Source: http://www.danshanoff.com/2011/02/0207-quickie-packers-rodgers-vw.html
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Monday, February 28, 2011
Michael Bradley Move to Aston Villa Highlights Final Day of Transfer Window
Filed under: European Soccer, International Soccer, MLS, English Premier League, La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany), U.S. Men's National Team
A move to the English Premier League will bring a smile to any player's face, even the U.S. national team's noted stoic, Michael Bradley.The 23-year-old's meteoric rise through world soccer continued on Monday, the final day of the European winter transfer window, with a loan from Germany's relegation-bound Borussia Mönchengladbach to Aston Villa.
The Birmingham club will have an option to purchase Bradley's contract -- which expires in the summer of 2012 -- over the summer.
The club released photos of Bradley modeling his new No. 13 shirt at Villa Park, in which he appeared delighted, and a few quotes that confirmed his excitement over the move.
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Larry Fitzgerald and Kevin Kolb exchange candy hearts
A week after Fitzgerald told the Cardinals he'd like the team to acquire Eagles backup Kevin Kolb this offseason, Kolb admitted the feeling was mutual. From Philly.com, via an interview with Kolb on WIP in Philadelphia:
"I mean, if he's not the best, he's one of the best receivers in the NFL, superstar," Kolb said. "For a guy like that to say something about me, it means a lot. And it's awfully flattering, and I hope that if something happens, their name comes up."
Maybe it's best for Kolb to not be too flattered by Fitzgerald's interest. The man did play last season with John Skelton, Max Hall and Derek Anderson.
I mean, it's nice that someone's interested, but it's sort of like being the romantic preference of a lady who's currently in a relationship with an excessively hairy crystal meth addict who was arrested twice this weekend for indecent exposure at the Justin Bieber movie.
It would make sense to get Kolb and Fitzgerald together, and honestly, it would be good for football. Fitzgerald, with those three undesirables at quarterback, still had 90 catches, 1,100 yards and six touchdowns last year.
With a decent quarterback -- and I'm not on the "Kevin Kolb is awesome" bandwagon, but surely, he's better than what the Cardinals have right now -- we all get to enjoy Fitzgerald's talent a little bit more.
The Cardinals have the fifth pick in the draft, too, where they'd likely have their choice of Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton.
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The Shutdown 40: #4 - A.J. Green, WR, Georgia
With the 2010 NFL season in the books, it's time to turn our eyes to the NFL draft, and the pre-draft evaluation process. Before the 2011 scouting combine begins on Thursday, we'll be taking a closer look at the 40 draft-eligible players who may be the biggest difference-makers when all is said and done.
We continue our series with Georgia receiver A.J. Green, regarded by most as the best receiver prospect in this draft class. In three seasons and 31 games with the Bulldogs, Green caught 158 passes for 2,542 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also ran the ball seven times for 105 yards. From his true freshman year, Green dominated to an unusual degree, grabbing 56 receptions for 963 yards and eight touchdowns.
He never had a 1,000-yard season for Georgia, just missing out due to injury and suspension - he missed the first four games of the 2010 season after he sold his Independence Bowl jersey to an agent. So he had to "make do" with 49 catches for 771 yards and nine touchdowns in his junior year. Based on his game tape, it won't be too tough to extrapolate Green's what-ifs to NFL potential.
Pros: Displays a ridiculous vertical leap in tight coverage to grab passes, especially in the end zone. Can bring the ball in one-handed, even with a defender trying to disrupt him, an ability that makes him play even "taller." Excellent straight-line speed and he cuts very well; hard to match on slants and posts. Tracks the ball in stride from full speed and keeps his eye on the ball to make the tough over-the-shoulder catch.
Extends his hands to grab the pass and brings the ball to his chest quickly as he's turning to get upfield. Has no qualms about going over the middle and into a defender's area; will lay out on these plays if necessary. Plays through contact and looks to get upfield even when he's wrapped up. Sits in zone very well and can glide past defenders to extend the play. Shows a burst to productivity on receiver screens. Not afraid to be physical; will get a stiff-arm out and fight for extra yards. Has an excellent concept of routes.
Cons: Not an especially strong player; at 6-foot-4 and 212 pounds, he could probably gain 10 pounds without losing any of his downfield speed. Can't generally just blast by cornerbacks at the line, though he does have an array of moves to get past press coverage. His ability to break past more physical corners displaying aggressive moves and tight coverage at the line may be a slight concern at the next level.
Conclusion: Green has already been compared to Randy Moss in some quarters, and while that's a bit extreme, it's true that he possesses a rare combination of skills that should see him succeeding very quickly at the NFL level. With his ability to jump, get downfield as much with agility as speed, and use his hands to snatch the ball in the tightest spaces, another comparison comes to mind - especially if Green gains a few pounds. Green isn't nearly as physical as Johnson, but many of the attributes line up well enough to make him a sure top-five pick.
NFL Comparison: Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
More Shutdown 40
40 -- Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State | #39 - Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
| #38 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor | #37 - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas | #36 -- Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami | #35 -- Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor | #34 - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State | #33 -- Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State | #32 - Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida | #31 - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado | #30 - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame | #29 - Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois | #28 - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State | #27 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA | #26 - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami | #25 - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | #24 -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington| #23 -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado| #22 - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin | #21 - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois| #20 - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State | #19 - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland | #18 - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue | #17 - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama | #16 - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa | #15 - Tyron Smith, OT, USC | #14 - Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri | #13 - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College | #12 - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn| #11 -- Cameron Jordan, DL, Cal| #10 - Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri | #9 - Julio Jones, WR, Alabama | #8 - Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska | #7 - Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama | #6 -- Robert Quinn, DE. North Carolina | #5 - Von Miller, OLB, Texas A & M
Green Bay schools close early to welcome home the Packers
Schools in Green Bay will close early so children can join their families to welcome the world champion Packers back home Monday afternoon.
Police have charted the motorcade course and will escort the team from the airport to Lambeau Field. A Return to Titletown celebration will be held Tuesday afternoon at Lambeau Field.
Does this send the message to kids that athletes are kings, and that education takes a backseat to athletic accomplishment? That is one way to look at it. I can't say that's not a valid concern.
But think of it more as promoting a sense of community. Green Bay is a little city that's tied very closely to its professional football team. It's something that brings people together there.
Maybe it's not a great thing if we say, "Our group of rich athletes scored more points than some other city's group of rich athletes, and that is more important than science." But I don't think that's necessarily what's happening here.
I don't see a huge issue with giving kids a couple hours off from school in order to instill a sense of community, and belonging to something bigger than themselves. Enjoy yourselves, Green Bay.
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LeBron James accused of 'shameful display of selfishness' by Cavaliers
? LeBron James called 'self-titled former King' after Miami move
? Majority owner says Cleveland will win NBA title before James
The owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers has called LeBron James selfish for his decision to seek a championship with the Miami Heat and promised the hard-luck city an NBA title before the six-times All-Star gets one.
In a letter to Cavaliers fans, the team's majority owner, Dan Gilbert, said he was disappointed that James opted to join his fellow All-Stars Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami and felt the nationally televised announcement was inappropriate.
"If you thought we were motivated before tonight to bring the hardware to Cleveland, I can tell you that this shameful display of selfishness and betrayal by one of our very own has shifted our 'motivation' to previously unknown and previously never experienced levels," Gilbert wrote.
"I personally guarantee that the Cleveland Cavaliers will win an NBA championship before the self-titled former 'King' wins one ... you can take it to the bank."
James opted to deliver his decision during an hour-long programme on cable network after weeks of speculation on whether he would stick with his hometown Cavaliers or jump to one of the other five teams who courted his services.
His decision dealt a major blow to a city that has not celebrated a professional sports championship since 1964 and has developed a widely known reputation for failing in key games.
Without James on the payroll, the Cavaliers can now look to bolster their roster by signing players from what is regarded as one of the deepest pools of free agents. "I promise you that our energy, focus, capital, knowledge and experience will be directed at one thing and one thing only: delivering you the championship you have long deserved and is long overdue," wrote Gilbert.
The Heat, who last celebrated an NBA title in 2006, were clearly in a much more upbeat mood as the team usher in a new chapter.
"We are thrilled that LeBron James and Chris Bosh have decided to come to Miami to join forces with our truly great player, Dwyane Wade," the Heat coach, Pat Riley, said in a statement.
"We are looking forward to the opportunity of building something that our fans in Miami will be proud of for a long, long time. The journey is just beginning."
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2010/jul/09/lebron-james-cleveland-cavaliers-miami-heat
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Homeless man is the king of fantasy football
For the sake of comparison, I finished under .500 in a league of 12 people, and I spend all day with my face buried in NFL news, stats and highlights.
Obviously, Nathan Harrington, 33, of Salem, Mass., knows something I don't. Harrington ended up homeless after needing back surgery, going on medical leave from his job, and being forced to leave his home because it was condemned.
[Rewind: Homeless player signs on for pro soccer team]
And still, he was better than over 3 million people at fantasy football.
He used computers at his father's nursing home, his mother's house, and the library. He knocked on neighbors' doors and asked if he could use their computers.
If you're wondering about specifics, Harrington drafted Arian Foster and picked up Brandon Lloyd as a free agent. He made trades for Adrian Peterson and Dwayne Bowe.
Oddly, Tony Romo was his quarterback, but when Romo went down with a season-ending injury, Harrington had to make due with a string of borderline fantasy quarterbacks. He clinched the top spot behind Tim Tebow's surprising Week 17 performance against the Chargers. From The Salem News:
"My fantasy football was the one thing that kind of seemed to be going right at the time," Harrington said. "There was a lot to be upset about, but the one thing that was steady and heading in a positive direction was the fantasy football. So I thought I might as well stick with it and ride it out. Thank God I did."
[Photo: Stay-at-home dad turns NFL athlete]
For his unbelievable performance, Harrington won a $3,500 Best Buy gift card, which he's selling to his mother for $2,500 cash.
Many thanks, Salem News.
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For Super Bowl champs, the draft is where it starts
Aaron Rodgers is the most famous draft choice under Thompson, but a quick trip up and down the roster reveals several later-pick success stories. Guard Josh Sitton, categorized by Ndamukong Suh as the most challenging offensive lineman he's faced, was taken in the fourth round of the 2008 draft. Running back James Starks, who set the team's running game right in the nick of time for the playoff run that ended in the ultimate victory, was picked up in the sixth round last year.
That's always been the way for Thompson, and he learned it a long time ago when he worked under the legendary Ron Wolf in Green Bay in the early 1990s. Thompson later followed Mike Holmgren to Seattle and helped build the team that went to Super Bowl XL, but the Packers got him back in the subsequent regime change. "He's who I went to work for in '92, and he was a strong believer that you build the core of your team around the draft," Thompson said of Wolf on Friday at the scouting combine. "Certainly free agency is another avenue, but you do that a little bit more selectively. That's just the way we were taught."
According to Thompson, one of the secrets is to avoid getting caught up in which position groups look the strongest in any particular year -- stick to your board and your beliefs on a "no-matter-what" basis.
"I never, never go down that route," Thompson said. "I think at the end of the day, this draft will be like all the other drafts. There will be some areas that they'll be some strength, there will be some other areas that are not quite as strong. But at the end of the day, there's going to be 'X' number of players that come into the league that are going to play. Sometimes there are going to be college free agents like a couple we had this year. Sometimes there are going to be first-round picks."
Another key, as we found out when Thompson took Rodgers in 2005 despite the fact that Brett Favre was still going strong, is to make sure that you're built up at key positions before the need makes you do silly things. That's why young players like cornerback Sam Shields and guard Marshall Newhouse are being groomed now, behind starters in positions that are still relative strengths.
"With offensive linemen, we very much like to have young people on our team, but they have to be prepared to play, just like a lot of guys on our team this year," Thompson said. "But certainly, we think we have some capability, as most teams do, of developing offensive linemen. Sometimes it's a smaller school, sometimes guys that maybe got a late start in college, that sort of thing.
"Sam stepped in and did a very fine job for us. And there are a number of guys I can say this about, it's almost to a man, we wouldn't have gotten [to the Super Bowl] without almost every one of the contributions we had this year."
Even when you don't draft a player, you keep your evaluation database together. That way, a gift from the gods can fall in your lap, as elite cornerback Tramon Williams did when he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2007. Cut at one time by the Houston Texans, Williams eventually flourished in Green Bay's pressure-heavy scheme. Former Houston Oilers running back Alonzo Highsmith, who discovered Williams and talked him up enough for Thompson to pull the trigger, won the NFL Scout of the Year award as a result of that and many other discoveries.
"Well, we watched some tape and we'd been at a workout at Louisiana Tech," Thompson said of the process. "He had pretty good numbers on the original workout, signed with Houston, and then was released. I think he was out there on the streets for two months. Then there was a time we brought in some cornerbacks to work out, and he ran really fast, even better than he did at his pro day, and we put him on our practice squad. At the end of the season we signed him as a reserve/future guy. There's nothing unusual about that, but the fact he's a Pro Bowl caliber corner is unusual. He's worked very hard, he's been coached well -- he thinks he's a player and he is a player."
The draft is the very definition of an inexact science, but success starts with the fundamentals -- you have to know what your ideals are, and you have to know that they work well enough to stake your reputation on them.
"We feel very strongly that our best policy is to try and draft the best player, because you never know," Thompson concluded. "This whole drafting for need, this isn't fantasy football. As you can tell from our team this year, what you think you have at a position could go away with one sprained ankle or one bad knee or something like that. You think you're all set, but you lose them all in one play in the first quarter of a game. So it just makes more sense to us if we stick with the best possible player we can put on our team, regardless of the position, that's the best policy."
That's what the Packers have done over time, and that's why the title is back in Titletown.
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Boston Celtics Sign Chris Johnson From NBA D-League
Filed under: Celtics, NBA D-League, Dakota Wizards
The Boston Celtics made multiple trade deadline moves on Thursday, shipping out big men Kendrick Perkins, Semih Erden and Luke Harangody -- along with Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels -- while bringing in Jeff Green and Nenad Krstic from the Oklahoma City Thunder along with a couple of draft picks from the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings.That leaves the Celtics frontcourt awfully thin for their game tonight against the Denver Nuggets, leading the team to call-up Chris Johnson from the NBA Development League's Dakota Wizards for a 10-day contract.
Johnson, a 6-foot-11, 210-pound center out of LSU, is averaging 16.9 points, 9.6 rebounds and 2.8 blocks this season after previously being a part of the Celtics during this past training camp.
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/24/boston-celtics-sign-chris-johnson-from-nba-d-league/
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There's only a thousand Kobe Bryants: London laps up NBA's big star | Paolo Bandini
The LA Lakers No24 drew a full house to the O2 Arena but injury meant he could only play for only six minutes
Tube strikes and traffic jams be damned, Kobe Bryant was coming to London's O2 Arena. Not just one of him, in fact, but thousands, in all shapes and sizes. Tall Kobes, short Kobes, skinny Kobes, fat Kobes, female Kobes and Kobes of all different ethnicities. Some who live just down the road and others who had travelled from the other side of the globe. All meandering up the walkway that leads to the Arena's entrance, stopping to take the odd photograph or gawp at an oversized picture of... Kobe.
This is the fourth consecutive year in which the NBA has hosted a pre-season game in London, but the first in which it has brought its biggest star along for the ride. High profile players have featured ? from Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and a Boston Celtics team gearing up for a championship run in 2007 to Great Britain's own Luol Deng this time last year ? but not the one Britain really wanted to see. "Kobe is, like, the David Beckham of basketball," offered one starry-eyed teen as he queued for the shirt that would transform him, too, into No24.
Except that unlike Becks, Kobe is still at the top of his game. Last year he averaged 29.2 points through the play-offs as he led the Lakers to a second consecutive title and the fifth of his career. He was the top scorer in all but one of seven games against Boston during their finals series. He also happens to earn more than Beckham too, not that there is any animosity over such matters. The pair are close enough that one of Beckham's Milan shirts takes pride of place in Bryant's locker at the Lakers' Staples Center home.
Bryant, of course, was never going to be in championship-winning form for this, the Lakers' first pre-season game, and in the end was restricted to just over six minutes on the court as he sought to protect both a knee that is recovering from summer surgery and a fractured finger that he chose not to have operated on. A sensible decision, perhaps, though still a slightly disappointing one for an audience who did not see him find the basket in that spell.
There could have been some reaction if he had. The crowds at these games in London have always arrived with an enthusiasm verging on boisterousness and this was no different. Cheerleaders were cheered, players roared at and two fans jeered mercilessly after they failed to identify the Neighbours theme tune when summoned to the floor for a time-out challenge.
Nevertheless, there was no disguising the fact that the greatest volume all evening had been achieved when Kobe emerged on to the floor. When he rose for a jump shot two minutes into the contest, hundreds more Kobes rose with him only to crash back to their seats as the ball clanged away off the rim. He would miss two further shots, both from three-point range, before departing.
The notion that he could be back in London soon had already been shot down in a pre-game press conference held by the NBA commissioner, David Stern, and the AEG CEO Tim Leiweke. AEG has close ties with the Lakers, running the Staples Center, while Leiweke is on the team's board of directors, but when asked if LA could become regulars at the O2 (also run by AEG), his response was immediate: "Not gonna happen" as long as Phil Jackson remains coach. Stern was more circumspect, insisting variety would keep things fresh.
There was mercifully little discussion in the same conference of whether the NBA could ever establish a franchise in these parts. The question was raised, but only briefly. It has been posed so often as to become tedious. The response was the same as ever; Stern suggesting the most realistic scenario would see several teams formed at once in Europe to create a new conference before adding that nothing was likely to happen on this front for at least a decade.
The fans were far more concerned with the here and now. The first chants of "We Want Kobe" began late in the third-quarter and there were further appeals throughout the final period. Before the end there was even a smattering of boos. On the bench Bryant grinned, but even with his team trailing, Jackson was unmoved. He is paid to win championships, not pre-season games, and he will need a healthy Bryant if he is to secure a third of those in a row.
And so the Timberwolves won, 111-92, leaving the would-be Kobes in the stands to swallow their disappointment and pack off home. Many will be back for the two regular season games between the New Jersey Nets and Toronto Raptors in March, though it is worth noting that while tickets sold out for tonight's game in "literally a day", according to Leiweke, there is still some availability for those two. A meaningful game, it seems, is less important to fans than a meaningful player.
guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2011 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/2010/oct/04/kobe-bryant-la-lakers-nba
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Albert Pujols or Miguel Cabrera: Which Star's Distractions Impacts Him More?
Just a little more than one month before the start of the 2011 MLB Season, the two top hitters in the game have dominated the news leading up to spring training. Albert Pujols for his contract situation with the St. Louis Cardinals and Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers for his recent well-publicized DUI arrest.
Both the Tigers and Cardinals have playoff expectations and each player is the single most important player to their teams to meet those expectations. Unfortunately, both will be entering the season with more on their mind than just baseball.
While it once seemed a foregone conclusion that Pujols would remain a Cardinal for the rest of his career, contract negotiations broke off without an extension and it appears that Pujols will be ready to test the free agent market after the 2011 season.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure he'll draw some interest. I just hope he doesn't block a prime time spot on ESPN to announce his intentions.
Pujols hasn't ruled out re-signing with St. Louis but there will be definite concern by the team and their fanbase as the season rolls on. Pujols leaving St. Louis would be devastating to the organization.
Regardless of where he goes, Pujols stands to make more money than any player in the history of the league.
Cabrera has drawn the ire of the public eye since his embarrassing arrest on the eve of spring training. A league assessment recommended an outpatient rehabilitation program to assist Cabrera with his alcohol issues.
Cabrera has since apologized to all parties involved but has stopped short of declaring himself an alcoholic. Cabrera has been ridiculed by the media who see him as being about as stable as a Middle Eastern government.
On surface value, the answer to the question "Which Star's Distractions More Impacts Him?" seems to be a certain no-brainer.
Public perception would see Cabrera standing at first base with a half bottle of scotch, screaming obscenities at the first base coach while the Tigers are entrenched in a playoff chase late in the 2011 season.
Or perhaps throwing a ball at the six-year-old in the first row or maybe just passed out to start the top of the sixth with his head resting on first base after doing a couple Jager bombs in the dugout.
Joking aside, Cabrera has been unjustly vilified for a stupid, childish mistake. The problem is he doesn't have an immediate way to fix what he did. People will continue to ridicule him and he'll need steel plated skin to make it to the season.
Cabrera has been through this before. Although he never actually faced criminal penalties, Cabrera had a well-publicized drunken encounter with the law in 2009 for which he was heavily scrutinized.
Unfazed, he went on to the greatest season in his career in 2010.
This incident, like that, shall pass as well. Cabrera will be questioned heavily about his transgression in March and April. Come May and June the questions will die down and after the All-Star break, his arrest and problems will merely be a footnote on the season.
Conversely, Pujols' contract situation will no doubt steam roll as the season goes on.
Question about where he will sign will come fast and furious in September and October for him, no doubt consuming most of the attention should the Cardinals be in a pennant chase.
Look at what happened to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2010. The Cavs rolled through the regular season and were heavily favored to make it to the NBA Finals.
However, LeBron's pending free agency became more and more of a topic to the point that he seemed to be more focused on his next team rather than his current team. As a result, the Cavs were upset by the Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
LeBron's contract situation ruined the Cavs chance at an NBA championship and tarnished his reputation. Albert Pujols is in an eerily similar situation.
Despite all of my arguments for Pujols being more likely to be impacted by his distraction, he won't be for two main reasons.
First, Albert Pujols is nothing like LeBron James. Comparing the two based on character is like comparing Ghandi to Charlie Sheen.
Pujols is a grown man and the consummate professional. He's always conducted himself with the greatest integrity which has shown in not only his play on the field but also in his commitment to charity and the St. Louis community.
Pujols has publicly promised to not let his contract be a distraction and promises the St. Louis fans that his only goal is to win them a World Series. I for one believe him.
Miguel Cabrera has more or less said the same thing. He remains focused to the team, however Cabrera lacks Pujols track record.
I doubt his performance will be affected by his recent incident. He's played his best when people doubt him.
But no one except Cabrera can promise that it won't happen again and any promise from him would be taken with a tablespoon of salt. He has a lot left to prove and any future incident would be devastating to his career.
The second, obvious reason is that the Pujols distraction has an end. Regardless of what happen this season and where he plays next season, Pujols will have a new contract after this season. He will not have to worry about it next season.
Cabrera will always have his alcohol issues hanging over his head. Regardless of the level of problem he has, and while the scrutiny of the past two weeks will die down, the majority of baseball fans and national media likely expect it to happen again.
Pujols and Cabrera are both entering the season with major distraction concerns. Both promise they won't be. But only Pujols has earned the right to be trusted.
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Competition with NFL twin keeps Mike Pouncey going
Brother Mike moved from guard to center, taking his lumps in the 2010 opener with a bunch of bad snaps against Miami of Ohio. Over the season, he got the hang of his new positions, enjoying it enough to say at the scouting combine that he'd rather be drafted as a center.
Mike may actually be a better guard at the next level, but the sense of competition between brothers may be part of the reason that Mike wants to match his brother in the NFL, and that sense was palatable when he was on the podium at the scouting combine.
"I've got to be drafted higher than Maurkice -- 18th or better," Mike said.
When asked what would happen if he wasn't, his message was clear. "I'd never hear the end of it. I want to beat him at everything. We compete with each other with anything we do. I have to get into camp and I have to earn a starting spot and I have to play great like he did."
More seriously, Mike talked about the great relationship between the two brothers, and how well Maurkice fit into the NFL right away. "He really did [the] same thing he did in college, he was dominant in college and he played great in the NFL," Mike said. "It's one year. He's working hard in the offseason so he can go out and do the same thing next season.
"He played great. It only shows what both of us can do. I think it can only help, but they're not going to draft me because he played good."
Of course, now that Mike is undergoing the same evaluation process his brother went through last season, the comparisons come much more into focus. According to Mike, the reads are pretty even for the most part. "They basically said we look the same on film, some of the teams even said I look better."
The question is whether he'll be a center or guard at the next level. He probably won't be on the board when the Steelers select with the 31st overall pick - the dream of a two-Pouncey line would likely have to be facilitated by a trade up - but in a general sense, Mike seems to be a bit more of a pure road-grader (his physical dominance against the best defensive linemen is consistent on tape), while Maurkice has more experience at a position where keeping everything in front of you is a point of supreme importance.
Mike categorized his decision to skip the Senior Bowl as a "business decision" with his advisors, which was unfortunate in that he could have shown his range at center on a day-to-day basis. Still, Mike is convinced that center is the position for him.
"I knew all the line calls, it was just tough after the first game," Puncey said of his ability to call a game at the line as most centers have to. "I went out and had a bad game. I felt like crap, I told myself when I left the locker room I'd never play like that again. Since that game I had a great season."
When asked how best to compare the two brothers overall, Mike put it succinctly. "There's nothing negative about either one of us. On the field we play hard, off the field we're lovable guys and people love being around us.
"We're the total package."
More on Mike Pouncey: The Shutdown 40 Scouting Report
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Sunday, February 27, 2011
'Fringe' Season 3, Episode 15 Recap
Filed under: Reality-Free, Recaps
['Fringe' - 'Subject 13']Well isn't that just Olivia's bad luck to have been dubbed "Subject 13" back in 1984 when she took part in Walter's experiments in Florida. Actually, hers was sadly not a very happy existence back then, but at least she discovered that she wasn't alone in her struggles. She had a Bishop in her corner, and in fact made an impact on four of them before last night's episode of 'Fringe' was out.
This week, we jumped into the wayback machine and spent the entirety of the episode in 1984 -- we even got a sweet retro-'Fringe' intro sequence to commemorate our journey. Add to that the classic "soft lighting" filming techniques of most dramas of the era, and you can tell the producers really put some care into the making of this episode.
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Source: http://www.tvsquad.com/2011/02/26/fringe-season-3-episode-15-recap/
Ali Campoverdi Ali Larter Alice Dodd Alicia Keys Alicia Witt
FanHouse 15: No. 5 Stephen Strasburg
Filed under: MLB Video, Spring Training
It may seem like just weeks ago that the baseball season ended, but, believe it or not, Spring Training is here.If you're like the rest of us at FanHouse, you can't wait for the season to begin. We've got you covered until opening day arrives.
It's the FanHouse 15, a countdown of the 15 most talked about, blogged about, tweeted about, sensational stars of America's pastime. Who will be number one?
The list continues with No. 5, Nationals' phenom Stephen Strasburg.
Source: http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2011/02/26/fanhouse-15-no-5-stephen-strasburg/
Radha Mitchell Raquel Alessi Rebecca Mader Rebecca Romijn Reese Witherspoon
WWE Wrestlemania 27: Should Triple H end The Undertakers' mania streak?
The Undertaker finally returned on Raw this week after being out of action since October 15th, due to a shoulder injury.
Triple H spared no time and walked down to the ring as soon as Taker was back. The wrestlers did not need to say anything to explain what they wanted. These men want a match and they want it at Mania.
Triple H’s best friend, Shawn Michaels, wrestled Taker last year at Wrestlemania and was forced to retire due to him losing the match. Triple H cannot help but feel sad and miss his best friend. So, obviously HHH wants revenge, and what better revenge then to end Undertaker’s Wrestlemania streak?
But does Triple H deserve to end Taker’s streak?
In 2002 and 2009, Triple H was voted 'most overrated wrestler of the year’ by Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Triple H was also voted ‘Reader’s least favorite wrestler’ in 2002 and 2003. Was this because Triple H was pushed too hard or cause Triple H made a good heel?
When I think back to 2003, I remember how much Triple H use to annoy me. His speeches would go on for so long, I would often go and make myself food, and by the time I came back he was still talking. I could not stand hearing him talk. And I was fed up of him always being the center of Raw.
As time passed, I began to find him tolerable. Recently, I even started to like him. I look back on his career and wonder if I just saw the negative side to his career out of sheer annoyance of hearing his voice every week?
Triple H helped Randy Orton, Batista and Sheamus build their careers in WWE. He has been face and heel. He has been a single wrestler, a tag team wrestle, and a leader of a stable. He won the 1997 King of the Ring and 2002 Royal Rumble. As for championships, he has held the World Heavyweight Championship, the WWE Championship, the European Championship, the Intercontinental Championship and the tag team belts.
And let’s not forget DX. The stable that did not care what people thought, but instead just did what they want.
Triple H has given a lot to the wrestling business over the years. He even accepted punishment for the Madison Square Garden incident, in which Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Sean Waltman, and Scott Hall broke kayfabe and hugged in the middle of the ring. Waltman and Hall left for WCW, so they did not receive any punishment. HBK was the champion at the time, so he did not receive punishment either. However, HHH went from championship contender to jobber for several months. He did not complain during this time though.
Triple H may give his full effort to wrestling and WWE, but does he give more than The Undertaker? Does he have the right to take that streak away? I do not think anyone should have this right, unless it was Shawn Michaels. It’s not that I do not like Triple H, but he hasn’t had the same long rivalry like HBK and Taker did. Yes he has a vengeance but it’s not the same.
Malia Jones Malin Akerman Mandy Moore Maria Bello Maria Menounos
The Shutdown Five: Best individual matchups in Super Bowl XLV
1. James Harrison vs. Chad Clifton. The following is a complete list of NFL tackles who can block James Harrison one-on-one:
Unless the Packers happen to get a sasquatch in uniform by Sunday, it's just not something that's going to happen. Clifton's a fine tackle; one of the better ones in the league. But Harrison's on another planet. Sending some help Clifton's way wouldn't be such a big problem, if the matchup on the opposite side wasn't ...
2. LaMarr Woodley vs. Bryan Bulaga. Again, the Steeler in the matchup is probably a little too much for the Packer to handle. It's not necessarily a criticism of Bulaga, but he's a rookie, and Woodley's a monster. If the Packers can get even a stalemate out of one of these matchups, it would be huge for them. Ultimately, though, it's probably going to have to be Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy who find a way to neutralize Harrison and Woodley, because Clifton and Bulaga probably can't.
3. Doug Legursky vs. B.J. Raji. Raji will either get to face backup Doug Legursky, or a hobbled Maurkice Pouncey. Either way, it's bad news for the Steelers. Raji not only takes care of the normal space-eating, blocker-occupying duties of a typical 3-4 nose tackle, but he's quick enough to get after the passer and chase down ball carriers, too. He becomes a huge factor if the Steelers are less than 100 percent at center.
4. Cullen Jenkins vs. Jonathan Scott. You probably haven't heard much about Jenkins heading into the Super Bowl, but he could be a game changer on Sunday. He was exactly that against the Bears, and I don't believe the Steelers can handle him, either. It'll be up to Scott and guard Chris Kemoeatu to slow him down.
5. Bryant McFadden vs. Whoever is Lined Up Across From Bryant McFadden. The Packers would probably like to make it Greg Jennings in front of McFadden for most of the day, while the Steelers would probably prefer it was Donald Driver. He'll likely see some of both, but it's a matchup that favors the Packers, either way. If you're going to attack the Steelers deep, going after McFadden is your best shot.
Yamila Diaz Yvonne Strzechowski Zhang Ziyi Zoe Saldana Zooey Deschanel
The ladies love Troy Polamalu's jersey
The best-selling women's jersey is that of Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, according to sales figures from NFLShop.com.
What makes Polamalu so popular among lady viewers? His sensitive and kind disposition? His unisex hairstyle? The fact that women can easily preview what their jersey will look like with long hair covering up the name?
Probably none of the above, actually. Polamalu is just as popular among men, as he has the best-selling jersey in that demographic, too. The Steelers are a popular team nationwide, and Polamalu's one of the faces of the franchise.
It probably also helps his jersey sales that the other face of the franchise, Ben Roethlisberger, has done some things that might make a public showing of support for Roethlisberger a little less palatable. He doesn't rank in the top 25 for either gender.
If you're wondering about guys more popular among women than among men, a guy Polamalu will be facing in the Super Bowl tops that list. Aaron Rodgers is fourth on the women's list and seventh on the men's. Dallas Cowboys also see a rise in popularity among the fairer sex: Tony Romo, Jason Witten and the very handsome Miles Austin are all higher on the women's list than the men's.
More popular among men than women is Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. He's sixth on the men's list and 14th on the women's.
The top five are as follows:
1. Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Steelers:2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts:
3. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints:
4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers:
5. Tom Brady, New England Patriots:
Big Thanks, Darren Rovell of CNBC.
Michelle Behennah Michelle Branch Michelle Malkin Michelle Obama Michelle Rodriguez
A brief photographic tour of NFL players' offseasons
It's been less than three weeks since the Super Bowl, but with talk of labor negotiations and college kids with tremendous upside taking up bandwith and airwaves, we thought it'd be nice to check in with NFL players to see what they've been doing with their offseasons.
I've always wanted to say this ... for shizzle.
Ryan Grant, John Kuhn, Charles Woodson and Green Bay Packers team president Mark Murphy pose for a picture on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange. At least they let the injured Grant appear in this team photograph. (Also note the photo-bombing trader wearing the cheese head. My faith in Wall Street is restored.)
Tila Tequila and Dallas Cowboys reserve running back Lonyae Miller. I'm not sure which one is slumming it.
Terrell Owens gives Nelly an award at a celebration honoring the seventh anniversary of the last time they were relevant. Kevin Federline was unable to attend.
T.O. again, because how can we pass up an opportunity to run this picture of Kevin from "The Office"? When the Rex Ryan telepic is inevitably filmed, Brian Baumgartner should star (assuming he doesn't have the same problem with excessively sweaty feet as the television character he portrays).
Roger Goodell did a walk of shame. Doesn't he look like a disgraced Congressman walking into a hearing?
If I'm an NFL player, I don't know if DeMaurice Smith's hat makes me more or less confident in his abilities to negotiate a labor contract.
Buffalo Bills safety George Wilson blue steels it with American figure skater Johnny Weir. As for Weir's outfit, what can I say about it that hasn't already been said about the "Follow the Yellow Brick Road" scene from "The Wizard of Oz."
Remember when a Metrodome official said he was optimistic that the Vikings could play in the stadium the week after the dome's collapse?
Matthew Stafford is evidently a one woman kind of guy. And a two helpings of dessert one as well.
On the bright side, at least Legedu Naanee's Indianapolis arrest didn't involve a late-night swim in a filthy canal, PAT MCAFFEE.
Brandon Marshall went to a Nuggets game to hang with Rocky the Mountain Lion and presumably give Carmelo Anthony some pointers on how to successfuly force an exit from Denver.
Rachel Nichols Rachel Perry Rachel Weisz Radha Mitchell Raquel Alessi
UFC 127 Weigh-In Video
Filed under: UFC
All 24 fighters who will step into the Octagon at UFC 127 will step on the scale for the UFC 127 weigh-ins, and we'll have the live video right here at MMAFighting.com.In the main event, B.J. Penn and Jon Fitch will both need to make the welterweight limit of 170 pounds, with a one-pound buffer for a non-title fight.
The weigh-in begins at 10PM ET on Friday and the video is below.
Source: http://www.mmafighting.com/2011/02/25/ufc-127-weigh-in-video/
Santonio Holmes makes another epic postseason TD catch
It wasn't quite this one, but it was pretty damn good. Now Santonio Holmes has two brilliant postseason corner-of-the-end-zone catches on his résumé.
Arguably, Holmes has made more big plays than anyone in the NFL this year. That one was as big as any play of Divisional Weekend, putting the Jets up by 10 points in the fourth quarter. When the Jets need a game-winner, Holmes has been their guy.
Credit Mark Sanchez for tremendous accuracy and touch on the throw, too. Sanchez turned in a performance that, to be honest with you, I didn't think he had in him. He was outstanding.
Ali Campoverdi Ali Larter Alice Dodd Alicia Keys Alicia Witt
Several Pistons Miss Shootaround
Filed under: Pistons
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Several Detroit Pistons missed at least part of the team's shootaround before Friday night's game at Philadelphia, the latest incident on what has been a difficult season for the proud franchise.Team spokesman Cletus Lewis said Richard Hamilton, Chris Wilcox, Rodney Stuckey and Austin Daye missed the bus, with Stuckey and Daye able to arrive late.
Tayshaun Prince, Tracy McGrady and Ben Wallace also missed the shootaround. Lewis said Prince had an upset stomach, McGrady had a headache and Wallace was tending to an unspecified family matter.
Detroit entered the night 21-38 and is almost certainly headed to its third straight losing season. There have been signs of disharmony almost from the beginning. Coach John Kuester benched Stuckey barely a week into the season, although that was only temporary.
Kuester then benched Hamilton on Jan. 12, and he didn't play again until a Feb. 5 game at Milwaukee. Hamilton has missed every game since then. The team has said Hamilton has a groin injury.
The team was unable to trade Hamilton before Thursday's deadline. He's guaranteed $20 million over the next two seasons.
Wallace missed eight games in January. He's battled ankle problems and also left the team to tend to a family matter.
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Source: http://nba.fanhouse.com/2011/02/25/several-pistons-miss-shootaround/
Gina Gershon Gina Philips Gisele Bündchen Giuliana DePandi Giulianna Ramirez
2011 NBA Season: The Real March Madness Doesn't Involve a Bracket Until May
It was an interesting question. About this time last year, when I was out of school penning a manuscript, I'd wake up early in the morning, do some stretching, and catch ESPN First Take with my morning coffee.
For those of you on the West Coast not accustomed to waking up this early (I know my target demographic), ESPN First Take is a mostly forgettable morning program, with one exception: My favorite television personality on earth, Skip Bayless, takes four topics and addresses them while doing his Sunday best to remind everyone he has a hopeless case of oral diarrhea.
And it's beautiful.
You see, the answer to the question was supposed to be obvious.
"Skip, what are you more excited about, NBA Basketball in March or the NCAA Tournament?"
Skip answered emphatically with..."NBA basketball." Aaaand cut.
Everybody on the set groans. Wait a minute, Skip is serious! March is March Madness month, Skip! Nobody cares about regular season NBA Basketball, anyway!
NBA Basketball over March Madness? This is madness!... sorry, I won't finish that.
The truth is, as is often the case, that Skip Bayless is right.
Come on. Nobody really cares about college basketball unless you happened to attend, or are currently attending, a school that has a chance of winning the tournament.
I mean, either that or you have some form of a gambling problem when it comes to bracket time.
As for the argument that college basketball is more sound fundamentally, well the missionary position is sound fundamentally, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's all that fun.
I rest my case.
So while the rest of America fills out brackets, and the vast majority of you "college basketball is for actual basketball fans" junkies try to stab your eyes out with a pencil when you realize that bimbo in H.R. won the office bracket pool, I'll be cracking a Heineken, ordering a fat pizza, and admiring Kobe Bryant's reverse-turnaround fade-away jumper.
From this day forward, I officially refuse to even pretend to care about college basketball.
I mean, with the NBA the way it is, NOBODY has an excuse to miss regular season games.
If you think regular season games don't matter, explain to me why LeBron nearly killed himself two nights ago diving for a ball in the fourth quarter against Chicago.
Every win counts in positioning for the Playoffs, both mentally and physically.
If you think about it, this is the first time in years that the contenders haven't been whittled down to "whoever plays the Lakers." San Antonio, Dallas (barring a Nowitzki choke), and now even Oklahoma City look like they can go all the way.
In the Eastern Conference, we're looking at Boston, Miami, Chicago, possibly Orlando (never underestimate a big man), and maaaaybe New York.
That's already four lock-in contenders where you have to start worrying about potential draws, and first-round match-ups. It's almost enough to make you want to trade Kendrick Perkins for Jeff Green. Almost.
So while the mass hysteria and paranoia builds up in anticipation for the playoffs, you might want to tune into a few NBA games before the NBA Playoffs start. You know, so you know what the teams are actually like before you start parlaying, propping, and screaming at Derek Fisher to shoot a layup with 10 seconds left in a four-point win.
As an NBA fan, I haven't been this geeked about the NBA Playoffs since Shaq wore the purple and gold.
So instead of throwing $20 into an office bracket pool that will inevitably become factored into that H.R. bimbo's weekly Nordstrom's run, take your $20, pick up a six-pack of Heineken, order a fat pizza, and watch how the grown men play basketball.
Jaime King Jaime Pressly Jamie Chung Jamie Gunns Jamie Lynn Sigler
Saturday, February 26, 2011
The Shutdown 40: #11 - Cameron Jordan, DL, Cal
With the 2010 NFL season in the books, it's time to turn our eyes to the NFL draft, and the pre-draft evaluation process. Before the 2011 scouting combine begins on Feb. 24, we'll be taking a closer look at the 40 draft-eligible players who may be the biggest difference-makers when all is said and done.
We continue our series with Cal defensive lineman Cameron Jordan. The Senior Bowl standout, perhaps the most impressive player in Mobile throughout the week, showed that he can crash in on offensive lines at end or kicking inside to tackle. Were there a different tackling policy during practice week, there would have been some unhappy quarterbacks on the North team.
In four seasons and 50 games (34 starts) with the Cal Golden Bears, Jordan amassed 175 tackles (88 solo), 34 tackles for loss (29 solo), 14 solo sacks, 11 quarterback hurries, five passes defensed, and four forced fumbles. His senior campaign: 62 tackles (33 solo), 12.5 TFL (11 solo), 5.5 sacks, one quarterback hurry, four passes defensed, and three forced fumbles. He's the son of Steve Jordan, six-time Pro Bowl tight end with the Minnesota Vikings.
Pros: Not explosive off the snap, but Jordan has an array of moves to get past and around blockers -- if he's backed up at the line, he can spin out very effectively into a tackle, and he's exceptional with his hands -- Ndamukong Suh is the best I've seen in recent years when it comes to separating a double-team with consecutive rip moves, but Jordan shares that skill at a lower level.
Excellent swim move to get past single-blockers, as well, and he gets to the quarterback quickly when he's free. Good re-direct when he's boxed out. As an end, shows good speed around the tackle off the snap and can shoot sideways well to the quarterback after his turn. Crashed inside very well, especially stunting in at an angle. Didn't stunt or loop a lot at Cal, but he has the speed and disruptive ability to confuse lines in the right set of schemes.
Cons: Though Jordan can get to the ballcarrier with great suddenness, he's not always accurate when it comes to taking a guy down -- he will overpursue himself right out of tackles at times. Doesn't always disengage or slip off blocks when it seems that he could. Great strength for his size (6-foot-4, 287 pounds), but purely explosive speed is not part of Jordan's skill set. He disrupts with strength and technique.
Conclusion: Cal has been ahead of the curve when it comes to providing defensive linemen to the NFL that could (and do) fit in different types of situations -- Brandon Mebane and Tyson Alualu are but two recent examples. Similarly, Jordan could excel in several different situations, and I think he'll be in different places on his NFL line, but his strength/speed ratio has me slotting him in as a five-tech end in three- or four-man fronts. Jordan can set the edge against the run, provide surprising quickness around tackle in passing downs, and split different gaps. If he shows out at the scouting combine like he did at the Senior Bowl, he could benefit from the fact that people take time to catch up to Pac-10 game film and wind up as a possible top-15 pick.
NFL Comparison: Cory Redding, Baltimore Ravens
More Shutdown 40
#40 -- Rodney Hudson, OG, Florida State | #39 - Luke Stocker, TE, Tennessee
| #38 - Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor | #37 - Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas | #36 -- Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami | #35 -- Danny Watkins, OL, Baylor | #34 - Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State | #33 -- Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State | #32 - Mike Pouncey, OL, Florida | #31 - Nate Solder, OT, Colorado | #30 - Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame | #29 - Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois | #28 - Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State | #27 - Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA | #26 - Brandon Harris, CB, Miami | #25 - Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin | #24 -- Jake Locker, QB, Washington| #23 -- Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado| #22 - J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin | #21 - Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois| #20 - Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State | #19 - Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland | #18 - Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue | #17 - Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama | #16 - Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa | #15 - Tyron Smith, OT, USC | #14 - Aldon Smith, OLB, Missouri | #13 - Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College | #12 - Cam Newton, QB, Auburn
Robin Tunney Rosario Dawson Rose Byrne Rose McGowan Roselyn Sanchez
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