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Browns' Ray Farmer on Johnny Manziel: He's different

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ray Farmer sees plenty to like about <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/johnny-manziel?id=2543462" target="_self">Johnny Manziel</a>, but the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE">Browns</a>
 general manager is still wrestling with the notion of drafting the 
Texas A&M prospect with Cleveland's fourth overall pick in next 
month's draft.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Praising Manziel as an "exciting, electric" player, Farmer also told reporters on Monday: "He's different."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
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<a href="http://static.nfl.com/static/content/photo/2014/01/14/0ap2000000313377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="http://static.nfl.com/static/content/photo/2014/01/14/0ap2000000313377.jpg" border="0" class="decoded" src="http://static.nfl.com/static/content/photo/2014/01/14/0ap2000000313377.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ohio.com/blogs/cleveland-browns/cleveland-browns-1.270107/browns-gm-ray-farmer-presser-watkins-gets-a-wow-support-for-manziel-bridgewater-1.484072" target="_blank">"He's not the quintessential guy who everybody points to</a>
 and says, 'This is how you would draw it up; this is the packaging you 
want,'" said Farmer, per the Akron Beacon Journal. "That speaks to a lot
 of what Johnny has been his entire life, (which) is different. It's not
 how you think about playing the position and being effective from the 
pocket."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
   </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cleveland's front office was seen as obsessed with Manziel when 
former general manager Michael Lombardi was in charge, but Farmer has 
been rumored to desire a more prototypical passer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
   </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Still, Farmer, who met with Manziel last week, called the latter a
 "good young man," telling reporters: "I don't think I have any 
reservations with who Johnny is."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
   </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">More from Cleveland's top decision-maker:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
   </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. Farmer gushed over <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/sammy-watkins?id=2543457" target="_self">Sammy Watkins</a>,
 dismissing concerns about the Clemson wide receiver's size -- he's 
6-foot-1 -- and calling his potential on-field impact "big, big. 
Ginormous." Asked if he could see Watkins in a <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE">Browns</a> uniform, Farmer waxed poetic, saying: "Saddle him on the other side of <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/joshgordon/2537931/profile">Josh Gordon</a> and ... Wow."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
   </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Farmer emphasized that adding slot man <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/andrewhawkins/2508097/profile">Andrew Hawkins</a> and veteran <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/nateburleson/2505511/profile">Nate Burleson</a> did nothing to lower Cleveland's chances of taking another pass-catcher early in the draft. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
   </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2. Farmer gave high marks to <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/khalil-mack?id=2543463" target="_self">Khalil Mack</a>,
 calling the Buffalo product an "explosive" pass rusher who "can do a 
little bit of everything" and "looks like the real deal." We guarantee 
that coach Mike Pettine wouldn't argue with taking a chance on Greg 
Cosell's <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000344338/article/greg-cosell-prefers-khalil-mack-over-jadeveon-clowney">favorite defensive prospect</a> at No. 4.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> 
   </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3. One dark-horse option for the <a href="http://www.nfl.com/teams/clevelandbrowns/profile?team=CLE">Browns</a>? An offensive lineman. Farmer praised <a href="http://www.nfl.com/player/joethomas/2507162/profile">Joe Thomas</a>
 as a consummate All-Pro, but talked about wanting to give every player 
on the roster someone to compete with, citing offensive tackle prospects
 <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/greg-robinson?id=2543458" target="_self">Greg Robinson</a> and <a href="http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/profiles/jake-matthews?id=2543758" target="_self">Jake Matthews</a> as genuine first-round possibilities.</span><br />
<br />
 
   <em>The latest "<a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/around-the-league">Around The League</a> Podcast" <a href="http://www.nfl.com/podcast/aroundtheleague-podcast/1398458796000/detail?campaign=Twitter_podcasts_atl">breaks down the draft</a> with NFL Films' Greg Cosell.</em>

Browns' Ray Farmer on Johnny Manziel: He's different

Ray Farmer sees plenty to like about Johnny Manziel , but the Browns general manager is still wrestling with the notion of drafting the T...

Indian cricket will not regulate itself until forced to

Unknown 0 Cricket 14:16

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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On Tuesday the Indian Supreme Court will confirm whether Justice Mukul Mudgal will once again <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/738713.html">head a probe</a> to uncover more IPL corruption. There is now a weary acceptance that the BCCI cannot be expected to do so on its own. </span></div>
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<a href="http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/168600/168617.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/168600/168617.2.jpg" border="0" class="decoded" src="http://p.imgci.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/168600/168617.2.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
What began essentially as IPL code violations is today stuck in gridlock
 due to an entanglement of colliding, conflicting interests and personal
 and political agendas. An open-and-shut case of broken rules has turned
 into a Rubik's Cube conundrum; except, this cube has eight colours on 
its six sides.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Yes, the Supreme Court was brought into the debate by parties aiming to 
strike at the BCCI's power structures over tackling IPL fraud, but the 
court has given the BCCI a chance at every stage to seize control of a 
crisis that has spiralled since the <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2013/content/story/636201.html">May 2013 arrests</a>.
 It has steered clear of what outraged defendants call "judicial 
overreach". At every stage, the court has been met with resistance, 
obfuscation, denial and sidestepping. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The most meaningful outcome of months of legal wrangling and not so 
artful dodging was the setting up of the Justice Mudgal IPL probe 
committee. It is the first serious inquiry into corruption in Indian 
cricket after the CBI investigation into match-fixing "and related 
malpractices" in 2000. Despite tight terms of reference and limited 
investigative powers, the committee has held a mirror up to the flawed 
functioning of the BCCI after the Delhi and Mumbai police blew open the 
lid on the spot-fixing scandal. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The Mudgal committee brought to the attention of the Supreme Court 
allegations that required a response from the BCCI. Justice Ibrahim 
Khalifullah <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/story/730917.html">said</a>, "If there has to be a fair and dispassionate enquiry, Mr Srinivasan must step down." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Over the past year, BCCI president N Srinivasan's deeds and words have 
given away his motives: to remain entrenched in the BCCI, to delay 
action against his IPL team Chennai Super Kings, and to hold on to a 
promised position in the ICC. Because, he remains, of course, an 
honourable and innocent man who has done nothing wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The Mudgal panel sifted through a steaming pile of IPL corruption and 
the formidable self-righteousness of the man at the top of the tree. It 
did so methodically without ever veering off legal ground or losing 
equanimity, even when it suspected that audio recordings of depositions 
were being sent to interested parties outside the room.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The Mudgal panel was commissioned on October 9, 2013, and it submitted 
its report to the court on February 10, 2014. Justice Mudgal, Additional
 Solicitor General L Nageshwar Rao, and Nilay Dutta brought a combined 
legal experience of around 100 years to the panel. They were assisted by
 three juniors, Vidushpat Singhania, who was secretary of the 
commission, Gautam Bharadwaj and Abantee Dutta. 
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The commission first asked "persons possessing information" that was 
relevant to contact them on email, assuring confidentiality. Through 
BCCI emails, it invited individuals to appear before them with due 
notice given of time and place.  The exact number of depositions before 
the committee is not known: 52 people are named in the report, with a 
few, on request, remaining unnamed and therefore unaccounted for. The 
commission was assisted by a couple of BCCI officials who were to look 
after logistics and then stand aside. </span></div>
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 </div>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="pullquote" style="margin-top: 10px; width: 310px;">
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It should not be a surprise to hear that recordings were being passed to
 those outside the committee. This is the BCCI - it contains 
businessmen, lawyers, politicians; all experts in seizing, controlling 
and protecting power. Nicking tapes is small stuff </td>
</tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hearings took place in hotel business centres in five cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bangalore. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Each person called in was told, first up, that it was to be an 
interaction, a conversation to gather strands of information, and by no 
means an interrogation. The conversation was being recorded to ensure 
the minutes of the meeting were accurate; it was not to be evidence in 
court. Should the recordings make the individual uncomfortable, they 
could be stopped at any time. </span></div>
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</span><div class="news-body">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Mudgal, the oldest of the three, avuncular, relaxed moved the discussion
 along as if they were discussing the weather. Nilay Dutta was social, 
chatty, making jokes, smiling even while asking for more precise detail.
 Rao, at the far end end of the conference table from the other two, 
listented silently until he put in an incisive query - of the kind whose
 answer would make you trip over any falsehood uttered along the way. In
 tone and tenor it was a rambling conversation, but it was hard to 
ignore the glimmering edge of legal expertise in the room. </span></div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="news-body">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Journalist Pradeep Magazine has appeared before this commission and 
another related to illegal betting and fixing in Indian cricket. In 
1997, the BCCI appointed a one-man commission under a retired chief 
justice of India, YV Chandrachud, to respond to an <i>Outlook</i> magazine cover story about match-fixing and a piece by Magazine in the <i>Pioneer</i>
 newspaper relating to India's 1997 tour of the West Indies on which 
Magazine had a bookie make him an offer of money to approach Indian 
players to fix matches. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The Chandrachud commission asked Magazine nothing about that experience 
or what he knew or had heard about illegal betting in and around the 
Indian cricket team. Players who appeared before the judge were asked 
for autographs. One said, "It did not feel serious. You weren't asked 
one searching question." Three years later, Hansie Cronje happened. 
Magazine says today that he was struck by the difference between the two
 commissions. The Mudgal panel asked for all the information and leads 
he had to offer and listened to him, rather than talking about what a 
great game cricket was.
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="news-body">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The Mudgal Commission interviewed players, officials, policemen, 
journalists, and a range of others, who provided truths, untruths, 
hidden truths, nuggets of information, idle gossip, propaganda, agendas.
 They were told tales, some tall, some true, presented with police tapes
 and reports. They probably ran into walls of silence, far from direct 
answers, and many claims of "don't know, can't say". Mudgal told 
ESPNcricinfo, "I've been a judge for about 15 years, I have seen all 
facets of human behaviour - murder, etc. So was I surprised? No." </span></div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="news-body">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
It should not be a surprise to hear that deposition recordings were 
being passed to those outside the committee. This is the BCCI - it 
contains businessmen, lawyers, politicians; all experts in seizing, 
controlling and protecting power. Nicking tapes is small stuff. </span></div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="news-body">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The BCCI's latest legal tack is an attempt to disprove the Mudgal 
commission's findings, calling for audio and transcripts, and setting in
 motion a whisper campaign about the panel members. It is however, yet 
to answer a simple question: apart from <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2013/content/current/story/636152.html">banning three cricketers</a>,
 why have neither Chennai Super Kings or Rajasthan Royals been punished 
for their links to illegal betting? What we get instead is 
self-proclaimed honour, innocence, and claims of no wrong-doing. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span><div class="news-body">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
In contrast to such dithering, the Mudgal Commission finished with its 
job in four months. It didn't miss a deadline, or bend or break any 
rules. Should the court order that the commission continue the 
investigation, the panel could do with both assistance and teeth: 
professional investigators, judicial powers and constant monitoring by 
the Supreme Court. </span></div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="news-body">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
The panel has proved what was already suspected: other than the general 
nuts and bolts of the game and commercial rights, when dealing with the 
serious stuff gnawing away underneath, Indian cricket cannot and will 
not regulate itself.
</span></div>

Indian cricket will not regulate itself until forced to

On Tuesday the Indian Supreme Court will confirm whether Justice Mukul Mudgal will once again head a probe to uncover more IPL corruption....

Vlasic leaves Sharks' game with injury

Unknown 0 Hockey 01:58

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<b>SAN JOSE</b> -- <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The <a href="http://sharks.nhl.com/" target="_blank">San Jose Sharks</a> were forced to play most of Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series against the <a href="http://kings.nhl.com/" target="_blank">Los Angeles Kings</a> on Saturday without star defenseman <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8471709">Marc-Edouard Vlasic</a>, and he could miss Game 6, coach <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8449456">Todd McLellan</a> said after his team's 3-0 loss.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Vlasic left the game with 5:51 remaining in the first period after being checked into the boards by Kings center <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8468526">Jarret Stoll</a>, who received a minor penalty for roughing. Vlasic did not return to the game."He didn't return after the blow he took to the head from Stoll," 
McLellan said. "He's got an upper-body injury. You can call it that."</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.cdn.nhle.com/nhl/images/upload/2014/04/kings_042614_325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://3.cdn.nhle.com/nhl/images/upload/2014/04/kings_042614_325.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">McLellan said the referees didn't explain why Stoll received only a two-minute minor.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"They have a tough job," McLellan said. "They can't determine the 
extent of an injury on the spot. I don't hold them accountable for that.
 They made the call that they thought was appropriate. Unfortunately 
he's injured. We want to get that out of the game if we can."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Vlasic has been one of the Sharks' most durable players; he's missed 
one game during the past three seasons. That came late this season when 
McLellan decided to give him a day off to rest for the upcoming Stanley 
Cup Playoffs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Vlasic has played 600 regular-season games in his NHL career, which 
began in 2006-07 when he made the team as an 18-year-old. He has played 
in 84 career playoff games.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Vlasic was a key player for Canada's gold-medal winning team at the 
2014 Sochi Olympics. A dominant possession player, he garnered attention
 for the Norris Trophy this season and is one the Sharks' top penalty 
killers and shot blockers. He entered Game 5 with a team-high nine 
blocked shots.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Sharks, who trailed 2-0 when Vlasic left, played the rest of the game with five defensemen.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Playing five D is not something you're used to," Sharks defenseman <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8467096">Dan Boyle</a>
 said. "The problem was playing five D when you're down 3-0. That's 
where it gets a little bit difficult. Five D when you're up you can kind
 of keep it simple and play a certain way. But, you're down three goals,
 five d-men pushing the puck, rushing up, it definitely got a little 
difficult but I thought we handled it well."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If Vlasic can't play, <a href="http://www.nhl.com/ice/player.htm?id=8475625">Matt Irwin</a>
 would be his likely replacement. Irwin played 62 games in the regular 
season and had two goals and 17 assists. He fell out of favor late in 
the season and has not made an appearance in the playoffs.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last year in the playoffs, Vlasic played a handful of games despite a broken foot.</span>

Vlasic leaves Sharks' game with injury

SAN JOSE -- The San Jose Sharks were forced to play most of Game 5 of their Western Conference First Round series against the Los An...

England U20 squad named for Junior World Championship

Unknown 0 Rugby 01:54

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The England Under-20 squad has been named for this summer’s Junior 
World Championship in New Zealand. Coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel have
 picked a 28-man squad that they hope will defend the title England won 
in France last year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><img alt="rfu" src="http://www.therugbyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/rfu-logo-300x300.jpg" style="float: right; padding-left: 10px;" width="40%" /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Captain Callum Braley is amongst seven 
players with previous JWC experience. He said: “It’s massively exciting 
to be heading down to New Zealand to defend our title. Rugby is 
obviously huge over there and there will be some pressure on us, but we 
will use that as a positive and look to perform as best we can.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Head
 coach Walshe added: “We’re pleased with the balance and experience in 
this squad, and we are confident that they will perform well in each of 
our five matches. While England U20 are the holders of the trophy, this 
group hasn’t won anything – we enjoyed a successful Six Nations, and 
while it was disappointing not to win it, as a group we came on hugely. 
The key is to keep building on that momentum.”</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">England start their
 campaign in Pukehoke on June 2nd against Italy, before games against 
Australia and Argentina on June 6th and 10th respectively.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>England Under 20 squad Forwards</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Biyi Alo (Saracens)<br /> James Chisholm (Harlequins)<br /> Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)<br /> Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby)<br /> Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)<br /> Jonny Hill (Gloucester Rugby)<br /> Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie)<br /> Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)<br /> Maro Itoje (Saracens)<br /> Gus Jones (London Wasps)<br /> Alex Lundberg (London Wasps)<br /> Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)<br /> Harry Rudkin (Leicester Tigers)<br /> Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers)<br /> Jack Walker (Leeds Carnegie)<br /> Tom Woolstencroft (Bath Rugby)</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>Backs</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby, captain)<br /> Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby)<br /> Nathan Earle (Saracens)<br /> Tom Fowlie (London Irish)<br /> Aaron Morris (Bedford Blues)<br /> Sam Olver (Northampton Saints)<br /> Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)<br /> Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)<br /> Harry Sloan (Harlequins)<br /> Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)<br /> Henry Taylor (Loughborough University)<br /> Nick Tompkins (Saracens)</span>

England U20 squad named for Junior World Championship

The England Under-20 squad has been named for this summer’s Junior World Championship in New Zealand. Coaches Nick Walshe and Ian Peel have...

Gulfstream Park Pick 6 Carryover~ Free Picks 03/29/2014

Unknown 0 Horse Racing 01:21

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good morning everyone and happy Saturday to you as we are ramping up 
for the Kentucky Derby that is only a little more than a month away. 
Today is an exciting day at Gulfstream Park where we have a Pick 6 
carryover that has gone over 4 Million Dollars! That is some life 
changing money and we will provide some insight with some great horses 
to zero in on. Check out the <a data-ls-seen="1" href="http://horse-racingtips.com/amazing-pick-six-ebook/" title="Amazing Pick 6 Ebook">Winning Pick 6 E-book</a> on this site and let’s take down this Jackpot. Here are your Free <em>Gulfstream Park Pick 6</em> picks below:<span id="more-2759"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Race 9: Danalin and Hillhouse High</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Race 10: Viva Rafaela and Caroline Thomas</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Race 11: Salto and Mr. Online</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Race 12: Norumbega and Micromanage</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Race 13: Admiral Kitten and Slumber</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Race 14: Wildcat Red and Cairo Prince</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are our pick 6 picks for this massive Jackpot at Gulfstream 
Park. There is a chance of rain later today so watch for that as things 
might get shaken up a bit. Good luck and Happy Handicapping!</span><br />

<br />

Gulfstream Park Pick 6 Carryover~ Free Picks 03/29/2014

Good morning everyone and happy Saturday to you as we are ramping up for the Kentucky Derby that is only a little more than a month away. ...

Pacers vs. Hawks Links: Pacers fade away when going gets tough in Atlanta

Unknown 0 BasketBall 01:07

<img alt="" class="vox-lazy-load lazy-loaded" data-dim="703x469" data-imgkey="32136719:standard:10" data-original="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32137199/20140424_jla_ad1_185.jpg.0_standard_709.0.jpg" data-ratio="1.5" src="http://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/32137199/20140424_jla_ad1_185.jpg.0_standard_709.0.jpg" style="display: inline; height: auto;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Pacers ran into a rough night on the road in Game 3 against the 
Hawks and their response to the adversity was far from championship 
caliber.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="pgh-paragraph has-dropcap" id="paragraph0">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A gloomy, rainy Friday morning in Indy fittingly captures the mood of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/indiana-pacers">Pacers</a>
 fans after enduring a frustrating Game 3 loss by the boys in blue. All 
road games in the playoffs are critical and this one was right there for
 the taking but the Pacers struggled to even put themselves in position 
to win it, let alone do what it took to win down the stretch.</span></div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph has-dropcap" id="paragraph0">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph1">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This was not unlike several 
road losses towards the end of the season, but those didn't include the 
painful consequences since a favorable playoff seeding was a lock and 
there was hope for a playoff rebirth. Now the Pacers are two losses away
 from the season ending with another game in Atlanta on Saturday.</span></div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph1">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So many, "if only" moments in this one including the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/players/71919/jeff-teague">Jeff Teague</a>
 out-of-bounds three ball which eventually broke the Pacers will. Not 
the actual shot mind you, but how the shot played out. I disagree with 
those that say if that play went in the Pacers favor, they still 
would've lost. After cutting the lead to six, the best defensive 
possession of the game had the Pacers momentum steamrolling in the right
 direction. They get that stop and the game is going down to the wire.</span></div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph2">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph3">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, because the shot didn't go
 the Pacers way doesn't give Indiana a pass for folding down the 
stretch. They still could've made a run to take the game to the wire. 
But the facial expressions of the players when Tony Brothers told them 
that, yes, Teague stepped out of bounds but no, they can't reverse the 
call spoke volumes. They were done. Suddenly moved into pity mode. 
Screwed on the road, what can we do?</span></div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph3">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph4">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Simply an immature response to playoff adversity.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph5">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There were plenty of other 
plays and culprits to point to with the "no guts, no glory" effort at 
Philips Arena where the Pacers will show up again for Game 4. Fight or 
flight, what's it gonna be?</span></div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph6">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This shot of Larry Bird alone should be enough to motivate the Pacers to fight.</span></div>
<div class="pgh-paragraph" id="paragraph6">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>By <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/users/Tom%20Lewis" rel="author">Tom Lewis</a></div>

Pacers vs. Hawks Links: Pacers fade away when going gets tough in Atlanta

The Pacers ran into a rough night on the road in Game 3 against the Hawks and their response to the adversity was far from championship ca...

Leake aims to avoid big blast vs. Braves

Unknown 0 Baseball 01:04

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Reds right-hander Mike Leake, who will start against the Braves on 
Saturday at Turner Field, was on the wrong side of one of the bigger 
headlines in baseball this April. In his most recent start, Leake 
surrendered Ike Davis' second grand slam of the season and his first 
since the Mets traded him to the Pirates.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2014/04/16/images/mlbf_32108037_th_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="video thumbnail" border="0" height="132" src="http://mediadownloads.mlb.com/mlbam/2014/04/16/images/mlbf_32108037_th_10.jpg" width="236" /></a>"I wouldn't call Ike's a bad pitch. I broke his bat on the home run,"
 Leake said. "He just was able to get his hands to it and do some 
damage."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Despite broken wood and a good pitch, the only thing that showed up 
in the box score was a four in Leake's earned-runs column for the second
 time this season.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Despite his penchant for surrendering home runs to Mets first basemen
 past and present -- Lucas Duda homered twice against the right-hander 
on April 4 -- Leake has also given the Reds plenty to admire this 
season.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">He outdueled the Cardinals' Shelby Miller on April 9 and outperformed
 young Pirates ace Gerrit Cole six days later. He even hit a home run of
 his own on April 15, bringing home what ended up giving the Reds a lead
 they wouldn't surrender in a 7-5 victory against the Pirates.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After watching Leake, 26, post career-best numbers with a 14-7 record
 and a 3.37 ERA in 31 starts and 192 1/3 innings in 2013, Reds manager 
Bryan Price entered the season aware of how good Leake can be.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"You can really look at 2013 for Leaker and go, 'Boy, he's arrived. 
He's a guy now. We should be able to expect this.' My feel was to forget
 the expectations," Price said on Feb. 16. "Let's work and continue to 
strive for greatness. Be as good as you can be. There are no limitations
 on his ability to be a guy we feel as good about as anybody in our 
rotation every fifth day when he takes the ball."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Leake opposes Braves right-hander David Hale, who has shined and 
faltered as part of a patchwork Atlanta rotation that has taken the 
Majors by storm. His impressive 2.93 ERA ranks last among Braves 
starters.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With Mike Minor on a rehab assignment, Hale looked likely to lose his
 rotation spot by the end of April heading into his most recent start. 
However, only two earned runs given up in six innings against the Mets 
on April 20 earned him another outing.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hale is aiming for his second straight quality start and his third in six career starts.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Braves: B.J. Upton one hit shy of 1,000 </b><br />
Atlanta center fielder B.J. Upton finished 1-for-4 with an infield 
single on Friday night, putting him one hit away from career hit 1,000. 
Upton is in line to become the first Brave to reach 1,000 hits since 
Brian McCann did so on June 3, 2013.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Upton nearly reached the milestone twice on Friday night. After 
recording hit No. 999 in the first, he lined out to Reds center fielder 
Billy Hamilton in the second. In the fifth, Brandon Phillips picked a 
sharp grounder to second to retire Upton.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Reds: Frazier, Mesoraco exit Friday's game due to injuries </b><br />
Third baseman Todd Frazier and catcher Devin Mesoraco both exited 
Friday's 5-4 loss to the Braves due to injuries. Frazier exited with 
tightness in his left groin while Mesoraco left with a strained left 
hamstring.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mesoraco suffered his injury when he fell as he was rounding third 
base in the seventh on a Hamilton double. He managed to get up and score
 the run before leaving the field. Former Braves catcher Brayan Pena 
replaced Mesoraco.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A trainer came out to check on Frazier after he led off the second 
with a double, but Frazier remained in the game and took another at-bat 
in the fourth before he was pulled for Neftali Soto prior to the bottom 
of the fifth.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Cincinnati began the season with eight players on the disabled list, 
more than any other team in the Majors. Right-handed reliever Trevor 
Bell upped the total to nine on April 8.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Worth noting </b><br />
• Jason Heyward owns a six-game hitting streak. He is batting .346 (9-for-26) during the streak.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">• Craig Kimbrel recorded his 146th career save on Friday night. He is
 only eight saves away from tying John Smoltz's franchise record of 154.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">• The Braves are 9-0 when scoring first this season compared to 6-7 when they do not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">

</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">• Jay Bruce drove in a run on Friday night, putting him one away from reaching 500 career RBIs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
   </span>
   
   <br />
<div class="article-tagline">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Joe Morgan</b> is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.</span></div>
<div class="article-tagline">
<br /></div>
<div class="article-tagline">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">By Joe Morgan</span> </span></div>

Leake aims to avoid big blast vs. Braves

Reds right-hander Mike Leake, who will start against the Braves on Saturday at Turner Field, was on the wrong side of one of the bigger he...

All set for action to commence at Termas de Rio Hondo

Unknown 0 MotoGP 03:45

<br />
<div class="news_text motogp">
 <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On the back of the victorious start to his MotoGP™ title defence 
Marquez is full of confidence going into the Gran Premio Red Bull de la 
Republica Argentina and he was the first rider to address the media.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://photos.motogp.com/2014/04/24/2014_03_arg_pressconference_dijous_preview_169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="All set for action to commence at Termas de Rio Hondo" border="0" class="tplengine" src="http://photos.motogp.com/2014/04/24/2014_03_arg_pressconference_dijous_preview_169.jpg" title="All set for action to commence at Termas de Rio Hondo" /></a>
 The Repsol Honda star commented, “I think it will be an interesting 
weekend here in Argentina, as it’s a new track for everybody. We need to
 work a little bit more than usual to find the best line, to adapt our 
riding style and to find the right set-up for this track. I am back at 
100% for riding, I still can’t run but I am fine on the bike.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 Movistar Yamaha MotoGP’s nine-time World Champion Rossi is the only 
premier class regular with previous experience of Grand Prix racing in 
Argentina, albeit at a different venue to this weekend’s host circuit.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 Rossi noted, “I have some riding experience in South America, a lot in 
Brazil, but also some unforgettable moments in Buenos Aires in 1998 and 
1999. This track is new but it is good for motorcycles and I think it 
will be a flowing circuit which will be fun to ride. I have a good first
 impression.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 Following his first podium for the Ducati Team last time out in Texas, 
Dovizioso looks to maintain his good form at this round. “The podium in 
Austin was great for many reasons,” he acknowledged. “Obviously it is 
great for a rider to be up there but it is also a reward for all the 
people working hard behind the scenes. I was not feeling well in Austin 
during the weekend so to end up on the podium was a great feeling. I’m 
also excited to be riding at this new track.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 One of a select group of riders to have tested last year at the 
renovated Termas de Rio Hondo circuit – a new venue on the MotoGP™ 
calendar for 2014 – is LCR Honda man Bradl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 He stated, “I don’t know if it will be any real advantage as the 
conditions were not perfect here for the test. The others will catch up 
very fast. I like the track and the layout is good, it will be demanding
 on the tyres and I think the gaps between the riders will be very close
 so I expect some good racing.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Smith comes into the Argentina Grand Prix on a 
high, having registered his best MotoGP™ result to date in Austin. He 
said, “I struggled in Austin last year so it was good to get the result 
and get over the line, although I think the potential for the podium was
 there. I finished as the top Yamaha so I was very pleased with that and
 pleased for our team. I’ve been around this new track on a scooter and 
am looking forward to getting out there on a MotoGP bike tomorrow.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 Proud Argentinian Porto, who makes a guest appearance this weekend on 
Kalex Moto2™ machinery for Argentina TSR Motorsport, is delighted to see
 the World Championship back in his home nation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 He commented, “I am very happy to be here, it has been a long time 
since my last appearance in the World Championship. I will try to do my 
best as the fans are really excited about the racing coming back to 
Argentina. It has been 15 years since we raced here and motorcycling has
 grown a lot in that time in South America and in Argentina. I hope I 
can ride at a good level.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
 Practice at the Gran Premio Red Bull de la Republica Argentina 
commences on Friday with the Moto3™ riders heading out on track for 
their FP1 run at 9am local time (GMT -3).</span><br />

</div>

All set for action to commence at Termas de Rio Hondo

On the back of the victorious start to his MotoGP™ title defence Marquez is full of confidence going into the Gran Premio Red Bull de la...

Thurman-Diaz Final Press Conference

Unknown 0 Boxing 03:41

<em><img border="0" itemprop="image" src="http://fightnews.com/Boxing/42414diaz00t.jpg" style="margin-bottom: 10px;" />By Miguel Maravilla<br />
Photos: Carlos Delgado – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy<br /></em><br />

WBA interim welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (22-0, 20 
KOs) and former world champion Julio “The Kidd” Diaz (40-9-1, 29 KOs) 
faced at the final press conference Thursday afternoon at the American 
Express Stadium Club at the Stub Hub Center in Carson, California. 
Thurman vs. Diaz will take place this Saturday at the Stub Hub Center 
headlining a Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader.<br /><br />

“It’s good to be back!” Oscar De la Hoya said in his return as he 
opened up Thursday’s press conference. “We are going to get a special 
treat, you will get action on Saturday night.”<span id="more-243280"></span><br />

“This fight right here for me is a dream come true. It’s where I want
 to be, the headliner in a Showtime event,” said Keith Thurman. “Julio 
has been giving some stiff competition. They call him ‘The Kidd’ because
 he keeps performing despite his age. He is coming to win, to find those
 holes and show us young fighters what he knows. I look forward to an 
excellent fight.”<br /><br />

Thurman concluded, “To me the judges have the best seat in the house.
 I have been looking forward to Saturday for a long time. I’m ready to 
rumble. One time!” <br /><br />

Diaz stated, “This is a tough opportunity, a dangerous opportunity. 
I’m facing a dangerous, tough fighter, but he’s not unbeatable. I take 
my job seriously. It’s going to be a tough fight but I guarantee you 
it’ll be an exciting fight.”<br />

* * * * *<br /><br />

The co-feature bout will mark the return of former interim world 
champion Lucas “The Machine” Matthysse (34-3, 32 KOs), as he will take 
on John Molina Jr. in a twelve round junior welterweight bout. Matthysse
 and Molina were also on hand as they spoke at Thursday’s final press 
conference.<br />

Molina commented, “I just want to say I am ready to go and glad to be
 back. I know what Molina brings to the table. This will be a great 
fight. Get ready for an explosion, an exciting fight on Saturday. People
 say he is a feared man. It will be an explosive fight. I am excited for
 this fight. Ee won’t have to find Matthysse, he is known to be a heavy 
hitter.<br /><br />

“I’m going to bring my A-Game, he’s going to bring his A-Game. There 
isn’t going to be a whole lot of running, just setting down in front of 
each other and exchanging. Matthysse gives a lot when he hits, and he 
takes a lot when he gets hit. The judges may not be needed. This is 
going to be a war. Bombs away!”<br />

* * * * *<br />

Opening the Showtime Championship Boxing tripleheader will be an 
all-Texas lightweight shootout as WBC lightweight champion Omar 
“Panterita” Figueroa (22-0-1, 17 KOs) takes on long-time rival Jerry 
“The Corpus Christi Kid” Belmontes (19-3, 5 KOs). The two rivals talked 
it up at the final press conference as they faced each-other multiple 
times in the amateurs now they look to continue their rivalry on the 
professional stage.<br /><br />

“We are here now, and we are ready,” Figueroa said. “I don’t care 
about winning or losing. I’m going to go out there and put on a great 
show and try to punch my opponent as much as possible, which is the best
 feeling in the world. It’s going to be a good fight. We’ve seen each 
other a few times in the amateur tournaments and we say hi. In the ring 
it’s a different story I fought Jerry in the amateurs before but now we 
are pros it will be a great fight.”<br /><br />

Belmontes stated, “It’s going to be a terrific fight, a styles fight.
 He’s the brawler, I’m the boxer. We’re both from Texas, so this is a 
big fight for our state. We’re good friends. I watched Omar grow up. I 
hope he doesn’t take it personal when I take the title belt away from 
him on Saturday.”<br />

Showtime Extreme Card<br /><br />

Unbeaten junior welterweight Antonio “Relentless” Orozco (15-0, 9 
KOs) will take on Mexican veteran Martin “El Brochas” Honorio (32-8-1, 
16 KOs) in the Showtime Extreme main event. Orozco was on hand as he 
spoke about his upcoming fight.<br /><br />

“I want to thank Golden Boy, my manager, Frank Espinoza, everybody 
for this opportunity on Saturday. I’m ready for a great fight. I’m ready
 to put on a show,” Orozco said.<br />

Junior middleweight Jermall Charlo (17-0, 13 KOs) will also be 
featured on Showtime Extreme against Hector Munoz (22-12-1, 14 KOs) in a
 10-round junior middleweight bout. Charlo and Munoz talked briefly at 
Thursday final press conference.<br /><br />

“I’m looking forward to going in and putting a lot of pressure on 
him. Thanks to everybody for getting me this fight,” Munoz said.<br />

“I want to thank my team for helping me bounce back and regaining my 
focus. My opponent took this fight on short notice, but you have to be 
in great shape all the time. I know I can fight on short notice because I
 stay in great shape,” Jermall Charlo said.

Thurman-Diaz Final Press Conference

By Miguel Maravilla Photos: Carlos Delgado – Hoganphotos/Golden Boy WBA interim welterweight champion Keith “One Time” Thurman (22-0, 20 ...

Andy Murray: Coach will come from list of 'seven or eight' candidates

Unknown 0 Tennis 01:34

<div class="introduction" id="story_continues_1" itemprop="description">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><img alt="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74398000/jpg/_74398629_74398628.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74398000/jpg/_74398629_74398628.jpg" />Andy Murray says he has whittled down his list of potential new coaches to "seven or eight" candidates.
</span></div>
<div class="story-feature wide ">
<div class="pull-out">
<div class="quote">
<blockquote>
<span class="openquote">“</span>It's about how the two of you get on, 
how they see your game and how you are developing and the amount of time
 they can give you to do the job properly<span class="endquote">”</span>
 </blockquote>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="quote-credit">Andy Murray</span></span></div>
<div class="quote">
<span class="quote-credit"> </span>
        
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="story_continues_2">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Asked when he would like to get 
the man in place, Murray told BBC Scotland: "Or woman ... there's seven 
or eight people I've got down on a list just now."
</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    The British number one, whose mother Judy is herself a tennis coach, 
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/tennis/26939923">wants to appoint a successor to Ivan Lendl before defending his Wimbledon title.</a></span>

<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    Murray's partnership with the former world number one ended last month. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    The Scot, who was back home in Dunblane to 
    
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-27114857">receive the freedom of Stirling and an honorary degree,</a>

next plays at the Madrid Masters on 5 May as he prepares for the French Open later that month. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    "In a perfect world, I would have someone in place 
before the French Open, but it's hard because there a lot of things that
 go into it with contracts and finances and stuff like that," he 
explained.
</span><br />
<div class="story-feature image body-narrow-width">
<img alt="Judy Murray" height="422" itemprop="image" src="http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74407000/jpg/_74407069_judy.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="304" />

<br />
<div class="caption" style="width: 288px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Mother Judy Murray accompanied the Wimbledon champion in Dunblane
  </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"It is about speaking to a few people trying to find the right fit.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    "I hadn't done that until 10 days ago. I wanted to 
concentrate on a few tournaments . Now I've had a bit of a break, I've 
had a chance to do that."
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    Murray has not yet decided whether to choose a renowned coach or go down the route of appointing a former top professional. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    "It could be either," he said. "It's about how the two 
of you get on, how they see your game and how you are developing and the
 amount of time they can give you to do the job properly. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    "They also need to fit in with the team because I'm not
 going to clear out all of the guys I work with and bring a coach in who
 wants to do things completely differently." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    Murray explained that he did not have to formally interview all those on his list.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    "You don't necessarily have to speak to that person," 
he said. "There's a few other people you can chat to to find out whether
 they'd be interested and whether they would be capable of giving the 
time. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    "There's people on there you don't know that well, so it's good to get opinions from other people. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
  
          </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">    "That can help form a decision to get down to a smaller
 number on the shortlist. Then you end up speaking to a couple of people
 and decide on the person that you like the most and think would be the 
right fit."
</span>

Andy Murray: Coach will come from list of 'seven or eight' candidates

Andy Murray says he has whittled down his list of potential new coaches to "seven or eight" candidates. “ It's about how...

Golf Clothing and Shoes at Function Eighteen

Unknown 0 Golf 01:29

<a href="http://i2.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-adiTOUR-Fitted-Cap.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Adidas Golf adiTOUR Fitted Cap" data-attachment-id="1265" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Adidas Golf adiTOUR Fitted Cap</p>
" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="Adidas Golf adiTOUR Fitted Cap" data-large-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-adiTOUR-Fitted-Cap.jpg" data-medium-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-adiTOUR-Fitted-Cap-300x300.jpg" data-orig-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-adiTOUR-Fitted-Cap.jpg" data-orig-size="368,368" data-recalc-dims="1" src="http://i2.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-adiTOUR-Fitted-Cap.jpg?resize=161%2C161" style="height: 161px; width: 161px;" title="Adidas Golf adiTOUR Fitted Cap" /></a><a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Sport-Swing-Polo-Shirt.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Nike Golf Sport Swing Polo Shirt" data-attachment-id="1269" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Nike Golf Sport Swing Polo Shirt</p>
" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="Nike Golf Sport Swing Polo Shirt" data-large-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Sport-Swing-Polo-Shirt.jpg" data-medium-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Sport-Swing-Polo-Shirt-300x300.jpg" data-orig-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Sport-Swing-Polo-Shirt.jpg" data-orig-size="368,368" data-recalc-dims="1" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Sport-Swing-Polo-Shirt.jpg?resize=326%2C326" style="height: 324px; width: 326px;" title="Nike Golf Sport Swing Polo Shirt" /></a>People often ask me if serious golfers <em>start thinking about golf after the new year</em>. They always get the same answer, “<em>Serious golfers never STOP thinking about golf!</em>“ 
 Granted, our favorite sport dictates a few of our resolutions – we’ll 
resolve to golf certain courses, add to our arsenal, overcome bad 
habits, adopt better habits, etc. Resolutions are all about improving, 
and golfers are always looking for improvement.<br />

<a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Long-Sleeve-UV-Performance-Polo-Shirt.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Nike Golf Long Sleeve UV Performance Polo Shirt" data-attachment-id="1268" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Nike Golf Long Sleeve UV Performance Polo Shirt</p>
" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="Nike Golf Long Sleeve UV Performance Polo Shirt" data-large-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Long-Sleeve-UV-Performance-Polo-Shirt.jpg" data-medium-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Long-Sleeve-UV-Performance-Polo-Shirt-300x300.jpg" data-orig-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Long-Sleeve-UV-Performance-Polo-Shirt.jpg" data-orig-size="368,368" data-recalc-dims="1" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Golf-Long-Sleeve-UV-Performance-Polo-Shirt.jpg?resize=161%2C161" style="height: 159px; width: 161px;" title="Nike Golf Long Sleeve UV Performance Polo Shirt" /></a>One way to <strong>improve</strong> our game (or at the very least <strong>improve</strong> our image) is to <strong>improve</strong>
 our golf clothing and shoes. My favorite place to shop for golf 
clothing is online. No lines. Great deals. Fast. Easy. Did I mention no 
lines?<br />

<a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Gore-Tex-Waterproof-Rain-Jacket.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket" data-attachment-id="1267" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket</p>
" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket" data-large-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Gore-Tex-Waterproof-Rain-Jacket.jpg" data-medium-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Gore-Tex-Waterproof-Rain-Jacket-300x300.jpg" data-orig-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Gore-Tex-Waterproof-Rain-Jacket.jpg" data-orig-size="368,368" data-recalc-dims="1" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Gore-Tex-Waterproof-Rain-Jacket.jpg?resize=161%2C161" style="height: 159px; width: 161px;" title="Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket" /></a>If, like me, you’re a fan of Nike and Puma, you’ll want to check out a
 popular leading suppliers of golf clothes, Function 18.  On Function 
18′s great (and huge!) website,  you can choose <a href="http://www.function18.com/brands/nike.html" title="Nike Golf and Puma">from top brands including Nike golf and puma</a>.
 Nike is the world’s #1 sports brand and their golf division, Nike Golf,
 is the world’s leading manufacturer of golf clothing and footwear. No 
matter what you’re looking for, it’s just a click away.<br />

However, you can find more than <em>just</em> Nike Golf and Puma on Function 18. They also have a <a href="http://www.function18.com/brands/adidas.html" title="Adidas Golf Clothing">great range of sale Adidas golf clothing</a>, including the great looking Adidas Golf Fall Weight Golf Pants you see pictured in the graphic above.<br />

<a href="http://i1.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Lunar-Control-2-SL-Golf-Shoes.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Nike Lunar Control 2 SL Golf Shoes" data-attachment-id="1270" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Nike Lunar Control 2 SL Golf Shoes</p>
" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="Nike Lunar Control 2 SL Golf Shoes" data-large-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Lunar-Control-2-SL-Golf-Shoes.jpg" data-medium-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Lunar-Control-2-SL-Golf-Shoes-300x300.jpg" data-orig-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Lunar-Control-2-SL-Golf-Shoes.jpg" data-orig-size="368,368" data-recalc-dims="1" src="http://i1.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Nike-Lunar-Control-2-SL-Golf-Shoes.jpg?resize=161%2C161" style="height: 161px; width: 161px;" title="Nike Lunar Control 2 SL Golf Shoes" /></a><a href="http://i0.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Fall-Weight-Golf-Pants.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img align="left" alt="Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket" data-attachment-id="1266" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-description="<p>Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket</p>
" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":""}" data-image-title="Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket" data-large-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Fall-Weight-Golf-Pants.jpg" data-medium-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Fall-Weight-Golf-Pants-300x300.jpg" data-orig-file="http://www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Fall-Weight-Golf-Pants.jpg" data-orig-size="368,368" data-recalc-dims="1" src="http://i0.wp.com/www.travellinggolfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Adidas-Golf-Fall-Weight-Golf-Pants.jpg?resize=161%2C161" style="height: 159px; width: 161px;" title="Adidas Golf Gore-Tex Waterproof Rain Jacket" /></a>If you start adding to your golf clothing collection now, you’ll be 
set by the time warmer weather (finally) gets here.  Click through 
either of the links above above and take a look at everything in the 
Nike Golf, Puma, and Adidas collections.

Golf Clothing and Shoes at Function Eighteen

People often ask me if serious golfers start thinking about golf after the new year . They always get the same answer, “ Serious golfers ne...

Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid- Ball in Mourinho’s court

Unknown 0 Soccer (FootBall) 02:16

<a href="http://www.footballrants.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Diego-Costa-010-300x180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Diego Costa not satisfied with the lack of conversion." border="0" class="size-medium wp-image-6498" height="180" src="http://www.footballrants.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Diego-Costa-010-300x180.jpg" width="300" /></a>Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have played out a nil all draw in the 
first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie at the Estadio 
Vincente Calderon in Spain.<br />
<br />

The home side are four points clear at the top of La Liga and sought 
to add to their nine match winning streak in the competition.<br />
<br />

Forward Diego Costa returned to the side following an injury in the quarter-final.<br />
<br />

Chelsea came into their seventh UCL semi-final off the back of a 2-1 loss to Sunderland at Stamford Bridge over the weekend.<br />
<br />

Jose Mourinho’s structure had a strong emphasis on defence as he 
hoped to negate the possibility of any goals and return to England for 
the second leg unscathed.<br />
<br />

The home side attacked from the get go and continually pressured the opposition defence with their pace on the counter attack.<br />
<br />

An Atletico corner in the 15<sup>th</sup> minute saw Chelsea 
goalkeeper Petr Lech replaced by Australian Mark Schwarzer, following an
 arm injury sustained from an awkward fall.<br />
<br />

Despite the setback, it was a focused and orderly defence that prevented the home side from converting chances.<br />
<br />

The second half commenced in much the same way as the first as Diego 
Simeone’s men enjoyed 62 per cent of possession and continued to find 
the gaps in the opposition defence, with Raul Garcia threatening down 
the right flank.<br />
<br />

Yet the Spanish side failed to capitalise on the 26 chances made.<br />
<br />

The final whistle gave Chelsea a firm advantage going into the second leg despite the injury to Captain John Terry in the 72<sup>nd</sup> minute and the yellow cards to John Mikel and Frank Lampard, who will miss the next match.<br />
<br />

Both teams will face off for the concluding clash of the tie in Stamford Bridge in London on May first.

Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid- Ball in Mourinho’s court

Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have played out a nil all draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semi-final tie at the Estadio V...

The cricket tragic who bowled Bradman

Unknown 0 Cricket 02:04

<b style="padding-right: 10px;">The former Australian PM was a 
wicketkeeper and loved cricket and Bradman. But he once left the Don 
speechless with the force of his political convictions</b><img src="http://www.espncricinfo.com/db/PICTURES/CMS/184000/184065.jpg" width="620" /><br />
<div class="news-body">
<br />Few deliveries got past <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4188.html">Don Bradman</a>'s guard.
</div>
<div class="news-body">
As a cricketer Bob Hawke was a competent wicketkeeper-batsman and he 
didn't bowl, but a verbal delivery by him to Bradman in 1970 had the 
legendary batsman floundering. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"The 1970 Springbok rugby team had just flown home and Bradman rang me,"
 Hawke said when I spoke to him last week. Then head of Australia's most
 powerful collective of trade unions, the ACTU, Hawke had led opposition
 to the visit by the South African rugby side, and Bradman had seen for 
himself how difficult it had been for officials, security staff and 
police to prevent protesters from damaging the ground and disrupting 
play. However, the Australian cricket board wanted to host South Africa 
and months earlier had issued an invitation for the South African 
cricket team to tour Australia in the summer of 1971-72. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
To that end, he invited the ACTU president to Adelaide for a secret meeting. 
</div>
<div class="news-body">
"I went out to his home in Kensington Gardens," Hawke said, "and he said, 'Bob, I don't think politics should come into sport.' </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"And I said, 'I couldn't agree with you more, Don. We haven't brought 
politics into sport; it is the government of South Africa which has 
brought politics into sport, because the government of South Africa has a
 policy that no person who isn't white is allowed to represent their 
country in sport. That's bringing politics into sport." </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"He looked at me for about 30 seconds and then he said, 'I've got no answer to that, Bob.'"
</div>
<div class="news-body">
Hawke, in a sentence, had managed to get Bradman to see the light. On 
September 9, 1971, the board met and decided to withdraw the invitation 
for South Africa to tour.  Bradman informed the press and that 
announcement was the start of more than 20 years in isolation for South 
Africa's cricketers.
</div>
<div class="news-body">
As with a couple of legendary politicians - Robert Menzies and HV "Doc" 
Evatt - before him and John Howard after him, Hawke is what is known as a
 cricket tragic.
</div>
<div class="news-body">
</div>
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="pullquote" style="margin-top: 10px; width: 310px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
 <td rowspan="6" width="15"> </td>
 <td width="95"><br /></td>
 <td style="background-color: #006cc7; height: 4px;" width="100"><br /></td>
 <td width="100"><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
 <td align="center" colspan="3"> </td>
</tr>
<tr>
 <td align="center" class="pullquotetext" colspan="3" id="pullquotetext">
"With blood streaming from the wound I collapsed on the outfield of 
James Oval, where the visiting South Africans were playing a match. Roy 
held my leg together in a vice-like grip until an ambulance arrived"
<span class="pullquote" id="pullquote">Bob Hawke on how Roy McLean saved his life</span>
 </td>
</tr>
<tr>
 <td align="center" colspan="4"> </td>
</tr>
<tr><td><br /></td>
 <td style="background-color: #006cc7; height: 4px;"><br /></td>
 <td><br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
 <td colspan="3" height="10"><br /></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="news-body">
Born in Bordertown, South Australia, in December 1929, one of Hawke's 
earliest cricket memories was listening to the 1938 Ashes series in 
England. "I'd go to sleep very early, so I could wake and listen to the 
simulated wireless broadcast of the Test matches. 
</div>
<div class="news-body">
"[Don] Bradman was god. I can still feel the world falling apart when 
Len Hutton hit the world-record Test match score of 364, overtaking 
Bradman's 334."
</div>
<div class="news-body">
Hawke remembers the Australian 1948 team playing a game against Western Australia before sailing to England from Fremantle. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"Keith Miller was bowling and WA batsman Basil Rigg drove him 
majestically for four. Next ball was a vicious bouncer and down went 
Rigg and he was stretchered off the ground. WA lost three or four more 
quick wickets and back came the injured Rigg, and there was Don Bradman,
 after calling back Miller to bowl, rushing to meet the incoming batsman
 and showing him how to hook!" </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
Hawke's parents, Clem and Ellie, travelled from Bordertown to Perth at 
the start of the Second World War, and the youngster was soon revelling 
in his studies and sport at Perth Modern School. There he was for two 
years the wicketkeeper-batsman for the school's first Xl. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"One game I particularly recall was in the annual Boys versus Masters 
match. Traditionally any boy hitting a hundred was given a brand new 
cricket bat and this day I had reached 93 when the physics teacher, a 
slow legspinner called Cyril Calcutt, had his lbw appeal upheld for a 
ball which pitched a mile outside leg stump and I was given out. So I 
missed getting the new bat. I will never forget the bastard." </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
Young Hawke excelled in his studies and his great interest in student 
affairs and in pursuing a political career inspired him more than the 
prospect of becoming a top-flight cricketer did. 
</div>
<div class="news-body">
"I did have a lot of fun playing with university in the WA grade competition. I began in the A grade team same day as <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7411.html">John Rutherford</a>,
 but I didn't have the same almost-obsessive passion for the game which 
he had. He was the hardest-working player of my experience." </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
Rutherford toured England in 1956 and Keith Miller dubbed him Pythagoras, because "he was ever trying to work things out". </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"I caught up with Jack at the Perth Ashes Test this year and he looked 
in good shape," Hawke said. "I cannot think of any cricketer who 
possessed such absolute dedication." </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
As a wicketkeeper Hawke was no mug behind the stumps. Once when <a href="http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7843.html">Ray Strauss</a>,
 the star swing bowler of University of WA, was operating, eagle-eyed 
Hawke noticed the batsman, Bill Alderman (Test player Terry Alderman's 
father), tended to drag his back foot forward when attempting to glance a
 ball that strayed down leg side. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"I approached Ray and said, 'Now, see if you can slide a big swinging 
inswinger down leg side on the second ball of this over.' Sometimes in a
 sporting life you just do something perfectly and that's what happened.
 Strauss bowled the perfect delivery; Alderman went forward and he got a
 faint nick which I caught, and in the same instant I whipped off the 
bails and yelled to the square leg umpire, 'Howzat?'" </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
The square-leg umpire, who no doubt looked like an old-time version of 
David Shepherd, said in a booming voice: "Bloody marvellous!" </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
Cricket has been Hawke's greatest sporting love, and a Test cricketer once saved his life. 
</div>
<div class="news-body">
Early in the summer of 1952-53, the very year the South African Test 
team was touring Australia, the 23-year-old Hawke was working as a 
gardener at the University of Western Australia. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"I was filling in time getting some cash together before heading to 
Oxford. I had the noble task of spreading shit [manure] around the 
trees. Then came the time to refill the cart. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"The horse was reluctant to move, so I went to the front and pulled hard
 at his head, only for the shaft to somehow spring free. The point of 
the thing cut into my leg, causing a huge gaping gash from above the 
knee to below the groin. With blood streaming from the wound I staggered
 out from the trees and collapsed on the outfield of James Oval, where 
the visiting South Africans were playing a match against the Governor's 
XI." </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
South Africa Test batsman Roy McLean dashed to Hawke's side. "Roy held 
my leg together with his big strong hands and my leg remained in his 
vice-like grip until an ambulance arrived. No doubt, Roy McLean saved my
 life that day in 1952." </div>
<div class="news-body">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Hawke and British PM Margaret Thatcher, their spouses, and England Test captain David Gower at 10 Downing Street in 1989    </span><nobr><span style="font-size: x-small;">
    <span class="magDate">
    © PA Photos
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<div class="news-body">
Hawke was elected Australian prime minister in 1983. When South Africa 
were finally readmitted to the international cricket family, their board
 chief Dr Ali Bacher invited Hawke to be guest speaker at a function 
celebrating the first Test in the republic in the post-apartheid era. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"I told them the Roy MacLean story and added, 'I guess some of you 
people would have hoped Roy didn't do what he did', and a couple of 
blokes in the crowd yelled, 'Yeah, yeah!'" </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
Round the time of the Centenary Test between Australia and England at 
the MCG, Hawke was invited to play in a charity match at Drummoyne Oval.
 I didn't know about the talks he was having with former Test players, 
including Ian Chappell and Bob Cowper, about helping them form a 
players' union, so I was surprised when Chappelli indicated that he 
would like me to go easy on Hawke when he came in to bat. 
</div>
<div class="news-body">
He got 30-odd and batted well. And the players' union idea fell away 
pretty smartly when Kerry Packer took on the establishment with World 
Series Cricket. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
Hawke loves the cut and thrust of top-flight cricket, just as he 
revelled jousting with the opposition at question time in parliament. 
For him the joy of cricket has long been the enduring humour in the 
game's characters and their stories. </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
"I suppose you've heard the one about Joel Garner," he said with a 
twinkle in his eye. "The West Indians were in Australia for a Test 
series and there were some girlies hanging about at the ground. One girl
 sidled up to Joel and said, 'Is it true what they say, that you are 
built in proportion to your height?' 'Young lady, if I was built in 
proportion I'd be 8ft 10in.'" </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="news-body">
Hawke's parting shot: "I'll tell you a very interesting sociological 
fact. I can keep you entertained for a couple of hours telling cricket 
and golf stories, but I have not heard one funny story from any code of 
football." </div>
<div class="news-body">
<br /></div>
<div class="magAthr" style="margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 0px;">
Ashley
 Mallett took 132 wickets in 38 Tests for Australia. He has written 
biographies of Clarrie Grimmett, Doug Walters, Jeff Thomson, Ian 
Chappell, and most recently of Dr Donald Beard, <i>The Diggers' Doctor</i></div>
<br /><span class="magAthr"></span>

The cricket tragic who bowled Bradman

The former Australian PM was a wicketkeeper and loved cricket and Bradman. But he once left the Don speechless with the force of his polit...

Rangers Calmly Disagree With Two Diving Penalties

Unknown 0 Hockey 01:35

<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="197" data-total-count="197" id="story-continues-1" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Any small advantage, gained or lost, can deeply affect a series as close as the first-round playoff matchup between the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/hockey/nationalhockeyleague/newyorkrangers/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="Recent news and scores about the New York Rangers.">Rangers</a> and the <a class="meta-org" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/sports/hockey/nationalhockeyleague/philadelphiaflyers/index.html?inline=nyt-org" title="Recent news and scores about the Philadelphia Flyers.">Flyers</a>, which continues Tuesday with Game 3 in Philadelphia.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="176" data-total-count="373" itemprop="articleBody">
<a href="http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/04/22/sports/22RANGERS/22RANGERS-master495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/04/22/sports/22RANGERS/22RANGERS-master495.jpg" border="0" class="shrinkToFit decoded" height="644" src="http://static01.nyt.com/images/2014/04/22/sports/22RANGERS/22RANGERS-master495.jpg" width="386" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />And
 the Flyers have kept giving the Rangers a man advantage. The Rangers 
had six power plays in a 4-1 victory in Game 1, and another six in the 
Flyers’ 4-2 victory in Game 2.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="176" data-total-count="373" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="252" data-total-count="625" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The
 Rangers would have had eight power plays in Game 2, had the referees 
not called offsetting diving penalties on Mats Zuccarello and Derek 
Dorsett. After practice Monday, Rangers Coach Alain Vigneault found a 
way to object that would not draw a fine.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="252" data-total-count="625" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="236" data-total-count="861" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Let
 me ask you, did you see the replays?” he said when asked whether the 
officials had explained the calls to him. “I’ll let you make the 
judgment on if Zuccarello’s was an embellishment. It doesn’t matter what
 I think.”</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="236" data-total-count="861" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="94" data-total-count="955" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The first call came at 8 minutes 40 seconds of the second period, with the score tied at 2-2.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="358" data-total-count="1313" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Flyers defenseman Andrew MacDonald <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zm7UG33s0o" title="Video of play">tripped Zuccarello</a>
 in front of the Philadelphia net, away from the play. Zuccarello’s legs
 became tangled, and as he fell, his left arm came up in a way that 
could have been an exaggeration — or, just as plausibly, an effort to 
keep his balance. The referees called MacDonald for interference and 
Zuccarello for diving.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="358" data-total-count="1313" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="292" data-total-count="1605" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The
 second came about three minutes later, just after the Flyers had taken a
 3-2 lead. A split second after a whistle in the Philadelphia zone, the 
Flyers’ Wayne Simmonds crosschecked Dorsett in the back, sending him 
headfirst into the end boards. Both players were sent to the penalty 
box.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="176" data-total-count="1781" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Had
 one of those diving penalties not been called, the Rangers would have 
had another power play at a critical juncture. The Rangers are 3 for 12 
on power plays in the series.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="176" data-total-count="1781" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="286" data-total-count="2067" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“I
 didn’t think I was diving, but the refs make mistakes like we make 
mistakes,” Zuccarello said. “I thought it was a bad call. I think 
everyone who watches me knows I don’t dive. That’s what I thought when I
 got the call — I would never dive. But it’s forgotten now.”</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="50" data-total-count="2117" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dorsett also disagreed with the call against him.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="50" data-total-count="2117" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="187" data-total-count="2304" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“I
 can’t see him coming, and I’m in a vulnerable position — I don’t think I
 embellished,” he said. “If I’m going to dive, am I going to dive 
face-first into the boards?”</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="187" data-total-count="2304" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="276" data-total-count="2580" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The
 N.H.L. first instructed referees to penalize diving players before the 
1992-93 season; the penalty came under the umbrella of unsportsmanlike 
conduct. Starting in 1998-99, referees were instructed to enforce the 
rule more closely, with the penalty listed as “diving.”</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="276" data-total-count="2580" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="352" data-total-count="2932" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The
 Rangers’ staff uncovered one other game since the start of the 1998-99 
season in which a team was called for diving more than once: Game 6 of 
the first-round series between the Montreal Canadiens and the Washington
 Capitals on April 26, 2010, when the Canadiens’ Maxim Lapierre was 
penalized twice and his teammate Brian Gionta was called once.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="352" data-total-count="2932" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="105" data-total-count="3037" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Zuccarello said the Rangers coaches had not emphasized a need to avoid embellishment penalties in Game 3.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="105" data-total-count="3037" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="75" data-total-count="3112" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“We’re not a diving team, so it’s nothing to talk about,” he said.</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="10" data-total-count="3122" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="10" data-total-count="3122" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">SLAP SHOTS</span></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="10" data-total-count="3122" itemprop="articleBody">
<br /></div>
<div class="story-body-text story-content" data-para-count="359" data-total-count="3481" itemprop="articleBody">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The
 Flyers announced Monday that goalie Steve Mason would remain out of the
 lineup for Game 3, and that Ray EmerY, who stopped 31 of 33 shots in 
Game 2, would get his third straight start. Mason, the Flyers’ No. 1 
goalie, has been sidelined with a suspected concussion since a collision
 forced him to leave Philadelphia’s next-to-last regular-season game.</span></div>

Rangers Calmly Disagree With Two Diving Penalties

Any small advantage, gained or lost, can deeply affect a series as close as the first-round playoff matchup between the Rangers and the Fl...

Aviva Premiership 2013/2014 Predictions: Round 20

Unknown 0 Rugby 01:28

<img alt="allen" src="http://www.therugbyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/Allen-v-Quins-Onside.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>Harlequins v Leicester Tigers</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is 
unquestionably the game of the round. There is so much riding on it. 
Tigers need to win to keep the pace with Saints, who are at home to 
London Irish and should win, in the hunt for a home semi-final, but also
 to stave off the threat of Bath – also with an easy home fixture 
against Newcastle – from challenging them for third (no-one will want to
 travel to Allianz Park in the semis). And for Quins, they must win to 
keep their play-off hopes alive given that their main rivals Bath could 
well score a five-pointer this weekend. Intrigue all round, and both 
teams are in good form. Quins name the same starting line-up for the 
third week on the bounce, while the Tigers give a first start for some 
time to Toby Flood.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> It is an old sporting cliché but this one 
really could go either way. At this stage of the season, however, you 
bet against the Tigers at your peril. <strong>Tigers by 2.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><em>*No teamsheets have been released for the following games*</em></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>Bath Rugby v Worcester Warriors</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After
 the slugfest that was the West Country derby last weekend, Bath will be
 itching to give the ball a bit of space against Worcester. The 
visitors, however, have not lost by more than five points since February
 and have taken six match points in their last two games. Desperation 
will cause them to scrap harder than they might otherwise, but Bath will
 still be targeting this one as a five-pointer – a result that could see
 them leapfrog the Tigers in the table. They will not be lacking for 
motivation either. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Worcester will put up a valiant fight but I’d expect Bath to flex their muscles in the last twenty minutes and pull away. <strong>Bath by 15.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Form
 points firmly at a Sale win here. The Sharks have won their last four 
on the road while the Chiefs have won just twice at home since before 
Christmas. The hosts have had injury troubles, but looked back to 
somewhere near their best – in attack at least – against Worcester in 
the last round. Their defence was porous, however, and that will not 
have gone unnoticed by the Sharks. Sale are still just about in the hunt
 for a play-off spot, while the Chiefs know a loss will seriously harm 
their chances of taking the European play-off spot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The form book 
points firmly to a Sale win, despite them losing some momentum against 
Harlequins last weekend. I still think they’ll come out on top in this 
one though. <strong>Sale by 3.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>London Wasps v Gloucester Rugby</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This
 could be a hugely entertaining game. At Twickenham on a wide, fast 
pitch, with the likes of Charlie Sharples, Henry Trinder, Jonny May, Tom
 Varndell, Elliot Daly and Joe Simpson all set to feature, we could be 
in for quite a game. Wasps won the corresponding fixture in the Amlin 
Challenge Cup a few weeks back but are not in good form in the league, 
with just two wins since the turn of the year. Gloucester’s form has 
been typically up and down, good wins against Harlequins and Exeter 
offset by a smashing from the Saints and that ugly brawl against Bath 
last weekend. The fact that both are still battling for seventh place 
and the European play-off spot adds further intrigue.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is 
technically a home fixture for Wasps, although Twickenham makes it 
essentially a neutral venue. Wasps played plenty of good rugby against 
the Tigers last weekend – do that again, and they will be too strong for
 Gloucester. <strong>Wasps by 6.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>Northampton Saints v London Irish</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">London
 Irish steamrolled Newcastle last weekend, but it is difficult to read 
too much into that given how poor the Falcons were. Northampton have 
lost their last three in the league and will be desperate to get back to
 winning ways and stave off the ever-encroaching threat of the Tigers. 
Last weekend’s comeback to claim a losing bonus point at Allianz Park 
shows the fight has not left them yet, and they will be targeting this 
one, against an Exiles side that has nothing left to play for, as an 
opportunity to gain maximum points.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The hosts will be too strong at Franklin’s Gardens. <strong>Saints by 18.</strong></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><strong>Newcastle Falcons v Saracens</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With
 top spot all but wrapped up and a Heineken Cup semi-final next weekend,
 Saracens may well choose to rest some front line players for this one. 
Even so, Newcastle’s last win came at the end of October, and they look 
to have decided that they are safe regardless of how they perform in the
 weeks leading into the end of the season. It is a risky strategy and 
although Worcester would need a minor miracle to win two of their last 
three fixtures, it is still a mathematical possibilty – Newcastle would 
do well to pay that some heed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No real contest here – Sarries will win this comfortably. <strong>Saracens by 20.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What do you think? How do you see the weekend unfolding?</span><br />
<br />
<strong>By Jamie Hosie</strong>

Aviva Premiership 2013/2014 Predictions: Round 20

Harlequins v Leicester Tigers This is unquestionably the game of the round. There is so much riding on it. Tigers need to win to keep th...

adidas Signs Top 2014 NBA Draft Prospect Danté Exum

Unknown 0 BasketBall 01:06

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<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="http://www.slamdunkcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/adidas-Dante-Exum.jpg" class="decoded" src="http://www.slamdunkcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/adidas-Dante-Exum.jpg" /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">adidas has announced a partnership with Australian NBA Draft prospect <b>Danté Exum</b>.
 The 18-year-old, 6-foot-6-inch combo guard is projected to be one of 
the top picks in the 2014 NBA Draft. Exum brings a unique skill set and 
background to one of the most highly touted draft classes in recent 
years. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“I’m really excited to join the adidas family,” said Exum. “I’ve had 
the opportunity to play in adidas Nations in the past and I’ve always 
liked their shoes and gear. I look forward to what’s to come for me and 
adidas.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A graduate of the prestigious Australian Institute of Sport, Exum’s 
career includes a gold medal finish at the 2013 FIBA Oceania 
Championship and silver medal finish in the 2012 FIBA Under-17 World 
Championships. Exum also participated in the adidas Nations program in 
2011 and 2012, leading Australia to a fourth place finish in 2012. Exum 
grew up with strong basketball roots, his father Cecil Exum was a member
 of the 1982 University of North Carolina NCAA National Championship 
team before playing professional basketball in Australia.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“Danté is a gifted player,” said Chris Grancio, adidas head of global
 basketball sports marketing. “His hard work ethic and play have made 
him successful at every level of competition, but what makes him special
 is his great attitude and unselfish team approach to the game.”</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Exum joins a group of elite adidas basketball point-guards 
highlighted by Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, John Wall of the 
Washington Wizards and Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. He 
will be featured in a variety of upcoming adidas initiatives and will 
play a role in the development of basketball footwear and apparel. </span>

adidas Signs Top 2014 NBA Draft Prospect Danté Exum

adidas has announced a partnership with Australian NBA Draft prospect Danté Exum . The 18-year-old, 6-foot-6-inch combo guard is proj...

Mets Fans Create "Jeter Retirement Barf Bag"

Unknown 0 Baseball 01:02

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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm9lPHn8R-WsbrP0cS3SBfoPFtjZk7o1e4A2Hyn5iC5BTwxHY9pQQBuvSBxit_xhzIIweqx7VNxMzdMU4TG-BpcQQ92eR-5NMJOpXK6wxi7voscXWsyIOA8wFqq20nINpGtcMhBbM448U/s400/JeterRetirementBarfBag.png" width="481" /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The bag states:<br /><br />Directions: Should the sappy and sycophantic musings of Kay, Waldman, Sterling, Francesa, et al regarding the impending retirement of Derek Jeter induce vomiting, open bag rapidly and insert stomach contents. ...<br /><br />WARNING! Repeated exposure to video clips of Jeter's last 2 truly great plays may cause nausea and vomiting ("the flip" vs Oakland in 2001 and "the dive" vs Boston 2004 – note the years)<br /><br />Should vomiting occur for more than 4 hours, please console yourself with the thought that were it not for the Alex Rodriguez stellar/drug enhanced performances in the 2009 postseason, "The Captain" would be 14 seasons removed from his last WS Crown<br /><br />Avoid pink Jeter jerseys, YES network flashbacks and Mariano Rivera retirement ceremonies, and references to Jeter being the first ever unanimous Hall of Fame selection.</span></div>

Mets Fans Create "Jeter Retirement Barf Bag"

The bag states: Directions: Should the sappy and sycophantic musings of Kay, Waldman, Sterling, Francesa, et al regarding the impen...