetown, 6-0, to hand the Hoyas their first defeat of the season. For the complete Top 25 ...
Soccer America Women's Top 25
RANK/TEAM (2012 RECORD)
1. UCLA (5-0-1)1
9/7: 1-1 Loyola Marymount
9/9: 1-0 Tennessee
2. Florida State (6-0-0) 2
9/7: 2-1 Cal State Fullerton
9/9: 1-0 atArkansas
3. Oklahoma State (7-1-0) 3
9/7: 0-1 Oklahoma
9/9: 4-0 Rice 4,custom soccer jerseys. Duke(6-1-0) 4
9/7: 4-1 San Diego
9/9: 5-2 Marquette
5. Stanford (4-1-1) 5
9/7: 1-0 Boston Univ.
9/9: 6-0 Georgetown
6. Penn State (5-2-0) 6
9/8: 1-3 at BYU
7,soccer jerseys cheap,world cup jerseys. Virginia (7-1-0) 7
9/7: 3-0 George Mason
9/9: 4-1 JamesMadison
8. Marquette (4-2-1) 8
9/3: 0-0 Central Michigan
9/7: 0-4 North Carolina
9/9: 2-5 at Duke
9. UCF (5-1-1) 9
9/9: 2-2 at Boston College
10. Missouri (5-1-0) 10
9/6: 0-1 at Ohio State
11. Boston College (5-0-2) 12
9/5: 2-0 Northeastern
9/9: 2-2 UCF
12. Louisville (5-1-0) 14
9/7: 0-2 Kentucky
9/9:3-1 Toledo
13. Virginia Tech (8-0-0) 17
9/7: 1-0 Illinois
9/9: 2-0 at Massachusetts
14,world cup 2014 jerseys. North Carolina(4-1-1) 19
9/7: 4-0 Marquette
9/9: 5-0 San Diego
15. Florida (3-2-1) 15
9/9: 3-2 New Mexico
16,cheap soccer jerseys. Wisconsin (5-1-0) 11
9/9: 3-2 Illinois State
17. Wake Forest (6-1-1) 20
9/7: 1-0 Massachusetts
9/9: 1-0 Illinois
18. Portland (4-1-1) 23
9/7: 1-1 Notre Dame
19. Georgetown (6-1-1) 25
9/3: 3-0 Columbia
9/7: 1-1Santa Clara
9/9: 0-6 at Stanford
20. Tennessee (5-1-1) 25
9/7: 0-0 at Cal State Northridge
9/9: 0-1 at UCLA 21. San Diego State (7-0-0) NR
9/7: 1-0 at Minnesota
9/9: 2-1 at Iowa State 22. Washington (7-0-0) NR
9/7: 1-0 at Gonzaga
9/9: 3-0 Notre Dame 23,world cup jerseys. Texas A&M (6-1-0) NR
9/7: 3-0 Long Beach State
9/9: 2-0 Central Michigan 24. BYU (5-1-0) NR
9/6: 5-0 Texas
9/8: 3-1 Penn State
25. Pepperdine (5-2-0) 13
9/7: 2-1 at Arizona
9/9: 0-1 at Arizona State
25. Mississippi (7-0-0)NR
9/7: 4-1 UAB
Soccer America's Top 25 rankings will appear each Monday during the regularseason.
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Cheers for co-hosts, boos for Ba and Lions of Atl
[WINNERS & LOSERS] Co-hosts Equatorial Guinea and Gabon were the surprises of the Africa Cup of Nations, advancing to the quarterfinals that will be heldthis weekend. On the other hand, African powerhouses Senegal and Morocco exited quickly. For a look at the tournament's winners and losers ...
WINNERS
Brazilian Gilson Paulo took over as coach of co-host Equatorial Guinea two weeks before the start of the Africa Cup of Nationswhen he replaced Frenchman Henri Michel, but he was given a one-year extension after he led the Nzalang Nacional to wins over Libya and Senegal and a place inthe final eight.
French-born striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored in all three games to lead Gabon in thequarterfinals. Distinctive with his Mohawk, the 22-year-old Aubameyang is following in the footsteps of his father,world cup 2014 jerseys, Patrice, who captained Gabon at the 1994African championship.
Kily, one of the Spanish-based stars of Equatorial Guinea, qualified for Equatorial Guinea because his father is a native of theWest African country, hopes to parlay his success into a pro contract. He isn't picky. “I don’t need to earn millions and millions of euros, I would just be happy to have a professionalcontract and play football for a living,” Kily, who plays for Spanish fourth division club Langreo,Reuters.
Sudan is the only team at theAfrican Cup of Nations to be comprised exclusively of home-based players, but it ended its winless streak of nine matches in three previous African Cup appearances since its championship in 1970 witha 2-1 win over Burkina Faso to edge Angola for second place in Group B.
One of the celebrities of the African Cup of Nations has been Ivory Coast superstar Didier Drogba's mother, Clotilde,soccer jerseys cheap, who has been operating an outdoor kitchen under a gazebo for Ivory Coast fans who traveled to Equatorial Guinea forthe tournament. She says she is doing her part to support Ivory Coast. "The best moment is when you make a good meal and people are satisfied," Clotilde AP. "But it's even better when Didier scores and the teamwins."
LOSERS
Angola brought its own police as security to Equatorial Guinea,soccer jerseys cheap, and they wereneeded after the Palancas Negras were eliminated. About 20 truncheon-wielding police stopped journalists from asking players questions in the mixed zone following the 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast.
With 15 goals to his credit for Newcastle United of the English Premier League, Demba Ba was expected to be one of the stars of Africa Cup of Nations butwent scoreless as Senegal was knocked out after losing all three games. "We have to forget what has happened here," said the French-born striker.
One of the pre-tournament favorites wasMorocco, but the Lions of Atlas exited after losses in their first two games to Tunisia and Gabon. Coach Eric Geretsexpects to keep his job of preparing Morocco for World Cup qualifying,cheap soccer jerseys,world cup jerseys,world cup 2014 jerseys, but he is decidedly less optimistic than he was was a couple of weeks ago. "If you had asked me before the tournament whether Ithought we could qualify for Brazil, the answer would have been 'yes' but now we'll have to wait and see how the players bounce back," the Belgian said.
2014年4月28日星期一
Awesome Return wins Snow Chief Stakes at Santa Ani
ARCADIA – Awesome Return closed strongly in the stretch to record his first stakes victory and Rovenna continued her winning ways Saturday during California Gold Rush Day at Santa Anita Park.
Ridden by Joe Talamo, who had three winners on the afternoon, Awesome Return outlasted Patriots Rule and Alert Bay to win the $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on the turf as the 4-1 third wagering choice.
It was Awesome Return’s second victory in six starts for trainer Mike Puype as the Decarchy colt sat fifth much of the way before taking the lead in mid-stretch and holding on to win by three-quarters of a length to earn the winner’s share of $137,500.
Tamarando, trying the grass for the first time in 12 career starts as the 3-2 favorite,world cup jerseys,world cup jerseys, was never a serious threat and finished fourth in the eight-horse field.
Awesome Return ran the distance in 1:48.88.
“Perfect ride, perfect trip,” Puype said. “He ran good and he settled in. I was almost worried when he hit the front because he can play around. He’s done that each time he’s run. He’s a talented colt with a bright future, but he still had to put it all together today.”
Asked what’s next for the colt, Puype said, “I’d like to keep him on the turf. There’s a race up at Golden Gate in the Cal-bred series we’ll probably look at. We’ll just go from there.”
Meanwhile, Rovenna has now won three consecutive starts, including two stakes, by winning the $250,000 Melair Stakes at 1 1/16 miles over the main track for 3-year-old fillies.
Winning for the first time around two turns, the daughter of Vronsky overtook pacesetter Wonderful Lie at the top of the lane and prevailed by a neck after a thrilling duel through the length of the stretch. Wonderful Lie,world cup 2014 jerseys, a 23-1 longshot, was 5 1/4 lengths clear of third-place finisher Swiss Lake Yodeler.
Rovenna, the 2-1 favorite, ran the distance in 1:43.86 under Victor Espinoza.
The California Gold Rush,world cup jerseys, a series of five stakes races for California-breds with purses totaling $850,000, was previously held at Hollywood Park before the Inglewood track’s closure in December.
In other Gold Rush races:
•Storm Fighter, who ran in last year’s Santa Anita Derby and finished sixth,soccer jerseys cheap, went gate to wire under Edwin Maldonado to win the $125,000 Tiznow Stakes for 4-year-olds and up at a mile on the main track.
A 4-year-old Stormin Fever colt, Storm Fighter won for the third time in seven starts while earning his first stakes victory. He ran the mile in 1:35.06, beating 4-5 favorite Rousing Sermon by 3 1/4 lengths as the 5-2 second betting choice after carving out fractions of 23.20, 46.45 and 1:10.00.
China Prince finished third in the five-horse field.
“We stopped on this horse after the Santa Anita Derby, gave him a rest and he’s doing really well,” winning trainer Bruce Headley said. “When you give ‘em the time, everything’s fine. You let them grow up and fill out and run and get back to 100 percent before you run them again.
“Everything’s going fine, and tonight I’ll have some wine.”
•Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s 1-for-33 slump at Santa Anita came to an end in the $125,world cup 2014 jerseys,000 Spring Fever Stakes when 9-1 shot Top Kisser, who had not raced since July 20 at Del Mar, overtook pacesetter Marks Mine and scored a 3 3/4-length victory in the six-furlong event for older fillies and mares.
Top Kisser, a 5-year-old daughter of Old Topper, took the lead at the top of the stretch and drew clear of Marks Mine, who held second by 3 1/4 lengths over Warren’s Veneda. Top Kisser ran the six furlongs in 1:08.89 and won for the fifth time in nine races.
•Dancingtothestars, the longest shot in the field of four at 5-1, rallied from last to beat Unusual Hottie by 3 1/2 lengths in the $100,000 Fran’s Valentine Stakes for older fillies and mares at one mile on the grass.
Ridden by Mario Gutierrez, the Doug O’Neill-trained daughter of Good Journey ran the distance in 1:35.09 and scored her seventh victory in 23 tries. Halo Dolly finished third.
Follow Art Wilson on Twitter at @Sham73
Sunday Q&A Nolan Ryan’s story has an insider’s
To write as close to the consummate biography on the life and times of Nolan Ryan as possible, Rob Goldman had to first check what he already had embedded in his memory.
As a bat boy for the Angels in the mid-1970s when his Palisades High teachers would let him leave class a little early to drive to Anaheim, Goldman lived through some of Ryan’s most historic moments — two of his four no-hitters with the team and the season where Ryan set the strikeout record of 383. Goldman had the foundation of material and personal observations of what turned out to be a launching point in his recently released book, “Nolan Ryan: The Making of a Pitcher” (Triumph Books, 366 pages, $26.95).
The rest of it came from a relentless drive to pick the minds of more than 120 friends, teammates and family, trying to frame not only what happened during the playing career of the Hall of Fame pitcher, but why it all came together so successfully.
Goldman, a Thousand Oaks resident who grew up an Angels fan, explains it:
Q: The key question you put forward in your book is finding out what exactly the attributes Ryan possessed that made him rise above the competition and become a success on and off the field. Do you feel you accomplished that?
A: Hopefully, I nailed it. Part of the problem I may have had is he’s a friend. A life-long friend. More than a friend, almost. How do you write an objective book about him but keep the right tone within the context? I had Nolan for a couple of interviews early on, his wife Ruth helped a lot, but then I left him alone and it made me focus on other people to tell his story. Nolan really doesn’t talk a lot about himself. A lot of things he doesn’t even remember, he’s moved on. It was fascinating to talk to all the players, Hall of Famers to bench guys, all who were very enthusiastic about him. What I learned was the newer players — like Mo Riviera, Derek Jeter, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish — is they’re still affected by him and the legacy of the revolutionary things he did with conditioning. He was the first in the weight room and stretching. The players are hip to what he did. Josh Beckett, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Randy Johnson — all the longevity they had is a direct derivative from Nolan.
Q: Biographers are expected to cover everything in a subject’s life, good and bad. You don’t find much on the wrong side about Ryan, do you?
A: The main conflict I put forth in the book — because there is no dirt on him that so many want to read — is his fight against first his control and then against the aging process. Those things were the antagonists in his story. That’s the thesis I worked around. He had a gift of a magic right arm but he nurtured it with his legs and midsection, taking pressure off that arm. He was up at 6 a.m. swimming, then the weight room,cheap soccer jerseys, breakfast, then to the ballpark, more running on the field. He was non-stop working in his 40s. I saw it up close. It was uncanny how a person could work that hard.
Q: He seemed to appreciate working out, based on his appreciation of the work ethic his father gave him, working two jobs during the Depression. How else did he understand the value of actually having work?
A: He knew what poor was. His family was always on the brink of disaster with six kids. Work was a privilege for the Ryans when the sun came up. They felt it was God’s gift to work. So he took that into the baseball realm and became one of a kind.
Q: The words you like to use in describing him are more like “authentic” and “empathetic.” What qualities in him do you admire most?
A: Humility. He didn’t need to be in the spotlight, but he was because he was so great. It’s the same with John Wooden, Vin Scully,cheap soccer jerseys, Lou Gehrig … they have all the qualities of humility, family, curiosity, work ethic, humor. They don’t feel like they deserve the fame because they’re just being themselves. Don’t get me wrong, when Nolan stepped on the field, all that was tossed out. It was war. He really wasn’t a pleasant guy when he pitched. He swore,cheap soccer jerseys, and kicked things, he threw at people. But he also was always drawn to the smartest guys in the clubhouse. He didn’t succeed alone. He had help and great conditioning minds in the clubhouse at the same time. He had enough humility and curiosity to listen to these people. That’s where his strength was. He was open and let new information in. He never was too big for his britches.
Q: You’ve also got these mind-blowing stats that people measure him by. Which one of them maybe size him up best: 27 seasons pitching, seven no-hitters, 5,714 strike outs, 324 wins despite the teams he played on?
A: Here’s one: 6.55 hits per game (best in MLB history; Sandy Koufax was second at 6.79). A .204 batting average against him. The complete games (224) — once he got past the seventh inning of a game, you couldn’t touch him. The longevity — how do you stay at the peak of your game for all that time? He didn’t go out a junker. He was still throwing 93 miles an hour.
Q: Nolan seemed to study Sandy Koufax from the start. You write about him as a teenager going to see Koufax play when the Dodgers came to Houston. Wasn’t it interesting that so many people on the Angels around him had ties to Koufax — Don Drysdale was a broadcaster, Johnny Roseboro was a coach, and then, of course, Jeff Torborg, a catcher for both of them?
A: And even Buzzie Bavasi in the front office (the former Dodgers general manager). Nolan realized early on that what impressed him most about Koufax was the curveball as much as the fastball. Jeff knew how to deal with Nolan and the control issues because he did exactly the same thing with Koufax. You go back to the strike in 1972, and the Angels players are working out in La Palma Park in Anaheim. Jeff took Nolan to the bullpen on this mound that was just awful, like Omaha Beach, and they worked and worked, a constant refining process.
Q: The perspective of a former Angels batboy is special, in how you’ve seen Ryan at many different steps in his career. Did that give you some really special insights?
A: I like to think so. The only time I put myself into the book wasn’t really about me, it was showing part of Nolan’s character. When you see things from that close, it can be a pro and a con. You don’t want to get too personal but you want to give enough insight to show something you know that many, not every other sportswriter may have. Just from the perspective of his fourth no-hitter in ’75 — Nolan goes through the fresh boxes of balls before each game, and finds the ones that feels he likes best. Every ball is slightly different — some have high seams, some lower seams,soccer jerseys cheap, some feel even smaller. He’d pull the ones he wanted and we’d stash them in the ball cage and put an “X” on it. If we got to later in the game and Nolan wanted the “X” balls, we’d go get ’em. He always wanted his balls rubbed real dark with the mud, too, so we’d do that for him. I’m sure Jim Palmer, Steve Carlton would be doing the same kind of things. That’s the tricks of the trade and he was smart enough and industrious enough to do that and we helped him along a little bit in that fourth no-hitter — not that I’m taking any credit for it. He probably would have thrown that thing anyway.
Q: Wouldn’t a story like that get blown up in today’s media?
A: Right, it would be “Ryan’s cheating, take his (Hall of Fame) plaque away.” … But players have been looking for an edge since Cy Young. Whatever the edge is of that era, they’re going to do it. Eventually the steroid process came around and that was the cheating process of that era. Coming from the inside, I think that (steroid) stuff is a little overdone. Not that Nolan would ever touch that stuff. You can’t just wipe away a whole era of ball players because it was so prevalent. Nolan was all about conditioning, diet and rest that proves you can do it the right way.
Q: The point in the book about how Ryan’s time with the Angels ended in 1979 is tied to the famous Bavasi quote: “All I need to replace Ryan is have two 8-7 pitchers.” It was an emotional time for a lot of Angels fans then. It’s interesting to read Ryan’s response, still, in that how he believes things turned out for the best. Another Ryan trait?
A: He really does live in the moment, not in the past. He forgives. It was a tough time, but the fight wasn’t between Nolan and Buzzie, it was the agent (Dick Moss) and Buzzie. The battle there was old school vs. new school and Buzzie didn’t want to deal with agents. Everyone involved with the team, from me to Bobby Grich to Rod Carew, no one could believe they would let him go. They knew the intangibles. Every fourth day you were facing the major league strikeout king. Your bullpen gets to rest. It’s more than just winning and losing. I missed him for the friendship. I think the Angels would have won the pennant in ’82 with Nolan. Maybe ’86, too.
Q: You write about how Ryan as a 19-year-old is throwing a no-hitter at Williamsport in the minor leagues in 1966, and his manager, Bill Virdon, tells him the Mets want to bring him up. And Ryan doesn’t hesitate — he walks away from the game and goes. Does that show a lot about his character even way back then?
A: Even more telling, I think, was the next year when he had an elbow problem in Jacksonville and felt a pop. He told Virdon he couldn’t go back in. By then, Nolan was already a wunderkind, the next Bob Feller, and they had sold out the game. The general manager storms down to the locker room and challenges Ryan: You go back out there. You can’t let these people down. And he wouldn’t buckle because he knew instinctively that something was really wrong. The Mets wanted to bring him up and insisted on him getting an operation to get him back quicker, but Nolan wouldn’t let them cut open his arm and he let it heal on its own. I thought that was the stubborn,cheap soccer jerseys, survival instinctual thing that he got from his upbringing.
Q: Do you think Nolan is the kind of person who could still get someone out on the mound today — at age 67,custom soccer jerseys?
A: He did have a bad outing on Opening Day in Houston this year when he threw it pretty wide (to catcher Craig Biggio). What a lot of people might not realize when he blew out his ulnar lateral ligament in his right elbow in 1993, that wasn’t a career-ending injury. It would have been a Tommy John surgery. So since then he’s healed up. Up until a few years, he could still bring it. But the problem now is his heart condition. He’s not able to be that war horse he used to be. He’s got to watch his ticker. He’s moved on from his competitive days on the field. He doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone anymore.
Editor’s note >> Goldman’s book about Nolan Ryan is part of an annual series that reviews 30 new baseball books during the 30 days of April. The review of “Nolan Ryan: The Making of a Pitcher” is the Day 27 posting on www.insidesocal.com/tomhoffarth
thomas.hoffarth@langnews.com @tomhoffarth on Twitter
2014年4月27日星期日
Courageous Socceroos no longer an embarrassment -
A week after lambasting the Socceroos and coach Pim Verbeek for their opening 4-0 loss to Germany the Australian media changed tack Sunday, heaping praise on the team following their 1-1 draw with Ghana.
“They may have lost Harry (Kewell) but the Socceroos finished the Ghana game with a crucial point and the nation’s respect,” wrote the Melbourne Herald Sun.
Mike Cockerill, the Sydney Morning Herald journalist who had a very public slanging match with Kewell in the lead up to the game, said the Socceroos had earned redemption for the performance against the Germans.
“Whether they (qualify for the next stage) or not, they have at least redeemed themselves after their inept capitulation against the Germans,” he wrote.
“There was passion, genuine passion. There was leadership, real leadership, from Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer.
“,cheap soccer jerseys;There was encouragement for the future in the contributions of Carl Valeri and Brett Holman.
“Even Pim Verbeek got in on the act, throwing caution to the wind by going two up front for the last half an hour. It was exciting, exhilarating and, yes, entertaining.”
Most of the Australian media’s scorn Sunday was directed at Italian referee Roberto Rosetti, who sent Kewell off after ruling he deliberately thrust out an arm to stop a goal-bound shot from Jonathan Mensah.
Opinions were divided over whether it was red card offence or not,world cup jerseys, although most thought the act was not deliberate and should have been a yellow, rather than red card.
However, much of the anger aimed at Rosetti was for not sending off Lee Addy for a sliding tackle from behind on Australian midfielder Mark Bresciano, a tackle that looked far worse than the one that saw Tim Cahill red carded in the Germany game.
Writing on the popular theroar.com.au website,world cup 2014 jerseys, Mike Tuckerman said Australia, rightly or wrongly, had a reputation for rough play and referees went into matches with preconceived ideas.
“I?m generally the last person to point the finger at refereeing as a deciding factor in a match but perhaps I?ve reached my threshold regarding the sheer number of decisions that go against the Socceroos,” Tuckerman wrote.
Van der Sar delighted at soccer contract extension
Veteran Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar says he is delighted to have signed a new contract and didn't think twice before putting pen to paper,custom soccer jerseys.
The contract extension will see the Dutchman remain at Old Trafford until June 2010, taking him up to what is likely to be the end of his epic playing career.
“It was not difficult at all,” van der Sar said. “It's a great club to be at, with a great atmosphere in the dressing room,world cup 2014 jerseys, the boss is fantastic and we have the best stadium in England.
“I've enjoyed every minute of the three-and-a-half years I've been here so far and I'm really looking forward to playing for another season after this one.”
The goalkeeper,cheap soccer jerseys, 38, arrived at Old Trafford from Fulham in 2005 and was a key figure in United's back-to-back Premier League titles and last season's Champions League victory.
Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak are currently back-up goalkeepers and Sir Alex Ferguson will decide which one will be his number two during the close season.
Van der Sar is in Japan with the team this week to play in the Club .
2014年4月26日星期六
Prosecutors get to work on head of RomaniaÂ’s P
Today (Monday) prosecutors in Romania opened corruption charges against the head of that country?????s Professional Soccer League,custom soccer jerseys.
In a statement issued by the anti – corruption prosecutors they said that Dumitru Dragomir received a bribe in 2001 for the league to buy a property for a price that was three times higher than its market value. The league paid US$355,000 (?????230,world cup jerseys,000) for a property that was built without a permit.
In the same case the vendor, then-National chairman Gino Iorgulescu, has been accused of money-laundering.
Dragomir also received a plot of land in the sale, which was registered in the name of his driver. Dragomir’s son,custom soccer jerseys, Bogdan Dragomir, and a driver are also cited as doing wrongdoing in the case.
Up to this stage no statement has been issued by the accused.
Major League Soccer wrap Union end away win droug
Philadelphia Union beat Chicago Fire 3-1 on Wednesday, recording their first road victory in Major League Soccer since July 4.
Jack McInerney scored Union’s opener in the seventh minute of the match at Toyota Park after a pass from Danny Cruz split the Fire’s defence.
Hosts Chicago threatened an equalizer when Daniel Paladini’s free kick in the 19th minute hit the post,world cup jerseys, but a McInerney assist to substitute Gabriel Gomez’s header on 67 minutes doubled Union’s lead.
Dominic Oduro gave the home side hope, netting a low shot two minutes later to make it 2-1.
But Antoine Hoppenot secured the result for Union, back-heeling a low cross from Michael Farfan for the away side’s third.
After suffering their second loss in the space of six stays,world cup 2014 jerseys, Chicago Fire sit five points behind front runners Sporting Kansas City in third position in the MLS Eastern Conference standings – Union are eighth on 33 points.
In the other match on Wednesday, Vancouver Whitecaps moved closer to a playoff berth after their convincing 4-0 defeat of Chivas USA at BC Place.
Gershon Koffie scored Vancouver’s first in the 11th minute past Chivas goalkeeper Dan Kennedy.
A finish into the inside of the far post in the 35th minute from Dane Richards after a long,soccer jerseys cheap, right-wing run secured Vancouver’s second goal.
Camilo Sanvezzo converted Vancouver’s third goal from a Richards cross in the 62nd minute, and Barry Robson capped off the win with 18 minutes remaining.
Vancouver are five points ahead of FC Dallas on 42 points with two games to go in the regular season, while Chivas remain bottom of the Western Conference on 28 points.
2014年4月9日星期三
Bulls hoping for more than just glimpses from Booz
Adding to that, padding that, Carlos Boozer put together a resume package of video moments, all in a span of four minutes in the second quarter. Running the floor, working the pick and roll with Derrick Rose, stepping back to hoist rainbows over Grizzlies big man Marc Gasol, Boozer scored 11 of the Bulls' 13 points to push an 11-point lead to 21.
The veteran power forward grabbed three rebounds and blocked a shot in that stretch, took three more rebounds before the quarter ended and reminded everyone at the United Center or watching wherever that, yes, that was how it can be.
When circumstances are just so.
Afterward, Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau praised Boozer -- "He ran the floor, played defense,rebounded the ball and scored. He played really, really well" -- and it came easily, sincerely. No need on this night for the what-happens-in-Vegas-stays-in-Vegas filter that often seems to be in place, when the head coach's words about Boozer might say one thing but his eyes seem to be saying another. Blown defensive rotations, soft moves with the ball, a little lack of hustle here or there -- that's for others to talk about and for Thibodeau to confront or endure in his own way.
People are getting a glimpse again of what Boozer can do for the Bulls, on the heels of a season built mostly on glimpses. The free agent Chicago signed in the great 2010 marketplace came as something of a consolation prize -- the Bulls had cleared salary cap space with visions of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in their heads, then grabbed Boozer as the music faded and the chairs filled.
They overpaid in the process (five years, $70 million), which really should be between the Bulls and their accountants but invariably gets stirred into the mix. And the mix throughout Chicago's surprising 62-20 regular season in 2010-11 and postseason run to the Eastern Conference finals was that Boozer was a talent but a tease, physically impressive but sincerely phony. Someone who talked the talk a little better than he walked the walk.
"A frontrunner," one NBA scout said the other day. Which means somebody who helps and produces and does/says the right things in good times but can't necessarily be counted on in tough times.
"Teflon" is another tag that seems to suit Boozer. Because he seems so centered, so unflappable, so generally satisfied with his contributions and commitments that none of the bad ever seems to stick. It might be as momentary as letting an opponent blow by him without moving, a boisterous yell providing his only resistance. It might be greater than that, as in the dents to his reputation last season from injuries and a few too many games gone small.
"I'm not worried abut any personal stuff," Boozer said. "This is about our team. I think everything will take care of itself as long as we keep doing what we're capable of doing."
He said that Sunday night but it might as well have been on a tape loop, because it pretty much is what Boozer says all the time. Love the consistency, hate the opaqueness.
Within all the delight last season,Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014 Boozer became a target of Bulls fans for those stretches when he appeared too content and half as driven as, say, Rose, the team's white-hot Most Valuable Player or even center Joakim Noah, a frenzied player at both ends even when his efficiency is lacking.
The injuries didn't help -- a broken hand from tripping over a suspicious-sounding gym bag that wiped out his November, bookended in the playoffs by turf toe. That one -- which only sounds minor, athletic trainers everywhere will tell you -- cut Boozer's playoff production (12.6 points, 9.7 rebounds) by about a third from his four strong postseasons with Utah.
The Bulls needed a reliable No. 2 offensive threat to balance Rose and a strong inside presence that Boozer, lacking height and lift even when otherwise healthy, doesn't really bring. He took heat for it, his hooted nickname (Booooooz!) raining down from the rafters as the real thing.
Rose, Thibodeau and the rest continue to focus on the half-full with Boozer, and why not? The alternative, if their comments start to track what fans and critics feel, is to maybe lose him completely.
So they keep pulling for the guy who averaged 19.9 points and 10.2 rebounds, with 19 of his 30 double-doubles in 29 games last December and January, compared to 15.2 and 8.9 before and after. They see the sleeker version who showed up at camp last month, 20 pounds lighter, and stick to the what-might-be's. Because they need him at his best.
"We have to play inside more," Rose said. "And our game is also at the top of the key, high pick and rolls, but we run away from them sometimes toward the end. The way he has been working out and working on his game, we have confidence in him."
Thibodeau and Gar Forman, the Bulls' general manager, cut Boozer some slack because he was hurt last season (the coach's view) and he had joined a new team (the GM's). Which is fine, as long as last year stays last year.
"He's a quick jumper and finishes with both hands," Thibodeau said. "He always has been real clever. He always has had those floaters, little flip shots. He's a very good 15- to 17-foot jump shooter. He can face you up, pick and pop, pick and roll. We want to take advantage of those strengths."
Fans should remember that in those fourth quarters when Thibodeau has Boozer sitting near him. Not because it's garbage time but because Chicago's defense demands it.
Boozer, meanwhile, doesn't seem ruffled by anything the fans might remember or say. As he recalls it, Chicago fans supported him all season and "showed great love." He is counting on it again.
"I'm not even worried about that," the veteran forward said. "Honestly. I don't know what story you guys are trying to write. But what I'm going to tell you, we're just worried about getting better every day as a group of guys and continuing to march in the direction of our goal. You guys can write that story."
Boozer wrote it, big, for four minutes the other night. He's the guy at the keyboard going forward.Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014
Bulls at 76ers - March 19, 2014 - Game Preview, Pl
They'll try to keep their team-record skid from reaching 22 when they host the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday night.
Though Philadelphia (15-52) led by nine early and three late,cheap nhl jerseys it fell 99-90 at Indiana on Monday to set the club record for consecutive defeats, breaking the mark set by the 1972-73 team. The 76ers are tied with Detroit, which dropped 21 in a row bridging the 1979-80 and 1980-81 seasons, for the sixth-longest slide in league history.
First-year coach Brett Brown and his players have tried to avoid thinking about it, but Philadelphia is closing in on Cleveland's NBA-record 26-game losing streak set in the 2010-11 season.
"It's hard because of a competitive thing, but in relation to worrying about a record, we don't live in that world," Brown said. "I don't bring that to that locker room once. I don't mention it to them, I don't think about it often - (but) you can't help but be aware of it.
"We move on. We're on a different path now."
In search of their first win since Jan. 29, the 76ers will attempt to build on anything positive.
For the first time in four games they topped the 40.0 percent shooting mark at 43.2 on Monday.Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014 Thaddeus Young scored 23 and rookie Michael Carter-Williams added 15 with 13 rebounds for Philadelphia, which led 88-85 with 1:55 left to play before the Pacers closed on a 14-2 run.
"We were right there until the last two minutes of the game," Young, averaging 22.7 points in three games, told the 76ers' official website. "We just have to come out, execute better, and get ourselves out of the mud."
Philadelphia also has dropped a team-high 16 straight at home, tying for the second-longest such skid in NBA history and nearing Dallas' record 19-game slide in 1993-94. The 76ers have averaged 90.3 points in their last four at home and shot 38.5 percent over the past three.
However, one of their eight home victories came against Chicago, 107-104 on Nov. 2. It was the last of Philadelphia's three straight wins to open the season.
The Bulls (37-30) had little trouble avenging that defeat Jan. 18, shooting 48.8 percent, pulling down 52 rebounds and limiting the 76ers to a 2-of-19 effort from 3-point range in a 103-78 home rout.
All-Star Joakim Noah had 21 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks in that contest. However, he scored nine on 2-of-8 shooting while adding 12 boards and nine assists as Chicago concluded a 3-3 homestand with a 97-85 loss to Oklahoma City on Monday.
The Bulls, who beat Miami and Houston during that home stretch, shot 34.5 percent but got within one early in the fourth quarter before the Thunder pulled away with a 13-0 run.
"I would have liked it better if we won a couple more games, but 3-3, we'll take it," said Noah, who averaged 16.8 points and 56.4 percent shooting in the previous five contests.
"We've just got to move forward."
Noah has scored at least 21 points three times in the last four games against the 76ers, but had 10 on Nov. 2 while being pressured by center Spencer Hawes,who is now with the Cavaliers.Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014
Carter-Williams had 26 points and 10 assists in the home meeting with the Bulls.
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2014年4月7日星期一
Ex-La Salle
Gola's wife, Caroline, said he died at St. Joseph's Manor in Meadowbrook. Gola was seriously injured in 2003 after he fell and hit his head on a curb and was in a coma for several days.
Gola also led La Salle to the 1952 NIT title and a runner-up finish in the 1955 NCAA tournament. He set the NCAA Division I record for career rebounds with 2,201 and scored 2,461 points.cheap nhl jerseys He and former George Washington player Joe Holup are the only players in NCAA Division I history to top 2,000 in both points and rebounds.
Gola averaged 11.3 points and 8.0 rebounds in 10 NBA seasons with Philadelphia/San Francisco and New York.
"I am deeply saddened to hear the news about the passing of Tom Gola, a former teammate and one of the true gentlemen of the game," Warriors teammate Al Attles said in a statement Sunday night. "He was a Hall of Fame player, but an even better person. His nickname was `Saint' and for good reason. He had a huge impact on the Warriors' early success in Philadelphia and, of course, was part of the original team that moved West to San Francisco in 1962. My sympathy goes out to his entire family. He will be missed."
Gola later coached at La Salle, where the arena is named after him.
"Tom was a Philadelphia icon whose name is synonymous with basketball," said Brother Michael J. McGinniss, La Salle's prsident. "His legacy will live on at La Salle forever and in the university's Tom Gola Arena."
A Philadelphia folk hero whose legions of fans screamed "Go, Gola, Go!" whenever he touched the ball,Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014 was one of only two players to win an NIT, NCAA and NBA championships.
"When I was growing up, you whispered the name Tom Gola, because he was like a saint," late Warriors teammate Wilt Chamberlain once said.
Late UCLA coach John Wooden called Gola the "greatest all-round basketball player" ever.
Part of his popularity stemmed from the fact that Gola, the eldest son of a Philadelphia policeman, chose to play at a hometown college despite receiving more than 50 scholarship offers.
A three-time All-American, the 6-foot-6 Gola averaged nearly 21 points and 19 rebounds for La Salle from 1952-55. He then helped lead the Warriors to the 1956 NBA title as a rookie.
The five-time NBA All-Star concentrated on defense, rebounds and assists because the Warriors already had proven scorers in Chamberlain, Paul Arizin and Neil Johnson.
"My job was to guard the opponents' best guard -- Jerry West, Oscar Robertson, Bill Sharman -- and be a playmaker," said Gola, who entered the Hall of Fame in 1976.
Gola's career was interrupted from 1956-58 when he served in the Army.
Gola coached La Salle from 1968-70 and finished with a 37-13 record. His 1968-69 team went 23-1, achieving a No. 2 ranking, but was ineligible for postseason play because of NCAA violations under a previous coach.
Gola also was involved in politics. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1966 and became Philadelphia city controller in 1970 as then-District Attorney Arlen Specter's running mate.
He was regional administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in the Reagan administration in the early 1980s, then lost the Republican mayoral primary in 1983.
Gola ran an insurance agency for many years.
"I don't regret anything," Gola said in 1998. "Your body parts wear out, and you move on to something else. That's life."Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014
Exec shakeup could shake, or make, Jazzs immediate
This could be.
Kevin O'Connor is leaving as general manager for a promotion up the franchise ladder, Yahoo!cheap nhl jerseys Sports reported and the Salt Lake Tribune seconded, citing sources. A sense of security may well go with him. No confirmation is needed to come to that conclusion.
What is not immediately known is the role O'Connor will now play. If he is simply removing himself from the day-to-day strains of the job -- players unhappy about minutes, agents unhappy about a client being unhappy -- but continues to have the ultimate voice on roster decisions, that's one thing. But if this is an actual stepping back to focus on other projects, or a transition into an advisory role, it is another blow to the stability of an organization that once knew consistency from the front office to the sideline.
By Monday evening, the San Antonio Express News and Yahoo! said Dennis Lindsey, an assistant GM with the Spurs, will be hired to replace O'Connor as GM. The Salt Lake Tribune reported that O'Connor will still run basketball operations. And that is the critical development.
The Jazz were saying nothing Monday. O'Connor is reportedly telling candidates for the GM position that he will continue to be heavily involved, which may be bad for the job search but very good for the team. O'Connor worked under Larry Miller, an emotional owner who held the line against going into the luxury tax. After Miller's passing, O'Connor worked for Greg Miller, the son who is more in the background and has allowed O'Connor to spend into the tax territory. O'Connor worked over Sloan, the ultimate in veteran coaches, and then, after Sloan quit, Tyrone Corbin, the successor as a rookie head coach.
Since being hired almost exactly 13 years ago, O'Connor is the constant, not the owner or the coach and certainly not the players. He arrived for the last four seasons of Stockton-to-Malone, led the rebuilding through three lottery campaigns, free agency (Carlos Boozer,Mehmet Okur) and some heady trades. He dealt the sixth and 27th picks in 2005 to the Trail Blazers for the third. No. 6 was spent on Martell Webster. No. 27 turned into Linas Kleiza. No. 3, Utah's pick, became All-Star Williams.Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014
When Williams began to leverage his way out of Utah, O'Connor made the move that saved the future: Williams to New Jersey for Devin Harris, Derrick Favors and two first-round picks. In an era of teams being dragged through protracted trade talks that turn into sideshow -- Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul -- O'Connor in one swoop ensured the Jazz would face no such distractions and re-made the roster. One of the Nets picks, No. 3 in 2011, became Enes Kanter and the other, originally belonging to the Warriors, is protected through six in 2013 and six again in 2014. If the choice has not been used by then, it converts into second-rounders in 2014 and '16.
O'Connor and the Jazz became Example A of how to deal with a superstar pressuring his way out of town. (Quickly disposing of the headache is not always the right move. The Lakers dug in when Kobe Bryant demanded a trade and was setting fire to everything around him. The Nuggets waited and got a good deal as the endless Anthony saga dragged on.) One full season later, the Jazz were a playoff team again, have a roster of promise and still have the Golden State pick coming.
The Jazz are at a critical juncture now. They have an owner who will spend, Draft picks when they don't need any more young players to develop and, as new chips in the game, the expiring contracts of Al Jefferson and Paul Millsap. This is a team perfectly positioned to make a big move if the opportunity arises. And O'Connor is a smart GM capable of making that move. If he remains the man in charge.Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014
2014年4月4日星期五
Heroes Among Us - February 2012 The Official Site
February 29, 2012 - Lisa Beckett
Last September, Lisa Beckett arrived at work thinking it would be a normal day. However, she never imagined that she would physically save a person’s life. While on her lunch break, a man sitting close by began to choke on his sandwich.After witnessing the situation, Lisa immediately rushed to his side. Noticing that he was struggling to breathe,cheap nhl jerseys she wasted no time in performing the Heimlich maneuver. Several attempts later, the food was successfully dislodged from his throat and the man began to breathe again!
For her quick-thinking and life-saving actions, please join us in welcoming Lisa Beckett as tonight’s Hero Among Us.
February 15, 2012 - Katy Shea
In honor of Mass Mentoring Night the Celtics would like to recognize Katy Shea, a mentor and proud supporter of Big Sister Association of Greater Boston. For the last two years Katy has been an advisor, counselor and friend to her mentee Victorya.After meeting Victorya at her elementary school, the two quickly became friends. Sadly a year later, Victorya’s home was tragically lost in a fire. Katy immediately took action and hosted fundraisers in order to replace household items that had been destroyed. Today, Katy is not only Victorya’s mentor but has become a member of her family as well!
For her dedication to mentoring and life-altering impact on Victorya’s life, please welcome tonight’s Hero Among Us, Katy Shea and her mentee Victorya.
February 12, 2012 - First Sergeant Christopher Demars
Army National Guard First Sergeant Christopher Demars has dedicated his life to protecting our country.Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014Even after receiving the Bronze Star for his heroic actions, Chris returned to the Middle East for two more tours. While on his third deployment, Chris was the victim of an IED explosion but amazingly returned to regular duty less than a month later. Tragically, on his first day back, he was hit by a suicide bomber causing severe injuries. Against all odds, Chris has persevered and continues to get stronger every day!
For his bravery and commitment to our country, please join us in welcoming First Sergeant Christopher Demars as tonight’s Hero Among Us.
February 9, 2012 - Juan Pena
Juan Pena is a supervisor at Children’s Hospital Boston in the Environment Services Department. Being surrounded by doctors, he never imagined that he would be the one to save a man’s life.While at work last year, Juan came across a man lying on the floor turning blue and not breathing. Without a moment’s hesitation,Juan sprang into action. He told a bystander to call for help and immediately began performing CPR. The man was rushed to the emergency room but thanks to Juan’s quick actions and poise under pressure was able to make a full recovery!
Please join us in welcoming Juan Pena as tonight’s Hero Among Us.
February 7, 2012 - Officer Jose Ruiz
Boston Police Officer Jose Ruiz knows first-hand the negative influences youth encounter on a daily basis. Wanting to make a difference in kids’ lives, Jose has dedicated the last 15 years to mentoring youth.As the Director of Boston’s R.B.I. program and with the support of the Positive Coaching Alliance, Jose has worked to bring baseball and softball into the lives of kids, promoting academic achievement and resistance to drugs and alcohol. The youth have bought into Jose’s message with nearly three dozen growing up to be police officers just like him. Amazingly, the program has tripled in size since it was founded and now serves up to 900 disadvantaged youth every year!
For his inspiring leadership, please join us in welcoming Officer Jose Ruiz as tonight’s Hero Among Us.
February 5, 2012 - John Salvanelli, Cheryl Seaman and Keith Lablanc
Firefighter John Salvanelli, ER nurse Cheryl Seaman and personal trainer Keith Lablanc never imagined that their day at the gym last December would turn into saving a man’s life. While everyone was working out, fellow gym member, George Besheres went into cardiac arrest.Upon witnessing George collapse, the trio immediately raced to help. Cheryl and Keith began performing CPR and then John used a defibrillator to successfully shock George’s heartbeat back to a normal rhythm. George was rushed to the hospital and because of the quick actions of strangers was able to make a full recovery!
For their life-saving actions, please join us in welcoming John Salvanelli, Cheryl Seaman and Keith Lablanc as tonight’s Heroes Among Us.
February 3, 2012 - Rich Miche
Rich Miche (mick-ee) has always had a passion for architecture and technology and for the last 15 years he has volunteered his time mentoring and helping kids from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Boston learn more about the subjectWorking with over 200 kids each year, Rich hosts the annual Boys & Girls Club of Boston Cyber Summit and also generously donates technology equipment to sites in order to ensure the kids have access to the most up-to-date technology. Amazingly in his 15 years as a mentor to kids,Rich has volunteered over 5,000 hours and doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon!
For his selfless commitment to educating youth, please join us in welcoming Rich Miche as tonight’s Hero Among Us.
February 1, 2012 - Diane and Tim Henry
With more than 10,000 Massachusetts children in foster care and thousands more waiting for a loving family, Tim and Diane Henry knew that they needed to help make a difference in the lives of youth.Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014To that end, the two began working with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in order to decrease this staggering statistic. Over the last 12 years, Tim and Diane have amazingly provided a safe and loving home for over 35 children. The couple has formally adopted six of those children and given them the family they have always wished for!
For their commitment and dedication to foster children, please join us in welcoming Diane and Tim Henry as tonight’s Heroes Among Us.
Heroes Among Us - February 2013 The Official Site
February 13, 2013 - Peter Frates
Last March former Boston College baseball player Peter Frates life forever changed when he was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.After receiving the devastating news, Peter was determined to make the best of his condition. He has since made it his life’s mission to raise awareness for ALS. As a vocal leader in the ALS community,cheap nhl jerseys Peter has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in an effort to find a cure for this debilitating disease!
For his dedication and tireless effort to bring awareness to Lou Gehrig’s disease, please join us in celebrating Peter Frates as a Heroes Among Us.
February 10, 2013 - Jeff and Kelley Lane
With more than 10,000 Massachusetts children in foster care and thousands more waiting for a loving family, Jeff and Kelley Lane knew they needed to help make a difference in the lives of kids.To that end, the two began working with the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children in order to decrease this staggering statistic. Over the last 7 years, Jeff and Kelley have amazingly provided a safe and loving home for over 40 kids. The couple has plans to formally adopt three of those children giving them the family they have always wished for!
For their commitment to foster children, please join us in celebrating Jeff and Kelley Lane as Heroes Among Us.
February 7, 2013 - Richard Cullen
Last Thursday while on a bike ride in Hanover,Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014 Richard Cullen heard loud screams coming from a nearby pond and turned to see a teenage girl struggling to stay afloat in the icy water.Without a moment’s hesitation, Richard flagged down a car and instructed the driver to call 9-1-1. As the girl began to sink underwater, he then raced into the pond and pulled her to safety. With the help of two others, Richard was able to successfully rescue the teenager preventing what could have been a terrible tragedy!
For his lifesaving actions, please join us in celebrating Richard Cullen as a Hero Among Us.
February 3, 2013 - Charles Turcotte
Norton police officer Charles Turcotte works to protect our community day-in and day-out.While on duty last year, Charles received a call that a woman’s car was on fire near a resident’s home. He immediately raced to the scene and without a moment’s hesitation pulled the woman through the window of her vehicle. Amazingly Charles managed to get the woman out of the car and to safety mere seconds before the car was engulfed in flames!
For his quick thinking and lifesaving actions, please join us in celebrating Charles Turcotte as a Hero Among Us.
February 1, 2013 - Shiona Botts
Shiona Botts works tirelessly to ensure that every child has a successful future as the Teen Director of the Yawkey Club of Roxbury.For the last three years, Shiona has put her heart and soul into providing the best possible opportunities for teens not only at her club but other sites as well. She has devoted countless hours to planning and executing opportunities like leadership conferences, tours of colleges and universities and even educational trips to India. Shiona’s dedication continues to positively impact thousands of teens each year!
For her unwavering commitment to enriching teens’ lives, please join us in celebrating Shiona Botts as a Hero Among Us.Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014
2014年4月2日星期三
Game 3 win could have bigger-picture impact for Nu
It sure didn't feel like just one win. Not the way the capacity crowd of 19,155 started buzzing before tipoff and made Pepsi Center rumble for the next 2 ? hours.
It sure didn't sound like just one win. Not the way George Karl, who has had a few playoff victories, including a Game 7 win in a Western Conference final and subsequently giving the Bulls a pretty good push in The Finals,cheap nhl jerseys sounded when he said, "I can't remember a win as much as I enjoyed this."
It sure didn't look like just one win. Not the way Al Harrington walked off the court with a fractured nose and a blood stream going down his face but said later he won't miss a game. And certainly not the way that locker room had chests puffed out late Friday night.
Nuggets 99, Lakers 84 was a rare moment that had meaning beyond the immediate playoff implications. Because, look, Denver may have cut the deficit in the first round to 2-1 with another home game before another frenetic crowd waiting on Sunday night, but it is not going to win the series. It is not going to beat a championship contender with more talent and more postseason experience and more closers four times in five tries.
But Friday could still end up as meaningful because it felt, sounded and looked like a step forward. It's what the Nuggets have to be about these days as they continue to build toward one day being favorites to win an early series. That is when it will be alright to downplay the impact of just one win, when the just one win has to be part of a matching four-piece set.
The Nuggets listened and learned. Karl had been telling them for days they could hang with the favored Lakers if only Denver played with an urgency at the opening tip instead of getting buried at the starting gate Sunday in Game 1 and needing all of 3 minutes, 19 seconds to fall in a nine-point hole Tuesday in Game 2. So they played with an urgency Friday in Game 3 that made big, superior Los Angeles seem meek.
It was 30-14 at the end of the first quarter. That lead swelled to 24 early in the second and became a 16-point cushion at halftime. Kobe Bryant was the only Laker able to assert himself, while the Nuggets owned the paint and Ty Lawson had already zipped through the L.A. defense for 18 points.
Then,Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014 when the Lakers did gather themselves as Andrew Bynum decided to show up for the second half, Denver played with a veteran's composure. The lead got down to four points late in the third quarter and seven with 2:19 remaining in the game,but the Nuggets showed a resiliency that will serve Lawson, Danilo Gallinari, Arron Afflalo, Kenneth Faried and others well in a future series. The Nuggets won by committing three turnovers in the second half as much as they won because of 30-14.
"It's huge," Lawson said after finishing with a game-high 25 points along with seven assists against zero turnovers. "We dealt with having a big lead. We all dealt with them coming back and making it a game. Nobody got nervous. We learned a lot today. It's probably going to help us out throughout the series."
Throughout the series, nothing. Friday, with the Lakers coming at them, was about learning how to win in the playoffs, and that is more like a throughout-the-years thing.
"It gives guys a lot of confidence," said Afflalo, the starting shooting guard who had been in the playoffs three times before with the Pistons and Nuggets. "There's nothing like knowing you can win. You can X-and-O and watch video, but the feeling of winning is something special in the postseason. Hopefully everyone enjoys it and continues to keep pushing for more wins."
It was the first for this group, another special aspect. Faried, the starting power forward, wasn't on the roster when the Nuggets snuck a win off the Thunder last year in the first round. Neither were important reserves Corey Brewer, JaVale McGee and Andre Miller.
"I don't think there are many guys in there that are going to be too happy," Karl was insisting after Game 3. "(Saturday) is about trying to win on Sunday. This is just one step. I'm not going to philosophize one way or the other, if it's a good win or a bad win.Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014 It's a process of learning how to play playoff basketball and a growth and the days in between, what you're trying to do. Not getting too happy when you win and not getting too down when you lose."
Said the man who had just said, "I can't remember a win as much as I enjoyed this. I had a little bit of a feel we could get it done and the guys went out and did it very impressively."
Just one win?
Detroit Pistons Host Fourth Annual Pistons Care Te
Boys & Girls Clubs will utilize all proceeds from this year’s telethon to funding memberships, programs and initiatives to help children enhance their lives in the areas of character and leadership;cheap nhl jerseys education and career development; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and health and life skills. Many Michigan children struggle with the effects of single-parent households and families dealing with economic struggles, substance abuse, violence and poverty. The team and the entire Palace Sports & Entertainment organization are asking for the support of the Pistons community.
“We are excited to announce the Boys & Girls Clubs of Michigan as the beneficiary of the 2011 Pistons Care Telethon,” said Karen Davidson, owner of the Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment. “Bill Davidson’s legacy of philanthropy lives on through Pistons Care and Pistons-Palace Foundation’s community outreach efforts.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan reports that its members have a proven track record of excellence both scholastically and professionally with 90% of members graduating from high school and 95% of those members going on to higher education. Furthermore, Club alumni report earning an average household income that is 39% higher than the national average. The cost of an annual membership for a child is only $50, however the actual cost of delivering a year of service is $500 per child. Members can participate in many programs and activities with each receiving the individual attention they need when they visit their Club, which is often the third most frequented location in that child’s life besides their home and school. Members are given the opportunity to interact with professional staff that serve as much-needed role models and mentors and encourage them to set goals,Detroit Red Wings winter classic jerseys 2014 build on their strengths and fulfill their potential.
“We have a unique opportunity as a professional sports organization to give back and make a consequential and lasting impact on people’s lives,” said Alan Ostfield, President & CEO of the Pistons and PS&E. “Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe and developmental environment for kids when they need it most and The Palace family is dedicated to providing services for youth statewide during the 2011 calendar year."
Donations can be made immediately by visiting and clicking the “Donate Now” button. Online donations will be accepted until March 18. Donors interested in participating on the day of the telethon will be provided a toll free number to call throughout the day. To learn about other fundraising programs that allow individuals, businesses, schools or churches to get involved,please call the Pistons community relations department at 248-377-0100.
“We would like thank the entire Pistons organization for its commitment and dedication in supporting Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan and Boys & Girls Clubs throughout the state of Michigan as this year’s beneficiary of the Pistons Care Telethon. Together, Boys & Girls Clubs across the state serve some 100,000 children annually, ages 6-18, 1st -12th grades,” said Len Krichko, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan.
In 2008,Toronto Maple Leafs winter classic jerseys 2014 the Pistons became the first professional sports team in Detroit and in the NBA to present an entire home game as a charitable fundraiser and since then has raised more than $1.3 million in pledges through the annual Pistons Care Telethon.