2011年11月26日星期六

Game On! Here's to rooting for chaos in the BCS uggsuggboots.com

RC: Normally, I'd have no dog in the hunt when it comes to Arkansas-LSU and Alabama-Auburn. But I'm rooting for chaos.

Could Virginia Tech, Stanford, Oklahoma State, ugg houston ugg edmonton ugg boots in chicagoHouston and Boise State compete in the Southeastern Conference? Who cares? I've got no truck with the SEC being declared a superior conference, but shouldn't they prove it on the field?

England wasn't ruled out of the Battle of Agincourt because they couldn't get a high enough computer ranking. You never know when you're going to get a muddy field.

TW: First off, let's all acknowledge that the SEC West is worthy of being the NFL's ninth division.

But it's troubling that Alabama's clearest path to the national championship game would be provided by LSU or Arkansas going to the SEC championship game and losing to Georgia. Having a system that benefits an idle team is one more chunk of proof that the BCS is as dysfunctional as the Kardashians.

Sidney Crosby

RC: The two goals and two assists were brilliant, but the best thing was him taking two bone-rattling hits. Sidney Crosby is surely a treasure, but opponentsuggs outlet in ny uggs in texas uggs in houston won't be treating him like fine china. Each time he's hit in the mouth and keeps skating, the closer we get to the real "Sid the Kid."

TW: So Crosby took several months off, doing absolutely nothing, and then jumps back on the ice and is an instant sensation. That's what we have come to expect from him. But who would have ever thought he could provide more action in one night than the NBA is going to give us in an entire season?

Penn State to bowl game

TW: It's obvious that a huge part of the problems at Penn State stems from people choosing to look the other way.

But if there's one saving grace to that scandal, it's that every adult has been forced to think about what they would do if they were suddenly in a similar situation. So, I say, keep Penn State at center stage and make everyone examine the elephant in the room. Keep the light shining on the fungus, and kill it once and for all.

RC: Certainly everyone wants justice. But how does keeping a football team from crowning its season and its students from enjoying the success of its team accomplish that? Justice happens with precision in punishment, not the numbers taken down in collateral damage.

Jay Cutler

TW: For many Chicago Bears followers, it probably seems like Jay Cutler's broken thumb might as well be a raised middle digit. But it's really a rallying point forugg texas ugg philadelphia ugg boots los angeles a team whose defense has a marvelous history of scoring points. And that the Bears once went to a Super Bowl with Rex Grossman running the huddle is proof that this season isn't over for them.

RC: Here is hoping the Bears take the shackles off of Caleb Hanie and let Cutler's replacement be a big-boy quarterback. Trying not to lose is a recipe for losing.

Not to be too Pacino-esque, but "you hold this boy's future in your hands. … It's a valuable future. Believe me. Don't destroy it. Protect it. Embrace it. It's gonna make you proud one day, I promise you." Whoo-ah.
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2011年11月21日星期一

Ravens' Torrey Smith caught from behind ... by a hair or two uggsuggboots.com

Though Ravens rookie WR Torrey Smith had a big day (six catches for 165 yards and a TD), he would have had more had he not been pulled down from behind -- by his dreadlocks.

CAPTIONBy Jeff Swinger, The Cincinnati Enquirer

When Smith was tackled by Bengals CB Adam Jones afterugg winnipeg ugg ottawa ugg long island a 28-yard gain in the second quarter, it initially looked like an illegal horse collar tackle.

The refs threw a flag, but they picked it up after determining Smith was brought down by his hair, which is considering part of the uniform under NFL rules and can be legally grabbed if is sticking out the back of the helmet.

"The tackle was made by grasping the hair of the runner," referee Ron Winter announced.

Smith, a second-round draft pick from Maryland, said that had never happened to him before.

"That was my first time. ... I was in shock," he said after helping the Ravens to a 31-24 win.

At first, he thought he had been pulled down by the back of his jersey.

"I thought I was going to score, and the next thing you know I'm getting dragged down,'' he said.

While Smith claimed it "didn't hurt at all," he said that a few drives earlier he had noticed some pieces of dreadlocks on the field. "I guess their running back (Cincinnati's Bernard Scott has long dreads), he lost a few dreads, and I knew it wasn't my dreads,'' he said.

"They (his teammates) were like, 'Did you lose a few dreads?' No, I didn't lose anything.''

After the play, Ravens Coach John Harbaugh and Smith addressed the possibility a new hairstyle might be a good strategy.

"We had that conversation on the sideline. He said he was considering that, but hey, you've just got to run faster ... outrun the dreads, I guess," said Harbaugh.

Smith on the notion of new hairdo: "I honestly thoughtugg lafayette ugg boots in edmonton ugg boots edmonton about it, but my gramma likes it a little too much. I'm a momma and grandmamma's boy, at least for now.''

Smith amassed the third-most receiving yards ever by a Ravens receiver in a game.

"He did a great job, and he is a real difference for uggs outlet buffalo ugg st louis ugg sale torontothis offense against that team," said Ravens QB Joe Flacco, who hit Smith with a 38-yard TD pass in the third quarter following a Cincinnati turnover. Smith also had a 49-yard catch.
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2011年11月18日星期五

League Cup could herald new golden era for Gunners

In my latest column in The Sun-Herald, I analyse Arsenal's run of nearly six seasons without a trophy ahead of the Carling Cup final.
On Saturday, May 21, 2005, Arsenal won the FA Cup. It was their fifth major honour in four seasons. But since then, nothing. A whopping 1743 days without silverware. A disastrous record.
Arsenal can break their trophy drought against Birmingham in the Carling Cup final this weekend, a competition treated with disdain by Arsene Wenger in past seasons, but now anything will do for the Gunners boss.
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The Frenchman has brought stability and style to Arsenal, but football is a results business. As Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson said this week: "I judge my success by trophies." In that respect, Wenger has failed.
It's critical Arsenal beat Birmingham on Sunday. These players need a prize. The Carling Cup might be inconsequential to a club vying for three other titles, but psychologically, victory is essential. Win this one, and the squad will get the monkey off its back. ugg queens ugg fresno ugg boots texasIt could prove a catalyst to long-term success.
Wenger can no longer argue his players need more time to develop. They have the experience. The time is now for Arsenal. They are more mature. There's character in this team. Take the past month. Down 1-0 against Everton, they showed grit to win. It was the same against Barcelona. The players stayed patient and kept their shape. And when their chances came, they were merciless.
It comes down to belief. There have been difficult periods this season, but the players have been resilient. They've grown as a team. Arsenal lost to United in December, but in their next league game they beat Chelsea. The players stepped up when they had to. A defining moment for them.
Arsenal play unbelievable football. They dominate possession and blow teams off the park. But critically, they've learned to win ugly. Stoke this week, Fulham in December. Average performances, but still three points. You have to win these games to win titles.
Despite Arsenal's development, there's just no getting away from their uncanny ability to implode. It's absurd they can surrender a four-goal lead to Newcastle. From terrific to tragic in the same match. And yet a few weeks later they go and show incredible determination and skill to beat Barca. There's no logic to it.
Fortunately for Arsenal, this irrational combination of frailty and flair is becoming rarer in their football. Defeat to Spurs at home after being 2-0 up stands out as a low point, yet a ruthless 3-0 win at Manchester City highlights a conviction that is becoming more prominent in their game.
Arsenal have beaten Birmingham twice already this season, with Samirugg boots philadelphia ugg boots in texas ugg boots colorado Nasri scoring in both. Fourteen goals so far is two more than in the previous two campaigns combined. He's surely the player of the season.
Nasri's a much better footballer than when he joined. He's always had a fantastic touch, but his movement is now more intelligent. He makes more cunning runs. And watch his body position. He's always in the right spot to receive a pass and do something with it; the mark of an excellent player.
The Gunners lost momentum when Nasri moved insideugg outlet los angeles ugg outlet buffalo ugg milwaukee after Cesc Fabregas went off against Stoke. Wenger must resist playing him in the same position against Birmingham. The Frenchman's at his best scheming from out wide.
The Blues need to close down space and win the ball back quickly. But even so they don't have the quality to take advantage of Arsenal's flaws. The Gunners' disastrous record should be consigned to history.
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Many college football heavyweights taking it easy this week uggsuggboots.com

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Originally published Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 8:00 PM
Bud Withers

Many college football heavyweights taking it easy this week

Schedule gets easy for several top college football teams this Saturday. USC at Oregon is one of the few matchups of ranked teams.
Bud Withers
Seattle Times colleges reporter
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In the South, there's an old tradition as ingrained as fried okra and frat boys wearing neckties to football games. About the third weekend of November, the big programs take a step back, call in sick and seemingly get ready for the stretch run.
Ergo, we have Chill Saturday. The Citadel visits South Carolina. Furman goes to Florida. Alabama welcomes Georgia Southern. And Auburn rolls out Samford.
With a relatively limp schedule, we take the opportunity to look at the picture in the BCS conferences:
Atlantic Coast: Clemson (9-1) has clinched a spot in the ACC title game. Virginia Tech (10-1, 6-1), a winner Thursday night over North Carolina, has the other side if Virginia (7-3, 4-2) loses at Florida State. A Cavaliers victory sets up a winner-take-all meeting with Tech next Saturday in Charlottesville.
Big East: It's a mess as big as the league's future. Cincinnati (7-2, 3-1) has the pole position, but four teams — Rutgers, West Virginia, Pitt and Louisville — have 3-2 league records. Clarity, or more chaos, awaits with Cincy's Saturday game at Rutgers.
Big Ten: In the Legends Division, Michigan State (8-2, 5-1) clinches a tie by beating Indiana, and wins outright if Nebraska also loses at Michigan.
In the Leaders (who named these divisions, Richard Simmons?), Penn State (8-2, 5-1) has control, but it's shaky with finishing games at Ohio State and Wisconsin (8-2, 4-2).
Big 12: Oklahoma State (10-0, 7-0) rules, with Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1) trailing and everybody awaiting their game in Stillwater on Dec. 3.
Pac-12: Oregon (9-1, 7-0) needs only a win over USC or Oregon State to host the conference title game Dec. 2. In the Pac-12 South, UCLA (5-5, 4-3) has a feeble grip on the proceedings, but Arizona State (6-4, 4-3) is in the wings.
Southeastern: Georgia (8-2, 6-1) gets a title-game spot if it beats Kentucky on Saturday. The West is still unsettled, with the possibility of a three-way tie if Arkansas (9-1, 5-1) can beat Mississippi State and LSU.
In that case, BCS standings would be used to eliminate the third team (LSU, Alabama and Arkansas are 1-3-6), and head-to-head result would settle it for the other two.
Best of the agenda Saturday, chronologically:
Nebraska (AP 17th) at Michigan (20), 9 a.m. (PST) — First regular-season meeting between these two since Bob Devaney's first year in Lincoln in 1962. The Wolverines have made a quantum improvement in defense, going from 35.2 points a game in 2010 to 15.5, fifth in the nation.
Wisconsin (15) at Illinois, 9 a.m. — QB Russell Wilson has a 201.6 pass-efficiency rating, well up on Colt Brennan's (Hawaii) record of 186.0 in 2006. Despite the fact Illinois (6-4) is bowl-eligible in back-to-back years for the first time since 1988-92, coach Ron Zook is against getting toasted.
Penn State (21) at Ohio State, 12:30 p.m. — Read a transcript of Nittany Lions interim coach Tom Bradley's news conference this week and you get a feel for the enormity of what he's trying to manage. Incidentally, Bradley says there will be some sort of recognition of the child-sexual-abuse scandal before the coin flip with the Buckeyes, much as there was last week. A matchup of two Big Ten heavyweights, two scandals, two interim bosses.
USC (18) at Oregon (4), 5 p.m. — The Trojans have lost five straight in the state of Oregon, and in a reflection of how power has shifted in the league, Oregon has won eight of the past 13 against USC.
Oklahoma (5) at Baylor (25), 5 p.m. — Might the Bears, 5-0 at home, have something in store for the Sooners? Robert Griffin completes 74 percent of his passes for Baylor, whose 21 punts are by far fewest in the country.
Bud Withers: 206-464-8281 or bwithers@seattletimes.com

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2011年11月15日星期二

Energy Dept. pushed firm to keep layoffs quiet until after midterms


The Obama administration, which gave the solar company Solyndra a half-billion-dollar loan to help create jobs, asked the company to delay announcing it would lay off workers until after the hotly contested November 2010 midterm elections that imperiled Democratic control of Congress, newly released e-mails show.
The announcement could have been politically damaging because President Obama and others in the administration had held up Solyndra as a poster child of its clean-energy initiative, saying the company’s new factory, built with the help of stimulus money, could create 1,000 jobs. Six months before the midterm elections, Obama visited Solyndra’s California plant to praise its success, even though outside auditors had questioned whether the operation might collapse in debt.
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