Mardi 30 novembre 2010

Monitors say Haiti vote fraud not massive

PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI - The cheap ugg boots on sale streets of Haiti's capital were mostly quiet Monday, as the international observers who monitored Sunday's tumultuous elections called for the vote-counting to continue and results to be respected, saying they had witnessed irregularities but not the "massive fraud" alleged by most of the country's presidential candidates. Those findings challenged a statement made Sunday - before the voting had even concluded - by 12 of the 19 presidential candidates that called for the election to be invalidated. They said the government of outgoing President Rene Preval had rigged the process to install his protege, Jude Celestin. Ambassador Colin Granderson, the head of a joint monitoring team from the Organization of American States and the Caribbean Community, said Monday that the candidates' statement was "precipitous, hasty and regrettable." Granderson said that the international group, which had 120 observers stationed around the country, reported multiple problems at the polls but that they weren't extensive enough to warrant a complete annulment of the vote. "We're aware of the perceptions that things went badly, but we've looked very carefully at what took place in voting centers and tried to be as objective as we could," he said. Granderson added that his teams found the voting process disrupted at only 4 percent of the polling stations. Jon Piechowski, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Haiti, urged the country's political parties to remain calm. "It's important to underscore that the assessment given by Ambassador Granderson is part of a process," he said. "We are consulting with our partners in the international community to better understand the 2010 jerseys details of what the observers saw." The observer findings set up a new potential conflict pitting Haiti's unpredictable political personalities against international groups trying to help the shattered nation establish a legitimate government capable of managing billions in still-undelivered reconstruction funds. Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council, which organized the election with $14 million in U.S. support, said the country had successfully completed the process at the vast majority of its voting centers. Officials acknowledged "some problems" and said they would be investigated. The council's assessment didn't fit with scenes observed Sunday at multiple polling centers, where many Haitians couldn't find their names on government voter rolls and were turned away. Other precincts reported scenes of violence and voter intimidation, as crowds of young men ransacked ballot boxes at several locations. Still, the problems seemed to some observers more like symptoms of a country ravaged by an earthquake and cholera trying to conduct an election under difficult circumstances, rather than a nefarious government plot. Final tallies aren't expected until Dec. 7 at the earliest, but it's possible, if not likely, that at least one of the two leading voter-getters - who would face each other in a Jan. 16 runoff - is among those who called for the results to be tossed out, including presumed front-runner and former first lady Mirlande Manigat. Would candidates reject those results, even if they finish in the top two slots? A day after leading street protests and calling for the vote to be annulled, pop star-turned-politician Michel "Sweet Micky" Martelly seemed to signal he would accept results if they came out in his favor. "I want everyone to UGG Sundance II Boots respect the vote of the people," he said, while also calling for Preval and candidate Celestin to "leave the country." The already chaotic situation took a turn toward the absurd Monday morning when Haitian rap star Wyclef Jean summoned reporters to a hotel ballroom and issued a rambling statement calling for an unspecified "international investigation" of what occurred Sunday. He warned that the country could "go up in flames" if that didn't occur in 24 hours. Jean had attempted to run for president himself, but was ruled ineligible because he didn't meet residency requirements and has lived most of his life in the United States.
Par amyjohn03 - 1 commentaire(s)le 30 novembre 2010
Vendredi 26 novembre 2010

If past is prelude, Arizona at Oregon may get wild

EUGENE, Ore. (AP)—The wild recent history gucci shoes between Oregon and Arizona seemed to peak last season when overzealous Wildcats fans readied to rush the field to celebrate what looked to be a victory over the Ducks. Instead, fans left disappointed after Oregon tied it with 6 seconds left and went on to win 44-41 in the second overtime. The loss eliminated Arizona from any chance at the Rose Bowl—the Ducks’ ultimate destination. In 2007, the Ducks were ranked No. 2 in the nation when they visited Tucson, entertaining whispers about lofty offseason possibilities. But quarterback Dennis Dixon went down with a season-ending knee injury, Arizona won 34-24 and the Ducks spiraled with losses in three of their last four games. “Every year since I’ve been here our battles with Arizona have been real knockdown drag-outs and that’s what this is gonna be,” Oregon coach Chip Kelly said. The No. 1 Ducks (10-0, 7-0 Pac-10) can clinch a BCS berth this Friday when the No. 20 Wildcats (7-3, 4-3) visit Autzen Stadium. Oregon can also lock up at least a share of the conference title with a victory. Oregon, with its famously fast, high-scoring offense, is ranked atop the nation with an average of 50.7 points a game, and the team’s averaging 542.2 yards total offense. But Arizona could prove problematic for the Ducks. There are questions surrounding running back LaMichael James, who leads the nation with 158 rushing yards a game. After Oregon’s last game, a 15-13 squeaker over California, the Heisman Trophy hopeful was on crutches with a leg injury. He was able to rest the injury over a bye week and practiced on a limited basis. James said earlier this week he was still feeling some pain, but he was not listed on Oregon’s injury report. Arizona is ranked No. 20 nationally in total defense, allowing an average 319.3 yards, and 14th in run defense, allowing 112.9. And, also coming off a bye, the Wildcats have had a chance to both rest and game-plan for Men North Face Coat the Ducks. Defensive coordinator Greg Brown joked when asked how his unit planned to slow down Oregon. “Thirteen guys,” he said. “We’ve got a special petition into the NCAA to see if they’ll go for it.” On offense, Arizona’s strength is quarterback Nick Foles, who has thrown for 601 yards with four touchdowns and an interception over his last two games. He is completing a conference-high 71.0 percent of his passes. But the Wildcats lost those two games, to Stanford and USC—both of whom Oregon easily defeated. Arizona will be without receiver Bug Wright, suspended indefinitely this week for violating team rules. Wright had two touchdown catches this season. Stoops said the Wildcats learned from last year’s encounter with the Ducks. “I think our players understand how good you have to play as a team and how disciplined and how quick they can strike,” coach Mike Stoops said. “We had pretty good control of that game a year ago and they came back and scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and executed very well. We just got a couple of guys out of place, and the next thing you knew, they were scoring.” Oregon showed vulnerability in a low-scoring game against Cal, and no doubt the Wildcats have committed the film on the game to memory. But quarterback Darron Thomas said the narrow victory in a season of blowouts didn’t rattle the Ducks. “Nothing’s really changed. We expect Arizona to come out and do some similar things that Cal did so we just have to be ready this time,” said Thomas, who has thrown 23 touchdown passes in Oregon’s unique spread-option. This one will likely produce higher scores for both teams. Over their last four meetings, Arizona has scored 120 points (40 points per game) while Oregon has had 126 points (42). In the end, weather could ultimately be a factor for Arizona. The forecast for Friday calls for rain and temperatures in the 40s. That would mean the Wildcats—used to a considerably warmer and drier climate—might not be able to Prada Handbag rely so much on their passing attack, which is averaging just over 300 yards a game. “I think in big games, the excitement of the situation keeps you focused on the task at hand. The excitement of the game, the totality of it, has a lot to do with the atmosphere,” Stoops said. “It might be uncomfortable for us, not what we’re used to, but it shouldn’t have any effect on the game.”
Par amyjohn03 - 0 commentaire(s)le 26 novembre 2010
Mercredi 24 novembre 2010

Fisher: Young not welcome at team meeting

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—Tennessee uggs boot coach Jeff Fisher says though he had an assistant tell Vince Young(notes) not to attend a team meeting, the quarterback has not been banned from the team’s headquarters. “I went to look for Vince in the locker room prior to a team meeting, couldn’t find him. I had one of my assistants inform Vince he was not welcome in the team meeting for obvious reasons,” Fisher said Tuesday night on his weekly radio show. “I discussed the situation that happened the night before” at the meeting. Young’s teammates witnessed the heated exchange between the quarterback and coach in the locker room after Sunday’s overtime loss to Washington. Young, who had tossed his pads into the stands when leaving the field, then stormed out of the stadium. Fisher said what happens in the locker room after a game is supposed to be confidential. “We had an incident in the locker room, and it was very unfortunate. It’s been well documented,” Fisher said. “As a result of not only the incident in the locker room but also more importantly the injury to Vince’s thumb, Vince is not going to play anymore this season.” The quarterback needs season-ending surgery, and Fisher said that involves inserting a pin to help the flexor tendon heal. But Young’s situation is more complicated than the injury. The Titans placed Young on injured reserve Tuesday even as media reports surfaced that the quarterback wasn’t welcome at the team’s headquarters and had been told to leave. The team issued a statement a couple hours after the first report, saying Young had been told not to attend the team meeting and was free to leave. Fisher said Young is on injured reserve, and that such players are permitted in the building. Players on injured reserve work with team trainers on their rehabilitation. “There’s been speculation he was banned from the building. That was not correct,” said Fisher, who added that he would not address Young’s situation again after Tuesday night. Young could not be immediately reached Tuesday, nor gucci shoes his agent, Tom Condon, who was traveling and unavailable. The statement Tuesday called the first report by The Tennessean “incorrect.” The Tennessean, citing unidentified sources, said Young was in the training room Monday when asked to leave the facility by the quarterbacks coach and told he wasn’t wanted in the building after what happened Sunday. The newspaper said Young left without incident. The Titans can’t ban Young from team property, not with his contract running through 2011. The franchise learned that lesson in 2006 when Steve McNair(notes) won a grievance after an arbitrator ruled his contract had been breached when the team barred him from working out at the facility. Team officials had worried about being on the hook for a $23.4 million salary cap hit if he got hurt. Complicating the Young situation even more is that while his relationship with Fisher seems likely beyond repair at this point, owner Bud Adams told The Tennessean on Monday that he wants his quarterback and coach to work together. But Fisher had said Young wouldn’t start Sunday against Houston even if healthy after his latest meltdown. Fisher hasn’t talked to Young since the quarterback left the stadium, He called Young’s agent to pass on the news that his season was being ended by being placed on injured reserve. It doesn’t sound as if Fisher is in a hurry to speak to Young either, not with seven games remaining and the Titans (5-5) just a game out of the AFC South. The coach said Monday the issue of whether Young will ever play for him again will be dealt with when the season’s over. “I think there will be a conversation at some point. I’m not going to UGG Classic Short Patent Paisley Boots put a timetable on it. He’s on injured reserve, and we’re moving on,” Fisher said
Par amyjohn03 - 0 commentaire(s)le 24 novembre 2010
Lundi 22 novembre 2010

Bills’ big comeback tops Bengals 49-31

CINCINNATI (AP)—Down 31-14 at gucci shoes halftime, the one-win Buffalo Bills got angry. Angry at the officials for giving Cincinnati another play to kick a field goal. Angry at themselves for getting in such a big hole in front of such a small crowd. Angry enough to pull off their best comeback in 13 years. Ryan Fitzpatrick(notes) matched his career high with four touchdown passes, and the Bills rallied for their second straight win on Sunday, 49-31 over the bumbling Cincinnati Bengals. “We could’ve easily folded out tent,” said cornerback Drayton Florence(notes), who returned a fumble 27 yards during the comeback. “It looked like they folded their tents on their sideline.” Buffalo (2-8) took advantage of Cincinnati’s depleted secondary for its biggest comeback since it overcame a 26-0 deficit and topped the Colts 37-35 on Sept. 21, 1997, according to STATS LLC. The turning point came at the end of the first half, when the clock ran out but the officials ruled Cincinnati had called timeout with 1 second to go. The Bengals (2-8) used that restored second to kick a field goal for that huge cushion. The Bills complained to the officials while running off the field, then vented to each other. “In the locker room at halftime, it was louder than what their stadium was the entire game,” safety Donte Whitner(notes) said. Fitzpatrick took advantage of a defense down to four healthy defensive backs by game’s end. Steve Johnson(notes) caught three of his touchdown passes, including an 11-yarder that put Buffalo ahead 35-31 early in the fourth quarter. Johnson finished with eight catches for 137 yards. “It was awesome,” Fitzpatrick said. “Everybody believed the whole game. This was a big win for us. Once you get that first one, everything falls into place.” With the collapse, the Bengals secured their 18th non-winning record in the last 20 years. The only bright side: Cincinnati fans didn’t get to see it on local television. The Bengals failed to sell out a home game for ugg cardy the first time since 2003, when coach Marvin Lewis was in his first season. “We are terrible,” receiver Terrell Owens(notes) said, taking off his sunglasses for emphasis. “And I don’t blame the fans for booing us. I don’t blame people for not wanting to come and see the performance we’ve put up the last (seven) ballgames.” The futility was felt all-around. One fan in a Bengals jersey wore a bag over his head that said “Bungles.” Next to him sat a fan in an old Doug Flutie Bills jersey, wearing a bag over his head that said “Jills.” Leading up to the game, Owens had dubbed it “the battle of the worst.” On this day, Cincinnati earned the distinction. It was the Bengals’ biggest collapse since November 12, 2006, when they led San Diego 28-7 at Paul Brown Stadium and lost 49-41, according to STATS. “One for the books,” offensive lineman Bobbie Williams(notes) called it. Fitzpatrick’s homecoming got off to a miserable start—three first-half interceptions, though one of them was nullified by a penalty. He was Carson Palmer’s(notes) backup for two years, before the Bengals let him go. Once he settled down, he outplayed his mentor. Fitzpatrick was 21 of 34 for 316 yards and his second four-touchdown game of the season. He has thrown touchdown passes in 11 consecutive games, the longest streak by a Bills quarterback since Flutie did it 12 straight games in 1999. By contrast, Palmer threw two interceptions during the second-half fade, including one in the end zone as he tried to get the ball to Owens. Palmer was 19 of 34 for 230 yards with two touchdowns—to Owens and Chad Ochocinco(notes)—and the two interceptions. “Terrible. I have no answers for you. I have no Jimmy Choo Heeled Shoes sound bites for you,” Owens said, with an edge to his voice. “All I know is right now, we are terrible. And maybe it is—everybody wants to blame me. It’s my fault. Maybe I’m bad luck. But at this point, it’s just unthinkable. Unbelievable.” Owens and Ochocinco dubbed themselves Batman and Robin before the season, expecting superhero numbers. Johnson had some fun with it, writing “Why So Serious?”—a line from a “Batman” movie—on the front of the shirt under his jersey. Johnson pulled up his jersey to show the expression to the crowd after one of his touchdowns. “I was having fun with it,” he said. “They play the Batman and Robin thing, so I wanted to come in and be the Joker.”
Par amyjohn03 - 1 commentaire(s)le 22 novembre 2010
Mercredi 17 novembre 2010

Westbrook agrees to $16.5M, 2-yr deal with Cards

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—Right-hander ED hardy clothes Jake Westbrook(notes) decided to stay with the St. Louis Cardinals, agreeing Tuesday to a $16.5 million, two-year contract. His deal, the first for a starting free-agent pitcher this offseason, includes an $8.5 million mutual option for 2013. The 33-year-old was acquired from Cleveland on July 31 and was 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 12 starts for the Cardinals. Overall, he was 10-11 with a 4.22 ERA for the Cardinals and Indians. A 2004 AL All-Star, Westbrook has a 73-75 career record with a 4.29 ERA in 10 major league seasons. He pitched three games for the New York Yankees as a rookie in 2000, then spent his entire career with Cleveland before this year’s trade. “Having Jake signed is a great start to our offseason,” general manager John Mozeliak said. “We witnessed firsthand last season what a terrific competitor he is and how well he fits in with our pitching staff.” Rather than test the free-agent market, left-hander Ted Lilly(notes) agreed to a $33 million, three-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Oct. 19. Westbrook gives the Cardinals depth in a rotation headed by 21-game winner Adam Wainwright(notes) and 2005 NL Cy Young winner Chris Carpenter(notes) and lefty Jaime Garcia(notes), who won 13 games and was third in the NL rookie of the year balloting. Kyle Lohse(notes) has been dogged by injuries most of the last two seasons but was a 15-game winner in 2008. Westbrook was 3-1 with a 2.92 ERA the final month of last season. He won 14 or more games three consecutive seasons from 2004-06, topping 200 innings each time, but missed all but five starts in 2008 and ’09 after undergoing reconstructive elbow surgery. The Cardinals sent outfielder Ryan Ludwick(notes) to sheepkin boots the Padres as part of a three-team deal that brought Westbrook to St. Louis.
Par amyjohn03 - 0 commentaire(s)le 17 novembre 2010
Lundi 08 novembre 2010

Pinilla Strike Hands Rosanero Home Victory

Palermo defeated mid-table discount ugg boot rivals Genoa 1-0 in a hard-fought clash in the Stadio Renzo Barbera this evening. A solitary strike from Mauricio Pinilla just before half-time was enough to give his side victory and restore the Sicilian's flagging Champions League hopes. The away side fired an early warning shot across Palermo bows when Rafinha drove forward and crashed a shot wide of the upright with barely 30 seconds on the clock. Genoa continued to force the play in the opening stages and ex-Palermo man Luca Toni, who was booed remorselessly throughout by the home fans, wrong-footed Salvatore Sirigu with a deflected strike, but the goalkeeper scrambled back across goal to make the stop. Palermo then took control from then on in and Pinilla could, and maybe should, have had as many as five goals before finally opening the scoring. First, he met Mattia Cassani’s low cross with a first time effort which Eduardo did superbly well to touch onto the post. He then passed up a glorious one-on-one chance in the 19th minute when he raced onto Javier Pastore’s slide rule pass and attempted to drag the ball around Eduardo. The Genoa stopper read the move and threw out a hand to deny Palermo’s diminutive Chilean. Amazingly, it was Pinilla who glanced Pastore’s inviting cross down into the ground and against the post five minutes later. Toni had a couple of efforts well saved by Sirigu as the Rossoblu attempted to force their way back into the game. But it wasn’t long before we were back with Pinilla and another missed opportunity. This time the 26-year-old darted to the front post to connect with Josip ilicic’s cut back, but put the ball wide with the goal at his mercy. In the 41st minute, he contrived to nike air max shoes head a Cassani cross straight into Eduardo’s hands, and then demonstrated his deep frustration by karate kicking the upright. However, that tension was completely released when he broke the deadlock less than 60 seconds later. Pinilla darted on to Pastore’s delightful flick and made no mistake at the sixth time of asking, curling the ball beyond Eduardo’s to make it 1-0.
Par amyjohn03 - 0 commentaire(s)le 08 novembre 2010
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