Mardi 07 décembre 2010

No. 5 Duke tops No. 7 Texas A&M 61-58

DURHAM, N.C. (AP)—Jasmine Thomas saw time gucci shoes ticking away, so she made an aggressive move toward the lane, pump-faked once and tossed up an off-balance jumper. Nothing but net. A few defensive stops later, and No. 5 Duke had its first marquee victory of the season. Thomas scored 18 points, including the go-ahead basket with 55 seconds left, to lead the Blue Devils past No. 7 Texas A&M 61-58 on Monday night. “It was the end of the shot clock, I had to make a play, had to put the shot up—there was no time to pass it,” Thomas said. “And it went in.” Karima Christmas had 11 points and 11 rebounds, and Chelsea Gray added 11 points for the Blue Devils (9-0), who overcame 18 turnovers and 31 percent shooting to extend the best start of coach Joanne P. McCallie’s 19-year career. “Let’s put it this way: Think about where we’ll be when we shoot 48 to 50 percent and play that kind of defense,” McCallie said. “I think that’s a matter of time.” Adaora Elonu scored 15 points and Sydney Carter added 13 for the Aggies (6-1), who shot nearly 34 percent and couldn’t convert on three chances in the final minute to fall to 6-21 against top-five teams. “Everybody pretty much pitched in to come up with this win,” Thomas said. Maybe, but she definitely came up with the shot of the game. Her acrobatic jumper from the free throw line over Carter put Duke up 59-58 in the final minute. McCallie called the attempt “nothing short of amazing.” After that, Texas A&M had a few opportunities to take the lead or force overtime. First, the Aggies couldn’t get a good look against the Blue Devils’ 1-2-2 zone and Sydney Colson’s 3-pointer drew only glass as the shot clock expired with about 23 seconds left. “It had to be a team defensive effort, and I just thought our team hung very, very tough, showed a lot of guts—even when things didn’t go our way,” McCallie said. The best example of that came a split-second later, when Duke Boss business suit turned it over while inbounding the ball. Danielle Adams’ baseline jumper off an inbounds pass with about 8 seconds left rimmed out. “We run the perfect inbounds play,” Texas A&M coach Gary Blair said. “I’ve got the best kid in America that I would want to shoot that shot, and it just didn’t go in.” Thomas hit two free throws with 6.4 seconds left to make it a three-point game, and Christmas stole a pass as time expired to seal Duke’s 12th straight victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium. “I think I was just in the right place at the right time, really,” Christmas said. The Blue Devils have won 35 of 36 inside their cozy home arena and improved to 1-3 all-time against Texas A&M. The Aggies were the first ranked team on a Duke schedule that also includes nonconference visits from No. 4 Xavier and No. 14 Kentucky and a trip to top-ranked Connecticut. Down the stretch, this one seemed destined for a tight finish. The lead changed hands on five consecutive possessions inside the 4-minute mark, and neither team led by more than five points once the Aggies reeled off 11 straight points early in the second half. “For a game (on) December the 6th, this was as good as it gets,” Blair said. Tyra White had 11 points and Adams had a season-low 11 points and 12 rebounds. Adams, who was 5 for 18 from the field, entered averaging 20.7 points and hadn’t been held to fewer than 17. The teams started the day as two of the 19 unbeatens in Division I, and somebody’s hot start had to end. The only Texas A&M team with a better season-opening winning streak was the 2008-09 team that started 12-0. Duke erased an early double-figure deficit with a 16-0 run during which the Blue Devils held Texas A&M to 0-for-12 shooting during a span of roughly 8 minutes. Krystal Thomas capped the burst by sticking back Shay Selby’s missed 3-pointer to make it 28-22 with 2:19 left. That came after the Aggies forced nine turnovers in Hermes Wallet the opening 10 minutes and went up 22-12 on Maryann Baker’s long 3 with 9 minutes left in the half. A&M didn’t hit another field goal until Adams’ layup with 56 seconds left in the half.
Par amyjohn03 - 0 commentaire(s)le 07 décembre 2010
Samedi 04 décembre 2010

Acting FA chairman blasts FIFA after WCup vote

LONDON (AP)—The acting chairman of Cheap ghd the English Football Association withdrew his candidacy for the permanent post Friday, saying he “cannot trust” FIFA after its decision to award the 2018 World Cup to Russia. Roger Burden sent a letter to FA board members where he harshly criticized FIFA’s decision to eliminate England in the first round of votes, saying “it is difficult to believe that the voting was an objective process.” Joint bids from Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands then lost to Russia. Burden said he will not run for the permanent post because he doesn’t want to work closely with FIFA anymore. “I recognize that an important part of the role is liaison with FIFA, our global governing body,” he wrote. “I am not prepared to deal with people whom I cannot trust and I have withdrawn my candidacy.” English bid officials were UGG Classic Argyle Knit Boots 5879 upset at getting only two votes Thursday from the 22 FIFA executive committee members saying several more had pledged to support the bid. “We were equal top of FIFA’s own technical assessment of the four bids,” Burden said. “We were top of an independent assessment of the best commercial bids and our presentation on Thursday was widely acclaimed as the best of the 2018 and 2022 bids. “Against this background, I am struggling to understand how we only achieved two votes. It is difficult to believe that the voting was an objective process.” Qatar was awarded the 2022 World Cup, beating out the United States in the final vote. The English bid struggled to shake off the negative effects of British media stories that accused FIFA of UGG Bailey Button Boots corruption, and a last-minute blitz by Prime Minster David Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham proved unable to turn sentiment around. “I am well aware that some of the UK media coverage could have upset some of the FIFA executive committee,” Burden said. “We have a free press in our country and we all have to live with adverse comment from time to time. But there is no doubt that English football benefits from the media coverage that it receives and would have been given great coverage if we had brought the World Cup to England.” He added that “I have no issue with Russia’s winning bid. I am sure they will put on a great World Cup and I have congratulated them.” The FA is expected to UGG Coquette Slipper meet on Dec. 22 to elect a permanent chairman.
Par amyjohn03 - 0 commentaire(s)le 04 décembre 2010
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
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